POLSON  A legislatively mandated pilot program designed to enhance protection from invasive mussels in the Flathead Basin is facing challenges on two fronts.

As part of HB 622, the Legislature gave the Flathead Basin Commission authority to establish and manage the Upper Columbia pilot program. The program would add more certification stations, track vessels that require decontamination, and add the use of automated inspection and detection devices.

The commission also could petition the states Fish and Wildlife Commission to adopt rules for the Flathead Basin that would require inspection of all vessels before they launch; prohibit or restrict some vessels, including waterborne airplanes and aquatic weed harvesters; and close waters where invasive mussels have been detected until a containment strategy was implemented.

The pilot program would have been paid for by requiring boat owners launching boats in the basin to purchase a sticker. The sticker program was expected to raise between $1 million to $1.5 million.

But Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials said the legislation did not provide that agency with the authority to write the rules that would require boat owners to purchase a sticker.

FWP Chief of Operations Mike Volesky said the bills language doesnt include the word "mandatory." It also doesnt provide for any penalties should boaters refuse to obtain the sticker.

Our attorneys have looked at it and have determined the bill doesnt provide the department with the legislative authority to create a mandatory program, Volesky said.

The challenge for the pilot program only begins there.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation recently recommended that the Flathead Basin Commissions state-provided budget be cut to zero as part of the current round of budget cuts being proposed to the governor.

The commission is the linchpin to make the pilot work.

Faced with slumping state revenues and larger-than-anticipated firefighting costs, Gov. Steve Bullock directed most state agency heads to trim 10 percent from their budgets. To help achieve that goal, DNRC Director John Tubbs recommended cutting the Flathead Basin Commissions budget for 2018 and 2019.

***

The Flathead Basin Commission was established in 1983 by the Legislature to protect water quality and the natural resources of the Flathead Basin. Its membership includes state, federal, tribal and local representatives, as well as representation from British Columbia.

Its accomplishments include helping to stop a proposed coal mine on the North Fork of the Flathead River in British Columbia, working to establish water quality targets for Flathead Lake, and passage of detergent phosphorus ban in the Flathead Basin. Since 2008, the commission has been a leader in the work to prevent the establishment of aquatic invasive species, including mussels.

The commission has one employee, and is administered through the DNRC. Tubbs recommended eliminating its state-allotted annual budget of $148,932.

Tubbs said while he appreciates all the good work the commission has accomplished over the last 30 years, the need to make additional cuts into his departments budget required him to make difficult choices.

Tubbs was required to cut almost $3 million for the biennium. He said the DNRC already has fewer full time people working for it than when he took over as director in 2013.

We were starting these cuts from an already deep hole, he said.

In making his decision, Tubbs said he considered the commissions current focus on aquatic invasive species and FWPs opinion that it didnt have the authority to create a new funding source through a boat sticker program. In addition, the Legislature passed a second bill that provided FWP with nearly $7 million a year over the biennium to beef up its efforts to control and prevent aquatic invasive species.

Before the passage of that legislation, Tubbs said the Flathead Basin Commission did a good job of filling the gaps not covered by FWP.

Today I can stand and say that they (FWP) can fill that gap, Tubbs said. With a $6.5 million-a-year program coming out of the 2017 Legislature, they added up to something like 34 check stations, set up decontamination stations on Canyon Ferry and Tiber, added a new bureau chief focused on AIS, and created the Upper Columbia River Conservation Council focused just not on the Flathead but all of western Montana. That, all combined together, tells me we had resources for the fight against aquatic invasive species that we did not have before.

With that in place, Tubbs said the state can provide the resources now being provided by the Flathead Basin Commission without requiring him to cut additional staff from other programs.

***

Flathead Lakers Executive Director Robin Steinkraus urged the state to reconsider its decision to eliminate funding for the commission. The nonprofit, grassroots organization dedicated to protecting the clean water, healthy ecosystems and quality of life in the Flathead Watershed has about 1,500 members.

When the commission was created back in the 1980s, Steinkraus said it was attached to the DNRC as an administrative convenience. She said state funding dedicated to the commission should simply be passed on to the commission, perhaps with a reasonable 10 percent cut.

The commissions multi-jurisdictional membership is uniquely qualified for coordinating water quality protection and defending against invasive mussels in the Flathead Basin, Steinkraus said. The commissions executive director and sole employee, Caryn Miske, has a long history of securing other funds that far exceed the states investment.

Eliminating that position would make it virtually impossible for the FBC to function without dedicated staff to provide coordination, implement the commissions decisions, write grants and work with partners in the watershed, Steinkraus said. Maintaining a functional FBC will continue to return abundant long-term natural and economic benefits for our watershed, the state and the entire Columbia River Basin.

Without the base funding provided by the state, Miske said the commissions future would be in doubt. While there have been suggestions made that the funding could be made up through a fundraising effort, she said that would likely prove difficult.

People typically want to fund on-the-ground type of projects, she said. They dont want to fund what they perceive as overhead.

***

Tom McDonald believes the more boots on the ground the better for keeping aquatic invasive species out of the Flathead Basin.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes fish, wildlife, recreation and conservation manager supports the measures that would be added through HB 622 and managed by an organization that has proven itself over the years.

McDonald said the Flathead Basin Commission already has a good track record on protecting the Flathead River Basin that plays such an important role for the tribes.

The tribes are deeply concerned about protecting this environment, he said. We have the most to lose. We have the most at stake.

When mussels were first found in the state last year, McDonald said several months went by without very much communication to the tribes from the state.

Unfortunately, they didnt include us at first, he said. We generally didnt know what was going on between December and February.

Creating a redundant system of check stations through provisions found in HB 622 would help create the firewall needed to ensure that mussels dont gain a foothold in the Flathead Basin.

We want to see a more robust program, McDonald said. We know that people will sometimes make mistakes. Sometimes its good to have a program thats redundant so those mistakes can be found. This is going to have to be something thats in place forever. We need to be collaborating to ensure that all entities are involved.
Montana water quality researchers praised a $1.4 million fine levied against Canadian mining firm Teck Resources Ltd. for polluting rivers that cross the international border.

A British Columbia provincial court ordered Teck to pay the money to the provinces Environmental Damages Fund for fish conservation and protection in the East Kootenay River drainage. The Kootenay River becomes Lake Koocanusa where it backs up behind Libby Dam in Montana.

The case stems from a 2014 incident at Tecks Line Creek coal mine about 80 miles north of Eureka in the Elk River drainage. The mines water treatment facility was cited for three releases of contaminated water that killed bull and cutthroat trout in Line Creek.

The fish kill was of enormous interest for all of us who track the river system, said Erin Sexton, a research scientist at the University of Montanas Flathead Lake Biological Station. Its taken quite some time for there to be any action on the regulatory side of things.

The pollution releases included dangerous amounts of nitrates and selenium, a mining byproduct that in large doses can cause deformities, reproductive damage or death to fish. Sexton said Montana studies in Lake Koocanusa have found elevated levels of selenium, from the Canadian mines, south of the border.

Robin Sheremeta, Teck senior vice president for coal, said in a statement released Thursday that the company had improved its monitoring systems and built an effluent buffer pond to prevent future releases.

From the outset we took full responsibility for this incident and recognize that we need to do better, Sheremeta wrote in the statement. Following this occurrence in 2014, we undertook a full investigation and implemented a number of steps to ensure this does not happen again.

Elk River coal mostly goes to Asian markets, where it is used for smelting steel rather than energy production. In May, the British Columbia Auditor General reported that mining companies and the provinces regulatory agencies were doing a poor job of complying with mining and pollution regulations and laws.

The Canadian environmental group Wildsight has been monitoring the case since it was brought to court three years ago. Wildsight Executive Director Robyn Duncan said cleaning up the mine pollution involved more than a specific fish kill.

While much effort has gone into tackling the issue of dangerous selenium contamination running off from waste rock dumps at the Elk Valley coal mines, the problem is still far from solved, Duncan wrote in an email. This 2014 failure and other ongoing issues at the Line Creek water treatment plant show that the selenium problem needs much more attention.

Flathead Lake Biological station bull trout research aquatic ecologist Clint Muhlfeld said the Elk River has already shown changes in its chemistry related to mine waste. The addition of nitrates act like fertilizer, which has resulted in algae blooms, and suppressed native stonefly insect populations. And while small amounts of selenium are needed for health, large amounts accumulate in top predators like bull trout, which are already suffering from other threats to their habitat.

Thats been something that both our countries have been looking at throughout the entire connected ecosystems, Muhlfeld said. Its like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. Theres a critical tipping point where you see a lot of effects up the food chain.
A 54-year-old man who pleaded guilty to dealing methamphetamine and heroin in Missoula will spend the next 15 years in federal prison.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dana Christensen handed down the judgement Thursday against Gregory David Kalayjian.

In addition to the prison sentence, Kalayjian will be on supervision for eight years after he is released, and was ordered to forfeit four handguns and nearly $12,000 in cash found during his arrest.

According to court documents, Missoula police found Kalayjian and two other people in a Missoula motel in October 2016, and as part of an investigation seized and searched Kalayjians car. In it, they found 40 grams of meth, almost 60 grams of heroin and $11,991 in cash in a safe in the trunk, as well as two pistols under the seats.

Kalayjian was later arrested in December and police searched his trailer house, finding another 428 grams of meth, 110 grams of heroin and two more pistols. Kalayjian has prior felony convictions from California.

He was originally charged in Missoula County District Court in January with felonies related to the drugs found in his car. That case was dismissed in March, a month before federal prosecutors filed their charges.

In June, Kalayjian pleaded guilty to felonies of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm as part of a drug trafficking crime in exchange for five other charges being dismissed.
NEW YORK  Is it time to say arrivederci to Christopher Columbus?

A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has gained momentum in some parts of the U.S., with Los Angeles in August becoming the biggest city yet to decide to stop honoring the Italian explorer and instead recognize victims of colonialism.

Austin, Texas, followed suit Thursday. It joined cities including San Francisco, Seattle and Denver, which had previously booted Columbus in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day.

But the gesture to recognize indigenous people rather than the man who opened the Americas to European domination also has prompted howls of outrage from some Italian-Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too.

"We had a very difficult time in this country for well over a hundred years," said Basil Russo, president of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America. "Columbus Day is a day that we've chosen to celebrate who we are. And we're entitled to do that just as they are entitled to celebrate who they are."

It's not about taking anything away from Italian-Americans, said Cliff Matias, cultural director of the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, which is hosting a Re-Thinking Columbus Day event Sunday and Monday in New York.

"The conversation is Columbus," he said. "If they're going to celebrate Columbus, we need to celebrate the fact that we survived Columbus."

The debate over Columbus' historical legacy is an old one, but it became emotionally charged after a similar debate in the South over monuments to Confederate generals flared into deadly violence in August at a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In Akron, Ohio, a September vote over whether to dump Columbus opened a racial rift on the city council that was so heated conflict mediators were brought in to sooth tensions.

In New York, where 35,000 people are expected to march in Monday's Columbus Day parade, vandals last month doused the hands of a Christopher Columbus statue in blood-red paint and scrawled the words "hate will not be tolerated." Activists calling for the city to change the parade's name also are expected to hold a demonstration.

On Sunday, three demonstrators briefly interrupted a wreath-laying ceremony at the Columbus statue in Columbus Circle. The protesters, two dressed in fake chains and one wearing a hooded white sheet, spoke out before being escorted away. Police said one person was arrested.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, appointed a committee to evaluate whether monuments to certain historical figures should be removed, prompting a backlash from fellow Italian-Americans who vowed to defend the Columbus statue, which has stood over Columbus Circle for more than a century.

Many Italians who migrated to the U.S. initially had a rough time. In 1891, 11 Italians were lynched in New Orleans by a mob that held them responsible for the death of a police official.

At the end of the 1800s, Italians began to link themselves more with Columbus. Italian-American businessman and newspaper owner Generoso Pope was among those who worked to get Columbus Day recognized as a federal holiday in 1937.

"It was one of the things that would allow them to become Americans symbolically," said Fred Gardaphe, a professor of Italian-American studies at Queens College.

Indigenous Peoples Day began to gel as an idea before the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage to the Americas.

South Dakota began celebrating Native American Day on the second Monday of October in 1990. Berkeley, California, got rid of Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day in 1992.

Many places that have adopted Indigenous Peoples Day since then, including Alaska, have sizable Native American populations.

A few cities have compromised. Salt Lake City officials declared they would keep Columbus Day but celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on the same day.

In Akron, a city with few Native Americans and a large Italian-American community, an attempt to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day on Sept. 11 split the all-Democrat city council along racial lines. Five black members voted to rename the holiday, and eight white members voted against it, following a debate that devolved into shouting.

"The first voyage of Columbus to the Americas initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It would lead to the kidnapping, deaths and slavery of tens of millions of African people," said Councilman Russel Neal, who is black.

But Councilman Jeff Fusco, who is Italian-American, said, "It's a celebration of Italian heritage. It's very similar to other days throughout the year that we celebrate for many other cultures."

States and municipalities aren't legally bound to recognize federal holidays, though most do. Columbus Day is already one of the most inconsistently celebrated. Places that choose to replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day may give their own workers or schoolchildren a day off, teach in schools about Native Americans instead of Columbus, issue proclamations or mark it in other ways.

There is no question that Columbus' arrival in the New World under the sponsorship of Spain was bad for the indigenous people of Hispaniola, the island he colonized that is now split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Many of the native people of the island were forced into servitude. Multitudes died of disease. Spain repopulated the workforce with African slaves.

Columbus is celebrated in Latin America, too. A massive monument to the explorer, the Columbus Lighthouse, opened in 1992 in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico commemorates Discovery Day on Nov. 19, marking the day Columbus landed there.

Ralph Arellanes, chairman of the activist group Hispano Round Table of New Mexico, said that as a Hispanic he supports Columbus Day.

"It was the marriage of two peoples creating a new people, in a new land," he said.

Though Columbus "wasn't a saint," he said, he believes Anglo-Americans like President Andrew Jackson should be held more responsible than the Spanish for the hardships Native Americans faced.

Arellanes also said he doesn't understand why Italians claim Columbus for themselves when Columbus was sailing for Spain.
CAVALIER, N.D.  A North Dakota jury has convicted an environmental activist who targeted an oil pipeline a year ago.

The Pembina County jury found Michael Foster of Seattle guilty Friday of conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, criminal mischief and trespass. Foster was acquitted of reckless endangerment.

Foster's actions were part of a broader four-state effort last October to draw attention to climate change. Foster did not deny using a bolt cutter to get through a chain link fence so he could turn the pipeline's shut-off valve. He contended his law-breaking was in the public's interest.

Samuel Jessup of Winooski, Vermont, who filmed Foster's protest, also stood trial and was convicted of conspiracy.

Sentencing for both men is scheduled for Jan. 18. Their attorneys did not respond to requests for comment Sunday.
How do you know if your state legislator is representing your values in Helena? For many Montanans, the only reference point they have is the legislator themselves. Every even-numbered year, the lawmaker shows up at their door to tell them how great of a job they did. Every odd-numbered year they seem to disappear into a black hole.

Most Montanans are too busy going about their lives to keep a close eye on Helena, and many legislators are too busy during the session to respond to emails. This is not a criticism of legislators or voters. Its just the reality of our system.

And while Montana newspapers make a valiant effort to report accurately on the session, for many readers the legislative process remains opaque at best.

It costs too much  in time and money  for most people to peel back the layers to find out whats really going on.

The result is that few Montanans have the opportunity to find out the totality of what happened during the legislative session and to understand if their representatives voted their values.

At Americans for Prosperity-Montana, we call this problem the Helena bubble. How can we expect Montanans to make educated decisions about who should represent them when their access to information is so limited?

To solve this problem, we launched Montanascorecard.com, which provides an easy-to-understand 0-100 score of each members voting record during the legislative session.

It has proven quite popular, but not everyone is enamored of the idea. Some legislators are so afraid of citizens knowing what theyre doing, in fact, that they consider keeping track of their votes a veiled threat.

In a way, I suppose, it is. Its a threat to the legislatures ability to conduct its business out of the public eye. Its a threat to lawmakers doing one thing and telling voters another. Its a threat to the big government status quo.

But legislators should be working for Montanans, not the other way around.

So Montanascorecard.com grades legislators based on their alignment with AFP-Montanas philosophy of a free and open society on a simple 0-100 scale.

For example, freshman Missoula Rep. Adam Hertz scored 91 percent. Hertz did a great job advocating fora free and open society, and we believe the folks in his district deserve to know about those votes. And a scorecard, unlike anecdotal stories, can illustrate an overall alignment with values over time.

Kalispell Republican Rep. Frank Garner carried the gas tax increase and was overall unreliable on free-society issues. He scored 68 percent for the session, barely above his 60 percent lifetime rating. Now his constituents can be empowered to ask the hard questions that make democracy work.

Rating legislators isnt some revolutionary concept. Other groups all along the political spectrum have similar scorecards. None, liberal or conservative, single-issue or broad-based, treats what theyre doing as a threat to lawmakers. Were all holding them accountable for what they do. If members of the legislature cant stand this little bit of heat, they know where the door out of the kitchen is.

If you believe in the values of individual rights and limited government, then Montanascorecard.com can be a great tool to see how your legislator is doing. I invite you to visit our website and check out your legislators votes. Very soon they will be showing up at your doorstep again to tell you how well they did. Now you can easily see for yourself.
In response to the Las Vegas massacre, Donald Trump said, Our unity cannot be shattered by evil. But any unity Ive had with Montanas congressmen is shattered now.

Not that Ive agreed with Rep. Greg Gianforte or Sen. Steve Daines on most issues, but I've really resonated with Sen. Jon Tester. Ive praised, supported, and voted for him twice, reluctantly accepting his many votes against common-sense gun legislation.

Here are a few: In 2013, after Sandy Hook, he voted against a ban on high-capacity magazines and against limiting magazine sizes to 10 rounds. (He also told family members of Sandy Hook victims that gun control legislation wont decrease mass shootings  a statement easily proven false.) In 2016, after Orlando, he voted against background checks for gun sales online and at gun shows. In 2017, he voted to allow gun sales to severely mentally ill people who are too disabled to handle their own money.

By accepting Tester's votes, I am complicit to these ongoing massacres, with the victims' blood on my hands. So unless he changes his ideology, I won't vote for him again. I've called Tester's office to express my decision, and I hope you do the same. Let's end this injustice.

Heidi McCormick,

Missoula
Anaconda police say an online chat between two teens led to the lockdown of Anaconda schools Thursday and the arrest of the two juveniles, ages 17 and 14, who are facing charges of felony intimidation.

Police Chief Tim Barkell said police received a call around 8 a.m. Thursday from the assistant principal of the Anaconda Junior-Senior High School who said that a student at the school had reported a threatening message on Snapchat, a popular social media app.

According to Barkell, the two teens, a 17-year-old male and a 14-year-old female, had been discussing hunting when the female allegedly said the male should shoot up the school. The male allegedly told the female he would indeed shoot up the school and that he would do it silently like a ninja, Barkell said.

All three of Anacondas schools  the junior-senior high school and Fred Moodry Intermediate and Lincoln Primary  went into lockdown, which lasted from about 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., the police chief said.

The two teens were arrested Thursday and questioned by police. Barkell said the teens admitted to the conversation but told a detective that the conversation was a joke.

Barkell said the teens will be charged with felony intimidation. As of Friday morning, the teens were being held at the Cascade County Regional Youth Services Center in Great Falls.
Growing up in Lewistown, James Gibbs was 13 when he started smoking pot and drinking. At 15, he was doing ecstasy, cocaine and pills. By 18, he was shooting up meth and heroin.

And with drugs came violence: Gibbs first had a gun pulled on him when he was 14.

The breaking point came while sobering up in a jail cell in Texas. Gibbs, who had been in and out of treatment and jail for years, weighed just 96 pounds and didnt sleep much for 14 days, he said. Talking to law enforcement, Gibbs decided he needed to stop.

I spilled my guts, he said. I was done. I wanted to quit.

But he didnt know how. One option was the 48-bed Montana Chemical Dependency Center in Butte. But its four hours from his home and the waiting list was 90 days, he was told.

Try telling an addict to wait 90 days, he said. Thats almost a death sentence.

State leaders hope that changes soon. Lawmakers this year passed a series of reforms aimed at expanding access to treatment, especially in rural Montana, where its hardest to find.

Thats what opened me up

One new law gives a boost to a profession that people like Gibbs often rely on to quit using drugs. Called peer support specialists, they are people who have struggled themselves with alcohol or drug addiction, are in recovery and work to support others trying to get clean.

There are more than 800 peer support specialists in Montana, and they've been active in the state for years, working mostly at mental health drop-in centers. The state offered some grant money to fund their services, but it was limited. Other peers volunteered their services, working without pay.

Until now, the profession has been unregulated and uncertified.

That changed when the new law went into effect Oct. 1. Montana will join at least 38 other states in making peer support services billable to Medicaid, the largest payer for mental health care in the U.S.

Jim Hajny, who runs Montanas Peer Network, said peer support changed his life. Hes been in recovery for 22 years, and during his second psychiatric hospitalization he was introduced to a peer support specialist.

The guy, his name was Dan, he spoke to me and said, You know, I get it. Like, Ive been here. Ive literally sat in your chair,  Hajny recounted. Thats what opened me up. It wasnt my counselor or doctor or medication, or any of that. It was having this peer supporter who could really speak to me.

Expanding access to drug courts

Lawmakers this year also lifted the ban on violent offenders in drug courts.

Drug courts are specialized court dockets that handle criminal cases, child abuse and neglect, or juvenile cases where the offenders struggle with drug or alcohol addiction. Through weekly court check-ins, drug testing, treatment sessions and sanctions, the courts aim to help people get clean, stay out of jail and be productive in the community.

At times, violent offenders have been accepted into the states 26 drug courts, contrary to state law, and were successful, a statewide performance audit found in 2015. Advocates pushed for the ban to be lifted. (Sex offenders are still banned from the special courts.)

Drug courts are a key path to treatment, especially in rural Montana. Most counties in Montana have no licensed clinical psychologist or marriage and family therapist, and a third of the states counties have no licensed addiction counselor, census data shows.

Drug courts serve various Eastern Montana and Hi-Line counties, and they exist on the Rocky Boys, Northern Cheyenne, Fort Peck and Crow reservations.

Tackling Montanas drug problem

Gibbs, the Lewistown man, is far from alone in his struggles with addiction. Between 2008 and 2015, drug arrests went up by 62 percent in Montana, with felony arrests doubling. Meth violations, which were on the decline in Montana between 2005 and 2010, increased by more than 500 percent in the past five years.

These drug cases, combined with probation and parole violations and no-shows in court, are a major driver in the states prison and jail overcrowding, a recent study found.

Other bills passed this year to tackle the problem include efforts to expand access to Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug, and to move criminal offenders who receive deferred sentences into treatment more quickly, when space is available. Another new law removes geographic restrictions on state-approved substance abuse treatment providers. The restrictions were intended to spread out services in rural Montana but unnecessarily limited treatment services, critics said.

Just as human

Gibbs has been sober for four years. He has a job he likes working security at a private meth treatment center in Lewistown that contracts with the state. Hes raising his 19-month-old son. And whenever he can, he visits local schools, talking in stark terms to kids about drugs, urging them not to go down that path.

If I had one thing to say to everybody in Montana, itd be that people who suffer from substance use disorder are just as human as everyone else and the stigma that we face doesnt help the situation, he said. And we can help one another, one addict to another.
Buttes Superfund cleanup has reached a critical point. As a community, we need to hold EPA and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality accountable for the inadequate cleanup we have received. As agencies that are charged with providing citizens with a clean and healthy natural environment, EPA and MDEQ need to collectively decide if this mission really means anything practically.

EPAs Superfund cleanup failure has been recently brought to light by the revelation that EPA has done nothing regarding the so-called Westside Priority Soils area that roughly encompasses everything other than the Butte Hill  a pretty large area. Assessing and cleaning up this area has been talked about for decades and nothing done. Butte can never be cleaned up unless these areas are addressed and we havent even started the process of determining what level of contaminants is present there. The agencies arent even sure what constitutes the Westside Priority Souls area. While it is true that EPA is facing an austere future, this neglect of Westside Priority Soils was going on long before the current problems EPA faces nationally.

Lead and arsenic contaminates the Westside Priority Soils area. Are we only going to cleanup some of Butte? The inorganic arsenic, found in the Westside Priority Soils area, even at low levels of exposure, poses a serious threat to human health. Arsenic has been designated a human carcinogen. Arsenic can cause cancer of the lungs, liver and skin. Long-term exposure to arsenic can cause alterations in mental functions and depression. Arsenic exposure at low doses can cause nerve damage, cardiovascular problems, skin problems and constitutional complaints such as nausea, diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, etc. Moreover, there are no known safe levels of exposure to inorganic arsenic. Lead is a neurotoxin that particularly affects children.

There is strong evidence that a significant amount of the arsenic present in attics in the Westside Soils area of Butte came from the Anaconda Smelter, a Superfund site. The prevailing wind patterns in Southwestern Montana clearly indicate that the prevailing winds flow from the Anaconda Smelter to Buttehence a plume of trivalent arsenic contamination could have reached Butte. The toxics in the Westside Soils Superfund site are a clear and present danger to Buttes public health and must be addressed expeditiously.

But it is not just Westside Soils that is problematic in Butte. After decades, MDEQ has announced that its remedy for dioxin at the Montana Pole Plant is not working and is being abandoned. MDEQ ignores the Pole Plant contamination under the interstate.

The removal of the Parrott and associated tailings has stalled. Unless those tailings are removed, Silver Bow Creek will never be cleaned or restored.

The critical water level in the Pit will soon be reached. Will the remedy work?

Storm water runoff has yet to be comprehensively addressed and still pollutes Silver Bow Creek.

Consent decree negotiations appear halted and with them any permanent solution to Buttes Superfund problems. Unnecessary secrecy still shrouds these negotiations.

Indifference, lethargy, paternalism, bureaucratic bumbling and excuses seem to dominate EPAs and MDEQs approach to finishing the Butte cleanup.

Buttes public health as well as attempts to economically revitalize Butte are being held hostage to this indolence, incompetence and apathy.

Only in an alternative universe of alternative facts could anyone claim the Superfund is working well in Butte.

Minimally, EPA and MDEQ need to:

1. Indicate exactly what is occurring at the various Superfund sites in Butte. (Priority Soils, Berkeley Pit, Montana Pole Plant and Westside Priority Soils)

2. Provide a firm timetable indicating clearly when what needs to be done will be done and who will be responsible for doing it.

3. Indicate, specifically, when we will finally get started in assessing and cleaning up the Westside Priority Soils area. This area has fallen through the cracks for too long.

4. Address the issues of informing and involving the public in Superfund decision making on a timely and comprehensive basis.

5. Inform, explicitly, the public where we stand with Restore Our Creek. Are the agencies still firmly committed to achieving a restored Creek?

Perhaps a town hall could be held to provide this information. Butte citizens have a right to demand and receive answers.

-- John Ray, PhD, teaches classes at Montana Tech in public policy and political science. He is a member of the board of CTEC (Citizens Technical Environmental Committee) and is chairperson of Citizens for Labor and Environmental Justice. The views expressed by Dr. Ray are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Montana Tech, CTEC or Citizens for Labor and Environmental Justice.
MUSCATINE  One week after the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, around 20 clergy members and residents gathered on Muscatine's riverfront, lit candles and sung the hymn "Down to the River to Pray."

Churches throughout Muscatine joined together to hold the vigil, to pay respect to the victims of last Sunday's shooting at a country music concert in Las Vegas. In between prayers, ministers read the names of the 59 people who died in the attack, including the shooter. More than 480 people were injured.

Pastor Aleese Baldwin, of Shepherd of the Cross Lutheran Church, said praying on the riverfront seemed like the best way to bring congregations out of their churches and into the public.

"We wanted to be present and in the light," she said. "After something like this happens, there's usually a lot left unsaid. We want to give a space for people to actually speak it. So much is pushed aside, so that's one big reason why we wanted to bring it to the forefront."

Singing old hymns "I've Got Peace like a River" and "Down by the Riverside," Baldwin said, seemed most fitting. Residents sang the lyrics "Goin' to lay down my war shoes, Down by the riverside, To study war no more."

While the vigil was held by the Muscatine Ministerial Association, organizers invited people of all faiths and beliefs to attend.

"We (want to bring) a greater sense of togetherness," Vicar Kyle Seibert, of Zion Lutheran Church, said. "Maybe you view God differently or use different words to express what God might mean to us, but we are not forsaken."

While the mass shooting happened hundreds of miles away from Muscatine, Baldwin said it was important for local residents to reflect on the incident and realize the effects it has on the community.

"I personally live on the very end of W. 7th Street, so not that far away from where gun violence has happened in our own city," she said. "We sometimes like to turn a blind eye to that reality. But there is gun violence here, and not only gun(s), but violence in general. This is an opportunity at a time like this to speak a different narrative, not only for the people in Vegas, but for the people right here."

Muscatine resident Betty Bunn, 85, said she was unsure about attending the vigil at first. Her son owns a home in Las Vegas, where her grandson currently lives. She has yet to hear back from her grandson to hear how he is doing in wake of the attack.

"I think it's really important to gather and come together," Bunn said. "I can't do much, but I can just be here."

Bunn advocates for tighter security at schools and stricter gun policies. Her son, she said, often talks about the high number of shootings in Vegas and the loose gun laws in the city.

The vigil was a time for residents to reflect and share their concerns. Many said they worried Americans are becoming too desensitized to gun violence. And while Baldwin noticed fear and sadness in people's voices, she said one of the faith community's greatest roles is to offer a message of hope.

"Standing here and listening to the water on the river, I [realize] the river keeps going...(water) keeps flowing constantly," Rev. Cathi Bencken of Trinity Episcopal Church said. "Can we just stop for a moment, and pause, and reflect, without all of that noise?"
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
Napa County endured a hellacious night of wind-fed wildfires that prompted scores of neighborhood evacuations in Napa and Calistoga, sending hundreds of people to shelters and closing all public schools in Napa County, including Napa Valley College, on Monday.

Fanned by strong wind gusts, major fires burned all night in the Atlas Peak and Partrick Road areas, as well as on the outskirts of Calistoga, with flames lighting up ridgelines, dumping acrid smoke and ash into the Napa Valley.

Cal Fire said Monday that the Tubbs Fire, that started in Calistoga and burned into Sonoma County, has burned 25,000 acres as of late Monday morning.

The Atlas Fire off of Atlas Peak Road has burned an estimated 25,000 acres as of 11:30 a.m. as it continues to move south toward Solano County, while the smaller Partrick Fire had consumed 3,000 acres, Cal Fire said.

The number of structures that burned couldnt be immediately tallied. Public safety officials said their first priority was to clear people from the fires paths.

Cal Fire reported shortly after midnight that it had ordered 24 strike teams from as far away as San Francisco to try to deal with the multiple blazes in Napa County. Air support would be available once daylight came.

The Napa evacuation center at CrossWalk church on First Street filled by 4 a.m., prompting officials to open up the Napa Valley College gym for the overflow. The Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga was opened for Upvalley evacuees.

Public schools from Calistoga to Napa announced Monday closures because of the unprecedented nature of so many fires ringing the Napa Valley, prompting so many people to flee their homes. Justin-Siena High School in Napa announced that it was also suspending classes for the day as well, as is First Christian School. NVUSD athletic events will not be held.

The first major fire began after 10 p.m. in the Atlas Peak area. It burned south, initially prompting evacuations around Silverado Resort, then later in the Vichy Avenue/Hagen Road area, followed by Coombsville and Wooden Valley areas as well as Montecito Boulevard and Monte Vista Avenue inside the city.

On the west side of Napa, a fire on the 3000 block of Partrick Road lit up the western sky and prompted more evacuations as it burned toward the city of Sonoma.

A separate fire near Henry Road resulted in the evacuation of 200 people from The Carneros Resort and Spa and adjacent rural areas.

In Calistoga, a blaze west of the city closed Highway 128, prompting evacuations all the way west to Santa Rosa. Voluntary evacuations were requested along Highway 29, north of Tubbs, as reports came in of houses destroyed.

The entire area was under a high wind advisory through at least 11 a.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service, with gusts of up to 20 miles per hour.

The first evacuees from Atlas Peak began arriving at the CrossWalk Community Church evacuation center before midnight on Sunday, and about 20 people had made their way there by 1 a.m. Relatives of those living in the area were also arriving at the center, along with a representative from the American Red Cross.

A deputy was overheard telling a man at the evacuation center, whose elderly mother lives alone on Atlas Peak, that law enforcement was attempting to go door to door in the area, but fallen trees and flames were blocking the way.

Among the evacuees were Alejandra Alfonzo and five members of her family, who were visiting from Florida. The family had been visiting nearby wineries and had just returned to the Silverado Resort and Spa as the fire was approaching.

We were trying to get to the room and the fire was very close, Alfonzo said. Everyone was leaving; the hotel was already empty. Half the staff was gone when we arrived.

Alfonzo said she and her family had to leave their luggage and escape in their van as flames came within one-fifth of a mile of the resort. Our IDs are still there; I dont know how well fly back if the hotel burns, she said.

Alfonzo said that power at the resort had also failed while the family was there.

While escaping, the family picked up Debbie DeLanoy, another tourist, and brought her to the evacuation center.

DeLanoy said she and her boyfriend were visiting the area from Las Vegas and were staying in an Airbnb rental on Westgate Drive near Atlas Peak Road. The couple arrived at around 7 p.m. Sunday, she said.

My boyfriend went walking just for fun," DeLanoy said, "and I got a text message saying, Get out of there now. Look out the back door. Theres a fire.' And I saw the place next door torching up. I left with my medicines and his backpack."

DeLanoy said as she left, she encountered an emergency vehicle that transported her to Silverado Resort and Spa, which was also being evacuated. From there, she rode with Alfonzo's family to the evacuation center.

My boyfriend called; he said hes going to walk down here. Hes a walker. I didnt expect this; I came here to get away from that. But Im safe. I worry about the people who are not, she said.

The blaze was visible from Big Ranch Road around 1:30 a.m., where vehicles lined the road, their occupants sitting and standing on car roofs and in truck beds, gazing on the engulfed hills.

In Yountville around 2 a.m., ash rained and smoke stifled the air as the fiery rim capped the hills rising to the east above Silverado Trail.

The fire could also be seen from Highway 29. Multiple traffic stoplights between Yountville and the city of Napa were without power around 2 a.m., as intermittent caravans of emergency vehicles sped north, lights and sirens blazing.

Napa County has opened the animal shelter at 942 Hartle Court for household pets.

Smoke from the multiple fires may create a health hazard, Napa County warned. Anyone who can see or taste smoke should minimize outdoor activities.

Elsewhere, fire units in Sonoma County reported a major blaze in the area of Porter Creek Road and Petrified Forest Road. The area was under a mandatory evacuation. There were preliminary reports of at least one structure on fire.
By now, you are probably beginning to wonder if I plan to rhapsodize about every bite I ate during my recent visit to Peru. Its tempting (and I did warn you I was going to milk the trip for every column inch I could get out of it), but I do need to move this along or well still be in South America this time next year. So Im not going to devote this column to describing a single amazing meal.

Im going to describe two.

They couldnt have been more different, though each was extraordinary in its own way. Taken together, they give the full flavor and paradox of a country that juxtaposes ancient and modern at every turn.

The first was at Central, a restaurant routinely ranked among the top dining spots worldwide. One of my travel companions had worked to score us a reservation several months before. We booked the 17-course Elevations tasting menu, but we were mostly going on faith and reputation. With course names like Tree Skins and Humid Green, and ingredients like huarango, olluco and caigua, we had no idea what to expect.

What we got was a tour of Peru and its native foods, from sea level to the mountains, transformed into exquisite small bites of unrecognizable but indescribably delicious high-end gastronomy.

Centrals perfectly trained staff translated and explained the ingredients and the elevations concept, which referred to Perus varied geography and regions.

In the low-elevation courses, fascinating bits of fish and seafood abounded  though without the waiters, I doubt I would have been able to identify the sea snail, razor clam or limpet in the mix, or even the scallop, octopus, crab or squid elements. The higher elevations yielded other equally unusual and transformed items like tree tomatoes and air potatoes and a fruit that resembles cotton.

This is one time Im glad we stopped to photograph every course before we consumed it, as the menu I carried home is not sufficient to help me recall the beautiful, creative and sometimes totally weird items we ate. One of my favorite pics is of the strips of crispy piranha skin, served nestled among several very scary-looking piranha heads (which were there for decor, not degustation, Im happy to say).

The second, equally memorable meal occurred about a week later, in a small hamlet called Amaru in the Sacred Valley, nestled below the foothills of the Andes along the Urubamba river. It also featured native Peruvian foods, but the similarity ended there.

After a bumpy ride over dirt roads snaking through steep, terraced hills, our small group arrived at the hand-built home of the community president and his extended family, who greeted us warmly, decked in their distinctive local costumes.

Off to one side, a fire was burning down to embers in a rock-lined hole in the ground for the pachamanca celebration the family was preparing for us. Pachamanca means earth pot, and it is literally that  a celebratory meal cooked buried among hot rocks in the excavated hole.

We watched as our hosts raked out the fire and carefully lifted out the blazing hot stones. Into the pit they placed a large sheet of wet paper, then added a variety of meats (some chicken, a little lamb and  because it was a very special occasion and we were honored guests  a skinned, trussed-up guinea pig). Other layers included numerous varieties of potatoes, sweet potatoes, fava beans, plantains, yucca and corn cobs with giant kernels. Into the hole everything went, interspersed with the hot rocks, until it was filled to overflowing.

They poured in some stock, then covered the mound with more hot rocks and a layer of paper and cloth. Finally, they shoveled dirt on top and left it all to cook.

While the food roasted in the hole, the women demonstrated their spinning and weaving skills, a specialty of the village, and our host sat us down and told us more than you would believe there is to know about potatoes.

I could write an entire column about them and their deep roots (pun intended) in the Andes, but Ill save it, because if you are like I was that day, you are probably anxious to get that food out of the ground.

Which eventually we did.

And it was a feast. One that minus the chicken and lamb, which were brought by the Spanish  could have taken place in a pre-Hispanic Incan community. It didnt have the sophistication of our meal at Central, but plain meat and vegetables, plainly cooked, have never tasted better.

And the guinea pig? (Because I know you want to know.)

No, it doesnt taste like chicken.

The piece I had reminded me more of pork belly.

Lomo Saltado

Beef Stir-Fry

I cant possibly replicate anything I ate at Central, and Im pretty sure you dont want to dig a hole in your yard to cook guinea pig, so instead Im offering a recipe for lomo saltado, beef stir-fried in a very hot wok, which is the national dish of Peru.

After Peru abolished slavery in 1854, the country welcomed 100,000 Chinese male contract workers from Canton. With intermarriage, they and their descendants were absorbed into the Peruvian population, as was their food. Restaurants featuring chifa, Chinese-Peruvian food, are more ubiquitous than fast food in America, and nearly everyone who cooks owns a wok so they can make this dish at home.

In Peru, this would be made with fresh aji amarillo (a hot yellow chili), but the chili paste I ordered is still en route from Amazon. So instead, I have substituted yellow bell peppers and some serrano chili for heat. Fresh aji amarillo peppers are nearly impossible to find here, but if you can acquire the paste, add some to taste in place of the serrano.

Serves 4

1 lb. sirloin steak, cut in thin slices

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

Salt and pepper to taste

3 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 small red onion, cut in 1/2-inch slices

2 plum tomatoes, seeded and cut in 1/2-inch lengthwise slices

1 seeded and ribbed yellow pepper cut in thin slices

1/2 serrano chili, seeded and cut in very thin slices

2 Tbsp. Chinese soy sauce

3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1/3 cup beef stock

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

Note: This dish should be served with rice and French fries or steak fries, which you should prepare before you begin cooking the main course.

Rub the garlic, salt and pepper into the meat.

Place the wok over high heat. When it starts to smoke, add the oil. Then add the meat in small batches, stir-frying it so that it browns, about 2 minutes per batch. (If you add too much at once, it will steam instead.) Add all the meat back to the wok along with the onion, tomato, yellow pepper and serrano pepper and stir fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Dont overcook; the vegetables should still be crunchy.

Add the soy sauce and vinegar by pouring them onto the side of the wok, then stirring them in. Then add the beef stock and cook for another minute or so.

Turn off the heat, add the cilantro and serve immediately, accompanied by rice and potatoes.
California has spent tens of billions of extra dollars on its K-12 school system in recent years on promises that its abysmal levels of academic achievement  especially those of disadvantaged children  would be improved.

And what have those massive expenditures  a 50 percent increase in per-pupil spending  and a massive reworking of school curriculums accomplished?

Not much, the latest results from annual testing indicate.

Mathematics and English tests based on Common Core standards were administered last spring to half of the states 6-plus million K-12 students, those in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11.

It was the third round of such testing and the so-so gains seen in last years version stalled out in 2017 with virtually no change in the numbers of children meeting or exceeding standards in both vital learning areas.

The more important data point is that with essentially no gains in 2017, fewer than half of Californias children are meeting English standards and fewer than 38 percent in math.

That should be seen as a major crisis, but when one looks at the numbers for black and Latino kids, and those classified as poor or English learners, they even more shameful.

While three-quarters of Asian students and two-thirds of whites hit the competency mark in English, fewer than a third of black students and just over a third of Latinos did. For poor kids, it was 35.5 percent and for English learners, a minuscule 12.1 percent.

The scores on mathematics were even worse, just 37.6 percent overall, 19 percent for blacks and 25.2 percent for Latinos.

The best spin state schools Supt. Tom Torlakson could muster was a weak Im pleased we retained our gains, followed by a rationalization that these tests are far more rigorous and realistic than the previous paper and pencil tests.

The low achievement of disadvantaged children is obviously important for their individual futures, but what makes it critical to the state as a whole is that they are about 60 percent of the states K-12 students.

Five years ago, Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature enacted the Local Control Funding Formula that freed up billions of dollars that had been designated for specific educational programs in the past, pumped more billions of new dollars into the system, gave extra money specifically for improving achievement of high-needs children and allowed local school officials to spend it with only light oversight from Sacramento.

The theory advanced by Brown and other advocates was that local educators would spend the money wisely and effectively. Critics in the equity coalition of school reformers and civil rights groups have argued that left to their own devices, school officials would succumb to political pressure to divert the extra money into salary increases, pensions and other areas rather than concentrate it on the targeted kids.

The contending factions have battled constantly in the Legislature, in the state Board of Education, and in the courts over accountability for spending and outcomes.

As the newest test results were being issued in September, it was announced that civil rights groups and parents in Long Beach Unified School District had won a ruling from the Los Angeles County Office of Education that the district had misspent $24 million in funds meant for disadvantaged kids.

The juxtaposition of that ruling and the test scores implies that as the critics feared, the changes wrought by Brown, the Legislature, Torlakson and others in the political/educational establishment are falling short of meeting their 2012 promises

Tellingly, however, in the just-concluded legislative session, efforts to reform their supposed reforms were rejected, including a proposed audit of how the extra money meant for high-risk kids has been spent.

How Brown and legislators can blithely ignore the reality of whats not happening in the classroom is one of the states most puzzling enigmas.
President Donald Trump's enduring support among evangelical Christians and Mass-attending Catholics befuddles many of his critics. "How could a Christian accept [some presidential action or statement]?" is now a trope.

The genuinely confused should realize that for millions of voters, religious liberty remains the overarching issue of the day, the alpha and omega of whether Trump gets a nod of approval or at least a pass. And most of those voters are very well aware that religious liberty is on the Supreme Court's docket this term.

The Supreme Court will soon consider the religious liberty of Jack Phillips in Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The state of Colorado has said that Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Phillips' refusal to create custom wedding cakes celebrating same-sex wedding ceremonies violates the state's law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation - despite Phillips' policy of refusing to create other confections that collide with his faith, including cakes containing alcohol or celebrating Halloween or atheism.

The case will draw huge attention because it is at the intersection of so many controversies. But the emotions it elicits shouldn't obscure its connection to a large portion of Trump's core support: conservative people of faith.

Evangelicals and Mass-attending Catholics gave the president healthy majorities when they voted last fall, and largely that support has not wavered. For those wondering why, it comes down to the issue at the core of Masterpiece Cakeshop: Will Americans be allowed to practice their religious beliefs without fear of ruin from secular absolutists? In the view of these voters, elites believe every knee must bend to their secular creed, not just on matters regarding sexual intimacy but also on issues of when life begins and when death ought to be optional.

Many people of faith are convinced that their ability to believe, proclaim and practice their genuine faith convictions is in danger not just of ridicule but also of punishment. They hear themselves routinely - and unfairly - compared to racist bigots. They know that racial bigotry in the marketplace is illegal; indeed, they agree with the laws that make it so, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and believe those laws are righteous and, more to the point, constitutional.

Moreover, the vast majority of evangelical and Catholic leaders assert that they, and the president, are not homophobic and that their positions on same-sex marriage do not mean they are anti-gay. They also believe, not without reason, that only Christians, not faithful Muslims, are targeted for refusal to celebrate same-sex unions, in a double standard born of animus toward the Christian community, fear of the Islamic one, or both.

And they expect that, absent a new "test" emerging from the case now before the court, their civil right of free exercise of religion will be erased, quietly and quickly, from the constitutional canon.

That fear drives a lot of politics these days, though it is only dimly perceived by political and media elites for whom the underlying variants of religious belief are at best unusual and sometimes unthinkable. I think that fear explains so much as to be almost too obvious an answer to too many current dilemmas.

Why did Roy Moore win the GOP Senate primary in Alabama? People of faith may not agree with his positions - and most probably don't - but they can count on him being on their side in free-exercise disputes. Why do evangelicals hang in with the president despite his all-too-frequent un-Christian bouts of public disdain toward others, attacks that are at odds with the gospel? Because his judicial appointments - the source of the ultimate protection of faith and the free-exercise clause - are not only solid, they are also better than those of either President Bush.

For many millions of people of faith, Trump is the last line of defense preventing their having to choose between their religious beliefs and full participation in the community and in business.

In short, as the Supreme Court returns to work, understand that a lot of the politics of today are driven by its decisions in the past and fear about its decisions in the future. This remains a deeply religious country, and many of its most ardent believers distrust the federal courts and elite opinion-makers to such a degree that they will make common cause with those who will protect their freedom of conscience. The right to "free exercise" isn't just one of many important rights to them; it is the central one by far. Figure that truth into your political analysis, and a lot more becomes clear.
- Britain prepares to go to war against North Korea, readies super aircraft carrier.





- Senior government officials concerned that London is closer to North Korea than New York.





- HMS Queen Elizabeth may be deployed ahead of its initially scheduled due date.

Although British ministers have refused to disclose whether the UK has a plan in place should war erupt in North Korea, military planners are already weighing options and drawing tactics.





HMS Queen Elizabeth is not due to enter service until 2020, but she will be commissioned at the end of this year. Navy sources said she could technically then be sent to war. While Kim's threats have focused on the US, British officials fear the UK would be dragged into any war with the regime, which has been sanctioned by the UN.





A senior Whitehall source said: We have plenty of ships to send the Type-45 destroyers, the Type-23 frigates. Britain's new aircraft carrier could be pressed into service early if things turn south.'





Last week Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon told the Tory Party conference: North Korea's illegal testing underlines just how irresponsible it would be to scrap the deterrent that protects us.





It is all very well Jeremy Corbyn saying he would never use nuclear weapons but Manchester and London are closer to Pyongyang than Los Angeles.'
How Columbus, of all people, became a national symbol

A UF anthropologist tells the story of how Columbus came close to falling into historical obscurity until American hubris intervened.

Agricultural Building at the Worlds Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1893. University of Maryland Digital Collections

William Francis Keegan, University of Florida

Christopher Columbus was a narcissist.

He believed he was personally chosen by God for a mission that no one else could achieve. After 1493, he signed his name xpo ferens  the Christbearer. His stated goal was to accumulate enough wealth to recapture Jerusalem. His arrogance led to his downfall, that of millions of Native Americans  and eventually fostered his resurrection as the most enduring icon of the Americas.

Columbus in chains

In 1496, Columbus was the governor of a colony based at Santo Domingo, in what is now the modern Dominican Republic  a job he hated. He could not convince the other colonists, especially those with noble titles, to follow his leadership.

They were not colonists in the traditional sense of the word. They had gone to the Indies to get rich quick. Because Columbus was unable to temper their lust, the Crown viewed him as an incompetent administrator. The colony was largely a social and economic failure. The wealth that Columbus promised the Spanish monarchs failed to materialize, and he made continuous requests for additional financial support, which the monarchs reluctantly provided.

By 1500, conditions in Hispaniola were so dire that the Crown sent Francisco de Bobadilla to investigate. Bobadillas first sight, at the mouth of the Ozama River, was four Spanish mutineers hanging from gallows. Under authority from the king, Bobadilla arrested Columbus and his brothers for malfeasance and sent them to Spain in chains. Columbus waited seven months for an audience at the court. He refused to have his chains removed until the meeting, and even asked in his will to be buried with the chains.

Although the Spanish rulers wanted Columbus to disappear, he was allowed one final voyage from 1502 to 1504. He died in 1506, and went virtually unmentioned by historians until he was resurrected as a symbol of the United States.

Inventing Columbus

In the mid-18th century, scholars brought to light long-forgotten documents about Columbus and the early history of the New World.

One of the most important was Bartolome de las Casas three-volume Historia de las Indias. This book was suppressed in Spain because it documented Spains harsh treatment of the native peoples. His depiction of Spanish mistreatment of the Indians provided the foundation for the Black Legend. His account blackened Spanish character by depicting it as repressive, brutal, intolerant and intellectually and artistically backward. Whatever Spains motives, the conquest of the Americas destroyed native cultures and ushered in centuries of African enslavement.

Another was the personal journal of Christopher Columbus from his first voyage, published in 1880. The journal captured the attention of Gustavus Fox, Abraham Lincolns assistant secretary of the Navy, who made the first attempt to reconstruct the route of Columbuss first voyage.

Renewed scholarly interest in Columbus coincided with political motives to deny Spain any remaining claims in the Americas. Spains American colonies declared independence, one by one, from the beginning of the 19th century. Simon Bolivar, and other Creole revolutionary leaders, embraced a classical philosophy that highlighted their Roman ancestry to a degree that Spanish America was converted to Latin America. The final assault came with the U.S. invasion of Cuba and the six-month Spanish-American War in 1898. Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory, and this year marks the 100th anniversary of the purchase of the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark.

Columbus likely would have slipped back into obscurity if not for American hubris.

The Columbian Exposition

In 1889, France put on what reviewers described as the most spectacular Worlds Fair possible. Held on the Champs de Mars in Paris, its crowning achievement was the Eiffel Tower.

After Paris, the United States set out to prove to the world it was the equal of Europe by staging its own Worlds Fair. No one has claimed credit for the theme of the Exposition, but the stage was set when American writer and author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving, attempted to revive his flagging career by writing the first biography of Christopher Columbus in English, published in 1828.

His embellishments created the great hero whose legend the fair celebrated: He was one of those men of strong natural genius, who appear to form themselves; who, from having to contend at their very outset with privations and impediments, acquire an intrepidity in braving and a facility in vanquishing difficulties.

The Columbian Exposition and Worlds Fair was timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Columbuss arrival in the New World. President William H. Harrison presided over opening ceremonies on Oct. 12, 1892. That same day, the Pledge of Allegiance was introduced in American schools.

Chicago created the White City  a collection of nine palaces designed by Americas greatest architects, conceived and constructed in only 26 months. Outside the White City was the grittier Midway, which is now a common feature of carnivals and fairs. The fair gave visitors their first taste of carbonated soda, Cracker Jacks and Juicy Fruit chewing gum. An enormous 264-foot-tall Ferris wheel transported 36 cars each carrying up to 60 people on a 20-minute ride. More than 28 million tickets were sold during the six months the Columbian Exposition was open. Columbus was the darling of 19th-century mass media.

Seventy-one portraits of Columbus, all posthumous, hung in a Grand Gallery. Following Irvings descriptions, Columbus became the embodiment of the American Dream. The son of simple wool weavers and someone who had a great dream challenged the greatest scholars of his day, and boldly went where no man had gone before. Better yet, he was Italian. America could deny that Spain had any part in the discovery of the New World.

President Harrison declared a national holiday to coincide with opening of the Columbian Exposition  Columbus Day. It was officially recognized by Congress in 1937.

In 1992, as the United States prepared for the 500th anniversary of Columbuss arrival in the Americas, the pendulum swung again. The devastating impact of his discovery on native peoples throughout the Americas led protesters to decry Columbus as a terrorist.

Columbus the man died more than 500 years ago. Columbus the legend is still being dismantled. His story illustrates the blurred borders between myth and history  how an architect of destruction was turned into a national symbol.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on Oct. 10, 2016.

William Francis Keegan, Curator of Caribbean Archaeology, University of Florida

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-04 21:25:30|Editor: Liangyu

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MOGADISHU, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- A UN-backed innovation camp is underway in Mogadishu with 55 young Somali men and women brainstorming on best business ideas to improve the dairy industry.

A statement from the UN Development Program (UNDP) issued on Wednesday said participants in the first ever "Innovate for Somalia" will develop specific solutions to dairy industry challenges, which will then be reviewed, fine-tuned and developed into a business model.

UNDP Somalia Country Director, George Conway, congratulated the government on its leadership in making the event happen.

"These kinds of processes must involve broad collaboration between the Federal Government, between civil society and between the private sector, to bring us all together and think through what we can do differently," Conway said.

"We need new thinking, new approaches to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and we rely on the youth of Somalia to articulate, bright, smart, new ideas that are bankable, that can create employment, that can help to reduce poverty in your country," he added.

The social innovation event being run by two ministries is part of a series of innovation camps which will be held across Somalia and which will give young Somalis between the ages of 19 and 30 a chance to come up with innovative solutions to address development challenges in Somalia.

According to the UNDP, such business ideas or prototypes might be the establishment of a new company, a new NGO, or expanding the work of existing organizations with a scale-up plan.

"The core idea is that Somali challenges are tackled with Somali solutions, implemented by Somali people, and are locally owned and driven," the UNDP said.

The innovation camps aim to support the government in implementing its National Development Plan, by using innovation to turn development challenges into serious social and economic ventures.

Abdi Dirshe, Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, welcomed the young people to the event on behalf of the Somali Federal Government.

"This initiative will greatly contribute to the recovery and development of Somalia. We want to benefit from the skills and innovation of the Somali youth to address the challenges that are affecting our country," he said.

The event, which will conclude with a finale on Oct. 9 with the young people forming teams to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges and win support for their idea.

The successful team who enter the UNDP incubation program will receive further mentoring and support to develop their business idea into a viable product or enterprise, and will go into a shortlist to receive financial support for their idea.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 00:18:55|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Sunday that Turkey would not allow itself to be threatened by Iraq and Syria.

Speaking at a meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in western Afyonkarahisar province, Erdogan emphasized that developments in Syria and Iraq are directly related to Turkey's national security.

"Turkey would not allow a terror corridor established along its border, from Syria's Afrin toward the Mediterranean, "Erdogan noted.

"We are carrying out a strategy to eliminate security threats step by step instead of facing them in our own territory," he said."The Euphrates Shield Operation is the first step. Now another operation is underway in Idlib."

Erdogan said the process, which began yesterday and was implemented this morning, is continuing "without any problem."

"The efforts there (in Idlib) are continuing smoothly with our support for the Free Syrian Army(FSA)," the president said, adding he was keeping close contact with the front.

Erdogan also said that Turkey will cooperate with the FSA within Idlib, and with Russia outside the bounds of Idlib.

In his address to the AKP meeting, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim underlined Sunday that Ankara is in close cooperation with Russia during the operation and vowed to "provide security in Idlib."

Turkey announced the beginning of a new military operation into Idlib province in Syria Saturday as part of a deal with Russia and Iran, in an attempt to create de-escalation zones.

Turkish military deployed Saturday fully-equipped commando units along its Syrian border.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 01:24:05|Editor: yan

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AMMAN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Mulki called on Sunday for the empowerment of youth to fight terrorism, as the young people could play a key role in the battle against terrorism, state-run Petra news agency reported.

At the opening of the 14th meeting of the Arab Youth, the prime minister said that fighting terrorism was not only through military operations, but also on ideological level.

It was vital to protect young people from being influenced by the propaganda of terrorism and extremism, he stressed.

He reiterated Jordan's determination to fight terrorism at all fronts, adding that Jordan had adopted a clear strategy and vision in combating terrorism.

Jordan will continue to make an effort to defend the image of Islam that promotes tolerance and moderation, he said.

Minister of Youth Haditha Khreisha also said it was important to empower the youth in the fight against terrorism, stressing that increased collaboration is necessary in this regard.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 01:24:06|Editor: yan

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AMMAN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned Syrian Charge D'Affaires Ayman Aloush in Amman, strongly protesting some of his remarks recently that aimed at tarnishing Jordan's image and stances, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The ministry said that it notified the diplomat of the need to abide by international diplomatic norms in his statements and actions and that it will take necessary measures in line with the laws in this regard, according to the statement a copy of which was obtained by Xinhua.

In 2014, Jordan expelled the Syrian ambassador following repeated statements and remarks against the country.

The Kingdom considered the Syrian ambassador Bahjat Suleiman as persona non grata and asked him to leave Jordan.

During a seminar this week, Aloush gave some remarks that were reportedly insulting to Jordan about its participation in the 1973 war.

On the reopening of the borders between Jordan and Syria, Aloush said there was nothing official in this regard.

He added that if the border crossing is to be reopened it will be under the control of the Syrian army.

Since the outbreak of unrest in Syria in 2011, Jordan maintained its relationship with the Syrian regime and kept its embassy in Damascus open.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 01:29:07|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court sentenced on Sunday 13 members of a disbanded militant group to death over charges of involvement in terrorist attacks on security forces, official MENA news agency reported.

Giza Criminal Court referred the files of 13 members of Ajnad Misr, known as "Soldiers of Egypt," to the country's highest religious authority, the Grand Mufti, for his non-binding Islamic legal opinion on their execution.

The case originally includes 42 defendants accused of installing explosive devices, targeting various venues including checkpoints, police stations, vital institutions and public properties as well as murdering policemen and citizens.

The court will issue the final verdict on Dec. 7.

Egypt has been fighting against a wave of terror activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military toppled Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his currently blacklisted Brotherhood group.

Terror attacks in Egypt used to focus on police and military men in North Sinai before spreading nationwide and targeting the Coptic minority as well, with most of them claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the regional Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Ajnad Misr pledged allegiance to the IS in 2014, a year before its founder was killed as announced by the Egyptian police in April 2015.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian military and police have killed hundreds of militants and arrested a similar number of suspects as part of the country's anti-terror war declared by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's removal.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 01:59:11|Editor: An

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People enjoy themselves on a beach during the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sept. 21, 2017. (Xinhua/Guo Yu)

by Xinhua writers Chen Wenxian, Liu Xue

JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel is keen on enhancing cooperation with China to attract more Chinese tourists to the Jewish nation, a senior Israeli tourism official told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Amir Halevi, director general of the Ministry of Tourism, lauded the growing tourism between Israel and China for serving as "a cultural bridge between the two countries."

"Incoming tourism from China makes a significant and growing contribution to the Israeli economy, particularly in the hotel and hospitality industries, attractions, shops etc," Halevi said.

Israel will continue its cooperation with Chinese partners for tapping the Chinese tourism market, he vowed.

The past years have already witnessed a sharp rise in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Israel.

A total of 64,600 Chinese tourists have visited Israel in the first seven months of 2017, up 66 percent from the same period last year and 130 percent from 2015, according to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, which expects the number of Chinese tourists to Israel to reach 100,000 in 2017.

Many Chinese tourists perceive Israel as a mysterious and exotic destination, attracted by, among other things, the Jewish culture, the holy site of three great religions, Israel's tech innovation and the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, Halevi said.

There are also many Chinese business delegations which visit Israel every year with an aim of learning more about Israel's tech innovation and seeking collaboration or partnerships with their Israeli counterparts in many areas, he noted.

A number of non-stop flights from China to Israel have helped boost the inflow of Chinese tourists to the Jewish state.

The Israel Airlines is now operating direct flights from Tel Aviv to Chinese cities of Beijing and Hong Kong, while China's Hainan Airlines is running direct flights from Beijing and Shanghai to Tel Aviv. In addition, the Cathay Pacific Airways provides direct flights from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv.

The policy that Israel offers 10-year multiple-entry visas to Chinese nationals is also an important factor in attracting more Chinese tourists to Israel, according to Halevi.

Halevi said his ministry is sparing no efforts to build the Israel tourism brand for Chinese tourists.

It has improved its tourism infrastructure to meet Chinese travelers' specific needs, such as employing more Chinese-speaking tour guides, and increasing the signage and tourism materials translated into Chinese.

On the recent visit to China by Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, Halevi said its led to a better understanding between the Israeli tourism ministry and main players in the Chinese tourism industry.

"We are working to promote Israel as a leading and safe tourism destination and would like to achieve a formula that will serve both sides for the long term," Halevi said.

There are plenty of opportunities for enhancing collaboration between Israel and China, "not only commercially, but also at the government level in order to promote bilateral tourism," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 02:14:13|Editor: Song Lifang

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MOSCOW, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A major fire broke out at a building materials shopping center in the Moscow region, with over 3,000 people, including visitors and personnel of the shopping center evacuated, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said Sunday.

The fire started at the basement floor of the Sindika marketplace located in the suburb of the Moscow city in the afternoon and then spread up to the roof of the building, according to the ministry's Moscow region department.

Spots of fire are scattered in an area of 55,000 square meters, and there was a collapse of the roof on an area of 1,000 square meters, the ministry said in the latest statement.

A number of cars have exploded at the underground parking lot of the building, Tass news agency quoted a source in the emergency services as saying.

Two people were injured in the fire, one of them hospitalized, according to Moscow's regional Health Ministry.

The cause of the fire remains unknown for the moment.

More than 240 people and 140 pieces of equipment were sent to the scene of the fire for the rescue operation, including three Ka-32 helicopters, the ministry statement said.

Building structures are still collapsing, while the firemen are hoping to contain the fire by 2:00-3:00 am Moscow time, a spokesman of the ministry's main regional directorate said.

Up till now, the environmental situation is still being monitored, and a mobile laboratory is running to measure harmful substances, the ministry said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 02:49:23|Editor: Yamei

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British Prime Minister Theresa May (Xinhua file photo)

LONDON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May relived Sunday the ordeal of her disastrous party conference speech, insisting "I am resilient".

In her first major interview since Wednesday's conference fiasco when a prankster interrupted her speech, her coughing fits and the stage backdrop falling apart, May said at no time did she think of giving up.

In an exclusive interview in the Sunday Times newspaper, May was asked if she had cried or been depressed in the aftermath of her speech.

She replied: "One minute journalists are accusing me of being an ice maiden or a robot, then they claim I'm a weeping woman in dire need of a good night's sleep! The truth is my feelings can be hurt, like everyone else, but I am pretty resilient."

May said at no point did she feel like leaving the stage when things went wrong, adding, "I am a very determined person."

Describing what gave her the guts to plough on, May said the speech had not been the easiest in her life.

"But I had an important message to deliver and I was determined to do that. It didn't feel like I was alone up there, it felt like everyone in the room was with me and willing me on and that made a huge difference," she said.

Asked if the speech was the worse day of her life, May described it as just a speech, adding that she had had to deal with horrific events such as the "appalling Grenfell Tower fire and loss of life".

"In my life there have, of course, been difficult times but what motivates me is giving a voice to those who struggle to be heard," she said.

Asked if she feared for her own safety when the prankster approached her during the speech, May said: "I wasn't concerned for my safety, there was nothing about his body language that gave me cause for alarm. I have protection people who are fantastic. They look out for me and I trust them completely. I cannot imagine many people watching found the prank funny, though."

May also said it was hugely important that leaders do not become shut off from the public.

"We need to get out there to make our case, to listen to what really matters to people and to learn what we can do to make their lives better," she said.

She said from a group of men she met on a stag do in Tallinn last week to the people she talked to when knocking on doors, she rarely meet anything other than warmth, wit and wisdom.

Other media reports Sunday speculated that May was planning to reshuffle her top-team cabinet, with under-fire Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson a possible casualty of a shake-up.

In her Sunday Times interview, May gave no hint of her intentions, apart from describing her cabinet as "terrific".

She said; "I'm the PM and part of my job is to make sure I always have the best people in my cabinet, to make the most of the wealth of talent available in the party. I have a terrific cabinet. For me leadership is not gossip and game-playing."

Some political commentators were interpreting her words as a possible signal that Johnson would lose his job.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 03:54:37|Editor: Yamei

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TEHRAN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's judiciary spokesman on Sunday confirmed five-year jail sentence for an Iranian nuclear negotiator, Tasnim news agency reported.

A member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team arrested recently by the country's intelligence forces has been sentenced to five years in jail on espionage charges, Iranian Judiciary's Spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted as saying.

"The conviction of (Abdol-Rasool) Dorri Najaf Abadi on charges of spying for foreign intelligence services and leaking information have been upheld," Ejei said speaking at a press conference in Tehran.

Back in May, the judiciary spokesman had announced that Dorri Najaf Abadi had been sentenced to a prison term, but added that he could not provide details since the verdict could be appealed.

He added that Dorri Najaf Abadi holds a dual citizenship and is convicted on charges of spying for two foreign intelligence services, without further elaboration.

The final verdict was upheld after his case was reviewed by an appeals court, Ejei added.

The news of arrest of the former member of the negotiating team was first announced by the judiciary spokesperson in August 2016.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 05:14:54|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of Israeli and Palestinian women took to the streets in Jerusalem on Sunday to call for a peace deal between the two sides.

The organizers of the event estimated that some 30,000 women had participated in the rally at the Independence Park in Jerusalem.

The demonstration, organized by the "Women Wage Peace" movement, was the last section of a two-week march that started on Sept. 24.

The entire march began in the southern city of Sderot and passed through the occupied West Bank.

Former Arab lawmaker Shakib Shanan, whose son was killed in an attack at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in July, urged decision makers to reach a peace deal.

"Although my heart is bleeding, I stand here tonight. We have suffered so much. Palestinian families and Israeli families have lost their loved ones ... I came here to say, we want to live," he said.

"In the name of this huge audience here and hundreds of thousands of Israelis, I call on Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) and (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu - enough! Sit already. We want peace," he said.

"Women Wage Peace" was established some three years ago to demand a peace deal that would end the bloody conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. It includes some 24,000 members, with a mission statement saying "we will not stop until there is a peace agreement."

The movement was formed in the wake of Israel's 51-day "Protective Edge" military campaign in the Gaza Strip in 2014, which claimed the lives of at least 2,251 Palestinians, mostly children and women, as well as the lives of 72 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

The U.S.-brokered peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians reached a deadlock in 2014. U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to bring the "ultimate deal" and dispatched envoys to the region several times, without any progress so far.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 05:19:57|Editor: Jiaxin

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hollywood was shell-shocked this weekend by a sex scandal exposure on Hollywood kingmaker, Harvey Weinstein, the Weinstein Company (TWC)'s contentious co-chairman and co-founder.

The New York Times broke the bombshell story Friday after an exhaustive six-month investigation, disclosing explosive allegations of Weinstein's 30-year pattern of sexual harassment and workplace intimidation against young female stars and employees dependent on his largesse for jobs and career advancement.

Witness statements alleged that Weinstein's behaviour followed a classic pattern of abuse: a young woman would be instructed to attend a "business meeting" with Weinstein at a luxury hotel, during which he would then make sexual advances.

Actress Ashley Judd came forward with an emotional statement confirming this report. Judd remembered worrying, "How do I get out of the room as fast as possible without alienating Harvey Weinstein?" She didn't report the incident at the time, for fear it would mean career suicide.

Lauren Sivan, local cable news anchor from Long Island recounted a disturbing incident where Weinstein lured her down to the kitchen basement of the Cipriani restaurant for "a guided tour," then trapped her in a hallway and masturbated in front of her.

Lauren O'Connor, an employee of Weinstein's, finally spoke out in 2014, firing off a gutsy, scathing memo addressed to executives of the Weinstein Company: "There is a toxic environment for women at this company. I am a 28 year-old woman trying to make a living and a career. Harvey Weinstein is a 64 year-old, world famous man and this is his company. The balance of power is me: 0, Harvey Weinstein: 10."

Weinstein issued a statement saying, "I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. I admit to a whole way of behavior that is not good."

The Weinstein Company was founded in 2005 after Harvey and Bob Weinstein left Miramax. It was Harvey Weinstein who led the indie film boom in the 90's and was the creative producing force behind such Award-winning, prestige indies, as "Shakespeare in Love," "Pulp Fiction," "Good Will Hunting," "The King's Speech," "The Artist," "Lee Daniel's The Butler," and the recent "Lion." He is famous for his uncanny ability to orchestrate successful Oscar campaigns.

Ironically the Oscar-winning producer's past projects also include the campus rape expose, "The Hunting Ground," a telling foreshadowing of the current allegations against him.

These allegations are shocking for a man who has helped raise millions of dollars for women's causes and supported endowments honoring women at both Rutgers University and the University of Southern California.

While many in the Hollywood community were stunned by the allegations, others maintained that Weinstein's misconduct has been a thinly-disguised secret that's been disgracefully swept under the rug for years.

Mark Lipsky, the former Head of Distribution for Weinstein at Miramax, told Xinhua Saturday that Harvey and his brother Bob were "unrepentant bullies."

The high-profile director, Rob Reiner ("When Harry Met Sally," "The Bucket List") expressed himself more forcefully: "It's not just our community-this is happening in every workplace in America. It's disgusting. He's one schmuck who did what he did. But there are a lot of great people in Hollywood who don't do stuff like that."

Harvey Weinstein's advisor, the feminist attorney, Lisa Bloom, decried Weinstein's behaviour during an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "Good Morning America" Saturday.

"This is a real pattern over 30 years; this is like textbook sexual harassment," Stephanopoulos contended.

"It's gross, yeah," Bloom replied.

"It's illegal," Stephanopoulos added.

"Yes. You know, I agree," Bloom admitted.

Bloom subsequently stepped down at Weinstein's advisor amidst a firestorm of protest from the Hollywood community, women advocates and the TWC Board.

The Weinstein Company is reeling from the legal repercussions that such rampant sexual harassment allegations might have on the Company itself, given the involvement of numerous female employees. How aware were the other company executives of HW behaviour?

"From the outside, it seemed golden - the Oscars, the success, the remarkable cultural impact," reported Mark Gill, former president of Miramax when the company was owned by Disney, "But behind the scenes, it was a mess, and this was the biggest mess of all."

Three members of the TWC board, Marc Lasry, Dirk Ziff and Tim Sarnoff have resigned due to the scandal, while the remaining boardmembers, Harvey Weinstein's brother, Bob Weinstein, Tarak Ben Ammar, Lance Maerov and Richard Koenigsberg, issued a joint statement that Harvey Weinstein will be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the company while they conduct an in-depth investigation into his alleged misconduct.

A statement issued by TWC, "It is important for him to get professional help for the problems he has acknowledged. Next steps will depend on Harvey's therapeutic progress, the outcome of the board's independent investigation and Harvey's own personal decisions."

Weinstein Co. board of directors has retained attorney John Kiernan of the firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP to spearhead the internal investigation. His investigating team has experience prosecuting sex crimes.

"It is essential for The Weinstein Co. to have a culture where women can work with respect and without fear of harassment or discrimination," the company statement said. He said that the company "values women" and was "committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity."

The pressing question on everyone's lips in Hollywood is: Does this herald the end of Harvey Weinstein's Hollywood reign?

Past sex scandals involving high profile industry players such as Bill Cosby, Roger Ailes, and Bill O'Reilly effectively ended their careers, as more victimized women overcame their fear of reprisals and came forward to tell their story.

Leading female Hollywood producer, Megan Ellison ("American Hustle," "Zero Dark Thirty") CEO of Annapurna Films (and daughter of Oracle founder and IT guru, David Ellison), responded to the allegations against HW by announcing on Twitter:" "Women face serious repercussions for sharing their experiences and deserve our full support. I admire the courage of these women."

Lynda Obst, A-list producer of the Academy Award-winning films, "Interstellar" and "The Fisher King" told Xinhua, "I do expect a robust response from the Hollywood community rejecting this kind of behavior toward women. Obviously it is intolerable."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 05:45:04|Editor: yan

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RABAT, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will pay an official visit to Morocco on Wednesday to strengthen bilateral ties, to boost economic cooperation in particular, local media reported on Sunday.

Citing official source at Morocco's foreign ministry, the financial news site LesEco.ma said the talks between Medvedev and Moroccan officials would focus on boosting economic cooperation, especially in agriculture and energy.

The same source said that Morocco aimed to become the first Arab and African exporter of agricultural products to Russia.

As for energy, the news site said that negotiations were underway to support Morocco's leading gas projects, including the Moroccan-Nigerian gas pipeline.

Moroccan-Russian relations have witnessed substantial development in the past few years. According to official statistics, bilateral trade increased by 27.3 percent in 2016 to reach 1.3 billion U.S. dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 06:20:10|Editor: Jiaxin

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RABAT, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Morocco and Australia launched on Sunday Australia Morocco Business Council (AMBC) to promote ties between business communities in the two countries.

The launching ceremony, which took place in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, was marked by the attendance of Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo and business leaders from the two countries.

"This event marks an important date in the development of relations between Australia and Morocco and further strengthens the historical ties binding the two countries," the Australian embassy in Morocco hailed in a statement.

AMBC aims to provide mutual understanding, goodwill, and business enhancement services among the Moroccan and Australian business communities.

AMBC is expected also position as a platform for advocating for the establishment of formal trade facilitation vehicles between the two countries including trade agreements.
This file photo taken on May 23, 2017 shows US film producer Harvey Weinstein posing during a photocall as he arrives to attend the De Grisogono Party on the sidelines of the 70th Cannes Film Festival, at the Cap-Eden-Roc hotel in Antibes, near Cannes, southeastern France, on May 23, 2017. (AFP PHOTO/Yann COATSALIOU)

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hollywood was shell-shocked this weekend by a sex scandal exposure on Hollywood kingmaker, Harvey Weinstein, the Weinstein Company (TWC)'s contentious co-chairman and co-founder.

The New York Times broke the bombshell story Friday after an exhaustive six-month investigation, disclosing explosive allegations of Weinstein's 30-year pattern of sexual harassment and workplace intimidation against young female stars and employees dependent on his largesse for jobs and career advancement.

Witness statements alleged that Weinstein's behaviour followed a classic pattern of abuse: a young woman would be instructed to attend a "business meeting" with Weinstein at a luxury hotel, during which he would then make sexual advances.

Actress Ashley Judd came forward with an emotional statement confirming this report. Judd remembered worrying, "How do I get out of the room as fast as possible without alienating Harvey Weinstein?" She didn't report the incident at the time, for fear it would mean career suicide.

Lauren Sivan, local cable news anchor from Long Island recounted a disturbing incident where Weinstein lured her down to the kitchen basement of the Cipriani restaurant for "a guided tour," then trapped her in a hallway and masturbated in front of her.

Lauren O'Connor, an employee of Weinstein's, finally spoke out in 2014, firing off a gutsy, scathing memo addressed to executives of the Weinstein Company: "There is a toxic environment for women at this company. I am a 28 year-old woman trying to make a living and a career. Harvey Weinstein is a 64 year-old, world famous man and this is his company. The balance of power is me: 0, Harvey Weinstein: 10."

Weinstein issued a statement saying, "I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. I admit to a whole way of behavior that is not good."

The Weinstein Company was founded in 2005 after Harvey and Bob Weinstein left Miramax. It was Harvey Weinstein who led the indie film boom in the 90's and was the creative producing force behind such Award-winning, prestige indies, as "Shakespeare in Love," "Pulp Fiction," "Good Will Hunting," "The King's Speech," "The Artist," "Lee Daniel's The Butler," and the recent "Lion." He is famous for his uncanny ability to orchestrate successful Oscar campaigns.

Ironically the Oscar-winning producer's past projects also include the campus rape expose, "The Hunting Ground," a telling foreshadowing of the current allegations against him.

These allegations are shocking for a man who has helped raise millions of dollars for women's causes and supported endowments honoring women at both Rutgers University and the University of Southern California.

While many in the Hollywood community were stunned by the allegations, others maintained that Weinstein's misconduct has been a thinly-disguised secret that's been disgracefully swept under the rug for years.

Mark Lipsky, the former Head of Distribution for Weinstein at Miramax, told Xinhua Saturday that Harvey and his brother Bob were "unrepentant bullies."

The high-profile director, Rob Reiner ("When Harry Met Sally," "The Bucket List") expressed himself more forcefully: "It's not just our community-this is happening in every workplace in America. It's disgusting. He's one schmuck who did what he did. But there are a lot of great people in Hollywood who don't do stuff like that."

Harvey Weinstein's advisor, the feminist attorney, Lisa Bloom, decried Weinstein's behaviour during an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "Good Morning America" Saturday.

"This is a real pattern over 30 years; this is like textbook sexual harassment," Stephanopoulos contended.

"It's gross, yeah," Bloom replied.

"It's illegal," Stephanopoulos added.

"Yes. You know, I agree," Bloom admitted.

Bloom subsequently stepped down at Weinstein's advisor amidst a firestorm of protest from the Hollywood community, women advocates and the TWC Board.

The Weinstein Company is reeling from the legal repercussions that such rampant sexual harassment allegations might have on the Company itself, given the involvement of numerous female employees. How aware were the other company executives of HW behaviour?

"From the outside, it seemed golden - the Oscars, the success, the remarkable cultural impact," reported Mark Gill, former president of Miramax when the company was owned by Disney, "But behind the scenes, it was a mess, and this was the biggest mess of all."

Three members of the TWC board, Marc Lasry, Dirk Ziff and Tim Sarnoff have resigned due to the scandal, while the remaining boardmembers, Harvey Weinstein's brother, Bob Weinstein, Tarak Ben Ammar, Lance Maerov and Richard Koenigsberg, issued a joint statement that Harvey Weinstein will be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the company while they conduct an in-depth investigation into his alleged misconduct.

A statement issued by TWC, "It is important for him to get professional help for the problems he has acknowledged. Next steps will depend on Harvey's therapeutic progress, the outcome of the board's independent investigation and Harvey's own personal decisions."

Weinstein Co. board of directors has retained attorney John Kiernan of the firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP to spearhead the internal investigation. His investigating team has experience prosecuting sex crimes.

"It is essential for The Weinstein Co. to have a culture where women can work with respect and without fear of harassment or discrimination," the company statement said. He said that the company "values women" and was "committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity."

The pressing question on everyone's lips in Hollywood is: Does this herald the end of Harvey Weinstein's Hollywood reign?

Past sex scandals involving high profile industry players such as Bill Cosby, Roger Ailes, and Bill O'Reilly effectively ended their careers, as more victimized women overcame their fear of reprisals and came forward to tell their story.

Leading female Hollywood producer, Megan Ellison ("American Hustle," "Zero Dark Thirty") CEO of Annapurna Films (and daughter of Oracle founder and IT guru, David Ellison), responded to the allegations against HW by announcing on Twitter:" "Women face serious repercussions for sharing their experiences and deserve our full support. I admire the courage of these women."

Lynda Obst, A-list producer of the Academy Award-winning films, "Interstellar" and "The Fisher King" told Xinhua, "I do expect a robust response from the Hollywood community rejecting this kind of behavior toward women. Obviously it is intolerable."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 07:54:00|Editor: Song Lifang

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Jewish worshippers attend the annual Priestly Blessing during Jewish holiday of Sukkot at the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem, on Oct. 8, 2017. (Xinhua/Gil Cohen Magen)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 10:15:47|Editor: Song Lifang

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People react during an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of Latin American revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, in Santa Clara, Cuba, on Oct. 8, 2017. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)

SANTA CLARA, Cuba, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- More than 60,000 people turned out on Sunday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Latin American revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

Cuban President Raul Castro was present at a mass rally at the Che Guevara Mausoleum in this town 300 km east of the capital Havana. The rally capped a week of tributes to the guerrilla fighter that helped overthrow Cuba's dictatorship and bring Fidel Castro to power, before he was ambushed and killed in Bolivia on Oct. 9, 1967.

Over 60,000 people participated in the rally at the local Revolution Square where an imposing bronze statue of Guevara is located.

On the ground floor of the memorial, a cavern-like enclosure holds the remains of Guevara and 30 of his comrades fallen in Bolivia. An eternal flame, lit by then President Fidel Castro, pays homage to the fighters.

On Sunday, Raul Castro and other Communist Party leaders paid tribute to Guevara and his guerrilla partners inside the memorial.

Addressing those present, Cuban First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel said:" Che is not dead, as his enemies wanted. His figure grows larger as time passes and younger generations recognize his revolutionary paradigm."

Guevara is now a "universal symbol" and inspiration in the struggle for the liberation of different nations "oppressed by imperialism," said Diaz-Canel.

"He had a very original way of facing life, and his comrades knew how to appreciate his simplicity, sincerity, naturalness, companionship, stoicism, reckless disposition to always face the most difficult situation," said Diaz-Canel.

His altruism and conscious revolutionary spirit have become an ideal to follow, said Diaz-Canel.

In Bolivia, President Evo Morales, accompanied by his cabinet and other leading figures, completed a two-km pilgrimage to La Higuera, where Guevara was killed by CIA-backed mercenaries.

Born in the Argentine city of Rosario in 1928 and trained as a doctor, Guevara joined Fidel Castro's insurgency in 1956 to overthrow Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, and played a leading role in the rebel victory.

With Cuba under new leadership, he left the country to continue his struggle against oppression, first to Congo and then to Bolivia, where he was ambushed and killed by mercenaries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 11:36:01|Editor: Song Lifang

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Photo taken on April 2, 2015 shows U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, Turkey. The United States has suspended all non-immigrant visa services at its diplomatic facilities in Turkey, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara announced on Oct. 8, 2017. (Xinhua/He Canling)

ANKARA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has suspended all visa services at its diplomatic facilities in the United States, the Turkish Embassy in Washington announced late Sunday, shortly after a similar U.S. move.

The tit-for-tat travel services suspensions between the two NATO partners exposed a deepening diplomatic rift inflamed by the arrest of a Turkish employee at the U.S. consulate in Istanbul.

"Recent events have forced the Turkish Government to reassess the commitment of the Government of the U.S. to the security of Turkish Mission facilities and personnel," the Turkish Embassy in Washington said in a statement issued late Sunday.

"In order to minimize the number of visitors to our diplomatic and consular missions in the U.S. while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all visa services regarding the U.S. citizens at our diplomatic and consular missions in the U.S.," read the statement.

Ankara's retaliatory response, which very much resembles the U.S. statement in wording, came hours after the U.S. Embassy in Ankara announced that it had suspended "all non-immigrant visa services at all U.S. diplomatic facilities in Turkey."

Non-immigrant visas are issued for individuals travelling to the United States for a temporary purpose such as visiting, studying and doing business.

However, the Turkish suspension went further, as it added in its statement that the measure would apply to sticker visas, as well as e-visas and border visas.

The row between the two NATO allies was sparked by the arrest of Metin Topuz, a local U.S. Consulate employee in Istanbul, who was taken into custody on Wednesday over espionage charges and alleged links with the group of U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen.

The movement led by Gulen, referred to as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization by Turkey, was accused by Ankara of plotting a failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July last year that killed some 250 people.

The U.S. Embassy in Turkey slammed the arrest of Topuz on Thursday, and criticized the way of conducting the arrest of its employee, saying that the allegations on Topuz "are wholly without merit."

The U.S government was "deeply disturbed" by the arrest and "by leaks from Turkish government sources seemingly aimed at trying the employee in the media rather than a court of law," the embassy said in a written statement.

The embassy stressed that "baseless, anonymous allegations against our employees undermine and devalue (the) longstanding partnership" between the two countries.

In a statement released Thursday, Turkish Foreign Ministry said the name of the suspect is not among the official list of staff of the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, and he does not have diplomatic immunity.

Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported Topuz had connections with former police chiefs and a fugitive prosecutor Zekeriya Oz, who is believed to be a member of the Gulen movement.

Authorities have determined "intense phone conversations" of Topuz with key suspects of last year's coup attempt, Turkish Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said in a televised interview on Thursday.

"There is a judicial process ongoing. He will be questioned. The process is conducted within the framework of the evidence," Kalin added.

The relations between Turkey and its traditional ally the United States have gone from uneasy to challenging after the coup attempt last year.

Turkey's demand for Gulen's extradition falls on deaf ears in Washington as the latter asks for more evidence.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 13:01:14|Editor: Liangyu

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BANGKOK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Insurgents detonated a roadside bomb to ambush a team of rangers in southern Thai province of Narathiwat on Monday morning, in which one ranger was killed and another seriously injured.

The killed is identified as 25-year-old Anan Wichienthong and the injured is Yutthana Thongyen, who is being treated at a local hospital.

According to Thai media Voice TV, a team of eight rangers on four motorcycles were patrolling on a road when they were attacked by the group of insurgents hiding in woods alongside the road.

The other six rangers were safe and local officers have collected evidence at scene.

Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala are the three southernmost Thai provinces that were haunted by explosions and attacks.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 13:06:17|Editor: Liangyu

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by Jose Aguiar

CARACAS, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The outcome of the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Venezuela will determine the direction the national dialogue between the government and opposition will take, political observer Miguel Contreras said on Sunday.

Next Sunday, over 18 million eligible voters around the country will be able to elect the next governor of their state.

The results will define "which players and political forces (the government) has to sit down and dialogue with, so the talks depend on that event," Contreras, a professor of sociology at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), told Xinhua.

Delegations from the two sides last met on Sept. 13 in the Dominican Republic in a bid to resume negotiations that reached a dead end in December 2016.

The coalition of opposition parties, known as the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), walked away from the Vatican-brokered talks, because the government would not meet its demands, including releasing imprisoned opposition leaders convicted of crimes such as fomenting violent demonstrations that left scores dead and destroyed public property. The MUD considers them to be political prisoners.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro believes the MUD's reluctance to negotiate is dictated by Washington as part of a larger conservative strategy to oust his ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).

At this point, said Contreras, whether or how the talks resume "is contingent on what happens on Oct. 15."

If the PSUV wins a majority of the gubernatorial races, "the dialogue will focus more on economic than political matters," since it is the economy that most concerns the ruling party, said Contreras.

"If the opposition wins a great number of governorships, the dialogue is going to be centered on politics, not economics," he said.

Overall, the elections will "define both the opposition and the government's areas of influence," he added.

If the PSUV snaps up many states, said Contreras, it would signal the "strengthening of its political power internally," especially following the recent election of members to the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), a government initiative that drew more than 8 million voters.

It would also mean the party stands a good chance of winning general elections in 2018, "because it would eliminate the opposition's electoral chances," said Contreras.

According to the National Electoral Council (CNE), a total of 197 candidates from both parties are running for governors.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 13:46:24|Editor: Jiaxin

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NEW DELHI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Truck operators across India Monday began their two-day nationwide strike to protest what they say "disruptive polices" under Goods and Services Tax (GST) and alleged corruption at toll posts.

The strike was called by All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), an association of trucker owners.

"The 36-hour countrywide strike started today at 8:00 a.m. (local time) and will continue tomorrow as well," AIMTC President SK Mittal told media.

"The strike is against the callous and indifferent attitude of government officials in implementing GST, hike in diesel price and corruption on roads especially at the toll posts."

According to AIMTC, the organization represents around 9.3 million truckers and five million bus and tourist operators across India.

The strike would affect transportation of supplies including food items.

Mittal said the government has failed to give any clarification on GST.

The striking transporters say spiralling price for diesel and daily changes in fuel rates have adversely affected them, forcing them to go for a strike.

GST, the India's biggest ever tax reform was introduced in July this year to replace more than a dozen state and central levies, with the aim to unify an economy of 2 trillion U.S. dollars and 1.3 billion people into a single market.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 13:51:26|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese people have stepped forward with more confidence in achieving their two centenary goals and building a socialist country.

President Xi Jinping has offered new guidance and arrangements on reaching the country's first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020 to celebrate the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Xi also presented ideas for accomplishing the second centenary goal to build a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious by the middle of the 21st century in time for the centenary of the People's Republic of China.

Since ancient times, writers have recorded the Chinese people's desire to build a moderately prosperous society.

After the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Party drew up a four-pronged comprehensive strategy -- building an all-round moderately prosperous society, deepening reform, advancing the rule of law and strict governance of the CPC.

The CPC has implemented the development concept, and adopted an overall approach for economic, political, cultural, social and ecological progress.

During the past five years, Xi has promised extensive supply-side structural reform, including major tasks such as cutting excess capacity, destocking, deleveraging, reducing costs and shoring up weak areas.

Departments under the State Council have canceled or delegated administrative approval power to lower level organs, meeting targets ahead of schedule in a move to cut red tape and streamline governance.

Achievements have also been made in judicial, fiscal and tax, state-owned enterprise, military and educational reforms.

In the CPC's fight against corruption, crushing momentum has been made in punishing both low-level "flies" and high-ranking "tigers," including Zhou Yongkang, Bo Xilai, Guo Boxiong, Xu Caihou, Sun Zhengcai and Ling Jihua.

The Chinese people are moving closer to their first goal and are looking toward the second centenary goal, while remembering Xi's remark that the people's desire for a better life will always be the country's goal.

The 19th CPC National Congress will convene in October. A total of 2,287 delegates have been elected from more than 89 million Party members to gather in Beijing to elect a new central committee.

On the path to meeting the two goals, the task remains difficult and risks and challenges continue to exist.

China must make comprehensive efforts to prevent and control major risks, alleviate poverty, curb pollution, and deepen supply-side structural reform to push forward sustained and healthy economic and social development.

Answering Xi's call, the Chinese people will roll up their sleeves and follow the leadership of the CPC Central Committee in working towards getting rid of poverty and advancing key reforms.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 14:21:32|Editor: Jiaxin

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BANGKOK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were injured when a clothes dryer machine blew up at a laundry shop on the northern outskirts of Bangkok on Monday, police said.

The clothes dryer machine at La-ong Fong Laundry, on Chaeng Wattana road in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province, 25 km north of the capital, suddenly exploded and injured the eight people who were on the spot and passers-by and largely damaged the property. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.

The blast at the laundry shop sent fragments of twisted steel and other objects flying off in all directions around a row of three-story shophouses.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 14:36:36|Editor: Jiaxin

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CANBERRA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Department of Defence has admitted that a chemical contamination warning came three years late.

The department is fighting perfluorinated chemical pollution from fire-fighting foam at 18 defence bases in Australia.

An investigation on Monday revealed that the department misused the foam for decades despite warning as early as 1987 that the product should not enter the environment.

"There's no doubt about it, that the way we used these products in the firefighting airfields back in the 80s and 90s was not as good as it should have been," Defence Deputy Secretary Steve Grzeskowiak told the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC), whose investigative report program Four Corners broke the story on Monday.

He admitted that the department made a mistake in hiding the contamination from people who live near a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base in Williamtown, New South Wales for three years.

"I think if we had our time again, should we have told the community back in 2012 ... we probably should," Grzeskowiak said.

The chemicals were elements of a Light Water foam manufactured by 3M.

In 2000, the company discontinued the foam and U.S. authorities warned their Australian counterparts that the product's ingredients "potentially pose a risk to human health."

Experts in the United States have found a correlation between perfluorinated chemical pollution and elevated cancer rates.

Despite the warning in 2000, the Department of Defence did not fully stop using the product until July 2012.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 14:41:37|Editor: Jiaxin

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SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's presidential Blue House was closely monitoring possible missile provocations by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on a real-time basis, Yonhap news agency reported Monday.

A Blue House official was quoted as saying that signs of the DPRK's missile provocation, which had been detected before the Chuseok holiday, were unchanged.

The official noted that South Korea was monitoring the moves in the DPRK's missile facilities in real time.

Although any immediate sign of the DPRK's provocation was not spotted yet, signs of missile launches were allegedly detected before the Chuseok holiday as moves in the DPRK's missile facilities were found.

The traditional South Korean holiday, which started late last month, will end on Monday.

The DPRK was widely expected here to conduct another provocation around Oct. 10, the founding day of the DPRK's Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

The military authorities of South Korea and the United States were reportedly mobilizing military surveillance assets, including the U-2S high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) as well as RC-800 and RF-16 reconnaissance planes and P-3C maritime patrol aircraft of the South Korean military.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir delivers a speech during a visit to the village of Shattaya in South Darfur on September 22, 2017. (AFP Photo)

KHARTOUM, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Sunday issued a decree to extend the ceasefire in all conflict zones until December, the official SUNA news agency reported.

"Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir issued a Republican Decree Sunday evening extending the ceasefire in the country until December 2017," the report said.

The extension of the ceasefire aims at preparing for negotiations on the two areas, including South Kordofan and Blue Nile, as part of the government's keenness to achieve peace and stability in the country and turn to address development issues, it added.

In January, Sudan adopted a unilateral six-month ceasefire a few days after the U.S. government decided to partially lift the economic sanctions imposed on Sudan for about 20 years.

In July, al-Bashir decided to extend the declared ceasefire in all conflict zones for three months.

The Sudanese government has been fighting the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas since 2011, where many rounds of peace talks held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa failed to end the conflict.

The Sudanese government has also been fighting armed groups in the Darfur region since 2003.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 17:02:17|Editor: Zhou Xin

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DOHA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Qatar is planning on an integrated transport system to overcome the siege imposed on the country by the Saudi-led group, Qatar News Agency reported Monday.

Qatar's Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassim bin Saif Ahmed al Sulaiti said the system, to be mostly self-reliant, will get assistance from countries that Qatar has agreements with.

The minister made the remarks on the sidelines of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Qatar Foundation for Social Work and the Ministry of Transport and Communication.

The transport and communications sector has successfully opened maritime and air routes with other countries in a quick response to the blockade, he said.

The minister referred to the Qatar Airways new routes and transport links with major ports in Oman, India, China, and Pakistan. They have also succeeded to connect Hamad Port with 57 international ports in the region and beyond recently.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut all diplomatic and transport links (air-land-sea) with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar denies the accusations.
Photo taken by Beijing Fire Brigade Weibo account (XINHUA/web pic) Pan Puquan, a 68-year-old man with Parkinson disease, went missing on the way to visit his firefighter sons in Beijing. Luckily, he was found by Beijing Fire Brigade with the help of police and Chinese social media users on October 8.



After searching for the man for more than 10 days, police posted on its social media platform Weibo that Pan was lost on his trip to visit his two sons who serve in the Beijing Fire Brigade. T he man' s photos, physical traits and the schedule of the train he had taken were also revealed.



Soon the post was forwarded tens of thousands of times. Social media users provided numerous clues to the police.



The father traveled by rail for nearly 2,000 kilometers from Chongqing in southwest China to Beijing to see his sons. They are on closed training in Beijing throughout the year.



When found, Pan could not recognize his sons, tightly holding cakes prepared for them.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 17:12:20|Editor: Zhou Xin

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PHNOM PENH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen announced on Monday that the government would provide bonuses to civil servants and armed forces personnel when they deliver their babies, starting in January 2018.

Mothers giving birth to one child will receive 200 U.S. dollars, while mothers delivering twins will get 400 U.S. dollars, as mothers with triplets will get 600 U.S. dollars, he said during a university graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh.

The prime minister said the Southeast Asian nation has 92,198 female civil servants and armed forces personnel, with 10,844, or 11.7 percent, of them having babies each year.

"From 2018 onwards, we will spend about 2.1 million U.S. dollars a year to help civil servants and armed forces when they deliver babies," Hun Sen said.

Last month, the prime minister also announced to offer bonuses to workers in the garment and footwear sector when they have babies, beginning in January next year. Mothers giving birth to one child will receive 100 U.S. dollars, while mothers of twins will receive 200 U.S. dollars and triplet mothers will get 300 U.S. dollars.

He said the government would spend about 10 million U.S. dollars a year for pregnant laborers because there were about 900,000 female workers with a pregnancy rate of 2.7 percent, or 24,000 workers, each year.

The bonuses will be paid through the National Social Security Fund.

"This is a new policy on social sector that is carried out by the Cambodian People's Party-led government," Hun Sen said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 17:22:24|Editor: Zhou Xin

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PHNOM PENH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The National Secretariat of Cambodia for Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) will be launched here on Tuesday to further strengthen the cooperation mechanism, said a Foreign Ministry press release on Monday.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon, along with ambassadors or representatives of the Lancang-Mekong countries in Cambodia, will attend the launching ceremony to be held at the Foreign Ministry in Phnom Penh, the release said.

Six countries along the Mekong (known as Lancang in the Chinese stretch) are China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

"The launching of this National Secretariat marks Cambodia's engagement together with other four countries of the Southeast Asia that are geographically located along the Mekong River in cooperating closely with China to promote development in the region with the objective of creating a community of shared future of peace and prosperity," it said.

The creation of the national secretariat is made after the LMC foreign ministers agreed during their second meeting last December to set up a national secretariat or coordination unit within their respective ministries of foreign affairs.

Since its establishment in 2015, the LMC has adopted a two-year rotation among Mekong's riparian countries to co-chair with China, the permanent chair of Lancang River.

According to the press release, Cambodia will host and co-chair with China the second LMC Leaders' Meeting in January next year.

Priority areas under the LMC include connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources, agriculture, and poverty reduction.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 17:42:35|Editor: Song Lifang

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Stephen A. Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, speaks in an interview with Xinhua reporters in New York, the United States, Sept. 28, 2017. The upcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is "very very important" as it will draw up new policies that matter not only to China but to the world, said Stephen A. Orlins. (Xinhua/Yang Shilong)

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is "very very important" as it will draw up new policies that matter not only to China but to the world, says a senior U.S. expert.

"What's interesting is I don't think the foreign media and foreign observers of China pay enough attention to it," Stephen A. Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

While many are focused on CPC leadership changes, "in fact there is gonna be a lot of policies that come out of the congress and we are going to need to pay a lot of attention to that," he stressed.

"I think most people are almost unaware of that ... each of these party congresses every five years sets new policies and those are the policies for the next five years and beyond," he added.

"So it's going to be very very important, and I think China watchers are going to become more and more interested as October 18th approaches," he said, referring to the starting date of the upcoming congress.

Orlins, who has been doing business with China for more than three decades, added that he believes the landmark event will, among others, reaffirm China's commitment to reform and opening-up, and to the fair treatment of foreign investors.

"I think China's opening has never been like this ... I expect that to continue," he said. "I expect the 19th Congress will provide for additional reform and opening, additional measures which allow market forces to be the predominant role."

"RESPONSIBLE STAKEHOLDER" ON WORLD STAGE

With China, the world's second largest economy, "stepping up onto the stage for global governance," it is also making great contributions to global peace and development, noted the former diplomat and investor.

China's proposals for boosting global growth, like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), have demonstrated its role as a "responsible stakeholder" in the world, Orlins said, citing a term then U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick famously used in 2005.

"That Belt and Road Initiative is going into places which are potentially fertile ground for terrorism," he noted. "When they bring this economic development (there), it's good for reducing terrorism, which is good for China, good for America, and good for the rest of the world."

Moreover, these initiatives are "basically complementary to the existing world system," he pointed out. "They are not intended to challenge and break the world system. They are not intended to challenge and break the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank or the WTO, or you name it."

Orlins recalled that during his visit to China with six U.S. congressmen in late September, they visited the AIIB and were briefed about the bank's new deals, which are often executed in conjunction with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

"So the criticism which many made of the AIIB initially has proven to be totally false," he said. "They are not challenging these institutions. They are building upon these institutions, and it's important that Americans, Europeans and Japanese understand that."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 17:42:36|Editor: Zhou Xin

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MOSCOW, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia has agreed to supply Saudi Arabia with a range of sophisticated modern weapons including S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said Monday.

"An agreement has been reached with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the supply of S-400 air defense systems," spokeswoman Maria Vorobyova was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.

Russia will also supply Saudi Arabia with Kornet-EM anti-tank missile systems, Buratino TOS-1 heavy flamethrower systems, AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers and Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles, Vorobyova said.

She did not provide the volume or the value of the possible deals.

During the visit of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Russia last week, deals worth at least 2.1 billion U.S. dollars were signed, according to a Kremlin statement.

Russia's Rosoboronexport state arms exporter and the Saudi Military Industries Corporation signed a contract for the licensed production of Kalashnikov AK-103 and cartridges in Saudi Arabia, as well as a memorandum on the purchase of Russian military products and localization of their production.

No details about the two deals were disclosed.

The S-400 is Russia's most advanced long-range anti-aircraft missile system and can carry three types of missiles capable of destroying targets, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

Last month Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey had signed a deal with Russia to buy S-400 missile defense systems.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 17:47:40|Editor: Zhou Xin

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NAIROBI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of supporters of Kenya's main opposition party, National Super Alliance (NASA) on Monday returned to the streets of Nairobi and other major towns to protest against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of Oct. 26 repeat presidential polls.

There was a drama in a major Nairobi street when a car ran over protesters injuring dozens while others scampered for safety.

Led by opposition lawmakers, the protesters waved placards and sang dirges as they marched to the IEBC headquarters in Nairobi to present their petition calling for sacking of officials accused of bungling Aug. 8 polls.

Police watched from a distance as protesters marched in the streets of Nairobi amid rising anxiety among shop owners who feared looting of their premises by criminals disguising as protesters.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 17:47:41|Editor: Zhou Xin

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ISTANBUL, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A total of 143 former Turkish soldiers went on trial on Monday in Istanbul over their deadly clashes with civilians on a bridge on the night of a coup attempt last year, local media reported.

Thirty-four people were killed on the bridge over the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul as clashes erupted between civilians and soldiers trying to seal off the bridge at the start of a coup bid by some in the military on July 15 last year.

A close friend of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was among the dead and 318 others were injured in the clashes on the Bosphorus Bridge, which was later renamed July 15 Martyrs Bridge by the government to honor the dead civilians who resisted the plot.

If convicted, the dismissed soldiers each will face aggravated life imprisonment over "murder and attempting to overthrow the parliament and government," press reports said.

Turkey believes that the coup attempt, in which 250 people were killed across the country, was orchestrated by the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen and his followers in the military.

Turkey has been pushing for Gulen's extradition, while a continuing crackdown has put more than 50,000 in prison and 150,000 others dismissed from their posts.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 18:17:50|Editor: Zhou Xin

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NAIROBI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will facilitate skills acquisition among policymakers in the Somali government as rebuilding of the strife-torn Horn of African nation gathers steam, officials said on Monday.

Moges Ali, Senior Program Officer at IGAD Special Mission in Somalia, said capacity building targeting policymakers in Mogadishu will underpin bilateral initiatives to hasten Somalia's reconstruction after two and a half decades of civil strife.

"We intend to equip senior policymakers from Federal Government of Somalia with skills that are vital to enable them to execute their mandate effectively," Ali said.

He spoke on the sidelines of a five-day training workshop in Nairobi for Somalia policymakers drawn from key ministries sponsored by IGAD and bilateral partners.

Ali said officials from Somalia's key ministries like planning, foreign affairs, mining, health, education and agriculture will benefit from the training that seeks to enhance their skills in policy formulation and implementation.

"The capacity building for policymakers in Somalia will be an ongoing process. It will boost interventions aimed at restoring the country's security architecture, political institutions and the economy," said Ali.

He added that IGAD and its partners have invested heavily in peace building and restoration of rule of law in Somalia against a backdrop of clan based skirmishes and terrorism.

The government of Somalia is implementating a raft of policies to facilitate rebuilding of political, social and economic structures that collapsed during the civil war.

Abdikadir Aden, Director General in Somalia's Ministry of Planning, said that skills development for policymakers will enhance their capacity to formulate and execute policies that benefit citizens.

"Our key objective is to build the capacity of our policymaking organs to enable them to implement a national restoration agenda in areas of security, health, education, infrastructure, mining, agriculture and fisheries," Aden said.

Joshua Mugodo, Director of Economic Affairs and Commercial Diplomacy's Directorate in Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Nairobi is ready to offer expertise to help Somalia develop sound policies that promote economic growth, peace and stability.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 18:22:52|Editor: Zhou Xin

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TRIPOLI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Sunday expressed concern about the impact of the conflict in the western Libyan city of Sabratha.

Othman Belbeisi, chief of IOM mission in Libya said he is "deeply concerned" about the migrants affected by recent developments in Sabratha, saying that food, water, as well as medical assistance are needed there.

He added 1,700 migrants received food, as well as non-food aid of hygiene kits, blankets and more, promising continued efforts to support the migrants.

Sabratha, located some 70 km west of the capital Tripoli, is one of the largest illegal smuggling destinations in Libya, according to international organizations.

A senior official of Sabratha said on Saturday that more than 3,000 illegal immigrants bound for Europe have been found in the city's detention centers.

Smugglers take advantage of insecurity and chaos in the country to smuggle thousands of migrants in rickety boats across the Mediterranean toward European shores.

Sabratha has witnessed fierce battles since Sept. 17 between the Anti-IS Operation Chamber and militias affiliated with the city's military council.

The three-week fight ended last Friday with the Anti-IS Operation Chamber taking control of the city and defeating the rival militias.

Medical source said that the clashes killed more than 35 people, wounded 200, and displaced thousands of families.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 18:48:02|Editor: liuxin

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KABUL, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reduced its presence in militancy-hit Afghanistan following a series of attacks on its staff, the organization announced Monday.

"Following intensive discussions, together with the organization's headquarters in Geneva, the ICRC has reached the conclusion that there is no other choice but to drastically reduce its presence and activities in Afghanistan, in particular in the north of the country," the ICRC said in a statement issued here.

The decision came one month after a female Spanish physiotherapist was shot dead by a patient in a ICRC hospital in northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

"Since December 2016, the ICRC has been directly targeted in northern Afghanistan three times, including in what we considered one of our safest facilities, the rehabilitation centre in Mazar-i-Sharif. These incidents have affected not only the ICRC in Afghanistan, but the organization as a whole," Monica Zanarelli, head of the ICRC delegation in Afghanistan, was quoted in the statement as saying.

Zanarelli said that "this is a difficult moment for the ICRC and the staff.

"After 30 years of continuous presence in the country, we are reducing our presence and operations. But let's be very clear, we are not leaving Afghanistan. Limiting our staff's exposure to risks is our focus, all the while assisting the people affected by the conflict the best way we can," she said.

More than 1,800 staff have been working for the ICRC's operation in Afghanistan, which is one of the biggest of its kind in the world.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 18:53:03|Editor: liuxin

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PHNOM PENH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore have become hubs for migrant laborers from other ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states, a new World Bank report said on Monday.

In its report entitled "Migrating to Opportunity," intra-regional migration in ASEAN increased significantly between 1995 and 2015, turning Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore into regional migration hubs with 6.5 million migrants - 96 percent of the total number of migrant workers in ASEAN.

Thailand had 3.75 million ASEAN migrants from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, while Malaysia had 1.48 million ASEAN migrants mostly from Indonesia and Myanmar, and Singapore had 1.28 million ASEAN migrants mostly from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Low-skilled, and often undocumented, ASEAN migrants move in search of economic opportunity, mainly in the construction, plantation, and domestic services sectors, the report said, adding that the higher-salary jobs are available, yet workers are not always able to take advantage of these opportunities.

The ASEAN Economic Community has taken steps to facilitate mobility, but these regulations only cover certain skilled professions - doctors, dentists, nurses, engineers, architects, accountants, and tourism professionals - or just 5 percent of jobs in the region, it added.

Sudhir Shetty, World Bank chief economist for the East Asia and Pacific region, said that easing migration policies could boost workers' welfare and deepen regional economic integration.

"With the right policy choices, sending countries can reap the economic benefits of out-migration while protecting their citizens who choose to migrate for work," he said in a press release.

"In receiving countries, foreign workers can fill labor shortages and promote sustained economic growth, if migration policies are aligned with their economic needs. Inappropriate policies and ineffective institutions mean that the region is missing opportunities to gain fully from migration," he said.

According to the report, 805,272 Cambodians, or 98 percent of the country's total migrants to ASEAN, went to Thailand for jobs in agriculture, domestic work, construction, and manufacturing.

"A Cambodian migrant can earn three times more by moving for work in Thailand," it said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 19:08:08|Editor: liuxin

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MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- As many as 30 militants loyal to the Taliban group were killed, following heavy airstrikes in northern Afghanistan's Faryab province on Sunday, an official said Monday.

The incident happened late on Sunday night, when government airforce targeted insurgents' hideouts in Qaisar district of the province, leaving 30 fighters dead and a quantity of arms and ammunition destroyed, said Nasratullah Jamshidi, the spokesman of 209 Shaheen Army corps based in the northern region.

Taliban militants are yet to make comments on the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 19:23:19|Editor: Mengjie

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BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping called for enhanced and solid efforts to win the battle against poverty Monday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, gave the instruction ahead of the fourth National Poverty Relief Day, which falls on Oct. 17.

All-out effort should be put towards poverty relief, as it is the toughest of all battles, said Xi. Remarkable progress has been made since the CPC Central Committee made a solemn promise to lift all rural people out of poverty by 2020, the president added.

Xi praised outstanding figures in China's battle with poverty, saying that their fighting spirit needs to be celebrated and spread nationwide to encourage concerted efforts in poverty reduction.

Xi's remarks came as a meeting was held in Beijing Monday to honor people who have made great contributions to poverty relief.

Premier Li Keqiang also congratulated them for their achievements and asked authorities to support their work and gather more strength from all of society for the goal of building a moderately prosperous society by 2020.

In a written instruction, Li said that China's battle against poverty has entered the final stage, and authorities at all levels should make greater efforts to break development bottlenecks and strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of poverty-reduction work.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 19:43:25|Editor: liuxin

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NAIROBI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's real estate retail space is set to expand to cater to rising demand for new shopping malls, a Nairobi-based investment firm said on Monday.

Johnson Denge, Senior Manager (Real Estate) at Cytonn Investments, told a media briefing in Nairobi that total real estate retail space increased from 3.9 million square feet in 2016 to 5.6 million square feet in 2017.

"We expect supply of real estate retail space to grow by 7.3 percent in the next two years to accommodate for increased demand for shopping malls," Denge said.

Improved infrastructural developments such as new road networks, the Standard Gauge Railway as well as electrification have opened up new development areas.

Real estate retail space continues to be one of the best performing sectors in the real estate industry.

Denge noted that investment in retail space offers attractive returns of about 8.3 percent annually as compared to other sectors like residential which offers returns of between five and seven percent.

He added that despite a drop in performance, Nairobi was the best performing region, with average yields of 9.6 percent.

"This is attributable to increasing vacancy rates which averaged at 80.2 percent, a 2.7 percentage points decline from 2016's 82.9 percent as a result of higher rents charged by malls in the city due to higher quality of retail spaces," said the investment firm.

Denge said that the spurting of malls in the same region has resulted in stiff competition between malls. Mall developers also face the risk of obsolescence of retail space, thus losing tenants to newer malls.

"They therefore have to continually revamp their malls so as to meet the tenants' and consumers' expectations," Denge observed.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 19:48:28|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Wang Qishan (2nd L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), addresses the Eighth Plenary Session of the 18th CCDI of the CPC in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2017. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Monday held its Eighth Plenary Session, according to a statement issued after the meeting.

The meeting discussed and approved a work report to be submitted by the CCDI to the 19th CPC National Congress, scheduled to open on Oct. 18, it said.

The report will also be submitted to the Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which will be held on Oct. 11, for discussion.

Wang Qishan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of CCDI, addressed the meeting.

A total of 119 members of the CCDI attended the meeting, and 12 attendees were also present as non-voting participants.

The punishment of two senior officials for discipline violations was also approved at the meeting.

Li Gang was placed on one-year probation within the Party and Qu Shuhui was given two years of probation within the Party due to "serious violations of Party discipline," said the statement.

The decisions were made by the CCDI Standing Committee earlier and approved at the Monday meeting.

Members of the CCDI also adopted a decision to remove the CCDI membership of Liu Shengjie.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 19:48:29|Editor: liuxin

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TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry said Monday if the U.S. blacklists Iran Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terror group, Iran would give a "firm and crushing" response, Tasnim news agency reported.

Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said "I hope that the U.S. ruling body would not make the strategic mistake, but if it does so, then Iran's response will be firm, decisive and crushing and the U.S. should accept its consequences."

He also hoped the wise people among the U.S. statesmen would take steps to prevent the sanctions.

On Sunday, the IRGC commander also noted that if Washington decides to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, the IRGC will in turn treat the U.S. Army around the world, particularly in the Middle East, as the forces of the Islamic State militants.

The U.S. administration has imposed several rounds of sanctions against Iran over the past months claiming that Iran has not observed the spirit of the nuclear deal Oswald two years ago.

Washington says that Iran's missile program, mainly conducted by the IRGC, is threatening the regional and international peace.

Iran denies the allegations stressing that it's missile program is only for deterrent purposes.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sits among senior army staff as he delivers his speech during the annual military parade on Sept. 22, 2017 in Tehran. Rouhani vowed that Iran would boost its ballistic missile capabilities despite criticism from the United States. (AFP Photo)

TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry said Monday if the U.S. blacklists Iran Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terror group, Iran would give a "firm and crushing" response, Tasnim news agency reported.

Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said "I hope that the U.S. ruling body would not make the strategic mistake, but if it does so, then Iran's response will be firm, decisive and crushing and the U.S. should accept its consequences."

He also hoped the wise people among the U.S. statesmen would take steps to prevent the sanctions.

On Sunday, the IRGC commander also noted that if Washington decides to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, the IRGC will in turn treat the U.S. Army around the world, particularly in the Middle East, as the forces of the Islamic State militants.

The U.S. administration has imposed several rounds of sanctions against Iran over the past months claiming that Iran has not observed the spirit of the nuclear deal Oswald two years ago.

Washington says that Iran's missile program, mainly conducted by the IRGC, is threatening the regional and international peace.

Iran denies the allegations stressing that it's missile program is only for deterrent purposes.
National Super Alliance supporters took part in a demonstration during the bi-weekly protest in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Oct. 6, 2017. They are pushing for the removal of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission top officials for allegedly bungling the Aug. 8 general election. (Xinhua/Charles Onyango)

NAIROBI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of supporters of Kenya's main opposition party, National Super Alliance (NASA) on Monday returned to the streets of Nairobi and other major towns to protest against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of Oct. 26 repeat presidential polls.

There was a drama in a major Nairobi street when a car ran over protesters injuring dozens while others scampered for safety.

Led by opposition lawmakers, the protesters waved placards and sang dirges as they marched to the IEBC headquarters in Nairobi to present their petition calling for sacking of officials accused of bungling Aug. 8 polls.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 20:08:35|Editor: liuxin

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YEREVAN, Armenia, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Member countries of Eurasian military alliance Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and joint Armenian-Russian forces started military exercises in Armenia on Monday, the Armenian Defense Ministry said.

Around 2,500 troops from peacekeeping divisions, special forces and missile and air units active in CSTO countries are taking part in "Collaboration-2017" at the Baghramyan military training facility.

The joint military exercises came two days after the second phase of CSTO military drills "Search-2017" ended in Armenia. "Search-2017" kicked off in Russia's Rostov region on Oct. 3.

At a press conference on Monday, CSTO Secretary-General Yuri Khachaturov said the drills are conducted under the command of Russia's Southern Military District because certain weapons used during the exercises are solely Russia-owned.

"Collaboration-2017" will end on Oct. 13.

The CSTO, formed in 1992, consists of six members, namely Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, and two observers -- Serbia and Afghanistan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 20:08:36|Editor: liuxin

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A gunfight between militants and Indian troops broke out on Monday in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight erupted at village Gatipora of Shopian district, about 55 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A gunfight has just begun between militants and government forces in village Gatipora here," a police official said. " The army and police contingents cordoned off the area this morning on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants. As the contingents moved closer to the suspected area, it was fired upon, triggering a gunfight."

Police officials suspect two to three militants are holed up in the area.

"We are hearing gunfire sound," Abdul Rashid, a local resident told Xinhua over telephone.

Early in the morning a junior commissioned officer of the Indian army was killed in a gunfight with militants in Budgam district.

A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
File photo shows a hippo in the Zambezi River along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, May 4, 2016. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)

WINDHOEK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A suspected anthrax outbreak has killed 107 hippos in one of Namibia's biggest game parks in the Zambezi region in Namibia in just one week.

The park's deputy director Apollinaris Kannyinga confirmed the deaths Sunday at Bwabwata National Park.

Kannyinga said the first 10 deaths were reported on Oct. 1 but had risen by the end of the week.

"We suspect an anthrax outbreak, but our veterinary is still yet to confirm that,'' Kannyinga said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 20:23:42|Editor: liuxin

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NAIROBI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Opposition coalition National Super Alliance (NASA) is keeping the country guessing over its game plan ahead of the Oct. 26 repeat presidential polls as it retreats from political campaigns.

NASA leader Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka have kept off the campaign trail for the past two weeks, even as ruling Jubilee Party led by President Uhuru Kenyatta intensified their campaigns, visiting both their strongholds and those of NASA.

NASA has insisted that there would be no polls in the country on Oct. 26 if their demands, which include the sacking of electoral officials accused of bungling the Aug. 8, are not met.

Instead, it has resorted to street protests to push for changes at the electoral commission and force Jubilee to withdraw amendments to the electoral laws.

The protests have been held twice a week for the past two weeks, but starting this week, NASA said they would now be held thrice a week.

But protests aside, it is NASA's withdrawal from campaigns some 16 days to elections that is baffling both foes and friends.

Odinga flies out of the country later this week for visits to the United States and Britain for an unspecified period in an unprecedented political move that has shocked even his supporters.

Before his departure, Odinga and his brigade had cancelled campaign rallies on Sunday at the Coast allegedly to avoid clashing with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was also visiting the region.

Jubilee Party leaders have accused Odinga of not being keen on repeat polls because he knows he would lose, the reason why he is not campaigning.

Instead, President Kenyatta on Sunday said Odinga is scheming for a coalition government with the help of foreign entities.

"A time has come in our nation when we need to differentiate between leaders who seek leadership for the sake of gaining power and those whose intent is to serve Kenyans and transform lives," he told his supporters.

But Odinga has said he does not need to go to the campaign trail himself as he has hundreds of supporters who are campaigning for him.

"I have soldiers on the ground who are campaigning for me. We have a huge support base so Kenyans already know who their President will be," said Odinga.

His supporters and critics are divided down in the middle on Odinga's strategy to keep off the campaign trai.

"Odinga can boycott the polls. Veteran politician Kenneth Stanley Njindo Matiba boycotted 1997 presidential elections, the country never stopped. Odinga borrows a leaf," said Kimani Ichungwa, a Jubilee lawmaker.

"Who leaves a campaign mid-stream to go to the UK? What could be so urgent? Could it be for medical reasons?" posed Mumbi Seraki, a Jubilee supporter.

Odinga's supporters, however, noted that he cannot hit the campaign trail to create an impression that all is well with the elections yet the ground is not leveled.

"Jubilee is campaigning to create perceptions of winning hearts because they think Kenyans easily change their minds. We cannot fall into such a trap," said Seth Odongo, a NASA supporter.

"There will be no election for President of Republic of Kenya unless and until election commission is reformed and freed from the Jubilee government," noted Nelson Havi, a lawyer and supporter of Odinga.

Lawyer Donald Kipkorir, on the other hand, supported Odinga's trip to the western nation, noting that the tour is important for the reforms process.

"Forget rumors that Raila Odinga will be away until after Oct. 26. He leaves for three days only and will be back to continue push for truth and justice in electoral processes," he said.

NASA lawmaker Opiyo Wandayi noted that there is no need to campaign in elections the party would not participate in.

Henry Wandera, an economics lecturer in Nairobi, noted that while NASA's retreat from political campaigns is baffling, it is informed from the position that they believe their support base is intact.

"NASA knows Kenya's voting pattern, which is that even if they campaign in Jubilee strongholds 100 times, they would not add their basket of votes. On the other hand, even if they don't campaign in their strongholds, they would not lose any votes," he noted.

Wandera added that with all its complaints against the electoral commission, which has not met its demands, it would be foolhardy for NASA to keep on campaigning assuring their supporters that all is well.

"The withdrawal I believe is tactical. It is to reinforce to their supporters that the message that there would be no elections on Oct. 26. If things do not change, I expect to see Odinga campaign vigorously against the polls when he returns in the country," he offered.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 20:28:44|Editor: Mengjie

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Meng Jianzhu (R), member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Mark Sedwill, national security advisor to the British Prime Minister, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China hopes to enhance cooperation on law enforcement and security with Britain, a senior Chinese official said Monday.

Meng Jianzhu, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, made the comment when meeting with Mark Sedwill, national security advisor to the British Prime Minister.

Meng said China hopes to deepen cooperation with Britain on fighting terrorism, cyber and economic crime, human trafficking and corruption.

Sedwill said the United Kingdom is willing to push forward counter-terrorism and cyber security cooperation with China for more substantial achievements.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 20:38:49|Editor: liuxin

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ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Over 260 aviation professionals have received training and graduated from the Ethiopian Aviation Academy, the training division of Ethiopian Airlines Aviation Group over the weekend in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.

As 34 of the graduates are Cameroonian, Rwandese, Equatorial Guinea, Togolese and Congolese nationals, the Ethiopian Aviation Academy officials affirmed the airline's Pan African stance and key role in the development of the aviation sector in Africa.

The graduates, 50 pilots, 66 aviation maintenance technicians, 120 cabin crew, and 26 equipment and facility maintenance technicians, completed their education and training in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

Giving out diplomas to the graduates Saturday, Tewolde GebreMariam, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, said human resource development is one among the four pillars of the airline's Vision 2025 Strategic Growth Plan, a 15-year strategic plan that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa.

"The Academy has been training and graduating the required aviation professionals both for the Ethiopian Airlines group and other partners in the region," he said.

"It has the capacity to support our vision 2025 growth plan with adequate professionals and to contribute towards the development of aviation in Africa," he said.

The academy, which currently trains 2,000 professionals a year, plans to raise the number of trainees to 4,000 by 2025.

The Ethiopian government in July this year had announced a plan to establish a new Aviation Holding Group with various diversified aviation strategic business units.

The structure of the new Group will incorporate Ethiopian Airports Enterprises, Passenger Airline, Cargo Airline and Logistics Company, Ethiopian Aviation Academy, Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services, Ethiopian MRO Services, Ethiopian Hotel and Tourism Services.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 20:58:58|Editor: Zhou Xin

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COLOMBO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Over 200,000 Chinese tourists had arrived in Sri Lanka till September this year with over 18,000 arriving last month alone, statistics released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Ministry showed here Monday.

Over 1.5 million tourists have arrived in the country so far this year with the government recently announcing they were expecting to achieve a 2.5 million arrival target by the end of 2017.

India was the leading market with the largest number of tourist arrivals in September, followed by China and Britain. However with September falling under the off-peak season, total arrivals fell 2.3 percent to 145,077 compared to the same month last year, data from the tourism office showed.

Sri Lanka's Tourism Minister John Amaratunga recently announced that arrivals were expected to increase, including from China, during the month-long Colombo International Shopping Festival which began on Oct. 1.

He said the festival will provide world-class and internationally renowned original brands at competitive prices. The event will be held under the theme "One Island, One Big Mall."

Sri Lanka's government recently said it aims to double the number of tourists to 5 million per year by 2020 as part of a new tourist strategy to boost revenue to the South Asian island country.

According to the Central Bank, Sri Lanka has earned over 2 billion U.S. dollars from tourism so far this year.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:04:02|Editor: liuxin

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COLOMBO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, Pablo de Greiff, will pay an official visit to Sri Lanka from Oct. 10 to 23, the UN office in Colombo said in a statement here Monday.

The UN official will be arriving in Sri Lanka to examine the progress made in redressing the legacies of massive past violations and abuses, including those that resulted from a conflict that spanned more than 25 years.

In 2015, the Sri Lankan government committed itself to designing and implementing a comprehensive transitional justice strategy, the UN statement said.

"My visit aims to review the progress made thus far, to identify obstacles and bottlenecks in the implementation of the transitional justice and reform process, and to discuss opportunities with the government and Sri Lankan society to overcome these," de Greiff said.

The human rights expert will meet Sri Lankan government officials at central and provincial levels, representatives of the legislature, members of the judiciary, the armed forces, law enforcement officials, religious leaders, political parties, the Human Rights Commission, civil society, victims' groups, academics and representatives of the international community.

He is scheduled to visit Colombo as well as other locations in the south, centre, north and east of the country.

The final report on the visit will be presented to the Human Rights Council in September 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:04:03|Editor: liuxin

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NEW DELHI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- India's top court on Monday imposed a ban on the sale of fireworks in the capital city and its adjoining areas especially the National Capital Region (NCR) until Oct. 31, officials said.

With the ban, there will be no sale of firecrackers in the capital city around Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

The court said it wants to assess the difference to the air quality.

"A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri said the apex court's Sept. 12 order of temporarily lifting the stay and permitting sale of firecrackers would be effective from Nov. 1," a local official said.

Every year, bursting of firecrackers around Diwali festival leaves air in and around Delhi thick, and pushes air quality to a dangerous "severe" level of rating.

The deadly smog chocks air causing breathlessness and lung difficulties, besides badly affecting the visibility.

Last year officials said levels of Particulate Matter or PM 10, considered hazardous to health, rose to 999 micrograms per cubic metre which is above the safe limit of 100.

In India setting off fireworks on festivals is synonymous with celebrations and families spend lavishly to buy fire crackers and then set it off during marriages and Diwali night.

Delhi is considered to be the most polluted city in the world. Last year the city's high court described the capital as "gas chamber".
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:04:04|Editor: liuxin

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JERUSALEM, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to approve the construction of 3,829 new housing units in the Israeli-occupied West Bank settlements, local media reported on Monday.

According to the Hebrew-language Channel 2 news TV, Netanyahu will give the Civil Administration, the body in charge of giving building permits in the West Bank, a green light to approve the new construction.

The Prime Minister's Office was not immediately ready to comment for Xinhua. The Civil Administration's next meeting was scheduled for next Tuesday.

The body is expected to approve new homes also in small, isolated settlements in the central and southern West Bank.

The right-wing news site Channel 7, the approval follows an agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump Administration, which unlike his predecessors, does not consider the settlement as an obstacle to peace.

The move is expected to trigger anger and further mistrust by the Palestinians, who wish to build their future state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu has been under great pressure by his far-right coalition partners to enhance the construction in the settlements.

Members of the Jewish Home, a pro-settler party and a major member of Netanyahu's government, have called on to lift all restrictions on building in the settlements and to effectively annex them to Israel.

The settlements are located in the West Bank, a land that Israel seized from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war together with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:14:07|Editor: Zhou Xin

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GAZA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Two Palestinian delegations, representing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah Party and Islamic Hamas movement left on Monday for Cairo to conduct a reconciliation dialogue, which aims at ending more than ten years of internal split.

Leaders of both rival groups said in separate press statements that the first session of dialogue will be held at the Egyptian Security Intelligence Headquarters in Cairo on Tuesday, and that the sessions will be indoors and the press won't be able to attend or cover.

On Monday, Egypt reopened Rafah crossing point on its borders with the Gaza Strip to allow Hamas leaders Yehya Sinwar, Khalil el-Hayyah and Salah Bardaweel to cross from Gaza to Egypt to join other Hamas leaders coming from Turkey and Qatar for Tuesday's dialogue.

Fatah delegation, including Azzam el-Ahmad, a senior Fatah leader, and four others, departed earlier on Monday from Ramallah to Jordan, and will fly to Cairo to join the dialogue.

Majid al-Fitiani, Secretary General of Fatah Revolutionary Council told Xinhua that all the files and issues that will be discussed in the dialogue had been already agreed upon in the reconciliation understanding reached in Cairo in May 2011, adding that all these issues will be discussed with Hamas.

"The dialogue will basically focus on resolving easy issues related to ending the internal division on the ground in order to prepare a positive atmosphere for resolving other outstanding and complicated issues," he said, adding "However, there is no dateline for ending the dialogue, and it will go on for several days."

Last week, Hamas leadership in Gaza held a meeting with leaders of other Palestinian factions to discuss the mechanism of pushing forward reconciliation. During the meeting, Gaza Hamas leader Sinwar stressed that his movement is determined to achieve reconciliation and end of internal division.

President Abbas has also repeatedly reiterated that reconciliation and end of internal division "is a priority for him," adding that the Palestinian leadership has the reconciliation as a priority "in order to achieve unity and reach freedom and independence for the Palestinian people."

The new rounds of dialogue will be the first since the two group's meetings held in Qatar in 2016. Since the beginning of the Palestinian internal split between Gaza and the West Bank, or Hamas and Fatah, they had so far failed to end their split and achieve full reconciliation.

The new rounds of dialogue between the two sides came following the visit of the Palestinian consensus government and the Palestinian security chiefs to the Gaza Strip, where Hamas handed over the ministries to the government's prime minister Rami Hamdallah and his ministers.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:14:07|Editor: Mengjie

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Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi meets with Mark Sedwill, national security advisor to the British Prime Minister, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China and Britain on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to a "golden era" of bilateral ties.

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Mark Sedwill, national security advisor to the British prime minister made the remarks during their meeting in Beijing.

Yang said the upcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China(CPC) will inject new impetus into relations with other countries.

The international community will pay close attention to the 19th CPC National Congress, Sedwill said, and expressed his good wishes.

The two exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:39:16|Editor: liuxin

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BUCHAREST, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The relations with Russia will be a very important topic, along with topics such as the cooperation with the European Union (EU) and the ongoing modernization of the Alliance, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday.

Stoltenberg made the remarks at the 63rd annual plenary session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly taking place in Bucharest.

He said NATO doesn't want to isolate Russia and doesn't wish for a "new Cold War," despite members' concerns about Russia's military actions close to NATO's borders.

The NATO chief said in his speech that preparations have commenced for the next NATO Summit to be held in Brussels next year, and the Alliance will continue to build on the decisions made in Wales and Warsaw by increasing allied collective defense.

The NATO chief noted that all these actions are meant to prevent but not to produce conflicts, calling on Moscow to get involved in the international commitments.

The allied official voiced concern with Moscow's lack of transparency in connection with ZAPAD 2017, the Russian-Belarus military drills held in Belarus in September, which, according to him, highlights the need for a two-direction approach against Russia, combining solid defense with substantive dialogue, including within the NATO-Russia Council.

He reaffirmed NATO's collective defence clause, stressing that military bloc is an alliance that keeps its promises.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said in his turn that NATO is not seeking confrontation and is not a threat to Russia, but "a comprehensive and coherent long-term allied strategy is needed" in the relation with Russia, that must include dialogue but from "a strong defense and deterrence position."

According to him, the advanced presence on the eastern Flank must be reinforced, especially in the south, at the Black Sea, in all its dimensions.

NATO Parliamentary Assembly gathered in Bucharest, from Friday through Monday, with over 50 national delegations.

It is the third time for Romania to host the Assembly.

Among the topics approached at the session, there are the support for NATO's actions in Afghanistan, the closer NATO-EU cooperation, the stability and security in the Black Sea area, the risks of the instability in Eastern Asia, and the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:39:18|Editor: liuxin

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. private spaceflight company SpaceX Monday launched a rocket from California, carrying 10 communications satellites into orbit for Iridium Communications, an American company providing satellite communications.

The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from the Vandenberg Air Force Base at 5:37 a.m. PDT (1237 GMT) and about 7.5 minutes later, successfully first stage landed on SpaceX's drone ship "Just Read the Instructions" stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

"Falcon 9 first stage has landed on Just Read the Instructions," the California-based company tweeted.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:39:19|Editor: Mengjie

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BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China will carry forward public hospital reform to optimize medical care resources for public health, according to a decision at a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Monday.

The reform on medical care pricing at public hospitals will continue toward dynamic price adjustment of medical services to make the knowledge expertise and efforts of medical workers better reflected in values.

One or two cities in provincial regions where the comprehensive medical reform are piloted will be chosen for medical insurance payment reform, which covers all medical care institutions and services. The government will also designate over 100 disease categories for an insurance payment by-category reform.

"The medical care reform is not only a major project to better public wellbeing, but also a major economic measure," Li said.

He said the public hospital reform should be pushed forward across the board, and the reform on medical care partnerships should be piloted in multiple forms to better serve "Healthy China" with better and more convenient healthcare services.

China's medical care reform should adhere to the principle of guaranteeing basic health care, building up working mechanisms and strengthening community health services, he added.

China started the latest round of healthcare reform in 2009, making offering healthcare services to all people as a public good its core objective.

As of September, all public hospitals in China have joined the comprehensive reform program to end 60-year-old practice of drug price markups, which enables rationalization of medical care cost. As the reform proceeds, the share of drug sales in the total revenues for hospitals dropped from 46.3 percent in 2010 to 38.1 percent in 2016.

Public hospitals, which totaled 12,708 by the end of 2016, provided 2.85 billion diagnosis and treatments last year, accounting for 87.2 percent of cases provided by all hospitals in China, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The reform on the medication dispensing scheme will also be deepened as public hospitals will be encouraged to practice category-based pharmaceutical procurement. Hospitals across different regions and different specialized hospitals will be encouraged to conduct procurement together.

The public hospital oversight mechanism will be reformed to better supervise the quality and safety of medical care, medical services and medical expenses. The number of hospital beds, construction standard and procurement of large medical equipment will undergo greater scrutiny.

"The medical care reform is still an ongoing reform, and these are progresses yet to be consolidated. The government should provide due financial support. The reform on the remuneration mechanism of medical workers should get stronger support to provide them with more incentive," Li said.

The meeting on Monday decided to speed up efforts to establish medical treatment partnerships, which promote effective cooperation and coordination between different types of medical institutions, including major hospitals and grassroots clinics.

All major public hospitals must take part in the development of such partnerships before the end of October. The operating mechanism of medical partnerships will be further improved to ensure better coordination in technical support, staffing, staff salary arrangements, and resources sharing among different medical institutes.

Private medical care facilities, aged care and rehabilitation centers will also be encouraged to join the partnerships to provide integrated services for the public.

More efforts will be made to expand the availability of family doctors, and to enable the doctors to offer more services based on demand and improve the fee collecting and paying mechanisms.

Medical services at grassroots will be further improved, with more emphasis on improving the talent, technology and key departments at county-level hospitals.

"The medical treatment partnerships should be developed in parallel with systematic reform. Openness instead of exclusiveness to private capital is the way to go. A lot can be done to advance China's medical equipment and pharmaceutical industry, not least the traditional Chinese medicine, including with Internet plus medical care that can help better consolidate our resources," Li said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:39:20|Editor: liuxin

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KIEV, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine will host a session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in 2020, its first time, local media reported Monday, citing a senior parliamentary official.

Iryna Friz, head of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation to the assembly, said at the ongoing 63rd annual session of the assembly that the alliance approved Ukraine's bid to hold the spring session in capital Kiev.

"It is not only a sign of (the) NATO Parliamentary Assembly's support for Ukraine, but also evidence of our close cooperation," Friz was quoted as saying.

Founded in 1955, the assembly serves as a consultative inter-parliamentary body of NATO member states, associate countries and observer delegations. Its sessions are held twice a year in different countries.

Ukraine, though not a NATO member, closely cooperates with the alliance and participates in the latter's Partnership for Peace Program.

Kiev has shown interest in joining NATO in the wake of the conflict between government troops and pro-independence rebels in eastern Ukraine that started in April 2014.

The 63rd annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly got underway in Bucharest, Romania, on Oct. 6.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:44:22|Editor: liuxin

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MADRID, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish government would "take measures" if a unilateral declaration of independence takes place in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia, Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said on Monday.

In an interview with a local radio station, Saenz de Santamaria said that in case the president of the regional government of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, declared independence of the region, there would be a "response" by the Spanish government.

"I do not know how Puigdemont will write his speech, but if he declares independence unilaterally ... and the government, through the Spanish senate, has to take measures", she explained.

Puigdemont is set to appear in the parliament of Catalonia on Tuesday after Monday meeting was suspended by the Spanish Constitutional Court.

Saenz de Santamaria also said that these measures will try to make less damage, adding that the government is ready to respond to any decision of Puigdemont as "we have to place ourselves in any scene, considering all of them".
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 21:54:24|Editor: Song Lifang

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Namibian Prime Minister Saara Kuungogelwa-Amadhila (2nd L, front) visits the booth of Chinese Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation at the 4th National ICT Summit in Windhoek, capital of Namibia, Oct. 9, 2017. Namibia's mobile phone network coverage has increased to 95 percent, while mobile subscriptions are at 119.16 per 100 people, the prime minister said Monday as she officially opened the summit. (Xinhua/Tao Jingwen)

WINDHOEK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's mobile phone network coverage has increased to 95 percent, while mobile subscriptions are at 119.16 per 100 people, the prime minister said Monday.

Saara Kuungogelwa-Amadhila said this when she officially opened the 4th National ICT Summit in Windhoek.

The information ministry is organizing the three-day summit with the theme "Leveraging ICT to Unlock Economic Opportunities for an Inclusive Society."

Kuungogelwa-Amadhila said Namibia's active mobile broadband subscribers increased from 1.5 million to 1.6 million people from June 2016 to June 2017.

"Penetration of telecommunication services has improved rapidly due to the introduction of effective regulatory interventions aimed to ensure fair competition and consumer protection," she said.

The interventions, she added, resulted in the reduction of termination rates from one Namibia dollar and six cents (8 U.S. cents) to 10 Namibia cents (1 U.S. cent).

She also said the introduction of the National Numbering Plan for mobile phones means that portability allows fixed and mobile numbers to move from one licensee to another without losing their number.

According to her, modern, reliable digital technologies and applications can significantly contribute to the economic strength, societal well-being and effective governance.

"ICTs have brought new opportunities to people of all ages and in all countries, enabling them to achieve more in less time and to discover new ways of communicating and relaxing," she said.

Kuungogelwa-Amadhila, however, said that the benefits of ICT had not been spread equally as hoped.

She pointed out that the failure to spread ICT benefits is a result of the unavailability of electricity in rural areas and the insufficient telecommunications backhaul infrastructure.

The prime minister added that the high cost of rolling out infrastructure as well as the low ICT literacy rate was inhibiting the uptake of e-commerce and internet access.

"We are convinced that if all stakeholders work together, we can create new opportunities and leverage the power of ICTs to help people everywhere in our country," she concluded.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:04:27|Editor: liuxin

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RABAT, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Africa Security Forum opened on Monday in the Moroccan city of Casablanca, with the participation of security experts from over 40 African nations.

Speaking at the opening of the forum, Morocco's delegate, Interior Minister Noureddine Boutaib underlined that terrorism remains the top security threat in Africa.

He stressed the need for closer cooperation between African nations to tackle this issue.

He pointed out that Morocco has set a model for partnership in fighting terrorism with its friendly African countries, through various bilateral programs for training of military personnel and religious preachers in the kingdom.

Highlighting the situation in Morocco, Boutaib said that the country has witnessed an increasing terror threats in the last few years, noting that the country had dismantled some 175 terror cells since 2002.

The forum brings together more than 400 participants from different African nations to discuss the inter-African cooperation in the face of terrorism, radicalization and transnational crime.

The Africa Security Forum aims to contribute meaningfully in finding innovative answers for security challenges facing the continent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:04:27|Editor: liuxin

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ISLAMABAD, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least three security personnel were killed and seven others injured when their convoy was attacked by militants in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan, officials and local reports said.

The paramilitary troops from the Frontier Corps (FC) were on their way to somewhere when gunmen sprayed bullets on their convoy in Dosli area of the North Waziristan Agency, a semi-autonomous tribal area along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Proscribed militant organization Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attackers fled the scene after carrying out the attack. meanwhile, a heavy contingent of security forces rushed to the attack site to carry out investigations.

The forces imposed curfew in the area and kicked off a search operation to hunt down the on-the-run militants.

The injured security personnel have been shifted to a hospital in the Agency's headquarter Miran Shah where some of them are said to be in critical condition.

Number of terrorist attacks in North Waziristan, which was once a hotbed of the militants, has been decreased by 96 percent in the area following the country's armed offensive operation Zarb-i-Azb in the tribal region.

Despite the successful operation, which was launched in June 2014, the militants carry out sporadic attacks on security forces in the area.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:04:28|Editor: Mengjie

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TAIPEI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The colored glaze art on display glimmers on the shelf at a souvenir shop at Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan, but few tourists are around to appreciate it.

"I just have no idea where the Chinese mainland tourists are now. The streets here used to be full of them during the week-long holiday," said Shih Mei-yen, owner of the souvenir shop.

"Our shop could make at least 1 million new Taiwan dollars (about 32,910 U.S. dollars) per month. But now we only make about 300,000 new Taiwan dollars," she said.

Shih is not the only Taiwanese vendor feeling the impact of a sharp decrease of Chinese mainland tourists. Amy Lin, who runs a hotel in the Sun Moon Lake region, saw customers from the Chinese mainland drop by over 50 percent during the holiday in early October, especially those on package tours.

An online survey found that over 400 hotels and B&Bs across the island had been put up for sale due to sharp drops in customers.

About 1.75 million people from the Chinese mainland visited Taiwan from January to August, down by over one third year on year, according to the local tourism authority.

The local government is working to attract travelers from Southeast Asia and South Asia, along with Australia and New Zealand, to sustain the island's staggering tourism market.

However, statistics showed that Chinese mainland travelers spend nearly 200 U.S. dollars in Taiwan each day per person, while tourists from Southeast Asia only spend about 150 U.S. dollars per capita each day.

Southeast Asian tourists mainly buy inexpensive gadgets, while Chinese mainland tourists buy a lot of high-end products such as colored glaze art, Shih said.

Over 700 million domestic trips were made during the holiday that just ended, generating tourism revenue of over 583 billion yuan. Over six million people were estimated to have traveled overseas, with Moscow, St. Petersburg, Bangkok, Pattaya and Singapore being the most popular cities, according to the China National Tourism Administration.

Chinese mainland tourists visiting Taiwan increased by over 30 percent in the first four days of the holiday, according to the island's tourism authority.

The increase in Chinese mainland tourists might be short-lived and their numbers will continue to fall unless cross-strait ties improve, said Lu Shiao-ya, director of the island's joint association for the tourist bus industry, who noted that many tourist buses in Taiwan have had vacant seats.

The top official of the island's administrative organ openly advocated "Taiwan Independence" two weeks ago, fanning concerns about sharper drops in Chinese mainland tourists.

"We are both Chinese and we are family. I just hope more Chinese mainland tourists will come here and shop here to bring us prosperity," Shih said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:09:30|Editor: liuxin

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TRIPOLI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Attorney General issued Monday 824 arrest warrants against Libyan terrorist suspects.

"Within the framework of investigations by the Public Prosecution on issues of terrorism and threats to state security, arrest warrants have been issued against 824 terrorist suspects. Their names have been circulated to border checkpoints for necessary actions," Attorney General's chief investigator, Al-Seddiq Al-Sour, told Xinhua.

"The Interpol issued international arrest warrants against some of those suspects," Al-Sour added.

These names came up during the investigations with arrested terrorists from different cities of the country, Al-Sour confirmed.

The Attorney General's Office had revealed at a press conference in September details of investigations with arrested suspects of bombings, assassinations and targeting of government and diplomatic headquarters in a number of cities in the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:09:31|Editor: liuxin

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TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Oman vowed Monday to boost military cooperation for regional interests as the two neighbors' senior air force commanders met, official IRNA News Agency reported.

Iranian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hassan Shah Safi and his Omani counterpart Air Vice Marshal Matar bin Ali al Obaidani, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman, urged close ties between Iranian and Omani armed forces.

"Both countries are developing ties and we should also try to promote defense ties," Al Obaidani was quoted as saying.

Also, Iran's Deputy Air Force Commander Brigadier General Majid Pirhadi said in the meeting that Iran and Oman have plans to establish a joint military committee.

Both neighbors hold annual meetings in Tehran and Muscat as an indication of both countries' determination to develop military cooperation.

This is the third meeting between air force commanders over the past three years.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:14:32|Editor: liuxin

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BAGHDAD, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi government on Monday announced new punitive measures against the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan over last month's controversial referendum on independence of the Kurdish region.

A statement by Prime Minister Hader al-Abadi's office said that a government committee for national security headed by Abadi adopted measures with the aim of imposing restrictions on the Kurdish region.

One of the measures by the committee, named Ministerial Council for National Security, would seek to impose control of the federal government over Kurdistan-based mobile phone companies and to transfer their headquarters to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

"The Ministerial Council for National Security issued a decision that all mobile phone networks must be under the federal control and should be moved to Baghdad," the statement said without saying whether the companies' licenses would be withdrawn if they didn't comply.

The measures reiterated Baghdad's call on neighboring Iran and Turkey to halt all trade operations at the border crossings, especially oil exports, with Kurdistan and to exclusively deal with the Iraqi federal government, according to the statement.

Previously, Iraq adopted a number of punitive measures that included suspension of international flights to the Kurdish region and blocked all the border crossings which are outside the control of the federal authorities, and call on the neighboring countries (Turkey and Iran) to help the Iraq in implementing its measures.

On Sept. 27, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called on the Kurdish regional government to cancel the results of the controversial independence referendum.

"We want Kurdistan region to cancel the outcomes of the referendum if they want to start talks with Baghdad, which must be under the roof of the constitution," Abadi told the lawmakers when attended a parliament session to discuss the crisis with the Kurds.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed not only by the Iraqi central government, but also by most other countries, because it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and undermine the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants.

Iraq's neighboring countries, especially Turkey, Iran and Syria, fear the Iraqi Kurdish independence move would threaten their territorial integrity, as large population of Kurds live in those countries.

The U.S. has repeatedly warned the Kurds to postpone the referendum, saying such move could derail or confuse the war against IS.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:19:33|Editor: liuxin

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attends a joint press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis (unseen) in Bucharest, Romania, on Oct. 9, 2017. A plenary session of the NATO parliamentary assembly on Monday was held in Bucharest, capital of Romania, with the participation of parliamentarians from NATO allies and partners. (Xinhua/Cristian Cristel)

BRUSSELS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A plenary session of the NATO parliamentary assembly on Monday was held in Bucharest, capital of Romania, with the participation of parliamentarians from NATO allies and partners.

Addressing the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised the parliamentary assembly's role in explaining "what NATO is, and what NATO does," according to a full text of his speech posted on NATO's website.

Stoltenberg thanked Romania for its contribution to NATO operations, and its hosting of NATO ballistic missile defense site in Deveselu.

He also praised the Romanian government's announcement that it will meet the NATO target of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense this year.

Acknowledging that the alliance is facing "many different threats and challenges at the same time," Stoltenberg outlined steps NATO has taken to strengthen its collective defense.

"We are adapting to the new security challenges we face. Expanding our presence in the east of the alliance. Stepping up our response to the threats from the South. And taking our cooperation with the EU to a new level," he said.

Highlighting the burden sharing within the alliance, Stoltenberg said to parliamentarians, "I rely on you all to make the case for more and better spending back home."

Stoltenberg attended the meeting as part of his visit to Romania.

Established in 1955, NATO parliamentary assembly provides a link between NATO and the parliaments of its members to build consensus in support of alliance policies.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:24:37|Editor: liuxin

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HANOI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The use of cryptocurrency and blockchains in Vietnam is currently limited to just one percent of the total population, though experts anticipate that the number could grow to 30 million users in the next 10 years.

Nonetheless, the State Bank of Vietnam, the central bank, has clearly stated that unlike legal tenders, cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin are not considered real money and thus not recognised as payment methods in Vietnamese law, Vietnam News Agency reported on Monday.

Bitcoin was first introduced to Vienam in 2009, and has since experienced double-digit growth each year in terms of users, and an average daily transaction value reaching the thousands of U.S. dollar, according to Bitcoin Vietnam Co. Ltd., the self-proclaimed first bitcoin platform in the country, established in 2014.

Subsequently, bitcoin's blockchain, its own open, distributed ledger that records transactions between two parties using the coin in a verifiable and permanent way, is now also accessible in Vietnam.

As of late August this year, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered relevant agencies to draft a legal framework for cryptocurrency and other digital assets, which could mean that bitcoin and its like will be one day accepted in Vietnam under appropriate management.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:29:40|Editor: Mengjie

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Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong (5th R), Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo (4th R) and Li Kun (6th L), chairman and chief executive officer of Lanmei Airlines, take part in the launching ceremony of Lanmei Airlines in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Oct. 9, 2017. Lanmei Airlines (Cambodia), a Chinese-owned airline, was launched in Cambodia on Monday and will operate six-nation flights in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. (Xinhua/Mao Pengfei)

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Lanmei Airlines (Cambodia), a Chinese-owned airline, was launched in Cambodia on Monday and will operate six-nation flights in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo were among nearly 200 guests taking part in the launching ceremony in Phnom Penh.

Li Kun, chairman and chief executive officer of Lanmei Airlines, said the company would invest in six aircrafts in the first year before increasing to 20 planes within three years.

"Quality and safety are our top priority," he said.

Li was confident that the airlines would contribute to serving Cambodia's Rectangular Strategy and China's Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.

The airlines would operate flights from Cambodia to Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and China, according to its press release, adding that the airlines would serve as a bridge to promote economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and tourism among the six countries.

Hor Namhong welcomed the presence of Lanmei Airlines in Cambodia's aviation market.

"I strongly believe that Lanmei Airlines will grow into a well-known air company and build a sky highway for Lancang-Mekong six countries to transport more Chinese and other countries' visitors to Cambodia," he said.

Mao Havanall, Cambodian Secretary of State for Civil Aviation, said Cambodia was targeting 2 million Chinese tourists by 2020 and he was confident that Lanmei Airlines could help Cambodia to achieve this ambition.

"SSCA (Cambodian State Secretariat of Civil Aviation) will support Lanmei Airlines development," he said.

According to the press release, the airlines completed its inaugural flight from Cambodia's Sihanoukville to China's Macao on Sept. 29.

To date, Cambodia has seven air carriers, including Cambodia Angkor Air, Bassaka Airlines, Sky Angkor and Bayon Airlines.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:29:42|Editor: liuxin

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. private spaceflight company SpaceX Monday launched a rocket from California, carrying 10 communications satellites into orbit for Iridium Communications, an American company providing satellite communications.

The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from the Vandenberg Air Force Base at 5:37 a.m. PDT (1237 GMT) and about 7.5 minutes later, successfully first stage landed on SpaceX's drone ship "Just Read the Instructions" stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

Cheers and applause broke out in the SpaceX control room as the launch was streamed live online.

"Today's mission represents our 15 Falcon 9 launches of the year," John Insprucker, Falcon 9's principal integration engineer, said in a webcast.

This is the third of eight scheduled SpaceX launches for the Iridium Next constellation, and will bring the total number of satellites in orbit to 30.

The first launch occurred in January, followed by the second on June 25.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:29:43|Editor: ZD

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NEW DELHI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The High Court in the western Indian state of Gujarat on Monday commuted to life imprisonment the death sentences of 11 Muslim men convicted of setting on fire in 2002 a train carrying mainly Hindu pilgrims.

The train burning incident in Godhra, around 130 km from Ahmedabad city, that claimed the lives of 59 people, triggered communal riots in the state in which over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed by Hindu mobs.

The Gujarat High Court also upheld the life sentences of another 20 Muslim men and rejected an appeal challenging the acquittal of 63 others in the case. The 63 were actually acquitted by a special court in 2011 and included the mastermind behind the fire.

The incident dates back to February 2002 when 59 people, mostly Hindu pilgrims, were returning to their homestate of Gujarat from the northern town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state on Sabarmati Express train.

A Muslim mob then attacked the train and set one of its compartments on fire after locking all its gates from outside.

Following the incident, communal riots broke out in the state between Hindus and Muslims, and then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, now prime minister, was accused by his critics of doing nothing to stop the violence.

However, Modi has never been convicted by a court of law and he also denies any wrongdoing. A inquiry commission set up to probe the riots had also given him a clean chit.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:34:45|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang said Monday the country will make a greater contribution to global poverty reduction.

"China is an active advocate and strong force for world poverty alleviation," Wang said at a forum.

China will share its experiences and improve collaboration with other countries to push for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said.

After years of work, China is closing in on its goal of achieving a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, with a baseline task of lifting all people out of poverty. More than 10 million people have been freed from poverty each year since 2012.

As of the end of 2016, there were still 43.35 million people living below the country's poverty line of 2,300 yuan (344 U.S. dollars) in annual income, about 3 percent of the population.

Completing the task will require precise measures, focused on specific areas and groups, Wang said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter of congratulation to the meeting, which gathered more than 200 people, including government officials from 13 countries and representatives of 16 international organizations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:49:47|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranian and Armenian officials signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in veterinary, technology and cultural sectors in Tehran on Monday, official IRNA news agency reported.

The documents were signed on the sidelines of a meeting between visiting Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan and Iranian first Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri.

Karapetyan, who arrived in the capital Tehran on Monday, heads a high-ranking economic and cultural delegation.

During the meeting, Jahangiri said that his country is keen on deepening relations with neighboring countries, and that Tehran sees no obstacle in the way to boost cooperation with the neighbors, Armenia in particular.

He praised Tehran-Yerevan ties as "age-old" and said the relationship between the people of the two countries is based on numerous commonalities shared by them, according to Tasnim news agency.

Jahangiri also said various fields of gas, electricity, agriculture, converting industries, technical and engineering services, as well as transportation, can be among the areas of cooperation between the two countries.

The Armenian premier, for his part, pointed to some joint projects between the two countries and stressed the need to eliminate problems hampering the implementation of the projects.

Karapetyan also emphasized that his country is prepared to boost the volume of bilateral trade with Iran remarkably.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:54:50|Editor: yan

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LUSAKA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Africa's biggest trading bloc on Monday called on the continent to formalize the Continental Free Trade Area.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) said it was time leaders started serious negotiations for the Continental Free Trade Area.

Kipyego Cheluget, assistant secretary-general of the 19-member regional bloc, said the success of regional integration was largely dependent on the relationship between the public and private sectors.

The official, who was speaking at the start of the 7th COMESA Business Council annual general meeting in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, added that the establishment of the free trading area will enhance intra-Africa trade.

During the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of State and Government of the African Union (AU) held in Ethiopia in January 2012, African leaders adopted a decision to establish a Continental Free Trade Area by an indicative date of 2017.

The establishment of the free trading arrangement will bring together 54 countries with a combined population of more than one billion people and a combined gross domestic product of more than 3.4 trillion U.S. dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 22:54:50|Editor: yan

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ROME, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The brother of a terrorist who stabbed two young women to death in France was arrested in the northern city of Ferrara on Saturday night, Italian State Police said in a statement on Monday.

The Tunisian national named Anis Hannachi was picked up on an international arrest warrant issued by France. He is accused of being an accessory to the murder of two French women in the southern French city of Marseille on Oct. 1, according to the police.

His brother, Ahmed Annachi, killed cousins Mauranne, 21, a medical student, and 20-year-old nursing student Laura, at a railway station in full daylight. He was shot and killed by police shortly after his rampage, which was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

French investigators had trouble identifying the slain suspect at first because "at least seven different identities corresponded to his fingerprints," according to French newspaper Le Figaro.

Paris Chief Prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters at a press conference that the dead terrorist had a police record for petty crimes "going back to 2005", according to a video posted online by French paper Le Monde.

Italian investigators believe the man arrested, Anis Annachi, spent time as a "foreign fighter" in the ranks of IS in Iraq and Syria, and indoctrinated his brother to commit terrorist acts in the name of Islam, police stated.

Anis Annachi had no papers at the time of his arrest and was identified thanks to fingerprints. He was not known to police as a radical Islamist, and was rejected at the border when he tried to enter Italy in 2014 because he was undocumented, Police Antiterrorism Director Lamberto Giannini told reporters at a televised news conference on Monday.

The arrest of the Marseille attacker's brother was the result of a joint Italy-France operation, police said.

Also on Monday, Italian news agency ANSA reported that anti-terrorist police have arrested a 33-year-old Italian man who claimed he placed a bomb in a sewer in a central location of the northern city of Brescia. The man "used to be a radical Catholic and subsequently espoused the cause of IS," according to ANSA. However, no bomb was discovered in Brescia, Ansa said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 23:29:59|Editor: Song Lifang

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Emrullah Isler, the Special Representative of the President of Turkey, speaks during a press conference in Tripoli, Libya, Oct. 9, 2017. Turkey is keen to resume suspended projects by Turkish companies, and also to start new projects in Libya, Emrullah Isler made the remark during his meeting with Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister, Fayez Serraj. (Xinhua/Hamza Turkia)

TRIPOLI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is keen to resume suspended projects by Turkish companies, and also to start new projects in Libya, said a Turkish official in Tripoli on Monday.

Emrullah Isler, the Special Representative of the President of Turkey, made the remark during his meeting with Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister, Fayez Serraj.

According to the Prime Minister's media office, Serraj expressed desire for cooperation with Turkey in various service and economic fields.

The two officials also discussed bilateral cooperation and Libya's political situation.

Isler conveyed the Turkish president's appreciation for Serraj's efforts to achieve stability in Libya, reiterating Turkey's support for the road map proposed by the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame.

Serraj stressed that presidential and parliamentary elections "are the way out of the current crisis, provided that appropriate climate is available."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 23:40:04|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China plans to build up more vocational schools in poor areas as part of its battle with poverty, said the country's education authority on Monday.

Vocational education was one of the best and fastest ways to bring people out of poverty, Sun Yao, vice education minister, said at a poverty-relief forum.

The new schools will provide professional training based on local economic and social situations, said Sun.

The subjects and majors will be designed to meet the market needs in each area and increase job opportunities for students, Sun explained.

Sun also said China has provided various financial support to poor vocational students across the country, including free tuition, scholarships and student grants.

China is closing in on its ambitious goal of achieving a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, with the baseline task of lifting all people out of poverty.

As of the end of 2016, there were still 43.35 million people in China living below the country's poverty line of 2,300 yuan (344 U.S. dollars) of annual income, accounting for about 3 percent of China's population.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 23:55:12|Editor: yan

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CAPE TOWN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday outlined a series of steps to fight illicit financial flows from Africa, as concerns are mounting over the scourge.

He was answering a question about why no African state submitted a report at the 28th Summit of the African Union (AU) held in January, which required that all African countries present reports on the measures they have undertaken to stop illicit financial flows from the continent.

There was no requirement for South Africa to submit a report to the January AU summit, Zuma said.

"However, South Africa has acted strongly against the scourge of illicit financial flows, both at domestic and international levels," Zuma said.

Domestically, South Africa has taken several steps to tighten the existing laws, which include the signing into law in April this year the Financial Intelligence Center Amendment Act, which strengthens transparency and integrity of the financial system in combating financial crimes such as tax evasion, money laundering, and the financing of terrorism, and illicit financial flows.

A task team, comprising the Financial Intelligence Center, the Home Affairs Ministry, the Revenue Service and the Police Service, has also been established to conduct a pilot project for the cash declaration reporting at ports of entry and exit, said Zuma.

Internationally, South Africa has signed multilateral agreements, including Automatic Exchange of Financial Accounts Information, which forms a basis for automatic annual exchange information on offshore accounts to tax authorities of the residence country of account holders.

"It is intended to make it more difficult for taxpayers to hide their assets abroad," Zuma said.

South Africa is among the first 60 countries that have commenced the first automatic exchanges on Sept. 1 this year. It has already activated bilateral exchange relationships with 48 of the 60 countries, Zuma said.

To date South Africa has over 79 tax treaties in place and the signing of the Multilateral Instrument (MLI) by South Africa automatically amended 44 of the 79 tax treaties, he said.

This number is expected to grow as more countries sign the MLI, Zuma said. Currently, 71 countries have signed the MLI, with Nigeria, Mauritius and Cameroon being the latest to sign.

The MLI will swiftly implement a series of tax treaty related Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) measures to update the existing network of bilateral tax treaties and reduce opportunities for tax avoidance by multinational enterprises.

Africa loses an estimated 60 billion U.S. dollars a year due to illicit financial outflows, according to figures released recently by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-09 23:55:13|Editor: yan

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CHANGCHUN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A TV drama on late geophysicist Huang Danian is expected to hit the small screen on Oct. 12.

Directed by Du Jun, the six-episode drama tells the story of how Huang devoted his life to scientific research.

The drama was shot from mid August to early September at Jilin University where Huang worked till his death.

"Making the show gave me a deeper understanding of Huang's patriotism, which also purified my soul," said Ding Yongdai, who plays Huang.

The program was co-produced by Jilin provincial movie and TV drama group, Jilin provincial capital fund of culture, and Shanghai Jiatong movie and television media corporation.

It will premiere at prime time on Channel 1 of China Central Television.

Huang, known for his work in deep earth exploration technology, was one of the first to participate in the field, and came to work at Jilin University in 2009, after studying and working in Britain for 18 years.

In the following years, he helped China in a number of technical fields, transforming the nation into one of the world's leaders in deep earth exploration.

Huang died from bile duct cancer aged 58 in January.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 00:05:16|Editor: Song Lifang

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CAPE TOWN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- President Jacob Zuma on Monday reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), as envisioned by the African Union (AU).

South Africa takes the CFTA negotiations very seriously, as the intervention has the potential to contribute positively to economic growth and development in Africa, Zuma said while answering questions raised by Members of Parliament in the National Assembly.

"Our commitment to the CFTA is evidenced by the fact that South Africa hosted the meeting of the AU Assembly of Heads of States that launched the CFTA negotiations," Zuma said.

The AU decided in 2012 to establish the CETA by October 2017, and the decision was reconfirmed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November 2016.

The aim is to enhance intra-regional trade and ensure that African countries trade with each other on better terms than third countries. The CFTA is also one of the priorities of Agenda 2063 set out by the AU.

Apparently referring to concerns over little progress in establishing the CFTA, Zuma said the AU Assembly of Heads of States receives regular feedback on progress.

Each negotiating party makes its own sovereign assessment about the benefits of entering into the CFTA negotiations and whether they potentially outweigh the negative considerations that arise, said Zuma.

In South Africa, the CFTA negotiations are receiving the highest political attention, Zuma said.

He stressed that his country would provide the necessary guidance to speedily move towards the conclusion of the CFTA.

"To demonstrate our commitment to the expeditious finalization of the CFTA negotiations, South Africa recently hosted meetings of the CFTA technical working groups and the negotiating forum from August 20 to September 2, 2017, in Durban," the president said.

Further, South Africa has made specific proposals towards the conclusion of the CFTA negotiations, he added.

South Africa has advanced the development integration approach to the CFTA that combines market integration, industrial and infrastructure development, according to Zuma.

This approach ensures that Africa addresses the fundamental constraints to intra-Africa trade and Africa's integration into the global economy, which include productive and supply-side constraints, Zuma said.

South Africa supports free trade agreements that expressly recognize differentials in levels of development, and accordingly create differentiated obligations, he noted.

"South Africa is therefore committed to ensuring that the CFTA benefits all AU member states," Zuma said.

South Africa also defends the retention of policy space in any free trade agreement for the advancement of national development objectives such as industrialization, access to affordable public health and the introduction of other development advancing measures in all free trade negotiations that South Africa is party to, including the CFTA, Zuma said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 00:05:16|Editor: yan

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LAMU, Kenya, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan military on Monday killed five Al-Shabaab militants in the coastal Lamu region, an official confirmed.

Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) spokesman David Obonyo said six AK-47 rifles, 321 rounds of ammunition, three grenades were also recovered in an operation in the vast Boni forest, which the Al-Qaida allied militants have been using as their hideout for launching attacks.

"The soldiers who have been tracking the terrorists laid an ambush in the Bodheri area of Lamu County," Obonyo said. "The terrorists killed are part of the group that has been terrorizing peace-loving citizens in the area."

The military appealed to the local population to report any suspicious individuals with injuries and those seeking medical attention.

"KDF assures the public that tracking of the rest of the terrorists will continue until the area is free from all security threats posed by this group," Obonyo said.

Security officials say Al-Shabaab militants have changed tactics and resorted to using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to attack some parts of Kenya's coastal and northeast regions.

Authorities say the IEDs planted along the roads near Kenya-Somalia border are slowing down operations to flush out militants hiding in the Boni forest near the Somali border.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 00:50:29|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has urged all political stakeholders in Liberia to ensure a democratic, credible and peaceful electoral process, as the country heads to the polls on Oct.10.

According to a statement from the pan-African bloc on Monday, the chairperson of the AU Commission noted the generally calm and peaceful campaign of the election.

He called on all Liberians, particularly political party leaders and their supporters, to approach the upcoming Presidential and House of Representative elections with the same spirit of tolerance.

He urged the National Electoral Commission to ensure impartiality, transparency and fairness, in order to guarantee the legitimacy and acceptance of the election outcome.

In making the appeal, the chairperson is mindful of the historical significance of these elections. They are indeed the third since the end of the two civil wars (1989-1997 and 1999-2003) in Liberia, and will mark the first truly democratic transfer of power in the country.

These elections will be taking place against the backdrop of the country's recovery from the devastating consequences of the 2014-2015 Ebola Virus Disease epidemic, said the statement.

The chairperson reiterated AU's commitment and support to the historic transition in Liberia aimed at entrenching a culture of democracy and peace, which is a pre-requisite for sustainable socio-economic development.

He said that AU would continue to work closely with the larger international community, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations.

He also underlined the key role played by ECOWAS and the UN, including through the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in the stabilization of the country.

The pan-African bloc has dispatched a team of election observers led by former Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, Erastus Mwencha, and the team comprises 14 long-term and 50 short-term observers.
File Photo: The photo made available by U.S. space firm SpaceX on March 30, 2017 shows the company's Falcon 9 rocket launches at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the United States. (Xinhua)

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. private spaceflight company SpaceX Monday launched a rocket from California, carrying 10 communications satellites into orbit for Iridium Communications, an American company providing satellite communications.

The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from the Vandenberg Air Force Base at 5:37 a.m. PDT (1237 GMT) and about 7.5 minutes later, successfully first stage landed on SpaceX's drone ship "Just Read the Instructions" stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

Cheers and applause broke out in the SpaceX control room as the launch was streamed live online.

"Today's mission represents our 15 Falcon 9 launches of the year," John Insprucker, Falcon 9's principal integration engineer, said in a webcast.

Deployment of the 10 Iridium NEXT satellites began about 58 minutes after the launch and ended at 6:50 a.m. PDT (1350 GMT).

"We're 10 for 10!" Insprucker said. "A clean sweep of Iridium NEXT satellite deployment in the desired final orbit."

"Successful deployment of 10 @IridiumComm NEXT satellites to low-Earth orbit confirmed," SpaceX then tweeted.

This is the third of eight scheduled SpaceX launches for the Iridium NEXT constellation, and will bring the total number of satellites in orbit to 30.

The first launch occurred in January this year, followed by the second one on June 25.

Iridium is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. The company said it is on track to fully replace the world's largest commercial satellite network of low-earth orbit satellites in what will be one of the largest "tech upgrades" in history.

Iridium has partnered with Franco-Italian Thales Alenia Space for the manufacturing, assembly and testing of 81 Iridium NEXT satellites, 75 of which will be launched by SpaceX.

These 75 satellites are scheduled to be deployed by mid-2018. The process of replacing the satellites one by one in a constellation of this size and scale has never been undertaken before.

The next generation global satellite constellation will provide coverage over Earth's entire surface, including across oceans, airways and polar regions.

"It has been a great morning," Insprucker said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 01:40:57|Editor: yan

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NEW YORK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- "Today you can't go back to where you were 40 years ago, de-globalization will be extraordinary costly," Nobel Prize winner and renowned economist Joseph Stiglitz said here on Sunday.

Speaking at the 25th Annual Convention of Chinese Association for Science and Technology, USA (CAST-USA), Stiglitz said we have created global supply chains worldwide, and when we interrupt them, costs go up.

Take the auto industry for example. In the United States, auto industry depends heavily on parts imported from Mexico, which ensure the U.S. car makers to get these parts produced at a much lower cost than they could be produced in the United States.

The prices of American cars would be too higher to sell abroad and compete with imports from abroad if they would totally be made in the U.S. Then American automobile industry will go down, and the auto workers would be among the people who suffer the loss.

In 2016, the U.S. imported 294 billion U.S. dollars of products from Mexico, with cars and car parts on the top category, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

"We can go through industry by industry," said Stiglitz, suggesting the auto industry would not be the only industry going to lose on de-globalization.

"You don't win by closing yourself off with protectionism and anti-migration policies in a modern, competitive innovation economy," he added.

He also noted that science knowledge is a global "public goods," saying if we advance science everybody in the world can potentially benefit through globalization.

The 2001 Nobel prize recipient in Economics pointed out that China's role of leadership has been particularly important in globalization.

The rule of law is important for every country. When we talk about how our economy couldn't function without a rule of law, it is all the same with the global economy, representing by the WTO as part of that rule of law, he added.

Founded in 1992 in New York City, CAST-USA is a non-profit American Chinese organization dedicated to promoting understanding between Americans and ethnic Chinese in the United States.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 01:40:58|Editor: yan

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DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people died on the spot and three others were seriously injured on Monday when their mini-bus plunged into Lake Victoria in Mwanza region, police said.

Ahmed Msangi, the Mwanza regional police commander, said the bus plunged into the lake, the largest in Africa, at Kigogo ferry on its way to Mwanza city from Sengerema district.

Msangi said two passengers were still missing, adding that the they might have drowned in the lake shared by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

"The police have launched a rescue mission searching for the missing passengers," said Msangi.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli sent a condolence message to Mwanza regional commissioner John Mongella and families of those who lost their beloved ones.

"I have received with great shock and sadness news on the grisly accident that killed 12 innocent people," said Magufuli in a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

President Magufuli also wished the injured passengers quick recovery.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 01:45:59|Editor: yan

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LONDON, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- An international team of researchers have developed a new diagnostic and prognosis method for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), based on a simple blood sample containing circulating tumor DNA, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Materials.

HCC is the most common type of primary liver cancer in adults and among the leading causes of cancer mortality in the world.

Like many cancers, early detection improves prognosis and survival rates, in part due to greater efficacy of localized treatment versus systemic treatments. But current detection methods for HCC primarily rely upon imaging and a blood test for a non-specific tumor marker called alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is usually elevated when the disease is significantly advanced.

"Non-invasive blood tests or liquid biopsies present a better alternative," said Kang Zhang, from the University of California San Diego.

Many liquid biopsies work by detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), which are fragments of genetic material shed into the blood by tumor cells.

These biopsies offer several potential advantages over other methods of cancer detection, according to Zhang. They can be done at any time during therapy, allowing physicians to monitor molecular changes in tumors in real-time. They may detect tumors not apparent or indeterminant based upon imaging.

Meanwhile, ctDNA potentially represents the entire molecular picture of a patient's malignancy while a tumor biopsy may be limited to just the tested portion of the tumor.

The new method is developed by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, with colleagues at Sun Yet-sun University Cancer Center and other collaborating institutions.

"Right now, oncologists are quite limited in how they detect HCC and evaluate treatment. Our study is a great demonstration of proof-of-concept for a new, more effective approach that applies to solid malignancies, HCC and beyond," said Zhang.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 01:46:00|Editor: yan

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RIGA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- In three years' time, all core academic subjects in Latvia's public high schools will be taught only in the Latvian language, the Baltic country's center-right government coalition decided on Monday.

The plan for the switch to Latvian in all public high schools, including also in ethnic minority schools, will be written in the education law to minimize the possibility of its abolition in case a different coalition comes to power in Latvia.

Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis, who talked to reporters following the coalition meeting, said that the Education and Science Ministry had been given a month to work out a roadmap for phasing in the Latvian language in all high schools by the academic year 2020-21.

The step-by-step transition is supposed to take place simultaneously with a switch to a new competency-based curriculum.

Latvian Education and Science Minister Karlis Sadurskis, who initiated the transition to Latvian as the only language of instruction in high schools, said that the Latvian education system and minority school teachers were much better prepared for the reform than back in 2004 when the minority schools switched to bilingual education.

"The situation is completely different now. The highest level of language proficiency is now mandatory for all teachers, so we do not have this problem," Sadurskis said.

It is planned that after the reform, students at Latvia's ethnic minority schools will still be able to learn culture-related subjects, literature and history in their native language.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 02:01:03|Editor: yan

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PARIS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A British border force officer was arrested in northern France last week as part of Franco-British operation against suspected drug and weapon smuggling, according to local reports.

The 37-year-old man and three other British nationals were detained on Oct. 6 near the northern city of Dunkerque and placed into custody, Le Point magazine reported.

During the operation, police seized 34 kg of cocaine, 7 kg of heroin and a dozen of firearms, it added.

The man, a border guard "had taken advantage of his position to transfer the drug and weapons to Britain by using the service vehicle by via the Channel Tunnel," a source close to the affair was quoted as saying.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 02:26:08|Editor: yan

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TBILISI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili Monday vetoed the constitutional amendments, adopted by the parliament on September 26.

At a press briefing, Margvelashvili announced that he did not sign the amendments because of six concrete shortcomings and he returned the bill back to the parliament with six recommendations.

These recommendations include the abolition of bonus system, allowing creation of election blocs, constitutional court issue, freedom of confession, introduction of fully proportional elections system since 2020 and the rule of president's election.

"If the parliament takes all of these six points into consideration, Georgia will have a perfect constitution," the president stated.

Georgian parliament can either accept the veto or override it, according to the Georgian law. In order to override a veto, at least 76 votes in the parliament are needed.

Currently, the ruling Georgian Dream party has 116 seats in a 150-seat parliament.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 02:41:13|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Egypt condemned on Monday the terror attack that targeted soldiers in a United Nations base in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a statement, Egypt's foreign ministry offered condolences to Congo's government and people and wished the injured speedy recovery.

Egypt also hailed the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) over implementing stability and security in the country, according to the statement.

A UN peacekeeper was killed and 12 others injured on Monday in battle with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in a village in the country's Kivu province.

The ADF is considered a terrorist group by the Ugandan government. It was originally based in west Uganda but has expanded into the neighboring DR Congo.

The eastern region in DR Congo is beset by instability due to the presence of several home-grown and foreign armed rebel groups. UN data showed thousands of civilians have been killed in various armed conflicts in the region since 2016.
Passengers wait in front of the closed doors of the Yaroslavsky railway terminal in Moscow, Russia, on September 13, 2017. (AFP PHOTO)

MOSCOW, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Nearly one million people in over 140 cities across Russia were affected by a massive wave of bomb threat phone calls that started a month ago, Russian media reported Monday.

"Since September 11, calls for 'mining' have been received by 2,340 objects in 144 cities of the country. More than 960,000 people have been evacuated," RIA Novosti news agency quoted a source in emergency services as saying.

On Monday, tens of thousands of people were evacuated from administrative buildings, schools, bus and railway stations, hotels and shopping malls in different Russian cities including Moscow and St. Petersburg, according to various reports.

The peak of the "telephone terrorism" occurred on Friday in Moscow, when more than 250 different buildings were reported to be "mined," Tass news agency said.

So far, all calls were proved to be hoaxes.

Nevertheless, damages caused by the phone call threats have reached up to over 300 million rubles (5.2 million U.S. dollars), according to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

Investigations have been underway throughout the chaos of fake bomb threats and there were different speculations about the identities of the plotters.

The FSB said last week that the mass phone calls with bomb threats were carried out by four Russian nationals abroad along with their domestic accomplices.

Currently, various Russian security services and law enforcement agencies are working together on tracking down the suspects.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 02:51:15|Editor: Song Lifang

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KIEV, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his visiting Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting here on Monday to discuss bilateral and regional cooperation, Poroshenko's press service said.

According to Poroshenko's spokesman Svyatoslav Tsegolko, the meeting between the two leaders started with closed-door talks, which lasted for three hours instead of the planned 45 minutes.

Later in the day, Poroshenko and Erdogan co-chaired the 6th meeting of the Ukraine-Turkey High-Level Strategic Council, where nine intergovernmental documents were signed.

In particular, Ukraine and Turkey have inked the agreements on the mutual investment protection and the avoidance of double taxation.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the work of the mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the conflict-hit eastern Ukraine and the possibility of deployment of United Nations peacekeeping troops to the region.

Besides, Poroshenko and Erdogan discussed the collaboration between their countries in all strategic areas, such as trade, aviation, security and other sectors.

While speaking at a joint press briefing after the talks, Poroshenko expressed satisfaction with the achievements made by the two countries in their strategic partnership and voiced the hope for enhanced cooperation.

"Our goal is to deepen the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Turkey. Our goal is to ensure confidence, stability, sustainable development, prosperity in the whole region on the basis of respect for international law," Poroshenko said.

For his part, Erdogan said the two countries set a target to triple their trade turnover, which reached 3.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2016.

"We have decided to bring our trade turnover to 10 billion dollars as soon as possible," Erdogan said.

Erdogan arrived in Kiev earlier on Monday for a one-day official visit, his first trip to Ukraine since March 2015.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reviews an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony hosted by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev, Ukraine October 9, 2017. (REUTERS PHOTO)

ANKARA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday condemned the decision by the U.S. embassy to stop non-immigrant visa services in Turkey amid a diplomatic row.

"The embassy's decision to suspend all non-immigrant visa applications is upsetting," Erdogan said in a joint news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Porochenko in Ukraine's capital Kiev, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The president said he had suggested Turkish foreign ministry officials to response "based on the rules of reciprocity."

On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara announced it had suspended non-immigrant visa services at all diplomatic facilities in Turkey. In response, Turkey's Washington Embassy subsequently suspended non-immigrant visa services in the U.S. citing security concerns.

The spat between the two countries was ignited by the recent arrest of Metin Topuz, a U.S. consulate employee in Istanbul who was accused of suspected links to the group of U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for the July 15, 2016 coup attempt that killed 249 people in Turkey.

Earlier Monday, Turkish foreign ministry summoned the undersecretary of U.S. Embassy, urging for an immediate reversal of the decision.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 03:51:29|Editor: yan

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MAPUTO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen people were killed on Monday when a speeding minibus fleeing police inspection overturned in central Mozambique, authorities said.

Many others were injured in the incident in Ulongwe district, Tete province, local police said.

The dead include 11 nationals of Malawi. The two other victims came from Zimbabwe and Mozambique respectively.

The minibus was suspected to be on the way to enter South Africa illegally from Mozambique.

"The minibus driver was driving at high speed because he was fleeing from the police who wanted to inspect the car with foreigners," said district commander Fernando Graca. "The bus then overturned, leaving the 11 victims dead at the scene, and others died on the way to hospital."

Countries that border the provinces of central Mozambique have often been used as a route to illegally enter South Africa.
Firefighters assess the scene as a house burns in the Napa wine region of California, the United States, on Oct. 9, 2017. (Xinhua/AFP)

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- More than 14 fires ripped through eight counties in Northern California in western coast of the United States. Till Monday noon, it has killed one person, serious injured two, destroyed at least 1,500 structures and forced 20,000 people to be evacuated.

California Governor Jerry Brown issued Monday an emergency proclamation for Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties due to the effects of multiple fires, including the Tubbs and Atlas fires, which have damaged critical infrastructure, threatened thousands of homes and caused the evacuation of residents.

According to information updated Monday noon by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), in Mendocino County, one person was killed, two were serious injured in Redwood Complex fire which has burned 10,000 acres (40.5 square kilometers). More than 400 crews are fighting the wildfire.

Cal Fire also reported that the wildfires had totally scorched more than 60,000 acres (242.9 square kilometers) Monday, among which, the Tubbs burned 25,000 acres (101.2 square kilometers), the Atlas Fire 25,000 acres (101.2 square kilometers) and the Patrick Fire 2,000 acres (8.1 square kilometers). All the three fires have no containment.

Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott was quoted by Sacramento Bee as saying that most of the fires started at about 10 p.m. Sunday and their causes are under investigation. He said firefighters are concentrating on saving lives rather than battling the blazes.

California Highway Patrol said Golden Gate Division Air Operations rescued 42 people ranging from five years old to 91 years old from the wildfires and the rescue operations are continuing.

Photos posted online by local residents showed that numerous buildings are on fire in downtown, including the Hilton Sonoma hotel and a K-Mart, while Sutter Hospital and Kaiser Hospital in the city "are no longer operational and patients have been evacuated."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 05:16:56|Editor: Song Lifang

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PARIS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday urged more acts in the conflict zones to better handle refugees crisis and stem flows of asylum seekers that have prompted Europe's worst migration crisis.

"Protecting ... means taking action as close as possible to the conflict zones by first providing financial support to UNHCR in the countries hosting the most refugees in the Middle East and in Africa," Macron said.

In this context, Macron promised to increase 10 million euros (11.73 million U.S. dollars) Paris financial aid to help treat migrants crisis in Libya, where according to him, "the situation remains critical."

Macron also pointed to the necessity to energize diplomatic efforts "to build a political solution negotiated in Libya that will allow stability."

As to the situation of Syrian refugees, Macron pleaded for "a collective capacity" to reach a political response to the end the year-long and offer a lasting political stability in the area.

Admitting that France had failed to honor commitment to receive refugees, Macron pledged to handle the issue with a "realistic" way, proposing to welcome 10,000 asylum seekers mainly from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Niger and Chad by 2019.

At a meeting with Filippo Grandi, president of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Macron also stressed "the need for Europe to build a common area of protection and solidarity, in particular by setting up a European Asylum Office which accelerates and harmonizes our procedures with a common training and integration program of refugees". (1 euro = 1.173 U.S. dollar)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 05:37:03|Editor: yan

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DAMASCUS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Syria on Monday accused Israel and the United States of supporting terrorist groups in Syria with arms and munitions, state news agency SANA reported.

Syrian defense ministry said in a report that Syrian authorities had seized a large amount of Western-made arms and munitions in several areas.

It added that U.S.-made weapons were found in hideouts of the Islamic State (IS) militants and other terrorist groups.

IS and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front offered western countries with oil from the oil fields in terrorist-controlled areas in Syria and Iraq, in exchange for rockets, rifles, machine-guns and anti-aircraft missiles, even tanks, the ministry said.

The ministry said that the weapons reached Syria via various channels from companies in Eastern Europe with links to the U.S. military base of Rammstein in Germany.

Israel has provided the Nusra Front with various weaponry through the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, said the report.

Other channels included the aid programs to support the so-called "moderate opposition group," the Free Syrian Army, since the administration of former U.S. President Barack Obama, according to the ministry.

The ministry said that most soldiers of the Free Syrian Army, who had received training in Turkey and Jordan, had later joined the IS or the Nusra Front.

Between June 5 and Sept. 15, the United States had sent 1,421 trucks loaded with weaponry to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the ministry said.

Despite the claims that these weapons were for the fight against IS, they were eventually found in the possession of terrorists who used them to commit "dirty crimes," according to the ministry.

The flow of weapons into Syria was coupled with the entry of 20,000 foreign fighters into Syria, most of whom came from Turkey, the ministry said, adding that such a support made the Nusra Front the strongest rebel group in northern Syria.

"The geographic proximity and the lack of observation on export created proper circumstances for some countries to benefit from the arms trade. Such deals have taken place with the help of the United States in most cases," the ministry said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 05:37:04|Editor: yan

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AMMAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Jordanian audience was mesmerized by the beauty of Chinese traditional music at a concert held Monday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Jordan diplomatic ties.

The concert was held by renowned Chinese musician Liu Guangyu and his ensemble at the Talal Abu Ghazaleh (TAG) Knowledge Forum in Amman.

Liu, presidents of the Chongqing Opera Theatrical Troupe and Chongqing Symphony Orchestra, exhibited his exquisite skills in playing the erhu, an ancient Chinese bowed instrument with two strings.

And his colleagues played other traditional Chinese instruments including pipa, cymbalo and flute.

The concert was part of the activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and Jordan, said Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Pan Weifang.

Stressing the importance of holding such events, Pan said China was keen to boost cultural cooperation with Jordan.

Talal Abu Ghazaleh, president of the TAG group, appreciated the similarities between Arab and Chinese music, while wishing for a better future for the China-Jordan relations.

The concert featured the performance of 10 classic Chinese melodies, including Beautiful Flowers and Full Moon, By the River, Ambush on All Sides, and A Girl Named Lan Huahua, as well as some Arabic melodies.

In recent years, Liu has been invited to perform in more than 40 countries including Russia, Italy, Egypt and the Philippines.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-10 06:22:16|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian (R) shakes hands with Michael Beary, head of Mission and Force Commander of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), at the UNIFIL headquarters in Lebanon's southern town of Naqoura, on Oct. 9, 2017. Wang Kejian pledged on Monday that China will continue its support to the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. (Xinhua/Li Liangyong)

BEIRUT, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian pledged on Monday that China will continue its support to the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

At the invitation of Michael Beary, head of Mission and Force Commander of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Wang visited the UNIFIL headquarters in Lebanon's southern town of Naqoura and toured the UNIFIL zone near the Lebanon-Israel border.

In his meeting with Beary, Wang said that China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has always actively supported and participated in UN peacekeeping operations.

The Chinese envoy pointed out that China has established an 8,000-strong standby UN peacekeeping force, which will play a bigger role in protecting world peace.

Hailing the important role played by the UNIFIL in safeguarding peace and stability in southern Lebanon as well as the region, Wang vowed that China will continue its support to the UN mission there.

For his part, Beary said that China, as a great power with global influence, has made great contribution to the UN peacekeeping missions.

Beary spoke highly of the professionalism and outstanding performance by the Chinese peacekeepers within the UNIFIL. He also commended their friendly relationships with other countries' peacekeeping forces, local government and residents.

As one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has dispatched the most troops on UN peacekeeping missions, and provided major funding for such operations.

Since joining UN peacekeeping operations in 1990, Chinese troops have been deployed 24 times, with over 36,000 personnel dispatched. A total of 2,506 Chinese peacekeepers are currently on UN missions in eight locations around the world.
Greatest Service We Can Render to Our Fellow Human Beings is to help them Achieve their Potential, Says President

Kerala, Mon, 09 Oct 2017 NI Wire

The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, graced and addressed the initiation of various welfare progammes organised by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math (October 8, 2017) in Kollam, Kerala.

Speaking on the occasion, the President referred to Keralas role as one of the leading spiritual homes of our country and of our composite society. He stated that the bravery of our soldiers and the compassion and wisdom of our spiritual leaders are twin pillars on which we rest our hopes. These keep our civilisation secure. The flame of spiritualism shines brightly in Kerala and has done so for thousands of years. Revered people as Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Narayana Guru and Ayyankali did much to unite our country with a common sense of spiritualism  as well as to push for much-needed social reform.

The President said that Keralas spiritual consciousness is beyond faith and religious distinctions. The Christian community here is one of the oldest not only in India, but anywhere in the world. The first mosque to be built in India is in Kerala. Kerala also has a rich Jewish heritage. These historical instances reflect the mutual accommodation and understanding of different faiths and religious communities in Kerala. This is a state where one community has willingly given space to another. This is a history that we cannot forget and must learn from. And this is an accommodation and understanding that is at the essence of spiritualism.

Praising Mata Amritanandamayi for her social work, the President said that she represents the enlightened spiritual tradition of Kerala. Like Adi Shankara or Ayyankali she sees her spiritual mission as a contribution to nation building. She recognises, as only the truly spiritual can, that the greatest service to the Divine is service to fellow human beings. And the greatest service we can render to our fellow human beings  especially to those less privileged than us  is to help them achieve their potential. This includes building their capacity in health and education, and ensuring that they get equal opportunities. The Mata Amritanandamayi Math, the President noted, has worked precisely in these areas.

Source: PIB
PM Modi launches Intensified Mission Indradhanush, addresses public meeting

Gujarat, Mon, 09 Oct 2017 NI Wire

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, yesterday visited his home town, Vadnagar, for the first time since assuming office of Prime Minister.

Residents of the town thronged the streets to welcome the Prime Minister. He offered prayers at the Hatkeshwar Temple. He also stopped briefly at the school in which he had studied as a child.

The Prime Minister visited GMERS Medical College, Vadnagar, and unveiled a plaque to mark its dedication. He also interacted briefly with students.

At a public meeting, the Prime Minister launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush, to accelerate progress towards the goal of full immunization coverage. It will provide greater focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunization coverage. The Prime Minister distributed e-tablets to health workers to mark the launch of ImTeCHO - an innovative mobile phone application to improve performance of ASHAs. He also launched some development works.

Addressing an enthusiastic gathering, the Prime Minister said that coming back to one's home town and receiving such a warm welcome is special. Whatever I am today is due to the values I have learnt on this soil, among you all in Vadnagar, the Prime Minister said.

I go back with your blessings and assure you that I will work even harder for the nation, the Prime Minister said to the people of Vadnagar.

The Prime Minister expressed happiness that he had got to inaugurate projects related to the health sector, particularly Intensified Mission Indradhanush. He mentioned how the Government had brought down the prices of stents, and said that the Government is working constantly to make healthcare affordable for the poor.

Mentioning his interaction with students from the medical college, the Prime Minister said that as a society, we require more doctors who can serve the people.

Source: PIB
PM lays Foundation Stone of Barrage over Narmada, addresses public meeting at Bharuch

Gujarat, Mon, 09 Oct 2017 NI Wire

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, today unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of Foundation Stone of Bhadbhut Barrage over the River Narmada. At a public meeting in Bharuch, the Prime Minister also flagged off the Antyodaya Express between Udhna (Surat, Gujarat) and Jaynagar (Bihar). He also unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of Foundation Stone, and Inauguration of various plants of Gujarat Narmada Fertilizer Corporation Ltd.

Addressing the public meeting, the Prime Minister said that the Antyodaya Express is a commendable initiative, which connects people and particularly helps those who are from Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, and work far from their home. He said the train will make it easier for people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to go home for Chhath Puja.

Neem coating of urea helped farmers and stopped corruption as well as theft, the Prime Minister said.

Shri Narendra Modi said that Gujarat's strides in animal husbandry have helped farmers. He said that he had asked the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, to send a team to Gujarat and study the Pashu Arogya Melas. He added that a similar Mela had been organised recently in Varanasi, which the Prime Minister had an opportunity to visit.

Source: PIB
Image: PM Modi launching the Mission Intensified Indradhanush

Gujarat on October 08, 2017: The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi launching the Mission Intensified Indradhanush, at Vadnagar, in Gujarat on October 08, 2017. The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, J.P. Nadda, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, the Minister of State for Mines and Coal, Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary, the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Nitinbhai Patel and other dignitaries are also seen.
Justice John Tsoho of Federal High Court has been asked to order the British High commission and the NigerianImmigration Service to arrest and repatriate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the United Kingdom back to Nigeria to face trial.

In a suit dated 4th October and filed on the 5th by Kanus kinsman, Ugochukwu Kenneth, through his lawyers,Obor John, Esq and Tersagh Unande, Esq, also asked the court foran order directing the Attorney-General of the Federation to advise PresidentMohammadu Buhari to declare the British High Commission as persona non grata for her complicity in facilitating and harbouring a fugitive from justice in her territory being the United Kingdom.

Joined in the case with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/9300/17 are the British High Commission, the Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The case has been assigned to Justice Tsoho and will be coming up on October 12, 2017.

In the suit, the plaintiff asked the court to determine whether by a true interpretation of Sections 1, 4 and 5 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 the 1st and 2nd Defendants have not abdicated their duties by failing, neglecting or omitting to prevent and arrest the IPOB separatist leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial for treason and terrorism in Nigeria from illegally travelling to the United Kingdom?

He also asked the court to determine whether the British High Commission is not under obligation to repatriate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a fugitive from justice irrespective of him holding dual nationalism of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, back to Nigeria to stand trial for the offences of treason and terrorism pursuant to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the United Nations Convention on Terrorism?

Theplaintiff prayed the court for the following reliefs:

A declaration that by a true interpretation of Sections 1, 4 and 5 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and Section 2 (1) of the Immigration Act 2015 the 1st and 2nd Defendants have abdicated their duties by failing, neglecting or omitting to prevent and arrest the IPOB separatist leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial for treason in Nigeria from illegally travelling to the United Kingdom and remaining as a fugitive from justice in the United Kingdom.

A declaration that the British High Commission is under obligation to repatriate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu-a fugitive from justice, irrespective of him holding dual nationalism of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, back to Nigeria to stand trial for the offences of treason and terrorism pursuant to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and the United Nations Convention on Terrorism.

He also prayed the court for an order compelling the 1st and 2nd Defendants to arrest and repatriate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the United Kingdom back to Nigeria to stand his trial.

He prayed the court to make an order compe the 3rd Defendant to advise the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to declare the British High Commission as persona non grata for her complicity in facilitating and harbouring a fugitive from justice in her territory being the United Kingdom.

In the affidavit in support of the suit, deposed to, by the plaintiff, he said, That consequent upon the above condition, Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, the Senator representing the good people of Abia South Senatorial District of Abia State, Tochukwu Uchendu and Jewish Chief High Priest Immanuel El Shalom Oka-Ben Madu perfected the bail bond which facilitated the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

That upon the perfection of the bail and consequent released of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from prison custody, Mazi Kanu has to the best of my knowledge breached all the bail conditions to wit; granting press interviews while on bail, participating in any rally, or being found in a crowd of more than ten persons in the course of the bail and to make matters worse, Mazi Kanu has finally travelled to the United Kingdom in an attempt to escape trial and the arm of the law.

That I know as a fact that if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who has travelled to the United Kingdom in an attempt to escape justice, fails to appear in Court on the next adjourned date being 17th October, 2017 the freedom of the Senator representing my District and other co-sureties will be in jeopardy.

That consequent upon the above, if Senator Abaribe who is my representative is finally arrested as required by law, myself and the good people of Abia South Senatorial District will be denied representation at the Senate and by extension the dividends of democracy.

That I know as a fact that the illegal disappearance of Mazi Kanu from the shores of Nigeria to the United Kingdom would not be possible, if not for gross display of negligence on the part of the 2nd Defendant as well as complacency of the 1st Defendant who aided the illegal travel of Mazi Kanu considering the fact that he holds citizenship of the 1st Defendant.
Earlier today, Nigeriana reported the story of Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie criticising Pastor Adeboyes decision to have as many branches as possible.

According to Okogie, there is no Godliness in the decision by some churches in the country to have as many branches as possible, describing such branches as mere business centres.

Now, controversial Cool FM OAP, Daddy Freeze whos widely known as a big critic of pastors has reacted by giving props to the Cardinal for his criticism of Pastor Adeboye.

In his words: I have been driving up and down Lagos looking for this cardinal, so I can give him one huge hug.

Drawing out a comparison to the number churches outside and inside Nigeria, Freeze wrote:

Finland has the most stable economy in world today. There are less than 20 churches in Finland.

Switzerland has the second most stable economy in the world. Switzerland has less than 30 churches.

Denmark is the third most stable economy in the world. Denmark has about 23 churches in it.

These are countries considered largely atheist in nature, yet so blessed.

Come to Owerri town, SE Nigeria, from MCC junction to Toronto junction, there are 36 churches. That stretch of about 5 km harbours 36 churches, more churches than the entire Switzerland.

Between Owerri and Mgbidi l counted 97 churches and gave up.

According to CAC, Nigeria has over 23,000 registered churches. We have more churches than schools and hospitals combined. More pastors than doctors and teachers combined. Everyone is born again. All are covered in the blood of Jesus. All are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Yet none of those claims reflects in the expected moral elevation of society. We are still one of the greediest, laziest, corrupt, deceitful, hypocritical and hateful set of beings on the planet today, with all our Christ and Holy Spirit.

Our people need to draw the line between religiosity and spirituality.
Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to step down as the substantive Minister of Petroleum over the alleged contract matter in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Apart from asking Buhari to sack self as a minister, Falana also called for the suspension of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Maikanti Baru, to allow for a probe which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should handle.

The statement which is issued, on Sunday, stated, The people of Nigeria were surprised last week to read the embarrassing petition of the Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, addressed to President Buhari pertaining to his inability to consult with the president and substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources and the unilateral award of $25 billion contracts by Baru.

Although it was reported that Mr Kachikwu has since been given access to the president, the details of the discussions between the duo have not been made public. However, apart from sanctioning the officers responsible for creating the wide gulf between Mr Kachikwu and the president, the allegation of the unilateral award of contracts worth $25 billion by Mr Baru ought to be investigated in line with the anti-corruption policy of the Buhari administration.

Reacting to Falanas call for Buhari to step down as petroleum minister, some lawyers said there is no constitutional backing for it, as anyone could occupy any position of choice.

An Abuja-based lawyer, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, said the call had no legal backing.

According to him, let him read the NNPC Act 2007. Anybody can become the petroleum minister. Section 147 of the constitution backs this. The only snag here is that it requires confirmation by the Senate. Section 130(2) makes him the chief executive of the federation.Mr Kole Ojo, Director of the Centre for Practical Legal Training, also supported this assertion but added that I think combining that role with the Presidency is too much power and work on him and Falana may be making a positive point.

Mr Kole Ojo, Director of the Centre for Practical Legal Training, also supported this assertion but added that I think combining that role with the Presidency is too much power and work on him and Falana may be making a positive point.

President Buhari has been called upon to investigate properly the award of $25 million contracts.

Former chairman, Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Captain Tunji Selle (retd.), made the call while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, just as he also called on the National Assembly to investigate the scam and come out with a report and go ahead to do the needful.

The Action Democratic Party (ADP), on Sunday, came hard on an anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, saying his government was only paying lip service to its war against corruption, which had been largely selective.

The national secretary of the party, Dr James Okoroma, who addressed newsmen at the party secretariat in Abuja, over the $25 billion NNPC contract scandal, said the national economy had collapsed under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.
The Movement for the Actualization of a Sovereign State of Biafra has condemned a fresh military invasion of the home of Eze Israel Kanu, the father of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement made available to our correspondent in Awka, Anambra State, on Monday by MASSOBs National Director of Information, Samuel Edeson, the group described the attack as primitive and cowardly.

The group said no amount of such intimidation would stop Biafra agitators from continuing with the struggle, adding that President Buhari cannot destroy the Biafra consciousness.

It wondered why the army would continue to unleash such primitive and brutal attack against nonviolent Biafra agitators

Edeson described the act as, Signs of jittery, cowardice and Buharis government frustration on the eloquent consciousness and realities of Biafra freedom which is being appreciated and acknowledged by international communities

Kanus family had on Sunday raised the alarm that soldiers invaded their compound again.

Kanu younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, alleged that the soldiers invaded their home and carted away some household items.

He said the soldiers took away some items like television, generating sets, clothes among other belongings of the family.

He said, The international community should prevail on the Nigeria Army to stop raiding our home again. We have been telling the Army to produce my bother whose whereabouts has remained unknown since after the September 14 military invasion of our compound.

While confirming having an operation in the area, the military denied removing any household items from the compound.

But MASSOBs statement on Monday maintained that Applications of brutal Federal forces against the nonviolence Biafra agitators can never subdue or defeat the indestructible revolution of Biafra.

The statement read in part, MASSOB and other pro-Biafra agitators are not cowed or intimidated by this sheer acts of overzealousness and ethnic hatred of the people of Biafra by Hausa Fulani dominated Nigeria security apparatuses.

Even in these persecutions, arrests, extrajudicial killings, subjections and detentions of nonviolence, pro-Biafra agitators, we shall continue to maintain our non-violence principles.

MASSOB and other pro-Biafra groups are the political masquerades of Ndigbo. We shall continue to be the pride of Ndigbo, upholding the vision of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

It called on southeast governors to be wary and sensitive on Biafra issues in order not to fall into what it the political trap of the Hausa Fulani intimidation through president Buhari.

On the Anambra November 18 poll, MASSOB said pro-Biafra groups were yet reached an agreement on boycotting the exercise or declaring a sit-at-home order on the election day.

It said We shall consult and deliberate widely on the positive and negative implications of such exercise in Anambra state.

MASSOB must be tactical and sensitive in considering the wills and civil rights of the citizens.
Two militia groups linked to the UN-backed Government of National Accord have fought over the control of oil and gas terminal in the town of Sabratha, with the GNA and Italy fearing the fighting could disrupt efforts to thwart migrants smuggling in the town known as a departure point for the perilous journey across the Mediterranean.

Operations Room this weekend said it flashed out its rival, Anas al-Dabbashi brigade, after three-weeks of fighting.

The fighting killed scores of people and wounded hundreds, reports say.

The Operations Rooms also known as AIRO (Anti-IS Operations Rooms) was set last year to defeat the Islamic State group (IS) in the town. The AIRO is said to control 95 per cent of the coastal town.

Dabbashi brigade was in control of the terminal and the town since last year and pledged to put a stop to migrants smuggling. The town located West of Tripoli has been used by migrants as main gate for boats expeditions on the Mediterranean to reach Europe, mainly through Italy.

The number of boats has significantly decreased since July as results of cooperation between Libyan coastguard supported by the EU and Dabbashi brigade in return for offers of amnesty and jobs in the security forces, reports say.

The new commanders of the town have also vowed to fight illegal migration, accusing rival group of promoting the lucrative smuggling business.
Feinstein. Photo: Jim Watson/Getty

Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat who has represented California in the Senate since 1992, announced on Monday that she would run for reelection in 2018.

I am running for reelection to the Senate. Lots more to do: ending gun violence, combating climate change, access to healthcare. Im all in!  Dianne Feinstein (@DianneFeinstein) October 9, 2017

(Though there was some initial confusion about the Twitter accounts veracity, CNNs Manu Raju and other reporters confirmed that Feinstein was running.)

At 84, she is the oldest current member of the Senate; she would be 91 if she won next year and finished out another six-year term.

Feinstein, who was the mayor of San Francisco for a decade before her Senate career, has been among the most outspoken voices on issues like gun violence and torture during her long legislative tenure. But in an era of all-out ideological resistance to the Trump presidency, she has drawn fire from progressives for some of her more moderate stances. She is skeptical of single-payer health care, and has said that President Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative, which President Trump is winding down, may not have been legal in the first place.

She also sparked outrage in August when she said, of President Trump, I just hope he has the ability to learn and to change, and if he does, he can be a good president.

Consequently, Feinstein is likely to face a fierce challenge from her left flank in the Democratic primary next year. Kevin de Leon, the president pro tempore of the California State Senate, is seen as a particularly strong challenger, and there are likely to be others.

But in a sign that Feinstein still has plenty of sway among the states liberal power brokers, Kamala Harris, Californias junior senator and a favorite among progressives, quickly and enthusiastically endorsed her bid.
Its a long time in Trump years until 2020, but not too soon to consider how the 45th president might achieve reelection. Photo: Mandel Ngan/Getty

Most of the discussion among progressives (and some #NeverTrump conservatives) about the 45th presidents future in office involves short-term efforts to limit his power by elevating less dangerous people in his administration, taking away his partys congressional power in the 2018 midterms, impeaching him, or forcing a quick retirement, preferably in disgrace. There is less talk about denying him a second term. Thats partly because 2020 seems impossibly far away, particularly as measured in Trump years, in which every day, week, and month can be excruciatingly long.

But another factor inhibiting much 2020 talk  other than the intramural Democratic focus on identifying the 46th president of the United States  is the belief that a calamity like the 2016 presidential election cannot possibly happen twice in just four years.

Probably sensing overconfidence, former Clinton White House political director Doug Sosnik offered Democrats a rude awakening at Politico with a provocative column arguing that Trumps not in that bad a position heading toward 2020.

Sosnik points out several reasons Trump could win reelection despite terrible-looking approval ratings. For one thing, as 2016 (and 2000) showed, you can win a presidential race while losing the popular vote. For another, most of these bad approval-rating numbers we all keep reading are poorly screened for actual likelihood to vote in 2020 (many are based on all adults samples). And then theres the relatively strong durability of Trumps support levels within his electoral base, almost regardless of what he does or how it affects the country.

But Sosniks central point is that the very corrosive forces that made Trumps election possible in 2016 will likely lower the share of the vote he needs for reelection:

[T]he continued decline in support for both political parties works to Trumps advantage. The lack of voters faith in both parties increases the probability that there will be a major third-party candidate on the 2020 ballot. It will also lead to other minor-party candidates joining the presidential race. The multi-candidate field will further divide the anti-Trump vote, making it possible for him to get reelected simply by holding on to his current level of support.

Now, thats a bit of a reach.

You may recall that former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg flirted with the idea of launching a major centrist third-party presidential race in 2016, particularly if Bernie Sanders had won the Democratic nomination. In the end, Bloomberg concluded that hed take more votes away from Hillary Clinton than from Donald Trump, and didnt want to be responsible for the possibility of a President Trump.

Theres no particular reason to think Bloomberg himself (who will turn 78 in 2020) will consider a 2020 run, though there are other billionaire centrists out there who could replace him in hypothetical three-way races, if they chose an independent route instead of the more efficient approach of competing for a Democratic nomination that may have no clear favorite (depending on who else makes that race). Like Bloomberg in 2016, any potential major indie candidate could also bow out due to fears of splitting the anti-Trump vote.

But lets say for the sake of argument that we arent talking about a major indie candidate, but rather an intensification of 2016s minor-party candidacies (Jill Steins and Gary Johnsons). Could that make it possible for Trump to squeak through with 40 percent or so of the national popular vote? Sure, its possible, although you have to go back to Woodrow Wilson to find a president elected with less than 43 percent of the popular vote. And the experience of 2016 itself is likely to provide a discouraging precedent for many otherwise potential minor-party voters  or certainly those who thought it was safe to cast a protest vote because Hillary Clinton was a sure winner. And for that matter, the so-so turnout patterns (which became distressingly low among key Democratic constituencies) of 2016 are quite unlikely to recur, for the same reasons.

There are two factors that could help produce a Trump reelection that Sosnik does not explicitly mention. The first is the possibility that a robust economy could give Trump a crucial lift (though a sour economy could obviously cut in the opposite direction). And the second is the variable that probably did the most to elect Trump in the first place: a Democratic nominee who turns out to be nearly as unpopular as Trump himself. Whether you attribute Hillary Clintons weakness last November 8 to overconfidence, centrism, campaign mistakes, sexism, hostile media, James Comey, bitter Bernie Bros, Russian hacking, or billions of dollars in conservative investments in demonizing her over the years, it is indisputable that she turned out to be an underwhelming general-election candidate in a year when Democrats could not afford one.

Looking ahead, Democrats face the possibility of a fractious multicandidate nominating contest featuring more than one presidential prospect old enough that sudden illness or even death is not out of the question. The odds of a wounded nominee should be under discussion at least as much as the arguments over messaging and populism and identity politics we hear so much about now. If nothing else, members of the Donkey Party should spend a few Trump years game-planning 2020 in terms of  yes  yet another worst-case scenario.
Bad for the environment. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced on Monday that, as expected, the Trump administration would seek to repeal the Clean Power Plan, the centerpiece of President Obamas strategy to reduce carbon emissions at American power plants.

The war on coal is over, Mr. Pruitt said. Tomorrow in Washington, D.C., I will be signing a proposed rule to roll back the Clean Power Plan.

Environmental groups and state lawmakers have been waiting for this moment since Pruitt was nominated to head the EPA, and they plan to mount a furious legal challenge that will likely mean months, if not years, of litigation. Some have already gotten the ball rolling:

NY AG Schneiderman says he will sue the Trump admin over its plan to repeal the Clean Power Plan. pic.twitter.com/NKcsKvh052  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 9, 2017

The Obama plan, which was temporarily blocked from going into effect in an unusual Supreme Court ruling last year, sought to cut emissions from coal-fired power plants 32 percent by 2030, from a baseline of the levels recorded in 2005. It was fiercely opposed by many lawmakers in conservative-leaning states, including Pruitt, who was Oklahomas attorney general at the time. In a lawsuit brought with industry groups, they contended that Obama had exceeded his regulatory authority by forcing power plants to not only slash their own emissions, but to build more energy-efficient installations elsewhere. The Supreme Court agreed with this interpretation, blocking the regulation pending more review by federal courts.

The effects of repealing the plan altogether are unclear, in large part because some big states, like California and New York, are already moving full speed ahead to hit or exceed the target laid out by the initiative.

And there are capitalistic forces at work, too. Despite the Trump administrations preoccupation with coal miners  and in propping up their industry  there is no way to stop the irrevocable momentum of the energy market, which in recent years has favored clean energy, solar, and wind power over coal by a wide margin.

Renewable energy now accounts for the majority of growth in global electricity output https://t.co/FZ4r7J6Cb2 pic.twitter.com/qq9M9gBnqB  Bloomberg Opinion (@bopinion) October 9, 2017

Analyses have shown that the country may hit the Clean Power Plan emissions target even if the order does not go into effect.

But, as the New York Times notes, nullifying the order would mean that many states, including Texas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, could get away with cutting emissions far less than they would have had to if the plan went into effect. This will make it more difficult to hit the goals the Obama administration put forth in the Paris Climate Agreement, which the Trump administration plans to withdraw from.

Even if Pruitt isnt ultimately successful in repealing the Clean Power Plan, the once-ardent foe of the EPA has already notched plenty of deregulatory accomplishments during his first months in the Trump administration, from reversing a ban on harmful pesticides to delaying regulations on toxic metals in public waterways  all with the help of the industry hes supposed to police.
The sinister chairman of Breitbart News is taking credit for Roy Moores win in Alabama, and threatening a wide-scale RINO hunt in 2018. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty

Stephen Bannon may have lost the trappings of governmental power upon leaving the White House in August. But hes living large and apparently having fun in his new role as Mitch McConnells nemesis and the scourge of Establishment Republicans in the Senate. After taking a lot more of the credit for Roy Moores win in Alabama than he deserves, Bannon is now semi-publicly making plans to back as many as 15 Senate candidates next year, including primary challenges to as many as six of the seven Republican incumbents up for reelection.

According to Bloomberg News, Ted Cruz is the only 2018 incumbent GOP senator who doesnt have to worry about a Bannon-backed challenger. Jeff Flake and Dean Heller are already in the crosshairs. John Barrasso, Deb Fischer, and Orrin Hatch could be next. And in many open races or contests to choose challengers to incumbent Democrats, Bannon will apparently identify a true conservative/populist favorite (e.g., Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee, and if John McCain has to leave his seat before 2018, Paul Gosar in Arizona).

The Establishment-versus-conservative-insurgent dynamic is a familiar one for Senate Republicans, of course. From 2010 through 2014, it played out in an array of GOP primaries, most often won by Establishment figures who co-opted right-wing, Tea Party positions, dragging the entire Senate caucus to the right. As we will soon be reminded frequently, some primaries won by insurgents, notably in 2012 (Todd Akin in Missouri and Christine ODonnell in Delaware), probably sacrificed winnable seats to the Democrats.

At this early point, the most interesting thing about Bannons reported senatorial purge is that its based not on conservative/populist ideology (opposition to Establishment trade deals, America First foreign policy, antiWall Street gestures), but on legislative tactics and leadership:

[Bannon will] support only candidates who agree to two conditions: They will vote against McConnell as majority leader, and they will vote to end senators ability to block legislation by filibustering.

The first litmus test is not surprising: Mitch McConnell has over the years become an all-purpose villain for those who want the GOP to act purely as an instrument for the conservative movement: He wears his lack of principle, and pride in deal-making, like a comfortable suit. He is also a convenient scapegoat for the inability of the Republican Senate to accomplish much of anything in 2017 other than the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch.

The death-to-the-legislative-filibuster condition is more surprising, and leads to the even bigger question of whether Bannon is acting as an agent for his old friend the 45th president of the United States now that their differences of opinion over Alabama are in the rearview mirror. Trump is famously preoccupied with the filibuster, even though the ability to pass legislation by a simple Senate majority would not have avoided the serial failure of GOP health-care legislation.

Trump aside, though, Bannons dual litmus test does comport nicely with the longtime right-wing view that only weak leadership and devilish Democratic tactics (from the filibuster to court rulings to unconstitutional executive orders) have prevented a total conservative makeover of the political system. From this perspective, a rigidly conservative Senate GOP caucus willing to impose its will by a simple majority can make short work of the Obama legacy, and then get to work on unraveling the Great Society and the New Deal as well.

The single biggest obstacle to getting rid of the legislative filibuster isnt McConnell per se, but the fact that 29 Republican senators (along with 32 Democrats) very recently signed a letter defending the ancient practice. Only four of them (Senators Flake, Hatch, Heller, and Wicker) are among Bannons putative 2018 targets. So unless the purge intimidates Republicans safe from a direct challenge next year, its not going to succeed in creating a 50-vote (plus Mike Pence) Senate.

The ultimate question, of course, is how seriously we should take Bannons plans in the first place.

In Alabama, Roy Moore had 100 percent name ID, a long-established base of very-likely-to-vote supporters, and most of all, an incumbent opponent who was a sitting duck: He was appointed to the job under extremely dubious circumstances, and pretty much came across as a puppet for the D.C. backers (first Mitch McConnell, and then the White House) who called every shot in his campaign. The idea that Steve Bannon purged sad-sack Luther Strange is laughable.

Some of the 2018 Bannon targets we are hearing about now are either Strange-like weaklings that were already in trouble (e.g., Flake and Heller). Others may not be vulnerable at all (Orrin Hatch could probably eat Steve Bannon for breakfast if he wanted, and if he retires, Mitt Romney, vastly more popular in Utah than Donald Trump, would trounce any Breitbartian candidate easily). Bannons reported favorites for primary challenges are less than ideal: Nevadas Danny Tarkanian is one more loss away from the dreaded perennial candidate label, and the cartoon villain Erik Prince, looking at a challenge to John Barrasso, has about as many ties to Iraq as to Wyoming.

From the GOPs institutional point of view, perhaps the best thing about Bannons planned purge is that it is focused on a legislative chamber that it will be very difficult for Republicans to lose next year, even if incumbents go down like dominoes. If it was aimed at House moderates needed to keep the GOP in control, purge backers might quickly become partywide pariahs. Beyond that, Bannon does offer some assets the Tea Party insurgents of the past did not quite have: a national platform via Breitbart News and a donor network centered on the Mercers. Add to that the tacit backing of the White House  if thats what it is  and you have the ingredients for a major 2018 media narrative if nothing else, and perhaps another difficult year for Mitch McConnell. It will be a while, though, before we know whether Steve Bannon is one scary cat or just a paper tiger.
A cold moment between President Trump and President Erdogan at the White House on May 16, 2017. Photo: Pool/Getty Images

Relations between the United States and Turkey have been worsening in recent months, despite President Trumps chummy relationship with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys increasingly authoritarian president. They hit a new low over the weekend when the U.S. suspended non-immigrant visa services for travel to Turkey, following the arrest of a U.S. consulate employee in Istanbul. The move prompted Turkey to do the same.

Last week, Turkish authorities arrested U.S. consulate employee Metin Topuz, accusing him of espionage and having links to Fethullah Gulen. Turkish officials claim the cleric, who is living in Pennsylvania, orchestrated a coup attempt against Erdogan, and have been pushing for his extradition. Gulen denies the charges. Metin is the second U.S. citizen jailed by Ankara this year for an alleged connection to Gulen.

Relations have also been frayed since Erdogan guards allegedly beat protesters outside the Turkish embassy in D.C.

The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that it is deeply involved, and the charges against the consulate employee are without merit. Then the U.S. Embassy in Ankara released a statement saying it was suspending all non-immigrant visa services immediately, as recent events have forced the United States government to reassess the commitment of government of Turkey to the security of US mission and personnel.

Then in a weirdly passive-aggressive move, the Turkish Embassy in Washington issued an identical statement, with the names of the two countries flipped.

Statement from the Turkish Mission to the U.S., October 8, 2017 pic.twitter.com/4i0BwInOCj  TurkishEmbassyDC (@TurkishEmbassy) October 8, 2017

That means people are essentially unable to travel between the two NATO countries, unless theyre planning to relocate long-term.

The move affects tens of thousands of travelers, and experts say the situation may get even worse. I think the whole thing could go off its wheels, said Soner Cagaptay, who penned a book about Erdogan called The New Sultan. There is a very, very deep trust deficit in bilateral ties, especially as far as Erdogan is concerned.
After trying hard and failing to get their private members bills tabled in parliament ahead of Raphael Magyezis presidential age limits removal bill, MPs Sam Lyomoki, Barnabas Tinkasiimire, John Baptist Nambeshe and Patrick Nsamba Oshabe have said they lost interest in their own draft legislations.

In interviews at the weekend, the MPs said Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga deliberately frustrated them. Lyomoki had filed the most aggressive attempt to engineer a dignified exit for President Museveni -- a bill for restoring term limits and guaranteeing Museveni immunity from prosecution for any crimes.

Oshabe filed a motion urging government to urgently constitute the long-awaited Constitutional Review Commission. At the same time Nambeshes draft bill proposed that MPs appointed to cabinet must resign their parliamentary seats.

The MPs say Speaker Rebecca Kadaga frustrated them

In the weekend interview, the MPs said when Kadaga allowed the ruling NRM to muscle through Magyezis bill, which seeks to remove the 35 and 75-year lower and upper age limits for qualified presidential candidates, their desired goal of defeating piecemeal constitutional amendments was defeated.

Kadaga adjourned the House last Wednesday before the MPs got permission to table their bills. Before suspending the 25 MPs from the House over dishonorable behaviour on September 28, Kadaga had announced that Lyomokis private members bill and that of Oshabe met the minimum requirements and would be allowed to be tabled.

You cannot claim you are going to consult when other motions and bills have been blocked and you cannot claim to consult when you already made a decision, Lyomoki said.

Workers MP Sam Lyomoki had a private member's bill

Oshabe said his motion had been overtaken by events.

That shows a government which is not serious, a government which doesnt care about the interests of Ugandans. I was bringing the motion after I heard that government had failed to bring the bill [Constitutional Amendment bill], Nsamba said.

MP Tinkasiimire said the House was deliberately adjourned so that pending motions could not be formally processed.

They now want Uganda to have a Magyezi constitution When parliament resumes, the motions will have been overtaken by events; they will not be necessary, Tinkasiimire said.

Robinah Nabbanja, a parliamentary commissioner, Kakumiro Woman MP and key promoter of the Magyezi bill, told The Observer by telephone on Saturday that the MPs are free to withdraw their motions.

But any way, it will depend on the movers of those motions; somebody can withdraw or can lose interest. Others can continue with the motions. It is their right to move motions in the House because they are members of the House, Nabbanja said.

Barnabas Tinkansiimire and Sam Lyomoki

MPs reject age limit money

Some MPs, however, said they will not accept any cash handouts from the parliamentary commission to consult on their partys sponsored age limits removal bill.

They argued that the funds are a form of manipulation that NRM intends to use to legitimize the age limit evil.

The Magyezi bill was read for the first time last week and referred to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee for scrutiny.

There are reports that each MP is likely to get Shs 20m to Shs 30m for their consultations.



namuloki16@gmail.com
Early signs of open warfare are glaring inside the parliamentary committee assigned to scrutinize the hotly contested presidential age limit bill.

Opposition members and independents on the committee say they wont soften their hardline stance against the bill despite pleas from the committee leadership.

Barely 24 hours into its work, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee vice chairperson, Robinah Rwakoojo, had asked members to consider Raphael Magyezis bill, which seeks to scrap Article 102(b) of the constitution, dispassionately.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga (R) referred the bill to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee

A member of the ruling NRM party, Rwakoojos call almost immediately lit a fuse. Monica Amoding (Kumi Woman, NRM) maintained her very public opposition, vowing to fight the bill during its scrutiny. She is among a slowly increasing number of NRM members who have denounced it from the word go.

You have seen already we are entering into the fires; getting in and out, but we know we are in these positions for such a time as this in our country. So, we are emboldened; we are more than strengthened because that is part of the journey, Amoding told The Observer at the weekend.

Other signs of a committee at war with itself are rife amongst the five Independent MPs, including Jacob Oboth-Oboth (West Budama South Ind), Paul Akamba (Busiki), Edward Otto Makmot (Agago), Anne Adeke (National Female Youth), Mohammad Nsereko (Kampala Central) and Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East)

Of these, Adeke, Nsereko and Niwagaba have rejected the bill outright. Niwagaba insists that he will defy the committee appeal for members to suppress their views. He insists that it is only fair that their opinions are respected.

They cannot stop a member from airing his or her views. This is a bill that is dangerous for democracy and I will not pretend like those who are out there pretending. If I am around, let them expect a showdown, Niwagaba warned.

Monica Amoding (Kumi Woman, NRM) maintained her very public opposition against the bill

Two Forum for Democratic Change members; Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri) and Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (Kira municipality) are also expected to be unbending in their opposition. Ssemujju doubles as chief opposition whip.

The Democratic Party, which pioneered the hugely popular Kojikwato campaign against the bill, is well represented by Medard Ssegona (Busiro East) and Matthias Mpuuga (Masaka municipality), also strong and articulate opponents of the age limit bill.

On the other side of the table, the ruling NRM enjoys a large majority with Rwakoojo (Gomba West), Gafabusa Muhumuza (Bwamba), Veronica Isala (Kaberamaido), Aston Kajara (Mwenge South), Sam Bitangaro (Bufumbira South), Denis Hamson Obua (Ajuri), Achia Remigio (Pian, Clement Obote (Kalaki), Agaba Abbas (Kitagwenda) Dorothy Azairwe (Kamwenge Woman) and Gaster Mugoya (Bukooli North).

Public hearings on the Constitution Amendment (No 2) Bill, 2017 bill begin in the coming days. It promises to be anything but normal with the opposition exporting their committed fight against an amendment, which could hand President Museveni the keys to life presidency, at every turn.

Stakes

While it is not a finely balanced committee given its 13 NRM members; 5 Independents and four opposition MPs, Rwakoojo will still find whatever skills she has in the chair being severely tested.

It equally promises to be a testing time for Jackson Kafuuzi (Kyaka South NRM). The house rules say he will not be allowed to speak during discussions on the bill and committee report, or even to vote on issues.

If somebody seconded the bill, you would not have a person like that participating in the procedure of the committee. He can sit and listen in but cannot ask questions of the people we are going to meet, Rwakoojo said.

Last week, Rwakoojo called on members to suppress their personal opinions on the bill and work as a committee to process the bills report.

Once the committee report has been drafted, a decision has to be made. Under Rule 190(1) of Parliaments Rules of Procedure, decisions of a committee shall be reached by consensus; and in the absence of consensus, decisions shall be by votes of the majority of members present and voting.

Rule 190 (2) states that the chairperson or person presiding at a meeting of the committee shall have neither a deliberate nor a casting vote and where the votes are equal, the proposal shall be taken to be lost.

For members dissatisfied with the main committee report, Rule 194 provides for a minority report and MPs may state in writing, giving reasons for their dissent and these statements shall be appended to the report of the committee.

The committee sat on Thursday, October 5 to start planning for public hearings within the 45 days it should report back to the whole house.

Committee chair Oboth-Oboth has said they will sit at parliament, and later break out into five groups that will each head one of Ugandas regions in the North, East, West, Central and West Nile.

He said final plans will be completed on Tuesday (tomorrow), when the committee meets again.



eyotaru@gmail.com
After a week of unrelenting criticism from the general public, opposition, civil society and diplomatic circles over the September 26-27 events at Parliament, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga on Friday received spiritual support from some Pentecostal pastors.

The speaker appeared to still be reeling from the fall-out from those two days when the fight to keep presidential age limits in Ugandas constitution took a decisive turn.

She allowed soldiers to be inserted into a constitutional dispute  effectively re-enacting the actions of former president Apollo Milton Obote in 1966 which had grave and bloody consequences for Uganda.

Bishop Julius Oyet (R) lays hands on Speaker Rebecca Kadaga (C) to pray for her

The pastors, numbering about 135 from the national association of born again churches of Uganda arrived at Parliament shortly after 10am.

They were led to the Parliamentary conference hall where they met Kadaga. The Observer understands that their appointment was fixed after they wrote to Kadaga seeking audience so that they could present a petition on the constitutional amendment.

But their leader, Bishop Julius Peter Oyet of Lifeline Ministries, instead made a speech before announcing that they wanted to go and pray in the chamber, the scene of the September 26-27 showdown between MPs opposed to the lifting of the presidential age limit and officers of the Special Forces Command (SFC), President Musevenis elite force.

Armed with an animal horn, anointing oil and prayer books, Oyet led his group, with Kadaga in tow, in a praise and worship session. Oyet blew the horn to call on God to cleanse the house of what he said were evil souls and MPs who got elected with the aid of witchcraft.

Kadaga stood in the middle of the chamber, facing her chair as the pastors spoke in tongues. Some shook violently as if possessed, others screamed and one woman donning a flowered yellow dress had to be helped to a bench after she appeared to have been overwhelmed by spirits.

We pray that God will guide this House as it embarks on the debate on the constitutional amendment bill. We bind every spirit of chaos, confusion from this House. We pray that Gods presence will reign supreme. We pray that members find a way forward for this bill that has brought controversy, Oyet prayed.

Members of the Born Again faith in parliament last week to pray for Kadaga

Oyet blew the horn for the second time as he gave way for Pastor Tony Okot. They then asked Kadaga to kneel so that they could lay hands on her, and so that God contains her enemies.

Kadagas has turned to pastors for prayer at a time when her position as Speaker in under test. She may have surprised many given that upon being re-elected to the coveted position in May last year, she visited a shrine at Nhyendha hill in Iganda district, allegedly to thank her ancestors for making it back as speaker.



NRM GROUP?

Kadaga was in the company of MPs Margaret Muhanga (Burahya) and Jacklet Atuhairwe (Sheema Woman). Muhanga said on Saturday that she attended the prayers in her capacity as spokesperson for the NRM caucus and to ensure that everything went well.

I had to be around as they prayed for the Speaker and sanity to return to Parliament so that I have something to report to caucus, Muhanga said.

Pentecostal pastors in Parliament to pray for Speaker Kadaga & 'cleanse' the House after last week's fistfights? @sadabkitatta79 #AgeLimit pic.twitter.com/qE52jkR1kv  The Observer (@observerug) October 6, 2017

sadabkk@observer.ug
After a weeklong boycott of parliamentary activities following Speaker Rebecca Kadagas suspension of 25 MPs opposed to the lifting of presidential age limits, Opposition MPs returned to Parliament on Thursday, October 5.

In a seemingly defiant response to Kadagas ban on their red ribbons, the MPs changed to red outfits as a show of their resistance to the proposed amendments.

Chief Opposition Whip and Kira Municipality MP SSEMUJJU IBRAHIM NGANDA spoke to Sadab Kitatta Kaaya about their plans. Here are the excerpts.

Ssemujju Nganda in office

What are you planning next after all the chaos in the House on September 26 and 27?

At the beginning, we were dealing with the NRM MPs and you saw them chest-thumping that they have the numbers.

We were able to find a solution to the numbers, now they had to resort to the military. I didnt know that at any one moment, people who are so boastful of numbers will need to be aided by the military.

Because we do this work on behalf of many people, we are involved in lots of consultations. Any decision we take, we will inform the public about what we think we need to do next.

The only point I can make at this stage is that we resolved; despite the bruises, despite the wounds that we sustained, to remain committed to the pledge we made on the day we were sworn in as MPs that we defend this Constitution.

As to what we will do, because, were no longer dealing with numbers, we are dealing with Musevenis guards and soldiers, the details of what we will do is what we will decide in a couple of meetings and consultations.



Are you changing from the red ribbons to red outfits?

Its not really a change but we must creatively keep the red on our bodies because initially, Kadaga said she cant stand people who are putting on ribbons.

We said, it is okay, we can put on caps. Now, she went to Moses Ali [1st deputy prime minister] who spends most of the time sleeping. When he woke up, he said Muslims have complained. Maybe he dreamed.

There was no agreement that it is going to be only the ribbon; the idea is that this colour, red, represents our resolve to safeguard our Constitution. What is important to us is not the type of attire but colour on our body.

If she wants [us] to remove the suits, then, maybe I will go and buy red underpants.



The Rules, Privileges and Discipline committee is currently investigating a number of you in the opposition. We have heard some threatening not to appear before it; is this the agreed position?

I have said and told everybody that if there is anyone to appear before that committee, it is the Woman MP for Kamuli called Alitwala Rebecca Kadaga because she is the one who misbehaved.

How do you sit in meetings with Museveni and plan to murder your own MPs? That day, it was just by the grace of God that we didnt die.

People who were strangling me and strangling other MPs, dragging them and stepping on themI dont think their intention was to massage [us]; it was to kill. Kadaga participated in every single activity that led to what happened on that day.

You saw when she suspended parliament; the intention was to allow SFC [Special Forces Command] to pounce on us. And she must have been there happy, smiling and celebrating.

So, if there is anyone who must appear before the committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline, it is the Woman MP for Kamuli, Alitwala Rebecca Kadaga.



Does that mean that you will not appear before the committee?

We are not going to boycott parliamentary processes [and] if I get an opportunity to appear before the committee, I will tell the chairman to first summon the Woman MP for Kamuli, Alitwala Rebecca Kadaga for the way she conducted herself.

And you seeI have never [practiced] law but how do you refer a matter to a committee when you already have names and also the punishment?

Because, she said, These MPs will pay for what was destroyed, and then she went ahead to send a list. Why did she waste her time going to a law school?

Anyone sensible [would] tell the committee to investigate the events of that day, then they would come out with names and come out with either recommendations or punishment.

I think Kadaga now is being driven by anger. She is so angry with herself. Anyone sensible would never have done half of what Kadaga did.

She is so angry with herself, she needs to go and sleep and reflect. [How] do you refer a matter to a committee of parliament, with names and the punishment? This is unprecedented.

MPs Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda (L) and Latif Ssebaggala

You are one of the 39 MPs that signed a document by the Parliamentary Forum on Constitutional Supremacy petitioning the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to investigate Kadaga. Why this approach?

First of all, personally, I want Kadaga punished, not investigated. What she did was in the [open] but the due process of the law requires that even someone you found committing a crime, you have to investigate.

But Kadaga, someone needs to open all the relevant statutes that are available to give her a punishment.



And do you think IPU can do something about her?

It doesnt matter. We in the opposition respect institutions and due processes; so, well refer her to all the due processes, those who are responsible will process petitions.

Kadaga should explain why a person like me who was not on the list of the MPs she suspended, was dragged out of parliament, and why I was strangled.

I have been in cells two times; the other day, they found me after visiting Bobi Wine, and they arrested me on grounds that I had jumped a police bond. Are those the circumstances under which I want to come and attend parliament?



sadabkk@observer.ug
On Tuesday, October 3 when lecturers at the School of Law, Makerere University, issued a statement castigating parliament and recommended withdrawal of the Raphael Magyezi private members bill seeking to remove constitutional age limits by amending Article 102(b).

The government pointed out that they had no legal basis. SULAIMAN KAKAIRE looks at the fall-out.



As would be expected, senior members of Makereres law school stand by their position calling out Speaker Rebecca Kadagas perceived partisan handling of the hotly contested age limit matter.

Authorities had poured cold water on the statement, claiming it was not founded on any law. But yesterday, Dr Christopher Mbazira, the principal of school of law, told The Observer that their five recommendations are backed by sufficient legal antecedents.

Raphael Magyezi presents his bill for first reading last week

The Tuesday statement warned that the rule of law was under serious threat, and that the speaker has compromised the doctrine of separation of powers, a key tenet of democracy, by acting as an accomplice of the security forces who invaded parliament.

We thought through whatever we wrote since we cannot just write without looking at the law. But most importantly we were cautious of the fact that we were writing for the public, and not for an academic journal, or writing submissions in a court of law, Mbazira said, adding that their statement is backed by constitutional provisions and Supreme court decisions.

The law dons recommended that parliament rescinds the motion allowing the presentation of the Magyezi bill; that all organs of the state and private actors respect the freedom of expression of all including media freedoms; and the Uganda Human Rights Commission takes immediate action against violators of human rights in connection with the age limit debate.

They also recommended that the security forces refrain from indulging in partisan politics and political persecution of citizens opposed to the age limit amendment; and that all Ugandans exercise their right and duty to defend and protect the constitution.

Prof Frederick Jjuuko, a professor of law and one of the 22 signatories to the statement, said Ugandas new constitutional charter binds all regardless of ones position of authority.

The constitution is the supreme law of the land. This is enshrined in Article 2 of the constitution and the Supreme court has had opportunity to discuss this principle Rule of law espouses the doctrine of separation of powers, which is to the effect that organs of government must operate without interference by each other but work in harmony, Jjuuko said.

A recent court case which tested this doctrine was the matter of Severino Twinobusingye v. Attorney General and Parliamentary Commission, wherein the Constitutional court observed that; The constitution was structured in such a way that it gave the three organs of government, namely the Executive, Parliament and Judiciary, different roles and powers. Each organ is obliged to perform its role in accordance with the constitution and other enabling laws without interference from the others...the internal management of the organs of the state is a no-go area for the others.

According to the law dons, the events at parliament on September 27, which saw soldiers from the Special Forces Command and the police invade the main House chamber to beat up and violently drag out mostly MPs opposed to the age limit amendment, was a violation of this hallowed doctrine.

Prof Jjuuko, who teaches jurisprudence (legal theory and philosophy of the law), observed that parliament has inbuilt mechanisms to deal with its members whenever found in breach of its rules. As such, there was no need to invite either the presidents guards or other external security.

The rules of procedure envisage that the removal of a member from the chambers is done by the Sergeant-At-Arms [Rule 80]. The whole idea is to separate the legislature from the executivethe rules which are made in accordance with the constitution do not envisage that other security can come in to do it, Jjuuko said.

The logic restraining the military from interfering with parliament business draws from the historical context within which parliamentary immunity grew and Ugandas own very troubled history.

The statement showed how the events at parliament on 26th and 27this a repeat of the 1966 overthrow of the 1962 constitution and replacement with the pigeonhole constitution. Effectively, Prime Minister Milton Obote usurped parliamentary powers using the military. The military in turn then overthrew the executive in the 1971 coup detat.

A year later Chief Justice Benedicto Kiwanuka was murdered in cold blood. The trend of militarisation of politics is being re-enacted starting with the 2005 Black Mamba invasion of the High court and now the siege of parliament and invasion of its chambers.

Mbazira said the ongoing scrutinisation of Magyezis bill by the legal and parliamentary affairs committee is illegal.

Parliament is surrounded by the militarywhatever it is doing, it is doing under fear. Members cannot freely express their will and the people they represent, something that has made whatever they are doing illegal, Mbazira said.

But Chris Obore, the director of communication and public affairs at parliament, said on Wednesday that at no point has the speaker been under siege.

There is nothing like members have been threatened, he said.

MPs opposed to lifting of the presidential age limit filibustered as the Magyezi motion was tabled

Where Kadaga was accused of wilfully surrendering her powers and exposing parliament to the whims of the executive arm, and in particular to sections of the army and police, Obore said security is not the preserve of the speaker.

There is nothing in the law that bars the speaker from doing what she did. She suspended members in accordance with the rules of procedure of parliament and she is the custodian of the rules Whatever happened afterwards, she is not to blame because after suspending the MPs, she suspended the House for 30 minutes. When the Sergeant-At-Arms wanted to effect the orders, a staff of parliament was injured and that is how the security enforcement came about, Obore said.

Whatever we are doing is within the law. Parliament has the mandate to legislatewho should legislate? Do they want the courts to legislate? Obore said.

On Wednesday, Kadaga said she will not apologise to anyone.

I am the custodian of the rulesI did not invite any security organs to parliamentI did not command any security organ to take any action in parliament, she said. I am surprised that me a civilian is being accused of commanding a security agency. I dont know how a civilian can command a security agency.

Some commentators have suggested that Kadaga deliberately abandoned the House and retreated from the chamber, well knowing that the SFC troops were waiting to swoop on their unsuspecting victims, many of whom ended up in hospital on account of injuries suffered at the hands of soldiers.

Prof Joe Oloka-Onyango, a professor of constitutional law, told The Observer that what parliament is doing to amend the constitution amounts to a constitutional coup.

We should not narrow the amendment to the amendments envisaged under the constitution [chapter 18 of the constitution, which sets out the procedure for amendment], but we should assess what it means and the likely consequences. This amendment if effected, will fuse power in one person, Oloka-Onyango said.

Whatever they are doing will destroy the structural foundation of the 1995 constitutionand every Ugandan must rise up in defence of it.

Sources at the school of law told The Observer that the law dons are planning a court action to challenge the intended amendment.

The planning for the case has been around since last year when the idea of the age limit went publicbut this plan has been kept secret because it is majorly spearheaded by civil society organisations. Academia shall come in to boost the weight of the petition, said one lecturer, who spoke on condition not to be named for fear of reprimand.

The involvement of Makereres law school in public interest litigation, especially on matters regarding human rights and democracy is well established.

For instance, they argued against the unfair provisions of the Divorce Act; participated in the suit which saw the Anti-Homosexuality Act struck down, and more recently filed an amicus curiae brief in the Supreme court during former presidential candidate Amama Mbabazis presidential election petition.



skakaire@observer.ug
Leading law figures have urged the Uganda Law Society (ULS) to pronounce itself on the proposed amendment of Article 102(b) of the Constitution to remove the age caps on persons seeking to stand for the presidency.

This was reached on during last Fridays rule of law symposium called to discuss the legal and constitutional implications of the proposed amendment bill.

The more than 100 lawyers in attendance resolved that the ULS upcoming extraordinary general assembly should devise means of thwarting what they termed as fraudulent means and maneuvering by NRM to abrogate the Constitution.

The lawyers in attendance at the Rule of Law symposium

Currently, 73-year-old President Museveni is ineligible to stand for the presidency in 2021.

The conference is an annual fixture in the ULS calendar. Former ULS president Bruce Kyererere moderated the heated symposium that was held at Serena conference centre. The main discussants were constitutional law giant Peter Walubiri and Irene Ovonji-Odida, the current CEO of Fida.

However, governments top legal officials were conspicuously absent, raising suspicion that they snubbed the event. These include Justice minister Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, Attorney General William Byaruhanga and his deputy Mwesigwa Rukutana.

Igara West legislator Raphael Magyezi, the sponsor of the bill, was also invited but didnt turn up. ULS president Francis Gimara was also not present.

Kyerere got the ball rolling by going through Ugandas murky history. He explained that the only impediment to life presidency was the age limits but with the intended amendment, Uganda is destined for life presidency.

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago called on ULS to go beyond issuing statements and condemning the transgressions of the Constitution. He contended that ULS should play a proactive role in defending the Constitution as required under Article 3, which says: All citizens of Uganda shall have the right and duty at all time to defend this Constitution and, in particular, to resist any person or group of persons seeking to overthrow the established constitutional order; and to do all in their power to restore this Constitution after it has been suspended, overthrown, abrogated or amended contrary to its provisions.

Earlier, Ovonji-Odida had described as a coup events of September 27, 2017, in which security forces raided parliament and violently arrested MPs opposed to the amendment.

We are talking about a neopatrimonial state, she expounded. The amendment wont happen in parliament, it didnt start with Magyezi, the amendment was decided somewhere in the State House at a family meeting.

This prompted Walubiri to suggest that ULS has fertile grounds to mobilize lawyers to lodge a petition against the proposed amendment.

We have a lot of evidence, he stated. We can collect affidavits from the people who have been arrested and beaten during this whole process of amending the Constitution and lodge a petition.

He further challenged ULS to mobilize 30 serious lawyers and file a constitutional petition. However, some voices in attendance did not welcome this particular idea. But, Walubiri urged the lawyers to do their part.

If the judges decide to dismiss the petition and if the country one day descends into bloodshed, it will be judges to blame, not lawyers, he said.

Ovonji-Odida also described ULS as a privileged group when she was asked by Kyerere as to why security hadnt dispersed the gathering yet they have been doing the same to other groups who are opposed to amendment of article 102 (b).

Lukwago, however, disagreed with Ovonji-Odidas prognosis, arguing that the ULS meeting was not attacked by security agents because the powers that be know they are inconsequential to the power struggle.

They know those [ULS] are just lawyers and they cannot do anything, he said, enlisting laughter. So, thats why we can meet here without any disturbances.

Walubiri on his part said that it is about time lawyers stopped restricting their work in courtrooms but also come out to demonstrate peacefully with other Ugandans.

This business of being in court alone should end, he said. We need to come out clearly because we shall be blamed for whatever happens.

The last time Ugandan lawyers demonstrated was in 2007 when a security unit known as Black Mamba attacked the High court.



dkiyonga@observer.ug
A fire outbreak in the computer laboratory at Busitema University Nagongera campus burnt and destroyed several computers and various science equipment.

The fire is said to have broken out at around 3pm on Sunday.

Eriya Ntaga, the senior advancement officer of the university says they suspect the fire could have started from faulty equipment in the server room they had identified and were in the process of repairing and replacing.

He says the university had just secured 70 computers and projectors that were due for commissioning.

The destroyed computer lab

"The burnt equipment had just been purchased with computer accessories that the university had procured as component under the '' Higher Education Science and Technology [HEST], a government project through support from African Development Bank intended to retool universities to boost science and computer teaching." Ntaga said.



According to Ntaga, they could have detected the fire early enough, but since it was a weekend most of the staff members and students were away.

"Some students rushed to help but even the few parts of computers rescued had already melted by virtue of being plastic," he said.



He says they tried to get help from the police fire brigade but the fire engine arrived two hours later when everything had been reduced to ashes.



Dr Edward Andama, the Dean faculty of Science and Education Nagongera campus, says they tried their level best but couldn't save anything. He says the damage is likely to affect the teaching of computer science if the situation isn't accorded urgent attention.



Busitema university Nangongera campus is the home of faculty of science education and its one of the public universities in Uganda
The rich may soon be compelled to pay more taxes if government agrees to the High Net Worth Individual Taxation (HNWIs) proposal by tax body, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

It is believed that on top of generating more revenue, high net worth taxation will also help to evenly distribute income among the populace.



Godwin Denis Tumusiime, a policy analyst with URA, says the High Net Worth Individual Taxation proposal follows an observation that current taxation mainly targets the poor.



He says URA has already established a desk for high net worth taxation.

URA is proposing taxing more the rich "There is a criteria that we follow - in that we look at those with big ranches, those that have majority shares in companies, those that are importing in a volume of goods. We also look at ownership of property and so many other elements and these are the guidelines that will help us to identify who it that we need to tax", said Tumusiime.



Other areas being targeted for high net worth taxation include, individuals that hold majority shareholding in companies whose earnings have in the past not been taxed, farmers with high value commercial forests, animal ranches and plantations.



The public's known rich persons are also being targeted for this tax. Importers and exporters of goods and services worth Shs 500 million per annum will also be eligible for the high net worth taxation.



Shareholders in companies with annual turnover of Shs 50 billion will also face extra tax. It is also expected that high net worth taxation will address the informality regarding taxation in the country. "There is a criteria that we follow - in that we look at those with big ranches, those that have majority shares in companies, those that are importing in a volume of goods. We also look at ownership of property and so many other elements and these are the guidelines that will help us to identify who it that we need to tax", said Tumusiime.Other areas being targeted for high net worth taxation include, individuals that hold majority shareholding in companies whose earnings have in the past not been taxed, farmers with high value commercial forests, animal ranches and plantations.The public's known rich persons are also being targeted for this tax. Importers and exporters of goods and services worth Shs 500 million per annum will also be eligible for the high net worth taxation.Shareholders in companies with annual turnover of Shs 50 billion will also face extra tax. It is also expected that high net worth taxation will address the informality regarding taxation in the country.

Tumusiime says the high net worth taxation will go behind the veil to appreciate transactions that are happening but are never taxed.

"Were undertaking this approach to make sure that, in as much we are appreciating that the rich are contributing in terms of job creation but they, as directors, they to whom profits actually come to; are also paying their worth. Because if any person is employed and they are getting their income, the rich man still tax that income and when the profits are made, that rich man gets the profit yet he is not taxed", he added.

A number of taxation experts have indicated that most personal incomes Uganda are never taxed yet it could increase the country's incomes.



They say that there is a large gap between the tax paid on the overall earnings in the country and that the tax expected to be paid on income-generating activity is worrying.



Income and corporate tax rates in Uganda are 30% per annum at the highest bracket with tax revenues contributing on average 12% to the GDP.

Currently Uganda Revenue Authority has registered slightly above one million tax payers in a population of close to forty million.
On September 18, 2017, The Observer published an article titled Partnerships in education: lessons from Liberia by Solomon Serwanjja, the publicist for Bridge International Academies (BIAs), Uganda.

There were inaccuracies in that article that I would like to correct.

In a bid to improve performance in its primary schools, the Liberian government launched a pilot program dubbed the Partnership Schools for Liberia (PSL).

It is a public-private partnership (PPP) for primary schools management, under which government contracted private entities (eight contractors) to operate ninety-three (93) existing public primary and pre-primary schools. PSL schools buildings are owned by government and even the teachers are civil servants.

Contrary to the authors assertions of private contractors receiving only $50, both the private contractors and government-run schools receive public funding for teachers and maintenance valued at $50 per pupil per year.

The private contractors receive an additional $50 per learner per year from government, making a total of $100 per pupil per year. They have the authority to decide on what to spend these funds on: teacher training, school inputs, or management personnel.

Still, the author deliberately leaves out the fact that private contractors especially BIA were allocated advantaged government schools with higher quality and quantity of teachers, better infrastructure, and those closer to roads than average Liberian schools.

A recent study of the PSL by the Centre for Global Development reported that private contractors provided additional funding.

The budgets ranged from approximately $57 per pupil for Youth Movement for Collective Action (contractor) to a maximum of $1,050 per pupil in the case of BIAs (later revised down to $663).

These additional resources were provided by the international donors, thus its unsustainable funding of the Liberia education sector since the donors can withdraw their funding at any time once it is no longer their priority to fund these schools.

Despite this investment, pupils in PSL schools were charged school fees contrary to the arrangement of providing free education.

Also, it is not true that the PSL schools just reduced the size of classes as reported in the article but, rather, pushed some pupils out of the schools they were contracted to run. Private contractors, BIA in particular, reduced enrollment by 20 pupils per class in the schools it was assigned.

Most of these pupils were absorbed by nearby traditional public schools. Some teachers in schools under the same contractor faced a similar fate. The study concluded that the program risks becoming too expensive for the Liberian government to sustain.

The pushing of some pupils out of schools for which they were enrolled amounted to exclusion and violation of fundamental rights of children to education, more so the essential elements of the right to education of availability and accessibility.

Most children who were pushed out had to move relatively long distances to access the nearby schools and this act denied them the right to go to a school of their choice.

It is noteworthy that contracting private contractors to run public schools isnt the solution to achieving high learning outcomes. The same results can be registered in solely public schools once funded adequately.

For the case of Uganda, that the author proposed a PPP arrangement in primary schools, he should be reminded that our education sector started experiencing deterioration in 1993 when government permitted private actors to operate schools as a result of the structural adjustment programs.

This consequently cut public investment in the education sector. This is contrary to the authors attempt to synonymize efficiency to only private actors, which is fallacious.

Lastly, it would have also been important for the author to inform the general public that the schools he speaks for continue to operate in total contempt and disregard of the countrys education standards, policies and laws.

According to recent statements by the minister of State for Basic Education, Rosemary Seninde before the parliamentary committee on education, BIAs operations in Uganda are illegal.



The author is a program officer at Right to Education.
One of the people whose brilliance, boldness, resolve, and charisma I really admire is the South African legendary anti-apartheid activist, Steve Biko.

He was the founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, whose purpose was to instil pride into black people who were sinking into a self-destructive inferiority complex due to years of abuse and suppression by the white minority.

It is quite challenging reading the kind of things he spoke about as an undergraduate student  deeply reflective, extensively read beyond his discipline (Medicine), incorruptibly concerned about his country, and with high clarity of mind.

When you listen to some of our ministers and members of parliament who are way past 40 shamelessly defending the removal of age limits, and you compare them to Bikos weight of mind in his 20s, you start querying the generality of the old Ganda saying that obukadde magezi (old age is wisdom)!

Even if it were true that their motivation is selfish gain, you would imagine that their cumulative experience would have advised them to choose better, even at great risk. Wine is said to get better the longer it stays, but some of our politicians are ageing like milk without preservatives!

Well, Biko was tortured to death in 1977 in his youth  at 30! But what he had achieved in the fight for a better South Africa at such an early age is unbelievable.

So, I asked myself how Steve Biko would have reacted to our disturbing political developments if he lived in Uganda today. I asked him questions and used his own statements (verbatim) as compiled in the book I Write What I Like to answer.

The context could be different, but you will find much of what he said in reaction to the Apartheid circumstances relevant.



Biko, why do you think that even with all the cries and resistance of the masses, those in power do not seem to see any point in their sentiments?

Tradition has it that whenever a group of people has tasted the lovely fruits of wealth, security and prestige, it begins to find it more comfortable to believe in the obvious lie and accept that it alone is entitled to privilege.



So, where do you think we should put our focus in order to bring about change?

The type of black man [Ugandan] we have today has lost his manhood. Reduced to an obliging shell, he looks with awe at the [state] power structure and accepts what he regards as the inevitable position. Deep inside, his anger mounts at the accumulating insult, but he vents it in the wrong direction  on his fellow victims

In the privacy of his toilet, his face twists in silent condemnation of [the wrongs] but brightens up in sheepish obedience in response to [police presence]. In the home-bound bus, he joins the chorus that roundly condemns [the regime] but is first to praise the government in the presence of the police or his employers

All in all, the [Ugandan] has become a shell, a shadow of a man, completely defeated, drowning in his own misery, a slave, an ox bearing the yoke of oppression with sheepish timidity

It becomes more necessary to see the truth as it is if you realise that the only vehicle for change is these people who have lost their personality.

The first step, therefore, is to make the black man [Ugandan] come to himself; to pump back life into his empty shell; to infuse him with pride and dignity, to remind him of his complicity in the crime of allowing himself to be misused and, therefore, letting evil reign supreme in the country of his birth.



Why would such conscientisation be important, and how would it be effective in face of all the weapons at the disposal of the oppressor?

The most potent weapon for the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed... Change the way people think and things will never be the same.



Some religious leaders have only encouraged us to pray for Gods intervention. What do you make of such advice?

I would like to remind the black ministry [religious leaders] and, indeed, all black people that God is not in the habit of coming down from heaven to solve peoples problems on earth.



Dont you think that religion should have a role in the struggle?

 our ministers [religious leaders] are still too busy with moral trivialities. They blow these up as the most important things that Jesus had to say to people... Obviously, the only path for us now is to redefine the message in the Bible and to make it relevant to the struggling masses. The Bible must not be seen to preach that all authority is divinely instituted. It must rather preach that it is a sin to allow oneself to be oppressed.

What message do you have for those who watch on as all this political mess happens but simply say/do nothing because they hate politics or find no reason for doing something?

It is people from such groups who keep on scanning the papers daily to detect any sign of the change they patiently await without working for!

 There exists among men [human beings], because they are men, a solidarity through which each shares responsibility for every injustice and every wrong committed in the world, and especially for crimes that are committed in his presence or of which he cannot be ignorant.



But, with all your activism, arent you afraid of being jailed?

If one is free at heart, no man-made chains can bind one to servitude... You are either alive and proud or you are dead, and when you are dead, you cant care anyway.



jsssentongo@gmail.com



The author heads the Center for African Studies at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi.
State owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) network in a bid to counter Reliance Jio has paired with Indian smartphone manufacturers to build low-cost devices which will be paired with voice and data pack bundle to provide more value. According to PTI report this tie-up, BSNL has tied-up with Micromax Informatics and Lava International to build these handsets.

"BSNL has tied up with Micromax and Lava to provide instruments to BSNL customers at low cost. We are coming out with bundled offers on the handsets manufactured by Micromax and Lava with BSNL SIMs...the cost details are being worked out," BSNL's Hyderabad Telecom District (HTD) Principal General Manager K Ramchand told PTI reporters in Hyderabad.

According to him, six rural exchanges are commissioned with Wi-Fi in Hyderabad Telecom District and another 112 rural exchanges will be covered by December end this year.

The launch of the Rs 429 plan led the path to more subscribers in Andhra and Telangana regions. According this new plan from BSNL, the user gets 1GB of data per day for a period of 90 days.

A smaller recharge worth Rs 249 also offers 1GB per day but at a validity of 28 days. As a part of the offer, the company is also offering unlimited BSNL to BSNL calls.

Though BSNL is still operating on 2G and 3G spectrums, the state-owned company is planning to soon launch its 4G services with VoLTE. Also, BSNL is working on 5G speeds to prepare for future competition in the growing segment.

Most telecom companies are shifting to a new strategy to acquire more users. After Reliance Jio launched the JioPhone in July this year, other telecom brands are also preparing their arsenal with ultra-cheap smartphones or feature phones that can operate on 4G networks.

Airtel and Idea-Vodafone are also planning to launch their versions of cheap smartphones, which might also run Android applications, unlike Reliance JioPhone.
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Captain Safdar taken into custody as he landed at Islamabad Airport

KARACHI: Retired Captain Muhammad Safdar was taken into custody by a team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) minutes after he landed at Benazir Bhutto International Airport along with his wife Maryam Nawaz from London in the early hours of Monday morning.



The son-in-law of the ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his wife had arrived to appear before the Islamabad accountability court in connection with a reference filed by NAB as required by the Supreme Courts verdict in the Panama Papers case, TV channels reported.



The NAB authorities had to seek help of the Islamabad police when the charged workers of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N lay down in front of the NAB vehicle carrying Capt Safdar.



The arrest follows issuance of non-bailable warrants by the accountability court for Capt Safdar after he failed to appear on previous hearings despite notices.



Amid slogans by the PML-N supporters, Maryam Nawaz left the airport for the residence of PML-N leader Chaudhry Muneer, reports said.



Earlier, before her departure for Islamabad from London on Sunday, Maryam Nawaz said that the so-called accountability of her family continuing for the past over one year was not for justice but for revenge. But she quickly added that she was returning to test the judicial system.



Both Capt Safdar and Maryam Nawaz are scheduled to appear before the court on Monday in connection with the NAB reference pertaining to London properties owned by the Sharif family.



The trial judge had earlier issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Captain Safdar and Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz for failing to appear in court in the last hearing held on Oct 2. The court, however, repeated the bailable warrants for Mr Sharifs daughter.



It has been exposed now and the whole world knows that this is not accountability; rather, it has turned into revenge now, Maryam said while speaking to a private news channel outside her London residence and reporters at Heathrow airport. I do not need to say anything here, the way things have been going on over the past year and a half has revealed the truth to the nation.



However, we are going back and will appear before the court and go through the wheels of justice. We respect the rule of law and the Constitution, she told Geo News.



When asked whether her brothers would return to Pakistan to face the NAB references against them, she said: Hassan and Hussain would themselves tell you about their decision.



She appeared agitated when asked that the re-election of her father as the president of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League had created confrontation between institutions.



This is an internal matter of the PML-N and nobody should have any objection to it, she said, adding: It is surprising to see that those who have no connection with the PML-N are raising objection to the election of the PML-N president.



She said that the next general elections would be held on time in 2018 and the government would complete its tenure.



Capt Safdar told Geo News that the couple had decided to return to Pakistan on the advice of their lawyers.



The court is likely to provide a copy of the NAB reference along with relevant details to Maryam and her husband if they appeared before the accountability court on Monday.
Pakistan wants stable Afghanistan: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan enjoy fraternal ties and Pakistan wants a stable Afghanistan, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Sunday.



Talking to a private TV channel, the PM expressed his intention to visit Kabul. Both countries have sacrificed for each other. Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa extended an invitation to the Afghan president to visit Islamabad on behalf of the government of Pakistan, he said.



The prime minister said that Pakistan wanted a stable Afghanistan and had offered sacrifices in this regard. We have reminded the Afghan government that certain allegations are not acceptable as the issues could be resolved on the table, he said.



Prime Minister Abbasi further said the Afghan government had been told that Pakistan would continue pursuing the border fencing initiative aggressively as attacks on its soil had taken place from across the Afghan border. We have also offered them joint patrols for effective border control, he said.



To a question, the prime minister said that the COAS would also visit Iran on the governments behalf, adding that operational issues required to be addressed through talks. He said Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif had also held meetings with the Iranian leadership.



The prime minister said that he was functioning under the Constitution. We have to steer the government according to the Constitution and complete tasks by adhering to the pro-developmental policies and look forward for the next elections. Its my mandate, he said.



He said that no country could function with dual policies and rejected the impression that the governments policies were directed from somewhere else.



People give mandate under which a government functions. We have to progress with this public mandate, he said, adding that change should be only through the ballot paper and not through courts or on streets. Only people have the right to decide such things, he said.



The PM said that elections would be held on time.



On July 28, an unprecedented incident had occurred, the judiciary handed over a verdict which was fully implemented. However, the people of the country have not accepted it, he said.



He said that it was his opinion that history would not accept it. Within three days, a new set-up was established. It was the stability of the democratic system, he said. He said that conspiracies against the government would be dealt with full force.



He said the National Security Committee meetings were being held frequently and regularly.



To a question about the deployment of Rangers at the accountability court, he said that as prime minister, he had directed the interior minister to investigate the issue. If restrictions are imposed on the movement of people inside courts, it does not give a good impression of the country, he said.



To another question, the prime minister said the Interior Ministry was compiling data about the people who have automatic arms licenses. They will be asked to surrender their arms. Private people should not have access to such weapons, he said.



About broadening the tax net, he said that the issue could not be resolved overnight. About Rs 102 billion tax is being paid by the salaried class. The tax paid by the non-salaried people stands at around Rs 45 billion only, he said.
From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As...
A Cambodian mine-affected boy (R) stands next to hundreds of defused landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) placed in a room of a private museum in Siem Reap. Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP/Getty Images

Twenty years ago, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced it would award the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the campaigns coordinator, Jody Williams, for their work in securing a landmark treaty to ban antipersonnel mines globally. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), as a founding member of the Campaign, shared in the prize.

But the work to ban landmines began several years earlier with a joint investigative trip to Cambodia by PHR and Human Rights Watch. One the members of that team was orthopedic surgeon and epidemiologist James Cobey, MD, MPH, who co-authored the seminal report Land Mines in Cambodia: The Cowards War. Among the findings: one in every 236 Cambodians at the time had been injured by a mine, the legacy of years of war. And that shocking statistic counted only those people who were taken to a hospital.

Dr. Cobey spoke to PHR about how he ended up on that first trip and the chain of events that led to the Mine Ban Treaty, which came into force faster than any arms control treaty in modern history.

How did you first get involved in the initial land mine investigation?

I was sitting in my office  it was March 1991  seeing patients, and in walks Eric Stover [then a consultant for Human Rights Watch and later executive director of PHR]. He was working with a bunch of groups doing human rights work, and he says, Were going to Cambodia for a six week trip. Eric told me they had been looking for someone with expertise in epidemiology, and before I could interrupt, he said hed already asked my office to clear my schedule.

We took off a few days later. I was an epidemiologist and an orthopedic surgeon, but I learned a great deal about human rights. I knew the history of Cambodia pretty well, but I didnt know much about landmines  and I learned a lot quickly. In addition to myself and Eric, we were joined on that first trip by Rae McGrath, an engineer in the U.S. Army. He knew about mines and had founded the Mines Advisory Group.

What were you looking to accomplish once you arrived in Cambodia?

I spoke enough French to get through customs, and when we arrived, Phnom Penh [Cambodias capital] was almost empty. There were few people downtown, and we ended up in a small hotel in the city center. Its there that I came up with my first epidemiological questionnaire and a plan to get data about land mine injuries from other hospitals in the country. Eric, of course, wanted testimony, but I wanted the numbers.

We started going around to government hospitals, NGO hospitals, and ICRC hospitals to gather data. We went through surgical log books. I talked to nurses and looked through about two years of data to see just how many injuries had been caused by mines. We then estimated the total number of hospitals in the country, the overall population, and we came out with an estimate that one in every 236 people in Cambodia had stepped on a landmine and wound up in a hospital.

How did those findings lead to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines?

In 1992, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines began taking shape [read a timeline of the campaign]. The founding members included the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, Handicap International, Human Rights Watch, the Mines Advisory Group, Medico International, and of course PHR. Jody Williams came on board to run the whole project. So I went around lecturing medical groups trying to galvanize other health professionals. PHR got the American Medical Association and dozens of other medical and health associations other groups on board to say that landmines were a danger to public health everywhere and to support the call for a ban.

In 1995, Belgium became the first country to outright ban anti-personnel mines, and then, in October 1996, the Canadians said they would try and pull a treaty together in Ottawa. The treaty took shape and was signed just a week before the Nobel ceremony in December 1997.

What kind of injuries do landmines inflict?

Often a landmine destroys one of your legs. If its a fragment mine, you hit a tripwire and have additional injuries to the chest or eyes. Sometimes the foot itself becomes a weapon. Ive had to extract toe bones from peoples eyes  the foot basically became shrapnel. People can also be injured by mines from picking them up. Children do this because kids will pick up anything that looks different. They might throw around a butterfly mine like a toy. In Bangladesh I found people whod lost both hands from picking up mines, others whod lost an eye or had traumatic injuries to the face and neck. And, of course, there are the social effects as well. People without a leg are often socially looked down upon, excluded, or cant get jobs.

Twenty years later, do you see all these efforts as a success? Whats left to do?

Looking back, there are a lot less mines being manufactured. A lot fewer people are dying from mines. We saved many lives because the number of landmine injuries dropped dramatically in the 1990s. But then, after the United States invaded Afghanistan and then Iraq, the issue of IEDs [improvised explosive devices] came up. So now were back with people knowing how to make these things at home and back to some of the injuries we saw before the treaty.

And, of course, there are still countries that have not signed the treaty [including three of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council: China, Russia, and the United States.]. When I was at a meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia, we sat there with generals from other countries around the region. They said: The United States has the best military in the world, and if the United States wont sign the treaty, we wont either. So the United States not getting on board is still an excuse for other countries not to sign. Our efforts have certainly saved lives, but our work isnt finished yet.
CAMBRIDGE  The Cambridge United Presbyterian Church is a stunning building of a bygone era.

The white church with two steeples is a beacon in the small Washington County village, a place where the community comes together, and not just to pray on Sunday mornings.

The front lawn once served a mustering area for the Revolutionary War and years later, the trains brought people up from New York City to take in the opera at Hubbard Hall.

But as the church aged and the huge stained-glass windows became weak and unsteady, the church elders had to discuss whether to save the debilitated 1873 structure or to close it.

But the iconic building is central to Cambridges viability, said the Rev. Kate Kotfila, who said villagers are still feeling the loss of Mary McClellan Hospital, which closed in 2003.

If this building closed and they knocked it down and put a CVS here, it would change the whole character of the community, Kotfila said while standing in the colorful glow of the churchs central stained-glass window.

The building boasts enormous brightly colored stained-glass windows, and when the sunlight shines through them, the rainbow of light streams onto the pews and balcony of the sanctuary.

It was once thought that putting acrylic on the windows would protect them.

The theory was, Vinyl and its final,  Kotfila said. That was the big deal back then. It will look exactly the same forever and ever. 

But the windows and the tracery around them became weak when water got between the pieces of acrylic.

We were going to start losing windows, Kotfila said. And windows are a structural piece of the building.

The church started raising money in 2012 and has spent $160,000 to repair the 14 windows on the front of the church, and is continuing its campaign to raise money to repair the remaining 18.

The church will host a chicken barbecue fundraiser on Oct. 21. And the Racing City Chorus and the Men OWar Balladeers will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 11. The churchs website is accepting donations at www.cambridgenyupc.org.

Kotfila and the church elders are hoping the repairs will help make the church and its ancillary buildings a community focal point again, a place where people can gather, not just on Sunday mornings.

She is in the process of turning the front of the sanctuary into a space with a coffeehouse feeling, where people of any denomination can come for quiet and use the Wi-Fi.

We try really hard to respect our responsibility in our place in our community, she said. But the only way we can justify all of this is to open these buildings to the community, to make sure that the whole community is being served in any way that we can.
New comments from congressional candidate Steve Krieg have sparked calls for an apology, but he is not backing down.

The Plattsburgh resident was criticized in national reports for remarks he made about incumbent Rep. Elise Stefanik during a candidate forum earlier this week in Canton.

According to published reports, while discussing previous comments he made about Stefanik, R-Willsboro, Krieg said he deserved to be called sexist.

I have been accused of being a sexist for calling Elise a little girl, and I probably deserved to be called a sexist, Krieg said in remarks at the forum, reported by Politico.

I think most of us, if we admit it, have some sexist in us, some of the racist in us. Its something, if we are decent people, we recognize in ourselves and we struggle with it all of our lives.

Thinks like a child

Krieg, 60, went on to describe Stefanik as a child who cannot think for herself.

But Elise, I recognize her as  Im not going to say a little girl. I recognize her as a child, and it has nothing to do with her age, he said.

I see her as a child because shes a child. She thinks like a child. She has people set things up for her. She has people put their words in her mouth, and she happily repeats them.

And I think, recognizing her, I would go after her in that way. And I apologize if thats mean, but thats how I would do it.

Krieg said Friday that he was standing by those comments.

I expected that (criticism), but I feel no need to further explain my remarks. The way I explained myself at the forum speaks for itself, he said.

I am willing to accept criticism.

Kriegs comments at the forum were referring to remarks he initially made about Stefanik on his Facebook page in July, when he called her a little girl.

I intend to kick your stingy, money-grubbing, sniveling coward of a butt out of Congress, he wrote then on Facebook. Dont worry, sweetie, youre a little girl. You can always run home to Mommy and Daddy.

Stefanik, 33, was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress when she won the seat in the 12-county 21st District in 2014.

Disgusting

Kriegs Facebooks comments drew sharp criticism from Stefaniks campaign after they came to light in late September.

His remarks at the Watertown forum brought even more.

The National Republican Congressional Committee called on Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to condemn Kriegs remarks.

These comments are disgusting and sexist, NRCC Communications Director Matt Gorman said in a news release.

A member of the Armed Services Committee and NRCC recruiting chair, as well as a former small businesswoman, Congresswoman Stefanik is a leader and has vast accomplishments in and out of Washington, he said.

Nancy Pelosi, the DCCC, and other Democratic candidates should condemn these comments, and Steve Krieg should immediately apologize.

Stefaniks campaign spokesman, Lenny Alcivar, also blasted Kriegs latest comments.

As families across the 21st District learn of these inexcusably inappropriate remarks that have now appalled a national audience, they will ask themselves two questions: Why are national Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and local Democrats in the 21st District silent in the face of such sexist statements? Alcivar said.

Dems snub Krieg

Democrats were also distancing themselves from Krieg.

We applaud the NRCCs outrage at these sexist remarks  unfortunately, they were made by a lifelong Republican whose registration has yet to switch to Democratic, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Evan Lukaske said.

When it does, you can rest assured well have no relationship with Mr. Krieg.

Alcivar responded that Krieg is running as a Democrat, period. He is embarrassing the Democratic Party and the hardworking people of the 21st District.

Krieg, a longtime Republican, said he switched parties earlier this year for a chance to take on Stefanik in next years election.

His party change will not take effect until after the November 2017 election.

Krieg is one of several Democrats vying for the chance to challenge Stefanik next year.

A primary is likely to be held next June to pick the candidate.

Scared

Krieg, a local optometrist who sits on the City of Plattsburgh School Board, apologized last month for calling Stefanik a little girl, and money-grubbing on Facebook.

But he stood by his stingy comment, saying it appeared she made $150,000 last year and had no deductions for charities on her tax return.

If she gave to charity and just didnt take the deductions, then I apologize for calling her stingy, he said at the time. Otherwise, I dont.

Krieg said he was not that surprised that national Democrats were also now criticizing him.

I think that they, and both sides of the aisle, are scared of (his support for) term limits.
GRANVILLE  A Granville man who is on parole for burglary was jailed in recent days for burglarizing a business to steal metal, police said.

William L. Johnson, 38, was arrested after Granville Police received a call late last month about thefts of metal wiring and copper piping from a warehouse at Evergreen Slate Co. on multiple occasions, police said.

Granville Police set up surveillance, and on Sept. 29, Granville Police Sgt. Ryan Pedone and Patrolman Alex Gilmore spotted a man entering the property by climbing a fence from the nearby recreational trail.

Backup officers from the Washington County Sheriffs Office arrived and, after the burglar tried to run out the door and then ran back in when spotting officers, caught him with a backpack containing copper pipe and wiring, police said.

Johnson was found in possession of a battery-powered saw and was found to have a pair of bolt cutters taped to a bicycle he had ridden on the trail to get to the property, police said.

He was charged with third-degree burglary, a felony, arraigned and sent to Washington County Jail without bail after arraignment before Granville Justice Roger Forando.

Johnson was paroled from state prison in January, after completing shock incarceration, and had at least one prior burglary arrest for stealing metal from the former Mary McClellan Hospital in Cambridge.

Pedone was assisted by Washington County sheriffs Sgt. Robert Sullivan and Deputy Lance Barber.
QUEENSBURY  In just three months, the towns new environmental group has nearly completed its charge.

The group has essentially finished three of four items required by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to become a Clean Energy Community. NYSERDA gave communities 10 items to choose from, with the requirement of completing four. Those who do are eligible for a $100,000 grant.

The town has approved a unified solar permit, which can be used by anyone who wants to add solar to their property.

The town is moving ahead with the purchase of two charging stations for electric cars, using a $25,000 grant.

Code enforcers will be sent to a special training to prepare them to inspect solar installations.

Theres one item left, and committee members want to fulfill it by creating a Solarize campaign.

The goal would be to get at least 10 customers to install solar next spring.

The town must first put out a request for proposals for solar installers. The winner would join in the campaign, which would run from March to May 2018.

Once that is completed, the next question is how to spend the $100,000 grant.

Supervisor John Strough has proposed buying two electric cars.

It would be ideal to have the cars for code enforcement, since they are driven regularly and tend to go in and out of Town Hall on short trips throughout the town, Strough said. The code enforcers could use the new car-charging stations, which are not yet installed, to charge their cars between trips.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
As its name suggest, The Center can become the center of the world for those who pass through the central Davenport community center's doors.

Neighbors, teenagers, seniors, immigrants, the disadvantaged and those who one staffer simply calls "our friends" arrive at the hulking building atop Brady Street hill. Inside, they seek advice, assistance, fellowship, a place to worship and even basic necessities for everyday life.

"We try to have programs that help a person holistically," said Pennie Kellenberger,the Center's founder and director. "So no matter what they need they can get help in one space  from clothing, education, housing to food."

Located in the former Montgomery Furniture & Carpets at 1411 Brady St., in the Hilltop Campus Village, the community center hearkens back to when Kellenberger went searching for a space to grow the skate ministry of St. John's United Methodist Church. The church, located across the street, was gifted the building by an anonymous donor and led the capital campaign to renovate the sprawling storefront and warehouse space.

"Then soon other churches, programs and ministries came to be supporters so we truly call ourselves a community building," she said.

The Center, which now is a separate nonprofit, is home to such efforts as the Food Pantry at the Center, Friendly Thrift Shop, Solid Rock Cafe, Sanctuary Church and House of Refuge.

But it since has become a headquarters for nonprofits and ministries such as QCAIR (Quad-Cities Alliance for Immigrants & Refugees), Fishers of Men, the Street Team Homeless Outreach, Quad-Cities Harm Reduction and QC United (an anti-bullying effort). Recently, it has added new educational opportunities from Eastern Iowa Community Colleges and soon will provide an additional location for Rock Island-based Youth Hope.

"This was the vision," Kellenberger said of the place "where churches, programs and people can come together to help our neighbors live life out together."

True to its roots, the Center remains home to the popular SkateChurch youth ministry, which draws 50 to 100 young people a week. In a large space outfitted with ramps and jumps, middle and high school teens have a safe, indoor environment to bring their skateboards or bicycles. Each session includes a gospel lesson, she said.

Removing barriers

"People are always asking 'Who comes to the center?' Really, anybody," said Michael Gayman, a counselor with the Center's four-person Street Team, a homeless outreach program.

When asked what it does, the answer is simple: "Whatever people need. We remove barriers for folks and that looks different for everybody who comes in here," said Gayman, who has worked for the Center for six years.

The participants, who he calls "guests," will stop in sometimes daily or less often. Many form their own support groups among the other guests. "Today, we had a woman from the neighborhood whose dog just died and she needed to process that and didn't have any support," he said.

This day, 54-year-old James Edward has stopped in after having a job interview that he hopes will be his chance for getting back on his feet. Since moving from Florida back to his native Quad-Cities to be near his mother, who is in hospice, he has been unable to find work and has resorted to living in a tent.

The Center, he said, is his escape. "This place is amazing. You can come here and have a sense of thought. If you need clothing, they give you clothing. If you need food, they give you food. If you need to find a job, if you need spiritual guidance, if you are hungry and don't have a dime in your pocket (it all is here)."

The Center's staff have offered him everything from a cot to a warm blanket, laundry money and bus tokens to get around the city to look for a job. "All they ask you to do is volunteer,'' said Edward, who is a regular greeter at the front desk.

Shared sanctuary

The Center has been a magnet for fellow faith-based organizations and ministries.

Pastor Derrick Johnson, pastor of House of Refuge, was looking for a new home to relocate his church from its west-end storefront when he met Kellenberger. Now his original congregation holds services in the Center's chapel and he has become the Center's in-house pastor.

"The Holy Spirit told me 'this is your church,'" Johnson said, taking a break from serving the lunchtime meal. "When people come here and leave here, they always are affected. They find peace and calm. We see if we can't meet their need. That's what we do here."

In the same space but at different times, Sanctuary Church gathers its congregation. The para-church Fishers of Men, also a nonprofit, has meetings and operations.

As part of its Kenyan ministry, Fishers of Men is teaching area youth the skills for making skateboards as well as the business skills behind running Bantu Boards. In a makeshift shop area, Kellenberger said the SkateChurch participants craft the homemade wooden skateboards. Any profits from the social entrepreneurship program are used to purchase mango trees to be planted in Kenya.

Center of resources

The Center also provides a stable home and office for the two-year-old Quad-Cities Harm Reduction, a nonprofit that promotes harm-reduction strategies including rescue kits and training for the use of the opioid overdose reversal drug Naloxone.

"Our mission is to save lives, but we had resistance in the community," recalled Kim Brown, who co-founded the group after her son, Andy Lamp, died from an accidental heroin overdose. "These folks welcomed me. This is a whole family up here."

Brown, the group's president and a registered nurse, said the organization's efforts to educate first-responders, drug users and the public on the use of naloxone, or Narcan, have led to 20 documented reversals since June.

"Harm reduction is more than naloxone and needles," she said, adding that many living in harm's way have other needs "just like everyday folks."

To meet some of those other needs, Brown can lead her clients to other resources at the Center.

For those who are food insecure, The Food Pantry at The Center is a collaborative effort by nine Quad-City faith communities, including nearby Sacred Heart Cathedral.

"It's a convenient spot for people who have multiple issues," said Dan Huber, the pantry's director and a deacon at Sacred Heart. "It's like a one-stop shopping with the thrift store, GED training, referrals for housing."

Serving all of central and east Davenport  from the river to Interstate 80, he said  the pantry has doubled in the past five years. Last month, it served 434 families or "shy of 1,600 people."

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges just introduced classes for students to earn their high school equivalency credential, or HiSET.

"We're thrilled at the Center to have it here, especially for the neighbors," said Lori Zahn, the Center's business administrator, who teaches the course.

"It can be challenging," said Zahn, who sees low- and middle-income residents trying to better themselves. "There are a lot of frustrated people going through a lot... We're welcoming for them."

'Towering asset'

Located in the heart of the Hilltop Campus Village, a Main Street Iowa district, the Center also stands as a shining example of neighborhood redevelopment, said Scott Tunnicliff, Hilltop's director.

Once the largest retail building in the neighborhood, he said it might have become a vacant storefront had it not been for the combined efforts of the Center and the neighborhood's "can-do attitude."

"We see it as a towering asset in the area," Tunnicliff said.

As a Main Street program, Hilltop's focus has been on commercial development. "But we all have an interest to make sure these neighborhoods are safe and desirable. And I think the Center goes a long way toward that," he said.

Kellenberger, a former school teacher, admits that as a business model The Center is quite "unique." "Our big goal was to create an organization that is sustainable and financially responsible," she said.

The ministries and tenants pay what they can. "Everyone who resides here contributes financially. We don't call it rent. It's according to what they can contribute and it works."

The Center's bills? "They get paid," she said. "Do we need money  that's my job."

"We're not a handout; we want people who come here to participate," Kellenberg said, pointing to neighbors who are cooking lunch in the Solid Rock Cafe. "We do it together."
At 10:30 p.m., Oct. 11, 1973, Alexander Torres Sauceda, 23, left his parents home, telling his family he had to help a friend start a car.

According to a Quad-City Times article by Clay Thompson published Wednesday, Oct. 11, 1978, Sauceda was murdered about 30 minutes later.

A little while later, a man phoned the Bettendorf Police Department and told the officer he had shot a man at Duck Creek Plaza shopping center. The man never gave his name.

Officers headed to Duck Creek Plaza at 852 Middle Road where they found Sauceda slumped in the front seat of his vehicle. He had been shot four times in the head.

In the vehicle, officers located four 22-caliber cartridges beside the body. Bloodstains inside the car indicated Saucedas head had been lying next to the car door after the shooting, but he was found positioned upright, indicating that someone had moved the body.

Authorities at the time said the shooting had been done at a close range.

It had not been determined if Sauceda had been in the parking lot at the time of the shooting or if the shooting had occurred at another location.

Bettendorf police detectives worked the case with the aid of the Scott County Sheriffs Department, the Davenport Police Departments mobile crime lab and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Oct. 11 will mark 44 years since Saucedas death.

The anonymous caller has never been found. No suspects have been detained for questioning. No arrest has been made. Only the person who pulled the trigger can say why he targeted the U.S. Army veteran who had served in Vietnam.

According to Thompsons story, Sauceda worked as an assembler at International Harvesters Farmall plant in Rock Island.

Before going out the night of his death, Sauceda had attended services at Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Jesus Christ. He attended church regularly and played guitar in a music group.

He returned home about 9 p.m. and was in bed when he received a phone call from an unidentified man. He told his family a friend had called needing help with a stalled car.

The Scott County Medical Examiner at the time, Dr. R. M. Perkins, placed the time of Saucedas death at about 11 p.m.

The anonymous man who had called police about the murder had promised to turn himself in, but never did, according to Thompson's reporting.

Sauceda is buried in Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island.

There is no statute of limitations on the charge of murder.

Anyone with information about the death of Sauceda can call the Bettendorf Police Department at 563-344-4015.
Editor's note: Residents of the Illinois Quad-Cities selected newcomer mayors in the April elections. After several months on the job, Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms and Moline Mayor Stephanie Acri reflect on the challenges and joys of their work.

Acri set to work on budget, says I-74 footprint will be 'neat opportunity'

It's just past 7 a.m. on a Wednesday, and Moline Mayor Stephanie Acri is in her city hall office, dressed in a black suit and heels, talking on a cellphone to a city council member.

Days begin early for Acri who won the mayor's job in April. Her decisive victory came after four months of back-and-forth legal sparring prompted by incumbent Mayor Scott Raes' challenge of her nominating petitions based on a technicality.

Acri developed her early morning habit when her children were younger and she was working as an engineer at Alcoa, now Arconic. Early hours allowed her to talk to overseas clients living in a different time zone.

Now she launches her days between 4:30 and 5 a.m. with exercise and yoga, then begins a long jog through appointments and activities. This includes city business as well as working at Evans Manufacturing, the machine shop in Rock Island where she is president and CEO.

Getting an early start creates "much more time in your day," she said. "You can really knock out the work."

Coming up on her schedule today will be a city council work session to discuss City Administrator Douglas Maxeiner's budget proposal for 2018, his first since beginning his job in June.

The city is "revenue challenged" because of a downturn in receipts that might be attributed to construction of John Deere Road that made access to businesses difficult, Maxeiner said. "We're hoping it's a one time blip," he said.

To cover a shortfall, he is suggesting a transfer of $400,000 from the city's reserves to the general fund. He proposes repaying the money by selling excess property. "The city owns quite a few parcels," he said, adding that some were purchased to facilitate the John Deere Road project and will no longer be needed.

Maxeiner is not recommending any tax rate increases, but is suggesting a new fee  adding a monthly charge of $1.93 to residents' garbage bills to pay for leaf collection/processing that now is subsidized by income and sales taxes.

Among Acri's campaign issues was maintaining the quality of roads, so she'll have a keen eye out for that portion of the budget.

Overall, she doesn't expect the budget process to be too painful. "Moline is in very good shape," she said. "We have resources."

Recent economic development projects include ground-breaking for a $33 million senior living project that will go where the former Moline Lutheran Hospital once stood; opening of 31 market-rate apartments in the former Chase Bank building at 5th Avenue and 15th Street; and ongoing work by Mike Whalen and his Heart of America Group to turn Moline's Fifth Avenue Building into a boutique hotel that should be finished in late 2018.

SouthPark Mall has seen improvements and new out-buildings are being constructed; Acri expects more development along John Deere Road as the road-widening project finishes.

The Element by Westin, an extended-stay hotel that is part of The Q multi-modal station development also has opened, and Acri is not particularly worried about funding that would bring an Amtrak passenger train to the station from Chicago.

"I'm confident it will come," she said of the funding and subsequent rail service. "I do believe it will take awhile." In the meantime, the multi-modal station is a stand-alone success, she said. "It doesn't need a train."

Another project she is excited about is the future development of land that will be freed up when the Interstate 74 bridge is realigned. "That footprint is such a neat opportunity," she said.

What's being talked about currently is "green space to draw people to enjoy our beautiful riverfront" as well as residential, retail and restaurant development, she said.

The Chicago-based Lakota Group has been hired by Renew Moline, a nonprofit economic development organization, to interview stakeholders and develop a plan. An open session for the public to view ideas and offer their own is expected to be held in early winter, a spokesman for Renew Moline, said.

As for the other Illinois Quad-City mayors, Acri said she sees them at least three times a week at community events as well as scheduled meetings. What they have to say is "very helpful because if one city is dealing with some issue, another city may have already dealt with it. We're working to address similar issues. There's no strong territoriality."

Acri figures she devotes about 40 hours per week to city business and about 40 hours per week to her business. But the pace doesn't wear her down.

"The days are long, but the work is really interesting," she said. "No, I can't get it all done. It's not like I go to bed and it's all off my to-do list. But I enjoy it. It's challenging. The wins are so rewarding in government."

Thoms: 'We have lots of irons in the fire'

Sitting behind the big wood-and-red-leather desk that has served Rock Island mayors for decades, Mike Thoms talks fast.

Wearing a crisp, long-sleeved yellow shirt and consulting two cellphones, he is running behind schedule. He wants to make sure he hits all the major points of his first five months in office before he has to leave for his next appointment.

Thoms knows the city because he grew up there, and knows business because his family ran a major food distribution company bearing their name. He knows that what the city needs is more business. More residential would be good, too.

Such growth is the only way to sustain city services  street repair, snow removal, park maintenance, sewer and water  and hold the line on property taxes.

A top priority is trying to attract retail businesses  anchored by a grocery store  to the 22-acre site along 11th Street that the city cleared for a Walmart store that ultimately was not built.

Toward that end, Thoms and community economic development director Chandler Poole spent three days in Chicago at the end of September at a trade show of the International Council of Shopping Centers, trying to find developers interested in marketing the site.

Thoms said of the 20 or so they talked to, about six seemed interested, and that he hopes to pick one within the next 60 days. What exactly an agreement between the city and a developer would look like has "yet to be determined," Thoms said.

The developer would not be paid by the city; the developer would make money by developing the site, Thoms explained.

He believes this is the best way to proceed in filling the site that was a major campaign issue and reason for turnover in the mayor and city manager positions. Randy Tweet, the former public works director, has been promoted to the city manager job.

The 2018 budget

In the meantime, the city council and staff will be talking through October about the 2018 city budget with the goal of producing a draft by the first of November, Thoms said.

The city currently carries about $118 million in debt on which it pays interest. While the amount has been building through the years, it spiked in the past five years for a variety of reasons, including $22 million for the construction of the new police station, $15 million for the preparation of the now-failed Walmart site, $1 million for costs associated with a proposed development called Jumer's Crossing that ultimately did not happen and normal allocations for street work, Thoms said.

For the 2018 budget year, the city expects to use most of the money it gets from gaming revenue from Jumer's Casino and Hotel  between $4 million and $5 million annually  "to pay off bonds from the past," Thoms said.

This money originally was earmarked for capital improvements, he added.

Funding employee pensions also is a concern, he said. "A burning concern."

"They are high and growing," he said. "I don't want it to sound like they don't deserve it because this is a promise made. But it's a burden and it (the obligation) grows about a half-million each year."

To balance the 2018 budget, a property tax increase  business as well as residential  is "on the table as a potential," Thoms said.

Also on the table is continued cutting of expenses. Examples might be consolidation of snow removal routes, not filling positions in various departments as they become vacant, he said.

Three new developments

But Thoms doesn't want people to think all is doom-and-gloom.

He rifles through piles of papers on his desk and comes up with a stapled sheaf that describes 19 possible economic development projects in various stages of development  the expansion of an existing business, a new business, a new residential development.

"We have a lot of irons in the fire, a lot of projects in some stage of work. If they come to be reality, it will definitely help the burden."

Three that already have been announced and will get underway after January are:

 A Dunkin' Donuts will be built at 2711 18th Ave.

 A Casey's General Store and small truck stop will be built at the northwest corner of Illinois 92 and Andalusia Road.

 The VanDerGinst Law building, 1701-1705 2nd Ave., will be redeveloped for about $10 million into a 33-unit, market rate apartment building with an 11-room boutique hotel and first-floor commercial space. The mural of Sauk warrior Black Hawk on the river-facing side of the building also will be restored.

In August, the city approved a development agreement with Saratoga Capital Group LLC that calls for up to $2.485 million in incentives, to be released after a certificate of occupancy has been granted for the project by the city.

Saratoga Capital is headed by Sam Estep, who formerly worked for Restoration St. Louis, the company headed by Amrit and Amy Gill who have done extensive work in Davenport including the Hotel Blackhawk and The Current Iowa boutique hotel.

Inter-city collaboration

An issue Thoms touched on during his campaign was the possibility of saving money by sharing certain services between cities, such as human resources or information technology.

Although he hasn't had a chance to broach those topics  sharing is much easier to implement in the private sector, he said  there is certainly collaboration among governmental units, he said.

Cities go together on certain purchases and in the pursuit of grants for projects, for example, and the mayors of all the cities as well as just the Illinois cities get together on a regular basis.

All told, Thoms said he spends about 40 hours a week in his job.

"I'm doing that on purpose," he said. "It could be more, it could be less. Overall, I gotta say say I'm enjoying the role. I'm having fun and enjoying it. I'm concerned about making Rock Island a better place."
Saturday, Oct. 9, 1982 -- Hate for a town | Threats follow '60 Minutes' tale on death

POLO, Ill. -- The mailman is lugging an extra bag this week to carry anger from all over the country directed at this town of 2,643. A 15-minute segment on the CBS news magazine "60 Minutes" Sunday focused on the town shutting off the water to a family that owed $672.

Saturday, Oct. 10, 1987 -- New Ambrose President outlines goals

Dr. Edward Rogalski was inaugurated as the 12th president of St. Ambrose University on a chilly Friday afternoon underneath the oak trees on the university lawn. Rogalski who was appointed to the post last June, officially took over the reins from his predecessor Dr. William Bakrow in a ceremony that included encouraging remarks from Bakrow, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Davenport Mayor Thom Hart and the Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, the Most Rev. Gerald O'Keefe.

Sunday, Oct. 11, 1992 -- Q-C mentally ill cope with housing problems | About 1 in 4 lives in substandard conditions

In the Schricker apartment building in downtown Davenport hangs a framed quotation: "A free society that cannot help the poor, cannot save the rich." There are no rich there, just some folks who need help. They are the chronically mentally ill, whose behavior causes many to turn away from them; whose behavior causes many landlords to turn them away.

Sunday, Oct. 12, 1997 -- Burning problem? | Once the topic of heated debate, Q-C leaf disposal loses its spark

THE ISSUE OF LEAF BURNING seems to have disappeared from the Quad-City political scene like a wisp of smoke on a brisk autumn day. As the first plumes of leaf smoke rise once again from the Quad-City neighborhoods, political pundits are speculating on why the issue is no longer debated.

Sunday, Oct. 13, 2002 -- UPDATE RIVER RENAISSANCE | Redstone rehab almost complete

Figge Arts Center: Ground broken in Sept., Construction by Dec. | Adler Theatre: Design concepts are expected soon | Parking ramps: Completed by Feb., to be opened by March

Less than a year after Scott County voters overwhelmingly approved financing for Davenport's downtown River Renaissance project, Kent Pilcher has a commanding view of the Mississippi River from his new office.

Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007 -- RECORD CORN, SOYBEAN YIELDS PREDICTED | A bumper crop at higher costs | Success tempered by rising expenses

NEAL and Chad Keppy of rural Scott County were not sure what they wanted to do when they entered college. "We were typical kids growing up, Neal Keppy said. "We had lots of things in our heads. But finally, the last couple of years of college, we narrowed it down to production agriculture that we wanted to do."

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 -- Gandhi's grandson to speak in Moline | Peace activist will discuss nonviolence at WIU-QC campus

The last time Arun Gandhi took part in a rally was about eight months ago when he stood up for the rights of gay and lesbian people in Cleveland. "I joined that rally and got arrested for a day," he said with a laugh during a telephone conversation from his home in upstate New York.
AKRON, Iowa  Donald Trump Jr. will join U.S. Rep. Steve King for the Republican congressman's annual pheasant hunt in northwest Iowa at the end of this month.

In a Monday tweet, King wrote, "Happy to announce @DonaldTrumpJr will be hunting with us this year at my annual Col. Bud Day Pheasant Hunt on opening weekend of Oct. 28th."

The tweet is in reference to the opening day for Iowa's pheasant hunting season.

The oldest son of President Donald Trump served as a frequent surrogate on his father's presidential campaign, and, along with his brother, Eric, now oversees a trust that included The Trump Organization assets while the elder Trump is president to avert a conflict of interest.

Donald Trump Jr. has come under fire for a revelation earlier this year that he met with a Russian lawyer who promised damaging information about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign.

King's pheasant hunt, organized by the congressman's election committee, is named for Col. Bud Day, a Sioux City native and Medal of Honor recipient who was the nation's most highly decorated living service member when he died in July 2013 at age 88. Day and King hunted together periodically.

In the past, King's hunt has attracted a number of high-profile Republican figures. In 2015, he was joined in the field by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and then-Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who both at the time were GOP presidential candidates.
PIERRE  South Dakotas fire marshal is encouraging families to use this years Fire Prevention Week as an opportunity to practice their exit plans.

Fire Prevention Week starts Sunday, Oct. 8, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 14. This years theme is Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!

State Fire Marshal Paul Merriman says individuals and families should plan two ways out of their home in case of fire. He says just as important is to practice their plan.

Families should hold fire drills in their homes at least twice a year; once during the day and another time at night, Merriman says. It is important that everyone, especially children, know how to get out of a burning structure using more than one exit.

As always, another emphasis during the week will be the use of smoke alarms. Merriman says the importance of smoke alarms cant be stressed enough.

We have seen too many house fires where there were no smoke alarms present or the alarms in the homes were not properly working, he says. Smoke alarms can help save lives. But they do no good when not properly maintained.

Smoke alarm messages for this week include:

*** Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.

*** Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.

*** Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.

*** Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.

*** If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.

*** Call the fire department from outside the home.

So far this year, there have been 16 fire-related deaths in South Dakota. The 2016 total was 14.

The state Fire Marshals Office is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
When neighbors are in need, leave it to South Dakotas farmers and ranchers to step up.

Such is the case with Rainbow Bible Ranch.

Drought conditions in central and eastern Meade County resulted in meager hay production this summer. Larry Reinhold knew that the 22 bales of hay they put up this summer would not sustain both the ranch's horses and cows over the winter.

Meanwhile, about 320 miles to the east, Ken and Lynn Wintersteen were blessed with abundant rains that translated to four cuttings of hay.

"When our neighbors are hurting for hay and we have extra, we feel obligated to share," Lynn Wintersteen said.

The Wintersteens' daughter attended Rainbow Bible Ranch camp when she was younger. Lynn Wintersteen said it's sad to see fellow ag producers suffering.

"They do so much good for so many young people," she said.

The Reinholds took the Wintersteens up on their offer but still knew they needed someone to get the hay from one locale to another. Larry Reinhold said he had heard from a young girl who attended camp at Rainbow Bible Ranch how Farm Rescue had helped her family when her father was ill with cancer.

"We filled out a simple application and here rolls in this load of hay on Saturday," he said.

That was 25 tons of hay, to be exact. And another truckload arrived on Monday evening from friends and neighbors of the Wintersteens who had heard about the ranch's plight.

"It's pretty big and very welcome," Reinhold said. "Some would probably fault me for my faith and hope that God is always going to provide, but we trust him."

The Reinholds are being realistic about the whole situation. Larry Reinhold knows that, like other ranchers nearby, he will have to sell down more cows so that all the livestock can make it through the winter.

"We just can't bring in that much feed and make it work out," he said.

Carol Wielenga, operations director for Farm Rescue, a nonprofit organization that provides planting, harvesting or haying assistance free of charge to farm and ranch families, said she was proud to drive the load of hay and drop it at Rainbow Bible Ranch.

"If a rancher is asking for help, they usually need the help, because they are usually too proud to ask for help," she said. "They have this entrepreneurial spirit. They've always done it themselves and want to stand on their own. But there is a point at which they can't do it that season or year, and that's where Farm Rescue can step in and get them to the next season."

This is the second year that Farm Rescue has stepped in with hay. The group accepts applications from ranchers who are seeking hay to fill the void left by unseasonably dry weather or fires in the Dakotas and Montana. The nonprofit then serves as an intermediary between ranchers in need and producers with additional hay available for transport.

Last year Farm Rescue delivered about eight loads of hay. This year it has delivered more than 100.

"Initially we were trying to give hay, but with so many applications coming in, the way we could help the most people is by hauling it," Wielenga said.

She said they have trucks hauling in all locations currently when they have the volunteer drivers to do so.

Wielenga says seeing the look on the rancher's face when she pulls in is amazing.

"This puts the purpose in your miles. They are in need and very appreciative," she said.

Wielenga, who grew up in Corsica, said she has seen more of her home state in the past week or so than she had her whole life.

"It's really a beautiful thing when you can meet people in your home state and thank them for the part they play in feeding the world. Each one is so important. Building relationships with them has really been a blessing," she said.
SIOUX FALLS | Brad Goodroad found a love for fighting fires while working construction.

He developed an interest after talking to another construction worker's father, who was a full-time firefighter. Growing up in a small South Dakota town with a volunteer fire department, Goodroad hadn't ever considered firefighting as a full-time job.

Now, sitting in his new office lined with years' worth of fire helmets and department history, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Chief Goodroad has big plans for his team, including a more aggressive approach to recruiting a diverse crew, creating a more collaborative work environment and rebranding the department as its former chief faces major criminal charges in a high-profile case.

Goodroad beat out seven other internal candidates and was selected to head the department in June, after the former chief retired. The 49-year-old Clear Lake native has been with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue for about 23 years, having made it onto the department's roster his second time applying. He had applied once to SFFR during college but nabbed the firefighter gig after graduating.

"It's a competitive process," Goodroad said. "Some people, they never get on. Sometimes they do right away. Some, it takes a couple times."

The road to chief was a natural but unexpected journey. Goodroad has a Master of Science degree in administrative studies from the University of South Dakota and completed executive fire officer training at the National Fire Academy in Maryland.

He served as a firefighter for about seven years before applying to be a fire apparatus operator, or driver. He progressed to captain, battalion chief and eventually to division chief.

He had no idea he was going to end up as fire chief until the position opened up.

Goodroad served as interim chief after former fire chief Jim Sideras announced his retirement.

It was shortly after his retirement announcement that Sideras was charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography in May. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has a pending trial date in November.

"That was a big hit to our people, our reputation," Goodroad acknowledged. "I think eventually the community realized one person's actions don't reflect an entire organization, but we really worked hard on our branding."

Department leaders responded as fully as they could, Goodroad said. All members of the department received advice on how to talk to their families and the public about the situation. Clergy members, mental health professionals and a peer wellness group were made available.

"My message from the start was that we're just going to move forward," he said. "We're not going to focus on that. We're going to focus on everything we can control. Everybody is just ready to move on."

Four months later, Goodroad sits at a table in the chief's office and pulls out a full-page, single-spaced list of goals and hopes for his department. All of them align with the department's newly named top values: respect, integrity, service and excellence, or RISE.

Battalion Chief Mark Bukovich has worked with Goodroad at nearly every rank and is excited to see a push for collaborative effort across the department and a closer look at additional health precautions.

"He's not just expecting one area of the organization to solve an issue," Bukovich said. "He's going to take input. He's going to listen."

The new goals align well with having to submit the department's new strategic five-year plan to the city. There's also an upcoming public safety study that will look at the department's efficiency, how stations operate, station placement and even the logistics of getting a new station in 2020.

Goodroad hopes to be more active in schools, introducing to middle-school-age students the idea of firefighting as a career. He's continuing to reach out to diverse populations by meeting with groups and organizations to educate on what the fire department does and how it could be a career option for them as well.

"They may come from a different country and are used to different interactions," he said. "They may have a fear of the badge. They may be afraid to ask questions. There could be language barriers. We're going to figure out what we can do to better serve them and let them know that, hey, this is a job you can do."

Between meeting with each city department head and implementing new physical and mental health precautions, Goodroad can be found exploring Good Earth and Newton Hills state parks, trekking the bike trails, venturing into downtown shops or hunting and kayaking. He's a regular at Sioux Falls seasonal events, such as JazzFest, Hot Summer Nites and Hot Harley Nights.

Most of all, he's focused on trying to point Sioux Falls Fire Rescue in a positive direction to close out a rough year. If fresh leadership can help turn the page and restore faith in what the department means to the city, he's ready for that chapter to begin.
Our South Dakota Representative Kristi Noem is promising $4,700 annually to each family if we pass the Republican's proposed corporate tax reduction and estate tax elimination. She will be able to pay that amount to us directly through her increased political contributions from wealthy corporations and millions saved on eliminating her family's estate tax burden.

What if the Las Vegas shooter originally thought he had to assemble his arsenal because he is told by this society that he needs these weapons for self-defense? Think about if he had also been using a silencer.

The longer the news providers focus on the Las Vegas shooter the greater chance there is some other person out there who wants the same notoriety.

The FBI is searching for a motive for the grisly murder of 58 innocent people in Los Vegas. Obviously he did it because he easily could; the NRA has insured he gets unlimited access to endless semiautomatic weapons, heaps of ammo, fully automatic modification kits, minimal background checks, no data or record keeping allowed, and all this even if he is on the no-fly list.

Top administration officials have admitted it may not be possible to give everyone in the middle class a tax cut. Do you think they'll tell Thune?
Buzzfeed continues to deny defamation allegations over "Trump dossier"

MOSCOW, October 9 (RAPSI)  Popular U.S. media company Buzzfeed, accused of defamation by owners of Russian consortium Alfa Group, presented its arguments against the complaint filed by the plaintiffs and continues to deny their allegations, according to the court documents available to RAPSI.

In May, the plaintiffs, Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven and German Khan, filed a defamation lawsuit against Buzzfeed and its employees, who published the so-called Trump dossier alongside their article in January. According to the plaintiffs, the article and the dossier in question contain numerous statements that damage their reputation and the one of Alfa Group as well.

They asked a court to recover compensation of at least $25,000 for each of them and to fine BuzzFeed with a sum established during the hearings.

In its arguments Buzzfeed focused on the public interest represented by the article and the dossier as well as involvement of high-ranking U.S. officials in the scandal over alleged interference in recent presidential elections by Russia.

Also, the defendant admitted that it did not contact the plaintiffs before publication of the article and expressed belief that biographies of Alfa Groups owners presents enough evidence to call them public figures, despite their objections.

Buzzfeed believes that its publication is protected by a fair report privilege because the article is concerned with actions of governmental officials as related to the dossier. At the same time, the defendant notes that it is also protected by the neutral report privilege since the Article did not endorse the allegations within the Dossier. Buzzfeed maintains argument that its actions are also protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The media company lists numerous facts about the plaintiffs, stating that they had a major influence over development of Russian economy and have deep ties to the countrys government and the President himself.

Earlier, owners of Alfa Group filed a defamation lawsuit against Fusion GPS company and its head Glenn Simpson over publication of information contained in the dossier.

The plaintiffs stated that during the 2016 U.S. presidential elections opponents of Donald Trump hired Simpson to compile a dossier containing damaging information about the candidate. The document in question in many ways was focused on Trumps alleged relations with Russia and Russian meddling with the elections in the United States.

According to the plaintiffs, authors of the dossier mentioned Alfa Group in one of the reports and claimed that its owners are implicated in the scandalous allegations involving Russia and President Trump as well as other criminal activities, including corruption.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Construction businessman Sharad Kumar Gauchan, who is also the chairman of Nepal construction entrepreneur's association shot dead at near Om Shanti Chowk at Shantinagar in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu on Monday afternoon.

According to the police Gauchan was shot dead at around 3:15 pm by two motorcycle born assailant. Gauchan was rushed to Minbhawan-based Civil Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:26pm, police said.

It is said that Gauchan had sustained three bullets injuries- one in his heart, one in liver and another at his abdomen.

He was shot while heading towards New Baneshwor by riding a private car with registration number Ba 13 4948.

Following the incident the relatives and construction entrepreneur staged a protest at Baneshor protesting the incident.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Notwithstanding the suggestions from the party leaders to sack out the ministers from the CPN Maoist Center, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has given continuity to the alliance with the CPN Maoist Center even though the party had forged the electoral alliance with the main opposition party CPN UML.

Though the Nepali Congress has not made any formal decision over the issue, almost all the leaders from the Nepali Congress have given the suggestion to the Prime Minister and party president that ministers from the CPN Maoist Center should be sack out immediately to incorporate the democratic parties in the government.

The leaders from the Nepali Congress seem discontent with the Prime Minister and party president Sher Bahadur Deuba for not taking any initiation to reform in the government even though the democratic parties have already hinted to support the government.
The fifth meeting of the Nepal-India Eminent Persons Group (EPG) in Kathmandu, on October 7, 2017. Photo: RSS

Kathmandu, Nepal: The fifth meeting of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations concluded here in Kathmandu on Sunday without any tangible results.

Continuing the traditions, the EPG from the Nepali sides raised the issue of amending on the 1950 Nepal-India Treaty. But, nothing decision is made thanks to the reluctance from the EPG from Indian side.

We have said that things would not be the same as far as the 1950 Nepal-India Treaty, Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, coordinator of the EPG from the Nepali side.

But he did not elaborated that what will be changed and when will be changed in the 1950 Nepal-India Treaty even though the fifth rounds of EPG meetings have already concluded without any tangible results.
Text of Porbandar Declaration:

We, the undersigned, are members of various districts, state and national level fishworker unions and solidarity groups who represent and support the traditional, small scale fishing community of the state of Gujarat. As representatives of the community we have the responsibility to monitor the policies being developed by the state with regards to our livelihoods. Various policies implemented at the center and the state level impact the livelihoods of the fishworkers along the entire harvest chain, including women and those who seek employment in this sector.

Over the years, steadily and in opposition to the demands of the fishworkers community, the Gujarat coast has been auctioned off to private players. These private players have built a magnitude of industrial projects, cement manufacturing units, tourism plans and thermal power plants along the stateas coastline. We have witnessed the degeneration of the marine ecology and the subsequent impact on fish population in the Gujarat seas due to the industrial development and the ensuing pollution. However, despite communitiesa consistent complaints against coastal regulation zone violations and polluting projects, the Government of India and Gujarat state bureaucracy has determinedly not taken any action. Today our livelihoods are under threat from this model of development which is also responsible for gross human rights violations of the fishworkers community.

When confronted on these matters, the Government of India and Gujarat state bureaucracy has blamed afishworkers greeda to be the reason for the depletion in fish abundance, as well as for the issue of fishworkers arrests in Pakistan. However this argument distracts from the underlying questions regarding the industrial expansion along the stateas coastline and its detrimental effects.

It is in this context that we came together and organised a fishworkers convention and public hearing.

This declaration unanimously states that we:

1. Demand the state to fulfill its obligation of guaranteeing us our fundamental rights as citizens of this nation

2. Demand that the state clearly define a traditional fishworker and a traditional fishworking community

3. Demand that the traditional, small scale fishing community be treated equitably and not be reduced to the status of a astakeholdera in the coastal development plans

4. Reject the feeble political appeasement exercises by successive central and state governments thus far

In addition, we set forth our demands on specific matters below:

Demands related to the coast:

1. Implement the submissions related to Coastal Regulation by the National Coastal Protection Campaign dated 10th September, 2017 attached herewith

2. Stop all proposed industrial development projects along the coastline until the conditions of point 1 above are implemented

3. Monitor the legal and environmental compliance of all existing projects

4. Stop the interlinking of rivers under the National Waterways Act, 2016

5. Stop the release of industrial effluents into the open ocean and close plants that have an established history of non-compliance

Demands related to the transnational maritime boundary arrests between India and Pakistan:

1. Simultaneously and mutually release of arrested/detained fishermen from both countries

2. Raise the monthly compensation for all the fishworkers from 150 INR/day to 500 INR/day, payable until they are released, repatriated and have reached home

3. Provide a monthly compensation to the boat owners 500 INR/day until the boat is returned to them

4. Develop a aNo Arresta policy where fishing vessels are inspected at sea and returned to their country of registration

5. Begin a conversation along with the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum to allow the boats from either country to access the otheras Exclusive Economic Zone.

6. Work towards fostering a relationship where traditional fishworkers from both countries can share a mid-ocean fishing ground such that it is mutually beneficial to fishers from both countries

7. Properly implement existing state guidelines regarding arrest, release and compensation of fishworkers

8. Call for Indian and Pakistani security agencies to monitor the International Maritime Boundary Line and pre-emptively prevent the boats registered to their respective countries from crossing out of the countryas jurisdiction

9. Implement the Agreement on Consular Access and guarantee its availability

10. Fix the time limit of 90 days for nationality verification.

11. Immediately release the pending payment for construction of replacement boats for seized ones as per application made in 2012

Demands related to the fishworkers operations:

1. Implement a dedicated fisheries ministry at the centre

2. Provide compensation to the family of the deceased from the Porbandar firing incident

3. Provide compensation to the families of the fishworkers who lost their lives in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack

4. Increase the annual quota of subsidized diesel from 21000-24000 liters to 36000-42000 liters

5. Implement a relief fund for fishworkers whoas boats have been lost due to events of force majeure

6. Implement price floors to reduce the daily fluctuation in fish selling prices

7. Remove the imposition of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on dried fish and fishing equipment

8. Develop a national legislation that bans destructive fishing methods such as Dynamite fishing, fishing using Lights and Purse Seine fishing

Demand for facilities on land for the fishworkers:

1. Provide all landing sites and docks (bandars) with:

Civic infrastructure such as water, roads, electricity, lighting, water etc.

Sanitation facilities such as toilets, washing areas etc.

Medical first aid facilities to deal with accidents in the fishing community

Cold storage facilities

Safety facilities such as fire protection and basic life-saving gear

2. Implement education facilities for the youth in the fishing villages

3. Provide mechanisms to compensate boat owners upon collisions/accidents caused by other merchant traffic in port

4. Implement a helpline to assist fishworkers at sea

Demands of Pilana Association:

1. Implement changes to make fuel purchasing more favourable:

Provide credit based purchasing systems

Increase quantity of fuel available on subsidy

Make subsidy on fuel available at source, as opposed to as a reimbursement

Extend fuel purchasing schemes beyond the GFCCA outlets to approved traders to make fuel more accessible

Increase the subsidy availing capacity of fuel to 500 liters from the current reduced capacity of 34 liters

Demands from Bharuch:

1. Stop the plans to construct the Bhadbhut dam

2. Stop the undemocratic dispossession of communities affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam

Demand from Nargol:

1. Stop the development of ports in the area which are proposed to be constructed on the fishing grounds

Demand from Jakhau:

1. Ensure implementation of existing water supply water facilities along, with the required supply and drainage infrastructure

Demands from Narayan Sarovar:

1. Re-survey the construction of the jetty at Pir Panjora with the aim to shift it to another location. The current location of the jetty will block 2 creeks, the flowing of which is critical to the community

2. Lift the unofficial restriction by the Border Security Force which limits fishers to access the fishing grounds for only 2 days per week

3. Make provisions so that the community can access the government schemes related to fisheries

Signed on the 4th of October, 2017 at Porbandar, Gujarat:
Several petitioners who took the floor before the UN 4th Committee in New York pilloried the Polisario, highlighting that the Algeria-backed separatist front has no legitimacy to represent the Sahrawis according to the standards of international law and that the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco remains the only option for the settlement of the Sahara problem.

In this vein, Peruvian academic Martha Chavez Cossio argues that more than 400,000 Sahrawis live freely and in dignity in the Sahara, while only 40,000 people are sequestered in the Polisario-run Tindouf camps, in Algerian territory.

Another fact that prevents the Polisario from having any representation at the international level is that it does not meet any of the three criteria needed for this.

The separatist front cannot establish itself as a sovereign state as it does not have a territory (it was self-proclaimed in Tindouf in Algerian territory), a population (the people sequestered in the Tindouf camps are internationally recognized as refugees, and not as a people enjoying citizenship rights) nor does it have an effective government (the only government that exercises real and internationally recognized authority in Tindouf is the Algerian government), argued the Peruvian academic.

The other argument she brought up is linked to the history of the regional conflict around the Sahara. Before the Polisario was created in 1973, Morocco, as early as 1963, had already claimed before the UN the decolonization of its southern provinces, inscribing the Sahara as a non-self-governing territory. That was long before Algeria and Gaddafis Libya decided to sponsor the separatist project that they created out of nothing.

All these arguments make the settlement of the Sahara issue possible only within the framework of Moroccos historic sovereignty over its southern provinces and on the basis of a political solution based on the autonomy initiative, described by the international community as a serious and credible proposal.

Erik Jensen, the former UN Special Representative for the Sahara, believes that a new spirit must prevail. A spirit of realism and compromise must prevail, as well as openness and the willingness to explore options, he said. And this is precisely what has been recommended by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and before him by major world capitals since Morocco submitted the autonomy proposal in 2007.
Audit &Finance Committee

Indigenous People's Day

In Washington state there are 29 federally recognized Native American tribes. Thousands of people in Seattle Public Schools, including students and staff, identify as Native American. Seattle was named for Chief Sealth of the Duwamish Tribe.

Curriculum & Instruction Policy Committee

Update: School Board Candidate Forum

PSAT exams

Board Work Sessions

Part 2 - 2016-2017 Program Review Reports

Executive Committee Meeting, JSCEE, 8:30-10:30 am

Update: School Board Candidate Forum

The PTSAs of Leschi, Lowell, Madrona, McGilvra, Montlake, and Stevens Elementary Schools invite you to join us for an evening of discussion, education policy, and free pizza. Childcare will be available.

Friday, October 13th

No School

There are no director community meetings on Saturday, the 14th

Sunday, October 15th

Please join the Hazel Wolf, Olympic Hills and Cedar Park school communities to help clean up Lake City! Sponsored by Lake City Future First.

3:00 to 4:30 pm

Where: Lake City Library, Lake City Mini Park, and Gods Lil Acre (Map on flier)

What: Clean up Lake City

What else: Lake City Future First provides clean-up supplies, coffee, juice, snacks, and awesome t-shirts (limited supply)

The district continues its schedule of rotating schools where flu shots are available. Check their calendars for dates/locations.Two opportunities this week to hear School Board candidates in action, on Tuesday and Thursday.at JSCEE from 4:30-6:30 pm. Agenda at JSCEE from 4:30-6:30 pm. Agenda , no agendas yet available - 4:30-7:00 pmPart 1 - Policies 2415 and 2420 (High School graduation requirements and High School grade and credit marking, respectively)Madrona Elementary School1121 33rd AvenueThis is great community and family event!Everyone is welcome!Please email Lake City Future First at Cleanandsafe@lakecityfuturefirst.org.I have been told that the reason that the documentation for Ctm meetings cannot be attached is due to ADA issues. I'll have to investigate if this is an issue for other districts and government entities to fulfill.Apparently, though, you CAN receive the documentation if you send an email asking for them. I wonder if I can do this for all meetings or have to send an individual email for each meeting.Also, staff seems to find it useful to just state a Board policy number on an agenda with no explanation, leaving the reader to have to go look up the subject. Hmmm.
The Sri Lanka authorities have arrested two men allegedly involved in cyber heist at an unnamed Taiwan bank that occurred last week.

The Sri Lanka police have arrested two men allegedly involved in the Taiwan cyberheist, the suspects are accused to have hacked into computers at a Taiwan bank and stole millions of dollars last week.

According to an official, the duo was identified and arrested after they tried to withdraw large sums of money that had been wired to their accounts with a Sri Lankan bank branch in the capital Colombo.

The police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is still investigating the hack along with Taiwan police, the law enforcement agencies suspect the gang was composed by other individuals.

We are looking at some $1.3 million that had come into three accounts in Sri Lanka, the official involved with the investigation told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. We have taken two people into custody and we are looking for one more person.

The Sri Lankan authorities did not disclose the name of the bank in Taiwan targeted victim of the cyber heist or the sum crooks has stolen. but a Sri Lankan media report said tens of millions of dollars had been stolen.

According to a Sri Lankan media, cybercriminals have stolen tens of millions of dollars had been wired out of the island.

The Financial Regulatory Commission in Tapei confirmed that the local Far Eastern International Banks SWIFT system had been infected with a computer virus but did not provide further details about the hack.

The Taiwanese media quoted the bank as saying that it experts discovered anomalies in its SWIFT system, the internal staff detected suspicious transactions starting Thursday to Sri Lanka, Cambodia and the United States.

The good news is that the Taiwan police have recovered most of the money with the help of counterparts in other countries.

In February 2015, Sri Lanka authorities investigated a similar cyber heist that involved the Bangladesh central bank, crooks transferred $20 million of stolen money to a Sri Lankan businesswoman.

Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs  Taiwan bank, cybercrime)

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North Korean state-sponsored hackers are launching almost daily attacks on Irish companies and critical infrastructure, they are also suspected to be responsible for the 4.3m cyber heist on Meath County Council in October 2016.

Ireland is considered a privileged target of nation-state actors due to the presence of many US multinationals.

Defence Minister Paul Kehoe recognized the urgency to rapidly improve the security of national infrastructure against cyber attacks.

The overall cost of cyber attacks on Irish companies has soared from 498,000 in 2014 to 1.7m in 2016, and the situation will be worst in a next future.

The number of cyber attacks suffered by Irish businesses doubled between 2012 and 2016, but that figure is expected to double or even treble because of recent ransomware attacks. reported the Irish Independent.

North Korea has recently turned to international cyber robbery to fund its military operations, and Ireland is on the front line of the cyber battle.

But North Korea has thrown the entire rule book out the window. It is basically engaging in cyber warfare to raise funds and to cause global chaos. explained the expert Ronan Murphy form Smarttech247.

There is no safe hiding place anymore. These arent ordinary criminal gangs  you are essentially dealing with state cyber intelligence units.

Murphy attributed the massive WannaCry ransomware attack to the North Korean attack that was financially motivated by that only netted a measly 120,000 for Pyongyang.
 "Neuroscience Nuance: Dissecting the Relevance of Neuroscience in Adjudicating Criminal Culpability" | Main | "The Idea of 'the Criminal Justice System'" 

October 9, 2017

Reviewing the backstory of the Supreme Court's recent capital cert grant

As noted in this post a couple of weeks ago, the Supreme Court recently added a capital case to its docket. Adam Liptak's latest New York Times "Sidebar" column is focused on that new case. This piece, headlined "Facing the Death Penalty With a Disloyal Lawyer," includes these passages:

Two weeks before Robert McCoy was to be tried for a triple murder, his lawyer paid him a visit. It was the summer of 2011, and the two men met in a holding cell in a Louisiana courthouse. Mr. McCoy, who was facing the death penalty, told his lawyer he was innocent. Mr. McCoy was adamant. Others had committed the crimes, he said, and he wanted to clear his name. The lawyer, Larry English, said he had a different strategy. I met with Robert at the courthouse and explained to him that I intended to concede that he had killed the three victims, Mr. English recalled in a sworn statement. Robert was furious and it was a very intense meeting. He told me not to make that concession, but I told him that I was going to do so.... Conceding guilt in a capital case is sometimes the right play. Last month, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether it is permissible even if the man whose life is at stake objects. Mr. McCoy was accused of killing Christine Colston Young, Willie Young and Gregory Colston, who were the mother, stepfather and son of Mr. McCoys estranged wife. There was substantial evidence that he had done so. There was also reason to think that Mr. McCoys belief in his innocence was both earnest and delusional. There was no ambiguity in Mr. McCoys position, Mr. English recalled. I know that Robert was completely opposed to me telling the jury that he was guilty of killing the three victims, Mr. English said. But I believed that this was the only way to save his life. After the meeting, Mr. McCoy tried to fire his lawyer, saying he would rather represent himself. Judge Jeff Cox, of the Bossier Parish District Court, turned him down. Mr. English is your attorney, and he will be representing you, the judge said.... During his opening statement at the trial, Mr. English did what he had promised to do. Im telling you, he told the jury, Mr. McCoy committed these crimes. Mr. McCoy objected. Judge Cox, he said, Mr. English is simply selling me out. I did not murder my family, your honor, Mr. McCoy said. I had alibis of me being out of state. Your honor, this is unconstitutional for you to keep an attorney on my case when this attorney is completely selling me out. Whatever its wisdom, Mr. Englishs trial strategy failed. Mr. McCoy was convicted and sentenced to death. He appealed to the Louisiana Supreme Court, saying his lawyer had betrayed him. The court ruled against him. Given the circumstances of this crime and the overwhelming evidence incriminating the defendant, the court said, admitting guilt in an attempt to avoid the imposition of the death penalty appears to constitute reasonable trial strategy. The decision relied on a unanimous 2004 ruling from the United States Supreme Court in Florida v. Nixon, which said lawyers need not obtain their clients express consent before conceding guilt in a capital case. But the ruling did not address whether it was permissible for a lawyer to disregard a clients explicit instruction to the contrary. That is the question in the new case, McCoy v. Louisiana, No. 16-8255. The right answer, Louisiana prosecutors told the justices, is that lawyers may ignore their clients wishes. Counsels strategic choices should not be impeded by a rigid blanket rule demanding the defendants consent, they wrote in a brief urging the court not to hear the case. In a brief supporting Mr. McCoy, the Ethics Bureau at Yale, a law school clinic, said Mr. English had essentially switched sides. Far from testing the prosecutions case, the brief said, Mr. English seemed downright eager to advance it. Mr. McCoys situation is not particularly unusual, according to a second supporting brief, this one filed by the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Promise of Justice Initiative, a nonprofit group. In Louisiana, the brief said, a capital defendant has no right to a lawyer who will insist on his innocence. Since 2000, the brief said, the Louisiana Supreme Court allowed defense lawyers to concede their clients guilt in four other capital cases over the clients express objections.

October 9, 2017 at 05:00 PM | Permalink

Comments

Defendants repeatedly don't agree with the strategy of admitting guilt even when it is probably the best approach. At times, however, this "safer" approach is not compelled by the evidence & in fact might be only the easy wait out, not the best way.

I'm quite willing to believe that the lawyer here made a reasonable decision that to avoid the death penalty that it was necessary to admit guilt. This is a roll of the dice. Might lose either way. But, admitting guilt might give him a fighting choice.

But, if the defendant firmly rejected guilt -- did not just stay mute and not give express consent -- it is problematic to let a lawyer over one's objection basically waive his presumption of innocence. There seems other issues -- among the defendant's dubious decisions here was resisting counsel skilled in capital cases.

Posted by: Joe | Oct 9, 2017 5:59:03 PM

I don't normally agree with David's comments about the "lawyer dumbass" but this case is Exhibit A for David. First, the lawyer represents the client and no one else. As Lincoln said, "a house divided cannot stand" and a lawyer who has loyalty to something or someone else other than the client cannot stand. The idea that this disloyalty is a "trial strategy" is a "lawyer dumbass" comment. The common man on the street has a phrase for this "trial strategy"--they call it a "kangaroo court". I mean if the lawyer can do something against the express wishes of the client then why bother to have a trial at all...let the prosecutor, the judge, and the defense attorney settle the case over drinks at the bar. The entire thing is so ridiculous...the lawyer was selling him out and it is going to take SCOTUS to correct that problem,,,,ridiculous. I bet 10-1 its going to be 9-0 to overturn. The state won't even get Alito's vote...it is that preposterous.

Posted by: Daniel | Oct 9, 2017 8:31:34 PM

If I had told you, this story took place in Turkey or in Mexico, what would people say about those justice systems? This is an unbelievable story, yet appears to not be rare.

Here is what you would say, as happened in real life. We will punish those entire nations by slashing tourism, and posting a State Department warning to avoid travel there. You would punish those nations with $billions in lost revenues, and destroy the lives of innocent people in the tourism industry, because they offended a drug dealer. The movie, Midnight Express, did just that. The same was done to Mexico when that vet got lost, and was found with a gun on a road on the Mexican side of the border. We said, punish Mexico and its people.

Forget Turkey and Mexico.

A surgeon is refused consent for an operation by a patient. The patient signs, a form, stating, his refusal is against all medical advice. The advice is confirmed by a second surgical opinion. Operate or die, the surgeons are saying. The surgeon does the operation anyway, because the experts believe it would help the patient. The surgeon in merely opening the body, and fixing something wrong. What if the operation hurts the patient. What would you say? This lawyer is taking the entire life of the client without consent, and not just some diseased organ.

The Supreme Court ruled patients may refuse, even life saving treatment, since 1891, and have affirmed this view in a a dozen decisions, since that time. Someone has to explain how refusing treatment differs from declining the tactics of a lawyer facing death, the death penalty being a medical procedure, it seems. If the surgery without consent is deemed a battery, this tactic without consent should be deemed a murder.

In Louisiana, Rule 1.16 (a)(3) states the lawyer will withdraw if discharged by the client. Rule 1.14 (b) requires the appointment of a guardian for clients one believes cannot judge in their own best interest. To get a guardian appointed, the lawyer would have had to show the client to be incompetent to stand trial. Rule 1.8 (a) (2) requires, in writing, the opportunity to get a second opinion from independent counsel? Was any of that done, in this case?

The ethics violation meter is spinning at supersonic speed, in this case, with death at stake.

Daniel, this case is a test. Will the Supreme Court decide the way students in Life Skills Class would decide every time? Is the Supreme Court as smart as a Life Skills Class student, learning to eat food with a spoon?

Posted by: David Behar | Oct 9, 2017 9:18:34 PM

I would appreciate Bruce's opinion.

Be an ethical lawyer. Obey 1.14 (b).

Have the client declared incompetent to stand trial. Have a guardian appointed. Leave him in this legal state, incompetent to stand trial, in perpetuity. He could go live in a group home, with staff supervision. Not a bad outcome for the tricky lawyer.

Bruce. I know I am biased for victims. However, I demand fairness credit for this defense point. Have you ever seen any defense lawyer this tricky in real life? And, I am a total civilian. With the mental defects to be found in just about all defendants, this path may lead them all out the death penalty.

I would then support the Italian Death Penalty for the clients, at no additional tax payer expense.

Posted by: David Behar | Oct 9, 2017 10:05:14 PM



Our prolonged examination of the situation in foreign countries has increasingly confirmed us in the assurance that capital punishment may be abolished in this country without endangering life or property or impairing the security of society. Further, we have the repeated assurances of the Home Office itself that abolition of the death penalty will not bring with it any serious or insoluble problem of administration.

Parliamentary Committee of the British House of Commons 1930

Quoted in Calvert 1930 p 48

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1969/dec/17/murder-abolition-of-death-penalty-act

"It has not, in effect, been found that the repeal of Capital Punishment with regard to any particular class of offenses has been attended with an increase of the offenders. On the contrary, the evidence and statements ... go far to demonstrate that, as the proportion of those actually executed for to those actually convicted of any particular class of crime has become less, the absolute number of the offenders has diminished".

Noted in the second report of His Majesty's Commissioners on Criminal Law (1836)

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1948/jun/02/criminal-justice-bill

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/hv%208699.c2%20f3%201972-eng.pdf





Posted by: Claudio Giusti | Oct 10, 2017 12:01:19 PM

I had once considered writing a student comment on this issue but, at the time, decided it was too narrow an issue for a broad interest (I think the state this was most litigated was Delaware). In retrospect, I wish I had.

Posted by: Erik M | Oct 10, 2017 4:11:38 PM

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Last update: 12:30 p.m.

Multiple large and fast-moving wildfires burning in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties have prompted mass evacuations, burned hundreds of homes and businesses, and filled the skies of nearby areas like Marin County, San Francisco, and Oakland with heavy smoke from the blazes. The extent of injuries remains unclear as fire crews race to contain fires in multiple jurisdictions across wine country.

Cal Fire appears to still be naming the fires as they break out and spread, and little information is available as daylight arrives, however the largest of the blazes  whose embers and sparks may have caused the other smaller fires to ignite due to extremely high winds  is being called the Tubbs Fire and has already burned 20,000 acres off of Highway 128 near Calistoga. A second Napa County fire dubbed the Atlas Fire is burning south of Lake Berryessa off of Atlas Peak Road, and had reached 5,000 acres as of an hour ago.

Another blaze, dubbed the Nuns Fire, is burning just north of Glen Ellen, and reports on social media suggest parts of Glen Ellen are already either burned or threatened. The Chronicle reports that multiple farms, vineyards, and ranches in the area have been evacuated and are likely devastated. Here are some of the first photos to arrive of homes on fire or already destroyed in Glen Ellen.

As one witness described the early morning scene in Santa Rosa to KTVU, "People are running red lights, there is chaos ensuing... It looks like Armageddon."

Additionally, multiple other fires are burning in Nevada, Butte, and Yuba counties, with CBS 13 in Sacramento reporting that 7,000 to 8,000 homes are threatened there.

PG&E power lines are already being pointed to as a potential culprit in causing the fires, because as the Chronicle reports, power lines can give off sparks even if they are not downed, due to high winds and contact with trees.

In total, there are now "at least" 14 wildfires burning across Northern California, as the Chronicle reports, and one fire-related death has been reported thus far, in Mendocino County. At least 1,500 structures have been destroyed so far by the different fires, putting one or more of these events on track to be among the most devastating in state history.

The SF Chronicle reports as of Monday morning the worst fire still appears to be the Tubbs Fire in northern Santa Rosa, where "scores of homes were lost in the Fountaingrove area east of Highway 101 and in the Journeys End Mobile Home Park on Mendocino Avenue." In addition the fire has so far claimed claimed the Fountaingrove Inn, the "Hilton Sonoma Wine Country, a Kmart store, a McDonalds, an Arbys, an Applebees and a Mountain Mikes Pizza."

According to a National Weather Service tweet from 3:45 a.m. Monday, "strong and gusty northeast winds" are both fanning the flames. Those weather conditions are expected to continue "through at least mid morning."

#GOES16 satellite update: around 3 am Monday morning. Satellite continues to show multiple wild fires across the North Bay, and a new fire start has been detected just to the east of Cloverdale. Strong and gusty northeast winds will continue through at least mid morning. #cawx pic.twitter.com/jufkkU38wZ  NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) October 9, 2017 The scene in Santa Rosa, California today.https://t.co/5Z1s2Aj80f pic.twitter.com/r9X1KPu85S  Los Angeles Times (@latimes) October 9, 2017

Moments ago helicopter shots w/map overlay. This is Hwy 12 in north Glen Ellen looking west with Kenwood on the right side. @Sarah_Stierch pic.twitter.com/HbDJ0ubmE5  cynthia (@sf_n8tive) October 9, 2017 It's not everyday you wake up in SF to the smell of your parents house on fire in Santa Rosa. Rosa will never be the same.  Sedge (@SeanHedgpeth) October 9, 2017

Breaking-cal fire just told me fire is 0% contained. Definitely injuries. Not hearing of deaths. 20k acres pic.twitter.com/Y2uHMu4UGs  Will Tran (@KRON4WTran) October 9, 2017

View of Napa Atlas Peak Fire as of 10:15 pm from Loma Vista Rd, courtesy. @HossfeldVyrds from vineyard vantage point pic.twitter.com/j94uwHaEOO  Thomson Vineyards (@ThomsonVyrds) October 9, 2017

According to a Chron report from Monday morning, "The series of fires began to ignite Sunday and multiplied as the night went on, hitting Napa and Sonoma the hardest but affecting at least five counties."

As of 6:45 a.m., the fires had destroyed "an untold number of homes and businesses, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people and shutting down major roadways," they report. They have an ongoing list of the areas that have been evacuated here.

There was no immediate estimate of the damage or the extent of injuries  nor an explanation for the sheer number of fires  but structures were burning in both counties, according to authorities and witnesses. One blaze in and around northern Santa Rosa [along the Napa County line] had burned at least 20,000 acres by 6 a.m., threatening shopping centers, schools and the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts.

Power outages were widespread. People flocked to gas stations in cities that were safe from the conflagrations, to fuel up and buy water and other supplies. Evacuation centers were set up, then quickly filled, forcing more to open.

Well Napa just burst into flames pic.twitter.com/q7ziPJ41wb  Kendall Landry (@kendall_landry) October 9, 2017

Both the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Santa Rosa and the Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital were evacuated as the flames approached. According to CBS 5, patients from those facilities "were being taken to Veterans Memorial Hospital in another area of Santa Rosa and the Kaiser Hospital in San Rafael."

Fire is few hundred feet from kaiser hospital. Firefighters trying to hold the line. #sonomafires pic.twitter.com/qTENYiFxmi  Jill Tucker (@jilltucker) October 9, 2017

Critically ill patient being evacuated right now from Kaiser. Just loaded into an SUV. Unlike anything Ive ever seen Thom Jensen pic.twitter.com/9VYiQxPJPa  Vicky Nguyen (@VickyNguyenTV) October 9, 2017

Holy fuck

They are evacuating Kaiser in Santa Rosa

I mean, staff are taking their own cars and driving off with patients

Fire is right there  laura W (@lauowolf) October 9, 2017

Kaiser Hospital evacuating - wheeling patients out on hospital beds & wheelchairs. Nurses using personal cars to get patients out.@CBSSF pic.twitter.com/M87qWIMeLr  Katie Nielsen (@KNielsenKPIX) October 9, 2017

As of 6 a.m., this is the list of shelters for residents evacuated or displaced in the fires:

Santa Rosa Veterans Building

Finley Community Center

Petaluma Community Center

Sebastopol Community Cultural Center

Veterans' Memorial Building in Sebastopol

Cloverdale Citrus Fair

Sonoma Valley High School

Sebastopol Vets Hall

Elsie Allen High School

Analy High School

Cook Middle School

Crosswalk Community Church in Napa

Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga

New Life Christian Fellowship Church in Petaluma

Napa Valley College Gym

Solano Community College on Suisan Valley Road in Fairfield

Lawrence Cook Middle School on Sebastopol Road in Santa Rosa

Petaluma Community Center at 320 N. McDowell Boulevard

According to ABC 7, the "Napa County Animal Shelter at 942 Hartle Ct will shelter dogs, cats, rabbits and other household animals" during the emergency. Large animals can be taken to the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds at 1350 Bennett Valley Road. Access the Fairgrounds via Gate 7 on Aston Ave.

All public schools in the areas near the fires have cancelled classes for the day, officials say, including all the schools in Napa and Sonoma County, as well as in Petaluma.

#AtlasFire :Sheriff and 10 carloads of evacuees trapped by fire on Atlas Peak Rd. CHP Copter on theground going to Airlift 1 by 1. #Heros pic.twitter.com/OaauEfH5N0  SacMobile11 (@SACMobile11) October 9, 2017

As the fires burned, smoke from the blazes traveled south to Marin County, San Francisco and Oakland, where residents were awakened early Monday by the strong smell from the distant flames.

Smoky haze over San Francisco from #napafire. Sending thoughts to people in harm's way. pic.twitter.com/MvBj1T4wPO  Charlene Li (@charleneli) October 9, 2017 Confirmed with our fire chief that there are no active fires in SF and the smell is due to the Napa County fire. @sffdpio @SF_emergency  London Breed (@LondonBreed) October 9, 2017

Officials were quick to confirm that the fires were not local ones, but from the north. Residents are being urged to close windows to lower the risk of smoke indoors.

Building was evacuated in #SF because we can smell the #napafire from here and someone pulled the alarm. Stay safe, everyone.  nicolecifani (@cifanic) October 9, 2017

10f2-If your smelling smoke in SF it is more likely due to the Napa Fire and the Strong winds. We have NO fires in SF at this moment pic.twitter.com/9YjmRKcxBr  San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) October 9, 2017

2of2- if in doubt or unsure, call 911 and we will check the area. Close your windows and doors to help reduce smoke in your home. https://t.co/ATaTIsPwkR  San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) October 9, 2017

In a message sent at 5:55 Monday morning, Alert SF noted that "Due to fires in the North Bay, air quality may be diminished today. Close windows/doors and limit outdoor activities. Keep pets inside for protection."

"May be" is, perhaps, conservative: In the Outer Sunset this morning, ash swirls through the air and smoke hangs so heavily you might think it's our trademark fog. It's not. Residents also reported heavy ash and soot covering their cars and blowing into their windows, with many longtime residents like the ones I spoke to as I was in line for coffee this morning comparing it to the Oakland firestorm of 1991.

Where are you? I woke up in sf with soot blown into tub and on windowsills!  Molly McCrea (@MMcCreaCBS) October 9, 2017

#napafire Im in #SF , my org photo was a still but this is a iPhone live video of what I took. #BayArea pic.twitter.com/aSr43o1C4F  Arturo Trujillo (@Turo420) October 9, 2017

Awakened in #Oakland by windblown smell of smoke from #NapaFire & other N Bay wildfires. So windy out there. Have *never* smelled smoke like this in house from a fire so far away  Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) October 9, 2017

Drift smoke and falling ash in Marin is from fires to the North in Sonoma and Napa Counties. If you see flames or a fire please call 911.  Marin County Fire (@marincountyfire) October 9, 2017

SMC Alert from San Mateo County:

Please expect a strong smell of smoke due to the Napa fire. https://t.co/8PVlx94wFf  Hillsborough PD (CA) (@HillsboroughPD) October 9, 2017

Bay Area residents as far south as San Jose are reporting heavy smoke smells in the air.

#napafire Smoke has reached clear down to south San Jose/Almaden Valley area  Saryn Kirk (@saryn1105) October 9, 2017

Anyone else smelling this fire smoke in south San Jose? Im worried.. the smoke smell is getting stronger.   nah  (@MissusSinister) October 9, 2017

The smoke and ash isn't just messy and gross, the Chron reports, as particulates from the smoke "are especially of concern to children, the elderly and anyone with respiratory problems."

Were likely to see smoke impacts throughout the area, Bay Area Air Quality Management District spokesperson Kristine Roselius told the Chron, saying that with elevated levels of particulates in the air across the Bay Area as a result of the fires, "people should avoid outdoor activities Monday and otherwise limit their exposure to the smoke as best they can."

Emergency officials in Marin County say they are being "overwhelmed" by calls to 911 reporting smoke and ash. They ask that callers only report fires if they see actual flames.

Calls are overwhelming our 911 center due to Napa Co.  & winds are pushing smoke into Marin. Please call 911 only if you see  near your   Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) October 9, 2017

According to ABC 7, "Wind was gusting in the areas up to 50 mph." That, along with dry conditions in the area are "making it difficult to fight the fire." The Chron quotes an NWS forecaster as saying that "relative humidity values 'were in the single digits,'" adding to the dry weather.

Fire still burning along the Napa Sonoma line. #napafire pic.twitter.com/e9IKUMidDg  Wilson Walker (@Wilson_Walker) October 9, 2017

So Sonoma county is on fire. I took these from my old high school a mile from my house. I can see and smell smoke. And it's terrifying to be so close to multiple fires all in different directions. pic.twitter.com/CVW9XRvezj  .alicia. (@_TheSheShe) October 9, 2017

So scary! My friend from #Napa sent me these pictures of a fire raging on #AtlasPeak. That white building is Chimney Rock winery. #abc7now pic.twitter.com/ZA3zCKKzXl  Elissa Harrington (@ElissaABC7) October 9, 2017

Fire in Napa near Atlas Peak and Country club. Please stay safe everyone!!!!! #napafire pic.twitter.com/u0YmqKad53  brittany odom (@Twerkkqueen2k) October 9, 2017

Just evacuated Silverado Resort near Atlas Peak. Fires a few hundred ft from our door. #abc7now #napa @DrewTumaABC7 pic.twitter.com/fa5IWBx0s1  Marissa Schneider (@StyleMeMarissa) October 9, 2017

Fire that crossed from Napa to Sonoma has burned homes along Highway 12 just west of County line. @CBSSF #napafires pic.twitter.com/zNl6XWuMlf  Wilson Walker (@Wilson_Walker) October 9, 2017
According to reports from both Mission Local and Broke-Ass Stewart, about 20 "Proud Boys" showed up to Southern Pacific Brewing Company on Friday night for a meetup. [Ed. note: See a statement from the Proud Boys below.]

The Proud Boys are the same alt-right fraternity, started by VICE Mag co-founder turned "pro-Western" pundit Gavin McInnes, that organized the rally in Berkeley this past March that led multiple others this year filled with violence between left and right. Specifically, the Proud Boys are dedicated to upholding many of the alt-right's anti-immigration, anti-Semitic, bigoted viewpoints, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, though the internal conflicts in the group over their association with white nationalists and Charlottesville were the subject of a recent This American Life segment. (McInnes liked to define the Proud Boys as "alt-right without the racism," and he likes to say they're "mostly about beer," but that became fraught after members of a local chapter allegedly took part in Charlottesville.)

On Saturday, following reports about the meetup, Southern Pacific Brewing Company posted an apology on Facebook trying to distance itself from the group. It reads:



To address the concerns of last night:

The security company that we employ were not immediately aware of the affiliation of the group that was let into the bar. After they were recognized by bar tending staff, the staff and security decided not to engage with this dangerous group to ensure the safety of everyone here. By no means does Southern Pacific support this group, and they are not welcome on the premises. Weve spoken to our security company so this group will not be allowed in. We understand your safety concerns. And want you to know that Southern Pacific is a non-affiliated space built for the San Francisco community.

On the one hand, it's disappointing to see that after learning who they were, Southern Pacific decided to act, and this all feels like a lukewarm excuse at best. But on the other hand, the group's previously documented aggression in Berkeley (which they and all others on the right will characterize as self-defense against "antifa") could be cause for concern.

According to the SPLC, the Proud Boys have what's called a "tactical defensive arm" called the Fraternal Order of the Alt-Knights (FOAK), which was formed by Bay Area alt-right figure Kyle Chapman, a.k.a. "Based Stickman" (and who knows if the Proud Boys officially recognize this as a thing).

As part of the initiation rites to join the Proud Boys, The Daily Dot says that members are asked to take punches while they name breakfast cereals, among other things. Ultimately, to reach the highest "degree" within the organization, the SPLC says that they're asked to get into a fight with an antifascist activist at a rally or action. Knowing that, one could maybe see where the Southern Pacific security staff were coming from.

But still, even then, there's no excuse for standing by while a group of white nationalists known for their violent proclivities occupy your space. It's neglecting your customers' safety in favor of not wanting to "pick a fight" with people who would otherwise be all-too-happy to start that fight themselves.

After news of the meetup spread, some people turned out to Southern Pacific's Yelp page to voice their unhappiness at the brewery's stance on hosting white nationalists. One person wrote, "I will never support a business that plays host to small minded bigots and their friends. Boycott this place." Another wrote, "When this bar realized they were hosting a group of white Nationalists, they didn't kick them out. Now they claim the racists aren't welcome to return but proudly refer to their own business as unaffiliated. Which side are you on?"

Update: Jason Van Dyke, an attorney for the Proud Boys issued a statement to SFist, "The Proud Boys is a multi-racial mens fraternal organization founded by Gavin McInnes in 2016. It has diverse membership in the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia. Neither The Proud Boys nor Mr. McInnes have ever espoused white nationalist, white supremacist, anti-Semitic, or alt-right views. Racism and anti-Semitism are not welcome in The Proud Boys. All member and chapters are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, skin color, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. The Proud Boys had nothing to do with the Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville and our members were not in attendance. Jason Kessler (the organizer of Unite the Right) is not a member of the fraternity, was not a member of the fraternity when Unite The Right took place, and is not eligible to join the fraternity." (Van Dyke also disclosed that he is a 3rd degree brother in the group.)

Related: Viral Video Allegedly Shows Known White Supremacist Punching Woman During Berkeley Protest




The suspect, Russell Salic, and two others have been charged with involvement in the plan to carry out the attacks in the name of the Islamic State group during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in 2016.



Salic was arrested in the Philippines in April 2017 and the US had requested his extradition.



The Philippines has an extradition process to be followed and this has been done many times in the past, Aguirre said.



Also on October 8, the Philippine military chief, General Eduardo Ano, said Salic was in the custody of the country's National Bureau of Investigation. Salic had sent funds to the IS "terrorist network" in the Middle East, the US, Malaysia.



US prosecutors announced on October 6 that from May 2016, authorised forces detained three suspects allegedly plotting attacks in New York city in summer of 2016.



They included 37-year-old Salic, along with Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, a 19-year-old Canadian, arrested in New Jersey in May 2016, and Talha Haroon, a 19-year-old US citizen, arrested in Pakistan in September the same year.



US prosecutors want Salic and Haroon to be extradited to the US, and if these suspects are found guilty, they could face the countrys maximum penalty of life sentence. Source from Vietnamplus.
Addressing the audience that included the two countries officials, veterans and people, Chairman of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association Vu Mao highlighted the significance of the diplomatic ties establishment five decades ago, which marked a new chapter in their relations.The two countries relations have entered a new stage of development, flourishing in all spheres, especially in friendship and cooperation programmes with effective activities of the Vietnam-Cambodia and Cambodia-Vietnam friendship associations, he noted.Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An, who also chairs the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association, thanked Vietnamese people for sending volunteer soldiers to help Cambodia defeat the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime and rebuild the country. The Cambodian people never forget the wholehearted assistance and enormous sacrifice of Vietnams experts and volunteer soldiers, who contributed to Cambodias happiness and development nowadays.She asked the two countries friendship associations to better fulfil their role as a bridge linking Vietnamese and Cambodian sectors, localities and people. They should enhance educating younger generations on the bilateral solidarity, friendship and neighbourliness.The fourth Vietnamese  Cambodian peoples cooperation and friendship meeting will last through October 12. It features arts programmes, a meeting between Vietnamese and Cambodian businesses, and friendship exchanges in HCM City and nearby Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces.On October 8, the two friendship associations held a conference to share their experience and review the two-year implementation of their cooperation agreement inked in 2015.

VNS
VERMILLION, S.D. -- The Clay-Union Foundation Inc. is hosting a pork loin dinner on Nov. 10 at the Armory in Vermillion.

The meal will include pork loin sandwiches, baked beans, coleslaw, potato chips, and choice of Caribou coffee or lemonade.

There will be an auction and Home Town Celebrity auction at 6:45 pm.

Tickets are available at Lewis Drug in Elk Point, South Dakota, and at Broadcaster Press in Vermillion.

Veterans may purchase a ticket for $5.

The tickets for family members are $10 each. Please have exact amount for the tickets, as vendors will not be making change. There are 26 veteran/military tickets and 86 public tickets at each site.

All proceeds support scholarships at Vermillion, Dakota Valley and Elk Point-Jefferson high schools in South Dakota.
Sen. Chris Murphy said Sunday that a decision by President Donald Trump to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear agreement would harm the US and benefit Iran.

"The President is about to impose on himself and this country a dramatic self-inflicted wound because by pulling out of this agreement, Iran will go back onto a path to develop a nuclear weapon," the Connecticut Democrat said on CNN's "State of the Union."

If the US exits the agreement, Iran would still receive sanctions relief from other nations party to the deal, and the move would also make Tehran "look like the victim," Murphy said.

"They will get everything they want," he said.

In a televised interview with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee that aired Saturday night, Trump also wouldn't say if the US was planning to get rid of the Iran deal.

"In a few days from now, a week and a half to be exact, you'll see exactly," Trump told Huckabee. "But I can tell you I'm very unhappy with the deal. I'm very unhappy with their attitude. ... Iran is a bad player. And they're going to be taken care of as a bad player."

Two senior US officials told CNN last week that Trump plans to "decertify" the agreement and leave its fate up to Congress.

Murphy also criticized Trump for undermining the nation's diplomatic efforts, especially those of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

"We have two different foreign policies," Murphy said, one conducted by Tillerson and other top administration figures, the other -- a competing one -- from Trump's Twitter feed.

Trump tweeted last week that Tillerson was "wasting his time" trying to negotiate with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over that country's nuclear weapons program, writing, "Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!"

The tweets came a day after Tillerson said the US had direct lines of communication with North Korea and that he was trying to "calm things down" following months of escalating rhetoric over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile tests.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Tillerson said the US made it clear through its direct channels to North Korea that it was seeking peace through talks.

"We've made it clear that we hope to resolve this through talks," Tillerson said.

"I think the most immediate action that we need is to calm things down," Tillerson added. "They're a little overheated right now, and I think we need to calm them down first."

Asked about Trump's own rhetoric, Tillerson said the entire situation was "overheated."

Murphy said Sunday in his CNN interview that while he did not think Tillerson was a good secretary of state, anyone would have a difficult time with Trump's behavior.

"I have a feeling that whoever replaces Tillerson would suffer the same problem," Murphy said.

Tillerson delivered a statement on Wednesday affirming his support for Trump and desire to stay in the role, following an NBC report that he called Trump a "moron."

The report came just days after Tillerson said the US had direct lines of communication with North Korea to deescalate the nuclear crisis only to have Trump dismiss the efforts on Twitter.

Trump went further on Saturday, tweeting, "Sorry, but only one thing will work!"

Asked about the tweets, Senate homeland security committee Chairman Ron Johnson said on "State of the Union" that Trump was right, in a sense.

"What's been tried in the past hasn't worked," Johnson said.

The Wisconsin Republican advocated for the US to get China "fully engaged" and eventually achieve "regime change," but without military force.

"There is no viable military option," Johnson said.
MILFORD, Iowa  GrapeTree Medical Staffing, one of the nations fastest-growing private firms, has expedited its plans to hire an additional 200 employees to staff its headquarters in the Iowa Great Lakes region.

The Milford, Iowa-based company announced it had reached an agreement to purchase the Boji Bay Funhouse & Event Center, a popular destination for weddings and other special occasions in Okoboji.

Terms of the transaction werent disclosed.

In August, GrapeTree announced it would spend up to $20 million to build a new headquarters where it would hire an additional 200-300 personnel.

The burgeoning medical staffing firm plans to ramp up effort by converting Boji Bay into office space. That One Place, a restaurant housed in the venue, already announced Sunday was its last day of operations.

We are so excited to invest in Milford, said Tim Kinnetz, CEO of GrapeTree Medical Staffing, in a release. This purchase will allow us to move up our hiring timeline and both invest in and give back to the community. Because of Milfords exceptional workforce, GrapeTree is excited to continue to expand in this area.

This purchase included Boji Bays outdoor event stage and three wooden toys, a giant slide, sugar bowl and barrel, which were attractions at the original Arnolds Park Amusement Park Fun House. The toys will now be donated to the amusement park, which underwent a major restoration and expansion in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The current Boji Bay was built at the site of a former outdoor water park at the intersection of Highways 71 and 186. The slide, sugar bowl and barrel were rescued, restored and displayed at Boji Bay by the event center's former owner Dan Wells. Prior to its opening in June 2013, the three toys had been in storage for two decades and underwent an eight-year restoration project.

Arnolds Park Amusement Park CEO Charley Whittenburg said his organization is grateful for the donation and plans to incorporate the toys into an exhibit at the Maritime Museum, which is undergoing an expansion as part of a $12 million renovation project to the park grounds.

We have accumulated quite a few items and well work to find the room for them, he said.

Whittenburg said the sugar bowl and barrel will be a static display, but the slide will be turned into a functioning exhibit.
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
Transgender, non-binary people and their utopia of the neutral will make people infertile, Pope Francis claims.

Advances in biomedical technology apparently risk dismantling the source of energy that fuels the alliance between men and women and renders them fertile, he said when speaking to the Pontifical Academy for Life, which is the Vaticans bioethics advisory board.

He stands against anyone attempting to get rid of gender-associated behaviors.

Rather than contrast negative interpretations of sexual differences  they want to cancel these differences out altogether, proposing techniques and practices that render them irrelevant for human development and relations.

Related: Pope Francis: Civil unions for gay couples are OK

In response, LGBT Catholic groups such as New Ways Ministry claim the pope needs to become more educated on gender.

"In his comments about gender identity, Francis has shown that he does not really understand the biology or the psychology of gender identity," Executive Director of NWM Francis DeBernardo told NBC News. "He and others in the Vatican really need to educate themselves about new scientific developments in the area of gender before making any statements about technologies that help people transition."

Dignity USA Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burks agreed.

"I think Pope Francis doesn't understand how his comments increase the vulnerability of transgender people to many forms of discrimination," Duddy-Burke said. "We know from history that people are going to live their truth with or without technological solutions, and for those who are able to take advantage of technologies to confirm their true identities should be embraced as a blessing."

Last year the Pope made it clear he did not support lessons about gender in schools, calling it a war against marriage.

"This is against nature. It is one thing when someone has this tendency ... and it is another matter to teach this in school," he said. "To change the mentality  I call this ideological colonization.

DeBernardo also spoke out about these claims at the time, simply stating: "Nobody chooses a gender identity. They discover it."
(EDGE) On Thursday the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously voted to advance a resolution condemning the violence and persecution of LGBTQ people in the Republic of Chechnya. The move came two weeks after President Trump neglected to mention the atrocities in the Russian republic during his North Korea, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba-bashing address to the United Nations General Assembly.

"The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's unanimous condemnation of the ongoing violence and persecution against LGBTQ Chechens is crucially important," said Ty Cobb, director of HRC Global. "President Trump's severe lack of leadership on this life and death situation in Russia is deeply disturbing, and it's far past time he speaks out. Given the violence and arrests LGBTQ people are facing in places like Chechnya, Azerbaijan, Tanzania, and Egypt, the U.S. must not back away from leading on LGBTQ human rights. We urge the full Senate to quickly pass this important resolution and send a strong message to this administration, the victims, and those responsible for these atrocities."

HRC notes that the bipartisan resolution introduced by Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) "calls on Chechen officials to immediately cease the abduction, detention, and torture of individuals on the basis of their actual or suspected sexual orientation, and hold accountable all those involved in perpetrating such abuses." It also calls on the U.S. government to "continue to condemn the violence and persecution in Chechnya."

"This resolution condemns Chechnyan officials' torture, murder, and incitement of so-called honor killings of men who are or are suspected of being gay, calls for an end to the persecution, and calls on Russian authorities to investigate it, punish the perpetrators, and protect the human rights of all citizens," said Sen. Market. "We have 45 senators -- cosponsors on both sides of the aisle...I introduced it with Senator Toomey to ensure that it would be bipartisan, and I think it's an important statement for the Senate to make, that we stand united with Chechnya's LGBTQ community, who are victims of this cruel and murderous treatment at the hands of the Chechnyan officials who govern under the authority of Russia and it is important for us to persistently speak against inhumane treatment of human beings, no matter where they are on the planet."

HRC notes that while U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is on record as being the most senior Trump Administration official to speak out against the violence, both President Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have thus far publicly remained silent.
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Following a patient pocket trip, Bestofbest Hanover made his move in the stretch and proved to be the best in this week's $8,550 Winners Over Handicap Pace featured on Sunday night (October 8) at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Stonebridge Beach set the pace (:26.4, :56, 1:24.1) and remained clear on the lead turning for home, but Bestofbest Hanover shot through the passing lane to score the victory in 1:53.4 by one and a quarter lengths. Print Media edged out Stonebridge Beach off a three-hole trip in the close race for place.

Bestofbest Hanover paid $4.50 to win as the 6-5 betting favourite.

The nine-year-old son of Western Hanover, who is owned, trained and driven by Melanie Plourde, is a four-time winner this year and boasts 29 victories overall with more than $645,000 in earnings.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Leonard J. Dooling, of Goulds, NL, passed on Monday morning (October 9). He was 80.

Dooling, a longtime horseman and lifelong farmer, was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and parents-in-law. He is survived by his wife of 56 years Veronica, four daughters, two sons, a sister, and eight grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday (October 13) at 10:00 a.m. at St. Kevins Church in Goulds, with visitation to take place earlier in the week.

The full obituary can be found at this link.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Leonard Dooling.
AG Reverses Policy on Gender-Identity Rights

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a new memorandum stating that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans gender discrimination, but does not include sexual orientation or gender identity, in the workplace.

Title VII specifically bars employers from discriminating against employees based on sex, race, color, national origin and religion. The Attorney General officially withdrew a 2014 Obama-era policy protecting so-called "transgender" employees from discrimination under Title VII. The Attorney General stated that the Department of Justice will no longer interpret Title VII to mean that the law's protections extend to discrimination based on gender identity. Sessions said the change will apply to "all pending and future matters" relating to "transgender" workers, which means that it could have an immediate impact on open discrimination cases.

Sessions wrote in the memo: "Title VII expressly prohibits discrimination 'because ofsex'and several other protected traits, but it does not refer to gender identity. "Sex is ordinarily defined to mean biologically male or female. Congress has confirmed this ordinary meaning by expressly prohibiting, in several other statutes, 'gender identity' discrimination, which Congress lists in addition to, rather than within, prohibitions on discrimination based on 'sex' or 'gender.' Accordingly, Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination encompasses discrimination between men and women but does not encompass discrimination based on gender identity per se, including transgender status. Therefore, as of the date of this memorandum, which hereby withdraws the December 15, 2014, memorandum, the Department of Justice will take that position in all pending and future matters"

"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has never included sexual orientation or gender identity," said Mat Staver (photo), Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "We commend Attorney General Jeff Sessions for ending the Obama-era policy that purported to allow Title VII to be interpreted to include so-called "transgender" employee rights," said Staver.

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
Right-to-Life Groups Across the Country Call for Opposition to Pain-Capable Legislation

Contact: Sarah Quale, Press Secretary, Personhood Alliance, president and founder, Educe, 612-702-3443

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Oct. 9, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- On October 3, 2017, the House passed the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36) with several serious flaws. Two of these flaws, say multiple right-to-life leaders, are detrimental to the common goal shared among the diverse factions of the pro-life movement--to protect and defend all human life, from conception to natural death.

"As a person concerned with defending human rights," explains Daniel Becker, president of Personhood Alliance, "I want to let my fellow pro-lifers know that it's okay to oppose laws Republicans put forth and national organizations support, when those laws go against our shared goal as a movement. You're NOT 'not pro-life' for speaking up. In fact, by opposing this flawed legislation, you're upholding the values that we all fight for every day."

The first flaw, notes Christopher Kurka, executive director of Alaska Right to Life, is the lack of standard language that prevents activist judges from using the law to create a right to abortion. "A simple clause," says Kurka, "stating that 'no right to abortion shall be established in this law' is completely missing. Combine that with language that specifically carves out exceptions to the 20-week rule and explicitly permits all abortions before 20 weeks, denying those younger babies personhood, and we've just set ourselves up for SCOTUS to keep Roe intact indefinitely."

Molly Smith, president of Cleveland Right to Life and board member of Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, agrees: "Whenever you have a piece of legislation that says 'if you do this and this and this, then you can go ahead and abort the child' it must be recognized for what it isa bill that further enshrines abortion into law."

Gualberto Garcia Jones, national policy director for Personhood Alliance, explains further. "Forget about how the Supreme Court would analyze this bill, because it will never get past the Senate. Then the pro-life movement will be left with another failed show bill, and a poor one at that. We've already set a dangerously low bar for House GOP members by allowing them to proclaim how pro-life they are, all the while knowing this bill's fate. Now, we do a disservice to our pro-life base by pretending that the Senate, who couldn't even reallocate taxpayer funds away from Planned Parenthood, is going to end abortion after 20 weeks. Instead," says Jones, "We should focus on a real, winning strategy, which is to hold our legislators to a higher standard and replace those that fail to meet it. But sadly, much of the pro-life movement has, once again, lowered its standards in order to have a seat at the table with legislators that are pro-life in name only."

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Patrick Johnston, president of the Association of Pro-Life Physicians explains the second flaw: Exceptions for children conceived in rape and incest. "To permit the killing of some children is to abandon our moral high ground and God's blessing. Our congressmen and women must protect all those they are duty- and constitutionally-bound to protect." Rebecca Kiessling, president of Save the 1 and conceived in rape herself, adds: "My people group feels the pain of discrimination every time so-called pro-life laws exclude us from protection. What's more, women who experience the horrific violation of rape deserve better than a law that promotes a second act of violence as a solution."

Similarly, permitting abortion for children conceived in incest is particularly harmful, as abortion is often used to hide evidence of the crime and give the perpetrator continued access to the victim. "Several studies have shown that abortion is rarely voluntary for incest victims," says Kiessling. "Like the assault itself, abortion is often forced or coerced, which contributes to the victimization. When abortion providers look the other way, and when we explicitly permit this in our laws, we aid and abet this injustice."

Ricardo Davis, African-American pro-life activist and president of Georgia Right to Life, reflects: "A strength of the early Civil Rights movement was its commitment to apply a biblical view of personhood to the plight of Black citizens dehumanized by slavery and faced with daily threats to their lives. Today, we cannot say that HR36 is 'just' when it dehumanizes the majority of preborn children killed by abortion."

"With Republicans in control of the House, Senate, and Oval Office, pro-lifers need to ask themselves some serious questions right now," says Matt Sande, legislative director at Pro-Life Wisconsin. "Why aren't we using this opportunity to put forth legislation that upholds our shared goal? And why are we allowing this current legislation to give cover to our politicians who continue to receive '100% pro-life' ratings while directly undermining our efforts?"

These are questions that leaders across the country are rising up to ask right now. Pro-lifers are encouraged to join them by calling upon their Republican representatives and national pro-life organizations to work toward ending legalized abortion without compromising the foundational principles on which the pro-life movement stands.

Sign our petition calling for Equal Protection.
Descendant of Christopher Columbus Weighs in On Ancestor's Legacy

In USA Today, Christopher Columbus XX refutes unfair attacks on the Italian explorer

Contact: Chris Scalia, CRC Public Relations, 703-683-5004 ex. 1103, cscalia@CRCPublicRelations.com

MEDIA ADVISORY, Oct. 9, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- A descendant of Christopher Columbus and the Aztec emperor Montezuma wrote an opinion piece for USA Today that defends the contributions of his Italian ancestor and advocates a more nuanced understanding of American history.

"Columbus did something incredible reaching the Bahamas on board three small ships," writes Mr. Columbus. "He brought together two continents that didn't know of one another's existence. For the first time in history, the world acquired a truly global perspective."

Other key points from Mr. Columbus's commentary include:

 Anti-Columbus arguments use "Anglo-supremacist propaganda that paints all who sailed under the Spanish flag -- or were Hispanic -- as violent and untrustworthy."

 Spain's kings gave Spanish citizenship to, and restricted enslavement of, Native Americans. Spain also built schools and churches for Native Americans.

 Contrary to anti-Columbus propaganda, "the ample evidence [suggests] that he was a moderating force on his men, and . . . that he sought to keep good manners and friendly relations with Native Americans."

Christopher Columbus XX, a biographer of his namesake, is the 18th Duke of Veragua.

The National Christopher Columbus Association seeks to honor not only the memory of Columbus and his historic achievement but also the higher values that motivated and sustained him in his efforts. Read more at www.christophercolumbus.org
The 8th Annual Longest Married Couple Project, Sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Begins Tuesday October 10, 2017

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Oct. 9, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- For the eighth year in a row the annual search for the Longest Married Couple (LMC) in the United States begins this Tuesday, October 10, 2017, it was announced today by Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME), the original faith-based marriage enrichment program in the world.

The project will run from Oct. 10, 2017 to Jan. 10, 2018 with the national winners named in February 2018. There will also be 50 state winners that will be announced in the same time period.

The highly acclaimed activity of recognizing couples for their long marriages, which is in its eighth year, has drawn media attention from around the world.

The first national winners for the project, which started in 2011, were Marshall & Winnie Kuykendall from Lordsburg, New Mexico who were honored for 82 years of marriage, while in 2012 Wilbur & Theresa Faiss of Las Vegas, Nevada were honored for 78 years of marriage. In 2013 John & Ann Betar of Fairfield, CT were honored for 80 years of marriage. In 2014 Harold & Edna Owings of Burbank, CA were recognized for their 82 years of marriage, while in 2015 Dale & Alice Rockey of Olathe, KS were saluted for their 81 years of marriage, in 2016 Maury & Helen Goosenberg of Carlsbad, CA were named the national winners with 80 years of married life, while this year Horace Allen and Beatrice Ricks of Callahan, FL were recognized for 81 years of marriage.

The state winners are recognized for their longest marriages also in the February time frame by Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples from their states. There have been over 2400 couples nominated for the honors during the last seven years. Winners of the LMC project are selected solely from nominations submitted.

"As we begin the eighth year of this wonderful project of recognizing long marriages we want to honor the longest married couple in the United States, as well as in each of the 50 states and territories." explained Bryan & Karen Berland of Guthrie, OK, the new U.S. coordinators for the special project.



The Berlands succeed Dick & Diane Baumbach of Viera, FL who initiated and ran the project for the past seven years.



The national winners will be recognized during Valentine's Week 2018, which coincides with World Marriage Day, which is always the second Sunday of February.

An Alumni Group has been established for previous national and state winners. Previous state winners can vie for the national title, but they also are considered members of the alumni of longest married couples in their individual states. This allows for new couples to be recognized for both state and national recognition. "It has been such a joy and inspiration to recognize a husband and wife, both nationally and statewide, who have been married for many, many years," the coordinators explained.



The 2018 national winners will be formally recognized in person by WWME's United States Leadership/Ecclesial Team Joe & Sue Talarico of Concord, CA and Fr. Tom Ogg from Ten Sleep, WY. They will present the winning couple special gifts at a ceremony to be held at the winner's location during Valentine's week. The state winners will also receive personal recognition and a special certificate of achievement from the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement.

Nominations, which are open to all husband and wife couples regardless of religious affiliation, may be submitted by email, regular mail or by calling a special phone number.

The contact information for sending in a nomination, which simply requires the name of the couple, their wedding date and where they currently reside- plus a contact phone or email address of the individual nominating the couple, is as follows: email bkberland@gmail.com , regular mail Bryan & Karen Berland 530 S. Academy Guthrie, OK 73044, and special phone number 405-850-4274. Nominations must be received by midnight January 10th, 2018.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 49 years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. The programs are continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and WWME now offers evening and half-day programs that are presented at parishes and other church facilities. The weekend program, traditionally presented as an overnight experience at a hotel or retreat center, can also be presented at the parish where the couples return to their homes in the evenings. WWME has a presence in almost 100 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In North America, the WWME programs are presented in English, Spanish, French, and Korean languages.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples the opportunity to spend time together away from the busyness of the world to focus on each other. Priests are also encouraged to attend a WWME weekend, which offers insights into their relationship with the church and their parishioners, and how their Sacrament of Holy Orders interacts with the Sacrament of Matrimony. WWME offers tools for building and maintaining a strong, Christian marriage in today's world. To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends online, go to wwme.org , or contact the WWME national office at (909) 332-7309.
That morning in Boston I was the last to notice the white woman on the next blanket over who was staring at us in disgust. She stared at my dad in particular, who in a bit of confusion politely smiled back at her between his bites of cantaloupe. She whispered something in her companions ear; they rolled up their blanket and left, flip-flop sandals smacking up and down against the ground. We didnt see or think about the women for a few minutes until two men in sunglasses and cargo shorts began to walk in wide circles around our blanket. Oh my God, my mom whispered to me in Persian. The cops are watching us. The July humidity was already intense, but it began to feel suffocating. Within seconds, a uniformed police officer and his K-9 approached us.

As we fanned ourselves on the blanket, my parents discussed how twenty years earlier to the day they had boarded a Fourth of July flight to Portland, Oregon, with me, at nine months old, in tow. We were striking out on our own, away from New York City, where I was born and where, as new immigrants from Iran, my parents worked in a Persian rug store owned by my dads extended family.

July 4, 2002, was a particularly humid Independence Day in Boston. It was the summer between my sophomore and junior years of college. I had stayed on campus to work, and for the first time my family had come to visit me in New England. That year, we found ourselves among the thousands of revelers who descended in undulating waves down to the banks of the Charles River to see the fireworks. My mom and little sister scrambled onto the first available patch of grass while I unrolled a blanket I had snatched off my twin-size dorm room bed hours earlier. My aunt unpacked almonds, cantaloupe, and soda from a plastic shopping bag; my dad, ambling slowly, as he does, brought up the rear.

What brings you folks down here today? the officer asked my dad.

Fourth of July, the fireworks, my dad replied.

The K-9 sniffed the plastic bag that held our snacks as the officer probed further: Okay, where are you from?

Were visiting our daughter; she goes to college here. We are from Portland, Oregon, my dad said softly.

Like the two women before him, who now stood smirking at a safe distance away from us, the officer seemed unconvinced. He scrutinized our blanket and what sat on it: four women, one man, all of them sweaty, with dark hair, skin between white and brown, speaking to each other in English and something else. The uniformed officer made a slight gesture and, before the plainclothes officers hed signaled swooped in for backup, he clarified the question: I didnt ask where you live. I said where are you from?

For a long time, where an immigrant was from defined his or her ability to become an American, or to even enter America in the first place. And where an immigrant was from functioned, in some ways, as an immigrants race. Whiteness was an imprecise business with incredibly high stakes. Being white or from a white place meant eligibility for citizenship, home and business ownership, and intermarriage with other whites. Immigrants from Asia and the broad Middle East put the boundaries of whiteness to the legal test in the early twentieth century. Their racial prerequisite cases etched into law exactly which immigrants from which countries were white and, in the process, even pushed groups not yet present in the United States back and forth across the color line. A half century before their arrival en masse, Persians were a racial hinge for competing claims to whiteness and strategically portrayed as white or not white to help determine the radically different fates of Armenian, Arab, and South Asian Americans.

Immigrants from Asia and the broad Middle East put the boundaries of whiteness to the legal test in the early twentieth century.



Although Portland, Oregon, is not typically known for its place in the racial history of the United States, one of the most famous racial prerequisite cases, United States v. Tatos Cartozian (1925), began there at the courthouse near my familys rug store. In 1923, as a new federal Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization was established, Tatos Cartozian, a Christian Armenian, applied for US citizenship in Portland, Oregon. When Cartozian was ordered to present himself to the court for visual scrutiny, he brought his wife, Helen, and three of their four children. Following Judge Robert Beans inspection of their trifle olive-complexioned skin and Tatoss adequate ability to read and speak English, Cartozians citizenship and whiteness were provisionally approved, with the caveat that, if the government saw fit, it could initiate cancellation proceedings immediately.

Cartozian and his family found themselves at the mercy of V. W. Tomlinson, a particularly unforgiving naturalization examiner at the US District Court. Inspector Tomlinson, who had already received guidance from the new chief of naturalization to hold applications from Hindus, Turks, peoples of the Barbary states [Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia] and Egypt, Persians, Syrians, and other Asiatics for extra scrutiny, wrote to his supervisor in Seattle to object to the approval of Cartozians application. To Tomlinson, Armenians like Cartozian were so closely related to the Persians, the Kurds, the Afghans, and the Beluchis that it is difficult to distinguish them . . . as white persons. In short order, the attorney generals office initiated a suit, United States v. Cartozian, to cancel Cartozians citizenship based on racial ineligibility. Across the country, a different US District Court ruled that, pending Cartozian, four Chicago-area applicants (Armenian, Syrian, Turk, and Persian) also did not qualify for naturalization as free white persons. In every corner of the United States, naturalization applications for these racially in-between immigrants were suspended, with all eyes on the Portland court to settle the matter.

Just as it was for my own family, Portland, Oregon, was not the original port of entry for the Cartozians. My parents arrived in New York City after leaving Iran; Tatos and Helen Cartozian arrived in New York City from Armenia, escaping the Armenian-Tatar massacres of 19057. Tatos, like my father, was put to work in the family business: Cartozian Brothers Inc., a Persian rug store. Within a year the Cartozian business expanded, and Tatos and Helen, like my parents, headed west to open a store in Portland. With them they brought their children, Hazel (age six), Vahan (age four), and Orie (age two), and had another child, Ardash, after their move. And just like my sister and me, the littlest Cartozian kids were raised on the rug store floor until they reached school age.

The Limits of Whiteness  offers a groundbreaking, timely look at how Iranians and other Middle Eastern Americans move across the color line.

By all accounts, the Cartozians thrived in Portland. In short order the family opened two other store locations in the Pacific Northwest, transporting rugs in a distinctive Cartozian Bros. truck to remote communities across Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. They also established a busy rug export office in Hamadan, Iran, to support their retail operations. By 1925, when the government took Tatos Cartozian to court to test the whiteness of Armenians, his Portland store was celebrating its tenth anniversary at Tenth and Washington in the Pittock Block, the same storefront where my parents would open a store, and I would grow up, seventy-five years later.

Cartozian and other racial prerequisite cases lay bare how American immigration, citizenship, and race-based laws and policies demanded a performance of white identity from liminal, in-between people for the judgment of powerful, majority-group European Americans. For a claimant like Cartozian to effectively perform whiteness meant that he had to organize and deploy a full suite of characteristics, alliances, affiliations, behaviors, and appearances to the court. To win his suitand to carry Armenian Americans along with himCartozian and his legal team not only presented sworn testimony supporting Armenian whiteness from expert witnesses like anthropologist Franz Boas but also called to the stand ordinary Armenians who had married especially well (meaning, they had out-married with white European Americans) or were Protestant rather than Apostolic. During a time of supposedly scientific racial knowledge, Cartozian was required to stage a social construction of Armenian whiteness.

Cartozian and other racial prerequisite cases lay bare how American immigration, citizenship, and race-based laws and policies demanded a performance of white identity.



One little discussed feature in these types of racial prerequisite cases are the roles played on- and offstage by claimants American-born or -raised children, even though the most famous image from Cartozian prominently featured Tatos with his young adult daughters, Hazel and Orie. Originally published by the Oregonian on April 8, 1924, under the headline Racial Questions Involved in Trial, the photo captured the patriarch from the waist up, a handsome middle-aged man in a fitted three-piece wool suit, watch chain draped prominently off the top buttonhole of his waistcoat. Cartozians daughters flanked him on either side: young women with slightly bobbed hair, the most conservative of the fashionable hairstyles of the mid-1920s. Orie (age twenty-two) wore a mink stole, its head turned prominently to face the camera. Hazel (age twenty-six) was tucked under her fathers outstretched arm and wore a modest overcoat, dress, and delicate necklace. Its not hard to imagine that the image, conveying the familys not-too-prosperous prosperity, was carefully staged.

At the trial, it was Orie and Hazelnot their brotherswho took the stand in defense of their fathers naturalization application. The lawyers for the defense presented the daughters as strong evidence of their fathers whiteness: upstanding, well-groomed, and confident young women with perfect attendance as pupils in local Portland public schools. They were, it was argued, proof incarnate of Armenian assimilability and Christian grace. With the fate of their citizenship on the line, the Cartozian family and their legal counsel strategically deployed or muted every possible piece of social evidence at hand to make Armenians legibly white to the court. Presenting the Cartozian daughters as having sloughed off their Armenianness in favor of a mainstream American identity was essential, to prove not only the whiteness of their father but the whiteness of their ethno-national community in its entirety.

Outside the Cartozian ruling, however, the evidence left behind about the everyday lives of the Cartozian daughters tells a slightly different story. Hazel, in particular, radically self-identified as Armenian and was strongly affiliated with her heritage in Portland. As a teenager at Franklin High School she appeared in the pages of the local newspaper with fascinating regularity: she was an outspoken leader of her girls debate team on which she orated about Armenian history during tournaments; she sang patriotic songs about Armenian liberty in her native Armenian tongue at a nieces elementary school recital; she demonstrated Persian rug-weaving techniques for customers in the corner of her fathers rug store. Even as a teenager, and into her twenties, Hazel was an outspoken critic of war crimes against Armenia and raised thousands of dollars for the Armenian victims of massacre and genocide, delivering well-received public lectures to both secular and religious audiences around town.

Before the court, however, Hazelsand her fathersrace was debatable and contested. Through the prism of the Cartozian ruling, the racial fate of Armenian Americans was the subject of public curiosity and of grave legal consequence. In punishingly assimilative times, Hazel nonetheless practiced a hybrid identity as a second-generation youth. Evidence of her love, commitment, and affiliation with where she was from, not just where she lived, cannot be denied.

In July 1925, the US District Court in Portland ruled on Cartozian: Armenians were found to be white, and the governments cancellation suit was dismissed. Cartozian could retain his American citizenship. In July 2002, on the banks of the Charles River, my familywith our similar quasi-threatening, semilegible racewarranted extra scrutiny too. To the Boston police and the concerned citizens on the next blanket over, the important thing wasnt figuring out where we lived but pinning down the dark, elusive place where we, and the people who look like us, are from. Our white legal classification and American citizenship, granted by proxy since Cartozian, couldnt shield us that day.

This post has been adapted from Chapter 7 of the The Limits of Whiteness: Iranian Americans and the Everyday Politics of Race by Neda Maghbouleh.





Start reading The Limits of Whiteness 



Neda Maghbouleh (@nedasoc) is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto and author of The Limits of Whiteness: Iranian Americans and the Everyday Politics of Race.
George Clooney has played many spies on the big screen.

George Clooney was a perfect candidate to spy on Libya and help the globalist cabal, under Hillary Clinton, dismantle what used to be the richest and most prosperous nation in Africa.

Clooney is the latest celebrity to be linked in documents from within the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, asking the hollywood star to spy on Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his generals in Libya.

ICC chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, asked several celebrities, including Cooney, to help in bringing war crimes committed by Colonel Gaddafi and his generals during the Libyan civil war to light.

Clooneys recruitment by the ICC never materialized, as then Obama Secretary of State Hillary Clinton quickly move ahead with here destruction of a stable Libya, before the hollywood stars could utilize their celebrity propaganda against Gaddafi government.

A series of leaked emails, seen by The Sunday Times, revealed how the Argentinian prosecutor urged the Hollywood actor to focus a number of commercial satellites on Libya and put pressure on Gaddafi generals by documenting evidence of humanitarian crimes.

Clooney is the co-founder of the Satellite Sentinel Project which uses commercial satellites to document war atrocities committed by the government in South Sudan.

Since the project launched in 2011, satellites have detected mass grave sites in the southern part of the Sudan, where the army has been accused of targeting a black ethnic minority.

Moreno Ocampos offer was declined by Clooney who wrote in an email that the satellite was not yet sophisticated enough to carry out the proposed operation.

The actor is not the only celebrity Moreno Ocampo tried to recruit in his attempt to prosecute some of the worlds most notorious warlords and dictators during his nine-year term at the helm of the ICC.

He also enlisted the help of actress Angelina Jolie in a plot to snare Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony at a honeytrap dinner. The prosecutor wrote in an email that Jolie had the idea to invite Kony to dinner and then arrest him. He planned to send Jolie and her husband Brad Pitt to the warlords stronghold with US special forces, according to the leaked documents.

There are no further details in the documents about the proposed dinner, which appears not to have gone ahead.
Rashi Peripherals recently concluded multi-city Enterprise Partner Meet in association with Intel. The meet organized in Ahmadabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bengaluru was aimed to increase awareness about Intels Data Center Blocks (DCB) offering among Enterprise partners.

The increasing IT spending in the Enterprise segment across the domain is boosting the server market in India. Considering enterprises need for fully integrated servers that cater to the variety of business demands, Intel has introduced Data Center Blocks (DCB). DCB are fully validated blocks that address a variety of business challenges and deliver performance, reliability, and quality for solutions to handle customers cloud, HPC, and business-critical workloads.

During the event, Rashi Peripherals explained market prospects in the server market in India and business scope in high potential regions in the country. Mr. Rajesh Goenka, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, said, Rashi Peripherals is taking lead in developing Enterprise business in India and these partner meets are a part of the same strategy. We are very happy with partners response and their keenness to learn and experiment with new solutions. This is also a new business opportunity for all.

The four city partner meet concluded on a very positive note where partners, where partners got new insights into the server business. Giving his feedback, Ahmadabad based partner Mr. Kamal Parikh of K2-Sukrut, said, The event was very informative and we got to learn new insights into the server business. Intel presented their roadmap on the DCB business and we look forward to get more clarity on the availability and pricing.

Technuter.com News Service
Armchair viceroys throughout the Recrudescent Imperium will no doubt be gratified to observe the latest outbreak of British values in Uganda, where food rations for swarming hordes have been cut by half. Uganda is dealing with approximately a million job-seekers from South Sudan, despite being somewhat less roomy than the United Kingdom which recently balked at taking in a few dozen smallish Syrians. Since Uganda is as yet insufficiently enlightened and democratic to wog-bomb its neighbours into freedom and peace, it looks as though a well-intentioned if inevitably crude imitation of the Osbornomic miracle will have to suffice for now. The beneficiaries have reacted with the usual ingratitude, even though humanitarian donations have occasionally amounted to as much as a third of what is needed. Britain's Minister for Piccaninnies has thus far made no public announcements regarding the investment potential of the local beach-front.
France snubs independence bid

Supporters of independence have been urging the EU to intervene

BBC Online :

The French government has said it will not recognise Catalonia if it declares independence from Spain and such a move will mean expulsion from the EU.

European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau said the crisis following the banned 1 October referendum had to be resolved through dialogue within Spain.

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is expected to address the regional parliament on Tuesday.

There has been no sign of a compromise being struck with Madrid. Economic pressure on the pro-independence camp is rising with three more companies expected to discuss moving their offices out of Catalonia on Monday, sources told Reuters news agency.

These are infrastructure firm Abertis, telecoms company Cellnex and property group Inmobiliaria Colonial.

Major lenders Caixabank and Sabadell announced earlier that they were moving their offices out of the region.

The region of Catalonia, home to 7.5 million people in the north-east, is crucial to Spain, which is the EU's fifth-biggest economy and a member of Nato.

"If there was a declaration of independence, it would not be recognised," Ms Loiseau told French broadcaster CNews (video in French).

"The first consequence would be its exit from the European Union."

"Obviously," she added, "there is more to Catalonia than the consultation organised by the independence movement...

"This crisis needs to be resolved through dialogue at all levels of Spanish politics."

Casting doubt on the validity of the vote, she described Spain as a "great democracy" and pointed to the "particularly" high level of devolution its regions already enjoyed.

However, Catalans have long been calling for more say in spending, higher status for their language and recognition that they are a nation distinct from Spain.

Catalonia's parliament had been due to meet on Monday with the expectation that it would endorse the declaration of independence, based on the majority Yes vote on 1 October.

However, the session was blocked by the Spanish Constitutional Court, which had likewise sought to stop the referendum itself.

Speculation is intense as to what Mr Puigdemont may say when he addresses the parliament in Barcelona on Tuesday evening.

He could ask the parliament to declare independence on the basis of the referendum law it passed last month.

That in turn could lead the Spanish government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to suspend devolution, acting under Article 155 of the constitution.

Final results from the referendum suggest 43% of Catalan voters turned out and 90% of them backed independence - but "No" voters largely boycotted the ballot.

At least 350,000 people joined a unionist rally in Barcelona on Sunday, after recent massive rallies by separatists and democracy activists in the city.
SAPAHAR(Naogaon):Babu Sadhan Chandra Majumder MP addressing a reception programme for meritorious students at Sapahar Upazila as Chief Guest
Relief distributed among Rohingyas

Chittagong Bureau :

"Holding the spirit of 'Manobotar Sudrirho Bondhone, Rohingyader Pashe' (Stand beside the Rohingya refugee with strong bond of humanity) and as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), GPH Ispat and Crown Cement jointly distributed the humanitarian aid to the Rohingya refugees" said GHP Ispat's Additional Managing Director and Crown Cement's Director Mohammed Almas Shimul.

He came up with the remarks while distributing the relief goods in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya on October 7. Around 15,000 family were given relief where an approximate of 200 tonnes aid including 75 tonnes of rice, 15 tonnes of lentil, 45 tonnes of potato, 4.5 tonnes of spices, 30,000 strips medicine were distributed which is the country's biggest private relief endeavour.

Apart from that Almas Shimul hoped the two business organization will do their best for the welfare of humanity in future. At first humanitarian aid and medicine were handed over to Bangladesh Army in Ukhiya Degree College's ground while the respective company distributed relief among the Rohingya on the behalf of their companies at Balukhali area's.

Director Abdul Ahad, Executive Director (Group) AB Siddique, Executive Director (F&B.D) Kamrul Islam of GPH and high officials of the respective company were present while Cox's Bazar's Channel partners were also present at the programme.
Holding tax imposed by CCC

A Correspondent :

29th September, 2017 may be called Chittagong City dwellers day. On that day City dwellers in thousands paraded the City streets chanting slogans against imposition of exuberantly high rate of holding tax by Chittagong City Corporation under the mayoralty of Alhaj AJM Nasiruddin.

People flowing like flood waters, from almost all the forty one wards, soon turned Kadamtali meeting place into a vast sea of masses.

They thundered slogans which revealed their unanimous rejection of the corporation's tax assessment and gazette publication to that effect, as well as, their solid determination not to pay the unjustified and illegal taxation decided upon by a person or a group of persons to satisfy their ambitious personal agenda.

Being asked how the present incumbent mayor is different from his earlier counterparts, one Yonus Chowdhury who is an owner of a five storied building located at Chawlkbazar told this correspondent that, "during the tenure of Alhaj Mohiuddin Chy and

Monzurul Alam Manzu as mayors of Chittagong City Corporation the inhabitants of the City used to pay holding tax on the basis of the floor measured in terms square feet, and yet the house owner had a right to appeal against any misjudgement or wrong done to the petitioners.

As a matter of fact the authority almost always took a liberal view of the complainant's objection. But AJM Nasir Uddin, at present mayor of Chittagong City Corporation, showing abysmal ignorance to the impoverished and downtrodden city dwellers without any discussion or public hearing, all an a sudden, made a declaration in the newspaper that city corporation is going to introduce a new holding tax policy based on the rents collected by a landlord, Zamnider, in Chittagong colloquial. Supposedly, you own a three stored building. According to the newly introduced tax policy you have to pay tax against total amount of money you can earn against the three storied building. Considering the facilities provided by the corporation, such as lightening of the streets, collecting household wastes, cleaning streets and taking care of public health you may, on the face of it, find logic in exacting an additional charge from the users. But as you do a bit of quick mental arithmetic you will be astonished to see that the real income sourced from rent is almost half of the aggregate monthly income.

Just deduce the amount of money you have to pay as electricity, gas, was a bills and a few other compulsory informal charges you have to pay in exchange for a better secured and prestigious social life. You will, with a sense of frustration, realize that you can hardly manage the family expense with the rest of the money. Moreover, you are paying yearly income tax assessed on your total yearly earnings which includes your earning from house rent, as well as, other source of earnings Tax policy adopted by Chittagong City Corporation is, in many ways, analogous to the widely known proverb of 'slaughtering the same cow twice.'

Chittagongian people are by tradition, disdainful of serving as clerks of officials in private or Govt. organisation. They have a peculiar mind set of doing business, trying luck as sailors or working abroad. But with the influx of huge number of people from other districts into Chittagong City have sufficiently crushed their scope of doing business and as almost one third of the land once owned by them are either acquisitioned by the Govt. or bought by the Private Companies for industries, colonies and building installations they are now hard pressed to keep their body and soul together. The only alternative left to them is building three, four or more storied houses on whatever small land they have in the possession. They have no way out but to depend on the small earning derived from houses in the form of rent.

Sorrowfully, the tempting eyes of honorable mayor have fallen on the mere earning of the native Chittagongians. But they have no room to go backward, for conceding to the demand of the City Corporation and its mayor will make them a homeless and destitute people like Ruhingas, a people without a state.

City Mayor asked to suspend hiked holding tax : Former Mayor Manzoor Alam has sent a personal letter to the present city mayor AJM Nasir Uddin on Sunday suggesting hi m to bring down the newly imposed holding tax from city dwellers in affordable stage. Mentionable that President of City Awami league and former Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury very recently sent a open letter to the Mayor in same connection of holding tax. While contacted former Mayor Manzoor told this reporter that he sent a letter to incumbent mayor regarding holding tax on Sunday .

Former Mayor hoped that AJM Nasiruddin will revise the schedule of holding tax considering the economic situation of the city dwellers and the unnecessary taxes should be eliminated from the schedule immediately. Former Mayor said while taking charge of city mayor earlier , the number o f holdings in city was 1 lakh 25 thousand but now it increased to one lakh 82 thousand. He the present increase of holding tax is not proper one which creates discontentment among the city dwellers.

In the letter of former Mayor mentioned that present Mayor is the general secretary of the ruling party of city unit and he should be more responsible to sustain the image of the present govt t hat achieved under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He further hoped the demands of the city dwellers should be considered to avoid discontentment among the party . Mentionable that former Mayor and President of city AL Mohiuddin Chowdhury from very beginning of tax tariff announcement vows against the formulated tax gazettee , sources said.


Why technology will power SDG success

Ernest Darkoh, John Sargent :

Humanity simply can't afford to wait another 15 years for partial progress. World leaders launched the Millennium Development Goals in 2000 to address inequities in human rights, but after 15 years and only partial progress achieved, an even larger group of global leaders launched an even more ambitious set of objectives to reach by 2030 - the Sustainable Development Goals.

Setting the scene for the SDGs

As the United Nations acknowledges, "to meet the SDG health targets by 2030, progress must be accelerated, in particular in regions with the highest burden of disease." A few statistics from SDG 3 - ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being - make that point perfectly clear:

 Maternal deaths: Achieving the target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030 requires a 7.5 percent annual reduction, more than double the annual rate of progress achieved from 2000 to 2015.

 Indoor air pollution - the greatest environmental health risk: In 2012, household air pollution from cooking with unclean fuels or inefficient technologies led to an estimated 4.3 million deaths, while ambient air pollution accounts for an estimated 3 million deaths.

 Premature deaths due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, or diabetes: 13 million in 2015, accounting for 43 percent of all premature deaths globally. From 2000 to 2015, the risk of dying between 30 and 70 years of age from one of those four causes decreased from 23 percent to 19 percent, falling short of the rate required to meet the 2030 target of a one-third reduction.

However, more of the same for the next 13 years is not going to miraculously end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure all humans have access to quality health care, education, and decent work.

Digital technology: The missing factor

If we are to collectively solve the world's most complex issues, then we need to augment the development industry's earnest intentions and efforts with the transformative power of technology. Digital transformation's impact has been proven over and over again in the developed world, but is only slowly gaining traction in the emerging markets.

Digital technology and digital connectivity are fundamental to the future of every industry, from transportation to banking to retail and health care, in developed and developing economies alike.

Harvard Business School professors Marco Iansiti and Karim R. Lakhan interviewed hundreds of leaders to understand how traditional approaches to innovation and operations are changing. They shared their findings in a November 2014 Harvard Business Review article, writing: "The new paradigm is not displacement and replacement but connectivity and recombination. Transactions are being digitized, data is being generated and analyzed in new ways, and previously discrete objects, people, and activities are being connected."

Mobile devices: A force for equality

Two technologies are fundamental for partners working in developing markets to harness: mobile technology and artificial intelligence.

"If we are to collectively solve the world's most complex issues, then we need to augment the development industry's earnest intentions and efforts with the transformative power of technology."

With the ubiquity of cell phone usage in emerging economies, mobile devices have the power to democratize health care through the collection and use of data from the multitudes. They have the power to unlock inclusive health care for the heretofore-invisible poor. In Kenya, for example, the "health wallet," accessible from cell phones, removes barriers to universal access to care by transferring government funds directly into citizen accounts, even to those living in slums and remote villages. Mobile technology enables the poor to receive treatment in clinics and hospitals through electronic payment and monitoring of treatment adherence. As Dr. Kharma Rogo, lead health specialist at the World Bank and head of the bank's Health in Africa Initiative, explains in the documentary, The Great Escape, "Mobile technology is disrupting every layer of society at an unprecedented pace. The biggest social equalizer now in this part of the world [Africa], I believe, is a cell phone."

The BroadReach Vantage digital platform, developed to streamline our work with partners to transform public health delivery, leverages mobile technology for data collection, integration, and dissemination, as well as for collaboration.

Field workers fighting the HIV epidemic in five provinces across South Africa now rely on mobile device access to Vantage to capture daily activities and facility-level information, view trends, and retrieve analysis and recommendations to improve performance. Vantage toolkits are also accessible via mobile device so that health workers in all locations can implement best practice workflows that address identified issues, such as appointment scheduling and community-based testing campaigns.

Artificial intelligence: Making sense of exploding data

Vantage is also a foundational component of the U.S. Agency for International Development-led innovation project called Regional Action Through Data operating in 23 countries across West and East Africa. Regional economic communities will have access to data aggregated across multiple sources to enhance resource allocation, policies, and program development decisions related to tuberculosis, maternal and child health, malaria and more.

Artificial intelligence is another powerful disruptor, also having the power to boost the impact of development initiatives. AI harnesses huge volumes of data and turns it into actionable information - a process virtually impossible for humans to handle at scale, consequently drastically cutting the time, cost, and relevancy of information provided by consultants. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella explains his reverence for AI, explaining how democratizing AI - making it available to any person or company - will radically improve the way computers interact with and work on behalf of humans.

The Vantage platform uses artificial intelligence to generate predictive models, such as disease prevalence by area, patient populations in need of prophylactic treatment, and staffing plans for greatest impact. And it will continue to add value to our platform as AI technology becomes more powerful and pervasive - in the cloud as well as at the device level.

Configuring Vantage for the team's needs, we are closing in on the 90-90-90 HIV Challenge goals:

 30 percent more citizens know their HIV status

 17 percent more are enrolled in HIV treatment and care

 43 percent more are receiving effective therapy

Now is the time to accelerate technology adoption

To reach the 2030 SDGs finish line having achieved the goals, the development industry - NGOs, donors, governments, and the private sector - must fully embrace the transformative power of technology: the missing factor.

When leaders have data-driven insights into performance in real-time, they can move forward expeditiously. When they have AI-driven prognostic models of potential risks and opportunities, they can focus resources for optimal impact. When they have mobile access to best practice operational solutions, they can replicate reliable service delivery across multiple layers of program activity in multiple geographies. When they have consolidated data in one place, they can fulfill reporting requirements efficiently. And, when they share a platform for instantaneous communications, they can collaborate for the common good.

(Dr. Ernest Darkoh is a co-founder of BroadReach and Dr. John Sargent, co-founder of BroadReach)
DU and Education Ministry high-ups make fate of thousands of students uncertain

FATE of over 2.40 lakh students of seven colleges recently affiliated to Dhaka University (DU) is hanging in the balance, as various issues have not been resolved yet. Among the issues, one is that results have not been published on time. Second, examinations too have been delayed. Moreover, these colleges, were earlier under the National University (NU), and recently have been tagged with DU only for the purpose of holding examinations. The academic courses, however, are being taught by their respective college teachers.





The seven colleges which were affiliated with the DU are - Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Titumir College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Mohila College and Mirpur Government Bangla College.







The point, however, the plan for holding exams on time by bringing the said seven colleges under DU supervision has evidently failed to serve its purpose. Also their affiliation with the DU was because of ensuring quality education. Now since exams were not held and results were not published either - the issue of quality education too is shrouded in scepticism.





These irregularities, mismanagement and uncertainties usually occur if procedures for affiliations are done in unplanned and inefficient manner, and when they are done without making proper preparations, including changing the laws, devising a proper curriculum and syllabus. Additionally, as soon as the decision was taken in February this year to bring these seven colleges under the DU umbrella, all the activities of the colleges came to a halt. We fail to comprehend the actual reason behind this closing down.







According to a number of teachers and academics, it was a wrong decision. National University runs the academic activities smoothly. It succeeded to decrease examination complexity. So, it is not very clear why the seven colleges were handed over to the DU in the first place. It has been reported that, the seven government colleges had been affiliated with Dhaka University (DU) in February this year under the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Education Ministry. In that case, both the PM and Education Ministry have been clearly misled about the probable repercussions relating to poor handling of the colleges affiliations with DU.





The million dollar question right now is - who is going to shoulder the liability for making the future academic career of 2.40 lakh plus students uncertain? Also why were the seven college principals' remained passive spectators while the students were in a state of acute anxiety?





Responding to the crisis, Hundreds of male and female students of seven colleges on Sunday barricaded the intersection of the city's Nilkhet area in the morning to press home their demand to publish the results of the 2011-12 sessions of the final year's Honours examinations. Coupled with the students we too want an immediate and efficient solution of the ongoing crisis.







Our students are the future generations to determine the fate of our nation, if their own fate becomes uncertain we can well anticipate the fears of the future. Even the DU Vice-Chancellor has admitted that the decision to affiliate the colleges has not been implemented properly. In the wake of his frank and honest admission another question arises - how would these students be compensated?







Considering the future of the students the authorities concerned of the seven colleges and the Education Ministry must come forward to end the continuing deadlock before the outbreak of a bigger chaos.






BD wants peaceful solution, not war

Foreign Affairs Ministry participated the discussion on Rohingya issue as Ambassadors of 27 countries attended it on Monday at Padma Guest House in City.

Staff Reporter :

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Monday said, Bangladesh wants a peaceful solution over Rohingya crisis instead of involving any conflict with Myanmar.

"We want a peaceful solution through diplomatic efforts. I don't know why we will involve in war with Myanmar. Why should we destroy our development? We cannot take such 'suicidal' decision because war brings destruction for all," Mahmood Ali said.

The foreign minister said this while addressing at a press conference after a briefing the foreign diplomats over Rohingya crisis in the capital on Monday evening.

"We have discussed everything to the Myanmar. They will take decision now how they will resolve the crisis. Now we are waiting for the Myanmar's response," he said.

Mahmood Ali said Myanmar Union Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe during his visit has expressed his government's willingness to take back the "displaced residents" of Myanmar and proposed to follow the principles and criteria agreed upon in the 1992 joint statement".

Bangladesh has welcomed the visit of Union Minister and his willingness to work together for return of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.

Mahmood Ali said a team led by the home minister will go to Myanmar between October 20 and 30 to visit the disastrous places. After that the foreign ministry's delegation will go there." "We also want a strong role from UN to resolve the crisis," he said. The minister also criticized those people and quarters who called the government to involve in war with Myanmar instead of giving proper recommendation to resolve the ongoing Rohingya crisis.

"Please don't misinterpret the people about the strategy of the government. You may come to the open give your opinions. I also invite them t take part in a discussion to be held on Tuesday at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies," the minister said.

Mahmood Ali said that the international community highly praised the Bangladesh and its people for their patients and generosity which they already showed to the Rohingya people.

"The international community assured us that they are with Bangladesh until the issue ends. The whole international community also co-operated Bangladesh in the UN General Assembly that was good for us," he said.

About the foreign ministry's role he said, "We are in a right track. We are taking steps very consciously. Hopefully we will get a good result.

Earlier in the afternoon, the foreign minister briefed the diplomats over the Rohingya crisis.

Diplomats from diplomatic Missions of Australia, China, Egypt, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, Sweden, United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, India, The Netherlands, Vatican, Denmark, Spain, EU, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Switzerland and Norway attended the diplomatic briefing. The Foreign Minister briefed the diplomats about the current Rohingya situation and mentioned that the atrocities in the Rakhine State have not been stopped and Rohingyas are continuing to cross the border. According to UN bodies, as of today 5,20,000 Rohingyas crossed the border since 25 August; nearly 40,000 of them arrived in last 10 days.

However, the foreign minister highlighted that the situation of 1992 and current one are totally different as half of the Muslim villages in the northern Rakhine State of Myanmar have been burned down and the burning is still going on.

The Foreign Minister thanked the international community for their support and urged them to continue their engagement till a peaceful means is found to resolve this humanitarian crisis.
Marjan's sister with 3 kids surrenders

Members of SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) conducted an anti-terrorist drive at a militant hideout behind Ghop Noapara road Jame Mosque at Ghop Central Road area in Jessore town on Monday.

Staff Reporter :

Khadiza, sister of Gulshan cafe attack coordinator slain Nurul Islam Marjan, along with her three children surrendered to police from the suspected militant den in Ghop Central Road area of Jessore district town on Monday afternoon.

Around 16 hours after police cordoned off the four-storey building, she surrendered before police when her parents reached the house from Pabna district around 3:00pm.

Earlier, Khadiza gave the condition to police that she would surrender in presence of her parents.

Khadiza and her children have been taken to police custody for interrogation.

Ekramul Habib, Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Khulna Range, said this at a press briefing in front of the suspected militant den around 5:10pm yesterday.

"We have primarily declared the conclusion of 'Operation Melt a Ice' as bombs disposal unit recovered three suicide vests from inside the room on the second floor of the building. They have found a number of maps from the den. These maps might have been made for another attack," the police official said.

"A team of Jessore police along with some members of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crimes (CTTC) unit cordoned off the house suspecting presence of Marzan's sister about 11:00pm on Saturday. But a team of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) began the operation around 10:15am on Monday," said Anisur Rahman, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Jessore district.

Earlier, a police official informed that a tip indicated Khaliza, her husband Mashiur Rahman, an accomplice of neo-JMB leader Marjan, is currently residing at a flat in the building.

"Khadiza was staying at the second floor of the building. The law enforcers asked Khadiza to surrender from the den. They made the call over a loud speaker. Khadiza did not responsd till 11:300am. Later, she responded and gave the condition of the arrival of her parents," the police official said.

Residents of the other five flats in the four-storey building had previously been evacuated, he said.

Earlier in the day, the SP claimed, one to two women along with at least one child are suspected to be inside the house and they were being urged to surrender since last night.

There were five families in the building. All the families were shifted from there safely. Marjan's sister Khadiza along with several children used to live on the second floor of the building, according to him.

We have blocked the access road to the building and have barred the media and locals from entering the area on safety ground, he added.

A bomb disposal unit entered the building soon after the law enforcers took Khadiza, her children and parents with them, said Ajmal Huda, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jessore Sadar Police Station.

However, no explosive was found inside the house till the last report, the OC said.

Local sources said, the house owned by Jessore Zilla School teacher Haider Ali, who lives with his family in the school's staff quarter.

Haider Ali said, he heard from a relative around 4:30am on Monday that police had surrounded the building suspecting militant den. He went to the scene but was not allowed to pass the security cordon.

The house owner claimed that he rented a flat on the west side in the second floor to a man named Mashiur Rahman about a year ago. He worked at a herbal company. He lives in the flat with his wife and two children.
BD loses huge potential market in Bahrain

Dishonest traders export low quality products

Reza Mahmud :

Bangladesh is losing a huge potential market in Bahrain to export its products due to some greedy and dishonest exporters.

According to the expatriate Bangladeshi businessmen and workers in Bahrain, there is a huge demand of Bangladeshi products there like vegetables, onion, garlic, chilli, dry fish, lungi, T-shirts, chanachur, puffed rice, chira and many more.

They alleged that some dishonest exporters from Bangladesh export low quality goods after getting order showing standard quality products, and thereby seriously harming our market in that country. "Suppose, in dry fish, the Bangladeshi exporters got order after sending standard quality samples. But when they export a container of those dry fish, failed to maintain the same quality. They export low quality fish. The Bahraini Standards and Metrology Directorate (BSMD) blocks the goods to enter the country," said, Ikramul Islam, a Bangladeshi expatriate in Bahrain.

Ikramul said that the Bahrain Standards Authority maintains European and American standards.

"There is no chance to enter any low quality products there as the Bahrain Standards and Metrology Directorate, a government institution within the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, strictly follow the American standard," he said.

Ikramul also said, "Even the BSMD never allow foods and other products beyond standard though those may be imported only for the foreigners."

"Every product must be checked before it enters the country. So there is no chance to export low quality products to Bahrain," he said.

Sources said, there are around three lakh Bangladeshi expatriate businessmen and workers in Bahrain.

It creates huge demand for Bangladeshi dry foods, Lungi, T-shirts, Shirts and other clothing, vegetables, edible oil, onion, garlic, chilli, Shrimp, dry fish and other products there. "Only vegetables market has created great chance for Bangladeshi exporters to earn lots of foreign currency from Bahrain," Ikramul Islam, who came here on a month's vacation, told The New Nation.

But some of the superfluous greedy exporters are seriously harming the country's market.

"As an example, in January this year the BSMD seized a shipment of shrimp after proving that was adulterated," he said. Arab Ali, a businessman staying in Manama, the capital of Bahrain for long, said, "The Manama's Business Administration is seriously annoyed with the Bangladeshi exporters as some of them involved in adulterations in business."

"The BSMD must open every container imported from Bangladesh. If they found products okay, then give permission to the importer to take delivery of the container. But if they found anything low quality or adulterated, they must seize that," said Arab Ali over telephone.

Both, Arab Ali and Ikramul Islam said that the Bangladesh government should take strict steps against those dishonest exporters who are destroying the country's image abroad.


HC issues rule on broadcasting ad on foreign channels

Staff Reporter :

The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why it should not be directed to take necessary steps to stop advertisements on foreign television channels running in Bangladesh.

The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan seeking its order on the respondents to stop broadcasting advertisements on foreign TV channels running in Bangladesh.

Information Secretary, Senior Commerce Secretary, Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR), Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Director General of Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) have been made respondents to the rule.

Advocate Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan took part in the hearing in favour of the petition while Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Tapas Kumar Biswas represented the government.

The petition was submitted as a public interest litigation (PIL) to the HC on September 20 saying that broadcasting advertisements on foreign TV channels in the country is prohibited under the Cable TV Network Operation Act 2006.

However, some dishonest businessmen are providing advertisements to foreign TV channels without the government permission resulting in damage to the domestic industry, the lawyer said in the petition and prayed to the HC to issue a rule in this regard asking the government to explain why it should not be declared illegal.

Under the Cable TV Network Operation Act 2006, the highest punishment for this offence is two years' imprisonment or Tk 1 lakh fine, he told reporters.
Severe impact on exports feared

Business leaders oppose move to raise power tariff

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :



Business leaders have strongly opposed the governments latest move to increase the tariff of electricity saying that the proposed hike would adversely affect the manufacturing sector.



Any increase of power tariff will hit hard the industries. It will push up manufacturing cost eroding their competitiveness in the global arena, M Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) told The New Nation yesterday.



He added, The impact will be severe on export-oriented industries.



The FBCCI chief mentioned that local industries have already been hurt taking heat from various internal and external factors. Now they are trying to recover. At this moment, any hike in power and energy prices will severely dampen their recovery process.



I urge the government not increase the price for at least two years, he added.



Mohiuddin also said he sees no rationale for a fresh power tariff hike when the distribution companies failed to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the manufacturing industries.



Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) recently held public hearing on power tariff hike proposals submitted by power distribution companies.



Stakeholders including consumers and industrialists have opposed the government move to increase bulk power tariff for distributors. They raised their voice against the power tariff hike.



A hike in power tariff will hit hard local industries, particularly the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), steel re-rolling mills and textile sector as they consume huge power to run production. They face an average 8 to 10 per cent production cost hike if the proposed power tariff is implemented, Abul Kashem Khan, President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) told The New Nation.



Moreover, it will increase the cost of doing business and hurt Bangladeshs export competitiveness and growth of SMEs.



It will also hinder local and foreign investment, he added.



Kashem Khan also urged the government not to increase the electricity price considering interest of the industries as well as the countrys economy.



I don't think that there is any scope for increasing power tariff at this moment, as local industries are passing through a critical time, Siddiqur Rahman, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) told The New Nation yesterday.



He said power tariff hike will negatively impact on the countrys ready-made garment industries by pushing up their production cost. It will erode competitiveness of the export-oriented apparel industries in global market.



Production cost of apparel industries has already gone up by over 15 per cent in the recent past due to various reasons. A fresh power tariff hike will further raise the production cost posing making them vulnerable, said Rahman.



The knock-on effect will be severe on the countrys shipments, he feared.



The BGMEA leader urged the government to keep the power tariff unchanged for garment industries to maintain their competitiveness.




Lawyers urge CJ not to go abroad

Staff Reporter :

Lawyers of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Monday said they are always with the Chief Justice. So he (CJ) does not need to go abroad according to the government's conspiracy, they said.

They also said they will continue their protest programmes till the Chief Justice comes back to his chair.

The SCBA members said this in a human chain and protest programme held on the Bar premises. The Supreme Court Bar arranged the programme demanding protection of the image of the judiciary.

Earlier on Saturday, the Bar leaders in a press briefing also called upon the lawyers across the country

to follow the programmes. Bar President Advocate Zainul Abedin presided over the programme. Bar Secretary Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokan, Advocate Nitay Roy Chowdhury, Vice-President of the Bar Advocate Umme Kulsum Rekha, Advocate Mirza Al Mahmud, Dr Arifa Jesmin Nahin and Barrister Ahsanur Rahman, among others, spoke at the briefing. Addressing the programme, SCBA President Advocate Zainul Abedin said, "Lawyers are always with you (Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha). So you do not need to go abroad according to the government conspiracy."

The conspiracy is not only related to the CJ, but also to the Judiciary, said Advocate Zainul.

Advocate Nitay Roy Chowdhury said, the Chief Justice has been detained by the government unjustly.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan said, the mysterical situation of the Chief Justice would affect other judges' judicial functions. As a result, justice will be interrupted, said Mahbub Uddin.

The Chief Justice went on leave from October 3 ahead of retirement in January. The Law Minister and the Attorney General said he had taken leave because he is suffering from cancer.

On October 2, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Zainul Abedin alleged that the Chief Justice was forced to take a month's leave.

The Supreme Court Bar leaders were trying to meet with Chief Justice to know the real fact. But whenever they tried to meet CJ, they had been barred by the law enforces agencies.

In this circumstance, the bar leaders announced the five-day protest programme.


We can`t agree through appeasement to `push the refugees to hell`

Editorial Desk :

Bangladesh foreign ministry is anxious to show success by telling us that Myanmar has agreed to take back the refugees who fled Myanmar and crossed over to Bangladesh to be alive. Our foreign ministry cannot see that the Myanmar government would be very happy indeed to get back the Muslim refugees to cleanse them ethnically.

The whole world was aghast by seeing the pictures of brutalities ruthlessly persecuted against men, women and children. The world leaders, including the Secretary General of the UN and The Permanent Representative of the USA at the UN condemned the inhuman mass killing in Myanmar in the strongest of terms. They were for immediate action. But Russia and China prevented.

Our government is found hesitant and undecided about a clear policy. Indian government is supporting atrocities against the Muslim Rohingyas. Yet our government misses no opportunity to tell our people that India is with the government of Bangladesh. This can only mean that we are with India on this crisis and do nothing.

The world is surprised that when Bangladesh should have loathed to initiate bilateral talks with Myanmar for genocide Rohingyas and the act of aggression committed against Bangladesh, our foreign ministry officials gleefully welcome any representative from Myanmar, however useless he is, to say they have agreed to take the refugees back. It is a big success that Myanmar has recognised the crisis.

Of course the government of Myanmar will be happy to take them to finish them off.

Our foreign ministry has not come out publicly about the terms and conditions of security of the refugees agreed if they return to Myanmar. Can we call it diplomacy for protecting the interest of Bangladesh?

When international community is ready to help why our government is not anxious to join them and move unitedly towards an early solution remains unanswered.

When our Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali considers it suicidal for Bangladesh to get involved in a war with Myanmar so outspokenly then what he means is appeasement is the best policy in the face belligerency from the government of Myanmar.

No sane person wants war and still even we spend millions on war preparations. Myanmar is using its military power and our Foreign Minister rejects out of hand any armed confrontation. He expects his sweet words and do nothing policy will win over Myanmar military.

He is not doing anything to mobilise international pressure on Myanmar. He is keeping himself away from international diplomacy in the hope of bilateral solution.

The international community was horrified at the massacre of Rohingyas. The wife of Turkey's President Emine Erdogan was the first important foreign personality to visit the refugee camps in Bangladesh and brought help.

The Western countries threatened action against the ethnic cleansing in Myanmar long before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed the five-point demand for resolving the crisis. These five-point demand is taken from the recommendation of Annan Commission Report.

Except to those who have nothing to show for international diplomacy everybody will agree that without military preparedness jointly with others no permanent solution is possible to military aggression for Myanmar. Any diplomat worth his name will know that preparation for war is not always a war.

This truth is borne out by the fact that the previous agreements were violated without a care because our Foreign Minister will not take any suicidal step. He cannot think of organising military power through alliance. He also does not know that the military preparedness could be the best way for avoiding war and solving international problems peacefully.

The Foreign Minister must have noticed what the Amnesty International had to say about any hasty decision bilaterally. The Amnesty warned not to push Rohingyas to hell without ensuring safety of the people. This assurance by our Foreign Minister could not and will get from Myanmar.

The negotiation with Myanmar must mean negotiation with international community under the supervision of the Unified Nations.
Jamaat Ameer Maqbul, 8 others held

risingbd.com :

Police have detained Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maqbul Ahmad and eight other leaders of the party from Uttara in Dhaka on Monday.

Detective branch (DB) of police detained them from a house near Labaid hospital around 9:00pm, Deputy Commissioner (North) Sheikh Nazmul Alam of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told risingbd.com.

"They were holding a secret meeting there to carry out subversive activities," Nazmul Alam said.

Last reported, the law enforcers were taking the Jamaat leaders to DB office on Minto Road around 10:15pm.
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A handwritten note in Stephen Paddock's hotel room contained calculations pertaining to the distance and trajectory from his 32nd-floor window to the crowd of concertgoers he targeted below, according to a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation.

CNN has previously reported that a note containing only numbers was found in the room. Those numbers were characterized as being significant to the gunman.

CBS News' "60 Minutes" first reported that Paddock's note contained handwritten calculations.

The note was found in the hotel suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino among 23 firearms, ammunition and the gunman's dead body. Paddock took his own life, authorities have said, after killing 58 people and wounding nearly 500.

Investigators have been combing through evidence left behind and Paddock's background for any hint as to what led the retired accountant to amass an arsenal of high-powered assault rifles, meticulously map out an attack and open fire on the crowd at last weekend's Route 91 Harvest Festival.

No sign of motive in sea of tips

Authorities have no credible information about Paddock's motive despite more than 1,000 leads and tips, Undersheriff Kevin C. McMahill said at a news conference Friday.

In the news briefing and an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, McMahill released more details about the shooting and investigation Friday, including:

 A Mandalay Bay security guard who authorities believe drew Paddock's attention toward the hallway outside his hotel suite went to that floor to respond to an alarm due to an open door near Paddock's room. The guard, Jesus Campos, was shot in the leg while checking on the alarm. According to a police-reported timeline, Paddock never fired on the crowd below again after that.

 The alarm from a room "a number of doors down" from Paddock's likely was a coincidence. The door was not forced open, had been open for a while and Paddock didn't have the keys to that room. McMahill said that door either had been left open or didn't shut completely.

 Investigators looking into Sunday's massacre have found no known nexus to terrorism or connections to ISIS.

 Authorities are confident there was not another shooter in Paddock's room but are still trying to determine whether anyone else knew of his plans.

 Authorities do not believe another person used Paddock's room key at the Mandalay Bay hotel.

 Investigators have reviewed "voluminous amounts of video" from different locations, including Mandalay Bay, and have not seen any other person they think at this point is another suspect.

 Asked about video on which Paddock might have discussed motive, McMahill said: "I am not aware that we have recovered any such video."

 Police don't know what the killer was going to do with 50 pounds of explosives found in his car.

 Paddock brought the 23 guns and ammunition he had in his hotel suite over the course of several days, the undersheriff told CNN.

 Paddock's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, continues to cooperate with investigators, her lawyer and McMahill each said Friday. Attorney Matthew Lombard said Danley wouldn't be making any more public statements in the near future.

Pence honors massacre victims

Vice President Mike Pence offered prayers and words of comfort for Las Vegas on Saturday, as he and his wife participated in a citywide "unity prayer walk" in honor of the shooting victims.

"We are with you today. Today we are all Vegas strong," Pence told participants gathered at City Hall. "President Trump personally asked us to be here to stand with you, to pray with you, for strength, comfort and healing."

The President visited Las Vegas on Wednesday. Like Trump, Pence praised first responders, saying, "Their actions undoubtedly saved lives that night."

"We find hope in the heroic actions in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the fire department and all the first responders on that night who, without regard for their personal safety, rushed into harm's way," Pence said.

The vice president called the shooting "a tragedy of unimaginable proportions" and said, "Las Vegas came face to face with pure evil" that night.

Request to seize shooter's assets

The family of one of the concertgoers killed last weekend is asking a Nevada court to appoint a special administrator to take control of the shooter's assets.

John Phippen, 56, of Santa Clarita, California, was at the festival with his son Travis when the shooting started. When the son, a medic, stopped to help someone, Phippen stayed with him and was shielding a woman when he was shot dead, said a neighbor, Leah Nagiyvanyi.

Attorneys for Phippen's family filed the petition Friday in District Court in Clark County. The petition asks a judge to appoint the county's public administrator to account for and control Paddock's estate -- in part to make it available for any future lawsuits filed by the shooting victims.

Paddock, a gambler and retired accountant, owned a home in Mesquite, Nevada, and his brother has said he was a successful real estate investor who owned apartments and houses. Sales agents told CNN that Paddock paid $369,022 in cash for his Mesquite home in 2014.

The court "will notify (Paddock's) family members, and we'll see where this goes," said Richard A. Patterson, a California attorney representing Phippen's son Travis.

"We want (Paddock's estate) administered by the court. I don't think we're at the bottom of (Paddock's assets)," Patterson said.

"We want someone to oversee the assets so it stays the way it is," said Nevada-based probate attorney Richard Chatwin, who is working with Patterson on the petition.

Source: Shooter tried to buy tracer rounds

Paddock tried to buy tracer ammunition at a gun show in the Phoenix area in recent weeks, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told CNN.

Paddock bought other ammunition at the show, but he couldn't obtain the tracer ammunition -- bullets with a pyrotechnic charge that, when the round is fired, leaves an illuminated trace of its path -- because the vendor didn't have any to sell, the official said.

Paddock did not use tracer bullets when he fired into the festival crowd hundreds of yards away.

The official explained that if Paddock had tracer ammunition, he could have had a more precise idea of where his shots were going in the darkness, and could have been more accurate.

Shooters wanting greater accuracy often mix tracer rounds with non-tracers -- perhaps having one tracer every fifth round in a magazine, said Art Roderick, a CNN law enforcement analyst.

"It allows you to keep your weapon on not necessarily a specific target, but a specific area. ... There would have been a lot higher casualty rate if he had tracer rounds," said Roderick, a former assistant director of the US Marshals Service.

But tracer rounds also could have allowed police to see Paddock's location more quickly, CNN law enforcement analyst James Gagliano said.

Without the tracer ammunition, Paddock's location was difficult to determine from the outside, said Gagliano, a retired FBI supervisory special agent.

"The barrel of the rifle -- we could not see muzzle flashes, from the angles I've seen on videos, which meant that he was ... pulled back inside," Gagliano said.

A source close to the investigation told CNN on Friday that authorities think Paddock might have fired at massive jet fuel tanks at McCarran International Airport near his hotel before shooting at the concert crowd.

Did Paddock want to escape?

Six days after the mass shooting, authorities are trying to determine the motivation of the retired accountant, who had no criminal record and did not raise any flags while accumulating his arsenal of weapons.

In addition to the weapons in his hotel suite, Paddock had more than 50 pounds of exploding targets and 1,600 rounds of ammunition in his car in the hotel parking lot, police said, fueling suspicion he intended to survive the massacre.

McMahill said Friday there was no evidence that Paddock intended to use the target material for a homemade bomb.

Escape, in this case, might have meant using the equipment in the car for further assaults until he got caught, said John Sheahan, a former Las Vegas SWAT team member.

"There's one of three ways it's going to end for an active shooter, and they pretty much all know this. You're either going to commit suicide; you're going to ... shoot it out with (police) and you're going to be killed, or you're going to continue on a preplanned rampage at locations B, C, D and E until the police finally stop you," Sheahan said.

"He rented the room in his own name. He's already on video coming in and out. We know who he is. He's going to be the most wanted man in the world if he does try to leave here," he added.

CNN's Dave Alsup, Chris Boyette, Brian Todd, Kyung Lah, Evan Perez, Scott McLean, Sara Weisfeldt and Sheena Jones contributed to this report.
Next years South Carolina African American History Calendar features Orangeburg historian and preservationist Barbara Williams Jenkins.

In addition, Orangeburg native Nathaniel J. Frederick, an attorney and activist, is recognized for his pioneering work.

The 2018 calendar profiles individuals from across the state who have had a positive, compelling impact on South Carolina and, often, across the country.

"The 12 honorees that are profiled in the 2018 African American History Calendar are exceptional individuals that have made a remarkable impact on our state and nation," State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said. "The South Carolina Department of Education is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the African American History Calendar and looks forward to carrying on its legacy for years to come."

The S.C. Department of Education unveiled the 2018 calendar last week.

Jenkins was born in Union and grew up in Orangeburg where she attended Felton Training School and Wilkinson High School. She earned degrees from Bennett College and the University of Illinois and her doctorate from Rutgers University.

Much of her career was devoted to working at South Carolina State University.

She began as a librarian and served in many positions before retiring from the university as dean and professor of library and information services.

She had a keen interest in African American history, and was instrumental in the establishment of the South Carolina State College Historical Collection, where she and her staff oversaw and augmented special collections important to the universitys history.

Williams Jenkins also helped to establish the South Carolina State College Historic District, which is full of historic markers for important structures and historical sites.

She also worked with the South Carolina Archives & History Commission to identify historic buildings and sites in Orangeburg and hosted preservation workshops to encourage others to preserve Orangeburgs significant African American history.

She went on to serve as a charter member of the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission.

Frederick was born in 1877. His father was a Methodist Episcopal minister who was a former slave, as was his mother.

Frederick fought for equal rights for African Americans in the early 1900s. His work is considered a forerunner to the civil rights movement.

Frederick earned bachelors degrees from Claflin University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the latter in history and Latin. Claflin and Benedict College also honored Frederick with honorary masters degrees.

In 1901, Frederick became principal of the Howard School, the only public school for black children in Columbia, with an annual enrollment of more than one thousand students.

He was the first African American to practice law in Richland County and remained the only practicing black attorney until 1940.

In his 25-year legal career, he argued 33 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, several of which earned national recognition. At a time when local and state laws enforced segregation, Frederick was well known in legal circles throughout the country for his passion for equality and justice.

He also served on the executive committee of the Capitol Civic League, an organization whose sole purpose was to contest and contend for constitutional rights and privileges. Frederick led efforts to merge the league with the NAACP, and the Columbia chapter of the organization grew to more than 750 members.

He also founded and edited the Palmetto Leader, a major black newspaper in South Carolina that spoke out against lynching. Frederick died in Columbia one week before his 34th wedding anniversary in 1938 and is buried at Palmetto Cemetery.

Other honorees featured in the 2018 calendar are:

 J. Arthur Brown -- Civil rights statesman and community activist

 Maude E. Callen -- Nurse-midwife and volunteer

 Louise Miller Cohen -- Historian and preservationist

 Mabel James Dickey -- Historic preservationist and social worker

 Percival Everett -- Novelist, painter and educator

 James L. Felder -- Activist, legislator and educator

 Burnett W. Gallman Jr. -- Physician and community leader

 Richard T. Greener -- Professor and attorney

 James L. Moore III -- Educator and counselor

 Elaine Nichols -- Historian and curator

The 2018 calendar is available for download. For more information, visit www.scafricanamericanhistory.com.
The three people seeking to become the Regional Medical Centers next chief executive officer each have several years of leadership experience with health care companies.

The three finalists for the position are:

 Charles Williams, former vice president of performance standards, clinical operations at Dallas, Texas-based, Tenet Healthcare Corporation

 Dr. L. Lee Isley, chief executive officer of Oxford, North Carolina-based, Granville Health System

 Carole E. Peet, president and CEO of Westminster, Colorado-based, St. Anthony North Health Campus

"I am honored to be one of the finalists for the position of CEO at Regional Medical Center," Peet said in a prepared statement. "During the course of interviewing for this opportunity, I have had the pleasure of meeting Board Members, physicians and staff."

"I was so impressed by the passion and engagement of everyone I met," she continued. "If chosen as the next CEO for Regional Medical Center, I look forward to becoming part of the communities it serves and providing healthcare services to the community."

Several attempts to reach Williams and Isley for comment were unsuccessful.

RMC CEO Tom Dandridge was removed by a divided board at the end of January after 24 years leading the hospital.

Search firm Wiff/Kieffer was hired to help find his replacement. It received about 89 applications for the job and sent the hospital about 11.

RMC trustees are in the process of deciding between the final three candidates. The board does not expect to select a CEO until the end of the year.

The candidates resumes show a wide range of experiences in the health care field:

Charles E. Williams has served as a senior healthcare executive for over 20 years.

From 2014 to 2016, Williams served as vice president of performance standards, clinical operations at Tenet Healthcare Corporation.

During his time, he was able to implement programs that helped implement cost savings and reductions contributing to increases in revenues and a reduction in managed care financial losses.

Prior to this position at Tenant, Williams served as the chief operating officer at Doctors Hospital from 2011 to 2014. Its a 218-bed, full-service acute care hospital.

The hospital's revenue was $757 million and employed 700.

There he oversaw operational efficiencies of multiple outpatient centers specializing in sleep medicine, bariatric weight loss, womens imaging and wound care.

He directed operations of radiology, pharmacy, cardio-pulmonary services and laboratory services, to name a few.

From 2009 to 2011, he served as vice president of operations for the JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas. The system is comprised of a 567-bed Level 1 trauma center, Level III NICU, psychiatric hospital, oncology clinic, surgical hospital and 40-plus clinics.

Other positions he has held at various hospitals include director of rehabilitation services at LifeCare Hospitals in Fort Worth, Texas from 1999 to 2006.

Williams received his bachelors degree in community health/health studies at Texas Woman's University; masters degree in business administration from the University of Texas in Arlington; and his masters in occupational therapy from Texas Woman's University.

He has served on a number of health care boards and community boards in Texas. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Dr. L. Lee Isley has worked at the Granville Health System as CEO since August 2006.

Under his leadership, Isley has implemented a master facility plan including the initiation of a $21 million construction project on the main campus.

Isley says under his leadership, net patient revenues have increased by 90 percent.

Prior to his service at Granville, Isley also served as the chief administrative officer for the 170-bed Tennessee-based Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System from July 2004 to August 2006 where he restored profitability to the hospital's home health and hospice agency.

He also implemented a financial turnaround plan for the health system.

Prior to Morristown, Isley served as the chief operating officer of the Sylva, North Carolina WestCare Health System from 1995 to 2004; chief operating officer from November 2002 to July 2004; vice president of strategic services from 2000 to 2002 and assistant vice president from 1998 to 2000.

Isley has also served as a county director of emergency services as well as a county EMS administrative officer.

Isley graduated from Western Carolina University in July 1987 with a bachelors degree in emergency care management. He went on to receive his masters in business administration from Elon University in 1991.

He received his doctor of philosophy in community health/public health in May 2002 from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. His dissertation was on The Relationship of Market Conditions, Management Practices and Medical Staff Attributes to the Operating Profit of Small Rural Hospitals.

Isley served in the U.S. Army/ U.S. Army Reserves from 1991 until 2002.

Isley has been involved in a number of professional and civic organizations in North Carolina and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

He has written for a number of health care publications and periodicals on trauma care, rural hospital care and physician recruitment.

Carole Peet has served as the president and CEO of St. Anthony North Health Campus in Westminster, Colorado since September 2011.

The hospital is a multi-campus facility with 880 employees and gross revenue exceeding $710 million.

During her tenure, Peet has managed net revenue of over $180 million and has helped lead a financial turnaround of the hospital from two years at a negative 10 percent margin to a positive 4 percent margin.

Peet led a $176 million design and build of a new 100-bed facility and 60,000 square feet of physician clinic space. The project was completed $5 million under budget, according to Peet's resume.

Peet was also able to open 12,000 square feet of neighborhood health centers with primary care rotating specialists and helped to develop a 20,000-square-foot freestanding emergency development in the service area.

Prior to her work at St. Anthony North, Peet served as the president of newly formed St. Anthony Hospital in Washington. The hospital was an 80-bed acute care facility.

The hospital had revenues of $180 million and over 400 employees. The hospital received accreditation status within six months of opening.

The hospital's first year of operations saw $100 million in net revenues during its first year.

Peet served as the chief nursing officer and assistant administrator of patient care services for 52-bed acute care Sutter Coast Hospital in California from 2001 to 2008.

Peet received her bachelors degree in nursing from Seton Hall University in New Jersey; her masters in nursing administration from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and her masters in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

Peet is a member of a number of professional health care associations including being a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
At the top of the U.S. Capitol stands the statue of Freedom Triumphant, the work of sculptor Thomas Crawford. The statue, originally approved by then-U.S. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, was installed in 1863 during a Civil War that, as president of the Confederacy, Davis himself led to defend slavery.

Both as a symbol and as an example of 19th-century craftsmanship, Crawfords work is worth appreciating. But the same cannot be said for several less-exalted statutes of civilian and military leaders of the Confederacy  men who led the war against the United States. The states that contributed these sculptures to the Capitol should do the right thing and replace them with other, more fitting monuments. Until then, a congressional committee with the power to remove these statues from public view should do so.

No matter what some apologists for the cause may say, it is absolutely clear the Confederacy started the Civil War and did so in order to preserve slavery. We know this because the South fired the first shots and because in their ordinances of secession, all of the states that gave reasons for leaving the union said that they were doing so to defend slavery. If that isnt enough, consider the frank description of the Confederacys ideals provided by Alexander Stephens, Davis vice president.

The cornerstone of Confederate government, he explained, rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery  subordination to the superior race  is his natural and normal condition.

In light of such sentiments, it is deeply disturbing that Stephens, Davis and an additional six men who played an active role in making war on the United States have memorial statues in the U.S. Capitol.

After the Souths defeat in the Civil War, of course, the slave system formally ended in America but the racial discrimination that undergirded it did not. Indeed, many former Confederates and their ideological fellow travelers  many of whom had held high offices in the Confederacy  used a mix of terrorist attacks and unconstitutional laws to create the Jim Crow system that oppressed African-Americans for nearly a century. That system has left an enduring legacy.

Most of Confederate monuments in the United States were erected during the Jim Crow era and were intended as affirmations of white supremacy and sentinels of its power. Within the Capitol, each state selects two statues to send for display. Under Jim Crow, the legislatures of seven former Confederate states chose monuments that depicted leaders of the Confederacy. Whatever else these men may have done in their lives, it does not excuse the fact that they led their people to commit treason.

Accordingly, all of these eight statues should go. The U.S. Capitol is not merely a building; it is one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States of America. As such, the high honor of being commemorated within its halls should go only to people who supported, exemplified or helped build the country. Clearly, those who actively tried to destroy it are not fitting symbols, and this alone  not personal virtue or even opinions on slavery  should be the criteria for removal.

Indeed, there are other statues of people in the Capitol who were virtually bereft of personal virtue  such as former Louisiana Gov. Huey Long  as well as vehement supporters of slavery  such as South Carolina statesman John C. Calhoun. Whatever their defects, at least they did not commit treason the way leading Confederates did.

Likewise, service to the Confederacy during the war should not be disqualifying either: eminent lawyer Uriah Milton Rose and Supreme Court Chief Justice Edward Douglas White both served the Confederacy at low levels but made their names in the law long after the war.

But treason in defense of white supremacy? Thats just not acceptable.

Theres an easy way to solve this. After all, private entities raise the money to build the statues and states are free to replace after they have been on display for 10 years.

While it might be desirable to pass a bill such as the one introduced by Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, and Barbara Lee, D-California, another approach may be more expeditious. The speaker of the House and vice president of the United States (acting in his capacity as president of the Senate) should ask the legislatures of the states that have sent Confederate statues to declare their intent to replace them and find representatives of their states who are not guilty of treason.

In the meantime, of its own volition, the Joint Committee on the Library should instruct the Architect of the Capitol to relocate the statues to another place in the building that is far from public view. If states do not find solutions within a reasonable amount of time, Congress should take a vote on a bill like Bookers and return the statues.

In short, the continued presence of Confederate statues in the U.S. Capitol embarrasses America, and thus there is no good reason to delay their removal.
The Boston Herald described it as a foray into the sea of battles that don't need to be fought.

Efforts to wipe out history through tributes, memorials, monuments and statues related to people and events on this today are focused on Christopher Columbus, the explorer credited with discovering America and to whom we recognize with Columbus Day on the second Monday in October.

If some have their way, Columbus Day will go away. In places such as New York and Los Angeles, the day and any tribute to Columbus have been eliminated or are under review.

In Los Angeles, the city council voted to side with the Los Angeles Native American Indian Commission  which calls recognizing Columbus a state-sponsored celebration of genocide and indigenous people.

Despite pleas from an Italian-American group not to act, the council decided the second Monday in October (Columbus Day) now will be Indigenous Peoples Day. Its already that way in Seattle, Denver and some other cities.

David Tucker, a senior fellow at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, Ohio, and the author of Revolution and Resistance: Moral Revolution, Military Might, and the End of Empire, makes the case that our country and the world are indebted to Columbus. In writing for InsideSources.com, he acknowledges that dark thoughts about Columbus and other explorers as conquerors are not misplaced.

Yet, when we think them we also should remember what the world was like when Europeans collided with the natives of North America and why that world no longer exists.

He points out that Europeans headed west in the 15th century to what they thought was Asia because they were blocked from going east by the Muslim empires of the time. In Asia, China was rich and powerful beyond anything to which the Europeans could aspire. Compared to the Muslims and Chinese, the Europeans were poor, backward and weak.

The Europeans suffered as the weak always do, Tucker writes. Terrible plagues from Asia brought by commerce already had killed 100 million Europeans. They also suffered from slavery. Indeed, for many years Europes most valuable export to the Middle East was its own people, sold as slaves by the Vikings.

The Europeans who conquered the Western hemisphere acted as people had always acted, no better or no worse; those they conquered suffered as the weaker always suffer, as the Europeans themselves had suffered, Tucker states. Of course, to say that Europeans acted as others had acted doesnt justify the awful things Europeans did to each other, and to non-Europeans, in their long history. But it might persuade us to moderate our condemnation of Columbus and to judge him less harshly.

And what about what resulted from European conquest in the new world and elsewhere?

Tucker writes: The same power that enabled the Europeans to conquer the world also allowed them to impose their later views of human rights on the world. Even as the conquest was reaching its zenith in the 19th century, Europeans were bringing to the world the then-novel idea that one group of people did not have the right to impose its will on another group.

The assertion of the self-evident truth of human equality followed in the Declaration of Independence and was carried further by the British, who suppressed the slave trade with their all-powerful navy, commercial might and insistent diplomacy, and led the campaign for the abolition of slavery. It was completed by American insistence after World War I and II that people everywhere have the right to self-determination.

So on this Columbus Day, consider Tuckers conclusion: We need no triumphalism. Instead, let it be a day to ponder the good and evil that humans are capable of and to wonder how we might encourage more of the good.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

The Fourth Azerbaijan Youth Film Festival organized with support of U.S. Embassy, Desperado music school and Azerbaijan Alumni Association was held at CinemaPlus Azerbaijan cinema theaters on October 1-3.

Being titled Tell your story this years festival screened the films made by Azerbaijani, American and European filmmakers.

The first day of the festival was held in the cinema CinemaPlus G?nclik Mall with a buffet and live music of the group Ahmedowsky Trio.

The festivals director Mike Rayburn, representative of the U.S. Embassy Ferghani Aliyev, director Samir Kerimoglu and special guest Pablo Mohave,told about the festival, aimed at developing cinematography in the country, establishing bridges between the countries, exchanging experience with foreign specialists.

Mike Rayburn, festivals director said Azerbaijani young filmmakers are very talented and expressed the confidence that in the future they will succeed at international festivals along with American directors.

Filmmaker Pablo Mohave, participant of Cannes Film Festival said that current development of information technologies allows to make high quality film with mobile phone.

Afterwards, short films dedicated to refugees and IDPs were screened.

On the second day of the festival, about 40 short films of young directors and participants from Azerbaijan, as well as Georgian filmmakers were shown at the CinemaPlus Az?rbaycan Cinema.

Tamta Gabrichidze answered questions from the audience and shared his experience. Pablo Mohave made a presentation on the use of virtual reality in documentary films.

The films of the winners were demonstrated on the last day of the festival at the CinemaPlus G?nclik Mall. All participants of the festival were awarded certificates, and prize-winners received valuable gifts. Deputy Director General of the CinemaPlus Cinema Network and Cinemazadeh Director Jafar Akhundzadeh congratulated the participants of the festival and noted the importance of the project for the Azerbaijani youth.












Armenia has once again disgraced itself and the resumption of negotiations is not a gesture for Azerbaijan, said Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev.

He made the remarks addressing a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to results of socio-economic development in nine months of 2017 and objectives for the future on October 9.

Azerbaijan voices its position directly for foreign partners, said the head of state.

President Aliyev noted that his speeches during official visits and international events reflect the policy of Azerbaijan, as well as the success achieved by the country and once again bring the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh problem to the attention of the world community.

Heads of more than 10 states and governments visited Azerbaijan, he noted adding that new visits are also expected until the end of 2017.

In other words, Azerbaijans international relations are multidimensional, added the president.

Our foreign policy ensures our national interests, said President Aliyev adding that Azerbaijan is a country with great respect and very positive reputation on the international arena.

The president emphasized that Azerbaijans position on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unchanged.

This position was announced openly from the highest tribunes of the world, said President Aliyev.

Nagorno-Karabakh is our historical and ancestral land; we must return and will return to this land. The territorial integrity of our country is not and will never be a topic of negotiations. We will never allow the creation of a second Armenian state in our lands, and the restoration of our territorial integrity is our primary duty, noted the Azerbaijani president.

As you know, there is no progress in negotiations recently. Armenia tried and thought that it will be able to break negotiations. In other words, by accusing us with various excuses, it tried not to resume the negotiations and had set several conditions to achieve this. Of course, I initially stated that no conditions will be accepted. They put themselves in a very foolish state when putting forward these conditions and they will be forced to abandon this policy. Life and reality once again show that as always, our analysis and our policy reflect the full reality, said President Aliyev.

He went on to say that today the negotiation process is being resumed without any conditions.

Armenia has once again disgraced itself before the world community and the resumption of negotiations is not a gesture for us, added the president.

Armenias hysterical statements, its appeals to other countries that are full of fear, are, in fact, an open confession that it is impossible for them to stand in front of us in the battle, said President Aliyev. He added that the April battles demonstrated this.

The situation on the line of contact shows that today Azerbaijan fully controls the line of contact, noted the head of state.

Of course, Armenia should be more interested in restoring negotiations, said President Aliyev adding that otherwise, Armenia will face bitter consequences.

Mediators involved in the issue try for the resumption of the negotiation process, and of course, Azerbaijan supports this, noted the head of state.

Therefore, I would like to reiterate that even though no realistic result has been achieved this year, Armenia has once again presented itself as a weak, dependent country to the world community, concluded the Azerbaijani president.
By Trend

Last week, the Iranian government started granting elementary insurance coverage to agricultural products.

The project was kicked off in Char Mahal-Bakhtiari Province, where authorities cited support for domestic product as the motive.

The Iranian government has been paying more and more attention to rural areas and their residents, who are responsible for about 90 percent of the countrys agricultural output.

Agricultures share in Iranian economy is a little above 30 percent. There are 2,600 rural districts in Iran with a population of 20.7 million. Irans total population is 80 million. Rural population declined by close to 800,000 over the past five years, growing concerns with officials over migration.

The recent insurance plan would have the government pay up to 85 percent of the insurance fee. The insurance claims will cover wheat, grapes, apples, pistachio, livestock, and eggs.

Farmers in Iran will be paid as much as 113.5 trillion rials for last years damage to their agricultural products this fiscal year (to end March 20, 2018), sources recently reported.

According to official announcements, a full, nationwide insurance coverage in Iran would cost 300 to 400 trillion rials.

About 19.1 percent of the country's labor force has been employed in the agriculture sector in recent years.

(33,856 rials = 1 USD on October 6)
By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan continues to take consistent steps aimed at developing its textile industry.

Another modern textile factory worth a total of $92 million will be built in Uzbekistan till late 2018, podrobno.uz reported.

The project was initiated by the joint venture Namangan Sharbati, the National Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs and Uzbekengilsanoat.

The factory will annually produce 10,000 tons of polyester fiber, 10,000 tons of polyester yarn, 20 million running meters of mixed fabrics, and 7,000 tons of blended linen.

The project is financed through Namangan Sharbati joint ventures equity worth $30 million and the Uzbek Reconstruction and Development Funds loan worth $62 million.

The head of state provided a number of privileges and preferences to the Namangan Sharbati JV in the framework of the implemented project.

The factory will be exempt from paying corporate income tax, value added tax and mandatory contributions to the Republican Road Fund under the Uzbek Finance Ministry, till January 1, 2022.

It is also exempted from customs payments for imported equipment, components, raw materials, materials and chemicals used for the manufacturing products based on chemical raw materials that are not manufactured in the country.

One of the policy priorities of Uzbekistan, the worlds sixth-largest cotton producer, is further development of its textile industry. Uzbekistan takes consistent steps to increase the volume of cotton fiber processing.

Uzbekistan intends to implement 132 investment projects in the textile industry, half of which will be financed through foreign investments and loans, by the end of 2019. The total cost of projects will amount to nearly $2.2 billion.

In particular, it is planned to create 112 modern, high-tech industrial factories, expand, modernize and technologically upgrade 20 operating capacities. All this will increase the export potential of the industry up to $2.5 billion a year and create more than 25,000 jobs.

In the period 2010-2014, the textile industry of Uzbekistan received and spent foreign investments worth $785 million while 147 new textile enterprises with participation of investors from Germany, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, the U.S., Turkey and other countries were commissioned. Export potential of these enterprises amounted to $670 millions.

Currently, Uzbekistan continues to attract foreign investments for construction of textile enterprises in Uzbekistan. In late August, another Polish company Polcotton agreed to invest about $60 million in the construction of the textile complex in Uzbekistan. The future factory is expected to have a capacity of 10,000 tons of finished products per year and to generate as many as 1,200 new jobs.

Previously, Uzbekistan and Russia agreed to further expand cooperation in textile industry which is a strategic centerpiece of the Uzbek economy. Particularly, they intend to create a "green corridor" for the supply of textile products.
By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

U.S. President Donald Trump, a widely-known critic of the JCPOA, accused Iran of financially supporting North Korea, which develops its nuclear missiles, saying that it violates the provisions of the nuclear deal.

"I believe they [Iranians] are funding North Korea. I believe theyre trading with North Korea. I believe theyre doing things with North Korea that are totally inappropriate," Trump said in an interview with American politician and commentator Mike Huckabee for TBN.

?Trump reiterated his dissatisfaction with the Iran nuclear deal, accusing Tehran of destabilizing the situation in the Middle East.

In the interview, he promised to give more information about the Iran deal later but quite soon  in a few days or a week. He also called Iran a bad player and said that he will deal with it accordingly.

U.S. President Donald Trump intends to announce the cancellation of the nuclear deal with Iran next week,

The Washington Post newspaper previously announced that Trump intends to cancel the nuclear deal as a deadline for recertifying Irans compliance is drawing closer.

It is believed that Trump would not recommend the Congress to re-impose sanctions in order to reach a compromise with many congressional leaders who stand for keeping the deal at least with some changes.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated that neither Trump nor "ten other Trumps" will be able to nullify the benefits that Tehran receives from the nuclear deal.

The Iran nuclear deal was negotiated in July 2015 between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany. By ratifying the plan, Iran agreed to scale down its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

At the same time, the U.S. retains sanctions against Iran on the missile program, human rights and on suspicion that Tehran sponsors terrorism.

Currently, Washington insists on inspections of Iran's military facilities by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) under the JCPOA. However, Tehran rejects such inspections.

The presidential administration was previously instructed to review its policy on Iran, not only looking at Tehran's compliance with the nuclear deal but also its behavior in the region.
By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

Turkey may close the Incirlik military base for the U.S. Air Force as diplomatic rift between two countries escalates further, Turkish media outlets reported on October 9.

The Incirlik Air Base is one of the main bases of the United States and the NATO alliance in the region. Aircrafts of the countries of the international coalition led by the United States, which participates in air operations against ISIS, are based here.

The reason for this move is that the U.S. previously suspended the issuance of visas to Turkish citizens.

Recent events had forced the U.S. government to reassess Turkeys commitment to the security of American mission services and personnel in the country, the U.S. embassy in Ankara said in a statement.

This decision followed the October 4 arrest of a Turkish national who works at the U.S. consulate in Istanbul for alleged involvement in the July 2016 coup attempt aimed to overthrow the Turkish president. The U.S. embassy stated earlier that it was deeply disturbed over the arrest and rejected the allegations against the employee as wholly without merit.

Following this, the Turkish Embassy in the U.S. also announced that processing non-immigrant visa applications have been suspended. Non-immigrant visas are issued to the people who travel for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study.

Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in New York, where Trump praised Erdogan as a friend despite tensions in two countries relations over a number of issues.

This latest incident aggravated the already tense relationship between Washington and Ankara. The two countries have clashed over the U.S. support for Kurdish rebels in Syria as well as Turkish demands that the United States extradite Fethullah Gulen, a cleric whom Ankara blames for a military coup attempt of last July.

In addition, Ankaras rapprochement with Russia and purchase of S-400 missiles become the subject of criticism by the U.S.
By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan Airways office in Tajikistan announced the reduction of the ticket price for a flight from Dushanbe to Tashkent by 200 somoni (more than $20).

Now, the flight to the Uzbek capital costs 1,034 somoni ($118), Tajik media reported.

When this spring the first scheduled Dushanbe-Tashkent flight took place, many citizens complained about the high price of tickets.

Uzbek Ambassador to Tajikistan Shokhasym Shoislamov said at the time that ordinary citizens of two neighboring countries should take advantage of the flight, and entrepreneurs can get anywhere with their capabilities.

The decision to reduce prices was taken a month ago. Every week on Tuesdays, the airline carries up to 50-60 passengers from Dushanbe to Tashkent. The capacity of the aircraft is 150 people. Some of the passengers fly to Tashkent by transit, and then to the other countries. These passengers do not need to obtain an Uzbek visa and they have the right to stay in the Tashkent airport for up to 24 hours. Visa regime currently operates between the two Central Asian countries.

Uzbekistan Airlines performed the first flight en route Tashkent - Dushanbe - Tashkent on April 11.

Flights between the two countries were terminated in the autumn of 1992, and Uzbekistan introduced a visa regime for travel to Tajikistan in 2000.

The air traffic was interrupted with the beginning of civil war in Tajikistan, there were virtually no commercial, economic and political ties. The relations began to restore in 2016.

In autumn 2016, a protocol on cooperation was signed between the civil aviation authorities of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the air transport sector.

Uzbekistan Airways performed the first charter flight to Dushanbe in November 2016.

Uzbekistan Airways is a monopoly air carrier in Uzbekistan, wholly owned by the state. The aircraft fleet of the Uzbek airline currently has 31 aircraft of western production, including thirteen Boeing passenger aircraft, thirteen airbuses (three A-310 and ten A-320-200), three medium-haul RJ-85s and two cargo planes Boeing-767-300BCF.

The Uzbek airline operates flights to over 20 cities in Europe, America, the Middle East, Asia, 22 cities of the CIS countries and 11 destinations on local airlines.
Saudi Aramco on Sunday (October 8) marked another significant milestone in its international portfolio expansion with the opening of Aramco Asia Indias new office in capital New Delhi.



The office was inaugurated by Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser at a special event which was attended by Dharmendra Pradhan, Indias Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Saudi Ambassador to India Dr Saud Alsati besides other senior Indian government officials, heads of Indian major oil companies, as well as business and industry partners.



The new facility will assume major roles in attracting more Indian manufacturers and investors to participate in the companys In-Kingdom Total Value Addition (IKTVA) program, said a statement from Saudi Aramco.



It will also strive towards qualifying more vendors in commodities which Saudi Aramco requires for its projects and operations as well as strengthening R&D (research and development) collaboration with Indian expertise and continuing the momentum of supply for the countrys oil and related products demand. India imports 81 per cent of its oil need from abroad.



For Saudi Aramco, India represents much more than a valued customer or even a major supplier of services and materials. Today, India is an investment priority, remarked Nasser in his welcoming remarks at the inauguration.



Speaking at the launch, Pradhan said: "Today is a historic day for us with Aramcos growing presence marking a new chapter in the relationship between Saudi Arabia and India."



"Aramco is a key partner for Indian refiners and theres great potential to take our partnership to a higher level beyond the supply of crude oil, refined products and LPG to new areas of R&D, engineering and technology. In return, India can offer (competitive) cost and capacity advantages," he noted.



Lauding the gesture, Nasser said: "We are here to meet Indias future energy demands by offering a strong relationship involving secure and reliable supply of energy feedstock to fuel the countrys dynamic growth.



"And India has the necessary human capital and expertise that can help us grow from strength to strength," he added.



Nasser pointed out that the high volume of new business opportunities awaits to be unlocked from potential synergy between Saudi Aramco and Indian entities with Aramco Asia India providing the vital strategic link between the companys headquarters in Dhahran and New Delhi.



"It also demonstrates Saudi Aramcos readiness to play a role in Indias economic growth and development which is expected to be the fastest in the next decade, on top of the companys existing role as a leading oil supplier to India for many years," observed Nasser.



As reliable suppliers of oil and LPG for decades we are committed to providing those additional supplies that India will need, he added.



Nasser will also be attending the inaugural India Energy Forum by CERAWeek as a key speaker alongside Pradhan; and the Secretary-General of Opec Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo.-TradeArabia News Service
Mercury NashvilleAfter 15 years without a new album, Shania Twains comeback is now officially an overwhelming success: her new record, NOW, just debuted at #1 in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

As previously reported, Shania bows at #1 on both the Billboard 200 and the country album chart in the U.S., making her the first female country artist to lead the all-genre ranking in three years. Carrie Underwood last accomplished that feat with her Storyteller record.

This is an emotional day as I take in the great news that my new album has come in at #1, the Canadian country/pop superstar says. I am deeply moved to have your support and soon we will be singing the songs together in concert on my upcoming tour where I will have the chance to celebrate with you in person. Cant wait!

Shania kicks off her NOW Tour May 3 in Tacoma, Washington.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
More than 200 companies from across the region are taking part in the fourth Middle East Process Engineering Conference & Exhibition (Mepec) 2017, which opened in Bahrain on Monday (October 9).



Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Mepec is organised by the Middle East Energy Events in collaboration with the National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga).



HRH Prime Minister deputised Deputy Premier Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa to open the event. He conveyed greetings from HRH the Prime Minister to the event organisers, as well as his appreciation of the efforts they are exerting to ensure its success and prove anew the kingdoms progress in the exhibitions and conferences industry, a BNA report said.

Minister of Oil Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and other senior government officials and top executives of leading companies including Sabic, Saudi Aramco, Shell, Bapco and Tasnee were present at the inauguration.



Shaikh Ali affirmed the Prime Ministers unwavering support for the exhibitions and conferences industry, given its role in boosting the kingdoms economic status.



The deputy premier asserted that Mepec, which has been patronised and supported by HRH Premier ever since it first began in 2011, has become a major international platform where knowledge, opinions and expertise in the fields of oil and gas are exchanged among experts and specialists from many national, regional and world oil companies.



Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa toured the exhibition, and expressed admiration for the showcased products which are related to latest products in the oil, gas and petrochemicals sector.



He lauded the outstanding organisation of the exhibition, stressing that its distinguished status has attracted mega world and regional companies to it.



The deputy premier affirmed that the oil industries sector is making quantum leaps thanks to the constant support of the leadership.



He extended sincere thanks and appreciation to Mepec 2017 organisers and participants, wishing them further success.



Themed "Sustainable Growth through Process Innovation & Downstream Integration", Mepec is expected to draw more than 5,000 visitors representing 250 companies and institutions from 35 countries.

With an exciting line-up of industry initiatives and thought-provoking content, industry leaders and participating process engineers will engage in technical conversations over the next two days and find solutions to current industry challenges.

Mepecs technical sessions will feature four main topics - Process Design and Development, Process Excellence, Sustainability and Downstream Integration for Value Creation.



The programme focuses on key priorities for the region, whilst bringing synergy and collaboration between industries, said the event organisers.



There will be 48 technical presentations delivered by leading regional and international key players including Sabic, Saudi Aramco, Shell, Bapco, Tasnee, Honeywell, Sadara Chemical Company, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Rexa Inc, AspenTech and ExxonMobil Chemical at the event.



One of the key highlights of the Mepec will be the workshops facilitated by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Academy.



The workshops titled The Keys to Managing a Capital Project Successfully and Spreadsheet Problem-Solving for Chemical Engineers will run concurrently from 9am to 5pm on October 10 and 11.



Special emphasis will be placed on detail planning, monitoring and controlling a capital project, and the use of quantitative risk analysis as the basis of cost and schedule contingency.



The attendees will get to join chemical engineer and Excel expert David Clough and learn tips and techniques unknown to many engineers that will help solve chemical engineering problems faster and accurately, said the organisers.



Additionally, Mepec aims to bring together industry leaders, students and professionals alike for a high- impact scientific exchange during the iPoster sessions.



On all the three days, there will be 42 digital posters displayed, providing an interactive platform for authors and visitors to engage and transfer knowledge.



Also a not-to-be-missed event is the second AIChE Middle East Regional Chem-E-Car Competition, the only competition of its kind in the region, which challenges undergraduate students to develop and construct a car powered by a chemical or a biochemical energy source, which will safely transport a specified weight over a given distance and then stop. Five universities from the region will compete for the top spot on October 10.



ChemME another key initiative of Mepec gives graduates, undergraduates and young professionals in the region a chance to learn from leaders in their industry, solve design challenges, attend technical debates and join in a plant tour of Bapco.



Mepecs ICZ - Innovation & Commercialisation Zone gives start-ups a platform to showcase their creative solution, proof of concept designs and working prototypes to the regions premier audience of process engineers.



The innovation zone offers a lively, interactive experience to all participants demonstrating solutions, applications, and technologies on specific industry challenges.



With over 27 exhibitors coming from countries including Portugal, Saudi Arabia and UAE, the 2017 Innovation and Commercialisation Zone is restricted to new companies with limited revenues and a promising idea, said the organisers.



Because of this, the ICZ initiative forms a unique ecosystem for the celebration of the cutting-edge. With this feature, visitors across all three days of the Mepec will have the opportunity to see potentially the next big thing before it hits the mainstream.



A major attraction at the event is Lewas (The Leadership Excellence for Women Awards), an award programme dedicated to recognising professional excellence in women from the oil and gas industry.



Women engineers are among some of the most distinguished contributors to the engineering community. The award programme honours achievements in academics, corporate excellence, women in achievement and a male corporate champion whos made a significant contribution in promoting women diversity in the workplace.



This year saw a remarkable increase in nominations across every category. With over 200 applications across seven categories, the judging panel had a daunting task of deciding on the final shortlist given the high calibre of achievements, said the organisers.



For the first time, Lewas will present its 'Illuminating Your Path Workshop' on October 10 and the Women Symposium the next day where women academics, engineers and technical experts will get to share their challenges and engage in an open dialogue that addresses issues on gender gap, corporate excellence and woman empowerment.



Apart from Lewas, two other co-located events will take place alongside Mepec for the very first time. These are The Middle East Fine and Specialty Chemicals Conference and Exhibition and the Middle East Process Safety Conference.



Combining these four shows makes for an un-missable, world-class networking event for visitors, delegates, investors, and government related organisations, said the organisers.



Over 103 expert speakers and moderators, high-level dignitaries, CEOs and process-engineering professionals are expected to attend the event, they added.-TradeArabia News Service
Dresser-Rand business, part of Siemens Power and Gas Division, has appointed Paulo Ruiz Sternadt as its chief executive officer.



Ruiz Sternadt succeeds Judith Marks who will leave the company at her own request, said a statement.



In his new role, Ruiz Sternadt brings to this position extensive leadership experience including more than 16 years with Siemens in multiple global roles in the US, Germany, Mexico and Brazil.



He most recently was executive vice president of global solutions for the Dresser-Rand business and a member of its executive staff.



In this role, he was responsible for creating new business opportunities and delivering solutions to customers for the Dresser-Rand business, which will serve the business well in the future.



Before joining the Dresser-Rand business, Ruiz Sternadt held a number of senior global business leadership roles in Siemens Energy Management Division in markets around the world.



This experience provides valuable perspective to the Dresser-Rand business as energy markets continue to integrate along the energy value chain, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, a Dubai Government entity which aims to promote scientific innovation, has won the first IAF Excellence in 3G Diversity Award at the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia.



The Centre received the award from the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) for its contributions to the fostering of 3G (Geography, Generation, Gender) Diversity within the space sector.



Salem Al Marri, assistant director general for Scientific & Technical Affairs at MBRSC received the Award from the president of IAF, Dr Jean-Yves Le Gall and chair of the Award Committee, Mary Snitch.



Dr Le Gall said: The MBRSC has demonstrated to be an outstanding organization, having diversity in their genes. They are an example to the entire space community. The IAF is proud to receive its first IAF Excellence in 3G Diversity Award to such impressive organization contributing to the foster of the 3G Geography, Generation and Gender.



Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, director general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre said: we are honoured to receive the first IAF Excellence in 3G Diversity Award, which reflects our strategy since 2006; Geography, Generation, Gender.



The Centre has built strategic partnerships with different organizations and had cooperation ties around the world. We have started with a strategic partnership with Satrec Initiative with a knowledge transfer program to gain the knowledge of building satellites. It was a cornerstone in the owning the basic requirements for a satellite industry, namely, building national capabilities and which lead to the success in localizing space sector in the country, he added.



MBRSC proved its international presence, through establishing partnerships with international institutions reflecting its openness and cooperation to serve the development of space sector and its peaceful uses, Al-Shaibani noted.



"MBRSC team gave an honourable image of the Emirati youth. The team is leading important projects that will serve humanity and human life, in which they are creative and innovative in implementing them.- TradeArabia News Service
Telia, a new generation telecom company, is deploying the first public 5G live network use cases in Europe in collaboration with Ericsson and Intel Corporation.



This includes a high-speed 5G connection to a commercial passenger cruise ship delivering internet connectivity to the ship and its passengers while in port, and an industrial use case featuring a construction excavator remotely controlled with a live 5G network.



The move is an important milestone in the global 5G roadmap, moving Ericsson, Intel, and Telia, and more importantly Telia customers, closer to the goal of bringing 5G services to life in both Tallinn and Stockholm in 2018, two of the most digitalized cities in the world.



Gabriela StyfSjoman, global head of Networks, Telia Company said: We want to be early with 5G and will bring it to life in Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki in 2018. We work together with our partners in the whole eco-system to explore the powerful effect it is going to have for our customers and in society.



Its not only about building a new network but its also about building a new way of thinking and perceiving what a mobile network can be and can do. High speed, low latency, guaranteed capacity and truly mobile is going to push the boundaries of digitalization and we want to be there pushing it together with our partners.



Deploying early 5G solutions in real-world settings is vital for the industry to learn how the various technologies integrate into different types of businesses, in what type of environments it performs best and the interoperability between systems across the network, cloud and devices



Telia and Ericsson announced a joint roadmap in 2016 that aims to let Telia customers experience 5G services in 2018 in Tallinn and Stockholm. Now in collaboration with Intel, early examples of these services have been brought to life in these use cases for consumers and businesses.



The real life 5G environment for Tallink was created at the Port of Tallinn to test and explore how the new mobile technology can provide higher data connection speeds and improved quality. During the test in September, 5G technology was deployed for the whole ship while it was in harbour. The technology enabled Wi-Fi usage for 2,000 passengers and the ships own information and communications technology systems. This is a first example of many uses that 5G will provide access to in transport situations, as well as very broad gigabit wireless services delivered to consumers.



Gearing up for 5G, the participants in the EU Digital Summit taking place today in Tallinn have a unique opportunity to experience what it feels like to remotely control machinery  in this case an industrial excavator - via an augmented reality remote control operated over an ultrafast live 5G link with very low latency. This shows how a machine operator can work with 5G remote controlled excavators in hazardous environments, from the comfort and safety of an office environment. This highlights the capabilities and opportunities 5G will bring to harsh or dangerous industrial settings.



The solution stack underpinning the cases in Estonia consists of technologies from Ericsson and Intel. An Ericsson 5G base station consisting of 5G antenna, radio and baseband, in conjunction with the Intel 5G Mobile Trial Platform  provides millimetre wave and extends the Telia mobile network to 5G.



Arun Bansal, head of Europe and Latin America, Ericsson, says: Our own report about the 5G business potential identifies a huge opportunity for telecom operators globally who address industry digitalization with 5G. We foresee that they can benefit from a market opportunity of USD 582 billion by 2026 and this represents a potential to add 34 percent growth in revenues. Capturing this market potential requires investment in 5G technology as well as business development, and go-to-market models.



Asha Keddy, vice president and general manager, Next Generation and Standards Group, Intel Corporation, said: Our work together trialing early usages of 5G technologies and the experiences it will bring to different industries, demonstrates the importance of collaboration and the need for seamless flow of data across the network, cloud and devices to make 5G a reality. Intels 5G platforms are critical enablers for todays active, real-world 5G trials with service providers around the globe, providing crucial insights and helping to define the future of 5G.  TradeArabia News Service
Microsoft demonstrated the power of its intelligent cloud in concert with the intelligent edge, at the 37th Gitex Technology Week began yesterday (October 8) in Dubai, UAE.



The four-day ICT show is running at the Dubai World Trade Centre's International Convention Centre.



Microsofts Gitex focus this year is Ignite Your Digital Transformation through showcasing its innovations for all workloads and industries ranging all the way from education to healthcare, and manufacturing to retail - that are allowing millions of organizations worldwide to engage customers, empower employees, optimise operations and transform products and services.



Spanning across Productivity, Business intelligence, Security, Cloud, Mixed Reality, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of things, the exhibits include Intelligent Cloud, Modern Workplace, Windows 10 Creators Update and Devices, and the Partners Zone.



Microsofts professional network provider LinkedIn also showcased its Sales Navigator combined with the power of Dynamics 365 to empower sales teams in building strong relationships.



Digital transformation has extraordinary potential for businesses and organisations of all scales and industries, said Sayed Hashish, regional general manager, Microsoft Gulf. It has the power to automate the mundane and give a freer hand to natural innovators, through the intelligent cloud and the intelligent edge. Our continued participation at Gitex, demonstrates Microsofts commitment to Dubai, the UAE and the wider region by showcasing our portfolio of innovations - empowering organizations to achieve more.



Intelligent cloud experience zone



Microsofts Intelligent Cloud exhibit focused on the all-new Azure Stack and Azure 10, on which enterprises of all types and sizes can build their hybrid clouds, by combining public and private cloud environment to seamlessly share data and applications.



The Azure 10 exhibit showcased a specially selected group of 10 Azure solutions, identified by marketing, sales, and engineering thought-leaders as having the broadest possible applicability among customers. These include Data Centre Transformation; Back-up, Archival and Disaster Recovery; DevTest and DevOps; Redhat on Azure; internal and customer-facing applications; and the Internet of Things. Azure Stack is an extension of Azure that allows the delivery of Azure services from a data centre, while balancing flexibility and control, for truly consistent hybrid-cloud deployments.



Modern workplace zone



At the Modern Workplace Zone where AI is just another member of the team, Gitex delegates witnessed the versatility of Office 365 Business Applications for businesses of all size, from intelligence, collaboration and interactive conferencing, to cutting-edge AI and professional animation. Visitors learned how to share, store, edit and work on common files with colleagues who are an ocean away; create impressive animations in PowerPoint, through the Morph feature; and discovered how to translate documents and emails in other languages into their native tongue.



Microsoft also demonstrated how Office 365 can be used to enhance team fusion on iPhone and Android phones and mentors showed visitors how to manage group and personal security, using advanced permissions features.



Office 365s Delve Analytics also made a star appearance. Microsoft showed how AI can help visualise the productivity of the entire workplace, by monitoring hours spent in meetings, work habits, multitasking, work-life balance, hours of uninterrupted work and other metrics.



Windows 10 creators update and devices zone



Microsoft, along with partners HP, Acer and Lenovo, showcased the latest exciting devices, and demonstrated how Windows 10 Fall Creators Update makes the intelligent edge come to life.



Creators Update features include enhanced Windows Inking, which allows manual pen-style amendments on top of PDFs, making it easier and faster to collaborate. Smart Ink applies artificial intelligence to inking, automatically perfecting the squares users draw, or turning boxes into a table for them, with no extra work.



Microsoft has reimagined the Windows 10 Photos app to deliver the ability to present collections the way users want, with music, 3D, and even inking. Security features include a smarter Windows Defender that consults the intelligent cloud to enable new defences against ransomware and exploits.



Windows Mixed Reality is central to the Creators Update, and Gitex 2017 attendees experienced a unique combination of the physical and digital worlds through Mixed Reality headsets from Microsoft Partners, Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo - that will start to become available from October 17



LinkedIn Showcase



Microsofts professional network provider LinkedIn also appeared at Microsofts Gitex stand to showcase visitors how Dynamics 365 for Sales can work with LinkedIns Sales Navigator to build stronger relationships with customer leads.



Sales teams can ensure they focus on the right prospects with Microsoft Lead Scoring, combined with LinkedIns 400-million-strong member-network and its Sales Navigator Search and Recommended Lead. LinkedIns Sales Navigator Account and Lead Updates keep sales teams current on the most relevant news about prospects. And tight integration with Dynamics 365 delivers up-to-the-minute predictions on opportunities and risks, through advanced engagement signals from Office 365, Dynamics 365 and LinkedIn.



Adobe Showcase



Leading software organisation, Adobe, was also present at the Microsoft stand to showcase the collaboration between the two companies for creating standardized data models for their marketing and business applications. Adobe demonstrated its Adobe Marketing cloud, Adobe Creative cloud and Adobe document cloud powered by Microsoft Azure; providing the company with a global and trusted platform with comprehensive machine learning and cognitive capabilities in Microsoft Cortana Intelligence Suite and SQL Server.



Partners Zone



Microsofts Partners Zone hosted 32 regional partners and ISVs at its Gitex Stand. Each of them showcased solutions and services for all industries, built on top of Microsofts intelligent cloud platform, including IoT, machine learning, Mixed Reality, disaster recovery and Web apps.



Platinum partners this year include AuraPortal, Crayon, Halian International, Sable37, Sitecore, Veritas. Gold partners Alpha Data, Almoe, Ascent, Archinnova, Avid, BlinkStudios, Business Experts, Citrix, Comtrade, Consensys, Diyar, Commvault, F5, Hitachi, Honeywell, Informatica, MedApp, Mindtree, Mobile Doctors, Palo Alto Networks, Parallels, Polycom, Resemble Systems, Riverbed, Sprinklr and Veeam.  TradeArabia News Service
Radio frequency emissions in Bahrain are within international safety limits set forth by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), said a top official.



As per the condition stated in licenses granted by the TRA in Bahrain, telecoms operators are required to ensure that emissions from each radio installation are within ICNIRP limits. They are also required to comply with any future radiation emission standards set by ICNIRP, or have been or will be adopted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, added Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Ramzan Alnoaimi, TRAs director of Technical & Operations.



TRA recently acquired specialized equipment to measure the ambient level of emissions produced by radio-communications stations of telecoms operators within the kingdom.



ICNIRP provides its recommendations, guidelines, and research results to the World Health Organization (WHO), which adopts these recommendations and guidelines as a basis for health regulations and notices concerning protection from electromagnetic field strength (EMF) Radiation.



Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in the use and development of radio-communication technologies. As a result, several radio-communications stations have been deployed to close proximities of public and occupational areas. This has spiked concerns among the public regarding radio frequency emissions.



In the past two years, TRA has measured 2,500 sites; none of which has exceeded the limits and radiation standards of ICNIRP. This year, the EMF of 500 sites has been measured until August and none of them is close to exceeding the ICNIRP standards.



The results are available on TRAs website for public viewing. It is worth mentioning that the TRA initiated the establishment of a website to present the results of measurements to the public and it is divided by clusters.



The TRA hopes that the public view this site to determine the levels of radiating emissions measured in the different areas, a statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
UK-based Sophos, a global leader in network and endpoint security, is showcasing its expanded partner programme, which will enable partners to become cloud security providers, at the ongoing Gitex Technology Week in Dubai, UAE.



Sophos said it is the first next-gen security vendor to introduce a programme specifically designed to help partners address this revenue growth opportunity and make the purchase of its products in Microsofts Azure or Amazon Web Services (AWS) marketplaces channel-friendly.



The expanded programme will now offer training, certification and financial incentives, which will help channel partners support customers using or migrating to the public cloud, the company said in a statement.



According to Gartner, Inc., the worldwide public cloud services market is projected to grow 18 per cent in 2017 and is expected to reach $383.3 billion by 2020.



The company also revealed that Sophos Server Protection is now available for Azure. When used with Sophos XG Firewall on Azure, Sophos Synchronized Security technology will coordinate defences against cyber threats attacking multiple vectors, including virtual machines (VMs) running in Azure, it said.



Harish Chib, vice president - Middle East and Africa (MEA), Sophos, said: Partners in the MEA see a big opportunity to help customers secure their public cloud deployments and they want to continue to receive the same benefits that they get through traditional sales models set up with their vendor partner programmes.



The company is paving the way for this to happen and has created a new programme that delivers the same type of partner programme benefits to partners selling its solutions into public cloud deployments, stated Chib.



As customers in the MEA region increasingly adopt cloud computing  either all-at-once or methodically over time  partners need a strategic business model that includes innovative security technology, reliable vendor training and support, and financial incentives, he noted.



While Microsoft and Amazon manage security for their respective cloud infrastructures, businesses are expected to secure what they bring to cloud.



By working with Sophos, partners can play an important advisory role on what customers need whether they are newly migrating, are all-in or have a hybrid scenario, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The UAE has won the bid to host the 71st International Astronautical Congress (IAC), the largest specialised conference in the global space sector in 2020.



The announcement of Dubai as the winning city was made by International Astronautical Federation (IAF) today (September 30) at a ceremony held during IAC 2017 in Adelaide, Australia.



With this, the UAE has become the first country in the region to host the mega event since it was held for the first time in 1950, said a statement from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), which is organising the event in co-ordination with the UAE Space Agency.



UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: "We are proud that the UAE has won the bid to host the mega event which will attract more than 5,000 scientists, astronauts and experts."



These achievement coincide with a series of accomplishments in this sector," remarked Sheikh Mohammed.



"The conference will take place immediately after the launch of the first Arab space mission to Mars and the Mars Science City project, the largest space simulation city ever built," he added.



"I am proud of the youth of the UAE who have laid the foundations of the UAE Centennial 2071 vision. We have started implementing our vision for 2071 now," stated Sheikh Mohammed.



"Our ambitions have no limits, and to be number one is not an unreachable objective as we will do all that it takes to achieve it, including developing talent, and launching projects and initiatives that support youth and stimulate creative thinking. The doors are open for everyone to participate in shaping the future," he noted.



"This is what we expect from the Emiratis who proved their capabilities in all the missions they were assigned. The worlds recognition of the UAEs accomplishments across sectors is testimony to the positive impact our country has made regionally and globally," he added.



Sheikh Mohammed pointed out that space science and research were key components in the UAEs drive to achieve its Centennial 2071 goals.



They are also key factors in its efforts to be among the worlds leading nations in terms of prosperity and progress and gain leadership in sectors like space that help improve peoples lives and serve humanity, he added.



Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman and general supervisor of the strategic plans and projects of MBRSC, said the remarkable progress made by the UAE in the field of space science with a series of unique projects has given the nation a special position in the global space sector.



"Thanks to the futuristic vision of the UAE leadership, who provided all the necessary encouragement to achieve such success and distinction, the country has won international recognition for its innovative thinking," he stated.



Sheikh Hamdan pointed out that the UAE had greatly contributed to making the Arab region an important player in the global space industry with a series of projects that have built on what the world has already achieved in the space sector.



"We are now pursuing new initiatives that can help humanity understand space and how advanced space technologies can be used to enhance mans life," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Aramco marked another significant milestone in its international portfolio expansion with the opening of Aramco Asia Indias new office in New Delhi yesterday.

The office was inaugurated by Saudi Aramco president and CEO Amin H Nasser at an event attended by Dharmendra Pradhan, Indias Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; Saudi Ambassador to India Dr Saud Alsati; Indian government officials; heads of Indian major oil companies; as well as business and industry partners.

For Saudi Aramco the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, India represents much more than a valued customer or even a major supplier of services and materials. Today, India is an investment priority, said Nasser in his welcoming remarks at the inauguration.

Pradhan said: Today is a historic day for us with Aramcos growing presence marking a new chapter in the relationship between Saudi Arabia and India. Aramco is a key partner for Indian refiners and theres great potential to take our partnership to a higher level beyond the supply of crude oil, refined products and LPG to new areas of R&D, engineering and technology. In return, India can offer (competitive) cost and capacity advantages.

We are here to meet Indias future energy demands by offering a strong relationship involving secure and reliable supply of energy feedstock to fuel Indias dynamic growth, said Nasser. And India has the necessary human capital and expertise that can help us grow from strength to strength.

He added that high volume of new business opportunities awaits to be unlocked from potential synergy between Saudi Aramco and Indian entities with Aramco Asia India providing the vital strategic link between the companys headquarters in Dhahran and New Delhi.

It also demonstrates Saudi Aramcos readiness to play a role in Indias economic growth and development which is expected to be the fastest in the next decade, on top of the companys existing role as a leading oil supplier to India for many years.

As reliable suppliers of oil and LPG for decades we are committed to providing those additional supplies that India will need, he said.

The New Delhi office will assume major roles in attracting more Indian manufacturers and investors to participate in the companys In-Kingdom Total Value Addition, or IKTVA programme. It will also strive towards qualifying more vendors in commodities which Saudi Aramco requires for its projects and operations as well as strengthening R&D collaboration with Indian expertise and continuing the momentum of supply for the countrys oil and related products demand. India imports 81 per cent of its oil need from abroad.

Nasser will also attend the inaugural India Energy Forum by CERAWeek as a key speaker alongside Pradhan; and the Secretary-General of Opec Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo. - TradeArabia News Service
Saudi-based Sadara Chemical Company has appointed Dr Faisal Al Faqeer, a senior executive of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) as its new chief executive officer.

Sadara is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and The Dow Chemical Company. Sadara is a multi-billion dollar world-scale chemical complex in Jubail Industrial City II in Saudi Arabias Eastern Province.

The company had recently announced commercial operations at its multi-billion dollar world-scale chemical complex in Jubail Industrial City II in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Consistent with this appointment, Dr Al Faqeer has subsequently resigned from Sadaras board of directors.

Dr Al-Faqeer brings with him years of experience in the oil and gas industry, having led different functions within Saudi Aramco including engineering consulting services, research and development, and refining, said the company in a statement.

Most recently, he was nominated to the Sadara board of directors as a member in January 2017 and acted as the general manager for Saudi Aramcos Ras Tanura Refinery, the largest refinery in the Middle East, it added.

On his new role, Dr Al Faqeer said: "I am excited by this opportunity to lead Sadara as the company enters into the full operations phase."

"The Sadara family has built a solid foundation and gained impressive momentum during its commissioning and startup phase, and I eagerly look forward to joining the team and leading the company forward to become a global player in the chemical industry," he added.

Dr Al Faqeer replaces Ziad Al Labban who joined Sadara in October 2012 and was responsible for building the company including its physical assets, organization, processes and procedures and then bringing those assets on stream.

During the last five years these objectives have been met and Sadara is commercially operational, said the company statement.

The CEO transition was planned and Ziad will assume new responsibilities with Saudi Aramco, it added.

Welcoming the appointment, Ahmad Al Saadi, the chairman of the company board said: "Sadara is beginning an exciting new chapter, and Dr Al Faqeer was appointed to help guide the company through this new reality. He is an accomplished leader with strong business insights and a passion for what we are trying to accomplish in Sadara."

"We are lucky to have someone of his caliber to lead Sadara as the Company continues to grow and evolve," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Desert Palm, a luxury boutique hotel in Dubai which was owned by Albwardy Investment, is being rebranded as Desert Palm Dubai and will be independantly operated.



Since opening its doors in 2008, Desert Palm has been Dubais little oasis of calm on the edge of the city.



The 160-acre private estate was formally opened by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.



Originally created as a haven for owner Ali Albwardys personal enjoyment of polo, Desert Palm Dubai is set in the graceful, serene, manicured surrounds as a private polo estate. The retreat boasts four polo fields, a riding school and stabling facilities for over 300 horses.



As part of Albwardy LLCs portfolio, Desert Palm Dubai has become a firmly established retreat, spa and fitness destination within the UAE community and stylish society.



James Reeves, general manager said: The future of luxury hospitality will be to celebrate guests individuality, imagination and to redefine the code of unpretentious service. Our retreat focuses on continuously improving services using the ease of technology for in-house guests, enabling them to book experiences around the city from the privacy of their suites and villas, or simply reserving dinner at Rare to booking a spa treatment."



"Although we recognise that technology should not be seen as a replacement for guest services, rather we believe it should enhance it. At Desert Palm Dubai, we focus on you so you can decide when you want something and how you want it as opposed to your stay being defined by breakfast, lunch, dinner," Reeves said.



The hotel focuses on the elements that makes the guests experience truly private - from the surrounding appeal of a boutique property to the sense of intimacy in certain spaces. "It is always important to keep some things classic and personal, he said.



Situated as an oasis opposite the new Dubai Safari Park, which is slated to open later this year, and near IMG Worlds of Adventure, Desert Palm Dubai features 38 guest suites and villas, an infinity swimming pool, organic-specialised treatments at Lime spa, Rare as the fine dining restaurant that masters Argentine-style Grill, a relaxed poolside brasserie, the chic lounge Red bar or the outdoor Polo bar.



Desert Palm Dubai is an elegant, equestrian-themed boutique hotel and basks in the lush landscape to provide a refreshing, avant-garde contrast to the conventional flamboyance of the citys sky-scraping image. The hotels culture is providing guests with everything they need for a relaxing and timeless experience from the fast-paced business hubs lifestyle.

Taking cues from its rebranding celebration, guests will receive beautiful benefits when reserving directly from their new website on www.desertpalm.ae/en.- TradeArabia News Service


InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Kingston Holdings International Limited to develop a new Holiday Inn & Suites in Dubai Business Bay.



The signing will complement IHGs hotel pipeline in the area, which includes a Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza and an InterContinental Residences, and anchor the companys position as one of the leading operators in the Business Bay area.



Expected to open in 2021, Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Business Bay will be centrally located in Dubais commercial and lifestyle hub and in close proximity to major attractions such as Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. With 350 rooms, the hotel will offer guests two restaurants and a ballroom as well as one floor of dedicated meeting rooms to cater for business travellers. It will form part of a mixed-use development that includes 400 residences and a small boutique shopping arcade.



Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said: We are delighted to have this opportunity to partner with Kingston Holdings International Limited to further expand our presence in Dubai, a city that continues to offer excellent growth opportunities for our hotels. Business Bay is the fastest growing district in Dubai and this signing is in line with our strategy to grow the well-recognised Holiday Inn brand in emerging epicentres.



He added: Dubai is one of the most visited cities in the world and, as host of Expo 2020 and as a prospering leisure and business destination within the Gulf region, there are significant opportunities for us to cater to the expected rise in business and leisure travel. We look forward to welcoming guests at the Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Business Bay in 2021.



IHG currently has 80 hotels operating across five of the companys brands in the Middle East region, including InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Staybridge Suites with a further 27 in the development pipeline. - TradeArabia News Service


CHEYENNE  It was a long time coming for two U.S. Air Force veterans. But when it finally happened, the moment was worth the wait of a lifetime.

Cheyenne resident Ray Cahoon and Roy Salmon of Melbourne, Florida, met while stationed at Tachikawa Airfield in western Tokyo in 1957. Two years later, however, they lost touch after Cahoon was transferred while Salmon was at a track meet in the United States.

For decades, the two men didnt speak, but they never forgot one another.

That was until summer 2017, when Salmon went out on a limb and reached out to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle asking if its managing editor could find his old friend, who he knew once lived in Cheyenne. Though he tried to find him before through the Air Force, Salmon was unable to do so. Undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, the 82-year-old Salmon knew it might be his last chance to find Cahoon.

A short time after he sent his letter to the newspaper, Salmon received a letter from Cahoon, 84, confirming he was alive and well. Since then, the two have been exchanging letters and phone calls catching up after decades apart.

Last Friday, the two shared a moment transcending letter and phone correspondence when they met at the Wyoming-Colorado border on Interstate 25.

Amid the roaring traffic, tears, laughter and excited chatter surrounded the two long-lost friends first embrace since losing touch nearly 60 years ago.

My God, I finally found you, Cahoon said.

The two Air Force servicemen became close friends after meeting on the air bases track team. Along with Cahoons wife, Clara, and daughter, Sharon, they would go to movies and enjoy dinner together.

They never did a darn thing without me being with them, Salmon said.

While it might seem like simple social rituals, it meant the world to Salmon, who is Jamaican, joined the Air Force because he was unable to find work in New York City among racially-biased employers. And the discrimination didnt stop while in the service. When going to the movies with the Cahoons, a white family, Salmon said it was clear certain people didnt approve.

Even in the military, you know, back in those days, there were so many racists, Salmon said. Wed go to the movies with his little daughter, and you could see in their eyes, they didnt like it.

But for the Cahoons, they loved Salmon for who he was.

But Roy, you never told me you were black, Cahoon said laughing during the interstate-side reunion.

Salmon could hardly find the words to express how much it meant to him to have the friendship of the family that didnt see him for the color of his skin, but for the quality of his character.

These folks, I was a human being, and they treated me like I was. Salmon said trailing off.

Family, Roy said, finishing his friends thought.

Both men came from poverty-stricken backgrounds, and felt kindred to one another because of it.

I caught all the trouble, but we survived, Cahoon said.

Salmon said a strong part of their friendship was how he always admired Cahoons ability to pick himself up and make the most of his life.

This guy is so resilient, Salmon said of Cahoon. This guy got knocked down so many times, and he just picked himself up and kept on going.

In addition to what they shared from their backgrounds and similar personalities, Cahoon said theres a special bond between service members in the U.S. military.

Theres a bond that never breaks, he said. I think thats the driving force. And our backgrounds are so similar, where you have to fight for every minute of life.

Salmon agreed his life and relationships would not have been the same without his military service.

The military family is special, Salmon said. The Air Force family has been very good for me. I dont even know how to express it.

For Cahoon, reconnecting with his friend last Friday was one of the best moments of his life.

Being adopted was the best, then getting into the service, meeting friends like this, and then getting back together again, Cahoon uttered through the tears. Its like finding a long-lost brother.

It was a friendship that couldnt be kept apart coming full circle, Salmon said. And though they might never see each other again, he said he wasnt worried.

I hope you last forever, my friend, Salmon said. And if I dont ever get to see you again, Ill see you on the other side.
The local YMCAs expansion project is almost complete.

At their Tuesday meeting, Casper City Council authorized a $203,995 agreement with High Plains Construction for Casper Family YMCA site improvements. The money will be used to construct a retaining wall, extend an existing wall drain and refurbish the parking lot, according to the Councils agenda packet.

Glenda Thomas, the facilitys development director, explained Friday that the city pledged $2 million to the Casper Family YMCA before they started a large expansion project in 2015.

This is the remainder of that money, she said.

The Casper Family YMCA built a second structure next door- the NERD YMCA  which opened last January. The two buildings together are called the YMCA of Natrona County.

Thomas said the expansion project has been a success and allowed the YMCA to significantly increase their membership.

Were very excited and grateful to the city, she said.

The director added that the facility offers many much-needed programs and services to the community, including swimming lessons, childcare and activities for youth and seniors.

The YMCA will also be holding a special event on Oct. 25: Jim Owen, the author of Cowboy Ethics, will give a presentation about his new book Just Move! A New Approach to Fitness after 50.

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with a free workout class and brunch, said Thomas.

Those that wish to attend should RSVP by Oct. 20 to the YMCA at 234-9187.

***

At the end of the same Council meeting, a Casper resident who sued the city to obtain information about an investigation the Council conducted behind closed doors in 2015 presented Council with transcripts of the judges Sept. 7 oral ruling, which states that Councils actions violated the Public Meetings Act.

Debra Cheatham then asked the Council to tell her what happened during this investigation, but Mayor Kenyne Humphrey said the Council will not be commenting until theyve met with legal counsel.

Councilman Dallas Laird, an attorney, said Thursday that the judge has not yet signed a court order instructing Council to release any information. And even after Council receives a signed court order, they will have 10 days to comply, explained Laird.

Laird said the Council will also have the option of appealing.

The attorney, who was not a member of Council at the time of the investigation, said he hopes the Council will not appeal.

Its kind of a battle over nothing, he said. Thats what I think.

Debra Cheathams suit against the city alleged that City Council acted improperly when they privately handled an investigation into whether then-city manager John Patterson misused city labor and equipment to clean Casper Mountain resident Donna Foxs private pond. Fox had complained her pond was damaged after silt drifted into it during work on the city-owned Hogadon ski resort.
Erik Prince, a prominent security contractor based in Virginia with strong connections to President Donald Trumps administration, is considering a run against Wyoming U.S. Sen. John Barrasso next year, several media outlets have reported.

Barrasso, Casper surgeon, is a powerful member of the Republican Senate leadership, holding the fourth-ranking position in the chamber as the chairman of the Republican Study Committee.

While he reliably supports Republican policies and has recently been a vocal advocate in the effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Barrasso is also closely associated with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, who has earned the wrath of populist leaders in the conservative movement over claims that he has been unable to pass major legislation since Trump took office and that he is more loyal to the Republican establishment than to the president.

The New York Times reported that Trump campaign manager and adviser Steve Bannon, considered a leader of the so-called alt-right, was encouraging Prince to challenge Barrasso. Bannon stepped down from his White House role in August and returned to conservative media outlet Breitbart, which pushes a brand of politics associated with economic populism and white supremacist nationalism.

Exploring run

Both The New York Times and Associated Press reported Sunday that Prince and his family traveled to Wyoming this weekend to explore ways to establish residency, a necessary step in order to run against Barrasso.

While Prince lives in Middleburg, Virginia, his family owns a ranch in Wapiti, according to the AP. The Times reported that he maintained an address in the area during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

A former Navy SEAL, Prince is the founder of private security contractor Blackwater, which gained a notorious reputation after several of the companys employees who were working in Iraq killed 17 civilians while guarding an American government convoy. Four of the guards were subsequently convicted in U.S. courts on murder, manslaughter and weapon charges.

Prince, the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, is currently chairman of Frontier Services Group. Prince did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to the company Sunday afternoon.

Prince served as an informal adviser to the Trump transition team but he has not extensively discussed his political views publicly, other than continuing to promote the use of mercenary forces in American conflicts overseas.

During a 2013 interview with Talking Points Memo, Prince said he supported more efficient government spending.

I think its very important to bring some budget sanity back to how America spends its money on defense, on intelligence, on everything, including social programs. I want to take away the notion that its unpatriotic to cut the defense budget because theres plenty of room to do it to make it more efficient, Prince said.

You know, can the right and the left then cut the grand bargain to do social programs, reduce defense spending, just cut everything, and have the country live within its means and really unleash the entrepreneur?

But Prince also said he had no plans to run for public office.

I have zero interest in being involved in the politics of Washington, he said.

Setting aside his role at the helm of scandal-plagued Blackwater, now known as Academi, Prince would bring a military background and the ability to largely self-fund a political campaign to the Wyoming Senate contest.

Barrasso, who was appointed to an open Senate seat in 2007 and first won election to the post the next year, remains popular with Wyomingites. He has a 56 percent approval rating among voters in the state, according to a poll conducted by Morning Consult in July. Just 18 percent disapproved of his job performance.

While The Times reported that Bannon is encouraging Prince as part of a plan to increase the number of Congressional lawmakers friendly to Trump, Barrasso has voted in-line with Trumps positions on legislation 95.9 percent of the time, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.

Trump was reportedly interested in appointing Barrasso as secretary of Health and Human Services earlier this month, viewing him as an effective advocate of the presidents positions on health care.

Barrasso withdrew his name from consideration for the post, saying he could best serve the people of Wyoming and support Trumps agenda by remaining in the Senate.

But Trumps support for a congressional candidate has proven insufficient to avoid a challenge from the right. Sen. Luther Strange, R-Alabama, lost a primary contest to fringe right-wing candidate Roy Moore last month despite receiving Trumps endorsement.

Moore was backed by Bannon and several other Trump supporters who claimed Strange was too close to the GOP establishment.

Barrasso chief of staff Dan Kunsman said Sunday that the senator had nothing to add to the reports that Prince was considering a run for his seat.

Prince faces challenges

If Prince does establish residency in Wyoming and takes a shot at an incumbent Republican, it would be reminiscent of Liz Cheneys 2014 bid to unseat Wyomings other U.S. Senator, Mike Enzi.

Cheney, the daughter of former Wyoming U.S. House representative and vice president Dick Cheney, relocated from Virginia to Wilson to mount what proved to be a short-lived bid against Enzi. Cheney withdrew from the race, citing family issues, after drawing accusations of carpetbagging from many voters in the state.

Cheney generated significant controversy by relocating to Wyoming to run for office, despite spending some of her youth in Casper and her fathers deep ties to the state.

She was elected to Wyomings lone U.S. House seat last year.

Prince lacks even the roots to Wyoming that Cheney possesses, something that could hinder him in a run against Barrasso.

The credentials of being a Wyoming native ... still carries a lot of weight, lobbyist and political observer Marguerite Herman noted in an interview about state politics earlier this year.

Barrasso was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Wyoming shortly after finishing his medical education. Barrasso has served president of Wyoming Medical Society and occasionally works as a doctor at rodeos around the state.

He serves on several Senate committees important to issues facing Wyoming, including Environment and Public Works and Indian Affairs.

The primary for the 2018 election is Aug. 21 and the general election is Nov. 6.

This article has been corrected to update Cheney's time spent living in Wyoming.
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Oct. 9 papers in history. With a subscription to newspapers.com you can search the Arizona Daily Star and many other newspapers using keywords or dates, and download articles or pages.
PHOENIX  The Goldwater Institute goes to court Tuesday, Oct. 10, trying to force the FDA to reveal details on how dying people can get access to unapproved medicines.

Attorney Jonathan Riches wants U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton to order the Food and Drug Administration to disclose exactly how it reached the decision to allow two people infected with the Ebola virus to be administered ZMapp, even though the drug had not been approved for human testing.

He contends the public is entitled to know and that the case is about more than approving one drug in one instance.

If the FDA can do that in this case, can it do it in other cases where other sick and dying Americans might need access to investigational drugs? Riches asks. How that happened, he said, shouldnt be a government secret.

Riches said the government has disclosed the process it used to grant approval. What it wont provide, he said, are the steps it took in reaching various decisions along the way. Such details could provide a road map for others seeking to use unapproved drugs, he said.

But Peter Lantka, an assistant U.S. attorney, says what Goldwater wants is protected under various exceptions to the federal Freedom of Information Act. He said the FDA is not required to release information that could include trade secrets of the manufacturer or personal information about patients.

Riches said he doesnt want any of that. Anyway, the names of the two people who got emergency access to ZMapp already were made public.

Disclosing the internal discussions of federal officials, Lantka said, would undermine the process because if agencies were forced to operate in a fishbowl, candid exchange of ideas within an agency would cease and the quality of decisions would suffer.

In 2014, Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, aid workers who treated patients in West Africa, were infected with the Ebola virus, for which there is no known cure. The FDA agreed to allow them to be administered ZMapp; the pair recovered and wrote about it, which is why their names are known.

Riches, seeking disclosures from the FDA, filed suit in 2015 in federal court.

Lantka said there are procedures for a drug company or a treating physician to seek permission to administer a product for treatment ahead of normal testing. But he said there are strict guidelines.

First, the doctor must determine the probable risk to the patient is not greater than the probable risk from the disease. There also must be a finding that the patient has a serious or immediately life-threatening condition, that there is no comparable or satisfactory alternative, and that the potential benefit to the patient justifies the potential risks of the treatment.

But he told the judge that the internal deliberations of the FDA on how they reached that conclusion in the ZMapp case are not subject to disclosure under the federal FOIA. He said information submitted by the drug company also is considered confidential.

Riches counters that the information he seeks isnt covered by any exemptions to federal public records laws.

His lawsuit dovetails with Arizonas right to try legislation approved in 2014, which says doctors can prescribe drugs not yet approved by the FDA to terminally ill patients.

But that law has limits, including a requirement the drug be through at least Phase 1. That means the manufacturer has tested it on a small group to evaluate safety, determine a safe dosage and identify side effects. ZMapp has not been through that first step.

The FDA has a compassionate use exception from its requirement for final approval before a drug can be used. It requires a balance between harm and benefit for severely ill patients, exemption used to give ZMapp to the two patients with the Ebola virus.

In a news release last month, company MappBio said the drug has yielded promising safety and efficacy data from animal models as well as from a clinical trial conducted during the Ebola outbreak between 2013 and 2016 in West Africa. The company said ZMapp is being made available to patients in the United States, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone through the compassionate use exception.
PHOENIX  The Arizona Court of Appeals got it wrong in concluding dreamers are not entitled to in-state tuition, the lawyer for Pima Community College contends.

In a new legal filing, PCC attorney Eileen GilBride told the Arizona Supreme Court that the only thing required under both Arizona and federal law is that students be lawfully present in the country to qualify for the lower tuition.

She said state statutes spell out that an Employer Authorization Document issued by federal immigration officials is sufficient to prove lawful presence. And GilBride said thats precisely the document given to those who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as dreamers.

The filing comes as PCC has joined with the Maricopa County Community College District in a bid to overturn a ruling earlier this year by the appellate court that DACA recipients are ineligible for education at the same rate charged to other Arizona residents.

What the high court decides will affect the policies of community colleges statewide. The justices have not set a date to review the case.

At the heart of the dispute is Proposition 300, a 2006 voter-approved law that says in-state tuition is reserved only for those with lawful immigration status.

Six years later, the Obama administration created the DACA program. It allows those who were brought here illegally as children and meet other conditions to remain without fear of deportation.

Because those in the program got the employment documents, the Maricopa colleges decided that DACA recipients were qualified for in-state status. PCC followed suit effective with the fall semester of 2013.

That year, Tom Horne, then the attorney general, filed a lawsuit charging the Maricopa colleges with violating the law.

Two years later, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Arthur Anderson, noting the employment documents, ruled in favor of the colleges.

Following that ruling, some other schools as well as the state Board of Regents voted to implement similar policies. But Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who succeeded Horne, pursued the matter.

The result was a unanimous ruling earlier this year by the Court of Appeals overturning Andersons findings.

Judge Kenton Jones said the 2006 ballot measure reserves in-state tuition only for those with lawful immigration status. And he said the decisions by the Obama administration to let DACA recipients remain  and even to work  do not translate into the recipients eligibility for in-state tuition or other state or local public benefits.

The Maricopa colleges are seeking Supreme Court review.

GilBride told the justices that PCC and its students have an interest in the outcome of the case.

Residents pay $81.50 per credit hour up to a maximum of $1,222, But those who do not qualify as residents pay $303 a credit hour, with a cap of $4,545.

She estimated there are approximately 6,000 people who are eligible for DACA living in Pima County, though the actual number who qualified is less.

In PCCs opinion, this is a significant source of unrealized potential talent, GilBride wrote. Even at current tuition, there are just 171 DACA students in the system.

Interpreting the relevant statutes to prohibit DACA students from paying in-state tuition will mean that the number of those students attending college will certainly not grow, she told the justices. Indeed, for most if not all of them, college will become utterly unattainable.

GilBride is not just relying on claims of hardship in her arguments. She also contends the appellate court is misinterpreting the law.

She concedes that the statute approved by voters in 2006 does say someone needs lawful immigration status to qualify for in-state tuition, and that Congress has not provided such status for DACA recipients.

But she also said the statutory restriction has to be interpreted in accordance with the (federal) Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996. GilBride contends that law dictates that lawful presence controls eligibility, not immigration status.

And if the issue is lawful presence, that leads back to the other Arizona law saying those with the employment documents are considered lawfully present.

But Jones, in writing for the appellate court, said he and his colleagues read the 2006 law to require that students have legal status to get in-state tuition, meaning something approved by Congress. He said that does not include DACA recipients.

They are more aptly described as beneficiaries of an executive branch policy designed to forego deportation of those who lacked unlawful intent in entering the country and have, since their arrival, led productive lives, he said. But, absent some congressional action giving them legal status, Jones said they are ineligible for in-state tuition.

GilBride has one other theory in her bid to show that DACA recipients who meet other standards are eligible for in-state tuition.

She notes that another law at issue says those without lawful immigration status are not entitled tuition assistance subsidized or paid in whole or part with state monies. But GilBride points out that the Legislature no longer provides any state aid to Pima College.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public feedback to help determine whether to revoke, modify or reinstate a permit necessary for a controversial development planned in Benson to move forward.

Any member of the public, from laypeople to environmental experts, can share their thoughts on the project, called Villages at Vigneto, a master-planned community that would bring 28,000 homes to the small city southeast of Tucson.

Comments can be submitted via the postal service or by emailing Kathleen.A.Tucker@usace.army.mil. Feedback must be received by Dec. 4.

The Army Corps suspended Vignetos Clean Water Act permit in July 2016, in a win for environmentalists who had argued that the decade-old permit was no longer relevant to the scope of the Vigneto project, which they say threatens endangered species and critical habitats in the San Pedro River Valley.

The Army Corps will use public comments to gauge public interest in the project, as well as to decide if there is a need for a public hearing on the issue. Comments can weigh in on the projects impact to endangered species, historic properties, water quality, environmental effects and other public-interest factors, the Army Corps said.

Mike Reinbold, spokesman for Phoenix-based developer El Dorado Holdings Inc., said he hopes to have all outstanding permitting issues resolved before the end of this year and to break ground by the start of 2018. The developer says the project will bring unprecedented economic activity to Benson.

The Clean Water Act permit was originally approved for a smaller, canceled project called Whetstone Ranch. In 2014, Whetstones developers transferred their permit to Vignetos developer. While Vignetos footprint is about 50 percent bigger than the originally permitted 8,200-acre Whetstone proposal, the new developer had argued Vignetos additional acreage could be permitted separately.

Environmentalists maintain Vignetos larger footprint, and the discovery of two newly listed threatened species since the permit was issued, mean the original permit is no longer valid. They also argue federal agencies must assess Vignetos potential to lower the underground water table in the fragile riparian area, which the developer has argued isnt necessary.

Last year, six environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Corps related to the project, asserting that Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before issuing a permit for a private construction project that may affect an endangered species.

In May, the Army Corps initiated formal consultation with the service, said spokesman Dave Palmer in an email. But the scope of consultation remains to be seen.

The wildlife service aligned itself with some of the environmentalists concerns in December 2016 when it told the Army Corps that it would not move forward in consultation unless the impact of the entire 12,300-acre development was assessed. The Army Corps had wanted to first consult only about the impacts of a 144-acre mitigation parcel, which the developers will use to offset Vignetos environmental impacts through planting of native species, erosion control and other measures.
After roughly 1 years of work, a functional  if not quite finished  Ajo Way-Interstate 19 interchange is all but ready.

On Monday, the new northbound on-ramp is scheduled to open and, barring the unforeseen, the southbound off-ramp is scheduled to open sometime between Friday, Oct. 13, and Monday, Oct. 16, well before the morning rush, Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman Tom Herrmann told the Road Runner.

The four ramps will meet on the new, wider bridge at something called a single-point urban exchange, or SPUI. If you dont know what that means, just like the Road Runner before looking it up, imagine the Valencia Road-I-10 interchange. A single set of traffic lights will manage traffic, instead of lights at several locations.

The first phase of the $54.2 million interchange project, which also includes noise walls, a widened southbound exit at the Irvington Road interchange, several road reconstructions and other improvements, is expected to be completed this coming spring.

The second phase, which will cost an estimated $29 million, will widen southbound I-19, add an auxiliary lane on northbound I-19 from Irvington to Ajo, replace the Ajo bridge over the Santa Cruz River, among other changes. Herrmann said theres no timeline for construction and no bids have gone out. ADOTs five-year transportation facilities plan includes $10 million for the project in the current fiscal year and $20 million for fiscal year 2019.

Ina-Interstate 10

A few miles to the north at another major interchange project, crews are eight months into the 25-month, $148 million Ina Road project and on schedule, Herrmann said.

Work on the bridge that will eventually carry Ina over Interstate 10 and railroad tracks is underway, and work on the new, wider Ina bridge over the Santa Cruz is nearing completion. In about three months, interstate traffic will be shifted to what will be the new eastbound lanes.

Interstate 10 dust

Work to get dust under control along a uniquely dangerous stretch of I-10 is now complete. On Sept. 26, contractor EarthCare Consultants finished applying a soil stabilizer to roughly 55 acres of denuded land that has been tied to a number of serious and sometimes deadly crashes along a half-mile stretch just northwest of Picacho Peak. The contract was for a little over $100,000, well under an estimate previously provided by Len Drago, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality deputy air-quality director.

Drago said the owner of most the treated land, Houston real estate broker Louis Tsakiris, was cooperative. Drago said he was pleased that the work was done in time for heavy fall winds, which in the past have kicked up small but blinding dust storms in the area.

Sentinel Peak reopening

Sentinel Peak Road will reopen to all users starting Monday at 8 a.m. The roadway had been closed to motorists for several weeks to accommodate repairs to damage caused by heavy August rains. It had also been closed to bikers and walkers on the weekends. Drainage improvements, new retaining walls, erosion repair and parking area resurfacing were all a part of the A Mountain project.

DOWN THE ROAD

Through travel on Stone Avenue at its intersection with Grant will not be allowed from Friday at 7 p.m. through Monday morning at 4 a.m.

Southbound Stone will be closed at Glenn Street, and detours will take drivers east or west of there. Northbound drivers will have to turn either west or east at Grant, and will not be able to proceed through the intersection. The designated detour will be east or west at Drachman Street.

The closures will accommodate Markham Contractings efforts to install a new drain system, water lines and manholes.

There will also be lane restrictions on I-10 at its Craycroft Road crossing, starting Tuesday at 8 p.m., and lasting through 5 a.m. That will be repeated through Friday.
Southeastern Arizona has a rich mining history dating back more than 1,000 years.

The indigenous people known also as the Hohokam, or vanished ones, were the first to exploit the vast mineral resources in the area known today as Arizona. They used minerals such as copper and turquoise for ornamental jewelry and to trade among settlements.

Elsewhere in Arizona, Hopi Indians near the present day town of Holbrook mined coal as a means of keeping warm in the winter, for cooking and also for the firing of ceramics. Native Americans were involved in mining turquoise in the Cerbat Mountains and cinnabar in the Castle Dome Mining District near Yuma. They also mined salt near Camp Verde.

There is evidence that the Tohono Oodham mined hematite in the Ajo area for use as war paint in the 15th century shortly after the disappearance of the Hohokam.

Although the Oodham were the first to mine the surface of Arizona, it was the Spanish who were the first to extensively penetrate its earth in search of mineral wealth, most notably in Southeastern Arizona.

The Spanish first entered the region later called Arizona in the early 16th century. Their mission was to obtain the Three Gs for Spain  glory, God and gold. The two primary objectives were to Christianize the natives and obtain mineral riches for the Spanish crown.

Early Spanish exploration of Arizona began with the exploration led by Fray Marcos de Niza in 1539.

The following year, his reports of great wealth in the form of gold and silver reached Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, who mounted several pronged expeditions aimed at discovering the Seven Cities of Cibola rumored to rival the Aztec and Inca gold caches in Mexico and South America.

The mineral wealth of the fabled Seven Cities proved elusive for the Spanish, though they did succeed in colonizing New Mexico and establishing distant mining claims across the Southwest including Southeastern Arizona.

During the time of Spanish rule, advancements were made in mining and refining minerals.

The Spanish used an arrastra, run by animal power, usually a horse or mule, to pulverize ore deposits of gold and silver. The raw ore was crushed, sometimes amalgamated and later sent to a sluice to maximize the collection of mineral content.

The process of amalgamation was introduced to the New World by the Spanish in the 16th century as a means of separating silver from its ore. Mercury is mixed with silver, removing it from its ore-forming amalgam. The applications of heat or nitric acid remove the mercury from the silver.

Placer mining was also conducted by the Spanish as a low-cost alternative for finding mineral wealth, using techniques such as panning and the sluice box.

The arrival of the Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino in the 1690s, along with the added protection of recently established missions of Guevavi, San Xavier del Bac and Tumacacori, gave the Spanish impetus to explore the region for precious metals.

Traveling with his cattle, horses and soldiers to multiple missions in Southeastern Arizona, Padre Kino, an Italian-born Jesuit, was a renowned mission builder and excellent horseman. Kino laid the foundation for the original San Xavier del Bac Mission in 1700 and discovered the Casa Grande Ruins several years previously.

His lengthening the of the Camino Real into Southeastern Arizona and Christianizing the Native Americans served the dual purposes of opening accessibility to mining locations and finding labor with which to mine metals. The Camino Real, known as the Kings Archway, was a route traveled by conquistadors from Vera Cruz, Mexico, to Tucson.

According to the accounts of Father Kino, the Tubac-Tumacacori area was mined by both the Spanish and the Pima Indians for rich veins of gold and silver.

San Xavier Mission, the oldest European structure in Arizona, completed in 1797, was rumored to have $60,000 worth of silver utensils that once adorned its altar. The origin of the silver is believed to have been mines in the neighboring Santa Rita Mountains operated by the padres at Tumacacori Mission.
What a total God"incidence" in this passing of the baton. Looking forward to a lovely evening at Pastiche with a special group of women....we graduated from Amphitheater High School in Tucson in 1969. We are a regular group that still meets once a month for our GNO!! Pastiche is in the Amphi neighborhood for our Class of 1969 Amphi Girls Night Out group. We are looking forward to meeting there on 10/10/17!
Re: the Oct. 8 column "Liberals use tragedy to push agenda on gun control."

Columnist Jonathan Hoffman uses demagoguery to criticize those of us who prefer to solve problems. Those who beat the drum that "now is not the time to talk about gun control" in the face of tragedy appeal to a false assumption the perfect time to talk about solutions to prevent future tragedies will appear.

Mr. Hoffman assumes that your readers are too gullible to check his sources. John Lott, put forward a theory "More guns, Less crime" which has been repudiated by the facts. Lott's credentials are dubious at best.

Hoffman skirts the issue by stating that the constitution supports the right of private citizens to own weapons of mass destruction (the arsenal owned by Paddock cannot be described as anything less). We fought another country because weapons are dangerous. So any fool can buy them because of your interpretation of the 2nd amendment?

Fixing a problem does not make us snowflakes. It makes us human. Given the tone of your editorial, I am sure you will not understand.

Conrad Paul

Northwest side
The proposed solution of moving Catalina High students to Rincon and University High taking over Catalina's campus was billed by the letter writer as a "perfect solution." It is not a perfect solution for Catalina students, and probably not perfect for either Rincon or University. The solution to the space problem is far more complicated than shuffling students from one school to another. The welfare of all involved must be considered.

TUSD was charged by the school board to start the process for change required by the Unitary Status Plan and state laws. This is not an automatic approval process, but one that looks at many areas of consideration for the schools and students involved. This will take some time, as it should. As president of Catalina High School Foundation, I fully support retaining the status of Catalina. If University High wants to join our school, we could welcome them as Catalina Trojans to a mutually enhancing situation. We support keeping Catalina a school in its own right.
Re: the Oct. 8 column "Liberals use tragedy to push agenda on gun control."

Columnist Jonathan Hoffman suggests that no laws could have prevented Las Vegas. I think there is one. Beyond universal background checks we need annual empathy checks on gun owners, with the first person to lose the right to bear arms being Hoffman. He shows a pathological lack of empathy for victims of guns (over 30,000-plus annually). His only concern is for the hearing loss of those who like to have fun by shooting noisy assault weapons.

He snidely tells us snowflakes to go to our safe place, oblivious that guns have rendered no places safe  not schools, movie theaters, parks, concerts, work places or homes. We cannot prevent all random acts of gun violence but we can limit the damage by banning military style weapons, limiting the number of guns an individual can own and ensuring that gun owners have empathy for their fellow citizens.

Dee Maitland

Marana
Vietnamese taxicab giant Vinasun has become the subject of controversy after its vehicles were found carrying messages attacking ride-hailing apps Uber and Grab.

People have begun spotting the messages, with thousands of Vinasun taxis rolling out on to the streets of Ho Chi Minh City with red-and-yellow rear bumper stickers.

One of the messages reads, Uber and Grab must comply with Vietnamese law, while the other demands that The pilot schemes of Grab and Uber must end due to unfair business conditions.

Speaking with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday, Vinasun executive Ta Long Hy said the stickers were not an idea of the company, but a spontaneous undertaking by drivers.

Hy added that the stickers were not against Vinasuns regulations, and that the firm would look into the issue.

A Vinasun taxi with a bumper sticker carrying the message Uber and Grab must comply with Vietnamese law in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Earlier this month, hundreds of cabbies in Hanoi made a similar move by placing bumper stickers on the back of their vehicles, also in opposition to the Vietnamese Ministry of Transports decision to allow ride-hailing apps Uber and Grab to be piloted in several areas.

The demonstration was joined by the most prominent taxi brands in the capital city.

The ride-hailing services are not considered taxi firms so they are free from requirements, both administrative and financial, set for conventional cabs.

Uber and Grab have therefore been able to offer rides for much cheaper fares than traditional taxi firms.

A Vinasun taxi with a bumper sticker carrying the message The pilot schemes of Grab and Uber must end due to unfair business conditions in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Protest or defamation?

According to Le Minh Hung, a professor from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, the naming of two rival companies in the messages, regardless of whether it was an organized demonstration by the company or not, could be seen as an act of defamation.

The messages imply that Uber and Grab are not complying with Vietnamese laws, Hung explained. If Vinasun is convinced that Uber and Grab have violated their rights or hurt their business by illegal means, they should take the matter to court.

While the messages on Hanoi taxis protested the city administrations decision, Vinasun opted to name and shame their rivals, which is a violation of advertising laws, according to legal counselor Le Viet Hung.

While it is true that Uber and Grab are enjoying more relaxed regulations than traditional taxicabs, its only because there are no existing laws to regulate them, rather than an intentional violation on their part, he explained.

Drivers who abuse on-vehicle advertisements to defame others can be subject to VND30-40 million (US$1,300-1,700) fines, Hung added, citing a 2013 government decree.

Two Vinasun taxis with anti-Uber and Grab bumper stickers in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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While traveling to Vietnam via air charter is common for Russian or Japanese tourists, Vietnamese holidaymakers are now also taking up the trend as the expensive-sounding service is affordable for some.

Local travel firms are organizing overseas tours using charter flights for Vietnamese and have received positive feedback based on their timely schedules and reasonable prices.

Healthy growth

When invited to book a five-day package to Japan via air charter, Ho Chi Minh City resident Tran Thi Thu Trang was initially concerned about the quality of the tour.

After discovering that the tour would cost VND26 million (US$1,145) per person, compared to the usual rate of more than VND30 million ($1,322), Trang made up her mind and eventually enjoyed the experience.

One Vietravel representative said the company was enjoying strong sales for tours via air charter as tourists can depart on time with little chance of delays or cancelations.

The tour company took some 700 air charter tourists to Japans Fukushima in both 2016 and 2017, and expects to take some 3,000 visitors there between February and April 2018.

The key feature of the air charter tour is that guests can save 30 percent on conventional packages, the company representative claimed.

He added that Vietravel is expanding its air charter network from Ho Chi Minh City to Thailands Phuket, South Koreas Jeju and Lumbini, and Bodh Gaya in India.

While most of the tour packages using air charter are for overseas destinations, Fiditour is taking tourists to the southern island of Con Dao.

Air charter allows us to offer tours at reasonable prices with quality ensured, boosting our competitive edge, Fiditours head of marketing Tran Thi Bao Thu said.

A tour guide is seen at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Good price, great punctuality

Many travel operators have confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that tours using air charter typically cost 30-35 percent less than conventional ones.

According to industry insiders, tour organizers usually manage to make use of the return leg of charter flights to bring outbound tourists to Vietnam.

Under the current regulations, charter flights bringing tourists from overseas to Vietnam must return immediately, rather than wait until the foreign tourists finish their tours.

By arranging their own guests to travel on such return flights, Vietnamese travel firms are able to offer the tours at good prices.

For instance, while the Hanoi  Seoul round ticket normally costs some $350, the fare is only $200, including taxes and fees, on charter flights, leading to reasonably-priced tour packages.

Another factor enabling air-charter travel firms to cut their prices is that the tours generally always have at least 150 guests, allowing them to enjoy discounts from in-flight meal suppliers for example.

Travel experts have said that only big companies with strong financial muscle are able to join the race to offer tours via air charter.

Tour organizers have to attract at least 150 guests for their packages with charter flights to be profitable, meaning they risk losses if they pre-pay for the aircraft but fail to find enough passengers.

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Viettel subscribers have expressed their anger over the Vietnamese military-run mobile carriers plan to charge users for activating iMessage and FaceTime on their Apple devices.

iMessage and FaceTime are both services allowing iPhone, iPad and Macbook users to make phone calls and send text messages via the Internet free of charge. Users only need a 3G, 4G or WiFi connection to be able to use these iOS apps.

However, on October 6, Viettel notified its subscribers via an SMS that an activation fee of VND2,500 would take effect from October 15.

Upon receiving the notification, many local subscribers took it to mean that Viettel would now charge them VND2,500 for every iMessage or FaceTime call, thus resulting in outrage, despite the carrier stating clearly in its announcement that only an activation fee would be charged.

A warning message for users when activating iMessage

This means that whenever the FaceTime or iMessage apps are toggled on in settings, the network carrier must send an international SMS to Apples server in the UK to activate them.

So far, Viettel has been covering this activation fee for its subscribers, but on October 15 the mobile carrier will start charging VND2,500 for each activation message only.

The mobile carrier said the activation fee is applied only in a couple of cases, including when a subscriber uses iMessage or FaceTime with a new SIM card for the first time, or when they use either service after resetting their device.

Users will not have to pay the fees whenever they turn their device on or off, or switch to Airplane Mode, according to Viettel.

Viettel did note that iMessage and FaceTime are activated individually, meaning users must pay VND5,000 to have make both available for use.

The carrier added that it had made the policy shift transparent by notifying subscribers ten days in advance of the new rule.

The charges are also in line with industry standards according to Viettel, as similar services also require activation fees including miMessage on Chinas Xiaomi devices.

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Nguyen Thien Nhan, Party chief Ho Chi Minh City, paid a visit to the recently opened Bui Vien Walking Street in the citys downtown on Sunday night and got first-hand feedback from foreign visitors.

Bui Vien Street, in downtown District 1, is known among the expat community as the citys backpacker area famous for its night life.

The street was officially transformed into a pedestrian-only road on weekends on August 20, following a month-long trial banning vehicles that was embraced by locals and tourists alike.

On Sunday night, Nhan paid a surprise visit to Bui Vien to gather first-hand feedback from foreign visitors about their impression of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Party chief spoke in fluent English and German with foreigners, thanks to his education in Germany and the U.S.

Nguyen Thien Nhan's surprise visit to Bui Vien Walking Street. Clip: Tuoi Tre

Prior to visiting Bui Vien, Nhan had also dropped by recently opened food streets on Nguyen Van Chiem Street and at the Bach Tung Diep Park in District 1.

The food streets were established to house former street vendors who were forced off the citys sidewalks during a months-long crackdown headed by Doan Ngoc Hai, deputy chairman of District 1.

The city leader also spared time to take a stroll down Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street.

Nguyen Thien Nhan (third right), Party chief of Ho Chi Minh City, takes a walk down Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in District 1. Photo: Tuoi Tre

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, Nhan expects to gain valuable first-hand experience from his survey trip across the notable downtown tourist areas, based on which future tourism projects will take shape.

The city has been putting great effort into rebuilding its tourism strategy to meet the ambitious target of welcoming seven million foreign visitors by the end of 2017.

Ho Chi Minh City received 5.2 million foreign holidaymakers in 2016 and experienced a 15 percent jump in tourist numbers during the first quarter of 2017.

Nguyen Thien Nhan (fourth right), Party chief of Ho Chi Minh City, poses for a photo at the entrance to Bui Vien Walking Street in District 1. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thien Nhan (standing), Party chief of Ho Chi Minh City, chats with foreign visitors on Bui Vien Walking Street in District 1. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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Here we go again.

Bauer Media has confirmed it will appeal the $4.56 million in damages owing to actress Rebel Wilson. It was the biggest defamation payout figure in Australian legal history.

In a statement the Womans Day publisher said it was important to challenge the damages because of its effect on press freedom.

Its important for us to revisit this unprecedented decision on the quantum of damages, which also has broad implications for the media industry, general counsel Adrian Goss said.

Bauer will not seek to appeal against liability, but sources close to the case say the company remains concerned by the outcome including Justice John Dixons decision to ignore a statutory cap on defamation payouts.

A court can order judgments that exceed the $389,500 cap if the court is satisfied that the circumstances warrant an award of aggravated damages.

Its unclear if Wilson will need to return to court as part of the appeal or if the parties are able to agree to a figure, to avoid revisiting.

She had originally offered to settle for $200,000 over the series of defamatory articles published in Womans Day, Australian Womens Weekly, New Weekly and OK!

Source: Herald Sun, Fairfax
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has defended the governments inquiry into ABC following Michelle Guthries comments on Friday, saying the public broadcaster should welcome the extra attention.

The ABC managing director criticised plans for a neutrality inquiry and calls to disclose staff salaries, labelling plans for the ABC Act as a bargaining chip in media reforms.

But Mitch Fifield has said, Rather than being pilloried, crossbench colleagues deserve credit for engaging constructively with the government on media reform, listening to the arguments and negotiating in good faith.

Adding that no media organisation was perfect and that public broadcasters should welcome the attention of the Parliament, he said, The enhanced transparency and accountability measures for the public broadcasters will reinforce the ABCs commitment to rural and regional Australia and to fair and balanced news.

Fifield has agreed to bring legislation to Parliament to require the ABC to be fair and balanced, boost its regional services and publish the salaries of staff earning more than $200,000.

Meanwhile Fifield is himself being subjected to some scrutiny with questions over his acceptance of a gift of cufflinks from Foxtel just a week after the media reforms deal was signed off.

He declared the gift last week.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield. Cufflinks. From Foxtel. A week after media reform. Really? pic.twitter.com/TytEUMCOuS  Jack Snape (@jacksongs) October 6, 2017

Source: Australian Financial Review, The Australian, AdNews
Scandi-noir drama Before We Die begins this week at SBS On Demand.

The Swedish series centres around the disappearance of a police officer conducting an undercover investigation of a motorcycle club.

All 10 episodes are available from Thursday.

This premiered in Europe in January.

Before We Die is not the typical crime series. Its also a heartbreaking family drama, centered on a motherand son  a police detective and infiltrator. There are moral dilemmas to face, relationships to cherish and betrayals to uncover. The raw visual feel of Before We Die grabs the viewers attention  and never lets go.

When police officer Hanna (Marie Richardson, Beck, Blue Eyes)  a fading star in the organised crime unit of Stockholm Police  receives news her lover and colleague has been abducted, she must take over his undercover investigation of a criminal biker gang as well as protect an infiltrator.

The problem is Hannas son Christian (Adam Palsson, The Bridge, Arne Dahl) is involved  the same son that Hanna herself arrested for drug-related offences and estranged in the process. To prevent a brutal takeover in the criminal underworld, she must fight for her sons life and break another family to save her own.

Thursday, 12 October at SBS On Demand.
Help India!

What does a Rohingya feel when he is told that he is an illegal immigrant, a security threat and unwanted in India? What was their life like before they had to run away to save themselves? What does it feel to be reduced to just a statistic? What do the Rohingyas feel when they hear the news that they will be deported back to the land where their lives are in danger? In a five-part series, Raqib Hameed Naik speaks to five refugees who had to give up all they owned to attempt a start a new life. Their stories, in the first person, are an attempt to go beyond majoritarian narratives and give them a platform to express their views and opinions. In the third part of the series, we listen to Haleema.

Read Part One Here

Read Part Two Here

Support TwoCircles



Haleema, 48, belongs to Nachapru village in Maungdaw district of Arakan state of Myanmar. She has 10 children- seven boys and three girls. Her husband Syed Karim, 53 and her children collect scrap and sell it to the scrap dealer to keep their kitchen running. She fled her village in 2012. This is her story.

My name is Haleema and I am from Nachapru village in Maungdaw district. My husband Syed Karim was a farmer and we had three big agricultural fields along with three cows, five goats, and poultry. We used to grow wheat, pulses, and soybeans.

I had a big house made of bricks. My husband and children would go every morning in the fields and I used to take care of household chores. I used to spend my free time in visiting my relatives and neighbours. We used to discuss domestic issues, food and our respective families.

My parents lived in Keripran village which was a few kilometres away from my in-laws in Nachapru. Keripran was the first village to be targeted by the Army during the 2012 violence. Not even a single structure was left intact: everything was burned to the ground.

My elder sister and brother also used to live in Keripran village. In 2012, when the violence started, both of them also became victims along with six more relatives. First, my brother and nephew were shot down by the Army, who then went on to rape my elder sister and sister in law.

My maternal uncles daughter in law was pregnant that time. Her name was Khadija. A nurse was attending her to deliver the baby that was when the Army arrived in the village and started their killing spree. What was done to her was horrible and inhumane that no human can ever do to another human. A large knife was put inside her private part killing her and the baby even before the birth. Sixteen members of that family were shot dead and later the house was set on fire.

They also came to our village and burned everything but fortunately, we had already escaped and were hiding the mountains. I didnt want to lose my dignity. This is when we decided to leave my country. They (the Army) were not sparing anyone: children, teen, men, women, old or pregnant.

In July 2012, I along with my family members and other villagers who were able to save their lives marched on foot for Bangladesh with little food and clothes which we were wearing. I stayed in Bangladesh for two months and later came to India via West Bengal.

The initial days were very difficult for us with such a big family. We didnt know any work except farming. There were many refugees like us who knew farming only and had switched over to collecting scrap for survival in Delhi. We also did the same which at least ensured that we could have a meal once a day.

The people here are very helpful. Usually, around Ramadan they donate food grains, clothes and some young boys and girls also come here to teach our children, free of cost.

The latest atrocities on our community in Rohingya is worrisome. I am in touch with few of my relatives who say that after being shot, the dead bodies of Rohingyas are being fed to dogs.

Apart from this, lately the news channels in India are showing that Rohingya Muslims have killed Rohingya Hindus in Myanmar. I think an investigation should be done before coming to such a conclusion. How can Rohingya kill others when they are being persecuted themselves by the government since decades?

Media persons come here and sympathise with our cause but when they go in their newsroom, what they report is totally different from what say. They twist everything and it really hurts. We are no threat to anyone.

We came here to save our lives. No one wants to stay away from their homes and their country where they are born.

The government of India should also think that before deporting us they should initiate talks with the Myanmar government and ensure our security and safety. But we know that wont work because in our country whatever the Army says is the order.

The situation in Myanmar is very serious. Every country should come and sit together and bring a solution to this problem once for all otherwise if the Indian government really wants to get rid of us, they should better gather us at one place and shoot us down. We would prefer dying here than dying at the hands of Myanmar Army. At least here, I will have an honourable death, not raped and then killed!
Help India!

By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net

On September 12, 2017, an NIA report which alleged that the Popular Front of India (PFI), was alleged to have links with terror activities and called for banning the Muslim organisation made national headlines.

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The report was submitted to the Union Home Ministry, claiming that the group has been involved in terror acts, including running terror camps and making bombs, and was a fit case to be declared banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The agency, according to The Indian Express, has cited PFIs alleged involvement in four cases to support its claim  chopping off a professors palm in Keralas Idukki district, organising a training camp in Kannur from where the NIA reportedly seized swords, country-made bombs and ingredients for making IEDs, murder of RSS leader Rudresh in Bengaluru and plans to carry out terror attacks in South India by involving the outfit Islamic State Al-Hindi.

Following the NIA report, various sections of media launched their self-styled crackdown on the organisation, mobilising public opinion to seek a ban on the organisation.

PFI has condemned the vilification campaign by certain sections of media and has challenged them to produce concrete evidence to prove their allegations.

E. Abubacker, Chairman, Popular Front of India in an interview with TwoCircles.net answered our questions and explained the organisations position in relation to the allegations and counter allegations made by the media and the NIA;

TCN: Why do you think that Popular Front of India is being opposed by the BJP-led central government?

EA: The Popular Front of India enjoys the support of a majority of the people. We are a law obeying and peaceful organisation working for the empowerment of the marginalised communities, which is a national and democratic cause. Popular Front primarily organises Muslim community to come out of backwardness, marginalisation and discriminations. It also promotes alliance among all different depressed sections such as Tribals, Dalits and other minorities for attaining equal growth and equal justice. This principled stand is against the agenda of Sangh Parivar and BJP which communally divides people. We are opposed by communal fascist forces because of our socio-political stand.

TCN: How do you view the allegations now being levelled against the organisation?

EA: Yes. They are only allegations. Hindutva labs have been producing allegations of extremism and terrorism throughout past 25 years of our existence. The latest smear campaign is that National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted a dossier against Popular Front seeking its ban. We dont know if it is true. Nobody gave us any notice or sought our explanation. But one thing is clear. There is not even an iota of truth in the reported allegations. Our activities are an open book. There is not even a single valid reason to ban or even control the activities of Popular Front.

TCN: What about your involvement in two most quoted Kerala incidents, that is the attack on a college teacher and conducting an arms training camp?

EA: One of them is a local attack which happened seven years ago in Kerala on a college teacher who insulted Prophet Mohammed (SAW) in a highly obscene language. Popular Front categorically condemned the crime and made absolutely clear in a press meet at that time itself that the organisation was not involved in the incident. In fact, the court verdict of the case also rejected the organisational involvement of Popular Front by stating that there is no evidence to prove that the attack was planned and executed with the consent of the leadership. In another incident, our members attending a health programme were falsely implicated under sections of UAPA. The Kerala High Court revoked the use of UAPA in the case and Supreme Court did not even accept the NIA appeal against the High Court decision.

TCN: Some reports try to link you with the Islamic State (IS). How do you react to this news?

EA: It is an utterly baseless and ill-motivated allegation. Attempts to link Popular Front with IS form part of the Hindutva agenda of creating Islamophobia and demonising Indian Muslims. According to media reports, only about 60 people from about 18-crore strong Indian Muslims are believed to have departed for Syria or Afghanistan. As far as we know, no Muslim organisation in India is recruiting members to Islamic State. In fact, they all have denounced it. The truth is that Popular Front had warned its members and public early enough about mysterious groups like Islamic State and their traps on social media to lure young people into their fold. Popular Front is always against any kind of terrorism by any group.

TCN: Popular Front is also alleged to be a regrouping of banned SIMI. Why?

EA: This theory of SIMI regrouping after its ban is rather amusing. We started our movement in Kerala in 1993 and SIMI was banned in 2001. There are very few members in Popular Front who were in SIMI years before its ban. You can trace more of such persons in other organisations and even in political parties. So why single out PFI?

TCN: It is alleged that you are involved in religious conversions like Hadiya case now before Supreme Court. What is your stand?

EA: Popular Front as an organisation is not involved in religious propagation. Religious conversion is not on our agenda. But we stand for religious freedom and individual rights. You cannot suppress these rights by creating a myth called Love Jihad. Dr Hadiya got married years after her voluntary conversion to Islam. We stand with her human rights.

TCN: How can you question government agencies like NIA?

EA: NIA, as we know, is basically a federal agency to investigate crime and not supposed to do intelligence and information-gathering work. Now NIA is misused as a weapon by BJP government for political and communal vendetta. On one hand, NIA has wilfully helped get bail for Hindutva criminals involved in Malegaon and Samjhauta Express bomb blast cases and on the other, it played a decisive role in fabricating terror cases against Muslims youths and sending them behind bars.

TCN: What are your main activities?

EA: We organise volunteers for community service at a grassroots level and network them. Our programmes aiming at advancing education, promoting health and alleviating poverty have gained wide appreciations. Popular Front has been pioneering many peoples campaigns and agitations for the protection of democratic rights and against human rights violations. We hold the view that the biggest challenge faced by India today is communal fascism of Sangh Parivar.

TCN: What is your reach beyond South India?

EA: South Indian tag is not fit for us. Popular Front is a pan-India movement with a national Presence from Rajasthan to Manipur and from Tamil Nadu to Delhi.

TCN: How do you plan to face the allegations?

EA: We are confident to overcome any such attempts against the organization through democratic and lawful means. We are a peoples movement. We know that people will be with us.
Help India!

Ahmedabad, (IANS): Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday denied there were plans to drop Muslim and Hindu from the names of Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University.

There is no such decision. Both universities have been there for almost a 100 years. It has been a century and we have no intention to make any changes in the way they are, Javadekar told reporters here.

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His remarks come in the wake of a newspaper report that said that a government audit of central universities had suggested that the words Muslim and Hindu be dropped from the names of AMU and BHU.

Asked about reports that dubbed these universities as feudal or facing problem of inbreeding, he said he had not seen the reports yet.

I have not seen any report yet. But I am telling you in advance that we have no such intention (of changing their names), Javadekar said.

He said the HRD Ministry had formed a committee to only look into the administrative, academic and research audits of certain universities.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) had directed for special audit in 10 central universities in the wake of complaints of financial, administrative and academic irregularities. The UGC order followed a MHRD directive on the matter.

The mandate of the committee is restricted to only administrative, academic, and research audit. We will consider recommendations made in this regard only. If the committee has made any suggestions outside its purview, we will not take cognisance of anything then, he added.
A British Border Control officer was revealed to be one of four men, all British nationals, that were arrested near Calais for their involvement in an international crime gang smuggling drugs and guns to UK shores. The Mail Online reported that on Friday 6th October, a joint operation between both sides of the channel made 12 arrests and seized an impressive haul of weapons and narcotics that were destined for sale in the UK.

How much dope?

Police have revealed details of the bust, which claims to have seized an enormous 34kg of cocaine, and 7kg of heroin.

To put that into perspective, one source has stated that a single kilo of cocaine has a street price of 50,000, which means this gang were looking at some serious profit had they not been caught. In addition to the drugs, eleven firearms were confiscated, included pistols, revolvers, magazines, suppressors, and ammunition, a scary representation on what is been sold on our streets. UK gun crime is a growing threat, and the criminals involved are becoming much more sophisticated; there have been some shocking cases this year alone, such as Merseyside police seizing a gun involved in 19 shootings, and a shooting outside a primary school in Glasgow.

Arresting the gang

The combined efforts of both French and British police forces led to the arrests of 12 men in total, one of which was swiftly identified as a 36-year-old British Border Force Officer from Dover.

This, ultimately, is quite shocking, and has revealed the way in which it is possible to exploit such positions of power for shadowy profits. Eight arrests were made in London and Kent, leading to 6 men being charged; they are due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates' Court later today and have been identified as:

Christopher Hendra, 29, Kent

Christopher Whitehead, 40, SE London

Daniel Duvall, 36, Kent

Liam Attwell, 18, Kent

Terry Willett, 31, Kent

Craig Brabon, 36, Kent

They will be charged with conspiracy to import firearms and Class A Drugs.

Dave Hucker, head of the NCA's anti-corruption task force, stated that the bringing together of French/British law enforcement stopped the gang from importing "significant quantities" of narcotics and guns, as well as leading to a wider search of property in areas such as Folkestone and Dover.

Following this, Detective Chief-superintendent Michael Gallagher expressed his pride at the success of their efforts by saying these operations emphasise how vital collaborative efforts are whilst targeting gangs that "operate across borders".
So much focus of discussion regarding the EU relates, not unnaturally, to the issue of whether it will be financially in the best interest of the UK to leave or to remain. It seems to me clear that everything points to things being better in the medium to long term if we leave. We already have offers of trade deals from many potential partners, keen to take advantage of tariff-free trade with the fifth biggest economy in the world. The USA, China, Japan, India, and Canada are all among this happy group and all have economies included in the biggest ten Gross Domestic Product (GDP) countries in the world.

Additionally, if a mutually beneficial approach, incorporating common sense, is finally decided on, Germany, France, and Italy (three more top ten GDP producers) could carry on trading efficiently with the UK as well.

The other problems of the EU

However, in this article, I would like to shift the focus slightly and look at other aspects of the European Union. The waste of this organisation defies credibility. It flies senior politicians around the continent on private jets as if they were actually producing something like real executives, it has not managed to have its accounts signed off as a true and accurate record by any respectable auditors for many years and it hands around money for dubious, politically correct projects like confetti.

But that is just the small stuff.

Politically the cat has recently been let out of the bag. Both the German and French governments, the key driving forces of the project and the country's most in collusion with EU technocrats, the Junkers and Barniers of the world; are openly espousing the desire for a European Defence Force, even though they often do not honour their basic financial commitment to NATO (as pointed out recently by President Trump).

Talk of greater political control and the efforts to impose refugee quotas on Hungry the Czech Republic and Slovakia have aggravated the political Leaders. The indigenous people of those countries are reaching a point of open rebellion and the recent support of Spain in its efforts to forcibly prevent Catalans from expressing their desire for independence have again demonstrated their disdain for anything that makes the EU project more vulnerable.

All the above prove that the EU project that began decades ago as a common market is now preparing to become a super state. A United States of Europe.

The migrant issues

There are still bigger problems. The refusal to deal properly with the influx of millions of people, primarily from poor, Muslim majority countries has exacerbated two immense crises.

Firstly the pure weight of numbers arriving puts unmanageable pressures on social structures. Countries have developed over decades to the point where they can feed, house, protect and care for their citizens. Millions of extra poor, mainly low skilled and highly dependent people, demanding immediate support, destroys the ability of the countries to care for their own people.

Migration can help a country if it is phased in gradually over years and controlled, but the type of swamping now taking place across Europe destroys infrastructures that have taken generations to construct.

Secondly, the Muslim Caliphate is at war with the west in Iraq and Libya, with fighters delivering ongoing terror to countries across the globe. The refusal of primarily Germany, strongly supported by the EU leadership to acknowledge this fact and put in place stringent controls means that the first requirement of a Government to protect its own people can no longer be met. Millions of people, mostly young Muslim men are flooding into Europe. There are no entry checks and no control within the many borderless areas of Europe.

These people come from cultures that treat women very differently and live under Sharia law. ISIS has already told the EU that they are infiltrating fighters within the so-called refugees. The EU (as well as the leaders of some countries) of course refuse to listen and arrogantly place the importance of multiculturalism before the primary duty of protecting citizens from all threats.

The choice of the UK people

The UK citizens saw all this and were aware that plenty of its own leaders were developing the EU disease of not taking them seriously. They forced a vote thanks to people like Nigel Farage and won the right to leave thanks to people like Boris Johnson. Even now the people who hate the population having their voices heard are spinning anti-democratic tut to try and prevent democracy from being carried out.

They must not succeed!

If we stand back and provide a little more light and a little less heat we can see that the people of the UK only demanded back the right to control their own laws, borders, trade, and money. These are no more than the undeniable rights of any sovereign people! After all who else should control those things? Because of this, the EU leadership behaved like a bunch of spoilt seven-year-olds punishing everyone including their own people because their ridiculous pet project was being damaged. The blasted UK would no longer provide five and a half billion pounds of free money every year for them to waste. The UK courts would decide on who we would imprison and for how long or deport without referring to European courts.

Now, as the fifth-biggest world economy the UK would trade with whom we wish.

Not a pretty sight

Whatever the financial pros and cons, this process has given us a clear insight into the type of people we are dealing with. We must stay friends with the people of Europe and help them as they help us. But we must be free of the bullying bureaucrats who have taken over running parts of Europe without having to win any election to remain in power. Junker, among others, seems to have been in his job for years with no sign of a meaningful election in sight.

They have been flushed into the open by their grasping and posturing and they dont make a pretty sight.
Many pro-Remain MPs believe that after Theresa May's performance at last week's Conservative Party Conference, her premiership is under threat. She is now under pressure due to a Freedom of Information request to publish secret legal advice claiming she should stop Brexit before March 2019, if it best serves the national interest.

Many businesses, legal experts and pro-Remain MPs disagree with Ministers that Brexit is irreversible because it is what the British people desire. That is despite increasing numbers of polls suggesting that if a referendum on the issue was held tomorrow, the Leave side would win with a larger majority than last year.

They have referred to the Government's "hard" Brexit approach as a kamikaze one.

An opportunity by arch Europhiles to destroy Brexit

The Guardian has revealed that an established lawyer is behind this ploy to prevent Brexit from becoming a reality. Jessica Simor QC, from Matrix Chambers, has asked Mrs May to publish "two good sources" under the Freedom of Information Act. They both advise the Prime Minister that she can withdraw Article 50 at any point and maintain trade with the EU under current terms of membership. This is merely an opportunity by arch Europhiles to destroy the process of leaving the trading bloc.

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, embittered by losing his seat at this year's general election, has said MPs should reject a trading deal that fails to guarantee the promises made by the Vote Leave campaign last year.

He said the UK should join President Macron in arguing for a reformed EU, even though Cameron failed to achieve this outcome himself.

Labour MP Chuka Umuna said it is clear the promises made by Brexiteers are failing to transform into reality, such as the extra 350 million a week the NHS would receive in the event of a Leave vote.

Yet he is failing to scrutinise the threats that the Remain side made last year, such as taxpayers being squeezed with an extra 4800 a year to pay for Brexit. The hypocrisy of the Remain side knows no bounds.

The beginning of the restoration of May's authority

The Prime Minister did not conclude the Conservative Party Conference with the best speech of her political career.

But she countered all the obstacles before her with dignity, humour and grace. If Dominic Raab is right to suggest the Government is making contingency plans for the event of "no deal", she can still quit these negotiations and walk away. To do so would prove she has preserved her promise to the 52% of people who voted to leave the EU and restore her popularity. Britain can thrive under WTO rules and she knows that. This could be the beginning of the restoration of her authority, especially if she has a Cabinet reshuffle soon.

Pro-Remain MPs will lose if they get their way. The damage reversing Brexit would cause to the British people's trust would be worse than that of the 2009 expenses scandal.

Westminster cannot afford to remain trapped in its bubble forever. Leaving the EU must happen at literally any cost, even if it means no deal is reached. Politicians do not always know best after all, as 2009 taught us.
Following a dismal Conservative party conference, in Manchester, Theresa May is in the spotlight again, as pressure mounts now for the government to publish secret legal advice - which states that Parliament as legal rights to stop Brexit.

According to The Observer, Jessica Simor QC, a lawyer from Matrix chambers, addressed May, in writing and asking for the release of the so-called legal advice, under the Freedom of Information Act. Claiming, also, "two good sources", Simor states that the Prime Minister had previous knowledge "that the article 50 notification can be withdrawn by the UK at any time before 29 March 2019".

This follows previous government statements, which declared Brexit as an irreversible path, aggravating on the pertinence for whatever deal may spur in the matter.

Brexit: The suicidal deal

Adding support to previous statements by Lord Kerr, who was involved in drafting article 50, Nick Clegg, (former deputy prime minister), calls this irreversible path a "myth put about by Brexiters who want to stop the British people from changing their minds," in a statement to the Observer.

Meanwhile, bitter anger grows among those opposing hard Brexit, and over the government's undisclosed, studies - which reflect on the real economic impact to be brought upon with Brexit. Along with the recent allegations of secrecy, an already fragile image stains the opinions from European leaders, who see May as less and less capable to steer the boat through these troubled waters.

While insisting on the fact that Brexit cannot be stopped, as it was the people's decision and vote, it is nevertheless becoming harder for the government to hide from what is being seen (on a growing scale) as huge, disastrous negotiation talks. Labeling it altogether as the "Kamikaze" approach, mainstream concerns are redundantly pointing out to the fact that British citizens were ill-prepared and uninformed of what the real repercussions of leaving the EU really are.

200 billion pounds worth of privately held debt

As the redundant topic will surely follow without any cease-fire from all of the political sides, on the streets, though, UK households are spending more than their income, and an unprecedented rate. Glue it to stagnant and even falling wages, the situation is so dire that members of Parliament are calling for a public inquiry into 200 billion pounds worth of privately held debt.

For Ed Smythe, an economist, and researcher at the financial research organization, Positive Money, the only thing keeping the UK out of a recession is the growing, unsustainable levels of privately held debt. Interviewed by the Real News Network, he went further on, contradicting the downward household debt trajectory implied by Mark Carney, (Bank of England's Governor), in his recent speech, last week.

In fact, the economist states that, by adding consumer and student loan to the equation, debt is rising at about 31 billion pounds per year, raising that same red flag that was waved, high up, on the last crisis.
Scotland is heralded as a stunning country, often likened to New Zealand in terms of its landscape, and its compact and hilly capital is no exception. Boasting a medieval Old Town, and grand Georgian New Town, its very own extinct volcano you can walk up, miles of coastline, and an unmissable castle on a hill, you won't get bored easily. So, if you're planning a trip to the capital, edinburgh, here's everything you need to do.

Arthur's Seat and The Crags

How often do you visit a city with an extinct volcano slap bang in the centre? Not often, until you visit Edinburgh.

Walking up Arthur's Seat takes a couple of hours, and you'll be rewarded with stunning panoramic views over the city and out over the ocean. Next to Arthur's Seat you'll find the cliffs of The Crags which you can also walk up, as well as three lochs and the tranquil Hollyrood Park.

Edinburgh Castle

It's almost impossible to visit Edinburgh and not spot the Castle, sitting proudly on Castle Rock in the centre of the city, dominating the skyline. The picturesque castle is a hotbed of Sottish history and is part of the World Heritage Site. To enter the Castle you can pay between 13-16, but you can head up to the Castle Esplanade for free where you'll get incredible views of the city.

Calton Hill

Yet another hill in the centre of the city, this time home to a replica acropolis, two observatories, and a collection of famous monuments.

Only a five minute walk up Calton Hill from Princes Street, you'll once again receive breathtaking panoramic views of Edinburgh and be able to spot iconic city landmarks. The perfect place to catch the sunset.

Edinburgh's Old Town and the Royal Mile

Edinburgh's medieval Old Town is home to the famous Royal Mile, a sloping 'Scots mile' connecting the Castle at the top and the Scottish Parliament and Hollyrood Palace at the bottom.

The Royal Mile is home to medieval architecture, historic alleyways and closes, a range of shops and museums, and St Giles Cathedral.

Dean Village

Wandering into Dean Village feels like you've stepped into a completely different place. Although historic and beautiful like the rest of Edinburgh, Dean Village was a separate village until the 19th century where Mill workers used to live.

Its industrial past can still be spotted by old millstones and carved stone plaques. Make sure to visit Well Court, a quaint and picturesque courtyard, and walk along the Water of Leith. Tranquil and peaceful - it's hard to believe Dean Village is only five minutes from the city centre.

Head to one of Edinburgh's Beaches

Edinburgh occupies the east coast of scotland which means you not only get beautiful sea views from the city centre, but there are also a selection of beaches you can visit. Although it might not be sunbathing weather, a walk along the beach is a must. Head down to Portobello to enjoy a walk along the Promenade where you'll find an Amusements, cafes, pubs and ice cream stands.

Alternatively, head to Cramond Village where you can walk across a causeway to Cramond Island- but make sure to check the tide times!

National Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh is home to tons of great museums and galleries, the National Museum of Scotland being a definite highlight. Initially head up to the stunning Grand Gallery, and then you can start exploring the many galleries that span subjects from the Natural World (where you'll find animals hanging from the roof), Science and Technology (where you'll find world-famous Dolly the Sheep), 7 floors of Scottish History, Design, Art and Fashion, World Cultures, and two constantly changing exhibitions. Don't forget to head up to the Roof Terrace, where you'll get panoramic views of the city and a particularly good view of the Castle.
New British aircraft carrier Hms Queen Elizabeth could be rushed into service if hostilities with North Korea break out. The behemoth was not meant to be put into service until at least 2020 but with tensions high on the Korean peninsula, the services of this new British ship could be needed.

With Trump and Kim involved in a spat over Kim's launching of missiles and nuclear tests, it is only right that the UK should be on standby. Obviously, no one wants to get sucked into a war like Iraq or Libya, however, the UK has the means to defend itself and with those means, if necessary it will defend itself.

HMS Queen Elizabeth has certainly made the Russians sit up and take notice as many pundits have compared the British ship with Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov. Many have lampooned the old Russian carrier saying the British aircraft carrier outclasses the Russian ship on all fronts from seaworthiness to weapons systems.

The British carrier is indeed a beast to be reckoned and restores a great British naval tradition. Its displacement is 67,000 tons, it is 920 ft in length and its beam is 230 ft. Its draught is 36 ft and it travels at 25 + knots and has the capacity to carry 679 crew which can increase to 1,600 with an air group.

The ship is bigger than RMS Titanic but not as long as the American aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.

This ship indeed is an impressive craft and has certainly given the UK's enemies abroad something to ponder.

Total recall

Those who lived through the 80's will recall the Falklands conflict when British territory in the South Atlantic was overrun by Argentine forces. Back then another British aircraft carrier was rushed into service - HMS Illustrious - and in 1982 the UK also had a female Prime Minister.

Arguably the British victory saved Margaret Thatcher's bacon as Prime Minister as the country got behind her in a show of nationalism, not seen since the days Winston Churchill perhaps.

Some pundits are seeing a possible repeating of history here saying if conflict breaks out with North Korea a British task force could be put together featuring HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The difference in 1982 was that the British task force in the South Atlantic was fighting to free a British island from Argentine forces. Today the British would be part of a coalition of nations headed up by the US to tackle the regime of Kim Jong-un.

Argentina did not have a nuclear capability and that would be the difference between any conflict with North Korea now and Argentina back then. Also although other Latin American nations like Brazil did offer support to Argentina but did not enter the war against Britain. China, on the other hand, could enter any conflict if it sees the war going against North Korea for example. This then would be a dangerous scenario possibly leading to a ratcheting up of hostilities with very dangerous consequences for all sides.

If a victory was achieved what could be the fall out be for Britain? Well let us examine history Margaret Thatcher was hated by many before 1982 and after the Falklands victory, she stayed in office for many years to come. Like Thatcher then, May is hated by many today and a successful outcome of a conflict with North Korea could save her. But this is just speculation about an unknown set of events that may never play out.

It would seem May has enough to deal with right now so any talk of war with North Korea is speculative and premature at best.

Micheal Fallon adamant

Sir Michael Fallon is backing the UK all the way saying the UK has enough naval ships like Type 45 Destroyers and Type 23 Frigates to give Kim a bloody nose.

Augmented by HMS Queen Elizabeth this would certainly give friend or foe alike pause for thought.

Fallon has also said the UK should be concerned with North Korea and spend more on defence. The reason behind his thinking was that London geographically is nearer to Pyong Yang than Los Angeles. Certainly, if the North has long-range missiles this is something the UK should be studying militarily.

Donald Trump has gone on record as saying everything has been tried with North Korea and nothing works. North Korea is feared to be launching another missile tomorrow and how the US and its Allies react remains to be seen.
King Salman of Saudi Arabia is on a visit to Russia, the first by a Saudi Monarch to this former Soviet State. His absence has seen some traumatic incidents happening in Jeddah. BBC has reported that a gunman armed with two Kalashnikov rifles opened fire at the guards doing duty at the royal palace gate. The attacker attacked the western gate of the Al- Salam palace. According to the Saudi interior ministry statement, a 28-year-old man drove up to the Al Salam Palace gate and opened fire. The man had come in a Hyundai car. The incident happened at about 1515 in the afternoon.

The guards opened retaliatory fire and the lone gunman was shot dead. Before this, the gunman could shoot two guards dead and three were injured, Al Jazeera news channel reported.

The attack

The attacker has been identified and his name is Mansour bin Hassan bin Ali bin Al Fahid al-Amri and was a 28 year old Saudi national. The police have not commented on the motive of the killer and no further details are available. All they have said is that an investigation is on.Saudi Arabia is in the grip of a movement against the king spearheaded by the ISIL. This terror group which is fairly active has been targeting security forces and the Shia minority. The majority of the population of Saudi Arabia is Sunni.

Tens of Shia's have been killed in the northern province where the ISIL is active.

Saudi has involved in fights against the Bashar regime in Syria as well as the Iranian supported Houthi regime in Yemen. Despite cobbling a coalition, the Saudi force has not made much headway in Yemen.

Questions

The attack on a secure area of a palace in Jeddah is cause for worry and shows that the tentacles of the opponents of the Saudi regime have spread far and wide.

The US had already issued a travel advisory to all Americans to exercise extreme caution while moving in Jeddah as a terror attack was expected on the palace. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the palace but the killer who was shot dead had come with the ominous intention of dying in carrying out his act.

He was reportedly also carrying grenades and petrol bombs. Many questions are raised as to how the attacker could get close to the palace and target the guards

Saudi Arabia is slowly changing archaic laws and recently women have been allowed to drive cars. But the regime is still light years away in giving equal rights to women in the kingdom. The monarchy maintains an iron grip on the kingdom but terror groups led by the ISIS are active.
An advertisement was recently released by Dove for a new body wash on their Facebook page. A huge backlash followed the ad, which seemed to infer that the companys product had transformed a Black Woman into a White Woman. Many complained about what they consider to be racist overtones in Doves message. The company has since released an apology for the advert on Twitter and Facebook, but the backlash continues as people try to understand what their message was supposed to be.

Body wash changes a womans skin color?

The advert, which has since been deleted, featured four images arranged in a square.

The top two images featured a black woman, about to remove the brown shirt she is wearing. Beneath those images are two other images. One shows the black woman lifting up the shirt, while the second reveals a smiling white woman, seemingly implying the body wash had changed the models skin color.

Many social media users expressed their ire over what they deemed a racist ad. Dove initially headed to Twitter to say they had obviously missed the mark while representing women of color in a thoughtful manner. They added that they deeply regret any offense the ad caused.

One Twitter user by the name of Whitney responded, sharing an image of the ad and asking Dove to explain their reasoning for it.

As noted by the Kansas City Star, Dove released a second statement, apologizing for the offending advert on Facebook. This time they went into a little more detail, explaining that the company is committed to representing the beauty of diversity. They again went on to state they had missed the mark, adding they deeply regret the offense their ad has caused.

Dove went on to add that the feedback they have received is important to them and will be used to guide their actions in the future.

Despite two apologies, it seems the level of the companys offense and their brief apology is not enough, as Dove hasnt explained what the intention of the advert was supposed to be. Twitter user rosechocglam took the ad at what she believed to be face value.

She wrote quite simply that White = Clean and Black = Dirty, adding this is the world according to Dove.

White = Clean

Black = Dirty

The World According to #Dove pic.twitter.com/LkLajdW3bM  rosechocglam (@rosechocglam) October 8, 2017

Twitter users suggest Dove needs a new marketing team

The Athena Project took it even further on Twitter, saying it might be time for Dove to recruit a new marketing team  hopefully from this century  going on to say the sub-textual racism bears too many parallels. Sanjee Perera went on to say the historical context makes it so much worse

The historical context makes this soo much worse. I hope @dove will take a long hard look at their #media strategy. #Dove #racism pic.twitter.com/NyZ5Kmb1ZF  Sanjee Perera (@SanjeePerera1) October 8, 2017

According to a report by the New York Daily News, Dove has been in trouble before for a skin lotion that was advertised as being for normal to dark skin. One user responded on Twitter to ask Dove who had told them her dark skin wasnt normal.

Meanwhile, Dove has always prided itself on its diversity, often featuring women of varying body types and backgrounds in what they term their Real Beauty campaign. From the feedback they received for their recent advert, it looks like theyll have to try harder.
The promotional opportunity was unbelievable. "Rick and Morty" handed a golden goose to McDonald's to get some good publicity and make some new consumers out of a desirable demographic. But just like one of the quests in the Adult Swim show, nothing went to plan. Most fans left their local fast food joint disappointed. All they wanted was some Szechuan sauce. Instead, they left with empty hands, empty stomachs, and a whole lot of bitterness that might not have been brought by the fast food chain in the first place. Fortune confirmed the mishap.

McDonald's lacks the sauce

When it was announced that McDonald's would bring back Szechuan sauce for one day, the excitement across the nation was palpable. The sauce was created in 1998 as a promotional item for Disney's "Mulan." After that, it disappeared, seemingly forever. That is, until the premiere of the third season of "Rick and Morty." In the show, Rick referenced his love and desire for the sauce several times, leading to an intensified discussion about its return to menus across the United States.

McDonald's heeded the call and decided to bring back the sauce for a limited time - just on October 7. They were also only bringing it back in limited locations. That meant fans were destined for long lines and some disappointment.

What they probably didn't expect, however, is the disappointment of not even nearing a chance to try the Szechuan sauce. Wonder if "Rick and Morty" will give this day a send-up down the road?

"Rick and Morty" fans are not happy

Complaints about the promotion rolled in almost immediately after it was scheduled to start. The biggest complaint is that there simply wasn't enough sauce to go around - not even close.

People immediately began invoking the name of Wendy's, the biggest rival to McDonald's. Many reported that there were only a few packets available at locations with hundreds of people lined up to get some. Some even called for a boycott of the chain.

.@McDonalds REALLY horrible marketing to make 1000s of ppl line up for #SzechuanSauce when you only have 20 per location #boycottMcDonalds  ChrisC (@Angeleyyz) October 7, 2017

The official "Rick and Morty" Twitter account didn't discuss the mishap, as they were focused on New York Comic-Con.

McDonald's, however, issued a mea culpa of sorts. They passionately promoted the sauce on Twitter all week, so there was no escaping the inevitable backlash. They proceeded to issue an apology in the afternoon.

The best fans in the multiverse showed us what they got today. We hear you & we're sorry not everyone could get some super-limited Szechuan.  McDonald's (@McDonalds) October 7, 2017

It's unlikely that this promotion will ever be run again. "Rick and Morty" fans will have to live without their Szechuan sauce indefinitely. And this is why we can't have nice things.
One of the biggest stories over the last week has revolved around film producer Harvey Weinstein and the Sexual Harassment allegations surrounding him. As expected, Donald Trump decided to speak out with his own thoughts on the matter.

Trump on Weinstein

Earlier this week, the New York Times broke a bombshell story revealing that film producer and co-founder of Miramax, Harvey Weinstein, had been accused of various acts of sexual harassment going back decades. One of the centerpieces around the NYT article was actress Ashley Judd, who claims Weinstein invited her to his home to watch him shower.

Other names like Rose McGowan double down on the story, while Fox News reporter Lauren Sivan went on to accuse Weinstein of masturbating in front of her. In response, Weinstein quickly hired legal representation, denying the allegations in the process. One high-profiled lawyer brought on to defend the Miramax co-founder was Lisa Bloom, who then decided to quit the team on Saturday after massive backlash. As the drama continued, Donald Trump took time to give his thoughts, as reported by CBS News on October 7.

Ive known Harvey Weinstein for a long time. Im not at all surprised to see it. Pres. Trump says https://t.co/N5oZfxvFs3 pic.twitter.com/uEyqa2aTTx  CBS News (@CBSNews) October 7, 2017

While speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday was Donald Trump, who was heading off to North Carolina for a fundraiser.

While the president fielded many questions, including the latest scandal surrounding his relationship with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the former host of "The Apprentice" was asked about the allegations involving Harvey Weinstein.

Harvey Weinstein's future at the film company he helped found is in question following a New York Times report https://t.co/hgQjl59jTv pic.twitter.com/4j95MbNbih  CNN (@CNN) October 7, 2017

"Ive known Harvey Weinstein for a long time," Donald Trump said, before adding, "Im not at all surprised to see it." As expected, it didn't take long before critics of the commander in chief fired back, pointing out his own history of sexual assault and harassment allegations.

Twitter reacts

Following Donald Trump's remarks about Harvey Weinstein, those who oppose the president made sure to speak out. "Takes one to know one I guess," one tweet read.

So you gave each other tips, swapped stories, did Cosby attend the bull sessions?  Strong Nasty Woman (@LenWmsCarver) October 7, 2017

You know him a long time? Uhm! Would it be bc you both have the same behavioral pattern?  Keep It Real (@rhus00) October 7, 2017

Takes one to know one I guess.  Caesar (@CaesarResists) October 7, 2017

"Trump saw him regularly at the meetings," another Twitter user added.

"Im sure theyve had many of those sick locker room discussions he loves to have," yet another tweet noted. "You know him a long time? Uhm! Would it be bc you both have the same behavioral pattern?" an additional tweet wondered.

Meaning he was totally cool with it and probably did it together.  Kirsten O'Nell (@ohkirsten) October 7, 2017

Said the pot calling the kettle black ...... #TrumpGrabsVajayjay  Samantha Sanderson (@SamSanderson123) October 7, 2017

"So you gave each other tips, swapped stories, did Cosby attend the bull sessions?" one Twitter user asked. "Meaning he was totally cool with it and probably did it together," one social media user noted. As the negative reaction continued, it showed that the controversial history Donald Trump has with women was not going to be forgotten anytime soon.
A technician checks equipment at a smart manufacturing plant of Aucma, one of China's largest refrigeration equipment suppliers. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Aucma redefines low-cost cooling technology with Arktek project for medical industry

Aucma Co Ltd, one of China's largest refrigeration equipment suppliers, is making efforts to reshape Chinese brands as trustworthy and responsible in the company's go-global strategy.

The Qingdao-based company is keen on improving its innovative capability through high-level international cooperation.

For example, in cooperation with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the company developed a kind of portable passive cold storage device called Arktek, enhancing its cold chain technology to a higher level as well as international reputation.

Arktek looks like a green cartoon toy bucket, and can keep vaccines at as low as -80 C without extra energy support for a week, according to Ren Yizhao, deputy general manager of the Arktek project of Aucma.

The device has proved to be essential in transporting the Ebola vaccine during the outbreak of the disease in West Africa in 2014.

Statistics of the World Health Organization showed that some estimated 1.5 million children under 5 die each year globally from illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia that often can be prevented with vaccines.

Despite immunization being one of the greatest success stories in modern medicine, one in five children worldwide remains unprotected, without access to even the most basic vaccines globally. Some of the biggest challenges come from difficulties in delivering interventions like vaccines.

"With its excellent sealing performance, Arktek is easily delivered in rugged and rough roads and put at sanitary stations in remote areas as vaccine storage device," said Ren. "One Arktek barrel can meet the needs of a village of 6,000 people for a year."

Currently, Arktek has been tested in many countries such as Nigeria, India, Senegal and Ethiopia and received warm welcome by consumers there.

However, Aucma's Arktek success was not made in a day.

When Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation looked for a worldwide partner to invent a refrigeration device that could be used in countries with limited cold chain and ice pack production capacity, Aucma was among the candidates but not the most hopeful one.

Mark Suzman, president of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's global policy, advocacy and country programs, said that Aucma is "a Chinese enterprise showing great potential for tackling development challenges in sub-Saharan Africa".

"And we share in common in devoting our intelligence and efforts to saving lives and improving health conditions in Africa as well as other countries."

Li Wei, chairman of Aucma Co Ltd, was longing for working with world-class teams and cherished the opportunity.

"Earning money is important but does not always take the first place," Li said. "To earn reputation internationally, Aucma needs to further consolidate its foundation in various areas first."

It took two years for Aucma to develop an Arktek reaching the WHO standards of quality, safety and efficacy after the cooperation agreement of 2013.

To date, Aucma has sold more than 2,000 Arktek barrels and the remaining market in Africa alone is estimated to be more than 30,000 units.

Globalgood, a research institute invested by Bill Gates, has sent several scientists to work with Aucma.

"Through working with and learning from scientists from the United States, our staff have been much inspired and improved their innovation skills," said Li.

To date, Aucma has also worked with German industrial giants like Siemens and Bosch. The latest progress is that the company has joined hands with Siemens to build a joint laboratory for robot application.

"The collaboration with Siemens brings the latest industry 4.0 technologies, as well as enables our staff to learn about the renowned German manufacturing spirit," Li said. "With Bosch, we've learned stricter standards of the Germans."

By working with international manufacturing giants, Aucma was able to sell its products to more than 100 countries and regions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Last year, its total sales value stood at 3.75 billion yuan ($562 million); it sold 500,000 sets of products abroad for 620 million yuan, up by 4 and 20 percent year-on-year respectively.

With China's Belt and Road Initiative, Aucma sees more opportunities.

This year, Aucma set up two joint ventures in Malaysia and Nigeria, respectively; both are expected to start operations by the end of this year.

"The Belt and Road Initiative does not mean only selling our products or 'transferring overcapacity' to other countries and regions," said Li.

Aucma brings latest technical skills and managerial concepts to its overseas plants. It hires and trains a number of local staff, helping local economies to grow.

"We study local laws and regulations, respect and try to understand local cultures and insist on win-win or even allwin with local partners as well as consumers."

Founded in 1987 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2000, Aucma has products ranging from freezers, refrigerators to household appliances and other household products. It also specializes in cold-chain products, cold-chain logistics equipment, cryogenic equipment, washing machines, air conditioners and vending machines.

In June 2017, the World Brand Lab announced that Aucma was among the Top 500 Most Valuable Brands in China, with its brand value estimated at 28.6 billion yuan.
Amy Barzdukas, vice-president and chief marketing officer of Polycom, explains the company's strategy during an interview in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Amy Barzdukas leads Polycom's efforts in China, which is 'an important and ever-changing market'

Amy Barzdukas, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer of unified communications provider Polycom, is a veteran blue chip executive.

She worked as a vice-president of worldwide marketing for HP's business personal systems group and had a 16-year career with Microsoft.

Polycom attracted her the most with its large-enough-to-execute, small-enough-to-impact company size and its ability to provide people with better communication approaches, Barzdukas said.

She joined a new executive lineup that includes CEO Mary McDowell and two other female executives. She brought her 20-year experience in the technology industry to Polycom.

Barzdukas has been to Shanghai and Guangdong before her first visit to Beijing. As a leader of a global company, she explained the reasons of visiting China.

"Without doubt, China is really an important and everchanging market for our company. The only way to know the local challenges is to go out and hear directly from the customers and partners about the present situation."

Asked about the challenges of rapid internet penetration, Barzdukas expressed her positive expectations of the Chinese market: "With the development of 5G (fifth-generation mobile networks), Polycom has been provided with tremendous opportunities to reach more less-developed cities and bring high-quality service to SMEssmall and medium enterprisesin China.

"Since the industry is undergoing tremendous digital transformation, we are currently focusing on full utilization of digital marketing."

Barzdukas said Polycom's next goal is to combine artificial intelligence and augmented reality.

"Our product is actually using artificial intelligence since it recognizes faces and presents to the other end. Augmented reality would also be strengthened to alter or block the background in our future products."

Barzdukas is positive about Polycom's future. "We've clear goals and we're on the way. At the end of the day, all that matters is delivering what customers want and we believe we'll succeed in that."

For a telecoms corporation, Polycom has a relatively high number of female executives36 percent while the average is 19 percent, according to the 2016 Women in the Workplace report.

Barzdukas said that it was a coincidence rather than a deliberate selection: "It's a statement about the company that it continues to hire people based on their talent and experience instead of their gender. As far as I'm concerned, it's simply the right people being in the right place at the right time.

"It's important for an executive team to have diversity in both gender and thinking patterns as well. It helps you to ultimately perform as a team. Our customers are diverse in terms of shape, sex and size, so having a diverse team means we can better respond to their diverse needs."

She also said that the benefits female executives bring to the job accrue not only to the corporation but the whole society.

"It's of crucial importance to let the young generation be aware of what they are capable of doing, since you are mostly inspired by what you seewitnessing women in senior positions makes you understand you can actually realize your dreams."

She considers being a female executive and the mother of three at the same time the most significant achievement in her life.

"Being named CMO at Polycom would definitely be my top career achievement," Barzdukas said. "As a female executive, keeping a work-family balance is also a significant accomplishment."

With her husband also busy on business trips, it's a huge challenge for Barzdukas to keep a balance between her responsibility to her family and her career. "We've three kids and two dogs, so it's rather challenging."

Barzdukas shares a story to stress the importance of prioritizing. "My husband and I once talked about our kids' weekend plans when I was busy preparing for my Polycom presentation. He asked me what I'd want to miss. Frankly speaking, I couldn't bear to miss a single thing."

"However, I realized since then that lots of my work was self-imposed. I need to choose either devoting to the team and having Polycom remembering my presentation, or having my kids remembering their mom showing up at their game 20 years later."

Li Jiayue contributed to this story
Miao people compete in a tug-of-war in Hongshui village, Guangxi Rongshui Miao autonomous county, on Saturday to celebrate the year's good harvest. Many tourists joined in, as they traveled there for the weeklong National Day holiday. [Long Linzhi/China Daily]

Mid-Autumn Festival at same time as National Day helped to boost record

With a record-high number of trips made during the past eight days, the National Day holiday, one of the most important times of a year in China, has inspired big changes in the way people travel.

Usually, the National Day holiday runs from Oct 1 to 7 and is dubbed "Golden Week".

This year, the holiday was prolonged to eight days, as it coincided with Mid-Autumn Festival. The longer duration of the holiday enabled more people to take trips.

Statistics from the China National Tourism Administration showed that 705 million trips were made during the eight-day National Day holiday this year, 663 million of them in the first seven days, up 12 percent from the seven-day holiday last year. Five years ago, 428 million trips were taken during the seven-day holiday.

But the increasing number of trips is not the only change in the past several years.

Rail travel, particularly on high-speed trains, has enabled more people to travel during the holiday. Estimates from China Railway Corp, the national rail operator, showed that about 40 percent of trips during the holiday were made by train, including on the Fuxing, the high-speed train developed by China that was put into operation in June and travels at speeds up to 350 km/h.

At the same time, the free-of-charge policy on expressways during public holidays, which first went into effect during the 2012 National Day holiday, made it cheaper and more convenient for people taking road trips. This encouraged more people to travel by car.

Yang Pei, 46, a resident of Dezhou, Shandong province, took his wife and daughter on a road trip to Tianjin during the holiday. On other days, a road trip between his hometown and the North China municipality would cost travelers 210 yuan ($32) to pass the toll stations on the expressways.

"With the 'free pass' policy on holidays, our only cost during this trip is gasoline, which is about 300 yuan," he said. "It's very economical because traveling by high-speed train would cost a family of three twice as much."

In addition, tourists in China also used shared bikes more frequently during the holiday, which added convenience in urban areas and helped the environment.

As of the end of July, more than 16 million bikes will have been put into operation nationwide. According to Ofo, one of the major bike-sharing companies, the usage frequency of its bikes increased by 15 percent during the National Day holiday. Carbon emissions were reduced by about 78,000 metric tons, it said.

Zhang Min, a Beijing resident who traveled to Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, said shared bikes helped her when she was sightseeing in the city.

"It's really comfortable to ride a bike and appreciate the scenery in the mild autumn weather, not to mention that I don't have to call an expensive taxi or wait for the always-crowded bus," she said, adding that the occurrence of new things has given people more choices in their outing.
At the Musee Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakech [Photo/Fondation Jardin Majorelle  Nicolas Matheus]

"I want to give haute couture a kind of wink, a sense of humour  to introduce the whole sense of freedom one sees in the street into high fashion; to give couture the same provocative and arrogant look as punk  but of course with luxury and dignity and style." So said fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 on the eve of his exhibition at the Costume Institute of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, its first-ever show devoted to a living designer.

Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, who also curated the show, wrote the following for the introduction: "For 26 years, Yves Saint Laurent has kept women's clothes on the same high level. He is followed across the oceans of the world by women who look young, live young and are young no matter what their age Half of the time he is inspired by the street, and half of the time the street gets its style from Yves Saint Laurent. His vehicle to the street is pret-a-porter  but behind it all, there are the superb designs of his couture workroom."

His influence on 20th-century fashion and beyond may be even greater than the peers he worked alongside  including Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy and Gabrielle Chanel  and his clothes and themes more referenced and appropriated by high and low culture alike. Although she died in 1971, Chanel, never one for modesty, had even pronounced him her spiritual heir.

What makes Saint Laurent's collection of work so distinct is that none of his predecessors and peers, despite their luminous names, kept their original clothes in the same way. While other houses buy their dresses back from clients to build their collections, in the case of Yves Saint Laurent, what went down the catwalk was what got kept. His longtime partner in business and romance, Pierre Berge, who died earlier this month, told Vogue that one day, the designer said to him: "I adore that dress; we must keep it." And so they did.
During a visit to a Shanghai hospital two weeks ago, I was amazed to see a robot, instead of a human being, dispensing medicine.

And then dining last week in a Cantonese restaurant in Shanghai, I was instructed to place my order by scanning a bar code on a device at the table.

In each case, I wondered how many jobs had been cut due to these new technologies being introduced. But I absolutely have not heard any complaints among the Chinese blaming technology and automation for killing jobs.

A survey released on Oct 4 by the Pew Research Center finds that Americans express more worry than enthusiasm about coming developments in automation - from driverless vehicles to a world in which machines perform many of the jobs currently done by humans.

The survey of 4,135 US adults from May 1-15, finds that many Americans anticipate significant impact from various automation technologies in the course of their lifetime.

Although they expect certain positive outcomes from these developments, their attitudes more frequently reflect worry and concern over the implications of these technologies for society as a whole.

Americans are more than twice as likely to express worry (72 percent) than enthusiasm (33 percent) about a future in which robots and computers are capable of doing many jobs that are currently done by humans, according to the survey.

They are also around three times as likely to express worry (67 percent) than enthusiasm (22 percent) about algorithms that can make hiring decisions without any human-to-human interaction.

By comparison, public views towards driverless vehicles and robot caregivers exhibit more of a balance between worry and enthusiasm.

Also, 76 percent of Americans expect that economic inequality will become much worse if robots and computers are able to perform many of the jobs that are currently done by humans.

A similar share (75 percent) anticipates that the economy will not create many new, better-paying jobs for humans if this scenario becomes a reality. And 64 percent expect that people will have a hard time finding things to do with their lives if forced to compete with robots and computers for jobs.

Concern about the loss of jobs due to automation is apparent. A study by the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University shows that 85 percent of the 5.6 million manufacturing jobs lost in the US between 2000 and 2010 are attributed to technological change, mostly automation.

This has refuted the rhetoric of US President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign that the US lost manufacturing jobs as a result of trade with China, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Japan and a host of other countries.

"America has lost nearly one-third of its manufacturing jobs since NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and 50,000 factories since China joined the WTO," Trump said.

While trade may contribute to some job loss, evidence has shown that it is not the major factor, when automation is factored in.

Yet we never hear this side of the story from US politicians, not from Trump or his 2016 contender Hillary Clinton.

What we have seen instead is the Trump administration's executive order to "Hire American and Buy American" as if the basic economic theory of comparative advantage suddenly does not apply to the United States.

That is certainly not true. The US has imposed a much higher cost on its consumers in order to save a limited number of outdated steel jobs.

If the US is so hungry for Third World manufacturing jobs, I guess the Chinese, and probably the Mexicans too, are more than happy to move up the supply chain and adopt more automation while sending those low-tech jobs back to the US.

Contact the writer at chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com.
Montreal is a beautiful city set on an island in Quebec, Canada. Home to famous attractions, museums and great restaurants, Montreal is a fun weekend destination for couples and families. Visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, take a romantic walk through the Montreal Botanical Garden, and admire the architecture of the Notre-Dame Basilica. Best things to do in Montreal with kids include the Old Port of Montreal, the Biodome, the Pointe-a-Calliere Museum and the Montreal Science Centre.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts  Courtesy of PackShot - Fotolia.com

One of the most prominent museums in Canada and one of the best things to do in Montreal, this esteemed facility is the largest of its kind in the province of Quebec. The museums Sherbrooke Street location is significant for its inclusion in the Golden Square Mile, a prestigious stretch of road within the citys widely acclaimed historic district. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is comprised of four pavilions, with a fifth currently under construction. The museums permanent collection houses over 40,000 pieces ranging in style and medium. The museum offers both permanent and temporary displays, with touring exhibits visiting the center on a rotating basis. Additionally, the site boasts an elaborate concert venue. All exhibit and concert information is available on the museums website calendar. 1380 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-285-2000

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2. Montreal Botanical Garden  Courtesy of Denis0856 - Fotolia.com

The Montreal Botanical Garden is considered one of the most significant and important contributions to the horticultural world and one of the top Montreal attractions. The Gardens expansive and diverse collections and comprehensive facilities contribute to its valuable reputation. The 190-acre site features 10 themed greenhouses and a Chinese lantern garden, along with numerous exhibits, gardens, sculptures, and examples of plant life. An onsite planetarium and insectarium add additional interest and educational opportunities, and in the warmer months the Garden hosts a summer concert series. A rotating series of educational and interactive activities, groups, and lessons occur throughout the year based on the seasonal activities of the Garden and featured exhibits. 4101 Rue Sherbrooke E, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-872-1400

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3. Notre-Dame Basilica  Courtesy of Alessandro Lai - Fotolia.com

One of the most dramatic architectural feats in the world, The Notre Dame Basilica is a quintessential component of the Montreal skyline. With a colorful and striking interior, the Basilicas ceiling is painted a deep rich blue and scattered with golden stars. The remainder of the sanctuary is an array of tones that fill the space with vibrant, polychromatic hues. The stained glass windows, which line the walls of the soaring building, depict Montreals religious history, and they are a unique departure from the standard adornment of biblical scenes typically found illustrating church glass. When mass is not being offered, the church is open to visitors. Additionally, there are choral performances throughout the year, and an evening sound and light show is presented during the week. 110 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-842-2925



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4. Jean-Talon Market  Courtesy of ksl - Fotolia.com



The Jean-Talon Market is an expansive and bustling farmers market located in the Little Italy district of Montreal. Encompassing several blocks, the market is a year round staple in the Montreal food scene, and it allows vendors to sell an array of produce, hand made goods, and local farm fresh ingredients. The multicultural variety of ingredients and products lends itself to the appeal of the market, and everything from spices to fresh cut flowers to locally raised meats are available for sale in the open air stalls. In the winter, the market is smaller and moved to internal or closed stalls, but remains open for the sale of seasonal goods. In the warmer months, the market becomes a lively hub of shoppers and vendors. 7070 Avenue Henri Julien, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-277-1588

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5. Things to Do Near Me: Old Port of Montreal  Courtesy of diegograndi - Fotolia.com



Once the primary functioning port for the city of Montreal, the Old Port of Montreal is now a historic preservation site and recreational area. Originally used for Montreals importation and exportation of goods, the port dates back as early as 1611 when it was used as a trading post by French fur traders. However, in the 1970s, the Ports economic and functional purposes were transferred to a new location, and this site became a tourism based recreational district. Today, visitors can walk up and down the mile long stretch of docks and see an expansive collection of attractions. If you are looking for things to do in Montreal today, this is a great place to start exploring. While the riverfront is often used for walking, roller-blading, or biking, it is also home to several event venues, an urban beach called Plage de lHorloge, or Clock Beach, the IMAX theatre, and the Montreal Science Centre. 333 Rue de la Commune O, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-496-7678

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6. Things to Do Near Me: Biodome de Montreal  Courtesy of benjo94 - Fotolia.com



Housed in the facility that once hosted the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the Montreal Biodome is now a natural science epicenter. Visitors to the Biodome are able to contemplate replicas of each of the four unique ecosystems found within the continents of North and South America. They have the unique opportunity of coming into contact with the geographical patterns and plant and animal life that inhabit these regions. The Tropical Forest exhibit, for example, allows visitors to walk through a replica of South American rainforests. The Laurentian Forest exhibit displays the North American wilderness, while the Saint Lawrence Marine Eco-system comprises a habitat created around an estuary modeled after the Gulf of Saint Laurence. Finally, an expansive polar section is designed to provide insight into both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. 4777 Avenue Pierre-de Coubertin, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-868-3000

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7. Things to Do Near Me: La Guilde Culinaire  La Guilde Culinaire

La Guilde Culinaire offers participants the experience of attending a prestigious French cooking school without the intensity and grueling examinations. Instead, guests are able to benefit from the lessons and tips from professional chefs, while learning the staples of cooking and meal preparation. The experts at La Guilde Culinaire offer a variety of classes, including general cooking classes and courses on preparation of a multicultural array of specific cuisines, including Spanish, Chinese, and Thai, along with Tapas, sweets, and chocolates. Classes are predetermined on a monthly basis. 6381 Boul St-Laurent, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-750-6050



8. Things to Do Near Me: Pointe-a-Calliere Museum  Courtesy of Think2ice - Fotolia.com

The Pointe-a-Calliere Museum is a museum of history and archaeology situated in Old Town Montreal. The museum was founded as a celebration of Montreals 350th birthday in 1992, and it showcases an expansive range of artifacts and exhibits, beginning with exhibits dedicated to the First Nations. They illustrate the coexistence and interactions of the earliest known population of the area. Additionally, the museum demonstrates the influence of the British and French historical presence, and the resulting impact on the areas history and modern status. Three distinct archaeological sites are located within the museum complex, and they feature archaeological remains from every distinct period in the citys past. 350 Place Royale, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-872-9150

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9. Things to Do Near Me: Montreal Public Markets  Courtesy of Nitr - Fotolia.com

Montreals Public Markets is a network of 15 urban markets located all over the Island of Montreal. Regardless of the season, markets offer first-class produce and products in a pleasant atmosphere that reminds of a friendly village, with a vibe that encourages hanging out and socializing. The markets offer fresh, seasonal, and local produce with something for everyone, including fresh flowers, fruits, vegetables, prepared food, cheeses, wine, candies, snacks, and much more. The most important principle is the minimum of intermediaries, only one between the food producers and the consumers. There are more than 250 members of the Montreal Public Markets that sell their goods, many from the same neighborhoods as the shoppers. The markets host many seasonal events and celebrations, cooking demonstrations, gourmet walkabouts, workshops, and more.



10. Things to Do Near Me: Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum  Courtesy of ronniechua - Fotolia.com

Located in historic Old Town, the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum is an epicenter of historical and cultural significance for the city of Montreal. The museum itself is centered on the life and accomplishments of Marguerite Bourgeoys herself, the founder of the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel and the citys first teacher. One of the original pioneers of the 17th century, Bourgeoys is credited for having contributed to the birth of Montreal. Connected to the museum is the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, which is open to the public. Together, the two buildings showcase artifacts, documents, and other sacred objects that Bourgeoys and the historic congregation once owned. The highest view of Old Montreal can be seen from within the tower of the chapel. 400 Rue Saint Paul E, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-282-8670

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11. Things to Do Near Me: Le Bateau-Mouche  Le Bateau-Mouche

Le Bateau-Mouche offers high-quality urban cruise experiences embarking from the Old Port of Montreal, providing guests with an opportunity to experience the beautiful city from a new perspective along the St. Lawrence River waterfront. Day and dinner cruises are offered for guests of all ages, providing a chance for guests to relax, revitalize, and learn about the rich history and culture of Montreal from knowledgeable tour guides. Day cruises operate throughout the summer months, lasting between 60 and 90 minutes and documenting the history of the port city and seaway as part of dynamic, interactive presentations. Dinner cruises serve up four- and six-course menus, featuring dishes prepared with locally-sourced ingredients from Montreal purveyors. Quai Jacques-Cartier, Vieux-Port de Montreal, Phone: 800-361-9952



12. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Montreal Ghosts  Courtesy of Sharkshock - Fotolia.com

Montreal Ghosts is a unique walking tour combined with street theatre set in the historic landscape of Old Montreal. The ghosts are professional local actors who are working with the tourist agency Guidatour. Montreal Ghosts was the first company to develop the concept of an evening walking tour of the city with street theatre showing the ghosts of the past. The tour allows guests to explore Old Montreal in a very different way. In both tours, the Traditional Ghost Walk or the Ghost Hunt, the guests encounter witches, charlatans, and former criminals that await them around the dark corners of Old Montreal. Played by actors, they tell the grim stories, legends, secrets, and mysteries of the past. The tours are available in English and French. 360, Saint-Francois-Xavier St., Montreal, QC, H2Y 2S8, Canada, Phone: 514-844-4021



13. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Maison Saint-Gabriel Museum  Maison Saint-Gabriel Museum

Dedicated to illustrating the story of the first settlers of New France in the 17th century, the Maison Saint-Gabriel Museum aims to preserve the heritage, history, and artifacts of the original pioneers. The museum itself is housed in a 300-year-old farmhouse that, once an original building of the settlers, is now a National Historic Site. Exhibits within the museum include interpretive information and artifact exhibits describing the life and habits of these first settlers, showcasing their personal stories, farming techniques, the old school house, and a church. Over 15,000 artifacts are housed in the museum, and most of them originated between the 17th and 18th centuries. 2146 Place Dublin Pointe-Saint-Charles, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-935-8136



14. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Le St-Urbain  Le St-Urbain



This classic French restaurant offers patrons an authentic and upscale dining experience for both lunch and dinner. The restaurant is renowned for its impressive wine list, which is inscribed across the surface of a large blackboard that covers an entire wall of the space. The menu is designed to pair with the wine offerings, and the food selections are adjusted regularly to adhere to seasonal availability and locally grown ingredients. Three menus allow guests to order lunch or evening portions, as well as dessert choices, which includes a rotating cheese selection. Aside from the interior dining room, a small, seasonal patio is also available for guests. 96 Rue Fleury O, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-504-7700

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15. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Zoo Ecomuseum  Courtesy of Justin - Fotolia.com



The only outdoor zoo in Montreal, this 28-acre site is home to over 115 species of animal life. Part zoo, part eco reserve, the Ecomuseum is known for showcasing creatures native to the Saint Lawrence Valley, which comprises the southwestern portion of Quebec. It has created several natural habitat exhibits, and the Ecomuseum prides itself on being able to educate guests on the authentic lifestyle and habits of each creature while providing a sanctuary in which they can comfortably live. The Ecomuseum is divided into four distinct zones that serve as the homes of mammals, birds, reptiles, and marsh creatures. 21125 Ch Ste-Marie, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-457-9449



16. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Pullman  Pullman



Offering Tapas and an expansive wine list, Pullman is open for dinner in the evenings. This elegant and sophisticated restaurant is known for the quality of its wines, of which it has a diverse array that includes some particularly nice vintages. Pullman emphasizes artistic and bold presentation, and the wines are meant to perfectly accompany the menu. The knowledgeable staff members are always happy to suggest pairings. Dishes range from simple servings of snacks to larger meals, all derived from locally grown and seasonal fare. This trendy restaurant offers a fine modern dining experience, and the atmosphere balances industrial and warm touches, offering an overall welcoming experience. 3424 Av du Parc, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-288-7779

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17. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Montreal Science Centre  Montreal Science Centre



Located on the King Edward Pier in the center of the Old Port of Montreal, the Montreal Science Centre is home to a vast array of technology and science based exhibits and an expansive IMAX theater. The Science Center welcomes families and visitors of all ages, and it is comprised of interpretive and interactive displays that inform guests about the various featured topics through activities and personal experience. Permanent collections include a Windmill exhibit and a Cargo exhibit, which delves into the journey cargo takes in a big city port like the Montreal Port. Additional permanent exhibits include a young child centric area and a Science Zone, which features 26 unique, participation-based experiments. Rotating exhibits and IMAX features vary, and the Centre offers a calendar of events on their website. 2 Rue de la Commune O, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-496-4724



18. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Bouillon Bilk  Bouillon Bilk



Bouillon Bilk opens in the evenings, serving dinner to expectant and enthusiastic patrons. The restaurant is located in a unique structure, and the inspiration for its atmosphere and menu was derived from the understated and minimalist essence of the space. The food is upscale Canadian fare, a fuse of local organic ingredients and distinctive flavor combinations. The staff consists of knowledgeable food and wine enthusiasts who are able to advise on pairings and selections. The space is comprised of understated furnishings, instead relying on an unpolished elegance and eclectic simplicity, allowing the food to resonate with guests. 1595 Boul St-Laurent, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-845-1595

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19. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Tandem  Tandem



This classic French restaurant is located in the quiet Villeray neighborhood, and it is open to patrons in the evenings. Chef Pascal Turgeon offers a three-item menu to his guests: two seasonally determined dishes and a main dish that varies day-to-day. Chef Turgeon bases the daily menu around the availability of produce and ingredients sold at the market. The restaurant offers upbeat fine dining in a polished and sophisticated environment. Each dish is individually designed and elegantly presented, and the staff is knowledgeable regarding the restaurants expansive array of wine and dish pairings. The restaurant also offers a BYOB system, allowing guests to bring their own bottle of wine if they prefer. 586 Villeray, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-277-3339



20. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Arthurs Nosh Bar  Arthurs Nosh Bar



Arthurs Nosh Bar is advertised as a traditional Jewish deli, but is actually neither traditional nor a deli, and while the menu contains several traditional Jewish dishes, dont expect your bubbas smoked meats. You will, however, find delicious organic smoked salmon and they do serve latkes, challah bread, and kosher salami, but it is more a place where you can expect quinoa and gluten-free dishes. The mix works very well and the place is beautifully decorated, bright and modern, with an herb garden, leather banquettes, and black and white photos on the wall. You can get breakfast in a glass, known as the Bloody Cesar, and your traditional breakfast drink will have a bagel with smoked salmon as a garnish. The place is always packed, especially for weekend brunch, so expect to wait in line. 4621 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H4C 1S5, Canada, Phone: 514-757-5190



21. Where to Eat in Montreal, Canada: Park Restaurant  Park Restaurant



Park Restaurant, serving Asian fusion dishes and hand-crafted sushi, is open for lunch, closes for several hours in the afternoon, and reopens for dinner. The restaurant is named for its resident chef, Antonio Park. Park, a native Korean, was raised in South America before moving to Montreal, and considers his native background as a multicultural blend. His philosophy as a chef is to fuse this blend into the dishes he prepares, an apparent success as evidenced by the restaurants popularity. Park uses a variety of spices, ingredients, and cooking methods to create his delectable dishes, which vary based on season. The restaurant environment offers a trendy, industrial vibe, purposefully infused with hints of tastefully decadent elegance. The result is an edgy yet romantic ambience that still feels casual. 378 Avenue Victoria, Westmount, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-750-7534

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22. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Round Table Food Tours  Courtesy of koss13 - Fotolia.com Exploring Montreal food offerings would take years, but with the help of Round Table Food Tours, you can walk or bike your way behind the scenes and talk to the best chefs, young entrepreneurs, foodies and interesting local characters. You will visit iconic restaurants, learn about diverse Montreal neighborhoods, pick up gossips and legends, and sample some fantastic food. Round Table Tours offers about half a dozen food tours. On the Iberian tour, visitors get a taste of Spanish and Portuguese Montreal. A Jewish tour takes visitors to well-known landmarks such as Lester's Deli, Willensky's Light Lunch, and Cheskie's Bakery. Montreal: The Living Table focuses on healthy and sustainable food. 4101 boul. Decarie, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4A 3J8, Phone: 514-812-2003



23. Things to Do in Montreal, Canada: Velo Lifestyle  Courtesy of Aris Suwanmalee - Fotolia.com Velo Lifestyle is one of Canada's premiere bike retailers, offering online service through its website and a physical store and gallery space in Montreal's Griffintown neighborhood. The company, which is operated by Allo Velo, Inc., strives to encourage Canadians to ride bicycles daily, selling top European brands tested for quality and lifestyle demands. Top brands for sale include Dutch Gazelle, VANMOOF, and Creme Cycles, along with cargo bikes produced by brands such as Butchers and Bicycles, Triobike, and Larry vs. Harry Bullitt Cargo Bikes. Visitors at the company's Montreal location can enjoy a full-service coffee bar serving up Italian roast lattes and other coffeeshop delicacies, with bike rentals available for exploration of the city's most beautiful landmarks. 141 rue Shannon, Montreal, H3C2J4, Phone: 514-937-8356



25 Best Things to Do in Montreal, Canada

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Chateau Dufresne Museum

Built in 1915, this historic mansion turned museum originally served as the home of the Dufresne brothers Marius and Oscar. The French Canadian entrepreneurs based the mansion on the Petit Trianon, a small chateau located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles in France. After the Dufresne brothers, the property was owned by a university in the 1940s, and then passed on to the city of Montreal in 1957.

It has since become a renowned establishment known for housing various art museums. Today, the 40-room building is open to the public for tours. It showcases the elaborate architecture, styling, and decor of the Dufresne brothers and presents historic and famed works of art that have found a home in the Museum.

2929 Rue Jeanne-d'Arc, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-259-9201

Free Montreal Tours

Free Montreal Tours offers an informative 120-minute jaunt through the city. Local guides utilize a combination of love for Montreal along with their professional training at the Institute de tourisme et dhotellerie du Quebec, a well known hospitality and tourism training program, to provide guests with a compressive and entertaining tour experience.

The tour illustrates the history of the city, and provides a background of its founding and evolution, along with stories and anecdotes that bring the city to life. Tour goers will better appreciate the historic beauty of Montreals Old Town after the tour, and they will also receive personalized recommendations on attractions, restaurants, and sites to visit on their own. Phone: 514 613-1940

Montreal Craft Beer Tours

This three-hour guided tour leads guests through three pillars of the Montreal craft beer scene. The establishment is dedicated to visiting locally owned and founded establishments, and the six breweries showcased on this tour are unique to Montreal. In addition, each brew is accompanied by a specifically selected food pairing that has been chosen to enhance both the experience of the beer.

A house made Poutine, beef gravlax and cheese, and chocolate are among the delicacies paired with each drink. Guests will walk from pub to pub while the local guide entertains them with historical stories about the darker past of Montreal, including tidbits about the former Red Light District. Guides also highlight the entertainment district and several of the citys architectural gems such as hidden parks, outdoor venues, and historic mansions.

4768 Rue de Brebeuf, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-700-1280

Tuck Shop

This quaint Italian eatery is tucked into a small urban space in the charming St. Henri neighborhood, offering upscale evening dining at market value. Tuck Shop does not have a set menu, and instead bases the nightly fare around daily market availability and seasonality, using social medial accounts to update guests with the evenings upcoming dishes and wine list. The location of Tuck Shop is cozy and offers guests an intimate and relaxing dining experience.

4662 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montreal, Canada, Phone: 514-439-7432

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Visitors to Southern Florida will delight in the exploration of its beachfront parks, its museums, and its beautiful botanic gardens. Families can swim with dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium or go snorkeling at the first undersea park in the US as they explore John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Southern Florida's museums offer a world of information about art, science, nature, and the fascinating history of the region. From Miami to Key Largo, Southern Florida is the perfect destination for a sunny respite from the cold, with attractions that suit visitors of all ages and interests.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1. Naples Botanical Gardens  Courtesy of Edelweiss086 - Fotolia.com

The Naples Botanical Gardens aim to present and conserve a space for its visitors to experience plants native to the tropics. It consists of 170 acres of beautifully cultivated land and contains within its grounds over one thousand distinct species of plants. The gardens are separated into seven sections, each of which represents a particular ecosystem. Tours of the Naples Botanical Gardens are offered year round at 11am, and from February until November, a second tour is also offered daily at 2pm. The space is fully accessible for guests in wheelchairs, and it is recommended that guests wear appropriate clothing for the weather and also bring a bottle of water with them. 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, FL 34112, Phone: 239-643-7275

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2. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park  Courtesy of lucky_photo - Fotolia.com

At Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, visitors can swim, play, and go boating on the Atlantic. The beach at Bill Baggs is rated one of the top ten beaches in America, and with over a mile of picturesque, sandy beachfront, it's not difficult to see why. The Lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is the oldest of its kind in the region. Built in 1825, it provides a stately and distinctive sight for visitors, set against the gorgeous backdrop of the park and beach. Guided tours of the lighthouse and the connected cottage for the lighthouse keeper are offered two times a day. 1200 South Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, Phone: 305-361-5811

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3. South Florida Attractions: Naples Museum of Art  Naples Museum of Art

The Baker Museum, part of the Artis--Naples center for the performing and visual arts, is located in a gorgeous, 30,000 ft. space with a glass-dome conservatory. Inside the Baker Museum, guests will find 15 galleries that host travelling exhibitions as well as permanent collections. With an emphasis on modern art and contemporary art, the Baker Museum is one of the most prevalent fine arts museums in the region, with pieces by artists such as Albert Paley and Dale Chihuly. Free tours of the museum are offered to the public on certain days. Next read: Things to Do in Naples 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples, FL 34108, Phone: 239-597-1111



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4. Southern Florida: Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium  Courtesy of rose1967 - Fotolia.com



The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is a park, museum, planetarium, and so much more. Located on 105 acres in Fort Meyers, the Calusa Nature Center offers various exciting activities and exhibits for its visitors to learn about the natural history of Southern Florida. Guests can meet some of the center's resident animals, including skunks, raccoons, and the inhabitants of the Butterfly and Audubon Aviaries, which feature birds of prey like hawks, eagles, and owls. In the museum, guests can learn about native Florida wildlife and then take to one of the three nature trails at the center to see some with their own eyes. The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is open seven days a week. 3450 Ortiz Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33905, Phone: 239-275-3435

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5. Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Southern Florida  Edison and Ford Winter Estates



In the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, visitors will find museums and gardens on the grounds of the adjacent historical homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Visitors can tour the homes of both of these illustrious inventors, wander the botanic gardens on the museum's 20-acre property, or visit the Estates Museum to learn about two of the most influential men in American history. Visitors will learn about their lives, inventions, and influences with fascinating and interactive galleries, displays, and exhibits. The site is also home to the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory, and the stunning botanic gardens that both influenced Edison in his research. 2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901, Phone: 239-334-7419

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6. Imaginarium Hands-On Museum and Aquarium  Imaginarium Hands-On Museum and Aquarium



At the Imaginarium Hands-on Museum and Aquarium, kids can experience science and marine life in a way unlike any other. The establishment is located in Fort Myers, and admission to the Imaginarium grants access to over 60 hands-on exhibits like the Touch Tank, where kids can see and touch sea life like stingrays, the Dino Dig fossil lab, and the Animal Lab, which includes everything from ball pythons and alligators to prairie dogs and Mexican axolotls. The Imaginarium's exhibits are fun and educational, and the museum also offers educational programs and shows where kids can meet and learn about live animals or explore their creativity and engineering skills. 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33916, Phone: 239-243-0043

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7. Southern Florida: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park  Courtesy of Lawrence Cruciana - Fotolia.com

While its sparkling blue ocean views and swaying palm trees are beautiful, the real draw at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park lies under the surface of the ocean. The bounds of Pennekamp Park stretch for three miles into the Atlantic Ocean, and with a glass-bottom boat tour, visitors can look into reefs teeming with fish and other wildlife from the comfort of a dry boat. For a closer look at the water, the park also offers canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding, as well as snorkeling and scuba diving. Back on dry land, visitors are welcome to enjoy the park's beaches, trails, and picnic areas. 102601 Overseas Highway (MM 102.5), Key Largo, FL 33037, P.O. Box 1560, Phone: 305-451-6300



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8. South Florida Attractions: Jungle Island  Courtesy of oriori - Fotolia.com

Visitors to Jungle Island will get up close and personal with a wide variety of animals and tropical plants. This interactive zoological experience offers live shows where guests can learn and even have their photo taken with tigers, primates, or birds of prey. While playing with lemurs or hanging with some two-toed sloths, guests will learn about the habitats and conservation efforts surrounding some of the earth's most unique creatures. Jungle Island is open 365 days a year and offers different entry packages that include shows, animal interactions, tours, and special programs. 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, FL 33132, Phone: 305-400-7000



9. MDC Museum of Art and Design, Southern Florida  Courtesy of wmiami - Fotolia.com

The Miami Dade College's Museum of Art and Design is located right in downtown Miami in the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower. The Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) is the permanent home to over 1900 works of art across all mediums, including photography, painting, sculpture, film, and many more. At the Museum of Art and Design, visitors will see works by famous artists as well as those by rising artists and student artists. They will also find works that have significant influence in the world of contemporary art. On the third Saturday of every month, the museum hosts a children's program called GOGO MOAD!, which is located in various settings around the city of Miami. 600 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, Phone: 305-237-7700

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10. Miami Children's Museum, Southern Florida  Courtesy of ulianna19970 - Fotolia.com

At the Miami Children's Museum, every exhibit is designed with a specific learning goal in mind. From the Construction Zone to the Ocean Odyssey to the Music Makers Studio, kids will love the wide variety of exhibits that promote not only learning, but also play. The museum was created in conjunction with real school curriculums, and its mission is to take the lessons that kids learn in classrooms and turn them into real, lasting experiences. Kids of all ages will love the museum and the many layers of learning and fun that it offers. 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132, Phone: 305-373-5437



11. Southern Florida: Miami Seaquarium  Courtesy of Felix Mizioznikov - Fotolia.com

Miami Seaquarium is a marine themed entertainment park that emphasizes education and conservation along with fun for the entire family. At the Miami Seaquarium, guests can swim with dolphins, learn about a penguin's habitat, and see endangered manatees and sea turtles. The Seaquarium offers eight unique and fantastic animal shows, where audience members can watch dolphins jump and flip high in the air, and laugh at the silly antics of sea lions. Each show is designed to teach its audience about the animals they are watching, as well as conservation efforts that everyone can take part in. The Seaquarium recommends that its visitors allow a visit of at least four hours in order to fully enjoy everything they have to offer. 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, Phone: 305-361-5705

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12. Murphy-Burroughs House, Southern Florida  Murphy-Burroughs House

Located right in the center of downtown historic Fort Meyers, the Murphy-Burroughs house is a beautiful piece of Georgian Revival architecture that was built in 1901. Set on a gorgeous property overlooking the Caloosahatchee River, the home is open for guided historical tours. Visitors can enjoy the peaceful gardens and listen to the relaxing flow of the river or explore every room of the house while learning about the history and stories of the lavish social events that once took place within its walls. Guided tours are available to the public with an advance reservation. 2505 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901, Phone: 239-337-9505



13. Museum of Discovery and Science  Courtesy of science photo - Fotolia.com

Inside the Museum of Discovery and Science, visitors can dig for fossils, navigate the skies in cockpit simulators, meet alligators, iguanas, and a 12-foot long snake, and so much more. The Museum of Discovery and Science is located in Fort Lauderdale, and it is designed to teach children and adults of all ages about science and nature through a wide array of interactive exhibits and shows. At the EcoDiscovery Center, families can feel the forceful gale of hurricane winds, play with adorable river otters, and ride the Everglades Airboat Adventure. Other exhibits will teach visitors about the power of the human body, life in the Everglades, and going green. 401 SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, Phone: 954-467-MODS



14. South Florida Attractions: Bonnet House  Courtesy of TasfotoNL - Fotolia.com

The Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is the historical home and studio of American artist Frederic Clay Bartlett, and it was built in 1920. Located in Fort Lauderdale, the Bonnet House today is home to a vast collection of art, as well as the personal belongings of the Bartlett and Birch families, all of which are available for viewing individually and by guided tour. Bonnet House is built on 35 acres of a beautiful coastal barrier island, and its grounds and gardens offer its guests the opportunity to explore the natural ecosystem of Southern Florida, complete with native wading birds and even manatees. 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, Phone: 954-563-5393



15. Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park  Courtesy of Luciana Oluvres - Fotolia.com



The Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is located on a tract of land that was once designated for a condominium development but was instead preserved because it contains more West Indian tropical hardwood hammock than anywhere else in the United States. Inside the park, visitors will find over eighty species of protected plants and animals. From wild cotton to the American crocodile, the park is abundant with wildlife, and its trails are perfect for sightseers, photographers, hikers, or cyclists. Self-guided tours are available through a series of informational signs along the six miles of trails within the park, and ranger-guided tours are also available by appointment. County Road 905, Mile Marker 106, Key Largo, FL 33037, Phone: 305-451-1202

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16. Southern Florida: Naples Zoo  Courtesy of ricwel - Fotolia.com



The Naples Zoo was instituted in 1919 as a tropical botanic garden. When the space was re-outfitted to house animals, it was done with the utmost care to preserve the historic garden setting, and the result is a unique and beautiful space complete with not only exotic animals but also rare tropical plants and trees that have grown in the Naples Zoo for almost a century. The Naples Zoo features a mile-long paved walking path that will lead visitors through exhibits where they will find lions, bears, and giraffes as well as primates, reptiles, and some rarer creatures like fosas from Madagascar. 1590 Goodlette Road, Naples, FL 34102, Phone: 239-262-5409



17. NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale  NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale



Located right in the heart of Fort Lauderdale just a short walk from shops and restaurants and at a convenient driving distance from both Miami and Palm Beach, the NSU Art Museum provides access to a wealth of exhibitions and programs depicting all aspects of visual art throughout history. With over 6,000 items in its permanent collection and seasonal or travelling exhibitions on display, the NSU Art Museum of Fort Lauderdale aims to educate its visitors through a diverse selection of art. 1 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, Phone: 954-525-5500

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18. Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum  Courtesy of Aleksandr - Fotolia.com



The Old Fort Lauderdale Village and Museum contains a historic 1907 house museum as well as three more historic houses and structures that date back to 1905. In the New River Inn History Museum, visitors can see artifacts from the Seminole Indians, early Pioneers of the region, and items from railroad workers and military movements in the area. The King Cromartie House is the painstakingly preserved home of two pioneer families, and the Ivy Cromartie Schoolhouse is a detailed replica of an 1899 schoolhouse, complete with period-appropriate desks and teaching equipment. Visitors to the Village & Museum can explore the property on a guided or self-guided tour during its operating hours. 219 Southwest Second Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, Phone: 954-463-4431



19. Perez Art Museum Miami  Courtesy of Maria - Fotolia.com



Located on the stunning waterfront edge of Biscayne Bay, the Perez Art Museum exhibits contemporary and modern art, with an emphasis on international art. In the Perez Art Museum, visitors can explore the galleries on their own or with a free guided tour. The Perez Art Museum is part of the City of Miami's Museum Park, which is also home to the Miami Museum of Science. Visitors to the Perez Art Museum will also enjoy the park's hanging gardens, as well as the museum's gift store and the delicious dining at Verde, the museum's waterfront restaurant. The Perez Art Museum is closed on Wednesdays. Admission to the museum is free on the second Saturday of every month and the first Thursday of every month. 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132, Phone: 305-375-3000

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20. Stonewall National Museum & Archives  Stonewall National Museum & Archives



The Stonewall National Museum and Archives aims to highlight the proud culture of LGBTQ history and the impact that it has had on the world. In the Stonwall National Archives, visitors can find pulp fiction, LGBT ephemera, oral histories and personal records amongst the 30,000 items. The Stonewall National Library is the largest of its kind in the US and contains over 26,000 books and DVDs. At the Stonewall Museum Wilton Manors Gallery, visitors can learn about the history of the LGBTQ community and culture as we know it today and the role it plays in modern society. Admission to the museum is free, with a suggested donation of $5 per person. Stonewall Museum Wilton Manors Gallery: 2157 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, Phone: 954-530-9337 Archives & Library: 1300 East Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, Phone: 954-763-8565



21. Southern Florida: Stranahan House  Courtesy of Aniram - Fotolia.com



Frank Stranahan was the founding father of the city of Fort Lauderdale, and his home built in 1901 is the oldest surviving structure in the region. Over the years, it has served a variety of uses including a post office, a trading post, and the home of the Stranahans. Guided tours of the Stranahan House are offered daily at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm and last approximately 45 to 60 minutes. Each tour will provide visitors with a ticket to the past, back to the days of historic Southern Florida when Fort Lauderdale was nothing more than a small frontier town. Stranahan House is located on 6th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale on the New River just off of Las Olas Boulevard. 335 Southeast 6th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, Phone: 954-524-4736



22. South Florida Attractions: The Bass  The Bass



Located in Miami Beach, the Bass is a beacon for contemporary art in the region. The Bass highlights international contemporary art of both emerging and established artists and aims to represent the culture and spirit of Miami beach though a variety of mediums including fashion and architecture alongside more traditional art mediums. Though a series of educational and outreach programs for art lovers of all ages and levels of experience, the Bass IDEAS initiative uses art to inspire creativity within its community. Within the museum, visitors will find a rotating display of works from the Bass' permanent collection as well as a rotating schedule of temporary exhibits. 2100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139, Phone: 305-673-7530

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23. The Kampong  Courtesy of Ana - Fotolia.com Once home to Dr. David Fairchild, one of the most famous and influential horticulturists in the United States, the Kampong is home to a colorful collection of flowering and fruit-bearing trees and plants. Some of the rare and exotic fruits grown on the property include cocoplums, peanut butter fruit, and more than 50 types of mango. Visitors will stand awed by a Tanzanian baobab tree that weighs almost 50 tons, and they can appreciate the scents of the flowers and plants they may recognize from beloved perfumes. The Kampong allows self-guided tours with an informational brochure and map and also offers guided tours by reservation from September through June. 4013 Douglas Rd, Miami, FL 33133, Phone: 305-442-7169



24. The Wolfsonian  The Wolfsonian More than 180,000 objects make up the collection at the Wolfsonian, which include artifacts from the Industrial Revolution through the era immediately following the end of World War II. Furniture, ceramics, paintings, and textiles are just some of the items that visitors can see when visiting the Wolfsonian, which is renowned for depicting life in a bygone era through these objects and its exhibits. The Wolfsonian aims to educate its visitors about the future through a study of the past. Admission at the Wolfsonian is free to the public. 1001 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, Phone: 305-531-1001



25. Southern Florida: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens  Courtesy of travelview - Fotolia.com Built in the early 20th century as a subtropical version of an Italian villa, Vizcaya was once the winter residence of James Deering, one of the founding fathers of Miami and is located just south of the city on the shores of Biscayne Bay. The house's gardens are some of the most exquisite in the entire country, reminiscent of Italian and French gardens from the 17th and 18th centuries. The hedges, fountains, and mazes in the tiny tropical paradise will charm visitors, who can also enjoy the 34 lavishly furnished rooms of the main house. Audio tours and guided tours of the house and gardens are available. 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33129, Phone: 305-250-9133



25 Best Things to Do in South Florida

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From picturesque lakes and outdoor activities to some of the top museums and theaters in the United States, Minneapolis offers plenty to see and do for visitors of all ages. Couples can stay in a romantic hotel, have a delicious breakfast, go on a scenic bike ride along lakeside trails, andenjoy a selection of free attractions. Best family things to do in Minneapolis, Minnesota include the Minnesota Zoo, Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, farmers market and the children's theater.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1. Minneapolis Institute of Art  Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis

Located in the neighborhood of Whittier on an eight-acre campus formerly known as Morrison Park, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) is a government-funded fine art museum that is open to the public free of charge. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is one of the best things to do in Minneapolis MN. Featuring an encyclopedic collection of over 80,000 objects, spanning 5,000 years of world history, the MIA is home to one of the finest wide-ranging art collections in the country, consisting of remarkable exhibitions and collections of art from Africa, Oceania and the Americas, as well as a vast collection of Asian art and sculpture. Inspiring wonder through art, the MIA also features traveling collections from other museums, as well as the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program, which focuses on displaying works by local artists from Minnesota. 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404, Phone: 888-642-2787

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2. Walker Art Center  Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis

Considered one of the nations Big Five modern art museums and one of the top Minneapolis attractions, the Walker Art Center is a multi-disciplinary contemporary art center in the heart of Minneapolis. Established as a public art gallery in 1927, and covering an area of over 17 acres after a recent renovation doubled the museums size, the Walker covers an array of disciplines, including architecture and design, visual arts, performing arts, film/video, new media initiatives and education and community programs. The Walker rests opposite the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, a sculpture park on the north side of the Walker Campus and is collaboration between the Walker and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Housed in an architecturally stunning building, the museum is a must-visit. 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN 55403, Phone: 612-375-7600

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3. Mill City Farmers Market  Courtesy of Jim - Fotolia.com

Located on the Chicago Mall in the historic train shed of the Mill City Museum, Mill City Farmers Market is a fresh produce market featuring items from local, sustainable and organic farmers and artisans. Centrally situated close to many popular attractions, the market is open on Saturdays and Sundays throughout summer and every second Saturday of the month in the winter. The market has a wide variety of vendors selling a range of fresh and artisanal products such as handmade arts and crafts, ceramics, jewelry, clothing, seasonal locally prepared food and freshly made juices. Visitors are treated to live entertainment, cooking demonstrations and food tastings. 704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, Phone: 612-341-7580



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4. Minnesota Zoo, Minneapolis, MN  Courtesy of stevengaertner - Fotolia.com



The Minnesota Zoo was founded by the State of Minnesota in 1978 and has played a leading role in organizing animals according to their living environment rather than by species. Innovative exhibits are spread over six themed areas, including three beautiful walking trails ranging from one to two miles in length. Exciting exhibits include Russia's Grizzly Coast, a new indoor/outdoor exhibit featuring animals from Russia's Far East, the Tropics Trail, an indoor walking trail presenting animals from the tropics, the Medtronic Minnesota Trail, showcasing animals native to Minnesota and Discovery Bay, an activity area themed around marine wildlife. If you are looking for fun things to do in Minneapolis, Minnesota with kids, this is a great place to visit. The zoo provides educational programs that engage audiences with the animals at the zoo, and conservation programs highlighting animal conservation and protection of the environment. The zoo is one of the top family attractions in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, Minnesota 55124, Phone: 952-431-9200

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5. First Avenue and 7th St entry  Courtesy of Matthias - Fotolia.com



First Avenue & 7th St entry is a music club that has nothing less than celebrity status. Playing an integral role in the Twin Cities' vibrant music scene, First Avenue and the 7th St Entry has seen many famous musicians and bands begin their careers here, including the likes of Soul Asylum, the Replacements and Husker Du. The club was a stepping stone for music icons such as U2, Metallica, Depeche Mode and Tina Turner on their rise to fame. First Avenue presents local acts every night of the week, and hosts benefit shows for local and national non-profit groups, such as The Red Cross and Pastor Paul's Food Shelf. There are also unique workshops and lectures for students from local schools that are interested in music. 701 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403, Phone: 612-332-1775

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6. Things to Do in Minneapolis: Weisman Art Museum  Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis



Resembling a crumpled aluminum can, as described by visitors, the inspiring stainless steel and brick facade of the Weisman Art Museum echoes an impressive collection of art within its walls. Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum is modern art museum located on the campus of the University of Minnesota. Acting as a teaching museum for the university for over 80 years, the museums impressive collection features early twentieth-century American artists, such as Marsden Hartley and Georgia OKeeffe, as well as a diverse selection of Native American Mimbres pottery and ceramics, contemporary art and a unique display of Korean furniture. The museum is open every day, except Mondays and major holidays. Admission is free. 333 East River Road, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, Phone: 612-625-9494

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7. Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, Minnesota  Courtesy of lapandr - Fotolia.com

Founded in 1963, the Guthrie Theater is a center for theater performance, production, education and professional training with the aim of exposing and connecting audiences to classic literature and new works from diverse cultures around the globe. Located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, next to Gold Medal Park and the Mill City Museum in downtown Minneapolis, the Guthrie Theater has won numerous awards for its design by Jean Nouvel and attracts visitors from all over the world to admire its architecture. The theater houses three theaters with a signature thrust stage, and a 78-foot cantilevered bridge called the Endless Bridge. Aside from nationally acclaimed productions and concerts, the theater has two excellent restaurants, namely Sea Change and the Level Five Cafe, an elegant lounge and a boutique store. 818 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415, Phone: 612-225-6000



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8. Children's Theatre Company  Courtesy of JackF - Fotolia.com

Known as The Moppet Players in the 1960s, the award-winning Children's Theatre Company is a regional theater that specializes in plays, shows and concerts for families and young audiences in Minneapolis. The theater was founded in 1965 by John Clark Donahue and has since become a leader in the theatrical community through exposing and educating young people through art. In 2003, the Children's Theatre Company won the Tony Award. Productions have included classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and The Wizard of Oz, among others favorites. If you are wondering what to do in Minneapolis with kids on a rainy day, this is a great place to visit. 2400 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404, Phone: 612-874-0400



9. Stone Arch Bridge, Minneapolis, Minnesota  Courtesy of andreykr - Fotolia.com

Located at the intersection of West River Road and Portland Ave in downtown Minneapolis, Stone Arch Bridge is an important piece of Minnesota history. Built in 1883 by railroad baron James J. Hill, the bridge served as a working railroad bridge, allowing for the movement of people and goods across the river until 1965, and is still seen as a symbol of the railroad age today. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge forms a vital link in the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail, a two-mile trail consisting of winding pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes that people can enjoy year round.

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10. Chain of Lakes, Minneapolis, Minnesota  Courtesy of Allen Gray - Fotolia.com

The Chain of Lakes consists of several scenic lakes in the Minneapolis metropolitan area, each with their own attractions and things to do. With over 13 miles of paved paths that run along the shoreline, walking, hiking and biking is easy and fun to do. During the summer months, have fun on the water with canoes or kayaks and savor the tranquility of the lakes, or rent a boat and explore more distant shores. The winter snowfall brings another round of adventure  watch ice surfers skim the frozen surface of the lake, join a game of ice hockey, or head out on snow skis for cross-country skiing.



11. Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, Minneapolis, Minnesota  Courtesy of Fotolia.com

Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium in Mall of America is home to thousands of marine creatures ranging from sea turtles, sharks and manta rays to jellyfish, seahorses and more. The aquarium boasts a 1,500 gallon Pacific Northwest Rockpool where visitors can explore unusual sea creatures such as cucumbers and sea anemones by touch, as well as a 300-foot glass underwater tunnel for unforgettable views of sharks. Scuba certified divers can brave the waters and dive with sharks, while other visitors can participate in feeding times with stingrays, seahorses, and rainbow reef fish. The aquarium offers an array of fun sea-based activities and adventures for all, including stamp stations with dive books for children, behind-the-scenes tours and overnight stays. 120 E Broadway, Bloomington, Minnesota 55425, Phone: 952-883-0202

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12. Minnehaha Park  Oleg/stock.adobe.com

Its no secret that Minnesota is home to some beautiful parks. When in Minneapolis, the Minnehaha Park is one such must-visit park with a track record that speaks for itself. It sees over 850,000 visitors every year who come to explore its 167 acres of gorgeous limestone bluffs, greenery, and a 53-foot waterfall. Minnehaha Park has several amenities for visitors to enjoy including a wading pool, a walking path, and a bike path. It also has a decorative fountain, and a Disc Golf Course to enjoy with friends and family. Walk around the park to see several sculptures that are proudly displayed on the grounds such as Jakob Fjeldes life-size sculpture of Hiawatha and Minnehaha, or Ed Archie Noisecats the Chief Little Crow. 4801 S Minnehaha Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417, Phone: 612-330-6400



13. Things to Do in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Lake Harriet Park  stevengaertner/stock.adobe.com

Enjoy the best of Minneapolis lakeside activities when you visit Lake Harriet Park. Part of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, Lake Harriet Park is known for its endless list of activities as well as its bandstand shell, which hosts a number of summer concerts annually. Visitors can enjoy the North and Southeast Beach with a canoe, kayak, paddleboard, and boat rentals. Meanwhile, the park also has a fishing pier, bike path, and playground for those who want to enjoy the park on the land. Additional amenities include the walking path, the tot lot, a decorative fountain, as well as a garden and picnic area. The park is open to visitors from 6 am to midnight in its developed areas. 4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55409, Phone: 612-230-6400



14. Target Field Tours  Target Field 2011 MN Twins Photo by Wayne Kryduba, Meet Minneapolis

Take a tour of the home of the Minnesota Twins and explore the famous Target Field. This unforgettable 90-minute guided tour will take you to parts of the ballpark that are rarely seen by regular visitors. Depending on availability, the tour will enable you to explore a variety of different spaces within the ballpark, such as the press box, the clubhouse, and the dugout. Head up to the suite level to get a birds eye view and visit the Metropolitan Club, Legends Club, and Champions Club. Check out the Budweiser Roof Deck before heading back down to the playing field. The tour will take you through the history of the Twins team, highlighting past and present players, excellent displays of baseball memorabilia, and special environmental features of the playing field. Tours vary from a non-game day, game day and pre-game experiences, all of which are guided by a local baseball expert.



15. Things to Do in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Manny's Steakhouse  Manny's Steakhouse



With a reputation for excellent red meat dishes accompanied by exceptionally fine wines, Manny's Steakhouse at W Minneapolis - The Foshay is the place to go for a great steak. Mannys Steakhouse has been a staple of the Minneapolis dining scene for the last 26 years, renowned for their signature meat cart, top-grade surf and turf  think stone crab claws and fresh Alaskan king crab legs - and rotating specials, including the 50 oz. bone-in rib eye. Everything about Mannys is larger than life, from oversized pieces of meat served with a collection of sides, to must-try decadent desserts. The restaurant boasts a 300-bottle wine list, as well as extensive reserve list. If you are looking for unique date night ideas in Minneapolis, this restaurant is a good choice. 825 Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403, Phone: 612-339-9900

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16. Things to Do Near Me: Minneapolis Skyway System  ak_a_laura/stock.adobe.com



If you want to get lost, but enjoy being lost, head to the Minneapolis Skyway System. Connected a whopping 80 city blocks through an intricate network of pathways totaling 9.5 miles, the Minneapolis Skyway System is the worlds largest contiguous second-level enclosed bridges. Though tricky to navigate, this is exactly what an exploration of the skyway system is about anyways, getting hopelessly lost and finding your way around again. Visit the oldest existing skyway which connects the NorthStar Center and The Roanoke Building, and stop by the many amazing restaurants and shopping opportunities that the Skyway makes easy to visit. The skyway is also connected to some of the citys most popular hotels, making it a convenient way to explore Minneapolis. Phone: 612-397-9275



17. Things To Do in Minneapolis: Martin Patrick 3  Martin Patrick 3



Martin Patrick 3 is an internationally-renowned men's boutique in Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood, housed within a gorgeous 22,000-square-foot space. The boutique sells elevated men's apparel ranging from casual garments and sneakers to custom-designed suits for elegant business opportunities and special occasions. Fine jewelry and watches are sold by The Loupe by JB Hudson Jewelers, alongside a variety of accessories, men's apothecary items, and one-of-a-kind gift items. Stylish furniture, accessories, and lighting help to furnish the perfect bachelor pad, while modern literature items help keep shoppers well read and educated. Personal shopping services are also offered, along with barbershop services from Marty's and interior design services from MartinPatrick3 Studio. 212 3rd Ave N #106, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Phone: 612-746-5329

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18. Veronique Wantz Gallery  Veronique Wantz Gallery



Veronique Wantz Gallery is a lovely fine art gallery in Minneapolis' North Loop, opened in 2013 by French-born art industry veteran Veronique Wantz, who brings more than a decade of work as a curator and antique dealer in Paris to her operations. The gallery was opened in 2013, striving to showcase contemporary art works by regional, national, and international artists at various points in their careers. Artists represented by the gallery include Alain Ballereau, Allison Johanson, Juliane Shibata, GUAXS, and Concrete Pig, working in diverse media ranging from canvas and sculpture to glass, textiles, and mixed media. Solo and group exhibitions are presented throughout the year, along with special events like seasonal salon exhibitions and opening evenings. 901 N 5th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Phone: 612-254-2838



19. 112 Eatery, Minneapolis, Minnesota  112 Eatery



112 Eatery is an acclaimed downtown restaurant that offers a casual ambiance, top-notch service, and incredible cuisine. Award-winning chef Isaac Becker has created this cozy spot where the hardwood floors and exposed brick walls resemble a comfortable apartment rather than a narrow restaurant, making it the ideal go-to place for a decadent dinner or late-night bite. Complementing the home-away-from-home atmosphere is a menu filled with sublime concoctions from mouthwatering lamb scottadito to pillowy pan-fried gnocchi smothered in crumbly Parmigiano Reggiano. The place is always packed and getting a table is not easy, but definitely worth the wait. 112 north 3rd street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, Phone: 612-343-7696

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20. Things to Do Near Me: The Bakken Museum  The Bakken Museum



Founded in 1975, The Bakken Museum has been dedicated to cultivating a true passion for science in youngsters and adults alike through their innovative, dynamic, and world-class exhibitions. Situated on Bda Maka Ska, The Bakken Museum is known for its exceptional collection of artifacts that are put together dynamically and engagingly. In addition to their spectacular collections, The Bakken Museum is also home to a historic mansion and medicinal gardens, which are ready and waiting to be explored. Dont miss out on the many educational programs that the museum has to offer, as their programs have been touted as industry leaders and groundbreakers by many in the field. 3537 Zenith Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416, Phone: 612-926-3878



21. Things to Do Near Me: Nice Ride Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota  Courtesy of Gilmour Creative, Meet Minneapolis



Nice Ride Minnesota is a non-profit bike sharing system that offers a unique and innovative way of exploring the city through bike sharing. To use the system, you need to purchase a membership or a pass, which you can do online before your trip. Once you have signed up, you receive a key or passcode, which you then insert into the required slot at one of the many bike stations across the city, get the green light and take your bike. You will be given a certain amount of time to use the bike, according to your pass or membership, after which time the bike needs to be returned to any station. Once the bike is locked into the station, your key or pass is cleared, and you are good to go. Fast, easy and affordable, its the perfect way to explore the city at your own pace.



22. Things to Do Near Me: Mill City Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota  Courtesy of burningmine - Fotolia.com



Resting on the banks of the historic Mississippi Riverfront and built into the ruins of what was once the worlds largest flour mill, known as the Washburn "A" Mill, Mill City Museum is a small, intimate museum that presents birth and growth of Minneapolis and the subsequent history of the growing city with the flour industry and the river. Dating back to the 1870s, the mill complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District, playing an important role in the preservation and education of the states heritage. The museum offers award-winning programs, exhibitions and events that cover the history of the area, including exhibits about the history of Minneapolis and how the flour industry played a role in the development of the city. 704 South 2nd St., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, Phone: 612-341-7555

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23. Things to Do in Minneapolis, Minnesota: The Museum of Russian Art  Pavel Losevsky/stock.adobe.com Take a deep dive into the gorgeous and eye-catching art, and unique cultures of Muscovite Russia, the Russian Empire, as well as that of the Soviet Union, post-Soviet Russia, and the countrys other former republics at the Museum of Russian Art. Interestingly, the Museum of Russian Art is the only one of its kind in the entirety of North America, and it is housed in multi-level historic building. The museum finds its humble beginnings in 1991 when Raymond E. Jonhson, an avid collector and art dealer, sponsored the first exhibition of Russian impressionist art in the continent. The museum is home to masterfully curated exhibitions, entertaining and educational cultural presentations, as well as a variety of programs such as lectures, concerts, and seminars, all geared towards immersing guests in Russian ingenuity and artistic flair. The Museum of Russian Art is open from Monday through Sunday with a modest admission fee. 5500 Stevens Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419, Phone: 612-821-9045



24. Things to Do in Minneapolis, Minnesota: American Swedish Institute  American Swedish Institute A historic mansion, a museum, a cultural education center, a destination store, and even a cafe, the American Swedish Institute is an all-in-one destination that shouldnt be missed when youre traveling to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The American Swedish Institute, or ASI for short, offers guests a visit to the historic Turnblad Mansion, which was built sometime between 1904 and 1908 and features 33 decorative and stylish rooms. Guests can also see lovingly curated exhibitions at the museum, or enjoy a cup of coffee and a Swedish treat or two at the FIKA Cafe, an award-winning cafe that is a great introduction to New Nordic cuisine. The museum offers guided tours for those who want to get the most out of their trip to the institute. 2600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407, Phone: 612-871-4907



25. Chowgirls Catering in Minneapolis  Chowgirls Catering If youre planning an event in Minneapolis or anywhere in the Twin Cities area or surrounding state of Minnesota, Chowgirls Killer Catering can make it even better. Chowgirls Killer Catering is a leading catering company offering hospitality services for weddings, social events, corporate events, and more. With its own customized event space, as well as partnerships with dozens of venues around the Twin Cities and beyond, as well as outstanding seasonal menus crafted with quality ingredients, Chowgirls Killer Catering can make your event one to remember. Chowgirls Killer Catering excels by making use of fresh, high quality, seaasonal ingredients in all of its meals. The company has worked hard to establish excellent business relationships with local farmers and food vendors in order to provide the very best dishes and drinks to every guest. By employing highly experienced and professional chefs, Chowgirls Killer Catering is able to craft one of a kind menus that will leave guests eager for more. chowgirls.net



25 Best Things to Do in Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Minneapolis attractions: Paradise Charter Cruises

Experience the largest river system in North America from the deck of a beautiful old water cruiser on an exclusive Mississippi River or Lake Minnetonka cruise.

Paradise Charter Cruises offer a variety of river cruises, ranging from private charters and special events cruises to public cruises on either the river or the lake.

One of the more popular cruises, the narrated Mississippi River Tour, departs from Bohemian Flats in Minnesota and makes its way along the waterfront, following the southern trails of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway and Heritage Trail, highlighting interesting attractions such as the striking 35W Bridge, St. Anthony Falls, and the historic Stone Arch Bridge. Finally, take in the magnificent downtown Minneapolis skyline as you head back up the river.

Cruises have a full-service bar along with a range of snacks and light meals available for purchase on each tour.

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Things to Do in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bde Maka Ska Park

Covering nearly 519 acres of land, the Bde Maka Ska Park is the largest of Minnesotas Chain of Lakes and is home to three picturesque beaches that see a number of visitors throughout the year. Formerly known as Lake Calhoun, Bde Maka Ska is Dakota language and directly translates to White Earth Lake. Its a fitting name for this beautiful recreational area which features fantastic sailing, canoeing, kayaking, boating, and paddleboarding opportunities. It also has a total of 3.1 miles of walking and running trails in addition to 3.19 miles of biking trails as well as sports areas like a softball field, a soccer ball field, and a sand volleyball court.

300 Bde Maka Ska Parkway, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408, Phone: 612-230-6400

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A section of Phap Van-Cau Gie expressway upgraded in BOT form__Photo: Huy Hung/VNA

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The Government has ordered strict handling of violations in the implementation of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) transport projects amid public rage over unreasonable toll booths and high fees.In its Resolution issued after the August cabinet meeting, the Government instructed the Ministry of Transport to work with the Ministry of Finance and other ministries and local authorities to review the total investment, toll fees and fee collection periods of BOT transport projects for reporting to the Prime Minister this month.The Governments move follows the announcement by the Government Inspectorate of the results of its inspections of transport projects built under Build-Transfer (BT) or BOT contracts.The inspections of seven projects in the transport sector, including five BOT ones, found five major problems in their implementation.According to the inspection conclusions, the Ministry of Transport did not comply with regulations on the announcement of the list of projects calling for public-private partnership investment. Specifically, the announcement of the project list after its approval was made after the set deadline, which is January every year, negatively affected the selection of investors.In fact, no investor has been selected through bidding for all of more than 70 BT and BOT transport projects implemented so far. For the reason that there was only one bidder for each project, investors were all appointed even though some had limited capabilities and failed to meet project requirements.The inspections found that some investment decisions were inappropriate and inconsistent with the master plan while total investments of a number of projects were estimated incorrectly as a result of failure to comply with regulations in approving investment items, work volumes and unit prices. State authorities lax management in the selection of investors and contract negotiation, signing and performance supervision was also a reason behind investors inaccurate cost estimates. Investors of the seven inspected projects were found to inaccurately approve unit prices, salaries and allowances, which were over VND 316 billion higher than the actual level.The inspectors concluded that some projects were merely upgrading main and unique national roads in areas with high population and traffic density, turning locals into reluctant users as there was no other choice for them. To avoid toll booths, drivers chose alternative district-level routes not designed for heavy traffic loads, thus pressuring and damaging local transport infrastructure.The inspection conclusions pointed to high fees of some projects as a result of their impractical estimation of traffic flow, which was only made in a very short period of time but was used as the basis to set tolls for the whole period of operation of works. Under the projects financial plans, revenues were also estimated much lower than in reality, resulting in extended fee collection periods.The inspections showed that the locations of toll booths are not only unreasonable but also fail to meet with the minimum distance of 70 km required by the Ministry of Transport. This is caused by the fact that some projects incorporated road upgrading with new construction. As a result, a single project has two toll booths in two different places, such as the upgrading of National Highway 6 combined with construction of Hoa Lac-Hoa Binh road, and upgrading of a 7-km section of National Highway 3 with construction of Thai Nguyen-Cho Moi road.A report of the National Assembly Standing Committees oversight team also revealed that the installation of toll booths outside the scope of their projects was common, including the toll booth for Vinh Yen city bypass, which, however, is located on the Bac Thang Long-Noi Bai highway; and the Thanh Hoa toll booth, which is based in Bim Son, etc.The report said the distance between some toll booths was as close as 15 km, such as distance between the toll booth for Ngang pass tunnel in the central region and the nearest BOT toll booth.Based on its conclusions, the Government Inspectorate has asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Transport to review regulations on public-private partnership for appropriate revision.It suggested imposing strict regulations for investor selection which must go through bidding. Principles and responsibilities in project contract negotiation and signing and in supervision of contract performance should be determined clearly for competent state agencies. The management of work quality and total investment, toll fees and fee collection periods should be performed according to procedures applicable to state-funded works.It recommended reviewing regulations on formulation, approval and management of construction investment costs, particularly unit prices and market price index.Regulations on the structure of funding sources for investment should also be adjusted to diversify funding sources and economic sectors engaged in investment and reduce bank loans to a reasonable level. Specific regulations on form of capital contribution are needed to ensure selection of capable investors, avoiding selection merely based on equity capital stated in financial statements.The national transport master plan should also be revised to add specific and reasonable criteria of toll booths. The fee collection must ensure transparency on the basis of completing a strict process monitored with advanced technologies and allowing compulsory automatic fee collection.During 2011-16, the Ministry of Transport mobilized over VND 169 trillion for a total of 57 BOT road projects, 55 of which were put into operation. In addition, 43 provinces and cities nationwide had raised over VND 80 trillion for BOT investment.Although BOT projects have helped improved transport conditions in Vietnam, their implementation has revealed major hurdles, including high toll fees and misplaced toll booths, which have triggered strong protests from users, particularly from the beginning of this year.Most recently, the toll booth on National Highway 5 in My Hao district, Hung Yen province, which is set up to collect tolls for another expressway, has been strongly protested for its unreasonable location by drivers who have paid fees with small notes to show their reactions. It took a lot of time for toll collectors to count the cash.Last month, drivers also used small notes to pay tolls at the Cai Lay toll booth in southern Tien Giang province to object to its high tolls and inappropriate location, causing serious traffic jam.Earlier in June, residents in Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh central province, blocked the BOT Quan Hau toll booth with cars to protest the charging through this booth.In April, drivers passing BOT Ben Thuy toll booth in Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh central province, used the same small note trick to show their displease with the unreasonable fee collection at this booth.-
HA NOI  Touting it as a win-win deal for everyone, banks and insurance companies in Viet Nam are promoting the bancassurance model to exploit a market with huge untapped potential.

Globally, the co-operation between commercial banks and insurance companies to supply banks clients with insurance policies is already an established trend. It is seen as creating a professional, convenient and reliable sales channel for insurance policies.

A number of large banks in Viet Nam have been entering deals with insurance companies, offering insurance products or insurance benefits to the banks customers, with both sides taking their share of commissions.

With such a partnership, insurance companies can take advantage of commercial banks large number of clients and nationwide networks, while customers only need to visit a single point of sale and contact at their preferred banks to gain access to a full range of insurance services.

For the majority of Vietnamese banks and insurance companies engaging in bancassurance, the average service charge for banks is 20 to 30 per cent of the value of an insurance policy.

Normally, both sides sign exclusive distribution agreements for five to 15 or 20 years, rather than shorter, non-exclusive co-operation deals.

For example, the Sai Gon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank) and the Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company Limited (Dai-ichi life) signed a 20-year co-operation agreement early September, while Viet Nam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) and Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife) signed a 15 year bancassurance deal later the same month.

Bank representatives explained the exclusive collaborations saying they needed more cohesive co-operation in order to focus on development, while insurance companies said they were confident the partnership will prove beneficial.

Nguyen Le Quoc Anh, Techcombanks general director, said that in 2016 alone, the total amount of insurance premiums paid via the banks accounts was roughly VN520 billion (US$23.1 million), but by co-operating exclusively with Manulife, Techcombank plans to increase this figure to VN10 trillion ($445.4 million) in just five years.

He added that by signing the agreement with Manulife, the bank aimed to double its bancassurance growth to about 40 per cent.

Manulifes insurance products of will be sold through Techcombanks distribution channel of 300 branch offices, making them the two largest shareholders of the bancassurance market in Viet Nam.

While representatives from Sacombank did not mention the specific number of insurance policies they hope to secure in future, the bank expects income from their share in insurance premiums to account for 15 to 20 per cent of its services, helping create a solid, long-term financial foundation and support for a more favourable post-merger restructuring plan.

In August 2017, the Viet Nam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) also entered into a co-operation deal with Aviva Vietnam Life Insurance Company Limited (Aviva), while both Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Maritime Bank) and Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) are cross-selling exclusive insurance products for Prudential Financial Inc (Prudential).

Both newly established and well known banks are signing long-term and exclusive agreements with insurance companies as an important part of their retail operations.

Eyes on the prize

Seeing strong growth opportunities, insurance companies are stepping up investments and capitalisation to increase their financial capacity, develop new distribution channels, and enhance technology adoption in customer service towards increasing their market share.

There are about 50 insurers in Viet Nam, offering a wide variety of products ranging from asset protection to life insurance. However, only 0.7 per cent of the total population is reported to have bought any form of life insurance policies, and the bancassurance sector accounts for just 6 per cent of the market.

Nevertheless, as general incomes, living standards and education levels increase, especially among the urban middle class, customers are likely to be more interested in the benefits that insurance companies bring to the table.

Chung Ba Phuong, Techcombanks head of Insurance Division, said that in the first six months of 2017, the life insurance payouts in Viet Nam topped VN7.2 trillion ($320 million), showing that the insurance sector is thriving.

As of this years third quarter, the life insurance market has continued to maintain a high and stable growth rate, with revenues increasing by nearly 34 per cent over the same period in 2016, he said.

In 2016, Manulife increased its capital from VN975 billion to VN1.82 trillion ($43.4 million to $81 million), while Dai-ichi went from VN 1.14 trillion to VN 1.76 trillion ($50.7 million to $78.3 million).

Paul Nguyen, general director of Manulife in Viet Nam, said bancassurance is among the most valuable market in the region.

He said bancassurance accounts for over 40 per cent of the insurance business in Indonesia and Thailand, and even up to 70 per cent in more developed countries, becoming the main insurance distribution channel. Meanwhile, in Viet Nam, the corresponding contribution was just 10 per cent at the end of 2016.

Therefore, Nguyen said, he believes that the insurance market in Viet Nam will continue to grow strongly in the next few years; and exclusive co-operation with the banking network would help insurers significantly improve their profitability from the service sector.  VNS
HA NOI  The export of wood and timber products is forecast to bring in US$8 billion in 2017, posting a 17 per cent year-on-year increase and surpassing the target of $7-7.5 billion set earlier this year.

Nguyen Ton Quyen, vice chairman and General Secretary of Viet Nam Timber and Forest Product Association (VIFORES), said the impressive growth rate in the first nine months boosts prospects of the wood sector achieving its target.

The sector earned $5.9 billion in export revenue from January to September, increasing 11 per cent from the same period last year. The wood export turnover reached some $700 million a month.

Viet Nams wood products achieved the highest export growth from particle boards, artificial wood boards, melamine-faced chipboards (MDF) and wood pellets.

The last three months of the year are generally the peak season for wood and wood product exports, so the industrys target of $8 billion is deemed attainable.

Wood exports grew in most traditional and key markets, such as the US, Japan, the EU, China and South Korea. The value of exports to the five markets makes up nearly 90 per cent of the total, said Quyen.

In May 2017, after a six-year negotiation process, Viet Nam initiated the Viet Nam-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).

Fundamental changes

Quyen said implementation of this agreement in Viet Nam will ensure all wood products on the agreed list are legal. The document could create fundamental changes for Viet Nams wood processing sector, as well as domestic and export markets, including nations supplying wood material to Viet Nam and those buying wood and timber products from Viet Nam, he added.

However, the country is facing several challenges, including the short supply of raw wood. Apart from domestic wood, Viet Nam imports a large amount of wood material worth $1.7-1.8 billion annually, equivalent to about 20-30 per cent of the export turnover.

To Xuan Phuc, an expert from Forest Trends, said Viet Nams export turnover of wooden products has been stable since 2015. However, Phuc said, the biggest challenge for the expansion of the wood sector was competition in raw wood purchase. Chinas ban on natural forest logging, and restrictions imposed by Viet Nam and other countries on the trade, exploitation and export of raw wood have limited supply globally.

He added that some of Viet Nams major wood and wood product importers such as the US, Australia and the EU demand to know the legal origin of wood. This means wood must come from forests grown under sustainable forest management standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and must be imported from non-risk sources.

South Korea and Japan are also planning to tighten the management of imported wood products, he said, adding that this would directly impact Viet Nams exports to those markets.

The South Korean government will require importers to declare the legality and origin of wood and wood products imported into the country starting in late 2017. Japan will do the same in March 2018.

Vietnamese wood processors and exporters must therefore devise solutions and long-term strategies to reduce risks and boost export growth. Local processors should choose clean raw wood to meet importers requirements, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) will buy back treasury stocks not exceeding 10.1 per cent of its current charter capital and cancel the plan to increase charter capital.

The bank got approval from its shareholders late last week.

Accordingly, VIB will repurchase 57 million treasury stocks in case the capital adequacy ratio is maintained at the level higher than the regulated minimum one. Treasury stock repurchasing will be implemented by December 31.

At the price of VN22,000 (US$0.96) per share on UPCoM on Monday, VIB needs to spend an estimated sum of more than VN1.2 trillion to buy back treasury stocks.

Previously, VIB said that repurchasing stocks was not related to the stake of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia at VIB, which was at 20 per cent.

In addition, the bank cancelled the plan to increase charter capital, approved at its annual shareholder meeting early this year.

Previously, at its annual shareholder meeting, VIBs shareholders approved the plan to increase charter capital from VN5.644 trillion to VN7.902 trillion.  VNS
HA NOI  The State Bank of Viet Nam has issued a circular to replace Circular 18/21014/TT-NHNN, regarding the import of equipment and materials for printing money.

This was stated by the central bank in a press release on its website.

Accordingly, organisations which are allowed to import equipment and materials for printing banknotes will be expanded, in order to meet the central banks demand for printing money.

Currently, only the National Banknote Printing Plant is allowed to import equipment and materials.

The new circular will allow the State Bank of Viet Nam to appoint an organisation in the banking sector with an eligible legal status and capacity to participate in importing materials and equipment for printing banknotes.

In addition, the central bank will have documents to confirm equipment and materials imported with the aim of printing banknotes.

This aims to create favourable conditions for customs clearance because equipment and materials for printing banknotes are no longer exempted for customs clearance under the Law on Customs No 54/2014/QH13.

The new circular will take effect on November 20.  VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  Vietnamese and Malaysian businesses shared experience in regional integration at a conference and a forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday.

The conference on ASEAN business connectivity and the forum themed ASEAN Economic Community: Opportunities and Challenges to Vietnamese businesses were attended by more than 300 Vietnamese enterprises and a number of Malaysian counterparts.

Speaking at the event, oan Duy Khuong, vice chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), talked about changes in the business environment in ASEAN and the world at large.

Such changes have generated both challenges and opportunities for the business circle, including those from Viet Nam, he said, expressing his hope that Vietnamese firms would learn experience to overcome the obstacles and make the best use of the opportunities at the event.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynh described the ASEAN member countries, including Malaysia, as promising markets for Vietnamese enterprises.

The diplomat promised to do his utmost in order to support and connect Vietnamese and Malaysian enterprises together, contributing to enhancing the bilateral economic and trade ties.

On this occasion, representatives from state management agencies, scholars and scientists cleared up questions raised by the participating firms, helping them gain an insight into economic integration.

The event, held by the Asian Management and Development Institute under the Viet Nam Ministry of Science and Technology, is expected to come to Indonesia and Singapore in the next few days.  VNS
On September 13 Samsung launched its mobile payment service, "Samsung Pay", in partnership with the National Payment Corporation of Viet Nam (NAPAS).  Photo technobuffalo.com

Thien Ly

On September 13 Samsung launched its mobile payment service, "Samsung Pay", in partnership with the National Payment Corporation of Viet Nam (NAPAS). Like Samsung, Apple also plans to bring its digital wallet, "Apple Pay", to Viet Nam soon.

At the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain, earlier this year, Viet Nams military-owned telecom group Viettel also introduced many of its telecom-based apps and gadgets for a smart society, including the V-Wallet, which is also expected to come to the country soon.

Alipay, a third-party mobile and online payment platform belonging to Chinas Alibaba Group, is also seeking a licence in Viet Nam.

The presence of Samsung Pay and the imminent entry of many foreign and domestic tech giants into the mobile payments market mean banks are feeling the pressure to enter the market quickly so that they are not left behind.

The au tu (Investment) newspaper has revealed that the Military Joint Stock Commercial Bank (MB) is joining hands with Facebook to develop "Facebook Payment" in the country.

On September 20, the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV) and VNPT Media Corporation signed a deal to provide integrated services between the payment intermediary (VNPT Pay) and BIDV for end-customers.

The services that will be deployed include collection services, payment gateway services and e-wallet services, aiming at improving service quality and expanding non-cash payment facilities for their customers. With BIDV-VNPT Pay, users do not have to worry about costs or service suspension due to late payment.

Earlier, VNPT Media, a member of Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), launched an electronic payment gateway dubbed "VNPT Pay". The service is designed to expand non-cash payment facilities for VNPT customers.

BIDV and five other banks have also tied up with Samsung for its Samsung Pay.

Also in September LienVietPostBank signed a memorandum of understanding with two Japanese investors, MKI and Doreming, to implement automated solutions to human resources management and salary payments for companies via Vi Viet e-wallet that allows customers to pay bills and fees and transfer and receive money quickly.

The Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank) has expanded its co-operation with VietUnion to use the latters Payoo e-wallet services to push up its mobile payment activities.

VietUnion offers Payoo e-wallet, an electronic account functioning as a wallet in the Internet to assist its users in buying and selling, as well as making transactions on e-commerce websites and internet communities with payment activities.

A spokesperson for a local bank said domestic tech companies are also eager to introduce e-payment services.

Together with the foreign giants, they are a major threat to local banks who fail to embrace technology and quickly get into the mobile payment market, he said.

He said the number of smartphone users has increased rapidly, causing a concomitant increase in the use of e-payment services.

There are some 35 million smartphones in Viet Nam.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, at least 25 per cent of online buyers shopped using their smartphones in 2015.

Tech giants have capitalised on the consumer trend to offer mobile payment services.

Because of this, many banks have had to quickly acquire new technology and create new products to keep pace.

Le Ngoc Lam, deputy general director of BIDV, said in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, tie-ups between banks and tech companies are a sound way to enhance the strengths of both sides.

The turnover of non-cash payments have been increasing sharply at local banks.

Vietcombank for example saw online payment transactions in the first half of the year rise to 36 million, or 60 per cent of last years number. Their value is growing annually at 150 per cent.

The bank has tied up with several tech giants to offer various kinds of payment services like Momo, Paywoo and Moca.

Seafood shares sink

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, exports of agricultural, forestry and seafood products in the first nine months of this year were worth nearly US$27 billion, up 14.1 per cent from the same period last year.

Seafood accounted for $5.91 billion following an 18.1 per cent rise.

Seafood is one of the agricultural sectors biggest export earners but shares of seafood companies are not doing too well.

In fact, despite decent results, only a few like the Ben Tre Seafood Import and Export Joint Stock Company (ABT), Minh Phu Seafood Group (MPC), and Vinh Hoan Seafood Joint Stock Company (VHC) have managed keep their heads above water.

Hung Vuong Joint Stock Company (HVG), once a darling of investors with its price climbing to VN50,000, has been on a relentless downward trend and dropped below its face value of VN10,000.

Some other seafood shares are not traded much and face a big liquidity problem  like the Hung Hau Agricultural Joint Stock Company and the Ngo Quyen Seafood Export and Processing Joint Stock Company.

Analysts said one of the main reasons for investors indifference to seafood shares is that they are risk-prone.

Seafood businesses often face difficulties while their markets at home and abroad are volatile.

Many of the companies have invested in inefficient non-core activities, which hit their bottom lines.

The Nam Viet Joint Stock Company (Navico) used to be the industry leader a decade ago, but is now in the doldrums after sinking nearly VN1 trillion (about $4.3 billion) in fertiliser, insurance and banking businesses.

Hung Vuong Joint Stock Company, which used to be King of pangasius and the biggest tra fish exporter in Viet Nam, is laden with debts of VN12.35 trillion after unsuccessfully getting into other businesses like pig farming, processing plants and cold storage systems.

au Tu Chung Khoan (Securities Investment) newspaper reported that the company had suffered losses of VN140 billion in the two quarters up to March 31 this year.

Analysts from the Sai Gon Securities Company (SSI) told the newspaper that investors are also concerned about seafood export markets.

The biggest buyers of Vietnamese seafood are the US and European countries.

But the US market is gradually closing because of protectionist policies in the form of both tariff and non-tariff barriers, thus affecting Vietnamese exporters.

European countries are still struggling with recession and their seafood imports from many countries including Viet Nam are sharply down with few signs of a recovery yet.  VNS
IEN BIEN  More than 8,000sq.m of special-use forests were destroyed in just three months between July and September in ong Met Village, Pa Khoang Commune, ien Bien District, in the northern mountainous province of ien Bien.

Special-use forests are established for primary purposes of preserving the natural environment, specimens of the national forest ecosystem, gene sources of forest organisms, scientific research and protection of historical relics and landscapes.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, from July 15 to August 4 this year, more than 6,520sq.m of forests in two areas of zone 717b were found chopped down and burned. In September 27, another area of 1,790sq.m was found destroyed.

Tran Le, director of Hoa Anh ao (Cherry Blossom) Joint Stock Company, confirmed issuing direct orders for deforestation to plant cherry blossom trees. However, authorised agencies did not allow Le to switch the land use purpose from special use to another purpose.

In July this year, ien Bien Provinces Peoples Committee allowed Hoa Anh ao company to work with local agencies to review the land stock and expand the cherry blossom planting area in Muong Phang Commune, in preparation for an upcoming cherry blossom festival to be held in November and December.

However, Hoa Anh ao company took advantage of this policy to destroy forests for special purposes, claiming they took land to plant the cherry blossom trees.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, serious deforestation in the province is the result of Tran Les low awareness about legal documents on forest protection and the cherry blossom event organisation.

The areas where trees were cut down were located far from the residential areas and difficult to access due to complicated terrain. Forest patrols are not conducted regularly here, while measures against violations are ineffective.

The provincial agriculture department has proposed criminal penalty for the violators.  VNS
BAGHDAD  The welfare of stray cats and dogs roaming Iraqs capital Baghdad is far from a priority for most residents after years of bloodshed and insecurity.

Homeless animals typically face cruelty or even extermination on the streets of the city, but now some pet lovers are looking to use social media to change attitudes and find loving owners for the four-legged friends.

Agricultural college student Assan Attallah, 22, has just helped get six dogs adopted after they were found in the impoverished Sadr City neighbourhood and is looking for homes for five more.

The successes are the latest since she and a friend launched the "Animal adoption" Facebook page three months back after growing upset over the fate of Baghdads stray animals.

"I started this project because I saw animals were being mistreated and people would go as far as poisoning and killing them," Attallah told AFP as she played with some puppies in an animal shelter.

"Many people buy pets at very high prices so why not bring in these animals, take them to the vet and clean them up so people can adopt them?"

So far Attallah has managed to find homes for some 25 animals after posting their pictures online.  AFP
CANADA  The final poems of Leonard Cohen, completed days before the legendary songwriter died, will be published in an anthology next year, his estate announced.

Entitled The Flame, the volume will include Cohens unpublished poems as well as his prose pieces and illustrations and lyrics to his three final albums.

Explaining the metaphor in the title, Robert Kory, who was Cohens manager, said that the Montreal-born artist had finished The Flame days before his death and it "reveals to all the intensity of his inner fire."

"During the final months of his life, Leonard had a singular focus -- completing this book taken largely from his unpublished poems and selections from his notebooks," Kory said in a statement.

"The flame and how our culture threatened its extinction was a central concern," he said.

The book, which has US, Canadian and British publishers, will come out in October 2018.

Cohen died in November 2016 at age 82, just weeks after he released his last album, You Want It Darker, whose lyrics reflect heavily on death, spirituality and his place in the universe.

While he became best known for meditative tunes such as Hallelujah and So Long, Marianne -- as well as the quirkier First We Take Manhattan -- Cohen turned to music relatively late, in his 30s, after establishing a literary career.

Cohen published poetry collections including Flowers for Hitler and two novels -- the latter of which, 1966s Beautiful Losers, incorporated indigenous mythology and became a classic of Canadian counterculture.

The book announcement comes ahead of a memorial concert planned next month in Montreal for the anniversary of his death.

Artists including Elvis Costello and Sting are set to perform at the November 6 tribute, which will be attended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  AFP
PHU QUOC  More than 110 hotels, resorts and tourist enterprises were honoured at The Guide Awards 2017 on Phu Quoc Island of the southern province of Kien Giang.

The annual awards, organised by The Guide magazine of the Vietnam Economic Times late last week, recognise the achievements and contributions of enterprises, organisations, and individuals in Viet Nam to the countrys tourism sector.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Vietnam Economic Times editor-in-chief ao Nguyen Cat said that The Guide is an effective supporting tool for Vietnamese tourism as it is one of Viet Nams leading English-language publications on the subject.

Like its name The Guide, the publication offers useful and up-to-date information on Viet Nams culture and lifestyle to foreign readers. It can be said The Guide is a bridge linking Vietnamese tourism and international friends, he said.

Some 115 nominees were announced in six categories, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, tourist agencies, shopping centres and healthcare services

The Top-notch Resort of the Year awards were given to the Amanoi Resort, An Lam Retreats Ninh Van Bay, Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, JW Mariott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, Nam Nghi Phu Quoc Island, and Naman Retreat, not only thanks to their unique architectural styles, but also their commitments to sustainable development and natural resource preservation.

In the hotel category, The Top-notch Hotels of the Year was granted to the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, The Reverie Saigon Hotel, Park Hyatt Saigon, and JW Marriott Hanoi.

With the theme of this years awards Green Tourism for Green Economy, the special Sen Xanh (Green Lotus) Award honouring firms whose operation in unison with environmental protection were given to eight resorts. They include Amanoi Resort, An Lam Retreats Ninh Van Bay, Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort& Spa, KOI Resort & Spa Hoi An, Laguna Langco, Mango Bay Resort, Nam Nghi Phu Quoc Island, and Princess d An Nam Resort & Spa.  VNS
The Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV) will co-operate with the police to conduct legal proceedings and impose heavy fines against those who sell, exchange and use personal information of flight passengers. Photo tuoitre.vn

HA NOI  The Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV) will co-operate with the police to conduct legal proceedings and impose heavy fines against those who sell, exchange and use personal information of flight passengers.

CAAV will also supervise the security of flight passengers personal information on all domestic airlines this month.

The statement was made after passengers complained about being annoyed by taxi service operators, who kept calling to offer their services soon after passengers disembarked from the plane.

They claimed that their personal information was likely to have been leaked.

Currently, personal information of passengers, including name, gender, flight schedules and mobile numbers, is given to airlines and flight ticket agencies. The information is necessary for airlines and ticket agencies to inform passengers in case of changes in flight schedules and other flight safety issues.

The airlines conducted inspections and determined that the information was leaked by some employees of the airlines and flight ticket agencies, who supplied passengers information to taxi firms and hotels.

These employees were dismissed and the airlines ended their contracts with ticket agencies flouting rules.

A representative of CAAV said the leak of customers information has been taking place since 2013 when passengers reported receiving offers of taxi services on their mobile phones at Ha Nois Noi Bai International Airport and central Khanh Hoa Provinces Cam Ranh International Airport.

This violation is against the regulation on keeping passengers information secure, annoyed passengers and affected the service quality of airlines, he said.

CAAV has sent documents requiring airlines to revise the process of entering, storing and securing personal information of passengers and provide information on the unit that could access such information and the security procedures of each airline. The results must be reported to CAAV soon.

CAAV has also encouraged customers to inform the authority via hotlines in case they receive phone calls offering taxi services.  VNS
HA NOI  Several scientists and epidemiologists participated in the Information exchange on the usage of chrysotile conference, hosted by the Ha Noi Union of Science and Technology Associations (HUSTA) on Friday.

Speaking at the conference, Bui Thi An, deputy head of HUSTA, stressed upon the significance of accurate asbestos-related information in public health protection and national sustainable development.

Chrysotile, like other forms of asbestos, is a hazardous substance widely used in the fibro cement sheet industry in Viet Nam.

Several research projects have indicated that chrysotile causes asbestosis, mesothelioma and cancer of the lungs, larynx and ovaries.

According to Nguyen Van Son, deputy head of the National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, asbestos exposure is the leading cause of death from occupational cancer. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, which means any exposure to asbestos can result in asbestos-related disease.

With annual consumption of 60 to 70 tonnes of asbestos, since the establishment of the first fibro cement sheet factory in 1963, it is estimated to have two million tonnes of asbestos used in Viet Nam, Son said.

Despite its impact on human health, there is no official research or report on asbestos-related diseases in Viet Nam. All information cited in the conference was from research issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and other international agencies.

According to WHO, until July, 2017, 124 countries had banned the use of asbestos.

In 1998, Viet Nam officially adopted a legal ban on brown and blue asbestos and placed chrysotile under strict control. In 2001, the Prime Minister issued a regulation to ban the use of chrysotile in 2004. However, this ban has not yet been enforced.

On this occasion, o Quoc Quang, a specialist of the Institute of Technology under the Ministry of Science and Technology, presented an asbestos-free corrugated roofing sheet. He emphasised the superiority of this product over fibro cement sheet since it was environment and health-friendly.

The conference, besides providing information of chrysotile and other types of asbestos, aims to advocate for a ban on chrysotile usage for health reasons.  VNS
HCM CITY  Amid increasing demand for talent from existing and newly established businesses, employers are facing challenges in finding the right candidates, according to a recent snapshot report on Viet Nams labour market by Adecco Vietnam, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based workforce solutions provider.

In the first half of 2017, there was a mismatch between the talent sought by employers and available workers, especially in the technology and accounting, it said.

Businesses are looking for talent, however, the lack of sufficiently skilled applicants has led to the mismatch between supply and demand," said Le Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, recruitment business director of Adecco Vietnam.

It is not only fresh graduates who need to boost up their skills, 51 per cent of employers think even experienced candidates do not possess up-to-date knowledge and practical skills required to perform their roles. Fixing the skills issues can lead to higher job satisfaction and improve company productivity and growth.

The unemployment rate of youths with university training stands at an alarming rate of 17 per cent, the report said, noting that university and college curriculum is criticised for focusing too heavily on impractical theories while failing to provide students with pragmatic skills and knowledge.

While Vietnamese candidates are viewed as quick to learn, soft skills, such as problem solving, communication and leadership are among the areas that are lacking and require further training from employers.

Viet Nams issues with the widening skill gap is also reflected in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 2017, where the countrys ranking of vocational skills declined from 95 in 2016 to 98 in 2017.

Viet Nam needs to get ready for a new wave of technology that will fundamentally change the way work is done, experts said.

Research from the International Labour Organisation showed that 85 per cent of textile, clothing and footwear workers in Viet Nam are at risk of being replaced by automation and robotics. White-collar workers are not fully immune either.

While Viet Nams entrepreneurial spirit is strong, the country needs to bridge the gap between the education system and the economic needs of the future, according to Adecco.

A look at countries ranked high on the GTCI in terms of vocational skills and talent readiness such as Germany and Switzerland shows a notable pattern  those are countries with a structured vocational/apprenticeship training programme that is aligned with their economic needs.

In Germany, for example, after graduating from high school, students can choose to either go directly to university or apply for an apprenticeship with companies. Most of the students opt for the latter as they receive on-the-job-training over a period of time before going to university. Such programmes allow students to obtain practical knowledge, develop their soft skills while making the most of their academic training later on.

Andree Mangels, general director of Adecco Vietnam, said, At present, only less than 20 per cent of employers in Viet Nam maintain regular interaction with general education and vocational training institutes.

The interactions are primarily focused on their short-term recruitment needs. More efforts are still needed to close the skills gap and structurally improve the quality of skill supply. Companies should be encouraged to work closely with educational institutions to develop curriculum and training programmes that align with recruitment needs and ensure relevant skills are being taught to future workers.

With Viet Nams current economic potential and growing workforce, issues with the skills gap and youth unemployment need to be addressed for the country to realise its potential.

These tasks require a concerted and persistent effort among government, businesses and education institutions.  VNS
The city received nearly 2,000 dossiers from applicants and selected nearly 900 candidates aged between 18 and 25 to interview.  Photo thoibaotaichinhvietnam.vn

A NANG  The central coastal city of a Nang has been selecting volunteers to serve the week-long APEC Economic Summit starting November 5, which is expected to bring together 21 heads of economies and some 4,000 officials and visitors.

The city received nearly 2,000 dossiers from applicants and selected nearly 900 candidates aged between 18 and 25 to interview. Some 260 qualified volunteers will be selected to help out at activities chaired by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry within the framework of the APEC Economic Leaders Week,

They will be provided with training by the APEC National Committee in mid-October.

Established in 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum comprises 21 economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the US, and Viet Nam.  VNS
HA NOI  Five agricultural wholesale markets will be built in Ha Noi despite the unresolved food hygiene and operational problems dogging city markets.

There are a total of 454 markets in the capital city, occupying 1.7 million square metres and hosting about 90,000 household businesses, the Ha Noi moi (New Ha Noi) newspaper reported. Most were built a long time ago, and their facilities are degraded and no longer capable of meeting food safety and hygiene requirements and fire protection, according to the report.

The 45,100sq.m en Lu market is a wholesale market in the citys outer district of Hoang Mai, with 250-300 tonnes of commodities exchanged there per day. Although it has been considered as a centre for commodity exchanges between the capital city and adjacent provinces such as Hung Yen, Ha Nam, its food quality has traders worried.

Pork is sold at VN24-35,000 (US$1-1.5) per kilogram here, Nguyen Thi San, a trader with 30 years experience, told Ha Noi moi. Slaughterhouses that have been quarantined never sell meat at such a low price, which means the pork is probably the low-quality type that came from sick pigs.

Some of the markets are not attracting as much business as before. Although located within the residential areas of the citys inner ong a District, the Nga Tu So market is struggling to maintain its operations with the number of trade kiosks down from 180 to 70 in recent years.

Despite the obstacles, the Ha Noi Peoples Committee has approved a project to build five more wholesale markets in the city, 20-30ha each, from now until 2030, according to the citys trade department.

These markets will be located in the three outer distrits of Gia Lam, Quoc Oai and Me Linh, as well as in the satellite urban area of Phu Xuyen and Son Tay Town. A Korean enterprise has proposed building the one in Gia Lam District.

Tran Thi Phuong Lan, deputy director of Ha Nois trade department, said there is high demand for regional wholesale markets since the current eight wholesale markets are only capable of accommodating trade kiosks, not additional facilities such as auction areas and food processing and preservation storage.

These new agricultural wholesale markets will be constructed in keeping with international logistics standards and able to meet regional commodity exchange demands, she said.

Operating and managing these regional-level markets will require the expertise of foreign specialists, said Vu Vinh Phu, chairman of the Ha Noi Supermarket Association.

All processes, from quality guarantee to quarantine, will require a great deal of experience and collaboration between different parties, he said.  VNS
HUE CITY  Police and forest rangers of Hue City in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue are in co-operation to identify the persons who illegally cut down 3,000sq.m of special-use pine forest last month.

The police seized several cubic metres of wood and many other tools at home of some suspected people to support further investigation, according to Dan tri online newspaper on Sunday.

In late August, an inspection team made an inspection of the management and use of forest and forestry land in An Tay Ward and discovered 3,000sq.m of pine forest had been cut down.

The 254 trees illegally cut down were perennial trees aged above 30.

The special pine forest was planted from 1986 to 1989 under the management of An Tay Ward.

Notably, the trees were cut down in the daytime, however, the locals were not aware.

The forest is located on outskirts of the city along a busy road and surrounded by residential areas.

The trees were cut down and the wood was transported from the forest by trucks, but the local authority did not notice, locals said.

According to a report sent to the citys Peoples Committee, Pham Thi Phuong Mai, chairwoman of An Tay Peoples Committee, said when the inspection team discovered the forest being cut down, there was no longer any trace of any suspicious activity or person.

At the scene, only the tree stumps were present, the report said.

Mai took responsibility for the lax management of the local authority, which led to the illegal deforestation.

The ward has more than 1,000ha of natural land, two-third of which are forest. The ward managed 14ha of forests which are scattered in different areas. Thus, the management faced many difficulties since there are just two employees for inspection and supervision, Mai said.  VNS
Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for The Recording AcademyLongtime Lovin' Spoonful member Jerry Yester was arrested Thursday in Arkansas on various child pornography charges, ABC News has confirmed. According to Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, the 74-year-old musician is facing 30 counts of allegedly possessing, distributing or viewing matter depicting explicit sexual activity involving a child.

Yester was arrested by the Attorney General office's Cyber Crimes Unit and was booked at the Boone County Jail in Harrison, Arkansas. People reports that he was released later that same day on a $35,000 bond. The agents at the Attorney General's office began investigating Yester after it was determined that someone was downloading child porn on a computer at the musician's address.

Yester joined The Lovin' Spoonful in 1967 as original member Zal Yanovsky's replacement. Earlier in his career, Yester played with The New Christy Minstels and The Modern Folk Quartet. He also played piano as a session musician on The Lovin' Spoonful's hit 1965 single "Do You Believe in Magic."

Yester's resume also includes producing albums by such artists as Tim Buckley, The Association and Tom Waits. The Lovin' Spoonful initially broke up in 1969, although Yester has regularly played with a re-formed version of the group since the early 1990s.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
CEDAR FALLS  Keri and Mike Byrum hopped to it not long after they moved here from Orlando, Fla.

Keri, a Cedar Falls native, and husband Mike, originally from Virginia, were previously involved in real estate development in Florida and spent a big part of the spring on their hands and knees planting nine acres of hops plants  about 4,200 in all. They plan to add another three acres yet this fall.

The result is Cedar Falls Hops Co. While there are a number of smaller backyard-style hops-growing operations, this is one of the larger hops-growing operations in Northeast Iowa, just west of Cedar Falls, in partnership with Keris dad, Rusty Leymaster.

They got into the business for two main reasons: The first is craft brewing is a growing industry in Iowa.

The second?

We also like beer a lot, Keri said with a smile.

And theres market demand, Mike chimed in.

People arent going to be drinking less beer, he said, smirking.

They recently held an open house for their hops operation. And yes, folks were able to pick hops. And then there were curious neighbors from down the road who wondered what those tall poles and plants were.

The Byrums met in Orlando, have been married 3 1/2 years and just moved back to Cedar Falls.

Keris dad also owns a drainage tile business, Leymaster Tile.

He decided he was going to retire. And we decided we were going to move back and take that over. My background is in horticulture. I figured Id find something to do. And after doing some research, hops seemed like a great joint project for my dad. Hes a farmer  I dont know if you know farmers; when they retire they still run circles around the rest of us. So between his farm background and my horticulture experience, it seemed like a good joint project for us.

So we moved back in April and started going gangbusters to get this done, Keri said. Our goal was to get the first four acres planted this spring.

They installed poles, a cabling system and irrigation to provide the structure within which to grow the plants.

We have about 4,200 plants, Keri said. This is as big as theyll get this year before the frost. Theyre perennials, so theyll come back. Itll be the third year before they hit their full production.

Eventually, the plants will grow the length of the poles, which protrude 18 feet above the ground. A scissors truck will be needed for harvest if they grow that tall.

This year we decided to harvest just a small percentage of the plants so that we could have samples to give out, Keri said. That first public event was kind of practice, if you will, she said.

Theres a lot of people good at growing corn and beans. It just didnt fit my skill set as much. Hops is a lot more hands on. And its a new industry in Iowa. The people who are doing it the longest are just in their third year. So its kind of exciting to get at the start of a new industry, she added.

Its a big year of change for the Byrums, who are expecting a baby in January.

Keri broke open a fresh hop berry and offered a sniff of its aroma. Since I cant drink it just makes my mouth water, she said.

See, she tries to play it off to like shes counting down to the baby, Mike joked. Shes really counting down to when she can have a beer  drawing a giggle from his wife.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Peter Fisher's last name.

DES MOINES  States are willing to give a little money to get a few jobs, and Iowa is no exception.

But Iowas various economic development programs, which each year dole out hundreds of millions of dollars in tax relief to businesses looking to move or grow here, have received some extra scrutiny in recent months.

Lawmakers have wondered whether the state is giving away too much money to businesses, and state economists say the giveaways often are unnecessary.

But at the local level, economic development officials say those programs are vital and have provided a return on the investment to the taxpayers who are footing the bill.

The focus intensified with the construction of a $3 billion fertilizer plant in Lee County. The project, which was completed this past spring, has been awarded more than $100 million in state tax breaks and has generated 165 permanent jobs.

Late this summer,the Iowa officials announced they were offering Apple $20 million in tax relief for a new data center in suburban Des Moines as part of an overall $200 million assistance package. The rest was local relief. The project is expected to create roughly 50 permanent jobs.

While the $20 million in state money for Apple was not as large as the incentives given to the fertilizer plant, the announcement coincided with news of trouble with the state budget. State officials were forced to make a third adjustment to the budget year that ended June 30, bringing the total in spending cuts and borrowing to $262 million.

Critics suggested Iowa should not be foregoing millions of dollars in future tax revenue while the state budget is requiring multiple adjustments to balance.

The debate has seeped into the political realm as candidates line up to run for governor in 2018. Multiple Democrats have argued the state is too generous with its tax incentives.

But local economic development officials say its all worth it.

These programs are an important tool and complement the incentives that are offered by the communities that we represent, said Lisa Skubal, vice president of economic development with the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber. Debi Durham (executive director of the state economic development board) has done an excellent job being fiscally responsible for how they review projects, and I applaud the attention to detail, that they look at it and evaluate not only for external projects but for existing businesses.

Big money

One such example in the Cedar Valley would be a $14.8 million incentive package put together for John Deere, which used the assistance to help fund a $90 million upgrade at the companys Waterloo Works Foundry. The project helped the company retain a projected 295 jobs, 138 of which have been realized, according to the state economic development boards 2016 report.

All of the projects we have, regardless of size, there isnt one that I can think of that wasnt a good deal, Skubal said.

Deere also was the recipient of a $10.8 million incentive package for a $43.7 million investment in 2005. That project created 300 jobs, according to the economic development boards 2016 report.

McKesson Corp. in 2015 received a $4.2 million incentive package to help build a new $65 million pharmaceutical distribution center in Clear Lake. The project was expected to create 164 jobs.

Chad Schreck, president and CEO of North Iowa Corridor, the areas economic development organization, said the company has produced roughly 250 jobs.

I think it most definitely was worth it, Schreck said of the incentive package.

CF Industries Nitrogen scored a $31 million incentive package for its $1.7 billion expansion project in Sioux City. The project, which was completed this past spring, created 100 new jobs.

It gave this whole area a great manufacturing facility for years to come, said Nick DeRoos, the general manager of the CF Port Neal complex who also served as project director for the expansion.

In the Cedar Rapids area, Rockwell Collins has been a big beneficiary of state incentives: four projects since 2007 totaling more than $28.5 million in tax relief. The various projects have created just more than 800 jobs.

Bait or handout?

State economists argue in many cases, state tax incentives are awarded to companies that would proceed with the project regardless.

David Swenson, an economist at Iowa State University, said for example fertilizer plants and pork processing plants should not require tax incentives because Iowa is the most logical landing spot for their facilities. Even data centers, like those opened in and incentivized by Iowa in recent years  Apple was preceded by Google and Microsoft  do not need money dangled in front of them because Iowa has low energy costs and a favorable climate.

They were going to happen anyway, Swenson said. Economists cant make this work out. Economists will look at this and say the taxpayer never gets paid back.

Swenson said economic development officials delude themselves into thinking they are creating jobs when they, in fact, are simply putting bait to attract jobs that would happen in the economy nonetheless.

Peter Fisher, an economist with the liberal-leaning Iowa Policy Project, called most state tax incentives a waste of money for many of the same reasons.

I think its gotten out of hand, Fisher said. Its just not worth it.

Fischer pointed to his previous research, which in 2013 concluded corporate tax breaks are a very inefficient means of promoting state economic growth.

Most of the lost revenue simply flows to corporations who are doing nothing different, nothing that they wouldnt have done anyway, Fishers report says.

Theory, reality

These arguments against tax incentives may sound good in theory, but do not match the reality of competition for projects that will create new jobs, one economic development official said.

John Stineman is executive director of the Iowa Chamber Alliance and a principal consultant with Strategic Elements in Des Moines. He called Swenson and Fischers arguments a great philosophical discussion, but said the reality is Iowa competes with other states for projects, and that he thinks it would be self-defeating for the state to not offer competitive tax relief packages.

At the end of the day you do have to compete for projects, Stineman said. Were not about to lay down arms in that fight over academic principle ... There is a competition taking place and were going to do the best we can.

Durham said more than 80 percent of Iowas economic development portfolio is in existing companies, which means the state is focusing on local growth first. She said she understands the criticism of forfeiting future state revenue to chase businesses, even calling the criticism valid. But, she said, the states tax incentive programs must be considered by the bigger picture.

You cant do it without incentives, Durham said. Apples going to do it somewhere, it doesnt mean theyre going to do it in Iowa. ... It is simply naive to believe in this world that we have to compete in that we dont need incentives to land deals.

Durham touted Iowas incentive program, which in most cases requires jobs to be created at a certain wage threshold and does not award the incentives until the project is completed. She pointed to a report published in May by the non-partisan Pew Charitable Trusts that hails Iowa as one of 10 states with the best tax incentive programs.

Iowa is leading other states because it has a well-designed plan to regularly evaluate tax incentives, experience in producing quality evaluations that rigorously measure economic impact, and a process for informing policy choices, the report says.
Iowa Democrats say one of the top keys to being successful in the 2018 elections  after consecutive setbacks in the previous two - is a message focused on jobs and the economy.

Yet one of the first issues seized by Democratic candidates for Iowa governor has been the states tax incentive programs, which are designed to entice companies to come to or expand in Iowa, thus creating jobs.

Are those messages at odds?

Some Iowa Democrats dont think so, but at least one Democratic state lawmakers does.

The 2016 election was especially jarring for Democrats in a state that twice voted for Barack Obama but went by almost 10 percentage points to Donald Trump.

One of the best ways to recoup those voters is to focus on an economic message, Democrats say.

I think the top three issues are jobs, jobs, jobs. And then jobs after that, Sean Bagniewski, chairman of the Polk County Democrats, said at the groups Steak Fry fundraiser this past weekend.

But ever since the announcement the state awarded $20 million in tax relief to Apple for a data center it plans to build in suburban Des Moines, multiple Democratic candidates for governor have railed against the states tax incentive program.

Fred Hubbell, a Des Moines business running for the Democratic nomination, has handed out apples at campaign events to highlight his opposition to the incentives awarded for the data center project.

Is such opposition counter-productive to Democrats pledge to campaign on an economic platform?

Troy Price, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, doesnt see it that way.

Democrats are always excited when companies come to Iowa, but the problem is, (Republican Gov.) Kim Reynolds and the GOP are giving away piles of money to out-of-state corporations to create a handful of jobs, Price said in an email. Theyre doing this despite the fact that companies like Microsoft say they didnt choose Iowa because of the incentives.

Price said Democrats will make the argument they want the tax dollars of hard-working Iowans to go toward better schools, affordable health care and good-paying jobs.

Sue Dvorsky, a former state party chairwoman, said Democrats can highlight the large dollar amounts the state is yielding relative to the number of jobs created. The Apple project is expected to produce only 50 permanent jobs.

But Chaz Allen is not as sure the message is a winning one for Democrats.

Allen is a Democratic state senator from Newton, where also served as mayor, which only recently has begun to recover from the 2006 closure of a Maytag plant there. Allen also serves as one of two state legislators - non-voting members  on the state economic development board.

Asked if an anti-tax breaks message will be a winner for Democrats in 2018, Allen replied, I dont think so.

Jobs have to come first. People have to have a reason to live here, and thats usually a job, Allen said. Jobs is what weve got to be working toward.

John Stineman, a Republican political consultant who worked on Steve Forbes 2000 presidential campaign, said Democrats attack the incentives program at their own peril. He noted Democrats have been highly critical of the more than $100 million in state tax relief awarded to a $3 billion fertilizer plant in Lee County, in southeast Iowa, and yet former Gov. Terry Branstad in 2014 won that county for the first time in six gubernatorial election victories.

Thats directly related to economic development and the jobs that were created, Stineman said. It was the Iowa Fertilizer Plant and the hundreds and thousands of construction jobs and the money that was spent in those communities.

Reynolds campaign, naturally, defended the administrations use of state tax incentives, pointing to the states low unemployment rate.

The Apple economic development Project will employ hundreds of Iowans (when including temporary jobs like construction) and build on the continued growth of the Silicon Prairie, Reynolds campaign spokesman Pat Garrett said in an email to the bureau. The project is a home run. We will continue to focus on building a better Iowa, which means improvements and reforms for better jobs, a 21st century education, and a well-trained workforce.

Erin Murphy covers Iowa politics and government for Lee Enterprises. His email address is erin.murphy@lee.net.
Q: Is Sharon Juon a college graduate? If so, where did she go to school and what is her degree in?

A: Juon graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in sociology.

Q: In the Aug. 23rd Courier is an article about the new safety building and it mentions the city has banked operational savings over several years in anticipation of constructing a new building so they dont have to issue bonded debt. Why isnt the school board taking that same approach?

A: Cedar Falls Schools spokesperson Janelle Darst replies: A city and school district in Iowa have different rules for finance, revenue and expense. The Cedar Falls Community School District is working on designating future statewide sales tax funds for the construction of new high school. However the length of time necessary to build up future funds for a new high school far exceed the anticipated remaining life expectancy of sections of the current high school.

Q: Some people have a large white flag with a bright blue W on them in their yards or windows. What do they represent?

A: Those are Cubs Win flags  celebrating the Chicago Cubs victory last fall in the World Series.

Q: I see the city of Waterloo is giving Tysons a tax break to enhance their business. What is the benefit to the city to do that?

A: The city of Waterloo will get a lot more property taxes to support city, county and school services from the new building, and the 245 new jobs being created represented payroll that likely will be spent in many sectors of the local economy.

Q: Since the Isle of Capri started how much tax break have homeowners received?

A: The property tax rate in Waterloo was $44.11 per $1,000 when the casino opened in 2007 and is $40.33 now. There are an enormous number of factors that effect whether your property taxes go up or down each year, so you cant conflate whether your individual bill changed just because of casino revenues. We can tell you the city of Waterloo receives about $1.3 million in direct payments annually from the casino each year, while Black Hawk County gets another $440,000 per year. Those go directly to the local governments general funds to replace the need for property taxes. The Isle pays nearly $6 million to the Black Hawk County Gaming Association annually to pay for local projects that either wouldnt happen or would be funded with other sources, including taxes. On top of that, the casino is paying about $2 million in property taxes this year.
[Funding Drive Update: We have reached 8% of our goal, and have had eight people join our new monthly Sustainers Circle. Remember, The Wild Hunt is an independent, reader funded news agency. The daily service is dependent upon the donations and support of its readership. Do you enjoy reading The Wild Hunt daily or even weekly? Have you come to rely on it for Pagan-based news and commentary? Consider supporting TWH today. Join our Sustainers Circle or make a single donation. Share the campaign.]

CALIF.  The scope. The scope of everything is purely devastating, said Tracy McClendon, after wildfires destroyed her family home. Early Monday morning, before most people were awake, multiple wildfires raged throughout Sonoma Valley. According to local news, The blazes, which caused power outages and blanketed much of the Bay Area in smoke, were fanned by dry northeast winds that gusted up to 50 mph in the valleys and 70 mph on mountaintops.

McClendon, who is an active member of the local Pagan community, is one of the reported 20,000 people forced to evacuate due to the fires, and she is also one of those whose home has been completely destroyed. In a tearful video, McClendon said that she has yet to wrap her mind around what happened: My sons baby pictures. His baby teeth. My clothes. My belly dance costumes.  everything that is me is gone.

But then she added no, noting that she and her family were all safe. It is scary to think that ten minutes is the difference between us being alive and us not being alive.

When they left the home, McClendon reportedly went to an emergency shelter, and then drove to Oakland where she has family. She will stay there until it is safe to return to Kenwood and see what is left.

The causes of the wildfires are reportedly under investigation. While the winds are expected to die down Monday afternoon, officials have not made any predictions as to when the threat will be completely over, or when families can get back to their homes or what is left of them. We will update this story and Tracy McClendons situation as needed.

* * *

The funding campaign to help residents of Mexico City is ongoing. The city experienced a devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake in late September causing mass destruction throughout the region. The Wild Hunts own columnist Jaime Girones reported back to us after he experienced the tremors.

Laura Gonzalez, radio personality at Pagans Tonight Radio Network, has been helping to raise money to assist the rebuilding of the city. Gonzalez says, Donations for #CDMX Cofradia Wicca Luna Azul (Blue Moon Wicca Brotherhood) and Fraternidad de la Diosa / Santuario de la Diosa (Goddess Fraternity) #PaganSpirit invite you to donate to the CDMX collection center.

Gonzalez says that funds received will be donated in full for medical supplies, rescue tools and community support. We also exhort congregations, temples, covens, etc. to send their support or donations. While there are institutions in place to help, grass roots organizations and individuals are boosting the efforts.

* * *

Last week TWH reported on the ongoing efforts to help the people of Puerto Rico. Since that writing, we have learned that the Hellenion Proto-Demos of Hera Akreia, located in Denver, has also been raising money for disaster relief. This group is the newest Proto-Demos of the national Hellenion organization. All the money raised by the group was reportedly sent to Puerto Rico.

Similarly, after our article ran, a Pagan living in Puerto Rico wrote in and said, It is very sad to see all the destruction, tho in the tropics, the vegetation does leaf out pretty quickly. I have been really distressed to see all the beautiful really old trees laying on the ground, being dismembered by chainsaws. Hope some of you will remember those fine old beings in your prayers.

The reader added, This island needs help and those of us here perhaps need a little reminder to share what we have with others who have lost it all. I went to the local shelter with a stalk of ripe bananas from my yard and toys for the children. They looked very surprised to see me. As she reported, the communities are having trouble helping each other.

In other news

Ilsa Plaisance was featured in The Shreveport Times Louisiana Purpose Project. The project is a video series in which people share what gives their lives purpose and meaning. We hope their stories enlighten, inspire, and empower others. Plaisance, age 41, told the Times reporter that her purpose was to to serve my family and my goddess and to write. Plaisance mentions how she found and embraced Paganism, and how she volunteers for a local ADF grove. I recently published my first book, titled We Are All a Little Broken, which is set here in northwest Louisiana. One of the sisters, Mary Jane, is a Pagan. She also said that she is currently working on a second book.

Treasure Coast Pagan Pride Day is coming up Oct. 14 in Fort Pierce, Florida. This year is its second event and it it will be hosting a special Red Tent event. Pagan Denise Renaud wanted to expand the womens red tent experience beyond the singular festivals. She set out to raise money and was successful. She will be hosting the Treasure Coast Red Tent at TCPPD Oct. 14. PPD organizer Kasha said, We dont have a lot of Pagan resources or activity around here, so this is a really big deal for the ladies in the community.

Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans just had their by-laws vote, amending some of the rules and regulations that govern the organization. Members, for example, can now use Skype or similar programs to access the annual meeting and vote in elections. Within the next few days, the organization will have elections for its Board.

The Bay Areas Reclaiming community is getting ready for its biggest ritual of the year: the annual spiral sance. Organizers wrote, Our intention is Riding the knifes edge of history, we face the great challenge of this present moment; to step off the old path and weave futures of strength and joy with the dead and the generations to come. The event will happen Oct. 28 at the Richmond Convention Center.

Midwest Witches Ball will be held Saturday Oct. 14 in Michigan. This year will mark the events 21st anniversary. Hosted by the Universal Society of Ancient Ministry, the event was given the 2017 theme of Fellows and Frills, A Fantastical Masqued Fete.

Tarot of the week with Star Bustamonte

Deck: Cats Eye Tarot by Debra M. Givin, DVM, U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

Card: The Magician

The card of the Magician represents power that is only limited by the imagination of the wielder. While power has moral ambiguity, the wielder does not. This cards suggests that this week anything is possible but how you choose to use your power, be it for good or ill, carries consequences.
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Russia has made smart changes economically due to sanctions, before sanctions Russia was growing at 4% and flying along, then America illegally imposed sanctions over falsification of facts. Now we see Russia with a debt to GDP ratio of around 12% (USA 107%, UK 85% and Italy 133%), Russia has bought more Gold than any country for the past 3 years and is now the 3rd largest Gold producer in the world, Russia has around $400bn in foreign exchange (USA $115bn), Russia is the worlds largest wheat producer and exporter, Russia has the largest natural resources on the planet, Oil and Gas galore, Russia controls 9 oilfields in Venezuela (to prevent Venezuela defaulting on Russian loans). Russia has rebuilt its military on 10% of the USA defense budget, seen success in Syria and introduced many new pieces of equipment too, refined tactics in an operational theater of war, intensified the use of Intelligence Services overseas, Russia is now very close to Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Venezuela, India, China, Syria etc. The BRICS GROUP is seen as very attractive and other countries want to join the group, they see power and growth among the group, both militarily and financially. Far from being isolated, we see Turkey and Saudi Arabia buying the S-400 anti-missile systems, Saudi also agreeing a deal to manufacture Kalashnikov Rifles and Kornet anti-tank missile systems inside the Kingdom, so NATO allies are buying Russian weapons. Under sanctions Russia will grow at 2% in 2017. This is from a low debt and very mineral rich country!

Then we have a debt heavy western country, leading the charge off the cliff. Lets hope that the followers stop before they leap like lemmings

America has totally lost the trust of Iran and North Korea (I know you dont care,) we have lost the respect and trust of China and Russia (Now you should care,) we have fully alienated Pakistan, Turkey and perhaps even Saudi Arabia and we are driving everyone into Chinas and Russias arms. We have exhausted the patience of Americas fair-weather puppets in the EU and East Asian ally area and we have undoubtedly lost control over our own administration and country. The EU has now woke to the fact that the sanctions have been to destroy the Euro, not Russia

The only danger alerting the world right now, seems to be if America is still powerful enough to do something truly dangerous to the world, but too weak and ill-informed to actually understand what they are doing. There is a bunch of talk going on behind closed doors all over the world and America is the subject

And that my friend is the real issue. Not Russia, not the EU, not Iran, not China, not North Korea and not all the propaganda boogeymen under the bed, but it is the USA, who is the issue that is at hand. The USA is flagrantly violating everything from international law, international morals around the world and international financial expectations are being slandered by America daily

The wind is blowing and it is blowing Eastward

WtR
Oct 9, 2017 | By Benedict

Scientists at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) in North Carolina have used 3D printing to develop a body-on-a-chip drug testing system. The system consists of micro organoid versions of the heart, lung, and liver.

When pharmaceutical companies develop new medications, they face a 90 per cent failure rate. It sounds disheartening, but its really just part of the process for discovering what works and what doesnt.

That high rate of failure, however, comes at a cost.

Thats because determining whether a new drug fails or succeeds requires a whole lot of investmentin the development of the pharmaceutical product in the first place, but also in the extensive testing equipment and live animal subjects needed to see how the drug performs.

The concept of the body on a chip could change all that. Scientists using advanced 3D bioprinting equipment are now able to fabricate human tissue made from real human stem cells. This means they can create scaled-down replicas of certain bodily organs that react in similar ways to their organic counterparts.

For Anthony Atala, M.D., director of WFIRM and senior researcher on a multi-institution body on a chip project, this progress has come not a day too soon. There is an urgent need for improved systems to accurately predict the effects of drugs, chemicals, and biological agents on the human body, he said, noting the cost and relative lack of accuracy involved in animal testing.

By creating a set of tiny 3D printed organs, or organoids, the WFIRM researchers have been able to develop a comprehensive platform for drug testing, allowing them to see how human organs react to drugs. They say its much more precise than cell screening and animal testing.

The system consists of a bioprinted heart and liver, with these organs being particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of drugs. There are also miniature lungs in there to represent the point of entry for toxic particles and aerosol drugs like asthma inhalers.

The body on a chip is then monitored with a real-time camera, while a nutrient-filled liquid circulates through the system to keep the organoids alive.

This liquid also functions as the means of injecting drugs into the system.

Before any experimental therapies were pumped in there, the researchers first had to see how the system reacted to ordinary medications like painkillers. This, they explain, allows them to know if the organoids really behave like real organs.

The data show a significant toxic response to the drug as well as mitigation by the treatment, accurately reflecting the responses seen in human patients, said Aleks Skardal, the studys lead author.

So far so good. But the biggest advantage of the body on a chip, the researchers say, is its ability to represent a drugs effects on organs not directly targeted by the medication. For example, heart medicine could have an indirect effect on the liver, and this is something the system will help pick up on.

If you screen a drug in livers only, for example, youre never going to see a potential side effect to other organs, said Skardal. By using a multi-tissue organ-on-a-chip system, you can hopefully identify toxic side effects early in the drug development process, which could save lives as well as millions of dollars.

This holistic approach to drug testing has already yielded some interesting results.

When the scientists subjected the system to a drug used to treat cancer, they found the drug to adversely affect the organoid heart. This was a surprise, since the researcher were only expecting to see consequences for the lungs, which can be scarred by the drug.

The WFIRM team thinks the drug moved inflammatory proteins from the lung to other organoids in the body on a chip, eventually causing the tiny heart to stop working.

This was completely unexpected, but its the type of side effect that can be discovered with this system in the drug development pipeline, Skardal said.

Theres more to come as well. In the near future, the scientists will upgrade the bioprinted system by increasing its speed and adding further 3D printed organoids.

Eventually we expect to demonstrate the utility of a body-on-a-chip system containing many of the key functional organs in the human body, said Atala. This system has the potential for advanced drug screening and also to be used in personalized medicine, to help predict an individual patients response to treatment.

The study, Multi-tissue interactions in an integrated three-tissue organ-on-a-chip platform, has been published in Scientific Reports.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Thomas Chatterton Williams in the New York Times:

In the study of German history, there is the notion of sonderweg, literally the special path, down which the German people are fated to wander. In different eras, and depending on who employed it, the term could imply different things. It began as a positive myth during the imperial period that some German scholars told themselves about their political system and culture. During and after World War II it turned distinctly negative, a way for outsiders to make sense of the singularity of Germanys crimes.

Yet whether viewed from within or without, left or right, the Germans could be seen through such a lens to possess some collective essence  a specialness  capable of explaining everything. In this way, one could speak of a trajectory from Luther to Hitler and interpret history not as some chaotic jumble but as a crisp, linear process.

There is something both terrifying and oddly soothing about such a formulation. For better or worse, it leaves many very important matters beyond the scope of choice or action. It imagines Germans as having been either glorious or terrible puppets, the powerful agents of forces nonetheless beyond their control.

A similar unifying theory has been taking hold in America. Its roots lie in the national triple sin of slavery, land theft and genocide. In this view, the conditions at the core of the countrys founding dont just reverberate through the ages  they determine the present. No matter what we might hope, that original sin  white supremacy  explains everything, an all-American sonderweg.

No one today has done more to push this theory in the mainstream than the 42-year-old author Ta-Nehisi Coates.

More here.
by Jalees Rehman

A friend who was invited to serve as a visiting professor at a German university recently contacted me and asked whether staying in Germany would be safe for him and his family. His concern was prompted by the September 2017 election of the federal German parliament in which the far-right AfD (Alternative fur Deutschland, translated as "Alternative for Germany") party received approximately 13% of the popular vote. AfD had campaigned on an anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim platform, and has been referred to by various media outlets as a nationalist, racist, far-right populist, right wing extremist or even Neo-Nazi party. For the first time in history since World War 2, a far-right or nationalist party would be sitting in the federal German parliament by crossing the 5% minimum threshold designed to keep out fringe political movements. Even though all other political parties had categorically ruled out forming a government coalition with the AfD, thus relegating it to an opposition role in parliament with only a limited role in policy-making, my friend was concerned that its success could be indicative of rising neo-Nazism and hatred towards immigrants or Muslims. As a Muslim and visibly South Asian, he and his family could be prime targets for right-wing hatred.

I was flabbergasted by his concern. What surprised me most was that someone living in the US would be worried about safety and racial prejudice in Germany. Violent crime rates in major German cities are much lower than those of their US counterparts. While it is true that AfD garnered 13% of the popular vote in Germany, the US president who also ran on a similar populist, nationalist and anti-immigrant platform (with promises of building walls and enacting Muslim bans) received 46% of the popular vote! Many of the views of the AfD  for example the claims that traditional Islam is not compatible with Western European culture and the constitution, that immigrants and refugees represent a major threat to the economy and safety or that multiculturalism and progressive-liberal views have betrayed the ideals of the country's heritage  are increasingly becoming mainstream views of the ruling Republican party in the US. White supremacists, supporters of confederate ideology and neo-Nazis now feel emboldened to hold rallies in the US, knowing that they might only receive lukewarm or relativistic criticism from the US government whereas such acts would be unequivocally condemned by the German government. Racial or religious prejudices held by members of the government and the ruling party can lead to severe institutional reprisals against individuals. When these views are held by a minority party, there is much less danger of immediate institutionalized discrimination and persecution by the government or law enforcement.

So why is it that the 13% vote for AfD is causing such concern, both in Germany and outside of Germany?

One of the obvious reasons is Germany's history. If the AfD emergence were to foreshadow a re-awakening of Nazi ideology, then it could indeed have devastating consequences for Germany and the world in general. But there is no real evidence to suggest that Nazi ideology is espoused by the AfD leadership or by its base. Terms such as neo-Nazism and fascism are readily used by opponents of the AfD to describe the party but the AfD tries to clearly distance itself from Nazism. The AfD does not accept membership applications from former members of the NPD  a right wing extremist fringe party in Germany with an ideology that was far closer to that of the Nazis. The AfD not only disavows anti-Semitism, it has successfully recruited many Jewish members and offered them leadership roles in the party by portraying itself as a bulwark that will protect German Jews from Muslim anti-Semitism. These approaches effectively counter accusations of Nazism but they have not convinced all. The president of the German Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, recognizes that there is a growing problem with anti-Semitism perpetrated by Muslims in Germany but is not ready to accept the AfD as an ally. It may be advantageous to scape-goat Muslims in the current political climate but who is to say that the AfD won't switch its scape-goat to Jews in the future if the latter were politically more expedient?

Part of the confusion about what the AfD really stands for is that it has rapidly evolved over the course of just a few years. It started out in 2013 as a party founded by economics professors, who were opposed to Angela Merkel's handling of the euro crisis and the loss of Germany's fiscal sovereignty in the European Union. But once it became apparent that feared massive economic crash and recession had been averted (at least transiently), it morphed into an anti-Islam and anti-immigrant party. This modified AfD ousted its co-founder, the economics professor Bernd Lucke, from his leadership role in 2015. The party gained far more traction with its anti-Islam and anti-immigrant views after Merkel's government allowed more than 1 million refugees (predominantly from Syria but also from other countries in the Middle East) to enter Germany.

During this evolution, the AfD also become increasingly populist. Jan-Werner Muller, a German political scientist and professor at Princeton University, defined the key characteristics of populism in his recent book Was ist Populismus? ("What is Populism?"). Populist movements portray themselves as anti-establishment or anti-elite, but a second key element of a populist movement is their attitude towards pluralism. Muller uses the phrase "Wir sind das Volk" ("We are the people") that was chanted by the East German demonstrators during the final months of the DDR in 1989 to illustrate anti-pluralism. The "We" can be an inclusive "We" in the sense of "We are the people, too. Let us have a say!" This may be an apt description of the DDR demonstrators where several political factions demonstrated side-by-side in opposition against the socialist dictatorship. However, in populist movements, the "We" is exclusive: "Only we represent the people!" Those who do not agree are seen as traitors. In the past 2 years, the AfD leaders and base increasingly began to claim this exclusivity. Merkel was accused of betraying Germany and colluding with leftists, environmentalists and Muslim to betray the true values of the German people. Such anti-pluralism is antithetical to democracy and is thus a major cause of concern for democratic parties and institutions in Germany. The sense of exclusivity allows populists to develop a unique zeal and promote conspiracy theories about the political establishment and media, brandishing rational criticisms as pro-establishment collusions.

AfD is not just an anti-immigrant populist party, it also embodies a broader "Neue Rechte" ("New Right") movement. This is supported by the fact that some of the AfD positions have garnered the "philosophical blessing" of German intellectuals, an expression used by Muller in his excellent 2016 essay about the AfD. Muller cites the intellectuals Marc Jongen, Peter Sloterdijk and Botho Strau but this list now needs to be extended to include the prominent history professor Rolf Peter Sieferle who committed suicide in September of 2016 (one year before the election). His posthumously published and scandal-provoking book Finis Germania (alluding to the Latin phrase Finis Germaniae which means "The End of Germany"), became a best-seller in the months leading up to the 2017 election.

Sieferle was a respected professor of history and sociology, and thought of as a pioneer in studying environmental history. Finis Germania appears to have been written in the mid-1990s because it refers to the atrocities of the Nazis as having occurred 50 years prior. It is a short collection of mini-essays and aphorisms, grouped together in a handful of chapters. The tone is pessimistic and cynical, pointing towards a decline and likely collapse of German heritage and Germany. The most controversial passages revolve around Vergangenheitsbewaltigung, a German word for processing and overcoming history. In Germany, Vergangenheitsbewaltigung primarily refers to how Germany deals with its Nazi past. The Holocaust, the guilt of the Germans who participated in committing the atrocities and the historical responsibility (historische Verantwortung) that resulted from it for modern Germany are among the most extensively discussed topics in German school curricula and public intellectual discourse.

There is no denial of the Holocaust in the book. Sieferle uses the expressions "Verbrechen" (crime) and "Greueltaten" (atrocities) to describe the genocide committed by the Nazis, as was recently emphasized by Christopher Caldwell. However, Sieferle openly criticizes the style of contemporary Vergangenheitsbewaltigung in which Germans are cast as perennial villains who need to demonstrate never-ending penance to atone for their collective guilt. Sieferle uses religious metaphors in which the Holocaust is compared to a new form of Erbsunde (literally translated as "inherited sin", but it is a German expression for the biblical original sin of Adam and Eve). Vergangenheitsbewaltigung is likened to a new state religion which is meant to keep Germans docile.

There is no doubt that Sieferle's book touched a raw nerve with many Germans living today who feel that they are still held responsible for crimes committed by the Nazis. Any expression of German pride or patriotism is often self-scrutinized carefully to ensure that it in no way challenges Vergangenheitsbewaltigung. Especially when interacting with non-Germans, Germans may consciously or subconsciously perceive themselves being pigeon-holed as descendants of Nazi perpetrators. They go out of their way to prove that they are different from their parents or grand-parents who may have lived during their Nazi era. Sieferle specifically contrasts Germans with Anglo-Americans who do not engage in self-flagellating Vergangenheitsbewaltigung. A recent poll showed that 43% of British citizens are proud of their colonial past and do not feel shame for the atrocities of the British Empire. One example of British atrocities is the diversion of food from India in 1943 to feed British soldiers that was authorized by Winston Churchill and resulted in a famine which killed 4 million Indians.

A member of a book jury initially recommended this book because it would initiate a discussion about German history and the book quickly became a non-fiction best-seller. While there is no explicit Holocaust denial in the book, the subtext of the book was seen as dallying with anti-Semitism. Modern day anti-Semites cannot deny the Holocaust because the evidence for the atrocities is so overwhelming but they instead try to cast Jews as post-war perpetrators who use the memory Holocaust as a means of suppressing dissent. Some passages of Finis Germania are ambiguous enough to provide fodder for anti-Semites. The massive popularity of a book that could potentially promote anti-Semitic ideas came as a shock to the German literary and intellectual establishments. But the rash reaction of the leading German magazine Der Spiegel to delete the book from its best-seller listturned a marginally intelligible book with fragmented ideas into a heroic anti-establishment tract. Book-shops refused to sell the book but it remained an Amazon best-seller, suggesting that the ban had not diminished its popularity. While some German writers and intellectuals supported the decision of Der Spiegel, others saw it as a form of censorship to suppress undesirable ideas.

How does this book about the German history connect to the success of the AfD and the New Right movement? A second posthumously published Sieferle book also became a best-seller: Das Migrationsproblem ("The migration problem"). This book discusses the basic challenge for a welfare state such as Germany which aims to provide excellent housing, healthcare and food for all to take large numbers of refugees or immigrants who would be eligible for all the welfare services. The stability of the welfare state depends on a balance of workers who pay into the system and the beneficiaries. It performs a semi-quantitative analysis and suggests that Germany cannot handle the influx of political and economic refugees without compromising its welfare state character. The book also touches on the cultural differences between indigenous Germans and "tribal" refugees who hail from aggressive cultures. This second book also became a best-seller but it is the combination of the two themes that may form the intellectual foundation for the success of the AfD. Finis Germania decries the culture of collective guilt which in turn has lead Germans to be so docile that they accept millions of refugees as their inherited burden even if it undermines their economy and culture.

The AfD has tried to avoid public discussions of Vergangenheitsbewaltigung in order to escape accusations of anti-Semitism and instead focused on Islam, immigrants or refugees. However, in a widely criticized speech, Bjorn Hocke  the leader of AfD in Thuringia  referred to the Berlin Holocaust memorial as a "monument of shame" in January of 2017. He suggested that German history was crippling contemporary Germans and there was a need to re-think how Germans should handle their past. The federal AfD leadership was taken aback by these overt and public comments about a taboo topic and initiated a process to remove him for the party. However, Hocke remains an AfD member and has received support from many other AfD leaders. The success of the AfD may suggest that his speech may have been an intentional ploy to link German frustration with collective guilt to voting for AfD as a means to escape from the burden of the past.

How should Germany move forward after the success of AfD? As a Muslim German of South Asian descent, I am of course worried about the racist, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and populist rhetoric promoted by the AfD. There is no easy solution for how to deal with the rise of the far right but we can glean insights from this election and the success of far right movements in the United States or other countries. Censoring or banning books that simply express unpleasant view-points is the wrong approach. Denouncing 13% of German voters as Nazis, fascists or "deplorables" would be equally wrong. Burying our heads in the sand and hoping that right-wing populism will just disappear would be a folly. There is a sense of panic about the results of the German election but we can also see it as a wake-up call. Many countries have seen a rise in right-wing populist movements but the social and historical context of each movement is different and needs to be analyzed contextually. What is needed now is a rational analysis and the required actions.

Those of us who believe in the German democratic institutions and the power of rational dialogue need to engage the citizens who voted for AfD. One may agree or disagree with the positions of the AfD and its voters but this should not prevent meaningful dialogue. Concerns about the future of a welfare state with an imbalance between payers and beneficiaries are not unreasonable. The concerns revolving around immigration, refugees, the right to experience national pride and Vergangenheitsbewaltigung should be addressed without condescension or throwing around insults and cliches. Another major concern voiced by AfD supporters is that key decisions about the future of Germany are made unilaterally by the government elites without engaging in a meaningful discussion with the electorate. Voters felt disempowered and ignored. This may also explain why the AfD received more than 20% of the vote in some parts of East Germany (the former DDR). Former DDR citizens wrested their freedom to vote and participate in public policy-making from a dictatorship less than 30 years only to find that the post-DDR Germany was also ignoring their opinions. The government and members of parliament have to learn how to routinely meet citizens so that they can listen to their concerns.

Condescension and hatred against the supporters of far right populist movements only strengthens them and their resolve to fight democratic pluralism. By peacefully and rationally engaging fellow citizens, Germany will be able to avoid the fate of the United States where a far right movement now controls the government. The historical responsibility of Germany lies in providing balance and reason in a world that could succumb to populism and chaos.

References:

Jan-Werner Muller. Was ist Populismus?. Suhrkamp Verlag, 2016.

Rolf Peter Sieferle. Finis Germania. Verlag Antaios. 2017

Rolf Peter Sieferle. Das Migrationsproblem. Manuscriptum Verlagsbuchhandlung. 2017
by Brooks Riley



Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. Peter Ustinov

President Trump is no laughing matter. Paradoxically, hes become just that, a side-splitting political earthquake triggering a tsunami of jokes and routines that fill the late-night air with barbs so sharp no ordinary ego might survive, the limits of humor now stretched way beyond the nagging of ones mother-in-law, the Kardashians, the dating game, or the darndest things kids say, all ripe for a laugh or two in the past.

American comedy on TV has hummed along for years at the same apolitical level of mild, affectionate offense, with some notable exceptions like Richard Pryor, Dick Gregory or Chris Rock, who etched their humor with the acid ironies of racism, or Jon Stewart, a retiree from political comedy before his time.

Now we no longer laugh at what we used to laugh at, mainly ourselves and sometimes our culture: Now we roar at a man who borders dangerously on a jokea man who, significantly, cant take a joke. The more he cant take a joke, the more we howl. When he doubles down, we double over.

The moment of truth, a memorable one in our early awareness of outsider Trump, came at the annual White House press dinner in 2011, a must for movers and shakers in Washington and wannabe candidates. When President Obama lobbed a few comic jabs in his direction, followed by Seth Meyers with a few more, the camera zoomed in on Trump. Instead of laughing at the jokes at his expensesomething that might have made him just a teensy-weensy bit likeableTrump sat stone-faced, wounded, angry. This should have been the first warning sign that this dark horse, whose quadrennial run for the White House was itself a running joke, would eke revenge on the man who mocked him, dragging a whole country down into the pathology of his grudges and vindictiveness as he goes about systematically dismantling not only Obamas legacy but that of our founding fathers. We dont have to ask ourselves why Trump refused to take part in this years White House Press dinner.

I think the scariest person in the world is the person with no sense of humor. Michael J. Fox

The average person laughs 17 times a day, these days perhaps more often. Laughing is not only therapeutic, it also acknowledges someone elses comic accomplishment. Have you ever seen Trump laugh? Have you ever seen the seldom smile reach his eyes? Is that smirk all you remember? Is he the odd German who goes into the cellar to laugh?

A new rule comes to mind: He who cant take a joke will inevitably become the butt of one, or two, or in the case of Trump, millions. Its open season now, comedy laced with a cruelty matched only by Trump himself as he flailed about in a vicious, unfunny mockery of a disabled journalist. This is the payback. Its no wonder he watches only the Fox channel. He doesnt dare venture out into the rest of the broadcast world to dodge the barrages of humor coming at him. The nominal most powerful man on earth is in solitary, solitary channel syndrome, Fox being the only safe place anymore for the insatiably hungry ego. This may be why he keeps on campaigning long after hes won: The diehard faithful are the only ones left who can give him a daily spread of approbation and adoration.

The history of comedy might now have a timeline demarcation: BT (before Trump) and AT (after Trump), one as decisive to comedy as the BC-AD line was to world history. The gloves are off. Comedy has changed, perhaps forever. Its become potent, vicious, angry, bold and politicizeda nightly Schadenfreude festival with a single target. We need it now as weve never needed it before.

This is more than a payback. Comedy has become a way to survive the few odd years ahead, a balm against the outrage, the disappointment, the insanity, the disgust, the fear. Its an antidote to the depression brought on by daily peccadillos and deep sin at the top leaching down into our subconscious. Even far from the US, no morning would be complete without Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, Jimmy Kimmel, or Jimmy Fallon from the night before, or the weekly contributions of Bill Maher and John Oliver. While we ponder the presidents psyche, its our own psyches that are at stake. As we watch a carefully constructed world order crumble before our eyes, we dont succumb to despair, or lapse into catatonic apathy. Instead, we feed on the daily dish of delectable take-downs delivered to our smart phones.

Comedy is the new opiate of the people, quite literally, due to the endogenous opioid peptides (the endorphins) that get released in our bodies when we laugh. Comedy is a legal painkiller that also happens to prove that freedom of speech is still alive, even if other aspects of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights are surprisingly fragile when tested by a would-be potentate. But like an opiate, comedy can lull us into inaction, endorphins making the present more palatable, alleviating the pain, but doing little to affect the source of that pain.

It may also be the only weapon we have at present. Demagogues dont laugh, especially at themselves, witness Turkeys President Erdogan stalking comedian Jan Bohmermann through the German courts for a nasty little ditty first seen on cable TV by a few hundred thousand at most.

In an open society, leaders accept the send-up as a given, sometimes even taking part in the jokes. Dictators hate being laughed at because humor interferes with their ability to rule by fear. The road from powerful to pathetic can be a short one, which is why humorists are repressed in totalitarian regimes. A leader who becomes the butt of jokes, can quickly turn from the almighty one into the absurd one. Dont you ever wonder how things might have turned out if theyd laughed at Hitler in 1933?

The worry that Trump could go the way of Erdogan, Putin or Hitler is slim, however. That would require Machiavellian intelligence, or at least a canny understanding of the power grab. Still, hes capable of inflicting damageto our system, to our people, to our better selves. His ignorance and limited attention span coupled with that oft-cited malignant narcissism, constitute a new kind of danger, presaging a national downfall through incompetence laced with malice. All the worlds a stage: Trump knows how to strut on it, but he never learned the role and keeps dropping his lines or making them up.

Sitting or standing, nightly comedians have co-opted the checks and balances function that our exposed constitution seems no longer capable of doing. Theres tit for tat at work here. The more he rants and raves, or bumbles and stumbles, the louder the comic response. Its almost as if comedians were the only ones keeping tabs on the iniquities being played out in plain sight. While serious journalists earnestly toil to uncover and investigate each new transgression or omission, comedians are consolidating them into nightly routines, leaving no stone unturned, no embarrassment ignored, no egregiousness unlisted, no stupidity unnoticed. Every sentence Trump utters gets deconstructed, analyzed and exposed for what it often is: disturbingly incoherent or unhinged. If Trump rouses his rabble against athletes who kneel during the national anthem, Stephen Colbert doesnt shy from rallying his audience to boo the president in unison. Comedians are becoming the guardians of our sanity and our humanity, the unsung heroes of the opposition, members of an increasingly subversive club that never lets us forget or ignore what is happening to us or allow it to become the norm. Rising to the occasion, they are going far beyond the traditional limits of respectful ribbing into open warfare with a man who is attacking so many sacred values that have made the country great.

John Oliver, the pun-daddy of comic punditry, set a savage politicized tone in his show long before Trump became President, exposing corruption and grim realities even in obscure corners of our society. His didactic monologues, not just hilarious, reveal impressive investigative journalism. Seth Meyers shorter segment A Closer Look could be viewed as a sizzling nutshell offshoot of that Oliver scrutiny, spiced with brilliant gesture and a perfect ear for accents. Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah, galvanized, have transcended their troublesome ratings with edgy escalations, as has Bill Maher, with his angrier, brutal take-downs. While delivery and timing are essential, a comedian is only as good as his material. Trump is the biggest supplier of that, forklifting the stuff daily to awaiting poison pens. For the industry, its a bonanza, a windfall profit with dividends for all.

This may have to do for a while. At present, we are collectively like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. Glued to the spot, we cant help but stare at the oncoming vehicle as it barrels toward us, locked into the freeze mode of the so-called defense cascade, a physiological parsing of bodily reactions to immediate danger.

Theres an odd connection between humor and fear that probably originates in the amygdala, a two-pronged ganglion deep in the limbic brain that plays good-cop-bad-cop with our emotional responses. I remember a particularly rough flight from Denver to Montrose years ago. The stewardess trying to serve the much-needed drinks was unable to move down the aisle due to the turbulence as we bobbed up and down the thermals leading up to the Rockies. As terrified as I was, I couldnt stop laughing and dark-joking over our wild ride. I surprised myself. (There are similarities in cats, who purr when theyre content, but also purr when theyre afraid.) How is our current history any different? We seem unable to exercise fight or flight, only immobility or the freeze mode. We cant leave the airplane in the air. We cant leave the careening bus while Trumps at the wheel. And so, we laugh.

What does it say about the state of America when the most powerful response to another awful gun massacre comes not from a politician or a public commentator but a late-night comic? John Cassidy The New Yorker

Sometimes we cant laugh. Comedians have their no-fly zones, moments that are just too awful to joke about. Charlottesville and Las Vegas were such moments, bringing forth serious, even tearful commentary instead of tonic comic riffs. This is not new in the history of late-night entertainers, but its becoming more frequent, as issues and events escalate to an intensity that defies humor. Jimmy Kimmel, an affable, old-school stand-up host, was the last comedian we expected to turn moral outrage into stunning, thoughtful political protest, making headlines overnight and winning widespread respect for his sober assessments.

With journalism under attack by Trump and the Right, comedy is stepping up to the plate, becoming a prime player in the fight to get peoples attention with punchlines that may even surprise with no punchline at all. Comedy, as never before, is on the frontline of political commentary, with a salvation army of humorists here to provide for us in our hour of need. Call it the Fifth Estate, or the Fourth Estates secret weapon, a reality not lost on the venerable New York Times with its ongoing reports on the best of late-night.

Theres a symbiosis at work here. Because Trump makes every event all about him, comedians reactions to those events tend to be all about him (or his enablers in Congress or the White House). It doesnt take a degree in psychology to realize that Trump has a one-track mind. He may be the only thing that gets his undivided attention, dragging us down with him into his limited field of vision. For Trump, running for President was not about making America great again, but about making Trump great again, and richer. Tragedies as dire as Puerto Rico or Las Vegas cant distract him from the all-about-him syndrome, where empathy is for sissies and fixing global climate is for later when its too late.

The duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them. Moliere

Which could mean, the way to a mans mind is through his funny bone. This might be true for the rest of us, but what of the man born without one?

Humor in the time of Trump is a triumph for our democracy. Theres nothing he can do to stop it and the message has plenty of messengers. Information is there for anyone who wants to know, as comedy takes on a pioneering new role in the dissemination of that information. Resistance takes many forms, and humor may turn out to be the most potent of all.

If we can be overcome with laughter in moments of stress or peril, it could be that on a macro level, our dependence on a daily shot of humor is just what the doctor ordered to ameliorate our real fears of a frightening future with an erratic egomaniac at the helm, especially when we see how easily a confrontation between two hard-wired, over-aged adolescents could turn into a global nightmare if it led to one or the other resorting to real weapons. Whatever happens, well be laughing all the way to the brink.
by Claire Chambers

On 19 October I am presenting at a York Explore Library event entitled Refugees, Asylum and Women's Human Trafficking in Fiction. While preparing for the talk I was reminded that in November 2013, three women aged between 30 and 69 were rescued from a house in Lambeth in south London where they had lived as modern-day slaves since 1983. The youngest woman had been born into slavery. All of them were brainwashed by, and under the control of, the girl's father Aravindan Balakrishnan, an Indian from Singapore, who had founded the Workers Institute of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought in Brixton during the 1970s. This left-wing organization quickly became a quasi-religious cult. Its leader and figurehead Balakrishnan forbade his women members to leave the premises on their own, submitting several of them to grave physical and sexual abuse.

As I understand it, in their forthcoming book Child Migration, law experts Kathryn Cronin and Jemma Dally will challenge the current global legislation around refugees. The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees led to authorities in countries across the world working to deny refugees entry, because once displaced people come under their jurisdiction they become their responsibility. Essentially, this means that the entry system is closed to anyone who is poor. If a refugee can afford convincing forged papers, she can get on a plane. If not, she can only turn to the criminal network of smugglers and agents. The Convention has spawned an irregular type of travel almost completely dominated by a criminal network: an alternative economy of forgers, lorry drivers, agents, an elaborate infrastructure and various specialisms. As authorities get wind of one trafficking route, it alters its course, in a game of cat and mouse. Also commonplace is the enormous amount of debt bondage that exists within this system.

Cronin and Dally show that more children than ever before are refugees. These minors find themselves detained at various points along their journey, and are compelled to engage in exploitative labour relations as their families back home run out of the money intended to help them move inexorably towards Europe. Yet lawyers merely interrogate the child migrant's age and the reasons for his asylum claim  a test which he is set up to fail. Rarely is the child asked about his background and his leave-taking from his family, which is an enormously significant and gut-wrenching moment. Few child migrants have any knowledge of their destination or the army of officials they will meet there, instead being told vaguely that they're going somewhere safe.

Given the prominence of human trafficking in the media, it is unsurprising that issues relating to refugees, asylum seekers, and contemporary forms of slavery have found their way into women's writing. For example, Monica Ali's third novel, In the Kitchen (2009), features a varied cast of characters from Eastern Europe, the Russian Federation, Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa, working as employees at the Imperial Hotel in the postcolonial metropolis of London. Through the focalization of her chef protagonist Gabe Lightfoot, who is unusual as a white British member of staff, Ali writes:

Every corner of the earth was here: Hispanic, Asian, African, Baltic and most places in between.  It was touching, really, to watch them all, every race, every colour, every creed.

Here Gabe unknowingly echoes Paul Gilroy's delineation in After Empire of contemporary London as a rapidly internationalizing space, which is the site of mostly 'convivial' encounters between highly diverse people. Despite this optimism, it comes to light that a Slavic man who operates the kitchen's grill is conspiring with other employees to traffic women. Coming from many different nations, these girls are sold by the gang 'like [the] meat' plied by the Slav on his grill.

Lebanese novelist Nada Awar Jarrar's An Unsafe Haven (2016)  as signalled by its title  concerns issues surrounding personal security, belonging, and asylum. The novel conveys the troubling impression that even when refugees achieve their goal of finding asylum, what seems like a safe space in a neighbouring country or the West can prove to be as perilous as the situation they ran from. Jarrar takes inspiration from one of the greatest human rights catastrophes in living memory: the global refugee crisis. Predominantly set in Beirut, An Unsafe Haven is the first novel written in English to deal with the Syrian refugee calamity. One plotline traces the repercussions of gender-based violence committed against a woman refugee. Fatima is the most damaged migrant of the several Jarrar's readers are introduced to over the course of almost 300 pages. She is protective of her young son Wassim, but appears indifferent towards the baby she has had outside of marriage. Thought to have had an affair, Fatima - like many women refugees - has actually been raped. Even though she was the victim, her conservative community passes judgement on her. Jarrar's narrator reflects that,

for Fatima, the experience [of finding asylum] has been something like stepping out of one black hole and falling straight into another that is deeper and darker because it is unknowable, something like losing your past and not having a vision of the future to sustain you through the present.

The diction of space evokes the vastness and incomprehensible nature of the crisis whereby women's bodies are repeatedly violated as part of both the chaos and strategic violence of war.

Trafficking is not just a problem for refugees, but also impacts internally-displaced women who have to leave their homes and find refuge elsewhere in their own countries. Anuradha Roy won 2016's DSC Prize for South Asian Literature with her third novel. Set predominantly in India, Sleeping on Jupiter is partly about the issue of child trafficking amongst internally-displaced people. As a young girl, the protagonist Nomi is impoverished and lives in a warzone. After being forcibly evacuated from her home, she ends up in an ashram orphanage in the temple town of Jarmuli. There she is abused by the ashram's guru, in scenes reminiscent of the real-life case of Aravindan Balakrishnan discussed earlier. In incantatory tones, Guruji tells her:

'You think you have nobody []. That is not true. I am your father and your mother now. I am your country. I am your teacher. I am your God. [] Whenever you are frightened, think of my face. I will keep you safe. You have come to my ashram now. This is your refuge. Nobody will harm you. There is food and there are clothes and you have friends to play with and you will go to school.'

Here we see another instance of an unsafe haven, a demagogic man, and sexual exploitation. At the ashram Nomi and the other girls are given new names and told never to step outside its perimeter, for '[o]utside the line was danger'. When teachers or pupils try to flee this coercive regime they are beaten up and forcibly returned to the ashram. The novel centres on Nomi's return to the temple town years later to confront her abuse and those abusers still living.

This column has taken a gendered approach to asylum, focusing on how women and girls regularly experience sexual violence and may be forced into prostitution or human trafficking through their experiences as refugees or internally-displaced people. For these female subjects, what seems like a haven  a domestic space where they can settle, suspending their relentless flight from danger at least for a time  can prove unsafe, since cruelty, often sexual in nature, rears its head. Through examination of the fiction of Ali, Jarrar, and Roy, among other authors, greater understanding of women asylum-seekers' multiply-layered predicament may be reached.
Electrify your week with a list of rip-roaring Bay Area events, including our very own Joan Didion power hour lit crawl.







Monday, October 9th: Laugh and Eat; Eat and Laugh @ Starline Social Club



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When: 8pm to 10pm



Where: 2236 Martin Luther King Junior Way (Oakland), facebook.com

Why: Because comedy and queso just go so well together. Eat and laugh away the stressors of Monday at Starline Social Club's Comedy x Pop Up Food showcase. Admission is free, but be sure to RSVP on Eventbrite beforehand; and bring a few bucks to purchase the locavore platings slung by on-site Bay Area food vendors.





Tuesday, October 10th: Jam-out with Damian Marley @ UC Theatre

When: 8pm to 11pm

Where: 2036 University Ave. (Berkeley), theuctheatre.org

Why: Fine-tune your Tuesday evening with Damian Marleythe youngest son of reggae legend Bob Marleyas he sings a medley of both his past and present musical numbers, including those off the Grammy-buzzed album Stony Hill. Tickets ($161) are available on Event Tickets Center, and they're selling fastso grab 'em before they're gone!





Wednesday, October 11th: Rock, Paper, and Scissor Yourself to a Free Beer @ Northstar Cafe

When: 9pm to 2am

Where: 1560 Powell St. (Russian Hill), facebook.com

Why: Join the fun at Northstar Cafe's latest installment of their Beer Olympics, Rock Paper Scissors Tournament & Pub Crawl to level-out any woeful Humpday feelings. Winners from each competitive round get bragging rights and, more importantly, complimentary booze. Admission is free, but an RSVP on via the Google Form is required.





Thursday, October 12th: Listen to Opera with an EDM Spin @ Mezzanine

When: 8pm to Midnight

Where: 444 Jessie St. (SoMa), mezzaniesf.com

Why: Ever wonder how operatic belting would sound with a turntable edit? Swing by the Mezzanine for an opera party. SF Opera Lab Pop-up: Opertonica will showcase electrified opera hall numbers; courtesy of The Adler Fellow and co-hosts Aria Umezawa and Anthony Reed. Tickets ($20-$40) can be purchased on Eventbrite.





Friday, October 13th: Grab a Drink and Maybe a Puppy @ SF SPCA

When: 6pm to 9pm

Where: 201 Alabama St. (Mission), sfspca.org

Why: Yes, it may be Friday the 13thbut adoptable puppies and endless cocktails are sure to thwart off any gray superstitions. Stop by the SF SPCA's annual fall cocktail party to peruse (and maybe even play with) puppies and kittens in need of homes; all while sipping your adult beverage of choice. Admission is free with an RSVP on Eventbrite, but a donation ($20+) is highly recommended.





Saturday, October 14: Join Us For a 7x7 Joan Didion Lit Crawl Tribute @ Elbo Room

When: 6:30pm to 7:30pm

Where: 647 Valencia St. (Mission), litcrawlsanfrancisco2017.com

Why: Calling all silver-tongued wordsmiths and soil-stained bookworms! Join the 7x7 clan for this special Lit Crawl tribute to Joan Didion as we listen along to readings from five authors on narratives spanning the contemporary corners of Californian culture to honor of the 50th Anniversary of Didion's ubiquitous Summer of Love essay, Slouching Towards Bethlehem. There is also alcohol to be had. Admission is free for this 21+ event.





Sunday, October 15th: Sweat It Out At Sport Virgin's San Francisco Fitness Stop

When: 7am to Noon

Where: 335 McAllister St. (Civic Center), virginsport.com

Why: Need to purge the caloric guilt amassed from enjoying that second or third cocktail? Stop by the Sport Virgin In San Francisco Fitness Festival at the Civic Center Plaza this Sunday to stretch your legs a bit, sweat-off that aforementioned indulgent episode, and pick-up some fitness-savvy gear and merchandise too. Tickets ($0-$189) can be bought on Virginsport.com; more than half of the day's offerings are free.
Published in the American Journal of Hypertension, the study of 1,621 men with normal blood pressure, ages 42 to 60, followed the participants an average of 25 years. The findings: The men who went to saunas two to three times a week were 24 percent less likely to have hypertension than those who went once a week or less. Those who took four to seven saunas a week reduced their risk by nearly half (46 percent). The study controlled for variables such as age, body mass index, smoking and family history of hypertension.

The studys senior author, Jari A. Laukkanen, professor of medicine at the University of Eastern Finland, told the New York Times that while the study does not prove cause and effect, there were a few possible explanations. The saunas warmth improves the suppleness of blood vessels, which increases blood flow. Sweating serves as a diuretic, reducing excess body fluid. And a Finnish sauna typically involves warmth and then cooling, which is relaxing, and could reduce blood pressure.

A healthy thing that is pleasant to do and involves no sacrifice, he told the Times.
Smart-home products for caregivers include networked gear such as security cameras, thermostats and door locks that can be managed by voice controllers or smartphones. There are also tech options that can monitor sleeping patterns, or set off an alarm when someone gets out of bed. As any caregiver knows, being able to keep an eye remotely on an older person, especially if they are suffering from cognitive decline, is essential.



Best Buy Chief Executive Officer Hubert Joly envisions rolling out a broader business of sensor-based senior services, Bloomberg Businessweek reports, which will be sold through health-and-wellness departments in the 1,000+ Best Buy stores around the country. For now, two pilot projects, called Assured Living, are open in Denver and the Twin Cities area. An entry-level package of gear sells for $389.96 with installation an extra $199 and monitoring services priced at $29 a month.

With many families seeking to keep their older family members at home, rather than in assisted living facilities, the smart-home market is booming. Amazon.com, Google, Microsoft and Samsung also target this market with products that could easily be tailored to keep an eye on the elderly, Bloomberg reports.



A 2016 report cosponsored by AARP showed that 71 percent of caregivers are interested in technology to support their caregiving tasks, but only 7 percent are already using technology available in the market. To make the technology less daunting, Best Buy is using a trained sales team, including members who specialize in dementia.

Best Buys staff needs to have some inkling about who these people are, Jody Holtzman, senior vice president for market innovation at AARP, told Bloomberg. You have to have something that resonates with the senior as well as the caregiver who is writing the check.


IPO on the Australian Stock Exchange

Brisbane, Oct 10, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Brisbane-based gas conventional gas developer State Gas Limited ( ASX:GAS ) is pleased to announce that its shares will commence trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) today (Tuesday, 10 October 2017).



The ASX-listing of State Gas represents the first IPO of an east coast gas developer-explorer since 2006.



The State Gas IPO was heavily oversubscribed and closed early, after raising $5.25 million during October at an Offer Price of $0.20. The Company will have a market capitalisation of $26.9 million (at the Offer Price).



State Gas Limited is Operator of and holds a 60% interest in a proven conventional gas field (Reid's Dome) in the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland, discovered in the 1950s. The gas field is secured by a granted petroleum lease (PL 231) located approximately 30 km southwest of Rolleston.



PL 231 hosts a conventional gas project located in the Denison Trough, first discovered in the 1950s. PL 231 is not a coal seam gas target.



State Gas Chairman, Tony Bellas, said that the primary area of focus for State Gas is the shallow, conventional gas target in the Cattle Creek Formation - less than 200m deep, with a major secondary target in the underlying Reid's Dome beds.



"Both targets have produced gas during the drilling of exploration and appraisal wells on PL 231. A number of historical wells have flowed gas from the Cattle Creek Formation, which was reached at depths of as shallow as 130 metres", he said.



"The shallow nature of this conventional target will greatly benefit the economics of the appraisal and development wells that State Gas intends to drill in PL 231 in the period following its admission to ASX.



Mr Bellas said that the underlying Reid's Dome beds are anticipated to be at least 2,770 metres thick and have not been fully tested in the Denison Trough. "They provide an exciting future target for State Gas."



In order to accelerate the options for bringing gas from PL 231 to market, State Gas has recently lodged a pipeline survey licence application with the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (PSL 2028) with the intention to investigate suitable routes for a feeder pipeline to connected PL 231 with the Queensland Gas Pipeline and the broader east coast gas market.



Mr Bellas said that it was an exciting time to be an investor in the supply side of the Queensland gas market, with the gas industry on the east coast undergoing significant structural change with the growth of demand from the Queensland-based LNG export industry causing a tight supply market.



"The Board has a preference, where possible, for maintaining any gas developed from PL 231 as uncontracted in order to maintain flexibility to take advantage of spot market opportunities," he said.



State Gas has assembled an outstanding board with relevant leadership, project development and petroleum industry experience. In particular, the Company is fortunate to have secured Ian Paton as a technical non-executive director. Mr Paton is a geophysicist and petroleum engineer with substantial oil and gas industry experience. He began his career with BHP in 1976 as a geophysicist and worked in senior exploration and development roles in Santos and Conoco over the next two decades before becoming a consultant. Mr Paton is former Manager of Exploration and Development for Santos.



The State Gas Board also includes Mr Robert Towner, representing 35%-shareholder Triangle Energy (Global) Limited, and energy entrepreneur and substantial shareholder Mr Greg Baynton, as an Executive Director.





About State Gas Limited





State Gas Limited (ASX:GAS) is a Queensland-based developer of the Reid's Dome gas field, originally discovered during drilling in 1955, located in the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland. State Gas is 100%-owner of the Reid's Dome Gas Project (PL-231) a CSG and conventional gas play, which is well-located 30 kilometres southwest of Rolleston, approximately 50 kilometres from the Queensland Gas Pipeline and interconnected east coast gas network.

Permian coal measures within the Reid's Dome Beds are extensive across the entire permit but the area had not been explored for coal seam gas prior to State Gas' ownership. In late 2018 State Gas drilled the first coal seam gas well in the region (Nyanda-4) into the Reid's Dome Beds and established the potential for a significant coal seam gas project in PL 231. The extension of the coal measures into the northern and central areas of the permit was confirmed in late 2019 by the Company's drilling of Aldinga East-1A (12 km north) and Serocold-1 (6 km to the north of Nyanda-4).

State Gas is also the 100% holder Authority to Prospect 2062 ("Rolleston-West"), a 1,414 km2 permit (eight times larger than PL 231) that is contiguous with the Reid's Dome Gas Project. Rolleston-West contains highly prospective targets for both coal seam gas (CSG) and known conventional gas within the permit area. It is not restricted by domestic gas reservation requirements.

The contiguous areas (Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West), under sole ownership by State Gas, enable integration of activities and a unified super-gasfield development, providing economies of scale, efficient operations, and optionality in marketing.

State Gas is implementing its strategic plan to bring gas to market from Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West to meet near term forecast shortfalls in the east coast domestic gas market. The strategy involves progressing a phased appraisal program in parallel with permitting for an export pipeline and development facilities to facilitate the fastest possible delivery of gas to market. State Gas' current focus has been to confirm the producibility of the gas through production testing of the wells.
The Miss Radiant Nigeria 2017 beauty pageant held on 24th Septembers 2017 in Lagos in all it's glits and glamour. Absolute Hearts Media in our usual style caught up with the winner of the pageant, Queem Adetola Adenubi, in an interview and she revealed how she made the decision to contest for the pageant, how her parents took it when she decided to contest and so on. Read below:

Absolute Hearts : Can we meet you?
The daughter and son-in-law of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif were on Monday granted bail by the countrys anti-graft court in the Panama Papers scandal as they appeared before it following their return from London.

Maryam Nawaz, 43, along with her spouse, former army captain Muhammad Safdar, returned to the country late last night to appear in the Accountability Court. Safdar was arrested on his arrival as the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrant against him.

Both separately appeared in the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir.

Sharif and his two sons were absent during the hearing as they are in London to attend his wife Kulsoom who is battling throat cancer. Sharif had attended the previous two hearings but flew to London last week to see his ailing wife, who underwent a third surgery.

The court accepted the bail applications of Maryam and Safdar and postponed the hearing till October 13, according to court officials.

Sharifs lawyer Khawaja Harris asked the court to adjourn hearing for 15 days with commitment that Sharif would also appear. The court rejected the plea announced that it will indict the accused during the next hearing.

The court also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharifs sons  Husain and Hasan  proclaimed offender as they have failed to appear before it so far. The court also decided to conduct separate trials of Husain and Hasan from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

Maryam, who is being groomed as Sharifs political successor, appeared in the court for the first time on Monday. She was ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 50,000 against a non-bailable arrest warrant against her.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lawyers asked the court to send Safdar to jail on judicial remand but the court granted him bail and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 for surety bonds. The court also asked him to seek its permission before going abroad and rejected the NAB request to confiscate his passport.

Both Maryam and Safdar have been charged by the NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Sharif. Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken into custody despite the fact that he had come back to face the case.

Those who want to appear by free will are arrested from airport, but we are not afraid of it, she said. Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said that the absconders are free and hold public meetings.

She also criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.

Questions will be asked if the cases which started with Panama ended with Iqama (Job contract). The judges would have to answer it, she said referring to dismissal of Sharif for non-declaration of his salary from his sons company in the UAE. Those who sent home representative of 20 crore people should also be brought to justice, she said.
Illegal construction and encroachment activities have resulted into the destruction of mangroves in Kanakia Park, Mira Road. Even though residents and activists have filed complaint with the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation against BJP MLA Narendra Mehta for hacking mangroves to construct realty projects they have turned a blind eye towards this issue. Mehta is the founder of Seven Eleven Group of Companies with business interests in construction, healthcare and education projects. Thus residents are fighting a lone battle to save mangroves in the suburb. Mangroves act as a natural barrier and prevent soil erosion and flooding in a city like Mumbai which witnesses heavy rainfall. However, sand and building construction materials are dumped to destroy mangroves to make way for realty projects in the city.

Infrastructure development is essential for the citys development but it should not come at the cost of the environment. After a public interest litigation (PIL) by Bombay Environment Action Group  an NGO in Mumbai  in 2005, the Bombay High Court had banned destruction of mangroves across the state and construction within 50 metres of them. Despite this city has lost large area of mangroves due to illegal construction activities. Often clearances are given for construction of real estate projects without taking into consideration its impact on the environment. Environmentalists have called for the protection of mangroves, wetlands and waterbodies which will prevent flooding in the city.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Heavy rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 58F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The Future of Iraq's Minorities: What's Next After ISIS?

The following testimony was delivered on October 4 before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues Denise Natali, Director, Center for Strategic Research and Distinguished Research Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University.

Support local minority rights in conjunction with the Iraqi constitution. Efforts to stabilize Iraq after ISIS and ascertain minority group rights should be made within the framework of the existing Iraqi constitution. The U.S. should support a political and security architecture that allows people within localities to administer and secure their own areas. All assistance should be conducted in cooperation with the Iraqi government and based on enhancing local decentralization and self-protection of minority groups. This effort can include training local minority police as part of Iraqi security forces and helping to integrate minority group PMUs into official state institutions, to include provincial structures and the KRG as part of a unified Iraqi state.

Reinforce a sovereign, civil state and Iraqi institutions. The U.S. should take advantage of current trends in Iraq that support a civil state and end sectarianism. It should continue to support Iraq's state institutions through clear and consistent messaging that affirms Iraqi sovereignty and territorial integrity. The U.S. should also address Iraqis and its substate entities as territorial units and refrain from using ethno-sectarian narratives ("Sunni, Shi'a and Kurds").

Mediate disputed territories. The U.S. should help mediate tensions between Baghdad and Erbil, to include control over territories and energy resources in the disputed areas. The U.S should also assist in brokering local power and revenue sharing agreements between the Iraqi government, KRG, and provincial councils.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ranking Member, and distinguished members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the future of Iraq's minorities after the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). I would like to note that these views represent my own and not those of the United States government, the Department of Defense, or the National Defense University. The prospects for Iraq's most vulnerable minorities after ISIS are tied to the larger framework of Iraqi politics and minority group dynamics. They will likely be affected by post-ISIS stabilization challenges. These challenges include, but are not limited to ethno-sectarianism, disputes between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and the proliferation of militias. Iraq's minorities are not monolithic. They represent about ten percent of the Iraqi population and include Assyrians, Yezidis, Mandaeans (Sabians), Turcoman, Armenians, Circassians, Jews, Kaka'is, Shabaks, and Faily Kurds. Most of these groups live in northern Iraq; the Ninawah Plains, Kirkuk, Sinjar and other localities. Although these territories have become politicized as 'disputed areas' - lands claimed by the Iraqi government and the KRG - they are regarded by Assyrians and Yezidis as ancestral lands. Since the breakdown of the Iraqi state and emergence of sectarian conflict in 2003, the most vulnerable non-Muslim minorities have been the Christians (Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriac and Armenians) and Yezidis. According to a report by Minority Rights Group International, from 2005-2014 the Yezidi population decreased from 700,000 to approximately 500,000. Christian populations also fled Baghdad during this period, with about fifteen percent remaining. Threats against Christians and Yezidis increased significantly after the ISIS onslaught in June 2014. Reports indicate that about 9,900 Yezidis were killed or captured by ISIS while 6,800 others were kidnapped, with over a third still missing. Thousands of Yezidis also escaped to Syria, Jordan and other states, adding to refugee strains. By 2016 Christian populations declined from about 1.4 million to about 300,000. At present, most Christians and Yezidis in Iraq are living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps inside the Kurdistan Region, with smaller numbers in central or southern Iraq. Despite a shared persecution for their religious beliefs, Iraq's minorities are fractured. Successive Iraqi governments attempted to exploit religious differences between Christian denominations, and these differences persist today. Religion also overlaps with ethnicity, language, and geography within and across groups. Some Yezidis emphasize their Zoroastrian roots and differentiate themselves from "Sunni Kurdish Muslims", while affiliating more closely with secular groups. Others, however, regard their Yezidi identity as being ethnically Kurdish first. These differences often overlap with political affiliations. Yezidis living in northern Ninawah and in Dohuk province support the KRG while others, mainly in Sinjar and southern Ninawah, back the Iraqi government. Still others are independent and seek their own autonomous region. The Yezidis are also isolated by their own traditions -- to include a castelike system that restricts marriages within the Yezidi community. Similarly, Assyrians regard themselves as a distinct ethnic group with their own language that is in danger of extinction, a sentiment that has grown alongside increased KRG control of Ninewah. Assyrians are also divided between supporters of Baghdad and Erbil, and independents. After ISIS: vulnerabilities and opportunities The liberation of former ISIS safe-havens has provided some reprieve for minorities and encouraged the return of IDPs. According to the International Organization for Migration, by September 2017 about 2.2 million of about 3.2 million IDPs had returned to their homes. The vast majority of these IDPs are Sunni Arabs, and about 20,000 of 200,000 Assyrians from the Ninawah Plains. Some Yezidis have returned to northern Ninawa but not to Sinjar, which according to local groups, remains "a ghost town" since its liberation three years ago. What prevents a more robust return of Christians and Yezidi IDPs? The main obstruction to IDP return is ongoing security threats and lack of services. Some localities remain dangerous; public buildings and homes are destroyed and/or filled with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Reconstruction support is also lacking. Another reason is a deep sense of mistrust and vulnerability. Yezidis and Christians victimized by ISIS distrust government authorities in Baghdad and Erbil, as well as some Sunni Muslim groups -- Arabs and Kurds. Most Yezidis from Sinjar blame Peshmerga from Masoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) for disarming and abandoning them during the ISIS onslaught, which led to the mass atrocities against them. Post-liberation security arrangements have exacerbated their sense of fear and mistrust. One Yezidi man from Sinjar told me that former ISIS militants and members from some Sunni Kurdish and Sunni Arab tribes made deals with the KDP to help stabilize the border area. He affirmed that "they shaved their beards and are now walking around Dohuk, Sinjar and other areas." Those Yezidis who do not support the KDP have been obstructed from returning to Sinjar by KRG Peshmerga. IDP return is also inhibited by the presence of various militia groups that have proliferated since 2014 and which control checkpoints and influence local activities. These militias are tied to the Iraqi government, KRG, or Iran (and to a lesser extent, Turkey). In Mosul, Iranian-backed militias are recruiting Sunni Arabs through salaries, food provisions, and security -- services which until now, are not offered by the Iraqi government. In the Christian town of Bartella, recently liberated from ISIS, there is a new Imam Khomeini primary school with flags of Iran. Although these militias and institutions are not targeting Christians and Yezidis directly, they are feeding local power struggles, sectarianism, and the risk of conflict. Minority groups are caught in the political cross-fire between Baghdad and Erbil and have become cannon fodder for everyone else's contestations. A key tension involves unresolved claims to disputed territories and their resources, the vast majority of which have fallen under the de-facto control of the KRG, but which remain administratively and legally under Baghdad's authority. The KRG has expended important resources on some Christian and Yezidi populations as part of its larger aim to annex the territories into a future Kurdish state or expanded Kurdistan Region. In two Christian towns in Ninewah, the provincial council, which is largely controlled by the KDP, recently replaced mayors with a KDP-Christian party affiliate. These dynamics have further divided and weakened Christian groups politically. While many Assyrians regard these actions as the "Kurdification" of the Ninewah plain and seek greater autonomy under Baghdad's authority, others support the KRG and the largess it has offered to local officials. In some areas, political tensions have turned to violence since the liberation of ISIS safe havens, further inhibiting IDP return. Sinjar is a case in point. During my visit to Iraq in March 2017, armed conflict broke out in Sinjar between Syrian Kurdish forces tied to the KDP and Yezidi affiliates of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) -- which has expanded its influence in northern Iraq and disputed areas. The conflict also involved Turkey's bombing of PKK bases in Sinjar and Syria and resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including KRG Peshmerga forces. Since then, some Yezidis have defected from PKK groups and joined the Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs) under the auspices of the Iraqi government. Still others affiliate with KRG Peshmerga. There are small pockets of opportunities for post-ISIS stabilization that could potentially reduce minority group vulnerabilities. I just returned from another research trip to Iraq two weeks ago. I spoke with diverse groups and officials in northern Iraq and Baghdad, including Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, members of the Iraqi parliament, Sunni Arab tribal sheikhs, provincial representatives, civil society leaders, members of the business community, and teachers and students. Most expressed "cautious optimism" about Iraq's future. Their optimism is tied to an important political trend; efforts to create a civil state and diminish ethno-sectarianism. This trend is rooted in a strong sense of Iraqi nationalism that has revived since the ISIS onslaught, and demands for political reforms and citizens' rights (Of the 150 entities registered for the 2018 Iraqi parliamentary elections, 76 have the word civil or civilian in their title). Iraqis also largely support al-Abadi, a political moderate, although worry about Iranian influences, including former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. All - including Sunni Arabs and critics of Baghdad - expressed high respect and trust for Iraq's Counter Terrorism Forces (CTF). Iraqis are also tired of war. They are attempting to build trust across communities through local leaders and educational and cultural exchanges within and across governorates. Still, ethno-sectarianism persists, particularly among the political classes. Powerful blocs in the Iraqi parliament may have changed their names, but many remain committed to supporting distinct religious and ethnic constituencies; Sunni Arab, Shi'a Arab, and Kurds. Regional states also continue to back particular leaders or proxy forces that promote sectarian agendas. The Kurdish referendum has aggravated challenges to post ISIS stabilization.It has deepened tensions between Baghdad and Erbil, enhanced ethnic divisions between Arabs and Kurds, and instigated militia groups seeking to assure Iraq's territorial integrity. The referendum has raised the ire of the Iraqi parliament -- Sunni and Shi'a Arabs alike -- and placed al-Abadi in the position of having to more forcefully assert Iraqi sovereignty and push back the KRG's unilateral actions. The Iraqi government, alongside the governments of Iran and Turkey, have reacted with a series of economic, political, and security measures that aim to assert Iraqi sovereignty. They have threatened to use military force to enter and control the disputed territories directly, or through militias. The potential for armed conflict that will destabilize the Ninewah Plains and Kirkuk and its minority populations is significant. Although minorities have developed their own local forces, they are tied to Baghdad and Erbil and are likely to become further entrenched in the political cross-fire. Recommendations: protecting minorities in a post- ISIS Iraq Even after ISIS is defeated militarily, minorities will remain vulnerable to political instability in the disputed territories. This vulnerability is complex, highly localized, and tied to the cohesion of the Iraqi state. The challenge will be to create conditions that keep minorities out of the crossfire between Baghdad and Erbil, minimize regional interventions, allow IDPs to return to their homes, and assure some form of local autonomy and self-protection. It is in the U.S. interest to assure the stability of Iraq after ISIS is defeated so that minority communities remain in Iraq and their homelands. U.S. policy should be based on a nuanced understanding of minority groups that addresses their distinctions and role in the larger Iraqi political arena. The U.S. should:It is important to note that the referendum results are not representative of minorities and non-Kurdish populations in the disputed territories. A large percentage of Christians and Yezidis remain as IDPs and did not vote. Many also reported being threatened by Kurdish authorities to vote "Yes." Similarly, most Arabs and Turkmen are displaced, oppose the referendum, and did not vote.
October 9, 2017

Following their electoral defeat against the Reformists, Irans conservatives appear to be grappling with greater internal differences than ever before. Indeed, the multitude of voices coming out of the Principlist camp seem to have reached an all-time high, and in the absence of one political leader, this could become an Achilles heel for them.

These internal differences began as candidates launched their campaigns in the run-up to the May 19 presidential elections. The majority of the conservatives entered the electoral scene under the umbrella of the Popular Front of Islamic Revolution Forces, better known by its Persian acronym, JAMNA. Through its selection mechanism, amounting to a primary of sorts, JAMNA ultimately agreed on two main Principlist candidates: Ebrahim Raisi, the custodian of the holy shrine of the eighth Shiite imam, and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Tehrans former mayor.

Meanwhile, some conservative groups and figures, such as former chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, criticized this selection process and rejected the very idea of JAMNA from the start. Others, like the Islamic Coalition Party  one of the oldest political parties in Iran, which dates back to before Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution  also refused to accept JAMNA and said it would introduce its own candidate for the elections. Thus, Mostafa Mirsalim, a former minister of culture and Islamic guidance (1994-1997), was named as the Islamic Coalition Partys nominee.

Almost all opinion polls indicated that Mirsalim would not be able to secure more than 1% of the votes. Yet he continued to stay in the race until the very end, refusing to step aside in favor of the Principlists leading candidate, Raisi. This was even though pressures had intensified on Mirsalim to step aside as election day neared, with the Islamic Coalition Party even issuing a statement claiming that he had dropped out in favor of Raisi. However, shortly after, Mirsalim denied all such claims and announced that he had no intention of stepping down in favor of anyone.

It should be noted that Mirsalims insistence to remain in the race did not have much of an impact on his or Raisis votes. The former minister won just a little over 1% of the popular vote, which would not have made a difference for the main conservative candidate. In a Sept. 10 interview, Mehdi Chamran, the conservative former head of the Tehran City Council (2014-2017) said, After the elections, Mr. Raisi said Im truly happy that Mirsalim did not drop out; otherwise, he [Mirsalim] would have claimed that he had 10 million of my [Raisis] votes.

Meanwhile, Ghalibaf  who did step aside in favor of Raisi  did not seem too happy about his move. In a television interview on July 31, Ghalibaf criticized the Principlist movement and said, It was not my personal decision to step aside. I knew that [only] one [conservative candidate] had to stay in the scene. But I preferred myself to remain because statistics and opinion polls pointed to that as well. But every time there was talk of [someone] dropping out, everyone would look at me.

Following the elections, on July 22, Ghalibaf wrote a letter to Irans revolutionary youths where he strongly criticized the Principlists and called on the youths to evolve and develop the conservative camp  an expectation that would naturally place him at the leadership of such a movement.

In Ghalibafs view, the Principlist camp had never valued him as it should and had preferred others over him at critical junctures. This is why the former Tehran mayor was attempting to make structural changes from within the lower ranks of the camp.

Yet the multidimensional nature of the conservative movement does not end here. Jalili, who unsuccessfully ran in the 2013 presidential polls and is close to the more radical Principlist groups, is also pursuing his own agenda. Jalili is very passionate about the idea of forming a shadow government, and although he has had little luck in doing so, he is counting on the more radical conservatives to back him in pursuing this goal. The conservatives defeat against President Hassan Rouhani in the 2017 presidential elections has only provided him with further opportunity to pursue his vision by criticizing the prevailing structure of the Principlist camp.

Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013) forms another dimension of the conservative front, although he views himself as independent of all political parties. On Sept. 25, Ahmadinejad posted a video on his Telegram channel where he appeared to be addressing people. The footage, which quickly circulated on social media networks, showed Ahmadinejad criticizing parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and saying, Mr. Larijani wants to prepare himself for the 2021 presidential elections and sees me as the main obstacle in this path. Thats why he is trying to pressure me and those close to me through his connections.

Ahmadinejads attack against the parliament speaker comes as some view Larijani as the symbol of a classic Principlist who in recent years has distanced himself from the camp due to its hard-line activities and instead now enjoys close ties with the Rouhani administration. It should be noted that Larijani ran as a conservative in the 2005 presidential elections, which first brought Ahmadinejad to power. However, he was eliminated in the first round of voting, coming in sixth place after late Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad, former parliament Speaker Mehdi Karroubi, Ghalibaf and former Minister of Science Mostafa Moin.

It should also be noted that some Principlist groups dont even consider Larijani a conservative anymore and have strongly criticized him for his close ties with the current administration. In a recent development, a picture of Larijani next to former Reformist President Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), the leader of the Reform movement, surfaced on Sept. 23, causing a great deal of controversy and harsh criticism from hard-liners. Some even described the photo as an attempt by Larijani to launch his campaign for the 2021 presidential elections.

As such, Irans conservative camp today is more divergent than ever. This is perhaps due to a lack of leadership in the camp and the existence of multiple forces who each see themselves as being superior to others. This is not to mention that not all Principlist groups accept Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, the hard-line cleric who is seen by many as the spiritual father of the conservative front. Thus, it seems as if each part of the movement is branching out for itself, with none willing to accept other factions.
October 9, 2017

Former Reformist President Mohammad Khatami, who continues to remain one of the most popular political figures in Iran, has reportedly been put under more severe restrictions. According to Mohammad Anjam, Khatamis lawyer, a judiciary official had informed the former president that he has been banned from public gatherings for a period of three months. The ban includes political, cultural and commercial gatherings.

Ever since Oct. 4, when Iranian parliamentarian Mohammad Reza Tabesh announced the new limitations on Khatami, there had been conflicting reports. A member of the Special Court of Clergy denied the new restrictions, saying, There have been no new restrictions against him. The official continued, The preventative measures taken up to now have been up to the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

According to the Kalameh website, the new restrictions on Khatami came from a letter signed by the prosecutor general of the Special Court of Clergy, Ebrahim Raisi, who was the conservative candidate for the 2017 presidential election and is currently also the custodian of Astan Quds Razavi, one of the wealthiest charitable foundations in the country. According to the Kalameh report, Khatami has been banned even from concerts and the theater and all nonfamily public gatherings.

Khatami, who was president from 1997 to 2005, had been under a media ban previously. While there had been conflicting news about the nature of his media ban, the reason for it was clear to everyone. During the 2009 presidential election, Khatami had continued to support presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who claimed the election results had been tampered with. Irans conservatives called the 2009 post-election protests a sedition and referred to Mousavi, Karroubi and Khatami as the leaders of the sedition.

Since then, Khatami has remained sidelined from active political life. However, he has remained influential. His support for President Hassan Rouhani in 2013 was one of the main factors bringing the then relatively unknown cleric to the lead. Khatamis viral video supporting Rouhani in 2017 in which he famously said I repeat (that Iranians should vote for Rouhani) also played a significant role in his re-election.

In his most recent speech, Rouhani criticized the new restrictions against Khatami and the manner in which he and other Reformist groups have been treated by the judiciary and security agencies. Everyone should get a prize for participating in the election, Rouhani said, adding, [but] one side gets a prize, one side is punished. He continued, Is this an election? Is this public participation? Is this public trust? Is this social capital? Maybe some of the agencies have nothing better to do and they need a job.

Specifically regarding Khatami, Rouhani said sarcastically, And if someone is very influential  for instance, he encourages society and repeats calls for people to come to the ballot box  well, he shouldnt be encouraged. [Only] one side should be encouraged, and one side should be punished. The word repeat received an applause from the audience, who easily recognized the term from Khatamis video.

While Rouhani gave vocal support to Khatami, there is likely little else he will do. Despite being head of the Supreme National Security Council where allegedly the decisions on Khatami and the house arrests of Mousavi and Karroubi have been made, Rouhani has been reluctant to challenge either the judiciary or the intelligence agencies in the country.
October 7, 2017

A festive ceremony on an Israeli Air Defense Command base drew no special attention. The Sept. 18 ceremony in the Negev desert dedicated a first of its kind in Israels history: a permanent American military base, to be staffed with dozens of uniformed American soldiers, within an Israeli air force base. Its an open secret that the Americans have warehouses for ammunition and strategic equipment in Israel for emergency situations, but until now there were no real military bases. For the first time, the American military will have a physical foothold within Israeli territory.

This is a historic day when we dedicate a base with our most important ally, the United States, here in the Negev, said the commander of Israel's aerial defense at the ceremony, which was attended by American generals as well. Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich went on, This is the first time a permanent American base is situated within one of our bases, and it proves the strategic commitment of the two militaries and two air defense commands. It is an important moment in the State of Israels air defense against high-trajectory fire that would attack us from far and near. And it adds to the capability that is growing year by year.

This coming February, Israel and the United States will cooperate in the Juniper Cobra exercise, which takes place every two years  a strategic exercise of the two countries' joint air defense capabilities as well as radar systems and the identification and interception of ballistic and high-trajectory threats to Israel.

It all started at the end of the past decade: Sen. Mark Kirk, one of Israels biggest supporters in the US Congress, suggested situating in Israel the sophisticated X Band Radar, a defensive system that gives early warnings of missile strikes. To the surprise of decision-makers in Jerusalem, the US administration's Secretary of Defense Robert Gates quickly authorized the exceptional request and within two months, by September 2008, the huge radar system was built in the Negev. It includes two towers of sophisticated sensors, the tallest of their kind in the world.

The radar is operated by the United States, and the base is considered an American extraterritorial location in Israeli territory. Essentially, Israel receives the intelligence collected by the radar in real time from the Americans, and not from the facility itself. The system was tested in special exercises in Europe in the presence of Israeli staff and senior officials before it was brought to Israel.

The Israeli security establishment very gladly accepted the reinforcement. The Americans did not grant, sell or transfer the system to Israel, but only placed it in its territory. In the first years, the radar was operated by American civilians working for the US military. Now the US military has changed its policy and decided to replace those civilians with regular uniformed soldiers. To that end, the US base was established within the Israeli base.

This is a radar system that consists of the best American technological capabilities, a senior source in the security establishment told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. It allows us to identify threats to the state even from the longest ranges. It allows us to identify rocket salvos precisely and quickly, and it can determine exactly where the ballistic threat would hit before its too late. According to various reports, the radar can identify a threat from a distance of 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) away and offer Israel a relatively long warning period (around eight minutes), enabling effective civilian defense and the use of various means of interception such as Israel's Arrow missile.

This cooperation works with great efficiency, reported a senior Israeli security source in a private conversation with Al-Monitor. The capabilities of this radar are amazing. It opens before us the whole map of the Middle East and identifies all the threats. Its connected and synchronized with additional systems, Israeli and American, and it dramatically enhances our capacity to defend ourselves. The cooperation between the air force, its supervision system and air defense units  and the radar and its American staff  has proven to be perfect.

The placement of the American radar in Israel is perhaps the most interesting testament to the depth of the security relationship between Israel and the United States, to the American commitment to Israels security and to the willingness of Washington to strategically partner with Israel.

We must remember that the Americans could take this radar from here and bring it somewhere else tomorrow morning in a simple operational decision, said a senior Israeli security source who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. As far as we know, they havent considered it. Even in the worst days of the relationship between President [Barack] Obama and Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, it was clear to all sides that when it comes to the security of Israel there are no conflicts and no rivalries.

The radar is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It is indirectly connected to the Israeli air forces monitoring systems. The US staff transmits any threats detected in real time to the Israeli air force, which is synchronized and connected to the various parts of the Magic Wand system (also nicknamed the "Davids Sling" missile defense system), which is intended to intercept ballistic missiles and high-trajectory threats to Israel. According to estimates, it would take mere seconds between the identification of the threat and the launch of the means of its interception, providing precise forecasting of the missile's point of impact.

Without a doubt, this is an exceptional gesture, a senior Israeli security source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. With such a radar system at our service, we can sleep a little bit better at night.
October 9, 2017

Wine culture in Lebanon can be traced back to the Phoenicians, who spread across the Mediterranean between 1500 and 300 B.C. The country's long-standing winemaking tradition was revived in the early 2000s, and wine production in Lebanon increased again. Today, Lebanon produces roughly 8.5 million bottles a year, which it mostly exports abroad, including to France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Wines produced in Lebanon show variety: Chateau Ksara, founded by Jesuit priests in 1857, offers 14 different wines from grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah, in addition to the autochthonous white grape variety Obeidi. The younger and more family business-oriented Chateau Khoury focuses on organic agriculture, while Coteaux les Cedres, an organic and fair trade winery from Heliopolis cooperative, boasts of its intense and slightly fruity wines.

These three vineyards, along with others, consider Vinifest, Lebanons largest wine event, a good platform to get into the local and international spotlight. Neda Farah, the director of events management company Eventions, established Vinifest in 2004 to introduce the different wines produced in Lebanon to the public. The event, which was originally located at the Beirut port, was not held for three years after the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005 put on hold most cultural activities in 2005-2007; Vinifest restarted in 2008 relocating to Beirut Hippodrome. On Oct. 4-7, 2017, it celebrated its 10th anniversary.

For four days, attendees tasted wine either on their own or in the company of 22 European enologists. Lebanese wine was almost unknown, and I thought it was essential to help people know about wine culture in our country, Farah told Al-Monitor. I used to be a pharmacist and I traveled a lot. I attended a wine and music festival in Greece and I loved it. Thats why I started organizing it here. The idea is to promote the culture of Lebanese wine, and with time I noted that the wine really improved in terms of quality. Wineries use advisers from abroad, and the Union Vinicole du Liban helps regulate the wine production and promotion."

She noted that wine consumers are also getting more adventurous and eager to try new brands. Restaurants have a larger wine list, and new wines are produced in different parts of the country, with more people buying wine. This year, 37 local companies attended the wine event compared to around 30 last year, and we met our expectation of around 25,000 visitors, she said.

For Farah, Lebanese wine is special because it receives a lot of sun so it is rich, robust and sensuous, with many aromas and savors."

Chateau Ksara is one of the wineries that have been exhibiting at Vinifest since the beginning, together with nine other wineries. We participate every year in Vinifest to reach the consumer through a tasting and celebration with the producers, George Khalil Sara, an administrator and board member of Ksara, told Al-Monitor. Vinifest is a fair focused on the wine consumer, which sets it apart from international fairs and festivals that are mostly focused on its commercial side.

He noted that Lebanese wine production is growing. Twenty years ago there were only four or five producers, and now there are more than 50, Sara added. It shows that our wine is in demand more and more, which explains our export to more than 30 countries. In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Eventions is also organizing Lebanese Wine Day in San Francisco on Nov. 16 and in Los Angeles on Nov. 20.

Chateau Khoury is another wine producer that has been exhibiting at Vinifest since 2004. According to owner Jean-Paul Khoury, taking part in the annual wine event has provided a chance to present his young winery to the public.

It also allows us to meet our customers and to have direct contact with them, he told Al-Monitor. Vinifest provides Khoury and his family with an opportunity to showcase the location of their vineyard, north of the town of Zahle in the Bekaa Valley. Because wine culture in Lebanon is also about experiencing the countryside, food and touristic visits, Vinifest allows Khoury to meet people who might come to visit the winery and its restaurant during the year.

Coteaux les Cedres joined Vinifest for the first time in 2017. It is important for Coteaux les Cedres to be present at Vinifest, Maya Adaime Masri, the head of human resources and communications at Fair Trade Lebanon, told Al-Monitor. It gives us visibility and the opportunity to promote our wine and tell the story behind it. We are in the early stages, but I personally believe that we will become a wine-producing country with a worldwide recognition.

Farah added, For us, what is important is that the event provides a positive and beautiful image of our country. After all, Lebanon is also like that  a diverse country.
October 6, 2017

TRIPOLI, Libya  Libya woke up to the news Sept. 29 of a heinous crime in which four men from the countrys largest tribe had been murdered as they were driving back home from the town of Mizda, south of Tripoli, to Bani Walid in the west of the country. Two of the victims were prominent members of the Social Council of Warfalla Tribes (SCWT): Abdulla Antat, the head of the reconciliation committee that has been leading social reconciliation sessions among different tribes in the war-ravaged country, and Khamis Sabaka, a member of the same committee. The two other victims are Adil Milad, a policeman, and Musa Mansali, a driver.

The four men had just finished their latest successful mission of peacemaking that saw them kick-start another round of reconciliation between the Mashashia and Zintan tribes in Libyas western mountain region. The two tribes have been at odds, resulting in deaths and displacements of large numbers of Mashashia tribe members at the hands of their neighbors, the Zintan, in the aftermath of the civil war of 2011, with the Zintan revolting against the regime of former President Moammar Gadhafi and the Mashashia supporting the regime.

Mashashias local council chairman Taher Daw released a statement Sept. 30, offering the council's condolences to the Warfalla tribe, saying, The murder had a criminal motive and not a political one [as initially thought]. We identified the perpetrator, and we are now working on handing him over to the office of the prosecutor general in Tripoli.

The statement did not name the suspect, who "confessed to his crime and said that he acted alone."

The murder brought condemnation from almost all tribes, both governments, the parliament as well as the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. They all paid tribute to the slain men, calling them peacemakers and demanding that the suspect be brought to justice.

In a Sept. 29 statement, the SCWT condemned the murder and promised to continue its efforts for national reconciliation all over Libya.

Al-Monitor attended the massive funeral of the victims in Bani Walid, southwest of Tripoli, on Sept. 30, in which SCWTs chairman, Muftah Aftas, paid tribute to the victims, promising that "the SCWT will not be deterred by the murder of two of its best men but will continue its efforts for national reconciliation across Libya to end this division of the homeland and bring about stability and peace.

Aftas called for calm and asked his tribe not to seek revenge since the suspect has been apprehended, emphasizing the longstanding tribal bond between us and our brothers, the Mashashia. The two tribes have long been allies, and in the civil war of 2011 they both were supporting the Gadhafi regime.

Since the civil war in 2011, Libya has witnessed a bitter political divide and tribal tensions. It has two quarreling governments: the Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli, recognized by the United Nations and headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, and the government based in Tobruk, in eastern Libya, that is not recognized by the international community. Without an effective central government and in light of the Islamic States (IS) infiltration, the country is lacking security and organized law enforcement agencies with an ineffective police force that faces hundreds of armed militias who control many parts of the country. This, along with easily available arms, has caused an increase in all kinds of criminal activities.

During a rare Sept. 28 press conference in Tripoli, the spokesman for Libya's prosecutor general spoke about the security situation in the country and warned that different terror groups, including IS and al-Qaeda, are taking advantage of the chaotic situation in the country and will continue to do so unless Libya stabilizes under one strong central government.

Without giving exact figures, the spokesman said, Unusual criminal activities including murder, extortion and kidnapping are on the rise.

The ongoing fighting by forces loyal to Tripolis government against IS in Sabratha, west of Tripoli, is only further proof of what the prosecutor general referred to in regard to the security situation. Forces loyal to the GNA along with loyal militias have been battling IS inside the city since Sept. 19.

In Sabratha, IS fighters are enjoying some support and sympathy from local tribes, particularly those that are linked to human traffickers, as Sabratha has long been the main departure point for migrants making the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe. The city has also been a kind of safe house for IS fighters smuggled from Tunisia, less than 70 kilometers (43 miles) to the west. On Feb. 19, 2016, the US Air Force had targeted what it called a training camp for IS fighters, killing 43 people.

Meanwhile, a new round of talks brokered by UN special envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame took place in Tunisia Sept. 26, focusing on the amendment of the Libyan Political Agreement signed in Skhirat, Morocco, on Dec. 17, 2015.

Parties to the talks are the GNA and its Tobruk-based rival aimed at reaching a political compromise to unite the country and establish an effective government with united security forces capable of securing the country.

The statement by the SCWT did not mention the talks directly but instead referred to them as the worthless mediations abroad that will always fail. Instead, the statement called on all Libyan tribes to meet in Bani Walid in November to honor the martyrs who paid with their lives for peace by starting a national reconciliation that will unite the country and its people.
October 5, 2017

RAMALLAH, West Bank  Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah took the first step toward assuming control of Gaza's administration when he and all the ministers of the national consensus government arrived there from Ramallah on Oct. 2.

The success of the government's visit to the Gaza Strip will pave the way for other steps toward reconciliation," Azzam al-Ahmad, a Fatah official and member of Fatah's Central Committee, said that day during a press conference that Al-Monitor attended.

"Next week will be crucial for the effective empowerment of the government in Gaza, Ahmad said, referring to a meeting in Cairo set for Oct. 9 between Fatah and Hamas, under the auspices of Egyptian intelligence. During the meeting, both sides are expected to place control of all ministries and crossings with the national consensus government. The remaining contentious issues will be discussed during a subsequent round of talks.

Fatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian political parties, split violently in 2007. The Fatah-ruled Palestinian Authority (PA) administers the West Bank, while Hamas  which the United States and Israel consider a terrorist group  controlled the Gaza Strip. After suffering under ever-more-severe sanctions imposed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas announced last month it was dissolving its administration and would be open to reuniting the parties under the PA.

Abbas said Oct. 2 that as soon as the unity government is in full control of all border crossings, security apparatuses and ministries  just as it is in the West Bank  it will lift the sanctions on Gaza, but not before. While this provoked Hamas condemnation, it did not affect reconciliation for now.

The next day, the Cabinet held its weekly meeting  in Gaza for the first time in years  without mention of lifting the sanctions.

The governments visit to Gaza is one step on a long, bumpy road that Fatah and Hamas need to traverse together to achieve unity on thorny issues. Such agreements will depend on Hamas responsiveness to conditions Abbas has set: No state can interfere in Palestinian affairs, and any funds that enter the Gaza Strip must go through the government, which must fully govern all Gaza affairs. The thorniest issue of all involves security and weapons.

Asked who will be in charge of the security apparatus in Gaza, Abbas said everything should be in the hands of the PA, and added, I will not accept and will not replicate the Hezbollah experience in Lebanon," meaning he refuses to have a civilian government (PA) while a political movement (Hamas) keeps an armed force.

He said the same rule will apply in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank: Any unauthorized person carrying a weapon will be arrested. No other weapons will be allowed.

That prohibition alone could hinder reconciliation, given that Hamas and Fatah both refuse to give up their weapons, Mousa Abu Marzouk, the deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, had said in a Sept. 22 press statement.

The resistance weapons will never be a matter of discussion, as they belong to all Palestinian people and are a guarantee against Israeli aggression, Marzouk said.

Nabil Shaath, Abbas' foreign affairs adviser, toned down the conditions set by Abbas. He told Al-Monitor, Everything will be discussed. Funds coming from abroad to Gaza should be monitored by a unified financial and administrative management and should be deposited into one financial account. Also, weapons should only be in the hands of the PA, and security services should follow a unified command. All of these issues will be discussed at a later stage. We are proceeding step by step.

Fatah leader Yahya Rabah told Al-Monitor, The government cannot be a mere formality in the Gaza Strip, and it is part of its duty to oversee all security headquarters, institutions and crossings without any kind of interference. Any money entering Gaza should go through it.

He said, "Over the course of 10 years, Hamas failed to manage Gaza and open the crossings normally. The government will not accept being a pro forma authority without powers or influence.

Hamas declined to comment on the conditions set by Abbas.

The contentious issues with Fatah were agreed upon during 2011 in Cairo," Yahya Moussa, a Hamas leader, told Al-Monitor. "We will not comment on any conditions or analyses circulated by the media.

The most important points agreed to in 2011 were security, forming a unified framework for the PLO to discuss its reform, activating the Palestinian Legislative Council one month after signing the Beach Refugee Camp Agreement, integrating the staff Hamas appointed after 2007 with the PA and government officials, and forming the Hamas-Fatah national consensus government.

Moussa added, We are going to Cairo to arrange mechanisms to implement the 2011 agreement, knowing that this agreement stipulated that security coordination with Israel was rejected altogether, and the resistance in Gaza is protected by all factions. We are in the stage of national liberation.

The PA currently coordinates security of the West Bank with Israel, which Hamas rejects.

Asked about the impact Abbas' new conditions will have on the reconciliation process, political analyst Jehad Harb of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research told Al-Monitor, There are no red lines in politics. Everything is subject to discussion and depends on the prevailing conditions and the parties sponsoring reconciliation. For example, Hamas could abandon [former Fatah senior official Mohammed] Dahlan's understandings or foreign support if the government provided favorable conditions to end the economic crisis in Gaza  but [Hamas] will not give up its weapons.

However, as Al-Monitor's Shlomi Eldar reported Oct. 6, there might be some reason for optimism. Al-Monitor learned from sources in Gaza close to Dahlan's people that Egypt has proposed a compromise involving creation of a joint security council for the Gaza Strip.
October 9, 2017

Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Sauds Oct. 4-5 visit to Moscow ignited new speculation over Russias growing role in the Middle East: this time, in Yemen.

Moscow has been involved on multiple levels in the Syrian conflict, has been active in the Libyan settlement and has taken what looks like a pragmatic stance regarding regional spats, including the latest between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Yemen, however  though it does register on Moscows diplomatic radar  has not so far warranted proactive Russian efforts.

Salmans visit to Moscow could kick-start Russian mediation efforts to reconcile Yemeni differences, potentially in a way that benefits Saudi Arabia over Iran  the Saudis bitter enemy and rival proxy in Yemens civil war.

Iran backs a coalition formed by Yemens Houthi Shiites (Ansar Allah) and loyalists (the General Peoples Congress) of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Saudi Arabia backs the other side, the government of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who is widely referred to as the internationally recognized but domestically opposed current president.

The Saudi and United Arab Emirates-led military operation in Yemen has stalled, with no strategic successes since fall 2015 after the Saudi coalition forces seized Aden and parts of Taiz province. The UAE is believed to be more interested in combating the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Al-Islah (a Saudi ally in Yemen) than the Saleh-Houthi alliance. Given the two countries growing differences over Yemen, the coalitions prospects for military success look dim.

The Yemeni nation is increasingly divided along all the fault lines. Apart from the fragmentation, the country faces groups like al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which holds sway over large swaths of territory, as well as various semi-independent factions and tribal militiamen.

To top it off, Yemen is teetering on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. In 2016, the hostilities claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people, including 1,340 children. Despite being backed by the United States and Britain, Riyadh finds it increasingly difficult to withstand UN criticism of its grave violations of human rights against children. The UN said last week it might blacklist the Saudi-UAE coalition.

Russia seems the logical choice to solve the Yemen crisis. In their turn, Oman and Kuwait  Gulf Cooperation Council members that are not directly involved in the conflict and could act as third-party mediators  have actually exhausted their potential to settle the Yemeni dispute. Speaking not for attribution, a Russian diplomat serving in a Gulf monarchy told Al-Monitor that Kuwait, which hosted the latest round of Yemeni negotiations, sought to raise its peacekeeper profile, only for its reputation to pay a heavy price for the failed initiative. As of now, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah has told his General Assembly that the country would be ready to host intra-Yemeni talks again only if a cease-fire is signed  an understandable attempt to shield itself from more hits to its image.

As for Oman, the sultanate had a tense relationship with Hadi and his Saudi backers from the very day the Omanis blocked Hadis fleeing entourage from crossing the Omani-Yemeni border. The incident must be what prompted Yemen to turn to Kuwait rather than Oman. The Yemeni government subsequently accused Oman, which had previously hosted several rounds of consultations, of facilitating weapons smuggling to the Houthis.

Although 2016, the last year of US President Barack Obamas term, saw US attempts to activate its peacekeeper role in Yemen, President Donald Trumps administration has virtually thwarted the efforts by adopting a clear pro-Saudi stance on the conflict. Specifically, US Defense Secretary James Mattis even urged deeper military support against the Iran-backed Houthis. Despite the Pentagons initiatives being rejected out of hand by the White House, Washington did lift restrictions on arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

Thus, Riyadh is desperately searching for mediators to resolve the Yemeni conflict. The situation throws the door open for Russia.

Earlier, Moscow was keen to deflect attention away from the Syrian conflict and encouraged Gulf monarchies instead to focus on the Yemeni crisis and assist Hadi. The deeper the Gulf states became enmeshed in the Yemeni conflict, the fewer incentives and resources they had to support the Syrian opposition. Nowadays, though, that approach has become largely irrelevant, given the start of the Syrian peace process. Moreover, Moscow has yet another opportunity to gain credibility and leverage in the Middle East.

Ever since the Yemen crisis arose, Moscow has sought to maintain relations with all parties involved, and it has pursued a flexible policy that allowed it to stay abreast of developments.

In particular, since Hadi was forced to flee Yemen, Russia has maintained state-to-state relations through his administration. Notably, the Russian media refers to Houthi fighters as insurgents or rebels, implying the legitimacy of the Yemeni president. In November, Russian Ambassador to Yemen Vladimir Dedushkin, who sustained communication channels with the Hadi administration in Moscow, moved to Riyadh.

His departure could be accounted for by the need to intensify contacts with exiled Yemeni authorities. Also, Hadi-supported Ahmed Salem Al-Wahishi presented his credentials to the Russian Foreign Ministry and was formally recognized as Yemens ambassador to Russia. It became a milestone in the development of bilateral ties: Al-Wahishi was the fourth candidate proposed by Hadi in the past year; Moscow rejected the previous three. The Saudis active lobbying must have contributed to the decision.

Meanwhile, Russia has also managed to sustain ties with the other side: the alliance between the Houthi-led Ansar Allah movement and Saleh's General Peoples Congress. The parties historically were rivals in Yemen, but later formed an alliance.

Their divisive background still makes itself known, however. Tensions have escalated and could degenerate into an armed conflict. But so far, it appears the situation might prompt both factions to embrace compromise and consider peaceful initiatives more willingly  especially Russian ones. Another factor to be considered is Ansar Allahs disillusion with Tehrans policies. The Houthis believe Iran is resorting to speculative statements about Yemen to bolster its own status. Many experts also conclude that Irans role in supporting the Saleh-Houthi alliance is seriously exaggerated. Therefore, Tehran will have fewer opportunities to exert a destructive influence on the peace process.

Russias plans to build trust and confidence with the Houthis and Saleh have come to fruition. Since Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia, Russia has become the only major player to preserve its limited diplomatic presence in the capital Sanaa. The relations with the Supreme Political Council formed by the Saleh-Houthi alliance and their Government of National Salvation are maintained on the level of the charge d'affaires. However, the diplomatic representation was downgraded in November 2016 following the departure of Minister-Counselor Oleg Dremov and the appointment of Andrey Chernovol as senior counselor.

Russian diplomacy is keeping an eye on other potentially legitimate political actors in Yemen. For example, Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas, now counselor to Hadi, is a former statesman of the National Democratic Republic of Yemen and leader of the Socialist Party, with a strong grip on the southern regions. Attas visited Moscow in January. Russia also may have contacts with other politicians from the south backed by the UAE. The majority of those were linked to the Marxist party and Yemens military, which had strong ties with the Soviet Union. Many of them graduated from Soviet universities.

Thus, the Russian Federation has the potential to play the leading role in Yemens national reconciliation. A number of factors, including the military operations on the ground and the balance of forces in the Middle East, could facilitate the process.
October 9, 2017

Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Sauds first-ever official visit to Moscow made the headlines both in Russia and the Middle East. Rescheduled several times and organized in total secrecy, the four-day visit was dubbed a historic development in Russian-Saudi relations by almost all observers. The sheer size of the delegation accompanying the king, which included senior officials and CEOs, all of whom had an extensive program with Russian counterparts, speaks volumes about the seriousness of the parties intentions. The sense that one could get observing the Moscow diplomatic scene this past week was that Riyadh does not have time to nurture a relationship with Moscow and intends to secure a conflict-free partnership with the Russians by fixing all outstanding issues with them in one go.

The impression that Salman's visit was badly needed to kick-start Saudi Arabias underdeveloped relations with Russia conflicts with the fact that since he ascended to the throne in January 2015, both countries have been steadily increasing cooperation. The kings son, Mohammed bin Salman, who seems to be increasingly taking over the Russia file, has visited Russia and met with President Vladimir Putin several times over this period. It was Mohammed who signed energy and investment deals with Moscow, and it was on his watch that Russia and Saudi Arabia negotiated oil production cuts.

Indeed, Salmans visit to Moscow is not a prerequisite for building cooperation between the two governments across various sectors. In fact, this visit appears to be slightly underwhelming for observers in that it did not result in agreements that couldnt have been routinely signed. The outcome makes a stark contrast to the efforts invested in setting the right scene for Salmans trip.

This was largely a symbolic visit of the Saudi monarch to Russia whose significance should be interpreted through the historic context of the bilateral relations rather than through its political meaning for modern-day ties. After all, the key figure that Moscow now sees as the main Saudi policymaker, Prince Mohammed, did not make it to Russia and stayed in Riyadh as the acting ruler in the absence of the king. In other words, in relations with Moscow, Salman and Mohammed have swapped roles  the monarchs trip to Russia was probably significant as a diplomatic courtesy but had limited political meaning attached to it.

Moscow may have sensed these intricacies and approached the visit cautiously, too. This would explain why upon his arrival, the king was greeted by Dmitry Rogozin, the deputy prime minister in charge of defense industry, instead of the president or prime minister, which would normally be the case with guests of Salmans caliber.

Over the past two years, it seems that Riyadh and Moscow managed to compartmentalize their relationship and separate political issues that are toxic for bilateral ties, such as the war in Syria, from mutually beneficial economic cooperation. When Salman became king in 2015, he opted for a more subtle approach to dealing with Russia than his predecessor.

It was during the reign of late King Abdullah bin Abdelaziz that Moscow started making a modest comeback to the Middle East when it threw its weight behind Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian war and derailed attempts to overthrow him. This was arguably the development that erased previous efforts to normalize the relations with Abdullah, harshly criticizing Russia for its stance and essentially denying it the place that Moscow seemed to have been claiming in the Middle East. Abdullah approached Russia with ultimatums on Syria as well as with offers that Moscow seemingly couldnt have refused. In 2013, for instance, reports stated that Riyadh had offered Moscow lucrative deals in exchange for dropping support for Assad.

A reassessment of the Saudi policy on Russia was facilitated by Salman; the king prioritized economic cooperation in his relations with Moscow without attaching any political demands to it. Now that the time has come to upgrade their ties, the political disagreements that have existed for years and demands that have not been pronounced up until now are inevitably coming to the fore and overshadowing any genuine desire to focus on the economy rather than politics.

The reservations on both sides have to do chiefly with their disagreements over Iran and its expanding regional role. In the context of the ongoing bargaining over Syria, Riyadh is making overtures to Moscow demonstrating willingness to welcome Russias comeback to the Middle East that could help contain Irans growing power. Extraordinary efforts invested in the visit of the king to the Kremlin are indicative of Riyadhs attempts to position itself as a new strategic partner for Russia in the Middle East and to rid Iran of its main international backer.

Moscow, however, is willing to play this game as long as it can get political benefits, too. In this context, Saudi participation is key to Russias attempts to settle the Syrian crisis. With Russia essentially owning this crisis, the anti-Assad coalition has reconciled with the idea that the Syrian president has won the war. Riyadh is one of those powers that have significantly scaled down their support for the opposition movement, essentially recognizing Russias dominance in Syria.

The issue of how to legitimize the outcome of the Syrian conflict in Geneva is something that Russia still needs to address. Given Saudi attempts to consolidate the Syrian opposition under the brand of the High Negotiations Committee, Moscow counts on Riyadhs assistance in bringing the opposition to Geneva and advocating the political settlement of the Syrian conflict whose contours are already visible.

The Saudi role in facilitating the resolution of the Syrian conflict, however, goes far beyond the Geneva process. Assad staying in power does not necessarily mean that his regime would earn international recognition, just like there is no guarantee that the world community would be on board with the efforts to reconstruct the country.

By engaging Saudi Arabia in developing modalities of the Syrian settlement, Moscow is looking to share the financial and political responsibility for the future of the country. Russia dreads inheriting a destroyed Syria that would spell more problems for the Kremlin rather than symbolize the triumph of its diplomacy.

It seems that Salmans much-discussed visit to Moscow did not produce any tectonic changes in the relations, as was expected of it. However, it may have become a necessary step toward breaking the ice between the two countries, much of which is rooted in their historical perception of one another. It was limited in its economic and political outcomes solidifying Mohammeds reign over the Saudi relations with Russia.
October 9, 2017

A diplomatic row between Turkey and the United States continued to escalate Oct. 9, with Turkish authorities seeking a second US Consulate worker on terrorism charges. According to media reports, the suspect was refusing to leave the consulate Monday afternoon, and authorities were questioning his wife and son. Another consulate employee, Metin Topuz, was arrested last week.

Meanwhile, news of the discord between Turkey and the United States sent the Turkish lira plunging more than 6% Oct. 8 against the US dollar, although it regained much of the loss the following day. This followed the US Embassy's Oct. 8 announcement that said, Effective immediately, we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services, and Turkey's in-kind response. It is crucial to note that the first sentence of the statement expressed concerns the US government has about Turkey's commitment to the security of American personnel. This is a strong reprimand that indicates the growing lack of trust among the two longtime NATO allies.

The tit-for-tat exchange began Sept. 25 when Topuz, a Turkish national employed at the US Consulate, was taken into custody and accused of espionage and attempts to destroy Turkish constitutional order and the government. Authorities allege that he is linked to the Gulen movement, which Turkey blames for a coup attempt in July 2016. The United States has denied Turkey's demands for the extradition of the movement's leader, Fethullah Gulen, from his home in Pennsylvania.

Topuz was officially charged Oct. 4. On Oct. 5, the US Embassy in Ankara released a statement saying that officials were deeply disturbed about the arrest. It said Turkey was trying the employee in the media rather than in a court of law and using leaks from Turkish government sources. This detailed media coverage made the possibility of a fair trial impossible, the statement said.

The "leaks" began showing up a week before Topuz was even officially charged. For example, on Sept. 28, state-owned Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) news posted a detailed report. His full legal name, his alleged aliases and the specific locations of his alleged meetings with Gulenists  including room numbers  were published along with the dates of his supposed phone conservations with Gulen members. Details of his alleged crimes of spying and trying to destroy constitutional order were published widely.

"We believe these allegations to be wholly without merit," the US Embassy said, adding that the defendant deserves due legal process in accordance with Turkish laws. Turkey and the United States have long had relations that are highly beneficial to both sides, the statement noted, adding, "Baseless, anonymous allegations against our employees undermine and devalue this longstanding partnership."

The most recent moves came Oct. 9, when authorities issued an arrest warrant for the second consulate worker, whom they declined to name. The Turkish justice minister denied the US ambassador's request for a meeting, even as Turkey's Foreign Ministry summoned the US Embassy undersecretary, seeking to pressure the United States to restore visa services.

Topuz, who began working as an employee of the consulate in 1982, supposedly testified Oct. 6. According to news reports, he said that in 1993 he had assumed a position for the US Drug Enforcement Administration in Istanbul. Topuz has not denied making contact with Gulen members who were prominent officials at the time. He said he had to meet with them as part of his job.

Pro-government media outlets and hundreds of social media accounts latched onto his arrest and reported testimony as clear evidence that the July 15 attempted coup was backed by the United States, along with other troubles the government faced: the 2013 corruption probe and the Halkbank investigation. In commentaries, Topuz is frequently labeled in Turkish media as a CIA agent or spy.

Sabah Daily columnist Hilal Kaplan joined the fray, announcing Oct. 6 from her Twitter account that she had been disinvited to US Ambassador John Bass press conference because of her newspapers headlines about Topuz. In a subsequent tweet, she included an excerpt from the Turkish press in which Bass explained why certain press representatives were absent. He said, Because I dont consider them to be [media] outlets any longer, given the extent to which they deal in fiction and do not follow a set of basic journalistic ethics. Bass emphasized he was disturbed by the Topuz case because some people in the Turkish government are motivated by vengeance rather than justice.

In the meantime, pro-government media reported Kaplans canceled invitation as press censorship. Kaplan and others kept reiterating the tacit involvement of the US government in the July 15 coup attempt. State-owned TRT World reported the incident with the headline, US ambassador bans journalist over story she never wrote.

Public criticism of US Embassy personnel was a recurring theme for politicians long before the coup. For example, in January 2016, Al-Monitor reported that Ankara's mayor, a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party, asked Bass to leave Turkey or keep quiet. Pro-government Turkish medias relentless efforts to link the US government to the July 15 coup attempt are also remarkable. Just a week after the coup attempt, Daily Sabahs twitter account was running polls with loaded questions, asking things like which US institution provided the most support to the Gulenist terror group. The options available were CIA, FBI, Department of State and White House (the CIA received by far the most votes). Hence, when a US Consulate staff member was arrested, the Turkish public was ready to rejoice.

A grass-roots movement took off on social media as citizens demanded that US troops be expelled from Turkey's Incirlik Air Base. The movement seemed to be gaining ground Monday. There was also talk of holding a protest in front of the US Consulate in Istanbul.

Topuz isn't the first US Consulate employee to be arrested this year. On March 7, a translator at the consulate in Adana was charged with supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party, which Turkey and the United States consider a terrorist group.
October 6, 2017

The Donald Trump administrations approval of a long-delayed, $15 billion missile-defense sale to Saudi Arabia is widely seen as a way to thwart a rival Russian bid.

The State Department announced that it had approved the sale of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) on Oct. 6, barely a day after the Saudis signed a preliminary deal for Russias S-400 system during King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Sauds visit to Moscow. US experts say the Saudis would have great difficulty operating both.

Deploying both systems would mean having two maintenance systems that can never cross paths, and having two spare parts pipelines, said Dave Des Roches, a former Defense Department and White House official who now works at the National Defense University in Washington.

They would be seriously challenged to employ those two systems simultaneously, Des Roches told Al-Monitor. They would have profound institutional challenges in fielding the S-400, THAAD and Patriot [air and missile defense system] at the same time.

The proposed US sale, which requires congressional approval, covers 360 interceptor missiles, 44 launchers and seven radars. It is part of a $110 billion arms package that Trump announced during his visit to the kingdom in May, most of which has been under negotiation for years.

In this case, the sense that the US was dragging its feet on THAAD transfers would have been one of the issues driving the Saudi announcement, Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute, told Al-Monitor. This would be a direct response.

The Pentagon has made clear its displeasure about the proposed S-400 purchase.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have a robust and significant defense trade and military sales relationship, said Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon. We have concerns about the purchasing of the S-400 systems, as we emphasize the importance of maintaining interoperability with US and regional systems on any major defense systems procurements in order to ensure interoperability against common threats.

A State Department official said the sale supports the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of Iranian and other regional threats. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also purchased the system built by US defense firms Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, which is designed to intercept inbound ballistic missiles as they make landfall.

Riyadh already possesses US-made Patriot missile batteries, which it used to shoot down four missiles fired by Iranian-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen in March. But the S-400 would offer more flexibility, defense experts say, and can be operated with interceptors that can shoot down long-range missiles and military aircraft.
A few minutes of conversation with Glen Freeman, and you'll think he's known you all his life.

Freeman will celebrate his 77th birthday next month, and a big portion of those years were spent at Georgia-Pacific's Brewton Mill. Freeman is in his 58th year at the mill and is the longest serving Georgia-Pacific employee in the company.

"I'm fairly healthy. I feel good about what I'm doing. I feel good about the contributions I can make to the facility," Freeman said at the end of a work week. "You can go home and retire and sit down, and that's not me. I've got to keep moving."

Glen Freeman was not quite 18 when he started working at the Southern Alabama Brewton Pump and Paper Mill in 1959. 58 years later, he's still there.

Freeman is still an hourly employee, punching a clock as a bleach plant operator. He gets to meet employees coming through the door during new hire and safety orientation. But keeping names with the 450 people who work there can sometimes be a challenge, he admitted.

When Freeman started work as a utility man on Wednesday, June 24, 1959, Georgia-Pacific didn't own the mill, which was then only two years old. The same week, Hawaii voted to become the 50th state.

"I'm from a real small town with a really limited education," Freeman said. "In the 50s, unless you had the opportunity to go to college, which I didn't, you get out of school and you find a good job. I found a good job."

Raised just over the stateline in Jay, Fla., Freeman went to work at Southern Alabama's Brewton Pulp and Paper Mill and stayed long enough to get a promotion before he was drafted into the U.S. Army at age 23. He will never forget his induction day - Nov. 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

He didn't learn about it until he got off the bus at Fort Jackson, S.C., later that day.

"I was still old enough to be scared," he said. "Being in the army one whole day, you had Vietnam on the horizon - yeah, it was unsettling."

But Freeman spent two years in the military police at Fort Hood in Texas. When he got back to Brewton, he got hired back at the mill and has stayed ever since.

Freeman says the job is what gets him out of bed in the morning at 5:30. He is usually at work by 6:45 a.m. Work has obviously changed a great deal in nearly six decades, as computers track production, there are more safety regulations and a greater emphasis on environmental compliance. When he recently mentioned a dial phone to a coworker, they had no idea what he meant.

The plant has obviously changed. Earlier this year, Georgia-Pacific pumped $50 million into the mill, upgrading its paperboard machine. This came after the completion of a two-year, $388 million energy improvement project which allows the plant to generate its own energy using natural gas and biofuel residuals from the paper-making process.

Still, the mill is a source of local pride, Freeman said, and knowing that much money has been spent there gives a feeling of security. "I'm not sure if Brewton realized the impact of the mill coming back in '57," he said. "But 60 years later, it's still here."

And so is Freeman. His work ethic isn't the only thing he's committed to. His next wedding anniversary with his wife Ann will be his 50th.

"She's the love of my life, my sweetie pie," he said.

When he isn't working, he enjoys driving his 1935 Ford pickup street rod, and his 1932 Ford convertible hot rod. But these are "slow vehicles," he said, which he drives to car shows.

As long as his health continues, "every day is a holiday," he said. But Freeman doesn't want to stay if he can't contribute to the company.

"I've never not had a job," he said. "I've never not made some money. I don't know if I want to try not working. I'm a little bit scared. Walking away would be an unknown for me, and I don't know if I like the unknown."
A Birmingham brewery brought home a national honor at this year's Great American Beer Festival.

The Brewers Association presents the competition each year, and it's the largest commercial beer competition in the world. TrimTab Brewery is the only Alabama Brewery to win a prize this year.

The TrimTab Paradise Now took home the bronze prize in the Fruit Wheat Beer category. Minnesota and Illinois breweries took home the top honors in this category, for which there was 90 entries total.

"This has really been what we're striving for: to make the best beer we can and be competitive on a national level, even if we're just focused on the regional level for now," Owner Harris Stewart said.

Paradise Now began as a seasonal beer at TrimTab, but the brewery added it as a core offering after sales blew up. The team began selling it in cans last year, and it quickly became its best seller, even being recognized as the second-highest of any new craft seasonal brand.

"(Paradise Now) means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. This beer has been something that has broadened people's horizon's in a couple of different directions. Some people don't think they like sour beers, but finds this one a little more approachable, or for people who don't think they like beer at all. We've got some wine drinkers who love it," Stewart said. "It's broken a lot of barriers and boundaries for a lot of people, in terms of what people preconceive to be their preferences."
A 13-year-old male was shot in Gate City on Saturday night, according to Birmingham police.

The shooting happened at about 9 p.m. in the 7500 block of 64th Court Way South, said Sgt. Bryan Shelton of the Birmingham Police Department.

The victim was transported to UAB Hospital, underwent surgery and was in stable condition, Shelton said.

No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, he said.
The 32-year-old suspect in the deadly rifle shooting of another man in May has been indicted.

A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Brodrick Lewayne Morgan on Sept. 22, according to recently-released court records. He is charged in the May 26 slaying of Drakkar Fontez Avery Christian in Irondale.

Morgan also is facing unrelated charges in connection with a robbery and shooting in Birmingham.

The Irondale shooting happened about 9:15 p.m. that Friday outside of a home in the 1500 block of Monticello Road on a report of someone shot. Irondale Det. Sgt. Michael Mangina said when they arrived on the scene, they found the 26-year-old Christian wounded in the back yard. He had been shot with a rifle.

Christian was rushed to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:50 p.m. Mangina said a dispute erupted at a house where two sisters live with their mother. Detectives learned that Morgan is the father of a baby belonging to one of the sisters. He went to the home upset because he thought that Christian was seeing the mother of his child. Authorities said the victim was not romantically involved with the woman. "This was just absolutely senseless,'' Mangina previously said.

An argument ensued and Christian was shot. Authorities said the two men didn't know each other. Morgan turned himself in at the Jefferson County Jail the following Sunday. His bond in the killing is set at $250,000.

Morgan also is charged by Birmingham police in a March 26. In that case, documents show, Morgan shot another man during the course of a robbery of $500. He also is charged with being in possession of an altered Ruger9C .9mm weapon.

A trial date has not yet been set in the murder case. He remains in the Jefferson County Jail on a charge of failure to appear on a previous felony case.
Hurricane Nate was easier on Alabama than it could have been.

While damage has been reported across the state from flooding and wind and thousands lost power, it appears the state has been spared the full fury of the storm, which made landfall early Sunday in Mississippi as a Category 1 hurricane.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson told AL.com he had seen "amazingly little damage" during a tour of Mobile Sunday morning. "I think we're blessed," he said.

Nate as of Monday afternoon has been ruled post-tropical, and what's left of it was located in Pennsylvania.

Nate did generate multiple tornado warnings on Saturday in the state, and the National Weather Service is taking a look at damage from those storms to see if tornadoes touched down.

The weather service in Mobile has already done a preliminary damage survey on the storm that hit West Mobile on Saturday and said it was an EF-0 tornado.

The weather service in Birmingham did more surveys in Shelby, Chilton, Bibb, Lowndes and Autauga counties and found evidence of four other tornadoes.

The tornado in West Mobile had maximum winds of 75 mph and was on the ground for 0.3 miles.

It touched down near Portside Court in West Mobile and lifted near the intersection of Airport Boulevard and Border Circle West, according to the weather service.

That's the storm that knocked down and twisted a large billboard near Airport Boulevard.

Looks like a billboard got blown off. This is Airport Blvd just East of Schillinger. Photo by Amanda Milner. pic.twitter.com/WPWVmVBwxv  Michael White (@michaelwhitewx) October 7, 2017

The storm also is blamed for blowing out car windows at a dealership and damaging windows of the building itself. Another building nearby also suffered some damage.

Here are rain totals from 7 a.m. Oct. 7 to 7 a.m. Oct. 8. (NWS)

The weather service in Birmingham found two EF-1 tornadoes and two EF-0s in central Alabama from storms that hit late Saturday as Nate's first feeder bands crossed into the area.

The strongest of the four struck near Autaugaville in Autauga County and had peak winds of 105 mph. It touched down at 7:31 and was on the ground for only two minutes. It went almost four miles in that time but caused only damage to trees along its path.

The second EF-1 tornado touched down at 8:47 p.m. Saturday in Chilton County and had peak winds of 100 mph. It began two miles from the Chilton County Motor Speedway and was on the ground for six miles. It was 150 yards wide at its worst.

It also did mostly tree damage, but one of those trees fell on a house. No one was injured.

The third tornado was an EF-0 with 85 mph winds that touched down in central Lowndes County just before 7 p.m. Saturday. It was on the ground for almost three miles and was 400 yards wide at its peak. It did mostly tree damage.

The fourth tornado was also an EF-0 in Chilton County near Fletcher. It touched down about 8:20 p.m. Saturday and had maximum winds of 60 mph and was on the ground for three miles, lifting near Maplesville. It did sporadic damage to trees.

In addition to tornadoes, Nate helped to break a few records on Sunday.

Montgomery broke a long-standing record for daily rainfall on Sunday. Its 2.21 inches broke the record of 2.01 inches set in 1894.

And a record was set farther north as well. Muscle Shoals had its lowest high temperature on record for Oct. 8. Its high of 69 degrees tied the record set in 1959.

As far as Nate's winds go, the weather service in Mobile reported a gust of 60 mph at its office after Nate made landfall in Mississippi.

Here are some other wind reports relayed by the weather service in Birmingham

For rain totals, some of the higher amounts reported by the weather service in Mobile so far are 7.52 inches in Red Level and 6.83 inches in Foley.

Here are rain reports from central Alabama from the weather service in Birmingham.
Alabama has never shied away from strange commemorations - after all, the state does have three Confederate-related days on its official holiday list. But Fraternal Day? Yes, it's a thing in Alabama.

The second Monday in October is commemorated in most places as Columbus Day, a time set aside to recognize Christopher Columbus and his journey to the new world. Controversy around the holiday has grown in recent years as more states and cities opt to replace the day honoring the Italian explorer with a time to honor Native American culture.

Alabama is one of those places, adding "American Indian Heritage Day" in 2000 alongside "Columbus Day" as the name of today's holiday. Alabama does that one better, however, including the lesser known "Fraternal Day" to the list.

Celebrated yearly alongside Columbus Day, Fraternal Day is a holiday unique to Alabama. It traces its roots to 1915 when it was celebrated in San Francisco though later efforts to make it a national holiday failed.

It didn't fail in Alabama, however.

In 1915, the Alabama Legislature jumped on the Fraternal Day bandwagon, with the focus of the holiday placed on traditional fraternal organizations, such as the Masons, but also on veterans' groups and other clubs. The holiday was originally set on the second Thursday of October but later moved to coincide with Columbus Day.

Alabama is the only state in the country to celebrate Fraternal Day.

One holiday, many names

While Alabama is unique in its Columbus Day/American Indian Heritage Day/Fraternal Day combo, a growing list of states are putting their own spin on the holiday.

Indigenous Peoples' Day - a time to recognize the first inhabitants of the land that later became America - is a popular alternative.

Minnesota, Vermont, Alaska and South Dakota celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, as do the cities of Los Angeles; Seattle; Minneapolis; Denver; Phoenix; Portland; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Salt Lake City; and Austin, Texas.
More than a dozen wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through California wine country Monday, destroying at least 1,500 homes and businesses and sending an estimated 20,000 people on a headlong flight to safety through smoke and flames.



The state's fire chief called the damage estimates conservative and said the fires were burning throughout an eight-county swath of Northern California, including Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties.



Numerous people had been hurt and some were missing, although no estimates were immediately available, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ken Pimlott.



Mandatory evacuations were ordered after the blazes broke out late Sunday. Long lines formed at gas stations when many families heeded a middle-of-the-night call to get out.



"It was an inferno like you've never seen before," said Marian Williams, who caravanned with neighbors before dawn as one of the wildfires reached the vineyards and ridges at her small Sonoma County town of Kenwood.



Williams could feel the heat of her fire through the car as she fled.



"Trees were on fire like torches," she said.



With downed trees or flames blocking some routes, Sonoma County residents struggled to figure out what roads to take.



Fires also burned just to the east in the Napa County as well as in Yuba, Butte and Nevada counties -- all north of the state capital. The firefighting agency Cal Fire tweeted that as many as 8,000 homes were threatened in Nevada County, which lies on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada.



Napa County Fire Chief Barry Biermann said there were no reports of injuries or deaths, although the fires had burned more than 68 square miles (176 sq. kilometers). Crews had not yet been able to contain a fire heading toward downtown Napa.



"Right now, with these conditions, we can't get ahead of this fire and do anything about the forward progress," Biermann said. He said there were seven large fires burning in Lake, Sonoma and Napa counties.



Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties.



Smoke was thick in San Francisco, 60 miles (96 kilometers) south of the Sonoma County fire.



John Dean was driving to his Sonoma County home early Monday when he saw a house on fire along the road. Soon he saw more houses engulfed in flames.



"I mean blazing, falling down on fire," he said.



Dean sped to his home in Kenwood, alerted neighbors and fled to the town of Sonoma. He was one of hundreds of evacuees who streamed into a 24-hour Safeway market overnight, while authorities set up an official evacuation center.



Maureen McGowan was house-sitting for a brother near Kenwood, and said both of the homes on his property were on fire when she left. At the Safeway, she pointed to her feet, still in slippers. She had fled so fast that she hadn't put on her shoes.



Officials did not yet have a count on how many properties were affected, either by the fire directly or by evacuations, said Belia Ramos, chairwoman of the Napa County Board of Supervisors.



"We're focusing on making evacuations and trying to keep people safe. We are not prepared to start counting," she said shortly after sunrise.



The "tremendous" wind gusts were making the fire unpredictable, she said. "It's something that we're having to be very cautious about."



Ann Dubay, a spokeswoman for the Sonoma County Emergency Operations Center, said the area where the largest fire started was relatively rural but the flames "went through many, many neighborhoods," and authorities did not know how many structures were gone.



Emergency lines were inundated with callers reporting smoke, prompting officials to ask that the public "only use 911 if they see actual unattended flames, or are having another emergency."



Business owner Andy Lahiji stood before a burned-out warehouse where he said he had lost his inventory of furniture and other property. He said it took firetrucks ages to arrive Monday morning.



"They said, 'We have so many other places to go, you have to wait.' And then when they came, they had only a couple of guys," he told the station. "I feel very sad. I'm glad nobody got hurt. Hopefully insurance takes care of it."



The National Weather Service said widespread wind gusts between 35 mph and 50 mph were observed in the north San Francisco Bay region and isolated spots hit 70 mph. The winds were expected to subside at midday.



Community centers, the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and other local centers were opened for evacuees.
One after another, the women who gathered for a prayer rally on the Mall on Monday said that when they decided to travel to Washington for this event, they had in mind another assembly of women in the same place - the Women's March on the day following the presidential inauguration, which drew massive crowds of protesters in pussycat hats.

Those women marchers didn't stand for them, the Christian women said, on Monday.

"For years, the feminists lied to us," Christian author Lisa Bevere shouted from the stage, as the women gathered on the Mall raised their hands in praise.

Many spoke about their reasons for coming to a women's prayer rally on a muddy day on the Mall: their desire to bolster women in their God-given roles as wives and mothers, their belief that women's activism should make outlawing abortions a priority, and their faith in the power of prayer to change the country's culture.

Lou Engle, who has been organizing revivals and giant prayer rallies for decades, planned a day specifically for women to conclude his four-day event on the Mall this week. As the day dawned rainy and the gravel paths to the event turned to mud, the turnout was modest. All the women (and some men) gathered in front of the huge stage had ample room to form spontaneous dance circles, jump up and down to the amplified worship music, and twirl multicolored scarves.

For Linda Shebesta, of Burleson, Texas, it was a day to pray alongside the family members of three generations who traveled to Washington with her. "We believe our nation was founded as a Christian nation. The enemy is trying to take it in another direction, not Christianity," she said. She saw lots of proof of Satan at work during the Obama administration, especially the Supreme Court's ruling authorizing same-sex marriage nationwide, she said. She's relieved to see the Trump administration undoing many of Obama's policies.

"We believe God put Donald Trump in," Shebesta said.

Most of the speakers in the first hours of the all-day rally stayed away from politics, focusing instead on personal stories of mothers' prayers for their children and biblical stories about women and men. Engle and a group of female preachers led the crowd in ecstatic worship - bringing them to their knees, where many wept in anguished prayer and some spoke in tongues, and then to their feet, where they lifted their hands in the air and shouted the names of children and loved ones whose salvation they were praying for.

But asked why they came to the event, the first thing that one attendee after another said was that she wanted to be part of a different sort of women's movement than the massive anti-Trump January protest march. "We still love and honor men at the same time. We value life. We don't believe in abortion," Jubilee Underwood, 32, said, comparing the Women's March that she disdained to this event that led her to travel from her home in Alaska. "We're not fighting for women's rights. We're just fighting for our country to be unified."

Ruth Freeman of Franklin, Tennessee, brought up her discomfort with the pink pussycat hats that filled cities around the world in January. Freeman reasoned: If men aren't supposed to think about women just for their anatomy, why should women make their genitalia central to their message? "I want to be seen for who I am," she said, "not for my body parts."

The speakers from the stage made the same comparison between the two events. "We don't need to be empowered by marches and speeches," Gloria Engle, a relative of Lou Engle, said. "What we need is to be empowered in who we are as daughters of the living God."

Toward the back of the crowd, Becky Little sat on her scooter, staring straight ahead at the U.S. Capitol.

"It's an interesting time, because the most unlikely person, in my opinion, won the presidency," she said. She had been so disgusted by the nation's gridlocked politics that she found it hard to vote at all, but she still remained patriotic enough to wear a gauzy American flag vest today. That was how she felt about Trump: he concerned her, but she also hoped that God might move him to work for a Christian purpose.

"The guy's made plenty of mistakes, but everyone has. I think this is an opportunity," she said. And she thought that this prayer rally, which she drove three hours from Gloucester, Virginia, to attend, might help move the president's heart. "I feel like I was born for this. I was born to be here in this moment. All my steps have been leading me up to this."

As Little spoke, Lou Engle asked the crowd to lay hands on each other, and hundreds of people in colorful ponchos wriggled their hands out of the plastic sacks to wrap their arms around strangers. Little stared at them, and then at the Capitol dome, in wonder. "I mean, look at this," she said.
Three Palestinian women were targeted for a strip search simply because they were Arab, their lawyer argues.

Jerusalem  Three young Palestinian women are suing two Israeli airlines, El Al and Arkia, for an intrusive body search, alleging racial profiling by Israeli security personnel in Belgrade Airport before a Tel Aviv-bound flight.

The three women, who are Palestinian citizens of Israel, told Al Jazeera that the body search  which took place last October  went well beyond a pat-down and amounted to sexual assault. The incident exceeded two hours, during which the women say they were threatened with being denied permission to board the plane if they did not agree to a strip search.

The defence has until October 20 to answer to the charges, after which the court will appoint a trial date in Tel Aviv.

I overheard the chief security officer tell [a female officer] that if I did not take off my bra I will not get on the plane, one of the plaintiffs, who asked that her name not be published, told Al Jazeera. I couldnt speak. It was a shock. I completely undressed the upper part of my body. It was painful.

READ MORE: Israels stop-and-frisk law blatant racism

Awni Bana, the lawyer representing the three women, told Al Jazeera that his clients were subjected to a strip search simply because they were Arab.

The search was unwarranted, Bana said. The women were not acting in a suspicious manner and there was no intelligence suggesting that the women posed a security threat.

Illegal under international law, racial and ethnic profiling is defined by the United Nations as reliance by law enforcement, security and border control personnel on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin as a basis for subjecting persons to detailed searches, identity checks and investigations.

The trip to Belgrade was meant to be a short break for the three young women before they resumed their Masters studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. They bought their tickets from Arkia Airlines, but El Al handles security checks for all Israeli airlines, including flights bound to Israel.

The women say they were the only passengers pinpointed for extra screening. One of the women fainted during the strip search.

John Coyne, an expert on border security, told Al Jazeera that strip searches should be a security measure of last resort and should be underpinned by an evidence-based assessment that on the balance of probabilities, the person is concealing something that represents a threat. It should also be undertaken in a respectful manner that seeks to protect the subjects modesty and by a person of the same gender.

In a response to questions from Al Jazeera, El Al said in a statement that its security procedures were in accordance with all relevant laws and regulations, noting: Every action taken by any El Al security employee is closely monitored and debriefed. It goes without saying, that El Al does its very best to keep every security procedure respectful and tolerant.

However, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), an Israeli NGO active in the defence of human rights, noted that the policy of ethnic profiling by Israeli airlines is not new.

ACRI lawyer Shatha Amer told Al Jazeera that the NGO has been in the process of gathering testimonies of passengers subjected to discriminatory practices at Ben Gurion Airport, with an ultimate goal of going to court to argue for a policy change.

By default, you are put under suspicion if you are an Arab, Amer said.

READ MORE: Its okay to be racist in Israel

In 2007, ACRI filed a legal petition asking the Supreme Court to rule against ethnic profiling at airports and arguing for the implementation of uniform and equal criteria for all security processes.

[The essential issue is whether it should] be permitted to sweepingly declare a minority group of Israeli citizens as a security threat, ACRIs petition stated. The group added during a court hearing on the matter: A democratic country cannot consent to the humiliation of 20 percent of its citizens.

But in 2015, Israels high court annulled the petition, effectively avoiding a ruling on the practice of ethnic profiling. The high court said that new measures adopted at Israeli airports, which allowed for the screening of travellers away from the public eye, made it unnecessary to rule on the matter.

A hold baggage screening system was introduced two years ago at Ben Gurion Airport, providing an automatic security check system for inspection of passenger luggage, according to the Israel Airports Authoritys website.
More than 50 cities and states across the US have renamed Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.

At least four US cities are joining dozens of states and cities across the US that have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day as the tug of war between rival views of the countrys history stretches on.

The move by Austin, Texas, Salt Lake City, Utah and Los Angeles and San Luis, California comes as part of a growing movement to change Columbus Day  celebrated on the second Monday in October  to Indigenous Peoples Day as a way to recognise the oppression of Native Americans and celebrate their contributions.

Its very important to get rid of Columbus Day, to get rid of any celebration of Columbus because he was not a hero, said Mahtowin Munro, the lead organiser for Indigenous Peoples Day Massachusetts, an organisation campaigning to get statewide recognition.

OPINION: Christopher Columbus  The myth that keeps on giving

We know for a fact that [Columbus] and his men killed, raped, enslaved thousands of Indigenous people. It also gives a completely wrong impression to say that Columbus discovered America; as Indigenous people, we often say that he invaded America, Munro told Al Jazeera.

We were not sitting here waiting to be discovered by anybody.

In addition to the city of Los Angeles, LA County has also passed a resolution this year that will replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.

Hilda Solis, who authored the LA County motion, slated to take effect in 2019, saw the change as a way to acknowledge the contributions of Native Americans.

Its never too late to do the right thing, Solis told Al Jazeera.

My action was about publicly recognising our true and complete history: that Americas ancestors, for centuries, oppressed certain minority groups, she added.

While we cannot change the past, we can realise and remember the pain that millions suffered throughout our nations history. We can also recall the tremendous achievements of the original inhabitants of our continent.

Italian-American heritage

Columbus Day, celebrated on the second Monday of October, was officially recognised in 1937 by President Franklin D Roosevelt.

He called Columbus a brave navigator and praised the promise which Columbus discovery gave to the world.

The day is celebrated most widely by the Italian-American community, which marked Columbus Day long before it became a national holiday, and sees Columbus as a cultural icon.

In 2016, the Order Sons of Italy in America started a petition for an official capital luncheon and White House evening reception in recognition and endorsement of Columbus Day and the contributions of the 25 million Americans of Italian descent.

The group said in the petition that the holiday represents not only the accomplishments and contributions of Italian Americans but also the indelible spirit of risk, sacrifice and self-reliance of a great Italian icon that defines the United States of America.

Recognising Columbus place in Italian-American culture, the motion passed in LA County also took steps to celebrate and recognise the positive contributions of Italian-Americans to [US] culture.

My motion also designates October 12 [the date of Columbus landing in America] of each year as Italian American Heritage Day in the County of Los Angeles, Solis said.

Celebrating Native American culture

Berkeley, California was the first city to officially recognise Indigenous Peoples Day in 1991. Since then, more than 50 cities, states and universities have followed suit.

However, the idea first emerged much earlier in 1977 at the first International NGO Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Early campaigning saw Indigenous Peoples Day as a way to acknowledge the suffering of Native Americans, but, recently, the tone has become more celebratory.

There were two strategies, Professor Walter Fleming, head of the Native American Studies department at Montana State University, told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Australia Day, a day of mourning for Aboriginals

One is to talk about the legacy of colonisation and genocide and the spread of diseases; the other is to use the occasion to take a more positive approach, talk about the importance of diversity and the richness that cultures can bring. You want to have people feel like they can be a part of that.

For Utah Senator Jim Dabakis, who led a failed attempt to get Indigenous Peoples Day recognised by the state legislature in 2016, the issue is also a local one.

The connection for Utah is much more about the 50,000 indigenous people who are living in Utah and the ancestors who were here for thousands of years, rather than Christopher Columbus who never even visited Utah, never came close.

Its a much better thing to celebrate the people who are here, rather than this man with a chequered history, he told Al Jazeera.

The road ahead

For Native Americans today, the rebranding of Columbus Day is more than just a symbolic act.

Federal Indian policy is built on the false Doctrine of Discovery, and its been part of it since the early 1800s, said Montana State Universitys Fleming, referring to the 1493 decree by Pope Alexander VI, which gave Spain exclusive rights to all land discovered by Columbus as the sponsors of his voyage.

Most indigenous people dont accept the idea that America was discovered by Columbus, Fleming said.

READ MORE: Indigenous groups launch protests to resist Canada Day

Those who advocated changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day argue it is also about educating non-Native Americans about the history of the US before the arrival of settlers.

We often say Indigenous peoples are erased in this region because many non-Native people do not seem to realise that we are still here, nor do they acknowledge the Indigenous history, Munro said.

Through Indigenous Peoples Day, we can focus the conversation away from the genocide that was started by Columbus and his men, and instead to the ongoing resilience and resistance of Indigenous people throughout the Americas.
Future of reconciliation unclear as Hamas says disarming is not up for discussion, despite President Abbas demands.

As Fatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian factions, strive to achieve national reconciliation, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a demand that may throw a wrench into the negotiations.

Last week, Abbas called on Hamas to surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority. The two sides are slated to meet in Cairo on Tuesday for Egyptian-brokered negotiations.





The demand comes after more than a decade of division between Abbas Fatah party, which controls the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, and its rival Hamas, which has de facto governed the besieged Gaza Strip since it took control of the coastal enclave after a 2007 putsch.

Hamas has sculpted itself as the only legitimate resistance to Israels ongoing occupation. However, speaking to Egyptian television last week, Abbas called for one state, one regime, one law and one weapon.

I wont accept the reproduction [in Gaza] of the Hezbollah experience in Lebanon, Abbas said, referring to the Lebanese armed group and political organisation that controls much of the countrys south.

Last month, Hamas announced the dissolution of its administrative committee, the political body that has administered Gaza as a result of the 2007 split.

The group accepted the key conditions set by Abbas and expressed willingness to hold parliamentary elections in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Last week, Hamas said that a National Consensus Government had officially taken over the governance of Gaza.

The demand to disarm may prove to be a sticking point in the reconciliation drive, the latest talks after 10 years of failed attempts to achieve national unity.

READ MORE: Hamas ready to reconcile with Fatah, say reports

Speaking to the local Maan News Agency, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem insisted that the groups weapons are not up for discussion, insisting that the resistances weapons are legal.

They are here to protect Palestinians and free their lands [from Israeli occupation], Qassem said. Therefore, this should not be an issue to discuss.

Tariq Dana, policy adviser at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, does not expect Hamas to change its tune anytime soon. It is difficult to imagine Hamas giving up its weapons for the sake of reconciliation, he told Al Jazeera.

In truth, if this happens, it will not lead to a genuine reconciliation [agreement] but will rather reinforce Fatahs dominance and autocratic governance over the Palestinian political spectrum and institutions.

In 2006, Hamas swept the Palestinian legislative elections, clenching 44.5 percent of the vote and securing 74 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Following that vote, squabbling between Fatah and Hamas prevented the two from establishing a coalition.

Abbas and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), which was dominated by Fatah, subsequently attempted to unseat the Hamas-led government.

Al Jazeeras Palestine Papers investigation later revealed that MI6, the British intelligence agency, had originally drawn up the plans for the PA to remove Hamas. Meanwhile, the US helped train and build up the Presidential Guard, armed forces loyal to Abbas.

In 2007, tensions boiled over into armed confrontations in Gaza, with Hamas effectively evicting Fatah and taking control of the besieged coastal enclave.

That same year, with the help of Egypt, Israel imposed its ongoing blockade of Gaza, effectively regulating the flow of people, goods, medicines, foods and humanitarian supplies into and out of the territory.

Since December 2008, Israel has carried out three major military offensives against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

During the latest war, which started in July 2014 and spanned 51 days, Israeli forces killed more than 2,200 people, most of them civilians.

Earlier this month, the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR) conducted a poll that found two-thirds of Palestinians believe Abbas should resign, while half of those polled consider the Palestinian Authority a burden on the Palestinian people.

If Hamas lays down its weapons, it will no longer exist as a liberation movement, and therefore it will lose the popularity and legitimacy that lie at the core of its power. by Tariq Dana, policy adviser at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network

Al-Shabakas Dana explained that much of the legitimacy Hamas has gained in the eyes of Palestinians was rooted in their disillusionment with the Palestinian Authoritys unsuccessful negotiations with Israel.

Dana said: Hamas gained respect among large segments of the Palestinians because of its militant activities against the Israeli occupation.

He added: If Hamas lays down its weapons, it will no longer exist as a liberation movement, and therefore it will lose the popularity and legitimacy that lie at the core of its power.

Mukhaimer Abu Saada, a political science professor at Gazas al-Azhar University, estimated that most Palestinians in Gaza, including those who do not support Hamas, are opposed to disarming the group.

They see whats happening to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank  the Israeli army carrying out raids every night and extremist settlers attacking civilians  and they dont want the same thing to happen here, he told Al Jazeera.

My hunch is that the majority of Palestinians in Gaza are against Hamas or any resistance group disarming because we are still under occupation and siege, he added. Gaza could be the target of more Israeli aggression at any moment.

But for Abbas and the Palestinian Authority, allowing Hamas to hang on to its weapons could translate into a repeat of the 2007 fighting that led to the latters takeover of Gaza.

READ MORE: All options are open  Will Gaza join the uprising?

Explaining that he does not expect Hamas to agree to abandon arms, Abu Saada predicted that the issue would be put off until future discussions.

Its a very complicated issue, he said. The issue will need very deep discussion between Hamas and Fatah.

Tholfikar Sweirjo, a member of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestines political committee in Gaza, said that the Palestinian left fully supports the reconciliation efforts.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Sweirjo argued that Gaza is bound for yet another war with Israel if a political solution is not reached to ease the suffering of the besieged population.

If peace prevails, Hamas will agree to allow its weapons to be under the control of the unity government, he said.

But if reconciliation efforts fail and another confrontation breaks out with Israel, he expects al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, to maintain its weapons and conduct resistance.

Each day that passes without a resolution between Fatah and Hamas, Sweirjo added, the situation in Gaza grows increasingly catastrophic.

Against this backdrop, more than 60 percent of Palestinians are pessimistic about the reconciliation talks, according to the PCPSR poll.

If there is no progress, we are heading for a military confrontation that will be different than [previous wars], he concluded.
West African country goes to the polls to vote for a new president and 73 members for their House of Representatives.

Liberians will go to the polls on Tuesday to elect a successor to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is stepping down after 12 years in office.

President Sirleaf, 78, served two six-year terms in power  the constitutionally mandated limit.

Sirleaf, the continents first female president, will be the first democratically elected leader in 73 years to hand power over to another elected leader.

Twenty candidates are running for the countrys top job. Liberians will also elect 73 legislators to the House of Representatives (lower chamber), also for six years. No poll will be held for the Senate (upper house) this year.

Official provisional results are expected within two days, but the electoral body has until October 25 to issue its final confirmation of the results and to announce a runoff if necessary for the presidency.

The House of Representatives uses a first-past-the-post system, where the representative with the highest number of votes is elected.
Fifty years ago, on October 9, 1967, Ernesto Che Guevara  Argentine-born doctor and Cuban revolutionary hero  was executed in Bolivia as part of a US-orchestrated plot to rid the world of his pernicious anti-imperialist influence.

Given that Guevara is as popular and symbolic as ever half a century later, it seems that the US government can safely file that project under the category Oops.





Of course, the Americans have long denied responsibility for the killing  a claim neatly dismantled by American lawyers Michael Ratner and Michael Steven Smith in their book Who Killed Che? How the CIA Got Away with Murder.

Cuban-American CIA agent Felix Rodriguez, present at Guevaras demise in the Bolivian hamlet of La Higuera, has helped promote the US line that the fatal decision was all the Bolivians doing.

Rodriguez has, furthermore, vociferously objected to the romanticisation of a man he says was nothing more than an assassin who enjoyed killing people  a pretty rich allegation coming from someone who also volunteered to assassinate Fidel Castro and who, Ratner and Smith note, has referred to the Dominican Republics former blood-drenched dictator Rafael Trujillo as a so-called tyrant.

The most complete human being

Writing in the Washington Post in 1997, documentary filmmaker Saul Landau described Guevara as a tough disciplinarian who impassively dispatched traitors [but] also refused to let enemy wounded go untreated  a man who built hospitals and schoolrooms, whose love for the unknown masses drove him to entirely sacrifice his own physical comfort in pursuit of a more just society.

French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre praised the guerrilla leader as not only an intellectual, but also the most complete human being of our age.

READ MORE: Che Guevara and Fidel Castro  Revolutionary Friends

Yet the assassin card continues to be played by plenty of folks, many of them with dodgy right-wing track records.

When some years ago it was discovered that US-based Urban Outfitters had decided to appropriate Ches image for a T-shirt and other merchandise  since we all know US clothing corporations fervently support anti-capitalist revolution  the company CEO was harangued by a dubious human rights group for lionising a murderer with a bloody ideology.

Never mind that Urban Outfitters and far too many other such entities have also been known to mass-market products emblazoned with the American flag  a symbol of a system that sort of takes the cake in terms of ideological bloodiness.

Che wasn't superhuman, but he was more than himself - which is perhaps why they've never really been able to kill him. by

At the time of Guevaras murder, for example, the US was engaged in a spectacularly bloody affair known as the Vietnam War, in which up to several million people were ultimately eliminated.

As if that werent enough, The New Yorker reported last year that [s]ince the end of the war, in 1975, more than forty thousand Vietnamese have been killed by U.X.O. [unexploded ordnance].

Its worth emphasising, too, that Guevaras abhorrence of Yankee imperialism didnt materialise out of nowhere. He personally witnessed the 1954 CIA coup in Guatemala against the democratically elected president, Jacobo Arbenz, who had stepped on the toes of the US banana company, United Fruit, and other enemies of Guatemalan democracy.

In the ensuing decades-long civil war  in which the US, as usual played, no minor role  some 200,000 people were massacred.

Guevara went on to confront US power at various international nodes. In Cuba, he helped overthrow former US dictatorial buddy Fulgencio Batista and with him the prevailing arrangement of gleefully corrupt oppression.

READ MORE: Cubas changes  what would Che say?

In Congo, as John Gerassi wrote in the Los Angeles Times, Guevara endeavoured to help the remnants of the nationalist movement of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, who had been murdered with the connivance of Belgian and CIA agents.

In Bolivia, alas, the empire caught up with him. Gone was the man who had once declared, with the risk of appearing ridiculous, that the true revolutionary is guided by strong feelings of love.

The real danger

In the decades since Ches death, the US has proceeded with business as usual, wreaking havoc across the globe on behalf of elite capital.

That the country is sorely lacking in the human emotions department should be clear from the health of the arms industry and the physical and economic punishment regularly inflicted upon human bodies from Afghanistan to Mexico.

Some helpful sound bites from the US political establishment shed additional ideological light  such as the response of Madeleine Albright, former US ambassador to the United Nations and secretary of state, to a question about reports that half a million children had died thanks to US sanctions on Iraq: We think the price is worth it.

To be sure, some strong feelings of love would come in particularly handy right about now  if only to assure ourselves that reality doesnt have to be what US President Donald Trump says it is.

In a final letter Guevara wrote to his children, to be given to them in the event he was killed, he advised: Remember that the Revolution is what is important and that each one of us, on our own, is worthless.

And while his executioners certainly werent under the impression that Guevara on his own was worthless, the real danger he posed to the capitalist order, in fact, lay in his example of interhuman solidarity.

In the end, Che wasnt superhuman, but he was more than himself  which is perhaps why theyve never really been able to kill him.

Belen Fernandez is the author of The Imperial Messenger: Thomas Friedman at Work, published by Verso. She is a contributing editor at Jacobin Magazine.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
ABC News(LAS VEGAS) -- The FBI was at the Mesquite, Nevada, home of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock on Sunday, executing a new search after interviewing Paddock's girlfriend, the local police chief told ABC News.



Mesquite Police Chief Troy Tanner said the FBI contacted the Mesquite PD for assistance in executing the new federal search warrant on the house where Paddock lived with his girlfriend, Marilou Danley.



Tanner said he was told the FBI wanted to take another pass at searching the house after they interviewed Danley, and they were there this afternoon, conducting searches and photographing and processing evidence.



Paddock killed 58 people and injured hundreds of others in a shooting rampage from his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, when he opened fire on 22,000 concertgoers attending the third day of the Route 91 Harvest Festival along the Las Vegas Strip last Sunday.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Six-month old girl clobbered by security agents among those killed, says Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

At least 37 people, including three children, were killed in the protests that followed the announcement of the elections result in Kenya, a local human rights group said.

Some of the deaths were caused by police using live bullets while others were killed by police bludgeoning using clubs, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said in a report on Monday.

Among the dead was a six-month-old baby girl who was clobbered by armed security agents whilst under the care of its mother in Kisumu County, the report said.

Almost all the victims of the violence were killed in opposition strongholds in the slums of the capital, Nairobi, or the western part of the country.

In August, Fred Matiangi, acting interior minister, denied security services used live bullets or excessive force in dealing with protesters and blamed the violence on criminal elements.

Im not aware of anyone who has been killed by a live bullet fired by a police officer anywhere in this country, Matiangi said.

WATCH: Will election annulment strengthen Kenyas democracy?

The protests started after the electoral body announced incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner of the August 8 election.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga said the election was rigged and claimed he won the vote.

Last month, the countrys Supreme Court declared the election results invalid, null and void.

The Nairobi-based court said the electoral board committed irregularities and illegalities during the vote, harming the integrity of the election.

More protests

Meanwhile, on Monday, hundreds of opposition supporters took to the streets of Nairobi calling for electoral officials to be sacked.

The demonstrators were led by opposition politician James Orengo who said they will not back down in their demands for electoral body reforms.

We will only participate in an election where we know the outcome will be free and fair, Orengo told the opposition supporters.

Last week, security forces fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.

Rallies were also reported in several other cities.

Odinga has vowed not to participate in the October 26 presidential election rerun if opposition demands for an election commission overhaul are not met.
Syrias war is not over yet but the world might want to start planning for it. Many countries are already preparing to cash in, especially neighbouring Lebanon.

Syrias war is not over, but the world has already started planning the reconstruction.

Many countries are already preparing to cash in, especially neighbouring Lebanon.

Focus is already shifting to the reconstruction of towns and cities, reduced to rubble in the conflict.

Al Jazeeras Imtiaz Tyab reports from the port of Tripoli, Lebanon.
Visa suspension was a reaction to Ankaras Syria policy and the arrest of a US embassy employee, Turkish official says.

The US move to suspend visa services in Turkey was motivated both by Washingtons concern over Ankaras Syria policy, and by last weeks arrest of a US embassy employee who allegedly had information on American involvement in the 2016 failed coup attempt, a senior Turkish official told Al Jazeera.

The US mission in Turkey announced on Sunday that it had stopped all non-immigrant visa services amid concerns over the security of US mission and personnel. Ankara reiterated reciprocally hours later, using similar language.

The development is unprecedented between the two NATO allies and represents a major fallout in bilateral relations.

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Turkish authorities last week detained Metin Topuz, a Turkish citizen working for the US consulate in Istanbul. He was accused of having links to the organisation of Fethullah Gulen, an exiled religious leader and businessman based in the US and wanted in Turkey. Ankara accuses Gulen of masterminding the July 15 coup attempt that killed more than 300 people.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly called on Washington to extradite Gulen since the coup attempt, but the US has refused.

Another US consulate employee was called in for questioning by the Istanbul prosecutors office on Monday as his son and wife were taken into custody in Amasya province. Turkish authorities say that both Metin Topuz and the second unnamed employee have no diplomatic immunity or title.

Turkey summoned the US embassy undersecretary on Monday and called for the de-escalation of tensions and an end to the suspension of visa services.

Trumps appeal

Several US citizens were among the thousands arrested in Turkey after the coup attempt, including American pastor Andrew Brunson. President Donald Trump unsuccessfully appealed to Turkey for his release, along with a letter signed by 78 members of Congress.

Erdogan said last month that Ankara would release the pastor once Gulen was extradited to Turkey.

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The Turkish government says that the recent wave of detentions and purges in the public sector are aimed at removing Gulen supporters from state institutions and other parts of society.

Local and international rights groups, as well as many of Turkeys European allies, say the arrests and purges are arbitrary, accusing the government of using the coup attempt as a pretext to silence opposition in the country.

Burhan Kuzu, an adviser to Erdogan and a senior MP of the ruling Justice and Development Party, told Al Jazeera that the US was disturbed by the detention of Topuz, as he had information about US involvement in the coup attempt.





The US is irritated by this development as its [Washingtons] role in the coup attempt might be revealed through this individual. The visa move came in order to pressure Turkey to give up this person, he said.

In a written statement late on Monday, John Bass, the US ambassador to Turkey, said his mission had been unable to learn the reasons for the arrest of Topuz or what evidence exists against the employee.

Bass added that he had not been allowed sufficient access to the employees lawyer.

He said that the Turkish move has raised questions about whether the goal of some officials is to disrupt the long-standing cooperation between Washington and Ankara.

At this time, we cant predict how long it will take to resolve this matter, the ambassador said.

The US and Turkey have also recently been at odds over Syria. Ankara, which backed the Syrian uprising, has negotiated multiple agreements with Russia and Iran, supporters of the Syrian government.

Turkish forces on Monday crossed into Syrias Idlib province to carry out expeditionary activities aimed at preventing violence in line with one of these agreements, which stipulated the creation of de-escalation zones in Syria.

The US and its allies, meanwhile, have been using Turkeys Incirlik airbase for operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.

US support for Kurdish groups

Ankara has also been displeased with Washingtons move to deliver arms to Kurdish groups that Turkey views as terrorists. The Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the main part of the Syrian Democratic Forces set up to fight against ISIL, have received arms shipments from the US.

Ankara views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been waging a war against Turkey for more than 35 years.

Kuzu criticised the US for supporting Kurdish terrorist groups instead of Turkey, adding that Washington had problems with Turkeys cooperation with Iran and Russia in Syria. Washington, supposedly our ally, aims to create a Kurdish corridor in the east of Turkey by supporting the YPG and PKK, he said, noting that Turkeys Euphrates Shield operation was aimed at preventing the emergence of this corridor.

Also feeding the escalation, Turkish officials have criticised the US for what they say is its support for a non-binding referendum for an independent Kurdish state in Iraq, and the issuance of arrest warrants for a group of Erdogans bodyguards after a brawl during his visit to Washington, DC, in May.

Follow Umut Uras on Twitter: @Um_Uras
Broadcasting regulator throws out allegations against investigation which revealed the Israel lobbys inner workings.

Al Jazeera did not breach any broadcasting rules in its coverage of the pro-Israel lobby in the UK, Britains broadcasting regulator has ruled.

On Monday, Ofcom dismissed complaints against Al Jazeeras four-part series The Lobby, an undercover investigation that aired in January and made global headlines.

Filmed over six months, The Lobby revealed the Israeli embassys covert influence campaign to smear and attack British citizens critical of Israel and its practices  including British Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan.

Ofcom received complaints in the aftermath of the series from a number of pro-Israeli British activists, including one former Israeli embassy employee.

These complaints levelled a range of charges against Al Jazeera from anti-Semitism and bias to unfair editing and infringement of privacy.

In each instance, Ofcom dismissed the charges, and the complaints as a whole without reservation.

We did not consider that this aspect of the complaints warranted further investigation, Ofcom said.

The fact that the programmes uncovered evidence of inappropriate behaviour by those acting on behalf of the Israeli government, or by those belonging to a small number of organisations that promote Israeli policy, does not mean that they were anti-Semitic, Ofcom said. In the same way, programmes that expose the violence associated with some black gang culture in Britains inner cities are not, by default, racist.

Ofcom is a government-appointed body that regulates all broadcasting media in the UK with wide-ranging, statutory powers.

It maintains journalistic standards and ethics and presides over conduct and policies for programme makers.

We are extremely pleased with the verdict, said Clayton Swisher, Al Jazeeras director of investigative journalism and the series narrator. It overwhelmingly validates the revelations captured by our brave undercover, known as Robin. Our entire team put a ton of care into making this film, under full legal review throughout. This totally vindicates our work and is a terrific verdict for all journalists exposing wrongdoing.

Undercover investigation

As part of the investigation, Al Jazeera filmed Shai Masot, the Israeli embassys then senior political officer.

At one point, in a discussion with British civil servant Maria Strizzolo, Masot plotted to take down Sir Alan Duncan, a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights who has condemned the Israeli occupation.

Masots position came to an early end shortly after the investigation was broadcast. Strizzolo resigned.

The Israeli ambassador to Britain, Mark Regev, formally apologised to the British Foreign Office while Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson conceded Masots cover was well and truly blown.

Ofcoms findings come at a time when Israel is seeking to close Al Jazeeras Jerusalem bureau and deny its reporters access for allegedly causing incitement.

Meanwhile, at least four Arab states are demanding the wholesale closure of Al Jazeera amid a blockade against Qatar, where Al Jazeera is based.

The Lobby is available to watch here.
Rebels tell Al Jazeera that Turkey has indirectly sent a stark warning to any faction that resists the operation.

Syrian rebel commanders say they expect Turkeys operation to implement the so-called de-escalation zone in the northwestern province of Idlib to go smoothly and without much resistance from Hayet Tahrir al-Sham.

Idlib is largely controlled by the Hayet Tahrir al-Sham alliance, or Tahrir al-Sham, a Salafist group dominated by a former al-Qaeda affiliate, al-Nusra Front.

Turkey has made it clear to Tahrir al-Sham, through representatives from the armed opposition groups including Faylaq al-Sham, that any factions who put up a fight would be targeted, rebel commander Musa Khaled told Al Jazeera.

Speaking from Idlib, Khaled said that although there may be fighting in some areas, Hayet Tahrir al-Sham understands that they do not have the military capability to fight the Turkish army.

This will cause them to submit to any deal that is enforced on them, he said.

READ MORE: Syrias de-escalation zones explained

A Turkish military delegation entered Idlib late on Sunday to assess the ground situation and prepare to enforce the so-called de-escalation zones finalised by Turkey, Russia and Iran in a deal struck at the Kazakh capital, Astana, on September 15.

The establishment of the zones in areas including Idlib was aimed at halting fighting and offering safety to civilians.

Hayet Tahrir al-Sham was not part of the talks and rejected the plan to implement such zones.

The delegation entered under the supervision of the Faylaq al-Sham and Nour al-din al-Zinki rebel groups, and with the knowledge of Hayet Tahrir al-Sham, according to rebels.

The Turkish military unit managed to reach al-Sheikh Barakat mountain, west of Aleppo on the southern border with Turkey, which overlooks Idlib.

The Turkish armed forces began reconnaissance activities on October 8 to establish surveillance posts as part of the operation to be carried out in Idlib province, the Turkish Armed Forces said in a statement on Monday.

As part of the September 15 deal, Turkey is working with rebels it backs on the ground, mainly the Free Syrian Army.

Hisham Eskeif, from the political office of the Hamza Division, a rebel group affiliated with the Free Syrian Army, said there is a principal, momentary understanding between the Turkish army and Tahrir al-Sham.

The Turks are being clear  they dont want blood to be spilled  and theyre trying to get that across to Tahrir al-Sham, Eskeif told Al Jazeera.

On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told members of his ruling AK party that Turkeys efforts in Idlib are ongoing, in cooperation with the Free Syrian Army, without any problems at the moment.

Since January, Turkey, along with Russia and Iran, has been spearheading the efforts to end the six-year war in Syria.

READ MORE: Syrias civil war explained from the beginning

While the conflict started as a largely unarmed uprising calling for the downfall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, widespread demonstrations quickly slipped into civil war after the government responded with force and as opposition groups comprising army defectors and civilians took up arms.

Although armed opposition groups, backed mainly by Turkey and the Gulf states, were making major gains in the first few years of the war, Russias intervention in 2015 in support of Assad drastically turned the tide in favour of the government.

The Turkish-Russian-Iranian initiative is the latest and most serious attempt at implementing a solution to the conflict.

More than 465,000 Syrians have been killed in the fighting, more than a million injured, and over 12 million  half of the countrys prewar population  have been displaced from their homes.
The aid agencys decision to downsize its activities comes after series of fatal attacks targeted its staff.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has decided to drastically reduce its presence in Afghanistan after a series of deadly attacks on its staff, the aid agency said in a statement on Monday.

Monica Zanarelli, the head of delegation for the ICRC, told Al Jazeera that the decision will affect mostly the northern part of the country, where facilities in Kunduz, Faryab, and Balkh provinces would be closed or downsized.

We will downsize our main office in Mazar-i-Sharif and also looking at possible handing over of our orthopaedic centre if we get a suitable solution for that, Zanarelli said.

Our operation across the country, however, will continue.

She said that the last three serious incidents this year in which seven ICRC staff were killed and three others were kidnapped prompted the charity to take the decision.

Officials from the charity say the assessments are ongoing and could not say how many of its 1,800 staff would be affected.

The ICRC has been working in Afghanistan for the past three decades, but attacks against them have escalated, with seven killed this year so far. It reaches to tens of thousands of vulnerable people in remote areas.

We are going to keep operating like we did in the past. However, we will have to look much more seriously at our exposure to risk. Security of our staff has become a priority nowadays, Zanarelli told Al Jazeera from Kabul, the Afghan capital.

The announcement underlines the deteriorating security for aid groups in Afghanistan, with the rise of Taliban and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, known as ISIS).

In February, the organisation put all of its operations on hold after six of its staff were killed in an attack on an aid convoy in the far north.

Last month, a Spanish Red Cross physiotherapist working in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif was shot dead by one of her patients.

In addition, three of its staff have been abducted over the past year.

According to US military estimates, the government controls no more than 60 percent of the country, with the rest either controlled or contested by the Taliban and other armed groups.
Al Jazeera meets refugees concerned by the success of Germanys far-right party, which targets refugees and Muslims.

Berlin and Hamburg, Germany  Why are you here? Go back to your own country, a man on the street once yelled at Hussam Al Zaher and his sister Samer, who was donning a hijab.

The two Syrian siblings had been exploring Hussams new hometown, Hamburg.

Since moving to Germany in October 2015, rebuilding his life from zero has been an uphill battle.

I think its fear of the unknown, says 29-year-old Al Zaher, referring to the racism he suffers. Most people who resent refugees dont really know us.

While Germany has been the most welcoming European country in accepting large numbers of refugees, recent developments have caused some concern for asylum seekers and rights groups.

In the September federal election, Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term, but her victory was overshadowed as the anti-refugee and anti-Muslim party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), gained 12.6 percent of the vote. The AfD is the first far-right party to enter the Bundestag in post-war Germany.

I hear a lot about the rise of right-wing extremism in Germany, and its making me feel uncertain about my future here, says Al Zaher.

The journalist fled from Damascus in October 2014.

After a year of toiling for 15 hours a day at a clothing factory in Istanbul, he embarked on the perilous journey that tens of thousands of Syrians made before him.

After crossing the Aegean Sea in an overcrowded boat to Greece, he travelled on the Balkan Route.

Along the way, Al Zaher met fellow weary travellers from Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, bound by one ambition: the hope for a better life than the one they left behind.

He is now one of 1.3 million asylum seekers who have arrived in Germany since 2015.

The beginning was really tough, he recalls. I felt lonely; I didnt speak German and very little English.

While he has made German friends and met welcoming and understanding locals, Al Zaher, who is Muslim, has also faced a backlash.

One day, he received hate mail from a stranger saying: Go back to Syria. This is our country. You are ruining our country with your culture.

But the young Syrian steadfastly believes that communication can break down barriers, so he launched the digital magazine Fluchtling, German for refugee.

I want them to see that we are human beings, just like them, he said. Being open-minded towards other people and cultures can be difficult, but we can achieve acceptance through respect and discussion.

Germans polarised

The German population is polarised over the newcomers, and support for Merkels open-door refugee policy, called welcome culture, has dropped.

The far-right AfD partys rise reflected disgruntlement and showed that even Europes largest economy, where the unemployment rate is at a record low of 5.6 percent, is not immune to populism.

I believe that most AfD voters arent right-wing extremists, they are just afraid, Al Zaher said. Theyre afraid of Muslims, a different culture, a different way of thinking.

From January to August this year, 123,878 asylum seekers arrived in Germany, according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. Of those, almost a quarter came from Syria, followed by Iraqis and Afghans. In 2016, 280,000 asylum seekers arrived in Germany, while in 2015, at the height of the refugee crisis, 890,000 people crossed the border.

Most AfD voters aren't right-wing extremists; they are just afraid. They're afraid of Muslims, a different culture, a different way of thinking. by Hussam Al Zaher, Syrian refugee

Integrating those hundreds of thousands of new residents is a daunting task.

It wont happen overnight, Afghan refugee Sahar Reza told Al Jazeera. It takes time  often years  to understand the German job market, the culture and to learn the language.

The 29-year-old was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and grew up in Pakistan.

She arrived in Germany in November 2014.

She completed an integration course, where she learned German, and has registered with the job centre to find employment.

I hope Ill find a job to build an independent life here, she said.

Soon, Reza will start an internship at the Green Party in Hamburg, before she moves on to a placement at the local government.

She followed the election closely and was surprised by the outcome.

She said: I understand that some Germans are frustrated and feel alienated. They work and pay taxes  Paying for others for such a long time can be irritating.

A long way to go

Providing asylum seekers with food, housing, and German language courses is costly.

Last year, the federal government spent 21.7bn euros ($25.5bn) on dealing with the refugee crisis, according to the finance ministry. For this year, the government has earmarked 21.3bn euros.

Several projects have now joined the effort to help refugees settle in and feel at home.

Multaka trains Syrian and Iraqi asylum seekers to become museum guides in Berlin; at Uber den Tellerrand, refugees teach cooking classes; Sharehaus Refugio is a communal housing initiative; Refugees Welcome helps them find a spare room in flat shares and Start with a Friend connects volunteers with refugees to help them navigate aspects of life in Germany and build friendships.

The Berlin-based initiative Cucula also wants to empower refugees.

We want to help them gain a skill set and ready them for the job market, said Corinna Sy, a cofounder.

At the Cucula workshop in the hip Kreuzberg district, refugees learn how to build furniture and trainees take part in educational programmes.

In 2015, authorities and communities were completely overwhelmed by the influx, Sy said. Since then, weve made progress. But there are a lot of hurdles for refugees to find work and integrate. Many of them remain isolated and arent part of our society yet. Theres still a long way to go.
Pressure grows on the regional president amid warnings by Spanish politicians against any declaration of secession.

Spains government insists the country will not be divided as pressure grows on the Catalan regional government after a massive march in Barcelona against secession.

Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, deputy prime minister of Spain, has issued a warning that the Madrid government will act on any Catalan declaration of secession.

She has labelled Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan regional president, a fanatic and is supported by Spains Socialist leader, Pedro Sanchez, who says his party will back the central government if it takes action.

Against this backdrop, Catalonias future looked uncertain on Monday, on the eve of a major parliamentary speech by Puigdemont, with little clarity as to whether he would stick with plans to declare secession from Spain.

WATCH Talk to Al Jazeera: Catalan Regional President Carles Puigdemont

Puigdemont is scheduled to speak on Tuesday at 6pm local time (16:00 GMT) to report on the current political situation.

He has been warned by a spokesman of Spains main ruling party that he risks arrest if he proceeds with secession.

History should not be repeated, said Pablo Casado of the Peoples Party (PP).

We hope that tomorrow nothing will be declared, because perhaps the one who declares it will end up like the one who declared it 83 years ago.

Casado was referring to Lluis Companys, who proclaimed a short-lived Catalan state in 1934 and was arrested quickly after that. Six years later, he was executed by the government of Francisco Franco.

Crisis meeting

Besides arrest, Puigdemont risks prompting the Madrid government into triggering Article 155 of the constitution, which would allow it to take the unprecedented step of suspending Catalonias home-rule prerogatives.

We are going to stop Catalonias independence, Casado said after Mariano Rajoy, Spains prime minister, chaired a PP crisis meeting.

We will take the necessary measures to stop it. Catalonias secession will not happen, and the government will do all that is needed to make sure.





According to sources within Puidgemonts PDeCAT party, there are three possible scenarios: a full declaration of secession; a symbolic one, with no immediate effect; or no declaration at all, and a fresh call for dialogue with Madrid.

Catalonia held a disputed referendum on October 1 in which 90 percent of participating Catalans voted for secession.

However, turnout was only 43 percent as most unionists boycotted the ballot, and the Spanish Constitutional Court ruled the vote was illegal.

Rajoys government had repeatedly refused to grant Catalonia permission to hold a referendum on the grounds that it is unconstitutional, since it would only poll a portion of Spains 46 million residents.

Flight of capital

Avid separatists want a declaration of independence on the basis of the October 1 referendum results.

However, after major banks and several firms moved their legal bases out of Catalonia, the Catalan business community is urging caution, fearing a major flight of capital.

There are also concerns about lack of international support for secession, and a pro-union march that attracted hundreds of thousands of people in Barcelona on Sunday was a stark reminder that not all of Catalonia is behind the plan.

But Puigdemonts far-left ally, the CUP, is unlikely to accept any backing down.

The pro-independence Catalan National Assembly said two big screens would be placed near the parliament to follow the debate.

A pre-recorded interview in which Puigdemont presented the secession declaration as a done deal was edited before it was aired late on Sunday by the Catalan broadcaster TV3.

In an advance extract, Puigdemont said the declaration was foreseen by Catalan law, and we will do what the law says.

In the final version, he said he wanted negotiations with Madrid, and if that option is denied, we will do what we came to do.

Catalonias separatist camp has grown in recent years, strengthened by Spains recent economic crisis and by the central governments rejection of attempts to increase self-rule in the region.
The court in Sarajevo said that Naser Oric, who led the defence of Srebrenica during the 1992-95 war, is not guilty.

A court in Sarajevo has acquitted Bosnian Muslim commander Naser Oric of war crimes against Serbs during the 1992-95 war.

In its verdict on Monday, the court said that Oric, who led the defence of Srebrenica during the 1992-95 war, is not guilty in connection with the case of three Serb prisoners of war who were murdered in 1992 in Srebrenica.

The accused Naser Oric and Sabahudin Muhic have been acquitted of charges of violating provisions of the Geneva Conventions, the judge, Saban Maksumic, told the Bosnian war crimes court, referring to one of Orics fellow soldiers.

Families of the Serb victims walked out the courtroom protesting against the verdict, Reuters news agency reported.

Serbia and the Bosnian Serbs had accused Orics men of killing Serb civilians in and around Srebrenica earlier in the war.

The former commander had always denied the charges. He was sentenced to two years in jail by the court in the Hague, Netherlands, in 2006, but acquitted on appeal in 2008.

Srebrenica eventually fell to Bosnian Serb forces in 1995  the ensuing killing of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys was seen as Europes worst atrocity since World War II.

Bosnian Muslims or Bosniaks view Oric as a national hero, who defended them against Serbs.
The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, attracting more than six million tourists a year.

Although the monument attracts more tourists than any other site in India, it seems it is out of favour with the government of Uttar Pradesh (UP), where it is located.

The iconic monument, a UNESCO world heritage site considered a symbol of love, was not featured in the tourism booklet issued by the UP government last week.

The 32-page booklet titled Uttar Pradesh Tourism: Its High Potential, released by Rita Bahuguna Joshi, state tourism minister, mentions a number of Hindu and Buddhist religious places, but misses one of the worlds most famous monuments.

Sohail Hashmi, writer and a heritage expert, accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing politics over the Taj.

The BJP has come to power on the basis of the discourse that only things that are identified as Hindu are Indians. Taj does not fit into their idea of culture, Hashmi told Al Jazeera. They have divided our heritage into Hindu heritage and Islamic heritage.

Built in the 17th century

The stunning white marble mausoleum was built in the 17th century by Mughal King Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal in Agra, about 200km from the Indian capital, New Delhi.

Joshi has denied there was an attempt to ignore Taj Mahal as a tourist destination.

How can anyone in the tourism sector ignore the Taj Mahal, one of the big tourist attractions in the country? said the minister, adding that the government was committed towards the development of Taj and tourist sites associated with it.

But her boss, Yogi Adityanath  a monk known for his anti-Muslim bigotry  is not fond of the Taj.

He has in the past said that the Mughal mausoleum is not part of Indias culture and claimed that the mausoleum was a Hindu temple.

Replying to a petition by Hindu groups, government archaeologists told the Supreme Court in August that the monument was indeed a Muslim tomb and not a temple.

Since he took over as the chief minister of Indias most populous state in March, Yogi has pushed for Hindu festivals and religion despite India being a secular nation.

The central government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who belongs to the BJP, has also been accused of rewriting history textbooks, including those concerning the medieval period when Muslims ruled over India.

As part of this, roads named after Mughals have been renamed and Muslim rulers, who have been accused of reaping holocaust on Hindus, have been demonised.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the BJP, considers Muslims and Christians as outsiders, and has been at the forefront of the campaign to rewrite history textbooks.

For the BJP, the understanding that anything that has happened in this country over the last thousands of years has no connection with a clear definition of Indian culture, Hashmi said.

What makes India such a vibrant place is its phenomenal diversity.

Poor infrastructure in Agra

Despite repeated attempts, BJP spokespeople could not be reached for comment.

Last year, the Taj attracted 6.2 million tourists  a drop from the previous year. People in the tourism industry say successive governments have done little to upgrade Agras infrastructure.

An expressway built by the previous state government to connect Agra to New Delhi did little to boost tourist numbers.

We care very little for our heritage. Over several years, heritage conservation and culture have been getting less than 0.1 percent of the national budget, Hashmi said.

Businessmen in the city are baffled by the decisions over the Taj.

Rajeev Tiwari, President of the Federal of Travel Association in Agra, says that the monument is not the state governments priority.

More than 400,000 people are directly or indirectly get employment because of Taj. Tourism is important for the economy of Agra, he said.

The trouble with this man is that he has still not decided whether he is the head of the temple or the head of the UP government by Sharat Pradhan, senior journalist

If we play politics and ignore it, then tourist number will further drop. It will not only be a loss to Agra but also affect the revenue of the state.

More than 20 percent UPs tourism revenue comes from tourism related to the Taj, according to the CNN-IBN news channel.

Tiwari says that the Taj should not be made into a sectarian issue.

It is a monument of love, and it should be seen that way, he said. Anywhere in the world, when the name of India comes, the first thing that people ask is Taj Mahal. It is a symbol of India.

But Tiwaris fears are not unfounded.

Indias numerous 24/7 news channels have conducted hours of debates that exposed the divide over the monument.

In a discussion on CNN-IBN news, BJP spokesperson Anila Singh justified dropping the Taj Mahal from the booklet.

Days of all those people who have crushed the feelings of Hindus has come to an end. What Hindus want we are going to do that, Singh said.

Religious bias

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, spokesman of the main opposition Congress party, is among those who have criticised Yogis government for the omission.

If it is a booklet on tourism and it excludes Taj Mahal, at one level it is a joke and at another level it is tragic. It is like saying we will have (William Shakespeares) Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark, Singhvi said.

If it is indeed a booklet on tourism and excludes the Taj, it shows a clear religious bias which is completely misplaced, he added.

Tiwari, from the Agra travel association, backs the Yogi governments plans to develop religious sites to attract tourism.

Development of religious sites is welcome, but in a multicultural societies, such as India, you cant focus on one area, you have to focus on all, he said.

Our shared culture cannot be ignored especially in UP. Development has to be for all. Development should not be linked to any particular religion.

Many say Yogi has resorted to divisive issues to cater to his hardline Hindu base, while others accuse him of being inept.

The trouble with this man is that he has still not decided whether he is the head of the temple or the head of the UP government, said Sharat Pradhan, a senior journalist in Lucknow, the capital of UP state.

It is certainly damaging the image of the state. This is Indias largest state and conceived as representative of the country. It will affect the image of the country.
US president seeks border wall funding in exchange for a deal to protect some 690,000 immigrants known as Dreamers.

US President Donald Trump has presented a new hardline immigration proposal to Congress, which includes building a controversial border wall, speeding up deportations and dramatically increasing the number of officials involved in enforcement.

The document calls for preventing immigrants from sponsoring their extended families in moving legally to the US and limiting such green cards to spouses and children. It also outlines the closing of loopholes that prevent the deportation of children who enter the country illegally.

The White House has also addressed the issue of people who came to the US as children  known as Dreamers.

The Trump administration has sought funding for border wall in exchange for a deal that Democrats have pushed to provide legal protection to some 690,000 Dreamers, who came to the country illegally as children. Last month, Trump scrapped an amnesty programme for young immigrants enacted by former President Barack Obama.

These findings outline reforms that must be included as part of any legislation addressing the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, Trump wrote in a letter to Congress accompanying the list, using the official name for the amnesty order.

READ MORE: What is DACA?

The White House list is topped by border security, a category that includes building a massive wall on the southern US border, which Trump promised would be paid for by Mexico, although Mexico has said it will not do so.

Trump also wants to dramatically ramp up the number of officials involved in enforcement, hiring an additional 10,000 Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers and 1,000 lawyers, 370 immigration judges and 300 federal prosecutors.

Sanctuary cities

The documents call for tighter standards for those seeking US asylum, denial of federal grants to sanctuary cities that serve as a refuge for illegal immigrants.

Trump wants to ramp up the number of officials involved in enforcement, hiring an additional 10,000 Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers and 1,000 attorneys, 370 immigration judges and 300 federal prosecutors. by

Trump told Congress it had six months to come up with legislation to help Dreamers, who are a fraction of the 11 million mostly Hispanic illegal immigrants in the US.

Other proposals include cracking down on people who overstay visas, restricting asylum and expanding criteria that would make a person inadmissible to the US.

Trumps list was criticised by Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, the respective Democratic leaders in the Senate and House.

This proposal fails to represent any attempt at compromise, the legislators said in a joint statement.

The list includes the wall, which was explicitly ruled out of the negotiations. If the president was serious about protecting the Dreamers, his staff has not made a good faith effort to do so.

The president has previously insisted the wall will go ahead and that he wants massive border security in exchange for a deal on DACA protections.

Trump has made toughening immigration regulations a central part of his first year in office, also issuing several versions of a controversial travel ban that has been criticised for targeting Muslim-majority countries and subject to numerous legal challenges.

The latest version, which was unveiled last month, bans citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria and Yemen from entering the US.
Experts say Trumps combative approach towards deal could also affect European political and commercial ties with Iran.

Almost exactly two years after it was signed, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany and the EU is at risk of falling apart.

US President Donald Trump has called the agreement the worst deal ever and is expected to withdraw his support for it within days.

The deal, which is aimed at ensuring Irans nuclear programme is used exclusively for civilian purposes, requires Iran to reduce its capacity to produce nuclear weapons by drastically lowering its stockpiles of enriched uranium and removing centrifuges capable of enriching the metal.

In return for complying with the restrictions, UN sanctions on the country were lifted, billions of dollars in frozen assets were released, and the US ended some secondary sanctions on Tehran related to its nuclear programme.

Irans compliance with the deal, which was enshrined in UN Resolution 2231, would be ensured by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The deal was the end result of years of diplomatic wrangling between the Obama administration, represented by former Secretary of State John Kerry, and the government of Irans reformist leaning President Hassan Rouhani and his lead diplomat, Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif.

Opponents of the deal in Tehran and Washington voiced anger at what they saw as excessive compromise and in the US, Congress passed a law requiring the president to certify every 90 days that Iran was keeping up with its end of the deal.

European lobbying

That process of certification is the crux of the current crisis, Trumps threat to withdraw endorsement paves the way for new sanctions on Iran, and Tehran has threatened partial or complete withdrawal from the agreement in response.

Should the US Administration decide not to certify that Iran was in compliance with the terms of the agreement, US Congress would then have the option of imposing new US sanctions, or of restoring US sanctions waived under the JCPOA in whole or in part, explained Professor Jonathan Brewer of the Department of War Studies at Kings College London.

The Europeans, at least, will be lobbying the administration to continue to certify that Iran is complying with the deal,  he said, adding European diplomats would also be tasked with trying to ensure Iran does not withdraw from the agreement should their efforts with the US fail.

The Iran nuclear deal is working. Here's how. pic.twitter.com/UxlYfWoqsW  British Embassy Washington D.C. (@UKinUSA) October 5, 2017

Brewer, a former diplomat who headed the British governments Counter-Proliferation efforts, said European states wished to preserve the deal to maintain growing political and commercial ties with Tehran.

Maintaining commercial exchanges will also become more problematic for European companies if the US re-imposes secondary sanctions suspended under the JCPOA, he said.

A September 2017 article by US outlet, Quartz, highlighted the risks to US and European manufacturers, such as Boeing and Airbus, which penned deals with Iranian carriers to supply hundreds of aircraft after restrictions were lifted. Up to $32bn worth of contracts are at risk.

Unreliable partner

The consequences of the Iran deal falling apart are not limited to Europes burgeoning ties with Iran, but could also reinforce the perception of the US as an unreliable actor in global politics since Trumps ascension to the presidency.

The US president has adopted a shoot-from-the-hip diplomatic style by threatening to invoice Mexico for the cost of building a wall of their shared border.

Ultimately, Europe and the rest of the world would perceive the US as an international trouble maker and unreliable partner, said Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, the chair of the Centre for Iranian Studies at Londons School of African and Oriental Studies.

Iran would share this view and prevent any diplomatic initiative that would include the Trump administration, he added.

Failing to certify Irans compliance with the agreement would also affirm criticisms of JCPOA by conservative opponents of President Rouhani, according to Professor Anoush Ehteshami of Durham University.

[Rouhani by Anoush

will find it increasingly difficult to balance the interests of the hardliners at home and the broader interests of his voters who want the deal to survive and want to see sanctions removed in their entirety so they can travel.]

Rouhanis position will be difficult because of the perception the Americans are untrustworthy, he said, adding that prevailing opinion in Iran is that the deal is not going to survive because the Americans are not playing by the rules agreed.

Khameini will say that we should never have trusted the Americans all along, it will be a fulfilled prophecy as far as the conservatives are concerned and pressure will mount on Rouhani to respond and retaliate somehow.

[Rouhani] will find it increasingly difficult to balance the interests of the hardliners at home and the broader interests of his voters who want the deal to survive and want to see sanctions removed in their country entirety so they can travel.

For many observers, including Irans regional rivals, the initial signing of JCPOA between Iran and global powers, including the US, was widely seen as the first step in a rapproachment between Washington and Tehran.

Ehteshami, however, cautioned against the idea that the two states were ever that close to full normalisation under the previous US administration.

I think normalisation would have had to take considerably longer than this, confidence building is a gestation process and it takes a while for both parties to build that confidence, he said.

I think it would have helped the process considerably if an Obama-like person was in the White House and had been able to continuously underpin the deal with a broadening of relations; social, cultural, economic, and eventually political, he added, pointing out:

I think relations are going to go back in the freezer.
Editors note: This film will be removed on February 15, 2020.

Brazil nuts are one of Bolivias main industries. But getting the nuts from the Amazon to Bolivias capital La Paz is a challenge of almost epic proportions.

The nuts are harvested in the heart of the Bolivian Amazon, where the shells are collected from giant brazil nut trees. Harvesters face venomous spiders, including tarantulas, and snakes while doing their job.

When I was little, a snake bit me and I had to spend a month in bed, says 26-year-old harvester Janco. I could not walk, the poison was very strong.

Janco and his family members use machetes to cut open the shells on the jungle floor. One centimetre in the wrong direction and they can easily lose a finger.

Despite the risks, Janco and his family members take, the money they make is not enough to provide for the whole family. Eighteen-year-old Rommer needs $75 to pay for his university enrolment, but it is uncertain if he will be able to raise the money in time.

Once the nuts are shelled, they need to be taken to the processing plant in La Paz. Truck driver Edgar and his five-year-old son, Alan, embark on a drive across the country.

Deforestation in Bolivia causes huge environmental disruption and along the way, Edgar and his son must cross tributaries and flooded grounds. It takes three days to complete the first 445km of the journey.

Its mostly a waste of time, but also of money because every day we take all expenses come out of my pocket. Its a loss of income, says Edgar.

He needs to get Alan back to La Paz in time for the start of the school year. Will he manage?
Sporting matching bunny ears, Madi Smith and Amielia Holt celebrated the life of the founder of Playboy, Hugh Hefner, on Saturday.

The Bank Bar & Lounge, located at 22 W. University Ave., offered free cover to the first 50 people who came to the bar dressed as Hefner or a Playboy bunny between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. Participants were also entered into a contest for a $50 gift certificate to the bar, which a woman wearing a black bustier won.

Smith, a Santa Fe College biomedical sciences sophomore, said she had watched a documentary about Hefner before he died Sept. 27 and thought he had a positive contribution to society.

I was a little upset (when I learned he passed) because I had just learned so much about him and seen that he was more of a feminist, Smith said.

Holt, a Santa Fe College nursing sophomore, said Hefner used his business to put women on a pedestal.

He cherished women rather than shaming them, Holt said.

The nightclubs co-owner, Richard Thomas-Pusateri, 41, estimated about 12 people wore Hefner-themed costumes to the bar Saturday night. He said Hefner influenced a sexual revolution.

If anybody can go from where he started to where he finished, that is the epitome of the American dream, Thomas-Pusateri said. Being able to make anything happen in this world, to create what he created, is amazing.
About two weeks before white supremacist Richard Spencer is set to speak at UF, local anti-fascist protesters spoke out against Spencers ideals and those who work with him.

About 15 people gathered Friday afternoon to protest at the law office of Gary Edinger, a Gainesville-based attorney who represented Spencers group, the National Policy Institute, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Protesters, who were members of Gainesville Antifascists, held signs saying, Fight Fascism and No Nazis at UF.

Al Gadze, a member of the group, said Edinger should not have represented someone with Spencers ideals.

No one bullied (Edinger) into representing Richard Spencer, Gadze said. And our primary disagreement is with Richard Spencer, who is a self-declared national socialist, which the shortened term is Nazi.

Gadze said UFs response to Spencer was weak, and UF President Kent Fuchs chose to stick with his paycheck, which is $860,000 a year, instead of morality.

I think President Fuchs suffers from moral dwarfism, the 46-year-old said.

In various emails to UF students, Fuchs denounced Spencer and said his ideals do not reflect UFs values.

Spencer will pay $10,564 to rent space in the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. UF and other groups, like University Police and Gainesville Police, will spend about $500,000 on security, according to Alligator archives.

Gene Anderson, a 54-year-old reverend, was surprised about how expensive security would be. He said Spencers ideas, and the ideas of other white supremacists, are evil.

I almost feel like having to explain why they are wrong shouldnt be necessary, he said. Sometimes wrong is wrong.

Student group No Nazis at UF plans to hold protests ahead and during Spencers speech at the Phillips Center on Oct. 19.

The student group is organizing a march from the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Southwest 20th Avenue to the Phillips Center at noon the day of Spencers visit, said a spokesperson from No Nazis at UF, who asked to remain anonymous for their safety.

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The demonstration is expected to be split into a red zone and a green zone. The red zone is expected to be where protesters will have close contact with confrontation and the green zone will be where they will not have close contact.

There will be lines of people at the front and on the sides (of the march) as well that will likely be the red zone. The green zone will likely be the inside and the back, the spokesperson said.

No Nazis at UF will host a sign-making event at the Civic Media Center, located at 433 S. Main St., on Saturday at 1 p.m. in preparation for the day of Spencers speech. The student group is also planning a teach-in on free speech. A date has yet to be set for this event.

No Nazis at UF also launched an online petition, which received 1,419 signatures, as of press time, with student groups Chispas and Young Democratic Socialists of America.

Its goal is to put more pressure on Fuchs and the Board of Trustees to understand that this is something that is not supported by anyone really, the spokesperson said.

Bianca Gavaller felt frustrated when she heard Spencer was coming to UF. She said his white supremacist views dont sit well with her.

Gallaver, a 19-year-old UF psychology sophomore, said she feels its his right to speak somewhere, as long as its not at the university. I think he has the right to speak literally anywhere he wants to, Gavaller said. But because (UFs) an academic institution, then I dont think he should be allowed here.

Gavaller plans on protesting, despite safety concerns.

The need to protest would probably outweigh the fear of (white nationalists) and what they would do, she said.

Richard Spencer
UF students seeking an immersive Italian study abroad program now have an additional location to choose from.

The UF International Center opened a new study abroad program in Sorrento, Italy, set to begin Summer 2018 from early July to early August.

Paloma Rodriguez, the associate director of international studies, wrote in an email that the program will offer six three-credit courses including History of the Mafia: Origins and International Scope, Business in the European Union and Mediterranean Culture and History.

Veronica Paz, an international program ambassador, became interested in revisiting Sorrento after explaining the program to other students at the Study Abroad Fair.

I am one of the biggest advocates for stepping out into the unknown and going to a different country to experience different cultures and traditions, the 19-year-old UF international studies sophomore said.

Rodriguez said she thinks 12 to 15 students will attend the trip. The program fees start at $5,778. If students intern in Italy, the program fees will be $6,178. The price includes housing and excursions, Rodriguez said.

The program is open to all majors, Rodriguez said. To participate, students need to be in good standing and have at least a 2.5 GPA.

Paz has traveled across Europe and thinks it makes people more culturally aware.

I am hoping to gain what I usually gain which is lifelong friendships, culture shocks and amazing food, she said.

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The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida will speak at UF today at 6 p.m.

The Bob Graham Center for Public Service will host Howard Simon, the executive director of the Florida ACLU, and Jon Mills, a UF law professor and director of the Center for Governmental Responsibility, for a conversation about Florida-based issues. The event will be held in the Pugh Hall Ocora.

Some of the topics planned include the restoration of voting rights for felons, public schools, immigration, the Constitution Revision Commission and LGBTQ+ equality, said TJ Pyche, the outreach and student programs coordinator at the Graham Center.

Its good to get his valuable perspective, Pyche said.

Simon supervises the organizations programs including lobbying, membership, fundraising and public education.

Pyche said all of the topics Simon will discuss are things the ACLU and the citizens of the state of Florida are dealing with.

Philip Blake Layton, a UF political science senior, said he is eager to hear Simon speak about the effort to restore voting rights for felons because the ACLU has been a major proponent of the issue.

I expect to receive some expert insight on some of the pressing legal issues in the state and our country from both Howard Simon and Jon Mills, the 23-year-old said. The Graham Center is consistent on having exemplary events that highlight important issues in the state.
To Ron Chandler, the Garo Hills in India are the most beautiful place on earth.

You just cant even believe youre even on this planet, he said. Its just magnificent.

One of the largest remaining herds of Asian elephants lives there, said Chandler, the president and co-founder of Conservation Initiative for the Asian Elephant. He and about 40 others marched donning elephant hats and shirts, waving signs and chanting about elephant preservation at Depot Park on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The organization sold elephant T-shirts and wristbands for discounted beer at First Magnitude Brewing Company to generate funding, although the third annual event was really meant to raise awareness, Chandler said.

It feels really good to do something with other people for elephants, Chandler said.

Poaching and uncontrolled urban sprawl has endangered Asian elephants, Chandler said. He also said the harvesting of palm oil, which is used in food, cosmetics and biodiesel products, is the worst killer of Asian elephants.

Sierra Orme, 27, marched around the park carrying a homemade sign with a Dr. Seuss quote.

I meant what I said and I said what I meant, an elephant is faithful 100 percent, her sign read.

The Santa Fe College wildlife ecology and conservation senior said she fears if these large mammals go extinct, there could be consequences for the environment.

If there arent events like these, how are children and even adults aware of problems other than where you live? she said.

@jessica_giles_

jgiles@alligator.org

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Students march for the rights of elephants and rhinos in Asia at Depot Park on Sunday afternoon.

Friends Keisha Roberts and Staci Bertrand participated in the competition for the best save the elephant and rhino chant or song. Together, they sang their protest song as their children joined them.
As Nic Mostyn stitched his natty one-and-a-half-year-old board shorts back to life, he reflected on the movement he helped found.

Mostyn, a UF civil engineering junior and the treasurer of UF Surf Club, helped start a social media campaign called #unlitter with Surf Club member Sabina Osman, a UF sustainability studies senior. Osman, 21, said the campaign is about respecting Mother Earth.

The idea for the campaign began in March while Osman was aboard her friends boat off the coast of Miami. She noticed a pile of trash floating on the water and said, We need to unlitter the planet.

The word caught the groups attention. The decision to turn the word into something bigger was instant, and the #unlitter Facebook page went active that same day. Currently, 275 people have liked the page and 885 follow it on Instagram. They also used the phrase on their Homecoming float.

I just realized that the word had power, Osman said.

Initially, the group advocated for beachgoers to pick up two pieces of trash each beach visit, but the results were disappointing, Osman said. To keep the movement going, Osman decided to be less rigid with what they asked of supporters.

I had given up, and the word just came back organically, said Osman.

By May, Mostyn said members of the surfing community in Gainesville were using and spreading the word.

People just chilling on the beach didnt want to make a commitment, Osman said. So we changed it from being an obligation to being more of a vibe.

Over the summer, Osman made an Instagram page to showcase the ways she and her friends were cleaning beaches around the world. Mostyn said the group has been on trips to Jacksonville, Miami, Hawaii, Australia, North Carolina and California.

Natalie Erb, a UF marketing freshman, said shes excited to spread the movement. The 18-year-old caught her first sight of the ocean at age 10  her first wave at 12.

Once you connect with the ocean, you connect with life, and we all share that.

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The #unlitter team will take a trip to Ecuador in December. For Mostyn, who surfed his first waves in the latitude-deficient South American country, it will be a kind of homecoming.

He said there is an absurd amount of trash at some of Ecuadors beaches.

When I was at Engabao beach six years ago, I met a girl in the Peace Corps whose job was basically to hang out with the locals and find out what the problem was, Mostyn said. Her job was to figure out what the problem was. It is #unlitters job to fix the problem.
A UF student was arrested early Monday morning after he kicked in a glass door at Lakeside Residential Complex, University Police said.

Sean Weaver Reagin, 19, was arrested more than an hour after officers responded to a noise complaint at Lakeside at 5:17 a.m. The officers noticed the glass door was completely shattered, according to an arrest report.

A witness told the officer he saw Reagin kick the glass door and leave the scene, according to the report.

Officers located Reagin, who was walking down Fraternity Drive. An officer noticed he had blood on his right hand, which was an injury from the broken glass, according to the report.

In an interview, Reagin told police that he lived in Lakeside and admitted to breaking the door. He told police he was frustrated that he left his property inside the dorm, according to the report.

Reagin is a UF architecture freshman, UF spokesperson John Hines wrote in an email.

Reagin was arrested on charges of property damage and criminal mischief. Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where he was released on his own recognizance Tuesday afternoon.

Reagin could not be reached for comment.

Reagin

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When Josh Pickering and Brandon Burns saw the devastation in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria, they knew they wanted to help.

Pickering and Burns, both UF medical students, landed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Friday to deliver 200 water filtration systems. The two will be in Puerto Rico for eight days as they hand out supplies.

A lot of pathogens in the water get into your (gastrointestinal) tract that end up making you more dehydrated after drinking it, said Pickering, a Navy veteran. People are just drinking out of streams.

The two will disperse the filters in the city of Caguas and other parts of the central mountain range. They also brought medication for Puerto Ricos people, many of whom have been without water filtration and electric power since Hurricane Irma hit the island Sept. 20, he said.

San Juan is less of a problem than other parts, Pickering said.

Pickering said they havent seen any aid trucks in the mountainous regions of the country. Burns, 30, said his wifes family lives in Caguas, Puerto Rico, which inspired him to help.

The people of Puerto Rico are not only our fellow citizens, but are our family members as well, Burns said. They needed help with basics like food and medicine, and we were fortunate to answer the call.

Pickering said the largest donation was from Sawyer Water Filters, which donated $10,000 worth of products.

The filters are tubing that can be hooked up to a bucket, which filters water as it goes through, he said.

Other groups donated supplies such as a Yeti cooler, various supplies from Florida Cracker Kitchen and medication donated from the First Response Training Group. Pickering and Burns intend to find local clinics to hand off the insulin and other medication for people in dire need.

Those companies made this mission a reality and so much more effective because we can deliver tangible, life-saving aid to the island along with emotional support, Pickering said.

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On Friday night, UF welcomed producer and rapper Snoop Dogg to the stage as he performed at our annual Homecoming event, Gator Growl, on Flavet Field. And, in traditional Snoop Dogg fashion, the man himself had with him what we can only assume was a joint  for the record, were avoiding the use of marijuana cigarette because the word cigarette implies tobacco, not just because were hip like that. And let us emphasize, dear reader: A man  a black man, no less  was openly smoking marijuana (were gonna make the leap in logic and assume it was marijuana) on a university campus in front of law enforcement. When our reporter spoke to both law enforcement and Gator Growl officials, their responses were along the lines of, Eh, its probably just a cigarette. They all turned the other cheek.

And despite how, in a vacuum, this sounds like a big deal, we all just say, Well, duh. Its Snoop Dogg. Thats his thing. And that, dear reader, is a testament to the progress of Snoop Doggs movement toward the legalization and normalization of recreational marijuana. A movement, mind you, that includes a pseudo-journalistic, marijuana-centric website called Merry Jane and his own brand of medical marijuana called Leafs By Snoop. If you get a chance to visit leafsbysnoop.com, please do. Its a journey. The man really knows his pot  after all, he claims to smoke about 80 joints a day. It seems his forward momentum cannot be stopped.

And thats a big problem for UF. Lets do some math here.

According to a University of Michigan study, one in 17 college students smoke pot on a near-daily basis, which they define as at least 20 times a month. Now, lets be generous and assume and equate that to 30 joints a month (because one joint a sitting is never enough for some of you). The UF Student Body is comprised of about 52,000 students, so thats 3,058 students who smoke 30 joints a month, or one joint a day. Actually, lets make that 3,059  to include UF President Kent Fuchs. If Snoop Dogg smokes 80 joints a day and the UF Student Body smokes 3,059, then it would only take 38 Snoop Doggs to easily outsmoke the entirety of the UF Student Body.

This is an abysmal situation for UF to be in. That is to say, we have some serious catching up to do.

It goes without saying that any credible university should be out-smoking Snoop Dogg by at least two orders of magnitude, not the measly 1.58 were at now. If we want to be taken seriously as an academic institution, we need to step up our game.

Luckily, our community has made great strides toward catching up to Snoop Dogg in recent years. In November, Florida passed Amendment 2, which allowed medical marijuana to be prescribed to those who suffer from cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, Lou Gehrigs disease, Crohns syndrome, Parkinsons disease and multiple sclerosis. So, if you know someone who suffers from these diseases but can spare a little extra, dont hesitate to ask for it. Every little bit helps.

Also, Alachua County has passed an ordinance that basically decriminalizes marijuana possession under 20 grams. Even Gainesville Police and Alachua County Sheriffs Office are helping UF make sure students are doing their part.

So, youre already smoking your daily blunt. What else can you do to help? For one, spread the word. Attend parties and pass around that joint. Always bring a lighter, just in case someone forgets. Learn how to roll a joint; turn every social gathering into a teaching moment. Get informed. Write a letter to your local congressman. Do some research. Find your local dealers, and touch base with them every now and then  let them know you appreciate the work they do. It can go a long way.

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Norway and the United Kingdom welcome the decision taken by the United States Government to permanently lift the bilateral economic sanctions imposed on Sudan. This is a historic decision that will pave the way for more inclusive economic development for Sudans people. We congratulate the Government of Sudan on this decision, which reflects their efforts []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
Everybody in Europe is talking about Catalonia, chiefly because everyone is staring into the abyss of what could happen in Europe if things go wrong  copycat secessionism. It looks as though things may go wrong. There is a small chance for sanity, and it involves both sides stepping back and pulling away from fire-breathing rhetoric.

Let's examine at the situation.

The secret of the Catalan side is that they may not have had a clear majority vote to secede. Yes, they claim that 90% voted for secession, but the voter turnout was only 43% of the electorate. A Spanish court had declared the vote illegal, and those Catalans likely to vote against secession may have stayed home. Blame part of that low turnout on the Spanish police, but it is still low for a major plebiscite.

On major issues, such as independence, it has been the practice of republics to insist on super-majorities of three fifths, two thirds, or three fourths. While 90% sounds as though it meets such a criterion, given the low turnout, it amounts to only 39%. To declare independence based on 39% is to subvert the historical understanding of representation.

To put it bluntly, the October 1 vote does not give Catalan president Carles Puigdemont a true mandate to declare independence.

Yes, we can blame the Spanish government for interfering. I do not hold Prime Minister Rajoy innocent in this. The Spanish police acted like thugs, but that does not remove the obvious objection. Puigdemont has no democratic mandate  not with only a 43% turnout.

In June, just a few months ago, a poll taken by the Catalan government showed that most Catalans did not want independence (see page 11). The results were 41.1% for independence, 49.4% against. More interesting is that the percentage of independentistas had shrunk from March. It seems that the Catalans were getting tired of Puigdemont's grandstanding.

This crisis has been aggravated by Prime Minister Rajoy's right-wing Partido Popular (P.P.  Popular or People's Party) since day one. Spain and Catalonia had reached a somewhat amicable agreement that gave Catalonia more autonomy and control of taxes in 2006, similar to the autonomy given to the Basque. The Spanish Parliament agreed to it.

It was Prime Minister Rajoy's P.P. that sued to get the Catalan autonomy overturned in 2006.

The People's Party [PP] filed an appeal against Catalonia's Statute of Autonomy on the 31st of July, 2006, challenging 113 of the 221 articles, including the most important ones. ... However, the PP got a first member of the Court excluded from the debate and verdict on Catalonia's Statute of Autonomy, shifting the majority towards the conservative sector. ... 28th June, 2010. The Constitutional Court finally issues its verdict on the Statute of Autonomy, with a 4-year delay and manifold political interferences.

The P.P. used tricks to make sure that the court would be packed with hostile conservatives. Had the P.P. not tried to subvert a democratic agreement, arrived at by the Parliament, by means of judicial activism, Catalonia today might be as quiet as the Basque region presently is.

It was on July 10, 2010, after the court intervention, that the Catalans finally had enough. One point one million Catalans were on Barcelona's streets protesting. The Catalans had learned their lesson. The Basque, with their history of armed struggle, had gathered more rights. Like it or not, though the Basque ETA was despicable, it seems that armed resistance spawned results. The Catalans were taking it to the next level.

The P.P. is primarily responsible for this crisis. There is no reason why the Catalans could not have been offered what was tendered to the Basque, especially the financial autonomy. There was no reason why the P.P. should have sued to get so much of the agreement between the Spanish Parliament and Catalonia overturned.

To get a sense of the absurdity at play in Spain, a Spanish court overturned Catalonia's ban on bullfighting in 2016.

The court voted 8 to 3 against the Catalan ban, finding that lawmakers from the region could not prohibit a practice that the justices said was enshrined in the cultural patrimony of the Spanish state.

We are talking about a court not defending civil rights, but rather upholding a mythical Spanish tradition that many consider animal abuse. Does it sound as though Catalonia has any real autonomy?!

The Partido Popular has to admit that it is the author of this slide down to a disaster. It was the P.P., not the Catalans, who subverted the Spanish government's will, approved by the Spanish Parliament in 2006.

However, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and the independentists have played this to the hilt. They have taken the historic Catalan desire for independence and used political tricks to subvert democracy also. The coalition in the Catalan parliament who want independence have nothing in common with each other but a desire to leave Spain. This is not a coalition to build a nation on. Frankly, the Catalans have not even prepared for such a split. Do they even have currency printed? The Catalan government seems to have anticipated E.U. support and was shocked when support did not arrive.

The independentistas had no clear majority in Catalonia this summer  by their own poll numbers  and they manufactured a crisis, counting on the P.P. to overreact, which the P.P. obligingly did, to garner support. With this questionable support, Mr. Puigdemont may go to the Catalan parliament and ask for independence next week.

Two irresponsible leaders  Mr. Rajoy and Mr. Puigdemont  have created a theater of the absurd.

Mr. Puigdemont, if he has any respect for democratic principle, can halt this irresponsibility and instead offer this choice to his parliament next week.

He can acknowledge the overwhelming vote in favor independence but also acknowledge that it was not enough of a turnout to merit a democratic mandate. He can put forth this proposal to be voted on in a few months  enough time so that things may calm down.

IF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT WILL NOT INTEFERE WITH A SECOND VOTE, THE QUESTION PUT TO CATALANS WILL BE:

1) DO YOU WANT INDEPENDENCE IN THE FORM OF A REPUBLIC?

2) DO YOU PREFER THE REAL AUTOMONY AKIN TO THAT OFFERED BY THE 2006 AGREEMENT BEFORE THE COURT INTERFERED?

3) THE TURNOUT MUST BE AT LEAST 67%, WITH 67% OF VOTERS FOR A SUPER-MAJORITY FOR INDEPENDENCE

This is how a vote for a matter of such gravity should be set up. The vote in the British colonies of the states' representatives at Independence Hall in July 1776 had to be unanimous to pass. A simple majority is not sufficient to declare independence. This is not a tax bill they are considering.

This would be a true choice. It would place the responsibility with the Spanish government to allow a second vote to occur. If the Spanish interfere with the vote a second time, it would be Spain shown as the guilty party. A super-majority would also remove the independence vote from the purview of rabble-rousers. Catalonia claims that it has the right to independently act, apart from the rest of Spain. True! But for matters this grave, it does not have the right to act with less than two-thirds internal Catalan approval. The vote on October 1 did not provide that  not with a 43% turnout.

It would also allow the Spanish Parliament to make a genuine counter-offer of real autonomy to Catalonia. They might resurrect the 2006 agreement. It would be a real defeat for the P.P., and it would show the world who is truly democratic.

It would also force the independentistas to stop their grandstanding. Nations are born not by temporary swings of popular opinion. If the Catalans cannot vote by a two-thirds majority for independence, then there is no democratic principle that they should separate.

Both sides have abused democratic principles. Mr. Puigdemont can rescue them next week by not unilaterally declaring independence and by acting like a statesman.

In August 2014, swaggering loud-mouthed European leaders unsheathed their Guns of August and led Europe to a disaster from which Western civilization may not yet have recovered. Let's hope that in Spain, cooler heads prevail.

Mike Konrad is the pen name of an American who wishes he had availed himself more fully of the opportunity to learn Spanish in high school, lo those many decades ago. He also just started a website about small computers at http://thetinydesktop.com.
When the news broke of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, many Americans did what we have done throughout our history. We offered our thoughts and prayers for the survivors and their families.

To the surprise of many, that is no longer an acceptable response. According to Democrats, we must stop praying and do something. No matter that the facts are unknown. No matter that people are still mourning and victims are in shock. Politics and legislation are omnipotent -- the answer to every human tragedy and need.

Until recently it would have been unthinkable that anyone, especially prominent political leaders, would mock prayer. However, the sad reality is that disrespect for Christianity is one of the Lefts contributions to modern American culture. Elites in Washington, Hollywood, and their lesser acolytes in the Twitterverse and on Facebook openly dismissed prayer for the Las Vegas victims as an excuse for inaction.

For Americans to see prayer as an avoidance of responsibility bespeaks an inscrutable ignorance. Our Founding Fathers, the pilgrims and pioneers who came before them, and most of the colonists prayed and yet somehow built the greatest nation on earth at the same time.

They were not a genetically superior breed. Their flaws and mistakes are well known, but they believed in the power of prayer, as did most in the society of their time. They also believed in providential guidance in answer to prayer. To put it another way, they believed that prayer was the prelude to more effective action, not a way of avoiding it. Even the slaves believed that they could pray their way out of bondage. They had no earthly power to bring it about, but, not to put too fine a point on it, their prayers were answered.

In the Declaration of Independence, our Founding Fathers called upon the power of God to aid them in their quest for freedom. According to James Madisons notes, Benjamin Franklin called for prayer during an impasse at the Constitutional Convention on June 28, 1787. Franklin said, In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers were graciously answered And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business.

Those deliberations proceeded to a successful conclusion, in spite of differences over slavery, a bill of rights and other major issues. Throughout our history, particularly in dire situations, there have been national calls for prayer. From the blockade of Boston Harbor in 1774 to D-Day during WWII, to President Trump calling for a National Day of Prayer after Hurricane Harvey, Americans have always turned to prayer. It is woven into the fabric of our culture. Yet some of our misguided citizens want to rip out this essential thread.

In Congress last Monday night, Massachusetts Representatives Katherine Clark and Seth Moulton refused to participate in a moment of silence.

After the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando in June 2016, Connecticut Democratic Rep. Jim Himes announced that he would not partake in a moment of silence for the victims.

After the San Bernardino massacre in December 2015, the New York Daily News ran a front-page headline, Gods Not Fixing This, mocking Republican leaders for preaching about prayer.

On the other hand, in a speech before a Congress, Rep. Steve Scalise, said he began to pray while lying on the field severely wounded by a mass shooter. [God] really did deliver for me and my family, and it just gives you that renewed faith that prayer is something you just cannot underestimate"

Yet many of the elites of the left have discarded four centuries of spiritual heritage. They have traded their Judeo-Christian birthright for a bowl of atheist porridge. They want a country without prayer, a nation without God. This is the key to the fundamental transformation of America.

They will answer to no Higher Authority than themselves. They set their own morals and standards to justify their lusts. They would supplant the spiritual legacy that birthed the greatest nation in history and substitute man's persistent idolatry: We will be god ourselves.

In a simple, but eloquent call for prayer, President Trump reminded us of who we have been, who we are and who we must be always: To the families of the victims: We are praying for you and we are here for you, and we ask God to help see you through this very dark period. Scripture teaches us, The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

This is the heritage weve known and the country we love. Laws will come and go. Leaders will come and go. But the power of prayer will endure.

As long as we remember that, America will endure.

E.W Jackson founder & president of S.T.A.N.D. is hosting a National Awakening Conference in Chesapeake Virginia with the theme: America Needs A Christian Awakening - We Want God (Oct. 20 to Oct. 22). Register at [www.standamerica.us]. He is also a nationally syndicated radio host on American Family Radio & Urban Family Talk and Presiding Bishop of The Called Church.
Whether or not bump stocks end up banned is a trivial matter. The war over the Second Amendment will not hinge on the outcome of this particular battle. Both sides know this; the importance of the issue is entirely psychological.

For progressives, a win would be a move in the right direction, evidence that conservatives are vulnerable. It would be comparable to the Doolittle Raid against the Japanese homeland in 1942  a strike of no great strategic import but invaluable as a way to shift national confidence from the Japanese to the American side.

For conservatives, there is little to be gained by thwarting this progressive gambit (which is the reason some are prepared to make a tactical retreat). Why expend resources on such an insignificant matter when winning it will not much advance the Second Amendment cause? Why, indeed! The answer is that a defensive mindset leads to defeat. Fainthearted people rarely win at war. This is no less true for a political war than it is for a military one.

If either side in a war is not totally committed to the principle for which it stands, then the other side wins. It may take a week, or it may take years, but ultimate victory almost always passes to the side that more strongly believes in its cause.

This brings us to this particular war over this particular constitutional amendment. As it stands, conservatives are doing nothing more than defending an existing arrangement. Progressives are out to change it. Let us not be deluded by any protestations that their agenda is to refine rather than eliminate the Second Amendment.

We know the progressive strategy: disengage with the enemy until a (real) shooting crisis occurs, at which point initiate a political blitzkrieg that links that shooting to a lack of gun control. This aggressive tactic is working, and conservatives must counter it with something similar.

Here is a suggestion: as soon as the next mass shooting takes place, conservatives should unite around the following message.

"Our government is incapable of protecting us from such attacks, as proven by the countless times it has failed to do so. Until it is able to afford adequate protection against mass shootings, the people must be permitted to protect themselves as best they can. The government must assist the citizens by doing two things.

"First, encourage gun ownership. Second, and even more importantly, train all people on proper gun use and gun safety."

Ownership can be encouraged by subsidizing the purchase of guns. Conservatives oppose subsidies on principle but agree with progressives that the epidemic of mass shootings in this country requires extraordinary measures. Having people armed is more sensible and more in keeping with the Constitution than having them disarmed.

Hand in hand with this proposal, conservatives must simultaneously advocate for gun safety by offering a free and readily available course to everybody on the safe and proper use of guns and by insisting that retail gun purchases be tied to completion of this course.

The course should be implemented by a dedicated branch of the military and taught by properly vetted veterans who have actually fought in wars. Since the military is one of the few truly effective branches of our federal government, it retains the respect of the American people. A gun safety course taught by those who have actually fought for our safety would help mend the growing divide between the civilian and military sectors of our society.

Conservatives must emphasize to the American people that modern technology has created a world in which a degree of destructive power that until recently was only available to countries now is available to individuals. Our national government is not to blame for this (at least not completely), but the reality is that it does not know how to cope with the problem. Since it has no answer and since its main job is to protect people, the federal government needs to encourage self-protection. It is that simple.

If conservatives take seriously the task of promoting (and not merely defending) the Second Amendment, the prospects for crushing the barbaric progressive attack on it will greatly improve. Government really is unable to defend against mass shootings, and most Americans recognize this truth. There will be natural public support for any sensible proposal for thwarting mass shootings. Progressives are trying to capitalize on this need, but their proposals for disarmament  partial as they may be at present  are not convincing to most people.

Make a proposal, conservatives; identify a course of action. Do not simply hide behind the Second Amendment stockade. There is a war out there, and you must abandon safety and go fight it. If you do not, you will be increasingly isolated, and in time overrun.

There is a long-standing principle in natural law that although violence against another is unacceptable, it is justifiable when someone threatens or exacts violence against you. We as conservatives must accept that an unfair tactic employed against us opens a door through which we may pass. Otherwise, we will constantly be ambushed by an adversary free to engage in a practice that we abhor.

War is dirty. War is dehumanizing. We all know this, but most of us never have to confront its immorality directly. Those who fight a shooting war inevitably do confront it, and if they survive, they must live with moral scars. This is the reason they come to be viewed as heroic even when their direct participation had little or no effect on the final outcome.

Is the struggle over the Second Amendment a war, or is it not? If it is, we must fight the good fight. If not, we should surrender now, for the enemy thinks otherwise and will impose its will.
James Paddock meticulously planned his Las Vegas attack, spending years stockpiling firearms and ammunition and scouting a number of potential targets before settling on the "Route 91 music festival."

On September 28, Paddock checked into a hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He had specifically requested a room with a view of the plaza where the concert would be held. Paddock then used the next few days to haul firearms and ammunition up to his hotel room.

Paddock's careful planning of his attack was not unique. Mass shooters can spend months, even years, planning their attacks. In other ways, however, Paddock's attack on the Route 91 music festival represents a terrifying escalation. Paddock's use of a prepared position and fully automatic weapons are new developments that will not go unnoticed by future mass shooters.

When the Connecticut State Police searched the home of Sandy Hook murderer Adam Lanza, they discovered a 4x7 foot spreadsheet detailing past mass shootings and attempted mass shootings. Lanza studied these atrocities in order to plan his own attack.

Lanza isn't unique; in the words of Peter Bergen, "[i]n the United States, school shooters study other school shooters, in particular Columbine. This is true of terrorists as well. They study tactics that have worked before."

Mass shooters don't just study what "works"; they also study what draws the most media attention.

According to a recent study by Adam Lankford and Eric Madfis, many mass shooters are motivated by fame. From observing media coverage of past attacks, mass shooters concluded that the more people they killed or injured, the more media attention they received.

This makes the Vegas attack especially worrisome. Potential mass shooters might see the large number of victims, along with the extensive media coverage, and emulate Paddock.

During the First World War, it was discovered that a small number of soldiers armed with belt-fed machine guns could repulse attacks by much larger numbers of enemy soldiers. Machine guns permanently changed the face of warfare, making frontal assault by infantry suicidal.

In effect, James Paddock transformed his hotel room into a machine gun nest. From his position on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay, he could murder and maim with impunity. Unlike previous mass shooters, he didn't have to worry about his victims fighting back.

Grant Duwe, research director for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, is an expert on mass public shootings. His research led him to conclude that these atrocities have not become more common, but they have become more lethal. This supports the contention that mass shooters have become more effective by studying past shootings.

Las Vegas represents a terrifying new development that could easily inspire copycats. Unfortunately, the problem of mass shootings has no obvious solution. As Lankford and Madfis suggest, the media could stop giving mass killers the attention they crave. Law enforcement could also develop more effective tactics for stopping mass shooters. While these are good ideas, neither will do more than mitigate the problem. Mass shootings will almost certainly remain a problem for the foreseeable future.
Great Britain is leaking to the media that it is planning for war with North Korea, signaling to Kim Jong-un that President Trump and our allies are serious about the demands to end the nuclear weapons and missile programs.

The U.K. Daily Mail reports:

The Armed Forces are preparing for a potential war with North Korea, sources have revealed. Officials have been instructed to draw up plans for how Britain would respond if war broke out with Pyongyang amid heightening tensions between the West and dictator Kim Jong-Un. One option involves deploying Britain's new aircraft carrier  due to be handed over to the Navy later this year  to the region before she has undergone flight trials. Details of the secret operation plan have emerged after Donald Trump warned that 'only one thing will work' when it comes to dealing with North Korea, which has continued nuclear and rocket tests despite widespread condemnation.

I am reasonably certain that the leaks are intentional and that the first purpose is to ratchet the pressure up on Kim Jong-un. He knows that the U.S. could defeat and destroy his regime if it comes to war. Should he manage to land a nuclear strike on U.S. forces or territory, the retaliation would be devastating, a lesson to the world on the perils of using nuclear bombs against the U.S.

No doubt, the few North Korean allowed to read the outside world's media are aware that many of his political opponents, foreign and domestic, consider President Trump mean, irrational, and dangerous. This all works to his psychological advantage.

What makes this leak so important is that it indicates to Kim that Trump is not being abandoned by his allies. On the contrary, they are lining up.

In the background for us, but ever present in the mind of Koreans, north and south, is the specter of Japan arming up with nukes and ditching its "peace constitution."

I expect there to be more leaks, some of them from Japanese sources.

President Trump has ditched the old ways of dealing with Kim, all of which have failed. This horrifies the diplomatic establishment. As far as I am concerned, that is not a point against him.
Happy days are here again.

President Trump just signed a proclamation for Columbus, and it does not blame Christopher for a darned thing. Let's see the text:

Five hundred and twenty-five years ago, Christopher Columbus completed an ambitious and daring voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas. The voyage was a remarkable and then-unparalleled feat that helped launch the age of exploration and discovery. The permanent arrival of Europeans to the Americas was a transformative event that undeniably and fundamentally changed the course of human history and set the stage for the development of our great Nation. Therefore, on Columbus Day, we honor the skilled navigator and man of faith, whose courageous feat brought together continents and has inspired countless others to pursue their dreams and convictions  even in the face of extreme doubt and tremendous adversity.

More than five centuries after his initial voyage, we remember the "Admiral of the Ocean Sea" for building the critical first link in the strong and enduring bond between the United States and Europe. While Isabella I and Ferdinand II of Spain sponsored his historic voyage, Columbus was a native of the City of Genoa, in present day Italy, and represents the rich history of important Italian American contributions to our great Nation. There can be no doubt that American culture, business, and civic life would all be much less vibrant in the absence of the Italian American community. We also take this opportunity to reaffirm our close ties to Columbus's country of birth, Italy. Italy is a strong ally and a valued partner in promoting peace and promoting prosperity around the world.

In commemoration of Christopher Columbus's historic voyage, the Congress, by joint resolution of April 30, 1934, and modified in 1968 (36 U.S.C. 107), as amended, has requested the President proclaim the second Monday of October of each year as "Columbus Day."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2017, as Columbus Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also direct that the flag of the United States be displayed on all public buildings on the appointed day in honor of our diverse history and all who have contributed to shaping this Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.
A commander of the Revolutionary Guards in Iran issued a statement saying U.S. bases in the region will be in danger if further sanctions on Tehran are imposed.

The Revolutionary Guards are under the direct control of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, so the statement can be seen as coming from the top reaches of the Iranian government.

Reuters:

The warning came after the White House said on Friday that President Donald Trump would announce new U.S. responses to Iran's missile tests, support for "terrorism" and cyber operations as part of his new Iran strategy. "As we've announced in the past, if America's new law for sanctions is passed, this country will have to move their regional bases outside the 2,000 km range of Iran's missiles," Guards' commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said, according to state media. Jafari also said that additional sanctions would end the chances for future dialogue with the United States, according to state media, and issued a stark warning to American troops. "If the news is correct about the stupidity of the American government in considering the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group, then the Revolutionary Guards will consider the American army to be like Islamic State all around the world particularly in the Middle East," Jafari said. The Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are Iran's most powerful internal and external security force. The Quds Force, the IRGC's foreign espionage and paramilitary wing, and individuals and entities associated with the IRGC are on the US list of foreign terrorist organizations, but the organization as a whole is not.

The Rev Guards may not be designated as a terrorist group, but that's not relevant. Diplomatic hair-splitting doesn't matter when the reality is that the Guards' top commanders are all involved in one way or another with funding, training, and supporting terrorists around the region. The Guard also runs the nuclear and ICBM programs for the government. Designating the entire organization as a terrorist group is merely a formality.

As for Iranian threats against U.S. bases, they would probably do it if they thought they could survive our response. But, like North Korea, the Iranians aren't that stupid. The bluster is for domestic political consumption, not a serious policy suggestion.

At least, we hope that's true. Also as with North Korea, there is an element of instability and paranoia that makes Iranian actions unpredictable. It's clear that the Iranians won't stop until someone forces them to or until there is some kind of regime change that alters their behavior.

The latter is preferable to the former, but in the end, what will matter is ending the threat.
No one argues that Christopher Columbus was a nice guy. By all reports, he was vain, overly ambitious, tyrannical, stubborn, and cruel.

But his published journal set Europe on fire and caused a monumental historical movement of people and ideas, the likes of which have never been seen before or since in world history.

That this migration caused the death of several indigenous civilizations is not in dispute. But what is also indisputable is that there arose from that movement another civilization that has undeniably done more good in the world than any other in history.

To see the errors, the faults, the deliberate and systematic dismantling and destruction of cultures and peoples is right and necessary. But to fail in acknowledging the rest of the story  the stupendous, uncountable achievements of Western civilization  is wrong both intellectually and morally.

And that's my beef with trying to change "Columbus Day" to "Indigenous Peoples Day."

Italian-Americans don't much like it, either.

Associated Press:

But the gesture to recognize indigenous people rather than the man who opened the Americas to European domination also has prompted howls of outrage from some Italian-Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too. "We had a very difficult time in this country for well over a hundred years," said Basil Russo, president of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America. "Columbus Day is a day that we've chosen to celebrate who we are. And we're entitled to do that just as they are entitled to celebrate who they are." It's not about taking anything away from Italian-Americans, said Cliff Matias, cultural director of the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, which is hosting a Re-Thinking Columbus Day event Sunday and Monday in New York. "The conversation is Columbus," he said. "If they're going to celebrate Columbus, we need to celebrate the fact that we survived Columbus."

That's total BS. The move to change who and what is celebrated today is all about "taking away," and anyone who says differently is a liar. There are 364 other days in the year on which we could acknowledge the sins of our ancestors and celebrate native Americans. The only reason to choose Columbus Day is to take away the honor given to Columbus and, by extension, Americans of Italian descent.

Many Italians who migrated to the U.S. initially had a rough time. In 1891, 11 Italians were lynched in New Orleans by a mob that held them responsible for the death of a police official. At the end of the 1800s, Italians began to link themselves more with Columbus. Italian-American businessman and newspaper owner Generoso Pope was among those who worked to get Columbus Day recognized as a federal holiday in 1937. "It was one of the things that would allow them to become Americans symbolically," said Fred Gardaphe, a professor of Italian-American studies at Queens College.

It should be noted that for every one native American who was killed at the hands of a white European, ten were felled by diseases. Within 50 years of Columbus, as many as 90% of all native Americans were dead from European diseases  the overwhelming majority of whom had never seen a white man. The extensive and complex trade networks in North and Central America carried the diseases to every corner of the continent.

This is not an attempt to absolve the newcomers of responsibility for the crash of native culture. But just once in this debate, I'd like the other side to acknowledge that the narrative they are telling about Columbus Day is seriously defective and incomplete. Humans and human societies are far more complex than the simple-minded stick figure stories we hear from those who wish to banish Columbus. This one-dimensional, deliberate obfuscation of history to settle political scores should not determine who or what is celebrated today.
Are liberal Jews  and their rabbis  committing a sin in the way they address President Donald J. Trump?

That question was provoked by a recent "analysis" in Haaretz titled "Is Trump Really a Moron or Just Racist and Obnoxious?"

It also came to mind when Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist rabbis refused to join a High Holidays call, sending best wishes to the president for a good and productive new year.

"The rabbinical groups of the Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist movements said in a joint statement that Trump's recent remarks 'are so lacking in moral leadership and empathy for the victims of racial and religious hatred' that they've decided they will not help to organize the conference call this year," reported the Jewish Forward.

The sin is called "loshon horo," or "evil tongue." It derives from that portion of the Torah when God brought manna from the heavens to feed the Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness. It arises when Moses's sister, Miriam, approaches his brother, Aaron, with gossip about their leader.

G-d considers this loshen hora (evil talk about another) and strikes Miriam with tzora-as (a divine punishment requiring purification). The great Talmudic commentator Rashi says that if this is called loshen hora, where Miriam hadn't intended to shame Moses, "how much more so is it when one intends to shame his fellow man"?

Calling the president names, as opposed to criticizing his policies, seems to fly in the face of the nearly ubiquitous Prayer for Our Leaders, which reads as follows:

Our God and God of our ancestors: We ask Your blessings for our country, for its government, for its leader and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful authority. Teach them insights of Your Torah, that they may administer all affairs of state fairly, that peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom may forever abide in our midst.

It's been widely reported that the vast majority of Reform and Conservative rabbis in America vote Democratic and had favored the election of Hillary Clinton.

Typical of High Holiday sermons from the liberal rabbinate was one given on Rosh Hashana by Joshua Davidson, senior rabbi at New York's Temple Emanuel. He told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that his words were on "trying to lift ourselves above the dishonesty, the incivility, the indecency which ... has become the societal norm."

Of course, he could have been referring to behaviors such as participating in a "Waitress Sandwich" (Ted Kennedy), taking oral sex from a White House intern (Bill Clinton), or allowing a gay prostitution ring to be operated from his apartment (Barney Frank.)

Or he could have been referring to the sale of State Department decisions, the description of Beau Bergdahl as a "valiant soldier," or the long-term abuse of women by Harvey Weinstein.

But he wasn't. All indications are that he was speaking in evil tongue about the president.
The Islamic State seems to have come to a particularly wretched end, with the New York Times reporting the surrender of thousands of ISIS fighters, not forgetting to note that it was a smelly ordeal, given that numerous fighters had either soiled themselves or used their desert bathrobes as toilet paper. Eeew. And according to the Times report, at least one of them went to the bathroom on himself without even bothering to wipe up.

Care to join this group, idiots?

It's right that the Times reported those gross details, because it makes ISIS known for this. Rather than being the terror group of triumphant black flag processions in the eyes of Middle Eastern young men, they're now the terror group of dirty dishdashas and smelly clumps and gross body odors  hardly a recruiting ad for joining this vile terror group. I hope the execrable details are plastered all over Twitter, too  ISIS in all its glory.

And aside from the press doing its part with the gamy details about the losers, the Trump administration should do its part, too. As ISIS stands humbled in its own filth with New York Times reporters reporting all about it, doing their best to learn from their brother reporters at the New York Post, U.S. troops and their allies stand tall. Freed from the lawyers and micromanaging of the bureaucrats of the White House, they got in there, blew the hell out of ISIS, left them crying in their diapers, and won the war, as they were so fully capable of doing.

President Trump should heap honors galore on these brave men and women who took out the trash and let it be known that on this front, America is great again, destined to lead. There should be triumphant victory parades for those on the front lines who drove these miserable terrorists to surrender and stories of how they did it. This is a dramatic turning point that deserves to be recognized. This is what victory looks like.
(ANSA) - Luxembourg, October 9 - Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said Monday that he had doubts about the European Central Bank's new rules on non-performing loans. "It's clear in Italy there is a problem with reducing bank bad loans," Padoan said on his way into a Eurogroup meeting. "It is clear that this process has started and is going in the right direction at increasing speed. "So we are satisfied about this.

"I have perplexities about the method and content of the communication put under discussion by the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM). We will discuss it in the coming weeks".

Under the new rules, the ECB will ask lenders to put aside more cash to cover newly classified bad loans from next year.


(ANSA) - Luxembourg, October 9 - Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said Monday that he had doubts about the European Central Bank's new rules on non-performing loans. "It's clear in Italy there is a problem with reducing bank bad loans," Padoan said on his way into a Eurogroup meeting. "It is clear that this process has started and is going in the right direction at increasing speed. "So we are satisfied about this.

"I have perplexities about the method and content of the communication put under discussion by the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM). We will discuss it in the coming weeks".

Under the new rules, the ECB will ask lenders to put aside more cash to cover newly classified bad loans from next year.

The president of the European Banking Association, Andrea Enria, told the European Parliament Monday that the principle of the new rules "is not wrong, but it is right to see how it is applied in practice". Industry Minister Carlo Calenda said the new rules would risk hitting small and medium-sized businesses.

He vowed: "we will fight a battle in Europe".


ROME - Anis Hannachi, the brother of Marseilles killer Ahmed Hannachi, combatted with jihadi foreign fighters in Syria, according to information the French authorities passed on to their Italian counterparts, investigators said Monday. Tunisian Anis Hannachi was arrested in Ferrara on Saturday. He is suspected of complicity in the Marseilles attack, in which two young women were stabbed to death, and of radicalizing his brother. The Italian police executed a European arrest warrant for Anis Hannachi, who later Monday agreed to be transferred to France. The Marseilles victims were two cousins aged 20, Mauranne and Laura. Ahmed Hannachi reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" as he stabbed the women. The so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. Anis Hannachi was sent back by Italy in 2014 when he landed at Favignana in 2014 on a migrant boat with other Tunisians, according to the results of investigations after his arrest. The French authorities had notified Italy that he was probably in Italy on October 3 and on October 4 it was ascertained that he was in Liguria. At the moment "there is no evidence" that Anis Hannachi wanted to commit terrorist actions in Italy or had plans to do so, investigators said at a press conference Monday. There is also nothing to suggest that the 25-year-old Tunisian had "solid support" in Ferrara for logistics.



Anis Hannchis' court-appointed lawyer, Laura Lemmi, said "My client does not understand Italian and needed an interpreter. He is as tranquil as you can be in these cases".



In Ferrara, he was the guest of a childhood friend who told police he had "no idea" the Hanachis had become radicalised.



Italy's chief anti-terrorism prosecutor Franco Roberti told reporters: "Ahmed never showed any signs of radicalization in Italy. "The investigative hypothesis we're working on is that the younger brother radicalized the older one." Ahmed Hannachi, who has shot dead by soldiers, had reportedly lived in Italy for several years and was reportedly married to an Italian woman resident in Aprilia, near Rome - the same town where Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri also lived for a short time, police said. Amri killed 12 people at a Berlin Xmas market before going on the run and being shot dead at Milan central train station in December 2016.
TEL AVIV - Israel is preparing to approve the construction of over 3,000 housing units in the West Bank, not only in major Jewish settlements but also in more isolated ones and in Hebron, military radio reports, citing an upcoming meeting of the planning and construction committee.

The decision, according to Ynet, has reportedly been approved in principle by the US administration, based on an agreement that has set the announcement of new housing every three to four months and not every few weeks anymore.

Overall, the new housing units would include 300 in Beit El, 206 in Tekoa, 158 in Kfar Etzion, 129 in Avnei Hefetz, 102 in Negohot, 97 in Rehelim and 48 in Maale Mikhmas. In addition, 30 new housing units would be built in the Jewish settlement of Hebron, where nothing had been built in a while.

An Israeli government source was quoted by Ynet as saying that, after US President Donald Trump came into office, Israel and the new administration established clear criteria for construction which Washington did not oppose, including the abolition of the distinction between settlement block and isolated settlements.

Moreover, it was cleared that the US did not reportedly consider settlements as an obstacle to peace. The plan - which now needs to be ratified by the committee before construction tenders are announced - was partially welcomed by the council of settlers: local ones were more in favor while Ynet reported that Yossi Dagan, council head of Judea and Samaria (West Bank), opposed it.
ROME - A Tunisian ship and a vessel carrying a reported 70 migrants collided off Tunis. At least eight migrants died while others were reported missing in the Maltese SAR area. According to IOM, about 30 people could have lost their lives. 38 people on board were rescued.

Sources in Rome said the migrant boat sank after the collision.

Malta's authorities coordinated rescue operations. Italian naval units - including two coast guard cutters that departed from Lampedusa, along with a tax police vessel and a Navy ship - took part in operations, at Malta's request.
Syria: Turkish army enters Idlib As part of Astana process on 'de-escalation' zones

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, OCTOBER 9 - The Turkish army Sunday entered Idlib province in Syria as part of its role of guarantor of 'de-escalation' zones agreed in talks in Astana, the Turkish armed forces said in a statement on Monday.



According to the army, the units crossed the border in a monitoring capacity, according to rules of engagement agreed with other countries acting as guarantors, Russia and Iran.



The ground operation was announced Saturday by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who added that that the border had not been crossed by soldiers yet. The action had been entrusted by Turkey to local militias.



The objective announced by Ankara is to clear the border from Qaedist groups, creating a de-facto buffer zones and countering the expansion of Kurdish militias. (ANSAmed).




TUNIS - The Tunisian defence ministry has opened an inquiry into the causes of the collision between a military naval vessel and a boat carrying migrants approximately 54 km from El Ataya beach on Kerkennah islands. In a statement the ministry said the collision occured as the military vessel was approaching the migrant boat in order to identify it.



Thirty-eight migrants of Tunisian nationality were rescued and eight bodies recovered.


Demonstrators swarm Barcelona against independence But Puigdemont does not backtrack on declaration

(ANSAmed) - BARCELONA, OCTOBER 9 - Hundreds of thousands of people - 350,000 according to police, 950,000 for organizers - protested in downtown Barcelona, holding the Spanish flag, to oppose Catalan President Carles Puigdemont's plan to declare independence, perhaps as soon as Tuesday.



A multitude of demonstrators from across Catalonia and Spain marched chanting ''Puigdemont in prison'' and ''We are Catalan, Catalan and Spanish'' and applauded the words of literature Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, who was born in Peru but is now a Spanish citizen, who condemned the separatist ''coup''.



''You are not alone'', tweeted Spanish Premier Mariano Rajoy, welcoming the gathering, which was the response to separatist marches to demand independence and denounce violence by Spanish police organized by those who call themselves the ''silent majority'', estimated to be half of Catalonia's residents who want to remain part of Spain.



Also, tens of thousands of Catalans and Spaniards protested the previous day in Madrid and Barcelona to ask for dialogue after months of clashes which they say risk worsening the crisis.



And pressure in general is high on Puigdemont and Rajoy, the two protagonists of Spain's most serious crisis since Franco's regime. The Catalan leader needs to decide whether to propose a declaration of independence tomorrow night to Parliament or whether to opt for a postponement to foster negotiations with Madrid.



The separatist front is divided. The left-wing Cup is pressuring for an immediate declaration while the president's PdeCat moderate front is more cautious. In addition, Catalan economic leaders have warned Puigdemont that secession could be devastating for the local economy. And the possibility that large banks and companies could leave in the event of a secession is alarming people who fear an economic crisis similar to the ones recorded in Greece and Argentina, as well as retaliatory measures from Madrid.



Rajoy is also under strong pressure. Since the referendum last Sunday he did not give in to calls for immediate drastic measures against the region, with the activation of article 155 of the Constitution to suspend autonomy, remove from office Puigdemont and impose early elections with the risk of serious protests.



Meanwhile calls for dialogue and mediation are continuing.



Yesterday, the former world leaders of the club of 'Elders' founded by Nelson Mandela called for a ''peaceful solution to the crisis through dialogue''.



The 12 leaders - including former US president Jimmy Carter, ex UN secretary generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu - asked Madrid and Barcelona to ''avoid any divisive or incendiary language or action''.



Madrid's refusal for a mediation has so far aborted all initiatives to try to solve the crisis, although something could be changing behind the scenes.(ANSAmed).




Turkey issues arrest warrant for US consulate employee Another staffer arrested for alleged espionage, Gulen links

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, OCTOBER 9 - The Turkish authorities have issued a new arrest warrant against an employee of the US consulate in Istanbul, Turkish CNN reports.



The move follows last week's arrest of a Turkish employee on charges of espionage and suspected links with the alleged coup-plotting network of Fethullah Gulen.



The wife and son of the new suspect are currently being questioned by police.



The new provision comes at a moment of strong tension between Washington and Ankara. On Sunday the US embassy in Turkey said it had to "re-assess the Turkish government's commitment to the security of US structures and staff" and announced the suspension of short-stay visas for Turkish travellers to the US.



The Turkish government responded with a similar provision targeting US citizens travelling to Turkey. On Monday morning the foreign ministry summoned the US deputy chief of mission in Turkey to ask for the immediate lifting of the visa suspension. (ANSAmed).






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Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2018 will be held from 26th to 28th February 2018, as part of Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The Abu Dhabi Air Expo, in its fifth edition, will be rolled out in a new set-up that will be divided into three main areas; Aircraft hangar, chalets and outdoor static display, which will occupy nearly 60,000 square meters of space at Al Bateen Executive Airport. Leading private aircraft manufacturers like Dassault Aviation, Gulfstream, Embraer, and Boeing Business Jets will be back in the 2018 show, alongside key local and regional industry partners and stakeholders such as ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Aviation, Falcon Aviation Services and Royal Jet.

Nasser Juma, General Manager of General Aviation Airports at Abu Dhabi Airports and the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Air Expo organizing committee, said: We are very excited to be organize and host Abu Dhabi Air Expo in its fifth cycle, as the continuity of this event confirms the position that Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Al Bateen Executive Airport have acquired as a the key regional hub for general aviation. Air Expo is very unique platform where industry leaders, tradesmen, clients, hobbyist and public can engage and gain insights, business leads and develop opportunities that will benefit both the end user and the entire industry.

We are working tirelessly to ensure we deliver a proud Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2018 that will exceed everyones expectations, both exhibitors and attendees he added.

The three day Air Expo event is set to welcome over 18,000 visitors from the aviation and aerospace industries. An exhibitor line-up of more than 300 manufacturers and suppliers will showcase the latest innovations and development in private jet aircraft, helicopters, executive charter services, airport equipment and services, avionics systems, insurance and financing.

Over 110 aircraft, from ultra-light to heavy business jets, will be on show to be explored by aircraft enthusiasts and businesses searching for the best airplanes and aviation-related services.

Abu Dhabi Air Expo will also host Abu Dhabi Heli Expo for the second time, showcasing all that the helicopter industry has to offer. Attendees will be able to meet representatives from leading manufacturers, distributors and support companies, and get up close to a range of helicopters.

The Middle East Aviation Career Conference, which will also run in its second edition in parallel with the Air Expo, will provide a unique platform for industry partners to discuss the challenges in securing aviation professionals for the future, and how to tackle them by developing the right education and training programs. The conference will run over the three days of the event and will take place within the shows allocated space.
Brought together at the Jeddah Hilton by the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) supported by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the key note presentation was delivered by Captain Abdulaziz Nagadi, Assistant President Aviation Standard in additional to key industry leaders from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East shared valuable knowledge to an audience of over 150 regional business aviation professionals.

The business aviation market was discussed in a panel led by Abdul Rahman Charafeddin, Global Sales Director of UAS International Trip Support; Faisal Alsaddik, Aviation Expert; Josh Stewart, Founder and CEO of XJet and Captain Mohammed Al Gabbas, Vice President of NasJet, examined the effects of new technology on business aviation, including an in-depth discussion around the potential for apps in the industry, among others.

As part of GACA increased commitment to MEBAA Conference Jeddah and to business aviation, another presentation was delivered by Mohammad AlHareeri, Foreign Airline Manager, Its very heartening to hear GACAs support for business and private aviation, said Stewart. Despite the business aviation market tightening over the past year or two, the long term fundamentals and future for the industry in the region is still huge.

Saudi Arabia is progressively changing and becoming a land of opportunities for its citizens and for business, said Captain Mohammed Alsubaiei, Director, Saudi Aramco Local Workforce Development, Department Director and National Aviation Academy Project Manager. He continued, The aviation industry sits at the heart of that change and is one of its driving engines.

Alsubaiei noted that Saudi Arabia will require 8,800 pilots and 11,700 technicians by 2024 due to attrition replacement and fleet growth, which is expected to grow by 5.5% by 2022 based on current order commitments. In order to meet this demand, he announced that the National Aviation Academy Initiative will facilitate sustainable growth of the Kingdoms aviation economy through highly trained and qualified Saudi professionals while enabling a vibrant and growing Saudi and regional aviation sector. Planned to open fully in 2020, the initiative will count among its strategic objectives to Contribute to the Kingdoms economy and support aviation growth.

Other topics discussed throughout the day included business aviation growth, profitability, and competitiveness; and insurance and risk management: understanding business aviation risks.

A new feature on the conference agenda were the final roundtable sessions, covering a variety of topics designed to meet the needs of the conference attendees. The four key focus areas were: risk management; flight support and ground control; maintenance and cost control; and implementing regulations to private owned aircrafts: the grey market.

Saudi Arabia has always been a leader in business aviation in the region, said Ali Alnaqbi, Founding & Executive Chairman of MEBAA. The MEBAA Conference Jeddah is a fantastic opportunity to bring the key industry players together to discuss challenges and opportunities, and to really drive the industry forward together. It was wonderful to see all of the attendees take such an active participation in the event, demonstrating the need for this conference here in the kingdom.
DAFZA showcased its e-transformation projects based on the latest technologies, which are aimed at supporting Dubai Smart City strategy through continuous efforts, initiatives and agreements with various government and non-government entities.

DAFZA revealed its new projects committed towards providing customers with leading digital experiences through its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that has been developed in collaboration with Oracle. The system includes all stages of the customer experience within multiple interactive points and also automates various essential services and facilitates the high-speed completion of transactions, which is expected to significantly change current experiences

Buthaina Bin Fahad, Senior Director of Information and Communication Technology, DAFZA, said: Dubai continues in its move to strengthen its strategic position of being the first in both regional and global business maps where the efficient setting up of business and faster transaction times play key roles in attracting investments and achieving the highest levels of competitiveness. DAFZA implements its strategic initiatives to attract more foreign investments by facilitating seamless transactions and processes of business establishments. It simplifies customer experiences to meet evolving requirements based on the latest techniques and at high performance and accomplishing speeds. As Oracle presents its creative solutions for managing customer relations, DAFZA looks forward to being the first and smartest option for companies planning to establish a business in Dubai.



DAFZA unveiled its latest digital transformation project, DAFZA Cloud, which will serve as an enabling platform for existing and future ICT infrastructure, including increased operational efficiency and acceleration of all technical services, greater customer service and high performance storage technology, plus disaster recovery system.



As part of its continuous efforts to provide innovative solutions, DAFZA marked a major achievement through the innovative security concept embodied by its Smart E-Gate Pass system, which aims to reduce waiting time for clients and reduces traffic in an innovative way by quickly issuing them electronic. DAFZA recently won the Policing/Security Idea of the Year at the IdeasUS International Conference 2017 and the IdeasUK International Conference 2016, two leading events in support of innovation. These recognitions reaffirm DAFZAs leadership as an innovative organisation, backed by a supportive structure for innovation and creativity to better serve customers and achieve their happiness.
The UAE has evaluated a number of fighter aircraft including the Dassault Rafale, Boeings Advanced Super Hornet and Advanced F-15 and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Emirati attention now seems to have switched back to the Advanced F-15, already entering service with the Royal Saudi Air Force as the F-15SA and now ordered by Qatar as the F-15QA. These orders promise to keep the F-15 production line out to 2022.

Following a meeting between US Defence Secretary, James Mattis, and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, reports emerged of renewed Emirati interest in the F-15, possibly as part of a two-phase deal that would also see the UAE Air Force eventually acquiring the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

In March, it was reported that the crown prince had received reassurances from US President, Donald Trump, about the possibility of the UAE acquiring fifth generation fighter jets.

A host of new capabilities have been added to the F-15 through the development of advanced derivatives of the F-15E Strike Eagle for South Korea (F-15K Slam Eagle), Singapore (F-15SG) and Saudi Arabia, as well as via upgrade and modernisation programmes for USAF F-15C/D Eagle fighters and F-15E Strike Eagle fighter-bombers.

Any new Advanced F-15 customer can now opt for active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, new cockpit displays (including F-35 type large area displays), helmet-mounted sighting and display systems, advanced new electronic warfare and self protection systems, conformal fuel tanks and even a new wing with a longer fatigue life and two additional under-wing hardpoints, while the aircraft is compatible with a wide variety of advanced weapons.

A number of low-observable (stealth) features were developed under the F-15SE Silent Eagle programme, including conformal weapons bays for internal weapons carriage and a number of radar cross-section (RCS) reduction features, most obviously including canted tailfins. Though none of these features have been incorporated in the Saudi F-15SAs, and are not thought to be featured on the Qatari aircraft, they remain notionally available to other customers, including the UAE.

The aircrafts raw performance remains impressive, even by modern standards, and it has a very useful payload range capability. Especially when coupled with advanced stand-off weapons, the Advanced F-15 gives its operators semi-strategic reach.

This may not be enough for the UAE, however, whose MBDA Black Shaheen cruise missile is an export variant of Storm Shadow and has a range of approximately 300 nautical miles (560 km)  roughly twice the range of the AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, which is the main stand-off weapon offered with Advanced F-15 export versions.

The USAF is currently upgrading and modernising its Eagles, preparing them for further service, and including the integration of BAE Systems Eagle passive active warning survivability system (EPAWSS) on 400 F-15Es and F-15Cs.

The F-15C is now expected to remain in service until replaced by the next generation penetrating counter-air (PCA) platform, which is scheduled to reach initial operational capability in the mid- to late 2020s.

Steve Parker, Boeings vice-president of F-15 programmes, reportedly said that though PCA would be a new platform, any Boeing PCA candidate aircraft would feature technology developed on the F-15 and hinted that the aircrafts outer mould line could be changed very easily, and that PCA would be different from a wrapper perspective.

But for the UAE, any F-15 purchase could prove to be an interim step, since the UAE Air Force and Air Defence wants to acquire the fully fifth generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

But the F-35 may not be the only fifth generation option for the UAE.

At the IDEX 2017 show in Abu Dhabi, Russian media reported the signing of a military and industrial cooperation agreement between the UAE and Russia, including the creation, development and supply of a fifth-generation fighter jet to fly some time after 2025.

This could see the UAE supporting and part-funding the Russian lightweight multi-role fighter (LMFS) programme, which aims to produce a replacement for the MiG-29.

Russian sources also reported Emirati interest in the Sukhoi Su-35, though many western analysts believe that any talks between the UAE and Russia are principally intended as a means of applying leverage on the US to ensure access to the F-35.


Oman Air currently operates two daily direct A330 services ex London Heathrow and one daily direct A330 service ex Manchester to Muscat with onward connections available across the Middle East, Asia & Africa.

David Taylor, General Manager, Airborne International will be leading the relationship between GSSA, Airborne International and Oman Air. Taylor brings over 25 years of airline experience with Middle East & Asia carriers specifically within the UK & Ireland market.

Mohammed Al Musafir, Senior Vice President - Commercial Cargo, Oman Air said: Oman Air has worked successfully with Airborne International for a number of years. They have become a key driver to our success, providing a cost effective presence for us in selected European markets. We went through a rigorous tender process for this latest contract and we believe that the solutions provided by Airborne International will facilitate Oman Airs position as a leading partner for air cargo logistics in the highly competitive UK & Ireland market.

Joao Pires, Managing Director, Airborne International said: We are delighted that David is managing the partnership with Oman Air, our primary carrier in the UK. Oman Air Cargo is a dynamic and expanding brand and this is an exciting time to be developing our role with them in Europe. With a much improved infrastructure at the Muscat hub and a growing number of specialist handling services, there is huge potential to establish Oman Air Cargo as a serious player in the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe.
This bespoke service enables First and Business Class passengers to have even more choice and freedom to create their own personalised dining experience while travelling on select long-haul flights from Doha.

The extension of the Pre-Select Dining service follows its highly successful introduction by Qatar Airways in August. Passengers travelling in First and Business Class are able to pre-select one main course from the a la carte on-board menu, as far as 14 days in advance and up to 24 hours before take-off. This is in addition to the existing and exemplary Dine-on-Demand service already available for valued First and Business Class passengers.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: Following its highly successful introduction in August, we have decided to extend our popular Pre-Select Dining service for passengers flying on long-haul flights from Doha to select destinations in Africa and Asia. This gives even more of our First and Business Class passengers the opportunity to pre-select their meals before they fly and is a highly-valued enhancement to our already unrivalled onboard experience. It also reinforces why we were recognised as the Airline of Year at this year's 2017 Skytrax awards, motivating us to continue innovating to offer our unparalleled five-star service."
Asian premier business aviation group Deer Jet has granted its strategic partner, leading flight support and charter solutions provider UAS International Trip Support (UAS) charter management of the worlds first and only VVIP outfitted Boeing 787, the Dream Jet.



Appealing to the worlds most discerning business and leisure travellers, the jet offers 7-star hospitality services along with the advanced technology that makes it healthier, more comfortable, and more energy efficient. Capable of flying non-stop over 16,000 kilometres and for 18.5 hours straight, and accommodating up to 40 passengers, the aircraft is as efficient as it is luxurious. Along with the main lounge, dining area, and guest cabin, it also has an impressive and spacious master bedroom, dressing area, and washroom.



The Dream Jet will be based at the strategic hub of Dubai and UAS will be promoting the aircraft to its Middle Eastern, African, and European customer base of UHNWI, and Royal and Presidential entourages.



Over the past few months, the Dream Jet has attracted international attention throughout its Dreams Encounter the World" tour. UAS has supported Deer Jet and its one-of-a-kind aircraft at exclusives displays and viewings by UHNW individuals and royal family members in several places globally, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, London, Dublin, Seattle, Marrakesh, Doha and Paris.



The next 787 Dream Jet display takes place in Jeddahs King Abdulaziz International Airport during October 3-4, where potential customers have been invited for private tours of the aircraft.

Omar Hosari, UAS Co-Owner/Founder and CEO said: The Dream Jet is an exquisite aircraft, unlike anything else available on the planet. We have already begun successful charter flights for the Dream Jet in the past few weeks, and we are confident that this aircraft will continue to surpass the expectations of even the most demanding clients.



Zhang Peng, Chairman and President of Deer Jet said: The 787 Dream Jet embodies our brand motto of "Making Travel an Art". And the aircraft has received lots of attention from costumers in the Far East. We already have operations in the Middle East, serving the area with a fleet of long-range BBJ, Gulfstream 550 and 450 series. The size and diversity of our fleet can effectively serve the Middle East, Europe and the global market. We believe that Deer Jet operational capabilities coupled with UAS expertise in trip support will create the best flight experience for our customers worldwide.



Deer Jet and UAS concluded a strategic partnership in December 2016 when UAS became the flight support partner for the impressive fleet of 90 aircraft that Deer Jet operates and manages. The alliance has significantly enhanced both companies capabilities and is accelerating strategic goals to revolutionize international business flight and user experience. Deer Jet and UAS will use the 787 Dream Jet to serve the luxury travel market worldwide.
Iran wants a high price of the natural gas, making the investment practically unviable.

ONGC Videsh Ltd on Monday said it hasn't heard from Iran on the USD 11 billion 'best offer' it gave for developing the Farzad-B gas field. (Representational Photo)

New Delhi: ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), on Monday said it hasn't heard from Iran on the USD 11 billion 'best offer' it gave for developing the Farzad-B gas field.

"We are ready to invest provided we get reasonable returns," OVL Managing Director Narendra K Verma told reporters here.

OVL has offered to invest about USD 5.8 billion in developing the Farzad-B gas field and another USD 5 billion to build a liquefied natural gas export facility, he said.

Iran wants a high price of the natural gas, making the investment practically unviable.

"We will get the project the day we accept their conditions. But for me to go ahead and make such investments, it has to bring reasonable returns and making economic sense," he said without elaborating.

Iran had earlier this year signed initial pact with Russia's Gazprom for developing the OVL-discovered gas field of Farzad B but has kept the door open for awarding it to the Indian firm.

"We have given them our best offer. Now, it is up to them to agree or not agree," Verma said.

With Tehran delaying the award of rights to develop the 12.5 trillion cubic feet gas field to its discoverer  ONGC Videsh Ltd  India decided to cut oil imports from Iran by a fifth in 2017-18.

Iran retaliated by first cutting by one-third the time it gave to Indian refiners to pay for oil they buy from it as also raising ship freight rates, and then by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russian gas monopoly Gazprom.

Farzad B was discovered by OVL in the Farsi block about 10 years ago. The project has so far cost the OVL-led consortium, which also includes Oil India Ltd and Indian Oil Corp (IOC), over USD 80 million.

The field in the Farsi block has an in-place gas reserve of 21.7 tcf, of which 12.5 tcf are recoverable. New Delhi is keen that the gas from the field comes to India to feed the vast energy needs.

Sources said Indian refiners have cut oil imports from Iran by a fifth to 190,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2017-18 from 240,000 bpd in the previous fiscal.

Iran, India's third biggest oil supplier, used to give a 90-day credit period to refiners like Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) to pay for the oil they would buy from it.

Now, Tehran has reduced this to 60 days, essentially meaning that IOC and MRPL would have to pay for the oil they buy from Iran in 60 days instead of previous liberal term of 90 days, sources said.

Iran oil sale terms were the most attractive for Indian refiners. Besides, a liberal credit period, it also shipped the oil to India for a nominal 20 per cent of normal ocean freight.

Other Middle-East sellers offer not more than 15-day credit period.

Sources said National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) has also decided to cut the discount it offers to Indian buyers on freight from 80 per cent to about 60 per cent.
New Delhi: Communications Minister Manoj Sinha on Monday said the government is working on establishing 650 branches for India Post Payments Bank to facilitate financial inclusion, and unveiled two new offerings by the postal department.

"For India Post Payments Bank...we will be opening nearly 650 branches across India. Two, namely in Raipur and Ranchi, have already started. The aim is that through 650 post payments bank, we can push financial inclusion in 1.55 lakh villages," Sinha said.

Sinha exhorted the postal employees to continue reorienting themselves with technological changes and disruptions in order to bring innovative offerings to consumers, all the while upholding the societal values.

"With the way technology is changing and given the disruptions, it is good to link yourself with technology but department's values too have to be maintained, and that is the biggest challenge," he said highlighting the long history of Indian postal services, particularly the significance of the postman in rural India.

The minister who was speaking at an event to commemorate National Postal Week (October 9-15) also announced two new offerings - International Tracked Packet Service and e-IPO (Indian Postal Order).

The e-IPO was launched in denominations of Rs 20, Rs 50 and Rs 100 and now can be used for fee payment for educational institutions and other purposes. Earlier, e-IPO of Rs 10 could be used for RTI purposes only. The e-IPO has been rolled out as a pilot project in Bihar, Delhi and Karnataka and is expected to be launched in the entire country in the next two months.

"Customer can purchase e-IPO online from ones home or workplace, as per ones convenience. This launch is a part of Digital India initiative as the payment will be made through debit card, credit card, net banking," Department of Post said in a statement.

The minister said the Indian postal department has undergone a major transformation over the years, be it inter- operability of ATMs, core banking or providing of Passport Seva and Aadhaar enrolment. He said so far 57 post offices are providing Passport Seva and in the coming days 93 more will be added to the list.

On the other hand, the International Tracked Packet service aims at meeting the cross border requirements of e- commerce sector in Asia-Pacific Region. The service will be available in 12 countries initially.

"This new service has many features like affordable price, track and trace, volume discounts, pick-up facility, compensation for loss or damage...," the statement said adding India Post website too has been revamped making it more user- friendly and informative.
aitley will visit New York where he will attend a meeting with the investors in partnership with Bank of America and CII.

New Delhi: Finance minister Arun Jaitley will leave on a week-long official visit to the US on early Monday morning where he will meet US CEOs and participate in the annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF.

RBI governor Urjit Patel, economic affairs secretary Subhash Chandra Garg and chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian would accompany the minister.

On the first leg of his US visit, Mr Jaitley will visit New York where he will attend a meeting with the investors in partnership with Bank of America and CII. hereafter, the minister will participate in the roundtable meeting of CEOs of USIBC-CII.

He will deliver a lecture on FDI: Achievements and Challenges at Columbia University on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Mr Jaitley will participate in the roundtable investment meet being organised in Boston in collaboration with NIIF, USISPF and FICCI on the subject of Indian Economy  The Road Ahead. Later in the evening, he will deliver a lecture on Indias tax reforms at Harvard University.
Currently, only 15.50 lakh businesses out of the total 98 lakh have opted for the composition scheme.

New Delhi: A group of ministers (GoM) has been set up under Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to make the composition scheme more attractive and also revisit GST rates on restaurants.

The GST Council, chaired by finance minister Arun Jaitley and consisting of his state counterparts, had on Friday constituted the GoM, which will submit its report within two weeks.

The other members of the GoM are Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi, J&K fina-nce minister Haseeb Drabu, Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Chhattisgarh commercial taxes minister Amar Agrawal, according to an office memorandum. Currently, only 15.50 lakh businesses out of the total 98 lakh have opted for the composition scheme.
This led to jewellers implementing the August 23 order on the line of banks where cash transactions of Rs 50,000 and above are to be reported.

New Delhi: The government will soon notify a new threshold for reporting to authorities about transactions in gold and other precious metals and stones with a view to curb parking of black money in bullion, revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia said.

The government had on Friday reversed its August order of bringing gems and jewellery dealers under the purview of the reporting requirement of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Mr Adhia said that the August 23 order had to be rescinded because it created confusion and a lot of negative sentiment because no threshold for transactions to be reported was set.

For the first time in India, we had notified that jewellers will be reporting entity (under PMLA) but what report they will submit to us that was not clear, he said.

This led to jewellers implementing the August 23 order on the line of banks where cash transactions of Rs 50,000 and above are to be reported. And that affected sentiments. So, now we have to sit down and decide about it, he said. The decision to rescind the August 23 order is being seen as the requirement of quoting the income-tax permanent account number (PAN) for jewellery purchases exceeding Rs 50,000 is not longer applicable, providing a big festive cheer for the sector and customers.

The Rs 50,000 is too onerous in case of jewellery. Cash deposit is different in bank where everything is electronic and easy to report. But, here they started implementing.

Our notification (of August 23) only said that any jeweller with turn-over of more than `2 crore will be the reporting entity. Rs 50,000 requirement is in general rules, he said. He did not clearly state if the requirement of PAN for jewellery purchases above Rs 50,000 has been removed.

There was some confusion created, which has created a lot of negative sentiment. We will work on it. We will study what to do and we will again renotify them as reporting entity but with what limit that we will decide. We will check with industry and decide soon, he said.

PMLA says that anybody can be notified as reporting entity. So banks, insurance have to report. So, high value transactions of jewellers have to be reported," he said.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is going to the US to attend the IMF-World Bank meeting this week.

Ficci President Pankaj Patel will lead a business delegation to the US starting Tuesday, accompanying the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Ficci President Pankaj Patel will lead a business delegation to the US starting Tuesday, accompanying the finance minister, to discuss ways to enhance trade and investment ties between the two countries, the industry body said on Monday.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is going to the US to attend the IMF-World Bank meeting this week.

Several engagements have been planned during this visit, including round-table with institutional investors and US India Strategic Partnership Forum in Boston, Ficci said in a statement.

"Senior management representatives from some of the largest funds in the US will be participating at this meeting and interact with the Finance Minister and members of the Ficci delegation," it added.

Ficci is organising an interactive session with the minister at the IMF Headquarters on October 12. It will be attended by senior officials representing institutional investors, financial institutions, investment banks and think tanks.

It said the visit is "critical to strengthen bilateral co-operation between businesses in the two countries".

The members of the delegation include Ficci Secretary General Sanjaya Baru, Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Rajan Bharti Mittal and Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Chairman, Sun International.
Total coffee exports in value terms rose to Rs 6,191.43 crore from Rs 5,275 crore in the said period.

New Delhi: Coffee exports from India, Asias third-largest producer and exporter of coffee, rose by 9.36 per cent to 3,76,873 tonne in the marketing year that ended September 2017, buoyed by higher global prices, according to state-run Coffee Board.

The country's coffee shipments stood at 3,44,613 tonne in the 2015-16 marketing year.

"Two factors contributed for higher shipments in 2016-17. Firstly, there was enough domestic supply to meet the export demand as the domestic output was record in 2015-16. Also, global prices were better," a senior Board official told PTI.

As a result, coffee exports remained robust both in terms of volume and value in 2016-17, he said. According to the Board data, the export value realisation rose 7.31 per cent to Rs 1,64,284 per tonne of coffee in 2016 -17 from Rs 1,53,089 tonnne in the year-ago period.

Total coffee exports in value terms rose to Rs 6,191.43 crore from Rs 5,275 crore in the said period, it added. The domestic supply was adequate as the output was record 3.48 lakh tonne in the 2015-16 crop year.

Normally, robusta variety comprises 70 per cent of the total coffee exports, while the rest is arabica coffee. Major export destinations are Italy, Germany, Turkey, Russian Federation and Belgium, among others.
The strike comes bang in the middle of the festive season when transporter bodies usually make a good profit.

Truck operators have gone on a two-day nationwide strike against the Goods and Services tax (GST), the hike in diesel prices and corruption on roads. (File Photo)

New Delhi: Truck operators, led by All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), on Monday took to the streets to begin their two-day nationwide protest against the Goods and Services tax (GST), the hike in diesel prices and corruption on roads.

Re-iterating the Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhans wish to include diesel under the ambit of GST, truckers said diesel must be brought under GST to ensure uniformity of fuel pricing across the country.

#Mumbai: All India Motor Transport Congress calls for nationwide strike against GST and hike in diesel prices; transporters observe strike. pic.twitter.com/SOOeIPeTxk  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

"Transporters have decided to protest against the callous and indifferent attitude of government officials, GST, diesel price hike and corruption on roads by observing a token 'chakka jam' (strike) on October 9 and 10," said AIMTC president SK Mittal.

AIMTC, represents around 93 lakh truckers and around 50 lakhs bus and tourist operators across India. The strike is likely to affect the supply of commodities.

Truck dealers have expressed displeasure at the "contra laws" in the GST regime that has led to coercive registration and unnecessary compliance by truckers and transporters. He added that the sale of used business which attracts GST, leads to double taxation by the government.

Other transporters bodies like the All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) said that it will support AIMTC's strike as the government has failed clarify GST to transporters.

The strike comes bang in the middle of the festive season when transporter bodies usually make a good profit. Calling it a suicidal move, transport dealers said that they are going on strike for two days despite making losses. However, if the government does not listen, dealers said they will go on an indefinite strike.

The protest by truck dealers comes just days ahead of the proposed nationwide strike by petrol pump dealers on October 13, to press for various demands including better margins and inclusion of petroleum products in the Goods and Services Tax.

(With PTI inputs)
The Bhoomi actor, who is currently busy shooting for Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3, plans to take a break from work this Diwali.

Sanjay Dutt is a family man. Despite having a packed schedule and back-to-back films lined up, he makes sure he gives enough time to his wife and children. The Bhoomi actor, who is currently busy shooting for Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3, plans to take a break from work this Diwali.

A source informs, Sanjay avoids taking breaks while shooting. He likes to finish shooting in one go. But due to Diwali, he will be taking a break from his ongoing Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 schedule, the source said. The PK actor, who is currently shooting in Rajasthan, will take a break for close to four to five days.
In North India, after a lull, there are some concerts during the monsoons, dedicated to the Malhars.

Traditionally, classical music festivals are associated with the onset of winter in both North and South India. The tradition of hearing music continues till after the Navratras in April. In North India, after a lull, there are some concerts during the monsoons, dedicated to the Malhars. Later, the cool winter after the searing heat of the summer, is the perfect time for enjoying dance and music festivals.

The ultimate, most highly regarded source of the modern North Indian classical musical tradition is Mian Tansen, said to have been born in Gwalior. A music festival in his name was apparently established after his death in 1589, and, it is said, has been continued since then, with periods in between when the festival was not held. Nowadays, its the Madhya Pradesh state government that organises the Tansen Samaroh every December, at Mianjis tomb.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is Mian Tansens most famous musical descendent today, from both male and female lines. He lamented Mianjis tomb being in a dilapidated condition. Sadly, the stature of the festival in Tansens name, once a premier event, is no longer there, and it is today small and insignificant. As

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan puts it, Mian Tansen had some great spiritual power in his music that could make even the elements of rain and fire respond. Sadly, he is largely ignored today by an insensitive government  the Madhya Pradesh Academy of Music is not named after Tansen, but after Ustad Allaudin Khan, a musical genius no doubt, but one who was not even born in Madhya Pradesh.

Touted as the oldest classical music festival in India, with an unbroken history of 141 years, Harivallabh was at one time the most prestigious classical music festival in North India. Set near an ancient Devi temple, in the Punjabi town of Jalandhar, the festival had the tradition of being an offering of music by the artists who would come to perform for free to get blessings. Since the 20th century, the greats have performed at Harivallabh. In known history, Pandit Vishnu Digambar performed there in 1908. Held between December 22 and 25 annually, in the bitter cold with temperatures dipping below zero, this festival has its own ambience, with audiences being largely rural, yet with an instinctual appreciation of classical music. In the old days, before heaters, people kept out the bitter cold from the ground by laying out a thick layer of rice husk below the dhurries on which they sat. It was common to bring your razai (quilt) to snuggle into. Now, however, the old appeal has gone, but it is still a unique experience.

Bickram Ghosh and Parthosarathy. (Photo: Avishek DEY)

Another festival with a religious venue is Banaras Sankat Mochan Festival, held on Hanumans birthday according to the lunar calendar, usually in April. In existence for around 90 years now, the festival is unique in having six all-night sessions, with the artists performing as a haazri (offering) free of cost. The atmosphere is unique, with a largely rural, unlettered audience that displays its appreciation traditionally, rather than in the now conventional, Western habit of clapping. As a local put it, Clapping is to scare away birds, not show appreciation for an artist.

.The artists include Carnatic musicians and also dancers, another distinctive feature of this festival. Here, the extreme heat of April is a huge deterrent  the stone floors of the temple courtyard get so hot that sometimes the listeners throw water on the floor to cool it down. Ahmedabad boasts of the single-largest music festival of 13 days in early January  Saptak. The whos who of the music world perform here. Pune has its own around 60-year-old tradition of the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, held usually in the second week of December. This festival attracts the biggest crowds, said to go up to 16,000 listeners. Since there is a system of only paid tickets, this is indeed a momentous festival.

For decades now, Kolkatas Dover Lane Festival has been the North Indian classical music festival which people wait for eagerly all year. The big festivals like the All Bengal Music Festival, Sadarang Music Festival, Park Circus music festival and others gradually died out, and now for years, Dover Lane is the premier music festival in Kolkata. Held between January 22 and 26 for the last 64 years, the festival features four all-night concerts starting around 8.30 pm and going on through the night till dawn, so that the audience can make its way home safely in daylight, on public transport. Not only locals, the audience includes listeners from all over India, and even neighbouring Bangladesh. Tickets to the event are always sold out, despite the large hall

seating capacity of over 4,000.

Recalling the music heard in years gone by, Dr Chandrima Mazumdar, a very fine sarod player herself, remembers how when she was a child, during the Dover Lane festival, wherever you went during the day, by bus or tram or at a cafe, people would be discussing the nights concert and analysing it thread bare.

Another festival that is slowly assuming a stature of its own is the annual Swar Samrat Festival in Kolkata. Held in either early January or now mid-December (December 16-17, 2017) the festival is named after Padmavibhushan Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, who was named Swar Samrat (King of swar, the musical note) by his father, and features the best in music and dance.

Many other North Indian cities too have their annual dance festivals, including Patna, Indore, Dewas, Udaipur, and many more. One can look forward to a musically replete winter.
The panel was formed to probe alleged irregularities in 10 central varsities and the recommendations have been made in the AMU audit report.

The universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders, a panel member said.(Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Words such as 'Hindu' and 'Muslim' in names of universities--Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University--do not reflect their secular character and should be dropped, a UGC panel has recommended.

The panel was formed to probe the alleged irregularities in 10 central universities and the recommendations have been made in the audit report of AMU.

Centrally funded universities are secular institutions but such words related to religion in their names do not reflect that character, a panel member said on the condition of anonymity.

The universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders, the panel member added.

Besides AMU and BHU, other universities that were audited by the panel include: Pondicherry University, Allahabad University, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, Central University of Jharkhand, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Jammu, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha, University of Tripura and Hari Singh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh.
In another incident, an Army man was killed in a militant ambush in Drang village of J&Ks central district of Budgam overnight.

Srinagar: Khalid, the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) Operational Commander in Kashmir was killed in a brief encounter with the security forces in north-western district of Baramulla on Monday.

The security forces set up a makeshift checkpoint at Ladoora in Baramulla on Monday morning based on specific information about the JeM chiefs movement, an official said.

Khalid appeared near the makeshift checkpoint around 12 pm and on seeing the security personnel, he opened fire at them, leading to an encounter.

Officials said that Khalid was killed in the encounter and his body was recovered from a cowshed where he was hiding during the encounter.

They added that Khalid, a Pakistani national, was in the list of most wanted terrorists by the security forces and was an A++ category militant.

He was involved in a number of terror acts including killings that took place mostly in north and northwestern Kashmir, a police spokesman said.

Earlier, an Army official was killed in a militant ambush in Drang village of Jammu and Kashmirs central district of Budgam.

Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that the militants opened fire at an Army patrolling party late Sunday night, leaving one soldier dead. The fire was returned. One soldier was martyred in the crossfire, he said.

The police sources identified the slain man as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Subedar Rajkumar of 53 Rashtriya Rifles who had received a bullet injury in his thigh in the militant attack.

The two incidents took place hours after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that Indian soldiers along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) had been killing at least five to six militants every day.

He said that he had ordered Indian soldiers not to fire at their Pakistani counterparts first, but give them a fitting reply by firing countless bullets if Pakistan opened fire.
'We formed a committee to look into the administrative, academic and research audits of universities,' he said.

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said the government will take cognisance of UGC's suggestion to remove words such as 'Hindu' and 'Muslim' from BHU and AMU. (Photo: PTI | File)

Ahmedabad: Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said the government has no intention to change the names of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

A UGC panel has recommended that words such as 'Hindu' and 'Muslim' be dropped from the BHU and the AMU, respectively, as they not reflect their secular character.

"AMU and BHU are very old institutions, and we do not intend to change their names. We formed a committee to look into the administrative, academic and research audits of universities.

"The committee studied various aspects and I have not seen what they have said, but there is neither such decision nor is there any such intention to change the names (of these universities)," the HRD minister told reporters in Ahmedabad over the reports on the panel's recommendation.

The committee was formed to probe the alleged irregularities in 10 central universities and the recommendations have been made in the audit report of AMU.

Javadekar said that while he is yet to look into the audit reports; the government will take cognisance of any such suggestion.

"The mandate of the committee is to look into the administrative, academic and research audits of universities.

We will not take cognisance of what they have recommended outside of this," he said.

According to the panel, the universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders.

Besides AMU and BHU, other universities that were audited by the panel included Allahabad University, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, Central University of Jharkhand, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Jammu, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha, University of Tripura and Hari Singh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh.

On the Congress seeking probe into allegations that a company owned by BJP chief Amit Shah's son saw a huge rise in its turnover after his party came to power in 2014, Javadekar said the opposition's demand was "laughable".

"They (Jay Amit Shah) are themselves going to the court, and will give all information to the court, so Congress' demand is laughable. Incurring losses in a business is not corruption," he said.

Javadekar said a committee headed by K Kasturirangan for new education policy is likely to submit its report by December.

The minister also participated in the BJP's Gujarat Gaurav Yatra and exuded confidence that the party will again form the government in the state.

"The issue of development that the BJP took up, is getting strong support from people. People are for development and for development they are with the BJP. Congress is agitated because it has been rejected for 22 years in Gujarat," he said.
Three of the attackers were killed and one was wounded, while two Indian peacekeepers were also injured in the attack which tookplace on Friday.

The attack was carried out by a Mai Mai group, which has recently been attacking Congolese Army positions. (Photo: AP)

New Delhi: Alert Indian peacekeepers repulsed an attack by a group of around 30 armed militia on Friday on its Lubero post in the troubled province of North Kivu in Congo, an Indian Army press release said.

Three of the attackers were killed and one was wounded, while two Indian peacekeepers were also injured in the attack which tookplace on Friday.

The attack was carried out by a Mai Mai group, which has recently been attacking Congolese Army positions. The Lubero region lies about 300 km North of Goma, the main town of North Kivu province, where dozens of illegal armed groups control several villages. They have been at odds with the government for exploiting mineral resources and preying on local residents.

Fridays attack was a rare frontal assault on UN forces deployed for protecting civilians in Congo. President Joseph Kabilas refusal to step down at the end of his constitutional mandate last December has fuelled unrest in the countrys eastern provinces.

The UN mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) is the largest and most complex mission under the UN flag in which India has a major troop contribution. Presently, India has a total of 2,664 military personnel deployed in MONUSCO.
Obtained by ABC News(LAS VEGAS) -- A note containing handwritten numbers for wind, trajectory, and distance was discovered by Steven Paddock's body inside the Las Vegas hotel room where he took his life last Sunday after slaughtering 58 people and injuring hundreds, officials have confirmed.



Law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation confirmed to ABC News on Sunday that the note found on Paddock's hexagon-shaped nightstand contained such numerical figures.



The note's details, first reported by "60 Minutes," were revealed by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer Dave Newton, who said he spotted it resting by Paddock's "shooting platform."



"I could see on it he had written the distance, the elevation he was on, the drop of what his bullet was going to be for the crowd," Newton said in a clip from the the episode, which will be televised on Sunday night. "So he had had that written down, and figured out so he would know where to shoot to hit his targets from there."



Pressed about what the meaning of the numbers were, Newton said, Paddock "must have done the calculations online or something, to figure out what his altitude was going to be, and how high up he was -- how far out the crowd was going to be, and what -- at that distance -- and what the drop of his bullet was going to be.



"He hadn't written out the calculations -- all he had was written out [was] the final numbers that were on the sheet," he added.



The note's contents give a clearer picture of Paddock's planning before he starting firing on 22,000 concertgoers attending the third day of the Route 91 Harvest Festival along the Las Vegas Strip last Sunday.



Sources have told ABC News that Paddock, a 64-year-old retiree, likely had severe mental illness which appears so far to have remained undiagnosed.



Authorities who have logged hundreds of interviews suggest that though Paddock was a successful businessman, he struggled interacting with people.



The property owner and high-stakes video poker player is described as standoff-ish, disconnected, and a man who had difficulty establishing and maintaining meaningful relationships.



He reportedly was exhibiting many antisocial traits that are typical of past mass shooters, according to one source who spoke to ABC News anonymously.



In addition to killing 58 people in his attack, Paddock injured at least 489 others before taking his own life.



Paddock was known for playing gambling games in casinos for hours at a time, with little or no human contact.



Profilers and behavioral scientists this week were brought in to examine witness interviews and investigative summaries to better understand what drove the Mesquite, Nevada, man to execute and injure so many in such a calculated and detached fashion.



They are particularly focused on the period of September to October 2016, when Paddock began buying 30-plus guns, in concentration -- most of which were rifles, ABC News has learned.



Sources also said that the gunman's gambling wages went up during that time, and he completed computer searches where he was looking at a lot of different hotel venues -- some apparently just to research, some of which he actually traveled to.



Police, according to multiple law enforcement officials, still have found no definitive evidence to prove Paddock had an accomplice, and have not nailed down a definitive motive.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
It had said that a peaceful protest or criticism or dissent is different than creation of a law and order situation.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday accepted Tamil Nadus reply that no untoward incident was witnessed in the state in the wake of anti-NEET protests and demonstrations and disposed off a PIL questioning such protests.

A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud took on record the affidavit filed by the state in this regard and said there was no need to keep the matter pending. Earlier, Tamil Nadu advocate general Vijaynarayanan informed the court that a detailed affidavi had been filed.

According to the affidavit, soon after the apex court passed the order on September 8, a meeting was held by the chief secretary and instructions were issued to all the districts to strictly implement the directions.

Police force, including women constables, were deployed and there was no violation of law and order and the apex court directions were fully complied with.

On September 8, acting on a PIL filed by advocate G.S. Mani that state was encouraging anti-NEET protests in violation of apex court rulings, the bench banned violent anti-NEET protests.

It had said that a peaceful protest or criticism or dissent is different than creation of a law and order situation. Every citizen of this country has a fundamental right to peacefully protest and demonstrate, but not to cause a situation that results in violence and paralyses the law and order situation.

The bench had said it shall be the obligation of the chief secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, and the principal secretary, ministry of home, Government of Tamil Nadu, to ensure that law and order is maintained throughout the state in the wake of the present situation in respect of the NEET examination.

The Chief Secretary shall see to it that anyone involved in any kind of bandh or activity that disrupts the normal life and detrimentally affects law and order in the State of Tamil Nadu, shall be booked under the appropriate law.
The high court also upheld the life sentence awarded by the special SIT court to 20 others in the case.

New Delhi: Claiming Hindus were not getting basic justice, VHPs Pravin Togadia on Monday said the Gujarat government should appeal against the state high courts order commuting the death sentence of those convicted in the Godhra train burning case to life imprisonment.

Dr Togadiya sought capital punishment for convicts in the 2002 carnage and said that the state government should appeal in the Supreme Court before Diwali for the sake of justice to devotees of Lord Ram.

Why not death by hanging to those jihadis who burnt Hindus in Godhra with planned conspiracy? This is an insult to their sacrifice, said Dr Togadia in a statement while adding that Hindus were not getting basic justice.

A division bench of the Gujarat high court upheld the conviction of the 11 persons sentenced to death but commuted their punishment to rigorous life imprisonment.

The high court also upheld the life sentence awarded by the special SIT court to 20 others in the case. Fifty-nine karsevaks were killed in the Godhra train burning incident February 27, 2002, which led to communal riots across Gujarat.
ED is expected to initiate the process of attaching their properties this week as part of its investigation.

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to question RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav again in connection with its investigation into the alleged irregularities committed to awarding tenders for development, maintenance and operation of Railway hotels at Ranchi and Puri to a private firm when Lalu was the railway minister. Mr Yadav was the Railway minister in 2006.

The agency is analysing statements given by Lalu and his son during the recent questioning. We may call them for a fresh round very soon, said sources. The CBI recently questioned RJD chief and his son in connection with the case.

The case pertains to allegations that Mr Lalu Yadav, as railway minister, handed over the maintenance of two hotels run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotel, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, in return for a prime plot of three acres in Patna through a benami company.

The FIR alleged that the RJD leader, as the railway minister, abused his official position for extending undue favours to the Kochhar and acquired a high value premium land through a benami firm Delight Marketing Company.

As a quid pro quo, he dishonestly and fraudulently managed award of leasing of the two hotels.

The CBI had registered the case against Mr Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, Tejashwi and Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, a former union minister.

Others named as accused in the FIR include Vijay Kochhar, Vinay Kochhar, both directors of Sujata Hotels and owner of Chanakya Hotel, Delight Marketing Company and the then IRCTC managing director P.K. Goel.

The Enforcement Directorate is expected to initiate the process of attaching their properties this week. The ED has summoned Rabari Devi for questioning on October 11 in connection with the case.
After Rahuls speech at Berkeley, the finance minister had said that he was ashamed of the speech given by Mr Gandhi.

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday lashed out at the statements of finance minister Arun Jaitley that Congress should select its leaders based on calibre and potential. Mr Jaitley was addressing the Berkeley India Conference via video conference. Interestingly, a month earlier, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had addressed students at Berkeley during his visit to the United States of America. Terming the statements of the finance minister as unsolicited advice, Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said, The finance minister gave unsolicited advice to the Indian National Congress... We have never prescribed to the BJP who they have chosen in the past, and also in the present, as their president.

Senior leader Kapil Sibal said that the finance minister was disconnected with the people at large and that is the reason of his advising the Congress. Mr Sibal said, It would have been better if paid more heed to the economic situation prevailing in the country.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Mr Sharma said, But my query would be: was Mr Amit Shah chosen by the BJP as party president for his image, intellect, integrity and humane values? This comes after the story that came out showing a rise in the turnover of the company of the son of BJP president Mr Amit Shah.

After Rahuls speech at Berkeley, the finance minister had said that he was ashamed of the speech given by Mr Gandhi.
FM Linkevicius presented to EAM Sushma Swaraj Sanskrit-Lithuanian Mala, a dictionary of 108 common Sanskrit and Lithuanian words.

New Delhi: A compilation work of about 10,000 Sanskrit words in the Lithuanian language is in progress, said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday after meeting the Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevicius.

The two sides also signed Treaty on Extradition and Protocol amending & supplementing the Agreement relating to Air Services after talks between the two leaders.

Lithuania, a Baltic nation, was part of the former Soviet Union and is now a member of the European Union (EU). Mr Linas Linkevicius, FM of Lithuania, presented me a copy of Sanskrit-Letiviu mala  a compilation of 108 Sanskrit words common in both the languages. He told me that there are some 10,000 Sanskrit words in the Lithuanian language. The compilation work is in progress, twee-ted Ms Swaraj. Enhancing engagement with the Baltic region, EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes FM of

Lithuania Linas Linkevicius in New Delhi. India & Lithuania signed Treaty on Extradition and Protocol amending & supplementing the Agreement relating to Air Services, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

In a statement, the MEA said, Minister of foreign affairs of Lithuania, Linas Linkevicius, is visiting India from October 8-11, 2017. FM Linkevicius had a meeting with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on October 9. The two ministers held discussions on various aspects of bilateral ties as well as important regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Lithuania has a rich tradition of studying Indology and there are many common words between Lithuanian and Sanskrit languages. FM Linkevicius presented to EAM Sushma Swaraj Sanskrit-Lithuanian Mala, a dictionary of 108 common Sanskrit and Lithuanian words.

The visit marks the celebration of 25 years of diplomatic relations between India and Lithuania, he added.
Separately, an Army junior commissioned officer (JCO) was killed in a militant ambush in Budgam district overnight.

Srinagar: Jaish-e-Mohammed operational chief Omar Khalid, who figured in the list of most wanted terrorists, was killed in a brief encounter with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs northwestern district of Baramulla on Monday.

Separately, an Army junior commissioned officer (JCO) was killed in a militant ambush in Budgam district overnight. Slain Subedar Raj Kumar was a resident of Himachal Pradesh.

In a third incident, at Gattipora Keller village in the southern Shopian district, the security forces gunned down a militant identified as Hizbul Mujahideens Zahid, alias Ubaid. Two to three other militants are trapped in the village, and the gunfight that erupted after the security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation earlier on Monday was continuing till late in the night.

Officials said that on specific information about the JeM operational chief moving in the Ladoora area of Baramulla, the J&K police put up a checkpoint on a road in Woveri Mohalla.

At around 12.30 pm, Omar Khalid alias Khalid Bhai alias Shahid Showkat appeared nearby, and on seeing the security personnel hurled a grenade towards them, which didnt explode. He then opened fire from a pistol but without causing any casualties, officials said.

They added that the militant commander, after being hit in the retaliatory firing, ran into a residential house around 500 metres from the checkpoint, and then moved to an adjacent cowshed where his bullet-riddled corpse was found later. Reports said the JeM commander had got a single bullet wound in the leg and had died of heavy blood loss.

The officials said members of the J&K police Special Operations Group were soon joined by the troops of the Armys 32 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPFs 92, 177 and 179 battalions. During the operation, the terrorist hiding in the area fired again upon the search party. The fire was retaliated, and in the ensuing encounter he was killed, a police statement said.

Sopore SSP Harmeet Singh Mehta said Omar Khalid, a Pakistani national, was active in Kashmir for the past seven years and carried a reward of `7 lakhs on his head. He was an A++ category terrorist wanted in a number of acts of violence, including killings, he said. A++ category militants are those who figure on top of the list of most wanted terrorists and getting them dead or alive is a top priority for the security forces battling the nearly three-decade-long insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Army had on June 1 released a list of 12 militants active in J&K in two categories of A and A++ belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and JeM, who were active mainly in South Kashmirs districts of Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian.

Among the A++ category militants was Abu Dujana, alias Hafiz (LeT divisional commander, South Kashmir), who was killed in an operation in Pulwama in the third week of August.

IGP (Kashmir Range) Munir Ahmed Khan said JeM commander Omar Khalid was the mastermind of the fidayeen (suicide) attacks on the security forces in J&K. He had escaped during the cordon-and-search operations several times. He said there are seven more militants who form the JeMs suicide squads, and that a manhunt was on for them.

A police statement listed the crimes in which the slain JeM commander was allegedly involved. It said he was constantly exploring opportunities to kill the security forces and police personnel and to attack police and security establishments in J&K. It added he was motivating the youth and poor boys to join his outfit to carry out grenade attacks, and offering them money and other rewards on behalf of the Pakistan-based JeM commanders.

The statement added he was involved in a number of civilian killings and many fidayeen attacks in the J&K Valley, including the recent attack on SPO Altaf Ahmad Khan at Hajin Handwara (Kupwara), in which the SPO, his son and father were seriously injured.

He and his associates were involved in the killing of mobile tower guard Eidul Amin and civilians Mir Fayaz Ahmad Rather and Suhail Ahmad Dar and sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Khawaja in north and northwestern Kashmir. He was also involved in the fidayeen attack on the 46 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Khajabagh Baramulla in 2016, and masterminded the JeM fidayeen attacks at the Pulwama district police lines and the BSF camp at Humhama near Srinagar airport recently, the police said.

Earlier, an Army JCO was killed in a militant ambush at Drang village in Budgam district overnight. Defence spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia said the militants opened fire at an Army patrol late Sunday night, leaving one soldier dead. Subedar Raj Kumar of 53 Rashtriya Rifles, who had received a bullet injury in his thigh, was rushed to a government public health centre at nearby Khag, and later referred to Srinagars Sher-i-Kashmir Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Subedar Kumar, 47, was a resident of Khanni village of Himachal Pradesh. He is survived by his wife Toshi Devi and two sons. His mortal remains were later flown to his native village, where he was cremated with full military honours on Monday.

These incidents took place hours after Union home minister Rajnath Singh said Indian soldiers along the Line of Control and international border with Pakistan had been killing at least five to six militants every day and that he had asked them to give a fitting reply if Pakistan opened fire. He said on Sunday he had ordered Indian soldiers not to fire at their Pakistani counterparts first, but give them a fitting reply by firing countless bullets if Pakistan opened fire.
Officials said that she had a minor scuffle with her sister Sunday night over a trivial issue and she subsequently consumed sulphas tablets.

The deceased, Rakhi, had warned the police that if she did not get justice, she would end her life. (Photo: Pixabay)

Lucknow: Upset by the shoddy investigations into her parents murder, a 20-year-old girl committed suicide by consuming sulphas tablets in Mathura on Sunday.

The deceased, Rakhi, had warned the police that if she did not get justice, she would end her life. The news of her suicide sparked protests by the Amar Colony residents who blocked the Mathura- Govardhan road for several hours. Under mounting public pressure, the police later suspended investigating officer, Inspector, Girish Chandra Tiwari, posted at the highway police station. The residents have also demanded a job for deceaseds younger brother, the sole survivor of the family.

District magistrate, Arvind Malappa, assured them of all help though he said that since the brother is a minor, he cannot be given a job. However, other means to support the family would be taken care of.

Meanwhile, UP minister, Shrikant Sharma, who belongs to Mathura, has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the girls family and assured that the accused in the murder case would soon be arrested.

Rakhis parents were killed on the intervening night of March 8-9 by suspected robbers. Her parents, Banwari Lal and Ravibala, were sleeping in their under-construction house in Amar Colony when they were murdered, said reports.

The police claim that ever since Rakhi had been suffering from a severe depression. Last month, she had visited some senior officials when she had clearly told them that she would kill herself if they failed to nab the culprit.

Officials said that she had a minor scuffle with her sister Sunday night over a trivial issue and she subsequently consumed sulphas tablets.
After Doklam standoff, FS discusses bilateral, regional issues.

New Delhi: After the resolution of the Doklam military face-off with China, foreign secretary S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held wide ranging discussions, including implementation of the ongoing Indian government-assisted projects there, with senior Bhutanese officials in Thimphu, a clear signal to China on the importance that India attaches to ties with Bhutan.

The FS also met the Bhutanese King, PM and foreign minister, with New Delhi saying the relations between India and Bhutan are characterised by deep understanding and mutual trust. This comes amid some reports of a fresh Chinese military build-up at Doklam. Interestingly, PM Modi is expected to make a visit soon to a neighbouring country to inaugurate a development project there.

Dr S. Jaishankar, foreign secretary of India, is visiting Bhutan from October 2-5, 2017. Both sides reviewed preparations for the celebrations of 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2018. The two sides also shared their perspective on regional and other issues of mutual interest, a statement by the MEA said.

During the visit, foreign secretary met Dasho Sonam Tshong, foreign secretary of Bhutan. Foreign secretary had an audience with His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan and His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan and called on the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay, and the Foreign Minister of Bhutan, Lyonpo Damcho Dorji, the MEA statement added.

The unique relations between India and Bhutan are characterised by deep understanding and mutual trust. The visit of the Foreign Secretary was in keeping with tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries to strengthen and expand the unique ties, the MEA also said.
She mentioned that as per the BJP policy, one has to resign after crossing the age limit of 75 years.

She became the first woman chief minister of Gujarat in 2014 after Narendra Modi resigned from the post to the take the charge of the Prime Minister of India. (Photo: PTI | File)

Ahmedabad: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, on Monday, wrote a letter to party chief Amit Shah, requesting him to give a chance to new leaders for the upcoming assembly elections on her place in the state.

In her letter, Anandiben asserted that she has been working with the party from past 31 years and during that period, she efficiently carried out all the responsibilities that was handed over to her.

She mentioned that as per the BJP policy, one has to resign after crossing the age limit of 75 years.

She further wrote that whatever responsibility will be given to her in future, she would be happy to handle it.

Anandiben had joined BJP in 1987. She handled a number of major portfolios in the Gujarat assembly cabinet from 2007 to 2014, when Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

She became the first woman chief minister of Gujarat in 2014 after Narendra Modi resigned from the post to the take the charge of the Prime Minister of India.

Anandiben remained on the post till 2016, after which she resigned.
Incidentally, Anandiben Patel, who succeeded Modi after he became Prime Minister, belongs to the powerful Patidar community.

New Delhi: Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel, who had cited the BJPs unofficial age bar of 75 years to voluntarily quit the post last year, has mentioned the same reason in a letter to party president Amit Shah expressing unwillingness to contest the coming Assembly elections.

With the Congress appearing in a resurgent mode, many feel it will not be smooth sailing for the ruling BJP in the state, facing flak over attacks on dalits and also under pressure from Patidars, who are demanding quotas.

The battle for Gujarat intensified on Monday with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launching a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his development model. Mr Gandhi questioned the governments economic measures, including GST, and said that a government runs on compassion, not cruelty.

Incidentally, Ms Anandiben Patel, who succeeded Mr Modi after he became Prime Minister, belongs to the powerful Patidar community. Though she cited the age bar for her resignation last year, there were corruption and nepotism allegations against her and rumours that she had lost her grip over the state adminsitration. Her resignation had also led to factionalism rumours in the state unit, as it is said she doesnt have a good rapport with Mr Shah.

Ms Patels letter to Mr Shah also comes in the wake of reports that her supporters and constituency workers want the party leadership to renominate her. In her letter, the former CM mentioned she had cited the 75-year age bar when she quit the CMs post and in connection (with) same policy, she doesnt want to contest the 2017 Assembly polls. Ms Patel has represented the Ghatlodia Assembly seat since 1998. She requested the party to field a local party worker and promised that whatever election-related responsibility was assigned to her, she would give justice to it with all my efforts... I will continue to work for the party till the end of my life.

A day after the Prime Minister wrapped up his two-day tour of Gujarat, Mr Rahul Gandhi started on his second leg of Gujarat campaign. Continuing his attack against Mr Modi, the Congress leader said when the PM says nothing has happened in the past 70 years, he is not questioning the Congress, but the people of this country. He said Indias progress was not because of any party or politician but because of its people.

Hitting out at the government over loans, Mr Gandhi said: The Modi governments new model is a model for industrialists. Loans given to the poor is their right, not a gift. In case the Congress comes to power, we will give loans to the poor, farmers, women... who the Modi government ignores. In the first leg of the Navsarjan Yatra, which ended on September 29, Mr Gandhi had covered the states Saurashtra region.

Countering Mr Gandhis remarks, Union minister Smriti Irani accused him of insulting the people of Gujarat and claimed the Congress will suffer a historic defeat in the coming Assembly polls. A Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, Ms Irani was in Mr Gandhis constituency Amethi and said vikas (development) is not something to be ridiculed, instead it should be welcomed.
Study is to understand bacteria in breast cancer by uncovering distinct microbial differences in healthy and cancerous breast tissue.

Researchers found that breast tissues of healthy women contain more of a bacterial species Methylobacterium. (Representational Image)

Washington: Scientists have discovered for the first time that bacterial composition of tissues in women with breast cancer differ from those of healthy people, a finding which could offer a new perspective in the battle against the deadly disease.

Researchers found that breast tissues of healthy women contain more of a bacterial species Methylobacterium. Bacteria that live in the body, known as the microbiome, influence many diseases. Most research has been done on the "gut" microbiome, or bacteria in the digestive tract.

It has been long suspected that a "microbiome" exists within breast tissue and plays a role in breast cancer but it has not yet been characterised.

Research from Cleveland Clinic in the US took the first step towards understanding the composition of the bacteria in breast cancer by uncovering distinct microbial differences in healthy and cancerous breast tissue.

"To my knowledge, this is the first study to examine both breast tissue and distant sites of the body for bacterial differences in breast cancer," said Charis Eng, chair of Cleveland Clinic's Genomic Medicine Institute.

"Our hope is to find a biomarker that would help us diagnose breast cancer quickly and easily," said Eng.

"In our wildest dreams, we hope we can use microbiomics right before breast cancer forms and then prevent cancer with probiotics or antibiotics," he said.

The study examined the tissues of 78 patients who underwent mastectomy for invasive carcinoma or elective cosmetic breast surgery.

In addition, they examined oral rinse and urine to determine the bacterial composition of these distant sites in the body.

In addition to the Methylobacterium finding, the team discovered that cancer patients' urine samples had increased levels of gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus and Actinomyces. Further studies are needed to determine the role these organisms may play in breast cancer.

"If we can target specific pro-cancer bacteria, we may be able to make the environment less hospitable to cancer and enhance existing treatments, said Stephen Grobymer, head of Surgical Oncology at Cleveland Clinic.

"Larger studies are needed but this work is a solid first step in better understanding the significant role of bacterial imbalances in breast cancer," said Grobmyer, also the director of Breast Services at Cleveland Clinic.

The study, published in the journal Oncotarget, provides proof-of-principle evidence to support further research into the creation and utilisation of loaded nanoparticles targeting these pro-cancer bacteria.
Kumaris represent each of the three former royal kingdoms of the valley: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.

Matina Shakya (C) was only three when she was taken away from her parents to be worshipped as a "living goddess" in Nepal's historic capital. (Photo: AFP)

Matina Shakya was only three when she was taken away from her parents to be worshipped as a "living goddess" in Nepal's historic capital. On Monday she finally started school after puberty ended her nine-year reign.

Dressed in a green uniform and stripped of the heavy make-up she used to wear, Shakya, 12, looked like any other student as she walked into the Green Peace Co-ed School in Kathmandu.

Fellow students and teachers had gathered outside to welcome her, playing music and waving flags - a small reminder of the huge crowds she used to draw as Kathmandu's Kumari, or living goddess.

"We are excited to have her with us, and we are discussing how to ease her and help her adjust in the new environment," said the principal Pema Yonjan.

The Kumari is a pre-pubescent girl who lives in a temple palace in the heart of

Kathmandu as part of a centuries-old tradition and is considered the embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju.

She only leaves the temple 13 times a year on special feast days, when huge crowds of worshippers gather to see her.

That means the Kumaris cannot attend school, and most have struggled to reintegrate into society after they retire.

But Shakya received private tuition following a 2008 Supreme Court ruling that the living goddesses should be educated.

Her father Pratap Man Shakya said she had attended nursery at the school and he was confident she would be able to adapt to her new life.

"We hope now that she is going to school in a good environment she will become an even better student," he told AFP.

Shakya was anointed as the Kumari in 2008, leaving her home to be cared for by specially-appointed guardians, and only retired last month as she neared puberty.

The tradition of the Kumari, originating from a word meaning princess in Sanskrit, comes from the Newar community indigenous to the Kathmandu Valley.

It blends elements of Hinduism and Buddhism and the most important Kumaris represent each of the three former royal kingdoms of the valley: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.

The tradition was once closely linked to the royal family, but has continued despite the end of Nepal's Hindu monarchy in 2008.

It has drawn criticism from child rights activists who say the Kumaris are denied a childhood and their isolation from society hinders their education and development.

Shakya was replaced by three-year-old Trishna Shakya last month.
The woman filed a complaint 2 yrs after the incident, the police said, adding that her allegations are being probed.

The victim also claimed that the accused's brother went to her village and took her mother's thumb impression on the sale deed, but never paid the promised amount, police said. (Photo: File/Representational)

New Delhi: A woman, who was working as a domestic help at the residence of a politician in Delhi, has alleged that she was raped by a male staff there two years back, the police said on Monday.

The woman, a resident of Telangana, alleged that the accused, who was then working at the residence of the political leader, had assured her of help when she was looking to sell her ancestral property, they said.

She claimed that the accused's brother went to her village and took her mother's thumb impression on the sale deed, but never paid the promised amount, the police said.

When she asked for the money, he allegedly sexually assaulted her four times in September 2015, they added.

Two years after the incident, the woman filed a complaint and a case has been registered, the police said, adding that her allegations are being probed.
The petition gave directions to the civic bodies to erect screens or walls along both sides of the road to block the noise.

New Delhi: To curb noise pollution, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi traffic police to install cameras before the end of this year to monitor the speed of vehicles and to record their details on the busy Outer Ring Road stretch running along Panchsheel Park.

We have given directions that the installation of speed cameras be completed within December and immediately thereafter, violators be challaned. We further direct that Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi government and public works department report to the NGT every three months about the progress on the directions issued by it, the green panel said.

It ordered that the portion of the Outer Ring Road, which passes through Panchsheel Park, should be made of smooth asphalt as recommended by IIT, Roorkee in a bid to curtail noise pollution.

The tribunal had earlier issued directives for declaring Panchsheel Park in South Delhi a silent zone and restricting the speed limit of vehicles to 30 kmph in the area. It had directed the traffic police to ensure no overloaded vehicles plied in the area and that no pressure horns were used.

A bench headed by justice Jawad Rahim also directed planting of trees and shrubs along both sides of the road. It also asked the Delhi police to strictly implement the existing ban on pressure horns and prevent entry of overloaded trucks in this area.

The directions came on a plea filed by Panchsheel Park resident, O. Saigal, who said noise pollution on Outer Ring Road was affecting the health of those living in the area. The petition had said sound levels in the area were above the set norms under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

The petition gave directions to the civic bodies to erect screens or walls along both sides of the road to block the noise. However, the Delhi government told the NGT that erecting high walls on both sides of the road to block noise would adversely affect the aesthetics, blocking the view of residents and traffic.
All the branches of the Childrens Academy School have initiated Good Touch and Bad Touch classes for their class 1 students.

Mumbai: After the alleged sexual assault and murder of the seven-year-old at a Gurugram school, the tensions among the parents have soared up like never before. Schools say that parents and students these days are suffering from an extreme fear psychosis where they are paranoid about the school environment being unsafe. On the other hand, the schools, after fathoming out the mental condition of both parents and students have come up with various safety drives, awareness programs, counselling sessions, etc.

All the branches of the Childrens Academy School have initiated Good Touch and Bad Touch classes for their class 1 students. In these classes, lessons will be given in a child-friendly manner about touch and making them aware of their own expressions. We teach them about their own expressions. For example, if a childs mother gives them a hug, what happens to their expression. It would make them happy. We know that, but a class 1 student does not. Also, if a stranger hugs them, they will be uncomfortable. All this is what happens in the class, they are taught about their emotions, change of behaviour and comfort, said Venus Savla, Headmistress of primary section at Childrens Academy, Malad.

Another important element that was pinpointed by parents nationwide was the lack of security in schools. In here, the CCTV cameras play an important role. However, parents feel that installing these cameras is not enough. Aadarsh Shetty, a parent said, In the regular PTA meetings, the schools keep assuring us (the parents) that we have installed so and so number of CCTV cameras in order to increase the security. But, our question is that how can a CCTV camera do the entire job? The school should focus monitoring the footages derived from the cameras on an hourly basis, every day. They should keep a check on the security personnel, didis and aunties who are constantly around our children and should have a proper coordination with parents.

In a move to make aware the staff members of the schools, schools in the city have started Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) workshops where counselling and informative along with educative sessions take place. This is for the peons, clerks, mavshis, watchmen, teaching, non-teaching staff, principals and even parents. Moreover, it will be conducted on a regular basis in the schools.
The IB has the copies of the detailed statements of Kaskars recent revelations.

Mumbai: The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is keeping a close tab on Thane polices investigation into the extortion cases involving the underworld after they named fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim as wanted in the latest case. They have also accessed the case documents. This comes close on the heels of the exhaustive eight-hour long interrogation of Dawoods brother Iqbal Kaskar by a team of two IB officers along with the Thane police, days after his arrest on September 18.

The IB has taken a copy of the FIR which names Dawood along with his brothers, Anees Ibrahim and Kaskar, a copy of which is also available with The Asian Age. The IB also has the copies of the detailed statements of Kaskars recent revelations before the Thane crime branchs anti-extortion cell (AEC).

We are in touch with the agency and are providing them with all the requisite details pertaining to the probe. They might even interrogate Kaskar once again, if need be, said an officer with the Thane City police, requesting anonymity. The case papers have also been shared with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), who have also registered a separate case against Kaskar and his aides, Asrarali Sayyad and Mumtaz Shaikh.

The ED is probing if and how Kaskar laundered extorted money outside India as well as the alleged funding of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik by the Dawood gang. It is already investigating Naik in a separate PMLA case.

So far Kaskar has revealed the fact that he was in touch with his brother Anees and Dawoods wife Mehzabeen, who would act as a mediator between the two brothers. During his joint questioning by the IB and Thane police, Kaskar mentioned Mehzabeens visit to Dubai last year. He also revealed that two of the accused in the third extortion case, Bhawar Kothari and Bharat Jain, allegedly went to Dubai on several occasions. During some of these trips, they met with Anees and allegedly spoke with Dawood via phone calls from Dubai, to evade Indian agencies.
Congress is likely to use it to turn public opinion against the BJP, which had promised corruption-free governance.

Mumbai: The Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held press conferences on Monday in the wake of an online article alleging a gigantic increase in the turnover of a firm owned by BJP national president Amit Shahs son after the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress launched an attack on the saffron party over the controversy in its press meet while the latter fielded its big guns to defend itself.

Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil demanded Mr Shahs resignation over the alleged irregularities in his sons company, while BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar and revenue minister Chandrakant Patil called the Congress demand senseless.

In the wake of the article going viral, Congress leadership in Delhi asked all state leaders to address a press conference on the matter and put the facts before the people.

Pointing out instances where BJP leaders stepped down in the wake of controversies, Mr Chavan said, After allegations were made against Bangaru Laxman in the Tehelka scam and L.K. Advani in the late 90s, both had resigned from the party. The BJP should follow its own tradition and ask Mr Shah to put in his papers.

Mr Vikhe-Patil, lashing out at the BJP, said, The BJPs doublespeak on corruption has been exposed now. The tall claims of clean governance were a complete lie. The party owes an explanation to the nation for an increase in Jay Shahs turnover.

Mr Patil, however, said claimed that the Congress had no right to talk about corruption. People have shown them the door on the issue of corruption only. Piyushji (railway minister Piyush Goyal) has given a proper explanation as to the allegations. Also, Jay Shah has decided to sue the website. Why is the Congress making noise still, he asked.

As the issue gains momentum, Congress is likely to use it to turn public opinion against the BJP, which had promised corruption-free governance.
Shaikh took loans from the two jewellers in Mahim and Majiwada, Thane, by keeping the ornaments as collateral.

Mumbai: Gold worth nearly Rs 3 lakh has been recovered by the Thane crime branch in an alleged extortion case registered against Iqbal Kaskar, brother of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, and his aides Asrarali Sayyad and Mumtaz Shaikh in 2015-16. The booty pertains to extortion to the tune of Rs 15 lakh from a Thane-based jeweller, and was recovered from two other jewellers in Mahim and Thane, with whom the valuables had been kept as security by Shaikh.

Officials of the anti-extortion cell (AEC) of Mumbai crime branch revealed that extorted valuables weighing 20 tola were kept with Sayyad as he needed them for his daughters marriage. Shaikh took loans from the two jewellers in Mahim and Majiwada, Thane, by keeping the ornaments as collateral.

A Thane crime branch officer said, What we learned is that Sayyad splurged the loan money at bars. The two jewellers are being questioned to ascertain since when they know the gang members. We have not booked them in the case yet and action will be taken if they are found guilty. The police further said that it was clueless as to why Sayyad splurged the loan money if he needed it for his daughters wedding and how Sayyad and Kaskar were planning to arrange for money to retrieve the ornaments kept as collateral.

A case was registered against Kaskar, Sayyad and Shaikhon September 20 after they extorted jewellery worth Rs 15 lakh from the Thane-based jeweller in 2015-16. Shaikh had learned that the jeweller was trying to sell a land parcel in Thane, and informed Sayyad and Kaskar about the same.

The trio started threatening the jeweller, who refused to go ahead with the potential deal after realising they were D-gang henchmen. Thereafter, Sayyad and Shaikh, along with Kaskar, went to his shop and allegedly extorted ornaments worth Rs 15 lakh from him.
Activists want it to be replicated in Mumbai to cut air, noise pollution.

The firecracker industry in India is pegged to be around more than 8,000 crore.

Mumbai: Activists have welcomed the Supreme Court decision on Monday to continue till October 31 the ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) that was passed last November. While some activists believe the ban should be replicated in Mumbai as well, as crackers worsen the quality of air others say that creating awareness is working well and the people themselves are giving up noisy crackers, which is also good indication.

Since Diwali is on October 19, the Supreme Court ban on sale of crackers means there would be quieter and less polluted air in Delhi-NCR this festive season.

Of course we welcome the order banning sale of firecrackers and we think that the government on its own should do the same in Mumbai as it is highly populated and needs more care to make the quality of air better, said Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation.

She added, We have been working on the subject of firecrackers for years and have compiled data on how they are adversely affecting the health of citizens of Mumbai. So instead of waiting for people to approach the court, the government on its own should move to ban firecrackers in the city.

On the other hand, Dr Rakesh Kumar, director, National Environ-mental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), said, I fully agree with what has been done in terms of intent of controlling noise and air pollution, but what happens when you suddenly ban something and then people start smuggling or illegally selling and buying them and even violating rules?

He said, For the last four to five years we have been tracking the sale of crackers, and we can see that people are bursting lesser crackers, which means awareness efforts are working well. And with little bit of strictness from the court there could be better results.

Inside the firecracker industry

The firecracker industry in India is pegged to be around more than 8,000 crore.

More than 85% of all crackers sold in the country is manufactured in Sivakasi area of Tamil Nadu.

During Diwali firecrackers worth more than 1,000 crore is sold only from Sivakasi

A large part of the industry is unorganised which provides livelihood to lakhs of workers employed directly to the manufacturing factories.

Lakhs of other people also engaged in related industries like packaging, printing, paper rolling and transportation etc.

Nearly 8000 unorganised units operate only in Sivakasi.
The level of online harassment in India was extremely concerning.

Eight out of 10 Indians surveyed have encountered some form of online harassment.

Norton by Symantec last week released new research that reveals 8 out of 10 people surveyed have experienced some form of online harassment in India, with the most common forms of online harassment being abuse and insults (63 per cent) and malicious gossip and rumours (59 per cent).

The Norton study aims to understand the countrys exposure to online harassment ranging from unwanted conflict, trolling, character assassinations, and cyberbullying to sexual harassment and threats of physical violence, as well as the impacts of these experiences.

Incidence of online harassment was particularly high for people in the under 40s age group, with 65 per cent reporting online abuse and insults. Frighteningly, 87 per cent of people with disabilities or poor mental health and 77 per cent of those with weight issues reported experiences of abuse or insults online.

Ritesh Chopra, Country Manager, Norton by Symantec said that the level of online harassment in India was extremely concerning.

Our latest research shows that more serious forms of online harassment including threats of physical violence (45 per cent), cyberbullying (44 per cent) and cyberstalking (45 per cent) are very high, Ritesh said.

It is also worrying that for over 40 per cent of incidences of cyberbullying and nearly half of all cases of cyberstalking people said that the perpetrator was a stranger. Indeed, many said that they had no idea of the true identity of the person who was bullying them.

With Indias growing population spending more time on social media platforms and mobile applications, it is important that online users take basic precautions to protect their safety and security to avoid unwanted contact, added Ritesh.

Experiences of online harassment

While the survey shows that men and women reported similar experiences of online harassment it was apparent that men under 40 and people with disabilities and poor mental health were more susceptible to some of the more serious threats. A staggering 49 per cent of men and 71 per cent of people with disabilities or poor mental health reported receiving threats of physical violence, while 50 per cent of men and 67 per cent of people with disabilities or poor mental health reported at least one incidence of cyberbullying.

By region, the highest threats of physical violence were reported by victims from Mumbai (51 per cent), Delhi (47 per cent) and Hyderabad (46 per cent) with Delhi victims (51 per cent) experiencing the highest incidence of cyberbullying.

Sexual harassment was also a concern for the under 40s, experienced by 40 per cent of this age group. It is more commonly encountered by women than men but those who were most likely to report this form of harassment were people who had disabilities or mental health issues, with 69 per cent reporting being victim to this kind of abuse. Being sent sexual comments and messages on social media as well as receiving disturbing emails were the most common complaints.

Reports of sexual harassment were highest by victims from Delhi and Mumbai (43 per cent) followed by Kolkata (37 per cent) and Bangalore (36 per cent).

Impacts of online harassment

Online harassment often triggered emotional reactions with 45 per cent of people saying it made them feel angry, 41 per cent irritated and 36 per cent frustrated. Worryingly, one in four women found their experience frightening.

Online harassment also had a real impact on peoples lives, with 33 per cent enhancing their privacy settings on social media, 28 per cent reporting that is had impacted their work and studies, 27 per cent experienced an impact on the nature of their relationships with friends, 26 percent becoming depressed or anxious and 24 per cent losing friends.

Boosting online protection

These statistics indicate the real need for people to take the necessary precautions to boost their online protection, Ritesh said.

At Norton, our mission to help protect consumers digital safety and help people feel inspired to be confident online users, secure in the knowledge that they are safe from harm. We want to do our part to prevent abuse and harassment by calling on online service providers to be ethical corporate citizens by setting clear community conduct and service standards, and being prepared to enforce them against those whose behavior violates these standards, Ritesh concluded.

Norton has identified three steps people should take to help combat online harassment:

Review your online presence on all devices:

-Check your security and privacy settings.

-Regularly change passwords.

Recognise the problem if it happens and move quickly:

-Do not respond to the perpetrator.

-Keep all records and evidence of the harassment by making a copy of the message, photo or video.

-If you are witness to online harassment, help by supporting the person targeted and, depending on the situation, letting the perpetrators know that their behaviour is not acceptable.

Report:

-If someone says or does something that is inappropriate or deemed as harassment, report it to the relevant authorities immediately.

-If inappropriate content is displayed online, contact the website operators by phone or email, requesting the content be removed or blocked.
Authorities said the July 2016 stabbing of Seema Singh occurred in the couple's apartment while their three children slept nearby.

Singh attacked his wife after she said she was leaving him and would be taking all of his money and their children with her. (Representational Image)

New York: A 48-year-old Indian-origin man in the US has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing his wife by stabbing her nearly 40 times after she told him she was having an affair.

Nitin P Singh must serve 85 per cent of the sentence on the single charge of first-degree aggravated manslaughter before he is eligible for parole under the terms of the sentence handed down by Superior Court Judge Linda Lawhun on Friday in Salem, New Jersey.

Authorities said the July 2016 stabbing of 42-year-old Seema Singh, a Collingswood shopkeeper, occurred in the couple's apartment while their three children slept nearby. The children were not injured.

Mr Singh told the court that he attacked his wife after she said she was leaving him and would be taking all of his money and their children with her.

He said that he went into a rage and picked up the first thing he saw, a knife, and began stabbing her. Nitin then called 911 to say his wife was not breathing. He was later charged with murdering her by stabbing her nearly 40 times.
Alongside Kim Jong Un himself, the promotion makes Kim Yo Jong the only other millennial member of the influential body.

Seoul: North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un said his nuclear weapons were a powerful deterrent that guaranteed its sovereignty, state media reported on Sunday, hours after US President Donald Trump said only one thing will work in dealing with the isolated country.

Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind.

In a speech to a meeting of the powerful Central Committee of the ruling Workers Party on Saturday, a day before Trumps most recent comments, state media said Kim had addressed the complicated international situation.

North Koreas nuclear weapons are a powerful deterrent firmly safeguarding the peace and security in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia, Kim said, referring to the protracted nuclear threats of the US imperialists.

In recent weeks, North Korea has launched two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test, and may be fast advancing toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland.

North Korea is preparing to test-launch such a missile, a Russian lawmaker who had just returned from a visit to Pyongyang was quoted as saying on Friday.

Donald Trump has previously said the United States would totally destroy North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies.

The situation proved that North Koreas policy of byungjin, meaning the parallel development of nuclear weapons and the economy was absolutely right, Kim Jong Un said in the speech.

The national economy has grown on their strength this year, despite the escalating sanctions, said Kim, referring to U.N. Security Council resolutions put in place to curb Pyongyangs nuclear and missile program.

SISTER PROMOTION

The meeting also handled some personnel changes inside North Koreas secretive and opaque ruling center of power, state media said.

Kim Jong Uns sister, Kim Yo Jong, was made an alternate member of the politburo - the top decision-making body over which Kim Jong Un presides.

Alongside Kim Jong Un himself, the promotion makes Kim Yo Jong the only other millennial member of the influential body.

Her new position indicates the 28-year-old has become a replacement for Kim Jong Uns aunt, Kim Kyong Hui, who had been a key decision maker when former leader Kim Jong Il was alive.

It shows that her portfolio and writ is far more substantive than previously believed and it is a further consolidation of the Kim familys power, said Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at Johns Hopkins Universitys 38 North website.

In January, the US Treasury blacklisted Kim Yo Jong along with other North Korean officials over severe human rights abuses.

Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol, two of the three men behind Kims banned rocket program, were also promoted.

State media announced that several other high ranking cadres were promoted to the Central Committee in what the South Korean unification ministry said could be an attempt by North Korea to navigate a way through its increasing isolation.

The large-scale personnel reshuffle reflects that Kim Jong Un is taking the current situation seriously, and that hes looking for a breakthrough by promoting a new generation of politicians, the ministry said in a statement.

North Koreas foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, who named Donald Trump President Evil in a bombastic speech to the U.N. General Assembly last month, was promoted to full vote-carrying member of the politburo.

Ri can now be safely identified as one of North Koreas top policy makers, said Madden.

Even if he has informal or off the record meetings, Ris interlocutors can be assured that whatever proposals they proffer will be taken directly to the top, he said.
The two boarded Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-786 from Heathrow Airport in London and arrived in Pakistan on Sunday.

Islamabad: Ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammed Safdar will appear before the accountability court on Monday.

The two boarded Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-786 from Heathrow Airport in London and arrived in Pakistan on Sunday.

Maryam Nawaz and her husband are required to appear before the court on Monday for the hearing of a reference filed against the Sharif family on the order of the Supreme

While Maryam Nawaz has the option to get pre-arrest bail, the warrants of her spouse are non-bailable, which has given rise to an interesting situation  whether the son-in-law of the former PM would be arrested on return.

On October 2, the accountability court issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of the ex-Premiers sons Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammed Safdar. The court issued bailable warrants for Maryam Nawaz.

Judge Muhammad Bashir issued directives to arrest and present Maryam, Hassan, Hussain and Safdar before the court on the next date of hearing. Deposed PM Sharif appeared before the court on October 2 but could not be indicted due to the absence of his familys members facing the trial along with him.

Highly-placed sources in the PML-N said Maryam Nawazs return to Pakistan had much to do with the trial in the accountability court where she and her husband were expected to appear on Monday.

Given the condition of her mother Kulsoom Nawaz who has had three surgeries in London related to the treatment of her lymph node cancer, Maryam Nawaz may not stay in Pakistan for long and is likely to leave for the United Kingdom after a few days, the insider said.

The ex-PM is scheduled to be indicted by the accountability court on Monday but he left for London a few days back to attend to his ailing wife and there is no indication that he would make it to the crucial court proceedings. For many, leaving for London ahead of the indictment is a tactical move by Sharif to skip being indicted.
The foreign ministry spokesman Qasemi also denied US accusations that Iran had cooperated with North Korea.

Criticism by the Donald Trump administration of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, including the United States, has focused heavily on Tehran's continuing missile programme. (Photo: AP)

London: Iran promised on Monday to give a crushing response if the United States designated its elite Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group.

The pledge came a week before President Donald Trump announces final decision on how he wants to contain Tehran. He is expected on Oct 15 to decertify a landmark 2015 international deal to curb Irans nuclear program, in a step that potentially could cause the accord to unravel.

Trump is also expected to designate Irans most powerful security force, the Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, as he rolls out a broader US strategy on Iran.

We are hopeful that the United States does not make this strategic mistake, foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA at a news conference.

If they do, Irans reaction would be firm, decisive and crushing and the United States should bear all its consequences, he added.

Individuals and entities associated with the IRGC are already on the US list of foreign terrorist organizations, but the organization as a whole is not.

IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said on Sunday if the news is correct about the stupidity of the American government in considering the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group, then the Revolutionary Guards will consider the American army to be like Islamic State all around the world.

Jafari also said that additional sanctions would end the chances for future dialogue with the United States and that the Americans would have to move their regional bases outside the 2,000 km (1,250 mile) range of IRGCs missiles.

MALIGN ACTIVITIES

The foreign ministry spokesman Qasemi also denied US accusations that Iran had cooperated with North Korea.

In an interview that was aired on Saturday night, Trump accused Iran of funding North Korea and doing things with North Korea that are totally inappropriate.

Qasemi called the accusations baseless

Israel and some specific countries are raising these accusations to create Iranophobia.

In his first speech to the UN General Assembly in September Trump called Iran a corrupt dictatorship, and the nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama an embarrassment.

The deal, which was also supported by Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, saw Iran agree to curbs on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of international sanctions that had damaged its economy.

Washington still maintains its own more limited sanctions on Iran over its missile program and over accusations it supports terrorism.

The Trump administration is seeking to put more pressure on the IRGC, especially over recent ballistic missile tests and what Washington has called its malign activities across the Middle East.

US sanctions on the IRGC could affect conflicts in Iraq and Syria, where Tehran and Washington both support warring parties that oppose the Islamic State militant group (IS).

The US government imposed sanctions in July on 18 entities and people for supporting the IRGC in developing drones and military equipment.

In August, the US Congress overwhelmingly approved the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act which imposed new sanctions on Iran for its ballistic missiles program.

The act, signed by Trump, also imposed sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear weapons development and on Russia for its alleged efforts to interfere in the 2016 US election.
Mostly Buddhist Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as citizens, even though many have lived in Rakhine for generations.

Most Rohingya are stateless and many fear they will not be able to prove their right to return. (FIle Photo)

Coxs Bazar: A boat carrying Rohingya Muslim refugees to Bangladesh capsized and at least 12 people, most of them children, drowned, police said on Monday, the latest victims of violence in Myanmar that has forced more than half a million people to flee.

The boat sank near Shah Porir Dwip, on the southern tip of Bangladesh, late on Sunday with up to 35 people on board, Bangladeshi police said.

Bangladeshi fishermen have been cramming their boats since late August with desperate Rohingya fleeing a Myanmar security crackdown that the United Nations has denounced as ethnic cleansing.

Bangladeshi police officer Mohammed Mainuddin told Reuters that 12 bodies - 10 children, one woman and a man - had been recovered.

A Reuters photographer earlier saw the bodies of four children, two women and a man washed up on a beach.

Authorities said 13 people had been rescued.

Some 519,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25, when attacks by Rohingya militants on police and military posts in Rakhine State sparked a ferocious response from Myanmars security forces.

Myanmar rejects accusations of ethnic cleansing and has labeled the militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, who launched the initial attacks, as terrorists.

The insurgents declared a one-month ceasefire from Sept. 10, which is due to end at midnight on Monday.

The ability of the group, which only surfaced in October last year, to mount any sort of challenge to the Myanmar army is not known but it does not appear to have been able to put up resistance to the military offensive unleashed in August.

It would be difficult for the insurgents to operate in areas where the military has driven out Rohingya civilians, in the north of Rakhine Sate, near the border with Bangladesh.

The insurgents said in a statement on Saturday they were ready to respond to any peace move by the Myanmar government, but also noted that the ceasefire was about to end.

COMING, GOING

More than six weeks after the violence erupted, Rohingya continue to arrive in Bangladesh, which was already home to 400,000 members of the Myanmar Muslim minority before the latest crisis.

Mostly Buddhist Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as citizens, even though many have lived in Rakhine for generations.

Myanmar state media has in recent days reported that large numbers of Muslims were preparing to cross the border. It cited their reasons as livelihood difficulties, health problems, a belief of insecurity and fear of becoming a minority.

But even as refugees arrive, Bangladesh is insisting that they will all have to go home. Myanmar has responded by saying it will take back those who can be verified as genuine refugees.

Most Rohingya are stateless and many fear they will not be able to prove their right to return.

A Myanmar official held talks on a repatriation plan in Bangladesh last month and Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan is due to visit Myanmar for more this month.

Khan told reporters on Sunday he believed an agreement would be worked out.

Myanmar leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has faced scathing international criticism and dismay for not doing more to stop the violence, although she has no power over the security forces under a military-drafted constitution.

The United States and Britain have warned Myanmar the crisis is putting at risk the progress it has made since the military began to loosen its grip on power in 2011.

The European Union and the United States are considering targeted sanctions against Myanmar military leaders over the violence, officials familiar with the discussions say.

Sundays apparent accident was the latest involving refugees. On Sept. 28, a boat carrying about 80 refugees overturned with only 17 survivors.

In early September, 46 bodies were recovered after a boat sank in the narrow stretch of water that separates Myanmar and Bangladesh. Among the dead were 19 children, 18 women and nine men.
The cases were filed after the July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif.

Deposed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waves to his supporters during a rally in Muridke, Pakistan, on August 12. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif failed to appear on Monday before an anti-graft court which set October 13 as the date of his indictment even as the daughter and son-in-law of the embattled premier were granted bail in the Panama Papers case.

Maryam Nawaz, 43, along with her spouse, former army captain Muhammad Safdar, returned to Islamabad late last night from London to appear in the National Accountability Court.

Safdar was arrested on his arrival as the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrant against the former Pakistan Army Captain.

Both appeared separately in the accountability court of Judge Muhammad Bashir here.

Sharif and his two sons were absent during the hearing as they are in London to attend his wife Kulsoom who is battling throat cancer.

Sharif had attended the previous two hearings but flew to London last week to see his ailing wife, who underwent a third surgery.

The court accepted the bail applications of Maryam and Safdar and postponed the hearing till October 13, according to court officials.

Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Harris asked the court to adjourn hearing for 15 days with commitment that Sharif would also appear. The court rejected the plea announced that it will indict the accused during the next hearing.

The court also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharif's sons -- Husain and Hasan -- proclaimed offender as they have failed to appear before it so far.

The court also decided to conduct separate trials of Husain and Hasan from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

Amid tight security, Maryam, 43, who is being groomed as Sharif's political successor, appeared in the court for the first time today.

She was ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 50,000 against a non-bailable arrest warrant against her.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials informed the court that Nawaz's sons Hassan and Hussain had left the country and were deliberately avoiding court appearances.

The NAB lawyers asked the court to send Safdar to jail on judicial remand but the court granted him bail and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 for surety bonds.

The court also asked him to seek its permission before going abroad and rejected the NAB request to confiscate his passport.

Both Maryam and Safdar have been charged by the NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Sharif.

Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken into custody despite the fact that he had come back to face the case.

"Those who want to appear by free will are arrested from airport, but we are not afraid of it, she said.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said that the "absconders are free and hold public meetings".

She also criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.

"Questions will be asked if the cases which started with Panama ended with Iqama (Job contract). The judges would have to answer it, she said referring to dismissal of Sharif for non-declaration of his salary from his sons company in the UAE.

"Those who sent home representative of 20 crore people should also be brought to justice," she said.

During the hearing, Sharifs lawyer also presented an application to exempt him from appearing before the court today. The court accepted the plea.

The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Husain, Hasan and Safdar last Monday after they failed to appear before it.

The cases were filed after the July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the people's mandate and democracy.
A Cabinet minister Talal Chaudhry said Mohammad Safdar was arrested from the Islamabad airport early Monday on his arrival from London.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waves to his supporters during a rally in Muridke, Pakistan, on August 12. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities have arrested the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in connection with corruption cases pending against him.

A Cabinet minister Talal Chaudhry said Mohammad Safdar was arrested from the Islamabad airport early Monday on his arrival from London.

The development came hours before Sadfar and his wife Maryam Nawaz were to appear before an anti-graft tribunal. She was not detained and later reached the court.

Sharif, his daughter, his son-in-law and his two sons face corruption cases after an investigation into documents leaked from a Panama law firm indicated that Sharif and some of his family members had undisclosed assets abroad.

Sharif was disqualified from office in July.
There were 100 people on it, 40 adults. Exodus of Myanmars Muslims continues. Since August 150 died trying to reach Bangladesh through the Naf river.

Coxs Baxar (AsiaNews/Agencies)  A boat packed with some 100 Rohingya refugees  many of them children  capsized yesterday evening in the mouth of the Naf river that separates Myanmar from Bangladesh, the coastguard and border guard officials said. The body count has reached 12, 10 of whom children.

The refugees were fleeing the violence in the Rakhine state, Myanmar. Only 40 of the 100 people aboard were adults, said area coastguard commander Alauddin Nayan. According to them, the boat sank at around 10:00 pm.

Violence in Myanmar exploded the 25th August, when the armed group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa) carried out a series of attacks that sparked a violent response on the part of the Myanmar Armed Forces. Since then, about 520,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine state for Bangladesh since late August, through thick jungle and perilous boat journeys across the Naf river. Around 150 Rohingya, many of them children, have drowned while trying to reach Bangladesh in inadequate boats.

Last week, a group of diplomats visiting northern Rakhine condemned the violence while backing the stand taken by Myanmars democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A few days before, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, defined the refugee crisis a human rights nightmare.
by Theodore Mascarenhas*

Young Protestant Christians set ablaze images of deities and the Indian national flag. Msgr. Mascarenhas: We are shocked that anyone could show disrespect to members of another religion in the name of Christ. Religion is meant for building bridges.

New Delhi (AsiaNews)  It is with great sadness and sorrow that we have learnt from sections of the National Press of an unfortunate incident in which members of a sect calling themselves Christians, have burnt images of Hindu deities and our Indian National Flag in Lunglie District of Mizoram. We have been in touch with the local Catholic Bishop of Aizawl, Bishop Stephen Rotluanga, who is upset about the happenings.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India strongly and unequivocally denounces this deplorable act. We want to state very clearly that we stand firmly against any sort of fundamentalism, wherever it may come from. Any attempt to cause division and sow hatred is against the principles of Christianity and against humanity. The Catholic Church along with other Christian Churches has always stood for national unity and for peace and harmony among all peoples.

As is well known, the Christian community is a peace loving community, known for its love for India and we condemn in the strongest possible terms the burning of our Flag.

Those who have committed these acts cannot and should not profess to be Christians because Our Lord Jesus Christ has taught us to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to give to God what belongs to God. We, as Christians, love and worship God and, in the same way, love and serve our Country and people selflessly.

We are shocked that anyone could show disrespect to members of another religion in the name of Christ. We remind these misguided youth about the episode in the Bible when Jesus wanted to visit a Samaritan village, the people of the village refused to accept him and two of his close disciples asked him Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?. And the Gospel says  But Jesus turned and rebuked them. And they went to another village.

Following the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church along with all the Christian Churches, rejects intolerance and professes its profound respect for every religion. We share the pain of our Hindu brethren, who would be hurt and upset by this unfortunate and unacceptable incident. The Catholic Church reiterates that religion is meant for building bridges and constructing lives of people. It cannot be used and should never be utilised for spreading hatred against fellow human beings.

We exhort the miscreants to give up their wrong ways and pray that they may see the light.

God bless India.

*Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India
Patriarch and bishops express "appreciation" for the role of the armed forces in the fight against terrorism. The desire to celebrate "the liberation of the entire territory". At a "critical and difficult time" a renewed appeal to dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil. Prayer for vocations.

Rome (AsiaNews) - In a "critical and difficult" time for Iraq, the Chaldean Church expresses "appreciation" for the role played by the armed forces in the fight against the "terrorists" of the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis) and renews its call to "dialogue" to overcome the "crisis" between Erbil and Baghdad following the referendum on independence.

This is what the Chaldean patriarchate underlines in a statement published at the end of the Synod, which was held in Rome from October 4 to 8. In the text, the leaders of the Iraqi Church also expressed the "solidarity and pride" of the Christian community, which has been able to keep the "faith" alive.

Signed by Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako and the bishops present, the statement highlights the "results" of the Iraqi forces and the recent victories over the Islamic jihadists; the wish of the Iraqi Church, is that there will soon be celebrations for "the liberation of the entire territory of Iraq".

In the "difficult circumstances" of the Middle East, and in particular Syria and Iraq, the bishops trace a "visionary and realistic view of all the challenges" facing "our country, our Church and the Christians of the region."

Chief among them is the "emigration" and the common commitment to promoting policies and plans that ensure the survival of families - displaced and non - and encourage the return of those who in the past have chosen to emigrate.

"Despite the persecution we have experienced," continues the patriarchal note, "we have kept the flame of faith and hope in the hearts firmly alive, without fanaticism but with deep respect for the other Christian communities [Assyrian, Syriac, Armenia]. It affirms our membership of our Church, our family in a spirit of solidarity, sacrifice, mutual love and responsibility. " he leaders of the Iraqi Church also ask for prayers "to nourish priestly and monastic vocations" in a clerical crisis.

In these days, Chaldean Bishops and Patriarch Sako met Pope Francis, who renewed the invitation to the Iraqi Church to act as an element of peace and stability in the country and in the world. An even more urgent engagement in a period of hardship and divisions within the same Iraqi institutions that threaten national unity.

The reference is to the September 25 independence referendum, promoted by Iraqi Kurdistan on. Voting was also held in the controversial territory of Kirkuk and ended with an overwhelming victory in favor (over 90% yes). "We are very concerned about the developments in the country's political situation, particularly the referendum crisis," the Patriarch notes. We invite all parties to "calm," and "not to escalate tensions, renewing the commitment to "courageous dialogue" as the only "safe way" to "overcome the crisis".

In this regard, Msgr. Shlemon Audish Warduni, auxiliary bishop of Baghdad, speaks to AsiaNews of a "slight improvement" in the situation because there are "attempts at dialogue" and "steps towards an opening" between Baghdad and Erbil. Hence the pressing appeal to "dialogue and reconciliation" addressed to both parties.

We must continue to be a "sign of hope," concludes Patriarch Sako, and remain "confident" so that "there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel." (DS)
"Its a very common attitude: To just look at misfortune, look at a bad thing, and move on. And then read about it in newspapers, a bit of scandal or sensationalism. " In the Good Samaritan there is "the mystery of Christ" who "he became servant, bent low, abnegated himself, and died for us."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Look at people from on high only when you are helping them to their feet, like the good Samaritan of today's Gospel, to be on the right track, said Pope Francis at Mass at Casa Santa Marta this morning.

He said the parable of the Good Samaritan is Jesus response to the Doctors of the Law, who want to test him wondering what they must do to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells them of the commandment of the love of God and neighbor, but one Doctor of the Law, who did not know how to get out of the "little trap Jesus had set for him", asks him who is his neighbor. And then Jesus replies with this story.

In the parable there are six "actors": the brigands, the man beaten to death, the priest, the Levite, the innkeeper and the Samaritan, a pagan who was not of the Jewish people. Christ always responds in a "higher" way, emphasized Francis. In this case with a story that explains his own mystery, "the mystery of Jesus".

Pope Francis went on to describe a frequent attitude among people today. The brigands left content because they had robbed the man of "so many good things" and did not care about his life. The priest, "who ought to be a man of God," and the Levite, who was close to the Law, passed by the wounded man, who was almost at the end of his life. " Its a very common attitude: To just look at misfortune, look at a bad thing, and move on. And then read about it in newspapers, a bit of scandal or sensationalism. Instead, this pagan, sinner, who was traveling, "saw and did not go any further: he was compassionate". And Luke describes this well: 'He saw, he was compassionate, he came to him, and did not move on: he came near. He tended his wounds  he did! Pouring oil and wine. ' But he did not leave him there: Ive done all I can and then I leave; No".

Then he loaded him on his horse, took him to the hotel and took care of him but the next day, having to go away on business, he paid the innkeeper to take care of him and tell him that more "than these two denars ", would be forthcoming on his return. This is "the mystery of Christ" who " he became servant, bent low, abnegated himself, and died for us." With this mystery Jesus responds to the Doctor of the Law, who wanted to test him. Jesus is the Good Samaritan and invites man to do the same. "It's not a story about children," but "the mystery of Jesus Christ":

"And by looking at this parable, he we will understand the depth, the breadth of the mystery of Jesus Christ. The Doctor of the Law went silent, full of shame, he did not understand. He did not understand the mystery of Christ. Perhaps he will understand the human principle that approaches us to understand the mystery of Christ: that every man should look at another from on high only when he is helping him to his feet. And those who do this are in good shape, they are on the right path to Jesus. "

The Pope also highlighted the "amazement" of the innkeeper who "did not understand anything" but felt "the amazement of a meeting someone who did things" that he had never felt that he could do "that is, the amazement of the innkeeper" it is his encounter with Jesus. "So Francis urged the re-reading the passage of Luke's Gospel and ask a few questions." What am I doing? Am I a brigand, cheating, corrupt, am I a brigand or a priest who looks on and then passes by? Or a Catholic leader who does the same? Or am I a sinner? One who has to be condemned for their sins? Or do I draw close to those who need help? How do I behave, in front of so many injuries, to so many wounded people with whom I meet every day? Do I do as Jesus? Do I take the form of a servant? It would do us well to reflect on this, reading and re-reading this step. It manifests the mystery of Jesus Christ, who came for us to heal us and give us life. "
Diplomatic row sparked by the arrest of a Turkish staffer at the American mission in Istanbul. The employee was remanded in custody on accusations of links to the group of US-based preacher Gulen, blamed by Ankara for last year's failed coup. Ties between Putin and Erdogan are getting stronger.

Ankara (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The United States and Turkey on Sunday scaled back visa issuing services in each other's countries in a deepening diplomatic row sparked by the arrest of a Turkish staffer at the American mission in Istanbul.

The American embassy in Ankara said that "recent events" forced the US government to reassess Turkey's "commitment" to the security of US mission services and personnel in the country.

In order to minimise the number of visitors while the assessment is carried out, "effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all US diplomatic facilities in Turkey," it said.

Non-immigrant visas are issued to all those travelling to the United States for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study. Immigrant visa services are only for those seeking to live in the US permanently.

Turkey responded by suspending "all visa services" for Americans in the US, saying the measures also apply to visas issued online and at the border.

In an apparent attempt to mock the US announcement, the Turkish embassy in Washington issued two statements that were almost word-for-word copies of that from the American embassy in Ankara.

Beyond its mention of "recent events", the American embassy statement made no explicit mention of the arrest by Turkish authorities of a local Turkish staffer working at the US consulate in Istanbul.

The employee was remanded in custody by an Istanbul court late Wednesday on accusations of links to the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for last year's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Analysts and experts point to an ever-stronger bond between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin behind the controversy that is pitting Ankara and Washington against each other. This is confirmed by the recent billion-dollar deal for the sale of the Russian S-400 to Turkey, which has irritated - and not least - the NATO allies.
Donut King releases nostalgic donut range for millennials





Donut King is selling a new range of donuts designed to bring Australian adults back to their childhood.

The Ungrown-Up Range is inspired by the shift towards overindulgent donuts that feature lots of fillings and toppings. Flavours in the range include Ice Bae Bee, Donut Be Jelly, Tough Cookie and Smarty Pants.

Donut King Brand Manager, Raquel Hine, said the brands youthful approach to the new range represents an extension of their core product line, based off current trends.

Were going one step further and tapping into our consumers inner child by giving them a taste of the past, with nostalgic confectionary favourites such as jelly beans, strawberry rings and coconut ice  to name a few, Hine said.

The range is primarily targeted at millennials with every aspect of the range designed to resonate with this group of Australians.

We wanted to make sure that everything about the range resonated with our consumers, down to the name of the donuts, their look and of course the delicious flavour, Hine said.

These days its all about taking the perfect snap of your insta-worthy snack, and Donut King strives to keep ahead of these trends by introducing exclusive and innovative products.

The Ungrown-Up range is available now from Donut King stores across Australia.

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Franchisors warned to comply with new underpayment laws





Franchisors in Australia have been warned to prepare for the introduction of new laws that will make them responsible for employee underpayments made by franchisees.

Speaking at the National Franchising Conference on the Gold Coast, Fair Work Ombudsman, Natalie James, said the new laws come into place in three weeks and set clear expectations that a franchise needs to consider how they can prevent exploitation of workers in its network.

Franchisors should be asking themselves, what steps do they need to take to ensure the businesses within their network are paying workers correctly, James said.

By now, franchisors should be making it clear to its network that it expects franchisees to comply with workplace laws. Best practice would be to enshrine these expectations within franchising agreements.

Under the new laws, serious contraventions will see businesses penalised up to $630, 000 and individuals $126, 000 per contravention.

Ms James however said that while the new penalties are welcome, the preference is to see no breaches occur in the first place.

We recognise that investing proactively in compliance has a cost for a franchisor but it should be seen as an investment to protect your brand and reputation as well as the wellbeing of the workers who support and build the brand, Ms James said.

Laws will be used to fullest extent to protect vulnerable workers

Ms James said the new laws reflected the communitys concerns about deliberate exploitation of vulnerable workers.

We will apply the new laws judiciously and fairly but we will not hesitate to use them to the fullest extent to protect vulnerable workers, I encourage franchisors to be proactive in taking steps to promote compliance in their networks, James said.
Photo courtesy of Shell.

Shell has opened a retail station in Southern California that allows drivers of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to fill up and pay for the fuel with a credit card. California now has 30 open retail stations that dispense highly pressurized gaseous hydrogen fuel.

The station, which opened on Oct. 9, had previously been used by manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda as a testing station for hydrogen fuel cell prototypes. It was built by Shell in May of 2011.

Photo courtesy of Shell.

The station now accepts payments from major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and U.S. Bank Voyager. The fuel now costs $14.99 per kilogram.

Filling up a Toyota Mirai or Honda FCV takes about 10 minutes. The Mirai's pair of fuel tanks can store up to 5 kg of hydrogen gas.

Officials from Shell, Toyota, the City of Torrance, and state leaders attended the event in Torrance that marked the opening of the station to the public. The station is located at 2051 W. 190th St.
David France reporter, author and documentary filmmaker best known for his book and ACT UP/TAG documentary How To Survive A Plague is facing accusations of theft and historical misrepresentation in his latest NETFLIX release The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson.

Transgender activist, filmmaker, and writer Reina Gossett has accused France of stealing work from her to create his investigative documentary saying that France saw a grant application video she made about Johnson, decided he would make the movie, then erased her work from public records and used it himself.

This week, while Im borrowing money to pay rent, David France is releasing his multimillion dollar Netflix deal on Marsha P. Johnson, Gossett wrote on Instagram. Im still lost in the music trying to #pay_it_no_mind and reeling on how this movie came to be and make so much $ off of our lives and ideas. David got inspired to make this film from a grant application video that @sashawortzel and I made and sent to Kalamazoo/Arcus Foundation social justice center while he was visiting. He told the people who worked there  I sh/*t you not  that he should be the one to do this film, got a grant from Sundance/Arcus using my language and research about STAR, got Vimeo to remove my video of Sylvias critical yall better quiet down speech, ripped off decades of my archival research that I experienced so much violence to get, had his staff call Sasha up at work to get our contacts, then hired my and Sashas ADVISOR to our Marsha film Kimberly Reed to be his producer.

France responded to Gossett and Mock on Twitter, saying he had a long friendship with Johnson, and claiming that hed cleared the matter with Gossett before proceeding with the film. He also added that he supported Reina s work.

After viewing The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson and as an LGBT historian who knew both Marsha and Sylvia Rivera who is also featured in film another disturbing problem is Frances insistence to leave out certain key points of Marshas life which could have attributed to her possible murder. including: Johnsons diagnosis as schizophrenia and on-going mental problems, details of her family situation and home life, her HIV status, and also her hospitalizations and arrests for prostitution and theft, thus sanitizing his piece and Marsha herself.

Marsha Johnson was a unique person. She was also a human being and had human problems and that is where Frances work misses the mark. It is not so much about the life of Johnson because so much is left out. TDALMPJ really more the story of Victoria Cruz from the New York Anti-Violence Project and her research of looking into Marshas death with an extrodinate amount of screen time given to the late Sylvia Rivera using footage that much of which was not vetted for accuracy.

Do I believe that Marsha P. Johnson was murdered? Yes I do. But with the amount of information purposely left out of Frances work I cannot come to the conclusion that his film comes to and if it was included it would shatter the narrative that he in a sense manipulated to achieve.

Marsha P. Johnson was an extraordinary person with a heat of gold who fought for all of the LGBT communitys civil rights. And while the archive footage in question is without a doubt fascinating and in my opinion the best part of this piece of work.

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A sister to the former Kilifi North M.P Gideon Mung'aro has died mysteriously today. Madaraka Kabengi Mung'aro who served the Kenya National Police as senior Sergent dies after a short illness.The Kilifi Jubilee Point Man Gideon Mung'aro got a big blow as his sister was supporting him in advise and encouraging him in terms of political turmoils. Madaraka Kabengi Mung'aro was taken to the Star Mortuary and will be buried this weekend.Jubilee people leaders across the Coastal region have sent condolences to the former Kilifi North legislature for losing his beloved sister. The first people to send condolences were the Jubilee senatorial candidate Ken Nyale and Amina Mnyazi.
A Bay area non-profit is searching for a plane to offload supplies and help those suffering in the hardest hit areas of Puerto Rico.

Charter plane backed out before Puerto Rico effort

'United as 1' collecting donations since Maria hit

Organizers working to get more transportation



Volunteers for "United as 1" have been collecting donations ever since Hurricane Maria hit. The initial plan was to drop off the donations, then bring back critical patients who need hospital care.

But this past weekend, that plan was stalled when the charter plane they were hoping for backed out.

The team was devastated.

"To see that hurt in people's eyes, you could see it," said United as 1 founder Julie Ann Padilla. "Their hearts were crushed. We knew that we had the ability to help people, we just wanted the ability to do it."

Eighty patients were waiting for that charter flight out of Puerto Rico.

Volunteers managed to get a few of those patients on another private plane that was already on the ground. The Pepsi Company donated that space.

Meanwhile, organizers are working hard to get more transportation so more patients in Puerto Rico can get the help they need.

"I'm still calling and recalling and touching bases with everyone who said, 'Well maybe I can," said assistant Ester Vazquez. "Maybe is enough for me."


The humidity was really high over the weekend and remained high today. Theres still been enough moisture to trigger these few scattered showers and storms weve seen.

Drier air moving in

Dropping humidity

No cold front yet

They will go away with partly cloudy skies going mostly clear into Tuesday morning.

Lows will generally be in the mid 70s, with some low 70s north, and upper 70s by the beach.

Unfortunately we dont have a cold front headed toward us this week.

We do have drier air moving back in the next couple days. That will allow for slightly lower humidity and a much lower rain chance. Tuesday will be mostly sunny to partly cloudy with an east breeze. There will only be a 20 percent chance of an afternoon passing shower.

Highs will still be hot, topping out in the low 90s.

Skies will go back to mostly clear Tuesday night with lows in the upper 60s to low 70s.

Wednesday will feature mostly dry conditions with lots of sunshine and only a 10 percent chance of a passing shower. Highs will again be near 90 degrees.

The lower humidity will allow for more comfortable evenings and mornings from Wednesday through Friday.



 


St. Petersburg police are investigating separate crimes from Sunday night.

Two crimes Sunday evening in St. Petersburg

Stabbing, shooting being investigated

Stabbing victim died at hospital

According to police, one man was killed in a stabbing and another was rushed to an area hospital with a gunshot wound. Police are searching for one of the suspects.

The fatal stabbing happened just before 6 p.m. Sunday on 28th Street South.

Officers said 50-year-old Adrian Demetrious Johnson and Wayman Swilley, 39, got into a fight and Swilley pulled out a knife and stabbed Johnson, who died later at Bayfront Medical Center.

Investigators said the two were involved in some kind of ongoing argument. They say Swilley stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. So far, he has not been charged.

In a separate incident, at 11 p.m. a shooting happened on 13th Avenue South and also involved two men that knew each other. Police say the men got into an argument which then led to gunfire.

The man was rushed to an area hospital with a non-life threatening gunshot wound.

Police are searching for the gunman.
St. Petersburg Police released the identity of a man who was stabbed to death Sunday evening.

Man stabbed to death Sunday

Argument between two neighbors

No charges have been filed



The incident happened just before 6 p.m. in the 600 block of 28th Street South.

Police said Adrian Demetrious Johnson, 50, had been fighting with his neighbor, 39-year-old Wayman Swilley.

During the argument, Swilley stabbed Johnson, according to investigators.

Johnson was taken to Bayfront Hospital where he died.

Swilley remained at the scene and cooperated with police, authorities said.



Police said no arrests have been made and no charges have been filed.
Update: Huge Waves, Foam on Oregon Coast: No Evidence of Missing People

Published 10/09/2017 at 2:37 AM PDT - Updated 10/10/2017 at 3:57 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Oregon Coast)  (UPDATES LATEST ON MISSING PEOPLE: NO EVIDENCE NOW THAT ANYONE WAS ACTUALLY SWEPT OUT TO SEA). Gargantuan waves were creating awe along the Oregon coast Sunday, along with some massive sea foam in some areas adding to the spectacle. It's a sight that may well continue for a few days.

However, it wasn't all fun in the sun this weekend. A flurry of activity hit the Depoe Bay area Sunday when a man reported seeing three people swept out to sea by a large wave. He was badly injured trying to rescue them. After a day of searching, and after authorities were finally granted access to the man in hospital, the Newport office of Oregon State Police (OSP) said there is now no evidence anyone was ever actually swept out to sea.

OSP said the man may have misunderstood what happened when a group of people got soaked by a wave, and now since injuring himself he is having memory problems. The matter is now closed.

That large surf, while dangerous, did put on an impressive show in many rocky stretches, especially in Yachats. The Pacific Ocean got incredibly foamy as well, as gigantic waves pummeled that rocky section of the central Oregon coast.

All this is no wonder, considering much of the coastline was under a small craft advisory with seas hazardous to marine vessels, issued by the National Weather Service. While that didn't translate to breakers big enough to cause major problems on sandy beaches, it made some rocky shelf areas more dicey than others. Combined seas were clocking in around 12 feet, which often means you need to stay a little farther back than usual at places like Yachats, Arch Cape or Oceanside.

Keith Chandler, manager of Seaside Aquarium, said the surf was sizable at the sandy stretches around Warrenton Sunday, but the foamy displays remained largely confined to rocky spots.





There's a good possibility those big waves and the foam will stick around for a few days. The same storm system that was driving the large waves will continue to do so through much of the week, with 8- to 13-foot waves predicted at times through Wednesday.

Waves churning up bio matter in the surf is also what causes a lot of the foam, which looked like enormous flows of soap suds in Yachats Sunday. Sea foam is caused largely by the microscopic skeletons of phytoplankton, which create bigger and bigger air bubbles the more they are churned up.

It's also quite possible a big phytoplankton bloom created more of them usual, which is often caused by the warmer, sunny conditions which the Oregon coast has been experiencing lately. If the surf conditions should suddenly turn more erratic, the ocean can become much sudsier. Oregon Coast Hotels for this - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours More of sea foam and wild waves below:



















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The Enterprise

The first of two suspects accused of killing a convenience store clerk in 2015 will stand trial this week in Jefferson County.

Chandler Kyle Ventress, 22, will appear before 252nd District Court Judge Raquel West, charged with capital murder in connection with the death of 52-year-old Mettha Kuruppu.
Irelands business development agency is encouraging female entrepreneurs to ramp up exports to the UK, saying Brexit should be approached like any other business risk.

Sarita Johnston, female entrepreneurship manager at Enterprise Ireland (EI), rejected suggestions that it may be irresponsible to urge small businesses to expand trade with Britain while post-Brexit arrangements are still in up in the air.

Brexit uncertainty, she said, is just one more factor to consider when female entrepreneurs are scaling up their business.

The economics of trade are continuously changing. Trade is cyclical, and no matter what environment we are, there continue to be barriers to trade, she told the Press Association.

Nobody knows what Brexit means but we do know that market trends and market environments and market economics change on a daily basis.

What we have tried to do at Enterprise Ireland is to potentially identify the greatest area of where there will need to be more support for companies going forward, she explained.

Female entrepreneurs are receiving an extra helping hand, though. Enterprise Irelands has so far spent 20 million euro (18 million) over the past five years to support female-led start-ups and encourage their expansion through networking, mentorships and finance leads.

What we have done is try to motivate females to instil in them a can-do attitude rather than be risk averse. So theres certainly not a pull back in terms of (suggesting) that they cant go to the UK, and they cant go to other overseas markets.

But the government agency is not burying its head in the sand, having recently launched a Brexit SME Scorecard to help all small and medium-sized Irish enterprises assess their exposure to Brexit, which is followed up with a list of suggested actions and resources at their disposal.

Females are as ambitious as men but sometimes their ambition needs to be unveiled a little bit more carefully, Ms Johnston said.

The most successful female-led Irish businesses in Britain are currently involved in sectors including tech, software and recruitment, she said.

Historically there would have been a consideration that more females went into home care and consumer-type projects and service-led businesses but were starting to see a change in that, particularly in the technology-led companies.

But she highlighted that the women, more broadly, have an advantage when it comes to forging relationships, which could be harnessed by businesses looking to find buyers or clients abroad  including in the UK.

Were very very good at networking. We do network differently than men, Ms Johnston said.

Females have a tendency to be very collaborative in terms of their relationship-building, and that really helps when it comes to building partnerships and relationships with buyers, or potential joint venture relationships or strategic alliances in the UK.

Because, as you know, sales are very much built on relationships, and females interpersonal skillscan be used to our advantage to strategise and also to maximise our potential with overseas customers.
When it comes to training, there's often a number of exercises which people will argue have to be part of a weight-training programme.

These exercises are usually the tried-and-tested, biggest, baddest movements we can perform, and which will have your body worked from head to toe.

However, years of poor training may have left some of us feeling a little bashed up, others might have certain movement restrictions, and others still may experience pain when performing particular exercises. Hell, some us might just be bored of doing the same old stuff every time we walk into the gym.

Whereas it's important to remember that there are no exercises which we have to do if they are not appropriate for us and our body, we might find that certain subsitutions can still allow us to perform the movement pattern in a much friendlier way.

Want to find a better alternative to some exercises you may struggle with, or simply want to shake up your training routine a little?

Read on below to find out about 7 of the best exercises you've been missing out on...

1. Trap-Bar/Hex Bar Deadlift

This can be a great substitute for the conventional barbell Deadlift, effectively targeting all the same muscle groups, but often easier on the knees and lower back, therefore reducing the risk factors often associated with the Deadlift, as well as being more appropriate for those with nagging injuries/pain in those areas.

Deadlifts are highly effective at hitting the often neglected muscles of the back-side of the body (the "posterior chain") which can help add muscle to big muscle groups (which will aid with burning bodyfat,) as well as improving posture, and helping prevent injury.

2. Landmine Squat

There's no doubt that the Barbell Squat is an incredibly effective total-body exercise, and there's nothing like sticking a heavy weight on you back and shifting it.

However, poor shoulder mobility, or bashed up joints can make it an inappropriate exercise choice for many.

Die-hard squat fanatics will insist that there's no substitute for the traditional squat, but you may have to make some considerations if your body is telling you otherwise.

The Landmine Squat is a fantastic substitute, as it can alleviate a lot of the strain posed upon the knees and lower back, by forcing our hips back as we squat. The front-loaded of the weight is great for hammering the core, too.

3. Rack Pull-Up

A great alternative to the seated machine Pulldown, as it allows us to get used to handling our own bodyweight before progressing onto the bigger challenge of attempting full Pull-Ups, as well as requiring slightly more core recruitment - which again sets us up better for beginning to work on full Pull-Ups.)

A huge multijoint movement for the upper body, targeting the biggest muscles in the upper back, it's a great choice for developing these muscles and building upper body strength.

Just as we would add weight on the machine Pulldown version, we can add additional bodyweight resistance by straightening out or elevating one or two feet, which will increase the difficulty, but help us get stronger at the movement over time.

4. One-Arm Landmine Press

Whereas the barbell Overhead Press can be a problem movement for those of us with poor shoulder mobility or lower back pain, the Landmine Press effectively eliminates these problems, whilst still successfully working the same muscle groups of the shoulders and arms.

Performing the exercise as a single-arm movement increases core activity as we work to prevent bending to the side, however, we can still perform the exercise with two hands, if preferred.

5. Swiss Ball Hamstring Curl

Walk into any commercial gym, and likelihood is that you'll see a Seated Leg-Curl machine.

Whereas there's nothing wrong with this piece of kit per se, it may not be great for those who suffer from knee issues, and it can force us to shift our lower backs into a compromised position.

It also only works one of the main functions of the hamstrings - there's two we should aim to work.

The Swiss Ball Curl version can effectively address all these issues, and may be a better option. We can also continue to progress it to more challenging single-leg versions as our strength and stability improves.

6. Face-Pulls

Many of us are guilty of concentrating the majority of our training on the "mirror muscles" - those on the front side of our body.

This can easily lead to potential postural issues and injury risks, as we neglect to efficiently balance out the work on all the opposing muscle groups on the back side of our bodies.

The Face-Pull is a great exercise for strengthening these muscle groups, and is particularly good for those of us who spend much of our day seated at a desk, where these muscles are at risk of naturally becoming weaker.

7. Hollow Rock Hold

When we think of core stability exercises, the Plank is typically our go-to choice. Although a fantastic movement, there are others out there which work the same function of the core just as effectively.

The Hollow Rock Hold strengthens our ability to maintain low back positioning (hugely important for preventing injury) while activating our core to a huge degree.

As with the Plank, we can continue to develop our strength by increasing the amount of time we perform the exercise, as well as by changing our hand position as we hold ourselves in place. Your rock solid abs await.

Full-Body Unconventional Workout:

Trap Bar Deadlift: 3 x 5 reps

Landmine Squat: 3 x 6-8 reps

One-Arm Landmine Press: 6-8 each

Assisted Pull-Up: 3 x 8-10 reps

Swiss Ball Hamstring Curl: 3 x 8-10 reps

Face-Pull: 3 x 10-12 reps

Holllow Rock Hold: 3 x 30-60 seconds
A seven-page article showcasing Belfast as a must see destination features in the latest UK edition of National Geographic Traveller magazine.

A seven-page article showcasing Belfast as a must see destination features in the latest UK edition of National Geographic Traveller magazine.

A seven-page article showcasing Belfast as a must see destination features in the latest UK edition of National Geographic Traveller magazine.

Belfast has been hailed as a 'must see' destination in a seven-page article in the latest UK edition of National Geographic Traveller magazine.

The publication profiled the city to almost 43,000 readers under the headline 'City Life Belfast'.

Journalist Pat Riddell and photographer Chris Copeland were invited by Tourism Ireland to visit Belfast in June, resulting in the article appearing in the November edition of the magazine.

The article highlights some of the many things to see and do in the city, including food and literature tours, the Titanic Quarter and Belfasts unique street art.

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It says that with its creative, entrepreneurial streak bubbling underneath, Belfasts revitalisation as one of the UKs most vibrant cities is rewarding visitors with warmth and pride.

There are also lots of colourful photos of places like St Georges Market, OX Belfast, the Crown bar and street art murals.

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Julie Wakley, Tourism Irelands Head of Great Britain, said: We are delighted with the excellent coverage.

"Its a great way of showcasing Belfast to a large audience of potential visitors  helping us to spread the word about what a great city it is to visit and what makes a holiday in Northern Ireland unique and truly memorable."
A fresh bid to have a Belfast street named after physicist John Stewart Bell will have its application considered by Belfast City Council next week.

Bell is regarded as one of the 20th Century's greatest physicists and his theorem, known as On the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox disproved Einstein's theory of quantum mechanics.

Blackstaff Community Development Association (BCDA) have requested that the pedestrian entrance to Olympia Leisure Centre on Olympia Lane be changed to the John Stewart Bell Entrance.

Billy Dickson, Chair of the BCDA says in his letter to Belfast City Council that it is "surprising" that there is no recognition of the physicist within the Olympia community considering his childhood home was 245 Tate's Avenue, just a few minutes walk from the leisure centre entrance.

A street in Belfast was named Bell's Theorem Crescent in his honour in February 2015 and a 16m student accommodation building was named John Bell House last year.

This came after the council's then health and environmental services committee in 2014 refused to name a different street after him, saying at the time that it was following its convention of not naming streets after people, and voted against the request.

Bell was born in Belfast in 1928 to a poor family and was the only one of his three siblings to remain in school above the age of 14.

He would go on to Queen's University and the University of Birmingham before becoming a teacher at CERN, Europe's particle physics laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland.

A council committee will decide on the proposal on Tuesday and, if approved, the final decision will be made by the full council in early November.
More than 500 members of the Renewable Heat Association NI Ltd are challenging the decision to reduce payments assured under the original 2012 regulations.

Cutting payments in Northern Ireland's botched Renewable Heat Incentive scheme was essential to stop public money "haemorrhaging" for at least a decade, the High Court heard on Monday.

Counsel for a Stormont Department argued that reduced tariffs were introduced to remedy a "catastrophic error" in the green energy initiative.

He also insisted the scheme was never meant to subsidise poultry farming and mushroom growing industries.

More than 500 members of the Renewable Heat Association NI Ltd are challenging the decision to reduce payments assured under the original 2012 regulations.

They claim it was an unlawful step taken by the Department for the Economy.

The scheme was set up to encourage businesses and other non-domestic users to move to renewable heating systems.

But with operators legitimately able to earn more cash the more fuel they burned, the cost to the public purse has been projected at up to 490 million - a figure disputed by the Association.

According to its lawyers the overspend could end up being as low as 60m.

The debacle led to the collapse of Stormont's power-sharing administration, and the establishment of a public inquiry chaired by retired judge Sir Patrick Coghlin.

Earlier this year former Economy Minister Simon Hamilton set out revised 2017 RHI Regulations as part of cost-cutting proposals.

Lawyers for the Association contend this was an illegal step against boiler owners with cast-iron 20-year contracts.

They allege that the whole scheme was let down by incompetence, hopeless oversight and failed opportunities to impose cost controls.

Responding for the Department on day three of the hearing in Belfast, Tony McGleenan QC said the case was not finding fault.

He accepted criticisms levelled by the Association's legal team, and told the court there had been "a fundamental, catastrophic error" in how the scheme's design.

Central to his case, however, was the public interest in introducing new tariffs.

"There have been failures in the cost control and there have been failures in adhering to the underlying principles of the scheme," Mr McGleenan said.

"Obviously mistakes have been made, but it would be improper for the Department, the Assembly and the Executive to allow those mistakes to continue and have repercussive financial implications for another decade or more."

The barrister agreed with submissions that cost control problems should have been spotted and addressed earlier than 2015.

But he claimed arguments advanced by the Association's senior counsel, Gerald Simpson QC, actually strengthened the case for amending the regulations.

"What Mr Simpson has exposed is the imperative need to introduce cost control measures, stop the haemorrhaging of public money and ensure that the scheme operates in the manner which the European Commission gave approval for in the first instance," he told the court.

Mr McGleenan also identified issues of fairness and public interest.

"The Department's case is that the imperative to take action and protect public funds required making these regulations in the public interest," he said.

"From its standpoint the Department, the Executive and the Assembly decided the balance of fairness lay in amending the scheme in the manner that brought it back to the original intention of those who created it."

Instead of attributing blame, he told Mr Justice Colton it was about about deciding if there had been legal power to introduce the 2017 regulations, and any breach to legitimate expectations.

The financial plight facing boiler owners who borrowed heavily to invest in new heating systems has been set out during the hearing.

According to Mr McGleenan, however, the scheme's sole aim was never about subsidising poultry and mushroom businesses.

"That was not part of the design concept," he said.

Earlier, Mr Simpson contended that a "grandfathering" clause in documents sent to Brussells for state aid approval, made clear that boiler owners on the 2012 regulations would be exempt from any changes.

"It's quite clear that the unfairness here is very substantial, and very significant financial commitments were entered into based on what was a crystal clear representation internally within the Department, publicly in consultation and at Brussells," he said.

"The tariff rates would be grandfathered and that provided, using the Department's and Brussells' own words, certainty for a period of 20 years."

The barrister added that a letter to banks in 2013 from the then Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, urging them to lend to businesses using the biomass boilers, backed his case.

He questioned who would rely on future government promises if the guaranteed tariffs can be abandoned.

"It's difficult to envisage any situation in which any subsequent scheme is attractive to participants who could have the rug pulled from underneath their feet," Mr Simpson said.

"The appropriate relief is for Your Lordship to declare that the 2017 regulations are outside the power of the Department to make, and therefore are unlawful."

The hearing resumes on Wednesday.
Alan McBride, whose wife died in the Shankill bomb, at the event

Scores of people brought Belfast city centre to a standstill on Saturday for a poignant demonstration to raise awareness of suicide and call on more help for those affected by mental health.

March For Life was organised by campaigner Philip McTaggart, who lost his son Philip to suicide in 2003.

The heartbroken family of 31-year-old Stephen Ferrin from north Belfast, who took his own life in September, were in attendance.

His brothers Kieran (24) and Niall (19) took their own lives in 2014 and 2011, respectively, and their cousin Christopher, also 19, took his own life in 2010. He had also lost seven of his friends to suicide, including Philip jnr.

Their sister, Seaneen, called on politicians to "help your people and bring about change".

"We don't want any more shining lights to go out - we want to protect them," added Philip McTaggart. "For some of us who have lost loved ones, we know what that pain feels like, but I can't imagine to lose two loved ones, let alone three. Patricia Ferrin (Stephen, Niall and Kieran's mother) doesn't want another light to go out. She doesn't want anyone else to die by suicide."

The march began at Queen's Square in Belfast before going along Royal Avenue to City Hall. Many people carried pictures of the loved ones they had lost to suicide and released balloons in their memory.

Mr McTaggart said: "We want to make sure we have a dedicated facility to help someone in need."
DUP MP Gavin Robinson has said it is time for the UK government to "up the ante" over the ongoing trade dispute between the US and Bombardier.

The US Government slapped another tariff on imports of the Canadian company's C Series planes effectively quadrupling the price. Wings for the plane are built in Belfast and Bombardier has said the future of operations in Northern Ireland is dependent on its success.

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East Belfast MP Robinson is to raise the matter in the Commons on Monday. He said it was time the UK Government "stepped up to the plate".

"It's important we find out what [government] plans are," he told the BBC.

"This additional tariff taking up to 300% is now unprecedented in terms of how US treats trading a partner which is Canada. That will have huge impacts for us in Belfast and for the Northern Ireland economy."

He described comments made over the weekend from the US Commerce Secretary as "bewildering" as they did not "chime with what we have been told".

"The government has been very clear that by proceeding with this - that is beyond February - it will have a detrimental impact on their relationships.

"Doesn't take rocket scientist to work out changing relationship will have detrimental impact on Boeing. My job today is to get some further colour around that."

He added: "I have been engaged with government since start of summer, we have had stage one of this process and this runs until February.

"I will be seeking commitment that the government are not only with us but indeed up the ante - that is what I have seen from the US Department of Commerce, they are very much behind Boeing.

"Both the UK and Canada need to step up to the plate.

"This is not something that will be dealt with today but we can't wait until February.

"We want government to demonstrate how they will support bombardier and how they will respond to this protectionist position the US Government has taken as that will not just affect bombardier but global trade for everyone."
MLA Clare Bailey of the Green Party says more needs to be done.

Friday March 18, 2016: Clean up operation takes place after St Patricks day in the Holylands area South Belfast. Photographer Jonathan Porter / Press Eye

Belfast City Council has "written off" the Holyland area, a Green MLA has claimed.

Clare Bailey a representative for the area said a Freedom of Information request she had made revealed there had only been seven fines issued since January in the area.

Last month residents told the Belfast Telegraph they felt "under siege" during Freshers' Week. They described mayhem, partying and drunkenness. Police made three arrests during the period.

Between September 10 and 20 there have been 68 incidents recorded by Belfast City Council with 52 concerning on-street drinking. Not one fine for on-street drinking was issued during September, the Irish News reported on Monday.

Belfast City Council appears to have written off the Holyland area," said MLA Bailey.

"The serious on street drinking and littering that blights the Holyland would not be tolerated in any other area of Belfast. There is a lack of enforcement and no regeneration plan.

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"Yet Belfast City Council continues to approve Homes in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) in the area which piles more people into an already overpopulated area.

We need to think of the Holylands residents living in horrible conditions. The Holylands is coming down with rubbish and household waste. On street drinking and anti-social behaviour are making their lives a misery.

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The Holyland area has been blighted particularly at times such as St Partick's and Freshers' Week with students taking to the streets for all-day and all-night drinking sessions. There has been numerous efforts over the years to try and combat the problem.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Scenes in the Holyland area of Belfast on St Patrick's Day 2017. Scenes in the Holyland area of Belfast on St Patrick's Day 2017. Scenes in the Holyland area of Belfast on St Patrick's Day 2017. Scenes in the Holyland area of Belfast on St Patrick's Day 2017. Scenes in the Holyland area of Belfast on St Patrick's Day 2017. Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Churches serve tea and Coffee in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Churches in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pacemaker Press 17/3/2017 Police and student Safety representatives in the Holylands area of Belfast for St Patrick's day on Friday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker / Facebook

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Police said one of the problems they face is having to repeat the work they do every year as each new batch of students descend on the area to begin higher education life.

Defending its lack of issuing on-street drinking fines, Belfast City Council told the Irish News it had adopted a "graduated response" in handling the problem meaning it issued warnings to students that they face prosecution.

A graduated response does not cut it  we need to see by-laws enforced by Belfast City Council immediately," added MLA Bailey.

Belfast City Council, in a statement said: "Belfast City Council works closely with the PSNI, the university authorities and other statutory agencies throughout the year in trying to minimise the impact of negative behaviours on residents in the HolyLand. It is recognised that Belfast City Council alone is not in a position to be able to fully resolve the wide ranging concerns in this area, and that working in partnership with other statutory agencies and the university authorities is the most effective way forward.

"We adopt a graduated approach, advising the students of the law in relation to anti-social behaviour, including on street drinking, and of the consequences should they be caught breaching the law. This includes warning them that they could be prosecuted for such breaches.

"Generally, during Freshers 2017 the students were compliant with the advice, and followed directions given to them by Council officers and to date there have no prosecutions for on street drinking for this period.
The Lord Mayor of the City of London is visiting Northern Ireland later this week to strengthen ties ahead of Brexit.

The region is one of the world's leading financial services centres for attracting financial technology investments and Dr Andrew Parmley is keen to improve technological collaboration.

Belfast has been chosen as the prime location for the UK's innovation centre for cyber security and the City's ambassador for the financial sector will tour it during his visit.

Dr Parmley said: "Northern Ireland's financial services sector has seen exponential growth in recent years, thanks to its technological innovations, skilled workforce, competitive cost of property and ability to attract inward investment.

"I want to ensure that this trend continues and am delighted to be visiting the region. It is now more important than ever that our two regions continue seamless and regular dialogue to ensure shared prosperity."

There are around 1,200 financial services companies based in Northern Ireland, employing about 33,000 people.

The Lord Mayor will be joined by the City's special representative to the EU.

It will be the first time the City's most senior figures have made a joint visit to Northern Ireland.

During his term, the Lord Mayor has already visited 25 countries across the world including Hong Kong, Pakistan, China, South Africa and Mexico.
iStock/Thinkstock(BILOXI, Miss.) -- Hurricane Nate sped through the Gulf Coast overnight as a Category 1 storm, knocking out power for more than 100,000 customers across the region and causing scattered flooding, but it was not as devastating as they expected and quickly lost force as it moved inland.



The first hurricane to make landfall in Mississippi since Katrina in 2005 was a tropical depression by the time it pushed northward into Alabama and toward Georgia with heavy rain.



What was left of Nate continued to bring areas of heavy rain and gusty winds to parts of the Southeast Sunday, and it was expected to push through the Northeast on Monday. Any remaining rain will move off the New England coast by Monday night.

#StormSurge coming into lobby of Golden Nugget casino in Biloxi #HurricaneNate pic.twitter.com/sYeHT1aMzI  Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) October 8, 2017

Water rising rapidly in Gulfport. This is on the ground floor of the Island View Casino Parking garage. #HurricaneNATE #mswx @WLOX pic.twitter.com/L0s3CbZSOn  Dave Ryan (@DaveRyanWLOX) October 8, 2017

Power Pole on fire and lines down, Cunningham Rd in front of GB Middle School. AL Power has been notified, no ETA, very busy! pic.twitter.com/IOabZz1njq  Grand Bay Fire (@GrandBayFire) October 8, 2017

Nate had made its second landfall as a Category 1 storm around 1:30 a.m. ET Sunday along the Gulf Coast near Biloxi, Mississippi with maximum winds of 85 mph, slamming some Mississippi and Alabama communities with a storm surge of between four to five feet.Nate made its first landfall Saturday night as a Category 1 storm near the mouth of the Mississippi River on the southeastern Louisiana coast.Officials in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida were well-prepared for Nate's arrival, however, with its governors declaring states of emergency and mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders.Even though Nate's wrath was not as terrible as expected, more than 100,000 customers across Alabama and Mississippi were without power as of 6 a.m. ET. In Alabama, 87,000 customers were without power, while 46,487 customers in Mississippi were without power.As of Sunday evening, according to The Associated Press, Alabama Power said it had restored power to more than 64,000 customers, with some 36,000 still in the dark; in Mississippi, utilities and cooperatives said power had been restored to more than 21,000 customers.Nate was the first hurricane to hit Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 -- and even before it hit, the state's residents were glad that it was not predicted to be of the same scale."We left for Katrina, but we're going to ride this one out," Ed Nodhturft told the AP from his Ocean Springs, Mississippi, home before the storm hit.He was hosting an impromptu family reunion after several relatives who were staying at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi were forced to leave the hotel and seek refuge at his home.Massachusetts native John Adams, who lives on Belle Fontaine Beach, a narrow strip of land between the Mississippi Sound and a coastal marsh, told the AP, "This is my first hurricane. So far, it's kind of a fizzle."Ahead of Nate's landfall, the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama all issued stern warnings to residents.Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency on Thursday and warned residents to prepare for heavy rain, storm surge and high winds."No one should take this storm lightly," Edwards said at a press conference Friday. "We do want people to be very, very cautious and to not take this storm for granted."In New Orleans, Mayor Mitch Landrieu had warned that some areas outside of the levee protection system could see a 7-to-11-foot storm surge, and he initially ordered a curfew for the city.But the National Weather Service on Saturday evening cancelled the city's hurricane warning and Landrieu ordered the curfew be lifted. By Saturday night, the rain had passed.Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The prisoners have produced children's classics such as Peter Pan, jungle Book and Bambi in braille

Inmates at Maghaberry Prison have produced 60 braille books for children in south-east Africa.

Walt Disney's Peter Pan, Jungle Book and Bambi were produced using the alphabet system of dots devised to help blind people read, by a team of about a dozen prisoners, most of them serving life sentences.

Children and teachers in some of the poorest countries in the world will benefit, the Northern Ireland Prison Service said.

Head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service Ronnie Armour said: "This is an excellent example of how prisoners are making a real difference to the lives of people through rehabilitative activities.

"These are some of the poorest countries in the world and poverty is an everyday reality.

"These books will prove invaluable to schools which have very limited resources and I know the efforts of prisoners who have produced them will be appreciated by the children and teachers who will use them."

Three church charities will distribute the books in schools in Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya.

Pages of braille were created on special washable material and book covers manufactured by the prisoners before each was individually bound.

Braille instructor at Maghaberry, Mark Mooney, added: "This is the only braille unit in Northern Ireland and the guys work extremely hard.

"It's very intricate work but all undertaken with great enthusiasm and dedication.

"It's an opportunity for the guys to give something back to society."
A 48-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following a double stabbing incident in a bar in Co Armagh.

The attack happened on Main Street in the village of Belleeks, Co Armagh, shortly after midnight on Sunday.

Two men, both aged 43, suffered wounds to the neck and hand. They were given first aid by police officers at the scene before being transferred to hospital. However, their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, police said.

A 48-year-old man was arrested. On Monday morning he was charged with attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He is due in court on Wednesday where, as is normal procedure all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.
The first councillor to quit Sinn Fein over an alleged culture of misogyny has warned that further resignations are imminent unless party bosses intervene.

Omagh representative Sorcha McAnespy said she was exposed to a "toxic" atmosphere within the party after she tried to strike alliances within unionists and other political opponents.

She claimed she was continuously undermined and sidelined by mostly male colleagues - forcing her to quit Sinn Fein just two years after she topped the poll for the party in the local elections.

Ms McAnespy (37), a qualified engineer and mother-of-three, recently joined Fianna Fail and is set to run for the party in the 2019 local elections.

She is expected to play a leading role in assisting Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin in securing a political breakthrough for the party in Northern Ireland.

Ms McAnespy took the decision to quit Sinn Fein in 2014 over what she described as a culture of misogyny and nepotism.

Many other politicians and members have taken the same move south of the border - forcing Sinn Fein to deny that it has a bullying problem.

Ms McAnespy said she believed the party was in denial and that other resignations would take place.

"It takes a lot of soul searching, especially when you are a young member of the party. You can think, 'Maybe this is not how it is supposed to be'," Ms McAnespy said.

"It takes a long time for you to actually gather up the courage to actually speak out and go and ask for help.

"In every one of these cases I'm seeing, I'm thinking these people have seen if there's been some course of action they could have taken to make things better.

"They (Sinn Fein) really need to start taking these concerns seriously. Because they are going to lose more people."

For Ms McAnespy, it was her efforts to build bridges with unionists that resulted in her being isolated within Sinn Fein, she claimed. She cited one community event where she was personally commended by two high-profile senior loyalists for her efforts in bringing people together.

This sort of approach, she said, was encouraged by the late Martin McGuinness. But others in the party disagreed.

"For me that was making progress. I thought that was good. But it wasn't appreciated," she said. Ms McAnespy continued that she was now focused on her work as a councillor and a member of Fianna Fail. She is a candidate for the upcoming election for the party's national executive.

"They are the republican party, they are the party that want to have a United Ireland as well," she said of Fianna Fail.

Meanwhile, another former Sinn Fein councillor organised a meeting in Waterford last weekend for disaffected members and ex-members of the party.

More meetings are expected to be held in the coming weeks.

Melissa O'Neill, a councillor in Kilkenny, was expelled from Sinn Fein last year, after a disciplinary process over video footage that emerged of a public argument.

She alleged she had been bullied prior to the video and was considering legal action against the party.
Registering on a DNA database has become mandatory for all new officers, the PSNI has said.

Serving members who attend crime scenes, searches or deal with seized items have also been asked to give samples of hair or saliva for a special 'elimination' list excluding them from investigations if their information is inadvertently picked up as potential evidence.

The safeguard is designed to protect officers from having their details loaded on the system as an unresolved crime scene profile and speed up the investigatory process.

They will be kept separately from the database used to solve crime and destroyed once the officer leaves policing.

The PSNI said: "Police officers' DNA elimination profiles will be held during the full time of police service and for 12 months after a police officer leaves the service.

"This is to enable elimination screening for cases that may take several months to process through the usual forensic channels."

The measure centres on the profiles of officers deemed at risk of contaminating crime scenes and evidential materials during their work.

Newly published PSNI guidance added: "Subscription to the Police Elimination Database (PED) will be mandatory for all new officers.

"A sample may be taken during the PSNI student officer training programme."

DNA profiling techniques have developed and high investigative value is placed on the technology, the force said.

Unattributed DNA profiles taken during checking of a crime scene are usually added to the DNA intelligence databases, and in serious crime may well form the bases for extensive further investigative processes like mass screening.

The PSNI added: "The purpose of a DNA elimination database is to reduce to a minimum the risk of such actions being taken, on what are in fact contaminant DNA profiles from police personnel."

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland was consulted on the changes and said they were designed to improve the overall efficiency of crime scene investigations.

Chairman Mark Lindsay said: "Anything that helps towards early detection or apprehension is to be welcomed.

"These changes will also mean less frustration for investigating officers who will deliver professional policing with a more streamlined and robust system in place."
A thalidomide campaigner from Co Down who has spent 24 years fighting for compensation for victims of the drug - which has now been claimed to have links to Nazi Germany - says she is hoping for "light at the end of the tunnel".

Former Castlereagh mayor Kim Fenton (55) was born with shortened arms and legs, deformed hands, no thumbs, upside down feet, and no kneecaps, after her mother was given Thalidomide as a sedative at the Royal Victoria Hospital during pregnancy.

The drug was developed by German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grunenthal in the late 1950s, but was withdrawn from the UK in 1961 after tests revealed it disrupted foetal development, causing limb defects and organ damage.

Yesterday, Kim's 82-year-old mother Agnes Lattimer opened up about her ordeal for the first time on BBC Radio Ulster's Thalidomide: The Mother of all Battles programme.

"I've been crying just listening to my mum's sacrifices - I didn't realise she was so heartbroken and upset," Kim said.

"When I was born they only told my mum that I had no thumbs. It wasn't until six days later when she took me home and unwrapped my blanket that she found out the extent of my disabilities.

"As a mother myself, I can't think what that must have been like. My mum is a people-pleaser, and when the nurse encouraged her to take the two tablets to help her sleep she did it, as she didn't want to get anyone into trouble.

"She has been living with the consequences ever since. It wasn't until about 12 years ago that I wrote a poem for her and she cried her eyes out."

Kim continued: "It was a big shock, I never thought my mum felt so guilty and I have never blamed her - she took two tablets under medical supervision. She trusted the doctors and nurses.

"There was no counselling or support back then and Thalidomide children were called 'monster babies' and their parents 'drug addicts'. My mum lost two jobs as she was taking time off to take me to hospital appointments."

Since 1993, mum-of-three Kim has been lobbying for compensation for victims, whose complex medical needs are increasing as they age.

In 2010, the British Government expressed its "sincere regret and deep sympathy for the injury and suffering" caused by the drug. It created a 20m funding package, 1m of which went to Thalidomide survivors in Northern Ireland. Some survivors also received compensation from Distillers, the company which produced and marketed the drug in the UK.

During the BBC Radio Ulster programme, it was alleged that campaigners had "uncovered historical documents that point to a Nazi link to Thalidomide," and that campaigner Martin Johnson had seen "circumstantial evidence" that suggested the drug may have been initially developed by Hitler's regime as an antidote to nerve gas and was tested on prisoners. This was denied by the drugs company Grunenthal.

It was also alleged "German political interference may have brought about the collapse of a high-profile trial involving Grunenthal". Both the German government and the drugs company denied the allegation.

However, Kim said it is now imperative the German government compensates Thalidomide victims due to the "drastic decline" in their health as they age.

The Thalidomide Trust's National Advisory Council, of which Kim is a member, met with the German government in September, and another meeting is due before Christmas.

"We want the German government to accept responsibility and to pay compensation, which would prove life-changing for victims," she explained. "My case is one of the most severe. There is a lot of bone deterioration - my hip is coming out of its socket, there is a lot of nerve damage affecting my fingers and arms, and I have had five operations in total due to Thalidomide.

"Thalidomide survivors have so many complex health problems, and there are very few thalidomide specialists. Even to adapt our homes or cars to provide basic access and independence takes thousands of pounds. We just want the freedom which other people take for granted."
Benji the poodle was attacked by other dogs in the Kilwilkie estate

The owner of a pet poodle mauled to death by dogs in a Lurgan housing estate at the weekend has warned that a child could be next.

Little Benji was savagely attacked in Kilwilkie on Saturday night.

Sharon Henderson - whose mother was Benji's owner - shared news of the attack on a Craigavon pet lovers' Facebook page.

"This is the second dog this week. Please, please, please, people, look after your pets," she posted.

"A little piece of our family gone. We're heartbroken.

"Wee Benji was only ever outside for his evening walk ... same time every night for years. Not sure of the breed of dogs that did this to him - but needless to say the owners need to take a good look at themselves.

"Some poor child could be next."

Angry animal lovers were outraged at Benji's horrific death, commenting on the Lost/Missing Pets Craigavon Facebook page.

Teresa Breen wrote: "This is terrible, hope the sick b******s who are responsible for this are caught - and really get the punishment they deserve."

Joan Smyth wrote: "Not again, this is awful.

"Another family broken hearted. I have no words for these monsters.

"People in Kilwilkie need to report these scum. People can't go on losing their pets like this."

Sheila Foye added: "I'm heartbroken to hear of your beautiful dog mauled to death, my heart goes out to you and your family at this terrible time.

"Kilwilkie people must know who owns these dogs and their owners. Do the right thing and inform the PSNI - or it could be a child next.

"My blood is boiling over, lowlifes letting their dogs loose on innocent pets."

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Police received a report this morning from a resident in Kilwilkie that a pet dog had been attacked by two other dogs in the estate yesterday.

"The animal was subsequently put down by a vet due to its injuries."

It's understood that dog-on-dog attacks fall within the remit of council dog wardens.

Local Sinn Fein councillor Liam Mackle said he was shocked to hear of the attack which took little Benji's life.

"This is very out of the ordinary for the area," he told the Belfast Telegraph last night.

"Pet owners need to take proper responsibility for looking after their dogs, and not permit them to run wild."

It's just a few days since another pet dog, Woody, was set upon by two lurchers in the same estate where Benji was mauled.

Defenceless terrier-cross Woody was very badly injured, and was extremely lucky to survive.

In the wake of what happened to Benji and Woody, some local people said they were now afraid to walk their dogs in case they too fell victim to dogs which have turned vicious due to irresponsible owners.

Commenting on Benji's ordeal, local woman Elisha McGrath wrote: "This needs sorted now.

"We have a small house dog who is walked in the estate - we're now afraid to bring him out."
George Hamilton said the East Belfast UVF was behind the intimidation of the families

Two men arrested by detectives investigating the intimidation of four Catholic families in Belfast have been released.

The suspects, aged 37 and 40, were detained on suspicion of being members of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). They were freed pending a report to prosecutors, police said.

Last week, Northern Ireland's police chief blamed the East Belfast UVF for issuing threats to the families living in a cross-community housing development in the south east of the city.

George Hamilton said the East Belfast UVF was behind the intimidation of the families in the Cantrell Close neighbourhood.

He said police were not sure whether the threats were supported by the leadership of the criminal organisation, or were made by individual members.

Cantrell Close, off Ravenhill Road, was supposed to be a flagship cross-community development as part of the Stormont Executive's Together Building United Communities programme.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Chief Inspector Gary Reid said: "Police are continuing to investigate the intimidation of families in Cantrell Close and the Chief Constable has recently said he believes the UVF are responsible for this."

Following the intimidation of the Catholic families, two Protestant community workers living nearby, both pensioners, were also threatened.

Last week, Mr Hamilton said it was too early in the investigation to say whether dissident republicans were to blame.
A substantial reward is to be offered to anyone with new information about the IRA murder of south Armagh man Paul Quinn.

Mr Quinn's parents Stephen and Breege said an anonymous donor was behind the development which comes as the 10th anniversary of his brutal killing approaches.

A dozen men wearing black military-style clothing were involved in the savage assault on the 21-year-old, who was lured to a barn along the border on October 20, 2007.

Paul was beaten with iron bars and nail-studded cudgels, and died in hospital shortly afterward the attack in Oram, Co Monaghan. Although 20 arrests have been made, no one has been convicted of the killing.

However, his parents are still hopeful of securing justice.

"Those who murdered my son may think they've got away with it but they shouldn't sleep easily in their beds. I'm confident that their past will catch up with them," Stephen Quinn said. He revealed that cold case detectives will be taking on the case soon.

"The Garda Serious Crime Review Team are very good," he said. "They review all unsolved killings in the Republic. They have their own detectives and forensic scientists and they reassess all evidence. They have an excellent track record in getting results. They receive training from police forces across the world, including the FBI."

Breege Quinn said the family was "hugely disappointed" that Paul's murder seemed to have been forgotten by most politicians in Northern Ireland and that it is never raised with Sinn Fein. After the killing, Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy said he had spoken to the IRA and was satisfied they weren't involved. He branded Paul "a criminal" and linked his murder to a feud among criminals.

The Dublin government and the SDLP both asserted that Paul wasn't a criminal. Breege said: "As the 10th anniversary of Paul's murder approaches, we once again appeal to Conor Murphy, as a politician and a father, to withdraw his disgraceful slur against our son."

Breege maintained that Gerry Adams and other Sinn Fein leaders could "come to south Armagh and secure justice for us within an hour because it is prominent IRA men who killed Paul".

Stephen said that while Sinn Fein puts its political opponents under pressure on certain issues "nobody seems to be telling Sinn Fein to do the right thing and come clean about Paul's murder".

Breege added: "Paul's assailants carried out the attack with military-like precision. They used bleach to clean up afterwards. These men weren't from Mars - they were local IRA members."

Paul Quinn was targeted after clashing with several local Provisionals over minor matters in the months before his death. He was lured to the Monaghan barn by a phone call asking him to help shift cattle.

"From his toes to his groin, the IRA battered him with iron bars. They used nail-studded cudgels on his upper body," Breege says.

"I remember him lying in the hospital bed with a ventilator tube protruding from his mouth, his eyes half open. His head was swollen and there were gashes on his face. His right ear was torn off. Every major bone below his neck was broken.

"Seeing the child that you gave birth to in that pitiful state would destroy any mother but you try to go on."

The garda investigation has revealed a high degree of planning on the day of the murder. Phone records showed the mobiles of around eight key suspects were turned off at the same time that afternoon and were then almost simultaneously turned on after 6pm, following the attack.
A Department of Justice review into maximum sentencing must not be allowed to gather dust, an SDLP MLA has insisted.

Daniel McCrossan was speaking after receiving a letter from the department's Permanent Secretary, Nick Perry, confirming that work on the review is continuing.

However, in the letter Mr Perry added that having a Justice Minister in post would provide political direction and oversight.

"The Department of Justice, like all Government departments, supports the early re-establishment of the devolved administration. With regard to the review of sentencing policy the work is continuing apace but the early appointment of a Justice Minister would provide the Department with necessary political direction and ensure that the scope of the work is subject to proper political oversight," he wrote.

"However, in the absence of a Minister, the review's work will continue to progress in anticipation of the formation of an Executive in due course."

Mr McCrossan welcomed the response but voiced concern over whether potential outcomes will be actioned.

"I welcome the fact that work is continuing on this important review into sentencing in Northern Ireland. However, I do question what actions or outcomes there will be following publication due to a lack of an Executive or the instalment of direct rule Ministers," he said.

"This review involves very important areas such as crimes against the elderly, hate crimes and crimes involving causing death by dangerous driving.

"This is a fundamental review into sentencing in Northern Ireland and represented the last opportunity for many families who feel they have suffered great injustices due to lenient court sentencing.

"These families, such as the Dolan family in Omagh who had their son Enda taken from them, deserve so much better. They do not want what happened to them to happen to any other family."

Enda Dolan's father Peter said it is imperative the review is completed. Next Sunday marks the third anniversary of his 18-year-old son's death.

The teen had been returning to his accommodation at Queen's University, where he was studying architecture, when he was killed by 31-year-old David Lee Stewart.

Initially Stewart was sentenced to seven years - to serve half in prison - but following an appeal brought by the Dolan family, he will now serve four-and-a-half years behind bars and the same period on licence. The court at the time heard how Stewart had taken drugs and downed 13 drinks before getting behind the wheel with passenger 21-year-old William Ross Casement.

Stewart also received a five-year driving ban which runs concurrently with his time behind bars, a punishment the Dolan family say is pointless. Mr Dolan said he and his family have been fighting for the sentencing review.

"There have been numerous cases since ours where the people involved received poor and inadequate sentences," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"When a defendant goes to court everything is geared towards them, towards whatever issues they have but it is more important to take the victims and victims' families views and feelings into consideration."

He added that having to appeal the "unduly lenient" sentence added "extra stress" on his family and that he would like to see a minimum tariff of 20 years to life for causing death by dangerous driving.

"We appealed the original sentence and we had to relive the whole thing all over again; it is not fair, it needs to be changed."

The review will look at whether to increase sentences for hate crimes, those against the elderly and death by dangerous driving.
Ulster University has said it has no plans to strip the de facto Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi of a 2009 honorary degree, despite weeks of international condemnation on her handling of the Rohingya crisis.

Last week it was reported that Rohingya Muslim refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar were still flooding towards the border with Bangladesh, despite government assurances it was preventing the mass exodus.

Since August, half a million Rohingya have made the dangerous journey, making it the largest refugee crisis in Asia in decades.

On Thursday, the Myanmar government's information committee said it had stopped 17,000 Rohingya from fleeing in just four days last week. "The Burma authorities in northern Rakhine went to the border areas where thousands of Bengalis (the official government description for the Rohingya) await to flee and talked to them," it said.

"The local authorities told the Bengalis if they have difficulties with their livelihood, they will provide food and security and to return to their villages. The Bengalis agreed to stay."

Ulster University academic Monica McWilliams recently visited Myanmar, saying she was shocked by the conditions she found many living in.

She accused Aung San Suu Kyi of "colluding" with the military over the Rohingya crisis but said there were "bigger fish to fry" than taking her Ulster University degree away.

"I suspect those on the move would be very reluctant to go back, given what's happened," she told the Belfast Telegraph. "They didn't leave their homes lightly and it looked like a scorched earth policy from the government."

"I was there when a lot of this was happening and the criticism against Aung San Suu Kyi is fair, she has to decide what direction she's going to lead the country (in) and she's lost the support of most of the Myanmar states who aren't majority Buddhist.

"Most are made up of ethnic minorities, so she should have been aware there was a great deal of unrest inside the country.

"She's now seen as being in the pocket of the military which is not good for her," Ms McWilliams continued.

Regarding the Ulster University degree, she added: "I think there's bigger fish to fry at this stage. She had the Nobel peace prize, the freedom of Dublin city and probably received around 200 honorary degrees - getting one withdrawn won't hurt her."

Ms McWilliams said more helpful pressure should come from the UK and Irish governments, the European Commission and the UN.

"That's where the Myanmar people were telling me they wanted it raised," she stated.

Last month, Professor Penny Green from Queen Mary University of London was among those calling for Ulster University to remove Ms Suu Kyi's degree.

"I think the criticism against her is more than justified," said Professor Green.

"Everything she has done to date is a defence of Myanmar's persecution of the Rohingya.

"Taking away her Ulster University degree plays a small part, but it's an important symbolic gesture."

Yesterday, the Ulster University state that its position on the matter had not changed since first being asked about it last month.

At the time a spokesperson commented: "The university does reserve the right to withdraw an honorary degree, however, this would only happen after extensive consideration of the issues."
Cantrell Close off the Ravenhill Road in south Belfast where a number of threats were made against residents.

Two men who were arrested in east Belfast on Monday have been released.

Police arrested the two men over threats which forced four Catholic families from their homes in Belfast.

The two men, aged 37 and 40, arrested under the Terrorism Act, on suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation, have been released pending a report to the PPS.

Four families were forced from their homes after police officers warned threats had been made against them. Chief Constable George Hamilton said the UVF was to blame.
Raymond McCord said he was furious that police never warned him about the threat

A victims campaigner has accused police of failing to warn him of a threat against him from a top loyalist paramilitary.

Belfast man Raymond McCord discovered on Monday that in 1999 he had been a target of former UVF boss turned supergrass, Gary Haggarty.

Haggarty is currently in protective custody awaiting sentence for 200 terrorist offences, including five murders. He has also acknowledged responsibility for 304 other more minor offences.

Mr McCord, whose son Raymond McCord junior was murdered by the UVF in November 1997, found out on Monday that one of the offences before the court is a planned attack against him 18 years ago.

He said he was furious that police never warned him about the threat.

He only discovered it when he received a letter from the Public Prosecution Service inviting him to make a personal victim statement to be taken into consideration by the judge at Haggarty's tariff hearing.

The correspondence informed Mr McCord that between February and April 1999 Haggarty had conspired with others to destroy his house.

He was told that he was entitled to make a Victim Personal Statement (VPS).

"It is a way for you to set out in writing the real impact the crime has had on you," the correspondence continued.

Mr McCord has now demanded to know why police never informed him about the threat.

"I am furious. It is disgusting to think that police knew about this threat against me by a serial killer - and that is what he is - but yet never bothered to warn me.

"I am convinced Haggarty was intending to burn down or bomb my house," said Mr McCord.

He added: "How many times was I not informed about threats against me? It really makes you question the justice system."

Haggarty pleaded guilty earlier this year to 200 terrorist offences, including five murders.

The pleas marked a significant stage of the long-time police informer's agreement to give state's evidence against fellow terrorists.

As well as the five murders, the 45-year-old admitted five attempted murders, including against police officers; 23 counts of conspiracy to murder; directing terrorism; and membership of a proscribed organisation.

He also admitted assisting offenders involved in a murder bid on fellow UVF terror chief and police informer Mark Haddock.

On top of the 200 guilty pleas, Haggarty acknowledged responsibility for 304 other more minor offences.

Those were not listed as formal charges on the bill of indictment but will be taken into account by the judge when he is sentenced.

Haggarty was interviewed more than 1,000 times by detectives in one of the biggest and most complex cases ever undertaken in Northern Ireland.

The catalogue of offences stretch over a 16-year period from 1991 to 2007 and include the loyalist murders of John Harbinson, Sean McParland, Gary Convie, Eamon Fox and Sean McDermott.

Haggarty is expected to receive a heavily-reduced sentence in exchange for his co-operation with the authorities.
North Korean state-sponsored cyber gangs are launching almost daily attacks on Irish companies, banks and utilities.

It's thought one syndicate associated with the Pyongyang regime is the chief suspect in a multi-million euro cyber raid on Meath County Council last year.

Ireland finds itself on the front line of an escalating global cyber war as a leading IT security expert warned that North Korea, because of UN and US sanctions, has now turned to international cyber robbery as the primary means of funding its state and massive military.

Ireland will be targeted due to the number of US multinationals based in the country.

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Defence Minister Paul Kehoe admitted a critical element of the new White Paper on Defence will be rapidly upgrading Irelands capability of defending against cyber attacks.

The cost of cyber raids on Irish businesses has soared from 498,000 in 2014 to 1.7m in 2016  with analysts warning it is likely to increase exponentially over future years.

PWC estimates that 44% of all economic crimes now reported by Irish businesses involve cyber crime.

The number of cyber attacks suffered by Irish businesses doubled between 2012 and 2016, but that figure is expected to double or even treble because of recent ransomware attacks.

Ronan Murphy, of Smarttech247, said it was vital Ireland understands that it was now firmly on the front line of the cyber battle because of the number of US multinationals based here.

There were always certain unspoken rules in terms of cyber warfare between countries and intelligence services, Mr Murphy said.

But North Korea has thrown the entire rule book out the window. It is basically engaging in cyber warfare to raise funds and to cause global chaos.

There is no safe hiding place anymore. These arent ordinary criminal gangs  you are essentially dealing with state cyber intelligence units.

He said that the WannaCry ransomware attack which caused global chaos earlier this year was exploited by North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns cyber security services  but only netted a measly 120,000 for Pyongyang because of an unforeseen escape route built into the malware.

Investigators now believe the attempted 4.3m cyber raid carried out against Meath County Council in October 2016 originated in North Korea.

The funds were frozen in a bank account in Hong Kong just minutes before they were scheduled to be transferred. The attempted fraud was carried out on October 28 and the council admitted it was a highly sophisticated attack.

Cyber thieves impersonated the identity of chief executive Jackie Maguire, and issued a fake instruction to a junior council employee for the funds to be transferred overseas.

The Garda Computer Crime Bureau is now liaising with Europol and Interpol over the matter.

Mr Murphy stressed that Ireland needs to prepare itself for even more sophisticated attacks, with hundreds of attacks already taking place across Irish firms on a daily basis.

These probing attacks are occurring almost 24/7 on Irish networks and, in most cases, the firms involved are simply not aware of it.

Smarttech logged an incredible 21 million attacks last year  and the rate of attacks is increasing on a daily basis.

Mr Murphy said different cyber syndicates have different priorities  Chinese gangs are usually targeting healthcare data and industrial secrets, North Korean gangs  usually supported by the states cyber intelligence agency  are focused on stealing funds and exploiting ransomware attacks while European and Russian hackers can have multiple motives.

Mr Murphys firm was the first in the world to liaise with computer giant IBM over the use of the super-computer Watson for real-time artificial intelligence-based defence against cyber criminals.

According to a nationwide cyber security awareness survey, over 171,000 businesses in the State could be vulnerable to crippling ransomware attacks.

Some 48% of all businesses have no cyber security policy in place, with a further 27% acknowledging that either their security needs tightening or they are completely unsecure, according to the survey carried out by Magnet Networks.

The Magnet Networks National Cyber Security Awareness Survey was carried out among 205 companies spread across all sectors and regions, giving an up-to-date sample of the business attitudes to a threat which could potentially ruin many of those who are attacked.

The survey found that 26% of businesses have suffered from cyber attacks in the past two years, with a further 18% unsure if they have been affected.
Education rights campaigner Malala Yousafzai has attended her first lecture at the University of Oxford (Joe Giddens/PA)

Education rights campaigner Malala Yousafzai has attended her first lecture at the University of Oxford five years after she was shot by the Taliban.

The 20-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner tweeted a photo of three philosophy books on Monday.

She wrote: 5 years ago, I was shot in an attempt to stop me from speaking out for girls education. Today, I attend my first lectures at Oxford.

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Thousands of well-wishers responded with messages of congratulations and the post has received more than 300,000 likes within hours.

Her brother, Khushal Yousafzai, tweeted in reply: Sorry for being a headache for the last 5years. So grateful you are still with us. Ik (I know) you miss me but i am coming to oxford in 2years.

Ms Yousafzai is following in the footsteps of many world leaders in studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics, or PPE.

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She did not reveal her grades but earlier this year she told a conference she had received an offer, which was conditional on achieving three As at A-level.

Ms Yousafzai narrowly avoided death in 2012 after being shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban for her outspoken campaigning over girls rights to an education.

Her career as an activist began in early 2009, when she started writing a blog for the BBC about her life under Taliban occupation and promoting education for girls in Pakistans Swat Valley.

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But her campaign angered local militants and she was shot during an assassination attempt while taking the bus to school.

She was treated at Birminghams Queen Elizabeth Hospital and, fearing reprisals in her native country, made the city her home.

In 2014 she became the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and her campaign for childrens rights to education across the world has seen her addressing the United Nations on the issue.
A new audit laying bare the deep difference in life experiences of Britains racial groups will be a starting point for Government action to tackle inequality, Prime Minister Theresa May has promised.

The report published by the Government showed widely varying outcomes in areas including education, employment, health and criminal justice between Britains white and ethnic minority populations.

Mrs May was confronted by voters personal experiences of discrimination when she took calls on an LBC radio phone-in.

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One caller, who gave her name as Louise from Hitchen, said she believed racism was pathologically entrenched in this country, while Margaret from Harrow, north London, told the PM she had to switch her fathers African surname for her mothers English one in order to get job interviews.

Mrs May, who commissioned the audit soon after becoming PM last year, has faced criticism that it describes the problems faced by Britains ethnic minorities but does not include proposals to solve them.

But she told LBC: This is not just about publishing a set of data and saying Thats it, job done. Absolutely not. This is the starting point of what we have to do.

Mrs May said she was not sure at this stage what legislation might be needed, but said there was already work under way to tackle the disproportionate number of black boys excluded from school.

And she said that in some cases, progress might be made simply by highlighting the issue with employers and public bodies.

Figures from the audit collated on a new Ethnicity Facts and Figures website showed that while state-educated white Britons had the lowest rate for going to university, they were also less likely to be unemployed than ethnic minorities and were more likely to own their own home.

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Among the findings were:

:: Asian, black and other ethnic groups were disproportionately likely to be on a low income, with almost half of households in the bottom 40% nationally before housing costs were taken into account.

:: Households of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, black, mixed and other backgrounds were more likely to receive income-related benefits and tax credits than those in other ethnic groups.

:: Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers received the lowest average hourly pay of 11.42, while Indian workers received the highest on 15.81.

:: Ethnic minorities are more likely to live in areas of deprivation, especially black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi people.

:: White pupils from state schools had the lowest university entry rate of any ethnic group in 2016. Chinese pupils had the highest attainment throughout school, made the most progress and were the most likely to stay in education and go to university.

:: White people were among the least likely to become a victim of crime or to fear becoming a victim.

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Meeting campaigners at 10 Downing Street, Mrs May admitted the findings were uncomfortable and said there would be nowhere to hide for public bodies which fail to respond. Departments would have to explain or change areas of their work where different racial groups received differing levels of service.

Labours equalities spokeswoman Dawn Butler said that Mrs May had written to then Prime Minister David Cameron in 2010 warning of the risk that austerity would disproportionately hit minorities.

As Prime Minister, knowing full well the damage that would be caused by the Conservative cuts, Theresa May has done nothing but exacerbate the problem, said Ms Butler. Far from tackling burning injustices, she has added fuel to the fire.

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Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: Theresa Mays decision to shine a light on this issue means she cant now shy away from tackling the causes of this inequality  including cuts to public services and a shrinking state.

Martha Spurrier, director of civil rights group Liberty, said: The bleak picture this report paints of racial injustice in the UK demands an immediate and bold response. But the solutions the Government is putting up are little more than a plaster on a gaping wound.

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Londons deputy mayor for social integration, Matthew Ryder, said: This is very troubling information, but sadly all too familiar reading for those who have been deeply concerned about inequality in Britain for many years.

While we welcome the publication of this data, and the Prime Ministers commitment to explain or change the disparities it highlights, this must now be accompanied by the resources and action necessary to make a real difference.
The number of foreigners granted the right to live with their relatives in the UK has plummeted in the past decade, it can be revealed. (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The number of foreigners granted the right to live with their relatives in the UK has plummeted in the past decade, it can be revealed.

Analysis of immigration statistics shows the number of children, partners and dependant relatives able to remain permanently in the UK through a 'grant of settlement' has declined by 73% since 2006.

Family members being granted entry clearance visas, which they must obtain in order to move to Britain to apply for settlement, have also dropped - falling from 70,119 in 2006 to just 38,119 last year, marking a decrease of 46%.

A fall in applications and a policy change in 2012, which saw the period one had to live in the UK before applying for a permanent residency increase from two years to five years, have contributed to the steep decline in grants of settlement, which has plummeted by 77% since the change took place.

Visas granted for the partners of UK nationals have fallen by 45% since 2006, with the success rate down from 86% to 76%.

A significant reason for the sharp decline is believed to be the decision by the previous coalition government to introduce a minimum income requirement in 2012. This meant a UK citizen must earn more than 18,600 before they can sponsor a non-European spouse or partner to join them.

Chai Patel of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said: "For integration and communities to succeed, parents should not be separated from children, nor should partners who are in love be forced to live in different countries. We need an immigration system that respects family life."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The British public have been clear that they want to see a reduction in net migration and that is what this Government is delivering.

"We continue to welcome the foreign partners and children of those settled in the UK but it's important that they can stand on their own feet financially."
Mark Rutte is the prime minister of the Netherlands

The leaders of four Dutch parties have agreed on a draft programme for a new centre-right coalition government under prime minister Mark Rutte that will likely push policies further to the right.

Monday's accord follows 208 days of negotiations.

Centrist D66 leader Alexander Pechtold said, after years of austerity, the new government will reward voters with lower taxes.

"We are coming out of crisis, so we can invest, taxes can be lowered," Mr Pechtold told reporters.

Mr Rutte is expected to officially unveil the programme on Tuesday along with the leaders of the Christian Democrats, the D66 party and a faith-based party, the Christian Union.

The leaders spent a final morning checking the agreement before heading to their parliamentary offices to present it to their parties' politicians, who could still suggest minor amendments.

The March 15 election gave the coalition a narrow one-seat majority in the 150-seat lower house of the Dutch parliament and ended Mr Rutte's alliance with the centre-left Labour Party.

"I am very happy," said Mr Rutte, who is in line to form his third ruling coalition.

"Precisely on the day that this (government) formation is overtaking the longest previous formation we have ... a negotiators' agreement."

The four parties' negotiators attempted to hammer out an agreement that will offer something to all of their lawmakers.

"That is why we spent a lot of time on the content and I think that's the reason that it's a solid deal," said Mr Pechtold.

Once the deal has been formally presented, Mr Rutte, of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, will have to begin appointing ministers to his new administration.

The coalition is expected to be finalised and sworn in later this month by the Dutch king.
An Iranian-British woman serving a prison sentence in Iran could have her term extended by 16 years under new charges, her husband said.

Richard Ratcliffe said his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe appeared in court on Sunday at Tehran's Evin prison, where she is held.

Mr Ratcliffe said she was not allowed to have a lawyer and that the new charges would prevent her from seeking early release next month as allowed by Iranian law.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency, was detained by security forces in Iran in 2016.

Later, she was sentenced on security charges.

Iranian media have said Zaghari-Ratcliffe was convicted of plotting the "soft toppling" of Iran's government.

The couple's daughter Gabriella is being cared for in Iran by relatives.

Iran does not recognise dual nationality.

AP

Monique Villa, chief executive of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, called Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's treatment at the hands of Iran "harrowing" and said "these ludicrous charges must be dropped immediately".

"This inhumane treatment is breaking up a young family and has already caused irreparable damage to Nazanin's physical and mental health," she said.

"What happened yesterday and the description that the family has given is harrowing. Hearing that Nazanin, who we know to be a very strong woman, almost collapsed in court is another sign of how traumatised she must be now.

"We are all shocked by this new development and ask the Iranian government to put an end to her torture and the British Government to finally intervene to end the ordeal of this British national."

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's local MP, Tulip Siddiq, branded the latest charges " an outrage" and called for Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to "formally and unreservedly" demand her release.

She said: "The Iranian Revolutionary Guard have subjected my constituent to illegal arbitrary detention for the best part of 18 months, and the new spurious charges against her underline their callous disregard for her human rights.

"These developments are particularly cruel at a time when her family had increasingly hoped that she would be granted temporary release.

"With the possibility of 16 years being added to her sentence, it is high time the Government intervened with tangible effect.

"There is a clear pattern of Iran treating British dual nationals in this way, and the Government's soft-ball approach to the Iranian authorities seems to be doing little to improve their plight."
Hundreds of thousands of pro-Spanish unity supporters marched through the streets of Barcelona yesterday, exactly a week after voters in a banned referendum in Catalonia voted overwhelmingly in favour of breaking away from Spain.

The massive pro-Spain march, which passed off without incident, ran under the slogan "For the restoration of seny" - the Catalan word for common sense or folk wisdom.

The organisers of the event, the pro-unity association, the Societat Civil Catalana (SCC), later claimed nearly a million pro-unity supporters had turned out. That figure was disputed by the local police force which estimated there were still very significant 350,000 demonstrators.

While Spanish premier Mariano Rajoy did not attend but expressed his support in a tweet, a number of heavyweights from the ruling Partido Popular, including the president of the Madrid region, Cristina Cifuentes, took part.

Also present was Albert Rivera, leader of Spain's fourth largest party, Ciudadanos, and the Nobel-winning author Mario Vargas Llosa.

In a reflection of the divisions within the pro-unity camp, though, only a few high-ranking members of Spain's leading opposition party, the Socialists, participated, the most prominent being Josep Borrell, a former president of the EU. As for Spain's hard-left Podemos party, its leader Pablo Iglesias was roundly booed by some 50 pro-unity demonstrators when he was spotted at Barcelona Sants railway station early yesterday morning - catching a train for Madrid.

In a manifesto read at the end of the demonstration, there were demands that non-nationalist Catalans "should not be marginalised" and Mr Vargas Llosa launched a stinging attack on the nationalists, accusing their leaders, amongst them regional premier Carles Puigdemont, of being golpistas - conspirators in a coup d'etat. "The nationalist plot will not destroy 500 years of Spanish unity," he insisted.

The march came just two days before Mr Puigdemont is expected to make a key address to the Catalan parliament, which opposition sources have reportedly claimed will see him make a unilateral declaration of independence.

"He should not do such a senseless, provocative thing," Jose Domingo, vice-president of the SCC, said during the rally. Mr Domingo's comments echoed Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy's words on Sunday when he hinted strongly in an interview he was considering using Article 155 of the constitution, which allows for direct intervention from Madrid, should an independence bid happen.

Speaking to El Pais, in his first in-depth newspaper interview since last Sunday's banned referendum sparked Spain's worst political crisis in 40 years, Mr Rajoy said: "(Catalan) independence is not going to happen."

Asked specifically about article 155, he said: "I am not ruling out anything that the law says. Ideally, we should not have to resort to drastic solutions, but in that case there would have to be rectifications." Mr Rajoy also promised that both the Civil Guard and the Spanish national police would remain in Catalonia "until things return to normal."
Ukraine's chief prosecutor has blamed a Russian crime lord linked to Russia's security agency for the killing of renegade Russian politician Denis Voronenkov.

Prosecutor general Yuriy Lutsenko said Mr Voronenkov was gunned down in March on orders from Vladimir Tyurin, a former partner of Mr Voronenkov's wife, Maria Maksakova.

Mr Tyurin has denied the allegations.

Mr Lutsenko said Mr Tyurin, who had ties with Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, commissioned several Ukrainians for the hit job.

Mr Voronenkov, who had toed the Kremlin line while serving as a Russian politician but turned a Kremlin critic after his move to Ukraine last year, was shot dead near the entrance to a hotel in the centre of Kiev.

The hit man, a Ukrainian, was fatally wounded by Mr Voronenkov's bodyguard, who also died in the gunfight.

Mr Lutsenko said two other Ukrainian suspects have been detained and another two are on the run.

He did not provide details of Mr Tyurin's alleged FSB ties.

Russia has denied any involvement in Mr Voronenkov's killing.

Mr Tyurin's lawyer, Sergei Belyak, dismissed Mr Lutsenko's accusations in remarks carried by the Interfax news agency.

He said Mr Tyurin had no conflicts with or personal grudge against Mr Voronenkov, and no links to the FSB.

Mr Voronenkov, who owned prized property in Moscow, was reportedly involved in business disputes, but saw off attempts to lift his parliamentary immunity amid criminal charges while in Russia.

Russian investigators filed fraud charges against him in connection with his business activities after his move to Ukraine.

Relations between the two countries have been badly strained over Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine and its support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

AP
It's pleasing to see shops in Ireland still display and sell pretty picture postcards. I hope that visitors are buying and sending them, but the postcard is not a thriving business, worldwide. The American postal service has been charting a progressive decline in postcard sending since 2010. Last month, in Britain, the oldest postcard publisher, J Salmon of Sevenoaks, announced its closure - put out of business by changing holiday habits and the instant gratification of social media. It's reckoned there's been a 60% decline in the picture postcard over the past 20 years. People are taking more holidays but sending fewer cards.

A picture postcard from abroad was once not only a greeting, but perhaps a subtle, if harmless, form of boasting. "Here I am at the Grand Canyon! Amazing!" A trip abroad is no big deal for most people now and a postcard, which may take weeks to arrive, seems hardly worth the money, the stamp and the trouble - especially when you can send an instant selfie via Facebook or Instagram.

Some postal services have always treated postcards as non-urgent mail and they could take ages. ("Wine fine, but weather could be better," a pithy, yet informative, card message from my brother at Le Touquet). It wasn't unusual to receive a postcard - especially from Italy - weeks after the sender had arrived back home.

What was once exotic, now seems a bit so-what. "We are in Istanbul at Pera Palas, the old Agatha Christie Orient Express and all that," reads a postcard from pals in the 1990s, bearing an artistic image from the reign of Sultan III. "Budapest next!"

Yes, I have a collection of postcards from the 1980s and 1990s which I saved in an album and, though the messages can be simple, they are a poignant archive of times past, or friends and family now gone, of events otherwise forgotten.

Sometimes the images are just everyday tourist photographs - St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, the trees of Provence - and yet the few words still tell a story. Here's a postcard from my mother in Paris - her vivid personality expressed in her handwriting - to my sons, and here are postcards from Asia from my husband to the children, signed "With love from Daddy", in India, Singapore and Vietnam. There's also one of 'Sunset over Kariba' with a rhinoceros stamp from 'Rhodesia'.

Parents, when overseas on a working trip, perhaps feel guilty about swigging back the gin at Raffles Hotel while the family continues in its daily round back home. Today, they Skype, call or text: back then it was the picture postcard, which is still in my hand this very day.

I seem to have collected the more artistic cards sent by friends, as well as the 'ironic' ones (a Polish cartoon of Karl Marx as a penniless beggar, sent by the late Stan Gebler Davies). Cards from friends now departed this world remain so touching: from Maeve Binchy, in her round, generous hand, one from Sydney urging me to persist with quitting cigarettes, another from Dalkey saying she once had seen a woman at the Aberdeen Arms Hotel reading a book I'd written (picture of Early Christian Monks' Beehive Hut). Cards from Mary Cummins in Ballybunion, from Mary Holland after a "depressing" visit to Belgrade.

Going through the old postcards, you ponder on the course of life that followed. I had two friends who died in fires - one, Miriam, the victim of an arsonist, and another, Corinna, who fell asleep with a glass of wine and a cigarette, which caused a conflagration. Miriam's postcards are thoughtful, Corinna's expressing zest. "Start saving now!" she writes from Kenya, the image showing a Maasai Eunoto ceremony. "You must come here! It is splendiferous." Never did.

They say "eaten bread is soon forgotten", but it can be immortalised in a thank-you card. Jack Mulcahy, visiting London, thanks me "for a memorable election night party, filled with high emotion & heated debate (though a regrettable outcome!)". Thatcher won. And a colleague who had just had a baby thanked me for sending her a "beautiful basket of flowers - and, thank heavens, no arranging!" As a reluctant flower arranger myself, I got the point.

There are cards from my sons when young, which instantly recall those days before the cares of adulthood enter the soul. The collection itself is a postcard from the past, but also a resolve for the present: to appreciate better family and friends who still remain.

Retro practices can come back into fashion, like vinyl records. And look at book publishing: it was predicted that Kindle and its like would kill off the printed book, but publishers upped their game and began producing books which are beautiful objects in design and presentation, and the printed book is recovering. The postcard could hold its own, and even revive, by emphasising both its specialness and durability. And add a touch of status snobbery, too.

A postcard bearing an image from Matisse, say, tells you more than the words written thereon: that the sender is a cultured person who frequents art galleries and museums. Not everyone can afford a Ferrari as a status symbol, but most people could afford the wherewithal for a pretty postcard which will last through time.
People carry a Spanish flag during a march in downtown Barcelona, Spain, to protest the Catalan governments push for secession from the rest of the country yesterday

John Carlin, a distinguished journalist of Spanish and English parentage, wrote in Saturdays Times: What we have is the cruel absurdity of the Madrid government acting towards the Catalans like a husband who hates his wife and mistreats her but refuses to let her contemplate leaving him, screaming Shes mine!

(How reminiscent of the republican movement, who act towards unionists like a suitor who hates and abuses the woman who is in a happy marriage hes determined to break up, screaming Choose me or Ill kill you, bitch!)

David Cameron was strongly criticised for allowing a referendum on Scottish independence to go ahead, but it lanced the extreme nationalist boil.

Being mostly pragmatic, British governments understand the need to yield some ground in order to hang on to most of it.

If Brussels had felt the same, Brexit wouldnt have happened.

Spanish governments have never been like that, perhaps, points out Mr Carlin, because many centuries of Roman Catholic absolutism produced an intransigent mind-set.

There is, I learned to my fascination, no translation in Spanish for the word compromise.

In consequence, Madrid has frequently been in vicious clashes with the regions and even when forced into making concessions seizes every opportunity to retract them.

The carry-on in Spain inevitably causes some soul-searching on the island of Ireland and some inevitable if weird contradictions and consequences, with unionists generally favouring unity and nationalists partition.

The parties that prize law and order back the Spanish government, though its important to note there is no unconditional support.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he and his government accepted and respected the constitution and territorial unity of Spain; the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) statement said: Upholding the constitution and the rule of law in all its aspects is a key underpinning of a modern democracy.

But Mr Varadkar and the DFA expressed deep concern over the violence.

Unionists have also been critical of police brutality, which the Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister described as unseemly and disturbing.

The DUP MLA Christopher Stalford told the BBC that the force used against protesters had been totally counterproductive.

He recalled that at times the forces of the state in Northern Ireland had the law on their side (but) they lost the moral argument by the sway in which events played out in the press.

The Sinn Fein Lords of Misrule had no such nuances in their response, being essentially in favour of uniting Ireland but breaking up other democracies just for the hell of it.

They and their kind thrive on chaos.

Completely ignoring that the majority of Catalans did not vote because they are content with the regions considerable autonomy, are against independence and wanted to give no legitimacy to what was an illegal poll, Gerry Adams and his colleagues blithely accepted the separatist line.

They seem untroubled that the rest of Spain would be seriously impoverished if its richest region jumps ship.

The Catalan people, said Mr Adams, deserve the same respect as Irish republicans, and their votes should be upheld the same as it

would anywhere else in the world.

I dont remember him saying the same when 99% of the people of Gibraltar and almost 100% of the Falkland Islanders voted to stay under Britains sovereignty.

Mr Adams has never been inclined to worry too much about the law of unintended consequences or he wouldnt have supported thirty years of terrorism that entrenched partition, so perhaps he doesnt realise that the EU is utterly terrified about the knock-on effect of giving in to the secessionists.

Who would be next?

The Basque country? Galicia?

And what about Corsica, Flanders, northern Italy and so on and on? Its a gloomy picture, but as a letter last week in the Irish Times pointed out: If there is one silver lining to the debacle in Catalonia, it is the declarations of support for independence from innumerable Sinn Fein representatives. That we have moved on to the point where they will publicly advocate for the right of statehood of an ethically distinct region, despite the wishes of the national majority, shows the incredible advances made in the peace process. Perhaps next the DUP will call for North and South Korea to merge.
Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement all 1.8m people resident in Northern Ireland are entitled to hold an Irish passport

The case of Ciaran Doole, the Northern Ireland man whose Japanese fiancee has been refused permission to come to the province to get married and live here, raises intriguing questions about identity.

This case is going to the High Court today in an effort to overturn the Home Office's ruling. It would not be proper to comment on the particular merits of the case or attempt to prejudge it. But it is certainly an issue which will be an eye-opener for many people and which could have even greater implications in the future.

Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement all 1.8m people resident in Northern Ireland are entitled to hold an Irish passport.

Since the UK voted to leave the EU an increasing number of people living in all regions have applied for an Irish passport. In the first three months of this year 51,000 applications were made by UK residents. Last year 733,000 Irish passports were issued, 65,000 of them to Britons.

A significant number of those successful applications are believed to be from people living in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK who see an Irish passport as guaranteeing them continued EU membership after Brexit. A measure which was originally drafted to reflect the differing national identity inclination of the two communities in Northern Ireland has taken on an additional meaning.

But what seemed a fairly straightforward interpretation of the value of an Irish passport has now been thrown into confusion by this latest Home Office ruling. Although Mr Doole has lived all his life in Northern Ireland and his parents are from here, the Home Office regards him as an Irish national who is working in the UK and argued that the couple have not established that he is settled in the UK.

It would appear, therefore, that holding an Irish passport diminishes one's Britishness in the eyes of the Home Office.

But it will take more than dual nationality to sort out the complexities of Brexit and its implications for business on this island. A leaked document from the Irish Revenue Commissioners says a completely open customs border is not possible; the Revenue will need many more staff and businesses will be loaded with much more bureaucracy.

Brexit becomes a more complex puzzle to solve as every day goes by. Each possible solution to the problems raised seem to create another problem.
At an event during the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill, the leaders of the two main parties in Northern Ireland, stated their ideas of identity, of Britishness and Irishness, which were viewed as diametrically opposed.

We should be aware, however, that our divisions are not clear-cut and are in a constant state of change. There are other ways at looking at these ideas of identity, to which, interestingly, Theresa May, the prime minister, drew attention.

One can be British and Irish. That is how I view myself. As my passport records, I am a British citizen. My nationality is Irish. I live in the United Kingdom which is a multi-national state.

One hundred years ago, most unionists in Ireland, north and south, regarded themselves as Irish. Of course, most also saw themselves as British citizens and were very keen about links to the Crown and to Great Britain.

From 1912 onwards, however, with the deepening crisis over the future of Ireland and the rise of a new, organised resistance in Ulster to Home Rule, attitudes among northern unionists over identity began to change considerably. For many, "Ulster" now became more important than "Ireland".

Post-1921, in the new Northern Ireland, we can witness the development of a heightened sense of British identity, embracing Ulster, or Northern Ireland, which denied increasingly any sense of Irishness. At the same time, the new Irish Free State experienced the growth of its own heightened form of Irish/Gaelic identity.

The movement in the northern unionist community away from an Irish identity, however, did not take place overnight and, in fact, many unionists retained an Irish dimension to their identity. When Lord Craigavon died in 1940, John M Andrews, his successor, paid tribute to him as a "great Ulsterman, a great Irishman and a great Imperialist".

In the late-1960s, Professor Richard Rose conducted a survey of opinion in Northern Ireland about national identity. Of the Protestants, nearly all of whom we can assume were unionist and carried British passports, 20% saw themselves as Irish, 32% as Ulster, 39% as British and the rest as a mixture of these identities.

The following decades, however, would witness a dramatic drop in the percentage of Protestants who viewed themselves as Irish, largely in response to Irish republican violence. The figure fell to 8% in 1978, 4% in 1989 and 1% in 1993.

In recent years, there have been important changes in people's identity in a number of ways. This development has been influenced by the new awareness of different national allegiances in other parts of the UK, following devolution.

For many unionists, as well as for people elsewhere, there is a realisation that a British identity alone is not sufficient.

There has been a growth in those who see themselves as Northern Irish. This identity was first recorded in opinion polls in 1989. At the recent 2011 census, the number of Protestants who described themselves as Northern Irish, or Northern Irish and British, stood at 26%, while 68% still described themselves as British only.

Also, there has been a revival in the number of unionists who are happy with an Irish identity. The possibility of a diversity of identity was acknowledged in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. It recognised "the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish, or British, or both, as they may so choose".

In 1995, Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble declared: "The United Kingdom is a genuinely plural state, in which it is possible to be Welsh, or Scottish, and British. Similarly, one can be Irish, or Ulster, and British, as well."

At his first talks with Bertie Ahern in Dublin in April 2007, the DUP's Ian Paisley stated: "I am proud to be an Ulsterman, but I am also proud of my Irish roots." On May 30, 2008, on UTV, Mr Paisley referred to himself as an "Irish unionist".

Nonetheless, the number of unionists who accept this description has grown only slightly in recent years. This is likely to increase for reasons spelt out by Theresa May at the Conservative Party conference.

In her speech, she talked of the "British dream" and the "British people". She also spoke of "our precious Union of nations - four nations that are stronger as one".

The modern British state is clearly acknowledged here by the prime minister as a multi-nation entity.

To what nation do we belong? For unionists, the answer can be the Irish nation. Unionists can perfectly legitimately see themselves as part of the Irish nation, a part that values its British citizenship.

In the future, given developments in Britain, it may be possible for unionists to acknowledge an Irish identity, without feeling they are compromising their Britishness.

This debate on identity will continue. Perhaps, this will create greater space for people in Northern Ireland to adjust their identities to allow the emergence of a more pluralist and less sharply divided society.

Brian M Walker is Professor Emeritus of Irish Studies in the School of Politics at Queen's University, Belfast, and is the author of A Political History of the Two Irelands: From Partition to Peace, published by Palgrave Macmillan
An Indian police officer looks over the burned train at Godhra station where 59 Hindu activists were killed, Feb. 28, 2002.

An Indian court on Monday commuted the death sentences of 11 men convicted of starting a train fire that led to communal riots in Gujarat state during which hundreds of people were killed in 2002.

The men, all Muslims, could instead spend the rest of their lives in prison, but will be eligible for parole, for causing the fire inside the Sabarmati Express train in Godhra that left 59 Hindu activists dead.

The incident unleashed widespread religious violence that killed more than 1,000 people  a majority of them Muslims  during a week of bloodshed in the western Indian state, according to official figures.

The 11 men are among 31 people who were convicted in 2011 and had appealed their sentences to the Gujarat High Court. The court upheld life sentences ordered for the other 20 convicts.

A life sentence in India means a convict spends his entire life in prison with a possibility of parole after completing 14 years of the sentence.

In addition, the court declared the state government, which was then headed by Indias current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Indian Railways failed to prevent the violence and ordered the government to pay compensation of 1 million rupees (U.S. $15,287) to the families of each fire victim, public prosecutor J.M. Panchal said.

The compensation will be paid by the state government as it is the governments responsibility to maintain law and order, Panchal told BenarNews.

Modi, Gujarats chief minister back in 2002, was accused of complicity during the anti-Muslim riots, but was acquitted of all charges in 2013 due to lack of evidence.

Government officials plan to challenge the order.

Panchal said he was not satisfied with the High Courts decision to reduce the punishment for the 11 convicts and will be challenging the verdict in the Supreme Court.

Defense lawyer I.H. Syed said all 31 convicts would also appeal their life sentences in the Supreme Court.

Yusuf Hoka, a relative of one of a convict who had his death sentence commuted, said he was relieved at the order.

We are still talking to our lawyer to plan the next move. Most of the accused have already spent more than 15 years behind bars, Hoka told BenarNews.
Nanette Castillo grieves next to the body of her son Aldrin, who was killed by unidentified gunmen in Manila, Oct. 3, 2017.

President Rodrigo Dutertes popularity slumped in the third quarter of 2017, according to an independent poll released over the weekend, in what human rights groups said reflected the publics waning support for his administrations anti-drug war.

A survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) carried out from Sept. 23 to 27, placed Dutertes net satisfaction rating at positive 48 percent, an 18-point drop from when he assumed office in June 2016.

Sixty percent of those surveyed said they trusted the president, a 15-point decline, according to the survey, which polled 1,500 adults.

The overall scores reflected good to very good ratings for the president, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said, considering that Duterte won last years election by a landslide on an anti-crime platform.

Abella admitted Monday that the drop in ratings was expected given the fact that the people start measuring their expectations usually after the honeymoon period, or after a year in office.

More than 12,800 people have been shot dead across the Philippines since June, according to official government figures. Almost 3,000 of the killings were drug-related, mostly in alleged gunfights between suspects and police officers, while officials said about 8,200 were deaths under investigation.

Abella insisted that despite the drop, public satisfaction overall remained good as shown by the presidents trust rating.

It is worth noting that surveys are snapshots of the public mood at a given time and the SWS survey was conducted between Sept. 23 and Sept. 27, Abella told reporters.

This was about the same time that the public carried out a national day of protest, when thousands of Filipinos vented their anger over the killings, he said.

The citizens were allowed to freely vent their grievances about the excesses and shortcomings of the government, and some sentiments may have spilled over, Abella said.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said Dutertes style of governance was losing its appeal and support among the public.

The survey is an ominous warning, she said in a statement Monday. There are deep and widening rumblings of discontent across different social classes and all over the country with rampant killings, fake news and numerous accusations of corruption.

The writing on the wall is simple and clear. President Duterte cannot govern based on fear, lies and killings, Hontiveros said. He cannot govern outside the rule of law and with total disregard for human rights and expect no consequence.

The recent survey follows a similar poll carried out by the SWS in September that showed 54 percent of Filipinos believe that most of those slain during anti-drug crackdowns did not fight back as claimed by the police.

Common answer from police

Fight back, which translates into Tagalog as nanlaban, has been a common answer by police to explain deaths that occur in its anti-drugs operation.

Dutertes anti-drugs war has been condemned by human rights advocates, the United Nations and the European Union.

In anti-drug raids last week, 10 people were killed and more than 140 were arrested, including a mayor in the south. In August, almost 100 people were killed in the drugs war as Duterte praised the police, saying the countrys narcotics problem would be solved if officers continued to kill addicts and pushers.

But he had recently tempered his public comments, after it emerged that three teenagers who were randomly picked up by police were among those killed.

One of them was shown in a surveillance television camera being dragged away by police shortly before he was killed, contrary to police claims that the arresting officers shot him dead after he fired at them. None of those officers were injured.

Church leads protests

The politically influential Catholic Church, which counts more than 80 percent of the countrys 103 million people as members, led protests calling for an end to the killings. It also vowed to protect police who have come forward and testified to church officials that some of those slain in the drug war were summarily killed.

On Monday, the independent Commission on Human Rights said it shared the sentiments held by many Filipinos and it hit out at the national police for saying that there were zero extrajudicial killings, or EJKs, since Duterte took power.

The commission noted that EJK encompasses any killing by government forces, as well as killings by any other groups or individuals which the government fails to investigate, prosecute and punish when it is in a position to do so.

Thousands of deaths have been reported to be committed by both vigilantes and police personnel during the ongoing anti-illegal drug operations. The commission maintains that killing must never be an option to solve the drug problem in the country, said commission spokeswoman Jacqueline Ann de Guia.

Although there are high-profile personalities being caught and killed in the campaign, Filipinos in lower socio-economic classes tend to suffer more, and yet, no one has been held accountable for any of these killings, she said.

The polices common excuse of nanlaban does not justify the killings, de Guia said, adding that the latest survey accurately shows that impunity persists in our society.

Denying these allegations without observing due process of law would not yield substantial solution to the issue, but would just cultivate a culture of impunity within the ranks, she said.

Left-leaning human-rights group Karapatan (Rights) also scored what it called the mad scramble of Duterte aides to spread lies in international platforms on the non-existence of extrajudicial killings in the country.
Updated at9:34 a.m. ET on 2017-10-12

A Malaysian identified as Joraimee Awang Raimee was among fighters killed by government forces in recent battles to retake southern Marawi city from Filipino militants linked with Islamic State (IS), the Philippine military confirmed Monday.

Joraimee, 42, was among 15 militants who died in an airstrike during operations to recover a mosque that had been turned into an enemy stronghold, regional military commander Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez told reporters.

After DNA testing, Malaysia confirmed to us that Joraimee was dead. More than 50 foreign militants were in Mindanao before the siege started, Galvez said, adding that Joraimee belonged to a circle of leaders who planned the militant siege of the southern Philippine city in May.

Less than 10 foreign fighters are believed to be in the main battle area, providing back-up to local IS militants headed by Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who is also chief of the Philippine IS branch.

Hapilon and fellow militant leader Omarkhayam Maute are still alive, but the latter is believed to have been wounded in clashes that have lasted nearly five months and largely destroyed this once scenic lakeshore city.

Joraimee was the right-hand man of Mahmud Ahmad, a Malaysian national and former professor at University of Malaya, who is suspected of financing the siege of Marawi. Mahmud is believed to be alive.

Both Mahmud and Joraimee were key planners of the siege, which began on May 23, according to Galvez. They reportedly planned the attacks with Hapilon and the Maute brothers to transform Marawi into an IS wilayat (province) in Southeast Asia.

Galvez did not list the nationalities of the other foreigners, although the defense establishment earlier said the IS-linked fighters included militants from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere.

We have information that Omar, Dr. Mamud, and six to nine foreign terrorists are still alive. Thats why we are making it slow because its very critical considering they are dangerous, very aggressive and desperate, Galvez said.

Closing in

However, troops were closing in and primed to retake Marawi soon, he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte had said the city would be retaken by the end of September.

The timeline we gave to our chief of staff was Oct. 15. But we can achieve that (even) earlier, Duterte said, without divulging the source of his optimism.

To date, the number of enemy fighters killed has reached 774, while 158 government troops have died, Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla, a military spokesman in Manila, said Monday. Forty-seven civilians have been killed as well.

On Sunday, 69 buildings and structures were cleared of unexploded ordnance, Padilla said. But there remains still about more or less 200 buildings in about a five- to seven-hectare area where the firefight is continuing, he said.

The battle was centered in an area where militants are known to be hiding out in at least one mosque which, we believe, is likewise being used as a safe haven and as a storage area for arms, food, and whatever cache they have, he said.

Based on debriefings and statements from a group of recently freed hostages, Padilla said the government believes about 40 other hostages are being held by an enemy force that numbers 60 fighters.

So our operations will still continue in the same manner that they have been carried out ever since, because the objective of ground operations is not only to clear the area of armed elements, but also to rescue all these remaining hostages from the hands of these rebels, he said.

New details about doctor in custody

Padilla said the arrest of Filipino doctor Russel Salic, who was allegedly helping the Maute group, and his impending extradition to the United States proved that local militants were actively supporting foreign IS affiliates and terror groups.

Salic voluntarily surrendered to authorities in April, a month before the Marawi siege began, after learning of an arrest warrant against him for unrelated kidnapping charges.

But Salic may have been among those who frequented the mountainous hideout of the Maute group to treat several fighters wounded in fighting government troops even before the siege in Marawi broke out, Padilla said.

Apart from this, based on information that was also gathered from Interpol and other allied intelligence agencies, he apparently has connections to other groups around the world, including in the Middle East and the United States, Padilla said.

American authorities named Salic as among three individuals accused of plotting terror attacks in New York in 2016, and has allegedly contributed funds to carry out the attack.

This just goes to show that the government and all agencies of government are closely watching any potential sources of linkages with other terror organizations, Padilla said.

So it is not only the Philippines, but it is the alliance of nations that are interested to keep their nations safe from the clutches of terror that is involved here, he said.

An earlier version misspelled the name of suspected Malaysian militant Mahmud Ahmad.
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
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Comment on the independence conflict |

Von: By PAUL RONZHEIMER (currently in Barcelona)

The helicopter that is circling above the presidential palace is  allegedly  proof that one of the worlds most oppressed and persecuted politicians is sitting next to me.

Can you hear that? They follow us all day long, says Carles Puigdemont during our interview last week. They are filming everything, they are watching us. This is an authoritarian state that no longer represents democracy in Europe.

Lesen Sie auch

HE is the one who is being persecuted. Suppressed. He is the leader of a people that has to defend itself against the authoritarian state of Spain. In our conversation, Puigdemont almost compared himself to the great resistance fighters who brought down the tyrannies of the last century.

A megalomaniac. His supporters are naive enough to blindly follow him, however. Regardless of how many people demonstrated AGAINST the separation on Sunday, one thing is clear: hundreds of thousands unconditionally support Puigdemont.

He has perfected the role of the persecuted. Spains Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has done Puigdemont a service with his police operation following the referendum and his stoic attitude over the past few days. Hardly any other issue than the national polices use of violence has been discussed.

Auch interessant

What is being ignored here is that the Spanish court has deemed the referendum to be illegal; that merely 42% of voters have partaken in the referendum; and that nobody has a serious plan as to what an independent state of Catalonia could look like.

How has the Catalonian head of government managed to make so many people  including many young Catalans  follow him?

How is it possible that, in 2017, highly educated young people go on the streets to shout slogans such as: We have never been Spanish! Give us our country at last!

Over the past few days, I talked to many of them about their reasons for desperately wanting a state of their own.

Maria (34, manager) puts it like this: My grandfather experienced how, under Franco, nobody was allowed to give their children Catalonian names. This does not go away. And when Rajoy is acting like this and doesnt want to negotiate anything, these memories resurface.

BILD bei Protesten in Barcelona Darum sind Zehntausende gegen Unabhangigkeit! 02:12

That is one aspect  the patriotic aspect. Much more frequently, however, people mention purely egoistic economic reasons for a separation.

Like Oscar (23, student): We are a rich region and want to decide by ourselves what happens with our money. Or Emilia (21, student): Why should we continue to let Madrid steal from us?

The fact that the first banks are now withdrawing from Catalonia is  according to the students  merely propaganda, steered by Rajoy. And how is Catalonia supposed to persist if it is no longer an EU member after the separation?

Oskar says: We will apply and then become a member. The fact that Spain would have a veto right, just like every other EU member state, is too much practical politics for the streets of Barcelona.

Many people seem to be blinded, intoxicated by an ego-nationalism that  both on the left and the right  has reached a degree that should worry Europe.

Oscar and Emilia consider themselves to be pro-European and politically centre-left. Like thousands of others, they are not particularly concerned that the commitment to Europe and the separation do not fit together. For them, only this moment counts and the faith in a supposedly noble end; in the fight against an allegedly evil enemy.

If something is destroyed in the struggle, it is always the fault of others.

With the support of an ignorant Spanish Prime Minister, Puigdemont has managed to split society. He has managed to stage himself as a victim, even though no other country  except for Venezuela (a tyranny)  internationally supports him.

Regardless of whether there will be a declaration of independence on Tuesday or whether the theatre will continue this week  the mood is dangerously poisoned. Friends are arguing with each other, families are divided.

Where will this lead?

When even leading EU politicians are talking about a civil war scenario, all of us  not only Spain  must be concerned.
Susan Credle: Process - not the death of creative brilliance

The One Club Executive Creative Summit Berlin kicks off on Wednesday, 11 October at Soho House, Berlin. While it's a closed-door meeting, we checked in with a few of the creative creme de la creme speakers on what they're most looking forward to and plan on sharing - Susan Credle is first on the list.

Kevin Swanepoel. The Executive Creative Summit is in line with our new mission to support and celebrate the success of the global creative community. The One Club for Creativity is the only organisation of its kind to provide professional development and educational programming for people in the industry of all ages and levels. Our programmes target, among others, high school and college students who are just starting to think about their potential career paths for the first time and the mid-level multicultural professional looking for guidance on how to climb the agency ladder, all the way up to the founders and creative leaders challenged with how to successfully manage the business side of a creative agency during a time of rapid change. Its this upper rung of the creative ladder thats the focus at the Executive Creative Summit, with the small group of attendees having had to apply to attend, and all industry founders, CCOs or managing partners. Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club for Creativity, explains:Its this upper rung of the creative ladder thats the focus at the Executive Creative Summit, with the small group of attendees having had to apply to attend, and all industry founders, CCOs or managing partners. Thats understandable when you consider the discussion leader list alone: John Butler, CCO, Butler Shine Stern & Partners (BSSP)

Brian Collins, CCO and cofounder, Collins

Susan Credle, global CCO, FCB New York

Tove Langseth, CEO and partner, DDB Stockholm

Nick Law, vice chairman and global CCO, R/GA

Philippe Meunier, CCO and cofounder, Sid Lee

Chaka Sobhani, CCO, Leo Burnett London

Doerte Spengler-Ahrens, CCO, Jung von Matt/Elbe Hamburg

Iain Tait, ECD, Wieden+Kennedy London

Stephane Xiberras, president and CCO, BETC Paris Executive Creative Summit Berlin accepting applications to attend 8 Sep 2017 Theyll discuss issues beyond the scope of creativity that affect their businesses, in 30-minute idea-exchange sessions. Susan Credle, global CCO at FCB, is set to lead the discussion on how to implement a process to get to better work. Susan Credle Here, Credle lets us in on the importance of sharing and learning from peers across the globe, as well as what shes personally looking to get out of the Summit. Why is it important to attend this type of international creative summit where you can share and learn from peers across the globe? Why is it important to attend this type of international creative summit where you can share and learn from peers across the globe?

Its important for people in the business of advertising to support each other. There is so much noise out there: White papers. Panels. Key notes. All claiming to know the future of advertising and many of them declare the future is death. Just last week, I read that perhaps advertising agencies should no longer be called advertising agencies.

Were caught between semantics and diverse companies desperately trying to differentiate what they do. Often, these new specialists justify existence not by saying what they can do, but by declaring what traditional agencies cant do. Yes, more classic agencies need to always evolve. But we also need to recognise, celebrate and believe in what we provide to businesses, products and services. This smaller forum focused on learning and sharing creates richer and more earnest conversation.

Elaborate on the confidential/closed-door aspect of the summit and how this frees up the conversation. Elaborate on the confidential/closed-door aspect of the summit and how this frees up the conversation.

The confidential/closed-door aspect of the summit is interesting. With mobile devices put away, its more intense because people are more focused. When you promise confidentiality to your peers, you create an environment of trust. In a trusted space, people become more generous, more vulnerable and more honest. Instead of a person declaring a truth, each person is opening up and starting a conversation. The summit isnt about speeches; its about speaking with each other. Sometimes, knowing that your peers have questions (many of which you are harbouring, too) is empowering.

Share a brief snapshot of what you'll be discussing in your summit session. Share a brief snapshot of what you'll be discussing in your summit session.

I will be discussing whether putting process into the creative journey can help people be even better. If you embrace that process, do you sacrifice the chaos, the messiness that often leads to creative brilliance? Can a process or a unifying language help young people in our business learn how to develop a better gut for recognising great work? In global networks, can a creative process help answer the recurring question  what makes you global besides the name on the door?

Intriguing, would love to be a fly on the wall for that! What are you personally looking to get out of the Executive Creative Summit Berlin?

Im looking forward to taking back a few fresh ways of looking at challenges in our business. At the last summit, I brought back a new way of thinking about new business pitches that actually makes pitching inspiring for the agency versus draining. I also was buoyed by a conversation about having the confidence to do what is right for the agency versus desperately trying to hang on to or pitch businesses that ultimately might not be a good investment. Having been a part of this business for almost three decades, if I come home with two or three intriguing ideas, the trip was worth it.

Click here for more from Credle, here for more from the One Club, and visit their Twitter feed for the latest updates.
Business of Design speaker Q&A: Hannerie Visser

Business of Design (BoD) is back with a speaker lineup of note. The two-day seminar is held annually in Cape Town and Johannesburg during October and doesn't just focus on design in itself but has a much broader vision for the field in all areas of business. Delegates include everyone from business owners and creative entrepreneurs to retailers, marketing and brand executives, trend analysts, design students and other employees from various industries.

Tracy Lynn Chemaly on Business of Design and other things By Jessica Tennant 18 Jul 2016 New to the conference is 'Open Sessions', a platform for delegates to ask the BoD founders (Trevyn and Julian McGowan of The Guild Group, and Laurence Brick and Cathy OClery of 100% Design South Africa and Platform Creative Agency) as well as fellow delegates any questions they may have, and together overcome any barriers to growth and challenge new ways of doing business. Hannerie Visser I asked Hannerie Visser, co-founder of Studio H, what she loves most about being in the business of design and to let us in on what shell be sharing during her Cape Town session. Why are you excited for Business of Design this year? Why are you excited for Business of Design this year?

Its my first year attending and I am so excited as Ive only ever heard great things about BoD. I really look forward to Brian and Lufefe's talks. I am a big fan of both of them!

Comment on the importance of events such as this that recognise the role design plays in (and the impact it can have on) various industries? Comment on the importance of events such as this that recognise the role design plays in (and the impact it can have on) various industries?

Its so important to take the time to stop and restock our creative resources. Collaboration starts when you create platforms like BoD.

Comment on the current state of design in South Africa (and internationally). Comment on the current state of design in South Africa (and internationally).

The future is all about collaboration and knowledge sharing, working together to design a better future. Thats why it's so important to create platforms where we have all these design minds in one room.

What is your/your companys involvement in/contribution to the local design scene? What is your/your companys involvement in/contribution to the local design scene?

To me its important that everything we do has meaning or purpose on some level. Whether it is to create and facilitate platforms where people can share and learn, or whether its starting important conversations or simply to have fun.That's why I'm so passionate and excited about one of our current projects, S/Zout, that imagines a world where the only available water is sea water, and looking into what this might mean for our food system. We will exhibit S/Zout at Dutch Design Week on 21-29 October.

What is the title/subject of your talk and/or what are you going to be sharing? What is the title/subject of your talk and/or what are you going to be sharing?

Ill be talking about the key considerations for Studio H when it comes to designing experiences, and Marc [co-founder Marc Nicolson] will share their approach to incorporating tech in experience design.

Whats the key takeout?



That its important to consider the outcome of what you do. What do you want to change, affect or achieve?

The Cape Town version takes place 11-12 October, followed by Johannesburg on 18-19 October, and our readers qualify for a R450 discount. To take up this offer, email az.oc.ngisedfossenisub@ycart with Bizcommunity as the subject. In the meantime, follow #BODCT and/or #BODJHB for more pre-event speaker interviews over the next couple of weeks to get your creative juices flowing.
On 20 September 2017, On the Dot arranged a township tour for its clients in Vosloorus township. The main reason for the tour was to give advertisers an opportunity to visit the homes of their main market and ask them questions.

Invited guests arrived at the Media24 premises in Auckland Park, where they were welcomed by key account managers, sales support and special projects staff. After the delegates had muffins and coffee, everyone embarked on the tour bus to the desired destination.

The residents in Vosloorus township live in different living standard measure homes. On the Dot teams chose to visit six houses on that day, two from lower LSM, another two from middle LSM and the last two houses from high LSM. Home owners were very welcoming and clients had an opportunity to engage with them.

After visiting all of those homes, On the Dots guests experienced a traditional lunch, served at ANKAs kitchen in Spruitview, where they had a variety of meats that are popular in South African townships. As always, all delegates agreed that this was a unique experience, and definitely worth repeating!

On the Dot Pamphlet distribution provides access to demographically targeted consumer markets offering a reliable, accurate, efficient and cost-effective direct marketing communication platform. Our national infrastructure distributes to 15.3 million homes in South Africa as well as over-border.

Visit our website www.onthedot.co.za or contact our call centre - Tel: +27 87 741 3137.

Gauteng:

Media Park, 69 Kingsway Avenue

Auckland Park, 2092, Johannesburg

Tel: +27 11 713 9936

Cape Town:

2 Nereida Street,

Paarden Eiland, Cape Town

Tel: +27 21 503 7125 / +27 21 503 7000

Durban:

Riverside Business Park, 74 Prince Umhlangane Road

Avoca/KwaMashu, Durban

+27 31 512 2100




Photo: PRI/Stephane de Sakutin

The number of people living with HIV who develop chronic conditions like cardiovascular and respiratory disease, cancer or diabetes is increasing.

High risk

People living with HIV are at higher risk of developing common cancers, TB and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This is due to the HIV infection itself and antiretroviral therapy (ART) side-effects as well as lifestyle factors. Unaids reports that a third of the people screened at HIV testing sites are obese and have hypertension. Despite the clear links between HIV and chronic diseases or NCDs, the healthcare systems prevention and treatment response remains fragmented. An integrated response that deals with overlapping problems and common risks has become a healthcare priority as ART is enabling people to live long enough to develop other diseases, says Sibongile Ramotshela, cervical cancer coordinator at Right to Care).

The integrated chronic care initiative in UThukela is being funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation that has commited just over R15m for two-and-a-half years. Right to Care is the prime recipient, responsible for project management, training doctors and nurses and procuring equipment. Together with its partners, the Bhekhuzulu Self-Sustaining Project and the Mpilonhle Sanctuary Organization, Right to Care is working with the regional and district Departments of Health to scale up awareness, screening and treatment services. Communities, womens groups and faith-based organisations are also being mobilised to help raise awareness.

We aim to optimise the use of available resources and integrate screening and prevention. Ultimately, we are aiming for a single visit approach which allows patients to have all their chronic conditions reviewed at one appointment, says Ramotshela.

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer was once again highlighted as a preventable but highly prevalent cancer at the first milestone of the initiative, the cancer screening drive.

Ramotshela says, The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and the most common cause of 70% of cervical cancers. The HPV vaccination of young girls is not well implemented in school health programmes in this area despite it being a primary prevention strategy for cervical and other HPV-related cancers. Furthermore, pap smear screening in this district are well below the levels required to effectively prevent these cancers.

HIV-positive women are three to five times more likely to develop cervical cancer and its progression is far more rapid in HIV positive patients. The new integrated chronic care initiative aims to tackle this cancer as well, which affects young women the most, says Ramotshela.

Treated HIV/Aids has become a chronic disease, and the healthcare needs of people on antiretroviral treatment resemble those of people with NCDs. There are also links between HIV and NCDs in terms of chronicity, risk of development and severity of progression of disease.

The UThukela programme is being implemented together with the Department of Health as healthcare workers are required to take a far more coordinated approach. Furthermore, we are hoping to create more youth-friendly health services which have been identified as a vital element of prevention strategies.

Roll out

The programme is being rolled out in three sub-districts of the UThukela district, the Alfred Duma local municipality, the UKhahlamba municipality and the iNkosilanga Libalele municipality. Implementation is taking place at 16 facilities  nine fixed clinics and seven mobile clinics.

The national HIV prevalence in SA is 29.7% and the highest HIV prevalence is in KZN, having reached 40.1%. HIV and other communicable and NCDs are on the increase in this province, exacerbated by poverty - more than a third of KZN's population live below the poverty line and 40% of the population is unemployed.
Energetics SA, the renewable energy arm of CHS Eco Technologies, recently launched Cups for Life, a not-for profit empowerment programme that aims to identify, train and empower potential entrepreneurs who can't find work or struggle to get into the job market.

How it works: Within a year, if they successfully complete the training, a trailer will become theirs. It will operate on a full franchise principle whereby the owners will work for themselves. Each franchisee will appoint at least two assistants, who will be paid from the earnings of the franchise. The franchisee will also pay 10% of the earnings into the programme and must be willing to pass the training they have received on to new candidates, thus 'paying it forward'.

The programme will also assist in additional job creation as it requires about 10 workers to create a trailer from start to finish.

Cups for Life will approach companies to advertise their businesses on these trailers, and, in so doing, create a snowball effect by helping to build the next batch of trailers.

Marlene Robson, CEO of Energetics SA, says, Cups for Life calls on South Africans to support this worthy cause. Wherever you spot this bright yellow trailer, buy a cup of superior quality coffee and know that you're supporting someone who is taking responsibility for his or her future and is willing to work hard for it."

Statistics South Africa has released figures that paint a bleak picture for young South Africans, she adds. Its 'Quarterly Labour Force Survey Q2: 2017' reveals the following:

Young people aged 15-24 remain vulnerable in the labour market with an unemployment rate of almost 56% and absorption rate of 12%. Among those in this age group, 32,2% are not in employment, education or training. This is approximately 3,3 million young people aged 15-24 who are idle.

Moreover, according to Statistics SAs second quarter unemployment numbers, the country has shed 113,000 jobs over that period.

Marlene Robson and Bruce Anderson

How it started: In May 2017, Energetics was approached by Bruce Anderson to fit a generator into his coffee trailer. Anderson was involved in a motorcycle accident in 1982, which left him with the use of only one arm and he needed a solution to this problem.

True to form, having successfully developed and designed turnkey solutions to renewable energy challenges as a team, Josias Kearney, one of the Energetics engineers suggested a renewable energy system which rendered a generator redundant. Renewable energy is noise free and is able to provide electricity to Andersons trailer without the need for any additional power sources.

After successfully assisting Anderson, Robson came up with the idea to help other South Africans in a similar way, and in August 2017 Cups for Life was established.

For more info, call Marlene Robson on 072 6275 233 or email her at az.oc.asscitegrene@enelram.
The Chamber of Mines has taken a stance against corruption and bad government in its decision on how to deal with Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, but realises it needs to "eyeball and wrestle" all stakeholders around a table to thrash out good mining policies and regulations.

Mxolisi Mgojo, chairman of the Chamber of Mines. Photo: MiningMx

Speaking at the Jo'burg Indaba mining conference, chamber president Mxolisi Mgojo said the chamber was not waiting for the outcome of the two court challenges it had mounted against Zwane and his department around the Mining Charter, and was seriously working on what a good charter would look like.

The enormously damaging changes to the Mining Charter that Zwane introduced in June, along with pending amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, which have been a work in progress for five years, coupled with rampant corruption in the government, political uncertainty, and the difficulty of doing business in SA, have made the country a no-go zone for some investors.

Confirming anecdotal stories from executives travelling abroad to raise funds, Jamie Horvat, the manager of M&G Global Basics Fund in London, was blunt when asked during a panel discussion about where SA fitted into the fund's investment focus.

"Unfortunately SA is pretty much a no-go zone for us," Horvat said, pointing out equity was the highest risk capital an investor could put into a company.

"When we see governments that don't have long-term sound economic plans, a fair and just regulatory environment, with protection of property rights, it's a big concern for us," Norvat said.

The chamber, whose members account for 90% of SA's annual mineral output, has defended its boycott of the conference gala dinner where Zwane spoke, with CE Roger Baxter saying the chamber's members had lost all confidence in Zwane, who had unresolved corruption allegations hanging over him and dubious dealings linked to the controversial Gupta family, who have used their connections to President Jacob Zuma to extract enormous financial benefit from state-owned enterprises under dubious circumstances.

Mgojo said the chamber was involved in wide-ranging talks with a variety of parties despite the court process to seek a declaratory order about the continuing benefits from empowerment transactions and for a judicial review of the third iteration of the Mining Charter, which Zwane has suspended since gazetting it in mid-June.

If the judicial review in mid-December is decided in the chamber's favour, and the third charter is set aside, then the department and the chamber are likely to be forced to revisit the drafting of the charter, with the chamber pushing for more intensive negotiations around the document, unlike in the run-up to the release of the prevailing version.

To prepare for that prospect, the chamber was aggressively working on an alternative version, drawing on former chamber leadership involved in the drafting of the first two charters. It was also speaking to the ANC, unions, civil society groups and big government-owned financial institutions to come up with a version that would be broadly acceptable, Mgojo said.

"We have a court process going on, but at the end of the day there is no way we can come up with a solution for this country in the mining sector where we do not sit around a table, and face each other, eyeball each other, wrestle with each other, until we find a solution," he said.

"While those issues are taking place in court we have to find one another and start a conversation. We are doing exactly that," he said. "Real consultation and partnerships are the key to a sensible transformation journey and outcomes."

Jim Rutherford, a nonexecutive director at Anglo American, said the empowerment debate in SA had been distorted into ownership and control of the mining sector, and the government was clearly misunderstanding how modern capital markets worked.

He warned that governments interfered with the mining sector with "misguided mining policies" and reduced companies' profitability, directly affecting pension funds of the general populace.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said on Wednesday the department's changes to regulations and policies were aimed at changing control of the mining sector from a white elite to a black elite, without any benefit for broader society.

The point of speaking to mining veterans like Bobby Godsell, Sipho Nkosi, Barry Davison and Con Fauconnier was to find out how the first charter was negotiated in 2002 and the second version in 2010, and to discover what was left unresolved that had evolved into problems the industry was now grappling with and why the department changed the charter the way it had, leading to the deeply damaging impasse between the two sides.
South Africa and Chad on Sunday, 8 October, signed an agreement that will see the re-introduction next year of critically endangered black rhino to the central African country, decades after it was last seen there.

Environment ministers from the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding "which will allow for the translocation of six black rhino from South Africa to Chad", said a government statement.

The last time a rhino was spotted in Chad was in 1972, according to official documents Chad submitted to South Africa.

The animals should be airlifted to Chad's Zakouma National Park "sometime next year. We are looking at around March, April or May", environmental affairs ministry spokesman Albi Modise told AFP.

Black rhino are officially listed as critically endangered but are still native to the mainly eastern and southern African countries of Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. They have been re-introduced to several other southern African countries.

There are around 5,000 black rhino left in Africa with South Africa's population sitting at 1,893, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. South Africa is also home to around 20,000 white rhinos, about 80% of the worldwide population, but the country has suffered record poaching in recent years.

Poachers have killed more than 7,100 rhinos in Africa over the past decade for their horns. The horn is highly prized in China and Vietnam where it is coveted as a traditional medicine and aphrodisiac.

Source: AFP
Today, dry areas represent more than 41% of land on the globe and they are home to more than two billion people.

They are the stage for the ongoing process of land degradation that is aggravated by climate fluctuations  particularly drought  and pressure exerted by human activities (including demographic growth and inappropriate management of natural resources). All of these factors strongly undermine the capacity of populations to adapt to an increasingly difficult environment.

In Africa in the 1970s, droughts had terrifying consequences in an already fragile context. The images of their effects still mark collective memory today. They were a determining factor in the holding of the United Nations Conference on Desertification in Nairobi in 1977.

Beyond recognition by the international community (since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, with the adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), we also face the question of our understanding and evaluation of the desertification process, and of sustainable solutions to fight it. The recent inclusion of the concept of neutrality in terms of land degradation in the United NationsSustainable Development Goals makes the battle against desertification a major issue for development, (re)connecting societies and environments, and human well-being.

Millions of hectares are disappearing

The situation is particularly sensitive in sub-Saharan countries, where over 80% of the economy is based on subsistence farming. According to Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary, emphasised that almost 12 million hectares of arable land are being lost each year globally, to desertification and drought, when 20 million tonnes of cereals could have been cultivated in this area.

Despite the diversity and intensity of efforts to combat desertification, the challenge of land degradation in a time of climate change in Africas arid areas remains unresolved. The environmental and societal stakes are massive, including food security, climate change, health, law and social equity.

However, the progressive growth of knowledge about the causes, mechanisms and consequences of desertification now allows us to devise new solutions, particularly when it comes to combating land and soil degradation.

Good practices to adopt

The success of such projects and programmes combating land and soil degradation depends on an understanding and evaluation of the situation in the territory concerned. This assessment prior to action should allow us to determine the type of degradation anywhere, its severity, its temporal dynamics, its spatial distribution according to the degradation factors, and the types and intensity of consequences both locally and at regional and international levels. This approach is indispensable for effective action.

Sustainable land and water management practices over recent decades have improved our ability to combat desertification and preserving natural resources. However, efforts still need to be made, particularly to create a favourable socio-economic environment to support, promote and deploy such practices over larger regions.

To assess the state of knowledge on these issues, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) recently produced a report, Desertification and Earth System: From Knowledge into Action, that offers an unprecedented situational analysis. It can be consulted online or downloaded free of charge.

Achieving neutrality

The fight against desertification and land degradation requires the consideration of several temporal and spatial scales (from the agricultural plot and the basin, to farming, to village, communal, local, national or regional land), and levels of decision-making (from the family unit and local or regional government, to the State and international convention). It also must take into account various levels of action and management, whether it be in understanding the mechanisms of land degradation, in the action itself or in its scientific, technical, administrative or political management.

Given recent technological innovations and human ingenuity, desertification is not an inevitability. However, nothing significant will happen if scientific, political and citizen mobilisation is not sustainably coordinated.

By starting work today on sustainably managing land and restoring degraded land, it is nevertheless possible to reach land-degradation neutrality by 2030. On this subject, it is worth consulting the report presented on 14 September during the UNCCD Conference of Parties in Ordos (China), devoted to sustainable land management for humans and the climate.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Hot on the heels of the release of the first genomic breeding values for beef cattle, namely the Bonsmara breed, the first Bonsmara herd has now obtained genomic profiles for all animals in the herd. Boeram Venter, owner of the Disco Bonsmara stud near Kirkwood, decided to reap the benefits of genomics for breeding beef cattle.

According to Japie van der Westhuizen, general manager at the SA Stud Book and Animal Improvement Association, the inclusion of genomic profiles in the prediction of genetic merit of selection candidates, even at a very young age, reduces the risk of best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) breeding value predictions changing radically, as more information becomes available.

When genomic information is included, the accuracies of BLUP breeding values are increased. Genomic selection benefits, especially those traits that cannot be measured or recorded on the animal itself, such as milk (maternal), cow mature weight, and heifer and cow fertility for bull calves. Traits that will also benefit include eye muscle area, marbling and feed efficiency, usually only measured on bull calves.

To measure is to know

The Disco Bonsmara stud now also boasts their own testing facility where the growth rate and feed intake of young bull calves will be measured and recorded. The combination of feed efficiency and real-time ultrasound scanning of young bulls, their genomic information and those of the rest of the calf crop, means that these bulls genomic relationship with their half-sib sisters will increase selection certainty even more when selecting for these traits.

According to Venter, the recently completed Phase C-centre is now fully operational. Our Bonsmara stud is the first in the country to undergo genomic testing. Venter strives towards selling bulls with an outstanding feed conversation ratio (FCR), thus assuring producers of financial benefits. Our motto is to measure is to know, and we make decisions based on numbers. Anyone who is interested can visit our website on Venter Boerdery for more information.

Confirming parenthood with precision

Van der Westhuizen elaborates: The second major advantage of knowing the genomic information of parents and their progeny, is the precision of confirming and even determining true parentage. SA Stud Books genomic service uses more than 35,000 base pairs on the chromosomes of each animal to establish the true relationships between animals. The major difference regarding current parentage conformation, based on an exclusion principle (which means the impossibility of a possible parent), is that genomic parentage determination is an inclusion principle, thus the confirmation of a specific parent.

SA Stud Book has also adapted genetic and other reports to clearly indicate that genomic profiles were used in the BLUP breeding value predictions and that parentages were confirmed using the information. The genomic BLUP breeding values and other advantages that genomics offer stud breeders and buyers of breeding stock, have taken the world by storm. South Africa is now able to share in these advantages.

The above is an example of two animals in Disco Bonsmaras genetic report. Both parents could be verified for the first animal. Only one animal could be verified for the second animal, but the sire of the second animal was not genomically tested, hence verification wasnt possible.

Animals with known genomic profiles used in the genetic merit predictions are indicated by the GenoTyped logo in all the Logix reports.  Carin Venter, Veeplaas
Ebenezer Asante has been appointed as vice president (VP) of MTN Group's expanded Southern and East Africa and Ghana (SEAGHA) Region, effective 1 October 2017.

Ebenezer Asante

The new SEAGHA Region will comprise the mobile operations in Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan, Botswana, and Swaziland as well as the MTN ISPs in Kenya, Namibia, and Botswana.

The inclusion of Ghana within SEA re-balances the workload across MTN Groups regional structures, further optimising the oversight responsibilities of the Regional VPs.

Asante is currently the CEO of MTN Ghana, a position he has held since July 2015. In his new role, he will report directly to the group president and CEO and joins the group executive committee.

He began his journey with MTN in 2008, as Sales and Distribution Executive at MTN Ghana. He later moved to Rwanda as CEO. After two years in Rwanda, he returned to Ghana in 2015. Before joining MTN, he spent 13 years with Unilever, where he held various positions, including managing director for Zambia and customer development director. He holds a BA (Hons) Economics and Statistics degree from the University of Ghana, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Henley Management College. He was also part of MTNs Global Advancement Programme (GAP) in 2010.
The world's first Halal Gourmet Dining for Chefs Accreditation, organised by Singapore-based CrescentRating in collaboration with Cape Town Tourism, took place from 4-6 October 2017.

Photo: Terry Levin

Attended by chefs from from Cape Towns top hospitality, hotel and catering service providers such as Tsogo Sun, The Cape Sun, Raddison Hotels, Boschendal, The South African Chefs Association and others, the accreditation intends to enable participants to cater confidently to the rapidly increasing number of Halal and Muslim travellers and guests to South Africa and globally.

With the typical Asian finesse and reverence to fresh ingredients and cooking techniques, Singapore Chefs Muhammad Kamal Bin Khamis and Chef Javed Ahamed imparted the demonstration brief for the cook-off competition held at Giggling Gourmet Cooks Playground in Cape Towns trendy De Waterkant precinct.

Judges Kamal and Javed, together with local chef and media personality Jenny Morris, Tsogo Suns Executive Chef Lindsay Venner, and food editor and author Hope Malau were tasked with the tasting and judging of the dishes produced by participants.

Photo: Terry Levin Photo: Terry Levin Photo: Terry Levin Photo: Terry Levin

Catering to new market opportunities

Rauda Zaini, in charge of marketing for both organisers CrescentRating and sister site HalalTrip, explained the need for the activation to create greater awareness and services to educate and cater to new market opportunities.

A great example of a local brand doing this is Zari Sparkling Grape juice, produced in Western Cape from 100% Cape Seedless Muscat grape cultivars to cater to local and international guests to our shores who do not partake of alcohol.

Photo: Terry Levin

With its vine-clad packaging and foil and cork closure, the proudly local brand, which promises a premium alcohol-free experience on a par with the finest South African charmantes, was the natural choice of beverage for tasting and toasting the end of two days slaving over hot (Halal) stoves, the new friends made and new badges earned.
SAN FRANCISCO, US: Google last week unveiled new versions of its Pixel smartphone, the highlight of a refreshed line aimed at weaving artificial intelligence deeper into modern lives.

Google software and artificial intelligence were common threads in the gamut of new devices it unveiled to step up its challenge on the hardware front to rivals such as Apple and Amazon

The new Pixel 2 and larger Pixel 2 XL are the first Google-made phones to be released since the California tech giant announced the acquisition of key segments of Taiwan-based electronics group HTC.

The upgraded smartphones will be available for order as of Wednesday in six countries starting at $649 for five-inch display Pixel 2, and $849 for the six-inch Pixel 2 XL.

The new aluminium-body smartphones along with Google's upgraded connected speakers and new laptop computer all aim to infuse artificial intelligence to make the devices more user-friendly, built around the Google Assistant - the rival to Amazon's Alexa, Microsoft's Cortana and others.

Google vice president Rick Osterloh said Google's new devices "are simple to use and they anticipate your needs."

Osterloh told the product launch event in San Francisco: "You interact with your devices naturally with your voice or by touching them."

Google, by bringing in a team of engineers from HTC, aims to emulate the success of Apple iPhones by controlling the hardware as well as the software used in the premium-priced handsets.

The revamped camera in the smartphone retains a single lens but seeks to improve images via "computational photography," an artificial intelligence tool that can enhance pictures.

Analyst Ian Fogg of IHS Markit said in a tweet that the new smartphone "adds incremental improvements on the great v1" while noting that "Google's challenge is to solve production limits which hurt the original."

Fogg said the use of computation to improve images with a single lens "is technically impressive."

Google announced a slimmed down version of its connected speaker called Google Home Mini starting at $49 in the United States, stepping up its challenge to market leader Amazon.

The new Google Home Mini is available for pre-order in the seven countries where the device is offered and will go on sale in stores October 19, the company said.

The new speaker, which responds to voice commands using artificial intelligence, is less than half the price of Google's first generation speaker and makes this "more accessible to more people," said Google hardware designer Isabelle Olsson.

A premium version of the speaker - a $399 Google Home Max unveiled Wednesday - offers more power and audio quality for music aficionados.

The new Google Clips camera - one of the surprises of the event - "looks for smiles (and) moments, because the software is in the camera," said Google product manager Juston Payne.

"It's like having my own photographer shooting and choosing my best moments for me," Payne said of the $249 device.

Another surprise from the event was the wireless Pixel Buds, which can deliver audio from a smartphone and also include the Google Assistant and real-time translation.

A demonstration at the event included a two-way conversation with one person speaking English and the other Swedish.

"The camera and the earbuds were really held up as examples of what the company can do by leveraging the Google Assistant," said Ross Rubin of Reticle Research.

A new Pixelbook laptop was touted as a "high performance" computer powered by its Chrome operating system and designed as a rival to Microsoft's Surface and Apple's iPad Pro.

With a 12.3-inch display, the device is a convertible PC that can be used as a tablet and is sold starting at $999 for US customers.

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said the new devices showcase the tech giant's artificial intelligence.

"We've been working hard continuing our shift from a mobile-first to an AI-first world," he said.

"We are working on software and hardware together because that is the best way to drive computing forward."

The launch comes in the wake of Apple's announcement of a new line of iPhones, and Amazon's upgrades to its Echo speakers powered by its Alexa digital assistant

"It is a portfolio designed to take Google into more parts of your life, particularly in your home," Reticle Research analyst Ross Rubin said of the array of devices the internet giant unveiled on Wednesday.

"Amazon is focusing on a range of price points and designs; Google is focusing on a range of experiences."

Source: AFP
NEW YORK, US: Much as automakers are hitting the accelerator on electric cars, an aerospace venture backed by Boeing said Thursday it will introduce a hybrid electric plane for delivery in 2022.

Zunum Aero, a Seattle startup that counts both Boeing and air carrier JetBlue as investors, released details about an aircraft that could carry 12 passengers up to 700 miles.

The plane aims to address a gap in regional travel of up to 1,000 miles, a segment for which there are few options, high costs and "door-to-door travel times haven't improved in decades," Zunum Aero said in a news release.

The technology could let planes skip big regional airports such as Washington and Boston and instead travel from Beverly, Massachusetts to College Park, Maryland at a lower fare.

"We believe that the regional transportation industry is ripe for disruption and we're excited to support Zunum and its efforts to help introduce a new era of aviation," said Bonny Simi, president of JetBlue Technology Ventures.

Maximum cruise speed on the vehicle will be 340 miles per hour and it will emit 80 percent fewer emissions and noise, the company said.

The company expects to begin test flights in 2019. Zunum Aero has hired technologists who have worked on leading-edge vehicles for Boeing and Rolls-Royce

Source: AFP
22 On Sloane, the continent's largest startup campus set to open in Joburg.

Empowering an entrepreneurial spirit is undeniably a key driver to contribute towards job creation and to help secure Africas economic future. 22 On Sloane is the ideal all-in-one space for entrepreneurs, startups and inventors to initiate, create and innovate.

Situated in Bryanston, the heart of Johannesburg, the campus offers keen startup minds a 360 degree turnkey solution to scale - from the initial concept all the way to sustainable commercialisation.

No entrepreneurial stone is left unturned at 22 On Sloane. It boasts a global and diverse team of experienced entrepreneurs, mentors, scientists, managers, CEOs and funders all under one roof to nurture and support those enrolled at the campus on every step of their journey. This includes product development, services, business models, funding opportunities and access to markets, as well as exploring and identifying new industries and opportunities in Africa.

Spanning some 10,000 square metres, campus facilities are state-of-the-art with over 500 work stations, three technology labs, boardrooms, think tanks, gym, shower rooms, lounges and an innovative atrium, which is the heart of the campus and perfect for peer-to-peer networking and event hosting.

The campus is the first for the Global Entrepreneurship Network and is endorsed and supported by many of the continents prominent public and private entrepreneurial motivators. Jonathan Ortmans, President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, concludes that GEN is focused on bringing best-in-class programmes, communities and support from its network operating in 170 nations to Africas next generation of entrepreneurs. We could not be more proud that 22 On Sloane - the first physical space in the world carrying the GEN brand - is opening in Johannesburg and we stand alongside our African friends and partners in making it possible for anyone, anywhere to start and scale their business.

Applications for residence at the 22 On Sloane campus open on 9 October and close on 9 November 2017. To register visit www.22onsloane.co




In the world of the technological revolution that is not restricted by many physical hurdles, the introduction of new technology invokes dramatic changes that can be brought about relatively quickly, as a result technological trends are taking up faster than before. Retailers now continuously adopt the technological component as they seek to erase the line between digital and bricks and mortar to have a more seamless shopping experience.

In the world of the technological revolution that is not restricted by many physical hurdles, the introduction of new technology invokes dramatic changes that can be brought about relatively quickly, as a result technological trends are taking up faster than before. Retailers now continuously adopt the technological component as they seek to erase the line between digital and bricks and mortar to have a more seamless shopping experience.

As retailers expand into the omni-channel approach of business they introduce more effortless ways of shopping in every aspect where the customer interacts with their brand, from online to the second they walk into their stores. The reduction of friction in transactions may appear to be adding value, but could it be taking away from the shopping experience? A question lodged by Trevor Hardy, CEO of The Future Laboratory, who's seeing a move towards the reduction of human interaction, from self-service to refrigerators that buy your groceries for you. Frictionless commerce, now the new buzzword amongst retailers, is driven by new technology, innovation, digital devices and apps which have made the shopping experience easier, faster and more convenient, says Hardy.

Trevor Hardy

He predicts that this may reach a tipping point where retailers may need to reintroduce friction in a way of giving the customers something unexpected, something of interest and surprise, something more human. By taking away the negative friction, retailers have the opportunity of introducing positive and interesting levels of complexity to the shopper experience. The most forward-looking businesses are ones that are using tech, not to help them become more tech-driven, but those that use tech to help retail become more human. "What I am saying is, how can technology make service a thing that differentiates shopping again and the retail experience; how can it be emotional rather than efficient, unexpected serendipities rather than an easy journey to just get you to buy something, adds Hardy.

Hardy highlighted key learnings on new ways to define the consumer but not confining them to these consumer tribes. Generation Z, born between the years 2000-2010 in the tech revolution, have tremendous pester power, Generation D, born in the years 1990-2000, have a huge focus on social media, Millennials, born between 1980-1990, want retailers to show their ethics, focused on the experience rather than the product. Generation X, born between 1965-1980, retailers have to rethink how they approach this consumer and forget about the traditional notion of families. Generation Jones, born between 1954 and 1965, and the Flat Agers, born between 1946 and 1954, remind us to cater for the older demographic as they feel forgotten in spite of their abilities, willingness and large disposable income. Hardy advises that retailers should design for all considering all demographics, emotions, attitudes or psychographics which will help retailers design products with intergenerational appeal.

Hardy says the future of customer service should have retailers be more in touch with what is happening with people; more in touch with cultural zeitgeist, for example, Siri, Cortana and Mark Zuckerburg's Jarvis, digital assistants that will evolve considerably in the near future. The success of these products is through the better understanding of the consumer to help elevate the customer experience.

Hardy recently spoke as one of the international speakers at the South African Council of Shopping Centres' 21st Annual Congress in Cape Town. He covered the topic of the 'New Retail Consumer', unpacked the process and the results of examining the attitudes and preferences of a new kind of consumer, and took a cross-sector look at what this will mean for retail in the coming years, with a fresh take on consumption and ownership, digital native, experience-hungry teenagers and the demands and desires of older demographics.
On Friday, Business Day won an appeal against a ruling by the Press Council for a story published on April 26 about financial advisory firm Trillian.

The Press Ombud had previously dismissed all of Trillian's complaints except one, namely that Business Day had not adequately reflected Trillian's denials to allegations made in a Mail & Guardian article that was referred to in the Business Day story.

Business Day won its appeal against this ruling, which was set aside on Friday by the Press Council Appeals Panel chaired by Judge Bernard Ngoepe. Trillian lodged a cross-appeal, which was dismissed.

The story published in Business Day related how state-owned Chinese firm Dongfang Electric won a R4bn tender to replace a boiler at Eskom's Duvha power station, even though its quote was R1bn more expensive than rival bidders.

The story said the tender had been awarded to Dongfang after being given "the thumbs-up" by politically connected Trillian in a last-minute review of the bids.

Trillian's review said Dongfang's bid, although more expensive, was less risky because its costs were fixed, whereas the losing bidders quoted a price with variable costs, subject to escalation.

The piece also reported that losing bidders General Electric (GE) and Murray & Roberts (M&R) had accused Eskom in court proceedings of rigging the tender in favour of Dongfang. GE and M&R subsequently succeeded in interdicting the tender pending the outcome of a court review.

The Appeals Panel found that in its reporting Business Day had not breached the Press Code in any way.
PC member Aung Soe told Mizzima, We dont know yet when and who will visit. Our leaders are still coordinating.

The source close to PC said that the meeting would take place in Pangshang of UWSP and Mongla of NDAA. PC members Aung Soe, Thein Zaw and Khin Zaw Oo would be likely included in the peace delegation and the main agenda would be development projects in these areas, the source added.

Aung Soe also said on September 25 that the governments peace delegation had no plan yet to meet the Federal Peace Negotiation Consultative Committee (FPNCC) which consists of seven northern ethnic armed groups including the Wa and Mongla.

We are trying hard to meet other remaining groups by various means. We are planning to meet northern alliance groups and we are also trying to meet these groups individually. We will meet these northern alliance groups separately too. In these northern alliance groups, some ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have not yet signed ceasefire agreement so we will meet such organizations too but we dont have a plan yet to meet all of them altogether, Aung Soe said.

FPNCC is chaired by UWSP and consists of NDAA, Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Arakan Army (AA) and Kokang group officially called Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
As a member of one of Myanmars minority ethnic groups, I bring a unique perspective to a narrative otherwise dominated by Burman voices. I am ethnically Mon and was raised in Mon State. What I offer here are my own observation based on what I consider an objective assessment of the human conflict and humanitarian crisis that has befallen the country. I argue that this clash of racial and cultural values can only be addressed thorough personal liberty, security and human dignity for all people, regardless of race and gender.

At issue is racial discrimination, which many observers have asserted has progressed to the point of ethnic cleansing. Western media have reported that organizations like the United Nations have called the situation in Rakhine a textbook example of ethnic cleansing, in violation of international norms of human rights. Amnesty International has called the situation genocide, a charge that the Myanmar government vehemently denies.

The international media have been consistent in covering the enormous outflow of refugees into Bangladesh. The cover story on the October 2 edition of TIME Magazine entitled Myanmars Shame by Elizabeth Dias is one such example, featuring a cover picture of refugees desperately crossing the border. The Myanmar local press, especially Online TV, Radio and Social media has focused much more on the victims of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), especially those of other minority ethnic groups.

A clash of racial identity and values:

The situation has been made even more murky by conflicting accounts in local, national and international media. Even the terminology is different. International media refer to the Muslim population as Rohingya (as do those people), while the Tatmadaw and the Myanmar press call them Bengali or Muslims in Rhakine state. What is abundantly clear, though, is that the loss of lives, displacement of communities and destruction of property is enormous and beyond the scope of local or national humanitarian capabilities. I believe that Myanmars political writers and reporters have a responsibility to further investigation both ARSA and the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) if justice and security is to be established for people of all races and religions. That half a million people were displaced in one week is not a question of political or racial values, but basic human security and welfare.

Not only in Rhakine but throughout the country, Myanmar is a long way from meeting the standards laid out under the International Bill of Human Rights. The rights and freedoms that Myanmars peoples demand will not be realized unless a concerted effort is made to address the economic, social and cultural realities of Myanmars diverse communities. In fact, the question of social and cultural rights has never been addressed by the political establishment, but has been used instead as a wedge to maintain power.

Historical context:

The current crisis erupted when, on August 25, ARSA members attacked local police stations in the Maungdaw district of Rhakine state, killing at least eleven people. The news shocked the nation and the world. It is clear that the Tatmadaw and the NLD government failed to act on intelligence that it allegedly had about the attack.

Government security force responded with a heavy hand and killed more than three hundred people it claimed were ARSA militants. However the Tatmadaw responded with only an overwhelming military action, at the expense of dealing with the underlying communal tensions and humanitarian crisis. Many Burman people unconditionally applauded the action taken by the Tatmadaw and police to defend local people but were seemingly indifferent to the widespread allegations of abuse. The declaration of a security zone by the Tatmadaw denied reporters access to the crisis area and reduced much of the reporting from inside Myanmar to rumors.

Cyclical violence has been a part of Myanmar and Rhakine society for over two hundred years. The Arakan (Rakhine) Mrohaung dynasty, which would be the last, was destroyed by royal Burmese soldiers in 1785. Not long after, the British invaded and after the first Anglo-Burmese war from 1824 to 1826, occupied Rhakine.

Following the collapse of the Mrohaung dynasty, many Arakan people fled to India and into the Burmese heartland, but many other immigrants, especially from India, arrived to work in agricultural labor. The movement of peoples and the stoking of tensions between them was an integral part of the British colonial model, then operated by the East India Company (EIC). The EIC had vast commercial interest in colonial Burma and was happy to exploit local tensions for profit.

This clash of racial and cultural identity with political values among Myanmars races, major and minor, has been present since before independence. But the years of military rule between 1962 and 2010 only served to inflame tensions. For a long time, assimilation and Burmanization were the vigorously pursued policies of the Burman-dominated military regimes, not just in Rhakine, but throughout the country. For example, to be registered or enrolled in a hospital or school, children must have Burmese names. The government also tried to destroy ethnic languages by preventing their use in schools.

Addressing racial harmony:

With the advent of a semi-democratic government in Myanmar, we are in a critical moment. While many hoped that democracy would bring freedom and development for the country, those goals seem challenged by the communal acrimony affecting Myanmars peoples, indigenous and immigrant alike (especially in Chin, Rhakine and Shan States). Social security, personal safety and human welfare must be placed ahead of political and racial identity in any society for people to live without fear regardless of race, religion and ethnicity. The military-dominated social, cultural and political establishment must be reexamined through the lenses of social justice, personal liberty and universal application of the rule of law. A participatory and responsive peace should be the central agenda of the NLD government and ethnic leaders, even in spite of the agenda established by the military-dictated 2008 constitution. Stakeholders to the peace process must widen its scope to include racial and communal tensions that otherwise only see an outlet in violence.

The fifty million people of Myanmar share the same water, land, climate and environment, so we all need to share the common burden of responsibility for our own cultural and national heritage. The only way that humans can co-exist in peace, is for all minority cultures to be protected and celebrated, and all people given real avenues for political participation. That is the only way for a nation of diverse races, religions and cultural practices to exist without discrimination based on race, gender and faith.

Human rights is a reasonable framework for the world, but it can sometimes ignore the complexities of human society. Where we must be clear though, is in rejecting racial violence anywhere and towards anyone on earth. It is a moral and political responsibility of everyone in power and privilege. Myanmars history is filled with ugly chapters. Let us not let the same be our future.
Haiti : away from cliches

The Republic of Haiti, widely recognized as the first free black republic in the new world, occupies the westernmost third of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea. At the international level, Haiti is mostly well known for the destructive natural disasters it suffers and its tumultuous political life. It made the headlines in February 2004 when its President Jean-Bertrand Aristide flew into exile and in January 2010 when a 7.3 earthquake struck its capital city, Port-au-Prince, killing hundreds of thousands and displacing millions. More recently, the international attention focused on the cholera outbreaks, the presidential election (postponed several times until early 2017), and category 5 Hurricane Matthew that devastated the south of the country in October 2016.

In spite of its rich history and culture, Haiti remains the poorest country in the western hemisphere and is frequently associated with visions of impoverishment, violence and extreme deforestation. In 1987, National Geographic called the public attention to the asymmetric deforestation crisis between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where gas constitutes the primary fuel source while Haitis fuel consumption mostly relies on charcoal. Since the 1980s, deforestation has been one of the few images widely circulated by mainstream media that shape the international perception on Haiti. [1]

For decades, media, political actors, international institutions and researchers have been publicizing these stereotypes on deforestation in Haiti. The result is a public image of Haiti amounting to a cliche of simplistic, causal narratives that links deforestation to entrenched poverty and instability, while placing the blame almost exclusively on charcoal producers, a heterogeneous group made up largely of rural, agrarian peasants who are among the most vulnerable members of society. Even worse, development projects are often based upon this narrative, leading to ineffective and inefficient actions to attempt to reforest Haiti that often only exacerbate the problem in the long run and ignore real opportunities to work with existing production systems in rural areas.

This infamous narrative around deforestation and charcoal production in Haiti both ignores current production and consumption practices and is almost entirely divorced from the colonial and post-revolutionary past. However, this discourse has shown resistance over time; the anthropologist Andrew Tarter demonstrates how the oft-cited but unsubstantiated 2% forest cover figure in Haiti has been maintained by occurrences in multiple well-known publications since the 1980s, in spite of an inability to link it to a verifiable source. The journalist M. R. OConnor also talks of a chain of dissemination to describe how statistics on the extreme deforestation of Haiti have been circulated over decades. The perpetuation of this unquestioned narrative prevents a true examination of the dynamics around deforestation, charcoal production and poverty in Haiti, leading to poorly informed responses by the Haitian government, private initiatives and the international development community.

An Inaccurate Picture

In her recent book Why Haiti Needs New Narratives, Gina Athena Ulysse questions narratives that reduce Haiti to simple categories, often based on ahistorical, uninformed and socio-culturally limited assumptions. In the case of deforestation and charcoal, the narrative is problematic for several reasons.



First, the most-often mentioned data on deforestation is inaccurate. In their 2014 study, Churches et al. shows that the approximate tree cover in Haiti is about a third of the country, far from the 2% usually quoted. Other studies focused on La Gonave (Haitis largest island) and on the Greater Antilles region have come to similar conclusions. The dominant narrative also tends to overlook the actual lack of data in regards to the tree cover before the Europeans arrival. In 1945, a forester, quoted by Tarter, already wrote: The appearance of many of the inland smaller mountains and plateaus does not indicate that they ever supported much forest growth.

Secondly, this narrative relies on an oversimplification of the vegetal cover in Haiti. It also simplifies the forest energy supply chain. As UN Environments latest report on the issue shows, the dominant discourse misunderstands the economic role of charcoal production in rural areas, as well as indigenous methods of production and management of wood resources. It dismisses the familial and communally managed wood resources  rak bwa or lots boises [2]  which provide a significant source for charcoal that leaves the remaining forests in Haiti intact. It also disregards the fact that the greatest pressures on forests are largely due to high demand for agricultural space, the inevitable results of low productivity and lack of investment and sound policies in the agricultural sector.

Thirdly, the dominant discourse is disconnected from historical and roots causes of deforestation in Haiti. First, the French empire was responsible for a significant part of the removal of virgin forests in Haiti for sugar cane plantations in the 17th and 18th centuries; according to Tarter, references to charcoal production appeared in the literature only in the 1920-30s. The agronomist Alex Bellande adds that it only became significant in the 1970s. The Haiti historian Laurent Dubois also documented the perpetuation of this destructive agricultural system by governing elites, despite the reluctance from rural populations. According to Bellande and OConnor,deforestation is also the result of the trade of mahogany and other precious hard woods, notably used to reimburse the indemnity France imposed to Haiti as a consequence of its independence.

While the US occupation of Haiti between 1915-1934 also impacted deforestation rates, forest loss accelerated in the 1940s-50s through a confluence of causes: increase in population and urban demands, an anti-superstition campaign led by the Catholic church, and government projects tailored to short-term global market interests. For instance, a Haitian-American project destroyed millions of trees near Jeremie to plant rubber trees, a valued commodity during the Second World War, which brought no financial benefits since the production came on line only after the end of the war. A few decades later, Duvalier later cleared the border area with the Dominican Republic, often referred to as the primary evidence of Haitis lack of trees, for security reasons and policing control.

Today, agriculture and agroforestry practices, property rights and the fragmentation of land ownership are key to understand wood demand and supply chains. Deforestation in Haiti is the result of a long history with internal and external influences and with complex ramifications that go far beyond the production and trade of charcoal.

A Risky Framing for Tackling Deforestation

The propagation of this inaccurate and incomplete narrative has subsequently led to poorly informed responses by the Haitian government and the international development community that fail to address the underlying issues of deforestation and focus responsibility on some of the countrys most vulnerable populations. For example, the government of Haiti has issued bans on the production and sale of charcoal while neglecting to promote or increase alternative forms of income in rural areas (i.e. investments in agriculture or small businesses) or alternative cooking fuels in urban ones (electricity supply is sporadic and unreliable and LPG is difficult to procure outside of the most major urban centers). This regulatory approach relies heavily on enforcement by the police, who already struggle with a lack of capacity and resources to carry out their most basic duties in Haiti, and ignores the fact that charcoal is the dominant cooking fuel for a population of over 10 million people.

The international development community, including donors, NGOs and the UN, has frequently sought to address the issue with well-meaning but under-informed projects [3] on reforestation or through indirect approaches such as alternative cooking stoves. While there are some interesting and highly successful experiences of reforestation in Haiti (i.e. the one led by the anthropologist Gerald Murray in 1980s, or the Maniche PADF project) the largest and most well-resourced projects tend to miss the connection between local wood resource management systems, rural economies, and dismiss the larger threat that agriculture poses to existing forests. In turn, as Murray already showed in 1987, they ignore the realities and needs of the local populations and charcoal producers, or simply do not plan for the basic project elements needed to ensure long-term success, such as irrigation of seedlings and protection from livestock once they are planted.

The approach to reducing deforestation through alternative cookstoves, which require less charcoal to operate, has several flaws. For one, it attempts to tackle the issue indirectly (i.e., working on cookstove distribution in urban areas), rather than directly (i.e., working with charcoal producers in rural areas). Secondly, interventions lack a solid understanding as to how the charcoal supply chain operates and therefore miss key opportunities to develop sustainable production and management models for wood resources in rural areas. Ultimately, this approach fails to support rural economies and provide alternatives to agricultural practices that threaten remaining forests.

The cookstove approach to fighting deforestation is one of losing battles; the singular focus on cookstoves aims to achieve the daunting task of replacing culturally ingrained ways of cooking with alternatives that are costlier, less familiar, and which do not work as efficiently; and it completely cuts out the charcoal producers, who are the main stakeholders of any efforts to reduce deforestation. [4] As in other countries around the world, Haitians are not likely to change their cooking methods until a technology or fuel source that is superior to what they already have is introduced. It is clear that alternative cookstoves do not demonstrate any impact on charcoal production in rural areas, as evidenced by the lack of success of such projects in Haiti to date.

Furthermore, the poor success rate of these projects adds to the driving narrative on the crisis of deforestation in Haiti. As a result, donors exhibit a certain fatigue when it comes to funding additional reforestation efforts that never seem to change the overall situation on the ground. Despite a growing interest and demonstrable results, approaches that focus on proven successes of family and communally managed wood lots for sustainable charcoal production have difficulty finding traction amongst the donor community. This is largely because international donors are still informed by the simplistic and inaccurate narrative that has largely ignored these indigenous and effective approaches to tree and soil cover.

Finally, and most insidiously, the dominant discourse publicized in mainstream media and in international development reports shifts the responsibilities of deforestation in Haiti to the most vulnerable. By framing charcoal as the main cause of deforestation in the country, the narrative tends to place the blame on people who use and sell charcoal, while ignoring the policies, political and economic actors and power relationships that keep the rural, agricultural economy under-developed. In his recent book Haiti deforestee, paysages remodeles, the agronomist Alex Bellande challenges this narrative by documenting the long history of deforestation in Haiti. He shows precisely that the wrongful condemnation of farmers excludes them from contributing significantly to real solutions. Even if the vulnerability of these populations is acknowledged when justifying their use of charcoal, the narrative still places poverty at the heart of environmental degradation. As the political ecologist Paul Robbins shows, poor peoples use of trees has been consistently criminalized throughout the 20th century, and the Haitian case does not escape this rule.

Changing the Narrative

The long-lasting dominance of the 2% figure can be explained, as Tarter shows, by the lack of access, until recently, to proper data and the strict definitions applied to forests. [5] Yet, the narrative on deforestation and charcoal in Haiti also continues because it serves political interests.

First, the explanation of charcoal as the main cause of deforestation is intuitive and easy to sell. International organizations and NGOs, as well as the national government, can attract funding with a clear problem that is purported to be simple to address through reforestation programs, such as the current Haiti Takes Roots programme promoted by Sean Penns organization, J/P HRO, and others. Their intervention is legitimated by what OConnor calls a convenient narrative. This simplistic narrative has long been used to justify the intervention of external actors and to rationalize agriculture policies that neglect rural interests.

More importantly, the simplistic approach to a mischaracterized extreme deforestation problem contributes to a global discourse on the supposed instability of Haiti. It maintains the idea that the country is in a state of permanent environmental crisis, thereby legitimizing interventions that are often based on incomplete or inaccurate information. The apocalypse of Haiti justifies international interventions, instead of acknowledging Haitis vulnerability as part of a larger trend of global inequality, like the Dominican American writer Junot Diaz exhorted after the 2010 earthquake. For all of these reasons, changing the narrative is a difficult endeavor: it is less politically convenient and it does not match the general narrative about Haiti centered on a country destined to be a deforested, apocalyptic wasteland, as predicted in a 1979 report commissioned by USAID.

International organizations also play a significant role in producing and disseminating narratives which structure the way we understand and perceive the world. In the case of Haiti, they have undeniably participated in this dominant discourse on deforestation and charcoal. Conversely, they can actively contribute to changing the narrative, as the recent example of UN Environment (UNEP) suggests.

A 2016 study by UN Environment in Haitis South Department, where some of the last native, primary forest of Haiti remains, concluded that the production of charcoal could be successfully addressed through sustainable, local production systems that support the rural economy. In these conclusions, UN Environment highlighted proven and effective approaches, which struggle to reach the dominant discourse on charcoal in the country. As Tarter also shows, the production of charcoal through sustainable local wood lots that are integrated into local agro-forestry systems correctly puts the focus on rural livelihoods, which are at the heart of the charcoal issue in Haiti. This approach can serve to empower producers and to attract investment to improve a supply chain with potential but which is under developed. It would consequently put charcoal producers in the role of positive contributors rather than perpetrators or victims, as also suggested by Dubois and Bellande. The work of UN Environment, along with a similar study produced by the World Bank, and the rich and complete analysis published by Bellande, fuels the recent media attention on the well-documented criticisms that are challenging the dominant narrative.

Changing the narrative around deforestation and charcoal can also give an active role to the Haitian rural population. In line with Joan Martinez-Alliers work on the environmentalism of the poor, it draws the attention to the most vulnerable communities. It shows how the fight against deforestation is coherent with an environmentalism of livelihood concerned not only with economic security in the market sphere but also concerned with non-market access to environmental resources and services. Going beyond the classical victim or culprit narrative, it brings agency built on local knowledge and calls for appropriate and holistic policies to enhance and promote local initiatives.
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ABCNews.com(SALT LAKE CITY) -- Black Lives Matter demonstrators gathered outside police headquarters in Salt Lake City on Sunday afternoon to protest a prosecutor's decision not to file charges against a police officer who fatally shot a 50-year-old man.



Videos of the incident, which occurred in August, were released on Wednesday when the decision was announced. They appeared to show that Patrick Harmon, 50, was shot as he was running away from officers who were trying to arrest him.



Lex Scott, an organizer with Black Lives Matter in Utah, said last week that the community wants Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill to resign.



Gill said Friday that the shooting was justified because slow-motion video of the incident shows that Harmon turned toward police with a knife with the blade out. A knife was found at the scene, the district attorney said.



"We felt that the officer was justified in the use of that lethal force," Gill said. "He generally feared for his safety and the safety of other officers."



In a statement announcing the protest, Black Lives Matter said Gill "is more concerned with his relationship to the police department, than actually serving his community in a just fashion."



The incident began the night of August 13, when police stopped Harmon after he was spotted crossing six lanes of traffic on his bicycle, which did not have a red tail light, as law requires.



Bodycam footage shows that the interaction between Harmon and police began peacefully, but when the officers realized Harmon had several felony warrants and placed him under arrest, Harmon took off running.



According to the district attorney's report, Officer Clinton Fox said that Harmon yelled at police that he would "stab you," but that is not audible on the body cam video.



Gill said that freeze-frames from the videos show Harmon turning towards Fox before he was shot, and Fox said he saw a knife in his hand. The officer can be heard yelling "I'll shoot you," before he opens fire.



Jeanetta Williams, president of the Salt Lake branch of the NAACP, said Friday that the group would try to get more information before deciding what action to take, according to the Associated Press.



"He ran, but in the video I didn't see a knife," Williams said. "I just saw him try to run and then they just shot him."



Fox has been placed on modified duty pending the outcome of the department's internal investigation.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.


The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman being received by GOC Gajraj Corps, Lt. Gen. A.S. Bedi and other senior dignitaries of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, on her maiden visit to Tezpur on October 08, 2017. A PIB photo

TEZPUR (PTI): Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday reviewed the operational readiness of the strategically-important airbase at Tezpur with senior Army and Air Force officials.



The maiden visit of the minister to the Eastern Command is part of her familiarisation with the formations of the Army and the Air Force.



It also comes close on the heels of her visit to Northern Command and to Sikkim on Saturday, an official release said.



Sitharaman reviewed the operational preparedness of the Sukhoi fighter aircraft and other Indian Air Force assets, an official release said.



She reiterated the Government's resolve to give further impetus to development in the border areas.



Sitharaman, who arrived at Tezpur from Sikkim, was received by General Officer Commanding (GOC) A S Bedi and Air Officer Commanding K V R Raju at the Tezpur Air Force station, a defence spokesman said.



She was accompanied by Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Sarath Chand and GOC-in-Chief Eastern Command Lt Gen Abhay Krishna.



The Defence Minister extended her good wishes to the air warriors on the occasion of the 85th Air Force Day anniversary, as she interacted with them at the airbase.



She appreciated the high standards of military discipline and preparedness of army men and women, and their excellent performance in difficult terrain and challenging environment, the release said.



Sitharaman visited the Gajraj Corps Headquarters where she was briefed by Lt Gen Bedi on the overall security situation in Assam and the Kameng Sector of Arunachal Pradesh.



She also paid a visit to the Solmara Military Station, Tezpur, where she interacted with the officers and jawans.




Indian Air Force personnel near Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter plane taking part on the 85th Air Force Day parade at Hindon Air Force base in Ghaziabad, UP on Sunday. A PTI Photo

HINDON (PTI): The Indian Air Force is prepared to fight a war at a "short notice" and fully geared up to respond to any security challenge to the country in the most befitting manner, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa has said.



The IAF Chief also said that the uncertainties in the present geo-political environment in the region may require the IAF to fight a "short" and "swift war".



"We are prepared to fight at a short notice should the need arise," he said while addressing an event at the Hindon air base on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the IAF on Sunday.



The comments came amid China's muscle flexing in the Dokalam Plateau and continued cross-border terror activities by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.



The IAF Chief spoke on a variety of issues, including the possible security challenge facing the country, stating that the focus was to transform the IAF into a technology intensive force in the next few years to significantly enhance its overall prowess.



"I assure my countrymen that these men and women under my command are confident to take on any threat and fully prepared to undertake full spectrum of air operation and respond to any challenge in the most befitting manner," he said, in the presence of Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat and top echelons of the IAF.



Separately, in a message published in an IAF booklet, Dhanoa said the uncertainties in the current environment in the region may require IAF to act in varied challenging situations.



"The nature of conflict in the present geo-political environment may require us to fight a short and swift war for which we need to be alert and prepared to fight on a short notice," he said.



The IAF also presented an impressive parade with its jets and helicopters giving a glimpse of the force's lethal strike capability. Dhanoa also conferred Vayu Sena Medal to a number of IAF personnel.



In his address, Dhanoa also talked about the loss of lives of seven security personnel in the Mi-17 chopper crash in Tawang on Friday and said the IAF cannot afford to lose valuable lives and assets in accidents.



"Notwithstanding the high intensity of our flying, we cannot afford to have accidents and lose valuable lives and assets. Our losses during peace time is a cause of concern and we are making concerted efforts to prevent accidents and preserve our assets," he said.



Dhanoa said that after the terror attack on the Pathankot base, security has been significantly strengthened at all IAF bases to counter sub-conventional and other threats.



He also emphasised on the need to have joint planning and coordination among the IAF, the Army and the Navy to enhance the overall defence capability of the country.



"Indian Air Force is firm in its belief that joint planning and operations are the way ahead for which core competencies of each service must be synergised to generate desired effect and capability," he said.



The IAF Chief also asked all air warriors to remain combat ready. "It is the duty of each one of us to remain combat worthy, whether on the ground or in the air, and also maintain our combat systems operational for any contingencies at a short notice."



Dhanoa paid a glowing tribute to Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, who passed away last month, calling his demise a tragic loss for the force.



The IAF Chief also highlighted IAF's acquisition programme and said setting up of a robust network centric operational capability is nearing its goal.



"We are in the process of acquiring new combat systems, upgrading and modernising our existing inventory of aircraft and weapons system with an aim to equip them with the latest avionics technology," he said.



In this regard, he also mentioned the mid-life upgradation of various fighter jets, including the Mirage 2000, the MiG-29 and the Jaguar fleet.



"The acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft in the next few years and an early decision on the indigenous fighter jet project will significantly enhance our operational capability," he said.



Dhanoa said IAF is fully committed in supporting indigenous development of high-technology military equipment in consonance with the 'Make in India' programme of the Government.



"The induction of the advanced light helicopter, Aakash surface-to-air guided weapons, air-to-air Astra missiles and air defence radars are some of the success stories of defence indigenisation," he said.




The MiG-21 fighters of Indian Air Force.

HINDON (PTI): The first three women fighter pilots of the country are likely to fly the MiG-21 Bison jets, one of the potent combat aircraft in the IAF's armoury.



The three women pilots  Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh  are set to script history next month when they will fly military jets after completing a strenuous training programme within three weeks.



"The present consideration is to put them to MiG-21 Bison squadron. Our opinion is that it will sharpen their skills as the aircraft has more manual features than other sophisticated aircraft," Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said.



He indicated that after honing their skills in flying MiG-21 Bisons, the three women can fly other jets.



The IAF Chief was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event to celebrate the Indian Air Force Day.



The three women were commissioned as flying officers in July last year, less than a year after the Government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis.



A senior IAF official involved in training of the three women pilots said they will steer the combat jets next month.



Currently, the three women pilots are flying Hawk advanced jet trainers.



The IAF has already selected the next batch of three women trainee pilots for fighter stream.


Gilman Scholarship winner Megan McClory 18 brings Japan to Lemberg children

Photo/Megan McClory Megan McClory (closest to the right) in Japan.

Megan McClory 18 spent last semester studying abroad in Osaka, Japan and wants to share as much about her experience as possible with a curious constituency: pre-school children.

McClory is integrating lessons about Japanese culture with children ages three to five years old at Brandeis Universitys Lemberg Childrens Center, where she is employed part-time as a student worker.

A native of Chicago who triple majors in history, anthropology and East Asian studies, McClory believes exposing children to different cultures  especially those from an ocean away  can have a profound impact on how they grow and perceive their place in the world.

Before I left for Osaka, Lemberg did weekly themes on a different country in the world, said McClory. I started thinking about how I could maybe do this with Japan.

McClory went to Japan with the help of a Gilman Scholarship, a bequest of up to $5,000 given to students across the country each year who may not otherwise have the means to afford studying abroad.

Named for former Republican New York Congressman Benjamin Gilman, the scholarship encourages students to study foreign languages and learn about cultures deemed important for Americas national security and economic competitiveness. At the end of their time abroad, recipients are required to conduct a project based on their experiences that aligns with the scholarships purpose.

I decided, as part of my project, to have a Japanese theme week at Lemberg, said McClory, who will launch her project the week of Oct. 9. Were going to do different activities, everything from having the children read books to learn Japanese words at their level and introducing them to the Japanese writing system.

I bought some traditional Japanese clothing  in child sizes  so they can put them on and see how people in Japan dress. And Ive brought all sorts of materials back to teach about how someone in Japan might go about their daily life.

In Osaka, McClory was required to speak only Japanese while in an academic setting. According to her, that requirement was unsettling at first, but boosted her Japanese speaking proficiency. She said being forced to speak the local language, as well as interacting with Japans people, culture and way of life caused her to grow in ways she never expected.

Now that shes back in the U.S., McClory recognizes the importance of sharing her experience with others  particularly the children at Lemberg.

When you work with kids you realize just how smart they are, said McClory. You notice how much they emulate adults and what they pick up. I think thats a big reason why its important to teach kids about other cultures and diversity. You want them to grow up with that understanding.

McClory is the recipient of the Abram and Thelma Sachar Endowed Scholarship.
With the Budget just over 24 hours away the latest leaks suggest that we could see a rise in stamp duty.

The increase would apply to commercial properties only, but could be as high as 5%.
By Anna O'Donoghue

Weve said it before and well say it again, nothing beats an Irish wedding.

From rock the boat to that all important sing song in the residents bar at 5am, its an experience to say the least.

And were not even going to try to explain the ties around heads and rolled up suit trouser phenomenon.

So you can imagine the confusion that happens when guests that are not of Irish descent attend an Irish wedding.

Well, this Irish/American couple had the perfect solution - so perfect its been trending on Reddit all day.

As groom was a native of New York and the bride hailed from Tipperary, they decided to put together a handy guide for their guests to help with the language barrier.

With handy translations such as:

Irish: Who is your one? Is she doing a line with your man?

American: Who is that hot chick? I wonder is she dating that dude?

Married a Tipp girl yesterday (I'm from New York) and we had this guide to help the guests

The wedding also took place in Tipperary so American guests were also advised if they wanted to blend in, they may want to drop the H after the T.
Rodent and cockroach infestations, dirty premises and out of date food were just some of the reasons for the closure of 10 restaurants and food outlets in September by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

An "extensive infestation of cockroaches" was discovered by inspectors in the kitchen of Akash restaurant in Blackrock, Co Dublin the FSAI said on Monday.

The same restaurant was closed in 2014 after live and dead cockroaches were discovered on the premises.

A "significant rodent infestation" was found in the Spar at Upper Baggot Street in Dublin.

The FSAI closure order reported the discovery of rat droppings and said a "grave and immediate danger to food safety exists".

The bakery storeroom at Glebe Gardens and Cafe in Baltimore, Cork, was closed due to an infestation of mice.

In Westmeath, Chens Oriental Taste on Main Street, Rochfortbridge, was found to have dirty premises, workers wearing dirty clothes and boxes of raw chicken being stored on a dirty floor.

Picture via fsai.ie

Dirty premises and out of date food, including raw chicken legs, were discovered at Harrys Bar and Restaurant in Bridgend, Donegal.

Other closure orders for breaches of food safety legislation were served to: a food storage unit at Larry's Marino Fair at Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino, Dublin; Caspian Pizza, at Main Street in Donegal Town; Alfredos in Ballybane Shopping Centre, Galway; The Village Store/Kelly's Last Chance Bar, Rathcabbin, Tipperary and Corrib Catering, Leisureland, Salthill.

Also in September the Beachcomber Bar in Rathmullan, Donegal was fined 500 euro following a successful prosecution taken by the Health Service Executive in relation to food safety standards.

Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the FSAI, said enforcement orders are served on food businesses "only when a serious risk to consumer health has been established or where there are a number of ongoing serious breaches of food legislation."

She added that the information has been published to help "dispel any misinformation regarding the reasons why enforcement orders are served and will also let other food businesses know some of the things to avoid in their premises".

"There were ten closure orders served on food businesses in September and common non-compliances are filthy conditions and poor hygiene.

"Some of the specific reasons the orders were served this month include: evidence of rodent infestation; failure to maintain temperatures of foodstuffs; filthy conditions with aged dirt and debris; unsuitable food storage facilities; evidence of extensive cockroach infestation; and raw chicken stored on a dirty floor," she added.

Full details of enforcement orders are to be published every month on the FSAI website.

The detailed closure orders can be accessed here.

Six Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

Glebe Gardens and Cafe (Part closed: Bakery Storeroom), Baltimore, Cork Spar (retailer), 23 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4 Akash (restaurant/cafe), 7 George's Avenue, Blackrock, County Dublin Larry's Marino Fair (Part closed: Food storage at rear of 203 Philipsburgh Ave, Marino, Dublin 3) (butcher), 205 Philipsburgh Ave, Marino, Dublin 3 Caspian Pizza (restaurant/cafe), Main Street Car Park, Donegal Town, Donegal Alfredos (take away), Unit 9, Ballybane Shopping Centre, Ballybane Road, Galway

Four Closure Orders were served under the EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2010 on:
More and more people are donating blood - but supply levels remain low.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service recruited more than 20,000 new donors in 2016 - a 40% increase on 2015.

But the service still struggled to maintain an adequate supply, with hospital demand increasing and several blood groups often only at four days supply.

Chief Executive of the IBTS Andy Kelly is urging people to donate.

"As you say rightly, it is a difficult period for us - the bank holiday weekend we should get through ok because we built up stocks in advance.

"Christmas is difficult, this year it's falling on a Monday, with New Years Day the same day, so we will have a period of about 10 days where donations will be difficult to achieve.

"We would ask people to make a special effort at the end of November, coming into the first two weeks of December to really make an effort and come and donate blood.
By Ann O'Loughlin

A High Court judge has ruled certain documents sought by TD Mick Wallace and his son, Sasha, to defend a funds application for disqualification orders against them under the Companies Act are either unnecessary or irrelevant.

Among the documents sought was material relating to the motivation for bringing the disqualification application and the attitude of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement to it.

Mr Justice Robert Haughton held today that material was unnecessary and irrelevant as the application concerned the Wallaces stewardship as directors of Mr J Wallace Ltd prior to the funds appointment of the liquidator who brought the application, fixed for hearing on October 23.

Michael Leydon was appointed liquidator by Promontoria Aran, a subsidiary of US fund Cerberus, arising out of a 2m judgment obtained against the company in relation to the Italian Quarter development in Dublin.

The TD previously raised questions over the Cerberus 1.6bn purchase from NAMA of a group of Northern Ireland-linked loans, called Project Eagle.

The liquidator, represented by Stephen Brady BL, is pursuing an application for orders under the Companies Acts to have the respondents disqualified from acting as company directors, or alternatively restricted in that role.

In a preliminary application, the Wallaces sought documents concerning contacts between the ODCE and Mr Leydon where the ODCE told the liquidator he was not relieved of bringing disqualification proceedings. The judge held those were not relevant.

He also held the Wallaces had been given the relevant extracts of a report by Mr Leydon to the ODCE and were not entitled to the full report.

He also awarded costs of the discovery application against the Wallaces.
By Ann O'Loughlin

The owner of the Tipperary Crystal brand has sued a giftware seller for allegedly passing off their trademarks on the packaging of items being offered for sale.

The proceedings have been brought by Allied Imports Ltd and its director Mr Robert Scanlan which is the owner of Tipperary Crystal which is known for its crystal, glassware, ceramics and jewellery brands.

They claim Kavanagh Giftware Ltd have been using Tipperary Crystal marks on the packaging of specific goods it is offering including mugs and cups.

In correspondence lawyers acting for Kavanagh Giftware reject claims it has infringed Allied Import's intellectual property rights.

Allied Imports and Mr Scanlan, represented by Jonathan Newman SC, say the infringing elements of their products are the use of a graphical representation in grey and white on the outside and the inside of the packaging of items being offered for sale by the defendant.

The plaintiffs claim the defendant is offering the allegedly infringing products for sale through its retail outlet in Enniscorthy Co Wexford, and online.

It is further alleged that Kavanagh Giftware is engaged in the wholesale distribution of the infringing products to other retailers in Ireland.

They claim that the unauthorised use of the Tipperary Crystal mark is causing confusion with the public.

In their action Allied Imports Ltd and Mr Scanlan seek various orders against the defendant including injunctions restraining Kavanagh Giftware from infringing their trade marks and passing off the goods.

In addition, the plaintiffs seek orders that all the goods allegedly infringing its trademarks are handed over and destroyed. They also seek damages.

The case was admitted to the fast track Commercial Court list today by Mr Justice Brian McGovern.

There had been an objection in admitting the case to the fast track list by counsel for the defendant Mr James O'Dwyer SC.

However, the Judge said it was a suitable case for the list. The matter will return before the court in February.
Detectives investigating the intimidation of four Catholic families in Belfast have arrested two men.

The suspects, aged 37 and 40, were detained on suspicion of being members of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

Last week, Northern Ireland's police chief blamed the East Belfast UVF for issuing threats to the families living in a cross-community housing development in the south-east of the city.

George Hamilton said the East Belfast UVF was behind the intimidation of the families in the Cantrell Close neighbourhood. He said police were not sure whether the threats were supported by the leadership of the criminal organisation, or were made by individual members.

Cantrell Close, off the Ravenhill Road, was supposed to be a flagship cross-community development as part of the Stormont Executive's Together Building United Communities programme.

On Monday morning, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Chief Inspector Gary Reid said: "Detectives from Criminal Investigation Branch have today arrested two men in East Belfast under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation, namely the UVF.

"The men, aged 37 and 40, have been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite (in Belfast) where they are currently helping police with their inquiries.

"Police are continuing to investigate the intimidation of families in Cantrell Close and the Chief Constable has recently said he believes the UVF are responsible for this.

"Today's arrests are part of our ongoing investigation into the UVF in East Belfast, including the intimidation of families in Cantrell Close."

Following the intimidation of the Catholic families, two Protestant community workers living nearby, both pensioners, were also threatened.

Last week, Mr Hamilton said it was too early in the investigation to say whether dissident republicans were to blame.
The brother of a man who killed dozens of people at a Las Vegas country music festival has arrived in Nevada to help investigators work out the gunman's motives and to retrieve the body.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Eric Paddock arrived in town late on Saturday for hours of interviews with FBI agents, a police detective, a profiler and a psychologist.
Iraq's vice president has warned there could be a "civil war" over the Kurdish-administered city of Kirkuk if talks over Kurdish independence are left unresolved.

Ayad Allawi, in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, urged Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, as well as Iraq's central government and its Iranian-backed militia forces, to show restraint and resolve their disputes over the oil-rich city.

The head of the Asaib al-Haq militia Qais Khazali warned worshippers in a sermon on Sunday that Iraq's Kurds were planning to claim much of north Iraq, including Kirkuk, for an independent state, after Iraq's Kurds voted for independence in a controversial but non-binding referendum two weeks ago.

He said it would be tantamount to a "foreign occupation", according to remarks reported by the Afaq TV channel, which is close to the state-sanctioned militia.

Mr Allawi, a former prime minister, said any move by the country's Popular Mobilisation Front militias, which include the Asaib al-Haq, to enter Kirkuk would "damage all possibilities for unifying Iraq" and open the door to "violent conflict".

"The government claims they control the Popular Mobilisation Forces.

If they do they should restrain them, rather than go into a kind of civil war.

"And there should be a restraint on Masoud Barzani and the Peshmerga not to take aggressive measures to control these lands," said Mr Allawi.

Kirkuk was included in the September referendum even though it falls outside the autonomous Kurdish region in the country's northeast.

The ethnically-mixed city has been administered by Kurdish forces since 2014, when government forces fled from the advancing Islamic State group.

Mr Barzani held the referendum over the strong objections of Baghdad, Ankara, and Tehran, enraging leaders in the regional capitals.

Iraq's prime minister Haidar al-Abadi demanded the Kurdish self-government annul the results and called for joint administration over Kirkuk.

Baghdad closed the airspace over the Kurdish region to international flights.

Turkey and Iran also threatened punitive measures against the Kurdish region, fearing Kurds in their own countries would renew their campaigns for self-rule.

"Iraqis should be left alone to discuss their own problems without interference," said Mr Allawi.

"Kirkuk has become a flashpoint."

Mr Barzani has not declared independence for any part of northern Iraq.

AP
Update 6pm: A group of Nobel Peace Prize winners have urged mediation in the political deadlock between Spain and Catalonia.

The comments come in a letter on the eve of a Catalan parliamentary meeting in which separatist leaders want to press ahead with secession for the northeastern region.

Nobel Peace laureate Jody Williams, a campaigner against landmines, said the letter has so far been signed by seven more winners, including Mairead Maguire, Rigoberta Menchu and Shirin Ebadi.

The letter says "no side is free of errors" in this process but calls for "mediation and negotiations toward a peaceful resolution of the current stand-off".

Ms Williams said the letter would be posted later on Monday on the Nobel Women's Initiative website.

AP

Earlier: Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy warned that Spain will not be divided by a declaration of independence from Catalonia and said the government is ready to respond to any such attempt.

Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont plans to address the region's parliament on Tuesday evening to debate the current political situation.

Separatist politicians said there will be a declaration of independence for the northeastern region of 7.5 million during that session, although some ruling coalition politicians say the move could be simply "symbolic."

Still, Mr Rajoy was being as explicit as possible in warning on Monday that the national government in Madrid would not stand for such a declaration.

"Spain will not be divided and the national unity will be preserved. We will do everything that legislation allows us to ensure this," Mr Rajoy told the German newspaper Die Welt.

"We will prevent this independence from taking place."

Secession-minded authorities in Catalonia have vowed to break away from Spain after claiming victory in a disputed independence referendum earlier this month.

The October 1 vote has been followed by mass protests of Catalans angered by police violence as authorities tried to stop the vote and, more recently, by others in Catalonia and Madrid urging the unity of Spain.

Yet politicians supporting Mr Puigdemont's minority government and civil society groups backing independence say they will not accept anything less than a full declaration of independence.

"Credibility and dignity suggest making the declaration of independence tomorrow," Jordi Sanchez, the head of the civil group National Catalonia Assembly, said on Monday.

A politician with the Catalan CUP party said the far-left separatists will not accept anything short of a declaration of secession.

"It's very clear to me that those who I represent won't accept any other scenario," Benet Salellas said during an interview at the regional parliament.

Mr Puigdemont has not clarified what his intentions are.

"If they declare independence, there will be decisions to restore the law and democracy," she said on Monday during a radio interview.

She called for members of the Catalan government "who still respect democracy and freedom to refrain from jumping into the void."

Catalonia's top judicial official, meanwhile, ordered additional Spanish police protection for the headquarters of the regional judiciary.

The regional Mossos d'Esquadra police force, whose hierarchy reports to the Catalan government, had been in charge until now of guarding the palace in central Barcelona that hosts the judiciary.

But the High Judiciary in Catalonia says its president, Jesus Barrientos, has asked the chief of the National Police force in the region to join in the protection of the building.

The statement says a declaration of independence, even if illegal under Spanish laws, could trigger the suspension of the judiciary and the ousting of its president.

AP
An Islamic State fan who tried to make a bomb from fairy lights after becoming "bedroom radicalised" has been jailed for life.

Zahid Hussain considered targeting railway lines after viewing hundreds of IS images of the war in Syria.

His trial was told he wrongly believed his non-viable pressure cooker "bomb" - packed with 1.6kgs of shrapnel - was capable of causing devastation.

Sentencing the "dangerous" 29-year-old to a minimum term of 15 years at Winchester Crown Court on Monday, Mr Justice Sweeney told Hussain it was clear he had been "strongly committed" to carrying out multiple bombings.

Hussain used a bedroom in his parents' house as his "base of operations and improvised laboratory" where he researched and attempted to assemble explosives.

After his arrest in August 2015, searches uncovered evidence he had carried out reconnaissance of woods near the house in Naseby Road, Alum Rock, Birmingham, including the main London rail line.

Books on guerrilla warfare were also discovered, including one which talked of mounting attacks on railways.

The judge said that had his device been viable, it would have been capable of causing a "significant explosion".

He added: "If detonated in a crowded area it would have been potentially fatal to those within metres of it and would have potentially caused serious injury among those up to 10 metres away."

Ex-doorman Hussain had attempted to create a remote-control detonator with a wireless doorbell, and had successfully manufactured four igniters from fairy lights.

CCTV, later recovered, showed him climbing down a storm drain hear a high-speed rail line and he was arrested after being spotted "patrolling" streets near the family home.

Mr Justice Sweeney said that after his arrest Hussain "lied", claiming he had always intended to sell the device to The Sun newspaper and that his dabbling with explosives had been mere "experimentation".

The judge added: "In your case, culpability is extremely high as more than one explosion was clearly intended, and the harm to be caused was ultimately loss of life or serious injury to the person.

"You were clearly deeply radicalised and, over a period of at least nine months, were strongly committed to what you were doing."

At his trial, jurors were told Hussain held a pronounced interest in IS and had viewed many hundreds of images showing the terror group's actions, and also others showing Osama bin Laden and the deadly Boston bombers - who had successfully used pressure cooker bombs.

The High Court judge said he had also taken account of psychiatric issues, but "had some doubts as to the genuineness of your mental illness".

However, he concluded that on the evidence and reports of several expert psychiatric reports, Hussain had - during the time of the offence - and still did, suffer with paranoid schizophrenia.

But the judge said his offending "was only partly attributable to that disorder", finding that "the principal driver" had been his "voluntary bedroom radicalisation".

Jailing Hussain, he added: "You are a dangerous offender and in the view of the level of the danger that you pose, and the impossibility of predicting when it will come to an end, this is an appropriate case in which to impose a sentence of life imprisonment."
Bosnia's war crimes court has acquitted the wartime commander of Srebrenica, who was accused of committing atrocities against Serb prisoners during the 1992-95 Balkan conflict.

Naser Oric is seen as a hero by many Muslims in Bosnia for his role in defending Srebrenica where some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were massacred by Serb forces in 1995.
Theresa May will call for flexibility from the European Union over its approach to the Brexit negotiations as she seeks a breakthrough on her push for trade talks.

The Prime Minister will say the UK can get a deal to prove the anti-Brexit "doomsayers" wrong as she attempts to use a Commons statement to move on from her mishap-hit conference speech and the attempted coup against her leadership.

Mrs May will tell the EU "the ball is in their court" as talks resume between the UK's negotiators and Michel Barnier's team of Brussels officials.

European leaders will decide later this month whether sufficient progress has been made in the first stage of the Brexit talks, including the so-called divorce bill, to move on to talks on the future trading relationship and any potential "implementation period" for the new arrangements.

But it appears unlikely that the EU will agree that enough progress has been made on the initial phase - which also includes citizens' rights and the border between the UK and Republic of Ireland - to begin talks on the post-Brexit relationship.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has said it will take miracles for enough progress to have been made by the meeting of leaders on October 19-20, while the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a non-binding motion declaring that more needed to be done.

Jean-Claude Juncker

Mrs May will appear before MPs to update them on her speech in Florence which, while failing to secure a breakthrough, has been welcomed by EU leaders for its constructive tone.

She will say: "A new, deep and special partnership between a sovereign United Kingdom and a strong and successful European Union is our ambition and our offer to our European friends.

"Achieving that partnership will require leadership and flexibility, not just from us but from our friends, the 27 nations of the EU.

"And as we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court. But I am optimistic we will receive a positive response.

"Because what we are seeking is not just the best possible deal for us - but also the best possible deal for our European friends too."

She will acknowledge that "progress will not always be smooth" but will seek to strike a positive note about the Brexit process.

"By approaching these negotiations in a constructive way - in a spirit of friendship and co-operation and with our sights firmly set on the future - I believe we can prove the doomsayers wrong," she will say.

"I believe we can seize the opportunities of this defining moment in the history of our nation."

The Prime Minister will also attempt to reassure business leaders that the Brexit process is on track as she hosts a meeting with leading industry figures on Monday.

She will be joined by senior colleagues including Chancellor Philip Hammond and Brexit Secretary David Davis at the meeting in Downing Street

Representatives from firms including Aston Martin, HSBC, Morgan Stanley and Vodafone will be among those attending the meeting of the Business Advisory Council.

The meeting follows warnings from RBS chairman Sir Howard Davies that the damage to the City from Brexit is "going to be quite considerable over time".

And it comes as the British Retail Consortium warns that consumers could face rising prices and slower deliveries unless non-graduate EU migrants are able to continue working in the sector after Brexit.
The Trump administration will abandon the Obama-era clean power plan aimed at reducing global warming, officials said.

Speaking in Kentucky on Monday, Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said he will sign a proposed rule on Tuesday "to withdraw the so-called clean power plan of the past administration".

The clean power plan aimed to restrict greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.

It was a centrepiece of the Obama administration's environmental policies.

The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to declare the Obama-era rule exceeded federal law by setting emissions standards that power plants could not reasonably meet.

Mr Pruitt said the EPA should not use its authority "to say to you we are going to declare war on any sector of our economy".

AP
Vatican prosecutors on Monday demanded a three-year jail sentence for the former president of the city state's children's hospital.

He is charged with embezzlement for using donations to renovate a cardinal's apartment.

The Vatican said in a statement that prosecutors also asked for a finding of not guilty against a second defendant, the hospital's former treasurer, citing insufficient proof.

Verdicts could come as early as Saturday, when the trial resumes.

Giuseppe Profiti, the former president of the Bambino Gesu pediatric hospital, has defended spending 422,000 euro in donations to the hospital's foundation to renovate the penthouse apartment of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the retired Vatican number two.

Profiti gave evidence that the investment would have brought in even more donations during fundraisers at the apartment.

In formulating his request, Vatican prosecutor Roberto Zanotti said Profiti, in his role as a public office holder, had "committed the vice of excessive power".

The prosecutor also demanded that Profiti pay a 5,000-euro fine and be banned from public office for life.

The hospital's current president, Mariella Enoc, testified on Monday that revelations the funds had been used for the cardinal's apartment caused "very grave damage" to the hospital's foundation.

Ms Enoc said, once she took over, she never held fundraisers at the cardinal's apartment "because it's not my style to raise money by holding dinners at the houses of cardinals or other personalities".

AP
Melania Trump has hit back at Donald Trump's first wife for referring to herself as "first lady".

Ivana Trump told ABC's Good Morning America on Monday that she talks to the president about every two weeks and has a direct number to the White House.

She added: "I don't want to call him there because Melania is there and I don't want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because I'm basically first Trump wife. I'm first lady, OK?"

Melania Trump's spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said there was "clearly no substance to this statement from an ex," and called it "attention-seeking and self-serving noise".

Ivana Trump is promoting her book, Raising Trump and Ms Grisham suggested she was trying to "sell books".

Melania Trump, a native of Slovenia and former fashion model fluent in several languages, was rarely seen in the weeks after Mr Trump's inauguration, and was usually at her husband's side when she did appear in public.

In an unusual move for modern first ladies, she and Barron, the couple's now-11-year-old son, lived at the family's Trump Tower penthouse in New York for several months after the inauguration so he would not have to switch schools in the middle of the year.

They joined Mr Trump at the White House in June, and Barron started at a private school in Maryland.

She has more recently raised her profile, and talked about how she plans to "use my platform as first lady" to achieve her goals, including helping children suffering from cyberbullying.

Melania is the most popular Trump in the White House, according to a recent CNN survey in which 44% of those polled said they have a favourable opinion of the first lady.

She beat her husband, stepdaughter Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Ivanka's Trump's husband, in the poll late last month.

It is usual for first ladies to be more popular than their husbands, who are called upon to sound off on a host of difficult issues, and Donald Trump, who has experienced some of the lowest public approval ratings of a first-year president, has called attention to his wife's popularity.

"She's become very, very popular, I'll tell you that," he said after she introduced him at a recent event at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

He said she has become an "incredible emissary" for the American people, and he was "very proud of her".

AP
Professor Hugh Brady, Vice-Chancellor & President and Dr Erik Lithander, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) were joined by senior University of Bristol academics on a recent visit to China to strengthen education partnerships and showcase the University to prospective students.

Professor Mike Basker, Dean of the Faculty of Arts; Professor Ian Bond, Head of the School of Civil, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering; Maxine Gillway, Director, Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies; Dr Andrew Harrison, Head of International Recruitment and Lorna Cuckow, Head of International Partnerships & Relations, made up the University of Bristol delegation.

High-level meetings with Chinas world-leading universities - including Zhejiang University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong and the Harbin Institute of Technology  were a demonstration of Bristols commitment to forge academic partnerships across international boundaries.

The visit also involved the official launch of the new academic year's recruitment activities, with a focus on the Universitys new International Foundation Programme. The programme is unique in that it offers students the full undergraduate experience  it is one of the few UK foundation programmes where subject courses are delivered by academics in schools, and the accommodation provided is in undergraduate halls of residences. The IFP Plus programme is a unique offer for high calibre candidates with an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher.

A signing ceremony at Nankai University in Tianjin province marked Bristols first formal recruiting partnership with a Chinese institution. The progression agreement will allow students who have completed one year of Nankais Master of Translation and Interpretation to join Bristols MA Chinese-English Language Translation.

The delegation also met with the China Scholarships Council with a view to broadening the existing MOU with the University and increasing the number of available scholarships.

Professor Hugh Brady, Vice-Chancellor & President, commented:

As the Vice-Chancellor & President of a leading, research-intensive university, each visit to China is intensely rewarding. Its universities are seeing a rapid rise in their world-rankings and the scale of Chinas investment in education and research is second to none.

This trip was about taking the opportunity to strengthen and formalise our partnerships with Chinas world-class institutions and highlighting to the best and brightest the many strengths a University of Bristol education can provide.
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Najam Shah, 58, of Victoria, has been sentenced to five years jail after pleading guilty to one charge of conspiring to defraud financial institutions. Shah must serve three years and three months before being eligible for parole.The sentencing follows an ASIC investigation into Footscray-based finance broking company Myra Home Loans, which traded as Myra Financial Services (Myra).The charge relates to Shah's role at Myra and the creation and use of false documents to support loan applications valued at a total of approximately $170m.On 13 February 2017, Shah entered the guilty plea during an appearance at the County Court of Victoria. Shahs plea followed his arrest and charge in January 2015. By pleading guilty, Shah admitted to conspiring to defraud financial institutions.In sentencing Shah, Judge Gucciardo noted that mortgage fraud of this nature damages the integrity of the lending system and that Shah's well organised deception enabled such corruption. He further noted that Shah was motivated by greed.ASIC deputy chair Peter Kell said, "ASIC will continue to ensure that mortgage brokers who provide false documentation are held to account. Today's sentencing reflects both the severity of Mr Shah's actions and the consequences facing those who do not abide by the law."The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.ASIC's investigation is continuing.Shah's charge relates to conspiring with others to defraud financial institutions through the provision of false documents in support of loan applications submitted on behalf of Myra clients between about March 2008 and August 2010.The misconduct involved the submission of false documents for more than 500 loan applications valued at approximately $170m to numerous banks and financial institutions, including the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corporation, St George Bank, Bankwest Choice Home Loans , Citibank, National Australia Bank, Pepper Homeloans and Suncorp Bank The false documents included bank statements, payslips, citizenship certificates and statutory declarations. These were predominantly used in support of applications for home loans for house and land packages as well as for the purchase or refinance of existing homes.
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Madison has always had a problem with keeping her family together ever since their boat landed in Mexico on Fear the Walking Dead. And three seasons in, she still has this problem. In El Matadero, Madison, Walker and Strand arrive at the market trading post to meet Daniel, but they are hiding a terrible secret. Alicia starts to survive on her own and meets a new friend, and Nick gets into some old habits at the trading post.

Recap: What is Alicia Forced to Do to Buy Time in the Bunker? >>>

Snag in the Plan

Shortly before Madison and her friends arrive at the market trading post, Ofelia falls off the truck. They stop and realize that shes been bit. Ofelia makes Madison promise to bring her to her father. Once they get past security at the trading post, Madison and Walker try to make Ofelia as comfortable as possible as they try to prevent her from dying before Daniel arrives. Strand thinks its a huge mistake, as Madison had to trade most of their weapons to get into the post. Madison wants to honor her word.

While Madison and Walker stay with Ofelia, Strand goes off on his own, looking for a man named Proctor John. He claims he has something he wants, but we dont know what this is.

As night falls, Madison takes Ofelia out to the yard to wait for Daniel. And literally just as Daniel pulls up, Ofelia passes away on Madisons shoulder. And just as Madison fears, Daniel wants nothing to do with her, as he shoots Ofelia before she turns. This leaves Madison worried about her next move, especially since Alicia is off on her own. She worries how shell keep her family together and where they will go.

As Madison collects her things, Daniel comes to see her. Eventually, he tells her to pack up her things so they can head back to the dam. And he agrees to let her friends and family go too.

On Her Own

Alicia seems to be doing okay on her own. On one of her first nights, as she eats alone by a camp fire, Nick and Troy stop by to try and convince her to go with them back to the trading post and dam. She still says she wants to be on her own. She tells Nick that he doesnt have to atone for his past life anymore, as she forgives him. Shes referring to all the heartache he caused when he was addicted to painkillers.

After staying the night, Nick and Troy leave Alicia to fend for herself once again. Eventually, she stumbles upon a fast food restaurant. She finds a drum of instant potatoes, but soon the restaurant gets filled with walkers. She hides in a childrens ball pit and gets attacked by a little girl walker but survives. Then she hides again and watches a woman come in with an ice pick, kill all of the walkers and then remove some walkers teeth and fingers  for the gold. The woman also leaves with the potatoes.

The next day, Alicia pulls up to a parking lot and finds the womans car. Just as shes trying to take the potatoes, the woman comes back out. They have words, and then Alicia suggests sharing the potatoes because shes tired and hungry and doesnt want to kill the woman. The two ladies bond over the potatoes, with the woman warning Alicia that theres nothing left out there along the way of where shes going. She tells Alicia to get used to the killing. She also adds that she doesnt make friends and that shell be leaving in the morning.

The next morning, Alicia finds the woman outside trying to start her car as a herd of walkers comes up upon them. Alicia offers to help. The woman reiterates that she doesnt make friends. So Alicia suggests that they just kill together, at least this one time.

Quiz: Would You Survive on Fear the Walking Dead? >>>

Uppers

After Nick leaves his sister, he and Troy head back to the trading post. After seeing Ofelia dying, he starts to think about his life. He takes a few of the painkillers left beside Ofelia and then goes to find Troy. He forces Troy to take more painkillers with him and drink. Then he asks a waitress where he can find the El Matadero, and she tells him to ask for the butcher. Troy doesnt want to do any of this, but Nick drags him along. The very high pair finds this butcher in a drug den. He offers Nick a variety of drugs, including heroin, but Nick says he doesnt want downers; he wants uppers. So the man takes out brain stem, which Nick happily eats. The man then forces Troy to eat it too.

The guys are out of their minds as they run through the trading post and eventually climb the walls to get out of the marketplace. Nick finds a walker and covers himself and Troy in walker blood. He then walks into a herd of walkers. Troy goes in after him. When Troy reaches Nick, he just starts mumbling, I cant go back there.

The next morning, Madison, Walker, Crazy Dog and Strand pack up to leave with Daniel for the dam. Nick tells Madison that he and Troy are going to stay at the marketplace. He tells her she can see him when they come to the trading post. And its clear at this point that Madison is done trying to force her family to stay together, as she leaves with everyone else.

Separated Again

Once again, Madisons family is separated. In season 1 of Fear the Walking Dead, she was constantly separated from Nick. However, once she found him, it was he who led them to Strands boat to flee the city. But once in Mexico, Nick left again in season 2. In fact, he spent most of season 2 on his own with another community. Also in season 2, Madison and Travis were separated. Eventually, he made his way to the hotel where he learned of his sons death.

In season 3, though, Madison manages to get all of her family together, Travis is killed, and Alicia and Nick really dont want to be on the ranch. Once the ranch is overrun by walkers, Madisons kids see it as an opportunity to go off on their own. And this time Madison cant really do anything to stop them.

Is this a good thing for the Clarks? Alicia keeps pointing out that every time shes with a group, something bad happens. So perhaps being on her own will be a good thing for her. Even though Alicia is not my favorite character on Fear the Walking Dead, shes definitely grown up, and I can see her surviving nicely on her own. Im not worried about Nick at all. I do worry that falling off the wagon could cause him some trouble down the road, though. So well just have to wait and see.

Were you surprised that Ofelia was bit by a walker? Do you think going to the dam is still a good idea for Madison and Walker? What do you think Strand is planning? Do you think the Clark siblings are better off on their own? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Fear the Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC. Want more news? Like our Walking Dead Facebook page.

(Image courtesy of AMC)
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October 31, 2022

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Campus News

UB to reinter, memorialize remains uncovered from former county poorhouse cemetery

This monument marks the site in Assumption Cemetery on Grand Island where the remains of the deceased will be reinterred. Photo: Dan Vivian.

By BERT GAMBINI

These are the people who helped build Buffalo. We understand through this work who [they] were and have a cross-section of life in Buffalo in the late 19th- and early 20th centuries.  Joyce Sirianni, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Department of Anthropology

UB will hold a reinterment ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the UB Newman Center to commemorate the lives of 372 people buried between the mid-19th and early-20th centuries on the grounds of the former Erie County Poorhouse cemetery, situated along Bailey Avenue near the edge of what is today the universitys South Campus. A funeral procession will leave the Newman Center, 495 Skinnersville Road, Amherst, at the conclusion of the ceremony and proceed directly to a private committal service at 1 p.m. at Assumption Cemetery in Grand Island. The non-denominational ceremony and service represent the culmination of approximately nine years of devoted work at the confluence of dedicated science and compassionate humanity by UB researchers and several community partners that began after construction crews discovered the first of the poorhouses 372 gravesites, uncovered during a Bailey Avenue lighting project in 2008 and again in 2012. Their meticulous and respectful efforts restore the dignity and individuality of the deceased that had been previously lost amidst a forgotten history and allows for the remains to now be moved to a permanent resting place on hallowed ground. Doug Perrelli, clinical assistant professor and director of UBs nonprofit Archaeological Survey (a contracting and applied archaeological institution within the universitys Department of Anthropology) and Joyce E. Sirianni, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor, both faculty members in UBs Department of Anthropology, have served as co-directors of the project to respectfully disinter the human remains and assure the complete removal of all individuals from the construction area; maintain separation of the remains from each burial location; and provide public outreach, from student engagement to new courses, book chapters and symposiums.

A researcher works with the remains. Photo: University at Buffalo.

This project is a dramatic testimonial to how much learning has been provided, Perrelli says. Its an unprecedented opportunity to interact with, to learn from and to produce good research thats publicly available. Work from the project provided biological profiles of the deceased, such as age, gender and ancestry. It included skeletal analysis, demographics, recorded causes of death and disease identification. The work started after the initial discovery of human remains in 2008. With additional improvements planned for 2012 in that same area of Bailey Avenue, UB decided archaeologists and physical anthropologists would be on site around the clock monitoring work as construction there continued. James Hartner, senior research support specialist for UBs Archaeological Survey, supervised all activity at the site so that any additional discoveries of human remains would be treated respectfully and under scientifically controlled conditions that strived to recover even the smallest possible bone fragment, right down to saving some of the soil on the chance that it might contain human remains, according to Sirianni. Every aspect of this project exceeded the highest ethical standards established by the Society for American Archaeology, Perrelli says. The university is committed to adhering to the standards set by this project and to future reinterment at Assumption Cemetery should other remains be discovered in that area of the campus. In addition to the work of Perrelli, Sirianni and Hartner, other UB participants include Peter Biehl, chair of the anthropology department; Jennifer Byrnes, Kevin Knowles, Melanie Mayberry and Jennifer Odien, all of whom received PhDs in anthropology from UB based on research from this project; UB graduate students Erin Chapman and Kimberly Hanzlian; and Dan Vivian, assistant vice president for procurement. Rosanne Higgins, adjunct research professor, provided expertise on historical documentation; Jennifer Liber Raines, genealogical and historical researcher, assisted in guiding the projects understanding of the Erie County Poorhouse; and Jennifer Muller, an associate professor in Ithaca Colleges Department of Anthropology, was involved with skeletal analysis. This work was done in the context of Buffalo and we have new insights into the citys history, Sirianni says. We understand through this work who these people were and have a cross-section of life in Buffalo in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These are the people who helped build Buffalo, and though the poorhouse provided relief mainly for the poor, many of the residents were middle class. All you had to do was lose your job.

For nine years, Doug Perrelli and Joyce Sirianni, both Department of Anthropology faculty members, led efforts to restore the dignity and individuality of 372 people buried between the mid-19th and early-20th centuries on the grounds of the former poorhouse. Photo: Meredith Forrest-Kulwicki.



Community members provide expertise and support

An example of the remains found at the site of the former Erie County Poorhouse cemetery along Bailey Avenue near the edge of the South Campus. Image: University at Buffalo.

The universitys plans for reinterment drew from the expertise of a community team comprised of members from the Erie Niagara Funeral Directors Association (ENFDA), including Gerald Gentile, the organizations president-elect; Gabriel Johnson, secretary-treasurer; John Latimore; board members John Kaczor and Fred Hamp; and past presidents Larry Ginnane and Michael Cushman. In addition to those from the ENFDA, Tom Koch, Stone Art Memorial; Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Buffalo and its representatives Carmen Colao, director of Catholic Cemeteries and Frank Enders, supervisor of grounds; Richard Wedekindt, retired funeral director; the Wilbert Vault Company; and the New York State Division of Cemeteries all provided valuable insight, counsel and assistance to help guide the project to its successful conclusion. The university gratefully acknowledges the support and guidance provided by this dedicated assembly of community partners, many of whom have generously donated their time and services to this effort, says Laura Hubbard, UB vice president for finance and administration. Their experience and compassion, along with the expertise of our faculty and the commitment from their students, have allowed us to honor the memories of the deceased. The coordinated effort has established a dignified and compassionate approach for a respectful and appropriate reinterment process that honors the memories of not only those buried in the poorhouse cemetery, but for countless others in forgotten burial sites being unearthed around the country in towns, cities and other colleges and universities with ever-greater frequency by expanding development and infrastructure improvements. When we started this project I thought this was a rare occurrence, but its happening everywhere as cities move into what once was the hinterlands, says Perrelli. Its a pervasive challenge; theres no funding for it and people are reaching out to institutions that have encountered this for advice on possible solutions. A group in the Midwest has already contacted me. Theyll be excavating near a small poorhouse. They heard about our project and wanted to know what we did.

A labor of science and love

In the case at UB, that the discovery happened on the site of a major research university meant the immediate availability of professionals with training in archaeology, anthropology, anatomy and osteology to proceed as a scientific endeavor while also honoring the duty owed to the people buried there. This was an opportunity to interact, to learn and to produce good research. Look at the masters degrees, the PhDs, the courses that have been taught, book chapters, symposia and museum presentations that have come about as a result of this project, Perrelli says. The process of research, excavation, analysis and reburial has resulted in the training and education of so many students, and reached so many in the local community. Our expertise permitted us to deal with this situation in a way that maximized the good that comes from it by honoring the deceased and developing research thats available in the public domain, he says.

A researcher works with the remains in a lab. Photo: University at Buffalo

This was definitely a labor of science and a labor of love. Perrelli and Sirianni say their first duty was returning to the deceased their identities, which the poorhouses inadequate record-keeping failed to preserve. That system relied on a simple progression of numbers on wooden markers to identify specific gravesites. Administrators recorded those numbers in ledger books, but year after year reused the same numbers as they removed markers each winter when frozen ground prevented burials. The various states of decay further complicated identification efforts. There were a few fully articulated skeletons, but in other instances researchers found only an isolated bone fragment, some as small as a coin. We needed time to give them identity, says Sirianni, who is also the pastor of Faith United Presbyterian Church in Kenmore. Sirianni will preside over both the memorial ceremony and the committal service at Assumption Cemetery with Rev. Msgr. J. Patrick Keleher, director and campus minister for the UB Newman Center. Right from the very beginning, identity was the goal, and that goes for the archaeological excavation, the anatomical, historical and documentary research. It was a long process, Sirianni says. After collecting all the data, we would come back and stand around the person and I would say, This was an individual. What do we know about his or her life based on our research? Give us his life or her life. In the end, however, placing names back in association with the physical remains was not possible. The researchers worked in hopes of finding a Rosetta Stone that could help them match names in ledger books to burial patterns that emerged from the site. We extrapolated their lifestyle and job occupational conditions based on marks that were left on the skeletons, all in an attempt to identify who they were, but we dont have maps of where people were buried and without total information we never knew where we were in the puzzle, says Perrelli. The management of the cemetery was such  and this was the norm for the day  that no such pattern would develop. We tried, but we dont know their names. But the researchers did restore the individuality of each of the deceased and were able to determine gender, ancestry, what diseases or traumas the deceased may have suffered, their cause of death, even religious affiliations in some cases, based on recovered artifacts. To maintain that individuality, the remains have been placed in separate burial pouches with stainless steel identification and laid to rest in eight coffins. We have learned so much in so many different areas, from archaeology to biological anthropology and the study of skeletal trauma, to the documentary research and the wealth of information learned about the poorhouse and the people who lived and worked there, and more broadly about the history of our state, county, city and suburbs, says Perrelli. Stone Art Memorial donated the monument that marks the reinterred location for the deceased with the following inscription: In respectful memory of the men, women and children of the Erie County Poorhouse 1851-1913. A temporary shelter for some, a much needed home for others. The remains of the deceased in the former poorhouse cemetery were moved to this site from the grounds of what is now the University at Buffalo South Campus. May this permanent resting place bring the peace they sought in life. The university will install a separate monument at a later date that will memorialize the original location of the poorhouse cemetery on the South Campus. We have recovered all of the remains uncovered as result of this construction project. We have documentation. We have photographs. Its meticulous research and its all available for further study, says Sirianni. Adds Perrelli: Because of this work, these people are in some sense able to live on. The individuals disinterred have made a contribution to science and culture in a way they could never have contemplated.

READER COMMENT
Kitchen and bathroom wall panel manufacturer Fibo UK has joined the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) as a supplier member.

Fibo is experiencing strong growth with merchants across the country with its innovative and stylish wall panels. Developed in Norway in 1952 and available in the UK since 1981, Fibos precision engineered panels and extensive support are opening up new selling opportunities for merchants.

Managing Director Scott Beattie said: Although weve been in the UK for many years, new owners were introduced last year and are focussed on growth. At the start of this year, the decision was taken to expand our UK business nationally, and since then its been a complete whirlwind! Investment in a new 14m factory in Norway reflects our ambitious plans.

The interest and commitment from merchants to stock and display our products has been outstanding, continues Scott. For example, BBS Building Supplies ripped out its entire showroom at their Barton Hill branch and replaced it with a fully refurbished display area, enabling a whole new experience for their builder and contractor customers. Our panels cover over 150m of wall space. This level of commitment is testament to the quality of our products and the difference theyre making to merchants sales.

In this period of rapid growth and expansion it makes sense to start aligning ourselves to key industry bodies like the BMF. We recognise the value of BMF membership and look forward to the many opportunities it will bring in helping us build new and existing relationships with builders merchants.
Families need help: Donate and Give a Christmas

During the holiday season, in partnership with NJ 211, we are pleased to offer the Give a Christmas program to Burlington County residents.
There has been a 27 per cent jump in the launch of new affordable housing units in the first nine months of the year compared to the corresponding period last year, says a new study. The study was done in the top eight cities of the country.
Increasing real estate price is a challenge for setting up quality, affordable health care infrastructure in the rural area, says Prathap C Reddy, chairman of Group. He said that its Reach initiative, aimed at affordable health care for rural population, has been finding it difficult to get adequate real estate at affordable cost.
The Odisha government's bid to hasten transfer of land originally acquired for Posco's mega steel mill near Paradip to JSW Steel has met opposition from earlier owners, protesting at the erection of a boundary wall.
Tata Motors, the countrys biggest automobile company by revenue, sustained cumulative losses worth Rs 7,200 crore during the last three financial years in domestic business, which mostly fell under the tenure of former Chairman Cyrus Mistry. No wonder that his successor, N Chandrasekaran, has sharpened focus on turning around the company as a part of his group strategy.
Oil giant Saudi Aramco, which has launched a new Indian venture in Gurgaon, is in talks with several Indian refiners and hopes to land a joint venture deal by next year, the company's chief executive told Reuters on Sunday.

Aramco, like other major oil producers, wants to tap rising demand growth opportunities and invest in the world's third-biggest consumer. "We are hoping to land on a JV sometime," Aramco's CEO Amin Nasser said at India Energy Forum by Cera Week in New Delhi.



Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who jointly inaugurated the local unit with Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser, said the setting up of the Gurgaon unit would help pave the way for "a strategic partnership in the hydrocarbon sector" between the two nations.

Asked if a deal could be finalised next year, Nasser said: "We hope so. We are in serious discussions."

Aramco wants to buy a stake in the planned 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) refinery in India's west coast, India's oil minister said in June.

The world's biggest oil producer is investing in refineries abroad to help lock in demand for its crude and expand its market share ahead of its initial public offering next year.

Aramco plans to float up to 5 percent of its shares in 2018 in what could be the world's largest IPO, raising as much as $100 billion.

Nasser said Aramco is interested in investing in India's downstream sector - refining, petrochemicals and fuel retailing including lubricants.

Saudi Arabia is competing with Iraq to be India's top oil supplier, with Iraq displacing it for a fifth month in a row in August, data compiled by Reuters showed.

Earlier this year Saudi Arabia pledged billions of dollars of investment in projects in Indonesia and Malaysia to ensure long-term oil supply deals.

The International Energy Agency estimates India's refining capacity will lag fuel demand going forward, requiring investment in new plants.

Saudi Aramco earlier on Sunday launched a new office in New Delhi as it aims to expands its presence in India.

India's oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who inaugurated Aramco's India unit, said Aramco is interested in investing in refinery projects in the Asian country and "very soon they will come to India."

Nasser said Aramco will increase its staff strength in India by four fold compared to now. The company which had 14 employees has now raised staff numbers to around 30.

"India by itself is an important market. The size of India's market is huge. The growth in India last year is 8 percent last year as compared to 1.5 percent globally in energy," Nasser said.

"We need to be here."

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The worlds biggest oil producer, Saudi Aramco, on Monday said it would invest in the downstream oil and gas sector of India through a joint venture. It has set up a local arm, Aramco Asia India, even as it evaluates picking up a stake in the Rs 40,000-crore mega refinery on the west coast of the country.
As Amazon.com pushes into Southeast Asia with a new venture into Singapore, the online retailer is facing some tough hurdles. Shopping in air-conditioned malls is practically a national sport, and e-commerce rivals moved in long ago.
Tata Group, India's largest conglomerate is looking to simply overlapping business operations, prune its expansive portfolio by consolidation and creating new business clusters like defence, infrastructure, consumer and retail, financial services and hotels and airlines. It also aims to support the growth of three of its largest companies, Tata Consultancy, Tata Steel and Tata Motors. Read more

In an interview with Economic Times, Tata Sons chief N Chandrasekaran said, "We would like to see ourselves as 5,6,7 groups as opposed to 110 . The more we see ourselves as 110-120 companies, nothing will get done."

Chandrasekaran had taken charge as the chairman of Tata Sons about eight months ago, after a bitter boardroom battle that saw the ouster of Cyrus Mistry. He also emphasised that he wouldn't shy away from tough decisions to drive agility, increase accountability and ensure high performance.



Reducing cross-holdings among the 150-year-old conglomerate has been one of the top priorities of the chairman since he took charge on February 21. In order to achieve the objective of simplification, Tata Sons will explore all options from consolidation to reducing subsidiaries as it seeks to create value. This was in line with the 'One Tata' focus by Chandra. Read more
Tata group Chairman N Chandrasekaran, in a series of interviews to the media, has unravelled his aviation strategy for the first time by saying the company might consider looking at Air India, being disinvested by the government.
Jay Amit Shah, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah, on Monday filed a criminal defamation case at a court in Ahmedabad against news website The Wire.



The case was filed over a report the website had published on Sunday. The report had claimed that the turnover of a firm owned by Jay had increased by 16,000 times after the BJP came to power at the Centre and his father was made the party chief.
Your metro ride is set to get dearer from tomorrow as the DMRC is adamant to implement the second phase of fare hike from October 10. The Metro fares were last revised in May when the minimum tariff was raised from Rs 8 to Rs 10 and the maximum fare from Rs 30 to Rs 50.
Doklam and the Sikkim stretch of the border between India and China came back into focus on Sunday as Beijing asked India to respect the historical treaty that defined the boundary between the two nations in that area. China's statement calling on India to "face the facts" came a day after Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made her maiden visit to the Nathu La post.
The Indian Army on Sunday said wrapping the bodies of men, who died in a helicopter crash in Arunachal Pradesh, "in local resources is an aberration".
Travelling on Delhi Metro will pinch your pockets from Tuesday with the decks cleared for another fare hike, which will lead to an increase of Rs 10 for all travels beyond 5 km.

The fare hike, which comes barely five months within the last one, will affect every commuter who travels beyond 5 km. The maximum fare, for journeys beyond 32 km, will now be Rs 60.

The revised fare structure will be: up to 2 km  Rs 10, 2 to 5 km  Rs 20, 5 to 12 km  Rs 30, 12 to 21 km  Rs 40, 21 to 32 km  Rs 50 and for journeys beyond 32 km  Rs 60.

Smart card users, who, according to DMRC's estimates, happen to be 70 per cent of the metro's total ridership, will continue to get 10 per cent discount on each ride.

They will get an additional discount of 10 per cent while travelling during off-peak hours, that is from beginning of services till 8 am, between 12 pm and 5 pm and from 9 pm to end of services.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) made the announcement after its highest decision making body, the DMRC board, refused to "interfere" in the matter, saying it has no power to change the recommendations of the fare fixation committee (FCC), which had proposed the steep hike.

The board had met around 8 pm following Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's insistence that the decision be withheld.

The DMRC had been batting for a hike citing "losses" in view of loans and rise in input costs such as power tariff among others.

"Out of 16, Del Govt has 5 Directors, who opposed but Centre adament. Hike too steep. Centre shud hv been more considerate for common man (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

Sources said nominee directors of the Delhi government on the DMRC board conveyed the desire of the chief minister that the hike be withheld or postponed and a new fare fixation panel be set up.

"The board was informed that under Section 37 of the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, recommendations of the FFC are binding on metro rail authorities.

"Subsequently, the board noted that it does not have the competence to consider and defer implementation of the recommendations of the FFC," sources said.

Earlier, Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, in a letter to Kejriwal, said the meeting was called in the spirit of "cooperative federalism".

The new fares would be applicable across five corridors  Blue, Yellow, Red, Green and Violet  of the metro that crisscrosses the capital, with the total network length currently standing at around 213 km.

There shall be no change in the fares of Airport Express Line (Orange Line).

When the Delhi Metro had started operations on December 25, 2002, the minimum fare was Rs 4 and maximum was Rs 8.
Domestic orders placed for the missiles have been worth more than $7 billion over the last 20 years, and if exports fructify the sales could double in the next five years, chief said today.

Aerospace, an Indo-Russian joint venture formed in 1998, manufactures the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land.

While India could use the BrahMos missiles for its three services -- Army, Navy and the Air Force -- it could not export them before June, 2016, when it became a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

The MTCR membership enabled India to trade in high-end missile technology and also enhance its joint ventures with Russia.

"The journey of (nearly) 20 years has not been easy. We have struggled with our finances, technology, users. Challenges have been so many," BrahMos Aerospace's CEO Sudhir Kumar Mishra said speaking at the Deftech 2017, an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Defence Ministry.

The company started making profit only in its 14th year, he said.

Over a period of time, the missiles have been developed to become more effective for all the three services, he said.

"The journey has been meaningful because we invested $300 million and today we have orders worth more than $7 billion," Mishra said.

After India joined the MTCR, many countries, especially Vietnam, expressed interest in buying the BrahMos missiles.

"If exports fructify, then this (the order for BrahMos missiles) can almost double in another five years," he said.

Later, when asked about exports of the missiles, he declined to comment, saying he was not authorised to talk to the media and the Defence Ministry would be in a position to comment on it.

In August, there were reports of India supplying BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles to Vietnam. However, the information was dubbed "incorrect" by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the programme, G Satheesh Reddy, the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, said a strong research and development (R&D) base is necessary for making the country self-reliant in defence technology.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said his government was ready to pay half the grants-in-aid for the next five years to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to avoid a fare hike, provided the central government is ready to pay the other half.

"As for as your suggestion regarding a grant to DMRC for meeting the gap in their operating finances, my government is willing to bear half the grant if only a matching grant is provided by the Central Government," Kejriwal said in his letter to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Kejriwal's letter, dated October 8, further said: "As you know, the central government and Delhi Government are 50-50 owners of DMRC and its equity etc, have been shared in this proportion all along. Let an assessment be made of the financial gap likely to be created on account of the postponement of the second fare hike and we will be able to bear half of it.

"Since the central government bears 100 per cent of loss for Kolkata Metro, I see no difficulty if it bears 50 per cent in case of Delhi. Thereafter, an FFC (Fare Fixation Committee) can be constituted, as suggested by you."

Kejriwal, through his letter, also informed the central government to his government's readiness to take over DMRC if it wants.

"If the central government agrees, Delhi government would be willing to take over DMRC. We are confident that we will be able to fund DMRC by improving the efficiency rather than effecting steep fare hikes and provide an affordable means of transport to the people of Delhi. Read Also: Don't want Delhi Metro fare hike? Pay Rs 3,000 cr a yr: Centre to Kejriwal

"However, till that happens, let the spirit of partnership prevail and I do hope that you will find a mutually acceptable solution to the present impasse relating to the second fare hike which we clearly regard as anti-people," he wrote.

Kejriwal's reaction came in response to Puri's suggestion to him to give over Rs 3,000 crore annually to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) if he wants to hold the proposed .

Puri had said to Kejriwal through his letter dated October 6 that the Metro Act did not allow the central government to put on hold the fare hike. He also noted that the alternative to fare hike was to provide DMRC yearly grants-in-aid for the next five years: Rs 3,040 crore, Rs 3,616 crore, Rs 3,318 crore, Rs 3,150 crore and Rs 2,980 crore respectively.

Puri was responding to a letter from Kejriwal on September 29 asking the central government to put the hike on hold.

The AAP government has opposed the fare hike proposed from October 10.

It has locked horns with the Delhi Metro Rail Corp (DMRC) over the impending second hike this year, following the recommendation of the fourth FFC.

The DMRC defended its decision by saying its input costs had gone up over the years and the increase was at par with Metro rails in other cities.

The Delhi assembly will meet on Monday to discuss the proposed hike.
On the second day of his Gujarat visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached his hometown Vadnagar and was greeted by enthusiastic crowds everywhere.
A political storm hit the Narendra Modi-led government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after a news website reported that a company run by party chief Amit Shah's son, Jay Amit Shah, recorded a 16,000-times increase in turnover in only a year after Modi became the Prime Minister and the senior Shah the party president. In a statement that the BJP released on Sunday evening, Jay said he would be filing civil and criminal defamation cases against the news website's owners, editor, and the author of the article in Ahmedabad, where he runs his business, and sue them for Rs 100 crore in damages.
The family of Master Warrant Officer Anil Kumar Singh, who lost his life in the Mi-17 helicopter crash in Tawang, has alleged that they did not receive any help from administration to perform the cremation.

Sunil Kumar Singh, brother of Anil, said, "The dead body was first brought to Patna by the Air force and then to Chhapra through a helicopter and then it was handed over to us by the Air Force. There is a helipad just 200 metres away from our house which was made to land Bihar governor's helicopter. We requested the local administration to land the helicopter here but they refused."

He added that the family has no objections from the Air Force as it handed over the body to them very respectfully and performed the last rites by paying the guard of honour.

Expressing anger over the behaviour from the local administration, he said "There has been an event for the Bihar Governor just six kms away from here. I have immense grief over this that my elder brother has sacrificed is life for the nation but not a single person from administration has come to meet us."

The family has alleged that Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Member of Parliament, who lives just 100 kms away from their home, did not even come to see them.

Also, they have stated that the administration, which assembled for the Governor's function, was informed personally about the victim, but they could not afford to come just ten steps forward and meet the family.

"We received no support from the administration, neither mentally nor financially. We had to use private vehicles to bring his body from Chhapra. No one from authority came here. They negated my father's martyrdom," said son of the late Warrant Officer.

Locals from the village said that they saw Anil Kumar as an icon and he used to tell them that how much respect one earns after joining the Indian Air Force.

The family, lamenting over the death, has expressed anger over the neglected martyrdom and has demanded apology from the administration over such behaviour.

Kumar had joined the Indian Army in 1984. He lost his life along with six others on Friday, when a Mi-17 V5 chopper near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
Carbon dating of an ancient Indian document, the Bakhshali manuscript, has recently placed the first written occurrence of the number zero in the third or fourth century AD, about 500 years earlier than previously believed. While the news has no practical bearing on the infrastructure of zeros (and ones) underlying our high-tech civilisation, it does remind us how indebted we are for this invention. But to whom is this debt owed? And how should it be repaid?
To compensate farmers for any sudden and unexpected drop in open market prices of commodities, the Central government is contemplating a variety of options, including freedom to states to purchase farm produce other than grains as and when required and also a national price deficit scheme on the lines of one floated by Madhya Pradesh recently.

On the latter (price deficit scheme) though, opinion is divided within the government, with a section feeling that such an initiative is fraught with challenges and could lead to operational difficulties on ground if expanded at the national level.



Sources said senior officials from the Madhya Pradesh government was recently in the capital to apprise the Centre about the scheme and its performance so far.
Even as reports suggest a sharp dip in the sale of Chinese items during the coming Diwali, Chhattisgarh might take aggressive steps to discourage the business in the state.
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan recently held a meeting with Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General Sanusi Mohammad Barkindo in here and discussed the current scenario of oil and gas industry of the world and exchanged notes on the recent developments.

Barkindo is in India to attend the first CERAWEEK India Energy Forum. The two had last met in Vienna in May 2017 for the 2nd India-OPEC Institutional Dialogue.

India's engagement with the OPEC is important as India sources about 86 percent of crude oil, 75 percent of natural gas, 95 percent of LPG from the OPEC member countries.

During the meeting yesterday, Pradhan highlighted that in today's oversupplied market, it was important for producers to understand the perspective of consuming countries and the changes that have taken place in these demand centers. He emphasised the need for a purposeful and improved dialogue among producer and consumer countries.

Pradhan reiterated that the OPEC should work towards "responsible pricing," which is important for India for socio-economic and developmental reasons. He also emphasised on India's earlier view of 'Asian Dividend rather than charging Asian Premium' on the crude supplied to India and said that countries like India should actually be the "preferred destination." He later suggested that the OPEC, at its ministerial meetings, gives wider consideration to India's requests.

Pradhan further noted that India is putting a lot of emphasis on diversifying its crude oil supply sources and tapping new supply sources. He highlighted the arrival of two shipments of crude oil cargo of 1.6 million barrels from the U.S.

The three Indian public sector refineries have already placed a cumulative order 7.85 million barrel from the U.S. In addition, a private sector refiner has also placed an order of 2 million barrel from the U.S.

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas was accompanied by senior officials and also CEOs of seven public and private sector refineries who together operate all 23 refineries in India processing over 235 MMT of crude annually.

India is future of energy demand, Secretary General of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Sanusi Mohammad Barkindo said.

Barkindo said that India is the growing end of the global economy and the future of energy demand.

"The OPEC and India engage in ongoing dialogue. The OPEC has established similar dialogue with the European Union, with Russia and other countries. But, one of most important dialogues is with India as OPEC member countries supply India over 80 percent of its oil requirements. Our member countries also participate in the downstream sector of Indian industry. India is also investing in some of our member countries. So, it is a strategic partnership between the two," Barkindo said.

Briefing media about his meeting with Barkindo, Pradhan said "I have reiterated in the meeting that India as an emerging and big market expects reasonable price. We know for the continuous production, there must be price stability. Price stability must also be in the interest of consumers. This is the consistent stand India is taking."

The OPEC Secretary General also briefed media about the Declaration of Cooperation.

On December 10, 2016, twenty-four leading global oil producers signed a 'Declaration of Cooperation' in Vienna that committed the countries to a sizeable adjustment in crude oil production in support of much-needed market stability.

The landmark move between the 13 OPEC Member Countries and 11 non-OPEC producers was the culmination of many months of intense discussion and negotiation, often involving the highest level of heads of state and government.

Replying a question about talks on the consensus on the output of the Declaration of Cooperation, Barkindo said, "Consultations are ongoing and OPEC Conference President Khalid Al Falih of Saudi Arabia work hand in hand with Alexander Novak of Russian Federation and are actively consulting with all the 24 participating countries in the Declaration of Cooperation in order to build consensus on the way forward."

Barkindo added that Russian President Vladmir Putin endorsed current Declaration of Cooperation in Moscow and look forward to its sustenance.

On October 4, Putin addressed participants of a plenary session at the Russian Energy Week in Moscow.

Speaking about the oil output cut deal between OPEC and non-OPEC states, Putin said Russia fully meets its obligations under the agreement.

Talking about the 173rd (Ordinary) OPEC Meeting on November 30 in Vienna, Barkindo said, "In the interest of not only producers but consumers like India we look forward to another historic moment when we meet on November 30 in Vienna to review the implementation of the Declaration of Cooperation and evaluate projections for 2018."

He said that OPEC expects that other oil producing countries will join Declaration of Cooperation.

"There is a growing consensus. Number one, that there is rebalance in process is underway. We are gradually but steadily achieving our common and noble objectives. Number two, that to sustain this into next year, some extraordinary measures may have to be taken in order to restore the stability on a sustainable basis. And thirdly, we are also beginning to look beyond the rebalancing of the market in order to institutionalise strategic partnership among the producing countries. And finally, we are also looking forward to receiving additional producing countries to join the Declaration of Cooperation. All roads lead to Vienna on November 30."

When asked does OPEC also look at some output cap for Nigeria or Libya, Barkindo said, "We have been in active consultations with both Nigeria and Libya. They have been participating in our recent joint ministerial monitoring committee, comprising five countries from both OPEC and non-OPEC, as well as its technical sub-committee. We are glad to see that both of them are making progress towards full recovery and in solidarity with these two countries we can't wait them to fully recover so that they can take their place within the Declaration of Cooperation."

OPEC members Libya and Nigeria were exempt from the cuts agreement, which took effect in January, because of their struggles to restore production amid internal strife. Their increased output in recent months has prompted speculation that OPEC may seek to limit their production to help stabilise oil markets.

Pradhan later extended an invitation to secretary general OPEC to attend the 16th Ministerial Meeting of International Energy Forum which on scheduled to take place in India on April 2018. While, secretary general accepted the invite.
Companies will soon be able to decide which business entities to conduct business with and which ones to avoid, if they do not wish to face hassles over GST taxation, while the Centre may also reduce the number of items falling under the highest rate slab even as the GST Council moves to discourage any further tweaking of rates after last week's measures.
The government on October 6 announced some changes to the rules governing the goods and services tax (GST). These brought some cheer to exporters, and small traders and manufacturers alike. But are these enough to address the concerns around GST hurdles? A K Bhattacharya analyses for Business Standard the timing of the changes.

The changes to the rules governing the goods and services tax (GST), announced last Friday, have brought cheer to exporters as well as small traders and small manufacturers. But the question that arises now is why these corrective measures were taken only after trade and industry suffered pain due to procedural hurdles for over three months.

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard.
With the country gearing up to allot blocks under its new round of oil and gas auctions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet key global industry giants on Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a group photograph with the Oil and Gas CEOs and Experts from across the world, in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: PTI
Commerce and Industry Ministry Suresh Prabhu is expected to pitch India's proposal on a trade facilitation agreement (TFA) on services hard at the World Trade Organization (WTO) mini-ministerial meet, which began in Morocco on Monday.
The government will disqualify any company convicted for fraud and serious corporate offences from participating in the privatisation of state-owned enterprises, according to new disinvestment guidelines.

Any firm facing a conviction by a court of law or indictment/adverse order by a regulatory authority or has faced market regulator Sebi orders relating to fraud will be disqualified, said the guidelines.

While selecting bidders earlier, the government used to look into the criteria like net worth and experience. It has now decided to look into these additional criteria for qualification or disqualification of parties seeking to acquire stakes in CPSEs.

"The government has examined the issue of framing comprehensive and transparent guidelines defining the criteria for bidders interested in CPSE disinvestment so that the parties selected through competitive bidding could inspire public confidence," the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) said in a recent office memorandum.

Any conviction by a Court of law or indictment or adverse order by a regulatory authority that casts a doubt on the ability of the bidder to manage the PSU when it is disinvested or which relates to a 'grave offence' would constitute disqualification, it added.

'Grave offence' for this purpose would include orders passed by market regulator Sebi which directly relate to 'fraud' as defined in Sebi Act or regulations.

Also those orders of Sebi that cast a doubt on the ability of the bidder to manage the PSU and any conviction by a Court of law would be considered as 'grave offence'.

"In cases where Sebi passes a prosecution order, disqualification of the bidder should arise only on conviction by the Court of law," said the latest DIPAM guidelines.

A bidder disqualified from participating in the disinvestment process would not be allowed to remain associated with it or get associated merely because it has preferred an appeal against the order, based on which it has been disqualified, DIPAM said.

The government has set a target of Rs 15,000 crore to be raised from strategic disinvestment of PSUs in the current fiscal.

It has selected a host of companies, including Air India, for strategic stake sale and has fast-tracked appointment of asset valuers and legal firms who would manage the process.

The other Public Sector Units (PSUs) which have got approvals include BEML, Scooters India, Pawan Hans, Central Electronics, Bharat Pumps & Compressors Ltd Bridge & Roof Co, Projects & Development, Hindustan Newsprint and Hindustan Prefab.

Besides, PSUs like National Project Construction Corporation, Engineering Projects India and Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation are planned to be merged with similarly placed state-owned firms.
Chiefs of several global and Indian oil companies, including Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, want petroleum products to be included in the Goods and Services Tax, Niti Aayog CEO said.

Briefing reporters about the today's meeting of CEOs of oil companies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kant said global oil giants, including Saudi Aramco and Moscow-controlled oil giant Rosneft, have committed to increasing investment in India.

The prime minister, Kant said, has assured the industry that the Centre would discuss the issue with the states which suffer from 'fear of the unknown'.

Vedanta Resources Group Chairman Anil Agarwal said India is rich in mineral resources and hundreds of companies like Cairn India can function in India.

Modi also underlined the importance of the development of infrastructure in eastern India and northeast India.

According to Kant, CEOs also said India has potential to become a gas-based economy.

Modi, also wanted to institutionalise the conference which is attracting CEOs from world top oil companies.

Modi today met BP Plc Chief Executive Bob Dudley, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Royal Dutch Shell's Project and Technology Director Harry Brekelmens, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Naseer, Exxon Mobil President for Gas and Power Rob Franklin, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Vedanta Resources head Anil Agarwal to discuss the oil and gas scenario.

Government think-tank Niti Aayog made a short presentation on the status, the likely scenario of demand and supply by 2030 and current government policies.

OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting. Former oil secretaries Vivek Rae and Vijay Kelkar too were invited.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
1 TS Ships Visit Penang, Malaysia

IN Ships Tir, Sujata, Sudarshini, Shardul and ICGS Sarathi are visiting Penang, Malaysia from 08 to 12 Oct 17. The visit is aimed to expose the trainees to the conduct of IN warship in foreign waters, port familiarisation and foster bridges of friendship between the two countries. The ships belong to the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy functioning under the Southern Naval Command, headquartered at Kochi and comprises six indigenously built ships, namely, Indian Naval Ships Tir, Sujata, Shardul, Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi and two Sail Training Ships, viz, INS Sudarshini and INS Tarangini.

The Southern Naval Command (SNC) is the Training Command of the Indian Navy which is headed by Vice Admiral AR Karve, AVSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command.

Executive Branch trainee officers, after completing ab-initio training at the Indian Naval Academy, including the successful completion of B Tech degree course, join the First Training Squadron for intensive Practical Sea Training of 24 weeks designed to enable them get their Sea Legs. The Sea Trainees are taught seamanship, basic navigation, ship handling, boat work, engineering aspects besides exposure to the rigours of life at sea. The curriculum also includes sail training onboard the Sail Training Ship, where the trainees are exposed to the elements and get to grips with the art of sailing and rope work.

On successful completion of this phase, the trainees are appointed to various ships of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for the Afloat Training Phase and Seamanship Board. At the First Training Squadron, the IN also trains officers from friendly foreign countries.

The Indian Navy has imparted training to international trainees for more than four decades, and approximately 13,500 personnel from over 40 countries have been trained. Presently four officers from Malaysia are undergoing various Ab-initio to advanced courses at SNC. The Command has gained the reputation of being the finest training destination by maintaining a focussed approach to provide high quality training and by constant adaptation to evolving tactics and technologies.

The Training Squadron is helmed by Captain DJ Revar, Senior Officer First Training Squadron, who is also Commanding Officer INS Tir. He has under him, a team of highly motivated officers and sailors to assist him in conduct of the sea training.

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DKS/AC
Cyclone Warning - Depression over Gangetic West Bengal intensifies into a deep depression

The depression over Gangetic West Bengal has moved west-northwestwards with a speed of about 15 kmph in past 03 hours.

It intensified into a deep depression and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 09th October, 2017 over Gangetic West Bengal near Latitude 22.5? N and Longitude 88.4 ?E, close to Kolkata. The system is very likely to move slowly west-northwestwards initially during next 24 hours and move northwards thereafter.

Warning:

(i) Heavy Rainfall warning:

o Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over Gangetic West Bengal during next 24 hours and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall during subsequent 24 hours.

o Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over north Odisha and Jharkhand during next 48 hours.

o Rainfall at many places with heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Chhattisgarh & south Odisha on 10th and over Bihar on 10th & 11th October.

(ii) Wind warning:

o Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would prevail along & off north Odisha and West Bengal coasts during next 24 hours.

o Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would prevail over Gangetic West Bengal and 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph very likely over adjoining areas of Odisha & Jharkhand during next 24 hours.

(iii) Sea condition: State of Sea very likely to be rough to very rough along & off north Odisha and West Bengal coasts during next 24 hours.

(iv) Fishermen Warning: Fishermen along & off north Odisha and West Bengal coasts are advised not to venture into Sea during next 24 hours.
The Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre today made a one day visit to Shillong to promote the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna and review the operational preparedness of HQ Eastern Air Command (HQ EAC). .

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The Minister after arriving at Shillong straight away headed to the U Soso Tham Auditorium, to be the Chief Guest at the Mudra Promotion Campaign" conducted by the Government of Meghalaya and State Level Bankers Committee(SLBC). Minister for Taxation, Government of Meghalaya Shri Zenith Sangma was the Guest of Honour in the event. .

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Speaking at the function Dr Bhamre brought out the salient aspects of the Prime Ministers Mudra Yojna (PMMY) the flagship scheme of Indian Government, which aims to provide formal access of financial facilities to the small businesses thereby creating more self-employment opportunities. He flagged the fact that since the launch of the scheme on 08 April 2015, 9.13 crore loans have been sanctioned under PMMY. The total amount sanctioned is Rs. 3.96 lakh crore. Out of 9.13 crore loans, loans to women constitute 6.89 crore (76%), SC/ST/OBC constitute 5.07 crore (55%). With this, self-employment has been generated and some of the entrepreneurs have also created the job opportunities. .

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The Minister also said that the Government has launched National Digital Payment Mission (NDPM) to encourage digital payment. NPCI is assisting in this regard by way of providing the digital payments modes like UPI, USSD, IMPS, Aadhaar Pay and RuPay Debit Cards. Digital payment mode is very easy and safe. He exhorted all to adopt the digital payment method and asked all to unite and pledge to make India a digitally enabled society. .

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It is pertinent to note that the Government looks at the North East region of the country with its tremendous potential for growth and contribution towards the Act East initiative, ushering a new era of peace and prosperity for the region coupled with carving the rightful space for India as an economic super power. .

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Dr Bhamre also visited HQ EAC, Shillong and reviewed the operational readiness of the Command. Senior Air Staff Officer HQ EAC Air Marshall Rajesh Kumar received the Minister and gave him a detailed operational briefing on all aspects of Air Force preparedness in the Eastern Theatre. .

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The Minister also made a visit to various units and branches of HQ EAC, where he was briefed in detail with regard to the operational aspects and also the projects under planning and execution. He conveyed his satisfaction on the op readiness of the formation, appreciated the high level of Air Warriors morale and exhorted upon all ranks to continue the good work. He also reassured them that the Government stands behind them steadfastly in all their endeavours. .

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The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has said the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) needs to upgrade and technologically advance itself to face and counter any incident of cyber terrorism. Addressing the Passing Out Parade of Assistant Commandants (Executive), Sub Inspectors (Executive) and Assistant Sub Inspectors (Executive) at the CISF Regional Training Centre (RTC) Arakkonam, in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu today, Shri Rajnath Singh said a specialised Wing in the CISF should be created to conduct regular cyber security audits and build capacities to deal with cyber-terrorism..

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Pointing out that cyber-terrorism has emerged as a major terror threat facing several countries in the world, the Union Home Minister said the cyber terrorists use digital tracks to attack important institutions, buildings and installation..

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Shri Rajnath Singh also called upon the CISF to conduct regular security audits of all important buildings and installations. The CISF should strengthen its security mechanism based on these audit reports and also by adopting new technological solutions, he added. The Union Home Minister said the CISF needs to maintain its core competence against terrorism so that our strategic installations are not hit by any terrorist group. Shri Rajnath Singh said India is one of the fastest emerging economies of the world. Certain anti-India forces are not able to appreciate these visible economic trends in India, he added..

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Noting with satisfaction that the CISF has largest number of women among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Shri Rajnath Singh said hes confident the CISF will be the first Force to achieve 33% reservation target for Women. The CISF has crossed many milestones during its journey of nearly 48 years since inception. The role of CISF has been further diversified and expanded with rapid increase in globalisation and liberalization, he added. Applauding the excellent turnout of the Parade, the Union Home Minister also congratulated the trainers who have trained these CISF probationers. He said training is the most important pillar of any force. Shri Rajnath Singh said he is hopeful the training given to probationers will help them in performing their duties..

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During the Dikshant Parade, the Union Home Minister also awarded medals and prizes. Shri Rajnath Singh later laid the Foundation Stone of the Sub-Officers Ladies Hostel, at the CISF RTC, Arakkonam. The Director General, CISF, Shri O.P. Singh and other dignitaries were present on the occasion..

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Union Home Minister to inaugurate First BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise tomorrow

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the four-day First BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017 (BIMSTEC DMEx-2017) here tomorrow. The Exercise will be conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as the lead agency from October 10-13, 2017 in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). At the 17th BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting held in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 7, 2017, it was decided that India would organize the first annual Disaster Management Exercise for the region.

The BIMSTEC DMEx-2017 is being conducted in two phases in Delhi and NCR. The main exercise will comprise of Table Top Exercise (TTX), Field Training Exercise (FTX) and After Action Review (AAR) which is scheduled for October 10-13, 2017.

Earlier, the first phase comprising a Preparatory Meeting and field visit of site selected for FTX during the main exercise, was held in Delhi NCR on August 8-9, 2017.

Delegates from all seven nations of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grouping, - namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, representatives from Embassies/High Commissions of BIMSTEC nations in Delhi, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and Senior Officers from the Nodal Ministries will participate in the event.

This Exercise will be a platform for sharing Best Practices on all aspects of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), strengthening regional response and coordination for Disaster Management among the BIMSTEC member countries. The main focus of the BIMSTEC DMEx-2017 will be on testing the regions preparedness and resilience towards effective activation of inter-Governmental interaction/dialogue/agreements for immediate deployment of regional resources for disaster response. It will help create synergy and synchronize efforts to institutionalize regional cooperation among the member countries. The exercise will help strengthen the effective utilization of the Search & Rescue Teams for Disaster Relief & Emergency Response, including Emergency Rapid Assessment Teams and Management of mass casualties especially in situations involving breakdown of infrastructure and communication.
has been terminated as co-chairman of The Weinstein Company following allegations of sexual harassment published in the New York Times.

The board made the decision to oust Weinstein from his company at a meeting held on Sunday afternoon, according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR).

"In light of new information about misconduct by that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately," read a statement from the TWC board.

The Sunday meeting was tense and Weinstein was offered by the board to settle with the company and leave but he refused, THR said citing a source.

Weinstein apparently argued that the scandal would blow over but the nine-member board, whose three members had resigned following the allegations, disagreed.

The company has also hired a law firm, Debevoise & Plimpton, to investigate the allegations independently despite his ouster.

Weinstein is being represented personally by David Boies and Charles Harder.

The October 5 New York Times article by investigative reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey detailed sexual harassment claims spanning decades against Weinstein, including from actress Ashley Judd.

Two unnamed sources told the newspaper that "Weinstein has reached at least eight settlements with women."



Weinstein, in an initial statement, explained, "I came of age in the 60's and 70's, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then."



He also said he was taking leave of absence from his company in order to direct his attention to campaigning against the National Rifle Association and President Donald Trump.

But the movie mogul's lawyer Charles Harder has confirmed that they were preparing to sue the Times as their story "is saturated with false and defamatory statements about Harvey Weinstein".

The after effects of the scandal have resulted in several Democratic politicians giving away the money that Weinstein had donated to them over the years.

Following the NYT story, several other women have spoken publicly about their encounter with Weistein.
The idea of dangerous, inhumane artificial intelligence taking over the world is familiar to many of us, thanks to cautionary tales such as the Matrix and Terminator franchises.
When President Barack Obama created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the 2012 program that offered undocumented young people brought to the US as children a path into society, for a moment the ideals of the American Dream seemed, at least for this group, real.
To fly into on an old Russian aircraft is to step into an alternate universe, one in which the Supreme Leader defeats craven American imperialists, in which triplets are taken from parents to be raised by the state, in which nuclear war is imminent but survivable  and in which there is zero sympathy for American detainees like Otto Warmbier.
The daughter and son-in-law of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif were on Monday granted bail by the country's anti-graft court in the Panama Papers scandal as they appeared before it following their return from London.

Maryam Nawaz, 43, along with her spouse, former army captain Muhammad Safdar, returned to the country late last night to appear in the Accountability Court. Safdar was arrested on his arrival as the court had issued non- bailable arrest warrant against him.

Both separately appeared in the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir here.

Sharif and his two sons were absent during the hearing as they are in London to attend his wife Kulsoom who is battling throat cancer.

Sharif had attended the previous two hearings but flew to London last week to see his ailing wife, who underwent a third surgery.

The court accepted the bail applications of Maryam and Safdar and postponed the hearing till October 13, according to court officials.

Sharifs lawyer Khawaja Harris asked the court to adjourn hearing for 15 days with commitment that Sharif would also appear. The court rejected the plea announced that it will indict the accused during the next hearing.

The court also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharifs sons -- Husain and Hasan -- proclaimed offender as they have failed to appear before it so far.

The court also decided to conduct separate trials of Husain and Hasan from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

Maryam, who is being groomed as Sharif's political successor, appeared in the court for the first time today.

She was ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 50,000 against a non-bailable arrest warrant against her.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lawyers asked the court to send Safdar to jail on judicial remand but the court granted him bail and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 for surety bonds.

The court also asked him to seek its permission before going abroad and rejected the NAB request to confiscate his passport.

Both Maryam and Safdar have been charged by the NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Sharif.

Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken into custody despite the fact that he had come back to face the case.

"Those who want to appear by free will are arrested from airport, but we are not afraid of it, she said.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said that the "absconders are free and hold public meetings".

She also criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.

"Questions will be asked if the cases which started with Panama ended with Iqama (Job contract). The judges would have to answer it, she said referring to dismissal of Sharif for non-declaration of his salary from his sons company in the UAE.

"Those who sent home representative of 20 crore people should also be brought to justice," she said.

During the hearing, Sharifs lawyer also presented an application to exempt his from appearing before the court today. The court accepted the plea.

The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Husain, Hasan and Safdar last Monday after they failed to appear before it.

The cases were filed after the July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the people's mandate and democracy.
US economist Richard Thaler won the 2017 Nobel Economics Prize for his contributions in the field of behavioural economics, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on Monday.
Pavel Cherkashin, a Russian investor based in this city, thought he had the perfect name for a Catholic church that he is spending $11.5 million converting into a tech palace. It would be called Hack Temple.
Over 20 nations have curbed the diplomatic or business operations of the North Korean government following a more-than-yearlong effort by the State Department, an indication of the kind of behind-the-scenes pressure the US is using to tackle an emerging nuclear standoff.
The White House on Sunday delivered to Congress a long list of hard-line immigration measures that President Trump is demanding in exchange for any deal to protect the young undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers, imperiling a fledgling bipartisan push to reach a legislative solution.
Shares of jewellery companies were trading higher by up to 9% on BSE in early morning trade on expectation of revival in sales after the government revoked an order that mandated PAN and Aadhaar cards for purchases above Rs 50,000.
Receives bids for 3.04 crore shares

MAS Financial Services' initial public offer (IPO) received bids for 3.04 core shares compared with 71.24 lakh shares on offer on the second day of the bidding for the IPO today, 9 October 2017, data on NSE showed as at 16:30 IST. The IPO was subscribed 4.27 times. The price band for the IPO has been fixed at Rs 456-459 per share. The issue opened on 6 October and closes on 10 October 2017.

MAS Financial Services' IPO committee of the company at a meeting held on 5 October 2017, finalized allocation of 29.61 lakh shares to 15 anchor investors at the upper end of the IPO price band at Rs 459 per share, aggregating to Rs 135.91 crore.

MAS Financial Services is raising Rs 460.04 crore through IPO, which comprises of a fresh issue of shares by the company aggregating up to Rs 233 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of shares aggregating up to Rs 227.04 crore by the selling shareholders.

The offer for sale comprises of an offer aggregating up to Rs 112.66 crore by DEG (Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft MBH), Rs 79.34 crore by FMO (Nederlandse Financierings - Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V.) and Rs 35.04 crore by Sarva Capital LLC. The offer includes a reservation aggregating up to Rs 7 crore for eligible employees.

Net proceeds from the fresh issue will go to augmenting the capital base to meet future capital requirements. Further, there will be the benefits of listing of the equity shares on the stock exchanges, enhancement of the brand name and creation of a public market for equity shares in Indi a .

On consolidated basis, MAS Financial Services reported net profit of Rs 23.70 crore on income from operations of Rs 104.02 crore in Q1 June 2017.

MAS Financial Services is a Gujarat-headquartered non-banking finance company (NBFC) providing loans to middle- and low-income borrowers as well as micro, small and medium enterprises.
Paytm Mall, owned by Paytm Ecommerce Pvt. Ltd., has announced that more than 75 shopkeepers across ten cities have clocked over one crore each in sales during its 'Mera Cashback Sale'. The e-commerce giant expects its 30,000 retail community partners to clock five times upward sale during the ongoing festive sale.

These shopkeepers sell products across a wide range of categories and belong to metros like Bengaluru, New Delhi, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Retailers also hail from cities like Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Vishakhapatnam among others.

"We are proud to work with our merchant partners and contribute towards growing their overall . This will create a level playing field, as it will equip trusted small shopkeepers to sell online and trigger a wave of retail inclusion that will touch every nook and corner of the nation," said Paytm Mall COO, Amit Sinha.

"It is encouraging to hear from our retail partners that they are now able to receive orders even at odd hours of the day. We are also pleasantly surprised at the scale at which our partnered stores are using our QR Codes during their festive promotions," Sinha added.

The company's QR Codes have also supported the partner retailers in managing the ongoing festive rush by driving seamless discovery and payments for customers at their offline stores. These retailers have leveraged the Paytm Mall QR Code extensively in their offline marketing campaigns to drive greater traffic and order volumes.

The company has also undertaken several initiatives to empower the country's offline retail community with mobile technology. Its 3,000 members strong agent network has on-boarded thousands of trusted retailers at a rapid pace and helped extend logistics support and GST training to equip them for the current landscape. The company has also set up a dedicated team of 500 personnel to identify and address the unique pain-points of small retailers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As a mark of protest against the alleged killings of its activists in Kerala by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) carried out a 'Jan Raksha Yatra' (people's protection march) here, a day after party president Amit Shah held a major protest rally.

The CPM also took out a counter protest on the streets of the capital, marching against "false allegations by the BJP in Kerala".

Union Ministers V.K. Singh and Kiren Rijiju participated in the anti-CPM protest by the BJP.

V.K. Singh, at the BJP rally, said, "Wherever the Left-wing governance exists, they resort to such killings to scare people. I am going to Kerala tomorrow to support our party workers there. I hope that with our full efforts, we will succeed in defeating the Leftist governance."

He further raised slogans of Vande Mataram, and said that the protest march would make the public aware of the deeds of the Kerala Government, and the Left-wing.

"Wherever the Left-wing political parties have formed a government, they have always threatened people with murder," Singh addressed the gathering.

He also assured that the protests would be successful in vanquishing the Left-wing.

Kiran Rijiju declared that they would act more and speak less, and added, "The communist party constitutes a major part of anti- elements."

Accusing the CPM government in Kerala of sponsoring violence in the state, Rijiju said that the policies followed by the state government do not suit a democracy.

With the BJP forming a government in most Indian states, he also claimed that the communist party would soon be "wiped out of Tripura" in the next election.

The Delhi Police later used water cannons to disperse crowds at the massive rally.

Earlier this week, Shah had kicked off the Jan Raksha Yatra (people's protection march) from Payyannur in Kerala against the CPM.

The party president is expected to go back to Kerala on October 15, the day party's yatra ends.

The party will take out the 'Jan Raksha Yatra' every day from every state capital till October 16.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The worst Ebola outbreak ended in 2016 after infecting more than 28,000 people and killing about 11,300 people worldwide.

This outbreak forced the medical experts to take some serious action to combat the disease, which included setting up of trial vaccines to stop the disease.

Now it seems that those vaccines are managing to show some promising data as a group of researchers have found an Ebola vaccine is safe for children as well as adults and produces an immune response.

Talking about the vaccine, Professor Sanjeev Krishna, of St George's University of London's Institute for Infection and Immunity, said, "An unprecedented Ebola outbreak showed how it is possible for academics, non-governmental organisations, industry and funders to work effectively together very quickly in times of medical crisis. The results of the trial show how a vaccine could best be used to tackle this terrible disease effectively."

Adding, "We need a system of specialists, medical experts and organisers that maintains vigilance against outbreak diseases like Ebola. We should continue to improve ways to make, evaluate and deliver vaccines when they are needed, often in parts of the world lacking in infrastructure for diagnosing infections and providing treatments."

The first known human cases of Ebola occurred in 1976 during two simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which sickened more than 600 people, according to the World Organization.

This vaccine can be really useful for a country like India, who did not see an outbreak of Ebola. Though an Indian national returning from Liberia did test positive for the deadly virus and was quarantined at a special facility at Delhi airport.

The vaccine contains a non-infectious portion of a gene from the Zaire Ebola virus.

In addition, lower vaccine doses should be considered when boosting individuals with pre-existing antibodies to Ebolavirus glycoprotein, a finding that has emerged after the vaccine was tested in a country that has experienced Ebola virus outbreaks in the past.

The vaccine was one of two being examined as a 'candidate' option by the World Organisation to identify urgently a vaccine to combat the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa.

But the outbreak is coming to an end slowly and steadily as in July, World Organisation (WHO) did declare the end of the Ebola virus disease in Congo.

The study was published in journal PLOS Medicine.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Political and Business leaders discussed the connections between terrorism and education and the challenges posed by migration at the 15th Rhodes Forum organised by the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute (DOC).

The fundamental importance of education as the key to a sustainable future for humankind was the focus of Leaders' Club meeting at the 15th Rhodes Forum which was attended by various heads of state and government, and other high-profile speakers, to develop concrete approaches to solving key problems that is being faced by the countries.

Former presidents of Nigeria and Mali, Goodluck Jonathan and Dioncounda Traore, both stated that the "increased dissemination of knowledge" is vital to unlocking the vast potential of their "continent's young generation".

They also stressed that broadening access to scientific research and factual information must be accompanied by the transfer of an ability to discern value.

Confronted with the threat of Boko Hara--- a jihadist group that fundamentally opposes "Western" education---Goodluck Jonathan advocated "religious literacy" as an educational objective in its own right.

This inaugural session of the Leaders' Club Summit considered the connections between terrorism and education. The level of complexity around the issue became clear during the discussion of migration and its causes.

Ian Goldin, South-African born Professor of Globalisation and Development at Oxford University and former Vice President of the Bank, stressed that "education, in particular post-secondary school education, should not be seen as a panacea for all of society's ills."

Goldin said,"If it is not accompanied by a sense of perspective and an overall scenario of growth and development, education can even backfire. He pointed to the relatively high percentage of university educated individuals among suicide bombers and jihadists."

Walter Schwimmer, former Secretary General of the Council of Europe, gave the example of an Austrian-financed university in Burkina Faso as proof that a properly educated young generation is less prone to leave their home country and emigrate. Graduates of that particular institution, Schwimmer said, instead seek to pursue their careers in Burkina Faso and can be seen in leadership positions throughout the country.

Others, such as Jan Figel from Slovakia, former EU commissioner and currently Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion and belief outside the European Union, were more skeptical and stressed the fact that with higher education comes the ambition to improve one's position in life. If their home country does not offer the anticipated opportunities, the lure of greener pastures elsewhere becomes almost impossible to resist.

Dioncounda Traore gave a powerful description of the pulling power that an education and a life in France or the US affect on his young compatriots. He also said he views the concept of transnational citizenship and identity as matter of fact. Migration is, he said, the hallmark of our age, whether we want it or not.

Ruben Vardanyan, Armenian-Russian entrepreneur and philanthropist, who yesterday received an award for his special contribution to the Dialogue of Civilizations, pointed "Due to historical circumstances most Armenians live outside their homeland, and they remain both faithful to their Armenian roots and responsive to their foreign environment, be it Singapore, France, Iran or the USA."

Ruben Vardanyan in particular noted that "global citizens who have a local identity and education play a key role. This means that teachers bear particular responsibility for preparing coming generations for this globalised ."

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A high-powered delegation led by Pankaj R Patel, President, FICCI and Chairman and Managing Director, Zydus Cadila - Cadila Healthcare Ltd. is accompanying Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to the United States on his official visit from October 10 to 15.

Several engagements have been planned during the Finance Minister's visit to the US. Prominent amongst these is the round-table with Institutional Investors which FICCI is jointly organising with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) on 'Indian Economy - The Road Ahead' on October 11 in Boston.

Senior management representatives from some of the largest funds in the US will be participating at this meeting and interacting with Jaitley and members of the FICCI delegation. Later the same day, the Finance Minister will deliver a lecture on 'India's Tax Reforms' at Harvard University, where members of the FICCI delegation would also join.

During Jaitley's visit to Washington to attend Fund-Bank meetings, FICCI is organising a special interactive session with him at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Headquarters on October 12.

The session will be attended by several senior officials representing institutional investors, financial institutions, investment banks, research institutions and think tanks.

This meeting is highly significant as the participants play a key role in shaping decisions in their respective organisations and firming up views with regard to the global economy and major emerging markets like India.

Some of the subjects to be discussed at this meeting include the state of Indian economy and its outlook, major reforms which have been undertaken by the government, national development programs initiated over the last three years, and the structural changes taking place in the Indian economy such as those related to the GST and digitisation.

FICCI delegation will also attend an evening reception hosted by USISPF for the Finance Minister on October 13.

These meetings will be critical to strengthening bilateral co-operation between businesses in the two countries. FICCI team will also get an opportunity to share updates on various reform measures being initiated in the country and highlight the potential investment opportunities and areas of co-operation for US businesses in India.

The delegation comprises industry and heads from diversified sectors. Dr. Sanjaya Baru, Secretary General, FICCI; Rashesh C Shah, Senior Vice President, FICCI and Chairman, Edelweiss Financial Services; Harshavardhan Neotia, Immediate Past President, FICCI and Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group; Rajan Bharti Mittal, Past President, FICCI and Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises and Uday Shankar, Chairman and CEO, Star India will also be part of the delegation.

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At least five people belonging to ethnic Hazara Shia community were killed and one other seriously injured on Quetta's Kasi road in Balochistan on Monday after few unidentified armed men opened fire at their vehicle.

The armed motorcyclists opened fire at their vehicle and fled the scene unhurt, the Dawn quoted the police, as saying.

The police is further investigating the matter.

The minority Hazara Shia community in Balochistan has been experiencing incidents of violence and targetted killings for more than a decade.

More than 1,400 incidents have occurred in the province during the past 15 years.

On September 11, at least four members the Shia Hazara community, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed and two others injured in an attack in the Kuchlak town near Quetta.

Earlier, Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Malik Naveed Dehwar was also shot dead along with his guard in Quetta's Arbab Khan Road.

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At least four terrorists belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group were killed in an airstrike carried out by the security forces in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

The airstrike hit the ISIS hideout in Achin district; the Khaama Press quoted the provincial government media office as saying in a statement.

The airstrike also destroyed several weapons, ammunition, and explosives; the statement added.

The provincial government stated that the local residents and security personnel did not suffer any casualties in the airstrike.

Last week, at least 11 terrorists belonging to ISIS group's offshoot, ISIS Khorasan, were killed in the airstrikes conducted by the United States forces in the province.

Anti-ISIS as well as anti-Taliban operations are underway to eliminate the presence of terrorists in Nangarhar province and the U.S. forces are providing air force support to the Afghan forces during the operations.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel on Monday wrote a letter to party chief Amit Shah, requesting him to give a chance to new leaders for the upcoming assembly elections on her place in the state.

In her letter, Anandiben asserted that she has been working with the party from past 31 years and during that period, she efficiently carried out all the responsibilities that was handed over to her.

She mentioned that as per the BJP policy, one has to resign after crossing the age limit of 75 years.

She further wrote that whatever responsibility will be given to her in future, she would be happy to handle it.

Anandiben had joined BJP in 1987. She handled number of major portfolios in the Gujarat assembly cabinet from 2007 to 2014, when Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

She became the first woman chief minister of Gujarat in 2014 after Narendra Modi resigned from the post to the take the charge of the Prime Minister of India.

Anandiben remained on the post till 2016, after which she resigned.

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Afghanistan has asked Pakistan to hand over five top Taliban commanders imprisoned in that country to step up efforts for peace and reconciliation.

Adviser to the Afghanistan President on reconciliation and peace Affairs Muhammad Hanif Atmar handed over a list to Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif comprising 35 commanders, five of whom have a say in the Taliban Shura and could play a role for peace in war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The five commanders include the co-founder of Afghan Taliban Mullah Ghani Baradar, senior members of the so-called Quetta Shura Mullah Ahmadullah Nani, Mullah Sammad Sani, and Mullah Suliman Agha who was arrested from a seminary in Quetta's Satellite Town along with four others on October 11, 2014,The Express Tribune has reported.

The list was provided to Pakistan on the sidelines of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York last month.

Meanwhile, Washington and Kabul have asked the Taliban to join the peace talks process in a move to restore sustainable peace in the country.

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Private sector bank ICICI on Monday announced financial assistance of Rs. 10 crores to the Indian Armed Forces.

The country's largest lender, ICICI Bank will pay the assistance in two equal tranches in 2017 and 2018, which will be utilised towards welfare activities and betterment of the families of ex-servicemen who have lost their lives guarding the nation.

MD and CEO ICICI Bank, Chanda Kochhar and Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman handed over a cheque worth Rs. five crores to the honourable.

"Our Indian Armed Forces bravely guard our borders and protect us. Many of these men have valiantly fought and made the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives for our country. While no amount of assistance is enough to fill the loss for the families, this gesture is our humble endeavour to contribute towards their betterment," said Chanda Kochhar.

"Our assistance will aid the young children and widows of the soldiers to get an education thereby enabling them to gain knowledge, get a job and earn a sustainable livelihood. This is our small contribution to these daughters of the nation and our thoughts and best wishes will always remain with the families," she added.

This fund will be used for two programmes to support the daughters of the armed forces personnels. The first will be used towards the postgraduate education of the widows of ex-servicemen and also support education for their wards.

The second scheme will be used to provide financial assistance towards marriages of the daughters of the ex-servicemen. This donation is aligned to ICICI Bank's commitment towards nation building through various initiatives that promote inclusive and sustainable growth.

The Kendriya Sainik Board, an apex body of the Government of India, which formulates policies for resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependents, will undertake the administration of the programme.

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German Ambassador to India Martin Ney said that India and the European Union have failed to finalise the date on resuming negotiations on the proposed bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two sides.

"India and EU have just concluded summit in New Delhi and I must add that summit remained under its potential, as no decision was made to resume the negotiations for Free Trade Agreement including investment protection," German Ambassador Ney said.

"The EU-India summit in March 2016 failed to so and day before yesterday the leaders on the EU side and PM Modi failed to do it this time again," said Martin Ney on Free Trade Agreement.

"On the inter governmental level, we are confident that renewed efforts to finalize FTA between Germany and India will increase the economic and social well being of our respective citizens, the German Envoy to India said.

India and the European Union on Friday adopted a joint declaration to increase cooperation in counter terrorism measures and maritime security, taking their strategic ties to next level at the 14th India-EU Summit.

After the delegation-level talks with the President of the European Council Donald Franciszek Tusk and the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India and the EU have agreed on the need to fight terrorism together and increase cooperation towards it."

Three agreements were exchanged between India and European Union on Solar Alliance, Bengaluru Metro and Science Research.

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India on Monday signed an extradition treaty with Lithuania following a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Lithuanian counterpart Linus Linkevicius in New Delhi, thus enhancing its engagement with the Baltic region.

"India & Lithuania signed Treaty on Extradition and Protocol amending & supplementing the Agreement relating to Air Services," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The treaty would provide a legal framework for seeking extradition of terrorists, economic offenders and other criminals from and to Lithuania.

The treaty would help in extradition of fugitive criminals including terrorists for criminal prosecutions from Lithuania who may have committed crimes against India. It will bring the criminals to justice, with a view to ensure peace and tranquility to public at large.

On October 4,the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the signing and ratification of the Extradition Treaty between India and Lithuania.

Foreign Minister Linkevicius also gifted Sushma Swaraj a copy of Sanskrit-Lietuviu Mala, a compilation of 108 Sanskrit words that are common in both the languages.

"He told me that there are some 10,000 Sanskrit words in Lithuanian language. The compilation work is in progress," Sushma tweeted.

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Former Union Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram on Monday appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking approval to travel abroad.

Karti's lawyer Kapil Sibal requested the apex court to allow Karti to travel to the United Kingdom between October 18 and November 13 for his daughter's admission process at the Cambridge University.

Karti, who is alleged to have done irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX media, is banned from travelling outside India.

A lookout notice issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on July 18 prevents Karti from travelling abroad without the investigating agency's permission.

The CBI has alleged that there were official records to show that Karti Chidambaram had tampered with evidence against him in the on his visits abroad.

He had approached the top court earlier challenging the lookout notice.

The ongoing case pertains to allege that Karti illegally took service charges for getting the FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving funds from abroad worth Rs 305 crore in 2007, when his father P. Chidambaram was the finance minister in Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's rule.

The apex court has adjourned the matter for further hearing till tomorrow.
A Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorist, named Abid, was neutralized by the security forces during an encounter which took place in Shopian district's Gatapore village on Monday.

The encounter broke out between the terrorists and the security forces earlier today where four terrorists were believed to be trapped.

Further details of the encounter are awaited.

Earlier in the day, patrol party of security forces were attacked in Baramulla's Ladoora in the state where security forces gunned down terrorist and operational commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM), Umer Khalid.

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The Supreme Court on Monday will continue the hearing on Kerala 'love jihad' case.

Earlier in the week, the Kerala government had told the Apex Court that the state police is effectively investigating the alleged 'love jihad' case of the state and hence, there is no need for the Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe it.

In an affidavit, the state government informed the Apex Court that the state police is competent enough to investigate such crimes.

The government had earlier said that it had no problem with the NIA probe.

Last month, a group of people had submitted a petition to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and demanded a probe into the alleged unlawful incarceration of Hadiya, the 24-year-old Vaikom native, who had converted to Islam after marriage.

Four months ago, the Kerala High Court had sent Hadiya with her parents K.M. Asokan and Ponnamma after annulling her marriage with Shafin Jahan.

The case is under consideration of the Apex Court now, which had ordered the NIA investigation into it.

Hadiaya's husband Shafin, on September 16, had filed a plea in the Apex Court and requested to call off the NIA probe, alleging that the investigation agency 'is not being fair.

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World number one Rafael Nadal believes Nick Kyrgios has everything to succeed despite the Australian player's straight sets defeat at the hands of the former in the high-profile China Open final.

Nadal extended his winning streak to 12 after easing past Kyrgios 6-2, 6-1 in what turned out to be a one-sided summit clash in Beijing on Sunday.

Despite Kyrgios' meltdown, 16-time Grand Slam champion Nadal has no doubts about the Australian player's talent as he said that he was baffled by some of his tactics.

"Of course, some moments were a little bit strange for me, something a little bit unusual. He has everything. He has unbelievable good eyes, when you play against him, it looks like he has time for everything. That's very difficult," Sport24 quoted Nadal as saying.

Insisting that Kyrgios has great hands and a fantastic serve, the 31-year-old said that the world number 20 possesses everything possible to compete in major events of the year.

"Then, of course, he has great hands and a fantastic serve. He has everything to fight for almost all the events of the year. So let's see what can happen in the future, but of course he will be a candidate for everything," he said.

The two players will immediately head from Beijing to the Shanghai Masters, where swiss maestro Roger Federer will also be in action.

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Nepal will hold the elections for country's third president and the vice-president within a month after the completion of two tier elections of Province and the House of Representatives.

The Legislative Parliament of Nepal on Sunday passed the bill concerning the elections of the president and the vice-president, which asks to hold the election for the new state head within one month of commencement of the new parliamentary meeting. The prevailing parliament is set to expire in the first week of 2018, as per the newly-promulgated Constitution of Nepal.

But some lawmakers still are stressing on directly elected president and vice-president.

"The president is the most admired post of the nation. It also is the symbol of the national unity and sovereignty, but the president should be elected directly by the people, because the western parliamentary system is now proved unsuccessful," lawmaker Dilli Prasad Kafle from the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) expressed his opposing view, during a discussion over the parliamentary bill last week.

As per the bill passed on Sunday, the right to announce the dates for the election is granted to Nepal's Election Commission.

The election commission should hold the election before at least a month of the expiry of the tenure of the sitting president and vice-president or announce the date for the new president or the vice-president if the post is vacant within a month.

Nepal, which was declared a republic nation in 2008, have got two presidents till now - Dr. Rambaran Yadav as the first president and the chairing president Bidhya Devi Bhandari as the second and the first female president of Nepal.

As per the new bill a total of 884 voters, 275 from the House of Representatives, 59 from the National Assembly and 550 members from the Provincial Council will vote to elect the new state and deputy state heads.

The bill has allowed anyone out of the parliament or any state assemblies to stand in fray for the post. It also has erased the provision of security deposit of 1,75,000 for the candidates of president and vice-president. Now the candidate can file the nomination for free of cost, but will need five supporters and five proposers.

The newly-endorsed bill has the age limitation of not less than 45 years and naturalised Nepali citizenship to stand for the election. Also it has prohibited the people accused and jailed for more than 20 years in corruption, human trafficking, property purification, drug trafficking, foreclosure charges to stand for the post.

But the people indulged in organised crimes and other similar cases can contest for the post after six years of their release if they have completed the prison sentence for less than 20 years. The blacklisted ones also can contest the election after getting their name removed from the list.

However, the simultaneous elections for the president and the vice-president are not possible as the bill has the compulsory provision of having the candidate of different sects and genders to contest for the post of the president and the vice-president. The bill does not allow the same gender or same ethnic community to stand for the post of state head.

Also, the electoral process of electing the new vice-president will start after the announcement of the election results of the presidential election.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said India is unleashing baseless propaganda against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"India wanted to divert attention over its (alleged) atrocities in occupied Kashmir through false allegations about Pakistan's support to indigenous Kashmiri struggle for freedom," Radio Pakistan quoted Abbasi, as saying.

He asserted that prime ministerial-level talks can only be held after India ends alleged rights violations in Kashmir, implement U.N. resolutions, end Line of Control (LoC) violations and budge from its Cold War doctrine.

Abbasi dismissed U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis' statement over CPEC, saying the United Nations should ensure implementation of Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.

Pakistan's Foreign Office has already dismissed Washington's concerns over CPEC, saying the project is for the betterment of the region and beyond.

The Foreign Office was responding to Mattis telling the Senate Armed Services Committee that the One Belt, One Road goes through disputed territory and that it itself shows the vulnerability of trying to establish that sort of a dictate.

On October 7, China cautioned the Trump administration about CPEC, citing that its OBOR initiative was not directed against third parties.

"We have repeatedly said that the CPEC is an economic cooperation initiative that is not directed against third parties and has nothing to do with territorial sovereignty disputes and does not affect China's principled stance on the Kashmir issue," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, in a statement.

Mattis also said that in a globalised world, there are many belts and many roads and no one nation should put itself into a position of dictating the 'One Belt, One Road'.

China came up with its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative in 2013.

The CPEC project comprises a network of railways, roads and pipelines that would connect Pakistan's port city of Gwadar in the province of Balochistan, with the Chinese city of Kashgar in landlocked Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

Human rights activists have time and again spoken about and highlighted growing atrocities in Pakistan and particularly on the indigenous people of Balochistan as a result of the CPEC.

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A Pakistani theatre actress was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Multan on Monday.

According to local media reports, Shamim, better known as Shamo, was killed outside her house in Shah town of Multan city.

The 29-year-old's brother, Saifur Rehman told police that someone had called his sister to come outside the house. The unidentified men then opened fire on her, killing her on the spot.

He also said that Shamim had been receiving death threats from someone performing alongside her in theatres. He expressed suspicion that his sister might have been killed by her estranged husband.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with the oil and gas CEOs and experts from across the world and thanked the participants for sharing their views.

He said that many suggestions received in the last meeting in 2016 have helped policy making. He also said that scope for reform in many areas still exists.

Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, and R.K. Singh, and senior officials from NITI Aayog, Prime Minister Office, Petroleum Ministry and Finance Ministry were present at the meeting.

The Prime Minister further appreciated the focussed suggestions made by the participants.

The Prime Minister also thanked all participants for sharing holistic suggestions, keeping in mind India's unique potential and requirements in the oil and gas sector, instead of merely confining themselves to the concerns of their respective organisations.

The Prime Minister observed that the suggestions made covered policy, administrative as well as regulatory issues.

The Prime Minister thanked the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Rosneft, for their commitments and support to the energy sector in India.

He appreciated the 2030 vision document of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Recalling his visit to Saudi Arabia, he said many progressive decisions are being taken there in the energy sector.

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, and Rajiv Kumar Vice Chairman NITI Aayog gave an overview of the work done in this sector. They also emphasised on the expected growth in energy demand in India, and the significant progress made in electrification and LPG expansion.

In a short presentation, CEO, NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant outlined the recent developments and challenges in the oil and gas sector in India.

Various participants appreciated the progress and reforms made in India in the last three years.

They also applauded the pace and drive with which Prime Minister Modi has brought about the reforms in the energy sector.

Various issues such as the need for a unified energy policy, contract frameworks and arrangements, requirement of seismic data sets, encouragement for biofuels, improving gas supply, setting up of a gas hub, and regulatory issues, came up for discussion.

Many participants strongly recommended the inclusion of gas and electricity in the GST framework. The Revenue Secretary, Hasmukh Adhia, highlighted the recent decisions of the GST Council regarding the oil and gas sector.

Top CEOs and officials from Rosneft, BP, Reliance, Saudi Aramco, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Vedanta, Wood MacKenzie, IHS Markit, Schlumberger, Halliburton, Xcoal, ONGC, IndianOil, GAIL, Petronet LNG, Oil India, HPCL, Delonex Energy, NIPFP, International Gas Union, World Bank, and International Energy Agency were also present at the meeting.

The meeting was coordinated by the NITI Aayog.

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Afghanistan's President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has asked the Taliban group to join the peace talks process and reject war in a move to restore sustainable peace in the country.

President Ghani said the Taliban will "face damaging consequences" if it continues to choose "war over peace".

Speaking during a ceremony for the transfer of the UH-60 Black Hawks to the Afghan forces in Kandahar Airfield, President Ghani said "Taliban should forget the perceptions that they can defeat the Afghan security forces and the Taliban are still in a position where options lies with the group and the government extends the hand for peace."

This statement of President Ghani came after the provincial police chief of southern Kandahar province, General Abdul Raziq, confirmed that the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada visited southern Helmand province nearly ten days ago .

Raziq informed that the Taliban chief arrived to Musa Qala district where he summoned a meeting of his local commanders and leaders including members of the Quetta Council of the Taliban as well as some operatives of the Pakistani intelligence to discuss the ongoing situation.

The Kandahar police chief believes the main topic discussed during the meeting included the growing pressure, including increased airstrikes that have badly interrupted the operations of the group,the Khaama Press reported.

Afghan Taliban commander Akhundzada has reportedly ordered his militants to stop fighting against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS, ISIL) because the two share common goals. The two groups have been sworn enemies since 2015.

In the other parts of his speech, President Ghani said one of the other objectives of the four year development plan of the security forces is to create an environment where only the national defense and security forces have the authority to use weapons.

President Ghani said the efforts and coordination between the Afghan government institutions and the international allies of the country will take the country towards peace and stability.

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The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday admitted the plea of Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh challenging the 10-year-long imprisonment sentence handed to him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in his rape conviction.

The court had asked the self-styled godman to deposit a fine of Rs. 30 lakh to the CBI court.

Ram Rahim's Advocate S.K. Garg Narwana told reporters, "On our request of fine, the court has made provision for the fine to be deposited in the FDR in the name of the court, but the fine will not be given to the victims."

Narwana informed that the fine would be returned to Ram Rahim in case the appeal is accepted.

On August 28, a CBI court awarded 20-year-imprisonment to Ram Rahim Singh for the rape and criminal intimidation of two 'Sadhvis' (women followers) who were residing in a hostel located on the premises of the Dera back in 1999. The sentence in the two cases was concurrent, which means that it amounts to 10-year-long term in the jail.

He was also slapped with a fine of Rs. 30 lakh.

The Dera chief filed the appeal challenging the quantum of sentence through his lawyer S.K. Garg Narwana.

Following the verdict, violence broke out in parts of Haryana, Punjab and the Capital Region (NCR) in which 38 people were killed and over 200 were injured.

On September 27, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to conduct investigations into the properties of Ram Rahim.

The court ordered to scan both movable and immovable assets of the Dera chief.

The whole rape case came to light in April 2002, when an anonymous letter was sent to then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the then chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by the two Sadhvis that they had been sexually exploited by Ram Rahim.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday mocked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over his visit to Gujarat, stating that it is not going to make much of a difference.

Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Syed Zafar Islam said, "Rahul Gandhi's tour is nothing but talks on development, which totally lacks in his party. Also, in many of his constituencies, we have seen his pictures on the missing list, this shows what kind of a minister he is and how much is being loved by his people. Whenever he goes out on any campaign he is handed a written speech which he learns it like a parrot without even understands the meaning. This time too the same is happening".

Echoing similar views, another BJP leader C.K. Bose said, "The Congress party is in complete disarray; the activist or leaders of the party are totally confused. No one is guided nor given guidance under Rahul Gandhi leadership. If we go to see, he himself is confused so how would he direct or guide his party men. Also, him visiting Gujarat will not make much of a difference."

On October 4, Rahul Gandhi began his visit to his parliamentary constituency Uttar Pradesh's Amethi.

Rahul's trip triggered headlines after Amethi's district authorities suggested him to postpone his trip due to security concerns.

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At least 12 Rohingyas were killed and 35 others went missing after a boat carrying the Myanmar nationals capsised in the Naf River in Teknaf upazila late last night.

According to local media reports, all Rohingyas were fleeing to Bangladesh from the Rakhine State and the overcrowded boat sank in Shah Porir Dwip area.

Earlier, two bodies were recovered, while eight Rohingyas were rescued.

The rescue operation by the Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh is still underway.

Further details are awaited.

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Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Shairif's daughter Maryam Nawaz, after appearing before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court on Monday, said that she was not afraid of getting arrested.

"We are not among those who worry about arrests," the Dawn quoted Maryam, as saying.

She arrived at the court accompanied by senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and ministers. Her husband Retired Captain Muhammad Safdar, who was arrested minutes after landing at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, was brought to the court later.

After hearing arguments from the prosecution, the court accepted the bail of both Maryam and her husband. The judge ordered the NAB authorities to release Capt. Safdar after he too submitted surety bonds worth Rs. 5 million.

Both Sharif's daughter and his son-in-law had arrived today from London for appearance in the court.

During the hearing, PML-N leader Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry submitted surety bonds worth 5 million Pakistani Rupees on behalf of Maryam.

Meanwhile, the NAB prosecution asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif, who they said had left for London, despite being a primary accused, without informing the NAB authorities.

Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir reserved his decision on this matter.

The court also issued perpetual warrants for the arrest of Nawaz Sharif's two sons, and separated their trial from other members of the family.

When Maryam was asked when her brothers, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, would appear before the court, she said, "My brothers live abroad... the laws of here [Pakistan] don't apply to them."

The hearing was adjourned until October 13, when members of the Sharif family will be indicted.

On October 2, Sharif's indictment on charges of corruption was deferred by a NAB court till October 9.

The accountability court, which was hearing three corruption references against former Sharif and his family, also issued non-bailable arrest warrants against his children and son-in-law.

Sharif, his children - Hussain, Hassan, and Maryam, and her husband Captain Safdar are expected to appear in court on October 9 and be indicted in the corruption cases.

On October 3, Sharif was re-elected as president of the ruling PML-N.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Trump administration has sent an immigration policy wish list to Congress that threatens to derail efforts to protect hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from being deported.

The Trump administration wants tougher immigration and border security measures, crackdowns on sanctuary cities, green card restrictions and funding for the U.S.-Mexico Border Wall.

The Trump administration has asked lawmakers to include tough border security and immigration enforcement measures in any deal to replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that the administration is ending. Those measures include provisions to make it harder for unaccompanied minors to enter the country illegally, money for the President's border wall and cuts to legal immigration, the CNN reported.

"These priorities are essential to mitigate the legal and economic consequences of any grant of status to DACA recipients," White House legislative director Marc Short said .

Short further said,"They fulfill the President's promise to advance immigration reform that puts the need of American workers first."

The demands were denounced by Democratic leaders in Congress who had hoped to forge a deal with President Trump to protect younger immigrants, known as "dreamers," who were brought to the United States illegally as children, Media reports.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that it shows Trump "can't be serious" about reaching a deal if they start with proposals that are "anathema" to immigrants and Democrats.

President Trump had announced his plans to phase out the DACA program, which protects young undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, at the beginning of last month, but gave Congress a six-month window in which to act to make the program permanent.

Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals had provided two-year work permits to the dreamers that Trump has called "unconstitutional."

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which has protected nearly 800,000 young adult unauthorized immigrants from deportation and allowed them to work legally since 2012.

While the White House stopped short of issuing a veto threat over the principles, it said it would still "expect Congress to include all" of them in a deal.

The White House also stressed it believes the President is making a "good faith effort" at bipartisan compromise -- noting that it sent the immigration principles to both Democratic and Republican leadership of Congress and relevant committees.
Turkey Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the United States embassy's deputy chief of mission in Ankara over US decision to suspend non-immigrant visa applications.

State-run news agency Anadolu quoted sources as saying that the Turkish Ministry officials urged Charge d'Affaires of the US mission in Ankara, Philip Kosnett, to have the embassy reverse the move as it both inconveniences people and will fuel an "unnecessary escalation" of tensions.

According to the report, Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Umit Yalcin had spoken on the phone with U.S. Ambassador John Bass, who is out of Ankara, with Kosnett acting in his place.

The US and Turkey have suspended all non-immigrant visa services for travel between the two countries after last week's arrest of a US consulate employee in Istanbul.

Washington said it was suspending the processing of all non-immigrant visas in Turkey following "recent events that have forced the United States Government to reassess the commitment of the government of Turkey to the security of US mission facilities and personnel."

Ankara responded with an identical statement, imposing tit-for-tat travel restrictions by issuing statement through its embassy in Washington, saying, "Recent events have forced Turkish Government to reassess the commitment of the Government of the United States to the security of Turkish Mission facilities and personnel."

The Turkish Embassy added that the measure, effective immediately, would "apply to visas in passports as well as e-Visas and visas acquired at the border".

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The US and Turkey have suspended all non-immigrant visa services for travel between the two countries after last week's arrest of a US consulate employee in Istanbul.

Washington said it was suspending the processing of all non-immigrant visas in Turkey due to "recent events" that "have forced the United States Government to reassess the commitment of the government of Turkey to the security of US mission facilities and personnel".

Ankara responded with an identical statement, imposing tit-for-tat travel restrictions by issuing statement through its embassy in Washington," Recent events have forced Turkish Government to reassess the commitment of the Government of the United States to the security of Turkish Mission facilities and personnel," CNN reported.

The Turkish Embassy said the measure, effective immediately, would "apply to visas in passports as well as e-Visas and visas acquired at the border".

The US said it was "deeply disturbed" by the consulate employee's arrest last week in Istanbul over alleged links to the movement of Fethullah Gulen. Gulen, an exiled preacher based in Pennsylvania, is widely believed in Turkey to have orchestrated last year's coup attempt.

The US consulate employee was remanded in custody over "terror charges" by an Istanbul court last week, state media Anadolu reported.

Turkey, a NATO member, has sought extradition of Gulen from the United States as Ankara blames him for last year's failed coup, although Gulen himself denies any involvement.

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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday cornered Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in Gujarat over the development achieved in the state, likening it to a person and saying it had gone berserk.

"Gujarat mein vikaas ko kya hua? Ye kaise pagal hua? Ye jhooth sun sun ke pagal ho gaya hai (What happened to the development in Gujarat? How did it go berserk? He did after listening to constant lies)," Rahul said, at a public meeting in Gujarat's Kheda.

He also said that Prime Minister Modi's Gujarat model is a complete failure and the state is aware about this.

The Congress vice-president further assured the people of Gujarat that if the party manages to form a government in upcoming elections, only then would the development be achieved.

Further targetting Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat', Rahul said, "Not only will we say our 'Mann ki Baat', we will also listen to yours."

Rahul's comments have come in the build up to the the much awaited assembly elections in Gujarat, which will be held towards the end of 2017 or January, 2018. The dates will be announced officially by the Election Commission few months prior to it.

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Reliance Industries (RIL) will be in focus. Reliance Marcellus II, LLC, a subsidiary of Reliance Holding USA, Inc. (Reliance) and RIL announced the signing of agreements to divest all of its interest in certain upstream assets in north-eastern and central Pennsylvania. The assets, which are currently operated by Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc., were sold to BKV Chelsea, LLC, an affiliate of Kalnin Ventures LLC, for consideration of $126 million, subject to customary closing terms and conditions. Additionally, Reliance could receive contingent payments of up to $11.25 million in aggregate based on natural gas prices exceeding certain thresholds over the next three years. The assets produce mainly gas and are located in Susquehanna, Wyoming and Clearfield Counties of Pennsylvania.

The sale of the assets will be consummated in accordance with the terms of a purchase and sale agreement, dated 5 October 2017, by and between Reliance and the buyer. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of the third quarter of FY2018, with a 1 April 2017 effective date. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 6 October 2017.

Axis Bank said it has completed the acquisition of Freecharge for a cash consideration of Rs 373.27 crore, on a cash-free, debt-free basis pursuant to the receipt of approval for the said transaction from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 6 October 2017.

Axis Bank had earlier entered into a share purchase agreement with Jasper Infotech (Snapdeal) to acquire 100% equity capital of both Accelyst Solutions (Accelyst) & Freecharge Payment Technologies (FPTPL). Accelyst and FPTPL are collectively referred to as Freecharge.

State Bank of India has issued clarification on Saturday, 7 October 2017, with respect to news article titled massive data breach hits 6,000 Indian organisations including govt offices, banks: Quick Heal. The bank said that the breach mentioned in the report has been refuted by NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India). This article is published in another report on 4 October 2017 wherein NIXI has clarified that there was no serious security breach of the Indian registry database as claimed by a hacker on the Darknet. However, the bank's Information Security Department is continuously monitoring for any attack, it added.

Lovable Lingerie announced that the board of directors of the company at its meeting held on 6 October 2017, approved buy-back of up to 20 lakh fully paid up shares, representing up to 11.9% of the total paid-up equity share capital of the company at a price of Rs 250 per share for a total consideration of up to Rs 50 crore. The promoter and members of the promoter group have indicated their intention to participate in the buyback. The announcement was made on Friday, 6 October 2017.

Oriental Bank of Commerce said that the Reserve Bank of India vide its letter dated 5 October 2017 has put the bank under Prompt Corrective Action in view of high Net non performing assets (NPA). This action will not have any material impact on the performance of the bank and will contribute in overall improvement in its risk management, asset quality, profitability and efficiency. The bank announced on Saturday, 7 October 2017.

JMC Projects said that Brij Bhoomi Expressway Pvt. Ltd., one of its wholly owned subsidiary (SPV) has received Arbitration Award of Rs 42.26 crore for the project of '2 Laning with paved shoulder of Agra to Aligarh section of NH-93 in Uttar Pradesh on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) under NHDP phase IV A. The project work was awarded to the said SPV by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in the year 2010 with concession period of 15 years from the appointed date which includes construction period of 2 years. The announcement was made on Saturday, 7 October 2017.

Cadila Healthcare has received the final approval from the USFDA to market Amitriptyline Hydrochloride Tablets USP in strengths of 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg and 150 mg. The announcement was made on Saturday, 7 October 2017.

Separately, Cadila has received final approval from the USFDA to market Dutasteride Capsules, 0.5 mg. It will be manufactured at the group's formulations manufacturing facility at Moraiya, Ahmedabad.

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The Government has received representations from various Associations in the Gems and Jewellery sector with respect to certain incongruities in Notification No. 4/2017 dated 23rd August, 2017, wherein dealers in precious metals, precious stones and other high value goods were notified as person carrying on designated business and professions under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002.

After considering various aspects of the issue, the Government has decided to rescind the said notification.

A separate notification after due consideration of points raised and wider stakeholder consultation in this regard, shall be issued in due course.

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Minister for Communications Shri Manoj Sinha said that Government is working on setting up 650 India Post Payments Bank and gearing up fast to provide its financial services through all of 1.55 lakh post offices to fulfil the Prime Minister's vision of financial inclusion. He said that Indian Postal Department is undergoing major transformation with changing times, be it the inter-operability of ATMs, core banking or providing of Passport Seva and Aadhar enrolment. He said that so far 57 Post Offices are providing Passport Seva and in coming days 93 more will be added to the list.

Shri Sinha launched International Tracked Packet service designed specially to meet the cross border requirements of e-Commerce sector in Asia-Pacific Region. He said, at the beginning, the service will be available to 12 countries and gradually the whole world will be covered.

This new service has many special features like affordable price, track & trace, volume discounts, pick up facility, compensation for loss or damage and, therefore, high value for money. He said, with the launch of this service, Department of Posts is set to start a new chapter of close collaboration between the post office and the business in India that want to reach to their customers abroad.

The Minister also launched e-IPO (Indian Postal Order) in the denominations of Rs. 10/-, Rs. 20/-, Rs. 50/- &Rs. 100/-, as a pilot project in Bihar, Delhi and Karnataka and said that in the next two months, the service will cover the entire country.e-IPO will be used for all purposes like fee payment for RTI/ educational institutions/ Court/ online registration for Cable Operators etc. Customer can purchase e-IPO online from one's home or workplace, as per one's convenience. This launch is a part of Digital India Initiative as the payment will be made through Debit Card/ Credit Card / Net Banking.eIPO can be purchased online at:https://www.epostoffice.gov.inor, it can also be accessed through a link at Official website of India Post i.e. http://www.indiapost.gov.in

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Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") has assigned a Baa3 issuer rating to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The outlook on the rating is positive.

NHAI is an Authority that has been established through an act of Parliament. It is 100% owned by the Government of India (Baa3 positive).

RATINGS RATIONALE

NHAI's issuer rating of Baa3 primarily reflects our assessment of the very high likelihood that the authority will receive support from the Government of India (Baa3 positive) in a distress situation.

"NHAI's Baa3 rating reflects NHAI's strategic importance and status as the government arm implementing the national highways strategy" says Abhishek Tyagi, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst.

"Reflecting its role, NHAI is responsible for the construction, development and maintenance of national highways network in India" Tyagi says, adding "As such, the rating considers the government's track record of providing direct funding to NHAI, and recognizes the very close operational and financial links between NHAI and the government".

Given the above factors, Moody's has assigned the same rating as the Government of India. The baseline risk of NHAI is closely related to the Indian's Government's financial strength. As a result, the baseline risk for NHAI is effectively the default risk of the Indian Government. This strong link to the Indian Government also considers the National Highways Authority of India Act that mandates the Indian government's funding commitments for NHAI.

"Accordingly, NHAI's rating further reflects Moody's expectation that financial support from the government will continue to ensure NHAI's financial viability and operational soundness," Tyagi adds.

Such expectations are underscored by NHAI's special legal status as a government-contributed entity i.e. entity with no shareholding equity, which is dependent on government funding for its operations.

The government, through Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), maintains close control over the operations and funding of NHAI - including appointing NHAI's board members - and has no intention to privatize it.

NHAI's ratings takes comfort from the stable funding sources for NHAI including cess on sale of diesel and petrol (collected by Government of India in the Central Road Fund), revenues from operating roads including plough-back of toll revenues and revenue share for PPP projects and additional budgetary allocations.

Moody's notes that NHAI's rating would change following any changes in India's sovereign rating. Furthermore, downward rating pressure would emerge from any indications of changes to its role or status as a government-contributed entity.

Under the Moody's Joint Default Analysis (JDA) approach for government-related issuers (GRIs), our assessment of government support for the company is "Very High" and is manifested through several considerations. Specifically, NHAI status as an arm of the government which closely directs the activities of NHAI. The government also has a strong track record of support, as shown by its previous actions that include: (1) providing budgetary support and additional budgetary support (tax on petrol and diesel and ploughing back of funds from toll collection) (2) special power given to NHAI to issue bonds that qualify for capital gains tax exemptions and tax free bonds under the income tax act.

NHAI's positive outlook is consistent with the outlook on the sovereign, indicating that the rating would be upgraded if the sovereign rating is upgraded.

Upward movement for the rating could evolve if India's sovereign rating is upgraded.

Furthermore, a rating downgrade could result if India's sovereign rating is downgraded, or if there is emerging evidence of a weakening in government support for NHAI. Such scenario is unlikely and factored into our central scenario.

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An accountability court on Monday granted bail to ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz over a reference filed against her by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pertaining to London properties owned by the family.

Maryam's husband Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd), who was taken into custody by the NAB upon his arrival in Islamabad from London earlier on Monday, was also granted bail, reports Dawn news.

Talking to media persons after appearing before the court here, Maryam said her family was being tried despite already receiving the punishment, that is the disqualification of her father Nawaz Sharif.

"These trials will last till the day of judgement unless something emerges in which he (Nawaz Sharif) or anyone from his family is caught," she said.

Maryam said the questions taken up the Supreme Court-mandated Joint Investigation Team regarding her family businesses continue to remain questions "because they are false allegations with no answers".

Asked when her brothers, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, will appear before the court, Maryam said they would take their decisions themselves.

"My brothers live abroad... The laws of here (Pakistan) don't apply on them."

The court also heard arguments on an application filed by Nawaz Sharif seeking permanent exemption from appearance in the court as he had left for London to look after his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz, reports Dawn news.

Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir reserved his decision on the former Prime Minister's application.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court on July 28 had directed the NAB to file references against Nawaz Sharif and his children in six weeks in the accountability court and directed the trial court to decide the references within six months.

The former premier and his sons have been named in all three NAB references, while Maryam and husband Safdar were named in only one.

On October 2, the accountability court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Sharif's sons and Captain Safdar for failing to appear on previous hearings despite notices.

--IANS

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US economist Richard Thaler, one of the founding fathers of behavioural economics, on Monday won this year's Nobel Prize for Economics.

The 72-year-old is a professor at the University of Chicago. He co-wrote the global best-seller "Nudge", which uses behavioural economics to tackle many of society's major problems. It spawned "nudge theory" of how to help people make better life decisions.

Among Thaler's highly-influential theories is that of "mental accounting" -- the notion that consumers try to simplify their personal finances by creating accounts in their minds. This focuses the consumer on narrow outcomes, rather than considering the overall impact of a decision on their financial situation.

Following the announcement of his prize, Thaler said that his most important contribution to economics "was the recognition that economic agents are human and that economic models have to incorporate that".

The Nobel committee in an official release stated that Thaler had "built a bridge between the economic and psychological analyses of individual decision-making".

It added that his efforts to explore the consequences of limited rationality, social preferences and lack of self-control, had shown how these traits systematically affect individual decisions, as well as market outcomes.

"His empirical findings and theoretical insights have been instrumental in creating the new and rapidly expanding field of behavioural economics, which has had a profound impact on many areas of economic research and policy," it said.

The academic, born in New Jersey in 1945, studied for his Ph.D at the University of Rochester.

Officially known as the Sveriges Riksbank prize in memory of Alfred Nobel, the award winner is selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden.

Thaler will receive 9 million Swedish krona (850,000 pounds) from the committee. Asked how he would spend the prize money, he said: "I will try to spend it as irrationally as possible!

"Richard Thaler's findings have inspired many other researchers coming in his footsteps and it has paved the way for a new field in economics which we call behavioural economics," said Per Stroemberg of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

--IANS

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Union Home Minister on Monday described India as one of the fastest emerging economies and said certain "anti- forces" were not able to appreciate the visible economic progress.

Addressing the passing out parade of CISF probationers at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu, he also said that cyber terrorism was a major threat and urged the CISF to upgrade and technologically advance itself to counter this.

"India is one of the fastest emerging economies of the world but certain anti-India forces are not able to appreciate these visible economic trends," Singh said in an apparent dig at those criticising the state of economy under the NDA regime.

He said that Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) needed to maintain its core competence against terrorism so that the country's top strategic installations were not hit by any terror group.

"The CISF should conduct regular security audits of all important buildings and installations. A specialised wing in the CISF should be created to conduct regular cyber security audits and build capacities to deal with cyber terrorism.

"The CISF headquarters should strengthen its security mechanism based on these audit reports and also by adopting new technological solutions."

The Minister described cyber terrorism as a major threat that several countries were facing.

"The cyber terrorists use digital tracks to attack important institutions, buildings and installations. The CISF needs to upgrade and technologically advance itself to face and counter any incident of cyber terrorism," he said.

Stating that CISF had the largest number of women among the central armed forces, Singh said he was confident it will be the first force to achieve 33 per cent reservation target for women.

He said the role of the CISF had been further diversified and expanded with rapid increase in globalisation and liberalisation.

"CISF's role is multi-dimensional and extremely challenging. In spite of the challenges, CISF jawans and officers perform their duties with smile," he said.

The CISF came into existence in 1969 and has become a premier multi-skilled security agency of the country, mandated to provide security to major critical infrastructure installations of the country in diverse areas.
A bronze statue of Anton Yelchin was unveiled above his grave at Hollywood Forever cemetery, where the late actor was laid to rest after his tragic death over a year ago.

Yelchin's statue was unveiled on Sunday, reports tmz.com.

According to sources, Yelchin's family wanted their only son to have a ground monument, which is why he was moved from Mount Sinai Cemetery to Hollywood Forever shortly after he died. Mount Sinai does not allow ground monuments.

Yelchin, who would have turned 28 this year, died on June 19, 2016 after his car rolled back and pinned him against a brick mailbox pillar at his home. His parents have been in a legal battle with Fiat Chrysler ever since, claiming their product caused his death.

Some Hollywood celebrities, who came out to pay their respects to Yelchin, included Jennifer Lawrence, Zoe Saldana, Demi Moore and Simon Pegg.

--IANS

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Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday slammed the central and Uttar Pradesh governments and said they had failed to redress the problems faced by the country's people.

Both the BJP-led governments had failed to address serious problems like poverty, inequality, price rise, and unemployment, which had made life miserable for the common man, the former Chief Minister said at a function here to mark the 11th death anniversary of party founder Kanshiram.

"Instead of sorting out these serious problems, the Bharatiya Janata Party is out to destroy the social and communal fabric of the country and the state," she said while accusing these governments of "apathy towards monuments of great personalities and ideologues belonging to backward castes".

The Dalit leader told BSP workers that it was disheartening that the party could not form a government in Uttar Pradesh for the fifth time, due to which, she added, the mission to uplift the poor, downtrodden, and marginalised had suffered a huge setback.

She alleged that the BJP was raking up issues of nationality, patriotism, and raising a war cry to deflect public attention from real issues, on which the government had failed miserably.

"The BJP is misusing government machinery to hound out honest and dedicated officials and they were being threatened and even sent behind bars in many cases for not towing the BJP line," the BSP leader said.

--IANS

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Film: "Blade Runner 2049; Director: Denis Villeneuve; Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis Carli Juri, Lennie James, Dave Baustista, Jared Leto; Rating: *1/2

Do yourself a favour. Run away from "Blade Runner 2049" as far as you can while you still have time. It is one of the most pretentious and ponderous sequels ever, with thinly disguised dialogues taken from messages from fortune cookies masquerading as words of wounded wisdom that civilisation, particularly American civilisation, has discovered while sharing meals with Willy Wonka.

The film is almost three hours of talking plodding tedium with characters who are either manufactured by genetical manipulations and are known as replicants (more like repellents), or are real human beings inscribed with robotic tendencies. Ryan Gosling, one of civilisation's most overrated actors, is unable to determine till the end whether he is real or virtual. Does anyone really care?

Gosling occupies most of the film's cumbersome playing-time. He is presumably a replicant -- or is he? The entire film is about Gosling's search for his identity. The search for self is like Kubrick-meets-Kafka's ghost-on-a-sullen-unexciting-night.

What happened to all the fun and the ravishing action scenes from the first "Blade Runner" film in 1982? There isn't even one spectacularly-staged action sequence in the new edition of "Blade Runner". The entire reined-in velocity of "Blade Runner 2049" hinges on Gosling's character and his search of an identity which takes him from one depressing location to another. Los Angeles looks like it has seen better days. Harrison Ford is dunked into gushing water at the end. He too must wonder at what civilisation has come to since he last played a Blade.

Ford can still make every frame featuring him look inviting. Gosling seems to have lost his screen presence in "La La Land". Here this time around, he is stilted and unsure trying to make sense of a crisis that no one quite comprehends, let alone appreciates.

Unforgiveably, the very charismatic Harrison Ford appears after almost two-thirds of the film is over. By then, the narrative so weighed down by its own philosophical posturings, it would need more than Ford to revive our interest. The asininity that the screenplay inflicts on all the actors big or small is cognisable. Some appear more wronged than others as they stand around mouthing dialogues that sound like Kangana Ranaut's pearls of wisdom carried to an extreme of self-absorption.

Jared Leto, who appears with blind lenses, is an unintentional caricature with his megalomaniacal take on civilisation's accelerated ambitions to populate the galaxy with artificial genetics. He mouths the film's lofty aspirations with platitudinous pomposity, igniting what looks like a conflict to save humanity. It is actually nothing more than a collage of disembodied images accentuating one man's pursuit of legitimacy and another man's (the director's) search for immortality.

Shockingly, the film's epic design never rises beyond a show of contoured bleakness. The film is shot at landscapes that suggest apocalyptic upheavals as imagined by an art director who has his head too deeply buried in the sands to know that beyond the bleakness that civilisation imagines for itself in the coming decades, there is another reality whereby humanity searches for survival with dignity.

"Blade Runner 2049" offers no hope to humankind. Forget redeeming civilisation, it can't even retrieve Harrison Ford's character from the original film without falling into paroxysm of puerility. As for Ryan Gosling, his relationship with his virtual housemate (Anna De Armas) reminded me of Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johannson in "Her".

A few day before I saw this monstrously disappointing sequel, I saw an Indian television journalist fawning over Ryan Gosling at an interview conducted in Barcelona. The journalist gushed over Gosling and let him know that India has numerous Gosling fans dying to meet him. Who are these fans? After "Blade Runner 2049", the affable but weighed-down actor would not have many fans to make him feel about his ambitions.

Watch Gosling in "A Blue Valentine" instead. Or better still watch our film "Tu Hai Mera Sunday" to see how heartwarming the depiction of metropolitan angst can be when applied to lives that are prone to rise above their woeful destiny. In "Blade Runner 2049", the characters love their misery and nullity so much they make our future look not just bleak but also banal.

--IANS

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Two days after Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Nathu La, China on Monday said the Sikkim section of the India-China border has been delineated by historical convention and asked New Delhi to abide by this "fact".

"The Sikkim section of China-India border has been delineated by the historical convention and the Nathu La pass is the best witness to that fact," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, referring to the 1890 treaty between Britain and China.

China repeatedly invoked this treaty to assert its claim over Doklam during the 73-day military stand-off with India in the Sikkim section of the border.

"We hope that India could abide by this fact, observe these historical conventions and agreements and work with China to maintain peace and tranquility at the border," Hua said.

She was responding to question about the visit by Sitharaman to an Indian Army post in Nathu La. The Nathu La pass separates India from China's Tibet.

The first visit to the area by India's newly appointed Defence Minister created a buzz when she interacted with Chinese troops across the border and taught them how to say "Namastey" - hello in Hindi.

--IANSA

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Be it decorative items like lights, gift items, lamps and wall hangings or other product, the sale of Chinese products is likely to decline by 40-45 per cent this Diwali as compared to last year, a survey by Assocham-Social Development Foundation (ASDF) said here on Monday.

"There has been a 40-45 per cent impact on goods like decorative lights which records huge sales during Diwali, whereas a slight impact has also been seen on China-made electronic goods like mobile phones etc. As per the paper, the demand of electronic items like LCDs, mobile phones and others items made in China has also declined by 15-20 per cent," said Assocham Secretary General D.S. Rawat.

The industry chamber said it has interacted with wholesalers, retailers, traders in cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mumbai to estimate the demand for Chinese products across India.

According to an estimate, the value of Chinese goods sold in 2016 during Diwali was around Rs 6,500 crore. Out of the total, over Rs 4,000 crore was Diwali-related items such as toys, fancy lights, gift items, plastic ware and decorative goods among many other items.

The most sought after Chinese items are fancy lights, lampshades, Ganesha and Laxmi idols, rangolis and crackers. As per findings of the survey, this Diwali, people are preferring Indian products over Chinese goods.

The paper said according to the shopkeepers, most of the customers are demanding Indian lights.

"There was a huge demand for made in China fancy lights in the market but it is also decreasing. Also, the quality of Chinese products is also questionable with no shopkeeper giving any sort of guarantee on Chinese items once sold. Firecrackers made at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu are preferred in comparison to Chinese crackers," stated the report.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress on Monday again attacked the BJP over the controversy surrounding its party chief Amit Shah's son Jay Shah, and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi seek Amit Shah's resignation or relieve him of his duties.

"An inquiry should be conducted into the allegations against Jay Shah's company by a two-member commission of Supreme Court judges," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told media persons here along with state Congress President Sachin Pilot.

Surjewala said there was no reason for shying away from the probe, especially when the Bharatiya Janata Party was maintaining there was nothing wrong in the whole matter.

on Sunday denied a news portal story that indicated his private business expanded exponentially after the BJP came to power at the Centre and called it "false and derogatory".

Surjewala said BJP chiefs in the past had resigned in the wake of allegations against them, including L. K.

Advani, Bangaru Lakshman, and Nitin Gadkari.

"The country now wants to know if the Prime Minister will seek Amit Shah's resignation," the Congress leader added.

He also hit out at Union Minister Piyush Goyal for defending .

On Sunday, Surjewala tweeted: "Intriguingly unique! A Union Minister defends a private individual. More so, when his own Ministry had extended the loan."

In reply to a question, Surjewala said it was the desire of Congress office-bearers, workers and supporters that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi take over as party chief soon.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress party in Kerala on Monday demanded a comprehensive probe into allegations of phenomenal rise in the business owned by Jay Shah, son of BJP national president Amit Shah.

Leader of Opposition and Congress veteran Ramesh Chennithala in a press release said that the "fake image of the stand taken by the BJP against corruption has fallen flat with the revelation of the huge growth achieved by the business owned by the junior Shah".

"In a matter of three years after the Narendra Modi government, when the country's economy went into a crisis, the phenomenal growth of the business of Amit Shah's son speaks volumes of the things that are happening. While the ordinary man was hit badly on account of demonetisation, the corporates had a field day. Now that the allegations have surfaced, the BJP has been caught on the back foot and the need of the hour is for a comprehensive probe into these allegations," said Chennithala.

Chennithala's demand has come at a time when the Kerala unit of the BJP led by state president Kummanem Rajasekheran is on a state-wide padyatra against the CPI-M. The yatra, which began on October 3 and will reach here on October 17, is being participated by every top national leader of the party besides Union Ministers.

The BJP has termed the media report on Jay Shah's alleged rise in wealth as "malicious and defamatory" and is going ahead with filing a defamation suit against it.

--IANS

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The Congress is planning to launch an agitation in Tripura from October-end against the forcible occupation of several of its party offices by the BJP, a top party leader said here on Monday.

"The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has forcibly occupied at least seven Congress party offices in various parts of the state," Tripura Congress Vice President Tapas Dey told media persons.

The BJP-occupied offices were in Udaipur, Bagma, Santir Bazar, Mohanpur, Madhupur, Barjala and Kamalpur. "These offices were being used by the Congress since early 1960s," Dey said.

"We have requested the concerned District Magistrates to take suitable actions to free the occupied offices soon," he added.

Dey said if the concerned district or sub-divisional authorities failed to take appropriate actions to free the occupied Congress party offices, the party would launch an agitation from October-end.

He said that though the BJP forcibly occupied these Congress offices, the local administrations of the Left Front government have remained silent for "mysterious reasons".

Tripura Congress Party chief Birajit Sinha, who was currently in Delhi, told IANS over phone that he would discuss the matter with the central leadership.

The BJP, meanwhile, denied the Congress allegations.

"Thousands of Congress leaders, members and workers including six legislators have joined BJP. In many places there is not a single Congressmen to open the party offices," BJP spokesman Mrinal Kanti Deb said.

Deb said the Congress deserters who had set up those party offices and joined BJP now, they were using these offices as a centre of agitation against the Left Front government.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hundreds of CPI-M activists led by its General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday marched up to the BJP headquarters here in protest against the killings of CPI-M cadres in Kerala allegedly by RSS and BJP members.

CPI-M leaders said they were being attacked by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for upholding secular values, which they said was "anathema" to the hate of the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The marchers set out from Delhi's CPI-M office at Vithalbhai Patel House in the heart of Delhi and moved towards the BJP office about a kilometre away, shouting slogans like "RSS terror down, down" and "Khooni rajniti band karo" (Stop of violence).

The march was stopped by police near the BJP office where CPI-M leaders addressed the gathering.

"Ever since the Modi government took power, the RSS-BJP have gone on a rampage, particularly in Kerala, killing CPI-M cadres and sympathisers. Their of hatred has also seen killings in the name of 'gauraksha', 'love jehad' and pseudo-nationalism," Yechury said.

He said as many as 85 CPI-M cadres had been killed in the last three years in Kerala.

Referring to BJP President Amit Shah's visit to Kerala, Yechury accused him of trying to divert the attention of the people "because his son is implicated in a money laundering case".

Other CPI-M leaders who took part in the march included Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat and S.R. Pillai.

Prakash Karat said the "Jan Raksha Yatra" of the BJP in Kerala was actually the "RSS Raksha Yatra".

"We have not used the police and administration to stop their yatra because we believe in democracy. But after their yatra is over, we will come to the streets and the world will see that the people of Kerala are with us," Karat said.

Brinda Karat called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah as "encounter specialists".

"It is we, the CPI-M, who have stood for communal harmony which is an anathema to their ideology and that is why they are killing us," she said.

--IANS

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Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India Milan Hovorka on Monday travelled on the Lucknow Metro and expressed his admiration over its facilities.

Visiting the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC), he, along with his delegation, first came to the Charbagh Metro station where he was welcomed by Managing Director Kumar Keshav and senior officials of the Corporation.

Hovorka saw the world class state-of-the-art facilities provided by LMRC at the Metro station including the Automatic Ticket Vending Machine, Recharge Card Terminal Machine, Automatic Fare Collection gates, escalator, lift with braille buttons and other automatic passenger oriented facilities.A

Impressed with the facilities he praised LMRC for setting up a system at par with the European standards in such a compressed time schedule of just less than three years.

He and hiss delegation then also took a ride in Metro train from Charbagh Metro station to Transport Nagar Metro station. The Managing Director briefed the Czech Ambassador about the unique design and special features of the Lucknow Metro Train.

Later, ovorka visited the Depot Control Centre and saw the facilities developed by Lcknow Metro for the Software Development Centre and the Operations Control Centre. He also planted a tree sapling inside the Transport Nagar Metro Depot to mark his visit.

--IANS

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Danish company Danfoss A/S is looking at the Indian automobile sector in a major way and is in talks with some automobile makers for providing its solutions for hybrid cars, said a top official.

The 5.3 billion euros turnover privately held company is a world leader in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) sector. The company's business segments are classified under Power Solutions, Cooling, Drives and Heating.

"We are looking at anybody making hybrid cars. We have power module solutions that have 15 times more life than others," Kim Fausing, President and CEO told IANS.

While Danfoss is having talks with Indian companies, Fausing declined to reveal their names.

"We have proprietary technology. Already our solutions have been put in around 25 million cars in Europe. We are looking at hybrid and electric cars. We work with German auto makers and US OEMs (original equipment manufacturers)," Fausing added.

Danfoss has invested in a power module plant in the US at an outlay of around $100 million. The company is also mulling to invest in China, a major market for its products.

"We bring in innovation in energy efficient solutions. We focus on application of an equipment and build efficiency in that," he added.

Fausing said Danfoss has big focus in the American and Chinese auto sector.

The Danish company makes power modules for inverters and others and is part of its drives business.

Danfoss' power modules are used in farm machines with hydraulic motors, earthmoving equipment and others.

According to a Danfoss official, automobile sector is a related business for the company and is part of its drives business.

For instance, batteries of electric cars should be cooled quickly for fast charging and Danfoss has the solution as it is a major in the HVAC segment.

The Indian government is for electric mobility. Recently Energy Efficiency Services Ltd a joint venture company of undertaking coming under the Indian power ministry decided to buy 10,000 electric vehicles.

Fausing said Danfoss is also looking out for acquisitions in India in the technology space.

Speaking about Danfoss' operations in India, Fausing said India figures in the top eight-nine market for the company globally.

"For us India is important like China and the US. India can be top three markets for Danfoss after US and China," Fausing said.

Major customers for Danfoss in India are Blue Star, Mahindra and others.

On Danfoss global business, Fausing said the group logged 13 per cent growth of which nine per cent is organic and the balance four per cent is from acquisitions.

"There is a positive momentum and the dynamics of the market is picking up," he added.

He said the company has changed its old structure and now has new global executive programme with broader leadership team.

Danfoss is transforming its business with digital agenda.

Fausing said Danfoss is investing heavily in its information technology backbone to get data on real time basis, internet of things (IoT), big data, artificial intelligence.

Queried about the possible disruptive technologies that may take down Danfoss and others, Fausing said he does not foresee any threat that would make the company irrelevant.

He said the company is investing in technology and acquiring technology companies.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan is in Denmark at the invitation of Danfoss A/S. He can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in)

--IANS

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A 34-year-old man was on Monday shot at by two unidentified bike borne assailants over a property dispute while he was going in his car to attend a civil matter in a Gurugram court from west Delhi.

Police said the incident occurred at around 8 a.m. when the victim, identified as Chander Parkash, a resident of Najafgarh, was stopped by the assailants near Nanakheri village in Chhawla after they gestured that his car had a puncture.

"When Prakash parked his car and stepped out to check the tyre, the accused fired three rounds at him from behind. After Prakash collapsed on the ground, they escaped from the spot," a senior police officer told IANS.

"Prakash later called one of his friends for help after which he was admitted to a hospital in Gurugram, where he is out of danger," the officer said.

"Prakash sustained a bullet injury on his right arm."

The officer said it appears to be a case of personal enmity over property.

"It comes to fore that his mother has shares in an ancestral property in Gurugram's Daulatabad village and due to this he (Prakash) has a property dispute with his uncle," the officer said.

"We are investigating the case and have recorded the victim's statement. Efforts are on to identify the accused persons."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Women who pursue an aggressive surgery called double mastectomy that involves removing both breasts for early stage breast cancer have higher chances of missing more than a month of work or stopping work altogether, says a study led by an Indian-origin researcher.

Fuelled by celebrity disclosures and growing patient interest, use of mastectomy has grown over the years, according to the study.

One famous case of celebrity disclosure came in 2013 when Hollywood star Angelina Jolie revealed that she had undergone a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer.

The new study, published in Cancer, surveyed 1,006 women who were treated for early stage breast cancer and were employed at the time of their diagnosis.

The women in the study who opted for a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction had 7.8 times the odds of missing more than a month of work or stopping work altogether, compared to women who opted for a lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

"It really stood out, especially because bilateral mastectomy has not been demonstrated to improve survival, and clearly has a negative impact on employment," said lead study author Reshma Jagsi, Professor at Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan in the US.

Prior studies that examined the impact of cancer treatment decisions on employment showed that patients who received chemotherapy were most likely to experience longer disruptions in or loss of employment, but changes in breast cancer management in recent years have shifted recommendations away from chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer.

"But as we've had success reducing overtreatment with chemotherapy, we're now seeing a paradoxical increase in what may be overtreatment with surgery," Jagsi said.

"We're seeing more and more women choosing a much more aggressive surgical treatment that isn't clinically mandatory and doesn't improve survival, often for peace of mind," she added.

Clinicians need to learn to communicate with patients in a way that supports their autonomy, but also use data to communicate that there may be unexpected downsides to the treatment they are considering, Jagsi added.

With the growing use of mastectomy, fuelled by celebrity disclosures and growing patient interest, further research is necessary to monitor whether the short-term employment consequences seen in this study will translate into longer term impacts on these women's employment and well-being, the study authors said.

--IANS

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Former Jharkhand Minister Gopal Krishna Patar alias Raja Petre was arrested on Monday by the NIA in connection with the murder of former state Minister and JD-U legislator Ramesh Singh Munda in 2008.

Munda was gunned down by the Maoist guerrillas on July 9, 2008 when he was attending a programme in a school on the outskirts of Ranchi. Maoist commander Kundan Pahan's name had figured in the killing. Kundan Pahan surrendered in May this year. The probe was handed over to the National Investigating Agency (NIA) three months ago.

The NIA team on Sunday detained and interrogated Raja Petre for several hours. His arrest in the crime has exposed the Maoist-politician nexus in Jharkhand.

This is the first case in which a politician has been arrested in the killing of another politician. NIA sources said that Raja Petre became a legislator from Tamar Assembly seat in 2009, which fell vacant after the murder of Munda.

Raja Petre had created history in Jharkhand as he had defeated then Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM chief Shibu Soren in the January 2009 by-election to the Tamar seat. After Shibu Soren lost the poll, President's Rule was imposed in Jharkhand.

Raja Petre was again elected legislator in the 2009 assembly poll held in November and he became Minister.

Besides Raja Petre, the NIA also arrested Assistant Sub Inspector Sheshnath Singh who is accused of providing advance information regarding the movement of Munda to the Maoists. Singh is in NIA custody till October 15. Singh was the bodyguard of Ramesh Singh Munda.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Goa Congress on Monday passed a unanimous resolution to request Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to take over as party chief.

The state party unit, through a separate resolution, empowered Congress President Sonia Gandhi to appoint the new state unit chief and as well as the state's members to the All India Congress Committee.

"I moved the resolution to request Rahul Gandhi to take over as the Congress President. We look forward to his leadership. The resolution was passed unanimously," Goa Congress President Shantaram Naik told reporters here.

"It is up to the Congress chief to appoint a new Goa Congress chief since Naik's term is over. We will back Sonia Gandhi's choice," a party official said.

--IANS

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Truckers went on a day-long strike in Himachal Pradesh on Monday over various demands, including a revision of the GST rates and an end to daily revision of diesel prices.

"We are observing the day-long strike on the call for a nationwide strike," Truckers' association spokesperson Ram Kishan Sharma told IANS.

He added that over 1,200 truckers were on strike, refusing to lift for transportation cement and clinker of Ambuja Cement from its two units at Darlaghat in Solan district, around 45 km from here.

An official of Ambuja Cement said the strike has affected normal production at the two units.

Likewise, the production of Jaypee Himachal Cement, a subsidiary of diversified group Jaiprakash Associates, located in Solan district, was also hit.

--IANS

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Finnish company HMD Global has sold over one million Nokia-branded Android smartphones since its revival earlier this year.

The installation numbers of Nokia Mobile Support application on Google Play Store suggest that the installation numbers are over one million and less than five million.

"This certainly confirms that over a million Nokia Android smartphones are active in the market and this doesn't include Nokia 6 from markets like China where Play Store is not officially accessible," a report in NokiaPowerUser said on Monday.

In an earlier interview, Pekka Rantala, CMO of HMD Global, had told Nokioteca that "the company has already sold millions of Nokia-branded Android smartphones".

Officially unveiled earlier this year, Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 have witnessed good initial traction in important markets such as India, the UK and other European markets.

HMD Global, which owns the rights to manufacture, market and sell Nokia-branded smartphones for 10 years also launched the flagship Nokia 8 smartphone with top-notch specifications and Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset.

The device has "Dual-Sight" video or "Bothie" feature that lets simultaneously livestream a selfie while also using its main camera, in a splitscreen visual, for both photos and videos.

--IANS

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As a leading energy consumer, India is looking to upgrade its relationship with producing countries to a strategic one, instead of mere buyer-seller, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Monday.

This was the message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his three-hour long meeting here with chief executives of top global and Indian companies, including British major BP, Russia's Rosneft, Saudi Aramco and Reliance Industries, on ways to revive investment in oil and gas exploration and production.

"The Prime Minister laid out to leading companies like BP, Shell, Rosneft, Exxon Mobil as to what should be the energy economy of India," Pradhan told reporters here on the sidelines of the CERAWEEK India Energy Forum organised by IHS Markit.

"The Prime Minister emphasised the need to move the engagement to a strategic partnership, going beyond the buyer-seller relationship," he said, adding that "all major producers, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the US, all have recognised the massive scale of India's energy engagement".

According to a statement, from the Prime Minister's Office, Modi said there is a need to develop energy infrastructure and provide access to energy in eastern India as the status of the energy sector in India was highly uneven.

CEOs and top officials from Rosneft, BP, Reliance, Saudi Aramco, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Vedanta, Wood MacKenzie, IHS Markit, Schlumberger, Halliburton, Xcoal, ONGC, IndianOil, GAIL, Petronet LNG, Oil India, HPCL, Delonex Energy, NIPFP, International Gas Union, World Bank, and International Energy Agency were present at the meeting.

Pradhan, Power Minister R.K. Singh, and senior officials from NITI Aayog and Prime Minister's Office, as well as the Petroleum and Finance Ministries were also present in the meeting.

Addressing the conference, Pradhan said that with India now being well integrated into the global oil economy, she was naturally impacted by geopolitical developments.

"Recently, when retail fuel prices went up in India, there was a hue and cry in the street," he said of the time last month when petrol prices in Mumbai went over Rs 79 a litre due to a rise in international rates.

"We therefore need to know and keep abreast of what is happening in the industry worldwide... about OPEC and output cuts, about Russia, shale in the US, trends in LNG market," he added.

As proof of the upgraded energy relationship with Saudi Arabia, Pradhan noted the opening of Saudi state-run oil giant Aramco's India office in Gurugram on Sunday that was jointly inaugurated by him and Aramco CEO Amin Nasser.

"Aramco investment in India will increase..they are in talks with possible partners here," Pradhan said.

Saudi Aramco, which established its business presence in India last year, has formed an Indian subsidiry that will engage in crude oil and LPG marketing, engineering and technical services, and other business development activities.

"Aramco India intends to partner with Indian companies and set up integrated business ventures in the hydrocarbon value chain in India," the Petroleum Ministry said.

According to the PMO, Modi thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Rosneft, for their commitments and support to the energy sector in India. He also appreciated the 2030 vision document of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

--IANS

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The operational chief of the (JeM), a Pakistani national, was killed on Monday in a gun battle with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district.

Police sources said the security forces surrounded Ladoora village after receiving information about his likely presence in the area.

When they came close to the house where the militants were hiding, the security personnel were fired upon by the hidden militants, triggering a gun battle.

"A Pakistani, codenamed Khalid, who was the operational chief of the JeM, was killed in the encounter," an officer said.

"The body of the militant commander is being retrieved as a search operation is now going on at the site," the officer added.

Khalid was on the most wanted list of the security forces and his death is seen as a major jolt to militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The JeM is based in Pakistan.
Security forces shot dead a Pakistani operational commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) while militants killed a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

Separatist guerrillas gunned down soldier Raj Kumar in Drung village in Badgam district when security forces launched an operation shortly after Sunday midnight, police sources said.

"As the cordon was being tightened, the hidden militants opened fire injuring Raj Kumar who later succumbed to his injuries," an officer said. But Defence Ministry sources said that the JCO died in a gun battle.

In Baramulla district, also in the Kashmir Valley, the JeM commander, codenamed Khalid, got killed when security forces surrounded Ladoora village after receiving information about his likely presence.

When they came close to the house where the Pakistani was hiding, the security personnel were fired upon, triggering a gun battle.

"A Pakistani, codenamed Khalid, who was the operational chief of the JeM, was killed in the encounter," an officer said.

Khalid was on the most wanted list of the security forces and his death is seen as a major blow to militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The JeM is based in Pakistan.

--IANS

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A court in Rajasthan on Monday annulled the marriage of a young woman who had been married off when she was just 12 years old.

An order to this effect was issued by Family Court number 1 in Jodhpur on Monday.

For Sushila, 18, it is a big victory. She had left her house a night before the "gauna" ceremony (associated with the consummation of marriage). Sushila was living in a shelter home and approached the family court with the help of Saarthi Trust, an NGO, to annul her child marriage.

"With the help of Kriti didi my child marriage has been annulled. Now I will pursue my dream to become a police officer," Sushila said in a statement.

Sushila, a resident of Bhandiyawas in Pachpadra of Barmer district, was married in 2010 at the age of 12 to Naresh of Bisalpur village of Jodhpur district. Her parents stopped sending her to school and last year started preparations for her "gauna" ceremony.

Sushila pleaded with them for the annulment of her marriage and not to send her to her in-laws'.

When her parents did not relent, Sushila left home on the midnight of April 27, 2016. During this time Kriti Bharti, rehabilitation psychologist and managing trustee of Saarthi Trust, rescued Sushila from Barmer highway and took her custody after making her appear before the Barmer Child Welfare Committee. Later, Sushila was taken before the Jodhpur Child Welfare Committee and was lodged safely in a child care home.

Sushila has been residing in a child care home since the past 15 months.

With the help of Bharti, the young woman filed a petition in the family court to annul her marriage which took place seven years ago.

Bharti collected evidences of child marriage through two Facebook accounts of Sushila's "husband" Naresh.

"The family court has given a strict message to the society over the evil of child marriage. Sushila has been connected to her studies again and efforts are being made for her better rehabilitation," Bharti said.

Saarthi Trust has so far annulled 33 child marriages in India and also prevented thousands of child marriages.

Child marriage is against the law in India, but many people, especially in Rajasthan, practice it surreptitiously.

--IANS

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday hit back at BJP President Amit Shah, accusing him of "spreading canards" about the CPI-M and political violence in the state.

Writing on his Facebook page, Vijayan pointed out that there was no space in Kerala for the kind of Shah preached -- built on caste, creed, hatred and money power.

"After realizing that this agenda of his is not going to sell in Kerala, he started spreading canards and baseless lies. His feeling of dejection is understandable and that's the reason he is speaking like this," the CPI-M leader said.

Shah had on October 3 launched a blistering attack on Vijayan, holding him responsible for the killings of RSS and BJP activists in Kerala.

"I pity the failed efforts of Shah, who is the President of a party that rules the country and who tried his best to impose the RSS agenda on Kerala and has failed," Vijayan said.

He said it was "most unfortunate" that he led a march to the office of another national party (CPI-M). He called this nothing but a blatant violation of democratic principles.

On Monday, the Communist Party of India-Marxist protested against the Bharatiya Janata Party all across the country.

--IANS

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Militants killed a soldier in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Monday, police said.

The militants barged into the house of Mukhtar Ahmad Malik in Shurat village and shot him from close range.

Malik was a counter insurgent before he joined the territorial army, the police added.

--IANS

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Actor Nivin Pauly, who plays a highwayman in upcoming Malayalam period film "Kayamkulam Kochunni", is getting trained in Kalaripayattu, an ancient martial arts form of Kerala, while shooting for the film.

"The film is currently being shot in Mangalore. Nivin takes Kalaripayattu classes every morning for a few hours before joining the team for the shoot. A team of martial arts expert has been flown in from Kerala for this schedule," a source from the film's unit told IANS.

Being directed by Rosshan Andrrews, the film is based on Kochunni, the real life famed highwayman, who was active in central Travancore during the 19th century. He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor.

For nearly a month, the team has been shooting in Mangalore.

"They have been shooting in locations such as Manjeshwar and Udupi. They will shoot for one more month before leaving for Sri Lanka for the next schedule," the source added.

For his role, Nivin will be seen sporting a short crop and a handlebar moustache.

Amala Paul plays the leading lady.

Nivin awaits the release of Tamil film "Richie". He also has Geethu Mohandas's "Moothon", apart from "Hey Jude" and "Love Action Drama" in his kitty.

Next year, he is expected to start shooting for Malayalam film "Kairali", based on the disappearance of a bulk carrier, owned by Kerala Shipping Corporation.

--IANS

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The Delhi Police on Monday denied any racial angle to the beating up of a Nigerian national in south Delhi and said a man has been arrested and four others identified in the case. The accused have been booked for attempted culpable homicide.

"There is no indication of a racial attack. The Nigerian Embassy was informed about the arrest of Nigerian national Ahmed before he was sent in judicial custody by a court here till Tuesday," Deputy Commissioner of Police Ishwar Singh said.

Police identified the arrested person as Krishan Kumar, a landlord who registered a case of attempted theft against Nigerian national Ahmed at his Savitri Nagar residence in Malviya Nagar area.

A manhunt was on to nab four other accused, who assaulted Ahmed, after they were identified in a video clipping shown on television news channels.

Police said the assault occurred on September 24, when Ahmed was allegedly caught on suspicion of attempted theft. Krishan Kumar had filed an FIR against Ahmed that night.

"We have arrested Krishan Kumar for beating up Ahmed. Krishan Kumar is the person at whose residence Ahmed had gone with an intention to commit theft. Efforts are on to arrest others involved in the crime. So far, we have identified four others. They have been booked for attempt to culpable homicide in a fresh FIR," Deputy Commissioner of Police Ishwar Singh said.

"Local police were handed over Ahmed, who resides in Lajpat Nagar, by the residents of south Delhi locality. Ahmed suffered swelling in one hand and a leg apart from other minor bruises," Ishwar Singh said.

"Initially, Ahmed did not cooperate and refused to reveal his identity, but later shared details. Area people said he had attempted a break-in at a house, and jumped off the roof on to a neighbouring house in Savitri Nagar after an alarm," the officer said.

"A wire cutter and a bag with master keys was found on his person. He was given medical aid but he did not inform police during his medical examination that the public had thrashed him or how he got injured," Ishwar Singh added.

"We got to know about the assault after seeing the video clip, in which Ahmed is seen surrounded by many people who beat him with batons while others kicked and slapped him. Eventually, the African, whose feet were tied with a rope to a pillar nearby, started to bleed profusely from the head."

Krishan Kumar had claimed that he saw a man, later identified as Ahmed, trying to unlock a cupboard in his house. He claimed he and his brothers chased him as he tried to escape, but the man slipped from the stairs and injured himself in the head.

Earlier this year, attacks on nationals from several African countries in Delhi and Noida were described by envoys of these nations as "xenophobic and racial".

In two attacks caught on camera in April, four Nigerians were assaulted by a large group of people taking out a candlelight march at Greater Noida to denounce the death of a boy due to suspected drug overdose. A Nigerian student was also beaten inside a mall.

--IANS

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Some four years ago, headlines about a country "sinking into the sea" drew the world's attention to the Republic of Kiribati, an island in the Central Pacific, over 5,000 km northeast of Australia.

Its former President, Anote Tong, who drew the world's attention to the effects of global warming by highlighting his country's "sinking" due to rising sea levels, believes "there's no room for politics" in climate change.

"It is extremely unfortunate that climate change has become politicised, when the issue is a challenge for all humans equally. There is no room for politics in climate change. As far as countries like mine are concerned, we will be submerged regardless of what, unless something drastic is done," Tong told IANS here during a visit to the city.

Tong, who was President of the island nation from 2003 to 2016, was in the city as a speaker at the "Roundglass Samsara Festival", a global environment and sustainability event.

The nation, comprising 33 atolls (ring-shaped islands formed by corals) and one raised island with a population of over 110,000, has a gradually receding coastline with the sea levels rising across the world at 3.4 millimetres per year.

For a large part of its history, Kiribati remained a country the world was oblivious to, until Tong was elected President and began sharing the island's reality with the international community.

"When I was first going to be speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in 2004, I was wondering what I could speak on that was relevant to all the countries, while also being important to my country.

"That was the first time I spoke about climate change, at a time when everyone was occupied with terrorism and global trade. But I don't think anybody really listened to me then. But I have kept speaking ever since," said Tong, who won against his older brother Harry Tong in presidential elections in 2003.

The issue of climate change has had many countries changing their stances with a change of political parties in government, 65-year-old Tong said.

"I've seen the positions of countries change on climate change with changing governments -- from Australia to New Zealand and now the United States. The most positive change I've seen was Canada, which has taken a 180 degree turn," the former President said.

As President, Tong took part in several sessions of the Conference of Parties (CoP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the decision-making platform where countries discuss and lay down guidelines for their climate change commitments.

Global leaders often argued with him that keeping the rise in global temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius could not help them achieve the economic growth they were aiming for, he said.

"But for us, climate change is not about economic growth but survival. If a country's emissions go overboard, they become mine, and the future of my country is at stake," Tong said.

The Paris Agreement of 2016 was "good", but it needs many more details to be laid down so that it becomes "meaningful and effective", he said.

Tong, who is a part of the advisory group for the 23rd session of CoP to be held in Bonn, Germany, from November 6 to 17, hopes to generate a discussion that leads to "concrete and credible" action.

After Cyclone Pam hit Kiribati in 2015, living on the islands has been accompanied by fear, he said. "During that time we had mothers and grandmothers looking around to save their babies, putting them in a bucket or an icebox. This was the first time we faced something so devastating," he said.

After New Zealand had agreed to take in 75 people from the country each year, people have been "migrating with dignity", he said.

"I reject the notion that we should migrate as climate refugees. We have more than enough time to prepare and be brutally honest about what's coming. People (who migrate) do miss home, but they're happy to be finding opportunities to make a living," Tong said.

The "reluctant leader", as he calls himself, is not giving up on any opportunity to save his country.

"I like to think out of the box. There's no doubt in my mind that we can build the islands up higher (raise the elevation) and make it resilient to climate change. It has been possible to build Palm Islands (in Dubai), so why not raise our islands?" he asserted.

"We have done enough damage to this planet and it's almost beyond repair now. It's time we arrest our actions to aid a healing process," Tong added.

(Bhavana Akella can be contacted at bhavana.a@ians.in)

--IANS

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Members of the Congress's student wing NSUI stepped onto the tracks at the Vishwavidyalya Metro Station here on Monday to protest against the hike in fares, thereby disrupting the services for some time.

"The services were disrupted for about 10 minutes only. Nothing major. The case will be dealt with by the Metro Police since it is a law and order issue," an official of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) told IANS.

The NSUI members were later taken to the Kashmere Gate police station.

Metro fares are scheduled for another hike from Tuesday as earlier conveyed by the DMRC. The hike, as proposed by the Fare Fixation Committee, was supposed to be done in two phases. The fares were revised earlier in May this year.

The Delhi government is against the second hike and is in talks with the DMRC to cancel the move.

--IANS

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Vatican City, Oct 9 (IANS/AKI) The integration of migrants and the need for solidarity towards those who flee conflict, persecution and poverty in their homelands was at the centre of talks between Pope Francis and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Vatican on Monday, the Holy See said.

The "cordial" meeting between Pope Francis and Steinmeier examined "the economic and religious situation in Europe and in the world, with particular reference to the phenomenon of migrations and to the promotion of a culture of acceptance and solidarity", the Vatican said.

Discussions between the two men also addressed "questions of mutual interest, such as the economic and religious situation in Europe and in the world," the statement said, without providing details.

The statement praised the "good" relations and "fruitful collaboration" between the Holy See and Germany and between the Catholic Church and German institutions.

Appreciation was also expressed during the meeting for "the positive interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, especially between Catholics and Protestants in the fifth centenary of the Lutheran Reformation," the Vatican said.

After his papal audience, Steinmeier met the Vatican's second-in-command, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican secretary for relations with states, the Holy See said.

--IANS/AKI

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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a frontal attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of crony capitalism, and hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah over allegations that his son's business fortunes soared after the NDA government came to power in New Delhi.

Addressing enthusiastic crowds in Nadiad in central Gujarat, on the second phase of his party's Navsarjan Yatra in the poll-bound state, Gandhi took pot shots at the Modi government as the gathering cheered loudly.

"When it comes to helping, they help only a handful of industrialists. For 10-12 years, Amit Shah's son's company had nothing, but started earning only after 2014. 'Ajeeb duniya hain' (It's a strange world). He (Jay Shah) started with Rs 50,000, and in a year it jumped to Rs 80 crore. This is 'Start Up India', 'Make in India'," he said, mocking the Prime Minister's pet schemes.

At his aggressive best, Gandhi went on an interactive mode while addressing the crowd. "Complete my sentence, 'Na khaunga, Na khaney dunga. Kahan gaya chowkidar? Ye hain Gujarat ki sachchai (I will not indulge in corruption, nor let others indulge in corruption. Where is the gatekeeper? This is the reality of Gujarat)," he said, as the cheering crowds repeated after him.

Gandhi was referring to Modi who has often said he is the chowkidar of the nation and will not allow any corruption.

Quoting from Modi's earlier speeches, Gandhi said in a taunt: "Chhappan ki chhaati hain. Mein akela rozgar dunga. Kisiko kuchh nahi karna padega (I have a 56-inch chest. I will alone provide employment. No one needs to do anything).

"Every 24 hours, 30,000 unemployed youth come in the job market but only 450 get jobs. In China, everyday 50,000 youth get jobs. The biggest problem in this country is unemployment.

"Modi should accept he has failed. He should say the promises I gave, I was not able to fulfil, and I have failed."

He said that former BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee acknowledged in Parliament that the Congress party had done developmental work, but Modi was constantly blaming it.

"For 22 years, you are with the Congress party. I will not forget this, you will be respected. Iss mandir mein kisike Mann ki Baat nahi suni jaati," he said taking a pot shot at Modi's monthly radio talk show Mann ki Baat.

Gandhi spoke to the crowds at the popular historic Santram Temple in Nadiad. It is a 250 year old temple highly revered by the people. A spirited Gandhi also gave a flying kiss to crowds and they applauded loudly. He was also seen taking pictures from his cell phone.

The Congress leader was greeted by enthusiastic crowds wherever he went in Central Gujarat's Charotar region. The ruling BJP and Congress are evenly placed in this region.

The Congress lost two senior legislators, Shankersinh Vaghela and Ramsinh Parmar, during the run up to the August Rajya Sabha elections in this region.

Later, the Congress Vice President visited the home of Sardar Patel in Karamsad and garlanded his statue as well as one of Mahatma Gandhi. Sardar Patel, who was born at his maternal uncle's home in Nadiad, belonged to Karamsad in the same region.

Addressing crowds there, Gandhi again attacked Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

"Is it Start Up India, is it Make in India. Modi destroyed small traders, ordinary people, and from that fire rose a company, that of Amit Shah's son," he said, to loud cheers.

He was also interact with workers of the Amul dairy plant.

Gandhi's latest visit comes a day after Prime Minister Modi ended his two-day trip to Gujarat, where he visited his hometown Vadnagar and launched the "Intensified Mission Indradhanush".

--IANS

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Seven tourists were fined for chasing Tibetan antelopes in a national reserve in Tibet.

The regional forestry authority said on Monday that the tourists in two off-road vehicles left the designated travel route and chased a herd of Tibetan antelopes in Serling Co National Nature Reserve in Nagqu Prefecture last week, reports Xinhua news agency.

Forestry wardens seized their video footage, which recorded over one minute of the chasing. The tourists involved said they had wanted to get a closer look at the antelope.

Zhaxi Doje, an official with the Tibet Forestry Bureau, said frightened Tibetan antelope running on top speed can suffer heart and lung failure.

The tourists were fined 105,000 yuan ($16,000) in total for "disturbing rare wildlife's living and breeding".

The population of Tibetan antelope declined sharply from 200,000 to 20,000 due to illegal hunting in the 1980s. Thanks to the habitat protection in the past decade, the population has recovered but the species is still listed among China's first class protected animals.

--IANS

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said rebel JD-U leader Sharad Yadav had ditched principled politics, adding that his 'Sanjhi Virasat Bachao' event in Delhi was nothing but support to dynastic and corrupt leaders.

"Sharad Yadav should not talk about principles in . Socialist leaders never support dynastic politics, the corrupt, and corruption," Nitish Kumar told media persons here after his weekly 'Lok Samvad' programme.

Without naming Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and his family, who are facing corruption charges, Nitish Kumar said former Janata Dal-United President and former Union Minister Sharad Yadav's 'Sanjhi Virasat Bachao' event or 'save common heritage' was to support dynastic and corruption.

Sharad Yadav had organised the event at the Constitution Club in Delhi on August 17, which was attended by more than a dozen opposition parties.

The Bihar Chief Minister justified his decision to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party and form a new government in the state. "I took this decision to safeguard the interests of Bihar and for its development," he said.

Nitish Kumar, who is also JD-U President, said the Election Commission had already rejected twice the claim of Sharad Yadav's faction that they were the real JD-U. There will be no problem if they approach the commission again, Nitish Kumar said.

Earlier, Sharad Yadav called Nitish Kumar "selfish and betrayer" for breaking the Grand Alliance comprising the JD-U, the RJD and the Congress and forming a new government in Bihar with BJP help.

Nitish Kumar was silent on the political uproar over the unprecedented growth in BJP President Amit Shah's son's business as well as the economic slowdown in the country.

--IANS

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Ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz appeared before an accountability court here on Monday over a reference filed against her by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pertaining to London properties owned by the family.

Maryam arrived at the court amid tight security, accompanied by senior ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party leaders and ministers, reports Dawn news.

Her husband, retired Captain Muhammad Safdar, who was taken into custody by the NAB, was also brought to the court later.

During the hearing, PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry submitted surety bonds worth 5 million Pakistani rupees ($47,450) on Maryam's behalf. She was also provided a copy of the NAB reference along with relevant details.

The court also heard arguments on an application filed by Nawaz Sharif seeking permanent exemption from appearance in the court.

Meanwhile, the NAB prosecution asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif, who they said had left for London to look after his ailing wife, without informing NAB authorities.

Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir reserved his decision on the former Prime Minister's application, reports Dawn news.

Captain Safdar was taken into custody by a NAB team minutes after he landed at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport along with wife Maryam from London earlier Monday.

The arrest followed issuance of non-bailable warrants by the accountability court for Capt Safdar after he failed to appear on previous hearings despite notices.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court on July 28 had directed the NAB to file references against Nawaz Sharif and his children in six weeks in the accountability court and directed the trial court to decide the references within six months.

The former premier and his sons have been named in all three NAB references, while Maryam and husband Safdar were named in only one.

On October 2, the accountability court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Sharif's sons - Hussain and Hassan Nawaz - Captain Safdar

--IANS

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The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday arrested ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law as he arrived in Pakistan. He secured bail along with his wife Maryam Nawaz.

Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd), who was taken into custody upon his arrival from London, was granted bail by an accountability court in a case pertaining to the Sharif family's properties in London, reports Dawn news.

After appearing before the court here, Maryam told the media that her family was being tried despite already receiving the punishment -- the disqualification of her father Nawaz Sharif.

"These trials will last till the day of judgement unless something emerges in which he (Nawaz Sharif) or anyone from his family is caught," she said.

Maryam said the questions taken up the Supreme Court-mandated Joint Investigation Team regarding her family businesses continue to remain questions "because they are false allegations with no answers".

Asked when her brothers Hassan and Hussain Nawaz will appear before the court, Maryam said they would take their decisions themselves.

"My brothers live abroad... The laws of here (Pakistan) don't apply on them."

The court also heard arguments on an application filed by Nawaz Sharif seeking permanent exemption from appearance in the court as he had left for London to look after his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz, reports Dawn news.

Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir reserved his decision on the former Prime Minister's application.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court on July 28 had directed the NAB to file references against Nawaz Sharif and his children in six weeks in the accountability court and directed the trial court to decide the references within six months.

The former premier and his sons have been named in all three NAB references, while Maryam and husband Safdar were named in one.

On October 2, the accountability court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Sharif's sons and Captain Safdar for failing to appear on previous hearings.

--IANS

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At least three security personnel were killed and seven others injured when their convoy was attacked by militants on Monday in Pakistan's tribal area of North Waziristan, the media reported.

The paramilitary troops from the Frontier Corps came under gunfire in Dosli area of the North Waziristan Agency, a semi-autonomous tribal area along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Dunya News reported.

The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attackers fled from the scene after the attack. Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of security forces rushed to the attack site, imposed curfew and kicked off a search operation.

The injured security personnel were shifted to a hospital in the agency's headquarter Miran Shah where some of them were said to be in critical condition.

The number of terror attacks in North Waziristan, once a hotbed of the militants, has fallen drastically following a military offensive, Zarb-e-Azb. But the militants still carry out sporadic attacks on security forces in the area.

--IANS

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Hundreds and thousands of trucks kept off the roads across the country on Monday beginning a two-day strike to protest against the GST and calling for an end to daily revision of fuel prices. The strike sparked price rise due to an imminent disruption in supplies of essential commodities ahead of Diwali.

The decision to strike, which began at 8 a.m., came after last minute negotiations between the government and the transporters failed to resolve the logjam over their demands, Harish Sabharwal, Additional Vice President (North) of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), said.

"We are going on a nationwide chakka jam today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday). Negotiations with the government did not yield any results as they did not agree to our demands. The truckers will suffer a loss of Rs 2,000 crore. We are compelled to suffer this loss," said Sabharwal, also a member in the Road Safety Council of the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways.

AIMTC is the top body of transporters in India and represents around 93 lakh truckers and around 50 lakhs bus and tourist operators across India.

Truck operators claim they were suffering because GST-related rules had created confusion because of the existence of Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) and Forward Charge Mechanism (FCM) in the new tax system.

The AIMTC said in a statement that the indirect tax regime had led to forced registration and unnecessary compliance by transporters and this needed to be done away with. Transporters are also miffed that sale of used assets attract double taxation under the GST and want this provision scrapped.

It said the double taxation - 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax while buying and selling trucks - was killing the truckers.

The transporters also said they were not able to lift goods from unregistered traders because it would mean that they would have to pay tax on behalf of the unregistered business under RCM.

Among many other issues related to GST, the transporters are also protesting the rise in diesel prices and the fuel being kept out of the new tax system. They demand that taxes on diesel should be rationalised in accordance with international markets and on the basis of crude oil prices.

The strike has hit supplies across India, including of food.

Around 500,000 trucks went off roads in Tamil Nadu.

"The trucks are participating in the two-day token strike. The business loss in the state will be around Rs 5,000 crore, while at the national level it will be nearly 10 times that figure," AIMTC Vice President-South Zone, P.V. Subramani, told IANS.

The strike halted goods movement across Karnataka as all trucks in the state have stopped plying, AIMTC south zone General Secretary G.R. Shanmugappa told IANS.

"About four lakh trucks are at standstill across the state as about 90 associations affiliated to our all-India apex body (AIMTC) in Karnataka are participating in the strike in support of our major demands," said Shanmugappa.

About a million people, including drivers, cleaners, porters and their support staff were also participating in the two-day strike.

Accusing the Centre and state governments of being indifferent to the road transport sector, AIMTC General Secretary Naveen Kumar Gupta said among other problems, daily payment at toll gates within and across the states had turned into a nightmare due to long queues, wastage of fuel and traffic pile ups at their entry and exit points.

"We are not against toll collection if its objective is to mobilise funds for maintaining state roads and national highways. As the electronic toll collection (ETC) has not been viable or used in all states, the government should find an alternative mechanism to collect the toll without holding our trucks for long," said Gupta.

Truckers also went on strike in Himachal Pradesh.

Truckers' association spokesperson Ram Kishan Sharma told IANS that over 1,200 truckers were on strike, refusing to lift for transportation cement and clinker of Ambuja Cement from its two units at Darlaghat in Solan district.

An official of Ambuja Cement said the strike has affected normal production at the two units.

Likewise, the production of Jaypee Himachal Cement, a subsidiary of diversified group Jaiprakash Associates, located in Solan district, was also hit.

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump has defended throwing paper towels into a crowd of Puerto Ricans at a relief centre in the hurricane-ravaged territory earlier this week and lauded federal relief efforts.

"They had these beautiful, soft towels. Very good towels," Trump said in an interview that aired on Sunday on Christian television network Trinity Broadcasting.

"And I came in and there was a crowd of a lot of people. And they were screaming and they were loving everything. I was having fun, they were having fun. They said, 'Throw 'em to me! Throw 'em to me, Mr President!'."

"So next day they said, 'Oh it was so disrespectful to the people.' It was just a made-up thing. And also when I walked in, the cheering was incredible," he said.

Trump previously said he received nothing but "thank yous" after his visit to Puerto Rico on Tuesday. But by Wednesday, some of the territory's top officials had taken issue with some of his remarks - and the throwing of the paper towels, NBC News reported.

Trump also said he had been treated unfairly by the media over relief efforts and said his response compared to that of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

"We got really high marks on Florida, Louisiana, Texas and I think did at least as well in Puerto Rico, the problem is that Puerto Rico was in bad shape before the hurricanes ever got there," Trump said.

In critiquing the media's overall coverage of him, Trump also took credit for coming up with the term "fake".

"I think one of the greatest of all terms I've come up with is 'fake'," he said.

The President also piled on to his criticism of San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who has been a vocal critic of his administration's response. Trump said Cruz "really did not do a very good job in fact did a very poor job".

"... She was the lone voice (of criticism) that we saw... And of course that's the only voice the media wanted to talk to. And she's running for governor. Big surprise," Trump said.

--IANS

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Turkish Army units have entered Syria to begin a reconnaissance mission in the northwestern province of Idlib, military officials announced on Monday.

The operation is under an international agreement reached between Turkey, Russia and Iran during the Astana peace talks to establish de-escalation zones in Syria, Efe news reported.

The Turkish armed forces explained in a statement that the de-escalation zones were created to "enhance effectiveness of the ceasefire regime, end conflicts, bring humanitarian aid to those in need, establish the necessary conditions for the return of those displaced".

The Turkish General Staff said elements of the country's armed forces had been conducting reconnaissance activities in Idlib since October 8 to establish monitoring positions.

The announcement of the Turkish armed forces came two days after a major deployment of tanks and military vehicles in the Turkish province of Hatay, bordering Idlib.

On Saturday, it was reported that Ankara had helped Syrian rebel militias move from the northern Aleppo regions through Turkish territory to Hatay, where they could advance on Idlib, currently held by the Salafist militant group known as Tahrir al-Sham.

Tahrir al-Sham, formed earlier this year as a merger of the former Nusra Front and other ultra-Islamist groups ideologically linked to Al Qaeda, had taken control of Idlib in July.

--IANS

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Two Indian peacekeepers in Congo were injured when an armed militia attacked their post in the troubled North Kivu province, a statement said on Monday.

The attack on the post in Lubero on Friday by around 30 members of the Mai Mai group was repulsed, with three of the assailants killed and another one injured.

The Mai Mai group has recently been attacking Congolese Army positions.

The Lubero region lies about 300 km North of Goma, the main town of North Kivu province, where dozens of illegal armed groups control several villages. They have been at odds with the government and are exploiting mineral resources and preying on local residents, the statement said.

"Friday's attack was a rare frontal assault on UN forces deployed for protecting civilians in Congo. President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down at the end of his constitutional mandate last December has fuelled unrest in the country's Eastern provinces," the statement said.

The UN mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) is the largest and most complex mission under the UN flag in which India has a major troop presence, having contributed a total of 2,664 personnel.

--IANS

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Doctors in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh on Monday launched an agitation and threatened to disrupt OPD services after an Additional Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) died following a heart attack on Sunday on being humiliated by senior officials.

The Provincial Medical Services (PMS) Federation has demanded action against the CMO of Pratapgarh and the District Magistrate (DM) holding them responsible for the death of ACMO Ashok Kumar Chowrasia.

Chowrasia was transferred to Pratapgarh from Allahabad 15 days back. At the launch of the Indradhanush programme on Sunday, he was allegedly scolded by CMO Raj Kumar Nayyar.

President of the PMS Federation Manoj Kanauji has alleged that DM Shambhu Kumar also publicly humiliated Chowrasia after which he suffered a heart attack and was admitted to a private hospital in Allahabad where he died at night.

Federation Secretary Sunil Yadav has said the agitation will be intensified if the state government did not act against the DM and the CMO.

Local police officials say they wanted a post-mortem to be conducted but the family of the deceased did not agree to it. An official also said that so far they have not received any application from the family for a probe.

--IANS

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The US and Turkey have mutually suspended all non-immigrant visa services for travel between the two countries, after last week's arrest of an American consulate employee in Istanbul, the media reported.

With some exceptions, the move implemented from Sunday effectively blocks Turks from travel to the US, and vice versa, indefinitely, reports CNN.

The US said it was "deeply disturbed" by the employee's arrest, after he was charged over alleged links to Pennsylvania-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen who Turkey blames for the unsuccessful 2016 coup.

Turkey has pushed for the US to extradite Gulen, although the cleric has denied any involvement.

"Recent events have forced the United States government to reassess the commitment of government of Turkey to the security of US mission and personnel," the statement by the US mission in Ankara said.

Just after the announcement by the US, Turkey on Sunday retaliated through its embassy in Washington, issuing a statement that effectively mirrored the one released by Washington, CNN reported.

"Recent events have forced Turkish Government to reassess the commitment of the Government of the United States to the security of Turkish Mission facilities and personnel."

The Turkish embassy said the measure, effective immediately, would "apply to visas in passports as well as e-Visas and visas acquired at the border".

Washington's move, meanwhile, means that Turks will not be issued visas to visit the US unless they plan to move there.

According to Turkey's state-run Anadolu News Agency, the arrested consulate employee was a male Turkish citizen.

--IANS

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Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Monday accused the CPI-M government in Kerala of "sponsoring" the killings of BJP-RSS workers and said the BJP "will expose" the Pinarayi Vijayan government.

"The political killings in Kerala are sponsored by the CPI-M government," Rijiju said here while participating in the Jan Raksha Yatra of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"And we shall expose it," he said, reiterating what party chief Amit Shah had said on Sunday while kicking off the Jan Raksha Yatra in New Delhi, similar to the padyatra the BJP launched in Kerala on October 3.

Rijiju said "whatever the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) government is doing in society does not suit democracy".

Hundreds of BJP leaders and workers marched from Connaught Place to the CPI-M office in Gole Market area on Monday, like they did on Sunday.

The Delhi Police had to use water canons to disperse the protesting workers of the BJP.

Minister of State for External Affairs, Gen. V.K. Singh, who also participated in the Jan Raksha Yatra said "wherever there is a communist government they try to instil fear among the people by spreading violence".

"Shall we fear such killings?" he asked the BJP workers, who replied with a loud "No".

"We won't fear, we shall spread awareness against the communists," Singh said.

Shah on Sunday alleged the political killings were being carried out on the "orders" of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in order to "instil fear" among people and prevent the BJP from expanding in Kerala.

On October 3, Shah had started three day Jan Raksha Yatra from Kannur in Kerala, the home district of Vijayan.

--IANS

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The Supreme Court (SC) delivered three judgments in recent weeks deciding questions on arbitration matters. Last week, it set aside the judgment of the Calcutta High Court (HC) in the appeal case, Sri Chittranjan Maity vs Union of India. The contract for building a goods terminal in Howrah ran into legal controversy and the arbitral tribunal awarded a sum with interest to the contracting firm. The railway argued that the contractor had forfeited its claim by issuing a 'no claim certificate'. But that argument was not taken in the HC. Therefore, it was rejected. But, the apex court ruled that the firm was not entitled to interest on the awarded amount.
Air Force Day, celebrated on October 8 each year, provides occasion to revisit the IAFs biggest worry  its declining squadron numbers  and to examine how this could be reversed within its budget. Military planners estimate the IAF needs 42 fighter squadrons to tackle a two-front threat from Pakistan and China. Against this, the air force has just 33 squadrons, including 10 squadrons of obsolescent MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighters overdue for retirement. True, new Tejas and Sukhoi-30MKI fighters are rolling off the lines, but not quickly enough to replace the retiring MiGs, leave alone increasing the number of squadrons.
The political storm over the businesses of Jay Shah, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah, has warmed the hearts not just in the Opposition camp, but also among a section of the ruling party. When asked what is the reaction of the margdarshak mandal, the BJPs mentors group, on the issue, a party leader said the margdarshak mandal is currently a darshak, or keenly watching the events unfold before they make a move. It is an ill-kept secret within the BJP that members of the mentors group do not enjoy a good rapport with party chief Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The margdarshak mandal comprises Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the PM.
As the battle for the 2019 Lok Sabha election hots up, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President is scheduled to arrive in Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhis citadel of Amethi on Tuesday.
Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram today told the Supreme Court that the BJP-led government has been carrying on a "politically-motivated vendetta" against him and his son.

The apex court was hearing CBI's appeal challenging a Madras High Court order staying the Centre's lookout circular (LOCs) against Karti and others in an alleged graft case over irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007.

Chidambaram and his son Karti, facing the criminal probe, have filed separate affidavits in the apex court alleging vendetta.

"Since the NDA government came to power, the central government has been carrying on a politically motivated vendetta against my family and especially my son. The agencies of the central government have not spared the friends of the first respondent (Karti) or even persons remotely connected with him," Chidambaram said.

He also said the FIPB that dealt with the proposal of INX Media Ltd was chaired by D Subba Rao, who later became RBI Governor, and was succeeded by Ashok Chawla who later became Chairman of Competition Commission of India.

"The other members of FIPB, at the relevant time, were equally distinguished civil servants," he said.

"The FIR in the is a politically motivated FIR intended to embarrass and humiliate me and the members of my family," Chidambaram added.

On the other hand, Karti Chidambaram today sought permission to travel to the United Kingdom to admit his daughter for higher studies in the Cambridge.

Karti, in his affidavit, responded to CBI's allegation that he has multiple accounts and assets abroad, saying his family owns only one asset abroad which was acquired by transfer of funds through nationalised banks under the RBI's liberalised remittance scheme.

Karti also added that he has got only one account in UK's Metro Bank which was opened in 2016 and has not received any remittance from anyone except him, his wife and daughter.

He also stated that the banks in UK have strict laws for opening bank accounts for 'Politically Exposed Persons' and, because of his father's political clout, they were subjected to rigorous scrutiny by the international banks.

The CBI FIR, lodged on May 15, had alleged irregularities in FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Karti's father was the Finance Minister.

On October 4, the CBI had alleged in the apex court that Karti had "tampered" with evidence relating to an alleged graft case against him during his visits abroad in the months of May, June and July this year.

The agency had said that there was a need to issue a LoC against Karti as he had the "potential" to tamper with the evidence and he had done this during his visits abroad.

CBI had last month told the apex court that Karti was prevented from travelling abroad as he was allegedly closing several of his foreign bank accounts.

The CBI's contention was strongly refuted by Karti's counsel.

The top court is hearing CBI's appeal challenging Madras High Court order staying the government's LOC against Karti in the alleged graft case.

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Launching a broadside against Sharad Yadav, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the JD (U) rebel leader had given up the ideals of socialism to become a "camp follower" of dynastic and family-driven .

Kumar was apparently referring to Yadav's ties with RJD president Lalu Prasad after the disintegration of the grand alliance in Bihar.

"He (Sharad Yadav) has given up the ideals of socialism to become 'peechlagu' (a camp follower) of dynastic and family-driven politics," Kumar told reporters after Yadav accused him of "choosing the path of power rather than following the party's philosophy".

In a counter-attack on Yadav, Kumar said the JD(U) rebel had once stood for public probity.

"A man who used to say that democracy is run on the basis of 'lok-laaz' (public probity) has gone against it," Kumar, flanked by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, said after the completion of a weekly public interaction programme.

In a reference to Lalu Prasad, many of whose family members hold top posts in the RJD, he said, "Have you ever heard about anybody from the family of Rammanohar Lohia, Jayprakash Narayan and Karpoori Thakur making it into "

A faction headed by Yadav, a JD(U) Rajya Sabha member, has made a representation before the Election Commission (EC), staking a claim to the party symbol. Kumar's group has also gone to the EC, saying that it had the support of an overwhelming number of MPs and MLAs and should be identified as the real JD(U).

"Let us go for a survey in Bihar (to see) whether the decision to part company with the grand alliance was right or not in the interest of Bihar," Kumar, who is also JD(U) national president, said.

Kumar, who led the grand alliance -- which included the JD(U), RJD and Congress -- to victory in Assembly polls in 2015, resigned in July, after differences with the RJD.

"He (Sharad Yadav) does not have any genuine claim for the party symbol and due to this the EC has already twice rejected their claim. On the other hand, we have the support of all MLAs of Bihar, a majority of MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha which anybody could check," he said.

He also derided Yadav's 'Sajha virasat' (shared heritage) campaign, saying that there was only "shared lust" for property and power.

"The popularity which he (Sharad Yadav) did not draw in the past 40 years of his political career he has won in the last two months, thanks to the media," he said.

Kumar evaded an answer when asked to comment on a media report that the turnover of a firm run by BJP President Amit Shah's son Jay Shah rose by around 16,000 times in 2015-16.

"I have no idea about this. I could not read the newspapers as I had to visit the family of former MLC Bhola Singh who died today. My knowledge about it is only what you are saying," Kumar said.

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Around 23,000 lorries remained off the road in Madhya Pradesh hitting supply today -- the first day of the two-day truckers' strike against high diesel price among other issues.

"Around 23,000 trucks out of total 25,000 in Madhya Pradesh were not driven today. Only 2,000 are ferrying essential commodities to ensure that common man is not at the receiving end during the festive season," MP Motor Transport Association president Parvinder Singh Bhatia told PTI.

He said the truckers' two-day strike called by All India Motor Transport Congress is expected to inflict a loss of Rs 400 crore to their sector.

Bhatia said that diesel should be brought in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) purview as the transporters have been facing problems due to its varied prices in different states.

"MP government was realising heavy Value Added Tax (VAT) and other levies on diesel and the fuel was quite costlier in the state than in other states. This causes financial hardships to us," he added.

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A man and his two minor daughters were killed when a speeding truck hit their motorcycle in Muzaffarpur district today, police said.

The deceased have been identified as Murari Prasad Singh and his two daughters Nancy Kumari and Mansi Kumari, Ahiyapur police station, station house officer (SHO) Vijay Kumar said.

The incident occurred near RPS school in Bhikhanpur locality when Singh was going to drop his two minor daughters to school on his bike when they were hit by a speeding truck, killing two of them on the spot, the SHO said.

Local people blocked the Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi National Highway (NH) 77 for few hours and burnt tyres in protest against the incident. Later, officials of district administration got the blockade lifted after persuading them.

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A court here today pronounced 75-year-old Abdul Karim Tunda as guilty in the 1996 Sonepat bomb blasts case.

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Sushil Kumar Garg will pronounce the quantum of punishment tomorrow, Tunda's counsel Ashish Vats said.

"Abdul Karim Tunda has been held guilty under section 307 (attempt to murder) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act," he said.

While recording his statement in court in September this year, Tunda, who is currently lodged in a jail here, had claimed that he was in Pakistan at the time of the blasts.

At least 15 persons were injured in twin blasts in Sonepat in 1996 -- one near a cinema hall and another near a sweets shop.

The lawyer said that 43 witnesses, including those who were injured in the blasts, recorded their testimony during the trial.

Tunda was arrested from the Indo-Nepal border at Banbasa on August 16, 2013. He was suspected to be involved in several blasts cases across the country, some of which are still pending.

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New affordable housing units grew 27 per cent, whereas the overall new residential launches declined by 33 per cent during the January-September 2017 period compared to the same period last year, a study has found.

"Affordable housing sector has recorded a surge of 27 per cent in new units launched (y-o-y). However, overall residential unit launches recorded a decline of 33 per cent, and was at approximately 60,000 units in the first three quarters of 2017 (JanuarySeptember)," a research report by realty consultant Cushman & Wakefield, covering the top eight cities of India, said in a statement.

All the cities, except Mumbai, saw a decline in new launches, mostly due to the introduction of Real Estate Regulatory Act (RERA) and GST implementation, the stufy said.

"Affordable housing is an attractive proposition both for developers and consumers as the demand is huge and largely unmet. The high focus of the central government has resulted in the availability of more funding options for the developers such as ECB, FDI and debt financing from national financial institutions at highly competitive rates.

"However, there are challenges for affordable housing projects in tier-I cities, where land costs and availability within established locations are very difficult," Cushman & Wakefield India managing director, Anshul Jain said.

Hyderabad saw a jump of 813 per cent in new affordable launches during the period under review, followed by Mumbai with 331 per cent. Kolkata witnessed marginal rise of five per cent.

Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi-NCR and Pune witnessed a decline in new launches in the segment.

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Local Congress leader of Amethi Jang Bahadur Singh today announced his decision to join the BJP, just a day ahead of BJP chief Amit Shah's visit to the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Singh, who was a BSP MLA from 2003 to 2007 before joining the Congress, said he was "saddened" by the policies of the Congress and felt "enthused by the development-oriented politics" of the BJP.

"I have decided to join the BJP. The projects which were started earlier have virtually slowed down significantly, thereby generating a sense of agony. However, with the advent of Smriti Irani (Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Textiles), there has been a visible shift," he told reporters here.

Mounting attack on the Congress, Singh said, "Despite having a government at the Centre for two terms (2004 to 2014), no significant step was taken to ensure development, and as a result Amethi became synonymous with bad roads."



He said the Congress "indulged in ignoring its workers, while on the other hand, Smriti Irani, despite losing the elections, showed inclination towards development and also showed honour towards the workers. This prompted me to join the BJP."



Earlier, when Shah visited Lucknow in July, two MLCs of Samajwadi Party -- Bukkal Nawab and Yashwant Singh -- and one from BSP -- Thakur Jaiveer Singh -- had resigned from the membership of the Council and joined the BJP.

Commenting on Rahul Gandhi's recent remark that the Congress will do in six months what the Modi government has not been able to do so far, Singh said the statement was "laughable".

"For nearly 60 years, the Congress was in power at the Centre. When it was in power, why did it not do anything? Today it is even failing to play the role of Opposition," he said.

Heaping praise on Irani, Singh mentioned the 41 major works done by her in Amethi.

Showering accolades on Shah, he said the BJP chief's "organisational capabilities" have helped the country to move forward on the path of development.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the face of Pakistan has been exposed at the United Nations," he said.

Amethi, traditionally a Congress bastion, had in 2014 Lok Sabha elections witnessed a high-pitch electoral battle between Rahul Gandhi and Smirti Irani.

Though Irani lost to the Congress scion, she managed to reduce his victory margin from around 3.70 lakh in 2009 to 1.07 lakh in 2014.

In the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls earlier this year, the BJP won six of the 10 Assembly seats falling under the parliamentary constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli. Four of them were in Amethi, reflecting the change in mood of voters.

BJP sources said the upcoming visit of Shah and Irani to Amethi was aimed at sending a clear message that the current dispensation believed in all-round development of the state and was not meting out any "step-motherly treatment" to the areas where the BJP had failed to make a mark.

Gandhi had during his visit here on October 5 accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of re- inaugurating the projects launched by the previous UPA regime in the district.

He had also mounted a sharp attack on the prime minister and asked him to address unemployment problem and farmers issues.

"If Modiji cannot address these (issues), he should say so and Congress will come and do his work in six months," he had said.

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Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today reviewed the ongoing paddy procurement here and directed officials to ensure that the payment is made to farmers within the stipulated 48 hours.

Presiding over a review meeting, the chief minister said that the requisite basic amenities in all 'mandis' should be made available and no laxity in procurement operations would be tolerated.

Reiterating the resolve to procure every single grain produced by the state's farmers, Amarinder Singh said his government had taken all measures to ensure smooth procurement, an official release said.

The chief minister urged farmers to bring only dry produce in 'mandis' to avoid problems or delays in selling their produce.

Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujjwal apprised the chief minister that 43,221 tonnes of paddy had arrived in the mandis of the district so far, of which 42,388 tonnes had been procured by different agencies.

Emphasising the need of crop diversification in view of the prevailing agrarian crisis, Amarinder Singh also issued directions for smooth procurement of Maize, which he said could play a pivotal role as an alternate crop.

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is embarking on a three-nation tour next week to seek investments into the state.

Accompanied by a high-level delegation, he will travel to the USA, UAE and UK from October 18 to 26. Naidu will leave from here on October 17 and return on October 27, according to an official communique.

During his visit to the UK, the chief minister is also expected to finalise designs of the two "iconic buildings" (legislature complex and the High Court) to be built in the new capital city Amaravati.

Naidu will receive the Golden Peacock award for corporate governance and sustainability from the Institute of Directors, London.

The chief minister will lead a high-level delegation comprising ministers Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, P Narayana and senior bureaucrats from the state, the release said.

Naidu led a similar delegation to the USA in May this year.

He will be visiting New York City, Chicago and Iowa during the first leg of his visit from October 18 to 20. After visiting the UAE from October 21 to 23, the delegation will be in the UK from October 24 to 26.

During his tour to these three countries, Naidu will hold talks with business leaders and invite them to invest in Andhra Pradesh, the release added.

In London, the CM will inspect the designs prepared by world-renowned architectural firm Fosters+Partners and "finalise" the designs of the iconic structures.

Last month, he rejected the designs submitted by the firm and asked them to prepare the designs afresh by taking "inputs" from film director S S Rajamouli of "Baahubali" fame.

Incidentally, the AP Capital Region Development Authority officials will lead Rajamouli to Fosters in London from October 11 to 13 to give his inputs for the government buildings to be built in Amaravati.

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Hollywood star Angelina Jolie reportedly offered to help capture notorious African warlord Joseph Kony.

According to a report published in The Sunday Times in the UK, Luis Moreno Ocampo, the former chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, asked the mother of six to take part in a plan to lure Kony, 56, out of hiding.

The details were given in the emails shared with the Times by French website Mediapart.

"Forget other celebrities, she is the one. She loves to arrest Kony. She is ready. Probably Brad will go also," Moreno Ocampo wrote in one email.

The 42-year-old star, who is a United Nations Special Envoy, had spoken out in the past about Kony, saying in a 2010 interview that she would be tempted to "take down" certain people, like Kony, if she was left alone in a room with them.

"He's an extraordinarily horrible human being," she told the Telegraph in 2012 of the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, a guerrilla group then operating in Uganda.

The plot to catch him reportedly involved embedding Jolie and Pitt with a unit of US Special Forces soldiers in the Central African Republic near Konys armoured encampment.

Moreno Ocampo claimed that the humanitarian had suggested inviting Kony to a private dinner, where he would be captured and arrested.

Kony, who has been accused of abducting children to become soldiers and sex slaves, was indicted in 2005 for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the ICC in The Hague but has evaded capture.

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Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will represent Jay Amit Shah, son of BJP chief Amit Shah, in the criminal defamation case he has filed against news portal 'The Wire' over its story that claimed his company's turnover saw a huge rise after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014.

Union minister Piyush Goyal said Mehta had sought Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's permission to appear for Jay and the approval was granted.

Goyal insisted that the purpose of the story was to defame the BJP and its government by making derogatory and defamatory imputations.

Asked about the Congress' attack on the BJP over the claim that the government was in the know of the entire episode as the ASG was given permission even before the story appeared, Goyal said they were aware of the matter as the news portal had sent Jay a questionnaire.

"We believe that he (Jay) has been wronged and he must get justice. There is no harm if the best of lawyers appear for him. An ASG can appear in a matter between two private parties after taking permission," he told reporters.

Jay Amit Shah today filed a criminal defamation case in a metropolitan court in Gujarat against seven people including the report's author, and the editor and owner of the news portal.
Ashoka University today announced call for admissions for its 2018 batch which will commence on August 18, 2018.

"The university will commence its fifth batch of undergraduates on August 18, 2018," the university in a release said.

Ashoka started an undergraduate programme in the year 2014 and the founding batch graduated this May with 118 students on its campus in Sonipat, Haryana.

Ashoka offers a multidisciplinary undergraduate program, in the interest of exposing students to many different perspectives in and out of the classroom.

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Kim Jong Un has promoted his younger sister to a new post within North Korea's ruling party.

The promotion of Kim Yo Jong came at a meeting of senior party members as North Korea marked the 20th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's acceptance of the title of general secretary of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea.

Kim Yo Jong was made an alternate member of the decision-making political bureau of the party's central committee.

Thousands of people, mostly students, packed Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang to dance and watch fireworks to mark the anniversary on Sunday night.

The late Kim Jong Il, North Korea's "eternal general secretary," is the father of Kim Jong Un and Kim Yo Jong.

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A Central government employees body today asked the finance secretary that the festival bonus for employees of autonomous bodies be released before October 17 otherwise they will resort to protest.

In a letter, which comes days ahead of Diwali, the Indian Public Service Employees Federation (IPSEF) says that it is disheartening that the Centre has not announced any bonus for the employees of central autonomous bodies (CABs) for 2016- 2017 while the same has been granted to railway, postal and other Central government employees.

The employees of the CABs are government employees and eligible for bonuses, it said.

In the view of the hardships being faced by families of employees of CABs during the festive season, it is requested to issue orders of grant of bonus to them immediately so as to disburse bonus to them latest by October 16, the letter said.

Otherwise, the CABs employees will be resorting to different forms of protest on October 17, it said.

The federation has also alleged that while the bonus for the year 2014-2015 was granted to employees working in CABs on October 26, when the calculation ceiling was raised from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000 in August 2016, the orders for extension of the same to the employees of CAB was not issued.

"Similarly the orders of extension of bonus for the year 2015-2016 to the employees of the CAB were not issued. This has created widespread confusion in the administrative circles of CABs. This year also, no orders have been issued in this regard for the employees of CABs," the letter from IPSEF General Secretary Prem Chand said.

It further said that the government was meting out 'step-motherly' treatment to these employees and "disenchantment and despair" was brewing among such employees working in around 600 CABs including central universities, IITs, IIMs, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and others.

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Exactly a month after being appointed as AICC general secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh, Deepak Babaria today arrived here and got the first hand feel of groupism and fighting besetting the party in state, which goes to the poll next year-end.

As soon as Babaria arrived on his maiden visit to the state after becoming AICC general secretary of MP at station, members of a group in state Congress jostled with other factions and received him.

Different groups were near to exchanging blows to draw nearer to him for garlanding and throw their weight around him.

He was taken to circuit house. All the groups, however, reached the circuit house and met Babaria amid tension.

Later, Babaria, who has replaced Mohan Prakash as AICC general secretary in charge of MP, came to the state party office.

He met party senior leaders and cadres at the office and will remain in the city tomorrow.

There are speculations in the Congress that after Mohan Prakash's exit from state, the party leadership has a plan to change its state guard Arun Yadav with Congress chief whip in Lok Sabha Jyotiraditya Scindia as well.

Already, one of the state Congress heavyweight and former union minister Kamal Nath had told reporters recently in Guna that he was not averse to Scindia being projected as chief ministerial candidate.

Earlier, the two leaders had been vying for the post.

To revive the party in Madhya Pradesh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi last month had constituted a new team to hold the charge of looking after party affairs in Madhya Pradesh and appointed Deepak Babaria as AICC general secretary in-charge.

The party leadership had also appointed two AICC secretaries in-charge, Zubair Khan and Sanjay Kapoor, to assist him in handling the party affairs in Madhya Pradesh.

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today exuded confidence that the BJP would win the bypolls for Ajmer and Alwar parliamentary constituencies and Mandalgarh (Bhilwara) assembly seat.

Addressing the party's state executive meeting in Alwar, she said the BJP won the Dholpur Assembly by-poll and would repeat it in the upcoming bypolls.

Asserting that the BJP would form governments in Rajasthan as well as at the Centre after the Assembly election next year and the 2019 general elections respectively with a thumping majority, she urged the party workers to unite and work for achieving the goals.

The chief minister said the BJP government in the state would complete four years on December 13 and its achievements should be presented before the people.

"Rajasthan was considered a backward state four years back. Now, it is among the front runners. People across the country have accepted that the work done in industrial, agriculture, skill and technology developments in the state are exemplary. We should present our work at booth level," Raje said.

She said after the successful global argitech meets in Jaipur and Kota, the state government is organising a similar meeting in Udaipur next month.

The chief minister hailed changes in the GST tax slab and said the state government had put forth the demand to the GST council.

State Industries Minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat claimed that it was due to continuous efforts of the chief minister that the GST council accepted most of Rajasthan's demands.

BJP state president Ashok Parnami said the work done by the state government in four years is more than what was done by the previous Congress government in five years.

He claimed the BJP had fulfilled 78 per cent promises made in the manifesto.

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Catalan independence would not enjoy international recognition, France's minister for European affairs said today as the Spanish region's leader threatens to announce a split.

Pressure has mounted on Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to back down after hundreds of thousands of protesters last week rallied to defend national unity.

"If there were a declaration of independence it would be unilateral and it wouldn't be recognised," Nathalie Loiseau said on CNews digital channel.

"This crisis needs to be resolved through dialogue at all levels of Spanish politics," she urged.

The minister also reiterated Brussels' warning that an independent Catalonia would "automatically" be out of the EU and have to reapply to join.

"We are allies and partners with Spain, and Spain is a major democracy, so we are not going to meddle in the internal affairs of Spain."



She said Catalonia, which borders France, already has "considerable autonomy".

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Tyre maker CEAT has acquired 163- acre land in Chennai for over Rs 60 crore to set up a manufacturing plant for radial tyres.

Property consultant JLL India, which facilitated the transaction for CEAT, said the tyre-maker plans to invest Rs 5,000 crore in this green field project in next 5 years.

"The deal involved the purchase of a massive 163-acre land parcel in Chennai to set up a radial tyre manufacturing plant," JLL India said in a statement.

The consultant did not share the deal value of this land.

However, sources said that the land value is worth over Rs 60 crore.

"CEAT plans to invest approximately Rs 5,000 crore into this mega green field project in a phased manner over next 5 years," the statement added.

CEAT is the flagship company of RPG Enterprise.

JLL India said it also facilitated the associated incentives negotiation with the Tamil Nadu government.

The land parcel is located along the upcoming Chennai Bangalore corridor in the industrial cluster of Sriperumbudur. This corridor has presence of many automobile OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).

"This is their first plant in South India and is expected to create over 2,000 jobs in and around the region, boosting its overall socio-economic status," JLL said.

JLL India MD (Chennai & Coimbatore) Sarita Hunt said: "The primary reason for CEAT to choose Chennai and specifically this land parcel - for this investment was the proximity to OEMs like Hyundai, Renault Nissan, Ford, Daimler, KIA, Isuzu, etc".

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The Congress today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Amit Shah as BJP president and demanded a probe into claims in a media report that a firm owned by Shah's son saw a huge rise in turnover after the party came to power in 2014.

While Congress leader Anand Sharma spoke in Delhi on the allegations of wrongdoing by the company owned by Jay Amit Shah, its chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala hit out at the BJP in Jaipur.

Sharma said Modi should "break his silence" on the claims. Hitting out at Union minister Piyush Goyal for defending Jay Amit Shah, he asked whether Goyal was a minister, a "spokesperson or business manager."



"The prime minister speaks on every issue... He speaks a lot... There should be a probe into it... Shah should give up his post until the probe is over, like L K Advaniji did, Nitin Gadkariji did when charges were levelled against them (in separate cases)," Sharma told reporters.

The BJP yesterday rejected the Congress' charge over the business transactions of Jay Amit Shah. Goyal had told reporters that the BJP was "confident" there was no wrongdoing and Jay Amit Shah's businesses were fully legitimate.

In Jaipur, Surjewala said Modi should relieve Amit Shah from the party president post and get the claims probed by a two-member commission of Supreme Court judges.

"It is a tough call for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Country is looking at him whether he will choose friendship and party politics or truth and morality," Surjewala said.

He said there must be transparency and accountability.

"Why shy away from probe if there's nothing wrong? There is no smoke without fire. The country was waiting for development... but 'Jai ka Vikas ho gaya'," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress today stepped up its offensive on Amit Shah over claims in a media report that a firm owned by his son saw a huge rise in turnover after the BJP came to power in 2014 and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove him as BJP chief and order a probe by Supreme Court judges.

As part of their strategy, Congress leaders addressed press conferences in several state capitals to target the BJP president over the alleged business dealings of his son while prodding the prime minister to speak on the issue. The charge has been rejected by the BJP and Shah's son, Jay Amit Shah, who termed the report "false, derogatory and defamatory."



Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Modi pressing him to "say something" on claims in the report by website The Wire and used the word "shehzada" to describe Shah's son. Modi earlier used to mockingly dub Gandhi as "shehzada" during the 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign.

"Modiji, ...Did you act as a watchman or were you a partner? Atleast say something," Gandhi said on Twitter.

Addressing a gathering at Kamla village in Kheda district in poll-bound Gujarat, Gandhi again targeted the prime minister.

"Modi ji had also said another thing (before the elections) that he does not want to become prime minister and be the 'chowkidar' (watchman) of the country's wealth. Now, where has the chowkidar gone?."



Recalling Modi's assertion that he would neither engage in corruption nor allow it to happen, the Congress leader said, "Now when Amit Shah's son's company has grown 16,000 times, Modi ji has gone silent," Gandhi said.

Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma asked the prime minister to remove Amit Shah as BJP chief and demanded a Commission of Inquiry by two Supreme Court judges.

Party's communications incharge Randeep Surjewala addressed a press conference in Jaipur, while other leaders spoke in various cities including in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, both poll-bound states.

Sharma said Modi should "break his silence" on the claims and hit out at Union minister Piyush Goyal for defending Jay Shah, asking whether Goyal was "a minister, a spokesperson or business manager."



"He(Modi) speaks a lot, everyday and on each issue. He should break his silence on this issue and declare a Commission of Inquiry (to probe the charges against Jay) comprising two Supreme Court judges. There should be a neutral probe," he told reporters.

"Amit Shah should give up his post until the probe is over. He should do what Advaniji did, Gadkariji did. He should also resign or are there new parameters for him?," he said.

In Jaipur, Surjewala said Modi should relieve Shah of the party president post and get the claims probed by a two- member commission of Supreme Court judges.

Calling for transparency and accountability, he asked why should anyone "shy away" from a probe if there is nothing wrong. "The country was waiting for development...but 'Jai ka Vikas ho gaya'," he said.

In Kolkata, party spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi said Modi should prove that he is above party politics and demanded a probe into the claims of the media report.

"It is very easy to order a probe against opposition leaders but it is tough to order a probe against one's own party leaders," Gogoi told reporters.

In Lucknow, UP Congress chief Raj Babbar termed it as the "son's model" of doing business and demanded a Supreme Court probe and Shah's removal.

"This is the new "son's model" of doing business," he said posing a set of seven questions.

In Shimla, AICC secretary Ranjeet Ranjan repeated the charges and demanded a probe by sitting Supreme Court judge into companies of Jay Shah.

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CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury today hit out at the RSS-BJP, saying the Left party was capable of giving a suitable answer if the saffron outfits did not stop political violence.

The CPI(M) today held a march till the BJP headquarters here to protest against the alleged saffron terror in Kerala and to counter the ongoing protest marches of the BJP against the alleged violence by the Left.

"We will not keep quite. We warn the BJP that if they do not stop violence then we will answer back. We will not bow down," Yechury said.

The march was led by Yechury who was joined by former party general secretary Prakash Karat and other politburo members.

Addressing party cadres in front of the BJP headquarters, Yechury alleged that while the BJP was campaigning in Delhi against the "Left violence" in Kerala, it were continuing violence against the Left cadres.

Yechury referred to yesterday's incident in which RSS workers allegedly threw bombs at Left cadres in Kannur.

Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah over the violence.

She alleged that Shah was trying to instigate terror against the Left cadres in Kerala, but the people of the state would not bow down in front of the RSS or the BJP.

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In a bid to counter the BJP's Janaraksha Yatra in Kerala, the ruling CPI(M) today organised "people's gathering" in parts of the state to highlight alleged attacks on its cadres by activists of the saffron outfit.

Inaugurating a gathering in front of the secretariat, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan lashed out at the BJP-RSS combine, alleging that they were unleashing violence in the state.

He termed the ongoing Yatra, led by BJP state president Kummanom Rajasekharan, a "failure" and charged the RSS with not allowing the Muslims to live peacefully in the country.

Balakrishnan urged people to fight the "communal" agenda of the RSS-BJP together.

A photo exhibition of the Left party workers who died in alleged attacks by RSS-BJP activists was also organised.

Family members of the Left party workers took part in the 'dharna' in Kannur, a politically sensitive district that has a history of clashes between CPI(M) and RSS-BJP workers.

The Janaraksha Yatra was flagged off by BJP president Amit Shah at Payyanoor in Kannur on October 3 to highlight the "Red and Jihadi terrorism"in the state.

The Yatra will end here on October 17.

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A Delhi court has acquitted a doctor of the charge of raping a woman patient, saying the alleged victim's testimony was inconsistent and could not be relied upon.

Additional Sessions Judge Sanjiv Jain absolved the accused, a doctor running a private clinic in south Delhi, of the charges of rape and criminal intimidation under the IPC.

"Looking into the circumstances and the testimony of the prosecutrix, prosecution case cannot be said to be free from suspicion. There are material contradictions in the testimony of the prosecutrix which go to the root of the case and create doubt on the veracity of the case," the judge said.

The court also observed that though in such cases sole testimony of victim is acceptable but in circumstances which cast doubts in the court's mind, it is not safe to rely on the victim's version.

"I am conscious of the legal proposition that conviction in such like cases can be made on the sole testimony of the prosecutrix even without any medical corroboration and the version of the victim in rape commands great respect and acceptability but if there are some circumstances which cast doubts in the mind of the court... thenitisnotsafetorely ontheuncorroborated versionofthevictimofrape," the judge said.

According to the prosecution, a complaint was lodged by the woman on July 14, 2016 alleging that she had visited the clinic as she had pain in abdomen.

The accused doctor, however, made her consume a drink and took her to another room where he raped her and threatened to upload her obscene video online, it alleged.

The woman, however, denied the incident in her testimony before the court and claimed that she did not know the contents of the complaint and was made to sign it forcefully by the police and an NGO.

During the trial, the accused had denied the allegations and claimed he was falsely implicated as the woman wanted to extort money from him.

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A family court here today annulled a child marriage, with Facebook coming to the rescue of a girl who was only 12 when her wedding was solemnised seven years ago.

Both the girl and the boy were minors in 2010 when the marriage took place, a child rights activist said.

The boy's Facebook account provided evidence that helped in proving that the couple was married, said Kriti Bharti, the Managing Trustee of Saarthi Trust, a child rights non-profit organisation.

The girl had moved a petition in the court last year, seeking the annulment of her marriage, said Bharti, who argued the case from the girl's side.

The girl's family members had been preparing for her 'gauna' (sending of the bride to her in-laws) last year and had discontinued her studies, she said.

The girl, who was unable to convince her parents against the marriage, left her home in April 2016, after informing Bharti.

Bharti rescued her and accommodated her in a child home after taking her custody from the Bal Kalyan Samiti of Barmer.

The child rights activist said that after her accommodation in the child home, a petition was moved in the family court, seeking the annulment of the girl's marriage with her husband.

"But in the court, (the husband) refused that there was solemnisation of the marriage between them and said that it was just a preparation for the engagement," Bharti said.

Facebook helped in proving that the girl's husband was lying in the court, she said.

Bharti collected evidence from the Facebook account of the girl's husband and arranged witnesses to corroborate the solemnisation of the wedding.

"We arranged all the required proofs and documents, including the age certificates of the two, and appealed to the court to grant annulment of this child marriage," Bharti said.

After hearing the arguments, presiding officer of the family court Rekha Bhargava ordered the annulment of the wedding, which had been solemnised seven years back.

Delighted with the order, the girl said that she felt like she had been prisoned and now was free to pursue her dreams.

She said that she would now pursue her studies and would become a police officer.

Hailing the order, Chairman of the Bal Kalyan Samiti Rajendra Chawda said that this was a strong message by the court against the social evil of child marriage.

Bharti said that after winning this fight for freedom, her Turst will now prepare for the girl's rehabilitation and providing her support to realise her dreams.

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Traders' body CAIT today urged the government to file a review petition before the Supreme Court on its order banning sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR till November 1.

In a statement, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said conducting business of firecrackers is a legitimate activity protected under the Constitution of India giving 'Right to Work'.

"The Supreme Court has imposed ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR but there is no ban on bursting of crackers. Possibility of people buying crackers from other states and bursting them in Delhi-NCR cannot be ruled out. The distinction between Delhi traders and traders from the rest of India seems to be unjustified," CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said.

"Many traders dealing in crackers must have purchased their stocks for this Diwali by now and the ban will put them in huge losses," he added.

The Supreme Court said its order of last November banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) would continue till October 31 - Diwali falls on October 19 -- in an effort to check pollution this festival of lights.

The traders' body asserted that bursting of crackers on Diwali symbolises happiness of people on the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya and welcoming Goddess Lakshmi since centuries, and is an integral part of Indian culture.

"Even today crackers are burst on any grand event like Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or any event to demonstrate happiness. It is noteworthy to mention that environment danger is not caused only by crackers but several other factors also contribute much and as such a thorough study is required and demand suitable steps," CAIT said.

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Scientists have developed a new gene test that can accurately predict the risk of developing breast cancer, and could be used on high-risk groups.

The Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) test will reduce the number of women having surgery to remove their breasts, by narrowing down their risk, researchers said.

Developed by researchers, including those from University of Manchester in the UK, the test looks at 18 genetic variants, in the blood or saliva, known to affect the chances of getting breast cancer.

The test will initially be available for patients having BRCA1 and 2 gene mutations, with a family history of breast cancer, researchers said.

"This is a massive game changer for breast cancer where we now have tests which can give accurate risk in the whole population, those with a family history and those with BRCA mutations," Gareth Evans, professor at Manchester University was quoted as saying by 'BBC News'.

Women with these gene mutations are often quoted as having 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer, but in fact their risk of cancer is much more complex than that, and different for every person, researchers said.

"Women with a BRCA mutation have a risk of breast cancer somewhere between 30 per cent and 90 per cent, Evans said.

Being able to narrow down a woman's individual risk will mean they are better informed about whether to have a mastectomy or not, researchers said.

They looked at samples from 60,000 women. Within two years they hope to have improved the gene test to include up to 300 genetic variants that are known to affect the likelihood of developing breast cancer.

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The Delhi High Court has asked the AAP government and the police to coordinate with each other to procure at the earliest a facial recognition software which would help trace and rescue missing children.

A bench of Justices G S Sistani and Chander Shekhar asked the police to forward, within three weeks, a proposal to the Delhi government regarding the specifications required in the software.

The direction was issued by the bench after the Delhi government, represented by standing counsel Rahul Mehra, said it was willing to fund the procurement of the software.

The Delhi government was asked to consider the proposal within three weeks of receiving it and act expeditiously on it. The court asked the police and the government to file a status report by the next date of hearing on November 6.

The bench was hearing a plea regarding missing children in which it has been examining ways and means to address the issue of tracing them and restoring them to their families.

Earlier, the court had observed that crowded places were often used by child traffickers to kidnap children and that the kids were vulnerable at the railway stations.

The court had directed installation of CCTV cameras at the stations, saying they would "go a long way" to prevent the menace and provide leads with regard to children missing from these areas.

Pursuant to the direction, the Railways had informed the bench that it has installed CCTV in 10 out of the 14 stations in Delhi and cameras would be set up in the remaining four soon. It also told the court that help-desks would be provided at all the stations shortly.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today brainstormed on ways to raise domestic oil and gas production with CEOs of top global and Indian companies who suggested that private and foreign firms be given stake in ONGC's producing fields like Mumbai High.

Over a 3-hour long meeting, the CEOs also suggested including natural gas and electricity in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime to make these competitive.

Modi, who had previously met a smaller group of oil and gas CEO in January 2016, said the status of the energy sector in India was highly uneven and there exists a scope for reform in many areas, according to sources.

The main theme of the meeting, they said, was to seek investment in exploration and production, processing, transportation and distribution network in oil and gas.

Some of the officials suggested that the government should allow private and foreign firms to take a stake in producing oil and gas fields of ONGC with a condition that they would get a fixed USD per barrel fee for producing more than the pre-determined baseline output.

The government is looking at private investments to raise domestic oil and gas production, which has stagnated for the last few years while fuel demand has been rising by 5-6 per cent annually.

Modi in 2015 had set a target of reducing India's oil dependence by 10 per cent to 67 per cent, based on import dependence of 77 per cent in 2014-15, by 2022. The dependence has since risen to over 80 per cent.

Sources said the participants at the meeting felt that investing in new unproven areas is not just risky with no guarantee of results but would also take a long time.

Involving companies with proven technology and having capital in existing producing fields for improving output is the way forward, they said.

Modi met BP Plc Chief Executive Bob Dudley, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Royal Dutch Shell's Project and Technology Director Harry Brekelmens, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Naseer, Exxon Mobil President for Gas and Power Rob Franklin, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Vedanta Resources head Anil Agarwal to discuss the oil and gas scenario.

Government think-tank Niti Aayog made a short presentation on the status, the likely scenario of demand and supply by 2030 and current government policies.

OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting. Former oil secretaries Vivek Rae and Vijay Kelkar too were invited.

Modi welcomed the suggestion made for a comprehensive energy policy, according to a press statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

He also welcomed all possibilities for innovation and research in the oil and gas sector, the release said, adding that he flagged the potential of biomass energy and invited participation and joint ventures in the coal gasification.

Subjects such as the need for a unified energy policy, contract frameworks and arrangements, requirement of seismic data sets, encouragement for biofuels, improving gas supply, setting up of a gas hub, and regulatory issues came up for discussion, the statement said.

Various participants appreciated the progress and reforms made in India in the last three years as also the pace and drive with which the Prime Minister has brought about reform in the energy sector, it said.

Many participants strongly recommended the inclusion of gas and electricity in the GST framework, the release said.

Pradhan told the gathering that the liberalised India offers around USD 300 billion investment opportunity in the next 10 years in the oil and gas sector.

"We want investors, both domestic and global, who can bring in the best technology and capital," he said.

The government is devising policies to more than double the share of gas in the energy basket to 15 per cent.

"We are planning a gas trading exchange and making sure there is open access to the gas grid. Global experience in this area would be useful," he stated.

According to Pradhan, in the last 40 months, the government has taken several policy initiatives in the energy sector in line with the prime minister's vision of energy access, efficiency, sustainability and security.

Also present at the meeting were ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Shashi Shanker, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Chairman Sanjiv Singh, GAIL India head B C Tripathi, Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) Chairman Mukesh Kumar Suran, Oil India Chairman Utpal Bora and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) Chairman D Rajkumar.

At the meeting, which was coordinated by the NITI Aayog, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia highlighted the recent decisions of the GST Council regarding the oil and gas sector.

Many suggestions received in the meeting in 2016 have helped in policy making, Modi said, adding that the status of the energy sector in India was highly uneven.

More than a year after that meeting, the government had allowed higher natural gas price for yet-to-be-produced fields in difficult areas like deep sea.

According to the release, Modia also said that "scope for reform in many areas still exists".

Modi thanked all participants for sharing holistic suggestions, keeping in mind India's unique potential and requirements in the oil and gas sector, instead of merely confining themselves to the concerns of their respective organisations.

He observed that the suggestions made today covered policy, administrative as well as regulatory issues, while stressing upon the need to develop energy infrastructure and access to energy in eastern India.

He indicated that as India moves towards a cleaner and more fuel-efficient economy, he wants its benefits to expand horizontally to all sections of the society, and in particular to the poorest, the release said.

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The Gujarat High Court today commuted the death sentence of 11 convicts in the 2002 Godhra train carnage case to life imprisonment.

The high court also upheld the life sentence awarded by the special SIT court to 20 others in the case.

Fifty-nine 'karsevaks' were killed in the Godhra train burning incident of February 27, 2002, triggering the worst communal riots in the history of Gujarat.

A division bench of Justices Anant S Dave and G R Udhwani of the high court pronounced the judgement on appeals filed by the convicts as well as the prosecuting agency.

The special SIT court had on March 1, 2011 convicted 31 persons. The trial court sentenced 11 persons to death and 20 others to life imprisonment, while acquitting 63 others.

The high court today also ordered the state government and the railways to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of those killed in the train burning incident.

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Union minister Nitin Gadkari today said the government will carry out a study to find ways to curb the present large-scale import of cheap edible oils and ensure better prices to domestic oilseed farmers.

After attending a programme organised by the Soybean Processors Association of India, Gadkari told reporters, "At present we are importing about 70 per cent of the edible oil consumed in the country. The import of cheap edible oils has been increasing continuously. Due to this, farmers are not getting the right price for oilseeds and the domestic processing industry is also suffering.

"The policy of our government is that consumers should get edible oils at the right price, while interests of oilseed-producing farmers should also be protected. So the government will carry out a study on how much the import duty on edible oils should be increased so that farmers get a price higher than the minimum support price (MSP)," he said.

Farmers were forced to sell their soybean crop below the MSP due to declining prices in the last Kharif season, so most soybean-growing farmers sowed pulses such as tur (arhar), moong and urad in the current Kharif hoping for better prices," Gadkari noted.

New varieties of seeds should be developed and special research should be conducted with the aim of increasing per-hectare soybean production, he said.

The soybean processing industry should find ways to make nutritional food items from soy 'khali' (byproduct of oil-making process) which is full of protein, he said.

Such food can be especially useful in tribal areas where malnutrition is rampant, he said.

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As the campaign for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll came to an end today, necessary guidelines have been issued to police and civil administration to ensure no outsider remains here, deputy Commissioner-cum-returning officer said.

The bypoll, necessitated following the death of actor and BJP MP Vinod Khanna, has been scheduled for October 11.

Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer Gurloveleen Singh Sidhu said all the political leaders, functionaries or party workers who are not the registered voters in the Gurdaspur parliamentary seat will have to vacate the constituency till the election.

"All the political parties have also been briefed on this so the directives of the Election Commission of India could be followed," Sidhu said.

As per the Election Commission guidelines, these directions would not be applicable on the contesting candidates or the state heads of the political parties but they would be allowed to move only between their state party office and their residence.

The Election Commission has also imposed complete prohibition on broadcasting or propagating election related material on TV, radio or newspapers.

Any such material influencing the voters will not be permissible during the 48 hours before the poll. However, any advertisement being published in newspapers on October 10 and 11 requires prior permission or certification from the EC, Sidhu added.

The electronic media advertisement, except the bulk SMS, IVRS and social media are banned for broadcasting from 5pm of October 9 till 5 pm of October 11.

The district administration is fully geared up to hold free and fair bypoll, he said.

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The Haryana Backward Classes Commission has launched a website to collect data on reservation of backward classes.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the Commission to submit its report to the Haryana government by March 31 next year, the Commission's Chairman, Justice (retd) S N Aggarwal, told reporters here.

People interested can provide information, in this regard, to the Commission and the Welfare of Scheduled Caste and Backward Classes Department by November 30 on www.hbcc.nic.in.

"Any person who desires to raise any objection to the data can file the same on or before December 30," the chairman said.

Aggarwal said that they had written a letter to the state government to provide the caste-wise break up of the state's population.

"We have also prepared a questionnaire in this regard. We had also written another letter to state government asking it to provide the caste-wise information of all government employees too," he said.

The Haryana Assembly had passed the Haryana Backward Classes Commission Act, 2016, under which the Commission was created to examine requests for inclusion or exclusion of citizen from any class in the backward classes, a release quoted Aggarwal as saying.

The Commission would also hear complaints of over inclusion or under-inclusion of any backward class and tender such advice to the state government, it said.

Aggarwal said that the assembly had also passed the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions) Act, 2016.

Under this Act, reservation is provided to six castes -- Jat, Jat Sikh, Ror, Bishnoi, Tyagi and Mulla Jat or Muslim Jat -- in, the release quoted him as saying.

Thereafter, some complaints were filed with the Commission by aggrieved parties to challenge the reservation given to these castes.

The Act was challenged through petitions, the main plea was titled as Murari Lal Gupta versus the state of Haryana and others, in the high court, he said.

The high court had on September 1, 2017, directed the Commission to determine the extent of reservation, if any, to which the castes mentioned in the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions) Act.

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Union Minister Harsh Vardhan has suggested several areas like marine ecosystems and protection of indigenous intellectual property in which India could further collaborate with South Africa.

The minister was on a three-day visit to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Red Fort Declaration signed by then president Nelson Mandela and then Prime Minister Deve Gowda, which formed the basis for cooperation between the two countries.

Vardhan, the Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, suggested several more areas to which this collaboration could be extended, including solar and wind energy, marine ecosystems, and protection of indigenous intellectual property.

Vardhan and his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor jointly launched a booklet highlighting the collaborative successes in science and technology through robust networking of the best researchers and academic institutions.

So far, the cooperation has been focussed in fields like Astronomy & Astrophysics, Agriculture Sciences, Green Chemistry, Indigenous Knowledge System and Health Sciences, where both countries have complementary strengths.

But since the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July last year, the S&T cooperation has seen a significant boost with the launch of eight new projects in Astronomy which will help to augment the International Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope project led by South Africa, Vardhan said.

He visited the SKA site in the Karoo desert and was appraised of the progress of the mega-telescope project in which India is a member country.

Indian scientists will be contributing in several design work packages of SKA, notably the Telescope Manager System which will be the controlling nerve centre behind the functioning of the SKA observatory.

The SKA project will address some of the most interesting science goals in astrophysics, ranging from the very early Universe to the search for intelligent life out there.

A multi-institutional project on HIV Vaccine Research Collaboration has been also initiated this year, aimed at developing preventive HIV vaccine and the identification of biomarkers and development of novel techniques for diagnosis and management of tuberculosis.

"This is a unique project where our two countries will use science for addressing the health care needs of our people in the area of HIV/TB," Vardhan remarked.

A new programme on 'grass root innovation', aimed towards sharing of open source technologies and IPR protection of traditional knowledge systems has also been launched for co- development of products through value addition, validation through product deployment and market ready technology transfer with a focus on affordability.

"Both India and South Africa have a rich pool of traditional knowledge which we can leverage by providing the scientific knowledge base required for technology development for societal benefit," Vardhan said.

India, as a leading country in the International Solar Alliance partnership, has extended an invitation to South Africa to join this alliance.

The two ministers also agreed that both countries could benefit from an understanding of the ocean processes which shapes the climate and coastal eco-system through collaboration in the blue economy, looking at the marine eco- system, including the living and non-living resources of the ocean.

Both India and South Africa are maritime nations and are a part of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

The Indian expedition to Antarctica is also launched from Cape Town.

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The Madras High Court today refused to hear a petitioner who opposed the plea for premature release of Al-Umma leader S A Basha, serving life term in cases relating to the serial blasts in Coimbatore in 1998 which killed 60 persons.

A division bench comprising Justices Rajiv Shakder and N Sathishkumar in their order said the petition for impleadment was devoid of merit.

The petitioner K Gopinath, an advocate and general secretary of Hindu Munnetra Kazhagam, had submitted that the habeas corpus petition filed by Mubeena, daughter of Basha, was not maintainable.

He contended that a number of common people were killed in the bomb blasts.

He submitted that Basha was the perpetrator of the serial blasts, which took place ahead of BJP leader L K Advani's campaign meeting.

Basha was arrested in 1991 in connection with a murder case by Coimbatore City police for offences punishable under Section 120-B, 302 and 148 IPC and remanded to judicial custody. The trial court awarded life imprisonment to him in the case.

He was also arrested in connection with the 1998 serial bomb blasts cases. The Sessions Court had on August 1, 2007, convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Basha's daughter had in her plea contended that the sentences were ordered to run concurrently with the previous conviction in which he was also awarded life imprisonment.

She referred to a scheme announced by the Tamil Nadu Government with regard to premature release of life convicts, who had completed 20 years of actual imprisonment on humanitarian grounds under Article 161 of the Constitution.

Mubeena said her father was eligible to be considered for the premature release under the government scheme as Basha had completed more than 22 years of imprisonment.

"My father is an aged prisoner and has completed 77 years of age," she submitted while seeking Basha's release.

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The Delhi High Court today granted the government the last opportunity by giving it six months to look into the accounts of political parties, including the Congress and the BJP, for traces of foreign funds.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said it was giving the "last opportunity" to the Ministry of Home Affairs for complying with the court's 2014 judgement, which had found both parties flouting the FCRA norms by accepting donations from Indian subsidiaries of UK- based Vedanta Resources.

"We are concerned with the compliance of the order," it said.

Section 4 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) prohibits a political party or a legislator from accepting



foreign contributions.

On March 28, 2014, the high court had ordered the Election Commission and the Ministry of Home Affairs to look into the accounts of political parties and take action within six months.

However, MHA represented by central government's standing counsel Monika Arora, sought extension of time till March 31 next year to comply with the court's directions.

The Centre in its application said "the records are voluminous in nature and are a few decades old, hence, to collect, collate and then analyse them requires more time".

Advocate Pranav Sachdeva, appearing for NGO, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), on whose plea the high court had passed the order, said "six months time is unreasonable".

He submitted that even after the lapse of three years since the court verdict, the government had not taken any action.

The Centre's counsel opposed this claim saying it has issued show cause notices, letters, reminders to the political parties to furnish the requisite information with regard to the donations made by companies to them.

The lawyer further said they, through Ministry of Corporate Affairs, have constituted teams to inspect the share holding patterns of the companies which have extended donations to the political parties.

Sachdeva argued that the NGO has moved a contempt plea for non-compliance of the high court's 2014 order directing action against political parties which were violating foreign funding norms.

He contended that "despite the fact that there was no interim relief granted by the apex court, the Centre has remained in non-compliance with the judgement of the Delhi High Court."



To this, the bench observed that the government was saying it would comply with the order in six months.

"Let them do it. We appreciate your (NGO) effort," the court said and asked the counsel for the NGO whether it wants compliance of the order or punitive action against the Centre.

It said "We are of the opinion that the extension of time deserves to be granted. Therefore, they are granted six months time from today for compliance of the order".

It, thereafter, disposed of the Centre's application.

Earlier on July 20, the single judge had given the Centre six months time to comply with the direction and had listed the matter for hearing on December 5.

Both the political parties had challenged the high court's verdict in the Supreme Court by filing petitions which were withdrawn in November last year.

The high court had passed the 2014 order on a petition by the NGO seeking action and a probe against the parties which were allegedly infringing the norms.

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The Delhi High Court today sought the response of the AAP government on a PIL seeking compliance of the Supreme Court directions on fire safety and building stability norms by private and government schools in the city.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to the Delhi government and civic bodies on the plea filed by a lawyer and posted the matter for hearing on January 29 next year.

The PIL has alleged that the Delhi government and its various authorities do not have an answer to the question of how many schools were complying with the safety norms, and that is why the court has been approached.

The public interest litigation (PIL) claims that the Supreme Court had in 2009 issued directions to all the schools in India to have fire safety certificate and stability certificates, but these were not being complied with it.

The petitioner, Kush Kalra, alleged that the government's education directorate, the fire services and public works department were being negligent in performing their duty in taking steps to ensure that the schools complied with building stability and fire safety norms.

The Delhi-based lawyer claimed that the authorities, including the municipal corporations, were clueless as to whether any school under their jurisdiction was actually complying with the norms.

The PIL, filed through counsel Rajesh Gogna, said the petitioner came to know about the lack of data with the authorities on the issue after he raised a query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The plea sought directions to local authorities to ensure compliance of the apex court's order as well as the National Building Code of India, claiming that the "safety of school- going students in Delhi is at risk".

"School-going children are easy target of any mishap and it must be the duty of the respondents (authorities) to check and identify which schools in Delhi have no fire safety and building stability certificate and the respondents must derecognize those institutions till the time the safety norms are implemented," the petition claimed.

The PIL also claimed that around 500 schools responded to the RTI query of the petitioner and "confirmed that they are not complying with the fire safety and building stability measures".

It has also sought directions to the authorities to depute their officers to make periodic visits to the schools to check whether the fire safety and building stability measures are being implemented and to apprise the court about it.

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Amid reports of around 180 child deaths due to malnutrition and related ailments in tribal areas of Maharashtra since August, the Bombay High Court today directed authorities to implement urgent welfare measures, and inform the court of the same.

A bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N M Jamdar also directed the state public health department's core committee to hold a meeting by November 15, the next date of hearing, to review the implementation of remedial measures.

The committee, headed by Maharashtra's chief secretary, was constituted in 2013 to prevent and reduce malnutrition in children and related illnesses and deaths in the tribal districts across the state.

The directions came on a set of public interest litigations (PILs) highlighting a constant rise in deaths due to malnutrition and related illnesses among those living in the Melghat region of Vidarbha, and other tribal areas in Maharashtra.

The petitioners had last week claimed in the high court that since August this year, nearly 180 children had died of malnutrition and related illnesses in the state's tribal areas.

The court has passed several orders over the last two years, directing the state government to ensure that those residing in tribal areas of the state get adequate nutrition, health care, sanitation and education facilities.

However, the state has had little success in controlling malnutrition-related deaths, especially in children in the area.

During the previous hearing, taking cognisance of the seriousness of the issue and the state's failure to implement adequate welfare measures, the court had decided to hold frequent hearings for all matters pertaining to tribal welfare.

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Following are the top stories from western region at 1800 hrs.

LGB 5 GJ-HC-LD GODHRA SENTENCE



Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court commutes the death sentence of 11 convicts to rigorous life imprisonment, while upholding the life sentence of another 20 in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.

BOM 6 GJ -RAHUL-SHAH



Kamla (Guj): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi targets Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "silence" on a media report claiming that a company owned by BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay Shah saw a huge rise in its turnover after his party came to power in 2014.

BOM 5 BIZ-TRUCKERS STRIKE



Mumbai: Truck operators across the country start two-day strike against the GST, high diesel prices and harassment on roads, according to the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC).

BOM 1 MH-ISLAND FIRE



Mumbai: Fire-fighting operation at the fuel tank farm of the Mumbai Port Trust on Butcher Island off Mumbai's coast completes this morning, three days after the blaze broke out in a high-speed diesel tank.

BES 13 MH-FADNAVIS SLAMS SENA



Nanded: Voting for the Shiv Sena in the upcoming Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation polls means bringing the Congress to power, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says as he launches a vicious attack on the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

BCM 9 BIZ-BSE-CYBSERSECURITY



Mumbai: To identify and deal with threats in cyber space, top stock exchange BSE launches a Next Generation Cyber Security Operations Centre at its premises.

BES 2 MH-WOMAN-CHILDREN-DEAD



Raigarh: A 24-year-old woman and her two children, who went missing on October 4 from a village in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, found dead.

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Varun Dhawan is happy that his latest release "Judwaa 2" has done significantly well at the box office but the actor said he is not part any rat race and his only aim is to entertain people.

The 30-year-old actor, who has had a great run at the ticket window since his first film "Student of the Year", said he is not working to outshine anyone else in the film industry.

"After 'Judwaa 2', trade feels your are a bit ahead in the race right now... There is no race. There is 'Race 3' which Remo D'Souza is directing with Salman Khan while will be very cool but there is no race between any of us. If there is a race, then what is the finish line? How is there ever a finish line?



"As artistes, we are just working towards entertaining people and making good films and hopefully, we will get to make a career. I feel amazing about being able to do that and provide for my family and my loved ones. But I am not working so I can be better than someone," Varun wrote on Twitter.

The actor will next be seen in YRF's "Sui Dhaaga: Made In India", which also features Anushka Sharma, and "October" directed by Shoojit Sircar.

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Country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank today committed a financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to the Indian Armed Forces.

The fund will be utilised towards welfare activities and betterment of the families of ex-servicemen who have lost their lives guarding the nation, ICICI Bank Managing Director and CEO Chanda Kochhar said in a statement.

The contribution would be made in two equal tranches by the bank as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. A cheque worth Rs 5 crore was handed over to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here today as part of the initiative.

"While no amount of assistance is enough to fill the loss for the families, this gesture is our humble endeavour to contribute towards their betterment. Our assistance will aid the young children and widows of the soldiers to get an education thereby enabling them to gain knowledge, get a job and earn a sustainable livelihood," she said.

This fund will be used for two programmes. The first will be towards the post-graduation education of the widows of the soldiers and also to support education for their wards. The second scheme will be to provide financial assistance for marriages of the daughters of ex-servicemen.

The Kendriya Sainik Board, an apex body that formulates policies for resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependents, will undertake the administration of the programme.

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Indian peacekeepers under the UN mission in Congo have repulsed a major strike by around 30 members of a militia on their post in the troubled North Kivu province in which three attackers were killed and two Indian soldiers sustained injuries.

The attack on the peacekeepers' post was carried out on Friday in Lubero by the Mai Mai group which have recently been targeting Congolese Army positions, Army Spokesperson Col Aman Anand said here.

Giving details of the incident, he said around 30 militia men attacked the post in Lubero, which is about 300 km north of Goma.

It is the main town of North Kivu province where dozens of illegal armed groups control several villages.

"Indian peacekeepers repulsed the attack in which three of the attackers were killed and one was wounded," Col Anand said, adding two Indian peacekeepers were also injured in the attack.

Currently, India has a total of 2,664 military personnel deployed in Congo under the UN mission there.

"Friday's attack was a rare frontal assault on the UN forces deployed for protecting civilians in Congo," said the Army spokesperson.

Previously, an attack by rebels on an Indian post took place in 2010 in Kirumba in North Kivu province when three Indian soldiers were killed after the attackers were able to intrude the base, army sources said.

They said the Indian brigade currently conducts an average of 2,300 patrols per month in the troubled region, apart from ensuring protection of civilians.

They said another important task of the Indian peacekeepers is to provide assistance in undertaking targeted operations against Illegal Armed Groups (IAGs).

As per reports, President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down at the end of his constitutional mandate last December has fuelled unrest in the country's eastern provinces.

India has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.

The country has currently deployed more than 7,600 military and police personnel in UN peace operations in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia, the Middle East, South Sudan, Sudan and the Western Sahara.

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Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Minister Imkong L Imchen today officially launched Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) in the state by administering immunisation drops to toddlers at a health centre here.

In his address, Imchen mentioned the importance of immunisation and described Intensified Mission Indradhanush as one of the most comprehensive programmes which was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday.

However, yesterday was Sunday, and Nagaland being a Christian state decided to launch the Mission today, Imchen said.

He said that the Central government initiated IMI with the objective of safeguarding and preventing children from preventable diseases through immunisation.

Immunisation is the most effective and cheapest means of treatment as the cost of treatment becomes too expensive after a person has already been inflicted due to non-immunisation at young age, he added.

He strongly urged the media and all stakeholders to work in close coordination to sensitise, and create awareness in both urban and rural areas with special emphasis on rural and remote areas.

Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Menukhol John said the department has been giving its concerted efforts in order to get children fully immunised. At the district level, the officer in-charge in the rank of Joint Director is personally monitoring the activities of the programme besides intensified head counting of expected mother, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay today filed a criminal defamation case in a metropolitan court here against portal 'The Wire' over a report claiming his firm's turnover grew exponentially after the party came to power in 2014.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S K Gadhvi ordered a court inquiry into the matter under CrPC section 302.

In his application, Shah prayed for, "criminal action against the respondents for defaming and tarnishing the reputation of the complainant through an article, which is scandalous, frivolous, misleading, derogatory, libelous and consisting of several defamatory statements."



The seven respondents in the case are the author of the article Rohini Singh, founding editors of the portal Siddarth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia and M K Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the Foundation for Independent Journalism, the non-profit company that publishes 'The Wire'.

The case has been filed under IPC sections 500 (defamation), 109 (abetment), 39 (voluntarily cause grievous hurt) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy).

The Wire, in its report said that a company owned by Jay Shah saw a huge rise in its turnover after the BJP came to power in 2014. However, Jay Shah had rejected the charge, insisting the story was "false, derogatory and defamatory".

The court was of the opinion that it will issue summonses to the respondents only after the initial inquiry establishes a case.

The next hearing for a court inquiry will be on October 11 when two witnesses from Jay Shah's side who had first informed him about the publication of the article are likely to depose.

Shah is yet to file a civil defamation suit against the respondents. He had earlier announced that he will also file Rs 100 crore civil defamation suit.

A political storm has erupted after the article titled 'Golden touch of Jay Amit shah' was published. The Congress has demanded an inquiry into the matter, while the BJP called the article defamatory.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP today insisted that party chief Amit Shah's son Jay Shah has been "wronged" and rejected any comparison between his business transactions and that of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra.

A number of Union ministers and BJP leaders, including Piyush Goyal, Smriti Irani and Ananth Kumar, came out in strong defence of Amit Shah's son over the allegations.

Goyal said the BJP's conscience is clear over the matter and that is why Jay Shah has filed the defamation case soon after a story by portal 'The Wire' claimed that his company's turnover rose by a huge margin after the BJP came to power in 2014.

Vadra did not go to court, nor did he do anything to "prove his bonafide" but the Congress went on to "stall" Justice Dhingra committee report into his controversial land transactions, Goyal told reporters.

Vadra's "transactions were a case of round-tripping of money with the help of the (UPA) government," he alleged.

Vadra has denied any wrongdoing and accused the BJP of targeting him for political reasons.

Insisting that Jay Shah has been "wronged", Goyal said there is no comparison between his case and that of Vadra because he (Jay Shah) "has had no dealing with the government. His every transaction is official and he did his work honestly."



He went on to add, "Our conscience is clear. That is why we announced on the very day (of story's publication yesterday) that we are going to court."



To questions about a Union minister like him using the BJP forum to defend a private citizen like Jay Amit Shah, Goyal said the story wanted to "defame" the party and its top leaders by making imputations and also put out their photographs.

As a leader of the party, he has to present its case, he said, justifying its strong defence of the its president's son.

To a question about opposition parties using the issue to politically corner the BJP, Goyal said they will get "political reply" in the upcoming Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat assembly polls.

Irani, in a statement, said the aggression by the Congress against Jay Shah was clearly off track.

Defending Jay Shah, she said his business is perfectly legitimate and legal.

"TDS is paid, loans are repaid and company closed after losses," she said, adding "Does this reek of cronyism?"



Hitting out at the Congress, she said the Nehru-Gandhi family, which was "pressuring" banks to give loans to Vijay Mallya in return of airline upgrades, is now questioning others.

"It would be more prudent for the Congress to give an account for more than 80 scams and the Rs, 1,80,000 crore that India has lost due to corruption and cronyism of its successive governments," Irani said.

Accusing the Congress of trying to divert attention from its "scams and misdeeds", she referred to dissent and defections in its ranks in states like Bihar and Maharashtra besides poll-bound Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

The Congress party is advised to manage its own house, which is "falling like a pack of cards", she said.

In Bihar, they insulted a Dalit leader, she said, an apparent reference to the Congress' decision to remove its state chief, a Dalit.

"The Congress attempt to divert attention from their own scams and misdeeds will not work as the people of India have seen through them repeatedly and comprehensively rejected its sultanate of corruption," she said



BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya vouched for Shah's integrity, saying, "if there is no honesty in his home, then there is no honesty anywhere".

In Coimbatore, Union minister Ananth Kumar lashed out at the Congress for levelling "false" charges against his party and Amit Shah's son.

"The allegation against Jay Amit Shah is baseless and a foisted one", he told reporters.

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh's minister Sidharth Nath Singh reminded the Congress of the "son-in-law model" of doing business under the previous UPA government after opposition leaders made barbs about Shah's "son model".

"The Congress does not have any issue and so is out to tarnish the image of BJP president Amit Shah. Instead, they should give a clarification on son-in-law model of doing business," Singh said.

Rajasthan BJP chief Ashok Parnami said allegations levelled against Jay Shah were false and made to "mislead" people.

"Opposition parties be it Congress or AAP level false allegations. It is their habit. There was no irregularity on his (Jay's) part and all loans taken by him were in accordance with law and paid with interest," Parnami told reporters in Alwar.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said the government favours a long-standing business and cultural relationship with Czech Republic.

Das said this after inaugurating the Jharkhand Pavilion at the International Engineering Fair at Brno in Czech Republic, an official release said here.

The pavilion was jointly inaugurated by Das and Union Minister of State for Industry and Commerce C R Choudhary, the release said.

The Union minister also appreciated Jharkhand for its development works, it said.

Foreign investors and political leaders visited the pavilion and the investors have evinced interest to invest in India, especially in Jharkhand, the release added.

The chief minister said everyone is welcome in the progress of Jharkhand, the release quoting him said.

Czech Republic has been a partner country in Momentum Jharkhand and the bilateral relations will continue in future as well, the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress today urged Rahul Gandhi to take over the leadership of the party, saying the entire cadre was behind him.

The state Congress also lauded the role of incumbent chief Sonia Gandhi and authorised her to finalise the name of the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), state unit spokesman Ravinder Sharma said.

He said a meeting of newly elected PCC delegates from the Jammu province was held at the party headquarters here under the chairmanship of Pradesh Returning Officer (PRO) and Rajya Sabha MP Hussain Dalwai.

"The meeting unanimously lauded the role and leadership of Rahul who is fighting the forces of hatred and leading the party as it faces the most difficult challenges," Sharma said.

He said the speakers were unanimous in their demand that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi take over the leadership of the party.

The meeting was attended by APROs Moqsood Mirza, Deepak Rathode, PCC President G A Mir and all senior functionaries, MLAs and MLCs and other PCC delegates from all districts and parts of Jammu province.

"The entire cadre is behind his leadership and the younger leadership has great desire that he should lead the party," Sharma said.

He said a resolution moved by party leader Thakur Hari Singh and seconded by all senior leaders was unanimously adopted to authorise Congress president to finalise the list of AICC members and president of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee.

The speakers praised the leadership of Sonia who led the party with great dynamism and vision, he said.

"She always took the right decision in the interests of the country and party at all crucial times. They lauded her selfless services and dynamic leadership," Sharma said.

He also attacked the BJP-led government at the Centre.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Engineering firm Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd (KPTL) today said it has secured new orders worth Rs 1,057 crore.

"KPTL, a leading global EPC player in the power and infrastructure contracting sector has secured new orders/ notification of award of Rs 1,057 crore," a company statement said.

According to the statement, the company secured two orders worth Rs 913 crore for design, supply and construction of 500 kV and 225/90 kV transmission lines in Thailand and Africa.

Besides, it has got an order for pipeline installation and associated terminal works of Kochi Salem Pipeline Private Ltd (KSPPL) for Rs 144 crore. KSPPL is a 50:50 joint venture of Bharat Petroleum Corp and Indian Oil Corp.

"These orders in Southeast Asia and Africa help in building a solid base for growth in our International business. The order in our pipeline business highlights the confidence of our clients on us to deliver," Manish Mohnot, MD & CEO, KPTL said.

KPTL is an engineering firm engaged in power transmission and distribution; oil and gas pipeline; railways; infrastructure development; civil contracting and warehousing and logistics business with a strong international presence in power transmission and distribution.

The company is executing several contracts in India, Africa, the Middle East, CIS, SAARC and Far East.

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The father of a seven-year-old boy, who was found dead in a Gurgaon school, today moved the Supreme Court challenging the extension of the interim anticipatory bail granted to three Ryan International Group trustees in the case.

Barun Chandra Thakur, father of class-II boy Pradyuman Thakur, assailed the Punjab and Haryana High Court order staying the arrest of Ryan group CEO Ryan Pinto and his parents, Group's founding chairman Augustine Pinto and Managing Director Grace Pinto, in the murder case.

The appeal, filed through advocate Sushil Tekriwal, said the grant of interim protection against their possible arrest was illegal and unconstitutional and should be set aside.

The plea has made the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is currently probing the case, and the Haryana government as parties in the case.

It alleged that the September 28 order of the High Court granting interim bail and October 7 of the High Court order extending the relief was "erroneous" and should be set aside.

The petition said that CBI's investigation was at a preliminary stage and granting interim bail to the respondents now "frustrates the criminal justice delivery system".

Ryan Pinto and his parents had approached the high court, seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the killing of the student, who was found with his throat slit in the washroom of a school run by their group in Gurgaon on September 8. School bus conductor Ashok Kumar was arrested in connection with the crime the same day.

On September 25, the High Court had impleaded CBI as a respondent in the petition seeking bail for the three Ryan group trustees. The Haryana government had recommended a CBI probe in the matter following massive outrage. The premier agency took over the probe on September 22.

The Pintos, who are based in Mumbai, had earlier approached the Bombay High Court as they apprehended arrest in the case after the school was accused of negligence in the death of the seven-year-old. The Bombay High Court had rejected the transit anticipatory bail applications of the three trustees but granted them interim protection from arrest for a day to enable them to file an appeal.

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Sri Lanka's Opposition alliance led by former president Mahinda Rajapaksas son today opposed the proposed lease of an airport to an Indian company, warning the government not to allow the country become a "pawn" in international power politics.

An Indian company had made a bid to develop the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), which was built by the Rajapaksa government under massive borrowings from China.

MRIA built at a cost of USD 209 million has been dubbed the world's emptiest international airport due to the fewest number of flights operating from it.

The proposed leasing comes in the wake of a similar deal to hand over an adjoining sea port at Hambantota to a Chinese company for 99 years.

"We tell the government not to allow Sri Lanka become a pawn in international power politics," Namal Rajapaksa said addressing Parliament on a Zero-Hour motion by the Joint Opposition (JO) to oppose selling of state assets.

The deal to run the Mattala airport as a joint venture with India is yet to be finalised.

Namal said while the government had opted for an Indian firm on the MRIA, the Hambantota sea port within close proximity to MRIA had been given to China.

Dullas Alahapperuma, the JO leader who moved the resolution said that the government decision on the MRIA would lead to serious national security and defence implications.

Alahapperuma claimed that Indian company GMR is to be handed over the MRIA for USD 205 million on a 99 year lease.

"We demand that government stop this deal," Alahapperuma said.

Namal was also quizzed by police today to answer questions related to Friday's anti-government demonstration at Hambantota. Some 28 JO supporters were arrested for defying a court order which prevented demonstrations in the area.

Rajapaksa charged that police had been visiting homes in the area in the night to target protestors.

The police had fired tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators who tried to enter the Indian Consulate at Hambantota last week to protest the proposed deal with India. The JO said they stand opposed to the present governments programme of selling state assets.

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Union minister Kiren Rijiju said today that the "dwindling" support for the Communists in Kerala has led to alleged "Left terror" and the attacks on BJP workers in the state.

Justifying his move to lead a BJP protest in front of the CPI(M) office here, Rijiju said as a party worker and MP, it was his moral responsibility to stand behind the BJP workers who have been "facing" violence allegedly perpetrated by the Left workers in Kerala.

"The Left in Kerala has been sponsoring and encouraging the attacks on BJP workers. This kind of Left terror must be stopped as violence has no place in a democracy," he told PTI.

Asked whether it was proper for a Union minister to lead a protest, Rijiju said he did not break any police barricade and the entire demonstration was peaceful.

"Peaceful protests are legal means. As a BJP worker, I must stand behind our Kerala brethren," he said.

The minister claimed that the "dwindling" support for the communists in Kerala has led to alleged attacks and violence against BJP workers.

Rijiju led the Delhi leg of the 'Jan Raksha Yatra', an ongoing campaign to highlight the Left's alleged "atrocities" in Kerala. The protest was also attended by Union minister V K Singh.

Police dispersed the protesters using water cannon.

Launching the Delhi leg of the campaign yesterday, BJP chief Amit Shah had alleged that the "politics of violence" was in the nature of communists and asserted that no amount of intimidation could stop the BJP's rise in the state.

Shah had started the 'Jan Raksha Yatra' from Kerala's Kannur district on October 3 as part of the BJP's efforts to expand its base in the Left citadel.

The campaign would conclude on October 17 at Thiruvananthapuram, where a number of senior BJP leaders are likely to be present.

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Maharashtra has emerged as the leading source market for Australia with over 59,000 tourists from the state visiting the land of kangaroos in the year ended June 2017.

"The state of Maharashtra ranks as the leading source market for Australia. For the year ended June 2017, over 59,000 tourists from Maharashtra visited Australia spending AUD 310 million (about Rs 1,550 crore) on their holiday in the land of kangaroos," according to data compiled by Tourism Australia.

According to the data, Maharashtra contributed to a growth of 18 per cent in tourist footfalls and 41 per cent in spend for the year ended June 2017.

In the year under review, a total of 2,77,100 Indian tourists visited Australia, a growth of nearly 15 per cent over the last year, and making the country the ninth largest inbound market.

Maharashtra was followed by Delhi, from where 32,000 holiday-makers travelled to Australia. The capital state was followed by Karnataka (30,000), Tamil Nadu (20,000), Punjab (18,000) and Gujarat (17,000).

However, West Bengal, which was at the ninth position among Indian source markets, witnessed the maximum growth of 97 per cent with 11,400 people from the state travelling to Australia, according to the data.

"Over the years, we have undertaken several focused campaigns as part of our consumer outreach efforts. Our collaboration with television over the past two years has definitely helped us to not only build awareness, but also drive visitation from our number one state (Maharashtra)," said Tourism Australia Country Manager, India and Gulf, Nishant Kashikar.

He said Tourism Australia has also worked closely with key specialist agents and airline partners to present attractive offers to travellers to choose Australia as their next holiday destination.

"Visitors from Maharashtra were looking forward to a range of experiences, including aquatic and coastal (beaches), self-drive, nature, wildlife and adventure on their Australian sojourn. With a growing penchant for travel, we expect growth from our top metro cities to continue over the years to follow," he added.

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Police has arrested a man for alleged kidnapping and sexual harassment of a three-and-half-year old girl, who went missing from Wadala Truck Terminus (WTT) area in Central Mumbai, police said today.

Nitin Tambatkar (25), an unemployed man, who stays close to the victim's home was arrested in the wee hours of today, they said.

The girl went missing around 7.30 pm yesterday and offence of kidnapping was registered against an unidentified person accordingly, the official said.

As the incident was serious in nature, WTT police formed special teams to search the victim and nab the accused, he said.

Around 12.30 am the police team found the girl near isolated area of mono rail depot with the accused, said Sushil Kamble, Senior Police Inspector of WTT Police Station.

Police identified the girl and apprehended Tambatkar, the official said.

The girl was later handed over to her mother, he said.

During the interrogation it has been revealed that Tambatkar kidnapped the girl for sexual harassment, he added.

Tambatkar has been booked under sections 361 (kidnapping from lawful guardianship), 354 A of the IPC (sexual harassment) and relevant sections of POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act-2012), the official said.

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A sessions court today convicted a man for abduction and murder of a 13-year-old boy four years ago, but acquitted the victim's cousin due to lack of evidence.

Principal sessions court Judge S Agarwal convicted Vijesh Sanghvi for abducting and killing Aditya Ranka, a south Mumbai resident, on May 13, 2013.

According to the prosecution, the conspiracy to kidnap and kill the boy was hatched by Aditya's cousin Himanshu Ranka to pay off a Rs 10 lakh debt he had incurred due to betting on IPL matches.

The sessions court judge while convicting Sanghvi held that the prosecution has managed to prove its case.

However, the court acquitted Himanshu Ranka after observing that the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court said it would hear arguments on sentencing of Sanghvi tomorrow.

According to the police, Himanshu was aware that his uncle and Aditya's father Jitendra Ranka, a diamond merchant, was to receive Rs 30 lakh on the day of the incident.

It ws alleged Himanshu then took Aditya on a joy ride and handed him over to Sanghvi. Later Himanshu returned and stayed home with his uncle to avoid suspicion.

When Jitendra received the ransom call, the family approached the V P Road police station.

When the case was transferred to crime branch, Himanshu panicked and called Sanghvi. The duo later allegedly decided to kill the boy and dumped his body at Panvel.

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The Delhi Assembly today passed a government resolution to oppose the proposed metro fare hike, with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleging that it was a "conspiracy" for benefiting private cab operators.

The resolution, moved by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, was passed by a voice vote in the House.

Without naming the Centre, Sisodia said that there was an attempt to make the Delhi Metro "premium public transport", but the AAP government would not allow it.

The deputy chief minister, during a discussion on the resolution, said, "The (Delhi) Metro is being run by the money of people who don't want fares to be increased."



"Conspiracy is being hatched so that Ola and Uber companies will be benefited. This is being deliberately done so that the fares of Metro are more than that of taxis of private companies," Sisodia told the House.

He argued that if the metro fares were expensive, people would shift to cabs, resulting in an increase in the pollution levels in Delhi.

The Aam Aadmi Party has been opposing the proposed metro fare hike scheduled to be effective from tomorrow.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had offered to take over the metro if the Centres agrees.

Sisodia said today that, "We will soon expose the truth behind the conspiracy. DMRC is not a soap company, instead it has been set up by people's money." he said.

He claimed that if the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had used its property efficiently, there would not have been any need for increasing the fares for the second time.

The last fare hike was in May this year.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel has also written to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to stop the fare hike for larger public interest.

Sisodia also vowed to make the Metro "profitable and efficient" if the DMRC is taken over by the government.

During the discussion, Transport Minister Gahlot said the DMRC has "failed" to earn revenues through its property development despite the fact that it has properties in several prime locations in the national capital.

"From 2006 to 2017, the Metro has earned only Rs 413 crore from the property development. If they (Metro) would use their property efficiently, there would be no need to increase the hike," Gahlot said.

Hitting out at the Delhi government over the issue, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said the AAP dispensation was not serious about the people's concern.

"There are five nominees of the Delhi government in the DMRC board. Why did they allow the board to increase fares of Metro? The government is not serious on this issue," Gupta alleged.

If the hike is effected, the fares will go up by a maximum of Rs 10. The existing fare structure is: up to 2 km -- Rs 10, 2-5 km -- Rs 15, 5-12 kms -- Rs 20, 12-21 km -- Rs 30, 21-32 km -- Rs 40 and for journeys beyond 32 km -- Rs 50.

From October 10, for a distance of up to two kilometres, the fare will remain Rs 10, but for a distance between two and five kilometres, it will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20.

For the subsequent slabs, it will go up by Rs 10 each, which means the maximum fare will be Rs 60.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Militants are roping in surrendered terrorists and "overground workers" of terror outfits in a desperate effort to revive terrorism in the Jammu region, a top police official said today.

S D Singh Jamwal, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, said that the militants' attempts to revive terrorism continue to be foiled by alert security forces.

Police has scuttled two attempts to revive militancy in the region this year by busting two terror modules and arresting nine militants in the Doda and the Ramban districts of the region, he said.

"Jammu region is virtually a militancy-free zone, but there are continuous attempts by anti-national elements to revive militancy and they are in touch with surrendered militants and sympathisers," Jamwal told PTI.

"This time the situation in Jammu region is under control but they are making attempts by roping in surrendered militants, overground workers, and their attempt is to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere," the IGP said.

He said the recent militant attack in Banihal and the earlier incident in Doda were part of the nefarious designs of the militants but police had cracked both the cases within 72 hours by arresting nine culprits and seizing the weapons, including snatched service rifles.

In May, a special police officer was killed and another injured when terrorists attacked their post in Tantra in Doda district, he said.

An SSB jawan was killed and another injured when their patrol party was attacked in Banihal area of Ramban district last month. The ultras fled from the scene with the service rifles of the slain and injured SSB jawans, Jamwal said.

Five terrorists were arrested in connection with the Doda attack. Three newly recruited Banihal youth and another person from south Kashmir, who provided a pistol to them, were arrested in connection with the attack in Banihal, he said.

Jamwal said the security forces were watching the minutest movement of the suspects to frustrate them.

"We have full control over the situation and we are monitoring and watching the minutest movement of the suspects. Their attempts are on but we have not allowed them to succeed in their nefarious designs," the Jammu region police chief said.

He said it was the counter-insurgency plan that did not allow the terrorists to settle down and as a result both the modules set up in Banihal and Doda were busted within the shortest possible time.

Jamwal said only three militants were active in Kishtwar district and "efforts are on to neutralise them".

"Kishtwar belt is very vast and connected to south Kashmir. We have three listed militants in our records operating in Kishtwar, one of them, Jehangir, is the oldest surviving militant. There are no other militant active in the region," the IGP said.

He said there were chances, that when the pressure on militants in south Kashmir builds up, they might try to shift their base to this side of Pir Panjal.

"But we are alive to the situation and have taken necessary precautionary measures to ensure they do not succeed," he said.

Jamwal said there was synergy among various security agencies working on the ground to maintain law and order and peace in the region.

"Army, police and other security forces are working closely along with intelligence network on the ground. Though there is no major threat but the chances of militants spreading their tentacles remains," he said.

Jamwal said since nomads move along the high altitude areas, all police posts along their routes have been directed to maintain tight vigil to ensure that terrorists do not mingle with them and come to this side.

The officer said despite frequent ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) there was no breach of the fence along the borders.

"In some cases, the cross-border firing was aimed at giving cover fire to the infiltrating militants but no such activity was witnessed and there was no breach of the fence. Recently a tunnel along the IB was unearthed, scuttling the attempt to push militants into this side," he said.

Jamwal said multi-tier security arrangements were in place along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts to foil infiltration of militants from across the border.

"There was no report of any militant activity reported from the twin districts. That means there was no breach of the border fencing and the alertness of the Army despite frequent cross-border firing had ensured zero per cent infiltration (of militants)," he said.

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Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "silence" on a media report claiming that a company owned by BJP chief Amit Shah's son Ajay saw a huge rise in its turnover after his party came to power in 2014.

Gandhi raised the issue as he began the second leg of his campaign tour in the poll-bound state from central Gujarat.

Gandhi, who landed at Ahmedabad airport this morning, travelled to the Hatijan area of the city from where he started his tour in a specially designed bus.

Referring to newspaper reports quoting a website 'The Wire', Gandhi said the company owned by Shah's son grew 16,000 times in a short span.

"This is a strange world. In 2014, the company was nothing. Modi ji came (to power in 2014) and launched 'start up India', 'make in India', then introduced demonetisation and GST. This destroyed small businessmen and farmers," Gandhi told a gathering at Kamla village in Kheda district.

"But from this fire, one company comes up. It was nothing in 2014 but in a few months it became so big that this company's worth of Rs 50,000 rose to Rs 80 crore.

Referring to entrepreneurship in Gujarat, Gandhi asked whether Gujaratis, who are adept at running businesses, can do it.

Recalling Modi's assertion that he would neither engage in corruption nor allow it to happen, the Congress leader said, "Now when Amit Shah's son's company has grown 16,000 times, Modi ji has gone silent," Gandhi said.

"Modi ji had also said another thing (before the elections) that he does not want to become prime minister and be the 'chowkidar' (watchman) of the country's wealth. Now, where has the chowkidar gone?" Rahul asked.

The Congress vice president also hit out at the NDA government over the state of economy, and demanded that the rates under the Goods and Services Tax not exceed 18 per cent.

"In spite of our request to the Centre, they are charging rates of over 18 per cent under the GST....They should revert to the 18 per cent tax slab," Gandhi said, adding high taxes have ruined many businesses.

Demonetization resulted in the loss of business of many small traders, he said.

The famed Gujarat model of development had failed, the Congress leader said.

"Prime minister Narendra Modi and the people of Gujarat know that the so-called Gujarat model has failed. If we come to power, we will propagate the old Gujarat model under which cooperative societies like Amul developed," he said.

Gandhi also attacked the government over its failure to create jobs.

India, he said, is competing with China these days. China creates 50,000 jobs every day, but the country under the Modi government is able to generate just 450 jobs per day, he said.

"This is because their focus is on development of 100 big industries. When the Congress comes to power, it will develop small and medium scale industries which can create many more jobs," Gandhi said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today brainstormed with CEOs of top global and Indian companies, including BP of the UK, Russia's Rosneft, Saudi Aramco and Reliance Industries, on ways to revive investment in oil and gas exploration and production.

Modi met BP Plc Chief Executive Bob Dudley, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Royal Dutch Shell's Project and Technology Director Harry Brekelmens, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Naseer, Exxon Mobil President for Gas and Power Rob Franklin, RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Vedanta Resources head Anil Agarwal for over two hours to discuss the global oil and gas scenario.

The main theme of the meeting, sources said, was to seek investment in exploration and production, processing, transportation and distribution network in oil and gas.

The Niti Aayog made a short presentation on the status, the likely scenario of demand and supply by 2030 and current government policies.

This is the second meeting Prime Minister had with CEOs of oil majors.

His first meeting was in January 2016 where suggestions for reforming natural gas prices were made. More than a year later, the government allowed higher natural gas price for yet-to-be-produced fields in difficult areas like deep sea.

The government is looking at private investment to raise domestic oil and gas production, which has stagnated for the last few years while fuel demand has been rising by 5-6 per cent annually.

India is dependent on imports to meet its 80 per cent of the demand and more than half of its natural gas requirements.

The prime minister in 2015 had set a target of reducing India's oil dependence by 10 per cent to 67 per cent (based on import dependence of 77 per cent in 2014-15) by 2022.

Import dependence has only increased since then and the government is now looking for ways to raise domestic output.

OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting. Former oil secretaries Vivek Rae and Vijay Kelkar were also invited for the meeting.

Pradhan told the gathering that the liberalised India offers around USD 300 billion investment opportunity in the next 10 years in the oil and gas sector.

"We want investors, both domestic and global, who can bring in the best technology and capital," he said.

The government is devising policies to increase share of gas in the energy basket to 15 per cent from 7 per cent.

"We are planning a gas trading exchange and making sure there is open access to the gas grid. Global experience in this area would be useful," he stated.

According to Pradhan, in the last 40 months, the government has taken several policy initiatives in the energy sector in line with the prime minister's vision of energy access, efficiency, sustainability and security.

Also present at the meeting were ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Shashi Shanker, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Chairman Sanjiv Singh, GAIL India head B C Tripathi, Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) Chairman Mukesh Kumar Suran, Oil India Chairman Utpal Bora and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) Chairman D Rajkumar.

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Moody's Investors Service today said it has assigned a Baa3 issuer rating with positive outlook to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

It said NHAI's Baa3 rating primarily reflects its assessment of the very high likelihood that the authority will receive support from the government in a distress situation.

"NHAI's Baa3 rating reflects its strategic importance and status as the government arm implementing the national highways strategy," the rating agency said.

NHAI is responsible for the construction, development and maintenance of national highways network in the country.

"As such, the rating considers the government's track record of providing direct funding to NHAI, and recognises the very close operational and financial links between the authority and the government," Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst Abhishek Tyagi said.

Moody's said the baseline risk for NHAI is effectively the default risk of the government. This strong link to the government also considers the National Highways Authority of India Act that mandates the government's funding commitments for the authority.

"Accordingly, NHAI's rating further reflects Moody's expectation that financial support from the government will continue to ensure its financial viability and operational soundness," Tyagi said.

NHAI is an authority that has been established through an Act of Parliament and owned by the government.

Moodys said the rating takes comfort from the stable funding sources for NHAI, including cess on sale of diesel and petrol (collected by the government in the Central Road Fund), revenues from operating roads, including plough-back of toll revenues and revenue share for PPP projects and additional budgetary allocations.

"Moody's notes that NHAI's rating would change following any changes in India's sovereign rating," it said.

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a slew of measures for women in the state, including a financial assistance of Rs two lakh for remarriage of widows.

Speaking at his monthly radio broadcast 'Dil Se' yesterday, Chouhan appealed to people to come forward to encourage remarriage of widows and root out social evils like dowry and child marriages.

"The government will provide financial assistance of Rs two lakh for the remarriage of widows," he said.

The CM said the Below Poverty Line (BPL) status would no longer be required for availing the widow pension in the state.

Chouhan also announced a relaxation in the physical fitness parameters for female candidates appearing for a police constable recruitment test.

"Sanitary napkins would be made available at 50 per cent rates in the predominantly tribal blocks of the state," the CM said.

Seeking to ensure the safety and security of girls, Chouhan said school buses in the state would be equipped with CCTV cameras to prevent untoward incidents like eve-teasing.

He said laws ensuring due share to women in ancestral properties would be strictly implemented.

Chouhan said various initiatives by his government to ensure participation of women in governance, panchayat and civic bodies have yielded encouraging results.

"More than 2.08 lakh panchayat office-bearers are women at present," the CM said.

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In a relief to former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, the Bombay High Court, through an interim order today, stayed an inquiry against him and the other accused in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank Ltd (MSCB) scam.

Pawar and 76 others have been accused of being complicit in causing financial losses of over Rs 1,000 crore to MSCB between 2007 and 2011.

A bench, led by Justice R M Savant, was hearing a petition filed by Manikrao Patil, one of the accused in the case.

In the plea filed through his counsels Anil Sakhre and Joel Carlos, Patil had challenged an extended inquiry into the case and also a recent amendment brought about by the state government that increased the time limit for concluding an inquiry against cooperative societies.

According to previous rules, an inquiry against a cooperative society was to be completed within two and a half years from the date of order of a probe.

In the above case, the probe was first ordered in May 2014, but it could not be completed within the deadline.

Patil approached the court arguing that the said probe stood abated in November 2016 and that it could not be resumed now.

He sought that the court dismiss the amendment to the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act brought by the state, and as interim relief, the authorities be directed to stop further inquiry into the case.

While the court will decide upon the amendment following a detailed hearing, it granted the interim relief on Patil's petition, thus, granting a major reprieve to Pawar as well.

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Voting for the Shiv Sena in the upcoming Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation polls would mean bringing the Congress to power, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here today while launching a vicious attack on the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

He said Sena, the ruling ally of the BJP in Centre and state governments, is not even in reckoning for the civic polls, scheduled on October 11.

Addressing a public rally, Fadnavis also didn's spare sitting MP and Congress stalwart Ashok Chavan, who has parked himself in the constituency to ensure that his party retains the civic body.

Fadnavis' attack on the Sena came a day after Thackeray dared the BJP to "resign" from the Maharashtra government and face mid term polls. Thackeray had also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his visit to Gujarat, which he dubbed a "poll campaign".

"Entire Maharashtra is standing behind the BJP today. In the recent elections to 16 municipal corporations, the BJP came to power in 13. There is no trace left of the Congress. As far as the Sena is concerned, it is not even in the race here. So I do not feel the need to say anything much about them," Fadnavis told the gathering.

He recalled that Sena had joined hands with the Congress against the BJP when the party was voted to power in Aurangabad municipal corporation polls. He said Sena had sided with the Congress in Jalna, Parbhani and Hingoli civic bodies as well.

Attacking the Sena, which has been firing salvos at Modi and the BJP-led NDA governments at Centre and state despite being an alliance partner, the chief minister said the Thackeray-led party had also helped the Congress in securing a victory in Nanded Zilla Parishad (ZP) polls.

"Sena is not fighting in Nanded to win but to ensure that the BJP loses the election. Voting for them (Sena) means giving direct votes to the Congress. The Sena is in the poll fray only on the directions of the Congress," the CM said.

Fadnvais said the BJP came to power in 18 states because of "good governance" under the leadership of the prime minister.

"In Modi ji, people have got a leader who actually works for the poor. In the last 70 years of the Congress rule, they could not even provide people with houses. But under Modi ji's vision, he has promised housing for all by 2022. He does not merely talk but the construction of crores of homes across the nation has already started," he said.

The Nanded civic polls is viewed as a litmus test for former chief minister and current state Congress unit president Ashok Chavan, whose father late Shankarrao Chavan, a former defence minister, had nurtured the constituency over years.

The 81-member civic body is currently controlled by the Congress. In the 2012 polls, the Congress had won 41 seats, Sena 14, BJP 2, NCP 10, MIM 11, Others (2), Independent 1.

Out of 81 seats, 41 seats are reserved for women candidates, 15 seats for SC candidates, 2 for ST and 22 seats for Backward Class communities.

The counting of votes will be done on October 12 and results will be declared on the same day.

A total of 578 candidates are in the poll fray.

Meanwhile, targetting Chavan, the CM said, "As many as 50,000 people in Nanded lack a proper house to live. In all these years of power, the MPCC president only cared about himself".

He said various civic works and the condition of roads in Nanded would have been better had the funds been allotted to "right people" and not "laundered".

"...If Rs 300-350 crore had been allotted to right people and the money was not laundered, it would have been ensured that all roads in Nanded are of good quality. No money would have been needed for the next 20 years, but they (Congress) were interested only in taking commissions," the CM alleged.

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Former Jharkhand minister Gopal Krishna Patar was today arrested by the NIA for allegedly conniving with Naxalites to get his political rival, MLA Ramesh Munda, killed in 2008, a spokesperson for the agency said.

Patar, alias Raja Peter, was arrested in Ranchi, the spokesperson said.

Patar had shot to fame after he defeated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren in the Tamar bypoll, forcing him to step down as chief minister in 2009.

He was a minister in the Arjun Munda government that had recommended dissolution of the house to then governor Syed Ahmed.

Patar, who was appointed president of the Janata Dal- United, joined BJP in 2014. However, he was denied a ticket and contested the 2014 election as an independent candidate but lost.

His arrest comes a day after the NIA arrested Jharkhand Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Sheshnath Singh, who allegedly provided prior information about Munda's movement to the Naxals.

Munda, a Janata Dal (U) MLA, was killed when he was delivering a speech at a function in Bundu in his assembly constituency Tamar on July 9, 2008.

His two bodyguards were also killed in the attack.

The NIA took over investigation of the case on June 30 this year.

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The nuclear weapons disarmament campaign group that won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize has urged US President Donald Trump to uphold the Iran nuclear deal to "avoid causing any more conflict."



"We really call on the US government to continue to certify and stay in this deal," Beatrice Fihn, director of the Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) told a news conference at the UN headquarters in New York yesterday.

"This is not really what the world needs right now... We see no evidence that Iran is not complying with it," she added.

Trump is a stern critic of the 2015 accord, which he has called "the worst deal ever," and officials say he intends to tell US Congress next week that Tehran is not honouring its side of the bargain.

US officials insist this will not sink the deal itself but open the way for Congress to develop new measures to punish other aspects of Iran's behaviour.

The nuclear agreement was struck in July 2015 by Iran and five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States) plus Germany  establishing controls to prevent Tehran from developing an atomic bomb.

Yesterday, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said Iran was complying with the deal.

"I can state that the nuclear-related commitments undertaken by Iran ... are being implemented," Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano said, giving prepared remarks during a conference in Rome.
A group of NSUI activists stopped a metro train in its tracks on the Yellow Line today, protesting against the proposed fare hike which is scheduled to come into effect tomorrow.

The incident took place at the Vishwavidyalaya station of the busy corridor, connecting north Delhi to Gurgaon, around 12 pm.

It briefly disrupted metro services on Line 2.

"NSUI Delhi president Akshay along with two other activists stopped the metro due to the unjustified fare hike. We demand that the proposed hike be rolled back and students be provided subsidised passes," an NSUI spokesperson said.

The Delhi government has been opposing the fare hike with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal even offering to take over the operations of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The Centre, however, told the Delhi government it would need to pay Rs 3,000 crore annually for five years if it wanted to stop the metro fare hike.

If the hike is effected, the fares will go up by a maximum of Rs 10.

The existing fare structure is: up to 2 kms -- Rs 10, 2-5 kms -- Rs 15, 5-12 kms -- Rs 20, 12-21 kms -- Rs 30, 21-32 kms -- Rs 40 and for journeys beyond 32 kms -- Rs 50.

From October 10, for a distance of up to two kilometres, the fare will remain Rs 10, but for a distance between two and five kilometres, it will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20.

From October 10, for a distance of up to two kilometres, the fare will remain Rs 10, but for a distance between two and five kilometres, it will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20.

For the subsequent slabs, it will go up by Rs 10 each, which means the maximum fare will be Rs 60.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
State-owned ONGC is likely to sell some of its stake in IOC to institutional investors like LIC to part-fund its over Rs 34,000-crore acquisition of refiner Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) holds 13.77 per cent stake in India's biggest refiner Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), which at today's market price is worth over Rs 27,800 crore. It has another 4.87 per cent stake in GAIL India Ltd worth of Rs 1,600 crore.

"The acquisition of 51.11 per cent government stake in HPCL will be funded through a combination of market borrowing and selling some stake in IOC and GAIL," a source privy to the development said.

Selling stake in the open market may create volatility and so, ONGC is considering selling less than 2 per cent stake in IOC to institutional investors like LIC in block deal, he added.

ONGC has already secured shareholder nod to raise up to Rs 25,000 crore debt, he said, adding that the company had about Rs 10,000 crore of cash in hand.

"It will be a combination of stake sale and borrowing to fund the acquisition," the source said.

The deal, he said, is likely to conclude by December. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had on July 19 granted 'in-principle' approval to the strategic sale of the government's existing 51.11 per cent stake in HPCL to ONGC "along with the transfer of management control, which will result in HPCL becoming a subsidiary company of ONGC".

But since the offer meant a transfer of management control from the government to ONGC, there was apprehension that it would trigger Sebi's takeover code and compel ONGC to make an open offer to acquire an additional 26 per cent stake from minority shareholders, he said.

So, the terms of sale have been amended to state that "HPCL will continue to be a government company in terms of section 2(45) of the Act, 2013, and will continue to be controlled by the Government of India through ONGC under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas".

This helped avoid making an open offer.
Online recruitment activity registered 15 per cent jump in September led by BFSI sector, and the month saw tier II markets outperforming metros in terms of hiring activity, says a report.

The Monster Employment Index for September stood at 282, a 15 per cent jump from the year-ago period, but a mere 1 per cent rise from August when it was at 279.

"Much ahead of the festive season, the overall sentiment of the Indian job market looks optimistic, after facing a slump in the past few months across industry sectors," Monster.com APAC & Middle-East Managing Director Sanjay Modi said.

The index showed that the long-term growth momentum in BFSI sector paced up from 35 per cent in August to 45 per cent in September 2017.

Of the 27 industry sectors monitored by the index, 22 saw increased demand year-on-year. Home Appliance led all the monitored sectors, charting a 58 per cent growth, thanks to the upcoming festive season.

Moreover, the festive month has given a boost to e- commerce sector as online recruitment activity saw a growth of four per cent year-on-year.

The report further said online demand exceeded the year- ago level in all 13 occupation groups monitored by the index.

In terms of cities, e-recruitment activity exceeded the year-ago level in eight of the 13 cities monitored by the index.

Tier II cities witnessed enhanced growth with Baroda (up 23 per cent), Coimbatore (up 20 per cent) and Ahmedabad (up 14 per cent) while all five tier-1 cities witnessed a slowdown in the online hiring on year-on-year basis.

"The job market has undergone an overhaul owing to technological advancements and the dynamic economic scenario. The country's GDP growth declined 2 per cent to 5.7 per cent in the June quarter of 2017 compared to 7.9 per cent in the corresponding quarter of the previous year," Modi said adding "efforts should be made to improve this to spur further job creation.

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The Supreme Court order decreeing a cracker-free Diwali this year spread like the proverbial wildfire through wholesale markets here today, uniting shopkeepers big and small in their anger and dismay.

With losses running into crores, their Diwali was going up in smoke, said shopkeepers in Sadar Bazar and Jama Masjid, two of the biggest cracker markets in the city.

The travelled fast in the narrow bylanes of the two markets in the Old City with shops piled high with crackers of all kinds, ranging from sparklers selling for about Rs 20 a stick to powerful bombs going up to Rs 1,000 and more.

The Supreme Court said its order of last November banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) would continue till October 31 - Diwali falls on October 19 -- in an effort to check pollution this festival of lights.

"All dealers across NCR have been affected. The ban was imposed in 2016 last year and was lifted temporarily around 20 days back. Now, what will be do with the old stock? Crackers worth crores will go waste," said Amit Jain, who sells firecrackers in Jama Masjid.

Harjit Singh Chhabra, head, Sadar Nishkarm Welfare Association, estimated that losses could go up to hundreds of crores.

According to him, 500 temporary licences have already been issued to sell firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. Of these, Sadar Bazar has 24. This does not include those who have a permanent licence.

"Ban nuclear weapons, not crackers," said one shopkeeper in Sadar Bazar. "The Supreme Court's job is to regulate not ban," added another who had set up shop close by. "They have banned Diwali in Delhi," said a third.

The posters came up equally rapidly.

A banner saying "Patake hi Patake" was pulled down to make way for a new one declaring, "Nashe se mar rahe hai log, Patakon se nahi (People are dying because of drugs, not of crackers".

"We are selling crackers not nuclear weapons that you impose a ban. This is India, not Taliban that you can go on banning things like this," Chhabra told PTI.

Shopkeepers in Sadar Bazar have threatened to go on strike and insist they won't follow the order.

"We can't sell in shops so we will sell on the pavement if nothing works out," Chhabra said, addressing a crowd that had gathered near his shop.

"This is not child's play. They have revoked the old ban only to bring it again. What do we do with these crackers that we bought," he added, showing his licence giving him permission to sell crackers till November 21.

His story found wide echo in the area.

Sandeep Mahajan, another shopkeeper from Sadar Bazaar, said he has over 600 kg of crackers worth about Rs 8 lakh.

"My losses will be three times more. I had bought crackers worth Rs 25 lakh," added Rajiv Saxena of RK Enterprises.

Many of them said they were just getting over the blow of "28 per cent GST on crackers".

"We are clueless about what to do next! For us Diwali is finished. The last I knew, Supreme Court was authorised to regulate, not ban. This will only create new avenues for corruption. I can already see policemen taking rounds to harass us," said Surinder Chawla.

While environmentalists and others welcomed the apex court order, Chawla is amongst those hoping that the biggies of Sivakasi - firecracker manufacturing hub - manage to get a stay.

"People running the industry in Sivakasi are big shots. They will get us out of this situation," Chawla said.

The "cracker lobby" also contests that a ban would help in reducing pollution.

"Trucks are roaming throughout Delhi and there is no check. The big industries are polluting air 365 days and you don't do anything. But come Diwali and you are all alert... do they actually think that one day can make this huge impact?" asked a permanent licence holder in Jama Masjid who did not want to be identified.

Pawan Khosla, who had come to purchase crackers for the festive season, had no clue about the apex court order.

"Thank god you told me," he said, adding some more to his bulging gunny bags of the incendiary stuff.

"Diwali is celebrated for around five days. In those five days, 10 lakh kilogrammes of firecrackers are used per day," a Supreme Court bench had said in August this year.

It was reportedly informed by a counsel that 50 lakh kg of fireworks were stocked in and around the National Capital Region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over 40,000 entrepreneurs in the country have availed loans of over Rs 8700 crore sanctioned under the Governments Stand-Up India scheme, Union Minister Subhash Bhamre said today.

Stand-Up India scheme encourages entrepreneurship by providing bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore.

"A total of 40,769 entrepreneurs have taken a total loan of Rs 8,757 crore under this scheme (Stand-Up India)," the Minister of State for Defence said while addressing at the Mudra Promotion Campaign and Financial Inclusion held here.

Urging the people to come and take advantage of the financial inclusions schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bhamre informed that over 71,000 people have benefited through the Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana through insurance claims due to deaths.

Under the Suraksha Bima Yojana, 11 crore people have been enrolled and in JJBY, more than 3.5 crore people have enrolled, he said.

Bhamre also said that 67 lakh people enrolled under the Atal Pension Yojana, one of the social security schemes launched by the Prime Minister.

To facilitate smooth operations of these schemes, Bhamre said the Government of India has launched national digital payment mission to encourage digital payment.

"The NPCI is assisting in this regard by providing digital payment mode like UPI, USSD, IMPS and others debit cards," he said.

Stating that digital mode of transaction is very easy and safe, he said, "As the country moves forward to cashless environment of demonetisation let us all unite to make India digital society and I request all of you to adopt the digital payment method for making payments."



Earlier, Meghalaya Taxation Minister Zenith M Sangma highlighted the lack of adequate branches in remote areas in the state affecting financial services to the masses.

Stating that Mudra loan scheme can go a long way in bridging the financial inclusion gaps in the state, Zenith sought increasing the CD ratio and the number of business correspondents (currently only 272) in view of the low ATM penetration in rural areas (about 20 per cent only).

"The CD ratio till June this year was 30.3 per cent only, way below the 60 per cent national average," he said, urging for opening up more branches of bank branches in the state.

At present, 36 banks have 395 branches in the state and 51 per cent of these are in the rural areas.

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Pakistani theatre actress Shamim was shot today dead by unidentified gunmen in Punjab province, a family member said.

The 29-year-old artist was killed early this morning outside her house in Shah town of Multan city, about 350km from Lahore.

Her brother, Saifur Rehman told police that someone had called his sister (Shamim) to come outside the house.

"When she came out of the main gate of her residence, unidentified men opened fire on her, killing her on the spot," he said.

He said his sister had recently received threats from someone for performing in theatres.

Shamim's family also suspect that her estranged husband might be involved in the murder.

Police has registered an FIR against unidentified persons and said it will probe the case from all angles.

Shamim was known as 'Shamo' and a very good dancer.

Last year, famous theatre actress Kismat Baig was killed by her estranged lover in Lahore. She was shot 11 times in her legs, stomach and hands. "Kismat now you will not be able to dance," one of the gunmen said after spraying bullets on her legs, her driver had told police.

A number of stage actresses - Nadra, Nagu, Yasmin, Naina, Nagina, Marvi, Karishma, Sangam and Arzo - of Lahore and Multan had been killed in the past, either by their estranged lovers or over enmity issue.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Press Council of India (PCI) today adopted a report of its sub-committee on media in Jammu and Kashmir which suggested a slew of measures for protection of freedom of speech and welfare of the journalists in the state.

Among the measures recommended by the council are providing bullet proof jackets and helmets to the journalists and implementation of the Majithia Wage Board as per the Supreme Court order.

The council also asked the state government to implement without further delay its advertisement and empanelment policy, besides covering all the working journalists under the Journalists Welfare Fund Scheme.

"The journalists already injured should be reimbursed all the medical expenses incurred by them," it said.

The council recommended that the state should give accreditation to journalists working at the district level as well as those working in the border areas of the state.

"The government should ensure a system to provide or information without delay to the local journalists," it said, asking the Army and paramilitary forces to work out a more liberal and transparent information system to give as soon as possible.

The council said the press cards of journalists should be duly honoured by personnel on ground during curfew or restrictions.

"The media, journalists and their professional associations should play a more professional and ethical role at all level. They just be concerned about their own black sheep within the fold who tarnish the image of media," it added.

The council said any objectionable writing should be clearly defined and reported to it for final disposal.

"No writing should be branded objectionable and subjected to punitive action until the council has considered the matter and given its view on it," it said.

The council suggested inter-regional exchange of journalists within the state for better understanding and bridging the gap between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the national media.

"J-K journalists should be encouraged to visit other parts of the nation and interact with their counterparts there. The teams of journalists from other parts of the nation should similarly visit the state to interact with the state's journalists to understand J-K," the council added.

PCI chairman Justice C K Prasad said the primary duty of the council was to preserve the freedom of the press.

"We are here to preserve the freedom of the press. The regulation of the press is not our primary objective," he said.

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The biological park at Pilikula near here is to get two white tigers within a month, according to park director Jayaprakash Bhandary.

The proposal of getting a pair of white tigers from Rajkot, Gujarat was under process and it would be cleared within a month, he told reporters here. The park would also get two pairs of bisons from Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram.

The park had acquired three hippopotamus Bannerghatta biological park recently under the animal exchange programme, under which animals would be exchanged from one park to another with other animals.

The Asiatic Lions which were brought from Rajkot were exchanged for a pair of lions from Pilikula. He said that two royal Bengal tigers would be shifted to Rajkot in exchange for one pair of white tigers.

With the support of Rs 25 Lakh from the Indian Oil Corporation, a new enclosure for Asiatic Lions had been built, which would enable the zoo visitors to view animals from a nearer distance.

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The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice to the CBI while admitting separate pleas filed by the Dera Sacha Sauda chief challenging his 20 -year sentence in rape case and that of the two victims seeking life imprisonment for Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

As the case came up for hearing today, a division bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sudhir Mittal also directed Ram Rahim's counsel to deposit Rs 30 lakh as fine, which was imposed by the special CBI court on Ram Rahim, with a bank within two months.

"The revision petition filed by rape victims for enhancing the sentence to life imprisonment for Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been admitted," victims' counsel Navkiran Singh here today.

The counsel for Dera sect chief S K Garg Narwana also said, "the court has also admitted our appeal (challenging the conviction)."



Both the pleas will now be heard together.

Narwana said, "The high court has also directed us to deposit fine with a bank in the shape of FDR through the court within two months. If our appeal is finalised in our favour, then we will get back money with interest."



The jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 25, challenging the order of the special CBI Court of Panchkula which had sentenced him to 20-year-imprisonment for raping two disciples.

The order was challenged on several grounds including delay of more than six years in recording the statements of the victims by the CBI.

Two rape victims had also moved the High court on October 4, seeking life imprisonment for the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.

"In this case, the Dera sect chief was considered as 'Pita Ji' (father) by his followers. Victims were under emotional and physical custody of Dera chief and he broke their trust and misused his position as a religious and spiritual leader. Therefore, we sought life imprisonment instead of 20-year-sentence," counsel Navkiran Singh said.

Ram Rahim was convicted by the special CBI court on August 25, following which violence and arson had erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa districts which left 41 people dead and left scores injured.

Ram Rahim is currently lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak district.

In April 2002, an anonymous letter was written to the then Chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, complaining about alleged sexual exploitation of woman followers at Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa.

Then in May 2002, the High Court directed Sirsa district and sessions judge to probe the allegations in the letter. In September 2002, the high court had handed over the matter to the CBI after the district court indicated possibility of sexual exploitation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 105th Indian Science Congress at Osmania University in Hyderabad on January three next year.

The five-day Congress, to be attended by researchers, including some from abroad and scientists, would discuss problems faced by sectors like agriculture, rural development and education and suggest ways to solve them, Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) General President elect, Dr Manoj Kumar Chakrabarthi told reporters here today.

The Prime Minister would inaugurate the congress on January 3 next year, he said.

A booklet comprising recommendations would be submitted to the Department of Science and Technology for successful implementation of various projects, he said.

As part of encouraging budding scientists, there will be a session for them to present technical papers. The best paper would be given Rs 25,000 and a certificate, ISCA General secretary (Membership affairs) G Gangadhar said.

Similarly, there would be a talent hunt, where children aged between eight and 12 years and also Undergraduate and post graduate students, will be asked to come out with scientific models, Gangadhar said.

Both were here to attend a three-day National level Conference on 'Reachng the Unreached through Science and Technology-Concepts, principles and applications of science and technology for nation building' hosted by Kongunadu Arts and Science College.

ISCA Convenor Coimbatore chapter and College CEO, C A Vasuki said it was necessary for well conceived but different strategies to be devised for educating those who still remaine unreached.

Stating that there was hardly any motivation for these underprivileged to pursue education,Vasuki said that this was where the concept of reaching the unreached through science and technology played a vital role in nation building.

About 500 experts and scientists are participating in the conference.

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: Private life insurer PNB MetLife has elevated Ashish Kumar Srivastava as is new MD and CEO.

Srivastava comes with extensive experience in multiple disciplines, including strategy, HR, project management and operations, infrastructure, administration and communications, Chris Townsend, chairman of the board at PNB MetLife, said.

Srivastava joined PNB MetLife in 2013 as the head of HR and then moved to Dubai in 2015 to head the HR at MetLife Middle East & Africa (MEA). Prior to joining PNB MetLife, he was a director on the board of HSBC Canara Oriental Life.

Centrum Forex offers spl services to students overseas



Mumbai: Leading standalone forex dealr Centrum Forex has entered into an alliance with TasaaAsia, a leading player in international education and career counselling in South Asia, to offer money exchange and remittances related services to students travelling abroad for education.

Under the alliance, TasaAsia will refer Centrum's forex services for remitting the university fees and related expenses to students they counsel.

TasaaAsia has advised over 5 lakh students and sent over 21,000 for higher studies abroad since 2000. The alliance will add another value added service to the bouquet of offerings from it.

Centrum is the market leader in servicing students travelling overseas for education with a market share in overseas education segment is over 20 per cent, TC Guruprasad, CEO & MD, Centrum Direct, the holding company of Centrum Forex, said.

Intel India trains 9,500 developers, students, profs in 90 cos



Mumbai: Intel India has trained 9,500 developers, students, professors in 90 organisations over the past six months as part of the cloud developer programme involving artificial intelligence.

Prakash Mallya, managing director for sales & marketing at Intel India, said "In April this year, we made a commitment at the India AI day, to democratise AI here by training 15,000 developers. Already as of today we have trained 9500 developers, students, and professors, across 90 organisations to ensure that India is not only AI ready but already delivering results."



He was addressing the cloud developer day today in Banglaore organised by the the largest chip maker which was attended by more than 400 developers.

ICICI Bank commits Rs 10 cr to armed forces' welfare



Mumbai: ICICI Bank has committed Rs 10 crore financial assistance to the armed forces over a two year period ending next year for their welfare.

The contribution will be utilised towards the welfare needs of the widows and children of ex-servicemen, who have lost their lives guarding the nation, the bank said.

The contribution will payable in two equal tranches this year and next year, bank's head Chanda Kochhar said. She also handed over a Rs 5 crore draft to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

This fund will be used for two programmes to support the daughters of the armed forces. The first will be towards the PG education of the widows of ex-servicemen and also to support education for their wards while the second scheme will be to provide financial assistance towards marriages of the daughters of the ex-servicemen.

Essel Infraprojects commissions 55 mw solar projects



Mumbai. Essel Infraprojects, a part of the Essel Group has commissioned 55 mw capacity of solar projects in UP and Karnataka, taking it overall installed capacity 165 mw.

Essel Infra will commission an additional 60 mw capacity project in Karnataka in the next 45 days, the company said in a statement, adding it has an additional 520 mw under contruction in UP, Odisha and Karnataka.

Of the latest commissioning 50 mw is at Jalaun in UP and 5 mw at Bijapur in Karnataka.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The poll campaign for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, which has witnessed sharp attacks and quick ripostes by leaders of the three major parties - the Congress, BJP and AAP, came to an end this evening.

The Congress, which is ruling Punjab, has fielded its state chief Sunil Jakhar while the BJP has placed its hopes on businessman Swaran Salaria. The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded retired Major General Suresh Khajuria from this seat.

Polling will be held on October 11.

During the poll campaign, the Congress targeted the BJP government at the Centre alleging "all-round failure" and claiming that the Modi government had ignored farmers' interests while promoting those of corporates.

Congress leaders had also attacked the government over the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

A rape case registered against former minister Sucha Singh Langah also provided the Congress ammunition to attack rival Shiromani Akali Dal. SAD is campaigning for ally BJP's candidate.

The Akali-BJP combine sought votes on the basis of development and welfare schemes started by the Modi government in the last three years while attacking the six-month tenure of the Captain Amarinder Singh led Congress government claiming it had failed to honour polls promises like farm debt waiver.

The BJP targeted Congress candidate Jakhar calling him an "outsider" and sought to know why Congress Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa was "missing" from the poll campaign.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) attacked both Congress and BJP alleging they were "hand-in glove" and projected party nominee retired Major General Suresh Khajuria as a local face to seek votes.

Significantly, the campaigning for Gurdaspur bypoll did not see much active canvassing by top national level leaders from any of the three parties.

The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat fell vacant following the death of BJP MP Vinod Khanna in April this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A handful of quick-thinking police officers may have prevented a thousand deaths after they stormed a hotel and killed the lone shooter, the Sheriff of America's gambling hub, who had visited Mumbai to study the 2008 terror attack, has said.

Stephen Paddock, 64-year-old wealthy former accountant and high-stakes gambler has been identified by police as the man behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history when he opened fire from the Mandalay By Hotel and Casino on October 1, killing 58 people and wounding nearly 500 others, before turning the gun on himself as police closed in.

Recalling the dreadful night, Joseph Lombardo, Sheriff of the Metropolitan Police Department said Paddock was firing into a crowd of 22,000 concert-goers using powerful guns.

Lombardo said a small team of police officers  two K-9 officers, a detective and a SWAT team member  converged on the Mandalay Bay Hotel and minutes later, they breached the gunman's hotel room door on the 32nd floor.

It was specialised training that allowed them to act so quickly, Lombardo told CBS' 60 Minutes.

"I think they prevented a thousand deaths, and I think it's important for the American public to understand that," Lombardo said yesterday.

Lombardo had traveled to Mumbai after the November 2008 terrorist attacks on hotels and other sites by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militants that left 164 people dead, including some American nationals.

The sheriff said he had gleaned insight from the trip to Mumbai, and his department now reacts faster to such shootings, quickly forming a team to "cease the action'' of the assailant on their own.

"Before we were trained to form a perimeter and hope for the best," Lombardo said. "Now we're trained to gather up and go get it."

Sergeant Joshua Bitsko and Officer Dave Newton of the K9- unit had been training dogs when they heard the message over police radio about an active shooter.

Newton said he saw so many guns. So many magazines.

"Stacks and stacks of magazines everywhere. Just in suitcases all neatly stacked against pillars, around the room, all stacked up, rifles placed all throughout. All kinds of monitors and electrical equipment he had in there. It just looked like almost a gun store," he said.

Joshua said he saw shell casings all over the floor where Paddock stayed.

"I could smell the-- gun powder that-- that had went off in the room. We were trippin' over guns. Trippin' over long guns inside. There was so many," he said.

At least 23 guns - 12 of which were equipped with bump- stocks, or rapid fire devices - were found inside Paddock's hotel room.

Meanwhile, US authorities have received more than 1,000 tips, but are still struggling to determine what motivated Paddock, who did not have a criminal record, to carry out the carefully planned attack.

No one knows when Paddock committed suicide, but the shooting stopped shortly after hotel security guard Jesus Campos and the first of Sheriff Lombardo's officers arrived on the 32nd floor.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ticket checking staff of the Western Railway (WR) allege that they are given "unrealistic targets" of collecting penalty from ticketless travellers in trains and rebuked by superiors if they fail to do so.

A WR official, however, said revision of target is a routine exercise, which is done whenever it is found that there is a spike in ticketless travelling.

A staff forum representing the ticket collectors (TCs) alleged that imposition of such a burden affected the morale of the employees and wanted the higher authorities to take corrective steps, failing which they would observe a 'Black Diwali' to register their protest.

The staff association, India Railway Ticket Checking Staff Organisation (IRTCSO), last week wrote a letter to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Mumbai division alleging that in order to meet the "unrealistic" target, the employees have to often flout the rules.

A TC, on condition of anonymity, said as per the revised target set in April this year, those on duty in peak hours on mail or express trains have been given a target of Rs 8,000 per day to be collected from ticketless travellers while for non-peak hours it is Rs 6,000 per day.

"The target for the TCs deployed in local trains is fixed at Rs 4,000 per day," he claimed.

Another TC said, "Many a times, we need to work extra hours to achieve the target."



"Some of us were called by the superiors and even threatened with transfers to remote locations if we do not meet the target," he alleged.

The TCs have demanded action in the matter, failing which they would observe 'Black Diwali' from October 18 to 23.

When contacted, Western Railway's Chief PRO Ravinder Bhakar said, "The target revision is a routine process and this is revised for the proper and productive utilisation of the staff. When our teams conduct surprise checking and find that the number of ticketless travellers have increased, then the administration issues a fresh target."



Rail activist Rajiv Singal, who has launched a campaign against the errant TCs, welcomed the decision of giving higher targets.

"Rather than crying foul over administrative decision, they (TCs) must discharge their duty properly. They must consider that they are an essential part of the railways," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot today demanded that the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the state immediately waive the loans of farmers on the lines of relief provided to them in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Farmers in Rajasthan have been protesting, seeking loan waivers and on other issues troubling them.

They had blocked roads in Sikar last month demanding the implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee, which suggested steps to provide relief to farmers across India.

Earlier this month, more than 50 farmers buried themselves neck-deep in the ground against Jaipur Development Authority's move to acquire their land for a housing project.

Pilot alleged today that Raje was waiting for the state assembly election due next year to announce the loan waiver.

"Chief Minister Raje will have to waive loans of farmers in the state. CM is waiting for the proposed state assembly election to announce the waiver," he said.

"Farmers of the state will not be able to wait for 12 months. She should waive off loans of farmers without wasting any time," he told reporters at a joint press conference with Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have announced schemes to waive loans of farmers in those states.

Pilot also accused Raje of dividing the society by meeting representatives of different castes separately during her tour of the state. "It leaves a negative impact in the society."



Hitting out against the infamous mining scam in Rajasthan, Pilot said that the Raje government had to cancel the lease of 600 mines because of the pressure mounted by the Congress party. But, he added, it was unfortunate that the government was making back-door attempts to renew the leases.

He did not say what attempts he was referring to.

Objecting to the reinstatement of a senior government officer accused in the scam, Pilot said that the government reinstated the officer even though a Lokayukta probe was pending against him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China today expressed readiness to jointly maintain peace along the border areas with India and said Nathu La, the frontier post visited by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was the "best witness" to the UK-China treaty of 1890.

Sitharaman had a brief conversation with Chinese soldiers during her maiden visit to the Nathu La border post in Sikkim yesterday and was even seen teaching them how to say 'Namaste'.

"The Sikkim sector of the China-India boundary has been delimited by the historical treaty of 1890, and the Nathula pass has been the best witness testifying to this fact", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing while reacting to a question on Sitharaman's visit.

"The Chinese side is willing to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity in the border areas with the Indian side on the basis of observing historical treaties and the relevant agreements and accords between the two sides", Hua said.

Beijing often referred to the 1890 Britain-China treaty during the Dokalam standoff stating that it has defined the Sikkim section of the boundary with Tibet, therefore the border in that area has been settled.

Sitharaman's interaction with the People's Liberation Army troops at Nathu La with Namaste diplomacy also appears to have struck a chord as Chinese commentators said it sent a "goodwill signal" to mend the bilateral ties following the Dokalam standoff.

State-run English news channel CGTN carried snippets of her video with a caption "Indian defence minister greets Chinese border soldiers".

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post headlined its story saying that "India's defence minister builds bridges with Chinese troops".

"The minister experienced an unexpected wave of goodwill from Chinese soldiers when she visited troops stationed on the frontier between the countries", the Post report said.

Her interaction with the troops of the PLA also sparked positive response among the Chinese netizens on popular social media websites.

"The greeting sent a goodwill signal towards mending bilateral ties and putting relations back on track toward normality", Qian Feng, an expert at the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies, told the state-run Global Times which carried a separate story on Sitharaman's Sikkim visit with a caption "Indian Minister waves at PLA".

The Indian government should show more determination for improving ties as Prime Minister Narendra Modi "enjoys advantages towards achieving that goal", it quoted Qian a saying.

Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim. The two sides so far held 19 rounds of talks at the level of Special Representatives to resolve the dispute.

Meanwhile, the state-run tabloid Global Times which routinely attacks India also carried an editorial saying that "India must overcome security paranoia".

Referring to Sitharaman's visit to Sikkim, it said "a newly constructed airport that she inspected during the visit, the nearest to China's border, will be put into use in November", it said and went on to desribe it as an "aggressive gesture."



But it noted that she had friendly interactions with Chinese soldiers in Nathu La. Video released by the Indian Defence Ministry shows that she acknowledged the soldiers with a traditional namaste greeting, it said.

At the same time, it said, "Some Indian nationalists over-estimate India's strength and rights, assuming New Delhi can bark orders across the border at Beijing".

"India's concerns about the Siliguri Corridor's security are understandable, but New Delhi cannot mess around, it said adding that China is also concerned about the transport route security across the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca, but Beijing has not taken "coercive measures to achieve its aims".
Writer Chetan Bhagat today expressed his disagreement with the Supreme Court's order banning the sale of fire crackers in Delhi-NCR till November 1, saying it should be regulated not banned.

In a series of tweets, he said that the tradition of burning fire crackers was essential to the festival of Diwali.

"SC bans fireworks on Diwali? A full ban? What's Diwali for children without crackers?," he tweeted.

Banning crackers on Diwali is like banning Christmas trees on Christmas and goats on Bakr-Eid, Bhagat wrote.

"Regulate. Don't ban. Respect traditions," he tweeted.

He also tweeted in Hindi, "Aaj apne hi desh mein, unhone bacchon ke haath se fuljhari bhi cheen li. Happy Diwali mere dost. (Today, in their own country, they have snatched away sparkles from children's hands too. Happy Diwali friends)."



The writer went on to say that if crackers were banned to control pollution, the action should be emulated for "goat sacrifice and Muharram bloodshed" during festivals like Eid.

"Can I just ask on cracker ban. Why only guts to do this for Hindu festivals? Banning goat sacrifice and Muharram bloodshed soon too?," Bhagat wrote.

"I want to see people who fight to remove crackers for Diwali show the same passion in reforming other festivals full of blood and gore," he tweeted.

Bhagat's tweets were met with sharp reactions by Twitterati including politician Shehzad Poonawalla, who wrote, "Yes coz when Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya you (& those who read your books) were bursting Chinese made crackers to celebrate the homecoming?"



Bhagat replied, "Be careful in your choice of words. That's all I would say."



Responding to another series of tweets that noted that Diwali celebrations were not equivalent to bursting crackers, and that it was a festival of lights and "not noise or air pollution", Bhagat said a ban was not the solution.

"So you are going to decide for everyone? Ban whatever doesn't suit your style?



"It is one day of the year. Our biggest festival. Uber has saved pollution more than any ban would. Come up with innovations. Not bans," he wrote.

He added, "Diwali one day a year is causing disorders? Or unchecked polluters who pollute everyday?"



A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri said the apex court's September 12 order temporarily lifting the stay and permitting sale of fire crackers would be effective from November 1.

Diwali is on October 19 and the order effectively means that no fire crackers will be available for purchase before the festival.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rose McGowan has criticised Hollywood for its "bro" culture after allegations of sexual harassment against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein came to light.

A New York Times article detailed numerous claims of sexual harassment allegations leveled against Weinstein by multiple women, including actor Ashley Judd.

McGowan's name also features in the article, which said that the producer reached out settlements with at least eight women.

The NYT said McGowan was one of those women with whom Weinstein settled in 1997 following an incident in a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival.

Though the actor had declined to comment on the story, she has hinted at being harassed by a Hollywood producer in the past.

Since the article came out, McGowan has been vocal in her criticism of Weinstein.

"Men in Hollywood need to change ASAP. Hollywood's power is dying because society has changed and grown, and yet Hollywood male behavior has not. It is so not a good look," she said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter.

"The men of Hollywood need to know they own no woman. The days of Entourage-like behavior and thinking is as dated as your largely bro nature," the actor added.

Weinstein has been ousted from his company following the scandal but McGowan said his termination was not enough and the board members should also resign.

She also urged the women in Hollywood to speak out.

"And for the women in Hollywood, free your minds. There are no 'rules' you have to play by. We affect the world's mind because we are creating and disseminating thought propaganda. There is a great responsibility to be better than you have to be. Stand for women. Stand for truth. Stop hurting us. Rise.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would launch new development projects for the state during his visit on October 14, which would form a part of the Rs 1.25-lakh crore package he had announced in run up to the state election in 2015.

Kumar hailed the Centre's "very positive" approach towards development in Bihar and said it was providing assistance to the state by way of projects, particularly in the field of roads, energy and infrastructure.

The prime minister is scheduled to visit the state capital on October 14 for the centenary celebrations of the Patna University.

"The projects to be launched will be a part of the prime minister's promised Rs 1.25-lakh crore special package for Bihar ahead of the assembly elections," Kumar told reporters after his weekly 'Lok Samvad' (public interaction) programme.

Modi had on August 18, 2015 announced the mega package during a public event at Arrah in run up to the assembly elections later that year.

Kumar had resigned as chief minister on July 26, dumping coalition partner Lalu Prasad's RJD and joined hands with Opposition BJP to form a new NDA government in Bihar.

"The Centre's approach towards Bihar in terms of development is very positive. Many pending projects are being cleared for the state as part of this," the chief minister said.

Kumar, however, said the demand for a special status to Bihar, would not be on the agenda during this visit. "...as the prime minister is coming for the Patna University centenary celebration."



However, he added a special status was needed to encourage industries to come in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
World's top oil exporter Saudi Aramco is looking at investing in refineries and petrochemical projects in India as it focuses on expanding buyer-seller ties to a strategic partnership, its CEO Amin H Nasser said today.

Aramco is looking at projects like the planned Rs 2.7- lakh crore west coast refinery and just-completed petrochemical project of ONGC for investment.

"I am convinced that the world's fastest growing energy consumer and the world's largest, lowest cost and most reliable oil supplier, must elevate their relationship to a much higher plane," he said at the India Energy Forum here.

Saudi Aramco, he said, is "determined to reflect our expanding and diversifying business portfolio by creating a fully integrated business here in India."



The investments will span the entire value chain - from oil supplies to refining and marketing and petrochemicals.

"By that I mean the entire value chain, covering everything from oil supply, refining, and marketing to manufacturing of petrochemicals and lubes," he said. "I also mean collaboration in energy manufacturing and services, as well as R&D and technology."



Nasser said this would be backed by investment in India's flourishing energy market, joint ventures and by leveraging the country's talent has in IT, petroleum and evolving technologies.

"In the Indian energy sector in general, we are looking at renewables, petrochemicals. We are looking at collaborating. Our colleagues will be visiting soon," he later told reporters.

Saudi Aramco is looking at investment opportunities overseas. "We have certain investments in Korea, the US, China and Japan, we signed one with Petronas. India is an area of huge interest for us because of the market size... there is huge potential for growth," he said.

Petrochemicals, he said, is a sector with a lot of potential in India. "We are seeing expansions in chemicals and capacity in refining in addition to lubes, definitely India is a huge market and we are looking at partnerships with Indian companies."



He said Aramco would have serious discussions with Indian companies on joint ventures and collaborations.

"I'm very optimistic about our plans in India. We are looking at mega investments in India because it's an important market. You are buying about 4.6 million barrels of oil a day, petrochemical industry is booming, industrialisation is picking up because of Make in India campaign," he said.

India, he said, has all the signs of a prosperous economy that is on the move, that will be second to China by 2050. This is a market of investment priority and not a choice anymore.

The country has been on Aramco's radar for long time. "We have expanded our office even though we dont have any investment or joint venture yet but it is area we will be entering. We are working with so many partners now," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court today allowed two women, who were in their advanced stage of pregnancy, to abort their foetus after it was detected that both were suffering from Arnold Chiari Type II syndrome.

ArnoldChiari malformation is a structural defect which leads to underdeveloped brain and a distorted spine.

A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri relied on a report of the medical board of Mumbai-based J J Hospital, where the two women were examined, and noted that the abnormalities in both the foetuses were identical and continuation of pregnancy would harm them.

While the first woman's foetus was 29-week old, the second woman was in 30th week of her pregnancy.

The bench, also comprising justice Ashok Bhushan, said that "the prayer made in the writ petition is allowed to the extent the petitioners (women) is free to undergo medical termination of her pregnancy".

The women, both Mumbai residents, had approached the apex court seeking its permission to abort her foetus on the ground that it was suffering from severe anomaly.

Section 3(2)(b) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act prohibits abortion of a foetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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A high-pitched war of words between two lawyers today led the Supreme Court to adjourn the hearing in the sensitive Kerala marriage case to October 30, saying it would not accept submissions unrelated to the matter.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra got irked when senior lawyer Dushayant Dave, appearing for a Kerala Muslim man whose marriage was annulled, referred to the names of BJP President Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and imputed political motive.

"Yogi Adityanath spoke of 'love jihad' in Kerala... this court should know the ground ground realities," Dave said, adding that Shah had also visited Kerala.

"Unless a political personality's conduct directly affects this case, let us keep it out of here.. We do not have to bring the extra-legal authority here who is unrelated," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said.

Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for NIA, vehemently opposed Dave's submission and said this was "politics" and the senior lawyer was "browbeating" the court which was "obnoxious and unpardonable".

The bench then took on Dave and said "this kind of arguments cannot be tolerated" in the court and made clear that it would not hear the case today.

At the outset, Dave said the first petition filed in the high court was disposed off. Later, the second plea was entertained, which had led to the annulment of marriage between Shafin Jahan and the Hindu woman who had converted before the marriage, he said.

He also termed Kerala as a multi-cultural society where inter-faith marriages have been taking place and being accepted by the society and, in this regard, he also referred to a recent speech of President Ram Nath Kovind.

Dave then started dealing with the so-called political angle to the case, which was objected to by the bench and the counsel for the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The bench was of the prima facie view that the question was whether the High Court can exercise its power under writ jurisdiction to annul the marriage of a Muslim man with a Hindu woman who had converted to Islam before tying the nuptial knot.

However, the war of words irked the bench which told Dave that his way of arguments has "bulldozed" the case and made clear that it would not hear it today.

The bench asked when a person has consented for marriage, can the High Court annul it unless the person is not in a position to consent.

"Yes, your Lordships, and the people behind this have indoctrinated the girl" the ASG said indicating that the consent may be vitiated.

The ASG said the NIA was asked by this court to probe and the High Court considered various aspects in annulling the marriage.

Dave replied saying the NIA abused the court's order as it was said that the probe agency would investigate the case under the supervision of former judge Justice Raveendran. However, Raveendran declined and yet it proceeded with probe, he added.

The NIA was playing into the hands of the government, he alleged.

"I am disturbed that you are trying to browbeat the other side by such obnoxious statements. They have been using intimidation (tactics) continuously," the ASG responded.

"At least, we only do it in court. Not outside court like your government," Dave replied.

The bench said "we do not want to hear submissions unrelated to the case. Please restrict your arguments to the lis in question."



Jahan had on September 20 approached the apex court seeking recall of its order directing the NIA to investigate the controversial case of conversion and marriage of a Hindu woman with him.

The woman, a Hindu, had converted to Islam and later married Jahan. It was alleged that the woman was recruited by Islamic State's mission in Syria and Jahan was only a stooge.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Security forces have arrested seven naxals along with a firearm and some explosives from Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Narayanpur district, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, the cadres were apprehended from the forest of Bechagaon village under Narayanpur police station limits yesterday, Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh told PTI.

A team of state's District Reserve Guard (DRG) had launched a search operation towards Bechagaon, around 300 kms from here, he said.

When the patrol party was cordoning off the jungles of Bechagaon Tekri, it spotted the cadres who were trying to escape into core forest, said the official.

The rebels fired upon the patrolling team with their muzzle loading gun while fleeing but no one was harmed, he said.

However, the rebels were rounded up after a short chase, the official added.

The arrested were identified as Guddu Ram Hichami (28), Deuram Hichami (25), Juru Mandavi (25), Guddu Ram Potai (21), Katia Ram Nureti (25), Budhuram Mandavi (22) and Popendra Mandavi (24), he added.

They were active as members of janatana sarkar squad, militia group and cultural wing - Cheta Natya Mandli (CNM) of Maoists.

Besides, one muzzle loading gun, three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs of 15 kg, 6 kg and 4 kg), electricity wire, 100 gm explosive powder and other maoist-related materials were recovered from their possession, the SP said.

They were allegedly tasked with collecting ration for ultras, arranging meeting of villagers, spreading maoist propaganda and planting IEDs to harm security forces, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nitish Kumar's JD(U) today said a national council meeting held by rebel party leader Sharad Yadav was "illegal" as he did not have the right to convene it in view of a recent Election Commission decision.

Party leader in Rajya Sabha and national general secretary R C P Singh said he had come to know about the meeting in Delhi yesterday through newspapers.

"Sharad Yadav cannot convene or hold a meeting of the party's national council as the Election Commission has dismissed twice his plea for the allotment of party name and symbol to his faction," Singh told reporters here.

The poll panel had recently refused to consider his plea on the grounds that it lacked supporting documents such as affidavits, he added.

The party also questioned Yadav's claim that 500 members of the national council had attended the meeting.

"Sharad Yadav has claimed that 500 members of the national council participated in yesterday's meeting but the fact remains otherwise," Singh said.

The list of the members of the national council which Yadav was referring to was a fake one, Singh said.

"The list ... expired in 2015 with the election of a new president. Besides, Yadav does not have any support in the party's legislative wing," he said.

The term of the previous national council had expired in 2015 with the election of Nitish Kumar as the new president at the party's Rajgir session in November 2016, he said.

Stating that the EC had rejected Yadav's plea for allotment of the party name and symbol to his faction twice on September 12 and September 27, 2017, the senior JD(U) leader asked how Yadav could claim to have the support of 500 members of the national council, when its current strength was 194.

Giving the break-up of the 194 members of the council, Singh said 103 members were from Bihar, followed by 35 from Kerala, 31 from Jharkhand, 23 from Jammu and Kashmir and 2 from Dadar and Nagar Haveli.

Stating that the EC recognises the majority in the national council and legislative wing while deciding the claim of a particular person staking a claim to a party name and symbol, Singh dared Yadav to tell the people and the EC how many of the 194 national council members supported him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities today arrested the son-in-law of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from an airport here in connection with corruption cases pending against him.

A team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) took former army captain Muhammad Safdar into custody minutes after his arrival from London at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport along with his wife Maryam Nawaz.

Safdar has been nominated by NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Pakistan's former premier Sharif, his daughter Maraym, sons Husain and Hasan and his son-in-law Safdar.

The couple had arrived to appear before an anti-graft tribunal in connection with the NAB reference pertaining to London properties owned by the Sharif family.

Safdar was later presented before a court in Islamabad, NAB officials said. Maryam, who was not detained, separately appeared in the same court for the first time.

However, Sharif and his two sons were absent as they are in London where 67-year-old Sharif's wife is battling throat cancer.

Sharif attended the previous two hearings but went to London last week to see his ailing wife.

The court held brief hearing and took a break before announcing the hearing will resume shortly. During the brief hearing, Maryam was given copies of the case documents.

Sharif's lawyer also presented an application to exempt him from appearance today as he was with his wife in London.

The trial judge had earlier issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Safdar and Sharif's two sons for failing to appear in court in the last hearing held on October 2.

The court, however, repeated the bailable warrants for Sharif's daughter.

"We are going back and will appear before the court and go through the wheels of justice. We respect the rule of law and the Constitution," local media quoted Maryam as saying.

Asked whether her brothers would return to Pakistan to face the NAB references against them, she said, "Hassan and Hussain would themselves tell you about their decision".

Safdar told Geo that the couple had decided to return to Pakistan on the advice of their lawyers.

Sharif had to step down as prime minister and president of the ruling PML-N party after he was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers scandal.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling PML-N on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the people's mandate and democracy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui today repudiated the allegations that party supremo Lalu Prasad had made him transfer property worth crores of rupees in Rabri Devi's name "in return" for making him a minister.

Siddiqui also lashed out at Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who had reportedly levelled the allegations yesterday, challenging him to "come up with proof or resign".

"Sushil Modi seems to be stricken by Lalu phobia. It appears he has based his entire politics around maligning the RJD supremo and his family.

"Moreover, he also seems to be drawing inspiration from Goebbels (Nazi propagandist). He keeps making false statements but never shows the consistency to stick to these", Siddiqui told reporters at the party's state headquarters here.

"I challenge Sushil Modi to come up with documentary evidence showing that I have transferred any piece of land in the name of our leader's family members. If he does so, I will resign from all the posts that I am holding. If he fails to do so, then he must resign", the RJD MLA who was Finance minister in the previous "Mahagathbandhan" government, said.

Siddiqui was reacting to media reports quoting the Deputy CM as having stated, in Darbhanga district, that Lalu Prasad was the "Robert Vadra of Bihar", in an obvious dig aimed at the charges of acquiring huge benami properties currently being faced by the RJD supremo as well as Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law.

The RJD leader also said "in my view, Sushil Modi intends to divert public attention from the failures of BJP leaders and governments formed by the party in various states by these rhetorics".

Elaborating further, he alleged "there has been a collapse of law and order in Bihar ever since the BJP became a part of the ruling coalition. Similar is the case in other BJP-ruled states, though leaders of the party are too fond of calling the RJD's rule in Bihar as jungle raj".

"Besides, the way Srijan scam has surfaced, it hints towards the involvement of BJP leaders, even if indirectly. What do photographs of the NGO's late founder Manorama Devi alongside leaders like Union Minister Giriraj Singh, party MP and Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari signify", he asked.

Asked whether he was thinking about sending a legal notice to or even filing a defamation suit against the Bihar Deputy CM, the RJD leader initially tried to side-step the query saying "jiska maan ho usi ki maanhaani hoti hai" (only the one who has some honour, can be slapped with a defamation suit).

However, when pressed further, Siddiqui said "we have to watch how things unfold in future. If the need so arises, one may consider the option of a defamation suit".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Six people, including three of a family, were killed in a road accident in Jalukbari area here today, police said.

The driver, who was speeding, lost control of the vehicle which then turned turtle and fell into a ditch.

All six people in the car, including two children and the driver, died on the spot, a police officer said.

The deceased have been identified as Bharat Das, wife Rina Das and son Jyotiraj Das along with three others



Shankar Das, Dipamoni Das and Tora Das.

They were on their way to Guwahati from Simalutola in Goalpara, the officer said.

The bodies have been sent for postmortem to Guwahati Medical College Hospital, he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DMK Working President M K Stalin today dubbed the dengue deaths in Tamil Nadu as a "health emergency" and urged Governor Banwarilal Purohit to direct the state Chief Secretary to take appropriate action to curb it.

A day after Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said 35 perons had died due to dengue in the state, Stalin, leader of the opposition in the Assembly, hit out at the ruling AIADMK regime for the situation.

"The government machinery has come to a halt as Chief Minister K Palaniswami is engaging himself only in functions," he alleged in a statement.

This was a reference to a series of functions presided by Palaniswami to commemorate the centenary of former Chief Minister and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran.

Stalin said that in the interest of the people and in view of the health emergency, the Governor should immediately intervene and order the Chief Secretary to take appropriate action.

He also urged the Governor to direct the top officials to take steps on a "war-footing to halt the everyday deaths due to dengue."



The DMK working chief alleged that the government is crippled without the administrative efficiency to curb dengue.

Claiming that about 10,000 people were affected by dengue, he slammed the Health Minister C Vijayabaskar and the health Secretary for "hiding the number of deaths due to dengue and for lowering the number of people who were affected by fever."



Radhakrishnan had said yesterday that since January this year, 10,032 fever cases were reported in Tamil Nadu. Out of these, 35 people died of dengue.

It may also be recalled that various types of fever cases have been reported from across the State in the recent past.

The government had on October 3 said it has undertaken work on a "war-footing" to address the issue and Rs 13.95 crore has been allocated for mosquito control.

The government had said that among the steps taken to check spread dengue, it was providing 'Nilavembu' (Anti-Pyretic to treat fever) juice across 1,500 medical centres and medical colleges and distributing 2,000 kg of Nilavembu powder among people at Primary Health Centres.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Suspended TMC leader Mukul Roy today met the BJP's incharge of West Bengal Kailash Vijayvargiya, further fuelling speculation that he may join hands with the BJP.

Asked if Roy, a founding member of the Mamata Banerjee- led party, will join the BJP, Vijayvargiya said that his party is not in a hurry over the matter.

At the same time, he asserted that all those who want development in West Bengal will come on board.

"All those political leaders who want West Bengal to grow would like to join BJP and work under Prime Minister Narendra Modi as there is no other party which wants to work on the agenda of development," the BJP general secretary said.

There is also a possibility that Roy may float his own party and forge an alliance with the BJP.

Union Minister Babul Supriyo, one of the two BJP Lok Sabha MPs from the state, met Vijayvargiya after the latter's meeting with Roy.

Once the second-in-command in the TMC after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Roy was suspended for six years for "anti-party activities" following his announcement on September 25 that he would resign from the party after Durga Puja.

Roy had earlier said he does not consider the BJP to be a communal force and that it is a "secular party".

A two-time Rajya Sabha MP, he has played a key role in building the TMC's organisational structure.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Swiss humanitarian aid worker has been abducted in Darfur, officials have said, just weeks after the United Nations began downsizing its peacekeeping force in Sudan's war-torn region.

The kidnapping, the first such reported incident since the UN began to reduce its troop numbers in Darfur, comes just days after Washington lifted a 20-year-old trade embargo on Khartoum.

The Swiss foreign ministry told AFP in Geneva in an email yesterday that it was "aware of the case of a Swiss woman kidnapped in Sudan (Darfur)".

"Our local representatives are in contact with the local authorities," it said, adding that the case was being investigated.

The foreign ministry did not provide any details on the identity of the abducted woman or the circumstances surrounding her kidnapping.

The UN's top aid official in Sudan, Marta Ruedas, also confirmed the abduction to AFP.

The Swiss national had lived in Sudan for many years and was "abducted by unidentified armed perpetrators near her residence in the Agricultural Research Centre area of El Fashir late last evening," yesterday, Ruedas told AFP.

"She is not a UN staff member, but she has long collaborated with the UN on a number of initiatives."



Ruedas said the aid worker has been actively involved in humanitarian work in El Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state.

"We certainly hope that this is able to be resolved positively," Ruedas said.

The Sudanese government has not confirmed or officially commented on the incident.

But social media reports indicated the abducted woman had been working for a Swiss non-governmental organisation providing aid to children.

The kidnapping came despite repeated claims by Sudanese officials that Darfur -- a region the size of France -- was now safe as the long-running conflict there had ended.

But several aid workers in Darfur had expressed concerns about their safety following the decision to withdraw some UN forces from the region.

Aid workers working in Darfur are often escorted to remote areas by UN peacekeeping troops, and they feared that their security would be comprised following the downsizing of the forces.

Just weeks ago UNAMID, a joint African Union and the United Nations peacekeeping force, began reducing the number of its troops in the region, citing a fall in violence there.

The UN force had been deployed after a brutal conflict erupted in Darfur in 2003, which the UN says has killed about 300,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million.

The conflict erupted after ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's Arab- dominated government.

They accused Khartoum of marginalising the Darfur region economically and politically.

Most of the displaced live in camps, after escaping fighting between government forces and rebels.

The latest abduction adds to an already lengthy list of foreign and Sudanese aid workers who have been kidnapped in the region in recent years.

Earlier this year three UN refugee agency workers were abducted by armed men in West Darfur state. The workers, two Nepalese and a Sudanese, were later released.

Yesterday's incident also comes days after Washington lifted its two decades-old trade embargo on Khartoum.

Although the embargo was imposed for Khartoum's alleged support for Islamist militant groups, Washington had argued that the conflict in Darfur was a key factor in maintaining the sanctions all these years.

Sudanese officials, including Bashir, have repeatedly claimed that the conflict in Darfur is over.

But experts say that militias in search of resources often turn on each other in the region, and sometimes against the government.

Khartoum had in recent years insisted that UN peacekeepers leave the region, saying the conflict there had ended.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court today asked the government to take action against those foreign accounting firms which are operating in India and found violating the law in any manner.

A bench, comprising Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit, was informed by the Centre that they were taking action against the firms which were violating the provisions of the Companies Act.

"Rule of law has to be established. You (government) see whether law is violated or not and take action. If you are taking action, nothing is required to be said by us. We are not looking into individual matters," the bench said.

"If the state is looking into it, we do not think we have to give any directions," the court said.

It, however, said that it would hear all the objections raised by the respective parties in the matter as it cannot "brush aside the objections" without hearing them.

"We will consider everybody's objection. We are open to decide all the objections but we do not want to delay," it said.

The court observed this after senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for one of the parties, raised preliminary objection over the petition filed by NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), which has alleged that foreign accountancy firms were practising here in violation of law.

Rohatgi said that "nothing concrete" was there in the plea and the "petitioner has no right to come to the Supreme Court and go against private people".

"You have to decide my objections first. Article 32 of the Constitution was made for downtrodden and not for this," he said, adding that these firms have a reputation worldwide and they also have their rights.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for CPIL, claimed that Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) had prepared a report in 2011 and said these foreign firms were practicing in India in violation of the law.

"They are so-called big firms and very powerful, so they are able to stop action against them," he told the bench, adding that the ICAI was asked by the court earlier to file a status report which they have not furnished.

During the hearing, Bhushan also raked up the issue about the functioning of a prominent UK-based accounting firm operating in India.

Meanwhile, the ICAI's counsel told the bench that they have prepared their status report but they do not want to disclose the names of the firms in it.

The bench, which fixed the matter for hearing of October 31, asked ICAI to file its status report in the matter.

The NGO has sought a probe against foreign accountancy firms operating in India for allegedly indulging in financial irregularities and fudging of accounts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a breakthrough, a joint team of security forces today killed top Jaish-e-Mohammed militant commander Umer Khalid in Ladoora area of North Kashmir, police said.

Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police S P Vaid said it was a major breakthrough for the security forces as the militant was involved in many attacks on security camps in North Kashmir as well as targeting policemen in particular.

"He was killed in a joint operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operation Group, local police, the CRPF and the Army," he said.

Khalid, who is a Pakistani national, had been operational in the area for last two to three years and was also instrumental in arranging recruits for the terror outfit, police said.

He had recently carried out an attack on a Special Police Officer and his seven-year-old son at Handwara, they said and added that Khalid was a A++ category top ranking terrorist and carried a cash reward of nearly Rs 7 lakh.

Giving details of the encounter, the police said security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Ladoora area following information about the presence of militants in the area.

The search operation turned into a gun battle when the militants opened fire on the search party, the police said, adding more troops were rushed to the area to prevent the militants from escaping.

The Jaish commander was killed in the encounter, they said.

The police is also probing his role in the recent attack carried out by the Jaish-e-Mohammed on BSF battalion headquarters near high-security Srinagar airport and attack on the District Police Lines at Pulwama.

It is expected that he was a part of the conspiracy behind these dastardly attacks, the police said.

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The first day of the truckers strike has hit supplies pan India and caused a loss of Rs 2,000 crore to the sector, transporters body AIMTC said today.

Truck operators across the country are on a 2-day token strike against the GST, high diesel prices, harassment by authorities on roads and toll policies. It has been called by All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC).

"Our two-day 'chakka jam' (strike) which began this morning has hit supplies across the country though we have exempted essential goods. We estimate around Rs 2,000 crore losses to the road transport sector on day one," said Bal Malkit Singh, chairman of the core committee of AIMTC.

Transporters across the country are up in arms against these issue and would chalk out strategies post Diwali to intensify the agitation if the government fails to address the grievances, he said, adding that 12 crore people are associated with the transport sector.

Trucks were seen off the roads in many parts of the country including the national capital.

In Mumbai, truck-operators would be staging a sit-in at Mankhurd check-post, he said.

AIMTC, with over 93 lakh truck operators under its ambit claimed support from several transporter bodies.

"The two day token strike called by AIMTC and supported by all its constituent members was successful on day one with about 70 to 80 per cent of business shut down across the country. We expect similar momentum on the day two," Singh said.

It is surprising that the government has chosen to remain indifferent to the critical concerns of the transport sector, which may lead to indefinite nationwide strike after Diwali, he said.

The Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training, on the other hand, termed the transporters strike as a "damp squib".

IFTRT coordinator SP Singh said deliveries were normal in the national capital region and other cities.

"Industrial belts across the country too were largely unaffected as trucks lined up for bringing in raw materials and dispatches of finished products particularly white goods and electrical products," he said.

AIMTC said however that the Federation of Bombay Motor Transport Operators, Bombay Transport Cooperative Consumers Society, Maharashtra Tanker Lorry Owners Association are also taking part in the strike.

"It is high time the government rationalised taxes on diesel and reduce its prices in line with the international market. Diesel must be brought under the ambit of GST to bring uniformity of pricing across the country, and the prices should be revised on quarterly basis," AIMTC's Bal Malkit Singh said.

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US President Donald Trump has sent a list of hard-line immigration principles to the Congress, proposing a point-based system for awarding green cards, preventing immigrants from sponsoring their extended families, and speeding up deportations.

Besides overhauling the country's green-card system,



the Trump administration's wish list also includes the funding of a controversial border wall along the US-Mexico border and a crackdown on unaccompanied minors entering the country.

The move to establish a merit-based immigration system could benefit high-skilled Indian immigrants especially those from the IT sector. However, the new policies would badly impact those thousands of Indian Americans who want to bring in their family members to the US particularly their aged parents.

The demands were denounced by Democratic leaders in Congress who had hoped to forge a deal with Trump to protect younger immigrants, known as "dreamers", who were brought to the US illegally as children.

Trump last month announced plans to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, an Obama-era programme that had provided two-year work permits to the dreamers that Trump called "unconstitutional".

In his letter to the Congress last night, Trump demanded that these principles must be included as part of any legislation addressing the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.

"Without these reforms, illegal immigration and chain migration, which severely and unfairly burden American workers and taxpayers, will continue without end," he asserted.

Arguing for a merit-based immigration system, Trump told the Congress that the current immigration system does not serve the national interest as it prioritises extended family-based chain migration over skills-based immigration.

"Decades of low-skilled immigration has suppressed wages, fueled unemployment and strained federal resources," he rued.

The administration proposes establishing a merit-based immigration system that protects US workers and taxpayers, and ending chain migration, to promote financial success and assimilation for newcomers, he said.

Trump proposedending extended-family chain migration by limiting family-based green cards to spouses and minor children and replace it with a merit-based system that prioritises skills and economic contributions over family connections.

He called for establishing a new point-based system for awarding the green cards (lawful permanent residents) based on factors that allow individuals to successfully assimilate and support themselves financially; eliminate the diversity visa lottery and limit the number of refugees to prevent abuse of the US Refugee Admissions Programme.

Trump also proposed to increase the number of officials involved in enforcement, hiring an additional 10,000 Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers and 1,000 attorneys, 370 immigration judges and 300 federal prosecutors.

Trump's list was criticised by Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.

"The administration can't be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans, Pelosi and Schumer said in a joint statement.

"We told the president at our meeting that we were open to reasonable border security measures alongside the DREAM Act, but this list goes so far beyond what is reasonable. This proposal fails to represent any attempt at compromise," they said.

"The list includes the wall, which was explicitly ruled out of the negotiations. If the president was serious about protecting the Dreamers, his staff has not made a good faith effort to do so, the statement said.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, however, said that Trump has put forth a series of proposals that will restore the rule of law to immigration system, prioritise America's safety and security, and end the lawlessness.

"These are reasonable proposals that will build on the early success of President Trump's leadership. This plan will work. If followed it will produce an immigration system with integrity and one in which we can take pride. Perhaps the best result will be that unlawful attempts to enter will continue their dramatic decline, he said.

Leading civil rights group American Civil Liberties Union, opposed the proposals.

"Members of Congress of both parties who want to resolve the status of undocumented immigrant youth should recognise that these policies are a non-starter and get back to work on behalf of the vast majority of Americans who want to get something constructive done instead, said Lorella Praeli, director of immigration policy and campaigns at the American Civil Liberties Union.

Beth Werlin, executive director of American Immigration Council said the White House Immigration Principles and Policies are no more than the immigration restrictionists' wish list.

"They are a nonstarter. There is broad bipartisan support for a permanent solution for Dreamers without poison pills attached to it. We must not squander the potential of this generation of young people who will help write the next great chapter of American history," Werlin said.

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A UGC panel has recommended removal of words such as 'Hindu' and 'Muslim' from the names of Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University even as Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said the suggestion is beyond the committee's mandate.

He said the government has no intention to change the names of AMU and BHU.

The panel, which was formed to probe the alleged irregularities in 10 central universities, has made the recommendation in the audit report of AMU that these words be dropped as they don't reflect the institutions' secular character.

"AMU and BHU are very old institutions, and we do not intend to change their names. We formed a committee to look into the administrative, academic and research audits of universities.

"The mandate of the committee is to look into the administrative, academic and research audits of universities. We will not take cognisance of what they have recommended outside of this," Javadekar told reporters in Ahmedabad.

While maintaining that he has not seen the panel's report, he clarified that "there is neither such decision nor is there any such intention to change the names".

According to the UGC panel, the universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders.

Centrally funded universities are secular institutions but such words related to religion in their names do not reflect that character, a panel member said on the condition of anonymity.

Besides AMU and BHU, other universities that were audited by the panel included Allahabad University, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, Central University of Jharkhand, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Jammu, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha, University of Tripura and Hari Singh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh.

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Two UN peacekeepers were killed and several more wounded in an attack Monday in eastern Congo by suspected Ugandan rebels of the ADF group, said a UN spokesman.

"Initial reports suggest two peacekeepers are dead and several more have been wounded," said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric, adding that the injured have been evacuated to Goma.

"The mission deployed attack helicopters as well as the force intervention brigade in support of operations as well as to reinforce presence," he said, adding that mission forces are also deployed to restore order and protect the population.

The suspected rebels attacked early Monday near a UN base in Mamundioma, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Beni, UN Congo mission spokeswoman Florence Marchal said today.

She said about a dozen peacekeepers were wounded.

Some weapons were seized by the rebels in their Monday raid, said Jean-Paul Ngahangondi of a local civil rights group.

A Tanzanian brigade is stationed at the U.N. base there where in an earlier incident in September ADF rebels killed a Tanzanian peacekeeper.

Ten people were killed in fighting in the region Saturday night, said local administrator Amisi Kalonda. At least 22 people are missing, said David Muhaze, the president of a civil society organisation. The total of missing and dead could not be confirmed by officials.

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Rebels from a Ugandan-dominated group today attacked a UN military base in DR Congo's unstable east, killing one peacekeeper and injuring 12 others, the UN mission said.

The attack took place in Beni where UN soldiers have been battling the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which is dominated by hardline Ugandan Muslims, a spokesman for the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo said.

Congolese troops had clashed with the rebels in the area on Sunday. The day before, the ADF attacked around 10 motorbike taxis in the locality.

"The Mamundioma base was attacked at 5:30 am," the UN mission known by its French acronym MONUSCO said, adding that UN ground and air forces had been deployed in the area.

The UN did not specify the nationality of the dead soldier or the injured.

Rich in precious minerals, the east of DRC has been unstable for 20 years.

Several dozen local and foreign armed groups stand accused of serious rights abuses against civilians, such as rape, killings and abductions.

The ADF has been accused by Kinshasa and the UN mission of killing more than 700 people in the Beni region since October 2014.

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UNESCO's executive board is choosing a new leader to replace departing director Irina Bokova, whose tenure was marred by funding troubles and tension over its inclusion of Palestine as a member.

Intense diplomatic wrangling has marked the race among seven candidates to become the next director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Arab countries have long wanted to lead the organization, though divisions over Palestinian membership have complicated their push.

Voting by UNESCO's 58-member executive board starts Monday and continues through the week until a candidate wins a majority. The choice then goes to the full UNESCO general assembly next month for final approval.

Leading candidates include Qian Tang of China, former Egyptian government minister Moushira Khattab and Qatar's former Culture Minister Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari.

A top priority for the next director will be shoring up finances at UNESCO, best known for its World Heritage program to protect cultural sites and traditions around the world.

The agency also works to improve education for girls in desperately poor countries and in scientific fields, promote better understanding of the horrors of the Holocaust, and defend media freedom, among other activities.

The US once UNESCO's biggest financial contributor and Israel suspended UNESCO funding when its members voted to make Palestine a member state in 2011. Many saw the vote as evidence of ingrained anti-Israel bias within the United Nations, where Israel and its allies are far outnumbered by Arab countries and their supporters.

No. 2 UNESCO funder Japan then withheld its dues last year, saying it wanted to make sure UNESCO properly fosters trust among member nations a decision widely viewed as a response to UNESCO's listing of Chinese Rape of Nanking documents as a memory of the world.

Japan disputes China's historical views on the 1937 massacre, and a win for China in the director race could further jeopardize Japan's financial contribution.

In interviews with The Associated Press, candidates insisted they would set aside national interests and lead UNESCO with neutrality. But votes for the agency's top job are routinely overshadowed by national and regional divisions.

Some candidates are even meeting resistance at home. Six Egyptian rights groups protested Khattab's candidacy over the weekend, suggesting she was complicit in the Egyptian government's repressive policies. She insists in her UNESCO candidacy statement that she will uphold freedoms enshrined in the agency's values.

Meanwhile the dispute between Qatar and its neighbors over allegedly sponsoring Islamic extremism threatens to weigh on Qatar's candidate along with media reports suggesting Qatar is trying to buy support among UNESCO members.

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Rejecting any role for India in Afghanistan, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi today warned that the Trump administration's desire to inject New Delhi in the war-torn country would be "detrimental".

US President Donald Trump in August unveiled his South Asia policy and vowed to boost strategic partnership with India in Afghanistan. Trump also sought an enhanced role for India to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

"We don't believe that injecting India into the Pakistan- US relationship will help resolve anything, especially in Afghanistan, where we don't see any role for India. India has a relationship with the US. That is between them and the US," Abbasi was quoted as saying by the Arab .

In an interview to the Saudi newspaper, Abbasi said Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan via a solution that "is owned and led by the Afghans."



The prime minister warned that Washington's desire to include India in Afghanistan would be detrimental.

India has a strategic partnership with Afghanistan and is implementing projects worth USD 2 billion to help rebuild the country's infrastructure.

India has been supporting an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad-based and inclusive process of peace and reconciliation, and advocating the need for a sustained and long-term commitment to Afghanistan by the international community.

Abbasi said Pakistan wants an "equal relationship or partnership with the US, like every other nation."



Asserting that the days of Pakistan depending on the US to meet its military and other requirements are over, the prime minister said the world should recognise Pakistan's efforts in fighting the "worlds war" on terror.

"If one source dries up, we have no option but to go to another source. It may cost more, it may consume more resources, but we have to fight that war, and thats what we emphasised to all the people that we met," he said.

Abbasi said Pakistan has major US weapons systems in its military, but it also possesses Chinese and European systems, and more recently it inducted Russian attack helicopters.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today warned his US counterpart Rex Tillerson that Washington risks sparking an unacceptable escalation in tensions with North Korea.

In a phone call with US Secretary of State Tillerson, Lavrov "stressed the unacceptability of an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula, which the American military preparations in the region are leading to," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia's top diplomat "called for resolution of differences exclusively through diplomatic methods."



US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that diplomatic efforts with North Korea have consistently failed.

He also tweeted last week that Tillerson was "wasting his time trying to negotiate" and added that: "only one thing will work!"



The US has not ruled out the use of force to compel Pyongyang to halt missile and nuclear tests, and Trump has threatened to destroy the country.

The US and its ally South Korea staged drills in September near the heavily-fortified border with North Korea.

China has proposed a plan, which Russia has backed, in which North Korea would suspend its nuclear weapons programme in return for the United States halting its military drills in the region.

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Remakes may be the latest trend in Bollywood but actor Vidya Balan believes one should not temper with an old classic.

There were reports that Vidya was offered to play Sridevi's role in a remake of "Sadma".

"I would not do it (remake a film). I can't dare to make or do something again. I was offered 'Sadma' remake and I said no to it. As I feel one should not touch a film like 'Sadma', why tamper with it? These are timeless films. One can reinterpret it but I am not one of those who would go for it," Vidya told PTI on the sidelines of Jio MAMI Movie Mela event here.

Vidya said Hrishikesh Mukherjee's "Anand", Ramesh Sippy's "Sholay", Mahesh Bhatt's "Arth" and Shekhar Kapur's "Mr. India" were her favourite films during a conversation with film critics Anupama Chopra and Rajeev Masand.

The National award-winning actor, meanwhile, is looking forward to her next film, "Tumhari Sulu".

She plays a carefree housewife who turns into a late night radio jockey.

The film was earlier slated to release on November 1 but the makers have shifted the date to avoid a clash with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus, "Padmavati". "Tumhari Sulu" will now release on November 24.

"I think everyone's dates have changed now, I have not kept a track. All I know is on December 1 'Padmavati' is coming. We got a clear date so we jumped at it.

"I am never stressed about the release of the film. If similar kinds of films were releasing, then I would be worried, not otherwise.

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Aiming to cover 90 per cent of this coastal city's 2 million citizens in a year, the Andhra Pradesh government today launched a campaign to reduce the cash dependence with a cashless payment option campaign.

"We need to reduce the dependence on cash throughout the city, for which we have launched a campaign," IT minister Nara Lokesh told reporters here.

He said infrastructure supporting cashless payments is being created across the port city, starting with the state- run buses, to accept digital modes of payments while citizens avail the services.

A pilot project, that entails citizens doing "tap and pay" through near-field communications cards on the buses, has already started, said T R Ramachandran, India country manager for Visa, that is anchoring the project.

Visa has tied up with a slew of lenders to ensure that such cards are issued to the citizens of the town, he added.

Apart from the tap and go on buses, the project relies heavily on the Bharat QR code wherein users will be able to pay something like electricity bills by scanning codes on their smartphones, Lokesh said.

The facility also allows almost all other payments such as for cooking gas, fuel purchase, paying utilities bills like telephones, and general merchant payments among others, he added.

The minister said amendments will be moved to the Shops and Establishments Act in the state to make it mandatory for merchants to put up the codes at their shops to accept digital payments.

Ramachandran said the project is targeting to touch 90 per cent of the city's population, or 18 lakh people, within the first year.

As a pull, incentives like cash-backs on bill payments are also included in the plan, he added.

Based on the experiences with this project, Visa is looking to launch a similar project in seven-eight districts in the state and is in talks with three more states to introduce similar schemes over the next one year.

It can be noted that till now, focused efforts on reducing cash usage have been limited to villages and this may be one of the largest such efforts.

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Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, today told the Supreme Court he wants to visit the United Kingdom to get her daughter admitted at the Cambridge University and was willing to undertake that he would not visit any bank there.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it would hear the plea tomorrow as Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represents the CBI, was unavailable due to some personal reasons.

"He wants to go to the Cambridge to get his daughter admitted. He is willing to give an undertaking that he will not visit any bank there," senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for Karti, told the bench that also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud.

The apex court has stayed the Madras High Court order, which had stayed the operation of the look out circulars (LOCs) issued against Karti and others in the case.

The CBI FIR, lodged on May 15, had alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Karti's father was the Finance Minister.

In response to CBI's allegation that Karti had multiple bank accounts abroad, Sibal said Karti has one bank account in the UK.

On October 4, the CBI had alleged in the apex court that Karti had "tampered" with evidence relating to an alleged graft case against him during his visits abroad in the months of May, June and July this year.

The agency had said that there was a need to issue a LoC against Karti as he had the "potential" to tamper with the evidence and he had done this during his visits abroad.

CBI had last month told the apex court that Karti was prevented from travelling abroad as he was allegedly closing several of his foreign bank accounts.

The CBI's contention was strongly refuted by Karti's counsel.

The top court is hearing CBI's appeal challenging Madras High Court order staying the government's LOC against Karti in the alleged graft case.

On September 1, the CBI had told the top court that there were "good, cogent" reasons for issuing the LoC against Karti.

On August 18, the court had asked Karti to appear before the investigating officer at the CBI headquarters here for questioning in the case.

Before this, the apex court had said that Karti would not be allowed to leave India without subjecting himself to investigation in the case. The court had then stayed the high court order putting on hold the LOC against Karti.

The FIR was registered on May 15 before the special CBI judge here and the registration of the case was followed by searches at the residences and offices of Karti and his friends the very next day.

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Launching an attack on BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay Shah over his business dealings, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan today sought to know if he was aware of the demonetisation decision of the Centre beforehand.

The former Maharashtra chief minister also demanded the resignation of Amit Shah over the controversy surrounding his businessman son.

The BJP, however, came out in strong defence of Jay Shah and rejected the allegations against him.

"This is nothing but crony capitalism by the BJP. Why did Jay Shah close down his company a day before demonetisation was announced? Was he aware of what was going to happen in advance?" Chavan sought to know while speaking to reporters here.

"BJP chief Amit Shah should immediately resign," the former Union minister added.

He said either Amit Shah or Finance Minister Arun Jaitley should clarify how Jay Shah's company increased its business manifold after the BJP came to power at the Centre in May, 2014.

Chavan claimed that a company owned by Jay Shah got a loan of Rs 10.36 crore from a public sector firm under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, headed by Piyush Goyal, against a collateral security of just Rs six crore.

"Jay's company did not have any previous experience in windmills or in the renewable energy sector. Yet, Goyal approved the huge loan against a collateral security of just Rs six crore," he said.

Chavan said Kusum Finserve, a company in which Jay Shah had a 60-per cent stake, bought wind farms in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, despite it being engaged in stock trading.

"Kusum Finserve was involved in trading of shares. Then, suddenly it bought wind farms in Ratlam. This again is an example of crony capitalism," he alleged.

"This raises many questions which cannot be shrugged off by filing a defamation suit. Amit Shah himself should answer whether he misused his position. These dealings should be probed by the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI," Chavan said.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders and Maharashtra ministers came out in Jay Shah's defence and accused the Congress party of defaming him.

Ministers Chandrakant Patil, Vinod Tawde and Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar addressed a press meet at the party's state headquarters here and defended Jay Shah. Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Madhav Bhandari was also present.

They rejected the allegations levelled against Jay Shah by Chavan and another Congress leader, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.

"The Congress has become frustrated because the BJP is winning elections after elections. They do not know what to do with defeat after defeat. Hence, false allegations are being levelled against Jay Shah," Patil said.

Tawde said, "This is an unethical practice by the Congress. When we criticised the Congress government (over graft), we showed proof. Here, there is no proof (of wrongdoing), just some jugglery of figures.

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On a tour of Gujarat, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a media report which had claimed that a company owned by BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay had recorded huge increase in turnover after the saffron party came to power in 2014.

"Where has the chowkidar (watchman) gone," Gandhi asked, apparently referring to Modi's earlier statement that he does not want to behave like a prime minister but a 'chowkidar' (watchman) of the country's wealth.

The Congress vice president, who began the second leg of his campaign tour in poll-bound home state of Modi, raked up the issue to target the prime minister as also Shah at about 10 small and big public meetings that he addressed throughout the day.

He also cajoled the media to ask questions without fearing Modi and Shah.

Gandhi, who landed at Ahmedabad airport this morning, travelled to the Hatijan area of the city from where he started his tour in a specially designed bus. He travelled from Ahmedabad to Vadodara, addressing small and big public gatherings at around 10 places in the day.

Referring to newspaper reports which quoted a website 'The Wire', Gandhi said the company owned by Shah's son grew 16,000 times in a short span.

"This is a strange world. In 2014, the company was nothing. Modi ji came (to power in 2014) and launched 'Start up India', 'Make in India', then introduced demonetisation and GST. This destroyed small businessmen and farmers," Gandhi told a gathering at Kamla village in Kheda district.

"But from this fire, one company comes up. It was nothing in 2014 but in a few months it became so big that this company's worth of Rs 50,000 rose to Rs 80 crore," he said.

Mentioning the entrepreneurial skills of Gujaratis for which they are well known, Gandhi asked whether they can do such thing.

Recalling Modi's assertion that he would neither engage in corruption nor allow it to happen, the Congress leader said, "Now when Amit Shah's son's company has grown 16,000 times, Modi ji has gone silent."



"Modi ji had also said another thing (before the elections) that he does not want to become prime minister and be the 'chowkidar' (watchman) of the country's wealth. Now, where has the chowkidar gone?" Gandhi asked.

In his brief interaction with the media, he was asked about his Gujarat campaign tour.

"Why don't you media ask question to Narendra Modi? Why don't you ask this thing to Amit Shah? Are you afraid of them. Have some courage to ask them such questions," he said.

The Congress vice president also hit out at the NDA government over the state of economy, and demanded that the rates under the Goods and Services Tax not exceed 18 per cent.

"In spite of our request to the Centre, they are charging rates of over 18 per cent under the GST...They should revert to the 18 per cent tax slab," Gandhi said, adding high taxes have ruined many businesses.

Demonetisation resulted in loss of business of many small traders, he said.

The famed Gujarat model of development had failed, the Congress leader said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of Gujarat know that the so-called Gujarat model has failed. If we come to power, we will propagate the old Gujarat model under which cooperative societies like Amul developed," he said.

Gandhi also attacked the government over its failure to create jobs.

India, he said, is competing with China these days. China creates 50,000 jobs every day, but India under the Modi government is able to generate just 450 jobs per day, he said.

"This is because their focus is on development of 100 big industries. When the Congress comes to power, it will develop small and medium scale industries which can create many more jobs," Gandhi said.

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Suspended Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy today said he will resign from his Rajya Sabha seat on October 11.

"Finally, I am going to hand over my resignation to the Vice President on October 11 and then I will tell the people of this country why I decided to end my long political innings with the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the party I founded with many others," Roy told reporters.

Though Roy has not yet divulged his future plans, but he is meeting leaders of various parties during his stay in Delhi.

He met the BJP's West Bengal BJP in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya at the residence of Rajya Sabha House Committee chairperson Om Mathur today.

Roy said that though the meeting with Vijayvargiya was not scheduled, the BJP leader did enquire about his future plans.

He also had a meeting with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday.

Incidentally, Roy also had a long meeting with the West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday.

Chowdhury said that Roy has not proposed to join the Congress now, but claimed that he had done so earlier.

"Rahul Gandhi himself had enquired about what Mukul is doing? I told him that he is a leader with potential," Chowdhury told PTI.

Chowdhury said that the Congress earlier had reservations on Roy joining the party because of the cases against him.

Once the second-in-command in the TMC after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Roy was suspended for six years for "anti-party activities" following his announcement on September 25 that he would resign from the party after Durga Puja.

The TMC had accused him of hobnobbing with the BJP.

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A youth was beaten to death allegedly by his friend at a feast at his native village Akhupadara in Ganjam distrct, police said today.

The police recovered the body of Sagar Nayak yesterday and detained three of his friends for interrogation.

Nayak worked in Surat and was on a visit to his village for Dussehra festival. Before returning to Gujarat, Nayak and five of his friends organised a party on the outskirts of the village on Saturday.

He died after someone struck him with a bamboo, the police said adding one of his friends who was at the feast informed Nayak's family.

"On being informed by the family of Nayak, we reached the spot and seized bamboo sticks," they said.

Though the reason for the attack is yet to be ascertained, police suspected that the deceased and his friends were drunk.

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By Abhinav Ramnarayan, Anjuli Davies and Maya Nikolaeva

LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) - While most London-based bankers are brushing up on their German to prepare for a move to Frankfurt post-Brexit, senior staff at French investment banks expect to say "Oui" to government pressure to bring jobs home to Paris.

Most international banks in London have declared where they will move their European business in the event of a "hard" Brexit, in which the UK would give up access to the single market, including financial passporting rights.

Frankfurt is by far the favourite. European giant Deutsche Bank, for example, said in April up to 4,000 UK jobs could move to Germany.

Although French banks have been wavering about their plans, the bankers who work for them in London believe pressure from the government of Emmanuel Macron, himself a former investment banker, makes a Paris move almost certain.

"The Macron administration is really pushing for the French banks to move some of us to Paris, setting up international schools there and talking tax breaks," said a senior London-based banker at one of the three main French investment banks.

"Personally, I am preparing for life in Paris. Unless we get a (soft) Brexit deal, it's almost inevitable," he said, asking not to be named because, like others interviewed for this story, he was not authorised to speak to the media. That sentiment was echoed by a second London-based source from another top bank.

"Most of the Americans are moving to Frankfurt and a lot of them are very advanced in their plans, so there's a lot of pressure for us," he said.

A source at France's finance ministry maintained there was no undue pressure on the banks, but acknowledged the government was keen for domestic lenders to base more jobs in France.

"This government is doing a lot in terms of attractiveness like getting rid of the wealth tax. We want the banks to live up to promises they have made, we want them to make a concrete gesture," one ministry source told .

French banks feel they can afford to wait until the details around Brexit become clearer because they already have EU licenses through their Paris headquarters, unlike their U.S. counterparts which conduct nearly all of their European investment banking business out of London.

France's two biggest investment banks in London, BNP Paribas and Societe Generale, have not set out firm plans, though SocGen CEO Frederic Oudea told in June it could move 300-400 out of the 2,000 investment banking jobs to Paris.

Credit Agricole, the third biggest, has moved its 10-person European government bonds trading platform to Paris, but a source at the bank said the move was not related to Brexit.

All three declined to comment.

ENEMIES NO MORE

French authorities want to convince the financial community that the sector is no longer seen as the "enemy", as former socialist President Francois Hollande once called it.

"The previous government was an ideological one; this one is pragmatic," a senior French banker at one of the top three told in Paris.

Banks moving to Germany aim to take advantage of the country's AAA credit rating, relatively attractive tax regime and strong economic track record.

For its part, France has introduced measures to cut labour costs and lower taxation, and has pledged to build more international schools targeted at expatriates' children.

Former Bank of France governor Christian Noyer, tasked by the government to lobby foreign finance firms, has made more than 400 pitches to banks in New York and London in the months since Britain voted to leave the EU in June 2016.

One big win has been British bank HSBC, which said it would move up to 1,000 traders to its Paris entity in the case of a hard Brexit. That is the only major international bank so far to say France will be its new EU headquarters, however.

Wall Street bank Citigroup said last week it was applying for a license to conduct sales and trading activities in France, but its legal EU headquarters will be in Germany.

Noyer has said that even if banks say they are seeking a banking license in Frankfurt, that does not mean most of the jobs will be there.

"I know of some people who say 'I'm setting up my base in Frankfurt but I'm putting my trading rooms in Paris in a subsidiary. I'll create a few jobs in Frankfurt but the bulk is in Paris'," Noyer told Reuters in June.

(Reporting by Abhinav Ramnarayan, Maya Nikolaeva and Anjuli Davies; Additional reporting by Leigh Thomas and Michel Rose; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
expects Sudan to clear about $400 million owed to the state-run energy company after the lifting of the U.S. sanctions, its managing director N.K. Verma said on Monday.

The past dues were relating to building of pipeline and crude sales, Verma told Reuters at the India Energy Forum by Ceraweek in New Delhi.

"Earlier they were facing problems and now it will be easy for them (Sudan) to raise funds," he said.

The United States lifted long-standing sanctions against Sudan last Friday, saying Sudan had made progress fighting terrorism and easing humanitarian distress.

Oil production from ONGC Videsh's three blocks in Sudan has declined to about 25,000 barrels per day from 48,000 bpd since last November after the Sudanese government failed to renew contract for Block 2B, Verma said.
The Chairman of India's largest salt-to-steel conglomerate is looking to prune Tata Group's extensive portfolio and consolidate group companies. Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, in an interview to The Economic Times, said "I will be the first to admit that we are very complex. We need to be simplified. I would like to see ourselves as 5,6,7 groups as opposed to 110 companies. The more we see ourselves as (many companies), nothing will get done."

Leaving five major Tata Group companies alone - TCS, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Power and IHCL - the rest could well be clustered as communications and ITES companies, consumer and retail companies, realty and infrastructure companies, agriculture and chemicals companies, service-related companies and financial services companies, as so on. During Ratan Tata's tenure from 1991 to 2012, Tata Sons reduced the number of group firms from around 250 to about 100, through mergers.

Tata Sons is eyeing new business clusters such as defence, infrastructure, consumer and retail, financial services and hotels and airlines while supporting the growth of the three largest companies, Tata Consultancy, Tata Steel and Tata Motors, the report said.

On Tata Sons' telecom unit Tata Teleservices, the 53-year-old Chairman of $100 billion-plus group said it made little sense to invest large sums in Tata Teleservices as it would mean "throwing good money after bad." "Reviving it would need Rs 50,000-60,000 crore and that is not a choice."

"In passenger cars, our cost structures are out of whack. Every single car and model is losing money. It's important to pick up volumes and try to become profitable," Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran told ET.

Meanwhile, Tata Teleservices, the telecom unit of Tata Sons, is said to be finalising an exit plan for most of its 5,000-odd employees. The company will offer severance packages, voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) to most of its employees. Early this year, when Chandrasekaran took over as chairman, Tata Sons resolved its two-year long legal dispute with partner NTT DoCoMo, agreeing to pay $1.18 billion to buy out the Japanese mobile operator's stake in Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL).

Shares of Tata Teleservices fell 15 per cent on Monday after its senior management met Department of Telecommunications (DoT) officials and discussed plan to exit their spectrum holdings.

On Air India, N Chandrasekaran told CNBC-TV18 that Tata Group will look at Air India's disinvestment being executed by the government currently. The group, however, needs more details from the government on the process.

Referring to full-service carrier Vistara, Tata Group's joint venture with Singapore Airline, Chandrasekaran said the group can't remain with a fleet of just over a dozen planes. Tata Sons also holds a 49 per cent stake in no-frills airline Air Asia.

Chandrasekaran is expected to consolidate similar businesses and reduce cross holdings. Tata Finance, Tata Housing Finance and Tata Capital Finance, for instance, do much the same thing and could well benefit from being merged. The same holds for the group's realty business - Tata Realty and Tata Housing; or its beverages business - Tata Global Beverages (TGBL) and Tata Coffee.

Tata Sons Chairman began disentangling the cross holdings among Tata companies, starting with Tata Steel's stake in Tata Motors. Chandrasekaran has brought in a range of fresh talent at the top to equip the group better for tackling challenges.
In a decision that has high likelihood of polarising the citizens of Delhi, NCR, the Supreme Court has banned the sale of firecrackers till November 1. This means that Diwali, which will be celebrated on October 19, is likely to be firecracker-free and silent this year. A plea was sought so as to restore the verdict passed in 2016.

While firecrackers are not the only factor, last year the Delhi-NCR region saw alarming levels of air pollution towards the end of the year. In order to curb pollution, the Supreme Court had suspended all licences that permitted sale - wholesale and retail - of firecrackers in the Delhi, NCR region on November 11. However, on September 12 this year the ban was relaxed.

Now, after petitioner Arjun Gopal petitioned to reinstate the ban, so as not to let a surge of air pollution levels like last year, the Supreme Court has given a green signal. Advocate Gopal Shankarnarayan argued that while there are many factors leading up to this state of pollution, firecrackers is one of them, while the other side argued that the same points were being considered when the ban was lifted a month ago and it was done so keeping all the parties who are involved, including the traders and the pollution board, in mind.



The Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice AK Sikri said that we must at least see the impact of cracker-free festivities on at least one Diwali.

It must be mentioned here that citizens of Delhi-NCR have been suffering the impact of dangerously high pollution levels every year post-Diwali up till spring season. In fact, according to a report in The Hindu , during Diwali night last year, the city's air pollution levels were 14-16 times beyond the safe limits. Seeing that the condition was not getting better, some schools even suspended classes, visibility was down to 200 mt, environmentalists called it an emergency and the government received flak for not being able to help the situation.
The government will soon notify a new threshold for the value of transactions in gold, silver and precious stones such as diamonds which have to be reported to the authorities in order to check the diversion of black money into bullion, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said.

The government had on Friday rolled back its order issued on August 23 which made it mandatory for gems and jewellery dealers to report all sales above Rs 50,000 to the financial intelligence unit as they were brought under the purview of the the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Adhia told PTI that the August 23 order had to be rescinded because it created confusion and a lot of negative sentiment because no threshold for transactions to be reported was set. For the first time in India, we had notified that jewellers will be the reporting entity (under PMLA) but what report they will submit to us that was not clear, he said. This led to jewellers implementing the August 23 order in the same way as banks where cash transactions of Rs 50,000 and above are to be reported. And that affected sentiments.

So, now we have to sit down and decide about it, he said. The Rs 50,000 is too onerous in case of jewellery. Cash deposit is different in bank where everything is electronic and easy to report. But, here they started implementing. Our notification only said that any jeweller with turnover of more than Rs 2 crore will be the reporting entity. Rs 50,000 requirement is in general rules, Adhia explained.

"We will study what to do and we will again re-notify the as reporting entity but with what limit that we will decide. We will check with industry and decide soon," the revenue secretary said. A senior Income Tax official told Mail Today that the Rs 2 lakh limit on cash purchases notified by the department would stay in force even for bullion and jewellery purchases. The Income-Tax Department had in June this year warned people against indulging in cash transaction of Rs 2 lakh or more saying that the receiver of the amount will have to cough up an equal amount as penalty.

The newly inserted section in the Income Tax Act bans such cash dealings on a single day, in respect of a single transaction or transactions relating to one event or occasion from an individual. The Income Tax Department had also advised people having knowledge of such deals to tipoff the tax department by sending an email to blackmoneyinfo@ incometax.gov. in.

The government has banned cash transactions of Rs 2 lakh or more from April 1, 2017, through the Finance Act 2017. The waiving of the stringent PMLA rules is expected to give gold sales fillip during the festive season in the run up to Diwali as the earlier Rs 50,000 limit for reporting had dampened sentiments. Higher sales are expected on Dhanteras to be celebrated on October 17 this year. Dhanteras is considered to be an auspicious day for buying gold, silver and other valuables and sales normally shoot up in this period every year. and is largely celebrated in North and West India.

Gold prices were ruling firm at Rs 30,555 per 10 grams and silver at Rs 40,600 per kg in the national capital as of Saturday. This is a big relief and there could not have been a better Diwali gift than this for both jewellers and consumers, All India Gems and Jewellery Federation Chairman Nitin Kandelwal said, "we are expecting sales to revive after a lull in preceding months. We will be more than happy if sales remain normal during Diwali."

More than jewellers, consumers were affected with the notification as they were not comfortable showing PAN and Aadhaar documents, he added.
India on Sunday pressed oil cartel OPEC to adopt "responsible pricing" for oil and consider the world's third-biggest oil consumer as its preferred sales destination.

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met OPEC Secretary General Sanusi Mohammad Barkindo to discuss "the current scenario of oil and gas industry of the world and exchanged notes on the recent developments", an official statement stated here.

During the meeting, Pradhan highlighted that in Sunday's oversupplied market, it is important for producers to understand the perspective of consuming countries and the changes that have taken place in these demand centres.

Barkindo is in India to attend the first CERAWEEK India Energy Forum. The two had last met in Vienna in May 2017 for the 2nd India-OPEC Institutional Dialogue.

"Pradhan reiterated that the OPEC should work towards 'responsible pricing', which is important for India for socio- economic and developmental reasons," the statement said.

Reiterating the decade-old India's view that the OPEC should consider giving 'Asian Dividend' rather than charging 'Asian Premium' on the crude supplied to India, he said countries like India should actually be the "preferred destination".

India sources about 86 per cent of crude oil, 75 per cent of natural gas and 95 per cent of LPG from OPEC member countries.

The OPEC stands for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The minister emphasised on the need for a purposeful and improved dialogue among producer and consumer countries.

He suggested that the OPEC at its ministerial meetings give wider consideration to India's requests.

According to Pradhan, India is putting a lot of emphasis on diversifying its crude oil supply sources and tapping new supply sources.

In this context, he highlighted the arrival of two shipments of crude oil cargo of 1.6 million barrels from the US.

Three Indian public sector refineries have already placed a cumulative order of 7.85 million barrel from the US. In addition, a private refiner has placed an order of 2 million barrel from the western nation.

The minister was accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and also CEOs of seven public and private refineries who together operate all 23 refineries in India processing over 235 million tonnes of crude annually.

The minister extended invitation to the OPEC secretary general to attend the 16th Ministerial Meeting of International Energy Forum scheduled to take place in India in April 2018.

The secretary general accepted the invitation, the statement said.
Sale of Chinese goods like lights, gift items, lamps and wall hangings may decline by 40-45 per cent this Diwali as compared to last year as Indians are likely to prefer domestic products like earthen diyas (lamps), according to a report.

Chinese products had recorded a 30 per cent decline in sales last year on Diwali, the festival of lights which coincides with the Hindu New Year.

A survey by Assocham-Social Development Foundation mapped responses of wholesalers, retailers, traders in cities of Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mumbai to estimate the demand for Chinese products across India.

"There seems to be a decline of about 40-45 per cent in consumption of Chinese products on this Diwali in comparison to last year. Chinese items that are most sought fancy lights, lampshades, Ganesha and Laxmi idols, rangolis and crackers etc. As per the findings, this Diwali, people are preferring Indian products over Chinese goods," Assocham said.

According to the survey, the demand of electronic items like LCDs, mobile phones and other items made in China has also declined by 15-20 per cent.

Shopkeepers who took part in the survey said most of the customers are demanding Indian lights or earthen diyas.

According to an estimate, the value of Chinese goods sold in 2016 during Diwali was around Rs 6,500 crore, out of which Rs 4,000 crore was for products such as toys, fancy lights, gift items, plastic ware, decorative goods etc.
Travel portals are seeing a rise in hotel bookings this Diwali, indicating that more Indians are ditching traditional ways of celebrating the festival at home and choosing to unwind at a quick getaway. "We are witnessing a 40 per cent increase in bookings around Diwali compared to last year," said OYO chief operating officer, Abhinav Sinha. The online hotel aggregator's data shows people are taking short breaks and checking into hotels either in a nearby destination or in their own city to relax after the festivities.

Cleartrip's chief revenue officer, Amit Taneja, echoes the view. The travel portal's hotel bookings for Diwali have gone up by 74 per cent compared to other weekends around this time. In line with the trend, market leader Make-MyTrip is seeing 11 per cent more users travelling this Diwali compared to last year, while Cleartrip has registered a 34 per cent year-onyear increase in air travel bookings this Diwali.

MakeMyTrip has captured 31 per cent of the online travel market share as of July 2017, according to research firm KalaGato. Cleartrip and Yatra hold the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, with 9.6 per cent and 7.3 per cent market share. Metro cities are getting deadlier every Diwali because of air and noise pollution. The national capital, considered among the most polluted cities in the world, was enveloped by a thick blanket of smog for days after Diwali last year. While nonmetro cities also rank pretty high up in the list of polluted cities, tourist destinations offer a better alternative for many in the younger age bracket.

The portals list Jaipur, Chandigarh, Lucknow and Udaipur as being among the most preferred destinations for Delhiites. "A fairly significant chunk of travellers are planning to indulge their wanderlust by celebrating Diwali at destinations that have a unique charm such as Amritsar, Jaipur, Varanasi and Kolkata," says Yatra's chief operating officer (B2C), Sharat Dhall.

A survey that the website conducted among 2,700 respondents at the end of September showed that 67 per cent of them planned to travel during the festival season, with Diwali and Dusshera falling closer to the weekend. While the hill stations of Nainital, Dharamshala and Manali are also popular for those travelling out of the capital, cities such Pune, Panaji and Ahmedabad find favour among Mumbaikars.

The preference this year, though, is for a short break rather than a long one. OYO's Sinha says the duration of a break has come down this year compared to the last. "About 77 per cent of the bookings so far are for 1-3 days," says Cleartrip's Taneja. The Yatra survey also showed that about 73 per cent of the travellers said it was a good opportunity to indulge in short getaways.

The portals find that the hotel booking volume is mostly from the smart traveler who does not want to spend on luxury stays, especially after the levy of 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax on rooms with per day tariffs of above Rs 7,500.

A MakeMyTrip spokesperson says 90-95 per cent of its users prefer budget and mid-range hotels, while Cleartrip has seen about 45 per cent bookings coming from hotels priced at Rs 3,000- Rs 5,000 a night. However, the festive season is set to hit fever pitch this week with last-minute bookings which are priced a lot higher. And the websites are expecting a surge in business.

While 40 per cent of Cleartrip's festive season bookings last year happened in the two days ahead of Diwali, OYO expects 60-70 per cent growth in last-minute bookings this Diwali.
The government is worried about the economy. In the past week, different ministries have seen a flurry of meetings to brainstorm how they can add some zip to the economy. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, which had not been constituted after the NDA government came to power, has been revived with Bibek Debroy heading it. The Chief Economic Advisor to the finance ministry, Arvind Subramanian, has been given a one-year extension. It was richly deserved because he had been flagging the slowing economy for quite some time, something the government probably did not pay much heed to.

The fact that the economy is in a bad shape is now apparent to everyone who is not wearing blinkers. Growth has fallen for six successive quarters. The first quarter GDP growth was 5.7 per cent, which is a three-year low. And if the GDP was being calculated the way it was before the methodology was revised in 2015, it would have looked even worse. Meanwhile, the current account deficit has started widening. And job creation has been tardy, to say the least, with some economists worrying that job losses because of demonetisation, automation and a host of other reasons are higher than the number of jobs being created.

A number of economists have prescribed a spending spree by the government as a Keynesian stimulus to the economy. Some of them have suggested that even the fiscal deficit target could be relaxed for the stimulus package. In the past, stimulus packages have given mixed results. Many times, they have given a short-term boost to the economy, while creating a big fiscal deficit and worse problems in the medium to long term. However, when private investment is flagging, private consumption is low and exports are refusing to pick up, a stimulus does seem like the right prescription.

But the stimulus alone will not solve all the problems. One of the points made by all economists is that private investment is at an all-time low. No one is rushing to set up new factories. If anything, assets are changing hands, but few greenfield projects are being initiated.

One reason for that is overcapacity. It is estimated that in many sectors, capacity utilisation has not gone beyond 70 per cent. It is easy to blame low private consumption but there is an alternative theory doing the rounds - that private consumption is actually going to imported goods, which are often cheaper than those manufactured in the country.

But beyond that, the bigger problem, say industrialists in a number of sectors, is the worry about inconsistency in policy making. Even companies that have enough cash reserves are chary of investing unless they see some sort of consistency in policy making.

In the past couple of years, tax rates have changed and changed again. Tax laws have changed. Even policies have changed. The policy of bringing more drugs under price control, or trying to get electric vehicles to substitute the current generation of petrol and diesel engine vehicles and even locomotives, are pointed out as examples of why companies in these sectors are worried about investing. A number of industrialists say they are afraid of starting projects simply because they do not know what the thinking of the government will be. Long gestation projects need stable policies. And while it is fashionable to say that consistency is the virtue of fools, when it comes to government policies, it might actually be the reverse.



@ProsaicView
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday brainstormed with CEOs of top global and Indian companies, including BP of the UK, Russia's Rosneft, Saudi Aramco and Reliance Industries, on ways to revive investment in oil and gas exploration and production.

Modi met BP Plc Chief Executive Bob Dudley, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Royal Dutch Shell's Project and Technology Director Harry Brekelmens, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Naseer, Exxon Mobil President for Gas and Power Rob Franklin, RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Vedanta Resources head Anil Agarwal for over two hours to discuss the global oil and gas scenario.

The main theme of the meeting, sources said, was to seek investment in exploration and production, processing, transportation and distribution network in oil and gas.

During the three-hour long meeting, the top brass of foreign and Indian oil producing firms suggested that foreign and private be given stake in ONGC's producing fields Bombay High.

The CEOs suggested bringing natural gas and electriciy under the gamut of Goods and Service Tax (GST) to make these sectors more competitive.

The Niti Aayog, which facilitated the meet, made a short presentation on the likely scenario of demand and supply by 2030 and current government policies.

This is the second meeting Prime Minister had with CEOs of oil majors.

His first meeting was in January 2016 where suggestions for reforming natural gas prices were made. More than a year later, the government allowed higher natural gas price for yet-to-be-produced fields in difficult areas like deep sea.

The government is looking at private investment to raise domestic oil and gas production, which has stagnated for the last few years while fuel demand has been rising by 5-6 per cent annually.

India is dependent on imports to meet its 80 per cent of the demand and more than half of its natural gas requirements.

The prime minister in 2015 had set a target of reducing India's oil dependence by 10 per cent to 67 per cent (based on import dependence of 77 per cent in 2014-15) by 2022.

Import dependence has only increased since then and the government is now looking for ways to raise domestic output.

OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting. Former oil secretaries Vivek Rae and Vijay Kelkar were also invited for the meeting.

Pradhan told the gathering that the liberalised India offers around USD 300 billion investment opportunity in the next 10 years in the oil and gas sector.

"We want investors, both domestic and global, who can bring in the best technology and capital," he said.

The government is devising policies to increase share of gas in the energy basket to 15 per cent from 7 per cent.

"We are planning a gas trading exchange and making sure there is open access to the gas grid. Global experience in this area would be useful," he stated.

According to Pradhan, in the last 40 months, the government has taken several policy initiatives in the energy sector in line with the prime minister's vision of energy access, efficiency, sustainability and security.

Also present at the meeting were ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Shashi Shanker, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Chairman Sanjiv Singh, GAIL India head B C Tripathi, Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) Chairman Mukesh Kumar Suran, Oil India Chairman Utpal Bora and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) Chairman D Rajkumar.
Tata Teleservices, the telecom arm of Tata Group, is planning to cease operations after mounting losses. Fate of around 5,000 employees presently engaged with the company hangs in the balance if the salt-to-software conglomerate decides to pull out of the telecom business. This will also be the first major unit under Tata Sons to shut shop in the group's 149-year history.

With things turning for the worse, reports state that Tata Teleservices is readying exit plans for its staff members. The company employs a staff of 5,101 as on March 31, 2017, according to its latest annual report. The employees are to be offered notice periods of six to three months, and severance packages for those who wish to leave earlier, said a report by The Economic Times.

A voluntary retirement scheme will be rolled out in a few months for senior members of staff above a certain age limit. Only a small percentage of employees will be absorbed in other companies of the Tata Group. Only those staffers who have a specific qualification which can be put to use in other group companies will be taken up for absorption, the report said.

"The Tata Group has always taken care of its people, but very few will get absorbed in other group companies. It is unfair to saddle other Tata companies with employees of TTSL," an anonymous senior official was quoted by the ET.

The 21-year old telecom company had reportedly asked its circle heads back in September earlier this year to leave by March 31, 2018, when the current financial year ends. Circle heads who leave now will receive the salary for the rest of the financial year, search firms looking into telecom industry have informed, which could be close to Rs one crore.

Tata Group, however, has clarified that it is looking into every option available before finally closing down. Closing down business is bound to hurt the interests of stakeholders who have invested in the company. Tata Group was in talks with other firms for selling its telecom arm, to avoid this eventuality, but its debt amounting to Rs 30,000 crore played spoilsport.

Representatives from Tata Teleservices have met officials of Department of Telecommunication, to apprise them of decision to close down the company and to discuss sale or surrender of the spectrum allocated to or purchased by them. The process in this direction could reportedly begin by next month. The 800MHz spectrum owned by the company could attract competitors looking to expand their 4G network.

Tata Teleservices commenced operations in 1996 with landline services. The company launched CDMA services in 2002 and later moved on the GSM services 2008. Upon this, it received Rs 14,000 crore investment from NTT Docomo. The Japanese telco later exited the joint venture in 2014 on account of poor financial returns.

Meanwhile, the Tata Group is planning to streamline its extensive portfolio and consolidate group companies to simplify operations. The conglomerate could merge companies based on clusters like realty, agriculture and others.

Leaving five major Tata Group companies alone - TCS, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Power and IHCL - the rest could well be clustered as communications and ITES companies, consumer and retail companies, realty and infrastructure companies, agriculture and chemicals companies, service-related companies and financial services companies, as so on.

Also Read: Tata Group to prune portfolio, bring consolidation: Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran
An agreement that would have HP Inc. pay $1.05 billion for the printer business of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. would help HP get a stronger foothold in Asia. Above, Samsung displays its CLP-600 color laser printers in Beijing in September 2006. Photo: Visual China

Chinas Commerce Ministry has given its conditional approval for HP Inc.s purchase of Samsungs printer business, clearing a key regulatory hurdle that would consolidate the U.S. giants place as the worlds largest player in the shrinking space.

Conditions set for approval of the purchase include steps to prevent HP from becoming too dominant in the market for A4 laser printers since the U.S. company controls more than 50% of the market in China, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement announcing its decision on Thursday.

HP has a dominant market position, and may use unreasonable pricing behavior to lock out or limit others from competing in the A4 laser printer market, the ministry said. It did not elaborate what conditions it placed on its approval. But such steps would typically require HP to divest related assets it would acquire from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. through the purchase.

HP and Samsung announced the deal more than a year ago. The agreement would see the former pay $1.05 billion for the latters smaller printer business, which includes 6,000 employees. The deal was seen as important for helping HP to get a stronger foothold in Asia, especially in Samsungs home South Korean market.

China has become one of the key global markets for winning regulatory approval of such deals since it is the worlds largest market for personal computers and related products.

The deal represents the largest ever in the shrinking printer business, as more and more documents are used electronically rather than in printed form. HP controls about a third of the market, while Samsung controls another 15%, meaning the merged company would control about half of the worldwide market for laser printers, according to data tracking firm IDC.

Contact reporter Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com)
The state-owned Sinopec has poured billions into overseas assets in recent years, including many in Africa. The above picture shows the oil firm's employees conducting a physical examination in Sudan in 2008. Photo Visual China

Switzerland-based mining giant Glencore PLC will acquire assets in South Africa and Botswana from Chevron Global Energy Inc., after a similar deal between Chevron and Chinese oil behemoth Sinopec Group fell through earlier this year.

Glencore will buy a 75% stake in Chevron South Africa Proprietary Ltd. and wholly acquire Chevron Botswana Proprietary Ltd., for a total of over $970 million, Glencore said in a statement Friday.

The Chevron assets involved in the deal  which Glencore struck with South Africa-based shareholder Off the Shelf Investments Fifty Six (RF) Proprietary Ltd.  include a refinery in Cape Town and a total of 850 retail sites in South Africa and Botswana.

Sinopec had announced in March that it would buy Chevrons Botswana subsidiary and the 75% stake in the South Africa business for $900 million, after rounds of bidding that included offers from Glencore and Frances Total SA. The Chinese company had planned to rebrand Chevrons Caltex gas stations in the two countries under Sinopecs name.

But Off the Shelf Investments Fifty Six exercised its pre-emptive right and re-opened the bidding process months later. Off the Shelf will continue to hold a 25% stake in Chevron South Africa.

Glencore believes that the Assets provide an attractive downstream opportunity for its oil business, the Swiss company said in its statement.

Sinopec did not respond to Caixins queries and Chevron said it would not comment on the deal as a matter of policy.

State-owned Sinopec has poured billions of dollars into overseas assets in recent years, owning 51 projects in 27 countries outside of China by December 2015. But by 2016, falling global oil prices and poorly-performing investments had slowed the companys acquisition binge.

In April 2016, Sinopec sold a 40% stake in its investment arm, Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corp. (SIPC), in a deal it said was intended to increase its competitiveness and achieve sustainable, healthy development. In August this year, SIPC said it would terminate its Addax Petroleum operations in Switzerland because of continued low oil prices.

But Sinopec, together with Chinas other Big Three oil companies  China National Petroleum Corp. and China National Offshore Oil Corp.  placed a vote of confidence in the global oil market this year when they announced plans to invest a combined 371 billion yuan ($54 billion) in 2017.

Sinopec does have a number of challenges to address domestically in both the upstream (declining assets) and downstream (competition from teapots), an industry term for Chinas privately-owned oil refineries, Virendra Chauhan, oil analyst at Energy Aspects, told Caixin.

However he added that while these issues will undoubtedly hinder its appetite for investment abroad, the Chevron deal is not necessarily part of a larger pattern.

Contact reporter Teng Jing Xuan (jingxuanteng@caixin.com)
Maurice Kamto a Bamenda (25/06/2016) Archives

Le 1er octobre 2017 restera dans l'histoire politique de notre pays comme un dimanche noir. L'unite de notre Nation a ete remise ouvertement en cause. Plusieurs morts, de nombreux blesses et d'importants degats materiels ont ete enregistres, bref, le sang, le feu, les larmes ont ete le lot des Regions du Nord-Ouest et du Sud-Ouest du Cameroun.

Le 1er octobre 2017 restera dans l'histoire politique de notre pays comme un dimanche noir. L'unite de notre Nation a ete remise ouvertement en cause. Plusieurs morts, de nombreux blesses et d'importants degats materiels ont ete enregistres, bref, le sang, le feu, les larmes ont ete le lot des Regions du Nord-Ouest et du Sud-Ouest du Cameroun. Toutes ces vies perdues ou brisees auraient pu etre epargnees et le coup de canif dans l'unite du pays evite si le Gouvernement ne s'etait pas enferme dans une logique de pourrissement de la situation par le refus d'un dialogue constructif avec les leaders de la contestation anglophone. Le MRC condamne cette attitude irresponsable et tient le Gouvernement pour comptable a la fois des victimes enregistrees et de la grave fissure faite dans l'unite du Cameroun.



Le MRC exige louverture dune enquete independante pour etablir les responsabilites politiques et operationnelles, le bilan exact des victimes, et pour clarifier les cas des personnes portees disparues lors de ce drame qui etait evitable.



Jusqua la veille du 1er octobre 2017, le MRC a implore le Gouvernement de tout faire pour eviter une confrontation entre les forces de securite et de defense d'un cote et les populations de l'autre. Constatant quapres un deplacement inopportun a New York, le President BIYA avait deserte a lapproche de la date fatidique du 1er octobre de tous les dangers pour le pays, le MRC a suggere au president du Senat et a celui de lAssemble Nationale de constituer une DELEGATION PARLEMENTAIRE DE PAIX pour aller, en urgence, a la rencontre des compatriotes anglophones. Le but d'une telle Delegation aurait ete alors de preparer le terrain pour un dialogue sincere en vue de la recherche des solutions aux causes profondes des problemes politiques legitimes poses par les Anglophones.



Malheureusement, pas plus que les precedentes, cette ultime proposition du MRC na pas ete entendue. Il faut rappeler que des le debut de la crise, notre parti, qui avait tres tot cerne l'ampleur du defi et les risques correlatifs, avait recommande un dialogue national sincere et inclusif au cours duquel les causes profondes - et non plus les consequences - du probleme anglophone seraient traitees dans toutes ses dimensions. Il a ete raille et moque par des thuriferaires du regime arrogant, pour qui seules la force et la repression etaient la reponse adequate aux frustrations et revendications politiques des populations du Nord-ouest et du Sud-ouest.



Au-dela du rejet du dialogue politique propose sans relache par le MRC, un cabinet occulte mis en place en urgence a meme tente de faire prosperer la these fumeuse selon laquelle j'instrumentaliserais les frustrations des Anglophones pour renverser le pouvoir dans le cadre dune insurrection populaire. Cette these farfelue et ridicule est partie comme elle est venue.



A la suite du MRC, plusieurs autres partis politiques, des organisations nationales et des personnalites, des pays amis du Cameroun et des organisations internationales (ONU, Union Europeenne) ont prone la tenue dun dialogue politique avec les contestataires. En vain!



Fidele a sa tradition, le regime a prefere la confrontation au dialogue. Bien plus, il a instrumentalise certains  media  pour distiller la haine et les divisions parmi les Camerounais. Ainsi, sur prescription, les partisans du dialogue ont ete diabolises et presentes comme des ennemis de la patrie. Et, les faucons du regime se sont lances dans la preparation de la confrontation, manifestement desiree. En choisissant de se focaliser uniquement sur lextreme minorite des activistes secessionnistes au lieu d'ecouter les problemes politiques poses par une vaste majorite des populations anglophones qui revendiquent simplement une place dans la Republique, le Gouvernement sest efface pour laisser le champ libre aux entrepreneurs du pire.



Sur le tard, les va-t-en-guerre du regime semblent enfin decouvrir que la seule et unique demarche pour trouver une solution durable a ce probleme qui met a mal notre destin commun en tant que nation est le DIALOGUE. Il est indispensable, inevitable, incontournable. Ceux qui le different en choisissant de verser d'abord et inutilement le sang des Camerounais Anglophones seront responsables devant la Nation et devant l'histoire.



Donc, le dialogue politique semble desormais faire une certaine unanimite dans le pays. Mais, le MRC constate que l'actuel Gouvernement est desormais disqualifie pour resoudre cette crise. Le President de la Republique a deserte, les membres de son Gouvernement sont discredites et le Parlement est impuissant.



Il est donc temps pour la Cour supreme-Conseil constitutionnel de declarer la vacance du pouvoir, afin de permettre au pays de renouveler ses dirigeants et de se doter de nouvelles institutions aptes a resoudre la crise et a faire face aux nombreux problemes et defis auxquels le pays est confronte.



Le President National du MRC

Maurice KAMTO

Yaounde le 08 Octobre 2017

Anglophone crisis: A call for an immediate National Political Dialogue after the senseless bloodshed on the 1st October, 2017

October 1, 2017 will go in the political history of our country as a black Sunday. The unity of our nation has been openly questioned. Several deaths, many injuries and important material damages were recorded; in short, blood, fire, tears was the price paid by citizens of the Northwest and Southwestern Regions of Cameroon. All these lost or broken lives could have been saved and the threat of the unity of the country avoided if the Government had not decided to let the situation become worse by rejecting a constructive dialogue with the Anglophone leaders. The CRM condemns this irresponsible attitude and holds the Government accountable for both registered deads and the serious threat on the unity of Cameroon.



The CRM requests that an independent inquiry be put up, to establish the political and operational responsibilities; the exact number of victims and to clarify cases of persons missing in the recent tragedy in the northwest and southwest regions.



Until the eve of October 1, 2017, the CRM had implored the Government to do everything possible to avoid a confrontation between security and defense forces on the one hand and populations on the other. Observing that after an untimely travel to New York, President BIYA had deserted his people, just a few days to the fateful October 1st 2017, despite the insecurity that was eminent in the country. The CRM suggested to the Presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly to form a PARLIAMENTARY PEACE DELEGATION to urgently go and meet our anglophone compatriots.. The purpose of such a Delegation would have then been to prepare the ground for a sincere dialogue to find solutions to the deep causes of the legitimate political claims by Anglophones.



Unfortunately, this latest proposition by the CRM was not accepted. It should be recalled that at the outbreak of the crisis, our party the CRM, which had quickly understood the magnitude of the crisis and the risks involved, had recommended a sincere and inclusive national dialogue in which the root causes - and not just consequences - of the anglophone problems would be dealt with in all aspects. But the arrogant and privileged few of the Regime laughed at us, thinking that only force and repression were the adequate response to the frustrations and political demands of the populations of the northwest and southwest regions.



Besides the rejection of the CRM's relentless call for a political dialogue, a secret cabinet was set up urgently, that carried out a support to the smoky rumour that, I was planning to use the frustrations of the Anglophones to overthrow the Regime in a popular revolt. This ridiculous rumour is gone as it came.



After all these, the CRM and other political parties, national organizations and personalities, friendly countries of Cameroon and international organizations (UN, European Union) advocated a political dialogue with the protestors but these equally fell on deaf ears!



As usual, the Regime preferred confrontation to dialogue. Moreover, it has instrumentalised certain "media" to distill hatred and divisions among Cameroonians. Thus, with the regime orders, those who prone dialogue were demonized and presented as enemies of the fatherland. And, some overzealous officials of the regime have embarked on the preparation of confrontation that they thought appropriate. Their focus being the extreme minority Anglophones who were tagged secessionists, rather than paying attention to their political claims as expressed by the vast majority of Anglophone populations, who are simply requesting to be considered as part of the Republic.



Later on, the regime's war-lords have finally understood that the only and only way to a lasting solution to this problem, which undermines our common destiny as a nation, is DIALOGUE. It is indispensable, inevitable, and unavoidable. But the government and his acolytes who have being postponing this dialogue, only to unnecessarily shed the blood of Anglophone Cameroonians, will be accountable to the nation and to history.



It now seems that we have all unanimously realised that political dialogue is the sole option. But, the CRM notices that the current government is now unable to resolve this crisis. The President of the Republic has deserted, members of his Government have been discredited by the people and the Parliament is equally powerless.



It is therefore time for the Supreme Court-Constitutional Council to declare the vacancy of power in order to allow the country to renew its leaders and to set up new institutions capable of resolving the crisis and to deal with the many problems and challenges facing the country.



The CRM National President

Maurice KAMTO

Yaounde, 8th October 2017

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| BY Ricki Green |

In August Tom Lawrence from NSW was crowned Australias Top Student of the 2017 AWARD School. In an AWARD School-first, Lawrence (son of the late, great Neil) won a once in a lifetime trip to New York where he met David Droga to compare their winning portfolios from AWARD School 1987 and 2017. Here Lawrence (above left) recounts the experience, exclusive to CB

I wont delve into the details of my first week as it involved a lot of new friends I cant remember, way too much Mexican food and not a lot of sleep. I did take a bunch of photos during this time, some of which you can see via my photography site.

Id been in NYC for a few days when I got a message from Esther Clerehan, who came up with the idea for the trip, telling me that we were going to the Book of Mormon on Broadway. The tickets were very kindly bought for us by Ted Horton, an old colleague and campaign adversary of my dads during the 2007 federal election. I arrived at the Monkey Bar in Manhattan on Thursday night to meet Esther. She had arrived in town only hours earlier but I was definitely the one who looked worse for wear. After a recovery drink and a classic american burger we went to the show and had a great night.

On the Saturday I moved out of my apartment in Brooklyn and arrived at my Manhattan home, 50 Bowery, in the Lower East Side. The place was incredible and only a couple of months old. The first thing I did after setting down my bags was take out my AWARD portfolio and had a flip through. It was hard to believe that my semi-offensive scamps about simple children and Jesus turning wine into water got me here. I kept expecting someone to knock on my door and tell me there had been a terrible mistake and replace me with the real winner.

Wilf Sweetland, co-sponsor of the trip, arrived that night and we did our best to keep him awake with beers and noodles in Chinatown. We spent the rest of the weekend settling in, exploring the city and planning the huge week ahead.

Obviously the major highlight of the trip was my day with David Droga. In case you missed it you can read about via Campaign Brief.

The week was an absolute whirlwind of meetings, dinners and drinks. Esther and Wilf had organised a massive line up of creatives for me to meet and I spent a lot of time running around a very hot NYC to catch them all. As well as all of the fantastic creatives at Droga5 we met with Justine Armour at 72andSunnys amazing offices in Brooklyn, former AWARD School winner Leo Premutico at Johannes Leonardo and Jordy Molloy and Toby Kennedy at Anomaly. Each of them graciously shaking my sweaty hand and talking to me about what they were up to in NYC.

On the Tuesday night I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Goodby. We sat at my rooftop hotel bar and spoke of just about everything aside from advertising. Throughout the week we spent a lot of time with Jeff who has to be one of the most humble, relaxed and friendly people I have met. Oh and he has his own tequila brand. Serious legend.

As the week went on by I met more fantastic people, many of whom were Australians who had previously done AWARD School. We met John McKelvey from John X Hannes at the iconic Balthazar bistro, Mark Carbone at BBDO, Sarah Barclay from JWT who was another AWARD School winner, Casey Schweikert from BBH, Chris Northam and Annie Egan from RGA and Suyin Sleeman over at Edelman. Almost all of them joined a huge contingent of Aussies who came to our hotel on Thursday for rooftop drinks which was organised by Esther and Wilf. The night began with a bit of comedy as Mother Nature finally decided that the warm weather we had enjoyed all week was over and we were really not meant to be outside, with gale force winds sending napkins, drinks and Wilfs suit jacket flying over Chinatown. Undefeated, we shuffled inside to continue a great night. It was great watching Jeff Goodby and David Droga chat to each other and everyone else. Jeff had mentioned that he was slightly worried at the thought of drinking with a group of Australians but we (well most of us) were on our best behaviour.

The trip was coming to a close but I had one more day in me. On Friday I went to meet Nick Law at R/GA. The 800 person strong, two storey office was seriously incredible and after a tour we sat down for a chat. Nick had done an inspiring impromptu lecture at AWARD School this year so I felt lucky to able to pick his brain one on one. Another legend at the top of his game, Nick was as kind and helpful as everyone I had met. After our talk Nick introduced me to CEO and founder of R/GA, Bob Greenberg. I decided it would be good to bring up the Ducati collection I saw downstairs in his office. I then stood in fear as he talked about them hoping he wouldnt ask me anything about motorcycles. I do not know anything about motorcycles.

That night I celebrated a fantastic week with a final drink with the team and that was that. A week in New York done right. Writing this now Im still spinning trying to process everything that happened and cant thank everyone that was involved enough. Its still hard to believe that I deserved it.
| BY Ricki Green |

Secret love triangles, Sunday sessions and mad engineers  303 MullenLowe, Perth has unveiled Stories from the grid, a campaign running in cinema and online, which offers a birds eye view of Western Powers electricity network of the future.

Says Todd Baker, client service director, 303 MullenLowe: Western Power is always trialing new technologies and innovations. This campaign is about opening up and talking about its innovations and experiments in a fun and relatable way, which represents a huge strategic shift for the brand.

Says Richard Berney, executive creative director at 303 MullenLowe: We loved this idea of shooting Perth from above to show energy moving, flowing and connecting. You cant show the vastness of Western Powers network using a standard camera angle, so we recruited a fleet of drones to tell our stories in a visually intriguing way.

The first tale, Energy Sharing: A Grid-Powered Love Story, is all about Lucy, a giver, and Kevin, a taker, who literally consumes all her spare energy, until along comes Tessa  also a giver. This love triangle explains the benefits of a shared energy storage system, which could soon make sharing power between neighbours as easy as lending a cup of sugar.

The second film, Batteries, BBQs and Balls: Energy Your Way, depicts all the ways the people of Perth are using Western Power energy.

Filmed high above Perth, the campaign builds on the launch of Its ON, a brand platform developed by 303 MullenLowe earlier this year, which positions Western Power as a network thats changing at the speed of life.

Says Jill Goodwin, brand and customer communications manager, Western Power: We want to show our customers the many ways Western Power is evolving. The network now connects solar, batteries, advanced meters, microgrids and stand-alone systems seamlessly with the essential poles and wires. Its an exciting time for energy in Western Australia, and 303 MullenLowe has done a fabulous job of depicting this.

The third tale in the series, Mind control: Directing the Power of Perth, is about Peter, a seemingly mad engineer, with a fourth installment still to come.

Client: Western Power

Brand and Customer Communications Manager: Jill Goodwin

Senior Brand and Marketing Specialist: Bathsheba Fordyce

Digital Communications Specialist: Adam Portmann

Digital Communications Specialist: Rob Kerr

Digital Communications Coordinator: Simon Bumbak

Agency: 303 MullenLowe & 303 MullenLowe MediaHub

ECD: Richard Berney

Planning Director: John Linton

Client Service Director: Todd Baker

Business Director: Emma Hicks

Business Executive: Ali Mackellar

Agency Producer: Rozanne Fretz

Media Director: Bec Oliver

Digital Media Director: Sasha Neame

Media Planner: Lucinda Kitney

Head of Digital: Peter Liddell

Digital Designer: Andrew Allingham

UX Designer: Douglas Lemos

Production: The Office of John Cheese

Producer: Kate Downie

DOP: Dave Le May

Drone Operator: Jason North
| BY Lynchy |

Education is unquestionably an integral foundation to many great opportunities in the future. Unfortunately, there are many blind people who do not have an opportunity to learn Braille. This fact, surprisingly, is not very well known among Thais. Foundation for the Blind in Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the Queen is eager to bring this problem to the public through print media while also creating a channel for donations to bring Braille education to the blind. Apart from bringing the issue to the peoples attention through a normal print media, Dentsu One Bangkok believes that allowing them to encounter the same experience as blind people who cannot read Braille will be far more effective.
"The evidence is strong that if we provide the right support services to people with drug and alcohol problems at the right point in their contact with the judicial system, we can assist people to address their dependencies."
But the next part of the email, which outlines the detail of that "approach", was redacted on the grounds it was about an internal "deliberative process", which may indicate she was referring to a discussion on the exemption issue.
Police prosecutor Danielle Byrne accepted Mussillon had shown remorse and apologised to the injured officer. However she described Mussillon as "agitated and irate" on the night of the offences and questioned whether he would receive appropriate rehabilitation to avoid such behaviour in future.
Their relationship had soured and the pair were locked in a bitter property dispute when the woman made the claims.



But a flawed police investigation into the allegations saw the man, who was a prison officer at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, charged and eventually remanded in custody.



He spent four months behind bars in Goulburn.



Police grew suspicious when the woman began to make allegations against her ex-partner's family.



She was put under surveillance, which police alleged showed she invented claims against the man's parents.



The prison guard also had an alibi for the alleged rape, which prosecutors were not told of immediately.
"We believe investigations should proceed relatively quickly, and certainly not drag on for years, particularly in cases where staff are suspended from their duties while the investigation is underway," she said.
THIS WEEK IN CAPE BRETON: Raising the peace flag, reviewing future plans for Centre 200 and more

SYDNEY  During a time of conflict around the world and with racial tensions on the rise in many parts, its clear there are those who want to find a bright, positive light wherever they can. Over the next several days, the YMCA of Cape Breton will ...
Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.

Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here.

Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing.

You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
Barrett-Jackson will auction off a 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Snake later this month with all proceeds to benefit a fund supporting Las Vegas first responders.



This Shelby Super Snake has been donated by the president of the auction house, Steve Davis and was originally owned by former Ford chief executive Mark Fields. It was also just the seventh unit to be built as a 2007 model and transformed under the close eye of Carroll Shelby himself and is the highly-coveted 40th anniversary model.

Beneath the attractive blue and white paintwork, this unique Shelby Super Snake is powered by a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine with 605 hp. The muscle car also has six-piston Baer brakes, upgraded suspension, a new cat-back exhaust and an aluminum driveshaft.

In a statement, Barrett-Jackson chairman and chief executive Craig Jackson said the company was left heartbroken after the shooting in Las Vegas.

All of us at Barrett-Jackson are heartbroken over the tragic event in Las Vegas Sunday night. Like many people around the country, this event hit close to home. We are returning to Las Vegas for our 10th annual auction to stand by our partners This car will sell during our live broadcast on Discovery Channel on Saturday, and is one of the many steps we are taking to stand with Las Vegas at this difficult time.

PHOTO GALLERY
Photo: Contributed

Malwarebytes updates just got a little trickier. Firefox extensions are about to get an extreme makeover.

Malwarebytes is still free. But it could be easier.

In the last few weeks, Ive installed Malwarebytes on maybe 10 or a dozen customers computers.

Malwarebytes is a solid anti-malware product. Their new paid version is also an antivirus product, protects against ransomware, and makes it hard to visit an infected website. I like the paid version a lot, and recommend it to customers in the market for an effective anti-just-about-everything product.

That said, the free version, which will scan and clean malware on demand, works great if you already have an antivirus product. Install Malwarebytes Free, run it on demand, and let it clean malware from your computer.

Back to those customers using the Free version. I heard from many of them last week when Malwarebytes offered an update to the program. Updates to security programs are good things. You should approve those updates.

But several people told me that when they did the update they also received an upGRADE to a trial version of the full product.

Its fairly easy to revert to Malwarebytes Free:

Open Malwarebytes

Click on Settings | My Account

At the bottom of that window, click on Deactivate Premium Trial

Click on Yes

More detailed instructions and pictures here. Once you complete that process, youll be back on the free version.

But, I have two concerns about this.

First, enabling all the features contained in the trial version will conflict with any other third-party antivirus product you are using. Everything will slow waaaaaaaaay down for you as both products try to decide whos the boss of protection.

My second concern is that the trial version expires in 14 days unless you pay for the full version. You should be asked to opt in to a trial version.

This upgrade appears to be making people opt out, and thats not at all the same thing! Youve already opted out of the Trial once. You shouldnt have to keep doing that. Still a great product, but Id like to see them make this change in their update process.

Theres a big Firefox update coming. Its going to break your Firefox extensions.

I love Firefox. Ive been using it since version 1.2, and were now on version 56.0. Its a great product, but sometimes it gets on my nerves. Its seemed sluggish and temperamental lately.

But theres good news! Version 57 is scheduled to roll out next month. Its going to be, according to people whove been beta testing it, faster than all get-out and as secure as possible.

The bad news? One of the best features of Firefox has always been the ability to customize it with useful (or, lets face it, fun) extensions. But version 57 makes big changes. And most of your extensions arent going to work.

If you dont know what Im talking about, youre probably not using extensions  roughly 40 per cent of Firefox users dont  so there is no bad news for you. For the rest of us, heres how to tell if your favourite extension is going to survive the purge:

Open Firefox

Click on the three horizontal lines at the top right (hamburger menu)

Click on Manage your add-ons (puzzle piece)

Click on Extensions on the left side of the window

Extensions that will continue working after the upgrade look normal. Extensions that will not function after the upgrade have a yellow Legacy label.

Developers still have time to make new extensions. Check this list to see the status of extensions. You can also search here to see whats available and whats compatible.

When I first looked at my extensions a few weeks ago, I was dismayed to see how many wouldnt work. When I looked today to take a screenshot for this article, I see fewer Legacy extensions than before.

It would be helpful if the new version of Firefox would look for replacement extensions automatically!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to our friends and family in Canada, and to Canadians wherever you are. Have a wonderful and safe holiday.

Do you need help with your computer? I'm here to help you and your home or business computer get along.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Will I miss Sears? Heck yeah! It was one of the big draws to the mall! I have many happy memories shopping with my Mom there and then with my own kids.

One of my overall favorite places to find clothes and appliances.



I hate shopping online and am worried there wont be any malls in the future. Where will I go hang out on those cold winter days?



Its the beginning of the end of an era, sad.

Jill Baker
Photo: CTV Stock Image of cougar.

A three-foot tall cougar and a black bear were spotted this weekend on Vancouver Island.

Police in Saanich are warning residents to use caution after a large cougar was spotted crouching near the side of Willis Point Road.

BC Conservation was notified.

Police also said a person witnessed a black bear in the 1600 block of Charlton Road Friday and that it didnt show any signs of aggression.

 with files from CTV Vancouver Island


Photo: The Canadian Press Courtney Daily, of Bloomington Moms Demand Action, holds her son Liam, 3, while watching Allie Wineland, the vigil's organizer, reads the names of those killed in the mass shooting in Las Vegas a week ago.(Alex McIntyre/The Herald-Times via AP)

Federal investigators returned to search the home of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock on Sunday, while the officers who raided his hotel room door the night of the shooting gave a harrowing account of a barricaded door they had to bust through and the booby-traps they feared they'd find.

The search of Paddock's three-bedroom house on a cul-de-sac in a retirement community in Mesquite, Nevada, was for "re-documenting and rechecking," said local police Chief Troy Tanner, who accompanied FBI agents as they served the search warrant.

"I don't think they are after anything specific," Tanner told The Associated Press. "They're going through everything and photographing everything again."

The home was first searched Monday by Las Vegas police, who said they found 19 guns and several pounds of potentially explosive materials at the house that Paddock bought in early 2015.

The search came exactly a week after Paddock opened fire on a country music crowd, killing 58 and injuring nearly 500.

Meanwhile, the makeshift SWAT team of police officers who made it to Paddock's door at the Mandalay Bay hotel casino 12 minutes after the first shots were fired described how they got there and the "gun store" they found inside in an appearance on the CBS television program "60 Minutes" on Sunday night.

One of them said he hurried from police headquarters to the Mandalay Bay in cowboy boots and ditched them before ascending to the 32nd floor in search of the gunman.

"I just threw them in the casino," Detective Matthew Donaldson said. "That was slowing' me down. I was faster barefoot, and I was gonna be more effective barefoot."

The officers said they heard reports of gunmen on both the 29th and 32nd floor, so "we're thinking multiple shooters at this point," Sgt. Joshua Bitsko said.

They zeroed in on the 32nd floor after Paddock unleashed about 200 rounds at a security guard outside his door.

When they got to the stairwell door on that floor near Paddock's room, they found he had taken special measures to slow them down.

"He had screwed shut the door  with a piece of metal and some screws," Bitsko said. "Cause he knew we'd be coming out that door to gain entry into his door. So he tried to barricade it as best he could."

But another officer had a pry bar and was able to easily pop it open, Bitsko said.

Authorities would later reveal that Paddock had surveillance cameras rigged inside and outside his room. But the officers didn't know that at the time.

"There's a room service cart with wires going on it underneath the door," Officer Dave Newton said. "There was something black on top of the cart. So initially I'm, you know, I'm thinking, 'This is a booby-trap. It's, it's going to explode.' "

Bitsko and Newton are K9 officers who had been training dogs when they got the call about Mandalay Bay. They said they were at a disadvantage approaching because "cause he knew we were coming and we were going to have to come through," Newton said. "We didn't know where he was going to be in that room."

Bitsko said it was "like a deadly game of hide and seek," and thought " 'Man, I wish I had my dog with me,' because, you know, it's nice to have him lead a team."

It turned out Paddock had already shot and killed himself when they finally entered.

Inside, Newton said he found "so many guns. So many magazines. Stacks and stacks of magazines everywhere. Just in suitcases all neatly stacked against pillars, around the room, all stacked up, rifles placed all throughout. All kinds of monitors and electrical equipment he had in there. It just looked like almost a gun store."
Photo: Contributed

Police are investigating shootings in two separate Vancouver suburbs.

RCMP in Surrey say officers received a call Sunday morning about shots being fired at an occupied vehicle.

They say the vehicle and a nearby home were hit by bullets, but no one was injured, and investigators are searching for a dark-coloured vehicle that was spotted fleeing the scene.

Meanwhile, police in West Vancouver say they are looking for clues after shots were fired at a home in the affluent British Properties neighbourhood early Sunday morning.

Officers say the home was hit multiple times, but no one was injured.

They say suspects fled the scene prior to police arriving and the individuals have not been identified or located.
Photo: Google Maps

Police say at least 12 people have died after an overcrowded boat carrying Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar capsized in the confluence of a river and the Bay of Bengal.

Local police official Mainuddin Khan said Monday the capsizing occurred near the Shah Porir Dwip in Cox's Bazar as the boat was moving toward Bangladesh late Sunday. Five of the dead were children.

He said up to 35 people were on board and eight of them survived. It was not exactly clear how many were missing.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25 when the military launched a crackdown that had been decried by the United Nations as "ethnic cleansing." Boat accidents have killed 143 Rohingya trying to reach Bangladesh.
Photo: Keep In Touch News

Firefighters battled about 10 expanding wind-whipped fires across Northern California's wine country early Monday, triggering a rush by residents to flee the area.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered after blazes broke out late Sunday across four counties as strong winds buffeted the area,

"It was an inferno like you've never seen before," said Marian Williams, who caravanned with neighbours through flames before dawn as one of the wildfires reached the vineyards and ridges at her small Sonoma County town of Kenwood.

Williams could feel the heat of her fire through the car as she fled.

"Trees were on fire like torches," she said.

With so many fires, residents of Sonoma County struggled to figure out what roads to take, finding downed trees or flames blocking some routes in the region north of San Francisco Bay.

Hundreds of evacuees gathered at an all-night Safeway market in Sonoma. Several residents said they saw homes burning.

The Press Democrat reported that flames destroyed homes and a historic barn, and authorities worked to clear out hospitals and senior centres in northwestern Santa Rosa, which is about 54 miles (86 kilometres) north of San Francisco.

Deputies were dispatched to help firefighters and California Highway Patrol officers with evacuations, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

Windsor Fire Chief Jack Piccinini said that nearly all of Sonoma County's fire resources were being used.

"Everyone in Sonoma County is spread out fighting these fires, but they don't have enough resources to handle something like this. The only thing we can do is hope the wind will come down," he said.

The National Weather Service said widespread wind gusts between 35 mph and 50 mph were observed in the north San Francisco Bay region and isolated spots hit 70 mph. The winds were expected to subside at midday.

Cal Fire reported that firefighters were battling a 200-acre (80.9-hectare) fire in Napa County.

Community centres, the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and other local centres were opened for evacuees.
Photo: The Canadian Press A horse named Digger is seen stuck in a sewage pit in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Lynn Danyluk

An Alberta horse that was rescued from a sewage pit has died, but its owner says she's thankful she was able to clean the animal off and be with him during his final moments.

"I was so glad my horse did not die in that hole," said Lynn Danyluk, in an interview Sunday from her home in Waskatenau, north of Edmonton.

"I would always have thought that somebody stole him or a cougar got him."

The horse, a 17-year-old Morgan stud named Digger, died early Sunday morning in Danyluk's yard where he had been recuperating after being hoisted from the pit Friday.

Danyluk said Digger was usually a therapy horse. She agreed to loan him and another horse, Chocolate Thunder, to a family with an overgrown farmyard with the idea they would munch on the grass. She said she thought everything was fine until she got a call Wednesday that Digger had escaped from his pen and hadn't been seen in three days.

For the next two days she drove around looking for Digger and was so worried that she couldn't eat or sleep. Digger, whose registered name was Sir William Barr, wasn't a horse that wandered, she said, and always liked to be near his friend, Chocolate Thunder.

Danyluk said she kept returning to the farmyard to see if Digger returned, and to reassure Chocolate Thunder.

"I pet Chocolate on the top of the head and I basically said, 'I don't know buddy, we're still trying to find him. He's got to be somewhere.' All of a sudden, a horse nickered, very coarse. And I knew it wasn't Chocolate Thunder because I was standing right at his head and he didn't nicker. I thought, 'Oh my god he's got to be here somewhere!'" she said.

Danyluk ran in the direction where she'd heard the horse crying out and saw the hole, which she said was a septic tank overflow pit. She looked down and could see the top of Digger's head and his back. She called to him and he looked up, but the animal was so exhausted he could barely keep his mouth and nose out of the liquid.

She said the hole had been covered with boards, but Digger had fallen through and had likely been standing, stuck in the muck, for five days.

Firefighters showed up, along with a vet, friends and a backhoe. Then someone arrived with equipment to safely lift a horse and Digger was hoisted from the festering hole. The vet administered an IV and penicillin, and when Digger was able to stand again, he rode in a trailer along with Chocolate Thunder to Danyluk's home.

Danyluk said the following day, Digger appeared to return to his old self.

Digger ate and drank, but Danyluk said when he lay down to sleep, his feet would start paddling and he'd crane his neck, like he was dreaming he was still in the sewage.

Then Danyluk said he got up like he was in a trance. He was trying to lean on everything and fell onto a patio swing set.

Danyluk said her husband took the swing apart from underneath Digger and the horse lay on the cushions. She called her vet, who told her to get Digger somewhere safe where he wouldn't hurt himself or anyone else.

Their trailer was large so they planned to lead him there as soon as Digger got another burst of energy. But it never came, and early Sunday Digger moved off the cushions and lay down one more time.

"We were petting his neck at 2 a.m. He took two deep breaths and his body quivered and he quit."

Danyluk said she's never cremated one of her animals before, but plans to do so for Digger.
Photo: Kayla Chaput A turkey dinner from one family to another.

UPDATE: 10:45 a.m.

A family will get to have a full Thanksgiving dinner after a West Kelowna family offered a free dinner to anyone in need.

Kayla Chaput said a family with four children is coming to pick up the dinner this afternoon.

ORIGINAL: 10:15 a.m.

A West Kelowna family has collected all the trimmings for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and wants to give it to a family in need.

Kayla Chaput posted a photograph on Facebook, which has gained hundreds of likes and comments, showing all the supplies needed for the dinner.

My family would like to give this Thanksgiving dinner to a family that needs it, she said. We have this turkey dinner plus carrots for a family that needs it.

Chaput said her family decided to do this because it is exactly what Thanksgiving is all about.

Giving is always good and makes me feel happy, she said. I've had help for two years for my family and thought this would be great to give back to families for Thanksgiving.

The family is located in Westbank and are willing to bring the dinner to a family if they cannot pick it up.

To contact the family call 250-808-5647.
Photo: CTV

Harvey Weinstein, the sharp-elbowed movie producer whose combative reign in Hollywood made him an Academy Awards regular, was fired from The Weinstein Company on Sunday following an expose that detailed decades of sexual harassment allegations made against Weinstein by actresses and employees.

In a statement, the company's board of directors announced his firing Sunday night, capping the swift downfall of one of Hollywood's most powerful producers and expelling him from the company he co-created.

"In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company  Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar  have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately," the company's board said in a statement on Sunday night.

Weinstein had previously taken an indefinite leave of absence following the revelation of at least eight allegations of sexual harassment uncovered in an expose Thursday by The New York Times. The board on Friday endorsed that decision and announced an investigation into the allegations, saying it would determine the co-chairman's future with the company.

But the Weinstein Co. board, which includes Weinstein's brother, went further on Sunday, firing the executive who has always been its primary operator, public face and studio chief. Under his leadership, the Weinstein Co. has been a dominant force at the Oscars, including the rare feat of winning back-to-back best picture Academy Awards with "The King's Speech" and "The Artist." In recent years, however, Weinstein's status has diminished because of money shortages, disappointing box-office returns and executive departures.

An attorney for Weinstein didn't immediately return messages Sunday.

A spokesperson for The Weinstein Co. declined to provide further details on Weinstein's firing. Messages left for attorney John Keirnan of the firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, who had been appointed to lead an investigation, weren't immediately returned Sunday.

Weinstein on Thursday issued a lengthy statement that acknowledged causing "a lot of pain." He also asked for "a second chance." But Weinstein and his lawyers also criticized The New York Times' report in statements and interviews, and vowed an aggressive response. The New York Times said it was "confident in the accuracy of our reporting."
Photo: The Canadian Press Some of the casinos along the Las Vegas Strip dim their marquees signs for about 10 minutes Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

Investigators met with the brother of the Las Vegas gunman while friends and relatives of the 58 killed and other concert-goers who survived the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history returned to the scene Monday to reclaim baby strollers, shoes, phones, backpacks and purses left behind in the panic as they fled.

The interviews with Stephen Paddock's brother Saturday and Sunday were part of an exhaustive search through the 64-year-old's life in search of clues about why he unleashed gunfire from broken windows in the 32rd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel casino.

Eric Paddock declined to say what he was asked, but he said he's co-operating with investigators, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He declined interview requests from The Associated Press.

"I'm trying to get them to understand Steve's mindset," Eric Paddock told the newspaper. "I don't want them to chase bad leads."

In a newly revealed court document obtained by CNN, Stephen Paddock described himself as a nocturnal creature who bet up to $1 million each night while gambling at Las Vegas casinos in flip-flops and sweat pants, catching sleep in the day. The description of his lifestyle comes from a deposition filed as part of a civil lawsuit he filed against Cosmopolitan Hotel, where he slipped and fell in 2011.

The personal effects being recovered were strewn across the massive grassy concert venue where 22,000 country music fans attended the Route 91 Harvest festival have become sentimental memories of loved ones for some, and haunting reminders of the night of terror for others.

Some of the victims have already been returned home and been memorialized at funerals while many others were in route on Monday ahead of services planned for later dates.

More than 800 people packed into a California church on Saturday to honour the life of Jack Beaton, who died shielding his wife from gunfire. The body of Christopher Roybal, a veteran who served combat during four tours in the Middle East, was set to be flown back to his home in Riverside, California, on Monday.

Eric Paddock said he came to Las Vegas to retrieve his brother's body in hopes of sending the cremated ashes to their 89-year-old mother in Orlando.

Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg said Monday he could not discuss the results of an autopsy done on Stephen Paddock, who police said shot himself dead before officers arrived at the Las Vegas Strip hotel suite from which he rained gunfire on a concert crowd below.

The coroner didn't say when Paddock's body would be released to his family or how long it will be before autopsy results are made public.

Eric Paddock told the Review-Journal that he plans to put his brother's assets in a trust that would benefit the shooting victims, he told the newspaper. He has described his brother as a multimillionaire who considered himself a professional gambler and owned real estate.
Photo: Dave Ogilvie Scene of a collision in West Kelowna.

A cyclist was struck in a collision on Monday in West Kelowna.

Paramedics arrived on scene at about 2:10 p.m. to Dobbin Road and Elliot Road.

There are no details on what caused the collision to occur between the cyclist and van.

Only minor injuries were suffered.
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
The Scenic City Pageants organization will present The Miss Chattanooga, Miss Scenic City, and Miss Tennessee Valley 2018 Scholarship Pageant, taking place at Chattanooga State Community College Auditorium on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. and featuring emcee, Chandler Lawson, Miss Tennessee 2012 and performer, Stefanie Wittler, Miss Tennessee 2009.

The pageant will crown three new titleholders (Miss Chattanooga, Miss Scenic City, and Miss Tennessee Valley) that will go on to compete at the Miss Tennessee Scholarship pageant in June.

Tickets will be available for purchase at the venue the day of the pageant.

For more information about competing, email sceniccitybusinessmanager@gmail.com.

For official competition rules and information, visit www.misstennessee.org.






Goods sold at Costco stores will be priced lower than those same goods sold for delivery, Costco said. (Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)

Costco Wholesale Corp., the warehouse chain known for its huge store format, food sample stations and cheap hot dogs and pizza, is now offering same-day grocery delivery through Instacart as the company looks to expand its customer base.

The Issaquah, Wash., company announced two new delivery options last week: two-day delivery for dry goods and same-day delivery powered by grocery delivery firm Instacart for orders that include fresh foods.

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The two-day option guarantees deliveries in two business days and is available only in the continental United States. For orders of less than $75, there is a delivery fee. Costco said the goods sold for delivery will be priced higher than the same goods sold at its stores; it did not specify how much higher.

The same-day delivery option, available in "most metropolitan areas," lets customers choose a one-hour window during which their order will arrive. For orders of less than $35, there is a delivery fee. Prices on the goods will be about 15 percent to 17 percent higher than in stores. Costco said an additional 10 percent service fee will be added at checkout, though shoppers "may elect not to pay the service fee."

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In an earnings call Thursday, Richard Galanti, Costco's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said the delivery options are more "fill-in, than replacement of a shop." He said the company has driven sales for years with value, which he defined as "quality and low price."

But he acknowledged that shopping habits were changing and that customers may not always feel the need to pick out their own fresh produce.

"Over time, the percentage of delivery of fresh will change," he said on the call. "How much so, we'll all have to wait and see."

Grocery delivery is becoming increasingly important as customers look to save time and add convenience, said David J. Livingston, supermarket analyst and founder of DJL Research. But Costco's strength is still its warehouse store format, meaning the delivery options will be just another addition, not necessarily a pivot toward solely e-commerce, he said.

Offering grocery delivery is "pretty much what everybody else is doing," Livingston said. "Just another 'me too' program."

The new delivery options could enable Costco to expand its reach beyond customers who are close to the mega warehouse stores. The inclusion of the one-hour window for same-day deliveries is another added bonus, said Bill Dreher, senior retail analyst at Susquehanna Financial Group.

"It's really the fresh product that excels," he said. "We're really seeing the emergence of a company that can go toe to toe with Amazon when it comes to grocery."

The potential threat from e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc., which recently acquired Whole Foods Market Inc., came up several times during Thursday's earnings call.

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Costco executives said on the call that they get many questions "literally every day" about issues such as whether new member sign-ups were slowing and what the growing number of households that pay for both an Amazon Prime account and a Costco membership will mean for the warehouse chain.

Costco also said its membership renewal rate ticked down slightly, which the company attributed to the changeover from American Express to Visa credit cards.

Costco had long relied on American Express as its exclusive credit card supplier, but chose to switch to Visa and Citigroup for its Costco-branded cards in 2015 after AmEx and Costco could not agree on terms of a new partnership.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

Twitter: @smasunaga
Facebook has leased added three floors of space in the office building at 191 N. Wacker Drive, giving the technology giant room for hundreds of new employees. (CoStar)

Social media giant Facebook is making a big expansion in Chicago, where it's adding enough office space to accommodate hundreds of new employees.

Facebook has added three floors in a Wacker Drive office tower, growing its Chicago office to more than 100,000 square feet, according to people familiar with the deal. That's enough room for more than 500 workers.

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Menlo Park, Calif.-based Facebook currently leases one floor, or a little more than 25,000 square feet, in the 37-story tower.

Facebook moved into a partial floor last year and has since expanded into the entire 28th floor. In the new lease, Facebook has leased all of floors 20, 21 and 22, according to sources.

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Company representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and it is unclear how many employees the technology company currently has in Chicago.

In February, the website Chicago Inno reported that Facebook had 70 marketing, marketing science, recruiting and creative employees, with plans to add 30 workers on its partner management team  which helps companies use Facebook's services  in 2017.

Facebook's expansion comes as city leaders try to convince another one of the world's most recognizable technology companies, Amazon, to put its planned second headquarters  and up to 50,000 jobs  in Chicago.

Steven Bauer and Aaron Schuster of Cushman & Wakefield represented Facebook in the lease expansion. The landlord was represented by Daniel Shapiro of John Hancock Real Estate, a unit of Manulife Financial.

The building at 191 N. Wacker Drive is owned by two large insurers, Germany's Allianz and Canada's Manulife.

The trophy tower along the Chicago River, completed in 2003, is a somewhat unexpected location for a tech firm to grow. Many tech and creative firms in Chicago have put down roots in older, wide-floored buildings such as the Merchandise Mart, 600 West Chicago and the former Apparel Center. Google's Midwest headquarters is in the former Fulton Market Cold Storage building, which was converted to offices.

The Wacker Drive tower, meanwhile, is home to law firms including Drinker Biddle & Reath; Much Shelist; and Ropes & Gray and real estate investment firm Heitman.

"Usually you see these types of firms flocking to the Merchandise Mart and other creative buildings," said tenant broker Robert Sevim, co-leader of the Chicago office of brokerage Savills Studley, a former tenant in the tower. He is not involved in the Facebook deal.

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"They're antithetical to that movement," Sevim said. "I would suspect what keeps them there is the ability to grow into three contiguous floors and the building's great access to River North, River West and Fulton Market.

"Development is moving west, so this corner of Wacker Drive is becoming increasingly central."

rori@chicagotribune

Twitter @Ryan_Ori
The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is celebrated on October 4 in different ways around the world.

Some people bring their pets to their churches to be blessed, while others have a blessing of the animals ceremony at home. Franciscan Alliance hospitals usually have a gathering of people and their pets for a blessing outside, usually at a statue of St. Francis. In rural areas, priests and ministers may go around to farms or ranches in their area to bless the animals.

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St. Mary's Catholic Community School invited transitional Deacon Jeff Burton to go among the classrooms at the school to bless their classroom pets. Deacon Burton was in Amanda Wysocki's 2nd grade classroom and got to hold a real dragon. The classroom has a bearded dragon named Taylor.

"Deacon Jeff had never held a bearded dragon before, and while apprehensive at first, he quickly learned what a gentle reptile Taylor was," Principal Tom Ruiz said. "These students loved having the opportunity to teach Deacon Jeff about their class pet. It was exciting for these students to be part of his special blessing for their classroom animal."

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Deacon Jeff Burton is in his last year at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Ill. He is preparing for his Ordination as a Catholic Priest in 2018. While a student at the seminary, he has served several months at a time in various parishes around the Gary Diocese, including St. Mary's. He still tries to get back to Crown Point from the seminary to help out when he can. He loves working with the students and helping with "God's Groceries," where the parish helps feed the needy by handing out food once a month for people to come to fill their pantries at home.

St. Mary's Catholic Community School in Crown Point serves students starting at junior Pre-Kindergarten (for 3-year-olds) through eighth grade.

kconley@post-trib.com
Author Ira Berkow, who wrote "Maxwell Street: Survival in a Bazaar" in 1977, referred to the historic Chicago market as "the Ellis Island of the Midwest." Aiming to celebrate that immigrant tradition, Heisler Hospitality opens Regards to Edith tonight.

But what's with the name?

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The inspiration for the West Loop restaurant came on the type of an evening familiar to many night owls: hours in front of a computer, watching one random video after another, before finding internet gold.

That's what happened to Matt Eisler, co-owner of Heisler Hospitality. Eisler stumbled into an online rabbit hole one day, happening upon the story of a man from Maxwell Street named King Levinsky. Born Harris Krakow, Levinsky worked at his family's Maxwell Street fish market by day but was a heavyweight boxer by night. During the 1930s, Levinksy earned a large following because he was an entertaining and gregarious fighter, said Eisler, who became fascinated by the boxer's "colorful little world."

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As Eisler searched for Levinsky memorabilia, he found an authentic autographed photo on eBay, with a note that read, "Regards to Edith, King Levinsky." For months, the photograph sat on his desk. As Eisler thought more about who Edith was, he realized that it was the perfect name for the restaurant.

"The restaurant is really not about one person, it's about the opposite, the aggregate of a community and everything that Edith represents," Eisler said.

"What better name to represent something, not in specific terms, but allowed us to craft this warm identity without having to pigeonhole (us) with one specific person or culture or specific type of food."

The menu, created by executive chef Jared Wentworth, is informed by old menus, personal experiences and contemporary techniques. The first section of the menu is titled "brown bag," which Wentworth describes as "playful takes on classic Maxwell Street food," such as the pork chop sandwich, pizza puff and cheese fries.

Seasonal items are contemporary takes on food people ate during Levinsky's time, when they went home or to restaurants for dinner. The restaurant's supper platters, meant to be shared between two to four people, are also influenced by the meals that the diverse residents of Maxwell Street would dine on: chicken Vesuvio, gyro-spiced rack of lamb, and a one-pot seafood stew of Maine lobster, head-on shrimp and littleneck clams floated in saffron lobster broth.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

"To me, if everyone's grandparents were a little better of a cook, that's what these would look like," Wentworth said.

He's excited about the matzo ball soup, "which is neither a floater or a sinker," said Wentworth, referencing the dumpling's buoyancy. He hopes that these traditional dishes can be elevated with careful methodology and technique  like rendering foie gras schmaltz and garnishing with Burgundy truffle, in the case of the matzo ball soup.

The opening of Regards to Edith comes on the heels of a Heisler property opening (neighboring Prairie School, for which Wentworth also curates the menu) and closing (Trench in Wicker Park). Regarding Trench's closing eight months after a hyped revamp, Wentworth is only looking forward.

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"I can't wait to get (Regards to Edith) open and be cooking for people, and not hear construction noises," he joked.

326 N. Morgan St., 312-763-6564, https://www.regardstoedith.com/

gwong@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GraceWong630

[ Prairie School, cocktail icon Jim Meehan's ode to Frank Lloyd Wright, opening tonight  ]

[ Trench closing Sunday, 8 months after remake  'wasn't resonating with neighborhood'  ]

[ Veg-focused Bad Hunter honors the omnivore in West Loop  ]






At a Saturday afternoon memorial service for journalist Wade Nelson, many funny stories were told and much laughter echoed through the stately Unity Temple in Oak Park.

There were also plenty of tears.

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That's the way it is, isn't it, sorrow and humor often in some existential balancing act?

But why?

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I have been for decades searching for an answer, and recently I discovered a new one. It comes in the new book "The Importance of Being Funny" (Rowman & Littlefield, July 2017) by local writer, professor and radio personality Al Gini. He reminds us that Mel Brooks has argued that we need jokes "as a defense against the universe."

Gini goes on to write, "We need humor to fight off our fear of living. Joke-telling is an attempt to keep at a distance our fear of the unknown, the unanswerable, and the unacceptable."

And since life keeps throwing the unknown, the unanswerable, and the unacceptable at us with ever-increasing frequency, do we need humor more than ever?

It is all but impossible to argue with Bert Haas, who has heard millions of jokes since he started as a waiter at the first Zanies comedy club in 1980 and is now executive vice president of the four-club operation. He told me years ago, "When we are confronted with tragedy we use laughter to release tension."

So, have you heard the one about Hurricane Irma?

Those jokes are out there and though some will find them sick and tasteless, others will, often against their better judgment, laugh at them. Be aware that a number of those jokes, that some people may find insensitive or worse, are explored below.

There may be a darker side to all of this.

Mort Sahl, the greatest living stand-up comic and political satirist, once told me, "Nothing inspires the people who make jokes more than the misfortune of others. There's a kind of sadism in it. The reason people laugh, I think, is in response to the country's politically correct climate. This humor taps into the suppression of people's innate rage."

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In his fine and insightful 1987 book, "Going Too Far: The Rise and Demise of Sick, Gross, Black, Sophomoric, Weirdo, Pinko, Anarchist, Underground, Anti-Establishment Humor" (Doubleday), author Tony Hendra argues that the jokes that arise with chilling speed from contemporary disasters simply reaffirm brutality, insensitivity and racism. They are, he writes, "the jokes of, not against, a thuggish collective mind."

Nothing  except for perhaps the death of children  is out of bounds. I have heard "jokes" about the Holocaust, John Wayne Gacy, Sept. 11 and every other misfortune or monster.

It was in a comedy club that I heard some people in the crowd shout "shuttle jokes, shuttle jokes" only a few days after the Jan. 28, 1986, explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, a tragedy that killed seven people.

The comic, whose name I can no longer recall, happily obliged:

What does NASA stand for? Need Another Seven Astronauts.

And laughter filled to room, as it did on another night when the late Sam Kinison took on the story of the Crucifixion, saying, "So, there are 40 Christians standing around, saying, 'It's such a shame that he has to die.' And Jesus is up there on the cross, saying, "Well, maybe I wouldn't have to if somebody would get a ladder and pair of pliers."

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Jim Brogan was one of the dozen "Tonight Show" writers during its Jay Leno years when he told me, "It seems there's one thing to do in a tragedy  either cry or laugh. Laughing helps you distance yourself from the tragedy."

That has become much more difficult with round-the-clock coverage on television and, of course, with the ubiquitous onslaught from the internet and social media. A tragedy strikes and within minutes you will find people trying to be "funny" about it, many hiding behind the convenient and cowardly mask of anonymity.

Late-night hosts have never been reluctant to practice this laughter-in-the-face-of-death business. Days after the 1996 arrest of terrorist/killer Ted Kaczynski (aka the Unabomber) there was Leno offering us the "Unabomber Dancers" and David Letterman saying, "We took this guy from an 8-by-10 shack and moved him into an 8-by-10 cell. Boy, we really showed him."

Many of the current TV late night hosts will forgo the jokes for personal essays about topical subjects. They can be impassioned and often compelling.

But the recent death of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner compelled Jimmy Kimmel to joke about the cause of death, saying, "They won't be able to rule out foul play for quite some time because of all the DNA evidence they found in the house.  It might take 20 years," and about Hefner's possible reaction to heaven, "What's with all these harps? Let's get some naked girls in here."

Gini's book is slender at 141 pages, but stunningly insightful (and, don't get me wrong, a great deal of fun too). "My steadfast belief is that humor is an attempt to deal with the palpable absurdity of life," he writes. "Although humor cannot always resolve all of our dilemmas, questions, and terrors, it can ease the pain of our perplexities and allow us to carry on as best we can."

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Hefner is the focus of "Playboy Laughs: The Comedy, Comedians, and Cartoons of Playboy" (Beaufort Books, August 2017). This is the second in author Patty Farmer's trilogy about the Bunny empire, following her 2015 "Playboy Swings," about the company's influence on music. Next up will be "Playboy Thinks," about the magazine's intellectual and philosophical substance.

She does a terrific, well-researched job and interviews scores of comics, among them Chicago's own Tom Dreesen. She also correctly notes that Playboy bridged the "gap between the nightclubs of the '50s and the comedy clubs of the '70s. Without the support Hefner provided, standup may well have dwindled away. It would certainly not have developed into the robust art form it is today."

That "art form," those clubs, provides a vast network of stages for humor, about everything. Yes, some of what you hear in the wake of a disaster might be in bad taste but in this increasing icy world being together with other people can be a healthy and restorative thing. Shared laughter can provide shelter from the storms.

So, have you heard the one about the Las Vegas slaughter?

Too soon?

Don't bet on it.

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rkogan@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @rickkogan

[ RELATED: If Las Vegas shooting has you trapped in repeat, look to Jimmy Kimmel  ]

[ Will the Las Vegas massacre change country music's view of guns?  ]

[ Amber Ruffin gives us 'Late Night' laughs while forging her own path  ]







Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Shock, disgust, and shame -- that's how one of Harvey Weinstein's accusers described her experience of allegedly being trapped by the movie mogul as he engaged in a sexual act.

TV reporter Lauren Sivan discussed the details of the incident Monday morning in an appearance on NBC's "Megyn Kelly Today." Kelly opened the show by declaring "He's out" as pictures of Weinstein scrolled on the talk show set's LED screens.

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Sivan has joined a growing list of accusers who have come forward since last Thursday when the New York Times published an extensive report detailing decades of allegations that the veteran movie mogul sexually harassed women, from actresses to secretaries and script readers. Weinstein was fired Sunday night from the company he co-founded with his brother, Bob Weinstein, in 2005 as a result of the mushrooming scandal.

Sivan described the decade-old incident in which she met Weinstein at a party at a New York restaurant in which he was an investor. At the time she was an anchor for News 12 Long Island; at present she is an anchor for Fox O&O KTTV Los Angeles.

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Sivan said Weinstein lured her to the restaurant's kitchen and tried to kiss her. When she rebuffed that advance, he allegedly blocked her passage in a narrow corridor while he masturbated, according to Sivan.

WATCH: He blocked the entrance and said, Just stand there and be quiet. @LaurenSivan speaks out about Harvey Weinstein pic.twitter.com/RYeVIyWOpZ  TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 9, 2017

"I just stood there dumbfounded," Sivan said. "I could not believe what I was witnessing." She recalled thinking that he was "disgusting and kind of pathetic." The lengthy apology that Weinstein issued in a statement after the Times report hit was "the last straw" that made Sivan come forward with her story because she felt he showed "no remorse."

Kelly said at start of the interview that she has been friendly with Sivan for years, and she also noted that she has known Weinstein for some time. Last year, Kelly's disclosure that she endured sexual harassment from former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes helped speed the ouster of one of the most powerful figures in media.

Sivan told Kelly that after she rejected his kiss, Weinstein told her: "Well then just stand there and be quiet." Earlier in the evening at the party, Sivan said she'd enjoyed a lively conversation with the famed producer about politics and presidential history, among other topics. He then invited her to take a tour of the restaurant's kitchen.

"The most demeaning part of it all was that 20 minutes earlier he was having this great conversation with me," she said. "I felt so great and flattered by it. And then to be told 'stand there and be quiet' negated any warm feelings."

Sivan said she was shocked by "the casualness" of his actions. Amid her dismay, she wondered if she'd managed to send him the wrong signal of her interest in him.

"There's that feeling of shame," Sivan said. "Perhaps I did something to give him the wrong impression."

Sivan said she decided not to go public with the story because she was in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend and didn't want to disrupt her life. "I was lucky enough to never have to work with [Weinstein] again," she said.

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The day after the incident, Sivan said Weinstein called her at the News 12 studio and asked if he could see her again. She recalled telling him "absolutely not" and she quickly hung up.

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Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Trevor Noah hosts the first night of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah," on September 28, 2015. (Brad Barket / Getty Images)

The "Daily Show's" Donald J. Trump Twitter Presidential Library, a hit during its brief run as a New York City pop-up earlier this year, will get a similarly brief run in Chicago right after the show finishes shooting here next week, Comedy Central announced Monday.

The satirical library, which enshrines some of the president's written communications delivered via the medium of Twitter ("tweets"), will occupy the Burlington Room in Union Station and be free of charge to the public.

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Some of the highlights will include "Master Works from the Collection," a curated selection of some of the 45th president's best-known and, perhaps, loved tweets; "Trump vs. Trump," tweets chosen because they illustrate the president's willingness to contradict his own tweets in tweets; and "The Commander-in-Tweet," an interactive experience that lets guests compose their own tweets while seated on a golden toilet in a replica of the White House's Oval Office.

Nightly broadcasts of "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" will originate from the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., from Monday, Oct. 16 through Thursday, Oct. 19. The tickets, which the show gave away free by request at the time the Chicago appearances were announced, have long been sold out.

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The Trump Twitter library can be accessed through the Great Hall of the Chicago transportation hub located at 225 S. Canal St. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Friday, Oct. 20 through Sunday, Oct. 22.

sajohnson@chicagotribune.com

Twitter: @StevenKJohnson

[ RELATED: Satire: A look forward at the Trump Presidential Library  ]

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[ Letter: Trump's tweets are unflinchingly candid and defiant  ]







Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Don is an adoptable Spanish greyhound, or galgo, from Love, Hope, Believe Galgo Adoption. He will walk the runway at the Oct. 11 Phenom Foundation event. (Julianna Flores)

How do you make a fashion show with supermodels even more stylish? Add adorable, adoptable dogs.

On Wednesday, the Phenom Foundation will host its first Mutt Strut. Ten to 12 adoptable dogs from local shelters will strut their stuff on the runway alongside models.

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The Phenom Foundation is a nonprofit based in Miami Beach, Fla., with satellite locations in New York City and Chicago. Its mission is to save dogs by providing resources to groups and individuals who already do rescue work.

Miss Illinois 2016, Zena Malak, will co-host the event, and proceeds will help animals in Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Chicago.

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Puerto Rico organizations include Adventures Satos, The Sato Project and Save a Sato. The Venezuela charity is Red de Apoyo Canino. Phenom Foundation founder, Eric Muschinski, said that whatever is donated at the event, he will personally match it and give it to Chicago shelters.

"We believe dogs are God's gift to humans as the purest form of unconditional love and companionship," Muschinski said. "We have the responsibility to step in when they are suffering, abused or neglected." Muschinski hopes to eventually expand the focus to include children as well.

"There are already amazing people and groups out there doing the dirty work," he said. "We just need to give them financial resources to do more!"

Muschinski, originally from Milwaukee, spent 21 years in Chicago. He moved away last year and currently splits his time between New York and Miami with his 9-month-old Bernese mountain dog, Phenom, the foundation's mascot.

Muschinski got the idea for the nonprofit when he traveled to the poorest parts of Mexico in 2014 with ChangeFire, an organization that helps local orphanages.

"I would go on trips to Baja Mexico with them and was taken aback by all the stray dogs," Muschinski said. "That was part of the inspiration to do my own thing and focus on animals."

The Wednesday event will feature adoptable dogs from Greyhounds Only; Love, Hope, Believe Galgo Adoption; Chicago English Bulldog Rescue and Famous Fido Rescue.

When: 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday

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Where: 606 Loft, 2605 W. Armitage Ave.

Tickets: $35, includes two complimentary drinks and light hors d'oeuvres. Tickets can be purchased online.

[ Chicago fashion blogger raises awareness for shelter dogs - and the occasional cat  ]

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 15 Get those old pizza sauce splatters off your microwave walls with this cute gadget. $9.99 at containerstore.com (Container Store)

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Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has confirmed what most of us suspected all along. That penny-per-ounce soda tax had nothing to do with our health. It was only about the money.

Facing a vote on Tuesday that would repeal the controversial tax on sugary drinks, Preckwinkle laid everything on the line and warned us that if the tax goes, so will jobs and services many Cook County residents depend upon.

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Preckwinkle has admitted from the beginning she had a budget shortfall she needed to deal with, but sugarcoated that message with one about how this tax would make Cook County residents healthier. Then, when the tax was in jeopardy, she allowed former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to bombard us for weeks with a television ad warning how soft drinks are harming minority communities.

Though the ad happened to be true, the timing made it seem insulting and condescending. It assumed that African-Americans and Hispanics, unlike everyone else, didn't know that sugary drinks are unhealthy. And that minorities, again like everybody else, choose to drink sodas anyway because they enjoy them.

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Grownups hate being told what to do, especially when they know the message is insincere.

Soda companies have spent decades building loyalty to their brands in minority communities. Did Preckwinkle really think that one TV ad could undo a relationship that has spanned generations?

Cook County, after all, is no Berkeley, Calif.  the first city where Bloomberg poured in millions to successfully pass a penny-per-ounce soda tax. This is the Chicago area. We've got to have something sweet to wash down that deep-dish pizza.

Perhaps if Preckwinkle had been straight with us from the beginning, she wouldn't be in the unfortunate predicament she's in now  facing an angry backlash that almost certainly will lead to a repeal of the unpopular tax and leave her credibility irreparably tarnished.

But more importantly, the multibillion-dollar Big Soda industry wouldn't be on the verge of claiming victory.

In a counterattack, opponents spent millions of dollars playing into the anger residents have toward politicians who have mismanaged public funds over the years and are now forcing taxpayers and consumers to pay the price.

Groups such as the Can the Tax Coalition, which includes the American Beverage Association and merchants, understood what Preckwinkle apparently did not  that consumers don't like to be duped.

You get much better results when you camouflage the truth with commercials that make people think a soft drink can actually make them happier and more carefree. That's the message soda companies have been spreading in minority communities for decades.

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It is no secret that soft drink companies target young African-Americans and Hispanics, much the same way the cigarette industry did for half a century before the government forced Big Tobacco to back off. And the way fast-food chains saturate low-income communities with low-cost, fat-laden, triple-decker cheeseburgers and french fries.

It is no coincidence either that the Coca-Cola Co. hired LeBron James to pitch Sprite. And though another ad backfired, Pepsi thought it could appeal to young African-Americans with that controversial Black Lives Matter takeoff featuring Kendall Jenner.

The 18-to-34 age group drinks more sugar-sweetened beverages than anyone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Forty-seven percent of African-Americans consume at least one sugary beverage a day  more than any other ethnic group, according to the CDC. At the same time, blacks suffer from obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease at rates higher than other groups.

The Hispanic Institute also has noted that sugar-sweetened beverages are having the same medical impact on America's fastest-growing ethnic group and urged Hispanics to use their political clout to influence public policy.

If Preckwinkle really had cared about the impact of sugary drinks on our health, she would have begun a campaign to stop the soda industry from targeting minority communities long before her back was against the wall to come up with an extra $200 million for the 2018 budget. Maybe then the communities that needed to hear the message would have been more willing to listen.

When you weigh Preckwinkle's other available choices for making up the projected loss in revenue  layoffs and budget cuts or a property tax increase  the soda tax is the best way to spread the costs across the board.

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Unlike property tax increases, garbage fees and state income tax increases, the beverage tax allows consumers the freedom to choose whether they want to pay the extra money or not. Those who don't can simply give up sodas or purchase them outside the county.

The irony of the soda tax repeal is that African-Americans and Hispanics will suffer disproportionately from the potential cuts in public health and public services resulting from the lost soda tax revenue.

How do we know this? Because minorities and poor people always bear the brunt of budget cuts.

That should have been Preckwinkle's message. Maybe then she could have convinced us that Big Soda couldn't care less that we have to pay an extra 68 cents for a 2-liter bottle of soft drink.

The only thing they care about is keeping our money in their own pockets.

dglanton@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @dahleeng

[ Cook County pop tax likely to be repealed next week as 3 more commissioners switch sides  ]

[ How Preckwinkle's pop tax backfired  ]
Close to 3,000 people have been shot in Chicago so far this year, down from the violence of 2016 but still significantly higher than in other recent years, according to data kept by the Tribune.



At least 2,958 people have been shot in the city this year, fewer than the 3,347 people shot by this day in 2016, the numbers show. Homicides are also down, 572 this year compared with 586 this time last year.



Gun violence last year reached levels not seen in the city in two decades. When compared with other recent years, this year's shootings and homicides are up by hundreds.



In 2015, at least 2,379 people were shot by this date and there were 399 homicides; in 2014, 2,030 shot and 339 homicides; in 2013, 1,805 shot and 349 homicides, according to Tribune data.



This past weekend's violence included three men shot at a bachelor party in Bronzeville and, three blocks away, a suspected burglar wounded by a homeowner less than 24 hours later, according to police.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 19 Cook County Sheriff's Police officers stand at part of the scene of a shooting in the 7900 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue on Oct. 8, 2017, in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago. A 29-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were both shot in the lower body in the 7900 block of South Drexel Avenue in East Chatham and were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in serious condition. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

The triple shooting occurred outside a bachelor party in the 4500 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue around 1:55 a.m. Saturday. A 32-year-old man was shot in the face, a 25-year-old man was shot in the feet and a 32-year-old man was shot in the buttocks. They were stabilized at Provident Hospital of Cook County. Two clusters of more than a dozen shell casings littered the sidewalk close to 45th Street.



At 10:55 p.m. the same day, a 44-year-old man was shot by a homeowner while trying to break into a home down the street and around the corner, police said. The homeowner told police the intruder used a crowbar to force his way into his home in the 4500 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue when he fired at him.



The suspect fled in a car after he was shot and drove to Mercy Hospital, police said. Shot multiple times, he was transferred to Stroger Hospital, police said.



The homeowner, a 60-year-old man, has a valid FOID card and a concealed carry permit.



Among those killed over the weekend was an 18-year-old man shot in the neck in a double shooting that also injured a 20-year-old man in the Pilsen neighborhood Saturday morning.

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Another 18-year-old man died after being shot in the chest in East Chatham on the South Side on Friday. And a 24-year-old man was shot and killed in an alley in the 8300 block of South Ingleside Avenue, also in East Chatham.



The youngest shooting victims were two 17-year-olds wounded while driving in the 200 block of West Garfield Boulevard in the Fuller Park neighborhood.
A crew prepares to remove a body found in a South Side apartment in the 7900 block of South Greenwood Avenue in the East Chatham neighborhood early on Oct. 9, 2017. (Madeline Buckley / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago firefighters found a decomposed body in a South Side apartment after extinguishing a small fire early Monday.

The blaze started in the vacant third-floor apartment around 1:20 a.m. in the 7900 block of South Greenwood Avenue in the East Chatham neighborhood, police said.

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Crews found the body after the fire was brought under control in about half an hour.

"We found what we thought was a victim," said Deputy District Chief Michael Del Greco. "Then we saw (the body) was in an advanced state of decomposition."

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It was not known how long the body had been in the apartment, a police spokesperson said.

Police did not release any further information.

The results of an autopsy Monday were inconclusive, and the determination of a cause and manner of death was pending further investigation and studies, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Updated Oct. 11, 2017. 9 a.m.  The three men had been shot while in a dark sedan, and now they were driving through the Far South Side looking for help.



They had gone more than three miles when they spotted a state trooper at Halsted Street and Vincennes Avenue in the Gresham neighborhood and stopped. Ambulances were called and the three were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.



One of them, a 30-year-old man named Deylion L. Spencer, was pronounced dead at 1:43 a.m. with a gunshot wound to the back. His companions, 24 and 25, were listed in serious condition, the 24-year-old shot in the arm and abdomen, the 25-year-old hit in the arm, leg and buttocks.

Spencer, of the 9300 blk of South May Street, died of a gunshot wound to the torso, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. His death was ruled a homicide.

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The shooting occurred just before 1 a.m. Tuesday. The men had been sitting in the car in the 200 block of West 107th Street in Roseland when someone walked up and fired, police said.



Hours after the shooting, the car remained taped off at the intersection in Gresham where they finally stopped. Three of the four doors were swung open. Debris was strewn across the street, including clothes and plastic water bottles.



The men were among 11 people shot, two fatally, in Chicago between Monday morning and early Tuesday.



A 46-year-old man was shot about 2:10 p.m. Monday while standing in the 7300 block of South Dante Avenue in Grand Crossing on the South Side, police said.

Marshall Carter suffered more than one gunshot wound, authorities said. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead at 2:53 p.m., according to information provided by the Cook County medical examiner's office.

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Carter was in the backyard of a home when someone came up on foot and shot him, police said. He had lived a block away, in the 7300 block of South Blackstone Avenue, the medical examiner said.



On the West Side, a 25-year-old man was shot in the hand around 12:10 a.m. as he sat on a porch in the first block of North Francisco Avenue in the East Garfield Park neighborhood, police said. Two men had approached him on foot and fired, according to police. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.



Police officers heard the gunfire and found a bullet hole in the rear driver's side door. Police said they do not believe the officers were targeted.



Other shootings:



 About 4:15 p.m. Monday on the West Side, a man was shot in the left forearm and right thigh, according to police. The man was in the 1300 block of South Homan Avenue in the Lawndale neighborhood, police said. Officials said the man, 33, was taken by ambulance to Mount Sinai Hospital.



 Just after 3:15 p.m. on the West Side, two men were shot while walking in the 1200 block of South Springfield Avenue in Lawndale, police said. A 23-year-old man was shot in the groin and a 21-year-old was shot in the thigh, police said. They were both taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were listed in good condition, officers said.



 About 2:35 p.m., a woman, 26, was in the 3400 block of West North Avenue in Logan Square, police said. She was shot in the buttocks and arrived at Presence Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in a private vehicle, according to officers. She was transferred to Stroger Hospital, where she was listed in good condition, police said. The woman was a passenger in a vehicle when another vehicle drove up and someone inside started shooting.



 About 1:45 p.m. on the West Side, police were called to the 1100 block of North Springfield Avenue in Humboldt Park. A man, 43, was shot in the arm and was taken in good condition to Norwegian American Hospital, police said. He had been standing outside when a light-colored vehicle drove past and someone inside opened fire, police said.



 About 10:40 a.m. on the Far South Side, police were called to the 10300 block of South Aberdeen Street in Washington Heights where a 17-year-old had been shot in the leg. He was taken to Roseland Hospital, where he was listed in good condition, police said.



No arrests were reported in any of the shootings.
A Northwestern University law student was assaulted and robbed of his laptop and cellphone on the school's Chicago campus Sunday evening, according to Chicago police and a university alert.

Area Central detectives are investigating after the 22-year-old student reported he was attacked by a group of three men and two women around 8 p.m. in the 700 block of North Fairbanks Court on the Near North Side, according to Officer Nicole Trainor, a police spokeswoman.

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The group attacked the man using closed fists and forced his belongings from his hand, Trainor said. The man refused medical attention at the scene but later sought treatment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was in good condition.

A witness used an emergency call box to get help, according to an alert posted to the university's website, and the suspects ran away.

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The university's alert described one of the male attackers as 5-foot-4 with white pants, a white, long-sleeved shirt and and jacket tied around his neck. The other two men were described as 5-foot-6 and wearing dark clothing.

Chicago police described all the attackers as being 5-foot-8 to 6 feet and 110 to 150 pounds.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Monday called it "dead wrong" for President Donald Trump to demand sweeping changes to the federal immigration system in exchange for legislation to protect hundreds of thousands of so-called Dreamers from possible deportation.

Emanuel was responding to the list the president released over the weekend as a prerequisite to a deal to reinstate protections for young immigrants. About 700,000 young people who came here illegally could lose the protection they have under the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that provided a temporary legal status for the young immigrants.

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Among the requirements Trump announced Sunday was for so-called sanctuary cities like Chicago that don't cooperate with federal immigration agents to be cut out of federal grants. Emanuel has sued to challenge a Trump administration rule that would disallow sanctuary cities from qualifying for a certain federal public safety grant.

The mayor on Monday took a dim view of Trump's proposals as a basis for negotiations on reinstating the DACA protections.

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"I do not believe in the sense of using the kids who are Dreamers as a political pawn to achieve another  something nefarious by President Trump," Emanuel said at a downtown jobs event. "He was wrong on the Dreamers, and he's going to have to reverse himself on the Dreamers. And he's trying to now negotiate out of a position that both morally, values-wise, policy-wise and politically is absolutely dead wrong."

Trump also wants to be able to more quickly remove unaccompanied minors who have crossed into the U.S. from Central America in recent years seeking asylum.

And he seeks to curb the ability of American citizens to sponsor family members to join them from abroad, increase money for border security and require employers to use the government's E-Verify system to make sure workers they hire are legal residents.

The Trump administration announced last month he would move to end the DACA program that provided a temporary legal status for the young immigrants.

jebyrne@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @_jebyrne

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[ Trump administration releases hard-line immigration principles, threatening deal on 'dreamers'  ]

[ Rep. Gutierrez: Trump's immigration proposals 'an extension of the white supremacist agenda'  ]

[ Emanuel's podcast loosens up tightly scripted mayor  ]






FLINT, Mich.  A special prosecutor says he'll add a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Michigan's chief medical executive in a criminal investigation of the Flint water crisis.

Dr. Eden Wells was in court Monday for a key hearing on other charges. But the hearing was postponed after the announcement by Todd Flood. Wells' lawyer couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

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Five other people have been charged with involuntary manslaughter tied to an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the Flint area in 2014-15. The attorney general's office says key officials knew about a spike in Legionnaires' but failed to tell the public until January 2016.

Some experts have blamed the outbreak on Flint's use of the Flint River. Legionnaires' is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria that thrive in warm water.
A longtime Democratic lawmaker thinks negotiating with President Donald Trump on immigration policy is "fanciful thinking" in the wake of the hard-line conservative proposals he announced late Sunday.

And after reviewing what Trump proposed, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, of Chicago, had a message for fellow Democrats: I told you so.

The White House released a list of proposals that include the funding of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a crackdown on the influx of Central American minors and curbs on federal grants to "sanctuary cities," according to a document distributed to lawmakers.

Trump announced plans last month to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an Obama-era initiative that had provided two-year work permits that Trump called "unconstitutional." In response, Gutierrez has been pushing with other Democrats for a quick up-or-down vote on legislation that would permanently provide legal status for those protected by the program, known as "dreamers." He raised doubts last month about a deal to protect DACA recipients reached between Trump, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

"I warned Democrats not to negotiate, to say that what we wanted was a clean Dream Act," Gutierrez said in an interview late Sunday. "It's a slippery slope  I never understood why everybody wanted to sit down and negotiate. I've been there 20 years and this is the same negotiation we've had for the last 20 years. They're throwing everything and the kitchen sink in terms of enforcement. I just never understood it."

Trump "has never wavered from his xenophobic positions. I never understood  I just never got it, how you go from Charlottesville, Virginia, and white supremacists to reaching an agreement with him," he added.

"It's an extension of the white supremacist agenda  what they want to do is criminalize and delegitimize Latinos," Gutierrez said.

In a joint statement Sunday night, Schumer and Pelosi said that the Trump administration "can't be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans.

"This proposal fails to represent any attempt at compromise," the Democratic leaders said, adding later that "if the President was serious about protecting the Dreamers, his staff has not made a good-faith effort to do so."

Gutierrez, who has been a congressman since 1993 and represents the Chicago area, renewed calls for Democrats to withhold support for upcoming legislation that would raise the federal debt limit and set government spending levels. A vote is scheduled for Dec. 9.

That date, the congressman said, "is going to be a moment of definition" for Democrats. "If we approve a budget, which doesn't include the Dream Act, then we've turned our back on our immigrant community and our principles."

He added: "There's a debt ceiling vote coming up, there's a budget vote coming up  I'm not saying we should shut down the government, but if you want a budget with Democratic votes, then it's got to have some Democratic priorities," he added.
At the final debate of last year's presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton ridiculed Donald Trump as a "puppet" of the Russians and denounced his treatment of women. She was widely seen as the winner that night in Las Vegas and the favorite to win the presidency weeks later.

On Facebook, however, a different story was unfolding for millions of Americans, whose feeds were being saturated with eye-catching ads bolstering Trump.

Out of view of the broader public, the site was serving as a platform for an intense barrage of advertisements tailored to reach Trump's supporters with maximum impact throughout the debate day and night. By the end of the day, the Trump campaign had run 175,000 variations of ads on Facebook, pushing distinct versions to different users to test which ones worked best. The high-velocity churn drew $9 million in donations, the campaign's biggest single-day money haul of the year.

Facebook's recent revelations that it sold thousands of ads to a Russian troll operation seeking to foment discord during last year's elections have led its executives to pledge cooperation with U.S. investigators. But the company's role in the Russia probe is also prompting uncomfortable scrutiny of its increasingly lucrative political advertising business and how little is known about the ads voters are exposed to online.

The situation has the potential to affect a key profit center for Facebook. The same proprietary technology that has made Facebook the go-to advertising platform for political campaigns also enabled Russian operatives to target U.S. voters with inflammatory ads. Now lawmakers, noting that online companies are not subject to disclosure rules governing broadcast advertising, are calling for tighter regulations as Facebook is poised to play another major role in the 2018 and 2020 elections.

Trump strategists credit their victory in part to a decision to go all-in on Facebook in the closing stretch of the 2016 race, with a strategy that was orchestrated from a San Antonio office where Trump campaign and Republican Party staffers worked alongside Facebook sales employees, blitzing the country with ads.

By Election Day, Trump's campaign had spent roughly $70 million on Facebook alone  nearly all in the last four months of the election, according to people familiar with the spending.

"If you imagine the country as the haystack, Facebook is the needle finder," said Brad Parscale, who served as the Trump campaign's digital director.

With 210 million U.S. users logging in monthly, Facebook offers candidates and their allies the ability to zero in on potential voters who are likely to embrace their messages and make them go viral  identifying them by geography, gender, interests and their behavior across the Internet, including their "likes" for music, food and travel. The company owes its rich trove of data to its users, who turn over details about their personal lives every time they engage with the platform.

The large sums invested by the Trump campaign would have been enough to put an ad on the feed of every Facebook user in the country, digital strategists said, or to send multiple ads to key voters. The online bombardment, which former Clinton aides acknowledged surpassed their Facebook spending, was largely invisible to the media and the electorate. That's because of its highly personalized design, which allows advertisers to target voters in a granular fashion.

Advocates for more online transparency say the 2016 election showed how Facebook and other websites can be used to quietly push provocative messages with no oversight.

The news that Russians used Facebook to try to influence voters showed that people with "no interest in adhering to facts or the truth are able to message to select pockets of the population to elicit an emotional response, and no one knows that it is happening," said Keegan Goudiss, who served as director of digital advertising for Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, which relied heavily on Facebook.

After revealing the Russian ad buys, Facebook vowed to provide more transparency about political ads on its site, a move that could pull the curtain back on its position as a turbocharged platform for campaigns. After years of resisting disclosure, the company has pledged to create a mechanism that will reveal the content of political ads posted on its site, making them visible to any Facebook user. The system would go further than what is required of TV and cable stations, which have to disclose information about who purchases political ads but not the content of the ads themselves.

"We are in a new world," Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said in a post last month. "It is a new challenge for internet communities to deal with nation states attempting to subvert elections. But if that's what we must do, we are committed to rising to the occasion."

Still, the ongoing Russia probes could have a long-term impact on the company, which is now contending with new efforts to regulate online political advertising.

Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnensota and Mark Warner of Virginia plan to introduce a bill in the coming weeks that would require sites with more than 1 million users to maintain a public file containing a copy of political ads and information about who they are aimed at. The measure, which the lawmakers said was a direct response to the Russian effort, would require information about the number of views generated and the rates charged by platforms such as Facebook.

"These ads are literally being seen by millions and millions of people, but there's really not the transparency that you see with traditional ads," Klobuchar said.

"Aside from the Russia issue, it is a glaring problem because our technology has changed, the way people advertise has changed, but our laws are back in the 1980s," she added.

Facebook, which as recently as 2011 sought an exemption from the Federal Election Commission from having to run political disclaimers on the small ads that run on its site, has taken a cautious posture toward the prospect of new regulations even as it has pledged to provide more voluntary disclosure. The company said in a statement that it is "open to reviewing any reasonable proposals."

Facebook's ascent in elections has been rapid, mirroring its sevenfold increase in value since the company went public in 2012. At the time, the company had just a handful of staffers in its Washington office focused on lobbying and on campaign advertising.

That year, the reelection campaign of President Barack Obama developed an innovative Facebook application, allowing 1 million supporters to give the campaign access to their extended Facebook "friend" networks.

The ability to tap into that kind of data for free was shut down in 2015, when Facebook limited the amount of information that campaigns and other third-party groups can access from the site. As a result, campaigns still eager to tap into Facebook's fast-growing database began buying more ads, political strategists said.

While businesses still spend more on Google advertising, many political advertisers began favoring Facebook in 2014, campaign strategists said. The site's ability to offer rich targeting and near real-time feedback, as well as its role as a platform for civic debate, makes Facebook better tailored to political messaging, said Zac Moffatt, who heads the Republican digital ad agency Targeted Victory.

During the height of the 2016 campaign, Facebook had 10 staffers  five on the Democratic side and five on the Republican side  who helped federal campaigns with their ad buys, according to people familiar with the company's operations.

Unlike the Trump campaign, Clinton's team declined to have the company's sales employees work side-by-side with its staff, though Facebook employees did visit Clinton's Brooklyn headquarters from time to time, according to people familiar with the setup. Clinton, who entered the general election with more resources than Trump, was less reliant on Facebook, but her former campaign officials declined to share how much they spent on the platform.

Facebook regularly deploys sales staff to work with big corporate and political clients. Typically, Facebook employees provide advice to big clients on how to target users across all the company's platforms, including Instagram and Messenger, helping advertisers decipher which approaches would be likely to get the most engagement.

For example, Facebook might advise campaigns on whether to target a large number of potential voters in a specific Zip code, according to people familiar with the process.

When content goes viral, it helps Facebook make money. Advertisers pay for people to view an ad. They pay more money if people click on that ad or if they click through the ad to a page outside of Facebook or install an advertiser's application, advertisers say.

Goudiss, the former Sanders digital advertising director who is a partner at the firm Revolution Messaging, said the impact of Facebook on political races could not be overstated.

"Facebook was one of the key reasons Bernie went from 2 percent name ID to winning primaries," he said.

The Trump campaign's large investment in Facebook was driven in part by necessity. When the wealthy real estate executive secured the GOP nomination in the late spring, he had virtually no fundraising operation.

Campaign officials and Republican Party strategists from Washington who embedded with the Trump digital shop in San Antonio turned to Facebook ads to rapidly build a donor list.

"I knew that it would be a lead dog in the pack," said Gary Coby, who was dispatched from the Republican National Committee to serve as the campaign's director of digital advertising and fundraising. "But we always built in the idea of a dynamic budget - you move the money to where it is best-performing. Facebook was one of the things that was working, so we put more money and time into it."

More than half of the campaign's Facebook budget was spent on ads designed to pull in contributions, many of them featuring some of Trump's most provocative remarks. "Only Trump can stop Crooked Hillary," declared one ad in June. "Teach Hillary Who's Boss."

In a setup that officials said resembled a high-frequency Wall Street trading shop, the Trump operation pitted teams of staffers and outside ad buyers against each other to see which could get more Facebook users to convert into donors. Those who won got more money to play with.

Each day, the campaign would start with about 20,000 ad variations, testing different messages against a complex set of targeting factors such as age and device usage, as well as past actions such as recent donations. Throughout the day, they swapped in various images of Trump or short-burst videos with captions, hunting for the most viral combination.

"You want to make sure you have all different ad variations and different segments for your ads so that you can find something that works fast, and then Facebook will show it to more people," Gerrit Lansing, the RNC's former chief digital officer, explained at a post-election political marketing conference sponsored by MediaPost in January.

"You find these little bursts of things that work, and then pour gas on it and do that dozens of times every day," he added.

By the end of a typical day, the Trump operation averaged 40,000 to 60,000 ad variations - a supercharged version of the kind of comparative testing many campaigns use.

Like the Sanders campaign, the Trump team found that Facebook ads served multiple functions: as powerful fundraising appeals, as vehicles to win over new supporters, and eventually as a mechanism to prod voters to go to the polls, officials said.

The constant feedback the campaign received about how Facebook users engaged with different ads also provided valuable political insight into what moved Trump's supporters, campaign strategists said. After an intense round of testing showed that his backers responded strongly to messages about what Trump pledged to do in office, the campaign rolled out a series of policy speeches featuring the candidate.

In the end, half of the Trump campaign's overall advertising budget was spent online - nearly double the share a typical campaign devotes to digital ads - and the majority of that went to Facebook.

"People are coming to grips with the fact that the world's biggest social network is playing an unprecedented role in politics and in government in the distribution of ideas," said Alex Howard, deputy director of the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan watchdog group. "For many people, Facebook is the Internet. It is an extraordinarily powerful force with limited accountability."
The Trump administration released a list of hard-line immigration principles late Sunday that could threaten to derail a deal in Congress to allow of hundreds of thousands of younger undocumented immigrants to remain legally in the country.

The administration's wish-list includes the funding of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a crackdown on the influx of Central American minors and curbs on federal grants to sanctuary cities, according to a document distributed to Congress and obtained by The Washington Post.

The demands were quickly denounced by Democratic leaders in Congress who had hoped to forge a deal with President Trump to protect younger immigrants, known as "dreamers," who were brought to the United States illegally as children. Trump announced plans last month to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an Obama-era program that had provided two-year work permits to the dreamers that he called "unconstitutional."

About 690,000 immigrants are enrolled in DACA, but their work permits are set to begin expiring in March. Trump had met last month with Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and agreed to try to strike a deal, worrying immigration hawks who feared that Trump would support a bill that would allow dreamers to gain full legal status without asking for significant border security measures in return.

The list released by the administration, however, would represent a major tightening of immigration laws. Cuts to legal immigration also are included.

"The administration can't be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans," Schumer and Pelosi said in a joint statement Sunday evening. "We told the President at our meeting that we were open to reasonable border security measures ... but this list goes so far beyond what is reasonable. This proposal fails to represent any attempt at compromise."

In a conference call with reporters, White House aides described the proposals as a necessary step to protect public safety and jobs for American-born workers, which was a centerpiece of Trump's campaign. The president has moved to tighten border security since taking office through a series of executive orders, including curbs on immigration and refugees from some majority-Muslim nations and an increase in deportations from the interior of the country.

The number of immigrants who have attempted to enter the country illegally across the Mexican border has dropped sharply since Trump took office.

Democrats had hoped that Trump, who had equivocated over the DACA program before deciding to terminate it in the face of a legal challenge from Texas, would be open to crafting a narrow legislative deal to protect the dreamers. But White House aides emphasized they expect Congress to include the principles released Sunday in any package deal, a nonstarter for Democrats and some moderate Republicans.

"We ask that the priorities be included in any" deal for DACA, White House legislative director Marc Short said in the conference call.

Immigration hardliners expressed support for the administration's immigration proposals. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., chair of the House Judiciary Committee, praised the administration for "a serious proposal" and said that "we cannot fix the DACA problem without fixing all of the issues that led to the underlying problem of illegal immigration in the first place."

Trump had said several times over the past month that he did not expect a DACA deal to include funding for a border wall, emphasizing that the money could be included in separate legislation. But ensuring funding for the wall, which is projected to cost more than $25 billion, is the first priority on the list. White House aides declined to specify during the call with reporters about how much money the president would expect from Congress.

The administration also is proposing changes aimed at reducing the flow of tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America who have entered the United States illegally in recent years. Immigrant rights groups have said the minors, as well as women and families, have fled gang violence and other dangers in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Under current law, minors who arrive from non-contiguous nations are afforded greater protections than those from Mexico or Canada, but the Trump administration is proposing to treat them all the same in a bid to be able to deport the minors more quickly. Such proposals are likely to face fierce resistance from Democrats and human rights groups.

The administration also has sought to increase pressure on "sanctuary cities" which refuse, in some cases, to cooperate with federal immigration agents seeking personal information on illegal immigrants who've committed other crimes in their jurisdictions. Under the immigration priorities released Sunday, the administration is proposing that Congress withhold federal grants to such jurisdictions and that it clarify the authority of state and local jurisdictions to honor detainers issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"There is no justification for releasing a public safety threat back into the public," said Thomas Homan, the acting director of ICE. "We will not stop illegal immigration unless we stop the pull factors that are driving it. ... Entering this country illegally is a crime but there are no consequences for sneaking past the border or overstaying visas."

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Tex., vice chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said that "Congress should reject this warped, anti-immigrant policy wish list. The White House wants to use Dreamers as bargaining chips to achieve the administration's deportation and detention goals."

Trump aides said the administration's priorities are imperative because legalizing the dreamers without fixing other parts of the immigration system would allow the problem to continue to recur. The last major legislative overhaul to the nation's immigration laws came in 1986, which included a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, but there are more than 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally today.

But the White House's list of immigration principles moves the debate over the fate of the dreamers toward a thep prospect of broader comprehensive reform. Efforts to forge a comprehensive bill failed under the past two presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

During his campaign, Trump had threatened to end DACA on his first day in office, but he equivocated for months, suggesting that the decision over the fate of the dreamers was among the most difficult he faced. After Texas and several other states announced plans to sue the administration over the program, Trump moved to end DACA but said he would hold off the most drastic measures for six months to give Congress time to forge a legislative solution.

"We would expect Congress to include all the reforms in any package that addresses the status of the DACA recipients," said one White House aide on the conference call who was not authorized to speak on the record. "Other views had their fair day in the democratic process."

Noting the Republicans swept the White House and both chambers of Congress last November, the aide added: "The American public voted for the reforms included in this package."
This fall, if you're lucky enough to hang your hat at the leafy, cloistered, and widely acclaimed Amherst College  checking in at No. 2 in the rankings of national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report, with tuition at a mere $60,000 a year!  you can learn about one of the greatest mysteries in the universe.

It is truly a question for the ages, in line with puzzlers such as what happens to space-time in the heart of a supermassive black hole, how free will and predestination can truly coexist, and why "Finding Bigfoot," the well-funded Animal Planet television series in its ninth season, has never managed to, you know, find Bigfoot. Prepare for your minds to be blown, dorm-dwellers: How do women ever become conservative?

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The course that tackles this question, titled "Contemporary Debates: Women and Right-Wing Populism," explores "why some women become prominent right-wing leaders and activists" while others join with "progressive forces to fight for the rights of women."

Ah, "the rights of women." The phrase might sound virtuous and grand, but those who've circled the political block more than once likely know that it tends to be code for three things: a) abortion, b) more government and, c) even more government. Surprise!

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Indeed, right-wingers do not tend to fight for these things. The reasons are not mysterious and could be quickly cleared up by having an actual right-leaning woman come in and lecture for a day or two.

Normally, I would offer to do so for a somewhat reasonable fee, but for conservatives of all stripes, many of today's college campuses have morphed into a terrifying blend of the Salem witch trials, a Ken Kesey acid test with despondent undertones, and the running of the bulls at Pamplona.

If this sort of nonsense were limited to the goofballs at Amherst, we could brush it off as a blip on the broader national screen. Sadly, it goes all the way to the top. Recently, Michelle Obama blithely labeled the congressional GOP as "all male, all white." This remark might come as a surprise to well-known GOP lawmakers like Tim Scott, Marco Rubio, Joni Ernst and Mia Love, not to mention the 20 other Republican women in the House of Representatives alone, but never mind.

The monochrome, mono-gender GOP, Obama suggested, is one of the reasons "why people don't trust politics." Well, it could be that, or it could be because prominent political figures on both sides of the aisle seem locked into a secret competition to see who can be the most insufferable. The former first lady's comments came just days after her declaration that "any women who voted against Hillary Clinton voted against their own voice."

Good gravy. Clinton is a lot of things, but she is not my voice. We have vastly differing views on abortion, taxes, the economy, freedom of speech, the Second Amendment  America's constitutional gun rights, by the way, are a great equalizer for women  and whether it is a good idea to get the government involved in every nook and cranny of American life. I don't know why more women aren't annoyed by the repeated Democratic insinuation that women cannot think for themselves, or by the idea that they could easily be tricked into fawning over an inept politician just because she has lady parts, but here we are.

Sadly, on the left, the obsessive gender-based narrative will continue  full-throated, predictable, repetitive  and many women will continue to play along. On his show recently, Jimmy Fallon featured a bevy of women writers and a tearful Miley Cyrus writing overwrought thank-you notes to special guest Hillary Clinton. For her part, Clinton sat there and chortled, righteous and aglow. For my part, I sat and marveled.

Why on Earth were these people thanking Clinton? She lost! Great Britain had the glory of the Iron Lady; modern Democrats have the Countess o' Kryptonite.

Don't take my word for it: This spring, a Washington Post/ABC News survey showed that Donald Trump would win both the electoral vote and the popular vote in a rematch with Clinton. A recent Bloomberg poll had Trump's favorability ratings besting Clinton's, as well.

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There's only one conclusion: People must not know that Hillary Clinton is a woman. Surely, the word will eventually get out! There are no female failings, after all  well, OK, there's one, which is the regrettable tendency of some women to lean to the political right. It is truly a mystery for the ages.

After all, as our very empowered friends on the left like to remind us, don't we women all think alike?

National Review

Heather Wilhelm is a National Review columnist and a senior contributor to The Federalist.
Then- President Barack Obama and former presidents (L-R) George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter pose after arriving on stage for the George W. Bush Presidential Center dedication ceremony in Dallas, Texas in April 2013. (Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images)

Dear Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama:

I am privileged to have known and worked with each of you and your administrations. I know how deeply you all love our country.

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Our nation is blessed to have the five of you and your invaluable experience in the Oval Office  a total of 32 years with your steady hands on the nuclear codes. The time has come to use this unique asset to help the nation deal with our present situation.

Most of us now have very short attention spans. The news comes at us 24/7. One crisis immediately follows another, and we forget what has happened even one month ago. We need to keep reminding ourselves what has happened since President Donald Trump took office:

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 The president revealed highly classified information to foreign leaders for no apparent strategic purpose.

 He ignored ethical principles by not fully divesting from his businesses while in elected office.

 He waffled on condemning white-supremacist, Nazi and Ku Klux Klan protesters.

 He pardoned former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt for violating a direct court order to stop racially profiling people.

 He fired FBI Director James Comey, who was supervising an investigation into the conduct of his presidential campaign.

 He persisted in condemning and seeking to discredit judges, science, the news media and, indeed, any source of authority that disagreed with him.

 He has insulted our allies abroad  as well as the leadership of his own party.

And then came two shocking and alarming warnings about the president's stability. The first was from Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who said the president "has not demonstrated he understands the character of this nation" and "has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful."

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Second, former director of national intelligence James Clapper said: "I really question his ability to  his fitness to  be in this office, and I also am beginning to wonder about his motivation for it."

These red flags alerted us to be deeply concerned about our current president's stability. News reports indicate that North Koreans, confused by contradictory messages from Trump and other members of his administration, are seeking out former American public officials to clarify American policy. Wars often start through confusion, miscalculation and failures of communication.

Millions of Americans are talking with friends and relatives and wondering what could happen, but there has been no serious, sustained public examination of the challenge to our nation.

That is why I believe that the five of you, working together, can and should supply the leadership our country is missing. Some of you have already spoken out against Trump's actions. But together, as a bipartisan group, you could have a greater impact.

You all know that the Constitution and rule of law are only as good as the men and women who enforce them. You know from your time as president what it means to have your hands on the nuclear codes. And you know that the nation cannot risk having an unstable hand.

When our Constitution was enacted, a Philadelphian asked Benjamin Franklin, "What have you given us, a monarchy or a republic?" He replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." Americans want to keep our republic, our Constitution and our way of life. People around the world, looking to our country for leadership, now worry about what is next.

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I ask the five of you to combine your wisdom, your courage and your patriotism. You can speak out together against current abuses and reaffirm constitutional values. You can lead the nation to explore informal and formal next steps.

For the sake of the United States of America and our values, we need your voices now.

The Washington Post

Newton N. Minow, senior counsel at the law firm Sidley Austin, was chairman of Public Broadcasting Service from 1978 to 1980 under President Jimmy Carter and was appointed to presidential commissions and a Defense Department panel for the George H.W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. He also served as an informal adviser to President Barack Obama, who awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In child welfare circles, the name Joseph Wallace is a watchword for everything that can possibly go wrong in a system meant to protect children. The name Joseph Wallace is a whispered warning to Department of Children and Family Services caseworkers who consider ending their day at 5 p.m. instead of driving another hour to visit another child on their overwhelming caseload. The name Joseph Wallace is a promise to every person in Illinois that if you don't properly fund DCFS and associated child welfare organizations, children will die.

The Chicago Tribune wrote an editorial about DCFS, focused squarely on Joey's story. It is worth a read. Within the editorial, the Tribune offers several common-sense recommendations. What it does not recommend is the one thing that will most immediately help. And that is money. Unless we are willing to properly fund child protective services, investigators and caseworkers will have impossible jobs. And children will die.

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Directly beneath the Tribune's DCFS editorial was a second editorial celebrating the likely repeal of the soda tax in Cook County. If that happens, the county could have to fire dozens of attorneys who work in child protection. Children in DCFS will have less protection. And children will die.

We make choices every day as a society. And when snake oil salesmen make us promises we should look at Joseph Wallace's face, read these editorials, and demand that our government is properly funded so that it can stand up and protect the most vulnerable among us.

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 Jeffrey Sterbenc, Skokie
If only the recent special report on the failure of the Illinois bureaucracy would be required reading for the Illinois politicians. Maybe the Spencer-Witczak family could bring son Kenan down to Springfield and have our elected officials spend the day seeing what their inaction and politicization have done to one family. Everything we do has a consequence. The sad story of Kenan Spencer Witczak is just one of the tragic results of our failure as a city, state, country and a people to just simply do the right thing. Not the Democratic-, Republican-, black-, white-, male-, female-right thing. Just the right thing.

Let's hold all our politicians accountable to us, the ones who elected them and pay their salaries. This accountability has gotten lost in the nonsense rhetoric that distracts all of us from just doing the right thing. We have lost our way. That is why a newspaper can accomplish so much if it becomes a mirror that we all can look at, see the problems, and demand they be fixed. I hope I read more special report stories, because the problems overwhelm us all.

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 Sue Atkenson, Palos Park
Dancers perform at the 2015 Diwali Celebration in Aurora. This years event is set for Saturday at Waubonsie Valley High School. (City of Aurora)

Aurora's Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board will celebrate its annual Diwali Festival from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Waubonsie Valley High School, 2590 Ogden Ave. in Aurora.

Diwali is India's largest annual festival. Celebrated by people throughout India, Nepal and other South Asian countries, the festival marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year.

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Attended by more than 4,000 people last year, Aurora's Diwali festival will feature the diversity of India's music, dance, clothing and cuisine, while also highlighting the contributions of Indian Americans locally and nationally, according to a press release from the city of Aurora.

Waubonsie Valley High School's Cloud 9 singing group will perform the National Anthem. Bollywood-style dance groups and special presentations will also be held. Visitors can purchase food, clothing and jewelry during the event, according to the release.

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The festival will conclude with an outdoor fireworks display beginning at 8:45 p.m.

The celebration is free and open to the public.
An Aurora man charged with fatally shooting another man in June is set for a jury trial in December.

Martin Garcia, 23, of the 600 block of North Root Street, has also asked to substitute a different judge for Kane County Circuit Judge David Kliment, who's assigned to the trial, court records show.

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Garcia, who demanded a speedy trial in September before his trial was ordered last month, is one of two men charged in the death of Rodolfo Rocha, 34, of the 1100 block of Superior Street.

Charging documents accuse both Garcia and Anthony C. Medina, 23, of the 1100 block of Gates Street, with personally shooting the gun that killed Rocha.

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Garcia is charged with six counts of first-degree murder and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

Medina was charged in June with two counts of first-degree murder. A grand jury indicted him on additional charges in July.

Prosecutors are asking the court to order both men to submit to DNA samples to be taken using a cheek swab, according to motions filed last week.

Rocha had been with a group of friends when two men walked up to the group, made gang-motivated statements and started shooting from handguns, police said.

About 12:35 a.m. June 10, police responding to a reported shooting said they found Rocha on the ground in front of a home on the 1100 block of Grove Street. Rocha had several gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A patrol officer saw Medina, who matched the description of one of the shooters, walking in the area about 1:55 a.m., stopped him, and brought him in for questioning.

Meanwhile, Garcia walked into an Aurora hospital with gunshot wounds. Police said early on they believed the wounds were probably related to the East Side shooting. Aurora detectives and agents with the U.S. Marshal's Service Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force arrested Garcia in September at his home.

Three days after the shooting, Garcia was admitted to Stateville Correctional Center in connection with 2015 charges for illegally possessing a gun in a vehicle, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records, which show he was released on parole June 30.

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Medina's prior convictions include felony gun charges in 2012 and 2015, according to Kane County and Illinois Department of Corrections records. He was paroled from Menard Correctional Center, a state prison, in December 2016.

Medina is in Kane County jail with bail set at $3 million and is next due in court Wednesday for a motion or petition hearing. In August, he pleaded not guilty to charges of armed violence, being an armed habitual criminal and at least two counts of murder, and has also requested a jury trial.

Garcia's case is scheduled for his last pretrial hearing on Dec. 7 with a jury trial beginning Dec. 11. He's in the county jail on $4 million bail, and is also next to appear in court Wednesday.

hleone@tribpub.com

Twitter @hannahmleone
Tradition continued Saturday as the Clarendon Hills Fire Department welcomed about 1,000 visitors to its a nnual open house, according to fire chief Brian Leahy.

The department has hosted open houses for at least 40 years, Leahy said, and moved the events to Saturdays from Wednesday evenings about 25 years ago to make it easier for families to attend.

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"This is an important event because residents are able to see the fire station and talk with the firefighters," Leahy said. "They get to see the fire equipment, watch live fire demonstrations, get fire prevention literature and basically see how the fire department operates."

Along with offering a free lunch to everyone who attended, the open house included a side-by-side demonstration of fire spreading in a room with sprinklers and without. Visitors also saw a mock vehicle extraction in which a driver was pinned in the vehicle and children were given the opportunity to use a fire hose to squirt water.

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The event kicks off Fire Prevention Week, observed each year by the National Fire Protection Association in the week that includes Oct. 9, the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. This year's theme is Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!

Mike Schwarz of Clarendon Hills donates blood. ( Steve Johnston/Pioneer Press )

cfieldman@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @chuckwriting
From left, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, the three shepherds who witnessed the apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1917, are the subject of a film that will be screened in Chicago Heights in honor of the 100th anniversary of the miracle. (AFP Photo / Santuario de Fatima)

The Catholic community of Chicago Heights will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the miracle at Fatima, Portugal with a special showing of "The 13th Day."

The free event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Prairie State College, 202 S. Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, with the Rev. Michael Gilligan of San Rocco Oratory leading the Rosary.

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Other local parishes participating include St. Agnes, St. Kieran, St. Paul and St. Irenaeus.

The movie, by Ian and Dominic Higgins, is based on the memoirs of Sister Maria Lucia de Jesus dos Santos, who was one of three shepherd children to witness visions of a "heavenly lady" on the 13th day of the month, from May through October in 1917 in Portugal, during World War I in Europe and the Communist revolution in Russia, according to the website: www.the13thday.com.

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At the first appearance on May 13, she asks Lucia and her two cousins, Francisco and Jacinta, to pray the Rosary every day to bring peace to the world, and to return to the same place, at the same time, on the 13th of every month for the next five months, the website stated.

August Anzelmo, of San Rocco Oratory's events committee, which is organizing the commemoration, said this centennial anniversary is both "historical and religious."

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

"She wanted people to believe in God, pray and quit sinning. Her message is still relevant today," Anzelmo said.

She promised to give the children a sign on Oct. 13, so people would believe the children, he said.

During that time, the government and the media tried to minimize and ridicule the children's visions, and even kidnapped the children in an effort to prevent them from attending on Oct. 13, he said.

According to the story, 70,000 people went to site on that day, and witnessed what has become known as the "miracle of the sun," he said. The sun appeared to gyrate in the sky and fall to the earth, terrifying those who saw it, before it returned to its place in the sky, he said.

More information on the movie screening is with Anzelmo at 708-754-3447. A trailer for the movie is at www.the13thday.com.

slafferty@tribpub.com

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Twitter @SusanLaff
Fred and Cindy Morgenthaler of Green Oaks enjoy ballroom dancing, but this year it's something more than a recreational activity for the couple.

Their 36-year-old son became a quadriplegic in May when a semi truck rear-ended the vehicle he was riding in on a Los Angeles freeway.

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Today, their dance community is trying to make a difference.

Proceeds from the third annual Ballroom Meets Broadway, a production of the Lincolnshire Arthur Murray Dance Center, to be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 15, at the Gorton Community Center in Lake Forest, will go to help the Morgenthalers' son.

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The show will combine ballroom dancing with tunes from Broadway musicals, including "A Chorus Line," "Man of La Mancha," and a compilation from "The Wizard of Oz," "The Wiz," and "Wicked," according to Katie DeSalvo, the show's director and a dance instructor at the studio.

Proceeds from the performance for the past two years have gone to the organization Feed My Starving Children, but this year one of the owners of the Lincolnshire Arthur Murray franchise, Chia-Ling Chang, wanted to make the donation more personal, according to DeSalvo.

DeSalvo said once she and Chang learned about the Morgenthaler's son, the decision was easy.

Fred Morgenthaler said the couple has been overwhelmed with the support they've received from everyone at the studio, where they found a sense of normalcy after the accident.

"We felt that was the place where we could come and feel some relief," he said. "It helped us deal with our own feelings."

The Morgenthalers will perform in a tune from "The Wiz," in a scene about bringing people together because of a common need, according to DeSalvo. The meaning is not lost on the Morgenthalers.

"The dance is a nice part of our therapy," Cindy Morgenthaler said. "When we were going through this, (the dance) helped us relax."

Rehearsing for one of the routines in Ballroom Meets Broadway are, from left, Zach Rosen, Katie DeSalvo and Yura Savidi. (Steve Sadin / Pioneer Press )

Their son spent four to five weeks in intensive care in a Los Angeles hospital after a surgery, but he has since received much of his medical care in Chicago, according to Fred Morgenthaler. He returned to St. Louis in late September, he said.

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With his son out of work and medical bills mounting, Fred Morgenthaler said he and his wife are thankful for the money being raised for him.

"He needs a van for transportation," Fred Morgenthaler said. "There are a lot of expenses making the house livable for him."

Cindy Morgenthaler said her son will return to Chicago's Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where he received treatment, but not as a patient.

"He wants to volunteer at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and help others like himself," she said.

Steve Sadin is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
Noah Properties has proposed building four new three-story residential buildings at 8466 Grand Ave., where a vacated bowling alley is now located. ( Pioneer Press )

Developers of a transit-oriented residential development in River Grove cleared another hurdle last week, winning zoning board of appeals approval on their final plans.

River Grove zoning board members voted unanimously in favor of recommending Chicago-based Noah Properties to build four luxury apartment buildings on property that currently houses a vacated bowling alley at 8645 W. Grand Ave.

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Under the proposed planned unit development, Noah is seeking approval to build four multi-family structures containing 12 dwelling units per structure, with 51 on-site parking spaces on the property.

In a public hearing on the project in June, some residents raised concerns about the lack of parking provided under the development. Presenting an overview of the developer's plans at the Oct. 3 ZBA meeting, Village Engineer Mark Lucas noted that while the site is zoned C-1  a mixed-use, storefront commercial district, with retail and office uses on the ground floor  the "current storefront vacancies" in River Grove were a factor in that use not being included in this project.

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In addition, Lucas said, another key issue is that while village zoning code requires 1.5 parking spaces per unit, the Noah Properties project is considered a transit-oriented development, and he said typically around those, one parking space per unit is common. Lucas said that ratio is supported in the village's transit-oriented development plan drawn up by Teska and Associates, following the rationale that with the buildings close to the Metra train station, tenants might not be using as many vehicles.

Lucas also provided some other details about the project:

 The project will have 48 units in four buildings, three floors tall. The building will have a fire sprinkler system, in conformance with code, he said. A central corridor will run between the buildings to serve as a parking lot, landscaped area and sidewalk into the buildings.

 A perimeter fence will ring the entire site, ornamental in some and wood in other places. The residential units on the first floor are in line with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, he said.

 The second and third floor will have identical layouts. Usually, it's living room space in the interior area and bedroom space in the back, he said. Lucas said the property will be landscaped.

Lucas said there will be some traffic disruption as typical during the construction phase, but plans call for one lane in each direction to always remain open.

Responding to a question about fire protection from the board, Mark Spoo, the village's fire marshal, said the department reviewed the plan, with serious discussions about the inclusion of a fire sprinkler system.

"We put a fire sprinkler in this building, totally sprinkle the building, we will concede some of the access things that are called for by code," he said.

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Making an ambulance call to the address, "what we'll probably have to do is stop traffic for a moment, back in, get the patient, pull out," he said. "If it's a legitimate fire situation at the building, my guess is we would have to close Grand Avenue."
Lutheran Church Charities sent 19 comfort dogs to Las Vegas to console not only the victims of the Oct. 1 mass shooting at a music festival, but their families, casino employees, workers in hospitals and the coroner's office, and 911 dispatch operators.

Toni Bazon-Forsberg, a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Darien, went with Jeremiah, a 2-year-old golden retriever.

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They comforted families of the shooting victims, such as one lady who had been shot three times, including once in her aorta.

"It really is miraculous that she survived," Bazon-Forsberg said. "Her family believes prayer kept her alive."

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The woman had undergone surgery and is expected to remain hospitalized at least a month, Bazon-Forsberg said.

Praying for the people they encounter is part of what their team does, she said.

They also listen to people who want to talk about how they feel and let them hug and pet the dogs. Without being urged, the dogs sometimes respond by resting their head on a person's lap.

"We are there to be a consoling presence to people," said Kristen Stapleton, a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in La Grange who went to Las Vegas with Angel, a comfort dog.

They arrived the afternoon after the attack. The first place they went was to a candlelight vigil on the strip south of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

There is nothing typical about responding to the scene of a tragedy, said Stapleton, who went to Houston with Angel after Hurricane Harvey struck in August.

People in Texas, however, knew the hurricane was coming. In contrast, people attending the country music festival had no idea that a sniper in a hotel room high above them was about to spray them with gunfire.

There was a greater sense of shock and disbelief, Stapleton said.

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"That's not to say, the people in Houston were not in shock because of the magnitude of the storm was so intense," she said.

In Las Vegas, the comfort dogs and their handlers divided into smaller groups to visit the places and people distraught by the mass murder.

"We only go where we are invited," Bazon-Forsberg said.

On Oct. 3, they spent time with victims' families at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center in Las Vegas, many of whose family members were unconscious or unable to speak.

Later in the week, "we spent almost an entire day with employees at the Mandalay," Stapleton said. "Many of them were returning to work for the first time since the shooting. Some of them saw it happen from the windows, or saw victims coming in bleeding, or saw survivors who were covered with blood because they were close to the victims. It was an incredibly frightening thing for these people to see."

Bazon-Forsberg was impressed by the support and care the Mandalay officials gave to their staff.

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Company officials had staff meetings, which the comfort teams attended, where the executives told the employees how proud they were of them and offered counseling and other support services, Bazon-Forsberg said.

They recognized the staff needed to be taken care of, she said.

All the comfort dogs and their handlers on Saturday went to the 911 call center to help the dispatchers who took the hundreds of emergency calls that came in during the attack.

Members of the comfort team went to the coroner's office to console the workers there.

"The magic is you can go into a room where people are stressed, and being there with the dogs showing them love and that someone cares, it helps ease their stress," Bazon-Forsberg said. "It really does make a difference."

The handlers massage their dogs every night, she and Stapleton said, because the dogs absorb the stress around them.

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She and Stapleton returned home Sunday. Angel and Jeremiah will have several days off to relax and play.

Jeremiah will be back at work Saturday at the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District's Open House. He will be accompanied by Shami, the other comfort dog who lives with Bazon-Forsberg.

Shami is fighting cancer, so she does not go on stressful assignments anymore, like responding to scenes of violence.

"She still loves to work," Bazon-Forsberg said, so Shami visits schools, libraries and shut-ins.

kfornek@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @kfDoings
A man from Guadalajara, Mexico, was being held on $500,000 bail Monday after a minor traffic violation led to his arrest for possessing more than three pounds of marijuana and a forged Mexican passport, Round Lake Park police report.

According to Police Chief George Filenko, 32-year-old Jose Avila-Zumadio was driving Saturday at 4:15 p.m. on Route 134 near Fairlawn Drive  25 yards from the Round Lake Park police station  when he went onto the shoulder of the roadway to pass a vehicle.

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"The police officer was in the parking lot of the police station when he saw him," Filenko said.

He said that following a traffic stop, Avila-Zumadio was arrested for not having a valid driver's license, and police found 3.25 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $15,000.

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According to Filenko, police also found that he was in possession of a forged Mexican passport.

Avila-Zumadio was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver and forgery, said Filenko, adding his bail was set Sunday at $500,000.

Filenko said the United States Department of Homeland Security contacted his department and the jail Monday afternoon to say Avila-Zumadio was qualified for deportation because of the charges against him.

The 32-year old from Guadalajara, Mexico, is a Mexican resident, Filenko said.

"Individuals being arrested for transporting drugs from Mexico is common in states along the border. It wasn't the smartest move committing a minor traffic offense near a police station," Filenko said. "It was a bad day for Mr. Zumadio."

fabderholden@tribpub.com

Twitter @abderholden
Food left unattended while cooking on a kitchen stove sparked a fire Sunday afternoon that sent a woman to the hospital and left a house on Naperville's far southeast side uninhabitable, authorities said.

Naperville Fire Department investigators determined the cause of the blaze in the home in the 1900 block of Sprucewood Court to have been accidental, Fire Division Chief Amy Scheller said Monday.

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A woman inside the house was injured and taken to Edward Hospital in Naperville. Scheller said she did not know the woman's condition. No one else was hurt during the blaze.

Firefighters were called at 1:08 p.m. when an unidentified Sprucewood Court resident called 911, "reporting a neighbor had evacuated a nearby house that was on fire," according to a news release.

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First responders found no visible flames or smoke coming from the house, the release said. A firefighter who entered the house "reported smoke and moderate heat conditions" inside.

"Crews located and extinguished a kitchen fire within five minutes of arrival," according to the release.

Firefighters searched for "hidden fire" in the walls and floors, according to the release. They determined the woman had been the only person inside the house, and had gotten out under her own power before firefighters arrived.

The woman was hurt while trying to put out the fire, the release said.

A city inspector deemed the house uninhabitable. "Salvage and overhaul activities were conducted to limit further damage to (the) property and contents," the release stated.

Naperville police and the American Red Cross assisted at the scene.
A pedestrian was able to fight off a robbery attempt last week in Oak Park, police said.

According to a police summary, the incident took place at 7:05 p.m. Oct. 3 in the 800 block of Pleasant Street.

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The attacker, who was wearing a black ski mask, approached a male pedestrian and ordered the man to take everything out of his pockets. The attacker said if the man did not comply, he was going to shoot the pedestrian, police said.

The pedestrian then punched the attacker in the face, knocking the attacker to the ground, police said. The pedestrian fled to his residence, police said. No loss was reported.

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The attacker is described as a black man, standing 5-foot-11 with a thin build. Police said he was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, a black Nike windbreaker, red and blue jeans and maroon Jordan gym shoes.

Anyone with information can contact the Oak Park Police Department at 708-386-3800.

sschering@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @steveschering
The trial of a former Porter County Sheriff's Department deputy charged with felony possession of child pornography will take place in Lake County.

Online court records show that the case was moved to Crown Point last week after a change of venue hearing last month in Porter County.

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Defense attorney John Vouga argued during the hearing that his client, Roger Bowles, could not get a fair trial in Porter County because of his 16-year career with the sheriff's department and because of the focus in probable cause documents and the media on allegations that were not related to the actual charges against him.

Bowles, 56, of Hebron, was charged Aug. 5 with the felony pornography charge and a misdemeanor count of furnishing alcohol to a minor. The charges stem from his alleged consensual sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl he met while the two worked at the Porter County Fair.

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Bowles allegedly had nude photographs of the girl on his phone. Indiana law does not prohibit the sexual activity because the teen was 16 or older, according to documents in the case.

He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Vouga has said in court that online news accounts of the story as well as social media postings contained some of the most threatening language he's seen in his career.

David Thomas, the senior special prosecutor selected for the case, disagreed with the argument that much of the probable cause document was unrelated to the charges at hand, but did agree a fair trial in Porter County would be difficult.

Bowles retired from the sheriff's department May 31. He had been on paid leave since an investigation into the allegations began by Indiana State Police in February at the request of the sheriff's department. He worked as a jailer before being hired as a sheriff's officer.

Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
A Porter County sheriff's deputy was involved in a three-car crash Sunday afternoon that sent an 80-year-old Valparaiso man to a Chicago hospital with a head injury, police said.

The accident occurred around 4:25 p.m. Sunday on Indiana 149 about a half-mile south of County Road 700 north.

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According to a release from Indiana State Police, Lawrence Caronch, 20, of Valparaiso, was northbound on Ind. 149 in a 1995 Jeep Cherokee when he saw a large lampshade in the middle of the road.

Edward Allande, 80, of Valparaiso, was behind Caronch in a 2017 Subaru Outback when both vehicles stopped for the lampshade, a release said.

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A 2015 Ford Explorer, which was a fully marked Porter County Sheriff's Department squad car, driven by Deputy Tim Bell, 37, was behind Allende and failed to see that Allende had stopped his car, police said.

Bell's Explorer hit the rear of Allende's car, pushing it into the rear of Caronch's car, police said.

Allende had to be extricated from his vehicle. All three drivers were taken to Porter Regional Hospital. Caronch and Bell were treated and released; Allende was taken by ambulance to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago with a head injury, police said.

The sheriff's department, South Haven Fire and EMS, Porter EMS and Waffco Towing assisted at the scene.

Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Paddlers participate in the official opening of the east branch of the Little Calumet River Sunday, a project that brought together several partners to clear logjams to make the river accessible again. (Amy Lavalley / Post-Tribune)

Amanda Simmons, her mom Bonnie Hunsley and her nephew Grant Hunsley, 7, were suited up and ready to go.

The Michigan City trio, clad in life jackets, was waiting their turn Sunday to drop a borrowed canoe into the east branch of the Little Calumet River at an access point not far from St. Patrick Catholic Church in Chesterton.

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Amanda Simmons said she found out about a ribbon cutting for the river branch on a Facebook page about the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Outdoor Adventure Festival.

She added it was maybe their third time taking paddle in hand but with a portion of the river now cleared of logjams, it wouldn't be the last.

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"We've kayaked in New Buffalo (Mich.). We've paddle boated. I definitely think it's something we'd take up as a hobby now that we can," she said.

Dozens of paddlers, many of whom, like Simmons, borrowed free gear from the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association, headed toward a landing spot at Howe Road in the national lakeshore.

The event, rescheduled from Saturday because of inclement weather, marked what partner organizations hope will be the rebirth of paddling along the Little Calumet.

"It's been since about 1985 that people were able to freely paddle the waterway," said Dan Plath, chief of resource management at the national lakeshore and former president of the paddling association.

As paddling dropped in popularity, so did maintaining the Little Calumet, which officials said stretches from Red Mill County Park in LaPorte County to Portage, where it flows into Lake Michigan through Burns Waterway.

In the ensuing decades, Plath said, "a few hundred logjams made the river impassible."

With studies, an environmental assessment, the coming together of several environmental agencies, and grant money, officials said they were able to begin clearing the logjams while preserving the habitat for aquatic animals, and determine public access points along the river.

"Many partners have joined into this effort. We've always recognized (the river) as Northwest Indiana's second crown jewel in waterways, compared to Lake Michigan," Plath said, adding it was a jewel in the rough.

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All of the work, said Natalie Johnson, executive director of Save the Dunes, had to be accomplished without compromising the river as a natural resource.

About half of the 16 miles of the waterway is now open; the Chesterton launch, Plath said, is about in the middle of the open segment.

"The work will continue into the spring," Johnson said. Additional work, added Cathy Martin, program manager for Save the Dunes, includes the placement of boat launches and further river restoration.

Full restoration, Plath said, would take several years, but offers a start for paddlers who want to go through the national lakeshore and properties owned by the Shirley Heinze Land Trust.

"It's a whole new way to experience our national park," Johnson said.

Two land trust properties along the river will have boat launches for canoes and kayaks and public access, said Kris Krouse, the trust's executive director.

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"Over the last eight years, we've been acquiring additional property with a focus of protecting the river corridor," the surrounding wooded area and the habitat, he said.

The ability to paddle the river, added Plath, opens up the possibility of boat rentals and other amenities nearby.

"This is filling pent-up demand," he said.

Before he got into a canoe to cut a neon green ribbon that stretched across the river, Paul Labovitz, the lakeshore's superintendent, said it takes "a million partners" to make something like the river clearing happen.

"This has been decades in the making," he said.

Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
TEHRAN - Iran's judiciary spokesman on Sunday confirmed five-year jail sentence for an Iranian nuclear negotiator, Tasnim news agency reported.

A member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team arrested recently by the country's intelligence forces has been sentenced to five years in jail on espionage charges, Iranian Judiciary's Spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted as saying.

"The conviction of (Abdol-Rasool) Dorri Najaf Abadi on charges of spying for foreign intelligence services and leaking information have been upheld," Ejei said speaking at a press conference in Tehran.

Back in May, the judiciary spokesman had announced that Dorri Najaf Abadi had been sentenced to a prison term, but added that he could not provide details since the verdict could be appealed.

He added that Dorri Najaf Abadi holds a dual citizenship and is convicted on charges of spying for two foreign intelligence services, without further elaboration.

The final verdict was upheld after his case was reviewed by an appeals court, Ejei added.

The news of arrest of the former member of the negotiating team was first announced by the judiciary spokesperson in August 2016.
Officials on Oct. 2 put Niles West High School on lockdown following a report that a student brought a gun to school. (Mike Isaacs / Pioneer Press )

Two Niles West High School teenagers who allegedly brought an airsoft gun to school Oct. 2 have been charged with disorderly conduct and referred to juvenile court, Skokie police said in a news release Friday.

Police said a 14-year-old girl from Niles and a 15-year-old boy from Skokie are charged in the incident that led to a lockdown at the school that day. The parent of another student at the school called police after being told by the parent's child that the kids had brought a gun to school, according to police.

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Police said they immediately responded to Niles West and investigated while the school was on lockdown.

"After further investigation, the weapon in question, an Air Soft BB-type pistol, was located and the lockdown was then lifted," police said in the release.

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The two students allegedly involved were detained the day of the incident.

Niles Township High School District 219 spokesman Jim Szczepaniak said the district would not have further comment because the incident is a matter of student discipline.

Some Niles West students who left after the school day Oct. 2 said they initially thought the incident was a drill when alarms went off inside the school.

"Three bells started to go off," and then they announced that everyone should lock their doors, said freshman Walli Baig who was in a music room. "I wasn't nervous because we all thought it was a drill."

But when the incident lasted more than several minutes, he said, students realized something serious was going on.

misaacs@pioneerlocal.com

@SKReview_Mike
A small group of preschoolers delight over putting their hands in a bucket of squishy balls during a toy testing week Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, at the Goddard School in Skokie. (Mike Isaacs/Pioneer Press )

The last week of September was way too warm and pleasant to confuse with December, but it sure seemed like holiday time inside the Goddard School in Skokie.

Preschoolers of all ages played with new toys as part of the franchise's Preschooler-Approved Toy Test, the 10th year Goddard has teamed with toy manufacturers for the special week.

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The Goddard School for Early Childhood Development franchise operates centers all over the country, including 20 in Illinois. This was the first toy test week since for the Skokie location since the school opened a little more than a year ago.

The pre-school was one of 50 chosen from a nation pool for testing, according to Mary Fratini who owns the local school with her husband, Andrew.

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"I think it's because we're a newer school and we're in a really great market where we are geographically and the families that we service," she said.

Under the program, Goddard Systems Inc.  the franchiser of Goddard Schools  reaches out to manufacturers to let them know about the toy test, and then companies send in their toys, which must retail for under $40.

Among 90 toys that were submitted by toy makers this year, Fratini said, 25 were tested by Goddard children at the Skokie location who range in age from infant to 6 years old.

Participating notable toy brands included Melissa & Doug, Leap Frog, V-Tech, K'NEX and many more, according to Goddard officials.

Goddard Systems distributed evaluation forms for teachers to mark down how children played with and responded to the toys they tested.

"It's a really nice marriage between the kids interacting with the toys and getting teachers to observe the toys," Fratini said. "Are they functional? Do they hit on different points that are important for kids at that age? But then how useful are they for children? Do kids want to come back and play with them?"

Skokie's Goddard School tallied its own winners at different age levels to send to Goddard Systems, which will announce the top 10 toys Nov. 1. All Goddard families can vote then and a single toy winner gets announced Nov. 13, according to Fratini.

Just in time for the holiday season, the manufacturer of that toy can advertise that its product was "voted #1 in the The Goddard School Preschooler-Approved Toy Test," according to Goddard Systems.

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"I think the big thing for any parent when you look at toys is  'sure, it's great the first day you open it and get it out of the box but are my kids going to like it in a week or two weeks?'" Fratini said. "That's why we asked them to play with the toy every day at different points throughout the day."

Goddard's 34 teachers oversee 170 kids who attend the pre-school full-time and part-time.

"Every classroom received different toys," Fratini said. "All of them were age appropriate for that classroom."

Kids ages 6 weeks to 9 months received two toys during toy test week, Fratini said. On the last day of testing Sept. 29, two children played with Mirari Juballees balls and Tommy Lamaze Cosimo Concerto, a soft plush animal that also makes sounds so the baby can begin developing musical skills.

Pre-school teacher Nebiat Estifanos said most of the infants chewed the balls, which is not a bad thing. It shows that they are exploring, she said. She wrote about Tommy Lamaze Consimo Concerto that the babies "love to chew on the toy and squeeze it and make that crunchy sound."

Tested toys came in different shapes, sizes and types. Children ages 2 and a little older played with Learning Resources' Snap-n-Learn Turtles, SmartMax's My Safari Animals and Beginagain's U Build It Basics toys.

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Older kids, ages 3 and 4, rolled up their sleeves to work with K'NEX's Budding Builder Building Set and Dunecraft's Bucket of Balls.

A handful of children during the Sept. 29 toy testing pushed their hands into those bucket of balls and felt around, one gleefully declaring that she liked it because "it's squishy." Teacher Allison Schultz said the product came as little beads that were then poured into a bucket of water where they expanded into soft round shapes.

Several of the oldest children  ages 4 and 5  sat around a table to play Learning Resources' Lil' Lemonade Standoff, a memory matching game.

"We had to modify it a little because it's for 5-plus," said teacher Katie May. "We made it more of a game where they copy rather than being a memory game."

Following Goddard's toy testing week, Fratini said she reported Skokie's winning toys to Goddard Systems to be part of the overall national tally.

The Skokie winners included SmartMax Safari Amimals for toddlers, Tommy Shake and Sort Cupcakes for infants and Learning Resources' Rainbow Learning Xylophone for those ages 2 and 3. The older children liked Dunecraft's Bucket of Balls, of course, as well its slick sand and The Young Scientists Club's tracking expedition toy, Fratini reported.

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Whether any of these toys are named nationally remains to be seen.

Either way, Fratini said, her preschoolers loved playing with them for at least one special week.

misaacs@pioneerlocal.com

@SKReview_Mike
All votes in the CO-3 election won't be counted until the end of this week

Adam Frisch attending new member orientation in D.C., with the official outcome of the race between him and Boebert unclear
By Srinivas Raman

The recent ruling by a Chinese court in a trademark infringement dispute concerning New Balances logo marks a watershed moment in Chinas intellectual property rights (IPR) regime.

The court awarded a landmark decision in favor of New Balance (NB) against Chinese competitors deemed to have infringed the companys IPR, reflecting Chinas recent efforts to improve IPR protection.

While foreign firms doing business in China may breathe a sigh of relief at this decision, they must also recognize the implications of the decision against the backdrop of the Chinese trademark regime.

What do foreign firms need to know about the case?

NB has been involved in several disputes involving trademark infringement after entering China against counterfeit Chinese shoemakers. This case involved the infringement of NBs well-known slanting N logo on its footwear by five Chinese shoemakers.

The court observed that by infringing the distinctive logo, the defendants had drastically damaged NBs business reputation and market share in China. The court ordered the defendants to pay an unprecedented compensation amounting to RMB 10 million (US$1.5 million) to NB and to immediately cease producing and selling shoes that infringe NBs logo.

Prior to the decision in favor of NB, the company had little success with IPR infringement issues in China.

In 2015, a court in the southern city of Guangzhou ordered NB to pay US$15.8 million to a man named Zhou Lelun, who had owned the trademark to NBs Chinese name since 1994. The court ruled that NB had infringed on Zhous trademark ownership, as he acquired the Chinese trademark before NB under the countrys first to file system.

Additionally, numerous Chinese copycat brands have imitated NBs slanting N logo for years, including brands such as New Barlun, New Bunren, and New Boom, among others.

RELATED: Joint Ventures in China: Learning from Starbucks and McDonalds

How should foreign firms interpret the decision?

Many foreign firms have encountered IPR protection challenges in China due to the countrys first to file system and the problem of trademark squatting. The first to file system is not unique to China; it is used in many jurisdictions around the world, including the majority of European countries. However, the system can prove problematic for US firms and those from other countries that do not use first to file, as they are often under the impression that China recognizes trademarks registered under other jurisdictions.

Unlike common law jurisdictions such as the United States, where legal precedents have binding value, China follows the civil law system and courts are not bound to follow decisions laid down in prior cases. Therefore, it is uncertain whether this judgment will have any significant impact on future trademark infringement disputes.

Trademark and other IP infringement litigation is an expensive and lengthy process and foreign firms often incur huge expenses in legal fees in such cases. Moreover, most cases do not result in favorable awards for foreign firms as the Chinese courts are very strict about the first to file system and often rule in favor of trademark squatters.

What strategies should foreign firms adopt to protect their trademark in China?

In order to successfully use their trademark while doing business in China and prevent trademark squatting, it is vital for foreign firms to adopt the following precautionary strategies:

Register trademark in China as early as possible: Registration in China may take as long as 18 months, and it is advisable to file for registration as early as possible before entering the Chinese market, or even before making concrete plans to enter China.

Register the trademark in Chinese character transliteration in addition to original form: In order to create the right brand image and avoid confusion, it is advisable to use Chinese characters that make a positive reference to descriptive characteristics of the brand and are also phonetically similar to the trademark. Enlisting the services of local consultants to help chose the appropriate transliteration is recommended.

Register trademark under all categories and sub-categories of goods and services: In order to prevent trademark squatters from registering under similar sub-categories of goods and services, it is advisable to file for registration under all categories and sub-categories. This is particularly beneficial to foreign firms who may have future plans to diversify their products or services. However, as registering can cost RMB 1,000 (US$150) or more for each category, registering in every category and sub-category may not be realistic for many small and medium enterprises.

In addition, foreign firms must also conduct careful IP related due diligence periodically and comply with applicable local laws.

RELATED: Legal & Financial Due Diligence Services from Dezan Shira & Associates

How does the decision relate to the larger IP picture?

Although China has made important international commitments to promote IPR protection within its jurisdiction since the 1980s, the Chinese government had adopted a lackadaisical attitude over the years, fostering an industry thriving on IPR infringement and counterfeit goods.

Recently, amidst international criticism of Chinas business environment and extensive IP theft, the government has brought about a slew of reforms aimed at improving IPR protection in China. The courts have also adopted a similar line of approach, as evidenced from recent awards passed in favor of foreign firms.

Yet, international businesses remain highly critical of IPR protection in China due to the countrys spotty track record, and although the recent reforms indicate a step towards enhanced protection, it is uncertain how far the situation will actually improve.



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The National Theatre Brno from the Czech Republic will present the opera The Makropulos Case and a contemporary dance piece Black and White at the upcoming China Shanghai International Arts Festival. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The 19th China Shanghai International Arts Festival will begin on Oct 20 at the Shanghai Grand Theater with the commissioned work, The Beginning - Choral Symphony, performed by Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Shanghai Opera House.

"Every year we choose a Chinese production to open the arts festival and a foreign production to close it," Wang Jun, president of the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival, says in Beijing. "This year, we commissioned a new work, which was composed by Gong Tianpeng, who is very young and talented."

The 25-year-old Gong, a Shanghai native, started learning the piano at 5. He entered Shanghai Music Conservatory at age 9 and was enrolled into the Juilliard pre-college division by 10.

He has written many works for piano, chamber ensembles and orchestras.

Now, he is the composer-in-residence for the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra.

"The young composer used the form of a choral symphony, of classic romanticism, to express his interpretation of the passion of the contemporary youth. Because he is from Shanghai, the composer also included music elements from the city," Wang says.

During the monthlong festival, 45 repertoires, including 25 foreign productions, and two cultural events - Guizhou Culture Week and Israel Culture Week - will be presented.

Chinese pianist Li Yundi will perform with the German orchestra Staatskapelle Dresden under the baton of Alan Gilbert, the music director of New York Philharmonic, featuring pieces, including Mozart's Piano Concerto No 23 in A Major and Symphonia Domestica by Richard Strauss.

Finnish pianist Folke Grasbeck will give a recital, performing rarely known works by Sibelius.
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China's discipline inspection agency approved the punishment of two senior officials for discipline violations at a plenary meeting on Monday.

Li Gang was placed on one-year probation within the Party and Qu Shuhui was given two years of probation within the Party due to "serious violations of Party discipline," said a statement issued after the meeting of the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

The decisions were made by the CCDI Standing Committee earlier and approved at the Monday meeting.

Members of the CCDI also adopted a decision to remove the CCDI membership of Liu Shengjie.
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Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May coughs as she addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, October 4, 2017. [video clip]

British Prime Minister Theresa May relived Sunday the ordeal of her disastrous party conference speech, insisting "I am resilient".

In her first major interview since Wednesday's conference fiasco when a prankster interrupted her speech, her coughing fits and the stage backdrop falling apart, May said at no time did she think of giving up.

In an exclusive interview in the Sunday Times newspaper, May was asked if she had cried or been depressed in the aftermath of her speech.

She replied: "One minute journalists are accusing me of being an ice maiden or a robot, then they claim I'm a weeping woman in dire need of a good night's sleep! The truth is my feelings can be hurt, like everyone else, but I am pretty resilient."

May said at no point did she feel like leaving the stage when things went wrong, adding, "I am a very determined person."

Describing what gave her the guts to plough on, May said the speech had not been the easiest in her life.

"But I had an important message to deliver and I was determined to do that. It didn't feel like I was alone up there, it felt like everyone in the room was with me and willing me on and that made a huge difference," she said.

Asked if the speech was the worse day of her life, May described it as just a speech, adding that she had had to deal with horrific events such as the "appalling Grenfell Tower fire and loss of life".

"In my life there have, of course, been difficult times but what motivates me is giving a voice to those who struggle to be heard," she said.

Asked if she feared for her own safety when the prankster approached her during the speech, May said: "I wasn't concerned for my safety, there was nothing about his body language that gave me cause for alarm. I have protection people who are fantastic. They look out for me and I trust them completely. I cannot imagine many people watching found the prank funny, though."

May also said it was hugely important that leaders do not become shut off from the public.

"We need to get out there to make our case, to listen to what really matters to people and to learn what we can do to make their lives better," she said.

She said from a group of men she met on a stag do in Tallinn last week to the people she talked to when knocking on doors, she rarely meet anything other than warmth, wit and wisdom.

Other media reports Sunday speculated that May was planning to reshuffle her top-team cabinet, with under-fire Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson a possible casualty of a shake-up.

In her Sunday Times interview, May gave no hint of her intentions, apart from describing her cabinet as "terrific".

She said; "I'm the PM and part of my job is to make sure I always have the best people in my cabinet, to make the most of the wealth of talent available in the party. I have a terrific cabinet. For me leadership is not gossip and game-playing."

Some political commentators were interpreting her words as a possible signal that Johnson would lose his job.
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Iran's judiciary spokesman on Sunday confirmed five-year jail sentence for an Iranian nuclear negotiator, Tasnim news agency reported.

A member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team arrested recently by the country's intelligence forces has been sentenced to five years in jail on espionage charges, Iranian Judiciary's Spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted as saying.

"The conviction of (Abdol-Rasool) Dorri Najaf Abadi on charges of spying for foreign intelligence services and leaking information have been upheld," Ejei said speaking at a press conference in Tehran.

Back in May, the judiciary spokesman had announced that Dorri Najaf Abadi had been sentenced to a prison term, but added that he could not provide details since the verdict could be appealed.

He added that Dorri Najaf Abadi holds a dual citizenship and is convicted on charges of spying for two foreign intelligence services, without further elaboration.

The final verdict was upheld after his case was reviewed by an appeals court, Ejei added.

The news of arrest of the former member of the negotiating team was first announced by the judiciary spokesperson in August 2016.
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Tens of thousands of Israeli and Palestinian women took to the streets in Jerusalem on Sunday to call for a peace deal between the two sides.

The organizers of the event estimated that some 30,000 women had participated in the rally at the Independence Park in Jerusalem.

The demonstration, organized by the "Women Wage Peace" movement, was the last section of a two-week march that started on Sept. 24.

The entire march began in the southern city of Sderot and passed through the occupied West Bank.

Former Arab lawmaker Shakib Shanan, whose son was killed in an attack at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in July, urged decision makers to reach a peace deal.

"Although my heart is bleeding, I stand here tonight. We have suffered so much. Palestinian families and Israeli families have lost their loved ones ... I came here to say, we want to live," he said.

"In the name of this huge audience here and hundreds of thousands of Israelis, I call on Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) and (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu - enough! Sit already. We want peace," he said.

"Women Wage Peace" was established some three years ago to demand a peace deal that would end the bloody conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. It includes some 24,000 members, with a mission statement saying "we will not stop until there is a peace agreement."

The movement was formed in the wake of Israel's 51-day "Protective Edge" military campaign in the Gaza Strip in 2014, which claimed the lives of at least 2,251 Palestinians, mostly children and women, as well as the lives of 72 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

The U.S.-brokered peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians reached a deadlock in 2014. U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to bring the "ultimate deal" and dispatched envoys to the region several times, without any progress so far.
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe continued to evade questions on favoritism scandals during a televised debate among political party heads on Sunday, evoking a new round of questions from the opposition parties on his true purpose for calling a snap election.

"What's the true reason for the prime minister to dissolve the lower house of parliament? Abe has never given a convincing explanation. He said it was for dealing with the crisis caused by the population aging and low birth rate as well as the North Korean crisis. But these are not true," said Japanese Communist Party chief Kazuo Shii.

He added that the true reason for Abe to call the election was only to cover up the favoritism scandals implicating the prime minister.

Tadatomo Yoshida, head of the Social Democratic Party, said that many people believed that the Abe administration failed to give sufficient explanations for the favoritism scandals, and the most important reason was that some scandal-involved key figures refused to speak in the parliament. He called for the prime minister to summon his wife Akie Abe and close friend Kotaro Kake to answer questions in the parliament.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who heads the newly-established Party of Hope, questioned the Abe administration on information disclosure and document management, as well as the prime minister's economic policies.

"Basically, our major goal is to change the current political situation, where Abe alone is strong," she said.

Abe has been under fire for his connection with nationalist private school operator Moritomo Gakuen, which purchased a piece of state-owned land in Osaka for only a fraction of market price.

He has also been accused of using his influence to make the government choose Kake Educational Institution, run by one of his close friends, to open a new department in a government-designated special economic zone.

Previously, the prime minister cited the need to seek a fresh mandate to overcome "a national crisis" caused by "the biggest challenge facing Japan, which is the population aging and low birthrate," as well as security challenges, when announcing his plan last month to call for the snap election.

According to a recent survey conducted by Japan's public broadcaster NHK, support rate for Abe's cabinet dropped to 37 percent, down by 7 percentage point from the previous month, while the disapproval rate increased to 44 percent.

Meanwhile, 67 percent of the respondents said they did not support the prime minister's plan to call a snap election.

The election is slated for Oct. 22, with the official campaigning beginning on Oct. 10.
US President Donald Trump may have a personal interest in keeping the rest of the world wondering what he is actually up to. But the pervasive sense of uncertainty he has created since Day 1 in the White House is hardly conducive to his presidency or US national interests, never mind global stability.

If his frequent verbal flip-flops on major issues in his first days in the Oval Office were forgivable for a man new to politics, the messy state of affairs he continues to create now may have harmful consequences.

The US president has demonstrated an obvious belief in the applicability of his business acumen to state-to-state relations. Or he would not have been so vociferous about renegotiating key international treaties and trade pacts to which the US is a party. He is known for his preoccupation with immediate US gains, so much so that he has left the US' closest allies worrying.

If those were the inevitable side-effects of his businessman's persona that are more annoying than harmful, the suspense he is creating on key matters of international concern is different. Particularly his idea to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement and veiled threats to use force against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Although he is yet to announce that withdrawal, or clarify what he was referring to when he said "only one thing will work" with Pyongyang, those are words that would have serious consequences if put into action.

Trump may believe the US' unrivaled capabilities give him boundless room for maneuver in handling foreign policy issues. But in that he would be mistaken.

Scrapping the Iran nuclear pact, like pulling the trigger on Pyongyang unprovoked, will not advance US interests, unless Trump has a way to limit the repercussions of those actions.

But chances are he has not, and the world is already dealing with the consequences of the US acting without thinking about what comes next.
The 2017 Pujiang Innovation Forum is held in Shanghai between Sept 22 and 25. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Now in its tenth year, the 2017 Pujiang Innovation Forum was held in Shanghai between Sept 22 and 25.

Party Secretary of Shanghai Han Zheng attended the opening ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang delivered the keynote speech, and Mayor of Shanghai Ying Yong delivered a welcome speech to all participants at the forum.

Wan said China's scientific development has entered into new phase, requiring related parties to strengthen their fundamental research capabilities. The sector will be the foundation for China's emergence as a world powerhouse of scientific and technological innovation, he added.

Wan said China has made significant progress in promoting the fundamental research sector in the past few years. China ranks No 2 in providing high-quality papers in the world. It has actively participated in international science projects and has formed a mechanism that supports project establishment, talent recruitment and policymaking.

Wan suggested several ways of boosting fundamental research in China, including strengthening the construction of related bases, expanding the talent pool, and promoting zero-tolerance for academic misconduct.

Ying said Shanghai is accelerating its transformation into a science and technology hub with strong global influence.

"We will apply international standards in the Zhangjiang Comprehensive National Science Center construction processes."

He added Shanghai will establish more platforms to promote technology development, to commercialize research results and to create more functional zones to support Shanghais science and innovation hub development. The city will have better technology supporting mechanisms, better human resources support policies and a better intellectual property protection system in the coming years, he said.

"Pujiang Innovation Forum, which has 10 years of history, has become a high-caliber and international innovation communication platform," Ying said.

"Participants' support and information sharing will provide more inspiration and power to Shanghai in its science and technology hub construction process," Ying added.

Vice-Mayor of Beijing Yin Hejun and Deputy Governor of Anhui province Deng Xiangyang delivered welcome speeches to global guests on Sept 23. Denmark's Minister of Higher Education and Science Soeren Pind gave a keynote speech.

Xu Guanhua, the president of the Pujiang Innovation Forum and an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, hosted the opening ceremony on Sept 23.

Initiated in 2008 and organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Shanghai's municipal government, the forum has attracted top government officials, renowned academics and executives. Their in-depth discussions on hot topics concerning innovation, both at home and abroad, have produced a number of invaluable findings and insights related to economic development and innovation.
A China Railway Express worker directs loading of cargo at Yiwu, Zhejiang province, which now has rail links to the European market. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/China Daily]

Easier customs, facilitation pacts, FTAs, MoUs... China's growth pursuit gets a fresh set of teeth

High growth-minded China is turning its economic spotlight on trade again, after sustained emphasis on supply-side reform.

Cuts to overcapacity in certain sectors and rationalization of companies in key industries are still important. But the country will also help with more negotiations on trade facilitation agreements with foreign countries, including Canada and Israel, according to officials.

There's more to the trade push, of course.

China will simplify and reduce administrative approval procedures related to customs declaration and clearance, and speed up the establishment of a framework for relevant laws and regulations.

General Administration of Customs spokesman Huang Songping said the government will cut the time for cargo clearance by over 30 percent this year.

To raise the efficiency of customs procedures, free mandarin lessons will be given to dialect-speaking domestic business owners and their staff.

"China will further crack down on smuggling of foreign agricultural products and the import of prohibited foreign garbage including plastics, slag from steelmaking, vanadium slag, unsorted scrap paper and discarded textile materials this year to ensure a healthy growth of the country's foreign trade," said Huang.

"Rising demand for goods in overseas markets, high-tech trading of products, the Belt and Road Initiative and growing confidence will build a solid foundation for China's foreign trade this year," said Wang Shouwen, China's vice-commerce minister.

"Deepening technological progress and economic globalization present to all countries unprecedented opportunities and an urgent necessity to enhance economic and technological cooperation," said Wang.

The Ministry of Commerce plans to assist manufacturers in identifying "specific regions" in key emerging export markets, particularly in BRICS economies like Brazil, Russia and South Africa, and markets related to the Belt and Road Initiative, to further diversify and expand trade ties.

China's export growth eased for the second consecutive month in August to 6.9 percent in yuan-denominated terms, down from 11.2 percent in July, as global demand softened, according to data released by the GAC.

Imports showed stronger growth than exports, at 14.4 percent in August, though a bit down from 14.7 percent a month earlier, which experts said suggests consolidated domestic demand.

Dock workers wait for the departure of a cargo ship in Qingdao Port, Shandong province, in East China, which is a major trade enabler. [Photo by Yu Fangping/For China Daily]

In the first eight months of this year, total exports rose by 13 percent year-on-year, while the growth rate of imports was 22.5 percent.

"It's 'an onerous task' to tackle uncertainties and maintain the trade growth momentum, with growing protectionism as well as factories and orders leaving China for lower-cost countries," said Li Guanghui, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing.

Li said China needs to accelerate the upgrade of its foreign trade structure by developing high-tech, high-quality products and services.

Commerce Ministry Spokesman Gao Feng said China, eager to restore its trading ability, will continue to optimize its range of products and approach to the global market through new trade routes and regional cooperation arrangements.

The country has reached 15 free trade agreements or FTAs with 23 countries and regions. It also launched feasibility studies on FTAs with Canada and is willing to conduct another one with Mexico to boost trade with the North American economies.

China and the Maldives also concluded FTA negotiations last month.

"It has been a year since the global trade recovered and it has passed its peak moment. From the export data for August, the growth speed from countries including South Korea and Vietnam has slowed down, indicating the heat of trade recovery is retreating," said Gai Xinzhe, an economist with Bank of China.

"We need to keep a close eye on the economic recovery in Europe and the United States. The appreciation of the renminbi will also have a certain effect on exports, but not too big, because the appreciation in the Chinese currency this time is mainly due to the devaluation of the US dollar," said Gai.

Zhang Yongjun, a researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing, said seasonal typhoons also played a role in the slower export growth rate.

For instance, the typhoon in August has had a negative impact on the loading process at ports in both the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta regions.

"The import scene remains promising as the demand and price of big commodities have been rising. It also showed the recovery in the domestic market has stayed steady, and a 10 percent growth is expected by the end of this year," said Zhang.

Despite some negative factors, there is still a strong push for exports as Europe, the US and Japan have seen their economy picking up. It is highly likely to achieve an 8 percent growth in exports by the end of this year, experts said.

"China is no longer betting on exports to drive up the economy, cultivating new growth points in technology upgrades, stimulation to domestic consumption and adequate investments in fast-growing sectors in global investment destinationsthey have all become indispensable parts for the country to boost its economy," said Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization.

Simultaneously, China is stimulating growth by focusing on supply-side reform. Its efforts in this endeavor can be of great benefit for countries worldwide that are striving to get their sluggish economies back on track.

The reform is aimed at cutting low-end industrial capacity while increasing high-tech production and cultivating new market growth points.

Wang said the services sector has become an important driver of China's economic growth and has great significance for the next step in economic restructuring.

Toward this end, China and Brazil signed a memorandum of understanding in August to diversify services trade to upgrade their commerce structure from commodity and goods exchanges.

Services trade refers to the sale and delivery of an intangible product, such as tourism, financial services and telecommunications services.

Eager to enhance their earning ability in the Chinese mainland, US companies are adopting new strategies. For instance, US-based coffee chain Starbucks Corp plans to open 500 stores this year in China, its largest overseas market, and aims to create 10,000 jobs a year until 2019.

Uber Technologies Inc, the ride-hailing company based in the US, has also committed to invest $1 billion in China to diversify its business, which ranges from transportation services to automotive financing.
Customs officials in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, inspect e-commerce parcels from South Korea. [Photo by Lyv Bin/For China Daily]

Chinese firms specializing in cross-border e-commerce are an enthused lot these days.

Government measures to facilitate trade have helped them in several ways, including logistics, customs and cross-border payments.

All this will pave the way for rapid development of the sector, they said.

"Cross-border e-commerce has effectively broadened the channels for enterprises seeking to enter the international market using internet and information technology, becoming an important technical foundation to promote economic integration and the globalization of trade," said Diane Wang, founder and CEO of DHgate, a cross-border business-to-business e-commerce platform.

Wang said facilitation measures can simplify logistics, customs and cross-border payments related to trade, making regulation more transparent and efficient. "The level of trade facilitation will determine the development of cross-border e-commerce."

DHgate connects China-based small and medium-sized enterprises or SMEs with buyers globally, providing a safer and efficient online marketplace.

It serves 10 million registered buyers from over 230 countries and regions by connecting them to over 1.4 million Chinese suppliers from 34 areas across China for over 30 million products.

It has established two platforms to help Chinese SMEs go overseas. The first is a trading platform where Chinese enterprises could get overseas orders continuously and close deals.

The second is an integrated platform for international trade where services like online payments, logistics, storage, supply-chain finance, customs clearances and tax refunds will be offered.

"The facilitation of trade can greatly shorten the cycle from the signing (for orders) to the completion of the (goods) delivery, promoting trade growth, the flow of funds and product updates," Wang said.

According to DHgate, since 2013, China has become the largest e-commerce market in the world. Since 2016, China has also become the second-largest digital economy in the world.

Digital economy has contributed over 30 percent of China's GDP (74.4 trillion yuan or $11.2 trillion in 2016). This number is expected to be over 35 percent by 2020.

Statistics from iResearch Consulting Group show that China boasts 16.4 trillion yuan in annual digital turnover, with consumer online shopping alone reaching 3.8 trillion yuan last year.

The Shanghai-based cross-border e-commerce site Ymatou.com is also benefiting from the facilitation of trade and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Zeng Bibo, chief executive officer of Ymatou, said, "Trade barriers among countries will be further reduced while corresponding policies and measures are becoming more convenient, which will also bring about a more stable and positive atmosphere and environment for enterprises' expansion and capital deployment across various countries."

Zeng said the Belt and Road Initiative could speed up a series of processes in cross-border trade, including fund settlement and logistics, as well as promote the construction of infrastructure and ecological environment in related industries.

Ymatou will continue to improve its logistics. "We'll mainly focus on the evaluation and operation of railway channels between China and Europe, and therefore improve the supply-chain efficiency for European large commodities to enter the Chinese consumer market," said Zeng.

Ymatou will further increase its commodity portfolio by developing local goods from East Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, to introduce them to Chinese online shoppers. It will also select two to three logistics nodes to build overseas ware-houses and logistics transfer centers.

China will set up more cross-border e-commerce pilot zones to facilitate trade and boost China's global competitiveness.

The government will further streamline administration, enhance compliance oversight and improve service as well as the policy matrix for cross-border e-commerce, to boost efficiency and reduce costs of doing business.

Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce show that 220 countries and regions across the world were covered by China's cross-border e-commerce network as of 2016, with a turnover of 5.85 trillion yuan, up by 28.2 percent year-on-year.

Li Jiayue contributed to this story.
A German receives medical examination at a private hospital in Shanghai. China's existing healthcare system is open to foreign investors. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Private hospitals backed by foreign investors will supplement China's existing healthcare system by offering more complicated surgical operations and high-quality medical services, as well as further enriching the ways foreign direct investment gets used in the country.

The number of private hospitals in China surpassed 17,000 in the first half of this year, accounting for 57.5 percent of the total across the country, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Shanghai-based Delta-Health, funded by Eight Roads Ventures, is one such private hospital. It is marking its first anniversary in China by showcasing its experience in the private sector.

Its experience suggests private hospitals have a lot of potential to function as an alternative option for both patients and medical workers in a market that is still dominated by public hospitals.

For David Hoidal, chief operating officer of Delta Health, the core competitiveness of private hospitals lays in their advanced equipment, competitive salaries for professionals, attractive career growth and full-cycle services for patients.

"As an important partner of Columbia HeartSource in China, we can offer a chance for doctors and nurses to know about cutting-edge medical discoveries, gain world-class experience and deep knowledge from around the world," said Hoidal.

"I think a pure environment for doctors to learn and develop is very crucial for them," said Desmond Thio, chief executive officer of DeltaHealth. "Within a private environment, they can just do what they need to do without further worries about their livelihood."

For patients, private hospitals provide complete aftercare after surgery, Hoidal said.

Instead of being hostile to each other, private and public hospitals should efficiently work together and form a healthy collaborative relationship, he said.

"In the past, we've hosted academic seminars, forums with established doctors while also inviting public hospitals to join us," said Hoidal. "I believe in the future, when the private sector gradually grows in size, public hospitals will also show interest in how their private peers function."

Last year, the Chinese government released "Healthy China 2030", a blueprint that covers areas such as public health services, the medical industry, and food and drug safety, with the aim of improving the health of the Chinese people.

Thio thinks the future is bright for private hospitals in China. "This is a massive country, and Shanghai is fairly big with a population of over 26 million. One cardiac hospital cannot meet the demand, not to speak of Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou."
John Pearce has returned to Sydney from a week in Hong Kong beaming, with one clear message of where to invest his next dollar: the Chinese mainland.

The chief investment officer who is in charge of A$60 billion ($48 billion) at Australian pension fund UniSuper Management Pty expects returns in Asian emerging-market equities to beat developed economy peers, extending an outperformance that is already underway.

The main reason: Chinese firms are driving profit growth set to exceed that in mature stock markets as it is coming from a lower starting point.

UniSuper is joining some of the world's largest investors who say the two-year rally in emerging-market assets has further to go.

Franklin Templeton to BlackRock Inc are among money managers betting that developing-nation stocks and bonds will continue to appreciate as they catch up from more than half-a-decade of underperforming US assets.

China's management of its economy is also making Pearce more comfortable. He recently allowed his money managers to invest in Chinese mainland equities directly for the first time in the firm's history.

China bears have been under pressure this year as better-than-forecast data and an appreciating currency showed the economy is weathering the authorities' deleveraging campaign.

Last week's credit-rating downgrade by S&P Global Ratings reinforced an argument endorsed by hedge-fund titans Kyle Bass and Jim Chanos: The risks to financial stability and the economy from strong credit growth are mounting.

But leading economists and financial experts said S&P's moves lacked credibility and neglected the reality of the nation's financing structure and the overall quality of the country's banking industry.

"S&P Global Ratings' decision focused only on China's leverage level but overlooked the possibilities of risk control in a different financing structure," says Pan Guangwei, executive vice-president of the China Banking Association.

China's leverage level has been on the rise for some time, said Pan, but it is too simplistic to directly compare it with other countries.

"China has an indirect financing-oriented financial system, and banking loans play a leading role in social funding," said Pan.

Earnings on the MSCI Emerging Markets Asia Index over the next 12 months will grow an average 21 percent, compared with 13 percent on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index, according to the consensus of analyst forecasts compiled by Bloomberg.

Researchers said innovations and creativity boom observed in the China market, particularly in fields of artificial intelligence or AI and financial technologies or fintech may lead investors to reset their focus, shifting from concerns over credit quality to interest in emerging growth drivers.

According to a note by the research team of UBS Investment Banking, increasing number of Chinese AI and fintech firms are world class.

Besides, higher resource allocation for education has helped produce 2.8 million graduates majoring in science and technologyfive times that of the US.

Rising investment in research and development and government policy support are also boosting innovation in China.

As investors plug into the situation, valuations of Chinese equities that are not already popular have room to rise, particularly those of internet companies, the research paper said.

Bloomberg-China Daily
Wu Xiaobin, president of Pfizer Greater China, always has ambitious goals not only for himself but for the company he leads.

"When I was a sales representative in Bayer, my dream was to see the opening-up of the Chinese market. Now, Pfizer China's dream is to raise the health condition of all the Chinese," said Wu, who is in charge of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan business of Pfizer, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.

Wu could have chosen to become a scientist after receiving his PhD from the University of Konstanz, majoring in biochemistry and pharmacology. But he joined Bayer Corp, a Germany-headquartered drug company, as a sales representative.

He could have lived on in Germany comfortably, a goal for many Chinese students back then. But he chose to return to China because, in his words, coming back to China was promising.

He never regretted his decision. Since his return in 1996, Wu has headed three largest international pharmaceutical enterprises in China (Bayer, Wyeth and Pfizer).

"Pfizer will associate with other companies and institutions to reduce the prevalence rate of chronic diseases among the Chinese, so that the latter could become a healthy people," Wu said, adding that the goal is far more difficult than any commercial competition.

The slow-diseaseincluding cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and malignant tumorsprevalence rate of Chinese residents almost doubled in a decade from 123.3 percent in 2003 to 245.2 percent in 2013, according to China Self-care Blue Book (2015-16).

The book also shows that more than 300 million Chinese have been diagnosed with chronic disease and the total number of deaths from chronic diseases has risen to 85 percent.

At the same time, slow diseases have appeared as a trend in youth development, beginning to attack middle-aged people in their 40s and 50s.

"For a country's long-term steady development, its people's health should be up to the national strategy level," he said, stressing that Pfizer wants to be an essential part of China's healthcare system, and truly contribute to the society.

For this commitment, Pfizer China does a lot under the leadership of Wu, who said these efforts were far more meaningful than the simple sales growth.

Suggesting that governments, companies and people should all take action, the company sought to set up a cardiovascular prevention and control system in China, so as to fundamentally reduce the morbidity and mortality of the disease.

In cooperation with the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Pfizer China set up a grass-roots project last year to prevent cardiovascular diseases in rural areas through raising treatment level of doctors and relieving economic pressures of local patients.

Until now, 23 pilot counties have been supported by the project.

"If a closed circle was built in a county, which is from prevention, screening, diagnosis to treatment, the morbidity and mortality rates would fall rapidly," said Wu.

Many people in Hotan, a county in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, die from cardiovascular diseases, because of their unhealthy lifestyle. He visited Hotan in early August.

"The medical need is very huge in Hotan. If our pilot project is conducted well in the county, local residents' health would be improved greatly, promoting national stability and strengthening national unity," said Wu.

"Furthermore, we could also expand our successful mode to the countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, improving their people's health, which is good for China's companies going out."

As an international enterprise, Pfizer also collects experiences and lessons of slow disease prevention and control from other countries, and provides useful reference material to Chinese institutions.

Since 1990s, Pfizer China has accumulated more than 200 million yuan in cash and kind in China, in response to natural disasters and various public welfare activities.

"As a company, our aim is to develop better instead of making money," said Wu, stressing that Pfizer aims to innovate continuously to bring patients drugs that can improve their health significantly.

"When I retire, I'd feel very satisfied if, by then, I help make some improvements in China's healthcare sector, such as reducing the number of patients with cardiovascular diseases and less people overusing antibiotics," said Wu.

"Only if we fulfill our corporate social responsibility, revenue is not a big problem on the basis of our high-quality products and efficient promotion," he said.

With more than 10,000 employees, Pfizer China has cumulatively invested more than $1.5 billion in China, including setting up a research and development center and introducing internationally advanced production facilities in some factories.

The drug products not only meet the demand of the Chinese market but exports.
JERUSALEM  Israel is keen on enhancing cooperation with China to attract more Chinese tourists to the Jewish nation, a senior Israeli tourism official told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Amir Halevi, director general of the Ministry of Tourism, lauded the growing tourism between Israel and China for serving as "a cultural bridge between the two countries."

"Incoming tourism from China makes a significant and growing contribution to the Israeli economy, particularly in the hotel and hospitality industries, attractions, and shops," Halevi said.

Israel will continue its cooperation with Chinese partners for tapping the Chinese tourism market, he vowed.

The past years have already witnessed a sharp rise in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Israel.

A total of 64,600 Chinese tourists have visited Israel in the first seven months of 2017, up 66 percent from the same period last year and 130 percent from 2015, according to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, which expects the number of Chinese tourists to Israel to reach 100,000 in 2017.

Many Chinese tourists perceive Israel as a mysterious and exotic destination, attracted by, among other things, the Jewish culture, the holy site of three great religions, Israel's tech innovation and the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, Halevi said.

There are also many Chinese business delegations which visit Israel every year with an aim of learning more about Israel's tech innovation and seeking collaboration or partnerships with their Israeli counterparts in many areas, he noted.

A number of non-stop flights from China to Israel have helped boost the inflow of Chinese tourists to the Jewish state.

The Israel Airlines is now operating direct flights from Tel Aviv to Chinese cities of Beijing and Hong Kong, while China's Hainan Airlines is running direct flights from Beijing and Shanghai to Tel Aviv. In addition, the Cathay Pacific Airways provides direct flights from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv.

The policy that Israel offers 10-year multiple-entry visas to Chinese nationals is also an important factor in attracting more Chinese tourists to Israel, according to Halevi.

Halevi said his ministry is sparing no efforts to build the Israel tourism brand for Chinese tourists.

It has improved its tourism infrastructure to meet Chinese travelers' specific needs, such as employing more Chinese-speaking tour guides, and increasing the signage and tourism materials translated into Chinese.

On the recent visit to China by Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, Halevi said its led to a better understanding between the Israeli tourism ministry and main players in the Chinese tourism industry.

"We are working to promote Israel as a leading and safe tourism destination and would like to achieve a formula that will serve both sides for the long term," Halevi said.

There are plenty of opportunities for enhancing collaboration between Israel and China, "not only commercially, but also at the government level in order to promote bilateral tourism," he added.
Workers carry an electric car battery at the production line of an e-carmaker in Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

As gasoline vehicles may be phased out, action heats up even on bourses where some shares are up

Potential end to sales of gasoline cars in China could benefit makers of electric cars, and suppliers of spare parts and power management solutions in the long run, analysts said.

In fact, ever since talk started about a gradual shift to e-vehicles, shares in e-car companies fluctuated significantly.

Policymakers have been hinting at a possible timeframe soon for phasing out cars that use gasoline as fuel from the China market.

For instance, Xin Guobin, deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said at a news conference in early September that authorities are studying a timetable for stopping sales of gasoline cars in China.

At another conference on power and battery development, Xin said that the development of high-efficiency special batteries is key to the development of e-vehicles in China.

Wang Chuanfu, president of BYD, China's largest e-car maker, said in a recent interview that he estimated sales of gasoline cars will likely end in 2030.

According to Wind Information Technology, a market information provider, investors may have traded in shares of e-vehicle makers to the tune of 2 billion yuan ($301.6 million) to 5 billion yuan in the last two weeks of September, in the run-up to the week-long National Holiday.

Shares in e-car market leaders and battery suppliers outperformed other auto industry labels. For instance, shares in Shenzhen-listed BYD, rose almost 44 percent from 48.29 yuan on Sept 1 to 69.51 yuan on Sept 27.

According to a report by China International Capital Corporation Limited or CICC, large-scale production of e-vehicles and a bigger market share in the overall mobility market are inevitable in the next few years.

"Ending sales of gasoline cars is a global trend, and China is not going to fall behind," the report said.

Norway and the Netherlands have announced they will end sales of gasoline cars in 2025. Germany and India will do so in 2030, and the UK and France in 2040.

Sales revenue of e-vehicles in China has been growing fast. Policymakers are setting ambitious goals for further expanding the market share of such vehicles in the entire mobility sector.

In 2016, e-vehicles accounted for some 1.8 percent of all vehicles in China. A plan set by MIIT said their market share shall be increased to 5 percent in 2020 and 20 percent in 2025.

Sales volume of e-vehicles is estimated to climb from 507,000 units in 2016 to 2 million in 2020 and further grow to 5 million in 2025.

Policies will encourage purchase and use of e-vehicles in China. For example, buyers would be offered free car plates in megacities. In contrast, gasoline car owners may need to pay more than 80,000 yuan for a plate at auctions in Shanghai.

Such incentives will likely further help increase market share of e-vehicles, said a bluepaper on the China market by Fitch Ratings.

In the longer term, however, development of e-vehicles in China depends on battery technology improvements and infrastructure like charging networks, said the paper.
Hongqi's B-concept car in an auto show. Observers express that some businesses, especially Hongqi and Xiali, have been losing profits while under FAW with no sign of revival. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Automaker aims to be top Chinese vehicle brand with new visions and executive rearrangements

An executive reshuffle at State-owned FAW Group seems likely to strengthen supportive measures aimed at helping its Chinese brands achieve their ambitious 2025 targets.

Local media reported that the presidents of two FAW subsidiaries were moved to new roles within FAW Group.

Zhang Pijie, former president of FAW Volkswagen Automobile, was appointed director of procurement of FAW Group.

Hu Yong, former president of FAW Car, was appointed as director of strategic management of the group.

The high-profile actions were taken together with a series of other transfers involving more than 50 departments.

This follows Xu Liuping taking the helm as the group's chairman on Aug 2, announcing the group will concentrate its resources in supporting its Hongqi brand and products.

Sources familiar with the automaking group said all of the executives of the subsidiary business units were required to support the group's own Chinese brands. The adjustment was made in line with the group's portfolio targets, they said.

The group aims to forge Hongqi into the top high-end Chinese brand by sales volume, while the FAW brand goal is to be the top Chinese commercial vehicle brand by sales volume, according to the sources, who requested to remain anonymous.

The target for Besturn is to rank among the top five auto brands and among first-tier Chinese brands between 2020 and 2025. The joint ventures aim to be among the best companies in China, the sources said.

In the area of new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, the group is also aiming for leading positions among first-tier automakers in China.

Securities analysts said that they have been expecting FAW Group's listing on a Chinese stock exchange for years, but the group lacked clear direction.

After the group's flat management system was established, executives will combine efforts in their new positions to carry out Xu's strategic plans, according to sources close to the matter.

A Besturn division will be established directly under the control of the Group. Parallel with the Hongqi division in the group's organizational structure, the Besturn division will merge the FAW Xiali and FAW MC business units.

The sources said: "Some businesses, especially Hongqi and Xiali, have been losing money for years, and there were no signs of reversing the trend.

"Staff members across the entire group have been busy coping with the frequent executive reshuffles since 2015, the year the former chairman Xu Jianyi was sentenced."

Another source told the reporter that the group's earlier weakness and failures resulted from a lack of diligence in the top management team.

The source said that as soon as the executives begin to behave properly in their roles and take care of the Chinese brands, the group would develop positively.

"After all, FAW Group has renowned brand names, including Hongqi. They are widely recognized and accepted. The company could easily promote the right products with these brands to Chinese customers."
A good ecological environment is the fairest public product, and the most accessible welfare for the people.

 President Xi Jinping addressed during his inspection tour in Hainan in April 2013

Photo taken on July 11, 2017 shows Saihanba National Forest Park, China's largest man-made woodland, in Weichang Manchu and Mongolian autonomous county in Chengde, Hebei province.[Photo/Xinhua]

The assertion was initiated in 2005 when President Xi was the Party chief of Zhejiang province. It has been mentioned by Xi many times both inside and outside China to attach importance to environment protection and green development.

The implementation

This philosophy for green development proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping is changing the country.

The river chief system is among the major innovations in promoting green development by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core, since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012.

The report delivered at the 18th CPC National Congress included ecological development as a major task in the country's overall plan and proposed building a "beautiful China" as a grand goal for ecological progress.

Eco-civilization was also included in the CPC Constitution as a principle for development during the meeting. It was the first time in the world a ruling party had highlighted green development in its guidelines.

China's efforts to promote green development have earned global recognition. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) decided to promote China's philosophy of ecological progress in February 2013 and released a report on China's strategies and practices in the field two years later.

Green development is not an empty idea in China. The central authorities have introduced enforcement systems to ensure local governments "walk the talk."

China introduced action plans to fight air, water and soil pollution and rolled out its harshest-ever environmental protection law. The country also decided to draw red lines declaring certain regions under mandatory and rigorous protection.

Local government efforts to promote ecological progress will be reviewed annually, then again every five years, and be used as a criterion for the promotion of officials.

A national campaign to review local governments' environmental protection work started in late 2015 from Hebei Province and has covered 23 provincial regions. Over 6,000 officials were held accountable for negligence or malpractice in 2016.

The efforts have paid off. The average annual density of fine air particulate matter, or PM 2.5, which is often used as a gauge for air pollution, dropped by 33 percent in 2016 in the Beijing-Hebei-Tianjin region compared with 2013.

From new energy vehicles to bike-sharing, low-carbon lifestyles are becoming popular among Chinese people.
BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping Tuesday extended congratulations and greetings to faculty, students and alumni of Renmin University of China (RUC) as the university marks its 80th anniversary.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter conveyed at an event celebrating the anniversary in Beijing.

"The Party and the country are at a crucial stage at present," Xi said.

"Never before have we had such a pressing need for higher education, and never before have we so required scientific knowledge and talent," Xi said.

The president encouraged the RUC to use its 80th anniversary as a new starting point in becoming a world-class university with world-class disciplines.

As the first accredited university set up by the CPC, the RUC has always adhered to the leadership of the Party, the guiding status of Marxism, and the mission to serve the Party and the people, Xi said.

Xi spoke highly of the university's achievements in humanities and social sciences and appreciated its efforts to train talent for the country's revolution, construction and reform.

He asked the university to carry on these fine traditions and make new contributions to the development of higher education, China's two centenary goals and achieving the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

Vice Premier Liu Yandong read Xi's congratulatory letter at Tuesday's celebration, and asked the university to deepen reform, improve its education quality, and train more talent for the country's development and national rejuvenation.

As one of China's premiere institutions of higher learning, the RUC is a research-oriented comprehensive university focusing on humanities and social sciences.

The university can be traced back to Shaanbei Public School, founded in 1937 in a CPC revolutionary base in Shaanxi, northwest China. It later became the North China United University, and then North China University. On Oct 3, 1950, it was restructured and renamed RUC.
Mao Zhaomu delivers food near Sichuan International Studies University in Chongqing.Photos By Su Zhigang / For China Daily

A deliveryman who has become an online celebrity for sending his customers messages in English will soon have more opportunities to use the language.

Mao Zhaomu was a deliveryman in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. Recently he returned to Sichuan International Studies University, where he used to deliver food to students, but this time with a different purpose: to register as a new student. He plans to major in English.

Mao, 18, was in his first year of high school when he dropped out in March last year.

"I liked English, but my scores in other subjects were not good," he said. "I thought it was unlikely that I would go to college. So I decided to work and help my family."

He changed jobs several times, from hairdresser to bartender to home decorator.

"I didn't like these jobs," he said. "But I didn't receive much education, which prevented me from getting a better job."

During that time, Mao made up his mind about one thing: to continue his studies and go to college.

"My English teacher in middle school entered university through an entrance exam for self-taught adults," he said. "He encouraged me to do the same."

Most Chinese students enter universities through the gaokao, the national college entrance exam. However, for those who have not finished secondary school, a self-taught higher education exam was introduced in 1981 as an alternative route.

Mao began delivering food at the beginning of this year, working near the Chongqing university, and studied English at the same time.

"While I was waiting for a customer to pick up a meal, I could memorize several English words," Mao said.

To seize every chance to practice English, he began sending English text messages in March. "Hello, your phone was power off when I called you. Your meal have been put by me on the vending machine," he would write.

There were grammatical mistakes, but that didn't prevent him from trying.

"I thought that students at the university must be good at English, so I wanted to practice," Mao said.

On China's Sina Weibo, social media users praised Mao's efforts. "This is so inspirational," said one user nicknamed Kanchairen. "Whoever has a dream and dares to pursue it is the loveliest person."

Some students, like Huang Lanhong, a freshman at the university, ordered takeout food from the restaurant where Mao worked just so they could meet him.

"I think we should learn from him," Huang said.

Teachers and students gave him books. Mao recalled that once a postgraduate student gave him an English dictionary, which he put into the takeaway box.

"When I arrived home, I found the book was stained with grease. I felt so sorry for the student who gave it to me," he said.

A teacher from Shanghai, known only as Kevin, contacted Mao and taught him online. He also sent him BBC audio clips for him to translate.

The efforts paid off. In August Mao received a letter of admission from the College of Continuing Education at SISU.

Mao has quit his job as a deliveryman. "Next time I enter the university it will be as a student," he said.

He plans to get a master's degree and become an interpreter.

According to a China Newsweek report, by the end of last year, more than 500 people who had worked as security guards at Peking University had gone on to receive a university education, including 12 who earned master's degrees. Some of them have become teachers and even opened schools.

"If people from everywhere in China could have a way of changing their situations by working hard, if different groups could exchange and help each other as equals, the inner desire for improvement could be awakened in more people," said Beijing Youth Daily said in an editorial.

Xinhua
An additional 14 rescue workers have been sent to help extract three hikers who were stranded in a remote part of Sichuan province's Wolong Nature Reserve after they were found by an earlier rescue team of 16, according to a report on Sunday in Western China Metropolis Daily.

At least 30 people, including police officers, medical workers and residents, had been involved in the search.

Wolong police received a call from the hikers on a satellite phone at about 3 pm on Thursday. The caller said he and his two companions - a man and a woman - were unable to continue.

They had entered a zone that is ordinarily off-limits to the public on Sept 30 and planned to walk through the mountains. However, they got altitude sickness and lost their way.

The satellite phone helped rescuers pinpoint the hikers' location.

It took six hours for the first rescue team to find the hikers, who were holed up in a cowshed in Paziqiao - a virgin forest area southwest of the reserve where altitudes soar up to 4,000 meters.

The two men were checked, and one was found to be overweight and suffering symptoms related to altitude. The woman had severe altitude sickness and was too weak to walk, police said.

"Pan, one of the male hikers, is overweight and got sick at the high altitude," said Wang Yong, director of the Wolong police station, who led the rescue team." His sickness will only worsen if we lead them home using the route we had originally planned."

Instead, he said, the team and the hikers will descend rapidly through Yinchanggou to the southeast. The altitude is lower, so oxygen is more abundant, but the terrain is more perilous, he said.

Police said the hikers may have illegally entered the reserve, as they did not get approval from local authorities to hike in the off-limits zone. The reserve covers 700,000 hectares, but only about 200,000 hectares are open to the public without special permission.

Because of the difficult terrain and the health condition of the hikers, police said it was hard to estimate the time needed to bring them out.

Cheng Si contributed to this story.
Organism grown inside mosquitoes' bodies stops development of infectious parasite

Chinese scientists may have found a way to stop mosquitoes from spreading malaria, which kills one child every two minutes according to the World Health Organization.

Malaria affects between 200 and 300 million people worldwide every year according to the WHO. Infection is caused by Plasmodium, a parasite that is transmitted through mosquito bites.

A symbiotic bacterium that grows inside the bodies of mosquitoes was discovered by a team at the Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology in Shanghai, and was genetically modified to carry anti-malaria genes that arrest the development of the parasites in the insects' intestinal tracts.

"The bacteria proliferate rapidly in the intestinal tracts of mosquitoes after they take in human blood and thus the ability to inhibit the development of the parasites will increase dramatically," said Wang Sibao, head of the research team at the institute, a branch of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences.

More important, the bacteria can be spread among mosquitoes quickly and widely during mating, and can be passed on to the next generation.

"When mosquitoes with such bacteria lay eggs in water, bacteria stuck to the surface of their eggs will propagate in the water and be ingested by the hatched larvae of the other mosquitoes, meaning that the capability of inhibiting the spread of the disease can be passed to other mosquitoes rapidly," Wang said.

A paper about the research team's findings was published on the website of Science, an international journal, on Friday.

The authors demonstrated that introducing 5 percent of male or female mosquitoes colonized with the symbiotic bacteria was sufficient for the bacteria to spread through the population and colonize 100 percent of mosquitoes for three subsequent generations, according to one peer review.

Another peer review said: "One of the bottlenecks of paratransgenesis has been the inability to maintain the bacteria in the insect for a prolonged period of time and, importantly, to spread the bacteria to the offspring. In this work, Wang showed that a specific bacterium found in mosquitoes can stay in the insect for a long period of time and be easily propagated to other mosquitoes."

Wang said laboratory tests have been completed, and the team will conduct field experiments in some African countries.

The research may bring new insight to approaches for inhibiting the spread of other infectious diseases, such as dengue fever, which is also spread by mosquitoes, according to the institute.

According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, 3,189 Chinese citizens contracted malaria last year. It is increasingly difficult to prevent and fight the disease due to globalization. Only three of the cases last year were contracted locally.
A male college professor who assaulted a female street cleaner in his community was detained and fined by the police on Saturday in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

Xi'an police released a statement on Sina Weibo saying the professor, surnamed Ge, would be detained for 10 days and face a fine of 500 yuan ($75) for beating up the worker, surnamed Liu. The worker sustained minor injuries, the statement said.

The violence drew people's attention after a Weibo user, Chapai017, posted photos on Wednesday showing Liu with blood on her face and crying.

The accompanying post said the street worker was confronted by Ge and another woman because of a garbage truck that was blocking the driveway. It said Ge was observed assaulting Liu after she scrambled to her feet from a pile of rubbish, as if she had just been knocked down. The other woman shouted, "Do you know how much I earn and how much you earn?" and "You are wasting my time," the post said.

Residents, who had begun to gather because of the noise, stopped the fight and called the police as Ge and the woman tried to leave, the post said.

The Weibo user, who claimed to have gone to the police station to make a statement, added that Ge was a newly employed professor at Shaanxi University of Science and Technology and had just completed his studies in the United States and Japan. The post said the shouting woman worked in the university's personnel division, but this was later contradicted by the university, which said she was one of Ge's relatives.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the university said Ge had been suspended and a work team had been appointed to assist the police with their investigation. The university said it would handle the case "seriously" and in line with the investigation results.

A Weibo post by the university on Thursday confirmed that the woman was not a member of the school's faculty. It also said Ge had realized the severity of his actions, that he had apologized to the street worker and her family in person and would pay her medical costs.

Ge's attack on the worker caused an uproar online. Chapai017's post alone received some 107,000 reposts and 55,000 comments.

One Weibo user commented that "one's moral standing, as well as academic performance, should factor in the assessment of a college professor".

Another wrote that the assailant should be brought to justice. "I myself come from a family at the grassroots level and I hope my family will be respected by society. And so do other families of the same background," the comment said.

However, a Weibo user named Pili_Zhang called for calm, saying criticism should not be directed at the university or its faculty:

"It was wrong for Ge to beat the cleaner, but let's leave the case to the law and the police, and stop the verbal attacks on the university and its faculty."

Li Lei contributed to this story.
President Xi Jinping has a good understanding of big data and its social impact, said a top London scientist who met him during Xi's historic state visit to the United Kingdom in 2015.

Guo Yike, director of the Data Science Institute at Imperial College London, recalled the clarity of Xi's thinking.

"He certainly had a clear engineer's view of things, particularly in data analysis methods," Guo said. "President Xi engaged in all the applications and responded very nicely about my research topics. I could clearly see the engineering background of this leader."

As part of Xi's tour to the UK in 2015, he visited Imperial College London, where Guo presented a data-driven analysis of the Belt and Road Initiative's economic and social impact, and demonstrated how smart-city researchers are monitoring and analyzing mass transportation data on Shanghai's subway network.

"When I was talking about the Shanghai metro, he clearly saw that and said, 'this could be very useful for monitoring the possible risk'. So he understood it very quickly, and I think he is a wise leader," Guo said.

Though it was but a brief meeting, Guo was struck by Xi's amiability.

"I didn't feel nervous when he shook hands with me, and we were chatting a lot. I felt he was easy to talk to," Guo said.

A highlight for Guo came when he handed first lady Peng Liyuan a perfectly fitting new cape that was designed with the help of image processing technology that analyzed 700 photos of her.

That technology has important uses, Guo said.

"Now we have developed this technology much further. We need very few pictures to generate a 3D model, making it easier for online clothes shopping."

In the past decade, Imperial College London has become China's premier research collaborator in Britain. The college's Chinese partners include Huawei Technologies and scientific institutes at Tsinghua, Zhejiang, and Peking universities as well as the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The leading data scientist said Xi's visit to the UK brought China and the UK very close.

"His trip to Imperial definitely enhanced our relations with China from the research point of view and also from all sides," Guo said. "We're now pretty tightly connected with a lot of Chinese industries and Chinese universities, in particular in areas of data science and artificial intelligence.

He said Xi's visit came at a great time for AI and data science because it marked the moment when the technology was set to drive modern industry and modern technological development.

In the next five years, China is likely to surpass the United States and become the largest economy in the world while facing the challenge of changing its industrial structure, Guo said. He added that it will be important for China to leverage its current position and become a main driving force for innovation that focuses on original research, rather than relying on existing Western research results.

Zhang Yangfei contributed to this story
The Hinkley Point C nuclear power project, which Chinese companies invested in, is under construction in western England in August.Han Yan / Xinhua

Xi's historic 2015 UK trip continues to bear fruit, ambassador says

Almost two years ago, President Xi Jinping made a historic state visit to the United Kingdom, heralding a "Golden Era" for China-UK relations.

That visit, from Oct 19 to 23 in 2015, at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II, was a milestone because its significance extends well beyond our times, said Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, ahead of the visit's two year anniversary.

Liu accompanied Xi throughout his UK visit. "President Xi's 'super state visit' to the UK had a 'super impact' on China-UK relations," the veteran diplomat said. "Internationally, Xi's visit was a courageous effort to build a new type of major country relationship."

Looking back, he said, Xi's visit has had three highlights, which he summarized as three "supers": that is, "super program", "super outcomes" and "super significance".

By "super program", Liu refers to Xi's tight schedule. In five days, Xi attended more than 30 events. His trip took him not only to the capital city of London, but also other parts of Britain. His itinerary also included towns and villages. His schedule maintained a tight political agenda and light interaction with the public.

The "super outcomes" refers to 59 deals reached during Xi's visit, including 13 intergovernmental and noncommercial agreements, 28 commercial contracts worth 40 billion pounds ($52.28 billion), as well as 18 other outcomes.

The signing of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project was a milestone, with a Chinese nuclear company making its first-ever entry into a developed country's market. There were breakthroughs in financial services cooperation marked by the expansion of the scale of currency swap, the launch of the feasibility study on Shanghai-London Stock Connect, and China's agreement to make London the place of issue for its first RMB sovereign bond outside China.

Liu said the state visit has "super significance" as the human touch of Xi's UK trip was a fine example of public diplomacy.

From the royal carriages to the Plough in Cadsden, from the Indian pale ale with fish and chips to the iconic Sergio Aguero selfie, numerous eye-catching moments made headlines and became media focal points.

"President Xi mentioned many British household names in his speeches, from Byron, Shelley and Dickens, to Harry Potter, Sherlock and Downton Abbey, and felt instantly close to the British public. This visit created huge enthusiasm across Britain for learning about China in greater depth," Liu said.

"The role of this visit in building stronger public support for closer China-UK cooperation cannot be overstated," he said.

During the state visit, China and the UK committed to building a global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st Century.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council and countries of global influence, China and the UK shoulder responsibilities for advancing world peace and development.

Liu said that the China-UK "Golden Era" is a successful practice of China's vision for state-to-state ties, namely, "a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation".

"It is a fine example of how the emerging and established powers can work together to build a new type of relationship in which they deepen mutual trust, engage in healthy interaction and pursue win-win cooperation," Liu said.

Over the past year, President Xi and Prime Minister Theresa May have maintained close personal contact since she formed a new government after the Brexit referendum in June 2016.

Looking ahead, the diplomat said that Brexit is bringing uncertainties and instabilities, but the shared goal of China and the UK to build a "Golden Era" remains unchanged.

He noted that May is planning a visit to China before the end of this year. "I have confidence that such a visit will give new impetus to the China-UK relationship and allow the 'Golden Era' to endure," Liu said.

Liu said the coming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, beginning on Oct 18, will take stock of our development experience and formulate the program and policies for the future. China's peaceful development will offer more opportunities for the world, Britain included, he said.
A scientist surveys a hyperloop used for trials of maglev vehicles at Southwest Jiaotong University in Chengdu, Sichuan province.[Photo/China Daily]

Designers are investigating a revolutionary system that would employ magnetic levitation and hyperloops, as Zhao Lei reports.

A poll recently conducted by Beijing Foreign Studies University showed that the speed and convenience offered by high-speed rail, online shopping, shared bikes and mobile phone-based payment apps are the four things young expats in China view most favorably.

And of those four items, it seems likely that high-speed rail will remain on the list for a long time as the country works to retain its place as the home of the world's fastest trains. Now, Chinese designers are developing a bullet train capable of achieving a top speed of 400 kilometers per hour on conventional tracks, along with a magnetic levitation, or maglev, train that is expected to run at 600 km/h.

The country is even considering the possibility of building a system based on a transnational tube that would allow specially designed trains to travel at 4,000 km/h.

Last month, designers at China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, one of the country's biggest space contractors, announced that they had started research and development work on a futuristic ultrafast transportation system popularly known as a hyperloop.

The CASIC hyperloop will see maglev lines running in partially elevated tubes or tunnels along which streamlined, engineless trains will travel at speeds of 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 km/h, according to Mao Kai, chief designer of the system at CASIC. So far, there is no indication of how much such a system would cost.

By comparison, China's fastest wheeled train in commercial operation travels at about 350 km/h, while large commercial jetliners usually fly at 900 to 1,000 km/h.

The highest speed ever achieved by a railway vehicle was 603 km/h. That record was set during a test run of the Japanese L0 Series superconducting maglev in April 2015. However, the fastest operating speed of a commercial rail vehicle is 430 km/h, and was attained by the Transrapid maglev, developed in Germany, on a 30.5 km stretch of line that runs to the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai.

CASIC is the first Chinese enterprise to begin developing a hyperloop system capable of allowing trains to travel at 1,000 km/h or faster.

Depth of experience

The project will benefit from the company's experience in systems engineering and supersonic vehicles, CASIC said in a statement. The company is the third in the world to embark on such a venture, following Hyperloop Transportation Technologies and Hyperloop One in the United States.

Mao said CASIC is working with more than 20 institutes at home and abroad on the project and its technicians are striving to develop key technologies, such as those required to construct elevated hyperloop tube systems.

He added that once the project has been developed sufficiently, CASIC plans to construct a short line for trial runs for the 1,000 km/h version.

The 1,000 km/h and 2,000 km/h versions of the system would be used for intercity travel, while the 4,000 km/h version would form part of a transnational ultrafast transportation network, according to Mao.

"The reason we are eager to develop a 4,000 km/h version is that we believe such a line is technologically feasible, and that it will have business potential in terms of long-distance transportation in the future," he said. "Of course, safety and comfort will be at the top on our agenda when we develop hyperloop lines."

The maglev train's acceleration and deceleration within the tube would have to be relatively gradual and smooth to ensure passenger comfort, he said. Moreover, landforms and engineering considerations would determine what proportion of the line would be aboveground and how much would run underground.
LHASA -- Seven tourists were fined for their auto racing with Tibetan antelopes in a national reserve in southwestern China's Tibet autonomous region.

The regional forestry authority said Monday that the tourists in two off-road vehicles left the designated travel route and chased a herd of Tibetan antelopes in Serling Co National Nature Reserve in Nagqu prefecture during the National Day holiday last week.

Forestry wardens seized their video footage, which recorded over one minute of the chasing. The tourists involved said they had wanted to get a closer look at the antelope.

Zhaxi Doje, an official with the Tibet Forestry Bureau, said frightened Tibetan antelope running in their top speed can suffer from heart and lung failure.

Although forest wardens patrolled over 300 square km of area after the incident to examine the antelope group and found no evidence of harm to the animals, the tourists were fined 105,000 yuan ($16,000) in total for "disturbing rare wildlife's living and breeding."

The population of Tibetan antelope declined sharply from 200,000 to 20,000 due to illegal hunting in 1980s. Thanks to the habitat protection in the past decade, the population has recovered, but the plateau species is still listed among China's first class protected animals.
Seventy-six-year-old Cao Xuemei and her husband Cui Xingli. Photo from CCTV News

China's booming livestream community is not the sole provenance of young people. An old couple in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, have recently become rising internet stars.

Seventy-six-year-old Cao Xuemei and her husband Cui Xingli are hosts of their channel "kaixin nainai", or Happy Grandma. The silver-haired pair spends one and a half hours per day broadcasting at home, with tens of thousands of fans watching on the other side of the screen, according to a CCTV News report.

Grandma Cao often asks Grandpa Cui questions during the broadcast, such as "how old are you?" "Which grade are you in?" Cui gives answers like, "I'm eight." "I'm in Grade Four." Sometimes, Cui will just parrot what Cao says.

The conversation may amuse viewers, but the sad fact is Cui was diagnosed with Alzheimer's years ago. The memory loss disease is also one of the reasons why Cao launched their streaming channel last year, with the assistance of their granddaughter -- Cao believed this would help her husband recover some mental functions.

Through chatting with fans online, the duo has learned many internet buzzwords. What's more, Grandpa Cui's memory and spirit have improved significantly during one year's livestreaming. He can even remember some stories from his youth.

Cui was a technology engineer at China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Co., Ltd. Cao and their children followed him everywhere, as bridge projects took him all over. The family finally settled down in Wuhan after Cui retired. This year marks the couple's 54th wedding anniversary.

Grandpa Cui is fashionable on camera, not just clean and neat. The stream shows Cao's meticulous care, dated back to 1997, when Cui suffered a stroke for the first time. Two more strokes followed, and later Alzheimer's. He may have forgotten a lot, but he always remembers his wife's name, said daughter Cui Rong.

Netizens and fans were moved by their love after they learned the pair's story. "I worked at an institution with Alzheimer patients. I know exactly how difficult it is to look after them. Grandma is a great person," said one internet user on Sina Weibo, one of the country's most popular social media sites.

"Bless them. I like to watch such livestreaming. We should spend more time with family members in their old age. By the time they don't remember you and can't walk around with you anymore, you would regret it," another Weibo user added.
Seven people have been fined 105,000 yuan ($15,830) for chasing Tibetan antelope in a nature reserve in the Tibet autonomous region, the local forestry department said on Sunday.

At 5:20 pm on Wednesday, a group of seven tourists in two SUVs drove off a public road and into a reserve in Nagchu in northern Tibet, said Deng Zhonghua, an officer from Lhasa's public security bureau.

They saw a herd of antelope while driving along the road in Shenza county and drove after the animals for about a minute to take pictures, Deng said.

He said a netizen posted images of two white vehicles pursuing running herds in a reserve on Sina Weibo and reported it to the police at 2 pm on Friday.

The police found the group at 5 pm on Friday, and handed the case over to the local forestry department.

Each person was fined 10,000 yuan for breaking the Wild Animal Conservation Law and 5,000 yuan for breaking nature reserve regulations.

The forestry authority said no injured or dead antelope had been found during checks in the area on Friday or Saturday.

Zhang Yi contributed to this story.
A female driver picked up a gas card with an account balance of around 39 million yuan (about $6 million) on the sly in Liuzhou, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Friday.

Usually, a gas station has a main card and several secondary cards, with which attendants can pump fuel for drivers. On Oct 6, an attendant in Baisha Road station left the main card on the fuel dispenser after filling up a car. The attendant returned to get the card, only to find that the main card with the huge account balance was missing.

The attendant immediately reported the loss to the head of the gas station and checked the video footage recorded by the CCTV. The video showed that a female driver in purple had taken off with the card. Since the amount of money involved was 39 million yuan, the head of the gas station had to resort to police to retrieve the card.

The police traced the female driver after checking the vehicle information. At first, the driver denied takingthe card. When the police described what she had done in detail, she confessed her misbehavior and took the card back to the gas station. The driver was dumfounded when she heard the amount that was there in the card. She said she thought the card was left by other drivers and took it. Given thatthe driver had confessed her mistake and returned the card in time without any losses, the gas station and the police all decided not to press any charges against her.

The case generated lively online discussion, with over 80,000 people commenting on the Internet Media NetEase. Some were astonished by the huge account balance, while others argued about the female driver's misbehavior. Some even joked about the event. "Perhaps, the driver stole the 39-million-yuan gas card for the aircraft carrier," a netizen said.
The Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan province has warned climbers not to enter its core area after three tourists had to be rescued over the National Day holiday.

Regulations ban climbers from core areas of China's nature reserves, which often are home to endangered animals, said He Xiao'an, an information officer for the Wolong reserve.

He made the remarks on Monday as rescuers work to extract three stranded climbers.

The visitors became stranded on Thursday, midway through the holiday, and had to call for help using a satellite phone.

"Two days later, rescuers found them. Because they were on mountains more than 4,000 meters above sea level, rescuers are now trying to get them to safety across dangerous paths and valleys," He said.

Covering 200,000 hectares, Wolong is best known as the location of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, which has the largest captive panda population in the world.

The core area covers 180,000 hectares and is home to wild pandas. The reserve is also home to rare deer, golden monkeys and precious plants.

To prevent climbers from disturbing the wildlife, the reserve's management committee has put up signs warning visitors to keep away from the core area. However, many people simply ignore them.

The reserve, which ranges in altitude from 1,100 to 6,250 meters above sea level and has no boundary fences, is a popular spot for climbers, according to Gao Min at the Sichuan Mountaineering Association.

Sichuan has more than 200 mountains that stand 4,000 to 7,000 meters above sea level.

Many have complicated terrain and are prone to rapidly changing weather, making mountaineering difficult and dangerous.

In the Gongga Mountains, where the tallest peak is 7,556 meters above sea level, more than 20 people have perished since climbers first started scaling it in 1957, Gao said.
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (center); Yang Jian (second from right), deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR; Xie Feng (first from left), commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the SAR, are among the 340-plus guests joining China Daily Editor-in-Chief Zhou Shuchun (second from left) at China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable luncheon themed "Guangdong-HK-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt & Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges" held on Monday in Hong Kong, in celebration of China Daily Hong Kong Edition's 20th anniversary. [Edmond Tang, Roy Liu/China Daily]

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor provided glimpses into her vision for Hong Kong's future on Monday during an event held as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations for the China Daily Hong Kong Edition.

Speaking to a gathering of 340 distinguished guests, including diplomats and leaders in the public and private sectors in the special administrative region, Lam talked about how that future links with the Belt and Road Initiative, launched by President Xi Jinping.

In her keynote speech at the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable luncheon, Lam referred to the theme of the forum, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt and Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges.

Lam said the topic was "a most timely and relevant one" that is "inspiring", bringing together "two critically important national development strategies".

"Much synergy can be derived from interactions of both, particularly in shaping the future of Hong Kong," she said.

Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Group Zhou Shuchun. [Edmond Tang, Roy Liu/China Daily]

China Daily Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Zhou Shuchun told the story of the Hong Kong edition's two-decade journey.

"China Daily Hong Kong Edition was founded to cater to the city's huge community of English-speaking readers  to bring them news, views and in-depth research-based features from across China and beyond.

"Founded immediately after the Hong Kong SAR came into being, China Daily Hong Kong Edition was also tasked with upholding the values of the 'one country, two systems' principle, outlining its scope and clarifying the nuances according to the Basic Law for its Anglophone readers," he said.

While Lam said she couldn't disclose information about her first Policy Address, set for Wednesday, she stressed the importance of upholding 'one country, two systems' to enable the SAR to benefit from its strategic edge and make the most of opportunities that the Belt and Road brings.

Lam's proposed strategy to "minimize adverse competition and duplication of resources" between cities in the Greater Bay Area was echoed by Hong Kong Legislative Council member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who is also the Maritime Silk Road Society co-chair. Ip advocated relaxing regulations on the movement of people and resources between Hong Kong and the mainland.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. [Edmond Tang, Roy Liu/China Daily]

"In the long term, ultimately, we should explore whether we could build this tremendous area for a population of 66 million and an aggregated GDP of $1.36 trillion into something like a single market," said Ip. "If we want to maximize the potential of the Greater Bay Area, we must work out how to overcome the existing hurdles to the free flow of people, goods, funds, data and services."

Shun Tak Holdings Group Executive Chairman and Managing Director Pansy Ho  whose business interests include Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland  also spoke of "capitalizing on collaborative advantages" between cities in the Greater Bay Area without necessarily sacrificing their "competitive" spirit.

"The governments need to work together, and try to assimilate the efforts so that there could be pooled resources to create what we call one journey multidestination travel," Ho said.
Top discipline watchdog summarizes work for the upcoming Party meeting

A plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection  the Party's top discipline watchdog  approved a work report on Monday to be submitted to the upcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which opens on Oct 18 in Beijing.

The report, summarizing five years of commission work, will also be reviewed by the 18th CPC Central Committee at its seventh plenary meeting, which starts on Wednesday.

A total of 119 CCDI members attended the Eighth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in Beijing on Monday, according to a statement.

Wang Qishan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of CCDI, addressed the session.

CCDI members also approved the punishment of two senior officials for discipline violations, the statement said.

Li Gang was placed on one year of probation within the Party and Qu Shuhui was given two years of probation within the Party due to "serious violations of Party discipline", according to the statement.

A decision to remove Liu Shengjie from CCDI membership was also adopted. The statement did not disclose details on the three officials.

Since members of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection were elected in late 2012, the commission has undertaken a massive campaign against corruption and extravagance.

At its seventh plenary session in January, President Xi Jinping concluded that corruption had stopped spreading in China and a "crushing momentum" against graft had taken shape.

Jiang Laiyong, a senior researcher at the China Anti-Corruption Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the campaign has made fruitful progress in the past five years, and it has laid a solid foundation for the country's revival.

"China's anti-corruption drive has played an essential role in consolidating the country's political stability and has boosted people's confidence in sustainable social and economic development," he said. Jiang said the current high level of pressure being applied against graft is expected to last even though a new CCDI is expected to be elected at the 19th CPC National Congress.

More attention also should be paid to low-ranking officials so that more people can feel and share the anti-graft fruits, he suggested.

Xinhua contributed to this story.
Perched in the 46-meter-high mostly glass cab, Zhang Yan, a tower crane operator, uses cables and his judgment to hoist multi-ton containers from cargo ships, and then stack them up on the ground carefully and firmly.

It is a muscular and a delicate job and has been Zhang's routine for 12 years in Shanghai Shengdong International Container Terminal.

Along with the views, the 34-year-old also has accumulated various accolades, such as a national model worker and an excellent member of the Communist Party of China, and he has set and reset the world record as the most efficient tower crane operator seven times within four years.

"For me, at the time, it was an unexpected surprise," Zhang recalled of his first world record in 2007, when he was 24 and had just two years experience.

It was May that year when one of the world's largest container ships docked at a pier supervised by the container terminal that Zhang worked in.

The company's leaders decided to hold a competition to test each team's efficiency. Zhang was chosen from among his group.

After 7 1/2 hours of intensive work, Zhang's team completed loading and unloading 5,182 containers at the fastest speed, 690 per hour. Zhang's crane alone hoisted 97 containers per hour, far more than the usual 30 per hour, and he set a world record.

Later, in 2008, 2009 and 2010, he repeatedly broke his own record and finally reached 197 containers per hour in 2011, which remains unsurpassed.

"Actually, the start of my career as a tower crane apprentice in 2005 was not that successful," said Zhang, who was a mobile crane operator in 2004.

"I had to adapt to changes, and my skills improved very slowly."

He explained that working with mobile cranes, one only dealt with steady containers on the ground, while maneuvering a tower crane meant facing numerous containers on ships that were easily affected by the wind and water currents.

"Moreover, the workload here is more than twice that for mobile crane operators every day," he said.

Zhang also has compiled training books on mobile crane basics for new staff, tower crane methodology for experienced operators and on machinery maintenance for engineers or technicians.

Among these books, his first publication, Tower Crane Operational Methodology, truly helps in practice, elaborating specific operating notes, maintenance and safety information.

"The section regarding safety in the book is particularly important, since the foundation of our work is everyone's safety and safe relocation of goods," said Zhang, who hoists more than 90,000 containers each year and maintains his record of safe operation.

"Swinging a several-hundred-kilogram container too fast or too far can get someone killed," he said.

The key rule is to confirm everything in advance, be careful when handling it and summarize after work, Zhang added.

To achieve these targets, Zhang pays attention to the weather and wind speed, observes carefully in the lifting area, communicates with the signalman on the ground and the ship and develops safe lifting plans.

Now, Zhang has his own apprentices each year.

"I will be really happy if new employees can help advance me in the future," he smiled.

Cao Cheng in Shanghai contributed to the story.
A hilly patchwork of yellow and green Umbrian fields unfolded on both sides of the road as I zipped around hairpin turns in my little red Fiat, feeling every bit the race car driver.

Of course, this being Italy, what I thought was death-defying speed wasn't fast enough for drivers coming up behind me.

They barely hesitated, passing me on blind curves on the otherwise nearly deserted road. It was a bit unnerving, but over a week, hopping between Umbria's hill towns, I relaxed my grip on the steering wheel and found that getting there was half the fun.
Former PM underlines role of China, Russia

China Daily | Updated: 2017-10-09 07:07

RHODES, Greece - International influence is shifting from West to East and "we must build peace with new responsible stakeholders", former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said on Friday, underlining the crucial role of China and Russia in world affairs.

"International influence is restructuring around regional powers, with a shift from Western to Eastern countries," De Villepin said at an international forum on Rhodes.

The shift can be seen with the Astana process in dealing with the Syrian crisis, as well as initiatives from both China and Russia in easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, he added.

"This has to be a good news because we need both more and new responsible stakeholders in the world community," he said.

The Astana process refers to talks held to resolve the Syrian civil war in Astana in January, with Kazakhstan offering its capital as a neutral venue.

On July 4, China and Russia issued a joint statement on the Korean Peninsula issue.

The two countries put forward a road map on the basis of Russia's step-by-step approach, and China's dual track approach and the suspension for suspension initiative.

De Villepin addressed the two-day 15th Rhodes Forum that opened on Friday, gathering politicians, thinkers and business leaders from some 70 countries and regions to discuss multipolarity and dialogue in regional and global developments.

De Villepin also said the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative "is likely to develop and stabilize the countries and regions it will cross".

The former French prime minister also stressed the role of Russia as a "crucial actor for world order", mentioning the country's mediation in Syria, Eastern Europe and the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, he underscored the need for dialogue in times of crisis.

"Uncertainty has become the trademark of our time," he said. "The question of our time is how to avoid uncertainty ... In times of escalation, we cannot take the risk of frozen conflicts heating up at any moment.

"A joint initiative by a few large countries in order to reflect together on the new multipolarity ... would also be a way of reviving the power of dialogue, which is more than ever before a global necessity."

The annual forum, organized by the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, an independent international think tank, was attended by high-profile figures from Europe, Russia, China, India and Africa.

Held each year since 2002, the Rhodes Forum is intended to provide a platform for business people, policy makers and scholars to discuss pressing issues on the international agenda.

Xinhua

(China Daily 10/09/2017 page11)
The National Theatre Brno from the Czech Republic will present the opera The Makropulos Case and a contemporary dance piece Black and White at the upcoming China Shanghai International Arts Festival.[Photo provided to China Daily]

The 19th China Shanghai International Arts Festival will begin on Oct 20 at the Shanghai Grand Theater with the commissioned work, The Beginning - Choral Symphony, performed by Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Shanghai Opera House.

"Every year we choose a Chinese production to open the arts festival and a foreign production to close it," Wang Jun, president of the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival, says in Beijing. "This year, we commissioned a new work, which was composed by Gong Tianpeng, who is very young and talented."

The 25-year-old Gong, a Shanghai native, started learning the piano at 5. He entered Shanghai Music Conservatory at age 9 and was enrolled into the Juilliard pre-college division by 10.

He has written many works for piano, chamber ensembles and orchestras.

Now, he is the composer-in-residence for the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra.

"The young composer used the form of a choral symphony, of classic romanticism, to express his interpretation of the passion of the contemporary youth. Because he is from Shanghai, the composer also included music elements from the city," Wang says.

During the monthlong festival, 45 repertoires, including 25 foreign productions, and two cultural events - Guizhou Culture Week and Israel Culture Week - will be presented.

Chinese pianist Li Yundi will perform with the German orchestra Staatskapelle Dresden under the baton of Alan Gilbert, the music director of New York Philharmonic, featuring pieces, including Mozart's Piano Concerto No 23 in A Major and Symphonia Domestica by Richard Strauss.

Finnish pianist Folke Grasbeck will give a recital, performing rarely known works by Sibelius.
[Photo provided to China Daily]

The 2017 China Fur Trade Summit was recently held in Baoding, North China's Hebei province. Professionals from the fur, stock farming and fashion industries participated in the event.

Lixian county in Baoding has a long history of stock farming, and it has developed into the largest fur trade base in China. The local government hopes the annual summit could promote the local economy.

Chen Weixian, vice chairman of International Fur Federation China, said Asia has overtaken Europe as the leading region of fur consumption and the event helps to promote and regulate the industry's development in China.

Established in 1949, the International Fur Federation is the only organization to represent the international fur industry and regulate its practices and trade. The federation promotes the business of fur, establishing certification and traceability programs on welfare and environment. It is also committed to supporting young designers and retailers who intend to go into fur and fashion.
Working hand in glove to make the grade Updated: 2017-10-10 06:11 By Alfred Romann and Pearl Liu in Hong Kong(HK Edition)

HK must cooperate closely with region, central government to benefit the most from bay area, B&R projects, CE tells forum

Hong Kong is ideally positioned to benefit from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative but, to derive the most benefits, it will have to work hand-in-hand with both regional partners and the central government, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Monday.

"In two days' time, I shall deliver my maiden Policy Address which, I hope, will contain not only initiatives for the coming year but also my vision for the future of Hong Kong," Lam said in a keynote speech at a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable luncheon.

"You can be sure that opportunities for Hong Kong under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative will feature quite prominently."

Hong Kong is in an ideal position to build on its key roles within the Greater Bay Area and as an important link for the Belt and Road Initiative, Lam told the luncheon held in conjunction with the roundtable forum themed "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt & Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges".

But to obtain the most benefits from the growth and development of the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong will have to work together with other cities in the region to avoid duplication in the use of resources and minimize barriers for the movement of people, goods and services. Going forward, Hong Kong will have to proactively seek opportunities.

"In my view, the Greater Bay Area will serve as the gateway between the Chinese mainland and the countries along the Belt and Road," Lam stressed.

And Hong Kong, as the most international city in the bay area project, should prove itself to be a key gateway for multinational companies looking toward the Chinese mainland and mainland companies looking to tap markets overseas.

Potential significance

She said it's difficult to overestimate the potential significance of the Greater Bay Area, which encompasses 11 cities and a population of 66 million, which is greater than the United Kingdom, and a GDP of $1.36 trillion, equivalent to that of Australia.

From the first day of her administration earlier this year, the chief executive has been pushing to strengthen the SAR's position in the region and is working with the central government to enter into a comprehensive agreement on Hong Kong's role in the Greater Bay Area.

"All cities in the Greater Bay Area are excited about the future prospects and are pressing full steam ahead," Lam said. "Hong Kong, the most international of the bay area cities, already serves as a multilateral bridge between the mainland and the rest of the world."

With extensive professional services and a dynamic innovation environment, Hong Kong is ideally positioned to both benefit from and power the development of the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road project.

Conversely, the SAR's role within the Greater Bay Area should help the city overcome two key challenges, said Lam. The first is a shortage of land that limits the development of many industries. The second is a relatively small market.

Another key role for Hong Kong will be in innovation to help power the Pearl River Delta region.

"If Hong Kong does not wish to be left behind, it's important for us to join hands in the development of an innovation center," she said. "We are regarded as one of the fastest growing technology startup ecosystems in the world."

Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Group, said the growth of both the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative present opportunities for the region in general and Hong Kong specifically.

"Hong Kong, because of its strategic position, has a significant role in those projects," said Zhou.

He referred to comments President Xi Jinping made in Xiamen during the Dialogue of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries in September. The president said that "while the Belt and Road Initiative is about promoting the spirit of international cooperation, it is also about fostering a sustainable development".

And promoting development will require looking at the long-term prospects of both the Greater Bay Area and its role within the Belt and Road Initiative. While the ongoing discussions about the importance of this key region are not new, the understanding of its significance has grown.

National level

"It is not a new concept. It has been developed for some years at certain levels in the context of Pearl River Delta cooperation," said Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, chairman of the University of Hong Kong's School of Professional and Continuing Education, who moderated at the panel discussion.

"What is new is that the concept has been brought to a central national level as a central national strategy. The bay area is being talked about in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. So, in two ways, it gives us some new ideas."

Legislator and Executive Council member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who also chairs the Maritime Silk Road Society, said: "In the long term, we should explore whether we could build this tremendous area into something like a single market."

"There should be reciprocal agreements for the free movement of people," she said, adding that the easier flows of goods and people within the Greater Bay Area could help the region evolve into a more cohesive whole.

Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung said: "There's a way we can build this 9+2 cities (nine cities in Guangdong province, plus Hong Kong and Macao) into an entity that will add up to more than the sum of its parts."

"Hong Kong's advantages in innovation and technology are well known. One of the most prominent advantages is our internationalization advantage," he said.

A highlight of a new strategy for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is the development of an international innovation and technology hub, Yang said.

A working model

"Hong Kong will play a pretty important role in this part and the hub will probably be a model of Hong Kong working with Shenzhen and Guangzhou, the leading cities in the Greater Bay Area in innovation," said Yang.

Ultimately, the division of labor for the 11 cities within the Greater Bay Area is likely to focus on the strengths of each other.

For Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area provides both challenges and opportunities. This particular region is important to the development of China, said Li Xiaopeng, group president and vice-chairman of China Merchants Group.

He said China Merchants Group is committed to contributing its expertise in the development of the Greater Bay Area.

"Through the bay area, lots of companies can do business very easily," said Li. "In the near future, we will continue to make a new and greater contribution to the (Greater) Bay Area."

Companies would also benefit from a stronger ecosystem for business and "there is obvious room for improvement", such as through a better transport infrastructure and financial system.

At the same time, consolidating resources could help strengthen the area. A case in point is the visible overcapacity in port resources that is visible throughout the Greater Bay Area, Li added.

Pansy Ho Chiu-king, executive chairman and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings, noted that both Hong Kong and Macao have already benefitted from their roles within the Greater Bay Area and from the "one country, two systems" principle that has been successfully implemented for two decades.

Going forward, the area as a whole could further benefit from regional links by not only driving the growth of industry, but also powering services industries like tourism, she said. "We can grow the Pearl River Delta to become a bigger destination for tourism."

A way to do this might be to find ways to develop more multi-destination tourism, which the Greater Bay Area could develop. The authorities should work together to build on the trendy push to encourage travelers to visit multiple destinations in a single trip.

Ultimately, developing greater integration throughout the Greater Bay Area could prove to be a powerful driver of economic growth and a driver of a better quality of life for both the Hong Kong and the region as a whole.

"We should set our sights high," said Ip.

At the roundtable event are (from left) moderator and Chairman of the HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Group Zhou Shuchun, Executive Council Member and Co-Chair of Maritime Silk Road Society Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Group Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Ltd Pansy Ho Chiu-king, Group President and Vice-Chairman of China Merchants Group Li Xiaopeng, and Editorial Board Member of China Daily Zhou Li. Roy Liu / China Daily

(HK Edition 10/10/2017 page6)
Representatives of the United Nations visit a family hotel in Lulang town of Nyingchi city, Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, May 29, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

As the number of elderly in the Asia-Pacific region increases exponentially, we must seek new and innovative approaches to turn this demographic trend into an opportunity to help achieve the ambitious targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The number of elderly people in the region is expected to more than double, from 535 million in 2015 to about 1.3 billion by 2050, we need to consider what effects this will have on the region's economies and societies, as well as people's livelihoods. Ignoring this challenge would likely have profound consequences. We cannot leave the care of the aged to their families nor can we ignore the need for progressive healthcare and income support systems. Future economic growth cannot be assured by the current and projected working-age population. The ratio of the working age population to the elderly population is decreasing sharply, and in most countries of the Asia-Pacific region, less than one-third of the working-age population contributes to a pension.

Traditional systems rely on the family to support their aging relativesboth financially as well as providing care for those who need it. However, with smaller families, there will be fewer family members of working age to shoulder this responsibility. Declining family support ratios also have implications for existing social security provision, particularly pay-as-you-go pension schemes, under which the contributions paid by current workers support the pensions of retirees.

When one considers the differences in the average age at marriage, coupled with the longer life expectancy of women, women outlive their spouses on average by a range of 4 to 10 years. Yet, as the proportion of women in the population increases with age, women are less likely than men to have adequate pension benefits or control over assets, such as land, in their old age. Special social protection measures are therefore required to redress the feminization of poverty, in particular among older women.

There is a linear relationshipalthough not a causalitybetween GDP per capita and the level of population aging, which shows that countries with higher incomes tend to be more advanced in the aging process. Some countries became old before becoming rich, such as Georgia, Armenia and Sri Lanka with per capita incomes between $3,500 and $4,100 and a proportion of older persons between 13 and almost 20 percent.

To economically benefit from our aging populations, we must ensure that the elderly who want to work have the right to and are provided with opportunities for re-employment. The statutory retirement age across Asia and the Pacific is low, considering the current and increasing life expectancies, resulting in long retirement duration. Eliminating age barriers in the formal labor market would help to ease the fiscal pressure on pension and healthcare systems. Allowing older people to work as long as they are able and willing would sustain their self-sufficiency and reduce their social alienation. We can turn the phenomenon of population aging into a second demographic dividend, with financially secure, healthy elderly people, who are empowered to focus their decades of accumulated experience, wisdom and wealth to stimulate new economic growth.

With the right preparation, we can benefit from a golden generation of healthy, wealthy and active senior citizens. In 2002, the United Nations brought countries together in Madrid to agree on a global way forward: to treat older people as actors in development; to ensure their health and well-being; and to create enabling and supportive environments for them. A few weeks ago, representatives from 29 governments in our region assembled in Bangkok to add new resolve to their existing commitments during the Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on the Third Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.

The Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific is working to support countries to turn their commitments into action, to secure increasingly inclusive and sustainable economies and societies for all ages across the region.

We grow wiser, together.

The author is under-secretary-general of the United Nations and executive secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
US President Donald Trump speaks next to first lady Melania Trump after meeting with police at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 4, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

On Oct 1, according to police, Stephen Paddock opened fire on people attending a country music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, from an overlooking hotel, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 500 others. Paddock, a 64-yearold former accountant with no criminal record, was ultimately found in his hotel room, dead, with some 23 guns, including more than 10 assault weapons. Police later found an additional 19 firearms, explosives, and several thousands of rounds of ammunition in Paddock's home. What the authorities have not found, however, is a motive.

More details about Paddock's mindset and objectives will probably come to light in the coming days. But so-called lone wolf mass shootersindividual perpetrators of attacks with no ties to any movement or ideologyare not a new phenomenon in the United States, and previous incidents may offer important clues about the motivations and thought processes of mass shooters such as Paddock.

Most mass shooters do not survive their own attacks; they either kill themselves or let police do the job. But those who have survived have shown some common features, such as narcissistic personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia being the two most frequent diagnoses. That was the case with Anders Breivik, the Norwegian far-right terrorist who, in 2011, detonated a van bomb that killed eight people, before shooting dead 69 participants in a youth summer camp. He remains in prison in Norway.

A look at behavior prior to attacks reinforces this view. In The Wiley Handbook of the Psychology of Mass Shootings, Grant Duwe, the director of research and evaluation for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, examined 160 cases of mass shootings in the United States between 1915 and 2013.

Duwe found that 60 percent of the perpetrators had either been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder or exhibited signs of serious mental disturbance before the attack. About one-third had contact with mental-health professionals, who had diagnosed them, most commonly, with paranoid schizophrenia. The second most common diagnosis was depression.

Yet, given that most people who suffer from these disorders are harmless to the public, these diagnoses do not tell the whole story. According to Duwe, the difference may lie partly in an acute sense of being persecutedand an acute desire for revenge.

This view is corroborated by Paul Mullen, an Australian forensic psychiatrist. Based on a detailed investigation of five mass murderers whom he personally talked with, Mullen concluded that such killers struggle to reconcile their own grandiose ideas of themselves with an inability to succeed at work or in relationships. The only explanation, they decide, is that others are out to sabotage them.

In fact, Mullen's study revealed that the path to mass murder is rather stereotypical. All of Mullen's subjects had been bullied or socially excluded as children. They were all suspicious and rigid, qualities that helped to deepen their isolation. They constantly blamed their problems on others, believing that their community had rejected them; they failed to consider that they themselves might be the reason.

Mullen's subjects obsessively held grudges against anyone whom they viewed as part of the group or community that refused to accept them. They ruminated relentlessly over past humiliations, a habit that fueled resentment and, eventually, revenge fantasies, leading them to use mass murder to achieve infamy and to hurt those perceived to have hurt themeven if it meant a "welcome death" for themselves.

Given this, there is usually a kind of warped logic to the choice of victims. In the case of school shootings, such as the Columbine High School massacre of 1999, that logic is clear: to punish those who have excluded the perpetrators socially. Likewise, workplace rampages are often triggered by a firing or layoff. But even in cases where the targets seem random, the logic usually emerges eventually, even if it is a matter of punishing an entire community or society.

In Paddock's case, many questions obviously remain unanswered, beginning with why he chose that particular concert to attack. But the contours of his story are beginning to emerge. Reinforcing the loner trope, one neighbor said that the "weird" Paddock "kept to himself"; living next to him was "like living next to nothing." It has also been revealed that in 2012, Paddock filed a negligence lawsuit against a Las Vegas hotel where he had fallen; such litigation can be a hallmark of the resentful and paranoid.

Duwe argues that, contrary to popular belief, such gunmen do not "just snap". Although roughly two-thirds of mass public shooters experience a traumatic event immediately before carrying out the attackusually the loss of a job or the end of a relationshipmost spend weeks or even years deliberating and preparing to get their revenge. In Paddock's case, such quiet planning may explain the armory found in his home and hotel room, which he rented several days prior to the attack.

After the massacre, more than half of mass public shooters either commit suicide directly or provoke the police into killing them. This rate is nearly 10 times higher than for homicide offenders in general. Does this reveal, Duwe asks, just how mentally plagued these perpetrators are? Perhaps they believe they can no longer bear the agony of life; once they have "settled the score" for the perceived slights that have produced it, there is no reason left to live.

Mullen argues that the script for this particular type of suicide has become entrenched in modern culture, and continues to attract willing lead actors. If we are unable to use the knowledge we have gleaned from past experience to prevent them from taking the stage, they will continue to take aim at audiences.

Raj Persaud is a consultant psychiatrist and the co-author of the forthcoming book The Streetwise Person's Guide to Mental Health Care. Adrian Furnham is Professor of Psychology at University College London and the author of the forthcoming book The Psychology of Disenchantment.
In Japan's 1994 general election, the Liberal Democratic Party was the biggest winner but failed to secure a majority. It formed a coalition government, for the first time, with its rival, the Social Democratic Party. Defeating the LDP candidate, the coalition partner's head Tomiichi Murayama was elected by the country's parliament as prime minister.

The way the LDP and the SDP joined hands has inspired Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who has formed a new party, Party of Hope, and has come up with a campaign strategy to upstage Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the general election on Oct 22.

Koike's party, established late last month, will field at least 233 candidates throughout the country to vie for the 465 seats that are up for grabs in the election.

The LDP and its junior coalition partner the Komeito held more than 300 seats in the Lower House before Abe dissolved the chamber on Sept 28. Abe called a snap election as he wants to take advantage of the country's weak opposition partiesinfighting has reduced the Social Democratic Party, the largest in the opposition camp, to an ineffectual group. And Abe's sudden announcement caught his rivals unprepared, except Koike.

With a track record of fighting the LDP, Koike is deemed to be the most powerful challenge to Abe. After the LDP refused to support her in the 2016 race for Tokyo governor, Koike defied the party and won. On July 2, in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, Koike's Tokyo Citizens First party dethroned the LDP and became the largest party in the assembly. Now she is throwing down the gauntlet to the LDP again.

Analysts have compared Abe's decision to British Prime Minister Theresa May's move to call a snap election in June, which saw her Conservative Party lose its overall majority.

If the LDP were to fall short of a majority in the Lower House, Abe could step down as his party's head. And the LDP would field its new leader as a candidate for prime minister and invite two conservative parties, the Party of Hope and Japan Innovation Party, to form a coalition government.

Koike has remained vague on who will be her party's prime ministerial candidate in the parliament vote that is scheduled to occur subsequent to the election.

To be a candidate, Koike would have to resign as Tokyo's governor. She has said she will not abandon her current job. But people will know on Tuesday, the deadline for registration of candidates, whether that is the case or not.

Koike has also decided not to field Party of Hope candidates in the constituencies of some LDP heavyweights such as former regional revitalization minister Shigeru Ishiba, the LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida and Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda. The three LDP figures are expected to run in the party leadership race next year.

Koike's move has led to speculation that the Party of Hope might team up with the LDP with a new leader after the election.

In a TV program on Thursday, Abe did not rule out the possibility that the LDP will join hands with Koike's party, saying it depends on the outcome of the election.

After all, the Party of Hope's campaign platform, which Koike unveiled on Friday, shares Abe's stance on amending the country's Constitution and implementing the security legislation though its economic and other policies differ. To some Japanese voters, the Party of Hope looks like a copycat of the LDP.

Thus, Koike's strategy of ambiguity on the Party of Hope's candidate for prime minister may alienate some voters.

The author is China Daily Tokyo bureau chief. caihong@chinadaily.com.cn
President Xi Jinping meets with local villagers at Songjiagou New Village, a centralized resettlement site under the approach of alleviating poverty through relocation, in Kelan county of Xinzhou city, North China's Shanxi province, June 21, 2017. Xi had a three-day inspection tour in Shanxi from Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Building a moderately well-off society by 2020, just before the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and building a prosperous, modern socialist country by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of New China, are the two centenary goals put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping as the Party's historical task and practical direction for the country to achieve the Chinese Dream.

Demonstrating his scientific understanding of China's development objectives, Xi has pointed out that development is still the country's top priority, and the primary mission of the Party is to improve people's livelihoods.

The country is at a critical stage in realizing the two goals, in particular, it is now in the decisive stage if it is to realize the first of the two goals. In this critical period, Xi's thoughts on governance provide scientific guidance for successfully realizing a moderately well-off society by 2020.

Xi has established himself as a strong leading force for achieving the two centenary goals. And as the communique of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China pointed out, Xi being the core of the leadership is of great significance for both the Party and the country.

Cementing Xi's status as the core of the Party was the fundamental guarantee that the Party will stay true to its mission and enhances the Party's leadership in developing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

As the leader of the Party, military and the nation, Xi has made a series of practical and historically significant achievements in advancing reform and development, internal affairs and the country's diplomacy, as well as in governance.

In doing so, the Party has won wide support from people of all ethnic groups and high praise from the international community, and the country has moved ever closer to achieving the two centenary goals.

The core leadership of General Secretary Xi guarantees the successful construction of the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics, which lays a solid foundation for the attainment of the two centenary goals.

Since the 18th National Congress, Xi's thoughts on governance have become the important guidance for the Chinese people to achieve the two centenary goals.

Xi's thoughts on governance are in accordance with the development trends of the world and contemporary China, and in response to the actual demands of the people. They have deepened the CPC's understanding of the laws of governance, construction of socialism and social development, which has formed new thoughts, new ideas and new strategies for governance. Xi's core leadership is thus of great significance to the prosperity, stability and harmony of the country.

According to Xi's new thoughts and ideas on governance, the CPC has carried out a series of significant strategic measures and policies, solved a series of long-lasting problems and achieved a series of significant tasks. The Party's new thoughts, ideas and strategy formed in practice have not only strongly promoted China's development since the 18th National Congress, but also provided a "Chinese plan" for the common problems developing countries face in the process of modernization.

In general, the two centenary goals are the solemn promise that the CPC has made to the Chinese people. And the Chinese people are confident of building a well-off society in an all-around way under the guidance of the CPC with Xi as the core.

The author is deputy director of the Center for Anti-corruption Studies, University of Science and Technology of Beijing.




A pedestrian carries a shopping bag as she passes a giant Apple Inc logo outside a new Apple store, still under development, on Princess Street in Edinburgh, UK. [Photo/VCG]

One of the reasons the launch of Apple's iPhone 8 in China reportedly drew a muted reaction is Chinese consumers can now get much of what Apple offers in domestically developed smartphones, such as those manufactured by Xiaomi and Huawei.

And smartphones are only one of the technological breakthroughs China has made in recent years. China now leads the world in high-speed railways, mobile payments and e-commerce.

One of the pillars of this innovation-driven growth is the Made in China 2025 strategy introduced by the government in 2015, which aims to boost manufacturing innovation and transform China into a leading manufacturing powerhouse. China has long realized that the world factory model for its economy, based on low-end, lowage, low added-value production, is no longer sustainable. And it has been feeling the pressure of competition both from traditional manufacturing leaders such as Germany and the United States, which are vigorously pursuing a manufacturing renaissance following the global financial crisis, and from emerging economies such as India and Brazil, which now have lower labor costs.

In the emerging fourth industrial revolution, China has to focus on innovation and move up the industrial value chain. This is where the Made in China 2025 strategy comes in. Over the past two years, the plan has been implemented smoothly, yet it has also drawn criticism from some Western countries, who claim that it is an industrial policy based on unfair government support for Chinese companies and forced technology transfers from Western companies in exchange for access to the Chinese market.

Growing anxiety about losing their market share and technological lead to China is understandable, but misplaced. The strategy explicitly embraces the "market-based" principle and sees the government's role as "creating a stable policy environment for enterprises". China is further streamlining government administration by releasing its seventh revision of the Foreign Investment Catalogue, which has introduced a nationwide Negative List and scrapped up to 30 special administrative measures restricting foreign investment.

And as repeatedly pointed out by Premier Li Keqiang, all businesses registered in China, be they domestic or foreign, are considered Chinese businesses and thus entitled to enjoy the policy incentives offered by the strategy. Furthermore, there are no mandatory technology transfer requirements for foreign companies operating in China, and the government has been working hard to protect the intellectual property rights of innovators both domestic and foreign.

Opening-up is another key element of the Made in China 2025 plan, the phrase appears 16 times in the policy document. As Premier Li Keqiang noted at the meeting of the New Champions 2017, the plan does not shut the door on imports of foreign equipment; instead, the plan emphasizes cooperation for win-win results.

However, even as the opportunities for cooperation with Chinese companies have multiplied, the preferential treatment foreign-invested ventures used to enjoy in the early stages of China's opening-up and WTO accession have petered out, and Chinese companies have proven to be formidable in catching up with the latest technological and industrial trends, which has placed them more or less at the same starting point vis-a-vis their Western counterparts in the fourth industrial revolution.

The test, therefore, lies in whether countries can turn competition into win-win cooperation, or succumb to darker instincts of protection. Greater competition is to be welcomed as it lowers costs and fastens innovation. Misguided attempts to hold back the tide would only end up hurting the opportunities for common development and undermine free and fair trade.

Thus China welcomes global cooperation under its Made in China 2025 plan, as it will boost innovation-driven growth. This in turn will benefit more people not just in China but also the world.

The author is a Beijing-based researcher on international studies.
Zahid Javid poses for a photo in Tianjin on Feb 21, 2017. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

What could be better than traveling to a foreign country to learn about its ideology, history and culture? I believe that studying abroad is a good opportunity every student should take to avoid ethnocentrism, to broaden one's horizons and to appreciate everything the world has to offer. I have dreamed about studying abroad since childhood. Luckily, I realized that dream in this unimaginably wonderful land last year.

The key factors in my dream have been my teachers and friends. After obtaining my bachelor's degree with distinction, they motivated me to apply for universities abroad, so I took a chance and searched for possible countries  China included  to pursue a master's degree in electrical engineering. My life had once been a struggle, but hard work, determination, enthusiasm for further education and the people around me have brought me to Shandong University, where I can pursue my dreams with full scholarship.

The truth is, I had a choice between two countries. But I chose China without any hesitation because of the country's diverse cultural norms and values, the famous Chinese hospitality, solid relations between Pakistan-China in promoting bilateral trade and acceptance and peace on both sides. Everyone makes me feel comfortable and I think of China as my second homeland. Not to mention the full support from my family for my decision.

No one can deny the technological advancements and the leading educational institutes of China, which rightly have an excellent reputation all around the world. That makes coming here a great aspiration for students and professionals interested in better career options. Such positivity has only boosted my confidence in traveling to China.

It was a cold day in September of 2016 when I took a plane from Pakistan to China, a connecting flight from Islamabad to Urmuqi then Urmuqi to Jinan. During my bachelor's, I heard the term "language barrier", but I knew exactly what it was when I experienced it at Urmuqi airport after I lost my luggage. It was then that I decided to learn the Chinese language by dedicating at least one hour daily to bridge this barrier. It turns out Chinese is such an exciting language, I am still progressing with full passion.

When I reached Jinan, volunteers from Shandong University warmly welcomed me and took me to the right campus. In one day everything was changed in a blink of an eye. I entered a totally different world, both physical and digital, one which I hadn't imagined before.

In the past year I've visited many incredible places in China. I enjoyed the beautiful seasides in Qingdao, the astonishing Great Wall and historical relics in Beijing, enlightening natural scenery and temples in Qufu, elaborate architectures and the enormous Eye in Tianjin, delicious local food and ancient heritage in Xi`an, the historical museum in Dongying and cool weather in Jinan. In the course of my visits I met many amiable and talented Chinese people.

I am impressed by how these individuals are dedicated to their work and with sincere effort they have made China a successful example for both developing and developed countries. The most impressive thing that I have encountered here is the digital transformation. With payment methods like Alipay and WeChat, transactions are convenient and secure. I think the reason behind the successful growth of China is the Chinese people;they are self-disciplined and very consistent in their workand also have a balanced schedule for everything, including work and fun activities.

I have no doubts: China is the best place for my research. In one year I have learned a lot here and still this journey continues, with promising prospects.

Zahid Javid is a Master Degree student in School of Electrical Engineering of Shandong University.


Muhammad Shahbaz Ali [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China has made great progress socially and economically. I witnessed the transformation since I was in China in 2006. The houses became buildings and buildings became skyscrapers and the now once you enter any city in China, it looks like the jungle of clones of buildings. The same situation is true for the hospitals. New hospital buildings were constructed throughout China, and I witnessed the construction of Qilu hospital, which was completed in just a couple of years.

I was born in Pakistan, received higher education in China and I'm now in France for a fellowship in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. Since its approval as the first robotic surgery system by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2000, the Da Vinci Robotic System has changed the concept and experience of surgery for people around the world, making an operation more precise and less painful, with less bleeding and a short hospital stay. China has made giant leaps in the medical field, as it has done in other fields. The progress in minimally invasive surgery is excellent. Da Vinci is an advanced robotic system to perform complex procedures with precision. It is the third generation of surgery after the second generation of laparoscopic surgery debuted in 1987 and the first generation of open surgery began long ago in human history.

Statistics from Da Vinci's producer, Intuitive Surgical, state that 54 Da Vinci surgical systems have been installed throughout China and 800 medical personnel are trained to operate the system. As of the end of December 2015, more than 40 Chinese hospitals had installed over 50 surgical robots and performed 11,445 cases of surgery in 2015 and 22,917 cases over the years cumulatively. With recent developments in medical technology, more and more systems will be installed. China is one of the leading countries that has a large number of the Da Vinci Robotic Systems installed and used for surgeries. Da Vinci simulators are being used to train doctors with advanced surgical skills.

In my opinion the Belt and Road,Inititive can be an opportunity for health sector development in the region for the countries involved in the project. Especially for Pakistan, I see it more from the healthcare point of view. I also hope that the corridor will bring healthcare facilities and infrastructure cooperation to Pakistan from China. I have re-named it the CPHC - the China-Pakistan Health Corridor, or simply, "The Health Corridor".

Another field our research team focused on is to find methods to make cancer treatment more effective, such as targeted therapies, which are drugs that interfere with specific molecules involved in cancer cell growth and survival. We tried to explore the precise information about the role that targeted therapies play in precision medicine and how targeted therapies work against cancer, who receives targeted therapies, common side effects, and what to expect when having targeted therapies.

The main members our team, including Liang Benjia, Gao Huijie, Wu Junben, NiuZhengchuan, Peng Cheng and myself, conducted the research under the supervision of Professor Niu Jun. Professor Niu has been working on novel and exciting research for the last two decades. Under the supervision of my tutor and mentor Professor Niu, I have learned surgical skills and have actively participated in academic research work.

In 2009 I attended the 22nd International Conference of Lymphology and Oncology and I won the best young scientist speaker award. There is a famous saying that, "I can have cancer but the cancer cannot have me". In the process to find new methods of treatment and make the existing methods of treatment more effective, we conducted the research on a variety of cancers, which were mainly pancreatic cancer and colon cancer.

There are different kinds of ways we can contribute to scientific society. One is basic research, the second is translational medicine, and the third is clinical research. The successful application of each method can improve the prognosis of disease. And we also can put different methods of treatment together in the form of adjuvant therapy to increase the efficacy of the treatment.

There were tears in my eyes as a young girl told Professor Niu, "Wo tong guo le," which means "I passed the exam." One month before, he had told the patient, "You can participate in the gaokao." It was the whole team of our general surgery department, headed by Professor Niu, that celebrated the happiness that we successfully operated on the 17-year-old girl with thyroid cancer metastasized to the lungs. She wanted to take the exam; it was on June 7, 2013. She had been admitted to our ward on May 15. She had the option to come after the exam, or operate; however, as the cancer could spread to other parts of her body if she chose a later date, she opted to go for the operation, to be done on May 20. The successful surgery was done and she was able to speak within a few days of the operation. She was discharged from the hospital on May 27, 10 days before the exam.

Visiting L'Institut de Recherchecontre les Cancers de l'Appareil Digestif (IRCAD) in France, was also a great experience to learn about innovation, precision and minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery. In April 2007 Professor Jacques successfully performed scarless surgery, also called as NOTES (Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery); in this kind of surgery we approach the diseased part from the natural opening of human body, e.g. the mouth, or anus, to resect the diseased organ and remove it through the natural opening. The technique was brought to China and the first such kind of operation was performed by a team of surgeons, gynecologists and gastroenterologists headed by Professor Niu in 2009. I feel it is my honor to learn minimally invasive surgery and modern precision surgery from the two best surgeons in the world. The future of surgery will be based on image guided surgery via the use of the techniques of virtual patients, preoperative simulation, intraoperative assistance, and combining augmented reality and robotics.

Muhammad Shahbaz Ali is a Phd student of general surgery on CSC Scholarship, School of Medicine, Shandong University, and a research fellow at Qilu Hospital, Department of General Surgery.


Dawood Ferdous (right) practices Taichi (or taijiquan), a Chinese martial art, in Jinan, Shandong province .[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

As a student from Bangladesh who is studying for his master's degree at Shangdong University, I have been a witness of sorts to Chinese culture, and as such am really interested to learn the Chinese language and more about the country. I have especially noticed people here are so hard-working and civilized. My journey here was well-arranged and convenient. After watching the martial arts taichi in the opening ceremony, my pursuit to learn kung fu and taiji increased tenfold.

Since childhood, I have seen amazing action movies starring Bruce Lee, Jackie Chen and Jet Li, and I was always curious to learn the martial arts. Where there is China, there is kung fu, at least in my mind. Once I arrived in China, it was my dream to learn taichi and kung fu and master the techniques of martial arts. I chose taichi as an additional course to my other courses.

After my arrival on campus, I got up early in morning, as the jet lag had not yet worn off. When I went for a walk on the first day, I saw a number of older people practicing taichi slowly in tandem. I stopped and watched their movements closely. It fascinated me, and the very next day at registration time, I rushed to the admin office to choose taichi as my additional course. Within the next couple of days, I visited our campus and a few scenic spots in Jinan city. The traditional touch in the buildings is fantastic. It was amazing to see the Baotu Springs, Daming Lake and explore a number of beautiful places in Jinan and all over China.

The following week I was on the grounds early in the morning with my classmates and our teacher was ready to tell us about the taichi. Different from the other courses I chose, The taichi class is practical work, where you can learn and enjoy at the same time. In the lecture he told us that taichi is practiced for its health benefits. I was surprised to learn that the main concept behind it is defense training. The movement of the body is related to the yin and yang forces which are part of the taiji philosophy.

Each night of the sixday-long extensive practice, I was excited to explore new things the next morning. Every day before training in the morning, I woke up early and headed to the ground straightaway. The main principles that the teacher taught us were attitude, discipline and balance. I was taking every bit of the training seriously and trying to maintain my balance, which was a difficult job.

As a master degree student and social worker, I want to bring positive change to people's lives, especially woman and children. I also want to improve the living standards of Bangladesh by learning from Chinese welfare activities in this sector. I hope to work for women and children's development with the Chinese and Bangladeshi governments.

No dream is too small, and it is not impossible to fulfill our dreams, no matter how difficult they are. Our attitude, our willingness and our actions make the impossible become possible. Starting at Shandong University and making a new start in my professional career, I will strive to bring a positive change in society.

Dawood Ferdous is a Master Degree Student in Shandong University on CSC Scholarship.


Dr Effat Un Nesa (Left) poses with her husband and son. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The life of an oncologist is special among doctors of other specialties, and being a female doctor makes this more unique. The treatment of the patient diagnosed with cancer is quite challenging. After my MBBS (bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery) from Bangladesh, I chose to come to China for specialization. The choice of specialty was a challenge for me. During my internship I used to see the suffering of the cancer patients and their pain. I decided that I would be an oncologist to treat the patient who suffers from cancer. When it comes to cancer, people are afraid of the word, and once somebody is diagnosed with cancer, he or she suffers psychologically more than physically. Treatment for cancer is complex, and managing all of the different aspects of treatment can be stressful. There are different doctors to consult, many tests to schedule, and instructions relating to your care to understand.

After I chose my specialty, I was very excited to be given the opportunity to work and study under the supervision of Professor Cheng Yufeng. He is one of the top radiation oncologists not only in Qilu hospital but also in China. Professor Cheng guided me on how to treat cancer patients and how to manage the pain and suffering of the patients, as well as their families. Moreover, he also taught me how care for the patient must be considered within the context of the psychological, physical, and social experiences of a person's life.

The life of an oncologist looks so nice but the secret life of an oncologist is full of witnessing the most painful and intimate moments of life. For most of our patients the actual diagnosis of cancer has been given to them in another ward, and when they come to us they are pleased there are still options that can prolong their lives, even if we cannot cure their illness. In the radiation oncology ward, we receive patients, who either come to our ward after surgery or while they are undergoing chemotherapy. The combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy kills more cancer cells but it might have more side effects as well. My professor also told me that oncology is very much a team effort, with everybody working together.

I have witnessed a number of patients diagnosed with cancer, some at an early stage and some at a late stage of cancer. It is always an honor and noble cause to treat them and to give them hope. I will never forget the story of a 12-year-old girl came to our ward for the radiation therapy. She was a student and was diagnosed with a brain tumor (astrocytoma) and had to be admitted to the hospital to undergo radiation therapy. She came from a suburban county in Jinan and had never seen a foreigner in her life. She was so excited to see me when our routine early morning rounds were going on. She asked me my name and shook hands with me. I taught her some simple English and she started calling me Jiejie. Every time during her treatment session, she was pleased to see me and I held her hand and smiled. About three weeks later on the day of her discharge, I went to the ward, where she was hiding something and asked me to close my eyes. I closed my eyes and she put something into my hand and asked me to open my eyes. I could see a drawing on a paper, with two people on it. Something was written in Chinese. She told me in Chinese, zhegeshiwo (this is me) and zhegeshini (this is you, Jiejie). There were tears of happiness in my eyes and also happiness that her treatment was finished and she was being discharged from the hospital. I hugged her to say a warm goodbye.

After my hospital hours, I also take care of my son, who is 3 years old and goes to a local kindergarten. It is always a tough job to take care of him. But I am always happy to see him after long nine hours, when I go to pick him up from his kindergarten. All my tiredness goes away when my son speaks some words of Chinese in a pure Mandarin accent, which even I cannot pronounce, and his Chinese language efficiency is getting better than his mother tongue (Bengali).

My husband, Dr. Misbahul Ferdous, got his doctorate degree from Shandong University this year. My son and my husband are inspirations for me. I am very much delighted that my son can learn Chinese and can fulfill our dreams of not only speaking Chinese, but also writing it. I am hopeful that one day Taihan will enlighten the name of Bangladesh and our family will return to Bangladesh and prove to be ambassadors of friendship between China and Bangladesh forever.

Effat Un Nesa is a PhD student on radiation oncology at Qilu Hospital affiliated to Shandong University Cheeloo College of Medicine, on a CSC Scholarship.
Passengers head to the boarding gate at the East Terminal of Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport for a comprehensive rehearsal on July 21, 2017 [Photo by Li Xiangbo/Xinhua]

Nowadays, everyone is talking about the importance of cultural exchange and the results achieved by China in the past few years. Events promoting friendship between people with different cultures are held in P.R.C. on a regular basis. As a foreigner myself I must admit that since 2015, when I moved to Chongqing, not a single week has passed without hearing news of cultural events being organized throughout the country.

In the past, I asked myself, what did China do to become so successful in enhancing cultural exchange? In order to find an answer to this question, I read as many stories as I could related to the Ancient Silk Road, Chinese philosophy and so on. I soon realized I was only focusing on the past, instead of looking to what was actually right in front of my eyes. What is the engine of cultural exchange? Curiosity. This is what pushes people to open to the outside world, to explore what is different from the usual. Curiosity is that innate and uncontrollable thirst to experience firsthand the various colors and shades this world has to offer; deeply-rooted in the human mind, this desire has led to new discoveries, as well as an understanding that different in most cases is not a synonym for bizarre, unsafe or abnormal.

So, again, what did China do? China is home to 56 ethnic groups which have different religious beliefs, languages and art forms, and this country has learned through the centuries how to cherish beauty and embrace the challenges that come with cultural diversity along the way. I believe that this history has helped China open up to the outside world. By opening up I am not referring only to favorable visa policies, scholarships for foreign students and specific incentives oriented toward those companies that are interested into investing in the PRC. Everybody is aware by now that an overall safe environment, a fully developed educational system and incredible economic growth have played an essential role in shaping the China that we all know. The factor I would like to stress instead is the opening up, because everything started from this. When I think about opening up,the first two words that come to my mind are respect and inclusiveness. China has opened up to the outside world with the utmost respect for people and by promoting inclusiveness and avoiding any kind of conflict which would undermine stability and peace.

Many countries have deliberately chosen to engage in cultural exchanges with China because they were treated respectfully; as a matter of fact, this world superpower has not tried to exert its influence in a negative way by making other countries feel lesser due to their size or economic status. Instead, China has always promoted mutual understanding and cooperation, acknowledging the enormous benefits that cultural exchange may bring. Cultural exchange is much more than tasting exotic foods, dressing in traditional clothes or grasping a new language. Cultural exchange is putting people in contact with other people, which can be rephrased as putting minds in contact with other minds. When people coming from different walks of life meet, when their minds interact, this is where the magic happens as new ideas flourish and some of those previously insurmountable obstacles can be overcome. Cultural exchange stresses the importance of creating a dialogue, listening to each other while in the meantime learning from one another.

In my opinion, China has succeeded in enhancing cultural exchanges with all the four corners of the world both by not putting itself on a pedestal and by being aware one cannot have all the answers. Throughout the years, China has been willing to absorb what others had to offer, and make remarkable contributions to the outside. The Belt and Road Initiative is the latest and clearest example of this. President Xi Jinping himself has declared that although the Belt and Road has been initiated by the PRC, it does not mean the country will seek hegemony nor classify other countries on a scale of importance; this initiative will function as an open platform for countries to enhance international cooperation and promoting people-to-people exchange, regardless of their economic status.

Apart from the clear benefits culture exchange brings, there are also plenty of challenges to face. These challenges may arise from different ways of thinking and can only be overcome by educating the young generations to favor dialogue, as well as peaceful and sustainable solutions, instead of quickly jumping to harsh methods. Educating the young generations to have genuine interest in other cultures, as well as self-respect and respect towards others is what makes the difference at the end of the day. This is no easy task, but China seems to be very determined in achieving international cooperation throughout mutual understanding.
A square in the village of Assisi, Italy, in the Umbria region. The small town has been a popular pilgrimage site for hundreds of years. [Photo/Agencies]

A hilly patchwork of yellow and green Umbrian fields unfolded on both sides of the road as I zipped around hairpin turns in my little red Fiat, feeling every bit the race car driver.

Of course, this being Italy, what I thought was death-defying speed wasn't fast enough for drivers coming up behind me.

They barely hesitated, passing me on blind curves on the otherwise nearly deserted road. It was a bit unnerving, but over a week, hopping between Umbria's hill towns, I relaxed my grip on the steering wheel and found that getting there was half the fun.

On my way to the village of Todi that first night, I kept pulling over for the views. Between serpentine roads and stops to take pictures, it took me nearly an hour to travel 17 kilometers to the village from the stone farmhouse where I stayed.

Umbria is a landlocked agricultural region known as the green heart of Italy.

A drought earlier this year rendered many hillsides tan instead of green - drooping sunflowers with browning leaves were a common sight - but I still encountered one of the most beautiful landscapes I'd ever seen.

Once I arrived in Todi, I parked and took a free funicular, like a diagonal elevator, to the top of a mini plateau. The smell of wood smoke lured me from the Piazza del Popolo to the literal edge of town, the cliff-top Ristorante Umbria, for a bite and a view of the sun dropping behind distant mountains.

A cluster of travertine-block buildings just off the piazza looked in the twilight like a medieval theme park, but the town's winding cobblestone alleys were alive with the real sounds of children's sing-song chatter and dinner dishes clattering through a window.

A news show blaring from an unseen TV brought me back to modern times.

These signs of real life in Umbria's ancient towns were ever present but never failed to surprise me.

In Foligno, young couples with baby strollers were well-represented in a crowd listening to a free con-cert in the main piazza.

In Gualdo Cattaneo, the town's millennials take over a cylindrical fortress on weekend nights to run a co-op bar with 360-degree views of the valley.

Only in Perugia were locals harder to find, but that was due to a jazz festival drawing thousands of visitors.

Bartenders, tour guides and hotel workers said visitors have dipped since earthquakes shook central Italy last year.

But even before that, Umbria was less busy than some other regions. The area is sometimes compared to Tuscany, with food and wine as abundant as the vistas, but without the crowds. That's partly because it's not served by high-speed trains. Instead, visitors can take regional trains from Florence. I flew to Rome and drove two hours to get there.

By the end of my week there, I had learned how to handle the Fiat, like when to slam the four-cylinder engine into first gear to shoot up those hills rather than crawl.

I used the move to get around a brave cyclist on my approach to Assisi, whose arid stone buildings were camouflaged from a distance by beige hillsides.

Like a desert lizard, up close the town's brick facades and streets were speckled with a range of sand-to-brown shades, flecked with pink limestone.

Assisi has been a pilgrimage site since St. Francis went into the fields to preach his message of love.

He renounced his wealth there 800 years ago in the main Piazza del Commune.

I watched the ragazzi - local kids - walk through the piazza from the steps of a Roman temple to a statue of the goddess Minerva.

The temple's Corinthian columns have been preserved, but the interior is gilded Baroque, thanks to a 17th century renovation that turned the temple into a small church.

Off to the side, African nuns in powder-blue habits took selfies in front of a statue of St. Clare, an acolyte of St. Francis.

A pink and tan basilica honors Francis on a promontory overlooking the valley.

Ecclesiastical music floated from shops along Via San Francesco, which leads pilgrims to the basilica.

Monks in black robes and rope belts wandered the grounds of an onsite monastery.

Inside the cavernous church, frescoes told the story of how Francis rejuvenated the church by focusing on common folk.

The message resonated and left me with a sense of peace.

I tried holding on to that feeling during the long drive to back to the Rome airport, but I couldn't help getting a thrill out of one last windy ride.

Associated Press
Chinese tourists visit London's Piccadilly Circus. [Photo/China Daily]

British retailers are expecting an influx of Chinese holidaymakers during the weeklong Chinese National Day holiday known as Golden Week.

The public holiday, which runs from Oct 1 to Oct 8, is a time when many Chinese people travel abroad for a vacation and new flight and sales data suggest retailers in London can expect an even busier time than they experienced last year.

Flight monitoring company ForwardKeys said flight bookings from China to the United Kingdom for the three months from September to November are 10 percent up on the same period last year.

Sales to Chinese shoppers in London's West End, an area that includes the popular shopping destinations of Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, were up 31 percent in July compared to last year, according to data released on Friday by shopping tax refund company Global Blue. Spending by Chinese visitors averaged 1,478 pounds ($1,980) per shopper.

Jace Tyrrell, chief executive of New West End Company, which works with London retailers, expects this upward trend to continue.

"Demand is sure to continue throughout Golden Week, with visitors to Regent, Oxford and Bond Streets having a greater range of shops than ever before. Sixty-five new stores have already opened on these three streets in 2017," Tyrrell said.

London's retail areas benefited from a huge spike in Chinese shoppers during Golden Week last October, with sales to Chinese tourists in the West End up 307 percent in comparison to the same period in 2015.

Fewer Chinese tourists travelled abroad in late 2015 at a time when China experienced stock market turbulence. The UK then became a popular destination in the second half of 2016, due to the depreciation of the pound following the referendum decision for Britain to leave the European Union.

Exchange rates have remained favorable for Chinese travelers. In August this year, Britain was about 12 percent more affordable for visitors from China than it was during the same month in 2015.

Visitors from China spent, on average, almost 2,000 pounds per visit in Britain in 2016, more than three times the all-market average, according to UK tourism authority VisitBritain.

The latest statistics from VisitBritain show there was a record number of visits from China to the UK in the first quarter of 2017. From January to March, there were 54,000 visits, up 27 percent on the same period last year, with visitors spending a record 91 million pounds, also up 27 percent.

VisitBritain Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: "We want Britain to top the list as a must-go-now destination for Chinese travelers, and to give them a world-class visitor experience."

In November, VisitBritain will lead a travel trade mission to Guangzhou city in South China. The Destination Britain China delegation will comprise 65 UK tourism companies that will meet with Chinese travel agents.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May coughs as she addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, October 4, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - British Prime Minister Theresa May relived Sunday the ordeal of her disastrous party conference speech, insisting "I am resilient".

In her first major interview since Wednesday's conference fiasco when a prankster interrupted her speech, her coughing fits and the stage backdrop falling apart, May said at no time did she think of giving up.

In an exclusive interview in the Sunday Times newspaper, May was asked if she had cried or been depressed in the aftermath of her speech.

She replied: "One minute journalists are accusing me of being an ice maiden or a robot, then they claim I'm a weeping woman in dire need of a good night's sleep! The truth is my feelings can be hurt, like everyone else, but I am pretty resilient."

May said at no point did she feel like leaving the stage when things went wrong, adding, "I am a very determined person".

Describing what gave her the guts to plough on, May said the speech had not been the easiest in her life.

"But I had an important message to deliver and I was determined to do that. It didn't feel like I was alone up there, it felt like everyone in the room was with me and willing me on and that made a huge difference," she said.

Asked if the speech was the worse day of her life, May described it as just a speech, adding that she had had to deal with horrific events such as the "appalling Grenfell Tower fire and loss of life".

"In my life there have, of course, been difficult times but what motivates me is giving a voice to those who struggle to be heard," she said.

Asked if she feared for her own safety when the prankster approached her during the speech, May said: "I wasn't concerned for my safety, there was nothing about his body language that gave me cause for alarm. I have protection people who are fantastic. They look out for me and I trust them completely. I cannot imagine many people watching found the prank funny, though."

May also said it was hugely important that leaders do not become shut off from the public.

"We need to get out there to make our case, to listen to what really matters to people and to learn what we can do to make their lives better," she said.

She said from a group of men she met on a stag do in Tallinn last week to the people she talked to when knocking on doors, she rarely meet anything other than warmth, wit and wisdom.

Other media reports Sunday speculated that May was planning to reshuffle her top-team cabinet, with under-fire Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson a possible casualty of a shake-up.

In her Sunday Times interview, May gave no hint of her intentions, apart from describing her cabinet as "terrific".

She said; "I'm the PM and part of my job is to make sure I always have the best people in my cabinet, to make the most of the wealth of talent available in the party. I have a terrific cabinet. For me leadership is not gossip and game-playing."

Some political commentators were interpreting her words as a possible signal that Johnson would lose his job.
DHAKA - Twelve bodies were recovered after a boat with scores of Rohingyas on board capsized at the mouth of the Naf river that divides Myanmar and Bangladesh, a police official said Monday.

"Bodies of 10 children, one man and one woman have so far been recovered," said Md Main Uddin, officer-in-charge of Teknaf police station under Cox's Bazar district, some 292 km southeast of capital Dhaka.

He could not tell immediately when the boat capsized but assumed that it may have capsized sometime late Sunday night.

Law enforcers Monday morning recovered the bodies which were floating in the Bay of Bengal near Shah Porir Island of Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district which is now home to nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, he added.

According to the official, there is no information about how many people from the sunken boat managed to swim ashore after it capsized.

The official feared the death toll will rise, as some of the 11 rescued Rohingyas claimed some people are still missing.

He said a search operation is underway.

The bodies of 132 Rohingyas and a Bangladeshi boat man were recovered from the Naf River since Aug. 29 in at least 25 boat capsizal incidents.

Over half a million Rohingya people have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar's Rakhine state amid a fresh wave of violence in the region since Aug. 25.
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BANGKOK - Insurgents detonated a roadside bomb to ambush a team of rangers in southern Thai province of Narathiwat on Monday morning, in which one ranger was killed and another seriously injured.

The killed is identified as 25-year-old Anan Wichienthong and the injured is Yutthana Thongyen, who is being treated at a local hospital.

According to Thai media Voice TV, a team of eight rangers on four motorcycles were patrolling on a road when they were attacked by the group of insurgents hiding in woods alongside the road.

The other six rangers were safe and local officers have collected evidence at scene.

Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala are the three southernmost Thai provinces that were haunted by explosions and attacks.
US President Donald Trump talks to the media on South Lawn of the White House in Washington before his departure to Greensboro, North Carolina, US, October 7, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - The White House unveiled its vision for immigration reform Sunday and said that it had sent the document to Congress.

"Immigration reform must create more jobs, higher wages, and greater security for Americans -- now and for future generations," US President Donald Trump said in a letter to Congress.

"The reforms outlined in the enclosure are necessary to ensure prosperity, opportunity, and safety for every member of our national family," he said.

The principles Trump gave in an enclosed document were divided into two parts, namely border security and interior enforcement.

Regarding border security, Trump reiterated his proposal to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, which has been one of his most prominent campaign promises.

Trump also asked for the swift removal of illegal immigrants, especially unaccompanied alien children, which Trump said have been entering the United States through its southern border at an increasing rate.

For law enforcement, Trump vowed to take on sanctuary cities or states that have blocked federal efforts in dealing with illegal immigrants.

"The administration proposes blocking sanctuary cities from receiving certain grants or cooperative agreements administered or awarded by the Department of Justice and Homeland Security," the principle read.

The policy comes one month after the Department of Justice said it will halt the "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" program enacted during former President Barack Obama's tenure, and will leave a six-month window for Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform.

Coupled with taking executive action against illegal immigrants, the Department of Homeland Security has also conducted nationwide raids in recent weeks and arrested about 500 illegal immigrants that it says have violated the law.

Immigration has been a thorny issue in US society that has been amplified by Trump's election. Trump has promised tighter immigration control, which appealed to many of his conservative supporters, but his policies have also drawn wide criticism.
China's Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming. [Photo/China Daily]

October 19 marks the second anniversary of President Xi Jinping's State Visit to the UK. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming reflects on the significance of the visit and the Golden Era it heralded.

China Daily: Almost two years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to the United Kingdom, the first to the UK by a Chinese head of state in a decade. In terms of the timing, how significant do you think his visit was to China-UK relations?

Ambassador Liu: Indeed, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a successful State Visit to the UK from 19-23 October 2015 at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II. That visit was a historic milestone because its significance extends well beyond our times.

Bilaterally, President Xi's State Visit heralded a new era for China-UK relations.

"What's past is prologue". The State Visit was the first by China's head of state in ten years. It took place in the first year of the second decade of China-UK comprehensive strategic partnership. That was an important moment where China and the UK could build on the achievements of the past and herald a coming new era.

During the State Visit, China and the UK committed to building a global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st Century. The State Visit opened the "Golden Era" in UK-China relations featuring enduring, inclusive and win-win cooperation and raised the banner of consensus and cooperation.

In June 2016, Britain formed a new government after the Brexit Referendum. But the China-UK "Golden Era" was not affected. Over the past year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Theresa May maintained close personal contact, exchanging letters on many issues and having two meetings and one telephone talk. Both leaders reaffirmed the shared commitment to building the China-UK "Golden Era", which was a strong reassurance for the continued, healthy growth of our bilateral relationship and our ever deepening cooperation across the board.

Internationally, President Xi's State Visit was a courageous effort to build a new type of major country relationship.

During the visit, the two countries recognised the importance each side attaches to its own political system, development path, core interests and major concerns. Just as the old Chinese saying goes, "A true gentleman respects diversity while seeking harmony."

As countries of global influence, China and Britain agreed to adopt a long-term and strategic vision, to look beyond their differences in social system, cultural tradition and ideology, to take our bilateral ties proactively and rationally and to work for shared interests and common development.

China-UK strategic mutual trust was strengthened. Our shared determination on closer cooperation was firm. The foundation for our bilateral relations was consolidated. The FT editorial sees this visit as marking "a fundamental recalibration in the UK's great power relations".

As Permanent Members of the UN Security Council and countries of global influence, China and the UK shoulder the responsibilities for advancing world peace and development. In a multi-polar world where economic globalization continues to unfold, China-UK relationship has taken on a greater strategic and global significance.

During the State Visit, leaders of both countries spoke highly of the global and strategic importance of China-UK relations for world peace, stability and prosperity. It is our shared commitment to stay in close communication within the framework of the UN and G20 and work together on global and regional issues, so as to jointly advance the cause of peace and development for mankind.

The China-UK "Golden Era" is a successful practice of China's vision for state-to-state ties, namely, "a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation". Much more than that, it is a fine example of how the emerging and established powers can work together to build a new type of relationship in which they deepen mutual trust, engage in healthy interactions and pursue win-win cooperation.

China Daily: Ambassador, I believe you accompanied President Xi during his visit to the UK. What do you think was the highlight of his visit?

Ambassador Liu: It was a huge honour for me to accompany President Xi throughout his UK visit. The visit has three highlights, which I would summarize as three "super's", that is, "super programme", "super outcomes" and "super significance".

First, "super programme".

In five days, President Xi attended more than 30 events. His trip took him not only to the capital city of London but also other parts of Britain. His itinerary covered both towns and villages. His schedule included tight political agenda and light interaction with the public. The events he attended vary from traditional Royal pageantry to modern creative display.

The British side attached great importance to President Xi's visit and the highest-level royal welcome was staged, including 103-gun salute at Tower Bridge and Green Park. The Queen announced the news of President Xi's coming visit at the opening of the Parliament. She held two banquets in honour of President Xi and Madame Peng Liyuan. Members of the three generations of the Royal Family were involved in hosting this visit.

During the visit, President Xi and then Prime Minister Cameron had a series of long-hour, in-depth meetings. President Xi and Madame Peng were also invited to the Prime Minister's home at Chequers. There were fourteen events in which Prime Minister Cameron accompanied President Xi both in and outside London.

The second highlights are the "super outcomes".

During the visit, China and the UK reached a total of 59 outcomes, including 13 inter-governmental and non-commercial agreements, 28 commercial contracts at 40 billion pounds, and 18 outcomes of other kinds.

The signing of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project was a milestone: Chinese nuclear company made its first ever entry into the market of a developed country. There were breakthroughs in financial services cooperation marked by the expansion of the scale of currency swap, the launch of the feasibility study on Shanghai-London Stock Connect, and China's agreement to make London the place of issue for its first RMB sovereign bond outside China. The two countries also agreed to scale up cooperation on innovative and other emerging industries, creative industry and educational exchanges.

The third highlight is the "super significance" of the State Visit.

The human touch of President Xi's UK trip was a fine example of public diplomacy. It drew enormous interest and coverage not only in Britain but also around the world.

From the Royal Carriages to the Plough in Cadsden, from the Indian Pale Ale with fish and chips to the iconic Aguero selfie, numerous eye-catching moments made headlines and became media focuses.

President Xi mentioned many British household names in his speeches, from Byron, Shelley and Dickens, to Harry Potter, Sherlock and Downton Abbey, and felt instantly close to the British public. This visit created a huge enthusiasm across Britain for learning about China in greater depth. The role of this visit in building stronger public support for closer China-UK cooperation can not be overstated.

A special point I want to make about this visit is that, in his interactions with the British leaders and public, President Xi elaborated on China's policies and ideals, told China's stories, put forward China's concepts and made China's voice heard.

During the visit, President Xi met extensively with people from different sectors, expounding on China's policies and responding to international concerns.

For example, in response to worries about China's economy, President Xi stressed that China's economy would not make a hard landing; Instead, by committing to the opening up strategy of win-win cooperation, China would continue to play a key role in driving global growth.

In response to concerns over China's future development path, President Xi explained why this path was a historical and inevitable choice of the Chinese people and that it was a path to better life, a path to world peace and development. He stressed that China's development conformed to the trend of human progress and created more opportunities for the world rather than posing threats to any other country.

With regard to the issue of human rights, President Xi underscored that the people knew best about their country's human rights. China would stick to its own path of advancing human rights and stand ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with other countries on human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

In this widely acclaimed, successful State Visit, President Xi sent out a confident message about China's economic prospects, showcased China as an open, inclusive and responsible nation, and helped the international audience gain better knowledge and understanding of China.

China Daily: Looking back, what do you think are the long-lasting legacies of that visit to the relations of the two countries?

Ambassador Liu: President Xi's "Super State Visit" to the UK produced "super impact" upon China-UK relations. It was a landmark in the history of our bilateral ties. The long-lasting impact of that visit is seen in three aspects.

First, the visit gave China-UK relations an upgraded redefinition.

China and Britain announced the building of a global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century and an enduring, open and win-win China-UK "Golden Era". This is a strategic choice of our two countries based on our respective long-term interests and the overall interests of world peace and stability. Such a definition was unprecedented in China's ties with western countries.

This new definition charts the way forward for China-UK relations. It lays the political building block for our overall bilateral ties. It shows that our relationship has entered a new era. The joint statement issued during the visit covers a wide range of areas and maps out the blueprint for the long-term growth of China-UK relationship.

Second, the visit greatly enriched China-UK cooperation.

The new definition of China-UK relations marked a new beginning where leaders of both countries started to plan for future cooperation across the board.

We agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and ensure the success of the annual Prime Ministers' Meeting, the Economic and Financial Dialogue, and other high level dialogue mechanisms on culture, strategy and security.

We agreed to expand bilateral trade and investment, strengthen financial cooperation and cooperation on emerging industries such as innovation, and dovetail China's Belt and Road Initiative with the UK's Northern Powerhouse.

We agreed to step up cooperation in the field of security and law enforcement. We agreed to work for closer cultural exchanges and increased mutual visits.

We also decided to communicate more closely under multilateral frameworks such as the UN and G20, enhance cooperation on international and regional issues and jointly advance the cause of peace and development.

These important cooperation agreements and outcomes reached between the leaders of China and Britain have greatly enriched China-UK ties. They reflect the strategic vision of our two countries and show to the world that China's vision of a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation is creating a bright future for global development.

Third, the visit helps grow China-UK friendship.

One focus of President Xi's visit was to deepen the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Britain. He therefore met widely with people from different sectors, including the political, business, cultural, educational and science communities in Britain.

President Xi joined the Queen for a series of state events and had close and cordial conversations with the three generations of the Royal Family. He delivered keynote speeches at the Parliament, the Guildhall, the Airport City Manchester, and the China-UK Business Summit. He visited the countryside pub, businesses and schools. He reached out to the wider British public, shared with them stories of China-UK friendship and worked to bring the people of our two countries closer. This visit demonstrated the appeal of President Xi's leadership and helped build stronger public support for China-UK cooperation.

China Daily: In the run up to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, how do you see China-UK relations in five years time?

Ambassador Liu: This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Ambassadorial diplomatic ties between China and Britain. It is also a year for consolidating the China-UK "Golden Era". The past 45 years have seen extraordinary and historic progress in China-UK relations.

The international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes. Brexit is bringing uncertainties and instabilities. However, the shared goal of China and the UK to build a "Golden Era" remains unchanged. The momentum of a steady and growing China-UK relationship remains unchanged. The strong desire for deeper cooperation across the board remains unchanged.

It is therefore my hope that in the coming five years, we will continue our good efforts in developing China-UK ties in the following five aspects.

First, I hope China and the UK will continue to cement the strategic consensus of building the "Golden Era".

The "Golden Era" enhances consensus, sets out the objective for all our work and creates a vision for our cooperation. Building a China-UK "Golden Era" is not a slogan. It is a brand new definition of our bilateral relationship and a symbol of our determination to build strategic consensus.

Over the past two years, the leaders of both China and the UK have reaffirmed on many occasions the commitment to advance the China-UK "Golden Era". This has made sure that China-UK relations keep to the right direction. The "Golden Era" is the major opportunity that we must seize as we work together to enhance political mutual trust, build consensus and deepen win-win cooperation.

Prime Minister May is planning a visit to China before the end of this year. I have confidence that such a visit will give new impetus to China-UK relationship and allow the "Golden Era" to endure.

Second, I hope China and the UK will continue to deliver more "golden outcomes".

China is deepening its reforms and opening up. The forthcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will take stock of our development experience and formulate the programme and policies for the future. China's peaceful development will offer more opportunities for the world, Britain included.

As Britain approaches the critical juncture of Brexit negotiations, its leaders have on numerous occasions made clear that Britain outside the EU will continue to open to the world and embrace free trade, and that the goal is to build a "global Britain". For China-UK relations, Brexit means both opportunities and challenges. And I believe the opportunities far outweigh the challenges. Our two countries have every reason to tap our potentials for cooperation and turn challenges into opportunities. We have every capability to deliver more "golden outcome" for the benefit of our people.

Third, I hope China and the UK will continue to dovetail our respective development strategies.

China and Britain have much to offer to each other in our respective development strategies. Right now, we are working hard to dovetail China's Belt and Road Initiative, 13th Five Year Plan and Made in China 2025 with the UK's Industrial Strategy, Northern Powerhouse and the UK Industry 2050.

Britain is a key partner of the Belt and Road cooperation thanks to its unique strengths in financial services, legal services, project management and risks control. China and the UK can dovetail our development strategies, coordinate our policy measure and join hands to explore the market of a third country along the routes. This could be a highlight of cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road. Our two countries can also explore new opportunities to match our strengths and achieve common development in the fields of economic cooperation, trade, investment and science and technology.

Fourth, I hope China and the UK will continue to strengthen public support for our bilateral relations.

Only relations based on heart-to-heart exchange can last. The thriving people-to-people exchanges between China and the UK in recent years are the key to building solid public support for our bilateral relations.

There are now over 1.5 million mutual visits between China and Britain every year. There are more Chinese student and more Confucius Institutes in Britain than anywhere else in Europe. There are 60 pairs of sister provinces and cities between China and Britain. The local government forum and local government joint working group on economic cooperation and trade between our two countries are the first ever in Europe.

For China-UK relationship to scale further heights, we must achieve new progress in people-to-people and local government cooperation. Closer exchange at this level will foster stronger friendship and better understanding. That will further steady the steps of China-UK relationship.

Fifth, I hope China and the UK will continue to enhance cooperation on international issues.

Both China and Britain are permanent members of the UN Security Council and important members of G20. We have maintained sound cooperation on international issues and have more shared commitment to economic globalization, trade liberalization and investment facilitation. Our interests converge and our communication and cooperation have been effective in facilitating free trade, improving global economic governance and reforming the international financial system. We have been engaged in global cooperation on health issues, climate change, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping and regional security. Together, we are responding to global and regional challenges and maintaining peace and stability around the world.

Looking ahead into the coming five years, I am confident about China-UK relationship. I believe that both countries need to continue to take China-UK ties from a strategic height and long-term perspective. Going forward, we must deepen our global comprehensive partnership for the 21st Century, keep to the overall direction of the "Golden Era", seize the "golden opportunities", expand our shared interests and enhance our strategic convergence as we write a new chapter for China-UK relations.
Zhang Ming, China's new ambassador to the EU, presents his copy of a letter of credentials to European Commission's Chief of Protocol Nicolas De La Grandville on Monday in Brussels. [Provided to China Daily]

Replacing his predecessor Yang Yanyi, Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Ming has acted as the head of China's mission to the EU and presented his copy of a letter of credentials to the European Commission's chief of protocol on Monday.

European Commission Chief of Protocol Nicolas De La Grandville received Zhang before the new ambassador presents the letter of credentials to European Council President Donald Tusk. The schedule for the protocol arrangement is still unknown.

Formerly in charge of China's relationship with West Asia, North Africa and Africa, Zhang arrived in Brussels on Oct 7, and Yang left her mandate in late September.

Welcoming Zhang's taking on his new job, De La Grandville vowed to work with the Chinese mission to lift bilateral relations to a new high.

During the meeting, Zhang said that China and the EU will embrace an even more rewarding future in bilateral relations and contribute more to world peace and development.

"China and the EU are two major economies and key players in the world. A healthy and steadily developing China-EU relationship is instrumental to world peace and development," Zhang said.

He said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975, there has been tremendous progress in China-EU relations, with pragmatic cooperation broadening and deepening in all areas. In 2003, the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership was established.

In 2014, President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to EU headquarters, and during the visit, the two sides committed to building the partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization, thus chartering the course of future China-EU relations. The Belt and Road Initiative has injected new energy into pragmatic China-EU cooperation.

"The Chinese Mission to the EU is committed to advancing China-EU relations and promoting mutual understanding and exchanges between the peoples," Zhang said.
Flames rise from the remains of a house that burned down in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct 9, 2017. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through Northern California, sending residents on a headlong flight to safety through smoke and flames as homes burned. [Photo/Agencies]

SONOMA, California  More than a dozen wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through California wine country on Monday, destroying at least 1,500 homes and businesses and sending an estimated 20,000 people on a headlong flight to safety through smoke and flames.

One person was killed in a fire further north, in Mendocino County.

The state's fire chief called the damage estimates for the fire in the wine country conservative and said the fires were burning throughout an eight-county swath of Northern California, including Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties.

Numerous people had been hurt and some were missing, although no estimates were immediately available, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ken Pimlott. Later he said there were likely fatalities.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered after the blazes broke out late Sunday. Long lines formed at gas stations when many families heeded a middle-of-the-night call to get out. A spokesperson for Pacific Gas & Electric said 114,000 customers were without power.

"It was an inferno like you've never seen before," said Marian Williams, who caravanned with neighbors before dawn as one of the wildfires reached the vineyards and ridges at her small Sonoma County town of Kenwood.

Williams could feel the heat of her fire through the car as she fled. "Trees were on fire like torches," she said.

With downed trees or flames blocking routes, Sonoma County residents struggled to figure out what roads to take.

Fires also burned just to the east in the Napa County as well as in Yuba, Butte and Nevada counties  all north of the state capital. Many of the fires spread suddenly overnight, whipped by furious winds.

Santa Rosa, the largest city in the fire area with a population of about 175,000, was hit hard. The city lost a Kmart and unknown numbers of other businesses and homes, as the blaze shut down its schools and forced patients at two city hospitals to evacuate. A Hilton Hotel was smoldering and in ruins.

"Imagine a wind-whipped fire burning at explosive rates. This is 50 miles per hour. Literally it's burning into the city of Santa Rosa ... burning box stores," Pimlott said. "This is traditionally California's worst time for fires, California's most damaging times for fires have occurred in October."

More than 200 people were hurriedly evacuated from Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital and Santa Rosa Medical Center, where the blaze could be seen raging nearby.

Napa County Fire Chief Barry Biermann said the fires had burned more than 68 square miles (176 square kilometers). Crews had not yet been able to contain a fire heading toward downtown Napa.

"Right now, with these conditions, we can't get ahead of this fire and do anything about the forward progress," Biermann said.

Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties.

Smoke was thick in San Francisco, 60 miles (96 kilometers) south of the Sonoma County fire.
American Lawyer Magazine recently did an article, That Law Firms Website Might Not Be for a Real Law Firm on a new white paper [that] examines a growing trend of fraudsters posing as attorneys or legal consultants online to exploit those seeking legal services.

To which I can only say, well yeah.

We actually first wrote about the fake lawyer phenomenon way back in 2006, in China: Where Even The Law Firms Are Fake (2006). In that post I talked about fake Chinese lawyers taking money from American companies for trademark registrations:

But today I just learned there are those who take money to register foreign company trademarks in China and then simply run away. A new client told me he had sent about $750 to what he thought was a legitimate China law firm to have his companys brand name registered. As soon as the first $750 hit Shanghai, he was asked to send an additional $600 to cover the filing fees, which he did.

A week later the website was down and the Shanghai firm was gone.

Caveat emptor.

Since 2006 I have heard multiple accounts of companies that paid for China trademarks or employment contracts or manufacturing contracts or company registrations or various other things China lawyers typically do for their clients, only to receive nothing in return and only to learn that the Chinese law firm or the Chinese lawyer they paid for their legal work never even existed. How many foreign companies believe their trademarks are registered in China when in fact they never were? How many think they have registered companies in China when they dont? I dont know the numbers, but I do know that the number of these fake law firms is on the rise, fueled in large part by foreign companies seeking to reduce their costs wherever they can.

In addition to fake law firms that simply steal your money, there are also a whole host of companies with no lawyers who advertise their China legal services on the internet. These companies (at least as far as I know) do not flat out steal your money but what they do can in some cases be almost as harmful. These companies lead their clients to believe they are communicating with lawyers when in fact they are not. This means there is no attorney-client privilege and the odds of whoever does your legal work knowing your situation and your goals and having the capability to draft a cross-border document that will work for you are about 1,000 to 1. Be careful of these companies as well.

So how can you avoid these things happening to you? Do some due diligence before you pay/hire a China lawyer, especially if you will be paying upfront for something like a China trademark or a China company registration where it may take you years to realize you were duped. There are, for instance, some fast and easy steps you can take to confirm your lawyer actually has a law license. I believe every U.S. state lists its licensed practitioners online and avvo.com also lists all or nearly all licensed lawyers. Here is my proof on Avvo that I am a real lawyer, licensed in Alaska, Illinois, and Washington. Most countries have something similar. Check to see how long the lawyer/law firm claims to have been in business as compared to how long they have had their website. One fake China attorney claimed to have more than 20 years experience but his website appears to have been online for only 5 months.

Anyway, just be careful out there.
US Pastor Andrew Brunson Marks 1 Year Imprisonment in Turkey Christian Post Contributor | 09 October, 2017 by Stoyan Zaimov

As American Pastor Andrew Brunson marks a full year in prison in Turkey for his Christian faith, an American law firm is declaring that he has become a "hostage" following the latest developments from President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an.

"He has now spent one year apart from his family. He's spent one year in a Turkish prison for his Christian faith. He has spent one year wondering each day if he will ever be free to return to America. He has spent one year enduring unthinkable persecution for his Christian faith," American Center for Law and Justice Executive Director Jordan Sekulow wrote on Saturday, referring to Brunson.

"Even worse, after one year of false imprisonment for his faith, Pastor Andrew is now a hostage of the Turkish government  a pawn in the hands of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an."

In September, Erdogan said that Brunson, who is being accused by Turkey of espionage and charges related to terrorism, could be released if the U.S. hands over Fethullah Gulen, and Islamic imam whom Erdogan blames for last year's attempted coup in the country.

"'Give us the pastor back,' they say. You have one pastor as well. Give him (Gulen) to us," Erdogan said at the time. "Then we will try him (Brunson) and give him to you."

Read more about Pastor Andrew Brunson on The Christian Post.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican, signed a bill on Sept. 28 approving taxpayer funding for abortion and protecting state abortion provisions in the event the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturns Roe v. Wade.



I personally am pro-choice, Rauner said at a news conference before signing the bill. I always have been. And I made no qualms about that when I was elected governor. And I have not and never will change my views. I personally believe that a woman should have, must have, the right to decide what goes on in her own body.



Rauners decision to sign HB 40 came as a surprise to sponsors and opponents alike. In April, his office issued a statement in support of reproductive rights under current Illinois law but against the bill.



HB 40 removes language from existing Illinois law that blocked taxpayer funding for abortion through state Medicaid funds and state employee health insurance. It also strikes down language that defined an unborn child as a human being from the time of conception and entitled to legal protection. It also takes out a provision that effectively would ban abortion if the U.S Supreme Court ever reverses its 1973 decision to legalize the practice.



Before signing the bill, Rauner met with Republican leaders, as well as opponents and proponents of the bill, and said we are assessing what to do. Proponents of the bill urged him to stick with his pro-abortion views, while Republican lawmakers, Illinois Right to Life, and other pro-life groups urged the governor to maintain his initial stance against the bill.



If Gov. Bruce Rauner signs HB 40, he will be publicly repudiated by pro-lifers throughout the entire state of Illinois, Rosemary Hackett, president of Illinois Right to Life, said in a statement released prior to the bills signing last week. He promised to veto this horrendous legislation, which would force all Illinois taxpayers to pay for free abortions for those on Medicaid and state employees, which can be done through all nine months of pregnancy and for any reasoneven when the unborn child can feel pain and survive outside the womb.



Pro-life Republicans decried Rauners decision to sign the bill. State House Republican Floor Leader Peter Breen said it betrayed the partys trust and portends a primary challenge for Rauner.



Its not that hard to get on the ballot to be governor when youve got this kind of groundswell of opposition that I believe is going to be mounting here in the next few days, Breen told reporters. When you look someone in the eye and shake their hand and tell them youre going to do something and then you reverse course, thats a broken commitment.



While the 1977 Hyde Amendment bans federal Medicaid funds from covering abortionexcept in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mothers lifestates can use Medicaid funds for the procedure. Seventeen states, including Illinois, have opted to do so.



According to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the bill will cost the state $1.8 million a year.



In June, Delaware Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, also signed a bill ensuring legal abortion throughout pregnancy if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, while Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, also a Democrat, approved a bill in August to mandate insurance plans cover abortion and contraception.

Courtesy: WORLD News Service

Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/stevanovicigor

Publication date: October 9, 2017
Years ago, I found myself sitting at the dinner table of one of my literary heroes, Wendell Berry, on his farm in Henry County, Kentucky.

At the end of the evening, Berry made it clear it was time for me to go by saying something along the lines of, Well, its been good to have you. I couldnt leave, though, without telling the agrarian novelist and poet how much his writing had meant to mewhile attempting to sound like a Christian academic rather than a giddy fanboy. His response was less a thank-you than a benediction.

Isnt it something, how we get what we need at just the right time? he said. The right book comes along at just the right time. The right friend comes along at just the right time. The right conversation comes along at just the right time. Its grace.

His words left me bursting with gratitude, but not onlyor even primarilyfor Berry. As I left his farm, I couldnt help thinking of two authors who came along right when I needed them: C. S. Lewis and Frederick Buechner.

Lewis wont come as a surprise to most of my fellow conservative evangelicals (even though we occasionally disagree with some of his theological positions). Many of us have the same storyof walking through the old mans wardrobe into mere Christianity and an intellectually defensible Christian theism. But Buechner (pronounced BEEK-ner) is a little harder for some in my tribe to get. At first glance, he doesnt seem like one of us. He came to embrace his Christian calling not at a Billy Graham crusade, but in the Sunday services of New York modernist George Buttrick. Buechner studied for ministry at Union Theological Seminary, haunt of such theological supervillains as, shiver, Paul Tillich.

So why would Ia conservative evangelical of the Reformed stripe, a Southern Baptist of all thingskeep coming back to the writings of this mainline Protestant from Vermont? One reason is that Buechner probably kept me from becoming a liberal Protestant.

As a teenager, I grappled with a call to ministry, but I was reluctant to enter the Bible-Belt ministry of the time, suspicious as it was of the intellect and imagination. For a few months, I wondered if the problem was evangelicalism itself, so I visited a couple of mainline Methodist and Presbyterian churches, which gave off the vibe of mortician more than shepherd.

Then, meandering through a local librarys used book sale, I found Buechner. The book was his collection of essays, A Room Called Remember. This was someone who didnt seek to manipulate my emotions or enlist me in a cause. He just told the truth as he saw it. And he clearly loved Jesus. So I voraciously consumed everything he ever wroteand in the 30 or so years since, Ive read much of it over and over again. J. Gresham Machen and Carl F. H. Henry taught me that I neednt put my mind in a blind trust in order to follow Jesus. Buechner taught me the same about my imagination.

Im not alone. Scores of evangelicals have traveled the same way with Buechner. With his decreased output in recent years (due to advanced ageBuechner is 91), most of us were resigned to re-reading older material. Most of us probably didnt expect to see his name on the spine of a new book.

But now Buechner is back.

Listening to Ones Life

Zondervan has just released two new volumes of Buechners writings. The first, The Remarkable Ordinary: How to Stop, Look, and Listen to Life, contains mostly unpublished lectures from the late 1980s and early 1990s (the same time frame, come to think of it, when I first found Buechner in the discard bin). The second, A Crazy, Holy Grace, is a collection of essays on (as the subtitle has it) the healing power of pain and memory. (Most of these have been published elsewhere.) These books are not necessarily Buechners best, but they dont have to be. Weve had his best. Its enough that hes back.

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In The Remarkable Ordinary, we find distilled the overriding theme of Buechners writings, whether novels or essays or autobiographies: A person should listen to his or her life, giving attention to what God is saying in the little subplots of a lifespan.

I started, in the sentence above, to type the words narrative or story. But then I stopped, remembering how Buechner once upbraided a hapless ministers conference organizer who asked him to speak on the theme of story. Buechner fumed that this was a fad. At first, I thought this was akin to Henry David Thoreau chiding someone for using the cliche of marching to the beat of a different drummer. After all, who talks about story more than Buechner?

For Buechner, though, story had come to mean the minister gets up and tries to convey his message by usually telling a perfectly wretched story. He recalls going to hear a famously narrative preacher and sitting through this awful thing where he took the story of the prodigal son and recast it as a Western. As Buechner observes, if Jesus had wanted this beautifully perfect story to be contrived, overworked, and thoughtless, he could have given us this allegedly superior version in the first place.

Buechner has something different in mind: How can one connect the story of God to the overall human story, and then to the story of ones own life? I think thats the most fascinating story anybody can tell, especially anybody who happens to be religiously inclined, he notes. How did you get to be the way you are when there are a million reasons for not being that way at all? How did you happen?

This might sound suspiciously like weve entered Eat, Pray, Love territory. Hardly. Buechners appeal to story is an apologeticone as clear and compelling as Lewiss treatment of the universal moral sense in Mere Christianity. Writing novels, I got into the habit of looking for plots, he says in a much earlier book. After awhile, I began to suspect that my own life had a plot. And after awhile more, I began to suspect that life itself has a plot. Personally, Ive noticed that even the most hardened non-theists still tend to live as though their lives have a plotlineor at least they hope there is a plotline. For most of the last century, Buechner has challenged skeptics to ask why this is the casewhile inviting believers to find a quiet holiness in this developing plot.

As an American evangelical, Im used to looking for dramatic plot twists. Saul of Tarsus is blinded on the road to Damascus. Charles Colson finds Jesus when hes facing time in prison. A Wiccan priestess leaves the coven and becomes a missionary to East Africa (where she shares the gospel with witch doctors!). I love those stories, and the Bible says we should. But those are relatively easy to see.

In The Remarkable Ordinary, Buechner suggests that having a Christian vision of reality means paying attention to the seemingly humdrum, even boring, plotlines of grace in our lives. Ones life is not just incident following incident without any particular direction or purpose, but things are happening in order to take you somewhere. Looking back on his own life, Buechner sees that very often things that seemed at the time to have had very little significance were key points in the plot of my life. In these essays, Buechner doesnt want to shake us up with a new insight. He simply wants us to stop and pay attention to what we already know.

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Now, again, Buechners listening to your life isnt some sort of therapeutic prosperity gospel. God forbid. In the background of Buechner we hear not the giddiness of the television evangelist but the weeping of the exilic prophet. Behind both of these booksindeed, behind everything Buechner has ever writtenis a suicide. Buechners fatherravaged by depressionkilled himself in the familys garage when Buechner and his brother were small children. The suicide left the family reelingand A Crazy, Holy Grace shows us that Buechner is reeling still.

With unflinching honesty, both books take us through what Buechner calls the shadow side of his childhood. He describes his own attempts at understanding that childhood with a therapist. He writes of his stoic brothers death with gallows humor (his wife is not losing a husband but gaining half a closet). He mentions his daughters harrowing battle with anorexia nervosa. Listen to the moments of longing and agony, he counsels us. Remember what it means to be forgiven, and to forgive. Remember those moments in our lives when Christ came to us in countless disguises through people who one way or another strengthened us, comforted us, healed us, judged us, by the power of Christ alive within them.

Listening to ones life, then, isnt a matter of psychoanalytic introspection or hyper-mystical spirituality. It certainly doesnt mean figuring out what God is doing in all the mysteries of ones existence. Instead, it means looking out from ones selfand seeing a providence that should prompt those of us in Christ to trust the plots unfolding, to give thanks for the other characters in our story.

From Tears to Joy

Admittedly, Buechners theology sometimes drives me to sighs of exasperation. I wince when he writes that Jesus has no hands of flesh except our hands, and I want to exclaim, Jesus hands are perfectly adequateforever incarnate and nail-pierced. I shake my head wondering why he keeps statues of the Buddha and the Hindu elephant-headed deity Ganesh on his library shelves. Often, he writes that nothing is lost in a way that sounds much more universalist than the warnings of judgment so often present in Jesus teaching. Buechners articulation of free will makes me wonder how God could be authoring a plot for the universe (or for me) without a stouter sense of sovereignty.

But then I remember that Buechner is not the only writer who, by Gods grace, has changed my life, despite big doctrinal differences. Buechner needs Machen and Henry to guide him through the authority of the Word of God and the creedal propositions of the faith (just as they, perhaps, could benefit from Buechner teaching them how to communicate those propositions with poetry). Buechner does not always say what I want him to say, but I never wonder if hes telling me anything less than what he believes to be the truth. In an era of kinetic marketing and spinas much within the church as anywhere elsethat alone is remarkable.

And the main thing Buechner has taught me and re-taught me in these two books is to be a steward of tears. I found my eyes welling up several times over these pages, especially in Buechners stories of grappling with guilt, fear, and grief. Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention, Buechner writes in Beyond Words, reprinted here in A Crazy, Holy Grace. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from and is summoning you to where, if your soul is to be saved, you should go next.

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But ultimately, Buechner wants us to see through our tears to the joy lying beyond. Again, as the writer of plots, he knows that joy is best glimpsed against a backdrop of conflict. He teaches us to feel what it is to suffer with Christ, but then to be held by himto know he is there to hold us. Joy is knowing that this is true from your stomach, he concludes, referencing Deuteronomy 33:2627. Knowing that even though we see only through a glass darkly, even though lots of things happenwars and peacemaking, hunger and homelessnessjoy is knowing, even for a moment, that underneath everything are the everlasting arms. A few minutes after reading this, I caught myself humming the tune to the old gospel song, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Once again, Buechner drove me further into my evangelical identity, not away from it.

If youre new to Buechner, pick up these books and let them lead you backward into his writingsto a complicated con artist named Bebb, to a conflicted monk named Godric, to a lost-and-found boy named Buechner. If you already love Buechner, pick up the conversation again, and maybe hand a book to a friend who is crying through a deep suffering or, even more important, to a friend who has stopped crying altogether.

While youre at it, consider tossing a copy into your local librarys donation bin. Who knows? Maybe theres a 15-year-old evangelical out there grappling with whether Christianity can speak to his innermost hopes and fears, to her intellect and imagination. Maybe, like me, this evangelical will find not just the musings of an old man but a long-distance friend for life. Maybe these books will come along at just the right time.

Russell Moore is president of The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is the author of Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel (B&H).

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It was one of the bleakest times in the history of Christianity. In the name of Christ, thousands were slaughtered, millions enslaved, entire civilizations wiped out.

When the first Europeans settled in Hispaniola, there were some 100,000 native inhabitants on the island. Half a century later, there were scarcely 500. In Mexico, in seventy-five years the population declined from more than 23 million to 1.4 million; in Peru, in fifty years, from 9 million to 1.3 million. Military conquest, new diseases, wanton slaughter, forced labor, poor nutrition, and mass suicides contributed to these gruesome statistics. Behind all of it, as ultimate justification for the enterprise, stood the name of Christ.

In the name of Christ, natives were dispossessed of their lands by means of the Requerimiento. This document informed the native owners and rulers of these lands that Christs vicar on earth had granted these lands to the crown of Castile. They could accept and submit to this, or be declared rebel subjects and destroyed by force of arms.

In the name of Christ, the natives were dispossessed of their freedom by means of the encomiendas. The crown entrusted nativessometimes hundreds of themto a Spanish conquistador to be taught the rudiments of the Christian faith. In exchange, the natives were to work for the conquistadorthe encomendero. The system soon became a veiled form of slavery. Even worse, some encomenderos left the natives underfed and overworked to the point of death.

It was also in the name of Christ that native women were baptized before being raped or taken as concubines against their will. After all, Saint Paul had clearly said, Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

The explorers and conquistadors were not hypocrites who pretended to have faith. On the contrary, they were sincere believers. Columbus himself was something of a mystic. Hernando Cortes attended mass regularlyand especially before taking military action against the natives. The last action of Francisco Pizarro, perhaps the cruelest of the major conquistadors, was to draw a cross with his blood so he could die gazing upon it.

From their perspective, they were serving Christ by bringing millions to faith in him. They were serving the church by expanding her boundaries as never before. If, in the process, some were made to suffer, that was nothing compared to the sufferings of hell from which the natives were being saved. If, in the process, those who were bringing such great benefits to these lands became masters of the lands and their inhabitants, that was not to be begrudged. After all, The laborer is worthy of his hire.

Protest Erupts

That, however, was not the total picture. Many, because of their faith and their commitment to Jesus Christ, saw things differently.

Foremost among these were the Dominicans in Hispaniola. Their order had been founded by Dominic (11701221), who saw voluntary poverty as a means to render credible his friars preaching. This attitude set apart his followers, when the Albigensians, among others, were cruelly being forced by the church to recant heresy. Now in Hispaniola, Dominics spiritual descendants came to the conclusion that the often-cruel encomiendas were not proper means to bring the natives to Christ.

On December 21, 1511, Dominican Antonio de Montesinos mounted the pulpit. His text was Matthew 3:3, A voice crying in the wilderness. He said the conscience of the encomenderos seemed to be as sterile as a desert. But even in the desert the voice of God must be proclaimed:

I have climbed to this pulpit to let you know of your sins, for I am the voice of Christ crying in the desert of this island, and therefore, you must not listen to me indifferently, but with all your heart and all your senses. This voice tells you that you are in mortal sin; that you not only are in it, but live in it and die in it, and this because of the cruelty and tyranny that you bring to bear on these innocent people.

Pray tell, by what right do you wage your odious wars on people who dwelt in quiet and peace on their own lands? [By what right have you] destroyed countless numbers of them with unparalleled murders and destruction? Why do you oppress and exploit them, without even giving them enough to eat, or caring for them when they become ill as a result of your exploitation? They die, or rather, you kill them, so that you may extract and obtain more and more gold every day.

Are they not human? Have they no souls? Are you not required to love them as you love yourselves? How can you remain in such profound moral lethargy? I assure you, in your present state you can no more be saved than Moors or Turks who do not have and even reject the faith of Jesus Christ!

Montesinoss audience sat almost too stunned to celebrate the Mass. Then they recovered their wits and angrily demanded a retraction. But the encomenderos soon learned that Montesinoss sermon had been previously reviewed and signed by the other Dominicans in Hispaniola Furthermore, their vicar, Pedro de Cordoba, followed Montesinoss sermon with harsher action: All encomenderos would be excommunicated until their Indians were freed.

The encomenderos protested before the crown. King Ferdinand was incensed. On March 20, 1512, he wrote to Columbus: I have seen the sermon to which you refer  and although he [Montesinos] was always a scandalous preacher, I am much surprised by what he said, which has no basis in theology, or canon or civil law, as all the learned declare, and I agree.

The Dominicans in Hispaniola did not flinch. Their provincial (immediate superior) in Spain ordered them to recant. They stood firm. Eventually, the matter came to a debate before the king, and Montesinos himself participated. As a result of that debate, a special commission issued seven principles for the treatment of the natives, and these principles became law in December 1512.

Given the settlers greed and the difficulty of communicating over long distances, these laws were never obeyed (or, as the Spaniards said at the time, they were obedecidas y no cuinplidas, obeyed but not done). Therefore, the protest continued.

Spreading Opposition

The best-known leader in this second stage of the protest was Bartolome de Las Casas, also a Dominican. Las Casas had once owned an encomienda but had relinquished it to protest the systems abuses. He lived almost a century and traveled repeatedly across the Atlantic, going before the royal court to plead the case of the natives. He attempted to obtain new laws and rulings, then returned to the coloniesonly to discover the settlers had found new ways to disobey and continue their exploitation of the natives.

The fame of Las Casas has eclipsed that of others who took a similar stance. Decades later in Chile, for example, stood another Dominican, Gil Gonzalez de San Nicholas. Gonzalez declared that anyone who waged war against the natives (in this case, the Araucanians of southern Chile) in order to take their lands should be excommunicated and denied confession. His fellow Dominicans agreed with him, and the Franciscans followed suit. As a result, the war effort faltered for lack of soldiers, and the Araucanians had a brief respite. Eventually, Gonzalez was silenced through a subterfuge, being declared a heretic on an unrelated matter.

In Paraguay, when European settlers began invading to capture slaves, the Jesuits armed the Indians and even organized them into an army that won several important victories against the slave hunters. According to an unsympathetic witness, the attitude of these Jesuits cost the crown forty million pesosthe tax due if the settlers had been allowed to exploit the lands and the natives.

As a result, according to another witness, [The settlers] hate the Fathers of the Company [the Jesuits], because they are convinced that it is the Jesuits that keep them from all the profit that they could obtain for their farms and settlements from [the work of] the Indians of Paraguay.

The list could be prolonged endlessly. Many early saints of South AmericaLuis Beltron, Toribio de Mogrovejo, Francisco Solano as well as hundreds of lesser figures were noted for defending the natives. Later, with the coming of black slaves, another generation of saints came to their defense: Pedro Claver and Martin de Porres, himself a mulatto.

In Spain, the question of natives rights in the Indies gave rise to a vigorous debate. Foremost among those who participated was Francisco de Vitoria, a Dominican professor at the University of Salamanca, who defended the natives as legitimate owners of their lands and possessions.

Light in Darkness

It is said that Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and the Spanish king, because of concern about Conquest abuses, considered abandoning the American enterprise. While that report is probably exaggerated, it indicates the impact of these voices of protest. Undoubtedly, some natives enjoyed a brief respite thanks to the work of the lights in the darkness.

Yet the Conquest continued. To this day the native inhabitants of these regions continue to be exploited and harassed out of their ancestral lands. The protest over the natives treatment was seldom translated into practical action, except in limited areas for a short time.

Still, the light shone in the darkness. It is true that the exploitation and immense cruelties of the Conquest were done in the name of Christ, but it is also true that some in the same Name chose to live in solidarity with the exploited, and they persisted in their denunciations even before kings and prelates. If it is true that the Spanish Catholic church generally acquiesced in and supported one of the most inhumane episodes in history, it is also true that it produced internal protest and self-criticism.

Protestant Europeans later launched similar colonial enterprises in the Western Hemisphere. They were similarly inhumane toward Native Americans. In those ventures, though, the earlier level of internal protest was never matched.

Dr. Justo L. Gonzalez is adjunct professor of theology at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia; and a member of the editorial advisory board of Christian History. Among his numerous books, in both Spanish and English is The Story of Christianity (Harper &Row 1985).

Copyright  1992 by the author or Christianity Today/Christian History magazine.

Click here for reprint information on Christian History.
The micro half of the body of Christ must be as fully encouraged, resourced and engaged as the macro half.

Why We Cant Afford To Be Dismissive Toward Small Churches

If ninety percent of churches were big and ten percent were small, it would be reasonable to dismiss small churches as being broken.

Irrelevant.

Lazy.

But the opposite is the case. Ninety percent of churches are small, while only ten percent are medium-sized, large and mega combined. That makes it harder to be dismissive of the ninety percent. Or the ten.

Yet we do that. Often unintentionally, but we do it.

And its not like those percentages are either a localized or recent phenomenon. Historically, 90 percent of churches have always been small. And they still are today, in virtually every region of the world.

Whether the church is strong or weak, in revival or decline, growing or shrinking, the normal state for most congregations at every time in history and in every region of the world is smallness.

The Full Engagement Of The Entire Church

Im a fan of small churches, not because I dont care about church growth, but because I do. Passionately.

Im a fan of small churches, not because I dont care about church growth, but because I do. Passionately.

I am committed to seeing the entire body of Christ engaged in mission with spirit-led passion, wisdom and impact. Thats why Im unwilling to act dismissively towards 90 percent of churches, and half of the worlds Christians who worship in them and serve from them.

If we hope to accomplish the Great Commandment and Great Commission, the micro half of the body must be as fully encouraged, resourced and engaged as the macro half.

That cant happen by chiding small churches for being small, by presuming laziness, or by belittling their (our) value.

We cant keep acting and teaching as though the only contribution a small church can make is when it grows bigger. Most of them havent and wont.

Thats not a statement of faith, or lack thereof. Its an acknowledgment of overwhelming reality. Both current and historical.

Most churches are small. Always have been. Always will be.

The question isnt if they can become bigger. Or even if they should become bigger. Its what role are small churches called to play, and how well are we encouraging and resourcing them to fulfill that role?

If the only time we refer to small churches is when were talking about their assumed stuckness, well never capitalize on what they can contribute while  or even because  theyre small.

The Body Of Christ  Unified And Healthy

We cant afford to keep overlooking or undervaluing the contributions of small (as in, normal-sized) churches and expect them to remain vibrant contributors to the mission. No organism can stay healthy that way. Including the church.

Church growth is an essential element of church life. Healthy small churches are not a hindrance to that growth. Were an essential element in it.

The hand cant say to the foot I dont need you or why cant you become a hand? without doing damage, not just to the foot, but to the entire body.

Church growth is an essential element of church life. Healthy small churches are not a hindrance to that growth. Were an essential element in it.

Its time to acknowledge, encourage and resource small churches, welcoming them as equally-valued partners in the mission of the entire church.

Copyright  2017 by the author or Christianity Today.

Click here to read our guidelines concerning reprint permissions.
Editors Note: This article is part of Change Makers, our recent CT special issue focused on some of the ways women are influencing the church, their communities, and the world. In this special issue, weve included articles that explore trends in womens discipleship, examine research on women and workplace leadership, highlight women who are making a difference, and grapple with the unique challenges female leaders face. Click here to download your own free digital copy of Change Makers.

As a millennial Christian, Kathryn Freemans experience at work captures both the open doors and stubborn glass ceilings facing many professional women today. The director of public policy at a faith-based nonprofit in Dallas, Texas, Freeman describes herself as a strong personality, meaning I am not shy about voicing my opinions. She says her bosses, mostly older men, welcome this strength. Her gifts and ideas are encouraged and expressed in her role advocating on complex issues like criminal justice, gambling, and immigration.

But Freeman also says her singleness comes up a lot at workand it didnt at the secular nonprofit where she worked previously. It comes from the idea that a womans highest calling is wife and mother, Freeman says . Even as your male coworkers seek to climb the ladder, you, single woman, should be keeping an eye out for a husband, not executive leadership. She also notes that coworkers have told her to smile during presentations so as not to appear angry. In more secular settings, I doubt this would be voiced out loud, given how strict most HR departments are about perceived harassment.

Unique barriers

For all of womens gains in higher education, politics, and business over the past century, the barriers women face at work are so perennial as to seem rather permanent. In the US, working women make, by varying estimates, 79 to 85 cents compared to every dollar earned by their male counterparts. Women at the top of their game in Hollywood and cable news networks face sexual harassment and threats of demotion should they come forward. Lack of mentors, inflexible leave policies, and negative views of assertiveness are all common barriers for many professional women, across all ages and fields of work.

But evangelical women may face unique barriers owing to their religious communities. A Barna Group survey published this March found that evangelicalswhile generally supportive of working womenwere the group least likely to support them compared with all Americans. For example, a majority of Americans (77%) are comfortable with the idea that more women than men could someday occupy the workforce. Yet slightly half of evangelicals, 52 percent, are comfortable with this future scenario. Evangelicals were the group least likely to be comfortable with a female CEO (77% versus 94% of all Americans) and least likely to believe that women face unique barriers in the workplace (32% versus 53%). Further, 73 percent of evangelicals are comfortable with the idea of having a female president, compared with 85 percent of all Americans.

For a movement as complex as evangelicalism, the reasons for these findings are likewise complex. Unlike other surveyors, Barna identifies evangelicals by adherence to nine theological criteria rather than church attendance or survey participants self-identification as evangelical. Among Barnas criteria is a strong belief that the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches. Many evangelicals believe that Scripture forbids women from having authority over men in the home (Eph. 5:2224) and the church (1 Tim. 2:1112). This certainly informs church leadership; according to Barna, evangelicals were the group least likely to be accepting of a female pastor (39%). But Roxanne Stone, editor in chief at Barna, notes that evangelicals view of leadership within the church is expanded into their view of societal leadership more broadly. So while the Bible doesnt forbid women from leadership in societyand might actually encourage it, given the examples of Deborah, Esther, and the Proverbs 31 womantheir beliefs about women leaders in the church color their perception of all women leaders.

Stone also notes that evangelicals views on family shape their views on working women. Evangelical churches have often been at the forefront of conversations about family values, and those values often reflect a preference for stay-at-home mothers, Stone says. As mainstream feminism has encouraged women to seek influence outside the home, some Christian communities have more strongly emphasized the traditional family structure and the nobility of motherhood. In research for my book, A Womans Place, I found many examples of leaders overtly teaching that motherhood is a womans highest calling and that mothers who work outside the home could harm their children. Mothers who do work full-time are in a minority, sometimes a lonely one, in many local churches. And, as Freeman noted, single women in particular may sense that professional success is not as important as success in their personal lives.

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Stone rightly notes that evangelical gender norms that may seem unusual within the broader culture today were widespread outside the church not that long ago. Many women today, outside of evangelical churches, still struggle with the decision on whether or not to work full-time while raising children, she says. The mommy wars are not unique to Christians. And while many mainstream workplaces say they support women leaders in theory, their policies and hiring practices dont always bear this out. If theres a silver lining to the Barna study, it could be that evangelicals may be the only ones who are being honestor at least self-aware! Stone says.

Leading differently

For all the external barriers that professional women faceincluding attitudes among fellow Christiansinternal barriers prove equally difficult to budge. This was one of the provocative themes of Sheryl Sandbergs 2013 manifesto, Lean In. As she writes, We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.

Bernice Ledbetter, founding director of the Center for Women in Leadership at Pepperdine University, says the lack of a leader identity among women keeps them from taking opportunities that may be wide open for them. The ability to internalize a leader identity has been shown to be important for projecting confidence and being seen by others as an effective and capable leader, says Ledbetter. In other words, if a woman doesnt think of herself a leader, she probably wont become one.

Kali Thorne Ladd is by all measures a leader. With a masters degree in education policy from Harvard University, Ladd is executive director of KairosPDX, a Portland nonprofit that helps low-income children get quality education. She was recently listed as one of Portlands 40 Under 40 leaders for 2017. But when she found out about the award, she says, it was really awkward for me.

Im always amazed when people call me a leader, Ladd told me. I am outspoken about the things I believe; Im passionate about the work I do. But theres something about being called a leader thats like, Oh, wow. Its often my male friends who tell me, You are absolutely a leader; how can you even question that?  Ladd also says she observes male peers stepping up for tasks they have little experience or competency in, whereas she and other women tend to step up only when they feel competent.

One reason many women dont quickly identify as leaders is because our cultural models of leadership are masculine. Programs at top business schools such as Wharton and Harvard have begun trying to change these models in order to produce more effective female leaders. Traditional models of leadership reward drive, competitiveness, and decisivenesstraits stereotypically belonging to men. Leaders who are sensitive, communal, or intuitive are often viewed as ineffective. Yet when women lead in a way thats stereotypically masculine, they are often perceived as bossy or dominant. This is why, for example, Freeman says she will intentionally dress in feminine clothing at work to counterweight her assertiveness. Men dont feel as threatened if I am in a floral dress, she says. Its a signal that I am not trying to be a man or bossy.

Ledbetter says that the growth edge for organizations today is encouraging women to authentically lead as women. Women lead differently than men, and oftentimes womens leadership is hidden in plain sight, she says. Can we accept that leadership is valuable even when it is expressed differently?

Women are more collaborative in their style of leading, says Mary Robinson, who served as Irelands first female president from 1990 to 1997. She observes that women are more likely to empower others for influence and less likely to assert hierarchical power.

In fact, women may be more naturally poised to lead in the 21st-century workforce, where collaboration is taking over, reported the Harvard Business Review in 2016. As business becomes increasingly global and cross-functional, silos are breaking down, connectivity is increasing, and teamwork is seen as a key to organizational success, note the authors. This means that women may have an easier time seeing themselves as leaders, without feeling pressure to act like men in order to be effective. And theres much here for evangelicals to affirm: If Christians believe that male and female are very good and together bear Gods image (Gen. 13), then surely they can support organizations drawing on unique male and female qualities in equal strength.

How churches can support professional women

Meanwhile, evangelical churches play a crucial role in supporting professional womeneven churches that believe church leadership is reserved for men. Scott Sauls is senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Sauls says his church supports working women by valuing women for their leadership and voice inside the church. As a Presbyterian Church in America congregation, the church reserves the role of elder and senior pastor for men, based on the denominations reading of 1 Timothy. But half of the churchs senior directors are women, and each elder commission has at least two women as advisers. Women are also encouraged to teach classes and lead small groups, as well as read Scripture, play music, and pray during worship services. We want to be sure that the direction of our church is shaped just as much by womens perspectives as it is by mens, Sauls says. Pepperdines Ledbetter agrees: When churches engage women and men equally in the use of their talents inside the church, they have an easier time affirming the use of those talents outside the church.

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Likewise, Eugene Cho, pastor of Quest Church in Seattlepart of the Evangelical Covenant Church, a denomination that ordains womenbelieves its incumbent upon pastoral staff to name sexism in the workplace as an injustice and a result of the Fall. Sexism is not the way the world is supposed to be. The treatment of women, in my opinion, is the oldest injustice in human history, Cho told me. Theres a certain power in acknowledging these barriers, including the cultural patriarchy that existed during the time of Jesus and that exists today. Beyond addressing the mistreatment of women in sermons, Cho says, his church works to highlight strong female figures in the Bible and to highlight women as members, small group leaders, worship leaders, elders, and pastors.

Local churches can also do a lot to defuse the Mommy Warsthe cultural phenomenon in which women judge each other based on diverging parenting choices. Even in churches that vocally honor stay-at-home moms, there will be single women as well as mothers who work outside the home due to financial necessity. When churches communicate that women who work are valued, important, even inspirational, that goes a long way for women who may be questioning their place in the world, Stone says. She suggests that churches make mentoring connections between older and younger members and host networking events for professionals in similar fields. Or, they can make a concerted effort to avoid assumptions or generalizationsthat moms stay at home, or that dads go to work, or that doctors are men, she says.

On this point, Stone says churches can celebrate mens participation in the life of the household. After all, Scripture doesnt treat mothers as more important than fathers, and actually speaks much more of fathers, calling men to lead and love at home as patriarchs (literally, family ruling). Implicit in the dialogue about womens work is an invitation to men to reinvest at hometo find meaning and identity outside a paycheck and colleagues praise. Society cannot honestly survive gender parity in the workplace without also striving for a similar gender parity in the emotional labor required for the rest of life, Stone says. This means churches must offer families a vision of fatherhood that challenges the doofus dad image in pop culture.

One of the most important findings of the Barna survey is that millennials (defined as Americans born between 1982 and 2004) are uniquely accepting of women in the workplace. They are the group most likely to be comfortable with the idea that women in the workforce could someday outnumber men, at 84 percent. Many women in their 20s are prioritizing career over marriage or family, either due to a lack of marital prospects or the knowledge that establishing their careers earlier will give them flexibility and security later.

These trends carry huge implications for the church, if only because more than half of most congregations are female. Young women today are rising in the ranks at work and they are finding immense value in their jobs, Stone says. But if their church does not echo that value, there will likely be a disconnect. Ultimately, honoring working women comes down to effective evangelism. As Dorothy Sayers wrote in her seminal essay Why Work?, How can anyone remain interested in a religion which seems to have no concern with nine-tenths of his [or her] life? The nine-tenths of life is where young women like Kathryn Freeman are thriving; now theyre just waiting for the one-tenth of life to catch up.

Katelyn Beaty is an editor at large for Christianity Today magazine and the author of A Womans Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home, and the World (Howard / Simon & Schuster) which has recently been released in paperback with an accompanying small group curriculum (Abingdon).
In-person and Online, Hundreds Find Hope in Christ at the Greater Fort Wayne Celebration with Will Graham

Evangelist Will Graham preaches in Indiana; Romania and Canada on the horizon

FORT WAYNE, Ind., Oct. 9, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- The Expo Center at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum came to life this weekend with uplifting music and inspirational messages of hope, as a total of 4,418 people attended the three-day Greater Fort Wayne Celebration with Will Graham , held Oct. 6-8 in Fort Wayne, Ind.

"You want to live life your own way. All the things you're looking for, they're elusive. Deep down you're miserable. You have no joy, no happiness, no fulfillment," said evangelist Will Graham in his Saturday night message. "God will forgive you tonight. God's not going to put Band-Aids on your life. He'll give you a whole new life!"

More than 420 people responded to the invitation to begin a relationship with Jesus.

In addition to those in attendance in Fort Wayne, the Celebration services were broadcast online and viewed more than 46,000 times by people in 62 different countries, with 179 indicating a commitment to Christ.

"For me it's an encouragement, thinking about the impact long-term that it's going to have on the local churches and in this local community as well," said Matthew Gullion, director of missions for the Northeastern Indiana Baptist Association, who  along with Donovan Coley, president and CEO of the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission  helped to guide the Celebration planning effort.

"We know it's one soul at a time, but when you see hundreds come to know Jesus  they are no longer followers of the world but followers of Christ, and there will be a transformation in the city. We're excited about seeing what God's going to do, not just through this weekend but in the years to come."

The Greater Fort Wayne Celebration was the first of three back-to-back multi-day outreaches for Graham. His next event will take place in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Oct. 21-22. He will then travel to Prince Edward Island, Canada, for a Celebration in Charlottetown, Nov. 4-5.

About Will Graham
home World Amnesty warns EU about risks of deporting Christian converts back to Afghanistan

Amnesty International has warned European governments about the risks being faced by Afghan Christian converts and other asylum seekers who are being deported back to their country.

The charity has reported that 9,460 asylum seekers were forcibly sent back to their homeland by European states last year, despite the high risk of torture and death they face there.

"In their determination to increase the number of deportations, European governments are implementing a policy that is reckless and unlawful," said Anna Shea, Amnesty's researcher on refugee and migrant rights, as reported by The Independent.

"Wilfully blind to the evidence that violence is at a record high and no part of Afghanistan is safe, they are putting people at risk of torture, kidnapping, death and other horrors," she added.

Among those deported from European countries were unaccompanied children, some of whom were sent to parts of Afghanistan they were unfamiliar with and where did not know anyone, Amnesty noted.

The number of deportations has seen a 300 percent increase compared to the previous year, but the rate of asylum applications accepted by European governments has dropped from 60 percent in September to 33 percent in December last year.

In May 2017, an asylum seeker, referred to as Farid, was deported from Norway back to Afghanistan, despite not having lived in the war-torn country since he was a child.

"I am scared. I don't know anything about Afghanistan. Where will I go? I don't have funds to live alone and I can't live with relatives because they will see that I don't pray," he told Amnesty.

Farid had converted to Christianity while he was living as an asylum seeker in Norway, and he has reportedly shown Amnesty's researchers a video of his baptism. "People in Europe have humanity a they don't care which religion you are," he told the researcher in Kabul in May shortly after his deportation.

Deportees who are members of a religious minority, such as Christianity, are at risk of persecution in Afghanistan, but Farid, who is an ethnic Hazara, is also facing other threats in his province of origin because an enemy of his family previously attacked him. He reportedly showed the researchers "over a dozen deep scars across his legs, arms and torso" that resulted from the injuries he suffered from the attack.

The number of civilians being killed in Afghanistan has reportedly reached an all-time high. According to the United Nations, 11,418 civilians were killed or injured in the country last year, many of them perpetrated by groups including the Taliban and ISIS.
Important photographs from MoMAs illustrious exhibition history

Darius Himes, International Head of Photographs, tells the stories of iconic prints by Man Ray, Ansel Adams and Henri Cartier-Bresson from The Museum of Modern Arts collection  offered in a series of auctions in New York and online

From October 2017 to April 2018, more than 400 prints from MoMAs collection come to Christies in a series of auctions in New York and online. Ranging from the mid-19th century through to the early post-war period, the photographers whose work is represented  including such greats as Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Walker Evans and Bill Brandt  pushed the boundaries of the medium. The prints being offered reflect the history of MoMA's exhibition programme, and serve as a window on to MoMA's evolving curatorial sensibilities and strong support for these artists. Among the most valuable works to be offered are unique Rayograph prints by Surrealist artist Man Ray, including one from 1923 (below, left) that was acquired by MoMA from Man Rays friend, the poet and co-founder of Dada, Tristan Tzara. In the early 1920s, Man Ray was living in Paris, says Darius Himes, International Head of Photographs at Christies. While experimenting in the darkroom, he stumbled upon the photogram process.

To create a photogram the photographer places objects directly on to a sheet of photosensitive paper and exposes it to light in the darkroom. Because there's no negative, each of the resulting prints is unique, Himes explains. When MoMA first established its photography department, the great landscape photographer Ansel Adams served as the initial vice-chairman of the Photography Committee. The print offered by Christies this autumn of one of his most famous works, Clearing Winter Storm, was included in three key exhibitions at MoMA, including Ansel Adams at 100.

Adams was a master craftsman with his 8 x 10 inch camera, says Himes. Clearing Winter Storm is a superb example of the amount of detail and richness that you can get from that size negative. For Adams, the negative was, as he called it, the composers score from which he could print a symphony. At the end of 1940 Adams helped to organise Sixty Photographs: A Survey of Camera Esthetics, bringing together works by many of the burgeoning art forms most innovative practitioners. Among the artists represented  alongside Man Ray and Adams himself  was Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Open a larger version of this image Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004), Behind the Gare St. Lazare, Paris, 1932. Gelatin silver print, printed 1968. Titles, dates, numbered and variously annotated in pencil 'Checklist #136' (verso). Image/sheet: 15 x 10 in (38.8 x 26.1 cm). This work was offered in MoMA: Henri Cartier-Bresson, 5-11 October 2017, Online
A Houston man faces a drunk driving charge after allegedly hitting and killing a pedestrian Sunday evening in northwest Houston, according to police.

Dale Rogers, 44, was charged Monday with driving while intoxicated, according to court records. He is being held in the Houston city jail in lieu of a $500 bail.

Rogers is accused of hitting and killing a pedestrian at about 7:20 p.m., as he drove north in the 900 block of West TC Jester, according to Houston police.

The pedestrian - who has not been identified - was trying to cross the street, but was not in a crosswalk.

The pedestrian died at the scene. Rogers was immediately taken into custody, police said.

Rogers does not have a criminal record in Harris County, according to court records.
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A man who tortured his girlfriend's son with ice baths, electric shocks and by rubbing cayenne pepper in his eyes before killing him was sentenced to 65 years in prison on Friday.

In August, Matthew Christenson was convicted in the 2014 murder of 18-year-old Otto Smith, who had autism. Christenson was also convicted of abusing Smith's then 13-year-old brother J.C., whom he forced to sleep on the bathroom floor of the boys' mother's apartment.

Wearing a red jumpsuit and orange socks underneath a pair of brown flip-flop sandals, Christenson showed no emotion as Senior Deputy Prosecutor Ben Santos and family members asked King County Superior Court Judge Chad Allred for an exceptional sentence.

RELATED: Man guilty of fatally torturing girlfriend's autistic son

"Otto was a loving, kind, gentle little boy in a young man's body," said Santos, addressing Allred in his fourth-floor courtroom at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. "Everyone was drawn to him. He was loved, and this man took him away. And not only did he take him away, he made his last days his worst, and he destroyed many lives along the way. ... The defendant should spend the rest of his life in prison."

Christenson was found guilty of homicide by abuse, second-degree murder, three counts of second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment and felony harassment on Aug. 11. Allred found there was "substantial and compelling reasons justifying an exception sentence." Christenson has maintained his innocence and is appealing his convictions.

Both of Smith's grandmothers and an uncle described the horrors Smith and J.C. endured under Christenson, which included hours of forced exercise and meals restricted to one apple or empty taco shells, according to testimony. Christenson made the boys take hours-long ice baths and beat Smith with a toy keyboard the teen loved.

"He took two of Otto's pleasures from him by destroying his keyboard and turning his enjoyable daily baths into a horrific, traumatic punishment," Smith's maternal grandmother Sue Coley said. "Two young men who had only known love and compassion were forced to live in a home filled with hatred, disdain, degradation and trauma."

"Imagine being a person with severe autism and developmental disabilities, already locked into a prison of your own mind; then to be beaten, abused, made to wear garbage sacks, beaten with your own toys," Bill Carroll, Smith's uncle, said. "Everything you enjoyed was used to torture you."

On the night of April 13, 2014, Christenson forced Smith to take an ice bath, then bound Smith hand and foot, jammed a sock in his mouth and wrapped his head in layer after layer of duct tape. The boys' mother Pascia Backman found Smith lying on the ground with Christenson sitting in a chair nearby, drinking beer and smoking marijuana.

"Regardless of what anyone thought about Pascia and her utter failure to protect her children, no one will forget how she described walking into the living room and seeing the defendant sitting in a chair as Otto laid on the living room floor taking his last breath," Santos said.

Backman then covered for Christenson, telling authorities Smith fell down a flight of stairs. Smith was found to have died of natural causes until detectives with the King County Sheriff's Office major crimes unit revived the investigation after Backman told detectives she'd lied and that Christenson killed Smith.

RELATED: Mom: Beau's love left me 'euphoric,' then he killed my son

Christenson was first charged with assault. A murder charge followed months later.

Backman met Christenson after posting a personal ad on Craigslist in January 2014. The night they met, Christenson and his then 20-year-old son Jordan moved into Backman's apartment in unincorporated Auburn. During trial, Backman, J.C. and Jordan Christenson testified that Matthew Christenson took over the household and began abusing both boys within a week of moving in.

"Mom brings home the devil, but I don't know if the devil would do some of these things to these kids," Carroll said. "I hope you die in prison, never again again seeing the beauty of the outside world."

Reporter Stephen Cohen can be reached at 206-448-8313 or stephencohen@seattlepi.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter at @scohenPI.
Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena is expected to call for an increase in equipment and resources for his department Tuesday at City Hall in wake of Hurricane Harvey.

Pena's 10 a.m. appearance in front of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee follows a Houston Chronicle investigation that found the department's limited equipment and training caused problems during Harvey.

The department had only one high-water rescue vehicle during the storm, the Chronicle found, and relied on decades-old evacuation boats.

All told, firefighters conducted 7,000 rescues and answered more than 15,000 calls for help during the storm. But, the Chronicle investigation found, the department also faced equipment shortages, out-dated resources and a shortage of firefighters trained specifically for high-water rescues.

RELATED: Harvey laid bare lack of resources, training at Houston Fire Department

Pena, who took over the department in December, has defended the response from his department, but also acknowledged that Harvey had exacerbated long-standing issues.

"Harvey punched us in the mouth," Pena told the Chronicle. "No municipality is ever going to have the number of resources to be able to respond to a catastrophic incident the size of Harvey. But we know the anticipated risk in this community. We know that the 500-year flood is going to come again next year ... We don't have the adequate resources to address even the expected risk in this community."

EDITORIAL: A top 10 list for local Hurricane Harvey recovery

Critics meanwhile say the department knew there were problems, but failed to address issues laid out in an internal report conducted by the department after the 2015 Memorial Day floods.

"Anyone with common sense could see with relative certainty there was going to be an enormous rescue effort that was going to be required following the impact of Hurricane Harvey," said Jim Brinkley, director of occupational health and safety for the International Association of Fire Fighters. "It's expected a department would allocate enough resources - in terms of staffing alone - to make sure they're capable of responding."
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo took to Twitter on Sunday to condemn silence on gun violence one week after a gunman shot into a Las Vegas country music festival crowd, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more.

"When will we stand up and say enough?" he wrote, sharing a Washington Post article profiling the Las Vegas victims. "On this Sabbath Sunday I can say I've spoken out against gun violence, can you? If not now, then when?"
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A swarm of fires supercharged by powerful winds ripped through Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties Monday, killing at least 11 people, injuring dozens of others, destroying more than 1,500 homes and businesses, and turning prominent wineries to ash.

Starting in the middle of the night, the fires hopscotched across neighborhoods, raced across fields and jumped freeways. Wind gusts up to 70 mph pushed walls of flames nearly 100 feet high, throwing embers ahead like hot fingers into strip malls and subdivisions. Many people who fled the surge had enough time to grab car keys, perhaps a pet, but not much more.

And some didnt get out. Sonoma County sheriffs officials said seven people had died in that county. Two people died in a blaze in Napa, state fire officials said. At least one person was killed in Mendocino County and another in Yuba County.

In addition, Sonoma County officials received more than 100 reports of missing people as of Monday evening, said Scott Alonso, a county spokesman.

Facing one of the most damaging series of blazes in modern California history  fires that left thousands of evacuees in scores of emergency shelters and parts of the wine industry potentially crippled  Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Napa and Sonoma counties as well as fire-struck Yuba County. The move will make it easier for local and state officials to secure government aid.

The blazes blackened 103,000 acres and blanketed much of the Bay Area in cough-inducing smoke. And it wasnt just the North Bay that was hit hard.

In Napa and Sonoma counties, more than 100 people were treated at hospitals for injuries that included burns and smoke inhalation. Two patients with severe burns were in critical condition at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, officials said.

Hundreds of firefighters streamed into the region. The California Highway Patrol said it had used helicopters to rescue 42 people, some of them vineyard workers. Those saved from the flames range in age from 5 to 91.

But Chief Ken Pimlott of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said crews had limited or no containment on the fires  and the situation had not improved by Monday night.

Many communities, Pimlott said, were just overrun.

Helping and getting help The Red Cross is organizing relief efforts in the North Bay. Evacuees trying to connect with family and friends should check the organization's Safe and Well website: www.redcross.org/safeandwell Community volunteers who want to help in relief efforts can sign up with the Red Cross: http://tinyurl.com/RedCrossVolOctober2017 Donations to help those affected by California wildfires and other disasters can be made at www.redcross.org. People can also call (800) 733-2767 or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. People needing information about a missing person in Sonoma County can call the county Fire and Emergency Services Department at (707) 565-3856. For tips on how to prepare for a wildfire: www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/wildfire See More Collapse

Officials were looking into the cause of the fires, which were also burning thousands of acres in Lake, Butte and Yuba counties. In Southern California, meanwhile, residents in and around Anaheim in Orange County were under evacuation orders as a fire raged uncontrolled, destroying at least 24 structures.

The fires occurred in a year of record-setting heat and persistent drought. They followed extreme weather events elsewhere in the U.S., including the hurricanes that ravaged Houston, Puerto Rico and parts of Florida.

Residents in the areas hardest hit by the fires described fleeing for their lives in the middle of the night, in cars or on foot, amid a disaster that stood as another stark reminder of the peril of wildfires in California at the end of the long dry season.

Its not uncommon to have multiple fires burning, Pimlott said. But I can certainly tell you its becoming more of the norm now to have multiple large, damaging fires now like were seeing today. These are the conditions we continue to talk about that California is experiencing.

Now Playing: The owners escaped the fire with help from two men, but it was too late to save the homes. Video: Peter Fimrite, San Francisco Chronicle

Vice President Mike Pence, in California for political fundraising, said Monday evening he had spoken to Gov. Jerry Brown about the fires.

The dryness of the climate, the strength of the winds, you all in California know much better than this Midwesterner does, Pence said. I can assure you, as I did the governor, the federal government stands ready to provide any and all assistance to the state of California as your courageous firefighters and first responders confront this widening challenge.

In Mendocino County, sheriffs Capt. Gregory Van Patten said flames darted early Monday from the community of Potter Valley through rugged terrain to the west as wind gusts downed trees and power lines. The speed of the fire, he said, left little time for escape in Redwood Valley, a town of 2,000 people about 8 miles north of Ukiah.

He said at least one person had died, and that the number could rise.

It looks like we will have multiple fatalities, Van Patten said. There were areas where there just wasnt enough time to give an evacuation notice because the spread of the fire was so rapid. A lot of the area was overcome before we got ourselves injected into the situation.

Perhaps the worst damage came in the jagged path of a blaze that slammed into northern Santa Rosa called the Tubbs Fire, which had burned at least 27,000 acres by Monday evening and flattened several neighborhoods. The fire started Sunday in Calistoga and burned west through canyons and over hills, feeding on dry eucalyptus and pine trees in wooded, upscale neighborhoods.

Coffey Park, a 1980s-era subdivision just northwest of downtown Santa Rosa where 7,000 people lived, was leveled. Most of the homes burned, along with a Kmart, a McDonalds, an Arbys and an Applebees.

Many homes were also lost in the Fountaingrove area east of Highway 101, and the Journeys End Mobile Home Park for seniors was flattened. The Fountaingrove Inn burned, as did a Hilton hotel and the popular Willis Wine Bar. The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts and Cardinal Newman High School suffered serious damage.

Among those who left their Santa Rosa homes as the flames bore down were 11 members of the Flores family, who woke up and piled into two vehicles with four dogs after being jolted awake by neighbors. They said the air was thick with smoke and the wind was blowing so hard that trash bins toppled over.

We couldnt really see anything, said Bradley Flores, 15. We just got our dogs and got into the car and left. The wind was so bad our car was shaking.

Lance and Barb Cottrell packed suitcases, grabbed prized antiques and headed to a friends house just in time.

Our house is probably gone, Lance said. We just finished it in 2014.

Soon, though, flames jumped west across Highway 101 and raced so fast into their friends neighborhood that people ran for their lives. Lance jumped in his car and Barb in hers, and they tried to drive away. But they saw a house engulfed in front of them and had to make a U-turn. They ended up stuck in traffic before escaping down country roads west of Santa Rosa, avoiding trees that had blown down.

So vast was the havoc, and so sweeping the evacuations, that Santa Rosa, a city of 175,000 people, was a virtual ghost town from side to side, with most businesses shuttered. Two hospitals in Santa Rosa, those run by Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health, were evacuated. Some of those transferred from Sutter were pregnant women in labor.

Another aggressive fire roared in the Atlas Peak area of Napa County, a famed winemaking spot northeast of the city of Napa and the Silverado Trail. Two people were killed, officials with Cal Fire said. Their names and circumstances of their deaths were not immediately known.

At least 50 structures and more than 25,000 acres burned. Signorello Estate, a winery on Silverado Trail, was ruined, and buildings at nearby Stags Leap Winery burned, too. Several homes were destroyed on Soda Canyon Road.

Guests of the Silverado Resort and Spa on Atlas Peak Road said they escaped in a rush late Sunday, just before midnight, as flames approached. The resort had hosted the Safeway Open, a PGA Tour event, which ended Sunday.

We were sleeping, but we kept smelling smoke, said Chris Thomas, 42, of Kirkland, Wash., who arrived in the Napa Valley late Sunday with his wife, Marissa Schneider, for a wine-tasting trip. They saw a fire truck pass, then were ordered to leave by loudspeaker. The power went out.

It was surreal, Thomas said. When I started loading stuff into the car, it was a hell-storm of smoke and ash. There were 30- to 40-mph winds. I couldnt even breathe, so I ran back to the unit to get Marissa. It was so smoky I went to the wrong unit. When I found her I said, Forget it, lets just go. It went from being an annoying evacuation to something really scary.

They drove to downtown Napa and found a hotel room, wary of being evacuated again. The Silverado Resort and Spa somehow survived, a representative later said, and all staffers and guests got out safely.

The series of fires began to ignite Sunday and multiplied as the night went on. One damaging fire ignited north of Carneros, and another near Kenwood, east of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. There, dozens of homes, farms and cars burned along Highway 12.

Across the region, power failures were widespread. People flocked to gas stations in cities that were safe from the fires, to fuel up and buy water and other supplies. Evacuation centers were set up, then quickly filled, forcing more to open.

Michael Macor/The Chronicle

On Monday afternoon, families started trickling back to their neighborhoods in Santa Rosa.

One of them was Andy Luttringer. He said he could deal with the loss of his home of 19 years, but what really got him was that his wifes artwork burned. She died of cancer a few years ago, and her acrylic and watercolor paintings, many of which portrayed rural Sonoma County through her signature abstract figures, were a comforting reminder for Luttringer of his late love.

Im really mad at myself, said the retired 62-year-old police officer as he looked out across his property in Santa Rosas Fountaingrove neighborhood, where there was nothing left but hot ash and rubble from the family's four-bedroom home. I could have grabbed a couple of her pieces. The rest of the stuff I couldnt care less about.

Chronicle staff writers Michael Cabanatuan and Carolyn Said contributed to this report.

Peter Fimrite, Jill Tucker, Kurtis Alexander and Demian Bulwa are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com, jtucker@sfchronicle.com, kalexander@sfchronicle.com, dbulwa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite, @jilltucker, @kurtisalexander, @demianbulwa
Police arrested a man in scrubs who threatened to kill the occupants of a southwest Houston McDonalds Sunday night.

The man was allegedly holding something behind his back and issuing threats at the McDonalds at 1619 S. Loop West.

A bystander said the altercation began around 8:15 p.m. when the man approached cars in the drive thru line and hit the hood of one of the vehicles. At this point, the man allegedly began screaming threats at the woman in the vehicle.

Robert Thomas, 26, works the drive thru at the McDonalds and identified the woman in the vehicle as an Uber Eats driver.

"He was messing with the Uber driver more than any of the other drivers," he said. "Was banging on everyone's cars being aggressive."

He then left for a few minutes and when he returned, the bystander said,he began yelling that he was going to kill everyone.

The manager of the store confirmed that she confronted the man, but did not give further comment.
A Houston business owner and designer has been targeted by fascists online after they discovered a photo of an anti-Nazi coat she created.

The photo was posted to the Facebook page for Judy Masliyah's store, My Flaming Heart, on Sept. 17, and has since resulted in fascists leaving 1 star reviews for her business.
AUSTIN -- Sixteen community organizations in coastal areas ravaged by Hurricane Harvey have been awarded a total of $2.15 million in grants to speed recovery from the August disaster, officials announced Monday.

Lori Fey, executive director of the Rebuild Texas Fund, said the funds are the first disbursed by the fund out of what officials hope will eventually total $100 million in a fundraising partnership between Gov. Greg Abbott's OneStar Fund and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.
AUSTIN  State officials estimate it will cost Texas taxpayers $1.64 billion over the next two years to help schools ravaged by Hurricane Harvey rebuild and avoid financial losses, according to recently released documents.

The Texas Education Agency estimates include $400 million for school districts that experienced a reduction in enrollment, along with a loss of $974 million that the state normally receives from wealthy districts to redistribute to low-income districts, known as the "Robin Hood" program.

A spokeswoman for the education agency emphasized that the state's estimates are still very fluid because it does not have enough data yet on facilities damage and how Harvey is impacting enrollment.

But the $1.64 billion estimate, released Oct. 4, is the first price-tag attached to the state's commitment to ensure schools hit by Harvey are able to recover.

"From day one, we have told our districts that we are going to do everything we can to assist them," said Lauren Callahan, a TEA spokeswoman.

On Monday, Education Commissioner Mike Morath said school systems that experienced declines in enrollment may not lose any funding because the state plans to use a three-year enrollment average in order to "hold affected districts and charters harmless."

Schools in Texas receive funding based on the average daily attendance. Harvey displaced many families, forcing them to enroll their children in other districts, leaving lawmakers and educators concerned that funding would be cut due to a decrease in enrollment.

Many of our school systems have seen major disruptions in their communities because of Hurricane Harvey, Morath said in a written statement. This one-time adjustment is meant to bring some certainty for the remainder of this school year as school leaders face a number of major financial decisions following this devastating storm.

The state estimates there are 157 school systems and charter schools eligible for the funding adjustment. The funding will only apply to the 2017-2018 school year, and will be based on average enrollment trends from the 2014-15 school year to the 2016-17.

Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus commended Morath on his efforts to help districts cope with the storm's aftermath.

Many Texas schools have suffered setbacks following Hurricane Harvey, but Texas is committed to ensuring that our students continue to receive the best education possible, Abbott said in a written statement.

The state expects a jump in enrollment in some school systems taking in displaced students. Already three school systems have applied for enrollment adjustments, for a total of 930 students that they did not have before. The name of those school districts were not available Monday.

Guy Sconzo, executive director of the Fast Growth School Coalition and former superintendent of Humble ISD, said school districts in Houston and other storm-affected areas have been more focused with addressing their students immediate needs than worrying about how average daily attendance counts could affect their finances.

"I commend the commissioner for recognizing what so many people have gone through and holding everyone harmless," Sconzo said. "But I really havent heard that as a concern."

In addition to the $400 million the state will pay for enrollment swings, education officials estimate the state will lose nearly $1 million that it normally receives for the "Robin Hood" program.

School districts hit by Harvey that normally pay into the program, can keep some or all of the money they owe to the state if they have property damage costs that are not covered by insurance or FEMA.

One in five districts affected by Harvey pay into the Robin Hood program, the TEA estimates. Last year, Houston Independent School District owed the state almost $80 million in Robin Hood money.

The state also could face a $266 million bill to pay for services, including meals, for students who became homeless or lack stable housing due to Harvey.

The education department has not yet released how much money it believes districts will lose from a change in property values. TEA says it has reports of property value loss exceeding 50 percent in districts most affected the hurricane.

Morath plans to present the state's financial losses in detail to the House Public Education Committee Thursday in Austin.

Shelby Webb contributed to this report.
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Newborn babies are a bundle of stress for everyone, but a new study suggests one parent might be doing more heavy lifting when it comes to early childcare.

When examining parents three months after the birth of their first child, researchers at Ohio State University found that fathers spend about twice as much time relaxing as moms.

Of the 52 couples who participated in the study by keeping time diaries of their routines, women spent an average of 46 to 49 minutes relaxing during their days off while men spent about 101 minutes relaxing.

PLAY BALL: Children's hospital gets babies into Astros' spirit

Now Playing: An MIT study shows toddlers learn the value of hard work when they see adults struggle to achieve a goal. Video: Buzz 60

Claire Kamp Dush, lead author of the study and associate professor of human sciences at The Ohio State University, described the findings as "frustrating" in a news release.

"Household tasks and child care are still not being shared equally, even among couples who we expected would have more egalitarian views of how to share parenting duties," said Kamp.

According to researchers, the division of parenthood labor isn't as skewed during work days.

TIPS AND TRICKS: Parent hacks to make the school year easier for everyone

"On workdays, parents are more evenly splitting housework and childcare," said assistant professor and co-author Jill Yavorsky.

"It's very much 'all hands on deck' but when there is more time available on the weekend and parents are not so pressed to get everything done, then we see the emergence of gendered patterns and inequality where women do a lot more housework and childcare while he leisures," she said.

Above: See the most popular baby names of 2017 so far.
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Copiii cu nevoi speciale din Stefan Voda au conditii de reabilitare mai bune, datorita UE si Fundatiei Soros Moldova
AKRON, Ohio - Wingfoot Two has left Akron. The newest blimp in the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s fleet is taking a 2,600-mile journey westward, to the company's Airship Operations base in Carson, California, near Los Angeles.

With a 26-person crew and a caravan of nine ground vehicles, Wingfoot Two will take about three weeks to reach the inflatable hangar that serves as its home, making stops at a Goodyear manufacturing plant and in Lubbock, Texas, to take part in the 75th anniversary McWhorter Tire Co., a Goodyear customer.

The cross-country journey comes about a year from the date Savannah James, Akron businesswoman, philanthropist and LeBron James' wife, christened the airship.

"This is an exciting milestone for Goodyear as we look forward to introducing our new generation of Goodyear blimps to the West Coast and engaging fans along our tour route to create new memories of the Goodyear Blimp across America," said Goodyear's senior vice president, Global Communications Paul Fitzhenry in a news release.

The company currently operates two technologically advanced Goodyear Blimps-- Wingfoot One and Wingfoot Two. The third airship to complete the new fleet is under construction at the Wingfoot Lake facility outside Akron in Springfield.

The technologically advanced WIngfoot Two is 246-feet long, 50-feet longer than earlier blimps; can hit speeds up to 73 mph; and has three engines for greater maneuverability.

Some facts about Goodyear's technologically advanced Wingfoot Two:

It stretches more than 246-feet long, which is 50 feet longer than previous models.

It has three vectored engines, as opposed to two in the older blimps, which enhance maneuverability.

It can hit highway speeds up to 73 mph; previous max speed was 50 miles per hour.

It is supported by a semi-rigid frame composed of light-weight aluminum and carbon fiber that holds an envelope packed with 297,527 cubic feet of non-flammable helium

The gondola seats up to 12 passengers and offers panoramic views with larger, wrap-around windows.

Electronic controls work in conjunction with an on-board computer to regulate engine thrust, up-and-down movement, and right-and-left movement.

Tail fin operation is controlled by a joystick device for more precise operation.

Tail fins and the gondola were built in Germany and shipped to the U.S. for assembly.

Since 1917, Goodyear has built more than 300 lighter-than-air vehicles for public relations and defense applications. In 2018, Goodyear will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Carson blimp base, which opened in 1968.

Visit the website for more information about Goodyear's blimps.

Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.com's Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

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AKRON, Ohio -- Investigators are trying to identify a man who was shot and killed in Akron's Goodyear Heights neighborhood.

The body was discovered about 10:15 a.m. Sunday in a vacant lot on Kline Avenue near Eastland Avenue, the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office said.

Investigators have not said when the shooting happened or who found the man's body.

The Akron Police Department has not released any additional information.

The man's name will be released once he has been identified and his family has been notified, the medical examiner's office said.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.
Among the many aspects of medicine covered in the Maltz Museum's new exhibit, 'Jews & Medicine in America,' is the relationship between drug stores and milk shakes.

BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- A recent Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage press release includes a quote from Dr. Jeffrey L. Ponsky of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in which he states, "Today, Jewish physicians are ubiquitous in America. It was not always so."

Ponsky goes on to say, "The story of this evolution and the contributions of Jewish doctors to modern medicine are the focus of this exhibit."

The release heralds the opening of the museum's latest major exhibit, "Jews & Medicine in America," available for viewing Oct. 10 through April 8, 2018.

Including more than 200 artifacts, documents and photos, along with several interactive displays, "Beyond Chicken Soup: Jews & Medicine in America" covers several hundred years, numerous innovations from the minds of Jewish doctors and, as one would expect from a strong exhibit, lots of interesting tidbits of information.

As with other facets of the story of Jewish history, exhibit visitors will find that there was no shortage of discrimination against Jews who sought to practice medicine throughout the ages.

"Discrimination -- it's a theme," said Dahlia Fisher, the museum's director of strategic marketing and communications. "When we recognize discrimination through the centuries it influences how we see discrimination today. It helps us understand our situation today so we can look to make for a more inclusive future."

As one walks through the exhibit, among the first displays encountered is one that includes medical books dating to the 15th and 16th centuries. One tells of Tuscan Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici giving permission for Jewish doctors to care for Christian patients, meaning such practices were not always previously permissible.

In the 1930s, the exhibit shows us, Rabbi Morris Lazaron wrote to medical schools to find how many Jews were enrolled in medical schools. He found that 26 percent of all Jewish applicants were accepted into those schools.

Playing a starring role in the exhibit, which originated in Baltimore (it was created by the Jewish Museum of Maryland) and which is making its first-ever stop at the Maltz Museum, is the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation. A room of exhibit space is devoted to Mt. Sinai, a hospital founded by the Jewish community with the opening of its medical center in 1916.

"So many doctors interned there," said Maltz Museum Managing Director David Schafer. "It was a place where there was always a lot of community outreach. They helped people get care who couldn't afford it."

The hospital became known for serving the city's low-income population, including those who were not Jewish.

"When (Jewish Americans) were denied entry to medical schools or medical care based on religion, they built their own hospitals and trained their own doctors," Fisher said of another of the exhibit's central themes. "But they didn't only serve the Jewish community, they worked to help anyone, even those who couldn't afford care."

Mt. Sinai Hospital, which closed in 2000, went on to make headlines when, in 1952, doctors there separated the first conjoined twins and, in 1986, when it was the birthplace of the first surrogate baby.

Stories of Jewish doctors from the Cleveland area are told on the exhibit's walls. The stories include those of Dr. Myron Metzenbaum (born 1876), who created the first pair of unique surgical scissors in 1912 that still carry his name, and Cleveland's first Jewish physician, Dr. Marcus Rosenwesser.

Rosenwesser, visitors are told, when presumably unable to get what he needed in the United States, had to go to Germany and Austria in the 1860s to receive his medical education.

The exhibit is divided into individual sections that make for plenty of interesting viewing. Along the route, visitors will see recreated, using the actual furniture and equipment, the 19th century office of an East Baltimore physician named Dr. Abramovitz; nursing outfits and white doctors coats dating back decades; a "Medicine Meets Culture" section; medicine containers; and a room devoted to the once-popular marriage of drug stores and ice cream shops.

The exhibit wraps up with a video screen flashing the faces of doctors today, many of whom are of Indian or Middle Eastern descent.

"The exhibit tells the powerful story of the out-size role of both the Jewish community and individual Jewish clinicians, researchers and teachers in the commandment to preserve human life at all costs," stated Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation President Mitchell Balk, in the Maltz release.

Despite the discrimination and persecution they faced, the exhibit shows that the Jewish community has, indeed, played an out-sized role in bettering the health of all people.

For further information on the exhibit "Beyond Chicken Soup: Jews & Medicine in America," on display through April 8, 2018 at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road in Beachwood, visit maltzmuseum.org. The museum is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 216-593-0575.
Luke Stewart

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The family of an unarmed man shot and killed by a Euclid police officer in March filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit Monday, alleging wrongdoing on behalf of the officer and another cop who responded to the call that led to the man's death.

Officer Matthew Rhodes shot Luke Stewart, 23, after Rhodes and officer Louis Catalani responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle on South Lake Shore.

Stewart was asleep in the car and Catalani, who first responded to the call, saw a half-smoked joint of marijuana and the top of a wine bottle in the car, according to investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. A confrontation ensued where Stewart drove away and Rhodes jumped into the car, punched Stewart, used a Taser on him and finally pulled his pistol and fired several shots that killed Stewart, investigators said.

A Cuyahoga County grand jury in August declined to issue charges against Rhodes. Rhodes told BCI investigators that Stewart fought back and he feared he may be killed in a car crash if he didn't shoot Stewart, who left behind two children.

But the lawsuit says Rhodes and Catalani should never have put themselves in such a position in the first place, as they did not have probable cause to try to remove Stewart from the car, the suit says.

Stewart's family and their attorneys held a news conference at 1:30 p.m. in front of Euclid City Hall.

(You can watch a Facebook Live video of the news conference at the bottom of this post. If you would like to read the lawsuit, click here or scroll to the bottom of this story.)

In addition to what Stewart's family says were problematic and unconstitutional actions that led to Rhodes shooting Stewart, the family says the city has a pattern and practice of unconstitutional actions when it comes to using force against black people and investigating and disciplining officers for potential misconduct.

Such a charge, known as a "Monell claim," are incredibly difficult to prove in court, though Euclid police has come under scrutiny in recent months after another officer was seen on a viral video hitting a driver during an arrest following a traffic stop. That incident, involving patrolmen Michael Amiott, is drawing scrutiny from state and federal investigators.

An email sent Monday to a Euclid police spokesman and the city's mayor was not immediately returned.

The lawsuit says Rhodes and Catalani decided to pull Stewart out of the car, even before arriving at the scene. Catalani told BCI investigators that he told Rhodes via radio that they were going to pull Stewart out of the car because he appeared drunk and high. Stewart's autopsy later showed he had three times the legal driving limit of alcohol in his system, as well as marijuana, cocaine and oxycodone, investigators said.

Catalani "startled Luke awake by knocking at the window," according to the lawsuit. He then opened the driver's side door and grabbed Stewart. Rhodes opened the passenger side door and reached across the passenger seat to push Stewart out, the suit states.

Stewart then tried to drive away. Rhodes, instead of getting out of the car, stayed in while Stewart drove "slowly" down South Lake Shore, the suit says.

Rhodes then "brutally beat" Stewart, punching him in the face and shooting him with a Taser before pulling out his gun and firing, according to the suit. Stewart was pronounced dead at Euclid Hospital.

The suit says the city of Euclid allowed Rhodes to return to full patrol duty "within a matter of days" after the shooting. It says the officers conspired with each other to lie and give misleading statements during the investigation into Stewart's death. This included a claim that Stewart placed them in imminent fear of harm, the suit says.

The lawsuit says Rhodes and Catalani committed an illegal seizure of Stewart when they approached him and that they are liable for a wrongful death claims.

The family is asking for an unnamed amount in damages.

The high-profile use-of-force incidents has led to protests in the city, including at a City Council meeting.

City leaders and police officers joined more than 100 residents Sunday afternoon at a rally for peace.

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.
EUCLID, Ohio - Euclid city leaders, like Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail, city council members and police officers, joined more than 100 residents Sunday afternoon at a rally for peace, love and unity.

The march was attended by people of all ages, races and genders. The group started at Euclid City Hall and headed north on East 222nd Street until they reached Surveyor's Triangle Park, about one mile away. They were led by members of Euclid High School's drum line.

Once at the park, ralliers linked arms or held hands around a large fountain and reflected.

The common thread that sewed the event's messages together was the idea of sowing peace in the community. At least three local pastors made pleas for calm and togetherness in the city.

A peace banner, signed by attendees, will be strung up a flag pole at the park.

While the topic was not broached at the rally, the Euclid police department has been in the spotlight this year following several high-profile incidents. In March, 23-year-old Luke O. Stewart was shot dead in his car by officer Matthew Rhodes after officers were called to investigate a suspicious vehicle. Stewart was unarmed.

In August, Euclid police officer Michael Amiott was suspended without pay after he was identified in a viral video of a police officer repeatedly punching Richard Hubbard III during a traffic stop.

Weeks after the Hubbard arrest, a Cuyahoga County grand jury declined to charge Rhodes in Stewart's shooting death.

In the wake of the use-of-force incidents, demonstrators protested at Euclid City Council meetings.

Around the same time as the peace rally's start, Stewart's family announced that they plan to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against the police department.

You can see scenes from the peace march in the gallery above.

If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The family of Luke O. Stewart, the 23-year-old man killed by Euclid police in March, will file a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Luke O. Stewart

Stewart's family and their attorney plan to give more details about the lawsuit at a Monday afternoon news conference outside Euclid City Hall.

The family states, in part, that their lawsuit "seeks not only to redress the wrongful and unjustified death of Luke Stewart but to hold the City of Euclid responsible for the unlawful policies and practices which caused his death," according to a Sunday evening news release from the Friedman & Gilbert law firm.

Stewart was killed just before 7 a.m. March 13 when officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. While authorities have not provided many details about the incident, an officer heard on police radio recordings released after the shooting said the driver, Stewart, tried to run them over.

The recordings also note a police officer, Matthew Rhodes, was inside of Stewart's car before the shooting occurred.

Rhodes shot Stewart three times in his chest, once in the neck and once in his wrist, the news release states. Investigators also found two Taser probes in Stewart's shoulder.

Investigators did not find any weapons inside Stewart's car.

In August, a Cuyahoga County grand jury declined to charge Rhodes, who responded to the call, in connection with Stewart's death.

If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first time the jail in Middlesex County, Massachusetts tried providing opioid-addicted inmates with medication to help stave off relapse it was in Sheriff Peter Koutoujian's words an "abject failure."

"We had to scrap the whole program, even with some good people involved," said Koutoujian, sheriff since 2011 in the county of about 1.5 million people. "It just wasn't working."

The program that rose from the ashes still involves the use of the opioid-blocking shot Vivitrol, often preferred by law enforcement over other medications used to prevent relapse. But key aspects were retooled to create a successful program that includes recovery support that starts in the jail and addiction counseling when inmates leave.

Koutoujian shared the lessons he's learned in the two years since his office launched MATADOR, which stands for Medication Assisted Treatment and Directed Opioid Recovery, with a group of sheriff's office and jail administrators during an August meeting in Columbus.

Ohio sheriff's and jail administrators, like Koutoujian, are working to find effective ways a jail stay can be an opportunity for a person to recover from addiction, rather than a temporary stop to dry out before continuing an all-to-familiar cycle of addiction and criminal involvement.

Before becoming sheriff, Koutoujian was a state lawmaker who lead health committees for a decade as prescription painkiller and heroin deaths in Massachusetts and across the country were on the rise.

As sheriff, he said he quickly focused on the drugs as a driver of crime, and his unique position overseeing the jail as a way to prevent crime and save lives.

Opting in

Koutoujian said that allowing inmates to refer themselves to the program was a "game changer."

Before that, Vivitrol was offered exclusively to people who participated in a drug court program -- and not that many were taking advantage of the option.

The program is now more than 90 percent self-referrals, which to inmates might seem "more of a carrot and less of a stick," Koutoujian said.

The program is available to inmates who are awaiting trial and those who are serving sentences.

Many of the participants have used for a long time and tried to get clean before.

"You could say these are people who are highly motivated," Koutoujian said.



Support from the start

Koutoujian heaps praise on Leah Lewis, a nurse who directs the MATADOR program and shaped its vital Recovery Support Navigator position. The office currently has two navigators (and hopes to add more with a new grant) who meet the participants in jail to educate them about their treatment options and administer Vivitrol shots. Then they check in with them in the six months after they are released. (He likes to tell a story about how Lewis once met a participant late one evening in a Dunkin Donuts parking lot to offer support. "She literally meets people where they are," he said.)

The navigators also can help participants troubleshoot treatment, housing, medical or other problems that could affect their ability to stay sober.

MATADOR has 2 1/2 full-time employees, plus a grant-funded administrative assistant. Costs are partially covered by federal law enforcement grants that also cover the cost of addiction treatment beds.



Healthcare follows

Koutoujian said the inmates in his jail "shouldn't have to go to jail to get good [substance abuse] treatment." But often they do, which makes the jail the largest mental health treatment center in Middlesex County, he said.

Sadly, he said, the jail he runs often offers inmates the first health care they've gotten in a while -- and it's free.

The jail social work staff works diligently to sign up eligible inmates for Medicaid so they leave with insurance, not just handing them packets of paper to fill out when they leave. Koutoujian said that alone removes a barrier for many inmates to get healthcare and therefore drug and mental health treatment.

In Koutoujian's jail, up to 80 percent of inmates report having a substance abuse problem and 76 percent who report having a mental illness also have addiction issues. Forty-two percent of the inmates booked into the jail need medical supervision to safely detox from opioids or other drugs.

"We have a window of opportunity to treat substance abuse," Koutoujian said, "If we don't, we're not doing our job...we're turning a blind eye."



Woo community providers

With inmates signed up for Medicaid before they leave jail, it's easier to schedule follow-up appointments for medications and for addiction counseling.

It took a while, though, for the sheriff's office to build up those partnerships. Koutoujian said they initially battled antipathy and disinterest in treating a population of people who had substance abuse problems and a jail record.

"We started with only four [community healthcare providers] and now we have over 100," he said.

"Now they like the business we provide them."



Drug free = Crime free

Koutoujian's response for those in law enforcement who don't want to be in the drug treatment business is this: Drug free = Crime free.

"We can really make a dent in the criminal justice population," he said. And he's trying to gather the stats, not just to make his office look good, but to prove it.

That also means the law enforcement agency has to view relapse, which is a normal part of recovery, as another opportunity to reengage a person.

Still, his office, which has a dedicated statistician, almost obsessively tracks the data the office collects from its programs, in part because Koutoujian wants more than just "vision." He wants results. The program also is being independently evaluated by the University of Massachusetts.

In December 2016, the office noticed a dip in participants getting their second and third Vivitrol shots after leaving jail. They decided to pause the program, and not accept new participants, so they could focus on those currently enrolled. Once they got compliance back up, they re-started enrollment.

Of the more than 250 enrolled in the program, more than 75 percent have not been re-arrested, reconvicted or violated probation. Looking at the individuals who completed the entire six-month program, the results are even better: 85 percent have not been re-arrested, reconvicted or violated probation.

But there's another measure Koutoujian thinks is even more important: Only three people have died from overdoses after getting out of jail, so few that the MATDOR staff knows their first names.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A woman died early Monday after her car collided with a Cleveland fire truck on the city's East Side.

The 41-year-old victim has not been identified.

Police haven't said if anyone else was injured in the crash that happened at about 12 a.m. on St. Clair Avenue in the Glenville neighborhood.

The woman was driving a 2001 Nissan east on St. Clair Avenue when she crossed the center line near East 103rd Street into the westbound lane, according to Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia.

Police say the woman was driving faster than the 25 mph speed limit. Investigators don't yet know why her car crossed into the oncoming lane.

The Nissan continued speeding toward a fire truck that was trying to stop in the westbound lanes, police said. The Nissan crashed into the truck head-on, Ciaccia said.

The incident remains under investigation.

To comment on this story, please visit cleveland.com's crime and courts comments section.
What's up with airport director Robert Kennedy?

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Director of Port Control Robert Kennedy, who was tapped by Mayor Frank Jackson last January to lead operations at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, packed up his office - including family photos -- last Thursday and left in a private vehicle, leaving his city-issued car at the airport, multiple sources have told cleveland.com.

Kennedy returned to his office Monday morning, after some discussions between Kennedy and City Hall officials.

Kennedy said in an interview Monday after this story first posted that he took two days off and left his city vehicle at the airport to allow the city to test the siren and perform general maintenance, something he said he does regularly on Fridays. (cleveland.com is requesting maintenance records for Kennedy's car to see how many times it was left at the airport for service.)

Kennedy dismissed the buzz about his departure as nothing more than rumors that are common at such a large operation and can spark nonsense.

"It's a wonder we don't have unicorns running down the runway," he said.

Kennedy also said he only took his brief case and umbrella when he left Thursday. Multiple sources told cleveland.com that pictures were missing from his office after he left Thursday.

Cleveland Chief of Regional Development Ed Rybka and Chief of Government Affairs Valarie McCall were also on the phone interview. Rybka said that he and Kennedy have spent several hours in recent days discussing airport priorities and the airport's future, which he said is bright.

Sources familiar with the airport operations say that there had been friction between Kennedy and City Hall officials, including Chief Operating Officer Darnell Brown.

Kennedy said he's not been at odds with anyone at City Hall.

"We are all marching forward," he said.

A reporter from cleveland.com visited Kennedy at his Cleveland residence Thursday night. Kennedy would not comment and referred questions to City Hall.

Despite the buzz at the airport, Dan Williams, a spokesman for Jackson, told cleveland.com on Friday that nothing happened at the airport and that Kennedy was still working for the city. When asked specifically if Kennedy was working Friday, Williams said, "I don't track his every move."

When cleveland.com pressed Williams to check if Kennedy was in fact in his office, Williams said he would not.

"I appreciate the question, but I've got other things going on, and this is pretty low on my list," he said.

Kennedy's appointment came after a year-and-half search to replace former director Ricky Smith, who announced in July 2015 that he was taking a new job as executive director of the Maryland Aviation Administration. At the time of his departure, Smith was under fire for problems with the airport's snow removal operations. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's office first announced Smith's new job, which appeared to catch the Cleveland City Hall by surprise.

This post was updated at 2 p.m., after hearing from Kennedy.

cleveland.com reporters Justin Madden and Andrew Tobias contributed to this report.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A member of U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci's gubernatorial campaign team posted a Facebook meme last week that seemed to advocate for the assassination of Secretary of State Jon Husted.

This isn't the first time Linda Caudill, a conservative firebrand from Delhi Township near Cincinnati and a member of Renacci's campaign team, has posted questionable content about Husted as the back-and-forth between supporters of the two Republican gubernatorial rivals has grown increasingly negative.

The meme Caudill shared shows a man bound to a chair with rope. Husted's face is edited into the picture with duct tape over his mouth. The accompanying text reads, "A Silencer is a good thing when used properly".

Caudill made the post Thursday just days after a mass shooting in Las Vegas left 58 dead and a more than 500 wounded. The shooting renewed debate over the legality of gun silencers.

Renacci spokesman James Slepian said Caudill's posts are not reflective of the campaign.

"Linda is a campaign volunteer and her personal Facebook posts are her own, they do not speak for the campaign," Slepian said. "However, when the campaign learned that she had shared this particular meme, which she did not create but which we nevertheless felt was inappropriate, we asked her to take it down and she did so immediately."

Caudill already came under fire last week for trolling a former Husted staffer's Facebook post about her dead grandparent, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. Caudill posted memes and a slew of comments critical of Husted on the staffer's page, even after the staffer - who now works for the pro-Husted super PAC Ohio Conservatives for a Change - asked her to stop.

Slepian said the issue was dealt with then, but days later Caudill posted the silencer meme on her personal page.

The vitriol between the Renacci campaign and Husted has grown toxic in recent weeks. After Ohio Conservatives for a Change posted memes criticizing Renacci for saying children did not need drug education, Renacci and his supporters have been on the warpath against Husted.

Caudill could not be reached for comment. The Husted campaign declined to comment.
California Common Cause and its 155,000 members applaud Gov. Brown for putting the people first by signing the California DISCLOSE Act (AB 249  Mullin) yesterday.

Every voter has a right to know who is trying to influence our votes and our Legislature, said Nicolas Heidorn, Legislative Affairs Director at California Common Cause. While Congress and federal agencies fail to act to require more transparency in the post-Citizens Untied era, the DISCLOSE Act will continue Californias leadership in building a strong and transparent democracy.

The California DISCLOSE ACT, authored by Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin, will require the three largest funders of political ads to be clearly identified on all print, electronic, TV, and radio advertisements for ballot campaigns and independent expenditures. The bill also makes significant improvements in how these disclosures are formatted so that voters can more easily understand who is funding the ad they received.

No more fine print, said the bills author, Speaker pro Tem Mullin. California voters will now be able to make informed decisions, based on honest information about who the true funders are of campaign ads. This transparency is critical to our democracy and I am proud that California has taken this historic first step to shine the light on dark money. Hopefully this will encourage others to follow suit.

The California Clean Money Campaign (CCMC) sponsored AB 249. With the quiet gesture of a signature, Governor Brown has loudly proclaimed California to be the national leader on the most important issue of our era: taking our democracy back from the special interests and restoring it to the people, said Trent Lange, President of the CCMC.

California Common Cause strongly supported the bill. Common Causes other state offices have been instrumental in passing similar disclosure laws in several states, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Maryland, Connecticut, Hawaii, Montana, and Delaware.

Americans across the political spectrum favor stronger money in politics disclosure reforms, said Executive Director Kathay Feng of California Common Cause. The California DISCLOSE Act is a common-sense proposal that will increase transparency, which is why it passed out of the legislature with strong bipartisan support. We hope this legislation inspires further reform nationally and in other states.
SOUTH NATION REGION, Ontario  For the tenth year in a row, a partnership between South Nation Conservation (SNC) and Delta Waterfowl has resulted in a fully-subscribed First Hunt Program!

The program is all about introducing young people to Delta Waterfowls First Hunt Program, which includes the Ontario Hunter Safety course and the Canadian Firearms Certification. For 10 years running, youth between the ages of 12-15, keen to learn about hunting regulations have taken part in this free program.

The Youth Hunt is designed to provide young hunters with the knowledge needed to practice safe and ethical hunting, said Philip Duncan, SNCs Property and Approvals Assistant II. Were training the conservationists of tomorrow to respect wildlife, habitat, private property, and personal safety.

With over 12,000 acres of community land across a 4,384 square-km jurisdiction, many economic and recreational activities take place on SNC properties year-round including hiking, geocaching, bee keeping, and horseback riding. A range of hunting opportunities also exist for species such as White-tailed deer, Moose, waterfowl and upland game.

Hunters are reminded that they require a hunting permit before accessing SNC-owned lands during hunting season.

The cost for the hunting permit is $100 and provides access to over 8,500 acres of forested land. Permit revenue helps offset some of the cost of hunting outreach initiatives, including the First Hunt Program.

Residents are reminded to keep themselves and their pets safe outdoors this time of year by wearing high visibility clothing as some areas of SNC property may have multiple users at any given time. Hunting is not permitted on SNCs Conservation Areas where managed trail systems exist.

To obtain a hunting permit, visit www.nation.on.ca to complete and return the hunting application permit form to SNC.

We hope to foster a lifelong appreciation of the local environment that can be passed down for generations. As environmentalists, we advocate for responsible and sustainable hunting and fishing.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Philip Duncan, 1-877-984-2948 ext. 292, pduncan@nation.on.ca.
Networking News

Polycom Channel Leader On 'Proprietary' Cisco Spark Platform And 'Unique' Microsoft Relationship

Mark Haranas

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Polycom is continuing to drive a deeper relationship with Microsoft in the highly competitive unified communications market, with plans to turn up the heat on Cisco Spark, according to Nick Tidd, vice president and leader of Polycom's Global Partner Organization.

Tidd said Cisco Spark is a "proprietary closed platform" while Polycom is increasing its openness and interoperability with industry leaders in the unified communications and collaboration such as Microsoft and Zoom.

"We have a very unique relationship with Microsoft, and it goes back almost 15 years. We are co-developing products. We're developing joint go-to-market strategies [and] we're underpinning technologies together," said Tidd, in an interview with CRN.

[Related: CRN Exclusive: Polycom Hires Juniper Veteran As North America Channel Chief]

"When you attach a Polycom device -- both video and voice -- to [Microsoft], we're seeing a twelve-times increase in consumption," said Tidd. "We are giving customers choice in how they want to connect."

Tidd also discusses several of Polycom's recent channel investments including the hire of David Bankemper as its new North America Channel Chief. Bankemper, a 28-year channel veteran who was formerly vice president of channel systems North America for Juniper, will be responsible for partner strategy, enablement and acquisition in the US.

Tidd has decades of channel sales leadership under his belt, leading the partner charge for the likes of 3com, D-Link, and Condusiv Technologies. He was hired by Polycom in January 2016 and was named on CRN's 2017 Channels Chiefs: The 50 Most Influential.
A good friend recently graduated from college after working in her position at her company for several years. And with her degree came...wait for it...a promotion! She has now risen to the ranks of management, and has an entirely new and different learning curve to overcome - managing people.

In a recent conversation, we spoke about some of the most frustrating moments of disrespect from subordinates. We lamented the times when an employee has wasted our time, or when they failed to submit a product on time, or worse, submitted it with major errors. It is one thing to come to work and see these infractions as a co-worker, but it is an entirely different challenge to encounter them as a manager.

Over years in multiple management roles, however, Ive found six simple tips and tricks for managing pesky underperformers:

1. Address the issue head-on.

Too often, we respond to a minor infraction in one of two ways. We either blow it off with a roll of the eyes, or we seek to bring it to the attention of our boss in the hopes that they will address it. The first and simplest way to offer discipline to a peer or subordinate is to address the specific issue directly at the source.

If your employee is coming in ten minutes late every day, tell them that you noticed. This simple tactic allows them to offer an explanation if there is a valid reason for their infraction and gives them an opportunity to fix their behavior on their own.

2. Use nouns instead of verbs.

In one study, people were asked two versions of the same question: How important is it to you to vote in tomorrows election? and How important is it to you to be a voter in tomorrows election? Participants in the voter condition were more likely to cast their ballots the next day, likely because people are driven by our need to belong, and using a noun reinforces our identity as a member of a specific group.

Reframe the issue that you have with your employee by first either stating that they are a leader, an asset, or a role model. People will typically live up or down to the expectations you set for them, so use positive nouns and allow them to opt in. Then explain what is expected of such a person.

3. Use metrics to quantify impact.

When they continue to surf on Facebook after youve addressed the issue with them, it is best to find a way to quantify how their behavior affects the companys bottom line. Calculate the amount that you are paying this person, broken down by minutes. Add in the expense of overtime if they are earning it.

Then, show them that what may seem like a simple act actually costs the company $37 per week. Translating behavior to a metric, like cost, gives your employee a measuring stick with which to view their behavior. What gets measured typically gets addressed.

4. Focus on what they are gaining.

Research suggests you should emphasize to your employee what they will gain from working with you rather than what they will lose. For example, if youre trying to get them to stay until 5 P.M., offer, Ill give you my word that Ill have you out of the office at 5 P.M. every day, instead of, I need you to stay until 5.

By reframing your request, you persuade your audience to see things from a different perspective, making them more likely to concede.

5. Give them options, and/or allow them craft their own solution to their infraction.

Consider negotiating with your employee by giving them more than one option: you will either dock their income by the amount the company is losing each week by their late attendance, or they can choose to show up on time.

Even better, place them in the position of being their own boss, and ask them to craft their own solution for you. This gives your employee ownership over their actions.

6. Help advance their goals.

Psychologist Robert Cialdini says one way to influence people is to invoke the reciprocity norm, where you help someone with something they need so they feel obliged to return the favor.

Offer your employee assistance on a project where they have a need. And when youre thanked for helping out, Cialdini advises saying something like, Of course, its what partners do for each other, instead of no problem, so they understand that they are expected to do the same for you. When you offer an olive branch, you create an unspoken obligation for them to do the same.

Managing people is, in its simplest form, relating. Put yourself in their shoes. Try to truly understand their perspective. Listen to their needs. And then make your requests. A happier employee creates a happier boss.

Related:

How Digitization, GST and GDP have Redefined a CFO's Role

Introversion Is Not A Weakness, So Why Are You Treating It Like One?

6 Ways to Manage Employees' Bad Habits



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com


As far as fancy kitchen gadgets go they don't come much more high-end than the Thermomix  the appliance heralded as an all in-one cooking device.

While many are probably familiar with the much-coveted machine, it's not always been easy to get great recipes for the machine that reflect the modern diverse flavour of Australian cuisine

That was until 29-year-old Alyce Alexandra stepped on to the Thermo-specific scene some nine years ago.

Alyce Alexandra is the creative force behind a series of cook books that create meals using a Thermomix

The Melbourne-based cook is a firm believer it's possible to create beautiful and healthy meals using a Thermomix and her latest book Everyday Thermo Cooking is proof this is entirely possible.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia Ms Alexandra revealed her interest in creating Thermo cooker-inspired dishes was sparked through experimenting as a teenager.

'When I was 15 my mum got a Thermomix  and this was back when no-one had a Thermomix, and she loved it, she said.

'When most people were learning to cook conventionally and might get a Thermomix later on I actually learnt how to cook in the Thermomix.

'It's my default way of thinking about food.'

Ms Alexandra's mother Janene Babauskis (pictured left) first introduced Ms Alexandra (pictured left) to the many joys of cooking with the all-in-one kitchen device

But because the method of cooking was still fairly new to Australia at that time, there weren't as many resources available, and those that were leaned more towards a European style of cuisine, she said.

'It was pretty much out of necessity that I started playing around and developing my own recipes.

'About eight years ago I remember thinking I can't be the only person who is wanting more resources.'

Ms Alexandra was studying commerce and law when she self-published her first cook book

'And when you've spent $2000 on a machine, you want to be able to use it every day.

Ms Alexandra explained this gave her 'the push' to release her first recipe book, even though at the time the 20-year-old was at university studying commerce and law.

Roping in her younger sister Loryn, who was still in high school, the pair produced and self-published their first collection of Thermo-specific recipes.

She said her focus on creating Thermo meal recipe books was to make home cooking easier and faster

I really wanted to be a lawyer, and food was just a creative outlet but now it's become my whole world

'I thought let's get it printed and see if people are interested,' she said.

'We actually sold out of our print run very quickly and people really loved the book. I developed this little cult following within the Thermomix community.'

Within six months her 'side gig' had grown into a full time business, and with another three books under her belt, her hobby was quickly shaping up into a full time career.

'I really wanted to be a lawyer, and food was just a creative outlet but now it's become my whole world,' she said.

Ms Alexandra recently partnered with publishing house Penguin who are backing the release of her latest recipe collection

Some of the delights that can be created using the kitchen device include these custard filled sweet treats

Ms Alexandra and her sister how head up a successful company that retails all things Thermo-related. It's very much a family affair though, with other sister Ellen one of her eight staff members.

Recently she has partnered with publishing house Penguin who are backing the release of her latest collection Every day Thermo Cooking.

Her latest book shows its entirely possible to create beautiful and healthy meal using the high-end kitchen device

Of her new cook book, she said the recipes specifically play to her strengths as a home cook.

'My approach has always been if I can do it, you can do it too,' she said.

'It's all really easy stuff. I'm not trying to be 'chefy' or recreate the wheel.

'I try to bring ingredients together creatively so there's a meal on the table in no time at all,' Ms Alexandra continued.

'We're so busy and I think the only way we're going to keep embracing home cooked food if it quick and easy.

'You can make dinner using my recipes faster than you can get UBER eats. It's a way of incorporating home cooking into modern life,' she concluded.

Ms Alexandra advises creating this ragu in advance and freeze the remaining portions for an easy and delicious mid-week meal
Becoming a stepmother is often difficult, but its proving particularly challenging for fashionista Kata de Solis, who is married to Prince Philips godson, Ashley Hicks.

Aged 35, Kata is only ten years older than Hickss elder daughter, Angelica, and she has revealed the pair are struggling to bond.

I get on with the younger one [Ambrosia, 20], but not the older one, Kata discloses at a party in Mayfair. She lives in New York and I think thats better for us, because we dont see each other that often.

In January, Kata is due to give birth to her first child with interior designer Hicks, 54, who is Prince Charless second cousin.

His two daughters are from his previous marriage, to fashion designer Allegra Hicks, 56.

Kata de Solis has her face shoved into a cake at her wedding to Ashley Hicks by her stepdaughter Angelica

Ashley comforts his wife, is due to give birth to her first child with interior designer Hicks despite her still having icing all over her face

He and Kata are struggling to decide where their baby boy, to be called Caspian, will sleep.

The nursery is currently in an actual closet, Kata tells me. Its not too far off from Harry Potter under the stairs.

There are only two free rooms, one being the closet, which is the smallest room, and one being the studio, which is the largest, but we didnt want to have problems with the stepchildren.

If we gave Caspian the largest room in the house, they wouldnt be happy, even though they dont live with us. Theyre already not super-thrilled about the kid.

One of them in particular [Angelica, pictured left with her mother] has a say on everything.

Kata de Solis and Ashley Hicks attend the Dulwich Picture Gallery Summer Party (left). Angelica with her mother, Allegra Hicks (right)

We cant lie about what room we put Caspian in because, at some point, Ashley will put a picture of it on Instagram and the older one will freak out.

Kata adds: I dont know if theyll even meet their stepbrother. The older one has been telling jokes around London about me. She jokingly said there arent enough stairs in our house to push me down. Perhaps a sign of trouble ahead was when Angelica shoved Katas face into her cake during high jinks at the couples wedding in 2015.

Kata and Ashley met through the photo-sharing website Instagram.

Ashleys mother is Lady Pamela Hicks, daughter of the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, and Kata says: She hasnt given me any parenting tips because she wasnt a very hands-on mother. She just told me to hire a good nanny. I wont take that approach myself.

Thrones4U - billionaire John celebrates 65th in royal style

Boris Becker borrowed 2 million from John Caudwell after the troubled Wimbledon legend was warned he could be jailed over debts.

And the telecoms tycoon is keen to show whos king. This weekend the billionaire co-founder of Phones 4U gave his 65th birthday party the theme Game of Thrones. Caudwell dressed as one of the kings from the sex and dragons TV drama.

King Caudwell, joked his daughter Rebekah. Let the festivities begin. Caudwells girlfriend, Modesta Vzesniauskaite, a Lithuanian Olympic cyclist half his age, was his queen.

John Caudwell, the billionaire co-founder of Phones 4U (second from left, top row) gave his 65th birthday party the theme Game of Thrones

Heres some news that will make you feel old: Tiggy Legge-Bourke, the youthful nanny of Princes William and Harry, has become a great-aunt at 52.

Tamara Warhurst, 30, daughter of Tiggys sister Zara, 51, has just given birth to her first child, Sienna.

It means Tiggys mother, Princess Annes formidable lady-in-waiting, Shan Legge-Bourke, is now a great-grandmother at the age of 74.

Tiggy became a surrogate mother to Wills and Harry after their parents divorce.

Dashing Idris Elba has spoken of how he fled to America because there wasnt enough imagination in the industry for a black actor to be seen as a lead in Britain.

His move to Hollywood has certainly paid dividends.

Newly filed accounts for The Wire stars company, Green Door Pictures Ltd, through which he channels his earnings, reveal that Elba, 45, was paid 3.81 million last year.
Engagements and weddings have always been big aristocratic celebrations, but now its divorces that are inspiring blowouts.

This weekend, the ex-model and face of Royal Ascot, Martha Sitwell, held a divorce party to mark the end of her ten-year union with baronet Sir George Sitwell.

The former Lady Sitwell, 36, held the bash at fashionable Mayfair club 5 Hertford Street, where she posed with her friends, TV chef Gizzi Erskine and U.S. actress Margo Stilley, as well as her sister Clementine de Blank.

Happiness is my rocks, my girls, my world, my everything, she commented next to the picture (above) which she shared with friends online. Sir George is the great-nephew of poet and critic Dame Edith Sitwell.

TV chef Gizzie Erskine, Lady Martha, actress Margo Stilley,as well as her sister Clementine de Blank

George and Martha Sitwell at their property development outside Lisbon, Portugal, in 2010

That crowns it for Prince

Heres an idea for Prince Harry if and when he ties the knot with Meghan Markle.

City financier Prince Philip of Serbia, 35, married Chelsea College of Arts graduate Danica Marinkovic, 30, this weekend and the couple wore elaborate crowns as they exchanged vows in Belgrade, an orthodox church tradition.

A constellation of European royals were in the 900-strong congregation, including Queen Sofia of Spain and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Prince Philip of Serbia, 35, married Chelsea College of Arts graduate Danica Marinkovic, 30, this weekend and the couple wore elaborate crowns

Call me minted! Dave cashes in

Could there be a more vivid symbol of a Prime Ministers rush for riches after leaving No 10? David Cameron has joined a company that provides cash machine technology.

Hes joined the international advisory board of First Data Corporation for an undisclosed fee  which is unlikely to be modest.

Describing Cameron as one of the most prominent global influencers of the early 21st century, the company says he will strengthen First Datas presence around the world.

Cameron gushes: Im incredibly proud that during my time as Prime Minister, the UK became a global force in Fin-Tech.

Halloween is almost upon us and who better to teach us how to celebrate than Carole Middleton?

The Duchess of Cambridges mother, who runs a party paraphernalia business, has come up with invaluable tips that include adorning your doorstep with lit pumpkins; magnetic spiders and creepy cobwebs; and Halloween games are a perfect way to kick off the fun.

How long before she follows daughter Pippas example and publishes a book of advice?
It's news that will raise eyebrows across the country. But in Liverpool, they may find that difficult... because the city has been named the worlds Botox capital.

More people carry out Google searches for Botox and lip fillers in Liverpool than anywhere else.

A study presented at a meeting of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has revealed that four in five worldwide searches for the non-invasive procedures are now made from the UK, according to reports.

Interest in Botox is rocketing in Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle as online searches for non-surgical cosmetics rise

Of the total number of searches made in Britain, the north comes out top, with Leeds Manchester and Newcastle revealed to be the cities where the interest in non-surgical cosmetics is rocketing.

When it comes to the south, internet users are more interested in breast implants, nose jobs and tummy tucks, the data revealed.

Experts analysing the trends say that the urge to have the procedures carried out is often driven by regional cultural factors, The Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.

The research presented to BAAPS showed that injectable cosmetics were becoming mainstream, with one expert warning that the search in demand meant that many could be seeking treatments from practitioners who are not properly qualified.

Online interest in Botox rose 31 per cent between 2011 and 2016, while searches for lip-filler procedures soared by 78 per cent over the same period.

Dr Ryan Sugrue, a plastic surgeon at Cork University Hospital, who carried out the research, warned that a spike in interest in non-surgical procedures meant that people could be turning to cowboy practitioners.

Four in five worldwide searches for non-invasive procedures such as Botox are made in the UK

Dr Sugrue said: There are significant dangers in going away from board-certified or qualified cosmetic outcomes.

He also added that the demand from British patients was causing the UK to storm ahead in the field of cosmetic procedures.

Traditionally the US has been the gold standard for interest in cosmetic procedures, but there has been a transatlantic shift to the UK, he said.

Liverpool also came out third in a survey of Britains fake tan hotspots by YouGov this year.

A poll found that one in 10 women in Liverpool had applied fake tan in the last year compared to one in five in Belfast which was top.

Sunderland was named second with 15 per cent saying they had applied fake tan in the last 12 months.
For the most part, our health is something we take for granted. Generally, it's not until we're struck by something unusual that we sit up and take note.

And while most symptoms aren't cause for concern, there are times when it's important to be aware that there might be a more worrying health issue that needs attention.

Writing for Whimn, Dr Evelyn Lewin recently took a look at some of the symptoms that may appear ordinary but could in fact indicate a more serious medical condition.

While most symptoms aren't cause for concern, there are times when its important to be aware there might be a more worrying health issue that needs attention (stock picture)

A SUDDEN STOMACH ACHE

While stomach aches can be fairly common, Dr Lewin said that if abdominal pain strikes suddenly or is severe, you need to seek treatment immediately.

'There are lots of things that can cause abdominal pain, from appendicitis to constipation, ruptured ovarian cysts to a ruptured aorta (the main artery in the body),' Dr Lewin told the publication.

She suggests that if you do experience severe gut pain, of any description, that you should call an ambulance straight away.

Dr Lewin believes it's better to have any suspicious pain checked out, even if it turns to be nothing later on.

'Also if your symptoms develop again after you've been seen by a doctor, you should get re-checked. This is certainly a case where you'd much rather be safe than sorry,' she added.

Dr Lewin believes it's better to have any suspicious pain checked out, even if it turns out later to be nothing (stock picture)

Dr Lewin (pictured) recommends paying heed to symptoms such as shortness of breath

SHORTNESS OF BREATH FOR NO REASON

If you find yourself experiencing shortness of breath for no apparent reason, don't disregard it as it may be an indication of something more serious.

Dr Lewin said the symptom may suggest a medical issue such as a pulmonary embolism (PE).

'It's more common to develop a PE if you are on the pill, have been sitting still for a long period of time (such as going on a long car drive), if you smoke or if you've been flying,' she said.

The medical expert also noted there may be other causes such as asthma, pneumonia and panic attacks.

She recommends that if you're having difficulty breathing, call for assistance and get this checked out immediately.

If you find yourself experiencing shortness of breath for no apparent reason, this could be an indication of something far more serious (stock picture)

ONSET OF A SUDDEN PAINFUL HEADACHE

For many, headaches are a common, although distressing, part of life.

And while the intensity can vary from mild through to migraine, the onset of a sudden and extremely painful headache needs attention.

'If you develop a sudden headache that hurts like hell (as in, it's the worst headache you've ever had), you could have bleeding around the brain that requires urgent medical attention,' she said.

And while the intensity can vary from mild through to migraine, the onset of a sudden and extremely painful headache needs attention (stock picture)

A THIRST THAT CAN'T BE QUENCHED

If you find yourself drinking way more water that usual and that your thirst can't be quenched, you may need to book an appointment with your GP for a check-up.

Dr Lewin explains the medical term for that parched feeling is polydipsia and one of the more seemingly harmless symptoms of diabetes.

'When your blood sugar levels are too high, your body pressures your kidneys into producing more urine to get rid of the excess glucose, leading to excessive thirst and frequent peeing,' she continued.

Given Australians develop diabetes at a rate of 280 people per day, it's a possible this symptom could be an indication of this condition.

'Consider a blood glucose test to find out if you're at risk.'

Dr Lewin explains the medical term for that parched feeling is polydipsia and - one of the more seemingly harmless symptoms of diabetes (stock picture)

CHEST TIGHTNESS OR PAIN IN THE NECK, JAW, ARMS OR BACK

While chest pain is a common symptom of a heart attack, there are other symptoms that can indicate a person may be in need of urgent medical attention.

Speaking previously to Mail Online, Dr Joseph Fritz said other heart attack symptoms can include unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, feeling sick and vomiting.

While these symptoms can vary between men and women, common indicators to look out for include chest tightness and pain or pressure in the chest, neck, jaw, arms or back.

Other heart attack symptoms can include unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, feeling sick and vomiting (stock picture)

Other major symptoms men should be aware of are feeling weak, breaking out into a cold sweat and dizziness.

Dr Fritz said major symptoms for women include sleep disturbance, indigestion and anxiety.

His recommendation is to be aware that each heart attack is different and symptoms may not always fit the mold.

If there are any concerns, get medical attention immediately.
A Good Morning Britain guest who lives life as both a man and a woman explained on the show how they don't know who they will be until they wake up each morning.

Tabitha/Tate Downs-King, 20, identifies as gender fluid, meaning one day she will be Tabitha - as she was for her appearance on the daytime show - and another, Tate.

Tabitha - who was born biologically female - explained to presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid that she dresses according to which gender she identifies as on any given day.

And when Piers asked which toilets she would use in a public place, Tabitha said that she would use both - even making use of the urinal.

Asked how that would work by Piers, Tabitha explained 'theres a prosthetic penis that you can pee through,' leaving the host apparently lost for words.

Piers went on to insist: 'You can't be male or female... why should you have the freedom and I don't?'

Tabitha/Tate Downs-King - who appeared as a woman on Good Morning Britain (right) - doesn't know whether she will be a man or a woman until she wakes up each day

Piers Morgan clashed with his guest on GMB as he insisted Tabitha couldn't live life as both man and woman

Tabitha, who is bisexual and has a boyfriend and a girlfriend, also has two mothers; one birth and one trans.

Petra is her biological father, who has since transitioned to become a woman.

Tabitha had to defend a suggestion from Susanna that she was 'dressing up', and said that how she looks on each day is important.

'It's not dressing up Its dressing up according to who I am that day,' she said.

'Its important to create a bold identity.'

Tabitha explained that there is no equal share when it comes to whether she is a man or woman on the day.

During her appearance Tabitha said that she is often 'confused' when she wakes up until her brain settles in to the particular gender of the day.

'There's no percentage at all  you just get what youre given on the day,' she said.

Tabitha - who was born female - explained that she identifies as gender fluid, dressing as a male or female and also using both toilets depending on who she was

The GMB host questioned why Tabitha identified as gender fluid asking whether her biological father transitioning to a woman was part of it

Confirming that she was born female she added: 'I accept it but I wasnt particularly happy about it.

'That is the difficult thing about being trans.. Sorry gender fluid. The reason I said trans is because I have many trans friends,' she said to clarify the mistake.

Piers - who said he had never met a person like Tabitha - questioned whether her biological father transitioning to a woman was the root of her 'confusion' over her gender.

'I'm not confused about being male and female, it just takes a couple of minute to work out,' she replied.

Tabitha was joined on the daytime show by Dr Kenneth Demsky, as she explained how she lives her life

During her appearance Tabitha said that she is often 'confused' when she wakes up until her brain settles in to the particular gender of the day

But Piers, who has previously clashed with members of the trans community, didn't appear to be impressed by Tabitha.

'My problem with this is you can't be male or female... You're born one or the other. If you want to have an operation fine I just dont get this gender fluid stuff.'

He then said: 'If you can identify as who the hell you like can I literally look at myself and say, and I've made this joke before, I'm an elephant today.

'Why should you have the freedom and I dont, where does this go?'

Tabitha said that she had no problem with Piers wanting to identify as an elephant, and he eventually wrapped up the interview insisting: 'I am not saying I'm right and you're wrong.'

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV from 6.30am
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The idea of having nearly 30 bridesmaids would leave most brides in a spin - and is so far-fetched it provided the ending in Katherine Heigl's famous rom-com 27 Dresses in 2008.

However, for Sarah Hellyer, 37, from Poole, Dorset, this wasn't a scriptwriter's fiction, it was her big day reality.

When the teacher said 'yes' to husband Matt's proposal a decade ago, she warned the 46-year-old that she wanted 'all' of her nieces to be part of her official bridal party.

In 27 Dresses, Heigl starred as perennial bridesmaid Jane, who eventually marries the man she loves - with all of the 27 women she's been a bridesmaid for in the past as her own bridesmaids - and the final scene isn't dissimilar to Sarah and Matt's wedding day snaps for volume - with one more added for luck.

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We're going to need a bigger bus! When Sarah Hellyer, a teacher from Poole, accepted husband Matt's proposal ten years ago, she warned him that she wanted all of her nieces to be bridesmaids - what she didn't anticipate was that the number of little girls in the family would swell by a further eight during their lengthy engagement

'Luckily, Matt has a small family!' The bridesmaids, pictured outside St Mary's Church in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset, had to be transported to the wedding venue in a vintage double decker bus

The 2008 film 27 Dresses saw Katherine Heigl's character Jane make all of the brides she'd been a bridesmaid for join the bridal party at her own wedding to dream man Adam (James Marsden) - wearing the sames dresses she'd worn at their nuptials

The blockbuster saw Jane finally get her man - Adam (James Marsden) - after decades of being a bridesmaid for other people. Right: the comedy's finale saw all 27 bridesmaid lining up a beach wedding

Get us to the church on time! Left: the red double-decker that was used to carry the bridal party to the church. Right, the 28 bridesmaids gather outside of the church ahead of the bride's arrival

One of 12 children herself, Sarah's already sizeable family grew even bigger when the couple took ten years to actually walk down the aisle - adding a further eight tiny bridesmaids into the mix.

When Sarah and Matt finally said 'I do' at St Mary's Church in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset, on July 8th this year, they did so with a train of 28 bridesmaids closely behind them.

The astonishing bridal party comprised Hannah, 25, Isabel, 25, Emily, 23, Joanna, 23, Abi, 22, Anya, 22, Fiona, 22, Molly, 21, Esther, 20, Chloe, 20, Jade, 20, Rachael, 20, Victoria, 20, Maria, 18, Anna, 17, Carly, 16, Naomi, 16, Ellie, 15, Rosa, 14, Lucie, 13, Miranda, 13, Daisy, eight, Maisie, six, five year olds Erin, Lily, Juno and Ella, and Willow, age two.

Sarah, 37, who works at the private school in Corfe Mullen, Dorset, explains: 'Matt always knew it would be a big wedding, because I have an enormous family and they're all so important to me.

The bride avoided going to a traditional wedding shop for her army of bridesmaids, fearing it would be too expensive. Instead, the older bridesmaids wore an off-the-shelf pink Grecian-style gown from Monsoon, with the younger guests dressed in

Wedding belles! The couple considered hiring a mini-bus for the bridesmaids but realised they wouldn't all fit - so called a local double-decker bus company

'Luckily, he has a small family, so we just had two groomsmen - his sons Josh, 27 and Jordan, 22 and two page boys, his grandsons Caleb, 12 and Zak, six.

'We had my nephews John, 16, Steve, 12, and Isaac, seven, Luke, 20 and youngest brother Mike, 34, were ushers. I would have loved all 28 of my nephews but I don't think we could have coped with all of them, too.'

Matt always knew it would be a big wedding, because I have an enormous family and they're all so important to me... Sarah Hellyer

After taking a decade to tie the knot, the couple had just four months to organise their big day, with Sarah offered the use of a marquee in the beautiful grounds of the school where she teaches for her reception.

One of the biggest challenges was finding dresses to flatter the 28 different shapes, ages and sizes of her bridesmaids.

They included Matt's daughter Jade, 20, her maid of honour, her best friend's daughter and all her nieces and great-nieces.

The girls offered to pay for their dresses but Sarah says that she was determined to buy a special gown for each of them - but she did ask them to wear their own shoes.

The bride explains: 'I knew I'd never be able to get their dresses from a proper bridal shop, as the cost would be excessive, but I wanted us all to have a day out together to find them.'

'About a quarter of us looked around some bridal shops one afternoon, to investigate different styles, but then I was looking on the internet for ages.

'My sister Mary, in the end, pointed out these dresses in Monsoon, which you could wear different ways.

Perfect day: Sarah was offered the use of a marquee in the grounds of the private school where she teaches for her reception - which was more than roomy enough for her enormous family

Chapel of love: The bridesmaids are seen greeting Sarah as she arrives at the church for her wedding to Matt on July 8th this year

'They were really versatile, but I needed so many that a lot of the sizes weren't available. Quite a few bridesmaids either had to stretch their dresses, or wear them a little bit big, but they still worked really well, felt comfortable and looked great.'

For the younger girls, Miranda, 13 and Daisy, eight, Sarah selected 50 Monsoon dresses. And she chose gorgeous ivory gowns, costing 61.50, from Debenhams for and Maisie, six, Erin, five, Lily, five, Juno, five, Ella, five and Willow, two.

Finally, for herself, she picked a white, fitted, lacy bridal gown, costing 950, from Minster Designs Bridal Boutique, in Wimborne.

On her wedding day, the bridesmaids got ready together at Sarah's brother Phil and sister-in-law Emma's house - using every room for different stages of their morning of preparation.

Sarah, however, relaxed in the quieter setting of her mum Ann, 79, and her 84-year-old dad, Peter John Brooker's bungalow. She said: 'I wanted Mum to be there when I got ready and thought it would be too much, with all the other girls.'

Scrum! When it came to throwing the bouquet, Sarah said she didn't want to give up her treasured posy of flowers - but the bridesmaids had other ideas and were all vying to catch it

Big family, big wedding! Snapping just Sarah's family alone involved a staggering 120 people

Each bridesmaid carried a spray posy of pink and white flowers including roses and gypsophila

Meanwhile, for transport, Sarah hired an old vintage bus to drive the bridesmaids to St Mary's Church in Sturminster Marshall.

She continued: 'We'd considered all sorts  even a minibus. My sister Emma spotted the vintage bus online and told Matt, who thought it was amazing. The girls loved it and were all singing songs on the way to church.

'They had to come through Wimborne and the bus driver took them around the square twice. They were shouting and screaming and people came out on the street waving at them.'

Sarah and her dad travelled in a vintage Packard car, meeting the bridesmaids at the church. The massive bridal procession then took minutes to walk down the aisle to the traditional wedding march, with each of the older bridesmaids helping the younger girls.

Reaching the altar, they sat together in the choir pews, to watch Sarah and Matt exchange vows. After saying 'I do,' the couple threw their reception in the magnificent school grounds, with so many guests, they lost count.

The bridal procession took several minutes as all of the bridal party made their way down the aisle to the traditional wedding march

Each of the bridesmaids also received a traditional wedding gift - but one that wouldn't break the bank, a personalised jar of sweets

Sarah said: 'A group photograph, with just my family, involved over 120 people.'

When it came to throwing the bouquet, made up of pink and white roses, the bridesmaids - particularly the older girls - were all vying to catch it.

'I was reluctant to let it go, because it was so beautiful,' Sarah laughed. 'Matt's daughter, Jade, caught it in the end.'

Sarah, who believes her giant troupe of bridesmaids made her big day even more special, said the couple had another headache, when it came to finding them each a gift, without breaking the bank.

'Matt insisted that we had to buy the girls something, as it's traditional to,' she said.

'I said there were too many of them, but he bought jars of sweets with their names printed on, so they'd all have something special. They were the perfect gifts to round off the perfect day.'
A young breast cancer survivor is on a mission to prove that cancer doesn't make you 'un-sexy' after baring her mastectomy tattoos.

Hairstylist and model, Allyson Lynch, 30, from Philadelphia was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 26, after a self-examination where she noticed a lump that wasn't there before.

'I had some very dark moments and it was more challenging than I could have ever imagined. I wanted to give up at points, I said I would never do it again. I just cried, I cried every single day,' she recalled.

'Until, there was a day that I realised I hadn't cried and I stopped asking 'why me'. I found a strength I never thought I could possess. I learnt it was me because I could handle this, it was me because I am a strong wonder woman and you know what, I made it through hell once and I would do it again.'

Her battle inspired Allyson to get her stunning tattoos instead of fake nipples on her breasts.

'What seemed like the right choice for me was getting a beautiful tattoo. That made me feel like me, it's like permanent lingerie,' she said.

'Every time I look in the mirror I feel pretty. It helps get over the loss of my breasts, it was my way of taking back what cancer took away. I was reclaiming my body.'

'I had tattoos before cancer was even a thought in my mind I had always loved the beauty behind tattoos. So, when I knew I was having a mastectomy I didn't really see the point of getting fake nipples that serve no purpose.'

Hairstylist and model, Allyson Lynch, 30, from Philadelphia was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was

Her battle inspired Allyson to get her stunning tattoos instead of fake nipples on her breasts

After seeing her mother survive breast cancer, Allyson knew the importance of early diagnosis, and after ignoring the lump for a few days went to see her doctor who confirmed she had cancer.

Following her diagnosis, Allyson had a bilateral mastectomy with spacers put in place and then endured 16-rounds of gruelling chemotherapy over 20-weeks in which time she was unable to work.

Prior to starting chemo, she had to make a decision no twenty-something should have to make; whether or not she should harvest her eggs.

Many of the chemo side effects such as fever, losing her nails and crippling pain throughout her body were uncontrollable but Allyson decided to take control of her hair loss and held a head shaving party before treatment commenced.

Allyson endured 16-rounds of gruelling chemotherapy over 20-weeks and was unable to work during her treatment

In December 2015, she underwent breast reconstruction surgery. Allyson decided to get tattoos over her mastectomy scars, reclaiming what cancer stole from her which finally made her feel beautiful again.

'Immediately life turned upside-down. I was faced with a lot of big decisions I never thought I would even have to consider before thirty and all I could think was I wanted this thing out of me,' she said.

'The great staff at the hospital helped ease my mind and get me set up with health coverage. I ended up being BRCA1+ and opted for a bilateral mastectomy for peace of mind.

Before her hair could fall out, Allyson took control by shaving off her own locks

The tattoo fan felt that getting artificial nipples that serve no purpose wasn't right for her and opted for this intricate inking instead

The survivor is on a mission to prove that cancer doesn't make you 'un-sexy'

'Initially I thought I had caught it early enough and I could just have surgery, reconstruction, and get back to life. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

'I was also faced with something I never realised was an issue, fertility, which I then found out harvesting your eggs was very costly and not covered by insurance. All I ever wanted was to be a mom and I didn't want to lose the chance to carry my own baby.

'I would be losing all my hair, so, to take control of something I decided to have a head shaving party before it all started to fall out. I didn't want to see clumps of hair in my hand.

'Some of my closest friends and family shaved their heads with me, a memory I will never forget.

Alysson, pictured with her partner, said that going through a horrendous period in her life has pushed her to become stronger

'Treatment was very difficult, getting out of bed was extremely painful at times, and I ended up hospitalised twice.

'Pain like I have never experienced in my life, my whole body hurt, nothing was comfortable, even the softest blanket felt like rocks. I was nauseous all the time. Eventually nothing tasted good, I loaded salt and sugar on everything trying to make it palatable.

'I lost all my hair, everywhere, believe it or not nose hair is actually very helpful. I had nose bleeds. And even after treatment was over the side effects didn't stop and it took a long time for my body to get back to normal and shortly after my last dose of chemotherapy all of my finger and toenails fell off.

Allyson having her head shaved before treatment. Some of her close friends also had their heads shaved in solidarity

Alysson hopes to inspire others as she's not the 'normal middle-aged woman you typically associate with breast cancer'

'One thing positive I was able to make happen for myself after completing chemotherapy was getting tattooed. I took back and reclaimed what cancer had taken from me. My tattoo artist, John Pohl, brought my idea to life and tattooed over my mastectomy scars.'

After seeing family members battle cancer in the past, Allyson didn't realise quite how difficult treatment would be until experiencing it first-hand. She even wanted to give up but found a strength inside her she didn't know she had and says she would go through it all again.'

Now, Allyson hopes to be an inspiration and support for others going through treatment.

The cancer survivor celebrating on her last day of chemotherapy in 2014

Alysson admits that she went through some dark times during her treatment and felt like she wouldn't get through it

'I try to use my experience to be that person I needed when I was in treatment. I have always been very open about my journey especially on social media. I've been able to connect with quite a number of women,' she said.

'When diagnosed I constantly looked for somebody that I could relate to somebody that reminded me of myself that wasn't the normal middle-aged woman you typically associate with breast cancer. I wanted to see someone young, edgy, and relatable.

'When I find messages in my inbox from young women just starting out in their journey it breaks my heart but I am happy if I can make some sort of difference, it makes it feel as if the whole situation was worth something.

'I've been able to use my modelling to show people that cancer doesn't stop you from being a woman, it doesn't make you un-sexy, we are women and we are powerful.

'Sometimes it takes a tragedy to push you into the person you were always meant to be.'
They only recently went public with their relationship so it's hardly surprising that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle want to show the world how happy they are.

Indeed, the newly formed couple made no secret of their romance during their trip to Toronto, stepping out hand-in-hand on several occasions.

And while the love birds are extremely tactile with each other, their public displays of affection are a far cry from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's - and there's a reason for the disparity between the two couples' body language.

Indeed, according to body language expert, Robin Kermode, Kate and William 'do not feel the need to prove their love' - and they're even taking tips off the Queen.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made no secret of their romance during their trip to Toronto, stepping out hand-in-hand on several occasions - and there's a reason why

They're clearly madly in love and have their third child on the way but Robin notes that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge rarely hold hands in public - and there's a very surprising reason why.

'Some public figures use hand-holding as a deliberate act to prove that their relationship is solid, but this isn't something Prince William and Kate struggle with,' he said.

Robin explains that Kate and William, who married in 2011, are taking cues from the Queen.

While Prince Harry and Meghan have been extremely tactile, Kate and William are less so. According to body language expert, Robin Kermode, Kate and William 'do not feel the need to prove their love'

It's hardly surprising that new couple Harry and Meghan want to show the world how happy they are

'The Queen rarely holds hands with her husband in public and this seems to have set an unwritten precedent for the other royals, notes Robin.

'It is very clear that William and Kate are emotionally close, however, they do not seem to feel the need to prove their love  particularly when on official state business.'

'They come across as a strong, independent couple and while they are always on show, they do not feel the need to "show" their love for each other to the world.

Prince Harry today made his first public appearance since returning from the Invictus Games in Toronto where he made his first official appearance with girlfriend Meghan Markle.

The royal has just returned from Toronto where he made his first official public appearance with girlfriend Meghan Markle, 36

The royal, 33, joined forces with the Defence Secretary today to tell soldiers that dealing with mental health is just as important as learning new combat skills.

The former army captain and Sir Michael Fallon will make the case that mental fitness is as important as physical fitness when it comes fighting wars, adding that troops should be encouraged to use psychology in the same way as athletes do to maximise performance.

Harry is launching a new partnership designed to improve the mental health of current and former Armed Forces personnel by rolling out support to veterans and those still serving across the three services.

The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will provide advice and resources to the Ministry of Defence to improve training and education.
They both have official royal titles, as third and fourth in line to the throne.

But while Prince George's future children would also have HRH status, any children that Princess Charlotte has are unlikely to be princes or princesses.

An expert has revealed Charlotte's future offspring would not be automatically be given royal titles - because these are inherited through sons, not daughters.

This is the case with Princess Anne's children Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, who do not have HRH status, while Prince Andrew's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, do.

Princess Charlotte's future children are unlikely to be princes or princesses, while Prince George's offspring would be

Speaking to Town & Country, Lucy Hume, associate director of etiquette experts Debrett's, explained: 'Royal titles are inherited through sons, so if Princess Charlotte has children they would not automatically inherit the titles HRH, Prince, or Princess.'

However, exceptions can be made, as seen with Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex's children Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn.

It was announced when Edward and Sophie married that their offspring would not have HRH status, as a 'clear personal wish' of the couple.

Meanwhile, the Queen did offer to give royal titles to the Princess Royal's Mark Phillips' children.

Lucy Hume, associate director of etiquette experts Debrett's, explains that this is because royal titles are inherited through sons, not daughters. George's future children therefore would have HRH status

Ms Hume explained: 'The monarch may offer to bestow a royal title upon his or her daughter's children.

'For Peter and Zara Phillips, the Queen offered to give them a royal title when they were born, but Princess Anne and Captain Phillips opted to decline this offer.'

While Charlotte's children will not automatically become princes or princesses, the young royal will not be overtaken in the line of succession - even if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have another boy.

This is because a law change in 2013 before the birth of George means that male members of the royal family are no longer given preference.

Princess Anne's children Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips do not have official royal titles. However, the Queen did offer to give them HRH status when they were born
She's become famous as the mother figure everyone wishes they could turn to for advice after starring in Made In Chelsea with her daughter Binky.

But despite enjoying a burgeoning TV career in her 60s and, by her own admission, living a privileged lifestyle Jane Felstead has been through multiple battles with her mental health, which she's never spoken about before.

Now, ahead of World Mental Health Day Jane, 65, has opened up for the first time about cancer anxieties during her first pregnancy and her subsequent difficulties with post-natal depression.

When Jane found herself pregnant at 26 with her first daughter, Anne-Louise, she had no idea 'how powerful it would be', especially as motherhood wasn't something that she'd yearned for.

Feeling isolated and anxious, she became consumed with worry that she might have breast cancer and couldn't bathe or touch her skin for fear of finding a lump.

After finally confiding in her mother, she was referred to a psychologist who hhad also helped Princess Diana overcome her bulimia.

Now she is speaking out to encourage mothers going through a similar experience to speak out and ask for help.

'Never be ashamed of how you are feeling  you are not alone,' she said. 'Take as much help as you can get, whether it's physically, emotionally or mentally. Accept that you don't know it all and you will make mistakes, but there is no shame in that. Don't blame yourself.'

Jane Felstead, 65, has opened up for the first time about her struggles with depression ahead of World Mental Health Day

Jane first found herself struggling with her mental health when she fell pregnant with her daughter Anna-Louise (right) at the age of 26

Jane's struggle with pre-natal depression began when she found out she was pregnant while living with her parents in Hertfordshire.

'Shortly after, my parents sold up and moved to Hampshire. This was a very difficult experience for me, because I was an only child and had never moved away from home before,' she said.

'My husband was working in London, so I decided we should buy a house in the middle of both. But this was a grave mistake. The one thing you dont need when the hormones are racing is a gigantic move away from all youve known on top. The area I chose was mostly full of elderly people and being a bit shy I found it difficult to find new mums to befriend.'

While struggling with loneliness, Jane received a call from her cousin to say that one of her friends had breast cancer.

As a young mother Jane struggled with pre and post-natal depression

'As I was feeling so vulnerable at the time it really affected me. I became constantly anxious that I might develop cancer. To the point that I couldnt bathe or touch my skin for fear of finding a lump. Id go for a scan and was told I was fine and Id feel a second of relief, but then as soon as Id leave the clinic Id panic that Id got it that second. It ruled my life  I stopped going on holiday as I didnt want to be far away from doctors I trusted.

Jane was fearful her husband wouldn't understand if she told him, but eventually she confided in her mother.

'She quietly took me to a private GP. Eventually I was referred me to the Pscyologist who helped Lady Diana overcome bulimia. He was great, he didnt laugh at me or say I was being ridiculous.

'He told me I had developed a phobia as a result of all that had happened to me  hormonal changes included. He understood. He was clear that I needed to recover from this health anxiety before the baby was born. And through both psychiatry and psychology I did get better.

Looking back I can see that it was Pre-Natal Depression that was making me react to the cancer news in that extreme way. If Id been told today that her friend had cancer I would obviously be sad, but I wouldnt worry that I also would get it.'

Jane with her husband Roger and daughter Binky, 27, who she's starred alongside in the hit reality show Made In Chelsea

Jane shares a famously close bond with her youngest child Binky and said that grandmothers should be honest about the reality of motherhood with their daughters

Unfortunately, this wasn't the last of Jane's battles with mental health issues and she struggled 'throughout pregnancies and post-birth with both depression and anxiety'.

'But this first experience was by far the worst. And whilst the latter experiences were awful, I was more aware of what I was experiencing so could get relevant help quicker,' she said.

In recent months, Jane has become a grandmother twice over after Binky gave birth to her daughter India in June, and her older daughter Anna-Louise's son Freddie Bo arrived seven weeks later.

And she hopes to be able to use her experiences to support her daughters through motherhood.

Jane's daughters Anna-Louise and Binky recently welcomed their first babies just seven weeks apart

'I really believe that every challenge in life is sent for a reason,' she explained. 'That could be to help us grow and learn and  maybe eventually help others.

'Going through what I did has meant Ive learnt the importance of having a great relationship with new mothers so that you can talk openly and honestly to them.

'Some mums nowadays think they are experts, reading all the books and articles, but until youve actually done it with your particular baby you dont know what youre doing, and you certainly dont know what to expect.

'Having had three children, and being close to my two daughters with their children I can see when they are getting something obviously wrong, and having a great relationship with them means I can guide them in the right direction without offending them  mostly.'

Jane admitted that even she gets FOMO (fear of missing out) when she looks at social media and says the pressure on mothers to lead a perfect life must be immense

'I really dont want any other mums to go through what I went through and whilst I obviously cant stop it happening to some, I hope that by sharing my story it will help mums to get help quickly and not feel wrong, different, or ashamed.'

As regards tips for new grandmothers Jane advises being communicative and brave.

'If your daughter is struggling dont take it to heart but help her. We need to be talking to new mums about the reality of motherhood. You have stitched, sore boobs, are knackered; you feel your husband doesnt want you anymore, and you have to sit on a donut! Its not the glamourous journey you see in the movies.

'Young mothers have it really tough  its so competitive  from wanting the latest car, to your child developing fastest, to achieving in the workplace.

Social media definitely doesnt help  it can make you feel lonely. I struggle with FOMO, seeing posts and being convinced everyone is having more fun than me, and thats at my age. I cant imagine how it must challenge new mums.'

Jane is supporting the launched of MummyLinks an app that provides a safe place to meet mothers locally for support and ad-hoc play dates. MummyLinks is invite/approval only so if you'd like to be among the first to use the app when it launches early 2018 request to to join the Facebook group for more information.
A seven-year-old girl who suffered severe burns in an acid attack by her father will have her education funded by Miss Universe GB 2017 after the pair met during a charity visit.

Julie Kumari, from Fatehpur, in Uttar Pradesh, India, was left with life-changing injuries when her father flew into a jealous rage and tried to injure her mother in an acid attack in 2013. The acid missed his wife and instead landed on Julie, then four, melting her face, neck and chest and leaving the schoolgirl struggling to eat.

Miss Universe GB Anna Burdzy, 25, from Leicestershire, was so moved when she heard Julie's story during a charity event in Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh, last week, that she pledged to personally pay for the little girl to go to a fee-paying school.

Immediate bond: Julie Kumari with Miss Universe GB 2017 Anna Burdzy, 25, in Lucknow, India, last week. The beauty queen offered to pay for Julie's schooling after they met

Life-changing injuries: Julie was just four when she suffered severe burns to her face and neck after her father tried to injure her mother in an acid attack. The schoolgirl, who has since had surgery, was left unable to smile. Pictured, Julie before the surgery to improve her condition

Close: Beauty queen Anna, 25, from Leicestershire, was moved by Julie's harrowing story

Julie's mother Rani Devi, 31, who earns just 2, said they were overwhelmed by Miss Burdzy's generosity.

She said: '[Anna] said she'd offered to sponsor her education. What else can I ask from god? It is nothing less than a miracle and Miss Anna has come as a living god into our lives.'

Model Anna said: 'Julie captured my heart immediately and I'm really looking to working alongside the Miss Universe Great Britain organisation to help fund her education. I will watch her progress closely and feel proud to know that we will have done our bit to help her find her way in the world.'

Julie was injured when her father Manish, 40, tried to attack his ex-wife Rani and her new husband Heera Lal, 35, as they slept. But the acid instead hit his then four-year-old daughter, melting her face and leaving her with extensive burns.

Treatment: Earlier this year a charity paid for Julie to undergo surgery that her own family could not afford

Little princess: Anna allowed Julie to try on her Miss Universe GB crown during the event

She was rushed to a nearby government hospital but they were only able to stabilise her injuries. With no money to pay for treatment, Rani was forced to return home with her daughter and watch as her quality of life started to diminish.

Charity work: Miss Universe GB Anna Burdzy

The skin around her neck contracted as it healed, leaving Julie unable to move her head and making it painful to eat, talk or smile.

Earlier this year the Chhanv Foundation, an Indian charity which helps acid attack survivors, heard about Julie's case and paid for her to have treatment.

The charity organised the event at the Sheroes Hangout Cafe, where Anna met Julie and more than 50 other acid attack survivors during a tour of India.

Miss Burdzy's support will allow Julie, who is currently enrolled at a government school, to attend a fee-paying school nearby.

Rani said: '[Julie] has immense interest in studies and often says she wants to go to a bigger and better school but I've never been able to afford it. We live in a remote village and there is nothing here. But now someone has stepped forward to give my daughter an opportunity, I cannot thank her enough.'

Julie is scheduled to undergo further surgery later this year.

Durga Prasad, is the head of welfare at Chhanv Foundation, said: 'Anna spent time understanding the stories of all the acid attack survivors but she was touched the most by Julie's story.

Charity: Anna spent time meeting acid attack survivors during the visit to India last week

'We discussed several initiatives and education programmes and that's when Anna decided to sponsor her education. Nobody expected her to be so generous.'

Anna, a human rights student, will fly to Las Vegas next month to represent Great Britain in the Miss Universe pageant. She will compete alongside young women from around 90 other countries.

On her return, she plans to stage her own fundraiser for the Stop Acid Attacks campaign in Leicester in the new year.
Frances Bean Cobain has revealed she was one of 496 passengers who were part of a terrifying emergency landing after an Air France A380 lost its engine over the Atlantic Ocean.

The 25-year-old daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love opened up about the harrowing experience in an Instagram post this weekend, telling her 708,000 followers how feeling the plane tilt 38,000 feet above the ground and fearing for her life caused her to reevaluate her priorities once safely back on the ground.

Air France's pilot had to divert the plane, which was supposed to fly from Paris, France to Los Angeles, California last month. It instead landed in Newfoundland, Canada, where 496 passengers and 24 crew members were thus brought to safety.

Speaking out: Frances Bean Cobain has revealed she was part of a terrifying emergency landing in an Air France A380 last month. She is pictured with her mother four days prior

The 25-year-old opened up about the harrowing experience in an Instagram post this weekend and shared photos of the damaged airplane (pictured)

Passengers have shared photos and videos of one of the plane's four engines disintegrating mid-air, and images that show part of the cowling blasted away during the flight.

Frances herself posted three pictures on her Instagram account, showing the damaged A380, which is the largest passenger aircraft.

'I've avoided talking about this because telling strangers struck me as a fruitless endeavor,' Frances wrote about the emergency landing. 'But enough time has gone by to where I've sat with what this experience should mean on the grand scale of living my day to day life.'

She then explained that on September 30th, she boarded the ill-fated flight after amending her booking in order to get home earlier.

Frances attended Paris Fashion Week in the days before the flight, and was photographed attending shows, at times with her mother, in the French capital.

Fate: Frances explained that on September 30th, she boarded the aircraft (pictured) after amending her booking in order to get home earlier

Message: The artist and model described her terror as she witnessed the engine failure unfold, and how grateful she is to be alive. Pictured is one of the photos she shared of the plane

'This would act as the moment that would alter everything I thought I knew,' she added about the mid-air scare. 'I have woken up everyday [sic] for the past week just grateful to wake up.'

The artist and model then described her terror as she witnessed the engine failure unfold, and how grateful she was to be alive afterwards.

'When I felt the plane tilt, saw the wing directly in front of me catch fire, and basically came to grips with my own mortality I made a deal with myself,' she wrote.

'I promised myself that if I made it through, that I would no longer try to escape the moments of my life.

'I would no longer indulge in societal cliches & I would let the people I love know how much I love them everyday.

'Thinking I would never see my mom or my boyfriend or my grams or my pets or my friends again, sparked a renaissance of the soul / mind / body / spirit. So I've entered the phase of my life where every moment is truly precious.'

International traveling: Frances (pictured left in New York earlier this year) attended Paris Fashion Week (right) in the days before the flight

Damage: Passengers have shared photos and videos of the engine disintegrating mid-air, and images that show part of the cowling blasted away during the flight (pictured)

Frances then explained the 'anxieties' she has experienced in the past have now dissipated.

'I was jolted awake and awake is where I need to stay in order to live authentically,,' she added. 'As cheeseball as that sounds. It resonates at true [sic]. To me. As you were.'

French investigators located parts of the lost engine last week in a wasteland covered with ice in Denmark's Greenland territory.

They were coordinating with their Danish counterparts to organize the recovery of the parts.
University students cheered as Loyle Carner demanded that a fan be removed from a gig in Norwich for shouting sexist slurs at the rapper's female support act.

The Mercury Prize-shortlisted artist was performing at the Nick Rayns LCR at the University of East Anglia when he stopped after his first song to tell a male audience member to leave.

The man is said to have shouted from the crowd 'you have big t**s', during a set by Elisa & Srigala ahead of Carner's performance.

Camera phone footage filmed by fans captured the 22-year-old rapper addressing the culprit over the microphone, saying: 'I'm sorry man, but you've got to learn a lesson my young man.'

Scroll down for video

Loyle Carner, 22, was performing at the University of East Anglia when the abuse took place

Whilst pointing into the audience so that bouncers could locate the man thought to be behind the taunts, he said: 'Carhartt shirt, with the black hat. You. You've got to go. If you're being sexist, you've got to go.'

The rest of the audience at the gig broke out into cheers and claps, and when the exchange was shared online it sparked a flood of social media appreciation for Loyle's gesture.

The support act, Elisa & Srigala, from Brixton, London took to Instagram to show their gratitude towards the headline act and for the audience's support.

On Elisa's Instagram she said: 'The burden to call out and challenge discriminatory behaviour is nearly always placed on the person facing it and it's completely unrealistic that they will always be in a position to.'

She explained that she refused to let the heckler disrupt their performance, but was so appreciative of Loyle for stepping up.

She said: 'That's why what Loyle did last night was so important. It sends a strong message that not only is sexist behaviour totally unacceptable but that all of us have an important role to play in challenging and addressing sexism.'

Loyle himself took to Twitter to show his disapproval of the man's behaviour

The young rapper himself tweeted: 'That s*** will not be tolerated at any show. He's been banned from that venue, for life.'

One fan documented the whole thing, posting the video on social media in a bid to shame the sexist fan - and to thank Loyle for standing up for women.

Mass appreciation was shown via Twitter and social media for the London-based rapper

They said: 'Thanks Loyle Carner, UEA and the audience for their support last night after a sexist heckle from a member of the audience.

'Yes, yes Loyle Carner for confronting him, yes yes audience for exposing who it was in the crowd and yes yes UEA for removing him and challenging him about his behaviour.'

This is not the first time that male artists have stepped in to teach offensive gig-goers a lesson. In August, Architects frontman Sam Carter called out a man who allegedly grabbed a fan's breast while she was crowdsurfing.

The artist was praised for stopping the show to address the behaviour and make a speech about how it would not be tolerated.
She's faced continued accusations of fabricating a kidnap bid for publicity, but Chloe Ayling appears to be sending a coded message to those who insist she has something to hide.

The model, 20, from Coulsdon, South London has shrugged off the furore to share her raciest snap today, which sees her posing totally naked.

Chloe decided to let the image do the talking, posting the sultry black and white snap to Instagram without any caption.

The blonde, who was pictured facing away from the camera while gazing over one shoulder, showed off her very curvy derriere in the image.

Chloe is no doubt hoping her latest snap will detract attention over continued criticism surrounding her actions since her alleged ordeal in July.

The mother-of-one claims she was snatched and held hostage after being lured to a fake modelling shoot in Milan.

Hinting she has nothing to hide? Model Chloe Ayling, 20, from South London posted this very cheeky snap to Instagram as allegations that she fabricated her kidnap continue to swirl

The mother-of-one was allegedly kidnapped and held for six days after being lured to a photoshoot in Milan

According to Ms Ayling, she was snatched, drugged and held for six days at remote farmhouse by a group calling itself Black Death.

The model's alleged captor, Lukasz Herba, 30, is in custody in Milan, having been arrested after delivering Ms Ayling to the British Embassy.

He has said he did not knowingly take part in any crime.

At a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, District Judge Paul Goldspring ruled that his 36-year-old brother, Michal Herba, should be extradited to Italy to face trial.

The model said that she no longer has representation after dropping the agent responsible for sending her to the fake photoshoot

The Polish brothers, along with other 'unidentified' accomplices, are accused of kidnapping the model before demanding a 300,000 euro (264,000) ransom.

However, in court Mr Herba's lawyer, George Hepburne Scott raised questions over the account given by Ms Ayling.

'There is a real risk that the entire case is a sham,' he said.

The lawyer also pointed to an alleged incident during which Ms Ayling and her captor went shopping for shoes, calling it a 'wholly anomalous feature of a hostage situation'.

She also went to breakfast with the kidnapper before her release when the pair found the British consulate was closed, Mr Scott added.

Last week, Ms Ayling appeared on This Morning to defend herself against accusations she was cynically profiting from her ordeal

Chloe Aylin has faced questions over whey she apparently went on a shopping trip with her alleged abductors

'It would amount to an abuse of process of the court if there was any evidence to suggest this was a publicity stunt,' he told the judge.

'This case has a unique set of anomalies which might lead to the conclusion that the Italian authorities have been duped and that their process has been abused.

Meanwhile Ms Ayling has faced accusations of profiting from her alleged ordeal after being paid for television interviews and writing a book.

Speaking on ITV's This Morning last week, Ms Ayling insisted that the truth would be revealed when the men accused of being involved in her abduction appear in court.

Piers asked her: 'Does it help you to be apparently seen to be exploiting all this for financial gain when we haven't even had the trial yet?'

Ms Ayling replied: 'No, because I am not modelling anymore. I am not with an agent, so I have to do something in the meantime.'

Addressing reports she lied to police about the shopping trip with one of the alleged kidnappers, she said: 'I didn't lie, I just brushed it off.'

However Piers referred to evidence from a local shopkeeper, who claimed they had seen Ms Ayling with her alleged kidnappers.

Michal Herba and Lukasz Herba walking close to where Chloe Ayling was taken from in Milan, Italy

When asked why she made no attempt to escape, the model insisted that she feared for her life

He said: 'A shopkeeper claims to have seen you with one of the kidnappers laughing, buying shoes, laughing and joking without a care in the world.

'This has raised a lot of eyebrows about why on earth you would go shopping with one of the alleged kidnappers.'

And when asked why she did not attempt to escape, she replied: 'I couldnt flee because he was armed.

'I was completely brainwashed into thinking there was a whole massive crime organisation against me. I thought I would still be killed if I escaped.'

The young mother has faced criticism for signing a book deal and being paid for TV appearances since her ordeal

She added: 'No one understands the reasoning. Unless you were in my position, and actually went through what I've been through, no one can tell me how I should have behaved with the kidnapper or how I should be reacting now.'

Piers responded: 'I think if youre going to conduct media interviews where youre being paid money, and youre doing a book for thousands of pounds before there has even been a trial, I think were perfectly entitled to ask you difficult questions.

'So youre not being unfairly judged. Youre sitting here because youre promoting yourself.'
The Kardashian-Jenner sisters are known for their stunning good looks and enviable figures, but it turns out they aren't the only ones in the family who are blessed with striking beauty.

Natalie Zettel, 18, from San Diego County, California, is the daughter of Kris Jenner's younger sister Karen Houghton, and while she has managed to stay out of the limelight during her family's rise to fame, she has clearly inherited her famous cousins' good looks.

The teen is first cousins with Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, and Rob Kardashian, as well their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner  and she can easily pass for one their sisters.

Secret cousin: Natalie Zettel, 18, from San Diego County, California, is the daughter of Kris Jenner's younger sister Karen Houghton

Could be sisters! Natalie is the spitting image of her first cousin Kendall Jenner

Close as can be: Natalie took to Twitter in August to share this photo in honor of her cousin Kylie Jenner's 20th birthday

With her long dark hair and lithe frame, Natalie is the spitting image of Kendall, and like her 21-year-old supermodel cousin, she is also pursuing a career as a model.

Although she has mostly flown under the radar, Natalie hasn't been shy about paying tribute to her cousins on social media.

Most recently, Natalie took to Twitter in August to wish her cousin Kylie a happy 20th birthday, sharing a sweet photo of them cuddled cheek to cheek.

A few months before that, she spent Mother's Day with their mutual grandmother, Mary Jo 'MJ' Campbell, and in February she struck a pose in one of her cousins' Kendall + Kylie's swimsuit designs.

Famous family: The California teen is first cousins with Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, and Rob Kardashian, as well their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner

Say cheese: Natalie spent Mother's Day with their mutual grandmother Mary Jo 'MJ' Campbell in May

Throwback: Natalie revealed in 2013 that she is closest with Kendall and Kylie but they are close in age

Around that time, she also posted a picture of Kendall walking in Alexander Wangs Fall/Winter 2017 show, tweeting: 'My cousin is slaying fashion week!'

Natalie opened up about her famous cousins in an interview with Star magazine in 2013, insisting that she sees them as family and nothing more despite their incredible fame.

'Theyre my blood. Theyre always going to be there  Im stuck with them  but I love my family. Ive known them since I was a little toddler,' she explained. 'Im closest with Kendall and Kylie because were close in age.

'Its not weird for me to have a large, famous family because I knew them before all the fame. People are like, "Oh my Gosh! Youre cousins with the Kardashian family? Is that weird?" And I say, "No." Theyre nothing special. In my eyes, theyre just my family.'

Lookalikes: In February, the San Diego County-native shared this throwback photo of herself with Khloe and Kim

All made up: Like her cousins, Natalie knows how to achieve perfectly arched brow and long lashes

Laying low: Natalie is following in Kendall's footsteps and starting a career as a model

Although Natalie appears to be close with her cousins, she has yet to make an appearance on Keeping Up With the Kardashians or any of the family's other spin-off reality shows.

It has been rumored in that Kris deliberately tries to keep Karen out of the spotlight so her sister doesn't embarrass the family.

Natalie's mom Karen is known as her cousins' 'crazy aunt', and she has candidly spoken to the press about her rocky relationship with her sister.

Four years ago, Karen told In Touch that her sister Kris 'came out of the womb saying, "Where's my Ferrari?"'

Strike a pose: Natalie is also a fan of taking selfies  much like her cousin Kim

Achievement: Natalie and her mom Karen are pictured celebrating her high school graduation in 2016

Fun in the sun: The two enjoyed a vacation in Palm Springs together over the summer

'She's a workaholic, a hustler. It's about wanting power. It's Gucci purses, Bentleys, all the things I don't care about that she does. You do these things because you are unhappy. Money is Kris' whole world,' she added.

Karen also revealed to Daily Mail Online in 2014 that her niece Kim offered to buy her a plane ticket so she could attend her wedding to Kanye West in Paris, but she declined.

At the time, she explained she was more concerned about the wildfires sweeping near her San Diego County home than attending her niece's third wedding.

'If your house was going to burn down would you go to Paris? Screw it  I've been to two weddings of Kim! But I'm really happy for her and I do have a present for her,' she said at the time.
American surfer Bethany Hamilton, who famously lost her arm in a shark attack as a teenager, has announced that she is pregnant with her second child.

The 27-year-old shared the happy news on Instagram on Sunday, uploading a short video with her husband, Adam Dirks, and their two-year-old son Tobias, who helped them to deliver the happy news.

'More than thankful to share our joyous news!' the Hawaii-born surfer captioned the cute clip.

Another on the way! Pro surfer Bethany Hamilton has announced on Instagram that she is pregnant with her second child

Number two: The 27-year-old and her husband Adam Dirks shared a video with their two-year-old son Tobias in which they revealed the news

Baby in there: Adam told Tobias to kiss the baby, and he kissed his mom's stomach

In the video, the couple's blonde little boy smiles at the camera as his dad asks him, 'Where's baby?'

The little boy then rushes over and kisses Bethany's belly before giving her a hug.

'Another one on the way!' Adam says, before Bethany smiles and adds: 'Baby in there!'

Tobias kisses his mom's belly a couple more times as Adam muses that he will be a good big brother.

The couple did not reveal the baby's due date, and Bethany's stomach still looks quite flat in the video, and in other recent photos she's posted.

And she's certainly not so far along that she is unable to travel, in fact she and her family appear to be on vacation in Europe at the moment, and she shared a few pictures from her travels in Paris this week.

She's still got it: Bethany placed third in the Fiji Women's Pro in 2016

Determined: She lost her arm at age 13 while surfing in Hawaii with a friend

Back on it: Bethany didn't let the incident slow her down - in fact she got right back in the water and was surfing a month later, and her son now seems to love the ocean too

Love: This will be the second child for Bethany and her husband, who married in 2013

Bethany made headlines in 2003 when she lost her left arm to a tiger shark while surfing in Kauai, Hawaii.

Her injuries were traumatic: Besides having her entire left arm severed from her body, she lost over 60 per cent of her blood.

Yet she wanted to get back to her passion, and was surfing again a month later. She's gone on to publish the autobiography Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board, which later inspired a movie starring AnnaSophia Robb.

She's also competed in several surfing events, most recently placing third in the Fiji Women's Pro.

'Beyond stoked to finish 3rd... as the wildcard! LOVED competing & looking forward to more adventures,' she tweeted after the event.

It was the sixth time Bethany competed on the elite tour, with her previous best a ninth place in 2010.

World travelers: The family recently went to Paris for a vacation

The only concession made to her handicap is a handle on the surfboard, which allows her to duck-dive under approaching waves when she paddles out.

She spoke after making the quarter-finals in Fiji about what it meant for her to compete among the best.

'I know I'm in a unique position to hopefully encourage young girls... to chase their dreams,' she said.

'Even after losing my arm I'm still doing everything I hoped I could do. I'm a reminder for young girls that you can do it if you set your mind to it.'

Then this summer, she was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame in California.

Bethany has clearly found time to maintain her surfing career with one child, so it's unlikely having a second will slow her down.

She said juggling her surf career with motherhood means a lot of planning

'Having a baby, you pretty much have to plan ahead everything, especially [since I'm] nursing him,' she told People in 2015. 'I'm attached to him in a sense because I have to nurse him every two to three hours. So I'll feed him and go surf for a little bit, and try to get back in time or sometimes well pump a bottle and my husband will take over.'

'[It's] definitely such a big adjustment. Even surfing, I'll just be thinking of him. I'll get back from the beach and I'm like, "Oh, I've missed you little guy!"'

She's also unlikely to give into pressure to maintain a hyper-toned figure during her pregnancy or immediately after.

'I've seen many comments on "her post birth body." I find it silly for us as women to worry about our body as we grow a human being inside of us!' she wrote shortly after having her first. 'It is such an amazing feat to go through pregnancy. And then you have this wonderful lil being that is part you and part of your significant other.

'It's natural and HEALTHY to gain weight,' she went on. 'It takes 9 months for our bodies to change and grow. So I can say it's alright to take your time, maybe about 9 months, to get back to the new, healthy, beautiful, and normal you'
The 26-year-old also said she deals with comments daily about her parenting

She said she lost many male followers after having a baby

Instagram model and midwife Hannah Polites has said her page has 'changed'

A model and midwife from the Gold Coast, Queensland, has opened up about the drastic differences to her online image and profile since having a baby.

Hannah Polites, 26, who boasts more than 1.5 million followers online for her fitness posts and bikini snaps, gave birth to her little girl Evaliah in August, 2016, and has faced constant criticism of her parenting from trolls ever since.

And speaking to the Gold Coast Bulletin, Hannah revealed that she's also lost many of her male followers since her pregnancy.

A model and midwife from the Gold Coast, Queensland, has opened up about the drastic differences to her online image and profile since having a baby

Hannah Polites, 26, who boasts more than 1.5 million followers online for her fitness posts and bikini snaps, gave birth to her little girl Evaliah in August, 2016, and has faced constant commentary on her parenting ever since

And speaking to the Gold Coast Bulletin , Hannah revealed many of her male fans have unfollowed her since pregnancy

'I definitely have lost a lot of male followers and people that maybe aren't interested in babies but I've gained a lot of mummy followers since my page has changed a lot,' Hannah said.

'Evaliah is a part of me, but I try not to share too many pictures of her because that's not why people followed me in the first place.'

Hannah also said that she gets comments from people saying she 'should be looking after the baby' but stressed that they do 'everything' together.

'I definitely have lost a lot of male followers and people that maybe aren't interested in babies but I've gained a lot of mummy followers since my page has changed a lot,' Hannah said

'Evaliah is a part of me, but I try not to share too many pictures of her because that's not why people followed me in the first place,' she said

'I think if Evaliah isn't in the photo they just assume I'm not with her,' she said

'I think if Evaliah isn't in the photo they just assume I'm not with her,' she said.

Hannah also faced ciriticism just three weeks after giving birth when she posted a photo of herself and her newborn.

In the photo, she held Evaliah Grace in one arm - something that angered her many followers.

Hannah posted this photo of herself three weeks after giving birth and faced criticism for how she was holding Evaliah

Ms Polites wore the same dress on New Year's Eve 2015 (pictured), before she was pregnant

The midwife has more than 1.5 million followers on Instagram

'You look good but please don't hold that baby like that,' one person said.

Dr Andrew Pesce, who is a leading obstetrician and former president of the Australian Medical Association, told Daily Mail Australia that whilst it didn't look like 'the most comfortable position' there was nothing in the photo which in this opinion suggested a risk of harm to the baby.

The dress she wore in the photo is the same one she wore on New Year's Eve in 2015, before she fell pregnant.

The fact she was able to fit in to it less than three weeks after giving birth also caused quite a stir.

Critics also accused Hannah of exercising too much in the weeks after giving birth

'Looks like she's got more attention for her phone than supporting than little baby's neck [sic],' one person wrote.

'It looks like she prefers show her body and not the baby,' said another.

The comments caused Hannah to hit back.

'Calm down people, I know how to hold my baby safely and have barely left her side for more than a couple of minutes since she was born,' she wrote.

She has been criticised before for her baby body, with haters saying she was too 'thin' while pregnant

She said she would continue to post photos of her body and not let the critics get her down

'You can bond with your child without needing to lose your identity.'

Other commenters also rushed to her defence.
With quality products at low prices, bargain supermarkets Aldi and Lidl are enjoying increasing popularity in many affluent areas.

And their charm has now even reached the attention of Tatler, as the upmarket magazine has released a list of what to get from each chain for fancy food on a budget.

The magazine's switch of interest from high-end, high-price stores follows blind tests that rated Aldi and Lidl products as better than the likes of Harrods and Fortnum and Mason.

Tatler said it was no longer a question of whether to shop at the German supermarket chains but rather which is better for a high-end bargain.

Tatler Magazine pitted Aldi (right) and Lidl (left) against each other to see which was better value and who's products tasted better. Lidl was victorious with cheaper champagne and smoked salmon

It is the latest move upmarket for the stores that have tried to attract middle and high-income households.

With the likes of sirloin steak and champagne on sale at both chains, it seems everyone can now appreciate buying posh nosh for less.

And after store openings in London areas such as Chelsea, Notting Hill and even Mayfair, Tatler has now pitted the German giants against one another.

Declaring Lidl the winner, the magazine judges praised its 'discount lobster and frozen macaroons'.

Tatler has produced its own guide on where it is best to go for everything from steak and bubbly to crisps and eggs.

It said shoppers can choose between a Scotch beef sirloin steak for 5.45 at Lidl or Aberdeen Angus steak for 4.75 at Aldi.

Other popular items deemed suitable for Tatler readers included Aldi's kiln-roasted salmon for 3.59 and smoked Scottish salmon at Lidl for 2.99.

And with champagne for just 9.99 at Lidl and 10.99 at Aldi, it suggests people can do 'a lot of popping'.

It comes just months after Lidl overtook Waitrose to become Britain's seventh biggest food store  behind the 'big four', Aldi and the Co-op.

Earlier this year figures revealed Aldi and Lidl were growing at their fastest rate in more than two years.

The discount grocers saw takings up 19.2 per cent while Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons saw growth of just 1.6 per cent.

Aldi lost out on the battle of the budget brands. Both them and their rivals Lidl have opened stores in affluent areas around central London

It came as a survey found six in ten shoppers said they had visited one of the discount shops in recent weeks.

Last December Aldi sold more than 69,000 bottles of Prosecco every day over December  reaching a total of 2million.

This drove a 15 per cent rise in December sales and earned the retailer the accolade of a record Christmas.

Meanwhile, a 5.29 Prosecco from Lidl beat a number of upmarket stores, including M&S, to be crowned runner-up for sparkling wine during a blind taste test by Good Housekeeping.

Blind taste tests last Christmas also found the smoked salmon, mince pies and mulled wine were tastier at Lidl and Aldi than at stores such as Fortnum and Mason and Harrods.
A genetic test that can more accurately predict how likely a woman is to develop breast cancer could soon be available to high-risk groups.

Researchers believe it could help to reduce the number of women required to undergo a mastectomy by around a third.

Currently many women who carry high-risk breast cancer genes choose to have breast removal surgery in order to reduce their risk of developing the disease.

But the new test can further narrow down a woman's risk level, allowing her to make a more informed choice about whether to have preventative surgery.

The blood or saliva test, developed by a team in Manchester, looks at 18 genetic variations that are known to affect the chances of an individual developing breast cancer.

A new gene test could give women with a high risk of developing breast cancer more options and reduce the number of them who have mastectomies by a third. File image used

Cancer charities have praised the development and voiced their excitement over the 'more tailored method' of cancer screening.

It will initially be available at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) to women having tests for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which can greatly increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

The BRCA gene was dubbed the 'Angelina Jolie gene' after the actress revealed she had elected to have a double mastectomy in 2013 when she found out she had up to an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer.

A study by researchers at MFT and the University of Manchester used the test to analyse the DNA of 451 women with a family history of breast cancer who had developed the disease.

The information was used alongside other factors to predict an 'overall risk estimate' for each of the women.

The 'Angelina Jolie gene' is so-called because of the Hollywood actress's BRCA mutation, which means she has an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer

Many of the women who had originally been classified by doctors as being in the high-risk category were subsequently reclassified to a lower risk category  where preventative breast-removal surgery is not recommended.

The study suggests the number of women with the mutations who currently choose to have a mastectomy to lower their risk could be reduced by around a third  from 50 per cent to about 36 per cent.

Becky Measures, who had a mastectomy at Manchester's Wythenshawe Hospital, said: 'When they find that they have the BRCA1/2 gene many women fear that they have to take action immediately.

'The new test will give women more options and help them to make a more informed decision.'

Lead researcher Professor Gareth Evans, a medical genetics expert at the University of Manchester, said: 'This new test will help women at risk of familial breast cancer to make more informed decisions about their care.

'BRCA1 and BRCA2 are just part of what we should be looking for when assessing risk and ... we plan to incorporate screening for these new genetic markers in clinical practice within the next six months.'

Lester Barr, of the Prevent Breast Cancer charity, which partly funded the research, said: 'With more accurate genetic testing, we can better predict a woman's risk of developing the disease and therefore offer the appropriate advice ... rather than a 'one size fits all' approach.

It's this more tailored method that will help us on our mission to protect future generations.'
Tough new guidance on drinking limits are unlikely to be printed on most alcohol bottles and cans, after industry bodies told their members they did not need to display the updated advice.

The Government last year published new recommendations warning men and women alike to drink no more than 14 units a week, and warned there was no 'safe level' of consumption.

It is significantly more stringent than the old guidance, which recommended a maximum of three to four units a day for men, or two to three units a day for women.

The old message is printed on nearly all drinks labels in the UK, as part of an agreement with the alcohol industry dating back to 2007.

But officials have not secured a similar agreement this time - and alcohol industry standards body the Portman Group has advised its members they instead can just include the address of the industry-funded Drinkaware website.

Tough new guidelines on how much alcohol we should consume won't be displayed on most bottles and cans as the drinks industry ignores ministers' demands (file photo)

Health experts described the decision as 'irresponsible and unethical'.

But consumer groups said the advice was too strict to start with  and said the industry move means the guidelines are now 'dead in the water'.

The Government has clearly told the industry it 'expects' companies to include the guidance on the labels - and has even produced a sample message to print on their bottles.

The Department of Health has given manufacturers until September 2019 to remove the old advice, but they are under no formal obligation to replace it with the new guidance.

The Portman Group guidance, which was agreed with the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, British Beer and Pub Association, the National Association of Cider Makers, and the Scotch Whisky Association, said labels should include, as a minimum, information about drinking in pregnancy, the number of units in the bottle and the Drinkaware website.

It says companies only should include the Government health information if they 'choose' to.

Previously firms were advised to include NHS advice as a minimum requirement of the old agreement.

Not all companies will follow the group's advice  and Scottish beer maker Tennent's has already committed to printing the full Government guidance.

But most firms are expected to fall in line with the Portman Group, which was set up and funded by the industry and has the backing of the leading alcohol trade bodies.

Health experts have described the refusal to update labels as 'irresponsible and unethical'

Health experts accused the alcohol industry of 'denying people the information they need'.

In a public letter, seen by the Mail, 25 health leaders demanded the Government make the labels compulsory.

The document, signed by representatives of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Royal College of Physicians, British Society of Gastroenterology and Royal Society for Public Health among others, said: 'With alcohol related hospital admissions standing at over one million a year, this is clearly very concerning.

'We all have a right to know the guidelines, so that we can make informed choices about our drinking.

'The Government should now introduce compulsory health labelling on all alcohol products, to ensure that drinkers are clear on what constitutes low risk drinking.'

Katherine Brown, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, who co-ordinated the letter, said the industry's attitude was 'staggering'.

'To boycott the guidelines produced by our national chief medical officers and refuse to communicate these to consumers is irresponsible and unethical,' she said.

'The Government must take action to ensure that drinkers are not kept in the dark about the health risks associated with drinking. It is clear that we need mandatory labelling of alcohol products to equip drinkers with all the information they need to make fully informed choices.'

The change in alcohol guidance in January 2016, led by chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies, marked the biggest shake-up for 30 years and were driven by new evidence between alcohol and cancer.

Drinking limits for men were reduced by a third, from 21 units to 14 units a week - roughly seven pints of beer - bringing them in line with the guidelines for women.

And men and women alike were told to have several days off a week to let their livers recover.

The advice sparked a ferocious row, with Dame Sally being accused of 'nannying' the nation and experts questioning the evidence behind the advice.

Consumer group Drinkers' Voice said the industry's decision not print the guidance means the advice is 'dead in the water'.

Its director Byron Davies said: 'People just don't want to listen to the government when it comes to alcohol advice any-more.

'They ignore the positive health benefits of moderate drinking and prescribe a 'one size fits all' approach to millions of drinkers across the country.

'That is totally inappropriate, and the reason why confidence in the government's health advisors has been seriously undermined.'

John Timothy, CEO of the Portman Group, said: 'We have published updated guidance for drinks producers showing how to communicate alcohol and health-related information across multiple channels, including on pack and online.

'Producers are encouraged to feature proactive signposting to Drinkaware.co.uk where consumers can find a full range of health information including calories, lifestyle advice and smart apps.

'The guidance also gives producers advice on communicating the CMOs' low risk drinking guidelines and other helpful tips and advice for enjoying alcohol responsibly.'

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, defended the decision not to advise firms to include the guidance on labels, arguing that all health information is available on the internet.

'We are providing more information than ever before online, including guidance on health information and calorie content, alongside the revised Chief Medical Officers' Guidelines,' he said.

'Labelling remains an important way to sign-post consumers to a greater variety information in a way that is fit for purpose and relevant to how people now consumer information.'

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'We have been clear to the industry that we expect the UK Chief Medical Officers' guidance be reflected on alcohol labels, and have provided clear advice and examples of how best to display the message.

'They can be reflected simply by a reference to the weekly recommendation of 14 units, the no drinking in pregnancy logo and the Drinkaware logo.

'We know that a number of responsible organisations, such as the British Retail Consortium and Tennent's, are already implementing this guidance.'
A five-year-old boy is seen as a 'devil' due to his one-stone hand that is larger than his head.

Tajbir Akhtar, from Bangladesh, has been shunned by villagers, who have even asked his mother, Parvin Akhtar, to keep her son out of their sight.

Forced to live like a recluse, Tajbir, who appears to be suffering from Elephant Foot disease, does not attend school and has no friends.

Ms Akhtar said: 'People are scared of the unusual size of his hands. They say my child frightens their kids. They call him a devil.

'It is painful to see my child being bullied by people.'

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A five-year-old boy is seen as a 'devil' due to his one-stone hand that is larger than his head

Tajbir Akhtar has been shunned, with villagers asking his mother to keep him out of their sight

WHAT IS ELEPHANT FOOT DISEASE? Elephant foot disease, also known as elephantitis, is characterised by abnormal swelling of tissues. It is most commonly caused by a parasite carried by mosquitoes. The legs and genitals are usually affected, which become thick and saggy. Excessive fluid collection causes skin to become darkened and ulcerated. In severe cases, blood vessels can be damaged, which could be fatal. Treatment is antibiotics to cure the parasite infection. Surgery is performed if the swellings are abnormally large. Source: Disease Pictures Advertisement

'They call him a devil'

Ms Akhtar said: 'People are scared of the unusual size of his hands. They say my child frightens their kids. They call him a devil.

'It is painful to see my child being bullied by people.

'His hand is thrice the size of children his age. It is so heavy that he cannot hold its weight and stumbles while walking or running.'

'His days are spent inspecting the hand. He cries all day and demands an answer. He is always curious to know why his hand is abnormally bigger than other kids in the neighbourhod.

She said: 'I always tell him that Allah has created him in a different way, and by his will he will be able to get normal hands and soon will have friends.

'But how long can I give him hopes? I want my child to live a normal childhood but what can we do? We do not have the means to get him medical treatment.'

Forced to live as a recluse due to his deformity, Tajbir doesn't attend school and has no friends

Unable to afford treatment

Tajbir was born after desperate prayers by his mother and father Toufiqul.

The couple threw a feast for their friends and family to celebrate his birth, but their happiness faded when their son was just a few months old and they noticed the first signs of the rare disease.

Tajbir's father, a labourer who makes just 30 pound a month, said: 'We were blessed with a girl and wanted a son. When he was born we thought our prayers were heard but within three months his hand started swelling.

'At first, it looked as if a wasp has stung him but the hand kept on growing bigger and bigger. His fingers started growing thicker and gradually changed the shape.'

The couple have made many visits to local doctors, but are unable to afford the expensive operations Tajbir requires.

As Tajbir's conditioned progressively worsened, his father left to work in Malaysia in the hope of earning more. Yet, he was still unable to afford Tajbir's treatment and returned home three months ago.

He said: 'I do not have enough to feed the family, footing his medical bills is beyond my capacity.

'Whatever money I could save I spent it all on his initial treatment but I have nothing left now.'

The desperate parents may have some hope due to the social media activist Mamun Biswas.

Mr Biswas said: 'I was told by a local contact about his condition and was shocked to see him. The child needs immediate treatment. I have brought the matter to the health secretary and soon will see when can the government doctors start the treatment.'
The country's most prolific sperm donor has fathered 34 children, official statistics show.

Men are often compensated with 35 expenses for each sample, as laws state they can't be paid for the act.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority figures suggest the anonymous man has been paid 1,190 for his donations.

The Government agency's data also showed there to be at least 667 'super-dads' - those who have fathered at least 10 offspring.

Donated sperm cannot be used to create more than 10 families, the HFEA states, but families can use the same sample more than once. This explains why donors can have more than 10 children.

The data is based on official donors. However, Simon Watson, 43, from Luton, boasts of having fathered 800 offspring in the past 16 years from selling his semen on Facebook for 50 a pot

Government data also showed there to be at least 667 'super-dads' - those who have given their samples to the full 10 families they are allowed to

Britain's second-most prominent donor has 31 children, and 17 men have produced 20 or more, The Sun reports.

Professor Allan Pacey, former chief executive of the British Fertility Society, said: 'I suspect the top donors were recruited before clinics knew how best to control how many children were born per donor.'

The data used in the statistics

The HFEA statistics are based on official donors from licenced fertility clinics, not those who have given samples privately.

Official sperm donors have no legal parental rights, and are not required to support the child financially.

BRITAIN'S UNOFFICIAL TOP SPERM DONOR Simon Watson, 43, from Luton, boasts of having fathered 800 offspring in the past 16 years from selling his magic potion over Facebook for just 50 a pot. However, his bold exploits, which have grabbed headlines across the world, are yet to be proven and critics are skeptical as it is impossible to ever verify his boats. He wasn't included in the latest HFEA statistics, as they were solely based on official donors at licenced fertility clinics. Mr Watson, who is privately educated and refuses to have sex with his customers, has previously said that he aims to bring his tally to 1,000 in the next four years. He advises clients on their 'optimum fertility' window and boasts that his success rate exceeds that of licensed clinics because his samples are fresh, while theirs are frozen. Mr Watson has previously said it would be a success if he was to achieve the world record for fathering children, as he said the most successful animals are the ones who produce the most offspring. Advertisement

However, a law passed in 2005 meant children born to sperm donors have the right to know their father's identity when they turn 18.

Growing trend for home kits

Home artificial insemination is a growing practice in the UK, because demand for semen far outweighs supply. Men often advertise their services online.

Private semen exchange doesn't have the same safety checks used in fertility clinics, and the NHS warns it is 'potentially risky'.

Insemination kits, which consist of semen pots and syringes to inject the sample, can be bought online without the need for sexual intercourse.

However, some donors prefer natural insemination, the practice of unprotected sex with the recipient.

Donate sperm and 'change lives'

The new figures come after an English hospital in March was encouraging young men to 'change lives' and donate sperm.

Whittington Hospital in Highgate, London, called on 'altruistic men' aged between 18 and 45 to give samples in a 'not for profit' sperm bank.

Staff, who will sell the sperm to infertile couples, insisted it was time to shake off the notion that sperm donation is 'kind of weird and seedy'.

Dutch sperm donor scandals

The HFEA figures come after a Dutch sperm donor became embroiled in a fertility scandal after it was found he had fathered 102 children.

An official investigation into the man's actions, who remains anonymous, showed he had given samples of his sperm to 11 different clinics.

And earlier this year, a controversial Dutch doctor was found to have illegally used his own sperm to father children with unsuspecting women.

Jan Karbaat who operated the MC Blijdorp fertility clinic in the town of Barendrecht, used his own sperm in 19 cases instead of the prescribed sperm donor.
A pioneering cancer trial has amazed doctors after a terminally-ill British schoolgirl's brain tumour has started disappearing.

Lucy Moroney, nine, is in Monteray, Mexico, for a revolutionary chemotherapy trial that involves injecting drugs via the artery directly into the tumour, in a treatment that is not yet available in Europe.

Just a few months ago, Lucy from the Wirral, was told she had an inoperable child brain tumour, known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.

Unable to swallow or walk, on August 21 Lucy flew thousands of miles for one last attempt to save her short life.

After just three rounds of therapy, doctors have told Lucy's family the area around her tumour almost 'looks normal'.

Lucy's diagnosis is the third tragedy her family have had to endure, after the sudden loss of her six months pregnant mother aged just 33 in 2012, as well as the baby passing away just hours later.

Lucy Moroney (left), nine, has amazed doctors after a cancer trial not available in the UK has caused her inoperable brain tumour to shrink (with her father Joe, 39, and sister Amy, seven)

'Big shrinkage in the tumour'

Lucy's aunt Paula Newman, 37, wrote on Facebook: 'Lucy has just woken after her third intra-arterial procedure, combined with her second immunotherapy treatment.

'She was very grumpy when she woke up!

'She needn't have been grumpy as her MRI results from today were great!! Big shrinkage in the tumour according to the doctors.

'We're very happy to have a positive result. They said a lot of the area where the tumour is now looks normal!'

It is the third tragedy for the family after the girls' mother Nicola (left with Lucy) died at just 33 years old while pregnant with Ruby, who was born three months early and later passed away

WHAT IS DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA? Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a fast-growing brain tumour that affects children. It is likely to spread to other parts of the brain or spinal cord. DIPG's cause is unknown. Symptoms may include double vision, weak facial muscles, facial asymmetry, arm and leg weakness, unstable balance and co-ordination, and difficulties walking or speaking. Surgery to remove the tumour may not be an option if it involves operating on critically-important regions of the brain. Radiotherapy is the standard treatment due to chemotherapy's lack of efficacy. Source: The Brain Tumour Charity Advertisement

'It is the worst type of tumour a child can get'

Lucy's father, 39, said: 'Lucy's diagnosis came as a massive shock.

'I didn't really understand at first when they told me it was inoperable that that meant it was totally untreatable.

'The prognosis is really grim. With radiotherapy to prolong her life, it is nine months and without it, it's less.

'But radiotherapy has such bad side effects that it doesn't prolong any quality of life.

He said: 'I am determined to stay positive and so is Lucy.

'She doesn't know how bad the prognosis is but she knows she has a brain tumour.

'We are fighters and are going to explore every other option out there to find a cure.'

Lucy, Joe, and her sister Amy, seven, have already suffered a family tragedy when the girls' mother Nicola, 33, died from an undiagnosed heart condition while watching television in 2012.

As Nicola was pregnant at the time, the couple's third daughter Ruby was born three months early by emergency caesarean section but died in her father's arms hours later.

Joe said: 'I couldn't fight for Nicola - I am going to fight as hard as I can for Lucy.

'Lucy is so much like her mum, she is always smiling.

'It is the worst type of tumour a child can get. It will affect her sight, her breathing, her movement.

'But even now with her symptoms getting worse, she keeps smiling and she is so positive.'

Three years after the trauma of losing Nicola, Joe met his girlfriend Claire Evans, 29, who gave birth to their son Max just before Lucy's diagnosis.

Lucy's tumour left her unable to swallow or walk before the life-changing treatment (stock)

'It is really overwhelming'

Determined to give Lucy every chance of survival, her family launched a 300,000 fundraising appeal for the Mexico trial.

To date, more than 236,000 has been raised. Lucy's school, Gayton Primary, recently raised 10,859 from an event for Lucy's 'Pineapple Fund'. The appeal got its name due to Lucy's love of the fruit.

Mrs Newman said: 'When we got the diagnosis we all felt so helpless. Our worlds just fell apart all over again.

'People have been incredible, it is really overwhelming.'

Donate towards Lucy's fund here.
'Posh' popcorn is cracking teeth and ruining smiles, dentists warn.

Sales of the trendy snack have doubled in recent years, as lovers of the treat can now enjoy an array of flavours from Gin and Tonic, fiery Worcester Sauce to Coconut & Caramel.

The ever-growing market is now worth 104 million and has been fuelled by health-conscious Britons shunning fatty snacks such as crisps for an alternative that will stop them from piling on the pounds.

But while their figures may be trim, their mouths tell a different story as dentists have revealed the snack is now more harmful to teeth than boiled sweets.

Popcorn-related problems such as broken and chipped teeth have doubled in the past three years, and dentists are adamant the gourmet varieties are 'definitely' to blame.

Chomping down on uncooked kernels is the main culprit, but small pieces can also get lodged between teeth and trigger abscesses, they warn.

Sales of the trendy snack have doubled in recent years, as lovers of the cinema treat can now enjoy flavours such as Gin and Tonic - but dentists are concerned

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, told MailOnline: 'There is definitely a risk of broken or chipped teeth associated with the growing popularity of popcorn as a healthier snack choice.

'Unpopped kernels can be like little stones and if were not paying attention, biting down on one could easily result in a broken tooth and the pain and dental cost which comes with it.

'Its sometimes the things we dont realise which cause broken teeth. In practice I saw a lot more which were the result of pork scratchings or even crusty bread than came from sweets.

'Also, some of the fashionable varieties of popcorn, if they are not plain, are also surprisingly high in added sugar so could also be contributing to tooth decay.'

Posh popcorn is 'definitely' to blame

Dr Richard Marques, of Wimpole Street Dental, told MailOnline: 'The rise in popularity of "posh popcorn" in my opinion has definitely contributed to an increase in dental problems.

'The kernels and husks can get trapped between the teeth and are very difficult to remove with floss.

'They can also be very sharp and traumatise the gums leading to gum inflammations or infections.

'The un-popped kernels are also very hard and can lead to chips and fractures of the teeth. When eating popcorn it is important to take care of the un-popped kernels to try and avoid them.'

SLUMPING SALES OF CRISPS Crisp sales of traditional favourite flavours have slumped as the public has become more keen on 'healthy' snacks. Bags of popped corn with gourmet flavourings have replaced crisps on the shelves of trendy lunch chains such as Pret a Manger and Costa. Supermarkets and other brands are promoting them as healthy and even skinny, but experts warn there is little nutritional difference between popcorn and crisps. Retail analysis released last year showed that sales of potato crisps have been in a steady decline, falling by around 50 million in the last two years. By contrast, popcorn sales have risen by around 169 per cent in the past five years to reach an estimated 129 million, Mintel said. The retail analysts said that healthy lifestyles were 'chipping away at sales' of crisps, as the public assumed popcorn snacks to be healthy. Advertisement

Rising dental-problems

Dr Mark Hughes, a senior partner at the Harley Street Dental Group, said popcorn is now to blame for 10 per cent of dental problems he encounters, up from five.

He told The Sunday Telegraph: 'In my twenty five years as a dentist, popcorn is easily among the top five reasons for broken teeth.

'Five years ago I would perhaps see one case of a broken tooth in twenty caused by popcorn but in the last two or three years, that has risen to one in ten and the number is only going up.'

Other dentists said munching on popcorn while watching a film is often to blame, as people are too engrossed on the screen to look for kernels.

Worse than hard-boiled sweets

Dr Uchenna Okoye, the official dentist for Channel 4's '10 Years Younger', said popcorn had overtaken hard-boiled sweets as the biggest cause of broken teeth.

They also highlighted the dangers of popcorn husks, also known as the kernel shell, as they can get stuck in the gum line.

This can lead to abscesses and gum disease if left untreated, with the latter now worryingly linked to dementia, cancer and diabetes.

A well-known risk factor

Professor Damien Walmsley, the British Dental Association's scientific adviser, told MailOnline: 'In the dental community, its well known that popcorn is potentially very damaging to teeth.

'The risk arises from biting hard on an un-popped kernel when you have a handful of popcorn in your mouth.

'Its a bit like having a ball-bearing wedged between your teeth, the pressure is great and your teeth are more likely to crack if they are filled.'
Knowingly transmitting HIV to a partner will be lowered from a felony to a misdemeanor offense in California as of January 1, 2018.

The new bill was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on Friday, after passing in California legislature on September 11.

Now, instead of facing up to eight years in prison, anyone convicted of knowingly transmitting HIV will server a maximum of six months behind bars.

The change is welcomed by the LGBTQ community as a step forward in the destigmatization of HIV, but opponents are concerned that the reduced sentence will increase high risk behavior and the spread of the disease.

Intentionally infecting a partner with HIV will now be considered a misdemeanor, not a felony, in California. It will be punishable by up to six months in prison, consistent with the consequences for willfully exposing a partner to any other STD.

Until now, HIV was the only sexually transmitted disease (STD) in California that carried a felony sentence for someone who knowingly transmitted the diseases. Intentionally donating blood or infecting a partner with any other STD is a misdemeanor.

The bill, SB 239 was written by Senator Scott Wiener and Assemblymember Todd Gloria. Weiner said in a statement that its passage represents a major step toward treating HIV as a public health issue, instead of treating people living with HIV as criminals.

Californias new law comes as recently developed drugs for preventing and treating HIV have significantly extended life expectancies and lowered transmission rates in the HIV-positive community.

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially announced that people who are on regular viral load suppression medication cannot transmit HIV to their partners, as it is maintained at undetectable levels.

Between 2010 and 2014, the rate of HIV infections fell 10 percent in the US, according to the CDC.

Assemblymember Gloria said that this legislation marks an important step to update our laws to reflect the medical advances which no longer make a positive diagnosis equal to a death sentence.

Understanding HIV transmission According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1.1 million people in the US are living with HIV. One in seven of those are unaware of their status. Between 2010 and 2014, the rate of new HIV infections fell by 10 percent. HIV can be transmitted through blood transfusions, needle sharing, vaginal or anal sex. The risks of transmission through oral sex or other forms of bodily fluid contact are extremely low. Recently developed drugs like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) drastically decrease the chances of being infected by or transmitting HIV, respectively. Advertisement

The bills opponents said that many patients living with HIV do not take their medications consistently enough to prevent the diseases spread, and focused on the intentional' component of the previously felony offense.

CNN reported that Senator Jeff Stone, who voted against the bill said that If you don't take your AIDS medications and you allow for some virus to duplicate and show a presence, then you are able to transmit that disease to an unknowing partner, on the California Senate floor.

The bill's authors wrote in a statement that California made intentional transmission a felony offense in the 1980s and 1990s out of fear, during a time when scientific understanding of HIV was very limited.

Recent studies have found that compliance with medication schedules all but eliminates the risk of transmission of HIV. The new law is welcomed by its supporters and members of the LGBTQ community in particular.

Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California which threw its support behind SB 239, said that it is not only fair, but its good public health.

When people are no longer penalized for knowing their status, it encourages them to come forward, get tested and get treatment. Thats good for all Californians.
Medical marijuana has curbed the use of opioid drug use in Illinois, a small but significant study claims.

Researchers at DePaul University and Rush University tracked 30 patients, with an average age of 45, who had pain, seizures or inflammation.

All of the people had opted for medical marijuana, which is legal in Illinois, rather than other prescription painkillers.

And they all believed the drug's effects were faster-acting and longer-lasting than the medications they were taking before.

The controversial study is one the first peer-reviewed analyses of medical marijuana as a viable alternative for pain treatment.

Researchers at DePaul University and Rush University tracked 30 patients, with an average age of 45, who had pain, seizures or inflammation (file image)

It comes at a tense time for both opioid prescription use and marijuana use.

The United States is grappling to find alternative methods for pain management amid a worsening opioid epidemic.

Simultaneously, researchers are racing to dig deeper into understanding marijuana since the drug is now legal for medical use in more than half of the country.

Last year, former surgeon general Vivek Murthy warned that legalization is moving faster than research, and we are still in the dark about how the drug impacts the brain and could be addictive.

However, there is broad consensus that marijuana does not trigger addiction like opioids.

Consequently there is a broad push to see marijuana as a possible alternative to highly-addictive drugs like oxycodone, which are now kill more Americans a year than car crashes and HIV.

The study was met with backlash.

Kevin Sabet, a former White House drugs advisor to President Obama who now runs a marijuana-skeptical advisory group, said the researchers failed to isolate the various properties of the drug to understand where the benefits lay and where there may have been down sides.

'This study reeks of problems,' Sabet, president and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, told Daily Mail Online.

'One of the worst I've seen in a while. It was an uncontrolled observation of 30 people who were mixing pot with other drugs.'

He added: 'Marijuana contains hundreds of cannabinoids, some of which have been shown to have medicinal properties when isolated and dosed.

'We need more research to understand which of those cannabinoids have a beneficial effect, and we support reducing barriers to research. However, small-scale studies like this do not give us more information about which cannabinoids help which conditions. Instead, they are seized upon by a predatory industry to further commercialization and profits.'

Lead author Douglas Bruce, assistant professor of health sciences at DePaul, conceded that his study was small, and that we need far more research on marijuana to understand its effects.

But he insists the study shows a positive side: that patients may not be pigeon-holed to one risky treatment option.

'One of the most compelling things to come out of this is that people are taking control of their own health, and most providers would agree that's a good thing,' Dr Bruce told the Chicago Tribune.

'But the lack of provider knowledge around what cannabis does and doesn't do, the difference in products and ingestion methods and dosing, is all kind of a Wild West.'
A five-year-old girl who grew breasts at just two years old and started her period at four is going through the menopause.

Emily Dover, from New South Wales in Australia, was a toddler when she started to develop breasts, body odour and acne.

She started menstruating at just four years old and, within the past 12 months, has grown pubic hair due to suffering from Addison's Disease.

Now going through the menopause as a result of her aggressive treatment, Emily is experiencing the same debilitating symptoms that normally affect women in their 50s.

Emily, who weighs seven stone, also endures bullying at playschool for her size, leaving her parents terrified she will always be seen as the 'different kid' at school.

Emily Dover who grew breasts at two and started her period at four is in the menopause

Emily developed breasts, body odour and acne as a toddler (pictured with mother Tam, 41)

Due to her aggressive treatment, Emily is going through the menopause, with its side effects

WHAT IS ADDISON'S DISEASE? Addison's disease is a rare disorder affecting the adrenal glands. Adrenal gland damages affects the production of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. The condition affects around 8,400 people in the UK and one in 100,000 in Australia. Early symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, low mood, loss of appetite and increased thirst. Over time these may become more severe and develop into dizziness, fainting, cramps and exhaustion. In up to 90 per cent of cases, the condition occurs as a result of the immune system attacking the adrenal glands. It is unclear why this happens. Treatment is medication to replace the lost hormones. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

'She hasn't had a chance to be a little girl'

Emily's mother Tam, 41, who works in a local hospital, told The Mirror: 'She hasn't even had a chance to be a little girl.

'By two years of age, Emily had breast buds and body odour, and a rash on her skin since birth that was now being diagnosed as cystic acne.

'Something was very wrong with our little girl.'

When Emily first started her period, she thought she had soiled herself.

Now older, she is learning how to use sanitary towels but still tells her parents her 'foo foo is bleeding'.

The youngster wakes daily with swollen wrists and ankles; sore, itchy breasts and very painful bone growth issues.

Emily's parents react calmly to the youngster's symptoms in an attempt to encourage her to do the same.

Although Emily is aware her body is different to other girls her age, the youngster is clueless as to why.

Tam says Emily has not been able to be a little girl and says her 'foo foo is bleeding'

The youngster wakes with swollen wrists; sore, itchy breasts and painful bone growth issues

The body conscious youngster, who weighs seven stone, is bullied for her size at play school

Size of a one-year-old at four months

Although Emily at seven stone is larger than other children her age and extremely body conscious, she was born a healthy baby and was even the smallest of her siblings weighing 8lbs at birth.

Yet at just one week old she started crying out in pain and struggling to sleep.

By the time she reached four weeks old, she grew 4cm in just seven days.

At four months old, she was the size of a one-year-old.

The youngster endured years of doctors visits who dismissed her height as genetic and symptoms of vomiting and infections as being a result of being in daycare.

Finally, Emily was diagnosed with Addison's Disease this year after blood tests revealed she had the hormone levels of a pregnant woman.

She also has central precocious puberty - where puberty starts too early in children, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, autism, sensory processing disorder and anxiety.

Parents cannot afford costly treatment

To treat her complex health issues, Emily is due to start a course of monthly injections that kick start her body into a very premature menopause, with all its side effects.

Her parents will have to pay the equivalent of 1,105 per shot as the working couple are not entitled to healthcare.

They have exhausted their paid leave caring for the youngster, who frequently becomes unwell.

The couple are hoping to raise money to fund Emily's vital treatment. Donate here.
New Hampshire's chief medical examiner Dr Thomas Andrew has been retiring for over a month now, but he has not yet been able to leave his office because of the amount of opioid overdose victims he is responsible for.

He has been the chief medical examiner for 20 years, and Dr Andrew, 60, forecasted the devastation of the opioid crisis before officials knew about its severity.

Dr Andrew, who is retiring five years early, says that he tried to warn lawmakers of the potential of the opioid crisis when he saw it coming over ten years ago. However, by the time they began paying attention, the epidemic had taken effect.

Drug overdoses killed about half a million Americans between 2000 and 2014, and each year the death rate is going up, as opioids shave time off the US life expectancy rate.

New Hampshire's chief medical examiner is retiring in the midst of the US's worst ever drug crisis

During the first week of September, Dr Andrew announced his retirement, but he still had 83 open cases he was responsible for before he could leave. 'In this business you can't leave open cases behind,' he explained.

Now, he's gotten that number down to 19, and he hopes to wrap them up in the coming weeks.

In the two decades that Dr Andrew spent examining New Hampshire's deceased, he saw the US's opioid epidemic slowly rise to its current state. 'It clearly has changed the entire face of our practice,' he explained.

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When he first came to New Hampshire, arriving from New York City where he worked as a medical examiner in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island, the state saw 30 to 40 drug overdose deaths a year. Now, as he is leaving, that number is pushing 500.

Dr Andrew spoke about the frustration he felt when, around 2004, he noticed the pattern and alerted lawmakers about the growing problem to no avail.

He remembered trying to explain to public officials that if the rate of deaths caused by traffic accidents or asthma was shooting up so quickly, everyone would be panicked.

But Dr Andrew said that politicians only responded to his warning cries with the claim that drug overdoses affected certain populations which they did not feel it was worth their time to invest in at the time.

However, as the crisis escalated and the epidemic began affecting people from all corners of the state, people started to pay attention, he explained. 'They can no longer hide behind that,' Dr Andrew said.

'They finally are up in arms now. That's all you can read about until some lunatic shoots people in Las Vegas,' he said.

Another reason he had a hard time convincing lawmakers of the epidemic's seriousness was because of the population that he as a medical examiner was representing.

'Dead people don't vote anymore. The dead are not clamoring for public services,' he explained.

The number of fentanyl overdose deaths in America's largest cities rapidly increased between 2014 and 2016

But Dr Andrew emphasized problem's urgency, adding: 'What the dead tell us is very important information' for public health.

Dr Andrew said that there were two moments that illuminated how bad the opioid epidemic had the potential to be during his time serving New Hampshire.

The first came in 2005 when the number of people who died from prescription drug overdoses hit an all-time high. 'We thought: "Gee, there's a real problem here",' Dr Andrew remembered.

HOW MANY AUTOPSIES CAN FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS PERFORM? If a forensic pathologist at a medical examiner's office performs more than 250 autopsies in one year, their office will be at risk for losing its National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) accreditation. Exceeding 325 autopsies results in automatic loss of the title for their office. Dr Brian Peterson, president of NAME, said that, as offices struggle to hold on to their accredited status, this rule could present a problem at the end of 2017. He said that if on December 22 a forensic pathologist has done 323 autopsies, they may decide to stop there even if new deaths are presented before January 1. Peterson said: 'Maybe we'll be storing a few bodies until 2018.' Advertisement

He also recalled predicting at that time that drug overdose death rates would soon surpass that of traffic accidents. Although he received backlash for the comment, he was right, and his state was one of the first in which this happened.

'New Hampshire doesn't lead the pack in a lot of things, but in that way it did,' Dr Andrew said.

The second light bulb moment for Dr Andrew came in 2013 when he heard about the first deaths that were caused by a combination of heroin and fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has ravaged America's urban centers.

'Nobody had seen that before,' Dr Andrew said. But that soon changed: the rate of people in US cities who were killed by the drug, which can be 50 times stronger than heroin, shot up 600 percent from 2014 to 2106.

'Then heroin started dropping off the map,' Dr Andrew said, explaining that people were, more and more, dying of fentanyl overdoses in his state.

And the crisis has taken such a toll on his office that they are risking losing their National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) accredited status this year.

The number of people dying from opioid overdoses is rising so quickly that medical examiners' offices across the country cannot autopsy them all.

If offices were to autopsy each victim, many would surpass the number that NAME says they can do and keep their accreditation.

The association claims that if offices do more than they recommend, the reports may not be as thorough and accurate as they need to be.

And losing their accredited status could make them appear less reliable in court, where their work in crucial in holding suspected criminals accountable.

Dr Andrew is leaving his office at a time of uncertainty for his industry, as efforts to control the opioid crisis continue to fail. After dedicating his career to the study of dead people, he plans to begin seminary school in January.

He reflected on his career, saying: 'This is a humbling job that really lets you into the lives of people at such a profoundly sensitive time for them.'

'You're the only one speaking for the dead,' he added.
New to investing: Andrew is a web developer looking to invest in green technologies

In our series Money Pit Stop, we ask an investing expert to give one of our readers a free portfolio makeover.

Andrew, 45, is a web developer living in Kent who has no investments outside of an endowment mortgage at present. He wants to start putting aside 5,000 a year out of his income into an ethical fund portfolio.

Andrew is particularly interested in investing in green technologies. He would use an Isa wrapper for his investments.

His original investing goal was to create a buffer in case of a shortfall in his endowment mortgage, which has 10 years left to run.

However, it is currently forecast to mature with 17,000 in excess of the target value, so he is now less worried about that and simply wants to improve his future financial outlook.

His time horizon is at least 10 years, probably longer.

FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOUR FREE PORTFOLIO MAKEOVER BELOW

ANDREW'S SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS Risk appetite: Medium Shares, funds, trusts and ETFs: None Savings: 15,000 Property and mortgages: One house with two mortgages. 1) Endowment mortgage, 106,000, 10 years left. 2) Repayment, 50,000, 23 years left.

Mark Stone is a chartered financial planner. He is also the financial planning director at Bristol-based Whitechurch Financial Consultants. Mark says:

Andrew is in a good financial situation with a comfortable excess of income over expenditure.

He owns his own home albeit with two mortgages outstanding; his main mortgage is on an interest only basis and has only 10 years left to run.

It would appear his concerns are over the interest only portion of his mortgage in case his endowment does not cover the outstanding balance, although it is on track on the moment.

Mark Stone: 'In the past the choice of ethical funds was limited but the market has grown and matured rapidly'

His financial position is as follows:

Objective: Mortgage repayment/investment funding

Cashflow now: 5,000 out of income to be put aside for investment

Asset mix:

Cash

15,000

Investments

Mortgage endowment (forecast maturity value 17,000 over target)

Liabilities

Interest only mortgage 106,000 10-year term left

Repayment mortgage 52,000 23-year term left

Risk appetite: Medium

Ethical investment requirements: Interested in investing in green technologies

What to consider at the outset

The starting point for any investment solution is to ensure that there is a sufficient emergency fund in an easily realisable bank account.

Andrew currently has 15,000 in a cash account. We would normally suggest that six months' expenditure is held as an emergency fund and therefore without knowing his outgoings this would give him the equivalent of 2,500 per month.

With the spare income that Andrew is looking to invest, I would agree that the use of an Isa would provide him with a tax efficient investment in terms of income tax, and eventually when a lump sum is required there will be no capital gains tax levied on any gain made by the investment.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A DIY INVESTING PLATFORM? Read a This is Money guide to picking the best investing website for your needs.

As Andrew is interested in ethical investing he will need to research which online Isa platform offers the most comprehensive list of ethical funds which match his criteria of investing in green technologies.

He may well be best suited using such a platform as this could offer a way of ensuring that he can access the type of fund he requires.

A word of caution over platforms, is that there is an additional cost for the platform itself.

However, with most platforms there is no cost for switching between funds, so he could continue to make changes to the portfolio to ensure it continues to match his ethical criteria.

The advantage of the Isa portfolio is that it can be used as a dual pot. It is a means, if necessary, to repay any shortfall in his mortgage.

If this is not required then he has a tax efficient pot for other uses, such as additional retirement income.

How to set up an ethical investment portfolio

As Andrew has confirmed that his interest is in investing in green technology, the portfolio will need to have an ethical slant.

There is increasing interest in this area with substantial and growing media coverage of such issues which both reflect and stimulate public interest.

In the past the choice of funds was limited, but the market has grown and matured rapidly recently. However, careful analysis is needed to ensure that any funds under consideration meet all of Andrew's ethical requirements.

For example, some ethical funds will invest in fossil fuel companies if they meet certain standards on green or social policies, but not every investor will be comfortable with that.

Without knowing Andrew's stance on such issues, we feel the following investment portfolio could match his requirements.

The portfolio has also been constructed to ensure that there is diversification across the main asset classes, to ensure it reflects Andrews medium risk appetite.

We have included a property fund for this reason.

WHAT DO FUND NAMES AND CODES MEAN? Read a This is Money guide to fund names and abbreviations here.

We also suggest holding a small amount of cash which is not invested, as a buffer in case of losses or in order to top up investments if you wish.

The funds used to build the portfolio have an ethical overlay and in some instances focus purely on green technologies or renewable energy. The UK equity funds and bond funds have been used to create a balanced portfolio with a medium level of risk.

Impax Environmental Markets in particular focuses on green technologies investing in companies which provide, utilise, implement or advise upon technology based systems particularly in the areas of alternative energies and energy efficiency, water treatment and pollution control.

John Laing Environmental Assets and The Renewables Infrastructure Group both focus on renewable energy. The F&C UK Property fund has an ESG [environmental, social and governance] overlay and considers energy efficiency and energy performance standards as part of its process.

The information provided by our expert is for the purposes of this article and is not personal advice.

If you are at all unsure of the suitability of an investment for your circumstances please seek advice.

Nothing in this response constitutes regulated financial advice. Published questions are sometimes edited for brevity or other reasons.
An adopted British woman has been left stunned after discovering Barack Obama is her distant cousin after spending years tracing her family tree.

Janet Rolfe, 67, who lives in Exeter, Devon, was born in Manchester in 1950 and adopted without knowing who her birth parents were.

But she has now worked out that her seventh great-grandfather was the ninth great-grandfather of former US president Mr Obama - making them distant cousins.

Janet Rolfe (left) has now worked out that her seventh great-grandfather was the ninth great-grandfather of former US president Barack Obama (right) - making them distant cousins

Ms Rolfe said: 'I was told that my seventh great-grandfather was Mr Obama's ninth great-grandfather, which makes us distant cousins.

'It was absolutely astonishing news, I couldn't believe it. I'm so proud of my family and finding out more about them has been an amazing experience.'

Ms Rolfe's father is Lieutenant Colonel Carroll Herndon Payne (pictured), who served in the US Air Force and visited England in 1948

Ms Rolfe managed to identify her real mother in Manchester but she died before they could meet.

She said: 'I did meet her son and brother who said they had no idea about me. I'd been a family secret but it was wonderful to be able to meet them.

'I was told that my father was in southern Ireland, but that route proved to be very difficult, so when I came across the website Ancestry DNA I thought I may as well give it a go.

'From that I managed to get an email address of a woman living in the US called Theresa who is a cousin of mine.'

As luck would have it, Ms Rolfe discovered that Theresa works as a genealogist and was able to trace their family history back to the 17th century.

She then learned her father had nothing to do with Ireland and was actually in the US Air Force; visiting England to assist with the Berlin Airlift in 1948.

It was during that time that Lieutenant Colonel Carroll Herndon Payne met Ms Rolfe's mother and she was born. He returned to the US in 1949.

After retiring from the Air Force, he set up a financial service company which helped military families. First Command Financial Services is still in existence today.

Also in her family tree is Lord John (left) and Lady Mary Bankes (right), who defended Corfe Castle in Dorset while her husband was away fighting during the English Civil War

Born in 1914 and having grown up during the Great Depression, books have since been written on Mr Payne's rags to riches story. He died in June 1984.

Further DNA tests found Ms Rolfe's brother Chip was living in Texas, as an architect in Fort Worth. She also has two sisters, one of whom died two years ago at 58.

Mrs Rolfe added: 'Also in my family tree is Lord John and Lady Mary Bankes, formerly of Keswick, where John built a graphite mine.

'After building a poor house in Keswick they moved to Corfe Castle in Dorset.

'Lady Mary is my fifth great-grandmother and she defended the castle while her husband was away fighting during the English Civil War.

'They went on to build and live at Kingston Lacey, Dorset, which is now a National Trust property.'

Ms Rolfe, who has two children and three grandchildren, is set to fly to the US to meet Chip, Theresa and more of her extended family in the next month.
A wanted man has taunted the police on Facebook after they issued an appeal for help to track him down.

When Tasmania Police issued an appeal to help find Mathew Luke Johnson on Friday, the post was met with mockery from Johnson himself.

'I will hand myself in when I'm ready, pigs,' Johnson commented on the post.

Johnson (left) taunted the police by commenting on the post saying: 'I will hand myself in when I'm ready, pigs'

Johnson's retort was met with an overwhelming amount of support, with 164 people 'liking' the comment.

Johnson's comment was deleted, but it was not long before he returned to the social media platform to affront officers again.

'That was a nice pizza, next stop New Town,' he said referring to the police belief Johnson was 'transient but possibly in Hobart or New Town'.

'Did I hurt anyone?' Johnson continued.

'I will hand myself in when I'm ready, pigs,' Johnson commented on the Tasmania Police post

'I will hand myself in when I'm ready, pigs,' Johnson (pictured) commented on the post

The police' appeal garnered a huge amount of attention from Facebook users, but most appeared to laugh at Johnson's responses rather than take the post seriously.

'Two hundred likes on his status and he should be let off,' one man said.

'Having lunch with him now. He says to say hello,' another man said.

One woman said he served Johnson food on Saturday.

'Legit came in today, he's now chilling with his Whopper meal or something,' she said, to which Johnson replied 'I just finished on, now I'm relaxing on the beach'.

'That was a nice pizza, next stop New Town. Did I hurt anyone?' Johnson commented

'Tasmania Police issued an appeal for help to locate Johnson on Friday (pictured)

While there was support for Johnson, not everyone found his comments endearing.

'I don't know why his comment was so funny? I find it disrespectful and you are all encouraging him, which he doesn't need,' one woman said.

Tasmania Police told Daily Mail Australia they wanted to speak to Johnson in relation to several outstanding matters. He remains on the run from the police.

Officers urged anyone with information as to Johnson's whereabouts to phone Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
The remains of a ship in which more than 820 British prisoners of war drowned at sea after being locked inside by Japanese guards is believed to have been found decades after the tragedy.

Now, 75 years after one of the most shocking crimes committed during the Second World War, a debate over whether the ships wreckage should be recovered has been sparked by the only living British man who survived the atrocity.

The Lisbon Maru had some 1,800 captured British soldiers on board when it sunk in the East China Sea in September 1942 after being hit by an American torpedo.

The freighter was sunk with 1,800 captured British soldiers on board in the East China Sea in 1942

As the 7,000 ton boat started to take on water, Japanese guards battened down the hatches with planks and tarpaulin to try and drown those stranded aboard and leaving many unable to escape.

Of those who made it off the ship, some were shot in the water. More than 820 stayed trapped in the boat and their bodies have remained underwater with no hope of the wreckage ever being found again, until now.

Sonar images have tracked a vessel 98ft below the surface and four miles from the island of Dongfushan, off China, with researchers saying they are 100 per cent sure they have found the Lisbon Maru.

But Dennis Morley, 97, believed to be the ships last survivor, has slammed plans for the wreckage to be dredged up. Its a war grave and that should be left, he told the Sunday Times

Fang Li, a Chinese businessman and film producer who commissioned the survey, even had a drone with a magnetic sensor fly over the site which confirmed 5,000 tons of steel had been found in the water, making researchers believe they had tracked the Marus location.

Mr Li told the newspaper: Everybody [would] like to see this boat be salvaged. We want to send those British soldiers home.

The Lisbon Maru was hit by an American torpedo, killing 820 British prisoners who'd been locked up by Japanese guards

Reliving the horrific ordeal, Mr Morley, a private in the Royal Scots said: There was no way that anyone was going to get out they intended us to go down with the ship.

Some escaped after a soldier cut a gap in the tarpaulin with a knife and although some were shot dead by waiting guards others managed to overpower them.

Mr Morley added: You cant imagine it. Blokes were climbing up that ladder and pulling down the one in front of them so they could get out.

Of the experience, Mr Morley has previously said: What can I remember? Well, if you had been to hell, youd know what it was like. It was hell.

After surviving, Mr Morley was recaptured and spent the rest of the war in a work camp in Kobe, Japan.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission said that although it had no jurisdiction over maritime wrecks, it would urge that the remains of the men who died on the Lisbon Maru are left in peace.

Fang Li added: Of course, everyone has to respect the family wishes.
Prince Harry will meet with soldiers today

Prince Harry will join forces with the Defence Secretary today to tell soldiers that dealing with mental health is just as important as learning new combat skills.

The former army captain and Sir Michael Fallon will make the case that mental fitness is as important as physical fitness when it comes fighting wars.

They will launch a new partnership designed to improve the mental health of current and former Armed Forces personnel by rolling out support to veterans and across the three services.

The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will provide advice and resources to the Ministry of Defence to improve training and education.

Announcing the partnership, Sir Michael said: By looking after our mental health we are building a more effective armed forces that helps keep this country safe.

Our soldiers, sailors and airmen are the best in the world but we will only maintain that if we are as serious about improving mental health as we are our combat skills and cutting-edge technology.

So partnering with key groups like the Royal Foundation is an important part of our strategy to improve the wellbeing of our serving Armed Forces and veterans.

The joint initiative comes after Prince Harry gave an extraordinarily frank interview about coping with his mothers death earlier this year.

He said he had hoped to help smash the stigma and start a national conversation about mental health.

The former army captain and Sir Michael Fallon will make the case that mental fitness is as important as physical fitness when it comes fighting wars

Rates of mental disorder are slightly lower in the Armed Forces, at 3.2 per cent, than in the general population, at 3.5 per cent, but the MoD has made it a major priority.

Troops will be encouraged to use psychology and well-being in the same way as athletes do to maximise performance.

Resources will be integrated into staff training courses and briefing processes across the Armed Forces from the middle of 2018.

They will also be widely available online, to strengthen the mental health support and services already available to Defence personnel.

Sir Keith Mills, Chairman of the Royal Foundation said: We are delighted that this new partnership with the Ministry of Defence will see the UK leading the way internationally in prioritising the mental fitness of its entire defence community.

A survey published last week found a total 1.5 million more people (3 per cent) were talking about mental health in May compared to February 2017.

There was also a 12 per cent increase in the number of those admitting to talking about their own mental health.
A fishing charter says crocodiles are becoming more aggressive and less intimidated by humans after sightings of the dangerous predators increased in areas further south.

Lyton Heffer, the owner of Fishing Port Douglas who has been in the north Queensland area for 22 years, says crocodiles have shifted their behaviour - making them increasingly dangerous.

'I don't think they're scared of human activity anymore and they're encroaching on areas they haven't been in the past,' he told the Courier Mail.

A fishing charter says crocodiles are becoming more aggressive and less intimidated by humans as sightings of the reptiles are increasing in areas further and further south

Sightings in north Queensland have increased from 345 in 2015 to 389 in 2016 and now 477 in 2017, a 38 per cent increase in two years

The animals have been seen as far south as the Sunshine Coast, sparking fears for swimmers in areas not normally associated with the danger

Sightings in north Queensland have increased from 345 in 2015 to 389 in 2016 and now 477 in 2017, a 38 per cent increase in two years.

The animals have been seen as far south as the Sunshine Coast, sparking fears for swimmers in areas not normally associated with the danger.

Recent crocodile run-ins have seen the creatures attacking trucks crossing rivers and cameras of fishermen.

The state's Environment Minister Steven Miles says safety and monitoring programs have doubled to combat the increasing population and prevalence.

'We have made the wildlife officers, who do a very difficult and sometimes unsafe job, permanent. They were temporary officers under the (previous government),' he said.

Cairns has had the highest number of sightings this year with 108, followed by the Cassowary Coast and Townsville with 66 and 61 respectively.

The state's Environment Minister Steven Miles says safety and monitoring programs have doubled to combat the increasing population and prevalence

Cairns has had the highest number of sightings this year with 108, followed by the Cassowary Coast and Townsville with 66 and 61 respectively

One crocodile was found dead with a bullet lodged in its head in central Queensland with residents taking matters into their own hands

Police and wildlife services are investigating the issue, as the killing of 'iconic crocodiles', animals measuring 5 metres or more, is illegal and results in fines up to $28,383.75

One crocodile was found dead with a bullet lodged in its head in central Queensland with residents taking matters into their own hands.

Police and wildlife services are investigating the issue, as the killing of 'iconic crocodiles', animals measuring five metres or more, is illegal and results in fines up to $28,383.75.

'People need to clearly understand that the death of this animal has changed the balance of the crocodile population in the Fitzroy and we can expect increased aggressive activity by younger male crocodiles,' Department of Environment Director Michael Joyce told the Morning Bulletin.

A proposed cull in north Queensland and the Northern territory has been slammed by residents and environmentalists.

A truck driver who had a crocodile attempt to take a chunk out of one of his tyres at the infamous Cahill's Crossing says he has never seen more of the creatures in the area.

The crossing, about 286km from Darwin, links Jabiru and the Indigenous Gunbalanya community. A study in 2015 found more than 120 crocodiles within a six kilometre-stretch of the Kakadu river.

A crocodile tired of waiting for its afternoon snack tried to take a bite out of a passing Mack truck, but was put back in its place
Traditionally, the dining room was where the family would gather to catch up, share news, and eat.

But now it seems the door to it has been permanently closed  as even Mary Berry has admitted it is 'easier' to have meals in the kitchen.

The 82-year-old confessed she has 'given up' on her dining room, as everything revolves around the kitchen in her home.

The former Great British Bake Off host said: 'Most of us, I think, live in the kitchen.

'I do  the homework of my children was done there. My husband will refit a picture in there.

Mary Berry (pictured), star of the Great British Bake Off, has admitted that she has 'given up on her dining room' in favour of the kitchen

'It's worth thinking about making it a special room that really works for you.

'The laying of the table things have got to be near the dishwasher or the sink but also near where you're going to eat.

'We've given up our dining room, finally. I don't think my husband agreed with me.

'We used it at Christmas time and occasionally if we're having people round, but it's much easier in the kitchen, isn't it?'

It is perhaps unsurprising that the mother-of-three isn't missing her dining room  as she has no shortage of space in her two kitchens should guests drop in.

The cook has recently decided to sell her six-bedroom mansion, which boasts an enormous 25 x 17 foot kitchen, as well as a 16 x 14 foot prep kitchen.

However, her views are not out of step with the rest of us. Only 52 per cent of us consider a dining room a necessity, according to a recent survey of 1,000 Britons.

When asked if she thinks some like to eat in the kitchen because it's more homely, Miss Berry said: 'I think so but also I'm quite good at dressing the kitchen up so it looks rather special.

According to a new survey only 52 per cent of Britons see their dining room as a necessity, preferring the kitchen

'I turn the dimmer down and light the candles and my husband walks in and turns it up to see while we eat, and I walk round  it's a bit of a play really.'

Miss Berry, who was speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival yesterday, also admitted to ignoring sell-by dates on food.

She said: 'I was brought up in the war. There were no freezers but those sort of tips I got from my mother about using things up.

'And also to use my nose. I don't do sell-by dates but I have to confess if there is a pot of cream I just lift the lid and smell it.

'If it's all right, I have it. You do have to be careful if it is meat and keep within the dates.'

She also revealed she shops in Waitrose regularly as it is the nearest supermarket to her home and picks up the 10 dinners with wine from Marks & Spencer.
Their top-of-the-range cookware can be found on tables of middle-class families across Britain.

But Le Creuset may be under threat  from none other than Tesco.

The supermarket has launched a selection of similar products as part of their 'Go Cook' range, including casserole dishes, saucepans and roasting trays  for as little as a tenth of the price.

One of Le Creuset's signature items is a cast-iron round casserole dish, described as an 'essential kitchen classic ideal for a wide array of one-pot recipes'.

Tesco is turning up the pressure on luxury French kitchen brand Le Creuset with its new 'Go Cook' range of similar pots and pans for a fraction of the price

The 4.2litre version, which has two side handles, a stainless steel knob and comes in a range of colours, costs 199.

Tesco's product  a 4.6litre dish also made of cast iron with side handles and a metal knob  is priced at just 45.

Similarly, a Le Creuset 16cm anodised saucepan with lid, described as 'central to any busy kitchen', costs 125.

Tesco's Go Cook 16cm anodised saucepan with lid, which has a number of similarities barring a smaller handle, comes in at 28  less than a quarter of the price.

It is not the first time the firm has come under threat from cheaper rivals.

In 2010 a comparison test conducted by Which? revealed that 7 Asda saucepans scored higher on efficiency and ease of use.

And last year retail experts warned that a surge in cheaper supermarket copycat cookware could damage the brand's middle-class image.

Clive Black, head of research at Shore Capital, said: 'If people can get 80 per cent of Le Creuset for 30 per cent of the price that is clearly a threat.'

Le Creuset, established in France in 1925, ranks alongside Farrow & Ball paint as middle-class 'must-haves'.

A graphic reveals how Tesco's new kitchen range compares to its luxury rival Le Creuset

Its products boast a lifetime guarantee, and it has tried to target the mass markets by giving permission for products to be sold at discount by QVC, the shopping channel.

Le Creuset has also launched a wide range of 'small ticket' items, such as egg cups, costing under 20.

A Tesco spokesman said: 'We offer a complete range of exceptional quality, inspirational cookware within everyone's reach.

'Every item has been carefully crafted to be practical and durable, and to help you achieve the best results.'

Le Creuset was not available for comment yesterday.
Almost one week on from the Las Vegas shootings, investigators are now coming around to the idea that killer Stephen Paddock may have have been mentally ill, insiders have revealed.

On Wednesday FBI insiders said investigators believed Paddock may have been in 'mental or physical anguish' based on information given by his girlfriend.

But they didn't believe that his mental situation had deteriorated to the point of planning and executing mass murder.

Now, however, police insiders say that some investigators increasingly believe he was in the grip of a severe mental illness - and that it had been building for at least a year, ABC News reported.

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Stephen Paddock (pictured) may have been severely mentally unwell when he killed 58 people last Sunday, some investigators believe. Earlier in the week that possibility was discounted

Paddock's father Benjamin (pictured) was a diagnosed psychopath and bank robber; it has also emerged that Paddock may have fetishized him and boasted of being 'born bad'

It was also announced on Sunday that testimony from his girlfriend, Marilou Danley, 62, had led to Paddock's home in Mesquite, Nevada, being raided by police for a second time.

The FBI and local police returned to the scene to collect and photograph more evidence, Mesquite Police Chief Troy Tanner told ABC News.

The realization that Paddock may have suffered from an illness has grown as investigators have spoken to hundreds of people who knew or met him in the past year.

Outwardly, Paddock - a 64-year-old multimillionaire real-estate dealer who flitted around the US, enjoying his retirement with his girlfriend - seemed like he was doing okay.

But the profile that investigators are building is of a man who was detached from humanity and seemingly on a downward spiral, sources claimed.

Also this weekend, FBI raided Paddock's home in Mesquite (pictured) a second time. More evidence was taken and photographed, a police insider said

Paddock's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, 62, told FBI on Wednesday he had screamed in the night; they said he may have had 'mental anguish' but was not disturbed enough to commit murder

Paddock had huge problems interacting with people, they said, and appeared disconnected and aloof from those that he met.

He also had trouble developing meaningful relationships with people, investigators believe.

One person he had grown close to was Danley, who would accompany him around the country.

She told investigators on Wednesday that he would wake up in the night moaning and screaming 'Oh my God!'

However, at that point investigators didn't believe that he was sufficiently troubled to explain why he would kill 58 people and himself, and injure 489 more.

While an actual motive for the killing remains out of investigators' reach, they are narrowing in on the possible psychological effects that may have led to it.

They're now particularly focused on what may have occurred between September and October last year, as something seems to have affected him around that time.

The FBI is now changing its mind on that matter, and say something may have gone wrong around September last year, when he started buying guns in bulk and gambling more heavily

During that period he bought more than 30 guns - a dramatic step up on the number of firearms he'd bought over the preceding 20 years.

He also seemed to have started gambling more, and more frequently, at that time too, insiders said.

More recently, he had been looking into many different hotel venues online, and had even visited some.

Paddock's mental health has been a question for many since it emerged that his father, Benjamin Hoskins Paddock, had been diagnosed a psychopath.

Paddock spent nine years on the run after breaking out of prison, where he had been serving a sentence for armed robbery, in 1968.

An FBI poster described him as a 'psychopath' who should be treated as 'armed and very dangerous'.

A piece of paper (circled) in the room with Paddock's body gave no clue as to why he committed murder; it had bullet trajectories worked out to help improve his ability to kill

Paddock reportedly told a prostitute that he had 'bad blood' because of his father's grim history. It's not known if police have factored this into their investigation

People leave items at a memorial dedicated to the victims of the shooting on Friday. A prostitute said Paddock would pay her $6,000 a night to enact rape fantasies

While on the run, he opened up a church and bingo parlor in Oregon, using a loophole in state law regarding places of worship to pocket the profits. He was caught in 1978.

In 1987, he was charged with running an illegal gambling operation but avoided prison; in 1989 he attempted to open a second church in Nevada because he liked to gamble there, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Benjamin Paddock's obsession with gambling and bent for violence has obviously been linked to his son's killing spree.

But it also emerged Sunday that Stephen Paddock was himself interested in that connection, telling a Las Vegas prostitute he was 'born bad.'

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the woman said the 'paranoid' and 'obsessive' Paddock would enact rape fantasies with her if he his on a winning streak.

He would rant about conspiracy theories, including that the US government caused 9/11, and would pay $6,000 to tie her up and pretend to shout for help, she told The Sun on Sunday.

They even slept together in the Mandalay Bay hotel, which he used as a sniper's nest, but, she said, despite his 'dark and twisted side... I could never have imagined he would do something like this.'

Workers board up a broken window at the Mandalay Bay hotel, where shooter Stephen Paddock conducted his mass shooting along the Las Vegas Strip

Casino magnate Steve Wynn (pictured) said on Sunday that Paddock was 'vanilla' and seemed like 'a rational man' in the 11 years he had been going to Wynn's casinos

Those remarks would have come as some surprise to Steve Wynn, billionaire CEO of Wynn Resorts, who said Paddock had been staying at his hotels for 11 years.

He said that Paddock was well known to his staff, and that he had 'The most vanilla profile one could possibly imagine.'

'A modest gambler at least by our standards, you know, nothing serious, paid promptly, never owed any money anywhere in Las Vegas,' he told Fox & Friends.

'He didn't fit the profile of a problem or compulsive gambler.'

'This is a man who behaved rationally, privately, a little introverted, liked to play video poker. But he was a rational man,' said Wynn, whose properties do not include the Mandalay Bay, which is owned by MGM.

He added that his employees were stunned by the revelation that their long-term customer had killed 58 random people.

'Now, this sounds like someone either totally demented - a behavior which he never evidenced - or someone who's sending a message,' he said.
With a 5 million programme of public events and major commemorations at Westminster, it should be quite a centenary party next year as Britain marks the 100th anniversary of votes for women.

So what on earth would the leaders of the suffragette movement have to say, a century on, about a proposal to reclassify gender as optional and  in the words of one leading feminist  to deny a womans right to exist?

British men may be equally concerned to learn that being male will also lose its official status if the Office for National Statistics proceeds with a barmy new proposal for the next census in 2021.

The 'sex' question in the next census could be made voluntary after claims it discriminates against transgender people

In a report marinaded with politically correct jargon, a panel of statisticians argue that the time has come to stop asking people to state whether they are male or female.

In future, the ONS suggests, people should not have to answer such a question because it is irrelevant, unacceptable and intrusive to certain members of the transgender community.

Even the common-sense addition of a third option  other  is ruled out on the basis that this was thought to homogenise trans people and differentiate them from the rest of society.

The answer, according to the ONS experts, is to make the question of sex a voluntary one. At the last census, in 2011, the only voluntary question on the form concerned religious beliefs. Four million people chose not to answer it, while a further third of a million claimed to support alternative religions such as Jedi.

If this mad ONS idea is adopted, it will mean Britain will no longer have any firm data on the number of men and women in the country  a fundamental cornerstone of any study of any society.

Government planning on everything from life expectancy and pensions to the provision of education and healthcare would start to become informed guesswork.

Above all, any future attempts to ensure equality between the sexes is going to be irreparably compromised if the sexes cease to be identified. Little wonder that so many feminists and equal rights campaigners are up arms.

What on earth would the leaders of the suffragette movement have to say, a century on, about a proposal to reclassify gender as optional, writes Robert Hardman

And it is all being done to avoid upsetting some (though by no means all) members of a tiny sub-section of society for whom a properly conducted census should actually be a good thing anyway. The whole point of the exercise is to identify gaps in society, not to gloss over them.

The last census, in 2011, included the time-honoured question: What is your sex? 1. Male, 2. Female.

However, the unnamed authors of the ONS report conclude that this simply will not do in future. They cite the following reason: The 2011 Sex question was considered to be irrelevant, unacceptable and intrusive, particularly to trans participants, due to asking about sex rather than gender.

Whereas sex is regarded as a physical phenomenon, gender has come to mean ones internal identity.

The report goes on: The lack of response options for intersex [people with physical attributes of both sexes] and non-binary people [those who identify as neither male nor female] could make it difficult to answer and cause feelings of having to make a forced choice, leading to potential item non-response or invalid response, non-response to the census as a whole and could cause complaints to ONS.

In other words, we shouldnt ask the sex of more than 60 million people because a handful of them might find it uncomfortable or make a complaint.

Statisticians are not meant to concern themselves with peoples feelings. They are supposed to be dispassionate, number-crunching boffins who give us honest data and leave it to the rest of us to draw our own conclusions and the state to adjust its priorities.

Statisticians are not meant to concern themselves with peoples feelings. They are supposed to be dispassionate, number-crunching boffins who give us honest data

Anyone wading through this report  buried on the ONS website under the gloriously unappealing headline: Qualitative research on gender identity: phase 1 summary report  will see that mathematical rigour comes a poor second to pandering to the politically correct agenda. We need only apply a little statistical rigour ourselves to see that.

For, deep within, the authors admit their argument is based on conversations with fewer than 50 people.

Four focus groups were conducted with the cisgender [those who retain the sex and gender with which they were born] population (total 29 participants) and 18 one-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted with the trans population, it says.

The language may be turgid but it is also a revealing insight in to the Orwellian thought processes which now govern the highest echelons of the public sector.

For example, at one point the authors explore the idea of putting two questions on the census form  first, asking people their sex and, second, asking the gender by which they identify themselves.

This would, surely, cover 99.999 per cent of the population. But the ONS says this would also be a bad idea: Trans participants [transgender people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth] had mixed feelings that their two answers, in combination, might or might not result in their trans identity being visible in the census data.

Some were positive that they could be represented in statistics about trans people, which they felt was important.

However, others expressed negativity, either because if they gave the same answers to the two questions their trans identity would not be visible in data when they wanted it to be; or, conversely, if their answers differed they would be visible in the trans statistics, when they did not want to be visible.

Germaine Greer is banned from universities for saying that a man who changes sex is not the same as a woman born a woman

In other words, none of this microscopic sample of people could actually agree on anything and they werent sure what they wanted anyway.

This is a 3,143-word report by (presumably) highly intelligent people at the most important data-gathering unit in the land  the one which will shape government policies towards every facet of our lives for a whole decade.

These great minds have sought to overlook a primordial question asked of every one of us the moment we arrive in this world: boy or girl?

And yet you will not find the words man or woman anywhere in this report. There are 44 references to the trans population compared against 11 to the cisgender community. Male and female get just half a dozen mentions each.

However much ministers may object to the proposal, there is little they can do as the ONS has no ministerial paymaster.

Though it used to be an arm of the Treasury, Gordon Brown transferred it to the UK Statistics Authority, which enjoys the same independent status as the Bank of Englands monetary committee.

It answers to a board of 14 academics and economists (nine men and five women  for the moment, at least).

We already have the absurd situation where a distinguished feminist such as Germaine Greer is banned from universities for saying that a man who changes sex is not the same as a woman born a woman.

We have seen public buildings and even schools do away with Ladies and Gents in favour of unisex facilities, while trans activists attack feminists at public rallies.

We even have the headmistress of a top independent London girls school (one with the word girls in its title) saying that she avoids the word girls in case it offends anyone querying their gender identity.

Until now, most people have rolled their eyes and turned away from a debate that grows more toxic and esoteric by the week.

But when we have reached the point that Britain no longer dares to find out how much of its population is male and female, we have crossed a line.

Since our politicians can do nothing about the ONS, we must pin our hopes on a chap called Sir David Norgrove, the chairman of the UK Statistics Authority.

So come on, Sir David. Its time to man up.
The news that officers aboard a British nuclear submarine on active patrol threatened to resign, because both the captain and his second-in-command were alleged to be having affairs with female crew members, is terrifying  but not surprising.

It is impossible to imagine a more serious setting for a crisis in morale than HMS Vigilant, one of the four Vanguard subs that form our countrys round-the-clock Trident nuclear deterrent at sea.

But it was sadly inevitable, given the Governments insistence that men and women must serve alongside each other wherever our Armed Forces are on duty  on battleships, on the front line, from the first day of training, and even in submarines.

Camp Bastion in Helmand Province in Afghanistan, where Lance Bombardier gave birth

I am quite certain were hearing this story only because of the seniority of the ranks involved. Commander Stuart Armstrong and his executive officer [XO], the boats No 2, have both been removed from their posts. It is unprecedented for both the commander and the XO of a nuclear sub to be suspended simultaneously. But affairs between lower ranks are commonplace, and they can have equally catastrophic effects on morale and unit cohesion.

The situation is so bad that, in the two years up to last December, 36 Army recruits became pregnant during basic training. So did 15 RAF and ten Navy recruits. Thats about one young woman per fortnight.

It is not a new problem. More than 100 servicewomen were evacuated from Iraq during the years following the overthrow of Saddam because they were pregnant: Military rules forbid expectant mothers from active duty in a war zone. It was a similar story in Afghanistan  though in September 2012, quite unbelievably, a Lance Bombardier gave birth at Camp Bastion in Helmand province. Four days earlier, the Army base had repelled a Taliban attack.

Every pregnant soldier is a loss to her unit, in an Army already undermanned and compromised by defence cuts. But the effect on morale is incalculable. Soldiers have to be able to trust each other with their lives. The camaraderie of an active unit is crucial  and it can be ripped to shreds by the petty jealousies that simmer when two of the squad embark on a relationship together.

There is no more certain way to damage a tight-knit team than with sex. But put men and women together, especially in the pressure cooker situations of a combat zone or a submarine on active duty, and sex will be the result.

Politicians obsessed with political correctness are desperate to impose gender equality everywhere, including the Armed Forces. They ignore the fact that the Army, Navy and Air Force are like no other employer. There is nothing comparable to being a combat soldier.

There is a pretence in government that men are the same as women, and that all soldiers are machines that can control their desires. Neither is true. Men and women are different, physically and emotionally. And if theres one force of nature that is even stronger than the best military discipline, its the human sexual urge. As a senior Army officer, before I retired from active service in 2006, I dealt with numerous cases of sexual misconduct between troops.

A 30-foot statue of Saddam Hussein on horseback is toppled. Following the dictator's fall more than 100 servicewomen were evacuated from Iraq because they were pregnant

I lost count of the number of men who told me they couldnt help it and the Army was unfairly placing temptation in front of them. I didnt condone their behaviour, but I did sympathise. The cost to morale was horrendous, not just in the unit but back at home. How many wives are now tortured by the fear not only that their husbands might be killed, but that they could be unfaithful?

And if senior officers also cant help it and give in to their sexual instincts, how can they possibly exert the self-control to treat their lovers as ordinary crew members? A commander must show no favouritism, or his men will never be able to trust him. The moment a senior officer begins an affair with a junior, that trust is breached.

It is too late to reverse the MODs politically-correct decision that forces men and women to serve beside each other everywhere. But as long as this continues, there will be sexual affairs  and the consequences will sometimes be fatal.

Colonel Richard Kemp commanded British forces in Afghanistan, and is a former member of the Joint Intelligence Committee and COBRA.
Joseph Kony is a Ugandan warlord and leader of The Lords Resistance Army, a cultish militant group that operates in central Africa. He has more than 60 wives and his alleged crimes include murder, kidnapping, rape and military enslavement of more than 30,000 children.

In 2005, he was indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, but despite endless efforts by skilled military personnel, he has evaded capture and remains one of Africas most dangerous and wanted men.

So it came as a bit of a shock this weekend when we learned  thanks to documents leaked from within the ICC  that in 2012, Angelina Jolie, Oscar-winning film star, mother of many, thrice-married international humanitarian, United Nations special envoy and all-round sex bomb, had offered to come to the ICCs rescue. Apparently, she had generously offered to hunt Kony down herself.

Kony has more than 60 wives and his alleged crimes include murder, kidnapping, rape and military enslavement of more than 30,000 children

Even more surprising, was that Luis Moreno Ocampo, the dashing Argentine ICC chief prosecutor cited at the time as one of the 100 Top Global Thinkers, not only accepted Angies generous offer, but actually pinned his hopes on her succeeding where the ICC, with its 130 million-a-year budget and machine-gun toting Special Forces, had failed.

The plan was simple, though sadly for all Lara Croft: Tomb Raider enthusiasts, it involved no skin-tight Lycra, no bosoms jutting like torpedoes or automatic weapons strapped to Angies gleaming thighs. In fact, there were to be no guns at all.

Instead, Angie would be embedded with U.S. Special Forces close to Konys stronghold in northern Uganda and act as a honeytrap. And, as one leaked email sent by Moreno Ocampo explains, once settled in, she has the idea to invite Kony to dinner and then arrest him.

Forget other celebrities, she is the one, Moreno Ocampo wrote excitedly in another email. She loves to arrest Kony. She is ready. Probably Brad [Pitt, her third husband] will go also.

The emails were found in 40,000 files obtained by the French investigative website Mediapart and shared with The Sunday Times Insight team. Not surprisingly, they have caused quite a stir.

Angie may be the worlds sexiest woman, but was it likely that, after eluding hundreds of highly trained military personnel, a war criminal and alleged mass murderer would let his guard down just for the chance of a dinner date?

Then again, men do have a habit of becoming a bit hot and bothered when face to face with Jolies pillowy lips, slender figure, entrancing decolletage and raging social conscience.

The leader of The Lords Resistance Army was indicted for war crimes including the military enslavement of children

When she first appeared at the Davos World Economic Forum in 2005, macroeconomics flew out of the window. Finance ministers apparently became pink and flustered and lost their train of thought. Media moguls were distracted and dreamy.

One senior executive said at the time: No one could concentrate. She has an extraordinary effect...

Former Foreign Secretary William Hague was famously entranced by Angies good works when they met at a film screening in 2011. The pair struck up an immediate friendship and have since worked on a joint mission to end war rape across the world. In 2015, he admitted he was stepping down at the election so he could continue his quest with Angie.

It goes without saying that beetle-browed Moreno Ocampo  a legal heavyweight and anti-corruption expert who had gained fame as assistant prosecutor in the infamous Trial of the Juntas  had a huge crush on Angie.

It began in 2009 when the actress attended the trial of Congo warlord Thomas Lubanga (his conviction for forcibly recruiting child soldiers was Moreno Ocampos sole successful prosecution in nine years as ICC chief prosecutor).

Angelina Jolie offered to come to the International Criminal Courts rescue by hunting down Kony herself

Pleased as punch  the Argentine liked nothing more than the presence of a celebrity to add fairy dust to his daily grind  in 2010 he wrote to Jolie, via her assistant, asking her to become his advisor.

I see a role for her helping us to understand and build bridges with the humanitarian campus and with citizens concerned from all over the world, he said.

Nothing came of it. Perhaps Jolie was too busy that year starring in The Tourist with Johnny Depp, establishing the Shiloh Jolie-Pitt Foundation to support conservation work in the Kalahari, opening a school in Afghanistan, or looking after her ever-expanding family.

Who knows? But then in 2011, deep joy, she popped up again. Shed written and produced a film about the Bosnian War, In The Land Of Blood And Honey, and wanted to know if he liked it.

Liked it?! He loved it, and despite supposedly having one of the most demanding jobs in international humanitarian law and being in demand as a consultant to the World Bank and UN, found time to watch it over (and over) again.

Unlike some reviewers who considered the dialogue clunky and awkward, or one critic who called it a messy, unnatural war porno, he was utterly entranced and gushed in an email to her about how he felt it was comparable to Shakespeare with a plot so strong I am still recovering.

Former Foreign Secretary William Hague was famously entranced by Angies good works when they met at a film screening in 2011 and has fought to stop rape being used as a weapon with the star

Several days later, having watched it again, he was back in touch, love-bombing her with praise: I am in LA and watched the movie again (4th time)... you are a genius. You did exactly what you said: a love story showing the war horrors. Xx Luis.

Angie was thrilled.

Louis, I wish you could see the smile on my face. You represent with your work all that I value. Im so happy the film speaks to you.

Who cared if shed spelled his name wrongly? Luis certainly did not.

Beneath his carefully trimmed beard, he was so chuffed that he instantly starting planning an important new humanitarian starring role for Ms Jolie: helping bring the evil Joseph Kony to trial.

Angie was immediately on board, going public in a 2012 video calling for Konys arrest. Hes an extraordinarily horrible human being who, you know... his time has come and its lovely to see young people are raising up as well, she said.

And then, apparently, she came up with her cunning honeytrap idea to lure Kony to a dinner in the Central African Republic so he could be arrested.

It was dangerous work. Kony is the sort of man who cuts off peoples lips and noses and forces children to kill their parents and siblings with machetes.

Even by Jolies standards  she is the sort of woman who used to wear a vial of her second husbands blood in a necklace and has never shied from doing the unexpected  the plan seemed deeply unadvisable.

But Moreno Ocampo was thrilled. He liaised with anti-Kony pressure group Invisible Children and the Special Forces trying to trap Kony, and reported back: You can be embedded with the Special Forces chasing Kony. Can Brad go with you?

It will be great to spend more time with the American troops, he wrote. They are eager to get Kony, but after meeting you, they will do it.

Angelina Jolie was prepared to lure Joseph Kony, a man who eluded hundreds of highly trained military personnel, to dinner

Perhaps he meant she would inspire them to succeed where everyone before had failed. Perhaps he felt she really would be able to lure Kony into a trap.

Whatever, it seemed to be all systems go. Brad is being supportive, replied Ang. Lets discuss logistics. Much love Xxx.

And then? Nothing. Angie went quiet. Maybe the trip went ahead, but more likely not  there is no further mention in the leaked files and Kony is still at large.

Undaunted however, Moreno Ocampo was back emailing Angie the following month. This time, he was asking for advice.

After a sensitive three-year enquiry, he had decided the ICC couldnt investigate war crimes in the Palestinian territories, but did not know how best to announce his decision. The issue is how to present it to the normal people... he emailed her. So if you have any ideas, just let me know.

I am attaching the decision I will take. It is confidential. Please dont share it before Tuesday.

Angies response? I suggest read your statement but consider not opening the floor to questions.

Sadly, for Moreno Ocampo, this was to be Angies last email. She was edging away from his increasingly enthusiastic contact. He couldnt even tempt her back with proposals for a charity education project... though he kept trying.

Dear Angie, I hope you are well. I miss you. No answer.

Angie wasnt the only Hollywood star Ocampo tried  and failed  to recruit. But he made even less headway with actors George Clooney and Sean Penn.

Clooney refused his request for help flying spy satellites over Libya to put pressure on Gaddafis generals. And when Ocampo invited Penn to a New York hotel to discuss a potential investigation into the Palestinian conflict, he received a flip response.

While you make the decision on Palestine, Im embroiled in a decision weather [sic] or not to get a steam in the hotel spa, wrote Penn.

Meanwhile, he still wasnt ready to give up, and when he read reports that Angie was unwell, emailed her assistant in a panic, saying: I realise how much I love her. And finally, an answer. From the assistant, though  mortifyingly curt and notifying him that Angie had changed her private email address.

And that was that. Shortly afterwards, his ICC tenure came to an end and he left to pursue other avenues in law, human rights and international conflict. Oh yes, and last year, reportedly approached glamorous humanitarian lawyer Amal Clooney (Georges wife) for help with a case.

Meanwhile, Angie has continued with her tireless humanitarian work.

And, tragically, evil Kony remains at large, unlikely now ever to accept a dinner invitation to Angeline Jolie, however tempted he might be.
Theresa May made a pointed apology for the General Election campaign in her much-maligned conference speech.

May, whose poll lead fell from 23 per cent to virtually nothing, said: It was too scripted, too presidential. I hold my hands up for that. I take responsibility. I led the campaign. And I am sorry.

Election strategist Sir Lynton Crosbys firm was paid about 4 million for the campaign.

Election strategist Sir Lynton Crosbys firm was paid about 4 million for the campaign

Surprisingly, his company CTF Partners still works for the Tories, carrying out a values study, asking focus groups what they care about.

One senior Tory said: It might have been better if theyd known the values before the campaign. Theres been a string of resignations at No 10 but none at Tory HQ, which is now known as the provisional wing of CTF.

In his newspaper column Nick Timothy  sacked as Theresa Mays chief of staff after the election  said the policies in her speech werent good enough.

This was the opportunity for the Tories to reset and show the country . . . they have the policies to change peoples lives for the better. Unfortunately, they failed to take their opportunity. One big idea was the cap on energy. It was in the manifesto in the general election that cost Mrs May her majority. Who helped write the manifesto? Mr Timothy.

After his botched coup attempt, former Tory chairman Grant Shapps faces a battle for survival in his own backyard.

Momentum, the group set up to bolster Comrade Corbyns leadership of the Labour Party, is moving into Shappss Welwyn Hatfield constituency.

The Tory majority, once 18,000, has fallen to 7,300 making it a key marginal.

Momentum targeted ex Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg in Sheffield Hallam and he lost his seat in June.

'Tory chairman Grant Shapps faces a battle for survival in his own backyard'

Reading the nukes on Radio 4

Will the world end if the BBCs Today programme goes off air? People linked to the Radio 4 show  now in its 60th year  think so.

Historian Lord Hennessy asserts that secret orders to nuclear submarine captains to launch a strike are to be acted on only if a submarine cannot tune in to Today for a certain period  as it would show Britain had been hit by a nuclear attack.

Former Today producer Tim Luckhurst says: BBC Radio 4 long wave travels a long way, so if Today is off air, given the facilities to protect emergency broadcasting, it would be a sign that organised government has collapsed.

Writing in Waitrose Weekend magazine, presenter John Humphrys agrees: Its true. Ive asked Peter Hennessy, and he produced chapter and verse. They will know if the button must be pressed if Today doesnt appear. One just has to hope the attack isnt launched on a Sunday. Today is on air Monday to Saturday.

Hard to feel sorry for Boris Johnson who protested in an interview that he struggles to get by on his Cabinet ministers salary with five children.

His wife is a high-earning barrister and, in addition to his 141,000 salary as Foreign Secretary and grace-and-favour home, he received 97,000 last year in book royalties.

His combined earnings of 238,000 are almost nine times the national average.

215k row on McDonnell's patch

Next time Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell complains about penny-pinching by the Government he should have a word with his Tory-run local authority Hillingdon Council.

The lobbyists Back Heathrow discovered through a Freedom of Information request that in the past year Hillingdon spent 215,000 on legal fees opposing expansion of the airport  the boroughs largest employer.

During the same period it cut 215,000 from the childrens services budget.

'Next time Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell complains about penny-pinching by the Government he should have a word with his Tory-run local authority Hillingdon Council'

Labour MP Keith Vaz has always been a toxic figure to some of his fellow MPs.

Quite literally now, I hear. One or two party members are still recovering from food poisoning they suspect they picked up nearly two weeks ago at his Diversity party during the Labour conference.
Anti-abortion campaigners could be banned from protesting outside a clinic that carries out terminations.

A Public Spaces Protection Order will be considered by Ealing Council in London to move protesters away from a Marie Stopes centre in the area.

The orders have been used to tackle begging and street drinking, but it is thought this would be the first time one has been used to stop a public protest.

Ealing Council is considering a Public Spaces Protection Order that would stop anti-abortion campaigners protesting outside a Marie Stopes centre. But there are fears it could curtail the freedom to protest. Pictured: The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children in London

It comes amid an increase in demonstrations outside abortion clinics, and there are fears it could set a precedent to limit campaigners freedom to protest.

The council will debate the move tomorrow after receiving a petition with more than 3,500 signatures from the pro-choice group Sister Supporter demanding action to stop anti-abortion campaigners protesting six days a week.

The group said the sustained intimidation caused great distress to patients and others living and working in the area.

Women attending the clinic are regularly met by groups of protesters who distribute graphic images and models of dismembered foetuses.

Pro-life groups say they are trying to show women there are other options but pro-choice groups say increasingly aggressive tactics, typically seen in the US, have left women in tears.

Others have decided not to enter the clinic after facing a barrage of abuse, or missed appointments because they were too frightened to walk past protesters.

Labour councillor Binda Rais motion says it is explicitly not one for or against abortion [but] seeks to protect the rights of individuals from harassment and intimidation when accessing legally existing health services and of local residents not to be exposed to related disruption and distress on a daily basis.

But Good Counsel Network, a Roman Catholic group that holds vigils outside clinics including the one in Ealing, pledged to carry on protesting further down the road.

It said campaigners also faced harassment by members of Sister Supporter who have been holding counter-demonstrations outside the centre. The groups Clare McCullough claimed they had to request a police presence on Saturdays to stop intimidation by Sister Supporter.

Dr Marie Stopes was a pioneer in the field of birth control, but one of the centres named after her in west London has become a target for protesters

Mrs McCullough said: Weve been holding vigils in Ealing for 23 years and no one has ever been charged with harassment. We will continue to do what we do, just further down the road.

Harassment is a crime. If we were harassing anyone we would be arrested. In fact, what were trying to do is help women to have an alternative, if theyre willing to accept it.

John Hansen-Brevetti, clinical operations manager at the Ealing centre, said other Marie Stopes clinics had reported an increase in protests that were taking on a more aggressive tone. He told The Observer the harassment had now crossed a line and was endangering womens safety.

Anna Veglio-White, from Sister Supporter, told the newspaper: Were hoping Ealing sets a precedent to stop the growing harassment of women using abortion services. What happens here could start a domino effect for other councils to follow.
Silvio Berlusconi has given his long-standing ally Vladimir Putin a duvet cover for his 65th birthday - featuring a life-size image of the pair together.

The former Italian Prime Minister may have taken inspiration from a previous gift sent by his Russian counterpart - the bed in which a prostitute, Patrizia DAddario, claimed to have had sex with Berlusconi in.

Putin and Berlusconi are longstanding friends and during a visit to Rome the latter and his Forza Italia party previously work to lift sanctions placed on Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Silvio Berlusconi has given his long-standing ally Vladimir Putin a duvet cover for his 65th birthday

Two share jokes share jokes at the official opening of the Merloni washing machine plan in Lipets in 2004

Media tycoon Berlusconi had his friend's back when the crisis broke out, saying Russia was merely defending, 'Ukrainian citizens of Russian origin that it considers brothers'.

And when the Italian was ousted from power in 2011 and banned from politics following a tax scandal, Putin not only lent his vocal support but also flew out to visit him personally.

In 2015, Berlusconi claimed that Putin wanted to give Silvio him Russian citizenship to become economy minister at the Kremlin.

Putin and Italian Berlusconi on board of State's yacht 'Argo' to reach the Russia navy' cruiser Moskva in 2003

Berlusconi (pictured after voting for a referendum on constitutional reform last year, left) hopes to be back in office next year. Putin (pictured this week, right) retains a strong grip on power

And their friendship has not faded since Berlusconi left office, which he hopes to return to next year, as shown by the duvet cover reported by The Times.

George Clooney, recalling a visit to see the Italian to discuss aid programmes for Darfur, said that the bed he received from Putin dominated conversation rather than the intended relief issues.

Clooney said in 2011: 'I've had one evening with Berlusconi and it was one of the more astonishing evenings of my life.

'I went to speak about Darfur. I'd done my homework.

'He took me to see his bedroom and the bed that Putin gave him. It became a very different evening than anyone thought.'
Viewers took to Twitter to slam Saturday Night Live for not roasting Harvey Weinstein amid the mounting sexual harassment claims.

Social media users were quick to slam the show's hypocrisy in not going after one of Hollywood's biggest players following the allegations.

'Why didn't big mouth Michael Che say anything about Harvey Weinstein on SNL 'Weekend Update'? He's got so much opinion about everything else,' Pastor Darrell Scott tweeted.

Another person tweeted: 'That is why the political left is OK w/ abandoning but the celebrity left (SNL late night hosts) isn't.'

'Really?! NO mention of Harvey on SNL WeekendUpdate?,' another user wrote. 'This is starting to feel like a conspiracy...'

Viewers took to Twitter to slam Saturday Night Live for not roasting Harvey Weinstein (pictured, September 2016) amid the mounting sexual harassment claims

Social media users were quick to slam the show's hypocrisy in not going after one of Hollywood's biggest players following the allegations

It came on the heels of creator Lorne Michaels has seemingly admitted the show chose not to roast Weinstein because the embattled film heavyweight is from New York

It came on the heels of creator Lorne Michaels has seemingly admitted the show chose not to roast Weinstein because the embattled film heavyweight is from New York.

When Michaels was asked as he was leaving SNL's after-party at 4am why the show avoided the Weinstein controversy, the producer smiled and responded: 'It's a New York thing.'

DailyMail.com has since learned that the cast did try out a Weinstein joke during dress rehearsal - it just never made it to air.

'I remember a joke being made about him during weekend update... I don't remember the joke, I just remember that it got a big reaction from the audience,' an audience member revealed.

SNL regularly pokes fun of President Donald Trump and he has previously lashed out at the show for their impersonations of him.

Trump also hails from New York but that hasn't stopped him from being a SNL target.

Social media users were quick to slam the show's hypocrisy in not going after one of Hollywood's biggest players following the allegations.

An audience member said SNL did have a joke about Weinstein in the Weekend Update sketch during dress rehearsal. That segment is hosted by Colin Jost (left) and Michael Che (right)

Weinstein was fired from The Weinstein Company on Sunday following an expose that detailed decades of sexual harassment allegations made against Weinstein by actresses and employees

Weinstein was fired from The Weinstein Company on Sunday following an expose that detailed decades of sexual harassment allegations made against Weinstein by actresses and employees.

In a statement, the companys board of directors announced his firing Sunday night, capping the swift downfall of one of Hollywoods most powerful producers and expelling him from the company he co-created.

An attorney for Weinstein didnt immediately return messages Sunday.
The actions of three police officers have been met with outrage after they were caught on film forcefully arresting a 12-year-old-boy.

Footage filmed by a concerned bystander captured the moment the boy was arrested at Bendigo Train Station, in central Victoria, on Friday.

In the footage, the boy can be heard crying and pleading with officers to 'let go of me' as he is forcibly held down with his hands cuffed behind his back.

In the footage, the boy can be heard crying and pleading with officers to 'let go of me' as he is forcibly held down with his hands cuffed behind his back

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia the officers were responding to reports of criminal damage to property when they arrived at the train station shortly before 7pm.

An angry witness questioned the officers' force, saying: 'He's just a child'.

The police officers could be heard attempting to reason with the child while he lay face down.

'That is ridiculous, you're not going to hurt my members or me,' one officer said.

The boy can be heard saying 'all I f***ing did' before he is interrupted by an officer who said 'shut up, you've had your opportunity'.

Forced to defend their actions to witnesses, a second officer said 'You know where he was, he was running around on the roof'.

'He's got autism so he doesn't understand,' he continued.

'He's got autism so he doesn't understand,' the police officer on the far tells the woman

Defending their actions, the officer said: 'I can't let him kick people and I can't let him sit down on top of the railway station where he can hurt himself'

The woman retorted saying 'I do (understand) actually, my child's got autism, and if police handled my child like that'.

Defending their actions, the officer said: 'I can't let him kick people and I can't let him sit down on top of the railway station where he can hurt himself'.

Tensions appeared to rise, with the woman shouting back at the police, urging them to phone the boy's parents rather than arrest him.

The policeman told the woman he phoned the boy's parents but they were unable to pick him up.

The police were responding to reports of criminal damage to property at Bendigo Train Station (pictured) when they arrived shortly before 7pm

The back and forth between the officer and the woman was shut down when a second officer, who appeared to be holding the boy down, said: 'you want to move on thanks?'

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia the boy was transported from the scene into his father's care. Police denied the boy lived with autism.

Bendigo Police said the force used by the officers was 'reasonable' and the boy was not hurt during the altercation.

Despite this, the police force was slammed by disability advocates.

'Children, particularly so with autism, are not born violent but it certainly can become a symptom when you're treated with incompetence,' manager Julie Phillips told 3AW.

Bendigo Police said the force used by the officers was 'reasonable' and the boy was not hurt during the altercation at Bendigo Train Station (pictured)

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia the boy was transported from the scene into his father's care. Police denied the boy lived with autism

Bendigo Autistic Advocacy and Support Service's Beck Kelly also questioned the police officers' force.

She told the Bendigo Advertiser the officers' restraint was not appropriate and could lead to trauma for the child.

She also said police force could cause the child to have a lifetime aversion to the police.

Police said they expected to interview the 12-year-old boy at a later date.
A man's body has been found in a school on Sydney's northern beaches on the first day back from school holidays as students were arriving for classes.

The deceased young male was discovered in the playground at Manly West Public School on Monday morning.

Parents were immediately notified the grounds would be closed until midday as police attended the scene.

The deceased young male was discovered in the playground at Manly West Public School (pictured) on Monday morning

The body was found just after 7am, shortly before classes begin at the public school.

Students had been on a two-week holiday period and Monday marked the first day for the resumption of normal lessons.

A notice was sent to parents urging those not yet at school to stay at home and those already at the premises would be safely moved away from the body.

'Children who have already arrived at our school this morning are being cared for in BASC and the hall,' the school said in its notice to parents.\

A notice was sent to parents urging those not yet at school to stay at home and those already at the premises would be safely moved away from the body

Police say the circumstances around the man's death are not suspicious.

Normal classes will resume after midday as emergency service crews leave the area.

If you or anyone you know needs help please contact LifeLine on 13 11 14.
An earl's daughter has added her story to the growing number of accounts of women who claim they were sexually harassed by ex-studio head Harvey Weinstein.

Liza Campbell shared the story with the Sunday Times in the United Kingdom, saying that Weinstein once asked her to 'jump in the bath' with him.

The daughter of the Earl of Cawdor said that she heard Weinstein take off his clothes in the bathroom after telling her to come to his hotel room in the Savoy.

'Come on, it'll be fun. We can drink champagne. You can soap me  whaddaya say?' Campbell said Weinstein asked.

Campbell, who was working as a freelance script-reader for Miramax, said she was under the impression the meeting was for business.

Artist and writer, Liza Campbell (left), added her story to the growing number of accounts of women who claim they were sexually harassed by ex-studio head Harvey Weinstein (right)

She said that she heard Weinstein take off his clothes after telling her to come to his hotel room in the Savoy. Campbell (pictured), who was working as a freelance script-reader for Miramax, said she was under the impression the meeting was for business.

'My immediate reaction was fury. I'm a mother, a bloody grown-up, not some naive ingenue; what the hell does he take me for? I also felt fear,' Campbell wrote for the Times. 'Harvey Weinstein is huge, a pocked bullock, like a hitman from The Sopranos.'

Campbell wrote that she responded to Weinstein: 'If you come back into this room with no clothes on I'm going to f**king lose my temper.'

She then realized she needed to escape and ran out of the room.

Weinstein had initially taken a voluntarily leave of absence following eight claims of sexual harassment allegations uncovered in an expose by The New York Times.

Campbell said the stories from Ashley Judd and others line up with her experience.

Weinstein was fired by The Weinstein Company just days after the Times published the bombshell allegations

'When a friend sent me the piece about allegations of Harvey Weinstein harassing women, I read the headline and thought: "That train has taken way too long to pull into the station."

'Reading on, I was struck by how amazingly familiar the claims about his modus operandi were to me,' she writes.

According to Campbell, she met Weinstein in the 1980s when they spontaneously shared a cab and he invited her to a screening of a film he was producing.

Campbell critiqued scripts for Shakespeare in Love and The Usual Suspects for Miramax.

Weinstein was fired by The Weinstein Company just days after the Times published the bombshell allegations.

The movie mogul was ousted by his own company's board of directors on Sunday.

He founded the firm with his brother Bob in 2005 when he left Miramax.

In a statement, the company said: 'In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company - Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar - have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately.'

On Friday, the board endorsed that decision and announced an investigation into the allegations.

But the Weinstein Co. board, which includes Weinstein's brother, went further on Sunday.

Weinstein, co-chairman of the film company, has also been its face and prime operator, making the Weinstein Co. an independent film leader and near annual presence at the Academy Awards.

Rose McGowan (left) reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement Weinstein settled a suit for $100,000 in 1995. Ashley Judd (right) says Weinstein asked her to watch him shower

An attorney for Weinstein didn't immediately return messages Sunday.

A spokesperson for The Weinstein Co. declined to provide further details on Weinstein's firing.

Messages left for attorney John Keirnan of the firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, who had been appointed to lead an investigation, weren't immediately returned Sunday.

On Thursday, Weinstein issued a lengthy statement that acknowledged causing 'a lot of pain'.

He also asked for 'a second chance', despite him and his lawyers criticizing the Times' report in statements and interviews.

The New York Times article chronicled allegations against Weinstein from film star Ashley Judd and former employees at both The Weinstein Co. and Weinstein's former company, Miramax.

'We are confident in the accuracy of our reporting,' said a New York Times spokesperson in a statement.

'Mr. Weinstein was aware and able to respond to specific allegations in our story before publication. In fact, we published his response in full.'

The allegations triggered cascading chaos at the Weinstein Co. Numerous members of its all-male board have stepped down since Thursday.

The prominent attorney Lisa Bloom, daughter of well-known Los Angeles women's rights attorney Gloria Allred, on Saturday withdrew from representing Weinstein, as did another adviser, Lanny Davis.

In 2015, a memo sent by one Weinstein Company employee, Laureon O'Connor, to its executives accusing it of a 'toxic culture,' The New York Times reported on Thursday.

Several members of its all-male board, including Bob Weinstein, were 'alarmed' the NYT said, but they were assured there was no need to investigate.

O'Connor, who had claimed a colleague had been pressured into giving Harvey Weinstein a naked massage, reached a settlement with the company.

She then retracted her complaint and thanked the mogul for the opportunities he'd given her, the paper said.
A man has revealed the terrifying moment he found the body of a 25-year-old woman in Sydney's north.

Luke Hamilton was dropping his friend off at Chatswood Station when they saw a lifeless body lying in an alleyway Monday morning.

Mr Hamilton told Daily Mail Australia he wanted to help the woman who he thought had passed out the night before.

'I thought I'd try and wake her up and try and get her home,' he said.

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Police are intervening after trying to negotiate with a man on a roof since 7am Monday

Just before 4pm Monday, police were seen to be on the roof with the man (pictured)

The man was found on the roof after the body of a 25-year-old woman was discovered nearby

A man has revealed the terrifying moment he found the body of a 25-year-old woman in Sydney's north, moments after a man refuses to come down from nearby roof (pictured)

Luke Hamilton was dropping his friend off at Chatswood Station when they saw a lifeless body lying in an alleyway Monday morning near the apartment building (pictured)

Mr Hamilton told Daily Mail Australia he wanted to help the woman, who he initially thought had passed out the night before, when he found her in nearby alleyway

However, as Mr Hamilton got closer he saw the woman face down in a pool of blood

'As we got closer we saw the blood smeared down the wall.

'We found her face down on the ground.'

After initially thinking the woman needed help, Mr Hamilton, who was with his roommates at the time, said he was terrified to realise she was dead.

'We saw blood on the wall and assumed she'd been ... clambering for life,' he said.

Mr Hamilton told Daily Mail Australia he wanted to help the woman, who he initially thought had passed out the night before

'As we got closer we saw the blood smeared down the wall. We found her face down on the ground,' Mr Hamilton said

Mr Hamilton said it was terrifying to realise she was dead after seeing the 'pool of blood under her face' (pictured Chatswood apartment building)

Shortly after woman's body was found, a Korean man (pictured) appeared distressed on a roof

'There was a pool of blood under her face.

'It's so sad .. so tragic.

'It was really nerve wracking for a fragile Monday morning.'

Mr Hamilton said he blocked the alleyway off with his ute until police arrived at about 6.30am.

Shortly after the woman's body was found, a Korean man appeared distressed on the roof of a nearby balcony as police tried to negotiate with him.

The man demanded a cigarette from police as he refused to come down from a roof.

The man, who appeared agitated, was crouched at the edge of the high-rise apartment block on the 26th floor in Sydney's north shore and has been there for more than 10 hours.

The man was seen gripping the edge of the glass roof as he held his head in his hands.

The man has been sitting on the roof of nearby balcony as police try to negotiate with him

The distressed man was crouched at the edge of a see-through roof above one of the building's highest balconies (pictured)

Police brought in a translator to help negotiate with the man, who has been on roof for hours

The man demanded a cigarette from police as he refused to come down from the roof

A Korean translator arrived at the crime scene just before 10am to help negotiate with the man, who could be seen pacing along the balcony and gesturing with his hands.

Police sources told Daily Mail Australia that the woman fell from a 21st floor balcony, five floors under where the Korean man is perched.

Her body remains at the scene, covered by a police forensic pop-up structure, while specialist negotiators try and talk the man down from his location, directly above the body.

The man can be seen perched on the edge of the awning, staring down at where the body is lying.

The man can be seen gripping the edge of the glass roof hanging his head over the edge

It appears the man has taken off his shoes and is peering down off the edge of the roof

Mr Hamilton found the body in an alleyway in Chatswood at about 6.15 Monday morning

Police have been unable to remove the body because of the man's presence above it.

Hundreds of school children from Chatswood High and Chatswood Public School began streaming down nearby Victoria Avenue shortly after 3.20pm.

Many of them stopped to point and stare. Some filmed the scene on their smart phones.

As temperatures soar to 29C in Sydney, there are fears for the man's health as he has been on the roof since about 7am.

Rohan Pulakhandam who works at the nearby Hoyts cinema saw the man just after 11am.

'As soon as I saw the man it was just gut-wrenching,' Mr Pulakhandam told Australian Associated Press.

It is not confirmed whether the two incidents in Chatswood at Brown St are related

Police are investigating the cause of the woman's death as it was not immediately clear

'The fact that he's been sitting for so long in the heat wit the sun shining directly on him - he mustn't be feeling very good.'

Police received a call around 6.30am on Monday that a body of a woman was found in Sydney's north.

It was reported the alleyway is connected to a vacant block of land.

However, it is unknown whether the man on the roof is related to the woman's dead body.

The public have been advised to avoid the area, however a crowd of onlookers have been watching and filming.
Bauer Media will appeal the record $4.56 million defamation payout awarded to Rebel Wilson over a series of articles calling her a liar.

The publisher confirmed it would contest the 'quantum' of the damages handed to the Hollywood star last month by the Victorian Supreme Court.

'It's important for us to revisit this unprecedented decision on the quantum of damages, which also has broad implications for the media industry,' its general counsel Adrian Goss said.

Bauer Media will appeal the record $4.56 million defamation payout awarded to Rebel Wilson over a series of articles calling her a liar

It did not appear that Bauer would contest the verdict of the sensational trial over eight articles published in May 2015 by several of its titles.

The 37-year-old proved to an all-female jury in June that the Woman's Day, Australian Women's Weekly, OK! and NW magazine publisher defamed her.

Judge John Dixon said in his judgement Wilson was branded a 'serial liar who had fabricated almost every aspect of her backstory'.

The articles claimed she lied about her real name, age, and various details of her childhood so she could make it in Hollywood.

Wilson won $650,000 in general damages and $3,917,472 in special damages for opportunities in movie roles she lost because of the articles.

The articles claimed she lied about her real name, age, and various details of her childhood so she could make it in Hollywood

Justice John Dixon said a substantial amount was required to 'vindicate' Wilson after her reputation as an 'actress of integrity was wrongly damaged'.

The publisher acted in an 'orchestrated' fashion to sell more magazines and increase circulation, the judge said, adding that it knew the claims were untrue.

The actress had sought $5.893 million in special damages and $1.2 million in general damages, bringing the total claim to $7.093 million.

Bauer Media branded the special damages claim 'extraordinarily large' and made on the 'most tenuous of bases'.

Defence barrister Georgina Schoff QC said Wilson was not entitled to special damages because she had failed to prove the articles caused her financial losses.

Mr Goss said at the time that the publisher would consider the outcome, and has ultimately decided to appeal two weeks before the deadline.

'Bauer Media has a long history of delivering great stories to our readers and we have a reputation for developing some of the best editorial teams in this country. This is what we are focused on,' he said last month.

The 37-year-old proved to an all-female jury in June that the Woman's Day, Australian Women's Weekly, OK! and NW magazine publisher defamed her

Wilson won $650,000 in general damages and $3,917,472 in special damages for opportunities in movie roles she lost because of the articles

'It is about continuing to do what we do best and that is delivering great content to more than 85 per cent of Australian women across the country via our iconic portfolio.'

Wilson has pledged, via Twitter, that any money she wins will be donated to a charity, scholarship or invested into the Australian film industry.

'Re my defamation case win, any $'s I receive will go to charity, scholarships or invested into the Aussie film industry to provide jobs,' she wrote.

The tweet was quickly followed with another which read: 'I take being a role model very seriously'.
An elderly man has allegedly been sexually assaulted twice by a man who broke into his Sydney home last week.

The incidents occurred in the 85-year-old man's Roselands home, in Sydney's south-west.

New South Wales Police said the elderly man was asleep in his home on Violet Street on an unknown date last week when a 58-year-old man allegedly entered the house and sexually assaulted him.

An elderly man has allegedly been sexually assaulted twice, by a man who broke into his Sydney home last week (stock image)

It is further alleged the man returned at 9pm on Friday and again sexually assaulted the 85-year-old.

It is understood the two men had been known to each other for a short time.

The incidents were reported to police the following day and officers from Campsie Local Area Command commenced an investigation.

Police arrested the 58-year-old man at an address in Punchbowl around 11.10am on Sunday.

Police arrested the 58-year-old man at an address in Punchbowl around 11.10am on Sunday (stock image)

He was taken to Campsie Police Station and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault, break and enter with intent.

He was also charged with two counts each of attempted sexual assault and indecent assault.

He was refused bail to appear before Burwood Local Court on Monday.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
A man wanted over a double-stabbing and a suspicious house fire in Melbourne has been arrested.

Damen Stephens, 43, was arrested in Cheltenham on Monday morning, ending police's 24-hour manhunt.

He was wanted over a violent incident with a 'large knife' that occurred in St Kilda on Saturday night that put two men in hospital.

Mr Stephens was also a person of interest over a fire at his mother's house in Bentleigh, south-east of the CBD. The elderly woman is still in hospital after neighbours allege he tried to strangle her.

In May he posted to his Facebook account that he had been behind bars for eight months because of a 'slight cyber-stalking incident/misunderstanding/love-story' and was out on bail 'looking for new Friends/Victims'.

Damen Stephens (pictured) was arrested in Cheltenham on Monday morning, ending police's 24-hour manhunt

He was wanted over a violent incident with a 'large knife' that occurred in St Kilda on Saturday night that put two men in hospital

A woman helped police locate Mr Stephens after seeing him outside a Cheltenham petrol station after 9:30am on Monday morning.

She told the Herald Sun she recognised the man from the media reports and immediately phoned police.

'To me, he just looked a bit dodgy, he kept looking around and was a bit cagey, which is kind of what caught my eye,' she said.

He was wanted over a violent incident with a large knife that occurred in St Kilda on Saturday night that put two men in hospital

Mr Stephens was a person of interest after a double-stabbing occurred on Fitzroy Street after 9pm which left two men in hospital

Mr Stephens was a person of interest after a double-stabbing occurred on Fitzroy Street after 9pm which left two men in hospital.

The men, a 44-year-old and 29-year-old, suffered non-life threatening stab wounds and are recovering.

Police do not believe they know Mr Stephens but had been at the same restaurant the arrested man prior to the incident.

'The stabbing victims were dining at a premises in St Kilda and it was a random attack,' police said.

'At this stage, I am unaware what prompted it. It appears from early investigations that it was quite random. They were in there dining and enjoying their meal and this attack happened quite randomly.'

Mr Stephens' mother's house also suspiciously burned down just after midday on Saturday

Fire services were called to the Bentleigh home at around 1pm and were unable to save the home as it was destroyed by the blaze

Mr Stephens' mother's house also suspiciously burned down just after midday on Saturday.

Fire services were called to the Bentleigh home at around 1pm and were unable to save the home as it was destroyed by the blaze.

Neighbours say Mr Stephens and his mother got in a heated argument on Friday evening before he returned to the home later that night and began smashing her windows.

'We are all scared of him,' an anonymous neighbour told The Age.

His mother is still in hospital and is helping police with their investigations.
A former Muslim imam convicted of marrying an underage girl to a 34-year-old man says a video of the ceremony should not have been used as evidence to find him guilty.

Ibrahim Omerdic, 62, appeared before the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday to appeal against a conviction for last year unlawfully solemnising a marriage between the 14-year-old girl and a Rohingya refugee at the Noble Park mosque, in south-east Melbourne.

His defence barrister Daniel Gurvich, QC, told the court a video recording part of the ceremony did not show Omerdic solemnising the marriage and was circumstantial.

'There were deficiencies in the prosecution case and those were fatal deficiencies when it comes to proving the case beyond reasonable doubt,' he said.

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Imam Ibrahim Omerdic, 62, (pictured) found guilty of solemnising the marriage of a teenage girl and a 34-year-old man

'The recording stops at a certain point. The evidence stops at a certain point.

'In this case there was a clear absence of evidence and inability to draw an inference to the exclusion of others there was a complete ceremony.'

Omerdic, 62, was found guilty of solemnising in September 2016 the marriage of the teenage girl and a man, 34.

Magistrate Phillip Goldberg in June sentenced Omerdic to two months' prison for his 'serious breach of trust' but released him immediately on a two-year recognisance release order.

Mohammad Shakir, a Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, in April pleaded guilty to going through a ceremony of marriage with a person not of marriageable age.

Omerdic was an imam of the Bosnian Islamic Society and Noble Park Mosque, but he was sacked after his November arrest over the wedding.

Former imam Omerdic was filmed during the document signing at the ceremony

'If (he) is happy with something, do it. If (he) is not happy with something, don't do it,' he tells the girl in the shaky mobile footage.

Omerdic can also be heard telling the child's mother and her betrothed: 'She's very young.'

He had fought the charge, claiming the marriage was not subsequently formalised under Australian law.

However, Mr Gurvich said the prosecution's decision not to call other witnesses who were present at the ceremony had resulted in 'dangerous conclusions'.

Ibrahim Omerdic was the former cleric at the Noble Park Mosque in south-east Melbourne

'There may have been evidence favourable to the appellant that he was deprived of having the opportunity of being given,' he said.

Omerdic also did not provide the couple with an Islamic marriage certificate, he said.

Counsel for the Commonwealth, Wendy Abraham QC, said the imam deliberately withheld the certificate.

'He did not give a marriage certificate for his own security,' she said.

'He did not want to get caught out.'

The hearing before Justice Andrew Keogh continues.
President Donald Trump has said that nobody could have done what he did to help Puerto Rico, lamenting that he gets 'so little appreciation'.

Trump tweeted the remark on Sunday night, continuing his insistence that the federal government is doing all it can to help the US territory recover from Hurricane Maria's devastation last month.

Although parts of the capital city San Juan are approaching normalcy, nearly 90 percent of the island remains without power, with estimates of up to four months for full restoration of utilities.

'Nobody could have done what Ive done for #PuertoRico with so little appreciation. So much work!' Trump tweeted, along with an eight-minute video about relief work on the island, which concluded with a slow-motion montage of his recent visit set to swelling music.

Trump's tweet included an eight-minute montage of relief efforts, including this clip of a MH-53E Sea Dragon moving concrete barriers to repair the Guajataca Dam

An MH-53E Sea Dragon from the "Vanguard" of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron prepares to transport concrete barriers to help repair the Guajataca Dam in Quebradillas

The Navy has worked to shore up the damaged dam, which failed after Hurricane Maria. Trump says he has gotten 'so little appreciation' for the recovery work

'What the fake news media will not show you in Puerto Rico,' a title card at the beginning of the video read.

The video showed clips of military aircraft delivering supplies, and a MH-53E Sea Dragon moving concrete barriers to repair the Guajataca Dam.

Federal relief workers also spoke about their work delivering medicine, clearing roads, and working with local authorities to return electricity to the island.

Earlier in the week, Trump was in a war of words with San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who criticized his response to the disaster.

A woman washes her hair in the Espiritu Santo river on Sunday more than two weeks after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. Only 11.7 percent of Puerto Rico's electricity has been restored and some residents are going to the river to cool off, wash clothes, or bathe

Carmen Cintron Torres takes a break from cleaning debris in front of her home in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico on Saturday. The flooded river next to her home destroyed a local bridge

US Army 1st Special Force Command Sgt. Kenneth McAnally surveys a section of a road that collapsed and continues to erode in Puerto Rico on Saturday

The president has harshly criticized Cruz and others who have questioned his administration's relief efforts, calling them 'politically motivated ingrates.'

He also slammed the 'poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help.'

In the days after the hurricane hit, relief supplies did pile up with no way to distribute them, after private truckers failed to show up for work.

On Wednesday, DailyMail.com reported that San Juan was close to normalcy, with bustling Starbucks and even a strip club reopening in the capital.

Carmen Yulin Cruz, the mayor of Puerto Rican capital San Juan, wore a t-shirt reading 'Nasty' as she criticized Trump over his visit to the devastated island nation

Trump makes remarks in the Oval Office on Friday. He says he gets no appreciation for the federal government's assistance to the island territory of Puerto Rico

President Donald Trump tosses paper towels into a crowd as he hands out supplies at Calvary Chapel in Puerto Rico Tuesday. 'Nobody could have done what Ive done for #PuertoRico,' he says in a new tweet

Beyond the city limits, however, the semblance of normality quickly fades to desperation and misery.

Patchy relief efforts have left poor Puerto Ricans living within a few miles of the capital with no power, medicine and little to eat or drink.

'There's a Chinese restaurant open, a couple of bakeries, but you won't find much to eat. FEMA brought us two trailers of food but it's all gone,' said Orlando Carcano, 31, who lives in Loiza 17 miles east of the capital.

'I spoke with someone from the authorities and the electricity should be coming back next February,' he said.
The family of Australian nurse Kelly Clarke, who died from bilateral pneumonia in Fiji last week, are preparing to bring her body home.

Ms Clarke, 24, was in Sigatoka, Fiji, to celebrate her honeymoon with her husband Chase, 28, when she fell ill and was rushed to hospital.

Doctors initially thought the young woman had typhoid disease but later revealed a severe case of pneumonia took her life.

Ms Clarke's parents flew to Fiji to be with her husband and prepare to bring her body back to Sydney, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The family of Australian nurse Kelly Clarke, pictured with her husband Chase, are preparing to bring her body home, after she died from bilateral pneumonia in Fiji

Kelly Clarke, 24, was with husband Chase when she fell ill and was rushed to hospital on Wednesday with what was initially thought to be typhoid

Chase Clarke (pictured) said: 'I spoke to her and she told me she was scared she was going to die'

Parents Graham and Karen Shaw, together with Ms Clarke's husband Chase, are awaiting approval from Fijian authorities to fly her body back on a chartered plane.

Initial reports have confirmed the pneumonia infection Ms Clarke contracted, but have also highlighted 'four additional minor' causes.

'I don't know what to say, I'm completely and utterly devastated, it's come as a complete shock,' Mr Clarke told the Daily Telegraph.

'When we're stronger we will reveal the complete causes of death but severe bilateral pneumonia is the main one.

'Kelly is a wonderful kind soul, the last thing you expect on your honeymoon is to lose your wife, she had her whole life ahead of her.'

Within half an hour, her condition had deteriorated to the point where her husband Chase Clarke knew she had to go to hospital

Ms Clarke initially complained of stomach pain before being rushed to hospital

The young Australian couple (pictured together on their wedding day) were married in April

Ms Clarke initially complained of stomach pain but within half an hour, her condition had deteriorated to the point where her husband knew she had to go to hospital.

'From the first time she said she was sick, to the critical point I took her to the hospital would have been 20 minutes,' Mr Clarke told Nine News.

'I spoke to her and she told me she was scared she was going to die. I told her I loved her, we're going to get out of here, everything's going to be OK.'

'She'd gone into septic shock, she was panting heavily, she could barely speak to me... I couldn't explain how much pain she had... It just happened so quickly.'

Ms Clarke had recently graduated as a registered nurse at The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

The Children's Hospital offered condolences in a statement, praising the nurse for her dedication.

Ms Clarke, 24, died on Friday night in Fiji, where she was on her honeymoon with her husband

'We are so devastated to hear this news. Our thoughts are with you all at this sad time. Kelly was a beautiful girl,' said one friend

'Kelly was a dedicated nurse who loved working with children and will be greatly missed by her colleagues and patients,' a spokeswoman said.

The Sydney woman died on Friday night while waiting for a medical evacuation team to arrive.

Mr Clarke described the agonising decision to direct medical staff to cease working on his wife.

'I said stop and pushed everyone away and me and her mother just held her,' he said.

'From the first time she said she was sick, to the critical point I took her to the hospital would have been 20 minutes,' Mr Clarke said

Doctors initially thought the young honeymooner had caught Typhoid and started her on treatment

Ms Clarke's sister started a fundraiser after the family was told it could cost $61,000 to bring her body home.

The page has since raised over $47,000 to help cover funeral costs.

Ms Clarke's brother, Murray Shaw said his sister went into cardiac arrest five times within an hour before she died.

'We are so shocked,' Mr Shaw wrote in a Facebook post.

'You beautiful girl and amazing sister you will be deeply missed.'

Ms Clarke's sister started a fundraiser after the family was told it could cost $61,000 to bring her body home

Friends and relatives continue to pay tribute to Ms Clarke on social media, with one co-worker remembering 'an amazing woman, a brilliant nurse and such a kind and gentle soul'.

'She was one of the most beautiful, caring, giving people I have ever been lucky enough to meet,' another person wrote.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said it was providing consular assistance 'to the family of an Australian woman who passed away in Fiji'.

Friends and relatives paid tribute to Ms Clarke on social media, with one co-worker remembering 'an amazing woman'

Ms Clarke was a recently-graduated registered nurse at The Children's Hospital at Westmead

'You (were a) beautiful girl and amazing sister you will be deeply missed,' her brother wrote
A former model has broken her silence 20 years after disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein reportedly tricked her into joining him in his hotel room before stripping naked and begging her for a massage.

Christchurch-born Zoe Brock, 43, spoke out on Monday detailing her 'horrific' experience with Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein as a young model in 1997.

Ms Brock, who described herself as a 'naive' 23-year-old, said she found herself in Harvey's room 'drunk, miles from home, without cash to get a cab, and without a cell phone.'

Ms Brock, who described herself as a 'naive' 23-year-old, said she found herself in Harvey's room in 1997 (pictured today)

'Harvey left the room, but not for long. He re-emerged naked a couple of minutes later and asked if I would give him a massage,' she wrote in a blog post

Ms Brock claimed she emerged from the bathroom to see Weinstein (pictured) sitting on his bed in a bathrobe and crying

'Harvey left the room, but not for long. He re-emerged naked a couple of minutes later and asked if I would give him a massage,' she wrote in a post on Medium.

'Panicking, in shock, I remember weighing up the options and wondering how much I needed to placate him to keep myself safe.'

Finding herself 'terrified' and alone, Ms Brock said she confronted Weinstein.

'I told him I was uncomfortable and that I was angry that I had been tricked into this position.

'He pleaded with me to let him massage me and I let him put his hands on my shoulders while my mind raced,' she claimed.

'Harvey chased me, d**k, b**ls and all, and banged on the door with his fists, pleading with me to come out,' she said

Ms Brock said she then ran into the bathroom and locked the door.

'Harvey chased me, d**k, b**ls and all, and banged on the door with his fists, pleading with me to come out,' she said.

The former model said there wasn't anything in the room she could use to help her out of the situation, only toiletries and a hair dryer. So she resorted to addressing him directly.

'This is unacceptable. Put your clothes on you naughty, naughty boy,' she apparently said.

While this statement did encourage Weinstein to put his clothes back on she said her terrifying encounter with the producer was not over yet

While this statement did encourage Weinstein to put his clothes back on she said her terrifying encounter with the producer was not over yet.

Ms Brock claimed she emerged from the bathroom to see Weinstein sitting on his bed in a bathrobe and crying.

The former model said she became enraged after Weinstein broke down in tears because he thought she refused him because he was 'fat.'

'I'm f***ing furious at you. You chased me around naked and scared me. You acted like a friend and then tricked me,' she wrote online.

The young model allegedly managed to convince Weinstein to let her go.

While she said she left physically unscathed, she said 'that doesn't make the story less shocking or emotionally jarring.'

Ms Brock reiterated that she found herself alone with Weinstein after a night partying with friends.

She said she was convinced to go back to his suite with a group of his associates, but one by one everyone in the group peeled off, leaving her alone with him.

'I took stock of the other men who had enabled this situation, lying to my face to lure me here,' she said.

Weinstein was fired from his own company on Monday following a string of sexual harassment allegations which dated back decades.

Daily Mail has contacted Weinstein for comment.

Actress Ashley Judd (pictured left in 1997) has also made harassment claims against the Hollywood bigwig, revealing she was lured to Weinstein's (right) hotel room once and asked to perform sexual favours

The millionaire producer has reached at least eight different settlements with women who have accused him of sexual harassment.

'Charmed' star Rose McGowan came forward on Twitter last October with claims she was raped by a 'studio executive' in the mid-1990's.

Actress Ashley Judd has also made harassment claims against the Hollywood bigwig, revealing she was lured to Weinstein's hotel room once and asked to perform sexual favours.

Former Fox News anchor, Lauren Sivan, came forward on Friday saying in an interview with the Huffington Post that Weinstein once trapped her in a restaurant hallway at a private event and masturbated in front of her until he ejaculated.

Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Brie Larson, Brooklyn Decker, Patricia Arquette, Jessica Chastain and Heather Matarazzo are among the A-listers supporting accusers claims online.

But actresses Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow, who have all worked with the accused producer, are yet to speak out about the scandal.
McDonald's customer's 'red raw' beef burger

A McDonald's customer in Canberra was left disgusted after finding his large Angus burger was 'red raw'.

The man, who is not named, told Yahoo7 he was shocked after taking a bite of his meal.

'Upon eating the burger I noticed something was not right,' the man said. 'I inspected the burger and noticed it was red-raw.'

The large meal was bought from the Lyneham McDonald's Drive Thru, where the man claims management handled the situation poorly.

A Canberra man has claimed that the beef pattie on his burger was uncooked and 'red raw'

Taking a photo of his meal, the man returned to the store to complain about the raw burger.

He claims the Lyneham McDonald's team 'failed to address his complaint properly'.

After waiting 25 minutes for a refund from the fast food restaurant, the customer said he 'gave up and went home'.

The man served a 'red raw' burger claimed after waiting 25 minutes for a refund, he gave up

The customer claimed that the Lyneham McDonald's Drive Thru handled his complaint 'poorly'

In a statement to Yahoo7, a McDonald's spokesperson said this was an isolated incident and no other products were impacted.

'We're obviously disappointed this has happened,' the spokesperson said.

'This was an isolated incident and did not affect any other products.

'We have reinforced our procedures with the restaurant and are continuing to liaise with the customer directly as we investigate further.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted McDonald's for further comment.
Chelsea Manning spoke at the New Yorker Festival on Sunday

She may have been disinvited by Harvard and turned away from Canada, but Chelsea Manning earned applause, laughter and even some tears of empathy on Sunday from a friendly crowd at the annual New Yorker Festival.

Manning, who was released in May after seven years in military prison, was by turns impassioned, defensive, humorous and occasionally tearful in a panel discussion with New Yorker writer Larissa MacFarquhar.

She became emotional when asked what she thought the best result had been from her leaking of hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks.

'Look, I haven't had time to deal with these questions,' she said. 'All I've been doing is fighting for my life for the last seven years.'

The 29-year-old transgender woman was known as Bradley Manning when she was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison. In his last days in office, President Barack Obama commuted the rest of her sentence.

Manning has made only a few appearances since her release. Last month, Harvard University reversed a decision to name her a visiting fellow after CIA director Mike Pompeo scrapped a planned appearance over the designation, calling Manning an 'American traitor.'

The 29-year-old transgender woman (left) was known as Bradley Manning when she was convicted in 2013 for leaking classified documents

She was sentenced to 35 years in prison, but in his last days in office, President Barack Obama commuted the rest of her sentence

And Manning tweeted two weeks later that she'd been denied entry into Canada because of her U.S. criminal record.

While some see her as a traitor, others see her as a hero for exposing truths of war. One audience questioner cried as she mentioned the ordeal Manning had been through.

At times, Manning told MacFarquhar she was legally unable to go into certain details. And when asked how she would advise other aspiring leakers to proceed, she said simply that everyone needed to make their own decisions. But she responded forcefully when asked whether she'd been afraid that the release of her documents would hurt people by exposing the names of informants. She said the material included no such information.

'These aren't intelligence documents,' she said. 'It's historical data.'

'There's nothing sensitive in there, there's no troop movements,' she added. 'It was a historical record of everything that had happened in Iraq and Afghanistan.'

Manning said that she decided to leak military documents when she was on leave back home in Washington, after watching the film All the President's Men. Above, crowds waiting in line to see Manning speak on Sunday

Manning said she called the Washington Post and the New York Times from public phones and various Starbucks locations when she first tried to leak the documents. Above, crowds waiting in line to see Manning on Sunday

Manning eventually leaked to Wikileaks because the newspapers ran into issues establishing encrypted communications channels. Above, the venue where Manning spoke on Sunday

Manning spoke of her childhood in small-town Oklahoma - 'a typical generic town in the middle of the country' - her turbulent family life, and a short time living homeless on the streets of Chicago.

She said she'd learned to program computers by age eight or nine, and eventually joined the military because she thought 'I could use my skills and make a difference.' Once she got to Iraq, she said, she was overwhelmed by the death and destruction she saw.

On a 10-day leave back home in Washington, she said, she first tried to leak the documents to the Washington Post or The New York Times - simply because she had seen the 1976 movie 'All the President's Men.'

The movie tells the story of how Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the details of the Watergate scandal that leads to President Nixon's resignation.

Inspired to act but unwilling to trust email, Manning called the Post and Times from public phones at various Starbucks locations.

But the newspapers were unable to establish encrypted communications channels, so she went to WikiLeaks, because, she said, 'I was running out of time.'

Manning spoke in detail of her time in prison, especially in solitary confinement. 'Humans are a social creature,' she said, fighting tears. 'We need connections. We need to be with each other.'

She said she got through much of the seven years by setting small, incremental goals, like getting 'from breakfast to lunch to dinner to sleep.' When the rules forbid her to exercise, she said, she started to dance, and her guards didn't stop her. So she thought, she said, 'OK, that's how I'll exercise, like Zumba.'

Manning has now become an activist - for LGBT rights, for transparency in government, and also against what she called an alarming level of surveillance in society.

'I feel like prison has encroached into the outside world,' she said. 'You've got militarized forces walking around on American streets. It's quite frightening.'

She also had a message for engineers and software designers: Pay attention to the potential uses of what you're designing, because it can be used for different purposes than intended.

Manning was asked by one tearful audience questioner whether her experience had made her 'more cynical about fairness.'

'I do have cynical moments,' she said, tearing up again. 'But then I get past them, you know? I turn to my friends, and I turn to my family ... and then they cheer me up.'

Asked by another questioner what motivates her, Manning noted she'd been a DJ in the past.

'I just set up my music equipment, and I've started making some tracks,' she said. 'I'm a little out of date.'
Prisoners have been getting themselves recalled to jail so that they can smuggle drugs and other prohibited items to other inmates, it has emerged.

A new report has warned that those who are near their release date are being convinced by gangs to commit minor breaches of their conditions upon release, so that they are returned to prison for a short amount of time.

It is alleged that the offenders then return to prison in possession of drugs, which are then sold among the prison population at a massive profit to the dealer.

Convicts who are near their release date are being convinced by gangs to commit minor breaches of their conditions upon release, so that they are returned to prison (file picture)

The warnings come at a time of almost epidemic use in the prison estate of Spice, a so-called 'legal high', which has be linked to a number of incidents.

The number of offenders who were recalled to prison has since February 2015  when supervision on release was introduced for inmates who served less than a 12 month sentence, according to The Times.

The move was part of a drive to reduced reoffending.

The claims have been made in a report by the independent monitoring board of Portland prison in Dorset, which houses 500 adult and young adult male prisoners.

The report said that the number of inmates in the category C prison was often bolstered by prisoners who had committed minor breaches in the conditions of their release on licence.

Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, told the newspaper: 'We have been contacted by prison staff concerned that prisoners are being recalled in order to bring drugs into custody.

'Some of those are being coerced by gangs on the outside.

'This is an example of how expanding the reach of the criminal justice system simply creates problems and does nothing to solve them.

The offenders are returning to prison in possession of drugs, which are then sold among the prison population at a massive profit to the dealer (file picture)

'At a time when prisons are already filled to bursting, it made no sense to ratchet up rules on recall and send thousands of prisoners back behind bars after release.'

Last month detective constable Jamie Thompson, Cheshire Police's drugs expert, warned the National Custody Seminar organised by the Police Federation that rank and file officers should be aware of former inmates who were seemingly desperate to return to prison for minor crimes.

'Be on the lookout for offenders who are out on licence and seemingly desperate to get locked up and commit minor crimes to take the drugs into prison,' he said.

'One guy broke the window of a police station. He was going to get paid 1,000.'

The 2016-17 report, issued by Portland Prison's independent monitoring board a fortnight ago, said that while authorities had attempted to tackle mobile phone use, it had appeared impossible to disrupt the prison drugs trade.

Anna Knight, vice-chairwoman of the independent monitoring board at Portland Prison, told the Times: 'The parameters by which the conditions can be broken are quite slight. It can be as low as being late for a probation appointment.

'There is a problem with more and more people who are actually involved in criminal gangs making sure they come back on recall because it is a way of them smuggling in drugs and mobile phones.'

Previous academic research has linked the recall system to drug smuggling by offenders and warned of its profligacy.

The study, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy said that: 'Strong evidence that the licence recall system  a cornerstone of offender management, intended to act as a deterrent and motivation for offenders to change their behaviour  is routinely and systematically abused to bring synthetic cannabinoids into prison.'

A Prison Service spokesman said: 'We have taken unprecedented action to tackle the supply and use of drugs, including an innovative drug testing programme, the training of over 300 specialist drug dogs and upgrades to CCTV cameras... A new governor has been appointed at Portland and additional officers are being recruited to help step up efforts to tackle drugs.'
A Victorian man jailed for having sex with an underage girl in exchange for cigarettes and gifts has pleaded guilty over the similar abuse of a young teen in state care.

After already serving time in prison in 2012, Emran Dad then met the vulnerable 13-year-old girl on a Springvale street in August 2016.

He struck up a conversation and asked if she wanted to 'have fun', prosecutor Stephen Ballek told the County Court on Monday.

The girl agreed and they drove to a factory where Dad, 27, gave her alcohol and cannabis. Another man there made sexual advances towards her but she refused.

A Victorian man jailed for having sex with an underage girl in exchange for cigarettes and gifts has pleaded guilty over the similar abuse of a young teen (stock image)

The girl added Dad as a contact on her phone under the name, 'best friend ever' and they stayed in touch.

During a subsequent meeting, he bought her cigarettes but refused to hand them over unless she accompanied him in his car.

He drove her to the Springvale area where he tried to kiss her saying, 'Baby, I love you, don't leave me', and then had sex with her.

Police were notified after a friend of the girl questioned Dad about the incident.

His DNA was later found on her underwear, but Dad denied having sex with her and said she had told him she was over 18.

Dad later pleaded guilty to sexually penetrating a child under 16, possessing cannabis and failing to comply with his sex offender reporting obligations.

Dad had sex with a separate girl in 2012 when she was 13 in exchange for buying her cigarettes, and again in exchange for taking her shopping for her 15th birthday (stock image)

In 2012, he was jailed for a minimum 10 months for sex with an underage girl, and arranging for her to have sex with an adult man for payment.

Dad had sex with the girl when she was 13 in exchange for buying her cigarettes, and again in exchange for taking her shopping for her 15th birthday.

He told police at the time he didn't know he wasn't allowed to have sex with girls under 16 as that law did not exist in his native Afghanistan.

Previous reports to the court diagnosed Dad with significant cognitive disabilities following an acquired brain injury.

Defence barrister Amy Peek conceded his latest offending was grave and the girl was vulnerable.

Judge Liz Gaynor said Dad did not deserve a community correction order, given he was a repeat offender.

'It's quite clear in my view he knew perfectly well this girl was 13,' he said.

'If it had not been for the DNA evidence, we could well be running a trial,' she said.

The plea hearing was adjourned until November.
A young pharmacist killed herself during a romantic holiday with her boyfriend in Tenerife after telling him she would meet him for dinner, an inquest heard.

Victoria Smith, 25, was found hanged from a stone jetty on the Spanish island on March 28 this year.

In the months before her death, Miss Smith, from Leyland, Lancashire, privately complained of having 'the world on her shoulders'.

She had just sold her horse so she could purchase a house and settle down with her boyfriend Matt Arkwright, 31.

Victoria Smith, 25, was found hanged from a stone jetty after going on holiday with her boyfriend Matt Arkwright, 31 (pictured together)

Miss Smith (pictured), from Lancashire, privately complained of having 'the world on her shoulders'

The couple (pictured together) had just bought a house together and her boyfriend said she became upset after she sold her horse

But Miss Smith was unhappy at work and was due to take up a new job at a hospital.

She was last seen alive by cycle shop manager Mr Arkwright reading by the pool of their holiday hotel and saying she would meet him at dinner.

During her inquest in Preston, a coroner branded mental illness as 'one of the greatest demons of our time' after hearing how she killed herself.

Coroner James Newman recorded a conclusion of suicide but said: 'Victoria was a young woman who evidently had all of her life in front of her and every opportunity to make a wonderful life.

'She had episodes of feeling down and had been prescribed anti-depressants - but she seemed to have been excited by her new home.

'She wanted to change jobs as it was not to her satisfaction but she had been about to start a new job in April. Her future appeared to have been incredibly bright.

'Mental illness is one of the greatest demons of our time. It is such a waste of a very young and promising life.'

The hearing was told Miss Smith was a 'bright and bubbly' young woman but who had 'ups and downs' over the years and had been put on anti-depressants.

She had previously moved to Wales to work on a farm and moved back to Preston to get a job at a pharmacy in Ashton-on-Ribble.

But she found dealing with customers difficult and accepted another job at Royal Preston Hospital.

The inquest heard that Miss Smith (pictured) found dealing with customers difficult and accepted another job at Royal Preston Hospital

In a statement Miss Smith's father Alan Smith, 62, and mother Linda Smith, 59, said: 'There were a couple of things that she felt weren't going right. She went to the GP and was prescribed Fluoxetine.

'The job in Wales was not what she expected so she came back home, but she felt that she had let herself down and other people down.

'As a family we reassured her. She started the job at the pharmacy again but it wasn't the job that she wanted.

'The relationship with Matt was blossoming and they were moving in together and enjoying themselves.

'Vicky had talked about coming off the anti-depressants, We asked if it was sensible and she said that she had been forgetting to take them a lot of the time anyway.

'Her attendance at work started to suffer, and she was told by the GP to take some time off work. This was to get her medication stable again and then they were on holiday.'

Mr Arkwright said: 'I've always thought that Vicky was a friendly and caring person who was funny and could make anyone smile.

'She was well organised and planned well ahead for everything. We bought the house together and she was very excited about it.

'She wanted to put her own stamp on it. Her more so than me. She was planning what she wanted to do to each room and how she wanted the house to look.

'Before we had gone on holiday she had bought some Ikea furniture and was planning how she was going to make it look like antiques.

'We had a second holiday booked to Rome later in June, where we had been before and both loved it. The Tenerife holiday was just for a break in the summer.

The 25-year-old (pictured with her boyfriend) was found hanged from a stone jetty in Tenerife

The hearing was told Miss Smith was a 'bright and bubbly' young woman but who had 'ups and downs'

At the time of the tragedy Miss Smith's family said her death had come as a 'monumental shock to all who knew her'

'Vicky was a very sociable person, and always had friends and family over. She was looking forward to having a BBQ in the new house. Our relationship was strong and happy.

'In February 2016 she sold her horse, and when that happened she was clearly depressed and it was a sad experience for her.

'I thought that was normal because she was getting rid of something that had been in her life for such a long time.

'She was selling it because she wanted to move on with her life and become a home owner.

'I knew she was on her medication. In February this year she was feeling very down about her job, and she knew it wasn't quite right for her.

'She took the job at the hospital and she was looking forward to it and thinking of it as a career opportunity.

'We had a private chat and she felt as though she had the world on her shoulders. She was anxious that they would have to sell the house, thought she was letting me down and wanted to go to university to do veterinary studies.

'The next day she felt embarrassed about it. She was very quiet, and she said she just wanted to sit by the pool and read.

'I asked her if she wanted to go for dinner and she said no but that I could go without her.

'I waited for her but it got to the stage where we had to sort things for when we were leaving, so I left at about 6.30pm and she said she was right behind me. It was the last I saw of her.'

The hearing was told the stone jetty where Miss Smith was found, was a spot the couple had visited during their holiday.

At the time of the tragedy Miss Smith's family said her death had come as a 'monumental shock to all who knew her.'

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
The carers of Margaret Fleming (pictured) have spoken for the first time since she was reported missing a year ago

The carers of Margaret Fleming have spoken for the first time since she was reported missing a year ago.

According to police, Eddie Cairney and Avril Jones are the only two people to have seen Miss Fleming, who has learning difficulties, since 1999.

Avril, 56, and Eddie, 75, reported her missing after being visited by benefits staff and now say she has been working in London and Poland as a gangmaster.

The officials, who arrived with police at the property, wanted to speak to Miss Fleming, 36, about an application made in her name for extra money.

The couple told BBC Scotland that she had slipped 'out of the door' of their home in Inverkip, Inverclyde as she was scared of authority figures.

Asked if he had seen her since reporting her missing in October, Mr Cairney said: 'Yes, she has been here once. Not here, not to the house, but we have seen her once.

He added that this had occurred within a month of her disappearing.

'When we saw her she was just the way she left, contrary to earlier days,' he said. 'She was clean and behaved, she had stopped this shouting and bawling at you.'

Mr Cairney also said that he had spoken to Miss Fleming on the phone, adding: 'She has come to no harm unless she has got harmed in the past couple of weeks.'

Avril, 56, (pictured) and Eddie, 75, reported her missing after being visited by benefits staff and now say she has been working in London and Poland as a gangmaster

Detectives from Police Scotland's major investigations team have established that, apart from her carers, the last independent sighting of Miss Fleming was in December 1999

The Department for Work and Pensions is believed to have paid out thousands of pounds in benefits to Miss Fleming over the years, but when they received an application for more payments officials paid a visit to the home of her carers Edward Cairney and Avril Jones, in order to speak to Margaret.

It was then that police discovered no one but the couple has seen Miss Fleming since 1999.

Detectives from Police Scotland's major investigations team - which normally probes murders - have established that, apart from her carers, the last independent sighting of Miss Fleming was at a family gathering on December 17, 1999.

Ms Fleming, 36, is thought to have lived with her father in Port Glasgow before he died in October 1995.

Mr Cairney also said that he had spoken to Miss Fleming on the phone, having seen her about a month after she was reported missing last year

She then lived with her grandparents and her mother, but later moved in with carers in 1997 and has been estranged from her mother since.

Police Scotland has carried out a forensic search of the property and its grounds.

Ms Fleming is described as 5ft 5ins with a heavy build, collar-length black hair and brown eyes.

When reported missing on October 28, she was wearing a green tartan fleece, dark trousers, dark Karrimor boots and was carrying a handbag.

Police Scotland's website states officers in Greenock are continuing to appeal for information to trace Ms Fleming.
Callous thieves stole 60 from an 85-year-old pensioner who was shopping in a supermarket after leaving the house for the first time since suffering a stroke.

CCTV captured two men crowding around their elderly victim, who was out shopping with her husband, at a Co-Op in Bexleyheath, south east London.

The sickening footage shows one man, dressed in blue jeans and a grey jumper, lean down into the frail pensioner's shopping trolley as she uses it for support while grabbing a loaf of bread.

The sickening footage shows one man, dressed in blue jeans and a grey jumper, look about to check he is not being watched before dipping into the woman's trolley

When he is sure the coast is clear, he leans into her trolley and takes out her purse while his accomplice watches on

He lifts out her purse while his accomplice, wearing light jeans and a black jacket, watches on.

A separate camera then catches the two crooks counting the money before they casually queue up in the shop to buy what appears to be four cans of alcohol.

The man in grey is seen once again counting the money as they stand in line.

The pair then leave the store.

The Met Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident, which reportedly happened at the Co-Op on Long Lane, Bexleyheath, at 1pm on September 9.

Anyone with any information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A separate camera then catches the two crooks counting the money before they casually queue up in the shop to buy what appears to be four cans of alcohol

The shameless thieves take bank notes out of the purse and count their ill gotten gains before they have even left the shop
The Jordanian man who got a British tourist arrested in Dubai for touching him on the hip did it in order to show off, campaigners believe.

Jamie Harron, 27, from Stirling, is facing up to three years in jail in the United Arab Emirates after being accused of public indecency earlier this year.

Radha Stirling, who runs Detained in Dubai which is overseeing Mr Harron's case, said the accuser 'was trying to show off his power in front of his friends'.

Mr Harron was at a popular night spot when he says he touched the man on the hip in order to squeeze past him, before finding himself under arrest.

He said the experience has left him 'broken emotionally' and facing a 32,000 legal bill, while his father Graham has urged tourists to avoid the city.

Jamie Harron, 27, is facing three years behind bars in Dubai for public indecency. His parents Graham and Patricia (pictured) have told how they cannot sleep with worry and have ruined themselves financially trying to get him justice

Jamie said the experience has left him 'broken financially and emotionally' and he fears the ordeal will never be over

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Stirling said: 'He [the accuser] was saying things like "do you know who I am?"

'His friends told him to drop the case, saying that it had gone too far, but he didn't.'

Mr Harron was arrested three months ago and released, but has been trapped in Dubai ever since because his passport was confiscated.

He appeared in court yesterday where he narrowly avoided going back to jail after missing an earlier hearing when the timing was changed at the last minute and his legal team were not informed.

Ms Stirling said more developments are expected in two weeks when Mr Harron goes back before a judge.

Speaking about his ordeal on Sunday, Jamie, an electrician, said it has 'broken me financially and emotionally'.

Mother Patricia and father Graham, a caterer, say they have been left unable to sleep while worrying about their son.

Speaking to NGO Detained in Dubai, Graham said: 'Patricia and I have not been able to relax for a moment. We never dreamed we would have to face something like this.

'We can't believe that this nightmare has gone on for three months. Jamie is a good boy. He has never been a problem and never in trouble.

'We are a very close family and it is killing us to think of him spending even three nights in jail, let alone three years.'

The family say their finances have been left in tatters by the ordeal, which has cost them around 32,000 so far.

The problem was made worse when Jamie was sacked from his job amidst the proceedings, forcing him to rack up large credit card debts.

Jamie was expected to be jailed on Sunday after he missed a previous court hearing because it was rescheduled at the last minute, but was allowed to remain free

Graham also blasted the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for promoting Dubai as a holiday spot to British tourists, and failing to mention the risks faced by visitors.

'People have to stop visiting that country,' he said. 'Since Jamie was arrested, I have researched and found that this is more common than any of us think.

'It is unacceptable the FCO actually promotes the UAE to British tourists.'

Jamie added: 'The whole thing is like a horrible dream and I just dont know when it is going to end. I thought it would be over by now but it feels like it will never be.

'I am lucky I have friends to stay with but this has broken me, financially and emotionally. I am in debt because of the legal fees and wont even be able to afford to appeal the case if it doesnt go in my favour.'

Jamie, an electrician, had been having a drink at the with friends at a popular venue for young people in the Tecom area of Dubai when the incident took place.

Mr Harron and friend had just bought their first drink when they noticed a Jordanian man who was looking over at them from the edge of the dance floor in a 'confrontational' manner.

They decided to move to avoid any aggravation, but Mr Harron had to walk past the man, and as he passed, he placed his hand on the right hand side of the top of the man's hip to ensure that when passing they didn't bump and spill drinks 'in a move familiar to most UK patrons of crowded pubs'.

While the man showed no sign of agitation as Jamie and his friend passed, he later became very animated before the police appeared outside.

The electrician said he lightly touched an Arab man on the hip in a packed bar as he squeeze past, and was subsequently charged with public indecency

The man went out to meet them, and he began animatedly talking with them, pointing at Mr Harron, who got up and went to see what the problem was.

The man, his friends and the police were all speaking in Arabic, the accuser occasionally shouting in English, 'He's been drinking, and he touched me improperly, I will get you deported, do you know who I am?'

The police asked Mr Harron to apologise which he 'gladly did'. But his accused was 'not mollified' and demanded police arrest him.

After days in Al Barsha prison, where he was not allowed to wash himself or brush his teeth, prosecutors told Mr Harron he was charged with drinking alcohol and 'public indecency.'

When he was released to stay with friends his passport was seized by police.

Detained in Dubai said Mr Harron had been to Dubai many times on holiday and 'knows and respects' the country's laws.

A spokesman for the group said: 'Jamie denies this latter charge vehemently, restating that his only intention was to avoid spilling a drink.

'Tourists who consume alcohol at licensed venues can still be arrested for having alcohol in their system. Most tourists are not aware of this fact. A number of British nationals have been caught out by this contradictory application of the law.

Jamie said the experience has left him 'broken, financially and emotionally' and said he is in so much debt he will not be able to afford to appeal the case if the verdict goes against him

Rock Bottom Bar (pictured) is popular with British ex-pats even though it is illegal to have alcohol in your system in Dubai

'When Jamie was in his prison cell the night of the arrest, his friend accompanied him to the police station. The accuser and his friends were also there.

The accuser's friends were telling him to just drop the matter, and that he had taken it too far. Jamie's friend was sitting next to them all and heard the whole discussion.

'Jamie's friend is acting as his witness, as is the sympathetic security worker of the pub where the incident happened. The bouncer saw the whole incident and confirms Jamie's version of events.'

Jamie's lawyer said: 'This is another example of how vulnerable tourists are to arrest and detention in Dubai and at how drawn out and legal proceedings are.

'We have received a wave of new cases of British nationals detained in Dubai and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office need to increase travel warnings to citizens intending to visit or live in the country.

'If Jamie is sentenced to prison, he faces human rights violations and torture. The English High Court has ruled against extradition to the UAE based on the 'very real risk of unfair trials and torture' but the UK government has refused to increase warnings, largely due to their financial and diplomatic ties with the UAE.

'Both Jamie and his family are anxious for him to be back home in Stirling as soon as possible.'

His case follows that of Edinburgh plasterer Billy Barclay, 31, who was released this week after being held for trying to swap a 20 note, which he did not know was forged, at a bureau de change in Dubai.
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The heroic first responders to the Mandalay massacre gunman have described their 12 minutes of hell as they battled to storm the Vegas sniper's nest.

Stephen Paddock, 64, killed 58 people in Las Vegas last weekend as he rained gunfire onto more than 20,000 people at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival from his hotel room on the 32nd floor.

And now in an interview with '60 Minutes,' the officers who first stormed the room have given new details about how Paddock turned his suite into a fortress using power tools.

The first responders, who all happened to be nearby when they heard about the shooting, also revealed how they banded together to form an ad-hoc, improvised SWAT team in an effort to stop the shooter from claiming any more victims.

Members of the law enforcement team who were the first to enter Stephen Paddock's hotel room after he opened fire on a crowd in Las Vegas (Pictured: Officers Casey Clarkson (L) and Matthew Donaldson on the top row. Bottom row are officers Dave Newton (L) and Sgt. Joshua Bitkso - October 2017)

Stephen Paddock, 64, killed 58 people in Las Vegas last weekend as he rained gunfire onto more than 20,000 people at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival - circled in red is one of the notes that the shooter wrote - one of which is believed to be calculations to improve the accuracy of his firing from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel

When officers forced their way into the room (pictured) they found guns, ammunition and power tools littering the floor of the suite

Sergeant Joshua Bitsko and Officer Dave Newton from the Las Vegas Police Department's K9-unit, who rushed to the scene after hearing about the attack on their police radio while they were training dogs, revealed that Paddock had barricaded the stairwell door outside his suite with a 'piece of metal.'

Thankfully, SWAT officer Levi Hancock was easily able to force open the door with a pry bar.

When they gained entry to the room and found Paddock dead, the officers discovered tool boxes filled with power tools that he was using 'to run wires for his surveillance systems.'

The K-9 officers and the SWAT team member were also joined by Detective Matthew Donaldson and formed an ad-hoc SWAT team of their own to tackle the nightmare shooting attack.

In the heat of the moment, Donaldson even got rid of his cowboy boots and ran to the scene barefoot.

Stephen Paddock (pictured) , 64, is blamed for America's deadliest shooting incident in history

'I took my boots off. I just threw 'em in the casino. That was slowing me down. I was faster barefoot and I was gonna be more effective barefoot,' he said.

Earlier, the officers discussed the detailed notes they discovered left by Paddock.

The note was first discovered by Officer Newton lying face-up on Paddock's nightstand.

'I could see on it he had written the distance, the elevation he was on, the drop of what his bullet was gonna be for the crowd,' Newton said. 'So he had that written down and figured out so he would know where to shoot to hit his targets from there.'

The room looked down on the crowd across the street and was an estimated 1,100 feet away, according to Las Vegas officials.

Newton said it was very 'eerie' to enter the room and find the lifeless body of a man who had just minutes before unleashed a rain of carnage upon hundreds of innocent people.

Authorities also revealed on Saturday that Paddock may have driven to the Nevada desert to prepare for Sunday's attack.

An investigator works in the room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino from where a gunman opened fire from on a music festival last Sunday

FBI investigators work outside the Route 91 music festival site beside the Mandalay Bay resort Hotel after a gunman fired and killed 58 people

Investigators work at a festival grounds across the street from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Tuesday

authorities began cleaning up the area where the shooting occurred, clearing away the personal belongings of thousands of concert goers

Investigators said that they have found surveillance footage showing Paddock driving towards a secluded area on the outskirts of Mesquite, Nevada where locals are known to practice shooting.

Paddock was a resident of Mesquite, about a 90 minute drive to Las Vegas, and split much of his time between there and Las Vegas hotel rooms.

Records show that Paddock began stocking an arsenal of weapons in 2016, buying 33 of his 47 guns since last October, including AR-15-style rifles, according to the Wall Street Journal.

More than a dozen high-powered assault weapons were found in Paddock's room following Sunday's massacre, including guns modified with 'bump stocks', an alteration that allows guns to fire bullets at a faster rate.

Meanwhile, authorities began cleaning up the area where the shooting occurred, clearing away the personal belongings of thousands of concert goers lucky enough to have escaped with their lives.

Workers board up a broken window at the Mandalay Bay hotel, where shooter Stephen Paddock conducted his mass shooting along the Las Vegas Strip

People look at the makeshift memorial which has popped up at the famed ''Welcome to Las Vegas'' sign last week

FBI agents could be seen piling backpacks, baby strollers and lawn chairs left on the Sunset Strip throughout the week, according to CBS News.

Investigators said they will try to return everything left behind to their rightful owners over the next few weeks.

Vice President Mike Pence was also in Las Vegas Saturday, there to attend a ceremony honoring the victims killed or wounded in the attack.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the culmination of a faith unity walk, held to help the community heal after Sunday's mass shooting, at Las Vegas City Hall on October 7, 2017

'On Sunday night, Las Vegas came face to face with pure evil,' Pence said at the Las Vegas City Wide Unity Prayer Walk. 'But no evil, no act of violence will ever diminish the strength and goodness of the American people.'

'It was a tragedy of unimaginable proportions,' Pence added.

Federal and local law enforcement officials are still stumped as to Paddock's motive for the heinous shooting spree, with Clark County Undersheriff Kevin McMahill saying investigators have 'looked at literally everything' and still have come up empty.

Saturday Night Live ditched its traditional comedic cold open on Saturday in favor of a solemn tribute by country music star Jason Aldean to both the victims of last Sunday nights massacre in Las Vegas as well as late rocker Tom Petty.

Aldean was invited onto SNL where he paid homage to the victims before playing a rendition of I Wont Back Down, the 1989 hit single by Petty.

Petty died this week from cardiac arrest. He was 66 years old.

This week we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history, Aldean said.

Like everyone, Im struggling to understand what happened that night and how to pick up the pieces and start to heal.

Saturday Night Live ditched its traditional comedic cold open on Saturday in favor of a solemn tribute by country music star Jason Aldean to both the victims of last Sunday nights massacre in Las Vegas as well as late rocker Tom Petty

Aldean was invited onto SNL where he paid homage to the victims before playing a rendition of I Wont Back Down, the 1989 hit single by Petty

So many people are hurting. There are children, parents, brothers, sisters, friends. Theyre all part of our family.

So I want to say to them: We hurt for you. We hurt with you. But you can be sure that were gonna walk through these tough times together every step of the way.

Because when America is at its best, our bond and our spirit  its unbreakable.

Aldean and his band then began their cover version of Pettys hit.

Aldean was in the middle of performing on stage at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas last Sunday night when Paddock opened fire.
A Korean man who had been perched on a balcony roof at the top of a Sydney high-rise building since a woman's body was found below has been arrested after a 12-hour standoff.

Police negotiators, a translator and rescue officers had been with the man on the 26th floor of the Chatswood apartment building since around 6.30am on Monday, shortly after the woman's body was found.

Just before 7.30pm, the man was finally seen climbing over a ledge, and with police assistance, returned inside the building.

In the lead up to his rescue, he used a mobile phone before speaking with police negotiators - after appearing to ignore them throughout the day.

The man seemed to struggle with officers as they helped him to safety before he was taken into custody.

Just before 7.30pm, the man was finally seen climbing over a ledge, and with police assistance, returned inside the building.

The man who was perched on a balcony roof at the top of a Sydney high-rise building has been arrested after a dramatic 12-hour siege

Just before 7.30pm, the man was seen climbing over a tall ledge with police assistance, and returned inside the building

The man and woman were in a relationship, believed to be in its early stages, and police are now investigating whether domestic violence played a role in the woman's death.

Earlier, a passerby revealed the terrifying moment he discovered the body.

Luke Hamilton was dropping his friend off at Chatswood Station when they saw a lifeless body lying in an alleyway Monday morning.

Mr Hamilton told Daily Mail Australia he wanted to help the woman who he thought had passed out the night before.

'I thought I'd try and wake her up and try and get her home,' he said.

Just before 4pm Monday, police were seen to be on the roof with the man (pictured)

The man was found on the roof after the body of his partner was discovered nearby

A passerby revealed the terrifying moment he found the body of a woman in Sydney's north, moments before a man refused to come down from nearby roof (pictured)

Mr Hamilton told Daily Mail Australia he wanted to help the woman, who he initially thought had passed out the night before, when he found her in nearby alleyway

'As we got closer we saw the blood smeared down the wall.

'We found her face down on the ground.'

After initially thinking the woman needed help, Mr Hamilton, who was with his roommates at the time, said he was terrified to realise she was dead.

'We saw blood on the wall and assumed she'd been... clambering for life,' he said.

Mr Hamilton told Daily Mail Australia he wanted to help the woman, who he initially thought had passed out the night before

Shortly after woman's body was found, a Korean man (pictured) appeared distressed on a roof

Luke Hamilton was dropping his friend off at Chatswood Station when they saw a lifeless body lying in an alleyway Monday morning near the apartment building (pictured)

'There was a pool of blood under her face. It's so sad... so tragic.

'It was really nerve wracking for a fragile Monday morning.'

Mr Hamilton said he blocked the alleyway off with his ute until police arrived at about 6.30am.

Shortly after the woman's body was found, the Korean man appeared distressed on the roof of a nearby balcony as police tried to negotiate with him.

He was crouched at the edge of the high-rise apartment block on the 26th floor in Sydney's north shore.

He was seen gripping the edge of the glass roof as he held his head in his hands.

The man had been sitting on the roof of nearby balcony as police tried to negotiate with him

The distressed man was crouched at the edge of a see-through roof above one of the building's highest balconies (pictured)

Police brought in a translator to help negotiate with the man, who had been on roof for hours

The man demanded a cigarette from police as he refused to come down from the roof

A Korean translator arrived at the crime scene just before 10am to help negotiate with the man, who could be seen pacing along the balcony and gesturing with his hands.

Police sources told Daily Mail Australia that the woman fell from a 21st floor balcony, five floors under where the Korean man is perched.

Her body remains at the scene, covered by a police forensic pop-up structure, while specialist negotiators try and talk the man down from his location, directly above the body.

The man could be seen gripping the edge of the glass roof hanging his head over the edge

It appeared the man had taken off his shoes and was peering down off the edge of the roof

Mr Hamilton found the body in an alleyway in Chatswood at about 6.15 Monday morning

Police had been unable to remove the body because of the man's presence above it.

Hundreds of school children from Chatswood High and Chatswood Public School began streaming down nearby Victoria Avenue shortly after 3.20pm.

Many of them stopped to point and stare. Some filmed the scene on their smart phones.

Rohan Pulakhandam, who works at the nearby Hoyts cinema, saw the man just after 11am.

'As soon as I saw the man it was just gut-wrenching,' Mr Pulakhandam told Australian Associated Press.

'The fact that he's been sitting for so long in the heat with the sun shining directly on him - he mustn't be feeling very good.'
The ex-boyfriend of Towie star Ferne McCann went on trial today accused of carrying out an acid attack in a nightclub.

Arthur Collins, 25, allegedly threw a corrosive substance over 16 people at the packed Mangle E8 nightclub in Dalston, east London over the Easter Weekend.

Collins and 21-year-old Andre Phoenix both deny five counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and 11 counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 17 April.

Arthur Collins, pictured (left) with ex-girlfriend, TV personality Ferne McCann, and (right) in a court sketch from a previous hearing, is on trial over an acid attack in a London nightclub

Two people were left partially blinded and another was disfigured in the attack at Mangle

Wearing grey suits and ties, Collins and Phoenix only spoke to confirm their names and enter not guilty pleas to a new charge of actual bodily harm.

The GBH charges relate to clubbers Kwami Licorish, Makai Brown, Ruam Mota, Sophie Hall and Phoebe Georgiou.

Scarlett Marshall, Tamara-Jane Castle, Jay Lanning, Nadia Pascal, James Bloor, Lauren Trent, Laura Hester, India Rose Sykes, David Mills, Alex Enever and Megan Usher were also hurt in the alleged attack at the Love Juice event.

Sophie Hall was among those injured

A jury was sworn in this afternoon to try the defendants and the case, expected to last thee weeks, will be opened by prosecutor Luke Ponte tomorrow morning.

Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire and Phoenix, of Tottenham, both deny all the charges against them.

Collins' former fiancee, a contestant on 'I'm a CelebrityGet Me Out of Here!' and a regular on This Morning, was pregnant with his baby at the time of the alleged attack.

She said earlier this year that she is still in contact with Collins, despite their split.

She was in an on-off relationship with Collins last summer after meeting through picture-sharing website Instagram, but the romance soon drew to a close.

Miss McCann then appeared on TV series Celebs Go Dating, but rekindled her relationship with Collins following the show.
Boris Johnson turned up late for Theresa May's Brexit statement after complaining that 'sinister forces' have turned her against him.

The Foreign Secretary missed the start of the speech in the Commons today and was forced to shuffle in and take his place between between Sajid Javid and Priti Patel, after the Prime Minister had started.

During her statement to MPs, Mrs May risked the wrath of Brexiteers by hinting the transition period for leaving the EU could last longer than two years.

The PM told Brussels the 'ball is in your court' and urged the EU to help forge a 'dynamic, creative and unique' relationship as she dismissed the prospect of further concessions before trade talks begin.

But she also suggested the two year 'implementation' period, outlined in her Florence speech, could be extended.

Theresa May demanded 'flexibility' from the EU today as she updated MPs on progress in talks

As Mrs May addressed MPs in the Commons today, the Foreign Secretary missed the beginning of her speech, shuffling in late and taking his between Sajid Javid and Priti Patel

Mr Johnson has previously insisted the transition period should be 'not a second more' than two years.

But his future is is thought to be uncertain after he helped throw the gathering into chaos with leadership manoeuvring.

One option would be to shift him to Defence Secretary. But allies reportedly warned that the Foreign Secretary would flatly refuse to accept being moved to a less senior position.

However, Mr Johnson suggested he was a victim of briefing by a 'sinister band of imposters'.

Mr Johnson is thought to be in the firing line after he helped throw the gathering into chaos with leadership manoeuvring. One option would be to shift him to Defence Secretary.

'I am frankly fed up to the back teeth with all this,' he posted to the Tory MP WhatsApp group.

'I do not know who these people are. I do not know if they are really my friends and allies or if they represent some sinister band of imposters.

'I heartily disagree with the sense, tone and spirit of what they are quoted as saying.

'Whoever they are they do not speak for me.'

CABINET AT WAR: WHO STANDS WHERE Theresa May presides over a Cabinet riven by division, fuelled by Brexit and questions over her own future: BORIS JOHNSON The Foreign Secretary exploded Cabinet divisions into public view with his incendiary 4,000 word essay on Brexit. He has set red lines for the Prime Minister on minimum standards for the deal, wants a rapid exit from the single market and the honouring of Vote Leave promises on the NHS. Johnson's intervention fuelled suspicion he mostly wants May's job for himself. PHILIP HAMMOND The Chancellor is determined to stall Brexit for as long as possible to smooth the transition for business. He has been accused of making pessimistic and dour warnings about the impact on the economy - in stark contrast to Johnson's demand for upbeat interventions. He won support from Mrs May for a 'standstill' transition but the two year programme outlined in Florence is less than he mooted in the summer. DAVID DAVIS The Brexit Secretary is negotiating the deal in Brussels but with a divided Government behind him at home. His rows with senior mandarin Ollie Robbins have been well documented. Robbins has since been moved into the Cabinet Office to work more closely with May. He agreed with Hammond about the need for a transition period. AMBER RUDD The Home Secretary's public spat with Johnson during the referendum battle has carried into the Cabinet. Rudd was sent out to slap down the Foreign Secretary after his Telegraph essay, accusing him publicly of being a back seat driver in the negotiations. Close to May, Rudd is thought the leading leadership contender from the Remain wing of the Tory Party, fuelling suspicion about her motives from Brexiteers. LIAM FOX The Trade Secretary is the loudest proponent of a hard Brexit in the Cabinet. He has insisted there is nothing to fear from falling out of the EU without a deal. Fox conceded the need for a transition period during the summer but warned early on it must not extend more than three year. Advertisement

In an interview yesterday, Mrs May responded to reshuffle questions by insisting she would not 'hide from a challenge'.

She admitted her nightmare conference speech - which saw her handed a P45 by a prankster before a sore throat rendered her unable to speak - had been 'uncomfortable'.

But she insisted she never considered abandoning the address because she is 'not someone who gives up'.

Asked what she might do with the Foreign Secretary in a reshuffle, Mrs May told The Sunday Times: 'It has never been my style to hide from a challenge and I'm not going to start now.'

However, Mrs May faced growing pressure to remove Mr Hammond, who is nicknamed 'Spreadsheet Phil' for his dry demeanour, before next month's Budget.

Critics of the Chancellor have accused him of limiting the ambition of the Government's domestic policy agenda and attempting to keep Britain closely tied to the EU for years after Brexit.

Ahead of the June election, Mrs May had planned to sack Mr Hammond, and Downing Street aides held long discussions about how she would handle his ousting, but she scrapped the idea after losing her majority.

Nadine Dorries, a staunch supporter of Mr Johnson, became the first backbencher to publicly call on the Prime Minister to revive her plan.

She told ITV's Peston on Sunday: 'If I were the Prime Minister, the person I would be demoting or certainly sacking would be Philip Hammond.

'She very much wanted to do that before the election was called because I don't think he's been completely on board.

'I think he's been deliberately trying to make the Brexit negotiations difficult, stall them, obfuscate the issues, I just don't think he's been 100 per cent on board.'

Another Tory MP added last night: 'The backbenchers are livid with Hammond because he pushed and shoved over the summer to water down Brexit.

'But also, everybody thinks he is too pessimistic. We want to be upbeat and we just don't think he's helping. So there is a lot of anger.'

Senior backbencher Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the steering committee of the European Research Group of MPs, used a Guardian column to attack Mr Hammond's department - although not the Chancellor himself.

"The Treasury seems unable to hear any voices except those that reinforce their preconceptions.

'It seems blind to the facts, preoccupied with preserving 'access' to the EU market seemingly at any cost," he said.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and his wife Susan Williams-Walker arriving at the Conservative Party Conference last week
Colin Stott, pictured, had a brief affair with secretary Carrie Knight in 1985 but he became fixated with her when she gave birth to daughter Tyla two years later

A former TV psychic known as 'The Dowsing Detective' has been banned from contacting a mother and daughter after he waged a sinister 30 year campaign in which he wrongly claimed he was the child's father.

Colin Stott had a brief affair with secretary Carrie Knight in 1985 but he became fixated with her when she gave birth to daughter Tyla two years later.

Over the ensuing decades, Stott hounded Mrs Knight and her daughter with letters and cards and as Tyla grew up he made her aware of his relationship with her mother.

Despite being repeatedly told he was not Tyla's father, Stott would send the daughter letters each Christmas and also on her birthday.

Police were called in by Tyla after Stott wrote a sexually explicit short novel about a man who becomes attracted to a schoolgirl then sent the contents via a computer disc to the council worker at her home near Manchester.

Tyla - who was herself harassed over a six year period - was said to be 'deeply disturbed' by Stott's 'dark behaviour' and claims police did little to support her during her ordeal.

The widower had appeared on local TV programmes and in regional newspapers in the 1990s to talk about his 'dowsing services' and claims of helping locate missing people and pets using 'psychometry'.

At Manchester Magistrates' Court Stott, now 61, of Prestwich, near Bury admitted harassment and was banned from contacting 65-year old Miss Knight and Tyla for 10 years under the terms of a restraining order.

Stott appeared on local TV programmes and in regional newspapers in the 1990s to talk about his 'dowsing services' and claims of helping locate missing people and pets using 'psychometry'

Stott was sentenced to a 12 month community order and was ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work. He will also attend a three month alcohol treatment programme. He was also ordered to pay 385 court costs.

District Judge Nicholas Sanders told Stott: 'I find this very disturbing especially the fact that you don't realise that what you did was entirely wrong.

'I'm hoping this order will give you the necessary time to reflect on your actions and examine where you will go from here.'

As Stott was leaving the dock he said to the judge: 'Thank you sir for this lenient sentence, it's greatly appreciated.'

But in statement Tyla after the case said: 'I didn't receive any support whatsoever from police and I felt like I wasn't being heard.

'At the time I wasn't sleeping, I was scared to go to work. I had to set up a system at work where I left at different times - it was really difficult and stressful.'

In 1995 Stott claimed his use of astral projections helped him locate the body of a missing jogger who drowned in a canal and in 1999, pinpointed the whereabouts of a stolen cat and appeared on Channel 4 show about missing World War Airmen.

At Manchester Magistrates' court, Stott was sentenced to a 12 month community order and was ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work. He will also attend a three month alcohol treatment programme. He was also ordered to pay 385 court costs

In 2005 he said he had been asked by the then Burmese government to locate a batch of Spitfire planes thought to be buried an air base and even claimed he could use his techniques to predict the future movement of stock market shares and commodity prices.

He also said hot used psychometry to pinpoint the approximate whereabouts of Moors murder victim Keith Bennett.

On his website Stott claims: 'Missing items, pets, loved ones, even one's own destiny can all be found by powers of concentration alone.

'There is nothing which cannot be found. As a dowser and world authority on Astral Projected Triangulation I locate at a corporate level, water, mineral deposits and oil for prospective companies.

'I sell psychic readings for items such as gold in the ground, missing pets, or long lost relatives. All I need is a photo of said item sent to me together with a map of your area.'

But the court heard Stott's persistent behaviour towards the mother and daughter caused them 'alarm and distress.'

Prosecutor Carl Gaffney said: 'The charges officially relate to events from 2008 up until June 2017 - but some went back further than that to 1985.

'Mr Stott had a brief liaison with Carrie Knight back in 1985 and he had fallen for her, so to speak.

At Manchester Magistrates' court, District Judge Nicholas Sanders told Stott: 'I find this very disturbing especially the fact that you don't realise that what you did was entirely wrong.

'He would send her letters about continuing their liaison to which she always declined. These feelings he had for her grew stronger as time went on.

'He continued to send letters to her and her daughter. She resisted these letters politely but firmly.

'He explained that he had come to believe that he was the father of her daughter. This caused a great deal of distress not just to Miss Knight herself, but to the whole family.

'He was incredibly persistent and this made her daughter aware of the history between them. Miss Knight sent him many messages saying he was not to contact her anymore and she told him he definitely wasn't the father.

'The most disturbing aspect of all was that he wrote a book or short novella that came from his imagination, where the male protagonist portrayed a version of himself that he believed to be real, but wasn't.

'The contents of the book were written in such a way that anyone would know that he believed them to be true.

'There was talk of the protagonist who was attracted to a young woman who was of school age, there were spankings, beatings and sexual imagery.

'The way he phrased it made it seem like a reality - when in fact it was his imagination.

'He sent this book via computer disk to Miss Knight's daughter for her to read and this was the final straw and the police were called.

'He doesn't understand what he did was wrong. Whilst this may have been a mild form of harassment as he didn't physically approach them, this feels much darker and caused much distress to those involved. This was clearly a reality that he built for himself.'

In mitigation Khadim Al'hassan, Stott's barrister, said: 'My client has no issue with non contact with the complainant.

'Since his arrest he has not attempted to approach Ms Knight or her daughter.

'Throughout that whole period of time he didn't think what he was doing was wrong. But he wants to close the chapter on that part of his life.

'I think he does need help with his thinking skills and his alcohol dependency. He only sent letters at Christmas and birthdays and such.

'We need to get down to the bottom of what was the cause behind all this, as he does not know himself.

'He had lost his wife during that time and it massively affected the relationships with his family.

'He is now in a stable relationship with his partner who is sat in court, fully supportive of him today. She tells me 'he is a nice, caring man.'

'He has also had issues with his tenant who has refused to pay his rent for the last six/seven months, so that's has been an added bonus to the stress caused by these proceedings.

'Whilst this may be a disturbing set of events, such events that have lasted an incredibly long time, we need to get down to the bottom of why he sent those letters and give him the help he needs.'
An 85-year-old man faces 15 years in jail after asking Thais to think critically about whether one of the country's king won a duel on elephant-back in 1593.

Police escorted social critic Sulak Sivaraksa to a Bangkok military court today, where he was officially charged with insulting the monarchy.

The case stems from remarks Sulak made in 2014, when he told a public forum to think critically about Thai history and questioned whether renowned monarch King Naraesuan had really won the Battle of Nong Sarai over 400 years ago by defeating a Burmese prince in solo combat while mounted on a war elephant.

Police escorted social critic Sulak Sivaraksa (pictured) to a Bangkok military court today, where he was officially charged with insulting the monarchy

Sulak, who walks with the aid of a cane, said he had no idea why the case was going ahead now, so long after his speech.

'Perhaps they don't like me because I never close my mouth,' he said.

King Naraesuan (pictured in statue form) was a renowned Thai king

'I speak the truth. I believe in the Quakers: speaking truth to power.

'I think it is my duty.'

Lese majeste, as the offense of insulting the monarch is known, is punishable by three to 15 years in prison.

The law only mentions the top members of the royal family, and doesn't appear to mention dead monarchs, but in practice the rules are often more widely interpreted.

Sulak's lawyer, Puangtip Boonsanong, said it was 'up to each individual's interpretation' over whether dead kings were protected by the lese majeste law.

At least 93 cases of lese majeste involving 138 people have been prosecuted since Thailand's military seized power in 2014, according to the legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Rights groups say the government's actions are a way of silencing critics and cementing political control.

The case stems from remarks Sulak made in 2014, when he told a public forum to think critically about Thai history and questioned whether renowned monarch King Naraesuan had really won the Battle of Nong Sarai (pictured in a mural) over 400 years ago by defeating a Burmese prince in solo combat while mounted on a war elephant

Puangtip said Sulak would fight the charges against him. He is scheduled for another meeting with prosecutors December 7.

The development in the case comes little more than two weeks before the funeral of King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, who died a year ago.

The country is busy making preparations for what will be huge and elaborate national event, and pro-royalist feelings are at a height.
Nicola Sturgeon had her hands full at the SNP conference today as she met 13-week old twins at the party gathering in Glasgow.

The SNP leader took time out from the main conference hall to pose with Catherine and Sam Shepherd, from Kirkintilloch.

As the three day conference continued today, Ms Sturgeon used media appearance to turn her fire on Scottish Conservatives over Brexit, insisting they held the 'balance of power' on whether leaving the EU meant quitting the single market.

She said calls for a second EU referendum on the terms of the final deal could become 'irresistible' as the details emerge over the next year.

The First Minister's intervention came as the official conference agenda swerved the question of Scottish independence - despite many speakers raising the issue.

Ms Sturgeon was forced to back down from her planned timetable of a second referendum over Brexit after losing 21 seats at the general election.

But with the SNP leader's main speech scheduled tomorrow, the party faithful are desperate to hear when the nationalists will again push for a re-run of the 2014 poll.

Nicola Sturgeon (pictured with Catherine and Sam Shepherd at conference today) has claimed Ruth Davidson's Scottish Tories could block a hard Brexit

Nicola Sturgeon (pictured today with Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood at SNP conference) today claimed a second Brexit referendum on the terms of the deal could become inevitable

The First Minister's intervention came as the official conference agenda swerved the question of Scottish independence - despite many speakers raising the issue

As SNP conference continued today, the party's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said independence remained the only way to escape 'right wing Tory policies'.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood turned out in Glasgow to address delegates on the vital importance of delegates 'teaming up' to tackle the Tories.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay announced a review of whether land taxes could be introduced in Scotland and called for cross party work on income taxes

The SNP leader used interviews this morning to attack the Government over Brexit.

She told the Radio 4 Today programme Mrs May was risking a 'disastrous' no-deal Brexit.

Ms Sturgeon (pictured today at conference in Glasgow) said the 13 Scottish Conservative MPs held the 'balance of power' on Brexit

Ms Sturgeon said: 'I have said - I'm just trying to be frank here - given that people when they voted in the EU referendum... didn't have a clear idea what they were voting for.

'Fifteen months on we still have no clarity on what the outcome is going to be.

'I think the case for a referendum, not on the principle of EU membership, but on the terms of the deal may actually become quite difficult to resist.'

She added: 'Part of the reason I'm not there is because we don't know what the outcome is going to be yet.

'But if we end up in a position where the UK crashes out of the EU with no deal at all, the consequences of that are so dire that I think the argument at that stage maybe irresistible that people should have the right to look at the outcome.'

The First Minister said she believed it was still possible for a soft exit from the EU and claimed the 'arithmetic' in the House of Commons bolstered her case.

She said: 'We should not give up on a more sensible outcome to this process.'

Activists at the SNP conference in Glasgow mocked Donald Trump in a protest over the prospect of cut price 'chlorinated chickens' to Scotland (pictured)

The SNP leader, speaking from her party conference in Glasgow, accused the Government of fumbling the negotiations and risking a 'disastrous' no deal crash out

The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said independence remained the only way to escape 'right wing Tory policies'

Ms Sturgeon said there was a Commons majority for staying inside the single market if the 13 Scottish Conservative MPs joined forces with Labour and the SNP.

STURGEON: I BACK STRACHAN TO STAY LONGER THAN MAY Nicola Sturgeon today backed Scotland manager Gordon Strachan to outlast Theresa May. Strachan is facing questions over his future after Scotland crashed out of World Cup qualification last night. But Ms Sturgeon said she would still back the football chief to survive longer than the PM. She told BBC Breakfast: 'I'm a big fan of Gordon Strachan. 'Being Scotland manager is a tough job with perhaps even more responsibility on their shoulders than a First Minister or Prime Minister, such is the importance of football to the nation 'Last night's result was really disappointing but people will continue to love their football and Gordon's future is for him to decide. 'Probably if I had to make a decision I would back Gordon Strachan over Theresa May.' Advertisement

She said: 'The Scottish Tories could hold the balance of power on this. And if they end up voting with the government to take Scotland out of the single market, I think they are going to have some very tough questions to answer.

'So far since the general election the Scottish Tories have not shown any influence of power at all.

'What I'm saying is, if they had the gumption, they could exercise, if they voted with the SNP and if Labour got its act together, there could be a majority in the House of Commons to stop a hard Brexit.'

Independence is almost totally absent from the SNP agenda in Glasgow this week.

But Ms Sturgeon insisted the party had not resiled from its commitment to independence despite her demand for a re-run over Brexit being halted.

The SNP leader said would not press for a new timetable until next year but refused to rule out a fresh contest on breaking up the Union.

'People aren't quite ready to set the date for making another big decision,' she told BBC Breakfast.

'Later next year hopefully we will see some of that clarity emerge.'

The SNP leader insisted 'Scotland will become independent' in future.

Ms Sturgeon admitted: 'We didn't win the referendum three years ago, we now have to build that case.'

Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay (pictured today making his main conference address) will blame spending plans in Westminster for tight finances in Edinburgh in his main address to conference later

Mr Mackay announced a formal review of whether a land tax would work for Scotland and called on all parties to contribute to changes to income tax

Westminster leader Mr Blackford told the conference his team of 35 MPs were proving the real opposition to the Tories in Westminster.

BACK PAY FOR TRIAL SHIFTS, MAY TOLD Theresa May was challenged to back draft SNP laws to make sure trial shifts are paid today. Ian Blackford,the SNP Westminster leader, called on the Government to 'walk the walk' on helping poor workers. Stewart McDonald, the Glasgow South MP, has tabled a private members' bill that would outlaw companies bringing workers in for a 'trial shift' without paying them. The draft law will only be debated on a handful of Friday sittings in the Commons and has no chance of reaching the statute book without Government help. Mr Blackford called for bipartisan support for the Bill in his main speech to the SNP conference today. He said: 'It is the SNP who are putting forward the progressive alternative in Westminster, such as our bill to end exploitative trial shifts. 'It is a scandal that disproportionately effects our young people just starting out and those looking to get back into work from unemployment or having a child. 'No one should be deprived pay for a fair day's work- Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn must support this bill. They may be keen to talk the talk on workers' rights  now they must walk the walk.' Advertisement

He claimed: 'SNP MPs will always stand up for scotland - for our NHS, our universities, our food and drink sector, and the many other industries and communities that stand to lose out if the Tory Brexiteers get their way.

'Of course, as the damage of Brexit becomes clearer, and as right-wing Tory policies continue to make families across Scotland worse off  we know that independence remains the only way to truly shape our own future.

'But for as long as we remain tied to Westminster, you can be sure that our SNP MPs will continue to provide the strong voice that Scotland needs.'

In his speech later, Mr Mackay will say that while the Tories can find cash for their 'grubby deal' with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), their austerity agenda is putting public spending north of the border under pressure.

The Scottish Government's budget has been cut by 9.2% in real terms over the last 10 years, Mr Mackay will argue, while at the same time ministers in Edinburgh must spend increasing amounts mitigating 'cruel' Conservative policies, such as the so-called 'bedroom tax'.

In addition the SNP insists the 'completely unjustifiable' decision by the UK Government on VAT payments by Police Scotland costs the country tens of millions of pounds.

Mr Mackay will say that over the 10 years the SNP has been in power at Holyrood, the party has 'used the powers of the parliament to chart a different, more progressive course'.

SNP demand Catalonia gets the chance for a real referendum on independence as party chiefs condemn violence by Spanish police

SNP activists today waved Catalan flags as the nationalist party endorsed calls for a legal independence referendum in the Spanish province.

In an emergency debate at the SNP conference in Glasgow, activists universally backed a policy motion calling for a legitimate poll.

An unofficial referendum in Catalonia descended into violence last week as the Spanish Government tried to stop the poll going ahead.

SNP activists today waved Catalan flags (pictured) as the nationalist party endorsed calls for a legal independence referendum in the Spanish province

Frontbench MP Joanne Cherry spoke up in favour of the motion, telling activists: 'What I saw was repression on a scale I never expected to see in a Western, European democracies.

'As a matter of international law the disproportionate use of force is not lawful What happened on the streets of Catalonia was not lawful.

'Let's support this motion and call for international mediation to solve this

'Recognition of the peoples right to choose democratically and lawfully, their future.'

Brexiteers are like 'Lord Snooty' and want workers to pay for their post-EU dream, SNP conference told

Boris Johnson was branded 'Lord Snooty' on the SNP conference fringe today as Brexiteers were accused of wanting low paid workers to pay for their post-EU dream.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady told a fringe meeting opponents of Brexit must speak up against the Tory plans

The concern was echoed by a senior member of Nicola Sturgeon's government claimed today. Speaking on the fringes of the SNP conference in Glasgow, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the Tories wanted to use Brexit to trigger a 'free for all'.

The SNP conference has been dominated by debate over Brexit as SNP chiefs try to squeeze independence out of the agenda.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady warned Tory leadership contenders wanted workers to 'pay the price for Brexit'

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady told the Prospect Magazine fringe meeting: 'Currently the agenda is being pushed by those who have the vision that is about de-regulation, tax and workers' rights.

Speaking on the fringes of the SNP conference in Glasgow, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop (file image) said the Tories wanted to use Brexit to trigger a 'free for all'

'In a sense we need to be a bit sharper about saying this. There is no doubt in my mind that what those Conservatives who are currently jockeying for the leadership are all about is about workers paying the price for Brexit.

'I think we need to start shouting that a bit louder. There are parts where it is tragedy and parts where it is comedy.

'Did anyone else read Beano as a kid? I was thinking about Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Liam Fox and thinking this was Lord Snooty and the terrible twins Stitch and Snatch.'

Speaking at the UK in a Changing Europe fringe meeting, Ms Hyslop said: 'Of course I am worried, I won't trust the Tories.

'We've seen what they have done in relation to trade union rights and working conditions.

'Many of them want a free for all to get more profit - that's why they are Brexiteers in the first place.'
Spanish nationalists have been photographed burning Catalan flags on the street as pressure has piled on the regions leaders not to break away from the country.

The picture was taken at a demonstration in Valencia where rival protesters had to be separated by police.

It comes as Catalonia's secessionist leader has been urged to abandon plans to declare independence from Spain, with France and Germany expressing support for the country's unity.

The French European affairs minister said her country would not recognise any Catalan declaration of independence.

The Madrid government, grappling with Spain's biggest political crisis since an attempted military coup in 1981, said it would respond immediately to any such unilateral declaration.

A week after a vote on independence which the government did its utmost to thwart, the tension also took its toll on the business climate of Spain's wealthiest region.

Three more Catalonia-based companies joined a business exodus from the region that has gathered steam since the October 1 referendum.

Right-wing nationalists burn a Catalan flag during counter demonstrations in Valencia

Spanish police forces try to separate right-wing nationalists from protesters calling for Catalan independence during counter demonstrations in Valencia

A Spanish police officer tries to disperse right-wing nationalists during the demonstrations

The Madrid government, grappling with Spain's biggest political crisis since an attempted military coup in 1981. Pictured: Protesters in Valencia today

Rival protesters had to be separated by a wall of police in Valencia amid fears violence would break out

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont arrives for a government meeting at the Palau Generalitat in Barcelona, Spain last Monday. He is due to address the regional parliament on Tuesday afternoon

Demonstrators attend a protest outside a television station in Barcelona this evening

The referendum has deeply divided the northeastern region as well as the Spanish nation

Property group Inmobiliaria Colonial and infrastructure firm Abertis both decided to relocate their head offices to Madrid and telecoms firm Cellnex said it would do the same for as long as political uncertainty in Catalonia continued.

Publishing house Grupo Planeta said it would move its registered office from Barcelona to Madrid if the Catalan parliament unilaterally declared independence.

Spain's finance minister said it was the Catalan government's fault the companies were leaving.

Regional leader Carles Puigdemont is due to address the regional parliament on Tuesday afternoon and Madrid is worried it will vote for a unilateral declaration of independence.

Catalan officials say people voted overwhelmingly for secession in the Oct. 1 referendum, which had been declared illegal by the government. Some 900 people were injured on polling day when police fired rubber bullets and stormed crowds with truncheons to disrupt the voting.

The issue has deeply divided the northeastern region as well as the Spanish nation. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against breaking away in Barcelona at the weekend. They say the referendum did not show the true will of the region because those who want to stay in Spain mainly boycotted it.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy looks on during a press conference after a meeting following the Barcelona terror attack in August

A right-wing nationalist shouts slogans next to a Spanish police officer

Buoyed by the show of support, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de SantamarAa said on Monday: 'I'm calling on the sensible people in the Catalan government ... don't jump off the edge because you'll take the people with you.'

'If there is a unilateral declaration of independence there will be decisions made to restore law and democracy,' she told COPE radio station.

Underlining conflicting pressures on Puigdemont, the small, anti-capitalist Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) party, which has an outsized influence on his government, said the outcome of the vote must be applied.

'We don't want to hold up the declaration of the Catalan republic,' CUP lawmaker Benet Salellas told a news conference.

A demonstrator shouts slogans as they march to protest the Catalan government's push for secession from the rest of Spain in downtown Barcelona, Spain

European heavyweights Germany and France weighed in against a split.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Saturday, stressing her support for Spain's unity but encouraging dialogue, her spokesman said.

France said it would not recognise Catalonia if the region unilaterally declared independence. If secession were recognised it would lead to Catalonia's automatic exit from the European Union, a French junior minister said.

'This crisis needs to be resolved through dialogue at all levels of Spanish politics,' France's European affairs minister Nathalie Loiseau said.

The European Union has shown no interest in an independent Catalonia, despite an appeal by Puigdemont for Brussels to mediate in the crisis.

People wave Spanish and Catalan flags during a march in downtown Barcelona, Spain, to protest the Catalan government's push for secession from the rest of Spain

People on a rooftop wave Spanish flags during a march in downtown Barcelona. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving demonstrators, calling themselves a 'silent majority', packed central Barcelona on Sunday to protest against the plan, which has sparked the country's worst political crisis in a generation

Under Catalonia's referendum law, deemed unconstitutional by Madrid, a vote for independence in the assembly on Tuesday would start a six-month process envisaging divorce talks with Spain before regional elections and a final act of separation.

Rajoy gained some political cover on Monday for the so-called 'nuclear option' of removing Catalonia's government and calling new regional elections.

Opposition Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez said he would 'support the response of the rule of law in the face of any attempt to break social harmony', but stopped short of explicitly saying his party would back dissolving the regional parliament.

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau advised Puigdemont against proclaiming independence on the basis of the referendum results and she urged Rajoy to rule out suspending Catalonia's autonomy.

Losing Catalonia, which has its own language and culture, would deprive Spain of a fifth of its economic output and more than a quarter of exports.

People carry a Spanish flag during a march in downtown Barcelona, Spain. Around 350,000 people attended the rally, municipal police said, while organisers put turnout at between 930,000 and 950,000

The crisis has reopened old divisions in a nation where the right-wing dictatorship of General Francisco Franco is a living memory easily revived by strong displays of nationalism.

A spokesman for the ruling People's Party (PP) invoked the memory of former Catalan leader Lluis Companys, who was arrested for declaring independence in 1934 and later executed.

'We hope they don't declare anything tomorrow, because anyone doing so might end up like him 83 years ago, in prison,' Pablo Casado told a news conference in Madrid.

Many moderate Spaniards, including in Catalonia, oppose a breakaway. Regional authorities say about 90 percent of votes in the referendum were for secession, but turnout was only 43 percent.

Sunday's anti-independence demonstration helped calm financial markets, as did credit rating agencies Moody's and DBRS which said they expected Spain to remain united. Spanish borrowing costs fell to a one-week low and the main share index touched a week high.

Puigdemont appeared resolute on Sunday, saying the referendum law called for a declaration of independence in the event of a 'yes' vote. 'We will apply what the law says,' he told TV3.

Thousands of demonstrators march during a protest against Catalonia's independence on October 8, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain

Catalonia's High Court asked for more security, specifically drafting in the national police, who were called in to stop the referendum when the Catalan police force failed to act.

Puigdemont said on Sunday he had not been in contact with the Madrid government for some time because it refused to discuss independence.

'What is happening in Catalonia is real, whether they like it or not. Millions of people have voted, who want to decide. We have to talk about this,' he said.

Rajoy has said repeatedly he will not talk to the Catalan leaders unless they drop their plans to declare independence.
A teenage holiday worker suffered horrific scars after falling underneath a high-powered motorbike wheels wearing just a bikini - before being run over by a second vehicle.

Aimee Montgomery, who was 19 at the time, was at a boat party in Zante before getting a lift back to her apartment with a bouncer after having too much to drink.

Despite wrapping her legs around the motorcyclist, Miss Montgomery, now 20, slipped and one of her legs became trapped underneath the trike.

She claims she pleaded with the biker to stop as she was getting dragged by the vehicle but before he was able to, she fell off and got hit by a car.

Aimee Montgomery, who was 19 at the time, ended up with a huge scar on her right leg (pictured)

Miss Montgomery (pictured) was working in a bar on the party island of Zante when she came off of a motorbike

She ended up in hospital and was told she had to remain on the island because she was unable to fly

After being rushed to a medical centre, the bar worker had to remain in Zante for another six weeks as she was unfit to fly.

While on the island, she was left unable to walk for three months, relying on a wheelchair and crutches.

Following surgery back home in the UK, she claims she has faced negative comments from strangers and was told she 'would never find a boyfriend' because of her 'disgusting scars'.

She decided to get a tattoo of a Mandala design in May this year to take the attention away from the scars on her leg after struggling with confidence issues.

Miss Montgomery, from Badwell Ash, in Suffolk, said: 'It was really traumatic. It was a massive shock. It was just a freak accident. It was absolutely awful.

'I was being dragged along for two minutes until I realised that my shoe had been ripped off and I could just see blood spurting off from behind the wheel.

'Eventually it just dragged me off before he had time to stop. It was the car behind that ran me over. I was unconscious for about ten minutes. There was so much blood.

'I got an ambulance down to the medical centre where they cleaned me up. I was just in a bikini. I was quite exposed.

She claims she has faced negative comments from strangers and was told she 'would never find a boyfriend' because of her 'disgusting scars'

The bar worker (pictured) sipped and one of her legs became trapped underneath the motorbike

She decided to get a tattoo of a Mandala design in May this year to take the attention away from the scars

She was left with a huge scar on her right leg following the incident in Zante earlier this year

When Miss Montgomery returned she was told that she would need physio therapy and that she couldn't fly home for at least six weeks due to her condition

'When I woke up I was in so much pain. I didn't know what was going on. From drinking that night I was unaware what the damage was.

'When they started to undo the bandages that was the first time I saw everything. I just broke down. The first thing I saw was the road burns on my leg. I cried because I knew I would be scarred for life.

'However, little did I know I also had a hole in my foot. When I saw that I was so emotional. I have had no confidence at all from when I first saw the scars.'

She was taken to a nearby medical centre and they cleaned up wounds, wrapped her leg in bandages and sent her back to the apartment, telling her to come back in the next day.

When Miss Montgomery returned she was told that she would need physio therapy and that she couldn't fly home for at least six weeks due to her condition.

She said: 'They realised it was quite a deep wound down to the bone. I was in a wheelchair and had crutches. I couldn't walk physically for about three months.

'I went out by myself so I met friends there but then they went home. My mum wanted to come and be with me but I told her there was no point. I stayed out there by myself.

Miss Montgomery (pictured with her scar) had to stay on the island after the incident

'I'm really anxious near roads and about people staring at me. My confidence has just plummeted since.'

After six weeks, Aimee was able to return the UK and had surgery to remove the dead skin on her leg and a drainage tube was placed in her leg to reduce infection before getting skin grafts.

Since the traumatic accident, she has also experienced a lot of anxiety and has now been diagnosed with PTSD.

However, after facing negative comments and nasty looks from strangers, in May this year the 20-year-old decided to get a tattoo on her leg as a distraction from the scars.

When she is medically able to, Aimee also plans to get a full leg sleeve of tattoos to completely cover up her scars, although she might not be able to for another two years.

Aimee said: 'I wanted the tattoo to take the attention away from the scars. I always got horrible comments and really horrible looks. I get so many looks that I just got used to it but it still hurts.

'One girl on a night out said I shouldn't have them out. She said they are disgusting and I wouldn't find a boyfriend because of them. I just walked off and cried.

'I have had a lot of good feedback from people saying how brave I am and saying I am beautiful no matter what scars I have.

'I'm used to hearing negative stuff so it was nice to hear positive comments from people. It has helped with my confidence to get my legs out more.'
Elizabeth Massi Fritz, a legal expert from Stockholm, says the majority of rape cases she deals with are committed by people 'from a foreign background'

A lawyer from Sweden has claimed the majority of rape cases she deals with are being committed by people of 'a foreign background'.

Elizabeth Massi Fritz, a legal expert from Stockholm, has now called on the government to 'lift the lid' on the problem.

Ms Fritz claims she tried to get hold of statistics from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention to back up her observations, but was told those numbers are not kept.

She used her Instagram page to call for more transparency on the issue.

In a translation of her message, published by Brietbart, she said: 'If we are to work preventively and stop rape its time to find out how the perpetrator looks.

'We must take the matter seriously and dare to lift the lid. How else will we fight these terrible and tough rapes committed to all victims?

'It is the perpetrator that is the problem. I will proceed with the question because this is NOT acceptable.'

Ms Fritz is a prominent criminal lawyer from Sweden who has appeared on national television to discuss high-profile cases.

Ms Fritz, who made the claim in this Instagram post, said she tried to get hold of statistics to back up her observations, but was told the government does not record them

She is now calling on the government to 'lift the lid' on the problem in order to protect victims from 'these terrible and tough rapes'

Most recently she wrote for national broadcaster STV about the murder of Swedish journalist Kim Wall.

Sweden has one of the highest numbers of migrants per capita than anywhere else in Europe after accepting large numbers of foreign arrivals during the migrant crisis.

Since then Stockholm has been hit by an ISIS-inspired truck attack, which killed five people and was perpetrated by Rakhmat Akilov, a failed asylum seeker.

A series of music festivals were also hit by claims of mass sexual abuse by gangs of migrants over the summer.

That has led comedian Emma Knyckare to start the Statement Festival which it claims will be man-free so the attendees can feel safe.

Meanwhile ministers have been forced to rethink the country's open-door policy, with Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announcing in April that the country would 'never go back' to the days of mass migration.
Adam Ali (pictured) escaped on bail after police searched his home and recovered 19 handgun bullets along with an iPhone 6 containing more than 1,000 videos

An Arab bling king who filmed himself with his feet on the dashboard of his Porsche while driving at speeds of up to 100mph has avoiding jail after fleeing to Dubai.

Adam Ali, 29, escaped on bail after police searched his home and recovered 19 handgun bullets along with an iPhone 6 containing more than 1,000 videos.

Among them were two clips shot by Ali showing him flashing his gold Rolex as he smashes the speed limit in the white Carrera Turbo S.

One video shows Ali bragging about the vehicle before flooring the accelerator and hitting 147mph along the A414 between Harlow and London.

In another, made in October 2015, Ali can be seen with the steering wheel in one hand and his foot up on the dash while racing to over 100mph on the M11.

Other clips, showed Ali driving with his one-year-old son in the front seat and another when he hit speeds of up to 180mph.

Ali, from Harlow, Essex, was convicted by a jury of two counts of dangerous driving at Southwark Crown Court in his absence.

Prosecutor John Greenan said: This defendant is believed to be abroad at the moment and he seems to have obtained a passport in a different name.

So, he has gone to fairly significant measures to absent himself from these proceedings.'

Officers initially confiscated his passport before Ali changed his name by deed poll and applied for a new one, flying to Dubai two days before he was to be tried for possessing a quantity of bullets.

Ali, from Harlow, Essex, was convicted by a jury of two counts of dangerous driving at Southwark Crown Court in his absence

Mr Greenan confirmed this was the second trial of Ali in his absence since he decided to go to Dubai having been given a two-and-a-half-year sentence for having the ammunition earlier this year.

Boasting more than 62,000 Instagram followers, his profile showcases an array of expensive Rolex watches as well as expensive clothes and accessories.

Police found cardigans worth 20,000, bullets used to jazz up his social media posts and thousands of pounds in cash when they searched his home.

The prosecutor claimed Ali also used the online platform to launch foul-mouthed taunts the officer in the case, with one rebuke considered not the greatest compliment he has ever had.

An Arab bling king filmed himself with his feet on the dashboard (shown) of his Porsche Carrera Turbo S while driving at 180mph with his feet on the dashboard

Among videos recovered by police were two clips shot by Ali showing him flashing his gold Rolex as he smashes the speed limit in the white supercar (one of his watches, pictured)

Judge Martin Beddoe remarked that this demonstrates his rather contemptible attitude to law enforcement.

The evidence in this case demonstrates, in my judgement, a profligate disregard by this defendant for the rules of the road, the interests of other road users and, indeed, pedestrians and persons otherwise in the vicinity of the highway, he said.

Public roads are not to be used as if they are race tracks.

Judge Beddoe added: He is one of a number of arrogant, narcissistic individuals who use the highway in this way.

He said Alis indifferent approach to the welfare of others was evident in his self-recorded videos and reinforced by the defendants driving record.

Ali, of no fixed address and currently living in Dubai, was convicted of two counts of dangerous driving. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment

Boasting more than 62,000 Instagram followers, Ali's profile showcases an array of expensive Rolex watches as well as expensive clothes and accessories

The court heard he was banned for 56 days last February after being caught racing at speeds of up to 130mph for approximately a mile.

Judge Beddoe noted that when the long arm of the law manages to reach out and take hold of Ali he already has a two-and-a-half-year sentence awaiting him before imposing a consecutive six-month sentence bringing his total jail term up to three years if he ever returns to the UK.

Ali, of no fixed address and currently living in Dubai, was convicted of two counts of dangerous driving.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, consecutive to the two-and-a-half-year term imposed earlier this year, banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay 2,800 costs.
Martin Vincent, 54, from Buckfastleigh in Devon, persuaded the girl in California to abuse herself in her bathroom as he watched live on Skype

A webcam pervert, who wanted to use a sex drug on a nine-year-old girl, has been jailed after police found one of his victims from the writing on a medicine bottle.

Martin Vincent, 54, from Buckfastleigh in Devon, was caught when he persuaded a girl, 12, in California to abuse herself in her bathroom as he watched live on Skype.

Police experts were able to find her by magnifying the small print of prescriptions in the background.

They identified another victim - a 15-year-old girl in New England.

Detectives were able to trace victims to prove they were under age and ensure they were offered counselling.

Vincent shocked police who arrested him by telling them: 'It is normal. It's only society that says it's not.

'I bet there isn't a dad out there who has not noticed his daughter and is just afraid to admit what they want.'

Police also found chat logs in which he tried to arrange to meet a woman in Britain so he could abuse her nine-year-old daughter. He even offered to supply the date rape drug Rohypnol.

He used the online alias of Lord Lucan as he exchanged fantasies with fellow abusers around the world.

School fundraiser Vincent helped to organise a Summer Fair at an independent school in South Devon a year before his arrest, where he was photographed being drenched in water on a 'super soaker' device.

Vincent admitted two counts of inciting children to take part in pornography or prostitution, three of making indecent images and two of distribution.

He was jailed for four years and eight months by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, who ordered him to sign on the sex offenders register for life and made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will restrict his access to children and use of the internet when he is released.

He told him: 'This is a pretty extreme case. It was a horrible world that you created. Your sexual interest in young girls and children is very concerning and appears to almost have dominated your life over several years.

'I have to sentence you for very serious offences. They went very much further than downloading images. You distributed images and had contact with children in America.

'You were getting them to perform sexual acts and prostitute themselves for your benefit. One was just 12.'

Mr William Hunter, prosecuting, said Vincent was traced through an e-mail address in the name of Lord Lucan which was used to send and receive child abuse images.

He told police he had 20 gigabytes of images and added 'my only interest is in girls'. He claimed his obsession was normal.

School fundraiser Vincent helped to organise a Summer Fair at an independent school in South Devon a year before his arrest, where he was photographed being drenched in water on a 'super soaker' device

Experts found 4,177 stills and 638 movies of which 680 images and 405 movies showed serious abuse by adults or child rape.

They also found chat logs on Skype and other platforms showing him trying to arrange a meeting with a mother so he could use Rohypnol to abuse her nine-year-old daughter.

There were also man chat logs with girls in America and elsewhere in the world from which he had organised files on his computer to store 1,046 images of a dozen girls.

Mr Hunter said: 'One of the girls was 12 and from California. There were 257 images directly from her. She was identified by writing on medicine bottles which were behind her in the bathroom.

'The images were subdivided into further folders and in some images she was clearly abusing herself with and without articles.'

The girl is now receiving support. A second victim in New England was also identified as a 15-year-old girl.

Vincent made full admissions and said his preference was for girls aged eight or nine and many images came from the Dark Web.

William Parkhill, defending, said Vincent became drawn into the offending when he was isolated after the break-up of a relationship.

He moved from adult pornography to child abuse images and went on to seek out more images.

He has shown true remorse and his acknowledgment of his problem means he will respond well to treatment and is unlikely to reoffend.
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A furious passenger staged a sit-in protest on a plane after his flight to Bali was cancelled.

The angry man managed to convince his fellow flyers to occupy the plane as he stood in the aisle remonstrating with airline staff.

Passengers had boarded the Boeing 737 for a flight from Jakarta, Indonesia, to the island of Bali on October 2 but the initial take-off slot was missed due to 'technical issues' which meant the plane arrived late.

By the time passengers sat down in their seats, the destination airport had closed for the evening, sparking the protest.

After a 10-minute rant, and with the rest of the passengers behind him, police were forced to come onto the plane and force the customers off which was captured on video.

Scroll down for video

Police make their way up the aisle to the man who is continuing to rant at airline staff

Indonesian police board the plane (left) to deal with the furious flyer complaining about the delayed flight (right)

Passengers were asked to return to the airport waiting room just before midnight, but they refused to do so

With the plane grounded, cabin crew asked passengers to return to the airport waiting room just before midnight.

But the man, who says in the clip he is a lawyer, stood in the aisle and told fellow travellers to 'occupy' the aircraft.

Speaking in Indonesian, he said: 'There was another plane going to Medan which has been delayed for seven hours. It has still not departed.

'The passengers were given 17 and they still haven't left. Do you want money and they still don't fly?'

Angry passengers respond in unison by yelling 'no'.

Airport security and police boarded the plane and tried to talk to the man but he continued his rant.

Passengers listen to the man's protests as police walk towards him

He said: 'If we get off the plane it's not going anywhere tonight. Lion Air will not fly us at all. There is a reason they want us to leave.

'Now we are in charge of this plane.

'We will occupy this plane, ask for food, ask for anything. If we stand together we can do it.

'If we sit in the airport what guarantees do we have?'

Enthusiastic passengers reply with cries of 'yes, yes'.

But despite the man's resistance, passengers were eventually taken off the plane and put up for the night.

They made the three-hour flight from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, the next morning.

Lion Air PR manager Rama Ditya Handoko said passengers would receive compensation for the delay.

He said: 'This happened on October 2, 2017, night at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

'The plane initially experienced a delay for technical reasons with the flight.

'The airline was forced to delay the plane's departure that night and the destination airport was closed.

'The rights of the disadvantaged passengers have been fulfilled in accordance with the Minister of Transportation Regulation.'
Zahid Hussain built a bomb in his bedroom and was seen entering a drain near the London to Birmingham railway line after researching how to de-rail a train

An ISIS supporter who built a bomb using fairy lights and explosives before breaking into drains in his bid to blow up a railway line has been jailed for life.

Zahid Hussain, 29, was caught on CCTV jumping down into a storm drain running under the mainline out of Birmingham to London as he scouted for possible targets.

The former nightclub doorman had been researching guerilla warfare and sabotage techniques which advised the best point to plant a bomb in order to de-rail a train.

His pressure cooker bomb was made using fairy lights, similar to the device which failed to detonate properly on a tube train in the unconnected attack at Parsons Green last month.

Hussain was handed a life sentence today and ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars before he can apply for parole.

The judge said that had his device been viable, it would have been capable of causing a "significant explosion".

He added: "If detonated in a crowded area it would have been potentially fatal to those within metres of it and would have potentially caused serious injury among those up to 10 metres away."

The bomb was made using modified Christmas tree fairy lights, like that used in Parsons Green

Hussain told police he had become 'bedroom radicalised' after watching Syrian war videos on Youtube.

He had turned his ground floor bedroom in Alum Rock, Birmingham into a 'sort of improvised laboratory,' the city's crown court heard.

A modified doorbell was found in the room, with two wires which could be attached to detonators and then set off by remotely ringing the bell.

He had also built five 'explosive igniters' consisting of modified fairy lights, one of which had been tested.

In addition, Hussain had the materials required to make a large number of further igniters, the court heard.

Hussain had viewed hundreds of images relating to ISIS, violent military conflict and the men who set off a pressure cooker bomb at the Boston Marathon, the court heard.

The court heard Hussain had turned his Birmingham home into an 'improvised laboratory'

He built the device from a pressure cooker and chemicals after studying bomb-making online

He had been researching railway lines as possible targets and had drawn a map of the position of the storm drain, which he is thought to have wrongly believed went under the train track.

A resident near the drain entrance saw him coming and going at night and getting into the drain with a crowbar.

Hussain believed he had successfully created a viable bomb, capable of causing, in his own words, 'devastation'.

But he claimed he had only built the bomb in order to sell it to The Sun newspaper, for money and never intended to detonate it.

Mr Justice Sweeney said that after his arrest Hussain 'lied', claiming he had always intended to sell the device.

He also rigged up a remote doorbell to the device, which he attached to detonators

He was carrying handwritten notes detailing instructions for making bomb devices, along with a knife and crowbar (both pictured) when he was stopped by police

The judge added: 'In your case, culpability is extremely high as more than one explosion was clearly intended, and the harm to be caused was ultimately loss of life or serious injury to the person.

'You were clearly deeply radicalised and, over a period of at least nine months, were strongly committed to what you were doing.'

Hussain was convicted of preparing for an act of terrorism after trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Since his arrest in 9 June 2015, Hussain has been held in a psychiatric hospital under the Mental Health Act. He was charged with terrorism offences in June the following year.

Doctors disagreed over whether Hussain, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, should be sent to prison after being released from the mental health facility or get ongoing treatment before being released into the community.

Hussain is not connected to the Parsons Green attack, but a bomb with a similar design was used in the London tube incident last month

Hussain claims to have received subliminal messages through Twitter that told him to recover weapons hidden beneath manhole covers. He would only leave the house in the middle of the night to avoid detection.

Dr Philip Joseph, a consultant psychiatrist instructed by the prosecution, said he believed his psychosis was 'probably connected to his heavy use of cannabis.'
Emile Cilliers, 36, arrives at Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire this morning as his attempted murder trial continues

An Army sergeant who allegedly tried to murder his wife by tampering with her parachute was 'unemotional and bewildered' when he visited the airfield the following day, a court heard today.

Emile Cilliers, 37, from the Royal Army Physical Training Corps is on trial at Winchester Crown Court on two charges of attempting to murder his former Army officer wife Victoria Cilliers.

She suffered multiple serious injuries at Netheravon Airfield on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, on Easter Sunday in 2015.

Cilliers is also accused of a third charge of damaging a gas valve at their home a few days earlier in the second allegation that he attempted to kill his 40-year-old wife. He denies all three charges.

The court was told that the day after the incident, Cilliers visited the airfield and met Mark Bayada, who has been chief instructor of the Army Parachute Association at Netheravon since 2013.

In his third day of giving evidence to the court, Mr Bayada said he had said in his police statement that Cilliers had appeared 'unemotional' and 'bewildered' during the visit.

The court has been shown the parachute Cilliers is alleged to have tampered with. Mrs Cilliers's main (pictured) and reserve parachute failed, causing her to spin to the ground

She survived the fall but broke her pelvis, ribs and fractured her vertebra. Pictured, an inspection of the parachute lines after the incident

Cilliers is also accused of attempting to murder wife Victoria, 40, (pictured on their wedding day in South Africa in 2011) a few days earlier when he damaged a gas valve at their home

Mrs Cilliers, pictured on another skydive, suffered multiple serious injuries in the fall in 2015

He added that Cilliers had seemed 'very quiet' and 'in shock', but added that he did not know him very well personally.

He said that after further investigations by his staff, a decision was made later that afternoon to contact the police about the parachute malfunction.

The prosecution allege that the main parachute was tampered with and Cilliers removed two slinks from the reserve which are used to attach the harness to the rigging.

He said that the landing area had been searched for the missing parts, including 45 people searching a week after the incident.

Cilliers is said to have started an affair with Stefanie Goller (above) after meeting her on Tinder

The jury heard Cilliers was involved in a sexual relationship with ex-wife Carly Cilliers (above)

Pictured, an inspection of Victoria Cilliers's parachute following the incident. The white material is the reserve parachute

The jury has been told Cilliers, who had around 22,000 of debts, believed he would receive 120,000 life insurance as a result of Mrs Cillier's death

The court was told that witness James Lowrey saw Mrs Cilliers' parachute 'collapse in on itself' and compared it to a 'quilt with a weight attached'.

His statement, read to the jury, said: 'From what I saw I would assume it was a line over (when a line is twisted around the parachute or the jumper) which I have experienced myself once before."

The statement from Mr Lowrey added that in Mrs Cillier's case, he had 'never seen anything like this before.'

He also described how 'it appeared to be wrapped around itself, the lines were clear to the jumper'.

Responding to the description, Mr Bayada said it appeared that Mrs Cilliers was not entangled in the main parachute and 'was stable at the time of deployment'.

Two slinks, which attach the lines of the canopy to the rest of the rigging, were missing from one side of the parachute, the court heard, preventing it from working correctly. Pictured: Images show the use of slinks, also known as S-Links, on a chute

Parachute equipment is labelled above. Two vital pieces of equipment which fasten the parachute to the parachutist's harness were missing, the court heard

Cilliers 'deliberately removed vital pieces of equipment intending that she should be killed when the reserve parachute inevitably failed', the court was told

The reserve parachute for Victoria was immediately found to be faulty, the court was told

Mr Bayada was asked by Elizabeth Marsh QC, representing Cilliers, if he felt there had been 'no effort' by Mrs Cilliers to 'kick-out' of the twists in the lines or use the brakes in the malfunctioning parachute.

He said: 'In my mind, most likely, there was another problem, something stopping being able to release the brakes.

'It might be a legal thing but to me no effort means not even bothering. To me it suggests for a reason, they didn't take control, but not that it was no effort.'

Mr Bayada said that weight of a jumper would not affect the outcome of a malfunction.

The court has heard that Mrs Cilliers is of petite stature.

Evidence shown in court reveals the gas valve that is alleged to have been adjusted by Cilliers

The top arrow shows damage to a nut made by a pair of pliers found in a toolbox located in the utility room of Cilliers's home

Prosecutors said that on forensic examination, the nut (left) revealed tool marks matching mole grips (right) seized from a toolbox locked in the utility room

The 37-year-old has served with the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers regiments since 2005

He said: 'When it's a malfunction, it's a malfunction and even the lightest person is going to die if they do not do anything about it. When it's not working, it's not working and it's irrelevant.'

Mr Bayada said that he and his colleagues had followed the procedures set out by the British Parachute Association following a parachute accident but said he had not taken photographs or video at the scene to protect Mrs Cilliers' privacy.

He said: 'Should someone still be living, I would take offence if people were taking photographs. If I had seen someone with a camera, I would have had a word with them.'

He said that as soon as it was clear that Mrs Cilliers was alive, the priority was to 'get her medical help'.

Cilliers (pictured) allegedly collected a parachute for his wife and during the afternoon took it into the men's toilets at the base, which is when the prosecution claim he tampered with it

Cilliers has served with the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineer regiments

A photo issued by Wiltshire Police of the Netheravon Army Parachute Centre in the county

The incident took place at Netheravon airfield, on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire two years ago

'Then it was to have an initial look at what happened because what happened to her was very unusual which I have never seen before in my whole time jumping, so when we were to start jumping again it would be safe for all the other club jumpers,' he said.

Mr Bayada said he carried out a thorough search for the missing slinks and said: 'I was still trying to find out in my mind a parachuting reason why this could happen.

'I was looking for missing slinks, I was looking for missing slinks, I was looking for parachuting damage or what slinks weren't there.'

He said that the Safire 149 parachute used by Mrs Cilliers was a 'high performance' parachute which was 'more fun' to handle and one which would not be issued to normal club jumpers, but added that she was experienced at using it.

The trial was adjourned until tomorrow, when the jury will take part in a court visit to Netheravon Airfield.
A 35-year-old woman who tried to climb over the front gates of Buckingham Palace in front of dozens of tourists avoided prosecution today.

Jessica Davey, of Queen's Park, West London, was filmed climbing the front gates of the Queens official residence in the capital on Saturday as crowds gathered.

As tourists started to capture the incident on camera, two male officers pulled Davey to the ground before handcuffing her and dragging her into a police car.

Jessica Davey was half way up the gates of Buckingham Palace when police caught her

Two male officers pulled her back to the ground as crowds gathered to watch and take pictures

Davey was caught on camera being dragged away by the police officers on Saturday afternoon

She appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court to answer a charge of being drunk and disorderly contrary to Section 91 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967.

But prosecutors dropped the charge against Davey, who had been remanded in custody over the weekend. She will be released today.

A court spokesman said: 'The matter has been withdrawn so once she arrives she can be released. The matter has been withdrawn by the prosecution.'

Davey, who seemed distressed during the incident at 5.40pm, was heckled by one onlooker who shouted: 'Queen and country yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah! F*** yeah!'

She was initially arrested on suspicion of trespass under Section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 and held at a Central London police station.

The Metropolitan Police insisted it was not a terror-related incident and said she was quickly detained by officers before she gained access to the palace grounds.

The woman from West London was later charged by police with being drunk and disorderly

As stunned crowds gathered, they jeered and applauded as the officers pulled Davey away

Aidila Razak filmed the moment in a video that shows two male officers grab Ms Davey as she clings half way up the railings and pull her back down to the ground.

A crowd of people gathered, before moving closer to take pictures and videos with their phones.

Davey, a brunette, was dressed in blue jeans and black long-sleeved top. Malaysian journalist Ms Razak said police arrived and cuffed her within seconds'.

The incident came amid heightened terror fears three hours earlier when a taxi drove into a crowd outside the Natural History Museum in nearby Kensington.

The driver was later released by police after the case was downgraded from a suspected terror attack to alleged dangerous driving. Eleven people were injured.
Dozens of teenagers have been arrested in a crackdown by Israeli police on the killer clown craze.

Forces in the country are actively going after youths amid fears the craze could incite violence from those who are being frightened by masked pranksters.

Twelve have been arrested in the past few days, including two 14-year-olds, and in a statement, police said: 'Dozens of youngsters from all parts of the country were detained for questioning after putting masks on their faces in order to sow fear and panic among the public.'

Sightings of scary clowns broke out in the United States last year and have recently taken place in Israel, where local police have detained dozens involved in the pranks

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that those arrested had sought only to frighten people, not to harm them.

'There haven't been any attacks. It's just been people dressed up and walking around with fake axes, fake knives, etcetera,' he said.

Police have, however, warned that such pranks could go horribly wrong in a country where people are constantly on edge for fear of militant attacks and where many carry firearms.

'There is a concern that such pranks will be interpreted as a real threat and will cause harm to the youngsters,' said a statement last week.

'It is absolutely forbidden for people to take the law into their own hands and harm wearers of masks.'

Dozens of teenagers have been arrested in a crackdown by Israeli police on the killer clown craze

Local media said that a victim of an incident in the southern city of Beersheba last week stabbed his tormenter, causing moderate injuries.

Police did not confirm the reports.

Media have suggested a link between the phenomenon, which appears to have broken out around the beginning of October, and the September 14 release in Israel of the film of Stephen King's It, featuring an evil clown who preys on teenagers.

The plague of scary clowns broke out in the United States last year.

There were sightings in South Carolina of people dressed as clowns trying to lure children into the woods.

The appearances soon spread, with more than 20 states reporting incidents, and although most were pranks or unverified threats, police made a handful of arrests, including for physical attacks.

The craze, fanned through social media, spread to Canada, Europe, South America and Australia.

The Israeli police advised members of the public confronted by a masked person not to engage with them.

'In these situations, move away from the scene and report it to the police as soon as possible,' the official police Facebook page says.
This is the moment a pregnant woman holding a young child becomes caught up in a brawl in McDonald's.

The fight broke out at the fast-food restaurant in Houston, Texas, last week.

Shocking footage filmed by bystander Dexter Kennedy shows the two women arguing before coming to blows.

Trouble: Carla DeLeon, a mother-of-four who is expecting her fifth child, claims the brawl started when the woman behind her asked what she was looking at

Carla DeLeon, a mother-of-four who is expecting her fifth child, claims she was standing in line with her three-year-old daughter when she noticed her looking scared.

When she turned around, she claims a woman swore at her and asked what she was looking at.

'I said: "I just wonder what my daughter's looking at." That's it,' she told abc13.

The situation quickly escalated, with video footage showing the pair arguing.

The woman appears to strike Ms DeLeon, who is holding her child, before throwing a drink over her. Ms DeLeon then retaliates. During the fight, the woman can be heard shouting: 'This is ghetto b****!'

The woman then appears to strike Ms DeLeon, who is holding her child, before throwing a drink over her.

Ms DeLeon then retaliates before a staff member intervenes to break up the fight.

During the fight, the woman can be heard shouting: 'This is ghetto b****!'

'She's punching and punching and my baby girl got hit,' she told the news network. 'This is what really aggravated me because I wasn't able to defend her or myself.'

An ambulance crew treated her daughter for a swollen cheek and a scratch on her face.

Ms DeLeon claimed she reported the incident, which took place at the restaurant off the North Freeway by Little York Road, to police, and is waiting for the assailant to be identified.

Since the video was uploaded last week it has gone viral, racking up over two million views.
The Korean man involved in a 12-hour standoff at the top of a Sydney high-rise building was in a relationship with the woman who lay dead below.

The body of the woman, believed to be in her 30s, was discovered at about 6.30am on Monday near Chatswood's main shopping strip in the city's north.

Police have confirmed the couple were in a relationship, which was believed to be in its early stages. They are now investigating whether domestic violence lead to the woman's death.

For more than 12 hours, the man remained perched on the roof of a balcony at the apartment building as he stared over his dead partner's body.

The Korean man involved in a 12-hour standoff at the top of a Sydney high-rise building was in a relationship with the woman who lay dead below

The man was found on the balcony roof after the body of his partner was discovered nearby

He was finally persuaded back inside by officers shortly before 7.30pm and was arrested by officers attached to the NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit.

The woman's body had not been removed during the day as the man had was considered a safety risk.

The man, also believed to be in his 30s, has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital. He will undertake a mental health assessment, and remains there under police guard.

Over the course of the siege, the man was seen smoking cigarettes and drinking water, but police told Daily Mail Australia he had not eaten.

For most of the day, he sat alone on the balcony roof, in heat reaching up to 30 degrees.

A tent was placed over the woman's body, which had not been removed during the day because the man had still been considered a safety risk

Tradesman Luke Hamilton found the woman's body on Monday morning and initially thought she was asleep.

'I thought I'd try and wake her up and try and get her home,' Mr Hamilton told Daily Mail Australia.

'As we got closer we saw the blood smeared down the wall. We found her face down on the ground.'

Mr Hamilton, who was with his roommates at the time, soon realised she was dead.

Police will now prepare a report for the coroner.
Oxford University students have banned a Christian union from their college freshers' fair after saying the religion is 'damaging' and 'an excuse for homophobia and neo-colonialism'.

Student union officials at Balliol prevented representatives from attending and warned that the society could cause 'harm' by setting up a stall at the event.

The decision was revealed in a leaked email chain that has sparked fury across the college.

Vice president Frederick Potts told Christian union representatives: 'Christianity's influence on many marginalised communities has been damaging in its methods of conversion and rules of practice.

'It is still used in many places as an excuse for homophobia and certain forms of neo-colonialism.'

Student union officials at Balliol, pictured, revented representatives from attending and warned that the society could cause 'harm' by setting up a stall at the event (stock photo)

Organisers also claimed that the popular fair was a 'secular space' and that they 'didn't want to monopolise the presence of any individual faith', reports the Cherwell student newspaper.

But last night furious students passed a motion condemning the ban as a 'violation of free speech and religious freedom'.

It stated: 'The Balliol JCR (student union) should not make judgements regarding the legitimacy of faith groups or religious expression.'

The motion prohibits officials from barring any official religious societies from taking part in the fresher's fair in future.

Student union president Hubert Au, pictured left, and vice president Frederick Potts, pictured right, were involved in the decision

Eventually organisers agreed to allow a shared multi-faith stall with leaflets but no representatives of religious groups were allowed to attend the event.

Student union president Hubert Au claimed the decision had been reached through discussions with the Christan society.

But that comment was described as 'misleading' by a representative for the group, which refused to provide literature for the event.

Balliol college counts Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and journalist Robert Peston among its most famous alumni.

It refused to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Mr Au and Mr Potts have not responded to a request for comment.

Andrea Williams, chief executive at Christian Concern, told MailOnline: 'The leading institution in the world founded on Christian principles is forgetting its great history.

'In Christianity there has been freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom to believe and manifest belief.

'It is the student union that is rewriting history and using cheap smears to spread falsehoods with regards to Christianity.'
A rare phenomenon, known as a fire devil, was caught on camera as it sent a vortex of fire and ash spiralling into the night sky as Portugal battled wild fires.

The apocalyptic-looking sight was filmed on Saturday evening by Portuguese broadcaster TVI as 1,000 firefighters battled five wildfires this weekend.

A fire devil is a whirl of fire which looks like a tornado and consists of a core of ash and an invisible rotating pocket of air.

Fire devils are created when a wildfire or firestorm creates its own wind, which then morphs into a vortex of fire.

Portugal has been devastated by fires this year as the country suffered from drought.

The deadliest fire in Portugal's history killed 64 people in June when it devastated the central region of Pedrogao Grande.

Many died on a road in their cars as they tried to flee the rampant flames.

The Civil Protection Agency stated that 90 percent of the fires this year were either intentionally or accidentally started by people.

A rare phenomenon, known as a fire devil, has been caught on camera as it sent spirals of fire swirling in the air in Portugal as the country continues to battle wild fires

The apocalyptic-looking sight was filmed by Portuguese broadcaster TVI as 1,000 firefighters battled five wildfires this weekend
Police apologised for the 'terrible mistake' and thanked people for the feedback

Commenters have slammed the image post as 'tone-deaf' and 'fail of the week'

The tweet used a Steve Carrel meme to bemoan the task of informing next of kin

New Zealand police have taken down an 'insensitive' tweet after online backlash

The New Zealand Police have taken down and apologised for a 'tone-deaf' meme that received online backlash overnight.

Ostensibly about road safety, the meme uses the ubiquitous image of Steve Carrel's character from The Office saying, 'This is the worst' under the words, 'When we have to tell someone their family member has died in a car crash'.

Posted on Monday morning, the tweet and image have landed the New Zealand Police in hot water with more than a few comments slamming the image.

The New Zealand Police have taken down and apoligised for tweeting this 'insensitive' meme

One retweet said: 'OK, it's only Monday, but this tweet by NZ Police already takes the booby prize for social media fail of the week. Tone-deaf.

'Fail of the week,' commented another. 'Yes some clown from the NZ Police Dept is trying to be funny about people dying in road crashes but failing spectacularly. Fire that clown!'

A Twitter user named McChisel has called the New Zealand Police force tweet 'fail of the week'

Another unhappy user tweeted her disgust that '...they dragged Steve Carell into this mess.'

NZ Deputy Chief Executive of PA, Karen Jones

Deputy Chief Executive of Public Affairs for the force, Karen Jones, told news.com.au the 'road safety tweet' imagery was 'wrong'

'We feel terrible about this mistake, as we put victims at the heart of what police do,' she said.

'Social media is a hugely important channel to NZ Police.

'We appreciated the prompt feedback we got from members of our community who pointed out the inappropriateness of the tweet.

'We are extremely sorry and will learn from this.'

The New Zealand Police Department also issued their own apology.

The New Zealand Police have issued an apology for tweeting a 'tone deaf' meme on Monday

One Twitter user said that the joke belonged on the 'call centre floor', not on NZ social media

'We're sorry this was not meant to cause offence. Telling someone their family member has died is literally the worst part of the job,' NZ Police wrote after removing the tweet.

'Telling someone their loved one is not coming home is one of the hardest things cops ever have to do.

'We apologise for the recent road safety tweet. We quickly realised it was wrong and insensitive and it was immediately deleted. Thx (sic) for feedback.'

NIk Dirga tweeted the NZ Police 'already takes the booby prize for social media fail of the weel'
Dozens of men were arrested in Indonesia after a raid on a 'gay spa' in Jakarta.

Several foreigners - including four Chinese and a Dutchman - were among the 58 detained on Friday.

Most were released but, according to Human Rights Watch, five employees at the sauna  four men and one woman - face charges of violating pornography laws.

They could face up to ten years in prison.

A plainclothes policeman holds a rifle as he escorts suspects during a police investigation into a men's club after a weekend raid on what authorities described as a 'gay spa' in Jakarta

Among those detained at the spa in Central Jakarta on Friday were four Chinese nationals, a Singaporean, one Thai national, one Malaysian, and one Dutchman

Most were released but, according to Human Rights Watch , five employees at the sauna  four men and one woman - face charges of violating pornography laws. Pictured: Police hold up bags of evidence after the arrests

The country is home to the world's largest Muslim population. Pictured: Some of the 58 detained on Friday

The arrests are the latest in a spate of high-profile police actions against gay clubs and parties in Indonesia this year that have called the country's reputation for tolerance into question.

With the exception of the ultra-conservative Aceh province in northern Sumatra, where Islamic law is enforced and two men were publicly flogged last month for gay sex, homosexuality is legal in Indonesia.

The country is home to the world's largest Muslim population.

Among those detained at the spa in Central Jakarta on Friday were four Chinese nationals, a Singaporean, one Thai national, one Malaysian, and one Dutchman, although none of the foreigners would be charged, Jakarta Police spokesman Argo Yuwono said.

With the exception of the ultra-conservative Aceh province in northern Sumatra, where Islamic law is enforced and two men were publicly flogged last month for gay sex, homosexuality is legal in Indonesia

Police also released a picture of what they explained were sex toys. Activists say police targeting of consensual gay sex has shone a light on discrimination and harassment in the world's third-largest democracy

When asked about what the people in the spa were doing at the time of the raid, Yuwono noted that it was dark at the time.

'LGBT is clearly between men and men or same-sex relationships. Male prostitution,' Yuwono said, without clarifying further. He said those charged could face up to six years in prison under Indonesia's pornography law.

'There's a cashier, the manager there and also those providing facilities like towels and other things,' he said.

He added: 'We treated them well. They came out from the scene with proper clothes and their faces were covered.'

Police also released a picture of what they explained were sex toys.

Activists say police targeting of consensual gay sex has shone a light on discrimination and harassment in the world's third-largest democracy.

Andreas Harsono, a Jakarta-based researcher for Human Rights Watch, referred to a pattern of discriminatory police action against LGBT people in Indonesia.

'If they raided (this club) because they are gay, it is abusive, it is abuse of power,' he said, adding that there is no law against homosexuality as long as relationships are consensual.

'If there is no victim, there is no crime,' he said.

When asked about what the people in the spa were doing at the time of the raid, Yuwono noted that it was dark at the time. 'LGBT is clearly between men and men or same-sex relationships. Male prostitution,' Yuwono said

The arrests are the latest in a spate of high-profile police actions against gay clubs and parties in Indonesia this year that have called the country's reputation for tolerance into question

Andreas Harsono, a Jakarta-based researcher for Human Rights Watch, referred to a pattern of discriminatory police action against LGBT people in Indonesia. 'If they raided (this club) because they are gay, it is abusive, it is abuse of power,' he said, adding that there is no law against homosexuality as long as relationships are consensual

Police often used the pornography law to 'criminalise' such cases, but that law itself is also complicated, Harsono said, noting that people could be charged if they had pornographic material on a cell phone.

'Just imagine if every person in Indonesia had their cell phones checked, how many hundred million people would go to jail?'

In May, officers detained 141 men in a raid on the Atlantis sauna, accusing them of involvement in a gay prostitution ring in a part of Jakarta that is also home to many heterosexual 'spas'.

The United Nations has previously called on Indonesian authorities to release people detained on the basis of their sexual orientation and to combat anti-gay stigma in the country.
Facebook had employees 'embedded' in the offices of Donald Trump's campaign to help his staff create the adverts that won the election, Trump's digital director has claimed.

Brad Parscale says Hillary Clinton's campaign rejected a similar offer of help from the social media giant, a move that seems to have put her at a disadvantage in the run up to the November vote.

During an interview with CBS News, Mr Parscale said that Facebook employees 'would show up for work every day in our offices' to help maximize their use of the social media website and target voters.

Mr Parscale said that Facebook employees 'would show up for work every day in our offices' to help maximise their use of the social media website and target voters

He claims that his campaign's use of Facebook ended up winning Trump the election while Clinton staffers failed to take full advantage of the platform.

Parscale said: 'I understood early that Facebook was how Donald Trump was going to win. Twitter is how he talked to the people. Facebook was going to be how he won.

'Facebook now lets you get to places and places possibly that you would never go with TV ads. Now, I can find, you know, 15 people in the Florida Panhandle that I would never buy a TV commercial for. And, we took opportunities that I think the other side didn't.'

Mr Parscale also claims he was allowed to hand-pick Republican employees to help, but the company denies this.

Facebook insists it offered similar help to all candidates during the election.

In a statement released to CBS News, Facebook said: 'We encourage all candidates, groups, and voters to use our platforms to engage in elections. We want it to be easy for people to find, follow and contact their elected representatives...

'That's why, for candidates across the political for candidates across the political spectrum, Facebook offers the same level of support in key moments to help campaigns understand how best to use the platform.'

The 41-year-old, who had never worked on a Presidential campaign before helping propel Trump to the White House, said that his job focused on competing against Hillary Clinton's campaign machine, which vastly outgunned the Republican campaign's budget for TV adverts.

He also claimed that while 'Donald Trump won... I think Facebook was the method  it was the highway in which his car drove on'.

According to Mr Parscale, Google and Twitter workers were also working side-by-side in the same offices as Trump's team to help then utilise those programmes as well

According to Mr Parscale, Google and Twitter staff were also working side-by-side in the same offices as Trump's team to help then utilise those programmes as well.

He said: 'I asked each one of them by email, I wanna know every, single secret button, click, technology you have. I wanna know everything you would tell Hillary's campaign plus some. And I want your people here to teach me how to use it.'

I wanna know everything you would tell Hillary's campaign plus some. And I want your people here to teach me how to use it

To ensure that no 'Trojan Horses' would infiltrate the Trump campaign and leak valuable information or tactics to the Democrats, Mr Parscale and his team said he would talk and vet potential employees to ensure they were Republicans and supported Trump's Presidential tilt.

They would then come into the Trump campaign and sit beside Mr Parscale and his team, teaching them about the nuances of Facebook and then make on average 50-60,000 different automated adverts - sometimes 'hundreds of thousands' a day - which would change slightly depending on who they were aiming at.

Twitter and Google employees reportedly also worked alongside Trump campaign team workers

Mr Parscale and his team would vet tech giant employees to ensure they were supporters of the Trump campaign

It comes after Facebook said it would hand over the contents of more than 3,000 adverts bought by the Russians during the US Presidential race.

Facebook CEO has come under heavy scrutiny for the network's potential role in influencing the election.

During a Facebook live stream, he said his company would try to do more to help protect the 'integrity' of elections.

Yet Zuckerberg conceded: 'I wish I could tell you were going to be able to stop all interference, but that just wouldnt be realistic. There will always be bad actors.'

A spokesman for Twitter said: 'Twitter provides nonpartisan ad sales resources to advertisers around the world, helping them use our ad sales platform efficiently.

'In 2016 we offered such resources to both the Clinton and Trump campaigns, as well as gubernatorial and Senate races across both parties. '

MailOnline has contacted Google for comment.
The brother of a man who stabbed two cousins to death in Marseille while shouting 'Allahu Akbar' has been arrested, police have said.

Anis Hanachi, 25, was detained on an international arrested warrant in Ferrara, Italy, on Saturday and is being held on suspicion of helping plan the attack which was carried out by his 29-year-old brother Ahmed.

Police said Anis was known to have been a foreign fighter in Syria, and had been expelled from Italy to Tunisia in 2014 after arriving on a boat.

Anis Hanachi, 25 (left), was arrested in Italy on Saturday and is being held on suspicion of helping brother Ahmed, 29 right, carry out an knife attack in Marseille

Anis (pictured being arrested) is also suspected of belonging to a terror organisation, meaning he could provide the missing link between Ahmed and extremist groups

Italian police say Ahmed was arrested after a 'very complex' investigation. Anis was known to spent time in Italy before carrying out his attack

When he was arrested Anis had no documents and claimed to be Algerian but further investigation revealed his true identity.

French authorities had signaled his possible presence in Italy two days after the elder brother stabbed two cousins to death in Marseille's main train station.

Italian authorities said they confirmed his presence in the Liguria region, which borders France, on Wednesday, and then tracked him down to Ferrara near the Adriatic coast by the weekend.

They said the fact he was arrested on a bicycle in the city indicates it's not likely he had logistical support in the area, but that they were still investigating.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, but authorities previously claimed no firm link between Ahmed and a terror organisation had been uncovered.

He stabbed cousins Mauranne and Laura, both 20, to death outside Marseille's main train station on October 1 before being shot dead.

Ahmed was originally from a working class neighbourhood of Bizerte, in Tunisia, and spent time in Italy before launching his attack in France.

Friends from his home town described him as a drug taker who split from his wife after she had an affair with one of his friends.

Ahmed stabbed cousins Mauranne and Laura, both 20, to death outside Marseille's main train station before being shot dead by police

Ahmed grew up in this house in Tunisia, but also spent time in Italy. He was known as a drug taker who split from his wife after she had an affair

That woman was Italian and the couple had lived in Aprilia, south of Rome, from about 2006 to 2014.

An associate, named only as Omar, said even after the marriage ended Anis shuttled between Tunisia and Italy.

His brothers helped him kick the drug habit, he said, after which he was known as a 'bon vivant' who frequented Bizerte cafes.

When he was in Italy, his Bizerte friends stayed in touch on social networks, where he posted photos of his activities, Omar said.

Omar described the community as 'shocked' to learn Hanachi was behind the Marseille attack.

'At first, we questioned his identity and the fact he would be the executor of the operation,' Omar said.

'We do not know why he did it. I just can't believe he could really do this.'

Hanachi's older brother, Moez, insulted reporters seeking to talk to their parents or find out more about what motivated the attack.

Hanachi's uncle Mohamed started to open up, but then changed his mind.

While ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, French and Tunisian authorities have no uncovered and firm links to terror groups

Mauranne and Laura were laid to rest last week, with loved ones describing Mauranne as a 'brilliant student' (pictured, tributes outside the train station)

Neighbors said two of Hanachi's brothers followed him to Italy and are believed to still be there, while his third brother remained in Bizerte with their parents.

Tunisian authorities say they have found no evidence linking Ahmed to terror groups, and while French police say they found recording of Islamic chants on his computer, there was no other obvious link to terror.

On Monday it emerged Hanachi had been arrested seven times since 2005 - giving officers a fake identity on each occasion.

The most recent arrest, for shoplifting, came just a day before the attack.

Loved ones of the victims paid tribute as they were laid to rest last week, describing Mauranne as a 'brilliant student'.
Ten teenagers from the same school have been invited to join the elite Mensa society.

The students from St Bede's Catholic College in Bristol were found to be among the most intelligent in the country after sitting the British Mensa test.

The genius benchmark is set at 140 and the lowest score among all 10 pupils was 148 - and two students have higher IQs than Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

The ten students from St Bedes Catholic College in Bristol sat the British Mensa test

Isabel Romero (left) and Molly Dolan (right) recorded scores of 161 - a point higher than theoretical physicist Albert Einstein and cosmologist Stephen Hawking

Two pupils, Isabel Romero and Molly Dolan, recorded scores of 161, just one mark short of the maximum possible on the paper.

They are also a point higher than the IQs of theoretical physicist Albert Einstein and cosmologist Stephen Hawking, who have IQs of 160.

Isabel, 14, said: 'When I found out I was selected for Mensa, I was really excited and agreed to do it because it was a new opportunity and I was curious to know my score. When I received my results I was quite surprised and really happy.'

Vice principal Rob King said: 'We are absolutely delighted to have such amazing students at St Bede's. They are a credit to the college and their families.

'Being invited to become a member of Mensa will be a huge boost for these students as they begin Year 10 and their GCSE courses.

All 10 of the gifted pupils will now be invited to be part of the Mensa Society

Vice principal Rob King said: 'Being invited to become a member of Mensa will be a huge boost for these students as they begin Year 10 and their GCSE courses'

'It will give them further confidence that they can do or be whatever they set their minds on. The sky is the limit.'

All 10 pupils will now be invited to be part of the Mensa Society.

A score of 148 places the youngsters in the top two per cent of the population.

Mensa is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world, and regularly sets tests for people to gauge their IQ.
A new study has shown that many men with a history of sexual violence and domestic abuse joined ISIS because of the group's use of slavery and rape.

The Henry Jackson Society report claims the sanctioning of systemic sexual abuse served as a way of 'attracting, retaining, mobilising and rewarding fighters'.

It was also used as a means of delivering cruel punishment to 'kafir' - non-Muslims - and as a form of terrorism.

With slavery and rape given Islamic justification by the depraved group's theologians, sexual exploitation was also used as a way of raising cash for the caliphate.

The Henry Jackson Society report claims the sanctioning of systemic sexual abuse served as a way of 'attracting, retaining, mobilising and rewarding fighters'

One infamous jihadist described as key in the savage persecution of the non-Muslim Yazidi minority is the Briton Siddhartha Dhar (pictured left). Another Briton in ISIS with a history of sexual violence - Ondogo Ahmed (pictured right), from London, who was jailed for eight years after raping a 16-year-old girl - joined the group in 2013

The study shows many ISIS fighters from the US and Europe had a background of abusing women, which implies a relationship between 'committing terrorist attacks and having a history of physical and/or sexual violence'.

One infamous jihadist described as key in the savage persecution of non-Muslims in ISIS territory is the Briton Siddhartha Dhar.

The father-of-four, once a bouncy castle salesman in Walthamstow, is said to have even enslaved some Yazidi women and girls himself and regularly taken part in trafficking.

The Yazidis, deemed by ISIS to be 'pagans' that can be raped and enslaved without consequence, have provided much of the supply of women and girls for the group.

The Yazidis, deemed by ISIS to be 'pagans' that can be raped and enslaved without consequence, have provided much of the supply of women and girls for the group. Pictured: Yazidis who were freed by ISIS in 2015

Haifa, a 36-year-old woman from Iraq's Yazidi community, who was taken as a sex slave by ISIS

According to the report, the prospect of having unlimited access to women was intentionally advertised to attract men from conservative Islamic societies where casual sex is prohibited.

The group also sanctioned forced conversions and pregnancies after women were enslaved or abused as a means of adding to the ranks of the extremist cult.

Another Briton with a history of sexual violence - Ondogo Ahmed, from London, who was jailed for eight years after raping a 16-year-old girl - joined the group in 2013.

He fled to the caliphate in Syria when out of prison on licence.

Father-of-four Dhar, once a bouncy castle salesman in Walthamstow, is said to have even enslaved some Yazidi women and girls himself and regularly taken part in trafficking

Nikita Malik, the author of the report, was quoted in The Guardian as saying: 'These cases indicate an existence of a type of terrorism that is sexually motivated, in which individuals with prior records of sexual violence are attracted by the sexual brutality carried out by members of Islamic State.'

Other men with a past of domestic or sexual abuse include London Bridge murderer Rachid Redouane and Westminster terrorist Khalid Masood.

The Henry Jackson Society also looked at the link between human trafficking and funding.

It found that groups, including Isis and Boko Haram, are turning to hostage-taking and ransom efforts as historical revenue streams such as taxation and oil sales dry up.

The study suggests kidnapping brought in around 7.6 million to 22.8 million for Isis last year.

Victims cited in the study include a 10-year-old Libyan girl who was repeatedly raped by traffickers while she was being held in a camp.

Yvette Cooper, chairwoman of the influential Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said: 'Isil, Boko Haram and other evil groups are increasingly seeing human trafficking as a possible revenue stream - and we know that terrorists use sexual violence as one of the weapons they use to divide and create fear within communities.

'It is important this is recognised in the interpretation of terror in our current laws.'

The report found terrorists are using organised crime tactics such as money laundering, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, drugs and firearm smuggling, with sexual slavery markets commonplace in Islamic State-controlled areas of Iraq and Syria.

It concluded that financial gain is a key driver behind sexual slavery, with ransom payments linked to sexual violence.

She said: 'The international community must recognise and address the nexus between this criminality and security.

'Historical revenue streams, including taxation and oil sales, to groups such as Islamic State and Boko Haram are decreasing.

'These are being replaced with hostage-taking and ransom efforts, meaning modern day slavery may increase as Daesh struggles to sustain its financial reserves.'

The report recommends British laws, including the Modern Slavery Act and Terrorism Act, should be interpreted more broadly to reflect sexual violence being used as a tactic of terrorism.

The findings were welcomed by the Government's former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Lord Carlile, who said: 'It highlights the imperative need for more international cooperation, to break up the trafficking gangs and routes, which are so essential for their wicked trade in human beings.'
Hollywood stars are finally speaking out to condemn Harvey Weinstein after he was fired from his own movie production company last night over a barrage of sexual harassment claims.

The 65-year-old - so powerful that Meryl Streep once called him 'God' - has been dismissed from The Weinstein Company in the wake of allegations that surfaced last week.

Many Hollywood stars have been criticized for remaining largely silent over claims that Weinstein, whose company produced such hits as 'The King's Speech' and 'The Artist,' preyed on young women hoping to break into the film industry.

But as news emerged yesterday that The Weinstein Company had fired the producer, some of the industry's best known figures started to speak out in support of those who had made the allegations.

The most prominent was Meryl Streep, - who has starred in a host of Weinstein movies. She said in a statement: 'The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game.'

Hollywood stars are finally breaking their silence over sexual harassment claims made against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein (pictured)

Support: Actress Susan Sarandon said she had 'huge respect' for 'all the women who broke their silence for the article on Harvey Weinstein'. Ashley Judd replied to the tweet saying 'thank you'

Backing: Actress Heather Graham said that Ashley Judd was 'brave' and added: 'I believe you'. Judd then replied to say 'thank you, Heather'

On Sunday night, actor Mark Ruffalo said he hoped 'we are now seeing the beginning of the end of these abuses'. Again Ashley Judd replied to say 'thank you'

Harvey Weinstein is pictured with Rose McGowan, one of his most vocal accusers, in 2004

Actresses Susan Sarandon and Heather Graham as well as Spotlight star Mark Ruffalo were among those who took to Twitter yesterday to back the accusers who included Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd.

Judd replied to each of their posts, thanking them for their support.

Sarandon wrote: 'Huge respect for @AshleyJudd and all the women who broke their silence for the article on Harvey Weinstein. Brave.'

Ruffalo wrote: 'To be clear what Harvey Weinstein did was a disgusting abuse of power and horrible. I hope we are now seeing the beginning of the end of these abuses.'

Graham tweeted: 'You're brave @AshleyJudd. I believe you.'

Meanwhile, Rose McGowan tweeted that the team that produced the initial New York Times article containing the allegations had 'saved lives' with their 'bravery'.

She said: 'I salute you #jodikantor #megantwohey & @nyt editor thank you for your incredible work. You've saved lives with your bravery.'

James Gunn, who directed Guardians of the Galaxy, wrote: 'If even 1/10th of the stories about Harvey Weinstein are true (and I believe they are), then good f**king riddance. That s**t's gotta stop.'

Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, whose accusations of sexual harassment led to the downfall last year of former Fox CEO Roger Ailes, wrote in response to the firing: 'Women's voices heard. Again and Finally. #BeFierceAlways Its working.'

However, not everyone was impressed with the swiftness of the board's decision.

WEINSTEIN'S ACCUSERS Harvey Weinstein has been slammed with multiple accusations of sexual harassment after a report detailing a $100,000 settlement he reportedly made to Rose McGowan in the mid-'90s emerged this week. Below are some of the women who have accused Weinstein of harassing them, or other women. Rose McGowan: The actress, who made her breakthrough in 1996 in the Weinstein-produced slasher revival movie Scream, reportedly sued Weinstein after he approached her during production of that movie. She signed a non-disclosure agreement at the close of the suit and has only referred to him obliquely in social media since. On Sunday she referred to being abused by a 'monster' and has previously referred to being raped by a studio head. Ashley Judd: Judd's film roles include the thriller Kiss the Girls - and says that during the filming of that movie Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower. She was one of the women who spoke out to The New York Times this week, saying: 'Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly.' Zelda Perkins was 25 when, as an assistant of Weinstein's in London, she reportedly confronted the mogul for harassing her and 'several' other women; she later settled out of court Lauren O'Connor: A former employee of The Weinstein Company, she told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company' after one of her colleagues told her that Weinstein had pressured her into massaging him while he was naked, the NYT said. Ambra Battilana: An Italian actress and model, she told the NYT that in March 2015 Weinstein invited her to his New York office. There, she said, he asked if her breasts were real before grabbing them and putting his hands up her skirt. She reported the alleged incident to police, but they did not press charges. According to the NYT, Weinstein later paid her off. Laura Madden: An ex-employee, she told the NYT that Weinstein had asked her to give him massages from 1991 onwards, while they were both in London and Dublin. 'It was so manipulative,' she told the NYT. 'You constantly question yourself - am I the one who is the problem?' Weinstein denied knowledge. Emily Nestor: Nestor was a temporary employee of the Weinstein Company for just one day in 2014 when Weinstein approached her and offered to boost her career in exchange for sex, the NYT reported. Zelda Perkins: An assistant of Weinstein's based in London in 1998; then 25, she reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court. Elizabeth Karlsen, an Oscar-winning producer, said a female executive told her almost 30 years ago that she had found Weinstein naked in her bedroom in a Miramax-rented property Elizabeth Karlsen: The Oscar-nominated producer of Carol and The Crying Game, among others, told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday that almost 30 years ago, an unnamed young female executive who had worked at Miramax with Weinstein had found him naked in her bedroom one night. The exec was in a house rented by Miramax at the time to cut its overheads. Liza Campbell: A freelance script reader, she told the UK's Sunday Times that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London before telling her to get in the bath with him. Lauren Sivan: The former Fox news host said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007. He took her to a closed restaurant beneath a club she had visited and attempted to kiss her, then when she refused he cornered her and made her watch him touch himself, according to The Huffington Post. Advertisement

Claims: Rose McGowan (left) reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement Weinstein settled a suit for $100,000 in 1995. Ashley Judd (right) says Weinstein asked her to watch him shower

Actress Patricia Arquette was among the stars who have taken to Twitter in recent days to back Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan

Christine Lahti was also among those to post on Twitter on Sunday, saying 'the women who speak up about is are brave and heroic'

McGowan took to Twitter to share a photo of herself in her 20's and wrote: 'this is the girl that was hurt by a monster. This is the girl who you are shaming with your silence'

Actress Lena Dunham tweeted Sunday night, 'Easy to think Weinstein company took swift action but this has actually been the slowest action because they always always knew.'

Weinstein was ousted Sunday night from the company he co-founded and that bears his name.

Following a devastating New York Times expose that detailed years of sexual harassment allegations against Weinstein, the Weinstein Co. co-chairman was unceremoniously fired by his brother, Bob, and three other directors on the film company's board.

'In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company ... have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately,' the company board said in a statement Sunday night.

For a domineering studio head long known for intervening in the edit room, this is very likely the final cut. His career in Hollywood, many in the industry believe, is finished.

It took much longer than three days for Weinstein's fall. The reporting took months, and followed years of previous efforts by other journalists to nail down details of the behavior that was roundly considered 'an open secret' in Hollywood. And it took years for the alleged victims, including actress Ashley Judd, to work up the courage to go on the record.

Weinstein had previously taken an indefinite leave of absence following a New York Times expose chronicling decades of allegations of sexual harassment by the Oscar winner.

The board on Friday endorsed that decision and announced an investigation into the allegations, saying it would determine the co-chairman's future with the company.

Italian actress and model Ambra Battilana (left) reportedly had her breasts groped in 2015 by Weinstein; Ex-Fox host Lauren Sivan (right) said he masturbated in front of her in 2007

Rose McGowan tweeted that the team that produced the NYT article had 'saved lives' with their 'bravery'

Not everyone was applauding Sunday's firing for its swiftness. Actress Lena Dunham tweeted her reaction last night

But The Weinstein Co. board went further on Sunday, firing the executive who has always been its primary operator, public face and studio chief. Under his leadership, the company has been a dominant force at the Oscars, including the rare feat of winning back-to-back best picture Academy Awards with 'The King's Speech' and 'The Artist.' In recent years, however, Weinstein's status has diminished because of money shortages, disappointing box-office returns and executive departures.

The company has attempted to continue with business as usual, including a promotional event Sunday night for its 2017 awards hopeful, the indie hit thriller 'Wind River.' While it has a handful of films scheduled for release in the coming months, much of the company's business has recently angled toward television, producing shows like 'Project Runway.'

An attorney for Weinstein didn't immediately return messages Sunday. But Weinstein will surely be heard from soon.

On Thursday he issued a lengthy statement that acknowledged causing 'a lot of pain.' He also asked for 'a second chance.' But Weinstein and his lawyers also criticized The New York Times' report in statements and interviews, and vowed an aggressive response. The New York Times said it was 'confident in the accuracy of our reporting.'

Harvey Weinstein is pictured here leaving his Manhattan home on Friday after taking a leave of absence from his own firm

The Times article chronicled sexual harassment settlements Weinstein made with actresses and former employees at both The Weinstein Co. and Weinstein's former company, Miramax. Weinstein made his name with Miramax, the company he founded with his brother in 1979. They sold it to Disney in 1993 for $60 million.

The company was a fixture of the 1990s independent film movement, launching the careers of filmmakers Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith and Steven Soderbergh, and winning best picture with 'Shakespeare in Love' and 'The English Patient.'

The allegations triggered cascading chaos at the Weinstein Co. A third of the all-male board has stepped down since Thursday. The prominent attorney Lisa Bloom, daughter of well-known Los Angeles women's rights attorney Gloria Allred, on Saturday withdrew from representing Weinstein, as did another adviser, Lanny Davis.

A spokesperson for The Weinstein Co. declined to provide further details on the firing. Messages left for attorney John Keirnan, who had been appointed to lead an investigation, weren't immediately returned Sunday.

ROSE MCGOWAN'S FURY OVER 'SILENCE' Rose McGowan, one of the women who reportedly sued Weinstein but later settled, hit out at women who are silent over sexual abuse on Sunday. 'Ladies of Hollywood, your silence is deafening,' she said, telling them to 'get brave.' McGowan, who reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement after settling for $100,000, has referred obliquely to her alleged abuse. Last year, she tweeted under the hashtag #WhyWomenDontReport with the message 'Because my ex sold our movie to my rapist for distribution'. Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow, who have all won Oscars for starring in Weinstein films, have made no public comment. On Sunday McGowan took to Twitter to share a photo of herself in her 20s, saying those who are silent about abuse shame the abusers' victim Advertisement

Pressure to act continued to mount on the board as more developments followed. Congressional Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, donated to charities thousands of dollars in donations they had received from Weinstein.

TV anchor Lauren Sivan on Friday detailed an alleged 2007 encounter with Weinstein in a HuffPost report. Sivan, then working at a New York cable channel, Long Island 12, alleged that Weinstein cornered her in the hallway of a Manhattan restaurant closed to the public and masturbated in front of her.

Sivan said she had rejected an attempt by Weinstein to kiss her. 'Well, can you just stand there and shut up,' she claims he responded.

She is scheduled to appear on Megyn Kelly's NBC show on Monday.

Bob Weinstein and David Glasser, chief operating officer, are now running The Weinstein Co. But it remains to be seen not only if the company can continue without its prominent producer but also whether it can weather questions of culpability in its former co-chairman's behavior.

In reaction to Thursday's report, many in Hollywood called Weinstein's behavior 'an open secret.' The settlement funds paid out also may have come from The Weinstein Co.

While many remained silent, some in the movie industry have vented their disgust with the allegations against Weinstein in recent days, including Lena Dunham and Brie Larson.

For them, the allegations against Weinstein not only compare to those against Bill Cosby and Roger Ailes, but reflect Hollywood's deep-rooted gender inequality. Imbalances in pay between actors and actresses and the continued paucity of women directors behind the camera for the biggest productions have been ongoing issues in Hollywood.
A 56-year-old South African woman dubbed 'Lion Mama' after stabbing three men who were gang raping her daughter has been told she will face no charges (file image)

A mother who stabbed a sex beast to death and seriously injured two others when she caught them gang raping her daughter in South Africa has been told she will no longer face a murder charge.

Prosecutors revealed that two other charges of attempted murder have also been dropped after ruling that there was no realistic chance of a successful prosecution.

The woman, 56, was dubbed 'Lion Mama' for running 3km with a kitchen knife before stabbing all three attackers until they collapsed after being told of the attack by a teenage relative of one of the men.

The mother then comforted her daughter until police arrived, before finding herself under arrest and facing charges.

That led to a huge public backlash and a campaign to fund her legal fees.

Two lawyers even offered their services for free to defend the woman - who cannot be named because her daughter is the victim of a sexual crime - after the incident in September.

Yesterday at Lady Frere Magistrates Court in Eastern Cape province the National Prosecuting Authority announced that all charges against her were being officially dropped by the state.

NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali told News24: 'The docket was referred to the senior prosecutor and based on the evidence in the docket she declined to prosecute the case against the woman'.

She confirmed there was not thought to be any realistic chance of a guilty verdict.

The two surviving men have been charged with rape and will be in the same court on Wednesday.

Speaking about the horrific ordeal, the mother said she was alerted to the attack by an 18-year-old cousin of the rapist who was killed.

The mother said she had to run 3km after being told of the attack in order to stop it.

The distraught mother said she repeatedly called the police in her home village of Zwartwater in the Eastern Province but it just rang out with no officer picking up the telephone.

In desperation she picked up a kitchen knife and her friend led her to the property where she could hear her daughters cries and she burst in and found her daughter near naked.

The three men who were taking turns gang raping her were taken completely by surprise as the mother went into a blind rage stabbing all three men repeatedly until they collapsed.

A South African Police Service source said the blood soaked mother comforted her daughter until the police were contacted and arrived and paramedics came to treat her victims.

One man, Zamile Siyeka, was pronounced dead at the scene at his two accomplices, Xolisa Siyeka and Mncedisi Vuba, were rushed to hospital suffering from serious injuries.

She also praised the teen as a real hero, saying she is now in fear of her life after being blamed for the death of her relative and has attempted suicide.

Prosecutors at Lady Frere Magistrates Court announced the decision on Monday as they said two of the men who survived will still stand trial for rape (file image)

Overwhelmed by the criticism and threats on her life, she drank paraffin and bleach.

She survived and is being treated at Frontier Hospital in Queenstown but is still living in constant fear.

The woman said: 'All I wanted was to protect my daughter. When I answered the call from the teenager I did not want to believe my daughter was being raped and hoped it was a mistake.

'I could not believe it, because  even the one who has died, who was doing this to my daughter  I doubted that he could do something like this.

'I am really saddened by this. In fact, this is what is really killing me spiritually inside. That girl was trying to save my daughter's life.

'It is really hurting that she has now been blamed to an extent that she tried to take her own life.

'I hope social workers find a safe place for her so that she can carry on with her studies. I just hope and pray that this is not the end of her dreams and aspirations.'

The mother has been humbled by the support she is getting from across the country.

She added: 'It means there are a lot of people out there with good hearts who are on my side.

'I would have thrown myself to a lion to protect my daughter, and I am sure many mothers would have done the same.

'I truly appreciate all the support I have been getting. It has made me strong,' she said.

Two elderly women from the village praised the mother.

One said: 'We hope this is going to be a lesson to other would-be rapists. If only all three of them had died. They have been raping elderly women and killing them,' alleged one of them.

Another said: 'This incident will make them think twice before they commit such crimes again.

'We have been living in fear in this village for a long time because of these heinous crimes. We salute that woman for what she did. She was driven by a mother's instinct and was very brave.'

Thembalomzi Busakhwe, chair of the community police forum in the village, said the three alleged perpetrators were known troublemakers.

He said the dead man had been accused of robbing a local shop earlier this month.

He said:'There is a huge problem of alcohol and drug abuse in this village. One can say without a shadow of a doubt that this case was fuelled by such elements.

'In this village, there are so many unlicensed shebeens that are open all the time'.

The woman was hailed a heroine in her home village but there was huge anger shortly after when she was charged with murder and two attempted murders and taken before a court.

The desperately poor woman who lives in a tiny two room shack with her daughter and grand daughter and two others was freed by Lady Frere Magistrates Court on bail of R500 (30).

But unable to afford a good defence, a fighting fund was set up by Cape Town resident Natalie Kendrick to help the Lion Mama with her legal fees which stands already at R20,000 (1,175).

Attorney Buhle Tonise came forward and announced she will be representing the accused mother free of charge after reading about the story in print and would enter a not guilty plea defence.

She said:'When it comes to being human, it would not be proper to take any money. The money would be better used for counselling for the mother and her daughter who are in a fragile state'.

'It can also be used to build a fence around their home as safety is a serious problem' she said.

In total 110 rapes are reported in South Africa every day, but experts believe the true figure could be as much as four times higher, with many too scared to report it.

A study claimed that 40 per cent of women are likely to be raped in their lifetime in South Africa.
Kim Jong Un could test a new missile tonight in order to coincide with the Columbus Day holiday in America, it is feared.

The test would also come ahead of the founding anniversary of North Korea's ruling party, which is due to take place on Tuesday.

Russian lawmaker Anton Morozov warned last week that Kim was preparing another launch 'in the nearest future' after returning from Pyongyang.

Kim often times weapon tests to coincide with American public holidays.

North Korea could test another missile on Monday to coincide with the Columbus Day holiday in America, after a Russian lawmaker warned last week that Kim Jong Un would test a weapon 'in the nearest future'

Anton Morozov claimed to have seen calculations showing the missile can range the US West Coast and that North Korea can bring a nuclear warhead back to earth intact (pictured, Kim Jong Un inspects what purports to be a hydrogen bomb)

The dictator launched the country's first ICBM on the 4th of July, calling it a 'gift for the American b*******.'

Mr Morozov, of the nationalist Liberal-Democratic Party, said on Friday that he has seen calculations showing the missile could hit the US West Coast.

He added that the North Koreans claimed to have technology that would allow them to bring a nuclear warhead back down to earth intact.

The news comes after President Trump discussed the North Korean situation with military leaders on Thursday, describing the moment as 'the calm before the storm'.

When quizzed by reporters about what he meant, Trump said: 'You'll find out.'

The news also comes after Kim threatened to tame Donald Trump 'with fire' after the President threatened to 'totally destroy' North Korea in a speech to the UN.

In an unprecedented personal address to President Trump, Kim said the US would 'pay dearly' adding that North Korea 'will consider with seriousness exercising of a corresponding, highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history.'

Donald Trump discussed North Korea with his generals on Thursday before telling reporters it was 'the calm before the storm'. Asked what storm, he replied: 'You'll see'

Kim threatened to tame President Trump 'with fire' in an unprecedented personal address last month, calling him a 'mentally deranged dotard'

He added: 'I am now thinking hard about what response he could have expected when he allowed such eccentric words to trip off his tongue.

'I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire.'

North Korea has previously released images of what it claimed was a 'fire plan' for an attack on the US military base on Guam.

Kim was said to have reviewed the plans but decided not to attack.

Few international observers believe the North would actually attack the US or an allied country because there is no possibility it could win a war with America.

But Ri Yong Ho, North Korea's Foreign Minister, raised another prospect - that the hermit nation could land a warhead in the Pacific Ocean.

Such a demonstration would prove that they have a viable nuclear weapon, without necessarily prompting American military action.

Kim believes securing such a weapon, and proving to the international community that it works, is the key to ensuring his regime's survival.

Most experts agree that the North already has a missile capable of ranging most of the US, the Hwasong-14, which they have successfully tested multiple times.

Kim has also claimed to have a powerful hydrogen bomb that is small enough to fit on top of the missile, after the state carried out a sixth successful nuclear test earlier this year.

The final hurdle is in perfecting re-entry technology that would bring the warhead back to earth intact and on target.

It is not believed the North currently possesses this technology, as re-entry vehicles from previous Hwasong-14 tests were shown falling back into the ocean in flames.
Danny Patrick made clear that he was looking for sex and tried to arrange a meeting with the girl in a secluded wooded area

A pervert who groomed young girls on Instagram has been jailed after one victim's mum turned to paedophile hunters to catch him because police 'were too busy'.

Danny Patrick, 31, made contact with several underage girls via social media while using the profile name 'Mixed Race Dan'.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the nature of the conversations soon became sexual and he even tried to meet up with one 14-year-old girl.

But the teenager told her mother about the messages, who alerted police but officers could not respond to the call until the following day.

So the the mother turned to Internet Interceptors  a paedophile hunting group  for help and gave them access to her daughter's account so they could continue to pose as the teen.

During the chats, the convicted sex offender made clear he was looking for sex and tried to arrange a meeting with the girl in a secluded wooded area.

He also sent messages asking her 'do you want an older man as ur boyfriend', 'would you dress to impress me' and telling her' i would meet you anywhere as long as I can have you in my arms'.

A picture Patrick sent to the girl. He also sent messages asking her 'do you want an older man as ur boyfriend', 'would you dress to impress me' and telling her' i would meet you anywhere as long as I can have you in my arms'

Patrick sent a string of sickening messages to the youngster asking her whether she wanted to lose her virginity to him

Prosecutor Sati Ruck said the Interceptors suggested a more public area for the rendezvous at which they intended to confront him but he did not turn up.

The group of self-styled paedophile hunters instead handed the evidence they had collected to the police, who then arrested Patrick at his home on May 8.

The court heard Patrick, whose partner has five children, was subject of a Sexual Offender Prevention Order, which banned any unsupervised contact with anybody under 18.

This was previously imposed on October 5, 2012 after admitting two offences of making indecent images of children.

The mother said in a statement read to the court that her daughter had been badly affected by the incident, adding 'she spends more time alone in her room with the curtains closed for fear of being watched'

Patrick, of Finchfield, Wolverhampton, admitted attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming, attempting to engage in sexual communications and two breaches of his SOPO.

Last week he was jailed for two years and five months by Judge James Burbidge QC who told him: 'In 2012 a court gave you the chance to address any predilection you had for looking at young children.

'But actions speak louder than words and now your desire to have sexual relations with a child under 16 has caused significant upset and psychological harm.'

The mother said in a statement read to the court that her daughter had been badly affected by the incident.

She said: 'She is confused as to why this man wanted to meet her and is now frightened to leave the house.

'She spends more time alone in her room with the curtains closed for fear of being watched.'

Speaking to MailOnline today, a spokesman for Internet Inteceptors said: 'The police are always saying that hunting groups hinder investigations, this is clearly not that case.

'It is in fact the police who hinder their own investigations.'
Jonathan Richman has been jailed for scamming holidaymakers out of the money using false credit cards

A fraudster who posed as a travel agent and scammed 80,000 from customers has been jailed after he was caught trying to flee the country.

Jonathan Richman was detained at Gatwick Airport after his dishonest schemes left holidaymakers unable to travel and out of pocket.

He was caught when he foolishly rang detectives investigating him and tried to warn them off.

The 52-year-old Londoner was handed a two-year sentence at Isleworth Crown Court after pleading guilty to various fraud and money laundering offences.

Richman carried out a number of frauds between 2011 and 2015, where he was posing as a travel agent dealing in last-minute holidays at low prices for his customers.

But Richman was actually paying for the holidays using fraudulent credit-card details, and pocketing the customer's money.

When the credit card companies later spotted the fraudulent payments, meaning some of Richman's victims had their holidays cancelled and were left unable to get their money back.

He was caught was a passport staffed with bank cards for accounts through which he laundered money

Detective Sergeant Dave Bullamore, from the Met's Aviation Policing Command, said: 'Richman was carrying out these frauds effectively as a full time occupation.

'He went to great lengths to try and conceal his true identity, right from renting a flat under a false name to setting up fake bank accounts.

'But his arrogance proved to be his downfall when he called the detectives to threaten and warn them off from investigating him.

'After some fantastic detective work, we were finally able to match his face to his true identity and arrest him, and despite his attempts to go on the run and evade justice, he is now facing further time behind bars.'

The investigation was launched by officers from the Met's Aviation Policing Command in September 2013, when two people returning from a holiday in Thailand, were arrested by officers at Heathrow Airport.

The pair were arrested as they were suspected of purchasing their holiday using fraudulent credit card details, but it quickly became apparent they were victims of Richman's scam.

Richman, pictured in CCTV, was caught after he called detectives investigating the case and warned them to 'leave him alone'. His phone was traced and he was arrested

Officers spent over a year trying to track down Richman, before, in October 2014, he rang Heathrow CID office and made threats against one of the investigating officers and his family telling him to 'leave [him] alone'.

Detectives were able to trace the mobile phone numbers used to make the calls, and were then able to link the numbers to Richman.

In total, officers identified around 16 victims - companies or people - who had fallen prey of Richman's scams.

A warrant for his arrest was circulated and Richman was arrested at Gatwick Airport on 28 August, attempting to board a flight to Morocco.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court on 27 September to three counts of fraud, money laundering and the possession of fraudulent documents and articles for use in fraud. Two counts of fraud and the witness intimidation charges are to lie on file.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed to limit the number of migrants that can enter Germany each year.

It comes after the country took in more than a million migrants between 2015 and 2016, a decision which led to furious opposition to Merkel's open-door policy.

Merkel had previously refused to put a cap on the number of migrants that can come to Germany.

But the country's conservative parties said they had agreed the deal to limit numbers today - though the government and parliament will have the power to change the figure in the future.

The country's conservative parties said they had agreed the deal to limit migration today - though the government and parliament will have the power to change the figure in the future. Pictured: Merkel (left) and Bavaria's State Governor Horst Seehofer

Merkel's party and its sister party in Bavaria, the Christian Social Union, pledged to limit the annual number of migrants to 200,000.

However, that number can be increased or lowered by both the government and parliament in reaction to any future refugee crises.

The migrant issue had been one of the biggest stumbling blocks between the two parties as they head into coalition talks next week with the pro-business FDP and the Greens to form a new government following last month's national election.

'I'm happy that we found a compromise,' Merkel told reporters in Berlin after negotiations that lasted deep into the night. 'It's important, that the basic right to asylum, that every application will be processed, will be maintained.'

It comes after Germany took in more than a million migrants between 2015 and 2016, a decision which led to an outcry against Merkel's open-door policy

The face-saving compromise was much needed after Merkel and the CSU's leader, Horst Seehofer, wrangled over a migrant cap for almost two years. Merkel has repeatedly refused to agree to an annual cap for migrants, while the CSU had demanded a limit.

'We finally have a conclusive system of rules for migration,' Seehofer said.

While the CSU can now present an actual number to its party base, Merkel can point to the fact that the number is flexible and can be changed any time in reaction to incoming asylum seekers.

The numbers of migrants coming to Germany have drastically gone down since the Balkans route was blocked in early 2016.

Between January and August of this year, fewer than 124,000 people applied for asylum in Germany. A deal with Turkey has also kept large numbers of people from crossing the Mediterranean to Europe's shores.

The compromise also includes plans to build large centers where asylum-seekers must stay until their requests have been processed. Asylum-seekers are currently distributed around the country while awaiting the decision on their applications.

It also seeks to add new immigration laws allowing for special migration of skilled workers and speed up the return of rejected asylum-seekers.

The face-saving compromise was much needed after Merkel and the CSU's leader, Horst Seehofer, wrangled over a migrant cap for almost two years. Merkel has repeatedly refused to agree to an annual cap for migrants, while the CSU had demanded a limit

Other plans include adding Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia to the list of so-called safe countries, which would make it near impossible for citizens from those countries to get asylum in Germany.

The migrant issue is likely to also play a big role in upcoming coalition negotiations as the Greens have been vehemently opposed to eroding asylum rights.

Compared with many other European countries, Germany has generous asylum laws.

They are enshrined in the German constitution in reaction to the Third Reich, when many people fleeing the Nazis survived only because they were able to get asylum in other countries.
A serving Border Force officer was among 12 people arrested after police smashed a cross-Channel gang smuggling heroin, cocaine and guns into Britain.

The 36-year-old officer from Dover, Kent, was detained last Friday by French police near Calais along with three other Britons who all remain in custody.

Authorities seized 11 guns - along with magazines and suppressors - alongside around 34kg (75lbs) of cocaine and 7kg (15lbs) of heroin.

Authorities seized 11 guns along with magazines and suppressors as part of the investigation

Nine handguns and two revolvers were recovered by police investigating the drugs gang

The international operation is targeting a group suspected of importing drugs and firearms

Following the raid, eight men were arrested across Kent by Metropolitan Police detectives and six charged with conspiracy to import firearms and class A drugs.

The six men were remanded in custody to appear at Barkingside Magistrates' Court today, while the remaining two were released under investigation.

Three of the six remanded men are Christopher Hendra, 29, of Sittingbourne; Liam Attwell, 18, of Ashford; and Terry Willett, 31, of Canterbury.

The remaining three are Daniel Duvall, 36, of Maidstone; Craig Brabon, 36, of Faversham; and Christopher Whitehead, 40, of Orpington.

Investigators also seized around 34kg (75lbs) of cocaine and 7kg (15lbs) of heroin in the probe

Police believe they have prevented the importation of a 'significant quantity of class A drugs'

Police also believe their investigation has stopped firearms being imported into Britain

Dave Hucker, head of the National Crime Agency's anti-corruption unit, said: 'This operation has brought together law enforcement from both sides of the Channel.

'We believe we have prevented the importation of a significant quantity of class A drugs and firearms to the UK. Our investigation is ongoing, both in the UK and in France.'

Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gallagher, head of the Metropolitan Police's organised crime command, added: 'We are pleased to work with the NCA and French police during this ongoing investigation.

'Operations like this show the importance of working together when suspected organised criminal networks operate across borders.'
President Donald Trump justified his saber rattling at North Korea on Monday morning as a necessary break from his predecessors' failed efforts to contain the increasingly volatile regime.

After tweeting Saturday that 'only one thing will work,' Trump repeated his assertion that U.S. tactics, dating back to the presidency of Bill Clinton, have not been effective at halting the development of North Korea's nuclear program.

'Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!' he said early this morning in his latest volley at dictator Kim Jong-un.

President Donald Trump justified his saber rattling at North Korea on Monday morning, after saying Saturday (above) that people would know 'pretty soon' how he intends to handle the country's volatile, ruling government

Trump repeated his assertion that U.S. tactics, dating back to the presidency of Bill Clinton, have not been effective at halting the development of North Korea's nuclear program

Trump cryptically observed last week that this may be the 'calm before the storm.' He has not explained his remark, telling reporters Saturday that there's 'nothing to clarify.'

The White House said Friday that Trump was making a 'general comment' and did not have a specific country in mind when he made the remark during a photo op with military leaders and their spouses.

His continued commentary on North Korea has raised suspicions that Trump may have been referring to a military conflict with Kim, though.

Trump said Saturday, for instance: 'Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid.

'Hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!'

Asked what would constrain North Korea later on, Trump said, 'Well, you'll figure that out pretty soon.'

As the president was wooing Republican Party donors on Saturday evening in North Carolina, an interview he taped with Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas and an opponent of Trump's in last year's presidential primary, was airing on Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Trump called Kim 'Little Rocket Man' in the conversation and reiterated his frustration with previous U.S. presidents, who he said left him 'a mess' in North Korea and other foreign policy arenas.

He smacked former Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama for their appeasing Jong-un's father, Kim Jong-il, 'cause it's the same thing.'

The North Korean leaders have the 'same attitude,' Trump said, although, 'I think this one's the worst of the group.'

Trump sat down for the interview with Huckabee, father to the president's press secretary, on Thursday. It aired during the first episode of the Republican's new television show.



The interview occurred hours before Trump said at a jovial photo-op with military brass that the gathering could represent 'the calm before the storm.'

Friday afternoon, during an event with American manufacturers, Trump was pressed to explain what he meant.

'You'll find out,' he said, winking. On Saturday evening, the president insisted there was 'nothing to clarify' as he left the White House on his way to Greensboro for a Republican National Committee fundraiser.

The president has previously said the United States would destroy North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies. He has also derisively referred to North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un as 'Little Rocket Man.' Kim is seen in the above file photo taken on September 29

At a White House press briefing on Friday Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders has offered little clarity herself. 'You'll have to wait and see,' she said.

Sanders said that while Trump's words were vague, he's not trying to sow confusion.

'I wouldn't say necessarily that he's trying to throw people off, but he's not trying to broadcast or telegraph his exact actions,' she said.

'I think we've seen what a failure it is when an administration does that.'

Sanders cautioned that Trump 'certainly doesn't want to lay out his game plan for our enemies.'

She also refused to say which to which enemy the president had issued his cryptic warning.

'We've got a lot of bad actors in the world - North Korea, Iran - there's several examples there,' she said. 'I haven't been specific about anything,' she said later of the implication that Trump was previewing military action.

Before Trump created a national 'calm before the storm' storm, he had been in discussion with top defense officials about the threat from North Korea and how to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

'In North Korea, our goal is denuclearization,' he said.

The president on Thursday also had tough words for Iran, saying the country had not lived up to the spirit of an agreement forged with world powers to curb its nuclear program. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is seen in the above file photo

'We cannot allow this dictatorship to threaten our nation or our allies with unimaginable loss of life. We will do what we must do to prevent that from happening. And it will be done, if necessary, believe me.'

During his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month, Trump said the United States would 'totally destroy' North Korea if needed to defend itself or US allies.

The president had tough words for Iran on Thursday, as well, saying the country had not lived up to the spirit of an agreement forged with world powers to curb its nuclear program.

Without being specific, Trump pressed his staff to hasten in providing him 'military options' when needed.

'I know that government bureaucracy is slow, but I am depending on you to overcome the obstacles of bureaucracy,' he said during a cabinet room meeting.
A tiny kitten has been rescued after getting trapped in a concrete pipe in Russia.

Dramatic footage shows a team of workers attempting to pull out the animal using nothing but a thin plank of wood.

In the video, which was filmed in Voronezh, two men can be seen poking the plank into the pipe while shining a flashlight as two others watch.

Rescue mission: In the video, which was filmed in Voronezh, two men can be seen poking the plank into the pipe while shining a flashlight while two other men watch

After a few gentle prods, the kitten is safely transferred onto the plank and the rescuers are able to drag it out.

It was then taken to the vet. It is not known if the animal suffered any injuries.

The kitten was discovered after passersby heard it meowing and was reportedly stuck at a depth of 1.5 metres (4.9 feet).

The footage, which was filmed on September 25, has been widely shared across the globe.

The animal was discovered after passersby heard it meowing and was reportedly stuck at a depth of 1.5 metres (4.9 feet)

Success! After a few gentle prods, the kitten has safely been transferred onto the plank and the rescuers are able to drag him out

'Real men value all life... Heroes!!!' commented Laura Powers.

While Felipe Sanchez wrote: 'Purrfect 10/10 for the rescuers!'
A mother-of-two blinded in the Las Vegas massacre has returned home to her children a week after the horror shooting.

Chelsea Romo, 28, was shot in the face at the Route 91 Harvest festival when a gunman opened fire from his Mandalay Bay hotel room last Sunday.

Doctors were unable to save her left eye due to the metal shrapnel that had become lodged inside.

She now needs a cornea transplant to save her right eye but she will remain classed as legally blind.

Chelsea Romo, 28, was left blinded after she was shot in the face in Las Vegas last week. She finally returned home to her two children Saturday after a week in intensive care

After a week in intensive care in a Vegas hospital, Romo was reunited with her two young children on Saturday when she returned home to Los Angeles.

Friends and family lined her street as she was driven to her home.

Romo was among the crowd of concert-goers when the gunman opened fire. She could be heard screaming that she couldn't see immediately after she was shot and told friends she felt her eyes get pierced by metal in the chaos.

Her friend Kelsi Kessler had been shot in her upper arm but managed to help carry Romo over a fence to get help from paramedics.

While Romo now faces a lengthy recovery, her family say she remains upbeat.

'Her spirits are just amazing. We go to see her in the hospital and she's cracking jokes. She's so upbeat, she's uplifting the people in there,' her father Dave Ferm told WHO13.

After a week in intensive care in a Vegas hospital, doctors were unable to save her left eye and she needs a cornea transplant to save her right eye

Romo was reunited with her two children on Saturday when she returned to her LA home. She lost her left eye and she needs a cornea transplant to save her right eye

The mother-of-two has spent the past week in intensive care in a Las Vegas hospital

A week on from the deadly massacre, authorities are finally able to start returning items left behind in the panic at the concert venue.

Police have spent the seven days since the shooting collecting evidence amid the thousands of items, some of them stained with blood.

'Whatever was dropped when people started running, those items we're collecting and we're going to provide back,' Paul Flood, unit chief in the FBI's victim services division said at a news conference.

The items have been cataloged with detailed descriptions, and some have been cleaned of things including blood.

They are now being returned to people at a Family Assistance Centre at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, starting with a few sections of the concert scene.

'Just in general, the sheer size of the space, the amount of personal items that were left there, it's just a huge undertaking,' Flood said.

A GoFundMe page set up for Romo has so far raised $95,000.

She could be heard screaming that she couldn't see immediately after she was shot and told friends she felt her eyes get pierced by metal in the chaos
Late night talk show host John Oliver has blasted Harvey Weinstein amid a barrage of sexual harassment claims, telling the movie tycoon: 'Your excuse isn't an excuse.'

Oliver, who hosts HBO's Last Week Tonight, addressed the mounting claims on his show Sunday as Weinstein was forced to step down from his own production company.

Oliver started off by pointing out that this week's 'grim stories concerning the treatment of women' coincided with the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump's infamous Access Hollywood tape.

Late night talk show host John Oliver has blasted Harvey Weinstein amid a barrage of sexual harassment claims, telling the movie tycoon: 'Your excuse isn't an excuse.'

The former Daily Show correspondent went on: 'The Times published a massive expose detailing movie executive Harvey Weinstein's years of alleged sexual harassment, and his response was infuriating - because he and his attorneys admitted that he needs help while also denying the charges and threatening to sue the Times. And on top of that all, was this.'

Oliver then read out Weinstein's statement released after the story broke: 'I came of age in the '60s and '70s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then. I have since learned it's not an excuse.'

Oliver replied: 'Yeah, you're right: Your excuse isn't an excuse.

'In fact, it isn't even an excuse for that behavior in the '60s: "Well, back then we had no idea that women didn't want to be forced to look at d****!

'That wasn't discovered by scientists until 1998. It was a different time.'

The comedian added: 'And new stories are now coming out, including an allegation from one local news reporter that Weinstein "trapped [her] in the hallway of the restaurant," tried to kiss her, and when she refused, he "proceeded to expose himself" before ejaculating quickly into a potted plant.

'So, step aside, Chocolat: You are no longer the most horrifying picture that Harvey Weinstein has ever produced.'

Oliver, who hosts HBO's Last Week Tonight, addressed the mounting claims on his show Sunday as Weinstein was forced to step down from his own production company

Oliver replied: 'Yeah, you're right: Your excuse isn't an excuse. In fact, it isn't even an excuse for that behavior in the '60s: "Well, back then we had no idea that women didn't want to be forced to look at d****!'

The 65-year-old movie boss was ousted from The Weinstein Company - which he founded with his brother Bob in 2005 - by its board of directors on Sunday. Pictured, Ashley Judd, actor Vince Vaughn and Weinstein at an Oscar party in 1997

This development comes as Hollywood stars are finally speaking out to condemn Harvey Weinstein after he was fired from his own movie production company last night over a barrage of sexual harassment claims.

The 65-year-old - so powerful that Meryl Streep once called him 'God' - has been dismissed from The Weinstein Company in the wake of allegations that surfaced last week.

Many Hollywood stars have been criticized for remaining largely silent over claims that Weinstein, whose company produced such hits as 'The King's Speech' and 'The Artist,' preyed on young women hoping to break into the film industry.

But as news emerged yesterday that The Weinstein Company had fired the producer, some of the industry's best known figures started to speak out in support of those who had made the allegations.

Weinstein (pictured with actress Meryl Streep) was ousted by his own company's board of directors on Sunday

Actresses Susan Sarandon and Heather Graham as well as Spotlight star Mark Ruffalo were among those who took to Twitter yesterday to back the accusers who included Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd.

Meryl Streep herself also issued a statement on Monday calling the allegations against Weinstein 'disgraceful' and 'inexcusable'.

However, she was adamant she did not know of any suggestions of sexual harassment made against the movie mogul before the New York Times published its explosive report last week.

Following a devastating New York Times expose that detailed years of sexual harassment allegations against Weinstein, the Weinstein Co. co-chairman was unceremoniously fired by his brother, Bob, and three other directors on the film company's board.

'In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company ... have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately,' the company board said in a statement Sunday night.

Actresses Susan Sarandon and Heather Graham as well as Spotlight star Mark Ruffalo were among those who took to Twitter yesterday to back the accusers who included Rose McGowan (pictured) and Ashley Judd

For a domineering studio head long known for intervening in the edit room, this is very likely the final cut. His career in Hollywood, many in the industry believe, is finished.

It took much longer than three days for Weinstein's fall. The reporting took months, and followed years of previous efforts by other journalists to nail down details of the behavior that was roundly considered 'an open secret' in Hollywood. And it took years for the alleged victims, including actress Ashley Judd, to work up the courage to go on the record.

Weinstein had previously taken an indefinite leave of absence following a New York Times expose chronicling decades of allegations of sexual harassment by the Oscar winner.
A church-going couple were mown down and left with life-changing injuries by a drugged-up convicted sex offender, who was racing at 90mph in a 30mph zone.

Liam Fisher, 21, from Farnworth near Bolton, was high on cannabis when he lost control of his car while racing another vehicle.

He smashed into chartered accountant John O'Sullivan, 55, and his wife Geraldine, 50, who were strolling along the pavement after deciding to take a new route for their regular post-Sunday morning mass walk.

Miraculously the couple, from Stockport, survived the impact but suffered 'life changing' injuries with former primary school administration officer Mrs O'Sullivan sustaining a fractured skull which required a bolt to be inserted through her head.

Chartered accountant John O'Sullivan, 55, and his wife Geraldine, 50, were strolling along the pavement after deciding to take a new route for their regular post-Sunday morning mass walk

She remains in hospital in a serious condition three months on after the crash and doctors cannot determine her long term condition for another two years.

Her husband suffered multiple fractures and lost an eye lid after he needed 20 stitches to his face and can now only walk with the aid of crutches.

Police investigating the smash discovered Fisher, a convicted sex offender, had no valid driving licence at the time of the crash in July and had a previous conviction for careless driving.

Eyewitnesses claimed his Renault Clio had been racing a Vauxhall Vectra at speeds of up to 90mph in a 30mph zone in the moments before the impact.

The Vectra was seen fish tailing around the carriageway followed by the Clio which slewed on the wrong side of the road and careered through three red traffic lights. It hit a kerb and lost control before ploughing into Mr and Mrs O'Sullivan as they walked along the pavement.

An unmarked police car had tried to follow the two vehicles but lost them and came upon the horrific crash scene with Fisher and a passenger emerging from the wrecked Clio, shaken but unharmed.

When quizzed Fisher initially falsely blamed his passenger, a young man with learning difficulties, for driving the car. He later admitted being the driver with blood tests showing he was twice the drug drive limit.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, in Manchester, Fisher, wept as he was jailed for 40 months after he admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving without insurance and having no licence.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, in Manchester, Fisher, wept as he was jailed for 40 months after he admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving without insurance and having no licence

He was also banned from driving for five years.

Today, Mr O'Sullivan answered the door to his home on crutches and was too upset to comment on the incident.

But a member of the congregation at St Philip's Catholic church in Offerton said: 'What happened that morning to the O'Sullivans was an absolute tragedy for themselves and their family.

'They are a lovely couple who attend the church regularly and are active members of the church community. They are known as creatures of habit when it comes to their Sundays but it's just down to pure chance that they took the route they did instead of their usual walk.

'They have constantly been in the thoughts and prayers and everyone at the church since they were injured.'

In court prosecutor Miss Shirlie Duckworth said: 'Mr O'Sullivan described Sunday July 16 as starting like any other normal Sunday for him and his wife Geraldine.

'They attended church, went home for breakfast and at 11am went out to enjoy a walk - but they happened to take a different route than the one they would usually take - and that took them into the path of Fisher's car.

'Mr O'Sullivan described seeing a Vauxhall Vectra driving past standing traffic then noticed the Clio being driven by Fisher. He said it came straight towards him and his wife but has no recollection of being hit by the car.

'He just remembers seeing the Renault sign and the next thing he was able to recall was being in some bushes being assisted by members of the public. His wife was more injured than he was - but his injuries were still significant.

A member of the congregation at St Philip's Catholic church in Offerton said: 'What happened that morning to the O'Sullivans was an absolute tragedy for themselves and their family.

'Another road user saw the black Vectra pass at speed, fish tailing onto the opposite carriageway. Then he saw the Clio following on the wrong side of the road, through red traffic lights and appeared to collide with a kerb.

'He saw Mrs O'Sullivan and thought she must have come through the car window. The vehicle then came to a stop on it's side. Another witness said it was clear the two cars were racing or chasing each other.

'There was disregard by the defendant for the great danger being caused to others by jumping three red traffic lights, crossing on to the wrong side of the road and driving at speeds of up to 90mph. The only fact which shortened the driving was the collision itself.'

Mr O'Sullivan suffered a fractured left arm which needed metal pins and a broken tibia and he was in hospital for three weeks. He now has problems with mobility and sleeps downstairs at home. A family holiday he and his wife planned with their daughter had to be cancelled.

Pictured is John and Geraldine O'Sullivan

Mrs O'Sullivan was in intensive care for a week and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, post traumatic amnesia and a CT scan showed a blood clot plus fractures to both arms. She remains under the care of a neurological consultant.

Fisher later claimed he had been chasing the driver of the Vectra as he had just assaulted his girlfriend.

In mitigation his lawyer, Jamie Hamilton, said: 'In the aftermath he made the foolish decision of speaking about somebody else having been the driver but he has since then expressed genuine remorse.

'He has always said 'give me the sentence I deserve, the sentence I acknowledge and accept'. He didn't set out that day to cause those injuries to those people.'

But Judge Bernadette Baxter told Fisher: 'You showed a flagrant, deliberate and reckless disregard for the rules of the road. Mr and Mrs O'Sullivan, perfectly decent, ordinary people, were conducting their Sunday as they usually did, going to church and going for a walk but sadly for them they deviated from their usual route.

'You caused them both dreadful, dreadful injuries yet knowing there were people gravely injured, you then lied about your role in this and sought to blame your passenger. That was a wicked thing to do.

'This was a deliberate decision by you to ignore the rules of the road when it must have been obvious to you that there was a serious risk to other road users.'
Three women who had travelled to South Korea to undergo plastic surgery were reportedly stuck at the airport on their return journey because they looked too different from their passport pictures.

The trio, said to be from China, were recovering from their operations, as it appears, as they had swollen faces and bandages around their head.

They were said to look nothing like their passport photos and had been stopped from flying home, according to reports on Chinese-language media.

The three women were said to be stuck at an airport in South Korea because they looked too different from their passport pictures. The trio were said to be from China

The picture was said to be taken at one unnamed airport in South Korea during China's National Day holiday, according to Apple Daily.

Plastic surgery patients need certificates to prove who they are Those who fly to South Korea from abroad to have the operations are, in some cases, so transformed that they are struggling to get through passport control on the way home. According to a previous report on Kotaku, some hospitals resorted to handing out 'plastic surgery certificates' to patients to enable them to get home. These certificates are said to include the patient's passport number, the name of the hospital they were treated at and the length of their visit to South Korea. The theory goes that these certificates can smooth their path through passport control. While hospitals have been aware of the problem for a number of years, it is said to be becoming an increasingly common issue. Advertisement

It's believed that the three women, who remain unidentified, had taken the advantage of the 'Golden Week' and travelled to the neighbouring South Korea to undergo plastic surgery.

The picture was said to be posted by Jian Huahua, a Chinese news anchor, on her social media on October 8. It seems to have be removed by Ms Jian from her account.

One popular account, 'The Beijing Things Beijingers Don't Know', managed to re-post the picture on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter.

The post claimed that the three women had been prevented from leaving the airport. They were waiting for their identities to be confirmed.

The post also claimed that they were among the throngs of Chinese tourists who had gone to South Korea for plastic surgery during the eight-day national holiday.

The re-post has gathered over 66,740 'likes' and was shared over 27,800 times.

It has also received 37,860 comments.

While some people found the incident amusing, others argue that the women were within their rights to change their looks through surgery.

It is currently unclear when and if the women were allowed to return to China.

It's said that 99,000 Chinese tourists went to South Korea to undergo plastic surgery in 2016. In the file photo, a plastic surgeon checks a patient's post-operation condition in a consultation room at the clinic in Seoul, South Korea

South Korea has become a top plastic surgery destination for Chinese women in the past decade and a half. In the file photo, a pedestrian walks past an advertisement for plastic surgery clinic at a subway station in Seoul

South Korea has become a top plastic surgery destination for Chinese women in the past decade and a half.

Chinese tourists make dedicated trips to South Korea under the 'Medical Tourists' visa to make themselves look more westernised.

In China, women with double eyelids, wider eyes and a higher nose bridge are considered beautiful.

According to Ctrip, one of China's largest travel service providers, more than 500,000 Chinese tourists made overseas medical trips in 2016.

Among them 99,000 were said to have gone to South Korea.

The figure is said to be a third of the inbound medical tourists South Korea received worldwide.
A father from Newton County, Georgia has been caught and arrested after his new-born daughter was discovered dead in the woods near a trailer park in Georgia on Sunday.

Chris McNabb, who has been named a person of interest, fled shortly after Caliyah McNabb, his daughter, was discovered behind the Eagle Point Trailer Park.

Her body was found by volunteer searchers wrapped in a blue cloth in a duffel bag in the woods.

Caliyah McNabb (pictured here) was found dead in the woods near Eagle Point Trailer Park in Covington on Sunday

The mother of the dead baby - Courtney Bell (pictured here in tears) is not being named a person of interest in the case

McNabb and his girlfriend, Courtney Bell had first reported their daughter missing on Saturday morning.

Caliyah's parents, Chris and Courtney Bell, called police after they noticed their daughter had disappeared Saturday morning.

They told officials that Caliyah was fine when they fed and changed her at 5 a.m. Saturday but five hours later when they went into her bedroom she had gone.

Chris McNabb (the father) called police claiming his daughter disappeared Saturday morning

A passerby shows the scene of the crime where Caliyah was found dead in the woods

Pictured here is the crime scene where the 15-day-old girl was left in a duffel bag

Police said the situation was 'suspicious,' according to WSBTV and the case went from a missing child incident to a homicide.

McNabb (pictured here in a mugshot) was arrested on probation violation

'A Fifteen-day-old child obviously didn't leave by themselves,' Newton County Sheriff's Dept. Capt. Keith Crum said.

Volunteers were searching a wooded area near the home of the family Sunday when they discovered the infant's body under a log.

Police went looking for McNabb Sunday evening, as according to Crum, McNabb was in his girlfriend's car when he found out that his daughter's body had been found.

He allegedly jumped out of the car at the intersection of Highway 36 and Covington By-Pass Road and ran away.

Officials then found him at a gas station car wash where they arrested him immediately on a probation violation.

He is currently the only person being named a person of interest in his daughter's death, according to CBS.

Bell was taken to police headquarters where she gave a statement, however she has not been named a person of interest in the case.

The child's body is currently being held at a coroner's office where an autopsy will take place.

It will be conducted at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation headquarters so officials can determine the child's identity and exact cause of death.

She told police that her daughter was absolutely fine Saturday morning at 5 a.m. but then when they went to her bedroom at 10 a.m. she was nowhere to be seen
David Francis, 65, was charged with intention to distribute fentanyl in Pennsylvania Friday

A drug rehab center founder and CEO allegedly sold heroin and fentanyl to patients at the facility which was designed to heal addicts.

David Francis, 65, was charged with intention to distribute fentanyl on Friday after federal authorities raided his home and the rehab facility, The Next Step Foundation, in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.

Authorities said a person who purchased drugs from Francis died in May after overdosing on fentanyl.

An investigation into Francis was then launched a few months later in July after numerous drug overdoses were reported in the small borough located near Pittsburgh.

The foundation that Francis operated is listed as providing recovery housing, education, support and services to alcoholics and addicts.

But instead, authorities say Francis was instead breaking the law and acting as a drug dealer.

Francis (above), the founder and CEO of The Next Step Foundation, allegedly sold heroin and fentanyl to patients at the drug and rehab facility which was designed to heal addicts

During the raid on his properties, authorities confiscated at least five 'bricks' of fentanyl, according to a federal criminal complaint filed on Friday, The Washington Post reported.

The foundation (above center) that Francis operated is listed as providing recovery housing, education, support and services to alcoholics and addicts. But instead, authorities say Francis, was instead breaking the law and acting as a drug dealer

One brick contains roughly five grams of opioids which is split into 50 small bags, the Post reported.

Empty drug bags and used needles were also found by federal agents during their search.

Numerous people were questioned by federal agents over the summer who knew or dealt with Francis.

Those sources told agents that Francis kept large quantities of heroin and fentanyl at his home on Chartiers Avenue, according to the criminal complaint.

During a July meeting, one source told authorities that Francis had been supplying 'large quantities of fentanyl/heroin' to addicts at his foundation and others in the neighborhood, according to the complaint.

Authorities said a person who purchased drugs from Francis died in May after overdosing on fentanyl. An investigation into Francis was then launched a few months later in July after numerous drug overdoses were reported in the small borough located near Pittsburgh (file)

Authorities also believe that his tax business, All Personal Matters, was in some way associated with his criminal drug operation.

Aaron Stubna, who owns the Parkway Theater across the street from Francis' foundation, said he was shocked to learn what was going on.

'Being that there is a halfway house across from my business, you would hope these people are there getting help and to hear they're being fed more poison, that is disturbing to me,' Stubna told KDKA.

In a 2006 interview for Comcast Newsmakers, Francis was recognized for 'providing new hope for people recovering from drug and alcohol addictions' thanks to his foundation.

'This is what helps keep me clean, is helping other people,' Francis said of his work at Next Step Foundation.

Francis has a detention hearing next Wednesday at the federal courthouse.

This is not his first run in with the law. Francis spent time behind bars in the early 2000s for felony cocaine possession.

Last year, the dangerous drug fentanyl killed more people in the state than any other drug as it was found in 52 per cent of overdose victims, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.

It's estimated that 2,395 deaths were linked to fentanyl, which is a 130 per cent increase from 2015.
Senator Matt Canavan has been slammed for an 'abysmal' live television appearance in which he 'belittled' a gay member of the audience.

The same-sex marriage opponent appeared on the ABC's QandA program on Monday night and reiterated he was supporting a 'no vote' in the postal ballot.

He was widely criticised for his comments throughout the program and was also accused of splitting hairs over statistics relating to suicide among the LGBTIQ community.

The controversy began when a gay audience member questioned Senator Canavan's stance on marriage equality after explaining he had been bullied at school because of his sexuality.

The young man spoke of being told by his peers that he was 'no better than a paedophile' and that he was 'riddled with AIDS'.

'Now you, Mr Canavan, have criticised my community as being "delicate little flowers" who need to "grow a spine" in the face of abuse,' he said.

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Senator Matt Canavan has been slammed for an 'abysmal' live television appearance in which he 'belittled' a gay member of the audience.

A gay audience member questioned Senator Canavan's stance after explaining he had been bullied at school because of his sexuality

'Isn't the role of leadership to support society's most vulnerable, rather than kick them while they're down to get some political point scoring?'

Senator Canavan, who is also the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, answered by expressing his concerns about the need to 'respect other people's opinions'.

'But I also think living in a democracy... you're going to meet people and hear from people who you disagree with. That can be frustrating and painful,' he said.

'Some people have a different view to you... It's frustrating when others seek to shut your view down, just because you hold a view.'

Senator Canavan answered the question by expressing his concerns about the need to 'respect other people's opinions'

Greens leader Richard Di Natale then reminded the Nationals Senator he slammed Westpac's youth network when it urged its staff to vote 'yes', claiming it would prevent 3,000 suicides a year.

'Like you did to Westpac. When you said Westpac shouldn't have spoken to their employees,' Senator Di Natale said.

'I did not say that. I did not say that. That's not what I said,' Mr Canavan retorted.

Senator Di Natale replied: 'You called it same-sex blackmail.'

'I did not. I did say that particular note was an attempt at blackmail,' Senator Canavan said.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale reminded the Nationals Senator he slammed Westpac's youth network when it urged its staff to vote 'yes'

Westpac later admitted its statistic used in the email was a mistake and actually referred to research only talking about suicide attempts (stock)

He continued: 'That particular note you're referring to, people who support traditional marriage, they accuse them of causing 3,000 suicides in Australia every year when last year there was only 2,800 suicides.'

Westpac later admitted its statistic used in the email was a mistake and actually referred to research only talking about suicide attempts.

Senator Canavan was widely criticised on social media following his comments on Monday night.

'Never thought I'd see Matt Canavan on QandA belittle a gay questioner,' one viewer wrote.

Senator Canavan was widely criticised on social media following his comments on Monday night

Others commented that Senator Canavan continuously denied allegations made by other panellists

The former Minister for Resources was forced to resign earlier this year over his dual Italian citizenship

Others showed their support for the Nationals Senator, claiming 'it was good to see'

'Matt Canavan was abysmal on QandA tonight. He should resign just for being Matt Canavan,' another said.

Others showed their support for the former Minister for Resources, who was forced to resign earlier this year over his dual Italian citizenship.

'It's good to see Matt Canavan is standing up for the mum and dad coal farmers,' one wrote.

Last month, Senator Canavan claimed those worried about the tone of the same-sex marriage debate should 'grow a spine' and stop being 'delicate little flowers'.

'Can't we just all grow a spine and grow up? The debate hasn't been that bad,' he said.

Senator Canavan said he was happy to ignore the 'vile tweets and statements from "yes" campaigners'.
Federal investigators returned to search the home of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock on Sunday, while the 64-year-old's brother was interviewed.

The search of Paddock's three-bedroom house on a cul-de-sac in a retirement community in Mesquite, Nevada, was for 're-documenting and rechecking,' said local police Chief Troy Tanner, who accompanied FBI agents as they served the search warrant.

'I don't think they are after anything specific,' Tanner told The Associated Press. 'They're going through everything and photographing everything again.'

Tanner told ABC News on Sunday that the second search was prompted by investigators interview with Paddock's girlfriend, Marilou Danley.

Mandalay Bay gunman Stephen Paddock's (right) brother Eric (left) arrived in Las Vegas to speak with police Saturday night

Eric (pictured on October 2) says that he flew out to Las Vegas to help police in their investigation into his brother's motive

The home was first searched Monday by Las Vegas police, who said they found 19 guns and several pounds of potentially explosive materials at the house that Paddock bought in early 2015.

The search came exactly a week after Paddock opened fire on a country music crowd, killing 58 and injuring nearly 500.

Meanwhile, Paddock's brother Eric arrived in Las Vegas late Saturday night to be interviewed by the police.

Eric, who lives in Orlando, Florida, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he landed at McCarren International Airport at 10:15pm on Saturday and was met by FBI investigators and police officers.

The 57-year-old was immediately taken to a room where he was questioned for four hours. He had a second interview on Sunday for five hours.

Im here to help them move forward with their investigation. I want to help them understand what theyre seeing. Eric Paddock, brother of gunman Stephen Paddock

'Im here to help them move forward with their investigation,' Paddock said on Sunday outside his hotel before his second interview. 'I want to help them understand what theyre seeing.'

Eric said he does not think that he is a suspect and that the officers who met him at the airport were probably to insure his safety.

He added that FBI agents, a Las Vegas police detective, a profiler and a psychologist participated in his Sunday interview.

'Im trying to get them to understand Steves mindset,' Eric. 'I dont want them to chase bad leads.'

Eric says he also came to Vegas to take care of his brother's remains and to set up a trust for the victims of the massacre.

Eric says he plans to cremate his brother and give the ashes to their 89-year-old mother.

Federal investigators searched Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock's Mesquite, Nevada home for a second time on Sunday (above, the home on October 3)

From what he has learned about Nevada law, he believes that their mother will be named trustee of his brother's estate. Eric obtained power of attorney from his mother, and will be using it to put the money his brother left behind into a fund for the victims. Eric says he doesn't know exactly how much his brother is worth, but that he made millions from real estate.

The Las Vegas Police are working in conjunction with the FBI to solve the shooting - the deadliest in U.S. history.

Now more than a week after the shooting, investigators are now coming around to the idea that Paddock may have been mentally ill, insiders have revealed.

On Wednesday FBI insiders said investigators believed Paddock may have been in 'mental or physical anguish' based on information given by his girlfriend.

But they didn't believe that his mental situation had deteriorated to the point of planning and executing mass murder.

Now, however, police insiders say that some investigators increasingly believe he was in the grip of a severe mental illness - and that it had been building for at least a year, ABC News reported.

The realization that Paddock may have suffered from an illness has grown as investigators have spoken to hundreds of people who knew or met him in the past year.

Outwardly, Paddock - a 64-year-old multimillionaire real-estate dealer who flitted around the US, enjoying his retirement with his girlfriend - seemed like he was doing okay.

But the profile that investigators are building is of a man who was detached from humanity and seemingly on a downward spiral, sources claimed.

Paddock had huge problems interacting with people, they said, and appeared disconnected and aloof from those that he met.

He also had trouble developing meaningful relationships with people, investigators believe.

One person he had grown close to was Danley, who would accompany him around the country.

She told investigators on Wednesday that he would wake up in the night moaning and screaming 'Oh my God!'

However, at that point investigators didn't believe that he was sufficiently troubled to explain why he would kill 58 people and himself, and injure 489 more.

While an actual motive for the killing remains out of investigators' reach, they are narrowing in on the possible psychological effects that may have led to it.

They're now particularly focused on what may have occurred between September and October last year, as something seems to have affected him around that time.

During that period he bought more than 30 guns - a dramatic step up on the number of firearms he'd bought over the preceding 20 years.

He also seemed to have started gambling more, and more frequently, at that time too, insiders said.

More recently, he had been looking into many different hotel venues online, and had even visited some.

Paddock's mental health has been a question for many since it emerged that his father, Benjamin Hoskins Paddock, had been diagnosed a psychopath.

Paddock spent nine years on the run after breaking out of prison, where he had been serving a sentence for armed robbery, in 1968.

An FBI poster described him as a 'psychopath' who should be treated as 'armed and very dangerous'.

While on the run, he opened up a church and bingo parlor in Oregon, using a loophole in state law regarding places of worship to pocket the profits. He was caught in 1978.

In 1987, he was charged with running an illegal gambling operation but avoided prison; in 1989 he attempted to open a second church in Nevada because he liked to gamble there, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Benjamin Paddock's obsession with gambling and bent for violence has obviously been linked to his son's killing spree.

But it also emerged Sunday that Stephen Paddock was himself interested in that connection, telling a Las Vegas prostitute he was 'born bad.'

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the woman said the 'paranoid' and 'obsessive' Paddock would enact rape fantasies with her if he his on a winning streak.

He would rant about conspiracy theories, including that the US government caused 9/11, and would pay $6,000 to tie her up and pretend to shout for help, she told The Sun on Sunday.

They even slept together in the Mandalay Bay hotel, which he used as a sniper's nest, but, she said, despite his 'dark and twisted side... I could never have imagined he would do something like this.'

Those remarks would have come as some surprise to Steve Wynn, billionaire CEO of Wynn Resorts, who said Paddock had been staying at his hotels for 11 years.

He said that Paddock was well known to his staff, and that he had 'The most vanilla profile one could possibly imagine.'

'A modest gambler at least by our standards, you know, nothing serious, paid promptly, never owed any money anywhere in Las Vegas,' he told Fox & Friends.

'He didn't fit the profile of a problem or compulsive gambler.'

'This is a man who behaved rationally, privately, a little introverted, liked to play video poker. But he was a rational man,' said Wynn, whose properties do not include the Mandalay Bay, which is owned by MGM.

He added that his employees were stunned by the revelation that their long-term customer had killed 58 random people.

'Now, this sounds like someone either totally demented - a behavior which he never evidenced - or someone who's sending a message,' he said.
An inquiry has begun into alleged sex abuse by the politician Cyril Smith in the 1960s

A former director of public prosecutions lied over his knowledge of child sex abuse claims against MP Cyril Smith, an inquiry has heard.

The 29-stone politician was the subject of sex abuse accusations and investigations over decades during his career in Rochdale, but was never prosecuted and received a knighthood before his death in 2010.

The national inquiry has begun hearing evidence examining how Smith was able to carry out his alleged offences at Cambridge House hostel and the Knowl View residential school in Rochdale in the 1960s.

A police investigation into the Liberal MP's alleged sexual abuse of young boys ended in 1970 when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sir Norman Skelhorn concluded it was unlikely to lead to a successful prosecution.

Sir Norman's decision in 1970 came despite a senior detective warning the 'sordid' accusations against Smith 'stood up', the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse heard.

Lead counsel Brian Altman QC said that the security services were informed that the Rochdale Alternative Press (RAP), which published an investigation into Smith in 1979, had been misled by Sir Norman's office.

The hearing was told MI5 passed allegations about Smith's abuse over to authorities

He said of material provided to the inquiry by MI5: 'The documents show that the Security Service's legal adviser was informed of the false representations to the press from the DPP's office.'

According to the records, the DPP told the publication it had never received police reports of abuse by Smith, who died in 2010.

No national newspapers reported on Smith's alleged behaviour despite the 1970 police investigation, which focused on allegations from Cambridge House, and the 1979 RAP report, Mr Altman said.

'This is despite the fact that Cyril Smith did not take any form of action against RAP,' he added.

But former top prosecutor Sir Norman Skelhorn decided the claims were unlikely to lead to a successful prosecution

An investigation into the MP in 1970, the year he first ran for national office, concluded he was hiding behind a 'veneer of respectability' to target eight young boys at Cambridge House during the 1960s.

Lancashire Police's detective superintendent Leach was said by Mr Altman to be 'unsparing' in his assessment of Smith in a report to the force's chief constable.

The report said: 'It seems impossible to excuse his conduct over a considerable period of time whilst sheltering behind a veneer of respectability.

'He has used his unique position to indulge in a sordid series of indecent episode with young boys towards whom he had a special responsibility.'

The officer said the allegations, which included that he spanked some boys on the bare bottoms and medically examined others, 'stood up', the hearing was told.

In 1988, when Smith was made a knight, then prime minister Margaret Thatcher had probably been informed of his chequered past, the inquiry heard.

Mr Altman told the inquiry: 'I mention this knighthood here for two reasons. First, because it demonstrates that the Lancashire investigation and the RAP article had been considered at the very highest level of politics and seemingly did not prompt more than consideration of the DPP's decision not to prosecute.

'Second, because it is important to bear in mind the extent to which Cyril Smith continued to involve himself in serious issues related to the welfare of children.

'A knighthood would only have reinforced Smith's veneer of respectability and power.'
A British-Iranian woman jailed for five years in Iran for plotting the 'soft toppling' of its government while travelling with her toddler daughter faces new charges that could add 16 years to her sentence.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe faced a court hearing at Tehran's infamous Evin prison yesterday, her husband said.

She was told of the new charges being brought against her by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, preventing her from seeking early release next month.

Nazanin pleaded innocent to the charges, which involve her previously working for the BBC and being a current employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency, her husband Richard Ratcliffe said.

Iranian news agencies have said Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (pictured with her daughter Gabriella) was convicted of plotting the 'soft toppling' of Iran's government while traveling to visit her parents in 2016

Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, so such detainees cannot receive consular assistance. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings. Pictured: Richard Ratcliffe (centre) with Gabriella and Nazanin

'Thanks to the Revolutionary Guard's antics, this is a justice system that can no longer look its victims in the eye, can no longer look itself in the mirror,' Richard Ratcliffe said.

Iranian news agencies have said Nazanin was convicted of plotting the 'soft toppling' of Iran's government while traveling to visit her parents with her young daughter in 2016.

Her family says the Guard tried to get her to confess on camera that she trained and recruited spies, a charge she denied.

According to the Hampstead and Highgate Express, Richard passed on a message from Nazanin after the hearing.

She said she 'nearly passed out' during the ordeal, explaining: 'Going there to that court, seeing them, and answering the same old questions made me have a heart attack.'

She added: 'I haven't physically recovered yet. My legs are still numb. My heartbeat still high.

'I have always been honest with them about what I have done and who I worked for. I was not trying to overthrow the regime. I love my country. It is ridiculous. I have not done anything since I was sentenced. I have just been a prisoner in the corner, enduring quietly. What have they done this for?'

Nazanin, from West Hampstead in London, is one of several dual nationals held in Iran by hard-liners in the country's judiciary and security services on espionage charges, likely to be used as bargaining chips in future negotiations with the West.

'Thanks to the Revolutionary Guard's antics, this is a justice system that can no longer look its victims in the eye, can no longer look itself in the mirror,' Richard Ratcliffe said

A UN panel of experts recently described the practice as part of an 'emerging pattern' since the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, so such detainees cannot receive consular assistance. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings.

Others with ties to the West detained in Iran include Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran for allegedly 'infiltrating' the country while doing doctoral research on Iran's Qajar dynasty. Iranian-Canadian national Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, who helped his country negotiate the nuclear deal, received a five-year prison sentence on espionage charges.

Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province under the U.S.-backed shah, are both serving 10-year prison sentences on espionage.

Nazanin is one of several dual nationals held in Iran by hard-liners in the country's judiciary and security services on espionage charges, likely to be used as bargaining chips in future negotiations with the West

Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail last year after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence for 'collaboration with a hostile government.' Shahini is believed to still be in Iran.

Also in an Iranian prison is Nizar Zakka, a U.S. permanent resident from Lebanon who advocates for internet freedom and has done work for the U.S. government. He was sentenced to 10 years last year on espionage-related charges.

Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who disappeared in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing as well.

The British Foreign Office and Iran's mission at the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. State media in Iran also did not immediately report on the new charges.

Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq said the new charges are an 'outrage' and called on the British government to act.

She added: 'There is a clear pattern of Iran treating British dual nationals in this way, and the Governments soft-ball approach to the Iranian authorities seems to be doing little to improve their plight.'
Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, is accused of killing 18-month old Elsie after 'assaulting and abusing' her over several months. He is pictured leaving Cardiff Crown Court today

A stay-at-home father accused of murdering his adopted baby daughter referred to her as 'Satan dressed up in baby grow,' a court heard.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, is accused of killing 18-month old Elsie after 'assaulting and abusing' her over several months.

The couple first adopted Elsie in September 2015 and the process was finalised nearly eight months later.

But less than two weeks later little Elsie died after suffering traumatic head injuries.

She died at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, after the decision was taken to switch off her ventilator when doctors decided she would not survive her traumatic head injuries.

After Elsie's tragic death police examined electronic devices owned by Matthew Scully-Hicks - including his iPad.

The court heard on September 22, 2015 - just 12 days after having Elsie - he sent a message to a friend saying: 'I'm going through hell with Elsie!

'Mealtimes and bedtime are like my worst nightmare at the moment.

'She's been up there screaming for 10 minutes non stop. She's just stopped but I doubt that's the last I'll hear tonight.'

That evening he also sent a message to husband Craig calling Elsie 'a psycho.'

On September 29, 2016, he sent the message to Craig describing Elsie as 'Satan dressed up in a baby grow.'

Scully Hicks, who has no previous convictions, met his husband - who is about five years older than him - while living in Swindon, Wiltshire, in about 2006.

Scully-Hicks originally came from South Wales and the couple relocated to Cardiff in 2010 or 2011.

They married in Portugal in August 2012 and applied to become adopters later that year.

Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC said: Elsie was found unresponsive by paramedics after Scully-Hicks attacked her at his home in Fairwater, Cardiff, on May 25 last year.

Mr Lewis said: 'The injuries that caused her death were inflicted upon her by the defendant shortly before he called emergency services that day.

A court artist sketch of Matthew Scully-Hicks: He allegedly carried out the attacks on Elsie while his partner Craig kept working full time as a company director

'His attack upon her that day was not the first time he had employed violence towards Elsie, nor was it the first time he had caused her serious injury.

'His actions on the late afternoon of May 25 were the tragic culmination of a course of violent conduct on his part towards a defenceless child - an infant that he should have loved and protected, but whom he instead assaulted, abused, and ultimately murdered.'

He later added: 'It will be for you to judge whether these messages tell of his frustrations in looking after Elsie.'

The court heard police also spoke to neighbours at the couple's previous address in Cardiff, where Elsie had spent most of her life.

Neighbours referred to Matthew Scully-Hicks as 'the one who stayed at home.'

Susan Bevan, who lived in the joining semi detached house to the couple, said things changed when Elsie moved in, the court heard.

Mr Lewis said: 'On one occasion she heard a little girl crying and 'the one who stayed at home' having a rant and shouting 'shut up, shut up, shut the f**k up.''

Mrs Bevan's adult son, James, also heard Matthew Scully-Hicks shouting 'shut up you little f***ing brat.'

On other occasions Mr Bevan heard Matthew Scully-Hicks shouting 'shut up you silly little c***.'

Mr Lewis said a music player was then turned up 'very loud' but turned down just minutes later - and the baby was still crying.

The tot - described as 'tiny and delicate' but with a 'brash and bouncy' personality by Craig - was with her new family for less than two months when her right leg was broken in November 2015.

Prosecutor Mr Lewis said: 'Craig Scully-Hicks was at work at the time and Matthew Scully-Hicks was home alone with Elsie.

'When Craig Scully-Hicks got home from work that evening the defendant told him that Elsie had fallen in the kitchen of their home that morning.

'He said that Elsie had been upset following her fall but he had picked her up and consoled her and she had then 'seemed fine.'

Matthew Scully-Hicks said that Elsie had fallen while playing at an activity table.

But Craig became concerned that little Elsie was not fully weight-bearing on the leg so decided she should see a GP, the court was told.

Mr Lewis said Elsie was generally 'well and healthy' but had been slow in reaching some developmental milestones such as walking.

Scully-Hicks described her physically as being 'tiny and delicate' but with a 'brash and bouncy' personality, the jury was told.

Following Elsie's death, an X-ray of her right leg from November 2015 was re-examined.

It was found that Elsie had suffered two fractures - one near the ankle and one just above the knee.

Dr Sarah Harrison, a consultant paediatric radiologist, believes the injuries are 'the result of trauma', Mr Lewis said.

Dr Nia John, a consultant paediatrician, said it would be 'unusual' to suffer two such fractures in the same fall, the court heard.

A post-mortem examination found Elsie had previous and recent bleeding on both sides of her brain.

Consultant neuroradiologist Dr Neil Stoodley said he believed Elsie suffered "abusive head trauma that involved a shaking mechanism."

Other experts said Elsie's collapse days before her death could have been due to suffering a severe head injury, and found she had suffered injuries to her skull, left femur and three of her ribs between three to five days before her death.

Mr Lewis said: "The weight of medical evidence is likely to prove that in addition to the recent bone injuries Elsie had suffered, her catastrophic brain injuries and retinal haemorrhages must have been as a result of trauma she suffered immediately before her collapse and the 999 call.

This was not something he was ever to tell his partner, hospital staff, or the police.

"Elsie was then of course just 18-months -old. She could not have inflicted such dreadful injuries on herself."

The court heard one expert could not rule out all of Elsie's brain and spine abnormalities were caused "as a consequence of a single event".

The jury was told all medical experts agreed her injuries were consistent with non-accidental injury.

Mr Lewis said Scully-Hicks claims Elsie didn't suffer an accident on the day of her collapse, and may argue her three-year-old sibling may have caused her injuries while he left them unattended.

On December 16 2015, while Mr Scully-Hicks was at work, Elsie sustained a bruise to the left hand side of her forehead.

A health visitor advised Scully-Hicks to take Elsie for treatment on December 21. He allegedly lied that he had done so.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, formerly of Llandaff, Cardiff, and now of Delabole, Cornwall, denies murder. The trial at Cardiff Crown Court (pictured), which is expected to last two weeks, continues

On January 18 2016, Elsie suffered another bruise to her head.

Mr Scully-Hicks received a phone call from his husband on March 10, saying that he was in an ambulance with Elsie as she had fallen down the stairs.

He claimed to have been sorting washing in a bedroom, with Elsie on the floor, before going downstairs - closing the gate behind him.Stay-at-home father Matthew Scully-Hicks is accused of killing his 18-month-old adopted child Elsie after 'assaulting and abusing' the tragic youngster over a perviod of several months.

'He said he had then seen Elsie at the top of the stairs, that the baby gate had then opened and that Elsie had tumbled down the stairs,' Mr Lewis said.

Mr Scully-Hicks was working in Leicester at the time but immediately headed to Cardiff, meeting the defendant at the University Hospital of Wales.

Elsie's injuries were considered to be 'consistent with a fall downstairs' and she was discharged home after four hours in hospital, Mr Lewis said.

Then, on May 25 last year, Scully-Hicks phoned an ambulance telling an operator Elsie had become 'floppy and limp' while he changed her for bed.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, formerly of Llandaff, Cardiff, and now of Delabole, Cornwall, denies murder

Mr Lewis said: 'Craig was again at work in Leicester, and the defendant was alone with Elsie and her sibling.

'In the call Scully-Hicks told an emergency operator "I was just changing my daughter for bed and she went all floppy and limp, and now she's not doing anything. She is lying on the floor".

'You will observe at no stage during the call did he suggest Elsie had suffered an accident, nor any trauma that might have caused her injury.'

Mr Lewis said police and paramedics arrived at the family home around 6.26pm and found an 'upset' Scully-Hicks, as well as Elsie having a cardiac arrest on the floor of a downstairs room.

Scully-Hicks allegedly told paramedics his daughter 'screamed out as in pain, then collapsed'.

But Mr Lewis said: 'This was not something he was ever to tell his partner, hospital staff, or the police.'

Elsie's heart rhythm was restored at hospital, where scans showed bleeding on both sides of her brain - recent and older.

Her condition deteriorated a day after she was admitted to hospital, and two days later a decision was taken to switch off her ventilator as she was unresponsive and unable to breath herself.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, formerly of Llandaff, Cardiff, and now of Delabole, Cornwall, denies murder.

The trial, expected to last two weeks, continues.
An adorable video shows the moment a California deputy tricks his girlfriend into thinking she's getting a DUI before proposing to her.

The video begins as Deputy Kevin Bowes sneaks up behind his girlfriend Ellen Alexander as she's getting a field sobriety test on the sidewalk in Palmdale, California, in the middle of the day.

The other officer administering the sobriety test tells Ellen to turn around, letting her think it's part of the procedure.

When she turns to the right she sees Kevin on one knee with an engagement ring box in his outstretched hand.

California Deputy Kevin Bowes tricks his girlfriend Ellen Alexander into thinking she's getting a DUI before he proposes. He kneels behind her during her sobriety test with the ring in hand

Ellen puts her hand over her mouth in disbelief as she gasps: 'Are you serious?' before hugging him. He says: 'Is that a yes?' and she responds with a nod

Ellen puts her hands over her mouth and gasps: 'Are you serious?'

She kneels down in front of Kevin and hugs him saying: 'I love you.'

'Is that a yes?' Kevin asks?

Speechless, she nods her head and they kiss.

'Can I put the ring on you now?' he asks her, grabbing her hand. The other offers watching begin to cheer.

The video was posted to the Palmdale Sheriff Station's Facebook page on Sunday. It now has 1,400 shares and 4.3K reactions.

The two kiss before Kevin puts the ring on Ellen's finger and the other officers cheer
Now President Trump's ex-White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon is eyeing every Republican senator up for re-election next year, positioning candidates in each race save one, the seat belonging to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Bannon's main aim is to elect enough pro-Trump GOP senators to oust Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who he's largely blamed for the president's early stumbles with Congress, casting the Kentuckian as an elitist looking down at Trump's working class base.

'Mitch McConnell and this permanent political class is the most corrupt and incompetent group of individuals in this country,' Bannon said at a recent rally for Roy Moore, the GOP Senate candidate who won a run-off primary against Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., last month.

Scroll down for video

After successfully backing Alabama's Roy Moore, Steve Bannon has his sights set on unseating a number of incumbent Republicans, likely targeting everyone up for re-election except Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as he tries to get Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., replaced

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon's (pictured) first attempt at a Senate takeover came in his backing of Roy Moore, who won by about 10 points over the establishment Republican incumbent Luther Strange last month

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. (left), was one of the first incumbent GOP senators on Steve Bannon's radar to take out, while the former Trump strategist won't target Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas (right)

After Flake, Bannon looked at seats occupied by Sens. Dean Heller, R-Nev. (left), and Roger Wicker, R-Miss. (right), both up for re-election in 2018

Steve Bannon recently added more senators to take on to this list including Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left), Deb Fischer, R-N.D. (center), and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah (right)

Using us-versus-them rhetoric, Bannon said McConnell and the elites 'think you're a pack of morons, they think you're nothing but rubes, they have no interest at all in what you have to say, what you have to think or what you want to do.'

SENATE REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2018 ARIZONA Sen. Jeff Flake MISSISSIPPI Sen. Roger Wicker NEBRASKA Sen. Deb Fischer NEVADA Sen. Dean Heller TEXAS Sen. Ted Cruz* UTAH Sen. Orrin Hatch WYOMING Sen. John Barrasso *Steve Bannon won't find a challenger for Cruz in Texas. Tennessee will also vote to replace Sen. Bob Corker, who is retiring, which is a long-held GOP seat Advertisement

'And tomorrow you're going to get an opportunity to tell them what you think of the elites who run this country,' Bannon continued.

Alabama voters told the world indeed, with about 55 percent backing Moore, to the 45 percent who voted for Strange, Trump's pick.

Trump's endorsement of Strange didn't seem to matter, with Bannon  who left the White House in August  being able to more closely align Moore with the president's ideology and voter base.

Now Bannon hopes to work his magic again.

In 2018, Democrats are left defending 23 Senate seats, while Republicans only have to guard eight.

Bannon won't touch Cruz, NBC News said, though plans to help field candidates for the other seven seats, including finding a suitable replacement for Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn, who already announced his retirement  before publicly feuding with the president in recent days.

Bannon already plans to back Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., to take Corker's place.

She's in line ideologically with Bannon and Trump, having been an early adapter of the Tea Party movement and one of 11 GOP co-sponsors in 2009 on a so-called 'birther' bill, which would require presidential candidates to prove they were born in the USA.

The former White House chief strategist had already eyed ousting Sens. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., Dean Heller, R-Nev., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss.

Now he's looking at candidates to challenge Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Deb Fischer, R-Neb. and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah too.

He'll also look to find suitable Republicans to take on imperiled Democrats in West Virginia and Missouri, CNN found.

That's 'just a partial list' a source told the network. 'Nobody's safe,' the source added.

Blooomberg reported that Bannon-backed candidates must support removing McConnell and voting to end the legislative filibuster, in which 60 votes are needed to get legislation to a vote.

Republicans' two-seat majority has been too narrow to accomplish much legislatively this year, with Trump often trumpeting the demise of this rule.

In Arizona, Bannon has backed former state Sen. Kelli Ward, who has benefited from early money from the Mercer family, also a Bannon ally. Robert Mercer has already given $300,000 to a pro-Ward sup PAC.

The White House had tried to recruit another candidate to take on Flake, who has been openly critical of the president.

Ward's Senate kick-off is scheduled for later this month and will be headlined by conservative radio host Laura Ingraham, another big draw for Trump's base.

Bannon has also met with Danny Tarkanian about challenging Heller in Nevada.

He's spoken with Blackwater founder Erik Prince, as a potential challenger to Barrasso in Wyoming.

But Bannon's moves could also lead to missed opportunities for Republicans, who had hoped to pick off several endangered Democrats to enlarge their majority in 2018.

Instead they could be throwing money to get Bannon-backed right-wing candidates elected in purple states like Nevada.

One such example is Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who almost got bumped out of office in 2012, but for her GOP rival Todd Akin making a gaffe about 'legitimate rape.'

Both McConnell and Vice President Mike Pence see the state's Attorney General Josh Hawley as the best hope to pick off the Democrat.

Anticipating Bannon's meddling, Hawley called President Trump's chief strategist over the last two weeks, reminding him of their common bonds, Politico reported.

Hawley talked about his own connections with the Mercer family, having met with Robert Mercer last fall, and named-dropped other people in the Trump orbit.

Meanwhile, Bannon met with former state GOP chair Ed Martin last month, during a trip to St. Louis to accept the Phyllis Schlafly Eagle Award.

Martin has continued to flirt with a Senate bid, though didn't say if he would indeed get Bannon's backing.

'He encouraged me to keep working on the Trump agenda fearlessly,' Martin told Politico. 'We will see if that means something later.'

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel reminded CNN's Wolf Blitzer Monday that the RNC doesn't pick sides during the primaries.

'Well as a party we stay neutral in primaries, which is helpful because then we can bring the divided factions together toward the overall purpose of winning the election in the general,' Romney McDaniel answered when asked about Bannon's plans.

She noted, however, how important it was for Republicans not to lose those seats.

'We want to make sure we keep those incumbent senators in play, we want to make sure we keep those seats, but the voters are going to decide and ultimately the RNC is going to support whatever the voters decide,' Romney McDaniel said.
Nick Gordon has reconciled with the girl who accused him of pinning her to his bed and beating her for six hours only to withdraw those charges following his arrest.

Laura Leal, 26, went as far as to claim that it was a 'miracle' she didn't end up dead like Gordon's famous ex-fiancee Bobbi Kristina Brown when she made her allegations public in June.

But, after co-operating with cops at first, she fought to withdraw her charges and petitioned the judge to have the case dismissed in August.

Now, in an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV she and Gordon, 28, have revealed that they are back together and given a new account of what happened that night in the Sanford, Florida home that Gordon shared with his mother, Michelle.

Nick Gordon and girlfriend Laura Leal, 26, have told DailyMailTV they have reconciled their relationship months after Leal had accused him of nearly beating her to death

Speaking of the June night of his argument with Laura he dismissed any notion that he was violent and stated: 'I was in more danger than her'

Laura - who began dating Nick, 28, earlier this year - now says she was the aggressor and confesses she was 'belligerently drunk' during the attack. She had told cops she escaped when she hit Nick with a candlestick and fled

Sitting next to her boyfriend, Laura admitted: 'I take full responsibility and that's why charges were dropped because it really was me [to blame].'

According to Laura - who told cops Gordon had held her hostage in his room and that she could only escape when she grabbed a candlestick, hit him and fled - it was she who was the aggressor in the scenario not Gordon.

She explained: 'I was very drunk. I was belligerently drunkI think after hours of arguing we were both just out of our right minds.'

Laura claimed that she had gone to hospital the following morning because she had a concussion but that she had sustained it in a drunken fall.

And in stark contrast to her original claims, receptionist Laura now states that the only true fear she had that night was of herself.

She explained: 'I was in fear of myself and my own anger and fear of what I can push him to. In fear you know of where our argument and hours of delusional actions, just viciousness, might go.

She added: 'That's what I really learned. I have my own issues. It's me. And Nick has been one of the greatest people in my entire life to work through that with me. I have my own anger issues and the best friend that I have by my side is Nicholas Gordon.'

Laura told DailyMailTV that the incident taught her that she has her 'own issues' with anger and says Nick is her best friend

Laura joined Gordon in what he claimed would be his last interview, given on the eve of a controversial television biopic about Bobbi Kristina airing after her father, Bobby Brown, fought and failed to have it banned.

Gordon was held legally responsible for the 22-year-old's death in 2015 after he didn't show up for a court hearing in the $36million civil suit brought against him by her family.

Krissy, as she was known by those close to her, was declared dead on July 26, 2015, six months after being placed in a medically induced coma. She had 'global irreversible' brain damage after being found unconscious and face down in a bath tub at the Roswell, Georgia home that she and Gordon shared.

His actions in the early hours of that January morning have been the subject of intense scrutiny, suspicion and allegation ever since.

Many heard echoes of the abuse and violence alleged to have been part of Gordon and Bobbi Kristina's drug-fueled relationship in Laura's recently made and withdrawn account.

But today Gordon is adamant he did no wrong to either woman. Speaking of the June night of his argument with Laura he dismissed any notion that he was violent and stated: 'I was in more danger than her.

'Lord knows she wasn't going to end up like [Krissy]. She doesn't do drugs or anything like that so obviously she can't end up like Krissy would.'

The account both Laura and Gordon now give is confused and troubling.

Many heard echoes of the abuse and violence alleged to have been part of Gordon and Bobbi Kristina's drug-fueled relationship in Laura's recently made and withdrawn account - Nick was held legally responsible for the 22-year-old's death in 2015 brought against him by her family

Gordon, who went into rehab following an intervention by Dr Phil McGraw in 2016, admitted: 'Emotions were high. You know, you just realize that things were said that weren't meant to be said.

'I get it was a horrible thing. The whole situation. But we can move past that. It's been such a better relationship and happier. You know, life goes on.

'You just move on, forgive one another and move on.'

Moving on after Bobbi Kristina's death is something that Gordon has struggled to do both personally, publicly and legally.

Following Laura's allegations, police renewed their interest in the part he may have played in it when, after a night of partying and arguing, Bobbi Kristina ended up alone and face down in the bathtub.

It was Gordon who found her and attempted to revive her in scenes that bore a chilling resemblance to the circumstances of her own mother, Whitney Houston's passing.

In a bizarre twist of fate Gordon was there at the Beverly Hills Hotel back in February 2012 when Houston drowned in her bathtub. She was later found to have cocaine in her system.
Theresa May today voiced 'concern' about allegations Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed female employees and film stars amid calls for him to be stripped of his CBE.

Weinstein was named an honourary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen for his contribution to the British film industry in 2004.

But the multiple Oscar-winning founder of film companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company has been embroiled in scandal after the New York Times revealed a decades long record of alleged misconduct.

And a number of MPs have called for him to be stripped of the honour in the wake of the allegations.

Harvey Weinstein arrived at his home in New York City amid allegations of sexual harassment. The Hollywood mogul is facing calls to be stripped of his honourary CBE

The PM's official spokesman said Mrs May was 'concerned by the allegations that have been put'.

The spokesman pointed out that the Honours Forfeiture Committee at the Cabinet Office had responsibility for considering rescinding such awards.

On the issue of honours, that is obviously an independent process carried out by the Forfeiture Committee,' Downing Street said.

Each case is considered on its merits, thats entirely separate from us.

Tory MP Maria Miller said the idea that Weinstein, 65, had an honour from the UK did not 'sit comfortably' given the recent allegations.

She said the forfeiture committee should examine the issue.

Conservative MP Maria Miller (pictured left) said the forfeiture committee should consider stripping Weinstein of the honour, while Labour MP Harriet Harman (pictured right) said the allegations 'cast a shadow over all the other people who proudly have CBE to their name'

'It will be for the honours committee to decide whether that is something that needs to happen,' she told MailOnline.

'It certainly does not seem to sit comfortably. That is something they should consider.'

Harriet Harman, Labour MP and former deputy leader of the party, backed calls to strip him of his CBE.

She said: These allegations cast a shadow over all the other people who proudly have CBE after their name.

Someone like him who is in a position of power should not prey on women who just want to get a job in the film industry.

'This is not the way to behave. Most men wouldnt dream of doing this. But lets not think this doesnt still go on.'

This is not the way to behave. Most men wouldnt dream of doing this. But lets not think this doesnt still go on.

Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, said he should be stripped of the title, adding: I dont think those who abuse their power should be acknowledged as role models.'

Sharing her story: It is alleged Weinstein paid Rose McGowan (left) $100,000 and invited Ashley Judd (right) to his hotel room for a meeting and then asked if she would watch him shower

The calls for Weinstein to be stripped of his honours have been backed by Liza Campbell, the British artist who claims he once invited her join get into his bath at the Savoy hotel.

She claims that two people have spoken to her about similar allegations since she came forward.

Awards such as his CBE were used to further re-strengthen his position of power, according to the CEO of the Women in Film and TV network, Kate Kinninmont.

Yesterday actress Rose McGowan called out Hollywood stars for keeping quiet by posting a photo of herself taken in March 1997 an awards ceremony in Los Angeles, writing: 'This is the girl that was hurt by a monster. This is who you are shaming with your silence.'

The picture was taken just two month after an incident occurred between McGowan and Weinstein inside a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival that resulted in the executive paying out an undisclosed amount of money to the actress in a settlement.

How a CBE can be removed Protocol sees honours forfeited where the person is considered to have brought the system into disrepute. A recommendation can be made by the Honours and Appointments Secretariat to the forfeiture committee to revoke an honour if a person has been found guilty of a criminal offence, and the final decision must be approved by the Queen. High profile cases of people being stripped of their gongs include Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe, who lost his honorary knighthood in 2008 over his 'abuse of human rights' and 'abject disregard' for democracy. Pervert entertainer Rolf Harris lost his CBE in 2015 when he was jailed for nearly six years for a string of attacks on girls as young as seven. Advertisement

Just a few hours after McGowan posted that tweet, the board of the Weinstein Company announced that they were terminating their founder in the wake of what they claim are newly discovered allegations.

'In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged int the past few days, the directors of the Weinstein Company - Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar - have determined and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately,' the board said in a statement.

On Friday the firm had said Weinstein was taking an indefinite leave of absence.

As an American citizen, Weinstein was granted an honourary CBE.

Protocol sees honours forfeited where the person is considered to have brought the system into disrepute.

A recommendation can be made by the Honours and Appointments Secretariat to the forfeiture committee to revoke an honour if a person has been found guilty of a criminal offence, and the final decision must be approved by the Queen.

High profile cases of people being stripped of their gongs include Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe, who lost his honorary knighthood in 2008 over his 'abuse of human rights' and 'abject disregard' for democracy.

Theresa May (pictured in Downing Street today) is said to be 'concerned' about the allegations against Weinstein

Pervert entertainer Rolf Harris lost his CBE in 2015 when he was jailed for nearly six years for a string of attacks on girls as young as seven.

Weinstein has instructed a team of top lawyers and plans to sue the New York Times for $50 million for writing a story that is 'saturated with false and defamatory statements about Harvey Weinstein'.

A spokesman for the paper said they stand by their reporting.

A Cabinet Office spokesman told MailOnline: 'Recommendations to revoke honours are considered by the Forfeiture Committee. Each case is considered on its merits.

'The Committee's recommendations for forfeiture are submitted through the Prime Minister to The Queen. If The Queen gives her approval, a notice of forfeiture is placed in the London Gazette.'
Saudi police have penalised a woman filmed driving a car, a spokesman said Monday, warning against violations of a ban on female drivers set to be lifted next June.

Authorities summoned and briefly detained the woman before booking her for flouting traffic regulations after she appeared in a video driving out of a luxury hotel in the capital Riyadh.

'We call on all Saudi citizens to respect the law and wait until the ban on women driving formally ends,' the police spokesman said.

Saudi police have penalised a woman filmed driving a car, a spokesman said Monday, warning against violations of a ban on female drivers set to be lifted next June (File photo)

He did not specify the nature of the penalty but added that the woman, who has not been named, was not arrested despite being filmed leaving the Ritz Carlton hotel.

He said the owner of the car was separately booked for violating traffic regulations.

The state-linked Sabq news website reported that the woman's male guardian - who is typically a woman's father or husband - was then asked to sign a pledge that she wouldn't violate traffic regulations again.

Saudi Arabia last month said it would allow women to obtain driving permits under a royal decree to take effect in June, sparking euphoria and disbelief among activists who long fought the ban.

The Gulf kingdom was the only country in the world to bar women from taking the wheel, a ban seen globally as a symbol of repression.

Many women fear they are still easy prey for conservatives in a nation where male 'guardians' have arbitrary authority to take decisions on their behalf.

The spokesman did not specify the nature of the penalty, but added that the woman filmed leaving the Ritz Carlton hotel (pictured, file photo) had not been arrested

'The royal decree will implement the provisions of traffic regulations, including the issuance of driving licenses for men and women alike,' the Saudi Press Agency said last month.

Saudi's ambassador to the US confirmed women will not need permission from their male guardians in order to apply for a licence.

The US State Department said it welcomed the decision, calling it a 'huge step in the right direction'.

It comes after years of campaigning from within the country, and pressure from the international community.

Saudi King Salman has issued a royal decree which will allow women to hold driving licences for the first time from June next year

Activist Loujain al-Hathloul, 27, ran afoul of authorities in 2014 when she tried to drive into the country from neighbouring United Arab Emirates.

She was arrested and detained for 73 days before being released.

Ms al-Hathloul was re-arrested this year at King Fahad International Airport. While no official reason was given for her detention, it is believed to be related to her ongoing human rights work.

Amnesty International said at the time that she had been denied access to a lawyer and had not been allowed to contact her family.

It also comes after the Muslim kingdom was elected to the United Nations women's rights commission, despite a terrible record on the issue.

The decision was derided by observers around the world and prompted an outpouring of scorn from rights groups.
Both the United States and Turkey have suspended all non-immigrant visa services for travel between the two countries, after last week's arrest of a US consulate employee in Istanbul, CNN reported.

October 9, 2017, 17:46 United States and Turkey mutually suspend visa services

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 9, ARTSAKHPRESS: With some exceptions, the move effectively blocks Turks from travel to the United States, and vice versa, indefinitely, according to the source.

"Recent events have forced the United States government to reassess the commitment of government of Turkey to the security of US mission and personnel," the statement by the US mission in Ankara said.

Just 24 hours after the announcement by the United States, Turkey retaliated through its embassy in Washington, issuing a statement that effectively mirrors the one released by the United States -- only the countries' names were reversed.

"Recent events have forced Turkish Government to reassess the commitment of the Government of the United States to the security of Turkish Mission facilities and personnel."

The Turkish embassy said the measure, effective immediately, would "apply to visas in passports as well as e-Visas and visas acquired at the border." The US move, meanwhile, means that Turks will not be issued visas to visit the United States unless they plan to move there.

To remind the visa restriction move came following the US the consulate employee's arrest, named in Turkish state media as locally hired Metin Topuz, after he was charged over alleged links to Pennsylvania-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen.

He was remanded in custody over "terror charges" by an Istanbul court last week, state media. Topuz is the second US government employee in Turkey to be arrested this year.
A man who has been disqualified from driving until the year 3001 has been caught behind the wheel again.

Leonard Davie, 62, was sentenced to 100 hours of community service at Campbelltown Local Court on Monday, 9 News reported, after yet another driving offence.

He was picked up by police driving in Campbelltown in July, police alleged.

Outside court on Friday Davie (pictured left) did not comment to the media

His lawyer told the court he was on his way to Bunnings to get a piece of pipe, and that the person who would normally drive him had been drinking.

The driving ban comes after a number of drink driving offences against his name in WA, banning him until the year 2999.

But in 2010 he was again charged with drink driving in NSW, and an extra two years was added to his disqualification.

Outside court on Friday Davie did not comment to the media.

The magistrate did not add any extra years to his disqualification, saying there was no need.
More than 100 hippos have died in Namibia after they are believed to have contracted anthrax.

Rangers at Bwabwata National Park say 109 of the animals have perished since Sunday last week as pictures show dozens of bloated bodies floating in murky water.

While the exact cause of the deaths is not clear, workers believe it could be down to an anthrax outbreak, which is caused by bacterial spores that occur naturally.

Rangers at Bwabwata National Park say at least 109 hippos have been killed in a week after a suspected anthrax outbreak

Officials say such outbreaks are not uncommon and usually happen when water in the Kavango River runs low

Apollinaris Kannyinga, parks deputy director of the north-east regions, told The Namibian that such outbreaks are not uncommon.

They usually occur when waters in the Kavango River, where a large number of bodies have been found, are running low, he added.

Veterinarians still need to confirm the cause, and say the death toll could be higher because vultures and crocodiles have been eating the remains.

Government officials estimated that Namibia's hippo population was around 1,300 before the mass death.

Anthrax is a disease which is caused when bacterial spores, which can survive in water or soil for years, enter the body and start producing toxins

Rangers say the full death total may be higher because crocodiles and vultures have been eating the remains of the hippos

The minister added that he would be alarmed if there were any further hippo deaths at the national park which is one of the country's foremost tourist attractions.

Several countries have weaponised anthrax and it was used in a string of high-profile poisoning cases in the US in 2001.

Five people died and a further 17 were poisoned after spores were mailed to newspaper offices and two Democrat senators.
The DNA from a Danish inventor accused of decapitating a female Swedish journalist in his home-made submarine will be used to see if he has 'committed other murders in Sweden.'

Just days ago, Danish police divers found the head and legs of 30-year-old freelancer Kim Wall after she went to sea with Peter Madsen in August to research a story about him.

Madsen, 46, is awaiting trial after being charged with killing the Swedish journalist. He was arrested after his submarine sank and he was rescued.

The headless torso of Kim Wall (pictured), a 30-year-old freelance journalist who was researching a story on inventor Peter Madsen, washed up in August

Peter Madsen (pictured), 46, faces preliminary charges of manslaughter and indecent handling of a corpse

Is murder of a Japanese woman linked? Police have said they are re-examining the unresolved case of a Japanese tourist whose mutilated body was found in a Copenhagen harbour in 1986, to see if there was any possible link to the Wall case. Kazuko Toyonaga, a 22-year-old student, was on vacation in Europe when she disappeared. Her legs were found in a plastic bag floating in the waters off Islands Brygge, a harbour in Copenhagen. Advertisement

And now officers say they will check to see if Madsen's DNA matches any outstanding cold cases.

Swedish criminal commissioner Mattias Sigfridsson told TV4: 'In November, we will check all murders we have not solved against Danish registries, even Peter Madsen's.'

According to Sigfridsson, there are murder cases similar to the events police suspect led to Wall's death.

Jens Mller Jensen, Deputy Police Officer at Copenhagen Police, said at a press conference last week: 'We found a leg. An hour after, another leg. And shortly after a head also lay in a bag that was weighed down by several pieces of metal.'

The body-parts were confirmed to be Miss Wall's by autopsy.

Jens Mller Jensen (left), Deputy Police Officer at Copenhagen Police, said at a press conference: 'We found a leg and shortly after a head'

A post-mortem examination revealed Wall, whose underwear was found on the submarine, was stabbed in her ribcage and groin 'around or shortly after her death', prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen said at Madsen's pre-trial.

Miss Wall's DNA was found in inventor Peter Madsen's fingernails, face and neck, he added. The journalist's cause of death has not yet been established, Copenhagen City Court heard.

Madsen who faces preliminary charges of manslaughter and indecent handling of a corpse, claims Miss Wall died after being accidentally hit by a 155lbs hatch in the sub's tower.

But an autopsy on Miss Wall's head found no fractures, casting doubt on his claims.

Prosecutors believe Madsen killed Wall as part of a sexual fantasy, then dismembered and mutilated her body.

Wall, a 30-year-old freelance journalist who was researching a story on Madsen, went missing after he took her out to sea in the 17-metre (56-foot) craft in August

Earlier, prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen told a court custody hearing that a hard disk found in Madsen's workshop contained fetish films in which real women were tortured, decapitated and burned.

'This hard drive doesn't belong to me,' Madsen insisted, saying numerous people had access to his workshop.

Madsen has insisted there was no sexual relationship between him and Wall, and their that contacts had been purely professional.

Madsen has also denied amputating her limbs, saying he tried to bury her whole body at sea.

The pair went to sea on August 10 in Madsen's 40-tonne submarine, UC3 Nautilus.

Miss Wall's torso was found in Koge Bay on August 21  ten days after Madsen was arrested. Madsen will be detained for another four months while police continue to investigate.
The young woman who revealed on Friday that she had been trapped in a restaurant hallway by Harvey Weinstein and forced to watch him masturbate sat down with Megyn Kelly for an interview.

Lauren Sivan, who briefly worked with Kelly at Fox News, revealed that she came forward after hearing Weinstein's response to the bombshell investigation released by The New York Times last Thursday, saying that he has 'no remorse' for his actions.

She also told Kelly that it was after she rejected Weinstein's sexual advances that he exposed himself and began to masturbate into a potted plant while blocking her exit.

Once Weinstein, 65, was done, he behaved as if nothing had happened according to Sivan, and the next day even called to ask her out on a date.

Weinstein has not responded to repeated requests for comment about the alleged incident.

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Speaking out: Lauren Sivan (above) detailed to 'Megyn Kelly Today' the events that occurred on the night Harvey Weinstein forced her to watch him masturbate

On the scene: She said that they were at the NYC eatery Cafe Socialista, which Weinstein was an investor in, when he asked her to go on a kitchen tour and tried to kiss her (Weinstein and wife Georgina Chapman at Cafe Socialista in September 2006)

'That apology was the final straw for me, so when I was contacted by a [Huffington Post] reporter, that is when I said, "oh no, enough is enough with this guy,"' Sivan told Megyn.

'There is no remorse, there was no acknowledgement of the type of behavior that was going on.'

She then added: 'If he did this with me, who is just a stranger, who is not an actress in Hollywood and doesnt need anything from him, I can only imagine how many other women something like this has happened to.'

Sivan explained that she was attending an event at Cafe Socialista over a decade ago when Weinstein asked her if she wanted a tour of the kitchen.

He was one of the investors in the the now shuttered venue at the time.

'I thought a restaurant kitchen, there would be people cooking and moving and things happening, and as soon as we got downstairs, that was not what it was,' explained Sivan.

'There were two guys sweeping up, there was no one down there. And thats when I really saw the red flags.'

Soon after Weinstein leaned in to kiss her, with Sivan saying that she rejected his advance.

Then, he began to masturbate soon after telling Sivan to 'stand there and be quiet.'

Sivan told Kelly that she was completely caught off guard in that moment.

'No idea. No idea. I was completely shocked and yet, what is going to happen? Stand there and be quiet? I had no idea what was going to happen,' explained Sivan, who remained remarkably composed throughout the interview.

'And it happened very quickly, and he immediately exposed himself and began pleasuring himself and I just stood there, dumbfounded.'

Indecent exposure: When she rebuffed his advances, Sivan said that Weinstein exposed himself and masturbated into a nearby plant

Sivan, who did not work for Weinstein, also said that she found the incident to be both 'disgusting' and 'pathetic.'

'I was so shocked, I couldnt believe, what was I witnessing. Could not believe what I was witnessing,' said Sivan.

'It was disgusting and kind of pathetic really to stand there and look at this man. But more than the disgusting act itself, which of course was gross, the demeaning part of it all, that just 20 minutes earlier he was having this great conversation with me and I felt so great and flattered by it.

'And then, stand there and be quiet, just a few minutes later just negated any warm feelings I had and I realized oh, that is what this is all about.'

When he was finished, Sivan said that she asked if she could leave,and Weinstein said that they should both return to the party.

Things took another turn however the following day when she received a call from Weinstein at work.

'That was so crazy. After I fled, he called my station. They said, I have Harvey Weinstein on the line for you and my heart sank,' said Sivan.

'And he said, I want to let you know, "I had a great time last night ... I had a great time last night. I'm going away overseas on a trip, I would love to see you again. If that's something we could do."'

Sivan revealed that she quickly shot down that notion, again informing Weinstein that she was in a relationship, something she had also told him the previous night when he trapped her in the basement of his restaurant.

'I said, "Absolutely not. I told you yesterday, I have a very serious boyfriend. Absolutely not,"' Sivan told Megyn.

'And I'm pretty sure I hung up the phone after. But that was the most shocking part.'

Following up: The next day, Weinstein called Sivan to say he had a good time and wanted the two to get together, at which point Sivan said that she hung up on him (Sivan and Megyn above)

Weinstein has now been terminated from the company he founded, but Sivan said that she believes more stories will be revealed in the coming days and weeks.

'Im positive that more women will come forward, that I am not alone,' said Sivan.

'It was kind of a horrible kept secret in Hollywood, that he had this type of behavior.'

She then said that people kept silent because of of his power, comparing him to 'God.'

'When you're the big man, not just the boss of his company, but you have to understand, he was a titan in Hollywood,' said Sivan.

'He could ruin people's careers if he didn't like you.'

She also said that she believed all the women who had come forward to share their stories with the Times.

'I cant speak for the women, I dont know what happened to them. But in my opinion, I absolutely believe all of their stories, all of their stories,' said Sivan.

'The casualness that he had, in just luring me down there, and knew exactly what he was doing. That gave me the impression that I was definitely not alone, I was definitely not the only one. And this goes on quite a bit in my opinion.'
Dominic Richardson, 23, and the mystery woman were caught on camera as they romped at Hackney Downs station

A psychology student who sparked outrage when he had drunken sex with a mystery woman on a railway platform was today given a 60-day drink ban.

Dominic Richardson, 23, and the woman were caught on camera as they romped at Hackney Downs station in east London for around 90 seconds.

Just moments later, they adjusted their clothes and hopped on the train.

The second year student at the University of East London confessed to police but added that it was out of character because he had 'been drinking all day and night'.

Richardson told officers that he had not been socialising much with his friends and had been drinking substantial amounts of rum.

A member of the public recorded the display on her mobile phone and said she was 'shocked' and 'outraged' by what she had seen so early in the morning.

Richardson has previous convictions for drink driving, but not for 'similar matters'.

British Transport Police have issued an appeal to try and trace the red-headed woman but are yet to find her.

They said today there has been no update in the investigation in 'the Hackney Down incident' and urged members of the public to come forward with information.

Footage of the couple went viral online, with images shared by thousands of Twitter users and uploaded to YouTube.

They were filmed by a woman as they stripped off for sex on August 26, Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court heard.

Zara Khan, prosecuting, said: 'A member of the public has recorded this on her mobile phone which shows an incident between the defendant and an unknown female.

This shameless couple romped enthusiastically at Hackney Downs station in east London before readjusting their clothes and casually strolling across the platform to board a train

A Tweet of the graphic video (above), posted yesterday at 1.20pm, has attracted more than 4,200 retweets - and hundreds of comments from disgusted viewers

'They were having sexual intercourse on the platform. The lady that took the video footage said that she was shocked an outraged.

'Certainly, the offence takes place early in the morning, there were members of the public in and around the location.

'It was daylight and it was during the school holidays and on a route that takes you to Stansted Airport.

'Subsequently Mr Richardson was arrested and he did make certain admissions in interview.

'He said that he had been drinking that day. He said, 'I have not really been drinking much recently but I have had too much, I was drinking all day and night.'

Miss Khan said that Richards accepts his lewd behaviour was appalling.

She added: 'I can say that there is nothing similar on record. There is, however, some driving matters and that is driving while intoxicated.'

Davis Jones, defending Richardson, said: 'He has obviously pleaded guilty from the outset and I would ask you to credit him.

'He gave a full account to the police and an explanation. What he says today is that he is mortified and ashamed.

'He does not seek to hide behind the fact that he was drunk but he simply seeks to use it as an explanation.'

Mr Jones said that Richardson was working 50-hour weeks on top of his university education and wanted to unwind over the bank holiday weekend.

He met the girl in a nearby pub and 'bumped' into her before they went to the train station.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: 'We are investigating reports of a couple engaging in sexual activity on a platform at Hackney Downs station'. The copulating couple casually caught the train just moments after the incident

Mr Jones said: 'He says that the area was not where he usually frequents. What has happened has happened and he accepted he took part in it.

'He said it was unlike him and not something he has ever done before.'

Richardson only found out he was an internet sensation when his mother and friends informed him of the video circulating online.

Mr Jones continued: 'Most people know of this matter.

'He says that he cannot turn anywhere without people talking to him because of this moment of madness. Thankfully others were not there.'

Magistrate Linda Logan said: 'We are going to give you a community order and an alcohol abstinence programme of 60 days.

'That tag will be fitted with a piece of equipment but it can detect whether you have had any alcohol to drink.

'You cannot drink alcohol for 60 days. If the tag goes off that will get reported back to the court and you may receive a different type of sentence.'

Richardson, of Poplar, London, admitted outraging public indecency.

He was also ordered to pay 85 court costs and a victim surcharge of 85.
Primary aged children can suffer depression yet many parents struggle to spot the signs of a mental health problem in their children, a national poll has found.

Research released from The Royal Children's Hospital's Child Health Poll found only a third (35 per cent) of more than 2000 parents surveyed were 'confident' in recognising the signs of a mental health problem in their child.

A further third of parents believed a child's mental health problems might be best left alone to work themselves out over time.

A third of parents in a national poll are 'confident' they would recognise mental health issues

Less than half (44 per cent) felt confident they would know where to get help if their child experienced social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

Director of the RCH Poll, paediatrician Dr Anthea Rhodes says children can develop many of the same mental health difficulties as adults but they often manifest in different ways, making them harder to recognise.

Frequent tearfulness and crying is not normal in children and seeking professional help sooner rather the later is really important, Dr Rhodes says.

Over thirty per cent of parents surveyed felt their child's mental health would 'work itself out'

Ongoing physical complaints can also be a sign of social or emotional problems in children and teenagers.

'Even if parents are unsure, there is no harm in having a conversation with their GP or school counsellor about any emotional, social or behavioural difficulties they think their child may be experiencing,' Dr Rhodes added.

'Ignoring signs that may indicate a child is in need of help can result in the problem becoming more entrenched and much harder to treat.'
Two of Britain's biggest supermarkets will ignore the Royal Mint deadline and continue to accept the old pound coins after they stop being legal tender.

The round quids will no longer be accepted across most of Britain on Sunday, with some shops already refusing to accept them in self-service machines, causing chaos at the checkouts.

However, major firms are ignoring the national cut-off point, with Tesco giving customers an extra week to spend their coins, while Poundland will stretch to October 31.

A Tesco spokesman said: 'Weve been updating our systems ready for the new pound coins, but to help customers who still have the old coins, well continue to accept round pounds at our tills and self-service machines for an additional week.'

People have returned more than 1.2 billion of the old coins in the past six months.

Discount retailer Poundland has said more than 850 of its stores across the country will continue accepting the coins until October 31.

And a trade body representing small shops has advised its members to continue accepting the round coins to provide a 'useful community service' to customers.

A spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses told the Daily Telegraph: 'Shopkeepers will be aware that the Royal Mint has this deadline.

'But at the same time they will not want to let their loyal customers down by saying they cannot pay with a round pound if they do not have any other change.

'It would help if small firms knew they were allowed a short transition period to collect the old coins if they wish to and are willing to bank them, but not give out to customers.

'This would provide a useful community service, allowing customers a few weeks to get rid of the final few pound coins in circulation.'

The new 12-sided pound coin, which resembles the old threepenny bit, entered circulation in March and boasts new high-tech security features to thwart counterfeiters

Major banks have said that while they encourage customers to allow enough time to hand in their old coins, they will continue to accept deposits of round pounds from their customers after October 15.

People may also find they can still hand in the old 1 coins at the Post Office after this date.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Andrew Jones said people have returned more than 1.2 billion of the old coins in the past six months.

He said: 'The hard work of the British public has paid off and I am delighted that more than 1.2 billion round pound coins have been returned.'

Chief executive and deputy master of the Royal Mint Adam Lawrence said: 'The round pound has been in circulation for over 30 years but, as the deadline approaches, we are keen to encourage everyone to track down their final coins and use them.

'As the deadline is triggered, we are proud that the security features on the 12-sided 1 coin will help to safeguard our currency for years to come.'

The new 12-sided pound coin, which resembles the old threepenny bit, entered circulation in March and boasts new high-tech security features to thwart counterfeiters.

The production of the new coins follows concerns about round pounds being vulnerable to sophisticated counterfeiters. Around one in every 30 old-style pound coins in people's change in recent years has been fake.

One pound coins were first launched on April 21 1983 to replace 1 notes. The Royal Mint has produced more than two billion round pound coins since that time.

The Post Office said customers can continue to deposit their old round pounds into any of their usual high street bank accounts through any post office - even after October 15 - 'until further notice'.

The Post Office is also taking part in 'Pudsey's round pound countdown' - collecting old round 1 coins for BBC Children in Need.

Barclays said its own customers can continue to deposit their old round pounds into their accounts with it after October 15, but added: 'We would recommend that customers allow sufficient time to return old coins rather than leave it until legal tender status is withdrawn.'

RBS/NatWest, Santander, Nationwide Building Society and Lloyds Banking Group, which includes Halifax, also said they will continue to accept round pounds as deposits from their own customers after they cease to be legal tender.

People across Britain are trying their best to find the coins, although it will still be possible to change them at banks and building societies after the deadline

RBS/NatWest also said it would encourage customers to try to hand in their old coins as soon as possible.

With just a week to go, around 500million old round pounds are still in circulation.

Britons are desperately searching for 500million worth of old pound coins behind the sofa and in their wallets, as these series of hilarious tweets and memes show.

Old round pound coins will cease to be legal tender next week - but consumers should not fear, because some shops will still be accepting them after the deadline.

After 23.59pm on Sunday, the round pound will lose its legal tender status, meaning stores cannot hand them out as change and can refuse to accept them as payment.

And people across Britain are trying their best to find the coins, although it will still be possible to change them at banks and building societies after the deadline.

People are being urged to look through their purses, coat pockets and piggy banks so that they can spend them, bank them or give them to charity before the date.
A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged after he was pulled over with a pressure cooker and an AR-15 rifle near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, but his family insists it's all just a misunderstanding.

Santos Zamora appeared in court on Sunday on a felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Police stopped Zamora on Cumberland Road near the Kennedy Expressway around 8am on Saturday for driving 20 mph over the speed limit after leaving the airport, prosecutors say.

An officer noticed that Zamora had a black gun case in the front passenger seat during the traffic stop, according to the police report.

Santos Zamora (above in mugshot), 32, appeared in court on Sunday on a felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge

He was arrested and charged after he was pulled over with a pressure cooker and an AR-15 rifle near the Chicago O'Hare International airport (file above)

The 32-year-old man told the officer that between his feet he had a .45-caliber handgun and an AR-15 rifle in the trunk of the vehicle, according to the police report. Police did not say whether one or both guns found in the vehicle were loaded.

During a search of his 2005 Mitsubishi Galant, officers also found a pressure cooker inside the trunk, court records state.

Police said they found traces of food inside the pressure cooker which helped to dispel concerns that Zamora might have been plotting to use it as a weapon.

Two other people inside the car were detained while the CPD Organized Crime Bureau and Joint Terrorism Task Force were called to conduct an investigation, police said.

Zamora was arrested and also faces several traffic violations for speeding and driving his car without insurance. The incident involving Zamora, who is from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, sparked a counter-terrorism investigation, police say.

Authorities also say he did not have an Illinois Firearm Owners Identification card.

The items were found in his car after police stopped Zamora on Cumberland Road (file above) Saturday for driving 20 mph over the speed limit, prosecutors say. His bond was set at $5,000 by Lyke during the hearing. Zamora's next court appearance is scheduled for Friday

The two other people who were detained were released without charges.

During his court session in front of Cook County Judge John Lyke, his family claimed that the incident was a misunderstanding.

They said that he traveled to Chicago to visit his brother Roberto Zamora.

'We were supposed to go to the gun range,' Gage Park resident Roberto Zamora told the newspaper.

'He wasn't familiar with the law in Illinois. He's been living in Wisconsin.'

Zamora, who is a father and graphic designer, also had plans to visit his newborn nephew, his family claimed.

His bond was set at $5,000 by Lyke during the hearing. Zamora's next court appearance is scheduled for Friday.
A 'royal superfan' who tried to get into Prince George's school sparking a major security alert has been given a caution by police.

Louise Chantry attempted to get into Thomas's school Battersea last month, prompting a review of the young prince's protection.

The 40-year-old former holistic healer has now been given a caution, meaning she accepts wrongdoing but will not get a criminal record or face any further action.

Family and neighbours of Chantry said she had struggled in the year since she broke up with her husband, David. She was said to have remained calm when challenged by police outside the school and did not remonstrate with officers.

The incident happened just a week after the four-year-old royal started at the 18,000-a-year prep school.

Louise Chantry, 40, has been given a caution for trying to get into Prince George's school

The young prince started school in September, when he was accompanied on his first day by his father, the Duke of Cambridge

Chantry had been able to briefly talk her way into the building by posing as a legitimate visitor a day before her arrest.

She escaped when challenged by staff but was spotted again loitering nearby triggering her arrest on suspicion of attempted burglary. She was questioned at a local police station before being released on bail.

Chantry is understood to have spent 'at least several minutes' inside the school.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said today: 'A 40-year-old woman has accepted a caution for causing a nuisance on school property following an incident at Thomas's Battersea school in September.

'The woman was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary after she gained access to Thomas's Battersea on Tuesday, 12 September.

'She returned on bail to a south London police station today and accepted a police caution for an offence under the Education Act.

'She was released with no further action in relation to attempted burglary. Thomas's Battersea is the school attended by Prince George.'

A photo taken from a nearby cafe shows the moments after Chantry was picked up by officers and put into a police van

Chantry's attempted entry of the school prompted a review of security around the prince

The Metropolitan Police spokesman said the force 'continues to work with the school on protective security arrangements for His Royal Highness'.

Chantry's mother, Rhona Crawford, 75, said after the incident that it was a 'sad' situation, but she believed the young prince would have been safe with her jobless holistic healer daughter.

She said: 'She wouldn't have done any harm to George. She just loves the royal family and loves kids. She's been under a lot of stress. I'm very sad this has happened, it's a horrible incident.'

She added that her daughter views the Cambridges as the perfect family and said: 'People were in love with Diana when she was alive, this is similar. It's a fairytale. It's a fantasy.'

Neighbours at the couple's former home told MailOnline that Chantry and her IT executive husband David had blazing rows before she moved out of the picturesque detached house in Angmering, West Sussex.

Neighbours said Chantry had struggled since splitting from her husband, David (left). Her mother Rhona Crawford (right) said her daughter posed no threat to the prince

George, who was not at school at the time Chantty tried to gain entry, went back to school the day after the incident and was seen being driven in through a side entrance by two members of staff.

Along with his cohort, the prince is currently attending reception classes on a half-day basis and is building up to staying for lunch and afternoons.

Several plain-clothed officers have been spotted in the area surrounding the fee-paying school.

Tens of thousands of pounds have already been spent on an electronic entrance system, which controls reinforced glass doors.

Security was stepped up at the 18,000-a-year prep school after the incident last month

CCTV cameras connected to a facial-recognition system also cover every approach to the school, which can be locked down behind 7ft wrought-iron gates.

Thomas's Battersea educates 560 boys and girls aged from four to 13, with around 20 pupils in each class.

Fees cost 17,604 a year, and increase to 19,884 a year for those in year three and above.
Rachael Etienne, 21, was arrested and charged with neglect

A three-year-old girl was found outside the Orange County Jail in a hot car and drenched with sweat while her mother was inside visiting an inmate.

Rachael Etienne, 21, left her daughter in the car for more than 20 minutes before a corrections officer made rounds around the property and found the girl.

According to the arrest report, the child was found drenched in sweat and the car was locked with the engine off and windows slightly cracked.

The temperature in Orlando at the time was 91 degrees with a heat index of 110 degrees.

Etienne was arrested and charged with neglect and bailed out of jail Sunday night.

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Etienne reportedly left the child in the car while she visited an inmate at the Orange County Jail. She is pictured with a blanket over her head after being bailed out of jail

She was seen leaving the jail with a blanket over her head and ignoring questions by WTSP.

The officer was able to get the child out of the vehicle around 12.10pm without injury, authorities said. They then tracked down Etienne who was inside visiting an inmate.

Etienne reportedly admitted that she left the child alone.

The Department of Children and Families placed the child in the care of another family member.
The rape charge was also at the centre of escalating unrest between townsfolk and the asylum seekers on Manus Island. In part, it is what Dutton referred to in April when he said there was an "elevated mood" on the island and controversially suggested a riot at the processing centre was linked to community fears about the safety of a five-year-old boy.

Rajendran, who experienced mental illness, was charged with raping a minor earlier this year in the township of Lorengau. He was released on bail and awaited trial, but it was a charge likely to rule him out of consideration for resettlement in the US.

The case is unpleasant and murky, and highlights several important points of dispute about the plight of refugees on Manus Island and what they face when Australia leaves the island at the end of this month.

Police in Papua New Guinea confirmed details of the death, but it went unremarked upon by the Australian government, which retains it is a matter for PNG.

Rajeev Rajendran, a Tamil refugee who fled Sri Lanka, died in the early hours of Monday last week, apparently by suicide.

"There was a ramping up of the tension on the ground. We have seen allegations and charges in relation to a number of sexual assaults," Dutton said.

From the refugees' point of view, the Rajendran case feeds into fears for their own safety in the Lorengau community.

For months, PNG authorities have tried to coerce men out of the regional process centre  which is due to close by 31 October  and into the East Lorengau Refugee Transit Centre.

Many refugees have refused to move, preferring the safety of the RPC, which is away from the township on a Navy base.

On Friday night, asylum seekers received another notice about the impending shutdown. Documents shown to Fairfax Media reveal another form of accommodation, called the West Lorengau Haus, has been made available for refugees.

Those who move there will be housed in dorms and receive "a living allowance to cover food, clothing and some personal expenses".

According to Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian refugee and journalist on Manus, PNG authorities plan to accommodate 241 people at the Haus, as well as 232 people at the ELRTC and 148 rejected asylum seekers at a location called Hillside House. The transfers are to occur before 27 October.

Boochani said the refugees were "determined to resist" the move to Lorengau "because it is not a safe place for them". "There will definitely be more conflict between refugees and local people if the government presses ahead with this plan," he said.

Rajendran's death also speaks volumes about the adequacy of health services on the island. According to PNG police, he first attempted suicide on a Friday night and was admitted to Lorengau Hospital. He was found hanging in the hospital on Monday while notionally under its care.

It's a danger that doctors on the island are aware of. "I've said to them, 'this is going to happen, more of this will happen'," one doctor, who works for contractor International Health and Medical Services, told a refugee this week. "They're not telling you what's happening, so people get a build-up of despair."

The Australian Labor Party has requested a briefing from Dutton about the circumstances leading up to Rajendran's death. Shadow immigration minister Shayne Neumann offered his condolences to the man's family and friends, and said it would be inappropriate to comment further.

The inadequacy of the PNG health system is what awaits the sick men on Manus once IHMS leaves on 31 October. Dutton has said arrangements will be announced in due course, while the aforementioned doctor promised his patient "a full medical handover to whoever takes over".

But, he joked, "it's entirely possible that I'll just be wearing a different-coloured shirt and working for a different company".

Michael Koziol is the immigration and legal affairs reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Parliament House
Edgar Mendoza, a citizen of Guatemala, has been charged with sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl in New Jersey

An undocumented immigrant charged with sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl after her father found the stranger in bed with her in the middle of the night will remain in prison pending the final resolution of the case.

Edgar Mendoza agreed to pretrial detention at a court appearance on Friday and told the judge he knew what he was doing.

It is alleged Mendoza broke into a home on September 19 on Bayard Street in the Chambersburg section of Trenton, New Jersey, The Trentonian reported.

He said through an interpreter: 'Due to my situation here, the fact that I dont have my papers and the fact that I am facing those charges, I think I am going to have to be detained.'

Police say in the affidavit that the child's father noticed that a light had been turned off upstairs and went to investigate.

The concerned father walked into his daughter's room to find Mendoza in her bed, authorities say.

Mendoza leaped up and then jumped from a second-floor window and fled on foot into the neighborhood, police say.

The incident happened Tuesday morning on Bayard Street (file above) in the Chambersburg section of Trenton, New Jersey. Police say the girl's father found Mendoza in her bed before he jumped out of a window and fled on foot. He was arrested a short time later

Police officers who responded to a 1.30am 911 call from the father searched the area and arrested Mendoza a short time later.

Police say they found a mobile phone which belongs to Mendoza outside the house and near to the window he is alleged to have jumped from.

Mendoza has been charged three counts of aggravated sex assault, endangering the welfare of a child and burglary.

The child was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Trenton Police originally said Mendoza was 32-years-old, but court records show he is either 27 or 28.

Mendoza has been charged three counts of aggravated sex assault, endangering the welfare of a child and burglary. The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office will seek to detain Mendoza pending trial and he is being held in the Mercer County Correction Center (file above)

Records show that Mendoza is currently the subject of a detainer from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on September 20.

Mercer County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Casey DeBlasio confirmed that Mendoza is in the U.S. illegally.

Last year, Trenton police charged Mendoza for peeping into a home, but the status of that case is unknown.
Matt Damon may soon be forced to comment on the decades of sexual harassment Harvey Weinstein inflicted upon his staff and a number of Hollywood actresses after one of those stars took aim at the Oscar-winning writer and star of 'Good Will Hunting.'

One day after Sharon Waxman revealed in a post on The Wrap that she had been working on an expose about Weinstein until Damon and actor Russell Crowe called her directly to try and bury the piece, Rose McGowan lashed out at the actor.

'Hey @Mattdamon whats it like to be a spineless profiteer who stays silent?' wrote McGowan Monday afternoon, hours after calling on the entire board at Weinstein Company to step down for being complicit in covering up the executive's actions.

McGowan also acknowledged a few of Damon's similarly tongue-tied pals, tweeting: 'Ben Affleck Casey Affleck, hows your morning boys?'

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Best of buds: The Wrap founder Sharon Waxman says Matt Damon and Russell Crowe called her in 2004 to stop a negative story about Harvey Weinstein (Damon and Weinstein above in 2005)

Friends forever: Crowe called around the time he was working on 'Master and Commander' for the studio (above with Weinstein in 2005)

Lashing out: Weinsten victim Rose McGowan responded to this by tweeting: 'Hey @Mattdamon whats it like to be a spineless profiteer who stays silent?' (above)

Looking for some goodwill: McGowan also acknowledged a few of Damon's similarly tongue-tied pals, tweeting: 'Ben Affleck Casey Affleck, hows your morning boys?'

Waxman said in her piece that Damon and Crowe called her after she managed to get multiple sources stating on the record that an Italian man being paid $400,000 by the company knew little about film and was better known for the 'evenings he organized with Russian escorts.'

The story was ultimately killed despite Waxman's findings at the time.

Reps for both Crowe and Damon did not respond to requests for comment.

At the center of the story was a man who worked as the head of Miramax Italy, but who had no film experience.

The Wrap founder Sharon Waxman (pictued on October 3) says Damon and Crowe called her in 2004 to stop a negative story about Weinstein

Miramax, which was founded by Weinstein and his brother Bob in 1979, was still being run by the brothers at that team even though in 1993 they had sold to Disney.

Multiple sources told Waxman that Fabrizio Lombardo, who headed up Miramax Italy, was actually put on the payroll to help procure women for Weinstein, and that was the reason for his $400,000 in the one-year span between 2003 and 2004 when he worked for the company.

Waxman also tracked down a woman in London who said she had been paid off after an unwanted sexual encounter with Weinstein.

She revealed however that while the reporting was going well, she began to hit a different road block once Weinstein learned that the Times was working on a negative story.

That is when the executive got to work trying to kill the story, using Damon and Crowe to help him by vouching for Lombardo.

The two men both appeared in Miramax films produced by Weinstein around that time - Damon in 'The Brothers Grimm' (2005) and Crowe in 'Master and Commander' (2003).

Damon and his lifelong pals Ben and Casey Affleck all owe their careers to Weinstein in many ways thanks to his championing of 'Good Will Hunting.'

Waxman wrote the she was ultimately told that Weinstein made a visit to the Times newsroom, where he visited with people 'above my head' to 'make his displeasure known'.

Miramax was a big advertiser in the paper at the time as well, and used that to help get the story killed according to Waxman.

In the end, her editors decided against publishing the accusations.

'The story was stripped of any reference to sexual favors or coercion and buried on the inside of the Culture section, an obscure story about Miramax firing an Italian executive. Who cared?' Waxman recalled.

The story centered on Fabrizio Lombardo, who was head of Miramax Italy for less than a year between 2003 and 2004. Multiple sources told Waxman that Lombardo was put on the payroll to procure women for Weinstein (the two pictured above in 2007)

Damon and Crowe called Waxman to vouch for Lombado. Damon, it can be argued, owes his career to Weinstein who financed 1997's Good Will Hunting, which he starred in and wrote (left). At the time of the 2004 article, Crowe was filming Master and Commander for Miramax (right)

Waxman wrote the story about her failed attempt to out Weinstein in response to a 'sanctimonious' story written by the Times columnist Jim Rutenberg on Friday, praising his newspaper for taking down one of Holllywood's most powerful men when so many other media outlets ignored the rumors.

'Until now, no journalistic outfit had been able, or perhaps willing, to nail the details and hit publish,' Rutenberg, the Times' media columnist, wrote.

Waxman wanted to set the record straight: The Times may have been the ones to finally get Weinstein - but they knew about the allegations as early as 2004 and passed on the opportunity to report the truth.

'The New York Times was one of those enablers. So pardon me for having a deeply ambivalent response about the current heroism of the Times,' she wrote.
Sheila Morgan, 72, (pictured) was slashed as she and her husband struggled with crazed killer Keiran Wathan

A brave grandmother died of a flesh eating bug after she was knifed by a homeless burglar she found asleep in her bed, a court heard.

Sheila Morgan, 72, was slashed as she and her husband struggled with crazed killer Keiran Wathan who described himself as 'the living dead'.

She died five days later of necrotising fasciitis which was caused by the knife wound inflicted by Wathan at her home in Swansea.

Judge Wyn Williams today gave Wathan an 18 year extended sentence of which he will serve 13 years behind bars.

He told Wathan: 'Mrs Morgan was stabbed with a knife you took into her home as she sought to assist her husband.

'It was a reckless act - you did not deliberately stab her.

'It was to start a terrible train of events - her wound became infected, causing organ failure and she died.

'You are directly responsible for her death after deliberately engaging in serious violence on Mrs Morgan and her husband.'

The judge classified Wathan as a dangerous offender for his previous crimes, and for taking a weapon into the 'sanctuary'pf the Morgans's home.

A court heard Mrs Morgan found Wathan asleep in her bed after he crept in while the family were watching TV.

Before she died, mother-of-three Mrs Morgan gave police a graphic account of the attacks.

Elwen Evans, prosecuting, said: 'She saw a lump in the bed and realised a man was asleep under the covers.

'She ran downstairs and told her husband: 'There's a bloke in our bed.'

'He told her not to be so daft but she convinced him and went upstairs carrying a small hammer.'

Wayne Morgan, 65, came down holding Wathan by the scruff of the neck and straddled him on the settee while his wife dialled 999.

Miss Evans added: 'They were tussling and Wathan was telling the terrified couple he was the living dead.

'At some point Wathan wrestled the hammer free and rained at least a dozen blows onto Mr Morgan's head and face.

'Mrs Morgan bravely tried to pull him off her husband - she said he had a wild look on his face.

'She didn't see the small Stanley-type knife he was carrying.'

The court heard the father-of-one Wathan escaped and told friends later that evening: 'I killed someone and I actually enjoyed it.'

Miss Evans said: 'Mrs Morgan was not at all focused on her own injury but was very, very concerned about the state of her husband.'

Swansea Crown Court heard Mr Morgan was admitted to hospital but his wife was treated by her GP for the slash to her right forearm.

The court heard Keiran Wathan (pictured) was homeless at the time of the attack on March 12

She became seriously ill at the family home in Morriston, Swansea, and was admitted to hospital where her arm was amputated before she died.

Home Office pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbetter said Mrs Morgan died of multiple organ failure due to necrotising fasciitis.

The court heard Watrhan was homeless at the time of the attack on March 12 after being given a restraining order preventing him from contacting his mother.

He had been drinking and taken drugs before trying numerous front doors in Morriston where the Morgan's was left open.

The Morgans were carers for their son Michael, who has learning difficulties, and lives at home.

In a victim impact statement Mr Morgan said his wife was 'forgiving, kind and thoughtful.'

The day after the attack she told her husband: 'I hope that guy is okay, he seemed very troubled.'

Mr Morgan, too upset to attend court, said in a written statement: 'We had saved for our retirement and looking forward to that time together.

'This has immensely changed our lives and the lives Sheila touched forever.'

Wathan, of Godregraog, Swansea, admitted manslaughter, wounding with intent and possessing a bladed weapon.

The court heard he had a previous record for violence, burglary and possessing a knife.

Detective Inspector Peter Collins said after the case: 'Knife crime is unacceptable this case shows the devastating effect the criminal use of a knife can have on an individual and their family.

'This was a tragic case and the circumstances have brought great shock and sadness to the local community.'
Meghan McCain was welcomed to the air Monday as the newest co-host of ABC's The View.

McCain, the daughter of Arizona Senator John McCain, will represent a conservative perspective on the daily chat show.

She replaces conservative commentator Jedediah Bila, who exited The View last month.

McCain joins a panel that also includes moderator Whoopi Goldberg and co-hosts Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Paula Faris.

Most recently, McCain served as host on Fox News' Outnumbered.

The View airs weekdays at 11am Eastern on ABC.

Senator McCain tweeted on Monday that he tuned in to the show to see his daughter's first episode.

Meghan McCain was welcomed to the air Monday as the newest co-host of ABC's The View

McCain, the daughter of Arizona Senator John McCain, will represent a conservative perspective on the daily chat show. She joins a panel that also includes moderator Whoopi Goldberg and co-hosts Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Paula Faris

Senator McCain tweeted on Monday that he tuned in to the show to see his daughter's first episode

'Congratulations on your first day on The View,' the proud father tweeted on Monday.

'Our family couldn't be prouder of all that you continue to accomplish.'

'Im a little bit on sensory overload,' she told ABC News after her first show.

'Its an incredible show to be joining,' she said.

'Ive never joined a hit show. It's a luxury to be able to come onto something that already has such a big following.'

In July, Senator McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer. Last month, McCain revealed his doctors gave him a 'very poor prognosis' when he first found out about the rare and aggressive brain cancer that he continues to battle

Meghan McCain joked to her new co-hosts that she hopes to 'be the Jane Goodall of red America and explain my people to The View'.

She also wants her presence on the show to make conservatives more comfortable about appearing.

'I hope that [President Donald] Trump and other conservative guests feel a little safer here with me here,' she said.

'Because I know there have been requests out to conservative politicians and they're not saying yes and I hope I can change that.'

In July, Senator McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Last month, McCain revealed his doctors gave him a 'very poor prognosis' when he first found out about the rare and aggressive brain cancer that he continues to battle.

The Arizona senator said his doctors told him at the time that his condition was 'very, very serious'.

'So I just said, "I understand." Now we're going to do what we can, get the best doctors we can find and do the best we can. And at the same time, celebrate with gratitude a life well-lived,' McCain said during an interview on 60 Minutes.

Meghan McCain has kept a low media profile since the announcement. She flew out to the family's Arizona home to spend time with her father.

Meghan McCain joins The View after a stint as a co-host on Fox News' show Outnumbered

The father-daughter duo even posted pictures of themselves spending time with one another on social media.

Meghan McCain, 32, revealed on The View on Monday that her father was the first person she told about the new gig.

She said she revealed the news to him while he was in the hospital.

'I said, "What do you think of this?" And he said, "Are you kidding? You have to do this",' she recalled.

'[My parents] are endlessly proud and excited.'

Meghan McCain said on the show Monday that her father continues to undergo intensive treatment.

'When you hear cancer, a nuclear explosion goes off in your life no matter who you are,' she said.

'I didn't realize...how intense and disruptive and scary and hopeless and chaotic you feel all day long.'

The former Fox News personality added that she considers 'doctors and nurses and cancer researchers...the real heroes in my life.'

Meghan McCain's new job was widely rumored after Bila made the shocking announcement last month that she will be leaving her post at The View.

Bila's announcement came a week after an uncomfortable on-air interaction between she and Hillary Clinton.

She replaces conservative commentator Jedediah Bila (seen far right), who exited The View last month. She is seen during an interview last month with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (far left). The View co-host Sunny Hostin is seen in the middle

When Clinton was promoting her book on the show Bila - who is openly conservative - asked if she thought her book was at all tone deaf.

'To be fair, it hasn't just been Republicans who have taken issue with writing the book,' Bila began.

'Some Democrats have come out as well. Former campaign surrogates of yours, for her fundraisers and said, "This book puts is in the past and we want to move forward, we want to figure out where to take this party, how to succeed in the future. And this places us in the past."

'How do you respond to Democrats also coming out in criticism of your writing this?'

Clinton responded to Bila to say that she thinks that before anyone criticize her, they should first read the book.

The source said there were staff who were upset about how Bila handled the interview because they were worried it would make the former Secretary of State less likely to make another appearance.

But representatives for the show deny the exit has anything to do with Clinton.

In fact, they told Page Six that they were pleased with how it all went down, saying: 'Jed asked good questions during that interview and the producers were really pleased with how she handled it.'
Rhys Moore-Campbell, from Catford in London, has not been seen or heard from since leaving Mountfield Park to go home at 2.30pm on September 29

A mother has issued a heartfelt appeal on Twitter to find her 13-year-old son, who has been missing for 10 days.

Rhys Moore-Campbell, from Catford in London, has not been seen or heard from since leaving Mountfield Park to go home at 2.30pm on September 29.

His mother Shirlene Moore recorded a video, which was posted on Twitter by Brixton actor Arnold Oceng, appealing for public support to help find the schoolboy.

Shirlene Moore posted a video, which was later put on Twitter by Brixton actor Arnold Oceng, appealing to the public to help find her son.

In the video, she said: 'Rhys you are somewhere out there please come home.

'It doesn't matter what time it is, Rhys just please come home, you know mum will always open that door for you.

'I went into my son's room to say goodbye as I was making my way to work.

'Rhys jumped out of bed and gave me a big hug and a kiss and said see you later.

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'I did not know that would have been the last time I would have seen my son.

'If anyone out there has seen this child could you kindly contact.

'As a mother I am appealing to the public. Please, please, if you have seen this child can you contact the police station.'

His mother Shirlene Moore recorded a video, which was posted on Twitter by Brixton actor Arnold Oceng, appealing for public support to help find the schoolboy

Rhys is approximately 5ft 4inches tall, of slim build and is known to frequent the Bell Green area of Lewisham.

Rhys has been reported missing to police previously but has returned home after short while. He has never been missing for this long before.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lewisham Missing Persons Unit via 101 or call the charity Missing People on 116000.
A 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student has been found beaten to death in her off-campus home.

Alina Sheykhet was found in her bedroom on the second floor of her home in Oakland at about 9am on Sunday after her parents called police.

Police said Sheykhet had died from blunt force trauma and they are investigating her death as a homicide.

Alina Sheykhet, 20, was found dead on the second floor of her off-campus home in Oakland, Pittsburgh at about 9am on Sunday

Her brother Artem Sheykhet told WPXI that he discovered his sister had died on what was his 25th birthday.

He said his parents went to pick up Sheykhet at the home early Sunday morning but her roommates said she was still asleep.

Her father ended up kicking the door down when she failed to answer.

He found her unresponsive on the floor.

Investigators have not yet revealed if they have a suspect or motive but they do believe she was killed at some point overnight.

The Allegheny County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, but didn't specify what, where or how Sheykhet was struck on her body or with what.

Sheykhet was studying at the University of Pittsburgh to become a physical therapist

She was found by her father who had gone to her off-campus house (above) to pick her up ahead of her brother's birthday. He kicked down her bedroom door and found her dead

Sheykhet (above with a friend) attended Montour High School in Pittsburgh's Robinson Township prior to attending the Pittsburgh university

Neighbors reported a party at the residence Saturday night, attended by about 30 people, but police haven't said whether that figures in their investigation.

University of Pittsburgh said the campus was saddened by Sheykhets death and extended its sympathies to her family and friends.

The school planned to have counselors available Monday to students who needed them.

Sheykhet was studying to become a physical therapist.

Her Facebook page indicates she attended Montour High School in Pittsburgh's Robinson Township after moving with her family from Ivanovo, Russia.

Authorities haven't said how long Sheykhet had lived in the United States.
An aristocrat who is the third cousin of the Duchess of Cornwall has been accused of owning a dangerous Wolfdog that attacked walkers in the Highlands.

Dru Edmonstone, 45, whose great aunt is the great-grandmother of Camilla, faces four charges under the Dangerous Dogs Act and will go on trial in December.

According to the charges, two men were bitten repeatedly on the body and injured by the hound in December last year.

Dru Edmonstone, right, has been accused of owning a dog with the stamina of the Carpathian wolf that repeatedly bit two men

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog was engineered in 1955 to be used by the country's Special Forces commandos

Further charges claim a woman was repeatedly bitten and scratched, and another woman was bitten once.

Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs were engineered in 1955 for use in military operations by the Czechoslovak Special Forces commandos.

Dogs and wolves were purposely crossed to create a breed that would have 'the temperament, pack mentality, and trainability of the German Shepherd Dog and the strength, physical build, and stamina of the Carpathian wolf'.

Dru Edmonstone's great-great aunt is the great-grandmother of Camilla. He faces four charges under the Dangerous Dogs Act

Edmonstone, 45, whose family have owned the historic Duntreath Castle Estate near Blanefield since they were gifted it by King Robert III in 1435, denies the charges.

He also denies acting aggressively, shouting, swearing, and uttering threats of violence to people on moorland at Cuilts Brae, Blanefield on September 29th (2016), and falsely reporting that a gunman was threatening to rob people on the West Highland Way, so wasting police time.

Summary sheriff James MacDonald ordered Edmonstone to appear to face trial on the dogs charges on December 4, and on the moorland charges on November 28.

A family tree shows Mr Edmonstone's relation to Alice Keppel, who was Edward VII's mistress and great-grandmother of Prince Charles's second wife, Camilla

Sheriff MacDonald set preliminary hearings on all the charges for November 7th. Edmonstone, who was not in court, was further excused attending the November hearings, but will have to attend the trial.

His solicitor, John Mulholland, said the defence was now in possession of a 'preliminary psychiatric report' on the accused.

Duntreath Castle, a famous shooting estate, is the ancestral home of the Edmonstone family, who were granted the lands by Robert III as a wedding gift.

Alice Keppel, who was Edward VII's mistress, was the great aunt of Edmonstone's father, Sir Archibald Edmonstone

Edmonstone's father, Sir Archibald Edmonstone, 82, the 7th baronet of Duntreath, inherited the castle at the age of 22 and it has become a popular setting for weddings, seminars, private parties and corporate events.

Sir Archibald's great-grand aunt Alice Keppel was Edward VII's mistress and great-grandmother of Prince Charles's second wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Edmonstone Baronetcy was a title created on May 20, 1774 for Archibald Edmonstone, who had been a Tory MP for Dunbartonshire and Ayr Burghs.

The 6000-acre estate of Duntreath lies on both sides of the Blane Valley some 12 miles north of the Glasgow.
A three-year-old boy whose fight with cancer prompted his small southern Kansas hometown to celebrate Christmas in September died on Saturday.

Christian Risner's family announced his death on a Facebook page they established after the then-two-year-old was diagnosed with Rhabdoid kidney cancer in April 2016.

When doctors said that he had three months to live, Christian's family decided to bring Christmas to him early this year with a celebration on September 10.

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When doctors said that he had three months to live, Christian's family decided to bring Christmas to him early this year with a celebration on September 10

Christian Risner's family announced his death on a Facebook page they established after the then-two-year-old was diagnosed with Rhabdoid kidney cancer in April 2016

Christian is pictured opening presents at his early Christmas festivities

The community went all-out to help Christian celebrate. A horse-drawn carriage is pictured

Christian is pictured above with his family. He is survived by his parents, two brothers and paternal grandparents

The blond-haired, clue-eyed three-year-old is all smiles at his celebration

The small town of Lebo, Kansas, which has about 940 people, put on a special celebration with Santa a horse-drawn sleigh and homes throughout the town decorated for the holiday.

Christian's diagnosis came after his mother mother Sarah Risner found blood in his diaper.

She and her husband Josh went to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City where Christian was diagnosed with the disease that has caused tumors in his kidneys and lungs.

Christian began hospice care in August.

The Jones-Vans Arsdale Funeral Home says his funeral will take place Saturday at Lebo High School, with visitation before the service.

He is survived by his parents, two brothers and paternal grandparents.

Christian's diagnosis came after his mother mother Sarah Risner found blood in his diaper. She and her husband took Christian to the hospital where he was diagnosed with the disease that has caused tumors in his kidneys and lungs

A large banner wishes Christian a Merry Christmas at his September celebration

Christian sits next to several plush stuffed animals that he got as Christmas gifts

The town of Lebo, Kansas, came together to give Christian a full-blown last Christmas

Neighbors are pictured stringing lights up a few months early to get in the Christmas spirit
Chloe Hammond, 27, (pictured) allegedly launched the frenzied attack when Julie Holloway, 56, tapped on the window of her Audi TT near Embankment Pier on 19 March

An angry driver bit into a womans ear like a dog with a chew toy when she was told off for blaring her horn at pedestrians, a court heard today.

Chloe Hammond, 27, allegedly launched the frenzied attack when Julie Holloway, 56, tapped on the window of her Audi TT near Embankment Pier on 19 March.

Ms Holloway chided Hammond for beeping at pedestrians crossing in front of her while traffic was at a standstill at around 2pm, it is said.

When she pointed out that Hammond was using her phone and not watching traffic, she lost her temper and called her a f***ing ugly c**t, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Christiaan Moll said: Ms Hammond didnt take kindly to this and responded angrily, we say, with various expletives, calling Ms Holloway an ugly bitch, an old biddy and a f***ing ugly c**t.

Moments later, Hammond parked the silver convertible up the road at the junction with Temple Place before making her way back to Ms Holloway and her friends.

She kicked Ms Holloway in the stomach, causing her to double over, then grabbed her hair and bit into her ear, prosecutors claim.

We say the defendant then grabbed the complainant by her hair, on the left side of her head, and pulled her head even lower down, said Mr Moll.

Mr Vernon could not see the defendants head at this point because it was obstructed by the complainant.

But Mr Gallego saw the defendant appearing to bite the complainants right ear.

He described Ms Hammond as thrashing around like a dog with a chew toy.

After someone else recovered the missing chunk of ear in a piece of tissue, Ms Holloway was rushed to St Thomas A&E department and eventually required reconstructive surgery to make the ear look as normal as possible.

Ms Holloway said she had been on her way to a boat party before the alleged assault.

She told jurors she recalled being verbally abused by Hammond before she came out of nowhere and kicked her in the stomach.

I do recall coming forward and then the next thing I know, she grabbed both sides of my head and then she lunged into my ear, she said.

I felt her bite my ear. I couldnt get her off me because she just lunged on to my ear.

She confirmed she was in such shock she did not initially notice when Hammond escaped.

Hammond, of Denham Vale, Raleigh, Essex, denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The trial continues at Southwark Crown Court, pictured

It was chaos at the time because my ear was on the floor.

I didnt know what had really happened to me at the time. I didnt grasp what had actually happened.

There was blood all over me, there was blood all over on e of the girls and I just didnt know that my ear had gone missing as such until someone picked it up off the floor. Its quite disturbing to say the least.

Hammond was contacted after shocked onlookers took video recordings and photos as she fled the scene and voluntarily attended an interview at Charing Cross Police Station two days later.

Jurors heard she accused her alleged victim of banging on her vehicle causing dents to the side as well as calling her a Botox bitch.

Mr Moll recalled her prepared statement in which she went on to claim Ms Holloway grabbed her hair, prompting her to forcefully push the complainant away.

She also denied biting the complainant on the ear on numerous occasions in the course of that interview, although now it would appear she accepts that by virtue of her plea, he added.

Jurors heard Hammond denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent but offered a late plea to a lesser charge of unlawful wounding.

The force required to bite someones ear off, applying your collective common sense must have been quite some extreme force, for someone to do that said the prosecutor.

Members of the jury, they must, at the time, have had the intention to cause really serious injury to the complainant.

But that is, fairly and squarely, a matter for you to decide, having heard all of the evidence and applying your common sense.

Hammond, of Denham Vale, Raleigh, Essex, denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

She has admitted unlawful wounding but this was not accepted by the prosecution. The trial, estimated to last up to three days, continues.
A raging dispute between President Donald Trump and a leading Republican senator has raised fresh concerns in Washington about the ability of the novice politician to claim a major legislative victory his first year in office.

Trump's spat with Bob Corker threatens to derail a comprehensive tax reform bill that will come to pass only if the administration can muster enough support in the Senate.

The Tennessee Republican is also the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, making him a power player in the legislative debate that will be triggered if Trump makes moves to untangle the United State from the Iran nuclear deal.

Republican insiders are not sweating the battle between the two men.

Corker is a 'grown up' who 'always has worked to be in the room making the sausage,' Grover Norquist, president of the conservative Americans for Tax Reform, said.

A raging dispute between President Donald Trump and a leading Republican senator has raised fresh concerns in Washington about the ability of the novice politician to claim a major legislative victory his first year in office

When it comes to Iran, Nile Gardiner, a foreign policy fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told DailyMail.com on Monday morning: 'I don't think that this sort of parlor dispute with Bob Corker actually makes any difference to that.'

A close ally of Trump's, Jason Miller, meanwhile said on CNN that if the retiring senator doesn't plan to support Trump's agenda, he 'should just resign' and let the state's Republican governor appoint someone who will, like former Trump transition team member and U.S. Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn, who currently represents Tennessee in Congress.

Trump's fight with Corker, which exploded on Twitter Sunday, has pitted the president against a key lawmaker from his own party once again.

Belatedly responding to Corker's statement to press last week that Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly 'separate the country from chaos,' Trump lashed out at the Republican senator on Twitter yesterday.

He claimed Corker did not have the 'guts to run' for reelection and 'begged' to be secretary of state.

'I said "NO THANKS," ' Trump contended, adding, that Corker 'is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!'

Corker responded with a stinging rebuke that the White House 'has become an adult day care center.' He told the New York Times that the president's aides are actively working to constrain Trump, who's recklessness has put the U.S. 'on the path to WW III.'

'I'm not sure what kind of message Senator Corker is trying to send by running to the New York Times and throwing out these very crazy comments like World War III,' Miller, a former aide to Trump, told CNN.

Miller said the interview 'really cuts against any narrative credibility that Senator Corker has here.'

'Senator Corker definitely didn't mind kissing up to President Trump when he wanted to be vice president, when he wanted to be secretary of state. But now, since he didn't get either of these positions, and now he's retiring, he seems to just be kind of letting it all hang out there,' Miller charged.

'And I think it's really showing the true colors of the swamp nature of Washington, D.C. that he is criticizing such basic tenets of the Republican platform like tax cuts.'

Miller went on to say that that 'if Senator Corker is retiring, and he doesn't want to be in the U.S. Senate and he doesn't want to support President Trump, and he doesn't want to support such basic conservative principles, he should just resign' so the governor can 'get someone in there who's actually gonna support the president.'

Corker said last week that unless tax reform does not add to the federal deficit, he will not vote for it.

'I think the greatest threat to our nation is our fiscal issues. It's not North Korea. It's not ISIS. It's ourselves. It's our inability to deal with this longer-term issue, and every year that goes by it gets worse,' Corker said.

Norquist, a top advocate for tax cuts, said Monday that he believes Corker will cast a vote in favor of tax reform because 'he's never been one of those guys who's stood outside and screamed.

'He always has worked to be in the room making the sausage,' Norquist said.

Trump's spat with Bob Corker threatens to derail a comprehensive tax reform bill that will come to pass only if the administration can muster enough support in the Senate

The conservative tax expert said Corker 'also knows it's good policy and politics' to provide tax relief to his constituents.

'This is not Connecticut or Massachusetts. This is a state with a lot pf people who are regular folks,' he said of the reliably Republican state. 'He's sophisticated. He's a grown up he's not perturbed.'

Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Trump, said Corker's comments 'incredibly irresponsible' on Fox & Friends.

'It adds to the insulting that the mainstream media and the president detractors almost a year after this election they still cant accept the election results,' she said. 'It adds to their ability and their cover to speak about the President of the United States in ways that no president should be talked about.'

Earlier this year, Corker appeared to question Trump's mental competency and his overall fitness for office, saying that Trump 'has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful.'

'He concerns me,' Corker told the Times on Sunday. 'He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation.'

Norquist brushed off the feud and its ability to tank tax reform on Monday morning during a conversation with DailyMail.com.

'At the end of the day, I don't think there's a hair out of place on the senator. He will want a good bill. He has some questions about the bill, he had certain limitations that he wanted. They were met.

'This bill was pre-organized to meet his concerns, on how much of a tax cut and what it does to the deficit and so on,' Norquist said. 'Corker understand economics. Corker knows that this would be tremendously helpful to his constituents, and he's not an old man. He knows that he could be governor someday.'

Gardiner had a similar take on Corker's willingness to slap new sanctions on Iran should Trump announce his intent to decertify Iran's compliance with the Obama-era nuclear agreement the sitting the president has said he'd like to revisit.

'Where this could potentially have an impact, is, on the issue of U.S. sanctions against Tehran, and the expectation is that Congress will have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions against Iran,' Gardiner said.

'And I expect that the Republicans will be largely favorable towards the re-imposition of sanctions, and I expect actually that Corker will as well.'
Historic preservation is a challenge for every community. Leading the way is the city of Stamford, Connecticut. Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the Hoyt-Barnum House, the oldest residential structure of that place. My ancestor Samuel Hait (or Hoyt), a descendant of one of the town founders, built the house in about 1699 using braced frame construction (post and beam). Until November 2016, the house was located at 713 Bedford St. Due to the home's limited access and the expansion of the neighboring police department, a decision was made to relocate the home to 1508 High Ride Road, on the same grounds as the Stamford History Center, the present owners. The city of Stamford, the SHC, several organizations and countless volunteers succeeded in giving the home a bright future for many generations to come.

Our visit also provided the opportunity to see the Bell family Bible, which contains the names of the children born to Francis and Rebecca Bell. Their son Jonathan, born 1641, was the first child born at Stamford. Surprisingly, it also listed the birth of Mare (or Mary), in 1646; she married Joshua Hoyt, father of Samuel. Much of what is known about this artifact comes from an article written in 1966 by Marie Updegraff that described plans to protect it by inserting the book into a metal container with light-filtering glass and sealing it with a gas, similar to the method used to preserve the Declaration of Independence at the Library of Congress. The book was passed down within the line of Jonathan Bell for several generations, and used to be on display at the First Stamford National Bank, where Clarence W. Bell served as bank president. The Bible was then transferred to the SHC. The article claims the book made the journey with Francis Bell from Yorkshire, England, in 1630. With only a single page displayed, could I confirm the source of this ancient Bible? The answer turned out to be more complicated than expected.

The case shows the title page to the second division of the Old Testament. I was able to find an exact match from an auction listing in England. The auctioneers bible was intact and provided the opportunity to see the main cover page; their book was published in London by the deputies of Christopher Barker, printer to the queen in 1599. Then I wondered if this page appeared in any earlier editions. I have checked our 1585, 1685, 1589 and 1599 editions, and only the 1599 edition contains this page, said Samantha Gibson with the London Library Enquiries Desk at St. Jamess Square.

The book is known as the Geneva Bible, named after the location of its early composers who fled from England to Geneva, Switzerland, during the reign of Mary Tudor ("Bloody" Mary) due to her persecution of Protestants. It wasnt until the succession of Elizabeth I that the Geneva Bible was again favored in England, where Christopher Barker became her printer. The Barkers were a dynasty, holding exclusive patents for Bible printing. Complicating matters, the 1599 Old Testament was paired with later versions of the New Testament. Reviewing various auction websites, I found the page seen in the Bell Bible printed with New Testaments dated 1608, and again as late as 1640 by Robert Barker, son of Christopher. The Geneva Bible is historically significant because it was the first to number verses, and is credited to be the first study Bible for home use.

To properly date the Bell Bible would require opening the case to confirm if it has the New Testament, or to make a comparison of verses. There are hundred of editions, each with their own unique differences. However, opening the case could result in further damage to its delicate pages. I would confidently date the Bell Bible as being published between 1599 and 1644, when the Geneva was last published. Did Francis Bell bring the book with him from England in 1630? We dont know for certain, but it is possible. While the estate papers for Francis didnt contain a detailed inventory list, there is a list for his son Jonathan, who died in 1699. The inventory list for Jonathan showed he owned a Great Bible (which predates the Geneva) and two old Bibles. The answer lies inside the case. Pending on what is discovered, we will never know fore sure if Francis carried the Bible to the colony. Further examination is required.

While I have not conducted extensive research on Bell descendants, I have for the Hoyts. A line of the Hoyts came to Cayuga County in the 1790s, some marrying into the prominent Webb family. There are many Hoyt descendants here, including Abner Hoyt, an old undertaker from Weedsport, and former Port Byron elementary physical education teacher Jean Woodcock, to name a few. One has to wonder what became of the multiple Bibles that belonged to Jonathan Bell. Perhaps they will surface someday and yield new surprises.
A knifeman broke an elderly woman's leg and threatened tourists with two blades as he went on the rampage in Nice this afternoon.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, had to be overpowered by several police officers in the southwestern coastal city at around 4pm (3pm BST). Authorities have not declared the incident a terror attack.

French media reports that the perpetrator assaulted the woman on a street near the city's harbour before being apprehended on the Promenade des Anglais by the waterfront.

The knifeman is arrested by Nice's waterfront after going on the rampage in the city

The man had to be overpowered by several police officers during the incident

A spokesman for the Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Public Security Department said: 'The man was barefoot and torso, he had a knife under his throat, traces of blood on him and he vociferated.'

It is believed the man stole the blades from a market stall in the city.

Officers fired tear gas to subdue the bare-chested knifeman, who was reportedly violently opposing his arrest and threatening to cut his own throat.

Nice prosecutor Jean-Michel Pretre said authorities believe that the man suffers from mental problems.

He added: 'He has not uttered any threats that would suggest that he acted under the influence of radicalization.'

The elderly woman has been taken to hospital where she is being treated for her injuries, Nice-Matin reported.

Nice is France's second most popular tourist destination after Paris and receives around 5million tourists a year.
Troops will no longer be told to simply man up by top brass when they ask for help, the defence secretary declared today.

Sir Michael Fallon pledged to tackle the hidden scars of mental illness in the Armed Forces, saying warfare was not just about battles of the body, but about battles of the mind.

Veterans minister Tobias Ellwood, a former Army captain, admitted there was a problem in the military of soldiers being told to suck it up when they were unwell and this needed to change.

The ministers made the comments at an event at the Ministry of Defence to mark the launch of a joint venture to tackle mental health in the Armed Forces with Prince Harry.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, pictured with Prince Harry and Keith Mills, chairman of the Royal Foundation, at the launch of today's mental health venture in central London. Sir Michael pledged to tackle the hidden scars of metal health at the event

Prince Harry, a former Army captain who spent 10 years in the forces, said a slashing of troop numbers had meant those ones left were prized assets who needed to be invested in.

Speaking at the MoD in London, he said: As the overall numbers of active duty personnel have reduced, we are naturally placing a premium on every individual being fighting fit and deployable.

Quite simply these men and woman are prized assets, which need to be continually invested in.

He said they should be thought of as high-performance athletes carrying their kit and a rifle.

Crucially, fighting fitness is not just about physical fitness. It is just as much about mental fitness too, he said.

The 33-year-old, who served twice in Afghanistan, said that by supporting troops with their mental health, this would create better and ultimately (a) more combat ready military.

Sir Michael added: Warfares often seen in terms of battles of the body. Today we recognise its also about battles of the mind.

Today, after 21st century conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, where a lack of safe zones was compounded by the constant threat of roadside IEDs, we no longer expect people to simply man up.

He said complacency is not an option and that the MoDs sole focus could not be on the frontline to the exclusion of those who dont always venture beyond the wire.

Prince Harry, pictured at the launch of the mental health event in London today, said troops are prized assets who must be cared for properly by the authorities

Mr Ellwood said when he was serving soldiers used to be told to put their man suit on if they said they were unwell and this was still a problem.

He said: We put them in situations that most people will never see and they need to cope with that environment.

This is to show that there is absolutely a demand to change culturally the attitude, to open up that conversation to say for any soldier, the mind is as important as the body.

He added: At the moment, you have a problem you are just told to suck it up. I remember being shouted out. Oh Grab a man suit was the favourite phrase in order to say just get on with it, just deal with it.

The partnership is the latest in a series of royal efforts to promote greater understanding and openness around mental health through the work of the Foundation's Heads Together campaign, launched in May last year.

The MoD said the move will build upon a recently launched Government strategy aimed at improving mental health in current military workers, civilian staff, their families and veterans.

The Foundation will now offer advice and resources to improve training, education and information sharing for the whole of the armed forces.
Malala Yousafzai is celebrating her first lectures at Oxford University five years to the day after being shot by the Taliban in a case that shocked the world.

The 20-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner tweeted a pictured today of her laptop, textbooks and a pencil as she begins her studies in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Alongside the image, she added: 'Five years ago, I was shot in an attempt to stop me from speaking out for girls' education. Today, I attend my first lectures at Oxford'.

Malala Yousafzai tweeted a pictured today of her laptop, textbooks and a pencil as she begins her studies in Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Miss Yousafzai will be following in the footsteps of world leaders by studying a course that has been dubbed the degree that 'rules' Britain

Miss Yousafzai's opportunity may have been unimaginable five years ago.

Her career as an activist began in early 2009, when she started writing a blog for the BBC about her life under Taliban occupation and promoting education for girls in Pakistan's Swat Valley.

But her campaign angered local militants and she was shot in the head during an assassination attempt while taking the bus to school.

She was treated at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital and made the city her home, going on to study at Edgbaston High School in Birmingham since 2013.

Social media users were quick to congratulate her, including her brother Khushal, who replied: 'Sorry for being a headache for the last 5years. So grateful you are still with us. Ik you miss me but i am coming to oxford in 2years.'

Her campaign for education angered local militants and she was shot in the head during an assassination attempt while taking the bus to school

Social media users were quick to congratulate her, including her brother Khushal

She jokingly responded that she would switch universities if her brother followed in her footsteps

Other social media users were quick to congratulate her on her achievements

She joking responded: 'Okay, after two years, I am going to change my university then'.

Another social media user said: 'May you always scale new heights of awesomenes', while she was also described as 'The real wonder woman'.

Miss Yousafzai will be following in the footsteps of world leaders by studying a course that has been dubbed the degree that 'rules' Britain.

Notable alumni include former premier of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, a heroine of Miss Yousafzai, and Burma's pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi as well as former British prime minister David Cameron and his one-time Labour opponent Ed Miliband.

PPE is also one of the prestigious university's most over-subscribed courses, according to figures shown to the Press Association earlier this month.

Two years ago, Miss Yousafzai received 6A*s and 4As during her GCSEs.

Malala holds up her medal during the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo, Norway, in December 2014

Miss Yousafzai, who narrowly avoided death in 2012, said she was 'so excited to go to Oxford' when she received her results

The grades included A*s in maths, biology, chemistry and physics, and As in history and geography.

She also got an A* in religious studies and maths IGCSE, as well as As in English language and literature.

In 2014 she became the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and her campaign for children's rights to education across the world has seen her addressing the United Nations on the issue.

Aged just 17, she was presented with her award at a star-studded ceremony, attended by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, Queen Latifah and the Norwegian royal family.

At the time, she set her sights on the top office in Pakistan, and said: 'If I can serve my country best through politics and through becoming a prime minister then I would definitely choose that.'
A friend of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock has tearfully described him as a caring person who tried to make people happy.

Lisa Crawford had worked for Paddock as his property manager at one of his apartments for six years up until 2012 but said she maintained contact with her friend ever since.

She broke down during an interview with ABC News as she told of how Paddock was generous and funny.

'He tried to make people happy; he tried to make people care and I don't know what happened to him,' she said.

Lisa Crawford, who worked for Stephen Paddock as his property manager for six years, tearfully described him as a caring person who tried to make people happy

Crawford shared photos taken a few years back of her with Paddock in Las Vegas with the Paris hotel in the background

Crawford, who lives in Dallas, Texas, last spoke to Paddock via email a few weeks ago when he checked to make sure she was okay given the hurricanes in the region.

'I have read (the emails) over and over and over again,' Crawford said.

'I've even looked at some photos online of, I guess, him and his girlfriend; you know I was even trying to look into his eyes to see if I saw something that wasn't normal, you know. No, I didn't see anything.'

She shared photos taken a few years back of her with Paddock in Las Vegas with the Paris hotel in the background.

Crawford said she had already spoken to investigators regarding Paddock.

It comes as federal investigators returned to search Paddock's home in Mesquite, Nevada on Sunday, while the officers who raided his hotel room door the night of the shooting gave a harrowing account of a barricaded door they had to bust through and the booby-traps they feared they'd find.

The search of Paddock's three-bedroom house on a cul-de-sac in a retirement community was for 're-documenting and rechecking,' said local police Chief Troy Tanner, who accompanied FBI agents as they served the search warrant.

The home was first searched Monday by Las Vegas police, who said they found 19 guns and several pounds of potentially explosive materials at the house that Paddock bought in early 2015.

Crawford, who lives in Dallas, Texas, last spoke to Paddock via email a few weeks ago when he checked to make sure she was okay given the hurricanes in the region

Federal investigators searched Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock's Mesquite, Nevada home for a second time on Sunday (above, the home on October 3)

Paddock wrote a note (above in red) which is believed to be calculations to improve the accuracy of his firing from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel

The search came exactly a week after Paddock opened fire on a country music crowd, killing 58 and injuring nearly 500.

Meanwhile, the makeshift SWAT team of police officers who made it to Paddock's door at the Mandalay Bay hotel casino 12 minutes after the first shots were fired described how they got there and the 'gun store' they found inside in an appearance on the CBS television program '60 Minutes' on Sunday night.

One of them said he hurried from police headquarters to the Mandalay Bay in cowboy boots and ditched them before ascending to the 32nd floor in search of the gunman.

The search of his home came exactly a week after Paddock opened fire on a country music crowd, killing 58 and injuring nearly 500

'I just threw them in the casino,' Detective Matthew Donaldson said. 'That was slowing' me down. I was faster barefoot, and I was gonna be more effective barefoot.'

The officers said they heard reports of gunmen on both the 29th and 32nd floor, so 'we're thinking multiple shooters at this point,' Sgt. Joshua Bitsko said.

They zeroed in on the 32nd floor after Paddock unleashed about 200 rounds at a security guard outside his door. When they got to the stairwell door on that floor near Paddock's room, they found he had taken special measures to slow them down.

'He had screwed shut the door - with a piece of metal and some screws,' Bitsko said. 'Cause he knew we'd be coming out that door to gain entry into his door. So he tried to barricade it as best he could.'

But another officer had a pry bar and was able to easily pop it open, Bitsko said.

Authorities would later reveal that Paddock had surveillance cameras rigged inside and outside his room. But the officers didn't know that at the time.

'There's a room service cart with wires going on it underneath the door,' Officer Dave Newton said. 'There was something black on top of the cart. So initially I'm, you know, I'm thinking, 'This is a booby-trap. It's, it's going to explode'.'

Bitsko and Newton are K9 officers who had been training dogs when they got the call about Mandalay Bay. They said they were at a disadvantage approaching because 'cause he knew we were coming and we were going to have to come through,' Newton said. 'We didn't know where he was going to be in that room.'

Members of the law enforcement team who were the first to enter Stephen Paddock's hotel room after he opened fire on a crowd in Las Vegas (Pictured: Officers Casey Clarkson (L) and Matthew Donaldson on the top row. Bottom row are officers Dave Newton (L) and Sgt. Joshua Bitkso)

Authorities began returning the baby strollers, shoes, phones, backpacks and purses on Sunday that have been strewn for days across the huge crime scene

Bitsko said it was 'like a deadly game of hide and seek,' and thought ' 'Man, I wish I had my dog with me,' because, you know, it's nice to have him lead a team.'

It turned out Paddock had already shot and killed himself when they finally entered.

Inside, Newton said he found 'so many guns. So many magazines. Stacks and stacks of magazines everywhere. Just in suitcases all neatly stacked against pillars, around the room, all stacked up, rifles placed all throughout. All kinds of monitors and electrical equipment he had in there. It just looked like almost a gun store.'

Also Sunday, authorities began returning the baby strollers, shoes, phones, backpacks and purses that have been strewn for days across the huge crime scene that a week ago was home to 22,000 country music fans at the Route 91 Harvest festival.

Federal agents have spent the week collecting evidence amid the thousands of items that were abandoned in panic, some of them stained with blood.

'Whatever was dropped when people started running, those items we're collecting and we're going to provide back,' Paul Flood, unit chief in the FBI's victim services division said at a news conference.

The items have been cataloged with detailed descriptions, and some have been cleaned of things including blood. They are now being returned to people at the Las Vegas Convention Center, starting with a few sections of the concert scene and expanding to others at a time to be announced later.

At 10.05pm, the Las Vegas Strip's bright lights dimmed for about 10 minutes to mark the passing of exactly a week since the attack.

Most casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard darkened their marquees briefly Sunday. Officials say more than 50 properties around town also took part in the memorial.
The 18th member of an Asian gang who plied vulnerable young girls with drink and drugs before exploiting them for sex has finally been put behind bars.

A total of 17 men and one woman have now been convicted of rape, supplying drugs and inciting prostitution, in a series of trials at Newcastle Crown Court, and in total will spend over 200 years in prison.

Nadeem Aslam, 43, was the last member of the gang to learn his fate today after being convicted of drugs offences.

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Nadeem Aslam, 43, (pictured) was the last member of the 18-strong Asian Newcastle sex gang to learn his fate today after being convicted of drugs offences

The 18 members of the gang spent four years preying on girls as young as 13, giving them cocaine, cannabis, alcohol, and mephedrone (M-Cat) before either raping them or forcing them into having sex with others at parties.

In a chilling victim statement, one woman told of how she now sleeps with a knife by her bed and wakes up screaming.

Another said she lives with the chronic guilt of not speaking out about what happened to her sooner.

She said in her statement: 'I have a lot of guilt because I think I could have stopped this if I had spoken out earlier.'

The same woman also said: 'I hope our case makes people realise they can speak out and they can be helped.'

The case raised huge controversy after one of the convicted rapists was paid almost 10,000 of taxpayers' money to spy on the 'sessions' where under-age girls were intoxicated and sexually abused.

The 17 men and one woman Carolann Gallon (pictured), 22, spent four years plying vulnerable girls as young as 13 with drugs and drink before raping them or exploiting them for sex at parties in Newcastle

Harrowing evidence of 13-year-old victim raped by men 'like they were in a relay race' One girl who gave evidence said she was repeatedly raped by men acting as if they were in a 'relay race' at one of the sex parties. The vulnerable 13-year-old, who was in local authority care, told the court how she would regularly be supplied with cash, cigarettes and drugs in exchange for sex. She spoke of how she would be picked up in a Mercedes from the children's home where she was living and taken to flats in Newcastle to be used by anyone who wanted her. Prosecutor John Elvedge QC told the court how during one attack she was high on cocaine while men took turns to have sex with her. One victim, who was in local authority care, told how she was taken to flats around Newcastle and passed between men for rape Mr Elvedge said: 'She said she felt wrecked. The man who brought the M-Cat had sex with her when she was in no position to consent. 'The second man was followed by several others, all taking advantage of her. 'She said it was like a relay race, one man after another, each having sexual intercourse with her to which she did not consent.' On another occasion, the girl was taken to a party at a flat where there was a group of seven men in a room with a Kurdish flag on the wall and was given M-Cat, the court heard. Mr Elvedge added: 'She attempted to resist the first man. She was given more M-Cat then, one by one, they took their turn having sexual intercourse with her.' The court heard when she left she was driven back to the children's home and given 200 along with more M-Cat. The girl was a frequent runaway who would regularly go missing. Mr Elvidge said: 'The young women are now in their early 20s. You will gather when they were involved with the defendants they were leading extraordinary lives. 'The prosecution say it was their vulnerability that made it easier for them to be exploited and abused. They were females who were relatively naive and vulnerable. 'They were the victims of organised, well-practiced cynical exploitation and were passed between abusers.' Advertisement

Members of the gang would give their victims cocaine, M-Cat, cannabis and alcohol at sex parties held across Newcastle

Northumbria Police came under fire after it was revealed that the force had paid 10,000 to a sex offender in exchange for information during an operation which was code-named 'Shelter'.

Despite the backlash, the force insisted it was the right thing to do to get a number of dangerous men off the streets.

They inititally spoke to 108 potential victims, which resulted in 20 young women giving evidence about their horrendous ordeals between 2011 and 2014.

Mohibur Rahman (pictured) admitted conspiracy to incite prostitution and drugs charges

Judge Penny Moreland said the offences involved 'sustained and systematic psychological abuse' of the vulnerable women and girls.

The court heard the victims were treated 'like a piece of meat', being laughed at by their attackers and feeling suicidal because of their ordeals.

Those prosecuted were from the Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iraqi, Iranian and Turkish communities and were mainly British-born, with most living in the West End of Newcastle.

Nadeem Aslam was jailed for a total of 12 years and issued with a serious crime prevention order for supplying cannabis, M-Cat, and allowing his premises to be used for drugs.

Who was in the sex gang and what did they all do? Married Habibur Rahim, 34, was jailed for 29 years for conspiracy to traffic for sexual exploitation, trafficking for sexual exploitation, supplying drugs, rape, human trafficking and conspiracy to incite prostitution for gain.

Abdul Sabe, 40, who was already a sex offender, was jailed for 12 years for supplying drugs, conspiracy to commit sexual assault, conspiracy to traffic for sexual exploitation and conspiracy to incite prostitution for gain.

Badrul Hussain, 37, was jailed for four years for supply of M-Cat and three counts of permitting premises to be used for the supply of cocaine.

Mohibur Rahman, 44, who is already serving a 12 year jail term for violence, was given a further four and a half years for drugs offences and conspiracy to incite prostitution for gain.

Jahanger Zaman, 45, was jailed for 29 years for rape, conspiracy to incite prostitution and supplying drugs, including large amounts of heroin which he was involved in transporting from the Midlands to the north of England.

Mohammed Azram, 35, was jailed for 12-and-a-half years for sexual assault, supplying drugs and conspiracy to incite prostitution.

Eisa Mousavi, 42, was jailed for 20 years for three offences of rape and conspiracy to incite prostitution.

Nashir Uddin, 35, was jailed for 11-and-a-half years for conspiracy to incite prostitution and supplying drugs.

Taherul Alam, 32, was jailed for eight years for conspiracy to incite prostitution and attempted sexual assault.

Monjur Choudhury, 33, was jailed for five years for conspiracy to incite prostitution and supplying drugs.

Prabhat Nelli, 33, was jailed for four years for conspiracy to incite prostitution and supplying drugs.

Saiful Islam, 35, was jailed for ten years for rape.

Yasser Hussain, 28, was jailed for two years for assault by beating and intimidation. R

Redwan Siddquee, 32, was jailed for 16 months for supplying drugs.

Mohammed Hassan Ali, 34, was jailed for seven years for sexual activity with a child and drugs offences.

Addulhamid Minoyee, 34, was jailed for 15-years for rape and drugs offences. Advertisement

He was not convicted of any sexual offences, but Judge Moreland told him: 'I am sure you knew the drugs were not being paid for with money.'

Aslam was also convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine in an unrelated case.

The only woman convicted of being part of the sex gang, Carolann Gallon, 22, was jailed for six years and three months for trafficking for sexual exploitation.

The court heard that one of the men convicted, 37-year-old Badrul Hussain, was heard telling a ticket collector on the Tyne and Wear Metro: 'All white women are good for one thing, for men like me to f*** and use as trash, that is all women like you are worth.'

He and his associates were exposed when two women spoke to the authorities in 2013 and within weeks police made 27 arrests as part of 'Operation Shelter'.

The wider operation has seen around 100 people convicted of a range of serious offences, including drugs, modern-day slavery and firearms charges, with jail terms totalling more than 300 years.
A great-grandmother has been reunited with her long-lost brother after being split up 60 years ago - to find out he is one of the richest men in the world.

Ida Wilde, 83, never thought she would see her adopted brother Asgar Patel after he was forced to leave her Glasgow home and return to India.

Mrs Wilde's aunt looked after him during India's turbulent Partition period in 1947 and the young pair grew very close.

After leaving the adopted family in Scotland, Mr Patel, now 78, returned to his homeland and built up one of the largest logistic companies in India.

Ida Wilde (circled left) was separated from her long-lost adopted brother Asgar Patel (circled right) 60 years ago when he was forced to return to India from their home in Glasgow

His successful career catapulted him into a six-figure salary and he is now a multi-millionaire and number 45 on Forbes' list of top 100 Indian business owners 2017.

His company Patel Roadways operates across the Middle East, India and beyond and in 2013 the website estimated his personal net worth at $615million (467.5million).

Mrs Wilde, of Irvine on Scotland's west coast, told the Daily Record: 'We were heartbroken when he left.

'For five years we had been brought up as brother and sister and it was sad to lose him.

'We kept in touch for a while but we moved around and so did his family. I often wondered where he ended up.

After he found her in a family wedding photo online, Mr Patel, 78, (pictured) sent his long-lost adopted sister a message on Facebook and the pair were reunited in August. Mrs Wilde, 83, was shocked to find is one of the world's richest men and a multi-millionaire businessman

Mrs Wilde (pictured) could not believe it when she got a message from her long-lost adopted brother out of the blue on Facebook

'It turns out he'd spent years searching for his adopted Scottish family but we moved out of Glasgow and he couldn't find us.'

The division of India and Pakistan displaced more than 10million people, and led to as many as a million deaths.

At the time Mr Asgar's father was also a wealthy businessman who was concerned for his family's safety and wanted his children to seek refuge in the UK.

Mrs Wilde's great aunt took Mr Asgar in after he turned up on her boarding school's doorstep completely terrified with three other children who had fled India during Partition.

She was contacted by two former lodgers to see if she could provide a safe haven for four of their friend's children: Ramzan, Atabr, Kulsom, and Asgar.

But after a while the elderly woman could not cope with all four youngsters and Mrs Wilde's mother stepped in to save the day.

Six-year-old Asgar became a part of Mrs Wilde's family along with his older sister Kuslom, 12.

The adopted siblings are pictured during their emotional reunion after 60 years in August

She said: 'When they came at first we thought, 'how can any mum and dad send four kids like this to Scotland?'

'But you could see it a bit more when you saw all the horrible things that were happening in India and Pakistan.

'Kulsom got homesick and wanted to go home, but Asgar would have lived here forever. He quickly became part of the family.

'We had a little dog called Sparkie and he loved playing with him. We also went on trips to the seaside and he loved seeing new places.

'It was great having them to stay and they were happy kids.'

Mr Patel and Mrs Wilde were inseparable for the five years they spent together, until the heart-breaking news came that he had to go home.

She added: 'He did call my parents mum and dad to begin with but that was quite embarrassing lots of times, and my mum said to him: 'Look, Asgar, you've got your own mum and she won't be pleased so you better call us aunt and uncle.'

Patel Roadways workers pictured with trucks in India. The business is part of a wider group operating across India and the Middle East and is now worth millions

'When his mum came over to visit he forgot how to speak Urdu and she couldn't speak English, so they just waved at each other.

'She obviously missed her son and Asgar was happy to see his parents too.

'But a lot of time had passed and he'd settled into a new life, so it must have been quite difficult for his mum to see.

'Although he loved his parents very much when it was time for him to return home he didn't want go. He wanted to stay with us.

'It wasn't an easy decision, but we knew he had to leave to be with his own family.'

Saying goodbye to her adopted brother at the train station in Glasgow was 'heartbreaking' and although they exchanged Christmas cards, the pair eventually lost touch.

But sixty years later Mr Patel decided to message Mrs Wilde on Facebook on the chance it was actually her and she might even reply.

Mr Patel had managed to track her down after he recognised her in a family wedding photo online.

To his delight, it was his long-lost adopted sister and the pair were reunited in August.

Mr Patel (pictured) turned up in Glasgow 60 years ago during the mass migration from the sub-continent to Britain as a result of Partition. He was terrified when he knocked on Mrs Wilde's great aunt's door. She took him in but later gave him to her mother to look after. Mrs Wilde and Mr Patel were thick as thieves for five years, until he was told he had to go home

She said: 'The picture was put online and I got a message on my iPad asking 'are you Ida Moreland?' which was my maiden name.

'It was great to hear from him and I was surprised by how much he remembered.

'He asked if I remembered us all going to Ayr on holiday and away to Tighnabruaich. It was like we'd never been apart.

'It wasn't strange or awkward and we chatted away like two old pals. He was so happy to finally find his Scottish family again.

'Asgar thought he would never find me until the photo went online. It's amazing he made the connection and I'm so glad he got in touch.

'I'd said goodbye to a wee boy and now he was returning a hugely successful multi-millionaire. It was surreal.

'I just couldn't believe it. He's done so well for himself and he's still such a genuine and lovely person.

'We chatted away for ages and he told me all about his family. He wants to fly me to Dubai to meet them and he's coming back to visit again next year.

'We keep it touch now and it's just wonderful to have Asgar back in my life after so many years apart.'

After the emotional reunion Mr Patel wants to fly his long-lost sister out to Dubai to meet his family in the new year.

On his company's website, Patel Roadways is described as follows: 'Nearly half a century after his father Shakoor Hasham Patel left Gujarat to start a successful cap manufacturing business in Mumbai, his son Asgar Shakoor Patel with the same thirst for success and passion for hard work made a pivotal journey of his own.

'He returned from the United Kingdom with the certainty that he wasn't going to join his father's business, instead make his own roads.

'From a Salesman to a Stenographer to a Secretary, he went on to transporting his first consignment for Glaxo in 1959. This was the dawn of Patel Roadways Limited.

'A zest for success and a clear-cut vision drove Asgar Patel to transform Patel Roadways into one of the largest logistics companies in Asia with 1000 delivery outlets and complimented by a workforce of over 7,500 people.'
Swiss prosecutors said they will investigate rape claims against Roman Polanski

Swiss prosecutors said Monday that they will examine allegations made by a German woman that filmmaker Roman Polanski raped her in 1972 in the town of Gstaad, when she was 15.

The procedural move means that Switzerland has not ruled out prosecuting the filmmaker, despite questions as to whether the statute of limitations for the alleged crime has lapsed.

Renate Langer, a 61-year-old former actress, told Swiss police last month that she met Polanski while working as a model in Munich before travelling to his home in Gstaad, where he raped her.

'The prosecutor's office in the Canton of Bern has confirmed ... it will handle (the file)', prosecution spokesman Christof Scheurer said in an email.

Langer is the fourth woman to publicly accuse Polanski of sexual assault.

Polanski pleaded guilty in the United States to having unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer - aged 13 at the time - in 1977 but fled the country before he could be sentenced. He remains a fugitive from the US justice system.

British actress Charlotte Lewis also accused Polanski of assault in 2010. Lewis claimed the director 'forced himself' upon her just after her 16th birthday.

Renate Langer, pictured in the 1980s, said she was attacked by the controversial film director in his home in Gstaad when she was a 15-year-old schoolgirl

Polanski in 1977 pleaded guilty in the United States to having unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer - aged 13 at the time

In August, a woman identified only as Robin told a news conference in Los Angeles she was 'sexually victimized' by the French-Polish film director when she was 16, in 1973.

Polanski's film career has continued to flourish since he fled the US for France, where many consider him an icon.

He has eight Cesars - the French equivalent of an Oscar - as well as a best director Academy Award for Holocaust drama 'The Pianist.'
The turmoil in the West Wing was briefly eclipsed by feuding in the East Wing on Monday, as first lady Melania hit out at the president's ex, Ivana.

The president's first wife stirred up controversy this morning, when she spoke about her close relationship with her ex in an interview on Good Morning America to promote her new book, Raising Trump.

Ivana said she speaks to the president about once every two weeks, and even has a direct number to the White House, but doesn't use it because she doesn't want to cause any issues between the president and Melania.

'Melania is there and I don't want to cause any kind of jealousy or anything like that because I'm the first Trump wife. I'm the first lady, OK?' she said.

That comment clearly infuriated the real first lady, who quickly issued a statement through her spokesman, which called Ivana - the mother of Trump's three eldest children - an 'attention seeker'.

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Melania Trump (left) called out her husband's first wife in an official statement on Monday, after Ivana Trump called herself the 'first lady' in an interview on Good Morning America Monday morning (right)

'There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex. Unfortunately only attention seeking and self-serving noise,' the first lady's spokesman said in a statement. Melania pictured above with the President and their son Barron back in June

Above, the full statement issued through the first lady's office on Monday

'Mrs. Trump has made the White House a home for Barron and The President. She loves living in Washington, DC and is honored by her role as First Lady of the United States. She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books.

'There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex. Unfortunately only attention seeking and self-serving noise,' the statement from spokesman Stephanie Grisham reads.

Melania's statement sent the internet into a frenzy, with many entertained by the idea of reality TV-style feud within the Trump family.

Andy Cohen, who produces the Real Housewives shows for Bravo, tweeted that 'even I AM SPEECHLESS'.

'This is actually happening. All the wives are fighting,' he said.

He later offered to mediate a 'Real Housewives of the White House' reunion between the two, to clear the air.

WATCH: One-on-one with Ivana Trump; shares details of her life in new tell-all book: https://t.co/jGJ0mfxdGD - @arobach pic.twitter.com/PJG1cKxkxk  Good Morning America (@GMA) October 9, 2017

Andy Cohen, producer of the Real Housewives franchises, was one of the many reacting to the fued online

Cohen later offered to mediate a conversation between the two, to clear the air

watching melania feud w ivana pic.twitter.com/yjaVJh0O0p  Oliver Willis (@owillis) October 9, 2017

Now, Ivana should say something about Melania's bad English... oh, wait, never mind... pic.twitter.com/WDN90QFXPQ   Sauerkraut  (@bratty_wurst) October 9, 2017

And it's not just Melania and Ivana who are fighting. In her interview on GMA and in another on CBS this weekend, Ivana blamed Trump's second wife, Marla Maples, for the downfall of her marriage.

On Monday, Ivana refused to call Maples by her name, instead referring to her as the 'showgirl'.

She said that Trump and Maples' affair was the last straw for her marriage, since the trust in the relationship was broken.

But since their divorce was finalized, she says she and her ex have been able to start a friendship that continues to this day.

Ivana (pictured with Trump in 1984) said she was able to start a friendship with her ex after their divorce was settled

The 68-year-old Czech Republic native (left) blamed the end of her marriage on 'showgirl' Marla Maples, who Trump cheated on her with and eventually married as his second wife (Maples and Trump pictured on the right)

'Donald during the divorce was brutal. He took the divorce as a business deal and he cannot lose. He has to win. So it took about two years and after the final situation was straightened up, he was just talk and we are friends,' Ivana said.

Ivana also talked about Maples in a Sunday interview with CBS.

'I don't talk about her. She's a showgirl. Never achieve anything in her life,' Trump said of Maples, who stared in The Will Rogers Follies on Broadway in 1991.

Trump was married to Maples (pictured this year, appearing on Italy's Dancing with the Stars) for six years. They have one daughter, Tiffany

She then implied that Maples gets the blame for her marriage ending.

'Well, she was flirting... and I think she was flirting and and she got away with it,' Trump said.

When asked if she blames Donald now for their marriage ending, Trump replied: 'I'm not sure, because Donald would get 1,000 business cards in the pocket every night. He could choose any girl he wanted to have.

'So I'm not sure if she was. There could be another one, could be another one. I really don't know.'

In her CBS interview, Ivana was actually complimentary toward Melania, at least in relation to Maples.

When asked the difference between the two, Ivana said: 'One is nobody. And the other one is first lady.'

Ivana also revealed that her ex-husband offered her the ambassadorship to the Czech Republic but she turned it down so she could keep up her jet-set lifestyle and summers in Saint-Tropez.

Ivana gave a sit-down interview with Good Morning America to detail her new book, Raising Trump

The Czech native had long been rumored for the post  and floated the idea herself in a 2016 interview with the New York Post.

'I was just offered to be the American ambassador to Czech Republic  and Donald told me. He said, 'Ivana, if you want it, I give it to you,' she told the network.

'But I like my freedom. I like to do what I want to do, go wherever I want to go with whomever I want to go. And I can afford my lifestyle,' she explained.

'Okay, why would I go and say bye-bye to Miami in the winter, bye-bye to Saint-Tropez in the summer, and bye-by to spring and fall in New York? I have a perfect life,' she said.

Trump had put out the idea herself during the campaign  when she notably backed her ex and said nice things about him during his run.

Instead, Trump nominated Stephen B. King, a Wisconsin political operative, to the post in July.

Ivana and Marla's issues go back to the 90s, and even appeared to have had an impact on Ivana's plans to attend Trump's inauguration in January.

At the time, Page Six reported that Ivana skipped the Inaugural Ball so she wouldn't have to run into Marla.

'[Ivana] had planned to go out and celebrate after the swearing-in, but when she found out that Marla was going, she canceled,' an insider told Page Six.

She was also nowhere to be seen at the actual inauguration, unable to sit in her reserved front row seat because she brought her wheelchair-bound mother Marie Zelnickova with her.

Just a few hours later, she was on a flight making her way back to New York City.

Marla meanwhile attended the inaugural ball alongside daughter Tiffany and her daughter's boyfriend Ross Mechanic.

She also spent the night before the big event hanging out with former Real Housewives of New York star Jill Zarin.

At the inauguration, she was photographed alongside her friends, and later that day slipped into a $2,200 John Paul Attaker gown from the label's Spring/Summer 2017 collection for the big night.

Ivana reportedly skipped the Inaugural balls in January, so as to avoid running into Maples (Ivana pictured leaving her New York City apartment, en route to the Inauguration)

Maples attended the Inauguration and balls following with her daughter Tiffany in January

Ads Trump's current wife, Melania had the honor of holding the Bible which he was sworn in with

Ivana was not spotted by anyone, even on social media, at the ceremony, so there is a chance she may have elected to watch some of her grandchildren while her children were out for their father's big day.

Ivana was a 28-year-old model from Czechoslovakia in 1977 when she married Donald.

The couple went on to have three children - Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric - before divorcing in 1992.

She was rumored to have gotten approximately $20million, their $15million estate and 49% ownership in Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach in their divorce.

She also reportedly receives $350,000 a year in alimony and was able to keep all her jewelry.

At the time there was also much talk about Donald's relationship with Marla, and rumors that Ivana had it out with the other woman on the ski slopes of Aspen.

Donald said around that time in an interview with Vanity Fair: 'To tell you the truth, Ive made Ivana a very popular woman. Ive made a lot of satellites. Hey, whether its Marla or Ivana. Marla can do any movie she wants to now. Ivana can do whatever she wants.'

Ivana told a much different story however to Liz Smith about the horrible impact the divorce was allegedly having on the couple's children.

'The children are all wrecks. I dont know how Donald can say they are great and fine,' said Ivana.

'Ivanka now comes home from school crying, "Mommy, does it mean Im not going to be Ivanka Trump anymore?" Little Eric asks me, "Is it true you are going away and not coming back?"'

Marla also spoke about her relationship with Ivana in People last year, responding to Ivana's comments to DailyMail.com that she did not accept Marla's apology for her role in the breakup of her marriage to Trump.

'That makes me sad because I wish her nothing but love,' said Marla.

'I love her kids, and if she's holding any kind of resentment toward me, I really hope, for her sake, that she can forgive me.'

Maples also said of her time with Trump; 'If I had to do it over again, I would just live my life and not worry so much about what other people thought.

'I wish I had had more fun. Even during the crazy times, I wish Id laughed more.'

Ivana went on to get married two more times, first to Riccardo Mazzucchelli in 1995, a union that was dissolved after two years.

She was married for the second time to Rossano Rubicond in 2008, but that union lasted less than a year with the two divorcing in 2009, though they have been seen together many times since.

Marla never remarried after divorcing Trump.

The negativity for Ivana and Donald's divorce appears to have transferred to their children as well.

In an interview with Vanity Fair last year, Ivanka Trump said she adores her little sister Tiffany, but said she's not close with Maples.

'Shes my little sister! Ive been close to Tiffany her whole life, and I really love her,' Ivanka said.
Business leaders were welcomed to No 10 today as Theresa May asked them to help develop newly published plans for customs and trade rules.

Vodafone, Aston Martin and DPP were among the business giants included at today's meeting which coincided with publication of crucial policy papers on customs and trade.

The documents give a first insight into how Britain's trade will work after March 2019 and come amid Government plans to step up contingency plans for a no-deal Brexit.

The customs papers sets out an ambition for a stand alone system that works with or without a trade deal with the EU - but asks for help on how this should work.

The trade paper confirms Britain is not likely to be able to sign trade deals during the transition phase after March 2019, something that was likely after Theresa May's Florence speech.

The Prime Minister hailed the publications as crucial to 'pave the way for legislation to allow the UK to operate as an independent trading nation and to create an innovative customs system that will help us achieve the greatest possible tariff and barrier-free trade as we leave the EU'.

Aston Martoin CEO Andrew Palmer (left) and Vodafone chief Vittorio Colao (right) were both in Downing Street today for the business advisory council meeting

Mr Colao was joined by Emma Walmsley, the CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, as he walked up Downing Street for the No 10 meeting

Sir Martin Sorrell, the chief executive of WPP, was also invited to No 10 for today's meeting, which included a briefing on the new customs and trade papers

Addressing MPs in Parliament, she added: 'While I believe it is profoundly in all our interests for the negotiations to succeed, it is also our responsibility as a Government to prepare for every eventuality, so that is exactly what we are doing.

'These white papers also support that work, including setting out steps to minimise disruption for businesses and travellers.'

Following the business summit,a No 10 spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister reiterated the position set out in her Florence speech  that the government's goal is for a smooth, orderly exit in which there is only one set of changes for businesses and people.

NO FREE TRADE DEALS DURING TRANSITION The trade white paper today confirmed Britain will not be able to bring into effect any free trade agreements with other countries during the time-limited transition period sought by Theresa May. Instead it will 'pursue' trade negotiations with other countries during the transition, which the Government expects to last around two years. Legislation will also be introduced to 'transition' all existing EU trade agreements and preferential arrangements with other countries into domestic law after leaving the bloc. This will help maintain 'the greatest amount of certainty, continuity and stability in our trade and investment relationships for our businesses, citizens and trading partners', the white paper said. Advertisement

'The importance of seeking an ambitious future trading partnership with the EU was also discussed, as well as forging new trade relationships around the world.

'The discussions on trade covered the publication of two White Papers today, outlining our approaches to trade and customs legislation after we leave the EU.

'In addition, the council considered wider issues of importance to the UK economy including business and infrastructure investment, building consumer confidence, boosting productivity, further strengthening the UK's skilled workforce and the huge potential for UK

Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: 'We want to build a future trade policy that delivers benefits for the UK's economy and for businesses, workers and consumers alike.

'This paper is the first exciting step and sets out the principles behind an approach which will help British businesses to make the most of trade opportunities, contribute to a growing economy and create prosperity for communities up and down the UK.'

Theresa May (pictured in Downing Street today) has hailed the publications as crucial to setting Britain on the road to success after Brexit

Chancellor Philip Hammond said the customs white paper set out Britan's hopes for 'frictionless' trade with the EU after Brexit

Chancellor Philip Hammond said: 'Investment and trade are crucial to the economic future of this country.

MINISTERS PLAN A 'STAND ALONE' CUSTOMS SYSTEM The Customs Bill will legislate for a new 'stand alone' customs regime after Brexit, regardless of any deal with the EU. It will also amend the VAT and excise duty regimes so that they can continue to function effectively once the UK has left. The white paper seeks help from business on how to manage a 'no deal' Brexit. Advertisement

'This White Paper sets out our plan to keep trade with the EU as frictionless as possible, and reaffirms the government's commitment to deliver a smooth transition.'

The detail of the white papers revealed the level of work still required to prepare Britain for Brexit.

The customs document appeared to be drafted in a hurry as one paragraph was repeated on consecutive pages.

Under the heading 'Preparing for a contingency scenario'  effectively leaving the EU without a trade deal  the paper states:

'The government is committed to developing solutions to the issues that implementing a new customs regime would raise, particularly in the areas, such as ro-ro ports and the Northern Ireland-Ireland land border, that are likely to be the most complex.

'The government is seeking the views of businesses and other stakeholders on these solutions.'

Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: 'The government's plans to leave the customs union during the transition period are both unnecessary and unrealistic.

'This fudge has been dreamt up so Liam Fox can jet around the world trying to negotiate trade deals.

'Making these half-baked demands only increases business uncertainty and the chances of a disastrous 'no deal' Brexit.

'It seems Liam Fox is prepared to sacrifice British jobs so he can keep his own.'

Chris Bryant MP, leading supporter of Open Britain, said: 'Neither of these documents are worth the paper theyre written on.

'They have provided not a jot of further clarity about what sort of customs system or trade policy we will operate outside the EU, or how the Government will avoid the severe harm to our economy that leaving the Customs Union and Single Market will cause.'
Ricky Wirths, 52, has pleaded not guilty to attempted first degree murder after he allegedly shot tax enforcement agent Cortney Holloway multiple times

A man accused of walking into a Wichita, Kansas tax office and shooting an agent called an acquaintance afterward and said he had 'lost it' and 'just killed a guy', according to investigators.

It was one of two calls that Ricky Wirths, 52, made after the September 19 attack on Cortney Holloway.

A Wichita police detective wrote in an arrest affidavit.

Holloway was shot several times but survived, The Wichita Eagle reported.

Wirths, who owed nearly $400,000 in outstanding taxes, pleaded not guilty to attempted first-degree murder and is jailed on $500,000 bond.

Holloway, a 35-year-old tax enforcement agent for the Kansas Department of Revenue, told investigators that a tax warrant was served to Wirths at his home and that some of Wirths' property was seized.

About two hours later, Wirths came to Holloway's office and asked to speak to him.

When Holloway came to see to Wirths, Wirths asked him: 'Why did you take my money? Why did you take my stuff?'

He then drew a handgun from a portfolio he was holding and started firing, the detective wrote.

Holloway (left), 35, said that a tax warrant had been served to Wirths, who owed $400,000 in outstanding taxes

Wirths (pictured, in court Monday), who owed nearly $400,000 in outstanding taxes, pleaded not guilty to attempted first-degree murder and is jailed on $500,000 bond

The wounded Holloway fled to a back office, where colleagues started tending to wounds to the right side of his upper chest, his left thigh, left middle finger and right arm, the affidavit states.

Afterward, Wirths called a 55-year-old male acquaintance and asked for a favor, according to the affidavit.

He said: 'Take care of my employees and kids because I just killed a guy.'

The man didn't understand what Wirths was talking about and asked for clarification, to which Wirths told him: 'No, I'm serious. I'm done. I lost it.'

Wirths also called a man who works for him and said: 'I just shot somebody. Thank you for all of your hard work.'

Wirths was arrested after stopping his truck near an officer and announcing he was surrendering, the affidavit says.

Holloway was injured in the upper chest, left thigh, left middle finger and right arm
After two primaries and a spring and summer filled with court battles about redistricting and voting laws, Election Day has arrived in New Yor
Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke hit back at critics of the Universal Credit benefits system today  saying it improves the chances of benefits claimants getting into work.

A group of Tory MPs led by Heidi Allen have demanded a delay in the roll out of the scheme, warning of lengthy delays in claimants receiving their money.

Over the weekend, former Tory Prime Minister Sir John Major called for a review of Universal Credit, claiming it was 'operationally messy, socially unfair and unforgiving'.

But in a robust defence of Universal Credit, Mr Gauke confronted his critics calling for the roll out to be stopped, saying it would mean fewer people in work.

He also credited the system with helping Britain achieve its record employment rate.

David Gauke MP fiercely defended the controversial Universal Credit welfare system during Work and Pensions Question Time today

He told DWP Questions in the House of Commons: 'Universal Credit is giving more people the opportunity to get into work and progress in work.

'The personalised support that is provided by jobcentres where Universal Credit has been rolled out is proving to be effective.

'To those people who call on me to stop the process, I say that once fully rolled out, Universal Credit is likely to mean that 250,000 more people will be in work than would otherwise have been the case. I will not deny those people that opportunity.'

He pointed to figures suggesting that those who go onto the UC system are more likely to be in work six months later than if they had remained on the old style benefits system.

A group of Conservative MPs headed up by Heidi Allen has called for a halt in the roll-out of the scheme over delays in payments for claimants

They are also more likely to be earning more, he said. He insisted the system was being rolled out 'gradually and sensibly'.

But Mr Gauke came under fire from Labour MPs who claimed families could be left destitute and homeless at Christmas as a result of the extension of the system later this year.

Labour's Frank Field, chairman of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, asked for a guarantee that 'none of our constituents will be faced by hunger, near destitution, for the lack of money over the Christmas period, please?'

Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams claimed Universal Credit was causing 'debts, rent arrears and even homelessness up and down the country, with many of the claimants already in work.'

Universal Credit is a a radical reform to the benefits system drawn up and instigated by Iain Duncan Smith, which combines six existing benefits onto a single payment.

Chairman of the Work and Pensions Select Committee Frank Field, asked for a guarantee that 'none of our constituents will be faced by hunger, near destitution, for the lack of money over the Christmas period, please?'

Unlike the existing benefit regime, claimants are encouraged to find work because they do not lose vast sums from benefit payments as a result.

Instead benefit cash is gradually reduced according to earnings.

The system is due to be rolled out to tens of thousands more people in the coming months.

There are currently 590,000 people on Universal Credit in England and Wales, with around 50,000 new claims made each month.

The controversial benefits system was brought in by Iain Duncan Smith MP (pictured) during his time as Work and Pensions Secretary

Ministers want to move 12million more people on to the new system by 2022.

Critics say that because the first payment is made in arrears, claimants are waiting six weeks or longer to receive their benefits, forcing them to turn to food banks and loan sharks.

At last week's Tory conference Mr Gauke said he would tweak the system to ensure claimants get advance payments quicker.

Around half of new claimants already receive up front payments which are then deducted from future payouts.

On Monday, he told the Commons that the wider rollout was proceeding 'gradually and sensibly'.

'Nobody who needs support should have to wait six weeks before they receive any support, and what we're doing is making clear that people can receive an advance of their first month's payment.

Claims of widespread dissent on the issue on the Tory backbenches were not evident. Miss Allen said the new system of advance payments was treating the

symptoms rather than the cause of the problems. But former minister Andrew Selous said he warmly welcomed the new arrangements.

Former work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb said one of the reasons so many people were in work was the government 'don't let people languish for years on out-of-work benefits'.
Customers at a packed fish and chip shop were forced to flee for their lives when a gunman opened fire in a 'targeted' attack.

Around 15 people were ordering food at the Classic Fish Bar in Birmingham on Saturday night when a gunman appears on CCTV pacing outside in the darkness.

The man shoots directly into the premises sending terrified customers, including a young child, diving for cover.

A gunman shoots into a packed chip shop sending customers, including a child, fleeing for their lives

A gunman appears on CCTV pacing outside in the darkness before opening fire on the packed shop

A chip shop worker moved a display fridge to shield his customers and allow them to run around the back of the shop.

Meanwhile, the gunman disappears into the darkness after the attack, which took place at around 7.30pm.

Police said on Monday that they had recovered a car in Alum Rock which may have used in the 'targeted' attack. Nobody was injured and no arrests have been made.

The worker, who didn't want to be named, said it was a miracle nobody was injured inside the packed takeaway.

He added: 'A boy who was aged about 16 ran into the shop and was trying to hide. A car then stopped outside and three men got out. I knew there was going to be trouble so I started moving the fridge so I could usher customers around the back of the shop.

'One of the men then pointed a gun and fired a shot through the door window. How it missed someone I just don't know.

Police said on Monday that they had recovered a car in Alum Rock which may have used in the 'targeted' attack. Nobody was injured and no arrests have been made

Meanwhile, the gunman disappears into the darkness after the attack, which took place at around 7.30pm

'There was about 15 customers in the shop at the time - it was packed. People were screaming as they ran for cover. It really was terrifying. It was a miracle no-one was badly injured or killed.'

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: 'We believe there was an intended target, it wasn't a random shooting, but no-one was injured.

'Officers have recovered a vehicle suspected of being used during the offence; it was seized by police from the Alum Rock area on Sunday night and will be forensically examined.

'No arrests at this stage; enquiries on-going.'

Anyone with information about the shooting can call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55511.
The contractor who renovated the Connecticut home that burned in a tragic Christmas Day fire that killed five people has died.

Michael D. Borcina, 58, died 'suddenly' on October 3, according to a Long Island Funeral Home. He is survived by his brothers Mitch and Mathew.

He and his then-girlfriend, former advertising executive Madonna Badger, escaped the fire that consumed her $1.7million home in Shippan, an affluent waterfront neighborhood of Stamford, Connecticut, on Christmas Day 2011.

But Badger's three children: nine-year-old Lily Badger and seven-year-old twins Sarah and Grace, and their maternal grandparents, Lome and Pauline Johnson, all died.

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Michael D Borcina, right, died 'suddenly' at the age of 58 on October 3. One source reported he died of cancer. He is pictured with his then-girlfriend Madonna Badger at the funeral for her three children on January 5, 2012

Borcina was a contractor who was renovating Badger's $1.7million Stamford, Connecticut home when it caught fire on Christmas Day in 2011. Badger's three daughters: 9-year-old Lily Badger and 7-year-old twins Sarah and Grace, all died. Her parents, Lome and Pauline Johnson, also died. She and Borcina survived. Pictured is the damage to the waterfront home

The three girls are pictured with their father, Matthew Badger, who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Borcina and the city of Stamford. The suit against Borcina was settled in 2014 for $5million. The suit against Stamford was settled in 2017 for $6.6million

A cause of death for Borcina was not listed, but the Hartford Courant reported that he died of cancer.

Borcina had moved to New Jersey after the fire and had volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, helping to rebuild homes devastated by Hurricane Sandy, his attorney, Robert Laney, said.

Laney told the Connecticut Post: 'The fire had a dramatic impact on him. He loved those little girls. Im not sure he ever recovered from it.'

Memorial services will be held for Borcina this week.

Matthew Badger, the ex-husband of Madonna and the father of the three girls, died earlier this year.

The three girls are pictured sitting on a bench. Their maternal grandparents, Pauline and Lomer Johnson, are pictured standing. All five died in the fire

Matthew and Madonna are pictured at the funeral for their children. The funeral took place in New York City on January 5, 2012

Matthew Badger, Madonna Badger and Michael Borcina are pictured receiving a greeting from a priest as they arrive for the funeral service for the Badger girls. The funeral took place at St Thomas Episcopal Church

Matthew Badger (pictured with his ex-wife and their three children) died in February 2017. He was a television commercial director

The news of his death was revealed in February by the charity Badger set up to honor his little girls.

His ex-wife Madonna Badger had said in a statement: 'He was a wonderful man with a generous heart. He was an amazing Dad to his girls, Lily, Sarah and Grace. His death was sudden and peaceful.'

Badger was living in a two bedroom rental in New York's Battery Park City before he died. He was believed to be in a relationship with Abby Ballin who he co-founded the LilySarahGrace Fund charity with in April 2012.

Badger was in New York when the fire broke out in 2011 at his ex-wife's home in Stamford, Connecticut where his daughters were spending Christmas Day.

The couple's three daughters and Madonna's parents all perished in the horrific blaze. Madonna and Borcina both survived.

Pictured in the red shirt is Borcina, who moved to New Jersey after the fire and worked with Habitat for Humanity

Authorities said embers in a bag of discarded fireplace ashes started the blaze. They had been discarded by Borcina because the girls were worried Santa would not be able to get down the chimney.

Firefighters arrived on the scene just six minutes after neighbors reported the fire, but they were unable to save those trapped.

Nick Tamburro, a Stamford firefighter, pays respects outside the Shippan home on December 27

Two of the girls were found on the second floor; their other sister died just feet from escaping through a window.

No criminal charges were filed as a result of the deaths.

Fire and city officials said at the time of the fire that the house should not have been occupied and the fire alarms weren't activated.

Badger later filed a wrongful death against the city and Borcina - who was the contractor renovating the home - claiming the house had become a fire trap.

Borcina and his company settled the lawsuit in 2014 for $5million. The lawsuit against the city of Stamford was settled in 2017 for $6.6million, the Hartford Courant notes.

Unable to return to his job as television commercial director following the fire, Badger created the charity in the girls' memories with Ballin. She was with Badger the morning he found out his girls had died.

Madonna Badger and Michael Borcina stopped dating after the fire.

In 2014, she married real estate broker William Duke.
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This is a bit of a twist on a zebra crossing! A group of tourists were left stunned when their safari tour was held up - by a herd of giraffes strolling across the road.

Sonali Dudhane, 43, was travelling to Maasai Mara, Kenya, when she spotted a huge group grazing in the distance.

The tourists got down from their vehicle and began snapping shots of the African wildlife.

The giraffes were spotted emerging from the brush in Kenya as awed tourists watched from their vehicles while the herd cross over the road

Sonali, from Lucknow in Upper Pradesh, India, said her car stopped when giraffes were spotted, only to then emerge from the brush landscape moments after her driver said they would.

'We watched the Giraffes in the bushes for almost 20 minutes,' she said.

Thirty of the animals casually strolled across the road in Africa after they were seen grazing in the brush in the distance by the tourists

'After that our driver told us to get into the vehicle and he predicted that herd would cross the road.

'We got to witness this great moment and were able to capture the moment on camera.

Wildlife enthusiasts in Africa captured the moment the giant animals emerged to walk by the tour cars after grazing in the brush

A herd of 30 giraffes made their way across the road, blocking the path of tour cars taking wildlife enthusiasts on safari

The last of the giraffes emerge from the brush to walk across the road as stunned tourists on safari in Kenya watch in awe

'I had never seen this big herd before, I was trying to count the number through my viewfinder.'

Giraffes, the tallest living land animals, can reach a speed of up to 37mph.

Living on the Savannah or in open woodland, no two giraffes have the same pattern of spots. Their conservation status is listed as vulnerable.
A knifeman is reportedly on the run with a machete after a man was slashed in the face in east London this afternoon.

Police cordoned off the scene of the crime in Leytonstone as witnesses claimed the pavement was covered in blood.

The victim, who has not been named, is being treated for his injuries and is said to be in a serious but stable condition.

High Road Leytonstone where the attack is alleged to have taken place this afternoon

One witness told the Daily Star the incident was a 'stabbing with a machete'.

She added: 'My son went to the shop and saw all the blood.

'Neighbours said a man was heard screaming past our homes 10 minutes before that.'

A spokesman for the Met said: 'Police were called to High Road, Leytonstone at around 14:30hrs on Monday, 9 October, to reports of a man with a slash injury to his face.

'The man - aged in his early 20s - was taken by LAS to an east London hospital, where his condition is serious but stable.

'Detectives from Waltham Forest are investigating. There has been no arrest at this early stage.'
A statue of Christopher Columbus (pictured here) was vandalized in Little Italy, Chicago on Columbus Day, Monday

A statue of Christopher Columbus was vandalized in Chicago's Little Italy on Columbus Day - which marks the Italian explorer's arrival to the Americas.

The defaced statue, which is located between Polk and Loomis streets, was covered in red paint.

In addition to the vandalized statue the words 'mass murderer' and 'decolonise' were also spray painted on the pedestal.

The graffiti was removed by city workers Monday morning.

A resident of the Little Italy area said: 'It has nothing to do with our neighborhood or the people in the neighborhood,' said Ella Wilk, CBS reports.

'It's political and it happens around the whole city, this idea of marking statues they don't believe should be here.'

This is the second time the statue has been vandalized, it was also defaced on Saturday.

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The statue is located between Polk and Loomis streets in Little Italy, Chicago

In addition to the vandalized statue the words 'mass murderer' and 'decolonise' were also spray painted on the pedestal

According to police, three males on bicycles were spotted defacing the statue around midnight.

They attempted to flee the premise but a witness grabbed one of the men, 30-year-old Kyle Miskell.

The witness stayed with him until police arrived at the scene and arrested him.

He was charged with felony counts of criminal damage to government property and also criminal defacement of property.

The defaced statue was covered in red paint that is located in the Little Italy neighborhood

Officials don't have any suspects with regards to Monday's incident however.

A movement to eradicate Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has been an ongoing argument in the US, however Italian-Americans believe the change would abolish a vital aspect of their history.

They argue getting rid of the holiday is culturally insensitive.

Another statue of Christopher Columbus in Rhode Island, located in Columbus Square in Providence, was also vandalized Monday

Additionally at Union Station in Washington, DC the Christopher Columbus statue was defaced in red paint (pictured here)

However others believe that Christopher Columbus was responsible for immense suffering and shouldn't be honored.

Another statue of Christopher Columbus in Rhode Island, located in Columbus Square in Providence, was also vandalized Monday, NBC reports.

It was found doused in red and black paint and included graffiti of an expletive followed by Columbus' name.

Additionally at Union Station in Washington, DC the Christopher Columbus statue was defaced in red paint.
A Sudanese man who fled police after he allegedly groped a woman in a Manhattan bar early Sunday morning will not face charges because he enjoys diplomatic immunity, it was learned on Monday.

Hassan Salih, 36, is reported to have grabbed a 23-year-old womans breasts and buttocks while cavorting at Bar None on Third Avenue, according to the New York Post.

When the alleged victim complained, the bars bouncer grabbed hold of Salih until police could arrive.

During questioning, Salih began running. Officers eventually caught up to him, arrested him, and put him in a police cruiser.

Salih then produced a diplomatic immunity card.

After investigators confirmed that he was an employee for the United Nations, they had no choice but to let him go free.

Hassan Salih, 36, is reported to have groped a 23-year-old woman. But because he works at the United Nations (seen above), he has diplomatic immunity from prosecution

Salih is listed on the website of the Sudanese Mission to the UN as a second officer  a mid-level position requiring at least five years of experience.

Diplomats are given immunity from the host nations laws as prescribed by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. According to the treaty, which has been ratified by 191 countries, including the United States, diplomats must not be liable to any form of arrest or detention.

Article 29 of the treaty states that diplomats are immune from civil or criminal prosecution.

The document also stipulates that family members of diplomats living in the host country are given the same protections as the diplomats themselves.

Host countries are legally permitted to declare diplomats persona non grata, which would give the foreign emissaries a window of time to prepare to leave their post and return home.

If a diplomat refuses to leave despite being declared persona non grata, the host country is entitled to strip him or her of diplomatic immunity.

Last month, the daughter of a foreign diplomat staffed at the German Embassy stabbed a schoolmate twice in the shoulder with scissors at a preppy international school in Washington, DC.

The young girl avoided prosecution because of her fathers diplomatic immunity.
A team of builders thwarted a second moped ram raid when they grabbed their shovels and took on a brazen gang of thieves smashing into a watch shop with axes.

The raiders struck in London's west end just hours after a gang raided Mappin and Webb jewellers in a near identical robbery less than half a mile away.

Builders confronted the six strong gang, who were armed with axes and sledgehammers, outside Watchfinder Co just off upmarket New Bond Street and managed to capture one using cable ties.

Armed with shovels they poured out of a nearby builder's yard and shouted at the gang to leave during the broad daylight attack at around 11.15am this morning.

The gang of six robbers raided Mappin and Webb on Regent Street shortly before 7.15pm last night

The gang, wielding a machete and a hammer, escaped on one bike after raiding Mappin & Webb in Regent Street, according to police

Staff at the store in discussion after the raid. The thieves made off with a high-value haul after smashing cabinets at the store in the West End at around 7.20pm on Monday.

Builder Naz Prince, 29, said: 'They are cheeky little b*****ds. They razzed up on three bikes and started whacking the shop window with sledgehammers and axes.

'We shouted for them to stop and they said "stay away we will cut you". One of my mates said "sod this" and ran into the yard and got a load of shovels.

'When they saw us all coming towards them they obviously bottled it and tried to drive off.

'One of the bikes fell over and one managed to run off, the other fella got tripped up by someone and we all just dived on him.

'We tied him up with cable ties and waited for the police to arrive. It does my head in, they razz around threatening people. We're not having it.'

Another builder added: 'I was on the other side of the road and I saw them drive onto the pavement and run in the shop.

'I ran over and was shouting "what are you doing? Get away". He pointed a sword in my face, it was a massive blade.

'When one of them ran back out of the shop I grabbed him but he pushed me off.'

A notice was placed in the window of the store at around 9.45am this morning which simply read 'we will remain closed today due to unforeseen circumstances. Thank you'.

A staff member who did not wish to be identified said: 'They came in with helmets on and waving weapons around. We have procedures in place so all staff managed to get off the shop floor.

'They were in the store for one minute 58 seconds. Everyone is shocked but no one was hurt.'

He added: 'They took watches but we don't know exactly what yet, there is still glass everywhere.'

Three suspects are believed to have smashed their way in, breaking into display cabinets and stealing a high value of jewellery items.

A smashed pane of glass. Six robbers have fled on a single moped after a smash-and-grab raid at a high-end jewellers in central London

No arrests have been made and police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward

The trio then left the store to join three accomplices who waited outside on revved-up scooters throughout the raid.

The group - two up on each moped - then left in three separate directions. One pair fled in the direction of Oxford Street before their scooter was involved in a collision with a pedestrian.

The woman was not seriously injured and did not require hospital treatment.

A cyclist also swerved to avoid the scooter and crashed into a wall but suffered only minor injuries.

A shop worker on Oxford Street saw one of the bikes crash as it made its getaway.

He said: 'The bike careered along the road, they were carrying bags. I though they were mugging people.

'One guy was chasing them and pulling at the bags and they came off. It was a chaotic scene.'

Mappin & Webb was founded in 1775 and customers have included Queen of France Marie Antoinette, Grace Kelly and Winston Churchill

DC Matt Hollands from the Met's Flying Squad said: 'We are following up a number of active leads on this live investigation.

'This raid was targeted and lasted only a few minutes. My team are busy collecting witness accounts and recovering vital CCTV footage of the burglary at the store and of the suspects leaving the scene.

'We know that the group panicked and rode recklessly in different directions to escape. Thankfully no members of the public were injured.

'I'd like to appeal for those who saw the individuals involved, either at the scene or fleeing, to get in touch with police and send us any images and footage that they have.

'All the suspects wore dark motorcycle clothing and black motorcycle helmets and a weapon has also been recovered at the scene.'

Witnesses tweeted pictures of the jewellers filled with smoke after the incident.

Steve Ralfe posted: 'Smash and grab at Regent Street jewellers. All three emergency services on scene, smoke deployed in the store.'

Siobhain Butterworth wrote: 'Seems to have been an attempted robbery at Mappin & Web on Regent Street. Getaway vehicle appears to have been scooter.'
President Trump made no mention of Native Americans as he marked his first Columbus Day as president, at the same time larger and larger U.S. cities are celebrating Indigenous People Day instead.

The exclusion looked intentional, with Trump's campaign arm touting a Columbus Day merchandise sale, suggesting to the president's supporters that those complaining about Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, known for brutalizing the Caribbean natives that he found, are 'leftists' keen on 'eras[ing] our nation's past.'

'Americas past is being vilified and stripped away by liberals in the media and our schools  but we wont stand for it,' the email read, asking Trump fans to shop in honor of Columbus Day, and for Christmas  another culture war hot button  as well.

President Trump's Columbus Day proclamation made no mention of Native Americans, as more and more communities are choosing to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day around the country, over Christopher Columbus' brutal treatment of natives

President Trump's campaign pushed out an email telling supporters that those protesting against Columbus Day were 'leftists' trying to 'erase our nation's past'

Trump put out a Columbus Day proclamation Friday, and tweeted about it today.

The president said that 'on Columbus day, we honor the skilled navigator and man of faith, whose courageous feat brought together continents and has inspired countless others to pursue their dreams and convictions  even in the face of extreme doubt and tremendous adversity.'

During the Obama years, the Democratic president would articulate some of the repercussions European settlement  made possible by Columbus' discovery  had on the continent's native people.

'As we mark this rich history, we must also acknowledge the pain and suffering reflected in the stories of Native Americans who had long resided on this land prior to the arrival of European newcomers,' Obama's proclamation read, according to the Hill.

'The past we share is marked by too many broken promises, as well as violence, deprivation, and disease,' Obama's continued.

People are photographed celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day in Seattle on Monday in lieu of Columbus Day

Residents of Seattle celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. President Trump is supportive of Columbus Day, with his comments echoed by Italian-American groups who are proud the explorer was one of their own

'It is a history that we must recognize as we week to build a brighter future  side by side and with cooperation and mutual respect,' the Democrat said.

There was none of that in Trump's proclamation, despite that in modern times Columbus' treatment of Native Americans and African slaves had tarnished the explorer's reputation.

Marking the 525th anniversary of Columbus' 'ambitious and daring' journey across the Atlantic Ocean, Trump noted how the 'permanent arrival of Europeans to the Americas' was a 'transformative event.'

Columbus' travels never took him as far north as the United States, with most of his early exploring happening in what's now the Caribbean islands.

'That undeniably and fundamentally changed the course of human history and set the stage for the development of our great Nation,' the president continued.

Trump also used his statement to talk up the U.S.'s relationship with Italy, where Columbus was from, explaining that while his voyage was sponsored by the Spanish crown, the explorer heralded from Genoa.

'We also take this opportunity to reaffirm our close ties to Columbus's country of birth, Italy,' Trump said. 'Italy is a strong ally and a valued partner in promoting peace and promoting prosperity around the world.'

Trump's nod to Italians and not Native Americans comes as some liberal American municipalities are nixing Columbus Day for Indigenous People Day instead.

In August, Los Angeles, California, became the largest U.S. municipality to make the switch, with Austin, Texas, making the decision last Thursday to do the same, the Associated Press reported.

Other cities that now celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday in October include San Francisco, Seattle and Denver.

But that move hasn't sat well with Italian-Americans who are proud the explorer is one of their own.

'We had a very difficult time in this country for well over a hundred years,' Basil Russo, president of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America, told the AP. 'Columbus Day is a day that we've chosen to celebrate who we are. And we're entitled to do that just as they are entitled to celebrate who they are.'
The Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment and assault scandal has heated up over the past 24 hours, with multiple stars speaking out against the executive and the directors of his company announcing that he has been terminated from his post.

That news took many by surprise, but not Weinstein it seems based on a desperate email he fired off just before he was fired on Sunday.

'My board is thinking of firing me. All I'm asking is, let me take a leave of absence and get into heavy therapy and counseling,' wrote Weinstein in the email, which was read by one of the recipients to Janice Min.

'Whether is be in a facility or somewhere else, allow me to resurrect myself with a second chance.'

He went on to state that 'a lot of the allegations are false' before asking that the men and women he contacted send an email to his personal account backing him, which he could in turn present to the Weinstein Company board.

Min later tweeted: 'Confirmed: among the power players who refused to support Weinstein were Ron Meyer, David Zaslav, Jeffrey Katzenberg.'

That was followed by a tweet stating: 'One big player who refused to respond positively to Weinstein's email plea tells me he replied in essence: "no f-ing chance."'

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Reaching out: Harvey Weinstein fired off an email to other CEOs (oncluding Ron Meyer above in 2013 with Weinstein) and movie moguls on Sunday, just before he was fired by the Weinstein Company board of directors

Favor please: : 'Confirmed: among the power players who refused to support Weinstein were Ron Meyer, David Zaslav, Jeffrey Katzenberg,' wrote Janice Min (Katzenberg and Weinstein above)

'I need you to send a letter to my private gmail address,' wrote Weinstein.

'The letter would only go to the board and no one else.'

He continued: 'We believe that what the board is trying to do is not only wrong but might be illegal and would destroy the company.

'If you could write this letter backing me, getting me the help and time away I need, and also stating your opposition to the board firing me, it would help me a lot.'

The letters, if any were sent, did little good in the end, with the board of directors at Weinstein Company announcing on Sunday that they were terminating their founder in the wake of what they claimed were newly discovered allegations.

'In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged int the past few days, the directors of the Weinstein Company - Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar - have determined an have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately,' the board wrote in a statement.

WEINSTEIN EMAIL 'My board is thinking of firing me. All Im asking, is let me take a leave of absence and get into heavy therapy and counseling. Whether it be in a facility or somewhere else, allow me to resurrect myself with a second chance. A lot of the allegations are false as you know but given therapy and counseling as other people have done, I think Id be able to get there. 'I could really use your support or just your honesty if you cant support me. 'But if you can, I need you to send a letter to my private gmail address. The letter would only go to the board and no one else. We believe what the board is trying to do is not only wrong but might be illegal and would destroy the company. 'If you could write this letter backing me, getting me the help and time away I need, and also stating your opposition to the board firing me, it would help me a lot. I am desperate for your help. Just give me the time to have therapy. Do not let me be fired. If the industry supports me, that is all I need.' Advertisement

It was a sudden move for the board, who on Friday said that Weinstein had taken an indefinite leave of absence.

Questions remain however about how the board was so in the dark given the number of settlements that have been paid out, with the first going back to an incident that happened in 1991 according to the Times.

Weinstein responded in a statement by saying that he was getting help, but then shortly after threatened to sue the paper for $50 million.

Board member Lance Maerov spoke to the The New York Times after the decision to terminate Weinstein on Sunday and that said that the executive had also violated the company's code of conduct in the past week.

He did not offer any additional details.

Maerov also revealed that there was much concern after Weinstein and his attorney Lisa Bloom met with the board on Thursday night, during which time the layer told the group that they could expect 'more and different reporting' that included 'photos of several of the accusers in very friendly poses with Harvey after his alleged misconduct.'

That same night a handout photo of Weinstein and a smiling Judd appeared in the New York Post alongside a statement from the Oscar-winning producer.

'This is not the time for Harvey or TWC to appear defiant or indignant,' wrote Maerov in an email to Bloom.

'It is time to repair, heal, accept responsibility and recover.'

He also wrote that Bloom had a potential conflict of interest given that Weinstein had agreed to develop a book she wrote into a series.

In another email to Bloom, Harvey's brother and partner Bob wrote: 'Perhaps, Harvey as he stated in the NY Times, to the world, should get professional help for a problem that really exists.'

No go: 'One big player who refused to respond positively to Weinstein's email plea tells me he replied in essence: "no f-ing chance,"' added Min (Weinstein and David Zaslav above in 2016)

Victims: Ashley Judd (left in 1997) and Rose McGowan (right) were revealed to be two of Weinstein's alleged victims by the Times

On Friday, one-third of the nine-man board resigned in protest, 24-hours after the sexual harassment report threw the firm into chaos.

The company also stated that they were launching an internal probe into the claims against their disgraced co-founder.

And as the backlash grew, graphic revelations appeared in Huffington Post, claiming that Weinstein cornered a New York reporter and forcibly made her watch him masturbate in front of her.

Lauren Sivan, formerly a Fox News Reporter, claims that when she worked with the cable channel Long Island 12 a decade ago, Weinstein insisted she take a tour with him in Socialista, a club he part-owned.

She claims he took her downstairs to a kitchen and cleared it of staff and then tried to kiss her. When she refused his advance he said, 'Well, can you just stand there and shut up'.

The movie mogul is then alleged to have masturbated in front of her and ejaculated into a nearby flower pot.

Sivan says she was trapped and intimidated and deeply shocked.

That same night McGowan first asked why there was so much silence from the Hollywood community, stating: 'Ladies of Hollywood, your silence is deafening.'

Given the number of lawsuits that the company has settled over the years there is of course a chance that some of these women cannot speak because they signed a NDA or do not want to speak on account of their own personal experiences.

That would not however stop any of these women from publicly declaring that they support and believe McGowan and Judd.

The most encouraging tweet from a member of the Hollywood community came from 'Girls' producer Jenni Konner, who said on Thursday: 'Who are the agents/managers that sent their clients to meet with him when this was a well known secret? Them nxt.'

There is rampant speculation among 'insiders' that Bob Weinstein (left) leaked details that led to the explosive New York Times story about his brother Harvey's (right) alleged sexual harassment of a number of women. The brothers are seen above in 2007

Georgina Chapman was seen leaving her Manhattan home on Friday morning, marking the first time she has been seen in public since her husband's decades of sexual harassment were revealed on Thursday.

The Marchesa designer appeared morose but did manage to flash a smirk as she made her way out of the $15million townhouse she shares with Harvey Weinstein an hour after her husband headed off to work.

Weinstein exited the home on Friday carrying some papers under his arm and flashing a big smile as he made his way to the waiting SUV outside, with his trip to the office coming less than 24 hours after he informed the Times that he was taking a leave of absence.

The embattled Hollywood heavyweight appeared surprisingly upbeat and chipper, especially given the fact that his board will be voting on Friday afternoon on whether or not to cut all ties to the founder and namesake of the company.

He is also facing new allegations of improper conduct, with British actress Jessica Hynes taking to Twitter on Friday and writing: 'I was offered a film role at 19, Harvey Weinstein came on board and wanted me to screen test in a bikini. I refused & lost the job.'

She then added: 'I'm sure there are many more...'

Hynes, who earlier in her career went by Jessica Stevenson, in now 44 and has starred in the two most recent 'Bridget Jones' films as well as number of theatrical productions, being nominated for a Tony in 2009 for her role in 'The Norman Conquests' on Broadway.

Her claim is remarkably similar to a blind item that has been floating around for over a decade, and is well known to many in Hollywood.

Writer and comedian Jack Howard noted that, replying to Hynes: 'Holy s*** I knew the story but I didn't know who it was about.'

Hynes did not reveal what the film was, but it would have been around 1991 or 1992 when Weinstein was beginning his ascent up the ranks in the movie industry while working in London.

It was also in 1991 when he allegedly sexually harassed the first of his many alleged victims who came forward to speak with the Times on the record about his behavior.

Laura Madden said that she was asked by Weinstein to give him massages while he was staying at hotels in Dublin and London at that time.

'It was so manipulative,' said Madden.

'You constantly question yourself  am I the one who is the problem?'

Judd recounted her encounter with Weinstein, saying she was doing night shoots for her 1997 film 'Kiss the Girls' when she got an invite to meet with Weinsten that she could not pass up.

She said she felt uncomfortable from the start and ordered cereal from room service because it would arrive quicker than a hot meal.

Judd said she was asked to give Weinstein a massage and then a shoulder rub, both of which she declined while trying to get herself out of the room.

That is when he allegedly asked her to help him pick out his clothes for the day and then watch him shower.

'I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask,' said Judd.

'It was all this bargaining, this coercive bargaining.'

She eventually made her escape by joking that Weinstein would have to help her win an Oscar before she would be willing to touch him, stating that the prestige of working for his studio made it too difficult to forcefully shut down his harassment.

'There's a lot on the line, the cachet that came with Miramax,' explained Judd.

Judd previously wrote about the same experience in 2015 for Variety without naming Weinstein, simply saying it was a studio mogul.

'I was with a bunch of other actors, and it was critical that it was actors: The exact same thing had happened to them by the exact same mogul,' wrote Judd.

'Only when we were sitting around talking about it did we realize our experiences were identical. There was a mutual strengthening and fortification of our resolve.'

She later wrote in that piece: 'The ultimate thing when I was weaseling out of everything else was, "Will you watch me take a shower?" And all the other women, sitting around this table with me, said, "Oh my godthat's what he said to me too."'
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Theresa May leaves Downing Street as HMRC promises a new customs regime from 'day one' following our exit from the EU

Theresa May has drawn up plans to waive import taxes and create huge inland lorry parks to keep trade flowing as ministers prepare for a 'no deal' Brexit.

The Prime Minister told MPs they were preparing for every eventuality in the Brexit negotiations  including the possibility that Brussels continues to stall on a new free trade deal.

HM Revenue and Customs last night set out the first detailed proposals for policing a new post-Brexit border in the event of no deal.

A white paper published by HMRC states that a new customs regime will be ready from day one after Brexit, regardless of whether the EU agrees a trade deal.

Plans include the creation of new inland lorry parks to check imports without causing queues at major ports like Dover and Harwich.

A leaked document from the Department of International Trade also lays out radical contingency plans for leaving without a deal.

Ideas contained within the so-called Project After document including dropping all import tariffs and becoming a champion of free trade. A senior government source last night said contingency plans would be stepped up after Christmas if Brussels continued to drag its feet.

Preparing the physical infrastructure for a new border regime is likely to cost several billion pounds and require the recruitment of thousands of staff.

Project After plans including dropping all import tariffs and becoming a champion of free trade

Prime minister Theresa May updates MPs on the progress of Brexit negotiations following talks in Florence last month

It will be expensive, but we can do it and we will, the source said. We dont believe we will leave without a deal. But the EU has to understand that we are serious about going it alone if we have to.

Mrs May yesterday told MPs that the white papers on customs and trade paved the way for new laws to allow the UK to operate as an independent trading nation and to create an innovative customs system that will help us achieve the greatest possible tariff and barrier-free trade as we leave the EU.

She added: While I believe it is profoundly in all our interests for the negotiations to succeed, it is also our responsibility as a Government to prepare for every eventuality, so that is exactly what we are doing.

These white papers also support that work, including setting out steps to minimise disruption for businesses and travellers.

The intervention came after Brussels rejected Mrs Mays offer to plug a 20billion black hole in the EUs budget after the UK leaves in 2019. The PM said the olive branch  contained in her Florence speech last month  meant that the ball was now in their court.

But the European Commissions chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas rejected the idea, saying: There has been so far no solution found on step one, which is the divorce proceedings, so the ball is entirely in the UK court for the rest to happen.

Ministers believe there is no chance of the EU declaring sufficient progress has been made on the divorce proceedings to allow trade talks to begin when national leaders gather for a crunch summit in Brussels next week.

Mrs May meets sixth formers. In her Commons statement she said 'It is also our responsibility as a Government to prepare for every eventuality, so that is exactly what we are doing'

Mrs May is pictured high fiving with primary school pupils at a school in London ahead of her statement to the Commons yesterday

Privately they remain optimistic that trade talks will begin by Christmas. But they are determined to show the EU that the option of leaving without a deal is not an idle threat. One source said: Camerons biggest mistake was that the EU never believed he was willing to walk away, whatever they offered him, so they offered him next to nothing. We are not going to repeat that mistake. Eurosceptic MPs yesterday warned the PM that her Florence speech had gone far enough in offering concessions.

Tory MP Philip Davies told Mrs May the Florence speech seemed like a reward for the EUs intransigence. He asked for a guarantee that there would be no more rewards for Brussels.

Mrs May told MPs it was now time for the EU to show flexibility.

She said she was optimistic, saying: What we are seeking is not just the best possible deal for us, but I believe that will also be the best possible deal for our friends, too.

The HMRC document says efforts will be made to mitigate the impact on traders who deal with the EU and whose goods would suddenly face new tariffs and customs checks. Importers would be required to give advance notice of goods arriving in the UK.

The Prime Minister also met with sixth form pupils at the Dunraven School

And new lorry parks would be set up inland to handle customs checks to stop ports becoming clogged up.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the documents showed no real progress has been made.

The EUS chief Brexit negotiator believes that speeding up talks on the transition deal Theresa May has requested could break the deadlock in negotiations. Michel Barnier has told European diplomats bringing forward discussions on the arrangement will help the Brexit talks to succeed.

Theresa May yesterday repeated her wish to start crafting an implementation period, which would effectively see the UK remaining part of the EU bloc for two years after Brexit in 2019.

EU leaders are expected to discuss the move in Brussels next week.
Theresa May will today demand an end to racial discrimination in everyday life.

The Prime Minister will publish an analysis showing huge disparities in employment rates and school attainment between white people and those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

She will launch a massive database  the first of its kind in the world  covering 130 areas of life across health, education, employment and criminal justice, all broken down by race.

Mrs May has ordered a review of school exclusions after the audit revealed that some black children were three times as likely to be excluded or suspended as white British ones.

Theresa May meets sixth formers and primary aged pupils at the Dunraven School, Lambeth, earlier today

The Prime Minister was met by an enthusiastic greeting of high-fives and handshakes as she made her way along the school fence

The figures show that poorer white children tend to do worse in tests at junior schools, and that black people are less likely to own a house and more likely to be found guilty in court.

The Conservative leader will use the statistics to challenge society to explain or change disparities in how people from different backgrounds are treated.

She will tell Whitehall, businesses, police and other institutions that they have nowhere to hide and must help ensure race is never a barrier to people achieving their goals in life.

On a visit to a school in South London, Mrs May told sixth form students: What I hope this audit will bring is a change in attitude so that everyone is treated equally, no matter what their background, and this is never a barrier to getting on in life.

By bringing this information together in one place for the first time it will shine a light on the issues we are facing. We must now work together as a society to find solutions.

Mrs May will launch the new Ethnicity Facts and Figures website today, saying she hopes it will become an essential resource in the battle to defeat ethnic injustice.

Mrs May told sixth form students: What I hope this audit will bring is a change in attitude so that everyone is treated equally'

The Prime Minister will publish an analysis showing huge disparities in employment rates and school attainment

Among the findings were that the 8 per cent unemployment rate for black, Asian and minority ethnic people is nearly double that of white British adults.

Mrs May will say: People who have lived with discrimination dont need a government audit to make them aware of the scale of the challenge.

But this audit means that for society as a whole  for Government, for our public services  there is nowhere to hide.

These issues are now out in the open. And the message is very simple: if these disparities cannot be explained then they must be changed.

Britain has come a long way in my lifetime in spreading equality and opportunity. But the data we are publishing today will provide the definitive evidence of how far we must still go in order to truly build a country that works for everyone.

Mrs May with David Bowle, the Principle of Dunraven School during her visit to the south London school

As part of the Governments response, the Department for Work and Pensions will target 20 hotspots where ethnic minority people are more likely to be unemployed.

The Ministry of Justice will put in place recommendations from the recent Lammy Review, including performance indicators for prisons to assess how prisoners of different races are treated.

The ministry will also be made to adopt an explain or change approach to ethnic disparities and publish all data held on ethnicity by default. Prison chiefs will be urged to improve the recruitment, retention and progress of minority staff.

In education, an external review will look at cases of children excluded from school, with a focus on ethnic groups disproportionately likely to be suspended or expelled.

In 2015/16, Irish traveller pupils were the most likely to be excluded, with a rate of 0.49 per cent. They were followed by gipsy and Roma children (0.33 per cent). Black Caribbean pupils  at a rate of 0.29 per cent  were permanently excluded at three times the rate of white British pupils.
The heroic Australian surfer who saved a drowning couple said he had no choice but to dive into the rough water in Croatia to help them after their boat capsized.

Craig and Jackie O'Neill issued an appeal on Facebook to find the man who saved them so they could properly thank them.

The British couple had hired a boat with their friends and headed towards Paklinski Islands on September 21.

But on the return journey, they hit rough seas and their boat capsized  but fortunately, a man from a passing boat jumped into the water and rescued them.

Zen Joyce (pictured) said he had no choice but to jump into the rough sea and save the couple

Craig and Jackie O'Neill (above) issued an appeal on Facebook to find the man who saved them

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, they have now reconnected with that man  Zen Joyce  and spoken to him on the phone.

Mr Joyce, from Coledale, NSW, who is on a two-year trip around Europe with his partner, told 9Honey that he and his partner Katherine and a friend were taking a taxi boat from their cruise ship to the port when they noticed the capsized boat in the distance.

He said the boat's skipper was reluctant to head into the rough water, but once he realised how dire the situation was, he took the boat as close as possible  around 100m from the O'Neills.

Mr Joyce said he saw the O'Neills clinging to their boat, which was sinking quickly, and asked if they could swim.

My Joyce (pictured) said when he saw the gravity of the situation, he had no choice but to jump into the choppy water

The British couple had hired a boat with their friends and headed towards Paklinski Islands on September 21. On the way back, the boat capsized

When they replied no, he knew what he had to do, he said.

'I feel if you see someone who requires help and you can help them, you should!' he told 9Honey.

'It's the right thing to do. I knew the waters were rough, but once I saw the gravity of the situation, I had to get in and help them before things got worse.'

He added: 'I could see the boat was sinking quickly and there wasn't a lot of time to act or it would be too late.'

But he added that the rescue was a team effort  with the guys on the taxi helping pull the couple board and others consoling them.

The heroic surfer, from NSW, is on a two-year trip around Europe with his partner Katherine

After speaking to the couple, Mr Joyce said they seemed like 'lovely people' and he was grateful that they'd made the effort to reconnect.

My Joyce's partner added that his actions were 'truly courageous and heroic.'

In his Facebook appeal, Mr O'Neill said that he and his partner had been in shock after their rescue and were unable to remember the name of the man who saved them.

'We desperately need to find him,' he wrote. 'We have to thank him.'
Facebook and Twitter will be told to reveal the true scale of online hate as part of a major crackdown on the Wild West of the internet.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley will tomorrow unveil a new internet safety strategy to ensure web firms face up to their responsibilities on trolling and cyberbullying.

As part of the strategy, social media companies will for the first time be told to publish how many complaints they get each year about abuse  and what proportion of abusive messages are actually taken down.

Facebook and Twitter will be told to reveal the true scale of online hate as part of a major crackdown on the Wild West of the internet

Ministers want the firms to publish an annual internet safety transparency report, laying out how they handle complaints and what efforts they made to moderate content.

The Government says the move will expose the true scale of risks and harms that users encounter on their platforms, with web firms told to disclose how many children and women are targeted.

All the information will be publicly available, enabling parents to shine a light on which social media firms are taking their social responsibilities seriously, and which are not.

The Government hopes it does not have to force Facebook and Twitter to agree to publish the annual report, saying it wants them to agree to do so voluntarily.

Figures show that in the past year, almost one fifth of 12 to 15-year-olds encountered something online that they found worrying or nasty in some way.

And almost half of adult users say they have seen something that has upset or offended them on social media.

Mrs Bradley will say she wants Britain to be the safest place in the world to go online.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley will tomorrow unveil a new internet safety strategy to ensure web firms face up to their responsibilities on trolling

The Culture Secretary will demand that demand that Facebook, Twitter and others sites sign up to a new online code of practice.

The strategy will also include a new push to ensure children are taught the skills they need to be safe online.

The move follows years of complaints about web firms not acting quickly enough to take down abusive messages.

Teachers say cyberbullying is a growing problem. While children used to be able to escape playground abuse by going home, now it follows them home via social media.

Even when children complain to web firms about bullying messages, nothing is done to punish the perpetrator.

MPs  particularly female MPs  have also complained of the rising tide of online abuse. Thousands of abusive tweets were sent to shadow home secretary Diane Abbott alone during the election campaign.

The BBCs political editor Laura Kuenssberg has also been the victim of hate tweets sent by hard-left internet users, while Cambridge classicist Mary Beard has been threatened as well.

The Mail has repeatedly highlighted the dangers to young people posed by the internet. Our Block Online Porn campaign persuaded the government to bring in an opt-in scheme ensuring only over-18s could see adult material, and age verification for porn sites will be introduced later this year.

Ministers want firms, like Facebook and Twitter, to publish an annual internet safety transparency report

Speaking at the Tory conference last week, Mrs Bradley said: As a government we have a duty to protect children and vulnerable people from the less-family friendly corners of the internet.

We have all heard about the dangers of cyber-bulling, Twitter abuse and trolling on the internet. These are problems that Conservatives are tackling head on.

I believe Britain should be the safest place in the world to go online and this government is determined to make that a reality. Put simply, behaviour that is unacceptable in normal life should be unacceptable on a computer screen.

She pledged that her internet safety strategy would be an important step forward.

Ms Bradley told delegates: As part of this strategy, we will work with key players to introduce a comprehensive response to the problem, including an online code of practice that I want to see every social media company sign up to.

A call for companies to think about safety during the design of their products, to ensure that basic safety features are included from the outset; and a plan to ensure that every child is taught the skills they need to be safe online.

She added: We all have a responsibility to make sure the internet is as safe as it possibly can be. By doing this, and more, we will take a positive step forward in tackling a growing and critical challenge confronting our country.

The strategy will say the government wants to see the introduction of an industry-led annual internet safety transparency report.

This would be used as a benchmark by government to check the progress of companies in tackling these issues.

The transparency report would be used to show the volume of content reported to companies, and the proportion of content that has been taken down from the service.

They would also have to reveal how they handled users complaints, and how each site approaches moderation and any changes in policy and resourcing.

The information would be broken down into categories of complaints, including under-18s, women, gay people, and on religious grounds.

The Government is said to believe this information would be valuable in understanding harmful content and conduct online, and will help to underpin any future policy interventions in this area.

The information would also be publicly available and give parents an indication of where the online risks were for their children, what was being done to tackle them, and which social media organisations were taking their social responsibilities seriously.
Emma Roberts may have played a role in the surprise split between long-time couple Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson, according to a shocking new report.

The Hollywood pair, who have been together since 2007, called off their relationship last month, but little was known what caused their sudden breakup.

But now Christensen's co'star Roberts may have been a contributing factor, as Bilson allegedly found text messages between the 26-year-old and the actor, 36, according to The Blast.

Roberts and Christensen recently filmed the upcoming movie 'Little Italy' together, which could have sparked an inappropriate relationship.

Emma Roberts may have contributed to the sudden split between Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen last month, according to The Blast. The Hollywood pair, who have been together since 2007, called off their relationship, but little was known what caused the breakup

But now Roberts seems to have been the cause, as Bilson allegedly found text messages between the 26-year-old and Christensen, 36. Pictured: The two actors on the set of their new movie in June

Roberts and Christensen were spotted on set in June riding around on a scooter as the younger actress smiled as she gripped the father's leg.

Bilson and Christensen, who have two-year-old daughter Briar Rose together, have been in a relationship on and off for almost 10 years but never married.

When news broke in September of the split, a source told UsWeekly: 'She's full-time back in L.A. He's in Toronto. Theyve been on the outs for a couple of months.'

The insider goes on to say that the couple is 'completely, officially done.'

The actors met on the set of Jumper in 2007 and got engaged in December 2008.

In August 2010 they quietly called off their engagement but reconciled three months later.

Before the breakup, the O.C. actress was last pictured with her partner in June when she visited him on the Toronto set of his new movie Little Italy, which he was filming with Roberts.

Bilson and Christensen, who have two-year-old daughter Briar Rose together (pictured on Sunday) have been in a relationship on and off for almost 10 years but never married

In April the actors quietly sold their sprawling Sherman Oaks home in a private off-market deal for $3.8 million.

The duo was constantly fighting 'about every day stuff' according to People.

'It became exhausting and almost depressing for Rachel,' a source explained. 'It got really bad over the summer and they decided to separate.

'She is living with the baby in L.A. now. She is a great mom and loves it.'

Just last week, it was revealed Bilson had splashed out $3.25 million on a stylish new home in the Pasadena area of Los Angeles.

Roberts was last linked with her American Horror Story costar Evan Peters, spotted happily walking together in March

Located in the upscale and scenic Linda Vista neighborhood the property has six bedrooms and four bathrooms, according to Trulia.

It was supposed to mark a fresh start for the newly-single star, but on Friday her home was burglarized, as thefts made off with '$50,000 worth of jewelry, shoes and handbags' from her home.

Roberts was last linked with her American Horror Story costar Evan Peters, as they were spotted happily walking together in March.
North Carolina police believe the shooting deaths of four elderly people may have been gang-related.

Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said on Monday that the home of James Harris, 88, and his wife 72-year-old Janice Harris, may have been targeted.

James Whitley, 76, and 67-year-old Peggy Whitley, were also killed while visiting the Harris family home between August 20 and 21.

Investigators said at the time that the two married couples had been sitting around a kitchen table playing cards when they were killed during the gruesome home invasion.

North Carolina police believe the shooting deaths of four elderly people may have been gang-related. Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said on Monday that the home of James Harris, 88, and his wife 72-year-old Janice Harris (pictured), may have been targeted

James Whitley, 76, (pictured) with his wife Peggy Whitley, 67, were both found shot dead while visiting the Harris family home in August

Investigators said at the time that the two married couples had been sitting around a kitchen table playing cards when they were killed during the gruesome home invasion

Tripp said a family member found the bodies after checking on the home in the Glenview community, just off Interstate 95 north of Rocky Mount.

The sheriff said there were no signs of a struggle. He told a news conference that there were signs of forced entry and items of value missing from the home.

'It's very disturbing,' Tripp said in August.

Sheriff's offices from four counties have joined the investigation, as well as the NC Highway Patrol, the NC State Bureau of Investigation and the Enfield Police Department.

'We have a quadruple murder,' Tripp said. 'We want to use all available resources on this.'

Tripp confirmed there were no signs of a struggle. The sheriff confirmed two of those who had been murdered were close friends of his.

The sheriff said there were no signs of a struggle. He told a news conference that there were signs of forced entry and items of value missing from the home

As of yet, investigators have not received any information about a possible suspect and are appealing to the public for information

A reward in excess of $51,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case

He told ABC 11: 'I knew two of these people personally. In my 33 years of law enforcement, this is my first quadruple murder.

'We do have indications a robbery did take place.'

'All four victims were members of this community and well-known, and well thought of. You put your emotions aside and you work the case,' Tripp said.

Tripp didn't provide any additional details on the murders. State and federal agencies are working with Tripp's office in the case.

A reward in excess of $51,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.

As of yet, investigators have not received any information about a possible suspect and are appealing to the public for information.

Sheriff Tripp urged anyone with information on the case to call Crime Stoppers at (252) 583-8201.
Barack Obama and his aides regarded the idea of a special relationship between Britain and the US as a joke, it was claimed last night.

Jeremy Shapiro, a former presidential adviser, said the special relationship was unrequited and he revealed he would insert references to the Malvinas  Argentinas name for the Falklands  into Press conferences.

Mr Shapiro said that although US officials stressed the importance of the relationship to British visitors, they would make jokes about the Falklands away from the cameras.

Barack Obama and his aides regarded the idea of a special relationship between Britain and the US as a joke, it was claimed last night

He added that the so-called special relationship with Britain was never really something that was very important to the United States.

Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Mr Shapiro said: From my perspective it was very important for us to mention the special relationship in every Press conference that we had when the UK were here.

But really we laughed about it behind the scenes. Typically, I would try and slip in a reference to the Malvinas or something to spoil it.

Mr Shapiro, who was an adviser in the US state department under Mr Obama, and now works at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said America did not see its relationship with Britain as any different from that with other European countries.

Jeremy Shapiro said America did not see its relationship with Britain as any different from that with other European countries

Referring to a 2009 survey that revealed 14 out of 25 EU countries believed they had a special relationship with America, he said the relationship with Britain didnt differ dramatically from other countries.

He added: It was a close relationship, a good relationship and a productive relationship. But it was the kind of relationship we would have with other countries.

Mr Shapiros remarks will support the view that Britains bond with America deteriorated under Barack Obama  in contrast to the close political alliance between Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

The former president controversially removed a bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office, only for Donald Trump to restore it upon his election.

He also caused anger when, in the run-up to the Brexit referendum, he claimed Britain would be at the back of the queue for a trade deal with the US if the country left the EU.

But Theresa May made a trip to the US in January in an attempt to rekindle the special relationship.

Mr Trump has since vowed to make it even better  and has repeatedly suggested he wants to agree a trade deal with the UK post-Brexit.

Donald Trump has since vowed to make the special relationship even better  and has repeatedly suggested he wants to agree a trade deal with the UK post-Brexit

However, Mr Shapiro cast doubt on the presidents intentions, claiming he was exploiting Britains romantic view of the special relationship to get a trade deal that benefited America.

He said: Donald Trump is playing on this the way American presidents do, in the way he was willing to say those things to Theresa May when she rushed to the White House to be the first foreign leader there.

I think Donald Trump will be willing to exploit the UKs need for a special relationship to get a good trade deal.

Referring to a row in July, when the US raised the prospect of selling chlorinated chicken to the UK in a post-Brexit deal  even though the EU bans it, he warned: The UK needs to be wary about that deal  theres going to be a lot of chlorinated chickens. When they look at that, they are not going to feel particularly special.
Shocking CCTV footage has emerged showing the moment a police officer hit by a 'cheap shot' in the head and left sprawling on the ground.

Ryan Mitchell Tarran, 28, was sentenced to one year and nine months prison for the sickening attack at the Rockhampton Magistrates Court in Queensland on Monday, according to the Courier Mail.

Tarran was being escorted from the courtroom to the watch house by police officer Nathan Tam in August when the assault occurred.

A shocking video has emerged showing the moment a police officer was rocked with a 'cheap shot' punch to the face

Ryan Mitchell Tarran, 28, was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison for the sickening attack

Footage shows the pair talking before Tarran lunges at the officer, connecting with a punch and sending Mr Tam sprawling to the ground.

Tarran then quickly approaches to deliver another blow but Mr Tam regains his footing just in time and dodges the attack.

Following the fracas, police prosecutor Sergeant Shaun James rushed into the room and two policemen managed to restrain the attacker.

Magistrate Jeff Clark said Tarran was 'vile', 'disgusting' and had no remorse for his actions

Mr Tam had to be taken to hospital following the assault for treatment of swelling to the inside of his lips and an injury to his ear.

Magistrate Jeff Clark said Tarran was 'vile', 'disgusting' and had no remorse for his actions.

Tarran pleaded guilty to 13 charges, and was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison.

He will be eligible for parole in May next year.
Margaret Thatcher ordered her chancellor, Nigel Lawson to tidy up because he looked scruffy, according to her personal files.

The then prime minister wrote the instruction Nigel  tidy up on a briefing note from February 24, 1987.

The reference is believed to be to his hairstyle, which she thought was unkempt and about which she regularly complained.

Lord Lawson, who became a life peer in 1992, recalled recently that Lady Thatcher also demanded he get his hair cut as soon as he was offered the job of chancellor after the 1983 general election.

Margaret Thatcher ordered her chancellor, Nigel Lawson (pictured combed, left, and more unkempt with his wife, Therese, right) to tidy up

Lady Thatcher (pictured in Russia in 1987) also demanded he get his hair cut as soon as he was offered the job of chancellor after the 1983 general election

She only gave me one piece of briefing for the job, he said. She came absolutely straight to the point. She said, Nigel you must get your hair cut.

She had the idea  and she may have been right, I dont know  that somehow the financial markets wouldnt take altogether seriously a chancellor who had long hair.

Lord Lawson resigned as chancellor in 1989 following a bitter row with Lady Thatchers economic adviser, Sir Alan Walters.

Charles Moore, in his official biography of Lady Thatcher, relates another episode, in 1987, when she returned to the issue of her chancellor getting his hair cut.

She phoned David Young, her then employment secretary, to complain about how appallingly scruffy her ministers, notably Lawson, Kenneth Clarke and Nicholas Ridley, whose crime was to wear a cardigan, looked on television, the book relates.

Lord Lawson (second from left) with Chancellors and finance ministers from Canada, German, France and America

She said, Nigels got to get a haircut, Absolutely right (Young) Will you tell him? No, Prime Minister youve got to tell him (Young).

Mr Moore then reveals that it was actually left up to the chancellors wife, Therese, to tell him.

Lord Lawson later admitted that he did get his hair cut, but said it was at his wifes suggestion, denying that Lady Thatcher ever told him to.

In his memoir, Kind of Blue, Mr Clarke, a Cabinet minister under Lady Thatcher, recalled that she decided she wanted to see more young people representing the party on television.

Lord Lawson pictured at the Conservative Party Conference in 1990

So she ordered Lord Lawson and Mr Clarke to have their hair cut and to appear on television from time to time. Nigel and I were notorious for being lax about such things as haircuts, he wrote.

Male fashion in the late 1980s was fairly hirsute, so our laziness had been reinforced by the hairiness of other respectable people. I think Nigel did as I did and ignored the instruction, even from the prime minister, to go to a barber.

Chris Collins, Mrs Thatchers official historian, said: The message got through and he [Lord Lawson] was not happy with the idea that he was being told. Like his wife suggesting it or something.

There was a long-running issue about this. She did feel he looked a little scruffy. She liked you to be presentable; you were the chancellor, you were representing the government.

I mean, there was a deeper problem there, of course, but it wouldve been there even if they had been on the best of terms.

Lord Lawson resigned during an an increasingly acrimonious dispute with Sir Alan over whether Britain should enter the European exchange rate mechanism, the forerunner of the Euro.

Lord Lawson wanted to go in but Lady Thatcher backed Sir Alan, who opposed membership.
New documents given to CNN are supposed to show that Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya was focused on having a conversation with Donald Trump Jr and campaign associates about sanctions, not Hillary Clinton.

CNN received emails and talking points from lawyer Scott Balber, who is representing billionaire real estate developer Aras Agalarov and his pop star son Emin, who had helped plan the controversial June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower.

The emails show Veselnitskaya asking music publicist Rob Goldstone if she could bring lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin to the meeting, because he had been working on repealing the Magnitsky Act and knew 'the positions held by members of the Foreign Relations Committee that will be very important to our discussion.'

Donald Trump Jr had originally said the meeting was about 'adoptions,' as Russia banned American adoptions as retaliation for passing the Magnitsky Act.

New emails given to CNN by a lawyer for the Russian billionaire behind the Trump Tower meeting try to prove that Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya (left) was meeting with Donald Trump Jr (right) to talk sanctions - not give the Trump campaign dirt on Hillary Clinton

The lawyer, Scott Balber, suggests music publicist Rob Goldstone (pictured) is at fault for hyping up the Trump Tower meeting and saying to Donald Trump Jr that the Russians would provide dirt on Hillary Clinton. There are also emails that express that

She also notes that Akhmetshin and her translator Anatoli Samochornov had signed an 'NDA,' likely a non-disclosure agreement, which experts told CNN seemed odd.

Goldstone gave her the green light saying, 'I would suggest you bring whoever you need in order to make this meeting successful,' saying the meeting would begin at 4 p.m., instead of the 3 p.m. start time in his original email.

Balber had traveled to Moscow to receive the documents from Veselnitskaya and argued to CNN that they prove that she was focused on repealing the Magnitsky Act, not providing the campaign with dirt on President Trump's political rival, Clinton.

He explained to the network it was like a game of telephone and then suggested Goldstone, a music publicist who worked with now-President Trump on the 2013 Miss Universe pageant, was at fault.

Balber said it was Goldstone who inserted the dirt-on-Clinton angle into getting the meeting, telling CNN he 'probably exaggerated and maybe willfully contorted the facts for the purpose of making the meeting interesting to the Trump people.'

'The documents and what she told me are consistent with my client's understanding of the purpose of the meeting which was from the beginning and at all times thereafter about her efforts to launch a legislative review of the Magnitsky Act,' Balber continued.

The emails that were previously made public between Donald Trump Jr and Goldstone talked up providing the Trump campaign with Clinton dirt.

'The Crown prosecutor of Russia met with his father Aras this morning and in their meeting offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father,' Goldstone's email read.

Donald Trump Jr. famously answered, 'I love it.'

Goldstone has admitted to exaggerating when selling the meeting to the eldest Trump son, though didn't provide a new comment for CNN's story.

Balber's claims show how some parties associated with the controversial Trump Tower meeting plan to characterize it, so that it doesn't seem like collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians.

Several committees in Congress along with Special Counsel Robert Mueller are looking into whether there was collusion between the two entities.

Mueller's team has been especially interested in a statement that was drafted about the meeting, which was inaccurate, wishing to interview White House staffers that were on board Air Force One when it was being written.
The Anglican Diocese of Sydney has donated $1 million to the 'no' campaign against same sex marriage.

The donation to the Coalition for Marriage, made about a month ago, was announced by Archbishop Glenn Davies in his address to the 51st Synod on Monday, The Australian reports.

'I consider the consequences of removing gender from the marriage construct will have irreparable consequences for our society, for our freedom of speech, our freedom of conscience and freedom of religion,' Dr Davies said.

The donation to the Coalition for Marriage, made about a month ago, was announced by Archbishop Glenn Davies (pictured) in his address to the 51st Synod on Monday

'It is disingenuous to think otherwise.'

Dr Davies added that the Sydney Diocese had been granted approval from its standing committee to take the 'bold step' of withdrawing $1million from its Diocesan Endowment to promote the 'no' campaign.

Both the 'yes' and 'no' campaigns have claimed they are being outspent in the postal survey.

Tiernan Brady, the Equality campaign's executive director, told The Australian: 'We've always known opponents of equality have radically outspent the Yes side.'

'But what they have in buckets of cash, we make up with in hundreds of thousands of Australians making the case for a fairer, more just and inclusive society.'

But last month, it emerged that Qantas CEO Alan Joyce had personally donated $1 million to the campaign in support of same sex marriage.
Romola Garai is the latest in a long line of actresses to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment in an encounter she described as humiliating and 'an abuse of power.'

The Atonement actress told the Guardian about an 'audition' she was taken to at Weinstein's London hotel room where the then 18-year-old had to be 'personally approved' by him.

'He answered the door in his bathrobe,' she told the Guardian.

'I felt violated by it, it has stayed very clearly in my memory.'

The British actress, who is now 35, said she'd already had a proper audition with him, but had to go for another meeting to be 'approved' by him.

Romola Garai is the latest in a long line of actresses to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment in an encounter she described as humiliating and 'an abuse of power.' She is pictured in 2006 at a movie premier in London

The Atonement actress told the Guardian about an 'audition' she was taken to at Weinstein's London hotel room where the then 18-year-old had to be 'personally approved' by him. She is pictured in Atonement, which came out in 2007

Garai said the incident was indicative of his treatment of women and his desire to prove that he could act that way and put women in 'humiliating situations' just because 'he had the power to do it'

The incident, she said, was indicative to his approach to women in the film industry - specifically his desire to put young actresses desperate for their big break into 'humiliating situations,' just because 'he had the power to do it.'

Once she was in the hotel room she said the 65-year-old producer just sat in a chair and discussed the film with her before sending her on her way.

'The transaction was just that I was there,' she explained.

'The point was that he could get a young woman to do that, that I didn't have a choice, that it was humiliating for me and that he had the power. It was an abuse of power.'

Her accusation comes in a long line of harassment allegations spurred by a New York Times investigation published last week that said Weinstein has been sexually harassing women in Hollywood for more than 20 years.

Weinstein has been accused of reaching at least eight settlements with women he has sexually harassed.

Those women include Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan, who have both been very public with their allegations against Weinstein - with McGowan even going so far as to call him a 'rapist' and a 'monster' on Twitter.

And their confidence has encouraged further women to come forward, including writer and artist Liza Campbell who claims Weinstein invited her to his hotel room for a bath, and TV reporter Lauren Sivan who said he masturbated in front of her.

Sivan, formerly a Fox News Reporter, claims that when she worked with the cable channel Long Island 12 a decade ago, Weinstein insisted she take a tour with him in Socialista, a club he part-owned.

She claims he took her downstairs to a kitchen and cleared it of staff and then tried to kiss her. When she refused his advance he said, 'Well, can you just stand there and shut up'.

The movie mogul is then alleged to have masturbated in front of her and ejaculated into a nearby flower pot.

Sivan says she was trapped and intimidated and deeply shocked.

He has been accused of inviting women to his hotel room under the guise of work before greeting them naked and asking them to massage him or watch him in the shower.

Standing string: McGowan has been the most vocal since Thursday, despite receiving a settlement and therefore being unable to speak about her experience (McGowan and Weinstein above in 2005)

Heralding the brave: 'The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes,' added Streep, applauding their 'brave voices' (Ashley Judd above with Weinstein and Vince Vaughn in 1997, months after he harassed her inside a hotel room)

Support system: Judd began to thank those who had spoken up in support of her and McGowan over the weekend (above)

On Sunday night The Weinstein Company released a statement that he has been fired, effective immediately.

'In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged int the past few days, the directors of the Weinstein Company - Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar - have determined an have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately,' the board wrote in a statement.

It was a sudden move for the board, which on Friday said Weinstein had taken an indefinite leave of absence.

Actors and actresses alike were condemned initially for their lack of condemnation of Weinstein, but have been coming forward to speak against his actions.

Meryl Streep, who once referred to the producer as 'God' referring to his work on the film The Iron Lady, called the allegations 'disgraceful,' and 'appalling'.

Kate Winslet also came forward on Monday night to say she was aware of the stories and to applaud the bravery of his accusers for coming forward to share such difficult stories.

Speaking out: Meryl Streep has released a lengthy statement four days after a bombshell report detailed Harvey Weinstein's decades of sexual harassment (pair above in 2012)

Kate Winslet also came forward on Monday night to say she was aware of the stories and to applaud the bravery of his accusers for coming forward to share such difficult stories. She's pictured with him in 2004 at the Venice Film Festival

Questions remain about how the board was so in the dark given the number of settlements that have been paid out, with the first going back to an incident that happened in 1991 according to the Times.

Weinstein responded in a statement by saying that he was getting help, but then shortly after threatened to sue the paper for $50 million.

Board member Lance Maerov spoke to the The New York Times after the decision to terminate Weinstein on Sunday and that said that the executive had also violated the company's code of conduct in the past week.

He did not offer any additional details.

Maerov also revealed that there was much concern after Weinstein and his attorney Lisa Bloom met with the board on Thursday night, during which time the layer told the group that they could expect 'more and different reporting' that included 'photos of several of the accusers in very friendly poses with Harvey after his alleged misconduct.'

That same night a handout photo of Weinstein and a smiling Judd appeared in the New York Post alongside a statement from the Oscar-winning producer.

Dark: Just after Weinstein (pictured on Thursday night) was accused of sexually harassing multiple female employees and movie stars a number of actresses came out to share their experience with the man

Harvey Weinstein is pictured here leaving his Manhattan home on Friday after taking a leave of absence from his own firm

'This is not the time for Harvey or TWC to appear defiant or indignant,' wrote Maerov in an email to Bloom.

'It is time to repair, heal, accept responsibility and recover.'

He also wrote that Bloom had a potential conflict of interest given that Weinstein had agreed to develop a book she wrote into a series.

In another email to Bloom, Harvey's brother and partner Bob wrote: 'Perhaps, Harvey as he stated in the NY Times, to the world, should get professional help for a problem that really exists.'

On Friday, one-third of the nine-man board resigned in protest, 24-hours after the sexual harassment report threw the firm into chaos.

The company also stated that they were launching an internal probe into the claims against their disgraced co-founder.
The body of a young nurse who died in Fiji while on her honeymoon has arrived back in Sydney.

Kelly Clarke, 24, complained of stomach pains on Wednesday and her husband Chase says within half an hour, he knew the situation was critical.

She died about 30 hours later in Lautoka Hospital, north of Nadi.

Kelly Clarke's body has been returned to Australia just days after she died in Fiji

The young woman was on her honeymoon with husband Chase Clarke when she died

The 24-year-old who worked as a nurse at Westmead Children's Hospital - she was initially mis-diagnosed with typhoid

Mrs Clarke, a nurse at Westmead Children's Hospital, was initially thought to have typhoid, however her family has since revealed she died of severe bilateral pneumonia.

A private plane carrying the young woman's body arrived in Sydney on Tuesday morning, Nine Network reports.

The family were initially told it would cost $61,000 to bring the young woman home - but her insurance covered the cost.

Mrs Clarke's family has remembered her as an 'amazing human being' who had a big heart and time for anyone.

Her husband says it was a 'horrible situation' that should never have happened.

'She told me she was scared she was going to die,' he told the Seven Network on Sunday.

'I told her I loved her.'

'This horrible situation shouldn't have happened,' Mr Clarke said.

Her family has since revealed she died of severe bilateral pneumonia

'She told me she was scared she was going to die,' Mr Clarke said

When a friend revealed she was concerned for her mother, who was recently diagnosed with Lupus, Mr Clarke told her to never travel to a third-world country.

Mrs Clarke's brother, Murray Shaw, posted a loving tribute to his sister after she died.

'Kelly has passed away,' he wrote.

The young woman died after she 'went into cardiac arrest five times' her brother said

The young couple were also in Fiji to celebrate the wedding of a friend

'She went into cardiac arrest five times in the last hour and the medivac team didn't make it in time.

'You (were a) beautiful girl and amazing sister you will be deeply missed,' he wrote.

The family made a fundraising page to help bring the young woman home before she died, more than $52,000 was donated.

'All your kind donations will go a long way to support her husband and family in the difficult times to come,' the family wrote on the site.
A jihadi jailed for helping the London July 21 bombers got a high-profile council job after lying about her past.

Mulumebet Girma, 33, joined Southwark Council after colleagues failed to realise she was linked to one of the countrys most notorious attacks.

The Ethiopian former model rose through the ranks and was even put on the cover of a council magazine to promote its apprenticeship scheme.

Mulumebet Girma (left, in 2008), 33, rose through ranks of Southwark Council's housing department, following her release from prison, and featured on its magazine (right)

Former model Mulumebet Girma, pictured here taking part in Miss Brighton 2005. Three years later she would be jailed for assisting her terrorist brother-in-law Hussein Osman

But she was sacked after her conviction was exposed for assisting brother-in-law Hussein Osman, who tried to blow up a packed Tube train in 2005.

Her employment raises questions about what measures are taken to vet staff, some of whom have access to databases of vulnerable people.

Details of her convictions can be found in seconds with a simple Google search, aided by her unusual name.

But senior staff said she was not given any access to police watch list information and a review of her computer usage uncovered nothing suspicious.

Girma was recruited by the south London local authority as a trainee customer services assistant in 2013, shortly after she was released early from a 10-year jail term.

She did not declare her criminal past and the council failed to uncover it despite her having a key role in one of Britains highest profile terror trials.

Girma buys a newspaper in a newsagents in Brighton, as she helped Osman hide from police shortly after the failed bomb plot in 2005

One of 40 apprentices taken on that year, she eventually got a permanent job at the councils Peckham office.

She went on to become a systems and performance analyst in the housing team, appearing as the cover girl of an in-house magazine.

A source told The Sun newspaper: How did she manage to get this job without any checks? All it would take was a Google of her name to see her past.

The database she had control over contains clients who are deemed vulnerable.

This is for a whole range of reasons  but one is them being on a watch list, or worries they could be at risk of links to terrorism

After the 21/7 plot failed, Girma (left, in 2008) and her brother Esayas, picked up bomber Hussein Osman (right, in 2004) and drove him to their sister's student flat in Brighton

Southwark Tory councillor Michael Mitchell said: This is a truly shocking blunder. Allowing someone with that background to work with potentially vulnerable clients is an entirely avoidable risk. Its a huge error.

Girma, of Dartford, Kent, one of a group of in-laws jailed for assisting Osman after the failed atrocity.

She was convicted of hiding the failed suicide bomber at her then home in Brighton and failing to tell police about his plans.

The July 21 bombers attempted to blow up Tube trains and a bus two weeks after terrorists killed 52 passengers in the July 7 attacks.

Hussein Osman (left) , along with Muktar Said Ibrahim (right), Yassin Omar and Ramzi Mohammed, were all jailed for life for conspiracy to murder in July 2007

A huge death toll was averted because the four bombers failed to mix their devices chemicals properly.

Osman, along with Muktar Said Ibrahim, Yassin Omar and Ramzi Mohammed, were all jailed for life for conspiracy to murder in July 2007.

A fifth man, Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, was later jailed for 33 years after admitting conspiracy to cause explosions.

Girmas sister Yeshi, of Stockwell, south London, brother Esayas and her boyfriend were also convicted of aiding Osman.

Yeshi Girma, who was married to Osman, not only helped him escape but removed and destroyed evidence from their home.

Mohammed (left) and Ismail Abdurahman who was jailed for 10 years for helping the plotters

She knew about his deadly plans and had even taken their son to a Lake District terrorism training camp.

His first move after the bombing went wrong was to call her and she picked him up and took him to her sisters Brighton home where she treated his injuries and disposed of his clothes.

In a statement, Southwark Council chief executive Eleanor Kelly said Girma no longer works for Southwark Council.

She said: As soon as her background came to light we took immediate action and terminated her employment. She did not disclose her full offence to the council.

During her employment this individual never had access to police watch list data. We have fully reviewed her activity while she was employed at the council, including her computer usage, and no wrongdoing was uncovered.

We have also undertaken a robust review of our processes and procedures in light of this incident.
Tony Abbott has claimed climate change is 'probably doing good' for the planet because far more people die in cold snaps than they do in heat waves.

The former Australian prime minister made the comments in his speech to the Global Warming Policy foundation in London on Monday night.

Mr Abbott, who has long been a climate change skeptic, said the 'so-called settled science of climate change' was 'absolute cr*p'.

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Tony Abbott has claimed climate change is 'probably doing good' for the planet because far more people die in cold snaps than they do in heat waves

Mr Abbott also likened climate scientists to the 'thought police' at the London conference, which included other British climate change skeptics.

He said Australian efforts to reduce emissions would be futile on a global platform.

Mr Abbott told the centre-right Global Warming Policy Forum climate-change policies did more harm than global warming itself.

'Climate change itself is probably doing good; or at least, more good than harm,' he said.

'Far more people die in cold snaps than in heat waves, so a gradual lift in global temperatures, especially if it's accompanied by more prosperity and more capacity to adapt to change, might even be beneficial.'

Mr Abbott also rubbished assertions that climate change was behind every big weather event.

'The floods are not bigger, the bushfires are not worse, the droughts are not deeper or longer, and the cyclones are not more severe than they were in the 1800s,' he said.

'Sometimes they do more damage, but that's because there's more to destroy, not because their intensity has increased.'

Mr Abbott said he noticed no adverse effect to his electorate, in Sydney's northern suburbs (Manly beach pictured)

Mr Abbott said he noticed no adverse effect to his electorate, in Sydney's northern suburbs.

'More than 100 years of photography at Manly Beach in my electorate does not suggest that sea levels have risen despite frequent reports from climate alarmists that this is imminent,' he said.

When Mr Abbott was prime minister in 2015 he reduced the renewable energy target to 33,000 GwH per year, in commitment to the global Paris Accord.

'In a competitive market Tony Abbott strives earnestly for the position of biggest imbecile,' one Twitter user said following news of Mr Abbott's opinion on climate change

In past years he said his personal view on climate change was stifled when he held office.

After his climate change speech hit headlines on Tuesday, Mr Abbott was slammed on social media.

'Please stop talking until you can think more than one day ahead. Consult with scientists before asserting your idiocy,' one critic said on Twitter.

'Australia's former prime minister Tony Abbott denies climate change then calls it 'beneficial'. Yea, it's confusing,' another said.

'Please stop talking until you can think more than one day ahead. Consult with scientists before asserting your idiocy,' one critic said on Twitter

'I agree with Tony Abbott. If the weather is getting warmer, that has to be good!' one Twitter user said

In 2009 the former prime minister famously told a Liberal Party dinner he thought the science behind climate change was 'cr*p' - eight years before he said the same thing this week.

While he was in office, Mr Abbott also appointed a climate change denier as his top business adviser and put another skeptic in charge of reviewing the country's renewable energy policy.

While most people condemned Mr Abbott's argument on Tuesday, he was not without his supporters.

'I agree with Tony Abbott. If the weather is getting warmer, that has to be good!' one Twitter user said.
A drunk mother out with her children for her birthday punched a taxi driver in the head because she didn't want to pay the remaining $15 of the $35 fare.

Nicholle Shay Drovandi was returning home to Bli Bli on Queensland's Sunshine Coast with her two children in the early hours of October 9 last year.

On arrival she argued with their 61-year-old taxi driver about the fare until he threatened to report her for refusing to pay it.

Nicholle Shay Drovandi punched a Sunshine Coast taxi driver in the head because she didn't want to pay the remaining $15 of the fare

In response she punched him in the upper left side of the head, breaking his glasses, and giving him the remaining $15 of the fare before getting out of the car.

Drovandi pleaded guilty to serious assault of a person over 60 in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, according to the Sunshine Coast Daily.

She was arrested in March after being caught on CCTV and faced up to six years jail because of the victim's age.

The court heard the assault caused the driver so much anxiety he quit his job as it was the second time he had been attacked.

She was returning home to Bli Bli on the Sunshine Coast with her two teenage daughters in the early hours of October 9 last year and argued about the fare

He was driving cabs on the side to fund his retirement but decided his 'health and wellbeing' had to come first.

Drovandi's lawyer told the court she asked the driver to let her family out earlier as she didn't have enough money, but he was unwilling to let them walk home in the dark.

Magistrate Ron Madsen said the attack had a 'lasting impact' on the victim and sentenced Drovandi to six months jail.

She was immediately released on parole for time served and ordered to pay $200 to replace the driver's broken glasses.
Unhealthy lifestyles are putting unprecedented pressures on the NHS, the official watchdog warns.

The Care Quality Commission said hospitals, care homes and GP surgeries were straining at the seams over a lack of beds, insufficient staff and record demand.

Much of this demand is fuelled by illnesses caused by lifestyle choices  obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and dementia  the watchdog claimed.

It said organisations were struggling to cope with these 21st century problems and an ageing population. David Behan, CQC chief executive, said: The good news is we are all living longer but  we are not living healthily longer.

Our healthy life expectancy is not keeping pace with our life expectancy  and it is that which is driving the demand.

He added that the state of the NHS and social care was precarious and that safety remained a big concern.

Unhealthy lifestyles are putting unprecedented pressures on the NHS, the CQC has warned

The CQCs annual State of Care report found hospitals are at record capacity. Bed occupancy rates hit a high of 91.4 per cent this year, substantially above the 85 per cent safe threshold.

At the same time, staffing levels are falling and funding for social care has failed to keep pace with the needs of patients. The CQC singled out how vacancy rates for GPs, hospital doctors and dentists have risen by 40 per cent within the past two years.

Nursing homes are closing and shrinking because of a lack of staff and money  4,000 nursing home beds have been lost since 2015.

The report is based on the latest inspections of 152 hospital trusts, 21,250 care homes and home help services, 7,000 GP surgeries and ten ambulance trusts in England. Each is given an Ofsted-style rating from outstanding to inadequate and re-assessed every one to two years, or more frequently if it is failing.

Currently, 56 per cent of hospital trusts have an overall rating of inadequate or requires improvement. On safety, 76 per cent were given one of these low ratings.

Care homes and home help fared better, with 20 per cent inadequate or requiring improvement overall. Some 24 per cent received one of these lower ratings for safety.

Mr Behan said safety in many hospitals and care services had improved, but added: We are going to see a fall in the quality of services  and that may mean the safety of some people is compromised as a consequence.

Jonathan Ashworth MP said the report was damning evidence of the Governments inability to maintain health services at the standard which patients expect

The NHS was created in the middle of the 20th century when the big issues it was attempting to deal with was diseases like TB and polio.

Today the NHS and social care are dealing with obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancers, dementia, all of which are driven  more by lifestyle choices.

He said there would be a rise in over-85s from 1.5million in 2014 to 3.2million in 2034, adding: The system now and into the future has got to deal with those increased numbers of older people who are going to have more than one condition  the system is increasingly going to have to work together.

Approximately 26 per cent of UK adults are obese and the rates have almost doubled since the early 1990s. Obesity substantially raises risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and dementia as well as backache and insomnia. Coupled with an ageing population, the rising rates of these lifestyle illnesses are placing a huge strain on the NHS.

Mr Behan warned of staffing issues across the board making an impact on quality of care. Figures from the report show a stark increase in the number of vacant posts advertised on the NHS Jobs website.

Some 4,043 doctor, GP and dentist posts were listed in March 2017, a 40 per cent rise from March 2015. The relative number of full-time GPs fell from 67 per 100,000 people in 2014 to 62 per 100,000 in 2016.

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labours health spokesman, said the report was damning evidence of the Governments inability to maintain health services at the standard which patients expect.

The Nuffield Trusts Professor John Appleby said although most NHS patients still receive good and safe care, the system as a whole is struggling to cope.

Health minister Philip Dunne said the CQC had recognised the vast majority of patients are getting good care and many parts of the NHS have improved.

He added: We are determined to make the NHS the safest healthcare system in the world and are investing in more staff and in services, including 2billion extra for social care  and an extra 100million this winter to help A&E departments cope with demand.
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Some of Hollywood's biggest stars have remained tight-lipped over the bombshell sexual harassment allegations against ex-studio head Harvey Weinstein that went public last week.

An investigation by The New York Times claimed on Thursday that Weinstein repeatedly sexually harassed a number of female employees and movie stars over the course of his three-decade career as one of Hollywood's most celebrated studio heads.

The shocking Times report alleged that Weinstein once asked Ashley Judd if she would like to watch him shower during a meeting in his room at the Peninsula Beverly Hills and paid $100,000 to Rose McGowan for an unknown incident shortly after she filmed her breakthrough role in the film 'Scream.'

That settlement is one of eight that Weinstein has reportedly paid out over the past 30 years, with Italian model Ambra Battilana also getting an undisclosed sum in 2015 after accusing the Hollywood executive of groping her and putting his hand under her skirt.

Hollywood elite actresses Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence and Julia Roberts are among the many women who have worked with Weinstein in the past.

These women have also been vocal advocates for women equality, with Kidman even speaking out against violence towards women.

Weinstein was fired on Sunday by The Weinstein Company just days after the Times published the claims.

The movie mogul was ousted by his own company's board of directors. Weinstein founded the firm with his brother Bob in 2005 when he left Miramax.

But since the allegations made national headlines, these A-listers have kept quiet:

NICOLE KIDMAN

She is a favorite of Weinstein, working with him on seven films, and has been photographed numerous times with him at awards ceremonies and gala dinners.

Kidman, 50, fights for equality as a UN women's ambassador and in 2013 said violence against women is 'the greatest outrage'.

She has no social media presence and by last night had said nothing about Weinstein; her publicist did not respond to calls for comment.

Kidman is a favorite of Weinstein (pictured in November 2016), working with him on seven films, and has been photographed numerous times with him at awards ceremonies and gala dinners

JULIA ROBERTS

Weinstein has called her 'incredible' and a 'good friend'. She has appeared in several films by him including Confessions of a Dangerous Mind in 2002 and August: Osage County in 2013.

Roberts, 49, is a vocal advocate for women's rights. Earlier this year she was among celebrities who signed an open letter demanding gender equality.

She has so far said nothing about the allegations. Her publicist did not respond to requests for comment.

Weinstein has called Roberts (pictured together in September 2013) 'incredible' and a 'good friend'. She has appeared in several films by him including Confessions of a Dangerous Mind in 2002 and August: Osage County in 2013

SCARLETT JOHANSSON

She has been friends with the mogul for years. She starred in his 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona and was pictured at the premiere with him.

Writing in a magazine in February, Johansson, 32, said fighting for equality is 'an uphill battle' and that among her female friends and family, 'everyone has been discriminated against or harassed  sexism is real'.

By last night she hadn't spoken of the scandal and her publicist didn't reply.

Johansson has been friends with the mogul for years. She starred in his 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona and was pictured at the premiere with him, above

JENNIFER LAWRENCE

She won an Oscar for Weinstein's 2012 film Silver Linings Playbook, and she partied around the globe with him during the awards season. He once said: 'Jen has a great sense of humor. She's so genuine.'

Lawrence, 27, has been vociferous in her demands for equality and has wrote about it for Lena Dunham's online magazine Lenny after finding out she is paid 'less than the lucky people with d****'.

So far she has yet to say a word about Weinstein. Her publicist did not respond.

Lawrence (pictured with Weinstein in April 2013) won an Oscar for Weinstein's 2012 film Silver Linings Playbook, and she partied around the globe with him during the awards season. He once said: 'Jen has a great sense of humor. She's so genuine'

EMMA WATSON

She appeared in the Weinstein film My Week With Marilyn in 2011 and that year was seen leaving a pre-Bafta party with him and going to a nightclub where they partied until 3am.

Watson, 27, is a passionate campaigner for women's rights and has been a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador since 2014. Last year she said: 'It's sad we live in a society where women don't feel safe.'

Last night there was no word about Weinstein to her 26.6million Twitter followers. Her publicist did not respond.

Watson appeared in the Weinstein film My Week With Marilyn in 2011 and that year was seen leaving a pre-Bafta party with him (Weinstein pictured left in 2011 with Watson) and going to a nightclub where they partied until 3am

GWYNETH PALTROW

She has said Weinstein 'looks out for me', while he has called her the 'first lady' of one of his production firms. She won an Oscar for his film Shakespeare in Love in 1998.

She paints herself as a women's champion and revealed in one interview that early in her career 'someone suggested we finish a meeting in the bedroom'.

Paltrow, 45, hasn't tweeted since September 21. Her publicist did not respond.

Paltrow has said Weinstein 'looks out for me', while he has called her the 'first lady' of one of his production firms. She won an Oscar for his film Shakespeare in Love in 1998. The two are pictured together at the Academy Awards in 1999

DAME HELEN MIRREN

She worked with Weinstein most recently on the 2015 film Woman in Gold. She has been vocal about the need to confront abuse by male movie bosses.

In 2007, Mirren, 72, said late director Michael Winner made her show off her figure at a 1964 casting, adding: 'It was insulting and sexist. I don't think any actress should be treated like that.'

She has so far been silent about the scandal; her publicist did not comment.

Mirren (pictured with Weinstein, left, in December 2015) worked with Weinstein most recently on the 2015 film Woman in Gold. She has been vocal about the need to confront abuse by male movie bosses

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY

She starred in his hit film The Imitation Game in 2014. Even though she was heavily pregnant she went to all the awards events, including the Hollywood Film Awards.

Knightley, 32, has called on Hollywood to respect women, saying in 2006: 'In this industry women have to be very true to themselves about what they're comfortable with.'

She does not have social media. Her publicist did not respond.

Knightley starred in his hit film The Imitation Game in 2014. Even though she was heavily pregnant she went to all the awards events, including the Hollywood Film Awards, above

Renee Zellweger

Zellweger won the award for best supporting actress for her performance in Cold Mountain in 2004.

During her Oscar acceptance speech that year, Zellweger, 48, thanked her 'friends at Miramax for making this film, especially Harvey'.

She does not have social media. Her publicist did not respond to a request for comment.

Rene Zellweger (pictured with Weinstein in 2008) won the award for best supporting actress for her performance in Cold Mountain in 2004

SIENNA MILLER

Weinstein cast the then little-known actress as the lead in 2006 film Factory Girl, which landed her on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine.

The film was a disappointment, and they havent worked together since, but she has remained in his orbit. Miller, 35, spoke in an interview in 2015 of the lack of equality in our industry and all over the world.

By last night she hadnt said anything since the Weinstein scandal broke, and her publicist had not responded to a request for comment.
Disturbing details about the reclusive and strange life of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock have now emerged in unsealed court documents from 2013.

In the testimony, made as part of a slip-and-fall suit, he admitted to gambling up to $1 million a night - saying the sum isn't a large amount of money - and said he was on Valium, a drug that can cause aggression.

He also boasted about spending '14 hours a day, 365 days a year' playing video poker in 2006, usually at night, CNN reported.

When asked if he ever went out, he said: 'I don't do sun.'

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Stephen Paddock (pictured) testified in 2013 that he was taking Valium prescribed by a doctor who he paid a retainer to for easy access. The drug can cause rages and aggression

The remarks were made in a deposition after Paddock (circled) sued the Cosmopolitan Hotel in 2012 for a slip he had the year before. He's seen here in CCTV footage just before the slip

Paddock (fallen, in circle) tried to sue the casino for $100,000, but his claim was thrown out. He also told the court he gambled 14 hours a day, 356 days a year at peak, in 2006

The 97-page court deposition was created as part of Paddock's $100,000 lawsuit against Cosmopolitan Hotels & Resorts, after he claimed to have slipped on a puddle in its namesake hotel.

In it, he claimed to have no mental health issues or addiction problems.

However, he did admit to having a doctor who supplied him with Valium - also known as diazepam - for 'anxiousness'.

'He's like on retainer, I call it, I guess,' Paddock said of the doctor. 'It means I pay a fee yearly ... I have good access to him.'

It's not clear how much he took, or how regularly; he told the court he had 10-15 pills left in a bottle of 60 prescribed a year and a half earlier.

But the drug can cause aggressiveness and rages in some people if they have unresolved issues, Dr Mel Pohl, chief medical officer of the Las Vegas Recovery Center, told The Las Vegas Review-Journal.

SIDE EFFECTS OF DIAZEPAM (VALIUM) For most patients, these are the typical side effects: Drowsiness

Tired feeling

Dizziness

Spinning sensation

Fatigue

Constipation

Loss of balance

Memory problems

Restlessness

Irritability Muscle weakness

Nausea

Drooling

Dry mouth

Slurred speech

Blurred vision

Double vision

Skin rash

Itching

Lost interest in sex However, the pamphlet that accompanies the medication tells patients to call their doctor if they experience the following symptoms: Thoughts about suicide or dying

New or worse anxiety

Trouble sleeping (insomnia)

Acting on dangerous impulses

Attempts to commit suicide

Feeling agitated or restless

New or worse irritability

An extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)

New or worse depression

Panic attacks

Acting aggressive, being angry, or violent

Other unusual changes in behavior or mood Advertisement

'If somebody has an underlying aggression problem and you sedate them with that drug, they can become aggressive,' Pohl said.

'It can disinhibit an underlying emotional state.  It is much like what happens when you give alcohol to some people  they become aggressive instead of going to sleep.'

Whether Paddock had such problems is something the FBI's profiling teams in LA and Las Vegas are still trying to determine.

In a statement to the public last week, Paddock's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, 62, said that she 'knew Stephen Paddock as a kind, caring, quiet man'.

However, it emerged over the weekend that Paddock had a darker side; a Las Vegas prostitute told The Sun that Paddock paid her $6,000 a weekend to take part in S&M sex acts.

Paddock was particularly into roleplaying, the unnamed woman said, including tying her up and asking her to act out rape fantasies.

It's not clear whether these might indicate any kind of underlying aggression that could manifest through Valium.

The doctor who prescribed the drug was identified by the Review-Journal as Dr Stephen P Winkler.

Winkler's office refused to confirm or deny whether Paddock was a patient, citing patient confidentiality rules, which persist even after death.

Paddock also said he had a concealed weapon permit in Texas, but otherwise there was little discussion of guns.

Elsewhere in the deposition, Paddock - who made millions in real estate and was known as a 'big fish' gambler according to his brother - paints a picture of himself as an unusual 'high-roller'.

He talks about how he would walk around the casinos in black flip-flops and sweat pants - and would carry his own drinks so he didn't have to tip waitresses.

However, he said, he didn't like to drink because 'at the stakes I play, you want to have all your wits about you, or as much wit as I have.'

Paddock would play video poker (file photo) hands of up to $1,500. He'd sometimes spend as much as $1 million a day, he said - but thought that wasn't much money

Those stakes, he said, could see him losing $100-1,350 at the push of a button - and sometimes saw him gambling up to $1 million a night.

'That's a lot of money,' the lawyer said.

'No it's not,' Paddock replied.

Paddock filed the suit in 2012 after he claimed to have slipped and fallen on a wet floor, citing 'Negligence - Premises Liability'.

Video footage showed Paddock's fall in the Cosmopolitan - but also a number of other guests and staff walking over the same area without apparently noticing any puddles or danger.

The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in late 2014.
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When 1.4 billion people go on holiday at the same time, it's no surprising that scenic spots would get a little bit more crowded.

A theme park in Henan, central China, was one of the busiest tourist attractions in China as the world's most populous country celebrated their National Day holiday last week, according to media.

Thousands of camera-ready tourists flocked to the Millennium City Park daily to enjoy the re-constructed scenery inspired by the romantically remembered Song Dynasty (960-1279).

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Packed like sardines: Chinese tourists stand on a bridge at the Millennium City Park on October 5 to watch a performance

Room for one more? The theme park in Henan, China, was one of the busiest attractions during the National Day holiday

Located in Kaifeng, the ancient capital of the Song Dynasty, the 10-acre theme park was so popular visitors barely had room to move around, reported People's Daily Online.

Awe-inspiring pictures show hundreds of travellers squeezing themselves onto a stone bridge in the park in order to watch a performance on October 5.

The park, opened in 1998, was built to intimate the scenes from painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival.

As one of the most famous artistic masterpieces in China, the impressive painting captured the prosperous streets of Kaifeng during the city's heyday between the 11th and 12th century.

The artwork, measuring a whopping 5.25 metres long (17 feet), was drawn by Song Dynasty artist Zhang Zeduan.

As the painting remains one of the most revered artistic treasures in China, any modern-day attractions related to it would draw a large number of tourists, who want to admire China's glorious past.

Popular spot: The park, opened in 1998, was built to intimate the scenes from one of China's most famous ancient paintings

Holiday rush: A large number of tourists visited the theme park, inspired by Song Dynasty, to admire China's glorious past

A 'relaxing' holiday in China: Tourists chill next to a canal in the Millennium City Park in the ancient capital of Kaifeng

Apparently, overcrowding occurred across China, not just in Kaifeng

People's Daily Online reported that the Chinese citizens made a record-high number of trips during the National Day holiday, also known as 'the Golden Week'.

A total of 705 million trips were recorded in China during the eight-day break, according to the China National Tourism Administration.

The figure nearly doubled the number of trips Chinese citizens made during the same holiday five years ago.

The holiday was also said to generate about 590 billion yuan (67 billion) in tourism income. That's around 450 yuan (51.6) from every Chinese person.

A few factors were said to have contributed to the increase, including the popularisation of high-speed trains and the newly launched free-of-charge policy on motorways.

Due to the timing of the Mid-autumn Festival, this year's National Day holiday had eight days, instead of the traditional seven days. This was also considered to be a reason why more trips have been made.

A record-breaking 705 million trips were made in China last week, according to the China National Tourism Administration

Chinese passengers queue up to check-in at the Suzhou Railway Station ahead of the National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in Suzhou city, east China's Jiangsu province, 30 September 2017
Award-winning documentary filmmaker and fine-art photographer Miguel Gandert shows his work highlighting his mestizaje heritage, and the fusion and tension of the relationship between Spanish Colonial and Native Cultures of the Americas. Runs through 12/29.

Querer means to want, to desire, to be in a place, with its people. In folk terminology, querencia is such a place, the center space of desire, the root of belonging and yearning to belong, that vicinity where you first beheld the light. Querencia, in collective terms, is homeland. ~Enrique Lamadrid, Nuevo Mexico Profundo

Miguel Gandert tells stories. He tells stories of his homeland, New Mexico (and beyond), its people and the cultural practices that distinguish communities from each other while simultaneously revealing their kinship. You will have to form your own words, however. Ganderts stories are told through penetrating, black and white photos. A primary focus of his work is his own mestizaje heritage and the fusion and tension of the relationship between Spanish Colonial and Native Cultures of the Americas.

Miguel Gandert, a native of Espanola, NM, is an award-winning documentary and fine-art photographer and filmmaker. His photographs have been shown in galleries and museums throughout the world and are in numerous public collections including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the National Museum of American History and Art at the Smithsonian.

Querencia: Rituals of the Rio Arriba opens Friday, October 6 at the New Mexico Humanities Council, 4115 Silver Ave SE, Albuquerque. An artists reception will be 6:00 pm  8:00 pm with an artist's discussion at 7:00 pm. The exhibit closes December 29, 2017.
The long-standing debate over which sex is nicer may finally have been solved.

Researchers have found that the female brain rewards friendly and helpful behaviour more than selfish decisions.

The male mind on the other hand is more egocentric, encouraging narcissistic acts over selfless ones.

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Researchers have found that the female brain rewards friendly and helpful behaviour more than selfish decisions. The male mind on the other hand is more egocentric, rewarding narcissistic acts over selfless ones (stock image)

WHY THE DIFFERENCE? While the differences in male and female brains could form at the biological level, they don't necessarily have an evolutionary origin. More likely, they are pushed onto us from birth as part of our cultural values, lead researcher Dr Alexander Soutschek said. 'Empirical studies show that girls are rewarded with praise for prosocial behaviour, implying that their reward systems learn to expect a reward for helping behaviour instead of selfish behaviour,' he said. 'With this in mind, the gender differences that we observed in our studies could best be attributed to the different cultural expectations placed on men and women.' Advertisement

The researchers, from the University of Zurich, say this is likely the result of our cultural expectations of women to be more helpful than men.

The research shows for the first time that the brains of men and women respond differently to selfish and friendly, or 'prosocial', behaviour.

Previous studies have already shown that women typically share sums of money more generously than men.

Study lead author Dr Alexander Soutschek told MailOnline: 'In the literature, there was already a lot of behavioural evidence that in many (though not all) situations women often act more prosocially then men.

'But it remained unknown whether these differences in behaviour can be explained by differences in brain functioning.

'Our study showed that these gender differences in altruism can be explained by differences of the reward system of the brain to selfish and shared rewards.'

In their study, the team looked at the areas of the brain that are active when charitable decisions are made in two groups - one of 27 men and one of 26 women.

This area, known as the striatum, is found in the middle of the brain, and is responsible for the assessment of reward, becoming active when a decision is made.

Subjects made decisions between a 'selfish reward option' in which only the subject obtained 10 Swiss francs (7.75 or $10.20), and a 'prosocial reward option' in which both the subject and another person receive 7.50 Swiss francs (5.80 or $7.65).

The research shows for the first time that the brains of men and women respond differently to selfish and helpful, or 'prosocial', behaviour (stock image)

The study showed that the striatum was more strongly activated in female brains during prosocial decisions than during selfish decisions.

By contrast, selfish decisions led to a stronger activation of the reward system in male brains.

In a second experiment, the reward system was disrupted by administering medication to the participants.

Under these conditions, women behaved more selfishly, while men became more prosocial.

THE STUDY In their study, the team looked at the areas of the brain that are active when charitable decisions are made in two groups - one of 27 men and one of 26 women. This area, known as the striatum, is found in the middle of the brain, and is responsible for the assessment of reward, becoming active when a decision is made. Subjects made decisions between a 'selfish reward option' in which only the subject obtained 10 Swiss francs, and a 'prosocial reward option' in which both the subject and another person receive 7.50 Swiss francs. The study showed that the striatum was more strongly activated in female brains during prosocial decisions than during selfish decisions. By contrast, selfish decisions led to a stronger activation of the reward system in male brains. Advertisement

Dr Soutschek said the differences don't necessarily have an evolutionary origin, and are more likely pushed onto us from birth as part of our cultural values.

'The reward and learning systems in our brains work in close cooperation,' Dr Soutschek.

'Empirical studies show that girls are rewarded with praise for prosocial behaviour, implying that their reward systems learn to expect a reward for helping behaviour instead of selfish behaviour.

'With this in mind, the gender differences that we observed in our studies could best be attributed to the different cultural expectations placed on men and women.'
The lyrics to the much-loved soap, Neighbours, claim that 'everybody needs good neighbours'  and it seems that this may even apply to birds.

Scientists have found that birds who live next to family or friends are physically healthier and age more slowly.

The researchers hope their findings will provide exciting new information about how conflict over space and resources can be resolved in the animal kingdom.

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Scientists have found that birds who live next to family or friends are physically healthier and age more slowly. Pictured is one of the Seychelles warblers studied by the scientists

BIRD NEIGHBOURS Researchers studied a population of Seychelles warblers to test whether birds with more familiar neighbours had more peaceful territories and better health as a result. They saw that the birds sometimes fought with their neighbours, but never with family members or neighbours they had known for a while. The scientists then measured the birds' body condition, and telomere length  sections of DNA that erode faster during times of stress or poor health. Their analysis revealed that birds with more relatives or familiar neighbours in their neighbourhood were in better condition and showed less telomere loss. But if new or unrelated neighbours moved into the neighbourhood, territory owners lost condition and suffered more telomere shortening. These findings show just how important keeping good neighbours can be for birds. Advertisement

Like humans, birds often 'own' a private piece of land that they defend against intruders.

And having good neighbours - in the form of family or friends - that respect this territory means less work and stress for owners.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia studied a population of Seychelles warblers - a small island bird endemic to the Seychelles islands - to test whether birds with more familiar neighbours had more peaceful territories and better health as a result.

They saw that birds sometimes fought with their neighbours, but never with family members or neighbours that they had known for a while.

The scientists then measured the birds' body condition, and telomere length  sections of DNA that erode faster during times of stress or poor health.

Their analysis revealed that birds with more relatives or familiar neighbours in their neighbourhood were in better condition and showed less telomere loss.

But if new or unrelated neighbours moved into the neighbourhood, territory owners lost condition and suffered more telomere shortening.

These findings show just how important keeping good neighbours can be for birds.

Kat Bebbington, lead author of the study, said: 'Defending territory boundaries is crucial if animals are to hold onto valuable food and other resources.

Like humans, birds often 'own' a private piece of land that they defend against intruders. And having good neighbours  in the form of family or friends - that respect this territory means less work and stress for owners (stock image)

AGELESS HEARING A study of barn owls found they have 'ageless ears', an evolutionary advantage that is absent in humans and other mammals. The birds' ability to regenerate the ear's cochlea is likely how they retain 'ageless ears'. The cochlea is a tiny, shell like structure in the inner ear that relays sound waves to the auditory nerve. It contains sensory cells called hair cells and typically hearing loss is linked to damage to these cells. This can happen as a result of an exceptionally loud noise or naturally through as a ageing. If scientists can crack how the birds regenerate these cells, they could protect against or even reverse hearing loss. Advertisement

'Territory owners who are constantly fighting with neighbours are stressed and have little time to do other important things  such as finding food and producing offspring  and their health suffers as a result.

'Interestingly, we show that it's not just relatives that can be trusted, but also neighbours you get to know well over time.

'Sometimes similar problems occurs in human neighbourhoods: if you've lived next to your neighbour for years, you are much more likely to trust each other and help each other out now and then.'

As wild animals are increasingly squeezed into small areas of natural habitat, understanding how relationships between neighbours affects health is crucial, according to the researchers.

The team hopes that the findings will provide exciting new information about how conflict over space and resources can be resolved.
Protecting the UK from cyber attacks is just as important as fighting terrorism, the director of intelligence agency GCHQ has said.

Writing in the Telegraph, Jeremy Fleming said the speed of technological advances, including the internet, means the UK's enemies are constantly finding new ways of threatening the nation's security.

The ex-deputy director of MI5 said Government investment is being used to ensure GCHQ is 'a cyber organisation as well as an intelligence and counter-terrorism one'.

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Protecting the UK from cyber attacks is just as important as fighting terrorism, the director of intelligence agency GCHQ has said. Pictured is GCHQ in Cheltenham

THE NCSC Last year, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was set up within GCHQ. It established to spearhead efforts to counter the mounting danger from cyber-criminals and hostile states. In a report published last Tuesday, experts at the NCSC revealed that Britain is being hit by nearly two significant cyber-attacks every day. In the report, the centre set out its activity in its first year and summarised the shape of the current threat. It said: There are now more devices connected to the internet than there are people in the world and with the growth of our dependence on technology comes an increased risk. Despite the NCSCs best work in defending the country from that threat, we cant prevent every attack. Advertisement

He wrote: 'If GCHQ is to continue to help keep the country safe, then protecting the digital homeland  keeping our citizens safe and free online  must become and remain as much part of our mission as our global intelligence reach and our round-the-clock efforts against terrorism.'

Last year, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was set up within GCHQ.

It established to spearhead efforts to counter the mounting danger from cyber-criminals and hostile states.

Mr Fleming said the centre had responded to nearly 600 'significant' cyber attacks which required a national response.

Among them were the WannaCry or Wanna Decryptor ransomware, which downed systems across the globe including the NHS in May.

A separate attack, this one on Parliament in June, compromised up to 90 email accounts.

Mr Fleming, who became director of GCHQ in March, said the NCSC now has a 'world-leading programme to reduce the incidence and impact of cyber-attacks without users even noticing'.

He added that despite GCHQ's need for secrecy, the centre was working closely with schools, universities and private firms, as well as the media, as part of its vital role.

This is not the first time this month that security chiefs have warned of the growing danger of cyber attacks in the UK.

Writing in the Telegraph , Jeremy Fleming said the speed of technological advances, including the internet, means the UK's enemies are constantly finding new ways of threatening the nation's security (stock image)

Last week, experts at the NCSC revealed that Britain is being hit by nearly two significant cyber-attacks every day.

Jeremy Fleming has said Government investment is being used to ensure GCHQ is 'a cyber organisation'

In a report published last Tuesday, the centre set out its activity in its first year and summarised the shape of the current threat.

It said: There are now more devices connected to the internet than there are people in the world and with the growth of our dependence on technology comes an increased risk.

Despite the NCSCs best work in defending the country from that threat, we cant prevent every attack.

The assessment underlines how threats can originate from a range of sources, including cyber criminals or nation states that may seek to exploit UK organisations to further their own agenda and prosperity.

It warns: Campaigns by nation states can be persistent, including espionage and intellectual property theft that take place over many years and use significant technical capability.

Nation states are also starting to explore how cyber operations can support a disruptive and destructive strategy.
Protecting astronauts from cosmic radiation is one of the key challenges facing future missions to Mars, and Nasa believes it may have a solution.

The space agency, which is planning to send explorers to the red planet in the 2030s, is considering the use of drugs that alter the DNA code of its crews.

This could repair any damage sustained from the high energy particles that will bombard the bodies of 'Marsonauts', giving rise to greater risks of cancer and other diseases.

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Protecting astronauts from cosmic radiation is one of the key challenges facing future missions to Mars. Nasa, which is planning to send explorers to the red planet in the 2030s, is considering the use of drugs that alter the DNA code of its crews

SPACE RADIATION Space is home to particle radiation which has sufficient energy to collide violently with the nuclei that make up shielding and human tissue. These collisions, known as nuclear collisions, can then give rise to new particles as the incoming radiation and shielding nuclei break up. It can also damage the DNA of human cell, giving rise to diseases like cancer and dementia. According to Nasa, there are three sources that give rise to space radiation. The Van Allen Radiation Belts, where radiation particles remain trapped around Earth The sun: During times of high solar activity or solar storms, the sun emits high fluxes of radiation Galactic Cosmic Radiation: According to the experts, this type of radiation is the most concerning. It stems from supernovae, or stellar explosions beyond our solar system Advertisement

Nasa's acting chief technologist, Dr Douglas Terrier, made the comments ahead of an appearance at the Codex innovation summit, held in London.

One of the techniques currently under development that it is following is NMN, a compound expected to enter clinical trials after it was shown to rejuvenate elderly mice in laboratory tests.

It is also considering making more advanced tweaks or alterations to the DNA of its astronauts, although the moral implications of such a radical step will need to be addressed.

This includes epigenetic modifications, which alter the way genes are read by the body without making changes to the underlying DNA code.

Using such a technique would allow Nasa's scientists to turn up the volume on one genetic instruction or mute another.

This may help to prevent cancers, dementia and other radiation related illnesses from developing, as well as boosting the body's resilience to its effects.

Speaking to The Times, Dr Terrier said: 'Were looking at a range of things.

'From drug therapies, and those seem to be quite promising, to more extreme things like epigenetic modification all the way to manipulation.

'I think those have a lot of ethical consequences so theyre still in the experimental thought stages.'

Space is home to particle radiation which has sufficient energy to collide violently with the nuclei that make up shielding and human tissue.

Nasa's acting chief technologist, Dr Douglas Terrier, made the comments ahead of an appearance at the Codex innovation summit, held in London

DNA drugs could repair any damage sustained from the high energy particles that will bombard the bodies of 'Marsonauts', giving rise to greater risks of cancer and other diseases

These collisions, known as nuclear collisions, can then give rise to new particles as the incoming radiation and shielding nuclei break up.

It can also damage the DNA of human cell, giving rise to diseases like cancer and dementia.

Here on Earth, the planet's magnetic field protects us from most of these particles, but astronauts will spend potentially years exposed to them.

Other protective measures proposed include armoured suits, shielded plating and electromagnetic force fields, but these are unlikely to prove practical.

Nasa is also considering the use of an artificial intelligence programme able to diagnose diseases and perform robotic surgery in space.
An astonishing discovery on the surface of Mars suggests life may have once flourished at the bottom of a vast sea on the now barren planet.

Experts examined images taken by Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) that show mineral deposits at on the bed of an ancient ocean.

They are thought to be remnants of underwater volcanoes, almost four billion years old, which would have provided ideal conditions for simple organisms to thrive.

Researchers at Nasa say the discovery yields clues to the 'possible cradle of life'.

Similar environments here on Earth are believed to have led to the emergence of the earliest forms of life.

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The Eridania basin of southern Mars is believed to have held a sea about 3.7 billion years ago, with seafloor deposits likely resulting from underwater hydrothermal activity. This graphic, which covers an area about 530 (850 km) miles wide, shows estimated depths of water

THE ERIDANIA BASIN Researchers estimate the ancient Eridania sea held about 50,000 cubic miles (210,000 cubic km) of water. That is as much as all other lakes and seas on ancient Mars combined and about nine times more than the combined volume of all of North America's Great Lakes. The mix of minerals identified from the spectrometer data, including serpentine, talc and carbonate, as well as the shape and texture of the thick bedrock layers, led to identifying possible seafloor hydrothermal deposits. The area has lava flows that occurred after the disappearance of the sea. The researchers cite these as evidence that this is an area of Mars' crust with a volcanic susceptibility that also could have produced effects earlier, when the sea was present. Advertisement

Researchers used the MRO to examine basins in a region called Eridania, on the southern side of the red planet.

They believe these deposits were formed by heated water from a volcanically active part of the planet's crust.

Experts estimate hydrothermal activity created the mounds of minerals at the bottom of the seafloor 3.7 billion years ago.

In a written statement, Paul Niles of Nasa's Johnson Space Centre, in Houston, Texas said: 'Even if we never find evidence that there's been life on Mars, this site can tell us about the type of environment where life may have begun on Earth.

'Volcanic activity combined with standing water provided conditions that were likely similar to conditions that existed on Earth at about the same time, when early life was evolving here.

'This site gives us a compelling story for a deep, long-lived sea and a deep-sea hydrothermal environment.

'It is evocative of the deep-sea hydrothermal environments on Earth, similar to environments where life might be found on other worlds, life that doesn't need a nice atmosphere or temperate surface, but just rocks, heat and water.'

Mars today has neither standing water nor volcanic activity.

Eridania is located at the boundary of Terrae Cimmeria and Sirenum, an ancient part of the martian crust which exhibits strong remnant magnetism

This image, taken by the Context Camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, shows a 12 miles wide portion of the Eridania basin. Blocks of deep-basin deposits have been surrounded and partially buried by younger volcanic deposits

Undersea hydrothermal conditions on Earth at about that same time are a strong candidate for where and when life on Earth began.

Earth still has such conditions, where many forms of life thrive on chemical energy extracted from rocks, without sunlight.

But due to Earth's active crust, our planet holds little direct geological evidence preserved from the time when life began.

The possibility of undersea hydrothermal activity inside icy moons such as Europa at Jupiter and Enceladus at Saturn feeds interest in them as destinations in the quest to find extraterrestrial life.

Observations by MRO's Compact Reconnaissance Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) provided the data for identifying minerals in massive deposits within Mars' Eridania basin.

This lies in a region with some of the red planet's most ancient exposed crust.

Experts examined images taken by Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) that show mineral deposits at the bottom of an ancient ocean. They are thought to be remnants of underwater volcanoes, which would have provided ideal conditions for simple organisms

This diagram illustrates an interpretation for the origin of some deposits in the Eridania basin of southern Mars as resulting from seafloor hydrothermal activity more than three billion years ago

The researchers estimate the ancient Eridania sea held about 50,000 cubic miles (210,000 cubic km) of water.

That is as much as all other lakes and seas on ancient Mars combined and about nine times more than the combined volume of all of North America's Great Lakes.

The mix of minerals identified from the spectrometer data, including serpentine, talc and carbonate, as well as the shape and texture of the thick bedrock layers, led to identifying possible seafloor hydrothermal deposits.

The area has lava flows that occurred after the disappearance of the sea.

The researchers cite these as evidence that this is an area of Mars' crust with a volcanic susceptibility that also could have produced effects earlier, when the sea was present.

The new study adds to the diversity of types of wet environments for which evidence exists on Mars, including rivers, lakes, deltas, seas, hot springs, groundwater, and volcanic eruptions beneath ice.

The full findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.
Chic 2,200-year-old belt decorations made of coal and encrusted with jade and coral that would have been worn by women warriors have been found in Siberia.

The eye-catching ancient jewellery was discovered on the skeletons of female invaders from the nomadic Xiongnu warrior people who conquered the region in the first and second centuries BC.

One belt buckle made of coal is intriguingly encrusted with semiprecious carnelian, jade, coral and turquoise.

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2,200-year-old belt decorations made of coal encrusted with jade and coral that would have been worn by women warriors have been found in Siberia. One belt buckle made of coal (pictured) is intriguingly encrusted with semiprecious carnelian, jade, coral and turquoise

2,200-YEAR-OLD DECORATIONS The eye-catching ancient jewellery was discovered on the skeletons of female invaders from the nomadic Xiongnu warrior people who conquered the region in the first and second centuries BC. One belt buckle made of coal is intriguingly encrusted with semiprecious carnelian, jade, coral and turquoise. Dr Kilunovskaya, of the Institute for the History of Material Culture, St. Petersburg, believes the coal decorations were 'not for everyday use' but intended for 'special occasions, like weddings or funerals'. She found 80 graves at this necropolis, mostly buried in rectangular stone boxes, sometimes boat-shaped, or wooden coffins. Many include the skulls and hooves of horses. Advertisement

Another unearthed at the Ala-Tei burial ground on the Yenisei River in remote Tuva republic - a mountainous region today favoured by Vladimir Putin for his away-from-it-all topless vacations - has engravings of animals.

Some of the skeletons were also were also adorned with flame-shaped bronze pieces on their shoulders.

Men had decorative buckles made mostly of iron, but it is the black coal decorations - up to 20 centimetres (8 inches) in diameter - that impressed archaeologists the most.

'The most interesting and richest finds are in the women's graves,' said Dr Marina Kilunovskaya, who led an expedition to the burial ground which had become flooded.

'When we came here for the first time, we saw a lot of skulls under a steep river bank - and green bones there.

'Green because there were bronze items in the burials. This looked terrible...so we have tried to save what we can.'

On the items of coal jewellery there are engravings of two goats and arrows that pierce them, and on the reverse side, a horse.

'Another was encrusted with carnelian, jade, coral and turquoise,' she told The Siberian Times.

'Evidently, their owners were very rich people who came from the TransBaikal region (of Siberia) or Mongolia.

Another buckle unearthed at the Ala-Tei burial ground on the Yenisei River in the remote mountainous Tuva republic has engravings of animals (pictured)

The beautiful decorations were made of coal and encrusted with jade and coral. Their owners are believed to have been rich and came from the TransBaikal region of Siberia or Mongolia

XIONGNU WARRIORS The Xiongnu were nomadic people who by the end of the 3rd century BC dominated much of Central Asia. They first appear in historical records around the 5th century BC when their repeated attacks on North China prompted them to erect what later became known as the Great Wall. They were known as fierce mountain warriors that could get together 300,000 archers on horseback at once. Many of these skilled archers were women who were treated the same as men. It is believed they first assembled in Mongolia but adopted many Chinese agricultural techniques, Chinese-styled homes and silk. They worshipped the Sun, moon, Earth and their ancestors. Advertisement

'They found this material, it was interesting for them, and they used it for their decorations.'

'Most of the remains here belong to women', she said.

Experts often describe Xiongnu as big warriors, but these invaders were women who have originally come northwards from the borders of modern-day China.

The Xiongnu were nomadic people who by the end of the 3rd century BC dominated much of Central Asia.

They first appear in historical records around the 5th century BC when their repeated attacks on North China prompted them to erect what later became known as the Great Wall.

They were known as fierce mountain warriors that could get together 300,000 archers on horseback at once.

Many of these skilled archers were women who were treated the same as men.

Eye-catching jewellery was discovered on the skeletons of female invaders from the nomadic Xiongnu warrior people who conquered the region in the first and second centuries BC

Other details on the female belt include bronze imitations of cowrie shells (pictured), simple and openwork rings, and Chinese Wu Shu coins

The Xiongnu were nomadic people who by the end of the 3rd century BC dominated much of Central Asia. Their remains were studied in an area by the Yenisei river in Russia

It is believed they first assembled in Mongolia but adopted many Chinese agricultural techniques, Chinese-styled homes and silk.

They worshipped the Sun, moon, Earth and their ancestors.

Dr Kilunovskaya, of the Institute for the History of Material Culture, St. Petersburg, believes the coal decorations were 'not for everyday use' but intended for 'special occasions, like weddings or funerals'.

Men had decorative buckles made mostly of iron, but it is the black coal decorations (pictured) - up to 20 centimetres (8 inches) in diameter - that impressed archaeologists the most

'The most interesting and richest finds are in the women's graves,' said Dr Marina Kilunovskaya, who led an expedition to the burial ground which had become flooded

Experts often describe Xiongnu as big warriors, but these invaders were women who have originally come northwards from the borders of modern-day China

Some of the skeletons were also were also adorned with flame-shaped bronze decorations on their shoulders.

She found 80 graves at this necropolis, mostly buried in rectangular stone boxes, sometimes boat-shaped, or wooden coffins.

Many include the skulls and hooves of horses.

'In the central element of the belts are large bronze buckles with the image of animals - bulls, camels, horses, and snakes,' she said.

'Other details of the female belt, in most cases, are also made of bronze - these are rectangular hexagonal plaques, bronze imitations of cowrie shells, simple and openwork rings, and Chinese Wu Shu coins.

Experts found 80 graves at this necropolis, mostly buried in rectangular stone boxes, sometimes boat-shaped, or wooden coffins. Some were also buried with mirrors (pictured)

On the items of coal jewellery there are engravings of two goats and arrows that pierce them, and on the reverse side, a horse (pictured)

Finds at the site (pictured) included buckles for shoes, knives, iron rings and hooks - the Xiongnu nomads appear to have taken lamps to light their way to the next life

'We found whole bronze mirrors or their fragments.'

Finds included buckles for shoes, knives, iron rings and hooks - the Xiongnu nomads appear to have taken lamps to light their way to the next life.

'In the graves were strange small flat vessels separated in the middle by a septum with an opening in the centre,' said Dr Kilunovskaya.

'These were located right above the graves. I believe these were kind on lamps.'

Work is to begin again next summer looking for more treasures at this site.

In the graves were strange small flat vessels separated in the middle by a septum with an opening in the centre, which experts believe was a kind of lamp (pictured)

The lamps (pictured) were located right above the graves. Work is to begin again next summer looking for more treasures at this site

'When we came here for the first time, we saw a lot of skulls under a steep river bank - and green bones there', said Marina Kilunovskaya (pictured)
Plastic rubbish has been found in up to 80 per cent of mussels taken from British beaches.

The pollution is a worrying sign of the scale of the amount of plastic rubbish in our seas, scientists said.

The microplastics come from the breakdown of old water bottles, plastic bags and a myriad of other debris.

The Daily Mail is leading a campaign to introduce a deposit scheme for plastic bottles to rid our land and seas of the synthetic scourge.

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Plastic rubbish has been found in up to 80 per cent of mussels taken from British beaches - a worrying sign of the scale of the amount of plastic rubbish in our seas (stock image)

THERE WILL BE MORE PLASTIC THAN FISH IN THE SEA BY 2050 The amount of plastic rubbish in the world's oceans will outweigh fish by 2050 unless the world takes drastic action to further recycle, a report released in 2016 revealed. Researchers warned eight million tonnes of plastics currently find their way into the ocean every year - the equivalent of one truckload every minute. At current rates, this will worsen to four truckloads per minute in 2050 and outstrip native life to become the largest mass inhabiting the oceans. An overwhelming 95 per cent of plastic packaging - worth 65 - 92billion - is lost to the economy after a single use, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation report stated. And available research estimates that there are more than 150 million tonnes of plastics in the ocean today. Advertisement

Researchers from Kings College London sampled four beaches in Kent to test pollution levels for the BBCs Inside Out investigations team.

The tests showed about 80 per cent of mussels collected at Ramsgate were contaminated while in Herne Bay it was 40 per cent, according to the BBC.

On average two thirds of the mussels were contaminated.

Microplastics are plastic particles measuring less than 5mm and experts are worried that if they are small enough they can penetrate cells and even organs.

Although the mussels tested were not intended for human consumption Dr Stephanie Wright from Kings College London said other fish and sea creatures may well eat the mussels  and plastics could end up on our plates.

Prince Charles made the same point last week in a talk warning wherever you swim there are particles of plastic near you and we are very close to reaching the point when whatever wild-caught fish you eat will contain plastic.

Around 10,000-27,000 tonnes of plastic are dumped in the seas around the UK every year  out of between five and 13 million tonnes worldwide.

'Other animals will be eating those animals with plastics, which puts the particles in [our] food chain', Dr Wright told BBC.

'Particles could pass through the gut and not cause any effect, or it could release contaminants, and these are chemicals with known human health effects.'

The amount of plastic rubbish in the world's oceans will outweigh fish by 2050 unless the world takes drastic action to further recycle, a report released in 2016 revealed.

In Ramsgate (pictured), 80 per cent of mussels contained micro-plastics, according to the BBC. Scientists are becoming increasingly worried about the repercussions of these substances being consumed by humans

'Other animals will be eating those animals with plastics, which puts the particles in [our] food chain', an expert told BBC

WASTE THREATENS WHALES Whales and dolphins are among hundreds of sea species threatened by plastic, conservationists warn today. They found that 557 marine species also including sea lions and birds have suffered as a result of eating or becoming tangled in plastic waste. The research by Whale and Dolphin Conservation points to rising numbers of whales and dolphins dying as a result. They include a minke whale washed up in France with 800kg of plastic waste in its stomach. The campaign against plastic waste is backed by TV presenters Julia Bradbury and Michaela Strachan. Miss Bradbury said: From carrying reusable water bottles to cutting our usage of plastic bags, there are so many changes we can make. We cant afford to delay. Miss Strachan said: Plastic is not food for whales or any other marine species. The WDC has set up the #NotWhaleFood campaign to raise awareness. Advertisement

Previous research has also revealed microplastics absorb toxic chemicals, which are then released in the gut of animals.

Humans could even breathe in microplastics circulating in the air.

Robert Dyer from the Kent and Essex Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) said the results were shocking.

'I'm interested in seeing if, like the mussels, they are picking up any plastic contamination, because they are harvested and processed directly for human consumption,' he said.

He said the presence of plastics could get into mussel tissue, causing them stress and inhibiting their ability to reproduce.

Last month research found 80 per cent of the world's tap water is contaminated with plastic.

The US has the highest contamination rate at 93 per cent, followed by Lebanon and India.

France, Germany and the UK have the lowest levels, however, they still come in at 72 per cent.

Overall, 83 per cent of water samples from dozens of nations around the world contain microplastics.
SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket on Monday carrying 10 satellites to bolster the global data communications network for Virginia-based company, Iridium.

The white rocket blasted off at 5:37 am (1237 GMT), before sunrise, from Vandenberg Air Force base in California.

About seven minutes after launch, the tall portion of the Falcon 9, known as the first stage, returned to Earth for an upright landing.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket like this one launched in May 2017 blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force base in California carrying 10 satellites for the Virginia-based company Iridium

This part of the vehicle fired its rocket engines and made a controlled landing on a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean.

'A successful landing of the first stage,' SpaceX commentator John Innsbrucker said on the company's live webcast, as applause erupted at SpaceX mission control in Hawthorne, California.

Grainy video showed the rocket standing upright in the predawn darkness on the droneship, named 'Just Read the Instructions.'

The landing was a success for SpaceX's ongoing effort to re-use expensive rocket parts instead of jettisoning them into the ocean after launch.

About an hour later, SpaceX confirmed that all the satellites were successfully deployed.

'We are 10 for 10,' Innsbrucker said.

SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket on Monday carrying 10 satellites to bolster the global data communications network for Virginia-based company, Iridium. The white rocket blasted off at 5:37 am (1237 GMT)

About seven minutes after launch, the tall portion of the Falcon 9, known as the first stage, returned to Earth for an upright landing

In total SpaceX, which is headed by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, is launching a series of 75 satellites for Iridium's satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT by 2018.

Monday's launch was the third of eight planned for Iridium, as part of a $3 billion project to upgrade the company's global communications network.

SpaceXs latest flight comes after a string of successful launches this summer.

Last month, SpaceX launched the Air Force's super-secret space shuttle, a technology tester capable of spending years in orbit.

SUPERCOMPUTERS IN SPACE Elon Musk's SpaceX launched an unmanned cargo ship carrying a supercomputer to the International Space Station (ISS) in August. The supercomputer is hoped to help direct astronauts on future deep-space missions. The Dragon was packed with 6,400lbs (2,900 kg) of supplies, including a sophisticated supercomputer made by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), called The Spaceborne Computer. The goal is to test the Spaceborne Computer for one year to see if it can operate in the harsh conditions of space. The goal of the mission is to test the Spaceborne Computer (rendering pictured) for one year to see if it can operate in the harsh conditions of space, about the same amount of time as it would take for astronauts to arrive at Mars This is about the same amount of time as it would take for astronauts to arrive at Mars. As astronauts travel millions of miles away, communications will become increasingly delayed. Messages from Mars to Earth would be delayed from between four minutes to 24 minutes one-way, depending on the distance between the planets, according to the European Space Agency. Supercomputers will be key to directing deep-space missions as astronauts become less reliant on instructions from ground control. Advertisement

The unmanned Falcon rocket blasted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, as schools and businesses boarded up for Hurricane Irma.

It was the fifth flight for one of these crewless minishuttles, known as the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, and marks the first time Elon Musk's aerospace firm has provided liftoff for the experimental craft.

And, in August, a SpaceX capsule rocketed to the International Space Station on Monday, carrying a supercomputer, tons of science research, plus ice cream.

As has become customary on these cargo flights, SpaceX landed its leftover booster back at Cape Canaveral shortly after liftoff, a key to its long-term effort to recycle rockets and reduce costs.
Snapchat users reported problems with the app's messaging service early this morning.

When users tried to send messages on the app, a 'failed to send' alert appeared.

Snapchat users in both Europe and the US voiced their concerns on Twitter, with some tweeting to Snapchat Support's Twitter handle.

Snapchat support confirmed some Snapchatters are having trouble with Chats, and that the team is 'looking into it.'

While there have not been any new announcements from Snapchat on what caused the problem, the service is now working again for some users.

The DailyMail.com has reached out to SnapChat for comment and is awaiting response.

Snapchat users in both Europe and the US have voice their concerns on Twitter, with some tweeting to Snapchat Support's twitter handle

According to Down Detector, users started reporting the issue just before 11:00 am(ET) today, and service resumed for some users at around 3pm ET.

One Twitter user, @poppymae2001, said: 'Snapchat is currently having a break down and it's stressing me out, cya.'

Another Twitter user, @crwneshots, said: 'Swear Snapchat goes down at the most inconvenient times.'

@ZakoAli wrote: 'When you come to twitter to see if Snapchat is really down and not your phone playing up.'

Snapchat support said that some Snapchatters are having trouble with Chats, and that the support team is 'looking into it'

Snapchat users have reported problems with the app's messaging service since early this morning

When users try to send messages on the app, a 'failed to send' message appears

The most commonly reported problem was sending snaps, according to Down Detector, followed by receiving snaps or refreshing.

Another reported problem is that the app wouldn't log in or connect to the server.

Twitter user @ayeeeeelex wrote: 'RT if you typed in "Snapchat not working" on twitter to make sure you're not the only one who's Snapchat is down.'

And @cosmicccharl wrote: 'is Snapchat down of has everyone blocked me.'

@amandacheongwy wrote: '#Snapchat has a problem out text messages can't be sent out, but we're still able to send snaps...'

Snapchat users have taken to Twitter saying that they can't send chat messages

Users have been expressing their frustrations, tweeting at Snapchat Support
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For the first time, researchers have completed an 'atlas of life' - a global review and map of every vertebrate on Earth.

A team of researchers produced a catalog and atlas of the world's reptiles, and by linking it with existing maps for birds, mammals and amphibians, the team has found many new areas where conservation action is vital.

The researchers say that in order to best protect wildlife, it's important to know where species live, so the right action can be taken and the scarce funding allocated in the right places.

Richness of all tetrapods (reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals). Scale bar values represent species richness. grey areas denote terrestrial regions devoid of species in a particular group. Blue colors denote regions with few species and red ones denote regions with many species

WHAT IS THE MAP FOR? For the first time, researchers have completed an 'atlas of life' - a global review and map of every vertebrate on Earth. A team of researchers produced a catalog and atlas of the world's reptiles, and by linking it with existing maps for birds, mammals and amphibians, the team has found many new areas where conservation action is vital. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are currently classifying the species featured in the map with a rating, from 'critically endangered' to 'least concern.' Once it's complete, the interactive map will be available for public access. The researchers hope that this interactive map will allow a range of stakeholders, including countries, conservation organizations and businesses and individuals, to understand the biodiversity in their surrounding environment, how important it is and what they can do it protect it. Advertisement

Maps showing the habitats of almost all birds, mammals and amphibians have been completed since 2006, but it was thought that many reptile species were too poorly known to be mapped.

But a team of 39 scientists, led by researchers at the University of Oxford and Tel Aviv University, produced a new reptile atlas, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.

The reptile atlas covers more than 10,000 species of snakes, lizards and turtles/tortoises, and that data completes the world map of 31,000 species of humanity's closest relatives, including around 5,000 mammals, 10,000 birds and 6,000 frogs and salamanders.

The new map has revealed unexpected trends and regions of biodiversity fragility for reptiles.

They include the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, inland arid South Africa, the Asian steppes, the central Australian deserts, the Brazilian caatinga scrubland, and the high southern Andes.

'Lizards especially tend to have weird distributions and often like hot and dry places, so many of the newly identified conservation priority areas are in drylands and deserts,' said Dr Uri Roll, a researcher at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, and the lead author of the paper.

'These don't tend to be priorities for birds or mammals, so we couldn't have guessed them in advance.'

'On the one hand, finding vital areas in arid regions is a good thing because the land is fairly cheap,' said Dr Richard Grenyer, Associate Professor in Biodiversity and Biogeography at Oxford University, and a co-author of the study.

'But deserts and drylands are also home to lots of other modern activities, such as major irrigation projects, huge new solar power developments, and sometimes widespread land degradation, war and conflict.

Species richness of reptile groups: all reptiles (b), lizards (c), snakes (d) and turtles (e). Grey areas denote terrestrial regions devoid of species in a particular group. Blue colors denote regions with few species and red ones denote regions with many species (note that the scale differs between panels)

'This makes them very challenging environment for conservationists to work.'

These maps have also allowed conservationists to ask whether environmental efforts to date have been invested in the right way, and how they could be used most effectively.

'Thanks to tools like our atlas, scientists can for the first time look at the terrestrial Earth in its entirety, and make informed decisions about how to use conservation funding,' said Dr Grenyer.

'This is not to say that the work done to date has been inaccurate: based on our knowledge at the time, conservationists have often made some really good decisions.

This infographic show the regions of the world which have gone up the most in conservation importance now we know where all the snakes and lizards can be found

'But now conservation has the data and tools required to bring planning up to the same level as the businesses and governments who might have an eye on land for other uses.

'Maybe we're actually a bit better, and we're doing it in the open.'

Dr Shai Meiri, a professor at Tel Aviv University who first planned the project more than ten years ago, said: 'Mapping the distributions of all reptiles was considered too difficult to tackle.

'But thanks to a team of experts on the lizards and snakes of some of the most poorly known regions of the world we managed to achieve this, and hopefully contribute to the conservation of these often elusive vertebrates that suffer from persecution and prejudice.'

In each panel the lightest color denotes the 10% of 48.25  48.25 km grid-cells with the highest numbers of species, and as the colors get darker they represent the top 7.5%, 5% and richest 2.5% cells. Panels show all reptiles (a), lizards (b), snakes (c) and turtles (d)

The mean change in rank between prioritizations with and without reptiles per ecoregion (red, ecoregions that become more important due to the inclusion of reptile information; blue, ecoregions becoming less important)

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are currently classifying the species featured in the map with a rating, from 'critically endangered' to 'least concern.'

Once it's complete, the interactive map will be available for public access.

The researchers hope that this interactive map will allow a range of stakeholders, including countries, conservation organizations and businesses and individuals, to understand the biodiversity in their surrounding environment, how important it is and what they can do it protect it.
A man accused of failing to properly register as a sex offender turned himself in on a Gage County warrant.

Jeremy L. Vater, 35, surrendered to deputies at the Gage County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday on an arrest warrant for violating the Nebraska Sex Offender Registration Act.

An investigator with the Gage County Sheriffs Office had been notified by the Nebraska State Patrol that Vater had failed to update his sex offender registration information as required in August.

According to a press release, after reviewing the case the investigator completed an affidavit for arrest and forwarded it to the Gage County Attorneys Office. A judge then issued a felony arrest warrant for Vater.

The sheriffs office investigator had been in telephone contact with Vater and members of his family and convinced him to surrender himself on the warrant.
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NASAs Juno spacecraft has captured a stunning new look at Jupiter and two of its largest moons.

Jupiter is known to have dozens of moons orbiting in its vicinity  but, in the new image, the satellites Io and Europa take the spotlight beside the gas giant planet.

Europa is thought to be a key target in the search for microbial alien life, as its home to a subsurface ocean that may have the right conditions for habitability.

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Jupiter is known to have dozens of moons orbiting in its vicinity  but, in the new image, the satellites Io and Europa take the spotlight beside the gas giant planet. Io can be seen on the right side of the image, dwarfed by Jupiter, while Europa is situated on the left

JUPITER'S ICY MOON Jupiter's icy moon Europa is slightly smaller than Earth's moon. Europa orbits Jupiter every 3.5 days and is tidally locked - just like Earth's Moon - so that the same side of Europa faces Jupiter at all times. It is thought to have an iron core, a rocky mantle and a surface ocean of salty water, like Earth. Unlike on Earth, however, this ocean is deep enough to cover the whole surface of Europa, and being far from the sun, the ocean surface is globally frozen over. Experts believe Europa's hidden ocean, warmed by powerful tidal forces caused by Jupiter's gravity, may have conditions favourable for life. Advertisement

The new view was captured during Junos eighth flyby, from about 17,098 miles (27,516 kilometers) from Jupiters cloud tops.

Dwarfed by the massive planet, the Galilean moon Io can be seen at an altitude of 298,880 miles (481,000 kilometers).

Further away, in the left size of the image, Europa can be seen lurking at an altitude of 453,601 miles (730,000 kilometers).

Juno captured the stunning new view on Sept 1 at 3:14 p.m. PDT (6:14 p.m. EDT), using the JunoCam imager.

Then, citizen scientist Roman Tkachenko processed the raw data.

In September, the space agency shared another breathtaking image captured by the Juno spacecraft, revealing a look at the swirling clouds over Jupiter.

Juno spotted the phenomenon from roughly 4,707 miles (7,576 kilometers) away, offering further evidence on the planet's turbulent nature.

According to NASA, the photo shows a close-up look at two points of interest, known as Whales Tail and Dans Spot.

NASA has said goodbye to its Cassini spacecraft, bringing its long-running Saturn mission to an end but, not far from the ringed planet, the space agency is observing another gas giant in our solar system. A stunning new image captured by the Juno spacecraft has revealed a look at the swirling clouds over Jupiter, offering further evidence on its turbulent nature

After the raw photos came in, the view was processed by citizen scientist Gerald Eichstadt, revealing the stunning colors and patterns swirling about the gas giant.

The photo is just one of several captured on Sept 1, showing various points of interest in incredible detail.

A four-photo series released by NASA shows a head-on look at the planet alongside a view of Jupiter tilted upward, revealing the planet's stormy south pole.

The first photo offers a look at the center of the planet, even showing a bit of the north and the aurorae on the north pole.

According to NASA, the new photo shows a close-up look at two points of interest, known as Whales Tail and Dans Spot. Juno captured the image during its eight flyby of Jupiter on September 1 at 2:58 p.m, using its JunoCam imager

WHAT IS THE GREAT RED SPOT? The so-called 'Great Red Spot' is a violent storm, which in the late 1800s was estimated to be about 25,000 miles (about 40,000 km) in diameter  wide enough for three Earths to fit side by side. The biggest in the solar system, it appears as a deep red orb surrounded by layers of pale yellow, orange and white. Winds inside the storm have been measured at several hundreds of miles per hour, Nasa astronomers said. Advertisement

The second shows the wide dark belts that contrast with lighter-hued zones, which are arranged at different latitudes and called 'tropical regions.'

The interactions of these conflicting cloud and circulation patterns cause turbulence, storms, and wind speeds of 100 m/s.

In the third photo, more of the cyclones that live on the planet's south side come into view.

By the last, Jupiter's south pole starts to show.

The spacecraft whizzed past the gas giant for a total of eight minutes between 6:03 PM and 6:11 PM EDT.

At the times the images were taken, Juno's altitude ranged from 7,545 to 14,234 miles (12,143 to 22,908 kilometers) from the tops of the planet's clouds.

It flew at latitudes ranging from -28.5406 to -44.4912 degrees.

NASA's Juno spacecraft performed its eighth flyby of Jupiter and captured stunning images of the planet. The photos - captured on September 1 - show various points of interest of the giant gas planet in incredible detail. The four-photo series begins with a head-on look at the planet before showing Jupiter tilted upward, revealing the planet's stormy south pole

The striking vista features the planet's famed Great Red Spot fading from from view while the dynamic bands of the southern region come into focus. It was captured using data taken with the JunoCam on July 10, as the Juno spacecraft performed its seventh close flyby of Jupiter

Citizen scientists Gerald Eichstadt and Sean Doran processed this image using data from the JunoCam imager. It was taken on July 10, 2017 at 6:42 p.m. PDT (9:42 p.m. EDT), as the Juno spacecraft performed its seventh close flyby of Jupiter, and shows the North North Temperate Little Red Spot 1, the third largest anticyclonic oval on the planet which is typically around 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) long

Last month, a stunning new image of Jupiter captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft offered a new perspective on the gas giant, with a view that appears to show the planet flipped on its side.

The striking vista features the planet's famed Great Red Spot fading from from view, while the dynamic bands of the southern region come into focus.

It was captured using data taken with the JunoCam on July 10, as the Juno spacecraft performed its seventh close flyby of Jupiter.

When image was taken, the spacecraft was 10,274 miles from the tops of the clouds of the planet, at a latitude of -36.9 degrees.

HOW JUNO SNAPS A STORM 1.8 BILLION MILES AWAY Juno reached Jupiter last year after a five-year, 1.8 billion-mile journey from Earth The Juno probe reached Jupiter last year after a five-year, 1.8 billion-mile journey from Earth. Following a successful braking manoeuvre, it has now entered into a long polar orbit flying to within 3,100 miles (5,000 km) of the planet's swirling cloud tops. The probe will skim to within just 4,200 km of the planet's clouds once a fortnight - too close to provide global coverage in a single image. No previous spacecraft has orbited so close to Jupiter, although two others have been sent plunging to their destruction through its atmosphere. Juno's main camera, JunoCam, captured images of the Great Red Spot, and will send them back to Earth by July 14, according to Scott Bolton, a planetary scientist at the Southwest Research Institute and the Juno mission's leader. Mr Bolton said: 'Juno and her cloud-penetrating science instruments will dive in to see how deep the roots of this storm go, and help us understand how this giant storm works and what makes it so special.' But taking images of the Great Red Spot isn't as simple as pointing and shooting. To capture the storm in detail, Juno must fly close to the storm - around 5,600 miles (9,000 kilometers) above the Giant Red Spot clouds. Juno also flies at staggering speeds of 34 miles/second making taking steady photos a challenge. Advertisement

'North is to the left of the image, and south is on the right,' NASA explains.

The astonishing photo was created by citizen scientists Gerald Eichstadt and Sean Doran - JunoCam's raw images are available for the public to peruse and process.

While many of Juno's images have focused on the planet's mysterious giant red spot, its little brother was also recently revealed in incredible detail by the probe.

Other recent images show the dynamic storm at the southern edge of Jupiter's northern polar region.

Officially known as the North North Temperate Little Red Spot 1 (NN-LRS-1); it has been tracked at least since 1993, and may be older still, according to NASA.

A stunning new image of Jupiter's tumultuous 'Great Red Spot' has revealed what it might be like to glimpse the biggest storm in our solar system up close. The image shows a natural colour rendition of the massive storm

This is an early processed version of an image created by Gerald Eichstadt, using NASA's raw data. It gives an unprecedented glimpse into the gigantic red spot of Jupiter

The long-lived anticyclonic oval is the third largest anticyclonic oval on the planet, typically around 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) long.

The color varies between red and off-white (as it is now), but this JunoCam image shows that it still has a pale reddish core within the radius of maximum wind speeds.

An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon where winds around the storm flow in the direction opposite to that of the flow around a region of low pressure.

The image has been rotated so that the top of the image is actually the equatorial regions while the bottom of the image is of the northern polar regions of the planet.

Although the storm is huge, it is tiny compared to its 'big brother', t he so-called 'Great Red Spot'.

Another of Jason Major's processed images, showing the cloud detail inside the gigantic storm (right)

This violent storm, which in the late 1800s was estimated to be about 25,000 miles (about 40,000 km) in diameter  wide enough for three Earths to fit side by side.

The biggest storm in the solar system, it appears as a deep red orb surrounded by layers of pale yellow, orange and white.

On July 4, Juno logged exactly one year in Jupiter orbit, and has chalked up about 71 million miles (114.5 million kilometers) in orbit around the giant planet.

'The success of science collection at Jupiter is a testament to the dedication, creativity and technical abilities of the Nasa-Juno team,' said Rick Nybakken, project manager for Juno from Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

'Each new orbit brings us closer to the heart of Jupiter's radiation belt, but so far the spacecraft has weathered the storm of electrons surrounding Jupiter better than we could have ever imagined.'
If it's too much effort to cross the world to see a tourist attraction, there's always the option of moving the attraction to you.

From entire bridges to Buddhist temples and even historic Tudor mansions, a whole host of constructions have crossed oceans for a new life abroad.

Read on to learn more about these fascinating architectural relocations.

London Bridge - from London to Arizona

Transatlantic: First built in London, this bridge was eventually sold and shipped to Arizona

Built in 1831 by engineer John Rennie, London Bridge began to sink due to the amount of people crossing it on foot, about one inch every eight years, so the City of London put it up for sale.

It was bought by Lake Havasu City founder Robert McCulloch in 1968 for $2,460,000 (1,029,000).

McCulloch shipped about 30,000 tons of bridge to Arizona and had it rebuilt on dry land. Only once it had been erected were the sands dug up to allow water to pass under it.

The bridge was completed in 1971 as part of a larger tourist attraction called 'English Village', complete with a mock-Tudor mall.

The House of Captain James Cook - from Yorkshire to Melbourne

Home from home: This property, once the abode of Captain James Cook, was deconstructed and shipped from Yorkshire to Melbourne, where it's now a popular tourist attraction

Famed for the first-ever recorded navigation of New Zealand in 1769, British explorer Captain James Cook once lived in a quaint North Yorkshire cottage.

His parents also resided at the modest brick abode, but by 1933 the owners eventually put it up for sale - with one condition: it must remain in England.

But, when a then-lucrative bid for 800 was submitted by an Australian party, this caveat was then modified to be 'the English Empire'.

The property was then deconstructed and shipped to Melbourne, where it's now a popular tourist attraction.

The Place of Peace - from Japan to South Carolina

Sail away: Constructed in Nagoya, Japan, in 1984, this temple now sits at Furman University

This US attraction is thought to be the first authentic Japanese temple ever to be dismantled and fully reconstructed in the United States.

Constructed in Nagoya, Japan, in 1984, it was donated to Furman University by its owner, Kiyohiro Tsuzuki, in 2004.

Carefully dismantled and packed into four separate shipping containers, it arrived on American soil weeks later - but sat in storage for four years.

Eventually, in 2008, enough money was raised to erect it on the college's campus, where it promotes peace.

St.Bernard de Clairvaux Church - from Spain to Miami

Historic: Starting life in 12th-century Segovia, this age-old monastery is now based in Miami

Considered one of the oldest buildings in Western civilisation, this Spanish monastery started life in 12th-century Segovia.

When the owner needed to raise funds, it was placed on the market and snapped-up by publishing magnate William Hearst in 1925.

He had the historic construction packed-up and shipped across the Atlantic ocean in 11,000 wooden crates.

Sadly, they sat in a Brooklyn quarantine for decades before finally being bought by Raymond Moss and William Edgemon in 1952.

They eventually began to reassemble it in Miami, Florida, circa 1964. The process took five years and cost nearly $2million.

Agecroft Hall - Manchester, England, to Virginia

Old-school: This 15th-century building was shifted from Greater Manchester to Virginia

Originally built in Pendlebury, Greater Manchester, in the 15th century, this stunning Tudor mansion eventually fell empty and risked ruin.

Fortunately, by the 20th century, wealthy US businessman Thomas C. Williams purchased the property and had it moved to his estate in Richmond, Virginia.

There, the original architect of the estate oversaw its reconstruction, which cost $250,000 and it was completed in 1928.

Sadly, Mr Williams died the following year and the building was turned into a museum.
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Its natural beauty has long been documented.

But, thanks to the advancement of technology, the aesthetic appeal of Lithuania has been given a fresh perspective.

Local photographer Martynas Charevicius, who's based in the country's capital city, Vilnius, has used a drone to soar above his homeland and capture stunning aerial views.

Catching a number of local destination points, including the Zverynas Bridge and the rural Salkininkai village, the collection shows both the rural and the man-made at their best.

From lush, green fields to historic churches and dramatic cityscapes, each is drenched in early-morning natural light for maximum effect. Mr Charevicius told MailOnline Travel: 'Lithuania is still the perfect destination for the nature lover. Small, yet easily accessible and picturesque.'

Here, we present his genuinely inspiring collection.

Picturesque landscape: A dramatic shot deftly captures lake Asveja in Dubingiai town, Moletai district

Marooned: Originally built in the 14th century, Trakai Island Castle is located in the calm waters of Lake Galve

Sun-drenched: The historic church in central Kernave, flanked by the stunning landscape stretching out behind it

Aerial view: A band of brightly-coloured hot-air balloons float along the sky high above the Three Crosses Monument

Power to the people: A trio of wind turbines stand tall in direct contrast to the lush, green fields of the Kaisiadorys district

Political landscape: The Zverynas Bridge is mirrored next to the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania building

Neon nights: Illuminated by street lights and high-speed traffic, the nocturnal view of Vilnius oozes glamour

Green dream: The town of Dubingiai (left), in Moletai district, which is situated near Lake Asveja - the longest in the country. On the right is a stunning image of daybreak over the so-called Black Road highway in Vilnius

So natural: A blanket of green fields command attention in Lithuania's sparsely-populated Salkininkai village

Drive time: A rare glimpse of the roundabout in Dvarcionys, which is usually consumed with motor traffic (left). On the right is the church of St.Johns, which was built in 13881426, then reconstructed in the 16th and 17th centuries

Celebrations: The popular Gediminas Avenue captured on the day of the anniversary of the Coronation of King Mindaugas

Hook, line and sinker: An aerial image of a bridge and fishermen above the beautiful - and epic - Asveja Lake

A river runs through it: The picturesque River Neris in Kernave, which rises in Belarus and flows through Vilnius

Divine: The sunlight breaking through the clouds in this image almost makes it look like a religious scene

Historic hat-trick: Vilnius Cathedral Square, Gediminas Castle and the Three Crosses monument together in one image (left). Right is the A1 highway, eerily empty before the day begins

The mane attraction: Casting a shadow in the morning light, a wild horse enjoys a moment of solitude in a green field

The Asveja lake (left), in Dubingiai, covers 9.78-square kilometres and reaches a depth of 50.2m, which makes it the third deepest in Lithuania. On the right morning fog casts a dramatic view over the fields between Vilnius and Moletai

City life: The city centre of Vilnius glows with an orange hue thanks to the streetlights that line the Vilnia river

Where the land meets water: A stretch of calm water laps up against a tightly-packed forest in Trakai

Sail away: A collection of yachts pictured in the southeastern town of Trakai, west of Vilnius, the capital (left). On the right, two solitary houses sit side-by-side against an incredible mass of foliage




It is one of Asia's busiest transport hubs.

But, while it usually operates without a hitch, Tokyo's Haneda Airport ground to an unexpected halt on Monday - when a passenger's dog escaped onto the runway.

While the canine was retrieved one of the main runways was closed, delaying hundreds of travellers across 14 different airlines.

A poodle's dash for freedom briefly shut down one runway at a major Japanese airport on Monday, forcing its owner to come out and catch the canine

The offending hound, a large poodle, had been checked onto a Japan Airlines flight bound for Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, as precious cargo.

But, at 8.50am, moments before being loaded into the aircraft by baggage handlers, it escaped - directly into flight traffic.

It appeared to enjoy its brief taste of freedom, dashing across a runway and sniffing around in grassy areas.

According to the transport ministry, several commercial carriers were delayed by the canine's caper, which saw one of four runways closed for six minutes.

In the end, about 40 minutes later, the poodle's owner had to come out to catch the pet.

Japan Airlines said it would question its staff and reassess loading procedures to avoid any similar incidents happening in the future, the South China Morning Post reported.

The fully-grown dog escaped at Tokyo's Haneda airport while cargo crews were loading its cage onto a Japan Airlines flight bound for Naha in Okinawa

Not that such animal adventures are unheard of, of course.

Back in 2012 a Rhodesian Ridgeback escaped onto the runway at New York's La Guardia airport.

The puppy, named Byrdie, stopped planes from both landing and taking-off, the Port Authority confirmed at the time.

After airport staff unsuccessfully tried to coax it back into its basket, the owner was escorted from their flight to retrieve it.
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It is already one of the world's leading commercial carriers.

But, because the competition never lets up, American Airlines has announced a large-scale overhaul for its fleet - which, it claims, will see passengers enjoy greater comfort, technology and space thanks to a multi-billion dollar investment.

The Texas-based airline has revealed plans for an epic upgrade, which bosses have branded the 'largest modernisation project in aviation history'.

Luxury additions: American Airlines' long-haul customers in first, business class or premium economy will get a duvet, pillow, pajamas and slippers from sleep company Casper

The airline's president, Robert Isom, told Business Traveller that 550 of the company's narrow-body fleet will be reconfigured to include 'new seats, new interiors, satellite Wi-Fi, new in-seat power and much larger bins'.

'Its going to have thinner and more comfortable seats, satellite Wi-Fi and a world-class library of stored content, videos and shows,' he said.

'The fleet is going to continue to get better and better.'

Meanwhile, it will also begin providing passengers with in-flight text messaging - compatible with Apple's iMessaging function, which will be free of charge to people in both economy and premium-economy upwards.

In addition, from December, long-haul customers in first, business class or premium economy receive a host of sleep-inducing products.

These will include a duvet, pillow, pajamas and slippers, plus a mattress pad and day blanket designed by sleep company Casper.

And relax: Engineers from Casper studied the travel environment for months to better understand the challenges of in-flight snoozing, which inspired the range

Investment: The large-scale upgrade is said to have cost American Airlines billions of dollars

Friendly skies: The extra comfort has been scientifically tested by engineers at the New York City-based Casper

Substance and style: Meanwhile, AA will also begin providing passengers with in-flight text messaging

Engineers from the company studied the travel environment for months to better understand the challenges of in-flight snoozing, which inspired the range.

Now, they hope it will improve in-air comfort and focus on customer experience after spending money and time on its high-profile merger with US Airways.

'Our mission has always been to create products that help people dream their way to a better life,' said Philip Krim, Casper co-founder and CEO.

'In collaboration with American, we are now able to apply our expertise in sleep science to redefine comfort and sleep in flight.'

Home from home: Passengers who treat themselves to a ticket outside of economy will benefit from their own duvet
There are many films that portray love and romance as easy.

But some ambitious movies break from the formula, exploring relationship conflicts with couples finding themselves in extreme, even life-threatening conditions.

To celebrate the release of The Mountain Between Us, a story of a high stakes romance, here's a look back at the most extraordinary love stories in film.

Jack and Rose - Titanic (1997)

'I'm the king of the world!' Perhaps the most famous doomed romance in Hollywood history, the story of Jack and Rose's ill-fated journey on the Titanic hardly needs an introduction

Perhaps the most famous doomed romance in Hollywood history, the story of Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater's ill-fated journey on the 'unsinkable' Titanic hardly needs an introduction.

The story is familiar: a pretty ingenue (Kate Winslet) engaged to be married to selfish businessman Cal Hockley (Billy Zane) falls for a young artist (Leonardo DiCaprio) from the third-class cabins.

But disaster strikes when when the Titanic collides with an iceberg two days before its scheduled arrival in New York, with 2,224 passengers and crew on board, on the night of 14 April, 1912.

Eventually, Rose survives to tell the story of her star-crossed love affair, but Jack dies (in rather controversial circumstances) when he sinks into the icy depths.

Lou and Will - Me Before You (2016)

In Me Before You, a working-class woman, Louisa (Emilia Clarke), is hired as a caregiver for Will (Sam Claflin), a depressed former banker left paralysed in a motorcycle crash

In Me Before You, a working-class English woman, Louisa (Emilia Clarke), is hired as a caregiver for Will (Sam Claflin), a depressed former banker left paralysed from a motorcycle crash.

After learning his ex-girlfriend is engaged to be married to his former best friend, Will becomes frustrated and furious - but eventually forms a close bond with Lou.

But Lou soon becomes aware of Will's intention to die by assisted suicide in Switzerland, where it is legal, and is determined to show him that life is worth living.

Eventually he goes through with his euthanasia plans and in a final letter, which she is seen reading in a Parisian cafe, tells her to follow her dreams and 'just live'.

Ben and Alex - The Mountain Between Us (2017)

Desperate situation: The film adaptation of Charles Martin's bestselling novel The Mountain Between Us follows two strangers who fall in love when their plane crashes in the wilderness

Stunning scenes: The beautiful and dangerous landscapes of Canadian Rockies serve as the backdrop to The Mountain Between Us. Pictured: Kate Winslet and Idris Elba

The beautiful and dangerous landscapes of Canadian Rockies serve as the backdrop to new film The Mountain Between Us, a gripping tale of love and survival starring Academy Award winner Kate Winslet.

The film follows two strangers who fall in love, when their plane crashes in the remote wilderness, as they struggle to navigate through the remote Utah wilderness.

Kate plays Alex Martin, a soon-to-be married American photojournalist, who finds herself injured hundreds of miles from safety alongside handsome surgeon Dr. Ben Bass, played by Idris Elba.

After discovering help is not on the way, the pair decide to push through in sub-zero temperatures across the snowy ranges, eventually finding an inner strength they never realised they had.

The must-see film explores how a relationship can form when people are pushed to their limits and how falling in love could be the only way to survive.

Noah and Allie - The Notebook (2004)

Plot twist: The heartbreaking ending of The Notebook, starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, is as famous as the compelling love story which precedes it

A love affair between a lower class boy, Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling), and a teenage heiress, Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams), is cut short by her elitist mother and the outbreak of World War II

But their journey to finding each other again is not the reason romance fans remain so devoted to the The Notebook.

The film's framing device - an elderly man reading a romantic story to a fellow patient in a nursing home - leads to a now-famous plot twist where it is revealed the modern day characters are actually Noah and Allie, and he is re-reading their journals to help her recover memories lost to dementia.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

That scene: The film details the relationship between the title characters, played by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, as they share a series of chance meetings over a 10-year period

Perhaps one of the most famous romantic comedies of the modern era, Harry Met Sally discusses whether men and women can just be friends.

The film details the relationship between the title characters, played by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, as they share a series of chance meetings over a 10-year period.

Although the question of romance comes up from time to time, the pair seem wholly unsuited for one another, despite discussing their love lives in great detail. The diner scene which sees Sally demonstrate to Harry how easily women can fake it, seemed to highlight just how much the opposite sex can misunderstand each other.

Although their relationship seems frustrating it also proves that nothing can stand in the way if two people are meant to be together.

Robbie and Cecilia - Atonement (2007)

Period drama: In 1935, a blossoming romance between wealthy English woman Cecilia Tallis and the housekeeper's son, Robbie Turner, is shattered by her younger sister's lie

In 1935, a blossoming romance between wealthy English woman Cecilia Tallis and the housekeeper's son, Robbie Turner, is shattered when he is falsely accused of a crime by his lover's 13-year-old sister, Briony.

The consequences of the young girl's lie are far-reaching as Robbie (James McAvoy) is jailed, before later being shipped off to fight on the beaches in World War II.

Flash forward several decades, and Briony - now a successful writer - is still seeking forgiveness for her dreadful mistake. Dying of vascular dementia, her last book is autobiographical and deals with Robbie and Cecilia's relationship. The shocking twist is heart-wrenching.

Henry and Clare - The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

Quite a dilemma! Henry (Eric Bana) and Clare (Rachel McAdams) appear to be a match made in heaven - until his habit of randomly travelling back in time throws a spanner in the works

Chicago librarian Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) and artist Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams) appear to be a match made in heaven.

That is, until his habit of randomly warping back in time at the most unhelpful of moments throws a spanner in the works.

The film adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger's book club favourite is bittersweetly romantic - but also vaguely silly at times, especially when Henry's 'paranormal disorder' always results in him re-materialising completely naked.

But despite the slightly illogical storyline, the dilemma at the heart of The Time Traveler's Wife makes for an appealing and unorthodox love story.

Gone With The Wind: The epic is set in South America during the American Civil War and tells the tale of Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh)

Gone With The Wind (1939)

This historical romance included a killer cast and not only was it the highest grossing film up until that point, but it also won 10 Academy Awards at the 12th Oscars ceremony.

The epic is set in South America during the American Civil War and tells the tale of Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh), the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner and her pursuit for the man of her dreams Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard).

Despite believing herself to be madly in love with Ashley - who married his cousin Melanie - the true love story plays out between Scarlett and Rhett Butler (Clark Gable).

Through war, loss, death and financial ruin, the iconic film delves into the nature of desire and lust versus true love.
After her debut guest-hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, Gal Gadot was spotted heading out of New York on Sunday.

The 32-year-old Wonder Woman star was airport chic at JFK in a simple black sweater teamed with matching leggings and white sneakers.

Her hair slicked back and wound into a bun, Gal accessorized her ensemble with a stylish pair of black sunglasses and a tartan scarf.

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Away she goes: After her debut guest-hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, Gal Gadot was spotted heading out of New York on Sunday

During Saturday's episode, Gal lit up social media by locking lips with Saturday Night Live regular cast member Kate McKinnon.

Gal was playing Wonder Woman, a.k.a. Diana, on her native Mediterranean isle of Themyscira, which is populated by an Amazon clan of women warriors.

Kate and Aidy Bryant play two American lesbians who wash ashore there, hoping to meet fellow lesbians and disappointed not to find any among the Amazons.

Simply stylish: The 32-year-old Wonder Woman star was airport chic at JFK in a simple black sweater teamed with matching leggings and white sneakers

Diana eventually decides: 'I know - maybe I should try to kiss one of you and see if I feel something.' Kate's character Drae, after a brief hesitation, volunteers.

The studio audience can be heard erupting into cheers during the kiss, after which Diana says: 'I'm sorry, I feel nothing.' Disheartened, the visitors leave Themyscira.

During her opening monologue, Gal said: 'I grew up in Israel, and this is so exciting for me, because tonight's show is being broadcast live in Israel for the very first time!' She beamed as she added: 'Hi, Imma! Hi, Abba!'

She moved into 'a quick message for the rest of my friends and family back home,' delivered in Hebrew.

Keeping warm: Her hair slicked back and wound into a bun, Gal accessorized her ensemble with a stylish pair of black sunglasses and a tartan scarf

The subtitles read: 'Hi everybody. I just want to let you know. That this might be a big mistake. The writers here clearly know nothing about Israel. In every sketch they have me eating humus. I mean, I like hummus, but come on,' she quipped.

'Theyre nice, but theyre not very sophisticated. I think they believe that Im the actual Wonder Woman. So good luck to me. Im hoping for the best.'

Saturday Night Live regular cast member Leslie Jones co-starred in Gal's opening monologue as 'the Time Square's Wonder Woman. You know you take pictures with young girls who look up to you? I do the same with German tourists.'

The big moment: During Saturday's episode, Gal lit up social media by locking lips with Saturday Night Live regular cast member Kate McKinnon

Home: Gal was playing Wonder Woman, a.k.a. Diana, on her native Mediterranean isle of Themyscira, which is populated by an Amazon clan of women warriors

The episode did attract criticism online for failing to address the bombshell showbiz story of the week - a string of sexual harassment allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, as exposed in the New York Times.

When Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels emerged from this week's after-party around 4am, it was pointed out to him: 'I was surprised you didn't do Harvey Weinstein.' He replied: 'It's a New York thing.'

A source told DailyMail.com that during the dress rehearsal: 'I remember a joke being made about him during weekend update... I don't remember the joke, I just remember that it got a big reaction from the audience.' Yet the line didn't survive to the live taping.

Kate and Aidy Bryant play two American lesbians who wash ashore there, hoping to meet fellow lesbians and disappointed not to find any among the Amazons
Actor Michael Sheen was spotted spending time with his daughter Lily in a Manhattan park on Sunday.

Lily, 18, is the Masters of Sex star's child with his former partner actress Kate Beckinsale.

Lily is enrolled at NYU where she's a freshman.

Family time: Actor Michael Sheen, 48, was spotted enjoying a Sunday stroll with his daughter Lily, 18, in a Manhattan park. Lily is enrolled as a freshman at NYU

Sheen, 48, stood out thanks to his unmissable dyed blonde hair, which is for his latest role.

The Welshman wore a buttoned up blue denim shirt left untucked over dark jeans, and he carried a lightweight jacket over one arm.

Lily wore her long brunette locks up in a tight bun on top of her head.

She was dressed in a long-sleeved gray sweatshirt and blue jeans rolled up at the bottom. She stepped out in a pair of black chunky heels.

Relaxed: Sheen and Lily, whose mother is actress Kate Beckinsale from whom the Masters Of Sex star split in 2003, sat for a while on a bench as they enjoyed the fall sunshine

Catching up: The father and daughter appeared deep in conversation as they spent time together

During their stroll, the father and daughter paused for a while to sit on a bench.

They appeared deep in conversation with Sheen placing one arm along the top of the bench behind Lily in a gesture of affection.

Sheen and Beckinsale, despite the end of their romantic relationship in 2003, have remained committed parents to their daughter and the three often spend time together.

The Welshman wore a blue denim shirt over dark jeans and carried a lightweight jacket. Lily wore her brunette locks up in a bun and was dressed in a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans

Sheen is currently filming Good Omens, a six-part series for Amazon Prime which is being adapted by Neil Gaiman from his and the late Terry Pratchett's collaborative novel of the same name.

Set on 12018, he stars as the angel Aziraphale opposite David Tennant as the demon Crowley, the representatives on earth of Heaven and Hell.

With the End Times rapidly approaching, they set out to keep an eye on the child destined to be the Antichrist. But not everything goes as plans.

Jon Hamm has also been cast in the miniseries as the Archangel Gabriel and the production is shooting in London and Oxfordshire in England as well as on location in South Africa.
Cassandra Thorburn has kept under the radar since her shock split from ex-husband Karl Stefanovic in September last year.

And after making a return to the spotlight last Wednesday at the Women of the Future Awards, New Idea has claimed the 44-year-old simply wants to 'move on with her life.'

The publication also alleged Karl's family and colleagues have 'more or less abandoned her' following their high-profile divorce.

'She's moving on with her life': Magazine claims Cassandra Thorburn, 44, is focused on making her children happy, as ex-husband Karl Stefanovic's family and colleagues 'abandon her'

Speaking of Karl's new romance with shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough, 33, a source reportedly told New Idea: 'She hasn't become bitter. Although Karl's family and colleagues - people she counted as friends - have more or less abandoned her.'

The insider continued: 'Cass is getting on with things. Cassie just wants to move on with her life now the divorce is finalised.

'She has a new home and is focused on making the children as happy and settled as possible.'

An insider told the publication: 'Cass is getting on with things. Cassie just wants to move on with her life now the divorce is finalised.' Pictured with ex-husband Karl, 43

Comeback: Cassandra looked happy and radiant as she made her first public appearance since her shock split from Karl, at the Women of the Future Awards in Sydney last Wednesday

Chic: The journalist sported a vibrant pink long-sleeved frock, that flashed just a hint of cleavage, accessorised with a gold clutch

Cassandra looked happy and radiant as she made her first public appearance since the shock split, at the Women of the Future Awards in Sydney last Wednesday.

The journalist sported a vibrant pink long-sleeved frock, that flashed just a hint of cleavage.

She teamed the look with nude heels and a gold clutch, and opted for a minimal makeup palette including a pink lipstick.

History: Cassandra split from Karl last September after 21 years of marriage. They share three children together, Jackson, 17, Ava, 12, and River, 10

New flame: Karl allegedly met former model and shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough, 33, on a yacht in December

Cassandra, who split from Karl, 43, last September after 21 years of marriage, finalised their divorce in the same week as her red carpet return.

The pair share three children together, Jackson, 17, Ava, 12, and River, 10.

Karl allegedly met former model Jasmine on a yacht in December, the couple later pictured together in February.

It's official: The couple are now regulars on the Sydney social circuit
He is one of the most experienced showrunners in the business.

And Ryan Murphy used his industry wisdom to weigh in on all the Sex And The City 3 drama, while at The New Yorker Festival on Saturday in New York City.

The producer, 51, told TV critic Emily Nussbaum in an on-stage interview that the solution to the problem was simple: 'recast Samantha!'

Input: Ryan Murphy used his industry wisdom to weigh in on all the Sex And The City 3 drama, while at The New Yorker Festival on Saturday in New York City

Kim Cattrall, 61, who played Samantha Jones on the HBO series, has been in recent headlines for claims of specific contract 'demands' that scuttled the film deal.

The rumors come after Sarah Jessica Parker, 52, revealed that a third Sex And The City movie was not happening.

The director of Glee asked: 'Why don't they just recast Samantha? I don't get it.'

'Look, I would be very devastated if I created something cultural like that and 95 percent of the team said, "Lets do it," but there was a hold on it.'

'I dont blame Kim Cattrall though,' Ryan adds.

He said that! The producer, 51, told TV critic Emily Nussbaum in an on-stage interview that the solution to the problem was simple: 'recast Samantha!'

No more: Kim Cattrall, 61, who played Samantha Jones on the HBO series, has been in recent headlines for claims of specific contract 'demands' that scuttled the film deal

He understands: 'I dont blame Kim Cattrall though,' Ryan told Emily on stage

The Emmy-winner explained how the cast had to move on from the drama and remember their love for their series.

He also added his appreciation for Sarah- who he worked with her on Glee, 'I love Sarah Jessica Parker, I've worked with her. I think she's amazing . . . she's a great producer and has a great business acumen.'

Ryan told Emily one more suggestion if recasting wasn't an option: 'Just do one where Samantha is dead.'

The Emmy-winner explained how the cast had to move on from the drama and remember their love for their series

He's kidding? Ryan told Emily one more suggestion if recasting wasn't an option: 'Just do one where Samantha is dead'

Back in the day: Sex And The City fans have been upset about the scrapping of the new movie

Sex And The City fans have been upset about the scrapping of the new movie.

There has been some tension between SJP and Kim, after the 61-year-old called Sarah a 'toxic' friend.

Ryan ended his input on an emotional note: 'They meant something to me  they were important and cultural in changing the discussion of women and sexuality.'

On the red carpet: There has been some tension between SJP and Kim, after the 61-year-old called Sarah a 'toxic' friend
He starred as The Bachelor for the reality show's fourth season last year.

And despite his popularity with viewers, it appears Richie Strahan has no plans to return to the franchise.

The 32-year-old recently took to Instagram to refute rumours he would be a contestant in the upcoming spin-off, Bachelor In Paradise.

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No-show: Despite his popularity with viewers, it appears Richie Strahan has no plans to return to the Bachelor franchise

The Perth technician left a comment under NW's official account, which showed him in an altered image with former show hopefuls Nikki Gogan and Keira Maguire.

'I'm 100% not doing this,' he offered in a short note.

Fans of the reality star left their own comments in response to his announcement.

'I'm 100% not doing this,' he offered in a short note on the social media post

Confirmation: The 32-year-old recently took to Instagram to refute rumours he would be a contestant in the upcoming spin-off, Bachelor In Paradise

'Don't listen to the haters. For all us Richie fans, we would love to see you find love!' wrote one supporter.

'Couldn't imagine Nikki would be keen to do it with him after he picked the wrong girl in the first place,' added another follower, in reference to Richie choosing Alex Nation over her in the final round.

Names like Keira Maguire, Nikki Gogan, Sasha Mielczarek, Elora Murger, Michael Turnbull, Jake Ellis, Jen Hawke and Blake Garvey have been suggested as stars.

'Don't listen to the haters. For all us Richie fans, we would love to see you find love!' wrote one supporter

'Couldn't imagine Nikki would be keen to do it with him after he picked the wrong girl in the first place,' added another follower

Blake, who appeared as The Bachelor for the show's second season, took to his Facebook account recently to deny his participation in the latest installment.

'No way, no how, no chance am I going on Bachelors in Paradise. That is all,' he stated.

Bachelor In Paradise will follow the show's American format, where former contestants and a rotating cast of intruders look for love on a tropical island.
She has had a whirlwind past few weeks, having been an in-demand model for Fashion Week in Europe.

But on Sunday, Kaia Gerber enjoyed precious downtime as she grabbed a smoothie in Malibu.

For her outing, the 16-year-old was joined by a female pal, dressed similarly as the model.

RnR: Kaia Gerber, 16, enjoyed precious downtime while at the beach in Malibu on Sunday

Lazy Sunday: The daughter of Cindy Crawford also grabbed a smoothie that day

Kaia was casually cozy in a cream Wildfox sweater, paired with a set of rolled up denim shorts.

The teen completed her look with a set of lace-up ankle boots, a purse and shades.

The gorgeous daughter of Cindy Crawford appeared to go make-up free for the outing, letting her natural beauty shine through.

She's a natural! The gorgeous daughter of Cindy Crawford appeared to go make-up free for the outing, letting her natural beauty shine through

Time to refresh! The brunette charged up with a fruity smoothie

Simple get-up: The teen was casually cozy in a cream Wildfox sweater, paired with a set of rolled up denim shorts

For the past two weeks, Kaia has been jet-setting across Europe.

The social media star has attended parties and walked the runways of Milan, Paris and London.

It was surely a family affair for the teen, as her model brother Presley, mom Cindy and dad Rande Gerber joined her for part of her adventure.

Traveling teen: For the past two weeks, Kaia has been jet-setting across Europe for Fashion Week. She is seen in with her family in Paris last month. (L-R) Presley Gerber, 18, Kaia, Cindy Crawford, 51, and Rande Gerber, 55

Although she's young at 16, Kaia has the full support of her supermodel mom.

My daughter just got her drivers license,' she began, in an interview with the AP. Im a lot more concerned about her driving by herself than her entering the world of modelling.'

The great thing for my kids is that I know a lot about that world. I feel like, "Who better to help guide them than me?"

In some ways, I wish I could have pushed it off a year or two. But shes 16. Thats how old I was when I started, which is young, but in fashion thats kind of the normal age when people start.
Today show star Richard Wilkins has confirmed his romance with Virginia Burmeister, the 50-year-old estranged wife of wealthy Morgan Stanley investment banker, Mark Burmeister.

The pair were pictured cuddling and holding hands as they attended Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons's vow renewals over the weekend in Sydney.

Richard, 63, looked proud as punch as he strolled around the reception area at Bathers Pavillion, Balmoral Beach, hand-in-hand with his new squeeze.

Their big debut! Richard Wilkins, 63, confirms romance with new flame Virginia Burmeister, 50, as pair hold hands at Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons's vow renewals

Virginia was also pictured putting his arm around the veteran entertainment reporter as they were spotted leaving the party.

The blonde certainly dressed to the nines for the couple's big debut, showing off her toned back in a daring black backless dress.

She teamed the attire with a pair of a patent peep-toe heels and swept her locks up into a ponytail.

Happy in love: The pair looked giddy in love as they made their way around the reception area

She also accessorised with glittering jewels, including diamond drop earrings and what appeared to be a diamond and sapphire pendant.

Meanwhile, Richard looked dashing in a black tuxedo.

The Today star is said to be 'head over heels' for the beauty, who was a dancer at Le Lido Paris in the 1980s.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Virginia, a mother of three young children, has previously interacted with Richard on Twitter.

Cuddling up: Virginia was also pictured putting his arm around the veteran entertainment reporter as they were spotted leaving the party

Looking good: The blonde certainly dressed to the nines for the couple's big debut, showing off her toned back in a daring black backless dress

'Nice seeing you in the chairman's this morning...hope you had a good flight! X,' one tweet reportedly read, which was posted on February 2.

Another tweet from June reportedly saw Virginia reveal she was rubbing shoulders with the Today cast and Seal, which read: 'I'm with Seal #9Today The Voice.'

Virginia is the estranged wife of 'extremely wealthy' Mark Burmeister, of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.

Meanwhile, Richard has been married to Michelle Burke and had a high-profile relationship with designer Colette Dinnigan in the past.

Love is in the air: Lisa and Peter Fitzsimons renewed their vows to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary

Head over heels: The Today star is said to be 'head over heels' for the beauty, who was a dancer at Le Lido Paris in the 1980s

Reports: Virginia is the estranged wife of 'extremely wealthy' Mark Burmeister, of Morgan Stanley

Since then, he has been romantically linked to a number of high-profile personalities, including The Block contestant Suzi Taylor and Married At First Sight star and part-time model Nadia Stamp, 36.

Richard is a father of six.

Last month, he opened up to 9Honey's Super Mums podcast and spoke about how becoming a father at the age of 18 changed his life.

He said the arrival of his first son Adam in 1973, who has Down Syndrome and is now 44, forced the former pop star 'to suddenly grow up'.

Case for the ex? Richard has been romantically linked to a number of high-profile personalities in the past, including The Block contestant Suzi Taylor (pictured)

Richard also revealed he 'first got lucky' on his 18th birthday and the girl subsequently fell pregnant.

'It was a 16-year-old girl who I didn't know very well and she fell pregnant... so we got married of course,' he explained.

'I didn't quite know how to handle all that at the tender age of 18, but now I often refer to him as my rock,' Richard said of his firstborn child.

'I don't know what would have happened to me if I hadnt been forced to suddenly grow up at the age of 18,' he continued.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment in regards to this story.
Josh Brolin showed off his gorgeous trophy wife Kathryn Boyd at the premiere of his new movie Only The Brave Sunday night.

The Hollywood star, 49, and his two decades younger spouse put on a loved up display as they posed for photos on the red carpet in Los Angeles.

The statuesque blonde, who was previously Brolin's assistant before their marriage a year ago, towered over her husband in a strapless black gown with sweetheart neckline.

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Happily wed: Josh Brolin showed off his gorgeous trophy wife Kathryn Boyd at the premiere of his new movie Only The Brave Sunday night

Boyd's dress pooled around her feet and she carried a matching black clutch purse.

Her long honey blonde locks were loose and she accessorized with a stunning bracelet.

Brolin was dapper in a bespoke three-piece charcoal suit.

He wore a crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the collar and added shiny black shoes.

Red carpet ready: The actor, 49, looking dapper in a bespoke three-piece charcoal suit, and his two decades younger spouse put on a loved up display as they posed for photos

Stunner: The statuesque blonde, who was previously Brolin's assistant before their marriage a year ago, towered over her husband in a strapless black gown with sweetheart neckline

Brolin stars in the movie with Jeff Bridges, Miles Teller, Taylor Kitsch and Jennifer Connelly.

It tells the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, an elite crew of firefighters who battled the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona in June 2013.

They team were overtaken by the wildfire and 19 firefighters lost their lives.

Chiseled: Co-stars Taylor Kitsch and Jeff Bridges join Brolin in the drama about the Granite Mountain Hotshots, 19 of whom perished in the Yarnell wildfire in Arizona in June 2013

Dapper: Bearded Bridges, 67, put on a show in a navy suit and black shoes with white shirt and patterned pale blue silk tie

Youthful star: Also in the movie is Miles Teller who arrived looking sharp in stylish black suit with shiny black shoes, a white shirt and colorful patterned tie

Another loved up couple on the red carpet was Teller and fiancee Keleigh Sperry.

The two announced their engagement in August after four years together.

The Whiplash star, 30, wore a stylish black suit with shiny black shoes, a white shirt and colorful patterned tie.

The model, 24, was styled in a green and black short-sleeved full-length dress with colorful floral embellishments all over it.

The brunette beauty wore her hair in a sophisticated updo and wore dramatic dark red lip color and heavily penciled in brows.

Engaged: Accompanying the Whiplash star, 30, was his model fiancee Keleigh Sperry, 24, who donned a green and black short-sleeved full-length dress with floral detailing all over it

Look of love: The brunette beauty wore her hair in a sophisticated updo and wore dramatic dark red lip color and heavily penciled in brows

Gave her a kiss: The two announced their engagement in August after four years together

Jennifer Connelly brought along her husband of 14 years Paul Bettany and the two held hands as they walked the red carpet.

The Oscar-winning actress, 46, was gorgeous in a white romper under a Chinese-inspired silk coat with delicate floral detailing.

British actor Bettany, whom she met while making A Beautiful Life together in 2001, opted for a black two-piece suit with white shirt and sported sunglasses.

Devoted: The movie's lead actress Jennifer Connelly showed up hand in hand with her husband, British actor Paul Bettany to whom she's been married for 14 years

Fashion forward: The actress, 46, was gorgeous in a white romper under a Chinese-inspired silk coat with delicate floral detailing. She added statement black heels to complete her look

Staying close: British actor Bettany, whom she met while making A Beautiful Life together in 2001, opted for a black two-piece suit with white shirt and sported sunglasses

Connelly, who was clearly in a playful mood, joined co-star Bridges to goof around for the cameras with the film's director Joseph Kosinski.

The cast also made sure to greet firefighters who had been invited to the premiere and who lined up along the red carpet.

Fun night: Connelly, who was clearly in a playful mood, joined co-star Bridges to goof around for the cameras with the film's director Joseph Kosinski

Real life heroes: The cast also made sure to greet firefighters who had been invited to the premiere and who lined up along the red carpet

Greeting: Brolin fist-bumped firefighters as he passed

.... and so did Teller

Headturner: Oscar winner Connelly made an entrance

Among the celebrities who attended the screening was former Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev.

The 28-year-old wore a dramatic strapless frock with a harvest theme and orange embroidery on the skirt.

On hand, too, was Transformers: The Last Knight actress Isabella Moner, 16, in a metallic long-sleeved mini dress and embellished pumps.

On the guest list: Among the celebrities who attended the screening was former Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev

Making a style statement: The 28-year-old wore a dramatic strapless frock with a harvest theme and orange embroidery on the skirt
He's the much-loved media personality that announced he has advanced heart disease in August.

But on Saturday, Andrew Denton looked to be on the mend after undergoing heart bypass surgery.

The 57-year-old appeared happy and healthy as he attended Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons' vow renewal at The Bathers' Pavilion at Sydney's Balmoral Beach.

Road to recovery: Andrew Denton, 57, looked happy and on the mend after undergoing heart surgery, as he attended Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons' vow renewal at The Bathers' Pavilion at Sydney's Balmoral Beach

Andrew wore smart attire for the occasion, sporting a crisp white button-up shirt, a tailored black suit and dress shoes.

Exiting the exclusive venue with friends, the veteran journalist appeared in good spirits.

Andrew formed part of the intimate guest list, celebrating Lisa Wilkinson's 25 years of marriage with Peter FitzSimons.

Exclusive event: The veteran journalist formed part of the intimate guest list, celebrating Lisa Wilkinson's 25 years of marriage with Peter FitzSimons

Stunning: Lisa looked beautiful in an embellished white Pallas Couture gown, that costs a whopping $12,000

Luxe addition: The Today show host accessorised with metallic Louis Vuitton stilettos

Lisa stunned in an off-the-shoulder Pallas Couture white dress, worth $12,000, accessorised with metallic Louis Vuitton stilettos, and looked radiant while surrounded by close family and friends.

Meanwhile, Andrew's sighting marks just two months following the announcement that he has advanced heart disease and would require bypass surgery.

The news was made public by the reporter's own charity, Go Gentle Australia, that campaigns to legalise euthanasia.

Announcement: Andrew's sighting marks just two months following the announcement that he has advanced heart disease and would require bypass surgery. The news was made public by the reporter's own charity, Go Gentle Australia, that campaigns to legalise euthanasia

Go Gentle released a statement at the time, maintaining that Andrew feels 'very fortunate' to have discovered his condition before 'something more serious happened.'

The organisation went on to say Andrew 'knows that he is in very good hands, and looks forward to a life of rude good health on the other side of surgery.'

The Gold Logie-nominated television presenter founded Go Gentle in 2016, after watching his father Kit die a slow and painful death from heart failure in 1997.

Andrew made it his duty to work towards legalising euthanasia.
Her birth era is the Eighties but Vanessa Hudgens is totally Nineties child.

And the 28-year-old actress proved her retro flair on Sunday as she stepped out to grab some coffee on in Los Angeles.

The brunette was seen grabbing two to go containers of coffee as she rocked a plaid dress and combat boots.

Her birth era is the Eighties but Vanessa Hudgens is totally Nineties child: The 28-year-old actress proved her retro flair on Sunday as she stepped out to grab some coffee on in Los Angeles

Rocking oval shaped Vera Wang sunglasses Vanessa sported necklaces and a leather choker with metal rings for her day out.

Meanwhile the star recently attended the launch of Knott's Scary Farm annual Halloween event at Buena Park, California, with her beau of six years, Austin Butler.

The actress made sure to catch the eye in a fringed suede jacket and red fishnet tights, as cut an edgy figure at the themed event.

Coffee for two: The brunette was seen grabbing two to go containers of coffee as she rocked a plaid dress and combat boots

Rose tinted glasses: Rocking oval shaped Vera Wang sunglasses Vanessa sported necklaces and a leather choker with metal rings for her day out

Vanessa teased a look at her slender pins in her fun-loving choice of tights adding a pair of leather sock boots to her feet.

Donning a thick choker necklace around her neck, the former High School Musical star chose to sport a 'Teen Witch' t-shirt dress that cut off at the thigh and layered her ensemble with a suede fringed jacket.

She opted to wear her statement outerwear slung off one shoulder and added a black baker's cap atop her dark glossy locks.

Happily ever after: Vanessa was joined on the carpet by her longtime boyfriend Austin Butler, 26, on Friday at Knott's Scary Farm in LA

Vibes: The 28-year-old actress rocked a black and white oversized T-shirt with Teen Witch emblazoned on the front for the annual Halloween event at Buena Park, California

She rocked a vibrant pair of red-tinted specs and wore her choppy tresses in soft curls.

Vanessa finished off her ensemble with a glamorous make-up look, opting for nude lips and a touch of blusher on her cheeks.

The brunette beauty was joined at the event by her longtime boyfriend Austin Butler, 26.

Her handsome actor beau sported a vintage style leather jacket with black trousers and a white T-shirt.

The duo have been dating since 2011 and putting on a loved-up display as they cuddled up together on their arrival, it appears their relationship is still going from strength to strength.

They have been forced to battle long-distance thanks to their working commitments that often sees them travelling the globe for filming. But not fazed by the distance, Vanessa has previously insisted 'you make it work'.

Strike a pose: Her handsome actor beau sported a vintage style leather jacket with black trousers and a white T-shirt

Interesting friends: Vanessa layered a suede jacket with fringe accents, opting to wear it off one shoulder

Vanessa Hudgens also partnered with Lyft yesterday for their Round-Up and Donate program, choosing to donate to the American Red Cross as well. Vanessa posed in front of her Lyft and shared the cause with her 26 million Instagram followers.

It's easy to donate to charity - just Round Up & Donate your @Lyft fares. #lyftambassador I'm partnering with @Lyft and signed up to support @americanredcross. How about you? A post shared by Vanessa Hudgens (@vanessahudgens) on Sep 29, 2017 at 6:55pm PDT

And it seems that is definitely the case for the besotted duo, as they couldn't tear themselves away from each other while enjoying their Halloween-themed evening out.

Vanessa and Austin were seen locking lips as they rode the Ghostrider roller-coaster, seeking solace in each other as they embarked on giving themselves a fright at the farm.

Leaning in to her beau, Vanessa was seen clutching his arm as she puckered up towards him and the pair appeared in high spirits as they enjoyed some quality time together.

Knott's Scary Farm is open select nights from September 21 until October 31.

Pucker up! Vanessa and Austin were seen kissing as they rode the Ghostrider roller-coaster
She's just landed a spot in the coveted Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

And on Monday, Australian model Victoria Lee turned the streets into a catwalk when spotted leaving a photo shoot in Sydney.

The 26-year-old stunner showed off her incredibly trim frame in a chic black dress while her freshly blow dried locks were tossed around in the wind.

Turning the streets into a catwalk! Model Victoria Lee showcases her trim figure in a black dress as she leaves a photoshoot in Sydney...as she prepares to walk in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

The stunner's dress feature ruched detailing, a high neck, and a small frill at the bottom stopping just above her knees.

Victoria added height to her statuesque frame with a pair of black pointed heels.

Her long blonde locks were out in loose tousled curls and she wore natural looking makeup, including a nude lip and light foundation.

Stunner: Her long blonde locks were out in loose tousled curls and she wore natural looking makeup, including a nude lip and light foundation

Chic: The stunner's dress feature ruched detailing, a high neck, and a small frill at the bottom, stopping at her knees

Hot to trot: Victoria added height to her statuesque frame in a pair of black pointed heels

She appeared in high spirits and smiled as she basked in the sunshine.

Victoria was also accompanied by a woman on the day, believed to be her mother.

Victoria has just been cast in the upcoming Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which will take place in Shanghai, China.

Flawless: She appeared in high spirits and smiled as she basked in the sunshine

In good company: Victoria was also accompanied by a woman on the day, believed to be her mother

Success: Victoria has just been cast in the upcoming Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which will take place in Shanghai, China

In August, the New York-based beauty took to Instagram to share her news and said she was 'beside' herself.

'Extremely happy to let you know I'll be walking in the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show!! Thank you so much for this incredible opportunity,' part of her post read.

Victoria - who has posed up for the likes of Seafolly - will also join Australian model Georgia Fowler in the parade.

Counting down: In August, the New York-based beauty took to Instagram to share her news and said she was 'beside' herself
Roxy Jacenko has revealed doctors have found another lump on her breast following her battle with breast cancer last year.

The 37-year-old PR queen exclusively told Daily Mail Australia she received the worrying diagnosis last month, not long after her husband Oliver Curtis was released from jail.

Roxy explained the discovery as a 'scary' moment for her after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016.

EXCLUSIVE: Roxy Jacenko has revealed doctors have found another lump on her breast following her battle with breast cancer last year

Emotional: Roxy is the mother of Pixie (right), six, and Hunter (left), three, she is pictured with them and husband Oliver Curtis

'I had my 12-month check up just three weeks ago, it was a scary time as there was another lump in the same breast,' she revealed.

'It meant another core biopsy and further tests but I got the all clear last week which was a huge relief.'

The Sweaty Betty PR owner said she now has to have MRIs, mammograms and ultrasounds twice a year due to her age.

She also revealed that she has to take the 'cancer blocking' medication Tamoxifen daily for the next ten years on advice from her oncologist.

Settling back in: Roxy revealed she received the scare soon after husband Oliver Curtis (pictured) was released from prison earlier this year

Roxy said Oliver never fails to remind her to take the medication.

'We dont talk about it, though he nags me every single morning to take my medicine,' she said.

'I dont know why but I seem to forget unless nagged.'

Precautions: The Sweaty Betty PR owner said she now has to have MRIs, mammograms and ultrasounds twice a year due to her age

Roxy was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, just three weeks after her husband was jailed for insider trading, but she was given the all clear after receiving treatment.

Roxy - who will dye her hair pink later this month for breast cancer awareness - also reflected on last year's diagnosis after her husband was convicted of conspiracy to commit insider trading.

Oliver wept from Parklea Prison, in Sydney's north west, after Roxy broke the new to him during a brief phone call.

'I got the all clear': Roxy was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, just three weeks after her husband was jailed for insider trading

'It was a very, very hard thing to tell him given he wasnt in a position to be able to help,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'Delivering the news over a six minute phone call is something I will never forget, and I doubt he will either  he just cried.'

But the mother of Pixie, six, and Hunter, three, said she refused to feel sorry for herself despite her life being in 'total disarray.'

Healthy: The blonde beauty became a health fanatic after her first diagnosis, with daily workouts and green juices

'I wanted to make sure my life remained as normal as it could for my children,' she said.

'Already life was in total disarray. I had gone from having a husband at home to sitting through a two-week Supreme Court trial, on to jail time, and then cancer.

'I almost think I was forced into just getting on with it, there was no shoulder to cry on, it was me and the kids, it was them realistically that made me focus and keep on going.'

Doting husband: Roxy said Oliver never fails to remind her to take her 'cancer blocking' medication, however they don't discuss ongoing cancer fears

Roxy will be colouring her hair pink with a team at hairdressing company TONI&GUY on October 24 to help raise awareness and donations Australia-wide for breast cancer charities.

Throughout October, the company will donate a portion of hair colour fees - and customers' optional $2 donations - to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Look Good Feel Better.

'I love to experiment with my hair, I always remember the Olsen twins doing a soft pink and it looked fab, doing this is not only fun but for such a great cause,' Roxy said.
Armie Hammer defended his new film Call Me By Your Name on Sunday.

The story involves the love affair of a 17-year-old with a 24-year-old and critics took to social media to discuss their outrage over the age difference.

However, Hammer, 31, slapped back on Twitter by stating: 'You do know that you live in a state where the age of consent is 16, right.? Ok. Now shut up.'

Defensive: Armie Hammer, 31, defended his new film Call Me By Your Name on Sunday

Hammer dealt with an upset fan who posted: 'Wow, did you act in a film about pedophilia? Are you a pedophile? Do you promote such depravity? I was once a fan. Blech!!'

After explaining the laws of consent to the Twitter user, Hammer added: 'And thank you for your service to our country'

It was also revealed that both the director Luca Guadagnino and lead Timothee Chalamet practiced making love to a peach before filming a racy fruit scene.

Clap back: However, Hammer slapped back on Twitter by stating: 'You do know that you live in a state where the age of consent is 16, right.? Ok. Now shut up.'

Racy: The story involves the love affair of a 17-year-old with a 24-year-old and critics took to social media to discuss their outrage over the age difference

The film is based on the 2007 book of the same name by Andre Aciman.

It explores the intense relationship between an American-Italian boy Elio (Chalamet) and an American student Oliver (Hammer) who comes to live at Elios familys home for the summer.

One graphic scene in the novel has Elio make love to a peach with Oliver promptly eating it afterwards.

Stone fruit: It was also revealed that both the director Luca Guadagnino and lead Timothee Chalamet, 21, practiced making love to a peach before filming a racy fruit scene

'I was tempted to remove it from the script,' Guadagnino told Out.

'In the book, it is so strong and explicit that I thought it was a metaphor, something that couldnt exist in real life.

'I was struggling with the possibility that you can masturbate yourself with such a fruit. So I grabbed a peach and I tried, and I have to sayit works.'

Guadagnino added: 'I went to Timothee, and said, "We shoot the scene, because I tried it and it worked." And he said, "I tried, too, and I already knew it worked."'
Models have to watch what they eat.

But given her marvellous midsection, perhaps Victoria's Secret Angel Romee Strijd felt free to indulge as she grabbed yoghurt with her lover in Beverly Hills on Sunday.

She looked like she was having a mirthful time indeed as she waited alongside her man Laurens van Leeuwen following their exciting excursion.

Ab-solutely fabulous: Romee Strijd showed off her washboard stomach in a skimpy crop top as she grabbed yoghurt with lover Laurens van Leeuwen in Beverly Hills on Sunday

The 22-year-old filly looked in fine form indeed, her toned torso certainly catching the eye due to her skimpy tartan top.

She rounded off her revealing look by wearing tight blue jeans and had a pullover tied around her waist, and covering her eyes with some Sunday Somewhere shades.

The Dutch couple - who began dating in 2009 - reportedly met through his sister while the saucy model was still a teenager.

And she gushed over her man earlier this year, saying: 'I want to marry him and have children. We have had serious talks about it together.'

The blonde beauty is always quick to give her fans a treat on social media, and she recently gave her fans a thrilling insight into a New York City shoot in which she was dress in just a lace bra and panties.

You could clean your clothes on it: Her washboard stomach really was a sight to behold

Turning heads: Passersby could surely not resist sneaking a peak at the sexy model, who wore a pair of Sunday Somewhere shades for the outing

Making waves: Her boyfriend attempted to wave down a taxi

Professional clotheshorse Romee was joined in a behind-the-scenes image from a studio session by fellow lingerie specialist Jasmine Tookes.

The girls were side by side in a makeup room that had old-fashioned bulbs around the mirror.

Romee made the most of a maroon colored push up bra in lace with thin straps and a matching pair of skimpy panties.

Her sidekick Jasmine meanwhile looked radiant in a white lace bra and drawstring pajama bottoms.

The dynamic duo are gearing up for the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show set to take place in December at a yet-to-be-disclosed location.

Oh well: But they were soon trying to use other methods to attract transportation

Yoghurt to be kidding: They looked rather fed up as they waited for transport to arrive

Making an exhibition of herself: The professional clotheshorse wore a thrillingly sheer dress to an art event at Paris Fashion Week
Claire Fraser after leaving her adult daughter traveled back in time to be reunited with her Highland warrior lover Jamie Fraser on Sunday's episode of Outlander.

The episode titled Freedom & Whisky ended with Claire, played by Caitriona Balfe, surprising Jamie [Sam Hueghan] in the Edinburgh print shop he owns in the 18th century.

Claire left her daughter Brianna [Sophie Skelton] after she gave her blessings for her mother to reunite with her father.

Time travel: Claire Fraser traveled back to 18th century Scotland during Sunday's episode of Outlander

The episode started off with Claire in December 1968 working with friend Joe Abernath [Wil Johnson] who asked if she met a man during her recent trip to Scotland.

'Not really,' Claire responded while adding that she hoped to reconnect with someone from her past.

'Fate had other plans,' Claire said.

'F*** fate,' Joe replied.

Brianna meanwhile was warned by her Harvard history professor that she needs to turn her grades around.

Together again: Jamie Fraser was surprised by Claire at his print shop

She later got teary while perusing Frank's chair, pipe and old photos as she missed her late father figure.

Bri and Claire then argued after Bri said she wanted to leave Harvard and move out.

Roger [Richard Rankin] arrived as Bri was leaving with a box of her belongings and Claire invited Roger to stay with them.

Fond memories: Brianna held a pipe that belonged to her late step-father Frank

Family friend: Roger shared an article with Claire proving that Jamie was still alive

It was Roger's first Christmas without Reverend Reginal Wakefield who adopted his great-nephew after Roger's parents were killed in the war.

Roger told Claire that he wanted to experience lobster rolls and Boston creme pie for Christmas.

Claire while chatting and drinking whisky with Roger was shown an article from 1765 that mentioned the 'Freedom and Whisky gang' with the printer identified as Alexander Malcom, which is Jamie's middle names.

Middle names: An article identified the Edinburgh printer by Jamie's middle names

The development left Claire feeling ambivalent and she asked Roger to keep the information about Jamie from Brianna.

Claire later that night yearned for Jamie while holding her wedding pearls.

She went back to work and examined remains found at an archaeological site with Joe.

Top secret: Claire asked Roger to keep the information from Brianna

Joe asked again about her man in Scotland and Claire explained that she told Brianna while they were in Scotland together that Frank wasn't her real father.

The news didn't surprise Joe who said he could tell that Frank and Claire were not getting along for years.

Joe urged Claire to chase after her love and said Bri would understand.

Good friend: Joe Abernathy asked his friend Claire about her recent trip to Scotland

Bri invited Roger to a Harvard ceremony honoring Frank's work and they walked the halls together.

Roger asked Bri if she ever thought about the brilliant minds that walked the same halls but Bri said she was more interested in how the buildings were constructed.

'That doesn't sound like the daughter of a historian,' Roger said.

'Well, I'm not, I'm the daughter of an 18th century Highlander,' Bri replied.

Highlander's daughter: Bri reminded Roger that she's the daughter of an 18th century Highlander

Claire at a ceremony announcing the new Frank Randall Fellowship in honor of her late husband crossed paths with his girlfriend Sandy Travers [Sarah MacRae].

Sandy scolded Claire for staying with Frank.

'You were selfish. You had to have it all. You wasted 20 years with him. I'd give anything for one more day with him. He was the love of my life,' Sandy told Claire.

Private scolding: Sandy scolded Claire for staying with Frank all those years

Bri later asked Claire about Sandy and reminded her mother about her pledge to tell the truth.

Claire told Bri that Frank loved Sandy and planned on marrying her.

'You told me I look like Jamie. Daddy must have hated me when he looked at me and saw another man,' Bri said.

Candid conversation: Bri asked for the truth and Claire told her about Sandy

Claire shot that notion down quickly.

'Raising you was his greatest joy,' Claire told her daughter.

Clarie then showed Bri the article by Jamie and her daughter quickly realized the implications.

Greatest joy: Claire told her daughter that Frank's 'greatest joy' was raising her

'You can go back. I can live on my own. I love you, but I don't need you,' Bri said.

Claire had mixed feelings about leaving and admitted to Bri that she was worried Jamie forgot about her.

Bri assured her mother that Jamie feels the same way about her.

Tender moment: Bri gave her mother her blessings to go back in time to be with Jamie

'You gave up Jamie for me. Now I have to give hm back to you,' Bri said.

Claire also confided in Joe that she hasn't seen the man in Scotland in 20 years and was worried if he would still be attracted to her.

Joe gave her a pep talk and Claire was uplifted after Joe said she was 'a skinny broad with too much hair and a great a**'.

Pep talk: Joe gave Claire a pep talk and assured her that she was still attractive

Claire, Bri and Roger then exchanged Christmas gifts with Claire receiving coins from an antique store that she can use in Edinburgh.

She also received a book about Scotland and a topaz necklace to aid her travel through the stones.

War nurse Claire revealed that she was taking penicillin and modern syringes back with her.

Gift exchange: Claire, Bri and Roger exchanged Christmas presents in Boston in 1968

Claire said she planned to take make a garment with room for everything she planned to take back in time.

'Like a superhero,' Roger said.

The Batman theme played while Claire stitched a dress and cape.

Loose garment: The trip back to time required Claire to make her own dress with extra room for supplies

Familiar music: The Batman theme played while Claire stitched together her dress and cape

Good work: Claire crafted a beautiful blue dress for her trip back in time

Claire before leaving gave Bri her wedding pearls, deed to the house, bank information and a resignation letter for Joe.

Roger came back with whisky and the three of them toasted 'to freedom and whisky'.

Claire then departed and looked back at Bri and Roger in the window before climbing into a taxi.

Wedding pearls: Bri was gifted her mother's wedding pearls and important documents

Taxi ride: Claire jumped into a taxi as she departed to see Jamie again

Fond farewell: Bri and Roger looked out the window as Claire left for the 18th century

Bri cried on Roger's shoulder and then put on a Santa hat and brought Roger a tray of lobster rolls and Boston cream pie.

Roger gifted her a copy of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and they kissed in front of the roaring fire.

Claire in the taxi spoke in a voiceover about her fear of stepping in puddles and falling into the abyss.

Santa hat: Bri after her mother left recollected herself, put on a Santa hat and kissed Roger

The door opened and Claire stepped out of a carriage in 1776 in Edinburgh.

After asking for directions to Alexander Malcolm's print shop, Claire then walked over to it.

A man called out from downstairs and Claire recognizing it as Jamie's voice walked further into the shop and saw his back.

18th century: Claire went from a taxi to a horse-drawn carriage as she was shown in the 1770s

From behind: Jamie was shown from behind as Claire entered his print shop

'It's me, Claire,' she said.

Jamie turned around and his eyes widened as he recognized his true love.

He then stumbled and fainted.

Outlander after a one-week break will return October 22 on Starz.

Surprise visit: Claire announced to Jamie that she was back
They've been more smitten than ever after secretly rekindling their romance over the summer.

And Brooklyn Beckham, 18, posted a selfie with his girlfriend Chloe Moretz, 20, on Monday - the first since the pair reignited their flame.

The couples' display of affection comes after Brooklyn was spotted strolling hand-in-hand with Chloe in Dublin, Ireland over the weekend, visiting the actress on set while she shoots her new film The Widow.

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Sweet: Brooklyn Beckham, 18, posted a selfie with his girlfriend Chloe Moretz, 20, while the pair were in Dublin, Ireland on Monday - the first since the pair reignited their flame

The photo depicts the young lovebirds sipping pints of Guinness while wearing the Irish colours, while watching the highly-anticipated Leinster Vs Munster rugby match that was on over the weekend.

Brooklyn captioned the sweet photo: 'Dublin. You were amazing.'

Brooklyn wore a tan coloured baker boy hat, which has become a trademark of his and his father's, and a distressed denim jacket.

Adorable: Other social media posts depict Brooklyn affectionately kissing Chloe on the cheek, canoodling in the stands without a care in the world

Chloe kept warm in a black knitted beanie, and showed off her style credentials in a pinstriped blazer jacket.

Other social media posts depict Brooklyn affectionately kissing Chloe on the cheek, canoodling in the stands without a care in the world.

Another hilarious photo shows Brooklyn comically posing with another fan, peering over the top of his Guinness pint.

Having fun: The young lovebirds sipped pints of Guinness while wearing the Irish colours, while watching the highly-anticipated Leinster Vs Munster rugby match that was on over the weekend

The pair were spotted over the weekend looking cute as they strolled through Dublin, with Chloe also sharing a video with her 13.5million Instagram followers of her cheeky chappy giving her a tender kiss on the cheek as she beamed at the camera.

Now that the British teenager has moved to New York City to study, he's been able to meet up with the beauty regularly.

Yet Brooklyn recently admitted that he has a few 'fangirls' at Parsons School of Design in NYC, where is studying photography.

Hilarious: Another hilarious photo shows Brooklyn comically posing with another fan, peering over the top of his Guinness pint

He confessed in an interview with The Cut that he sometimes has to ask his more enthusiastic fans to calm down when they run into him.

He said: 'I like people from school but there are a few fangirls in the school Sometimes, I have to be like, "I'm going to be with you for like, four years, so chill."

'I mean, it's gotten better. They understand and they respect it, but it's just at the beginning, it's such a shock to them, so it's fine.'

And Brooklyn, who as the eldest child of David and Victoria Beckham has spent his entire life mixing in celebrity circles and is often seen at star-studded events, said he's not interested in hanging out with famous people, saying "I don't hang out with all those famous, annoying people."
Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek will defect from the KIIS Network to replace Hamish and Andy in their Hit drivetime slot.

So listeners were curious to hear how the comedic pair would bid farewell on their first show since they announced they were defecting on Monday.

'We'll be sad to leave a lot of good people who work here at this network,' Dave said, which prompted Kate to joke: 'But luckily there's not a lot of them! Wooo!'

'Don't be paranoid!' Kate Langbroek tells co-host Dave Hughes after poking fun at KIIS Network boss... as the two defect to rival station to replace Hamish and Andy

Kate then assured her co-host that she was only joking, and took a playful jab at the KIIS Network National Content Director Duncan Campbell, by playing the Slim Dusty classic 'Duncan.'

Dave quickly cut the song then reminded listeners that the pair would be respectful on air.

'Don't be paranoid,' Kate exclaimed.

'Luckily there's not a lot of them': Katetook a playful jab at KIIS Content Director Duncan Campbell and staff at the network

'Don't be paranoid': Kate (pictured left) made it clear she was only joking

The pair were announced as Hit Network's new drivetime hosts on Monday.

They will replace Hamish and Andy, whose long-running radio show will come to an end next year.

No more radio! Hamish and Andy's long-running radio show will come to an end next year

The Hit Network has a raft of stars on its shows including Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little who were originally rumoured to take over the drive slot.

Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek have hosted their afternoon drive program Hughesy and Kate on the KIIS Network since 2014.
She is one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood.

So it's no surprise Jennifer Connelly, 46, wowed on the arm of her husband Paul Bettany, 46, for Only The Brave red carpet at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California on Sunday.

Holding the hand of her lover, the Golden Globe winner looked delighted when she made a leggy appearance on the red carpet in a tiny ruffled playsuit.

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Must be love: Jennifer Connelly, 46, wowed on the arm of her husband Paul Bettany, 46, for Only The Brave red carpet at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California on Thursday

Leggy lady: The Golden Globe winner looked delighted when she made a leggy appearance on the red carpet in a tiny ruffled playsuit

Adding to her height, A Beautiful Mind star drew further attention to her model-honed limbs with her sky-scraper Louis Vuitton sandals.

Award-winning Jennifer ensured the eyes of her married partner of 14 years as she layered up with a Chinese-inspired silk jacket featuring floral embroidery.

The slinky garment injected a vibrancy and a splash of colour into her ensemble with its bright turquoise material and colourful stitching detail.

Jennifer styled her sleek raven locks in a poker straight fashion and she wore a slick of scarlet lipstick for the ultimate drama.

Adding to her height: A Beautiful Mind star drew further attention to her model-honed limbs with her sky-scraper high heels

Killer looks: The slinky garment injected a vibrancy and a splash of colour into her ensemble with its bright turquoise material and colourful stitching detail

The actress couldn't resist stealing a few adoring gazes at her long-term lover, whom she met on the set of A Beautiful Mind in 2001.

Paul proved equally smitten when he supported his beautiful wife on the Los Angeles red carpet.

The dashing actor looked hunky in a black two-piece suit, complete with a white shirt.

Confidence: Jennifer styled her sleek raven locks in a poker straight fashion and she wore a slick of scarlet lipstick for the ultimate drama

Stunning: Award-winning Jennifer ensured the eyes of her married partner of 14 years as she layered up with a Chinese-inspired silk jacket featuring floral embroidery

People pleaser: The actress proved to be quite the social butterfly as she signed autographs for waiting fans

Staying close: British actor Bettany, whom she met while making A Beautiful Mind together in 2001, opted for a black two-piece suit with white shirt and sported sunglasses

Despite the summer coming to an end, the television hunk sported sunglasses for the flashy occasion.

Jennifer plays the leading lady in the movie, starring alongside Jeff Bridges, Miles Teller and Taylor Kitsch.

The upcoming flick tells the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, an elite crew of firefighters who battled the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona in June 2013.

Only eyes for you! The married lovebirds couldn't take their eyes off each other when they headed down the red carpet

Handsome chap: The dashing actor looked hunky in a black two-piece suit, complete with a white shirt

Team: Jennifer and Paul were also joined by the great and the good of the showbiz world

Wildfire consumed the team and 19 firefighters lost their lives in the inferno.

The star-studded cast also greeted firefighters who had been invited to the A-list affair.

Jennifer and Paul were also joined by the great and the good of the showbiz world.

Fun night: Connelly, who was clearly in a playful mood, joined co-star Bridges to goof around for the cameras with the film's director Joseph Kosinski

Look of love? Miles Teller and new fiancee Keleigh Sperry seem to need a bit of practice before the wedding day as they fumbled over a kiss on the red carpet of Only The Brave

Actor Miles was in the good company of his new fiancee Keleigh Sperry.

The 30-year-old actor bumped cheeks with his soon-to-be bride as they attempted to kiss multiple times.

Looking dapper in a crisp black suit with a black and red tie, the Whiplash actor stood side-by-side with his lady love.

The 24-year-old model from Orange County, California was styled in an olive green short-sleeved long gown which featured delicate beading and colorful floral embellishments all over.

Her chocolate brown hair was tied up into a loose top bun with wisps of her hair cascading down her face.

That's not how you do it? The 30-year-old actor bumped cheeks with his soon-to-be bride as they attempted to kiss multiple times

Sperry wore large diamond stud earrings and sported a mauve-colored hue of lipstick for the big night out.

The young couple put on an awkward display of affection after missing each other's lips multiple times.

Both Miles and Keleigh opted to kiss each other's cheek in the unusually odd display of affection on the red carpet.

Cheeky bunch: Both Miles and Keleigh opted to kiss each other's cheek in the unusually odd display of affection on the red carpet

Practice makes perfect: The young couple put on an awkward display of affection after missing each other's lips multiple times

Youthful star: Also in the movie is Miles Teller who arrived looking sharp in stylish black suit with shiny black shoes, a white shirt and colorful patterned tie

Josh Brolin, 49, and his two decades younger spouse put on a loved up display as they posed for photos ahead of the premiere.

The statuesque blonde, who was previously Brolin's assistant before their marriage a year ago, towered over her husband in a strapless black gown with sweetheart neckline.

Boyd's dress pooled around her feet and she carried a matching black clutch purse.

Her long honey blonde locks were loose and she accessorized with a stunning bracelet.

Happily wed: Josh Brolin showed off his gorgeous trophy wife Kathryn Boyd at the premiere of his new movie Only The Brave Sunday night

Red carpet ready: The actor, 49, looking dapper in a bespoke three-piece charcoal suit, and his two decades younger spouse put on a loved up display as they posed for photos

Stunner: The statuesque blonde, who was previously Brolin's assistant before their marriage a year ago, towered over her husband in a strapless black gown with sweetheart neckline

Chiseled: Co-stars Taylor Kitsch and Jeff Bridges join Brolin in the drama about the Granite Mountain Hotshots, 19 of whom perished in the Yarnell wildfire in Arizona in June 2013

Dapper: Bearded Bridges, 67, put on a show in a navy suit and black shoes with white shirt and patterned pale blue silk tie

Real life heroes: The cast also made sure to greet firefighters who had been invited to the premiere and who lined up along the red carpet

Greeting: Brolin fist-bumped firefighters as he passed

Among the celebrities who attended the screening was former Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev.

The 28-year-old wore a dramatic strapless frock with a harvest theme and orange embroidery on the skirt.

On hand, too, was Transformers: The Last Knight actress Isabella Moner, 16, in a metallic long-sleeved mini dress and embellished pumps.

On the guest list: Among the celebrities who attended the screening was former Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev

Making a style statement: The 28-year-old wore a dramatic strapless frock with a harvest theme and orange embroidery on the skirt
She is enduring a very acrimonious split from a boxer worth 23million and preparing to welcome their second child, alone.

But Amir Khan's estranged wife Faryal Makhdoom was keen to show off her independence on Sunday as she got back to work during her pregnancy.

Captioning some behind the scenes shots for a campaign for her self-made beauty brand, Faryal simply wrote: 'Back to hustlin''

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Back to hustling: Faryal Makhdoom got to work on her beauty brand on Sunday, as she returned to work during her pregnancy

A 'hustle' is generally considered to mean doing anything in order to make money.

Glamorously dressed in a red fluffy coat for the beauty shoot, Faryal found the humour in shooting during her pregnancy, as she was dressed in jogging bottoms just out of the shot.

She captioned one shot, 'Lol at my pants' as the photographer captured portrait shots of her beautiful features.

Her cheekbones were perfectly contoured and she pouted through striking red lipstick, before changing into a second fluffy ensemble.

Faryal launched her eponymous beauty line in June 2015, 'after gaining attention from her highly publicized glamorous wedding', her personal website states.

Hiding her bump: The brunette dressed her baby bump in a pair of jogging bottoms

Hustling: Faryal has returned to work to make some money for her two children

Dressed up: Glamorous up top in fur jackets, the brunette was comfortable out of shot in her leisurewear

The beauty married Amir at New York's fabled Waldorf Astoria hotel in 2013, where the building was transformed into a scene from the Arabian Nights.

They have one child together, three-year-old daughter Lamaisah, and Faryal revealed her second pregnancy in August, just weeks after their separation was announced.

She made a firm statement about the baby last week when she stepped out alone, carrying the ultrasound and deliberately flashing her ring-free hand.

Now Amir has dealt her the ultimate blow by reuniting with his parents in Pakistan, a year after the family fell out with Faryal about the way she dressed.

It's over: Faryal began her beauty business after gaining attention from her lavish wedding to boxer Amir Khan in 2013 (pictured, in July that year)

Amir's dad Shah told Geo News in December 2016: 'Faryal was adopting a dress code which in the Islamic faith was not acceptable.

He added: 'We kept asking Amir to tell her not to adopt such a dress code. And even if she had to wear such dresses, please don't post it on social media.'

Amir's mother Falak said: 'I asked her not to wear such dresses and to take the dupatta (scarf), but he never listened.'

Pregnant again: Within weeks after the couple split their year, Faryal revealed that she was expecting their second child (here last week, with the baby scan)

After inititally defending his wife, Amir seems to have been welcomed back into the family.

He posted a picture with his mother and father with the caption: 'Lovely time in Pakistan with Mom & Dad. Taking off shortly to England. Had a lovely time here. See you all soon.'

It is believed that Faryal could stand to gain at least half of Amir's estimated 30million fortune when the divorce is finalised.

#Family: Amir reunited with mum Falak (right) and dad Shah (left) this weekend in Pakistan
They were said to be 'casually dating' last month, when her new suitor was named.

But Tara Reid made things 'red-carpet official' with tech entrepreneur Ted Dhanik at CineFashion Film Awards in Los Angeles, California on Sunday.

The 41-year-old movie star, still best known for her part in American Pie, went braless in a plunging gown that oozed sex appeal for her red carpet moment.

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Wow: Tara Reid oozed sex appeal when she made her first red carpet appearance with Ted Dhanik at CineFashion Film Awards in Los Angeles, California on Thursday

Tara also flaunted her envy-inducing legs in the perilously high centre split of the slinky, semi-sheer garment.

Glamorous as ever, the American Pie actress exuded elegance in the ruby red custom made Stello dress with its trailing floor length skirt.

The 5ft4in stunner boosted her petite height at the A-list affair with sky-scraper high nude heels.

Sensational looks: The 41-year-old movie star went braless and showed off her gravity-defying cleavage in her plunging gown

Ruby red: The former Celebrity Big Brother housemate picked out the vibrant colour in her dress by plumping out her pout with a slick of scarlet lipstick

Going for theatrics, the star put drama into her attire as she slicked back her golden locks in a poker straight fashion and tucked them behind her ears.

The former Celebrity Big Brother housemate picked out the vibrant colour in her dress by plumping out her pout with a slick of scarlet lipstick.

A beaming Tara couldn't contain her excitement to arrive on the arm of her new man.

Glamorous as ever: The American Pie actress exuded elegance in the ruby red custom made Stello dress as it featured a trailing floor length skirt

Leggy lady: Tara also flaunted her envy-inducing legs in the perilously high split of the slinky semi-sheer scarlet garment

Ted teased a glimpse of his muscular chest as he left his spotty shirt unbuttoned.

The tech hunk dressed for the occasion by smartening up his look with a dinner jacket and shiny pointed brogues.

The pair sparked romance rumours when he accompanied her to pal Christina Milian's birthday party in late September.

Going for theatrics: The star put drama into her attire as she slicked back her golden locks in a poker straight fashion

At the time they were said to be enjoying casually dating, a source divulged toPage Six.

No doubt the lovebirds were taking their relationship up a notch as they made their first red carpet appearance together this weekend.

It's something of a comeback for the star, who currently has nine movies on the way and three in pre-production.

Moreover, the Sharknado actress has just landed a movie opposite John Travolta that will film in Europe early in the new year.
Monday's Australian Survivor started on a touching note as the remaining castaways were able to see their family members again.

'I'm so glad Sam's here,' cried Michelle as she reunited with her sister.

'Sam's the one that pushes me to do everything, so I'm just so happy to see her. I'm a bit overwhelmed!'

Family matters: Australian Survivor's final four were reunited with their family members on Monday's episode

Sam then said that she wasn't surprised to see Michelle make it so far, telling host Jonathan LaPaglia: 'She's so driven and she's got such a fun personality, and she really gives 100 per cent to everything she does. I'm so proud of her, so proud!'

Jericho saw his brother, a tearful Peter was reunited with his parents, and stay-at-home mum Tara got to see her husband and her children.

The loved ones were then able to come back to camp with the castaways.

'Sam's the one that pushes me to do everything, so I'm just so happy to see her. I'm a bit overwhelmed!' Michelle gushed over her sister Sam

How sweet: The loved ones were then able to come back to camp with the castaways

'No matter what, we are proud as punch,' Pete's father told him.

Family time soon finished and contestants faced the immunity challenge.

'The next challenge is crucial,' Michelle said in her confessional.

Shedding tears: Peter couldn't stop crying after seeing his parents again

'No matter what, we are proud as punch,' Pete's father told him

'The Immunity Necklace will guarantee that you are standing there in the final three. I have to win.'

However, it was actually Peter who won the challenge, keeping him safe from the other three who had earlier conspired to eliminate him.

'Pete's the person that needs to go and I'm pissed because now, I have to send Tara or Michelle home,' said Jericho.

Winning! Peter took home the win at the immunity challenge, narrowly beating out Jericho

'Pete's the person that needs to go and I'm pissed because now, I have to send Tara or Michelle home,' said Jericho

'I'm gonna have to scramble, and I got to make sure that my name's not being thrown out there. This is the first time I feel a little bit nervous.'

Jericho's fears were founded, with Michelle, Peter, and Tara deciding to vote him out for being too much of a threat.

When Jericho confronted Michelle about this, the pair clashed in an explosive fight.

Clash: Jericho and Michelle clashed after Jericho figured out that the rest of the camp were planning on voting him out

'How dare he come up to me and tell me who I can and cannot have conversations with?' raged Michelle. 'Who the heck does he think he is?'

'How dare he come up to me and tell me who I can and cannot have conversations with?' raged Michelle. 'Who the heck does he think he is?'

Just when it looked like Jericho was a goner, Tara toyed with the idea of voting out Michelle in a bid to prove to the jury that she had no problem going to the final three 'with the best.'

Michelle and Jericho went at it again at tribal council, with Jericho threatening that he was going to tie up the vote to get it down to a fire making challenge.

Flip? Just when it looked like Jericho was a goner, Tara toyed with the idea of voting Michelle in a bid to prove to the jury that she had no problem going to the final three 'with the best'

Tara's fault! In the end, Tara did end up turning on Michelle, resulting in Michelle and Jericho going to a fire making challenge to determine who would stay and who would go

In the end, Tara did end up turning on Michelle, resulting in Michelle and Jericho going to a fire making challenge to determine who would stay and who would go.

Jericho easily defeated Michelle in the challenge, with the blonde later admitting that she should've worked harder on her fire starting skills.

'Never did I actually think it would come to this,' she said in her outro confessional. 'I mean, this is probably what I get for letting the boys do all the work around camp!'

Fire starter: Jericho easily defeated Michelle in the challenge, with the blonde later admitting that she should've worked harder on her fire starting skills
She come under fire from vile trolls after she put on a stone in weight last month, vowing to never wear a bikini again.

But Frankie Essex put her sensational figure on display with confidence as she posed up a storm at the sun-soaked poolside in Marbella, Spain on Sunday.

The Only Way Is Essex star, 30, showcased her gravity-defying cleavage in a extremely plunging nude one-piece which showed off her curves.

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The Only Way Is Confidence: Frankie Essex showed off her envy-inducing curves in an extremely plunging gold one-piece in Marbella, Spain on Sunday

For sparkle, the reality star drew further attention to her ample assets with her star necklace which featured a long dazzling pendant.

The golden-haired beauty swept her trademark locks into a low ponytail, accentuating her features with heavy make-up.

Proving she knows how to accessorise, the stunner kept a vibrant wrap close to hand for a splash of colour.

What a figure: The reality star confidently showed off her hourglass figure in defiance of the vile trolls who had reportedly fat-shamed her after she put on a stone in weight

In September, she was branded fat by vile trolls when she was holidaying in Spain to celebrate her birthday with pals.

After the abuse, she vowed: 'I don't even want to wear a bikini now feel so uncomfortable.'

In August, the Essex born beauty confessed she felt under-the-weather because she had put on a stone.

For sparkle: The reality star drew further attention to her ample assets with her star necklace which featured a long dazzling pendant

Of her weight, she told The Sun: 'I've put on a stone. Not being able to go gym - you eat and it makes me a bit depressed.

'It's horrible and it's a bit depressing. I'm swollen. My whole body is swollen.'

She has been forced to defend herself on social media after she has reportedly been trolled for the change in her appearance.

On Twitter, she wrote: 'So bored of people trolling me about my weight! Yes I have put a bit on but there are reasons behind it!'

The Only Way Is Essex star received support from her loyal fans who flooded the post with adoring compliments.

Then and now: Frankie has been candid in her weight loss transformation after she lost over two stone in 2016 (Pictured L in 2014)

One wrote: 'Frankie dont listen to the trolls you are amazing and gorgeous keep your head held up xxxx' (sic).

'Rule 1-never justify yourself to keyboard warriors & definitely not about your weight. You are beautiful inside&,out- unlike those trolls!!

'You look amazing!' a fan added. 'They are only jealous because they aren't achieving what you have done.'

Another commented: 'Who should care. As long as you are healthy and happy who should care.'
It was recently confirmed that she was reprising her role as Sophie in the eagerly-anticipated sequel of Mamma Mia.

And Amanda Seyfried, 31, was spotted for the first time during shooting, out at sea on a paddleboard in a pair of Sundry leggings.

The blonde beauty was joined by Lily James, 28, who took a well-deserved break from filming by relaxing on some decking.

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Busy lady: Amanda Seyfried, 31, was spotted for the first time as she shot the Mamma Mia sequel in Croatia, as she was pictured out at sea on a paddleboard in a pair of Sundry leggings

Amanda showed off her natural beauty by going make-up free while at sea, scraping her tresses back into a ponytail.

Slipping a pair of sunglasses over her eyes, the Twin Peaks actress showed off her relaxed style by channelling a low-key look with a baggy T-shirt.

Meanwhile, Cinderella star Lily looked gorgeous in a casual chiffon midi skirt and white T-shirt, working her blonde tresses up into a messy bun.

She looked at ease while she rested on a wooden jetty with her co-stars Josh Dylan, Jessica Keenan Whynn and Hugh Skinner while soaking up the sun and shielding her eyes from the Croatian rays in her circular shades.

She later join co-stars Christine Baranski, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard.

Chilling: Cinderella star Lily looked gorgeous in a casual chiffon midi skirt and white T-shirt, working her blonde tresses up into a messy bun

Chilling out: She looked at ease while she rested on a wooden jetty with her co-stars while soaking up the sun and shielding her eyes from the Croatian rays in her circular shades

Fancy footwear: Lily teamed her low-key look with a pair of striped plimsolls

Water about that! The British beauty crossed her legs and peered over the jetty to look at the water

Picture perfect! The beauty held onto her phone as she soaked up the sun

Seas-ing the day! Amanda was joined by Dominic Cooper as filming proceeded

Wow: The actors were met with a stunning backdrop

There she is! Judy Craymer was also pictured on set to film for the flick

Filming kicked off for the prequel to 2008's Mamma Mia in mid-August, with the hotly-anticipated film slated to be released next July.

The upcoming flick 'goes back and forth in time to show how relationships forged in the past resonate in the present', according to Deadline.

Lily will play Donna way before she became Mamma Mia! heroine Sophie's mother or the owner of the Villa Donna from the first film.

Seasoned actors Pierce Brosnan, 64, and Meryl Streep, 68, are expected to reprise their roles in the sequel, and pick up where viewers left off.

Taking a break: The starlet giggled as she joined her cast mates for a well deserved break

Wrapped up: She donned an oversized jumper for the outing while she draped her eye-catching bag over her forearm

The original movie was set on a Greek island where young bride-to-be Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, discovered that any one of three men - Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), Sam (Pierce) or Harry (Colin Firth) could be her father.

The original was based on the smash hits of Swedish rock band ABBA, formed in Stockholm in 1972.

Although the storyline remains a secret, it is believed that a number of ABBA hits that werent included in the first film  such as Waterloo and Knowing Me, Knowing You - will be featured.

Anticipation: Filming kicked off for the prequel to 2008's Mamma Mia in mid-August, with the hotly-anticipated film slated to be released next July

All the hits! Although the storyline remains a secret, it is believed that a number of ABBA hits that werent included in the first film  such as Waterloo and Knowing Me, Knowing You - will be featured (above Amanda and co-star Christine Baranski)

There he is: Colin Firth was seen making a dashing arrival onto set and smiling at a cute baby

Drinks: Colin joined co-star Stellan Skarsgard at a table for an alfresco drink

For the fans: Stellan took a moment to pose with a delighted fan

Chatty: Stellan looked in good spirits as he chatted with the blonde pal
She's always noticed for her striking resemblance to her lookalike mother Cindy Crawford, 51.

But Kaia Gerber showed she was a daddy's girl at heart when she cosied up to her father Rande as they left Nobu together in Malibu, Los Angeles on Sunday.

In the good company of her parents, the 16-year-old model looked stylish in her leather cut-off trousers which she teamed with chunky army-style boots.

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She's still daddy's girl! In-demand model Kaia Gerber, 16, looked stylish in leather trousers as she cosied up to her father Rande while leaving Nobu with her lookalike mum Cindy Crawford on Sunday evening

The supermodel's daughter looked the spitting image of her mother as she let her brunette locks down in loosely-tousled waves.

Kaia completed her chic look with a long-sleeved blouse, pulling off a casually glamorous look.

Classically handsome Rande showcased his muscular figure in the form-fitting olive green shirt teamed with jeans for a smart casual look.

Mirror, mirror: The resemblance between Kaia and her supermodel mother Cindy (centre) was clear to see

In-demand: Kaia has been gracing her runways of some of the biggest shows during Fashion Week (pictured on the Versace runway on September 22)

The pair were joined by the stunning Cindy Crawford who made the streets of Malibu her catwalk in slim-fitted jeans and an ivory blouse.

Keeping off that chill, the fashionista threw a cotton cardigan over her shoulders when she headed out into the cold.

The trio had been enjoying some quality time after both Cindy and Kaia had been caught up in the string of Fashion Weeks across Europe.

Social media star Kaia has attended parties and walked the runways of Milan, Paris and London.

Following her whirlwind love affair with designer labels, the teenager was getting back to normal life as she grabbed a smoothie and spent time with pals in recent weeks.

RnR: Kaia enjoyed precious downtime while at the beach in Malibu on Sunday

Lazy Sunday: The daughter of Cindy Crawford also grabbed a smoothie that day

Although she's young at 16, Kaia has the full support of her supermodel mum.

My daughter just got her drivers license,' she began, in an interview with the AP. Im a lot more concerned about her driving by herself than her entering the world of modelling.'

The great thing for my kids is that I know a lot about that world. I feel like, "Who better to help guide them than me?"

In some ways, I wish I could have pushed it off a year or two. But shes 16. Thats how old I was when I started, which is young, but in fashion thats kind of the normal age when people start.
He's the Australian actor who shot to stardom on local hits like Blue Heelers and Neighbours.

But these days, Sullivan Stapleton is a superstar in the US thanks to his role in crime drama Blindspot.

On Sunday, the 40-year-old attended Comic Con in New York to promote the upcoming third season of the series.

Promotion: Sullivan Stapleton attended Comic Con in New York to promote the upcoming third season of the series

He was joined by co-stars Jaimie Alexander and Ashley Johnson.

Season three of Blindspot is set two years in the future from last season.

The highly-anticipated season premiere will air on October 27 on NBC.

Don't forget the girls! He was joined by co-stars Jaimie Alexander and Ashley Johnson

Sullivan got his major break playing Damian Scott in the British-American series Strike Back.

The Melbourne-born thespian appeared on the show until 2015, before moving over to the NBC drama Blindspot.

In Australia, he had major roles in Underbelly Files: Infiltration and 2010's Animal Kingdom, which earned him an AACTA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Future: Season three of Blindspot is set two years in the future from last season

He also received a Best Actor AACTA Award nomination for his role in 2014's Cut Snake.

Sullivan later experienced further success by starring in the Hollywood blockbuster 300: Rise of an Empire.

In September, he headlined the French-German action thriller film Renegades.
Strictly Come Dancing's Brendan Cole has defended his partner, Good Morning Britain host Charlotte Hawkins, over the criticism given to their after their Top Gun-themed Tango Week 3 routine by judge Shirley Ballas.

Brendan, 41, settled down on the Good Morning Britain sofa on Monday to further defend Charlotte, pointing out that unlike some of the other contestants such as Aston Merrygold and Alexandra Burke, Charlotte has no prior dance experience.

Brendan threw shade at the 57-year-old Queen of Latin by saying that Charlotte 'isn't one of the people from X Factor', continuing to protect her after Shirley told her that she 'needed to stand on her own two feet' on Saturday night.

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Defence: Strictly Come Dancing's Brendan Cole has defended his partner, Good Morning Britain host Charlotte Hawkins, over the criticism given to their routine by judge Shirley Ballas, pointing out that Charlotte 'isn't one of the people from X Factor'

Brendan pointed out that Charlotte has no prior dance experience compared to some of the other contestants.

'What Charlotte did on Saturday was a phenomenal dance compared to what we'd done before and given the fact she's not one of the people from X Factor.'

The professional dancer is referring to 2008 X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, who has since seen huge success landing leading roles in musical productions The Bodyguard and Sister Act.

Unfair: Brendan, 41, showed off his low-key style in a grey shirt, while he set about defending their Week 3 routine, a Top Gun themed Tango - which saw him biting back to Shirley while the show was aired on Saturday

Meanwhile, Aston Merrygold was a runner-up on the same series with his boyband JLS.

Giving Brendan and Charlotte a rather scathing review on Saturday night, Shirley had said of Charlotte: 'She needs to stand on her own feet and we've established that there's no rise and fall in Tango. So we've got to make a concrete decision not to use rise and fall. So no rise and fall.'

Charlotte looked distraught by the critique, appearing to fight back tears, causing Brendan to interrupt and say: 'I'm really sorry, but there was no rise and fall'.

Advantage: Brendan pointed out that Charlotte has no prior dance experience compared to some of the other contestants, referring to 2008 X Factor winner Alexandra Burke and runner-up of the same series Aston Merrygold

Biting back: Shirley had critiqued the routine, saying that there was a 'rise and fall' in the dance where there shouldn't be - causing Brendan to interrupt and say: 'I'm really sorry, but there was no rise and fall'

Shirley then told him to look back over the footage, to which Cole firmly responded: 'I will, my dear'.

Brendan appeared on the GMB sofa to defend himself once again: 'I've watched the tape back, I've seen it - there is no rise and fall in it.'

Referring to former JLS member Aston, who performed a cute Trolls themed cha cha with Janette Manrara, Brendan continued his argument.

'You could argue with anybody, you could say Aston didn't do a proper cha cha, but he did an amazing cha cha.'

Brendan appeared on the GMB sofa to defend himself once again: 'I've watched the tape back, I've seen it - there is no rise and fall in it'

Critique: Referring to former JLS star Aston Merrygold, Brendan continued his argument. 'You could argue with anybody, you could say Aston didn't do a proper cha cha, but he did an amazing cha cha'

Brendan continued that Charlotte had made a 'massive improvement' from her Week 2 dance, which saw her scooping just 12 points from the judges - the lowest of the series yet.

Piers Morgan then probed Brendan about what he made of judge Bruno Tonioli's comment that he needed to be more respectful.

Brendan honestly replied: 'Well, I think they're all a bit upset with me because I was a bit mouthy the week before.'

Brendan also defended Charlotte: 'What Charlotte did on Saturday was a phenomenal dance compared to what we'd done before and given the fact she's not one of the people from X Factor'

Mouthy: Piers Morgan then probed Brendan about what he made of judge Bruno Tonioli's comment that he needed to be more respectful. 'Well, I think they're all a bit upset with me because I was a bit mouthy the week before'

However, he admitted that he needed to 'take a step back' to 'make it about Charlotte.'

Charlotte commented: 'I was really touched that, you know, you'd been standing up for me.

'It is disappointing when you come back fighting, tried really, really hard and you're doing a dance in training and you think it feels great, (then) you come to do it and the judges don't recognise that - it is hard.'
Scott Disick usually only keeps his lady loves around for about a week.

But Sofia Richie has staying power. The 19-year-old beauty has been dating the 34-year-old bad boy of Keeping Up With The Kardashians for over a month and they seem to be stronger than ever as they were caught kissing in a weekend Instagram story.

This comes just after TMZ reported that his ex Kourtney Kardashian - with whom he has three children - is 'fine' with him dating the teenager.

They can't stop kissing! Scott Disick is seen planting a smooch on Sofia Richie in this social media image shared on Sunday; they appeared to be on a private jet

Scott and Sofia seemed to be kissing in a private jet.

Disick often uses a jet to go to parties and Sofia's father Lionel lets his girl use luxury jets quite often, so it could have been either one of their jets.

The kiss was on the lips and looked like it took place over a meal. Sofia wore a black top as Scott had on a white one.

More! Here a friend took a snap of the happy couple while on vacation

Cuddly: Here the Lord and his teenager are seen cuddling on a sofa; the caption read 'taco night'

On Sunday TMZ reported Kourtney had 'no problems' with her ex dating someone else, 'because if he's happy she's happy,' said the source.

Scott's relationship with 19-year-old Sofia 'doesn't bother Kourtney, because she thinks it's genuine and feels good that he's moving on.'

Kourtney is dating someone much younger as well: model Younes Bendjima, 24.

Huggy: Sofia used to date Justin Bieber, who also romanced Scott's ex Kourtney

Sitting pretty: The blonde model planted a kiss on the father of three; Scott's eldest child Mason is only 12 years younger than Richie

Kourtney and Scott 'have been on good terms for months now,' it was added with Sofia's romance not getting in the way of their co-parenting.

Also over the weekend it was claimed Sofia is no longer friends with Younes.

Now that Richie is dating Kourtney's ex-boyfriend Scott their friendship isn't the same.

Side by side in Calabasas: Here the two looked to dress the same in late September

According to US Weekly, Sofia and model Younes are 'not really speaking anymore.'

The website adds that they also unfollowed each other on social media.

The teenager's dad, Lionel Richie, who is also unhappy about the romance, spoke out in disapproval about Sofia's new relationship with the reality personality.

Approves: This comes just after TMZ reported that his ex Kourtney Kardashian - with whom he has three children - is 'fine' with him dating the teenager. Here the star is seen on KUWTK on Sunday

He talked to US Weekly on Wednesday while at the American Idol auditions in New York City; the 68-year-old will serve as a judge on the singing competition show.

Lionel said: 'Have I been in shock?! I'm the dad, come on.'

Sofia and Scott went public with their romance in late September, however they were linked as far back as May.
She's an advocate for breast cancer awareness.

And Elizabeth Hurley, 52, continued her advocacy work in her signature style on Monday as she attended Estee Lauder's Future Dreams Make Your Mark ladies lunch at The Savoy Hotel in London.

The age-defying actress slipped into a figure-flaunting white dress for the worthwhile occasion - which marks Breast Cancer Awareness month - kicking off the stylish arrivals.

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Getting chic done: Elizabeth Hurley, 52, continued her advocacy work in her signature style on Monday as she attended Estee Lauder's Future Dreams Make Your Mark ladies lunch at The Savoy Hotel in London

Her show-stopping look highlighted her narrow waist while also skimming her slender thighs as she stopped to pose for photos.

The knee-length look featured flirty frill sleeve detail which drew attention to her pink ribbon in support of the charity.

She added an extra touch of pink to the ensemble in the form of her sky-high stilettos which elongated her lean limbs with their pointed silhouette.

The youthful looking Hollywood star accessorised her look with a glamorous gold accented box clutch.

Age-defying: The age-defying actress slipped into a figure-flaunting white dress for the worthwhile occasion - which marks Breast Cancer Awareness month - kicking off the stylish arrivals

Work it: Her show-stopping look highlighted her narrow waist while also skimming her slender thighs as she stopped to pose for photos

Camera ready: Elizabeth happily smiled as she caught up with designer Melissa Odabash

Finishing off her glamorous display, Liz worked her glossy tresses into a soft wave while she teased at her pair of sparkling diamond earrings.

Meanwhile, the brunette beauty has spent more than 20 years as a global ambassador for the Estee Lauder Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) campaign.

The Austin Powers actress spoke this week about her commitment to the cause on NBC's Megyn Kelly Today.

'I lost my grandmother to breast cancer in the early '90s,' she explained. 'I joined the Estee Lauder company a couple of years later, and Evelyn Lauder, who was Estee Lauder's daughter-in-law, came up to me straight away and said, "I've just started this new campaign, would you help me?"'

Picture perfect: Elizabeth posed for photos with Estee Lauder Senior Vice President and General Manager, U.K. and Ireland Philippe Warnery

What a trio! The pair were than joined by executive chairman of The Estee Lauder Companies, William P. Lauder on the pink carpet

All smiles: Elizabeth appeared in good spirits as she settled into the event

'I said, 'Yes, yes, what is it?' and she said, 'Well, women all over the world are dying of breast cancer and nobody is talking about it. I want to change that.'

The company launched its Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and the pink ribbon shortly after.

The small pink token into a now widely recognizable symbol for the fight against breast cancer.

'At that time, there was no pink ribbon. Nobody spoke about breast cancer,' she said.

Flaunt it: Melanie Sykes slipped into a lace midi dress which highlighted her slender frame with a complementing thin waist belt

In the pink: The TV presenter, 47, accessorised a large pink ribbon on her dress

Pin-credible: Radio presenter Lisa Snowdon, 45, slipped into a quirky patterned number which teased at her slender pins

Foot work: The statuesque beauty slipped on a pair of complementing pointed pumps

Man attraction: She styled her brunette tresses into a straight look which fell down her shoulders

Many of those years were spent working with Evelyn Lauder, who died from ovarian cancer in 2011 at the age of 75 and Elizabeth recalled how the beauty mogul gifted her a mammogram for her 40th birthday.

'She made me solemnly promise that I would have a mammogram every year and think of her,' she said.

In the segment, Kelly told the star that she was scared to get her first mammogram when she turned 40, asking if Hurley was as well.

'You don't know what it's gonna be like when you have your first one. It's nothing like as bad as everyone says. I mean, it's not painful at all. It's slightly uncomfortable. Of course, I was scared to hear the results. I'm scared every year,' she said.

Elsewhere, she is enjoying a little time with lower responsibilities, after filming was completed for E! show The Royals.

Spot the difference: Victoria Derbyshire worked a cheetah print dress for the occasion

Flaunt it! The Loose Women panellist highlighted her slender figure in the figure-flaunting garment

Dressed to impress: Designer Melissa (L) stunned in her glittering maxi dress while Magda Palos donned a thigh-grazing monochrome skirt

The 10th episode was finished on Friday with Elizabeth thanking an 'amazing cast & crew'.

It was renewed for a fourth season in February, following the success of the previous series with an average audience of 1.1 million.

The Royals follows a fictional modern-day royal family with Elizabeth at the helm as Queen Helena.

The E! drama, which also stars Joan Collins, released its debut episode in March 2015.

Elizabeth was joined at the star-studded bash with Melanie Sykes, 47, Lisa Snowdon, 45, and Victoria Derbyshire, 49.

Having fun: Melanie and Lisa posed alongside pal Gaby Roslin at the worthwhile event
She reportedly split with Pete Wicks, 28, last week following a series of explosive rows.

So getting glammed up was perhaps the furthest thing on Megan McKenna's mind as she stepped out in Essex on Monday- the first time she's been seen since reports of their rift surfaced.

The TOWIE star, 24, put on a low-key appearance in an oversized faux fur jacket, appearing to go make-up free.

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Single ready to mingle? Megan McKenna stepped out in Essex on Monday, the first time since reports of her split with Pete Wicks surfaced

Letting her pretty features shine through under her bare-faced look, the reality star scraped her brunette locks into a high ponytail, accessorising with Burberry scarf.

Drowning her slender physique in the grey bomber jacket, Megan opted for an all-black ensemble, carrying her YSL holdall as she ambled through Essex.

She was joined by a pal, who cut a chic appearance in over-the knee-boots and an oversized sweater.

Understated: The TOWIE star, 24, put on a low-key appearance in an oversized faux fur jacket, appearing to go make-up free

Au Natural: Letting her pretty features shine through under her bare-faced look, the reality star scraped her brunette locks into a high ponytail, accessorising with Burberry scarf

And if she was feeling the strain, Megan certainly didn't show it as she put on an upbeat display, standing out in her fur sliders.

Her appearance comes after reports broke that Megan and Pete had split following their reconciliation in July.

According to the source, a series of blazing rows proved to be too much for the turbulent couple.

In a dark mood? Drowning her slender physique in the grey bomber jacket, Megan opted for an all-black ensemble, carrying her YSL holdall as she ambled through Essex

Girls' day out: She was joined by a pal, who cut a chic appearance in over-the knee-boots and an oversized sweater

Upbeat: If she was feeling the strain, Megan certainly didn't show it as she put on an upbeat display, standing out in her fur sliders

A source told The Sun: 'Megan and Pete have given their relationship everything  but it still hasnt been enough.

'After an amazing start they have been arguing a lot again and neither of them can handle the stress and pressure of constant rows. They are constantly falling out  theres no guarantee that they wont rekindle again.'

MailOnline has approached representatives for Megan and Pete for comment.

Split: Megan and her boyfriend have reportedly split after a series of blazing rows, reports claimed last week

Affection: The pair packed on the PDA when they shot scenes for TOWIE in Essex just last month

Megan and Pete have been locked in a convoluted love story since she entered the structured reality programme in March last year, with their dramas captivating viewers following many bumps in the road.

And during an appearance on ITV's Loose Women last month, Megan admitted that she was worried about their romance coming undone due to being in the public eye.

She said: 'We had a nasty break up but I'm really happy with how we are. That break apart was the best thing that could have happened.

'It is a worry but we've started it with a clean slate - any relationship in the public eye is hard but we do get picked on on Twitter.'

After a series of make-ups and break-ups the duo headed to Las Vegas to iron out the creases in their romance in June, yet Chloe Sims, who was previously embroiled in their woes amid infidelity claims, had some choice words over their reunion.

The mother-of-one said of the duo in August: 'No one really cares about them getting back together, they need to try and keep it a little more to themselves this time. I hope this time round their relationship isn't as toxic.'

Megan and Pete lashed out at the star, as Megan told OK!: 'She doesnt know us. If people are your true friends on the show or not, they will never say nasty things like that, a stunned Pete concurred: 'I didnt realise shed said that. Thats a bit of a nasty thing to say because she knows how hurt I was and how bad I felt at the time.

Teary: The curtains were surely twitching as the couple screamed at one another about the drama going on between them

In the same interview, which was published at the end of August, Megan even stated that she was adamant she would wed tattooed hunk Pete in what she will fashion as a 'royal wedding'.

She said: 'I would want it to be like a royal wedding. The Duchess of Cambridge meets Diana, Princess of Wales. A massive dress, all the ivy falling down, a huge church. Id like a proper traditional wedding. I dont like all that doing it abroad. I would want it to be massive!

Pete went on: 'I never thought about getting married before I was with Megan, but I think every girl does.

It's my barny and I'll cry if I want to: Megan's fury soon gave way to tears as her emotions got the better of her

While her personal life sees much turmoil, Megan is enjoying unexpected success in the musical arena, after her debut country single - entitled High Heeled Shoes - knocked Taylor Swift off the top of the iTunes charts last month.

She even branched out from TOWIE to shoot her own related reality show There's Something About Megan, which detailed her journey to Nashville, Tennessee, where she recorded her chart-topping single.

And while she is on the cusp of enjoying even further success with her new career turn, Megan did admit to MailOnline that her split from Pete inspired much of work.

'I wanted to write a song about when you love someone but theyre the problem basically,' she said. 'I went back to not a very nice place in my life when I was going through a break up and I kind of explained it all.'

Tried: During their showdown, Pete insisted that he'd tried to make things right with Megan

Row: However, Megan said that she was constantly there for her man - with little appreciation

Discussing what she meant by explaining herself, Megan admitted that she wanted to reveal her side of the story when going through her break up with Pete.

'You guys have just seen me on telly [on TOWIE] losing it, going mad when Ive had a break up, but no one saw the softer side of me with the break up, and I wanted to put that in the song. I really feel like it was a good way of explaining it.'

Megan and Pete confirmed they were back together in July, following months apart after it was revealed that Peter had been caught sending sexually explicit text messages to model ex Jacqui Ryland - while he was on holiday with Megan.

Announcing the news to fans that the pair had reconciled, brunette beauty Megan took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and Pete - and pined for him in the caption, which read: 'T minus one week.'
Rachel Bilson has had '$50,000 worth of jewelery, shoes and handbags' stolen from her home.

The actress, 36, returned to her property in the Pasadena area of Los Angeles on Friday afternoon to discover the house had been 'ransacked' by burglars during the four hours she was out, TMZ reports.

While the former The OC star and police are working together to determine the exact value of the stolen goods, it's believed the total is in the region of $40, 000 to $50,000.

Crime victim: Rachel Bilson has had '$50,000 worth of jewelery, shoes and handbags' stolen from her Pasadena home by burglars (pictured in New York in September)

The site also claims the thieves entered the property - which Rachel shares with her daughter Briar Rose, two - through 'a sliding glass door, which may have been left unlocked'.

The theft adds the Hart Of Dixie star to a long list of celebrities to have had their homes burglarized in 2017, including Alanis Morissette, Michael B. Jordan, Kendall Jenner, Jason Derulo, David Spade and Scott Disick.

This isn't the first time Bilson's home has been broken into.

In 2009, the actress was targeted by a group of teenage thieves who came to be known as the 'Bling Ring', and who targeted stars like Mischa Barton, Paris Hilton, Megan Fox, Orlando Bloom - and Bilson.

Daylight robbery: The actress, 36, returned to her property on Friday to discover the house she shares with daughter Briar Rose, two, had been 'ransacked' (pictured on Thursday)

She lost up to $350,000 worth of valuables in the heist, the events of which were depicted in the 2013 Sofia Coppola film The Bling Ring.

Just last week, it was revealed Rachel had splashed out $3.25 million on a stylish new home in the Pasadena area of Los Angeles.

Located in the upscale and scenic Linda Vista neighborhood the property has six bedrooms and four bathrooms, according to Trulia.

It marks a fresh start for the newly-single star, who split from partner of a decade, Hayden Christensen, 36, last month after 10 years together.

Insult to injury: The devastating turn of events comes just weeks after Rachel's split from partner of 10 years, actor Hayden Christensen, 36 (pictured together in May 2010)

Rowdy teens: In 2009 the star's home was targeted by a group of teenage thieves, which inspired the plot of 2013 movie The Bling Ring, starring Emma Watson (second left)

The actors share daughter Briar Rose, two, together but have been living separate lives recently, sources close to the star revealed.

The duo were constantly fighting 'about every day stuff' according to People.

'It became exhausting and almost depressing for Rachel,' a source explained. 'It got really bad over the summer and they decided to separate.

'She is living with the baby in LA now. She is a great mom and loves it.'

In April the actors sold their sprawling Sherman Oaks home in a private off-market deal for $3.8 million.
She recently devastated fans by admitting she would not partake in a third Sex and The City film, and was not close to her famous co-stars.

But Kim Cattrall appeared to be good spirits on Monday after dropping the bombshells, as she arrived at the opening of new play Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle in London.

The actress, 61, was effortlessly stylish in a classic black suit and crisp white shirt as she threw up a cheery wave for cameras, at the Wyndham's Theatre.

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Feeling good: Kim Cattrall appeared to be good spirits on Monday as she arrived at the opening of new play Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle in London

The blonde proved her natural flair for fashion at the bash, by ditching the classic party dress in favour of an androgynous suit.

The actress caught attention in a traditional clean-cut blazer, complete with chic satin lapels, which she layered over a crisp white shirt.

Maintaining the slick look from head to toe, she paired the jacket with perfectly tailored trousers, which hugged her long legs all the way to the floor.

Style icon: The blonde ditched the classic party dress in favour of an androgynous suit at the bash, where she posed beside Lesley Manville (L)

Striking: Adding smart patent loafers, adorned with a chunky gold chain for a hint of glitz, Kim then tied her look together with geek-chic glasses as she beamed for cameras

Radiant: She left her hair in loose, tousled waves and sported a minimal, glowing make-up look to accentuate her youthful complexion as she posed with her fellow guests

Adding smart patent loafers, adorned with a chunky gold chain for a hint of glitz, Kim then tied her look together with a striking pair of geek-chic glasses as she beamed for cameras.

She left her hair in loose, tousled waves and sported a minimal, glowing make-up look to accentuate her youthful complexion as she posed with her fellow guests.

First happily waving at cameras, the actress was then seen beaming widely with the play's programme in hand, ahead of its first performance.

Ready for action: The American actress was joined by a number of big names at the opening - including Jonathan Pryce (above)

Here come the girls: Alison Steadman (L) soon followed suit in a stunning cream kimono and pearls, while Zoe Wanamaker (R) cut a trendy figure in checked trousers and a leather jacket

Flare for fashion: Michelle Collins was typically stylish in vibrant red flares and a classic black coat

Retro: Meanwhile Arthur Darvill stood out from the crowds in a grey denim shirt and waistcoat combo, paired with grungy burgundy lace-up shoes

Casual cool: Tobias Menzies (L) kept warm in a green coat, while Adam Garcia (R) added a splash of colour to the carpet in a teal jumper

Dynamic duo: Irish actor Andrew Scott later arrived beside his former Emperor and Galilean co-star Genevieve O'Reilly (L)

The American actress was joined by a number of big names at the opening - including Jonathan Pryce, Alison Steadman, Zoe Wanamaker and Arthur Darvill.

However, Kim's upbeat appearance comes after she shocked fans with a number of Sex and The City bombshells, during her episode of Piers Morgan's Life Stories.

The actress played sassy singleton Samantha Jones on the hit series for twenty years, but has now closed the door on the character once and for all - before revealing she would like to see her played by an African American woman.

A new chapter: Her upbeat appearance at the opening comes after she made a number of Sex and The City bombshells, during her episode of Piers Morgan's Life Stories

An audience member present at the filming told the Daily Mail that she shut down rumours that her 'diva demands' were the reason behind production problems of a further movie.

Speaking about making a third installment of the hit SATC movie, she explained: 'I want them to make the movie, if thats what they want to do.

And continuing about her own role, she added: 'Its a great part. I played it past the finish line and then some and I loved it and another actress should play it, maybe they could make it an African American Samantha Jones or a Hispanic Samantha Jones?'

Sad: The stunning actress, 61, also revealed she has said no to the project from the beginning, and is upset the producers and her co-star Sarah Jessica Parker 'haven't been nice about it'

The four female stars of 'Sex and the City' have spent the past 20 years shooting down rumors of a feuds and tension among the cast, but it seems that one of the actresses is done playing that game.

DailyMailTV revealed last week that Cattrall had wanted the studio behind the franchise, Warner Bros., to produce other films she had in development in order to sign on to the project.

Sarah Jessica Parker confirmed later that same day that the studio was forced to cancel production just a few weeks before principal photography was set to begin, saying she was 'disappointed' by the news.

'Maybe they could make it an African American Samantha Jones or a Hispanic Samantha Jones?' she suggested of her character Samantha

That move did not sit well with Cattrall however, who- speaking further on the show, said she has been saying no to the project for the past year, and never once suggested she might board the film.

'And now, now at this very moment its quite extraordinary to get any kind of negative press about something that Ive been saying for almost a year of "no" that Im demanding or a diva,' said Cattrall.

'And this is really where I take to task the people from "Sex And The City" and specifically Sarah Jessica Parker in that I think she could have been nicer.'

Kim then reiterated: 'I really think she could have been nicer.'

Sing it, Sam: Kim taped an episode of the iTV series 'Life Stories' with Piers Morgan (above) and addressed claims that her demands shut down filming of Sex and the City 3

Cattrall also scoffed at the notion that she was ever close to signing on to the film, telling Morgan that she declined an offer to return as sex-positive publicist Samantha Jones.

'The answer was always no and a respectful, firm, no,' said Cattrall.

She then addressed some of the specific allegations reported by DailyMailTV claiming: 'I never asked for any money, I never asked for any projects, to be thought of as some kind of diva is absolutely ridiculous.'

The exact demands that Cattrall made were not revealed by sources, but she has certainly been a valuable player to the studio.

The first 'Sex and the City' film was made for $65 million and grossed $415 million worldwide while the sequel brought in $300 million on a $100 million budget.

Cattrall went on to explain that doing another film just does not fit into her life at this point.

Bottoms up: 'I never asked for any money, I never asked for any projects, to be thought of as some kind of diva is absolutely ridiculous,' said Cattrall (above in scene from Sex and the City 2' with co-star Sarah Jessica Parker, left)

'I remember so clearly making that decision and last December I got a phone call and it was concerning that and I knew exactly, I could feel it, and the answer was simply, "thank you, but no, Im good,"' said Cattrall.

'I went off to Sweden to do this fantastic fun job, I get a call in Sweden and what I hear then is, "but we just want to talk about it a little bit," I said, "thank you very much, Im very flattered but thank you, no."

Cattrall said that this did little to deter producers, who came back to her once again a short time later.

'Months go by, I finish filming, I come back to New York [they say] "we believe that the period of time you have spent connected to this franchise you really should sit down with one of the creators and they can talk to you about, just talk to you about it." And I thought to myself, I already know the answer,' said Cattrall.

'This isnt about more money, this is not about more scenes, its not about any of those things. This is about a clear decision, an empowered decision in my life to end one chapter and start another. Im 61. Its now.'

Stranded at the altar: Cattrall added that she had declined to be part of the film back in 2016, saying: 'The answer was always no and a respectful, firm, no' (left to right: Cynthia Nixon, Kristen Davis, Parker and Cattrall in Sex and the City')

Cattrall also spoke about her perceived reputation as a diva, an allegation that has circled her for years despite the fact that she avoids the limelight.

'The inference is from some unknown source, the inference is, is that I am a diva, that Ive held up production in some way that, "oh now we dont get to make our movie because of you,"' said Cattrall.

'I dont feel like a victim, I feel like I came out of this on top. This has given me a fantastic platform. Sarah Jessica, she could have been nicer, she could have in some way. I dont know what her issue is, I never have.'

It was just hours after DailyMailTV broke the story of Cattrall's demands that Parker confirmed the report.

Frenemies and the city: 'I take to task the people from "Sex And The City" and specifically Sarah Jessica Parker in that I think she could have been nicer,' said Cattrall

'It's over we're not doing it,' said the actress in an interview with Extra! last Thursday.

'I'm disappointed. We had this beautiful, funny, heartbreaking, joyful, very relatable script and story.'

She went on to say: 'It's not just disappointing that we don't get to tell the story and have that experience, but more so for that audience that has been so vocal in wanting another movie.'

'It's over we're not doing it,' said the actress in an interview with Extra! last Thursday

'This is a different set of circumstances for me. This is a chapter that I am ending, I am beginning a new chapter and I feel very strongly that my future is my choice.'

Cattrall also confessed that she is not as close to her three co-stars, noting that they are different ages and lead very different lives.

'They all have children and I am ten years older and since specifically the series ended I have been spending most of my time outside of New York so I dont see them. The common ground that we had was the series and the series is over,' said Cattrall.

'Ive moved on, this is what my sixties are about, theyre about me making decisions for me not my career, for me. And that feels frickin fantastic.'

'But everything comes to an end and in closing one door another door opens and that door has been waiting for a long time.'

She quickly added: 'But everything comes to an end and in closing one door another door opens and that door has been waiting for a long time.'

Cattrall also noted that she had no idea when she last spoke to her co-stars.

'And thats another thing thats really disappointing is that nobody ever picks up the phone and tries to contact you and say, "how you doing?" That would have been the way to handle it,' said Cattrall.

Cattrall then noted: 'Thats not what happened here, this is, it feels like a toxic relationship.

Girls' girls: The foursome - here filming for the second SATC film - have worked together for many years

She also said that she would not rule out a reconciliation with Parker.

'There is genuine affection and there has been over the years,' said Cattrall.

'This is extenuating circumstances and in the past Ive felt, wow, especially with the fans I dont want to in any shape or form ruin an ideal of it, because it does stand for empowerment and it does stand for women sticking up for each other, but not always.'

And Cattrall admitted to Morgan that Samantha Jones would never again be back on screen.

'Me playing her, that I can assure you will never happen. For me its over, its over with no regrets, I just wish that Sarah had been nicer,' said Cattrall.

'Im at a point in my life where I am making decisions that make me happy and going backwards in life doesnt make me happy. Going forward thats how I feel, Im on the front foot not my backfoot.'
He defended his latest movie project about a same-sex love affair between a 17-year-old and a 24-year-old after a fan accused him of acting in a 'paedophilia' film.

And Armie Hammer shrugged off the criticism to put on a united front with his co-star Timothee Chalamet at the Call Me By Your Name UK premiere during the 61st BFI London Film Festival on Monday.

The handsome actor, 31, proudly posed up with a dapper Timothee, 21, who plays his teenage lover in the critically acclaimed coming-of-age drama, on the red carpet.

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United: Armie Hammer (left) put on a united front with his co-star Timothee Chalamet at the Call Me By Your Name UK premiere during the 61st BFI London Film Festival on Monday, after fans slammed the same-sex age-gap romance depicted in the film

Nocturnal Animals star Armie showed off his hunky frame in a pale pink polo shirt, teamed with a navy check blazer and chocolate trousers.

His chestnut locks were perfectly coiffed and he sported a distinguished smattering of stubble across his chiselled jaw.

Interstellar actor Timothee rocked a bottle green velvet blazer worn over a slate grey t-shirt paired with matching velvet trousers.

No worries: Nocturnal Animals star Armie, 31, showed off his hunky frame in a pale pink polo shirt, teamed with a navy check blazer and chocolate trousers

Proud moment: The handsome actor, 31, proudly posed up with a dapper Timothee, 21, who plays his teenage lover in the critically acclaimed coming-of-age drama, on the red carpet, with co-star Esther Garrel and director Luca Guadagnino

Successful trio: Esther wowed in a tan trouser suit paired with peep toe sandals, and added a pop of colour with a vibrant red lip

For the fans: Timothee shot the camera a warm smile as he posed with a fan

Vibrant: Esther wowed on the red carpet with a slick of red lipstick

Funnyman: Graham Norton looked his usual stylish self in a silver blazer, pink and white scarf and polka dot shirt

His long ebony tresses were worn stylishly slicked back from his face.

The pair later joined Esther Garrel, who plays Marzia in the film along with director Luca Guadagnino for a group shot.

Esther wowed in a tan trouser suit paired with peep toe sandals, and added a pop of colour with a vibrant red lip.

The event, which doubled up as the Mayor of London gala also featured an appearance from Sadiq Khan, who chatted with BFI's Claire Stewart and Luca.

Despite the criticism, Armie said he was glad he agreed to star in the film and although he originally contemplated turning down the opportunity, he's now pleased with his decision to take it on.

Speaking at the premiere he said: 'Yes my hindsight is really 20/20. It was definitely the right move. This film is just a love story. It's about two people who just open themselves up to each other.'

Smile: Graham, 54, shot the cameras a warm smile as he attended the premiere

Armie thinks the on-screen chemistry was easy to put across because he and Timothee got along so well off-screen too.

He said: 'We got along really well. That was maybe part of the genius but we really got on and made each other feel really comfortable around each other.'

Timothee also admitted he was excited to get the chance to work alongside Armie in the Luca Guadagnino directed feature.

When asked what it was like to work with Armie, he said at the premiere: 'It was great, I grew up with 'The Social Network' and was great working with him and having the opportunity to star alongside him.

'I wanted to star in the movie when I was 17 and it happened when I was 20. I was salivating at the opportunity to work with Luca as well.'

The appearance comes after critics took to social media to discuss their outrage over the age difference depicted in the film.

However, Armie hit back onTwitter by stating: 'You do know that you live in a state where the age of consent is 16, right.? Ok. Now shut up.'

Glittering: The event, which doubled up as the Mayor of London gala also featured an appearance from Sadiq Khan, who chatted with BFI's Claire Stewart and Luca

Defensive: Armie defended his new film Call Me By Your Name on Sunday

Hammer dealt with an upset fan who posted: 'Wow, did you act in a film about pedophilia? Are you a pedophile? Do you promote such depravity? I was once a fan. Blech!!'

After explaining the laws of consent to the Twitter user, Hammer added: 'And thank you for your service to our country'

It was also revealed that both the director Luca and lead Timothee practiced making love to a peach before filming a racy fruit scene.

Clap back: However, Hammer slapped back on Twitter by stating: 'You do know that you live in a state where the age of consent is 16, right.? Ok. Now shut up.'

Racy: The story involves the love affair of a 17-year-old with a 24-year-old and critics took to social media to discuss their outrage over the age difference

The film is based on the 2007 book of the same name by Andre Aciman.

It explores the intense relationship between an American-Italian boy Elio (Chalamet) and an American student Oliver (Hammer) who comes to live at Elios familys home for the summer.

One graphic scene in the novel has Elio make love to a peach with Oliver promptly eating it afterwards.

Stone fruit: It was also revealed that both the director Luca and lead Timothee practiced making love to a peach before filming a racy fruit scene

'I was tempted to remove it from the script,' Guadagnino told Out.

'In the book, it is so strong and explicit that I thought it was a metaphor, something that couldnt exist in real life.

'I was struggling with the possibility that you can masturbate yourself with such a fruit. So I grabbed a peach and I tried, and I have to sayit works.'

Guadagnino added: 'I went to Timothee, and said, "We shoot the scene, because I tried it and it worked." And he said, "I tried, too, and I already knew it worked."'
She is literally television royalty after starring as the legendary Queen in the popular ITV period drama Victoria.

And Jenna Coleman did away with her usual regal gowns as she made a showstopping appearance at a Victoria photocall and Q&A in the majestic surroundings of Kensington Palace on Monday.

The 31-year-old actress looked sensational in a maroon shirt dress decorated with vibrant red and white floral print as she posed for snappers.

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Floral finesse: Jenna Coleman did away with her usual regal gowns as she made a showstopping appearance at a Victoria photocall and Q&A in the majestic surroundings of Kensington Palace on Monday

The elegant gown featured statement shoulders, black silk cuffs and an A-line skirt.

Showing off her effortless elegance and trim physique, the dress cinched in at the middle.

The former Doctor Who actress added height to her petite frame with chunky black ankle boots.

Her make-up was kept simple and glowing with fluttery lashes, blush and a peachy lip while her brunette tresses were styled into soft waves.

Glowing: The 31-year-old actress looked sensational in a maroon shirt dress decorated with vibrant red and white floral print as she posed for snappers

Radiant: The elegant gown featured statement shoulders, black silk cuffs and an A-line skirt

Pals: Jenna joined series creator and write Daisy Goodwin at the palace

Cast: Daisy and Jenna joined Victoria stars Jordan Waller and Nell Hudson

Pretty: Her make-up was kept simple and glowing with fluttery lashes, blush and a peachy lip while her brunette tresses were styled into soft waves

It was a solo outing for Jemma, who attended with her on and off screen love Tom Hughes, 31, who plays Prince Albert in the series.

The couple have been together for two years and recently sparked engagement rumours after Jenna stepped out with a sparkling gold ring on her wedding finger.

The photocall comes as the second series of Victoria draws to a close on October 15 with a Christmas special set to follow.

Speaking about it to Town & Country magazine for their Autumn edition, Jenna spoke about the impassioned forthcoming scenes with Tom.

The second season of the royal drama began as Victoria and Albert welcomed their first daughter, also named Victoria, in 1840.

Royal romance: It was a solo outing for Jemma, who attended with her on and off screen love Tom Hughes, 31, who plays Prince Albert in the series

But things are far from easy for the new parents - presumably thanks to the notoriously volatile Queen who made no secret of the fact that she didn't enjoy being pregnant, giving birth or breast feeding; nor did she think newborns were in any way attractive.

'Victoria would fly off the handle in these fits of rage and passion, whereas Alberts fire was a lot colder and more enduring. Theyd chase each other from room to room,' Jenna told the publication.

Jenna prepared for the role of the monarch by reading the diaries that were kepot by the Queen and her husband.

'Albert wrote something like, "I have two choices here: I either lock the door on her and let her cry her heart out till shes exhausted, or I join in, but then it gets too heated and I feel sorry",' Jenna explained.
She stars alongside Idris Elba in the drama that sees two strangers forming a connection after becoming stranded from a plane crash.

And on Tuesday's Sunrise, Kate Winslet joked that the only reason she signed on to star in The Mountain Between Us, was to get up close with the British-born hunk.

'I was so excited to go up a mountain with Idris Elba,' the 42-year-old shared with a laugh.

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'I was so excited!' Kate Winslet, 42, joked on Tuesday's Sunrise that the only reason she signed onto The Mountain Between Us, was to get up close with hunky co-star Idris Elba, 45

'Was that a big part of why you took it? The fact you've got the big man there?' the interviewer questioned Kate on joining the cast, alongside Idris, 45.

Playing along with the joke, the Titanic star responded with a laugh: 'I was so excited to go up a mountain with Idris Elba. I don't know how else to put it.'

Kate stars alongside Idris in the drama film, The Mountain Between Us, that sees photojournalist Alex (Kate) and brain surgeon Ben (Idris) stranded.

In good fun: 'Was that a big part of why you took it? The fact you've got the big man there?' the interviewer questioned Kate on joining the cast, alongside Idris, who playfully responded: 'I was so excited to go up a mountain with Idris Elba. I don't know how else to put it'

Plot: Kate stars alongside Idris in the drama film, The Mountain Between Us, that sees photojournalist Alex (Kate) and brain surgeon Ben (Idris) stranded

Alex, who photographs images of Neo-Nazis for a publication is getting married the following day, while Ben is required to operate on a dying 10-year-old.

Stuck at Salt Lake City Airport with all flights cancelled due to an impending storm, the pair decide to persuade a charter pilot to fly them across the mountain range.

The plane inevitably crashes and they are left stranded, relying on one another for comfort and survival.

Forming a connection: The plane inevitably crashes and they are left stranded, relying on one another for comfort and survival

Fetish: Meanwhile last week on The Graham Norton Show , Kate laughed as she recounted how she stripped naked to film a sex scene with Idris, but had to keep her socks on as he 'has a thing for feet'

Meanwhile last week on The Graham Norton Show, Kate laughed as she recounted how she stripped naked to film a sex scene with Idris, but had to keep her socks on as he 'has a thing for feet.'

Kate explained that she 'had to get quite bossy' as the director Hany Abu-Assad had never filmed a love scene.

'I've done quite a lot of these scenes before and poor Hany was really quite nervous and had an extensive shot list and I thought, "We are never going to get this done."

She explained: 'We got naked but Idris asked me to keep my socks on  I thought he didn't like feet but, it is the opposite, Idris loves feet!'

'Idris was a bit nervous too and everything was moving a bit slowly so I just said, "Okay boys, this is what we are going to do..." and we just got on with it.'

She added: 'We got naked but Idris asked me to keep my socks on  I thought he didn't like feet but, it is the opposite, Idris loves feet!'

Idris interjected, 'I've just got a bit of a thing.'
She has been an advocate for breast cancer awareness for more than twenty years.

And Elizabeth Hurley certainly showed no signs of stopping on Monday, as she attended the 25th Anniversary of the Estee Lauder UK's Breast Cancer Campaign in London.

The actress, 52, commemorated the special occasion in a fitting midi dress of the campaign's famous hot pink hue, as she led the glamour at the star-studded bash, held at Winfield House.

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Think pink! Elizabeth Hurley was the picture of glamour as she attended the 25th Anniversary of the Estee Lauder UK's Breast Cancer Campaign in London on Monday

The model celebrated the special occasion in style on Monday, as she arrived at the event in a fitting hot pink midi dress.

The frock pulled into an illusion mesh neckline adorned with floral embroidery on each side, which gave a flash of her smooth skin underneath.

Pulling across her chest in a bardot cut, the dress then skimmed her enviably slender figure all the way to its demure knee-length hem, with its striking magenta hue.

That's the spirit: The model celebrated the special occasion in style on Monday, as she arrived at the event in a fitting hot pink midi dress

Accessories are key: Maintaining her glamorous appearance from head to toe, Liz tied her look together with metallic heeled sandals and a delicate box clutch bag, of matching pink

Maintaining her glamorous appearance from head to toe, Liz tied her look together with metallic heeled sandals by Giuseppe Zanotti and a delicate box clutch bag, of matching pink.

Styling her hair into big, bouncy waves, the actress not only drew attention to her age-defying complexion - accentuated by lashings of mascara and a soft pink lip - but also her dazzling drop earrings, which featured a show-stopping pink diamond at the centre.

It is no wonder Liz took centre stage at the bash, having already attended the Make Your Mark ladies lunch, in honour of the cause, at the Savoy Hotel earlier that day.

Finishing touches: The actress tied her look together with dazzling drop earrings, which featured a show-stopping pink diamond at the centre (pictured with Suzanne Johnson)

Natural beauty: Styling her hair into big, bouncy waves, the actress drew attention to her age-defying complexion - accentuated by mascara and a pink lip (pictured with Nikita Andrianova)

Doing her bit: The brunette beauty has spent more than 20 years as a global ambassador for the Estee Lauder Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) campaign (pictured with Ambassador Robert W. Johnson, US Ambassador to the UK, and Suzanne Johnson)

The brunette beauty has spent more than 20 years as a global ambassador for the Estee Lauder Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) campaign.

The Austin Powers actress spoke this week about her commitment to the cause on NBC's Megyn Kelly Today.

'I lost my grandmother to breast cancer in the early '90s,' she explained. 'I joined the Estee Lauder company a couple of years later, and Evelyn Lauder, who was Estee Lauder's daughter-in-law, came up to me straight away and said, "I've just started this new campaign, would you help me?"'

Getting together: Liz beamed widely for cameras beside Breast Cancer survivors Sally Broom, Natalie Coombs, Paula Beetlestone and Annette Jackson at the bash (L-R)

Leading lady: Liz happily chatted to guests at the bash, and signed a book in memory of those lost to the disease

Doing her bit: Liz was joined by a host of high-profile guests for the occasion - including Princess Eugenie of York (above)

'I said, 'Yes, yes, what is it?' and she said, 'Well, women all over the world are dying of breast cancer and nobody is talking about it. I want to change that.'

The company launched its Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and the pink ribbon shortly after - which is now a widely recognisable symbol for the fight against the disease.

'At that time, there was no pink ribbon. Nobody spoke about breast cancer,' she said.

Liz was joined by a host of high-profile guests for the occasion - including Princess Eugenie of York, former Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman and Camilla Kerslake, as well as a number of inspiring breast cancer survivors.

Style icon: Former Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman was sophisticated and stylish in a velvet floral skirt and matching black blazer

Cutting the mustard: Meanwhile singer Camilla Kerslake posed for cameras in a striking silk dress of vibrant yellow

Glam girls: Healthy chef Melissa Hemsley opted for a floral plunging maxi dress (L) while Francesca Dutton slipped her slender frame into a strapless green gown

Flare for fashion: Naomi Harris turned heads in striking red flares and a black cropped jumper, adorned with pearls

Think pink: Kay Burley followed Liz's suit in a hot pink fitted frock
After their summer of screaming at each other across Spanish dinner tables, everyone's back in London.

Victoria and Mark Francis are where they belong, riding around in an open-top Rolls Royce, taking the air, wearing circular sunglasses. They pull into a resident permit holder parking space and discuss how they're going to wash the filthy sin out of themselves after setting foot in Ibiza over the summer.

Jamie has invested in a silken suit with dragons on it. 'I think I look a bit like a magician,' he enthuses. Magician/Geisha-inspired drag queen. You decide.

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Its back: After their summer of screaming at each other across Spanish dinner tables, the Made In Chelsea cast are back in London

Boys will be boys: Jamie Laing and Alex Mytton (above) are both single, and very excited because now they can have sex with other people and it actually be allowed

He and Mytton, now that they're both single, are very excited because now they can have sex with other people and it actually be allowed. They tell Proudlock that they're popping off to a singles fitness class at the park the next day.

'You get to exercise with a load of single people and touch them,' Mytton explains, essentially describing dogging.

While Sam pretends he's interested in Amelia Lily in the Celebrity Big Brother house, Tiff is a new woman.

She's wearing one of Hillary Clinton's old campaigning power suits and is looking at a new flat that she would like to buy with her father's money. Turns out she's also using the paternal purse to open a vegan restaurant

New start: While her ex Sam Thompson pretends he's interested in Amelia Lily in the Celebrity Big Brother house, Tiff Watson is a new woman - and plans to open a vegan restaurant

Girls' best friend: Frankie Gaff, meanwhile, has had less of a severe reaction to her break-up from Jamie and has invested in a puppy

Frankie, meanwhile, has had less of a severe reaction to her break-up from Jamie and has invested in a puppy rather than choosing to enter the world of plant-based hospitality.

Liv is lamenting the dissolution of her friendship with Julius whilst at an outdoor cafe with Toff. 'I've literally lost my best friend,' she mourns. 'Yeah, sad,' is Toff's not-that-bothered reply.

At this moment, Julius and Fred float past the hedge like a pair of spinster aunts out for an afternoon turn around the park. Hardly even a smile is raised between any of them.

Yeah, sad.

Heartbroken: Liv is laments the dissolution of her friendship with Julius whilst at an outdoor cafe with Toff

Awkward: At this moment, Julius and Fred float past the hedge like a pair of spinster aunts out for an afternoon turn around the park. Hardly even a smile is raised

At the singles kettle bell class (yes, it's a thing) there's girls in spandex aplenty for Mytton and Jamie to feast their eyes on. It's a bit like a Sinitta music video from 1987. One of the girls swinging bells between her legs is called Melanie and she seems very nice and very pretty and turns Mytton into a bumbling mess. Nontheless, with the help of Jamie, they manage to force her into inputting her number into Mytton's phone.

Having 'left all her nutrients in Ibiza' Victoria has hooked herself up to an IV drip of zinc, Vitamin B and oven cleaner.

Mimi comes in with Toff and slags off vegans (aka Tiff) before popping off and writing a scathing article about how veganism is a fad and that when it boils down to it, everyone wants a sausage in their mouths at some point.

Loving every minute: At the singles kettle bell class (yes, it's a thing) there's girls in spandex aplenty for Mytton and Jamie (above) to feast their eyes on

New girl in town: One of the girls swinging bells between her legs is called Melanie and she seems very nice and very pretty...

Can't handle it: ...and she turns Mytton (above) into a bumbling mess

Success: Nontheless, with the help of Jamie, they manage to force her into inputting her number into Mytton's phone

Jamie takes Louise out for red wine and tells her about the singles kettle bell class. She cannot believe her ears that such a thing exists. But this isn't surprising given that her workouts can only be done if she has a tall muscular man to climb around on. She tells Jamie that he can do a lot better than Frankie and that he needs someone he doesn't have to 'protect or look after or feel sorry for'. This analysis of his relationship with Frankie makes it sound like Jamie was dating a French exchange student.

In walks new boy Charlie who has precariously returned to the throngs of London having been holed up in his country pile for the back-end of the summer. Jamie asks what Charlie's type is, to which he replies: 'Short, blonde and beautiful.' Jamie, for example?

Elsewhere, it transpires Mimi has gotten her claws onto Charlie by romancing him via social media. She's probably talking to a fake account set up by a savvy producer but she's not to know that.

Wine not? Jamie takes Louise out for red wine and tells her about the singles kettle bell class. She cannot believe her ears that such a thing exists

Moving on: She tells Jamie that he can do a lot better than Frankie and that he needs someone he doesn't have to 'protect or look after or feel sorry for

Man of the hour: In walks new boy Charlie who has precariously returned to the throngs of London having been holed up in his country pile for the back-end of the summer

Tiff is raging because she has read Mimi's blog about how vegans should be lined up and shot. Toff informs Tiff that Mimi also happened to call her 'disgustingly rude' just to shove the knife in that little bit more.

Proudlock's girlfriend is like Maris from Frasier or Ugly Naked Guy from Friends. She's only ever talked about and never seen. Jamie asks him if he's bringing her to his and Mytton's singles party but of course he's not because she's not allowed out after 7PM.

They force Mytton to ring Melanie which he does with trepidation. 'Hi, is that Melanie? It's that bumbling mess that you met the other day. We went butt to butt,' Mytton says on the phone. 'You what?' is Melanie's reply, presumably entering the Marble Arch Underpass at the time of answering the phone.

Working her magic: Elsewhere, it transpires Mimi (above) has gotten her claws onto Charlie by romancing him via social media

Hooking them up: The boys then force Mytton to ring Melanie which he does with trepidation. 'Hi, is that Melanie? It's that bumbling mess that you met the other day. We went butt to butt'

Liv is photographing Toff up a ladder in a library for her Strong Woman Of Chelsea 2018 Calendar. Tiff's sitting around texting, clearly having not been asked to participate in the shoot. Julius walks in to iron things out with Liv and they both cry and don't resolve anything but all we really want to know is whose library it is exactly

Everyone's looking thoroughly furious and unapproachable at the singles party, wearing masks and glaring at one another.

Mimi is going around pretending that releasing her anti-vegan blog as the Watsons are planning on launching their restaurant was purely an unfortunate coincidence. Toff isn't having any of it and has a stern word with her about it.

Uh oh: Liv is photographing Toff up a ladder in a library for her Strong Woman Of Chelsea 2018 Calendar when Julius walks in to 'iron things out'

Bad to worse: They both cry and don't resolve anything

Not happy: At the singles party later on, Toff has a stern word with Mimi about her words against vegans

Exposed: At this point, Charlie and Daisy (who is hoping to 'go riding' with Charlie soon) bump into them and it comes out that he and Mimi have been dancing the digital fandango

At this point, Charlie and Daisy (who is hoping to 'go riding' with Charlie soon) bump into them and it comes out that he and Mimi have been dancing the digital fandango.

Clearly no longer worried about Sam and their emotional connection, Mimi asks Charlie what he likes to do for fun, to which he replies 'I don't know'. Come on Charlie! Do you enjoy playing XBox for example? Mimi asks him if he likes to 'wine and dine'.

Daisy is FUMING and implies Mimi 'gets around'. 'She likes to dabble,' she says, at which point Toff reveals to the world that Mimi has only ever slept with one person. Which presumably is Sam in Ibiza, no? Suddenly we all care much more about this than any potential love triangle between Mimi/Charlie/Daisy

Awkward: Clearly no longer worried about Sam and their emotional connection, Mimi asks Charlie what he likes to do for fun, to which he replies 'I don't know'

Scathing: Daisy is FUMING and implies Mimi 'gets around'. 'She likes to dabble,' she says

Shock: Toff reveals to the world that Mimi has only ever slept with one person. Which presumably is Sam in Ibiza, no?

As Mark Francis and Victoria stare, appalled, at women with spray-painted gold bums, a girl called Saffron falls through the door in a red dress, brandishing a champagne flute. Turns out she's the one Julius had sex with in the early days of his romance with Ella. She's a bit like a young Nigella Lawson, only without a meat tenderiser.

To Mytton's relief, Melanie shows up. He is a MESS around the girl and it's actually quite sweet/pathetic.

Firmly on the warpath, Tiff storms through the party looking for Mimi to ask her why she has written a blog about how all vegans should be locked in an abandoned warehouse that's due to be demolished the next day by the borough council. Mimi insists it wasn't aimed at Tiff's family's new restaurant and that she actually really respects cows, heiffers and bullocks alike.
It became the most expensive TV drama in history with a rumored $100m (76.1m) budget from Netflix.

But the creators of The Crown have revealed that it was not the money that led them to go with the online streaming service, but the fact that working with the BBC would have involved 'oversight' from the Palace.

The programme's head of research, Annie Sulzburger, said that Netflix enabled them to create the show completely independently from the gaze of the royal family - which would been impossible had they gone with the BBC.

She said: 'The Palace, we were completely separate from them. We alerted them that we were writing the show but from that point on we had nothing to do with them.

'That's part of the reason we chose Netflix in the end, because the BBC would have involved some oversight.'

The Crown's head of research Annie Sulzburger has revealed creators chose Netflix over the BBC because of the 'Palace oversight' that would have been involved in working with the corporation. Pictured is Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II and Matt Smith Prince Philip

Miss Sulzburger was speaking at the Cheltenham Literary Festival alongside the show's director Philip Martin, who said Netflix 'left us alone' and were 'very respectful'.

Historian Robert Lacey, who wrote The Crown: The Inside History, said another appeal was that they could make the episodes as long as they wanted with Netflix.

He said: 'I remember Peter Morgan (the show's creator) talking to me the day after the Netflix offer had come in, and it was a big offer, but what appealed to him was that he'd been toying with well he'd been saying that: 'The BBC is 59 minutes and we have to worry about the BBC all the time.

'We'll have more freedom if we go to ITV but then that's only 47 minutes and it has to be written with the commercial breaks.'

He added: 'And then along comes Netflix and they say 'well 57, 58, 59, 60 minutes it doesn't matter and the money to make it,' so that's one answer.'

It was originally thought the creators went with the American streaming service because the BBC could not afford the rumoured $100million production costs.

Although it is not clear how many people watched the programme, Netflix has 104million subscribers - including 6.1million from the UK.

Miss Sulzburger also explained how they ran into difficulties with Winston Churchill's estate when writing the script.

Speaking at Cheltenham Literature Festival Miss Sulzburger said there were also problems with the Churchill estate

Churchill, who is played by John Lithgow in the programme, did not read any of the former Prime Minister's real speeches in the programme because of the estate's demands.

Miss Sulzberger said: 'The Churchill estate refused to give us any permission to use any of his words without reading every single word that we'd written for every single script regardless of whether or not he was in them.

'So we just decided that it was an inappropriate relationship to have and we would just go ahead and rewrite.

'Even things like the King's eulogy (that Churchill composed for the death of George VI) we had to rewrite, which you think would be publicly owned.'

The Crown has become the most expensive TV show in history, with a $100m budget. The rumours were the BBC couldn't afford it, but the real issue was 'Palace oversight'. Pictured is Michael C. Hall as John F. Kennedy

Series one of The Crown, which stars Claire Foy as the Queen and Matt Smith as Prince Philip, looked at the royal family from 1947 to 1955.

But, as the programme starts to cover more recent history including the life of Princess Diana, Miss Sulzberger said that it will be difficult to decide what to include as gossip becomes more prevalent.

Speaking about choosing whether to believe sources, she said: 'With Diana it's going to be harder.

I'm actually hiring researchers who have not lived through the Diana years intentionally because I don't want them to come in with any of that sensibility about them.

'That they remember when he cheater or she cheated or any of the stories, her going on the BBC and talking about the marriage - it's a clean slate for us.'
Actress Meryl Streep, producer Harvey Weinstein and actress Margo Martindale attend a screening of The Weinstein Co.'s "August: Osage County" in 2014

Movie legends Meryl Streep and Judi Dench led a chorus of outrage Monday following the revelation that Harvey Weinstein had sexually harassed women for decades, as Hollywood stood accused of covering up a pattern of misconduct that finally cost the film mogul his job.

Weinstein was fired late Sunday from his own film studio, three days after a bombshell New York Times report alleged that the Oscar-winning producer behind such hits as "The King's Speech" and "The Artist" had preyed on young women hoping to break into the film industry.

Weinstein's accusers -- who reportedly include celebrities such as Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd -- say the 65-year-old tycoon had promised to help advance their careers in exchange for sexual favors, pressuring them to massage him and watch him naked.

The Weinstein Company's board said it had sacked him "in light of new information about misconduct" in the explosive Times article, which detailed decades of legal settlements stemming from harassment allegations.

Variety magazine reported Monday that Paramount Network had subsequently dropped Weinstein as an executive producer on two upcoming drama series, "Waco" and "Yellowstone."

- Who knew? -

As the firestorm of controversy escalated, a string of entertainment industry figures have spoken out to condemn Weinstein -- including actors Seth Rogan, Lena Dunham and Patricia Arquette, director James Gunn and fellow producer Judd Apatow.

Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has been fired after allegations emerged that he sexually harassed women over a period of several decades

Streep -- who famously called Weinstein "God" in an Oscars acceptance speech -- broke her silence in a statement first published by the Huffington Post, in which she said she was "appalled" by the "disgraceful" news and insisted "not everybody" knew about the allegations.

"I don't believe that all the investigative reporters... would have neglected for decades to write about it," she added.

Fellow Oscar winner Judi Dench, who has credited much of her success to Weinstein and once revealed she had a fake tattoo of his initials applied to her buttocks, said in a statement to Newsweek she was "horrified" and also denied any knowledge of the accusations.

George Clooney also broke his silence and called Weinstein's behavior "indefensible." Clooney said he had heard rumors starting in the 90s about women sleeping with Weinstein in exchange for acting roles, but that he had dismissed them as ploys to dismiss the actresses' talent.

But tough questions were also being asked about what some suspect was a collective effort to protect the movie mogul and father-of-two, one of Hollywood's most influential powerbrokers who was able to make or break careers.

In a statement to the New York Times, the actress Glenn Close acknowledged that "for many years" she had been aware of rumors of inappropriate behavior by Weinstein.

Dame Judi Dench has told Newsweek she was "horrified" to hear that Harvey Weinstein had allegedly sexually harassed women for decades and also denied any knowledge of the accusations

"Harvey has always been decent to me, but now that the rumors are being substantiated, I feel angry and darkly sad," she wrote.

The New York Times wrote that of the more than 40 entertainment industry players it contacted for comment after breaking the story last week, almost all refused to speak on the record.

"We read the reports about his temper and volatility, but we had also heard stories that he was, to put it bluntly, gross: the kind of guy who promised to make someone a star in exchange for sex, and leveraged his power in the industry to make sure no one talked about it," wrote BuzzFeed journalist Anne Helen Petersen.

Sharon Waxman, creator of showbiz website The Wrap, meanwhile accused the New York Times itself of initially covering up the scandal.

In an editorial, she said the newspaper sent her to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct by Weinstein in 2004 -- a story she said did not run following "intense pressure" from the producer.

The Times disputed her account in a statement to AFP, defending its "meticulously reported investigation" of Weinstein's settlements for harassment and stating that "in general the only reason a story or specific information would be held is if it did not meet our standards for publication."

The Wrap reported Monday night that the damage to The Weinstein Company is so great that it is expected to change its name. The site quoted an individual with knowledge of the company.

"TWC will need a new name," this person told The Wrap.

- Hollywood powerhouse fades -

Five of The Weinstein Company's nine all-male board members have so far resigned over the scandal.

It was not immediately clear what would happen to Weinstein's share in the firm.

The tycoon, who was said to have been fighting to remain at the company, last week issued a bizarre statement apologizing for his actions without addressing any specific allegations, misquoting the rapper Jay Z, and appearing in part to justify his behavior.

He also said he was hoping for a second chance while acknowledging he had "work to do to earn it."

Republicans have pounced on the scandal involving a staunch Democratic campaign fundraiser, while many Democrats have vowed to give their contributions from Weinstein to charity.

President Donald Trump -- who himself faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct before winning the White House -- declared himself "not at all surprised" by the revelations about Weinstein.

Weinstein's lawyer Charles Harder said the Times' report "relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee personnel file, which has been debunked by nine different eyewitnesses."

The lawyer is preparing a lawsuit against the newspaper, and has vowed to donate any proceeds to women's organizations.
Homeless animals typically face cruelty or even extermination on the streets of the city, but now some pet lovers are looking to use social media to change attitudes and find loving owners for the four-legged friends

The welfare of stray cats and dogs roaming Iraq's capital Baghdad is far from a priority for most residents after years of bloodshed and insecurity.

Homeless animals typically face cruelty or even extermination on the streets of the city, but now some pet lovers are looking to use social media to change attitudes and find loving owners for the four-legged friends.

Agricultural college student Assan Attallah, 22, has just helped get six dogs adopted after they were found in the impoverished Sadr City neighbourhood and is looking for homes for five more.

The successes are the latest since she and a friend launched the "Animal adoption" Facebook page three months back after growing upset over the fate of Baghdad's stray animals.

Majnoona, a 11-month-old dog that lost her leg during a car accident, is one of the success stories of Baghdad's "animal adoption" network -- the stray dog has found a new home with loving owners

"I started this project because I saw animals were being mistreated and people would go as far as poisoning and killing them," Attallah told AFP as she played with some puppies in an animal shelter.

"Many people buy pets at very high prices so why not bring in these animals, take them to the vet and clean them up so people can adopt them?"

- Machine-gun cull -

So far Attallah has managed to find homes for some 25 animals after posting their pictures online.

But trying to convince many locals to care about stray animals is a big challenge.

Some 10 years ago, the authorities resorted to gunning down thousands of stray dogs with automatic rifles after claiming they were overrunning Baghdad.

And, in a country where some 400,000 people have been killed since the 2003 US invasion and millions have been displaced since the start in 2014 of a battle against Islamic State group jihadists, Attallah's focus on helping animals is often met with incomprehension.

"I started this project because I saw animals were being mistreated and people would go as far as poisoning and killing them," college student Assan Attallah told AFP

"We've also been getting negative feedback," she explained.

"People say: 'Why are you helping animals? They dont have feelings, they don't understand. It's not that important. You should focus on helping people'."

In a veterinary clinic in the north of Baghdad, Ahmad al-Qaissy, 29, and his colleague Yaarub al-Shimmary, 30, are busy taking care of ginger cat Mishmish -- whose name means "apricot" in Arabic -- after he was dropped off by an owner who did not want him.

The two men head the Iraqi Association for Animal Welfare and have had to treat their fair share of strays in terrible condition.

"Most of those that we receive have been abused either by adults or by children," Qaissy said.

"They need treatment, operations and vaccines."

- 'Made for each other' -

After a life spent facing the perils of the street, it often takes a lot to get the dogs or cats into a fit enough state to find a new owner.

"Only when the animal is in good health and is not scared anymore are they ready for adoption," Qaissy said.

Like Attallah, the pair use social media to try to find homes for their patients.

In the past, authorities in Baghdad have resorted to gunning down thousands of stray dogs with automatic rifles after claiming they were overrunning city

"We have 35,000 members on our Facebook page and when people are interested in adoption we ask the candidates some questions to be sure the animals will be treated well," Shimmary said.

For those lucky enough to find an owner, their new match can turn out to be just perfect.

Marina Jaber, 26, dotes over 11-month-old pet dog Majnoona -- which means "crazy" in Arabic -- after welcoming her into her home.

One of Majnoona's paws was crushed by a car and Jaber's husband is looking into bringing back a prosthetic from abroad.

"I feel like we were made for each other," Jaber said of her pet.

"I feel responsible for her."
Monika Shahi Nath, 40, became Nepal's first transgender person to be issued with a marriage certificate by district officials when she married 22-year-old Ramesh Nath Yogi in May, even though Nepal has no formal laws for such unions

Born and raised as a boy in rural Nepal, Monika Shahi Nath never dreamed that one day she would be a bride, adored and accepted as a wife and daughter-in-law.

But the 40-year-old has made history, becoming Nepal's first transgender person to be issued with a marriage certificate by district officials, even though the country has no formal laws for such unions.

Nath, who married 22-year-old Ramesh Nath Yogi in May, initially feared that her in-laws would not welcome her -- a transgender woman -- into their family but the couple have found rare acceptance in Nepal.

Many transgender people in the country still struggle to be open about their identity despite progressive laws that include a third gender option on identity cards and passports.

In Nepal, where many transgender people still struggle to be open about their identity despite progressive laws that include a third gender option on identity cards and passports

"We are happy and feel accepted as husband and wife," said Nath, who was the first Nepali to get a passport with the 'O' for 'other' gender designation in 2015.

"I never dreamed that one day I would be someone's wife, that I would be loved as a daughter-in-law," she told AFP.

Nath grew up in a remote village in western Nepal as a boy called Manoj, and said she always felt different.

"At school, I wanted to sit with the girls and was fascinated with women's clothing," she said.

"I never dreamed that one day I would be someone's wife, that I would be loved as a daughter-in-law," Nepali transgender woman Monika Shahi Nath told AFP

In her early twenties she started experimenting with dressing as a woman, stealing her sister's clothes and running away for days at a time to the closest city.

"Away from my home, I would secretly become a woman. It would make me very happy, but I was afraid to tell my family, I felt I would shame them," she said.

Despite her work as an activist, Nath's new identity was not talked about within her family.

When she came home with her new husband, wearing a short red dress and a wedding ring, it was one of her first visits as a woman.

Some activists in Nepal say members of the LGBTI community continue to live in the shadows of society

"But my marriage has made it easier. They truly see me as a woman now," she said.

Yogi's family -- who live in a village a six hour drive away -- was also initially resistant to the marriage, but the community has now accepted the couple.

"Her relationship with the family and with the people in the community is very good. We think it is okay," said neighbour Laxmi Nath Bista.

"The idea of third gender is very new to people around here, many people don't understand what it means. But her behaviour is good with everyone, so they are accepting of her."

Despite the changes, some activists say members of the LGBTI community continue to live in the shadows of society.

Monika Shahi Nath, 40, grew up in a remote village in western Nepal as a boy called Manoj, was the first Nepali to get a passport with the 'O' for 'other' gender designation in 2015

A bill to legalise same-sex marriage was proposed two years ago, but has not progressed, and it is not clear what legal standing Nath's marriage has.

The couple could also face allegations of polygamy -- which is illegal in Nepal, though not uncommon -- as Yogi was already married with two children.

Nath said: "I am blessed to be someone's wife, but the government needs to make the legal changes so people can easily marry the person they love."
Australian actress Rebel Wilson was awarded $3.5 million in damages against Bauer Media

A leading publisher said Monday it would appeal Australia's largest defamation payout awarded to Hollywood actor Rebel Wilson as the "unprecedented" amount had major implications for the media industry.

The "Pitch Perfect" star was awarded Aus$4.5 million (US$3.5 million) in damages against Bauer Media by an Australian court last month over magazine articles claiming she lied about her age and background to further her career.

"It's important for us to revisit this unprecedented decision on the quantum of damages, which also has broad implications for the media industry," Bauer Media's General Counsel Adrian Goss said in a brief statement.

In his ruling, Supreme Court of Victoria Justice John Dixon said Bauer -- which owns magazines Woman's Day, Australian Women's Weekly and Cosmopolitan -- had "acted in its own corporate interests to secure improved circulation, or increased views/hits".

Bauer argued the allegations made in Woman's Day, Australian Women's Weekly and OK Magazine in 2015 were true and denied they had damaged 37-year-old Wilson's reputation.

Bauer's parent company, Bauer Media Group, is a worldwide publishing house based in Hamburg with magazine titles in 15 countries including Britain, the US, China and Russia, as well as various television and radio assets.

Wilson has said that she would give the defamation payout to charity.
A rescuer prepares to cover a chared body on the platform of Godhra railway station, 27 February 2002, after a train carrying Hindu activists was attacked

An Indian court on Monday commuted the death sentences of 11 men convicted of causing a 2002 train fire that sparked anti-Muslim riots in which more than 1,000 people were killed.

The 11 men, all Muslims, will instead face life in jail for causing the fire that killed 59 Hindu passengers and set off some of the worst religious violence to hit India since independence.

They were among 31 men convicted in 2011 who lodged an appeal at the High Court in the western state of Gujarat, where the fire and subsequent violence occurred.

"The court has commuted the death sentences for 11 convicted to life imprisonment," public prosecutor Eknath Ahuja told AFP after the appeal hearing.

The court upheld life imprisonment for 20 others convicted in the case, he said.

Yusuf Hoka, a relative of one of the convicts who had their sentence commuted, expressed relief following the court order.

"But we will have to see the order for details," Hoka said. "Most of the death convicts have already spent over 15 years in jail."

Hindu mobs hungry for revenge over the fire rampaged through Muslim neighbourhoods in towns and villages across the state of Gujarat during a week of bloodshed in 2002.

Gujarat's Hindu nationalist government was accused of tacitly supporting the revenge attacks, which survivors said could have been avoided if police had arrived on time.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the state's chief minister at the time, was accused of turning a blind eye to the violence.

He was cleared of any wrongdoing in 2012 by a Supreme Court-ordered investigation.
Mourners carry the coffin of one of the six Afghan employees of the Red Cross murdered in Mazar-i-Sharif in February

The International Committee of the Red Cross will "drastically" reduce operations in war-torn Afghanistan after seven of its employees were killed in attacks this year, the aid organisation said on Monday.

The decision by the charity, which has been working in Afghanistan for over three decades, underlines the growing dangers for aid workers, who have increasingly become casualties of a surge in militant violence in recent years.

"We have no choice but to drastically reduce our presence and activities in Afghanistan," Monica Zanarelli, the ICRC head in Afghanistan, told reporters.

"Exposure to risk has become our greater challenge in Afghanistan, and we know that zero risk doesn't exist and we are not aiming at that, but our security has to be guaranteed by every party," she said.

The humanitarian group will close its facilities in the northern city of Maimana, the capital of Faryab province, and in Kunduz province, also in the north and a hotbed of Taliban activity.

Operations in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif will be scaled back.

The group has suffered a series of deadly attacks in northern Afghanistan, where Taliban and Islamic State group militants have intensified their assaults on police and troops.

In February six ICRC employees were killed when their convoy came under insurgent attack in the northern province of Jowzjan.

Two of their colleagues were abducted in a separate incident and only released by their captors last month.

No group claimed responsibility for the abduction or killings, but Jowzjan police have blamed local Islamic State jihadists who are making inroads in the country.

In the most recent attack, a Spanish physiotherapist working for the ICRC in northern Afghanistan last month was shot and killed by a wheelchair-bound patient.

Lorena Enebral Perez, 38, was shot inside the aid group's rehabilitation centre in Mazar-i-Sharif, where she treated disabled children, women and men including amputees.

Two people were arrested over the deadly attack, including the 21-year-old shooter whom police said was a "regular patient".

Last December a Spanish Red Cross employee was abducted when workers from the charity were travelling between Mazar-i-Sharif and neighbouring Kunduz. He was released several weeks later.

The ICRC has around 1,800 staff including 120 international aid workers in Afghanistan -- helping wounded and disabled people, supporting hospitals, making prison visits and assisting prisoners to maintain contact with their families.

In many areas such as the north, they are the only international organisation providing such services.

"We understand the consequences to stop our activities in the north but we have no choice," Zanarelli added.

She said the organisation was not leaving Afghanistan but to prevent more losses the "necessity of reviewing our presence is strongly requested".
A Pakistani policeman stands guard during the Ashura procession in Lahore on October 1, 2017. Ashura is one of the most important festivals for Shiite Muslims, who are frequently targeted in sectarian attacks

Gunmen Monday killed five people including three Shiite Muslims in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province in the latest sectarian attack on the religious minority, police said.

Two men on a motorbike attacked a vehicle carrying four Shiite vegetable sellers as it left the provincial capital Quetta.

"The local police escort the Shiite vegetable sellers daily... one of the vehicles today fell victim to sniper fire after it got separated from the rest of the escort," senior local police official Abdul Razzaq Cheema told AFP.

He said the gunmen killed three Shiites from the Hazara ethnic minority as well as the van driver and a passer-by.

One Shiite vegetable seller suffered several bullet wounds but survived.

Another senior local police official, Naseeb Ullah, confirmed the incident and casualties.

Both officials described the incident as a sectarian attack on Shiite Hazaras.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Taliban militants have targeted Shiite Hazaras in the past.

Shiites make up roughly 20 percent of Pakistan's 200 million people.

Attacks by Sunni hardliners against them, along with other sectarian violence, have claimed thousands of lives in the country over the past decade.

The southwestern province of Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has ample oil and gas resources but is afflicted by Islamist militancy, sectarian violence and a separatist insurgency.
Smoke and dust rises from a building held by militants after it was hit by government forces in Srinagar on October 3: police say the alleged planner of the attack has now been killed

Indian forces said they shot dead a top leader of the Kashmir militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad in a clash in the disputed territory on Monday.

The Pakistani national known only as Khalid was trapped in a house after throwing a grenade at a police checkpoint in the northern village of Ladoora, they said.

Khalid has been accused of organising a string of suicide attacks across Indian-administered Kashmir, which Pakistan also claims.

"He was one of the most wanted militants and the chief operational commander of JeM," Kashmir inspector-general of police, Muneer Ahmed Khan, told AFP.

"He threw a grenade at the checkpoint which failed to explode. He then fired a pistol and took refuge in a nearby house where he was killed."

Police said Khalid had planned suicide attacks in Muslim-majority Kashmir, including one on a paramilitary camp near Srinagar airport on October 3 in which one soldier and three attackers were killed.

In August JeM said it staged a raid on a police base in the southern town of Pulwama in which eight security force members died. A two-day gunbattle also left three of the attackers dead.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in full.

Rebel groups including JeM have for decades fought Indian troops in the restive territory, demanding independence or a merger of the Himalayan region with Pakistan.

The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, mostly civilians.

The estimated 500,000 Indian troops in Kashmir this year launched "Operation Allout" to hunt rebels.

Police say at least 160 militants and 59 soldiers or police have been killed so far this year.

On Monday a soldier died in crossfire when suspected rebels attacked a patrol, said army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia.

India accuses Pakistan of sending militants into Kashmir to launch attacks on its forces. Islamabad says it only gives diplomatic support to Kashmiris' right to self-determination.
Nepal's former living goddess, or Kumari, Matina Shakya (C) attended nursery at the school and her father says he is confident she will be able to adapt to her new life

Matina Shakya was only three when she was taken away from her parents to be worshipped as a "living goddess" in Nepal's historic capital. On Monday she finally started school after puberty ended her nine-year reign.

Dressed in a green uniform and stripped of the heavy make-up she used to wear, Shakya, 12, looked like any other student as she walked into the Green Peace Co-ed School in Kathmandu.

Fellow students and teachers had gathered outside to welcome her, playing music and waving flags -- a small reminder of the huge crowds she used to draw as Kathmandu's Kumari, or living goddess.

"We are excited to have her with us, and we are discussing how to ease her and help her adjust in the new environment," said the principal Pema Yonjan.

The Kumari is a pre-pubescent girl who lives in a temple palace in the heart of Kathmandu as part of a centuries-old tradition and is considered the embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju.

She only leaves the temple 13 times a year on special feast days, when huge crowds of worshippers gather to see her.

That means the Kumaris cannot attend school, and most have struggled to reintegrate into society after they retire.

Matina Shakya was anointed as the Kumari in 2008, leaving her home to be cared for by specially-appointed guardians, and only retired last month as she neared puberty

But Shakya received private tuition following a 2008 Supreme Court ruling that the living goddesses should be educated.

Her father Pratap Man Shakya said she had attended nursery at the school and he was confident she would be able to adapt to her new life.

"We hope now that she is going to school in a good environment she will become an even better student," he told AFP.

Shakya was anointed as the Kumari in 2008, leaving her home to be cared for by specially-appointed guardians, and only retired last month as she neared puberty.

The tradition of the Kumari, originating from a word meaning princess in Sanskrit, comes from the Newar community indigenous to the Kathmandu Valley.

It blends elements of Hinduism and Buddhism and the most important Kumaris represent each of the three former royal kingdoms of the valley: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.

The tradition was once closely linked to the royal family, but has continued despite the end of Nepal's Hindu monarchy in 2008.

It has drawn criticism from child rights activists who say the Kumaris are denied a childhood and their isolation from society hinders their education and development.

Shakya was replaced by three-year-old Trishna Shakya last month.
A man waves Kurdish flags as he celebrates Iraqi Kurds voting for independence in a ballot slammed as illegal by Baghdad

Iraq's central government on Monday unleashed a legal barrage against Kurdish officials and sought to seize key businesses in a fresh bid to tighten the screws over a disputed independence referendum.

The latest moves come exactly two weeks after an overwhelming majority of voters in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region backed independence in a non-binding ballot slammed as illegal by Baghdad.

The central authorities have already severed ties between Kurdistan and the outside world by cutting international air links to the region, while neighbouring Turkey and Iran have threatened to close their borders to oil exports.

Now, in a new round of attempts to ratchet up pressure, Baghdad's National Security Council announced that a probe has been launched into Kurdistan's lucrative oil revenues and officials in the region who might have illegally monopolised the market.

"The corrupt will be exposed and the funds recovered," said a statement from the council, headed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

The council also said that "a list of names" of Kurdish officials who helped organised the referendum had been compiled and "judicial measures have been taken against them", without giving more details.

The central government -- which has already demanded to take over Kurdistan's airports and borders -- is also looking to reclaim control over mobile phone companies in the region, including two of the largest providers in Iraq, the statement said.

Baghdad also once again called on Ankara and Tehran -- which both opposed the referendum over fears of fuelling demands from their own Kurdish communities -- to close their border posts with Kurdistan and "stop all trade" with the region.

The angry dispute over the referendum -- also rejected by the US -- is the latest twist in the decades-long movement by Iraq's Kurds to break away from Baghdad.

The referendum spat comes as Kurdish fighters and central government forces have continued to work together in offensives to push back the Islamic State group, with Washington warning the poll could "increase instability" in the region.

The defence committee in Iraq's parliament demanded Kurdish security forces hand over IS fighters captured in a recent battle to retake the jihadist bastion of Hawija.

The US-led coalition backing up the operations against IS has estimated that some 1,000 jihadists surrendered, mostly to the Kurdish peshmerga forces, during the seizure of the town.
An Indian farmer uses pesticide on his fields in 2015: some 20 farmers have died in Maharashtra from poisonous spray

Twenty Indian farmers have died and hundreds of others are in hospital after inhaling poisonous pesticides while spraying crops, officials said Monday, highlighting lax safety standards in the country.

The farmers in the western state of Maharashtra, one of India's most important agricultural regions, died after using the dangerous pesticides without wearing protective gear.

"Twenty farmers are dead and hundreds are undergoing medical treatment. Fifty are critical with damage to their eyesight," Kishore Tewari, the spokesman for a state government task force that helps farmers in distress, told AFP.

The first death was reported in August and the number of fatalities increased throughout September, according to local news reports.

They occurred in the Yavatmal region, around 670 kilometres (416 miles) from the financial capital Mumbai.

Activists blame a lack of regulations covering pesticides and a failure to provide poor farmers with proper safety equipment.

Tewari said the victims had not worn boots, masks or gloves. Victims reported experiencing blurred vision and excruciating headaches, he added.

"I don't have the money to buy protective gear and we spray pesticides without any safety kits," broadcaster NDTV quoted one farmer as saying.

Last week the Bombay High Court called on the Maharashtra government to ban the sale of pesticides in the affected areas.

Yavatmal police superintendent M Rajkumar told AFP that several cases had been filed against a local agricultural centre which sells pesticides to farmers.

India has nearly 260 million farmers and farm labourers eking out a meagre living.

Their livelihoods are regularly destroyed by drought and 1,417 farmers killed themselves in Maharashtra in 2016, according to official figures.

In June the state government agreed to write off loans to farmers estimated to be worth nearly $5 billion.
Thirty-seven people were killed after Kenya's August elections, and all but two of the cases were caused by "excessive" force by police, a human rights watchdog said

Thirty-seven people were killed after Kenya's August elections, and all but two of the cases were caused by "excessive" force by police, a human rights watchdog said Monday.

Previous tolls from the disputed elections -- since annulled by the Supreme Court -- had not exceeded 24, and until now there were few details into how the deaths occurred.

In a 262-page report, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 35 of 37 deaths it documented between August 9-15, were due to "excessive use of force by police".

The remaining two were due to "civilian aggression".

The August 8 presidential poll has been cancelled by Kenya's paramount court, which cited widespread "illegalities and irregularities." New elections are scheduled for October 26.

The report, titled "Mirage at Dusk", documented killings in predominantly opposition areas of the country where protests began after party leaders alleged fraud.

Riot police armed with batons, tear gas and assault rifles, and backed with water cannons, were quickly deployed to quell the protests.

Seven of those killed were under the age of 18 and included a six-month-old baby who died after being beaten by police who broke into her home during late night demonstrations in the western city of Kisumu, an opposition stronghold.

Adult victims were overwhelmingly young men aged 20-45.

"While the Commission was not able to determine whether the action to use force by security agents was predetermined and targeted, it is clear from our analysis that majority of the victims were from one ethnic community and from informal settlements," the report said.

Almost all of the dead were killed in western Kenya or the slums of the capital Nairobi, both strongholds of opposition leader Raila Odinga and his Luo ethnic community.

Kenyan police were blamed for a third of more than 1,100 deaths in 2007 when the country faced its deadliest ever post election dispute.

This time around, isolated protests erupted after Odinga accused the election commission of rigging the poll in favour of incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta.

Judges later overturned the election and ordered a re-run.

Odinga has vowed to boycott the polls if his demands, such as the overhauling of the election commission, are not met.

Thousands have protested across the country in response to his call for demonstrations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as political rhetoric on both sides has grown more angry.
From flying taxis to Batman-style surveillance motorcycles, Dubai's GITEX expo this week showcased innovations that were symbols of the city-state's ambitions to be a metropolis of the future.

Known for its futuristic skyline and artificial islands, Gulf emirate Dubai has carved out a place alongside cities like Singapore as a hub for innovative ideas.

At this year's 37th Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), which runs until Thursday, city authorities were keen to show off they remain on the cutting edge.

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The undisputed star of the expo, which has more than 4,000 companies from 71 countries participating, was Dubai's flying taxi project. It will fly at a height of 120 metres (130 yards), meaning it will be 'out of the way of commercial flights'

THE VOLOCOPTER - 18 'especially quiet' rotors that operate within a narrow frequency band - Maximum airspeed of 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour - Can transport two passengers without a pilot - Average flight time of 27 minutes - Communication network and emergency parachute on board - Height: 2.15 meters - Diameter: 7.35 meters Advertisement

The undisputed star of the expo, which has more than 4,000 companies from 71 countries participating, was Dubai's flying taxi project developed by German drone firm Volocopter.

Videos of the craft's first 'concept' flight last month - albeit without passengers-- generated widespread buzz on social media.

Authorities at the Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) anticipate five years of testing to put in place safety procedures, infrastructure and legislation governing the system.

'The air taxi is the star of our innovations, and I am confident that we will see the day it becomes reality,' said Khaled Abdul Rahman al-Awadhi, director of automated fare collection at the RTA.

Officials are keenly aware that even residents of ultra-modern Dubai may not be ready to step into a futuristic unmanned craft guided via a mobile phone application.

They are already working to explain planned safety measures for the craft, which will cost 200,000 to 250,000 euros ($235,000 to $295,000) each.

The two-seater drone is supported by 18 rotors and equipped with an emergency parachute to allow for an 'easy landing' if necessary, Awadhi said.

It will fly at a height of 120 metres (130 yards), meaning it will be 'out of the way of commercial flights'.

The Dubai police, which already uses robots to direct tourists, presented several innovations that would have been equally at home in a 'Batman' or 'Robocop' movie.

The city-state showcased a flight of Volocopter's flying taxi in September, for what it said would soon be the world's first drone taxi service. It is meant to run without remote control guidance and with a maximum flight duration of 30 minutes

Videos of the craft's first flight generated widespread buzz on social media. The flying taxi, developed by a German drone firm, resembles a small, two-seater helicopter cabin topped by a wide hoop studded with 18 propellers

Huda Hussein, a female police officer, beamed at the cameras as she demonstrated a Japanese-made high-tech motorcycle.

'The motorcycle is equipped with eight cameras that detect all kinds of traffic violations.

'It is driven by an officer, but we are working to make it autonomous and ready for service by 2020,' Hussein told AFP.

Another futuristic machine presented at GITEX was hybrid drone-motorcycle the Hoversurf Scorpion-3, with rotors instead of wheels that allow it to fly.

A police officer shows off a high-tech motorbike at the GITEX 2017 exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Center. The motorcycle is equipped with eight cameras that detect all types of traffic violations

Female police officer Huda Hussein demonstrated the high-tech motorcycle, made by Japanese firm Mikasa

Russian-made, the machine, which can fly at an altitude of five metres for up to 25 minutes, is being tested to determine its future potential use.

'We could use it to access hard-to-reach places, like traffic jams,' said a second police officer, Ali Ahmed Mohamed.

Yet another innovation, this one intended to cut time and human energy at airports, was a 15-second security and customs portal.

The Hoversurf Scorpion-3 can fly at an altitude of five metres for up to 25 minutes, and is being tested to determine its future potential use

The Russian-made hoverbike is seen here being showcased at the Moscow Raceway earlier this year

Customs and border agents would be replaced by a tunnel that would automatically scan and collect the biometric data of passengers.

They would already have their boarding passes in hand, having entered their data in a special electric taxi en route.

This would be especially useful at Dubai International Airport, which retained its position as the world's busiest hub for international passengers in 2016, handling 83.6 million travellers.

Unlike its fellow members of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is not dependent on revenues from oil and gas, with an economy that is the most diversified in the Gulf.

A visitor looks at a spherical monitor at the GITEX 2017 exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre on October 8, 2017

Unlike its fellow members of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is not dependent on revenues from oil and gas, with an economy that is the most diversified in the Gulf. It is seen as place where East meets West, and is an early adopter of technological innovation

For the launch of this year's GITEX, Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum made clear he sees the emirate's future in technology.

'We are embarking on a technological revolution in our work, in our lives and in our services,' he said on Twitter.

'Robots, artificial intelligence and the Internet are the things that promise us smarter cities and easier lives.'

Also unveiled was Blackberry's latest handset, the Motion, officially confirming it has ditched its keyboard, once seen as a key selling point for the firm's handsets.

Blackberry used the Gitex conference to officially confirm its latest device will be ditching the keyboard, once seen as a key selling point for the firm's handsets. The device will initially be launched in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, before becoming available elsewhere

A global launch date and price is yet to be announced for the Motion. In the UAE, it is priced at 1,700 dirham (350 / $460). The motion's rear facing 12-megapixel camera, with dual-tone LED flash, can take high quality stills and shoot 4K video at 30 fps

The device will initially be launched in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, before becoming available elsewhere.

The mid-range Motion is powered by a Snapdragon 625 CPU, backed up by 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space.

The front of the six inch tall device is mostly taken up by a 5.5-inch 1080p display, as well as a fingerprint scanning home button.

On the rear, a 12-megapixel camera with dual-tone LED flash can take high quality stills and shoot 4K video at 30 fps.

The Motion is IP67 water-resistant and comes equipped with a 4,000mAh battery, providing almost twice as much charge as the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has suffered a substantial drop in popularity for the first time, though it remains at a relatively high 67 percent, an independent pollster has found.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has suffered his first major drop in popularity, an independent pollster found, after the deaths of two Manila teenagers in his controversial anti-crime crackdown triggered mass protests.

The decline in support shown by the Social Weather Stations survey -- down to 67 percent from 78 percent in June who said they were "satisfied" with Duterte's performance as president -- came amid growing public outrage over drug war killings in the Philippines.

Duterte assumed office in June last year vowing to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing up to 100,000 traffickers and addicts.

In the 15 months since he came to power police have reported killing more 3,850 people in anti-drug operations. Thousands of other people have been murdered in unexplained circumstances that rights groups partly attribute to vigilante death squads.

Although Duterte's drug war remains largely popular among a citizenry fed up with high crime, growing unease with the killings resulted in August and September in large street protests over the deaths of two Manila teenagers.

The Manila-based pollster, which has been regularly running the quarterly surveys since 1986, did not explain the drop shown in Sunday's figures. But analysts told AFP it was likely linked to growing public concern over the drug war killings.

"It may likely reflect growing concerns over the direction of (the) war on drugs, particularly the death of minors and indiscipline within ranks of the law enforcement agencies," political analyst Richard Heydarian said.

State prosecutors are studying the possible filing of murder charges against four anti-drugs officers over the August 16 shooting death of Manila student Kian delos Santos, 17.

Several other officers are under investigation after they killed alleged robbery suspect Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19, the following night. His neighbour Reynaldo de Guzman, 14, was later found murdered by unknown suspects in the northern Philippines.

"It's the first significant slide since the president was inaugurated," said Victor Andres Manhit, chief executive of Manila-based political consultancy Stratbase ADR Institute, of the survey.

Duterte's aides largely shrugged off the new numbers.

"The love is still there," Duterte spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters, adding the poll numbers were consistent with the pattern of previous Filipino presidents who saw dips in their popularity after their first year in office.

Heydarian, who has recently published a book titled "Rise of Duterte", said the lower poll numbers still left the president with "relatively high approval ratings and enough momentum" to pursue his political agenda.

Social Weather Stations said Duterte's declining popularity among Filipino poor largely accounted for his poll drop.

Manhit said: "They are his main constituents, but they are also the main victims of the drug war."

A representative nationwide sample of 1,500 adults were asked in person between September 23-27: "Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you are in the performance of Rodrigo Duterte as president of the Philippines."

Social Weather Stations said it conducted the poll for itself and was not commissioned by any other party.

The number of dissatisfied over Duterte also rose by seven percentage points from June to 19 percent, with the undecided up by four points to 14 percent, it added.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniya (R) shakes hands with Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah in Gaza City October 2, 2017 during Hamdallah's first visit to the territory in two years

Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas dispatched teams to Egypt on Monday for talks in a renewed push to end their decade-long split after a key breakthrough last week.

Senior figures in Islamist movement Hamas and secular party Fatah will meet in the Egyptian capital on Tuesday as they seek to end a division that has crippled Palestinian politics.

Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank-based Fatah of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas have been at odds since they fought a near civil war in 2007.

Senior Fatah figures attending the Cairo talks include intelligence chief Majed Faraj and Fayez Abu Eita, a party leader in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian official news agency Wafa said.

Newly appointed Hamas deputy leader Salah al-Aruri and the movement's Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar will lead the Hamas delegation, a spokesman said in a statement.

"We will not go back to division in any way," Sinwar said on Sunday night ahead of the trip.

Abbas and Hamas chief Ismail Haniya will not attend the talks, which will be held behind closed doors.

Hamas seized Gaza from Fatah in 2007 in clashes following a dispute over parliamentary elections won by the Islamist movement.

The split has complicated any potential peace negotiations with Israel.

Multiple attempts at reconciliation have since failed but the recent Egyptian-headed push received a major boost last month when Hamas agreed to cede civilian power in Gaza.

Palestinian Authority prime minister Rami Hamdallah visited Gaza last week for the first time since 2015 and his ministers officially took control of government departments there.

- Sticking points -

But the Cairo talks will begin the difficult task of negotiating over key sticking points -- notably Hamas's 25,000-strong military wing.

Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah visits a water desalination plant in Gaza on October 5, 2017 during a four-day visit aimed at reconciliation between Palestinian factions

Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2008 and does not recognise its existence, while Abbas and the Fatah-dominated Palestine Liberation Organisation have recognised the country.

Hamas is considered a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union, and Israel has said it would reject any reconciliation agreement in which Hamas didn't disarm.

Abbas has also warned he will not accept Hamas keeping its weapons, but Hamas officials have dismissed the idea of disarming, which analysts say would effectively mean the end of the movement.

Another key issue is a demand by the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority that Hamas hand it control of Gaza's border crossings with Egypt and Israel.

A third question is the fate of tens of thousands of civil service employees Hamas has hired in the last decade.

A fourth key sticking point is a series of punitive measures Abbas has taken against Hamas in recent months, including cuts to electricity payments for Gaza.

Abbas wants his government to regain full control before reversing the measures, but Hamas wants them lifted immediately.

Two million people live in Gaza, an impoverished coastal territory blockaded by Israel and Egypt.

Faced with increasing isolation and deteriorating humanitarian conditions, Hamas has agreed to Egyptian demands to take steps toward reconciling with Fatah.
The Iraqi city of Karbala, where 27-year-old Alaa Ibrahimi got to spend a week trailing the regional governor

Inspired by a Canadian internet user, 27-year-old Iraqi Alaa Ibrahimi has just spent a week completing an unusual challenge -- living the life of the governor in his home province.

The radio journalist reached out to Karbala regional boss Aqil Tourihi on Facebook after seeing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau let a law student trail him for a day following a Twitter request.

When Tourihi accepted, Ibrahimi got a rare close-up glimpse inside the daily duties of the man running the region of more than one million inhabitants from his office in the Shiite holy city some 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Baghdad.

As his week came to an end, Ibrahimi -- wearing a blue suit, ties and polished black shoes -- sat behind the governor's desk getting an explanation on every letter signed by Tourihi.

The self-confident university graduate insisted that when he pitched his job proposal it was not just "an idea tossed into the air by a naive youngster".

"It was a way of letting those in charge hear about the problems facing their citizens and to understand the work they do," he told AFP.

That is especially important in Iraq -- a country where 60 percent of the population are aged under 25 and power is often wielded through murky backroom deals.

"This was a way to support the youth and to help break down the barriers between them and those in charge," governor Tourihi told AFP.

Among many Iraqis there is a deep scepticism about the ruling elite, with the country often classified as one of the most corrupt in the world.

Over the past few weeks a string of high-ranking officials, notably including governors, have been fired or arrested as they tried to flee over accusations of embezzling millions of dollars.

Ibrahimi's time in the governor's office appears to have been a two-way street.

While he had the boss's ear, his main aim was pushing for more attention to be paid to tackling unemployment, an issue that particularly impacts young people in Iraq.

Iraqi Alaa Ibrahimi, 27, sitting in an office in the holy city of Karbala, during a week spent living the life of the local regional governor

But he admits his week-long job placement also gave him a greater appreciation "of the obstacles facing those in charge".

And the unusual initiative appears to be catching on.

Iraqi media has reported on a number of other officials offering youngsters the chance to spend a day or week with them.

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Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are still governed by a century-old legal code known as the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR)

Hundreds of people from Pakistan's militancy-racked tribal areas rallied in Islamabad Monday calling on the government to abolish colonial-era British laws and merge the semi-autonomous northwestern region with the rest of the country.

The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are still governed by a century-old legal code known as the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR).

That includes the practice of collective punishment, allowing government authorities to hold entire clans responsible for the crimes of individuals.

Pakistan's government has approved reforms abolishing the FCR and implementing national laws in the region along the border with Afghanistan, where militants once operated with impunity.

But the changes are being delayed by political squabbles as Pakistan gears up for a general election due sometime next year.

"We are here to press the government to abolish the FCR law and extend the jurisdiction of Pakistani courts to FATA," Mian Iftekhar Hussain, one of the speakers, told people at the rally.

"More than 90 percent of tribesmen also want to merge the tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province," Hussain said as up to 2,000 tribesmen shouted slogans such as "Go FCR Go," and "We demand merger of FATA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa".

Shahabuddin Khan, a tribal lawmaker from Bajaur district, said they would continue pressuring the government until the FCR was abolished and the tribal areas were fully incorporated into the rest of Pakistan.

The seven tribal districts in FATA -- Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Mohmand, North Waziristan, Orakzai and South Waziristan -- are home to some five million residents, mainly ethnic Pashtuns.

Following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the region gradually became a hotbed for Islamist militancy and by the mid-2000s was considered one of the most dangerous places on earth.

But Pakistan's powerful army cracked down on militancy after 2014, leading an operation into FATA that displaced thousands of people even as it help spur a dramatic improvement in security in recent years.
Corruption claims have put the spotlight on Muhammadu Buhari's war on graft

Nigeria's state-run oil firm on Monday hit back at claims of corruption from a senior government minister that have put President Muhammadu Buhari's war on graft in the spotlight.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said the allegations made by junior oil minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu were "baseless and due process has been followed".

Kachikwu, a former ExxonMobil executive to whom Buhari handed the day-to-day running of the oil and gas sector, made the claims in a letter to the president that was leaked last week.

In it, he said five NNPC contacts with a total value of $25 billion "were never reviewed or discussed with the board" -- and he had "many more" examples of questionable practices.

NNPC group general manager Ndu Ughamadu said "a review or discussion with the minister of state (Kachikwu) or the NNPC board on contractual matters" was not required.

The row has once again mired the NNPC in controversy, just as the government is trying to overhaul its reputation as a company with murky finances.

But Kachikwu's letter -- dated August 30 -- runs the risk of threatening Buhari's anti-corruption campaign, as there have so far been no official inquiry or sanctions.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said last week that a proper investigation from Buhari would be a "sign of impartiality in the war against corruption".

"He should do this to correct the open impression Nigerians have about his so-called anti-corruption war that it's just a tool of persecution of perceived enemies," it added.

Buhari has been repeatedly accused of mounting a political witch-hunt as most of those arrested so far on corruption charges are from the PDP.

The president appointed Maikanti Kachalla Baru as NNPC group managing director last year.

Oil industry figures have seen Kachikwu's letter as a clear broadside against Baru, an NNPC insider who like Buhari is from northern Nigeria.

Buhari has also been accused of running a government along regional lines.

In his letter, Kachikwu -- a southerner -- complained he had not been able to meet Buhari to discuss the matter.
The UN estimates 519,000 Rohingya have arrived from Rakhine state since August 25, when attacks by Rohingya militants on Myanmar security forces prompted a deadly crackdown by the military

Several thousand Rohingya fleeing violence in Myanmar surged into Bangladesh Monday, officials said, with reports of children dying from hunger, exhaustion and fever among the latest wave of refugees.

The influx crossing from Rakhine state -- estimated by the UN to have reached 519,000 in total over the past six weeks -- had slowed in recent days to around 2,000 a day, according to the International Organization for Migration.

But on Monday witnesses said a fresh wave arrived by boat across a narrow section of the Naf river that separates Bangladesh from Myanmar at the border village of Anjumanpara.

Local Anjumanpara councillor Sultan Ahmed claimed tens of thousands had arrived on Monday, while an AFP correspondent at the scene saw at least 10,000 new arrivals through the day and into the evening.

Lieutenant Commander Manzurul Hassan Khan, local commander of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), estimated some 6,000 Rohingya had arrived during the day.

"Still it is the highest of Rohingya arrivals at least in the past two weeks," he told AFP.

Among the latest influx were two young boys, one aged two-and-a-half years and another aged three, who died due to hunger and exhaustion as they entered Bangladesh.

"Their parents told us that they died due to starvation ... They were buried in our village graveyard," he said.

Another four-year-old boy died due to fever, an AFP photographer at the scene said.

"The father ... was carrying the sick son. He was in a state of shock when he realised that his son had breathed his last during the journey on the boat," the photographer said.

Witnesses said Rohingya had been arriving in a trickle earlier in the day, but that turned into a steady stream later and continued to grow into the night.

Many Rohingya refugees arrive in Bangladesh by boat after crossing the Naf river that forms the border with Myanmar

The UN estimates 519,000 Rohingya have arrived from Rakhine state since August 25, when attacks by Rohingya militants on Myanmar security forces prompted a deadly crackdown by the military.

They aim to reach refugee camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.

Witnesses at the border described elderly and sick people lying spread-eagled on the ground, exhausted from the journey and dehydration.

Ahmed said many Rohingya avoided the main route on the Naf river following boat accidents and strict border patrols by security forces who have destroyed dozens of boats in an effort to curb the influx and drug smuggling.

The Anjumanpara crossing is a narrow point in the river, with no barbwire fence along some sections of the frontier, but it involves a perilous water crossing and walking through miles of paddy fields to enter Bangladesh.

In the past two weeks at least 37 people have died and scores were feared dead after two boats packed with fleeing Rohingya refugees capsized, one in the Naf river and another in the Bay of Bengal.
A French police officer stands outside Saint-Charles train station in Marseille on October 1, 2017, after a man armed with a knife killed two people

A brother of Ahmed Hanachi, the Tunisian who stabbed two young women to death in the French city of Marseille this month, served as a jihadist fighter in Syria, Italian police said Monday.

Anis Hanachi was arrested Saturday night in Ferrara, Italy, after French authorities issued an international arrest warrant.

French investigators, who suspect Anis of complicity in his brother's attack, indicated that he had "fought, waged jihad in Syrian-Iraqi territory, with military experience," Lamberto Giannini, head of Italy's counterterrorism team, said at a press conference.

"A hypothesis that remains to be verified is that it was him who indoctrinated his brother Ahmed and caused his radicalisation," Giannini said.

Ahmed Hanachi, 29, attacked the two women at Marseille's Saint-Charles train station on October 1 before being shot and killed by troops.

He had lived for several years in Aprilia, south of Rome, where he married an Italian woman.

He was not known to attend any mosque, but was known to the police for drug and alcohol problems.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but French investigators have yet found evidence linking it to the jihadist fighters.

The only trace of Anis in Italy, however, went back to 2014, when he arrived with other migrants on a boat and was sent back to Tunisia, which Italy now does with nearly all Tunisians who arrive on its coasts.

When Italian police found him Saturday night while he was riding his bike in central Ferrara, he initially gave a false name and claimed to be Algerian.

But analysis of his fingerprints, which had been taken when Anis arrived in Italy in 2014, confirmed his identity.

So far he has not been cooperative with the authorities, the Italian police said, and his extradition to France could happen in "a few days".

Several jihadists who have struck in Europe, including Anis Amri, who slammed a truck into a Berlin Christmas market in 2016, travelled through Italy.

But for now, "we have not established any common framework of conduct that could make us think that there could be something here in Italy constituting a (logistical) base for striking elsewhere," Giannini said.

Italian investigators have also found no indications that Anis Hanachi was planning a terror attack in Italy.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and US President Donald Trump last met during the UN General Assembly in September 2017

Turkey on Monday urged the United States to reverse a decision to halt the issuing of all regular visas at American consulates in the country, as prosecutors summoned another Istanbul mission staffer in an escalating crisis.

The dispute, which analysts have described as the worst between the NATO allies in half a century, erupted when Turkey jailed a Turkish employee working at the American consulate in Istanbul.

Ankara hit back at the US suspension of the issuing of non-immigrant visas -- a move described by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as "very, very saddening" -- with a tit-for-tat response against American citizens.

The Turkish foreign ministry summoned the US embassy's deputy chief of mission on Monday, urging Washington to reverse its visa decision.

The US embassy in Ankara said Sunday that it would suspend issuing visas for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study, after the arrest last week.

"Above all, this decision is very, very saddening," Erdogan said in his first reaction to the decision, at a news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko in Kiev.

"For the (US) ambassador in Ankara to take a decision like this, to put it into practice, is saddening," he added.

The ambassador, John Bass, insisted the suspension was "not a decision we took lightly" in a video released late Monday.

"We hope it will not last long, but at this time, we can't predict how long it will take to resolve this matter," he said.

- 'Historic low' -

Last week an Istanbul court remanded in custody the consulate employee over accusations of links to the group of US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the failed 2016 coup aimed at unseating Erdogan.

He has been formally charged with espionage and seeking to overthrow the Turkish government, accusations the US embassy rejected as "wholly without merit".

Bass criticised the employee's lack of "sufficient access" to his lawyer.

On Monday, Turkish prosecutors summoned another local employee working at the American consulate in Istanbul, Anadolu said.

Turkish television, including the private NTV channel, said earlier that an arrest warrant had been issued for the employee, though this was not confirmed by Anadolu.

But the employee's wife and child, whose age was not given, were detained in the Anatolian city of Amasya on suspicion of being key members of Gulen's group, it said.

The Hurriyet daily reported that the individual wanted by prosecutors had taken sanctuary at the US consulate in Istanbul.

"We don't know if these arrests are singular events or if we should expect other Turkish staff members to be arrested for simply talking to Turkish government officials or the wider Turkish public in the course of their duties," Bass said.

Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin previously pointed to a phone call made from the Istanbul consulate to a key suspect on the night of the coup.

"It's definitely a historic low in ties, at least in recent memory," said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute, adding that the last such dispute of this magnitude was after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

"Neither side is willing to step back," he said.

- 'Hard to restore ties' -

The developments also came after a Turkish employee at the US consulate in the southern city of Adana was arrested in March on charges of supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Turkish officials had expressed hope of a new page in Ankara-Washington relations under President Donald Trump, and had pressed Washington for the extradition of the Pennsylvania-based Gulen, who denies any link to the coup bid.

The lack of movement on the issue has further strained ties already fraying over Washington's support for a Syrian Kurdish militia Ankara deems a terror group.

Meanwhile, members of Erdogan's security detail were indicted by US authorities after clashes with protesters during an official visit this year, infuriating Erdogan.

American pastor Andrew Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir, has been held by authorities since October 2016 on charges of being a member of Gulen's group.

Erdogan suggested last month Turkey could release him in exchange for Gulen but Washington showed little interest in the proposal.

"It will be hard for relations to be restored any time soon to what they used to be," Cagaptay said.

- 'Most unfortunate' -

Turkey's influential Industrialists' and Businessman's Association (TUSIAD) described the move by the US as "most unfortunate", saying it risked hurting citizens who had nothing to do with the row.

Flag carrier Turkish Airlines offered refunds or exchanges to passengers with Turkish passports flying to the US and vice versa. Its shares were hit heavily by the row, falling 9.26 percent to 8.43 dollars a share.

The tensions put pressure on the Turkish lira, which lost 3.0 percent against the US dollar to trade at 3.72 lira while, the Borsa Istanbul 100 index was down 2.7 percent at 101,298 points.

Seeking to reassure markets, the Turkish deputy central bank governor Murat Uysal said: "There could be a temporary impact because of geopolitical concerns, we are watching closely."
The arrests in Dhaka come as the government appears to have launched a crackdown on the opposition parties after it came under heavy flak for its handling of the Rohingya crisis

Bangladesh police Monday night arrested the top leaders of the country's largest Islamist party, an official said, as the government appeared to have launched a crackdown on the main opposition parties.

Nine people were arrested after a raid on a house in Dhaka's northern neighbourhood of Uttara, including the top leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, Maqbul Ahmed, deputy leader Shafiqur Rahman and former member of parliament Golam Parwar.

"We learnt from a secret source they were holding a meeting at a secret place at a house in Uttara Sector Number Six. We have found some papers from that place," Dhaka Police deputy commissioner Shaikh Nazmul Alam told AFP, adding they were investigating the documents.

He did not say what the Jamaat leaders were arrested for, but that "most of them were fugitive".

Prothom Alo, the country's largest newspaper, said the leaders were arrested on charges of sabotage.

The arrests came as the government appeared to have launched a crackdown on the opposition parties after it came under heavy flak for its handling of the Rohingya crisis which has seen a massive influx of refugees fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar.

Earlier in the day, a court in the country's east issued an arrest warrant against main opposition leader Khaleda Zia after she failed to appear at a hearing over charges related to a 2015 fire-bombing of a bus that killed eight people.

Zia has been visiting her exiled son in London for the last two months and is expected to return home later this month.

The country's chief justice, who is widely seen as a major critic of the government, has also gone on a month-long leave, amid concerns that he was forcibly sent to vacation and might not return to duty.

A Jamaat spokesman condemned the arrests, saying the leaders were attending "a social gathering".

"We protest the arrests. These are motivated. We are a democratic party and abide by all democratic norms. We did not do anything that was violent or went against the democratic ways," he said.

Ahmed, 79, has not appeared in any public meeting or political activities after he was elected as the head of the Islamist outfit last October, months after the execution of previous leader Motiur Rahman Nizami for war crimes related to the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

Rahman, who was elected secretary general last year, is seen as his heir apparent.

Jamaat has been banned from contesting polls in Bangladesh after the country's high court ruled in 2013 that the party's charter contravened the nation's secular constitution.

The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also set up a controversial war crimes tribunal in 2010, which convicted and sentenced to death top Jamaat leadership, triggering nationwide violent protests that left hundreds dead.

Five of the key leaders including Nizami were later hanged.
A French police officer stands outside Saint-Charles train station in Marseille on October 1, 2017, after Ahmed Hanachi killed two people

A brother and sister of Ahmed Hanachi, who stabbed two young women to death in the French city of Marseille this month, have been detained in Tunisia, authorities said Monday.

The two were detained on Friday and have been questioned by anti-terror investigators, prosecution spokesman Sofiene Sliti said.

"They appeared before an investigating judge... who decided to transfer the case to the national guard" in Aouina, northeastern Tunis, he said.

A source close to the family named the siblings as Moez and Amina Hanachi, who both live in Tunisia.

Their brother Ahmed Hanachi, 29, attacked two women at Marseille's Saint-Charles train station on October 1 before being shot dead by troops.

He had lived for several years in Aprilia, south of Rome, where he married an Italian woman.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for Hanachi's attack, but French investigators have not yet found evidence linking it to the jihadist organisation.

Another of Hanachi's brothers, Anis, was arrested on Saturday night in Italy after French authorities issued an international arrest warrant.

French investigators, who suspect Anis of complicity in his brother's attack, said he had "fought, waged jihad in Syrian-Iraqi territory, with military experience", Lamberto Giannini, head of Italy's counterterrorism team, said on Monday.

Ahmed, the second-youngest of five siblings, was not known to attend any mosque, but was known to the police for drug and alcohol problems.

His family said two of his brothers, Anis and Anouar, were living illegally in Europe.

Two Tunisian security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Ahmed and Anouar were suspected of being "extremists".

But their father Noureddine told AFP he struggled to believe Ahmed had been radicalised but that his son "may have been under the influence of drugs" when he carried out the attack.

He said he had heard no news from his sons in Europe for two months.
Engineers in Morocco are preparing to test Africa's first high-speed railway this week with trains reaching 320kilometres (200 miles) per hour, the country's rail office said Monday.

One train reached 275kph (170 mph) on Monday along a stretch of track between the northern cities of Kenitra and Tangier, the ONCF said.

'This is already the fastest train on the African continent,' said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who was in Morocco to sign a loan deal between the ONCF and the French Development Agency.

A locomotive for Morocco's first high speed rail link, produced by French train maker Alstom, arrives at the Moroccan port of Tangier on June 30, 2015

He said the railway was 'emblematic of the Franco-Moroccan bilateral relationship'.

The link between Casablanca and Tangier via the capital Rabat will slash journey times between the North African country's economic hubs by almost two thirds, from five hours and 45 minutes to just over two hours.

Morocco's TGV, which gets its name from the French abbreviation for high-speed trains, is set to enter service in summer 2018.

The total cost of the project, 50 per cent financed by France through various loans, is around $2.4billion (two billion euros).

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (right) and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in Rabat on October 9

It is set to go around 15 per cent over budget, according to figures released on Monday.

But ONCF head Rabii Lakhlii said the project had cost 'less than nine million euros per kilometre, compared to a European standard of 20 million euros per kilometre'.

The route, made more complex by hilly terrain and strong winds, required the building of several viaducts including one some 3.5 kilometres long.

The ONCF is targeting six million travellers a year after three years of operations.

Lakhlii said tickets would cost about 30 per cent more than those for the current rail link.

Moroccan leaders have heralded the project as a key step in modernising the country's infrastructure.

But opponents have criticised it, saying the money could have been better spent in a country where many live in poverty.

They also argue that it unfairly favoured French companies.
Richard Thaler was awarded the Nobel Economics prize for his work in the field of behavioral economics

He was awarded a Nobel prize Monday for his work showing economic and financial decisions are not always rational, but mostly human.

So it seems fitting that US economist Richard Thaler, 72, says he wants to spend his $1 million winnings "as irrationally as possible."

In awarding the prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences praised Thaler for bringing behavioral economics into the mainstream -- exploring the impact of psychological and social factors on individual or group decisions in the economy and financial markets.

Thaler told a press conference at the University of Chicago, where he teaches, he was "very much asleep" when he received the 4 am phone call informing him he had won.

"I had a pretty good idea what that might be," he admitted, joking: "Unlike Bob Dylan, I do plan to go to Stockholm."

Dylan kept silent for weeks after he was awarded last year's Nobel prize for literature, although he eventually did accept the prize in the Swedish capital.

- The possession factor -

A professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Thaler was described by the Nobel jury as a pioneer in his field.

He is well known for co-founding "nudge" theory -- which demonstrates how people can be persuaded to make decisions that leave them healthier and happier.

His book on the theory -- co-authored with legal scholar Cass Sunstein -- became a bestseller, influencing governments and companies with its original solutions to savings, consumption and public health issues.

Thaler, who teaches at the University of Chicago, is best known for his "nudge" theory

Meanwhile, his notion of "paternal libertarianism" also became a point of reference for politicians, particularly under the Obama administration, during which Sunstein was a regulatory tsar.

On Monday, Thaler said 75 groups using the "nudge" or "boost" methods are currently advising governments and businesses.

The theory is based on the idea people make financial decisions by focusing primarily on short-term impact -- and is used to encourage people to, for example, pay for parking spaces or get vaccinated.

Thaler also coined what he called the "possession factor," which shows people have an aversion to loss, prioritizing what they already have -- even if its value has deteriorated.

This results in financial decisions which are not always beneficial, such as putting off saving or investing when prices are rising.

The field of behavioral economics has another Nobel Prize winner in Milton Friedman, who won in 1976 -- having upset classical economic theories arguing individuals act only in their best interests.

And Thaler acknowledged his work, too, has not always been warmly received.

"Economists don't do a lot of embracing," he said Monday, adding he does not believe he "changed anybody's mind in 40 years."

The Nobel economics committee also recognized behavioral economics in rewarding economist and sociologist Herbert Simon.

His work on "bounded rationality" -- the concept that decision-making is affected by information, cognitive and time limitations -- was rewarded in 1978.

Meanwhile in 2002, American-Israeli psychologist Daniel Kahneman -- a colleague and co-author of Thaler -- was awarded the prize for research on behavioral finance.

Other economists in the field recognized by the Academy include Angus Deaton, winner in 2015 for his analysis of consumption, poverty and welfare, and Robert Shiller in 2013 for his work on psychology's influence financial markets.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, pictured on October 3, 2017, has tried to enforce strict discipline in his ruling ZANU-PF party for decades and avoided naming a successor even as concerns have grown over his advanced age and failing health

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe on Monday stripped one of the top candidates to succeed him of a cabinet post, as the battle to replace the long-ruling leader intensifies.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who also doubled as minister of justice, was replaced by ruling ZANU-PF party loyalist Happyton Bonyongwe. Mnangagwa will stay on as one of Mugabe's two vice presidents.

Mugabe, 93, has tried to enforce strict discipline in his ruling ZANU-PF party for decades and avoided naming a successor even as concerns have grown over his advanced age and failing health.

But the shake-up comes as infighting deepens in the ZANU-PF over who will take over from Mugabe, including allegations from Mnangagwa he was poisoned.

Mnangagwa's supporters allege he was struck down by poison-laced ice cream produced on a farm owned by first lady Grace Mugabe, who is also seen as harbouring ambitions to take over from her ageing husband.

Grace has publicly called on her husband to name a successor, ratcheting up tensions with Mnangagwa, a regime loyalist who has been widely tipped to succeed Mugabe.

But the open warfare between Grace and Mnangagwa has apparently left Mugabe furious.

Mugabe has repeatedly condemned factionalism within the party in thinly veiled rebukes to Mnangagwa and his wife's public posturing.

Mnangagwa's replacement as justice minister, Bonyongwe, is a retired army major general, who was the director general of the country's feared intelligence service.

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, who has been tasked with reviving the country's ailing economy, was replaced by Ignatius Chombo, who was home affairs minister.

Mnangagwa is one of the two ministers who were pushed out, while a total of ten others reshuffled, in a first shake-up since 2015.

Zimbabwe goes to the polls in 2018, and his party has endorsed him as its presidential candidate to face a coalition of opposition parties.
AIG estimated pre-tax loses of between $2.9 billion and $3.1 billion, with the breakdown of above $1 billion each for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, $600-$700 million from Hurricane Maria and $150 million from other events, including the Mexican earthquake

American International Group expects a $2 billion hit in the third quarter from a trio of major hurricanes in the Americas and a catastrophic Mexican earthquake, the insurer said Monday.

AIG estimated pre-tax losses of between $2.9 billion and $3.1 billion, with the breakdown of above $1 billion each for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, $600-$700 million from Hurricane Maria and $150 million from other events, including the Mexican earthquake.

Those are the expected losses to AIG following reinsurance claims. AIG estimated the impact after taxes at $1.9 to $2.0 billion.

The estimate includes the toll of biblical-scale flooding in Houston in Hurricane Harvey, repeat battering of the Caribbean with Irma and Maria and the Mexico calamity that claimed more than 360 lives.

AIG chief executive Brian Duperreault said the array of catastrophes marked an "unprecedented" period of disaster.

"Through AIG's financial strength and long experience with natural catastrophes, our teams across the company have reacted quickly to provide our clients with the claim funds, resources and expertise they need to recover and rebuild with greater resilience," he said.

AIG said the figures were preliminary and that the final number could be significantly different.

Shares of AIG fell 1.2 percent to afterhours trading to $61.05.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Trying to revive health care talks, President Donald Trump said Saturday that he had spoken to the Senate's Democratic leader to gauge whether the minority party was interested in helping pass "great" health legislation.

The answer back: Democrats are willing to hear his ideas, but scrapping the Obama health law is a nonstarter.

Trump's latest overture to Democrats followed GOP failures so far to fulfill the party's yearslong promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. In spite of controlling the White House and Congress since January, Republicans have not passed the legislation.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., look at a poster at the start of a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, October 4, 2017, urging Republicans to abandon cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The president tweeted that he called New York Sen. Chuck Schumer on Friday to discuss the 2010 law known as "Obamacare," which Trump said "is badly broken, big premiums. Who knows!" Trump said he wanted "to see if the Dems want to do a great HealthCare Bill."

In remarks Saturday evening on the South Lawn before a trip to North Carolina, Trump said he was willing to consider "a temporary deal." What that might involve was not clear, but Trump referred to a popular GOP proposal that would have the federal government turn over money for health care directly to states in the form of block grants.

"If we could do a one-year deal or a two-year deal as a temporary measure, you'll have block granting ultimately to the states, which is what the Republicans want. That really is a repeal and replace," he said. In an interview Saturday night on Trinity Broadcasting Network, the president assured host Mike Huckabee that "we'll have health care before the election."

Schumer said through a spokesman Saturday that Trump "wanted to make another run at repeal and replace and I told the president that's off the table." Schumer said if Trump "wants to work together to improve the existing health care system, we Democrats are open to his suggestions."

Trump has suggested before that he would be open to negotiating with Democrats on health care, but there have been no clear signs of a compromise between Republicans who have sought to scrap President Barack Obama's law and Democrats who want to protect it.

Schumer said a starting point could be negotiations led by Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., who have been discussing a limited bipartisan deal to stabilize state-level markets for individual health insurance policies. People covered under the health law represent about half of those who purchase individual policies.

Trump irritated GOP leaders in Congress when he reached a deal with Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on a spending bill and the debt ceiling. The president has referred to those two Democrats as "Chuck and Nancy."

But the Trump administration announced Friday that it would allow more employers to opt out of no-cost birth control to women by claiming religious or moral objections. The move was one more attempt to roll back Obama's health overhaul, prompting Democrats to question whether Trump is committed to avoiding sabotaging the law.

Trump floated the potential talks as he approved an emergency declaration for a large part of Louisiana and ordered federal assistance for the state as Hurricane Nate approached the central Gulf of Mexico.

The president headlined a fundraiser on Saturday night in Greensboro, North Carolina, to benefit his Trump Victory joint fundraising committee with the Republican National Committee. The event was expected to raise $2 million, with donors paying up to $35,000 per couple to serve as co-hosts.

Before leaving for North Carolina, Trump repeated his assertion that trying to negotiate with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs is a waste of time.

In a two-part tweet, he said: "Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid ... hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!"

Trump's tweets Saturday and earlier in the week were seen directed either at undermining Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's efforts to maintain channels of communication or at somehow bolstering the diplomat's hand in possible future talks.

__

On Twitter, follow Ken Thomas at @KThomasDC.
NEW YORK (AP) - Harvey Weinstein, the sharp-elbowed movie producer whose combative reign in Hollywood made him an Academy Awards regular, was fired from The Weinstein Company on Sunday following an expose that detailed decades of sexual harassment allegations made against Weinstein by actresses and employees.

In a statement, the company's board of directors announced his firing Sunday night, capping the swift downfall of one of Hollywood's most powerful producers and expelling him from the company he co-created.

"In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company - Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar - have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately," the company's board said in a statement on Sunday night.

FILE - In this March 2, 2014 file photo, Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Oscars in Los Angeles. Weinstein has been fired from The Weinstein Co., effective immediately, following new information revealed regarding his conduct, the company's board of directors announced Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Weinstein had previously taken an indefinite leave of absence following the revelation of at least eight allegations of sexual harassment uncovered in an expose Thursday by The New York Times. The board on Friday endorsed that decision and announced an investigation into the allegations, saying it would determine the co-chairman's future with the company.

But the Weinstein Co. board, which includes Weinstein's brother, went further on Sunday, firing the executive who has always been its primary operator, public face and studio chief. Under his leadership, the Weinstein Co. has been a dominant force at the Oscars, including the rare feat of winning back-to-back best picture Academy Awards with "The King's Speech" and "The Artist." In recent years, however, Weinstein's status has diminished because of money shortages, disappointing box-office returns and executive departures.

An attorney for Weinstein didn't immediately return messages Sunday.

A spokesperson for The Weinstein Co. declined to provide further details on Weinstein's firing. Messages left for attorney John Keirnan of the firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, who had been appointed to lead an investigation, weren't immediately returned Sunday.

Weinstein on Thursday issued a lengthy statement that acknowledged causing "a lot of pain." He also asked for "a second chance." But Weinstein and his lawyers also criticized The New York Times' report in statements and interviews, and vowed an aggressive response. The New York Times said it was "confident in the accuracy of our reporting."

The New York Times article chronicled sexual harassment settlements Weinstein made with film star Ashley Judd and former employees at both The Weinstein Co. and Weinstein's former company, Miramax. Weinstein made his name with Miramax, the company he founded with his brother Bob in 1979. They sold it to Disney in 1993 for $60 million. The company was a fixture of the 1990s independent film movement, launching the careers of filmmakers Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith and Steven Soderbergh, and winning best picture with "Shakespeare in Love" and "The English Patient."

The allegations triggered cascading chaos at the Weinstein Co. Numerous members of its all-male board have stepped down since Thursday. The prominent attorney Lisa Bloom, daughter of well-known Los Angeles women's rights attorney Gloria Allred, on Saturday withdrew from representing Weinstein, as did another adviser, Lanny Davis.

Pressure to act continued to mount on the board as more developments followed. Congressional Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, donated to charities thousands of dollars in donations they had received from Weinstein.

TV anchor Lauren Sivan on Friday detailed an alleged 2007 encounter with Weinstein in a HuffPost report. Sivan, then working at a New York cable channel, Long Island 12, alleged that Weinstein cornered her in the hallway of a Manhattan restaurant closed to the public and masturbated in front of her.

Sivan said she had rejected an attempt by Weinstein to kiss her. "Well, can you just stand there and shut up," she claims he responded.

Bob Weinstein and David Glasser, chief operating officer, are now running The Weinstein Co. But it remains to be seen not only if the company can continue without its prominent producer but also whether it can weather questions of culpability in its former co-chairman's behavior. In reaction to Thursday's report, many in Hollywood called Weinstein's behavior "an open secret." The settlement funds paid out also may have come from The Weinstein Co.

The company has attempted to continue with business as usual, including a promotional event Sunday night for its 2017 awards hopeful, the indie hit thriller "Wind River." While it has a handful of films scheduled for release in the coming months, much of the company's business has recently angled toward television, producing shows like "Project Runway"

Many in the movie industry vented their disgust with the allegations against Weinstein in recent days, including Lena Dunham and Brie Larson. For them, the allegations against Weinstein not only compare to those against Bill Cosby and Roger Ailes, but reflect Hollywood's deep-rooted gender inequality. Imbalances in pay between actors and actresses and the continued paucity of women directors behind the camera for the biggest productions have been ongoing issues in Hollywood.

Still most of the A-listers that Weinstein led to Academy Awards nominations have been largely silent since Thursday's report. On Sunday night, others celebrated Weinstein's exit.

"If even 1/10th of the stories about Harvey Weinstein are true (and I believe they are), then good riddance," said "Guardians of the Galaxy" director James Gunn, who added an expletive. "The enabling needs to end."

FILE - In this March 18, 2014, file photo, Ashley Judd arrives at the world premiere of "Divergent" at the Westwood Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles. Harvey Weinstein has been fired from The Weinstein Co., effective immediately, following new information revealed regarding his conduct, the company's board of directors announced Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. The New York Times article chronicled allegations against Weinstein from film star Ashley Judd and former employees at both The Weinstein Co. and Weinstein's former company, Miramax. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
A Maine man has died after a fireworks shell he lit exploded.

The state fire marshal's office says 57-year-old Timothy Whitney Sr., of Lewiston, died Sunday at Central Maine Medical Center.

Fire investigators say the fireworks shell was set into a cement cinder block outside of his son's home in Sabattus.

The state fire marshal's office says 57-year-old Timothy Whitney Sr., of Lewiston, died Sunday at Central Maine Medical Center

The fireworks exploded, sending pieces of cement into two homes, about 140 feet (42 meters) away.

Authorities say Whitney was standing about 15 feet (4 meters) away when several pieces of cement struck him.

Fire investigators say the fireworks shell was set into a cement cinder block outside of his son's home in Sabattus

Fire investigators say Whitney lit a type of fireworks shell that only is available to licensed fireworks operators, which he was not.

According to Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, Whitney acquired the fireworks sometime in the last year.

Three other family members who were standing nearby were not injured.

The last firework death in the state was in July 2015, in Calais, where a 22-year-old man lit a firework mortar tube on his head.
PLACENTIA, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on a 38-year-old California woman killed at the Las Vegas concert massacre (all times local):

7:23 p.m.

At least 200 people gathered for a vigil to remember a vibrant Southern California woman killed in the Las Vegas concert massacre.

Candles and flowers sit next to a photo of Nicol Kimura, a victim of the Las Vegas mass shooting, during a candlelight vigil at Sierra Vista Elementary School in Placentia, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Carrying cream-colored candles, friends and relatives of 38-year-old Nicole Kimura met Sunday at the field outside the elementary school she attended years ago.

Pictures showed a glowing, smiling Kimura. In one, she is jumping in the air wearing cowboy boots, her hair flying behind her.

Friend Courtney Calderon said Kimura touched those who barely met her and those she knew for years with her huge heart and love for life.

Kimura was one of 58 people killed by a gunman who opened fire on a country music festival a week ago from the 32nd floor of a hotel across the street.

8:50 a.m.

Seven members of a group of California friends so close they call one another "framily" went to last weekend's country music festival in Las Vegas.

They came home only six.

Thirty-eight-year-old Nicol Kimura was standing not too far from the stage last Sunday when she was shot. A man who said he was a doctor came over and started chest compressions but said after a while that there was nothing more he could do.

Now, a week after the massacre that stole 58 lives including Kimura's, the friends try to carry on because they know that's what she would have wanted.

The group started raising money to help cover Kimura's funeral costs. A vigil is planned for Sunday night at an elementary school in Kimura's hometown of Placentia.

Tracy Gyurina, left, looks at a memorial for her friend Nicol Kimura, a victim of the Las Vegas mass shooting, with her father Haven Kimura at Sierra Vista Elementary School in Placentia, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

From left, Ryan Donato, Heather Barclay and her sister Tracy Gyurina grieve at a candlelight vigil for Nicol Kimura, a victim of the Las Vegas mass shooting, at Sierra Vista Elementary School in Placentia, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Friends and relatives stand at a candlelight vigil for Nicol Kimura, a victim of the Las Vegas mass shooting, at Sierra Vista Elementary School in Placentia, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. Nicol was one of seven friends so close they call each other "family." They went to Las Vegas to dance at a country music festival. They came back only six. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
PHOENIX (AP) - Zack Greinke left Los Angeles for a big payday in the desert. Now Arizona wants the ex-Dodger to prove his worth.

The Diamondbacks are in dire need of a strong performance from the 17-game winner to help prevent Los Angeles from sweeping them out of their National League Division Series.

Greinke will be on the mound when the best-of-five series shifts to Arizona for Game 3 on Monday night after the Dodgers raked Diamondbacks pitching to take the first two games in Los Angeles.

The grounds crew prepares the field before Game 3 of baseball's National League Division Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said there's no one he'd rather have there.

"He's fearless. He's on the attack. He understands strengths and limitations," Lovullo said at his Sunday news conference. "So I feel like because he's been our guy all year long and because I know what I know about him, I couldn't think of a better guy to go out and execute tomorrow."

The Dodgers counter with Yu Darvish (10-12, 3.86 ERA), a trade deadline acquisition from Texas.

Darvish made nine starts for Los Angeles, going 4-3 with a 3.44 ERA. The 6-foot-5 Japanese right-hander was at his best at the end, going 2-0 in his final three regular-season starts, giving up just one run in 19 1/3 innings.

"When he's on, he's really good," Lovullo said. "When he's not, he's beatable."

Darvish's second start after the trade was at Arizona, where he went seven innings, allowing two runs and five hits and striking out 10 to get the win in an 8-6 Dodger victory.

He has changed his mechanics since arriving in Los Angeles.

"I think it will benefit me because they haven't seen me pitch the way I do now," Darvish said after the team arrived Sunday night. "How I pitch is different."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knows how good Arizona can be at home.

"They kind of swarm you," he said. "Momentum starts going their way and they get really aggressive. They're tough."

The Diamondbacks were 52-29 at home this season, and Greinke was particularly sharp there. The right-hander was 13-1 in 18 starts at Chase Field with a 2.76 ERA, 131 strikeouts and 23 walks.

But his latest outing there, in the NL wild-card game last Wednesday, was far from his best. After three scoreless innings, the Rockies rang up four runs and Greinke never made it out of the fourth.

The Dodgers battered Arizona for 17 runs and 24 hits in the series' first two games.

"They wait for pitches to hit and then it's an ideal way of hitting," Greinke said. "You just look for a pitch to hit. If you get it, you hit it as hard as you can. ... I mean, it's pretty simple, but it's harder to do than it sounds."

In the second year of a $206.5 million, six-year contract, Greinke was 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in four starts against Los Angeles this year.

Yasiel Puig and Justin Turner are leading the Dodgers postseason offensive surge.

Puig, in the eighth spot of the batting order, is 5 for 9, including a double and triple, and has driven in four. Turner is 4 for 8 with a home run and five RBIs.

The Diamondbacks will welcome a loud, friendly crowd after the hostility of Dodger Stadium. The Chase Field throng was exceptionally boisterous in Arizona's 11-8 wild-card win over Colorado.

Arizona was 6-3 at home against the Dodgers, including a three-game sweep in September. But the Diamondbacks didn't resemble that team in the first two NLDS games.

If there is a Game 4, Lovullo said, lefty Patrick Corbin will get the start. That, of course, is meaningless unless Arizona wins Monday.

"We can't get too far ahead of ourselves," said the Diamondbacks' Daniel Descalso, a veteran of 47 playoff games. "Right now we have to win tomorrow. That's all that matters to us. We have Zack on the mound. We love it when Zack pitches. He's our stopper. He's our ace."

A few years ago, the Dodgers clinched the NL West in Arizona and greatly miffed some of the locals by celebrating in the Chase Field swimming pool. They needn't worry this year.

"That won't happen," Roberts said. "'We have bigger goals than to jump into a swimming pool."
NEW YORK (AP) - Is it time to say arrivederci to Christopher Columbus?

A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has gained momentum in some parts of the U.S., with Los Angeles in August becoming the biggest city yet to decide to stop honoring the Italian explorer and instead recognize victims of colonialism.

Austin, Texas, followed suit Thursday. It joined cities including San Francisco, Seattle and Denver, which had previously booted Columbus in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day.

FILE- In this Oct. 14, 1996, file photo, a model of the "Santa Maria," one of Christopher Columbus' three ships, is pulled up New York's Fifth Avenue in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral during the 56th Columbus Day Parade. A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has new momentum but the gesture to recognize victims of European colonialism has also prompted howls of outrage from some Italian Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler, File)

But the gesture to recognize indigenous people rather than the man who opened the Americas to European domination also has prompted howls of outrage from some Italian-Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too.

"We had a very difficult time in this country for well over a hundred years," said Basil Russo, president of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America. "Columbus Day is a day that we've chosen to celebrate who we are. And we're entitled to do that just as they are entitled to celebrate who they are."

It's not about taking anything away from Italian-Americans, said Cliff Matias, cultural director of the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, which hosted a Re-Thinking Columbus Day event Sunday and Monday in New York.

"The conversation is Columbus," he said. "If they're going to celebrate Columbus, we need to celebrate the fact that we survived Columbus."

The debate over Columbus' historical legacy is an old one, but it became emotionally charged after a similar debate in the South over monuments to Confederate generals flared into deadly violence in August at a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In Akron, Ohio, a September vote over whether to dump Columbus opened a racial rift on the city council that was so heated conflict mediators were brought in to sooth tensions.

In New York, where 35,000 people marched in Monday's Columbus Day parade, vandals last month doused the hands of a Christopher Columbus statue in blood-red paint and scrawled the words "hate will not be tolerated." Activists calling for the city to change the parade's name also are expected to hold a demonstration.

On Sunday, three demonstrators briefly interrupted a wreath-laying ceremony at the Columbus statue in Columbus Circle. Two dressed in fake chains. One wore a hooded white sheet. Police said one person was arrested.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, appointed a committee to evaluate whether monuments to certain historical figures should be removed, prompting a backlash from fellow Italian-Americans who vowed to defend the Columbus statue, which has stood over Columbus Circle for more than a century. But the mayor still marched in Monday's parade.

"You can debate the historical figure of Christopher Columbus, but you can't debate the contribution of Italian-Americans to this country," de Blasio said at the start of the march.

Many Italians who migrated to the U.S. initially had a rough time. In 1891, 11 Italians were lynched in New Orleans by a mob that held them responsible for the death of a police official.

At the end of the 1800s, Italians began to link themselves more with Columbus. Italian-American businessman and newspaper owner Generoso Pope was among those who worked to get Columbus Day recognized as a federal holiday in 1937.

"It was one of the things that would allow them to become Americans symbolically," said Fred Gardaphe, a professor of Italian-American studies at Queens College.

Indigenous Peoples Day began to gel as an idea before the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage to the Americas.

South Dakota began celebrating Native American Day on the second Monday of October in 1990. Berkeley, California, got rid of Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day in 1992.

Many places that have adopted Indigenous Peoples Day since then, including Alaska, have sizable Native American populations.

A few cities have compromised. Salt Lake City officials declared they would keep Columbus Day but celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on the same day.

In Akron, a city with few Native Americans and a large Italian-American community, an attempt to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day on Sept. 11 split the all-Democrat city council along racial lines. Five black members voted to rename the holiday, and eight white members voted against it, following a debate that devolved into shouting.

"The first voyage of Columbus to the Americas initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It would lead to the kidnapping, deaths and slavery of tens of millions of African people," said Councilman Russel Neal, who is black.

But Councilman Jeff Fusco, who is Italian-American, said, "It's a celebration of Italian heritage. It's very similar to other days throughout the year that we celebrate for many other cultures."

States and municipalities aren't legally bound to recognize federal holidays, though most do. Columbus Day is already one of the most inconsistently celebrated. Places that choose to replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day may give their own workers or schoolchildren a day off, teach in schools about Native Americans instead of Columbus, issue proclamations or mark it in other ways.

There is no question that Columbus' arrival in the New World under the sponsorship of Spain was bad for the indigenous people of Hispaniola, the island he colonized that is now split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Many of the native people of the island were forced into servitude. Multitudes died of disease. Spain repopulated the workforce with African slaves.

Columbus is celebrated in Latin America, too. A massive monument to the explorer, the Columbus Lighthouse, opened in 1992 in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico commemorates Discovery Day on Nov. 19, marking the day Columbus landed there.

Ralph Arellanes, chairman of the activist group Hispano Round Table of New Mexico, said that as a Hispanic he supports Columbus Day.

"It was the marriage of two peoples creating a new people, in a new land," he said.

Though Columbus "wasn't a saint," he said, he believes Anglo-Americans like President Andrew Jackson should be held more responsible than the Spanish for the hardships Native Americans faced.

Arellanes also said he doesn't understand why Italians claim Columbus for themselves when Columbus was sailing for Spain.

___

Dake Kang reported from Akron, Ohio. Hajela is a member of the AP's race and ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dhajela and for more of her work, search for her name at https://apnews.com .

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2015, file photo, participants in the Columbus Day Parade ride a float with a large bust of Christopher Columbus in New York. A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has new momentum but the gesture to recognize victims of European colonialism has also prompted howls of outrage from some Italian Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2006, file photo, parade-goers wave Italian and American flags in front of a giant bust of Christopher Columbus as it rides on the Columbus Citizens Foundation float as part of Columbus Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in New York. A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has new momentum but the gesture to recognize victims of European colonialism has also prompted howls of outrage from some Italian Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2008, file photo, traffic goes around New York's Columbus Circle and its 70-foot-tall column topped by a statue of Christopher Columbus.A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has new momentum but the gesture to recognize victims of European colonialism has also prompted howls of outrage from some Italian Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too. (AP Photo/Cameron Bloch, File)

In this Aug. 27, 2017 photo, the Christopher Columbus statue stands at Manhattan's Columbus Circle in New York. A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has new momentum but the gesture to recognize victims of European colonialism has also prompted howls of outrage from some Italian Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

FILE- In this Oct. 10, 2016, file photo, boys wave Italian flags while riding a float in the Columbus Day Parade in New York. A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has new momentum but the gesture to recognize victims of European colonialism has also prompted howls of outrage from some Italian Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
TOKYO (AP) - Kim Jong Un has promoted his younger sister to a new post within North Korea's ruling party.

The promotion of Kim Yo Jong came at a meeting of senior party members as North Korea marked the 20th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's acceptance of the title of general secretary of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea.

Kim Yo Jong was made an alternate member of the decision-making political bureau of the party's central committee. The late Kim Jong Il, North Korea's "eternal general secretary," is the father of Kim Jong Un and Kim Yo Jong.

In this May 10, 2016, photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his sister Kim Yo Jong watch a military parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. Kim Jong Un has promoted his younger sister to a new post within North Korea's ruling party. The promotion of Kim Yo Jong came at a meeting of the party as North Korea marked the 20th anniversary of the late Kim Jong Il's acceptance of the title of general secretary of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea. (Minoru Iwasaki/Kyodo News via AP)

Thousands of people, mostly students, packed Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang to dance and watch fireworks to mark the anniversary on Sunday night. Earlier in the day, North Korean state media announced that the country's top leadership had gathered the day before, headed by current leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim repeated Pyongyang's defiance of the U.S. and its determination to push forward its nuclear program, while bringing a "fresh upswing" in the country's economy to show its strength despite the international trade sanctions and isolation the nuclear program has generated.

Kim's younger sister, believed to be either 28 or 30, was elected as an alternate member of the political bureau of the party's central committee, according to a report Sunday by the Korean Central News Agency. She is believed to be one of Kim Jong Un's closest confidants. They were born to the same mother, Ko Yong Hui.

Michael Madden, founder of the influential NK Leadership Watch website, said the appointment shows the sister's daily activities are more substantive and more important than some analysts had contended. He said it also indicates that the Ko Yong Hui line, when taken with the killing of Kim's half brother, Kim Jong Nam, has been "conclusively established as the sole succeeding branch of the Kim family."

Two women - one Indonesian and the other Vietnamese - are currently being tried in Malaysia for their alleged role in the killing of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur's airport in February. Before his death, the half brother, whose existence was known to very few North Koreans, had been living a luxurious life in virtual exile outside of North Korea.

Though attention has been focused on Kim Yo Jong and North Korea's nuclear weapons, Madden said the reshuffle displays a great deal of attention to the North's economy, which has been expanding but could be hit hard by new and tougher sanctions the country is facing.

He said Prime Minister Pak Pong Ju appears to be exercising enormous influence in the appointments of officials he has mentored and said the seeming return of Thae Jong Su, a technocrat who held several key positions until last year, is of note because Thae has "good relations and long-standing ties to China."

North Korea relies heavily on trade with China, but Beijing has been increasing its pressure on Pyongyang to try to ease tensions with Washington.
ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif failed to appear on Monday before an anti-graft tribunal where he was to be indicted on corruption charges along with several family members and co-defendants in the case.

Meanwhile, authorities arrested Sharif's son-in-law, also a co-defendant in the case. The son-in-law, Mohammad Safdar was taken into custody at the Islamabad airport after he and his wife, Maryam Nawaz, arrived from London, said Cabinet minister Talal Chaudhry.

Amid tight security, police later brought Safdar before the anti-graft tribunal, called Accountability Court, where he appeared alongside his wife.

A lawyer holds the portrait of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while he with other chant slogans to support Sharif, outside at an accountability court in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities early Monday arrested the son-in-law of Sharif in connection with corruption cases pending against him. The development came hours before Sadfar and his wife Maryam Nawaz were to appear before an anti-graft tribunal. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

The corruption charges against Sharif, his two sons, daughter and son-in-law stem from an investigation into documents leaked from a Panama law firm that showed the Sharifs had undisclosed assets abroad.

Chaudhry, the Cabinet minister, told reporters that Safdar and his wife had returned to Pakistan "to appear before the court as they believe in the rule of law."

Sharif is currently in London with his wife Kulsoom Nawaz, who is said to be recovering from throat cancer surgery.

The Supreme Court disqualified Sharif from office in July, forcing him to step down over corruption allegations and undisclosed assets. Sharif has denied any wrongdoing. He and some of his party leaders have claimed there are "hidden hands" behind his dismissal and spate of corruption cases.

Last week, Sharif appeared before the anti-corruption court but the tribunal had to delay his indictment after his children, who are co-defendants in the case, failed to appear before Judge Mohammad Bashir.

Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Haris on Monday requested that the judge exempt Sharif from appearing. The judge reserved his decision on the request but granted Sharif's daughter and her husband bail. He also adjourned the case till Oct. 13.

Sharif's ruling party expressed anger over Safdar's arrest.

Sharif's two sons, who also skipped out on Monday's hearing, are also said to be in London with their ailing mother.

The case against the former prime minister has become the center of much domestic media attention in Pakistan.

Last week, Pakistan's National Assembly - where Sharif's party holds majority seats - adopted a bill passed earlier by the Senate regarding election reforms which paves the way for Sharif to regain his position as president of the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League.

FILE - In this July 5, 2017 file photo, Maryam Nawaz, center, the daughter of Nawaz Sharif waves while she arrives to talk with media following appearing before a Joint Investigation Team, in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities early Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 arrested Mohammad Safdar, the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in connection with corruption cases pending against him. The development came hours before Sadfar and his wife Maryam Nawaz were to appear before an anti-graft tribunal. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2017 file photo, Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses a news conference in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities early Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 arrested the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in connection with corruption cases pending against him. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash, File)

Members of media wait for the arrival of son-in-law of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at an accountability court in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities early Monday arrested the son-in-law of Sharif in connection with corruption cases pending against him. The development came hours before Sadfar and his wife Maryam Nawaz were to appear before an anti-graft tribunal. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

A vehicle, center, carrying Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, arrives at an accountability court in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities early Monday arrested the son-in-law of Sharif in connection with corruption cases pending against him. The development came hours before Sadfar and his wife Maryam Nawaz were to appear before an anti-graft tribunal. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

A vehicle carry Mohammad Safdar, son-in-law of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, arrives at an accountability court in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities early Monday arrested the son-in-law of Sharif in connection with corruption cases pending against him. The development came hours before Sadfar and his wife Maryam Nawaz were to appear before an anti-graft tribunal. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The Philippine defense department has apologized to China for the "grievous but purely unintentional mistake" of using Taiwan's defense ministry logo during a ceremony where the Chinese ambassador turned over thousands of assault rifles to the Filipino defense chief and top military commanders.

The Department of National Defense said Monday that Secretary Delfin Lorenzana issued an official apology to China through Beijing's ambassador over the "technical lapse" in last week's ceremony, which was covered by the media at military headquarters.

The defense department did not say in its press statement which country owned the defense logo it displayed instead of the emblem of the China's defense ministry.

In this Oct. 5, 2017 photo, a tarpaulin, showing the logo of the Philippine Defense Department, top left, and that of Taiwan's Ministry of Defense, top right, is hung from the canopy of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the turnover ceremony of hundreds of Chinese-made assault rifles by China to the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. On Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, the Philippines' defense department has apologized to China for the "grievous but purely unintentional mistake" of using Taiwan's defense ministry logo during a ceremony where the Chinese ambassador turned over assault rifles to the Filipino defense chief and top military commanders. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

A Philippine official told The Associated Press it was Taiwan's, adding that Chinese officials called the attention of the Philippines about the faux pas. The wrong logo was printed on a huge banner that was hung prominently above Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, who was sitting on a red carpet and planked by Lorenzana and the Philippine military chief of staff.

It took a few days before officials discovered the error.

During the symbolic handover ceremony of 3,000 rifles and 3 million rounds of ammunition Thursday, "the Department of National Defense committed a grievous but purely unintentional mistake of using a different logo on a banner to represent the Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China," the Philippine defense department said.

The defense department stressed that it and the military adhere to the "One China policy," wherein the Philippine government recognizes only the People's Republic of China as the sole sovereign state.

"It is our sincere hope that this very unfortunate incident will not affect the cooperative and friendly relations between our two countries which has grown warmer over the past year," the department said.

After he took office last year, President Rodrigo Duterte immediately took steps to revive once-frosty relations with China while taking an antagonistic stance toward security policies of Manila's treaty ally, the United States.

Duterte has sidelined long-raging territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea in an effort to attract Chinese investment and infrastructure funds. He has promised, however, to take up with China at an unspecified time in the future an international arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's claims to most of the disputed waters.

In this Oct. 5, 2017 photo, a tarpaulin, showing the logo of the Philippine Defense Department, top left, and that of Taiwan's Ministry of Defense, top right, is hung from the canopy of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the turnover ceremony of hundreds of Chinese-made assault rifles by China to the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. On Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, the Philippines' defense department has apologized to China for the "grievous but purely unintentional mistake" of using Taiwan's defense ministry logo at a ceremony where the Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua, seated center, turned over assault rifles to the Filipino Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana, left seated, and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Eduardo Ano. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) - Bosnia's war crimes court on Monday acquitted the wartime commander of Srebrenica, who was accused of committing atrocities against Serbs during the 1992-95 Balkan conflict.

The acquittal of Naser Oric immediately prompted anger from Serbian leaders, with Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin saying the court ruling "threatens security, trust and reconciliation in the whole of the Balkans."

Oric was accused of war crimes against three Serb prisoners of war who were slain in villages around the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in the early days of the conflict. A panel of judges presiding over the trial ruled Monday the prosecution did not present evidence proving the case against Oric.

FILE - A Monday, June 1, 2011 file photo of former Bosnian Army commander of Srebrenica, Naser Oric, talking to the AP in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Bosnia's war crimes court on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 acquitted Oric, who was accused of committing atrocities during the 1992-95 Balkan conflict. Naser Oric was accused of war crimes against three Serb prisoners of war who had been murdered in villages around Srebrenica in the early days of the conflict. (AP Photo/Amel Emric, File)

Oric had previously been tried by a U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, where he was also acquitted in 2008.

Oric is seen as a hero by many Muslim Bosnians for his role in defending Srebrenica, where Serb forces massacred some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in 1995. The Srebrenica massacre, the worst single atrocity in Europe since World War II, is the only episode of Bosnia's war to be defined as genocide by two U.N. courts.

Serbs continue to claim the 1995 Srebrenica slaughter was an act of revenge by uncontrolled troops because they say that soldiers under Oric's command killed thousands of Serbs in the villages surrounding the eastern town.

"It is clear that we will have to fight for justice ourselves," said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Still, he urged Serbs not to "utter a hard word against Bosniak Muslim) neighbors so that we can build friendship with them and build a future together with them."

Bosnian Serb political leader Milorad Dodik said Oric's acquittal showed there was no justice for Serbs.

He called on Serb judges and prosecutors to abandon their posts in Bosnia's top court and prosecution office and urged all Bosnian Serb political representatives "to gather around the cause of declaring the (two institutions) illegitimate."

The Bosnian war pitted the country's three main ethnic factions - Serbs, Croats and Bosnian Muslims - against each other after Bosnia split from what was then Yugoslavia. More than 100,000 people were killed in the conflict before a peace deal was brokered in 1995.

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AP Writer Dusan Stojanovic contributed from Belgrade, Serbia.
TEREKEKA, South Sudan (AP) - War-torn South Sudan "should serve as an example" for other countries in the progress it is making in eradicating Guinea worm, said former United States President Jimmy Carter.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Carter praised the world's youngest nation for making steady progress in ridding itself of the debilitating parasite despite the "tremendous problems."

Contracted and spread by drinking infected water, Guinea worm affects some of the world's most vulnerable people.

In this Wednesday Oct. 4, 2017 photo, women and children of Terekeka, South Sudan. War-torn South Sudan "should serve as an example" for other countries in the progress it is making in eradicating Guinea worm, said former United States President Jimmy Carter. (AP Photo/Mariah Quesada)

In 2006, when the Guinea worm program launched in South Sudan, the country had more than 20,500 cases in over 3,000 endemic villages. At the time it was one of nine affected countries. Today, it remains one of three still tackling the disease, with Chad and Ethiopia.

This year South Sudan reported zero cases. If this continues, the country will be on track to becoming certified Guinea worm free in the next couple of years.

This feat is being touted as one of the few successes to emerge from the young nation, while it battles a 4-year civil war, starvation and grave human rights atrocities being committed against its own people.

Jimmy Carter has been at the helm of the international campaign to eradicate Guinea worm for more than 30 years. From 1986, when there were an estimated 3.5 million people infected annually in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, the number has dwindled to 10 confirmed cases all of which are in Chad.

Unlike other diseases which are controlled by medicines or vaccines, Guinea worm can be eradicated by educating people how to filter and drink clean water.

An excruciating affliction, the meter-long worm is asymptomatic and incubates in people for up to a year before painfully emerging, often through extremely sensitive parts of the body.

"It was more painful than giving birth," said Rejina Bodi, tracing the stump of her deformed toe with her finger. "Childbirth ends but this pain persists."

In 2009, the 48-year-old mother of six was one of South Sudan's most severe Guinea worm cases. Seated on a mat outside her small hut in the rural village of Terekeka, Bodi yanks down her shirt to expose her chest and frantically point to the many scars covering her narrow frame.

Eight years ago more than 10 worms were pulled out from her breasts, legs, feet and arms over a seven month period. Three worms forced their way out of one hole in her small toe, leaving it misshapen and a permanent reminder of the agony she endured.

"It's a disease of those who basically have nothing," says Makoy Samuel Yibi, director for South Sudan's Guinea worm eradication program.

Due to its low literacy rates and remote location, Yibi says Terekeka was one of the worst hit areas.

He attributes the success of South Sudan's Guinea worm project to more than 17,000 community volunteers who go door-to-door providing preventative information and acting as surveillance systems in some of the most hard to reach areas across the country.

"The worst thing is a missed case," said Yibi. Due the mass displacement of people since the onset of the war, his team is working closer with neighboring countries to increase cross border surveillance.

Looking back, Jimmy Carter said this local network is something he wished he had implemented sooner.

"At the beginning we underestimated the importance of local leaders," said Carter, who admitted that he initially thought Guinea worm would be eradicated within five to 10 years of launching the campaign.

Much of South Sudan's success is due to the large strides taken before the war erupted in 2013, although experts say the conflict hasn't greatly harmed the program's progress. Between 2006 and 2012 the country's cases reduced by 93 percent.

Globally, the Guinea worm program is entering the final stretch, however, according to the World Health Organization, the last remaining cases can be the most difficult to control as they usually occur in remote and often inaccessible areas. Guinea worm has been on the verge of being eradicated for a few years.

Although fighting between President Salva Kiir's government forces and troops loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar show no signs of ending, those battling Guinea worm refuse to let the war stand in their way.

"We're pretty stubborn," said Carter. "We don't ever give up."

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AP journalist Maria Cheng in London contributed to this report.

In this Wednesday Oct. 4, 2017 photo, women and children of Terekeka, South Sudan. War-torn South Sudan "should serve as an example" for other countries in the progress it is making in eradicating Guinea worm, said former United States President Jimmy Carter. (AP Photo/Mariah Quesada)

In this Wednesday Oct. 4, 2017 photo, children in the town of Terekeka draw water from a stagnant pond that was once infected with Guinea Worm when the town was endemic. South Sudan is one of three remaining countries working to rid itself of the debilitating disease. War-torn South Sudan "should serve as an example" for other countries in the progress it is making in eradicating Guinea worm, said former United States President Jimmy Carter. (AP Photo/Mariah Quesada)

In this Wednesday Oct. 4, 2017 photo, 48-year-old, Rejina Bodi sits outside her house in the small village of Terekeka, recalling the seven months in 2009, when more than ten worms were pulled out of her, including three from one of her toes. War-torn South Sudan "should serve as an example" for other countries in the progress it is making in eradicating Guinea worm, said former United States President Jimmy Carter. (AP Photo/Mariah Quesada)
BERLIN (AP) - German factory production rose strongly in August, more than making up for modest declines in the previous two months.

The Economy Ministry said Monday that industrial production rose by a monthly rate of 2.6 percent in August, according to figures adjusted for seasonal and calendar factors.

The rise followed a decrease of 0.1 percent in July and 1 percent in June.

ING economist Carsten Brzeski says the August data should allay concerns about the strength of industry.

He says "the weak spot" over the past few years, investment and industrial production are "increasingly and steadily" showing "signs of revival."
LONDON (AP) - Royal Bank of Scotland has removed its own logo from its flagship London office, replacing it with the more locally focused NatWest brand - a sign that the bank has shed its global aspirations once and for all.

Once the world's largest bank, RBS was bailed out during the 2008 financial crisis and has been transitioning to becoming a more local bank.

NatWest, a bank RBS acquired during its global expansion drive, is to become the bank's brand in England and Wales. It will still be Royal Bank of Scotland in Scotland.

Workers steady a NatWest Bank sign as it is erected inside at 250 Bishopsgate in London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. Natwest bank is becoming the high street (retail) face of the RBS group. A move from the global Royal Bank of Scotland institution to the more locally focused Natwest. The move is a sign of change in the banking world following the financial crisis. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

David Wheldon, chief marketing officer for RBS, described it as an "important milestone" at the heart of a strategy to "rebuild pride and trust."

A NatWest Bank sign is erected at 250 Bishopsgate in London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. Natwest bank is becoming the high street (retail) face of the RBS group. A move from the global Royal Bank of Scotland institution to the more locally focused Natwest. The move is a sign of change in the banking world following the financial crisis. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A NatWest Bank sign is erected at 250 Bishopsgate in London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. Natwest bank is becoming the high street (retail) face of the RBS group. A move from the global Royal Bank of Scotland institution to the more locally focused Natwest. The move is a sign of change in the banking world following the financial crisis. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - An Iranian-British woman serving a five-year prison sentence in Iran for plotting the "soft toppling" of its government while traveling with her toddler daughter faces new charges that could add 16 years to her sentence, her husband said Monday.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe faced a court hearing Sunday at Tehran's infamous Evin prison where she heard of the new charges being brought against her by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which prevent her from seeking early release next month.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe pleaded innocent to the new charges, which involve her previously working for the BBC and being a current employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency, her husband Richard Ratcliffe said.

FILE -- In this Jan. 16, 2017 file photo, Richard Ratcliffe, husband of imprisoned charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, poses for the media during an Amnesty International led vigil outside the Iranian Embassy in London. Ratcliffe said his wife now faces new charges and the possibility of her sentence being extended by 16 years. Ratcliffe said in a statement that his wife appeared in court on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, at Tehran's Evin prison and that the new charges would prevent her from seeking early release next month as allowed by Iranian law. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

"Thanks to the Revolutionary Guard's antics, this is a justice system that can no longer look its victims in the eye, can no longer look itself in the mirror," Ratcliffe said in a statement.

The British Foreign Office said in a statement it was "concerned following reports" about Zaghari-Ratcliffe's hearing.

"We continue to be concerned for the welfare of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and have repeatedly raised this with the Iranian authorities, urging them to provide all necessary medical assistance," the statement said.

Iran's mission at the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. State media in Iran also did not immediately report on the new charges.

Monique Villa, the CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, called Zaghari-Ratcliffe's treatment at the hands of Iran "harrowing" and demanded that "these ludicrous charges must be dropped immediately."

"This inhumane treatment is breaking up a young family and has already caused irreparable damage to Nazanin's physical and mental health," Villa said in a statement.

Iranian news agencies have said Zaghari-Ratcliffe was convicted of plotting the "soft toppling" of Iran's government while traveling to visit her parents with her young daughter in 2016. Her family says the Guard tried to get her to confess on camera that she trained and recruited spies, a charge she denied.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe is one of several dual nationals held in Iran by hard-liners in the country's judiciary and security services on espionage charges, likely to be used as bargaining chips in future negotiations with the West. A U.N. panel of experts recently described the practice as part of an "emerging pattern" since the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, so such detainees cannot receive consular assistance. In most cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings.

Others with ties to the West detained in Iran include Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran for allegedly "infiltrating" the country while doing doctoral research on Iran's Qajar dynasty. Iranian-Canadian national Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, who helped his country negotiate the nuclear deal, received a five-year prison sentence on espionage charges.

Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province under the U.S.-backed shah, are both serving 10-year prison sentences on espionage.

Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail last year after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence for "collaboration with a hostile government." Shahini is believed to still be in Iran.

Also in an Iranian prison is Nizar Zakka, a U.S. permanent resident from Lebanon who advocates for internet freedom and has done work for the U.S. government. He was sentenced to 10 years last year on espionage-related charges.

Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who disappeared in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing as well.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap . His work can be found at http://apne.ws/2galNpz .
MOSCOW (AP) - The Kremlin has defended an agreement to sell state-of-the-art Russian missiles to Saudi Arabia, saying it doesn't threaten any other country.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday the deal to supply the long-range S-400 air defense missile systems to Riyadh "isn't directed against any third country." He was responding to a question if the deal could pose a threat to Iran.

The agreement was one of a slew of weapons deals reached during Saudi King Salman's groundbreaking first visit to Russia last week. The king's talks with Putin marked a thaw in relations between the countries, which have often been tense since the Cold War.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, left, shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's King Salman during a meeting in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Oct. 6, 2017. (Alexander Astafyev, Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP)

Riyadh's decision to boost ties with Moscow reflects the expanded clout Russia has won in the Middle East with its campaign in Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center right, and Saudi Arabia's King Salman pose for a photo during a welcoming ceremony ahead of their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. (Yuri Kadobnov/Pool Photo via AP)
IUKA, Miss. (AP) - Authorities say a man has shot and killed himself at a hospital in northeast Mississippi.

Tishomingo County coroner Mack Wilemon told news outlets that 64-year-old Gary Lomenick died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head Saturday around 2 p.m. Wilemon says Iuka police had responded to the situation in the emergency room at North Mississippi Medical Center.

Wilemon says Lomenick had been talking to hospital staff and that a motive for the shooting was unclear.

The incident remains under police investigation.
NEW YORK (AP) - Meryl Streep calls the reports of sexual harassment against Harvey Weinstein "disgraceful" and says she was unaware of the alleged incidents.

In a statement Monday to the Huffington Post, Streep said "The behavior is inexcusable but the abuse of power familiar." She praised "the intrepid women who raised their voices."

Streep also sought to counter the suggestion that everyone in Hollywood knew of Weinstein's conduct. She said he was "respectful with me in our working relationship."

Weinstein produced numerous films starring Streep. During an acceptance speech at the Academy Awards for her performance in "The Iron Lady," Steep famously referred to Weinstein as "God."

Representatives for Streep didn't immediately return messages Monday.

Weinstein is yet to address the eight allegations of sexual harassment detailed by The New York Times, though he has apologized for his actions.
COVINGTON, Ga. (AP) - The body of a 15-day-old Georgia baby who had been reported missing has been found in woods behind her family's home.

Caliyah McNabb's body was found inside a duffel bag, news outlets reported.

The child's father, Christopher McNabb, fled shortly before being named a person of interest in her death Sunday, according to the reports, which cited the Newton County Sheriff's Office. The father, 27, was apprehended hours after the baby's body was found and charged with a probation violation involving a burglary. But the Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted sheriff's spokesman Keith Crum as saying that investigators do not have probable cause to charge anyone in connection with the baby's death.

In this undated photo released by the Newton County Sheriff's Office, Christopher McNabb is shown. McNabb fled shortly before being named a person of interest in the 15-day-old Georgia baby death Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, according to the reports, which cited the Newton County Sheriff's Office. The body of the baby, who had been reported missing, was found in woods behind her family's home. (Newton County Sheriff's Office via AP)

"A 15-day-old child obviously didn't leave by themselves," Crum said.

Authorities say the baby was fed and changed about 5 a.m. Saturday and put back to bed with her 2-year-old sister at a mobile home park in Covington, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) outside of Atlanta. The infant was discovered missing from her bed five hours later.

"She was so little. She was just precious," said the baby's grandfather Tim Bell. "From the first time you pick them up, there's love there. That love is broken. It hurts like I have never hurt before."

The father eluded investigators by jumping out of a vehicle and ran. He was found near a convenience store.

The infant's mother was questioned by police and released.
ISTANBUL (AP) - Turkey's state-run news agency says a Turkish court has overturned the conviction of an opposition lawmaker imprisoned for allegedly exposing state secrets.

Anadolu Agency said an Istanbul appeals court quashed the conviction handed to Enis Berberoglu, a legislator from the main opposition People's Republican Party, or CHP, and ordered a new trial.

Berberoglu was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this year for allegedly leaking footage to an opposition newspaper suggesting Turkey smuggled arms to Islamist rebels in Syria. He was convicted of revealing state secrets and espionage.

FILE - In this Friday, June 23, 2017 file photo, Enis Berberoglu, a lawmaker from Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and former editor-in-chief of the nation's leading Hurriyet newspaper, attends the funeral prayers of his father-in-law in Istanbul. Berberoglu, who was convicted and sentenced to 25-years for revealing state secrets, got a special permission for one day to attend the funeral and returned to his prison. Turkey's state-run news agency said Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, an Istanbul appeals court nullified the conviction handed to Berberoglu and ordered a new trial. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File)

In July, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu led a 450-kilometer (280-mile) march from Ankara to the prison where Berberoglu was being held, to protest the government's crackdown following last year's failed coup.
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) - Kosovo's president on Monday accused the international community of not keeping its end of the bargain after the country created an unpopular war crimes court to prosecute ethnic Albanians in cases linked to Kosovo's war.

Hashim Thaci said among the things that international officials promised in return were to fast-track Kosovo for European Union and UNESCO membership and visa liberalization, and allow Kosovo to form a military.

Kosovo created the court but the international community didn't do any of the things it promised, he said.

Kosovo's special court was inaugurated at The Hague last year, but it hasn't processed any cases.

Nineteen international judges from European Union member countries, the U.S. and Canada are based in The Hague, with jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes under Kosovo law that allegedly occurred between Jan. 1, 1998, and Dec. 31, 2000.

About 10,000 people died and 1,700 went missing during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war, which ended after NATO intervened on behalf of the Albanian majority.

Thaci said he agreed to lead "an unfair historical process for Kosovo despite opposition from the public, political and civil opinion to this court, in order to protect the strategic partnership with U.S., EU and NATO."

Thaci said the court was unfair to Kosovo.

The special court has had "maximal and bilateral cooperation with Serbia" but "minimal, symbolic and unilateral" cooperation with Kosovo, he said.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, which Serbia hasn't recognized.

"Authorities in Belgrade claim they know who is to be charged and what the charges will be for Kosovo Albanians," Thaci said, adding "the Serbs fully believe they are correctly informed no Serb will be charged."

He deplored that the special court would not consider any of "400 massacres" or any of the more than 20,000 alleged cases of Albanian women in Kosovo raped by members of the Serb forces.

A court spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.
PRAGUE (AP) - The leading candidate to become the Czech Republic's next prime minister has been charged with fraud involving $2 million in European Union subsidies.

Andrej Babis, a former Czech finance minister and billionaire, says that the case is politically motivated aimed at hurting his chances in this month's parliamentary election.

Last month, lawmakers agreed to lift Babis' parliamentary immunity from prosecution.

In this picture taken Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, Czech billionaire and leader of the ANO 2011 political movement Andrej Babis arrives for a political debate at the village of Vsetaty, Czech Republic, Czech Republic is holding general elections from Oct. 20 to 21, 2017. Babis, a former finance minister and billionaire whose political grouping is a hot favorite to win next month's parliamentary election has been charged by police with fraud involving EU subsidies as it was announced Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, file)

Babis' centrist ANO movement is widely expected to win the Oct. 20-21 election. Another ANO official, Jaroslav Faltynek, also has been charged. He also denies the accusations.

The case involves a farm that received an EU subsidy after its ownership was transferred from the Agrofert conglomerate of some 250 companies that belonged to Babis to Babis' family members. The EU farm subsidy was meant for medium and small businesses.
VIENNA (AP) - An Austrian law that forbids any kind of full-face covering including Islamic veils has claimed an unusual victim - a man wearing a shark suit.

Police say they issued a citation Monday after the man - part of a street advertising campaign for the McShark computer chain stores - refused several requests to take off his shark head.

In effect this month, most full face coverings are prohibited in public in Austria, including off-slope ski masks, surgical masks outside hospitals and party masks on the street. Popularly known as the "burqa ban," the law is mostly seen as directed at the clothing worn by some ultra-conservative Muslim women.

Violations carry a possible fine of 150 euros (nearly $180). Only a handful of citations have been issued.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A University of Pittsburgh student found dead in her off-campus home during the weekend had recently filed a protection from abuse order against her ex-boyfriend, who is facing rape charges in an unrelated case.

Police on Monday said they were looking for 21-year-old Matthew Darby, who has not been charged in Alina Sheykhet's death.

Sheykhet, 20, was found Sunday morning by her father, who broke down her door after she failed to answer calls. He was picking her up to attend a breast cancer awareness walk.

This undated photo provided by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police shows Matthew Darby. Police say Darby is the ex-boyfriend of a University of Pittsburgh student, Alina Sheykhet, who was found dead on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in her off-campus home. Police are seeking Darby, who hasn't been charged in Sheykhet's death but was arrested Sept. 26, 2017, and charged with criminal trespass for breaking into her apartment (Pittsburgh Bureau of Police via AP)

Authorities said she died of head trauma, and the case was ruled a homicide.

Darby was arrested Sept. 26 and charged with felony criminal trespass for allegedly breaking into Sheykhet's apartment.

In her protection filing, she wrote that Darby climbed up the gutter of her home and broke in through the second-floor window.

"He did this because I left him and stopped answering his phone calls," Sheykhet wrote. She described him as abusive, controlling and jealous.

The protection order was granted.

Darby was charged in March with rape, sexual assault and other charges in another county. He posted $10,000 bail that month, court records show.

David Shrager, Darby's attorney in both cases, told the Tribune-Review it was too soon for him to comment.

Sheykhet's father, Yan Sheykhet, told the Post-Gazette that he had dropped off his daughter at her apartment around 11 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, he, his wife and daughter were to do the cancer walk together. Her housemates thought she still was sleeping when he arrived.

"She didn't answer the phone. She didn't text us," he said. "So we tried to open the door. It was locked. I pushed the door and I found her laying on the floor."

He called her "the best person in the world," and said she excelled at dancing, singing and gymnastics.

Sheykhet was working toward becoming a physical therapist, her brother told WPXI-TV.

Her Facebook page indicates she attended high school in a Pittsburgh suburb after moving from Ivanovo, Russia.

The university issued a statement expressing sadness and extending "its deepest sympathies to the student's family and those who knew her."

Counselors were available Monday for students who needed them.

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This story has been corrected to show the TV station that interviewed the brother was WPXI, not KDKA.
NEW YORK (AP) - FX network is making what it calls "substantial edits" to tone down the gun violence in a scene set to air during Tuesday's episode of "American Horror Story."

The network said Monday it would substitute the edited version of that opening sequence "in light of the tragedy last week in Las Vegas."

The scene, filmed two months ago, portrays an occurrence of gun violence that, in the network's words, "has sadly become all too common in our country." FX said some viewers might have found it traumatic.

While only the edited version will air on the linear channel, FX said the unedited version will be available through its on-demand platforms.

Now in its seventh season, "American Horror Story" regularly lives up to its name with ghoulish and violent displays.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Negotiators from the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have traveled to Egypt to launch negotiations on ending a 10-year rift.

The talks are the most ambitious attempt at reconciliation since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in 2007.

Two senior Hamas officials, including Gaza leader Yehiyeh Sinwar, crossed into Egypt on Monday for the talks. Fatah officials were also traveling to Egypt from their base in the West Bank.

The negotiations, sponsored by Egypt, are to start Tuesday.

A Fatah delegation last week traveled to Gaza to assume governing responsibilities over the territory. But the sides still need to resolve differences over sensitive issues, including the fate of thousands of Hamas government employees and control over Hamas' vast weapons arsenal.
Two decades before a secretive gambler lugged an arsenal that included 12 "bump stocks" into a Las Vegas hotel room and opened fire on a crowd of concertgoers, a 40-something ex-Marine was tinkering in his Florida garage, looking for a fresh take on an old idea.

Inspired by footage of the heavy recoil of anti-aircraft guns, Bill Akins wondered if he could design a device to harness a semi-automatic rifle's recoil to fire bullets at a frequency near that of an automatic weapon.

For decades, avid gun owners had been bracing guns against their hips to increase the rate of their trigger pulls and enjoy the thrill of shooting something akin to a machine gun, a technique known as "bump firing."

In this Feb. 11. 2017 photo, Bill Akins, right, speaks during a Pasco Planning Commission hearing in New Port Richey, Fla. Akins was the first to file a patent for an attachment to a semiautomatic rifle that would enable it to fire bullets at a rate approximating that of an automatic weapon. Authorities said the Las Vegas shooter had a dozen similar devices, known as "bump stocks," in his hotel room. (Brendan Fitterer/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

In 1996, Akins built an attachment to two different rifle stocks that did the same. He received a patent in 2000 and began selling what was known as the Akins Accelerator.

The story of his invention is a window on an obscure, do-it-yourself industry that helped create part of the arsenal used by Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old with no formal military training, to carry out the worst mass shooting in modern American history before killing himself in the Las Vegas hotel.

But the fate of the Akins Accelerator also sheds light on the political furor over whether bump stocks should be banned.

On Thursday, four days after the massacre, the National Rifle Association called for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to review whether bump stocks comply with federal laws. The National Sports Shooting Foundation, a gun industry trade group, made a similar statement on Monday.

Gun control advocates, Democrats and some Republican members of Congress have called for a law to ban them, because that would have greater legal force and be more permanent.

Congress in 1986 outlawed the sale of new automatic weapons to civilians, though it allowed those who had previously registered such a gun to continue to own or sell it

The ATF has said it only has the power to ban devices that, like machine guns, cause multiple bullets to be fired when the trigger is pulled. The agency has found that current bump stocks on the market only speed the triggering of a gun rather than convert it to shoot multiple bullets per pull - and therefore are legal.

The ATF initially issued a similar ruling on Akins' device. Then, in 2006, after it went on the market, the agency reversed itself and ordered Akins to stop selling it. The ATF said the initial device it tested had misfired and the agency had determined the Akins Accelerator's use of a spring effectively made it a machine gun - a modification regulators deemed illegal.

After the ATF approved a bump stock in 2010 created by Slide Fire, a Texas company, Akins sold his patent to another firm that became embroiled in litigation with Slide Fire.

Akins said he is prohibited from discussing the current bump stock industry or any litigation.

"I would like to express my dismay and sincere condolences to the victims, families and anyone effected by the recent mass Las Vegas shooting," Akins, now 63, said. "Unfortunately I am legally prevented from answering certain questions related to bump fire stocks or bump fire industry unless I am under oath."

Akins became a viral sensation earlier this year when footage spread online of him arguing with anti-Trump activists about whether President Obama's health plan contained the equivalent of "death panels." He then resigned an unpaid position with the local Republican party following a Washington Post report that he'd shared racist memes on Facebook.

Akins maintains he was smeared in the incident and not backed up by the local GOP. He said he is an ordained minister who has married multiracial couples.

Akins is bitter about the ATF's reversal involving his version of a bump stock. "They cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars and destroyed my company," he said, noting that he had taken a second mortgage on his house and saw his partnership with a firearms manufacturer dissolve.

The uncertainty of ATF regulation is why the bump stock business, as well as other modifications that speed the rate of fire of some weapons, remains a relatively small part of the gun industry.

Slide Fire did not return a call for comment, but Jeremiah Cottle, its founder and a military veteran, in 2011 told the Albany News in Texas that it sold 35,000 units in the first 11 months after it went on sale. The Dallas Morning News this week reported the company had employed 27 people.

Kristen Rand, legislative director of Violence Policy Center, said the making of bump stocks is a tiny part of the firearms industry.

Still, Rand is concerned the devices are growing in popularity. There have been reports of a run on them since the Las Vegas shooting as hobbyists fear they'll be banned. "There's absolutely no reason to have one of these," she said.

The market of add-ons to speed gunfire continues to live and die by ATF decisions. Online gun enthusiasts were abuzz about the battery-powered Auto Glove that makers touted as being able to make any semi-automatic weapon fire like an automatic.

But on Sept. 11, just a few weeks before the Las Vegas shooting, the ATF issued a letter finding that the device effectively replaced a gun's trigger and was legally a machine gun. The seller's website is now dark.

Akins doesn't think the accessories should be outlawed, but he especially opposes the ATF making the decisions on a case-by-case basis.

"If it was approved by the House, approved by the Senate and approved by Congress," Akins said, "that's the right way to do it."

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Riccardi reported from Denver. Lisa Marie Pane in Atlanta contributed to this report. Follow Riccardi on Twitter @NickRiccardi.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's state TV is reporting that a Zoroastrian member of Yazd City Council has been suspended following a complaint.

The Monday report said that the Administrative Justice Court issued the suspension for Sepanta Niknam following a complaint by a candidate for the Yazd city council, purportedly over the fencing around the city's famed "Tower of Silence".

Mohammad Reza Modaresi, a member of the Guardian Council, said that the suspension had been approved by the Council and that everyone should abide by it, according to the report.

Earlier in April, just before the country's City Council elections, Ahmad Jannati, the head of the Guardian Council, said that religious minorities should not have a representative in towns were the majority of the population was Muslim.
After approving a number annexations over the past several months, the Billings City Council will consider a de-annexation during its Tuesday meeting.

The business meeting, which is being held a day later than usual because of the Columbus Day holiday Monday, begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at City Hall, 220 N. 27th St.

The hearing to exclude portions of the Terrace Estates Subdivision  49 undeveloped acres owned by James and Jo Ann Boyer north of Alkali Creek Road and south of Kootenai Avenue in the Heights  is the only regular item of business on the councils agenda. It will include a public hearing.

According to a report from Planning and Community Services Director Wyeth Friday, the property was intended for residential development and has been providing city tax and assessment revenue even as undeveloped land for the past 35 years.

Much of the property has floodplain and topographical challenges for development and delivery of city services, Friday wrote.

Fridays report indicates that comments from a number of city departments, including police, fire, public works, MET Transit and planning, expressed no significant impacts to their services if the property were de-annexed.

The councils other business items Tuesday come from the consent agenda. They include:

Approving a $1.2 million contract with Western Municipal Construction to extend about 1,600 feet of water and sewer main along King Avenue West to the west from 44th Street West. An adjacent developer will bear part of the cost.

Extending, by five years, a lease agreement with Alpine Immobilien LLC, which has leased airport space since 2012. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration seeks a five-year extension for its garage and shop on airport grounds.

Approving a nearly $340,000 contract to equip 12 work stations with 911 consoles at the new dispatch center currently under construction. In addition, the council is being asked to approve about $141,000 to upgrade the computers that support two new radio consoles.

Approving a contract with Great West Engineering not to exceed $75,000 for miscellaneous engineering services at the Billings Landfill.

Accepting a $1,000 donation from the March against Drugs and Violence to plant a tree and place a commemorative plaque at the new South Park splash pad. The tree and plaque are in memory of people who have lost their lives to drug abuse and violence.

Approving the application and acceptance of an approximately $86,000 Justice Assistance Grant, a federal crime-fighting grant program. The Billings Police Department plans to use its share, about $74,000, to purchase interior patrol car equipment, patrol rifle ammunition, six radar units, drug kits, stun guns and cartridges, and uniforms and promotional items.

Approving $35,000 from the Downtown Revolving Loan Fund to Limber Tree Yoga.

Approving final plat for Annafeld Subdivision, First Filing, 80 lots on about 33 acres at the south side of Elysian Road and on the west edge of the Hogan Slough. The subdivision is proposed for commercial, professional office and residential use and is owned by McCall Development.

At 5:30 p.m., the council will meet in executive (closed) session to discuss litigation strategy.
NEW YORK (AP) - She may have been disinvited by Harvard and turned away from Canada, but Chelsea Manning earned applause, laughter and even some tears of empathy from a friendly crowd at the annual New Yorker Festival.

Manning, who was released in May after seven years in military prison, was by turns impassioned, defensive, humorous and occasionally tearful in a panel discussion Sunday with New Yorker writer Larissa MacFarquhar.

She became emotional when asked what she thought the best result had been of her leaking of hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks. "Look, I haven't had time to deal with these questions," she said. "All I've been doing is fighting for my life for the last seven years."

In this photo provided by The New Yorker, Chelsea Manning, left, speaks to New Yorker writer Larissa MacFarquhar during an appearance at the New Yorker Festival on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in New York. Manning appeared before a largely sympathetic crowd at the annual festival, where she spoke about her life, her views, her transition to a transgender woman, and the circumstances surrounding her leaking of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks. (Patrick Butler/The New Yorker via AP)

The 29-year-old transgender woman was known as Bradley Manning when she was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison. In his last days in office, President Barack Obama commuted the rest of her sentence.

Manning has made only a few appearances since her release. Last month, Harvard University reversed a decision to name her a visiting fellow after CIA director Mike Pompeo scrapped a planned appearance over the designation, calling Manning an "American traitor."

And Manning tweeted two weeks later that she'd been denied entry into Canada because of her U.S. criminal record.

While some see her as a traitor, others see her as a hero for exposing truths of war. One audience questioner cried as she referred to what Manning had been through - "just the unbelievable price that you've had to pay."

At times, Manning told MacFarquhar she was legally unable to get into certain details. And when asked how she would advise other aspiring leakers to proceed, she said simply that everyone needed to make their own decisions. But she responded forcefully when asked whether she'd been afraid that her disclosures would hurt people by exposing the names of informants. She insisted the material included no such sensitive information.

"These aren't intelligence documents," she said. "It's historical data."

"There's nothing sensitive in there, there's no troop movements," she added. "It was a historical record of everything that had happened in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Manning's appearance was one of the marquee events at the annual three-day festival, which brings together authors, artists, politicians and other newsmakers. Others appearing included Sen. Al Franken, artist Ai Weiwei, former federal prosecutor Preet Bharara and comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Organizers said more than 20,000 people attended, with ticket buyers from 49 states (all but Nebraska) and 23 countries.

Manning began by describing her childhood in small-town Oklahoma - "a typical generic town in the middle of the country" - her turbulent domestic life, and a short time living homeless on the streets of Chicago.

She said she'd learned to program computers by age 8 or 9, and eventually joined the military because she thought "I could use my skills and make a difference." Once she got to Iraq, she said, she was overwhelmed by the death and destruction she saw.

On a 10-day leave back home in Washington, she said, she first tried to leak the documents to the Washington Post or The New York Times - simply because she had seen the movie "All the President's Men." Unwilling to trust email, she called the newspapers from public phones at various Starbucks locations.

But the newspapers were unable to establish encrypted communications channels, so she went to WikiLeaks, because, she said, "I was running out of time."

Manning spoke in detail of her time in prison, especially in solitary confinement. "Humans are a social creature," she said, fighting tears. "We need connections. We need to be with each other."

She said she got through much of the seven years by setting small, incremental goals, like getting "from breakfast to lunch to dinner to sleep." When the rules forbid her to exercise, she said, she started to dance, and her guards didn't stop her. So she thought, she said, "OK, that's how I'll exercise, like Zumba."

She was also buoyed, she said, by letters of support - an estimated 200,000 - some of which happened to contain glitter. "They don't clean that up for you," she quipped.

Manning has now become an activist - for LGBT rights, for transparency in government, and also against what she called an alarming level of surveillance in society. "I feel like prison has encroached into the outside world," she said. "You've got militarized forces walking around on American streets. It's quite frightening."

She also had a message for engineers and software designers: Pay attention to the potential uses of what you're designing, because it can be used for different purposes than intended.

Manning was asked by one audience member whether her experience had made her "more cynical about fairness."

"I do have cynical moments," she said, tearing up again. "But then I get past them, you know? I turn to my friends, and I turn to my family ... and then they cheer me up."

Asked by another questioner what motivates her, Manning noted she'd been a DJ in the past, as a hobby. "I just set up my music equipment, and I've started making some tracks," she said.

"I'm a little out of date."
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An Arkansas woman who died while handcuffed had flown into a rage that lasted an hour before she was subdued by a chemical agent and a stun gun, according to a woman who watched four deputies work to restrain the woman then try unsuccessfully to keep her alive.

Regina Twist, 36, of Hot Springs, died early Sunday after attending a Saturday evening barbecue at a friend's house near Springfield, 40 miles northwest of Little Rock. The woman visited regularly for weekend gatherings and had never shown similar behavior, according to the grandmother of the cookout's host, who lives on the same property.

"Everything was fine, then about 3 o'clock in the morning she got up and went into the bathroom," Nancy Hannum said. "When she came out, she was like a mad woman."

According to Conway County officials, the woman broke windows at the host's home, prompting him to call for deputies. Once outside, she began tearing up the inside of her own car.

"She was fighting everyone," Hannum said. "She would say, 'Call the cops,' and we'd tell her, 'These are the cops.'"

Hannum said deputies spent 30-45 minutes trying to talk her out of her car before she pulled out some type of knife. "That's when he tased her," Hannum said. "That didn't affect her at all, then they got her with the Mace."

Deputies grabbed the woman by her arms after she dropped the knife outside her car, then handcuffed her, according to Hannum. Once she fell quiet, the deputies realized something was wrong and attempted to resuscitate her, Hannum said.

While the showdown and its aftermath were "just horrible," the deputies "were very professional," Hannum said.

Sheriff Mike Smith would not speculate on whether alcohol or some other substance made the woman act irrationally. Twist was pronounced dead at a Morrilton hospital and her body was sent to the state Crime Lab for an autopsy. State police said Monday that toxicology tests can take weeks.

State records showed that a Regina Twist with the same birthdate and hometown had been a registered dental assistant with permission to take X-rays, polish teeth and administer nitrous oxide. The license lapsed Dec. 31, according to the state Board of Dental Examiners.

Smith said Monday the deputy who deployed the chemical agent and stun gun is on paid administrative leave while state police investigate.

The other deputies who responded were back on duty Monday. Their body camera videos have been handed over to the state police.

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Follow Kelly P. Kissel on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kisselAP
BATESVILLE, Miss. (AP) - A jury has been selected in the trial of a man charged with burning a 19-year-old Mississippi woman to death nearly three years ago.

WJTV-TV reports that a 12-person jury was selected Monday in the trial of 29-year-old Quinton Tellis. He has pleaded not guilty to murder in the death of Jessica Chambers. Tellis' trial begins Tuesday.

Chambers was on fire when she was found next to her burning car along a back road in Courtland, Mississippi, on Dec. 6, 2014. Chambers was taken to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she died.

The trial jury was selected in Pike County in southwest Mississippi because of pre-trial publicity in Panola County. The jury is being transported 200 miles north to Batesville, where it will be sequestered throughout the trial there.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on Republican concerns about President Trump (all times EDT):

10 p.m.

Sen. Bob Corker is hardly the only Republican lawmaker raising dark concerns about harm President Donald Trump might cause the U.S. and the world. But he's one of the few willing to air those worries in public.

CORRECTS LAST NAME OF FARMER TO BACH - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., talks to Kentucky farmer Mike Bach at Mahan Farms in Paris, Ky, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Sen. Bob Corker is hardly the only Republican lambasting Donald Trump and raising dark concerns about harm the president might cause the U.S. and the world - he just the only one doing do in public. McConnell who's also been the target of Trump's attacks after the Senate's failure to pass health care legislation, didn't directly answer when asked at an event in Hazard, Kentucky, whether he shared Corker's sentiments. (AP Photo/Adam Beam)

Most GOP senators were silent Monday, a day after Corker charged that the White House was an "adult day care" and Trump could set the nation "on the path to World War III."

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley says both Trump and Corker should "cool it."

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6 p.m.

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is wagging a finger at his tweet-feuding Senate colleague Bob Corker and President Donald Trump, but calling out Trump to set the tone.

Grassley was asked if the personal exchange between Corker of Tennessee and Trump was good for Republicans. He says, "I don't see how it's productive."

"I think that two words would kind of answer your question from my point of view: Cool it," Grassley said. "And I think it would help if the president would be the first to cool it."

Trump and Corker went at it on Twitter Sunday, with Trump saying the retiring Corker "didn't have the guts" to run for a third term. Corker responded by saying, "it's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center."

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5 p.m.

Sen. Bob Corker is hardly the only Republican lambasting Donald Trump and raising dark concerns about harm the president might cause the U.S. and the world.

He's just the only one who's sounding off in public.

When Corker charged that Trump could set the nation "on the path to World War III," he gave voice to concerns that circulate widely on Capitol Hill about an unpredictable president whose tendency to personalize every issue creates risks for the nation.

But Trump's enduring popularity with a segment of the GOP base serves as a political muzzle that keeps most elected Republicans from saying anything similar, even those who believe it to be true.

FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2013 file photo, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Corker is hardly the only Republican lambasting President Donald Trump and raising dark concerns about harm the president might cause the U.S. and the world. He's just the only one who's sounding off in public. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - In this June 22, 2017, file photo, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., walks to the floor for votes at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 22, 2017. Sen. Bob Corker is hardly the only Republican lambasting Donald Trump and raising dark concerns about harm the president might cause the U.S. and the world. He's just the only one who's sounding off in public. A couple Republican senators who did have something to say on Oct, 9 aligned themselves with Trump, not Corker. Daines "has confidence in the president," his office said. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Andrews Air Force Base, Md., en route to a fundraiser in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

FILE - In this July 28, 2017, file photo, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., emerges from a House Republican Conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sen. Bob Corker is hardly the only Republican lambasting President Donald Trump and raising dark concerns about harm the president might cause the U.S. and the world. He's just the only one who's sounding off in public. Meadows criticized Corker, saying he finds "those type of comments to not be appropriate especially coming from the chairman of the Foreign Relations committee, and certainly not in keeping with what I know of the way that things are conducted in the West Wing, having been there multiple times." (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - In this July 13, 2017, file photo, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., heads to the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sen. Bob Corker is hardly the only Republican lambasting Donald Trump and raising dark concerns about harm the president might cause the U.S. and the world. He's just the only one who's sounding off in public. A couple Republican senators who did have something to say Monday aligned themselves with Trump, not Corker. Barrasso disagrees with Corker, according to his office. "On tax cuts, border security, and rebuilding American infrastructure, they fight the same fight," Barrasso's office said of the president and the Wyoming Republican. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Impersonator-in-chief Alec Baldwin will headline a gala for the Iowa Democrats in November.

Strange as it seems, Democrats can expect to see 'Donald Trump' at the state party's annual marquee fundraiser on November 27. That is, in the form of Baldwin, the walking parody of the Republican president.

Baldwin, who received an Emmy award last month for his running parody of Trump on Saturday Night Live will be the keynote speaker at the state party banquet in Des Moines.

Impersonator-in-chief Alec Baldwin (left, on SNL) will headline a gala for the Iowa Democrats in November

Strange as it seems, Democrats can expect to see 'Donald Trump' at the state party's annual marquee fundraiser on November 27. That is, in the form of Baldwin (pictured, on SNL), the walking parody of the Republican president

It's a role often reserved for presidential prospects in the leadoff presidential caucus state.

Whether or not Baldwin entertains the light-hearted urgings of former President Bill Clinton to run for president, Baldwin should certainly expect an audience hungry for lifted spirits.

Iowa Democrats are at a 20-year low, having reveled for the past eight years in first launching Barack Obama to the presidential nomination and twice delivering the state for him.

But today, Republicans control the Statehouse in Des Moines, both US Senate seats and a majority of US House seats.

'Heading into the 2018 midterm elections and beyond, I have decided to rededicate my efforts to helping the Democratic Party win across the country,' Baldwin said in a statement distributed by the Iowa Democratic Party.

'That effort begins in earnest in Iowa,' he said.

'There will be many more opportunities both before and after, and you can plan on seeing me out there with folks on the ground fighting this most important battle for our future,' Baldwin added.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price said in a statement that they are 'so excited to welcome Alec Baldwin to Iowa, and to have him lend his voice to the growing chorus of people who are ready to see change in Iowa'.

'Heading into the 2018 midterm elections and beyond, I have decided to rededicate my efforts to helping the Democratic Party win across the country,' Baldwin (left, on SNL) said in a statement distributed by the Iowa Democratic Party

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price said in a statement that they are 'so excited to welcome Alec Baldwin (pictured in NY on Sunday) to Iowa, and to have him lend his voice to the growing chorus of people who are ready to see change in Iowa'

'He will be able to provide a unique and entertaining perspective on the challenges facing our country and how we can work together to rebuild our party.

'There is no question we've got our work cut out for us next year. We're not backing down, and we're not taking anything for granted. This year's dinner will highlight the strength of our great ticket, as well as the passion and commitment Democrats have to take back our state,' Price concluded.

Iowa Democrats see the state's governor's race as a prime opportunity to recapture power in the state.

Eight candidates are seeking the 2018 nomination, a dynamic even some Republicans see as an opportunity for the out-of-power party.

Republican Gov Kim Reynolds is finishing the final 18 months of veteran Republican Terry Branstad's term.

Reynolds is seeking the governorship next year, having served as lieutenant governor before Branstad was sworn in as US ambassador to China in June.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Carlos Nuzman, who headed the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, will remain in prison under a judge's order issued on Monday.

Nuzman was arrested last week and held temporarily in an investigation into a vote-buying scheme to win the rights to host the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The judge's order changed Nuzman's status from temporary detention to preventative detention. Nuzman's lawyer, Nelio Machado, said there was no timeframe for Nuzman's release from jail.

Carlos Nuzman, President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, center, is escorted by federal police officers after being taken into custody at his home, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. The president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee was arrested amid an investigation into a vote-buying scheme to bring the Olympics to Rio de Janeiro last year. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Brazilian and French authorities say Nuzman was a key figure in channeling at least $2 million to Lamine Diack, a former International Olympic Committee member from Senegal who helped sway votes for Rio.

Nuzman's detention is the latest blow to last year's Olympics, which were troubled throughout with sluggish ticket sales, budget cuts, and a debt that required a government bailout to hold the Paralympics. Many sports venues built for the games are vacant.

The IOC suspended Nuzman last week from his role as an IOC honorary member. It also suspended the Brazilian Olympic Committee, which was headed by Nuzman.

The 75-year-old Nuzman was also removed from his role on an IOC advisory commission organizing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Investigators have said they identified 16 gold bars, weighing 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) each, located in a depository and reported to belong to Nuzman. Their value on the market is about $750,000.

"While Olympic medalists chased their dreams of gold medals, leaders of the Brazilian Olympic Committee stashed their gold in Switzerland," prosecutor Fabiana Schenider said last week.

Authorities said Nuzman was arrested because he tried to hamper the investigation by regularizing assets likely gained with illicit money.

Nuzman was originally questioned in September. About two weeks after, investigators said he amended his tax declaration to add about $600,000 in income.

Nuzman has also stepped away from the presidency of the Rio organizing committee, which had a $3 billion budget to run last year's Olympics. The local organizing committee still owes creditors about 100 million Brazilian reals ($30 million).

The IOC last week also suspended the organizing committee. The committee has sought IOC help to pay off some of the debt.

The organizing committee is scheduled to meet next week to choose a new president, which may help lift the suspension.

The Brazilian Olympic Committee is meeting this week to name a replacement for Nuzman.
Senior Tories have rallied around Theresa May as she appeared to have seen off the threat of a coup against her leadership.

Boris Johnson, Andrea Leadsom and Ruth Davidson were part of a determined attempt to circle the wagons around the embattled Prime Minister after her ill-starred conference speech.

But party grandee Lord Heseltine claimed the Tories would face another election within two years as Brexit becomes toxic, and the party will have to revisit the leadership issue.

Theresa May: how the polls have changed

And a Tory source claimed some of the MPs who had publicly supported Mrs May actually wanted her out.

Its totally hypocritical. Quite literally some of the people who are swearing their loyalty, Kim Jong Un-style, privately hold precisely the opposite views, the source said.

The Foreign Secretary urged fellow Tories to get behind the PM and turn their fire on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Scottish Tory leader Ms Davidson, like Mr Johnson tipped as a potential successor to Mrs May, urged the party to settle down while Commons Leader Ms Leadsom told plot ringleader Grant Shapps to shut up.

Boris Johnson

In a message on a Tory WhatsApp group, Mr Johnson said: We have just had an election and people are fed up with this malarkey.

Get behind the PM. Ordinary punters I have spoken to thought her speech was good and anyone can have a cold.

He told Tories to circle the wagons, turn their fire on Corbyn and talk about nothing except our great policies and what we can do for the country.

Mr Johnsons intervention came after he faced calls to be sacked for destabilising the party following his intervention on Brexit on the eve of conference and his controversial remarks about Libya at a fringe event.

Former party chairman Mr Shapps had claimed to have the backing of around 30 MPs  with some Cabinet members also privately offering support.

But Tory MP Michael Fabricant described Mr Shapps as embittered, while colleague Vicky Ford dismissed the Welwyn Hatfield MP as completely out of touch, revealing hes not even in our WhatsApp group.

As the attempted coup fizzled out, Mr Shapps was added to the group simply so colleagues could make clear their fury at his move.

The messages were very close to cyber bullying as the partys MPs let off steam, a source said.

I wouldnt buy a used car from one embittered colleague - let alone take advice from him about who should be PM.

Theresa May should remain.  Michael Fabricant  (@Mike_Fabricant) October 6, 2017

Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine suggested the Government would collapse as the DUP would be forced to focus on domestic issues in Northern Ireland rather than on propping up Mrs Mays administration in the Commons.

I myself dont think that the Government will last through the Brexit process, he told Channel 4 News.

The Tories are at risk of losing to Labour, so they would have to think again about the leadership before another election, he said.

The pro-EU peer added: The elderly voters for Brexit are dying, the younger voters are coming in at the other end. In a couple of years time the Brexit vote, in my view, will be toxic.
US vice president Mike Pence has praised the resolve of the American people at a prayer service in Las Vegas before organisers released 58 white doves in memory of each victim killed in the deadliest mass shooting in the countrys modern history.

At the same time, federal agents started hauling away piles of backpacks, prams and lawn chairs left behind by fleeing concertgoers who scrambled to escape raining bullets from a gunman who was shooting from his high-rise hotel suite.

It was a tragedy of unimaginable proportions, Mr Pence said as he addressed nearly 300 people at Las Vegas City Hall.

Those we lost were taken before their time but their names and their stories will forever be etched into the hearts of the American people, he said.

Today, we offer our prayers - from our hearts to heaven. We pray for the people of Las Vegas. #VegasStrong pic.twitter.com/CBrfxDgVoH  Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) October 7, 2017

On Sunday night, Las Vegas came face-to-face with pure evil, but no evil, no act of violence, will ever diminish the strength and goodness of the American people, Mr Pence said.

In the depths of horror, we will always find hope in the men and women who risk their lives for ours.

The unity service on Saturday afternoon came as friends, relatives and an outpouring of grievers gathered in California to celebrate the life of a man who died in the mass shooting.

More than 800 people packed a Bakersfield church to honour Jack Beaton, who was in Las Vegas last Sunday to celebrate his 23rd wedding anniversary at a country music festival.

Mr Beatons memorial service was among the first held for the victims and the community of Bakersfield was home to several of those killed or injured in the attack.

When gunfire rang out, Mr Beaton covered his wifes body with his own, told her he loved her and then went limp.

Investigators still do not know what drove gunman Stephen Paddock, a reclusive 64-year-old high-stakes video poker player, to begin shooting at the crowd at a country music festival from his 32nd-floor Mandalay Bay hotel suite last Sunday, killing 58 and wounding hundreds before taking his own life.

Those we lost were taken before their time but their names & stories will be forever etched in hearts of the American people. #VegasStrong pic.twitter.com/H8zBQa9Zey  Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) October 8, 2017

Investigators believe a note found on a nightstand in Paddocks hotel room contained a series of numbers that helped him calculate a more precise aim, accounting for the trajectory of shots being fired from that height and the distance between his room and the concert, a law enforcement official said.

Investigators have chased 1,000 leads and examined Paddocks politics, finances, any possible radicalisation and his social behaviour.

However, Clark County under-sheriff Kevin McMahill said there is still no clear motive.
Britain will remain subject to the rulings of the European Court of Justice during a transitional period lasting around two years after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May has told MPs.

And she did not rule out accepting any new regulations imposed by Brussels in the two years after March 2019, even though the UK would have no say in drawing them up.

The admissions came as the UK and Brussels remained at loggerheads over Brexit, with each side insisting that the onus was on the other to make concessions ahead of a crunch summit next week.

The European Commissions chief spokesman flatly dismissed Mrs Mays suggestion that compromises offered in her high-profile speech in Florence last month meant it was now time for Brussels to show flexibility and allow discussions on the future UK-EU trade relationship to begin after the October 19-20 European Council summit.

As the fifth round of formal Brexit talks got under way in Brussels, Margaritis Schinas told reporters that the ball is entirely in the UK court to reach agreement on Britains divorce deal, without which the EU has said it will not move on to the second phase of talks, involving trade.

But just hours later, the Prime Minister rejected the Commissions stance, putting a heavy stress on the word is as she told MPs in the House of Commons: As we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court.

Countdown to Brexit - key events

Mrs May told MPs there was a new dynamic in negotiations since her Florence speech, in which she accepted that the UK would pay billions to fill gaps left in the EU budget left by its departure and would continue to observe EU rules during a transition lasting about two years after Brexit.

But Mr Schinas said: There is a clear sequencing to these talks. There has been so far no solution found on step one, which is the divorce proceedings, so the ball is entirely in the UK court for the rest to happen.

After her statement to the House of Commons, Mrs May was challenged by Eurosceptic Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg to confirm unequivocally that the ECJs writ will no longer run in any way in this country following the expected date of Brexit on March 29 2019.

Jeremy Corbyn

She responded that the need to ensure a smooth and orderly withdrawal, with the minimum of disruption may mean that we will start off with the ECJ still governing the rules were part of for that period.

She said it was highly unlikely any new EU laws would come into operation during the transition, but did not rule out the possibility that any which did so would have effect in Britain.

Pro EU supporters

At next weeks summit, the leaders of the 27 remaining EU states will decide whether sufficient progress has been made on divorce issues like expats rights, the border with Ireland and Britains financial settlement to allow talks to proceed to their second phase.

Failure to secure agreement would heighten pressure on the PM, with City figures suggesting that businesses may start taking decisions to move staff and activities out of the UK if no movement is achieved before Christmas.

In her statement to MPs, Mrs May insisted that real tangible progress was being made, but added that flexibility was needed from the other EU states.

David Davis

A new deep and special partnership between a sovereign United Kingdom and a strong and successful European Union is our ambition and our offer to our European friends, said the PM.

Achieving that partnership will require leadership and flexibility, not just from us but from our friends, the 27 nations of the EU.

And as we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court, but Im optimistic it will receive a positive response, because what we are seeking is not just the best possible deal for us, but I believe that will also be the best possible deal for our friends too.

Countdown to leaving the EU

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn retorted: Sixteen months on from the referendum, no real progress has been made.

Mrs May unveiled two new policy papers on post-Brexit trade and customs arrangements which she said would pave the way for Britain to operate as an independent trading nation, even if no trade deal is reached with Brussels.

The white paper published by Liam Foxs Department for International Trade confirmed Britain will pursue negotiations with other countries during the time-limited transition, but will not be able to bring into effect any free trade agreements with other countries until the period is over, probably in 2021.

Theresa May's handling of Brexit: approval rating.

Legislation will also be introduced to transition all existing EU trade agreements and preferential arrangements with other countries into domestic law after leaving the bloc.

And a Trade Bill will include a preferences scheme providing as a minimum the same level of duty-free access to the UK market for developing countries.

Today we have set out the first steps in the UK's future trade policy #tradepaper https://t.co/13T1Z5Jsxq pic.twitter.com/0EIqZEzACx  Department for International Trade (@tradegovuk) October 9, 2017

Meanwhile, a Customs Bill will legislate for a new stand alone customs regime after Brexit, regardless of any deal with the EU.

Our Customs Bill White Paper outlines how we will implement a new customs regime after Brexit https://t.co/nM79i7PTrv pic.twitter.com/nSVED4CRXH  HM Treasury (@hmtreasury) October 9, 2017

It will also amend the VAT and excise duty regimes so that they can continue to function effectively once the UK has left.

Mrs May said the new white papers pave the way for legislation to allow the UK to operate as an independent trading nation and to create an innovative customs system that will help us achieve the greatest possible tariff and barrier-free trade as we leave the EU.
Terrorists are using human trafficking, including trading in sex slaves, as a new source of funding, according to a new report.

Groups, including Isis and Boko Haram, are turning to hostage-taking and ransom efforts as historical revenue streams such as taxation and oil sales dry up, the research found.

The study by foreign policy and security think tank the Henry Jackson Society suggests kidnapping brought in $10 million to $30 million (around 7.6 million to 22.8 million) for Isis last year.

It also details how extremists are using sexual violence, including rape, sexual slavery, and forced marriage, to boost recruitment, galvanise fighters and punish disbelievers.

Victims cited in the study include a 10-year-old Libyan girl who was repeatedly raped by traffickers while she was being held in a camp.

(PA Graphics)

Yvette Cooper, chairwoman of the influential Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said: Isil, Boko Haram and other evil groups are increasingly seeing human trafficking as a possible revenue stream - and we know that terrorists use sexual violence as one of the weapons they use to divide and create fear within communities.

It is important this is recognised in the interpretation of terror in our current laws.

The report, entitled Trafficking Terror, found terrorists are using organised crime tactics such as money laundering, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, drugs and firearm smuggling, with sexual slavery markets commonplace in Islamic State-controlled areas of Iraq and Syria.

Its author, Nikita Malik, concluded that financial gain is a key driver behind sexual slavery, with ransom payments linked to sexual violence.

She said: The international community must recognise and address the nexus between this criminality and security.

Historical revenue streams, including taxation and oil sales, to groups such as Islamic State and Boko Haram are decreasing.

These are being replaced with hostage-taking and ransom efforts, meaning modern day slavery may increase as Daesh struggles to sustain its financial reserves.

The report recommends British laws, including the Modern Slavery Act and Terrorism Act, should be interpreted more broadly to reflect sexual violence being used as a tactic of terrorism.

The findings were welcomed by the Governments former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Lord Carlile, who said: It highlights the imperative need for more international cooperation, to break up the trafficking gangs and routes, which are so essential for their wicked trade in human beings.
Students at Park City High School were examining racial and gender gaps in congressional representation Wednesday morning  but just pointing them out wasnt good enough.

So what about equality and democracy? government teacher Samantha Mayes asked.

The expectations are higher for Mayes students taking government as a dual-enrollment class, giving them a college credit to apply at any Montana university. Since they take the class through Montana State University Billings, they get a break from the per-credit fee, usually $151.50 for a class  already a steep discount from usual fees.

Students in dual-enrollment classes gave several reasons to take the classes  bagging a college credit, familiarity with a high school teacher  but one reason rose to the top.

I didnt have to pay for them, said Billings West High School senior Danielle Forsyth.

MSUB has seen dual-enrollment classes boom since offering them for free, although students may have to pay for books. Enrollment jumped last year, and another 100-plus students took classes this fall compared to last fall, up to 354. In 2015, just 82 students had enrolled. MSUB offered the break last year when performance funding came in late, creating inadvertent financial flexibility. This year, it was built into the budget, and the school used a grant to create summer training programs for teachers, which helped result in new classes this fall.

Two other schools offer financial breaks, but campuses havent flocked to the concept. Since teachers need a specific certification to teach dual credit classes, offerings at smaller schools lag behind urban areas. And not all urban areas have seen major growth.

Missoula College awarded dual credits to 223 students in the spring and to 474 students the fall before that. Last month, the school reported only 280 had enrolled this fall. Some of the year-to-year drop could simply be timing, but officials are unsure. Many dual credit classes taught in Missoula high schools run the full year so students sometimes dont apply for the college credits until the spring, and many are taught through other colleges. State and university officials will meet later this month to take a closer look at the numbers.

Dean Shannon O'Brien said, however, that affordability is an issue.

Missoula County Public Schools offers dozens of dual credit courses, and student interest appears strong. Almost 500 students took at least one dual credit course, but only 290 paid the fees in fall 2016. Without paying the fee, they couldnt earn college credit.

"The fact that only 300 paid the fee after they finished the application process says to me there's a financial hurdle," Superintendent Mark Thane said at a school board meeting last year. "If they're taking the courses but won't get credit, that's a travesty."

Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education John Cech called the expansion of dual credit programs one of the highest priorities of our office, championing free-tuition programs in Billings, Miles City and Kalispell. Students who complete at least one dual-credit course are better prepared for college, earn higher freshman GPAs, take more credits their first year, are less likely to drop out, earn degrees quicker and save money on tuition down the road.

They also are more likely than other Montana students to attend a Montana college after graduating high school, although its unclear if dual credit drives college choice or if students already planned on staying in Montana.

With all the benefits, why arent tuition waivers more widespread?

Thats a very good question, Cech said.

Campus priorities

MSUBs tuition waiver program took off with backing from Gov. Steve Bullock, but it was paid for by performance funding arriving late to the university after student retention figures gave funding a boost. With the money unbudgeted, it was easier to apply to special projects. After a spike in dual enrollment, MSUB made the program part of this years budget.

Obviously, the campuses, they need to prioritize their own budgets, Cech said. There are some other campuses having discussions.

He declined to say which ones, but said probably most are giving it some thought in the context of larger budget talks as a way to make connections with more students.

He also said the University System wants to review data from the MSUB program after a few more years to better understand what motivates student decisions and how successful they are once they reach a Montana campus. Maybe then, the commissioner of higher education could make a pitch for the Legislature to partner with them to fund a statewide program, he said.

Cech said campus costs of offering dual-enrollment programs include, among others:

Hiring a dual-enrollment coordinator for each campus.

The time of support staff who process applications and payments.

Faculty liaisons who coordinate with high school teachers on curriculum.

Travel to schools for student information sessions.

High schools have their own challenges for offering dual-enrollment classes.

This is Mayes first year teaching dual credit, and its the only in-house opportunity for Park City High students to earn college credit.

Our class sizes are small enough that we can only offer so many electives, said Mayes, the school's only social studies teacher. If we had the ability to offer more higher-level classes, I know that we could fill them to make them efficient.

Mayes already has a masters degree, but it didnt meet MSUB's subject area requirements for dual-enrollment certification. The university offered a grant-funded program this summer free to teachers, and Mayes took advantage.

To swing the dual-enrollment offering, she combines the class with a regular government class and differentiates instruction, hitting more advanced topics with the college-credit students. Its not the easiest set-up, but Mayes makes it work.

Some Park City students take advanced options through Digital Academy, Montanas online coursework program, but they said Mayes class offered more support. They also preferred it to the option of taking classes at a campus, with concerns about class sizes and unfamiliar professors.

Weve had (Mayes) before, senior Brittany Frank said.

Columbus High School also added a dual-enrollment government class this fall, and Hardin plans to add dual-enrollment English classes this spring. But rural schools are still less likely to have teachers certified to teach advanced classes.

Competing options

Schools with larger enrollments can usually fill a full section for advanced classes, and have several teachers in the same subject areas. But a larger district often comes with competing priorities.

At Billings West High School, Janna Lind already teaches an Advanced Placement social studies class. But she sought out dual-enrollment certification this summer.

This is definitely going to a wider range of kids, she said. Most are still college bound, but probably not going to an Ivy-league school.

That doesnt mean theyre funneled straight to in-state schools. Forsyth, the West High senior, plans on studying kinesiology at Texas A&M. Shes already checked to make sure the credits transfer. Other students looking out of state said that while not every dual-enrollment credit transfers to the exact class they took, it usually transfers as a general elective.

And most students werent taking classes for a career focus. At Park City, students were just looking to bag an extra college credit  and some general knowledge.

You can learn more and get more stuff out of the way for college, said senior Jessica Medenhall.

It helps us know more going through life  especially now that were voting, said senior Haley Harper.

Officials from several schools and universities have argued that waiving fees for dual-enrollment courses makes students who aren't sold on college more likely to consider higher education. Students at Park City and West high schools were already planning on attending college, but they agreed that it would help them get in.

"It definitely looks good on a college application," Mendenhall said.
Prince Harry has hailed a new partnership between his Royal Foundation and the Ministry of Defence which aims to place mental fitness at the heart of the armed forces training and support.

He said servicemen and women were prized assets which needed to be continually invested in, and should be thought of as high-performance athletes carrying their kit and a rifle.

Prince Harry and the Defence Secretary will today launch a new partnership to improve the mental health of all Armed Forces personnel. pic.twitter.com/82XswC00Nx  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 9, 2017

The former Army officer, who spent 10 years in the forces, said during his time as a soldier physical conditioning was important, with troops warming up before a run or a loaded march, and the same approach should be applied to mental health for servicemen and women.

Speaking at the projects launch, staged at the Ministry of Defence in central London, Harry told invited guests who included Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon: The military has faced the challenge of dealing with things like post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression.

Prince Harry arrives at @DefenceHQ to speak about the importance of mental health support for the Armed Forces. pic.twitter.com/xl2dKpHZxn  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 9, 2017

But, like many of you in this room, I have come to realise that we can all do more to promote the positive management of our mental health and, in doing so, help prevent some of these issues before they develop.

This is what the partnership between the MoD and the Royal Foundation is all about  placing mental fitness and mental health at the heart of the training and support provided to the entire defence community.

Prince Harry said: Fighting fitness is not just about physical fitness. It is just as much about mental fitness too. pic.twitter.com/Bbsd4YV7Nv  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 9, 2017

The joint initiative between the MoD and the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry comes days after the Foundation announced it will invest 2 million for the creation of a start-up company providing digital support to youngsters concerned about their mental well-being.

The partnership is the latest in a series of royal efforts to promote greater understanding and openness around mental health through the work of the Foundations Heads Together campaign, launched in May last year.

Discover the impact you have had by being part of the national conversation on mental health > https://t.co/4aD6lhGPFJ pic.twitter.com/4eApsFCFmG  Heads Together (@heads_together) October 8, 2017

The MoD said the move will build upon a recently launched Government strategy aimed at improving mental health in current military workers, civilian staff, their families and veterans.

The Foundation will now offer advice and resources to improve training, education and information sharing for the whole of the armed forces.

Tobias Ellwood, minister for defence, people and veterans, who served with the Royal Green Jackets, said they were hoping the new project would create a cultural change within the Armed Forces around the issue of promoting mental fitness.

DefSec: Warfare is often seen as battles of the body, but it is also a battle of mind. pic.twitter.com/QhpgrBi0mr  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) October 9, 2017

He said: I remember my time in the Armed Forces, I did a little bit of bayonet training then we were told to think about the consequences of stabbing a sandbag, and that was as close as we got until the next step and were on the battlefield.

We have to bear in mind, I was told this Grab a man suit and suck it up, these were the phrases that I was shouted at by a colour sergeant. It will be very much through the NCOs (non commissioned officers) that we hope that this will embed itself.
A family had to be winched to safety by helicopter from a steep mountainside in Snowdonia after they got lost while walking.

The two adults and two children, aged five and 11, were stuck on Glyder Fawr in North Wales for hours before they were discovered on the precarious slope, the UK Coastguard said.

A mountain rescue search was launched at around 5.30pm on Sunday after the mother called police to report she was lost with her family.

A UK Coastguard helicopter

The UK Coastguard helicopter was asked to assist as light began to fade at around 8pm.

The group was eventually located just after 9pm  stuck on the side of a steep slope  and airlifted to safety.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: They were all cold and wet having been stuck on the mountain for several hours, but were otherwise unharmed.
Reforms to avoid a repeat of the Monarch collapse will be considered, Chris Grayling has said after confirming around 80,000 of the failed airlines passengers have returned home.

The Transport Secretary said he wants to see if it is possible for airlines to wind down in an orderly manner and look after their customers without the need for the Government to step in.

Mr Grayling added he expects a rigorous inquiry into Monarchs collapse from the House of Commons Transport Committee, which the Department for Transport will co-operate with.

Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling wants to avoid Government intervention in cases similar to Monarch in future (Peter Byrne/PA)

Updating MPs on the largest airline failure in UK history, Mr Grayling said: As of last night, around 80,000 passengers have returned to the UK  almost three-quarters of the total number abroad at the time of the collapse.

Obviously its been a priority to get people back to the UK  our hearts also go out to those people who lost bookings as a result of the collapse.

But in addition to supporting passengers, weve also been very focused on working to ensure that the almost 2,000 former Monarch employees receive the support they need.

We have plans in place to get you back to the UK, if youre affected by the #Monarch situation. Visit: https://t.co/LcZLT4tkB6 @UK_CAA pic.twitter.com/Y265xp2sAm  Department for Transport (@transportgovuk) October 2, 2017

Mr Grayling added the Government will examine any necessary reforms to ensure passengers do not find themselves in this position again.

He went on: We need to look at all of the options, not just Atol (Air Travel Organisers Licensing) but also whether its possible for airlines to be able to wind down in an orderly manner and look after their customers themselves without the need for the Government to step in.

Well be putting a lot of effort into this in the months ahead.

Labour former minister Diana Johnson asked if Mr Grayling would support calls for a probe into Monarchs collapse.

My @HouseofCommons question to the Transport Secretary supporting a probe into the collapse of Monarch Airlines. pic.twitter.com/xtE3bZ0sP7  Diana Johnson DBE MP  (@DianaJohnsonMP) October 9, 2017

Mr Grayling replied: I suspect exactly such a probe will happen but I suspect itll be led by (Labour MP Lilian Greenwood) and her select committee.

I would expect a rigorous inquiry from the select committee about this and my department and I and the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) will be very happy to co-operate with it.

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said Monarch collapsed because of a litany of failures by Government, the regulator, and the companys financial backers and advisers.

Andy McDonald

He said: Its demise must also be seen in the context of a ferociously competitive aviation sector adjusting to major over-capacity problems and the loss of services because of terrorism.

A further backdrop for the industry is the foggy skies of Brexit and the total lack of certainty from this Government for the British aviation industry from March 2019.

He asked why Monarch had not been granted a short-term extension to its Atol licence, as well as Boeings role in a previous bailout.

A report in yesterdays Sunday Times suggested that the 165 million rescue package to Monarch last year was largely funded by Boeing, as part of a cut-price deal for an order of 737 aircraft, Mr McDonald said.

What is the Secretary of States assessment of the role of Boeing in the financial engineering of Monarch?

The Prime Minister recently criticised the conduct of Boeing against Bombardier in Belfast, in support of her DUP allies.

Why is there no criticism of Boeings role in the loss of 2,000 jobs in Luton?
Universal Credit claimants must not face hunger, destitution or homelessness over Christmas as a result of delays in the benefit being paid, senior MPs have told David Gauke.

The Work and Pensions Secretary faced a grilling over Universal Credit in the Commons, including from some Tory backbenchers.

Mr Gauke reiterated his plans to push ahead with a major expansion of the flagship welfare reform.

Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke reiterated plans to push on with major expansion of Universal Credit

He said Universal Credit was helping people back into work and no-one should go six weeks without money, which has been linked to rent arrears and other debts for claimants.

Mr Gauke told last weeks Tory conference he would tweak the system to ensure claimants get advance payments quicker, amid criticism people are waiting six weeks for any money and getting into debt.

The Secretary of State is unable to guarantee to Parliament that Universal Credit will leave none of our constituents hungry over Christmas  Frank Field (@frankfieldteam) October 9, 2017

Labours Frank Field, chairman of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, had asked Mr Gauke: Can he give the House a guarantee that none of our constituents will be faced by hunger, near destitution, for the lack of money over the Christmas period, please?

Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams added: Given that housing associations are saying that over 80% of rent arrears are down to UC, and the Mayor of Greater Manchester is predicting rough sleeping will double as a result of the UC rollout, how many more families does the minister estimate will be made homeless this winter as a result of this Governments refusal to pause UC rollout?

"Let us be realistic", #UniversalCredit is causing debt, rent arrears & homelessness up & down the country. Poor response from W&P Sec'y. pic.twitter.com/6D4mImATUR  Debbie Abrahams MP Blue Tick (@Debbie_abrahams) October 9, 2017

Conservative ex-prime minister John Major has joined calls to pause the wider rollout of Universal Credit.

Mr Gauke said the wider rollout was proceeding gradually and sensibly.

Expansion over the coming months, with Universal Credit to be introduced to 50 new Jobcentres every month, will increase the proportion of people claiming from 8% to 10% of those who will eventually claim it, he added.

What were doing is making clear that people can receive an advance of their first months payment. That is then deducted over the next six monthly periods.

The number of Tory MPs prepared to rebel over the issue has grown to around 25, according to the Telegraph. Mondays Work and Pensions questions session saw mild dissent from Tory MPs over technical issues.

Heidi Allen is said to be heading the rebellion over Universal Credit

Heidi Allen (South Cambridgeshire), said to be leading the rebellion, said: What support is in place for people who are waiting three, four, five, six, seven weeks?

Backbencher Luke Graham (Ochil and South Pershire) said: Can he confirm that Jobcentres in Scotland will proactively offer the advances in support where needed?

Neil Gray, the SNPs social justice spokesman, said: Isnt the Secretary of States apparent climbdown on crisis loans and advance payments an admission that Universal Credit is failing?

Universal Credit combines benefits such as housing benefit and tax credits into a single payment.

From October the pace of rollout will be ramped up, with 50 Jobcentres moving to the service every month.

DWP figures last week showed 76% of new claimants received full payment on time in the latest week for which figures were available, up from 65% at the start of the year. Some 15% of new claimants did not receive any money on time.

Changes will ensure those who want an advance payment will receive it within five working days, and those in the most immediate need will receive it the same day.
An Islamic State fan who tried to make a bomb from fairy lights after becoming bedroom radicalised has been jailed for life.

Zahid Hussain considered targeting railway lines after viewing hundreds of IS images of the war in Syria.

His trial was told he wrongly believed his non-viable pressure cooker bomb  packed with 1.6kgs of shrapnel  was capable of causing devastation.

Zahid Hussain

Sentencing the dangerous 29-year-old to a minimum term of 15 years at Winchester Crown Court on Monday, Mr Justice Sweeney told Hussain it was clear he had been strongly committed to carrying out multiple bombings.

Hussain used a bedroom in his parents house as his base of operations and improvised laboratory where he researched and attempted to assemble explosives.

After his arrest in August 2015, searches uncovered evidence he had carried out reconnaissance of woods near the house in Naseby Road, Alum Rock, Birmingham, including the main London rail line.

Books on guerrilla warfare were also discovered, including one which talked of mounting attacks on railways.

The judge said that had his device been viable, it would have been capable of causing a significant explosion.

He added: If detonated in a crowded area it would have been potentially fatal to those within metres of it and would have potentially caused serious injury among those up to 10 metres away.
Investigators have met the brother of the Las Vegas gunman as friends and relatives of the 58 killed and other concert-goers returned to the scene to reclaim shoes, phones and bags left behind in the panic as they fled.

The interviews with Stephen Paddocks brother were part of an exhaustive search through the 64-year-olds life in search of clues about why he unleashed gunfire from broken windows on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel casino.

Eric Paddock declined to say what he was asked, but he said he is co-operating with investigators, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Crosses erected in honour of those killed during the mass shooting (Gregory Bull/AP)

Im trying to get them to understand Steves mindset, Eric Paddock told the newspaper. I dont want them to chase bad leads.

In a newly revealed court document obtained by CNN, Stephen Paddock described himself as a nocturnal creature who bet up to 1 million dollars each night at Las Vegas casinos in flip-flops and tracksuits, catching sleep in the day.

The description of his lifestyle comes from a deposition filed as part of a civil lawsuit he filed against Cosmopolitan Hotel, where he slipped and fell in 2011.

The festival grounds

The personal effects being recovered were strewn across the massive grassy concert venue where 22,000 country music fans attended the Route 91 Harvest festival. They have become sentimental memories of loved ones for some, and haunting reminders of the night of terror for others.

Some of the victims of the deadliest shooting in modern US history have already been returned home for funerals while many others are en route ahead of services planned for later dates.

Eric Paddock said he came to Las Vegas to retrieve his brothers body in hopes of sending the cremated ashes to their 89-year-old mother in Orlando.

A broke window at the Mandalay Bay resort and casino from where Stephen Paddock killed 58 people (John Locher/AP)

Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg said he could not discuss the results of a post-mortem done on Stephen Paddock, who police said shot himself dead before officers arrived at the Las Vegas Strip hotel suite.

Eric Paddock told the Review-Journal that he plans to put his brothers assets in a trust that would benefit the shooting victims. He has described his brother as a multimillionaire who considered himself a professional gambler and owned real estate.

Map locates shooting in Las Vegas

The family of one of the victims, 56-year-old John Phippen, of Santa Clarita, California, has already asked a Nevada judge to appoint a special administrator to take control of the gunmans assets. The lawyers said that is a necessary step to allow lawsuits to be brought against Paddocks estate.
Police are hunting for a gang who fled on mopeds after a smash-and-grab raid at a high-end jewellers in central London.

Officers believe six culprits were involved in the raid at Mappin & Webb in Regent Street at around 7.20pm on Monday.

Police at the Mappin & Webb store in Regent's Street

Three suspects are believed to have smashed display cabinets to escape with a high-value haul, after a hammer, axe and bats were used to break in to the store.

Three accomplices waited outside on revved-up scooters throughout the raid, police said.

The group  two on each moped  fled the scene in three separate directions.

One pair fled in the direction of Oxford Street before their scooter was involved in a collision with a pedestrian. The female pedestrian was not seriously injured and did not require hospital treatment.

(John Stillwell/PA)

A cyclist also swerved to avoid the scooter and crashed into a wall but suffered only minor injuries.

There have been no reports of any other injuries.

The scooter involved in this collision was abandoned, while another scooter was later found outside the store where the original burglary took place.

Both scooters have been seized for forensic testing.

Police at the Mappin & Webb store in Regent's Street

DC Matt Hollands from the Mets Flying Squad said: We are following up a number of active leads on this live investigation. This raid was targeted and lasted only a few minutes.

My team are busy collecting witness accounts and recovering vital CCTV footage of the burglary at the store and of the suspects leaving the scene.

We know that the group panicked and rode recklessly in different directions to escape.

Appeal following smash and grab raid at Regent Street jewellers #Westminster https://t.co/YGqb7jNs90 pic.twitter.com/Dd3yqz264Q  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 9, 2017

Thankfully no members of the public were injured. Id like to appeal for those who saw the individuals involved, either at the scene or fleeing, to get in touch with police and send us any images and footage that they have.

All the suspects wore dark motorcycle clothing and black motorcycle helmets and a weapon has also been recovered at the scene.

There have been no arrests, police added.
Melania Trump has hit back at Donald Trumps first wife for referring to herself as first lady.

Ivana Trump told ABCs Good Morning America on Monday that she talks to the president about every two weeks and has a direct number to the White House.

She added: I dont want to call him there because Melania is there and I dont want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because Im basically first Trump wife. Im first lady, OK?

Melania Trump

Melania Trumps spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said there was clearly no substance to this statement from an ex, and called it attention-seeking and self-serving noise.

Ivana Trump is promoting her book, Raising Trump and Ms Grisham suggested she was trying to sell books.

Melania Trump, a native of Slovenia and former fashion model fluent in several languages, was rarely seen in the weeks after Mr Trumps inauguration, and was usually at her husbands side when she did appear in public.

Melania and Donald Trump

In an unusual move for modern first ladies, she and Barron, the couples now-11-year-old son, lived at the familys Trump Tower penthouse in New York for several months after the inauguration so he would not have to switch schools in the middle of the year.

They joined Mr Trump at the White House in June, and Barron started at a private school in Maryland.

She has more recently raised her profile, and talked about how she plans to use my platform as first lady to achieve her goals, including helping children suffering from cyberbullying.

"No child should ever feel hungry, stalked, frightened, terrorized, bullied or afraid with nowhere to turn." pic.twitter.com/Z7F6JsSvGF  Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) September 21, 2017

Melania is the most popular Trump in the White House, according to a recent CNN survey in which 44% of those polled said they have a favourable opinion of the first lady.

She beat her husband, stepdaughter Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Ivankas Trumps husband, in the poll late last month.

It is usual for first ladies to be more popular than their husbands, who are called upon to sound off on a host of difficult issues, and Donald Trump, who has experienced some of the lowest public approval ratings of a first-year president, has called attention to his wifes popularity.

Ivanka Trump

Shes become very, very popular, Ill tell you that, he said after she introduced him at a recent event at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

He said she has become an incredible emissary for the American people, and he was very proud of her.
A new audit laying bare the deep difference in life experiences of Britains racial groups will be a starting point for Government action to tackle inequality, Prime Minister Theresa May has promised.

The report published by the Government showed widely varying outcomes in areas including education, employment, health and criminal justice between Britains white and ethnic minority populations.

Mrs May was confronted by voters personal experiences of discrimination when she took calls on an LBC radio phone-in.

Racial disparity audit: key findings

One caller, who gave her name as Louise from Hitchen, said she believed racism was pathologically entrenched in this country, while Margaret from Harrow, north London, told the PM she had to switch her fathers African surname for her mothers English one in order to get job interviews.

Mrs May, who commissioned the audit soon after becoming PM last year, has faced criticism that it describes the problems faced by Britains ethnic minorities but does not include proposals to solve them.

But she told LBC: This is not just about publishing a set of data and saying Thats it, job done. Absolutely not. This is the starting point of what we have to do.

Mrs May said she was not sure at this stage what legislation might be needed, but said there was already work under way to tackle the disproportionate number of black boys excluded from school.

And she said that in some cases, progress might be made simply by highlighting the issue with employers and public bodies.

Figures from the audit collated on a new Ethnicity Facts and Figures website showed that while state-educated white Britons had the lowest rate for going to university, they were also less likely to be unemployed than ethnic minorities and were more likely to own their own home.

Today, I launch a world-leading project on the impact of ethnicity on people's lives. Time to tackle injustice. https://t.co/aPXiWDcIVn  Theresa May (@theresa_may) October 10, 2017

Among the findings were:

:: Asian, black and other ethnic groups were disproportionately likely to be on a low income, with almost half of households in the bottom 40% nationally before housing costs were taken into account.

:: Households of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, black, mixed and other backgrounds were more likely to receive income-related benefits and tax credits than those in other ethnic groups.

:: Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers received the lowest average hourly pay of 11.42, while Indian workers received the highest on 15.81.

:: Ethnic minorities are more likely to live in areas of deprivation, especially black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi people.

:: White pupils from state schools had the lowest university entry rate of any ethnic group in 2016. Chinese pupils had the highest attainment throughout school, made the most progress and were the most likely to stay in education and go to university.

:: White people were among the least likely to become a victim of crime or to fear becoming a victim.

Today the PM will launch a world-leading project on the impact of ethnicity on everyday lives https://t.co/BL9rjveXM8 pic.twitter.com/kufM3UKL8T  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 10, 2017

Meeting campaigners at 10 Downing Street, Mrs May admitted the findings were uncomfortable and said there would be nowhere to hide for public bodies which fail to respond. Departments would have to explain or change areas of their work where different racial groups received differing levels of service.

Labours equalities spokeswoman Dawn Butler said that Mrs May had written to then Prime Minister David Cameron in 2010 warning of the risk that austerity would disproportionately hit minorities.

As Prime Minister, knowing full well the damage that would be caused by the Conservative cuts, Theresa May has done nothing but exacerbate the problem, said Ms Butler. Far from tackling burning injustices, she has added fuel to the fire.

Theresa May discusses the statistics at Dunraven School

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: Theresa Mays decision to shine a light on this issue means she cant now shy away from tackling the causes of this inequality  including cuts to public services and a shrinking state.

Martha Spurrier, director of civil rights group Liberty, said: The bleak picture this report paints of racial injustice in the UK demands an immediate and bold response. But the solutions the Government is putting up are little more than a plaster on a gaping wound.

(PA Graphics)

Londons deputy mayor for social integration, Matthew Ryder, said: This is very troubling information, but sadly all too familiar reading for those who have been deeply concerned about inequality in Britain for many years.

While we welcome the publication of this data, and the Prime Ministers commitment to explain or change the disparities it highlights, this must now be accompanied by the resources and action necessary to make a real difference.
By Henning Gloystein

SINGAPORE, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up on Monday, halting a 2 percent slide from Friday, on expectations that Saudi Arabia would continue to restrain its output in order to support prices, and as the amount of rigs drilling for new oil in the United States dipped.

Oil ports, producers and refiners in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, which shut facilities ahead of Hurricane Nate, were planning to reopen on Monday as the storm moved inland, away from most energy infrastructure on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) front-month crude futures were trading at $49.44 per barrel at 0015 GMT, up 15 cents, or 0.3 percent, from their last close.

Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were up 8 cents, or 0.14 percent, at $55.70 a barrel.

Oil tumbled by around 2 percent on Friday, with WTI dipping back below $50 per barrel, as concerns of overproduction re-surfaced.

But analysts said on Monday that a Saudi Arabian commitment to support the market by restraining output would prevent crude from falling further.

"We remain fairly confident that the Saudi's will look to continue to support the oil market, especially until the sale of Aramco," said Shane Channel, equity and derivatives adviser at ASR Wealth Advisers.

State-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco is planning to float around 5 percent of the firm in an initial public offering (IPO) next year.

A reported cut in the number of U.S. oil rigs drilling for new production provided some price support.

The oil rig count fell by two to 748 in the week to Oct 6, General Electric Co's Baker Hughes energy services firm said in its closely followed report on Friday. <RIG-OL-USA-BHI> (Reporting by Henning Gloystein; Editing by Neil Fullick)
On Sunday, a special congregation that included a handful of visitors from the Havre area met in the Heights to celebrate Billings newest centenarian: St. Johns Lutheran Ministries Little White Church.

Its a milestone the building may have never reached, were it not for the local religious organizations efforts to move the former Faith Lutheran Church 277 miles from Box Elder to Billings in 2006.

In the last decade, this house has been transformed from death to new life, ministries CEO David Trost told the congregation gathered in the 100-year-old church.

This church has been a lot to a lot of a people, said Deanna Bitz, a former member of the church who traveled from Havre for the buildings 100-year anniversary.

When the Faith Lutheran Church in Box Elder closed its doors in 2005, the historic buildings future was uncertain. Bitz said one of the higher ups in the congregation had even suggested burning the building down.

God answers prayers in strange ways, Bitz told the congregation.

The building itself was younger than its original congregation, which was begun by a group of Swedish and Norwegian homesteaders in 1911. That date was memorialized on a cornerstone that today rests outside the Little White Church.

The church was rededicated in 2012, following an extensive renovation effort in the years after the move. The ministries CEO at the time of the move, Kent Burgess, reflected on the unlikely project to move the church.

This is less about this building and more about the story of how it came to be, Burgess said. You never know when a good story begins, and you never know when a good story ends."

Referring to the WyndStone Senior Living community that now adjoins the church, he joked, What do we do when we get older? We move to a retirement home. And thats this church did, it moved to a retirement home.

Also present at the celebration was the Johnson family from Havre, Rayna Johnson, the last person baptized at Faith Lutheran in Box Elder. Her father, Jeff, reprised one of his roles for the Box Elder congregation by ringing the church bell at the conclusion of the service.
SHANGHAI, Oct 9 (Reuters) - China is looking to speed up approvals for new drugs and plans to accept data from clinical trials carried out overseas, a potential boon for international drugmakers and patients who often face lengthy delays for new medicines to reach the market.

The move, announced by the Cabinet late on Sunday, said foreign drug trial data would be accepted in a bid to accelerate approvals and help China close an innovation gap with developed international markets.

"Clinical trial data from overseas centres that complies with Chinese drug and medical device registration requirements can be used to make registration applications in China," the draft proposals posted on the State Council's website said.

Generally, draft proposals announced in China are later implemented much as they first appear.

The move should help speed up approvals in the world's second largest drug market, after the United States, where global firms have faced rising challenges from Chinese rivals and authorities are keen to squeeze down prices.

The proposal said that firms looking to register drugs or medical devices for the first time would need to provide clinical trial data related to any racial divergence relevant to the Chinese market.

The announcement comes as China aims to boost its drug industry and support a shift from generic drugs and towards more innovative medicines and medical equipment - a trend that raises a longer-term challenge to global firms.

The State Council added that the changes would make China's industry more competitive and help meet the clinical needs of its nearly 1.4 billion people, for whom high costs and access to healthcare are significant issues.

"Overall, China's support for scientific innovation with drugs and medical devices is lacking, and the quality of products on the market still falls short of top international levels," the central government body said.

"We must speed up the examination and approval of urgently needed drugs and medical devices," it added. (Reporting by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Richard Borsuk)
By Drazen Jorgic and Syed Raza Hassan

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The son-in-law of ousted Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif was arrested at Islamabad airport on Monday by Pakistan's anti-corruption body on his return from London, officials said, a rare instance of a powerful Pakistani politician being detained.

Muhammad Safdar, a lawmaker married to Sharif's daughter and heir-apparent Maryam, was arrested after he failed to appear at previous National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court hearings about corruption allegations stemming from a probe into the Sharif family wealth.

The Sharifs have denied any wrongdoing and have labelled the corruption proceedings against them as politically motivated. Two of Nawaz's sons are also due to appear before the NAB court, along with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

Nawaz was disqualified by the Supreme Court in July for not declaring a source of income that he disputes receiving. Pakistan's top court also ordered a wide-ranging NAB investigation and trial into Sharif family members.

The Supreme Court specified that the trial be concluded within six months by NAB, which has in the past been derided as toothless because rich and powerful politicians were seldom convicted.

Safdar, who was arrested soon after midnight, was expected to be released after his NAB court appearance with Maryam this morning.

Television footage showed some supporters from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) trying to stop the car from leaving the airport, including some who lay down in front of it. A senior PML-N official urged them to give way.

Khawaja Saad Rafique, a minister in the PML-N Cabinet, said on Twitter no resistance was made to Safdar's arrest, even though the party had "serious reservations" about the judicial process.

Sharif's disqualification stems from the Panama Papers leaks in 2016 that appeared to show that his daughter and two sons owned offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands and used them to buy properties in London.

The Supreme Court initially declined to dismiss Nawaz but ordered an investigation into his family's wealth. After the probe it disqualified him and ordered a NAB investigation and trial into the family.

Some senior PML-N officials, including Maryam, have hinted that elements of Pakistan's powerful military had a hidden hand in the Supreme Court disqualification that forced Nawaz to resign. The army denied playing a role.

The case against the Sharifs has gripped Pakistan, with analysts expecting the negative newsflow from the hearings to hurt PML-N in the run-up to the next general elections, likely in mid-2018. (Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Paul Tait)
PARIS, Oct 9 (Reuters) - France will not recognise Catalonia if the Spanish region unilaterally declares independence, European affairs minister Nathalie Loiseau said on Monday.

"If there were to be a declaration of independence, it would be unilateral, and it would not be recognised," Loiseau said on CNews television.

Catalonia, which has its own language and culture and is led by a pro-independence regional government, held a referendum on Oct. 1 over secession in defiance of Spain's constitutional court, which had declared the vote illegal.

"Catalonia cannot be defined by the vote organised by the independence movement just over a week ago," the French junior minister said. "This crisis needs to be resolved through dialogue at all levels of Spanish politics."

A hasty decision to recognise independence following such a unilateral declaration would amount to fleeing France's responsibilities, Loiseau added.

"If independence were to be recognised - which is not something that's being discussed - the most immediate consequence would be that (Catalonia) automatically left the European Union." (Reporting by Cyril Camu; Writing by Laurence Frost)
By Tom Gardner

ADDIS ABABA, Oct 9 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Ethiopian maid Zenit Ali has post-traumatic stress disorder after being mistreated by her Saudi Arabian employer and deported in a government crackdown, but she still hopes to return to the Middle East.

The 27-year-old is among some 70,000 illegal Ethiopian migrants expelled from the Gulf kingdom since March, as it seeks to reduce its reliance on millions of migrant labourers.

"I'm not happy," she anxiously told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, while staying in a shelter for trafficked women run by a local charity Agar Ethiopia.

"I have no job here in Ethiopia. I want to build my home but I can't because my family has used all the money. I need to go back."

The number of Ethiopians being smuggled and trafficked to the Middle East has surged in recent years, as brokers lure the poor and unemployed with promises of a better life.

Most women work as maids, often for more than 20 hours a day, with few legal rights. Many do not have enough food or sleep, have their phones and passports confiscated and endure physical and sexual abuse, rights groups say.

The controversial "kafala" sponsorship system, used across the Gulf, requires foreign workers to get their employer's consent to change jobs or leave the country.

Saudi Arabia has publicly said it will deport or jail an additional 400,000 or so Ethiopians it believes live there illegally, following the August expiry of an amnesty allowing them to leave without punishment.

During a 2013 crackdown, many of 160,000 Ethiopians who were expelled were first detained, beaten and held in squalid conditions, Human Rights Watch said. Others were dumped in the desert near the Yemeni border, it said.

Despite these risks, most migrants choose not to leave.

"People may prefer to stay there even with the threat of imprisonment," Abebaw Minyaw, a psychology professor at Addis Ababa University, said in an interview in his office.

"The original factors that pushed them there in the first place - poverty, above all - have not changed."

An Ethiopian government spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.

A DOG AND A SLAVE

In interviews with more than 1,000 returnees in 2014, the professor found the majority had been abused - yet they still wanted to return to the Gulf.

Most said they were not given any time off work or allowed to meet friends outside their employers' homes.

More than a quarter had mental health problems, he found, attributing this to violations, like rape, beating, overwork and being called a dog and a slave.

Experts say Ethiopians are likely to keep risking their lives as migrants because they lack opportunities at home.

"(They) are imbued with a very strong sense of responsibility for the economic welfare of their families, which propels them to seek opportunities outside Ethiopia," said Bina Fernandez, a migration expert at the University of Melbourne.

Back-to-back droughts have left 8.5 million people in Africa's second most populous country in need of food aid.

Most migrants use illegal channels because it is cheaper and faster, according to Kenya-based Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat (RMMS) think tank. A record 117,000 Ethiopians arrived in Yemen last year, it said.

Organised criminal networks traffic people between Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Yemen, which is the gateway to the Middle East, the United Nations migration agency says.

Already this year 55,000 migrants, mostly young Ethiopian men, have taken the hazardous route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen and on to the Gulf, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

The route is popular because it is cheaper than others, but migrants often fall victim to abuse.

Hundreds of Ethiopian and Somali migrants were forced from boats into rough seas off Yemen in August by smugglers trying to avoid authorities or armed groups on shore in war-torn Yemen, IOM said. At least 60 migrants drowned.

FALSE PROMISES

One of the main challenges in avoiding such tragedies is that most Ethiopian migrants to the Gulf chose to be smuggled across borders, often in deals arranged by brokers and employment agents from their own communities.

"The brokers give them false promises," said Niguse Mekonen, a spokesman for the charity Agar Ethiopia.

"They don't know what they'll face."

It is easy for smugglers to become traffickers, subjecting the migrants they are transporting to forced labour or sexual exploitation.

The line between the two can be hazy, the professor said.

The U.N. defines trafficking as the recruitment, transport or transfer of people through the use of force, coercion and fraud for the purpose of exploitation.

The number of traffickers convicted in Ethiopia surged 10-fold to 640 in 2016, up from 69 in 2015, the U.S. State Department said in its 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report. (Reporting by Tom Gardner; Editing by Katy Migiro. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org to see more stories.)
LJUBLJANA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Slovenia's financial watchdog issued a warning on Monday that virtual currencies - such as bitcoin - are not regulated and are not guaranteed by the central bank or any other state body.

The Financial Stability Board, which is affiliated with the central bank, said interest in virtual currencies from the public had lately increased "very much" and particularly as an investment opportunity. It gave no further details.

"Investors in virtual currencies ... have to take into consideration whether risks are in line with their personal preferences and investment goals," the board said in a statement.

Bitcoin, for example, enables individuals to transfer value to each other and pay for goods and services bypassing banks and the mainstream financial system.

Last month, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi criticised a proposal by the Estonian government to launch a state-managed digital currency, saying the euro was the only valid money in the euro area.

Estonia became the first European country to openly discuss the prospect of a digital currency managed by the government and offered to the country's more than 20,000 e-residents - foreign entrepreneurs who open a firm in the country via the web.

The Financial Stability Board, which consists of representatives of various government bodies, is headed by the Bank of Slovenia Governor Bostjan Jazbec, who also sits on the ECB's governing council.

The board is responsible for implementing macro prudential policy that would protect the stability of Slovenia's financial system.

The statement also said that initial coin offerings (ICOs) are also not regulated and controlled, and said investors in ICOs should invest "in the amount that would not leave them too exposed".

ICOs have been used by digital currency entrepreneurs around the world to raise large sums quickly by creating and selling digital "tokens" which have no regulatory oversight.

(Reporting By Marja Novak. Editing by Jane Merriman)
By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - A public feud between President Donald Trump and Senate Republican maverick Bob Corker could narrow the path for enacting tax reform in the U.S. Senate, where a Republican go-it-alone effort is already showing signs of disunity.

Days after the Republican-controlled Congress took two important steps toward advancing tax legislation, a Trump-Corker shouting match threatened to further alienate Trump from key Republican senators such as John McCain, who prevented the party earlier this year from repealing Obamacare.

The political stakes could not be higher for Republicans. Tax reform offers them a chance to show they can govern and woo voters for the November 2018 midterm elections.

Trump and top Republicans have unveiled a plan to slash taxes for businesses and individuals, the first comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. tax code since 1986. They hope to complete the monumental task by January.

But the tax reform push has been dogged by delays and distractions such as Trump's criticisms of his own party's leaders including Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan.

"Trump is running an outside game working to appeal to his core base of support and doesn't necessarily care how this may or may not affect his relationship with the Senate," said Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist with close ties to Congress and the White House.

The latest incident erupted on Sunday. Trump lashed out at Corker in a series of derisive tweets saying the lawmaker had begged the president for his endorsement and announced his retirement after being turned down.

Corker replied in his own tweet describing the White House as an adult day care center, and then told the New York Times that Trump risks setting the nation on the path to "World War Three".

The spat is exactly what Republicans do not need as they move tax legislation through the Senate, which they control by only a 52-48 margin. Most Democrats are united in opposition to the plan, and Republicans cannot pass it if they lose support from more than two lawmakers of their own party.

"This is a delicate balance," said Stephen Moore, a fellow for the conservative Heritage Foundation who helped write Trump's campaign tax plan. "It all comes down to whether you can get 50 votes in the Senate. Right now, by my count, theyre at about 48. A few votes short."

Divisions have already emerged over proposals to repeal the federal inheritance tax and a popular deduction for state and local taxes. Another maverick, Senate Republican Rand Paul, has expressed unhappiness over reports that Trump's tax plan could raise taxes on some middle class Americans.

Republicans cannot afford to have Corker become a maverick like McCain. A key player in the tax debate, Corker helped the Senate move closer to legislation by agreeing to a budget resolution that would allow tax reform to lose $1.5 trillion in revenue over a decade.

But he has vowed not to vote for any tax package that adds to the federal deficit. Republicans hope Corker will ultimately vote for tax reform in hopes of boosting economic growth, but analysts say Trump's derisive tweets do not help, especially now that the Tennessee Republican has announced his retirement.

"Bob Corker, at this point, is as free as John McCain is to do what he thinks is right," said William Galston, former domestic policy adviser to President Bill Clinton.

Republicans dismissed Trump's fight with Corker.

"While it may really bother other Senate Republicans and it's unnerving that one of their own is being attacked, most arent retiring and know they must still work with the White House or answer to frustrated voters," Bonjean said. (Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and David Gregorio)
With the newest BASEL regulations lifting the bar higher for minimum capital, Sri Lankan banks are set to face another challenge as the countrys banking regulator is planning to double the minimum capital required for a licensed bank, Mirror Business learns.



The minimum core capital, which mainly comprises of shareholder funds and retained earnings, is set to go up from the current Rs.10 billion to Rs.20 billion by 2020, and the Central Bank is likely to issue a circular to this effect shortly, leaving with a transition period of 2-3 years before full compliance.

Hence, this requires the banks to continue to tap shareholders for fresh equity unless the annual profits could bridge the gap between the actual core capital and the regulator required minimum capital.



While the larger and some of the mid-sized lenders are already in compliance with the Rs.20 billion minimum core capital requirement, the smaller banks will have to go behind their shareholders, who have already pumped in a billion of rupees in fresh equity in order to meet the Central Banks earlier minimum capital requirement of Rs.10 billion as core capital.



Promoters of Cargills Bank Limited, a private lender with assets of Rs.16.0 billion, infused over Rs.5.0 billion in fresh equity last year just to meet this requirement while Pan Asia Bank PLC and Amana Bank PLC also raised Rs.2.0 billion and Rs.4.5 billion respectively this year to overcome the regulatory hurdle.



According to a banking source, the Central Bank wants to have only a few larger banks with significant asset bases that can fund bigger projects in line with the rapid economic development projected for the country during the medium term.



Therefore they (the Central Bank) are indirectly coming to sector consolidation again, he said asking not to be named.



The doubling of the minimum core capital of banks up to Rs.20 billion was first proposed in the budget 2017 by the then Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake but the Central Bank officials never pursued the matter as the industry was then bracing for BASEL III accords higher capital levels.



BASEL III rules came into effect in July 1, 2017 and the Central Bank may be of the opinion that now is time to announce the next set of minimum regulatory capital requirement for the banks.



Although this does not come as a complete surprise, some small lenders have still not even met the earlier directive issued by the Central Bank in December 2014 for Rs.10 billion core capital.



The matter for raising the regulatory minimum capital is said to have been discussed extensively at the Central Bank and it is expected this could be proposed at the forthcoming budget to give the banks enough transition time.

Sri Lankan banks have already started raising money through rights issues and convertible debt to stay in line with the BASEL III capital requirements.



Hence, the new development might prompt the banks to ramp up their capital raising efforts to satisfy both the BASEL III as well as the regulator.



However BASEL III capital and regulatory minimum capital are not mutually exclusive as each requires continuously higher capital.



So, through this, I believe what the Central Bank is trying to do is to make the banks well prepared for higher capital adequacy requirements under BASEL III, a banking industry official said.



In any case, the question remains if the banking sector investors are willing to pump in capital continuously with meagre returns and a lot of this capital will also stay idle without being able to generate an income.



BASEL III and minimum regulatory capital make banks stronger by way of creating higher capital buffers in case of economic shocks such as the global financial crisis in 2007, where the worlds top lenders had to be bailed out by tax payer money.
MEERUT, (The Hindu), OCTOBER 07, 2017 - The CRPF has sent 21,000 rounds of newly-developed and less lethal plastic bullets to the Kashmir Valley to tackle street protests, says a top officer of the force.



The bullets, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by the Ordnance factory based in Pune, can be fitted in the AK series of assault rifles and will be an alternative to the much-criticised pellet shotguns.



Tests have shown that these plastic bullets are less lethal. This will reduce our dependence on pellet guns and other non-lethal weapons used for crowd control, CRPF Director General (DG) R.R. Bhatnagar told PTI.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara (3rd from left) and Assistant Director Viranga Bandara (extreme left) with Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone

Sri Lanka once again proved that it was becoming a favourite hotspot to provide picturesque locations for the Bollywood film industry when it selected Sri Lanka to do the cover shoot of the November issue of Filmfare magazine with Deepika Padukone, one of Bollywoods successful actresses.

Padukone was in Sri Lanka from 05th October to 07th October, with her 12-member Filmfare crew to do the cover shoot and also get a glimpse of Sri Lanka during her short stay. The team stayed at the iconic Cape Weligama resort.



Sri Lanka is reputed for its locations and has contributed for many successful Indian and Hollywood movies such as Water, Bombay Velvet, Bridge on the River Kwai and Indiana Jones.



Sri Lanka has the potential of attracting Indian tourists since both nations share the same traditions, cultures and historical landmarks from the ancient times.



The two countries are well connected with over 126 flights per week between a number of Indian cities and Colombo. From 29th October 2017, it will be increased to 150 flights.



Tourist arrivals from India during the first eight months of the year rose 3.6 percent year-on-year to 233, 120.
The Government was in the process of evolving fresh legislation to provide for reforming and restructuring the State institutions, a State Minister said yesterday.

State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne told the Daily Mirror that the Government studied models for it available in the countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.

He said the Government was in the preliminary stage of drafting the new legislation titled Public Enterprise Bill.

It is not a matter linked with the upcoming budget. Some institutions will be considered for restructuring and the others for Public Private Partnership. The preliminary draft of the Bill is not yet complete. Once it is done, we will put it for discussion, he said.

Asked whether the State banks would be reformed, he said:

The State banks are not a burden on the Treasury at the moment. They are, more or less, stand alone institutions.

There are around 250 public commercial enterprises in the country.

The State Minister said the State banks only faced the challenging of meeting the demand for capital.

We have to augment their capital, he said. (Kelum Bandara)
More than a year ago, Derreice Bretz bought a house in Mills across from the elementary school named for the small town. Her daughter would be starting kindergarten in the fall of 2017, and Derreice wanted to be close.

Then the school closed. The community had decided to shutter the aging building and move into a new, larger school in west Casper.

Derreice sent her daughter to Mountain View Elementary, a school several blocks west of her home. It wasnt across the street. But it was  is  the last school in Mills.

A lot of residents, they take their kids here, she said.

But come June, Mountain View, too, might close. On Sept. 29, the Natrona County School District announced that its board was considering closing four schools: Willard, University Park, Frontier and Mountain View. Officials have said falling enrollment and budget cuts  both brought on by a downturn in the economy  may have doomed the schools.

Theyre small and inefficient, officials say. There are 970 empty elementary seats in the district, which must cut millions in the coming years. Students can be taught elsewhere, and the costs of principals and administrative staff can be cut.

But to many families and students, a schools size isnt a detriment. Its their neighborhood school, even if they dont live in the neighborhood. They know everyone.

The four schools have something else in common: All four are Title I schools, as were Mills and Grant Elementary, which the board voted to close last year. In these schools, at least 40 percent of students come from low-income backgrounds. The schools receive additional funding for schoolwide programs to help support those kids.

Many families dont know what theyll do if, on Oct. 23, the board votes to close the schools. Many parents feel angry.

Thats where Derreice is. On Thursday afternoon, she sat in her car outside of Mountain View, listening to music and waiting for her daughter to finish school. She wondered what would come next.

Im not too happy, she said.

Shes stuck paying for her house for the next 30 years, she said, so moving isnt an option. Shes worried about overcrowding at other schools. Her daughter likes Mountain View. She likes her friends. Where will they go if the school closes?

I think they have a point that Mills is not taken care of as much as Casper, she said of other concerned parents. The town of Mills is concerned, too: On Friday afternoon, the town council passed a resolution opposing the closure of Mountain View. Council members urged residents to go to the school districts Monday board meeting to speak up for the last school in town.

But Derreice thinks the board has already made its decision.

Board members say theyre sensitive to the pain theyd create by closing schools, but theyre adamant that they have no choice.

I just cant believe we have to do this, board member Dana Howie said. I totally understand the numbers. The last thing we want to do is lay people off. All the board members are aware of it. Were all just agonizing over it.

The four schools checked all of the right boxes, the board members say, and the recommendations had nothing to do with the schools Title I status. The schools had too few students in a district with nearly a thousand empty seats. There are too many administrators for those students in a time of slimming budgets.

Every school is a community, is a home. But the next school will be, too, said board chairman Kevin Christopherson. Everybody likes to think theyre nonreplaceable. Every school in the district will tell you the same thing. Its tough closing schools. You hear it a lot, and it tugs at your heartstrings, but it is what it is.

'So here it is'

Shelby Middaugh lives in Bar Nunn but sent her first-grade daughter to Willard Elementary because its close to her day-care lady. She likes Willard, she said, because its small. Her daughter is kind of an oddball, she said, but has found friends and happiness at Willard, a school of 230 kids off First Street in central Casper.

Shelby is angry. She knows the school is small, but its full. From where she was standing, outside her car on a cold morning before school, Shelby gestured toward the playground, where kids were running and playing, chasing each other and standing at the fence, watching their parents leave.

Look at that playground, she said. That is enough kids.

Like Derreice, Shelby doesnt yet know what shell do. A friend is considering homeschooling. Shelby says she cant do that  she has to work. Shes worried about her daughter in a new school.

Ideally, Shelby would send her to another small school, where the girl wont get lost in the shuffle.

Kids can be so cruel, she said.

But small schools, which generally have a maximum capacity of 230 or so students, are becoming a thing of the past in Natrona County. Officials looked hard at those schools because theyre inefficient, Christopherson said. With empty seats across the district, those students can fit elsewhere, and the district can save money on administrative costs.

He has said the district can save $500,000 a year in salaries alone by moving administrators into other positions or having them replace retiring employees elsewhere.

Julie Hornby, the principal of University Park  home to 199 students on the east side of Casper  said educators at the districts small schools had figured they might be in danger. But she and her staff still rationalized everything: They had just their gym painted. Why would the district paint the gym and then close the school? University Park must be safe.

Still, when word came down that Friday afternoon, she wasnt surprised.

We had some idea that eventually this might be coming our way, she said.

But that doesnt make it easier.

I mean, youre small, Hornby said, her voice wavering. Youre close with kids, you know? Ive known most of these kids since preschool.

She smiled and shook off the emotion. She said that a few weeks before the announcement, on another Friday, she met with University Park staff. They all thought she would be delivering news of a closure. She told them no, she would never tell them that the school was closing on a Friday afternoon, just before the start of a weekend.

When she received word on Sept. 29, she called the staff together.

I said, All right guys, remember how I told you I wouldnt call you together on a Friday to tell you if I received information about us closing? Hornby said, laughing. Well, I lied. So here it is.

'Its easier to cast us aside'

Megan Fleetwood is mad.

Shes mad that Mountain View, where two of her children go, might close. Shes mad that the district is spending money the way it is. Shes mad that Mills seems to be getting left behind.

In Casper, theres an elementary every 12 blocks, she said.

Megan laughed when asked what she would do if the school closed.

I would try to relocate out of the county, she said, leaning over the steering wheel of her blue SUV outside of school last week. I dont want to support the district.

Shes heard the reasoning from officials. Her voice rising, she repeated what Michael Jennings, the districts executive director of human resources, told the media when the closure proposal was announced: The schools are small and inefficient.

They want to filter us into the bigger schools, Megan concluded, adding that she thinks the district wants to take the Title I funding that the four schools receive and shift it into those buildings. Were the poverty area. Were not thought of. Its easier to cast us aside.

All four school board members who spoke with the Star-Tribune stressed that socioeconomic factors played no role in selecting the schools that may be closed.

Its strictly coincidental that all four are Title I, said board member Toni Billings.

Ive had people ask me that, Howie said. As far as I can tell, its not a consideration. Those are the older schools.

The schools just fit what the district was looking for, officials say. Willard and University Park were both at or near maximum capacity. But neither has room to grow, board members said, and their student populations can be absorbed elsewhere.

Mountain View has experienced falling enrollment for at least five years. Its currently at less than half capacity. Frontier is the smallest of the traditional middle schools in Casper and lost 16 students compared with last fall.

The board members said that should the schools close, Title I money will follow the students to their new schools. Students will receive the help they need regardless of their new home. Howie said she was absolutely confident that other teachers would be prepared to handle students of any need.

We have those support services throughout the district, Christopherson said. Theyre going to get the services.

'Still trying to decide'

It still isnt real, Hornby, the principal at University Park said. Were all still, Its a recommendation, so were hanging onto that.

What will happen to several hundred students is still in the air. The board will consider the recommendation on Oct. 23 at a meeting at Kelly Walsh High School. Its unclear what the final vote will be.

Christopherson said he supports the recommendation but isnt sure what the full board will do. Howie is concerned about closing Mountain View because its the only school in Mills. She said she doesnt want to shutter any building, but Mountain View is especially difficult.

She said she was continuing to look for ways to avoid closures and wondered how the communities would feel if some of the closures were delayed.

If its going to be inevitable, which is best? she said. Peel the Band-Aid off a little at a time or just rip it off? ... Im still trying to decide.

Board member Dave Applegate said he would make his decision over the next two weeks, as the board receives more input from the community. Billings said she was saddened but understood why all of the schools were recommended for closure.

For some of the parents, the decision already seems final. Megan, whose children go to Mountain View, said shed reached out to the board and they responded to her concerns. But she thinks their minds are already made up.

Shelby, whose daughter goes to Willard, agreed. But shes waiting to break the news to her little oddball.

I havent told my daughter yet, Shelby said. She still has light in her eyes.
RIYADH AFP Oct7, 2017- Saudi news websites reported that security forces had foiled an attack around the Al-Salam palace that left the attacker and at least two Saudi guards killed.

There was no official confirmation of the incident.



The American embassy in Saudi Arabia Saturday cautioned its citizens after reports of an attack around the royal palace in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.



Due to the possibility of ongoing police activity, American citizens are advised to exercise caution when travelling through the area, the embassy said in a brief statement.



The warning comes after the Saudi police raided hideouts of a terror cell linked to the Islamic State group this week, killing two people and arresting five, according to the national security agency.



The State Security Agency said police raided three hideouts in the capital Riyadh and exchanged gunfire in one of them, the SPA news agency reported on Thursday. Since late 2014, IS has claimed a series of bombings and shootings against Shiites and security forces in the Sunni-majority kingdom.



Saudi Arabia is a member of the US-led international coalition that has been battling the Sunni extremist group in Syria and Iraq.
On an official visit to the Republic of Latvia, Honorary Consul General of Latvia in Sri Lanka Thomas F. Daetwyler visited the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Latvia and met Asia and Oceania Division Head Egils Dzelme.



The ministry briefed on the recent developments in Latvia and the interest to promote the bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and Latvia and in the region.



The Consular Division informed about the latest procedures and the outlook and discussed the measures to further the interests of Latvia in Sri Lanka, with the Latvian Development Institute, Latvian Institute, Riga Technical University and Riga Stradins University (Medical Faculty).
Nikon Corporation of Japan, the manufacturer of world famous Nikon cameras, recently celebrated the completion of 100 years of superlative service to its customers world-wide.



In its own inimitable way, most countries across the globe joined Nikons centenary celebrations with fanfare in a fitting tribute to mark the historic milestone of a brand which revolutionized the world of photography.



In Sri Lanka, Photo Technica celebrated Nikons 100th anniversary in a spirit of conviviality at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo. The senior management of Photo Technica, authorized dealers, long term customers, and well-known photographers were amongst the large and representative gathering present on the occasion.



Nikon Corporation of Japan was launched in 1917. Photo Technica was established in 1958 and since then, the company has continued to serve as the authorized exclusive distributor of Nikon in Sri Lanka.
A boat carrying Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh capsized and at least 12 people, most of them children, drowned, police said on Monday, the latest victims of violence in Myanmar that has forced more than half a million people to flee.

The boat sank near Shah Porir Dwip, on the southern tip of Bangladesh, late on Sunday with up to 35 people on board, Bangladeshi police said.

Bangladeshi fishermen have been cramming their boats since late August with desperate Rohingya fleeing a Myanmar security crackdown that the United Nations has denounced as ethnic cleansing.

Bangladeshi police officer Mohammed Mainuddin told Reuters that 12 bodies - 10 children, one woman and a man - had been recovered.

A Reuters photographer earlier saw the bodies of four children, two women and a man washed up on a beach.

Authorities said 13 people had been rescued.

Some 519,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25, when attacks by Rohingya militants on police and military posts in Rakhine State sparked a ferocious response from Myanmars security forces.

Myanmar rejects accusations of ethnic cleansing and has labeled the militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, who launched the initial attacks, as terrorists.

The insurgents declared a one-month ceasefire from Sept. 10, which is due to end at midnight on Monday.

The ability of the group, which only surfaced in October last year, to mount any sort of challenge to the Myanmar army is not known but it does not appear to have been able to put up resistance to the military offensive unleashed in August.

It would be difficult for the insurgents to operate in areas where the military has driven out Rohingya civilians, in the north of Rakhine Sate, near the border with Bangladesh.

The insurgents said in a statement on Saturday they were ready to respond to any peace move by the Myanmar government, but also noted that the ceasefire was about to end.(Reuters)
UNITED NATIONS AFP Oct6, 2017 - Saudi Arabia on Friday rejected the UNs move to blacklist the coalition fighting in Yemen for the killing and maiming of children, calling the information cited in the international bodys annual list misleading. We reject the inaccurate and misleading information and figures contained in the report, the Saudi Ambassador to the UN Abdallah al-Mouallimi told a news conference at the United Nations, insisting the Saudi-led coalition does everything possible to avoid hitting civilians.
Maritime stakeholders should focus their attention on a greater maritime visibility for enhanced maritime security cooperation with friendly nations, said State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene who was the Chief Guest at today's 8th Galle Dialogue.

At this event organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, he said the maritime domain and its affairs have today become one of the crucial factors with the ability to decide and influence the present as well as future affairs to a greater extent.

"Sri Lanka's strategic location in the Indo-Asia Pacific region is fast becoming the centre of gravity in world affairs. With the advantage of the unique position of the Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, we are looking at the future with great expectations to regain our maritime glory in the Indian Ocean by promoting mainly trade and tourism," the state minister said. "As no nation is capable of addressing challenges and threats in the maritime domain in isolation, Sri Lanka too seek cooperation and assistance from all nations to ensure that the Indian Ocean is kept free from all threats and challenges."

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Travis Sinniah said despite the many advances made in maritime surveillance and intelligence gathering, the oceans were still exploited for a number of illegal activities both by State and non-State actors.

Delivering the welcome address, he said that it was time to reach a consensus on cooperation among states to share information in creating the finest real time picture of what is happening in the oceans of the world.

In today's economy, the oceans have an increased significance requiring all countries to be able to participate in the global market place. Shipping is the heart of the global economy, but it remains vulnerable. International commerce could be at risk at the key trading hubs as well as at the strategic choke-points, the Navy Commander said

The Commander said the right of vessels to travel freely in international waters, engage in innocent transit passage with access to ports was an essential element of international security.

He said as an Island, Sri Lankas maritime well-being had been vital throughout the nation's history.

We recognize the requirement to establish a common Maritime Domain awareness organization worldwide with an integrated information-sharing grid, aiding in detecting and tackling threats emanating from the sea in real time, the Navy Commander said.

He said this years theme which was Greater Maritime Visibility for Enhanced Maritime Security, focuses on the challenges faced by maritime law enforcement agencies that endeavour to maintain a high degree of surveillance and enhanced maritime domain awareness.

Local and foreign scholars and experts in naval and maritime affairs representing 51 countries including India, China, Japan, Britain and the USA along with 12 international organisations are taking part in this years two-day conference.

Former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the CDS Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, the Commanders of the Air Force, Army and the IGP Pujith Jayasundara and several senior government and military officials also attended the opening ceremony. (Darshan Sanjeeea)

Pic By Pradeep Dilrukshana
Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said Monday that it was preparing to send investigators to Sri Lanka to seek further details on the reported arrest there of two suspects accused of helping hackers stealing millions of US dollars from a Taiwanese bank, the Taiwan media reported today.

However, due to the fact that Taiwan has no diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka or any government representatives stationed in Sri Lanka, the CIB told CNA, it would take some time to get everything in order for the investigators to go to Sri Lanka.

According to local and regional news reports, Far Eastern International Bank was hacked by means of a computer virus and some US$60 million was wired to the accounts of the suspects at a Sri Lanka bank in the capital Colombo.

Two suspects were arrested last week in Sri Lanka when they tried to withdraw the money, and Sri Lanka police look for a third person, according to the news reports.

"We are looking at some US$1.3 million that had come into three accounts in Sri Lanka," an unnamed Sri Lankan official involved with the investigation was quoted as saying in an AFP report. "We have taken two people into custody, and we are looking for one more person."

On Saturday, Far Eastern Bank said it had recovered most of the stolen money and that its losses would amount to no more than US$500,000.

The bank said it noticed some irregularities in its computerized transaction system on Tuesday and then discovered that some of its computers and servers had been infected with malware.

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication's (SWIFT) network was also compromised, which allowed the hackers to wire money to international destinations such as Sri Lanka, Cambodia and the United States, Far Eastern Bank said.

The bank said that on Thursday it reported the matter to Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) and the CIB, which in turn informed the International Criminal Police Organization and asked for assistance.

The FSC said that it was an isolated case in Taiwan and advised that Far Eastern Bank, not its customers, should absorb the losses, the bank said.

Over the weekend, after Premier Lai Ching-te was informed about the case, he asked the relevant agencies to review Taiwan's information security and to close any loopholes, according to Cabinet spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung.
The 25th annual National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) Awards, which fetes outstanding exporters was held recently at the Hilton Colombo. Union Bank supported the initiative by NCE which recognizes exporters who make significant contributions to the economy while rewarding them on their achievements in local and international markets.



The event has achieved national significance over the years in view of its professionalism and high standards.This years event saw the participation of over 600 comprising the business community, state officials, diplomats and other special invitees.

As a premium sponsor, Union Bank sponsored a category of significant awards that included Best Performer in Emerging Markets, Best SME Exporter, Best Value Added Exporter  Services and Best Value Added Exporter  Products.



Another special feature of this years awards ceremony was the presentation of awards to other stakeholders in the field of exports to recognize their contribution for the economic development of Sri Lanka.For over two decades, Union Bank has extended its unwavering support towards empowering Sri Lankan entrepreneurs, especially inspiring the small and medium scale entrepreneurs to improve their export potential. Today, as a fully-fledged, licensed Commercial Bank etched with financial stability and the international know-how of the global investment giant TPG; Union Bank has enhanced its product and service offerings across Corporate, SME and Retail Banking segments to help them reach their financial and business aspirations.
Empowering communities out of poverty  for real. For good. That has been our business for 40 years here in Sri Lanka, says Dhanan Senathirajah, National Director for World Vision in Sri Lanka.

However, as a child-centred agency, children are always at the heart of our work because they are the best indicator of a communitys social health. When children are fed, sheltered, schooled, protected, valued, and loved, a community thrives. So, everything we do has just one goal: the sustained well-being of children, especially the most vulnerable.



Senathirajah who brings a fresh infusion of ideas, hailing from the corporate world, believes that economic development for communities is key to progress  Once economic empowerment happens, other areas work out. To make the development sustainable, we need to help parents have a stable income. Then they are able to support the well-being of their children without compromise He says.

Since 1977, World Vision has been actively involved in community development with interventions in Health & Nutrition, Water& Sanitation, Education and Economic Developmentwith child wellbeing as an underlying feature.



Key to a successful development programme lies in its sustainability, he adds. Our programmes are long term (15- 20 years), participatory and community-based. The community is involved from beginning to end in the whole process of identifying issues that hinder their development and working towards sustainable solutions. The people are the stakeholders and the beneficiaries, which adds value to their contribution towards the projects success. During this time the community is equipped to envision, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate the projects in an interdependent relationship with local governments and other stakeholders. Once they are stable enough to continue the development work, we will move out and the community will take over. We have 12 such programmes that are now run by the community. This year we have handed over four, he says.



For the people, it is a symbolic as well as an emotional moment when the project is given over to the community. Because the project has left a lasting impact on their lives and has benefitted them, they feel a close bond with it and are motivated to take it forward, he says, For us, it is the most rewarding moment to see a community empowered  women participating in decision making, children with special needs are accepted and have accessibility and youth are ready to take leadership.



With projects in 22 out of the 25 districts, World Vision has also been instrumental in providing humanitarian assistance in emergencies such as the tsunami, floods and drought as well as in the post war context. As first responders to crisis situations, we have global expertise and readiness in meeting the immediate needs under such circumstances. We are often the first to enter and the last to leave. We not only focus on the immediate needs but we also look at long term recovery and disaster risk reduction by making communities disaster-ready, says Senathirajah.



He believes that as a global organization with best practices and established work norms, coupled with a local outreach and grass root presence, World Vision has the kind of accountability and potential, which draws corporates to partner for community development work. Today, we see a tremendous transformation in the way CSR is viewed in the corporate world which speaks well for community development as an opportunity to transform lives.



World Vision Lankas work in the sphere of child protection is significant. Among some of World Visions projects are shelters for street children. The children are referred to the Project through the Child Care and Probation Services. While providing them a place of safety and care, the projects also focus on their psycho-social needs. The projects main aim is to reintegrate the children with their families and focuses on the rehabilitation of parents as well, he says.



World Vision will continue to journey with communities until we see every family out of poverty and vulnerability. I want to thank everyone who has partnered and will partner with us in transforming their lives. We greatly appreciate your trust in us, he said in conclusion.
In the cascade of news about funding cuts and budget crises, it's easy to lose sight of a few good things.

It's right to be concerned about the state budget and how deep cuts will affect the poorest, most vulnerable and children. Every Montana citizen should be concerned. The programs at risk took years to build and could be shuttered in a matter of days.

Lost in the shuffle of news about the budget is that last week the U.S. Department of Education announced a seven-year, $24.5 million grant to the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education to increase the number of low-income Montana students who want to attend college.

This is a continuation of a successful pilot program, and it would seem to benefit not only Montana students, but also be a boost for higher education institutions across the state.

The program, called GEAR UP, will help more than 7,000 students in 18 different communities, including Montana's seven tribal reservations.

The idea is pretty simple: Make sure students in those communities are ready for college, and help make it easier to apply.

Many of the students who would be part of this program would be first-generation college students. In other words, this would help families who haven't had family members go to college. That's important because education is a family value, and a college degree can help families overcome generational poverty by providing more opportunities and higher pay.

The grant will continue to provide free ACT testing to all Montana's high-school juniors (that's approximately 10,000 per year). This does two very important things.

First, it provides students with a standardized and recognized test score that is often a prerequisite of college admission. This helps those students make the first step, even if they ultimately choose not to attend college.

Secondly, the standardized test results also help educators focus on improving the student's skills. With the ACT results, teachers can help students who struggle in a subject area improve during their senior year so that when it is time for college, these students have a better chance at academic success.

"It also gives schools a course pattern score comparison with the rest of the state providing actionable data to address curriculum gaps and shortcomings," said John Cech, the Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education.

Since the pilot program began, Montana has shown a 57 percent increase in the number of students who have taken the ACT.

Finally, the grant will help continue a program that truly supports the students and their families overcome the daunting and sometimes intimidating process of going to college.

For example, the grant also supports "College Application Week" where the state's public, private and tribal colleges waive the application fees in order to promote access and awareness. Last year, Cech reported that more than 3,800 applications came in from more than 139 high schools last year (hint: College Application Week this year is Nov. 6 through Nov. 10).

The program also created a virtual college tours and a FAFSA (financial aid form) completion night.

We're glad to see this important program continue and expand to reach even more students.

Politicians in the state are fond of talking about keeping the best and the brightest at home in our Montana workforce. This is one of the ways in which we can promote our students as well as our own excellent system of higher education.

We also think this program and the grant is a great example of a government programming and spending that truly impacts local communities and residents. Montana continues to compete in a global economy and so we need to focus on training and developing the next generation of leaders as a "Made in Montana" product.
The United States security forces, in a joint operation with Canada, Pakistan and the Philippines, dismantled in the summer of last year a terrorist operative who planned to detonate bombs in the new York subway and the square of Times Square, also had Planned to shoot civilians in concerts. The three suspects, who claimed to act on behalf of the Islamic State, were arrested. The defendants are Abdulrahman the Bahnasawy, 19 years of age and Canadian nationality, Talha Haroon, a 19-year-old American citizen and resident in Pakistan, and Russel Salic, 37 years and Filipino origin. The three individuals, according to the declassified summary this Friday, communicated through e-messaging applications over the Internet. The intention was to make the attacks in new York coinciding with the celebration of Ramadan in support of the cause of ISIS. The Bahnasawy was responsible for acquiring the necessary materials to manufacture the bombs and to find a place, not far from the city, where they could mount the explosives. Haroon made plans to fly to the U.S. to help him execute the attacks. Haroon came in parallel with experts in explosives handling. Salic was in charge of financing the operation. The terrorist plot was dismantled in May 2016. The Bahnasawy was arrested in new Jersey, arriving from a trip from Canada, and pleaded guilty. Haroon was detained by the Pakistani authorities four months later and Salic in April of this year. The Department of Justice details that about the defendants weigh up to seven crimes, some of them susceptible to being punished with life imprisonment. Crimes include conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism conspiracy to attack in a public place or in the transport system. The dismantling of the terrorist operation was made possible by the joint action of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice, the federal Investigation Agency and the new York Police Anti-Terrorist unit. They were also in coordination with detectives in Los Angeles (California) and Denver (Colorado) as well as the police from Canada, Pakistan and the Philippines.
Game of chicken or hen game: In Rebel without cause, James Dean and Corey Allen lead to a precipice; The first one to leave is a chicken. The Spanish government and the Generalitat are involved in this infernal dynamic: The Catalan executive could announce some form of unilateral declaration of Independence and Europe is anxiously awaiting the reaction of Madrid. Minister Luis de Guindos has given some clue to his entry in the Eurogroup, in Luxembourg: "We must not advance events, but the government has everything prepared: it will respond accordingly [to the decision of the Generalitat]". "There will be No independence from Catalonia, but irresponsible, irrational and radical policies can cause economic, social, and brutal divisions in Catalan society." Guindos believes that Spain will grow above 3% this year and its team points out that markets have not sobrerreaccionado despite the delicate situation. "But this is not good: it generates noise, uncertainty and restlessness, mainly in Catalonia." Guindos has not speculated on the trail of large companies and banks that are leaving Catalonia. "Depositors can be calm: Spanish banks have the ECB umbrella," he said. The paradox is that when a minister speaks of peace to the depositors, usually the flight of capital has already begun. Most ministers have expressed concern about the situation in Spain. "We look at it with great attention and sometimes with concern," said Commissioner Pierre Moscovici, who opted for a "dialogued, always preferable solution to violence." Italian PIer Carlo Padoan has ensured that the Catalan independence challenge is "serious" and implies "a more unbalanced sign that shows the need to give a new impetus to the European Union." The head of the Eurogroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, has ensured that it is an "internal affair" of Spain and before the flight of banks and companies has called to resolve the conflict "in Cold blood". Catalonia and Spain are not on the agenda of the Eurogroup. But they will be one of the keys to the meeting of Ministers of Economy and Finance, the last of the German Wolfgang Schauble in office. Schauble is, according to the Spanish minister of Guindos, "a great forger of consensus". And at the same time the guy who threatened to kick Greece out of the euro.
Three members of the United States Army Special Forces died on Wednesday and two others were injured in an ambush in Niger, while they were doing routine patrols in that African nation, reported various means Americans. "We can confirm the information that a joint U.S.-Niger patrol was under hostile fire in southwestern Niger," said Commander Anthony Falvo, spokesman for the US Africa Command to the New York Times. As detailed, it occurred about 190 kilometres north of Niamey, the capital of Niger, near the border of Mali, where al Qaeda militants in the Islamic Maghreb, a subsidiary of Al Qaeda, have conducted cross-border forays. These deaths are the first American casualties in a U.S. Special forces training and Assistance Mission to the Nigerien armed forces, who also support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The White House spokesman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, told the press to accompany him that U.S. President Donald Trump has already been informed of what happened.
United States President Donald Trump is expected to begin a process that will torpedo the Iran nuclear deal. His own national security team and almost all experts have said that this is a bad idea. The New York Times says this will be "his most feckless foreign policy decision yet".

The IAEA which closely monitors the Iranian nuclear programme, and the US intelligence community have all certified that Iran has been honouring the deal. The Trump decision will heighten tensions between the US and Iran, but also the Americans and their other partners in the deal  Germany, UK, France, China and Russia.

How it affects India

Further, if Iran dumps the deal, and takes up its nuclear weapons programme where it left off, it could bring the region to the brink of war. India will not be immune to the fallout. Indeed, Trump's actions will have a hugely negative impact on us, both in terms of opportunity costs of stable ties with an oil-rich country proximate to us, as well as direct costs that would come with a potential conflict.

It would also upend India's geopolitical moves to counter the One Belt One Road (OBOR) by creating transportation linkages to Afghanistan, Central Asia and Europe through the Iranian ports of Bandar Abbas and Chabahar.

Considering that the US is finding it difficult to deal with North Korea, just why it would allow another nuclear power to emerge and complicate matters in the Middle East is inexplicable. At the bottom of everything, Trump's decision raises the question: Is the US even capable of taking rational and reasonable decisions any more, and can it be trusted to play the leadership role in world affairs?

The Chabahar project and India's membership in the International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC) provide us a major opportunity to come up with a viable and workable riposte to the OBOR. The $500 million (Rs 3,272 crore) Chabahar agreement is in two parts: the first worth $150 million (Rs 982 crore) is to develop the port, and the second is to develop a railway line between Chah Bahar and Zahedan.

Even with Pakistan hampering trade, India imports some $300 million (Rs 1,963 crore) worth of Afghan goods and exports $600 million (Rs 3,926 crore). With an alternative route, things could be much better. Besides aiding in stabilising Afghanistan, it could enhance India's stock as a player in the Afghan reconstruction.

The Chabahar project and India's membership in the International North South Transportation Corridor provide us a major opportunity to come up with a viable and workable riposte to the OBOR.

Trade opportunities

The opportunities in Iran are even greater. As of now Iran, exports nearly $6 billion (Rs 39,200 crore) to India which is its second biggest export destination after China. Indian exports are some $3 billion (Rs 19,600 crore).

These 2015 figures reflect the fact that Iran was under sanctions because of the nuclear issue till the end of the year. Indian companies such as Tatas, Essar, Cipla, Hero, Bajaj and TVS are already in the Iranian market and Indian oil majors are keen to step up their investments in Iran as well.

There is already an excellent 1,000-km road linking Chabahar with Mashad and Sarakhs on Iran's tri-junction with Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. A railway linking the three countries was inaugurated in 2014. The rail link to Zahedan can be extended to Mashad from where it will link up to northern routes to Central Asia and Afghanistan.

Parallel to this is the more ambitious INSTC which sees Kandla and Mumbai being linked to Iran's major port Bandar Abbas, and thence northwards through rail links which are mostly already developed to the Baltic ports of Russia and the European railways system. Test cargoes sent on this route have found that a 40 ft container costs $3000 (Rs 1,96,000), as compared to $4,000 (Rs 2,61,764) by the sea route which would take twice as long.

Independent stand

What Trump's misguided action will do is to undermine all the positives that have emerged from the Iran nuclear deal and take us into an era of uncertainty and even war. India will lose out on the potential opportunities listed above. Things could get worse if there is war and the oil supply from the Persian Gulf to India is hit and the Indian diaspora forced to return home.

Between 2010 and 2015, India complied with UN-mandated sanctions by reducing economic relations with Iran. This time, India is unlikely to follow suit if only because there won't be any UN mandate. But Trump's actions would pose a major political dilemma for India which has otherwise put all its eggs in the American basket.
A plan to build the largest wind farm in the world should be a part of the decommissioning plan for Colstrip Units 1 & 2 and Plants 3 & 4.

Training the workers that will be displaced to build operate and maintain the wind turbines could be part of the economic mitigation the companies are promising as they stop using coal. Moving to green energy skills could keep many people in Colstrip economically viable well into the future. The existing transmission used for the Colstrip power plants is also ideally equipped to haul future wind generation to the large electric demands out of state. The companies involved should be glad not to let those transmission assets become obsolete.

Furthermore, to meet the challenge of scheduling and shaping an unprecedented large wind-energy farm into a reliable valuable resource; the Colstrip power plants could be converted to natural gas and used to smooth the power generated from the wind. Natural gas is cleaner than coal and abundant in Eastern Montana, this would guarantee many high-wage jobs remain in Colstrip to modernize, convert, operate and maintain the power plants for the next 50 years.

The converted power plants could be used to smooth the power generation from a wind farm taking advantage of the abundant wind in southeastern Montana, making Eastern Montana the clean energy envy of the world. Learning the job skills of doing the power plant conversions and wind farm build-out would be skills that would translate to good jobs all over the world for the next generation.

I would encourage all the citizens of Eastern Montana to lobby the government and private companies to get this done. Montana becoming the worlds largest source of wind generated electricity could give new meaning to Big Sky Country.

Jim Jewell

West Richard, W.Va.
Growing up in Montana has been an experience I will never forget.

As a child, I remember playing in empty grain silos and spending my summers down by the Yellowstone river catching frogs and snakes. As I got older, I spent long hours harvesting what seemed like endless crops of wheat and working on farm equipment in the Blue Creek area at Newman Ranch. Once in a while, we took a welcomed break from the heat, wheat chaff, and grasshoppers and went to Crow Fair.

I had my first exposure to Native American culture  and it was nothing like the kids at school (including myself) talked about. I remember hearing the sounds and seeing the colors of a proud tribe. This is something you will never witness in a big city and every time I travel, people ask me about it.

I think that Montanas history is important and we are in the unique position to preserve Native culture for all generations. Columbus Day has never meant anything to me but a three-day weekend. Its just another day off for most people. Why not observe a day that highlights Montanas history and unique culture? Why not have events in our towns and cities that will bring people from miles around?

I think it is time to revisit changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day in honor of Montanas Native American history and culture. As a father, I would like my children to see that diversity is important in our communities.

Jeff Blatnick

Billings
 Appalachian Voices hosts Clara Bingham speaking about and screening her film The Last Mountain at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at Light House Studios @ Vinegar Hill Theatre at 220 W. Market St. (434) 294-6373.

 Charlottesville Aviation Luncheon Club hosts Mark Metcalf speaking about Chinas military in Developing Nation to Rising Power during the groups monthly meeting at noon Oct. 18 at Blue Ridge Cafe at 8315 Seminole Trail in Ruckersville. (434) 328-2323.

 Center for Biomedical Ethics and Humanities offers the Medical Center Hour with Dr. William R. Jarvis presenting Hayden-Farr Lecture in Epidemiology and Virology from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Pinn Hall at UVa Medical Center. med.virginia.edu/Biomedical Ethics. (434) 924-5974.

 Creciendo Juntos hosts a screening of the documentary Harvest of Empire: The Untold Story of Latinos in America, followed by an interactive panel led by film producer Juan Gonzalez, from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday in the Newcomb Theater on UVa Grounds. cj-network.org.

 Crozet Soiree hosts historian Phill James presenting Talkin Old Crozet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Crozet Library. (4340 823-4050.

 Daria Brezinski presents Effective Business and Personal Communication from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Fluvanna County Library in Palmyra. Register in advance by calling (434) 589-3263.

 Fifth District Rep. Tom Garretts office holds local office hours for constituents who need assistance with federal agencies from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Greene Administration Building in Stanardsville, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Fluvanna County Public Library in Palmyra and from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Buckingham Administrative Building in Buckingham. (202) 225-4711.

 Jefferson School African-American Heritage Center hosts Angela Davis presenting Reading the Black Intellectual from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday and an artist talk with Lisa Beane on her new exhibit, Karma, from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. 233 Fourth St. NW. jeffschoolheritagecenter.org. (434) 260-8720.

 Jefferson Chapter Virginia Native Plant Society hosts Mary Lee Epps presenting Insect Pollinators in our Ecosystems from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Ivy Creek Natural Area at 1780 Earlysville Road. (434) 973-7772.

 Lodge at Old Trail holds its Third Thursday Series with Peggy Sanner presenting Protecting Virginia Waterways: Challenges and Successes in a Time of Political Change at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 19. 330 Claremont Lane in Crozet. (434) 823-9100.

 Miller Center presents the Historical Presidency Series with Ken Gormley presenting The Presidents and the Constitution: A Living History from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday. 2201 Old Ivy Road. The two-part panel discussion in the Thomas Jeffersons Legacy and Religious Freedom series includes Jeffersons Legacy on Religion in the Public Square from 9:10 to 10:15 a.m. Wednesday and The State of Religious Freedom Around the World from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Montalto at 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway. Who Are the Alt-Right and Why Did They Come to Charlottesville in August? is presented by Jamelle Bouie, Dahlia Lathwick and Nicole Hemmer from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 101 of Nau Hall on UVa Grounds. millercenter.org. (434) 924-7236.

 Senior Statesmen of Virginia holds a Candidates Forum with candidates for Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and Albemarle County School Board from 1 to 2:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Senior Center at 1180 Pepsi Place. (434) 970-3053.

 Theological Horizons and the Project on Lived Theology hosts Stanley Hauerwas of Duke University presenting the 2017 Capps Lecture, Christianity is Madness: Kierkegaard and the Academy, at 6 p.m. Thursday in Room 101 of Nau Hall on UVa Grounds. theologicalhorizons.org. (434) 244-2839.

 350 Central Virginia hosts Climate Action in the Commonwealth: An Introduction to Virginias Carbon Rule from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Central Library at 201 E. Market St. (434) 979-7151.

 Town halls with Ann H. Mallek discussing the Capital Improvement Plan will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Crozet Elementary School, at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at the White Hall Community Center and at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at Broadus Wood Elementary school. (434) 978-1150.

 UVa School of Engineering and Applied Science holds the Distinguished Learning Series with Saul Williams, actor and hip-hop artist, speaking from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Old Cabell Hall on UVa Grounds. engineering.virginia.edu. (434) 924-3072.

 Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy hosts David Spears speaking about recent geologic discoveries in Virginia at noon Tuesday at 900 Natural Resources Drive. dmme.virginia.gov. (434) 951-6341.

 Virginia Foundation for the Humanities hosts Jane Barnes presenting Sex and the Supreme Court: Mormons, Polygamy and the Moral Life of the Body from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 17. 145 Ednam Drive. virginiahumanities.org. (434) 924-6562.

 World Mental Health Day is observed at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Freedom of Speech Wall on the Downtown Mall. Hosted by Brave Souls on Fire. (434) 806-5172.
In an effort to prevent future white nationalist rallies and allow the removal of Confederate statues in Charlottesville, the city will create a task force and push for local and state legislation, according to a statement released by the city Sunday evening.

The announcement came a day after dozens of white nationalists and supremacists, led by University of Virginia graduate Richard Spencer, gathered with torches in Emancipation Park. The rally elicited fear and anger from the Charlottesville community.

It is unconscionable that Mr. Spencer and his allies would return to our city to intimidate and spread fear, especially after their morally reprehensible invasion of the city on August 12th, the citys statement said.

According to the statement, the city hopes to prevent future reoccurrences of the rallies and develop proactive legal, policing, regulatory, outreach and communications strategies.

The statement also said the Charlottesville Police Department is working with the commonwealths attorneys office to pursue legal action, something Mayor Mike Signer and City Councilor Wes Bellamy suggested in tweets on Saturday.

Police said Saturdays torch-lit rally attracted between 40 and 50 people near the citys statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee at Emancipation Park. According to Charlottesvilles current special events ordinance, demonstrations involving 50 or fewer people can take place without a permit.

The citys statement said the city attorneys office has been working with outside counsel to develop new rules and procedures to give the city additional authority over rallies and demonstrations. A report is expected at the councils Oct. 16 meeting.

The only way to counter the irrational and despicable motives and methods of a Richard Spencer and his alt-right confederation is with a comprehensive, rational course of action that thwarts every white supremacist incursion, at every turn, and from every angle, Councilor Kathy Galvin said in the statement.

The city also said the council on Nov. 6 will discuss sending proposed legislation to the General Assembly that will include sanctions against certain types of guns in public places, as well as legislation granting localities the authority to remove their own memorials and monuments.

According to Virginia Code 15.2-1812, a locality may erect monuments or memorials for any war or conflict, including the Civil War, and that those monuments cannot be disturbed. A lawsuit is ongoing in Charlottesville Circuit Court to determine whether the Lee statue should be considered a war memorial, and if the city can remove it, as the council voted to do several months ago.

Saturdays white nationalist rally, dubbed Charlottesville 3.0 by Spencer, came as UVa was winding up a largely peaceful and reconciliatory three-day kickoff of its two-year bicentennial commemoration.

UVa issued its own statement Sunday morning decrying Saturdays demonstration.

The University of Virginia strongly condemns the actions of Richard Spencer and the other racists and white supremacists who once again gathered in downtown Charlottesville on Saturday night, the statement said. Their message of hate and bigotry and use of torches have one purpose: to further intimidate and divide our community. These forces of hate are not welcome here and their abhorrent behavior will not be tolerated. The university will continue to work aggressively with its law enforcement partners to enforce laws and regulations aimed at protecting members of our community.

Charlottesville and UVa community members responded quickly to word of the rally. A group of protesters, including Solidarity Cville members and university faculty and students, marched down Main Street to Carrs Hill, the home of UVa President Teresa A. Sullivan.

Sullivan and local police have been under fire for failing to stop a torch-lit march across Grounds that occurred the night before Aug. 12s deadly Unite the Right rally, and students, faculty and community members said they have similar questions about this weekends rally.

Students said they had requested that a mass text alert be sent out when the university learned of potentially violent events, but did not receive one on Aug. 11.

Saturday nights event did not meet the threshold for issuing an emergency notification because it was held off Grounds and local law enforcement was present, a spokesman for the university said Sunday.

A spokeswoman for UVas Student Council said student leaders received notification from the Office of the Dean of Students to spread to their respective groups shortly after Spencer began livestreaming his rally.

Spencer arrived at the downtown park at 7:40 p.m. Saturday, according to city police. At 8 p.m., the Student Council tweeted, We encourage students to avoid the area near Emancipation Park.

University and city police made no arrests related to the rally or the counter-response on Saturday, but three student protesters were arrested at a bicentennial kickoff performance on the Lawn on Friday.

Protesters climbed on a side stage and held a large sign reading 200 Years of White Supremacy for about 10 minutes. The students were taken into custody, transported to the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail and released.

The citys statement also noted the ongoing independent review of the events of Aug. 12, as well as of a torch-lit white nationalist rally held July 8 and a Ku Klux Klan demonstration on July 8, and said it will establish unified communication protocol between the city and the police department.

The so-called alt-right believes intimidation and intolerance will stop us from our work, said Signer, according to the statement. They could not be more wrong. We must marshal all our resources, legal and otherwise, to protect our public and support our values of inclusion and diversity in the future.

A report released by the Anti-Defamation League on Sunday said the Unite the Right rally drew white supremacists from at least 35 states. The alt right movement is overwhelmingly young, male and new to the ideology, according to the report, and the Aug. 12 rally was many participants first.

The willingness of so many people to commit both time and financial resources to travel for the cause points to a movement energized by the leadership of the alt right, and actively capitalizing on a perceived window of opportunity to spread their message and recruit new members, the report said.
A group gathered Sunday night at the Free Speech Wall on the Downtown Mall to celebrate and discuss Charlottesvilles first Indigenous Peoples Day.

The news conference, organized by the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, took place in front of colorful chalk drawings celebrating Virginias natural landscape and indigenous people.

We are the land, said, Karenne Wood, a member of the Monacan Indian Nation. She highlighted the connection between her people and the natural landscape.

We look at the Blue Ridge Mountains, we see them every day  to us, those are our grandmothers. And the mist that rises [from the mountains], we call that the breath of the ancestors, Wood said.

Read more on cvilletomorrow.org
FREDERICKSBURG  In the 1970s, Phil Audibert and Ross Hunter worked together at WJMA radio in Orange, one in news and the other in programming.

The pair moved on when the award-winning local radio station changed hands in the 80s. Audibert did everything from farming to innkeeping; Hunter ran a mailing company.

But over the past eight years, the two longtime friends, who say they have complementary skills, have been producing documentaries about people and history in their community, under the moniker of AHHA Productions. Their documentary subjects have ranged from a look back at Orange Countys nationally recognized authority on Southern cooking, Edna Lewis, to the 200-year history of Gordonsville.

The producers recently released a new hour-long documentary, Someday: The Unexpected Story of School Integration in Orange County, Virginia. Following the 1954 Supreme Court decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case and the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, schools across the South gradually began the process of integration. In Virginia, including in Charlottesville, some schools closed rather than integrate.

But not so in Orange County, according to a news release about the film. Despite resistance from some of its citizens and pressure from outside groups, the desegregation of the Orange County, Virginia, public school system, albeit 11 years in the making, happened smoothly. Why?

Thats the central question the pair set out to answer, interviewing teachers, administrators and students who went through the combining of the black and white school systems in Orange. The short answer is that students and adults in Orange already knew each other before desegregation was attempted, either through the regular commerce of rural life or because many in the county had similar economic circumstances.

Another reason, they found, was that county leaders decided that it would be better to bite the bullet and move relatively quickly through the process that legal and societal changes were demanding.

That isnt to say there werent many in the county who didnt want this to happen, who made their feelings known, Audibert said.

To put together the documentary, the pair interviewed those with firsthand knowledge and used previously completed interviews. They delved into back issues of the Orange County Review, and the weekly newspaper provided its resources and photographs. They also found extensive archival photographs and clippings from other sources, as well as music by the Shady Grove Mens Choir.

Hunter said integration of public education in Orange happened over three years.

It was five students the first year, five or six grades the second and then all students by the third year, he said, pointing out that the county built a new elementary school and added on to the high school, the latter to take in black students who had been attending a regional high school.

The documentarians said things went relatively smoothly, but there were bumps and scary moments along the way.

Audibert noted that on June 24, 1967, he was working as a part-time photographer for the Orange County Review, and heard about a Ku Klux Klan rally that was to happen just outside of the town of Orange. He went, and captured an image of a cross being burned by men in white robes.

The photo never ran, which upset me at the time, he said, noting that it took time for him to understand his editors worry that publishing it would have inflamed the situation. I did notice when I walked by the cars parked at that rally that almost all of the license plates were from other states. The rally wasnt really a message being sent by local people.

The photo is in the documentary.

One voice they were thrilled to include in the documentary is that of black educator Murcelle Coleman, who had a masters degree from Yale and served on both the Orange County School Board and the Orange Town Council.

Audibert said that when the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, it was Coleman who called black students together and told them to rein in their anger and desire to lash out, something that could have put them at risk in a time when change was fueling emotion.

Copies of the documentary can be purchased at the Arts Center in Orange for $20.
The Gazettes recent stories on female sex trafficking left out the most important information.

On Sept. 27, The Gazette featured the opening of MSUB Native American Achievement Center, but only noted in the small-print caption that the event photo was, Jingle dancers wear red in awareness for violence against Native American women.

Our Canadian neighbors count 4,000 uninvestigated disappearances, abductions into sex trafficking, and murders of Native teens and women where it is called the the Highway of Tears. Some U.S. reservations count Native women murders at 10 times the national average. In Billings, adjacent to two reservations, Native women organized an event on these deaths and all they got from the regional newspaper was a picture about their dresses.

An Oct. 2, a Gazette AP feature noted that the federal sex-trafficking hotline wants to expand ways people can reach the hotline, yet by despicable omission, the hotline phone number was never shown. The national sex-trafficking rescue hotline is 1-888-373-7888 (or text BeFree to 233733).

Monday, Oct. 9, is a holiday when Billings businesses close to honor Columbus for 1492. After 525 years of abuse, subjugation and contemporary accounts of Columbus sex-slavery of Native women, it is time we all say enough and treat all people fairly: Report when events focus on murders. Include victim hotline contact info. Say no to 500 years of sex slavery, and turn Oct. 9 toward healing and equality by marking Indigenous Peoples Day.

Karen Eddy

Billings
A warrant has been issued for DeAndre Shakur Harris in relation to an assault that occurred near the Market Street Parking Garage during the chaos caused by the violent white nationalist Unite the Right rally on Aug. 12.

The victim of the alleged attack attempted to obtain a warrant at the magistrates office in person. A Charlottesville police detective verified the victim's story, and a warrant for unlawful wounding was issued.

DeAndre Harris turns self in; attorney says assault charge based on misleading evidence A sergeant with the Charlottesville Police Department said his office had not conducted its own investigation into the claims and did not issue its own warrant.

Police said an update on Harris's case will be provided once the 20-year-old Suffolk man is arrested.

Harris was attacked by a swarm of people in the Market Street Parking Garage, and several individuals have been charged in the beating. The warrant against Harris stems from accusations that he attacked someone, which led to the beating inside the garage.

Last month, a judge denied bond for Alex Michael Ramos, 33, of Jackson, Georgia, who is charged in the felonious assault of Harris, who said he suffered a concussion, a broken ulna and had eight staples to close a scalp wound. He also said he had cuts across his eyebrow, a chipped tooth and abrasions on his knees and elbows.

Daniel Patrick Borden, 18, of Mason, Ohio, also is charged with malicious wounding in the Harris assault. He was arrested in the Cincinnati area on Aug. 25 and held in Ohio, initially indicating he would fight extradition. On Sept. 15, he waived extradition and was sent to the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. On Sept. 21, he was denied bond.

At a hearing for Ramos in September, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Nina Antony said Harris ran into the Market Street garage after a scuffle with white supremacists and was beaten by at least five people.

Ramos's attorney, John Joyce, said Harris had been involved in scuffles during the rally and told a judge it may have been Mr. Harris who struck the first blow in that fracas.

Ramos and Borden are due back in Charlottesville General District Court on Thursday, as is Richard Wilson Preston, a Baltimore Ku Klux Klan leader who is accused of firing a gun during the rally.
When neighboring ranchers first saw Colter DeVries lead a Wagyu bull into his pasture, they gave him some long looks.

"They told me, 'You better make sure those fence lines are all secure,'" he said.

The wiry, horned Japanese bull stands out in Angus country and DeVries knows it. Part of him relishes it. The 29-year-old DeVries is eager to push back against the traditional ranching practices of his forebearers and make his mark on the family business.

That desire pushed him from his family ranch, which has been operating for the past 111 years outside Roberts, and led him to find his own way forward. He likes the unconventional and firmly believes it will lead him to success.

"I want to produce the best steak in the world," he said.

That will take years and he's ready to invest the time. Meanwhile, he knows he has to turn a profit. So while he figures out the best way to breed the marble-rich beef that makes Wagyu cattle world-famous with his more traditional Angus stock to get the world's best steak, he's focused on making a top-of-the-line beef stick.

They're called Montana Chop Sticks, and they're made from the Wagyu beef DeVries is breeding with his own cattle. He's launched a Kickstarter campaign to help him cross the finish line.

"We're building a better mousetrap," he said with a smile.

DeVries sees Montana Chop Sticks as the craft beer to the regular beef sticks' supermarket brew. "We've put a crafty touch on it," he said.

In short, he's made it something he wants to eat.

"I'm a foodie," he said. "I love steak, love food trends. I love to cook."

'Strong-willed'

DeVries is part of a growing trend of millennial entrepreneurs who have left the family business to pursue a career closer to their hearts.

Millennial entrepreneurs typically are motivated by their aspirations  that thing they dream of doing or creating  and by having independence. Making money usually comes second to that, said Patricio Mori, an assistant professor of entrepreneurship and an expert in small family business innovation at Montana State University Billings' College of Business.

"If you work in your family business, you're not going to be independent," Mori said.

DeVries is the fifth generation on his family's land. Working the ranch, he saw changes he wanted to make to help the ranch be more profitable while being gentler on the land.

He wanted to pursue different types of grazing land so that the ranch would be less reliant on hay. He wanted to move calving season from early spring to early summer, when it's less expensive to care for new calves. He got nowhere.

"I felt like I was chasing my tail," he said.

And then one day he had a realization about the ranch.

"This isn't my land," he said. "I don't have to be here taking care of someone else's asset."

So DeVries pulled out. He took his head of cattle and placed them on ranch land he leases south of Roberts and threw himself into creating the kind of progressive, holistic ranch that he had tried to impose on his family's operation.

He acknowledges that he likely damaged some relationships the way he handled it.

"In my desire to improve, I was very strong-willed about it," he said. He guesses his family was ready to see him go when he finally left.

Time has softened hard feelings. The family has been "very supportive" of his new venture and his Kickstarter campaign, he said.

Family business can be fraught with complicated relationships, Mori said. The patriarch is eager to see the next generation take up the mantle, but he's often reluctant to give up control.

"They don't want to lose the power of having the last word," he said.

That dynamic plays out in specific ways among millennials and their parents, Mori said. Their children, now in the 20s and 30s, have grown up with disruptive technology that they've completely integrated into their lives.

Their parents have not, and they struggle to keep up with the newer technology and they struggle to understand it, Mori said.

Meat marketing

New technology, specifically tools that allow DeVries to market his beef sticks online specifically to targeted, niche demographics, is like a second language to him. It's lost on his parents.

Much of the work behind the Montana Chop Sticks Kickstarter campaign is to establish the brand online, where Devries plans to sell the beef sticks exclusively. He has mined data to learn which words and search terms tie directly to those who would be most interested in a high-end beef stick.

He's purchased targeted ads on social media to build an audience that he hopes to convert into a customer base.

"I was little naive in my millennial thinking that (the Kickstarter campaign) would blow up and go viral," he said.

It didn't. But it's still been successful, reaching the halfway mark a couple weeks after it launched.

He hopes the beef sticks will be his base source of revenue while his Wagyu cattle fatten up for the slaughter. It's a two-year process from when the calf is born to when it goes to slaughter.

Angus beef is typically rated "choice" by the USDA. The marbling found in Wagyu beef usually rates "prime," making it a premium cut of meat, which sells at a higher price than "choice" cuts.

The higher quality beef means DeVries can push back his calving season to early summer. Angus calves are birthed in the early spring to give them more time to fatten up as much as possible. They're sold by the pound.

A summer calving season is cheaper and with Wagyu being a premium meat, weight isn't as important when it's sold. It's all about the marbling and the quality of the beef, DeVries said.

He gets a better price for his beef and "I've done nothing extra other than bring in an extra bull," he said.

He's now a year into the process; his Wagyu cattle will be ready for slaughter at the end of 2018. And so far it's worked out well.

"I've got big calves," he said. "Bigger than I was expecting. I'm really happy about it."

C&K Meats in Forsyth is his processor. They're the one producing his meat sticks and they'll handle the slaughter of his Wagyu beef next year.

"They've got it all figured out," DeVries said. "They're great at what they do."

DeVries is excited about his venture and he's eager to see it take off. He's proud of the road he's taken.

"If I like it, I'm going to pursue it with more passion," he said. "And that's what I'm doing."
With so many different ethnic groups residing in Charlottesville, who would think we would be dealing with white supremacy in 2017?

I wonder how many people know that white supremacy has had a presence in our city for over 100 years. How many of us know that in 1921, the local KKK donated $1,000 to the University of Virginia? Not only was it accepted by the president of UVa, there was a hearty thank you response in the school newspaper.

How many of us know that in the past some local law enforcement were proud Klansmen?

The recent sight of torch-toting white supremacy groups marching through our city was reminiscent of the Jim Crow era. Seeing a black man being beaten next door to the police station was like a scene from Mississippi burning.

Most Confederate supporters argue that the recent gatherings were in support of the preservation of their heritage. I beg to differ! What most sane people witnessed was white supremacy recruitment. If the rallies were intended to preserve the historical monuments, where were the Save our History banners? Where were the Save Robert E. Lee T-shirts?

Instead of seeing people standing in solidarity in support of historical figures, we heard venomous racist verbal diatribes spewed from their lips. We witnessed a car plow into a crowd of people with extreme malicious intent; a radical white supremacist has been charged with second-degree murder and other crimes. We saw people dressed in full riot attire. We saw enraged people carrying clubs with nails protruding from the tips. We saw loaded assault rifles and a wide array of handguns brandished.

Our city witnessed total disregard for human life. These egregious, barbaric acts of terrorism have no place in our city. Our community must have a plan of action to positively combat the negative forces of white supremacy.

Shone Parker

Charlottesville
Robert Fool Bear Sr. stared straight ahead as Chief Judge Daniel Hovland delivered his sentence Friday morning on child sexual abuse.

The former Cannon Ball district chairman is to serve the mandatory minimum of 30 years in federal prison on attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child and two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, as well as 10 years for incest, to run concurrently. He must also register as a sex offender, have no contact with the victim or anyone younger than 18 and make restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Delorme had requested life in prison, with possible supervised release as well as restitution of $55,493.

He asked Hovland for the life sentence as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.

"Perhaps the lifetime term would send a message loud and clear," Delorme said.

Defense attorney Carey Goetz said the 30-year mandatory minimum was enough. She added Fool Bear maintains his innocence.

Under shackles on his wrists, waist and calves, he wore a dark long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans. He said little when Hovland asked if he had any comments.

"What I'd like to do at this time, your honor, is maintain my silence," Fool Bear said. "That is my decision."

Hovland then sentenced Fool Bear, adding that "My sense of justice leads me to believe that a 30-year sentence is fair and just."

During the hearing, Delorme and Goetz told Hovland they did have prior plea discussions which involved a 37-month proposal. Hovland said he's seen other offenders balk at lighter sentences and go to trial, only to be sentenced more severely after a jury's conviction.

"It's not the first time I've seen it," he said.

Fool Bear's female victim did not appear in court Friday. Delorme said attempts were made to notify her, but her location is likely among pipeline protesters out of state. She also previously lived at the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camps, he added.

"That's the only life she's found," Delorme said.

Fool Bear, 54, will be eligible for release in 25 years. Goetz requested Hovland recommend to the Bureau of Prisons that he be incarcerated as close to North Dakota as possible. The BOP tries to house prisoners within 500 miles of their home, Hovland said.

Fool Bear has 14 days to appeal.

A small number of people attended the sentencing hearing, including Fool Bear's wife, Rhonda Krein Fool Bear, and his brother, Archie.

Krein Fool Bear signed a plea agreement in July pleading guilty for failing to report the sexual abuse. Hovland will sentence her Dec. 20 in Bismarck.
Harley Davidson grabbed headlines by putting up a fantastic show last month, unveiling eight new models and a few 114 specials as a part of its International Softail range of 2018. It included Heritage Classic, Softail Deluxe, Softail Slim, Low Rider, Street Bob, Breakout, Fat Boy and Fat Bob. Also getting the bigger 114 engine are the Heritage Classic, Breakout, Fat Boy and Fat Bob.

That some of these models would make their way to India was not a matter of if but when. And theyre coming this month, on the 12th.

Harley Davidson will be getting three models here first. They are the Heritage Softail Classic, Fat Bob and Street Bob. Surprisingly, Harley will not be launching the iconic Fat Boy now. They will be getting the Fat Boy Anniversary next year. The 2018 Breakout too will not make it here now thanks to dismal sales of its 2016 model. It is a matter of wait and watch for the Breakout.

Lets get to know more about the incoming range.

The biggest update to the new Softail range is the all-new frame. The lighter frame is 65 per cent stiffer, has 55 per cent less parts and 22 per cent lesser welds. It has a rear monoshock hidden under the seat, for that hardtail look. The frames come in various configurations: 3 steering head angles of 28, 30 and 34 degrees; wide and narrow frame; and low and high ride heights. These frames work well with the new Milwaukee-Eight engines, with some of the models giving up rubber engine mounts to gain more rigidity (upto 34 per cent) from the chassis. They get Showa Dual Bending Valve forks for controlled ride and handling characteristics. The new models shed massive weight leading to better dynamic performance. Cosmetic updates include LED headlamps in new housings. The India-bound bikes get the Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-twin that displaces 1745cc and makes 144Nm of torque.

Heritage Classic:

The 2018 model gets a fresher design in the form of new paint schemes and LED lighting. Harleys Dark Custom design cues can be seen on the bike in the form of blacked-out parts. The new model sheds close to 14.5 kilos, and, with the new 107 Milwaukee Eight engine, is 10 per cent faster to 100kmph. The new frame, suspension and motor makes the new bike faster and handle better as well. The Heritage Classic is expected to retail at around 18 lakh (ex-showroom).

Fat Bob:

The Fat Bob 107 has to be the most aggressive design of the 2018 Softail range. This model too is 15 kilos lighter and 10 per cent faster to 100kmph. The bike gets 43mm upside down forks and a sharp 28-degree rake, making it one of the sharpest handling bikes in the lineup. It gets an external rotary knob at the back for preload adjustment. It also gets a new 2-into-1 performance exhaust and fat 130mm front and 150mm rear wheels mounted on 16-inch alloys. Expected the new Fat Bob to be priced around the Rs 14 lakh (ex-showroom) mark.

Street Bob:

The 2018 Street Bob is lighter by around 8 kilos, with better steering and lean angles. The 107 Milwaukee-Eight motor makes the Street Bob ten per cent faster to 100kmph as well. The bike now weighs 286 kilos. Ride has improved quite a lot, though the new tank is smaller, which might drop the range. The new model features Dark Custom styling cues and the tank-mounted instrument cluster is an analogue cum digital unit. We expect the Street Bob to be priced around the Rs 12 lakh (ex-showroom) mark.

We expect more Harley models to trickle to our shores over the coming months. Expect a substantial price hike for the new, lighter, more powerful and dynamically improved bikes.

Source: BikeDekho.com
Fund will be utilised towards welfare activities and betterment of the families of ex-servicemen who have lost their lives guarding the nation

New Delhi: Country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank on Monday committed a financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to the Indian Armed Forces.

The fund will be utilised towards welfare activities and betterment of the families of ex-servicemen who have lost their lives guarding the nation, ICICI Bank Managing Director and CEO Chanda Kochhar said in a statement.

The contribution would be made in two equal tranches by the bank as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

A cheque worth Rs 5 crore was handed over to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here on Monday as part of the initiative.

"While no amount of assistance is enough to fill the loss for the families, this gesture is our humble endeavour to contribute towards their betterment. Our assistance will aid the young children and widows of the soldiers to get an education thereby enabling them to gain knowledge, get a job and earn a sustainable livelihood," she said. This fund will be used for two programmes.

The first will be towards the post-graduation education of the widows of the soldiers and also to support education for their wards. The second scheme will be to provide financial assistance for marriages of the daughters of ex-servicemen.

The Kendriya Sainik Board, an apex body that formulates policies for resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependents, will undertake the administration of the programme.
Tata Sons Ltd executive chairman N. Chandrasekaran has said that the group is eyeing Air India Ltds disinvestment.

New Delhi: Tata Sons Ltd executive chairman N. Chandrasekaran has said that the group is eyeing Air India Ltds disinvestment being executed by the government.

The group, however, needs more details from the government on the process, said Chandrasekaran in an interview with CNBC-TV18.

Chandrasekaran said the group cannot remain with a fleet of just over a dozen planes, referring to groups new airlines Vistara, which runs in alliance with Singapore Airlines.

On June 21, Mint reported that the group had sought details of the Air India disinvestment from government officials. Chandrasekarans statement is the first formal statement by the Tata Group on Air India.

The Tata Group has in the past expressed interest in acquiring stake in the national carrier. Air India currently has a debt of Rs 52,000 crore.

In another interview, the Chairman of the salt- to-software conglomerate said that Tata Group is looking to simply "overlapping business operations, prune its expansive portfolio by consolidation and creating new business clusters like defence, infrastructure, consumer and retail, financial services and hotels and airlines". It is also focusing on supporting the growth of three of its largest companies, Tata Consultancy, Tata Steel and Tata Motors.

Chandrasekaran rose to the helm after a bitter boardroom battle between the Tatas and Cyrus Mistry, one which continues to play out even now. He said that he will not shy away from tough decisions to ensure high performance.

Chandrasekarans One Tata focus would achieve the objective of simplification, through which Tata Sons will explore all options from consolidation to reducing subsidiaries as it seeks to create value.
The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru is set to become Indias first completely Aadhaar-enabled airport by 2018. (File Photo)

Bengaluru: The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru is set to become Indias first completely Aadhaar-enabled airport, boasting of a biometric boarding system.

The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which ran a two-month pilot project has given its approval for the project that will replace the cumbersome ordeal of handling tickets, ID, luggage with a smooth, paperless travelling experience.

According to media reports, BIAL has set a deadline of 325 days to roll out the new Aadhaar system. The project is likely to be completed by December 2018.

The initiative is in line with BIALs efforts to become a Smart Airport and it wants to do so by tapping into the Aadhaar-based authentication services for verification of the flyers identity, security checks and other processes involved.

BIAL executive director and president Hari Marar told ET that this move will speed up the validation process and increase the level of security. The use of biometrics will soon be the only verification required at each passenger touch-point. This will provide for a seamless and quick travel experience.

Some days ago, it was reported the government is planning to link the databases of airline and airports with Aadhaar and passport numbers. This will facilitate entry into airport terminals using only the biometrics without the need for identity cards.

We will soon know the indicative cost of the project and time frame in which it can be implemented," Aviation Secretary RN Choubey had said, adding that this will cut down the waiting time for passengers.
Washington: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that the government's initiatives like 'Swachh Bharat', Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation are having desired impact, the latter two resulting in increasing tax compliance and squeezing quantum of cash in the economy.

In his keynote address via video conference - to the Berkeley India Conference on Sunday, Jaitley said that there is public support to the reforms being undertaken by the governments of the day both at the centre and state levels.

"I do hope that India is able to retain its growth rate once again and live up to the aspirations of its people because we must not forget that we not only have a large population to service, we have a very young population to service," he said.

Jaitley is scheduled to arrive in the US on Monday on nearly a week-long visit to interact with the US corporate world in New York and Boston and attend the annual meeting of International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington DC.

With young population there is not only a perception that they are being 'under serviced', but also, they are becoming more and more aspirational, he said.

"Time therefore is running against us," Jaitley said.

In the next one or two decades, if India has to take a challenge for moving into a higher economic group country, "We have to grow at a much faster pace," he said.

Responding to a question, he refuted the impression that transformational initiatives like 'Swachh Bharat', GST and demonetisation have not resulted in any changes on the ground.

"Would you say there are long term benefits and the country would have to wait for those? Or is there any way to mitigate the problem being faced by the country," he was asked.

A more serious analysis, he argued, would show that even within matter of months there is a short term positive impact of all these projects.

While demonetisation and GST are having desired impact in terms of tax compliances and squeezing the quantum of cash in the economy, he said that for the first time, 'Swachh Bharat' campaign has brought to fore the importance of cleanliness.

Before demonetisation, Indian norm was to live with a high cash economy, not paying taxes -- "You buy a property, you transact partly in cash, and in business you maintain two sets of accounts," he said.

"How can a country, which aims to be the fastest growing major economy in the world, which aspires to grow from a developing to a developed economy, continue with the normal of this type," he asked.

And therefore, "you need to shake the system" in order to reduce the quantum of cash in India and therefore obviously to make it a more tax complaint society, he observed.

Cash itself involves several challenges. It leads to corruption and several other problems, he added. "Let's see for even those who say that there is no short- term advantage, has the number of tax payers in India immediately increased in the matter of months? The truth is, it has. Has the digitisation transaction increased from Rs 70 crores to Rs 130 crores today, it almost doubled," he said.

In the immediate aftermath of demonetisation, Jaitley said there has been sharp reduction in insurgent and terror activities in states like Jammu & Kashmir and Chhattisgarh. The terror funding itself has gotten squeezed, he said. "You are having terrorist incidents (now), but the fact that you were finding 5,000-10,000 stone throwers being provided with money by the terrorist organisations, why is it that in the last 8-10 months it has not happened?" he asked.

Moving on to GST, the minister said this has resulted in creation of a national tax structure. "In the three months, you have all the check points in states disappeared, you have clear flow of goods and services which has started all over the country," he said.

Jaitley said the GST Council has noted some challenges and it is taking steps to address them. GST, he said, has been a "reasonable smooth transformation," but there is scope for improvement.

"I think in GST Council we have succeeded in creating India's first federal institution," he said. The transition, he said, would be a far more successful experience which will plug the holes into India's taxation system.

Responding to questions, Jaitley said the Indian government wants to encourage startups. "The obvious challenge to the country is to grow and grow fast. It has to grow at a much higher rate than we have been growing in recent history," he said, adding that the benefits of the growth must also reach that section of the population which till date has been the least serviced one.

Observing that conventionally India was a far more difficult place to do business, he said that situation has substantially improved for the better. Identifying corruption as one of the two stigmas for India, Jaitley said the institutional mechanism to fight corruption has become much stronger.

Asserting that direct taxes have to become "more rational and more reasonable" Jaitley said he has already announced a roadmap to bring down the corporate tax to about 25 per cent and is trying to ensure that India becomes a far more compliance society and also tax assessment is more technology driven rather than human interaction.
The Minister of State for Finance, Shiv Pratap Shukla, on Monday said the Centre would keep revising the GST tax slabs.

Mumbai: The Minister of State for Finance, Shiv Pratap Shukla, on Monday said the Centre would keep revising the tax slabs as far as the Goods and Service Tax (GST) is concerned.

"We will keep revising the tax slabs. These are not fixed norms. People's comfort is our priority and we will decide according to that," Shukla told the media.

Shukla was present as the bell-ringing ceremony of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), here. He rang the opening bell.

On Friday, the GST Council raised the composition scheme threshold for businesses to Rs. 1 crore, which will allow them to pay a tax of 1 per cent to 5 per cent, without having to deal with a three-stage filing process.

In compliance with the latest recommendations by the council, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an annual turnover of Rs. 1.5 crore will be allowed to file their returns quarterly instead of filing it every month.
Truck operators have gone on a two-day nationwide strike against the Goods and Services tax (GST), the hike in diesel prices and corruption on roads. (File Photo)

New Delhi: Truck operators, led by All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), on Monday took to the streets to begin their two-day nationwide protest against the Goods and Services tax (GST), the hike in diesel prices and corruption on roads.

Re-iterating the Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhans wish to include diesel under the ambit of GST, truckers said diesel must be brought under GST to ensure uniformity of fuel pricing across the country.

#Mumbai: All India Motor Transport Congress calls for nationwide strike against GST and hike in diesel prices; transporters observe strike. pic.twitter.com/SOOeIPeTxk  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

"Transporters have decided to protest against the callous and indifferent attitude of government officials, GST, diesel price hike and corruption on roads by observing a token 'chakka jam' (strike) on October 9 and 10," said AIMTC president SK Mittal.

AIMTC, represents around 93 lakh truckers and around 50 lakhs bus and tourist operators across India. The strike is likely to affect the supply of commodities.

Truck dealers have expressed displeasure at the "contra laws" in the GST regime that has led to coercive registration and unnecessary compliance by truckers and transporters. He added that the sale of used business which attracts GST, leads to double taxation by the government.

Other transporters bodies like the All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) said that it will support AIMTC's strike as the government has failed to clarify GST to transporters.

The strike comes bang in the middle of the festive season when transporter bodies usually make a good profit. Calling it a suicidal move, transport dealers said that they are going on strike for two days despite making losses. However, if the government does not listen, dealers said they will go on an indefinite strike.

The protest by truck dealers comes just days ahead of the proposed nationwide strike by petrol pump dealers on October 13, to press for various demands including better margins and inclusion of petroleum products in the Goods and Services Tax.

(With inputs from PTI)
Out of the total, over Rs 4,000 crore was Diwali-related items such as toys, fancy lights, gift items, plastic ware, decorative goods among others, Assocham said.

New Delhi: This Diwali, Chinese items such as like lights, gift items, lamps and wall hangings among others could see a decline of upto 45 percent as people are preferring Indian products, said industry chamber Assocham.

There has been a 40-45 percent impact on goods like decorative lights which records huge sales during Diwali, whereas a slight impact has also been seen on China-made electronic goods like mobile phones etc. As per the paper, the demand of electronic items like LCDs, mobile phones and others items made in China has also declined by 15-20 per cent, said D.S. Rawat, secretary general Assocham releasing the paper.

The chamber said that as per its findings people are preferring Indian products over Chinese goods during this Diwali.

According to the shopkeepers, most of the customers are demanding Indian lights. People are not interested in purchasing Chinese products while showing interest in local products including earthen diyas, said Assocham. It said there was a huge demand for made in China fancy lights in the market but it is also decreasing.

Also, the quality of Chinese products is also questionable with no shopkeeper giving any sort of guarantee on Chinese items once sold. Fire crackers made at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu are preferred in comparison to Chinese crackers, said the chamber.

Assocham said it interacted with wholesalers, retailers, traders in cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mumbai to estimate the demand for Chinese products across India.

According to an estimate, the value of Chinese goods sold in 2016 during Diwali was around Rs 6,500 crore. Out of the total, over Rs 4,000 crore was Diwali-related items such as toys, fancy lights, gift items, plastic ware, decorative goods among others, it said.

India is a big market for Chinese products and over the years import of toys, furniture, building hardware, crackers, lighting and electric fittings, furnishing fabric, office stationary, electronic appliances, consumer electronics, kitchen equipment & appliances, gift items and watches from China has increased to a great extent in India, said Assocham.
Mumbai: After more than a years silence on his row with Kangana Ranaut, Hrithik Roshan has decided to open up and clear the air surrounding the controversy.

While the actor had communicated only through legal notices till now, he chose to break the norm with his first-ever social media post, followed by a TV interview.

After his comments on an interview with Arnab Goswami on Saturday went viral, the actor also spoke to with CNN News 18s Bhupendra Chaubey on Sunday.

During the interview, the actor revealed that despite being claiming that he's been harassed for four years, there was only one instance when he broke down.

Popular dairy brand Amul is known for its interesting cartoons on various current topics, but the one on the Hrithik-Kangana row didnt go down well with the Kaabil actor.

He said, "The only time I actually had tears in my eyes was when I saw this huge Amul hoarding with my brand Krrish, which is something that is built by me, it is like my baby. And that brand was completely demolished on that visual. And it said something like Krrish being run out, being caught stealing some cheese or something. That was probably the only day when I felt that this is not right."

He further said, "I date it back to my first film Kaho Na Pyar Hai when the same Amul hoarding had me up and called me a phenomenon. And I just watched the entire journey and I said, 'You know, I have to find a way to detach from the hoarding that said I was a phenomenon and I have to find a way to detach from the Amul hoarding that is making me look like this disgusting creep. I really need to find what I think of myself as my identity. And I need to work on that. And I need to make it so strong that I can be bullet-proof against any perceptions from the outside world. That is a failing from all of us. We build our identity with what others say about us. That is how we have been brought up. Your parent tells you you are strong, you are strong. This was a fantastic lesson for me. Hard one, but to be walking into a party all by myself and still be able to contribute to people, make people laugh, spread positivity while they are looking at the hoardings and judging me."

Hrithiks friend, actor-director Farhan Akhtar wrote an open letter in support of him on gender discrimination when it comes to accusations made by a man against a woman as compared to a woman against a man.

And Hrithik also reiterated it on the interview, he said, The movie Pink inspired and affected me so much. But it also got me thinking, why 'No means No' only applies to a woman?

Hirthik got divorced from his ex-wife Sussanne in 2014, but the actor denies that his alleged affair with Kangana was the reason for it.

He said, "Absolutely not. Sussanne has been very very vocal about this. She has been very vocal. And I feel like laughing at people. When people get divorced, it is not always because of infidelity by the man. That is just such a small-minded assumption. I am just trying to say that there are many reasons why people would like to live separate lives. Infidelity is just one of them. So the general assumption was, 'Ah he is the superstar, he must have done something wrong. She must have caught him.' That is not the case. We are great friends. It is between us. The reason that we decided to live separately may have been an inspiring reason, how do you know?

He also revealed that the controversy also affected his sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan.

"I am being harassed as a father. I have kids going to school who may be teased and I am not okay with it."

He added, "People are saying that these two people are washing their laundry in the public. But it's not my laundry!"

With Kangana usually being very prompt in her responses, be it through legal notices or statements through her lawyer, another sensational claim from her side is very much on the anvil.
Mumbai: Definitely among the most anticipated films of the year, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati has been in the news ever since its announcement.

Achieving the casting coup of Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh or vandalism by Rajput Karni Sena members against the film for distorting history, Padmavati has very much made headlines throughout.

And with all the hype surrounding the recent release of the first looks of the three leads, Rani Padmavati, Sultan Alauddin Khilji and Maharawal Ratan Singh, the makers have now released the trailer at the right time.

The film deals with the story of tyrant Alauddin Khiljis attempt to invade Chittor Fort in Rajputana due to his desire for Queen Padmavati in 1303 because of which the trailer was also launched at 13.03 hours.

In the dialogue-less trailer except for Shahid's one-liner and a line from Deepika in the end, we see Bhansali at his trademark best, with the massive sets and in the brilliant direction of the war scenes, costumes, the intense background music and every other minute detail.

Padmavati, which will also have music by Bhansali, and is also being produced by his banner and Viacom Motion Pictures, is scheduled to release on December 1.

Watch the trailer here:
Mumbai: Aamir Khan might be the biggest box-office puller in the country but he still lives the life of a simpleton.

Aamir, who's still receiving accolades galore for last year's 'Dangal,' is currently in promotion mode for his upcoming release, 'Secret Superstar,' which stars Zaira Wasim in the lead role.

The actor, however took time out to share an amusing video from his recent visit to Turkey.

The actor, who's at a famed ice-cream outlet, can be sene being at the receiving end of the vendor's trickster ways. Aamir himself, quite bemused, plays along, as the vendor teases him with the cone.

Watch the video here:

Sabar ka phall meetha. Lovely Turkish ice cream :-) pic.twitter.com/hzsZpmUgDC  Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) October 7, 2017

Aamir, who'll next be seen in the big ticket 'Thugs of Hindostan,' had been quite enraged when his look from the film had got leaked. 'Thugs of Hindostan,' 2018's Diwali release, also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Fathima Sana Sheikh.

'Secret Superstar,' helmed by Advait Chavan, has the actor in a quirky extended cameo. It is slated for an October 19 release.
Mumbai: With the entire Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut ruckus grabbing national headlines all over again.

And one of Kangana's staunchest and most vociferous supporters after she took to the media for some rejuvenated slandering prior to the release of her recent film 'Simran,' has been her sister Rangoli.

While Hrithik finally came out in the open to make his stand clear via his social media feeds and an exclusive television interview, the number of his supporters has exponentially been on the rise.

The most recent to make their support for him evident has been Farhan Akhtar, who'd directed Hrithik in 'Lakshya' and co-starred with him in 'Luck By Chance'.

Farhan wrote an open latter, without naming the concerned parties, putting forward his reasons as to why he believed why Hrithik was being unfairly chastised.

Rangoli, who's been criticing Hrithik left, right and centre on her Twitter feed, didn't take the open letter lying down either, critiquing Farhan.

Dea @FarOutAkhtar whr is d lettr frm d polic dat Kangna hs nt coperatd wid d polic invstigation? Hw cn u write dis misleadin n false lettr?  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 9, 2017

....Also why she should bother about private investigations paid by Hrithik Roshan? @FarOutAkhtar pls reply to me.  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 9, 2017

Well, the uninitiated public mind hasn't been more confused in this public a spat as to whom to believe, and we can't blame them.

A Bollywood movie on this, maybe?
Zubair Khan was one of the most controversial personalities on Salman Khan's 'Bigg Boss 11.'

Mumbai: Controversies, Salman Khan and Bigg Boss go hand-in-hand and even the eleventh season of the show is no different.

While getting Zubair Khan, son-in-law of Haseena Parkar, sister of Dawood Ibrahim, was controversial enough, his actions on the show and even after his eviction from it have just taken it to an altogether different level.

On the show, Zubair got into arguments with Sapna Chaudhary, Puneesh Sharma and also abused Arshi Khan.

On Saturdays episode, he obviously got a dressing down from Salman for his behaviour, which didnt go down well with him.

Following Salmans harsh words, Zubair popped a few pills and fell ill, because of which he had to be hospitalised.

While reports of 'suicide attempt' started doing the rounds, further bad news followed for Zubair when Salman, on Sunday, announced that he was the first contestant to be evicted for bagging least votes.

Zubair has not taken the criticism well and has allegedly filed an FIR against Salman for threatening him at Antop Hill Police Station, but later got moved to the Lonavla Police Station.

The copy of the FIR has been going viral on social media, in which Zubair accuses Salman of saying, Tere ko kutta banaunga, tu bahar nikal tere ko chhodunga nahi. Tere ko industry me kaam nahi karne dunga, tereko marunga. (Ill make you a dog, I wont spare you after you leave. I wont let you work in industry, Ill hit you.)

While Salman seems bigger than even Bigg Boss himself, it is perhaps the first time that a contestant has taken on the superstar.

Not new to controversies, it would now be interesting to see how Salman reacts to this row.
The event for Shankars 2.0 is set to take place in Dubai. The film stars Rajnikanth in the lead role and Akshay Kumar as the villain.

The end of October will see the biggest music launch for probably one of the most expensive Indian films. The event for Shankars 2.0 is set to take place in Dubai. The film stars Rajnikanth in the lead role and Akshay Kumar as the villain.

Trade sources inform that there are three charter planes that are being assigned to transport the team to and fro. The flights will leave from Chennai and Mumbai with the stars in tow. A huge audience for South Indian films reside in the Gulf countries. Hence, the event has been planed in Dubai, say the sources.

We are being told that the total billing of the entire event is touching Rs 12 crore itself. 2.0  a sequel to Shankars film Robot is being billed as a Rs 400 crore film making it bigger than the films in the Baahubali series as well.
The climax of 'World of Rudra' has been the subject of a lot criticism.

Mumbai: Dulquer Salmaan, inarguably second only to Mohanlal, his superstar father's contemporary in Kerala, has an enviable fan following across the country.

The actor, whose latest release is the highly anticipated 'Solo,' Bejoy Nambiar's Malayalam-Tamil bilingual, had a big release after a month long promotional period.

Solo, one of the most experimental films of DQ's career, is an anthology of four shorts, based on different variants of Hindu God Shiva's personalities.

However, the fourth short, World of Shiva, had come in for a lot of flak, after many people found the unexpected climax to be 'unintentionally funny'.

So much so that the producers were forced to tweak the film and edit out a few scenes. Director Bejoy Nambiar, visibly dejected, took to Twitter to reveal that this had been done sans his knowledge.

For all those asking about the changed ending. It has been done without my knowledge and consent.Good or Bad I stand by the film I made.  Bejoy Nambiar (@nambiarbejoy) October 8, 2017

Now Dulquer, always known to avoid controversies, himself took to his social media feeds, to write a heartfelt note, urging his fans to give the film a fair chance at the box-office.

Well, despite the criticism, the film is still enjoying a fair run at the box-office, which is courtesy the star's stardom and fan pull across the state.

However, it remains to be seen if this might affect the film in the longer run.
FARGO  Fred Lassonde was always known among his fellow officers at the Fargo Police Department as a guy with bad luck.

He was always the one who would get in the middle of scraps out on the beat, and suffer a few scratches and scrapes himself. He was always the one who found the dead bodies.

But nothing could have prepared him for the string of misfortune hes experienced in 2017.

On March 3, Lassonde was at home south of Lake Park, Minnesota, where he lived with his wife, Anna, and their two young children, Aviana and Silas. He had taken a Friday off from work and was in his garage working on a 1999 GMC truck hed purchased to turn into a plow vehicle.

He was on his back underneath the truck, loosening the bolts on the skid plate that protects the underside of the vehicle, but was having trouble getting it off. He started loosening the last bolt when it suddenly sprung out of the frame and hit him in the head  in the right temple.

Hed been banged up plenty on the job and when he was a mechanic prior to becoming a police officer, so he didnt think much of it at the time. Anna came out to the garage when she heard a loud crash, but he told her he was OK, and went back to work.

But Lassonde wasnt OK and still isnt.

The consequences of that injury have completely upended their lives. He had to quit his job. Anna, whod been a stay-at-home mom, had to go to work. Their household income is a fraction of what it used to be. They had to sell their house and move to a smaller one.

Just when it seemed like life couldnt get much worse, they lost virtually all of their possessions when a storm two weeks ago ripped off the roof of a storage facility where theyd stored all their furniture and other household goods while waiting to move into their new home.

I feel like someone put my life in a box, Anna said, and shook it up.

Rush to the ER

Lassonde, 34, woke up on the Saturday morning after getting hit in the head and still had a headache. A bump had formed on his temple. But hes a police officer, tough and resilient like police officers have to be, and he figured he would feel better gradually.

On Sunday, he went to church with his family, returned home, ate lunch and then he and Anna took the kids to a city park in Lake Park. When he got out of the car, he started to feel wobbly, like he was standing on a boat.

When the kids finished playing at the park, he tried to drive home. But he began to see double. He was nauseous. Then the left side of his face went numb. That happened on the opposite side from where he was hit, so he didnt even connect it to the injury.

Lassonde has a history of strokes in his family, so Anna rushed him immediately to the emergency room in Fargo.

He was diagnosed with a concussion, which doesnt sound like a life-changing injury but it has been. Recovery times from concussions, even ones in which a person doesnt lose consciousness, can vary greatly and are unpredictable.

Some people recover quickly, get a little better each day, and are back at work or school in a few days or a week. In other cases, the symptoms can persist for months and even years.

Lassonde got worse before he got better. He had difficulty carrying on a conversation. He couldnt drive. He couldnt work. He couldnt take care of his kids.

Seven months after his injury, hes still recovering. Hes prone to dizziness. He gets tired easily. His short-term memory has suffered, and he has difficulty making decisions. He goes to cognitive therapy every week in West Fargo. How he feels varies from one day to the next.

If I get myself into a stressful situation, I get dizzy and sometimes feel like Im going to pass out, he said. If I push myself too hard, my symptoms come on very quickly. It will have a multiple day impact. If I push myself for three days, I pay for it for about a week.

When Lassonde didnt get better and it became clear he wouldnt be able to return to work quickly, his wife, Anna, had to get a job. She works at a nursing home in Detroit Lakes, but it pays beans compared to what Fred earned as a police officer. They had to put both kids in day care because Fred didnt feel well enough on many days to care for them.

He has good days and bad days, Anna said.

I wanted to help

Lassonde grew up in Rolla in north central North Dakota, and he met Anna at church there. Her dad was an Assembly of God minister. Freds parents farmed. She was older than him, and they broke up when she left town after graduating high school. But they kept in touch, and he never dated, hoping they would get back together.

Anna eventually moved to Fargo with friends, and he followed her in hopes that they would reunite, and they did. He worked as a mechanic. They married in 2005. He then entered North Dakota State University to study criminal justice, with the hope of becoming a police officer.

I wanted to help people, he said. It seemed like a way to both help people and have a career. It was something I always thought of doing as a kid.

Lassonde graduated from NDSU in 2009 and entered the police academy that summer. He was hired by the Fargo Police Department upon graduation.

He was a patrol officer for six and a half years, and then was promoted to detective, working on property crimes at first. After six months, he was promoted to the personal crimes team.

I always wanted to be a detective, he said. It seemed like the pinnacle of police work, trying to solve things. I have an analytical mind. I like to problem solve. Thats also the attraction of mechanic work.

A different path

Lassonde went on medical leave when he wasnt able to return to work after his injury. He had two weeks of unused sick time, but quickly used that up. Then he used up his vacation time, another three weeks.

Fargo Police Chief David Todd then asked city workers for donations of vacation time to help him out. They donated hundreds of hours.

We wanted to get Fred more time to recover in hopes that he would be able to return to work, Todd said. We like Fred a great deal. Hes a top-notch detective. He was a very valuable employee and a friend to many.

Eventually, Lassonde used up all of the donated vacation time, too, so he had to make a decision about his future. Both he and his wife are deeply religious, and one Sunday in church, the minister, in the middle of a sermon on an unrelated topic, said God might be telling someone here its OK to quit his job, and He will take care of him.

Lassonde was surprised by what he heard. He hadnt discussed his health problems with his minister. When he asked the minister about it after the service, the minister said he had not planned to say what he said. It wasnt in his notes. He didnt know why he said it.

I had been praying about this, Lassonde said. I felt like this could be a sign, that God might be leading me down a different path.

The very next day, Lassonde informed the police department he was resigning. His resignation became effective on July 28.

Struck by a storm

The decision to quit his job imposed new stress on Lassonde and his family. They couldnt afford their mortgage payments on Annas income, so they decided to sell their house in Lake Park. They had moved there three years before because Fred needed greater separation from his job. Living in Fargo, it felt like hed see suspects everywhere he went.

The home sits on 2.75 acres about 10 miles south of Lake Park. It is a three-bedroom, two-story house, with a two-car garage. There is a small pond on the property.

Its beautiful, Anna said.

The house sold in five days. They struggled to find a new home they could afford. They rented an apartment that was under construction but found out it wouldnt be ready in time. Finally, they bought a small, two-bedroom house in Detroit Lakes. Its just 988 square feet, half the size of their old house.

The house needed painting and other cosmetic work before they could move in, so they put all their household goods in storage and lived for two weeks at a religious camp on Pelican Lake. It was during that time that the storage facility where theyd put all their belongings was damaged in a storm, its roof ripped off. Nearly everything they owned was destroyed.

The only furniture they had when they moved into their new home were two air mattresses and a couple of plastic outdoor chairs. Theyve since purchased beds. Friends donated dresses for the kids. Theyre still waiting to hear if insurance will cover any of their losses from the storage facility.

Lassonde maintains some hope that he will be able to return to police work eventually, but if he cannot he will probably become an auto mechanic. In fact, hes been repairing cars at home to earn some cash when he feels well enough to do it. He envisions someday opening his own auto repair shop.

In the meantime, family, friends, police officers and members of their church, Community Alliance Church in Detroit Lakes, have stepped up to help Lassonde and his family.

After their household goods were destroyed in the storm, Annas sister, Sarah McKay, set up a GoFundMe site to raise money for them. It has raised over $2,300.

At 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, Lassondes police co-workers will hold a benefit for the family at the Copper Ridge Event Center in Fargo. It will feature a spaghetti dinner, bake sale and silent auction.

Then in November, the Fargo Police Department will donate all money it raises from its annual No Shave Movember fundraiser to the Lassondes. For a donation, male officers can grow a beard or mustache, an exception from department policies, and females can paint their nails police blue or have a thin blue line in their hair.

We have faith in God that Hes going to provide for us through all this, Anna said. People keep coming out to help us through these things. Its been quite amazing. This has been a huge test of faith, but if anything my faith has grown stronger. I know things will get better.
Health secretary J Radhakrishnan said on Sunday and appealed to people to make sure that tanks and drums that store water be completely closed to prevent them from becoming breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Chennai: As many as 85 people have died in Tamil Nadu due to fever since January, out of which 35 deaths are directly related to dengue, health secretary J. Radhakrishnan said on Sunday and appealed to people to make sure that tanks and drums that store water be completely closed to prevent them from becoming breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Radhakrishnan also said the government was taking all possible measures to prevent the spread of dengue in Tamil Nadu and that there was no shortage of medicine or blood for treating patients who are diagnosed with dengue. The health secretary made the comments after visiting government hospitals and neighbourhoods in Tiruvallur, Manavala Nagar and Tiruttani in Tiruvallur districts.

So far 85 people have died due to fever since January. We can relate 35 of these deaths directly to Dengue. The state government is taking every possible step to prevent the spread of dengue by creating awareness among the public on the precautions to be taken, Radhakrishnan said.

The health secretary, who is spearheading the efforts to prevent the spread of dengue, visited neighbourhood areas in Manavala Nagar and Tiruttani on Sunday and explained to the people on the need to keep water tanks and water storage drums completely covered.

Uncovered or partially covered tanks and drums that store water is a very big breeding ground for mosquitoes. Every tank or drum should be covered completely so that they dont become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. We requested people to follow these steps and those I met on Sunday were very receptive, Radhakrishnan said.

Maintaining that the government has asked local bodies to clear the garbage in neighbourhood areas to prevent the spread of dengue, Radhakrishnan also asked people to ensure that their tanks are cleaned at least once a week. During this season, tanks should be cleaned every week, before filling fresh water. People are very receptive when we explain to them on the dos and donts, he said, adding that peoples participation will be a big boost to the governments efforts in controlling the spread of the dreaded disease.
Outpatients at Institute of Child Health (ICH) crossed 500 and of the 212 paediatric patients admitted at the hospital, more than 25 are dengue positive (Photo: Pexels/Representational Image)

Chennai: After the death of three children due to dengue last month, paediatric cases are particularly spurting in government hospitals. While the overall numbers of dengue and suspicious fever patients continue to spike, a large number of the patients are children.

Outpatients at Institute of Child Health (ICH) crossed 500 and of the 212 paediatric patients admitted at the hospital, more than 25 are dengue positive.

Brain fever and haemorrhagic fever are prime diseases affecting children currently. Seasonal changes coupled with dengue prevalence have increased number of paediatric cases, as some children are born with low immunity and are critical to handle. Though late diagnosis is one reason for dengue deaths in children, some of them seeking treatment in private hospitals are referred very late, said Dr Ravichandran, dean, ICH.

Stanley Medical College witnessed a total of 366 outpatients with more than 216 paediatric cases. A total of 55 paediatric fever patients are admitted at KMC, while dengue positive patients include 8 children of 12.

Diagnosis is delayed for children as they cannot identify the symptoms and report it immediately. Parents should look out for symptoms like if a child refuses to accept oral fluids or is vomiting along with abdominal pain and joint pain, a doctor should be immediately consulted, said Dr P Vasanthamani, dean, Kilpauk Medical College. As of now, around 11,500 cases have been witnessed in Tamil Nadu and the last month witnessed an increased number of paediatric deaths in the state. Though doctors say that the situation is under control, cases of viral fever have risen in comparison to last year.

Real figures on dengue deaths being suppressed: Kanimozhi

DMK MP Kanimozhi has alleged that the state government is suppressing the truth on the ground realities on the prevalence of dengue and also the number of fatalities due to the dreaded virus in TN.

Claiming that the state government has not accepted the reality of the situation, she said, The government has not revealed the exact figures on the loss of lives. They want to suppress the truth. Speaking to reporters at Coimbatore airport on Sunday she said in several places, women and children have been the most affected. On the divergent views expressed by the state ministers on the hospitalisation and demise of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, she said that lack of transparency in AIADMK was the main reason for the ongoing debate over the death of late CM.
With company policies lacking mental healthcare programmes and the stigma that continues to exist around these conditions, people end up dealing with the ramifications of problems that could have been avoided entirely through timely intervention. (Representational image)

Recently, a city-based online counselling platform threw up some shocking data. Nearly 62.5% of professionals across sectors deal with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Why? Insecurity at work. The fear of losing one's job, having too much or too little to do or failing to maintain a work life balance has significantly deterred mental health, while employers sit back in silence. With company policies lacking mental healthcare programmes and the stigma that continues to exist around these conditions, people end up dealing with the ramifications of problems that could have been avoided entirely through timely intervention, says Joyeeta Chakravorty.

ePsyclinic.com, an online platform that provides therapy and counselling to clients, conducts some 800 sessions a month from Bengaluru. Interestingly, 60 per cent of those who use its services are seeking counselling for stress caused by work pressure and job insecurities and only 20 per cent are trying to give up smoking or early stage drug addiction. A few are adolescents with issues of love and career, but the bulk are adults in the workplace, throwing up questions about the causes of such anxiety among employees and what can be done to help them. Is the answer a change in our work culture?

Read | Guest column: Well-adjusted employees are more productive

A study titled Mental health status of corporate employees by 1to1help, an employee assistance programme, involving over 6,000 employees in multiple cities, seems to indicate that we do as going by its findings one in every two employees shows signs of depression. As many as 80 per cent of the employees covered by the study exhibited symptoms of anxiety and 55 per cent of depression and were seeking professional help. Even more worryingly, the number of people at risk of suicidal behaviour had gone up from 2.1 out of 10 in 2008 to 8.21 in July 2016, the period of the study.

Getting over a mental health issue is a four-step process : Awareness, acceptance, seeking help and undergoing treatment patiently. Whats important is maintaining consistency in following the treatment. We need to educate people and ensure they understand that mental health issues have to be treated, a specialist has to be consulted and the person has to undergo the treatment consistently for at least six to eight weeks.

 Satish Kannan CEO DocsApp

Another eyeopener is a recent study by YourDOST.com, an online counselling and emotional wellness platform, which says 62.5 per cent of professionals across sectors are suffering from anxiety and depression due to occupational insecurity. "There is fear of losing the job or losing the promotion to someone else, leading to depression. Employees should be able to balance work with their personal lives, but many can and many cannot," observes Dr Mohan K. Isaac, former head of the Department of Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Sciences, and consultant to the Union government on mental health policies.

There are studies to prove that more accepting workplaces have happier employees with better productivity. However, not a lot of workplaces are accommodating. Business and corporates should support mental healthcare programs and incorporate best practices in their company policies, including special time-off for anyone who is suffering to cope with the situation. There needs to be acceptance of this condition and a supportive environment at the workplace.

 Ms Anna Chandy, Chairperson - Board of Trustees, The Live Love Laugh Foundation

Dr Vijayakumar, psychiatrist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Whitefield also reveals that workplace pressure is a significant problem among patients, who come to it for stress and anxiety related issues. With competition increasing in the industry, we are seeing a rise in these cases of late. We counsel the patients depending on the severity of their problem and explain to them the significance of balancing their work and personal lives, he adds, stressing that it is important for employers to take care of the mental well-being of their employees as this will result in a win-win situation for both.

The Japanse principle of minimising hierarchy, which was first introduced by HMT in India, should be introduced by other companies too on a regular basis. Everyone at the workplace should be treated as a devotee of the work at hand. Obviously, roles are defined but the hierarchy is not emphasised. Its also important to have good HR managers

 Dr Ajit Bhide, head of the psychiatry department at St Martha's Hospital

Dr Ajit Bhide, head of the psychiatry department at St Martha's Hospital, too reveals that 15 per cent of his adult patients suffer from work-related stress and more than half have purely work- related problems. The reason is either work overload or work underload. There are people, who are not respected for their particular skills and then there are others, who are just sitting on the bench with no work, which also brings on its own kind of stress. There are companies, which have a good work culture but not all," he regrets.

Causes of work-related stress

Work overload or under-load

Lack of clear responsibilities, job description

Unrealistic deadlines

Job insecurity, career uncertainty

Low participation in decision-making

Isolated working conditions

Poor communication

Poor relationship with supervisors

Interpersonal conflicts

Non-supportive culture

Underutilisation of skill

Shifts, inflexible schedules

Sexual harassment

Workplace bullying

Demands on time

Fear of failure

Doubts about choice of career

Visible symptoms

Sleep disturbances

Appetite issues

Fatigue

Weight gain

Physical aches and pains

Low moods, constant crying, mood swings

Inability to concentrate

Emotional outbursts

Accessible HR personnel are the need of the hour

If work pressure is getting to employees today, the key lies in timely intervention, say mental health experts. "What we need are good human resources (HR) managers. They should be friendly, accessible and reach out to every employee in some fashion. If employees are suffering from mental health problems as a result of workplace issues, the HR department should allow them to vent their troubles. And for this, they must have a personal link with every employee. This is crucial," says Dr Ajit Bhide, head of the psychiatry department at St Martha's Hospital.

The doctor also stresses the need to give less importance to hierarchies in an organisation. "In Japan they follow a principle where roles are defined, but everyone is treated the same with the priority being the work at hand . This can possibly be introduced in our companies as well," he suggests. Dr Bhupendra Chaudhry, consultant psychiatrist, Manipal Hospital, says about 40 per cent of the patients he sees in a month, are seeking solutions for work-related stress, and believes this can have many causes such as bad behaviour of colleagues, work pressure, poor treatment by seniors, a bad work environment, too much commuting time to work and so on.

Since there is no single factor, it's important to identify the causes of the stress before seeking professional help. Also, if there is immense work pressure, too many working hours or overload of work, its important for the employee to have an open discussion with his or her seniors. The organisation too must provide ways for people to deal with stress and anxiety. Seeking counselling and speaking to close friends is another way out as talking about problems always helps," he adds.

Consequences of work related stress
The last time a rhino was spotted in Chad was in 1972, according to official documents Chad submitted to South Africa. (Photo: Pixabay)

Johannesburg: South Africa and Chad have signed an agreement that will see the re-introduction next year of critically endangered black rhino to the central African country, decades after it was last seen there.

Environment ministers from the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding "which will allow for the translocation of six black rhino from South Africa to Chad," said a government statement yesterday.

The last time a rhino was spotted in Chad was in 1972, according to official documents Chad submitted to South Africa.

The animals should be airlifted to Chad's Zakouma National Park "sometime next year. We are looking at around March, April or May" environmental affairs ministry spokesman Albi Modise told AFP.

Black rhino are officially listed as critically endangered but are still native to the mainly eastern and southern African countries of Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

They have been re-introduced to several other southern African countries.

There are around 5,000 black rhino left in Africa with South Africa's population sitting at 1,893, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

South Africa is also home to around 20,000 white rhinos, about 80 per cent of the worldwide population, but the country has suffered record poaching in recent years.

Poachers have killed more than 7,100 rhinos in Africa over the past decade for their horns.

The horn is highly prized in China and Vietnam where it is coveted as a traditional medicine and aphrodisiac.

South Africa's Environment Minister

Edna Molewa and Chad counterpart Ahmat Mbodou Mahamat signed Sunday's deal in Pretoria. (AFP) ARK 10090740 NNNN
Studies identifies how people are judged on their look. (Photo: Pixabay)

There are a number of ways we judge people based solely on their looks, a new study has found, even when those judgments are false.

Previous research has shown facial bias has a big affect on major things in our life from how we vote to who we date.

It seems to be human nature, Alexander Todorov, a psychology professor at Princeton University, told Business Insider.

Even though these highly inaccurate impressions can have negative consequences, understanding them to beat them is important, Todorov explained.

For his research, Todorovs "lab modelled perceived traits by having US college students evaluate computer-generated faces," the Independent reported. Only white faces were used in the study to avoid the issue of race.

Here some of finding's highlights:

Attractive face

Rated higher in positive traits, perceived to me more competent, trustworthy and smart.

Baby face

Those with large eyes and round face were perceived to be physically weak, naive, kind and warm.

Angry face

Not likeable or trustworthy and more threatening and hostile.

Typical face

Viewed as more trustworthy and this bias is a contributing factor to racism and xenophobia. People also have a positive reaction to faces that look like their own.

While the face can give insight into behaviour, people imagine false facts based on someone's look, Todorov explained. He urges people gather more information before judging someone rather than reinforcing stereotypes.
Tumbling around and falling over was a normal and expected part of the play of the giant panda cubs. (Photo: Youtube/Toront Zoo)

Toronto Zoo has released a hilarious video of giant panda cubs falling over to classic music for the cubs' second birthday.

The video shows the monochrome cuties sliding, tumbling, rolling and even nose-diving in their enclosure.

'We at the Toronto Zoo wanted to show you just how promising the development of Canada's first giant panda cubs has been over the last 24 months,' the zoo said in a statement.

And while we might get worried that the cubs may injure themselves from all the falling, it is a normal part of panda play.

A 2003 study published by the scientists from Zoo Atlanda in Chengdu, and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding described trends in the behaviour of giant panda cubs.

And among other things, the study confirmed that tumbling around and falling over was a normal and expected part of the play of the giant panda cubs.

Researchers also suggested that cubs may develop into reproductively successful adults on account of the natural play experiences they have while growing up with their mothers and siblings.

The cubs will leave for Calgary Zoo in March 2018.
One of the tortoises seized by the DRI in Bengaluru on Sunday (Photo: DC)

Bengaluru: The officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (Bengaluru Zonal Office) have arrested the mastermind of a racket involved in the smuggling of endangered wild life and seized 1,012 tortoises of different species. In the international market they are said to be worth around $ 6,15,000 (more than Rs 4 crore).

Based on a specific intelligence input that some unknown persons were smuggling endangered wild life through Chennai Air cargo, the officials had maintained intense surveillance on the vehicles going towards Chennai on Saturday and Sunday.

The team intercepted two vehicles at Attibele Toll on the city outskirts. During the search, it was found that one of the cars was carrying 1,012 live turtles/tortoises of different species, DRI officials stated.

The seized tortoises included red eared slider, which is one of the 100 most invasive species listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature. In all, there were 852 Indian Star Tortoise, 76 Tricarinate hill turtle, 46 Peter (Melanchelys tricarinata Female), 11 red-eared Slider and 27 Indian tent turtle. These turtles were separately packed in seven travel bags, an official said.

Investigations revealed that the mastermind of the entire operation is a pet and aqua shop owner in Bengaluru. During preliminary investigation, he admitted that he, in collaboration with some other unknown persons, used to illegally procure these endangered live species from various natural habitat located at Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka and smuggled them to countries like Hong Kong through Chennal Air Cargo.

As per his admission, he is into smuggling of these endangered species for the past one year. He has been arrested and further investigations are underway, the officials said.

At the time of seizure, the star tortoises were found to have been transported in cramped conditions over long distances. A large number of them were found to be juveniles, the officials said.

After being informed about the seizure, the Karnataka Forest Department has taken possession of the tortoises for rehabilitation. The live tortoises will receive adequate veterinary care and be suitably rehabilitated before they can be considered fit for release into their natural habitat.

The mastermind had earlier smuggled live species worth more than Rs 1 crore out of India, the officials added.
The arrested fishermen, the trawler and fishing gear were brought to the naval base SLNS Elara in Karainagar and the fishermen were handed over to the Assistant Fisheries Director in Jaffna for onward legal action, reports reaching here said (Photo: Representational Image)

Rameswaram: Sri Lankan Navy arrested Puthucheri state Karaikal -based ten Indian fishermen and seized one trawler for poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters on Saturday night.

The arrest was made by the naval personnel onboard SLNS Prathapa and 'Fast Attack Craft' on routine patrol at the international maritime boundary line (IMBL) The arrested fishermen, the trawler and fishing gear were brought to the naval base SLNS Elara in Karainagar and the fishermen were handed over to the Assistant Fisheries Director in Jaffna for onward legal action, reports reaching here said. north of Sri Lanka, about ten nautical miles north of Kovilan Point.

Meanwhile, news agency PTI added that the ten fishermen were arrested while they were allegedly fishing near Neduntheevu close to the Island's northern coast.
Bengaluru: A head constable of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), who was attacked with a key by the son of a KSRP sub-inspector over a minor issue on Saturday, succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital on Monday.

The deceased, Appaji V. (49), was deputed for security duty at the 9th battalion near Kudlu Gate on Saturday night when a car driven in a rash manner entered the gate without halting for checking as per the security norms. Though Appaji, with the help of other constables, chased the car for a distance, the driver sped away.

When the car returned after 15 minutes, Appaji stopped it and asked the occupants to come out. Those in the car, who had gone to the house of SI Yerri Swamy to meet his son Rupesh, picked up a fight with Appaji and manhandled him. After other constables intervened, the occupants called Rupesh on his phone and sought help.

Rupesh rushed to the spot and argued with Appaji for stopping the car. As argument heated up, Rupesh lost his cool, hit Appajis temple with a key hidden in his fist. As Appajis temple started bleeding continuously, he was rushed to the Victoria Hospital where he was given first aid.

A day after the incident, Appaji, who was on rest at his house, fell seriously ill and he was admitted to a private hospital, where he died on Monday.

Parappana Agrahara police have registered a case and have arrested Rupesh. Meanwhile, the police are waiting for the postmortem report of Appaji to learn the cause of death.

A day after the incident, Appaji, who was on rest at his house, fell seriously ill and he was admitted to a private hospital, where he died.
The Wire, in a report, claimed that Jay Shahs (centre) firms turnover grew exponentially after the BJP came to power in 2014. (Photo: PTI)

Ahmedabad: BJP chief Amit Shahs son Jay on Monday filed a criminal defamation case in a metropolitan court in Ahmedabad against news portal The Wire over a report on latter's firms.

Jay Shah has rejected the allegations made by the news portal, insisting the story was false, derogatory and defamatory.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate SK Gadhvi ordered a court inquiry into the matter under CrPC section 302.

In his application, Shah prayed for, criminal action against the respondents for defaming and tarnishing the reputation of the complainant through an article, which is scandalous, frivolous, misleading, derogatory, libelous and consisting of several defamatory statements.

The seven respondents in the case are the author of the article Rohini Singh, founding editors of the news portal Siddarth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia and M K Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the Foundation for Independent Journalism, the non-profit company that publishes The Wire.

The case has been filed under IPC sections 500 (defamation), 109 (abetment), 39 (voluntarily cause grievous hurt) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy).

The court was of the opinion that it will issue summonses to the respondents only after the initial inquiry establishes a case.

The next hearing for a court inquiry will be on October 11 when two witnesses from Jay Shahs side who had first informed him about the publication of the article are likely to depose.

Shah is yet to file a civil defamation suit against the respondents. He had earlier announced that he will also file Rs. 100 crore civil defamation suit.

A political storm has erupted after the article titled Golden touch of Jay Amit shah was published. The Congress has demanded an inquiry into the matter, while the BJP called the article defamatory.

ASG to appear in defamation case:

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will represent Jay Amit Shah, son of BJP chief Amit Shah, in the criminal defamation case he has filed against news portal The Wire.

Union minister Piyush Goyal said Mehta had sought Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasads permission to appear for Jay and the approval was granted.

Goyal insisted that the purpose of the story was to defame the BJP and its government by making derogatory and defamatory imputations.

Asked about the Congress attack on the BJP over the claim that the government was in the know of the entire episode as the ASG was given permission even before the story appeared, Goyal said they were aware of the matter as the news portal had sent Jay a questionnaire.

We believe that he (Jay) has been wronged and he must get justice. There is no harm if the best of lawyers appear for him. An ASG can appear in a matter between two private parties after taking permission, he told reporters.
A Minot man shot in the stomach during the mass shooting in Las Vegas underwent surgery yesterday and doctors were able to close his abdomen, his employer, Dorothy Martwick, said Monday.

Andrew Gudmunson, a realtor with Century 21 Action Realtors in Minot for about five years and a former University of North Dakota athlete, was shot on Oct. 1. He underwent his first surgery the following day.

Martwick, who has been in touch with Gudmunson's family members in Las Vegas, said doctors had been unable to close Gudmunson's abdominal incision due to swelling.

"Its really a long road, but, hopefully, hes going to recover," said Martwick, broker-owner at Century 21 Action Realtors.

Martwick said Gudmunson has been breathing with the help of a ventilator, but doctors are to remove it. She said Gudmunson has been unable to speak, but has been able to communicate through signals.

A YouCaring website has been established on Gudmunson's behalf. As of noon Monday, more than $27,000 had been raised.

"(The doctors are) optimistic. Hes young and strong," Martwick said.
Bengaluru: A day after a Bannerghatta National Park caretaker was mauled to death by two tigers, his family members and local residents staged a protest, forcing the authorities to shut the safari ride for a while on Sunday.

The protest was called off around 10 am after the family of the deceased, Anji alias Anjaneya, was offered a compensation of Rs 10 lakh by Park Executive Director Santosh Kumar and other officials.

We also offered Anjis son a temporary job at the park. We are not authorised to give him a permanent government, Kumar said.

Asked if the National Park will install automatic gates at cages, as it has reported a series of accidents over the last two years, Kumar said that the discussions are on and they will soon come out with a solution.

A source in the park said that there was no CCTV camera at the spot where Anji was mauled to death by two white tigers on Saturday evening. Anji, survived by his wife and two children, was the sole breadwinner of the family.

A case of accidental death was registered with the Bannerghatta police by the zoo authorities.
The initial enthusiasm for cashless transactions has faded within 10 months due to poor internet connectivity in semi-urban and rural areas. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: As many as 250 out of the 380 villages in Telangana state which were declared as cashless transaction villages post-domonetisation have returned to cash transactions.

The initial enthusiasm for cashless transactions has faded within 10 months due to poor internet connectivity in semi-urban and rural areas.

The easy availability of cash in banks and ATMs has also prompted the people to return to cash transactions.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had directed officials in December 2016, to encourage cashless transactions in a big way and make Telangana state first in the country to become cashless transactions state.

He ordered awareness programmes to be for six months till June. The government even launched TS-Wallet, its own mobile application, to enable people to make cashless transactions without service charges.

These programmes were held till March, which resulted in about 380 villages going cashless where point of sale (PoS) machines were installed in all government offices, ration shops and other shops. The drive lost steam soon after.

In the 380 villages which had turned cashless, PoS devices are lying unused on account of poor connectivity.

The PoS devices are encountering problems due to poor connectivity. The transactions could not be completed as they are blocked midway. We are facing problems with consumers. We are forced to return to cash transactions, said Mr A. Muralidhar, secretary of State Small and Medium Retail Traders Association.

The finance department brought to the notice of government that unless IT infrastructure and connectivity issues are improved in all parts of the state on par with major cities and towns, it would not be possible to achieve the goal of cashless transaction state.

IT minister K.T. Rama Rao said connectivity issues would be addressed within a year with the launch of Mission Bhagiratha as internet lines are being laid to every village along with water pipelines to provide uninterrupted broadband services and pave way for seamless cashless transactions.
Bengaluru: In February this year, Mr Yeddyurappa had alleged that the Congress government in the state was paying its high command and the details were mentioned in a diary seized by IT sleuths from the house of a Congress MLC. As a counter, the Congress released a CD, in which Mr Yeddyurappa and Mr Kumar were seen discussing that even they had given money to the BJP central leadership. Congress leaders later filed a complaint with the police, requesting for an investigation.

The Cyber Crime police, who had registered a case, had summoned the duo to give voice samples, but they did not turn up. The police had moved the court, which directed the two leaders to cooperate with the investigation. In September, the police sent both the original CD and voice samples of Mr Yeddyurappa and Mr Kumar to the FSL.

On October 4, the FSL submitted its analysis to the police, saying, "Similarities were observed in fundamental frequency measurement of vowels in words selected from questioned and sample recordings."

However, it is not yet clear as to how the police will take the investigation forward. The police had registered the case under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 124A (sedition) of the IPC and other provisions of the Information Technology Act.
A UGC Panel member said the universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Words such as 'Hindu' and 'Muslim' in names of universities -- Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)-- do not reflect their secular character and should be dropped, a University Grants Commission (UGC) panel has recommended.

The panel was formed to probe the alleged irregularities in 10 central universities and the recommendations have been made in the audit report of AMU.

Centrally funded universities are secular institutions but such words related to religion in their names do not reflect that character, a panel member said on the condition of anonymity.

The universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders, the panel member added.

Besides AMU and BHU, other universities that were audited by the panel include: Pondicherry University, Allahabad University, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, Central University of Jharkhand, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Jammu, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha, University of Tripura and Hari Singh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh.
The police also plans to make traffic arrangements between Bibi-ka-Alawa and Shaik Faiz Kaman from next year (Photo: Representational Image)

Hyderabad: With elephant Rajani creating some anxious moments during the Muharram procession, the city police is planning to ask the government and the Nizam Trust to make alternative arrangements from next year.

The elephant showed signs of restlessness at the annual Muharram procession recently. It became tensed twice in front of the Bibi-ka-Alawa, creating panic among the public.

Though trained, the elephant shows signs of restlessness as soon as it is brought near the Bibi-ka-Alawa. Zoo keepers told us that the elephant is not able to cope with the blaring of loudspeakers, slogans, blood smell and flashing of daggers by mourners, said V. Satyanarayana, DCP (south).

Furthermore, the Bibi-ka-Alawa road is narrow. The lanes are narrow and only one person can walk through. There is no escape route if the elephant runs amok. It can also result in a stampede, he added. Meanwhile, a group of Shia leaders have taken up the issue with Mohammed Ali, Deputy Chief Minister.

The police plans to redraft the bandobast scheme after verifying the CCTV footages. The police also plans to make traffic arrangements between Bibi-ka-Alawa and Shaik Faiz Kaman from next year.
Ballia (UP): Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has warned that parents who fail to send their wards to schools will be locked up in police stations without food and water.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, the 'Divyangjan' empowerment minister is reportedly seen addressing a party gathering and speaking vociferously against those who failed to send their kids to schools. The term 'divyangjan' is used to refer to physically challenged persons.

"I am going to enact a law of my choice. If wards of poor do not got to school, their parents will be forced to sit in police stations for five days. They will neither be given food nor water," Rajbhar said at Rasda area in Ballia on Saturday.

"If you (parents) do not send them (children) to school, you will be picked up by police..Till now your leader, your son, your brother was trying to make you understand. If you do not pay heed, I will continue to make you understand for six months more," he said.

UP Min OP Rajbhar says parents who don't send their wards to schools will be forced to sit in police stations without food & water for 5days pic.twitter.com/IgA05ydkJn  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 9, 2017

Drawing parallels from mythology, the minister said like Lord Rama had to take up arms to build a bridge to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from Ravana after his pleas to the ocean to pave way for him went in vain, "stern steps were required against the parents unwilling to send their kids to schools".

"I am even ready for capital punishment for this," Rajbhar added.

As the video stoked a controversy, the minister on Sunday stood firm on his statement.

"I stick to my statement. What wrong am I saying if I am threatening to send them to jail? Why are they not sending children to schools when the government is providing all facilities for education," he asked.

On asked whether he had talked to the chief minister regarding the matter, Rajbhar answered in the negative.
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operational head Khalid was killed by security forces in Ladoora area neighbouring Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday. (File photo)

Srinagar: Khalid, the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) Operational Commander in Kashmir was killed in a brief encounter with the security forces in north-western district of Baramulla on Monday.

The security forces set up a makeshift checkpoint at Ladoora in Baramulla on Monday morning based on specific information about the JeM chiefs movement, an official said.

Khalid appeared near the makeshift checkpoint around 12 pm and on seeing the security personnel, he opened fire at them, leading to an encounter.

Officials said that Khalid was killed in the encounter and his body was recovered from a cowshed where he was hiding during the encounter.

They added that Khalid, a Pakistani national, was in the list of most wanted terrorists by the security forces and was an A++ category militant.

He was involved in a number of terror acts including killings that took place mostly in north and northwestern Kashmir, a police spokesman said.

Earlier, an Army official was killed in a militant ambush in Drang village of Jammu and Kashmirs central district of Budgam.

Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that the militants opened fire at an Army patrolling party late Sunday night, leaving one soldier dead. The fire was returned. One soldier was martyred in the crossfire, he said.

The police sources identified the slain man as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Subedar Rajkumar of 53 Rashtriya Rifles who had received a bullet injury in his thigh in the militant attack.

The two incidents took place hours after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that Indian soldiers along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) had been killing at least five to six militants every day.

He said that he had ordered Indian soldiers not to fire at their Pakistani counterparts first, but give them a fitting reply by firing countless bullets if Pakistan opened fire.
The Nigerian national was beaten up by the mob on September 24 in Malviya Nagar in south Delhi. (Screengrab/File)

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has arrested one person and is looking for others, who were caught on camera thrashing a Nigerian man, tied to a lamp post, with sticks for allegedly attempting burglary.

The arrest was made after a video of the incident, which took place on September 24 in Malviya Nagar in south Delhi, surfaced online on Monday.

Ishwar Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South, said that the Nigerian national was arrested on September 24 for attempted burglary and a case was registered against him. But he did not inform the police about the assault, he added.

When video surfaced got to know what happened. He was beaten up because of theft suspicion there is no racial basis, Singh said.

Even if Nigerian national was stealing, beating him not justified; identified one man from video & arrested him, looking for others, the DCP added.

Earlier on Monday, Delhi Police took cognisance of the video, which was published by media houses. A spokesperson of the Delhi Police said a legal action will be taken in this regard.

#WATCH Nigerian national tied to a pole and beaten up by locals for alleged theft in Delhi's Malviya Nagar (24.09.2017) pic.twitter.com/3zWgbeqvN5  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

The video shows the mob hitting the Nigerian man with sticks even as he pleaded for mercy.
Shopkeepers sitting outside their closed shops of firecrackers at Sadar Bazar in New Delhi on Monday. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court order decreeing a cracker-free Diwali this year spread like the proverbial wildfire through wholesale markets in Delhi on Monday, uniting shopkeepers big and small in their anger and dismay.

With losses running into crores, their Diwali was going up in smoke, said shopkeepers in Sadar Bazar and Jama Masjid, two of the biggest cracker markets in the city.

The news travelled fast in the narrow bylanes of the two markets in the Old City with shops piled high with crackers of all kinds, ranging from sparklers selling for about Rs 20 a stick to powerful bombs going up to Rs 1,000 and more.

The Supreme Court said its order of last November banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) would continue till October 31  Diwali falls on October 19  in an effort to check pollution this festival of lights.

"All dealers across NCR have been affected. The ban was imposed in 2016 last year and was lifted temporarily around 20 days back. Now, what will be do with the old stock? Crackers worth crores will go waste," said Amit Jain, who sells firecrackers in Jama Masjid.

Harjit Singh Chhabra, head, Sadar Nishkarm Welfare Association, estimated that losses could go up to hundreds of crores.

According to him, 500 temporary licences have already been issued to sell firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. Of these, Sadar Bazar has 24. This does not include those who have a permanent licence.

"Ban nuclear weapons, not crackers," said one shopkeeper in Sadar Bazar. "The Supreme Court's job is to regulate not ban," added another who had set up shop close by. "They have banned Diwali in Delhi," said a third.

The posters came up equally rapidly.

A banner saying "Patake hi Patake" was pulled down to make way for a new one declaring, "Nashe se mar rahe hai log, Patakon se nahi (People are dying because of drugs, not of crackers".

"We are selling crackers not nuclear weapons that you impose a ban. This is India, not Taliban that you can go on banning things like this," Chhabra told PTI.

Shopkeepers in Sadar Bazar have threatened to go on strike and insist they won't follow the order.

"We can't sell in shops so we will sell on the pavement if nothing works out," Chhabra said, addressing a crowd that had gathered near his shop.

"This is not child's play. They have revoked the old ban only to bring it again. What do we do with these crackers that we bought," he added, showing his licence giving him permission to sell crackers till November 21.

His story found wide echo in the area.

Sandeep Mahajan, another shopkeeper from Sadar Bazaar, said he has over 600 kg of crackers worth about Rs 8 lakh.

"My losses will be three times more. I had bought crackers worth Rs 25 lakh," added Rajiv Saxena of RK Enterprises.

Many of them said they were just getting over the blow of "28 per cent GST on crackers".

"We are clueless about what to do next! For us Diwali is finished. The last I knew, Supreme Court was authorised to regulate, not ban. This will only create new avenues for corruption. I can already see policemen taking rounds to harass us," said Surinder Chawla.

While environmentalists and others welcomed the apex court order, Chawla is amongst those hoping that the biggies of Sivakasi - firecracker manufacturing hub - manage to get a stay.

"People running the industry in Sivakasi are big shots. They will get us out of this situation," Chawla said.

The "cracker lobby" also contests that a ban would help in reducing pollution.

"Trucks are roaming throughout Delhi and there is no check. The big industries are polluting air 365 days and you don't do anything. But come Diwali and you are all alert... do they actually think that one day can make this huge impact?" asked a permanent licence holder in Jama Masjid who did not want to be identified.

Pawan Khosla, who had come to purchase crackers for the festive season, had no clue about the apex court order.

"Thank god you told me," he said, adding some more to his bulging gunny bags of the incendiary stuff.

"Diwali is celebrated for around five days. In those five days, 10 lakh kilogrammes of firecrackers are used per day," a Supreme Court bench had said in August this year.

It was reportedly informed by a counsel that 50 lakh kg of fireworks were stocked in and around the National Capital Region.
Bengaluru: Potholes claimed one more life in the city on Sunday, when a 52-year-old woman was run over by a lorry after she fell from the scooter when the rider lost control while negotiating a pothole near Nayandahalli Junction on Mysuru Road. The deceased, Radha, was a resident of Shampura in Devarajeevanahalli and wife of Anjanappa, a BMTC bus driver. Her nephew, Ravi Kumar, who was riding the bike, sustained minor injuries in the accident.

Radha's mother Venkatamma was not keeping well and she along with Ravi was going on a scooter to Ramanagar to visit her mother. They were passing through Nayandahalli Junction on Mysuru Road around 9.30 am when Ravi lost control of the vehicle while trying to avoid a pothole. Both fell from the bike. While Ravi fell to his left, Radha fell to her right. A brick-laden lorry that was coming from behind ran over Radha, killing her on the spot, the police said.

Angry residents from Nayandahalli staged a flash strike against the negligence of BBMP and blocked the busy highway. Traffic on Musuru Road was thrown out of gear for some time. The protesters demanded that potholes be filled up immediately to avert such accidents.

The Byatarayanapura traffic police registered a case against the lorry driver and arrested him. The postmortem was conducted at the Victoria Hospital mortuary, where Bengaluru Mayor Sampath Raj met Radha's family and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.

This is the second such accident on Mysuru Road. Early on Tuesday morning, Anthony Joseph (55) and his wife Sagai Mary (52), residents of Jagjivan Ram Nagar, were killed on Sirsi Circle Flyover on Mysuru Road near Nalanda Theatre. The couple were trying to avoid a pothole when they were hit by a bus.
PAGE  Donald and Ruth Garnas believe an Arthur Cos. grain elevator at Page has drained water that carries fertilizer and maybe herbicides onto their adjacent farm field. They say something created a 2-acre dead spot and could harm groundwater 60 feet below.

They think the problem is coming from the gravel lot from the Arthur Cos. elevator. The long-standing family-owned business based at Arthur includes several elevators in the region and is headed by Brooks Burgum, a cousin of North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who is on the companys board of directors.

The Garnases requested investigations by the North Dakota Department of Health and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, and four months later, the Garnases say the results are not in.

Brooks Burgum referred questions to Justin Knott, terminal manager of the Arthur Cos. sites at Page and Pillsbury, N.D. Knott denies that the company flushed anything but clean water from a 5-acre watershed onto the Garnas land from a culvert they installed in 2012.

Its water  drown-out, Knott says, citing aerial photography dating back to 2003.

Garnas says he installed tile drainage on the spot on the parcel in 2013, so it shouldnt be drowning out.

If there is a spill there, we have to get that soil out of there, so it doesnt go through the drain tile, he says.

An outsider?

Garnas, 82, has lived in the Page area for 58 years. Its a town of about 250 people.

As a youngster he lived at Detroit with his mother. He and a sister moved to North Dakota to be with their father, and he graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1953. He went to the University of North Dakota and emerged in 1957 with a degree in marketing and accounting. He started a job with John Deere, but soon went to farming after marrying Ruth Speers of West Fargo. Her parents farmed at Buffalo, N.D., but bought parcels around Page in 1959. The Garnases grew the farm and established a 300-cow beef operation.

In 1974, Garnas was the first in the area to irrigate with center pivots.The Garnases got out of cattle in 1981 and survived through the farm credit crisis. They retired from active farming in 2001 and in 2008 bought a home in Maui, Hawaii.

From 2009 to 2016, the Garnases rented out their farm to McM Inc. McM grew to 50,000 acres in 2015 with rented land. McM went bankrupt in February 2017, so the Garnases put their land out on bids. Jason Mewes, 37, of Colgate, N.D., became the new renter. Mewes is a former leader in state soybean and edible bean groups.

In the middle

Arthur Cos. bought the Page elevator in 2005. In 2012 it developed an office, seed tanks and a liquid fertilizer building on the south side of the property. About that time, the Arthur Cos. attempted to purchase the Garnas parcel to expand the elevator. Land price was at least one sticking point to Garnas.

Basically, I didnt want to sell it, either, he says.

Blocked in expansion at Page, Knott says the company in 2014 built a greenfield facility outside Pillsbury, 10 miles to the west. The new terminal has a 2-million-bushel grain storage capacity, a circle track on the main BNSF line and a 10,000-ton fertilizer warehouse.

On June 20, Mewes went to the Arthur Cos. elevator in Page to pick up a grain check. Just outside the window, he could see problems on the 65-acre parcel he rents from Garnas.

The corn that had come up was looking really sick  kind of like it was going to die, Mewes says.

There hadnt been excessive rainfall, but Mewes saw algae growth. Water from the Arthur Companies culvert had a yellowish tinge.

Garnas contacted the North Dakota Department of Agriculture Pesticide Enforcement Division.

Mewes met with Brooks Burgum, Kevin Karel, the companys general manager over all of its facilities, and Knott.

They were concerned that I was upset, which obviously I am, Mewes says. This is our first year renting the land, and we want everything to be perfect.

They later told him the elevator wasnt at fault.

Off the charts

On July 7, Mewes hired Debbi Midstokke to collect soil samples. Midstokke and her sister have a Pioneer seed dealership  Page Seed & Agronomy Inc. Midstokke sent the samples to an Agvise laboratory in Northwood, N.D.

Fertilizer levels were off the charts  nitrogen at 500 pounds per acre where it should have been 80 pounds, phosphorus was 500 parts per million when it should be 20 ppm, and sulfur was 15 ppm when it should have been 1 ppm.

On Aug. 3, Garnas says he met privately with Knott and Karel. He says it was his impression that they were sorry and would try to remedy the situation. Knott acknowledges only that the elevator was trying to come to some solution on the water.

On Aug. 4, Mewes again noticed pumping. Midstokke collected water samples. The North Dakota Department of Health said it would pick up the samples, but later declined to test them because it hadnt collected them. The department took samples Sept. 12 from an irrigator three-quarters of a mile away and at the Garnas home on the east side of Page. Results arent expected until Dec. 1, says Karl Rockeman, director of water quality.

Meanwhile, Agriculture department results for pesticide levels in tissue and soil samples should be available within a couple of weeks, says Commissioner Doug Goehring. According to law, Garnas will only be told if the investigation indicates a violation.

What next?

Knott speculates fertilizer got elevated during the McM days, a contention Mewes later called improbable. Mewes sees the dead spot, devoid of weeds four months after any herbicide. He sees kernels in cobs sprouting kernels in the husk at the end of the ears, and wonders what it means.

Mewes looks at the containment system around the elevators bulk liquid fertilizer station and wonders if the elevator could pump rainwater into containers and haul the liquid elsewhere for disposal, rather than pumping it toward his field.

Knott says that the elevator has no plans to do anything more  until there is proof it would have an effect.
Hyderabad: Actor Rajashekar had a miraculous escape on Sunday night, after he rammed his car into an SUV on the PVNR Expressway.

The actor was heading home in Banjara Hills from Shamshabad when the mishap occurred. He dash-ed an SUV being driven by P.S.V. Rami Reddy of Rami Reddy Constructions. He was unhurt, said Jawaharnagar inspector T.S. Uma Maheshwar Rao. Following the accident, the police conducted a breath analyser test on the actor. The result was negative. No case was boo-ked as both parties reached a compromise. The actor was drowsy. The recent loss of his mother might be the reason, said the inspector.

Meanwhile, Jeevitha Rajasekhar, reached the police station, after she was informed about the incident.
New Delhi: BJP president Amit Shahs son Jay Shah on Monday formally filed a criminal defamation case in Gujarat against a news portal which had carried a report on his firms' business dealings.

Mr Shah would be represented in the case by additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta.

The defamation application sought criminal action against the respondents for defaming and tarnishing the reputation of the complainant through an article, which is scandalous, frivolous, misleading, derogatory, libelous and consisting of several defamatory statements.

Following the filing of the case, additional chief metropolitan magistrate S.K. Gadhvi ordered a court inquiry into the matter.

The case has been filed under IPC sections 500 (defamation), 109 (abetment), 39 (voluntarily cause grievous hurt) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy).

In Delhi, Union railway minister Piyush Goyal said ASG Mehta had decided to appear for Mr Shah after seeking law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's permission.

A political storm erupted after the article titled Golden touch of Jay Amit Shah was published.

The Congress party used the opportunity to hit back at the government and strategically addressed press conferences at most state capitals.

Senior leader Anand Sharma demanded that Mr Modi remove Mr Shah as BJP chief and demanded a probe by Supreme Court judges.

He (Modi) speaks a lot, everyday and on each issue. He should break his silence on this issue and declare a Commission of Inquiry (to probe the charges against Jay) comprising two Supreme Court judges. There should be a neutral probe, he said.

However, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, I havent read the newspapers so it is not proper to comment, he said adding that he does not understand the complexities of investment through companies.

When questioned on the Congress attack, Mr Goyal said that the government was in the know of the entire episode as the ASG was given permission even before the story appeared.

We believe that he (Jay) has been wronged and he must get justice. There is no harm if the best of lawyers appear for him. An ASG can appear in a matter between two private parties after taking permission," he said.
Chennai: Ever Since her induction into the Tamil Nadu police, K. Pritika Yashini(27) has been the cynosure of the media. Monday was no different as camera crews descended on Choolaimedu police station where India's first transgender police officer took charge as a sub inspector in the law and order wing.

An apprehensive Pritika Yashini avoided interacting with the media until her senior officers reached the station. This is a dream come true. I have crossed several hurdles to reach where I am today. I promise to serve society without without exhibiting any bias, Pritika said.

Her colleagues at the new workplace wished her well and promised her cooperation. On her first day at work, she was explained about the jurisdiction and nature of her work in the law and order wing, police sources said.

Later in the day, she also accompanied the patrol teams to take a field visit of the sensitive areas in her jurisdiction. Addressing the doubts if there would be any biased treatment towards Pritika Yashini because of her gender, a senior police officer said that Pritika is now part of the police force and would be treated like any other police personnel. Further, with quote a number of transgenders in the city living in Choolaimedu jurisdiction, her services would be an advantage to us, the officer added.

A native of Salem, Yashini was born as Pradeep Kumar to Kalai Arasan-Sumathi couple. Yashini's father is an auto driver. Yashini left home as a 21-year-old and worked with a NGO before she joined the Tamil Nadu police as a SI, thanks to the intervention of Madras high court. After training at the Police Academy, she was posted in Dharmapuri in March this year for practical training.
Bengaluru: The two-day nationwide truckers strike saw four lakh lorries coming to a halt in the state on Monday. Protesting against the imposition of GST, high diesel prices and harassment on roads, truck drivers and owners also demanded that diesel be brought under the purview of Goods and Services Tax.

Ever since the GST was implemented, we purchase goods at 22% and sell at 28%. There are more than 400 tollgates in the country and speeding trucks on national highway have to stop every few kilometres, complained Shanmugappa, general secretary, South India Motor Transport Association.

The association also wants inclusion of diesel under GST as the price will come down by Rs 10. In place of tollgates on highways, lorry unions propose an advance collection of tolls on a yearly basis.

Nowhere in the country, except in Karnataka, do we find police and RTI officials on the highways. The stop us every 30 km, harass us and demand money. We want an end to these corrupt practices, Shanmugappa said, adding that NICE Road which was built for Rs 1,500 crore has already earned Rs 3000 crore in tolls.

If state and central governments fail to respond to their demands, an indefinite strike will ensue putting an end to the movement of all goods.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Monday refused to quash the criminal cases registered against the chairman and founder-directors of the Agri Gold Group for duping depositors.

Justice A. Shankar Narayana was hearing a batch of petitions filed by company founder A. Seetha Rama Rao and founder directors A. Uday Bhaskar, A.V. Subrahmanyam and K.V.S. Sai.

The petitioners contended that the police cannot hold them responsible for the fraud committed by the companys agents. They said they cannot be booked for an offence that took place three years after their resignation.

They contended that IPC Section 420 cannot be invoked against them as the non-payment of deposits was not intentional and was caused by a financial crunch.

Mr Posani Venkateswarlu, AP public prosecutor, said the petitioners had initially floated three companies and collected deposits from people by promising them huge returns. After collecting the deposits they floated 150 shell companies where they diverted the money to those shell companies with an intention to cheat the depositors.

He said that though they were resigned from the Board before the date of surfacing the fraud, but they had role in starting the shell companies hence they are liable to be prosecuted.

He argued that the role of the petitioners was within realm of cheating as they were made a promise of huge returns with an intention to cheat the people.
The Indian Meteorological Department has warned the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation that there will be heavy to very heavy rainfall in the city for the next two days (Photo: Representational Image)

Hyderabad: There is a serious flood warning for Hyderabad and heavy rains and thunderstorm expected for the state on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hyderabad has been put on high alert for the next 72 hours.

The Indian Meteorological Department has warned the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation that there will be heavy to very heavy rainfall in the city for the next two days.

The day temperature on Monday was 330 Celsius but it dropped towards evening as high intensity lashed certain localities. Ramchadrapuram received 5 cm of rainfall, the highest, on Monday, followed by Trimulgherry, 4 cm, and Alwal. The rain blew up a transformer at Marredpally.

At Ramnathapur, even as water was drained out from inundated colonies, more water accumulated within a few hours.
Bengaluru: Pothole-ridden roads in the city have been claiming lives. The Mysore Road stretch alone has taken three lives in just one week. But Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George, who along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, inspected the accident spots on Sirsi Circle Flyover and at Nayandahalli said that the deaths of three people were because they were hit by vehicles from behind and had nothing to do with potholes.

It is true that roads are pothole-ridden because of incessant rains. Work to fill potholes has been taken up. We are waiting for the rains to recede. Once the rains stop, in a matter of 15 days we will fill all potholes, Mr George said.

Elevated corridor opposed by anti-Blureans

Mr George, addressing the media, said that discussions are going on for elevated corridor project and the government is mobilising resources for it. Though the elevated corridor is a good project, a few people are opposing it. They were the ones who opposed the steel bridge project too. Hundreds people hold placards and oppose the project. They are anti-Bengalureans who are out to spoil the city's image, he said.

CM Siddaramaiah inspects the condition of city roads on Monday. (Photo: DC)

White topping works at Rs 972 crore

Mr George also inaugurated white topping works of 29 prominent roads and six prominent junctions running up to 93.47 km. The packages, under the chief minister's Nagarothana Scheme, will be taken up at a cost of Rs 374 crore for package 1 and Rs 598.69 crore for package 2. "We have chosen six roads stretching up to 10 km adjoining Majestic area for white topping under the TenderSure model. White topped roads last up to 25-30 years." he said.

Mysuru Road, Hosur Road, Tumakuru Road, Kanakapura Road, Bannerghatta Road, Sarjapur Road and others will be taken up for white topping. A total of 93.47 km of roads will be developed in another eight months and all roads in the city will be white topped in another 3-4 years, he said.

Toppings explained

With the weatherman predicting rains till October 20, the BBMP has opted to use cold mix to fill potholes. But what is hot mix, cold mix and white topping? A BBMP engineer explains

1. White topping

Whitetopping is a portland cement concrete used for road surfacing. Unlike blacktopped roads, white topped roads are effective in the long run as they are free from complaints like potholes and maintenance for at least 30 years

2. Difference between hot and cold mix

When blacktopped roads develop potholes, the BBMP fills them up with hot or cold mix. In hot mix, asphalt and aggregates (crushed stones) are mixed and heated up to 150 degrees Celsius. The identified pothole is cleaned.

Hot mix is poured into the pothole and then rolled. But to take up this method, roads should be free of moisture and the mix has to be poured at 100 degrees Celsius.

On the other hand, cold mix is cement mixed with aggregates and filled into the craters and levelled.

Cold mix gets washed away during rains and also cost more, while hot mix lasts longer



Potholes: Ayukta notice to BBMP

Taking cognisance of deaths due to potholes in the city, Lokayukta Justice P. Vishwanatha Shetty has taken up a suo motu case against 55 officials, including the BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad and BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola, and has sought an action taken report within two weeks.

The Lokayukta issued notices to the officials on Friday, asking them to be present on October 23 for the hearing. The notice issued by the Lokayukta has also sought explanation from BBMP officials on money spent in each zone of the BBMP on roads and potholes in the last one year. Further, the Lokayukta has also directed the BBMP to set up an inquiry commission to ascertain whether accidents happened because of potholes on Mysuru Road, in which three people were killed including two women.

I have taken judicial action by issuing notice to 55 officials of the BBMP and the BMRCL, as people are angry over the state of roads and the way they roads are maintained. In the interest of general public who use roads, the BBMP should fix all potholes at the earliest. It is unfortunate that people are dying on roads because of potholes and victims should seek compensation if there is truth in the pothole theory. Incessant rains should not be an excuse for the BBMP to ignore the condition of roads. Action needs to be initiated not only against officials but also against contractors, Justice Shetty said.
New Delhi: Taking a serious note of the deteriorating air quality in the National Capital Region, the Supreme Court on Monday slapped a ban on the sale of crackers for this Diwali and asked the government to suspend all temporary licences granted for sale of crackers.

A three-judge bench of Justices A.K. Sikri, A.M. Sapre and Ashok Bhushan restored the ban imposed on November 11, 2016 after Diwali last year.

Following petitions from manufacturers and selling agents, the court lifted the ban on September 12 and allowed sale of crackers for this year. The ban has now been restored.

The court suspended all such licenses as permit sale of fireworks, wholesale and retail within the territory of NCR.

The suspension shall remain in force till further orders of this Court. No such licenses shall be granted or renewed till further orders.

The Bench said that the September 12 order temporarily lifting the stay and permitting sale of firecrackers would be effective from November 1 and only licensed shops will be allowed to do business.

Diwali is on October 19 and the order effectively means that no firecrackers will be available for purchase before the festival.

Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who effectively argued for restoring the ban, told this newspaper that the ban on sale would include even online sale. This would mean that nobody would get crackers online from a manufacturer or a dealer from Sivakasi, as he said the Explosive Rules prohibit such sale.

The dealer who gets licence to sell in Tamil Nadu would not have any licence to sell crackers in Delhi either directly or indirectly as all licences are suspended and sale banned forthwith, he said.

In its order the Bench pointed out that as the ban was imposed last year after Diwali, the NCR did not have the benefit to test air quality without bursting of crackers.

The order said, We are of the view that the order suspending the licences should be given one chance to test itself in order to find out as to whether there would be positive effect of this suspension, particularly during Diwali period.

The bench judges said as far as adverse effects of burning of crackers during Diwali are concerned, those have been witnessed year after year. The air quality deteriorates abysmally and alarmingly and the city chokes.
RTC unions have naturally criticised this heavy-handed action of the management, since Mr Sanjeeva was just exercising his Constitutional right to Freedom of Speech.

Hyderabad: Officials of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation have written to the Karimnagar zone vigilance officer seeking of a probe against a bus conductor who posted messages on social media that were anti-government and Chief Minister of Telangana State.

The conductor from Nizamabad-I depot, D. Sanjeev, had started a social media campaign against the government during the recently concluded Singareni union elections (which the government-backed union won), alleging that the government would cheat Singareni workers as it had not stood by the promises made to RTC workers.

He also criticised the government stating that the TS assisted RTC by sanctioning funds and on the other hand it had deployed more buses from outside on hire.

Following complaints against Sanjeev the depot manager wrote to RTCs Karimnagar zone vigilance and security officer suggesting that action be taken against Mr Sanjeev and till the completion of the probe, the conductor will be put on either depot spare or suspended.

RTC unions have naturally criticised this heavy-handed action of the management, since Mr Sanjeeva was just exercising his Constitutional right to Freedom of Speech.
New Delhi: With the new tax regime  GST  being launched from midnight on June 30, not merely the Opposition but the the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an RSS affiliate has found faultlines in the much-hyped policy.

National co-convener of the SJM Dr Ashwani Mahajan reminded that a large number of SSIs and traders organisations, belonging to different sectors, commodities and regions have been opposing GST in its present form and rates of GST.

He further argued that the SSIs despite various disadvantages have been giving tough competition to Chinese onslaught. If new tax regime works against their interests, influx of Chinese products will increase, causing huge balance of payment deficit.

Meanwhile, in Kolkata, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced that her party will not attend the GST roll-out programme on June 30 midnight. She targeted the move and said that the Centre was in an unnecessary hurry to roll it out. For her the GST was going to be an epic blunder.
TS Engineer-in-Chief C. Muralidhar had complained to the KRMB that though it had only allotted 5 tmc ft from Srisailam to Pothireddypadu, AP was continuing to release water and had drawn 7.5 tmc ft more than it was allotted.

Hyderabad: In a major setback to AP, the Krishna River Management Board on Tuesday asked the Srisailam project authorities to immediately stop releasing waters from the dam to Pothireddypadu head regulator as they have already drawn more water than allowed.

TS Engineer-in-Chief C. Muralidhar had complained to the KRMB that though it had only allotted 5 tmc ft from Srisailam to Pothireddypadu, AP was continuing to release water and had drawn 7.5 tmc ft more than it was allotted.

Referring to the complaint, KRMB member-secretary Sameer Chatterjee on Tuesday issued a stop order to Srisailam Dam Chief Engineer as well as to AP Engineer-in-Chief M. Venkateswara Rao.

However, Srisailam dam chief engineer C. Narayana Reddy told this newspaper that he had not received any orders thus far. He said AP government has already put indent for drawing an 19 tmc ft for Pothireddypadu.

Mr Reddy said he was waiting for the AP governments response to this and would act accordingly.

Sources said that Pothireddypadu head regulator was meant to supply water to assured irrigation projects like Srisailam right branch canal as well as Chennai drinking water supply project and it is APs right to use the water as it deems fit, as everything will be accounted for under the quota given to AP.

AP government argues that there is no violation in this regard as it has to meet the drinking water requirements of Kurnool and Kadapa districts.
Narendra Modis speech at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India last week at New Delhis Vigyan Bhavan was the first sign that the Prime Minister is a worried man, and that he found it necessary to rebut criticism about the state of the economy. The rhetoric was not sweeping any more. He was not pointing to the 60 years of non-performance of Congress governments. He came down to brass tacks as it were, and cited figures for the past three years of UPA-2 and compared it with three years of his own government. Whether it is convincing or not, it showed that Mr Modi was seriously engaging with his critics. At a later point in the speech he promised that the government was ready to heed the critics and take on board their concerns. The bombast was gone, and so was the unbridled belligerence and contempt for his opponents. The October 4 speech was preceded by the formation of the Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council to be headed by Niti Aayog member Bibek Debroy, and it was followed by the tweaking of the Goods and Services Tax rates, which would help small and medium enterprises.

The imperious attitude of the Prime Minister and other BJP leaders in the government and party appear to have been shed for the time being. There is a note and tone of humility. Of course, this is election time in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, and later in Karnataka. Mr Modi, a past master of political histrionics, can modulate his tenor and manner. There was also the huddle of the PM, finance minister Arun Jaitley and BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday preceding the GST Council meeting. The Opposition, including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, are taking advantage of the Modi governments discomfiture over the economy, and has mounted a sustained attack on the governments failures on the economic front. This offensive is turning out to be more effective than the ones about cow vigilantes, intolerance and about secularism. The ideological war against the Sangh Parivar, comprising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP, was too nebulous, and the Modi government was quite happy when the cow, minorities and faith were the talking points. But when the focus shifted to the economy, Team Modi feels cornered, and it has gone on the defensive. The BJP is showing signs not only of nervousness but also ticks of panic. The swagger has been muted. It is one of the joys of democracy that no one remains invulnerable for too long, and chinks have started appearing in the Modi armour.

This is indeed a battle of nerves between political players, and it has very little to do with the real state of the economy. The growth rate of 5.7 per cent for the April-June quarter of 2017-18 does not indicate an economic crisis, much less a meltdown. The impact of the November 8, 2016 demonetisation is lingering and that of the July 1, 2017 rollout of the Goods and Services Tax is likely to last for a quarter or two more. Even the ever-cautious Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank expressed the certainty that there would be a recovery of growth in the subsequent quarters of the financial year, though the overall growth rate for 2017-18 has been revised to 6.7 per cent from the earlier estimate of 7.3 per cent, and this despite the prospect of a fourth-quarter (January-March 2018) growth rate of 7.7 per cent. The economy is passing through a cyclical trough, and it will get out of it. Demonetisation and GST have caused temporary dents in the economy, but nothing more.

It is the political fallout of these two measures that is hurting the Narendra Modi government and the BJP. This would not have damaged the fortunes of the government and the party if they hadnt been so arrogant in the first three years in power. It is the exaggerated claims by Mr Modi, finance minister Arun Jaitley, party chief Amit Shah and others about the economic miracles that were being wrought which turned out to be tinny and humiliating. The Biblical saying of pride going before a fall is what describes the state of the ruling party, and it has nothing to do with the state of the Indian economy. There are embedded challenges in the economy, and the Modi government would not be able to respond to them only with grand gestures. Some issues are beyond the control and competency of any government. For example, there is nothing much that a government can do to stimulate exports when global demand is subdued. Similarly, there is a limit to what it can do to spur growth on the home front. Different players and sectors must kickstart the economy on their own. Policy interventions do not help much. What the government can and should do is to create an atmosphere of confidence and stability. Cow vigilantism and anti-minorityism, sabre-rattling against Pakistan, and nudging the media to make anti-China noises spoil the air, and introduce elements of uncertainty and anxiety in the stakeholders, which includes ordinary people as well as captains of industry.

One of the tough lessons the Modi government has to learn as it enters the penultimate lap of its five-year term in office is to surrender its bragging rights. Governance is best done quietly and effectively. At election time, the voter looks at the governance record and not at the speeches of the Prime Minister at political rallies and other platforms. What Mr Modi should claim is not that the economy has grown dizzyingly, but that it has remained stable despite the folly of demonetisation. People will forgive policy follies and even failures if Mr Modi and the BJP maintain a low profile, however difficult or even impossible it may be.
Karachi: The degenerate politics of Pakistan on display every day is sucking the life-blood of the country. The legislative and political stratagems in support of massive and organised corruption and in defiance of the Supreme Court are holding the country to ransom. The relentless plunder of the people is destroying the lives of millions upon millions of living and unborn Pakistanis. No enemy could be so hostile! Is it too late to save Pakistan? It is never too late for decent Pakistanis to change from being passive spectators and organise to save their country from hovering vultures. Movements require a mobilising vision, commitment, organisation, struggle, feedback, and participatory decision-making. Otherwise, any progress will be sporadic, temporary and insufficient to overcome the political inertia.

Many think the moral strength, mental horizons, political confidence and organising capacities of the people are too limited to challenge the powers that be. If true, Pakistan will have no future. But if slavish pessimism is rejected we can meaningfully discuss some realities and requirements a leadership committed to serving a peoples movement for national transformation should consider. The following are a few:

The population of Pakistan will reach an utterly unmanageable 400 million by 2050;

There has been underinvestment in the whole range of human resource development which would raise capacities to address these challenges;

Massive investments are needed for poverty reduction and transforming the health, education, sanitary, housing, mother-and-child care, basic services provision, human and gender rights protections, administrative and governance systems;

The money for these investments must be largely generated from the revenues of a developing economy to preserve Pakistans political and economic sovereignty;

Long-term economic growth rates should be transformational for defence expenditures, debt repayments and administration costs to be met without incurring unserviceable and ruinous debt;

Budgetary allocations and tax burdens must be transparent, rational, redistributive and pro-growth;

Social and economic inequalities should be reduced while living-wage job opportunities are maximised through human resource development;

A middle-class country should have a middle class approximately half the population. The structure of power and class-based governance stand in the way of addressing this situation;

Defence spending that takes away from other essential spending undermines economic and national security;

Transition from a security to a development and democratic state is the condition for national security in todays world;

Major corruption should be a capital crime;

The promotion of a culture of rationality, innovation, and science and technology is indispensable to implement transformation policies;

Civil-military relations mean nothing outside civilian supremacy;

Capable, responsible and accountable policymaking institutions must replace personal, uninformed, uneducated and unaccountable decision-making;

Governance must be brought closer to the people through devolution of power;

The formation of additional provinces should be encouraged in accordance with the wishes of the people;

Terrorism is a major challenge. Though deep-rooted it must be uprooted;

Counterterrorism without addressing the root causes of terrorism is disguised state terror;

Nuclear weapons should never be considered a first-strike option;

The protection of nuclear assets and materials is less about reliability; it is more about perceptions of Pakistans sustained political will to deny unauthorised access;

Without transformational change at home, foreign policy cannot develop international credibility ;

The foreign service as the nations first line of defence must be upgraded and empowered as a major priority;

A foreign minister must elicit respect and loyalty from the foreign service through his understanding of foreign policy issues and his commitment to service morale and welfare;

The foreign minister must carry weight in the cabinet and the corridors of power for his ministry to provide indispensable professional input for a credible foreign policy.

Policies towards India, Kashmir, the US, Afghanistan, Iran, etc should be integrated and consistent with national transformation, 21st-century imperatives, international law, strategic partnership with China, and UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir. All of the above is doable. But who is listening?

By arrangement with Dawn
Catalonia isnt Kashmir. It isnt East Pakistan or Myanmars Rakhine province either. It cannot complain of political repression, economic exploitation or religious discrimination. Yet, Catalans defiant provincial president, Carles Puigdemont, might announce independence any day now. Whatever happens, there is a warning in Spains latest crisis for all multinational, multi-ethnic, multi-religious states not to ignore either regional sentiments or the scope for judicious outside help. Catalonias October 1 referendum, although constitutionally illegal according to Madrid, showed that many of the natives of this 32,108 sq km region of northeastern Spain, bordering France and the Pyrenees and washed by the Mediterranean, are convinced they are not Spanish. They want independence. True, only 43 per cent of 7.5 million Catalans voted. That could be, however, because of the Madrid governments measures to prevent the exercise. While a Spanish court declared the referendum illegal, attempts were made to seize ballot boxes and disperse voters, with the armed central police and paramilitary Guardia Civil injuring hundreds of people in an unprecedented burst of violence. Even so, 90 per cent of the 2.3 million who voted backed independence.

These separatists are not terrorists. They do not threaten Spains security. Neighbouring nations cant be accused of having a mischievous finger in the pie. Spains national unity is pitted against a powerful subnationalism that recalls Englands lost battle in what is now the Republic of Ireland, and the struggles that may lie ahead in Scotland and Wales that are still part of the United Kingdom. Spain isnt as much a state of many nations as India, but the Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, faces a daunting challenge in Catalonia. Its a question of identity backed by economic confidence. Catalonia has not fully recovered from the European financial crisis that sent unemployment soaring to 24 per cent but is still Spains richest and most economically dynamic region. It accounts for 16 per cent of Spains population, 19 per cent of the national gross domestic product, and 25.6 per cent of exports. Nearly 21 per cent of foreign investment goes to Catalonia, which draws workers from all over Spain. It is a major tourist destination. Barcelona, the capital, is one of Europes largest industrial metropolitan areas.

Mr Puigdemont originally planned to make an announcement in the Catalan parliament on Monday but in a pre-emptive move, Spains constitutional court suspended that particular parliamentary session. The speaker says the session has now been rescheduled for Tuesday. Behind Catalan defiance lies centuries of feudal, dynastic and ideological warring and emotional estrangement, a failure of what Jawaharlal Nehru called national integration. Catalonia was never an independent state but was often part of kingdoms (like Aragon) or federations that were not under Madrid. Thus, during the 1702-14 War of the Spanish Succession, Catalonia supported the Austrian Habsburg candidate whereas a French Bourbon prince won the throne. Having backed the Republicans during the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War, Catalonia was punished by General Francisco Francos dictatorship with a number of oppressive measures. The official use of the Catalan language was banned, and several Catalan institutions were abolished. The return of democracy (19751982) under King Juan Carlos  whose son King Felipe outraged Catalans last week by calling the referendum illegal and undemocratic on TV  enabled Catalonia to regain considerable local autonomy in political, educational, environmental and cultural affairs and also to achieve rapid economic growth.

Signs of a backlash are emerging as the crisis deepens, with more than 50,000 demonstrators from across the country rallying in Madrid to express support for Spanish unity. Thousands gathered in the capitals Plaza de Colon over which flies the worlds largest Spanish flag, waving their own smaller red and yellow banners. They chanted slogans in favour of Spain and the constitution and repeatedly shouted Long live the Guardia Civil and Were proud of our police. Both forces were strongly criticised for their brutal handling of the pro-independence referendum. Similar pro-unity demonstrations have now erupted in Barcelona too. The increasing danger is that the competing authorities in Barcelona and Madrid could take steps that might aggravate the confrontation. If Barcelona has the option of making a unilateral declaration of independence, Madrid has the power to dissolve self-rule in Catalonia. Either measure would provoke a constitutional crisis.

Meanwhile, Mr Rajoys cabinet has issued a decree that in effect encourages business houses in Catalonia to relocate elsewhere. Several banks and public utility corporations are reported to have already done so. The Catalan chief of police, Josep Lluis Trapero, has had to appear before a judge in a national criminal court in Madrid charged with sedition. Both sides may ultimately pull back from the brink. A Spanish government official has apologised for the referendum violence. Meanwhile, there are indications that instead of issuing a unilateral declaration of independence, Mr Puigdemont will deliver a report to the Catalan parliament about the political situation which sounds deliberately vague enough to leave room for manoeuvre. But if the first lesson of the crisis is that no multicultural state can afford to ignore minority or regional sensitivities, the second is that the parties to a dispute should not shy away from well-meaning offers of outside help. Only governments that arrogantly refuse to make any concessions and are convinced their military might can solve all problems reject intervention. Despite Mr Rajoys present refusal to countenance mediation, there should always be a role for Oslos peacemakers, whether in Sri Lanka or West Asia. The Northern Ireland stalemate wouldnt have been solved without international players like President Bill Clinton, US Senator George Mitchell, and John de Chastelain, a Canadian general and diplomat. It can be the European Union this time.
The event that started on October 4 debated how adaptations of books into movies have propelled sci-fi into the mainstream.

BENGALURU: Did you know that Mae Jamison, the first African-American astronaut, continues to be a belly dancer and that her perfection in the dance form helped her meet the exacting physical requirements to be picked as an astronaut by NASA?

Did you know that Margherita Hack, the Italian astrophysicist was the first woman to head an observatory in Italy and the asteroid Hack8588 is named after her, which is one of the highest honours accorded to a dreamer?

These and more such interesting titbits were shared at the World Space Week celebrations, organised by Books and Brews along with Empathy Labs in the city.

Kavya, who heads Empathy Labs, on Monday brought to the fore the stories of astrophysicists and astronauts who have made significant contributions to the world of space but are lost in the pages of history. Speaking of Margaret Hamilton, an American computer scientist, Kavya said that Hamilton was responsible for coining the term software engineering and creating the field of software.

The event that started on October 4 debated how adaptations of books into movies have propelled sci-fi into the mainstream. Movies were showcased as part of the week-long event.

On day four of the event, writer-artist Khushnaz Lala, led a workshop  the Silly Space. She said, Art is centred around the idea, not the skill.

The United Nations General Assembly declares October 4 to October 10 as the World Space Week to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.

On October 4, the worlds first artificial satellite Sputnik 1 was launched and on October 10, the intercontinental treaty was signed that there should be no war in space, which is why the entire week is celebrated as the World Space Week.

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Gadgets make great gifts. You can rarely go wrong because people don't mind if they already have what they receive: a spare never hurts. Yes they cost a bit more than that dried fruit box, but they'll remember you long after Diwali 2017 has come and gone. Here are some tech toys for boys (and girls!)  all launched very recently  at prices from Rs 1,000 to Rs 9,000.

Wanna run-out like Hrithik?

The Mi Band-HRX edition works for 20 days between recharges.

Fit it, forget it, might well be the motto of the HRX edition of Xiaomi's Mi Band 2 health wearable, co- branded with Hrithik Roshan's HRX fitness brand. With a beefed up battery, and a power-efficient OLED display, it works for about 20 days on a full charge. It tracks steps taken, body temperature, calories burnt, sleep cycles and lets you view your performance for a day, a week or a month. It pairs with Android 4.4 or iOS 7 or later devices and once you set up the app, it will vibrate to alert you about incoming calls and messages. All fairly standard so far, but the MiBand brings some nice touches: raise your hand and the device will display the time. It will also jog you into action when it's time to exercise. Weighing less than 10 grams, it costs Rs 1,299. And if that matters, the limited edition is engraved with the HRX logo

Put a 'spin' on your phone calls!

2017's wackiest idea so far? a Fidget spinner -cum mobile phone!

A Hong Kong- based company  Chilli International  has come out with an interesting combo  a mobile phone that doubles as a fidget spinner! The device is shaped like two blades of a spinner: one bulb houses a tiny 1-inch LCD display, the other contains the keypad. The whole thing is less than 9cm long. Open the back and it has room for a 280mAh battery, a full sized SIM and a microSD card that can take 8GB in addition to the on-board 32MB RAM memory and 32MB storage. It is a feature phone in all respects  including calls, SMS and MP3 music.

And yes, the gear wheel in the centre lets you spin the whole thing nicely! It costs around Rs 1,000 on online shopping sites and includes a USB charging cable.

Playful mouse!

This award-winning mouse is made for FPS gamers.

FPS or First Person Shooter is a genre of computer games, that places maximum demand on the quick reaction and wrist work of the player. So the quality and precision of the mouse becomes crucial. Which is why hard core players are prepared to spend quite a bit more on the mouse than the average PC user.

Kingston's HyperX products are made for gamers  and the latest addition, last week, was the Pulsefire FPS Gaming Mouse which recently won the Red Dot Award for its design. It offers four sensitivity settings from 400 to 3200 DPI, provides a good non-slip side grip and comes with 6 buttons backed by good quality Omron switches, which provide a reassuring tactile feedback with every press. A generous 1.8-metre braided cable makes a failsafe connection to the PC and the whole thing weighs around120g. It costs Rs 3,999.

Value-for-money 4G phone

New Chinese phone, 10.or, offers good combo of specs & price.

Indians are great at sniffing out a good deal. They've shown that they don't like to pay a premium for a brand name when it comes to smart phones. We're guessing they'll be delighted at the combo of price and performance offered by the latest Chinese maker to launch phones here: 10.or (pronounced tenor). We tried the 10.or E with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, expandable with a 128GB microSD card which costs Rs 8,999. The 2GB/ 16GB version costs Rs 1,000 less. Both phones have very good batteries  4000mAh, good for 48 hours  come with the latest Android 7.1.2 which you can upgrade once Android 8 is offered. The makers have sensibly used the standard Android, without any fancy add ons except icons for Amazon and Kindle. The 5.5-inch screen is full HD and the dual nano SIMs are good for the latest 4G VoLTE service. A finger print scanner in a phone in this price band is rather rare but the cameras  13MP rear and 5MP selfie  both with flash are just about OK. We recommend going for the 10.or G model which is identical except for dual 13MP rear cameras and a 16MP front camera  at Rs 10,999. We liked the nice chunky (150g) feel. And the price is feel-good too!

Ethical snooping!

People, pets or things, Letstrack devices harness GPS to buy you peace of min.

Over-seventy senior citizens who misplace their spectacles or phone; pet owners whose dog strays away from home; parents who agonize over the safety of their children or car owners whose vehicle has been stolen..... would all benefit from the simple science of keeping track. London-based Letstrack provides answers to our most fervent prayers with a suite of handy tracking devices for all these scenarios. You can attach the Letstrack personal device to a pet's collar a child's belt; the Letstrack bike series to a two-wheeler or the Plug&Play to the On Board Data or OBD port that can be found under your car's dashboard. All the models used GPS to keep track and an app on your phone to keep you posted.

Prices range from Rs 4,499 to Rs 7,499 and include a year's free tracking service. After that you need to subscribe  typically for about Rs 100 per month. Not too much for buying peace of mind!

IndiaTechOnline

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Authorities said the July 2016 stabbing of Seema Singh occurred in the couple's apartment while their three children slept nearby. (Representational Image)

New York: A 48-year-old Indian-origin man in the US has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing his wife by stabbing her nearly 40 times after she told him she was having an affair.

Nitin P Singh must serve 85 per cent of the sentence on the single charge of first-degree aggravated manslaughter before he is eligible for parole under the terms of the sentence handed down by Superior Court Judge Linda Lawhun on Friday in Salem, New Jersey.

Authorities said the July 2016 stabbing of 42-year-old Seema Singh, a Collingswood shopkeeper, occurred in the couple's apartment while their three children slept nearby. The children were not injured.

Mr Singh told the court that he attacked his wife after she said she was leaving him and would be taking all of his money and their children with her.

He said that he went into a rage and picked up the first thing he saw, a knife, and began stabbing her. Nitin then called 911 to say his wife was not breathing. He was later charged with murdering her by stabbing her nearly 40 times.
Google has downplayed the possibility of Russian influence on its platforms, but launched a probe into the matter, according to the Post (Photo:AFP)

Google has discovered that Russian operatives spent thousands of dollars on ads on YouTube, Gmail, Google search and other products, The Washington Post reported on Monday.

The ads do not appear to be from the same Kremlin-affiliated entity that bought ads on Facebook Inc, which may indicate a broader Russian online disinformation effort, the paper reported. Google runs the worlds largest online advertising business and YouTube is the worlds largest online video site.

Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the story.

Google has downplayed the possibility of Russian influence on its platforms, but launched a probe into the matter, according to the Post.
Seoul: North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un said his nuclear weapons were a powerful deterrent that guaranteed its sovereignty, state media reported on Sunday, hours after US President Donald Trump said only one thing will work in dealing with the isolated country.

Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind.

In a speech to a meeting of the powerful Central Committee of the ruling Workers Party on Saturday, a day before Trumps most recent comments, state media said Kim had addressed the complicated international situation.

North Koreas nuclear weapons are a powerful deterrent firmly safeguarding the peace and security in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia, Kim said, referring to the protracted nuclear threats of the US imperialists.

In recent weeks, North Korea has launched two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test, and may be fast advancing toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland.

North Korea is preparing to test-launch such a missile, a Russian lawmaker who had just returned from a visit to Pyongyang was quoted as saying on Friday.

Donald Trump has previously said the United States would totally destroy North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies.

The situation proved that North Koreas policy of byungjin, meaning the parallel development of nuclear weapons and the economy was absolutely right, Kim Jong Un said in the speech.

The national economy has grown on their strength this year, despite the escalating sanctions, said Kim, referring to U.N. Security Council resolutions put in place to curb Pyongyangs nuclear and missile program.

SISTER PROMOTION

The meeting also handled some personnel changes inside North Koreas secretive and opaque ruling center of power, state media said.

Kim Jong Uns sister, Kim Yo Jong, was made an alternate member of the politburo - the top decision-making body over which Kim Jong Un presides.

Alongside Kim Jong Un himself, the promotion makes Kim Yo Jong the only other millennial member of the influential body.

Her new position indicates the 28-year-old has become a replacement for Kim Jong Uns aunt, Kim Kyong Hui, who had been a key decision maker when former leader Kim Jong Il was alive.

It shows that her portfolio and writ is far more substantive than previously believed and it is a further consolidation of the Kim familys power, said Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at Johns Hopkins Universitys 38 North website.

In January, the US Treasury blacklisted Kim Yo Jong along with other North Korean officials over severe human rights abuses.

Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol, two of the three men behind Kims banned rocket program, were also promoted.

State media announced that several other high ranking cadres were promoted to the Central Committee in what the South Korean unification ministry said could be an attempt by North Korea to navigate a way through its increasing isolation.

The large-scale personnel reshuffle reflects that Kim Jong Un is taking the current situation seriously, and that hes looking for a breakthrough by promoting a new generation of politicians, the ministry said in a statement.

North Koreas foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, who named Donald Trump President Evil in a bombastic speech to the U.N. General Assembly last month, was promoted to full vote-carrying member of the politburo.

Ri can now be safely identified as one of North Koreas top policy makers, said Madden.

Even if he has informal or off the record meetings, Ris interlocutors can be assured that whatever proposals they proffer will be taken directly to the top, he said.
A Rohingya Muslim man walks to the shore carrying two children after they arrived on a boat from Myanmar to Bangladesh in Shah Porir Dwip (Photo: AP)

Coxs Bazar: A boat carrying Rohingya Muslim refugees to Bangladesh capsized and at least 12 people, most of them children, drowned, police said on Monday, the latest victims of violence in Myanmar that has forced more than half a million people to flee.

The boat sank near Shah Porir Dwip, on the southern tip of Bangladesh, late on Sunday with up to 35 people on board, Bangladeshi police said.

Bangladeshi fishermen have been cramming their boats since late August with desperate Rohingya fleeing a Myanmar security crackdown that the United Nations has denounced as ethnic cleansing.

Bangladeshi police officer Mohammed Mainuddin told Reuters that 12 bodies - 10 children, one woman and a man - had been recovered.

A Reuters photographer earlier saw the bodies of four children, two women and a man washed up on a beach. Authorities said 13 people had been rescued.

Some 519,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25, when attacks by Rohingya militants on police and military posts in Rakhine State sparked a ferocious response from Myanmars security forces.

Myanmar rejects accusations of ethnic cleansing and has labeled the militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, who launched the initial attacks, as terrorists.

The insurgents declared a one-month ceasefire from Sept. 10, which is due to end at midnight on Monday.

The ability of the group, which only surfaced in October last year, to mount any sort of challenge to the Myanmar army is not known but it does not appear to have been able to put up resistance to the military offensive unleashed in August.

It would be difficult for the insurgents to operate in areas where the military has driven out Rohingya civilians, in the north of Rakhine Sate, near the border with Bangladesh.

The insurgents said in a statement on Saturday they were ready to respond to any peace move by the Myanmar government, but also noted that the ceasefire was about to end.

COMING, GOING

More than six weeks after the violence erupted, Rohingya continue to arrive in Bangladesh, which was already home to 400,000 members of the Myanmar Muslim minority before the latest crisis.

Mostly Buddhist Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as citizens, even though many have lived in Rakhine for generations.

Myanmar state media has in recent days reported that large numbers of Muslims were preparing to cross the border. It cited their reasons as livelihood difficulties, health problems, a belief of insecurity and fear of becoming a minority.

But even as refugees arrive, Bangladesh is insisting that they will all have to go home. Myanmar has responded by saying it will take back those who can be verified as genuine refugees.

Most Rohingya are stateless and many fear they will not be able to prove their right to return.

A Myanmar official held talks on a repatriation plan in Bangladesh last month and Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan is due to visit Myanmar for more this month.

Khan told reporters on Sunday he believed an agreement would be worked out.

Myanmar leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has faced scathing international criticism and dismay for not doing more to stop the violence, although she has no power over the security forces under a military-drafted constitution.

The United States and Britain have warned Myanmar the crisis is putting at risk the progress it has made since the military began to loosen its grip on power in 2011.

The European Union and the United States are considering targeted sanctions against Myanmar military leaders over the violence, officials familiar with the discussions say.

Sundays apparent accident was the latest involving refugees. On Sept. 28, a boat carrying about 80 refugees overturned with only 17 survivors.

In early September, 46 bodies were recovered after a boat sank in the narrow stretch of water that separates Myanmar and Bangladesh. Among the dead were 19 children, 18 women and nine men.
Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday said India is unleashing baseless propaganda against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"India wanted to divert attention over its (alleged) atrocities in occupied Kashmir through false allegations about Pakistan's support to indigenous Kashmiri struggle for freedom," Radio Pakistan quoted Abbasi, as saying.

He asserted that prime ministerial-level talks can only be held after India ends alleged rights violations in Kashmir, implement U.N. resolutions, end Line of Control (LoC) violations and budge from its Cold War doctrine.

Abbasi dismissed US Defense Secretary James Mattis' statement over CPEC, saying the United Nations should ensure implementation of Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.

Pakistan's Foreign Office has already dismissed Washington's concerns over CPEC, saying the project is for the betterment of the region and beyond.

The Foreign Office was responding to Mattis telling the Senate Armed Services Committee that the One Belt, One Road goes through disputed territory and that it itself shows the vulnerability of trying to establish that sort of a dictate.

On October 7, China cautioned the Trump administration about CPEC, citing that its OBOR initiative was not directed against third parties.

"We have repeatedly said that the CPEC is an economic cooperation initiative that is not directed against third parties and has nothing to do with territorial sovereignty disputes and does not affect China's principled stance on the Kashmir issue," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, in a statement.

Mattis also said that in a globalised world, there are many belts and many roads and no one nation should put itself into a position of dictating the 'One Belt, One Road'.

China came up with its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative in 2013.

The CPEC project comprises a network of railways, roads and pipelines that would connect Pakistan's port city of Gwadar in the province of Balochistan, with the Chinese city of Kashgar in landlocked Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

Human rights activists have time and again spoken about and highlighted growing atrocities in Pakistan and particularly on the indigenous people of Balochistan as a result of the CPEC.
Islamabad: Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif failed to appear on Monday before an anti-graft court which set October 13 as the date of his indictment even as the daughter and son-in-law of the embattled premier were granted bail in the Panama Papers case.

Maryam Nawaz, 43, along with her spouse, former army captain Muhammad Safdar, returned to Islamabad late last night from London to appear in the National Accountability Court.

Safdar was arrested on his arrival as the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrant against the former Pakistan Army Captain.

Both appeared separately in the accountability court of Judge Muhammad Bashir here.

Sharif and his two sons were absent during the hearing as they are in London to attend his wife Kulsoom who is battling throat cancer.

Sharif had attended the previous two hearings but flew to London last week to see his ailing wife, who underwent a third surgery.

The court accepted the bail applications of Maryam and Safdar and postponed the hearing till October 13, according to court officials.

Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Harris asked the court to adjourn hearing for 15 days with commitment that Sharif would also appear. The court rejected the plea announced that it will indict the accused during the next hearing.

The court also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharif's sons -- Husain and Hasan -- proclaimed offender as they have failed to appear before it so far.

The court also decided to conduct separate trials of Husain and Hasan from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

Amid tight security, Maryam, 43, who is being groomed as Sharif's political successor, appeared in the court for the first time today.

She was ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 50,000 against a non-bailable arrest warrant against her.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials informed the court that Nawaz's sons Hassan and Hussain had left the country and were deliberately avoiding court appearances.

The NAB lawyers asked the court to send Safdar to jail on judicial remand but the court granted him bail and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 for surety bonds.

The court also asked him to seek its permission before going abroad and rejected the NAB request to confiscate his passport.

Both Maryam and Safdar have been charged by the NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Sharif.

Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken into custody despite the fact that he had come back to face the case.

"Those who want to appear by free will are arrested from airport, but we are not afraid of it, she said.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said that the "absconders are free and hold public meetings".

She also criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.

"Questions will be asked if the cases which started with Panama ended with Iqama (Job contract). The judges would have to answer it, she said referring to dismissal of Sharif for non-declaration of his salary from his sons company in the UAE.

"Those who sent home representative of 20 crore people should also be brought to justice," she said.

During the hearing, Sharifs lawyer also presented an application to exempt him from appearing before the court today. The court accepted the plea.

The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Husain, Hasan and Safdar last Monday after they failed to appear before it.

The cases were filed after the July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the people's mandate and democracy.
Islamabad: Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities have arrested the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in connection with corruption cases pending against him.

A Cabinet minister Talal Chaudhry said Mohammad Safdar was arrested from the Islamabad airport early Monday on his arrival from London.

The development came hours before Sadfar and his wife Maryam Nawaz were to appear before an anti-graft tribunal. She was not detained and later reached the court.

Sharif, his daughter, his son-in-law and his two sons face corruption cases after an investigation into documents leaked from a Panama law firm indicated that Sharif and some of his family members had undisclosed assets abroad.

Sharif was disqualified from office in July.
Beijing: China on Monday expressed readiness to jointly maintain peace along the border areas with India and said Nathu La, the frontier post visited by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, was the best witness to the UK-China treaty of 1890.

Sitharaman had a brief conversation with Chinese soldiers during her maiden visit to the Nathu La border post in Sikkim on Monday and was even seen teaching them how to say Namaste.

The Sikkim sector of the China-India boundary has been delimited by the historical treaty of 1890, and the Nathula pass has been the best witness testifying to this fact, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing while reacting to a question on Sitharamans visit.

The Chinese side is willing to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity in the border areas with the Indian side on the basis of observing historical treaties and the relevant agreements and accords between the two sides, Hua said.

Beijing often referred to the 1890 Britain-China treaty during the Dokalam standoff stating that it has defined the Sikkim section of the boundary with Tibet, therefore the border in that area has been settled. Sitharamans interaction with the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) troops at Nathu La with Namaste diplomacy also appears to have struck a chord as Chinese commentators said it sent a goodwill signal to mend the bilateral ties following the Dokalam standoff.

State-run English news channel CGTN carried snippets of her video with a caption Indian defence minister greets Chinese border soldiers. The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post headlined its story saying that Indias defence minister builds bridges with Chinese troops.

The minister experienced an unexpected wave of goodwill from Chinese soldiers when she visited troops stationed on the frontier between the countries, the Post report said. Her interaction with the troops of the PLA also sparked positive response among the Chinese netizens on popular social media websites.

The greeting sent a goodwill signal towards mending bilateral ties and putting relations back on track toward normality, Qian Feng, an expert at the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies, told the state-run Global Times which carried a separate story on Sitharamans Sikkim visit with a caption Indian Minister waves at PLA.

The Indian government should show more determination for improving ties as Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoys advantages towards achieving that goal, it quoted Qian a saying.

Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim. The two sides so far held 19 rounds of talks at the level of Special Representatives to resolve the dispute.

Meanwhile, the state-run tabloid Global Times which routinely attacks India also carried an editorial saying that India must overcome security paranoia.

Referring to Sitharamans visit to Sikkim, it said a newly constructed airport that she inspected during the visit, the nearest to Chinas border, will be put into use in November, it said and went on to desribe it as an aggressive gesture. But it noted that she had friendly interactions with Chinese soldiers in Nathu La.

Video released by the Indian Defence Ministry shows that she acknowledged the soldiers with a traditional namaste greeting, it said.

At the same time, it said, Some Indian nationalists over-estimate Indias strength and rights, assuming New Delhi can bark orders across the border at Beijing.

Indias concerns about the Siliguri Corridors security are understandable, but New Delhi cannot mess around, it said adding that China is also concerned about the transport route security across the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca, but Beijing has not taken coercive measures to achieve its aims.
Q: Since Outlook for Android doesnt offer text formatting for Microsoft mail accounts, what other email apps do?



Microsofts Outlook app for Android puts its focus more on keeping up with a users inbox and schedule and less on mobile message composition. But if this is a personal mail account or your employer does not require you to use the official Outlook app for Android, consider sending and receiving your messages in another program. Several alternative apps offer text formatting and support a unified inbox a sort of mail station for multiple services.



If you are using an Android device, you probably already have Googles own Gmail software installed. The current version of the Gmail app includes text-formatting options, and it allows you to add Outlook, Hotmail, Live, Office 365 and Exchange accounts to use right alongside your Gmail account. Yahoo Mail and other services can be added to the Gmail app, too.



To make the move, open Gmail on your Android device and tap the menu button in the upper-left corner. When the menu pane opens, tap the small black triangle next to your existing user name and then tap Add Account. On the Set up email screen that appears, select the service you would like to add: Outlook, Hotmail and so on.



The setup screens guide you through entering your user name and password for your Microsoft mail account. You may need to add a verification code if you have added extra security to your account, but when you are done, you should be able to read, write and format messages within the Gmail app but send them from your Microsoft mail address.



If you do not use Gmail or do not care for the app, you can find other unified mailbox apps with more visual features in the Google Play store. VMWare Boxer, myMail and TypeApp are some to consider.



Q: I just upgraded my iPad to iOS 11, and while I liked dragging my favorites into the little bar of apps across the bottom of the screen, the bar itself doesnt stay there consistently. Why?

The new dock in Apples latest version of its mobile software is similar to the tool bar that has been a part of its Mac operating system for years. Like the desktop version, the iOS 11 dock is designed to hide when you do not need it. The auto-hide behavior in macOS is optional and can be changed in the System Preferences, but the iOS 11 dock is designed to disappear to minimize screen clutter when you open an app on the iPad.



However, if you want the dock back because you want to open (or switch to) another app without having to press the iPads home button to go back to the Home screen, just swipe up from the bottom of the screen to make the dock reappear. You can then tap an app in the dock to open that program.



To switch between other running apps, drag your finger up from the bottom of the screen when the dock is showing. You then see small preview windows of open apps and the iOS 11 Control Center, a panel of icons that serve as shortcuts to common system settings. Swipe the screen to the left or the right to see all the open app windows. (You can also double-click the home button to see this app-switcher screen.)



You can switch to another app by tapping its preview window. And, if an app is frozen or misbehaving, you can force it to close by dragging its preview window off the top of the screen.



J D Biersdorfer

INYT
The Supreme Court on Monday referred to the Constitution Bench the question of a Parsi womans identity after her marriage to a man of a different faith.



A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it is appropriate to refer the matter to the five-judge Constitutional bench, given its importance.



The court posted the case for consideration to the Constitution bench, which is said to hear a batch of petitions from October 10. Senior advocates Indira Jaising and Sidharth Luthra asked if the question of a womans religious freedom guaranteed by Article 25 of the Constitution automatically ceases after she marries a man from a different faith.
After exploring many areas, I have come up with a list of the top birdwatching places in Malaysia for anyone interested to know where and how to get to these locations.











Top Bird Watching Places in Malaysia Kinabatangan River, Sabah Taman Negara, Pahang Fraser's Hill, Pahang Langkawi Island, Kedah Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sabah Awana Genting, Pahang Paya Maga, Sarawak Bario Highlands, Sarawak Danum Valley, Sabah Maliau Basin, Sabah Rainforest Discovery Center, Sabah Crocker Range National Park, Sabah Deramakot Forest Reserve, Sabah

Bird Watchers at the Borneo Highlands in Sarawak



Some places mentioned above require travelling via two flights, overland journeys, and even river cruising or trekking. And being in a tropical climate, Malaysia offers over 600 species of birds covering many different terrains. This list of places for birdwatching in Malaysia is also in no order and is purely based on popularity, infrastructure, and accessibility to these places, where many birders have visited.



There are tropical rainforest, coastal, island, montane and wetland locations to spot the different species of birds in Malaysia, suitable for all kinds of birders.











However, the list below will briefly explain the places and what kind of experiences you will get. They are also visitor-friendly, without having to cut through the thick jungle and walk for miles.



A flock of Straw-headed Bulbul's in Kinabatangan River, Sabah. Photo by Wokoti



1. Kinabatangan River, Sabah Borneo With so many locations being offered and published in magazines, books, and online sites, it must be tough to decide which are the best places to go for birdwatching in Malaysia.However, the list below will briefly explain the places and what kind of experiences you will get. They are also visitor-friendly, without having to cut through the thick jungle and walk for miles.



One of the best places to see natural wildlife and birds is the Kinabatangan River in Sabah. Located about four hours from the city of Sandakan, the visitors are mostly nature lovers and photographers.



What is excellent about Kinabatangan is that you can cruise around in boats to spot birds and wildlife here, with early morning and night boat trips highlighted here.



Star Bird for Kinabatangan River: Straw-headed Bulbul, Storms Stork



To get here : Book your tour with North Borneo Safari, a company specialising in birdwatching tours or bird photography tours in Sabah.



A Great Hornbill was spotted in Taman Negara National Park, Pahang.



2. Taman Negara, Pahang

The oldest national park in Malaysia is Taman Negara National Park, where it takes only about 5 hours to travel one way.



Over 450 birds are found around the national park and at the main park resort area; one can easily spot birds here.



A nature lovers' paradise, the luxurious Mutiara Taman Negara Resort in the park and many other hotels and guesthouses outside the national park provide standard accommodations for



Other places around Taman Negara include taking a boat ride up the Tembiling River and Lata Berkoh, which is highly popular for bird watchers.



The Taman Negara Canopy Walk is another place for birding, but by trekking there.



One of the new areas for birdwatching is at Hornbill Valley or Lembah Enggan, where several species of hornbills have been spotted apart from other lowland birds.



I visited this place in April 2017 to check it out and saw a Gold Whiskered Barbet from the main road. A couple of Minivets were also spotted easily here.



Star Bird for Taman Negara: Garnet Pitta, Large Frogmouth



To get here : Ivy Holidays in Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur, provides birdwatching tours to Taman Negara.



The Malayan Whistling Thrush, photographed by Janetli SF



3. Fraser's Hill, Pahang One of the best places to see natural wildlife and birds is the Kinabatangan River in Sabah. Located about four hours from the city of Sandakan, the visitors are mostly nature lovers and photographers.What is excellent about Kinabatangan is that you can cruise around in boats to spot birds and wildlife here, with early morning and night boat trips highlighted here.Straw-headed Bulbul, Storms Stork: Book your tour with North Borneo Safari, a company specialising in birdwatching tours or bird photography tours in Sabah.The oldest national park in Malaysia is Taman Negara National Park, where it takes only about 5 hours to travel one way.Over 450 birds are found around the national park and at the main park resort area; one can easily spot birds here.A nature lovers' paradise, the luxurious Mutiara Taman Negara Resort in the park and many other hotels and guesthouses outside the national park provide standard accommodations for bird watching in Taman Negara Other places around Taman Negara include taking a boat ride up the Tembiling River and Lata Berkoh, which is highly popular for bird watchers.The Taman Negara Canopy Walk is another place for birding, but by trekking there.One of the new areas for birdwatching is at Hornbill Valley or Lembah Enggan, where several species of hornbills have been spotted apart from other lowland birds.I visited this place in April 2017 to check it out and saw a Gold Whiskered Barbet from the main road. A couple of Minivets were also spotted easily here.Garnet Pitta, Large Frogmouth: Ivy Holidays in Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur, provides birdwatching tours to Taman Negara.



The closest place to Kuala Lumpur to go birdwatching is Fraser's Hill in Pahang. It only takes two hours to drive up here, and you can do this on a day trip or even an overnight trip.



This place is also home to the



Over 270 species of birds have been recorded here, with quite a good number of endemics too.



There are many easy treks available here, and birds are easily spotted. Note that you will see many bird photographers over the weekend, and you may even make new birding friends here.



Star Bird for Fraser's Hill: Malayan Whistling Thrush



To get here: You can self-drive from Kuala Lumpur as it is only a 2-hour drive. For birding tours, you can contact Mr Durai, probably the best birdwatching guide for Fraser's Hill.



Langkawi's Mountain Hawk Eagle, photo by Allan Hopkins, c/o www.hiveminer.com



4. Langkawi Island, Kedah The closest place to Kuala Lumpur to go birdwatching is Fraser's Hill in Pahang. It only takes two hours to drive up here, and you can do this on a day trip or even an overnight trip.This place is also home to the Fraser's Hill International Bird Race for more than 30 years, and every year, there is a healthy growth of bird watchers coming here to participate.Over 270 species of birds have been recorded here, with quite a good number of endemics too.There are many easy treks available here, and birds are easily spotted. Note that you will see many bird photographers over the weekend, and you may even make new birding friends here.Malayan Whistling ThrushYou can self-drive from Kuala Lumpur as it is only a 2-hour drive. For birding tours, you can contact Mr Durai, probably the best birdwatching guide for Fraser's Hill.



Often known as an island getaway, Langkawi Island is a birder's paradise with many hornbills to be spotted.



Because Langkawi is an island, you get the best of rainforest, lowland birds and coastal birds.



Self-birding or guided birding can be done here as the island is easy to drive around. Many hotels ranging from luxury to budget are available on this duty-free island.



Star Bird for Langkawi Island: Brown-winged Kingfisher and Mountain Hawk-Eagle.



To get here: Most people will find their way here via flights from Kuala Lumpur. Once on the island, you can contact



Tabin's Starbird, the Long-tailed Broadbill. Photo by Jason Azahari Reyes of Sabah



5. Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sabah Borneo Often known as an island getaway, Langkawi Island is a birder's paradise with many hornbills to be spotted.Because Langkawi is an island, you get the best of rainforest, lowland birds and coastal birds.Self-birding or guided birding can be done here as the island is easy to drive around. Many hotels ranging from luxury to budget are available on this duty-free island.Brown-winged Kingfisher and Mountain Hawk-Eagle.Most people will find their way here via flights from Kuala Lumpur. Once on the island, you can contact Wendy Chin , as she is one of the pioneer birds and nature guides on Langkawi Island . She will assist you in arranging everything to have a leisurely experience here.



Located on the east coast of Sabah, Tabin Wildlife Reserve is another premier birdwatching location guaranteed to let you see some endemic birds of Borneo.



Over 220 species have been recorded here; if you stay long enough, you could see 70% of them.



The bird guides are also some of the best principles I have worked with; they know their birds. I wanted to see some Pittas on my last trip here, and they called them naturally by whistling.



Tabin is a natural paradise as you see many birds, plus there are not many tourists here but more nature lovers.



Elephants are also sighted apart from clouded leopards and other wildlife. The resort is also very nice and one of the



Star Bird for Tabin Wildlife Reserve: Long-tailed Broadbill



To get here: Contact Tabin Wildlife Resort, as they are the only resort that provides birdwatching and nature tours.



The smallest raptor in the world, at Awana Genting. Video capture by Loh Ming Lee.



6. Awana Genting, Pahang



Halfway up to the resort city of Genting Highlands, or Resorts World Genting as it is now called, you will stop at a place called Awana Genting.



The great thing about this place is that you have the opportunity to spot montane birds in the cool highlands.



Recommended to go up early, before 7.00 am, to catch the active birds up here. I once went up in the morning and spotted the Black-thighed Falconet on a tree.



Star Bird for Awana Genting: Black-Thighed Falconet



To get here: Self-drive one hour to Awana Genting. There are no special tours available currently.



The star bird of Paya Maga, Sarawak - Black Oriole. Photo by Tony Saw

7. Paya Maga, Lawas, Sarawak Borneo Located on the east coast of Sabah, Tabin Wildlife Reserve is another premier birdwatching location guaranteed to let you see some endemic birds of Borneo.Over 220 species have been recorded here; if you stay long enough, you could see 70% of them.The bird guides are also some of the best principles I have worked with; they know their birds. I wanted to see some Pittas on my last trip here, and they called them naturally by whistling.Tabin is a natural paradise as you see many birds, plus there are not many tourists here but more nature lovers.Elephants are also sighted apart from clouded leopards and other wildlife. The resort is also very nice and one of the best rainforest resorts in Malaysia that I have stayed at.Long-tailed BroadbillContact Tabin Wildlife Resort, as they are the only resort that provides birdwatching and nature tours.Halfway up to the resort city of Genting Highlands, or Resorts World Genting as it is now called, you will stop at a place called Awana Genting.The great thing about this place is that you have the opportunity to spot montane birds in the cool highlands.Recommended to go up early, before 7.00 am, to catch the active birds up here. I once went up in the morning and spotted the Black-thighed Falconet on a tree.Black-Thighed FalconetSelf-drive one hour to Awana Genting. There are no special tours available currently.



A relatively new birding spot in the north of Sarawak is Paya Maga, and it is only here where you can find the endemic Black Oreol.



However, getting to the location will take you over 5 hours of travel and trekking. Along the way, many lowland birds can be spotted.



This is still one of the lesser-visited places for bird watching in Sarawak and one of the most desired locations.



Star Bird: Black Oriole



To get here: You need to book a specialist to visit this place. Only one or two people are probably operating this bird tour for Paya Maga.



The rare Dulit Frogmouth in Sarawak, photographed by Yeoh Siew Teck of Birding Borneo .



8. Bario and Bakelalan Highlands, Sarawak



The highlands of Sarawak Borneo offer some exciting bird watching, and there are two places called Bario and Bakelalan suitable for this.



Both highland villages are located northeast of Sarawak, and the closest city is Miri.



One must fly to these towns 1000 meters above sea level and with the most simple traditional lifestyle.



There are no hotels or modern infrastructure here, only homestays managed by the local ethnic people of the highlands.



I have been personally birding in Bario over the last three years, visiting four times and each time with bird guide Scott Apoi.



The beauty of birding here is that the cool highlands provide a great walking and birding experience. The Dulit Frogmouth was last spotted about two to three hours out of



Star Bird for Bario Bakelalan: Dulit Frogmouth



To get here: Contact Scott Apoi of Nigmat Ayu Homestay in Bario, as he used to do bird watching and still does it on and off. He knows the best places to see birds in Bario and Bakelalan.



Bakelalan Trip Report: I visited here in October 2018 and did a



Danum's Hill Blue Flycatcher, photographed by Apisit Wilaijit of Thailand .



9. Danum Valley, Sabah Borneo A relatively new birding spot in the north of Sarawak is Paya Maga, and it is only here where you can find the endemic Black Oreol.However, getting to the location will take you over 5 hours of travel and trekking. Along the way, many lowland birds can be spotted.This is still one of the lesser-visited places for bird watching in Sarawak and one of the most desired locations.Black OrioleYou need to book a specialist to visit this place. Only one or two people are probably operating this bird tour for Paya Maga.The highlands of Sarawak Borneo offer some exciting bird watching, and there are two places called Bario and Bakelalan suitable for this.Both highland villages are located northeast of Sarawak, and the closest city is Miri.One must fly to these towns 1000 meters above sea level and with the most simple traditional lifestyle.There are no hotels or modern infrastructure here, only homestays managed by the local ethnic people of the highlands.I have been personally birding in Bario over the last three years, visiting four times and each time with bird guide Scott Apoi.The beauty of birding here is that the cool highlands provide a great walking and birding experience. The Dulit Frogmouth was last spotted about two to three hours out of Bakelalan town Dulit FrogmouthContact Scott Apoi of Nigmat Ayu Homestay in Bario, as he used to do bird watching and still does it on and off. He knows the best places to see birds in Bario and Bakelalan.I visited here in October 2018 and did a Bakelalan birdwatching trip report for anyone interested.



One of Malaysia's excellent birdwatching locations in Danum Valley comes complete with a good selection of Borneo Birds and a luxurious rainforest staying experience.



The bird guides here are also some of the best in Malaysia, with in-depth knowledge of the local birds.



A great place to bird watch is the Danum Canopy Walk, one of the most unique in the world. Other areas require much trekking, and night birding is also recommended here.



Star Bird for Danum Valley: Hill Blue Flycatcher



To get here: You can book directly with Borneo Rainforest Lodge, which manages the exclusive resort, or contact North Borneo Safari Tours, which organises specialised birdwatching tours to Danum Valley.



A bird watching guide at Maliau Basin in Sabah

10. Maliau Basin, Sabah Borneo One of Malaysia's excellent birdwatching locations in Danum Valley comes complete with a good selection of Borneo Birds and a luxurious rainforest staying experience.The bird guides here are also some of the best in Malaysia, with in-depth knowledge of the local birds.A great place to bird watch is the Danum Canopy Walk, one of the most unique in the world. Other areas require much trekking, and night birding is also recommended here.Hill Blue FlycatcherYou can book directly with Borneo Rainforest Lodge, which manages the exclusive resort, or contact North Borneo Safari Tours, which organises specialised birdwatching tours to Danum Valley.



One of the more challenging areas in Borneo, located about 4-5 hours from Kota Kinabalu, is the Lost World of Sabah or Maliau Basin.



This fully protected conservation area is non-commercialised and requires a permit and tour company to bring you in. By saying that, you can only imagine what is waiting for you.





Star Bird for Maliau Basin: Blue Banded Pitta





To get here : North Borneo Safari Tours provides specialised birdwatching trips here.



One of the most sought-after birds in Sabah the Bornean Bristlehead. Photo: Lee Teck Seng

11. Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC), Sandakan Sabah



The RDC (common name) in Sandakan is one of the very popular places for bird watching on the east coast of Sabah.



Here, you will find the mascot of birds in Sabah, the Bornean Bristlehead, a bright-coloured endemic of Sabah and Borneo.



RDC also boasts the country's best modern canopy walk system, a massive steel canopy walk that stretches almost one kilometre long.



There are also three towers for birdwatching along the canopy walk, making this place really interesting.



The RDC is also home to a bird festival, but from time to time, the festival moves around Sabah and eventually, it will be held at the Rainforest Discovery Center.



Star Bird for Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC): Bornean Bristlehead



To get here : North Borneo Safari organises day trips, or you can make your way here from Sandakan city.



I recommend you use the birding specialist as they know where the best spots are to see the birds versus walking around on your own.



The Bornean Ibon, photo by Wong Tsu Shi, Borneo Birds



12. Crocker Range National Park, Sabah Borneo : North Borneo Safari organises day trips, or you can make your way here from Sandakan city.I recommend you use the birding specialist as they know where the best spots are to see the birds versus walking around on your own.

Located just under two hours' drive from Kota Kinabalu city is one of Sabah's up-and-coming places for bird watching. The



Recently, after promoting the Borneo Bird Festival, which was held in the city and at the national park, more bird watchers are starting to visit this place because it is not overcrowded.



Watch this place as it will eventually become a popular birdwatching spot in Sabah due to its proximity to Kota Kinabalu. : North Borneo Safari Tours provides specialised birdwatching trips here.The RDC (common name) in Sandakan is one of the very popular places for bird watching on the east coast of Sabah.Here, you will find the mascot of birds in Sabah, the Bornean Bristlehead, a bright-coloured endemic of Sabah and Borneo.RDC also boasts the country's best modern canopy walk system, a massive steel canopy walk that stretches almost one kilometre long.There are also three towers for birdwatching along the canopy walk, making this place really interesting.The RDC is also home to a bird festival, but from time to time, the festival moves around Sabah and eventually, it will be held at the Rainforest Discovery Center.Located just under two hours' drive from Kota Kinabalu city is one of Sabah's up-and-coming places for bird watching. The Crocker Range National Park has been visited by avid birders for many years.Recently, after promoting the Borneo Bird Festival, which was held in the city and at the national park, more bird watchers are starting to visit this place because it is not overcrowded.Watch this place as it will eventually become a popular birdwatching spot in Sabah due to its proximity to Kota Kinabalu.



Star Bird for Crocker Range National Park: Bornean Ibon



To get here : Travelling from Kota Kinabalu City via van takes about two hours. Birdwatching operators usually offer packages that include guides and transport.



You can also rent a car and self-drive here using Waze or Google Maps. There is a minimal park entry charge. For beginners, it is recommended to engage one of the professional bird guides in Sabah.
A top commander of Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit was killed in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmir's Sopore area while two more militants were killed in a separate gun battle in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Monday.



Police said the Jaish commander Umer Khalid, a Pakistani national, was killed after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Ladoora, Sopore, 52 kms from here, following information about the presence of militants in the area.



"Khalid, who usually would roam with a pistol and grenades, opened fire on the search party. In the retaliatory action he was killed," Superintendent Police, Sopore Harmeet Singh told DH.



He said Khalid was active in north Kashmir for last five to six years and was instrumental in arranging recruits for the terror outfit. "He was involved in over a dozen terror attacks and recently had carried out an attack on a Special Police Officer and his seven-year-old son at Handwara," the SP said.



Earlier Director General Police (DGP) Shesh Pal Vaid termed Khalid's killing as a major breakthrough for the security forces. Sources said the slain commander played a major role in the fidayeen (suicide) attack on the district police lines in Pulwama a month ago in which eight security personnel were killed.



The police is also probing his role in the recent attack carried out by the Jaish on BSF battalion headquarters near high-security Srinagar airport.



In a separate encounter two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants were killed in Gatipora village of Shopian. Police said the gunfight began after a joint party of army, special operations group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF cordoned off the area following specific inputs about the presence of militants.



The militants hiding in the village opened fire after security forces approached the suspected site, drawing retaliation from the forces.



DGP Vaid said that two militants have been killed so far. Encounter is still on, he tweeted.



Nearly 150 militants, including top commanders Sabzar Bhat, Junaid Matoo, Ayoub Lelhari, Bashir Lashkari, Abu Dujana and Mehmood Gaznavi, have been killed by the security forces this year, which is highest in the last eight years. The security forces are going after militants as part of operation "hunt down" and on the basis of a hit list of militants.



With Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfits receiving major setbacks at the hands of security forces, Maulana Masood Azhars led terror outfit Jaish has taken a frontal role in carrying out strikes on security forces.



While Jaish has carried out two major fidayeen attacks in the last over a month, police has warned that the terror outfit may carry more attacks in coming days. "16 to 17 Jaish militants had been sent by Pakistan specifically to carry out fidayeen attacks in Kashmir. We have killed 10 out of these militants but still six to seven are at large," Kashmir IGP Muneer Khan said after latest week's fidayeen attack near Srinagar airport.




Nitish Kumar's JD(U) today said a national council meeting held by rebel party leader Sharad Yadav was "illegal" as he did not have the right to convene it in view of a recent Election Commission decision.



Party leader in Rajya Sabha and national general secretary R C P Singh said he had come to know about the meeting in Delhi yesterday through newspapers.



"Sharad Yadav cannot convene or hold a meeting of the party's national council as the Election Commission has dismissed twice his plea for the allotment of party name and symbol to his faction," Singh told reporters here.



The poll panel had recently refused to consider his plea on the grounds that it lacked supporting documents such as affidavits, he added.



The party also questioned Yadav's claim that 500 members of the national council had attended the meeting.



"Sharad Yadav has claimed that 500 members of the national council participated in yesterday's meeting but the fact remains otherwise," Singh said.



The list of the members of the national council which Yadav was referring to was a fake one, Singh said.



"The list ... expired in 2015 with the election of a new president. Besides, Yadav does not have any support in the party's legislative wing," he said.



The term of the previous national council had expired in 2015 with the election of Nitish Kumar as the new president at the party's Rajgir session in November 2016, he said.



Stating that the EC had rejected Yadav's plea for allotment of the party name and symbol to his faction twice on September 12 and September 27, 2017, the senior JD(U) leader asked how Yadav could claim to have the support of 500 members of the national council, when its current strength was 194.



Giving the break-up of the 194 members of the council, Singh said 103 members were from Bihar, followed by 35 from Kerala, 31 from Jharkhand, 23 from Jammu and Kashmir and 2 from Dadar and Nagar Haveli.



Stating that the EC recognises the majority in the national council and legislative wing while deciding the claim of a particular person staking a claim to a party name and symbol, Singh dared Yadav to tell the people and the EC how many of the 194 national council members supported him.
Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif failed to appear today before an anti-graft court which set October 13 as the date of his indictment even as the daughter and son-in-law of the embattled premier were granted bail in the Panama Papers case.



Maryam Nawaz, 43, along with her spouse, former army captain Muhammad Safdar, returned to Islamabad late last night from London to appear in the Accountability Court.



Safdar was arrested on his arrival as the court had issued the non-bailable arrest warrant against the former Pakistan Army Captain.



Both appeared separately in the accountability court of Judge Muhammad Bashir here.



Sharif and his two sons were absent during the hearing as they are in London to attend his wife Kulsoom who is battling throat cancer.



Sharif had attended the previous two hearings but flew to London last week to see his ailing wife, who underwent a third surgery.



The court accepted the bail applications of Maryam and Safdar and postponed the hearing till October 13, according to court officials.



Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Harris asked the court to adjourn the hearing for 15 days with the commitment that Sharif would also appear. The court rejected the plea announced that it will indict the accused during the next hearing.



The court also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharif's sons -- Husain and Hasan -- proclaimed offender as they have failed to appear before it so far.



The court also decided to conduct separate trials of Husain and Hasan from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.



Amid tight security, Maryam, 43, who is being groomed as Sharif's political successor, appeared in the court for the first time today.



She was ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 50,000 against a non-bailable arrest warrant against her.



The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials informed the court that Nawaz's sons Hassan and Hussain had left the country and were deliberately avoiding court appearances.



The NAB lawyers asked the court to send Safdar to jail on judicial remand but the court granted him bail and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 for surety bonds.



The court also asked him to seek its permission before going abroad and rejected the NAB request to confiscate his passport.



Both Maryam and Safdar have been charged by the NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Sharif.



Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken into custody despite the fact that he had come back to face the case.



"Those who want to appear by free will are arrested from the airport, but we are not afraid of it, she said.



Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said that the "absconders are free and hold public meetings".



She also criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.



"Questions will be asked if the cases which started with Panama ended with Iqama (Job contract). The judges would have to answer it, she said referring to the dismissal of Sharif for non-declaration of his salary from his son's company in the UAE.



"Those who sent home representative of 20 crore people should also be brought to justice," she said.



During the hearing, Sharif's lawyer also presented an application to exempt him from appearing before the court today. The court accepted the plea.



The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Husain, Hasan and Safdar last Monday after they failed to appear before it.



The cases were filed after the July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif.



Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the people's mandate and democracy.
After three deaths in a row on potholed roads and the BBMP missing several deadlines to complete repair works, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday promised to make Bengaluru pothole-free in a flat 15 days.



Earlier, the chief minister inspected the spot near Nayandahalli where a 47-year-old woman fell off a bike while avoiding a pothole and was crushed to death by an oncoming truck on Sunday. Only on October 4, an elderly couple was killed in similar circumstances on BGS flyover on Mysuru road.



Apparently stung by bad press, the civic body has decided to change its pothole filling strategy so that it can work non-stop even in rain. Instead of using hot bitumin mix, which is washed away in rain, it will from now on use cold mix.



Addressing the media, the chief minister said: We will fill the potholes using cold mix made up of bitumin emulsion and small jelly stones. Although the life of cold mix is not more than three months, the current situation demands this kind of action. We will asphalt the roads once rain stops. The same cold mix will hold for more than a year in summer, he added.



From early September, BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad had been promising to fill potholes within ten days to a fortnight. But nothing happened on ground.



The city received record rainfall over the last 50-55 days.



I have visited the place in Nayandahalli junction where the accident occurred and have instructed the officers to not only fill the potholes but also to repair the entire road. There will be no room for patchwork and this applies to all roads in the city, said Siddaramaiah.



He said he has fixed responsibiiity on the executive engineers and strict action will be taken against defaulters. I have asked Mayor R Sampath Raj to hold a meeting with all 198 corporators and Assistant Executive Engineers of each ward to kickstart the work, he added.



The chief minister said he had also ordered Bangalore Metropolitan Rail Corporation to ensure good quality roads wherever Metro work was in progress.



Penalising contractors



Asked if contractors concerned would be penalised, Siddaramaiah said that would happen from now on.



Before the inspection, Siddaramaiah held a meeting with senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily, ministers K J George and Ramalinga Reddy, Mayor and top brass of BMRCL and BBMP.
Militants are roping in surrendered terrorists and "overground workers" of terror outfits in a desperate effort to revive terrorism in the Jammu region, a top police official said today.



SD Singh Jamwal, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, said that the militants' attempts to revive terrorism continue to be foiled by alert security forces.



Police has scuttled two attempts to revive militancy in the region this year by busting two terror modules and arresting nine militants in the Doda and the Ramban districts of the region, he said.



"Jammu region is virtually a militancy-free zone, but there are continuous attempts by anti-national elements to revive militancy and they are in touch with surrendered militants and sympathisers," Jamwal told PTI.



"This time the situation in Jammu region is under control but they are making attempts by roping in surrendered militants, overground workers, and their attempt is to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere," the IGP said.



He said the recent militant attack in Banihal and the earlier incident in Doda were part of the nefarious designs of the militants but police had cracked both the cases within 72 hours by arresting nine culprits and seizing the weapons, including snatched service rifles.



In May, a special police officer was killed and another injured when terrorists attacked their post in Tantra in Doda district, he said.



An SSB jawan was killed and another injured when their patrol party was attacked in Banihal area of Ramban district last month. The ultras fled from the scene with the service rifles of the slain and injured SSB jawans, Jamwal said.



Five terrorists were arrested in connection with the Doda attack. Three newly recruited Banihal youth and another person from south Kashmir, who provided a pistol to them, were arrested in connection with the attack in Banihal, he said.



Jamwal said the security forces were watching the minutest movement of the suspects to frustrate them.



"We have full control over the situation and we are monitoring and watching the minutest movement of the suspects. Their attempts are on but we have not allowed them to succeed in their nefarious designs," the Jammu region police chief said.



He said it was the counter-insurgency plan that did not allow the terrorists to settle down and as a result both the modules set up in Banihal and Doda were busted within the shortest possible time.



Jamwal said only three militants were active in Kishtwar district and "efforts are on to neutralise them".



"Kishtwar belt is very vast and connected to south Kashmir. We have three listed militants in our records operating in Kishtwar, one of them, Jehangir, is the oldest surviving militant. There are no other militant active in the region," the IGP said.



He said there were chances, that when the pressure on militants in south Kashmir builds up, they might try to shift their base to this side of Pir Panjal.



"But we are alive to the situation and have taken necessary precautionary measures to ensure they do not succeed," he said.



Jamwal said there was synergy among various security agencies working on the ground to maintain law and order and peace in the region.



"Army, police and other security forces are working closely along with intelligence network on the ground. Though there is no major threat but the chances of militants spreading their tentacles remains," he said.



Jamwal said since nomads move along the high altitude areas, all police posts along their routes have been directed to maintain tight vigil to ensure that terrorists do not mingle with them and come to this side.



The officer said despite frequent ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) there was no breach of the fence along the borders.



"In some cases, the cross-border firing was aimed at giving cover fire to the infiltrating militants but no such activity was witnessed and there was no breach of the fence. Recently a tunnel along the IB was unearthed, scuttling the attempt to push militants into this side," he said.



Jamwal said multi-tier security arrangements were in place along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts to foil infiltration of militants from across the border.



"There was no report of any militant activity reported from the twin districts. That means there was no breach of the border fencing and the alertness of the Army despite frequent cross-border firing had ensured zero per cent infiltration (of militants)," he said.


While there are a number of companies who can add phone numbers to mobile phones via VoIP, Spikko takes a different approach. The company allows a mobile device to have a single SIM and multiple local numbers with global call-recording added as one of its optional services. The company supports most countries but there are around 50 primary ones.

I spoke with company representative Ron Barak about the companys differentiators and he mentioned that they have their data center in the Amazon cloud in Ireland and from there they allow phones to work as local devices on multiple networks. They have negotiated great rates for customers  2-3 cents per minute per call, $10/month for call recording and $5-$6 per number. Use these numbers as guides, they could be higher or lower.

The Spikko cloud-based arcitechture

Today there was an article on a TMC sister-site, Call Recording where we discussed MiFID II, the new EU law which will require financial organizations to record their conversations. Not surprisingly, this initiative has been great for Spikkos business.

Other strengths, Spikko is also chosen by companies who want to add a business-line to personal phones of their employees. A sweet spot is companies who use contractors to conduct business. By using virtual phone numbers and recording the calls, these organizations can ensure they are in control of customer relationships. Moreover, they can keep track of what these contracts are saying to customers.

Any company with many mobile employees can likely benefit.

The Spikko management dashboard

The service requires you to download a dialer which also lets you decide which CLI to send per call. In addition, a phone now can have multiple WhatsApp personalities.

The bottom line is Spikko is a great solution to companies looking to take control of employee mobile devices. They are able to ensure better customer relationships, lower costs, reduce roaming and increase productivity as employees wont be afraid to use their phones in foreign countries and thus run up unexpected bills.
The Madras High Court today posted to November 2 the further hearing on pleas by 18 Tamil Nadu MLAs challenging their disqualification after the counsel for Chief Minister K Palaniswami sought time to reply to their additional affidavit and rejoinder.



Justice K Ravichandra Baabu directed counsel on both sides to serve copies of replies and rejoinders to each other by October 23 and posted the matter for next month.



When the matter came up, senior counsel C S Vaidyanathan for the chief minister submitted they needed time to reply to the rejoinder and additional affidavit filed by the disqualified MLAs.



The rejoinder was filed in response to the counter affidavit by the Legislative Assembly Secretary on behalf of Speaker P Dhanapal.



Assembly Secretary K Boopathy had contended in the counter that if the 18 disqualified MLAs, loyal to sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran, had intentions to continue in the party, they would have approached it for redressing their grievance.



To this, the rejoinder said they had given interim replies on August 30 and September 5 seeking an opportunity to cross examine the chief whip and the chief minister which was denied and the "impugned order was passed in gross violation of principles of natural justice by the speaker".



The rejoinder said requests for documents was neither rejected nor communicated to them thereby leaving no opportunity even to present whatever case they had.



It said the order was based on "erroneous assumptions, surmises and conjectures".



The disqualified MLAs also referred to the submission in the counter in which it was stated that notice was not issued to O Panneerselvam and 10 other MLAs for voting against the motion of confidence moved by Palaniswami because of a petition pending before the Election Commission.



"The pendency of the petition before the ECI has nothing to do with the disqualification and even assuming this was true then the same will be applicable to them also, to the dispute before the ECI," the rejoinder said.



They prayed that the court should take serious note of their allegations against the speaker and allow their pleas.



They had challenged their disqualification under the anti-defection law by the Speaker on September 18.
Former DIG D Roopa today said the State Human Rights Commission's report on "preferential treatment" to influential prisoners and torture of some inmates at the Parappana Agrahara central jail here by prison authorities, corroborated her probe report.



Roopa had created ripples with her internal report alleging preferential treatment to AIADMK leader V K Sasikala at the jail. The report had sought a probe into allegations that Rs 2 crore was paid as bribe by Sasikala for preferential treatment in prison.



"The SHRC's report is in my favour as it corroborates my probe report submitted to my senior officials. The commission report states that some prison officials had given preferential treatment to politically-connected prisoners, and tortured prisoners who protested my transfer from the prisons department," she told PTI here.



The former deputy inspector general (prisons) had submitted the report to then DGP (prisons) Sathyanarayana Rao. Roopa had also levelled charges against Rao.



Rao has retired since then, while Roopa was transferred to another post.



Days after Roopa submitted her report, some prisoners were reportedly shifted to different prisons across Karnataka, including Ballari and Belagavi.



"I had been to the prison on July 15 as part of my duty. Some prisoners aired grievances against some senior officials. After I left, I came to know that they were beaten up mercilessly," Roopa said.



"On July 16, around 1 am, as many as 32 prisoners, who were vocal, were shifted to other jails, without even informing me. This itself raises questions about the intention of prison officials. What was the need for shifting them hurriedly?" she asked.



"They were beaten up because of the gravity of the matter. If they would have aired small issues, they would not have been beaten up," she said.



Roopa also said the pictures and video footage of limping prisoners, which was captured when they were taken inside different prisons across the state, establishes the proof of inhuman treatment meted out to them.



"The video footage and pictures of prisoners limping and taken on wheelchairs, taken by a few waiting journalists at different prisons across the state, also establishes the proof of torture, which I had reported to my seniors," she said.



In his recent 72-page report, IGP (SHRC) Soumendu Mukherjee submitted that inmates were tortured and beaten up for exposing some prison authorities giving preferential treatment to politically-connected prisoners at the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail.



Asked about the status of investigation into the prison violations, Roopa said she was not aware of it.




Lokayukta P Vishwanatha Shetty has taken up a suomotu case against the BBMP for poor road maintenance.



He also directed the civic authorities to fill up all potholes on city roads. Potholes have caused three deaths in just a week. On Sunday, a 47-year-old woman was run over by a truck after she fell off the pillion of a bike at Pantharapalya on Mysuru Road. She was wearing a helmet, but her neck was crushed under a wheel.



In an order on Monday, Shetty said, "It is the duty of the BBMP under KMC Act 1976 to maintain the roads in Bengaluru city. No human life can be put to jeopardy." He said citizens' safety should not be threatened by bad roads. The BBMP will be held accountable for sub-standard work, he said. Shetty ordered the issue of notices to BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad and engineers responsible for maintenance of roads. He sought a status report in two weeks.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday set a December deadline for completion of the 345-km stormwater drain (SWD) work.



Siddaramaiah told reporters at his official residence Krishna that this is part of the 845-km stretch of stormwater drain work. The remaining 500 km will be completed within two years, said Siddaramaiah.



The state government has allotted an additional amount of Rs 117 crore for the project. "Vulnerable areas prone to waterlogging will be taken up at first," he said.



Bengaluru Development Minister K J George had allotted Rs 300 crore in September for completion of the work.



We have been using robotic excavators to desilt drains. We have three machines and plan to buy two more to speed up work. We also plan to install sluice gates at all lakes to prevent flooding during overflow, said Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner N Manjunath Prasad.



Along with the problem of potholes, the city is grappling with stormwater drains filled with silt and garbage, leading to water logging in many areas. Besides this, people also dump debris in public spaces, the chief minister said.



He said, The city will be debris-free, pothole-free and silt-free (from stormwater drains) as we plan to build a task force to spot those who dump garbage and debris in public places.



He also said CCTV cameras will be installed in every ward at a cost of Rs 10 lakh since this was the mayor's priority when he assumed office.



Highlights



1) HSR layout and Koramangala to get Rs 25 crore each



2) KR Puram to get Rs 30 crore



3) Yeshwantpur to get Rs 20 crore



4) Three robotic excavators to cost Rs 20 crore
The Department of Posts celebrated World Post Day on Monday at the General Post Office, Raj Bhavan Road.



National Post Week is also celebrated from October 9 to 15 with events such as Banking Day, Philately Day and Mails Day.



Awards were given to individuals for their services to the organisation. The best post offices in various areas such as business development, Jan Dhan scheme, Sukanya Samridhi accounts, were awarded. Swacch Bharat awards were also given to individuals.



Two new services, electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) and International Tracked Packet Service (ITPS) have been launched. The eIPO service has been launched on an experimental basis in Karnataka, Bihar and Delhi. Details can be found on the website https://www.epostoffice.gov.in/.



The ITPS facility can be used to send packages which are under 2 kg and not excedding 90 cm in length, breadth and height to countries such as Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Philippines. Details can be availed from post offices or the website www.indiapost.gov.in.
Maharani's College for Arts, Home Science, Commerce and Management faces the threat of losing the Maharani Cluster University tag as the government is yet to come up with guidelines even 15 months after the Centre released its share of funds.



The UGC, in its recent video conferencing with Jawaid Akhtar, principal secretary, Department of Higher Education and Prof Ravindra Reshme, special officer, Maharani Cluster University, expressed displeasure over the delay in framing guidelines. The UGC top brass blamed authorities for not finalising any scheme though it has been a year since the Centre released funds.



A committee headed by the commissioner, Collegiate Education Department, PWD chief architect, PWD chief engineer and DC, Bengaluru Urban was formed to begin construction of new buildings. The committee submitted a report on basic amenities needed for the campus. However, the government is yet to approve the report, said sources.



National Knowledge Commission chairman Sam Pitroda had recommended to the Centre to form around 1,500 medium and large scale universities when Manmohan Singh was prime minister.



The Centre had announced the establishment of eight cluster universities in Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha and Himachal Pradesh. While three states framed guidelines and appointed vice-chancellors, Karnataka is yet to begin the process.



The state government had submitted a proposal to the human resources development ministry requesting the cluster university status to the city's iconic and oldest women-only institution  Maharani's College. The Centre had granted permission on December 1, 2015



The cluster university status means Maharani University will manage its many institutions  colleges for arts, home science, management and commerce.



Under the financial sharing scheme of 65:35 ratio with the state, the Centre had granted Rs 55 crore



The Centre released its share of Rs 16.5 crore by 2016 June-end while the state government released Rs 11 crore in March 2017. A total of Rs 27.5 crore is left unutilised in a bank account.



Prof Reshme told DH that they have informed the state government about the need to have a separate Act for the cluster university.



The department has assigned construction of new buildings to Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES).
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) could sell only 400 flats in the first two months after it introduced the across the table concept.



Lack of basic facilities, including Cauvery water, is said to be the main reason for the poor response. The authority has 2,705 flats at various locations.



Prospective buyers who visited the apartment complexes ask why BDA does not provide Cauvery water. One can understand private apartment complexes not providing Cauvery water, but a state agency should have got the connection, said Tushar K, who decided not to buy the flat after learning that there was no Cauvery water supply.



BDA officials, however, say Cauvery pipelines are being laid. There is no water crisis in the flats as all apartment complexes have borewells. Each apartment complex has a provision for Cauvery pipelines. The final linking of pipelines is now being completed in a phased manner. We aim to complete all connections by December end, said a BDA official.



BDA has so far laid pipelines in Valagerahalli Phase 1, Nandini Layout, Alegavadarahalli and Malagala Phase-1. Sanctions have been obtained for Valagerahalli Phase 2, 3 and 4, Doddabanahalli, Malagala Phase 2, Kanminike, Kommaghatta and Alur.



According to BWSSB norms, rainwater harvesting is being implemented in all apartments. But instead of collecting and using rainwater, the BDA has made provisions to recharge pits to maintain the groundwater levels.



No to Cauvery water



Even as lack of Cauvery water is putting off some prospective buyers, residents of BDA flats at Valagerahalli Phase-1 have urged the authority to disconnect the Cauvery water connection saying the borewell and tanker water would suffice. Cauvery water supply will be an additional expense, they say.



There are around 600 homes in the apartment complexes, some of which are unoccupied. After the Cauvery water connection is given, even those who have not occupied the flat must pay minimum charges. We have to bear the burden of those who have not occupied the flats, said a dweller.



The water charges are too high. Cauvery water is not regular. Borewells and tankers are cheaper and water is guaranteed, said K Kumar, an apartment owner.



We cannot disconnect the Cauvery connection. We have decided to discuss this with the BWSSB. We are aware that the BWSSB is charging commercial rates to apartment dwellers. This is not justified, the official said.



Extra cost



The existing water bill in the maintenance charges is around Rs 3,000. With a BWSSB connection, one has to pay Rs 250 minimum charge per flat, plus consumption charges (average Rs 250 per person). Occupants also have to share the non-occupants minimum charges and this increases their water bill and maintenance charges to Rs 5,000 per apartment unit.
A 19-year-old woman who went missing last week was found murdered in the Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary here on Monday. Police have arrested her maternal uncle in connection with the case.



Krupa Merline, of Vaddara Doddi near Hanur, left on Friday for Bengaluru where she was a student at St Josephs College. But she didnt reach Bengaluru, prompting her family to file a missing person complaint at the Ramapur police station.



Police arrested Merlines uncle Perianayagam for the murder. According to police, when Merline left for Bengaluru, Perianayagam took her to MM Hills, saying her mother had asked him to give her money and that he would do so by withdrawing cash from an ATM. He reportedly proposed to her on the way to MM Hills but she turned it down. Perianayagam got angry and killed her by smashing her with a boulder, police said.
The railways ambitious station redevelopment programme, expected to give a facelift to Yeshwantpur and Cantonment stations among others in the country, has received a lukewarm response.



The two stations in the city are among the 23 across India chosen for the project where private investors will develop them to world-class standards and maintain them for 15 years.



In exchange, they can develop the reserved railway land near the stations and air space in the station development land for commercial gains. Additionally, the investor will also need to maintain the stations non-railway operational activities.



However, the lukewarm response from investors, among other reasons, has forced the railways to postpone the last date of bidding four times since the project was announced in February. Documents show that the last date for submitting the bid was first extended from June 1 to July 21 through a corrigendum. However, the postponement continued with August 31, September 29 and now October 30 becoming the last date.



Senior railway officials confirmed investors were not enthusiastic about the project. We invited 16 potential investors of whom only three expressed interest. Even they had a lot of doubts which we had to clarify. Since this is a new project, it took some time for them to be convinced, they said.



At Cantonment, there was confusion about the extent of railway land available to the developer due to the proposed Metro station. We increased it from 2.25 acres to three acres first, leaving an acre of land for Metro works. When Metro authorities said they will shift the station, we had to issue a corrigendum again to increase the land availability to four acres, he said, explaining the postponements.



Sources said bidders were apprehensive about various issues. The 15-year maintenance, required to ensure the quality of development, is a responsibility that scares them. They are also apprehensive about getting timely clearances from BBMP for development, they said.



SWR chief public relations officer E Vijaya, however, said many developers expressed interest recently and collected details. We are certain that firms will participate in the tender as the area being offered is in the heart of the city and has huge potential. We expect the project to take off and stations will be revamped, she said.
A 28-year old software engineer was stabbed to death by unidentified people in Tavarekere in Madiwala in the wee hours of Monday.



The victim, Pranay Mishra, a native of Bhubaneswar in Odisha, was a resident of Suddaguntepalya near BTM Layout here. He had come to Bengaluru in 2014 and was working as a software engineer with an IT firm.



According to the police, Mishra had attended a party at one of his friends place and returned home around 2.30 am. Later, he had called his girlfriend and told her that he was coming to her place. Mishra left home after 3 am on his bike when he was waylaid by miscreants who attacked him with lethal weapons. Mishra sustained four stab injuries, one in the chest and three in the abdomen.



He lay in a pool of blood on Tavarekere Main road, near Chocolate Factory, until some passersby noticed him and informed the police around 4 am.



A neighbour managed to get Mishras phone and while he was trying to call his contacts, a woman called up on the phone and she was told about the incident.



The police rushed to the spot and shifted the victim to St Johns Hospital where he was declared brought dead.



Preliminary investigation suggets that it is not a murder for gain as all his valuables, including his wallet, mobile phone and a gold earring were intact, the police said. The Madiwala police have registered a case of murder and are investigating it. Three special teams have been formed to probe the murder.
SS7 is the signaling protocol for the worlds telecom networks and like the internet, it wasnt really designed with security in mind. The assumption back in the day was the telecom operators were all trusted nodes on the network. It turns out over time, hackers have figured out how to penetrate the carrier network the way they have just about all others.

Bad actors can send spoofed SMS messages, track a users location or intercept messages used to authenticate a user as well as their phone calls.

The cat-and-mouse game in the telecom network is the same as all others and similarly nation-states are major players in both areas. The recently reported Kaspersky hack which took place in 2015 came from Russian-backed hackers who used the Kaspersky software to identify NSA files it later stole.

SS7 firewalls help but bad actors are adapting, meaning analytics is the only way to ensure carriers are aware of the threats.

One solution comes from AdaptiveMobile, their AI-based Sigil platform works with signaling firewalls to determine attack platforms, Diameter host name, addresses and GTs.

In one example, the company spotted bank accounts compromised via an authentication hack. The two-factor authentication codes sent via text were intercepted. They saw the gang active on other networks and subsequently told carriers which addresses to look out for and alerted the police.

In an interview with Ciaran Bradley, the companys CTO he explained they use proprietary algorithms to correlate suspicious events. Sigil is cloud intelligence for signaling networks he explained.

Carriers can upload log files in order to allow the system to search for anomalies. Of course as expected, the system works best with AdaptiveMobile firewalls.

In one instance, Ciaran told me they saw a single subscriber was active on nine networks around the world in ninety-seconds. This indicated that someone wanted to know where this person was.

This sort of attack can be monetized by carriers. They can sell a service to corporations looking to protect their VIPs. The information can be fed to CSOs. In fact Ciaran said, CSOs are flying blind if phones are attacked with spear phishing or if a location or a call intercept is attempted.

In our electrical engineering courses back at university, we were taught electrons are lazy as they follow the path of least resistance. Today, we realize hackers are the same. They will take the easiest path to achieve their goals. If thats the SS7 network then this is where they will focus. AdaptiveMobile wants to protect these networks with their AI-based Sigil solution and they want to allow carriers to monetize their solutions.

To learn more, be sure to attend the Enterprise IoT Event, IoT Evolution Jan 22-25, 2018 and see IBM, Ingenu, Cradlepoint, TellientARM, McAfee & other major companies. Special focus on Smart Cities, Security, IIoT and case studies.
A 50-year-old head constable with the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) died three days after a fight with his senior officers son who was barred from entering the KSRP 9th Battalion Camp at Choodasandra, south east Bengaluru.



The deceased has been identified as Appaji, who had been serving in the KSRP for the past 25 years.



DCP (Southeast) Dr Boralingaiah M B told DH, A complaint was registered at Parappana Agrahara police station on October 7 against Roopesh, son of assistant sub-inspector Yerriswamy, for deterring a public servant from discharging his duties. After three days, head constable Appaji died.



The police said Roopesh had come to KSRP 9th Battalion camp on October 7 with his friend. Appaji did not allow him to enter the premises. Roopesh got into a heated argument and even tried to assault Appaji who was on duty. Later in the day, Appaji registered a case of assault and deterring him from discharging his duties.



Boralingaiah added, Appajis body has been shifted to Victoria Hospital for autopsy and we are waiting for the report. If it turns out that he died because of the assault, police will book Roopesh under section 302 (murder).



There were no injuries on Appajis body after the quarrel. He complained of chest pain on Monday and might have died of a heart attack, the police said.: A 28-year old software engineer was stabbed to death by unidentified people in Tavarekere in Madiwala in the wee hours of Monday.



The victim, Pranay Mishra, a native of Bhubaneswar in Odisha, was a resident of Suddaguntepalya near BTM Layout here. He had come to Bengaluru in 2014 and was working as a software engineer with an IT firm.



According to the police, Mishra had attended a party at one of his friends place and returned home around 2.30 am. Later, he had called his girlfriend and told her that he was coming to her place. Mishra left home after 3 am on his bike when he was waylaid by miscreants who attacked him with lethal weapons. Mishra sustained four stab injuries, one in the chest and three in the abdomen.



He lay in a pool of blood on Tavarekere Main road, near Chocolate Factory, until some passersby noticed him and informed the police around 4 am.



A neighbour managed to get Mishras phone and while he was trying to call his contacts, a woman called up on the phone and she was told about the incident.



The police rushed to the spot and shifted the victim to St Johns Hospital where he was declared brought dead.



Preliminary investigation suggets that it is not a murder for gain as all his valuables, including his wallet, mobile phone and a gold earring were intact, the police said. The Madiwala police have registered a case of murder and are investigating it. Three special teams have been formed to probe the murder.
A 36-year-old man was arrested and currency worth Rs 22.6 lakh was seized from him at the Kempegowda International Airport on Sunday.



The arrested has identified as Manojkumar Brijlal Khemani, a resident of Ulhasnagar in Mumbai, who was flying to Dubai by Emirates Flight No EK-567. He was picked up by the Air Intelligence Customs after passenger profiling from the departure. The suspects body language raised suspicion, a customs officer said.



Khemani had a total of $21,000 concealed in his check-in baggage, 12,000 Euros rolled up and concealed in his rectum and 500 UAE Dirhams concealed in his wallet. The value of these foreign currencies is Rs 22,61,275, the official added. According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations, a passenger going abroad can carry Rs 25,000 in Indian currency and foreign currency equivalent to only $10,000, that too with receipts from recognised forex firms, the officer added.



Currency smuggling is hard to detect since the door frame metal detector or the hand-held metal detector cant detect them. Only with intelligence inputs, passenger profiling and studying the body language can customs officials detect smuggling, a senior customs officer said.



Enquiries reveal that Khemani was a mule who smuggles currency for a commission, said the official.
A soldier from Bengaluru allegedly shot himself with his service rifle in an army camp in Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday morning.



The soldier is identified as Narendra R (22), a resident of Rajagopalanagar. He joined the Indian army in 2015 and had undergone one-year training at Madras Regimental Centre (MRC) in Udhagamandalam before being posted in Jammu.



Narendra is survived by his father Raju K, a tempo driver, mother Pushpa R, younger brother Sharath R and younger sister Bhavani R. Narendra was the breadwinner of the family. Around six months ago, he had come on leave and taken a house on lease for his family. According to the family, army officials from Jammu phoned them to inform the death of Narendra at 7 am on Sunday. Initially, officials said he was killed during a shootout. After an hour, army officials called again and informed them that Narendra committed suicide with his service rifle. The official said that he was immediately taken to a local hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, said Sharath.



Narendras mother and other family members, however, refused to accept the army version. Pushpa suspects foul play in her sons death as says he was happy till recently when he spoke to the family through video calling on October 7.



Narendras childhood friend Harsha said he was happy with his profession and in personal life too.



Six months ago, he came to the city and said he was happy with his work and his dream was to join the army. He dropped out of his diploma and joined the army. He is a very strong person and we cant believe that he committed suicide, he said.
Days after visiting the India-China border in Nathu La in Sikkim, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had a briefing from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police guarding the Line of Actual Control.



ITBP Director RK Pachnanda met Sitaraman at her office on Monday and briefed her about the situation in LAC that serves as the de-facto border in the absence of a settled boundary between the two neighbours.



On Saturday, the Defence Minister had been to the border in Nathu La and Indian Army and air bases at Tezpur in Assam.



Sitharaman also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his office on Monday. Both the ITBP and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) -guarding the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders- are under the administrative control of the Home Ministry.



Though she tweeted pictures of her meetings with Home Minister and ITBP Director General, the Ministry of Defence did not provide any details.



A press release issued in New Delhi said Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre traveled to Headquarters of Eastern Air Command in Shillong in Meghalaya on Monday.



The back-to-back trips by Sitharaman and Bhamre to the border are aimed at reviewing all aspects of operational preparedness of Indian Army and Indian Air Force in the eastern theatre amid tension in relations between India and China.



Though the 72-day-long military face-off between the two neighbours at Doklam Plateau in western Bhutan ended on August 28, the reports indicated fresh build-up by Chinese People's Liberation Army near India-China-Bhutan tri-junction boundary point.



However, New Delhi on Friday had dismissed reports of fresh build-up by the Chinese PLA at the sight of the recent face-off and in its vicinity.




Nobel peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi on Monday urged children of Jammu and Kashmir to stay away from violence and politics while assuring them that he would make all efforts to ensure their safety.



Without naming separatists and militants he said, Children should not be used for violence.They should not get involved in politics. They need love and compassion to fulfill their dreams.



Satyarthi, who won Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for waging a peaceful struggle to protect children from being exploited as labourers, evaded questions about the AFSPA in Kashmir and the use of pellet guns that wreaked havoc in Kashmir during the 2016 uprising.



I am not a politician to give statement on these issues. But I am against every form of violence. The children should not resort to any form of violence, he said.



While addressing students at SKICC in Srinagar, the Nobel peace laureate said, Past is past. I have now come here to fight for child rights and will knock at every door for the children of Kashmir. They are like my own children.
All is not well within the Bihar Congress. Or so it seemed when faction-ridden Congressmen reportedly clashed with each other during a party meeting here on Monday.



A meeting of all the 27 MLAs, six MLCs and party delegates was convened at the Congress headquarters - Sadaquat Ashram - here to decide on the election of a new Bihar Congress president as well as make an appeal for elevating Rahul Gandhi as Congress president.



The meeting, chaired by working president Kaukab Kadri, who last month replaced Bihar Congress chief Ashok Choudhary, did pass a resolution for making Rahul as party chief, but the meet was reportedly marred by fisticuffs between two factions  one supporting the former party president and the other opposed to him.



Former Bihar Congress president Ashok Choudhary later walked out of the meeting in a huff and said some outsiders were trying to hijack the party.
A battle royale is on cards at the Nanded Waghala City Municipal Corporation (NWCMC) in Nanded district in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra where the fortunes of several political bigwigs would be tested.



Nanded is the home turf of Maharashtra Congress president and former chief minister Ashok Chavan, for whom retaining the control of the city government in the October 11 polls is a matter of prestige.



The polls are also significant, as the State Election Commission (SEC) has decided to use the the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in one ward on a pilot basis in one of the wards.



The NWCMC was established on March 26, 1997, by merging Nanded Municipal Council and adjoining Waghala Municipal Council and since then it had been under the Control of the Congress.



In the October, 2012, polls, the Congress had won 41 of the 81 seats. As far as the tally is concerned, Congress is followed by NCP 10 seats, while Shiv Sena got 14 and BJP bagged 2 seats.



The Hyderabad-based Owaisi-brothers-led All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen had the won 11 seats besides three others/independents.



In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress won only two seats from Maharashtra including Nanded, where Chavan won and neighbouring Hingoli by Rajiv Satav.



In September, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had visited Nanded.
The state government will be forced to shut down the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) and establish a new varsity in its place if the University Grants Commission (UGC) refuses to renew its recognition, Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy said on Monday.



Speaking to journalists here, he said the government had appealed to the UGC to reconsider the decision but to no avail. He asserted that the withdrawal of the universitys recognition was unjustified as the fate of thousands of students was jeopardised, and blamed the UGC for the fiasco. The commission derecognised the KSOU retrospectively from 2013-14 by issuing a public notice on June 16, 2015.



Rayareddy said Karnataka had complied with all the recommendations of the UGC. Though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 21, 2017, about the derecognition, Rayareddy said the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Prakash Javadekar, and the UGC chairman had refused to give him an appointment to set right the matter.



Karnataka is, however, undeterred and is making yet another effort, he said and added that he wrote to Javadekar again on October 4, requesting him to call a meeting with KSOU and UGC representatives under his chairmanship at the earliest.



We have to find a solution. If the UGC continues to remain obstinate, we will have no other option but to close down the KSOU and create another university. It is the UGCs fault that we are facing this problem, he said.



According to Rayareddy, 15 KSOU buildings across Karnataka are lying vacant and around 900 employees are being paid salaries for the past three years though they do not have any work. The university is losing Rs 50 crore every year because of the derecognition, he said.



The minister further said that the committee under Additional Chief Secretary Ratna Prabha, which was looking into alternative options pertaining to the KSOU, would submit its report on November 15. Rayareddy expressed helplessness when asked about the steps taken by the government to tackle irregularities, corruption, nepotism and the deteriorating quality of education in all state universities.



He said he would try to push the Karnataka State Universities Bill, 2017, during the winter session of the legislature. Once enacted, it would give the government more powers over the universities, he added.



Rayareddy also attacked the Centre for not naming the Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburgi, after Dr B R Ambedkar despite repeated requests.



DH News Service
Former finance minister P Chidambarams son Karti on Monday told the Supreme Court that he would like to go abroad regarding his daughters studies and will stay away from banks.



Kartis counsel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, told a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that Karti had only opened just one account in 2016 and wants to go to Cambridge to get his daughter admitted to the university.



He is willing to give an undertaking that he will not visit any banks there, Sibal said.



The bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, posted the matter for hearing on Tuesday as Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, was unavailable.



The premier probe agency had alleged that Karti had closed several of his accounts during his visits abroad and tampered with the evidence.



The apex court had earlier stayed the Madras High Courts decision to hold back the lookout circular issued against Karti and others.



The agency had claimed there are irregularities in getting the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance for INX Media to receive Rs 305 crore overseas investment in 2007 when Chidambaram was the finance minister.
In a recent article on the devastation in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria, the Washington Post compared Hurricane Irma in Puerto Rico with the devastation of Irma in Texas. Quoting Garrett Ingoglia of Americares, a US-based relief organization, the Washington Post wrote, When Florida was hit by Irma, workers from Americares were able to drive in to deliver supplies and aid. But you know, you can't do that with islands."

Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are over 1,000 miles away from the closest major US seaport, Miami. Thats comparable to the distance between Chicago, a major distribution hub, and Houston. The big difference is that you can drive a truck to Chicago from Houston in less than a day, but getting to Puerto Rico from Miami requires loading and sailing a cargo ship. Cargo ships at full speed typically move at about 25 miles per hour, a lot slower than the 65 mph cruise down the interstate.

This logistics challenge is what some naval friends of mine call the tyranny of distance.

Over three million people live in Puerto Rico, and lets not forget about the US Virgin Islands, with another 100,000 or so. The population of Puerto Rico  they are US citizens - ranks in the middle of the pack of US States, with over three million inhabitants. That makes it comparable to Connecticut. Not just comparable to Hartford, or New Haven, or Fairfield Country, but comparable to the population of the entire State of Connecticut.

Im not sure how to put a disaster of this magnitude in perspective, except by quoting Joe Biden. This is a big f**king deal.

Once the ships arrive in Puerto Rico, there is only one good sized port. The Port of San Juan is well equipped, and quickly recovered after the storm, but it may be overmatched by the challenge ahead. In terms of port capacity if ranks just below the ports of Portland, Maine or Albany, New York, and just ahead of that well known seaport of Toledo, Ohio.

Its fair to say that Puerto Rico has a port capacity issue.

The electrical infrastructure has fallen over across all of Puerto Rico. According to NPR, it will take months to get the antiquated electrical grid back on-line. The absence of an electrical grid has a ripple effect. Without electricity, water pumps are wont run. And without pumps, municipal water systems run dry. People now travel miles to find fresh spring water.

Ben Franklin understood the issue, saying, When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.

In the near term, logisticians have a massive humanitarian relief challenge compounded by distance, the isolation created by the Caribbean Sea, devastation, destroyed infrastructure, and the isolation created by the sea. But what happens after that? It will be years before Puerto Rico and to a lesser degree the Virgin Islands get back on their feet. What happens then?

Almost a century ago, in the 1930s, we had the Dust Bowl, devastating over a quarter of a million acres centered in western and central Oklahoma. That land area is comparable to Puerto Rico. By some estimates, the Dust Bowl event displaced over 3,000,000 people. Already charter airlines are leaving San Juan full, every day. The exodus has begun.

We may see another logistics problem on our hands: mass migration. The talking heads on television are drawing comparisons to Houston. Maybe we should be thinking about Haiti, the South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Except that with Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are the United States of America, so there can be no wall.
The advent of Reliance Jio has dramatically reduced the revenues of other telecom companies in Karnataka.



The top six telecom companies---Airtel, Aircel, BSNL, Idea, Vodafone and Reliance Communications (RComm)---have collectively seen a decline of 22.36% in their revenues over the past year.



Aircel is the worst-hit, with a steep decline of 51.71% in adjusted gross revenues from the state. According to data available with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the companys revenue stood at Rs 25.32 crore for the quarter ended June 2017, a shade less than half of the Rs 52.43 crore it reported in the corresponding quarter last year.



However, the subscriber base of the company increased by 6.92% from 3.2 million to 3.4 million. Airtel, the countrys largest telecom service provider, has shown a decline of 26.28% in adjusted gross revenues from the state.



Its earnings fell from Rs 1,598.19 crore in the quarter ended June 2016 to Rs 1,178.13 in the quarter ended June 2017.



However, its subscriber base in the state, the highest among all competitors, increased by 7.59% to 22.6 million.



RComm has witnessed the second highest decline, with revenues dropping by 28.40% from Rs 100.81 crore to Rs 72.18 crore.



The company has also seen a massive decrease of 10.37% in its subscriber base. Its wireless subscribers declined from 5.9 million to 5.3 million, TRAI data reveals.



The state-owned BSNL has seen a minuscule 0.04% decline in its subscriber base to 7.02 million.



Its earnings declined by 9.22% to Rs 108.52 crore in the quarter ended June.



Vodafones earnings dropped by 14.9% during the period, from Rs 375.25 crore to Rs 319.34 crore.



Idea Cellular, slated to merge with Vodafone, showed the lowest decline in its adjusted gross revenues, at 8.05% during the period.



The company collected Rs 259.4 crore from the Karnataka circle in the quarter ended June.



Vodafone and Reliance Jio declined to comment on their revenues. As we go to press, Airtel had not responded to queries.



More stress ahead



Experts say the sector will face further stress.Since Jio has been using pricing as an entry strategy, the other operators will have to follow in order to sustain market share. This is expected to impact their debt servicing capabilities, Arpita Pal Agrawal, leader, telecom, PwC India, said.
Badami House, Bengalurus iconic stone building associated with the Kannada film industry, is all set to be demolished.



Bux Ranka Developers, which recently won a court case over the ownership of Badam House, has decided to raze the building and construct a new structure in its place.



The demolition will begin soon. We have begun the process of shifting the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (KCA) to the Amrutha Mahotsava Bhavan in Nandini Layout, S V Rajendra Singh Babu, President, KCA, told DH.



The KCA, an autonomous body funded by the state government, currently operates out of Badami House.



H B Dinesh, Registrar, KCA, said: Amrutha Mahotsava Bhavan has a library, preview theatre and the film unit of the Department of Information. It was constructed over 2.5 acres of land to mark the 75 years of the Kannada film industry.



Badami House, constructed during the British Raj, was originally owned by George Oakes and housed British and American libraries.



Sound recordist-cum-filmmaker Sarvottam Badami bought it from Oakes and later sold it to Bux Ranka Developers.



But its ownership was questioned in courts. Finally, the Supreme Court awarded it to Bux Ranka Developers on the condition that sufficient time should be given to the KCA to vacate the building and until then, it should pay monthly rent to the owners.



Badami Houses Priyadarshini preview theatre regularly organised premier film shows in the 80s. Dr Rajkumar, Dr Vishnuvardhan, Shyam Benegal, P Lankesh, Girish Karnad and M S Sathyu were among those who regularly dropped in to watch films.



The KCA moved into Badami House upon its inception in 2006.



Kannada activist and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj blamed successive governments for losing the building. As chairman of the Legislature Subjects Committee, he said, he had recommended to the government to buy out the building from the owners. Even now, the government should make efforts to buy it, he said and also suggested that the government file a review petition before the Supreme Court.



DH News Service
The Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) has decided to ban the use of cameras, mobile phones and selfie sticks in the safari areas of the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP).



The move comes in the wake of increasing number of untoward incidents. On Saturday, Anjaneya N, 35, a gatekeeper, was mauled to death by two 18-month-old white tigers, Jhansi and Vanya.



We agree that people will not be happy with this idea. But it is for their own safety. We know instances where drivers and animal keepers are bribed by people to stop the bus or jeep on safari routes to take photographs. This strains the animals and leads to conflicts, Chairperson of ZAK, Mallige Veeresh, told DH.



The ZAK is also planning to restrict the use of cars and jeeps for tourists, saying that they are meant for official purposes only.



Tourists should move around in properly fenced safari buses. A stern warning has also been issued to BBP staff. Erring staffers, those coming drunk to duty, not properly clad in uniform and those accepting bribe will be immediately suspended, she said.



Meanwhile, after visiting the enclosure where Anji died, ZAK has ordered for the change of enclosure gates.



We have directed BBP to install double-security automated gates. The gates are designed in such a manner that it will one gate will open only when the other is locked. This will ensure minimal human error. Also, 15 CCTV cameras will be immediately installed near enclosures and strategic locations, she said.



Executive Director of BBP, Santosh Kumar, said that officials saw a demonstration of these automatic gates by one designer. The BBP management had placed this proposal in March but it is still awaiting clearance. The state government and ZAK have now assured to make this a priority.



Also, Mallige said Dr Ramesh, noted veterinarian from Mysuru zoo, will train BBP staffers on zoo and animal management.



This is the need of the hour. He will also help the BBP staff in increasing security measures, she said.
As forest department officials in Bengaluru celebrated the valedictory function of the 63rd Wildlife Week on Monday, the staffers elsewhere in the state were busy capturing and cremating wild animals.



K S Sugara, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, during the function, urged people to join hands with the department to mitigate conflict and reduce the number of deaths. He said that while 40 people died in Karnataka in conflicts, 42 were martyred since 1991.



On Monday morning, a female elephant was hit by a speeding train in Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district. The elephant was thrown off the bridge and died immediately. In another incident, forest staffers were busy trying to capture an injured tiger from a cotton field near Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The tiger had injured a woman when she entered the field on Sunday night.



Sugara also pointed out to the killing of three leopards in Haveri, Davangere and in Chamarajanagar last week.



The department honoured 16 forest officers for their exemplary service in forest protection. Sanjay Tiwari from Malaysian Airlines, who helped the department rescue black terrapins and Sham Sundar, Deputy Director, Revenue Intelligence, who helped rescue 1,024 star tortoises at Kempegowda International Airport, were also honoured.



A brochure on Butterflies of Bannerghatta National Park, prepared by Bengaluru Butterfly Club, was released on the occasion. School and college students who participated in various competitions organised by the forest department were awarded. Principals of government schools around Bannerghatta forest were also honoured for partnering with the forest department in conservation activities.
Those aspiring to contest the next Assembly elections on the JD(S) ticket have been given one months time to prove their mettle in their constituencies.



JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Monday said that only those aspirants who will effectively organise the party and exhibit their winnability skills will be fielded.



Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Gowda said that he had convened a meeting of all ticket aspirants on October 11.



For the next one month, the aspirants will have to establish contact with voters and make the partys presence felt in constituencies. Those who fail to do so will not be given the ticket, he said.



Gowda said that the party had already assured tickets to the 33 sitting MLAs.



Candidate selection for the remaining 191 seats, will hinge on recommendations made by the booth committees to the partys core committee. Tickets will be distributed by December end, he added.



Gowda said that he had taken over the party affairs and responsibilities after his son H D Kumaraswamy underwent a heart surgery a couple of weeks back.



Reacting to Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs recent announcement that the government would ensure 70% reservation for the SCs, STs and OBCs, Gowda said that the former had no clue about what he was talking about. The Supreme Court will not agree to this. Siddaramaiah is talking rubbish, he added.



DH News Service




The Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Science (RGUHS) is all set to introduce the Kannada language as a subject at the undergraduate level from November 1.



The university has finalised the syllabus and timetable to teach Kannada for the first-year and second-year students. However, there wont be any examinations after completion of the syllabus.



Well start Kannada classes on November 1, Prof M K Ramesh, in-charge vice chancellor and registrar (Evaluation) of RGUHS, told DH.



The RGUHS decision comes in the wake of the directions of Kannada Development Authority (KDA). A committee, headed by Hi Chi Boralingaiah, had recommended making Kannada mandatory in professional courses, including medical and engineering, in Karnataka from 2016-17 for at least two semesters.



It was actually in 2002 that the then KDA chairman Baragur Ramachandrappa had directed professional institutions to introduce Kannada.



We have finalised two papers  Kannada Kali, for students from out of Karnataka, and Kannada Manassu for students of Karnataka. Kannada Kali deals with the basics of Kannada language, while Kannada Manassu will have medical literature, he added.



There will be 180 hours for each of these subjects, while one or two hours will be allotted in the timetable per week, he said.



The university has decided to utilise the services of its faculty who know Kannada to teach students. It also plans to rope in resource persons or guest faculty if required.



We need a full-time Kannada lecturer to handle two papers. We have requested the government to create a permanent post of Kannada lecturer to handle the two subjects, the VC stated.



It is a welcome move, but most of us feel students may not take the learning of Kannada seriously unless there are exams, Amith Gowda, a second-year student, stated.



DH News Service
Superintendent of Police Abhinav Ashok Khare has stated that the 11 people belonging to Hakki-Pikki community of Shivamogga, who were reportedly detained in Rwanda last week, were released on October 8.



Speaking to DH, Khare said it is still not clear whether they were only interrogated or arrested. Besides, we still dont know the reason for the detention.Things will become clear when they come back.



It may be mentioned that 11 members of the community, who hail from Sadashivapura village of Shivamogga taluk had left for Rwanda last month to sell herbal medicine. The family members had submitted a memorandum to officials last week urging the authorities to ensure the release for the11 members who were in Rwanda.




9 October 2017 (IFL Science)  At the end of last week, the White House issued a statement detailing a few more appointments made to senior posts by the President, including the long-absent deputy administration of the beleaguered Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To no-ones surprise, that position has gone to Andrew Wheeler, a coal lobbyist and a killer of climate change regulations.As has been widely reported, the EPA is currently being run by the most anti-scientific, pro-coal administrator in its entire history. With almost entire scientific advisory boards and senior posts going to former industry darlings, the appointment of Wheeler is par for the course.Until recently, hes been working at Faegre Baker Daniels, an international law firm that advises multinational businesses. His role involved co-leading the firms energy and natural resources practice, and much of his legal career has involved supporting the efforts of the coal industry  including the notorious Murray Energy  which has involved attempts to sue the very organization hes to be second-in-command of.Wheeler is also a former aide to Senator Jim Inhofe, who is arguably most infamously known among the scientific community for throwing a snowball on the floor of the Senate in order to mock the concept of global warming. Thanks to his work, several bipartisan climate initiatives and pieces of legislation have been killed off. []Halloween apparently came early this October because the nomination of Andrew Wheeler as Deputy EPA Administrator is absolutely horrifying, Melinda Pierce, the Legislative Director of the Sierra Club, said in a statement.There actually could not have been a worse choice for this highly influential position that is charged with protecting the health and communities of Americans across the nation. [more]
A Donegal-born Nobel Prize winning scientist is one of the recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad 2017.

Professor William C Campbell, who was born in Ramelton in 1930, was one of ten recipients of the 2017 award approved at todays cabinet meeting. Actor Liam Neeson was among the other recipients announced today.

Professor Campbell and Professor Satoshi Omura were jointly awarded the Nobel prize in 2015 for discovering a drug which fights infections caused by roundworm parasites.

The drug, Avermectin, has radically lowered the incidence of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis. The drug has also shown effectiveness against a growing range of other parasitic diseases.

The Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad is presented by the President every year. It recognises the service given to Ireland or to Irish communities abroad by those who live outside Ireland.

Donegal TD and government chief whip Joe McHugh welcomed the award for Dr Campbell.

My Cabinet colleagues and I approved ten recipients for these 2017 awards at our meeting today and I am delighted to announce that Professor Campbell is one of them, he said.

He has already been recognised by his international peers through the Nobel Prize and I am delighted his country is also recognising his contribution to saving millions of lives around the world.

I am personally delighted for Bill, for his family in Ramelton and for the people of the town and the county.

Minister McHugh added: Professor Bill Campbell not only helped to come up with an enormous medical breakthrough, he pushed through the decision of pharma giant Merck to distribute drugs free to millions of people in developing countries.
Mrs. Marjorie Ann Hughes Harris, 81, of Dothan passed away Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 9, 2017 at the First Baptist Church of Slocomb. Interment will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery, Dothan, AL with Sorrells Funeral Home & Crematory of Slocomb directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor Marjorie's memory with your contribution to The Troy University Marjorie Hughes Harris Memorial Scholarship fund: 301 Adams Administration Building, Troy, AL 36082. Marjorie was born February 28, 1936 in Geneva County to the late Charlie Wade and Lola Bell Brookins Hughes. She was a 1954 graduate of Slocomb High School. In 1957 she graduated from Troy State University with a BS degree in Business Education, which she taught at Donalsonville High School in GA. Marjorie married Lawrence Harris in 1959 and they moved to Virginia where Lawrence attended Army training. When they returned home to Slocomb, they both began their lifelong banking careers at Slocomb National Bank, now Friend Bank, where she continued to work for over 50 years, eventually achieving the titles of President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. She retired from the bank in 2014. Marjorie was selflessly involved in the community and served on many boards and committees. She was instrumental in the organization of the Slocomb Alumni Association which continues to raise thousands of dollars annually to support the schools. She served on the Slocomb Centennial and Park Committee which was responsible for the gazebo, walking trail and benches at Centennial Park. She served on the stain glass committee at the First Baptist Church which was successful in placing beautiful stain glass in the sanctuary windows. She did so many things to improve the lives of others but one of the greatest impacts was establishing the David Lawrence Harris Scholarship Fund after his death in 1991. The fund has provided scholarships for over 30 Slocomb graduates to attend the University of Alabama. She always said that her greatest accomplishment was her three beautiful daughters. Marjorie was awarded the honor of being selected as the 1992 Slocomb High School "Alumnus of the Year" and twice selected as the City of Slocomb "Woman of the Year" in 1976 and 2002. She was a caring and active member of the community and her kindness and generosity will be missed. In addition to her parents Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, David Lawrence Harris, one sister, Vivian Howell; four brothers: Glenn Earl Hughes, Charles Rudolf Hughes, Gene Lamar Hughes and Gerald Wade Hughes. Survivors include three daughters: Harri Anne H. Smith (Charlie), Slocomb, Hope H. Johnson (Joseph), Dothan and Kay H. Christiansen (Brett), Salt Lake City, Utah; six grandsons: J.H., Lawrence and James Johnson, Harris, Simon and Henry Christiansen; one loving sister, Sandra Hughes Spivey, Dothan; numerous nieces, nephews as well as many grand dogs. The family thanks her special caregivers: Mot Andrews, Pokie Craig, Kathy Hutcherson and Charlotte Reese. Please sign the guest register at www.sorrellsfuneralhomes.com.
College Awareness Week (CAW) which takes place from 20-26 November, has been launched today by Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, and schools, colleges and community groups across Louth are being encouraged to get involved in the campaign.

CAW aims to inspire and inform Louth students about the importance of having a post-secondary plan and advocates for every student to have the choice to pursue the course best suited to them, whether that is a PLC qualification, an apprenticeship or a university degree.

In particular, College Awareness Week is aimed at students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, as well as other marginalised groups that are underrepresented in higher and further education.

The objective is to ensure students of all ages and from all backgrounds know the educational opportunities that are available to them. Through raising awareness and encouraging broad participation, CAW aims to help students and potential students on their path to further education.

Commenting at the launch, Minister Richard Bruton said,

I am delighted to support College Awareness Week 2017. This is a very positive initiative which has, as its aim, a vital objective: to increase participation in higher and further education by those from socially disadvantaged communities.

"Education has a transformative effect, opening doors that would otherwise be closed.

"Breaking down barriers to education is a key priority of mine as Minister and I want to encourage as many people as possible to support College Awareness Week, get involved, and do your part to increase awareness about the educational opportunities that exist throughout the country. Congratulations to all those involved.

Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), Clive Byrne, said

This year marks the 50th year since the introduction of free secondary education in Ireland, the effects of which have been felt by generations of Irish people.

"The benefits of education cannot be overstated. The consequences stretch not just through individual lives but through families, communities, and generations.

"The goal of College Awareness Week is to raise awareness of the value of education among the communities that can benefit from it the most.

"We want to see participation in education increase substantially amongst groups who are underrepresented in education. Our goal is to see the ripple effects of education spread through the country.

CAW is a multi-organisational and collaborative campaign which invites communities across Ireland to host events in schools, afterschool programmes, Colleges of Further and Higher education, training centres, libraries and businesses, among others.

These community events aim to raise awareness of the opportunities available and to showcase local personalities who have benefitted from further education.

Now in its fourth year, the campaign has been a runaway success with over 1,200 events held across the country last year.

College Awareness Week is supported by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, Ibec, the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and the Trinity Access Programmes. College Awareness Week is sponsored by the Higher Education Authority, SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority and Perrigo.

For more information and to register your event or activity, please visit www.collegeaware.ie.
Sinn Fein TD Gerry Adams has raised concerns at the growing numbers of outpatients in Louth on hospital waiting lists and described the health service as in a perpetual state of crisis because of the failure of the government to allocate the necessary resources, and engage in the essential restructuring needed, to provide a fit for purpose health service for citizens free at the point of delivery.

Deputy Adams said,

The outpatient waiting list for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda has significantly increased since January of this year. At the end of January 12,087 patients were on the outpatient waiting list.

"That has now increased to 13,561. The number of patients waiting for more than 18 months has also dramatically increased from 72 in January to 726 at the end of September.

"During the same period Louth County Hospital has witnessed a slight drop of just over 100 on the outpatient waiting list from 2849 in January to 2742 at the end of September. However, the number of patients waiting more than a year has increased from 4 to 9.

"The figures for Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda reflect the trend across the state. Almost half a million people  495,318  are on the outpatient waiting list.

"The number waiting more than 18 months has increased from 59,483 to 60,971. This is a substantial increase of over fifty thousand from the start of the year.

"At the weekend the President of the Irish Hospitals Consultants Association, Dr Tom Ryan, told their annual conference that that there was a chronic lack of capacity within the health system.

"One result of this was that more than 90,000 patients, many of them elderly, received part of their treatment on trolleys.

"The reality is that almost 680,000 citizens are on hospital waiting lists of one kind or another. Apart from those on the outpatient waiting list 83,000 patients are on active inpatients lists awaiting treatment and just over 10,000 patients had their procedures suspended.

"Last week 2,216 patients waited on hospital trolleys and in emergency wards awaiting treatment. This continues the trend we saw in August when there was a 27% increase on admitted patients on trolleys from the previous year.

"In the first eight months of this year 65,455 people, admitted for care, were on trolleys. Thats up 7% on last year.

"The government keeps finding excuses for these increases in citizens trying to excess the health service, including the fact that this state has an aging population.

"After seven years in power Fine Gael has had plenty of time to take account of all of this and prepare a service plan that meets the needs of patients.

"It has failed and keeps failing.

"While the nursing and medical staff do a tremendous job under very difficult circumstances they cannot cope with the mess that successive health policies by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have made of the health service.

"The current tweedledee tweedledum politics of the coalition arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail has exacerbated the health crisis.

Deputy Adams concluded,

In our alternative budget for 2018 Health is Sinn Feins number one priority.

"We have published a plan to transform our public health system into the system of choice for patients and staff.

"It includes additional supports for older citizens, increased maternity funding, 500 additional beds to tackle trolley waits, more money for mental health, and prioritising disability services, including additional funding for respite care services.
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) has been named among Irelands Top 4 Institutes of Technologies according to the latest University Guide produced annually by the Sunday Times. The latest ranking sees the Institute jump up two places from last year.

The Sunday Times Guide is one of the most comprehensive, independent guides to Irish undergraduate courses produced in cooperation with each third-level institution in Ireland. It is assessed under a number of criteria including new developments, facilities and links with industry and research. It is often used as a barometer for potential students and parents around the country in selecting third level institutions.

According to the Guide, DkIT is the leading Institute of Technology in terms of research performance. In 2016 the Institute secured more than 9.5M in funding in support of its research programmes. A number of projects included cross-border collaboration with other institutions including Queens University Belfast, University of Ulster and The University of West of the Scotland. Research success has a direct impact for DKIT students by improving the quality of education through a continued focus on research-informed teaching and increased investment.

DkIT was also praised for its provision of small class sizes for students and its focus on building strong links with employers and businesses in the North East region and beyond.

Speaking today, DkIT President, Dr. Michael Mulvey said I am delighted that DkIT has moved up the rankings in the Sunday Times University Guide 2018. This is a testament to all the staff at the Institute and their continued commitment to providing the very best learning environment for our students. Strong student supports, research-informed teaching and employability and are central themes in our Strategic Plan 2017-2020 and we will continue to invest and strive to improve our performance in these areas over the years to come.
The National Q Mark Awards 2017 nominations have been announced and Bryan Lynch Salads in Ardee was nominated for a prestigious Q Mark for Hygiene and Food Safety.

This nomination means they are in the top 6.75% of all audits completed by the EIQA on the island of Ireland. The coveted Q Mark is awarded only to companies who achieve the highest standards of quality and excellence. The Q Mark awards celebrate the success of businesses over a range of sectors that review 100% of their processes and procedures 100% of the time so that they continually operate best practice standards.



Its great to nominated again, it really gives a great since of achievement to be nominated each year. You really feel that you are doing something great said Jennifer Grace Office Administration Having the Q Mark Logo on our products really does show the consumer that they are buying a top quality product achieved under the highest of standards. It is the bench mark we use each year to keep thriving towards. Constantly achieving the criteria to wear the Q mark Logo has helped push our business each year as more consumers see that our product maintains its great taste and also its quality remains its high standard each time.

The glitzy, black tie ceremony, which took place on Friday the 29th of September, saw over 450 people representing 135 companies converge at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road in Dublin 4 to battle it out for the prestigious National Q Mark Awards. The Master of Ceremonies was Chicago based keynote speaker, author and business humourist Conor Cunneen; Irishman Speaks.

EIQA (Excellence Ireland Quality Association) has been the Irish National Quality Association since 1969. They currently audit the operating standards of thousands of organisations and businesses both in Ireland and Internationally. EIQA is known as the Guardian of The Q Mark suite of standards which includes: The Q Mark for Hygiene & Food Safety, The Q Mark for Quality Management Systems, The Q Mark for Nursing Homes, The Q Mark for Leisure Centres, The Q Mark for Accessibility (ABLE) and The Q Mark for Environmental Awareness (The Green Q).

Only business that achieve the highest scores at audit are shortlisted in their relevant category. Once Shortlisted, all companies must complete a very detailed submission document. This submission document was then presented to an expert panel of independent judges from the areas of Food Safety, Employment Law, Academia, Business & Quality to name but a few.



Speaking at this years awards Irene Collins, Managing Director of EIQA said To be nominated for The Q Mark Awards is an enormous achievement. Companies who achieve the Q Mark provide their own customers with added confidence in their products and demonstrate that the highest standards of quality and excellence are at the heart of their business
News / National

by Staff reporter

Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi has described as fake news claims that the army has proscribed demonstrations until further notice because of worry about the escalating tension between the ruling party and the opposition.MDC Senator Lilian Timveos had said she had seen a circular on WhatsApp written by the Zimbabwean Army banning demonstrations.Sekeramayi said "the Zimbabwe National Army and in fact the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have got official spokespersons and when a statement has been issued by an official spokesperson, I am then able to reply to that but I cannot be expected to reply to statements made by those who are not official spokespersons of the Defence Forces.""I also want to say, let us be very careful about what is written on Facebook and other social media. There are people and organisations who would be quite happy, who would want to celebrate if there is turmoil in this country."They spread this and that rumour to get the population agitated; to get the people in a state of uncertainty about their own security and the security of the country."
Spacer is vying to become the dominant marketplace for storage, parking and warehouse space in Australia, today announcing that it has acquired Melbourne-based startup Parkhound and completed a $2.7m in Series A funding round.

Founded by former private equity professional Roland Tam and ex-Deals Direct CEO Michael Rosenbaum, Spacer has raised $5 million in funding from angel and private investors since launching two years ago.

The acquisition of Parkhound, which has been dubbed an Airbnb for parking, sees Spacer take control of the startups intellectual property including database, tech platform and customers. In addition, it means Spacer will have more than 20,000 suppliers across the storage, parking and warehouse verticals, and maintain a number of business partnerships Parkhound had with CBD parking operators.

Tam spoke to Dynamic Business about Spacers latest capital raise and Parkhound, which is the companys second acquisition this year, following on from US-based startup Roost  like Spacer, a peer-to-peer marketplace for storage and parking space.

DB: How will Spacer invest the Series A funds?

Tam: The capital will be used to support the Parkhound acquisition and additional investment in people and marketing. Our platform and brand are gaining strong traction, and we want to extend our footprint from being Sydney and Melbourne centric, to nationwide. Our operating model is translating well in our US markets (San Francisco, Boston and New York) and the funding will provide a runway to becoming earnings and cash flow positive in the next 12 months.

DB: How did the acquisition deal come about?

Tam: Due to our vision to be the #1 marketplace across the storage, parking and warehousing verticals, we stay close to who is operating in the same space. Parkhound founders Rob (Crocitti) and Mike (Nuciforo) have built a great business based on word of mouth, organic search and serving a community need, which is why we reached out to them a couple of years ago. Since then weve stayed close, sharing learnings and tactics. When the opportunity arose to buy Parkhound, we were the natural acquirer, we felt, owing to our long-term ambitions and the fact that we have the operational expertise to take the business to the next level. Rob and Mike have both been fantastic in ensuring a smooth transition to Spacer, and we are hopeful they will continue to provide expertise and product knowledge on a consulting basis in the future.

DB: What value will Parkhound generate for Spacer?

Tam: There are significant synergies between the businesses, which we can begin to take advantage of immediately. ParkHound has a neat tech platform, UI/UX and on-boarding process, while Spacers strength in operations, marketing and partnerships brings gravitas to the broader offer. As a combined entity, we will have 100,000 users across the platforms, growing at 20% MoM. This will consolidate Spacer as the clear #1 marketplace for storage and parking space in Australia.

DB: Will the acquisition address customer pain point?

Tam: At present, our demand for parking outstrips supply by three to one and we cannot meet all the needs of our customers. Combining Parkhound with Spacer will generate 15,000 listings, which will create significantly more options and liquidity in our marketplace.

DB: Will Parkhounds model influencer your US operations?

Tam: We are currently looking at platform migration and applying some of the growth tactics used across both businesses, which is keeping us very busy!

DB: Are there plans to acquire further marketplaces?

Tam: Marketplaces are a winner-takes-all proposition and scale is critical. We want to grow both organically and by acquisition; we are fortunate to have strong in-house M&A capability to mop up other businesses who dont have the traction or funding to take it to the next level.

See also: Spacer takes on worlds largest self-storage market with buy-out of US equivalent, Roost and New ways for Aussie start-ups to thrive in the shareconomy: Ex DealsDirect CEO talks Spacer.
National Australia Banks decision to introduce shorter, plain English loan contracts for small business borrowers has been welcomed by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.

According to the bank, more than 130,000 business owners will benefit from the complete overhaul of its existing business standard loan form contract, which involved simplifying contractual clauses, the introduction of plan English sentences and a major reduction in document length, including terms and conditions.

What we have now is a transparent, user friendly document that is easy to read and much shorter in length, NAB Executive General Manager, Business Direct and Small Business, Leigh ONeill said in a statement on Friday. We consulted widely with industry and customers. Essentially, if the language didnt make sense to them, we worked through a better solution together.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell said steps taken by NAB to simplify mall business loan contracts were positive.

My small business loans inquiry recommended this in December last year and called for implementation by July 2017, she said.

The inquiry report recommended that where a small business had met loan payments and acted lawfully, the bank must not default a loan for any reason. The report also said conditions must be removed where banks could unilaterally value existing security assets during the life of a loan; and not invoke financial covenants or catch-all material adverse change clauses.

I applaud NAB for being first off the mark and urge other banks to follow. It shouldnt have taken so long, but we finally have a situation where banks will be treating small business clients as partners and share some of the risk. Currently the contractual relationship is one-sided and unfair.

NAB stated that is was no longer using financial indicator covenants in most loan contracts for new and existing small business customers with total business lending of less than $3 million in April 2017; however, the Ombudsman said it would be disappointing if this change wasnt applied by all lenders to loans above $3 million.

The banks own independent expert adviser on the ABA Code of Banking Practice review, the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Governments response to the Ramsay review on external dispute resolution have all identified a credit facility of at least $5 million is an appropriate threshold, Carnell said.

Ill continue talking to the government, opposition, crossbench MPs and the banks about raising the threshold to $5 million.

NAB Chief Legal & Commercial Counsel Sharon Cook said NAB is working with the wider banking industry, ASIC and customers to address concerns raised in the Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Small Business Loans Inquiry report. Meanwhile, ONeill called on levels of government and the business community to take action on establishing a single, clear definition for small businesses because the complexity of having multiple definitionsmakes it tough for their business to succeed.
In an age where digital content is king, it is understandable that small businesses are struggling to keep up with what has become a fragmented narration of brand content.

With 1.6 billion people on social media channels sharing their personal experiences and opinions online, the e-commerce business can be an overwhelming marketplace of products. For any company, the best way to break through the start-up barrier and reach new customers and stakeholders is through your current customer base.

A business owner can talk for hours about why their product is the best on the market, but when an opinion is shared by paying customers, consumers are much more likely to trust the objective review  regardless of whether it is positive or negative. Creating this bridge between current and prospective customers is one of the many positives of user-generated content.

What is User-Generated Content (UGC)?

User-generated content is that which comes from everyday individuals who voluntarily contribute opinions about your product or services. This can range from reviews on social media channels, blogs and websites, to personal photos or videos of experiences with the product or services. Most commonly used on social media, the key is to encourage your customer base to want to share their opinion. In doing so, you are capturing the multi-media voice of your brand authentically. It provides a rich and powerful narrative about the product or service that is driven solely by the consumer.

The use of user-generated content has seen rapid growth in recent years, partially because its fairly inexpensive to attain, with most users supplying it free of charge. For users supplying content, the process can be rewarding as they feel their opinion matters and has been heard. For possible consumers, the content gives an insight into real data from other people, uncensored by businesses and the media  with no chance of seeing #ad or #spon.

Product reviews, opinions, images and videos in natural environments are becoming the most powerful medium in influencing purchase decisions. According to a recent study, about 90 per cent* of decisions are influenced by user-generated content  as opposed to brand-created content. The right leverage of UGC also closes another gap that is widening in the retail world; the face-to-face relationship between brand and customer. With the increase of digitalisation and online, the opportunity to provide feedback is becoming slimmer with customers revelling at the chance to build a mutually beneficial relationship with a brand.

The key benefits of UGC

Heres an overview of the key benefits UGC brings to the e-commerce marketplace:

Creates a community and nurtures relationships between existing and potential clients

User generated content enables brands to access and connect with an intentional purchase community (a like-minded community) and understand and join conversations of product opinion and experiences in real-time.

Cost effective

Unlike paid advertising or promotions, user generated content enables a narrative about the product or service to form with minimal or no cost to the business, given its based on peoples real-life experiences.

Boosts SEO

The continuous flow of user-generated content (via reviews and experiences, photos and videos), means the business is producing fresh, relevant and engaging content, which is more favourable for SEO ranking.

Boosts social media reach and growth

User generated content has the ability to boost site engagement, given the content is created by the consumer and therefore is a trusted voice, its more likely to be shared and engaged with.

Puts customers front and centre

Customers have a voice that comes first and foremost through user generated content, as they share their own personal insights into the brand or product. There is no opportunity for over embellishment or favourable spin  the consumer becomes the brands voice.

Provides proof of product or services (testimonial)

There is no greater testament to a product or service than a consumer review or testimonial, it provides authenticity and validation.

Builds brand trust

User generated content generates trust and brand credibility, given its authentic nature (its written by everyday consumers for other everyday consumers).

High ROI

The power of user generated content is strong and in particular, when it comes to brand loyalty  as consumers are making an active choice to share, review or engage with brands content online, therefore creating a strong ROI for brands, without much effort.

* http://marketingland.com/survey-customers-more-frustrated-by-how-long-it-takes-to-resolve-a-customer-service-issue-than-the-resolution

About the author

Julia Colbron is the co-founder, Tell Me Baby, Australias first 100 per cent user-generated content platform for the baby sector.
Every modern business needs a good website, one that is not only well designed but which is served up to visitors using a reliable infrastructure. With more web hosts than ever competing for your business, it can be hard to pick out the best provider for your needs, especially if you are new to web design.

Businesses who overlook the importance of thoroughly vetting their web hosts are much more likely to run into trouble further down the line. And, for businesses whose website contributes significantly to their income, this can be a serious problem.

The good news is that anyone can familiarise themselves quite easily with the necessary terms and different features that are on offer, and even a basic understanding of these will make selecting an appropriate host much easier. You neglect your web hosting service at your own peril.

Unreliable websites put off customers

When we decide that we want a product or service, we will either turn to providers that we already know, trust, and are familiar with, or we will use the internet to look for providers. It takes some hard work, and usually a reasonable financial investment, to ensure that your site appears high up on search results. You dont want to go to all that trouble only for your website to be inaccessible to visitors, if your website loads too slowly or not at all, then visitors will simply go back and try the next link on the list.

In order to ensure that your website has as much uptime, as it is known, as possible you should check what percentage of uptime your host is quoting. Do not settle for anything less than 99%! No one can guarantee full 100% coverage, but those who advertise and deliver on the 99%, like bestwebhosting.co.uk, will have backup systems in place so that if the main hosting server is inaccessible your site can still be served to visitors from a backup system.

People prefer e-mail to phone

Before the days of widespread internet access, people communicated with businesses by locating a phone number and calling them. In todays world of digital communications, many people dont like the idea of doing this when we have e-mail available. E-mail is more convenient and allows for people to contact you and your business and receive replies at their leisure, with a phone call they have to set aside time for it during their day.

It is therefore essential that your website makes it very easy for customers to contact you, all forms of contact information should be easily accessible and clearly visible.

A good website makes you look professional

Many visitors to your website will make a judgement about how professional your operation is on the basis of how professional your website looks. Dont skimp when it comes to hiring a competent designer and coder to put your site together and make sure you choose a host that does justice to their hard work.
Opinion / Columnist

BISHOP Lazarus is not exactly breaking any news preaching to you that the Holy Book isn't a written record of perfect people. You all know that isn't it?Quite a number of biblical characters quickly come to mind to buttress the statement above. Peter denied knowing Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75). Demas forsook Paul, having loved this world's enticements (2 Timothy 4:10). Adam and Eve failed to obey God's specific restrictions (Genesis 2:15-17).Abram lied about his relationship to Sara (Genesis 12:10-20). Moses grew angry and struck the rock instead of speaking to the rock, thus disobeying God (Numbers 20:7-12). David committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11-12). Solomon started out well but turned from God (1 Kings 3:5-9).I could go on and on, but regai timbokwazisana muzita raShe. It's been long. Zvinowanda imi woye. Mhepo dzacho muri kungodziwonawo. Kwava kurira mabazooka, tuma AK47 twanyarara kuti ziii. Do we call these interesting times or scary times? Depends nepaumire, but chokwadi chaicho vanhu vamwari, patimire pakaoma. Rugare kwamuri vatendi!Now, let's get into today's sermon. This is a sad sermon about two Vice Presidents. Developments over the past few weeks have been worrying your Bishop. The tough exchanges between Vice President Mnangagwa and Vice President Mphoko have put the whole country on the edge. Kwanzi news dziya dzodakadza anhuwee!Let me quickly make myself clear  I have lots of respect for both VPs. They are the country's Vice Presidents and so we should respect them. This sermon is stemming from the very fact that I respect these two Vice Presidents. If I had no respect for them, I would look the other way. Kutokanga nzungu zvangu.I said the Bible if full of people who over time made lots of mistakes. I listed a few of such people. Zvino if the Holy Book is loaded with people who have made mistakes, Zimbabwe ingasare kuti ndiyo yadii? These things do happen.I can hear whispers saying "Bishop taurai nyaya yenyu". Well, my story is that both VP Mnangagwa and VP Mphoko didn't handle issues properly over the past few days. They didn't handle issues in ways that people expected of them. People holding such high offices shouldn't do what they did.Let's start with VP Mnangagwa. Was it necessary for him to say what he said during the memorial service of national heroine Shuvai Mahofa in Masvingo? Just 10 words from his speech in Masvingo are threatening to end his political career. "Ndinofunga kuti zvakaitika kwavari 2015 kuVic Falls ndozvakazoitikawo kwandiri kuGwanda," said VP Mnangagwa."Why, why, why?" people asked in bewilderment.Allow your Bishop to be a bit academic in explaining things. Students of social sciences in general and cultural studies in particular will tell you that there is something called reception analysis, which denotes the way in which people actively and creatively make their own meanings and create their own culture from a given text. Reception analysis explains how audiences (people) construct meanings out of media text. By media text I mean stories, movies, news bulletins and so on that appear in the media.One of the leading researchers in cultural studies, Stuart Hall, while at the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham came up with a study that sought to explain the relationship between the producers of messages, the messages themselves and audiences.Arguing from a Marxist perspective, Hall argued that through the media, the dominant and most powerful factions of society imposed their ideological values by encoding what he called preferred or hegemonic meaning. In the study, Hall distinguished three distinct approaches to decoding messages  dominant, negotiated and oppositional readings.A dominant reading, according to Hall, would be an unconditional acceptance of the preferred meaning, through which process the message is interpreted as the producer intended and the viewer accepts the message at face value, with no critical analysis of the media. An oppositional interpretation occurs when the individual viewer decodes the text according to his or her own cultural influences; in this case, the preferred ideological meaning may be understood but not accepted or agreed upon by the viewer.The third approach is a negotiated reading, which is a hybrid of sorts; the audience member will understand and partially embrace the preferred meaning but may feel conflicted about some aspects of that interpretations; therefore, instead of completely rejecting it, the interpreter will find a way to negotiate or change its meaning to more closely suit his or her needs.One of Hall's students, David Morley, went on to carry the "Nationwide" study where he found out that besides the three readings, there was another one which he called aberrant reading. In short, this reading implies that one can decode text in a way that is completely different from the producer's preferred meaning.Pardon me for the lecture. Now, let's get back to VP Mnangagwa. Last Thursday, the VP issued a statement clarifying what he exactly said in Masvingo, but as we have learnt from reception analysis people were bound to make all sorts of decodings from his original statement in Masvingo. Reception analysis refers to the context and the VP should have known that the political atmosphere was just too tense for him to say anything that could be decoded in a thousand ways.When VP Mnangagwa spoke, due to the polysemic nature of a text, vanhu vakanzwa zvavaida kunzwa kwete zvakataurwa. I have to confess, even Bishop Lazarus vakanzwawo zvavo and as you know, they don't call it Harare for nothing. This is the city where people don't sleep vachiita makuhwa.The VP's statement in Masvingo was subjected to dominant, negotiated, oppositional and aberrant readings by many people such that at the end of the day, no one knew exactly what was said. The horses had bolted and the audiences had taken ownership of the VP's statement. The rumour mill went into overdrive. There was nothing unusual about what was happening."Rakazvirova rikazhamba," Sekuru vangu Matope (May his soul rest in peace) would say while seated under the big mutohwe tree sipping his favourite "Chihwani" beer from zicup ravo retongombeya.With Harare in a rumour logjam, VP Mhpoko, who at that time was the Acting President, brew a shocker. For reasons best known to him, the VP chose to release a statement reacting to VP Mnangagwa's Masvingo statement well into the night such that the mainstream media couldn't carry the story the next day. Resultantly, such an important story first appeared on the social media, giving the impression that the statement had been released to online publications.This was a first. Government releasing such an important statement to online and social media platforms? This was unprecedented. What made the issue even more suspicious was the fact that the statement was released unsigned and not on a Government letterhead.The mainstream media had to contact VP Mphoko's office the next day to confirm whether the statement was genuine. "Yes, it is a legitimate statement," the Minister of State in VP Mphoko's office, Mrs Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga, told the media. She went on to reveal a worrying detail that the statement had been prepared in a "hurried manner".That's was unGovernment-like. What was the hurry all about? Why couldn't VP Mphoko wait until the next day to get the full picture of what had exactly transpired? Or more appropriately, why didn't he engage his fellow comrade? Handiti ndivo vanga vari panyanga?But then we know the President was coming back home the next day, so maybe power had to be exercised chop chop. They call it maximum impact in the film industry.Bishop Lazarus is of the view that VP Mhpoko as Acting President should have flexed his muscles and summon VP Mnangagwa and read the riot act, if there was need for that.The hurried nature that VP Mphoko prepared the statement and the time he released the statement has raised lots of suspicion. Naturally, there was a lot of speculation with several succession theories and names being thrown around. Ini saBishop ndakangoti Mwariwe pindirai. Honhai zvoitana machinda enyu.Just those 10 words in Masvingo? Just imagine the next Presidential Interface Rally? Just imagine the new Zanu-PF slogans? But before that, the new Cabinet would have spoken.Bishop is out!
Opinion / Columnist

Enos Denhere is an Entrepreneur and Business Developer seeking opportunities in business areas of representation and business /nation building/motivational speaking forums to attend



www.enosden.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/letstalkafricaforgood

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enos-denhere-11293429/



For feedback email enosdenhere@gmail.com

The term "citizen sector" applies to the realm of activity that brings the power of private citizens to bear on important public issues.Implicit in the idea of a vibrant citizen sector are vibrant citizens - individuals, families and communities that devote their time and energy to public causes. They attend town meetings, volunteer at schools, and contribute to bettering society. Emiliano Zapata once said ," If there is no justice for the people , let there be no peace for the government." Our governments needs to come out of comfort zone and work on policies which will safeguard our land and bring in betterment in our communities,nations and final continent . In Africa we still have a big gap of deficit in proper implementation.The African governments have to adopt developmental economic policies which will place the African economy on a production-lead growth trajectory in order to tackle the continent's developmental challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty. A particular focus is to ensure greater local processing of Africa's abundant natural resources. Africa is host to considerable mineral reserves of strategic significance to the global economy, with an estimated in-situ value of trillions of USA dollars making the continent wealthiest mining jurisdiction . Africa can be defined as an economy with low levels of beatification, in the most of its minerals are exported as ores or semi finished minerals rather than high value intermediate to finished products. The value addition to raw minerals is aiming at providing a strategic focus for Africa's minerals industry in of developing mineral chains and facilitating the expansion of beatification initiatives in the country, up to the last stages of value chain. In economics, the difference between the sale price and the production cost of a product is the value added per unit. Summing value added per unit over all units sold is total value added. Total value added is equivalent to Revenue less Outside Purchases (of materials and services). Value Added is a higher portion of Revenue for integrated companies, e.g., manufacturing companies, and a lower portion of Revenue for less integrated companies, e.g., retail companies.The 2008 Nobel recipient for economics, Paul Krugman supports value addition of commodities from producer countries. It is possible to industrialize by leveraging on a country's natural resources with government driving the beneficiation initiative .The NORDIC countries benefited from value addition concepts. Africa historical mineral industry strength, there is a potential to attract and develop technological excellence in mineral industries. This involves a range of activities including large - scale capital intensive activities such as smelting and refining as well as labourintensive activities such as craft jewellery and metal fabrication such as machinery and equipment manufacture, research.There are some constraints to beneficiation as we have limited access to raw mineral for local benefician as the bulk of current producers remain geared towards export of raw minerals, long term contracts with their international clients .The international price determination of raw and intermediate minerals, which do not discount proximity to production further compound the requisite access to input minerals for local addition. Most African countries must geared up encouraging mining giants to develop smelting and refining unlike to export raw mineralsThe benefician strategy provides a framework that seeks to translate the country's sheer comparative advantage inherihited from mineral resource endowment to a national competitive advantage. The value addition concept is aligned to a national policy which will enhance the quantity and quality of exports, promote creation of decent employment and diversification of the economy. The governments in Africa should keep calling for paradigm shift in mineral development, strategic investment in assets to maximize long term growth beneficiation, enhance value exports and increase sources for consumption of local content.All this can be achieved if we realize the potential we have as a continent. We have people who are rich in Africa who even says l don't know what to do with my money.If you go to Europe e.g Spain have what they call angels.Angels are people with lot of money and they don't know what to do with the money so they look for vibrant opportunities where they can invest their money for period of time and the same can work home.Lets take Africa to another level of progress.We should be not be greedy . Lets fight corruption.Corruption is the cancer to the next level of our betterment as a nation.Lets find ways we can resuscitate our economy and the industrial hubs in Africa. Just imagine where Africa can be in ten years time if we fully implement holistic policies and value addition in our nations. Africa we are facing the same sickness which need same prescription of medicine to every nation. Let's beautify and make Africa a continent we want to be.
Climate funding takes 45 per cent share of total investment so far in 2017

The President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Sir Suma Chakrabarti, will outline the Banks rapid progress towards meeting ambitious climate finance goals at this weeks meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

The EBRD President will meet senior officials from both recipient and donor countries, as well as the heads of other international financial institutions (IFIs).

He will also deliver a strong message of support for the China-led Belt and Road Initiative during a panel discussion at the Center for Global Development (CGD), and outline how best to put in place projects under the programme of investments linking Asia with the rest of the world, including many of the Banks countries of operations.

Sir Suma, one of the co-hosts of the CGD event which will look at both the opportunities and challenges of the new initiative, will point out how partners in the Belt and Road Initiative, including multilateral development banks, can help make it a sustainable success.

In meetings with other IFI heads, the EBRD President will discuss a G20 review on global financial governance, which includes an assessment of the work of multilateral development banks, including the EBRD.

Speaking ahead of the Washington talks, Sir Suma said: I welcome the review to ensure that the multilateral system is equipped to deliver the global agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals and implementation of COP21. It will allow us to discuss how multilateral development banks can focus even more on mobilising private finance.

The EBRD has maintained a strong flow of high-impact investments across its regions in 2017, focusing particularly on climate finance, which is in line with its commitments under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

Combining a high level of financing with continued support for economic reforms, the EBRD delivered 192 projects worth 4.8 billion in the first eight months of 2017. It expects to report another strong operational result for the whole year, after a record 9.4 billion in 2016.

The EBRD invests in 38 emerging economies across three continents according to a set of criteria that aim to make its countries more competitive, better governed, greener, more inclusive, more resilient and more integrated.

Green financing has assumed a special significance since the global climate accord in Paris, when the EBRD unveiled its Green Economy Transition approach, under which it aims to dedicate 40 per cent of its annual investments to climate finance by 2020.

So far in 2017, the Bank has exceeded that target, with climate finance taking a 45 per cent share of the overall investment total in the first eight months of the year.

Green economy projects this year include the EBRDs latest solar investment in Jordan, which brought the total installed capacity of power projects supported by the EBRD in the country to more than 1,000 MW, 75 per cent of which are in renewables.

In Mongolia, a country heavily dependent on fossil fuels, the Bank financed its third wind farm, again underscoring the Banks commitment to the development of renewable energy sources.

The first projects have now been rolled out under the EBRDs US$ 500 million framework for renewable energy in Egypt while in Greece the Bank signed its first deal under its 300 million Greek Renewable Energy Framework.

Alongside the green investment, the EBRD has also put a high priority on helping to build more inclusive economies. The number of projects with a gender component, such as helping women entrepreneurs receive bank finance or increasing job opportunities for women, rose to 22 in the first eight months of 2017, up from 13 a year earlier.

The Bank continued to help build economic resilience in its countries of operations with a high number of local currency and local market development projects that reduce risks linked to foreign currency borrowing. It also maintained a strong flow of finance to small and medium-sized enterprises.

The EBRD was set up in 1991, initially to help promote open market economies in the former communist countries of central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Its successful private sector business model which combines innovative financing solutions with strong support for policy reform has since been applied to a new set of countries, including Turkey and  in the wake of the Arab Uprising  in North Africa and the Middle East, demonstrating its ability to work effectively in various regions.

The EBRD cooperates closely with other multilateral development banks, helping to deliver maximum impact on the ground by ensuring that each institution makes a contribution according to its own particular skills.
Over the weekend I posted a piece about Sanilac Probate Judge Gregory S. Ross awarding joint custody of a 9-year old boy, the child of the woman he raped when she was 12 years old. Christopher Mirasolo held the girl and her sister captive for two days, impregnating her during that time. Under a plea deal, he served only six and a half months for the rape and the victim and her family were told they dont like to send first-time sex offenders to prison because people come out worse after they go there. He later raped another child and spent four years in prison for that.

Because his first rape victim was getting public assistance (food stamps, etc.), the local prosecutor compelled Mirasolo to take a paternity test so they could force him to start paying child support. Once paternity was confirmed, Judge Ross took it upon himself to award joint custody without the rape victims consent. Presumably this was so they could extract support from him and relieve the government from that financial burden.

However, Judge Ross was not required to do this. Under a law passed in 2016 called the Child Custody Act, he could have compelled Mirasolo to pay child support without putting the woman he raped as a 12-year old child through this nightmare. Heres part of the law which is now MCL 722.25 [emphasis mine]:

722.25 Child custody dispute; controlling interests, presumption; award of custody to parent convicted of criminal sexual conduct or acts of nonconsensual sexual penetration; prohibition; support or maintenance obligation; defense; offending parent defined. Sec. 5. (1) If a child custody dispute is between the parents, between agencies, or between third persons, the best interests of the child control. If the child custody dispute is between the parent or parents and an agency or a third person, the court shall presume that the best interests of the child are served by awarding custody to the parent or parents, unless the contrary is established by clear and convincing evidence. (2) Notwithstanding other provisions of this act, if a child custody dispute involves a child who is conceived as the result of acts for which 1 of the childs biological parents is convicted of criminal sexual conduct as provided in sections 520a to 520e and 520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520a to 750.520e and 750.520g, or a substantially similar statute of another state or the federal government, or is found by clear and convincing evidence in a fact-finding hearing to have committed acts of nonconsensual sexual penetration, the court shall not award custody to that biological parent. This subsection does not apply to a conviction under section 520d(1)(a) of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520d. This subsection does not apply if, after the date of the conviction, or the date of the finding in a fact-finding hearing described in this subsection, the biological parents cohabit and establish a mutual custodial environment for the child. (3) An offending parent is not entitled to custody of a child described in subsection (2) without the consent of that childs other parent or guardian. (4) Notwithstanding other provisions of this act, subsection (2) does not relieve an offending parent of any support or maintenance obligation to the child. The other parent or the guardian of the child may decline support or maintenance from the offending parent. (5) A parent may assert an affirmative defense of the provisions of subsection (2) in a proceeding brought by the offending parent regarding a child described in subsection (2). (6) Notwithstanding other provisions of this act, if an individual is convicted of criminal sexual conduct as provided in sections 520a to 520e and 520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520a to 750.520e and 750.520g, and the victim is the individuals child, the court shall not award custody of that child or a sibling of that child to that individual, unless both the childs other parent and, if the court considers the child or sibling to be of sufficient age to express his or her desires, the child or sibling consent to the custody. (7) As used in this section, offending parent means a parent who has been convicted of criminal sexual conduct as described in subsection (2) or who has been found by clear and convincing evidence in a fact-finding hearing to have committed acts of nonconsensual sexual penetration as described in subsection (2).

So, why did Judge Ross do this? Why did he give Mirasolo the phone number and address of the woman he raped without her consent? Why did he award joint custody, something Mirasolo himself claims he never sought, when the law specifically says he didnt have to? In fact, did Judge Ross actually VIOLATE THE LAW in doing so? After all, the law says, if a child custody dispute involves a child who is conceived as the result of acts for which 1 of the childs biological parents is convicted of criminal sexual  or is found by clear and convincing evidence in a fact-finding hearing to have committed acts of nonconsensual sexual penetration, the court shall not award custody to that biological parent.

The phrase shall not suggests he DID violate the law.

These are fine questions to be asking. And you can ask him yourself. His contact information is publicly available on the Sanilac County website HERE:

You can also sign a petition to have Ross removed from office HERE. If that effort isnt successful in removing Ross from the bench, he is up for election in November of 2020 and this should be an exceedingly important campaign topic during that election.

One other thing: Republican Senator Rick Jones introduced legislation in 2015  Senate Bill 629  that would put even more teeth into laws preventing rape victims from being compelled to share custody with the person who sexually assaulted them:

I want to ensure that victims of rape are not faced with a custody battle from their rapist, Jones said. Current state law allows a court to terminate parental rights once a rapist is criminally convicted. SB 629 would allow courts to terminate all rights upon the victim petitioning before a family court judge, requiring a lower burden of proof. Sometimes its an acquaintance rape, they dont wish to bring charges and put the person in prison; sometimes the victim simply doesnt want to go through the criminal trial, Jones said. Jones says that he has heard from domestic violence groups regarding the issue. Ive actually heard of horrible cases where the rapist contacted the victim after they heard that a child had been conceived and said: Get an abortion, and if you dont, I will be going for custody,' he said. After spending 31 years in law enforcement, Jones says he has seen the ramifications that rape has on the victim. I certainly cannot imagine a rapist being able to continue to harass the victim, or have custody of a child conceived in that act, he said.

Unfortunately, that bill never made it out of committee and hasnt been reintroduced. Perhaps now would be a good time to try again.

UPDATE: Judge Ross has stayed his motion. That said, he should still be removed from the bench as quickly as humanly possible. Learn about how to help with that HERE.

UPDATE 2: An important update to this story is HERE. Its beginning to look like the most evil player in this sad drama is the County Prosecutor James V. Young.
Second Missionary Baptist Church at 2305 E. 3rd Street, is celebrating the second anniversary of its pastor, Reverend Dr. Ernest Reid, Jr. on Sunday.

There will be two services and guest speakers.

The 8 a.m. worship service will host Rev.

Pedro Basden of Warren Chapel AME Church in Chattanooga, as the guest speaker.

The 11 a.m. worship service message will be delivered by Pastor James E. Cook of St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. He says that the church has marching orders to turn the world upside down through preaching, teaching, witnessing and praying in a spirit of love and grace until Christ returns for his church.

Everyone is invited to come and be blessed.
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(Photo: REUTERS / Remo Casilli)Meriam Yahya Ibrahim of Sudan (R) holds one of her children next to Lapo Pistelli (L), Italy's vice minister for foreign affairs, holding her other child, as they land at Ciampino airport in Rome July 24, 2014. The Sudanese woman who was spared a death sentence for converting from Islam to Christianity and then barred from leaving Sudan flew into Rome on Thursday.

More than 80 countries favor a specific religion, either as an official, government-endorsed religion or by affording one religion preferential treatment over other faiths, and Islam is the faith that holds sway there.

This is the finding of a recent Pew Research Center analysis of data covering 199 countries and territories around the world.

It found that Islam is the most common government-endorsed faith, with 27 countries (including most in the Middle East-North Africa region) officially enshrining Islam as their State religion.

By comparison, just 13 countries (including nine European nations) designate Christianity or a particular Christian denomination as their State religion.

But an additional 40 governments around the globe unofficially favor a particular religion, and in most cases the preferred faith is a branch of Christianity.

Indeed, finds Pew, Christian churches receive preferential treatment in more countries  28  than any other unofficial but favored faith.

Most of the countries where Islam is the official religion (16 of 27, or 59 percent) are in the Middle East and North Africa. In addition, seven officially Islamic countries (26 percent) are in the Asia-Pacific region, including Bangladesh, Brunei and Malaysia.

And there are four countries in sub-Saharan Africa where Islam is the State religion: Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritania and Somalia. No countries in Europe or the Americas have Islam as their official religion.

'CHRISTIANITY SECOND MOST OFFICIAL RELIGION'

Christianity is the second most common official religion around the world. Thirteen countries (30 percent of countries with an official religion) declare Christianity, in general, or a particular Christian denomination to be their official state religion.

Nine of these countries are in Europe, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Monaco and Iceland.

Two countries in the Americas  Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic  and one in the Asia-Pacific region  Tuvalu  have Christianity as their official State religion. Only one country in sub-Saharan Africa is officially Christian: Zambia.

Buddhism is the official religion in two countries, Bhutan and Cambodia. Israel is the only country in the world with Judaism as its official state religion.

And no country names Hinduism as its official state religion  though India has a powerful Hindu political party, and Nepal came close to enshrining Hinduism in 2015, when the rejection of a constitutional amendment declaring Hinduism as the state religion led to a confrontation between pro-Hindu protesters and police.

Among the 40 countries that have a preferred or favored religion  but not an official state religion  most favor Christianity.

Twenty-eight countries (70 percent) have Christianity as the preferred religion, mostly in Europe and the Americas. Five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and three in the Asia-Pacific region have Christianity as the favored religion.

For the past eight years, Pew Research Center has published annual reports analyzing the extent to which governments and societies around the world impinge on religious beliefs and practices.

The studies are part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project, which analyzes religious change and its impact on societies around the world. The project is jointly funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John Templeton Foundation.
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Arecibo, Puerto Rico

Puerto Ricos national teacher of the year from a decade ago isnt going anywhere.

Isabel Rodriguez Santos has been teaching for 22 years. Since Hurricane Maria, the school where she teaches marketing and business administration, Dr. Maria Cadilla High School in this coastal city about 50 miles west of San Juan, hasnt held classes.

But that doesnt mean its been quiet. Even though at least five teachers at the school have lost their homes, the schools entire teaching staff has showed up since the storm to clear trees, clean out the interior, and try to prepare the school for opening on Oct. 23.

All of them presented themselves at the school and said, What can we do? Lets go to work, Rodriguez Santos said.

Lost Learning Time

If Dr. Maria Cadillo High School has running water, it can welcome students, even without lights, air conditioning, the internet, and elevators. Many of the schools roughly 590 students may not return, while new students may show up whose previous schools remain shuttered.

Those and other challenges are daunting. But Rodriquez Santos still hopes that children, parents, and teachers stay in Puerto Rico and continue to be a part of the school community.

Im very sad because there are more people leaving Puerto Rico, said Rodriguez Santos, though she says she still respects those deciding to depart permanently. We need those people here. We need those hands, those professionals, here. I understand that its hard. ... I have relatives in the U.S. who call and say, Come on, you got a profession, you speak English, youve got to move here. I say no. This is my island. My students need me.

See Also: In Puerto Rico, a Daunting Effort to Reopen Schools, Headed by a Determined Leader

Rodriguez Santos and other educators know that their students will need a longer school year to accommodate the days, weeks, and perhaps months of instructional time that they will miss. She and others at Dr. Maria Cadillo are still finalizing their plans to extend the school year into June, work on weekends, extend the school day itself, or some combination of those options.

Looking Ahead

Theyll also work quickly to survey students about their interests and needs. And Puerto Ricos Department of Education has communicated to teachers that with all the difficulties teachers will face, they can shift to focusing much more on project-based learning.

And students returning to Rodriguez Santos school will catch at least one break: They wont have to wear their normal school uniforms. Without air conditioning, those uniforms would be hard to bear.

I understand that the students are very anxious to go to school. People need to go out of their houses and feel that everything is going to be all right and that were going to start over again, Rodriguez Santos said. So we make the sacrifice.

The teaching veteran also knows that her school is relatively lucky. Standing in front of Judith Avivas Elementary School, about 45 minutes away from her home in the mountain village of Utuado, Rodriguez Santos sees where the river burst its banks and flooded all the way up to the edge of the schools parking lot. The school is now serving as a shelter for 103 individuals, including many students.

Rodriguez Santos hopes that if there is a next time, schools are better prepared for an imminent hurricane and can give their students academic work to study, even though theres no stopping a force like Hurricane Maria.

This is a great lesson, Rodriguez Santos said.
Single-family home sales in Tennessee decreased a modest -2.7 percent in September (7,021 closings to 6,834), the median price rose +14 percent ($193,000 to $220,000), and available inventory fell -23.1 percent (27,450 to 21,097) over September 2016, according to data compiled by Tennessee Realtors.Condominium statistics showed sharper changes, as condo sales dropped -9.6 percent (681 closings to 615), the median condo price rose +16.9 percent ($162,500 to $189,900), and condo inventory tightened by -28.2 percent (2,140 to 1,536) over September 2016.For the third quarter of 2017 (July-September), home sales showed a slight uptick of +1.5 percent (22,033 closings to 22,370) while the median price rose +10 percent ($193,000 to $220,000) over third-quarter 2016.Once again, the housing numbers for September and the third quarter reflect the vibrancy of Tennessees economy, both in a demand for homes and in rising prices, balanced against the ongoing challenge of low inventory, said Nashville-area broker and Realtor Brian Copeland, 2017 President of Tennessee Realtors.While the market remains most friendly to sellers, homebuyers can find a good fit for them with the right help and guidanceand with a bit of extra patience and persistence, Mr.Copeland said.The September and third-quarter breakdown by Tennessees three Grand DivisionsWestern, Middle and Easternshowed trends similar to the overall numbers, except:- Middle Tennessee home sales rose +3.4 percent in September, while the other two divisions showed marginal decreases in sales.- For the third quarter, home sales rose slightly in the Middle and Western divisions, while dropping slightly in the Eastern division.




Canada agri-food sector pushes trade with EU under CETA

A Canadian trade mission led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay is currently in Europe to explore new export opportunities, as a new trade agreement has taken effect.

With the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) provisionally applied, the MacAulay and Canadian industry leaders are visiting Germany, Belgium and Italy from Oct. 7 to 17 to build new market access into the European Union for Canada's key agricultural product exports including beef, pork and grains.

"CETA will expand our agri-food trade with Europe, by providing comprehensive duty-free access. It will create a united market of 35 million Canadians and 500 million Europeans. This historic agreement will encourage investment, open markets, and help hard-working farm families be more competitive around the world", MacAulay said.

In Germany, MacAulay will participate in Anuga 2017, the world's largest food and beverage trade show, where Canada's agricultural sector will be showcasing Canadian goods and promoting CETA's export opportunities.

In Belgium, he will hold bilateral meetings with senior EU representatives, host meetings with key European industry stakeholders, and tour the Port of Antwerp, a gateway into the EU for Canadian agriculture products.

In Italy, the Minister will attend the G7 Agriculture Ministers' meetings and attend World Food Day events in Rome with His Holiness Pope Francis.

The Minister will have the opportunity to engage with and support Canada's agricultural industry at Anuga, as well as during meetings with key European buyers and distributors in Belgium and Italy.

CETA became provisionally effective last Sept. 21, and as a result, almost 94% of EU agricultural tariffs are duty-free, and almost 96% of EU tariffs for fish and seafood products are also duty-free. Canadian exporters, thus, have an advantage over competitors in countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the EU. -- Rick Alberto




Russia expects record-high 230M-tonne grain harvest this year - Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday, Oct. 8, that his country expects a record-high grain harvest this year, affirming its status as one of the leading wheat producers in the world.

"Today agriculture, the agro-industrial complex as a whole is one of the most rapidly developing branches of our economy. This year we expect a record-high grain harvest of around 130 million tonnes, and this has been achieved despite unfavorable weather conditions," Putin was quoted as saying in a report by Xinhua.

The Russian President made the forecast in a congratulatory message to agro-industry workers on the Agriculture and Processing Industry Workers' Day.

Putin said that Russia has reaffirmed its status as the world's leading producer and exporter of grain, adding that positive trends were also seen regarding the output of pork and poultry, among others.

Putin also said that Russia would continue to develop organic products and deep processing, as well as strengthen its positions in global markets.

Russia produces wheat, barley and rye, among others. It is the world's top wheat exporter.




Inaugural Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum attracts 20,000 visits

Press release

The "Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum" and "Aquaculture & Livestock Taiwan Expo & Forum" 2017 concluded on September 30 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.

The exhibitions attracted more than 20,000 visits from 37 countries while the total sales are estimated to be approximately 17 million US dollars.

Organised by UBM Asia and co-organised by Council of Agriculture of Taiwan government (COA), the first edition of Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum featured state-of-the-art technology to optimise and upgrade the industrial structure. There were over 50 onsite matchmaking meetings and 40 conference sessions which brought in 6,000 visits. The outstanding result of the debut revealed the development of agriculture in the Asia-Pacific region is on urgent re-conversion and cross-industry alliance opportunities. It can be expected that Taiwan is to be the hub for Agricultural technology to promote start-ups and investors.

Ms. Sabine Liu, General Manager of UBM Asia Ltd., Taiwan Branch, remarked on the overall success of the exhibition, "The combination of climate change and food safety has boosted agricultural business opportunities to the peak. Exhibitor, Land Green showcased Seaweed Organic Liquid to improve blossoming and fruiting stage and also enhance plant resistance to severe weather conditions, pests and plant diseases. Phansco introduced Raman Apparatus of pesticides identified detection to analyse the pesticide residues of agriculture products and commodities. Both products were very popular and received many inquiries onsite."

Internet of Things (IoT) technology had been another focal point of the dual show. Many exhibitors showcased a total solution of automated environmental control system, remote supervision system, smart farming models and so on, which had won the majority of buyers' favour. Based upon a Japanese media, an anonymous exhibitor had sold out 100 units of machinery equipment and more deals would be discussed post show. The gross sales was also partially derived from animal vaccines and feed additives. Mr. Jason Wang, Manager of Department of Animal Medicine, China Chemical & Pharmaceutical (CCPC) appealed, "The purpose of applying veterinary medicine is to maintain animals' good health and to improve livestock productivity. The food safety could be secured as long as husbandry farmers comply with the guidelines for veterinary prescription and withdrawal period."

At the close of the dual show, there were 194 exhibitors and 292 booths hailing from 16 countries. Attracted more than 12,000 visitors, the first edition of the exhibitions were supported by 17 domestic and overseas associations and exhibitions. It is highly satisfied commented by the combination of industry, official and university. The next edition of the Asia Agri-Tech and Livestock & Aquaculture Expo & Forum will take place from 26 to 28 July 2018 at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. According to the statistical report, 120 exhibitors had expressed the willing to attend the shows next year and 12 brand companies had signed the rebooking contract, including Advanced Green Biotechnology (AGB), Shiuh Ger, Yoan Trading, MIC Meter, Lican Alimentos, PT. Dwijaya Perkasa Abadi and so on.
If you wanted your money to help society, you used to be limited to giving it to charity or refusing to invest in sin businesses, like gambling.

But companies are figuring out ways to make good deeds profitable with an investment approach called impact investing.

Allar and Matt are joined on the podcast by Uli Grabenwarter of the European Investment Fund, who explains that impact investing considers the benefit a company has on society alongside its profitability.

Responsiveness to societal needs is factor of competitiveness for our businesses, Uli says on the European Investment Banks A Dictionary of Finance podcast. In the future, most of the value that we create with businesses will be equivalent to the value those businesses create for society.

He has a thought-provoking example of a different approach to business, with a positive social and environmental impact, from Amsterdams Schiphol airport.

Uli also discusses the sharing economy, which seeks to make creative use of finite resources. Think about how much time each day youre not using the things you own. What if others could be using them at those times? Uli lays out how this might work.

Subscribe to A Dictionary of Finance in the iTunes podcast app or on other podcast platforms like Stitcher. Wed love to hear from you with suggestions for future podcast topics. Tweet us at @EIBMatt or @AllarTankler.
Il Primo, an Italian neighborhood restaurant in North Chattanooga, announces the opening event of a second restaurant location in Cambridge Square, Ooltewah on Friday, Oct. 20, from 5-10 p.m.

Il Primo was conceived by owner, Nathan Lindley, who dreamed of opening a restaurant that would be part of its neighbors lives; a place to celebrate special occasions and a meal with family and friends. Taking inspiration from the small, family-run Italian restaurants nestled in neighborhood cities of the Northeast, Nathan began developing a concept and menu that would mimic the timeless feel that makes such restaurants endearing. Within a year of opening, guests would comment that they felt that Il Primo had always been there, referring to the look and feel of the restaurant and its place in their daily lives.



While the name Il Primo, which translates to The First, may not have implied a second location when it initially opened doors in the old Greenlife Grocery building in Spring of 2014  the restaurants success led developers to pursue Il Primo as an anchor for their neighborhoods and led management to consider embracing another community.

The new location will be led by the same group that created the original, Owner Nathan Lindley, Managing Partner Josh Nason, and Chef Oscar Ixcoit. Joining them are Chef Paul Rogers and General Manager Dan Potter. Chef Paul joined Il Primo in February from Charleston, S.C. and has been working to master the scratch recipes and plate execution of the original location. Mr. Potter, a 20 year culinary veteran of the Chattanooga restaurant scene, brings a familiar face and welcoming hospitality to the new culinary venture.

Celebrating the simplicity of classic Italian cooking married with the prosperity of America, the American-Italian menu will offer the same dishes as the original Northshore restaurant. All sauces and dressings are made in-house each day and complete dishes that are sourced and prepared. Guests at the new Il Primo location will find favorites such as Lasagna Bolognese, Chicken Picatta, Pork Scallopini and Dry Aged Meatballs, as well as the dishes on the menu that rotate with each season, such as Sauteed Scallops with Butternut Squash Risotto and Mushroom Ravioli. Nightly specials, such as Eggplant Parmesan, Lobster Risotto and Chicken Carbonara are popular favorites and draw regular, weekly diners. The bar program includes a house-made limoncello and a wine list that focuses on fine American and Italian wines, ranging a broad spectrum of varietals and prices.

Il Primo Restaurant in Ooltewah is on the corner of Cambridge square, in a newly-built building designed by Michael McGowan of River Street Architecture. The building design is classic and timeless, with several design elements that pay homage to the Bottega Favorita building in Birmingham, Al. where owner and restaurateur, Mr. Lindley spent his formative restaurant years. Taking inspiration from the original Il Primo, carefully chosen fixtures and furniture create a sense of comfort and permanence. The space includes indoor seating for 110 guests, with additional outdoor seating for 36 on a patio that includes a bocce court.

Il Primo Restaurant will serve dinner, Monday through Thursday from 5-9 p.m. and from 5-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The bar at Il Primo will open each day at 4 p.m., featuring happy hour specials from 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

While maintaining the spirit of the casual, neighborhood walk up system of the original Primo, Il primo Cambridge will accept reservations for parties up to 12 guests at one third of the tables. The remaining tables will be kept for guests who choose to just walk in or call to be placed on the wait list before their arrival. Guests may make reservations by calling the restaurant at 498-1300 between the hours of 2-5 p.m. Shortly after the opening date, online reservations will be made available as well. For food and wine menus, pricing, catering, take and bake, and daily specials, visit the website at http://www.primochattanooga.com/.
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Post Office still waiting for Friday's mail

The Isle of Man Post Office is still waiting to receive some of Friday's mail from the UK.

A technical problem with the aircraft meant the first class, Special Delivery and Parcelforce Express items which were due to be delivered on Friday didn't arrive at Ronaldsway.

However, further issues with the plane over the weekend has prevented the delayed mail being brought to the Island over the weekend.

The Post Office says it's currently working with Royal Mail to find a way to resolve the situation, but that this does mean there will be a further delay.
Government still negotiating TV licence cost with BBC

The Manx Government is still negotiating with the BBC over funding for TV licences for the over 75s.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle announced in January that a deal for the broadcaster to partially fund the licence was close.

However, MLC David Cretney recently asked for an update from the Cabinet Office, which revealed the talks were taking longer than expected.

The Government's Director of External Communications insists the licence fee concession is still on the radar, and it's hoped a further announcement will be made in the coming weeks.

Jersey has an agreement in place which will see the BBC provide partial funding for licences for those over 75 years old from next year.
Clean Energy Asia LLC (Clean Energy Asia), together with its shareholders Newcom LLC (Newcom) and SB Energy Corp. of the SoftBank Group (SB Energy), announced that its 50MW Tsetsii Wind Farm located in the Gobi desert started commercial operations today on October 6, 2017.

Mongolia faces significant challenges in meeting its growing demand for electricity, almost all of which is currently met by ageing and polluting coal-fired plants. The wind farm will help supply Mongolia's power demand with clean, energy-efficient electricity by harnessing Mongolia's vast and inexhaustible wind resources. The project will also help contribute to sustainable economic development and the mitigation of climate change. Clean Energy Asia commenced operations three months ahead of the previously scheduled launch date of December 2017.

Mongolia has a power-supply capacity of 1130MW, consisting of 88% coal, 6% diesel, 6% renewable energy, and 2% hydropower sources (according to the Department of Energy, Mongolia, 2015). While being the worlds eighth country most susceptible to climate change (according to Germanwatchs Global Climate Risk Index 2014), electricity supply-demand balanced with its economic growth is an urgent issue for Mongolia. Accordingly, Mongolia is a country that particularly requires safe and secure power sources such as renewable energy. The State Great Khural approved a national power policy in 2015 that sets Mongolias mid-to-long term target and plan for 2015-2030 in the energy sector. The policy aims to increase the power generation share of renewable energy to 20% by 2020 and to 30% by 2030, and it stipulates the promotion of investment in the energy industry in cooperation with international financial institutions and donor countries, utilizing the abundant wind and solar resources in the Gobi region. Mongolia is the first country to sign a memorandum with Japan on the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and this project was eligible for JCM application through Japans Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry (METI) at the feasibility study stage.

In these circumstances, this Tsetsii Wind Farm project can help contribute to the increased adoption of renewable energy in Mongolia.

This wind farm project is the first dollar-denominated project finance debt transaction by JICA through its Private Sector Investment Finance scheme in the renewable energy field, and also marks the first power generation business in Mongolia for SB Energy and the SoftBank Group.

Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., commented as follows:

The SoftBank Group started renewable energy development in Mongolia to realize our multinational power grid plan called the Asia Super Grid, first announced in 2011. Im very pleased that the commercial launch of the Tsetsii Wind Farm marks the first step for the SoftBank Group to establish a renewable energy business in Mongolia under the Asia Super Grid project, in addition to India and Japan.

Shigeki Miwa, Representative Director & CEO of SB Energy Corp., commented as follows:

This project represents the first stepping stone for renewable energy expansion in Mongolia and also for our Asian Super Grid project. With SB Energys knowhow in the Japan renewable energy market and our partner Newcoms cooperation, we were able to complete our first successful project in Mongolia.

We would like to thank all our partners for their contributions to enabling the safe start of operations, including our financial partners EBRD and JICA. SB Energy will continue to promote its renewable energy business by utilizing its knowhow from projects in Mongolia and Japan in order to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions and the increased adoption of renewable energy globally.

Enkhbold Nyamjav, Chairman and CEO of Newcom Group commented as follows:

The successful completion of Tsetsii Wind Farm project this year and Mongolias first wind farm Salkhit in 2013 are testaments to Newcoms vision in being the pioneer in innovative technologies in Mongolia. We are proud to have led the development of renewable energy sector in Mongolia and we are proud to introduce and grow our partnership with the SoftBank Group through this pilot Tsetsii Wind Farm project in Mongolia.

We believe the successful completion of our project has increased the confidence of foreign investors in Mongolia and proven that Mongolia is a country where things can be done. For that we are extremely proud and we believe our work has paved the path to future large-scale energy export projects and gotten us closer to the realization of the Asian Super Grid.
More than 50 local, national, and international organizations will meet with students during Southern Adventist Universitys 33rd biannual Meet the Firms.

This career fair, which is held each semester, connects hundreds of students with internships, full-time positions, and graduate school options every year. Participating organizations represent the fields of healthcare, communication, social work, humanitarian aid, finance, accounting, and denominational work.

Our goal is to provide networking opportunities for students with employers as well as a space to explore internship and job openings, said Lisa Kuhlman, assistant professor of business and Meet the Firms coordinator. Due to the longevity of this program, many recruiters who attend are alumni of Southern Adventist University and return to hire more of our graduates.

Approximately 300 students are expected to benefit from the event on Oct. 12 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on the universitys campus. For more information contact Janell Hullquist at 596-1814 or janell@southern.edu
The lefts most hated holiday By Greg Strange

In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Americans of a fairly advanced age may remember fondly from their childhood this first line of a poem about the man who is usually given credit for discovering the New World. Its not recited much anymore because to do so would get you called out as a white supremacist so fast it would make your head spin. And then youd be force-fed an angry litany of alleged crimes against humanity from some leftist malcontent who doesnt understand history and is congenitally incapable of gratitude or happiness. Well, get ready to hear that litany anyway, ad nauseam, because once again, Columbus Day is upon us. What that means is the usual insufferable rant from the left about genocide, racism, slavery, theft of land, white supremacy, hate, and maybe a few chants of Hey hey, ho ho, Western Civ has got to go!



On the flip side we will also hear gratuitous romanticizing of indigenous peoples, most of who were living in something not much beyond the Stone Age when Columbus arrived. Who else but the left could find a way to romanticize primitive squalor while simultaneously denigrating the worlds greatest civilization? So, the lefts narrative goes something like this: The Americas would have been infinitely better off if Europeans had never set foot there. Thats because five minutes after landing at San Salvador, Columbus and his band of white supremacists began the despoliation and theft of an Edenic paradise that was populated by gentle natives who were living in perfect harmony with nature, not altering the global climate and generally being a model of sustainable living. It was like one big beautiful, really cool hippie commune, only without the psychedelic soundtrack. Thats one viewpoint. But heres a more realistic one: From the Arctic wastes of North America all the way down to Tierra Del Fuego at the southern tip of South America, savagery ruled. In the entire 16,000,000 square miles that constitute the two massive continents, no one knew what a wheel was. Life was nasty, brutish and short. Indigenous tribes waged endless war against each other, enslaved each other and gave nary a thought to human progress. No one was down with womens rights, gay marriage, social justice, transgenderism, multiculturalism or anything else in the pantheon of left-leaning priorities. But the propagandistic purpose those indigenous peoples now serve is to help fill up the lefts stable of diversity mascots designed to signal the lefts supposed virtue. Native American activist Russell Means once remarked that Columbus makes Hitler look like a juvenile delinquent. Whatever. The mass-murdering, human-sacrificing Aztecs who yanked out the still-beating hearts of their victims make the Europeans look like Boy Scouts. So what? Judging people from centuries ago by todays standards is nothing more than sanctimonious moral preening, besides being moronic. The people of the fifteenth century simply werent as enlightened as we are today and were only capable of operating by the standards of their own time  which is exactly what they did. What happened to the Native Americans was certainly unfortunate, but that was how the world  all of it  was at that time. So, when a far more advanced people arrived in a new world sparsely populated by primitives, there was no way, at that time in human history and at that stage of human development, that it was going to go down like some kind of groovy, multi-culti encounter session with diversity officers guiding the proceedings. Instead, there was conflict and the Native Americans eventually, and unavoidably, lost. It was literally impossible, at that time, that it could have gone down any other way. This is what all the Columbus and Western Civ haters need to grow up and accept. In 1492, and for several subsequent centuries, there was no race, nationality or civilization on planet earth that possessed the degree of enlightenment that would have brought about a different result in those circumstances. By the way  ninety percent of Native American deaths were because of diseases for which they had no immunity. Thats not genocide, thats biology. That happens to be a science, which is something the left claims strict adherence to, except, of course, when it interferes with their ideological goals, in which case it gets ignored or ripped to shreds. None of this matters to leftists. The only thing that matters to them is finding justification for their perplexing hatred of America and Western Civilization. Then, they go out and do things like the militant Antifa group which recently announced its grand plan for a Deface Columbus Day, designed as a coordinated plan to deface and destroy historical monuments. Brilliant! A righteous war against stone statues! Of course, some other malcontents beat them to it weeks ago and at the sight of one particular act of brain-dead vandalism, they left the messages Racism: Tear it down and The future is racial and economic justice. All of which is thinly disguised code for We want communism. Heres a reality check for these angst-ridden, Antifa hipster revolutionaries. There has never been a time in human history when there was less racism, less injustice, less white supremacy than there is right now in the United States and throughout the West. Diversity, tolerance and multiculturalism are everywhere preached like the holy gospel. Universities, corporations and government agencies bend over backwards to bring in people of color, whether theyre qualified or not. The slightest whiff of racism is sought out and exposed by an eager media. The tiny handful of white supremacists who still exist are universally condemned and utterly without power or influence.



In other words, institutional racism is fundamentally dead. Given the fallen nature of humankind, it really couldnt get much better. Its fun to daydream about sending some of these Antifa types back to pre-Columbian America to see how they would like it. As already mentioned, life in pre-Columbian America was nasty, brutish, short and violent. There was zero opportunity for human advancement, no tolerance for diversity and nobody gave a damn about social justice. The most advanced cultures in pre-Columbian America, the Aztecs and the Mayans, practiced human sacrifice on a grand scale and, again, did not know what a wheel was. Care to comment, Antifa? Or are you fine with all that? Honestly, the stupidity and ingratitude of these leftists may be unequaled in all of human history. Winning the lottery of human existence, they were born into a civilization that, by leaps and bounds, affords more opportunity for material well-being, good health, education, prosperity and justice than any other in history. And yet, all they want to do is tear it down and replace it with . . . what? Some half-baked utopia based on an imbecilic mishmash of Marxism and social justice gibberish that, within about half a day of implementation, would collapse into a stew of irreconcilable identity politics. So the left will wage its idiotic war against Columbus and Western Civilization while childishly refusing to accept the obvious: some cultures are clearly better than others. For instance, a culture that can put a man on the moon is clearly better than one that doesnt know what a wheel is. A culture that can finally banish slavery once and for all is clearly better than one that sacrifices countless human beings to an angry god. A culture that seeks to improve the living conditions and lifespan of its people through scientific and economic progress is clearly better than one whose people are content to squat in the dirt around a campfire till the end of time. Pointing all of this out is not meant to denigrate indigenous peoples. At one time, all peoples lived in a state of savagery. It was only over millennia that various groups emerged from that state at various times for various reasons, perhaps more from serendipity than anything else. Pre-Columbian indigenous peoples were human beings just like everyone else, and as such, were inherently imbued with the same potential for excellence, achievement and improvement. But human beings can only thrive and advance in the context of a culture that allows and encourages them to. At the time Europeans arrived, no such culture yet existed in pre-Columbian America. But there was one extraordinarily good thing about pre-Columbian America: no leftism! Thats because leftism cant thrive, or even sprout to begin with, in any environment where facing reality is of paramount importance, as it is in any primitive living circumstance where survival is tenuous.



Unfortunately, though, Western Civilization, with its prosperity and advancements, also brought about the conditions where great masses of pampered people have the luxury of being clueless, complaining about everything and indulging themselves in destructive social experimentation. And thus, we have leftism, modernitys most virulent cancer. If you celebrate Columbus Day, youre not a white supremacist or a hater or any of the other leftist slanders on good people. Youre just a normal person who feels gratitude and is capable of putting things in proper perspective. You understand that history is the story of mankinds long, torturous, indelicate slog out of a state of savagery into civilization that, while fraught with imperfection, still affords more people more opportunity for betterment than has ever before existed. Greg Strange can be reached at gpstrange30341@yahoo.com. (c) 2017 Greg Strange. Home
Ten years since the Dziekanski tragedy By Mark Wegierski





Ten years ago, on October 14, 2007, Robert Dziekanski, a forty-year-old Polish immigrant to Canada, met a tragic death at Vancouver Airport. Having arrived at the airport, he waited in the airports enclosed baggage area. His mother was in another part of the airport, and was erroneously told that he hadnt arrived, and she then left the airport. After waiting for over ten hours, Robert understandably became angry, and started to make a ruckus. The over-zealous RCMP airport police rushed in and Tasered him a number of times, resulting in his death from a heart attack. One is struck how pointless his death was. This tragic death of Robert Dziekanski, which is still sometimes under sporadic discussion in the Canadian media, leads the author to certain uneasy thoughts about the place and future of the Polish-Canadian community in Canada, as well as about the allegedly "compassionate" Canada. The tragedy brings into high relief the curiously uneven nature of Canadian compassion. While the launching of various investigations and inquiries is appreciated, it is comparatively easy for various officials to express sympathy after the fact, without asking some hard questions about the societal context that led to such a grave injustice. English-Canadians in government posts are usually interested in being manifestly compassionate towards officially-recognized minorities. White ethnics like Poles are not numbered in this group. Indeed, most white ethnic groups in Canada and the U.S., have encountered discrimination in North America. When they arrived in great numbers in the mid to late nineteenth century, and early twentieth century, there was disdain for the Irish as well as for Eastern and Southern Europeans. Today, however, this history has been mostly forgotten, and white ethnics have been ranked with the oppressor white majority. Polish-Canadian and Polish-American communities typify this pattern of treatment. For example, in the North American (U.S. and Canadian) media there are considerable negative stereotypes about Poles. Arguably, the more the Poles are habitually derided in the mass media by the so-called opinion-forming elites, the less consideration they will receive from lower-level functionaries in the system. Lets cite a concrete example of negative stereotyping. A few, mainly Polish-American critics, have said that that Borat movie is nothing but one long, ugly Polack joke. Interestingly enough, Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat sprinkles his dialogue with a few Polish expressions  something that Polish-speakers immediately notice. The movie is full of anti-Slavic and anti-East European stereotypes, which have been applied to, among others, Poles. This negative view of Poles goes back a long time. In his magisterial but depressing book, Polish-American professor M.B.B. Biskupski documents Hollywoods War with Poland, 1939-1945 (University Press of Kentucky, 2010). Incredible as it may seem -- during this time of unbelievable agony for Poland  Hollywood presented a fundamentally distorted and negative portrayal of Poland and the Poles during the Second World War (p. ix). This negative depiction indeed continued over the succeeding decades  misportrayals that are, indeed, accepted as facts by the captive American and Canadian audience that has only limited knowledge about World War II. Indeed, there is a history of literary bestsellers and Hollywood blockbusters misportraying Poles. Jerzy Kosinskis The Painted Bird, with its highly negative portrayal of Polish peasants, has now been conclusively demonstrated to be a work of fiction, but it continues to appear on recommended reading lists. William Styrons Sophies Choice (made into a spectacular film in 1982, for which Meryl Streep won the Best Actress Oscar) is full of slander against Poles. The idea that someone with the very high prestige of a professor of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow would call for the extermination of the Jews is a profound lie. Even the most fringe Far Right Polish parties in pre-war Poland did not advocate genocide against the Jews. The Holocaust mini-series (1977) was also full of historical inaccuracies, for example, showing auxiliary Nazi units suppressing the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, dressed in Polish army uniforms. Indeed, there is a climate in North America today where the vast extent of Nazi Germanys evil against Slavic countries and peoples is curiously de-emphasized. One example of the end-result of all this, is President Obama casually uttering the phrase Polish death camps. The tragedy in Vancouver also calls to mind the pointed criticism of the current-day system as an anarcho-tyranny  in which, it is said, that the state and the police typically treat real criminals with kid-gloves, but are often considerably indifferent and exacting towards ordinary people. The term anarcho-tyranny was first conceptualized by the controversial paleoconservative theorist Sam Francis, but the term is certainly descriptive and explanatory of many current-day realities. The provenance of the term should not be held against it. One notices, for example, that there are frequently various highly dubious elements streaming unimpeded through Canadas airports  whereas it is one honest, unassuming man with a poor knowledge of English that gets fatally caught in the gears of security. Despite over a million persons of Polish descent in Canada today (according the official Canada Census numbers) the register of Polish-Canadians on the Canadian political and cultural scene seems to be very low indeed. In Toronto, there appears to have been little but an accelerating decline in the communitys vibrancy since the 1970s, when the multiculturalism policy had been welcomed with such great expectations. The original definition of multiculturalism in Canada  which has been totally eclipsed today  was the recognition of European groups other than the English and French  especially Eastern and Southern Europeans. Indeed, the term multiculturalism was initially taken up with particular enthusiasm by the Ukrainian-Canadians, who clamored for more recognition in the Canadian polity. Although the initial trajectories of the Polish and Ukrainian groups in Canada were similar, they have significantly diverged  with the Ukrainians able to build up far more significant infrastructures (politicians, judges, academics, writers, artists, media-people) in the Canadian polity, and to successfully ensure the persistence of the Ukrainian language from generation to generation. There have been several waves of Polish immigrants to Canada, from at least four, distinctly different Polish societies -- including that of the Partition Period, 1795-1918, when Poland was under harsh foreign occupation -- as well as their generations of offspring. The post-World War II wave of Polish immigration to Canada consisted mostly of Polish soldiers who had fought at the side of the Western Allies -- and were unable and unwilling to return to a Sovietized satellite Poland -- some who came to Canada directly, and others who moved to Canada after settling in Britain. Those Polish soldiers who came directly were, as the price of their admission, required to work for two full years on remote farms. Conditions there were sometimes none too pleasant. It could be argued that the situation of Polish-Canadians -- and, indeed, of other "white ethnic" groups such as Ukrainian-, Italian-, and Portuguese-Canadians -- points to a dilemma in current-day Canada. How are persons who are often "Old World" in their social and cultural outlooks to be assimilated into the prevalent system of social liberalism and antinomian pop-culture, when they are often inimical to it, and such assimilation is virtually equivalent to the annihilation of their cultural and spiritual identity? (While a stated purpose of official multicultural policy is ethnic cultural preservation.) Indeed, the "North American" future for "white ethnics" like Polish-Canadians appears increasingly problematic. The contributions of Polish professionals, especially architects, engineers, technicians, and research scientists to post-war Canada have been remarkable and far out of proportion to their numbers  while remaining little-known by most Canadians. The current definition of multiculturalism in Canada has become virtually equivalent to that in the United States  where it is a recognition of so-called visible minorities (an official term of usage in Canada)  rather than of white ethnics. Some articles have recently appeared in the Canadian press suggesting that  if current immigration trends continue -- within less than a hundred years, whites in Canada will number no more than twenty percent of the population. The stewardship of Canadian society by its mostly WASP elites might be seen as being increasingly deleterious to a society where all whites were once an

overwhelming majority. On the one hand, Canada promotes multiculturalism. On the other, Canadians of Polish descent are being massively assimilated to a broader liberal culture. Canada promotes official multiculturalism and claims that all cultures are equal and welcome. But what they dont say is that culture is a complex phenomenon, comprised of, among other things, a political and moral culture, on the one hand, and folk mannerisms and appearances, on the other. The former matter tremendously, because they affect ones sense of justice and ones ability to integrate into Canadas late-modern liberal order. The latter comprise dress, food, home language, etc. The latter expressions of ethnic identity are promoted by Canadas multiculturalism policies as a way of helping to transition immigrants into the so-called Canadian mainstream. The former are suppressed  quietly, but continuously and persistently, as a threat to Canada. Over many years, many Poles have come to Canada and seen their conservatism of the heart ignored and squashed by a late-modern liberal elite, the same elite that claims support for multiculturalism. In short, multiculturalism in Canada is for cultural expressions that dont matter. But to traditional Poles, their moral culture matters. And when they resist what the elites want, they are derided as backwards, regressive, etc. The immigrants have mostly co-operated with this approach of Canada. But Canada has finally encountered an immigrant group for which this doesnt work  Muslims. They take their religion very seriously, and they wont be deterred from it by attempts to integrate them. Meanwhile, the liberal elite has lost confidence in itself, in its treatment of Muslims, seeing them as victims of an extremely powerful West. In short, the elites have guilty consciences concerning their treatment of Muslims, and most visible minorities  but not their treatment of Poles and other white ethnics. Important issues of so-called "white ethnic" identity in general, and of Polish-Canadian identity in particular -- and of its multifarious dimensions and possible place in the Canadian future  should be discussed more in Canada today. They should also be matters of interest in America  with its large Polish-American population, especially in cities like Chicago. The fact is that white ethnics might increasingly become the focus for a white American identity that has been largely abandoned by Americas self-hating WASP elites. Ironically, Polish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Irish-Americans, and similar groups, may have a greater self-regard and sense of identity, than the now-fading WASPs.



Mark Wegierski is a Toronto-based writer and historical researcher. He was born in Toronto of Polish immigrant parents. Home
Lee Universitys Dr. Jose Ruiz and Robert Acevedo collaborated with GRAMMY winning artist Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G) on an award-winning album, Mundo Verde/Green World. Dr. Ruiz and Mr. Acevedo also recently released a Latin jazz album project, Ahora Mas Que Nunca.

In spring 2017, Mister G asked Dr. Ruiz, assistant professor of music business at Lee, to contribute to Mundo Verde/Green World, his eco-friendly, bilingual childrens music album. The album was recently awarded the Parents Choice GOLD Award, an award for childrens music and toys regarded to be equivalent to an Academy Award.

After listening to Mister Gs songs, Dr. Ruiz asked Mr. Acevedo, pastoral ministry major from Ponce, Puerto Rico, if he would be willing to join him in the project. The three musicians then began sharing ideas, motivations for creating and performing music, and details about one anothers professional work.

I enjoyed creating an opportunity for a student to engage in professional work, said Dr. Ruiz. As a music business professor, it is my mission to engage students in experiential learning opportunities to strengthen their God-given gifts and help them, ultimately, become more marketable post-graduation.

Dr. Ruiz served as an additional recording engineer and flutist for the albums song, Patas en el aire/Paws in the air, and Acevedo served as percussionist. The professor-student duo collaborated in Dr. Ruizs studio in Tennessee while Mister G worked in Massachusetts, communicating primarily through Facebook.

Both Jose and Robert went far above and beyond the call and gave me many excellent tracks to work with, said Mister G. Although we worked remotely, it was a process which couldnt have been smoother if wed been sitting in the same room, although that would arguably have been even more fun.

Dr. Ruiz and Mr. Acevedo recently achieved another accomplishment in the music business with their release of Ahora Mas Que Nunca, a Latin jazz album project the duo began in the spring. According to Dr. Ruiz, the album encourages people to pursue their calling and express their creative identity.

As a student, I learned that my talents and abilities can be used now, not just in the future. If you can make a difference now, theres no sense in waiting, said Mr. Acevedo. This experience has taught me that we have to seize the day and make the most out of every opportunity given to us as students and professionals in this world. I cant wait for more opportunities like this to come.

The album incorporates elements of African drumming, Caribbean folk music, jazz, and funk. The cross-curricular project includes well-known flutist Jim Walker, drummer Jesse Pitts, and Latin percussionist Benny Maldonado.

In addition to Dr. Ruiz and Mr. Acevedo, included in the project are Lee students Cameron Ball, co-arranger; Rume Ekong and Chike Okwudiafor, photography and artwork; Darius Hairston, guitar; Jalil Muhammad, co-producer; and Lee School of Music faculty Dr. Nathan Warner, flugelhorn, and Alan Wyatt, tenor saxophone.

It was a pleasure to utilize the unique talents of both my students and colleagues, said Dr. Ruiz. Each of them made my compositions come to life in a special way.

Prior to joining Lees faculty in 2016, Dr. Ruiz served as a film scorer, commercial music composer, and music supervisor for Hayden5Media, LLC. In these roles, he composed, arranged, and produced music for nationally publicized TV and internet commercials and four feature films that have garnered 13 international film festival awards.

Ahora Mas Que Nunca is available on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube, and CDBaby.

For more information about Parents Choice Awards, visit http://www.parents-choice.org/aboutawards.cfm.

For more information about Mister G, visit https://mistergsongs.com/mister-g-about/.

For more information about Dr. Ruiz, visit www.josevalentino.com.

For more information about Lees School of Music, call 614-8240 or email music@leeuniversity.edu.




The evil in Las Vegas

By Mark Alexander



Las Vegas is Spanish for "the meadows," named by explorers in the early part of the 19th century.

Today, it is known best as "Sin City," and last Monday, our nation awoke to the horrors of unprecedented evil there  mass murder at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip, technically in neighboring Paradise, Nevada.

During the closing performance at the crowded outdoor venue, 64-year-old Stephen Craig Paddock, who had spent several days preparing for his assault from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel across Las Vegas Boulevard, began firing on the crowd. Before Las Vegas police could access his location, he managed to murder 58 men and women and injure 527 others among the crowd of 22,000. He then killed himself.

It is the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, surpassing the Orlando night club massacre last June, in which 49 people were murdered by a Jihadi terrorist.

Thank God that such mass assaults are rare, because the human cost  especially the mass trauma that reaches far beyond the horrific body count  is incalculable. Thank God, also, that country music fans and first responders disregarded their own safety on Sunday night in order to provide cover and life-saving aid for others.

But the gross mass media coverage that followed this attack  commercial advertisements punctuated by endless talkinghead speculation about weapons and motives  denigrated that human cost. And then there were the questions: A full 24 hours after the assault, a national reporter asked the Las Vegas fire chief, "What kind of injuries did first responders see?" Gunshot wounds, perhaps?

Worse, The New York Times and other Leftmedia outlets, in addition to their wildly inaccurate statistics about mass murders, are still counting the assailant among the dead, listing 59 instead of 58.

Over the years, I have written at length in defense of the First Civil Right, which is the right to self-defense. That right is enumerated in our Second Amendment, which Justice Joseph Story famously observed "has justly been considered as the palladium of the Liberties of a Republic."

I have also rebutted obscene and unconscionable efforts by Democrat Party principals, who never miss an opportunity to undermine the Second Amendment and the God-given Liberty of a free people. They do so by grandstanding on the blood of innocents in order to subordinate Rule of Law to the rule of men. They endeavor to turn tragedy into political triumph, even before the blood has dried  mostly after mass murders in so-called "gun-free zones."

Of course, they are following the political modus operandi advocated by Barack Obama and his former political chief Rahm Emanuel: "You don't ever want a good crisis to go to waste; it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." Ironically, or not, Emanuel is mayor of Obama's hometown, Chicago, a prime example of a Democrat urban poverty plantation where the cult of death in that "gun free zone" resulted in 762 murders last year.

The Las Vegas attack will change forever our nation's security protocols for outdoor venues surrounded by high ground. But the precedent for such an attack was five decades ago, when a deranged architectural engineering student murdered his mother and his wife, then killed three more people on his way up to the 28th floor observation deck of the University of Texas tower, where, using his bolt action hunting rifle, he murdered 11 more people and wounded 31 before police were able to access his position and kill him.

There is no question about the magnitude of the Las Vegas tragedy, but there are as of yet no answers to questions about the assailant's motives. Most of us have a natural instinct and a desire to understand the motivation behind such evil, hoping that this knowledge will somehow provide a measure of understanding to help us and others avoid such carnage in the future.

What follows are a few notable quotes, some yet-to-be-answered questions, and some observations on firearms.

The Republican response...

In his prepared remarks about the assault, President Donald Trump noted, "I want to thank the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and all of the first responders for their courageous efforts. ... The speed with which they acted is miraculous, and prevented further loss of life. ... To the families of the victims: We are praying for you and we are here for you, and we ask God to help see you through this very dark period. Scripture teaches us, 'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.' We seek comfort in those words, for we know that God lives in the hearts of those who grieve."

He concluded, "In moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one  and it always has. We call upon the bonds that unite us  our faith, our family, and our shared values. We call upon the bonds of citizenship, the ties of community, and the comfort of our common humanity. ... May God bless the souls of the lives that are lost. May God give us the grace of healing. And may God provide the grieving families with strength to carry on."

Rep. Steve Scalise, who just returned to Congress earlier this month after recovering from an assailant's attempt to murder him and two dozen other Republican House members, said, "I agree with the president that this was an act of pure evil. I pray for the victims of this murderous attack, and our whole nation grieves with their loved ones. We also thank the first responders and fellow citizens who did all they could to help those in harm's way. In this tragic moment, I encourage people across America to stand together in solidarity, and to support the Las Vegas community and all of those affected, especially by giving blood and encouraging others to do the same. In the face of unspeakable evil, our whole nation must respond with countless acts of kindness, warmth and generosity."

The predictable Democrat response...

Hillary Clinton, who, sadly but predictably, couldn't put politics aside: "We can and must put politics aside. ... The crowd fled at the sound of gunshots. Imagine the deaths if the shooter had a silencer, which the NRA wants to make easier to get. Our grief isn't enough. ... This is nothing but pure, unadulterated greed motivated by people who want to sell as many guns as they can, to engage in a falsity of fear and rhetoric about why everybody has to have guns. And the evidence is just so clear that more guns do not make you safer. ... Assault weapons should be off the streets, as they were for 10 years because of the legislation passed in '93 to '94." (Actually, everyone would've been much safer if the guest in the room next door to the assailant had had a gun. And so-called "assault weapons" were never off any street because of "legislation passed in '93 to '94." For the record, the number of people killed with "assault weapons" is a tiny fraction of all murders.)

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): "The epidemic of gun violence in our country continues to challenge the conscience of our nation. ... Congress has a moral duty to address this horrific and heartbreaking epidemic. Charged with the solemn duty to protect and defend the American people, we must respond to these tragedies with courage, unity and decisive action." (Pelosi, who has been the nation's leading advocate for violence against the most innocent among us  unborn children  insists that she knows "the conscience of our nation" and is the arbiter of "moral duty"? For the record, Nancy, you are "charged with the solemn duty to to protect and defend" our Constitution, not your political agenda.)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): "Thoughts and prayers are NOT enough. ... We need to have the conversation about how to stop gun violence. We need it NOW." (Actually, the "conversation" we need to have is about the ruinous Democrat policies that have spawned a culture of violence, not "gun violence.")

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD): "It is incomprehensible that the president or others would say, 'This is not the time to debate [gun control].' Is there ever a time to debate this, or are we so cowed by the [NRA] that we can't even talk about this issue and figure out how we can make America safer?" (If Hoyer wanted to "make America safer," the debate would, again, be about Democrat policies that have spawned a culture of violence. To this point, here's a reality check on so-called "gun control.")

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT): "The thoughts and prayers of politicians are cruelly hollow if they are paired with continued legislative indifference." (Thoughts and prayers ... are especially "hollow" if they're nothing more than a phony front for political assaults on our Constitution.)

And summing up the sentiments of Demo/MSM propagandists was this social media post from a senior CBS lawyer named Hayley Geftman-Gold: "I'm actually not even sympathetic [because] country music fans often are Republican gun toters." (I've heard a lot of sickening remarks over the years, but it doesn't get any worse than this.)

Regarding the Las Vegas assailant  unanswered questions...

Stephen Paddock, the son of a sociopathic criminal once on the FBI's "Most Wanted" list, does not fit the profile of an Islamic assailant, though his MO certainly does. Of course, in the 60 hours since the attack, the FBI hasn't discovered any motive, including anything that connects him with the Islamic State, or ISIL, which claimed a connection.

In most instances of a mass assault, within 48 hours there is a clear emerging profile about an assailant's narrative and motive, but not in this case. And there is no digital footprint yet, even though he filmed himself during the assault. But there is no such thing as a "lone wolf" Jihadi attacker. So, what was the motive?

What did Paddock's partner, Marilou Danley, a Philippine native with Islamic ties, know about the assault, and why did Paddock wire her $100,000 to the Philippines last week? She is now "a person of interest," according to Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, and has returned to the U.S. where she has been detained by the FBI.

For several years, the Department of Homeland Security has promoted the "if you see something, say something" campaign. Investigators will likely determine there were things to see in this case, but nobody said anything  or nobody listened. Nobody noticed that Paddock was hauling weapons and ammunition into the hotel, which he then stored in his hotel room?

Paddock chose to shoot at the crowd from 400 meters away  but would their death toll have been much greater if an assailant had driven a semi-truck into the street-level venue at high speed, as is increasingly the case in other attacks around the world?

Why did Paddock set up two shooting tripods at two adjacent broken windows when neither gave him any firing advantage point? And why so many weapons when only one or two were required for this assault?

Should there have been something in Paddock's background checks to prevent him from legally acquiring firearms?

For context, mortality in America by the numbers...

We can all agree that one murder in America is too many, and there is an epidemic of violence across our nation. To put that into perspective, here is some of the latest U.S. annual mortality data:

88,000 people died from alcohol-related causes.

64,000 people died from drug overdoses.

44,000 people died by suicide, many related to drug and alcohol abuse.

40,000 people died in motor vehicles crashes, about a third related to drug and alcohol abuse.

Regarding murders, the latest FBI uniform crime report notes there were an estimated 17,250 people murdered in the U.S. in 2016. In 70% of those cases, the assailant used a firearm. It is estimated that in less than 0.5% (one-half of 1%) of those murders, an "assault weapon" was used.

Self-defense and survival rates...

According to the most recent self-defense surveys, firearms are used for protection against an assailant some one million to 2.5 million times annually. It is fair to infer that the number of lives saved by the capacity to defend yourself with a firearm far outnumbers the murder rates...

Murder rates in "gun free" American cities...

What we can also deduce from the most recent FBI murder stats is that the 10 most dangerous cities in America with populations above 200,000 are all managed, top to bottom, by Democrats. Notably, those cities also have the most restrictive gun control policies in the nation.

Murder rates in "gun free" nations...

In Europe, where firearms are tightly regulated, there has been more bloodshed in mass attacks than in the U.S.

Over the eight years of the Obama administration, while the U.S. had 29 mass assaults (defined by the FBI as four or more fatalities in a public place), there were 26 in Europe  fewer attacks, but more deaths. In fact, France had more mass murder casualties with firearms in 2015 alone than the U.S. total for the Obama years.

For the record, if you are not a gang member or drug dealer/user, your chances of becoming a murder victim are on par with European Union nations. Oh, and in Switzerland, which has a higher concentration of "assault weapons" per capita than any nation in the world, the murder rate is one of the lowest in the world.

Regarding murder rates in Australia, where most firearms were confiscated in 1996, according to the latest firearms causation study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, while there was a "decline in firearm deaths between 1997 and 2013," there was "a decline in total nonfirearm suicide and homicide deaths of a greater magnitude," thus "it is not possible to determine whether the change in firearm deaths can be attributed to the gun law reforms."

More guns, fewer murders...

According to Pew Research crime data, the rate of violent crime dropped almost 50% in the decade up to 2015. At the same time, the rate of firearm sales and ownership has steadily increased.

Thus, as research by former Yale professor John Lott concludes, "More Guns, Less Crime."

Notably, however, according to the latest FBI crime stats, violent crime in 2015 and 2016 is trending upward, due in large measure to the "Ferguson Effect." Police in urban areas with high crime are backing off enforcement because, after the justified shooting of a Ferguson, Missouri thug, national and local politicians joined Barack Obama's war on cops, condemning them for "racial profiling."

Bottom line...

The bloody assault in Las Vegas, and all those that proceeded it, were not a "gun problem," or problems with knives, vehicles, planes or bombs. These are all problems of evil. Let's call these assailants what they are, and maybe we can begin to address the root causes of the bloody attacks as a necessary part of the dialogue on how to prevent them.

Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post.
Democrats politicize Las Vegas before blood even dry By Selwyn Duke

Before the blood was even dry in Las Vegas, Democrats coast to coast were pushing gun control. Hillary Clinton led the charge, finding time between fainting spells to tweet Our grief isn't enough. We can and must put politics aside, stand up to the NRA, and work together to try to stop this from happening again. (Translation: Put your politics asideand accept my politics! Oh, and my grief is never enough because I dont feel any.) But I guess, taking Rahm Emanuels counsel, leftists never let a serious crisis go to waste. The waste, though, is that were even talking about this matter in a tragedys wake. But since the attacks have been launched, lets discuss guns. To use a twist on a Frederic Bastiat line, the bad social analyst confines himself to the visible effect; the good social analyst considers not just the effects that can be seen, but those largely invisible and those that must be foreseen. Events such as Sundays massacre by murderer Stephen Paddock cannot be missed; theyre horrible, headline-making tragedies. Not easily seen are the results of a study by Florida State University criminologist Gary Kleck, a liberal Democrat and lifelong ACLU member: he found that guns are used by good citizens 2.2 to 2.5 million times per year to deter crime. Some dispute this statistic, but whether its 2.5 million, 2 million or 1 million isnt the point. Its that an untold number of innocent lives are saved because good citizens own guns. This couldnt happen were firearms outlawed. But since outlaws dont follow laws, many of them would still have guns and, perhaps, even more innocents would be lost each year. Yet what currently is lost, on many anti-gun activists, is reality. We hear, for example, that the U.S. is uniquely violent and that countries with strict gun-control are safer. Untrue. According to Index Mundi, the U.S. ranks only 99th on a list of 191 nations in intentional homicide rate  in the bottom 50 percent. Moreover, there is no correlation whatsoever between stricter gun-control laws and lower murder rates. Countries such as Russia, Mexico and Brazil have far stricter gun laws than we do but also more homicide. Then, as Professor Thomas Sowell wrote in 2012, Gun ownership has been three times as high in Switzerland as in Germany, but the Swiss have had lower murder rates. Other countries with high rates of gun ownership and low murder rates include Israel, New Zealand, and Finland. This phenomenon is apparent everywhere. Journalist Piers Morgan (who still has never accepted my challenge to a debate) loves to mention how his Great Britain has a lower murder rate than does the U.S. But the U.K. has always had a lower murder rate  even back when both nations had few gun-control laws  and the U.K.s gun-crime rate is higher now than it was then. Moreover, states such as New Hampshire have lower homicide rates than does Britain despite having far higher gun-ownership rates. Some further examples: Vermont has approximately the same gun-ownership rate as Louisiana but one-eighth the murder rate.

Japan has strict gun laws and, on paper, the worlds fifth-lowest homicide rate (critics note that, owing to the application of different criteria, that countrys actual rate is double the reported one). Yet Japanese-descent Americans living in the U.S.  with relatively easy access to firearms  have a murder rate half that of Japanese living in Japan.

As Dr. Sowell also informed, the rate of gun ownership is higher in rural areas than in urban areas, but the murder rate is higher in urban areas. The rate of gun ownership is higher among whites than among blacks, but the murder rate is higher among blacks. For the country as a whole, hand gun ownership doubled in the late 20th century, while the murder rate went down.

People over 50 are more likely to own guns than those under 50, but the latter have a higher murder rate So if theres no correlation between gun-control/ownership and murder rates, what is the correlation? Demographics. As Sowell also tells us, its not the guns  its the people. Generally speaking, places with demographics like South Africas have murder rates like South Africas. Places with demographics like Britains have murder rates like Britains. This isnt as politically correct to talk about as slamming guns is, but reality doesnt exist to be fashionable. The U.S. already has more than 22,000 gun-control laws, yet every tragic shooting is exploited by gun-grabbing demagogues who, generally fooling themselves as much as others, never articulate a vision, their end game. Will Utopia be realized with the next 5,000 guns law? The next 10,000? 50,000? 100,000? Actually, in their heart of hearts, the anti-gun crowd wants only one more: that dictating the seizure of all guns. This is always denied, but just finish the progressive progression here. If every tragedy were followed by more anti-gun laws, would we not end up incrementally where leftists deny they want to go suddenly? If anti-gun laws are a good idea now, theyll also be a good idea later, when the emotion surrounding Las Vegas has subsided. But since facts and reason arent on the leftists side, theyre left to appeal to emotion  and thats most easily done when blood is still on the ground. Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on Twitter or log on to SelwynDuke.com. Home
My Pilgrimage, Chapter Thirty-One: The New World Orders Prelude to Its Psychotic Savior By Michael Moriarty

We only deal with facts, not theories! say the authorities conducting the investigation of Sunday nights Las Vegas Massacre. I, like 99% of humanity, have a theory. Its the only point of view as far as I am concerned that can explain this monsters behavior. His own personal enemy: Americas lack of gun control! His response to that state of affairs? The Las Vegas Massacre. In addition to being the countrys largest mass shooting, it is, for myself at any rate, the equivalent of the Southern Confederacys attack upon Fort Sumter. Some on the Rebel Left, of course, the Las Vegas Assassin particularly, might think the First Civil Wars slavery issue in Americas Second Civil War is the American addiction to guns. I am fairly certain, given the deliberately terrifying display of fire power by Stephen Paddock, that this hitherto silent and reserved, upper middle class, low-profile, high-stakes gambler and his motive for the pitiless massacre in Las Vegas was blood-chillingly instructive. He intended to teach not just America but the entire world what the result of few gun laws and the power of the National Rifle Association can bring upon the human race. In the wake of this tragedy, the first to immediately climb onto the Gun Control issue was Hillary Clinton!

Hillary Confederate Rebel Clinton Mr. Paddock, if he could have found a way, would have, most certainly assassinated President Trump. Possibly with Hillary Clintons blessings. Arkansas was,

indeed,

a member

of

The Southern Confederacy. The over-five-hundred wounded and dead from Paddocks Revenge certainly stands as a John Wilkes Booth equivalent to a Republican President of the United States.

Stephen Paddock as an ancient John Wilkes Booth That, of course, insures his Confederate Movements ultimate defeat and places him in the highest halls of villainy. Right up there with Judas and Adolf Hitler. Now in the fifth day following the Sunday Night Las Vegas Massacre, we still dont know a motive. Why is that? I was hoping the facts about this madmans reasoning would have been known by now! Why are we still in the dark? My darling wife thinks Paddock was not politically motivated. Why? The other target he seemed to have his eye on, Lollapalooza, has an entirely different kind of audience from that which lay just beneath the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel. That, of course, conflicts with my point of view in which the entire nightmare was inspired by an insanely anti-gun Liberal-goes-literally-off-the-deep-end and into the vilest and most lethal mass shooting in American history. My proof is in the pudding: What is everyone talking about now?! Even those who dont want to talk about it?! Gun control. The shortest distance between a question and its answer? A straight line. What was Paddocks ultimate objective? Gun control. Ergo: He Christened himself the Psychotic Savior of the Messianic Left! We all sense apprehend that some sick version of the above, Leftist Messiah is inevitable. If Paddock is not The Leftist Messiah Itself. He is certainly a Prelude! Michael Moriarty is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor who starred in the landmark television series Law and Order from 1990 to 1994. His recent film and TV credits include The Yellow Wallpaper, 12 Hours to Live, Santa Baby and Deadly Skies. Contact Michael at rainbowfamily2008@yahoo.com. He can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@MGMoriarty. Home
The next big offshore boom is about to happen here



By Irina Slav

Say what you will about offshore oil and gas exploration, but it's still alive and kickinghigh production costs and all. The latest demonstration of the viability of deepwater projects, even in the post-2014 oil industry era, comes from none other than Brazil.



Last Wednesday, the country's National Petroleum Agency put 287 oil and gas blocks up for auction, and only 37 found buyers. Too few, it might seem at first. But the proceeds came in at more than US$1.2 billiona hefty share of this pledged by heavyweight Exxon. The NPA's expectations for the proceeds were much more modest, at $157 million.



The 287 blocks auctioned are just the first portion of a number of deposits that hold an estimated 10 billion barrels of crude in proven reserves. No wonder, then, that as many as 30 companies took part in the bidding roundthe first of a total nine rounds, to take place between now and 2019.



The auction was closely watched as a gauge of sentiment towards Brazilian oil exploration projects after a decade of Petrobras' reign in the country's continental shelf. After the oil price collapse and a huge corruption scandal, Petrobras has struggled to stay afloat, let alone find the billions of investments needed to develop new deposits.



Some Big Oil majors are already in Brazil, including Statoil, Shell, and Total. The Norwegian state oil company is developing the Carcara fieldpart of the prolific Santos Basin. Shell is a strategic partner of Petrobras in the pre-salt layer, holding minority interests in the Libra and Lula fields and in other areas such as Sapinhoa, Lapa, and Iara, all of which are located in the Santos Basin. Total is partner of Shell, Petrobras, and CNPC in the Libra field, also in the Santos Basin and considered one of the biggest offshore discoveries in the Brazilian pre-salt zone.



Exxon will now join these fellow supermajors in the Brazilian shelf, partnering with Petrobras on six of the ten licenses it won. This should be indication enough that Brazil's deposits hold enough appeal for an industry that has suffered a worrying shortage of new discoveries in the last few years. Wood Mackenzie estimated the capital spending cuts for the global oil and gas industry at a stunning $1 trillion, and that estimate was made in the middle of last year.



Brazil's latest bidding round was a guaranteed success, whatever the expectations of the NPA. The country's new government declared its support for more foreign investments. The country is relatively stable. Finally, there just aren't a lot of choices out therecertainly not with reserves this big.



The Arctic, for example, has the reserves, but the harsh weather conditions thereand the additional costs of development they'll undoubtedly incurmake it seriously unappealing. The U.S. shale patch also has the reserves, but it's already crowded and production prices are already comparable with some offshore developments.



Brazil seems to be something of a Goldilocks oil industry location, although Mexico and Argentina are breathing down its neck with relaxed foreign investment tax regimes and incentives, and with estimates of huge reserves.



Irina Slav is a writer for Oilprice.com where this originally appeared. Home
India and the European Union have just marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The partners celebrated this occasion during their 14th summit that has taken place in New Delhi. The biggest themes in the current EU-India cooperation are combatting terrorism, clean energy and climate change as well as smart and sustainable urbanization. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker praised the cooperation by reminding of the mutual values: We are the worlds two largest democracies. We are two of the worlds biggest economies. We share the same values and the belief in freedom, equality, tolerance and the rule of law. Working together with a like-minded partner like India simply makes sense. It is natural.

Mr. Juncker also stressed that it was about time for both sides to take the partnership to the next level by finalizing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Trade and investment represent an important aspect of the EU-India strategic partnership since the bloc is Indias largest trading partner while India is the EUs 9th largest partner. Trade in goods and services in 2016 totaled more than 100 billion. Both sides expressed their commitment to boosting the economic relations by re-engaging towards a timely re-launch of the FTA negotiations.

The summit also praised the recent launch of the Investment Facilitation Mechanism for EU investment in India, which will encourage EU investment by providing tangible support to European businesses aiming to invest in India. European and Indian leaders also emphasized their shared responsibility and determination to lead global efforts to fight climate change and adapt to its effects. Both sides confirmed their commitments to the Paris deal and agreed to step up their dialogue on the environment.
Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco will soon be selling power to Europe. All four North African economies have invested tens of billions of dollars in green energy projects  particularly solar power  as a springboard to drive their energy ambitions. By taking advantage of the Saharan sun, the four countries are hoping to reduce the cost of solar technology, create cleaner environments, and support the creation of new business and investment opportunities.

Tunisias biggest solar energy project  TuNur  will become a new intercontinental corridor between North Africa and Europe by delivering power to Italian and French households. The $10.7 billion, 2500 megawatts project will utilize a high-voltage direct current to link to European grids as far away as the UK. In Morocco, the Noor Ouarzazate project, considered the worlds largest solar plant, is expected to be completed in 2018 for a total cost of $9 billion.

Egypts 150 MW Kuraymat solar power built in 2010 already supplies power to almost 2 million people. Analysts predict that all these projects demonstrate a huge potential in terms of solar power for the continent. Solar energy is an emerging opportunity that cannot be ignored, says Zandre Campos, chief executive of ABO Capital, an Angola-based fund, which invests in energy, agriculture, and technology. Mr. Campos said that the North African economies were true innovators for spearheading these renewable energy projects.

Observers add that to make a full use of these efficient systems in African countries, the region will need to boost public-private partnership. Morocco serves as an example for many North African countries and even beyond. The Kingdom has gone green by banning plastic bags and setting up ambitious goals to crack down on emissions. In 2012, the government also phased out fossil fuels subsidies and shifted focus on green energy.
Kazakhstan is the living proof of a Central Asian country having good relations both with the EU and Russia, Luc De Vigne, deputy-managing director for Europe and Central Asia in the European External Action Service (EEAS) said when speaking at a conference dedicated to EU-Kazakhstan relations. Mr. De Vigne said that the EUs relationship with Central Asia in general and with Kazakhstan in particular has never been any stronger or any better. He added that both sides shared many common objectives, such as regional peace and stability, fight against terrorism, the rule of law, economic development, and trade.

The conference focused on the enhanced partnership between Kazakhstan and the EU and concluded with an agreement signed by the EU and one of its Central Asian partners  the first of its kind. The agreement is described as WTO-Plus since one of its chapters on government procurement reflects the equivalent WTO chapter (GPA). Kazakhstan has indeed become a key economic but also political partner of the European Union. Obviously the country is the largest economy in Central Asia and we are very happy that it is back to growth, Mr. De Vigne commented.

The EU is the largest investor in the Central Asian country, with a total of $10.8 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI), almost half of the total FDI to Kazakhstan. Between 2005 and 2016, the country attracted a total of $263.58 billion in FDI, of which $119.9 from the EU (45.5%). Mr. De Vigne added there was a growing confidence from commercial actors in the strong economy of Kazakhstan and also in the countrys further reforms.
I am looking forward to move to Abu Dhabi. Right now I am working in Saudi Arabia. I'm a biomedical engineer with two to three years of experience. I would like to know how much should I demand for salary considering the expenses. I'm a single person and a Pakistani national.
Hi everyone. I am in Sharjah and sponsored my husband for his residency visa. It got rejected due to "security" reasons.They don't tell you the exact reason but he has a clean record and has previously worked in the GCC so not sure what has happened.I am on a British passport he is on an Australian passport and I have successfully sponsored and got residency for my daughter.Really stuck as to how to proceed now. My work HR and PRO are no help so whatever you suggest I do it has to be something I can do on my own
I am in a strange situation, not sure if it qualifies as an 'expat' questionI was born in South Africa to a South African citizen, but registered at birth as a British citizen by my British father and grew up in the UK. As an adult I acquired Australian citizenship, and since I did not apply for prior permission I then lost my eligibility for South African citizenship. I now want to move to SA, and according to the website of the South African High Commission to Australia "South African citizens by birth, who automatically lost their South African citizenship [by not getting prior permission], never lose their right to Permanent Residence in South Africa." ( I can't yet post links, but is is on the page titled 'Dual South African Citizenship' on the sahc au site)However, this is not listed as an option on the BI-947_Permanent_Residence_Application form.Has anyone else done this? Any suggestions as to how to proceed?
Lee Universitys Development Inclusion Classroom has partnered with First Baptist of Cleveland in its recent move to an FBC property.

Lee is very appreciative for the cooperation First Baptist and the pastoral staff, especially Jim Gibson, have shown in this partnership with Lee and LUDIC, said Cole Strong, Lees vice president for operations.

Due to the continuing construction of Lees developing South Campus, a search for a new home for LUDIC began Spring 2017. The partnership with FBC developed quickly and the new center opened in Fall 2017.

First Baptist Cleveland and Lee University have had a wonderful working relationship as co-laborers for the cause of Christ for many years, said Pastor Gibson, executive pastor at FBC. It is a blessing and privilege for FBC to once again join together with Lee in impacting our community in a positive way by providing a temporary facility for LUDIC.

The Family Life Center building was formerly a daycare, but was unoccupied before the partnership with LUDIC began.

We are thrilled with our new home at the Family Life Center, said Dr. Tammy Johnson, director of LUDIC. We are especially enjoying the opportunities for exercise and leisure in the gym and the playground, and we are thrilled to have a lunchroom where students and staff can eat together.

LUDIC is a state-approved private school for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and operates during the school year, as well as a six-week session in the summer. The classroom currently serves 20 students from age two to 22.

Funded by local school fees and an annual subsidy from Lee University, the program allows for quality education for children on the Autism Spectrum as well as valuable hands-on experience for Lee special education students.

LUDIC is directed by Dr. Johnson and staffed by four teachers, in addition to Lee student teachers and interns.

Lee also collaborated with Cleveland City Schools to house the program at Arnold Elementary School this summer.

For more information about LUDIC, contact Johnson at LUDIC@leeuniversity.edu or 614-8190.






Hi allI have been offered a job in New York (currently in the UK), on $65 per year. I am searching about apartments and whats the best options. I am taking my dog with me, so ideally don't want to share as this will make it harder.I lived in Australia for 7 years and shared over there and although I know sharing has its positives, I really don't want to do it anymore.Looking at apartments and the need for 3 x rent upfront, not to mention no US credit history its worrying to say the least. I have thought about booking an AirBnB for a couple of months as at least you have all furniture etc set up.Has anyone recently been through similar? And any advice as to where/how you can live on your own in NYC when starting out?
KERRVILLE  Three weeks before he killed himself, City Councilman Gary Stork asked police to let him know if they planned to make public a 13-year-old girls complaint that he had molested her so that he could first resign his council seat and as a church deacon.

I dont want to embarrass the city, because I love this town, or my church, Stork said. He and his wife, Peggy Stork, were found shot to death at their home on Sept. 24, 2016, in what police quickly labeled a suspected murder-suicide.

When initially questioned by police investigators, Stork said he didnt recall any inappropriate contact while engaging in horseplay as the girl sat on his lap during a city-sponsored Fourth of July concert last year, but asserted he was too drunk that night to recall everything that occurred.

Im terrified if shes interpreted anything that way, he told Kerrville Police Investigator James Machetta in a video of the Sept. 1, 2016, interview, a copy of which was among police records in the indecency case obtained by the Express-News.

It wasnt the first time Stork had been accused of sexual impropriety.

Two women contacted by Machetta said Stork had forced himself on them, and a third said he had groped her. Stork was reportedly intoxicated during each of those incidents, which occurred as long ago as 2006 and did not generate formal complaints.

In the interview with Machetta, Stork admitted groping one woman, revealed that he had undergone counseling for sexual addiction and confided that he and his wife had what he called a liberal sexual relationship.

He offered to apologize to the 13-year-olds parents, who were friends, and to pay for counseling for her.

Im not necessarily a good man, but I want to do whats right, Stork, a retired candy salesman who moved here around 2004 and was twice elected to Place 3 on council.

Although appearing calm and cooperative during the two-hour interview, Machetta found Stork tense during a chance encounter six days later.

Stork advised that he was stressed in regard to investigation, reported Machetta. Stork mentioned that he had looked into a surgical procedure that may remedy his behaviors.

The Storks deaths occurred just a few days before a Kerr County grand jury was scheduled to hear evidence in the indecency case.

Perhaps as stunning to this Hill Country community as the double homicide involving a local elected official and his spouse of 36 years, was the simultaneous disclosure by police that Stork had been the target of an indecency investigation.

It blindsided me beyond belief, and I was probably the closest person to them, said Renee Brooks Lofaso, a neighbor who discovered her friends bodies and alerted authorities.

The planned grand jury review of the indecency case on Sept. 27, 2016, was canceled due to Storks death, and the investigation closed without details being made public.

The probe into the slayings remains open as police await the results of forensic testing on evidence a Department of Public Safety labs. Each victim was shot once in the head and a handgun was recovered at the scene.

We have not received all of the information back from the crime lab, so were not ready to release any information, Police Chief David Knight said late last month. He said nothing that could be considered a suicide note was found at the scene.

In February Justice of the Peace Mitzi French ruled Gary Storks death a suicide, citing the totality of the evidence, but has yet to rule on the manner of Peggy Storks death.

She said the homicides are thought to have occurred late on Sept. 23, 2016, one day before the bodies were found, based on a neighbors report of hearing gunshots.

Emails sent by Stork the evening prior to the gunshots reflect a state of agitation.

Responding to a constituents gripe about then-City Manager Todd Parton, Stork issued a string of four brief replies between 7:35 p.m. and 9:02 p.m. on Sept. 22, 2016, which were obtained though open records requests.

How about we just get rid of him? he wrote in the first, followed by, Maybe we should fire him, then, Maybe we should replace him, and, finally, Michael, Are you retarded? Or just dumb as SHIT?

Mayor Bonnie White, who had an adversarial relationship with Stork, faulted Parton and other city staff for not revealing that an indecency complaint had been lodged against Stork on July 31, 2016.

This man was allowed to basically freely roam the streets and go along with business as usual with this hanging over his head, she said recently.

Before leaving for the job last year, Parton defended his decision not to share the allegations with council prior to the grand jury session.

The police chief has said Stork did not receive any preferential treatment by police and, despite being licensed to carry a concealed handgun, was not considered a safety threat to anyone.

Greg Cummings, who recently retired as senior minister at Kerrville Church of Christ, described Stork as a good husband, diligent father, a hard worker, very successful in his career.

But he confirmed receiving a complaint of inappropriate conduct by Stork several years ago from a local woman, which he said he disregarded without speaking to Stork, who later became a deacon there.

It was one person saying something bad about someone that I felt I knew well, so I didnt pursue it, said Cummings last month, declining to comment on Storks alleged misconduct.

Mayor White said shed recently met the same woman, who recounted that Stork had appeared naked in her yard at night, prompting her to contact Cummings.

Until his death, Stork was best known as the councilman with a huge beard who, with Peggy Stork, had founded a popular monthly social event known as First Friday Wine Share.

I always wondered why he had that crazy bushy beard, said Cummings. That didnt fit the Gary I knew. There was a little bit of a rebel in him and I figured that was his way of showing it.

He said another clergy member raised concerns about alcohol use with Stork, who said he would control it more.

The Storks, who have two grown children, owned a real estate/local property management firm here called Stork Country. Peggy Stork also worked at the Medina Childrens Home.

Accounts of previous sexual complaints against Gary Stork became public in connection with a lawsuit filed here last January against Storks estate over the girls alleged molestation.

Accusing Stork of assault, injury to a child and indecency, the suit seeks unspecified damages for depression, loss of sleep and other emotional problems it links to the alleged molestation, plus exemplary damages.

The girl claims he groped her breasts as she sat on his lap during the concert in Louise Hays Park, then pinched her crotch from behind when she stood up to leave.

I cant picture myself being drunk enough to do something like that, Stork told Machetta when initially questioned, but added, I would never doubt her version of it, or her interpretation of it.

Stork said he sought treatment for sexual addiction due to conduct developed while away from home as a sales representative for chocolate companies.

I was traveling a lot when I worked for Hershey and I was attracted to like the porno theaters and stuff and I didnt want to be so I wanted to get some professional help, said Stork.

Asked if hed been accused before of inappropriate touching, Stork confirmed grabbing the breasts of a family acquaintance during an outing around 2008 while intoxicated. Another time, he said, a woman objected when he went too low while massaging her back.

Describing him as a pillar of the community, Machetta urged Stork to seek help for overconsumption of alcohol, saying, There seems to be a pattern that inappropriate touching occurs when drinking.

Records show Kerrville police responded to a sexual assault allegation concerning Stork nearly a decade ago, but the woman did not want to pursue charges.

Nurses at the local hospital alerted officers about 4 a.m. on Feb. 9, 2008, that they were treating a suspected rape victim. The woman recounted awakening after dinner and drinks at the Storks house the prior evening to find Gary Stork removing her clothing.

She stated that she was not very coherent during this and must have blacked out, but thinks she remembered Gary Stork having intercourse with her, according to the 2008 report, which noted, she remembered saying no and not wanting or willing to participate in the act.

Former 198th District Attorney Amos Barton recently replaced Richard Ellison as attorney for the Jane Doe plaintiff now suing the Stork estate over the indecency complaint.

Barton declined comment except to say, Let's remember that the investigators in this case were the good guys, Gary Stork was the bad guy, that my client is brave, and we're ready to fight back.

zeke@express-news.net
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AUSTIN  Owners of nearly 300,000 homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey in Texas wont see any break in their property taxes because of political wrangling this year in the state Legislature over completely unrelated issues, including the bathroom bill.

A property tax reform bill that would have required all local governments to reappraise damaged homes and businesses and lower the tax bills came within a single round of votes on four different occasions. If the mandatory reappraisal proposal had become law, it would have all but assured that the tens of thousands of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed because of Harvey statewide would have received a reduction in property taxes this year.

But it never passed, and according to the state lawmaker who came up with the idea, its because of the bathroom bill. Rep. Sarah Davis lays the blame on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who she contends was trying to blackball her bills.

I have little doubt its slow death in the Senate is because of social issues like the bathroom bill, said Davis, a Houston Republican whose district flooded badly during the 2015 Memorial Day storms and the 2016 tax day storms.

Currently, reappraisals after natural disasters are optional for local governments and most are like Harris County and Aransas County in saying they wont do it because they cannot afford it.

A home in Houston that was valued at $200,000 before the hurricane, but worth just $30,000 after, would have seen a $700 cut just in school taxes, according to the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, which strongly backed the Davis proposal.

It was really one of my No. 1 priorities, said Davis, whose original bill would have taken effect Sept. 1.

But that is likely why the bill never cleared the Senate, she said. Davis was a vocal opponent of the so-called bathroom bill that was a top priority in the Texas Senate. That bill became the centerpiece of the war of wills between House and Senate leaders in both the final days of the regular session in May and then again during the special session in August. The bill would have required people to use the bathroom listed on their birth certificate, even if they are transgender. Some business leaders organized opposition to that bill, which stalled in the House.

Some House members paid the price, Davis said. I never supported the bathroom bill nonsense, and I was outspoken about it.

Its not that Davis bill didnt have broad support. In April, the Davis bill, HB 513, first passed the full House 148 to 0. A month earlier, the Senate passed a similar bill by Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, that was filed months after Davis bill. The Senate passed Taylors SB 717 by a 31-0 vote.

If the House had passed Taylors version without Davis name on the bill, it would have gone to Gov. Greg Abbott. Similarly, if the Senate passed the Davis version, it would have been sent to Abbott. Neither chamber budged, and both bills died despite being nearly identical except for the sponsors name.

But that wasnt the last chance for the idea.

On Aug. 11, two weeks before Harvey made landfall, the House again passed another version of Davis idea without opposition and sent it to the Senate. Although the special session had five days remaining, the bill never was sent to a committee or voted on in the Senate.

But Davis said the House made yet one last shot, when they amended another property tax reform bill and included the reappraisal requirement. The Senate, however, voted not to concur on the amended property tax reform proposal. That tax reform plan died after the House ended the special session nearly a full day early and under a hail of criticism from Patrick directed at House leaders for not finishing property tax reforms or the bathroom bill.

Davis said thousands of Texans would have lower tax bills if Patrick had not played political games with her bill.

Patrick did not agree to be interviewed for this story.

But a top aide to Patrick said the bills failure is on the House. The House had Taylors bill lined up during the regular spring session and could have passed it, and there would have been no need for the Senate to pass the Davis bill, said Sherry Sylvester, a senior adviser to Patrick.

And in the special session, Sylvester said Patrick had hoped to add the disaster reappraisal bill onto the bigger property tax bill as an amendment, but the House adjourned early. Patrick never said that publicly himself.

For supporters of the legislation, the failure of a bill nearly everyone agreed to and one that would have provided some relief to hundreds of thousands of people is a frustrating reminder of a key lesson in politics.

The process does not always reward good ideas, said Dale Craymer, president of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, a nonprofit group based in Austin that was one of 13 groups to advocate for the bill during a House committee in March. No group publicly opposed the legislation during the hearing.

Texas law already allows counties, cities and other local governments to reappraise properties after a storm, but few ever do because of the lost revenues that it could result in and because of how expensive and time-consuming the reappraisal process could be during a time governments are trying to finalize their budgets. If governments do the reappraisals, the full cost is on the local governments.

Its not a very workable solution, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, a Republican, said about why he has not voluntarily called for the reappraisals in Harris. Its not that I dont have sympathy for people and what theyve lost.

He said the problem is the reappraisals would cost $10 million, plus the county would lose revenue.

He added that property owners still will get the benefit of the Jan. 1 appraisals for the next years taxes.

Similarly, in Aransas County  where Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 and demolished 36 percent of all homes and businesses  there will be no reappraisal. Aransas County Judge C.H. Burt Mills, Jr. said there isnt time or money to get it done and said it would only hurt tax revenues more at a time when every source of funding the county relies on is in jeopardy.

Montgomery and Fort Bend counties have taken a different route. Both passed resolutions to do reappraisals for affected areas. Katy ISD and the Katy City Council are among other local governments that have requested reappraisals.
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Miriam Soba Peterson arrived by ferry on the island of Vieques with a red rubber clown nose around her neck. Every time she became emotional thinking about the devastation she might find, she would slip it over her own nose to entertain passengers and colleagues, using laughter to hold back tears.

It had taken almost two weeks from the time Hurricane Maria struck on Sept. 20 to finally confirm that her family on Vieques had survived.

Soba Peterson, who had lived there 44 of her 48 years, knows hurricanes. She lost her home to surging seawater vacuumed up by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, a storm now referenced by Puerto Ricans when they talk about Maria being the worst they ever have seen.

Soba Peterson now lives in San Juan, working as a counselor in private practice, and early Friday was with 27 other area medical professionals journeying to Vieques, hard hit and still cut off from most communication. Soon, she would see her family.

The group members brought two trucks packed with medical supplies on the 8-mile, 75-minute ride from the port of Fajardo, not sure what they would find.

Shaykarie Tirado, a nursing student, put her arm around Soba Peterson to comfort her as they neared the docks of Isabel II. The past two weeks together made them feel like a family, she said.

Teams of volunteers organized by the Colegio de Medicos and the territorys secretary of health had been visiting towns since within three days of Marias landfall.

We found a lot of poverty, we found a lot of need, said Dr. William Ruiz Garcia, a surgeon who had asked early on that Vieques be included and who finally got to lead Fridays team.

Everyone has forgotten Vieques, Ruiz said he was told by the people thanking him for coming. Those are very hard words to hear. Were not a large country. Theres not a place for any of us to feel forgotten. We should take care of everybody here.

He added, Right now, I think people need to trust.

Within minutes of arriving, Miriam walked the few blocks to her nephews house, dropped her bag and hit the door loudly with both palms. A huge hug and stories of survival followed. Javier Torres Silva recalled crying and praying during the storm.

As she walking through Isabels downtown, waves and hugs greeted her every few feet. On an island of about 9,000 people, everyone knows everyone.

Diabetes and high blood pressure plague Puerto Rico, and many residents are running low on medication. Insulin is in short supply and ice to keep it cold is almost non-existent. Cancer patients are missing treatments, appointments and surgeries. But in Vieques, it was worse.

No one really knows what they need because of the communications, Ruiz said. Vieques had no phone or internet service, no electricity and limited diesel to run aging generators. Most residents and businesses also do not have running water.

Hector Olivieri, a high school history teacher serving as Vieques director of the Office for the Management of Emergencies, spoke to the team at the Methodist Church and painted a dire picture.

Only one doctor is left on the island. The generator at the hospital had not been working for five days. One clinic had a small generator. Some 24 people needed dialysis and only 11 were getting it. Someone stole the generator from the morgue so the bodies had to be buried.

The medical team set up a clinic in the main plaza and its members were dispatched to other points, including the clinic, a cancer center, a battered neighborhood close to the water called Esperanza and a refugio built to withstand hurricanes after Hugo, now full of evacuees who had lost their homes.

Residents lined up in the plaza to use a satellite phone. Olivieri was lobbying to get the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship, to come to Vieques. Officials had not reached all communities on the 21-mile-long island  the Puerto Rico State Guard has 19 soldiers on duty there but without diesel, all operations have been limited.

Soba Peterson got word of where her daughter, Charlyn Rodz Soba, 28, would be and got a ride to surprise her. Her granddaughter, Sofia Paola Rivera Rodriguez, 6, saw Soba Peterson immediately and jumped into her arms, twirling in embrace. A few minutes later, her daughter drove up and Soba Peterson hid behind a wall, waiting. The two screamed when Soba Peterson emerged and this time the red clown nose didnt stop the tears. The reunion complete, Soba Peterson was back to work with patients in the plaza.

Vieques, once a controversial weapons testing area for the U.S. Navy, was a growing tourist destination for its beaches and the Bio Bay, a bioluminescent body of water whose nighttime glow brought overnight visitors. Thousands of horses roam freely, occasionaly with a rider. There are more horses than people, Olivieri said.

The poverty rate, he said, is 68 percent, and lamented: So many poor people.

Gynecologist Sadiasept Guillont visited Julie Ledesma, 26, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, at her home. She recently finished her second round of chemotherapy and her hair is just beginning to grow back. She missed three appointments since Hurricane Irma because of transporation issues with the ferry and a lack of taxis. She is waiting to know if she needs surgery.

Ledesmas husband is an Army veteran who served in Iraq as a combat engineer and was medically discharged after being injured by an improvised explosive device. He needs medical attention, too.

Ruiz, the team leader, reviewed the Esperanza plaza operation.

In Esperanza, Luis Alberto Santos pushed his wife, Minerva Ayala, in a wheelchair past splintered trees. Ayala has lung cancer and had surgery for bone metastasis.

The storm cut her off from chemo she had been undergoing on the main island. They have a son and he wants them to go to Ocala, Florida, where he lives. But on Friday, they navigated mud and debris just to speak to a doctor.

Dr. Guy Garcia, a retired Army Reserve colonel and pediatrician who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, has treated numerous children maimed by land mines or other explosives and is recognizing PTSD symptoms in Puerto Rico. He gently spoke with a 22-year-old mother, Janice Garcia, who sought advice in the plaza because her once-adventurous daughter, Serafina, almost 2, has clung to her since Maria.

Dr. Garcia told Garcia it will take some time.

Just give her a lot of love, he said.

Some officials and community activists are taking the islands recovery into their own hands. Locals started an organization called ViquesLove to fill the void of what it called an extremely limited governmental response to the disaster. Its GoFundMe page had raised $769,880 from more than 6,000 donors.

Rafael Colberg, Soba Petersons ex-husband, said the community had cleared most of the roads itself.

It looked like a bomb hit the island. Ive never seen something like that and Ive been here since 1965, he said.

The greatly reduced ferry schedule has also hampered relief efforts. A group held back from boarding one vessel to prevent potential overcrowding included a man who said he was the only Federal Emergency Management Agency contractor working on damage claims on the island, who needed to get home to get money. He said other FEMA workers dont want to be in Vieques because of the unreliable transportation.

We dont receive a lot of help from the main island but because we are small, we can help each other, Soba Petersons daughter said. The mosquitoes might be another issue. They ran out of Off, at the market, she told her mom. Theyre not like mosquitoes, theyre like dinosaurs.

Residents in the community criticized Mayor Victor Emeric throughout the day, repeatedly accusing him of reacting to the storm by drinking beer. Later, the team found him doing just that, sipping his signature Coors at El Yate, a bar and restaurant, as they waited for the ferry back to the mainland. Emeric complained about the lack of transportation options and the need for equipment to clear roads.

The transportation system limits the evolution of the way of living, he said though a translator. Vieques has been abandoned.

Soba Peterson was beaming from the back of Dr. Ruizs pickup at the end of the day. The team treated 245 patients and she planned to return in a week. She knew her family would be OK.

If were still finding the things were finding, we will come back. Ruiz said.
I see opportunity in Australian agriculture, particularly with such iconic names as Hancock and Kidman and the history in those businesses, to be able to build something that people in time will be able to say was an iconic Australian company built by Australians and that it was a remarkable achievement.
The Russians are seeking a piece of the Australian tractor market and quietly launched a high horsepower 4WD model at the recent Henty Machinery Field Days, New South Wales. A Torque operative captured this pic of Peter Woods (left), Albury, NSW, Anna Kovaleva, Russia, Ross McDonald and Alex Milne, Melbourne, Victoria, Andrey Sagaev, Kirovets head service manager and Craig Milne, Melbourne in fro
Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy. Periods of rain early. Low 33F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
16 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week



Image courtesy of Lush.

The days may be getting shorter but the list of things to do in Chicago just grows and grows with each passing week. Here are a few of our favorites this week.



MONDAY OCTOBER 9

MOVIE ON THE ROOF: ROOF on theWits Monday night movie series continues into fall with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 starting at dusk. The feature event includes complimentary popcorn.

GLAM-PACKED ROCK: Were beginning to seriously wonder if Sabrina Ellis has cloned herself. She fronts both riotous rockers A Giant Dog, and the more glammy, classic rock inclined Sweet Spirit, and its beginning to feel like both bands are constantly on tour. Both groups benefit from her magnetic stage presence and penchant for giving every song of every show her absolute all. With Sweet Spirit, playing The Empty Bottle on Monday night, you're never sure if you should be strutting or slam-dancing, so feel free to do both. Its a free show, with a packed bill, so get there early to make sure you get in.



TUESDAY OCTOBER 10

AL CAPONES BEER WARS: Find out all about Al Capones wheelings and dealings during prohibition at the Chicago History Museums book signing event. John J. Binder, author of Al Capones Beer Wars: A Complete History of Organized Crime in Chicago during Prohibition will join CHM Vice President of Education and Interpretation John Russick for a conversation about the time period and events. Tickets are $25 and include a complimentary drink.

EAT YOUR WORDS: Get stories, small plates and cocktails, all benefiting nonprofit 826CHI at Zhou B. Art Center at 7 p.m. Eat Your Words will feature guest speakers Dave Eggers, Peter Sagal, Rick Bayless, and Ji Suk Yi as well as musical acts and student reading. Proceeds will benefit the Wicker Park-based writing center that offers tuition-free creative writing and publishing opportunities to 3,000+ CPS youth each year. Tickets are $225.



WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11

LETS PLAY TWO: Pearl Jams Eddie Vedder is somewhat of a common sight at Wrigley Field, whether as a fan or center stage. Catch a free screening of the film documenting the bands 2016 sold out shows at the ballpark, Lets Play Two at The Park at 7 p.m. Beverages and food truck eats will be available for purchase.

PERFUME POP-UP: Lushs 900 South Wabash Ave. shop has an interactive pop-up perfume gallery opening this Wednesday through the 15th. The Gorilla Gallery installation has 14 immersive scented exhibits including scratch and sniff floral scented wallpaper, a Self Esteem Machine silent disco, and more surprises. Limited edition perfumes will also be available for purchase. Free.



THURSDAY OCTOBER 12

CIFF: The 53rd Chicago International Film Festival takes us on adventures all over the world with more than 150 films from Argentina, Brazil, China, Lebanon, Slovakia, and the United States (including two films from Chicago-based filmmakers). Marshall will kick things off on opening night with filmmakers and actor Josh Gad scheduled to be in attendance. The festival continues through Oct. 26 at AMC River East. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule and ticket information.

LATINO MUSIC FESTIVAL: The 12th Chicago Latino Music Festival kicks off with a free performance on Thursday from Peruvian born and Chicago-based guitarist Luis Rafael Vivanco at Instituto Cervantes at 7 p.m. The month-long festival features many free concerts from colonial classical music to new contemporary works including Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Axiom Brass, Chicago Composers Orchestra and more.

BLUE MAN GROUP IN CHICAGO TURNS 20: It seems impossible, but The Blue Man Group has made the Briar Street Theater their Chicago home since they brought their multi-sensory overload to town two decades ago. This should be a pretty special show, and tickets are still available. But you can still get in the spirit of the celebration if you can't make the show. Blue Man Group Chicago is also teaming up with Sprinkles Cupcakes to sell special "Blue Man" themed cupcakes to mark their birthday from Oct. 11 to 31 at their 50 E. Walton location. Buy a cupcake and you also get a 25 percent-off voucher for a Blue Man Group show.

There's No Magic Left in This World by Sonny Falls

RISING RAWKERS: Sonny Falls are bubbling just under the current of the the underground Chicago music scene's should-be breakout stars. They pair wistful melodies with a powerful mixture of Neil Young and Dinosaur Jr chord attacks, driven by drums that seem more interested in mirroring the guitars than the more tasteful bass lines. Last year's There's No Magic Left in This World EP (you can download it for free!) is one of those releases that we stumbled across and has gotten far more play since we did than most other albums that crossed our desk in the last year. Catch them at Quenchers on Thursday night.

COAST TO COAST DINNER: Shaw's Crab House hosts a four-course Coast-to-Coast dinner as part of Oyster Fest 2017. The interactive dinner features the best oysters from both coasts paired with wines from Hama Hama of Washington and Island Creek of Massachusetts. Tickets are $89.



FRIDAY OCTOBER 13



Billy Branch. Photo courtesy of UChicago's Logan Center.

LOGAN CENTER BLUESFEST: The 1st Annual Logan Center Bluesfest will honor South Side roots of the blues this weekend. The UChicago festival includes concerts, workshops, film, food, and conversations with local and national musicians and artists. Performances include Elvin Bishops Big Fun Trio and a Bringing the Blues Back to the South Side showcase hosted by Billy Branch. Visit the website for the full schedule of events.

RIVERWALK OKTOBERFEST: The Chicago Riverwalk celebrates Oktoberfest in its own special way, culminating with a pyrotechnic waterfall display at 7:30 p.m. The day also includes Chicago Fishes, Friday Night Flights aboard a Wendella boat and specials at businesses all along the riverwalk.



Image via Cafe Brauer's event page.

FALL HARVEST DINNER: Revel in Fridays harvest moon with a Fall Harvest Dinner at the Patio at Cafe Brauer from 6 to 9 p.m. Enjoy locally sourced seasonal ingredients from Roasted Assorted Fall Squash to Charred Peach Trifle. Tickets are $65 ($30 for children).

OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC OPEN HOUSE: The Old Town School of Folk Musics 60th Anniversary Fall Open House is this Friday evening from 7 to 10:30 p.m. The celebration includes a series of jam sessions, workshops, go-go dance lessons and stories from the schools six-decade history thanks to storycorps. Free.

MUSIC BY MELKBELLY: Chicago's Melkbelly are celebrating the release of their new album Nothing Valley at The Hideout on Friday night. The quartet channels discordant guitars, tumbling drums, and vocals that often seem to be racing after the hooks just out of their reach dominate the group's debut LP. On paper that can seem like it might be a rumbling mess, but the effect is more akin to being pulled under by a musical riptide and left amidst the chaos to fend for yourself. And we truly mean that as a compliment. It's been a while since we've heard something this obviously so meticulously constructed sound like it was gloriously going to fall apart at any moment.
Police are looking for a 39-year-old Manassas woman whose 2-year-old son shot himself in the hand after he was left alone in a room with a loaded and unsecured gun, according to police.
Brendan Cole has continued to slam judge Shirley Ballas' comments about his dance routine on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

Brendan Cole

The dance professional, who is paired with Charlotte Hawkins, was told there was too much "rise and fall" in his Tango and was advised to watch his performance back to learn from the errors, which angered the 41-year-old on Saturday night.

And Brendan still will not let the harsh criticism go and insists there is "non rise and fall" in his choreography.

Speaking on 'Good Morning Britain' on Monday (09.10.17), he said: "I've watched the tape back, I've seen it, there is no rise and fall in it."

And Brendan is so disgruntled by the comments he has even pointed out errors in the other celebrity competitors.

He said: "You could argue with anybody, you could say Aston didn't do a proper cha cha - he did an amazing cha cha."

And Brendan believes his celebrity partner completed a "phenomenal dance" on the weekend, and he believes her performance was even better considering she has had no previous dance training.

He added: "What Charlotte did on Saturday was a phenomenal dance compared to what we've done before and given the fact that she's not one of the [celebrity contestants] from 'X Factor'."

And Charlotte has admitted she felt deflated after receiving the comments.

She said: "I loved what she did, I loved dancing it. This is the problem, it felt so good dancing it and then you get somebody saying 'rise and fall'."

by Charlotte Hough for www.femalefirst.co.uk


Emma Stone is the new face of Louis Vuitton.

Emma Stone

The 28-year-old actress has joined forces with the designer label, and as part of her partnership with the company the 'La La Land' star will star in a variety of commercials for the company and will grace the red carpet in the brands highly coveted designs on the red carpet over the next 24months.

The Arizona-born beauty has reportedly been "pursued" by the company to get Emma on board their campaigns, but the star has been "reluctant" to sign a deal with Louis Vuitton until now.

Speaking to New York Post's Page Six column about Emma and her latest venture, a source said: "LVMH has been pursuing Emma for nearly a year, she was initially reluctant, but now she has agreed to be the face of the brand for two years for a figure between $6 and $10 million."

Louis Vuitton has taken to social media to confirm the news that Emma has joined the fashion house.

Alongside a photograph of the style icon, which was shared on the brands Instagram account, it read: "#LouisVuitton is delighted to announce Emma Stone as the latest ambassador for the Maison. A muse and friend of Louis Vuitton Women's Artistic Director @NicolasGhesquiere, Emma prepares to walk the red carpet for her latest movie #BattleoftheSexes in a #LVSS18 gown. (sic)."

And the creative director of Louis Vuitton, Nicolas Ghesquiere, is "truly happy" Emma will represent the brand and work closely with the company for the next two years.

Alongside a photograph of the 'Crazy Stupid Love' star and the 46-year-old designer, which was shared on the mogul's personal Instagram account, it read: "I am truly happy #emmastone is joining #louisvuitton today as a new ambassador (sic)."
Armie Hammer has defended his controversial role in 'Call Me by Your Name'.

Armie Hammer

The 31-year-old actor portrays Oliver, 24, in the movie, an adaptation of Andre Aciman's 2007 novel, which sees his character develop a relationship with 17-year-old student Elio (Timothee Chalamet, 21), and has faced criticism over the age gap.

One Twitter user, a Vietnam war veteran, wrote: "Wow, did you act in a film about pedophilia? Are you a pedophile? Do you promote such depravity? I was once a fan. Blech!! (sic)"

In response, Armie hit back: "You do know that you live in a state where the age of consent is 16, right....? Ok. Now shut up.

"And thank you for your service to our country (sic)".

Armie recently insisted he had never been warned off playing gay characters, having previously portrayed Clyde Tolson in 'J Edgar' and James Lord in 'Final Portrait' and no longer thinks there's as much of a "stigma" about homosexual roles.

He said: "None of my team has ever said 'I don't know if it's gonna be good for you to play a gay character'.

"So I can only assume we are working our way through that stigma."

However, although he has starred as gay characters before, the role of Oliver was something the actor - who has daughter Harper, two, and son Ford, eight months, with wife Elizabeth Chambers - found difficult and had to reach a "certain level of understanding" with director Luca Guadagnino.

He said: "I'm not sure I could have done it unless I'd reached a certain level of understanding with Luca.

"It was really a matter of him beating it all into my thick skull. There were all these kinks and fetishes that I didn't understand.

"Like, why does he want to eat the peach? Why does he say 'call me by your name and I'll call you by mine?'

"If I didn't understand those things, I wouldn't have the character."
Meghan Markle has been bombarded with requests from numerous fashion designers asking if they can make her wedding dress when she marries Prince Harry.

Meghan Markle

The happy couple - who have been dating just over a year - are yet to get engaged, but designers are already begging her to choose them when it comes to making her glamorous frock for her big day because they know their nuptials will be the biggest royal shenanigan since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got hitched in 2011.

Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, British designer Giles Deacon - who created Catherine's sister Pippa Middleton's dress when she married her partner James Matthews in May - said: "If Meghan Markle was in any way interested, I would be more than delighted. But I'm sure she's got plenty of people on her list."

Although the pair haven't yet announced their engagement, friends believe they are basically at that stage in their relationship but the flame-haired royal is waiting until the right moment to make a formal announcement of the couple's plan to marry.

A source said recently: "While Meghan may not be wearing a ring or a formal engagement announced, it's fair to say they're as good as engaged now.

"They've spoken about their marriage plans openly with each other, and friends and family around them are pretty much thinking about wedding attire already!"

It comes after Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, were spotted on their first public engagement together as they attended the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada.

Since Harry and Meghan started dating, the brunette beauty has reportedly been given round the clock security because of her high profile romance.

Meghan's neighbour said: "She [Meghan] hasn't been around much for the last few days - Friday night they were here. I tell you, when he's [Harry] here, the street is full of police and security people. They just go straight in and they don't come out."
Fethiye Times News  our pick of whats been going on in Fethiye and around Turkey over the last week.

News

PKK, Turkish security forces clash in Turkeys Mugla

A clash between outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants and Turkish security forces occurred on Oct. 6 in an operation launched after five PKK militants were killed in the Aegean province of Mugla.

Turkish security forces had killed five PKK militants in Muglas Koycegiz district in an operation a day before, on Oct. 5.

Security was tightened as the Police and Jandarma forces began the operation to capture two more PKK militants who were determined to be in the area.

Extra security is being provided by the military at roadside checkpoints at the Fethiye-Dalaman-Ortaca-Koycegiz and Akyaka junctions and the central districts at the entrance and exit of the Mentese

Meanwhile, 68 PKK militants were neutralized in counter-terrorism operations in Turkey between Sept. 28 and Oct. 4, the military said on Oct. 6.

Source: SonDakika

U.K. Ends Laptop Ban on Most Inbound Flights from Turkey

The U.K. has lifted its ban of onboard large electronic devices on inbound international flights for the vast majority of carriers operating out of Turkish airports, as well as flights from Tunis, Tunisia. The U.K. government last week lifted the ban for Antalya, Bodrum, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen and Izmir airports in Turkey and Tunis-Carthage International. Earlier in the summer, it lifted the ban on Turkish Airlines and Pegasus flights from both Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen in Istanbul. The original ban included six countriesEgypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabiaand will be lifted at the remaining airports on a case-by-case basis, according to the Department for Transport.

Source: businesstravelnews.com -3rd October 2017

Turkish government vows to reduce tax hike on motor vehicles to reasonable level

Turkey will reduce a planned 40 percent tax hike on motor vehicles to a reasonable level, government spokesperson Bekir Bozdag said late on Oct. 2 after a cabinet meeting.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the weekend that the proposed tax increase would be reviewed, just days after it was announced last week by Finance Minister Naci Agbal at a presentation of the governments annual update of its medium-term economic program.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News

2,000-year-old olive oil mill uncovered in Turkeys Aegean region

Archeologists have unearthed a 2,000-year-old olive oil mill in the ancient city of Tripolis in southwestern Turkey. Discovered in Turkeys Aegean province of Denizli, the mill is expected to shed light on the rich olive history of the region, according to Dogan News Agency.

The mill was uncovered during the excavation of an ancient agora. The mill room measures 3.5 meters, with a stone press 50 centimeters in diameter used to crush the olives.

This mill, which we can say is 2,000 years old, shows us that in the past this region was rich in olive cultivation, stated Professor Bahadr Duman of Pamukkale Universitys Archeology Department and Tripolis Excavation Committee.

Fifty columns were raised during the restoration of the agora, clearing the center area where the mill was discovered.

Duman, who oversees the dig, reported that excavation will continue along with restoration of the agora.

Source: Daily Sabah  5 October 2017

Jail sentences on way for all animal abusers

The Justice Ministry is working on a new regulation to introduce jail sentences for people found guilty of abusing animals, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said on Oct. 4 in the capital Ankara.

The 151st article of Turkeys Criminal Code already requires between four months and three years in jail for those found guilty of torturing or killing animals, but only if the animals have an owner. The ministrys new regulation will widen the scope of the law amid a series of recent reports about incidents of cruelty to animals, with activists saying current punishments are not harsh enough.

Abusing animals is a crime that demands between four months and three years in jail at present. But work is now being undertaken regarding this crime. Our ministry is working on what can be done to increase deterrence. Every living being is entrusted to the state, the administration, everyone. Aware of this, our work on needs and deficiencies started last week, Gul said at parliaments General Assembly.

Sport

World Kiteboard league to take off from Turkeys shores

After years of being known as an amateur sport in Turkey, kiteboarding has taken off recently and is quickly taking its place among the countrys most popular professional sports.

With aims to gain much-wanted attention for this branch of sport, a World Kiteboard League event was held on the shores of Muglas Akyaka district from Oct. 5-8. Organized by Plus Event and Race Marketing & Management under the auspices of Turkish Sailing Federation, the event hosted 40 athletes from 19 foreign countries.

While Turkeys coasts are considered highly suitable for kiteboarding, the sport is still not regarded among the popular, professional sports.

Although there was only one Turkish competitor competing in the tournament this year, officials are hopeful about the sports future in Turkey and believe that the number of athletes will increase in the coming years.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News

Fethiyespor

Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor updates

Fethiyespor played a home match against Nazilli Belediyespor on Sunday. The final score was 1-1.

This leaves them still in 13th position on the league table.

The next league matches are:

Saturday 14th October away against Altay. Kick-off is at 19:00.

Saturday 21st October at home against Ottocool Karagumruk. Kick-off is at 19:00

Ziraat Cup matches:

A date for the home match against Adanaspor from Lig 1 in the Ziraat Cup has not been confirmed yet. It will be either 24th, 25th or 26th October.

For more information about Fethiyespor please visit Fethiyespor Yabancilar on Facebook.

Turkish Money

Here are Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates:

The British Pound bought 4.72TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 4.77TL.

The US Dollar bought 3.61TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 3.56TL.

The Euro bought 4.24TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 4.21TL.

Weather Forecast

Heres your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Myanmar earned more than $1 billion from garment exports between April and early September this year, making apparel the second leading item in the export sector, according to the countrys commerce ministry. Garments are exported to Japan, Europe, South Korea, China and the United States and exports were estimated to be worth $2 billion in fiscal 2016-17.Myanmars garment units operate on the cutting-making and packing (CMP) system and are striving to transform into the free on board (FOB) system, according to a report in a Myanmarese newspaper.

Myanmar earned more than $1 billion from garment exports between April and early September this year, making apparel the second leading item in the export sector, according to the country's commerce ministry. Garments are exported to Japan, Europe, South Korea, China and the United States and exports were estimated to be worth $2 billion in fiscal 2016-17.#

There are over 400 garment factories in Myanmar, with a labour force of more than 300,000. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The island nation of Sri Lanka has successfully introduced transparency in fixing of charges by freight service providers at ports. The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) of Sri Lanka had lobbied with the government, which issued a regulation directing freight forwarders, non-vessel carrier operators, etc to ensure transparency in the imposition of charges.Under The Licensing of Shipping Agents, Freight Forwarders, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers and Container Operators Act, charges are required to be collected from the contacting party who is liable to pay the freight and not from other party.

The island nation of Sri Lanka has successfully introduced transparency in fixing of charges by freight service providers at ports. Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) of Sri Lanka had lobbied with the government, which issued a regulation directing freight forwarders, non-vessel carrier operators, etc to ensure transparency in the imposition of charges.#

The main points of the regulation are it prohibits zero freight; identifies the delivery and destination points as either container yard or container freight station; restricts the imposition of any other charge on exporter other than the freight if he is bound to pay such as per the contract; and restrict the imposition of any other charge on importer other than the freight if he is bound to pay such as per the contract but a delivery order fee may be imposed on importers.The regulation mentions that all chargers on containerised cargo covering the entire cost of carriage of goods from delivery to destination shall be included in all-inclusive freight specified in the bill of lading and that it should be recovered from the party who is contractually bound to pay the same. Further, any change in the delivery order is subject to the approval of the Director Merchant Shipping.In bringing the legislation and implementing it, the government had not interfered in fixing the charges but established few cardinal principles. First, the cost of carriage of containers from origin to destination has to be identified as all-inclusive freight without dividing them as land based cost and freight component.Second, payments had to be recovered by the service provider only from the user of service to whom the service is provided and not from a third party who had no such contractual responsibility. This point protects non-contracting parties to international transportation from being forcibly dragged into payments that are not within their choice or control and then into extra liabilities such as insurance cover.Finally, no surcharges can be imposed on non-contracting parties.The issue of transparency in freight charges has now been controlled in Sri Lanka but the exporters and importers in India, Singapore and African continent are still struggling with these issues, Tuli Cooray, secretary general, JAAF, told Fibre2Fashion.Our desire is to elevate our regulation to an international level where all-inclusive freight should be charged on market driven formulas. We want to work towards international recognition of Sri Lankan practices, as this type of legislation will improve and assist the promotion of international rule based ethical and fair trade, he added. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Tourists visit the Tiantan Park in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 4, 2017. [Xinhua/Tao Ye]

Tourism has been booming in China during the National Day holiday, benefiting the economy of China and many other countries, official data on Sunday showed.

One of China's two Golden Weeks, the National Day holiday saw a surge in tourist revenue along with passenger flows. This year the holiday was extended by one day as the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Cake Festival, fell on Oct.4.

A total of 705 million tourists traveled around the country during the holiday, generating 583.6 billion yuan (about 87.7 billion U.S. dollars) of revenue, the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) said.

The two figures represented increase of 11.9 percent and 13.9 percent year on year respectively, the CNTA said.

Provinces with major scenic spots have seen rising numbers of tourists, with southwestern Guizhou having hosted over 46 million tourists who spent 30.5 billion yuan during the eight days, up 42.1 percent and 43.5 percent year on year respectively, said the CNTA.

Inner Mongolia in north China was visited by 106.2 million tourists who spent 8.3 billion yuan, up 24.5 percent and 38.3 percent respectively.

Most Chinese have chosen to indulge in food, cultural and rural tourism this year. Theme parks, museums and traditional culture streets have also seen an obvious growth in the number of visitors, according to the CNTA.

The booming tourism was accompanied by busy traffic. Take railway as an example, over 110 million trips by railway have been made since the holiday travel rush started on Sept. 28, the China Railway Corporation (CRC) said.

The CRC scheduled thousands of extra trains during the holiday to ensure smooth travel. Likely, airports have seen a growing number of passengers, and highways have been burdened by more vehicles.

The economic impacts of China's mobile population have also been felt worldwide as more Chinese have opted to travel overseas.

Data complied by the CNTA showed that about 6 million Chinese from nearly 300 cities traveled to 1,155 cities in 88 countries or regions during the National Day holiday.

Russia was the most popular destination for Chinese tourists, followed by Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, while Moscow was the most popular city, followed by St. Petersburg, Bangkok, Pattaya, and Singapore City, the CNTA data showed.

No figures are available as to how much the Chinese people have spent overseas during the eight-day holiday.

At a time when traditional growth drivers are losing steam, China has pinned hopes on services, including tourism, for new impetus to drive consumption and employment, and support economic growth and restructuring.

China's domestic tourism industry earned about 3.9 trillion yuan in 2016, and the country plans to raise tourism revenue to 7 trillion yuan by 2020.

The nation will work to develop tourism into a major driver of economic transformation. By 2020, investment in tourism is expected to grow to 2 trillion yuan, and the sector will contribute more than 12 percent of GDP growth, according to a State Council five-year tourism plan (2016-2020).
The Lenzing Group, supplier of high-quality, botanic cellulose fibres for textiles and nonwovens companies, has unveiled a new product, Tencel Luxe branded lyocell filament, at a recent event in Paris. The Tencel Luxe filament is a new milestone in the implementation of the companys sCore TEN strategy, with Lenzing entering the filament market.The branded filaments are the new player for sustainable high-end cellulose textiles by offering superior aesthetics, performance and comfort level that allow them to be the perfect partner with other noble fibres such as silk, cashmere or wool. The smooth surface of the Tencel branded Luxe filament gives fabrics a silky smooth feel and liquid-like drape for the most sensual silhouettes. Moreover, Tencel Luxe branded filaments are naturally breathable due to their wood-based origin and offer outstanding colour fastness, enabling designers to express bold colour palettes where creativity knows no boundaries.

The Lenzing Group, supplier of high-quality, botanic cellulose fibres for textiles and nonwovens companies, has unveiled a new product, Tencel Luxe branded lyocell filament, at a recent event in Paris. The Tencel Luxe filament is a new milestone in the implementation of the company's sCore TEN strategy, with Lenzing entering the filament market. #

Tencel Luxe eco-botanic lyocell filaments are made from wood pulp, which is sourced from sustainable wood in line with Lenzings strict wood and pulp policy. They are produced using Lenzings pioneering closed-loop lyocell production process, which has received the European Award for the Environment from the European Union. The process ensures minimal environmental impact due to low process water and energy use and raw materials consumption.Tencel Luxe is another proof of Lenzings innovation strength. It will open new markets for the company and for its customers and partners and will allow the company to participate in the premium segment of the fabrics market. With the help of Tencel Luxe, Lenzing will support the luxury apparel industry to redraw the borders between responsibility and high-end luxury fashion, and is part of Lenzings ongoing commitment towards sustainability-driven innovation.The new filament will be produced at the Lenzing site in Austria. Lenzing plans to expand the capacity at this site over the coming years and has started the basic engineering for a large scale commercial line for filaments. To optimise a new plant design and start up, this Lenzing site was chosen as the future manufacturing hub for Tencel Luxe. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
HELSINKI (dpa-AFX) - Finland's foreign trade deficit decreased notably in August from a year ago, as exports grew much faster than imports, preliminary figures from Finland Customs Office showed Monday. The trade deficit fell to EUR 150 million in August from EUR 481 million in the corresponding month of the previous year. Both the value of exports and imports advanced by 18.0 percent and 9.0 percent, respectively in August from last year. Exports to EU countries surged 21.0 percent and those to non-EU countries by 14.0 percent. During the eight months of the year, total trade deficit of the country was EUR 1.4 billion versus a shortfall of almost EUR 2.0 billion in the same period of 2016. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
SINGAPORE -- (Marketwired) -- 10/09/17 -- Banking & Financial Services is the most popular industry of work amongst today's tertiary students, according to the latest BrightSparks Scholarship and Education Survey. An ideal job is also perceived as one that offers advancement opportunities and growth, rather than having opportunities to travel for work or is socially-minded.

Held for the 10th year, the BrightSparks Scholarship and Education Survey is an annual study of scholarships, higher education and career preferences of potential scholarship recipients in Singapore. Close to 1,800 respondents, including GCE 'A' Level, International Baccalaureate (IB) students and graduates, polytechnic students and university undergraduates, participated in this year's survey between March and July.

Banking & Financial Services: The Most Preferred Industry of Work for Students

A departure from 2016's results, which saw the Healthcare sector topping the students' interest, Banking and Financial Services featured in the top 3 industry of work across all student categories. Other preferred industries include the Public Service, Healthcare, Airline/Travel and Engineering.

Students were also unanimous in what matters to them in the quest for an ideal job -- career opportunities and minimal stagnation. Other key attributes to an ideal job include having an interesting job scope, job security, and work-life balance. Having travel and relocation opportunities as part of the job proved to be least important.

"Highlighting and developing a well-thought out career programme that provides career growth and opportunities to the scholars can be key to enhancing today's millennials' motivation and sense of fulfilment in serving their scholarship bonds, that ultimately leads to retention of their employment," said Sam Ng, Managing Director of CareerBuilder Singapore.

Other survey findings include:

Prominent scholarship providers such as the Public Service Commission, the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technology remains among the top 3 favourites among the students. Changi Airport Group rose significantly in terms of their popularity by leapfrogging two places to cement their position as the fourth most preferred scholarship provider.





Consistent across all student categories, most respondents expect a starting salary of S$3,001 to S$3,500.





To find out more about CareerBuilder Singapore, please visit www.careerbuilder.com.sg.

About BrightSparks

BrightSparks, owned by CareerBuilder Singapore, is Singapore's most preferred Scholarship and Higher Education portal. It seeks to offer Junior College (JC), Polytechnic and Undergraduate students a wealth of comprehensive information on the latest scholarships and higher education choices.

About CareerBuilder Singapore

CareerBuilder Singapore is part of the CareerBuilder family -- a US recruitment giant and a global leader in the human capital solutions. Today, CareerBuilder has a global presence in more than 60 markets and over 2,800 employees worldwide.

CareerBuilder Singapore has a team of more than 80 well-trained professionals. Our expertise is in working with top employers across industries to help them with their recruitment process -- from acquiring to hiring. Coupled with our global resources and expertise in the Southeast Asian talent recruitment arena, it helps us stay ahead of the industry curve.

CareerBuilder Singapore seeks to provide our clients with an end-to-end delivery. Our expertise and experiences include (but are not limited to):

Innovative ready-solutions that can be fully customised to your unique business needs

Integrative marketing

Creative services

Client management and fulfilment

Product specialisation

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For media enquiries, please contact:



Asia PR Werkz for CareerBuilder Singapore

Lim Wee Ling

Email Contact

6812 9808 / 9768 6827



CareerBuilder Singapore

Clara Hoe

Email Contact

6578 7464 / 9066 0476




MOSCOW, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

On October 16-18 Skolkovo Technopark will host Moscow International Open Innovations Forum. About 15,000 participants from more than 90 countries of the world are expected to attend this main 2017 event for digital ecosystem delegates.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568800/Open_Innovations_Logo.jpg )

The key theme of the Forum in 2017 is Digital Economy. The discussion will focus on corporations, the role of the state and the human being.

The Forum will consist of three thematic day-long sections:

1 st day - CorpTech. DNA of the Corporation of the Future;

day - DNA of the Corporation of the Future; 2 nd day - StateTech. Manifesto of the Digital State;

day - Manifesto of the Digital State; 3rd day - HumanTech. Tech for human & human for Tech.

Singapore - will be the chief partner of the Forum's second day, which will be devoted to the advancement of innovations in the public sector. One of the featured events of Open Innovations 2017 will be the Russia-Singapore Business Forum "Smart Cities". The visionaries behind the Smart Nation programme will tell Forum participants about the initial results of its launch in Singapore, and will share with their Russian colleagues their experience in implementing global urban programmes.

One of the headliners of the Forum will be the founder of the world's largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group, the richest man in Asia - Jack Ma.

The Alibaba Group CEO will take part in the main event of the Forum's second day - a plenary session featuring the participation of Russian Federation Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Headliners of the Forum include:

Rick Tumlinson - founder of Deep Space Industries

- founder of Deep Space Industries Marvin Lao - startuppers' guru and a partner of 500 Startups

startuppers' guru and a partner of 500 Startups Michio Kaku - futurist, popularizer of theoretical physics and a single grand unified theory of everything

- futurist, popularizer of theoretical physics and a single grand unified theory of everything Nick Sampson - Vice President of Faraday Future

More on the Open Innovations Forum: link

Registration Form for participants in the Forum: link

Reference information

Open Innovations Forum

Annual Open Innovations Forum has been held in Moscow since 2012 under the auspices of the Government of the Russian Federation. The Forum's co-organizers are: Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Government of Moscow, RUSNANO Foundation of Infrastructural and Education Programs, Russian Venture Company, Foundation for Assisting Innovation, Skolkovo Foundation, and Vnesheconombank.The event will be attended by the members of the Consulting Board for Foreign Investments.

https://forinnovations.ru/


Sustainability pioneers share innovation insights at largest biotechnology conference in Europe



BAINBRIDGE, Ga. and PURCHASE, N.Y., 2017-10-09 09:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Industry leaders at Danimer Scientific, biopolymer manufacturer, and global food and beverage company PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) are together leading a discussion about how successful sustainable partnerships can impact our future at the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy (EFIB) 2017. EFIB is Europe's industry biotechnology conference, including seminars and workshops by global corporations, held Oct. 9-11 in Brussels, Belgium.



Specifically, Stephen E. Croskrey, CEO of Danimer Scientific and Brad Rodgers, R&D Director for Discovery & Sustainability at PepsiCo, will share their commercialization success story at the conference, stemming from the agreement to implement Danimer's biodegradable film resins in PepsiCo's global product packaging.



The companies' agreement builds on a long-standing relationship including the development of bio-based compostable packaging for PepsiCo's snack brands and will facilitate the expansion of Danimer Scientifics' Nodax PHA plant. Danimer Scientifics' Nodax PHA received the first-ever OK Marine Biodegradable certification from Vincotte International, validating that the biopolymer safely biodegrades in salt water environments, leaving no toxins behind. All of Danimer Scientifics' biopolymers, including Nodax PHA, are FDA approved for food contact.



"EFIB is an optimal platform for sharing our companies' insight and journey towards providing a better future for our planet, while also inspiring attendees to invest in environmentally friendly alternatives, including packaging and energy, for their businesses," said Croskrey.



"The next step in our collaboration with Danimer Scientific is being able to share the strides we've made to implement biodegradable solutions for our food and beverage packaging. In addition to discussing our solution, we look forward to learning from other attending companies to continue finding ways to continue to reduce our carbon footprint," said Rodgers.



Danimer Scientific and PepsiCo are presenting at EFIB on Oct. 11 at 2:40 p.m. For more information about the conference and for a full schedule of events, visit www.efibforum.com/.



About Danimer Scientific Danimer Scientific is a recognized world leader in the development of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and a specialist in the customization of biopolymer formulations that combine PHA, PLA and other biopolymers through a proprietary reactive extrusion process. Supported by a world-class group of dedicated, highly skilled team members, Danimer Scientific offers a comprehensive selection of biopolymers that support the company's core values of utilizing sustainable and renewable bioplastics to improve people's lives at work and home. Danimer Scientific and its subsidiaries currently own more than 125 patents across nearly 20 countries. Danimer Scientific is headquartered in Bainbridge, Ga. For more information, visit DanimerScientific.com.



About PepsiCo PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated approximately $63 billion in net revenue in 2016, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.



At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose - our fundamental belief that the success of our company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us. We believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world is what enables PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.



PepsiCo Cautionary Statement Statements in this communication that are "forward-looking statements" are based on currently available information, operating plans and projections about future events and trends. Terminology such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "drive," "estimate," "expect," "expressed confidence," "forecast," "future," "goal," "guidance," "intend," "may," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "position," "potential," "project," "seek," "should," "strategy," "target," "will" or similar statements or variations of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in such forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: changes in demand for PepsiCo's products, as a result of changes in consumer preferences or otherwise; changes in the legal and regulatory environment; imposition of new or increased taxes aimed at PepsiCo's products; imposition of labeling or warning requirements on PepsiCo's products; changes in laws related to packaging and disposal of PepsiCo's products; PepsiCo's ability to compete effectively; and unstable political conditions, civil unrest or other developments and risks in the markets where PepsiCo's products are made, manufactured, distributed or sold.



For additional information on these and other factors that could cause PepsiCo's actual results to materially differ from those set forth herein, please see PepsiCo's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. PepsiCo undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



Contact



Jerry Kidd jkidd@kidd.com

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Global leader in enterprise-grade EHSQ solutions to exhibit at Europe's largest Safety, Health and Security Conference TORONTO, 2017-10-09 09:01 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cority, the most trusted Environmental, Health, Safety and Quality (EHSQ) software for assuring client success, today announced that it will be attending the A+A trade fair and congress in Dusseldorf, Germany from October 17th to October 20th. A+A is the largest international trade forum for safety, security, and health at work, with more than 65,000 occupational health and safety professionals to attend from 86 countries. Cority will be showcasing its industry leading SaaS-based enterprise EHSQ software solution that helps organizations improve workplace health and safety initiatives, proactively mitigate risk and achieve operational excellence. Designed by certified experts, the Cority platform provides industry standard workflows and content that can be configured to meet the unique needs of EHSQ teams in any industry. With the most comprehensive EHSQ solution in the market, Cority enables organizations to streamline and standardize complex EHSQ processes and programs across the enterprise. To connect with a member of the Cority team at A+A, visit Hall 10, Stand F31-3 or visit www.cority.com to schedule a personalized demo. About Cority Cority (formerly Medgate) is the most trusted environmental, health, safety, and quality (EHSQ) software for assuring client success. Cority enables organizations to utilize EHSQ software to advance their journey to sustainability and operational excellence by combining the deepest domain expertise with the most comprehensive and secure SaaS platform. With 30+ years of innovation and experience, Cority's team of 250 experts serve more than 800 clients in 70 countries, supporting millions of end users. The company enjoys the industry's highest levels of client satisfaction and has received many awards for its strong employee culture and outstanding business performance. Media Contact: Media@cority.com

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
DBS, the Singapore-based regional bank, announced today that it is deploying Z-Risk Engine (ZRE) to generate forward-looking future credit losses on the bank's wholesale credit portfolio, as it complies with imminent IFRS 9 requirements. The new financial regulations, effective from January 1, 2018, call for banks and other lenders to deliver a regular, predictive point-in-time (PIT) view of credit quality and to recognise any potential impairments to credit before a loss event occurs. ZRE technology is part of a hybrid credit risk management solution that also includes the consulting expertise of its maker Aguais and Associates (AAA).

Over the last year, the Z-Risk Engine technology platform has been tested by DBS together with AAA and is now being rolled out enterprise-wide at the bank.

Capturing short term movements in risk using dual-ratings approach

The ZRE solution's innovations include applying regional and industry economic credit risk cycle scenarios to obtain point-in-time versions of through-the-cycle parameters. The result is a 'dual-ratings' system generating statistical credit estimates that can enable financial institutions to comply efficiently with IFRS 9. This is significant as credit losses generally can vary up to 5-10X across a lender's wholesale credit portfolios due to credit cycles.

"Most external and internal wholesale credit ratings are mainly through-the-cycle, so are unable to capture the substantial short-term movements in risk that are needed for the point-in-time measures IFRS 9 requires," says Sok Hui Chng, Chief Financial Officer, DBS. "Aguais and Associates have helped to resolve this challenge for DBS and delivered custom PIT and forward-looking calibrations for our credit models to capture impairments under the IFRS 9 framework. We have been very impressed with the technology and consulting support Aguais and Associates has delivered."

"For nine years running DBS has been named Asia's safest bank," says Dr Scott D Aguais, Managing Director, London-based Aguais and Associates. "We're delighted that DBS is the first Asia-headquartered company to adopt ZRE. We see this, and the concurrent ZRE adoption by a major European bank, as strong validation of the power of the ZRE platform, our innovative and robust methodology, and our collaborative, consultative approach."

About DBS

DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia, with over 280 branches across 18 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS has a growing presence in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings, is among the highest in the world.

DBS is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, and has been named "World's Best Digital Bank" by Euromoney. The bank has also been recognised for its leadership in the region, having been named "Asia's Best Bank" by publications including The Banker, Global Finance, IFR Asia and Euromoney since 2012. In addition, the bank has been named "Safest Bank in Asia" by Global Finance for nine consecutive years from 2009 to 2017.

DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region's most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers and positively impacting communities through supporting social enterprises, as it banks the Asian way. It has also established a SGD 50 million foundation to strengthen its corporate social responsibility efforts in Singapore and across Asia.

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. The bank acknowledges the passion, commitment and can-do spirit in all of our 22,000 staff, representing over 40 nationalities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.

About Aguais and Associates and Z-Risk Engine

Brought to you by London-based Aguais Associates (AAA), Z-Risk Engine (ZRE) is a substantially more accurate, purpose-built risk management solution for global banks and financial institutions tasked to comply with IFRS 9, CECL and meet stress testing regulations. It is a proven, affordable and efficient route to regulatory signoff. Key customers include top regional banks in Asia and Europe.

The complete ZRE solution combines a suite of SAS-based software with AAA's expert credit risk consultancy. The engine is a single integrated, customisable batch analytics platform for wholesale and commercial credit portfolios and works with a bank's own credit models. With innovations in 'credit cycle unlocking', ZRE is uniquely able to use industry and regional credit cycles to accurately convert existing credit models, such as through the cycle (TTC), into point in time (PIT) measures.

The ZRE solution incorporates 175 person-years of direct investment at major financial institutions in developing, validating and integrating with wholesale credit models. As pioneers of the dual PIT-TTC framework, the ZRE team has successfully achieved Basel 2 Waivers at RBS and Barclays.

Founded in 2014, AAA has been partly funded to develop Z-Risk Engine by the UK Deloitte Innovation Committee.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005271/en/

Contacts:

Media

For Aguais and Associates

Nancy Prendergast, +44 (0) 771 200 4933

nancy@tannissanmae.com
BONN, Germany, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Adel B. Al-Salehis tobecome a new Member of the Board of Management at Deutsche Telekom AG and CEO of T-Systems on January 1, 2018. Adel succeeds Reinhard Clemens who, as already announced - will leave Deutsche Telekom as of January 1, 2018.

The Chairman of Deutsche Telekom's Supervisory Board, Ulrich Lehner said, "We are happy to welcome Adel. With his deep knowledge of the industry and his great international experience, he is the right person for the position and its challenging environment."

Timotheus Hoettges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom: "I am looking forward to working with Adel. He has the right spirit and attitude paired with a profound knowledge for the job. Adel has a proven record of turning businesses around. He will start to become acquainted with T-Systems right away and will use the phase until the end of the year to bring himself up to speed."

Adel Al-Saleh, new Board Member and CEO of T-Systems: "I am excited about joining the Deutsche Telekom team. I look forward to working with T-Systems colleagues to drive our success in the market place."

Until recently Adel Al-Saleh was Chief Executive Officer of Northgate Information Solutions (NIS) Group that he joined in December 2011, responsible for growing one of the leading global providers of software solutions and technology services across the Northgate group of companies (NGA Human Resources, Northgate Public Services, and Northgate Managed Services).

NIS was taken private by KKR in 2008. Adel was brought in by KKR end of 2011 to develop a turnaround strategy and drive a value creation program across Northgate's three businesses. Between 2012 and 2017, Adel led the transformation of the NIS Group resulting in a streamlined portfolio, new strategy, and efficient and competitive operations.

In 2016, Adel led a successful restructure of NGA's debt structure, resulting in Goldman Sachs becoming the primary shareholder of the company. Prior to joining Northgate, Adel held various senior positions at IMS Health (market leader in healthcare informatics) and spent the first 19 years at IBM, holding a variety of senior leadership roles.

His last role at IBM was vice president and general manager, Sales and Industries, IBM Northeast Europe Integrated Operating Team - responsible for IBM sales across all industries and products.

Adel graduated from Boston University in 1987,earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and receiving his Masters of Business and Administration from Florida Atlantic University in 1990.

Professional Experience

Northgate Information Solutions, London - December 2011 to Present

Chief Executive Officer

IMS Health, Parsippany, NJ - 2011

President, US

IMS Health, London - 2007 to 2011

President, Europe, Middle East and Africa

IBM Northeast Europe Integrated Operating Team, Zurich - 2004 to 2006

Vice President and General Manager, Sales and Industries

IBM Americas, New York - 2002 to 2004

General Manager, Americas Communications Sector

IBM, New York - 2000 to 2002

General Manager, Global Wireless, Emerging Business Opportunity

IBM EMEA, Paris - 1998 to 2000

Vice President, EMEA Sales and Services, Personal Systems Group

IBM EMEA, Vienna - 1996 to 1998

Director, Personal Systems Group, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa

IBM - 1988 to 1996

Various engineering and management roles

Deutsche Telekom AG

Corporate Communications

Tel.: +49-228-181-49494

E-Mail:media@telekom.de

Further information for the media at:

http://www.telekom.com/media

http://www.telekom.com/photos

http://www.twitter.com/telekom_group

http://www.instagram.com/deutschetelekom

About Deutsche Telekom:https://www.telekom.com/companyprofile
McChrystal Group, a global advisory services and leadership development firm, has opened a new office in Central London, England. The firm is opening this location in response to continued demand for its services in the U.K. and European markets.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005458/en/

Chris Fussell, co-founder of McChrystal Group, former US Navy SEAL, bestselling author (Photo: Business Wire)

The office will be headed by Mr. Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE, a Director at McChrystal Group, with experience expanding the company's offerings and building clients' leadership teams. He retired from a British Defence career in 2016 after 22 years' service, having spent 82 months deployed on operations in complex and hostile environments. Since joining McChrystal Group in 2016, he has led successful client engagements in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America, specialising in health, infrastructure, mining, and retail sectors.

"We are excited about the opportunity to grow our European footprint and strengthen our relationships across the globe. Our 'team of teams' approach has proved exceptionally successful with our clients globally, and we will continue our focus on superior service to our EMEA clients from our new base in London," said General (Ret.) Stan McChrystal, who founded McChrystal Group in 2011.

"We are thrilled to formally expand our reach into Europe and beyond, at a time when the environment has rarely been more uncertain or complex," said Mr. Alexander-Cooper. "With Brexit looming, there exists an even greater need for organisational adaptability and effective leadership. McChrystal Group has the necessary experience, tools, and an outstanding team to partner with and support clients during these challenging times," he added.

McChrystal Group's "team of teams" approach is outlined in the New York Times bestselling book Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World (2015; Portfolio/Penguin Random House) which was co-authored by General McChrystal and his former aide-de-camp and McChrystal Group co-founder, Chris Fussell. Mr. Fussell was commissioned as a U.S. Naval Officer in 1997, and spent the next 15 years on U.S. Navy SEAL teams, leading elements in combat zones around the world. The book has since been widely embraced in the business world as a roadmap for combining the agility, adaptability, and cohesion of a small team with the power and resources of a giant organisation.

Mr. Fussell has now published the sequel to Team of Teams, the Wall Street Journal bestseller One Mission: How Leaders Build a Team of Teams(2017; Macmillan). The sequel offers practical case studies and a tangible guide for organisations to tear down silos, improve collaboration, and avoid turf wars. Both books are available in the U.S., U.K., and Europe.

Mr. Fussell and Mr. Alexander-Cooper are both available for media interviews in London from 9 October to 13 October. To book either of them, please reach out to the media contacts below.

ABOUT McCHRYSTAL GROUP

McChrystal Group, founded by General (Ret.) Stanley McChrystal in 2011, is a global advisory services and leadership development firm composed of a diverse mix of professionals from the military, academic, business, and intelligence sectors who specialise in transforming stagnant and siloed organisations into cohesive, adaptable "teams of teams." The firm works with firms across the globe from its offices in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, and London, England. For information about working with McChrystal Group, please contact Ash Alexander-Cooper for Europe or contact@mcchrystalgroup.com globally.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005458/en/

Contacts:

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Dina Finnegan, +1 703-282-2516

dina.finnegan@mcchrystalgroup.com

or

Kathleen Hatfield, +1 305-934-6696

kathleen.hatfield@mcchrystalgroup.com
FELTON, California, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The global medical automation market size in 2015 was estimated to be at USD 34.21 billion. The major factors impelling the growth are rising adoption rate of automated equipment for therapy and diagnosis of chronic disorders. According to a report by WHO, chronic diseases are considered to be the leading cause of mortality globally. These diseases include respiratory diseases, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer which accounts for around 60% of deaths.

As per a research published by NCBI, around 40.5% of the population in U.S. is predicted to suffer from one or more than one cardiovascular disease by 2030, leading to expansion of the patient base. Increasing adoption of automated devices can be attributed to the rising demands for reproducibility and accuracy in wide array of medical procedures.

The largest share of over 35.0% in application segment was held by therapeutic automation in 2015. The dominance can be attributed to consistent rise in the adoption rate of automated devices such as therapeutic dispensing systems, defibrillators, surgical robots, automated microscopes, portable imaging device and orthopedic navigation systems.

The high demand for automation while performing minimally invasive surgeries is expected to widen the scope for adoption of robotic surgical systems thereby fueling to the medical automation industry over the coming years.

The segment was dominated by hospitals & diagnostics centers segment in 2015 with a share of more than 25.0%. The dominance can be attributed to growing usage of automated devices in pharmacies & laboratories sufficing various requirements in diagnostic procedures.

Browse 90 page research report with TOC on "Global Medical Automation Market" at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/medical-automation-market

The segment was dominated by hospitals & diagnostics centers segment in 2015 with a share of more than 25.0%. The dominance can be attributed to growing usage of automated devices in pharmacies & laboratories sufficing various requirements in diagnostic procedures.

Automation in hospital segment, particularly in tier 2 & 3 cities of emerging economies of the Asia Pacific region such as India is presenting with lucrative opportunities.

A substantial revenue share of over 43.0% was held by North America in 2015 as a consequence of increasing healthcare expenditure by government healthcare and life science sectors to promote research. Europe held the second largest market share owing to demographic shift in geriatric patient base, possessing greater susceptibility to chronic disorders thereby pushing demand for automated point-of-care testing.

The prominent players include Danaher Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Siemens AG, Stryker Corporation, Intuitive Surgical Inc., GE Healthcare, Swisslog Holding AG, Medtronic Plc., Tecan Group Ltd., Accuray Inc. Competition in the industry is high as a consequence of prominent players undertaking strategic initiatives such as acquisitions, technological advancements, new product launch and collaborations. For instance, Tecan acquired Sias AG in November 2015, to expand the business for providing mechanization solution for laboratory.

Browse reports of similar category available with Million Insights:

e-Clinical Trial Solutions Market - https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/e-clinical-trial-solutions-market

E-Prescribing System - https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/e-prescribing-system-market

Health Information Exchange Market - https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/health-information-exchange-hie-market

Healthcare Analytics Market - https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/healthcare-analytics-market

Market Segment ation :

Global Medical Automation Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024)

 Diagnostic & Monitoring Automation

 Automated imaging & analysis

 Point-of-care testing

 Therapeutic Automation

 Surgical Automation

 Non-surgical Automation

 Lab and Pharmacy Automation

 Laboratory Automation

 Pharmacy Automation

 Medical Logistics and Training

Global Medical Automation End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024)

 Hospitals & Diagnostic Centers

 Research Laboratories & Institutes

 Pharmacies

 Home & Ambulatory Care

Medical Automation Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024)

 North America

 U.S.

 Canada

 Europe

 UK

 Germany

 Asia Pacific

 Japan

 China

 India

 Latin America

 Mexico

 Brazil

 MEA

 South Africa

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A male college professor who assaulted a female street cleaner in his community was detained and fined by the police on Saturday in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

Xi'an police released a statement on Sina Weibo saying the professor, surnamed Ge, would be detained for 10 days and face a fine of 500 yuan ($75) for beating up the worker, surnamed Liu. The worker sustained minor injuries, the statement said.

The violence drew people's attention after a Weibo user, Chapai017, posted photos on Wednesday showing Liu with blood on her face and crying.

The accompanying post said the street worker was confronted by Ge and another woman because of a garbage truck that was blocking the driveway. It said Ge was observed assaulting Liu after she scrambled to her feet from a pile of rubbish, as if she had just been knocked down. The other woman shouted, "Do you know how much I earn and how much you earn?" and "You are wasting my time," the post said.

Residents, who had begun to gather because of the noise, stopped the fight and called the police as Ge and the woman tried to leave, the post said.

The Weibo user, who claimed to have gone to the police station to make a statement, added that Ge was a newly employed professor at Shaanxi University of Science and Technology and had just completed his studies in the United States and Japan. The post said the shouting woman worked in the university's personnel division, but this was later contradicted by the university, which said she was one of Ge's relatives.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the university said Ge had been suspended and a work team had been appointed to assist the police with their investigation. The university said it would handle the case "seriously" and in line with the investigation results.

A Weibo post by the university on Thursday confirmed that the woman was not a member of the school's faculty. It also said Ge had realized the severity of his actions, that he had apologized to the street worker and her family in person and would pay her medical costs.

Ge's attack on the worker caused an uproar online. Chapai017's post alone received some 107,000 reposts and 55,000 comments.

One Weibo user commented that "one's moral standing, as well as academic performance, should factor in the assessment of a college professor".

Another wrote that the assailant should be brought to justice. "I myself come from a family at the grassroots level and I hope my family will be respected by society. And so do other families of the same background," the comment said.

However, a Weibo user named Pili_Zhang called for calm, saying criticism should not be directed at the university or its faculty:

"It was wrong for Ge to beat the cleaner, but let's leave the case to the law and the police, and stop the verbal attacks on the university and its faculty."
OCEAN VIEW, Delaware, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The industry share report "Windows & Doors Market Size By Material (uPVC, Wood, Metal), By Application (Residential [New Residential, Improvement & Repair], Commercial [New Commercial, Improvement & Repair]), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, Italy, France, Russia, Belgium, Poland, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, South Africa), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 - 2024" by Global Market Insights, Inc. says Windows and Doors Market is set to cross USD 211 billion by 2024.

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Subsidies offered for residential construction will positively influence the residential windows and doors market demand. Household renovations has led strong upsurge in the history and is expected to continue with the trend over the projected time frame. Increasing demand for energy efficient products will support the industry growth. For instance, the government of the UK and Canada are regulating usage of energy efficient products to reduce carbon footprint in the environment.

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Replacement of wood and aluminum with innovative materials such as uPVC will support the product demand owing to its fully recyclable property, lesser maintenance, reduced weight, and thermal insulation. Availability of alternatives in laminates, colors, and designs are other factors contributing to the segment growth. Increasing demand for products that are resistant to weather, termites, and chemicals will further augment the windows and doors market size from 2017 to 2024.

Commercial sector accounted for over 288 million units in 2016 and is expected to exhibit highest CAGR over the projected timeline owing to increasing usage of WPC, glass, uPVC and metal. Strong security gates such as aluminum, steel, and glass gates is expected to witness exponential growth. Maintenance free products along with improved durability are also responsible for substantial industry growth over the forecast timeline.

Rising awareness of smart systems integrated with security sensors will escalate the demand for new product profiles over the projected timeline. About 50% of energy is lost through entrances thus, smart window is developed to control rising costs associated with lighting, cooling, and heating of homes. Modernized entrance and exit locks are featured with keyless systems & fingerprint security that are mostly used in the corporate facilities. Introduction of such innovative product line will induce immense potential to the windows and doors market by 2024.

Waste generated through replacements creates negative impact on the environment. The UK accounts for sending of about tens of millions of the products to the landfills in which major share is from demolished buildings. Out of these wastes only 5% of the them are recycled. Increased waste generation may restrict the windows and doors market growth. In addition, to extend the durability of uPVC products, they are equipped with metal stabilizers such as cadmium, lead, and organotin which are toxic substances. This may serve as a challenge for the industry growth over the forecast timeframe.

Browse key industry insights spread across 415 pages with 467 market data tables & 23 figures & charts from this 2017 report Windows & Doors Market in detail along with the table of contents at:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/windows-and-doors-market-size

uPVC will account for highest windows and doors market revenue share surpassing USD 72 billion till 2024. This can be attributed to product profiles that are corrosion resistant and can effectively support in ventilation of the house. Minimal expansion and contraction makes the material more durable for retaining glass holding capacity. Also, these materials are self-extinguishing and has low softening temperature as compared to aluminum and wood thus enabling easy escape by pushing out the glass.

Asia Pacific is expected to cross 6.9 billion square feet by 2024 owing to the increasing population drawing huge demand for new infrastructure and serve its commercial and residential requirements. Increasing commercialization and urbanization are likely to support the industry growth till 2024.

North America is anticipated to pose a CAGR of 4.7%. This growth can be credited to rising expenditure on construction activities for the improvement of infrastructure, residential, and aesthetic beauty in developed countries of the region. Moreover, presence of several local players will further spur the industry growth till 2024.

Andersen Corporation, Pella Corporation, Centuryply, Fenesta Building Systems, JELD-WEN, Deceuninck, and ATIS Group are among the prominent players in the industry. Other notable players include SGM windows, Performance Doorset Solutions Ltd., RENSON, Windoor, and Sokolka.

Windows and doors market players are investing heavily in technology modernization to strengthen their foothold in the industry. For instance, in January 2015, Pella launched its Insynctive smart home technology which is a smart product line for doors and windows designed for automation, comfort, security, and convenience. Insynctive system sensors provide information remotely to home owners if the gates are closed or open.

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Window And Door Frame Market Size By Material (uPVC, Wood, Metal), By Application (Residential [New Residential, Improvement & Repair], Commercial [New Commercial, Improvement & Repair]), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada , Germany , UK, Italy , France , Russia , Belgium , Poland , China , India , Japan , South Korea , Indonesia , Malaysia , Mexico , Brazil , Saudi Arabia , Qatar , UAE, South Africa ), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 - 2024

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/window-and-door-market

By Material (uPVC, Wood, Metal), By Application (Residential [New Residential, Improvement & Repair], Commercial [New Commercial, Improvement & Repair]), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., , , UK, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , UAE, ), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 - 2024 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/window-and-door-market Global Doors Market Size By Product (Hinged, Sliding, French), By Material (uPVC, Wood, Metal), By Application (Residential [New Residential, Improvement & Repair], Commercial [New Commercial, Improvement & Repair]) Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S, Canada , Germany , UK, Italy , France , Russia , Belgium , Poland , China , India , Japan , South Korea , Indonesia , Malaysia , Brazil , Mexico , Saudi Arabia , Qatar , UAE, South Africa ), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 - 2024

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/doors-market

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PUNE, India, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The report"Smart Polymers Marketby Type (Physical Stimuli, Chemical Stimuli, and Biological Stimuli Responsive Polymers), End-Use Industry (Biomedical & Biotechnology, Textile, Electrical & Electronics, Automotive), and Region - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets', the market is projected to reach USD 2,071.1 Million by 2022, at a CAGR of 21.9% between 2017 and 2022. The Smart Polymers Market is driven by the rising demand for smart polymers from the biomedical & biotechnology, textiles, electrical & electronics, automotive, food packaging, footwear, consumer goods, and aerospace & defense industries.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse142 Market Data Tables and37 Figures spread through151Pages and in-depth TOC on"Smart Polymers Market"

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Physical stimuli responsive polymers segment was the largest type of smart polymers in 2016

The physical stimuli responsive polymers segment was the largest type of the global Smart Polymers Market in 2016. These polymers respond to several stimuli such as temperature, light, pressure, electric field, and magnetic field. The growth of this type of polymers is attributed to the rising demand for innovative and efficient technologies from end-use industries such as biomedical & biotechnology, automotive, and textiles.

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Biomedical & biotechnology industry accounted for largest share of Smart Polymers Market in 2016

The biomedical & biotechnology industry accounted for the major share of the overall Smart Polymers Market in 2016. This is associated with the growing demand for smart polymers from several applications such as diagnostics, drug delivery, tissue engineering, cell culture, and phase separation processes in the biomedical & biotechnology industry. Moreover, smart polymers are biodegradable, biocompatible, easy to colour & mold, and can be easily modified. Hence, their adoption in the biomedical & biotechnology industry is gradually increasing.

Rising demand for smart polymers from North America expected to be the key factor driving the growth of the global Smart Polymers Market

North America is projected to be the leading market for smart polymers. The US is projected to be the largest and the fastest-growing market for smart polymers during the forecast period. Canada and Mexico are other major countries contributing to the growth of the Smart Polymers Market in the region. The increasing demand for smart polymers from end-use industries such as automotive, medical, textiles, and footwear is expected to drive the Smart Polymers Market in these countries.

The key companies profiled in the Smart Polymers Market research report are BASF (Germany), Lubrizol (US), Dow Chemical (US), Evonik (Germany), Advanced Polymer Materials (Canada), Spintech (US), Merck Group (Germany), Akina (US), SMP Technologies (Japan), Reactive Surfaces (US) and NEI Corporation (US).

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Electroactive Polymers Market by Type (Conductive Plastics, Inherently Conductive Polymers and Inherently Dissipative Polymers), by Application (Actuators, Antistatic Packaging, Capacitors, and Sensors) - Trends & Forecasts to 2020

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ISSAQUAH (dpa-AFX) - Costco Wholesale Corp. is planning to deliver about 500 non-perishable food items within two days, and fresh groceries to home the same day, using its Instacart. Customers can order online and avail free delivery for orders of more than $75. Costco has tied up with UPS for delivery. Instacart, already available in metropolitan areas, would extend its service to more areas by next year and plans same-day delivery of around 2000 items. The company was not keen to pursue the online route. However, now it changed its mind to cater to customers living more than 150 - 200 miles away from the stores. There will not be any weekend delivery. Costco will be charging higher for non-members ordering using the same-day Instacart. There will be an additional fee for Instacart orders of below $35. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Technavio analysts forecast the global backhoe bucket marketto grow at a CAGR of almost 6% during the forecast period, according to their latest report.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005730/en/

Technavio has published a new report on the global backhoe bucket market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global backhoe bucketmarketfor 2017-2021. The market is segmented based onend-user (construction and mining) and geography (APAC, the Americas, and EMEA).

Large-scale investments in infrastructure such as power plants, railways, airports, and in the manufacturing sector are expected to increase exponentially in 2020 from that in 2016. The enormous spending on infrastructure, airport construction, and roadways are expected to boost the sale of backhoe loaders, which will translate into sales of backhoe buckets globally during the forecast period. Construction and mining are the traditional end-user industries for backhoe buckets. There was a decline in the growth of the global backhoe bucket market during 2011-2015 due to the fluctuations in the prices of mined commodities and the economic slowdown in the manufacturing sector in China.

This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free

Technavio heavy industry research analysts highlight the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the global backhoe bucket market:

Expansion in utility sector

Increased government spending on infrastructure

Growth in number of high-rise buildings

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Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

Expansion in utility sector

The number of power and energy projects is increasing rapidly worldwide. With the rise in the population, energy scarcity, as well as energy demand, is growing globally. The global energy sector has witnessed a lot of developments lately. Energy consumption in the developing nations rose dramatically during 2010-2015. Backhoe loaders find a wide variety of applications in T&D infrastructure projects.

Gaurav Mohindru, a lead construction research analyst at Technavio, says, "Backhoe loaders are gaining popularity and are an increased preference for laying electrical power lines as they are compact and hence, can operate within confined spaces and perform multiple operations such as lifting, trenching, and backfilling. The increase in demand for backhoe loaders will translate into the increasing demand for backhoe buckets in the next five years."

Increased government spending on infrastructure

There are multiple government infrastructure projects, with significant investments, planned in various countries during 2017-2021. Infrastructure development is of prime importance in any country as it has a direct impact on economic growth, which is important for employment generation and the expansion of services such as housing, energy, and clean water supply.

"A country with developed infrastructure attracts high investments from MNCs to set up their units. Apart from economic development, infrastructure also affects the living standards and human development index of a country positively. It is essential in meeting various demands from the growing population," adds Gaurav.

Growth in number of high-rise buildings

The rate of urbanization in recent times has been exponential. Hence, the maximum utilization of land is desirable in urban areas due to its widespread shortage. As a result, there is an increase in the construction of tall buildings or high-rises such as skyscrapers, especially in the developing nations. Thus, backhoe loaders have gained immense popularity in the construction of skyscrapers due to their compact footprint and versatility in applications owing to their ability to use various attachments. This increase in demand for backhoe buckets will boost the backhoe bucket market during the forecast period.

In urban areas, high-rises are built to utilize the maximum space or land available and to make incremental profits. Another factor that drives the growth of construction of tall buildings is the competition among nations and governments to build the most spectacular or iconic building with varied geometric shapes, intricate and complex designs, and impressive engineering.

Top vendors:

Felco Industries

Geith International

LEMAC

Rockland Manufacturing

TAG Manufacturing

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With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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AMSTERDAM, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

UBM announced today the continuation of its strategy to ensure Medtec Europe is the preeminent, stand alone, European-focussed, medical technology platform by deciding to integrate Medtec Ireland and Medtec Europe. This is part of a long-term plan to integrate all domestic European events into one main event covering the whole of the European market, providing both exhibitors and visitors with a much stronger commercial proposition. This strategic move will provide even more networking opportunities for the medical technology industry across Europe, combined with a strong offering of content during the event and across the whole year.

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Medtec Ireland, one of the longest standing pure medical design and manufacturing events, successfully brought together more than 700 attendees over two days at this year's event. However, from 2018, Medtec Europe will become the focal point for the full spectrum of the of the medical technology industry across Europe. This up-tiering approach has been successfully used before with Medtec UK, Medtec France, and Medtec Italy, resulting in an average increase in visitor numbers from these markets at Medtec Europe of 22.5%. Furthermore, there has been increased interest and attendance at Medtec Europe by Irish visitors, making the focus on Medtec Europe in line with industry trends.

Medtec Europe 2018 will bring together leading experts, buyers and sellers from across the medical technology industry, with companies from the UK and Ireland receiving special visibility with a dedicated pavilion.

"This year's Medtec Ireland was a great success and a real opportunity for attendees to upskill on the big topics that are driving the industry, both locally and globally," said Anne Schumacher, Brand Director, Medtec. "We've seen continued interest from Irish visitors to Medtec Europe and, as a valued partner for our customers, it was a natural step to consolidate our activities and meet the needs and aspiration for a true, European event. Making Medtec Europe the prime location for the medical technology industry will ensure that our partners in Ireland and across Europe have opportunities to reach into bigger networks while providing an attractive value proposition. With increased visitors from across markets, Medtec Europe will facilitate collaboration and commercialisation opportunities that will drive the medical technology industry forward."

Medtec Europe 2018 will take place in Stuttgart on 17-19 April 2018. As one of the most exciting sectors of the Industry, one key element of Medtec Europe 2018 will be Smart Health innovations. The industry is developing a need for digitalisation and smart solutions throughout all segments of the medical device production chain and there will be live demonstrations, expert speaking sessions, and exhibitors focussing on this sector. To register for Medtec Europe 2018, please visit: www.medteceurope.com/europe

About Medtec Europe

Medtec Europe is the preeminent medical technology platform showcasing the key trends and insights across the entire supply chain of the medical technology industry. Medtec Europe brings together companies in the medical device supply chain in order to share ideas, meet partners, and discover, experience and source products & services from all stages of production in order to create the next generation of medical devices.

About UBM EMEA

UBM EMEA connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands, and expand their market. Through premier brands such as Medtec, CPhI, TFM&A, Internet World, IFSEC, MD&M, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, and many others, UBM EMEA exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites, and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors.

The UBM plc. annual schedule of medical events includes:

Medtec Europe (17 - 19 April 2018)

Medtec Japan (18 - 20 April 2018)

BIOMED Boston (18 - 19 April 2018)

Medtec China (2019)

MD&M West (6 - 8 February 2018)

UBM EMEA is committed to the continual improvement of sustainability

To ensure long term profitability, UBM EMEA aims to be a leader in sustainable business, aligning all key business decisions with our sustainability strategy. UBM EMEA sees it as fundamental that we are conscious of the impact that our actions have on the environment and the communities in which we operate. UBM EMEA strives to manage its impact by ensuring that the principles of sustainability are at the core of all our activities. A corner stone to our journey towards sustainability is our certification to the ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Management System. UBM EMEA is one of the first major organisers to successfully implement and certify our sustainable event management system against the International Standard ISO 20121.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Jonathan Falcone

TogoRun

T: +44-(0)-20-8618-2752

E: j.falcone@togorun.com
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2017 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces a securities class action lawsuit against Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. ("Vitamin Shoppe" or the "Company") (NYSE: VSI). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares from March 1, 2017 through August 6, 2017, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm before the October 27, 2017 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased Vitamin Shoppe shares during the Class Period, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esq., of Khang & Khang LLP, 4000 Barranca Parkway, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92604, by telephone at (949) 419-3834 , or by e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

There has been no class certification in this case yet. Until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. You may choose to take no action and remain a passive class member as well.

According to the Complaint, throughout the Class Period, Vitamin Shoppe made false and/or misleading statements, and/or failed to disclose: that the Company's retail segment was declining dramatically; that its ongoing "reinvention plan" was unsuccessful and brought more than $168 million in goodwill impairment, and it was not properly recognizing that impairment charge; and that as a result of the above, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On May 10, 2017, Vitamin Shoppe released first quarter 2017 financial results that were lower than market expectations and slashed its fiscal 2017 guidance by 45%, yet claimed the "reinvention plan" was still succeeding. Following this news, the Company's stock price fell dramatically. On August 9, 2017, the Company announced that it was taking a $168.1 million impairment charge on the goodwill being carried on its books associated with its retail segment, and that it would report a loss per share of $6.73. Also, citing "the potential increase in variability of the Company's results due to the number of initiatives being launched in the back half of the year," Vitamin Shoppe dropped its fiscal 2017 earnings per share guidance altogether. Upon release of this information, the Company's stock price decreased materially, which caused investors harm according to the Complaint.

If you wish to learn more about this lawsuit, or if you have questions concerning this notice or your rights, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esq., a prominent litigator for nearly two decades, by telephone at (949) 419-3834 , or by e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

Contact

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2017 / Lundin Law PC, a shareholder rights firm, announces a class action lawsuit against Blue Apron Holdings, Inc. ("Blue Apron" or the "Company") (NYSE: APRN) for possible violations of federal securities laws relating to its initial public offering on June 29, 2017 (the "IPO"). Investors, who purchased or otherwise acquired Blue Apron shares pursuant and/or traceable to the IPO, should contact the firm prior to the October 16, 2017 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

To participate in this class action lawsuit, click here.

You can also call Brian Lundin, Esq., of Lundin Law PC, at 888-713-1033, or you can e-mail him at brian@lundinlawpc.com.

No class has been certified in the above action yet, and until a class is certified, you are not considered to be represented by an attorney. You may also choose to do nothing and be an absent class member.

The Complaint alleges that the Registration Statement filed in connection with the IPO failed to disclose that: Blue Apron decided to significantly reduce spending on advertising in Q2 2017, hurting sales and profit margins in future quarters; that the Company was experiencing difficulty with customer retention due to orders not arriving on time or with all expected ingredients; and that the Company was experiencing delayed orders in Q2 2017 related to its new factory in Linden, New Jersey. Since the IPO, Blue Apron's share price has fallen materially, which has caused investors harm according to the lawsuit.

Lundin Law PC was founded by Brian Lundin, Esq., a securities litigator based in Los Angeles dedicated to upholding shareholders' rights.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in certain jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

Contact:

Lundin Law PC

Brian Lundin, Esq.

Telephone: 888-713-1033

Facsimile: 888-713-1125

brian@lundinlawpc.com

http://lundinlawpc.com/

SOURCE: Lundin Law PC
DALLAS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 10/09/17 -- Freeman, the leading global provider of brand experiences, today announced Fuzion(SM) by Freeman, an open product ecosystem that acts as a foundation between digital solutions, establishing a common language that allows them talk to each other. Fuzion solves industry-wide integration issues between digital tools by connecting data across all points of the event ecosystem to create a seamless experience for event organizers and attendees. Event organizers will have the power to choose best-in-class digital solutions that match their unique needs, and with Fuzion, integrating them will be simple.

This platform marks the next step in Freeman's digital event technology investment. With Fuzion, technology integration will become increasingly easier, supporting continued technology adoption and advancing the industry as a whole. Combining data from disparate sources will also allow event organizers to have a more unified, meaningful view of their event and centralized analytics.

"Achieving true event technology integration that drives improved visibility and actionable insights is one of the biggest opportunities for our industry right now," said Richard Maranville, executive vice president and chief digital officer of Freeman. "Fuzion is a forward-thinking, transformational technology solution that enables our partners to focus on what they do best and prioritize their customers."

Fuzion will benefit event marketers and show organizers by:

Increasing attendee experience and satisfaction

Providing flexibility and enabling event technology adoption

Saving valuable time and resources

"Fuzion opens the doors for those looking for a solution that will save time, improve flexibility and drive better attendee experiences," said Danielle Puceta, vice president of digital product and partnerships, Freeman. "Freeman's goal is to develop common standards and a cohesive partner network that solves integration challenges for all association and corporate customers."

For customers interested in how Fuzion can solve their integration challenges, they can visit freeman.com/fuzion to learn more.

For partners interested in joining the Fuzion partner network, they can submit inquiries through our developer portal at fuzion.freeman.com.

Click here for more perspective from Richard Maranville on why making products work together is necessary to push event tech forward.

About Freeman

Freeman is the world's leading brand experience company. We help our clients design, plan, and deliver immersive experiences for their most important audiences. Through comprehensive solutions including strategy, creative, logistics, digital solutions, and event technology, Freeman helps increase engagement and drive business results. What makes us different is our collaborative culture, intuitive knowledge, global perspective, and personalized approach, gained from our 90 years as an industry leader. Freeman is a family-owned company with 90+ locations worldwide and over 7,000 employees, 2,000 of whom are located outside the U.S. For more information, visit www.freeman.com.

Social Networks:

Web: www.freeman.com

Insights: www.freeman.com/insights

Twitter: www.twitter.com/freemanco

Facebook: www.facebook.com/freemanfans

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-freeman-company

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/FreemancoVideos

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/freemanco/

Tumblr: https://freemancompany.tumblr.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/freemancompany/

Media Contacts:

Ellen Zeidler, Freeman

214.445.1162

ellen.zeidler@freemanco.com



Matt Falso, on behalf of Freeman

518.886.1076

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LANCASTER, PA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/09/17 --

Aspire Ventures announces participation in the Rise Of The Rest tour with Steve Case, as the venue for one of the tour's first stops in Lancaster, PA

Aspire Ventures to present to Case its innovative approach to building startups and forging important partnerships with multiple stakeholders to transform healthcare

Aspire Ventures' CEO, Essam Abadir, to present alongside Lancaster General Health's CEO and president, Jan Bergen, on their unique collaborations and contributions to the startup ecosystem

Tomorrow, Aspire Ventures will host one of the first stops on entrepreneur Steve Case's seven-city Rise Of The Rest tour, which celebrates and spotlights startup ecosystems across the United States. During the tour stop, Aspire Ventures' CEO, Essam Abadir, and Lancaster General Health's CEO and president, Jan Bergen, will share how they are collaborating across an ecosystem of technology companies, healthcare providers, insurers, and consumers to transform the American healthcare system.

One example of Aspire Ventures' and LG Health's efforts is the creation of the Smart Health Innovation Lab, a new healthcare technology center where payors, providers, and technology companies work together to validate market-ready products and expedite integration into healthcare systems. Founded through a unique collaboration between Aspire, LG Health, Capital BlueCross, and Clio Health, the Smart Health Innovation Lab will open in downtown Lancaster, PA in early 2018.

During the tour stop at Aspire Ventures, Abadir and Bergen will speak to attendees on the value of collaboration to effect massive and meaningful change across entire industries -- with the Smart Health Innovation Lab serving as a prime example of the results that can be achieved through industry-wide collaboration. Aspire's involvement in the Rise Of The Rest tour is a testament to the city of Lancaster's commitment to innovation, as Case personally invests in and uncovers world-class entrepreneurs in previously untapped markets such as Central Pennsylvania.

As part of the rapidly expanding hub of technology innovation in Central Pennsylvania, Aspire Ventures' involvement in Rise Of The Rest is an example of the importance of business development on both a local and national scale. Aspire is working with all members of its ecosystem to help healthcare providers gain access to the necessary tools to transform U.S. healthcare, with the goal of improving the patient experience and health outcomes for every American.

Following are details on the notable activities taking place on the tour today:

Rise Of The Rest Tour Agenda: October 10, 2017

11 - 11:30 a.m.: Aspire Ventures Tour Stop; Lancaster, PA

Aspire Ventures' CEO, Essam Abadir, will join LG Health CEO and president, Jan Bergen, to provide an overview of the entrepreneurship taking place within Lancaster's healthcare community. In addition, Abadir will lead a tour of Aspire Ventures' Venture Lab, during which attendees will be able to see first-hand:

The first artificial intelligence platform to predict blood sugar levels to a more accurate degree than doctors from one of the best clinics in the world

Some of the most advanced remote biometric sensing technology

A telemedicine platform that could hold the key to the future of the healthcare experience

Following the Venture Lab tour, Abadir will lead a deep dive into the future of medicine.

3 - 4 p.m.: Fireside Chat; Harrisburg, PA

Join Steve Case and Eric Barron for a Fireside Chat interview, during which they will discuss the city of Harrisburg's startup economy.

4 - 6 p.m.: Rise Of The Rest Pitch Competition; Harrisburg, PA

During the Rise Of The Rest Pitch Competition, nine of the most innovative startup companies in Central Pennsylvania will be given the opportunity to pitch Steve Case and a panel of all-star judges. Case will personally invest $100,000 in the winning startup.

6 - 7:30 p.m.: Happy Hour; Harrisburg, PA

After a great day, Steve Case and the Rise Of The Rest crew will host a networking party for entrepreneurs, investors and all other members of the Central Pennsylvania entrepreneurial ecosystem. Join us to celebrate all the amazing progress in Pennsylvania, meet the people making it happen, and enjoy a few drinks with new friends.

About Aspire Ventures

Aspire Ventures, an Aspire Universal Company (www.aspireuniversal.com), is a private equity firm focused on transforming industries and impact investment. Aspire Ventures leverages its capital, intellectual property and domain expertise to help bring breakthrough technologies to market faster and more cost effectively for the benefit of people worldwide.

Aspire Ventures has developed A2I, an adaptive artificial intelligence platform, to help its portfolio companies offer innovative technologies in the areas of mobile, cloud, machine learning, and big data analytics for a variety of industry sectors, most notably healthcare. Aspire Ventures is leading several initiatives in healthcare designed to break down silos, foster innovation and integration, and effect revolutionary change, and the company's vision for healthcare is a patient-centered model that is focused on creating a better patient experience through precision medicine.

Aspire Ventures is based in Lancaster, PA. For more information, visit https://www.aspirevc.com/home.

Contact

Drew Smith

10Fold for Aspire Ventures

dsmith@10fold.com

(415) 800-5374




Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (NA:PSH) today announces that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's ordinary shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"):

Date of purchase: 9 October 2017 Number of Shares purchased: 19,887 Shares Highest price paid per Share: 1,006 pence 13.21 USD Lowest price paid per Share: 999 pence 13.11 USD Average price paid per Share: 1,001.19 pence 13.14 USD

PSH intends to cancel these Shares. The net asset value per Share related to this Share buyback is USD 17.08 GBP 12.74 which was calculated as of 30 September 2017. After giving effect to the above Share buyback, PSH has outstanding 237,513,049 Shares. The prices per share in USD were calculated by Jefferies.

The number of PSH Management Shares and the 1 special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) has not been affected.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005916/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Maitland

James Devas, +44 20 7379 5151

Media-pershingsquareholdings1@maitland.co.uk
Lu Gang recalls his first sighting of a colorful bee-eating bird eight years ago as his train pulled into Haikou station in tropical Hainan province.

A pair of chestnut-throated bee-eaters perch on a branch near Jinsha Bay, Hainan province.Lu Gang / For China Daily

When he got off the train and went to look for the bird, he found dozens of them nesting in a sandbank near the station, mostly the chestnut-throated variety but also a few bluethroats.

As a birder and a conservationist, Lu is fascinated by beeeaters. Every year since 2010, from March to July, hundreds of bird-watchers from across China come to see them.

"The bee-eater is an indicator of how well we have protected our wetlands and environment," said Lu, who has worked to protect the forest and local species for a decade.

According to the Hainan Birdwatching Association, Jinsha Bay in Haikou, an important breeding ground for beeeaters, faces many threats. Encroaching urban development, sand mining and pollution from farming have done untold damage to the birds' habitat.

A recent real estate development worries Lu and other bird-lovers, with nearby ponds and marshes set to be drained.

"I have studied waterfowl for 10 years, and I find the number of winter migrants in Hainan to be declining, even though the island is covered in thick forest and is home to a few of birds endemic to the country," Lu said. He attributes the decline largely to real estate development and quarrying.

Conservationists, environmental volunteers and birders are well aware of the threats and frequently make statements to the media or report problems to the government. But the development continues.

"We won't just stand by and watch these birds perish. It is the government's decision whether to call a halt to the destruction or to allow it," said Cheng Cheng, director of the bird-watching association.

Such reports are taken seriously by the Haikou city government. In 2016, it investigated the shrinking habitat of the bee-eaters and put an end to illegal quarrying.

An eight-year plan to restore wetlands was issued in June. A wetland nature reserve, seven parks and 45 wetland communities will be set up under the plan. Jinsha Bay is on the list.

In China, conservation has galvanized the government and people. A greener environment is a new goal, and the government has emphasized the need to preserve biodiversity.

Lu said the government has made great efforts in conservation and would benefit by drawing on the experience of people and organizations with expertise in specific areas, such as bee-eater protection.

While the wetlands plan is being reviewed by the public, the Paradise Foundation, a conservation group, is sponsoring 18 individuals and organizations to privately protect areas using their own capital and wealth of experience, as well as new technologies.

Lu was one of those chosen, and he immediately recommended that the local government establish a protected area in Jinsha Bay.

"If both development and habitat protection are handled properly, the bee-eaters will flourish. Real estate surrounded by a vibrant environment will be worth much more," Lu said.

Haikou is keen to work with the foundation to put the wetlands plan into practice, protecting and restoring its 29,000 hectares of wetland, said Zhang Qi, Party chief of Haikou.

The Paradise Foundation helped found the country's first land trust reserve, a home for giant pandas in Old Creek Nature Reserve in Sichuan province.

By purchasing a variety of leases, the foundation and the government have put 110 square kilometers under protected status. The reserve not only protects the environment and various species, but includes sustainable farming.

Lu is confident that more wetland communities can be founded in Haikou, and wants to include as many as possible in the plan.

"The government is on our side, setting aside land for protection and promoting this model across the province," he said.
DeepWave Technologies, Inc., an Illinois-based neurotechnology wearable startup, raised a seed funding round of undisclosed amount.

Deep Knowledge Life Sciences, the life science focused subsidiary of Deep Knowledge Ventures, led the round.

DeepWave Technologies is a neurotechnology wearable startup commercializing patented technology developed at Northwestern University to enhance cognitive function and memory consolidation via stimulation of Slow Wave Sleep with sound alone.

The device uses an EEG system that synchronizes with the users own brainwaves and uses precisely-timed pulses of a pink noise to increase the amplitude of SWA using sound.

Dr. Giovanni Santostasi and his colleagues at Northwestern University have tested this proprietary algorithm on individuals using laboratory-grade EEGs.

He first tested the amount that users scores on memory tests improved before and after sleep, to measure the amount of memory enhancement occurring during a normal nights sleep. He then tested their scores on memory tests when using his device for one night. His algorithm increased the memory test scores of older adults (65+ years) compared to a night of normal sleep by an average of 400%, restoring them to youthful levels.

The company will use the funds for the development of a prototype device which employs this proprietary algorithm to enhance sleep quality and memory via an ergonomic EEG headband worn at night.

FinSMEs

08/10/2017
Fondo Italiano dInvestimento SGR, an Italian fund of funds, held the first closing of two funds.

These include:

 Innovazione e Sviluppo, a private equity fund, and

 FII Tech Growth, a late stage venture capital fund.

The closing was reached through the support of cornerstone investor Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, which has commited 150m to Innovazione e Sviluppo and 50m to FII Tech Growth.

Innovazione e Sviluppo, which has a final target of 700m, aims to support the growth of SMEs operating in agrifood, mechatronics, Italian design sectors, as well as other relevant areas in the framework of the countys industrial and services systems.

FII Tech Growth, which has final target of 150, will focus on already venture capital backed companies which need further funding to continue to grow as well as high tech industrial innovation TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunications) and SMEs to develop domestically and internationally.

FinSMEs

08/10/2017
LifeRaft, a Halifax, Canada-based open source intelligence provider for the corporate security industry, raised $1.45m in non-dilutive Series A funding.

Mike Durland, Group Head and Chief Executive Officer of Global Banking & Markets at The Bank of Nova Scotia, joined as a major investor and strategic advisor.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its sales and marketing efforts, and to further drive product development to retain and add to the list of major commercial customers around the world.

Founded in 2014 and led by John Gallinaugh, CEO, LifeRaft provides a technology platform that identifies potential threats to people and company assets by gathering actionable intelligence from open source channels such as social media, the deep web, and other digital sources, filtering it so only critical information is identified.

FinSMEs

08/10/2017
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From the New York Times



"Lorraine Dusky, a writer who relinquished a daughter as a young single mother in New York State in 1966, supports opening the records. She reported in her 2015 memoir that in the handful of states that offered women the opportunity to remove their names from original birth certificates, only a small fraction of women  fewer than 1 percent  chose to do so." -- Dont Keep Adopted People in the Dark by Gabrielle Glaser, June 19, 2018

From the New York Times "On FirstMotherForum.com, a blog that discusses issues among women who had given children up for adoption, Lorraine Dusky, one of the sites authors, praised the series (ABC's 10-episode Find My Family): 'Maybe this will be heard by people who think it is unloyal somehow for a person to search out his or her roots, parents, family, when it is a most natural desire of consciousness.' --Two Reality Shows Stir Publicity and Anger"--Dec. 6, 2009.

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"It shouldn't take a miracle to find people you are related to by blood."--Jenn Gentlesk

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Oregon court records available Instructions and forms for accessing adoption records are on the Oregon Judicial Department's website.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE Material from First Mother Forum may be quoted as long as FMF is credited and with a link to original source here. Over 350 words, contact for permission: forumfirstmother@gmail.com.
In the run-up to the general elections of 2014, economy was central to Prime Minister Narendra Modis political agenda. In fact, it was his focus on government policies and jobs that led to his landslide victory in the election. Economy has always been his pet subject ever since. Using an array of schemes ornamented with catchy slogans and some unconventional but popular economic moves (like demonetisation, for instance), Modi later carried forward the discussion on economy to places where, until then, it was an alien subject. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) enjoyed the note ban dividend in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh polls. It showed that the unprecedented move banning about 86 percent of the currency in circulation to root out black money and corruption helped Modi pit the honest against the crooks.

But, at the end of three-and-half years of his rule, economy  once his strong point  is proving to be Modis greatest foe on the ground that could potentially weaken his 2019 poll prospects. A range of indicators is pointing in that direction. Consumer confidence on economic revival is falling (read a report in The Indian Express on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) surveys here). As the RBI surveys point out, less number of people (34.6 percent) are now saying that things have improved on the ground, compared with a previous survey in September 2016, when 44.6 percent said that. This could do more harm for the economy in the future. In such a scenario, consumers will hold back their spending plans and save money. Remember, India is largely a consumption-driven recovery. Investment-led recovery is still away.

The signals are already visible. Most experts forecast that in the July-September quarter, corporate earnings are likely to be muted except in certain segments. Bank lending to industries continues to be in contraction mode for years now. Bank lending to MSMEs contracted 3.4 percent until August this fiscal year compared with a contraction of 4.6 percent in the year-ago period. For medium-sized companies, the contraction in credit growth has been 5.7 percent while for large companies, it was 2.3 percent this fiscal year until August. The banking system, dominated by government-owned banks, continues to be in pain with high amount of stressed loans and lack of adequate fresh capital.

One big worry probably is the absence of revival in private investments, which puts the onus on the government to spend and support growth. However, this task is made difficult given the tight fiscal deficit target of 3.2 percent set for this year. The demonetisation of Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes around a year ago, came as a jolt to industries, especially small units operating in cash intensive sectors, breaking the supply chain and paralysing the businesses for a prolonged period. The goods and services tax (GST) added to the worries of small traders, as they grappled with uncertainty surrounding the new rules and unexpected changes in the cost of certain products. Even the RBI cautioned about the new tax regime's impact on growth. Recent changes in GST rules will hopefully ease the burden on the small-scale sectors. Economic growth has been falling over several quarters and fell to 5.7 percent in the June quarter.

Right now Modi is confronted with heavy criticism on his economic moves both within his party cadres and outside. The recent public outburst from Yashwant Sinha, a former union finance minister and senior BJP leader, who said the economy is in a mes has brought the economic debate back to the table. Sinha is joined by the likes of economist-turned-politician Subramanian Swamy and former union minister, Arun Shourie, both from the BJP camp. This sharpened criticism has forced Modi to launch a rebuttal at a recent function not in his by now well-known style, but with a data-packed speech. The rebuttal has sparked further debates and the government is struggling to find a way out of the economic mess.

Missing jobs

While the debate on the economy is largely centred around the urban middle class, one aspect of it --lack of new jobs -- is being felt even among villages and semi-urban areas. Even during its high-growth years, Indian economy had faced flak for a jobless growth phase. Now, when growth has taken a beating, the problem has turned worse. As this report in the Mint, quoting a study conducted by research group Lokniti at the New Delhi-based Centre for Developing Societies (CSDS), says, Negative perception about jobs could become the Achilles heel of the Narendra Modi-led Union government. According to this study, nearly a quarter of those surveyed identified unemployment as the biggest problem facing the country today.

Unfortunately, there isnt detailed data available on employment trends in India unlike in the west. But whatever is on the table does not offer a promising picture. According to government data, the unemployment rate in the country was 4.9 percent in 2013, 4.7 percent in 2012 and 3.8 percent in 2011. For scheduled castes, the unemployment rate was 3.1 percent in 2011, which has now risen to 5 percent. That means, while there has been a steady increase in the number of jobless people since 2011, there has been a worrying, almost double, jump in the figures pertaining to the unemployment figures among the scheduled castes.

Millions entering the workforce need to be accommodated in the job market.To generate jobs, Modi will need to unleash the animal spirits in the economy. Structural reforms such as GST will show results in the long-term but to release the immediate potential, Modi needs to urgently work on plans to get private investments back, clear obstacles in acquiring land and labour by working with state governments. Now that most states are ruled by the BJP, a dialogue with them wouldnt be too difficult. But, there are politically powerful labour unions which wont relent easily. The banking sector needs to be lifted out of the current mess by injecting capital and improving efficiency. For this, the government must get out of doing business and bring in the private sector in a big way. All these require clear planning, beyond merely responding to problems.

In the 2019 elections, the economy can be Modi's closest friend only if he manages to address the problems, especially of jobs. Else, it will become his biggest enemy. Rhetoric and jugaad can go a only small distance.
Washington: India needs to grow at a faster pace, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said, while asserting that there was public support for the government's reform initiatives despite the difficulties arising from implementing Goods and Services Tax (GST), for instance.

Jaitley has said that the governments initiatives such as Swachh Bharat, goods and services tax (GST) and demonetisation are having the desired impact, the latter two resulting in increasing tax compliance and squeezing quantum of cash in the economy.

"The obvious challenge to the country is to grow and grow fast. It has to grow at a much higher rate than we have been growing in recent history," Jaitley said in an address via video conference to the Berkeley India Conference prior to his departure for the US.

He is due to leave for the US on Monday (today) to attend the forthcoming annual meeting of International Monetary Fund and World Bank here.

"I do hope that India is able to retain its growth rate once again and live up to the aspirations of its people because we must not forget that we not only have a large population to service, we have a very young population to service," he said.

"We have to grow at a much faster pace," he said, adding that a young and aspirational population wants change and reforms at a fast pace, and is impatient to see results.

"Time therefore is running against us," Jaitley said.

Responding to a question, he refuted the impression that transformational initiatives such as Swachh Bharat, GST and demonetisation have not resulted in any changes on the ground. Would you say there were long-term benefits and the country would have to wait for those? Or was there any way to mitigate the problem being faced by the country, he was asked.

A more serious analysis, he argued, would show that even within matter of months there was a short-term positive impact of all these projects.

On reforms, the Finance Minister said the GST has resulted in creation of a national tax structure.

"In the three months, you have all the check points in states disappeared, you have clear flow of goods and services which has started all over the country," he said.

Acknowledging issues related to compliance, Jaitley said the GST Council had noted these challenges and is taking steps to address them.

GST has been a "reasonable smooth transformation," but there is scope for improvement, he said.

"I think in GST Council we have succeeded in creating India's first federal institution."

Pulled down by sluggish manufacturing, growth in the Indian economy, during the first quarter (April-June), fell to 5.7 per cent, clocking the lowest GDP growth rate under the Narendra Modi dispensation.

On the demonetisation of high value currency, he said the Indian normal was to live with a high-cash economy and not pay taxes.

"You buy a property, you transact partly in cash, and in business you maintain two sets of accounts," he said.

"How can a country, which aims to be the fastest growing major economy in the world, which aspires to grow from a developing to a developed economy, continue with the normal of this type," he asked.

He said demonetisation had led to a sharp drop in insurgent and terror activities in states like Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh.

"You are having terrorist incidents, but the fact that you were finding 5,000-10,000 stone throwers being provided with money by the terrorist organisations, why is it that in the last eight-ten months it has not happened," he asked.

(With inputs from agencies)
China's Good Samaritan law went into effect on Oct. 1 to protect people who are ready to help others.

Under the legislation, people who voluntarily offer emergency assistance to those who are, or who they believe to be, injured, ill, in danger, or otherwise incapacitated, will not have civil liability in the event of harm to the victims.

It aims to ease the reluctance people feel toward helping strangers for fear of legal repercussions if they make mistakes in treatment.

The legislation responds to the phenomenon of people refraining from assisting fallen senior citizens over concerns of being blackmailed later, said Wang Cheng, professor at Peking University Law School.

The law will reduce bystanders' hesitation to assist, said Wang.

In 2011, a two-year-old girl was run over by two cars, and 18 passersby did not offer emergency help. The girl died later after days of medical treatment.

In 2014, a man from south China's Guangdong Province aided a senior citizen but was accused of knocking him down. The man committed suicide when faced with demands for compensation.

"If you don't provide help, you will blame yourself, but if you do help, you are likely to be hurt by the people you help. It is really a dilemma," said one comment on China's microblog Sina Weibo.

These disputes have sparked debate about morality and heroism in the country in recent years.

"There is no need to discuss whether or not you should aid people in distress. Your help is a matter of life or death for the person who is injured," said Wang.

If a code of conduct is not enough to prevent unethical behavior, it is time for the law to address it, said Liu Jiehui, a judge with the Intermediate People's Court of Shenzhen City in Guangdong.

In 2012, China's State Council published a paper outlining ideas to help protect Good Samaritans that would provide preferential polices in employment and other fields.

Although there had been calls for a national Good Samaritan law, only a few cities pushed ahead with such legislation before the nationwide law came into effect.

In 2013, Shenzhen said anyone who wants to claim compensation needs to collect evidence first.

Shanghai in 2016 enacted a policy that protects the public from liability during rescues and rescue attempts.

The national Good Samaritan law underwent three amendments from December 2016 to March 2017 before it was introduced in October.

The nationwide Good Samaritan law will help create a better social atmosphere for helping others, said Liu.

Some experts are concerned that there will be some danger from a nationwide Good Samaritan law.

"Rescuers who know little about medical treatment could bring serious harm to people in critical condition," said Yang Lixin, a professor with the Renmin University of China.

He hoped the government could introduce details of the policy soon while encouraging people to voluntarily offer assistance.
Mumbai/New Delhi: The role of bank executives, directors and government officials has come under the scanner for alleged violations at the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines as multi-agency probes against fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya gather steam, regulatory and banking sources said.

With the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) submitting a detailed report on the misdoings at Kingfisher Airlines, which went belly up in 2012, the government, regulators and banks are set to initiate strict actions to zero in on the guilty.

Sources said the probe agency has red flagged a slew of violations of companies law by Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines and officials, including serious corporate governance lapses.

The role of independent directors and whether they failed in discharging their duties during their tenure at the airline has come to the fore, they added.

Besides, sources said the role of bank executives in extending loans without requisite due diligence to the airline as well as the possibility of some government officials conniving with Mallya are being looked into in detail.

Indian authorities have been working on ways to bring back Mallya, wanted for Kingfisher Airlines' default on loans worth nearly Rs 9,000 crore and some other matters, back from the UK, where he has been based for a long time.

Sources said all banks where the SFIO has found lapses with respect to loans extended to the defunct airline are under the scanner.

"The company's balance sheet was never strong and its credit rating was lower than what was required for sanctioning loans. Still, the banks went ahead and sanctioned them by deviating from the loan procedures," one of the sources said.

The investigators have also found that banks considered only one valuer's report for the valuation of Kingfisher brand and based on that loans were given to the carrier, according to sources.

Regulations require that at least two different valuation reports should be considered before deciding on giving loans on the basis of brand.

Corporate affairs ministry officials were not available for comments on the SFIO report while queries sent to Mallya did not elicit any immediate response.

Sources said agencies have also asked for certain details from banks who have exposure to Kingfisher Airlines as authorities tighten the noose around Mallya.

The 61-year-old flamboyant businessman was arrested in London earlier this month in a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate, before being released on bail by Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Mallya, already out on bail on an extradition warrant executed by the Metropolitan Police earlier this year, was released on the same bail conditions as before to appear for his trial on 4 December.
New Delhi: India pressed oil cartel Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to adopt "responsible pricing" for oil and consider the world's third-biggest oil consumer as its preferred sales destination on Sunday.

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met OPEC Secretary General Sanusi Mohammad Barkindo to discuss "the current scenario of oil and gas industry of the world and exchanged notes on the recent developments", an official statement said.

During the meeting, Pradhan highlighted that in today's oversupplied market, it is important for producers to understand the perspective of consuming countries and the changes that have taken place in these demand centres.

Barkindo is in India to attend the first CERAWEEK India Energy Forum. The two had last met in Vienna in May 2017 for the 2nd India-OPEC Institutional Dialogue.

"Pradhan reiterated that the OPEC should work towards 'responsible pricing', which is important for India for socio-economic and developmental reasons," the statement said.

Reiterating the decade-old India's view that the OPEC should consider giving 'Asian Dividend' rather than charging 'Asian Premium' on the crude supplied to India, he said countries like India should actually be the "preferred destination".

India sources about 86 percent of crude oil, 75 percent of natural gas and 95 percent of LPG from OPEC member countries.

The minister emphasised on the need for a purposeful and improved dialogue among producer and consumer countries. He suggested that the OPEC at its ministerial meetings give wider consideration to India's requests.

According to Pradhan, India is putting a lot of emphasis on diversifying its crude oil supply sources and tapping new supply sources. In this context, he highlighted the arrival of two shipments of crude oil cargo of 1.6 million barrels from the US.

Three Indian public sector refineries have already placed a cumulative order of 7.85 million barrel from the US. In addition, a private refiner has placed an order of 2 million barrel from the western nation.

The minister was accompanied by senior officials from the and also CEOs of seven public and private refineries who together operate all 23 refineries in India processing over 235 million tonnes of crude annually.

The minister extended invitation to the OPEC secretary general to attend the 16th Ministerial Meeting of International Energy Forum scheduled to take place in India in April 2018.

The secretary general accepted the invitation, the statement said.
New Delhi: State-run oil giant Saudi Aramco is in talks with several Indian refiners and hopes to land a joint venture deal by next year, the companys chief executive said on Sunday.

We are hoping to land on a JV sometime, Aramcos CEO Amin Nasser said at India Energy Forum by Cera Week in New Delhi.

Asked if a deal could be finalised next year, he said: We hope so. We are in serious discussions.

Aramco wants to buy a stake in the planned 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) refinery in Indias west coast, Indias oil minister said in June.

The worlds biggest oil producer is investing in refineries abroad to help lock in demand for its crude and expand its market share ahead of its initial public offering next year.

Aramco plans to float up to 5 percent of its shares in 2018 in what could be the worlds largest IPO, raising as much as $100 billion.

Nasser said Aramco is interested in investing in Indias downstream sector - refining, petrochemicals and fuel retailing including lubricants.

Saudi Arabia is competing with Iraq to be Indias top oil supplier, with Iraq displacing it for a fifth month in a row in August, data compiled by Reuters showed.

Earlier this year Saudi Arabia pledged billions of dollars of investment in projects in Indonesia and Malaysia to ensure long-term oil supply deals.

The International Energy Agency estimates Indias refining capacity will lag fuel demand going forward, requiring investment in new plants.

New office at Gurugram

Earlier, it launched a new office at Gurugram (formerly Gurgaon) as it aims to expands its presence in India. Aramco Asia India (AAI) established its formal business presence in India last year.

Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who inaugurated Aramcos India unit, said Aramco is interested in investing in refinery projects in the Asian country and very soon they will come to India.

Nasser said Aramco will increase its staff strength in India by four-fold compared to now. The company which had 14 employees has now raised staff numbers to around 30.

India by itself is an important market. The size of Indias market is huge. The growth in India last year is 8 percent last year as compared to 1.5 percent globally in energy, Nasser said.

We need to be here.

Saudi Arabia is the second-largest crude oil supplier to India after Iraq. It accounts for about 19 percent of India's crude oil imports and 29 percent of LPG imports.

It is competing with Iraq to be Indias top oil supplier, with Iraq displacing it for a fifth month in a row in August, data compiled by Reuters showed.

During 2016 -17, India imported about 39.5 million tonnes of crude from Saudi Arabia. "Saudi Aramco through its subsidiary Aramco Asia India (AAI) established its formal business presence in India in 2016. AAI would now formally engage in crude oil and LPG marketing, engineering and technical services, and other business development activities," it said.

Aramco India plans to expand its operation by introducing hydrocarbon sector functions, including engineering services, IT operations and security and also R & D centre in the near future.

"Saudi Aramco intends to partner with Indian companies and set up integrated business ventures in the hydrocarbon value chain in India, including to boost Make in India activities," the statement said.

Pradhan said India is one of the biggest markets for Saudi oil and LPG. Saudi Aramco's Office in India will help in strengthening the existing buyer-supplier relationship between the two sides to a strategic partnership in the hydrocarbon sector, he said.

Saudi Aramco is investing in refineries in major markets to lock in customers ahead of its initial public offering next year. In India, it is looking for investment opportunities in refining and petrochemical projects.

Nasser is visiting India to attend the IHS-CERA conference beginning on Monday (today), which will also be attended by OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo.
For Aarav, who entered the Bigg Boss Tamil house as the sole non-celebrity contestant on day one, winning the title has been quite a surreal experience. Now, he's gearing up to listen to scripts and is enjoying all the limelight and overnight fame the show has given him. In this exclusive interview with Firstpost, he talks about his learnings from the show, how he has become more mature now and his relationship with Oviya.

"I received a call from someone who represented Vijay TV, three days before the Bigg Boss show started. I had no clue about the format, except for the basic concept. In fact, I've not even seen the Hindi version of the reality show. But I gave my consent immediately to be a part of it, which sounded quite interesting and experimental," recalls Aarav about how he made his entry to the show.

Aarav did not know any of the Bigg Boss contestants personally before entering the show. "I have seen Vaiyapuri, Shakthi, Oviya and a few others on television and in films. But, I befriended them only through the course of the show," says Aarav.

Aarav was always of the opinion that people will favor only a celebrity contestant to win the title. "I was genuinely apprehensive about winning the title. I thought people will always favor the known faces rather than supporting someone who was hardly known," he said.

Although a week has passed since the show concluded, Aarav is still camera-conscious when he is at home and outside. "Sometimes, I try to adjust my invisible shoulder bag thinking that I still carry the mike. Winning the title was a surreal experience. I am still not able to believe that I've triumphed others," says Aarav, adding that he still stares at the trophy in his home to realize that he is the winner.

"Even my parents didn't encourage me to be a part of the show since the format was completely new to Tamil audiences. But, as episodes passed, they seemed to have appreciated my presence on television and started rooting for me," said Aarav.
The trailer of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama Padmavati, as expected, is high on style and spectacle. What is new is the trailer steers clear of any intimate scenes between Deepika Padukone's titular character of Rani Padmini and Ranveer Singh's character Alauddin Khilji.

The romance between both these actors' characters is what made Bhansali's past two films - the 2013 romantic drama Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela and the 2015 period romance Bajirao Mastani - grab eyeballs. But what this trailer offers is the regal romance between Padukone's character and her husband Maharawal Ratan Singh, played by Shahid Kapoor.

In one of the highlights of the trailer, Padukone's character is seen helping Kapoor's character wear his pagdi (turban). This moment not only puts their relationship into the spotlight but also holds deep symbolic significance. As a large chunk of the trailer features a monologue from Kapoor's character on the spirit of being a Rajput, Padukone's character is seen symbolically helping her husband uphold the pride of the Rajput clan.

Ranveer is at his intense best as Alauddin Khilji as shots demonstrating his dark streak are peppered all over the trailer, out of which one in which he is seen hogging on meat stands out.

The long-awaited trailer of the film was launched on Monday precisely at 13.03 pm. The makers zeroed in on this exact time on Monday because the battle between Maharawal Ratan Singh and Alauddin Khilji had taken place in the year of 1303. Thus, the time gains a historic relevance since the battle is a pivotal plot point of the film's narrative.

Padmavati also stars Jim Sarbh and Aditi Rao Hydari. It is co-produced by Viacom 18 Pictures and Bhansali Productions. It is slated to release on 1 December.
Actor Dulquer Salmaan's latest bilingual film Solo has opened to polarised views from audiences and critics alike. In an emotional Facebook post, he has urged the audience to not kill the film and watch it with an open mind.

Solo, directed by Bejoy Nambiar, is an anthology of four stories connected by water, wind, fire and earth.

"I've been meaning to write a note about Solo after watching the film myself and because of my schedule I could only get the time today. I saw it. And it's turned out much better than I could ever imagine it. I loved every second of it," Dulquer wrote in his Facebook post on Sunday night.

He admits the film has issues.

"The issues might be in terms of language, because it is a bilingual and maybe the Shekhar track needed longer screen time. But, I absolutely loved the film. The original version. The version my director, Bejoy Nambiar envisioned. Films like Solo are any actor's dream. I loved it the moment I heard it. I loved every second of shooting it," he said.

Dulquer said he would do films like Solo again because he wants to constantly do "different" films. But he said he doesn't understand why a certain section of the audience don't like different cinema.

"7 billion humans walk the earth. There is bound to be that many stories. That many issues, that many conflicts or differences. If you are not familiar with it, doesn't make it go away. If you are not aware of it, doesn't make it wrong. Cause if you do, you just run the risk of being ignorant. Or judgmental. Or both. We are only human. So why judge," he asked.

He is upset with the flak the story of Rudra, one of the characters he played in the film, has been receiving from audiences.

"The Rudra story in Solo, it breaks my heart. It excited all of us actors. Be it Nasser sir, Hasini ma'am, Neha (Sharma) or me, we were kicked that it was so unique and bold. It's based on true incidents and there have been several news stories like it. We wanted to make a film about it. We thought the best way to tell it was through humour. So when people say it became unintentionally funny I don't get it," he said.

In the story of Rudra, an incestuous relationship is explored which was not received well.

"The sequence where the amazing Suhasini ma'am in a stellar performance breaks the news to my character Rudra has been for me one of the greatest scenes in my cinematic career. It was a single shot and I had to interpret it how I deemed best. For an actor like me, that was new and unprecedented. With no reference point, I enjoyed that more than any scene in my life because it's different from anything else," he said.

He said the whole episode was treated with dark comedy.

"It was funny when Bejoy (writer-director Bejoy Nambiar) told us about it. It was funny when he called cut. It was funny during dub and it was funny when I saw it on screen. Of course, the characters won't make it a comedy.

"They will be sad and broken and awkward on screen, especially Rudra. Sadly because it was awkward people didn't understand if they were laughing with us (the makers) or laughing at us. Dark comedies are meant to be awkward. Always have been. That was our intention," he explained

"So mocking it (the film), booing in theatres, spreading negativity and hate and degrading the film because you didn't get it, just kills the film. It breaks our hearts, breaks our spirit, and kills the courage you gave me all along. So I beg you. Don't kill Solo. Give it a go with an open mind and you will have a blast with the film," he said.
In the last few years, the southern film industry has warmed up to the idea of bilingual projects like never before. The success and wide reach of SS Rajamoulis Baahubali franchise (made simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu and dubbed in Hindi), which blurred the lines between the industries, allowing more regional filmmakers to transcend linguistic boundaries with universal content.

While the general argument is that bilinguals are made to appeal to larger audiences (which has been true in most cases), the lesser known fact is that shooting bilinguals is cost-effective, even it if means double the effort, from a production point of view.

According to an industry veteran, who does not wish to be named, bilinguals help in recovering the production cost even before release. Imagine how much it would cost to make a film like Baahubali again in another language. Since they made it as a bilingual and thanks to the excellent pre-release buzz, they could recover most of the investment even before release. This explains the recent spurt of bilinguals since the release of Baahubali. Its no longer a trend; its the way to go and it needs to be embraced.

Explaining further how it is cost effective from a production point of view, he said, When youre making a true-blue bilingual, youre actually making two films at the cost of one and it makes more sense when you have a star on board. In a bilingual scenario, you dont have to pay anybody twice but you can extract double the work from them.

The other reason for growing popularity of bilinguals is the willingness of stars and directors to expand their market. AR Murugadoss Spyder, made in Tamil and Telugu with Mahesh Babu in the lead, is the best recent example. While clarifying he was not hell-bent on launching Mahesh in Tamil, Murugadoss told Firstpost, Its no secret that Mahesh enjoys a very strong fan base even outside Andhra and Telangana. Since he is very fluent in Tamil, we decided to make Spyder as a bilingual. More importantly, the story has a universal appeal and it could even be made in more languages. Its a very humanistic story and we believed it could appeal to audiences from any regional background. Hence, we discussed the idea of making a bilingual and even Mahesh was excited about the plan.

(Also read: Spyder to be remade in Hindi; Will it be Mahesh Babu's long awaited Bollywood debut?)

Last year, a yet-untitled bilingual project with Allu Arjun, which would mark his foray into Tamil filmdom, was announced and it was to be directed by Linguswamy. Although the project is yet to take off, amid rumours that it has been shelved, it created quite a buzz in the industry.

During the launch press meet of the film, Arjun said, Chennai has been an integral part of my life. I spent 20 years of my life here. I have been carefully planning my Tamil debut. This film has a very strong subject like Paruthiveeran and Im thankful to director Linguswamy for bringing this project to me.

Some films are made as bilinguals purely because their stories deserve to be told to wider audiences. The best example one could think of is the upcoming biopic Mahanati, about the legendary southern actress Savitri, who was popular in Tamil and Telugu industries. She (Savitri) was one of the most popular stars across southern industries in her heydays. The idea was to make it as a bilingual from the scripting stage and when Dulquer (Salmaan) came on board, we decided wed release it in Malayalam as well. Were actually making it as a trilingual since Keerthy (who plays Savitri in the film) also knows Malayalam, the films director Nag Ashwin said.

Dulquer sees this as an opportunity to penetrate into a virgin market. I wasnt sure about doing a film in Telugu because I dont know the language. However, I was moved by the faith the team had in me. Also, there has always been this desire to be part of a period film. In Malayalam, we dont have those kinds of budgets. Mahanati is being made on a massive scale, and Im lucky I was offered this project.

Another popular reason why bilinguals are made is because of the national appeal of a story. Rana Daggubatis The Ghazi Attack, the story of the mysterious sinking of PNS Ghazi, a Pakistan deployed submarine during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, is the most appropriate example. Its one of the few regional films to be shot simultaneously in Hindi.

We decided to make it in Hindi because its an important story every Indian deserved to know. Although made as a bilingual and also dubbed in Tamil, this was a national film. The story was about India and Pakistan. It was set in Visakhapatnam, which made it a Telugu film, director Sankalp Reddy said, and added that casting becomes very crucial in these kinds of projects.

The familiarity of actors is crucial for a regional film to appeal to audiences in another state. In The Ghazi Attack, we roped in actors such as Taapsee (Pannu), Kay Kay (Menon) and Atul Kulkarni because theyre well known to Telugu and Hindi audiences as well, said Reddy.

The upcoming biopic on Indian shuttler Pullela Gopichand, featuring Baaghi-fame Sudheer Babu in the lead, will be made in Hindi and Telugu. Sudheer feels it is necessary to make the film in Hindi as well because Gopichand was a national icon. He represented India and his success story will appeal to audiences across languages. Thanks to the popularity I earned through Baaghi in Bollywood, I believe I can do justice to the role in Hindi too. Im very kicked about the project, Sudheer said.

It is not surprising that bilinguals have become the order of the day. At the same time, it also needs to be accepted that Indian film industry has evolved and so has its audience. So much so that a bilingual film, when dubbed into a third language, is accepted and celebrated. Baahubali was shot in Telugu and Tamil and was dubbed in Hindi. But it was accepted nationally and was not seen as a film featuring a bunch of Telugu actors because of its good content and overall experience it offered the viewers, said Rana.
Los Angeles: Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was fired from the film company he co-founded after a New York Times investigation detailed numerous incidents of alleged sexual harassment by the media mogul, the media reported.

The remaining board of directors at The Weinstein Company said on Sunday night that the decision was made "in light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days", reports CNN. Weinstein's brother Robert was one of the board members who made the decision.

"The directors of The Weinstein Company - Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar - have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately," a statement from the company said.

The board used to have more than four members. According to the New York Times, three other board directors resigned on Friday as the Weinstein scandal became international news.

Over the weekend, the scandal deepened and became an even more serious threat to the future of the company, CNN reported. Some clients of the Weinstein Co said they might stop working with the company if Harvey Weinstein was still associated with it.

According to the Times expose, the powerful film producer had faced many accusations of sexual harassment spanning decades. He reached at least eight settlements with women between 1990 and 2015.

Actress Ashley Judd was among the accusers who spoke to the Times for the story. When the story came out on 5 September, Weinstein denied some of the allegations but also admitted that he had behaved improperly at times during his career. He apologised for causing pain.

Weinstein's first major success came at Miramax Films, where he and his brother Bob championed prestige films and set a new bar while running awards campaigns by throwing expensive events in an attempt to lure voters.

Weinstein's approach helped Shakespeare In Love unexpectedly earn best picture honours over Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. The Weinsteins sold Miramax to Disney in 1993, and they left the company in 2005 to start The Weinstein Company.

There, they saw success with films like Silver Linings Playbook, The King's Speech and Django Unchained. The company's recent films include Lion, Gold and Wind River.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister of India Smriti Irani has recently assured that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's much awaited magnum opus Padmavati will not face any trouble on it's release.

I am sure law and order will be under control. The State government will ensure no miscreants disrupt any kind of interaction or display. I dont envisage any problem. If there is any challenge, the State government will meet it," said Irani according to a report by The Hindu. This statement was made to Karan Johar as Irani appeared on the panel at the World Economic Forum and the answer was in response to a question on the 'political pressure' surrounding the film.

The Deepika Padukone-Shahid Kapoor-Ranveer Singh starrer was promised a smooth release by the government.

These questions arise after Bhansali's film saw several protests and outrage against it over it's depiction of characters of historical importance. The Shri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community burnt posters of Bhansali's movie in Jaipur recently, while a few months ago (January), as the shooting was underway, the activists of Karni Sena assembled at the Jaigarh Fort and held a demonstration. Some of them also tried to vandalise the set.

Another update from the world of Padmavati is news that Singh and Bhansali will be shooting a song for which Singh is rehearsing with choreographer Ganesh Acharya. The song is going to be bigger than any of the Sanjay-Ranveer combination songs that have been done before. The poster, which was unveiled on social media recently, was just a glimpse, this song is going to be killer and bigger," said an unverified source according to a DNA report. This song will reportedly require 200 back-up dancers.

The period war drama Padmavati is all set to hit theater screens on 1 December.

(Also read: Padmavati trailer: Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh film is all style, spectacle and intensity)

(With inputs from IANS)
New Delhi: VHP chief Pravin Togadia on Monday said the Gujarat government should appeal against the Gujarat High Court order commuting the death sentence of those convicted in the Godhra train burning case to life imprisonment.

Seeking capital punishment for convicts in the 2002 carnage, he said the state government should appeal in the Supreme Court before Diwali for the sake of justice to devotees of Lord Ram.

"Why not death by hanging to those jihadis who burnt Hindus in Godhra with planned conspiracy? This is an insult to their sacrifice," Togadia said in a statement.

He added that Hindus were not getting "basic justice".

A division bench of the Gujarat High Court on Monday upheld the conviction of the 11 persons sentenced to death but commuted their punishment to "rigorous life imprisonment".

The high court also upheld the life sentence awarded by the special SIT court to 20 others in the case.

Fifty-nine `karsevaks' were killed in the Godhra train burning incident of 27 February, 2002. It led to communal riots across Gujarat in which around 1,200 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.
Disturbing visuals of an African national being beaten up in New Delhi's Malviya Nagar area surfaced on Monday, raising concern over racism-related attacks on Africans in the country and their safety.

The Nigerian man was accused of theft by locals in the area who sought to thrashing him before the police reached the spot, according to CNN-News18 news channel. A lot of African nationals live in Malviya Nagar.

Shocking racism in Delhi: African national thrashed in Malviya Nagar, was accused of theft pic.twitter.com/EBjDoojlbe  News18 (@CNNnews18) October 9, 2017

A stain of blood was seen on the wall where the incident occurred. Police said they were investigating the brutal assault.

The video shows the African man tied up with rope and beaten up with sticks mercilessly even while he says "Please forgive me". The attackers can be heard swearing while they tied his foot to the pole and continued thrashing him despite repeated cries for mercy.

A police officer said the incident may be related to a September 24 attempted robbery in which some people in Malviya Nagar registered an FIR against an apparent African, identified as Ahmed, son of Aliyo.

Police said Krishan Kumar, a resident of Savitri Nagar in Malviya Nagar, filed the FIR against Ahmed on the night of 24-25 September.

Kumar claimed he saw the African man trying to unlock the door of his cupboard. He added that he and his brothers chased him as he tried to escape but the man slipped from the stairs, injuring himself in the head.

Kumar reportedly informed the police after which Ahmed was taken to a hospital.

A black colour bag having two keys, a plier and two mobile phones were recovered from Ahmed, according to the FIR. A case of theft was registered against Ahmed.

As the locals had already registered a complaint of the theft charges, the police arrested the Nigerian man and took him into custody.

This is not the first instance of racially-motivated attacks against African nationals in the National Capital Region.

In March this year, a Nigerian student was attacked in Greater Noida, some 40 kilometres from Delhi, following protests over the death of a Class 12 student of a residential colony there due to drug overdose. Some people who were holding a candle-light vigil for the student attacked the Nigerians suspecting them of having drugged the student.

Following this, Nigeria summoned the Indian envoy in Abuja to express displeasure over the attacks on Nigerian students in India and voiced concern that the incident was not the first of its kind.
A woman pillion rider of a two-wheeler was crushed to death under a truck while the rider was negotiating potholes at the Nayanadahalli junction in Bengaluru, Karnataka on Monday, according to media reports.

The 47-year-old Radha Anjanappa from Nagwara, east Bengaluru was with her nephew Ravi Kumar, the rider, who sustained minor injuries, reported The Times of India.

Both were on their way to Ramanagara, 60 kilometres from Bengaluru, when they slipped from the scooter while driving through a bad road and were hit by a truck.

According to Bangalore Mirror, the Byatarayanapura traffic police reached the spot and seized the truck and arrested Ramesh, the truck driver, booking him for rash driving. The deceased's body has been taken to Victoria Hospital for post-mortem.

The incident occurred around 10.30 am. Metro construction was going on in the stretch where the accident took place, making the road difficult to drive on following the heavy rainfall that the city had been experiencing.

"The accident stretch is in a bad state, damaged further by Namma Metro construction. The condition of the road might have been one of the main reasons for the accident," Shiva Kumar, DCP (traffic west) told The Times of India.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Tuesday revealed the city had 15,935 potholes and cited rains as the reason for not undertaking repairs at the moment, reported The Hindu.

"There is no passing the buck. We'll pay Rs 5 lakh relief to the woman's family," mayor N Sampath Raj, who visited the spot, said as per The Times of India report.

It's the third pothole death in the last week, according to The Times of India. On 2 October, a bus ran over two people on a scooter swerving away from a pothole on the Mysuru Road flyover.

Earlier on Monday, Bengaluru development minister KJ George launched a Rs 972 crore project to revamp 30 major road stretches and junctions with potholes in the city through the white topping method as per another Times of India report.
Patna: Launching a broadside against Sharad Yadav, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the JD(U) rebel leader had given up the ideals of socialism to become a "camp follower" of dynastic and family-driven politics.

Kumar was apparently referring to Yadav's ties with RJD president Lalu Prasad after the disintegration of the grand alliance in Bihar.

"He (Sharad Yadav) has given up the ideals of socialism to become peechlagu (a camp follower) of dynastic and family-driven politics," Kumar told reporters after Yadav accused him of "choosing the path of power rather than following the party's philosophy".

In a counter-attack on Yadav, Kumar said the JD(U) rebel had once stood for public probity. "A man who used to say that democracy is run on the basis of 'lok-laaz' (public probity) has gone against it," Kumar, flanked by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, said after the completion of a weekly public interaction programme.

In a reference to Lalu Prasad, many of whose family members hold top posts in the RJD, he said, "Have you ever heard about anybody from the family of Rammanohar Lohia, Jayprakash Narayan and Karpoori Thakur making it into politics?"

A faction headed by Yadav, a JD(U) Rajya Sabha member, has made a representation before the Election Commission (EC), staking a claim to the party symbol.

Kumar's group has also gone to the EC, saying that it had the support of an overwhelming number of MPs and MLAs and should be identified as the real JD(U). "Let us go for a survey in Bihar (to see) whether the decision to part company with the grand alliance was right or not in the interest of Bihar," Kumar, who is also JD(U) national president, said.

Kumar, who led the grand alliance  which included the JD(U), RJD and Congress  to victory in Assembly polls in 2015, resigned in July, after differences with the RJD.

"He (Sharad Yadav) does not have any genuine claim for the party symbol and due to this the EC has already twice rejected their claim. On the other hand, we have the support of all MLAs of Bihar, a majority of MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha which anybody could check," he said.

He also derided Yadav's sajha virasat (shared heritage) campaign, saying that there was only "shared lust" for property and power.

"The popularity which he (Sharad Yadav) did not draw in the past 40 years of his political career he has won in the last two months, thanks to the media," he said.

Kumar evaded an answer when asked to comment on a media report that the turnover of a firm run by BJP President Amit Shah's son Jay Shah rose by around 16,000 times in 2015-16. "I have no idea about this. I could not read the newspapers as I had to visit the family of former MLC Bhola Singh who died today. My knowledge about it is only what you are saying," Kumar said.
Beijing: China on Monday expressed readiness to jointly maintain peace along the border areas with India and said Nathu La, the frontier post visited by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman was the "best witness" to the UK-China treaty of 1890.

Sitharaman had a brief conversation with Chinese soldiers during her maiden visit to the Nathu La border post in Sikkim on Sunday and was even seen teaching them how to say 'Namaste'.

"The Sikkim sector of the China-India boundary has been delimited by the historical treaty of 1890, and the Nathula pass has been the best witness testifying to this fact", Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing while reacting to a question on Sitharaman's visit.

"The Chinese side is willing to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity in the border areas with the Indian side on the basis of observing historical treaties and the relevant agreements and accords between the two sides", Hua said.

Beijing often referred to the 1890 Britain-China treaty during the Doka La standoff stating that it has defined the Sikkim section of the boundary with Tibet, therefore the border in that area has been settled.

Sitharaman's interaction with the People's Liberation Army troops at Nathu La with Namaste diplomacy also appears to have struck a chord as Chinese commentators said it sent a "goodwill signal" to mend the bilateral ties following the Doka La standoff.

State-run English news channel CGTN carried snippets of her video with a caption "Indian defence minister greets Chinese border soldiers".

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post headlined its story saying that "India's defence minister builds bridges with Chinese troops".

"The minister experienced an unexpected wave of goodwill from Chinese soldiers when she visited troops stationed on the frontier between the countries", the Post report said.

Her interaction with the troops of the PLA also sparked positive response among the Chinese netizens on popular social media websites.

"The greeting sent a goodwill signal towards mending bilateral ties and putting relations back on track toward normality", Qian Feng, an expert at the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies, told the state-run Global Times which carried a separate story on Sitharaman's Sikkim visit with a caption "Indian Minister waves at PLA".

The Indian government should show more determination for improving ties as Prime Minister Narendra Modi "enjoys advantages towards achieving that goal", it quoted Qian as saying.

Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim. The two sides so far held 19 rounds of talks at the level of Special Representatives to resolve the dispute.

Meanwhile, the state-run tabloid Global Times which routinely attacks India also carried an editorial saying that "India must overcome security paranoia".

Referring to Sitharaman's visit to Sikkim, it said "a newly constructed airport that she inspected during the visit, the nearest to China's border, will be put into use in November", it said and went on to describe it as an "aggressive gesture."

But it noted that she had friendly interactions with Chinese soldiers in Nathu La. Video released by the Indian defence ministry shows that she acknowledged the soldiers with a traditional namaste greeting, it said.

At the same time, it said, "Some Indian nationalists over-estimate India's strength and rights, assuming New Delhi can bark orders across the border at Beijing".

"India's concerns about the Siliguri Corridor's security are understandable, but New Delhi cannot mess around, it said adding that China is also concerned about the transport route security across the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca, but Beijing has not taken "coercive measures to achieve its aims".
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday granted six-months time to the Centre to look into accounts of political parties, including the Congress and the BJP, for traces of foreign funds.

A bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar gave the "last opportunity" to the ministry of home affairs for compliance of its 2014 judgement, in which the high court had found both parties flouting the norms of the FCRA by accepting donations from Indian subsidiaries of UK-based Vedanta Resources.

Section 4 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) prohibits a political party or legislature from accepting foreign contributors.

On 28 March, 2014, the high court had ordered the election commission and the ministry of home affairs to look into the accounts of political parties and take action within six months.

However, MHA represented by central government's standing counsel Monika Arora, sought extension of time till 31 March, 2018 to comply with the court's directions.

The Centre in its application said the records are voluminous in nature and are of few decades old, hence, to collect, collate and then analyse them requires more time.
A fire at Butcher Island near Mumbai, which serves as an oil terminal, is expected to be extinguished completely by Monday morning, The Times of India reported.

Butcher Island is located about 8.3 kilometres off Gateway of India on the Arabian Sea.

The fire is now 'in its dying stages' and less than 5 percent of it still remains, The Times of India report quotes Sanjay Bhatia, the chairperson of the Mumbai Port Trust as saying.

The Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) manages the island as an oil terminal.

#LatestVisuals of #ButcherIsland fire in #Mumbai: Extinguishing operation is in process says Mumbai's chief fire officer Prabhat Rahangdale pic.twitter.com/37UyVxXyuu  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

The oil tanks near the fire are being cooled with the help of water curtains, The Hindu reported. Water curtains use multiple hoses from different directions to put out a fire and to prevent it from spreading.

The fire broke out on Friday evening at a high speed diesel tank off the Mumbai coast following a lightning strike.

A 50-member team of firemen continues to battle the blaze. The firefighters initially succeeded in bringing the blaze under control, but "excessive heat" had led it to reignite around 4.30 am on Saturday.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has eight tanks at the farm located on the Butcher Island, also called Jawahar Dweep. Vessels bring crude and other commodities and offload the same at the Jawahar Dweep anchorage, which are stored in tanks and then ferried to the nearby refineries through underwater pipelines.

Bhatia had said the blaze was contained to one tank farm owned by the BPCL.

According to official sources, the affected tank's capacity is around 40,000 tonnes, which was partly filled with high speed diesel. Nearly 25 percent has been lost in the flames.

BPCL executive director Manohar Rao clarified that there would not be any shortage of HSD (high-speed diesel) in the market due to the fire incident.

High speed diesel is normally used as a fuel in medium and high speed compression ignition engines in commercial vehicles, stationary diesel engines, locomotives and pumps.

With inputs from agencies
Darjeeling: All the 17 Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) councillors of the Kurseong Municipality and 22 GJM councillors in the Darjeeling Municipality have extended their support to the rebel party faction led by Binay Tamang, its leaders claimed on Sunday.

"These councillors (of Kurseong) have extended their support to us. In the next few days, other leaders will also support the leadership of Binay Tamang," rebel GJM leader Anit Thapa said.

He claimed that the GJM councillors joined the Tamang faction during the party's foundation day programme on Saturday.

In the Kurseong Municipality, the GJM had won 17 wards and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) the remaining three in the polls held in May. The GJM had won 31 of the Darjeeling Municipality's 32 wards, while the TMC won the remaining one. Of those 31 GJM councillors in Darjeeling, 22 had extended their support to Tamang, claimed one of them, Pranita Rai.

Rai also claimed that the other councillors too would join the Tamang camp.

Tamang and Thapa, who have been appointed the chairman and vice chairman of the Board of Administrators (BoA) respectively by the TMC government in West Bengal, were expelled from the GJM by its chief Bimal Gurung for allegedly compromising on the cause of creating a separate state of Gorkhaland.

The chairman of the Kurseong municipality, Krishna Limbu, a Gurung loyalist, was arrested last month for his alleged involvement in violence in the hills.

GJM supporters loyal to Tamang had removed Gurung's photographs from the party office in Kalimpong on Saturday.

Gurung, against whom a look out notice was issued by the state CID in September for allegedly instigating violence, rioting, killings, explosions and arson, has been on the run since then.
Days after Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's aide and adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan was arrested on 3 October, the police has accused her of misleading the investigation and has taken her to an undisclosed location for questioning, media reports said.

Panchkula police commissioner AS Chawla told the media that Honeypreet was not fully cooperating with the police in the investigation and was evasive in her replies, The Economic Times reported. "She is misleading the police," Chawla said.

Failing to elicit answers for the 300 questions prepared for Honeypreet, Panchkula police's special investigation team (SIT) is now seeking help from Haryana Police's crime branch, India Today reported. It added that on Saturday, she was taken to an undisclosed location and was questioned by the police.

The report said in order to avoid media presence, the police staged a drama and took female police personnel dressed as dummies of Honeypreet and her aide Sukhdeep Kaur in police convoys, while actually taking the two accused later to an undisclosed location for questioning.

On Friday, Haryana Police issued summons to 45 members of a committee of the Dera to appear before it regarding the violence that erupted in Panchkula in August.

Police sources said a hard disk, which reportedly contains details of transactions worth Rs 700 crore, including including those related to property and hawala deals, of the Dera has been recovered and sent for further examination.

Giving away what could be critical in determining the fate of the probe, five Dera supporters in police custody claimed that Honeypreet had masterminded and funded the 25 August violence in Panchkula.

In their statement, the supporters said that Honeypreet provided funding to the sect's supporters in Panchkula and sanctioned Rs 1.25 crore ahead of verdict day, CNN-News18 reported. She chaired the meeting on 17 August in Sirsa to plan the violence.

Honeypreet was arrested on 3 October, after evading arrest for 38 days.

According to a statement released by Haryana Police in September, Honeypreet tops the list of most wanted persons in relation to the wide-spread violence in Panchkula after Ram Rahim's conviction in two rape cases in August.

With inputs from agencies
The pragmatism and prudence that marked the behaviour of Indias political establishment during the Doka La standoff is fast fading away in favour of a premature triumphalism. This could be a costly error. Though India managed to pull off a diplomatic resolution to the second-most serious crisis in its relationship with China, the stability of the resolution cannot be taken for granted.

Its not about geopolitics alone. It will also be a grave mistake to underestimate the weight of domestic pressures on Xi Jinping. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) starts on 18 October and Xi, who eyes an unprecedented third term, is desperate to hold on to the levers of power.

A key part of Xis strategy towards further consolidation of power has been the restructuring of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to ensure a bigger percentage of Xi loyalists among its top leadership. Xis changes have involved a greater stress on maritime and cyber warfare capabilities away from a platoon-heavy conventional structure, and a streamlining of resources from seven military regions into an integrated five joint theatre commands.

As Dennis J Blasko, a retired lieutenant colonel of US Army who specialises in China, writes in War on the Rocks, many more personnel and force structure cuts are necessary in 2017 in order to finish the 300,000-man reduction announced by Xi in 2015. Several group armies, divisions, and brigades likely are targets for elimination or transformation into smaller or different types of units".

Xis push for a Western-style command for a more nimble PLA that can transform from peacetime to military operations on a war footing and is more compatible with modern warfare has involved cutting of deadwood on top.

Cheng Li, director and senior fellow at The Brookings Institution tells us how young guards are being promoted to top positions.

"The new top military leadership will most likely consist of Xi's long-time friends General Zhang Youxia, General Li Zuocheng, and Admiral Miao Hua, along with the newly promoted commanders of the PLA army, navy, air force, and strategic support force.... The degree of military reshuffling also offers a clue to broader leadership changes, particularly the likelihood of Xi further consolidating power", Cheng writes in BBC.

It is flattering to think that these changes are being made keeping India in mind, but it is undeniable that strengthening and modernisation of the PLA will further skew the balance of power between the two Asian rivals. And for Xi, a low-cost way of creating an aura of aggression ahead of the 19th National Congress, and keep the hawks in Chinese military-industrial complex happy, would be to continue with the policy of border adventurism.

Therefore, there is no reason to think  even though China has not done anything to violate the 28 August status quo ante at the Doka La face-off site yet  that it wont test Indias red lines further. If not at the tri-junction, it could be somewhere else along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC). It has already been noted that China is maintaining a heavy troop presence just off the face-off site on Chumbi Valley  a fact noted by Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa in a recent news conference  and it is possible that Beijing wants to create a new normal in terms of forward deployment of troops.

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman would have been briefed by the Gangtok-based 17 Mountain Division during her aerial survey of Doka La-Nathu La stretch how Beijing is carrying out the overlay of a road leading towards the Doka La area, but within their territory in the presence of PLA troops, as The Hindu points out in a report.

Along with these developments on the ground, China has resumed its rhetorical warfare against India after a brief BRICS lull. Its foreign ministry told India Today that there is no dispute that Doka La (in China, it's known as Donglang) has always been a part of China's territory, and always under China's effective and valid administration."

It reacted to Sitharamans Sunday survey by saying that India should honour and abide by the 1890 China-Britain Treaty to maintain peace and tranquillity in border regions, giving the 2012 agreement with India and 1988 and 1998 agreements with Bhutan a quiet burial.

Global Times, the fiery publication run the by CPC, complemented the foreign office statement by reminding India that China will continue to construct roads on Doka La plateau and India should stop being so paranoid, sensitive and arrogant.

All of this makes Union home minister Rajnath Singhs recent boast about Doka La resolution being forced by Indias increasing global power, sound rather hollow. Addressing an event in Bengaluru on Sunday, Singh said: Had India remained weak, the Doka La standoff would not have been resolved till now. It was possible only because India has become a world power."

One hopes that the minister was being facetious because to assume that global power India forced China to abide by its terms is a study in self-deception. It might be tempting to think that a resurgent India is forcing the world to take notice and bending the global order according to its will, but such a presumption is delusional. Leave alone China, even Pakistan has a better game when it comes to diplomatic outreach, writes Syed Ata Hasnain, lieutenant general (retired) of Indian Army, in The Indian Express.

Loose statements such as these undermine the diplomatic effort that has gone behind the resolution and triggers the irritants in bilateral ties. India handled the Doka La crisis with pragmatism and maturity, and it would be a shame now to spend that geopolitical capital in silly triumphalism.
New Delhi: Jay Amit Shah on Monday filed a criminal defamation case in a metropolitan court in Gujarat against seven people of a news portal over its story that claimed that his company's turnover saw a huge rise after BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S K Gadhvi ordered a court inquiry into the matter under CrPC section 302.

In his application, Jay prayed for, "criminal action against the respondents for defaming and tarnishing" his reputation through an article, terming it "scandalous, frivolous, misleading, derogatory, libelous and consisting of several defamatory statements".

The seven respondents in the case are the author of the article Rohini Singh, founding editors of the news portal Siddarth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia and MK Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the Foundation for Independent Journalism, the non-profit company that publishes The Wire.

The court was of the opinion that it will issue summonses to the respondents only after the initial inquiry establishes a case.

The next hearing for a court inquiry will be on 11 October when two witnesses from Jay's side who had first informed him about the publication of the article are likely to depose.

A case has been filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 500 (defamation), 109 (abetment), 39 (voluntarily cause grievous hurt) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy). Shah, however, has not filed the Rs 100 crore civil defamation suit against the respondents.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will represent Jay, son of BJP chief Amit Shah, in the criminal defamation case against the report's author, the editor, and owner of the news portal.

"I have taken permission from the law ministry on 6 October for this issue. I am being consulted in this case. I may even appear for the case in court," Mehta told NDTV.

Union minister Piyush Goyal said Mehta had sought law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's permission to appear for Jay, and the approval was granted.

Goyal said that the purpose of the story was to defame BJP and its government by making derogatory and defamatory imputations.

Asked about the Congress' attack on BJP over the claim that the government was in the know of the entire episode as the ASG was given permission even before the story appeared, Goyal said that they were aware of the matter as the news portal had sent Jay a questionnaire.

"We believe that he (Jay) has been wronged and he must get justice. There is no harm if the best of lawyers appear for him. An ASG can appear in a matter between two private parties after taking permission," he told reporters.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, on Monday told the Supreme Court that he wants to visit the United Kingdom to get his daughter admitted at the Cambridge University and was willing to undertake that he would not visit any bank there.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it would hear the plea on Tuesday as Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represents the CBI, was unavailable due to some personal reasons.

"He wants to go to the Cambridge to get his daughter admitted. He is willing to give an undertaking that he will not visit any bank there," senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for Karti, told the bench that also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud.

The apex court has stayed the Madras High Court order, which had stayed the operation of the look out circulars (LOCs) issued against Karti and others in the case.

The CBI FIR, lodged on 15 May, had alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Karti's father was the Finance Minister.

In response to CBI's allegation that Karti had multiple bank accounts abroad, Sibal said Karti has one bank account in the UK.

On 4 October, the CBI had alleged in the apex court that Karti had "tampered" with evidence relating to an alleged graft case against him during his visits abroad in the months of May, June and July this year.

The agency had said that there was a need to issue a LoC against Karti as he had the "potential" to tamper with the evidence and he had done this during his visits abroad.

CBI told the apex court in September that Karti was prevented from travelling abroad as he was allegedly closing several of his foreign bank accounts. The CBI's contention was strongly refuted by Karti's counsel.

The top court is hearing CBI's appeal challenging Madras High Court order staying the government's LoC against Karti in the alleged graft case.

On 1 September, the CBI had told the top court that there were "good, cogent" reasons for issuing the LoC against Karti. On 18 August, the court had asked Karti to appear before the investigating officer at the CBI headquarters here for questioning in the case.

Before this, the apex court had said that Karti would not be allowed to leave India without subjecting himself to investigation in the case. The court had then stayed the high court order putting on hold the LOC against Karti.

The FIR was registered on 15 May before the special CBI judge and the registration of the case was followed by searches at the residences and offices of Karti and his friends the very next day.
There is considerable outrage over recent photographs of remains of military personnel wrapped in plastic sacks and cardboard that has appeared in the media. The bodies belonged to those onboard the ill-fated Mi-17 helicopter, which crashed in the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh and killed all seven personnel. Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa said the cause of accident was possibly disengagement of the tail rotor  a technical snag.

The bodies of the personnel were possibly charred because of the fire that engulfed the crashed helicopter that was delivering kerosene to the forward areas. The photograph showed the name of a Wing Commander, who obviously was piloting the helicopter, written on the makeshift coffin box. The helicopter accident, which happened just before the 85th anniversary of the Indian Air Force, was most unfortunate.

The indignation over the makeshift coffin boxes was worse because it was being perceived that this is how the remains of fallen soldiers were being 'sent home' - an inexcusable insult to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives, as well as their families, besides being an affront to the honour of the country. The manner in which the photographs went viral, certainly created that impression. But that was definitely NOT the manner in which these officers were sent home.

The Indian Army is not Musharraf's Army that dumped the bodies of 500 Northern Light Infantry soldiers killed during the Kargil Conflict at their doorstep in the dead of the night without any ceremony, because Musharraf wanted to showcase them as 'freedom fighters', not Pakistani soldiers  as reported by Dawn a month after the Kargil conflict ended. That the Indian Army has always given full military honours to its fallen soldiers is an established fact, as observed by every citizen of this country with adequate coverage in the media. In fact, proper funeral with appropriate military honours is undertaken at the native place of the fallen soldier.

It may be recalled that during the initial stages of the IPKF operations in Sri Lanka, soldiers killed were cremated in situ and the ashes sent to the families. A review was undertaken following demands by next of kin for getting the bodies back. Thereafter, bodies of fallen soldiers have always been sent to their homes with full military honours.

In the case of the makeshift coffins too, the military issued a statement saying, "fallen soldiers (are) always given full military honour", a subsequent statement saying that due to constraints of carriage effort in high altitude area, helicopters cannot carry full load, "Mortal remains were wrapped in available local resources instead of improvised body bags or coffins, This was an aberration".

What needs to be understood here is that these photographs were clicked at the Guwahati base where the bodies were brought after recovering them from the accident site. Transporting coffin boxes to the accident site is not possible especially in difficult, high altitude terrain. Besides, the post mortem is conducted at the base before placing the remains in the coffin boxes. Many may be unaware of the military honouring ceremony that is conducted before loading the coffin box in the aircraft for onward journey to the home of the dead officers.

The difficulties of getting the mortal remains to a base where postmortem, placement in coffin boxes and military honour ceremonies are conducted are difficult to grasp by all and sundry. For example, take the case of a slain officer at the Saltoro Ridge overlooking the Siachen Glacier, where there are posts that even are accessed by ropes at some stage. Only the small-sized Cheetah (Alouette) helicopter can ferry the body down from the nearest helipad. This too is possible by removing the back seat of the Cheetah helicopter and if the sortie is delayed by a day or two because of bad weather, which happens many a time, the limbs of the body may have to be twisted at impossible angles to enable air evacuation, even with the doors of the helicopter removed at those icy heights.

There is no question of a body bag or makeshift coffin before arriving at base. No matter how ghastly this appears, these are realities of military life that must be acknowledged.

One may recall the 'Coffingate' that emerged during the Kargil Conflict, because of which Defence Minister George Fernades resigned from his post, the Opposition allegations being that coffin boxes were imported at exorbitant costs. It is a different issue that years later Fernandes was absolved of all the accusations by the Supreme Court, even as no bureaucrat of the Ministry of Defence was ever questioned how did they process the case for importing these coffin boxes with "exorbitant costs" during the Kargil Conflict.

Now, of course, there are plenty coffin box manufactures in India who also export coffins. Besides, low cost coffin boxes from China have entered the Indian market since 2012. But what has emerged from the current case is that the military apparently does not have proper foldable body bags to transport the mortal remains to the home base. While coffin boxes cannot be transported to accident sites due to aforementioned reasons, it would be good if foldable body bags are carried by helicopters on search and rescue mission, and even by search parties on foot, where feasible.

The Ministry of Defence and the Army must examine provisioning of appropriate body bags expeditiously. It is also of concern that the military did no curb the clicking of these pictures and their widespread circulation, causing the narrative to become twisted.

The author is retired lieutenant-general of the Indian Army
The convenience of booking a cab-ride is as easy as it can get for most living in the city. But what cannot be overlooked is the fact that the popular cab-booking services are just that  services. They spend on improving their user-interface from time to time. But how often do they take part in fixing their customer support and conducting thorough checks on their drivers?

Comedienne and actor Mallika Dua recounts her horrific experience with an Uber driver on Sunday.

When I called for the car, there was no issue. I got into the cab. Like we generally enter a cab and ask for the driver to increase the cooling, I did it too. The minute I got in, I said: Bhaiyyaji, AC badha do (increase the cooling). His reaction wasnt appropriate. I again repeated to turn up the cooling, she recounts.

The trip started from Duas house.

He pretended to put the knob up; he didnt actually do it. In 10 minutes, I was feeling very hot, I even moved away from the sunny side of the car. I again told him bhaiya AC badha dijiye, to which he sharply reacted saying that that was the maximum cooling available. He said, tum Uber mein jake baat karo (You report it to Uber). I asked him, Kyu nahi badh sakta (Why not?). That is when he stopped the car. That was the trigger for him. There was nothing else that happened. Once he ended the trip, I also yelled. What I feel is, if there was someone well-built in my place, this wouldnt have happened. You always see who youre up against and thats how you react."

The driver, Chetan, stopped the car in the middle of the road and told Dua to get out of the car.

"He was like, tum niklo gaadi se. I said, ye kya batameezi hai, ye kya bakwas hai (You are being rude. What nonsense is this)? I told him, Im not leaving the car till the time I speak to Uber. I continued sitting in the car, the AC was off," Dua says.

As she tried to lodge a complain from the app and also book another cab, the driver got two phone calls in Marathi. "While I was on the phone, he started driving. I reacted saying bhaiyya, what are you doing? I am still in the car. He said that he has another customer to pick and that I should leave," she says.

Dua told him to drop her where the driver had stopped the car before.

"But he kept telling me that I should leave the car. I told him to lower his volume and yelled back for being rude. I said, tujhe mai police ke pas le jaungi (I will take you to the police). That is when I started warning him about police repeatedly. But he was unperturbed by that. He was like, nikal jao gaadi se (Get out of the car)."

Dua, who had taken the ride to visit her brother-in-law, believes that it was the driver's lack of faith in the police system that explained his behaviour.

"Despite so many cases like of sexual harassment getting reported against them (drivers), people still go back. Helplessness hai logo ki. This incident is also an example, because I still went for an Uber after the horror, because I had no other choice."

The famous comic artist wonders what if she wasn't as lucky to have other alternatives. "It is easy for me to say that I can get my own car and driver, because I am earning well in the city. I thought I could use public transport because its convenient, but its not even that anymore. When I got out of the car, he started hurling abuses in Marathi," she says.

The driver put pressure on Dua to leave because there was another customer who kept calling him. "He told that person that he was on the way." When Dua had told the driver to increase the cooling, he revolted saying that he couldnt stand cold temperatures. Invoking the cab booking company's tagline, the driver told Dua, "Tum log ko ad mein Uber dikhata hai ki isse apni gaadi samjho (Uber might tell you to think of your ride as your own car), but its not like that," she says.

Dua recalls her state after the entire encounter. "When I took an Uber after that, I was howling. The second driver was like, what happened. He said, 'madam, I apologise on behalf of all others. Why are you so upset because of one maniac?' He proceeded to tell me that there were certain frustrations that drivers held against Uber. He guessed that the rude driver taking out his frustration on customers. The other cabbie was very nice."

Dua's call to take to social media helped attain get some sense of relief. "Before the victim-shaming started (on social media), there were so many responses of very similar things happening. This goes to show that this is not new. In my case, what makes it unusual is that the trigger was so ridiculous. AC badhane se kisika dimag agar sanak sakta (Someone can lose their calm on something like raises down the temperature). He was legit crazy. Ofcourse, I yelled at him and would yell again."

Does anyone have a contact in Uber ?  Mallika Dua (@MallikaDua) October 8, 2017

Dua wonders further how would it have turned out had the customer been someone unlike her. "What if there was someone who wouldnt yell at him. Hed get away with it, right? By the time the second cabbie dropped me, I had put up a post. So Uber reached out to me. They told me they had barred this particular driver and asked if I wanted to take legal recourse. They promised it on a recorded call. The problem in all of this is that, I am the one who is sh*t scared. My own mother is telling me, agle bar koi aise bole toh utar jana chup chap (Get off the vehicle the next time something similar happens). I am scared because though he may not want to do anything, the piece of news is so big now, one of his people might. Something or the other might happen."

The fact that the pick location was from Dua's residential area had made her more paranoid. A man who has been barred has nothing to lose. I kept giving him threats of taking him to the police," she says, adding that she fears an attack.

There was no way Dua's celebrity status could come to her immediate rescue. "I cant proceed to him to explain to him that search me on Instagram or Youtube. This has got attention, but I wouldnt even let this issue go otherwise. My sister has told me to let it go for my peace, but I cannot forget what happened. I realised in ten minutes of the ride that he was crazy."

Dua's past experiences with Uber never made her think it would lead to this. "With Uber, I have had a suspected drunk driver. Its not something I made a big deal about, since it was speculation. Luckily, it happened in Bombay in the night."

Although Dua is no more trapped in the situation, she fears what it would've turned out like had the incident not taken place in broad daylight. "This happened off Veera Desai, which is a garbage dumping area. The driver was just unafraid. He asked me to get out after stopping the car. The only way they take their frustration is by claiming ownership over their vehicle. There wasnt even a minute pause. After he realised I am not taking a 'no' for an answer, is when he ended the ride. I told him AC is set at level 2, and that he could take it to 4. He straightaway told me to report to Uber," she says.

Dua is of the opinion that there is a larger issue within the organization that is not being addressed. "He had a lot of anger towards Uber. They (Uber) have repeatedly called me and assured that he has been barred. I dont know how much that fixes, how can it can prevent from similar things happening. He had a 4.56 rating, which is below the average rating," she says.

But after resorting to social media, Dua could not escape negative criticism. "People are like, even I wouldve shouted, but the point is it all this happened within three minutes. The incident took around 3 pm on Sunday. Barring is fine but I still dont feel safe," she says.

Dua found herself completely lost when she tried to register her complaint on the app. 'Uber called me to say that there is an SOS button. In hindsight, I should have just used that," she says, adding that she reported the driver's lack of professionalism using the other way to report on the app.

Acknowledging that her status did have a role to play in the fast redressal of grievance, Dua says, "My issue was resolved because of a silly blue tick. But the main takeaway is, how is it possible that the company has no customer care number? Also there are varying degrees of issues. There really needs to be a call-up option. The level of apathy is not acceptable in this case."

Dua registered the problem in the app, and also took to social media. However, she still doesn't feel assured. "I dont know yet whether Ill file an FIR. I do feel unsafe. If we trust the company to resolve, there's no need for an FIR. There is an understanding that nothing will happen. I feel very unsafe. I hope Uber sets an example."

But Dua hasn't given up on Uber yet. Pointing that she gave the company a second chance within the next five minutes of the incident, she says,"Its not just Uber. I will still call cab services. We can't be dejected by this. Boycotting is not the solution."

However, the incident has had an effect on Dua's future choices. "I could get a car right now. I might even learn to drive, but only when I get back to Delhi. Maybe I will learn how to drive scooty and navigate my way through the traffic."
Srinagar: Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi on Monday urged the children in Kashmir to stay away from violence. Without naming separatists and militants, the social activist said children should not be used for violence.

Satyarthi, who is criss-crossing the country as part of his campaign to spread awareness about crime against children, was speaking at a gathering of students from schools in Kashmir, which was rocked by a spate of incidents of stone-pelting by children and youths.

"I will knock the doors of governments in Delhi and in Srinagar and tell them to allow the children to study and rise as high as they can."

"I will make appeals and prayers for you and need be, I will struggle too, provided you stay away from violence," said Satyarthi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for waging a peaceful struggle to protect children from being exploited as labour.

He said together "we will win this battle for safe childhood and a safe India".

Satyarthi made a strong appeal that children should not be used for violence and condemned the burning of schools.

"I have one request - stay away from violence. Do not use children for violence. Do whatever you want, whichever way you want. You will face the consequences or you may gain something. However, children are for moving ahead."

"They can achieve everything with education, he said, adding, "They are your children and our children too."

Satyarthi said violence has not solved any issue the world over as it only perpetuated more violence. Apparently referring to burning of schools in Kashmir during last year's agitation, Satyarthi said such incidents saddened him.

"Whenever a school is set on fire anywhere in the world, and we had many such incidents, whoever might be behind those, dreams of hundreds of students go up in flames. Their future perishes."

"The power gained by education, from books and computers, is far more stronger than any chair one can occupy," he said.

The Nobel laureate said there was a need for an effective law to prevent child trafficking as eight children are kidnapped every hour for selling into slavery.

"Thankfully, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, at one of our recent functions, said the government is ready for it," he said.

Asked about his "silence" on "pellet victims", Satyarthi said he would not go into what happened in the past.

"Today I have come here to be the strongest voice for protection of the children of Kashmir," he said.

On whether he would meet the pellet victims, he said he would definitely want to meet them.

"I promise I will come again to meet them," he said.

The use of pellet guns by security forces to counter violent protesters in Kashmir had evoked criticism from some quarters.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said the society has to speak up about child abuse rather than silencing the victims due to social stigma.

"My request is to the parents to talk with their children to find out if they are suffering from any kind of abuse be it at home or schools or anywhere else," she said.
New Delhi: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had a brief conversation with Chinese soldiers during her maiden visit to the Nathu La border post in Sikkim and was even seen teaching them how to say 'Namaste'.

Two short video clips of her interaction with the Chinese soldiers on Saturday were posted on Sunday by the defence minister's official Twitter handle.

In the first clip, she was seen greeting the PLA personnel with a "namaste" while in the second video the defence minister wished good luck to the people of China.

Snippet of Smt @nsitharaman interacting with Chinese soldiers at the border at Nathu-la in Sikkim yesterday. Namaste! pic.twitter.com/jmNCNFaGep  Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) October 8, 2017

"Do you know what 'Namaste' means," Sitharaman was seen asking one of the People's Liberation Army personnel who appeared confused and said Namaste while trying to explain the meaning.

At this point, some Indian soldiers tried to come to the assistance of their Chinese counterparts but Sitharaman asked them to let the PLA men find the meaning on their own. After some time, one of the soldiers, with a smile on his face, said "Namaste means nice to meet you."

Then Sitharaman asked "What would you say in Chinese?" "Ni hao," responded the Chinese soldiers, triggering laughter on both sides. Earlier, one of the Chinese soldiers was seen introducing his commander to Sitharaman.

The first video has gone viral on the social media. In the second video of her interaction with the Chinese soldiers posted by the Defence Minister's official Twitter handle this evening, Sitharaman was seen wishing good luck to the people of China.

Sharing another snippet from Smt @nsitharaman 's interaction with Chinese soldiers at the international border at Nathu-la, Sikkim pic.twitter.com/TIRdnhixeL  Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) October 8, 2017

"I wish good luck to the people of your country," Sitharaman was seen telling the Chinese soldiers. Responding to her wish, one of the PLA personnel said, "thank you. India and China are great nations".

On Saturday, Sitharaman had posted a photo of her waving at the Chinese troops. "Acknowledged a row of Chinese soldiers from across the fence who were taking pictures on my reaching Nathu La," she had tweeted.

The defence minister visited various forward areas along the India-China border on Saturday in Sikkim including Nathu La, which is around 30 km from Doka La, the site of the 73-day-long standoff between Indian and Chinese soldiers.

Her visit came amid reports that China has strengthened its military presence at the Doka La and even started widening an existing road which is at a distance of around 12 km from the area of the conflict.
Bengaluru: India had foiled Pakistan's design to export terror by neutralising infiltrators from across the border, said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday.

"We have defeated Pakistan's nefarious design to weaken India by exporting terror with anti-terror operations and neutralising infiltrators from across the border on almost daily basis," he said at a function in Bengaluru .

Lauding the Indian Army for retaliating with vehemence at every bullet fired by Pakistan from the other side of the Line of Control, Rajnath Singh said the world had noted that India was a strong country.

"The peaceful resolution of the Doka La standoff on the India-China border has enhanced our image the world over," he said at the ninth convention of the Vishwakarma community in the city.

Claiming that the NDA government had provided corruption-free governance over the last three years, the home minister said the poor and downtrodden were being given loans under the Mudra scheme for their upliftment.

"I will soon take up the demand for setting up the Vishwakarma community Development Corporation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to celebrate Vishwakarma Jayanthi across the country," he assured the backward community on the occasion.

He also assured the community to accord constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes to ensure social and economic justice to all backward castes across the country.
Guwahati: The BSF has intensified its vigil along the Indo-Bangladesh border following the reports of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar and taking shelter in Bangladesh, a official said on Sunday.

The move comes even as a high level committee instituted by the Central government on India-Bangladesh border is scheduled to visit the international border in Assam and Meghalaya from 10 October.

Border Security Force's Inspector General (IG), Assam Frontier, Rakesh Agarwala said that vigil has been intensified particularly in the riverine border areas, where there is a gap and are vulnerable to infiltration.

"We are trying to strengthen the gaps along the India-Bangladesh border. We have also inducted a full battalion recently to man the riverine border between the two countries," said Agarwala. He said the Committee will arrive on 10 October and is likely to visit Dhubri and Karimganj sectors before leaving for Meghalaya.

The IG, however, said that the infiltration from Bangladesh to India through the borders in Assam has reduced over last two years. "There are infiltration bid for the purpose of smuggling, where we have arrested people in the recent past. However, infiltration for settlement has reduced," he said.

The India-Bangladesh border in Assam is spread over 262 kms and out of this 48 kms are riverine borders.

The officer said that the BSF has been taking additional measures to ensure that there is no infiltration of Rohingya. The forces guarding the 262 kms Indo-Bangla border uses electric surveillance to keep strict vigil along the international borders. They have also been using technologies like hand held thermal imagers, the Long-Range Reconnaissance and Observation System, Battle Field Surveilance Radar etc.
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Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region welcomed 8.48 million tourists during the National Day holiday, bringing in 11.3 billion yuan (1.43 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism income.

Small tourist towns and the Xinjiang countryside were major destinations for tourists during the holiday from Oct. 1 to 8, according to the regional tourism development commission.

In rural areas in southern Xinjiang, many tourists enjoyed helping to harvest fruit and other farm work for leisure.

Celebrations on different themes were held across the region, such as a fair for aquatic products in the Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili.

Many tourists from other parts opted to rent cars after arriving in Xinjiang by air or train, and they chose less-traveled tour routes, according to the commission.
New Delhi: The father of a seven-year-old boy, who was found dead in a Gurgaon school, on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging the extension of the interim anticipatory bail granted to three Ryan International Group trustees in the case.

Barun Chandra Thakur, father of Class-II boy Pradyuman Thakur, assailed the Punjab and Haryana High Court order staying the arrest of Ryan group CEO Ryan Pinto and his parents, Group's founding chairman Augustine Pinto and managing director Grace Pinto, in the murder case.

The appeal, filed through advocate Sushil Tekriwal, said the grant of interim protection against their possible arrest was illegal and unconstitutional and should be set aside.

The plea has made the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is currently probing the case, and the Haryana government as parties in the case. It alleged that the 28 September order of the High Court granting interim bail and 7 October of the High Court order extending the relief was "erroneous" and should be set aside.

The petition said that CBI's investigation was at a preliminary stage and granting interim bail to the respondents now "frustrates the criminal justice delivery system".

Ryan Pinto and his parents had approached the high court, seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the killing of the student, who was found with his throat slit in the washroom of a school run by their group in Gurgaon on 8 September.

School bus conductor Ashok Kumar was arrested in connection with the crime the same day.

On 25 September, the High Court had impleaded CBI as a respondent in the petition seeking bail for the three Ryan group trustees.

The Haryana government had recommended a CBI probe in the matter following massive outrage. The premier agency took over the probe on 22 September.

The Pintos, who are based in Mumbai, had earlier approached the Bombay High Court as they apprehended arrest in the case after the school was accused of negligence in the death of the seven-year-old.

The Bombay High Court had rejected the transit anticipatory bail applications of the three trustees but granted them interim protection from arrest for a day to enable them to file an appeal.
Srinagar: In a breakthrough, a joint team of security forces on Monday killed top Jaish-e-Mohammed militant commander Umer Khalid in Ladoora area of North Kashmir, police said.

Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police SP Vaid said it was a major breakthrough for the security forces as the militant was involved in many attacks on security camps in North Kashmir as well as targeting policemen in particular.

"He was killed in a joint operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operation Group, local police, the CRPF and the Army," he said.

Khalid, who is a Pakistani national, had been operational in the area for last two to three years and was also instrumental in arranging recruits for the terror outfit, police said.

He had recently carried out an attack on a Special Police Officer and his seven-year-old son at Handwara, they said and added that Khalid was a A++ category top ranking terrorist and carried a cash reward of nearly Rs 7 lakh.

Giving details of the encounter, the police said security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Ladoora area following information about the presence of militants in the area.

The search operation turned into a gun battle when the militants opened fire on the search party, the police said, adding more troops were rushed to the area to prevent the militants from escaping.

The Jaish commander was killed in the encounter, they said.

The police is also probing his role in the recent attack carried out by the Jaish-e-Mohammed on BSF battalion headquarters near high-security Srinagar airport and attack on the District Police Lines at Pulwama.

It is expected that he was a part of the conspiracy behind these dastardly attacks, the police said.
In an encounter in Gatipora village of Shopian district on Monday, Jammu and Kashmir security forces killed one terrorist, while three others are believed to be trapped, according to media reports.

According to ANI, the terrorist killed in the encounter has been identified as Abid and is said to be a member of Hizbul Mujahideen.

#Visuals One Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist killed in encounter between security forces & terrorists; encounter underway (Visuals deferred) pic.twitter.com/Tj4xxK5wN6  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

Times Now reported that the area has been cordoned off as the gun battle between the terrorists and government forces is still going on. When the security forces closed on the house in which the militants were hiding, the militants opened fire at them, triggering a gunfight.

"One militant has been killed in this ongoing operation so far. Initial reports said two to three militants were hiding in the house," a police official said. Earlier in the day, in a similar operation, Jammu and Kashmir's security forces killed top Jaish-e-Mohammed militant commander Umer Khalid in Ladoora area of North Kashmir.

A search operation for Khalid turned into a gun battle when the militants opened fire on the search party, the police said, adding that more troops were rushed to the area to prevent the militants from escaping.

Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police SP Vaid said it was a major breakthrough for the security forces as Khalid was involved in many attacks on security camps in North Kashmir as well as targeting policemen in particular.

"He was killed in a joint operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operation Group, local police, the CRPF and the Army," he said. Khalid, who was a Pakistani national, had been operational in the area for last two to three years and was also instrumental in arranging recruits for the terror outfit, police said.

With inputs from agencies
Islamabad: Rejecting any role for India in Afghanistan, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday warned that the Trump administration's desire to inject New Delhi in the war-torn country would be "detrimental".

US president Donald Trump in August unveiled his South Asia policy and vowed to boost strategic partnership with India in Afghanistan. Trump also sought an enhanced role for India to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

"We don't believe that injecting India into the Pakistan-US relationship will help resolve anything, especially in Afghanistan, where we don't see any role for India. India has a relationship with the US. That is between them and the US," Abbasi was quoted as saying by the Arab News.

In an interview to the Saudi newspaper, Abbasi said Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan via a solution that "is owned and led by the Afghans."

The prime minister warned that Washington's desire to include India in Afghanistan would be detrimental.

India has a strategic partnership with Afghanistan and is implementing projects worth $2 billion to help rebuild the country's infrastructure.

India has been supporting an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad-based and inclusive process of peace and reconciliation, and advocating the need for a sustained and long-term commitment to Afghanistan by the international community.

Abbasi said Pakistan wants an "equal relationship or partnership with the US, like every other nation."

Asserting that the days of Pakistan depending on the US to meet its military and other requirements are over, the prime minister said the world should recognise Pakistan's efforts in fighting the "worlds war" on terror.

"If one source dries up, we have no option but to go to another source. It may cost more, it may consume more resources, but we have to fight that war, and thats what we emphasised to all the people that we met," he said.

Abbasi said Pakistan has major US weapons systems in its military, but it also possesses Chinese and European systems, and more recently it inducted Russian attack helicopters
Meerut: Half a dozen bike-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at BJP MLA Satyavir Tyagi on Sunday, who escaped unhurt, police said. Tyagi suspected the role of local arms smuggler behind the attack.

"Illegal arms smugglers have spread their network in Kithaur area in Meerut against which I have raised voice in the Legislative Assembly and also approached local administration," Tyagi told PTI.

"So, in order to muzzle my voice, those involved in this trade orchestrated this attack on me," he alleged.

Tyagi said he was attacked by the bike-borne assailants when he was returning after inaugurating a kabbadi tournament in Meerut's Khadravali village.

He said he has lodged a complaint with the Kithaur police station against the unidentified men.

Circle Officer Pankaj Kumar Singh said that the police have receieved the information from the MLA and the matter is being probed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of the Rs 4,337 crore Bhadbhut Barrage project in Gujarat was greeted with black flags by local fishermen, who claim the project will destroy breeding spots for aquatic life, including that of popular fish Hilsa.

According to a press note sent out by the fishermen, the river project will block the Narmada river at the Bhadbhut village, a 40-kilometre stretch that is crucial for maintaining the ecological balance in the region.

The barrage will stop the flow of water downstream, and the migration of fishes to the sea, adding to the woes of the fisherfolk who are already seeing a drastic decline in aquatic life due to severe pollution in the AnkleshwarJhagadiaPanoli region.

The barrage project will be challenged in the National Green Tribunal (Pune) by the fishermen from the Bharuch district in the near future, in an attempt to protect their traditional livelihood.

The fishermen were detained by the police for their protest.
Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress on Monday urged Rahul Gandhi to take over the leadership of the party, saying the entire cadre was behind him.

The state Congress also lauded the role of incumbent chief Sonia Gandhi and authorised her to finalise the name of the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), state unit spokesman Ravinder Sharma said.

He said a meeting of newly elected PCC delegates from the Jammu province was held at the party headquarters here under the chairmanship of Pradesh Returning Officer (PRO) and Rajya Sabha MP Hussain Dalwai.

"The meeting unanimously lauded the role and leadership of Rahul who is fighting the forces of hatred and leading the party as it faces the most difficult challenges," Sharma said.

He said the speakers were unanimous in their demand that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi take over the leadership of the party.

The meeting was attended by APROs Moqsood Mirza, Deepak Rathode, PCC president GA Mir and all senior functionaries, MLAs and MLCs and other PCC delegates from all districts and parts of Jammu province.

"The entire cadre is behind his leadership and the younger leadership has great desire that he should lead the party," Sharma said.

He said a resolution moved by party leader Thakur Hari Singh and seconded by all senior leaders was unanimously adopted to authorise Congress president to finalise the list of AICC members and president of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee.

The speakers praised the leadership of Sonia who led the party with great dynamism and vision, he said.

"She always took the right decision in the interests of the country and party at all crucial times. They lauded her selfless services and dynamic leadership," Sharma said.
Kozhikode: Kerala unit of BJP on Sunday ridiculed the state government's stand that a National Investigation Agency probe is not needed in the Akhila case, saying it would only help anti-national forces.

"Avoiding NIA probe will only help anti national forces", state BJP General Secretary MT Ramesh said.

Ramesh was addressing a press conference in Kozhikode in connection with the "Jan Raksha Yatra" taken out by the state BJP.

The Kerala government had on Saturday told the Supreme Court that the police probe into a prominent case of alleged 'love jihad' had revealed nothing worthy of being reported to the Centre under the 2008 NIA Act.

In August, the top court asked the NIA to probe charges that people with links to the Islamic State were behind the conversion of a 24-year-old Hindu woman, Akhila (or Hadiya), who married a Muslim man, Shafeel Jahan.

Questioning CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's remarks that organisations like Popular Front of India should not be banned legally and be handled in a democratic manner, Ramesh alleged that the party is supporting the outfit in the wake of the 11 October by-election to the state assembly from Vengara constituency.

On the case registered against Jan Raksha Yatris for allegedly raising objectionable slogans during the yatra in Kannur, Ramesh said BJP was not afraid of such 'threats.'
Amethi: Local Congress leader of Amethi Jang Bahadur Singh on Monday announced his decision to join the BJP, just a day ahead of BJP chief Amit Shah's visit to the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Singh, who was a BSP MLA from 2003 to 2007 before joining the Congress, said he was "saddened" by the policies of the Congress and felt "enthused by the development-oriented politics" of the BJP.

"I have decided to join the BJP. The projects which were started earlier have virtually slowed down significantly, thereby generating a sense of agony. However, with the advent of Smriti Irani (Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Textiles), there has been a visible shift," he told reporters here.

Mounting attack on the Congress, Singh said, "Despite having a government at the Centre for two terms (2004 to 2014), no significant step was taken to ensure development, and as a result, Amethi became synonymous with bad roads."

He said the Congress "indulged in ignoring its workers, while on the other hand, Smriti Irani, despite losing the elections, showed an inclination towards development and also showed honour towards the workers. This prompted me to join the BJP."

Earlier, when Shah visited Lucknow in July, two MLCs of Samajwadi Party  Bukkal Nawab and Yashwant Singh  and one from BSP  Thakur Jaiveer Singh  had resigned from the membership of the Council and joined the BJP.

Commenting on Rahul Gandhi's recent remark that the Congress will do in six months what the Modi government has not been able to do so far, Singh said the statement was "laughable".

"For nearly 60 years, the Congress was in power at the Centre. When it was in power, why did it not do anything? Today it is even failing to play the role of Opposition," he said.

Heaping praise on Irani, Singh mentioned the 41 major works done by her in Amethi.

Showering accolades on Shah, he said the BJP chief's "organisational capabilities" have helped the country to move forward on the path of development.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the face of Pakistan has been exposed at the United Nations," he said.

Amethi, traditionally a Congress bastion, had in 2014 Lok Sabha elections witnessed a high-pitch electoral battle between Rahul Gandhi and Smriti Irani.

Though Irani lost to the Congress scion, she managed to reduce his victory margin from around 3.70 lakh in 2009 to 1.07 lakh in 2014.

In the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls earlier this year, the BJP won six of the 10 Assembly seats falling under the parliamentary constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli. Four of them were in Amethi, reflecting the change in the mood of voters.

BJP sources said the upcoming visit of Shah and Irani to Amethi was aimed at sending a clear message that the current dispensation believed in all-round development of the state and was not meting out any "step-motherly treatment" to the areas where the BJP had failed to make a mark.

Gandhi had during his visit here on October 5 accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of re-inaugurating the projects launched by the previous UPA regime in the district.

He had also mounted a sharp attack on the prime minister and asked him to address unemployment problem and farmers issues.

"If Modiji cannot address these (issues), he should say so and Congress will come and do his work in six months," he had said.
Mumbai: Maharashtra revenue minister Chandrakant Patil on Monday found himself in a spot after the information he shared regarding former chief minister Ashok Chavan with reporters was found to be inaccurate.

Patil said, "Flats of two former MLAs Baburao Manikrao Patil and Narayan Giramji Patil (Auralkar) in Sukhada building were transferred to Sujaya Ashok Chavan and Shrijaya Ashok Chavan  daughters of former chief minister Ashok Chavan, who were shown as their successors during Chavan's tenure as chief minister."

Sukhada building houses some of the MLAs in the state.

The minister had shared the information on the sidelines of the press conference.

Patil's inaccurate statement pushed Chavan into an awkward position as Nanded, which happens to be the home turf of the latter, is going for municipal corporation election on 11 October.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis too had held a public rally in Nanded for BJP.

However, Mumbai city collector, Sampada Mehta, said, "I don't remember passing any order for any such action in any such matter."

Other revenue officers from Mumbai city district collectorate also confirmed that no such transfers have taken place in the name of the daughters of Chavan.

Chavan said, "I personally spoke to Chandrakant Patil when I learnt about his statements through media. Patil told me that no such action has been initiated."
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China hopes to enhance cooperation on law enforcement and security with Britain, a senior Chinese official said Monday.

Meng Jianzhu, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, made the comment when meeting with Mark Sedwill, national security advisor to the British Prime Minister.

Meng said China hopes to deepen cooperation with Britain on fighting terrorism, cyber and economic crime, human trafficking and corruption.

Sedwill said the United Kingdom is willing to push forward counter-terrorism and cyber security cooperation with China for more substantial achievements.
Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday slammed the central and Uttar Pradesh governments and said they had failed to redress the problems faced by the country's people.

Both the BJP-led governments had failed to address serious problems like poverty, inequality, price rise, and unemployment, which had made life miserable for the common people, said the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister at a function to mark the 11th death anniversary of party founder Kanshiram.

"Instead of sorting out these serious problems, the Bharatiya Janata Party is out to destroy the social and communal fabric of the country and the state," she said while accusing these governments of "apathy towards monuments of great personalities and ideologues belonging to backward castes".

The Dalit leader told BSP workers that it was disheartening that the party could not form a government in Uttar Pradesh for the fifth time, due to which, she added, the mission to uplift the poor, downtrodden, and marginalised had suffered a huge setback.

She alleged that the BJP was raking up issues of nationality, patriotism, and raising a war cry to deflect public attention from real issues, on which the government had failed miserably.

"The BJP is misusing government machinery to hound out honest and dedicated officials and they were being threatened and even sent behind bars in many cases for not towing the BJP line," the BSP leader said.
The Karnataka anti-corruption bureau will investigate the case filed against former Karnataka chief minster BS Yeddyurappa and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar in connection with the leaked video of their conversation about paying money to BJP high command, said The Indian Express report.

The recent development comes after a forensic report confirmed the identity of the two BJP leaders in a leaked video where they can be reportedly heard speaking to the party high command about money transaction done by local political leaders.

On Sunday, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) had filed an FIR against the two BJP leaders in connection with the case

What the case is all about?

In February this year, Yeddyurappa, had alleged that a diary seized by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had revealed that Rs 1,000 crore in donation was given by Karanatka chief minister Siddaramaiah to his party high command, The Times of India had reported.

In the video clip in question, which dates to 12 February, according to The Indian Express, Ananth Kumar was heard telling Yeddyurappa that the issue (of alleged payments of Rs 1000 crore to the Congress high command by Siddaramaiah) could be used politically to taint the Congress government.

The report added that the two BJP leaders were also heard saying that they also made payments to the party command when the BJP was in power in Karnataka between 2008 and 2013.

Transcript of the conversation between Shri Ananth Kumar & Shri Yeddyurappa on the Corruption in the BJP. pic.twitter.com/iAd0nP0IG7  Congress (@INCIndia) February 14, 2017

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had released the video clip of a purported conversation between the two leaders. Following which, a case against the two BJP leaders was filed by a Congress affiliated lawyer Dhananjaya.

Congress' stand

According to News18, Congress spokesperson Dinesh Gundu Rao has asked the Centre to remove Ananth Kumar from the Union cabinet.

This video is not ours. It is in their (BJP) office. Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar said the voices are not theirs. Now, the FSL has said that it is their voice. It exposes the corrupt practices of Kumar, a central minister, and Yeddyurappa. The police must take the investigation to its logical end. Its a very serious issue, Rao was quoted as saying by News18.

BJP's response

Yeddyurappa had earlier accused Siddaramaiah of vendetta politics and had said that he would not be cowed down by criminal charges agaainst him, The Hindu reported. Yeddyurappa told ANI that the ACB was working under orders from the Congress government, and that he was ready to face the ACB.

The BJP leaders, according to The Hindu, had alleged that the contents of the clip had been edited to malign their image.

Troubles for Yeddyurappa in poll-bound Karnataka

In May, BJP president Amit Shah had announced Yeddyurappa as the party's chief ministerial candidate in the state. Karnataka is scheduled to go for Assembly polls early next year. The FIR and the charge of corruption could put hurdles in Yeddyurappa's race for chief ministerial seat in the state.

With inputs from agencies.
Agartala: The Congress is planning to launch an agitation in Tripura from October-end against the forcible occupation of several of its party offices by the BJP, a top party leader said in Agartala on Monday.

"The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has forcibly occupied at least seven Congress party offices in various parts of the state," Tripura Congress vice-president Tapas Dey told media persons.

The BJP-occupied offices were in Udaipur, Bagma, Santir Bazar, Mohanpur, Madhupur, Barjala and Kamalpur. "These offices were being used by the Congress since the early 1960s," Dey said.

"We have requested the concerned District Magistrates to take suitable actions to free the occupied offices soon," he added.

Dey said if the concerned district or sub-divisional authorities failed to take appropriate actions to free the occupied Congress party offices, the party would launch an agitation from October-end.

He said that though the BJP forcibly occupied these Congress offices, the local administrations of the Left Front government have remained silent for "mysterious reasons".

Tripura Congress Party chief Birajit Sinha, who was currently in Delhi, told IANS over the phone that he would discuss the matter with the central leadership.

The BJP, meanwhile, denied the Congress allegations.

"Thousands of Congress leaders, members and workers including six legislators have joined BJP. In many places there is not a single Congressmen to open the party offices," BJP spokesman Mrinal Kanti Deb said.

Deb said the Congress deserters who had set up those party offices and joined BJP now, they were using these offices as a centre of agitation against the Left Front government.
Chennai: DMK Working President M K Stalin on Monday dubbed the dengue deaths in Tamil Nadu as a "health emergency" and urged Governor Banwarilal Purohit to direct the state Chief Secretary to take appropriate action to curb it.

A day after Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said 35 people had died due to dengue in the state, Stalin, leader of the opposition in the Assembly, hit out at the ruling AIADMK regime for the situation.

"The government machinery has come to a halt as Chief Minister K Palaniswami is engaging himself only in functions," he alleged in a statement. This was a reference to a series of functions presided by Palaniswami to commemorate the centenary of former Chief Minister and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran.

Stalin said that in the interest of the people and in view of the health emergency, the Governor should immediately intervene and order the Chief Secretary to take appropriate action.

He also urged the Governor to direct the top officials to take steps on a "war-footing to halt the everyday deaths due to dengue."

The DMK working chief alleged that the government is crippled without the administrative efficiency to curb dengue.

Claiming that about 10,000 people were affected by dengue, he slammed the Health Minister C Vijayabaskar and the health Secretary for "hiding the number of deaths due to dengue and for lowering the number of people who were affected by fever."

Radhakrishnan had said on Sunday that since January this year, 10,032 fever cases were reported in Tamil Nadu. Out of these, 35 people died of dengue.

It may also be recalled that various types of fever cases have been reported from across the State in the recent past.

The government had on 3 October said it has undertaken work on a "war-footing" to address the issue and Rs 13.95 crore has been allocated for mosquito control.

The government had said that among the steps taken to check spread dengue, it was providing 'Nilavembu' (Anti-Pyretic to treat fever) juice across 1,500 medical centres and medical colleges and distributing 2,000 kg of Nilavembu powder among people at Primary Health Centres.
The Assembly elections in Gujarat are expected by December, and the Election Commission is touring the state on Monday to check the preparedness. It is Prime Minister Narendra Modis home state, and he is not going to take it easy. Modi has already made two trips during weekends in the past one month, setting the stage for the fight. From the opposition, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has also made two visits, the second of which started on Monday.

Gujarat has been a two-party state for long, and unlike the last three occasions when Modi won hands down, this time, the opposition is going to be led by Rahul and not his mother, Sonia Gandhi. How would the Modi-Rahul bout play out? Among several advantages on Modis side, theres a less appreciated one, and thats his organisational strength.

Few know that Modi figured as page pramukh in a meticulously prepared list of the BJP members across Gujarat. This rather innocuous piece of information was hardly newsworthy for the media driven by crazy sensationalism.

But this news has a significant bearing on Gujarats politics. Let us first know what page pramukh stands for. Over the years, the BJP in Gujarat has broken down the electorates composition to a minuscule level. It means that every page comprising a list of 25-odd voters would be thoroughly monitored. And it will have a pramukh whose job is to reach out to those voters, irrespective of their pronounced political proclivity, and persuade them to vote for the BJP.

Given that the prime minister has a busy schedule, it is doubtful if Modi would have the bandwidth and time to fulfill his duties as page pramukh. But there is no doubt that he steadfastly discharged his responsibilities till he served as the chief minister of Gujarat. He held booth meetings to mobilise voters. Perhaps nothing explains the political magic that Modi has weaved in the state since 2001 more than the micro-level deepening of the organisational structure in Gujarat.

Modis successful two-day tour to Gujarat when the state is bracing up for the Assembly polls must be seen in this context. Despite sporadic incidents of violent protests by Patidars  led by Hardik Patel and his ilk  and in the midst of a virulent viral campaign of development has gone crazy in the social media, Modi does not seem to be losing his charm. Far from it, he is seen forging a rainbow social coalition dominated by the disadvantaged sections with the exception of Muslims.

Historically, Gujarat was relatively a politically calm state till the 1970s. The ruling elite comprising Brahmin-Bania-Patel, though numerically in minority, had exercised a vice-like grip on the state apparatus till the emergence of Indira Gandhi as a charismatic leader who coined the garibi hatao slogan and mobilised the marginaliased and social underdogs to challenge the well-entrenched elite representing minority.

In his exhaustive study of Indian politics, Democracy and Discontent, scholar Atul Kohli devoted a chapter to Gujarat and pointed out that despite Indira Gandhis own charm, the Congress organisationally got so weakened that it lost its strength to fight streets battles.

At the same time, the elites  led by Patidars upset with their displacement by Kshatriyas as the new ruling elite under the dispensation of Madhavsinh Solanki  triggered large-scale violence to attain their political objectives. Given the background of a long spell of riots in the state, intermittently from 1981 to 1985, violence seemed to have had been internalised in the states politics to pursue political objectives. Solanki was removed after six-month-long riots in 1985. Significantly, the organisational machinery of the Congress was far too ill-equipped to contain the situation.

Contrast this with Modi, and one would realise that his emphasis on building a robust political organisation within the state was meant to neutralise the possibility of a political feud spilling out on the streets.

Like Indira, Modi also upended the well-entrenched elites and mobilised the OBCs and Dalits to BJPs fold that caused heartburns. But his organisation was quite agile and responsive on the ground level to counter the threat of violence in the post-Godhara riot phase of his chief ministership. This has uniquely enhanced his capacity to rebuild social coalitions from the scratch and build a formidable support base on his own.

Now, look how social coalitions in Gujarat are getting rearranged prior to the polls. With Shankersinh Vaghela parting his way from Congress, the party has lost a sizeable chunk of the Kshatriya social base which is the most formidable social group in Gujarat. In numerical terms, this section comprising upper caste and lower caste Kshatriyas is the most dominant social group which traditionally stood Congress in good stead. In the recent past, Vaghela was the only leader who articulated the political angst of this section.

Though the Congress leadership can claim to have some regional satraps like Bharatsinh Solanki as a Kshatriya leader in its fold, most of them are non-entities compared to Vaghela. Hence, Vaghelas falling out of the Congresss fold is hardly a good omen for the party. It, however, could take solace in the fact that a significant section of Patels and Banias  a traditional support base of BJP  is showing signs of alienation from the ruling party. But is the Congress organisationally prepared to take advantage of this drift and anti-incumbency that accrued against BJP over nearly two decades?

Apparently, during his recent state visit, Rahul, except for mouthing rhetoric and practising symbolic politics, has done little to revamp Congress which is thoroughly disarrayed and confused organisationally.

At the same time, he has singularly failed to weave a narrative that can counter Modis powerful narrative of "Gujarati pride (Garvi Gujarat)". Of course, that was why Modi reaffirmed his son-of-soil image by visiting his hometown Vadnagar last weekend and intermingling with friends and other local people and conversing with them in Gujarati. In terms of message, he conveyed a far more powerful imagery for Gujarat than Rahul or other adversaries. If this state Assembly election turns out to be Modi versus Rahul, the results would predictably be in the favour of BJP without a doubt. Rahul will do well to understand that rhetoric and nicely formulated narrative are no substitute to a powerful political organisation, which the Congress is singularly lacking.
New Delhi: Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Monday accused the CPM government in Kerala of "sponsoring" the killings of BJP-RSS workers and said the BJP "will expose" the Pinarayi Vijayan government.

"The political killings in Kerala are sponsored by the CPM government," Rijiju said in New Delhi while participating in the Janaraksha Yatra of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"And we shall expose it," he said, reiterating what party chief Amit Shah had said on Sunday while kicking off the Janaraksha Yatra in New Delhi, similar to the padyatra the BJP launched in Kerala on 3 October.

Rijiju said "whatever the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) government is doing in society does not suit democracy".

Hundreds of BJP leaders and workers marched from Connaught Place to the CPM office in Gole Market area on Monday, like they did on Sunday.

The Delhi Police had to use water canons to disperse the protesting workers of the BJP.

Minister of State for External Affairs, General VK Singh, who also participated in the Janaraksha Yatra said "wherever there is a communist government they try to instill fear among the people by spreading violence".

"Shall we fear such killings?" he asked the BJP workers, who replied with a loud "No".

"We won't fear, we shall spread awareness against the communists," Singh said.

Shah on Sunday alleged the political killings were being carried out on the "orders" of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in order to "instill fear" among people and prevent the BJP from expanding in Kerala.

On 3 October, Shah had started three day Janaraksha Yatra from Kannur in Kerala, the home district of Vijayan.
Amethi: Former Congress legislator Jang Bahadur Singh said he had left the party as he was displeased with its policies and that he had tendered his resignation.

"Being displeased with the policies and ways of the party, I have tendered my resignation. The party which could bag only seven seats in last Assembly election has failed to

play its role as a strong Opposition," he said.

On whether he would join any other party, Singh said, "Wait and watch, my decision will always be related to people of my region."

Singh declared to move out of the Congress after the party's vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, concluded his three day visit on 6 October.
Kolkata: With speculation rife over Mukul Roy joining the BJP, a senior leader of the party on Monday said the suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader would not be inducted into the saffron outfit if he was found "guilty" in corruption cases.

Asked how could the BJP induct Roy, against whom it had run a political campaign over the last few years, the leader, who did not wish to be named, told PTI, "He has not been proven guilty yet, only allegations have been raised."

He, however, added that the party was yet to take a call on the matter.

"The West Bengal unit of our party will first discuss and decide. After that, we will take a call. But, if he (Roy) is found guilty in the Narada and Saradha cases, we will not induct him into the party," the BJP leader said.

He added that the saffron party was like "the river Ganga, where various small rivers meet".

Roy, who is currently in Delhi, earlier in the day met the BJP's in-charge of West Bengal, Kailash Vijayvargiya, who said the saffron party was not in a hurry to induct him.

The suspended TMC leader is likely to resign as a Rajya Sabha MP within the next few days. He had earlier said he would also resign from the primary membership of the party.

Roy had been suspended by the TMC for six years for "anti-party activities" after he had said, on 25 September, that he would resign from the party after Durga Puja.

He had recently described the BJP as a secular party and said the TMC would not have tasted success without the backing of the saffron outfit at the national level in its initial years.
Nanded: Voting for the Shiv Sena in the upcoming Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation polls would mean bringing the Congress to power, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday while launching a vicious attack on the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

Fadnavis said Sena, the ruling ally of the BJP in Centre and state governments, is not even in reckoning for the civic polls, scheduled on 11 October.

Addressing a public rally, Fadnavis also didn't spare sitting MP and Congress stalwart Ashok Chavan, who has parked himself in the constituency to ensure that his party retains the civic body.

Fadnavis' attack on the Sena came a day after Thackeray dared the BJP to "resign" from the Maharashtra government and face mid term polls. Thackeray had also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his visit to Gujarat, which he dubbed a "poll campaign".

"Entire Maharashtra is standing behind the BJP today. In the recent elections to 16 municipal corporations, the BJP came to power in 13. There is no trace left of the Congress. As far as the Sena is concerned, it is not even in the race here. So I do not feel the need to say anything much about them," Fadnavis told the gathering.

He recalled that Sena had joined hands with the Congress against the BJP when the party was voted to power in Aurangabad municipal corporation polls. He said Sena had sided with the Congress in Jalna, Parbhani and Hingoli civic bodies as well.

Attacking the Sena, which has been firing salvos at Modi and the BJP-led NDA governments at Centre and state despite being an alliance partner, the chief minister said the Thackeray-led party had also helped the Congress in securing a victory in Nanded Zilla Parishad (ZP) polls.

"Sena is not fighting in Nanded to win but to ensure that the BJP loses the election. Voting for them (Sena) means giving direct votes to the Congress. The Sena is in the poll fray only on the directions of the Congress," the CM said.

Fadnvais said the BJP came to power in 18 states because of "good governance" under the leadership of the prime minister.

"In Modi ji, people have got a leader who actually works for the poor. In the last 70 years of the Congress rule, they could not even provide people with houses. But under Modi ji's vision, he has promised housing for all by 2022. He does not merely talk but the construction of crores of homes across the nation has already started," he said.

The Nanded civic polls is viewed as a litmus test for former chief minister and current state Congress unit president Ashok Chavan, whose father late Shankarrao Chavan, a former defence minister, had nurtured the constituency over years.

The 81-member civic body is currently controlled by the Congress. In the 2012 polls, the Congress had won 41 seats, Sena 14, BJP 2, NCP 10, MIM 11, Others (2), Independent 1.

Out of 81 seats, 41 seats are reserved for women candidates, 15 seats for SC candidates, 2 for ST and 22 seats for Backward Class communities.

The counting of votes will be done on 12 October and results will be declared on the same day. A total of 578 candidates are in the poll fray.

Meanwhile, targeting Chavan, the CM said, "As many as 50,000 people in Nanded lack a proper house to live. In all these years of power, the MPCC president only cared about himself".

He said various civic works and the condition of roads in Nanded would have been better had the funds been allotted to "right people" and not "laundered".

"If Rs 300-350 crore had been allotted to right people and the money was not laundered, it would have been ensured that all roads in Nanded are of good quality. No money would have been needed for the next 20 years, but they (Congress) were interested only in taking commissions," the CM alleged.
Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said rebel JD-U leader Sharad Yadav had ditched principled politics, adding that his 'Sanjhi Virasat Bachao' event in Delhi was nothing but support to dynastic politics and corrupt leaders.

"Sharad Yadav should not talk about principles in politics. Socialist leaders never support dynastic politics, the corrupt, and corruption," Nitish Kumar told media persons in Patna after his weekly 'Lok Samvad' programme.

Without naming Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and his family, who are facing corruption charges, Nitish Kumar said former Janata Dal-United president and former Union minister Sharad Yadav's 'Sanjhi Virasat Bachao' event or 'save common heritage' was to support dynastic politics and corruption.

Sharad Yadav had organised the event at the Constitution Club in Delhi on 17 August, which was attended by more than a dozen opposition parties.

The Bihar chief minister justified his decision to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party and form a new government in the state. "I took this decision to safeguard the interests of Bihar and for its development," he said.

Nitish Kumar, who is also JD-U president, said the Election Commission had already rejected twice the claim of Sharad Yadav's faction that they were the real JD-U. There will be no problem if they approach the commission again, Nitish Kumar said.

Earlier, Sharad Yadav called Nitish Kumar "selfish and betrayer" for breaking the Grand Alliance comprising the JD-U, the RJD and the Congress and forming a new government in Bihar with BJP help.

Nitish Kumar was silent on the political uproar over the unprecedented growth in BJP president Amit Shah's son's business as well as the economic slowdown in the country.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday launched a nation-wide campaign against the propaganda unleashed by Bharatiya Janata Party-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) combine that Kerala is a land of 'red-jihadi' terror.

The saffron party had put the CPM in the dock by launching a 'Janaraksha Yatra' from Payyannur in Kannur district, the epicentre of political violence in the state, to state capital Thiruvananthapuram from 3 October and its national version in front of the CPM headquarters in New Delhi and other state capitals from the next day.

In a virtual tit-for-tat response to the BJP campaign, the CPM launched protests in front of the BJP office in Delhi and all other state capitals on Monday. In Kerala, the party staged 'anti-fascist' meets in front of the state secretariat in the state capital and other district headquarters.

The CPM kicked the ball to the BJP court in Kannur, where the battle for political supremacy between CPM and the Sangh Parivar has claimed more than 250 lives in the last three decades, by parading family members of party workers killed and those injured in the violence.

Both parties sought to play the victim card by putting forth the victims on their side. While BJP listed 200 names, the CPM came up with a list of 205 people. However, the CPM could mobilise family members of only 65 victims and 10 injured at the Kannur meet, according to reports.

Both the CPM and the RSS blamed each other for the killing spree. CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the killing spree had started in 1971 when the party resisted the RSS-instigated violence against Muslims. When the CPM defeated its design, the RSS started targeting the party workers.

"The current series of political murders in Kannur was fuelled by RSS by hurling bombs on the victory rally of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the day of the counting of votes in the Assembly poll. RSS men attacked the rally as they were frustrated by the partys dismal show in the election," CPM said.

BJP state chief Kummanam Rajashekharan, however, said that seeds of hostility towards RSS were sowed by the undivided Communist Party way back in 1948 when the party attacked a conclave addressed by the then RSS sarsanghchalak MS Golwalkar at Thiruvananthapuram.

"The killing spree by CPM started in the 1970s when many party workers joined RSS frustrated with the partys dubious stand on Emergency. The CPM has killed several workers and leaders of the Sangh since then. The killing spree is continuing now, added Rajashekharan.

Political analysts feel that neither CPM nor BJP wants the violence to end. Sunnykutty Abraham, a senior journalist based at Thiruvananthapuram, said that the parties were trying to create fear in the minds of the people and make political capital out of it.

He told Firstpost that the Janarkasha Yatra of BJP and the counter-protests by CPM were intended to serve the political interest of the respective parties. While BJP is trying to woo the Hindus and Christians by raising slogans against 'red-Jihadi' terror and love jihad, the CPM is making an attempt to use it to project itself as a saviour of the Muslim community, says Abraham.

"The BJP propaganda against jihadi terror and love jihad has raised fears in the minds of the Muslims. The CPM has considered it as a golden opportunity, particularly on the eve of the Vengara by-election, in which it was locked in a tough fight. The party, therefore, is trying to cash in on it," he said.

The strident anti-Sangh Parivar position taken by CPM and its allies had helped LDF win a few seats in the Muslim and Christian belts in the Assembly election. The CPM, which was pessimistic about the outcome at Vengara in the initial phase of the campaign, has started exuding confidence after BJP launched the Janaraksha Yatra.

Umesh Babu, a political analyst at Kannur, termed the roadshows of both the political outfits as insanity. He told Firstpost that the two were playing with the lives of innocent people for their political games.

"If the two political outfits are blaming past mistakes for the violence, they should put them behind them and bring an end to the violence for once and all. Instead, they want the murder spree to continue. Keralites are not fools not to understand the motive behind these political games," he said.

Umesh, a former member of the CPM-controlled writers' forum, said that the major reason for the violence was the intolerance of the two outfits towards their political rivals. He was ousted from CPM for writing a poem that the party considered against its political stand.

The writer said that both CPM and the Sangh Parivar are equally fascist. They are displaying their fascist face in the current campaign. They are adopting fascist methods to prevent the other from poaching their space.

"Protests are part of the democratic process. No one is against parties taking out yatras or engaging in other activities to canvas support of the people. But what is going on now is a venomous campaign instigating fear in the minds of the people, Umesh said.

He said that both CPM and RSS were intoxicating the workers politically. They are trying to turn party workers into killing machines and political animals. There is no humanness in these parties, he added.

Umesh said that the BJP yatra and the CPM counter-protest in Kannur may end the brief lull in violence that Kannur is experiencing now. He said that the entire district was tense in the wake of the current protests and clashes could erupt anytime.

Minor incidents of violence had occurred in some parts of Kannur and Kasargod even a day before the launch of the Janaraksha Yatra by BJP chief Amit Shah. It took a serious turn on Sunday when crude bombs were hurled on a procession taken out by CPM activists at Kaivellikal in Kannur district.

As many as 14 persons, including four police personnel, sustained injuries in the attack. Blaming RSS for the attack, CPM organised a dawn-to-dusk hartal at Panoor as a mark of protest.

The tense situation in Kannur is likely to continue as CPM is planning a yatra from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram later in the month and the Congress-led United Democratic Front from 1 November. The political atmosphere will remain hot until the elections.
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The schedule Rahul Gandhi will follow on the first day of his Navsarjan Yatra in Gujarat

Gandhi calls out Narendra Modi on Jay Shah's business dealings, asks "were you gatekeeper or participant?"

He also added that every 24 hours, 30,000 unemployed youth enter the job market, of which only 450 get jobs.

"Chhappan ki chhaati hain, mein Akela rozgar dunga. Kisiko kuchh nahi karna padega (Whatever happened to the 56-inch-chest. He said I will create jobs all by myslef.)," Rahul said.

Targetting the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Rahul claimed that unemployment is one of the biggest problems in India and the BJP has failed to keep its promises.

"Na khaunga, na khaney dunga. Kahan gaya chowkidar? Ye hain Gujarat ki sachchai (Neither will I indulge in corruption nor will I let anyone else do it, Modi would say.. but this is the reality of Gujarat)," Rahul said.

Urging the crowd to repeat after him, Rahul raised slogans mocking Modi's popular 'na khaunga na khane dunga,' rallying cry. "For 10-12 years, Amit Shah's son's company has been into existence, but it starts earning only after 2014. Isn't it a strange world," Rahul said.

"When it comes to helping, they help only a handful of industrialists. For 10-12 years, Amit Shah's son's company had nothing, but started earning only after 2014. 'Ajeeb duniya hain' (It's a strange world). He (Jay Shah) started with Rs 50,000, and in a year it jumped to Rs 80 crore. This is 'Start Up India', 'Make in India'," he said, mocking the Prime Minister's pet schemes.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a frontal attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of crony capitalism, and hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah over allegations that his son's business fortunes soared after the NDA government came to power in New Delhi. Addressing enthusiastic crowds in Nadiad in central Gujarat, on the second phase of his party's Navsarjan Yatra in the poll-bound state, Gandhi took pot shots at the Modi government as the gathering cheered loudly.

Mocking Narendra Modis monthly radio address to the nation Mann ki Baat, the Rahul Gandhi said, Hum apko apne mann ki baat nahi batayenge, hum apki mann ki baat sunenge (We wont tell you how we feel, we will listen to what you have to say.)

He then walked with the child holding her finger through the crowd, while her mother Minalben held the other hand. Minalben is a member of the Sojitra taluka (tehsil) panchayat.

Emerging from a meeting of milk cooperative women in Borsad town, he asked a three year old girl Devanshi why was she crying and she murmured, bhukh laagi chhey (I am hungry). He gave the girl a chocolate.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi mingled freely with the crowds, held meeting with village milk cooperatives as well as interacted with rural women in the central Gujarat region of Kheda and Anand.

On Gujarat visit, Rahul Gandhi seeks to directly reach out to the people

He also said that Atal Bihar Vajpayee too had not denied the development work done during the years that Congress was in power.

Hitting out at Narendra Modi for denying the development done during Congress rule in India, Rahul Gandhi said that India's journey in the past 70 years has been too great to be one party's property. He said that the progress made in those years should be accredited to the people of India, and by denying it, Modi was insulting the contributions made by your families and forefathers.

"This is because their focus is on development of 100 big industries. When the Congress comes to power, it will develop small and medium scale industries which can create many more jobs," Gandhi said.

Rahu Gandhi attacked the government over its failure to create jobs. India, he said, is competing with China these days. China creates 50,000 jobs every day, but the country under the Modi government is able to generate just 450 jobs per day, he said.

He also brought up the inflation issue, alleging that the Modi government failed to check the rise in fuel prices. "Ghar chalane ka kharch badha ya kam hua (Has your monthly budget increased or decreased)," Gandhi asked amid a cheering crowd.

Rahul Gandhi slammed the state government accusingit of crony capoitalism. "The Gujarat government's doors are closed for the poor adn farmers. Only five to ten industrialists are running the government," Gandhi said.

"Loans given to poor is their right, not a gift. In case the Congress comes to power, we will give loans to the poor, farmers, women, who Modi govt ignores, Gandhi said.

Targeting BJP-led central government on loans, Gandhi said, Modi govts new model is a model for industrialists. When poor farmers fail to pay their loans, Modi ji calls them defaulters... BJP refuses to waive off their loans saying they shouldn't be taught to become habitual defaulters. But when industrialists like Mallya don't pay back their loans they are called non-performing assets.

Rahul Gandhi slams BJP on bad loans, says why a farmer was called a defaulter but an industrialist a nonperforming asset

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a media report which had claimed that a company owned by BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay had recorded huge increase in turnover after the saffron party came to power in 2014.

"Education is important . But if you run educational institutions only for profit, then it will not benefit students. The reason why IITs are successful is because they are not run for profits. The focus is not profit. My government in Gujarat will help bring the focus back on education and not on profit," Rahul Gandhi told students during an interaction in Vadodara.

"The private sector in Gujarat is a monopoly. At least 90% privatisation in technical education," Rahul told students on Tuesday.

"Job creation is a problem in India. Out of 30,000, only about 450 youth get employment in India. Whereas in China, about 50,000 youth get jobs. This is because the NDA government is not focusing on jobs," Rahul told students in Vadodara.

"Badi badi bate hai. Yeh log khokle baate karte hai (These people talk about big and hallow things). They are not interested in women's rights. Have you ever seen any women in RSS camps," Rahul said questioning the BJP alleged anti-women attitude.

"Jay Shah is an icon of start up India. Look how he brought the company's revenue from Rs 50,000 to 80 crores. But I don't understand why he wound up the company in less than a year," asked Rahul in Vadodara.

"Everything is fine till the time a woman is silent. But if she speaks, she will be silenced," Rahul said.

The BJP is facing an embarrassing social media blitzkrieg in Gujarat under the theme, Vikas Gando Thayo Chhey (Development has gone bonkers) and Maara Haara Chhetri Gaya (They took us for a neat ride) taunting at the development claims of the state and Central governments. And it is not a campaign by the Congress, which is yet to demonstrate anything so effective anywhere, leave alone Gujarat.

Taking a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union minister Smriti Irani has claimed that visits by her and senior BJP leaders had ensured that the people of the district were seeing more of the Congress vice-president.

Amethi had witnessed a high-pitched electoral battle between Gandhi and Irani in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Though she lost, Irani managed to reduce the Congress leader's victory margin from around 3.70 lakh votes in 2009 to 1.07 lakh in 2014.

Rahul also hit out at the NDA government over the economy and demanded that the rates under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) not exceed 18 percent. "In spite of our request to the Centre, they are charging rates of over 18 percent under the GST... They should revert to the 18 percent tax slab," Gandhi said, adding high taxes have ruined many businesses. Demonetisation resulted in loss of business of many small traders, he said. The famed Gujarat model of development had failed, the Congress leader added.

Gujarat govt reduces VAT on petrol by 4 percent. With the latest announcement, petrol prices have been cut by Rs 2.93 and diesel by Rs 2.72. On the latest announcement, Congress Shaktisinh Gohil said, "This decision was taken in view of the support that Rahul Gandhi is getting across the state. This was done with an eye on elections," he told reporters.

Rahul has also said in the past that Congress' 2014 loss helped being beneficial to the party. The report noted that last month, Rahul said the Congress had become 'arrogant', which is why it lost in 2014.

This speculation may be true according to a report in The Times of India. Citing three instances, the report added that Rahul has turned contemplative during his recent Gujarat trip. On Monday, the Gandhi scion said,that BJP's constant criticism of him opened his eyes and helped him learn.

"When people from Pipri went to meet the MP (Rahul Gandhi), they were told that he had no time left for them," Irani said on Tuesday.

"Those who do not the difference between relay transmission and FM radio station should not talk about 'vikaas'," Smriti irani said in an apparent dig at Rahul Gandhi.

Smriti Irani says Rahul has no right to preach on 'vikaas'

After former Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil, Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki is addressing the gathering

"It was sheer magic that Rs 50,000 became Rs 80 crores in just few months. While successful companies run longer, I don't know why it was closed in 2016. It is happening in a country where the chowkidaar (Modi) is ruling India, Why he is silent when there has been a theft? It seems now it is Amit Shah ke bete ko bacchao", Rahul Gandhi told a public gathering in Karjan.

Congress vice-president said that the Modi government looted Indians through note ban. Rahul Gandhi added that the move only impacted the daily wage workers, unemployed and the working class people, and said the demonetisation drive only helped a group of 10-15 industrialists.

While Rahul ended his speech, urging Gujarati populace to vote for Congress, the public in Karjan began shouting slogans like, "Congress aveche", which roughly translates to "Congress is coming."

"People of Gujarat have experienced development. Rahul must look at what he has done to Amethi. While he asks what Modi has done in last three years, Rahul must answer what his family has done for Amethi and India," BJP president Amit Shah told the gathering in Amethi.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is in the line of fire in Amethi

In a major boost for the ruling BJP before the Assembly elections, the party has won five of the seven local bodies in Gujarat. The party has also won a seat in Gandhinagar's Randheja taluka. It is to be noted that the party won only two of the seven bodies in the last elections.

While tagging a copy of the report on Twitter, published by news website The Wire, Gandhi on Monday had taken a jibe at the BJP chief,"We finally found the only beneficiary of demonetisation. It's not the RBI, the poor or the farmers. It's the Shah-in-Shah of Demo. Jai Amit."

Crowds also screamed, "Jutho chhey, Jutho chhey (he is a liar, referring to Modi)", in the same breathe.

Gandhi was referring to the media expose on BJP chief Amit Shah's son. And when he said, "Ye chowkidaar hey ke bhaagidar", there was a huge laughter as people responded almost in unison, "bhaagidar", amid deafening whistles.

When Rahul Gandhi wondered at a public meeting in Karjan, "Jab Narendra Modiji pradhan mantri baney to unhone kaha mein Chowkidar hun, to ab kyon chup hain (When he became the prime minister, he said that he will be a "chowkidaar", but why he is silent now?)," the crowds screamed chor hain, chor.

Rahul's Gandhi's remark came after several Union ministers came out in support of Shah's son Jay Amit Shah. "Amazing transition from Beti Bachao to Beta Bachao," Rahul said on Twitter, using the term "Shehzada" to describe Shah's son.

"Congress government will soon come to power in Gujarat, it will work for the interests of farmers, small traders and the poor. Last time, he (Modi) waived the loans of the rich. We will instead bring a loan waiver for farmers," Rahul said in his Padra rally.

We will be the government for poor, says Rahul Gandhi

Development is not something to be ridiculed, instead it should be welcomed but what Rahul Gandhi is doing in Gujarat is to insult the dreams and aspirations of 6.5 crore Gujaratis, she said.

"The manner in which Rahul Gandhi has made fun of the dreams and aspirations of the people of Gujarat will lead to a historic defeat for the Congress party in the state election," said the Union minister for textiles and information and broadcasting in a statement.

Union minister Smriti Irani on Monday accused Rahul Gandhi of "insulting" the people of Gujarat and claimed that the Congress will suffer what she called a "historic defeat" in the upcoming assembly polls.

"A vast stretch of land was given by farmers long back for construction of the Samrat cycle factory and when nothing much happened there is an effort to occupy the land illegally and despite eviction notice they are not letting the land go," she added. She said if Rahul Gandhi was listening to her speech, he should answer a lot of questions.

Speaking at a public rally in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, the parliamentary constituency of the Gandhi scion, Irani said the Congress leader was making fun of development in Gujarat but has no answer for the lack of it in his own backyard in Amethi.

According to The Indian Express, Rahul Gandhi is currently interacting with aanganwadi workers in Dabhoi, a town near Vadodara. This was already part of his schedule decided by the Congress party.

Slamming the BJP government in Gujarat over its claims of development, Rahul Gandhi sarcastically said, "I am going to send a letter to Guinness Book of World Records as for the first time 'vikas' has gone mad."

Claiming that if a Congress government was elected, he will ensure that the farmers get the right prices they deserve, and if need be the party will also consider waiving off loans.

Rahul Gandhi hit out at Narendra Modi over farm crisis in India. He said that farmers are commiting suicide all across the country but the Centre was ignornt towards their plight.

Addressing a rally in Dabhoi, Gandhi said that the Gujarat was teh land thatt gave India the 'white revolution' and leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. He said that if lead in the right way, the state had the potential to lead the entire nation on the path to progress.

Gujarat is set to see a pitched battle in this year's polls as the Congress party is going all out to woo voters playing up the anti-incumbency factor in the prime minister's home turf. Rahul Gandhi, in his Navsarjan Yatra, leaves no opportunity to criticise the BJP-led government's policies.

Patel, however, took exception to the comment and sought an apology from the party for the Gandhi scion's 'inappropriate and insulting comments.' She also advised Gandhi to do a google search to find out facts, adding that RSS has had separate branches for women since a long time.

Gandhi had apparently asked the people if they have ever seen any women in shakhas. "Their organisation is the RSS. How many women are there in the RSS... Have you ever seen any woman in shakhas wearing shorts?" he had said in a sarcastic tone.

BJP leader Anandiben Patel demanded an apology from the Congress vice-president over his comments on women's participation in RSS shakhas.

Meanwhile... Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his comment on RSS

Meanwhile, Shah, who was in Amethi, didn't spare Gandhi at his constituency. "Instead of making a mockery of development in Gujarat, Rahul should focus on development in Amethi," Shah said.

Ever since a story published in The Wire has raised questions over the the business dealings of Amit Shah's son, Rahul Gandhi hasn't been at a public meeting where he did not bring up the issue. In the form of subtle retorts, or sharp jibes, the prolific rise of Jay Shah's business has spiced up the Gandhi scion's speech in the BJP chief's home state.

Yogi Adityanath accused him of being more interested in Italy than in the people of his parliamentary constituency Amethi. He also taunted the Amethi MP for not coming to his parliamentary constituency often and rather visiting Italy more.

As Rahul Gandhi was on the second day of his tour in Gujarat, BJP top brass targetted the Congress V-P from his Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

He also criticised Union ministers and BJP leaders who defended Jay Shah, saying they should change the name of the government's flagship scheme for the girl child  "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" to "Amit Shah ke bete ko bachao".

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged business dealings of BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay, asking him if he was a "partner" in the "theft".

Congress vice-president said that the BJP government had promised development funds for tribal areas, jobs for the youth and irrigation water for the farms. He added that the prime minister has failed on all these fronts and betrayed the people with hollow talks.

Patel, however, took exception to the comment and sought an apology from the party for the Gandhi scion's 'inappropriate and insulting comments.' She also advised Gandhi to do a google search to find out facts, adding that RSS has had separate branches for women since a long time.

Gandhi had apparently asked the people if they have ever seen any women in shakhas. "Their organisation is the RSS. How many women are there in the RSS... Have you ever seen any woman in shakhas wearing shorts?" he had said in a sarcastic tone.

BJP leader Anandiben Patel demanded an apology from the Congress vice-president over his comments on women's participation in RSS shakhas.

Meanwhile... Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his comment on RSS

#WATCH : Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel demands Congress' apology for Rahul Gandhi's statement "Ever saw women in shorts at RSS shakhas"? pic.twitter.com/HDMXJoJBIy

'Ask Sonia Gandhi if she liked her son's comments on women': Watch Anandiben Patel take a dig at Rahul Gandhi over RSS comments

Meanwhile, Shah, who was in Amethi, didn't spare Gandhi at his constituency. "Instead of making a mockery of development in Gujarat, Rahul should focus on development in Amethi," Shah said.

Ever since a story published in The Wire has raised questions over the the business dealings of Amit Shah's son, Rahul Gandhi hasn't been at a public meeting where he did not bring up the issue. In the form of subtle retorts, or sharp jibes, the prolific rise of Jay Shah's business has spiced up the Gandhi scion's speech in the BJP chief's home state.

Rahul Gandhi claims Congress will outdo 22 years of BJP govt's work in just six months

Rahul Gandhi meets and interacts with people displaced by the Narmada Dam in Pansoli Village, Vasahat, Dabhoi. #YuvaKisanAdhikar pic.twitter.com/FIHKJHZOft

Yogi Adityanath accused him of being more interested in Italy than in the people of his parliamentary constituency Amethi. He also taunted the Amethi MP for not coming to his parliamentary constituency often and rather visiting Italy more.

As Rahul Gandhi was on the second day of his tour in Gujarat, BJP top brass targetted the Congress V-P from his Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

He also criticised Union ministers and BJP leaders who defended Jay Shah, saying they should change the name of the government's flagship scheme for the girl child  "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" to "Amit Shah ke bete ko bachao".

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged business dealings of BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay, asking him if he was a "partner" in the "theft".

Congress vice-president said that the BJP government had promised development funds for tribal areas, jobs for the youth and irrigation water for the farms. He added that the prime minister has failed on all these fronts and betrayed the people with hollow talks.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday reached Ahmedabad to start the second-leg of his Navsarjan Yatra in poll-bound state of Gujarat. Rahul's visit comes amid a series of speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi across Gujarat, taking forward the campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is also the ruling party at the Centre and the state.

On Sunday, Modi made a number of election promises and laid foundation stones as he returned to his hometown of Vadnagar, launching the "Intensified Mission Indradhanush" scheme to accelerate progress towards healthcare goals.

Gandhi's visit will start from Ahmedabad, from where he will head to Khatraj Chokdi in Kheda district for a corner meeting. He will also pay a visit for darshan at Santram Mandir and hold a corner meeting in Nadiad and Anand district.

Overall, the Congress-vice president will hold three corner meeting apart from interacting with local leaders traders, entrepreneurs and professionals in Vadodara.

Earlier, on 4 September, Rahul Gandhi participated in a direct dialogue with party members from across all 182 constituencies, in keeping with the party's focus on strengthening and revving up the organisation's ground machinery.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday mocked Gandhi over his visit to Gujarat, stating that it is not going to make much of a difference. Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Syed Zafar Islam said, Rahul Gandhis tour is nothing but talks on development, which totally lacks in his party.
Patna: Nitish Kumar's JD(U) on Monday said a national council meeting held by rebel party leader Sharad Yadav was "illegal" as he did not have the right to convene it in view of a recent Election Commission decision.

Party leader in Rajya Sabha and national general secretary RCP Singh said he had come to know about the meeting in Delhi on Sunday through newspapers.

"Sharad Yadav cannot convene or hold a meeting of the party's national council as the Election Commission has dismissed twice his plea for the allotment of party name and symbol to his faction," Singh told reporters.

The poll panel had recently refused to consider his plea on the grounds that it lacked supporting documents such as affidavits, he added.

The party also questioned Yadav's claim that 500 members of the national council had attended the meeting. "Sharad Yadav has claimed that 500 members of the national council participated in yesterday's meeting but the fact remains otherwise," Singh said.

The list of the members of the national council which Yadav was referring to was a fake one, Singh said. "The list ... expired in 2015 with the election of a new president. Besides, Yadav does not have any support in the party's legislative wing," he said.

The term of the previous national council had expired in 2015 with the election of Nitish Kumar as the new president at the party's Rajgir session in November 2016, he said.

Stating that the EC had rejected Yadav's plea for allotment of the party name and symbol to his faction twice on 12 and 27 September, 2017, the senior JD(U) leader asked how Yadav could claim to have the support of 500 members of the national council, when its current strength was 194.

Giving the break-up of the 194 members of the council, Singh said 103 members were from Bihar, followed by 35 from Kerala, 31 from Jharkhand, 23 from Jammu and Kashmir and 2 from Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Stating that the EC recognises the majority in the national council and legislative wing while deciding the claim of a particular person staking a claim to a party name and symbol, Singh dared Yadav to tell the people and the EC how many of the 194 national council members supported him.
New Delhi: CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday hit out at the RSS-BJP, saying the Left party was capable of giving a suitable answer if the saffron outfits did not stop political violence.

The CPM on Monday held a march till the BJP headquarters in New Delhi to protest against the alleged saffron terror in Kerala and to counter the ongoing protest marches of the BJP against the alleged violence by the Left.

"We will not keep quite. We warn the BJP that if they do not stop violence then we will answer back. We will not bow down," Yechury said.

The march was led by Yechury who was joined by former party general secretary Prakash Karat and other politburo members.

Addressing party cadres in front of the BJP headquarters, Yechury alleged that while the BJP was campaigning in Delhi against the "Left violence" in Kerala, it were continuing violence against the Left cadres.

Yechury referred to Sunday's incident in which RSS workers allegedly threw bombs at Left cadres in Kannur.

Addressing the gathering, CPM politburo member Brinda Karat targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah over the violence.

She alleged that Shah was trying to instigate terror against the Left cadres in Kerala, but the people of the state would not bow down in front of the RSS or the BJP.
PTI

Aiming to cover 90 per cent of this coastal city's 2 million citizens in a year, the Andhra Pradesh government today launched a campaign to reduce the cash dependence with a cashless payment option campaign. "We need to reduce the dependence on cash throughout the city, for which we have launched a campaign," IT minister Nara Lokesh told reporters in Visakhapatnam.

He said infrastructure supporting cashless payments is being created across the port city, starting with the state- run buses, to accept digital modes of payments while citizens avail the services. A pilot project, that entails citizens doing "tap and pay" through near-field communications cards on the buses, has already started, said T R Ramachandran, India country manager for Visa, that is anchoring the project.

Visa has tied up with a slew of lenders to ensure that such cards are issued to the citizens of the town, he added. Apart from the tap and go on buses, the project relies heavily on the Bharat QR code wherein users will be able to pay something like electricity bills by scanning codes on their smartphones, Lokesh said. The facility also allows almost all other payments such as for cooking gas, fuel purchase, paying utilities bills like telephones, and general merchant payments among others, he added.

The minister said amendments will be moved to the Shops and Establishments Act in the state to make it mandatory for merchants to put up the codes at their shops to accept digital payments.

Ramachandran said the project is targeting to touch 90 per cent of the citys population, or 18 lakh people, within the first year. As a pull, incentives like cash-backs on bill payments are also included in the plan, he added.

Based on the experiences with this project, Visa is looking to launch a similar project in seven-eight districts in the state and is in talks with three more states to introduce similar schemes over the next one year. It can be noted that till now, focused efforts on reducing cash usage have been limited to villages and this may be one of the largest such efforts.
IANS

Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in the country to pilot blockchain technology in two departments and plans to deploy it across the administration, said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 9 October.

Addressing Blockchain Business Conference here, he said the state had also created the largest repository of used cases for global start-ups to test their solutions.

Naidu said since the state was leading in e-governance, it was using blockchain technology to address cyber security issues.

The state launched pilot projects for land records and transport. State Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh said the technology was required to prevent tampering of land records, which had already been digitised and placed online. Similarly, the technology is used in Transport Department to streamline titles of the vehicles.

Stating that Andhra accounts for 60 percent of Aadhaar-based transactions and extensively uses technology for delivery of services, Lokesh said the state required blockchain to protect the IT assets.

The two-day conference organised by Fintech Valley Vizag is being attended by regional and international experts, startups, corporates, leading FSI executives, regulators, entrepreneurs, policy makers and academics to explore blockchain technologies, its applications and how it will impact the financial services industry.

Naidu said the state was positioning itself to take advantage of the niche technologies to create business and investment opportunities.

The inaugural session saw launch of two accelerators by ICICI and Mahindra Finance in Fintech Valley Vizag, which was established last year. The two companies will bring 30 startup companies each here, mentor and finance them to solve the problems.

The activity covers new technologies like blockchain, big data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), cyber security and artificial intelligence.

The state government's Advisor, Information Technology, J. A. Chowdary said that the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Tata Capital, State Bank of India, HDFC, Bajaj Fin Service and others plan to set up accelerators.

Partnering with 40 banks and financial institutions, Fintech Valley has already created biggest repository of used cases. The start-ups will work on problems to come out with solutions and this will become intellectual property of Fintech Valley, he added.

The inaugural session of the conference also saw launch of India Fintech Forum, India Blockchain Forum, Blockchain Report Aby Wipro and Blockchain Hiring Portal.

NASSCOM President R. Chandrasekhar announced that as part of its 10,000 startup programme, it will set up a 70-seat facility in Vizag to help incubate startups, mentorship and provide world class products.

Naidu said nine companies were already set up in Fintech Valley while 16 companies would start their commercial operations soon, exuding confidence that Vizag would become blockchain capital of not just India but of the world.

Naidu said the government encouraged global fintech companies such as BroadRidge Financials, HSBC and Thomson Reuters to setup Fintech academies, announced $1 Million global Fintech Challenge Award.

"We are also in the process of establishing Rs.500 crore Fintech Fund for startup companies operating in the domain and housed at FinTech Valley," he added.
tech2 News Staff

Apple is expected to officially launch its 2017 flagship, the iPhone X on 3 November. While the world awaits the launch, one individual claims to have already got his hands on the device. The individual posted a 10-second video clip on Reddit showing off the device.

While the authenticity of the smartphone is questionable, MacRumors who spotted the video on Reddit, state in a report that the video was uploaded from the San Jose area in California. This does bring in the possibility of the uploader knowing an Apple employee who has an early access to the device. The video also reveals the AT&T (a US carrier) logo on the top left corner of the screen, further suggesting that the video was very likely uploaded from the US.

The report also throws light on the fact that the uploader of the video was not the owner of the iPhone X in the video. This is since Apple's Face ID fails to recognise the uploaders face when he flip the device around to reveal the display. The back of the phone seen in the video also reveals the vertically positioned dual-camera followed by the Apple logo and iPhone branding below.

Reacting to the report by MacRumors and the Reddit video, a user also took to the comments section sharing a screen grab left by what the user claims to be an anonymous tipster. The screen grab reveals a set of seven new dynamic wallpapers which is claimed to be launched exclusively with the iPhone X. The user 'timmyh' also points out how a certain red wallpaper in the screen grab matches the one spotted in the video.

The uploader of the video has yet to reveal any information following the upload, leaving little to no scope of verifying how he got his hands on the device, weeks ahead of the official launch.
Reuters

Protecting Britain from cyber crime is as important as defending it against terrorism, the head of Britains GCHQ spy agency said on 9 October.

Britain has suffered a number of high-profile cyber attacks this year, including one in May on the state-run National Health Service which crippled some computer systems and caused huge disruption, and another on parliament in June.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Jeremy Fleming said the speed of technological advances, whilst providing great opportunities for businesses, individuals and countries, was also giving enemies new means to threaten the nations security.

If GCHQ is to continue to help keep the country safe, then protecting the digital homeland  keeping our citizens safe and free online  must become and remain as much part of our mission as our global intelligence reach and our round-the-clock efforts against terrorism.

The National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of GCHQ, said last week it had dealt with almost 600 significant incidents which required a nationwide, coordinated response.

In July, Flemings predecessor at GCHQ, Robert Hannigan, said Russia was causing cyberspace mayhem and should face retaliation if it continued to undermine democratic institutions in the West.

Fleming said that Britons benefited greatly from the ease and speed of connections and from the security provided by default encryption.

Hostile states, terrorists and criminals use those same features...to undermine our national security, attack our interests and, increasingly, commit crime, he said.

Traditionally Britains security chiefs rarely spoke in public but increasingly the head of the three intelligence agencies  GCHQ, MI5 and MI6  have become more open in explaining their work and countering criticism.
tech2 News Staff

Sony is bringing back its robotic pet Aibo as a smarthome assistant. The pet was first available to the public in 1999, a futuristic companion that had a new version coming out every year till 2005. The development of robotics at Sony stopped because of the lack of AI technologies to make the robots fully autonomous at that time. Now, with AI emerging as the transformational force for technologies over the next decade, Sony feels that the time is ripe for another foray into the market.

The new Aibo will be infused with AI, and will help control smarthome devices, as well as act as a robotic dog. Think of it as a smarthome speaker such as the Google Home or the Amazon Echo, but with an outer shell of a robotic dog. Sony has plans to open source the operating system, and invite developers to add more functions and capabilities to the new incarnation of Aibo, according to a report in Nikkei Asian Review.

Sony is bringing together the original engineers who worked on the initial run of Aibo robots, for the new Aibo project. The workers were absorbed into different teams in Sony after the company stopped making new models of the Aibo. Sony will be making its own AI, but it does not have the amount of data that is available with Google or Amazon to stay competitive, according to company executives at a high level meeting.

Sony has indicated that it will be returning to the toys business with the launch of the Toio, a rotating motorised cube scheduled to be released in Japan on 1 December. Sony does not have plans on making the Toio available worldwide. Last year, Sony had indicated its intentions of returning to the robotics business, about a decade after it stopped making and selling robots.
London: British prime minister Theresa May says she is "resilient" despite a difficult speech at the Conservative Party conference and growing threats to her leadership.

She told the Sunday Times she would not hide from a challenge as she fights off a rebellion from some legislators unhappy with her leadership. "The truth is my feelings can be hurt, like everyone else, but I am pretty resilient," she said.

Former prime minister John Major urged Conservative Party members to support May and scolded those who have plotted against her. "I urge all Conservative (lawmakers) to reflect very carefully on what is at stake," he wrote in the Daily Mail. "The country has had enough of the self-absorbed disloyal behaviour we have witnessed for weeks."

Major's comments were viewed by some as a warning to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who while publicly backing May has twice proposed his own policies on the delicate Brexit negotiations over Britain's future relationship with the European Union.

May has endured a difficult stretch, with a disappointing party conference speech followed by a claim by former party chairman Grant Shapps that he had a list of 30 legislators who wanted May to step down.

The immediate rebellion in party ranks seems to have been quelled for the moment, but May has been in a weakened position since her decision to call a snap election in June backfired, costing the Conservative Party its outright majority in Parliament.

Her speech to the annual party conference in Manchester on Wednesday was interrupted by a heckler, marred by a persistent cough and a set that started to fail during her talk when letters fell off a party slogan.

She denied reports that she cried after the speech. "One minute journalists are accusing me of being an ice maiden or a robot, then they claim I'm a weeping woman in dire need of a good night's sleep," she said.

May is reported to be considering a Cabinet shakeup in the coming weeks. Some are pressuring her to demote Johnson from his highly visible post of foreign secretary.
Havana: Tens of thousands of Cubans turned out on Sunday to pay tribute to Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the Argentine-born Marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader, on the 50th anniversary of his death.

An estimated 70,000 people thronged the streets outside a mausoleum in this town 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of the capital Havana which houses the remains of Guevara and of some of his former comrades.

President Raul Castro, dressed in his general's uniform, was among those attending the ceremony in Santa Clara, which was the site of a December 1958 battle that finally sent Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista into exile.

Raul Castro fought alongside Guevara during the Cuban revolution led by his brother Fidel Castro.

The 39-year-old Guevara was captured and executed by a CIA-trained unit of the Bolivian army on 9 October, 1967.

This year's ceremony was the first in the absence of Fidel Castro, who died last year, and an excerpt from one of his speeches honoring Guevara was played for the crowd.

The anniversary comes amid the dying gasps of other Latin American guerrilla movements such as the FARC in Colombia, which last year reached a peace deal with the government and recently disarmed.

The 86-year-old Raul Castro took a back seat at Sunday's ceremony to Miguel Diaz-Canel, who is expected to replace him as president next year.

'Che is still here'

Diaz-Canel, 57, denounced American "imperialism" in a speech and referred to increased tension in Cuba-US relations since Donald Trump became president.

Cuba will "never negotiate away its principles or give in to blackmail," he said.

Elena Gonzalez, a 56-year-old textile worker, was among those who turned up at the crack of dawn to pay her respects to Guevara.

"Yes, we got up very early but it's worth it," she said. "We're keeping his example alive and his legacy of independence and sovereignty for Latin America and the world."

"For me, Che is still here. His life, his work, his example," said 79-year-old Luis Monteagudo, who fought alongside Guevara in the Congo and was wearing a white T-shirt with his picture.

Che's remains were transferred from Bolivia to Cuba in 1997 and interred in a mausoleum here which features a large bronze statue of the guerrilla leader.

Born in the Argentine city of Rosario, Guevara traveled across Latin America in 1952 and 1953  a road trip that was immortalized in the 2004 film "The Motorcycle Diaries"  and was shocked to see the economic disparity in the region.

It convinced him that violence was necessary to overturn Latin America's unjust social order.

Spreading revolution

His life changed dramatically when he met Fidel Castro in Mexico in 1955 and joined his guerrilla expedition to Cuba.

In the early 1960s, Guevara worked with Castro to consolidate the revolution, supervising the repression of counter-revolutionaries, and even for a time heading the Central Bank and industry ministry.

But his key motivation was to spread revolution elsewhere.

In 1965, he bid farewell to Cuba in a letter to Castro in which he resigned his posts and wrote, "Other nations of the world summon my modest efforts of assistance."

After leading a group of Cuban revolutionaries fighting with Marxist guerrillas in the Congo, Guevara traveled to Bolivia in late 1966.

Struggling with asthma, he led a small clutch of rebels in Bolivia for 11 months trying to spread revolution. But he was tracked, cornered and wounded in the mountains in a gun battle that wiped out most of his remaining forces.

The Bolivian army and two Cuban-American Central Intelligence Agency agents captured him. He was executed in a schoolhouse in La Higuera the following day, October 9, 1967. The small revolution he had started in Bolivia died with him.

Guevara remains omnipresent in Cuba, particularly visible in the iconic image of the bearded and beret-clad revolutionary that adorns posters and T-shirts the world over.
Washington: US President Donald Trump has defended throwing paper towels into a crowd of Puerto Ricans at a relief centre in the hurricane-ravaged territory earlier this week and lauded federal relief efforts.

"They had these beautiful, soft towels. Very good towels," Trump said in an interview that aired on Sunday on Christian television network Trinity Broadcasting.

"And I came in and there was a crowd of a lot of people. And they were screaming and they were loving everything. I was having fun, they were having fun. They said, Throw 'em to me! Throw 'em to me, Mr President!'."

"So next day, they said, Oh it was so disrespectful to the people.' It was just a made-up thing. And also when I walked in, the cheering was incredible," he said.

Trump previously said he received nothing but "thank yous" after his visit to Puerto Rico on Tuesday. But by Wednesday, some of the territory's top officials had taken issue with some of his remarks - and the throwing of the paper towels, NBC News reported.

Trump also said he had been treated unfairly by the media over relief efforts and said his response compared to that of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

"We got really high marks on Florida, Louisiana, Texas and I think (we) did at least (just) as well in Puerto Rico, the problem is that Puerto Rico was in bad shape before the hurricanes ever got there," Trump said.

In critiquing the media's overall coverage of him, Trump also took credit for coming up with the term "fake".

"I think one of the greatest of all terms I've come up with is fake'," he said.

The President also piled on to his criticism of San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who has been a vocal critic of his administration's response. Trump said Cruz "really did not do a very good job in fact did a very poor job".

"She was the lone voice (of criticism) that we saw and of course that's the only voice the media wanted to talk to. And she's running for governor. Big surprise," Trump said.
Biloxi (US): Hurricane Nate brought a burst of flooding and power outages to the US Gulf Coast before weakening rapidly, sparing the region the kind of catastrophic damage left by a series of hurricanes that hit the southern US and Caribbean in recent weeks.

Nate  the first hurricane to make landfall in Mississippi since Katrina in 2005  quickly lost strength, with its winds diminishing to a tropical depression as it pushed northward into Alabama and toward Georgia with heavy rain.

It was a Category 1 hurricane when it came ashore outside Biloxi early on Sunday, its second landfall after initially hitting southeastern Louisiana on Saturday evening.

The storm surge from the Mississippi Sound littered Biloxi's main beach front highway with debris and flooded a casino's lobby and parking structure overnight.

By dawn, however, Nate's receding floodwaters didn't reveal any obvious signs of widespread damage in the city where Hurricane Katrina had levelled thousands of beach front homes and businesses.

No storm-related deaths or injuries were immediately reported.

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant praised state and local officials and coastal residents for working together to avoid loss of life.

Lee Smithson, director of the state emergency management agency, said damage from Nate was held down in part because of work done and lessons learned from Katrina.

"If that same storm would have hit us 15 years ago, the damage would have been extensive and we would have had loss of life." Smithson said of Nate. "But we have rebuilt the coast in the aftermath of Katrina higher and stronger."

Nate knocked out power to more than 100,000 residents in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida, but crews worked on repairs and it appeared many of the outages had been restored within 24 hours.

As of last evening, Alabama Power said it had electricity back to more than 64,000 customers and some 36,000 remained without power, while utilities and cooperatives in Mississippi said it had restored power to more than 21,000 customers.

In Louisiana, there were scattered outages during the storm, while Florida Gov. Rick Scott said 6,800 customers had lost power in his state.

Mississippi's Gulf Coast casinos got approval to reopen in midmorning after closing Saturday as the storm approached. Sean Stewart, checking on his father's sailboat at a Biloxi marina after daybreak, found another boat had sunk, its sail still fluttering in Nate's diminishing winds. Stewart was relieved to find his father's craft intact.

"I got lucky on this one," he said.

Before Nate sped past Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula late Friday and entered the Gulf of Mexico, it drenched Central America with rains that left at least 22 people dead. But Nate didn't approach the intensity of Harvey, Irma and Maria  powerful storms that left behind massive destruction during 2017's exceptionally busy hurricane season.

"We are thankful because this looked like it was going to be a freight train barrelling through the city," said Vincent Creel, a spokesman for the city of Biloxi.

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the four hurricanes that have struck the U.S. and its territories this year have "strained" resources, with roughly 85 per cent of the agency's forces deployed.

"We're still working massive issues in Harvey, Irma, as well as the issues in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and now this one," FEMA Administrator Brock Long told ABC's "This Week."

The federal government declared emergencies in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Nate initially made landfall Saturday evening in Louisiana, but fears that it would overwhelm the fragile pumping system in New Orleans proved to be unfounded. The storm passed to the east of New Orleans, and Mayor Mitch Landrieu lifted a curfew on the city known for its all-night partying.

"Hurricane Nate had the potential to wreak havoc on Louisiana, but thankfully, we were largely spared major damage," Governor John Bel Edwards said in a statement.

In Alabama, Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier said he woke up around 3 am yesterday to discover knee-deep water in his yard. Although some homes and cars on the island had flooded, Collier said he hadn't heard of anyone needing rescue.

"We didn't think it would be quite that bad," he said. "It kind of snuck up on us in the wee hours of the morning." At landfall in Mississippi, the fast-moving storm had maximum sustained winds near 85 mph (140 kph), the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Nate steadily weakened after its first landfall in a sparsely populated area of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.

At 5 pm EDT, the center of Nate was about 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Nashville, Tennessee. Nate was expected to bring three to six inches of rain to the Deep South, eastern Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians through Monday. The Ohio Valley, central Appalachians and Northeast could also get heavy rain before the storm exits Maine on Tuesday.
Hawi al-Hawa: As fighters from the Islamic State group retreat into a shrinking part of Syria's Raqa, they are dragging along terrified civilians for cover against a ferocious US-backed onslaught.

Locals who managed to flee describe being herded into apartments in buildings used by jihadists as makeshift military bases, and serving as human shields for fighters as they collect water.

Civilians say the tactic - used elsewhere by the group to slow its opponents - is increasingly putting them in the cross hairs of US air power and allied fighters as they battle Islamic State in densely populated districts near Raqa's centre.

Raqa resident Umm Alaa and her family were twice forced to provide cover to Islamic State jihadists, she told AFP, hours after her escape from the city.

"Weeks ago, an Iraqi (Islamic State) fighter came to our house in Al-Barid and told us it had become a military zone," she said, sitting on a plastic chair outside a mosque in Hawi al-Hawa, a western suburb of Raqa controlled by the US-backed force.

Islamic State moved her with her husband, their son Alaa and two-year-old grandson Hassan into a nearby building and refused their pleas to return home.

Three days later, jihadists displaced them again, this time to a damaged building with other families in the battle-ravaged district of Al-Badu.

"They were holding us as human shields. They were keeping us there to protect themselves," said her husband Abu Alaa, a thick leather belt holding up the oversized trousers hanging off his bony frame.

"Daesh told us, 'If you leave Raqa, they are going to destroy the whole city over our heads,'" he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

The whole family escaped on foot with other civilians on Friday, and like all the civilians who spoke to AFP, they declined to give their full names for fear of retribution against friends and relatives still stuck inside the city.

Human shields at water wells

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces broke into Raqa in June, and has since captured around 90 percent of the city, with the help of heavy US-led air strikes.

Tens of thousands of civilians have fled, but with fighting and air strikes concentrated on a shrinking Islamic State-held section of the city, the exodus has slowed to a trickle.

As its options dwindle, jihadists are taking up positions inside residential buildings, said Mohannad, a fair-skinned woman with pale green eyes who also escaped Al-Badu with her four children.

"They tried to move into the basement or the first floor of our buildings because it protected them from air strikes," she told AFP.

Islamic State fighters sought out apartments left behind by fleeing families, so Mohannad began putting out clothes and blankets on the balconies of empty ones to trick jihadists into thinking they were occupied.

She and her children were forced to move four times, and when they were moved into Al-Badu there was little to eat.

They were not allowed to leave except to draw water from nearby boreholes.

And even then, the trips were a way for Islamic State fighters to move using civilian cover, said Umm Mohammad, a heavyset woman who also fled from Al-Badu.

"At the wells, Daesh would allow its fighters to fill up water first and made civilians wait for hours to protect them from air strikes," she said.

Her eldest son Mohammad, 19, would leave home at 4:00am to draw water from a nearby well and often not return for six hours.

"Days ago, he left but never came back. We learned there was an air strike there. I couldn't even find his sandals."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said a US-led strike killed 18 civilians gathered at a water well in Raqa on Tuesday. AFP could not confirm if Mohammad was among them.

'We're in the middle'

In late September, the coalition acknowledged the deaths of 735 civilians in its strikes on Syria and Iraq since 2014, but the Britain-based Observatory says hundreds have been killed in Raqa alone since June.

Among them, said Umm Alaa, was her son, a pharmacist who was killed in a raid as he helped wounded civilians.

"To kill a single Daesh fighter, ten civilians are being killed," Umm Alaa said, her voice cracking as she put black socks on the tiny feet of Alaa's son, her grandson Hassan.

"They fire at each other and we're in the middle."

Coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon said Islamic State was likely holding civilians hostage in positions including the national hospital in central Raqa.

"The Coalition takes extraordinary care in our planning and operations to ensure no harm is inflicted upon innocent civilians," he told AFP.

But those precautions "are not sufficient," said Nadim Houry, director of Human Rights Watch's terrorism and counter-terrorism programme.

"Civilians could be saved. That may mean at times slowing down the operation, advancing more slowly, taking more precautions, maybe not using a massive bomb against a sniper," he told AFP.

Houry said relying on drone footage to determine whether civilians were present before a strike was not enough precisely because they were trapped inside homes.

"The battle isn't just about retaking a particular building or retaking square metres. Ultimately it's about protecting civilians."
Las Vegas: Federal investigators returned to search the home of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock on Sunday, while the officers who raided his hotel room door the night of the shooting gave a harrowing account of a barricaded door they had to bust through and the booby-traps they feared they'd find.

The search of Paddock's three-bedroom house on a cul-de-sac in a retirement community in Mesquite, Nevada, was for "re-documenting and rechecking," said local police Chief Troy Tanner, who accompanied FBI agents as they served the search warrant.

"I don't think they are after anything specific," Tanner told The Associated Press. "They're going through everything and photographing everything again."

The home was first searched Monday by Las Vegas police, who said they found 19 guns and several pounds of potentially explosive materials at the house that Paddock bought in early 2015.

The search came exactly a week after Paddock opened fire on a country music crowd, killing 58 and injuring nearly 500.

Meanwhile, the makeshift SWAT team of police officers who made it to Paddock's door at the Mandalay Bay hotel casino 12 minutes after the first shots were fired described how they got there and the "gun store" they found inside in an appearance on the CBS television program "60 Minutes" on Sunday night.

One of them said he hurried from police headquarters to the Mandalay Bay in cowboy boots and ditched them before ascending to the 32nd floor in search of the gunman.

"I just threw them in the casino," Detective Matthew Donaldson said. "That was slowing' me down. I was faster barefoot, and I was gonna be more effective barefoot."

The officers said they heard reports of gunmen on both the 29th and 32nd floor, so "we're thinking multiple shooters at this point," Sgt. Joshua Bitsko said.

They zeroed in on the 32nd floor after Paddock unleashed about 200 rounds at a security guard outside his door.

When they got to the stairwell door on that floor near Paddock's room, they found he had taken special measures to slow them down.

"He had screwed shut the door  with a piece of metal and some screws," Bitsko said. "Cause he knew we'd be coming out that door to gain entry into his door. So he tried to barricade it as best he could."

But another officer had a pry bar and was able to easily pop it open, Bitsko said.

Authorities would later reveal that Paddock had surveillance cameras rigged inside and outside his room. But the officers didn't know that at the time.

"There's a room service cart with wires going on it underneath the door," Officer Dave Newton said. "There was something black on top of the cart. So initially I'm, you know, I'm thinking, 'This is a booby-trap. It's, it's going to explode.' "

Bitsko and Newton are K9 officers who had been training dogs when they got the call about Mandalay Bay. They said they were at a disadvantage approaching because "cause he knew we were coming and we were going to have to come through," Newton said. "We didn't know where he was going to be in that room."

Bitsko said it was "like a deadly game of hide and seek," and thought " 'Man, I wish I had my dog with me,' because, you know, it's nice to have him lead a team."

It turned out Paddock had already shot and killed himself when they finally entered.

Inside, Newton said he found "so many guns. So many magazines. Stacks and stacks of magazines everywhere. Just in suitcases all neatly stacked against pillars, around the room, all stacked up, rifles placed all throughout. All kinds of monitors and electrical equipment he had in there. It just looked like almost a gun store."

Also Sunday, authorities began returning the baby strollers, shoes, phones, backpacks and purses that have been strewn for days across the huge crime scene that a week ago was home to 22,000 country music fans at the Route 91 Harvest festival.

Federal agents have spent the week collecting evidence amid the thousands of items that were abandoned in panic, some of them stained with blood.

"Whatever was dropped when people started running, those items we're collecting and we're going to provide back," Paul Flood, unit chief in the FBI's victim services division said at a news conference.

The items have been catalogued with detailed descriptions, and some have been cleaned of things including blood. They are now being returned to people at the Las Vegas Convention Center, starting with a few sections of the concert scene and expanding to others at a time to be announced later.

At 10:05 p.m., the Las Vegas Strip's bright lights dimmed for about 10 minutes to mark the passing of exactly a week since the attack.

Most casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard darkened their marquees briefly Sunday.

Officials say more than 50 properties around town also took part in the memorial.

Las Vegas hotel and gambling magnate Steve Wynn, who owns casinos that Paddock gambled in but not the Mandalay Bay, said Sunday that his hotels have undertaken special security measures in recent years to identify potentially dangerous guests. Those measures include using magnetometers to detect significant amounts of metal and training housekeeping staff to report suspicious actions like a do-not-disturb sign remaining on a door for extended periods.

"If a room goes on 'do not disturb' for more than 12 hours, we investigate," Wynn, whose hotels include Wynn Las Vegas and Encore told "Fox News Sunday" in an interview. "We don't allow guns in this building unless they're being carried by our employees, and there's a lot of them. But if anybody's got a gun and we find them continually, we eject them from the hotel."

Wynn said a scenario like Paddock's "would have triggered a whole bunch of alarms here. And we would have, on behalf of the guests, of course, investigated for safety, and it would have been a provocative situation."

Wynn said that under a counterterrorism plan put in place in 2015, "We profile or inspect or examine everybody that enters the building."

Late Sunday night, when exactly a week has passed since the shooting, casino marquees and other lights on the Las Vegas Strip will go dark for about 10 minutes to pay tribute to the victims who spent that much time under fire.
Bucharest: NATO's chief said on Monday the alliance does not want a "new Cold War" with Russia, despite members' concerns about Russian military buildup close to NATOs' border.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke at the end of a four-day NATO parliamentary assembly in the Romanian capital. "We are concerned by .... (Russia's) lack of transparency when it comes to military exercises," he said.

He mentioned a Russian-Belarus operation in September involving thousands of troops, tanks and aircraft held in Belarus, on NATO's eastern edge. The drills include maneuvers designed to hunt down and destroy armed spies.

Still, Stoltenberg said: "Russia is our neighbour.... we don't want to isolate Russia; we don't want a new Cold War."

He said the 29-member alliance had increased jets patrols in the Black Sea in "response to Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine."

Romanian and Bulgarian pilots have conducted air exercises in the Black Sea in recent months, designed to reassure NATO members uneasy after Russia's interventions in Ukraine.

Speaking about the alliance's mission in Afghanistan, where it retains more than 13,000 troops, Stoltenberg said "the cost of walking away would be much higher" than the human and financial cost of the mission. Afghanistan would descend into chaos and become a safe haven for international terrorists should NATO pull out, he said.

NATO says the Taliban expanded their control of parts of the country after the alliance ended its combat mission in 2014. Some alliance troops have remained to train and advise Afghan forces under the NATO-led Resolute Support mission.

"We have been there for many years, but we have achieved many things...it is no longer a safe haven for international terrorists," Stoltenberg said. "We are in Afghanistan to protect ourselves."
Islamabad: Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities on Monday arrested the son-in-law of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from an airport in Islamabad in connection with corruption cases pending against him.

A team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) took former army captain Muhammad Safdar into custody minutes after his arrival from London at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport along with his wife Maryam Nawaz.

Safdar has been nominated by NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on 8 September against Pakistan's former premier Sharif, his daughter Maraym, sons Husain and Hasan and his son-in-law Safdar.

The couple had arrived to appear before an anti-graft tribunal in connection with the NAB reference pertaining to London properties owned by the Sharif family.

Safdar was later presented before a court in Islamabad, NAB officials said. Maryam, who was not detained, separately appeared in the same court for the first time.

However, Sharif and his two sons were absent as they are in London where 67-year-old Sharif's wife is battling throat cancer.

Sharif attended the previous two hearings but went to London last week to see his ailing wife.

The court held brief hearing and took a break before announcing the hearing will resume shortly. During the brief hearing, Maryam was given copies of the case documents.

Sharif's lawyer also presented an application to exempt him from appearance today as he was with his wife in London.

The trial judge had earlier issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Safdar and Sharif's two sons for failing to appear in court in the last hearing held on 2 October.

The court, however, repeated the bailable warrants for Sharif's daughter.

"We are going back and will appear before the court and go through the wheels of justice. We respect the rule of law and the Constitution," local media quoted Maryam as saying.

Asked whether her brothers would return to Pakistan to face the NAB references against them, she said, "Hassan and Hussain would themselves tell you about their decision".

Safdar told Geo News that the couple had decided to return to Pakistan on the advice of their lawyers.

Sharif had to step down as prime minister and president of the ruling PML-N party after he was disqualified by the Supreme Court on 28 July in the Panama Papers scandal.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling PML-N on 3 October and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the people's mandate and democracy.
Dhaka: At least 12 Rohingya migrants were killed after a boat carrying them capsized off the coast of Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, police said on Monday.

"The bodies of 10 children, one man and one woman have been recovered," Xinhua news agency quoted a senior police official as saying.

He said the accident took place late Sunday night.

Law enforcement officials recovered the bodies which were floating in the Bay of Bengal near Shah Porir Island of the district which is now home to nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, the official added.

Eleven migrants were rescued and the official said the toll might increase as many were reported missing.

A search operation is underway.

The bodies of 132 Rohingyas and a Bangladeshi boat man were recovered from the Naf River since August 29 in at least 25 boat accidents.

Over half a million Rohingya people have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar's Rakhine state amid a fresh wave of violence in the region since 25 August.
Istanbul: The United States and Turkey have scaled back visa issuing services in each other's countries in a deepening diplomatic row sparked by the arrest of a Turkish staffer at the American mission in Istanbul.

The American embassy in Ankara said Sunday that "recent events" forced the US government to reassess Turkey's "commitment" to the security of US mission services and personnel in the country.

In order to minimise the number of visitors while the assessment is carried out, "effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all US diplomatic facilities in Turkey," it said.

Non-immigrant visas are issued to all those travelling to the United States for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study. Immigrant visa services are only for those seeking to live in the US permanently.

Turkey responded by suspending "all visa services" for Americans in the US, saying the measures also apply to visas issued online and at the border. In an apparent attempt to mock the US announcement, the Turkish embassy in Washington issued two statements that were almost word-for-word copies of that from the American embassy in Ankara.

The statements said concerns over US commitment to the security of Turkish diplomatic facilities and personnel necessitated the restrictions, but the fact that they only apply to Americans and also include visas issued at the border and online indicate the move is punitive rather than security-based.

The first statement from the Turkish embassy said the restrictions apply to "visas in passports" while the second replaced that wording with "sticker visas". It was unclear if that meant that visas already stamped in passports would not be accepted.

Beyond its mention of "recent events", the American embassy statement made no explicit mention of the arrest by Turkish authorities of a local Turkish staffer working at the US consulate in Istanbul.

The employee was remanded in custody by an Istanbul court late Wednesday on accusations of links to the group of US- based preacher Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for last year's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The staffer has been formally charged with espionage and seeking to overthrow the Turkish government.

The US embassy on Thursday said it was "deeply disturbed" over the arrest and rejected the allegations against the employee as "wholly without merit". It also condemned leaks in the local press which it said came from Turkish government sources that were "seemingly aimed at trying the employee in the media rather than a court of law".

But Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has defended the arrest, saying "there must be serious evidence" and pointing to a phone call made from the Istanbul consulate to a key suspect on the night of the coup.

That latest arrest also came after a Turkish employee at the US consulate in the southern city of Adana was arrested in March on charges of supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The Adana region is home to the US airbase at Turkey's Incirlik military airport, where dozens of American nuclear missiles are stored and which serves as a key hub for operations in Syria.

The suspension in accepting applications for and issuing all normal visas is extremely unusual. US missions in Moscow in August suspended the issuing of non-immigrant visas for nine days and then scaled back operations.

The pro-government Yeni Safak daily described it as "a scandalous decision from the United States". The issue adds yet another bone of contention in the increasingly troubled relationship between Washington and Ankara.

Turkish officials had expressed hope of a new page in Ankara-Washington relations under President Donald Trump. Turkey has pressed Washington for the extradition of the Pennsylvania-based Gulen, who denies any link to the coup bid. The lack of movement on the issue has further strained ties already fraying over Washington's support for a Syrian Kurdish militia Ankara deems to be a terror group.

Meanwhile, members of Erdogan's security detail were indicted by US authorities after clashes with protesters during an official visit this year, infuriating the Turkish president. American pastor Andrew Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir, has been held by Turkish authorities since October 2016 on charges of being a member of Gulen's group.

Erdogan suggested last month that Turkey could release him in exchange for Gulen but Washington showed little interest in the proposal.
Jerusalem: Thousands of Israeli and Palestinian women arrived in Jerusalem on Sunday at the end of a two-week march through Israel and the West Bank to demand a peace deal.

The Women Wage Peace movement organised the march, which began on September 24 and included participants who have themselves been affected by violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Several thousand activists joined the march over the two weeks.

Several thousand women, mostly Israelis, arrived in Jerusalem late on Sunday, mostly dressed in white and carrying placards calling for peace.

One of the organisers, Marie-Lyne Smadja, said the march was meant to "give voice to those tens of thousands of Israeli Jewish and Arab women of the left, centre and right, and their Palestinian partners, who hand in hand together took this road towards peace."

"Israeli women want to prevent the next war if possible and try as soon as possible to reach an agreement between Israelis and Palestinians," she said.

Huda Abuarquob, another organiser and a Palestinian from Hebron in the occupied West Bank, said: "This march is not just another protest, but a way of saying that we want peace, and together we can obtain it."

The march comes at a time when many analysts see little hope for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is 82 and unpopular, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads what is seen as the most right-wing government in his country's history.

In 2015, Women Wage Peace members fasted in relays over 50 days, the length of the 2014 war between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

"The men who have power believe only in war, but with the strength of women we can bring something else, something new," said Amira Zidan, an Arab Israeli mother of one of the organisation's founders.

Sunday's arrival in Jerusalem coincides with the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which commemorates the Jews' journey through the Sinai after their exodus from Egypt.

Earlier Sunday, thousands of Jews gathered at Jerusalem's Western Wall for a priestly blessing held during the holiday each year.
Sydney: Large protests were held across Australia on Saturday against Indian mining giant Adani Enterprises proposed Carmichael coal mine, which would be the countrys largest coal mine but has been delayed for years over environmental and financing issues.

Environment groups say the mine in Queensland state would contribute to global warming and damage the Great Barrier Reef.

The Stop Adani movement organised 45 protests.

On the sands of Sydneys Bondi Beach more than 1,000 people formed a human sign saying '#STOP ADANI, said organiser Blair Palese from activist group 350.

I think theres a very real national concern that goes beyond Queensland about the idea of giving this mine a billion-dollar taxpayer-funded loan, she said.

The national rallies come as new polling shows more than half of Australians oppose the mine, reported local media.

Analysts have raised doubts about whether Adani can fund the mine, at an initial cost of $4 billion, given a global backlash to investment in fossil fuels.

Adani says the project would pay billions of dollars in royalties and taxes, create jobs and export coal to India help bring electricity to rural regions.

Adani has been counting on a A$900 million ($704 million) loan from the Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) for a rail link to the proposed mine.

The companys chief executive officer Jeyakumar Janakaraj, however, has said Adani may not have to borrow from NAIF. If the commercial banks take off all the debt then we will not have any need for NAIF as there will be no gap.

The Australian Conservation Foundation president Geoff Cousins, one of the countrys top businessmen, said it was unlikely Adani could proceed without the NAIF loan.

Theyve tried hard to secure commercial funding, but no bank will touch them, he said.

Stop Adani is an issues-based campaign, and the rest of the world sees the madness of building one of the worlds largest coal mines particularly when Australia has signed the Paris Agreement (on climate change).
On Sunday, North Korean state media reported that Kim Jong-un promoted his sister to a senior ruling party post, making her one of the most powerful women in the country.

KCNA news agency reported that Kim Yo-jong was elevated to the position of an alternate member of the party's powerful politburo, the decision-making body presided over by her brother.

According to a report in The Washington Post, she was promoted at a meeting of senior party members as North Korea celebrated the 20th anniversary of Kim Jong-il accepting the title of general secretary of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea.

Kim Yo-jong is believed to have replaced her aunt, Kim Kyong-hui, who was a key decision maker during Kim Jong-il's administration, which leaves her brother and her as the only millennials in the influential body.

'Rising star'

CNN reported that Kim Yo-jong was born in 1987, followed in her brother's footsteps by studying in Switzerland and is believed to have attended Kim Il Sung University and a western European school for her higher education.

Kim Yo-jong has long been a rising star in North Koreas power circles and was recently given responsibility for developing the leaders cult of personality, she replaced a veteran propaganda chief and had assumed control of consolidating Kim Jong-uns power by implementing idolisation projects, The Guardian reported.

In 2011, she featured prominently at the state funeral of their father Kim Jong-il. She then remained outside the public spotlight until early 2014, when she re-emerged at her brothers side during elections to fill the seats in North Koreas rubber-stamp legislature, The Guardian reported.

Writing for Al Jazeera in February, Michael Madden, a visiting scholar at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, described Kim Yo-jong as one of the North Korean leaders "closest aides".

"Like her older half-sister, Sul-song, Yo-jong was a favourite child and expressed an early interest in North Korean politics," wrote Madden, who is also predicted that "Yo-jong will be a power player" in North Korean "for a long time to come as her career is just getting started", Madden told Al Jazeera.

A Seoul-based think tank run by North Korean defectors have alleged that Kim Yo-jong briefly took charge of the country while her brother was reportedly ill with gout or diabetes in late 2014, CNN reported.

Kim Jong-un consolidating power

The Guardian reported that Michael Madden said: It shows that her portfolio and writ is far more substantive than previously believed and it is a further consolidation of the Kim familys power.

Harry Kazanis, director of defense studies at the Center For the National Interest, an American think tank, told CNBC that Saturday's appointment was a play by Kim Jong-un to ensure that his inner circle is filled with those he trusts.

Kim Yo-jong has long held senior positions in the Workers' Party, with media reports previously referring to her as vice-director of the propaganda department. Her promotion is "part of a continual shake-up Kim Jong-un is doing. He doesn't want to keep the same people his father had in place", he told CNBC.

Kim Yo-jong has frequently been seen accompanying her brother Kim Jong-un on his "field guidance trips" and other events and is known to have been involved in the party's propaganda operations.

In January, the US Treasury blacklisted Kim Yo-jong along with other North Korean officials over severe human rights abuses.

Both were born to the late former ruler Kim Jong-il and his third partner, former dancer Ko Yong-hui.

Tensions rise between North Korea and US

The promotion was announced along with those for dozens of other top officials at a party meeting led by the leader on Saturday. It came as the regime faces growing global pressure to curb its weapons drive following recent nuclear and missile tests.

Tensions have soared as Kim traded verbal threats with US president Donald Trump, who tweeted on Saturday that "only one thing will work" to tame the isolated nuclear-armed state.

...hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

The Kim family has ruled North Korea since its creation in 1948. Kim Jong-un took power after the death of his father in December 2011.

Since then, Kim Jong-un has overseen four of the country's six nuclear tests most recently in September while cementing his grip on power through a series of purges, including those targeting his uncle and half-brother.

The uncle, Jang Song-thaek, was executed in 2013 for treason and the half-brother Kim Jong-nam was killed by a toxic nerve agent in a Cold War-style assassination at a Kuala Lumpur airport in February.

With inputs from agencies
Alphabet, Googles parent company has received permission from the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to deploy Project Loon balloons over Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for up to six months. Project Loon is Alphabet X innovation labs initiative where it beams high-speed WiFi internet via balloons down.



Over 83 percent of Puerto Rico has been affected by no cellphone coverage by Hurricane Irma Maria. The FCC issued an emergency license for X to deploy its balloons using spectrum in the 900MHz band to Puerto Rico to restore cellphone service. The balloons will also help restore service in the US Virgin Islands, which were affected by the hurricane. The license extends from October 6th until April 4th, 2018, and it was granted to Ben Wojtowicz, a software engineer and member of Alphabets X lab who works on Project Loon. Earlier this year, Project Loon was deployed to Peru after a series of devastating floods.

Each helium balloon from the Project Loon can provide connectivity to a ground area about 40 km in diameter using 4G LTE. They work by relaying communications between Alphabets own ground stations connected to the surviving wireless networks, and users handsets.

Alphabets X lab spokesperson Libby Leahy told 9to5Google,

Were grateful for the support of the FCC and the Puerto Rican authorities as we work hard to see if its possible to use Loon balloons to bring emergency connectivity to the island during this time of need. To deliver signal to peoples devices, Loon needs be integrated with a telco partners network  the balloons cant do it alone. Weve been making solid progress on this next step and would like to thank everyone whos been lending a hand.

Last year, the government had asked Google to resubmit a fresh proposal for testing Project Loon in India. There has been no update on the development of the issue since then.

Source
Harvey Weinstein, the great movie mogul, has been fired by the company which bears his name. He's accused of abusing women for decades. The allegations are sordid in the extreme. He's a powerhouse in liberal politics, giving a lot of money to women's causes. The hypocrisy stinks.

But from Hollywood, silence. They were rabid in their contempt for President Trump. Remember those award ceremonies? Stephen Colbert turned the Emmy's into a hate-fest. Nothing from him now on Harvey Weinstein

The great actor, Meryl Streep, attacked Trump but called Harvey a god. So far, she and her fellow Hollywood liberals are strangely quiet.

Actually, there's nothing strange about it. They know the jig is up. Are we going to stand for another moral lecture from actors? They stayed silent for years when Harvey was running amok, and they are going to rant about how sexist America is? I think not.

Same with politicians. Hillary Clinton called millions of Americans sexist deplorables. But she and Bill took money from Harvey. Did nobody tell them about him? So did a whole raft of politicians on the Left: Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand, plus President Obama, who went to Weinstein's home for a dinner that raised $2.4 million.

Step back a moment  there's a lot more to come. Whose money was used to pay off the women? Weinstein's own money, or did it come from public companies? And who OK'd it? Who else was propositioned by him and why didn't they come forward?

And most important of all, what is Hollywood going to do now? Their hypocrisy has been exposed...Will they continue to dictate our moral standards?

I have some advice: shut up and act.
Automotive glass maker Safelite Group, Inc. said NBCs Saturday Night Live spoof portraying a Safelite technician as creep who cracks windshields in an attempt to score a date went a step too far Saturday night.

The Ohio-based company tweeted Sunday in response to viewers tweet that it was surprised by the skit and was disappointed in NBC for airing it.

Safelite tweeted, @nbcsnl thanks for the skit. Although we can take a joke, this one was a step too far. Our techs are our heroes. #notcool.

Keriake Lucas, director of corporate communications for Safelite reiterated to FOX Business that while we appreciate good-natured humor, Saturday Night Lives characterization of Safelite is not reflective of our people, quality of service, customer experience or values. We were not involved in the development of this skit and do not support its portrayal of our valued technicians or our brand.

A spokesperson for NBC Universal did not immediately respond to FOX Business request for a comment.

In the clip that aired Saturday night, actor Beck Bennett played a Safelite AutoGlass technician whose willingness to help a mom and her teenage daughter replace a broken windshield turned creepy quickly.

In the parody, his behavior becomes more and more unsettling, and it eventually becomes apparent that hes the one whos been cracking the glass, so he can have an excuse to spend time with the 17-year-old daughter. When the daughter dismisses the techs advances, he then turns to her mother.
Kellogg is buying protein bar maker RXBar, just days after the cereal company hired a former vitamin executive as CEO.

Kellogg, best known for Frosted Flakes and Pop-Tarts, has struggled to make its cereals and snacks more appealing to Americans who want to avoid sugary processed foods. Its revenue has suffered, falling every year since 2013. RXBar says its bars are made with egg whites, fruits and nuts, and exclude dairy, soy or gluten. Last week, Kellogg Co. hired new CEO Steven Cahillane from vitamin seller Nature's Bounty Co. as it seeks to offer healthier packaged foods.

The Battle Creek, Michigan-based company said Friday it will pay $600 million for RXBar's parent company Chicago Bar Co. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
American International Group said on Monday it expected to book pre-tax catastrophe losses of about $3 billion in the third quarter mainly related to hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

AIG's shares were down about 1.7 percent at $60.75 in extended trading.

The company estimated pre-tax losses of about $1 billion each from Harvey and Irma, up to $700 million from Maria and additional catastrophe losses, including earthquakes in Mexico, of about $150 million.

Morgan Stanley analysts said the losses were slightly above their estimate of $2.5 billion, but were manageable as it equated to about 2.6 percent of book value.

The analysts, who have an "overweight" rating on the stock, also highlighted the company's more than $3.5 billion in cash and short-term investments, saying it should help tackle capital concerns from losses in the third quarter.

Insurers and reinsurers are counting the costs of the hurricanes that tore into parts of the United States, while ravaging several islands in the northern Caribbean.

Chubb, the world's largest listed property and casualty insurer, has estimated after-tax losses of up to $1.28 billion from hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Germany's Munich Re warned it could miss its profit target this year, the first major reinsurer to flag a hit to earnings from damage caused by the storms.

Hurricane season in the Atlantic is still in full swing and Morgan Stanley said it expects overall insured losses from this year's catastrophes to approach $100 billion.

(Reporting by Ahmed Farhatha in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
A coalition of left-leaning states and environmental groups are vowing to fight the Trump administration's move to kill an Obama-era effort to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Speaking Monday in the coal-mining state of Kentucky, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt said he would be issuing a new set of rules overriding the Clean Power Plan, the centerpiece of President Barack Obama's drive to curb global climate change.

"The war on coal is over," Pruitt declared, adding that no federal agency should ever use its authority to "declare war on any sector of our economy."

It was not immediately clear if Pruitt would seek to issue a new rule without congressional approval, which Republicans had criticized the Obama administration for doing. Pruitt's rule wouldn't become final for months, and is then highly likely to face a raft of legal challenges.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was among those who said they will sue.

"The Trump Administration's persistent and indefensible denial of climate change  and their continued assault on actions essential to stemming its increasing devastation  is reprehensible, and I will use every available legal tool to fight their dangerous agenda," said Schneiderman, a Democrat.

For Pruitt, getting rid of the Clean Power Plan will mark the culmination of a long fight he began as the elected attorney general of Oklahoma. Pruitt was among about two dozen attorney generals who sued to stop Obama's 2014 push to limit carbon emissions, stymieing the limits from ever taking effect.

Closely aligned with the oil and gas industry in his home state, Pruitt rejects the consensus of scientists that man-made emissions from burning fossil fuels are the primary driver of global climate change.

President Donald Trump, who appointed Pruitt and shares his skepticism of established climate science, promised to kill the Clean Power Plan during the 2016 campaign as part of his broader pledge to revive the nation's struggling coal mines.

In his order Tuesday, Pruitt is expected to declare that the Obama-era rule exceeded federal law by setting emissions standards that power plants could not reasonably meet.

Pruitt appeared at an event with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at Whayne Supply in Hazard, Kentucky, a company that sells coal mining supplies. The store's owners have been forced to lay off about 60 percent of its workers in recent years.

While cheering the demise of the Clean Power Plan as a way to stop the bleeding, McConnell conceded most of those lost jobs are never coming back.

"A lot of damage has been done," said McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. "This doesn't immediately bring everything back, but we think it stops further decline of coal fired plants in the United States and that means there will still be some market here."

Obama's plan was designed to cut U.S. carbon dioxide emissions to 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The rule dictated specific emission targets for states based on power-plant emissions and gave officials broad latitude to decide how to achieve reductions.

The Supreme Court put the plan on hold last year following legal challenges by industry and coal-friendly states. Even so, the plan helped drive a recent wave of retirements of coal-fired plants, which are also being squeezed by low cost natural gas and renewable power. In the absence of stricter federal regulations curbing greenhouse gas emissions, many states have issued their own mandates promoting energy conservation.

The withdrawal of the Clean Power Plan is the latest in a series of moves by Trump and Pruitt to dismantle Obama's legacy on fighting climate change, including the delay or roll back of rules limiting levels of toxic pollution in smokestack emissions and wastewater discharges from coal-burning power plants.

On Thursday, Trump nominated former coal-industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to serve as Pruitt's top deputy at EPA  one of several recent political appointees at the agency with direct ties to the fossil fuel interests.

The president announced earlier this year that he will pull the United States out of the landmark Paris climate agreement. Nearly 200 countries have committed to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

"This president has tremendous courage," Pruitt said Monday. "He put America first and said to the rest of the world we are going to say no and exit the Paris Accord. That was the right thing to do."

Despite the rhetoric about saving coal, government statistics show that coal mines currently employ only about 52,000 workers nationally  a modest 4-percent uptick since Trump became president. Those numbers are dwarfed by the jobs created by building such clean power infrastructure as wind turbines and solar arrays.

Environmental groups and public health advocates quickly derided Pruitt's decision as short sighted.

"Trump is not just ignoring the deadly cost of pollution, he's ignoring the clean energy deployment that is rapidly creating jobs across the country," said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club.

___

Associated Press writer Michael Biesecker reported from Washington. Follow him at http://twitter.com/mbieseck

___

This story has been corrected to show the percentage of coal jobs created under Trump was 4 percent.
What happened

Several catalysts combined to drive shares of Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) 8.5% higher in September, which helped pull it out of the red for the year. Leading the charge was the company's quick recovery from Hurricane Harvey, which benefited certain refiners, and the announcement of a significant asset drop-down to its MLP Phillips 66 Partners (NYSE: PSXP).

So what

Hurricane Harvey battered the Houston area in late August, causing significant flooding and forcing many oil refineries to shut down operations. However, Phillips 66 quickly reopened its Sweeney refinery and Beaumont terminal, which enabled it to take advantage of higher market prices for refined products in the aftermath of the storm. Meanwhile, the company's Lake Charles refinery in Louisiana took delivery of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum reserve so it could continue operating at full capacity and help keep the market supplied with refined products. Because of these factors, Phillips 66's third-quarter earnings could see a boost due to the jump in refining margins as a result of the storm.

In addition to all that storm-related activity, Phillips 66 found time to agree to the largest drop-down transaction to date with its MLP. The company sealed a deal to sell its 25% interest in the Bakken Pipeline and its Merey Sweeny unit to Phillips 66 Partners for $2.4 billion. Under the terms of the deal, Phillips 66 will receive about $1.5 billion in cash and $240 million of Phillips 66 Partners' units, while the MLP will also assume $625 million of existing debt. As such, the transaction will bolster Phillips 66's balance sheet, while providing it with significant cash proceeds.

That cash windfall is coming at a time when Phillips 66 is about to experience a meaningful uptick in free cash flow due to the upcoming completion of several major projects. That expected cash flow surge led an analyst at Scotia Howard Weil to upgrade the stock from sector perform to outperform while boosting the price target from $86 to $98. The analyst saw the expected boost in cash flow as a catalyst that should drive Phillips 66's stock higher in the near-term.

Now what

While Phillips 66's stock jumped last month, the company could continue moving higher. That's because the combination of the near-term margin boost from Harvey, along with the cash proceeds from Phillips 66 Partners, and the rising cash flow from its upcoming growth projects should give the company a significant amount of money that it can return to shareholders over the next year. Because of that, it's highly likely that Phillips 66 will give investors another considerable dividend increase and buy back a boatload of stock, which could fuel further gains in the stock price.

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U.S. smartphone chipmaker Qualcomm has offered concessions in an attempt to allay EU antitrust concerns over its $38-billion bid for NXP Semiconductors, the largest ever in the semiconductor industry.

Qualcomm, which supplies chips to Android smartphone makers and Apple, submitted its proposal on Oct. 5, a filing on the European Commission site showed on Monday, without providing details.

The EU competition enforcer, which suspended the deadline for its decision on Aug. 17 for a second time while waiting for information data from Qualcomm, said it would set a new deadline once the company has complied with its request.

The Commission is expected to seek feedback from rivals and customers in the coming days. It is concerned the combined company may use incentives to squeeze out rivals and raise prices, as well change NXP's intellectual property licensing model.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Jason Neely)
Less than half the trucks exported from Navistar's mammoth Escobedo plant in Mexico are sold in North America but the factory's success remains tightly tied to the uncertain future of the region's NAFTA free trade deal.

Navistar's Mexican factory, now the U.S. company's largest worldwide, exports to around 30 countries and sells less to the United States than competitors such as Daimler AG, one of the top three truck-makers in Mexico, which sends three-quarters of its Mexican-made commercial vehicles north.

But Navistar's reliance on tariff-free imported parts shows why even Mexico manufacturers that have diversified their customer base away from the United States still fear U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to scrap NAFTA.

"To lose this treaty would be to go backwards 40 years," said Oscar Ruiz, operations director at the plant, fearing a return to an era when barriers made foreign investment and trade expensive between the two neighbors.

Trade negotiators from the United States, Mexico and Canada will meet this week in Washington for a fourth round of talks on reworking NAFTA amid growing signs of an impasse between the Trump administration and the other two signatories of the pact.

Mexican officials warn that Trump is leading the region towards a protectionist trade war with his "America First" policy, flirting with major curbs on commerce.

Nowadays, over half the original parts for the vehicles made at Navistar's 250 acre (100 hectare) site in the northern state of Nuevo Leon arrive duty-free from the United States and Canada in hundreds of trailers every day, Ruiz said.

Higher tariffs on imports or reduced trade flows would raise the cost of production and of exporting to the United States. That would make trucks more expensive for all Navistar's customers, experts consulted by Reuters said. Navistar, for example, uses Alabama-made Cummins engines in its International Prostar and LT heavy tractors.

Without NAFTA, importing the engines would likely cost 10 percent more, based on World Trade Organization tariffs, according to Manuel Nieblas, a manufacturing consultant at Deloitte Mexico.

With engines representing up to 45 percent of the $130,000 cost of a Prostar truck, that tariff alone could add around $5,800 to the final price.

Prices would also rise for most of the up-to 12,000 parts used in a Navistar truck, both due to the tariffs and slower border-customs checks if trade were to be more regulated.

A 'LOGISTIC SPRINGBOARD'

Aside from higher prices for imported parts, ending NAFTA would likely impose a 4 percent tariff on top of the total value of the Class 8 truck 18-wheeler for export to the United States.

Still, that might be slight enough for U.S. consumers to absorb, or for the company to shave off its margins.

And Navistar's strategy of using Mexico's low costs and multiple free trade deals to export to markets from Saudi Arabia to Australia could soften the blow of any tougher export rules for the United States, Mexican Chief Executive Carlos Pardo said.

"More than ever I believe Mexico is a logistic springboard, where on top of a qualified work force and reasonable production costs, logistically it has created the connections to supply any part of the world," Pardo said in Navistar's Mexico City headquarters.

While 98 percent of trucks exported from Mexico go to the United States or Canada, U.S. truckmaker Kenworth, China's Giant and Korean automaker Kia all have a similar strategy of building in Mexico to export to countries other than the United States.

Scrapping NAFTA might not hurt exports to robust European economies, but those to Latin America, Navistar's top market after North America, would become much more complicated, said Salvador Pasquel, an automotive expert at Baker McKenzie.

Business with Colombia, which in 2011 was the biggest market in Latin America for U.S. truck companies after Mexico, helps illustrate what could happen if NAFTA collapses.

Sales plummeted after vehicles got more expensive because of changes in Colombia's trade policy, including a tax of 15 percent on the value of new imported heavy trucks.

"We went from exporting $817 million in heavy tractors in 2011 to barely $1 million in 2015," said Miguel Elizalde, president of Mexico's truck and bus business chamber, Anpact.

One fear for Mexico-based companies is that increased costs there would boost Latin American sales of trucks made in Brazil, whose vehicle industry belongs to the Mercosur free trade bloc.

"If it's harder for Mexico to place its products in Latin America, the big economy that could provide those cars and trucks would surely be Brazil," said Baker McKenzie's Pasquel.

The worries over NAFTA coincide with a recovery in Navistar's U.S. market.

After a long stretch of depressed sales, orders for Class 8 trucks in the United States soared for the fourth consecutive month in September, according to preliminary data from industry forecaster FTR. (https://ftrintel.com/news/latest-orders/index.php) Analysts expect a strong year in 2018.

Although Lisle, Illinois-based Navistar posted a second quarter loss, its share price has recovered lately as the company turns itself around after a disastrous bet on a costly and unsuccessful smog-reduction system.

Last year, Volkswagens truck unit said it was buying a stake in Navistar as part of an alliance in which the two companies will share technology.

In Mexico, growth of truck-making under NAFTA has been rapid. In 1993, a year before the deal took effect, Mexico exported 1,040 heavy vehicles. Last year, it sold 106,161 such vehicles abroad, according to Anpact figures.

Navistar's Escobedo plant was producing three vehicles a day when it opened in 1998. It now makes 160, with capacity for almost double that, factory manager Ruiz said.

The company is under no illusion it could maintain those volumes without NAFTA, though the plant recently decided to hire 150 new workers because of recovering U.S. demand.

"We could survive, yes, but the question is, at what level?" Ruiz said.

(Writing by Frank Jack Daniel, additional reporting by Anthony Esposito and Nick Carey; Editing by Christian Plumb and Bernadette Baum)
The focus of the deepening clash between Catalan separatists and Spanish authorities is shifting to the regional parliament for a key session likely to include a historic declaration of independence that Spain has pledged to crush.

Catalan president Carles Puigdemont hasn't revealed the precise message he will deliver Tuesday evening with separatist politicians expecting some sort of declaration based on the results of the disputed Oct. 1 referendum on independence.

At stake is the territorial integrity of Spain, threatened by a growing separatist movement that is sorely testing the strength of its constitution and the skill of its national and regional leaders.

Some expect a strictly symbolic declaration, while others believe a risky full-scale break with Spain will be attempted, even as Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vows he will use all lawful means to keep Spain intact.

The Spanish leader has said he is willing to use a constitutional clause that allows Madrid to take over direct control of regions if they violate Spain's constitution  a move that could apply in this case because Spain's constitutional court had suspended the referendum.

Its results are therefore considered invalid under Spanish law.

"Spain will not be divided and the national unity will be preserved. We will do everything that legislation allows us to ensure this," Rajoy told German newspaper Die Welt. "We will prevent this independence from taking place."

Puigdemont's embrace of independence may be slowed by the decision of several major banks and businesses to move their headquarters out of Catalonia because they want to remain under the European Union's regulatory umbrella, and also by the bloc's backing of Spain despite a police crackdown on people trying to vote in the referendum.

The Spanish government's staunch opposition, the lukewarm response of the international community to the prospect of a breakaway state in Europe and the concerns of business leaders all suggest an independence move would extract a heavy price from Catalan's separatist leaders.

Still, separatist politicians say there will be a declaration of independence for the northeastern region of 7.5 million people during the Tuesday session, although some ruling coalition lawmakers say the move could be simply "symbolic."

The Oct. 1 referendum vote has been followed by mass protests of Catalans angered by heavy-handed police tactics.

But there also have been well-organized, large-scale rallies in both Catalonia and Madrid by people committed to keeping Spain intact.

Police say roughly 350,000 took part in the anti-independence protests Sunday in Barcelona. The demonstrators chanted "Don't be fooled, Catalonia is Spain" and called for Puigdemont to go to prison for holding the banned referendum. Some held up signs thanking Spain's National Police and Guardia Civil for their support.

Despite the opposition, some politicians and activists say they won't accept anything less than a full declaration of independence at Tuesday's session.

"Credibility and dignity suggest making the declaration of independence tomorrow (Tuesday)," Jordi Sanchez, the head of the civil group National Catalonia Assembly, said Monday.

A lawmaker with the Catalan CUP party told The Associated Press that the far-left separatists won't accept compromise on the issue.

"It's very clear to me that those who I represent won't accept any other scenario," Benet Salellas said during an interview at the regional parliament.

With so much uncertainty in the air, Catalonia's top judicial official ordered additional Spanish police protection for the headquarters of the regional judiciary.

The High Judiciary in Catalonia says its president, Jesus Barrientos, has asked the chief of the National Police force in the region to join in the protection of the building. The statement says the move is aimed at stopping any attempt to suspend the judiciary and ouster of its president in the event of secession, even if the declaration would be illegal under Spanish laws.

Catalan authorities say the "Yes" side won the referendum with 90 percent of the vote, although only 43 percent of the region's 5.3 million eligible voters turned out in polling that was disrupted by police raids of polling stations.

They say this validates their independence bid.

Rajoy has said the central government could take direct control of Catalonia, which now enjoys a measure of autonomy.

"The ideal situation would be that I don't have to find drastic solutions," Rajoy said this weekend.

Rajoy's government had repeatedly refused to grant Catalonia permission to hold a referendum on grounds that it is unconstitutional, since it would only poll a portion of Spain's 46 million residents.

Catalonia's separatist camp has grown in recent years, strengthened by Spain's recent economic crisis and by Madrid's rejection of attempts to increase self-rule in the region.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's administration said Monday that it will look to borrow against the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center to help plug a projected $2.2 billion deficit and make payments to schools and human services providers.

It is the second unilateral move in a week announced by Wolf's office to borrow money since efforts stalled last week in the state House of Representatives to pass a tax package the governor had insisted on to help whittle down an entrenched post-recession deficit.

A Farm Show "lease-leaseback" is expected to yield $200 million up front, to be paid back with interest over 29 years, the Wolf administration said.

The administration could not immediately say how much money such a transaction would cost. In an email, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding told Farm Show commissioners that the state will begin accepting proposals from interested investors.

It would, Redding said, retain full ownership and control of a nearly 1 million-square-foot complex that hosts regional draws, including the Farm Show and expos featuring guns, horses, outdoor recreation, recreational vehicles and home improvements.

The state already issued a request for information on the project in the spring.

The move comes on the heels of Wolf's announcement last week that his administration will look to borrow $1.2 billion against revenue from the state-controlled wine and liquor store system. The scale of long-term borrowing being considered to prop up the state's general operations is unprecedented in Pennsylvania, say current and former state budget officials.

Public finance analysts generally regard borrowing to pay operating costs as bad fiscal practice and a last resort, and the practice of plugging deficits with one-time cash infusions over the last five years has played a prominent role in Pennsylvania's credit rating plunging to the bottom rungs of state ratings.

The departments of the auditor general and the treasury and leaders of the Republican-controlled Senate have not challenged Wolf's borrowing plans, although a top lawyer for the Senate Republicans, Drew Crompton, said he did not have enough details from the administration to determine whether its moves are legal.

State government is three months into its fiscal year without an approved revenue package to fully fund a nearly $32 billion budget bill that lawmakers passed June 30.

Meanwhile, $650 million in aid to five schools  Penn State, Temple and Lincoln universities; the University of Pittsburgh; and the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary school  is stuck in limbo, and Wolf and House Republicans have blamed the failure of a revenue package on each other.

A spokesman for the House Republican majority insisted Wolf's administration cannot unilaterally execute the leaseback arrangement and at a minimum needs approval from the Farm Show Commission.

Wolf's office disputed that, and a member of the Farm Show Commission, David Black, said that as far as he knew the commission does not have to vote on it.

However, Black, as president of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, said he was concerned that the deal would bite into funding to maintain the huge complex.

"When things need to be cut, government in general will cut back in maintenance on facilities," Black said. "And as we all know, if you don't do the maintenance on your house over time you're going to have some big bills, and these are some big buildings."
President Trump laid out his plans to change the countrys immigration system on Sunday in exchange for a deal on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Trump, told FOX Business, shes hopeful Democrats will agree to the deal.

Top immigration priorities reportedly include building the border wall, hiring 10,000 ICE officers and 600 prosecutors, using mandatory e-verify and a new points-based system for green cards.

I dont know whats so unreasonable about wanting to have 300 new immigration judges, 10,000 additional ice agents because these folks just dont have the resources they need to enforce our existing laws, Conway said on Mornings with Maria. It still is very vexing, all the folks who are trying to come into this country illegally.

Democrat leaders, Pelosi and Schumer pushed back on the plan, saying the list of demands goes so far beyond what is reasonable and fails to represent any attempt at compromise, in a joint statement.

However, in Conways opinion, the President is not pushing a new idea, he is enforcing the laws that exist.

People are flatting laws, folks are looking the other way, and again, its a real challenge to the Democrats to go home and tell their constituents, What is so unreasonable about enforcing the law, about stop[ping] granting sanctuary to illegal aliens in some cases we know have been deported multiple times, have broken the law multiple times and have murdered or been responsible for the death of Americans, she said.
The Weinstein Company film studio announced Sunday that its directors have fired movie mogul Harvey Weinstein after the New York Times reported he settled sexual harassment lawsuits with at least eight women.

"In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company - Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar - have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately," the company's board of representatives said in a statement given to Fox News.

Weinstein's alleged inappropriate behavior with women in the last 30 years was detailed in the bombshell Times report published Thursday. In it, actress Ashley Judd described being lured to Weinstein's hotel room, only to find him wearing a bathrobe and requesting sexual favors.

The report also detailed encounters Weinstein allegedly had with other women working for the Weinstein Company, as well as official settlements from people associated with him, including actress Rose McGowan, who was issued a $100,000 settlement that Weinstein specifically said was not an admission of guilt.

In the days since the allegations first surfaced, several key allies of Weinstein have backed off the mogul. His lawyer Lisa Bloom and advisor Lanny Davis resigned on Saturday and nearly one-third of the Weinstein Companys board resigned on Friday, according to Variety. The report also alleged that his brother, Bob Weinstein and chief operating officer David Glasser, were pushing for his firing. Both men are now in control of the company.

In wake of the report, many congressional Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have given money they'd received as a donation from Weinstein to charity.

Weinstein and his family have given more than $1.4 million in political contributions since the 1992 election cycle, nearly all of it to Democratic lawmakers, candidates and their allies, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Harvey Weinstein on Thursday issued a lengthy statement that acknowledged that, "a lot of pain," was caused.

I came of age in the 60s and 70s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then. I have since learned its not an excuse, in the office  or out of it. To anyone. I realized some time ago that I needed to be a better person and my interactions with the people I work with have changed. I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it

But Weinstein and his legal team have also have criticized the New York Times' report in statements and interviews. They also announced in the days after that he was intending to file a lawsuit against the newspaper for $50 million in damages.

"We are confident in the accuracy of our reporting," a New York Times spokesperson responded. "Mr. Weinstein was aware and able to respond to specific allegations in our story before publication. In fact, we published his response in full."

Fox News' Hollie McKay and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
While Jon Snow faces enemies, white walkers and dragons on Game of Thrones, actor Kit Harington has met his match in fiance Rose Leslie. The star shared a pretty high-stakes prank that he played on her and explained why he wont be doing it again.

Appearing on British talk show, The Jonathan Ross Show, Harington shared a video he took after pulling a prank on fellow Game of Thrones star, and current fiance, Leslie. As People reported, the duo have since become engaged, but after seeing the caliber of prank he pulls, its a wonder that she said yes.

The star began by showing Leslies reaction as she opens the refrigerator and leaps across the room, falling to her knees and crying.

Now that youve seen that, Harington began, My family does April Fools Her family doesnt do April Fools. After that, she was in tears and I was there going, ... April Fools It didnt go down well.

Then the star revealed what was in the fridge that frightened his partner so thoroughly. It looks like he may have asked for a little help from HBOs special effects department and managed to sneak a fake severed head of himself inside.

She pretty much told me if I did it ever again, thatd be it, Harington said when asked if she plans to get him back. I think thats marriage included.

You can see the Jonathan Ross Show clip, complete with the video in question, below. As Harington notes, pay attention to Leslies reflexive saving of their Brita water pitcher despite the scare.
Harvey Weinstein begged top Hollywood CEOs and entrepreneurs for their last-minute support in a desperate email that he sent shortly before he was fired amid the growing list of sexual harassment accusations against him, according to a report out Monday.

Media strategist at Eldridge Industries LLC, the holding company for The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group, Janice Min, took to Twitter on Monday to post the email in which the movie mogul pleaded for support from the industry.

"Just give me the time to have therapy. Do not let me be fired. If the industry supports me, that is all I need.  Harvey Weinstein

My board is thinking of firing me. All Im asking, is let me take a leave of absence and get into heavy therapy and counseling. Whether it be in a facility or somewhere else, allow me to resurrect myself with a second chance. A lot of the allegations are false as you know but given therapy and counseling as other people have done, I think Id be able to get there, the letter began, according to Min. I could really use your support or just your honesty if you cant support me.

Hollywood power players including the onetime Disney boss and Dreamworks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and NBCUniversal Vice Chairman Ron Meyer refused to help, Min added.

Weinsteins letter continued: But if you can, I need you to send a letter to my private email address. The letter would only go to the board and no one else. We believe what the board is trying to do is not only wrong but might be illegal and would destroy the company. If you could write this letter backing me, getting me the help and time away I need, and also stating your opposition to the board firing me, it would help a lot. I am desperate for your help. Just give me the time to have therapy. Do not let me be fired. If the industry supports me, that is all I need.

Weinstein added, With all due respect, I need the letter today.

Min said the letter was read to her by a disgusted male recipient.

The plea for support didnt seem to help. The Weinstein Company film studio announced Sunday that its directors fired Weinstein after the New York Times reported he settled sexual harassment lawsuits with at least eight women.

"In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company - Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar - have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately," the company's board of representatives said in a statement given to Fox News.

Weinstein's alleged inappropriate behavior with women in the last 30 years was detailed in the bombshell Times report published Thursday. Since the initial report, other women have come forward with similar accusations.

Harvey Weinstein on Thursday issued a lengthy statement that acknowledged that, "a lot of pain," was caused.

I came of age in the 60s and 70s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then. I have since learned its not an excuse, in the office  or out of it. To anyone. I realized some time ago that I needed to be a better person and my interactions with the people I work with have changed. I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it

Weinstein and his legal team have also have criticized the New York Times' report in statements and interviews. They also announced in the days after that he was intending to file a lawsuit against the newspaper for $50 million in damages.

Meanwhile, a former Times reporter claims she had dirt on Weinstein back in 2004 but the story was spiked by editors.
Harvey Weinsteins first instinct was to shift the blame to the newspaper shining a light on his troubled past.

Thats not working out too well.

I doubt well ever see the lawsuit he threatened against the New York Times, not after his own company abruptly fired him Sunday night.

The Times also showed its willingness to take on a celebrated Hollywood liberal and major Democratic donor who has held fundraisers for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and hired the former presidents daughter Malia as an intern.

Weinsteins company, which he ran with his brother, took the story seriously enough to hire a law firm to conduct an outside investigation, and a third of the board of directors resigned. And then came the firing, supported by his brother Bob.

The Times had a number of on-the-record interviews, including with actress Ashley Judd, who said two decades ago Weinstein asked if he could give her a massage or she would watch him shower. And there was a memo, since withdrawn, by a female employee that described a toxic environment for women at the company.

On Saturday, a former anchor for New Yorks News 12 told the Huffington Post that a decade ago Weinstein masturbated in front of her.

The fact that a number of women stayed silent, given Weinsteins power in the industry, is obviously reminiscent of what happened with Bill Cosby, and the high-profile harassment cases at Fox News.

But the allegations against Weinstein, while getting some media attention, are drawing far less coverage. NBC has done very little. The cable news networks have each done a few segments. The late-night comics have stayed away. Several Democratic senators are returning or donating Weinsteins contributions, but the DNC is giving up only a fraction of the overall dollar amount.

Now were hearing the allegations were an open secret in media and film circles. A New York magazine writer describes how Weinstein once screamed at her over a question he didnt like and knocked down her boyfriend.

There was modest coverage two years ago when an Italian model named Ambra Battilana accused Weinstein of groping her, but the Manhattan DA declined to bring charges.

Dozens of Mr. Weinsteins former and current employees, from assistants to top executives, said they knew of inappropriate conduct while they worked for him, the Times said.

At this point, with Weinstein scrambling to salvage his job, it seems far-fetched that he would open himself up to discovery by actually suing the New York Times.
Actor Seth Rogen was slammed on Monday for a tweet he sent two months ago trying to get Costco to stop selling a book written by a conservative writer.

The Big Lie by Dinesh DSouza claims to expose the Nazi roots of the American left, but Rogen took to Twitter on Aug. 13 to ask Costco, Why do you sell books that compare left wing people like me to Nazis?

Liberal writer Kurt Eichenwald even defended DSouza, calling him a liar who has free speech rights to spin his drivel.

Rogen responded, I'm not saying they ban him or imprison him or fire him from whatever his job is. Just surprised they sell his sh-- next to tubs of yogurt.

DSouza quickly responded himself, Dont call a book sh-- without reading it. If you do, Id honestly like you to tell me what I got wrong.

The two-month old tweet gained attention on Monday when media analyst Mark Dice chimed in, Look at this Hollywood Libtard acting like a Nazi trying to get a book banned. What's next Seth? Burning them? Dices comment resulted in his loyal followers poking fun at the Knocked Up actor, and has been retweeted and liked over 3,000 times.

Hes upset at being compared to a Nazi but has no problem comparing right wing people Nazis, one user wrote, while another said, Because Seth Rogan [sic] left wingers are socialists. The Nazis were socialists. You see the connection?

Dices presumably conservative followers piled on, with one writing, He hasnt read the book! They all run their mouths without a clue. Hollyweirds think normal people think like them. No we think for ourselves, and another saying, Rogen should probably stick to smoking pot and making unfunny movies. Leave the political commentary to the professionals.

Rogen is an outspoken liberal who offers his opinions via Twitter on a regular basis. On Monday he retweeted a photo mocking Stephen Bannon and defended women accusing movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment over the weekend.

I believe all the women coming forward about Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment. It takes bravery to do so, Rogen wrote.

Rogens representatives did not immediate respond to request for comment.
Saturday Night Live, which parodies late-breaking newsmakers on a weekly basis, did not mention the sexual harassment allegations surrounding Hollywood kingmaker Harvey Weinstein and reportedly cut out material during its dress rehearsal.

The New York Times, citing an unnamed source at NBC, reported that there were jokes about Weinstein, but they were cut out before airtime. There were some jokes for the Weekend Update segment  but those jokes reportedly fell flat with the studio audience.

Lorne Michaels, SNL's legendary creator, told The Daily Mail that the show did not go after Weinstein because he is from New York.

Its a New York thing, he said. Weinstein was born in Queens.

The show is famous for its relentless satire of President Trump. Donald Trump, Jr., tweeted Sunday, Out of curiosity where is @realdonaldtrump from??? Seems like there could be more to that pass than this nonsense.

The show featured a performance from Jason Aldean, who was on the stage during last weeks mass killing in Las Vegas. He paid tribute to the victims of the massacre and to the late rocker Tom Petty.

Aldean performed Pettys I Wont Back Down during the live opening Saturday night and then introduced the show.

This week we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history, he said. So many people are hurting. You can be sure that we are going to walk through these tough times together every step of the way.

Social media took notice on how Weinstein was left out of the show.

Why didnt big mouth Michael Che say anything about Harvey Weinstein on SNL 'Weekend Update'? Hes got so much opinion about everything else, Pastor Darrell Scott, a Trump supporter, posted on Twitter.

ESPN columnist Buster Olney called the show gutless.

SNL with nothing on Weinstein? Gutless, he posted early Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Fast-food fans are apparently going to great lengths to get their hands on a rare McDonalds dipping sauce  even if it means paying a huge mark-up.

In a YouTube video posted to Reddit shortly after McDonalds began offering its Szechuan McNugget sauce, one McDonalds customer who was lucky enough to get a packet of the plum-flavored condiment can be seen selling single nuggets dipped in the Szechuan sauce for $10 apiece.

Holding a single one-ounce portion of the sauce in his hand, the enterprising young man handed out pre-dipped nuggets amid a mob of onlookers, some of whom can he heard confirming the price with the seller.

FANS CALL FOR MCDONALD'S BOYCOTT OVER SZECHUAN SAUCE SHORTAGE

McDonalds Szechuan Sauce officially returned to the restaurants menu on Oct. 7 after first debuting nearly 20 years ago as part of a promotion for Disneys animated film Mulan  though the rerelease didnt go as smoothly as anticipated.

Interest in the long-discontinued sauce was first piqued in April 2017, after a Cartoon Network series called Rick and Morty made the condiment a plot point: Rick, a mad scientist-type character, professed his love for the sauce, and cited it as the impetus for all his actions. Fans then took to Change.org to organize a petition for McDonalds to bring back the sauce.

A PACKET OF SZECHUAN SAUCE JUST SOLD FOR A CRAZY AMOUNT ON EBAY

McDonald later caved to demand, and announced that the cult-favorite dipping sauce would be available for one day only  along with a special commemorative poster  at participating locations.

However, McDonalds neglected to mention that each location would only have a very limited number of sauce packets to hand out, with customers reporting that McDonalds only allotted 20 for each store. In some cases, the clientele became so rowdy after learning of the shortage that police were called to the restaurants to disperse crowds.

Some even called to boycott the fast food restaurant over the issue, using the hashtag #BoycottMcDonalds to gain support on Twitter.

McDonalds has since vowed to make this right in a statement released on Sunday, and hinted that McDonalds Szechuan sauce might become a permanent offering at McDonalds locations everywhere this winter.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Meanwhile, according to eBay, sellers are also trying to fetch upwards of a thousand bucks for a single packet of the sauce, though its unclear if any have actually sold for as much.

A bottle of the sauce, which became available earlier this year during a special promotion, is also said to have fetched a bid of $14,700 on eBay.
New Jerseys annual bear hunt only kicked off on Monday morning, and already two protesters have been arrested, officials say.

Catherine McCartney, 49, and Jerome Mandel, 72, were taken into custody by the officials in Sussex County, N.J., after protesters gathered to denounce the states annual bear hunt, NJ.com reports.

McCartney was arrested after refusing to move out of the way of a hunters vehicle. Mandel, too, had reportedly moved from an area where protesting was permitted, and he and McCartney were charged for three identical offenses, including obstructing the administration of law.

EVA SHOCKEY ON WHAT TO EXPECT ON A HUNT

A reporter for News 12 New Jersey also captured footage of a woman, presumably Catherine McCartney, being arrested by state police.

According to the NJ.com, New Jerseys Department of Environmental Protection gave permission for the annual six-day bear hunt throughout eight different counties, as a means to help control the areas bear populations. A separate six-day hunt will take place in December, as well.

Last years hunt pulled in a record 636 bears after both six-day hunts were completed, according to reports. The Department of Environmental Protection estimates that there are currently 2,800 more in northern New Jersey.

MOM DEFENDS HUNTING AS A WAY TO KEEP KIDS OFF PHONES

Hunters taking part in the six-day hunt are currently only allowed to use arrows to take down the bears, but muzzle-loaders will be allowed starting on day four. The December hunt will also allow for shotguns, the New Jersey Herald reports.

Animal rights activists and critics, meanwhile, argue that the bi-yearly hunts are unnecessary to control the states bear population.

The Herald reports that protesters have been gathering near a check-in station for hunters every year since the bear-hunting program began in 2010.

Phil Murphy, the Democratic nominee for New Jersey governor, is also a vocal opponent of the state's annual hunt, and once said he would place a "moritorium" on the practice if he were to be elected, SNJToday reported.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Local resident Robert Boselli, Jr., meanwhile, told the New Jersey Herald that the hunts are good, clean fun, and became the first to harvest a bear  weighing 87.5 pounds  during the first day of this years rainy hunt.

It will be delicious eating, said Boselli.
The Michigan mother who was jailed over her refusal to vaccinate her 9-year-old son was reportedly released after serving five days behind bars. Rebecca Bredow was released on Monday, WXYZ.com reported, citing the Oakland County Jail website.

Bredow was jailed last week for failing to comply with a court order to get her son vaccinated within a one-week deadline, after a judge sided with the boy's father.

I stand here today scared and vulnerable, begging the court to understand that Im not a lazy parent, Bredow said at her sentencing. Im a passionate mother who cares deeply about my children, their health and their well-being.

CHOLERA CLAIMS UNBORN CHILDREN AS EPIDEMIC SPREADS YEMEN MISERY

Bredow had cited personal beliefs and said she signed waivers in compliance with the state regarding her son's vaccinations.

The case made headlines after the woman's ex-husband took her to court claiming that they had agreed at the time of their son's birth that he would receive vaccines at a later date, but that now Bredow was failing to follow through on the agreement. Judge Karen McDonald sided with the boys father, citing parental rights.

I understand that you love your children, but what I dont think you understand is that your son has two parents, and dad gets a say, McDonald said.

The boys father was granted temporary custody and their son was vaccinated while Bredow was in jail, WXYZ.com reported. Before her sentencing Bredow had told local news outlets that she would rather go to jail than be forced to vaccinate her son.
Corporations have a responsibility to their customers and the public to be ethical, honest, and forthright.

But that obligation is heightened to a degree for pharmaceutical firms, especially the ones whose customers are dealing with serious illness or acute, chronic pain.

Insys Therapeutics deals with both types of patients.

The Arizona-based drug company got approval five years ago from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell Subsys, an under-the-tongue spray for cancer patients dealing with chronic pain.

Subsys contains fentanyl, the highly addictive synthetic opioid that is 100 times more powerful that morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Fentanyl has been in the news for the past few years.

SURGEONS REMOVE RECORD-BREAKING TUMOR FROM PATIENT'S KIDNEY

Its been the cause of many deaths by those who mix it with street heroin.

An accidental overdose of fentanyl was the cause of rock star Princes death.

Despite the dangers and all the controversy surrounding this drug, Insys thought it had a winner on its hands with its sublingual version.

But apparently not as many cancer patients were using the drug as the company had hoped.

So, executives concocted an elaborate scheme in which they created fake cancer patients to improve sales, according to a Senate investigation whose findings were released last week.

The report from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs was released just days after Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against Insys and three doctors over a marketing scheme to increase sales of the drug.

Brnovich called the action part of a fight against the unethical and greedy behavior in the pharmaceutical industry that is fueling the opioid crisis in our state.

Senator doesnt mince words

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), who is steering the Insys investigation, said last week in a press conference that the company aggressively pressured its employees and many in the medical industry to increase the use of the drug.

And, she noted, it was done during a national opioid epidemic that is taking the lives of tens of thousands of people in the United States a year.

Its hard to imagine anything more despicable, said McCaskill.

The senator said Insys executives misled insurance companies, provided kickbacks to doctors who went along with the scam, and falsified medical records, all just to make money.

According to the Senate report, insurance companies would only pay for the drug for a patient who had an active cancer diagnosis, was being treated by an opioid (and, thus, was opioid tolerant) and was being prescribed Subsys to treat breakthrough pain that the other opioid could not eliminate.

Federal prosecutors in Boston announced in December that six former Insys executives and managers, including former Chief Executive Officer Michael Babich, had been indicted.

HERE'S HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT OPIOIDS

Prosecutors said Babich and others led the conspiracy to bribe medical practitioners to unnecessarily prescribe Subsys to non-cancer patients, for which the drug is not designed, through payments disguised as marketing events and speaker fees.

Reuters reported in July that while Insys ostensibly designed the speaker program to educate healthcare professionals about Subsys, its primary purpose was to reward healthcare providers who prescribed the drug.

Prosecutors said the medical providers earned thousands of dollars in kickbacks through the speaker events, which were usually just a gathering of friends and co-workers at high-end restaurants.

In July, two former Insys sales representatives, including the wife of the companys former chief executive officer, pleaded guilty to engaging in schemes to pay kickbacks to medical practitioners to prescribe the drug.

Pharmas image damaged

Pharmaceutical companies in the United States are closely monitored by the federal government and intensely scrutinized in their clinical trials and marketing practices.

However, when a drug company does something as egregious as Insys is accused of, the industrys image is damaged.

The image wasnt helped last year by Martin Shkreli, the former chief executive officer of Turing Pharmaceuticals who raised the price of a medication for AIDS patients from $13.50 to $750.

Last month, Shkreli was convicted of two counts of fraud and one count of conspiracy for misleading investors in hedge funds he ran. Hes now doing time at a federal jail in Brooklyn.

The details of the Insys story are another public relations headache for the industry.

A recent national survey by Kantar Media, a healthcare industry research firm, showed that only 22 percent of consumers who were surveyed trust the drug companies that advertise the medications they take.

Kantars 2017 MARS Consumer Health Study also showed that only 28 percent believe pharmaceutical ads make them more knowledgeable.

Only 44 percent agreed that prescription drugs are a more effective treatment than over-the-counter drugs.

Patients respond to scandals

Meanwhile, the response to the Insys scandal among cancer patients has been one of outrage.

In interviews with Healthline, a half-dozen cancer patients and cancer patient advocates had harsh words for Insys as well as stern advice for the industry at large.

When you violate the trust of someone in the cancer community, its almost impossible to gain it back, said Dan Duffy, a stage 3 testicular cancer survivor, author, and advocate for cancer patients.

Insys violated the trust a company needs to have on so many levels that it defies comprehension, Duffy added. Ive never been someone to call for the public shaming or firing of anyone, because I know just how important it is to have the ability to take care of yourself, as well as your family if you have one. But whoever thought this was a good idea needs to find a new line of work. Stat.

Duffy said what Insys has allegedly done is especially appalling because it involved faking cancer for financial gain.

I cant say that I havent thought, Theres a special place in hell for this person, he said.

Linnea Olson, a stage 4 lung cancer patient, artist, blogger, cancer activist, and mother of three, told Healthline that the relationship between cancer patients and pharmaceutical companies is complicated.

It is a relationship fraught with tension, as they are profit-driven, which is a different onus than patients, oncologists, researchers, and advocacy organizations, said Olson, who is currently enrolled in her third clinical trial.

Olson said cancer patients sometimes dont trust drug companies because we don't feel they necessarily have our best interests at heart. There is a lot of talk about patients as partners right now, and I regard most of it as rhetoric. You cant be a true partner in a relationship if you are not an equal.

Olson added that the one thing patients trust drug companies to do is deliver a product that is safe and appropriate.

When we hear of a fraudulent situation such as this one  pretending that people had cancer in order to get prior approval for a powerful pain killer  it erodes that very slim sliver of trust and enhances our perception that they are in it for the money and only the money, she said.

Casey Quinlan, a breast cancer survivor, cancer patient advocate, healthcare policy wonk, and comedy writer, is dedicated to creating a healthcare system that serves people, not profits.

She told Healthline that the issue of trust is central to cancer patients who are in treatment.

Trust in the clinicians making the diagnosis, trust in the treatment plan proposed, trust in the science and statistical modeling that predicts outcome, she said.

Good science can save lives. Fakery ruins them, she added. To earn back trust, pharma will have to do some very public penance. I suggest they start with full transparency on all trials, and also clean house of all sales-driven decision making.

Insys responds

Its hard to imagine how Insys will survive as a company at this point.

But its product can and does help some people with cancer, so there could be efforts in the future to save the product, if not the company.

Insys isnt speaking to individual media outlets.

NEW DRUG TO PROTECT INFANTS FROM WHOOPING COUGH SHOWS PROMISE

But in a statement released earlier this month, the company said it disagreed with certain characterizations in McCaskills report but agreed the opioid epidemic must be addressed.

In the Senate report, Insys Chief Executive Officer Saeed Motahari said the company is working to prevent the mistakes and unacceptable actions of the past by establishing protocols that hold employees to ethical standards.

Insys has completely transformed its employee base over the last several years, said Motahari, one of many new leaders at the company, which has seen more than 90 percent of its sales staff exit since 2014.

Motahari also said in the statement that the companys former employees mistakes and unacceptable actions were not indicative of the companys current employees.

Over the past several years, Insys has actively taken the appropriate steps to place ethical standards of conduct and patient interests at the heart of our business decisions, Motahari said.

This article first appeared on HealthLine.com.
Donald Trumps war on Senate Republicans continues unabated. Sunday, Trump took to trashing Sen. Bob Corker on Twitter. In a series of dyspeptic tweets, the President blamed Corker for the Iran Deal, and berated the senator from Tennessee for announcing that he would not seek a third term.

Yes, Corker had earned Trumps ire by complaining of the chaos that surrounds Trump, but Corker is not a club-of-one. Trump has lashed out at other senior Republican senators for saying far less. More ominously for Trump, his tantrums could even earn him a primary challenge, something no president wants.

Already, Trump has repeatedly bludgeoned Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, for the sins of being a captured POW, and voting against repeal and replace. He also chivvied Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, for investigating Russias interference in the 2016 election. In addition, Trump has criticized incumbent senators Jeff Flake and Dean Heller, who face primary challenges next year.

To be sure, little good can come from these attacks by Trump on members of his own party. At a minimum, they will not help advance Trumps legislative agenda. On the other hand, they could help make New Yorks Chuck Schumer the next Senate Majority Leader, and kill any chance of a tax cut, not exactly desired outcomes for the GOP.

Most of all, Corker let Trump and the world know that his take on Trump was widely shared by Senate Republicans.

With Korea, the Iran Deal, and tax reform all hanging in the balance, a different approach would have been in order. As a matter of political self-preservation, the president should not treat Corker as he does North Koreas Kim Jong Un. Unlike Little Rocket Man, Corker is legally eligible to challenge Trump for the 2020 Republican nomination.

With history as a guide, sitting presidents who weather primaries have a difficult time winning reelection, just ask Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush. To be sure, two years is a lifetime in politics, and Corker would likely lose, but not before he had bloodied Trump, and raised the odds against Trumps reelection.

Already, Corker has let everyone know that he, like Trump, is someone who wont back down, and for the record, Corker gave as good as he got. Responding with a Tweet of his own, Corker intimated that Trump was addled, saying Its a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.

On Sunday night, Corker again took aim at Trumps fitness and foibles. In Corkers words, Trump had treated the presidency as a reality show, as if Trump were doing The Apprentice or something. Most of all, Corker let Trump and the world know that his take on Trump was widely shared by Senate Republicans.

As Corker put it, Look, except for a few people, the vast majority of our caucus understands what were dealing with here, adding that of course they understand the volatility that were dealing with and the tremendous amount of work that it takes by people around him to keep him in the middle of the road.

Already, some are musing that Corkers planned departure from the Senate is not the end of his political career. Recent news reports peg Corker as a possible candidate for governor of Tennessee in 2018, with speculation mounting that he might even wage a long-shot challenge against Trump in 2020.

And while Trump and Steve Bannon gloat over Corkers refusal to run again, they would do well to remember that Breitbarts own Joel B. Pollak, the websites executive editor, has already threatened Trump with the prospect of a primary if he did not toe the line on immigration and populist orthodoxy. Pollaks words, not mine.

As Pollak put it, the Republican Party could see the emergence of a primary candidate from the right challenging Donald Trump. It doesnt get any clearer. And if Pollak can threaten Trump, why not Corker?

If -- and its a big if -- Corker takes a flier on the White House, he would do well to remember Davy Crockett, another Tennessean who stood his ground back in the day, the day being 1834. Crockett, then a congressman, confronted President Andrew Jackson, another Tennessean and a Trump favorite, over the continued removal of the Cherokee Indians from their homes.

Crockett also complained that Jackson was overstepping constitutional limits, and that his vice president, Martin Van Buren, would admiringly gaze up at the president as if he were king. It all sounds too familiar. History rhymes, even if it doesnt repeat itself.

In the end, Crockett had his fill of Congress, lost his seat, and died fighting at the Alamo. Like Crockett, Corker understands patriotism sometimes requires speaking difficult and uncomfortable truths. Against this backdrop, both Corker and Trump should think hard about what comes next.
A week ago at 5:30 in the morning, my husband and I were driving through the low mountains of western Massachusetts headed for New York. The black of night gave way to the purples and indigo of early morning. Bright-eyed foxes were surprised by our headlights.

We listened to the radio. I tuned into Fox Business on Sirius XM to get the latest headlines. They were grim. In Las Vegas, the death toll was mounting. Horror. Again.

This is not what I expected wed be listening to, my husband said.

The Taconic Parkway rolled in front of us, gray fog still hugging blue hills, but what we saw in our minds eye was fresh blood smeared on the t-shirts of frantic survivors. We heard the stunned voices of those who had fled the concert; they sounded empty, exhausted. Soon, we would see the actual video, and the bodies dropping on black pavement. In those pictures, police scrambled for cover and a way to stop the massacre that would eventually claim 59 lives.

We still support each other in this country. And, people are still generous and eager to extend to a helping hand.

And, the old questions came back. Why this violence again? Where does it come from? How do we stop it?

I got to work that morning and went about my business. Then, an email from my husband. He said a woman named Maria left a message on our home phone line. Shed found my iPad, which I had inadvertently left at the commuter train station. My worry about my personal data seemed inconsequential compared to the Las Vegas tragedy. I had nearly forgotten it amid the bad news. But I revived at the message the iPad had been found and called Maria to make plans to pick it up that night. Our conversation was abbreviated. She had an Eastern European accent that was difficult for me to understand by telephone.

I drove up to her home which is not too far from mine, stopping first to pick up a bouquet to give her. I felt I should respond to her kindness with my own. A petite Maria answered the door and invited me in. The house was neat as a pin. A daughter sat in the kitchen, consumed by homework. It feels so normal, I remember thinking.

Maria handed me the iPad and overcome with gratitude I gave her a hug and told her not everyone would have done the same thing. Its the way my parents raised me, she said. I replied, Its good to remember that this week, in particular.

I moved for the door to leave but Maria stopped me. I dont watch TV, she said. I looked you up. Im sorry for your trouble. By that, she meant the breast cancer I have been successfully fighting for the past year and a half. I hugged her again, this woman I never even knew ten minutes before. And, then, her eyes filled with tears. My husband died of cancer, she said. And then we were both crying and before I left we hugged a third time.

I am relieved and so grateful to have met Maria and visited her at her home. That experience, not the Las Vegas killings, is the new normal and the old normal. We still support each other in this country. And, people are still generous and eager to extend to a helping hand. Thank you, Maria, for reminding me of that.
Harvey Weinstein, one of Hollywoods most important film producers and executives, has been brought low. In the wake of a New York Time report that he sexually harassed actresses and former employees, hes been fired from his own company.

For years he was feted by the Hollywood elite, but now theyre keeping their distance (though as I write this, late night comedians are still taking it fairly easy on Harveythey may want to make sure hes not coming back first).

Neither Weinstein, nor the politicians who take his money, are doing it to further the cause of sexual harassment, after all. Hes been donating over the years because, as imperfect as he may personally be, he believes in the ideas supported by the Democratic Party.

For that matter, his legal advisors, Lisa Bloom and Lanny Davis, have decided not to represent him. Youve got to be really radioactive for your lawyers to quit.

In what might hurt the most, Democratic politicians are saying they dont want his money. Over the years Weinstein has given hundreds of thousands to the Democratic Party, and they called him a hero. But since the story broke, politicians such as Senators Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker have refused his contributions, and are forwarding his money to womens charities.

Which raises a question, in the midst of this scandal, worth looking into. Should politicians turn down money if they dont like the source?

I think the answer is no.

It may seem like a tough call in a case like Harvey Weinstein. But neither Weinstein, nor the politicians who take his money, are doing it to further the cause of sexual harassment, after all. Hes been donating over the years because, as imperfect as he may personally be, he believes in the ideas supported by the Democratic Party.

George Bernard Shaw dealt with this question in his classic play Major Barbara.

Barbara is an upper class young woman who serves in the Salvation Army. Her father is Andrew Undershaft, a munitions maker whos made millions, thanks to war.

Undershaft visits Barbaras Salvation Army shelter, which needs money to stay open. He decides to make a huge donation  matching the amount made from a whisky distiller. Mrs. Baines, Barbaras superior, is more than happy to take it.

Barbara--Mrs. Baines: are you really going to take this money? [...]

Mrs. BainesDear Barbara: [the whisky distiller] has a soul to be saved like any of us. If heaven has found the way to make a good use of his money, are we to set ourselves up against the answer to our prayers?

BarbaraI know he has a soul to be saved. Let him come down here; and Ill do my best to help him to his salvation. But he wants to send his cheque down to buy us, and go on being as wicked as ever.

Personally, Ive always thought Mrs. Baines has the better argument. Whether or not the donor is a good person  or even if he is cynically giving the money to help his own reputation -- if the cash ends up doing good, that should be enough.

The moneys origin is not pertinent. As long as the politicians make it clear to donors theyll spend it as they see fit, its fine. Indeed, its probably a good thing if they disappoint their donors every now and then.

So I say to Schumer, Warren, Booker and others, take Weinsteins money and spend it however you like.

Just dont tell him youll save his soul. Maybe his Hollywood friends can try to help him with that. If they havent deserted him completely.
Editor's note: The following column originally appeared in The Hill newspaper and on TheHill.com.

You cant get to yes unless you ask.

So, President Trump and Senate Republicans, as leaders sworn to protect the U.S. Constitution, please walk away from Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore (R).

The man does not believe in the basis of our democracy, the Constitution.

He once tried to order federal judges to ignore the law of the land and deny marriage licenses to gay couples. He says a Muslim should not be allowed to serve in Congress, simply because of his or her religion.

And in blasphemy that should send Republicans through the roof, Moore blames America for the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. He said they were Gods punishment for the nations perverseness and oppression.

Moore stands in a line of repugnant GOP candidates, such as former Missouri Rep. Todd Akin. As a candidate for Senate in 2012, Akin claimed that a woman's body is able to distinguish between legitimate rape and illegitimate rape, and shut down pregnancies from legitimate rape.

Mitt Romney, the partys 2012 presidential nominee, and the two top Senate Republicans, then-Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and his number two, Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), called on Akin to get out of the race.

But last week Moore got a warm welcome from the head of the GOPs Senate campaign committee, Sen. Cory Gardner (Colo.). We support him in keeping this seat in Republican hands, said Gardner.

The critical difference for Republicans between Akin and Moore is that the party does not want to risk seeing its slim 52-48 majority reduced by one with a possible year-end vote on tax cuts approaching.

Moores support for the tax cut is not certain. Cutting the deficit is his priority and the current Republican plan will do the opposite.

There is a bigger picture here, however. Surely the GOP has bigger fish to fry than depending on Moores vote in support of a tax cut?

Is a legislative victory so important that it justifies promoting authoritarian government?

Moores outrageous statements invite ridicule from fair-minded Americans in all parties who believe in the nations founding principles  specifically, that there should be no government-sanctioned religion.

But to laugh at Moores attempts to undermine the Constitution is to dismiss the dangers his rhetoric poses.

A recent Huffington Post article revealed the depth of concern:

A dangerous demagogue, is how Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State has described Moore.

Larry Decker, head of the Secular Coalition of America, a group that stays out of politics, felt compelled to make an exception and oppose Moore.

Decker said in a statement that Moore has repeatedly flaunted his disregard for the Constitution by asserting religious beliefs must take precedence over the law.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, an Alabama-based group, also points to Moores disdain for the Constitution and history of basing judicial opinions on his Biblical beliefs.

Richard Cohen, president of the law center, has called Moore the Ayatollah of Alabama, suggesting that Moores goal of replacing the Constitution with the Christian bible is comparable with the view of Islamic extremists who would replace civil law with Sharia law based on the Quran.

But the man who needs to take the lead in repudiating Moore is Trump.

Trump rode a populist tide of rage to win the White House. He opened the door to dark forces in our politics with his vulgar talk about grabbing women by the genitals, and demonizing immigrants and Muslims.

Now he is in danger of being swallowed by the same anti-government populist wave. If Moore wins, he will unleash a tide of Republican candidates for House and Senate seats who care nothing about democracy and have no skill at governing.

Their penchant for waging culture wars and attacking the rule of law will break down the partys unity on Capitol Hill and make it impossible to gather votes to pass Trumps legislative agenda.

Recall that Moores key support in the primary race came from Steve Bannon, the presidents former top advisor.

Bannon wants to break apart the Republican Party to increase his power as the leader of a populist rebellion.

Moore is his instrument for throwing the GOP into a downward spiral of chaos.

The latest polling from JMC Analytics has Moore at 48 percent support with Democrat Doug Jones at 40 percent. Former Vice President Biden visited Alabama last week to campaign alongside Jones in Birmingham.

Jones is well-known for his years of service as a U.S. attorney and for prosecuting the perpetrators of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing in Birmingham.

Both parties  Republican and Democratic  have a moral obligation to do everything they can to ensure Moore does not get to the Senate.

That is why McConnells Senate Leadership Fund PAC spent $10 million to defeat Moore in the Alabama primary. Even Trump opposed Moore.

Now Trump, McConnell and the GOP are biting their tongues bloody because they are being told to be pragmatic and focus only on the possible loss of a Senate seat.

Donald Trump was the test case for this new era of shameless politics.

Trump energized dark forces in our politics. Now he has a special responsibility to bring them to heel.
'Help a Jew--Help the Holy Land' Launches as Charitable Legal Organization

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 9, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- The legal charity is helping Jews denied the right to make "Aliyah" return to Israel amid a global trend of growing numbers of Jews moving to Israel in fulfillment of biblical prophecies.

Jerusalem, Israel -- It's a 2,000-year-old dream, and an even older prophecy.

In Zechariah 8:7 (NIV), the "Lord Almighty" said, "I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God."

Now, the founders of the new nonprofit legal organization Help a Jew--Help the Holy Land are assisting Jews in the former Soviet Union denied the right to return to Israel repatriate and move to the Promised Land.

While American Jews only need a rabbinical letter to obtain an immigration visa, Jews in Russia and the former Soviet republics face endless requests for documents, must jump through legal hurdles, and are often denied their "legal and God-given right" to return to Israel.

"We try to do pro bono as much as we can, but there is only a handful of us really fighting for these Russian Jews," says Anatoly Gakenberg, a London-based attorney and cofounder of Help a Jew--Help the Holy Land. "They need representation in Israeli courts. They need help in tracking down whatever evidence they are required to provide.

"It's a ton of documentation. It's a very cumbersome and expensive task to gather documented evidence of all your forefathers of Jewish descent. I'm talking about the archives of the former Soviet Union. You may have to fly there and spend time there. Some archives are not available. There are so many legal roadblocks we deal with it's really an insurmountable task to help one single family."

Last year, only 2,933 of America's 6 million Jews made Aliyah to Israel. In comparison, 13,027 of the former Soviet Union's 500,000 Jews repatriated to Israel. Over 9,000 families were denied their right to return to Israel, and most of these families cannot afford lawyers to handle their cases.

"Join our efforts and help them fulfill the biblical prophecies," Gakenberg says.

Currently, most of the money donated by American Christians and Jews to help Jews return to Israel is going to organizations focused on encouraging American Jews to move to Israel.

"We are calling on people who donate money to Aliyah to look into these areas where the money could be invested wisely," Gakenberg says. "If the Jews are not willing at the moment to move from the United States to Israel, this is their choice and we respect that. It's probably not wise to waste resources in convincing them to do so. We believe that the money could be spent more wisely on those areas where people are moving in greater numbers."

While the nonprofit organization Nefesh B'Nefesh incentivizes American Jews to move to Israel, there is no entity that calls on Russian Jews to do likewise.

"We want to fill that void," Gakenberg says. "Thousands of Jews and their descendants are unaware of their right to make Aliyah."

Eli Gervits, cofounder of Help a Jew--Help the Holy Land and president of the largest Russian-speaking law firm in Israel, says many of the 9,000 families in Russia and Ukraine denied the right to repatriate to Israel have been deprived their right without explanations.

"They frequently answer applications with, 'Go, we will call you'--and disappear for years," Gervits says. "Unfortunately, in thousands of cases this illegal and immoral way is what we have to deal with. And we are struggling against it over and over."

Although every Jew has the right to repatriate to the Holy Land, many are denied their opportunity by Israeli consular officials. The reasons often vary, but the process is opaque and written explanations are seldom provided.

"The written negative answer with a clear explanation can be protested by its holder in court," Gervits says. "The temptation is even higher if the petitioner is abroad, does not speak Hebrew, and has nobody close in Israel and does not know Israeli legislation. This person is unprotected. We cannot guarantee a quick and positive result to all people addressing us. But we can promise that they will not be left without protection. We will follow Al Pacino's words in the Heat movie--"We will fight!"

Help a Jew--Help the Holy Land, which is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit organization in Austin, Texas, is run by a group of legal professionals who specialize in the laws of Israeli repatriation. Gakenberg and Gervits have helped hundreds of former Soviet Jews exercise their legal and God-given rights to return to Israel.

Help a JewHelp the Holy Land features three projects on its website--noble causes that people can donate to. These include:

1. Justice Served. Helping individuals and changing the system. While every Jew has the right to repatriate to Israel, too many are denied their opportunity. For those with legal and God-given rights, this program provides grants to sponsor the Israeli Supreme Court appeals, and is targeted at would-be repatriates who cannot afford the legal fees. Featuring grants of up to $10,000 per case, the legal charity fights for every Jew's right to return to the Holy Land.

2. Into the Archives. Making the burden of proof less of a burden. Many Jewish people know they can repatriate, but don't file applications because they're intimidated by the exhaustive list of required documentation. The former Soviet Union's archives contain official records of all birth and death certificates, but can be extremely difficult to navigate. This program offers grants for applicants to retain professional archivists. It also helps create a searchable online database for future applicants, making the process of obtaining documents much easier.

3. A Light in the Darkness. Raising awareness and spreading hope. For many years, Soviet Jews hid their identities to avoid persecution. As a result, many of these people and their descendants are unaware that they qualify for Israeli citizenship. This program raises awareness and hope for Jews who have never tried to go through the repatriation process.
Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, is a nationally recognized holiday.

But its not recognized in Los Angeles, where I live. The City Council recently voted to get rid of Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day, commemorating indigenous, aboriginal and native people.

This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated.

This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. Since then, its spread across the nation with increasing speed, as more than 60 cities from Maine to Washington have supported the idea.

While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point.

History, in fact, is the story of conquest. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. Not just Europeans, but everyone. The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it.

It is true that the conquest of the Americas by Europeans, which starts with Columbus, was very ugly, and involved a lot of violence. But that, for better or worse, is how history worked pretty much everywhere for thousands of years. (Though it should be noted a large portion of the deaths of Native Americans was due to disease, not violence--an inevitable consequence of Old World illness in New World soil. Europe, Asia and Africa, of course, suffered through numerous plagues of their own.).

History, in fact, is the story of conquest. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. Not just Europeans, but everyone. While there is only limited knowledge of what pre-Columbus America was like, it did feature war, slavery, torture and plenty of brutality.

The point is not to excuse the worst that happened, but to understand it. And to see that it is not the essence of Columbus, but rather part of the times. With all that, there are reasons to celebrate Columbus Day.

-- Celebrate Italians (though there is some question as to whether Columbus would have considered himself an Italian -- he was long thought to have been born in Genoa, then an independent city-state in what is now Italy, though everyone from Greece to Portugal to Poland have claimed him as their own). Nevertheless, Italians claim him today and Columbus Day is a good chance to recognize what Italians have contributed to America, and the world.

-- Celebrate the spirit of exploration. It took tremendous bravery to sail off into the unknown. One of the best parts of our humanity is that sense of discovery.

-- Celebrate the spread of Western civilization. Lately a lot of people have been putting down Western civilization, but its spread is one of the greatest things thats ever happened to humanity.

The West has its good and bad points, but its best ideasequal rights, freedom of religion, free speech, due process, open scientific inquiry, property rights and so onhave helped all people who adopt them. (Not that the West solely had these ideas, but it put them in a package that wasnt generally available elsewhere.)

Indeed, the promise of the West has delivered freedom and bounty such as humanity has never known.

And, while we celebrate Columbus Day, we can learn from history and also take time to honor Native Americans. They were the original immigrants to the New World, and deserve their remembrance.

Once we do this, Columbus Day can be a truly inclusive holiday. It neednt be a battleground, but a chance to celebrate the best within us.
The Trump administration on Sunday announced it's seeking several major changes to the country's immigration system  in exchange for extending the Obama-era program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

The requests included additional crackdowns on sanctuary cities that protect illegal immigrants; reducing the number of incoming refugees; 10,000 more Customs and Border Patrol agents; and new initiatives curbing the number of unaccompanied immigrants who come to the U.S. illegally as children. Democrats already have said many of the White House's terms are off the table.

Unfortunately, over the last several decades respect for the rule of law has broken down and immigration enforcement has been sacrificed for the sake of political expediency. This has made us less secure and it cannot stand, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. Now President Trump has put forth a series of proposals that will restore the rule of law to our immigration system, prioritize Americas safety and security, and end the lawlessness. These are reasonable proposals that will build on the early success of President Trumps leadership. This plan will work. If followed it will produce an immigration system with integrity and one in which we can take pride. Perhaps the best result will be that unlawful attempts to enter will continue their dramatic decline.

DACA essentially allows law-abiding illegal immigrants brought into the U.S. by their parents to live and work in the country without fear of deportation.

The Trump administration argued earlier this year that federal courts were ready to strike down DACA as unconstitutional, which would put the future of so-called Dreamers in jeopardy.

Trump gave Congress six months to find a legislative alternative, then struck a framework deal last month with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, leaving the door open for extending DACA.

In a joint statement, Pelosi and Schumer said the White House's new list of requests goes so far beyond what is reasonable and fails to represent any attempt at compromise.

The Administration cant be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans, they wrote.

If the President was serious about protecting the Dreamers, his staff has not made a good faith effort to do so, they said.

The White House also asked to limit family-based green cards to spouses and the minor children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, in addition to creating a point-based system. And, it called for boosting fees at border crossings, making it easier to deport gang members and unaccompanied children, and overhauling the asylum system.

When crafting the Administrations immigration principles, the President asked us to focus on measures that will assist the Department of Homeland Securitys law enforcement personnel with what they need to enforce our immigration laws, secure our border, and protect American communities across this country, Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke said in a statement.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., fired back: The Presidents draconian and anti-immigrant principles jeopardize the bi-partisan, bi-cameral progress that has been made to pass a legislative solution that will protect nearly 800,000 Dreamers. It is immoral for the President to use the lives of these young people as bargaining chips in his quest to impose his cruel, anti-immigrant and un-American agenda on our nation.

House Speaker Paul Ryans spokesman Doug Andres said the House immigration working group would review the list and consult with Republican members and the administration.

Fox News' Jennifer Bowman, Jason Donner, Jake Gibson, Serafin Gomez, Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The White House is putting the finishing touches on an executive order that would expand health care options with allowing individuals to band together and buy insurance beyond their state lines, according to reports.

The order, which is expected to be signed by President Trump next week, will be aimed at expanding insurance options for Americans who buy their own coverage or receive it through working at a small company, according to the Wall Street Journal. The new options would broaden instructions for agencies to explore loosening regulations and lowering premiums.

President Donald Trump has long asserted that selling insurance across state lines would trigger competition that brings down premiums for people buying their own policies. He is expected to sign the executive order next week, likely on Thursday, a senior administration official told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Under the president's executive action, membership groups could sponsor insurance plans that cost less because  for example  they wouldn't have to offer the full menu of benefits required under the Affordable Care Act, also called "Obamacare." It's unclear how the White House plans to overcome opposition from state insurance regulators, who see that as an end-run to avoid standards.

"There are likely to be legal challenges that could slow this effort down," said Larry Levitt of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

The order was being drafted as Trump expressed his willingness to work with Democrats on health care after Republicans were unable to approve legislation that would have repealed and replaced "Obamacare."

The president said Saturday that he had spoken to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York to see if Democrats would want to collaborate with him on improving health care. He told reporters before departing for a North Carolina fundraiser that he was willing to consider a "temporary deal" and referred to a popular Republican proposal that would have the federal government turn over money for health care directly to states in the form of block grants.

Schumer said through a spokesman Saturday that Trump "wanted to make another run at 'repeal and replace' and I told the president that's off the table."

Schumer said if Trump "wants to work together to improve the existing health care system, we Democrats are open to his suggestions."

It was unclear if the expected White House order could lead to changes sweeping enough and quick enough to help several million consumers exposed to higher premiums next year for their individual health insurance plans.

It typically takes government agencies several months to carry out presidential directives, since they generally must follow a notice-and-comment process. Sign-up season for individual health insurance starts Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15.

"Whether this executive order could impact the 2018 market is yet to be seen, since the health plans have created and priced their 2018 products already, and open enrollment begins in just three weeks," health industry consultant Robert Laszewski said.

While nearly nine million consumers who receive tax credits under the Obama-era law are protected from higher premiums, about 6.7 million other customers with individual coverage get no subsidies and will bear the full brunt of cost increases that reach well into the double digits in many states.

Many in this group are solidly middle-class, including self-employed business people and early retirees. Cutting premiums for them has been a longstanding Republican political promise.

Similar alternatives have been promoted by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican holdout during the health care debate. Senate leaders didn't bring the latest GOP health care bill to a vote because they lacked the votes to pass it.

Click for more from The Wall Street Journal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Trump's public clash with Sen. Bob Corker has exposed a new complication for the commander-in-chief: Lame-duck Republicans who suddenly feel emboldened to tell him how they really feel.

While Trump can threaten certain problematic Republicans with endorsing a primary challenger, the president has little leverage over senators, like Corker, who have announced they're not seeking reelection.

The Tennessee Republican has essentially been on a no-holds-barred Trump tirade after announcing in late September that he would not seek a third term.

The criticism reached a new level this weekend, as a Twitter war between the two men culminated in Corker doing a 25-minute interview Sunday with The New York Times. In it, he said Trump was treating his presidency like a reality show and launching threats at other countries that could put the U.S. on the path to World War III.

'He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation.'  Sen. Bob Corker, on President Trump

He concerns me, Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told the newspaper. He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation.

The comments were prompted by Trump tweeting earlier in the day that Corker couldnt win reelection next year without the presidents endorsement and that he'd backed an ill-advised deal with Iran on the country's nuclear development.

He also suggested Corker had an ax to grind, since Trump didn't pick him as secretary of state.

Corker, without apparent fear of electoral reprisal, tweeted back: It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.

Corker said last week -- amid reports that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had considered resigning -- that Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly are those people that help separate our country from chaos.

The conflict with Corker could be a sign of things to come.

North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr also told reporters last year that he won't seek a fourth term in 2022.

Burr does not publicly challenge Trump like Corker. But as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, he is co-leading the panels investigation into possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia, and showing an independent streak.

Witnesses that we might ask to come in the future, I strongly suggest you come in and speak with us," Burr said recently. He notably holds press conferences alongside Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the committees top Democrat.

"If we believe that you have something valuable to bring to the committee, if you don't voluntarily do it, I will assure you today you will be compelled to do it," Burr continued.

Paul Shumaker, a long-time Burr political consultant, told Politico earlier this year that the senator, who won reelection in 2016 as a pro-Trump candidate, is conducting the Russia probe free of reelection fears.

He is independent of the shackles of a reelection campaign, Shumaker said.

Trump allies are already trying to mount primary challenges to other Senate Republicans out of line with the president's agenda and seeking 2018 reelection -- including Nevada's Dean Heller and Arizona's Jeff Flake.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins is another Senate Republican unwilling to simply hew to the Trump agenda -- and weighing whether to leave the Senate.

Collins has repeatedly been a crucial, holdout vote in the GOP-controlled Senates efforts to dismantle ObamaCare. And she could announce as early as this week whether shell run next year for Maine governor.

Collins and Trump have never really gone head-to-head over politics or policy. But Trump, after a failed Senate attempt in July to repeal and replace the 2010 health care law, sent a warning to those who voted against the effort.

If Republicans don't Repeal and Replace the disastrous ObamaCare, the repercussions will be far greater than any of them understand! he tweeted.
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced Monday that shell seek re-election in 2018, ending speculation that shed retire amid a potential primary challenge from the Democratic Partys progressive wing.

The 84-year-old Feinstein has, until this week, deflected questions about seeking a full fifth term, telling NBCs Meet the Press" on Sunday: Im in a position where I can be effective. And, hopefully, that means something to California."

Feinstein, the oldest U.S. senator, was first elected to the chamber in 1992, in a special election. She would be 91 if she was re-elected in November 2018 and served the full six-year term.

Feinstein was mayor of San Francisco in the late 1970s after the assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Councilman Harvey Milk.

Progressives are purportedly frustrated enough about her views on President Trump, DACA and single-payer health care to mount a challenge for her seat.

She upset them last month when the Trump administration announced the dismantling of DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Obama-era executive order that protects young illegal immigrants from deportation.

Feinstein said she supports DACA, but acknowledged the administrations argument that the order is on shaky legal ground.

Her analysis came several days after being criticized at a town hall meeting in San Francisco for expressing optimism about Trump becoming "a good president. The remark resulted in so much Democratic backlash that she issued a clarification about being under no illusion about Trump.

California Democrats until recently appeared on a nearly endless wait to rise in political circles -- with Feinstein and fellow Democrat Barbara Boxer as the states long-standing U.S. senators and fellow party member Jerry Brown serving four straight terms as governor.

However, Boxers retirement allowed former state Attorney General Kamala Harris last year to win that Senate seat. And Brown leaves in January after his fourth, and final, term.

Feinstein also has continuously expressed reservations about the so-called single-payer health care plan championed by many progressives, including Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, a 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and a potential 2020 challenger.

Fox News Chad Pergram and Joseph Weber and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
First lady Melania Trump's office fired back at President Trump's ex-wife Ivana on Monday after she boasted of her access to the White House and even referred to herself as the real "first lady."

In an interview with Good Morning America to promote her new book Raising Trump, Ivana Trump said she and the president speak about once every 14 days.

I have the direct number to White House, but I [don't] really want to call him there because Melania is there, she said. I dont want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because Im basically first Trump wife.

She added with a laugh: Im first lady, okay?

But Melania Trumps office said there is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex.

This is unfortunately only attention-seeking and self-serving noise, the first ladys communications director, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement to Fox News.

Mrs. Trump has made the White House a home for Barron and the President. She loves living in Washington, D.C. and is honored by her role as First Lady of the United States, Grisham said, slamming Ivanas book-promotion. She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books.



In the interview, Ivana went on to share some of the advice she apparently shares with her ex-husband:

Sometimes I tell him to just not to speak that much, okay?

When asked about the presidents tweeting habits, and how she would feel if her children -- Ivanka, Eric and Donald Trump Jr. -- used that language to describe people, she noted that they were always very good and that she never needed to discipline them.

When asked how she would feel if they used the word loser to describe someone, she said, I think they sometimes call people losers. If they are losers, they are losers, okay?
President Trump has promised to crack down on so-called sanctuary cities, signing an executive order in January 2017 that moved to strip federal grant money from towns that harbor illegal immigrants.

A federal judge permanently blocked it in November 2017, saying the Trump administration lacks the authority to impose new conditions on spending that has already been approved by Congress.

But the Justice Department has taken legal action against California, the first sanctuary state. Its designation means the nations most populous state will limit just how much local law enforcement will cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

What are sanctuary cities?

While the exact specifications can vary, sanctuary city policies overall limit how much local law enforcement officials can comply with federal immigration authorities.

San Francisco, for example, passed an ordinance in 1989 that prohibits city employees, funds or resources from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in enforcing federal immigration law unless its required by state or federal law.

It also passed an ordinance that limits when law enforcement officials can give ICE notice that an immigrant has been released from a local jail and prohibits law enforcement officials from cooperating with detainer requests from ICE.

Berkeley, near San Francisco, is reportedly the original sanctuary city. It passed a resolution in 1971 that protected sailors who wanted to resist the Vietnam War.

Its difficult to nail down a concrete number of just how many cities are considered to be a sanctuary for illegal immigrants  some cities have an ordinance or policy in place; others do not.

What about states?

Aside from cities, five states  California, Oregon, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont  have enacted laws that limit how much police can contribute assistance to federal immigration agents, according to The New York Times.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the law that went into effect this year designating California as a sanctuary state. The law, in part, bars police from asking people about their immigration status or participating in some federal immigration enforcement activities.

How are they viewed?

The debate about sanctuary cities intensified in July 2015 when Kate Steinle, 32, was killed as she strolled along the San Francisco waterfront with her father. Steinle was shot by a man with a criminal record who had slipped into the U.S. multiple times illegally.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions addressed a roomful of federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials last year and criticized cities, like Philadelphia, that are giving sanctuary to criminals. He asked them to reconsider the harm they are doing to their residents.

And in suing California, Sessions told Fox News that its federal law [that] determines immigration policy.

The state of California is not entitled to block that activity, he said. Somebody needs to stand up and say no, youve gone too far, you cannot do this, this is not reasonable. Its radical, really.

Not every city in The Golden State is on board with the states sanctuary policies, however. The Los Alamitos Council voted to opt out of the sanctuary policies, and other municipalities are reportedly exploring similar options.

But the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) argues that local law enforcement jurisdictions do not have a legal obligation to assist with civil immigration enforcement, which is the responsibility of the federal government.

A local decision to offer resources to federal immigration enforcement authorities is completely voluntary, the legal organization said in a 2016 report.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Throughout the first year of his presidency  and even as he campaigned for the office  President Trumps rhetoric regarding North Korea has been harsh.

He warned earlier this year that Americas nuclear capabilities were much bigger [and] more powerful than that of the Asian nation. And at the end of 2017, Trump designated North Korea a state sponsor of terror again  a classification that came with additional sanctions.

On the heels of a planned, historic summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trumps tone softened, saying great progress has been made. But Trump ultimately cancelled that meeting, citing "open hostility" from North Korea.

From agreeing to meet with Kim to dubbing him Little Rocket Man, heres a look at what Trump has said about North Korea and its leader over time.

Back together again

After meeting with a North Korean official in the White House for more than an hour, Trump announced the June summit with North Korea is back on.

We'll be meeting on June 12 in Singapore," the president told reporters after the meeting.

Let's call the whole thing off

Trump announced on May 24 that he has decided to pull out of the June summit with North Korea.

"We were informed that the meeting was requested by North Korea, but that to us is totally irrelevant," Trump said in a letter to Kim. "I was very much looking forward to being there with you. Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting."

"You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used," Trump said.

"I felt a wonderful dialogue was building up between you and me, and ultimately, it is only that dialogue that matters. Some day, I look very much forward to meeting you," he added. "In the meantime, I want to thank you for the release of the hostages who are now home with their families. That was a beautiful gesture and was very much appreciated."

Deal or no deal?

After speaking with the South Korean president amid threats from the rogue regime to cancel talks, Trump suggested the historic summit between him and Kim might not happen after all.

If it doesnt happen, maybe it will happen later. You never know about deals. Ive made a lot of deals, Trump said on May 22. You never really know. It may not work out for June 12.

Trump said he wants the Korean peninsula to be denuclearized in an all in one manner.

I can guarantee Kims safety. He will be safe. He will be happy, Trump said. His country will be rich.

Trump also said hes noticed a change in Kims attitude recently.

I cant say that Im happy about it, he added.

Save the date

Trump officially announced that he would meet with Kim in Singapore on June 12.

We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace! Trump said in a tweet.

The announcement came hours after Trump and the first lady welcomed the three Americans freed from detention in North Korea at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland early on May 10.

After Trump met with the three men, he publicly thanked Kim for releasing the prisoners.

Were starting off on a new footing, Trump said.

Positive gesture of goodwill

In announcing that a date and place has been set for his much-anticipated meeting with Kim, Trump also confirmed three American prisoners have been released.

The three Americans  Kim Dong Chul, Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song  are returning to the U.S. with newly-confirmed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Trump said in a tweet. The president confirmed the three men are also in good health.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORIC SUMMIT BETWEEN TRUMP, KIM JONG UN

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Trump appreciates Kim Jong Uns action to release these American citizens, and views this as a positive gesture of goodwill.

Another American detainee, Otto Warmbier, died in June 2017 after he was released back to the U.S. with severe brain damage.

Good relationship formed

Trump has confirmed that CIA Director Mike Pompeo  his pick to lead the State Department  secretly met with Kim in April and a good relationship was formed. He said the meeting went very smoothly.

The president also disclosed that the U.S. and North Korea have held direct talks at extremely high levels in preparation for the summit.

Kim will do what is right

After Kims first reported visit to China, Trump said there is a good chance that Kim Jong Un will do what is right for his people and for humanity.

For years and through many administrations, everyone said that peace and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was not even a small possibility, Trump said in a March tweet, adding that he is looking forward to his upcoming meeting with the North Korean leader.

He also gave North Korea the benefit of the doubt earlier that month, saying he believes the country will abide by its pledge to suspend missile tests.

When Trump delivered a speech in Pennsylvania, the crowd booed the mention of Kim, but the president stopped them.

No, it's very positive ... no, after the meeting you may do that, but now we have to be very nice because let's see what happens, let's see what happens, Trump said.

Invitation accepted

Trump accepted an invitation from Kim to meet, the White House said. While a time and place has yet to be determined, the two leaders are expected to meet by June.

The invitation to convene was extended by Kim.

Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached, Trump said on social media. Meeting being planned!

The deal with North Korea is very much in the making and will be, if completed, a very good one for the World. Time and place to be determined, he later said.

Possible progress

As North Korea is reportedly willing to negotiate its nuclear weapons, Trump cautiously acknowledged possible progress.

For the first time in many years, a serious effort is being made by all parties concerned, Trump said on Twitter. The World is watching and waiting! May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!

At a later White House news conference, Trump said he believed North Korea, which has a long history of deception and threats to target U.S. cities with nuclear missiles, is sincere.

We have come certainly a long way, at least rhetorically, with North Korea, Trump said. Of the possibility for peacefully resolving the nations deep differences, he said: Itd be a great thing for the world, would be great for North Korea, it would be a great thing for the peninsula.

But well see what happens, Trump said.

Spirit of the Olympics

At the conclusion of the 2018 Winter Olympics, North Korea sent the U.S. a message through South Korea, saying it has ample intentions of holding talks with America.

During a meeting with the nations governors at the White House in February, Trump said those talks will only occur under the right conditions.

The administrations position has been that North Korea must get rid of its nuclear and missile programs first before any talks can take place.

Relationship status: Its complicated

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump reportedly said he probably has a very good relationship with North Korea.

Trump also suggested that he is open to diplomacy with the country hes spent years criticizing, the newspaper reported.

I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised, Trump said.

The Wall Street Journal released the audio and transcript of the interview after Trump denied making the comments.

'Success for the world'

Trump told South Korea that he would be open to talks with its northern neighbor under the right circumstances, the White House said.

Trump also took credit for the talks between North and South Korea ahead of next months Winter Olympics. At a January Cabinet meeting, Trump said it was his administrations pressure on North Korea that caused the rogue nation to negotiate with the South.

"Without our attitude that would have never happened," Trump said of the inter-Korean dialogue. "Who knows where it leads. Hopefully it will lead to success for the world  not just for our country but for the world, and we'll be seeing over the next number of weeks and months what happens."

Whose button is bigger?

After Kim warned Trump about North Koreas nuclear capabilities, Trump hit back on social media, arguing that his Nuclear Button is bigger [and] more powerful.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the 'Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times,' the president tweeted. Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!

Kim previously warned the U.S. should know that the button for nuclear war is on my table.

The entire area of the U.S. mainland is within our nuclear strike range, he said. The United States can never start a war against me and our country.

Good news or bad news?

Trump insinuated at the start of the new year that sanctions and additional pressures are having a big impact on North Korea.

Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea, Trump said. Kim now wants to talk to South Korea for the first time. Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not  we will see!

In his tweet, Trump was seemingly referring to the recent, dramatic escape of at least two North Korean soldiers across the heavily militarized border into the southern country He also alluded to Kims recent comments indicating he would send a delegation to the Winter Olympics to be hosted in South Korea.

Trump also took credit for the talks between North and South Korean leaders.

With all of the failed experts weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasnt firm, strong and willing to commit our total might against the North, Trump said in a Jan. 4 tweet. Fools, but talks are a good thing!

'Sick puppy'

While giving a speech on tax reform at a Missouri event in November, 2017, Trump digressed from the topic to call the North Korean leader a "sick puppy."

His comments drew hoots from the crowd.

State sponsor of terror

Trump re-designated North Korea a state sponsor of terror on Nov. 20, 2017, citing its support of international terrorism, including assassinations on foreign soil.

During a Cabinet meeting, Trump announced the designation came along with new sanctions on the murderous regime as part of the administrations maximum pressure campaign in dealing with North Korea. He said these sanctions will be the highest level of sanctions on the North.

North Korea was on the list but was taken off by the Bush administration in 2008.

Why can't we be friends?

In a series of tweets while in Vietnam, Trump said he doesn't know why the North Korean dictator would "insult" him.

Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me old, when I would NEVER call him short and fat? Trump said. Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!

The comment came after Kim referred to Trump's speech in South Korea as reckless remarks by an old lunatic.

'Dont try us'

In Asia, Trump issued a stern warning to North Korea, saying it would be a fatal miscalculation for the country to attack the U.S. or an ally.

This is a very different administration than the United States has had in the past. Do not underestimate us. And do not try us, Trump said during an address at South Koreas National Assembly.

North Korea has interpreted Americas past restraint as weakness, Trump said.

'Lets make a deal'

While on his Asia trip, Trump implored North Korea to come to the table for talks on its nuclear weapons program. Trumps request for North Korea to make a deal was in stark contrast to his previous hardline rhetoric when it comes to the rogue nation.

"It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world," Trump said during a news conference alongside South Korean president Moon Jae-in in November 2017.

Trump also said hes seen a lot of progress in dealing with North Korea but still called the country a worldwide threat.

In a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo the day before, Trump repeated his assertion that the era of strategic patience with North Korea was finished.

Some people say my rhetoric is very strong but look what has happened with very weak rhetoric in the last 25 years, Trump said then.

'Rocket Man' is on a 'suicide mission'

After dubbing him Rocket Man in a tweet, Trump eventually tried out the new nickname for Kim during his inaugural address to the U.N. General Assembly.

During his speech, Trump vowed to totally destroy North Korea if the country so provokes him. He also said Kim was on a suicide mission.

No more talking

After North Korea said it successfully launched a missile over Japan, a U.S. ally, and into the Pacific Ocean, Trump initially had a subdued response.

"Threatening and destabilizing actions only increase the North Korean regime's isolation in the region and among all nations of the world," Trump said in a written statement after North Koreas missile soared almost 1,700 miles into the Pacific Ocean, triggering alert warnings in northern Japan and shudders throughout Northeast Asia. "All options are on the table."

The missile launch was said to be a precursor to North Koreas containment of the U.S. territory of Guam by Kim, according to state-run media.

But in a tweet, the president suggested the U.S. is finished talking to North Korea.

The U.S. has been talking to North Korea, and paying them extortion money, for 25 years. Talking is not the answer, Trump tweeted.

The U.S. is 'locked and loaded'

Trump took to social media in August 2017 to proclaim that the U.S. military is locked and loaded in case North Korea act[s] unwisely.

'Fire [and] fury' isn't 'tough enough'

With the threat of nuclear violence growing, Trump warned North Korea on Aug. 8, 2017 that he would unleash fire, fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before.

But when tensions continued to rise and North Korea threatened to attack Guam, Trump said maybe that comment wasnt "tough enough."

"Lets see what [Kim] does with Guam. He does something in Guam, it will be an event the likes of which nobody has seen before  what will happen in North Korea," Trump said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Trump was "sending a strong message to North Korea in language that Kim Jong Un can understand, because he doesnt seem to understand diplomatic language."

Kim Jong Un is 'not getting away with it'

Trump said Kim has disrespected our country greatly.

He has said things that are horrific. And with me, hes not getting away with it, Trump said. He got away with it for a long time, between him and his family. Hes not getting away with it. Its a whole new ball game.

'Strategic patience  is over'

After meeting with the South Korean president in Washington, D.C., in June 2017, Trump said that the era of strategic patience with the North Korean regime has failed.

Frankly, that patience is over, he said.

As Trump made these comments, the U.S. was rocked with the death of Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old American college student who suffered extensive brain damage while being held captive in North Korea for more than a year.

There are 'worse things' than assassinating Kim Jong Un

In an interview with CBS News during the presidential campaign, Trump said he could get China to make [Kim Jong Un] disappear in one form or another very quickly.

When asked if he was talking about assassinating the North Korean dictator, Trump shrugged.

Well, you know, Ive heard of worse things, frankly. I mean, this guys a bad dude  and dont underestimate him, Trump said. Any young guy that can take over from his father with all those generals and everybody else that probably wants the position, this is not somebody to be underestimated.

'What the hell is wrong with speaking?'

Trump told supporters at a campaign rally in Atlanta that should Kim want to come to the U.S., he would be accept[ed].

I wouldnt go there, that I can tell you. If he came here, Id accept him, but I wouldnt give him a state dinner like we do for China and all these other people that rip us off when we give them these big state dinners, Trump said in June 2016.

What the hell is wrong with speaking? Trump said, referencing the criticism he received for being willing to talk with North Korea. Its called opening a dialogue.

'Maniac'

During a GOP presidential debate in September 2015, Trump railed on the maniac in North Korea while answering a question about Planned Parenthood and womens health issues.

Nobody ever mentions North Korea, where you have this maniac sitting there, and he actually has nuclear weapons and somebody better start thinking about North Korea and perhaps a couple of other places. But certainly North Korea, Trump said.

You have somebody right now in North Korea who has got nuclear weapons and who is saying almost every other week, Im ready to use them, and we dont even mention it, he continued.

China needs to solve the problem

Even before he was president, Trump urged China to step in and help alleviate problems with North Korea.

North Korea is reliant on China. China could solve this problem easily if they wanted to but they have no respect for our leaders, Trump tweeted in March 2013.

In April 2013, Trump continued that line of thinking, adding that North Korea cant survive, or even eat, without the help of China. He then accused China of taunting the U.S.

As president, Trump has said he is very disappointed in actions China has taken regarding North Korea, particularly allowing oil to go into the nation. He also said a Chinese envoy to North Korea had no impact on Kim.

Additionally, Trump has said hes spoken to Chinas President Xi Jinping regarding the provocative actions of North Korea as well as the planned meeting between Trump and Kim.

President Xi told me he appreciates that the U.S. is working to solve the problem diplomatically rather than going with the ominous alternative, Trump said in March 2018. China continues to be helpful!

'Wack job'

In April 2013, Trump urged then-President Barack Obama to be very careful with the 28-year-old wack job in North Korea.

At some point we may have to get very tough, he tweeted.

'Negotiate like crazy'

Trump warned that the U.S. needed to do something to stop North Korea in 1999 during an interview with the late Tim Russert on Meet the Press.

"Do you want to do it in five years when they have warheads all over the place, every one of them pointing to New York City, to Washington and every one of us, is that when you want to do it, or do you want to do something now? Trump said. You'd better do it now. And if they think you're serious  they'll negotiate and it'll never come to that.

He said then that if he ever became president, the first step he would take would be to negotiate like crazy to make sure that the country would get the best deal possible. Trump also predicted then that in three or four years, North Korea would have weapons aimed all over the world, including at the U.S.

Fox News' Adam Shaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Trump's political dalliance with "Chuck and Nancy" already is running into problems, as the top congressional Democrats balk at the president's new terms for a deal to help the roughly 800,000 young illegal immigrants known as 'Dreamers.'

This proposal fails to represent any attempt at compromise, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement, after the administration announced the demands Sunday night.

The friction comes roughly three weeks after Pelosi and Schumer left a White House dinner with Trump saying theyd agreed to a framework deal to help the young illegal immigrants, as Trump moves to end their protections under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).

The Trump administration outlined an extensive list of conditions late Sunday.

The administration can't be serious about compromise, Pelosi, of California, and Schumer, of New York, also said in their Sunday night statement. We told the president at our meeting that we were open to reasonable border security measures  but this list goes so far beyond what is reasonable.

Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, on Monday questioned what Schumer thinks is reasonable.

You have people who are losing loved ones because they are killed by an illegal immigrant, Conway said on Fox & Friends. What's reasonable is to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs over the border. I'd like to know what Chuck Schumer thinks is reasonable.

Trump in recent weeks has turned to Schumer and Pelosi amid frustration with Senate Republicans, after they repeatedly failed to repeal and replace ObamaCare, denying him a major legislative victory and the ability to fulfill a top campaign promise.

Trump left the earlier meeting touting his efforts with Chuck and Nancy but was not specific about whether wall funding was a necessity.

The administration's requirements announced Sunday include additional crackdowns on sanctuary cities that protect illegal immigrants; reducing the number of incoming refugees; 10,000 more Customs and Border Patrol agents; and new initiatives curbing the number of unaccompanied immigrants who come to the U.S. illegally as children.

Over the last several decades, respect for the rule of law has broken down and immigration enforcement has been sacrificed for the sake of political expediency, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said after the announcement. This plan will work.

House Speaker Paul Ryans spokesman Doug Andres said the GOP-controlled chambers immigration working group would review the roughly 70-point White House list, then consult with the entire Republican caucus and the administration.

The White House plan is considered a starting point for congressional negotiations.

While the plan is already being embraced by Capitol Hills most conservative members, including a number of immigration hawks, backlash is growing among Democrats.

It is immoral for the president to use the lives of these young people as bargaining chips in his quest to impose his cruel, anti-immigrant and un-American agenda on our nation, said New Mexico Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

The House Freedom Caucus, the chambers most conservative wing, is backing the plan.

We applaud the administration's leadership on principles that will be critical to any immigration policy changes, said caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, R-N.C. We look forward to the administration's insistence on these principles in any deal that is signed into law."

In dismantling DACA, the administration has argued it was forced to act because federal courts were ready to rule the program was unconstitutional, which would have put the Dreamers future in jeopardy.

Trump, in announcing the end of DACA, gave Congress six months to find a legislative alternative.

The White House on Sunday night also asked to limit family-based green cards to spouses and the minor children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, in addition to creating a point-based system.

And it called for boosting fees at border crossings, making it easier to deport gang members and unaccompanied children, and overhauling the asylum system.

Conway also said Monday that the White House requests are the result of collaborations with such agencies as the departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.

Fox News' Jennifer Bowman, Mike Emanuel, Jason Donner, Jake Gibson, Serafin Gomez, Chad Pergram and Joseph Weber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
From the Russia investigation to health care, President Trump has not shied away from fighting those in his own party  especially on social media.

Heres a look at some of the Republican lawmakers Trump has feuded with since hes taken office.

Bob Corker

Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker announced in 2017 that he would retire at the end of his term  and Trump credited himself with the decision.

Senator Bob Corker begged me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said NO and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement), Trump said on Twitter, adding that he also denied Corker a position as secretary of state.

Trump blamed Corker, who he nicknamed Liddle Bob Corker for the Iran nuclear deal and said he couldnt get elected dog catcher in Tennessee.

But Corker wasnt without his own jabs at the administration. He said the White House has become an adult day care center and accused Trump of having not demonstrated he understands the character of this nation following the Charlottesville attack. He also credited White House chief of staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with help[ing] to separate our country from chaos.

Jeff Flake

When Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake announced he would not seek re-election, he took the opportunity to call the president reckless, outrageous and undignified from the Senate floor.

Prior to Flakes speech, Trump called the lawmaker weak, particularly on the issue of illegal immigration. He also encouraged Kelli Ward, a controversial Republican, to run against Flake.

Flake, who didnt vote for Trump in the presidential election, again escalated the fracas between the two men when he publicly shared a check he wrote to then-Democratic Senate candidate Doug Jones with the subject line saying, Country over Party. Jones beat Roy Moore, the beleaguered Republican accused of sexual misconduct in the special election in December 2017.

Additionally, Trump has nicknamed the senator Flake(y). And Flake accused Trump of having inspired dictators and authoritarians with his own rhetoric.

Lindsey Graham

Ever since Trump gave out former GOP candidate Lindsey Grahams cell phone number during the presidential campaign, the twos on-again-off-again relationship has continued.

Graham, a senator from South Carolina, clashed with Trump following his response to the attack in Charlottesville in 2017.

President Trump took a step backward by again suggesting there is moral equivalency between the white supremacist neo-Nazis and KKK members who attended the Charlottesville rally and people like Ms. Heyer, Graham said, referencing the woman who died when a man drove his car into a crowd of people protesting white supremacists. I, along with many others, do not endorse this moral equivalency.

Trump, in turn, accused Graham of publicity seeking.

While the pair seemingly came together during efforts to repeal ObamaCare, Graham and Trump again clashed over immigration.

After Graham partnered with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on an immigration bill, the White House accused them of being completely dishonest in negotiations.

Graham admonished the administration, saying, If you continue this attack on everything and everybody and make it a political exercise, were doomed to fail, and it is President Trumps presidency that will be the biggest loser.

John McCain

The fight between Arizona Sen. John McCain and Trump started during the campaign  and escalated when the then-presidential candidate said McCain was a war hero because he was captured.

I like people who werent captured, Trump said at a 2015 Iowa event.

Since that comment, the two have feuded over a variety of issues, especially when it came to health care reform.

McCain, who is suffering from an aggressive form of brain cancer, voted against a so-called skinny repeal of ObamaCare in July 2017. And Trump seemingly hasnt forgotten it.

In a radio interview in 2017, Trump called McCains vote a tremendous slap in the face to the Republican Party. And during a speech to those gathered at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February 2018, Trump criticized McCains vote, shaking his head.

Daughter Meghan, a host on The View, said she recently spoke to the president and first lady Melania Trump. During the conversation, she said she was under the impression that this sort of fight between our families, and between him and my father especially at this particular moment, would end.

Mitch McConnell

Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell havent had the steadiest of relationships since Trump won the White House. The pair have fought over a variety of issues, including health care, the debt ceiling and the investigation into Russias involvement in the 2016 election.

McConnell has also reportedly questioned Trumps governing style in both public and private comments.

Trump, in turn, blamed McConnell for having failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Jeff Sessions

Attorney Gen. Jeff Sessions has often found himself the target of Trumps wrath  especially online.

More recently, Trump blasted Sessions for instructing an Obama guy to investigation allegations of government surveillance abuse that came to light after memos were released about FBI and DOJ efforts to obtain FISA warrants to spy on a former Trump campaign adviser.

Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isnt the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL! Trump said on social media.

In a statement, Sessions said, As long as I am the Attorney General, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor, and this Department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution.

Sessions also drew much consternation from the president when he recused himself from the Russia investigation.

Trump later lashed out at Sessions online.

If all of the Russian meddling took place during the Obama Administration  why arent they the subject of the investigation? Trump tweeted.
A Senate campaign ad by Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn was blocked on Twitter Monday because of a statement she made in the spot about the sale of fetal tissue for medical research.

Blackburn, a Tennessee representative running to fill the retiring Sen. Bob Corkers seat, said in the ad that she stopped the sale of baby parts.

Twitter told Blackburn's campaign in an email obtained by Fox News that the line was deemed an inflammatory statement that is likely to evoke a strong negative reaction.

The line, in full, states: Im 100% pro-life. I fought Planned Parenthood, and we stopped the sale of baby body parts  thank god.

The social media platform said it would run Blackburns ad if the statement in question were omitted.

She wasnt blocked from tweeting it on her own account, and the campaign account tweeted the ad Monday afternoon, and asked users to retweet the message as a way to join me in standing up to Silicon Valley.

Blackburn was the chair of a Republican-run House panel created to investigate Planned Parenthood and fetal tissue research. The panel urged Congress to stop federal payments to the womens health organization.

GOP REP. BLACKBURN ANNOUNCES SENATE RUN, SAYS FAILURE TO REPEAL OBAMACARE A 'DISGRACE'

Democrats alleged that the GOP investigation had found no wrongdoing and wasted taxpayers money in an abusive investigation.

The panel was created after anti-abortion activists secretly recorded videos in 2015 showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing how they sometimes provide fetal tissue to researchers, which is legal if no profit is made.

Fetal tissue research has strong backing among scientists for its value in studying Down syndrome, eye disease and other problems. But Blackburns committee report said fetal tissue makes a vanishingly small contribution to clinical and research efforts, if it contributes at all, and recommended curbing federal grants for such research.

Blackburns nearly two-and-a-half minute video also features footage of her shooting a gun and taking fellow Republicans in the Senate to task for failing to repeal Obamacare.

Fox News' Alex Pappas and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Trump administration announced last year its plan to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA)  which provides a level of amnesty to certain undocumented immigrants, many of whom came to the U.S. as children  with a six-month delay for recipients. But a federal appeals court ruled against the proposal in early November, declaring the government couldn't immediately end the program.

The Executive wields awesome power in the enforcement of our nations immigration laws, the ruling said. Our decision today does not curb that power, but rather enables its exercise in a manner that is free from legal misconceptions and is democratically accountable to the public.

Trump had initially set a March 5 deadline for the program and called on Congress to pass legislation pertaining to the young immigrants. But the deadline came and went, with no congressional action but several lawsuits challenging the administration's decision to end the program.

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT RULES AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON DACA

Federal judges in New York and Washington also have ruled against President Trump on DACA.

President Trump has repeatedly blamed Democrats for inaction.

Heres a look at the DACA program and why the Trump administration wants to dismantle it.

What is the DACA program?

The DACA program was formed through executive action by former President Barack Obama in 2012 and allowed certain people who came to the U.S. illegally as minors to be protected from immediate deportation. Recipients, called Dreamers, were able to request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, which was subject to renewal.

Deferred action is a use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period of time, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services stated. Deferred action does not provide lawful status.

Individuals were able to request DACA status if they were under the age of 31 on June 15, 2012, came to the U.S. before turning 16 and continuously lived in the country since June 15, 2007.

Individuals also had to have a high school diploma, GED certification, been honorably discharged from the military or still be in school. Recipients could not have a criminal record.

It did not provide legal status.

How many people are affected by DACA?

Nearly 800,000 youth, called Dreamers, are under the program's umbrella.

Daniel Garza, president of the conservative immigration nonprofit Libre Initiative, told Fox News that DACA offers a reprieve from a life of uncertainty for innocent kids who didnt break the law.

Its rather disappointing to think they could return to a state of anxiety and fear, he said.

What did the Trump administration do?

The Trump administration announced in September 2017 that it planned to phase out DACA for current recipients, and no new requests would be granted. But a lower court order required the administration to continue accepting renewal applications for those under the DACA program, and the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's request to intervene.

Since the announcement, Trump had offered to work with lawmakers on a solution for the hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. who fell under DACAs umbrella of protections. But at the same time, he has repeatedly blamed Democrats on social media for lack of a solution.

Earlier this year, Trump released his four pillars of immigration reform, which included a provision for legal status for DACA recipients and others who would be eligible for DACA status. The White House estimated that total to be 1.8 million people. The Senate rejected the plan.

Republicans  and some Democrats  opposed Obamas directive establishing DACA from the start as a perceived overreach of executive power.

Obama spoke out on social media after the Trump administration announced a plan to dismantle the program, stating that it's "self-defeating ... and it is cruel" to end DACA and questioned the motive behind the decision.

Do any DACA recipients serve in the military?

Despite some rumors circulating online to the contrary, Dreamers were eligible to serve in the U.S. military since 2014 when the Pentagon adopted a policy to allow a certain amount of illegal immigrants to join.

In fiscal year 2016, 359 DACA recipients had enlisted in the Army  which is the only branch to accept immigrants of this category.

Fox News' John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Barack and Michelle Obama may want to think about lowering their offer on the exclusive NYC residence theyve been eyeing.

As reported by sources for the New York Post, the Obamas are apparently waiting for 10 Gracie Squares housing board to approve the purchase of a unit in the building, which has been home to such famous folks as Gloria Vanderbilt, Anderson Cooper, and former first lady of China Madame Chiang Kai-shek  but its also got quite a tragic past, the Post reports.

SEE THE NYC TOWNHOUSE WHERE OBAMA LIVED AFTER COLLEGE

The building has been the site of two very high-profile suicides in the last 30 years, which is enough to make even a New York City real-estate agent think twice about living there.

I dont know of any buildings with two suicides, said Dolly Lenz, CEO of Dolly Lenz Real Estate, in a statement to the New York Post. It almost says that there is a cloud on the building.

The first victim of these tragedies was Carter Cooper, the 23-year-old son of Gloria Vanderbilt and the older brother of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. According to reports, Carter was acting strangely in the months leading up to his suicide, but had been in therapy. Then, on July 22, 1988, during a visit to his mothers home, he abruptly ran out onto the terrace of his Vanderbilts two-story penthouse apartment, hopped over the ledge, and dangled there before letting himself drop from the 14th floor  all while Vanderbilt watched from feet away.

MORE ABOUT BARACK AND MICHELLE'S PROSPECTIVE NYC APARTMENT

"He let go, and there was a moment when I thought I was going to jump over after him, Vanderbilt remembered during a 2011 appearance of Anderson Coopers talk series.

In Vanderbilts 1997 book, A Mothers Story, she also alleged that Carters suicide may have triggered by an allergy to medication.

The second, much more recent suicide at 10 Grace Square took place in April 2017, and claimed the life of author, heiress and socialite Jean Stein. Stein, whose works include Edie: An American Girl and West of Eden, had reportedly been suffering from depression, according to her daughter Katrina vanden Heuvel, and jumped from the 15th floor of the building on April 30, the New York Times reported in its obituary.

A fellow resident who witnessed the suicide has said it was a messy one, as Stein miscalculated the jump and landed an eighth-floor terrace. She had also severed her leg in the fall, according to reports.

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10 Gracie Square, however, is also infamous for more than these two suicides: In 1982, it was also where sixth-floor resident Frances Schreuder was arrested for conspiring with her son Marco to kill Schreuders father, wealthy Utah businessman Franklin Bradshaw.

Schreuder had reportedly been unhappy with the amount of money Bradshaw was allotting her, and persuaded her then-17-year-old son to shoot his grandfather dead in 1978. He was eventually caught, and Schreuder was nabbed while trying to escape out the window of her 10 Gracie Square abode. She was later convicted of capital murder, and served 13 years before being released. She died in 2004.
Some 31 years after the worlds worst nuclear accident in Chernobyl, a wild boar with more than 10-times the safe limit of radiation has been killed by hunters hundreds of miles away in Sweden.

After the 1986 catastrophe at Chernobyl in Ukraine, a cloud of radioactive particles reached parts of Sweden, leaving a frightening environmental legacy.

Environmental consultancy Calluna is seeing extremely worrying radiation levels in wild boars in Central Sweden. Local hunters are now wary of killing the boars for food.

Hunters wont shoot the animals, Calluna Environmental Consultant Ulf Frykman told Fox News.

INSIDE THE NEW EFFORT TO ENTOMB CHERNOBYL'S WRECKAGE

Frykman explained that, of 30 wild boar samples taken from the area surrounding the city of Gavle this year, only six were below the safe radiation limit of 1,500 becquerel per kilogram (Bq/kg). Alarmingly, flesh from one wild boar that had been killed by hunters registered a massive 16,000 Bq/kg, while others were 13,000 and 11,000 Bq/kg.

When you see 16,000 [Bq/kg], people get worried, he said.

Additionally, five wild boar samples from the area around Tarnsjo, also in Central Sweden, measured above 1,500 Bq/kg.

Wild boars feeding habits make them particularly vulnerable to lingering contamination from the radioactive isotope cesium-137. Frykman explained that, because the boars root in the soil for food, they are more exposed to the isotope. The cesium stays in the ground, he said. Its not a problem for moose and deer any more who eat higher up, from bushes.

AMID CHERNOBYL'S RUINS, SOMETHING OF VALUE REMAINS

Of around 400 moose that were tested last year, only one or two were over the 1,500 Bq/kg level, according to Frykman.

The environmental consultant, however, expects to see even higher radiation levels in wild boars as the animals continue to migrate north. The soil north of the Tarnsjo area has double the level of contamination, he said, adding that wild boars measuring 30,000 to 40,000 Bq/kg may be seen next year.

Frykman is concerned that, if hunters dont shoot the wild boars, their growing population will get even bigger, causing problems for crops. The families of wild boars are growing fast  its worrying, he said.

The Telegraph reports that workers at the Forsmark nuclear plant near Gavle were the first to raise the international alarm after the Chernobyl disaster.

RADIOACTIVE BOARS RAMPAGING THROUGH GERMANY

Wild boar populations in other parts of Europe, such as Germany, have also been contaminated with radioactivity in the aftermath of Chernobyl.

Earlier this year the New York Times reported that hundreds of radioactive wild boars were roaming Fukushima in Japan, six years after the nuclear plants meltdown.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
It's been nearly 12 months since the U.S. election and the popularization of the term " fake news," and Facebook is still fighting to ensure that the articles shown on its platform convey accurate information. As such, the social media giant has begun a new test designed to give users "additional context on the articles they see in News Feed." Intended to help individuals make more informed decisions about the types of news that they read, share, and ultimately, believe, the new "i" button will give readers additional information about the source.

If you're one of the users Facebook has chosen to participate in the test, you'll see this little button in the upper right-hand corner above an article's title. If you tap this button, you'll be able to find additional contextual information about the publisher that is "pulled from across Facebook and other sources, such as information from the publishers Wikipedia entry, a button to follow their Page, trending articles, or related articles about the topic, and information about how the article is being shared by people on Facebook."

As Facebook product manager Sara Su told TechCrunch, "People have told us that they want more information about what theyre reading. They want better tools to help them understand if an article is from a publisher they trust and evaluate if the story itself is credible. And this is Facebook's answer.

The feature is the latest tool to emerge from the Facebook Journalism Project, which has been combatting the spread of faulty information for many months, particularly around elections. But even if there isn't an election around the corner, giving folks access to "important contextual information can help them evaluate if articles are from a publisher they trust, and if the story itself is credible." The social network noted that the test is just in its beginning stages, and that user and publisher feedback will be taken into consideration moving forward.

In a blog post announcement, Facebook noted that most business Pages will not see "any significant changes to their distribution in News Feed as a result of this test." That said, Pages are encouraged to use publishing best practices and post stories that will resonate with readers and are, of course, not fake news.
One single reliable warhead fired by North Korea could destroy densely populated cities, killing millions.

Those who arent killed in a nuclear blast would be left with devastating injuries while their cities would be flattened with vital infrastructure destroyed.

A detailed analysis by 38 North, at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, has revealed what would happen if Kim Jong-un did the unthinkable and actually fired a nuclear weapon.

In A Hypothetical Nuclear Attack on Seoul and Tokyo: The Human Cost of War on the Korean Peninsula, Michael J Zagurek paints a terrifying picture of the damage it could cause.

Assuming North Korea has 25 operational nuclear weapons with warhead yield ranges from 15 to 250 kilotons timed for airburst at optimal altitude, Zagurek runs through seven different scenarios.

The warhead yield ranges are based on current and possible future capabilities and the estimates of casualties were also based on the size of the city and population density.

In the most extreme estimate of a 250kt weapon being used, Seoul and Incheon which has a combined population of 24,105,000 would have 783,197 fatalities, and 2,778,009 injuries.

Tokyo and Yokohama with a combined population of 37,900,000 would have 697,665 fatalities and 2,474,627 injuries.

Maps showing four blast areas from a 250 kt airburst detonation also show how far the fallout and blast would reach.

North Korea has launched 98 ballistic missiles since 2011, including 19 this year.

However it remains unclear exactly how many warheads it possesses and how advanced they are.

Nuclear disarmament campaigner John Hallam said the analysis was fairly authoritative.

Mr Hallam speculated the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) had between 40 and 60 warheads.

He also said he believed it will be a while before North Korea hit its nuclear goals.

Im also inclined to think that it will be a while before they fit a 250Kt warhead to more than one or two rockets, he said.

So 38 North analysis being based to a large extent on smaller warheads is not unreasonable  but the number of larger warheads will clearly rise over time.

Mr Hallam said it was reasonable to assume Seoul and Tokyo were obvious targets but the analysis didnt include an ability to strike US west coast cities.

If that ability does exist, then its also possible for them to strike Sydney, which doesnt mean they necessarily will  the highest priority target in Australia, indeed almost in the world  is Pine Gap, critical for US command and control, he said.

If US cities become part of the equation which they will in a year or two if they are not now, then that body count will be higher.

He also pointed out the analysis didnt take into account US President Donald Trumps threat to wipe out the DPRK, which would increase the body count even further.

Mr Hallam said there would also be fallout which would also add to the huge casualty toll.

It would be necessary to take into account the effects of fallout drifting in one direction all over South Korea, and in the other direction, into Manchuria, he said.

Maybe once Seoul has been leveled, which can be done without use of nukes at all, a little fallout from the rubble bouncing in the DPRK is of lesser consequence, but it needs to be taken into account somehow.

Meanwhile Mr Trump said his administrations goal was for North Korea to denuclearise.

We cannot allow this dictatorship to threaten our nation or our allies with unimaginable loss of life, he said.

We will do what we must do to prevent that from happening. And it will be done, if necessary, believe me.

The President had been discussing Iran and North Korea with US military leaders and posed for a photo with them before declaring the moment the calm before the storm.

You guys know what this represents? Mr Trump said after journalists gathered in the White House state dining room to photograph him and First Lady Melania Trump with the uniformed military leaders and their spouses.

Maybe its the calm before the storm, he said.

When asked what storm, Mr Trump replied: Youll find out.

- with Reuters

This story originally appeared in news.com.au.
Google has discovered evidence that Russian operatives purchased ads on its services to meddle with the 2016 US presidential election, according to a new report.

The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources "familiar with the company's investigation," on Monday reported that the Web giant discovered that Russian agents bought "tens of thousands of dollars" worth of ads to "spread disinformation" on its platforms like YouTube, Gmail, and search.

Google did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment and declined to offer a statement when contacted by the Washington Post.

The ads in question appear to be from a different Russian outfit than the "Kremlin-affiliated troll farm that bought ads on Facebook," the report notes, suggesting that "the Russian effort to spread disinformation online may be a much broader problem than Silicon Valley companies have unearthed so far."

News of Google's discovery comes after Facebook last month revealed that 470 "inauthentic" accounts and Pages that "likely operated out of Russia" spent approximately $100,000 between June 2015 and May 2017 on 3,000 ads on its platform.

Those ads focused on "amplifying divisive social and political messages across the ideological spectrum  touching on topics from LGBT matters to race issues to immigration to gun rights," Facebook's Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos said in a statement. Facebook provided Congress with details about those ads.

Twitter, meanwhile, also "proactively" shared with Congress a "round-up of ads" that Russia's state-run TV network Russia Today (RT) targeted at US users in 2016. Twitter stated that RT  which the US intelligence community in January said played a role in Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election  spent $274,100 running ads in the US last year.

Twitter, Facebook, and Google parent company Alphabet have been invited to testify publicly before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Nov. 1.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
Several raging wind-whipped fires killed at least 10 people and forced massive evacuations Monday in the area around California's world-famous wine country, as Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency and officials estimated at least 1,500 homes and commercial buildings were destroyed.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ken Pimlott said an estimated 20,000 people have been evacuated as 14 large fires burn. The fires are burning throughout an eight-county swath of Northern California, including Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties.

At least ten people have died as a result of the burning wildfires, officials said Monday night. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office tweeted that seven deaths were reported in Sonoma County.

The California Fire Public Information Officer tweeted that two people are confirmed dead in Napa County, in addition to one death in Mendocino County.

Other fatalities are expected, according to Pimlott, but damaged areas are difficult to assess as the fires continue to burn.

More than 100 people were treated for burns and smoke inhalation from the raging fires, the San Francisco Chronical reported.

"Right now with these conditions we can't get ahead of this fire and do anything about the forward progress," Napa County Fire Chief BarryBiermann said at a news conference.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for multiple locations in counties north of San Francisco, KTVU reported.

"It was an inferno like you've never seen before"  Kenwood, California resident Marian Williams

A spokesperson for Pacific Gas and Electric told the Associated Press that 114,000 customers were without power.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said there were multiple fires reported around the county, including a "very large fire" that jumped a freeway and spread into the east side of Santa Rosa.

Multiple fires broke out Sunday night as strong winds buffeted the area. Emergency lines were inundated with callers reporting smoke in the area, prompting officials to ask that the public "only use 911 if they see actual unattended flames, or are having another emergency."

Officials in Sonoma County said all Santa Rosa City schools will be closed Monday due to the fires.

The Tubbs Fire between Santa Rosa and Calistoga alone grew from 200 acres to 20,000 acres by Monday morning, CalFire Battalion Chief Jonathan Cox told KTVU.

"This fire is explosive," he said, adding that hundreds, if not thousands of structures were impacted.

Cox said he heard of some people injured while trying to evacuate, but could not be specific.

"We're still saving lives at the moment," he said. "This fire has gotten explosive due to the wind."

In Santa Rosa, Ron Dodds, who told KTVU he was helping his uncle evacuate said people were running red lights, and "there is chaos ensuing."

"It's a scary time," Dodds said. "It looks like Armageddon."

Patients from Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health hospitals on were evacuated early Monday from Santa Rosa and taken to other nearby hospitals or make-shift hospitals, according to KTVU.

In neighboring Napa County, officials were battling a 200 acre fire south of Lake Berryessa, located about 65 miles west of Sacramento.

Fire officials said the Atlas Fire broke out at 9:50 p.m. local time and was zero percent contained.

Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McLean called the conditions "very volatile."

"People need to be careful," McLean said.

Belia Ramos, chairwoman of the Napa County Board of Supervisors, said officials did not yet have a count on how many properties were affected, either by the fire directly or by evacuations.

"We're focusing on making evacuations and trying to keep people safe. We are not prepared to start counting. Certainly with day just breaking now, we are starting to see the structures that are affected," she said shortly after sunrise.

"The gusts are very, very  they're tremendous and it's what makes this fire unpredictable. It's something that we're having to be very cautious about," she said.

Downed trees were blocking parts of one rural road and fires were burning on both sides of Highway 12 as gusts reached up to 60 mph.

The winds picked up to 40-plus miles per hour probably, very windy, and it changed direction and it headed straight down the valley floor, Napa resident and Ranch Markets owner Arik Housley told FOX & Friends.

The fires were also nearly some wineries in the famed Napa Valley. It was not immediately clear if the Francis Ford Coppola Winery was affected by the ferocious blaze, but some wineries on Silverado Trail had some damage.

Windsor Fire Chief Jack Piccinini told the Associated Press that nearly every one of Sonoma County's fire resources is being used, but it is not enough.

"Everyone in Sonoma County is spread out fighting these fires, but they don't have enough resources to handle something like this. The only thing we can do is hope the wind will come down," he said.

Community centers, the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and other local centers have been opened for evacuees.

"It was an inferno like you've never seen before," said Marian Williams, who caravanned with neighbors through flames before dawn as one of the wildfires reached the vineyards and ridges at her small Sonoma County town of Kenwood.

Williams told the AP she could feel the heat of her fire through the car as she fled.

"Trees were on fire like torches," she said.

Fires also burned in Yuba, Butte and Nevada counties  all north of the state capital. Cal Fire tweeted that as many as 8,000 homes were threatened in Nevada County, which lies on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada.

The National Weather Service issued a warning of dangerous conditions that could lead to rapidly spreading wildfires, which goes until early Tuesday. The fires created thick smoke in San Francisco, 60 miles south of the Sonoma County fire.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Chelsea Manning on Sunday told a crowd at the annual New Yorker Festival in New York that the information she leaked did not expose names of informants.

These arent intelligence documents, she said. Its historical data.

She went on, "There's nothing sensitive in there, there's no troop movements," she added. "It was a historical record of everything that had happened in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Manning, who was released in May after seven years in military prison, was by turns impassioned, defensive, humorous and occasionally tearful in a panel discussion with New Yorker writer Larissa MacFarquhar.

She became emotional when asked what she thought the best result had been from her leaking of hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks. "Look, I haven't had time to deal with these questions," she said. "All I've been doing is fighting for my life for the last seven years."

The 29-year-old transgender woman was known as Bradley Manning when she was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison. In his last days in office, President Barack Obama commuted the rest of her sentence.

Manning has made only a few appearances since her release. Last month, Harvard University reversed a decision to name her a visiting fellow after CIA director Mike Pompeo scrapped a planned appearance over the designation, calling Manning an "American traitor."

And Manning tweeted two weeks later that she'd been denied entry into Canada because of her U.S. criminal record.

While some see her as a traitor, others see her as a hero for exposing truths of war. One audience questioner cried as she mentioned the ordeal Manning had been through.

At times, Manning told MacFarquhar she was legally unable to get into certain details. And when asked how she would advise other aspiring leakers to proceed, she said simply that everyone needed to make their own decisions.

Manning spoke of her childhood in small-town Oklahoma -- "a typical generic town in the middle of the country" -- her turbulent family life, and a short time living homeless on the streets of Chicago.

She said she'd learned to program computers by age 8 or 9, and eventually joined the military because she thought "I could use my skills and make a difference." Once she got to Iraq, she said, she was overwhelmed by the death and destruction she saw.

On a 10-day leave back home in Washington, she said, she first tried to leak the documents to the Washington Post or The New York Times -- simply because she had seen the movie "All the President's Men." Unwilling to trust email, she called the newspapers from public phones at various Starbucks locations.

But the newspapers were unable to establish encrypted communications channels, so she went to WikiLeaks, because, she said, "I was running out of time."

Manning spoke in detail of her time in prison, especially in solitary confinement. "Humans are a social creature," she said, fighting tears. "We need connections. We need to be with each other."

She said she got through much of the seven years by setting small, incremental goals, like getting "from breakfast to lunch to dinner to sleep." When the rules forbid her to exercise, she said, she started to dance, and her guards didn't stop her. So she thought, she said, "OK, that's how I'll exercise, like Zumba."

Manning has now become an activist -- for LGBT rights, for transparency in government, and also against what she called an alarming level of surveillance in society. "I feel like prison has encroached into the outside world," she said. "You've got militarized forces walking around on American streets. It's quite frightening."

She also had a message for engineers and software designers: Pay attention to the potential uses of what you're designing, because it can be used for different purposes than intended.

Manning was asked by one tearful audience questioner whether her experience had made her "more cynical about fairness."

"I do have cynical moments," she said, tearing up again. "But then I get past them, you know? I turn to my friends, and I turn to my family ... and then they cheer me up."

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Harvard University is the latest of a growing number of colleges to add "Indigenous Peoples Day to its calendar, an effort, proponents say, to reject colonialism represented by Columbus Day.

Indigenous Peoples Day was first adopted in Berkeley, Calif. in 1992, but it's recently become more popular on campuses nationwide.

Instead of celebrating explorer Christopher Columbus, students demonstrate against colonialism through events such as planting trees, hosting open mics to condemn so-called exploitation of weaker countries and providing guest lectures on Native American grievances.

Harvards decision comes a year after the Cambridge City Council unanimously decided to rename Columbus Day, The Harvard Crimson reported.

Nadeem Mazen, the Cambridge city councilor who proposed the renaming, said the move was intended to reclaim the day for Native Americans killed after Columbus landed.

At a basic level, were saying no to a day named after someone who was a tyrant, and was a torturer, and was a destroyer of Indigenous people, to turn this around and to honor those people without saying anything bad about other people, he said.

Native Americans at Harvard College echoed Mazen, and plan to celebrate indigenous culture and demonstrate against the person represented by Columbus Day.

Its a celebration of our survival in that were still here, thriving, even though its not really known, said Ashley Hamilton, a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and vice president of Native Americans at Harvard College.

According to a Harvard spokesperson, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences updated the wording on the calendar to include both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day in accordance with federal and Cambridge parameters.

Other universities marking indigenous peoples over Christopher Columbus for the first time this year include Fredonia College, the University of Texas El Paso, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, according to the College Fix.

Fredonia College, in explaining its decision, stated the suggestion that the U.S. celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day rather than Columbus Day emerged in 1977 at a United Nations-sponsored conference where the issue of discrimination against indigenous populations in the U.S. was confronted.

Fredonia noted they were joining cities such as Los Angeles, Berkeley, Denver, Minneapolis and Seattle, as well as states such as South Dakota, Hawaii and Alaska.

Columbia Universitys Native American Council plans a daylong observance for its Indigenous Peoples Day: 500 Years of Resistance  including an open mic that in past years had people perform spoken work poetry, sing, dance, talk about their indigeneity, or share a piece of writing."

Vanderbilt University is hosting guest speaker Albert Bender, who is described as attorney of Indian Law, political activist, and journalist who spent several months participating in the Standing Rock protests. Bender has been trying to get Nashville to rename the holiday for years.

Brandeis College is hosting their second annual Indigenous Peoples Day Teach-In that's set to include lectures and documentaries on oppression of Native American people, as well as a presentation from the Brandeis Climate Justice group.

Dennis Zack, coordinator of American Indian Student Services at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, said the campus will host an Indigenous Peoples Day to challenge preconceived ideas about Columbus Day, according to the Advance-Titan.

In reality, the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 created colonialism, enslavement and the forced removals of the tribes that followed the discovery of America,' Zack said.
A decorated war hero and National Guardsman, who survived an IED blast in Iraq nearly a decade ago, died in a Staten Island hospital on Saturday -- one day after he was critically injured in a head-on collision with an MTA bus.

Marcus Brown, a 33-year-old Brooklyn native, was speeding when he lost control of his van and crashed into an S74 city bus on Staten Island, The New York Daily News reported.

FOURTH US SOLDIER KILLED IN NIGER AMBUSH



Brown was pronounced dead at Staten Island University Hospital, according to a statement from the New York City Police. Two other passengers in Brown's vehicle and the bus driver suffered only minor injuries.

Brown was an active in the National Guard at the time of his death. He joined in 2006, SILive.com reported.

Survived by his mother, Michelle Brown, Brown was remembered him as a loving friend and someone who sacrificed for his country.

He was selfless. He just had a good heart, he really did, Brown told the Daily News. He didnt have one best friend -- he loved all his friends. They were all his best friends. He loved each one individually and as a group. Thats why they loved him so much.

1 US SOLDIER KILLED, 1 WOUNDED IN EXPLOSION IN IRAQ

Brown heroically fought to save his comrades during a tour of duty in Iraq, when he survived an IED attack that blew up the vehicle he was riding in. Though the explosion killed his commanding officer and the vehicles driver, Brown helped save the lives of his fellow soldiers. He earned the Bronze Star in 2008 for his actions.
The DeKalb County School District in Georgia is facing backlash after a sexual identity assignment was given to the sixth graders of Lithonia Middle School.

The middle schools health teacher assigned a quiz that defined 10 sexual identity terms, such as gay, lesbian, and transgender. The quiz required the sixth graders to identify and differentiate between various sexual orientations and identities, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

One mother, Octavia Parks, was particularly shocked when her 12-year-old daughter came home with the assignment.

"Why are they teaching that in school? Parks said. What does that have to do with life?"

Parks felt that the material was not appropriate for school, and that her daughter was too young to learn about sexual orientation.

'WITNESSING WHITENESS' INFLUENCING LESSONS FOR CHILDREN AT ST. LOUIS SCHOOL

"We're talking about a sixth grader who still watches Nickelodeon, Parks said. I'm not ready to explain what these words are nor what they mean."

Parks recalls an earlier conversation with the health teacher, during which she was assured that such material would not be taught.

"We had a brief conversation and she assured me that this sort of thing would not happen. Parks said. Nonetheless, it is happening."

Now, Parks has signed a consent form to remove her child from the health class. She is not the only parent to find fault with the controversial quiz.

Eva McClain, the mother of a past Lithonia Middle School student, agrees that the material is inappropriate for school. She also said that the sexual orientation quiz was not part of the health class curriculum when her daughter was in school.

GEORGIA TEACHER ALLEGEDLY ASSIGNS STUDENTS TASK OF CREATING NAZI MASCOT

"If a kid wants to know about the gender or know about the sex preference, it should come from the parents, not from the school," McClain said.

It is still unclear if the DeKalb County School District approved this curriculum, but the district did acknowledge the parents concern in a written statement.

DCSD has been made aware of this alleged event, and is working to verify its authenticity. We will investigate this event and take action, as appropriate, once that investigation is completed, a spokesman for the district said to FOX 5.

Park plans to bring her concerns to the school district headquarters Tuesday, as soon as their fall break ends.

"I will be removing her from that class, and I'm also going to take it to the board of education to see what they have to say about it, as well," Parks said.
A Maryland man was arrested last week after he was seen in a stunning video clinging to the front of a moving school bus after a student allegedly threw a bottle out a window, officials said.

Baltimore County Police told FOX 45 Baltimore that Leverne Doran, 68, was arrested Thursday after the attempt to stop the bus.

After a student reportedly threw the bottle, police said Doran banged on the doors, and attempted to get inside the bus. The driver would not open the door, he said, because he was in fear for the safety of the students on the bus.

After Doran was unable to get into the bus, police said he then went to the front of the bus and jumped on the hood as it moved forward -- an act captured on video by someone inside the bus.

The bus driver proceeded slowly towards a nearby police precinct, officials said.

"We happened to have an off-duty officer who was present in the area who assisted and intervened quickly. He came over, separated all of the parties, and at that time, the suspect was arrested on scene without incident," Baltimore County police Sgt. Andrea Bylen told WBAL-TV.

Police said at no time were children on the bus in danger, and officials are investigating to determine whether any objects were thrown out of the bus.

Doran is facing charges that include destruction of property and disturbing the peace.
Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a man accused of dousing a 19-year-old former high school cheerleader with a flammable liquid, setting her ablaze and leaving her to die along a north Mississippi back road.

Quinton Tellis, 29, has been charged with the murder of Jessica Chambers on Dec. 6, 2014, and faces life in prison without parole if convicted. Tellis has pleaded not guilty.

Opening arguments and testimony are expected to begin Tuesday morning, with prosecutors expecting to call more than 40 witnesses in a trial that could last up to two weeks, the Commercial-Appeal reported.

Firefighters in Courtland, Miss., found Chambers beside her burning car on a remote road near a tree farm. Chambers was quickly taken to a Memphis hospital, about 60 miles to the north, with burns over 98 percent of her body. She died hours later.

District Attorney John Champion of Panola County said that he believed it was a "personal crime" as Tellis and Chambers knew each other, and not related to drug or gang activity, even though 17 suspected gang members were arrested as a result of the investigation. The prosecutor has not revealed to reporters what Chambers told firefighters when they found her.

Investigators were stymied early on because they received no information from "street sources," leading them to theorize that the killing was committed by one person who told no one what happened, Champion had said.

Surveillance video showed Jessica Chambers at a gas station less than two hours before she was found. Wearing a sweater and pajama pants that looked like sweatpants, she put $14 worth of gas in her car, more than the $5 or so she usually purchased, Ali Fadhel, a clerk at the gas station, told The Associated Press in the days after Chambers' death.

"I asked her, 'Why are you putting so much gas?' She said, 'I'm going somewhere,'" Fadhel said.

On her way out, Chambers got a call on her cellphone, Fadhel said.

Authorities have said about 20,000 telephone numbers were analyzed as part of the investigation, more than 150 people were questioned and investigators traveled to Iowa and Chattanooga, Tenn.

Relatives have described Chambers as friendly and outgoing. She had been a cheerleader and softball player at South Panola High School.

Chambers mother, Lisa, has said her daughter liked to smile and playfully stick out her tongue at people. She was trusting of others, making her mother wonder if her outgoing personality had gotten her into trouble.

"She didn't think anybody could harm her or would want to," Lisa Chambers has said.

But as the trial approached, Lisa Chambers declined to discuss the case. She has told reporters she spoke with her daughter by phone about an hour before she was found.

When Tellis was indicted, Champion said, investigators worked to figure out where the victim was between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. the day she was burned and they had "absolutely filled that hour in." The 19-year-old was found shortly after 8 p.m. that night.

Tellis has prior convictions for burglary and fleeing police. He was released from prison in October 2014  two months before Chambers' killing.

Tellis faces another murder indictment in Louisiana, where he's accused in the torture death of Meing-Chen Hsiao, a 34-year-old Taiwanese graduate student at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. That indictment alleges that Tellis probably stabbed Hsiao more than 30 times in her face and body with a knife to get her to reveal her debit card's PIN number before killing her on July 29, 2015. He was extradited to Mississippi from Louisiana in June after pleading guilty to fraudulent use of Hsiao's card.

Area resident Beth Brasher, 40, said she knows Tellis and says he "comes from a good family." Asked about the Chambers case, she said she believes Tellis is wrongly accused, but acknowledged the crime "tore up" the community.

"That girl died a horrible, horrendous death that she didn't deserve," Brasher said.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Nate swept its way up the East Coast on Monday as a weakened post-tropical system, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to the region after making landfall a day before as a hurricane along the Gulf Coast.

The National Hurricane Center said Nate is expected to move through the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes during the day, bringing heavy rain across the central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic into the Northeast.

The storm kicked up severe weather in North Carolina, where there were multiple reports of tornadoes, FOX 46 Charlotte reported.

Several homes were damaged in Burke County in the western part of the state, and one man was hospitalized after the roof of his home came crashing down.

A volunteer firefighter was killed Sunday after being hit by a car while clearing debris from a road in Morganton, a spokesperson with the Triple Community Fire Department confirmed to FOX 46.

A driver heading eastbound on Highway 70 struck 40-year-old Jason Keith Hensley, who was killed "instantly on impact," officials told the television station.

In neighboring Caldwell County, at least 30 homes were damaged and strong winds toppled a 20-foot tall steeple at Refuge Missionary Baptist Church in the town of Hudson.

The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office released dash cam footage as the storm moved through.

Gulf Coast picks up from storm damage

As inland states dealt with severe weather, residents along the Gulf Coast began cleanup efforts after Nate roared ashore as a Category 1 hurricane outside Biloxi, Miss., early Sunday, its second landfall after initially hitting southeastern Louisiana on Saturday evening.

The storm surge from the Mississippi Sound littered Biloxi's main beachfront highway with debris and flooded a casino's lobby and parking structure overnight, but there were no reports of widespread damage similar to when Hurricane Katrina tore through the area in 2005.

"We had some boats that were not able to exit and you saw that yacht that was down there, that's a challenge, but you know the debris removal from the beach from Hwy 90 the sand that blew in, the beach erosion, those kinds of things will be challenges," Biloxi Mayor Andrew Fofo Gilich told FOX 8, adding for the most part, the city "dodged a bullet."

Besides a sailboat washing ashore during Nate's storm surge, Biloxi residents said they saw minimal damage.

"The boat is kind of creepy looking, but its really not that bad, everyone seems to be getting back to normal, and it's just another day," resident Heather Rosenberg told FOX 8.

Nearly 22,000 customers in Mississippi lost power when Nate made landfall, but officials from Mississippi Power said they were able to restore power by late Sunday.

I am pleased we were able to restore service today ahead of schedule to those customers who could receive power," Mississippi Power CEO Anthony Wilson said.

In neighboring Alabama, the storm flooded homes and cars on the coast and inundated at least one major road in downtown Mobile.

Alabama Power said it had electricity back to more than 64,000 customers and some 36,000 remained without power, FOX 10 reported.

Nate's winds and accompanying storm surge destroyed some popular fishing piers in Southern Mobile County and washed out parts of roadways leading to coastal areas.

The Cedar Point Pier in Coden Ala., a popular fishing spot, was so heavily damaged that it drew onlookers.

"Kind of hard to believe the pier is gone," Donnie Bell told FOX 10. "I guess the waves is what took the pier out. I would never have believed the whole pier would be gone like this."

Hancock County Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Adam said Nate's storm surge flooded low-lying roads, but he hadn't heard any reports of flooded homes.

"We turned out fairly good," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Authorities were searching Monday for a 3-year-old suburban Dallas girl who went missing over the weekend when her father allegedly made her stand outside in the middle of the night as punishment for not drinking her milk.

Wesley Mathews, 37, ordered Sherin Mathews to stand next to a tree behind the fence at their Richardson home at around 3 a.m. Saturday, according to an arrest affidavit. The tree is across an alley from the home.

Mathews went outside about 15 minutes later to check on her, but Sherin was gone. The child, who has a developmental disability, was wearing leggings, a pink long-sleeved shirt and pink flip-flops.

The father didn't notify police that his daughter was missing until about five hours later, said police Sgt. Kevin Perlich, who added that the delay in reporting the matter "is certainly concerning to us."

"That does not seem like a normal response that one would do if you have a missing child," Perlich said.

Mathews was arrested Saturday on a charge of abandoning or endangering a child. He posted bond late Sunday, according to Perlich. A working phone number for Mathews could not be found and it's not clear if he's hired an attorney to speak on his behalf.

Mathews at one point told investigators that coyotes have been seen in the alley, but investigators say there's no indication one may have dragged the girl away.

Investigators have seized three vehicles, cellphones and laptops from the family in an effort to find out what became of Sherin, Perlich said. Footage from surveillance cameras in the area also is being reviewed.

State Child Protective Services removed a 4-year-old child from the home early Monday, he said. A CPS spokeswoman, Marissa Gonzales, said the agency has had dealings with the family before, but she declined to release additional information.

Perlich said Mathews and his wife adopted Sherin, who was malnourished when the couple took her in. Mathews told investigators it wasn't unusual for the girl to wake up late at night to eat so that her weight would increase, Perlich said. That may explain why she was punished at 3 a.m., he said. He said authorities are casting a broad net in determining what happened to the girl.

"We don't have any other indication or evidence that she was forcibly abducted from that area," he said.
A hiker bitten by a four-foot long rattlesnake Saturday died hours after the incident at a Colorado park, officials said.

Daniel Hohs, 31, was at the Mount Galbraith Park in Golden, about 17 miles west of Denver, when the snake bit him, FOX 31 Denver reported. It took rescuers about 22 minutes to reach Hohs, and a doctor who was recreating in the area also responded, Steamboat Today reported.

A spokeswoman for St. Anthony Hospital in nearby Lakewood told FOX 31 Hohs died at the hospital.

Dan was so vibrant, training partner Heather Gollnick told The Denver Post. He had this huge smile and this energy that just made you happy. It was contagious to everyone.

Hohs was about a mile out on a trail when he was bit around 12:40 p.m. It's unclear if the snake was captured or got away.

Hohs, a Chicago-area native, attended the University of Michigan and had only recently moved to Golden.

Mount Galbraith Park is a popular location for hikers and offers "spectacular views of Golden," according to FOX 31.
A 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student was found dead in her off-campus home Sunday with blunt force trauma injuries, and officials are investigating the incident as a homicide.

Authorities were called to Russian-born Alina Sheykhet's home around 9 a.m. after her parents found her unresponsive on the second floor of the residence, the Pittsburgh Police said in a news release.

Sheykhet's roommates originally thought she was still sleeping, but Sheykhet's brother, Artem, 25, told KDKA-TV she was found unresponsive on the floor after her father forced open the door to her room. Artem, who was celebrating his birthday, told the television station he believed she was murdered.

The Allegheny County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, but didn't specify what, where or how Sheykhet was struck on her body or what type of object may have been used.

Neighbors reported a party at the residence Saturday night, attended by about 30 people, but police haven't said whether that's a part of their investigation.

The house is located in an area where many Pitt students live in off-campus housing. Several said they were "shocked" by the apparent murder.

You dont really hear about this often here. You hear about small stuff like robberies or people falling off buildings, but you never hear of a murder," Pitt sophomore James Hennessy told WTAE-TV. "So Im really shocked. Kind of scary."

Sheykhet attended Montour High School in Robinson Township, a Pittsburgh suburb, after moving from Ivanovo, Russia, according to her Facebook page. The social media page doesn't say how long ago Sheykhet came to the country.

A friend of Sheykhet told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette she was a "talented, careful person."

"I could go on and on about how much of a wonderful person she is," Mark Schlaegle, a former classmate and friend from Montour High School, told the paper. "Alina was the most beautiful, open-minded, talented, careful person."

The university issued a statement expressing sadness and extending "its deepest sympathies to the student's family and those who knew her." The school planned to have counselors available Monday to students who requested them.

The statement also suggested authorities know more than they're letting on about who, or how, Sheykhet was killed than they've stated publicly, saying, "Police do not believe the situation, which occurred off campus, provides further threat to the University community."

Campus police were working with the city's Violent Crime Unit on the investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


Destructive wildfires continue to rage in California's wine country as strong winds threaten to make the fires grow larger.

Mandatory evacuations were issued late Sunday after fires broke out across four counties, the Associated Press reported.

According to the Press Democrat, homes were destroyed as well as a historic barn in Santa Rosa, California.





Additional evacuations were issued Monday morning for areas around Santa Rosa, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.

"Leave immediately. This is a life-threatening situation," the police department wrote on its Facebook page.





Sutter Hospital and Kaiser Hospital in Santa Rosa are no longer in operation and patients have been evacuated, according to Sonoma County officials.

The Sonoma County Emergency Operations Center was opened just after midnight Monday to respond to the numerous fires.

Due to significant smoke in the area, officials advised residents to stay indoors at evacuation centers.

In neighboring Napa County, firefighters were battling the Tubbs Fire, which has burned 20,000 acres.

The wildfires are the latest in what has been an above-average wildfire season in the United States according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Over $2 billion has been spent by the Forest Service to suppress fires during the 2017 wildfire season, making it the most expensive season ever.


Using a handful of crayons, some St. Louis educators are teaching students as early as pre-kindergarten about racial differences after the teachers volunteered for "Witnessing Whiteness" training.

About half of the administration at The College School signed up for 10-week voluntary training sessions aimed at highlighting and healing racial differences between their students  from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade.

During one recent lesson, a teacher asked pre-k students to use different shades of crayons, ranging from beige to brown, to make sure the youngest students recognized different skin colors, The St. Louis American reported.

In order for us to dismantle racism, white folks have to change, said Vincent Flewellen, the Director of Equality and Inclusion at The College School.

Flewellen helped introduce the program to the school in the aftermath of the Ferguson protests in St. Louis.

I think they saw participating in this as the first step in understanding and unpacking some of their own biases about race, Flewellen said. As a person of color, it gets exhausting at times trying to help folks who are well-intentioned.

He adds critics who think the program is racist misunderstand it.

We dont have a problem with any group of people, Flewellen told Fox News. The purpose of the program is for white members of our larger school community to have a safe space to talk freely and openly about their personal experiences around race and learn how it impacts their environments.

Witnessing Whiteness is a program sponsored by YWCA Metro St. Louis and based on a book with the same name authored by Shelly Tochluk, the St. Louis Metro YWCA Marketing and Communications Manager, Laurie Waters, told Fox News.

The program began seven years ago and joined other facilitated, public discussion groups including a group for people of color to discuss the harm of racism and to approach healing and a group of all races and identities to discuss topics of race and gender, Waters said.

As the book is described on Amazon, the author invites readers to consider what it means to be white, describes and critiques strategies used to avoid race issues, and identifies the detrimental effect of avoiding race on cross-race collaborations.

Jaclyn Stewart-Strothmann, Director of Institutional Advancement, told Fox News that participants, such as herself, are provided an opportunity to examine our identities, as a white people, on a very personal and individual level. Through our guided readings and conversations, we uncover any biases we bring to our personal and work life  be it conscious or unconscious.

While only 26 percent of the children at The College School identify as minorities, and the majority of the administration is white, Stewart-Strothmann said they've become more aware of others perspectives on race.

Maybe a student of color might need something different from their white counterpart, she said. Students of color need a community of adults who understand them as individuals, including their cultural identity they bring to our school.

While most "Witnessing Whiteness" programs are held in community spaces, The College School wanted to take a proactive approach, and despite criticism, the Head of School, Ed Maggart, says they plan to implement more race-based programs built on the schools values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Kim Jong Un has promoted his younger sister to a new post within North Korea's ruling party.

The promotion of Kim Yo Jong came at a meeting of senior party members as North Korea marked the 20th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's acceptance of the title of general secretary of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea.

Kim Yo Jong was made an alternate member of the decision-making political bureau of the party's central committee.

Thousands of people, mostly students, packed Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang to dance and watch fireworks to mark the anniversary on Sunday night.

The late Kim Jong Il, North Korea's "eternal general secretary," is the father of Kim Jong Un and Kim Yo Jong.
People make poor economic choices. They don't save enough for retirement. They refuse to cut their losses on plummeting investments. They buy houses and stocks when prices are high, thinking that what's going up today will keep going up tomorrow.

Richard Thaler of the University of Chicago on Monday won the 2017 Nobel prize in economics for documenting the way people fail to conform to models that assume they always act in their own self-interest. As one of the founders of behavioral economics, Thaler, 72, has helped change the way economists look at the world.

"Thrilling news," said Thaler's frequent collaborator, Cass Sunstein of Harvard Law School. "He changed economics, and he changed the world."

Far from being the rational decision-makers described in economic theory, Thaler found, people often make decisions that run counter to their best interests. And their actions carry far-reaching economic consequences: Baby boomers failed to save enough for old age. Americans kept buying homes as prices soared above levels that made any economic sense in the mid-2000s, creating a bubble that led to a devastating financial crisis and recession.

To contain the damage from such collective actions, behavioral economists say, policymakers must recognize human irrationality.

"I try to teach people to make fewer mistakes," Thaler said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. "But in designing economic policies, we need to take full account of the fact that people are busy, they're absent-minded, they're lazy and that we should try to make things as easy for them as possible."

Thaler's work is grounded in day-to-day reality and is connected to popular culture in a way that isn't always true of Nobel-winning economists.

"He's made economics more human," said Peter Gardenfors, a member of the prize committee.

Thaler provided a cameo alongside pop star Selena Gomez in the film "The Big Short." He once analyzed the flawed strategies of participants in the game show "Deal or No Deal." He's assessed how taxi drivers decide to spend their days and how school cafeterias should display their food.

Thaler won the 9-million-kronor ($1.1-million) prize for "understanding the psychology of economics," Swedish Academy of Sciences secretary Goran Hansson said Monday. He is the 13th Nobel-winning economist from the University of Chicago.

Oddly, the University of Chicago is closely associated with the classical economic views that Thaler has spent much of his career challenging.

"There's nothing people like better at the University of Chicago than a good argument," Thaler said.

In fact, Thaler is the golfing buddy of an intellectual rival, Eugene Fama, the classical Chicago economist who won the Nobel in 2013 for arguing that financial markets are rational.

Asked by phone at a news conference what he planned to do with the prize money, Thaler joked that he intended to spend it "as irrationally as possible."

Speaking with the AP later, he offered a fuller response that drew on the philosophy of his work.

"In traditional economic theory, it's a silly question. And the reason is that money doesn't come with labels. So once that money is in my bank, how do I know whether that fancy bottle of wine I'm buying (is being paid for by) Nobel money or some other kind of money? The serious answer to the question is that I plan to spend some of it on having fun and give the rest away to the neediest causes I can find."

People's irrational classification of different pools of money is, in fact, fundamental to Thaler's research. He has found that the tendency to assign money to certain categories can lead to costly mistakes. For example, consumers might spend more than they need to when they put, say, a new washing machine on a high-cost credit card because they don't want to tap money they've labeled as savings.

In one study, Thaler and his colleagues studied how taxi drivers try to balance making money versus enjoying their leisure time. The driver might respond by setting a goal: Once his take from fares reaches a certain amount, he calls it a day. But that would mean that he works shorter hours when demand for taxis is high and longer ones when business is slow. If he took another approach, he could make more money working fewer hours. And there would be more cabs in the street when customers need them.

Thaler and other behavioral economists also found that people hold notions of fairness that confound classical economic expectations. They resent, for example, an umbrella peddler who raises prices in the midst of a downpour. Traditional economists would say the peddler is just responding to increased demand.

Thaler says that kind of thinking can keep people from buying things they'd enjoy. A supporter of baseball's Chicago Cubs, Thaler suspects that some of his fellow fans will balk at paying higher-than-usual prices this week to see their team play the Washington Nationals in the playoffs. (He says he secured tickets for Tuesday's game "at a very reasonable price.")

But consumers' strong feelings about fairness pose a threat to companies, too. They should think hard before raising prices aggressively  even when it's seemingly justified by surging demand  or risk alienating their customers.

"Uber has learned this lesson or is in the process of learning it," Thaler says. "When they surge-price during a blizzard in New York, that's not a smart business decision."

Thaler's research carries implications for economic policy. In their 2008 "Nudge" book, Thaler and Sunstein suggested that policymakers should find ways to coax, rather than coerce, proper decisions.

Suppose a cafeteria staff realized that students choose food based on the order in which it is presented. It would make sense, Thaler argues, for the school to put the healthiest food where kids would be most likely to grab it. Some critics call such policies manipulative. But Thaler argues that the food has to be displayed somehow; why not choose the one that promotes good health?

Thaler says behavioral economics isn't as novel as is normally assumed. Adam Smith, author of the 1776 classic "The Wealth of Nations," dealt with behavioral issues in his time, including the need to control impulses and avoid overconfidence.

But after World War II, Thaler says economics became dominated by mathematical models. And those were easier to use if economists assumed that people always acted rationally. The mathematical approach "caused some of the people in the profession to take those assumptions more seriously than they should have."

A series of financial crises, including the dotcom crash of 2000-2001 and the collapse of the American housing market in the mid-2000s, have put a dent in the view that people and markets are rational.

"Each crisis," he says, "has been good for behavioral economics."

___

Heintz reported from Moscow. David Keyton in Stockholm and Matt Ott in Washington contributed to this report.
The head of Egypt's minuscule Jewish community has voiced support for the country's UNESCO candidate who has been criticized by Egyptian human rights activists.

A statement from Magda Haroun says that Moushira Khattab has shown an impressive and "genuine commitment to our cause to protect Egypt's Jewish heritage."

But Khattab has been also criticized for not speaking up against some of the government's repressive policies, such as shutting down public libraries founded by a top rights lawyer.

A U.S. educated longtime diplomat, Khattab is believed to be among the front-runners for the UNESCO top post. Voting is due on Monday in Paris.

Haroun says Khattab is a "courageous woman who has the talent of successfully taking on challenging causes."

Egypt's Jewish community is made up of six Jews, including Magda.
Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities have arrested the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in connection with corruption cases pending against him.

A Cabinet minister Talal Chaudhry says Mohammad Safdar was arrested from the Islamabad airport early Monday on his arrival from London.

The development came hours before Sadfar and his wife Maryam Nawaz were to appear before an anti-graft tribunal. She was not detained and later reached the court.

Sharif, his daughter, his son-in-law and his two sons face corruption cases after an investigation into documents leaked from a Panama law firm indicated that Sharif and some of his family members had undisclosed assets abroad.

Sharif was disqualified from office in July.
Wolfgang Schaeuble, the long-time German finance minister, is attending his final meeting of his peers in the 19-country eurozone.

Over the past few years as the eurozone grappled with a debt crisis that threatened the existence of the euro currency itself, Schaeuble has been a vocal supporter of the austerity medicine prescribed for those countries with sky-high debt.

As such he have been vilified in Greece and other, mainly, southern European countries where the budget cuts are blamed for sharp falls in living standards and rising unemployment particularly among the young.

Ahead of Monday's eurogroup meeting, Schaeuble told the Financial Times that he had no regrets: "I would argue with anyone  even more strongly now after eight years  that this policy generates more sustainable growth than any other."
Iran tried to obtain illicit technology that could be used for military nuclear and ballistic missile programs, raising questions about a possible violation of the 2015 agreement intended to stop Tehrans drive to become an atomic armed power, according to three German intelligence reports obtained by Fox News.

The new intelligence, detailing reports from September and October and disclosed just ahead of President Trumps planned announcement Thursday on whether the U.S. will recertify the Iran deal, reveals that Irans regime made 32 procurement attempts  that definitely or with high likelihood were undertaken for the benefit of proliferation programs.

According to the document, the 32 attempts took place in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The report lists Iran as a nation that engages in proliferation, which is defined as spreading atomic, biological or chemical weapons of mass destruction.

Missile delivery systems are also included in the definition of illicit proliferation activity in the report.

THE CASE FOR A 'CLEAN WITHDRAWAL' FROM THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

The North Rhine-Westphalia agency accused Iran of using front companies in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and China to circumvent international restrictions on its nuclear and missile programs.

The intelligence report, which covered the year 2016  the Iran deal was implemented on Jan. 16, 2016  calls further into question Irans compliance with the agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.

The overwhelming majority of Irans illegal attempts covering the year 2016 in North Rhine-Westphalia encompassed technology for the clerical regimes missile programs.

The year before, the agency recorded 141 attempts by Iran to secure illicit goods for proliferation purposes.

AS TRUMP CHALLENGES IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, THOSE IN TEHRAN WORRY

In a second intelligence report obtained by Fox News, the German state of Hessen said Iran, Pakistan, North Korea and Sudan use guest academics for illegal activities related to nuclear and other weapons programs. An example for this type of activity occurred in the sector of electronic technology in connection with the implementation of the enrichment of uranium, the document reads.

The intelligence officials also cited an example of foreign intelligence services using research exchanges at universities in the sector of biological and chemical procedures.

When asked about whether Iran was involved in the academic and research cases, a spokesman for Hessens intelligence agency declined to comment.

In April, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio told Fox News hes gravely concerned about Irans role in helping Syria develop its chemical warfare program. Rubio, a Republican, said he was troubled by reports that both Iran and Russia were complicit in Syrian President Bashar Assads chemical weapons program.

IRAN ISSUES THREAT OVER US STRIKES IN SYRIA

Congress and the White House should work together to hold the Assad regime accountable for its war crimes and impose harsh sanctions against its enablers, Rubio told Fox News.

A third intelligence report, from the state of Saxony-Anhalt, said Iran works unabated on its missile program.

With ballistic missiles and long-range rockets, Iran will be in the position to not only be able to threaten Europe, it says.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2231 notes that activities with Iran for nuclear and non-nuclear civilian end uses should be sent to a technical UN working group on procurement.

When asked if Germany reported the illicit exports and the unlawful attempts to the UNSC, German diplomats told Fox News: "We have no indication of Iran violating its JCPOA commitments. Quite on the contrary, the recent 2016 Report of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution states that there is no evidence of Iran violating the JCPOA.

"Having said that, we remain worried by Irans missile program. The aforementioned report, as well as reports from regional intelligence authorities, shows that Germany is highly vigilant in this regard and will continue to do so. However, this issue is outside the scope of the JCPOA and needs to be dealt with separately."

David Albright and Andrea Stricker, two experts on Irans nuclear program at the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security, wrote in April that the UNs Procurement Channel is a potentially valuable transparency and verification condition in the JCPOA, aimed at controlling the export of goods to Irans authorized nuclear programs and non-nuclear, civil end uses.

The experts added, It seeks to deny Iran opportunities, or at least help expose any efforts, to violate the JCPOA and increase the transparency of Irans nuclear programs.

Sigmar Gabriel, the outgoing Social Democrat foreign minister of Germany, has made several trips to Iran since 2015 to boost trade with Tehran. Gabriel is widely considered one of Europes most energetic advocates of the Iran deal.
Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi warned on Monday there could be a "civil war" over the Kurdish-administered city of Kirkuk if talks over Kurdish independence are left unresolved.

Allawi, in an interview with The Associated Press, urged Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, as well as Iraq's central government and its Iranian-backed militia forces, to show restraint and resolve their disputes over the oil-rich city.

The head of the Asaib al-Haq militia Qais Khazali warned worshippers in a sermon Sunday that Iraq's Kurds were planning to claim much of north Iraq, including Kirkuk, for an independent state, after Iraq's Kurds voted for independence in a controversial but non-binding referendum two weeks ago.

He said it would be tantamount to a "foreign occupation," according to remarks reported by the Afaq TV channel, which is close to the state-sanctioned militia.

Allawi, a former prime minister, said any move by the country's Popular Mobilization Front militias, which include the Asaib al-Haq, to enter Kirkuk would "damage all possibilities for unifying Iraq" and open the door to "violent conflict."

"The government claims they control the Popular Mobilization Forces. If they do they should restrain them, rather than go into a kind of civil war. And there should be a restraint on Masoud Barzani and the Peshmerga not to take aggressive measures to control these lands," said Allawi.

Kirkuk was included in the September referendum even though it falls outside the autonomous Kurdish region in the country's northeast. The ethnically-mixed city has been administered by Kurdish forces since 2014, when government forces fled from the advancing Islamic State group.

Barzani held the referendum over the strong objections of Baghdad, Ankara, and Tehran, enraging leaders in the regional capitals.

Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi demanded the Kurdish self-government annul the results and called for joint administration over Kirkuk. Baghdad closed the airspace over the Kurdish region to international flights.

Turkey and Iran also threatened punitive measures against the Kurdish region, fearing Kurds in their own countries would renew their campaigns for self-rule.

"Iraqis should be left alone to discuss their own problems without interference," said Allawi. "Kirkuk has become a flashpoint."

Barzani has not declared independence for any part of northern Iraq.
Police in Italy have arrested the brother of a Tunisian man who stabbed to death two women in the French city of Marseille earlier this month.

Police in the northern city of Ferrara said Monday that the suspect, Anis Hanachi, was arrested over the weekend on an international warrant issued by French authorities accusing him of involvement in the attack and of international terrorism. The Italian news agency ANSA say the brother is suspected of having radicalized the attacker, and may have had a role in organizing the attack.

The attacker, 29-year-old Ahmed Hanachi, who was shot dead after the attack, had lived in Aprilia, south of Rome, from about 2006 to 2014, reports said. It was not immediately clear how long the brother had been in Italy.
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The Latest on the trial in Malaysia of two women accused of killing Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half brother of North Korea's leader (all times local):

11:30 a.m.

The trial of two women accused of killing the estranged half brother of North Korea's leader has been deferred a day after the participants visited a high-security laboratory to view VX-tainted evidence.

Government chemist Raja Subramaniam spent more than an hour showing the evidence to the judge, lawyers and the two accused Monday morning.

Selvi Sandrasegaram, one of the lawyers for Indonesian Siti Aisyah, said Raja conducted the session in a small room inside the laboratory at the chemist department. She said she was in the room, as were Vietnamese accused Doan Thi Huong and two police officers. The others watched through a glass screen outside the room.

The trial was originally due to resume in the court building after lunch but the lawyer said the judge deferred it after Raja said he was exhausted.

Raja testified last week that VX nerve agent was found on the women's clothing as well as Huong's fingernail clippings.

___

9 a.m.

The two women accused of killing the estranged half brother of North Korea's leader have arrived at a Malaysian laboratory under tight security to view evidence contaminated with the poison prosecutors say the women rubbed on Kim Jong Nam's face.

The evidence they are to view are samples of the women's clothing that will be formally submitted as evidence. Judges often visit crime scenes as part of trial proceedings in Malaysia.

A government chemist testified in the trial last week that he found VX in tests on the women's clothing. And another witnesses testified that acute VX poisoning was the cause of Kim's death.

___

7:30 a.m.

The trial of two women accused of killing the estranged half brother of North Korea's leader enters its second week with the court moving temporarily to a high-security laboratory to view evidence contaminated with VX nerve agent.

The judge, prosecutors, defense lawyers and the Indonesian and Vietnamese suspects are to visit the laboratory for chemical weapons analysis Monday morning to examine samples of the women's clothing before they are formally submitted as evidence.

Such a move is not unusual in criminal cases in Malaysia, where judges often visit crime scenes.

After the lab visit, defense lawyers are expected to cross-examine a government chemist who has testified VX was found on the women's clothing.

Earlier witnesses have testified the chemical weapon was the cause of Kim Jong Nam's death.
This week marks two significant dates for North Korea  the anniversaries of its first nuclear test and the foundation of the ruling Workers Party of Korea.

Officials have warned that North Korea could use the special dates  in particular, the Oct. 10 anniversary of the Workers Party  to provoke the U.S. or launch a new missile.

"There is a clarity of purpose in what (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un is doing. I dont think hes done," Yong Suk Lee, the deputy assistant director of the CIAs Korea Mission Center, said at a conference last week, according to Reuters. In fact, I told my own staff (that) Oct. 10th is the Korean Workers Party founding day. Thats Tuesday in North Korea, but Monday  the Columbus Day holiday - in the United States. So stand by your phones.

As North Koreas past provocations have coincided with dates important to them, the U.S., China or Japan, Dr. Sung-Yoon Lee, the Kim Koo-Korea Foundation Professor of Korean Studies at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, predicted the east Asian country could test a missile by late Monday night.

North Korea said it had perfect success with a hydrogen bomb test on Sept. 3, 2017, Labor Day weekend in the U.S. It said it tested its first nuclear bomb on Oct. 9, 2006, coinciding with Party Foundation Day in North Korea, Lee said.

Other nuclear tests have lined up with Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. in 2009, Lunar New Year celebrations in China in 2013, Kim Jong Uns birthday in 2016 and the Day of the Foundation of the Republic in 2016.

North Korea also tested its first successful intercontinental ballistic missile on July 4, 2017.

I have a feeling that theyre ready [for provocation] and theyre biding their time  for the most adverse impact, Lee told Fox News Monday. He predicted that the country could fire a missile into the waters by Guam  which would illicit a response that would still be less than if Americans were killed.

NORTH KOREAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM HAS GROWN WITH EACH KIM REGIME

They like to rub it in and spoil government officials long weekends, Lee said.

A member of Russias lower house of parliament told local media that North Korea is preparing to test a long-range missile believed to reach the west coast of the U.S., according to The Guardian.

They are preparing for new tests of a long-range missile. They even gave us mathematical calculations that they believe prove that their missile can hit the west coast of the United States, Anton Morozov reportedly said last week after visiting Pyongyang.

As North Korea continues to develop its nuclear program, Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump are engaged in a war of words and threats. Trump promised last month to totally destroy the Asian nation if provoked.

TRUMP WARNS KIM JONG UN, SAYS US POLICY TOWARD NORTH KOREA DIDNT WORK

Lee also noted that Chinas 19th party congress will meet later this month, and Trump is expected to visit China, Japan and South Korea in November  which could be when North Korea provokes next.

They have a strategic game plan, Lee said, dismissing the idea that North Korea simply throws a tantrum and launches missile tests.
It's a definite case of strange bedfellows.

In a gift that speaks to a presidential-sized man crush, Italys controversial former leader Silvio Berlusconi gave Russian president Vladimir Putin a king-sized embroidered duvet -- with a blown-up image of the men embracing -- as a birthday present.

The custom-made duvet cover shows the three-time prime minister and Putin, who turned 65 during the weekend, shaking hands against a backdrop of Russian and Italian landmarks, such as Rome's Colosseum.

It wasn't immediately clear if Putin was enthralled with the snug souvenir.

No, I know nothing about the presidents reaction to the duvet cover from Berlusconi, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday, according to Tass, the Russian news agency.

Michele Cascavilla, whose company Lenzuolissimi made the bed linen for the bromance, posted a pic of the bedspread on Instagram: Happy Birthday Mr President Vladimir Putin !! Grazie Presidente Berlusconi.

Berlusconi, 81, came up with the idea of the personalized bedding gift after Putin gave him the double bed in which Patrizia DAddario, a prostitute, claimed to have had sex with the disgraced Italian, The Times of London reported.

Berlusconi is said to be very proud of the bed from Putin, even boasting about it to actor George Clooney, according to the International Business Times.

"I've had one evening with Berlusconi and it was one of the more astonishing evenings of my life," Clooney said in 2011. I went to speak about Darfur. I'd done my homework. He took me to see his bedroom and the bed that Putin gave him. It became a very different evening than anyone thought."

Berlusconi stepped down in 2011 after his last term in office was marred by scandals, and he's been barred from politics after a 2013 tax fraud conviction, the Daily News reported.

He is appealing his political ban.
For a while, the Rev. Linwood Jones Jr. worried he might go the same way as the church hes led for almost half a century.

Jones was in the hospital on Feb. 24, 2016, when a monstrous tornado tore through Essex County. Winds of up to 140 miles an hour cut a 28-mile swath from Virginias Middle Peninsula through the Northern Neck.

The twister leveled St. John Baptist Church as well as other homes and buildings in the Mount Landing part of Essex County, near Tappahannock and about 50 miles south of Fredericksburg.

The house of worship had stood for 145 years, and Jones had been pastor for 45 of them.

But as Mother Nature raged, Jones languished in a hospital bed. Hed suffered a heart attack, gone through surgery and had been diagnosed with bronchitis and a chronic lung illness.

I thought I was gonna go away from here, he said.

He was so sick, members didnt have the heart to tell him what had happened. When he found out the building, where founders had laid the hand-hewn logs of the floor joists themselves, just six years after the Civil War ended, he was grateful no one was there that night. The regular Wednesday night prayer service had been canceled because of the weather.

Just as he praised God for protecting his congregation then, Jones on Sunday expressed his gratitude anew. Members of the small congregation gathered along the edges of the parking lot to break ground for a new building, and Jones used a golden shovel to turn a dusty pile of dirt.

We know Gods gonna see us through, he said. Im so excited, I dont even know what to say.

About 90 members of the church and community, as well as the builder, banker, excavator and insurance agent attended the groundbreaking service. Forecasts had called for Mother Nature to release another weapon in her arsenalrain from Tropical Storm Natebut the weather held.

Church members thanked those who had stood by them after the tornado and those who were helping them build a new church.

Everybody, all churches, all denominations, all races, pulled together, said the Rev. Jonathan Mercer, an assistant minister of the church.

As soon as the Rev. James Watkins heard about the storm damage, he called a meeting of his board. He pastors the New Hope Seventh Day Adventist Church in Tappahannock, which meets on Saturdays. The church leadership offered St. John the use of their church on Sundays at no charge.

They take better care of it then we do, I think, Watkins said, joking.

Even as the church walls lay crumbled in a pile of debris, neighbors donated water and snacks, paper towels and cleaning supplies. Theyve contributed financially as well, which makes George Johnson, chairman of the deacons, particularly grateful because the insurance policy doesnt cover the cost to replace the building.

He said the church hopes to get about $700,000, when all is said and done, from the insurance company. The cost of the new church is $870,000, Johnson said.

Already, the church has collected $135,000and with a sly look, Johnson quipped that you can put in your write-up that were still accepting donations.

Money has come from near and far. Church secretary Sandra Payne said one couple in Fredericksburg has sent a donation every month. We are very appreciative, she said.

Rappahannock Christian Church set aside money to buy new pews for St. John, and Rappahannock Baptist Church donated an organ in mint condition, the pastor said.

Member Neil Harvey used donated lumber to build new picnic tables and a new pavilion to replace the one that had been destroyed.

It looks better now than it did before, said Earl Holmes, 87, whos been a member of the church since he was 10. Hes hoping the same is true of the new church.

It will be bigger, with 7,200 square feet for a sanctuary that will seat 200 people and have a baptismal, kitchen and fellowship hall. Its a pre-engineered metal building, basically a big erector set, said builder Eddie Hammond who also participated in the groundbreaking.

The new church will be covered in vinyl siding so it will resemble the old building.

Hammond and others mentioned how long its taken the church to get to this point. Jones said there have been trials and tribulations, including settling on a proposal the church could afford, waiting for all the legal issues to be resolved and even finding the water pipes.

But Lucie McCarthy with Essex Bank said, Theres no question it will be financed. As soon as all the paperwork is complete, Hammond can order the building and start construction. Hes cautioned the congregation it can take up to a year to complete, but hopes he can finish sooner.

William Washington, whos 93, stood next to 9-year-old Joshua HartsoSmith so Payne could take a photo of the churchs oldest and youngest members. Washington smiled as he put a foot on one of the golden shovels, adding he hopes to be here when the new building opens.

Were on our way, he said.
A man whose connection to an armed robbery in southern Stafford last year was discovered after he shot himself while running from police during an unrelated incident later that same day was convicted Thursday.

Reion M. Hooker, 23, was convicted of robbery in Stafford Circuit Court. He will be facing a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 15.

Hooker entered an Alford plea to the robbery charge, which carries the same weight as a guilty plea except that Hooker does not admit guilt. In exchange for the plea, prosecutor Ed Lustig dropped several other charges.

According to the evidence, the Exxon station on Warrenton Road was robbed early Nov. 5 by a man carrying a camouflage gun and who had part of his face covered. After brandishing the gun, the robber got away with about $600 and some Newport cigarettes.

Later that day, the Sheriffs Office was called to Regency Drive in the Park Ridge area of northern Stafford for a fight in progress. Callers reported that one of the combatants had displayed a gun.

Six men, including Hooker, were ordered to the ground when deputies arrived and all but one complied. While deputies were dealing with that man, Hooker got off the ground and took off running.

Lustig said Deputy L.A. Burgess chased Hooker but eventually lost sight of him. While he was running, the gun in Hookers pocket went off and struck him in the leg.

Hooker was found about an hour later hiding between two houses on Catherine Drive. He had a wound on his leg.

Lustig said Hooker initially claimed that Burgess had shot him. But he later admitted that hed shot himself and led police to where hed discarded the gun.

Meanwhile, police realized that Hooker matched the description given by the clerk in the Exxon robbery. Store surveillance images showed the robber had the same kind of camouflage gun that Hooker had tossed during the chase. He also had on the same shoes, jacket and build.

Hookers criminal history includes an attempted robbery conviction in Stafford and a firearms charge. He is facing the possibility of having time that was suspended in those cases reinstated.
Oct. 04 (TNS)  Starting in March, Virginians insured by Anthem must seek imaging services at free-standing facilities instead of hospital-based ones.

Virginia Anthem spokesman Scott Golden said in an email statement the policy includes MRIs and CT scans outside of emergency situations. Reimbursements will be denied in hospital settings if there's an alternative within 30 miles, and if no clinical reason can be given that a hospital setting is needed.

"The clinical guideline gives members an opportunity to save up to hundreds of dollars for each imaging test," said a statement emailed by Golden. "It also helps health plans keep premiums more affordable."

The policy, called the Imaging Clinical Site of Care Review Program, was rolled out in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin on July 1, and in Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, New York and Ohio on Sept. 1. It will be implemented in Virginia, California, Connecticut and Maine on March 1.

Physicians will be given lists of free-standing facilities that provide such services when they order a test. The policy focuses on MRIs and CT scans, not X-rays or mammograms.

Spokeswomen from Sentara Healthcare and Bon Secours Hampton Roads said they have posed questions regarding the policy to Anthem and are awaiting word from the company. Both said it would be premature to comment on the impact on the hospital systems and their patients.

Chesapeake Regional Healthcare issued a statement expressing concern about the loss of access to Anthem patients, "and the disruption to their continuity of care when scans are performed outside of their preferred hospital system."

Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters said Anthem's official notification is expected in December, so more information is expected then. However, public spokeswoman Ridgely Ingersoll emailed a statement saying CHKD has pediatric radiologists trained to treat its unique patient base of children.

"For example, many children require sedation for MRI scans, and CHKD offers this," the statement read. Also, CHKD uses pediatric radiology protocols using the lowest possible dose of radiation based on each child's age and size.

The Anthem policy is the latest salvo in the competition between independent facilities and large hospital systems. Hospitals have long argued against getting rid of what's called certificates of public need in Virginia, which require facilities to apply for approval to open a medical facility. Hospitals have argued such a move would allow independent facilities to "cherry pick" lucrative services, one of which is typically imaging services. Hospitals have said it would undermine hospitals' revenue stream, and ability to subsidize unprofitable services, such as trauma and emergency care.

Julian Walker, vice president of communications for the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, said in a prepared statement the Anthem policy is overly restrictive: "Decisions about advanced imaging tests that patients need to diagnose and treat an illness or injury should be made with patient interests in mind. Decisions by insurers to restrict where patients are permitted to receive a necessary medical procedure fail to meet that standard. Such prohibitions can result in patients being steered away from a hospital to an insurer-preferred freestanding facility that may lack the capability to quickly assess a patient's condition."

His statement said the policy could lead to care fragmentation "by requiring a patient to travel farther and visit multiple locations for treatment rather than receiving care in an integrated setting."

But in an increasingly consumer-driven world, cost is becoming a key factor. And if people won't search for the least expensive services, insurers are stepping in to steer them in that direction. Virginia Health Information, a nonprofit health data organization created by the state legislature, has a price transparency tool on its website that compares costs of hospital-based versus imaging in a doctor's office.

For the eastern region, which includes Hampton Roads, a CT scan of the abdomen in 2015 cost $350 in a doctor's office, compared to $1,168 in an outpatient hospital setting. An MRI scan of the knee cost $417 in a doctor's office, compared to $1,403 in an outpatient hospital setting. An MRI back scan cost $377 in a doctor's office, compared to $1,553 in a hospital.

Golden's statement said Anthem's primary concern is to provide access to quality and safe health care: "We are also committed to reducing overall medical cost where possible when the safety of the member is not put at risk."
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Around a dozen EU member states have indicated they would support a proposal by the EU Commission to renew glyphosates licence for a further 10 years.

Representatives from member states discussed the future of glyphosate at an EU standing committee on Plant Animal Food and Feed (Paff) in Brussels on 5-6 October.

The licence for glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsantos Roundup weedkiller, is due to run out at the end of this year.

See also: Farmers explain why glyphosate is vital

EU commissioner for health and food safety Vytenis Andriukaitis has stressed that the chemical will not have its licence renewed without a qualified majority of EU countries agreeing to its reapproval.

According to reports, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, Poland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Spain all indicated that they were in favour of the draft plans to relicense glyphosate.

The UK, which did not indicate its stance in the draft vote, is understood be in favour of relicensing the weedkiller. Defra secretary Michael Gove told farmers this week that he backed the continued use of glyphosate.

However, doubts remain over the voting intentions of a number of key countries, including Germany, Italy and France amid strong lobbying from environmental groups and NGOs.

Of these, France is said to be most resistant to a reapproval of glyphosate for 10 years. Its environment minister has suggested that the country will seek to ban the chemical by 2022.

Austria has indicated that it will vote against reapproval following a vote in its parliament last week.

Full vote

The next Paff meeting is scheduled for 23 October, but a full vote is expected to take place later in the year, possibly in November.

If glyphosate is not relicensed before 31 December, a ban would automatically be implemented on 1 January 2018, requiring a six-month phase-out of glyphosate-containing products.

An EU Commission spokeswoman said: The commission is working with member states to find a solution that enjoys the largest possible support, which ensures a high level of protection of human health and the environment  in line with the EU legislation and based on the available scientific data.

According to a report by Oxford Economics and consultants Andersons, a ban on glyphosate would lead to a sharp decline in food production and cost UK farmers an estimated 1bn a year.
The European Commission has called a temporary halt to its investigation into Bayers planned acquisition of Monsanto while it waits for information from both companies.

The EU launched an in-depth probe into the 56bn (50bn) deal in August because of concerns it could reduce competition in the market for pesticides and seeds.

The investigation was set to take 90 working days to complete, with the commission due to give its verdict on whether it contravenes EU merger regulations on 8 January 2018.

See also: EU begins investigation into Bayer/Monsanto deal

However, the EU announced last week it had decided to stop the clock on its investigation while it waits for missing information to be supplied.

This procedure in merger investigations is activated if the parties fail to provide, in a timely fashion, an important piece of information the commission has requested from them, said a spokesman.

Once the missing information is supplied by the parties, the clock is restarted and the deadline for the commissions decision is then adjusted accordingly.

The European Commission launched its investigation because of concerns that creating the worlds largest integrated pesticides and seeds company will mean less competition in the market for agricultural inputs.

It is argued this could lead to higher prices, lower quality and less choice for farmers  with knock-on consequences for consumers.

The deal comes at a time of massive consolidation in the global agricultural market, as illustrated by the recent mergers of Dow and Dupont and Syngenta and ChemChina.

In the US, farm representatives are warning a wave of mergers have swept through the food system, putting economic power in the hands of a few companies and leaving little for farmers, workers and consumers.
Hexham Auction Mart has been ordered to pay more than 12,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to 16 offences relating to livestock movement rules.

The business was fined 10,000 and ordered to pay 2,065 in costs when officials appeared before Newcastle Magistrates Court.

Northumberland Trading Standards animal health inspectors found the company had not only breached livestock standstill rules when moving cattle in and out of fields and lairage sheds they own, but it had also failed to record cattle movements and provided false information to the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS).

See also: Q&A  Guide to quarantine units now in force in Wales

In January and February this year, animal health inspectors checked cattle in the lairage shed at Anick, Hexham. Ear tags were read and animal history was reviewed on the Cattle Tracing System (CTS), the national cattle database.

It was found that many groups of cattle had been recorded as being on different holdings owned by the mart  meaning the Anick lairage shed would remain free of the six-day standstill rule.

The six-day standstill rule on livestock was put in place following the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001, to help prevent the spread of disease.

When an animal moves onto a livestock holding, all of the animals on that holding are placed on a six-day standstill, meaning nothing can leave the holding for six full days, except for animals that are going direct to slaughter.

Speaking after sentencing, David Sayer, business compliance and public safety manager for Northumberland County Council, said: The six-day standstill is there for the benefit of the whole farming industry and our job is to ensure it is adhered to.

Accurate record-keeping is the cornerstone to stopping the spread of disease, should there be another outbreak, and it is essential that everyone involved in keeping, selling and moving animals keeps accurate and up-to-date records.
A Pinch of Salt: The election is over, I think, so what now?
Ballot measures and citizen initiatives are back in the news in Oregon  although, considering the state's wild politics, these petition efforts rarely spend too much time out of the spotlight.

Most recently, it appears that Republican lawmakers have been successful in their efforts to refer a new tax on health insurance providers and hospitals to a special election on Jan. 23. Rep. Julie Parrish and colleagues submitted more than 84,000 signatures to the secretary of state's office, well past the 58,000 or so required.

The $550 million tax is intended primarily to keep 350,000 poor Oregonians on the state's Medicaid program, the Oregon Health Plan. Republicans say they don't want to force Oregonians to lose their health insurance, but they say that there are better ways to cover those costs.

That January election date is thanks to a Democratic effort to hold the election early so that when legislators return for their short February session, they'll know if they have to deal with a big hole in the budget. (Republicans say it's a transparent effort to keep voter turnout light. Both sides may have a point.)

In the meantime, an effort to refer to voters another controversial measure  a law allowing judges to issue orders enabling law enforcement officials to temporarily confiscate weapons from people deemed an imminent threat to themselves or others  appears to have fallen flat. Supporters of that effort said they were not able to gather enough signatures.

And bubbling underneath all of these initiative issues is an effort that could make it easier to gather the signatures needed to get a measure onto the ballot. The Eugene Register-Guard recently reported about an effort being pushed by left-wing political activists that could give registered voters the ability to sign initiative petitions online, via electronic signatures on a state-run website.

That electronic system would be in addition to the current system in which paid and volunteer gatherers collect the signatures on paper. You see them at the farmers markets and going door-to-door.

The gathering of signatures today is a grind, and it's meant to be. The idea is to weed out ideas that can't demonstrate at least some widespread support. By that measure, it appears to be working: The Register-Guard noted that out of 415 initiative petitions filed with the state since the November 2006 election, just 27 of them actually qualified for the ballot. Many of those successful campaigns had the benefit of being able to afford paid signature gatherers. So some grassroots efforts with limited resources feel as if they're locked out.

Interestingly, much of the early opposition to the electronic signature effort (currently going under the label Initiative Petition 2) has come from groups that are no stranger to the initiative process. A big opponent is Our Oregon, the political advocacy group funded by the state's public employee unions. David Carlson, the Portland State University student who is the chief petitioner for Initiative Petition 2, told the Register-Guard that Our Oregon was fearful that making it easier to put initiatives on the ballot would force the organization to spend more time fighting measures it didn't like. (For the record, an Our Oregon spokeswoman said the group believes that the current rules surrounding initiative campaigns are working fine and that Initiative Petition 2 isn't the right way to reform the process.)

In a state where both Democrats and Republicans have worked to remove barriers to voting, it probably makes sense to take a look at the initiative process. And for those fearful that an electronic system might open the floodgates to additional measures, we have to wonder: How is that so much different from what we have now? And keep this in mind as well: Just because the petition is out there in front of you doesn't mean you have to sign it. (mm)
Those of you who want to understand how ruthless, how reckless with others' lives, how stupid, and mostly how arrogant our military and government leaders have been in the past and still are, should be watching the TV series about the Vietnam War by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick.

In the film, an Army man, Sam Wilson, sums it up best when he says "It is very very difficult to dispel ignorance if you retain arrogance." And the bigger the ego, the harder it is to admit one is wrong.

Thus it was surprising when Robert McNamara, the chief architect of increasing our involvement in Vietnam, years later admitted he was wrong. But because of his and other top governmental and military men's ignorant assumptions accompanied by lies, and calculated deceits, almost 60,000 young American and probably 2 million Vietnamese lives were tragically wasted.

If you are not watching this series, at least read 1972's "The Best and the Brightest," by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, David Halberstam, who documented all of this.

Since Vietnam we have seen this scenario played again and again, first in Iraq where there was no valid established reason to start the war and also in Libya where, in both cases, no after-war strategies were ever included. And these errors have returned to bite us on the backside.

Now we have an arrogant president who threatens to destroy North Korea, a land with people who (like most of our own citizens) are innocent. Admittedly there needs to be regime change, but not indiscriminate destruction of a population. Hopefully our leaders will not mishandle this situation.

Werner A. Mukatis

Corvallis (Sept. 21)
Suspected aircraft bomb turns out to be iron rod : A1 motorway closure and rail chaos on Monday

Cologne/Leverkusen The all clear has been given in the search for an aircraft bomb under the A1 motorway near Cologne. Points work at Cologne main station could lead to cancellations and delays in rail traffic.

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The aircraft bomb, which has tested the patience of many commuters on the A1 motorway since the weekend, turned out on Monday morning to be an iron rod, confirmed a spokesperson for the state company NRW Straen. A specialist company examined the discovery and gave the all clear. The suspicious object was not, as first thought, an unexploded bomb from World War II.

Construction workers have already begun to refill the hole. It is not yet clear what precise effect the results of the excavation will have on the timetable for the closure of the A1 motorway. According to previous plans, the closure is to last until at least Wednesday evening. Two of the three lanes can be re-opened on Thursday morning according to information from Straen NRW.

The ADAC also fears extreme traffic problems on diversion routes. The risk of congestion is likely to increase significantly at the start of the week, when commuters, commercial drivers and trade fair visitors are on the way to their destinations. There have also been numerous delays to rail traffic in the greater Cologne area since the early morning hours.

Deutsche Bahn began extensive works at Cologne main station on Monday morning. By 16 October, nine points will be replaced at this important rail junction in the Rhineland. During this time, tracks 7, 8 and 9 in Cologne will not be available and the platform at track 6 will be closed at night.

Deutsche Bahn spoke of a massive impact on traffic at Cologne main station. Lines RE1, RE6, RE8, RE9, RE12, RB27 and RB38 are affected and there will be reduced stops, especially in the Cologne city area. The RE 12 will not run at all.

Passengers will have to expect higher occupancy of trains and increased journey times, particularly on the RE5 and S6 lines, given the current closure of the A1 motorway at Leverkusen towards Cologne. We are facing a major challenge, said a railway spokesman, but hope passengers will adapt to and inform themselves of the situation in good time.
Learning how to extinguish a fire : Spectacular demonstrations at the Fire Brigade Day in Bonn

Bonn The Fire Brigade attracted many families with spectacular demonstrations for its Fire Brigade Day at the Munsterplatz.

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Train driver, astronaut or fireman  these jobs used to be the dream of every young boy. As far as the fire brigade is concerned, nothing much seems to have changed. More and more girls can also imagine working in fire fighting. At any rate, a remarkable number of families with small children found their way to the Munsterplatz on Saturday to learn everything worth knowing about the work of the voluntary and professional fire brigade at the Fire Brigade Day.

Sophia and her brother Lukas looked a bit sceptical when their mother, Jennifer Ichikawa, under the direction of Jorg Schneider, held a fire extinguisher in her hand to bravely put out a blazing fire. The six-year-old and her eight-year-old brother found their mothers appearance in front of a large audience really exciting. Always work with the wind, Schneider advised the young woman, who had spontaneously decided to take part in the exercise at the Munsterplatz. A brief amount of pressure on the water-operated device was enough and the gas flame, which had previously been ignited by officers behind the scenes, went out.

You should really only use this sort extinguisher if there is a small fire, advised Fire Brigade spokesman, Martin Haselbauer. The same applies to the more usual foam extinguisher. The water-operated device had been used to make the demonstration easier. It was an interesting experience for Ichikawa. When youve done it once, its really easy, she said. Nils Roser agreed: You have to do it once, so you know how it works in an emergency, said the Wachtberger.

The Bonn Fire Brigade made the centre of town their operations centre for the day with an interesting programme of events. Numerous emergency vehicles and special equipment - from fire engines to inflatable dinghies  were on show at the Munsterplatz. At information stands, fire brigade personnel advised visitors about smoke alarms, fire prevention in the home or career opportunities with the fire brigade.

At exactly midday, the citys test siren was worked into the programme with fire brigade personnel explaining to visitors what they should do in a real emergency and how one can immediately tell if it is a test alarm. At the same time, residents were informed of the reason for the alarm using announcements on Radio Bonn/Rhein-Sieg and the warning app Nina.

Other highpoints during the action day were a simulated head-on collision, during which fire officers and emergency services showed how they rescue someone who is severely injured. The roof of a dark blue Opel Corsa was cut open for this. At a fashion show, the emphasis was less on optics and much more on practicality. Spectators were interested to see fire officers demonstrating their work clothing. To get closer to their dream job, children can already slip into a chic blue in the Youth Fire Brigade.
An opportunity for foodies and beer lovers to get lost in a world of food and drink from a hand-selected range of food trucks and breweries from around New Zealand.
xspraise at 9-10-2017 06:25 AM (5 years ago) (m)

The U.S. embassy in Ankara says it is suspending, effective immediately, all non-immigrant visa services in the country



The embassy said this was to reassess the commitment of the Government of Turkey to the security of U.S. mission facilities and personnel.



The move will place severe limits on Turkish citizens wishing to apply for a visa using U.S. diplomatic facilities in the country.

The U.S. embassy in Ankara says it is suspending, effective immediately, all non-immigrant visa services in the countryThe embassy said this was to reassess the commitment of the Government of Turkey to the security of U.S. mission facilities and personnel.The move will place severe limits on Turkish citizens wishing to apply for a visa using U.S. diplomatic facilities in the country.

The types of visas affected include tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study.



Last week, the U.S. said it was deeply disturbed by the arrest of a staff member of its consulate in Istanbul, rejecting accusations against him.



The employee is a Turkish citizen and the second local staff member to be arrested in Turkey this year.



The U.S. statement was also critical of leaks from Turkish government sources seemingly aimed at trying the employee in the media, rather than in a court of law.



The move worsened already tense relations between the NATO allies.



Turkish media has been full of information about the employee.



The reports say he was arrested for espionage, saying he is linked to followers of Fethullah Gulen, a cleric living in the US who is an arch-rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.



Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke with his US counterpart Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Saturday, according to Turkish media outlets.



A number of US citizens are jailed in Turkey  in particular, Andrew Brunson, a Christian pastor who was arrested last year and has yet to face trial.



He too is accused of links to the Islamic cleric Gulen. This case has resonated in Washington.



Ankara, meanwhile, wants the US to extradite Gulen, a legal resident in Pennsylvania, accusing him of orchestrating last years failed military coup.



At the same time, Turkey is growing closer to Russia and Iran, worrying some US politicians.



U.S. Amb. John Bass, who is finishing his term in Ankara, said the arrest of the local staff member was motivated by revenge rather than justice among some within the Turkish government, Voice of America reported from a meeting with journalists. The types of visas affected include tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study.Last week, the U.S. said it was deeply disturbed by the arrest of a staff member of its consulate in Istanbul, rejecting accusations against him.The employee is a Turkish citizen and the second local staff member to be arrested in Turkey this year.The U.S. statement was also critical of leaks from Turkish government sources seemingly aimed at trying the employee in the media, rather than in a court of law.The move worsened already tense relations between the NATO allies.Turkish media has been full of information about the employee.The reports say he was arrested for espionage, saying he is linked to followers of Fethullah Gulen, a cleric living in the US who is an arch-rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke with his US counterpart Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Saturday, according to Turkish media outlets.A number of US citizens are jailed in Turkey  in particular, Andrew Brunson, a Christian pastor who was arrested last year and has yet to face trial.He too is accused of links to the Islamic cleric Gulen. This case has resonated in Washington.Ankara, meanwhile, wants the US to extradite Gulen, a legal resident in Pennsylvania, accusing him of orchestrating last years failed military coup.At the same time, Turkey is growing closer to Russia and Iran, worrying some US politicians.U.S. Amb. John Bass, who is finishing his term in Ankara, said the arrest of the local staff member was motivated by revenge rather than justice among some within the Turkish government, Voice of America reported from a meeting with journalists.

Post Reply I am Victor, I write reportage on sport news and latest metro happenings in Nigeria. Posted: at 9-10-2017 06:25 AM (5 years ago) | Hero
This is another chapter in the continuing saga of my experience with technology through the years. Those columns usually start with Remember how easy life used to be?

Yes, remember how easy it used to be to listen to music. In junior high, I would pick up my transistor radio, put in the ear plugs and walk about two miles to the mall in California where I could look around a little and walk home. Then I would put on my 33 1/3 rpm records and dance in my room.

There are several things about that scenario that have changed.

Fast forward to my experience with todays streaming of music.

I have always loved music, so I was excited to find out about Amazon Music Unlimited and to receive an Amazon Echo as a gift. (An Echo is a internet-connected device that recognizes her name Alexa and then plays the song you request.) Lest some Amazon executives somehow sees this humble little column, let me assure them I am a faithful Prime member. Its wonderful to click a button and send gifts across county to my family members. It beats trips to the post office on any day.

So one day this week I asked my Echo to shuffle Kenny Rogers songs and a wonderful song I had never heard came upHandprints on the Wall. A father is singing about how proud he is of his grownup son but wishes he would leave behind a handprint on the wall. It was a lovely idea and made me miss my little kids.

I had an idea! I would make a Susan Favorites playlist on my Amazon account on the computer in my office so I could ask for it on my Echo in the kitchen. I would put the handprints song on it. Id made a similar playlist before, so it was a plausible idea.

Besides, I have Amazon Music Unlimited! Every song in the universe is available to me. My musical wish is Alexas command.

But Amazon said no and that I had to pay for the song. I could go in my kitchen and listen to it, but not put it in a folder on my computer. Plus I needed to install an app on my computer. I didnt even know computers could have apps.

I asked the god of the Internet  Google  how to do it. He or she said I needed to turn on Bluetooth. Oh no. I remembered a moment two of my sons were touching their phones together to share something and I asked how. They said Bluetooth and when I asked how that worked, one of them looked at the other and said, Dont explain it to her. She wont understand.

Well, she would, if someone explained it to her.

Then I had the idea to ask Google if I could play all the iTunes music I had bought before Alexa was born. Google said that I needed to get my Echo and computer to connect.

So I put my computer beside my Echo on the kitchen counter and introduced them to each other. I suddenly was a facilitator for an electronic speed dating service.

Computer, this is Alexa, I said, at which point Alexa turned on and got frustrated with me. I do not understand, she said in an inflectionless voice.

I dont either, never mind, I said, catching myself from saying her name and confusing her even more.

This is my computer, I continued. Alexa said she didnt recognize my device. I hadnt expected her to since they had never met, but apparently that was a big obstacle to her.

They werent impressed enough to exchange emails or Tweets or phone numbers.

I Googled again and was asked if I had Microsoft 10 on my computer. I dont know. I have a son in Utah, Dennis, who takes over my computer from his desk out there and a son-in-law who visits and feels sorry for me and straightens out my computer problems.

I didnt even remember if Microsoft 10 was the new version that Dennis told me not to download until the bugs were worked out. Still waiting on that email. I think. Maybe.

I went further in my attempts to unite everything and Googled listening to iTunes on a Samsung phone, but apparently that will happen when there is peace in the Middle East. Cant we all just get along?

Why do I pay $3.99 every month to be unlimited if I am indeed limited? And I did that just because I wanted to hear that sad song In My Wildest Dreams by the Moody Blues. Who even cares about that song anyway?

Probably just people who have memories of carrying a transistor radio and walking two miles by themselves to a mall and cry years later when they hear songs about childrens handprints on the wall.

I gave up, then checked Amazon for a transistor radio. They are about $30.

Theres hope for me yet.
Paying to Put Out Fires

Up in Smoke

The wildfires that tore through over a million acres of Montana this year damaged homes, cloaked communities in smoke, and burned a hole in the state budget.With winter snow already falling, Montanas blazes mostly have subsided. But the state now faces a $200 million budget shortfall exacerbated by the record cost of fighting wildfires, Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, said in an early September statement explaining the crisis. We are also facing the most expensive fire season in state history, requiring spending of over $60 million to date.State and federal lawmakers across the country are looking back on a record fire season and asking whether theres a way to better prepare financially for major wildfires. The federal government spent more than $2 billion on fires from Florida to Washington this year. States spend untold millions more.As the wildfire season lengthens and the fires become larger and more dangerous  a trend driven by a number of factors, including climate change  both state and federal natural resource departments are spending more time and money on firefighting and less on other forest management programs that help the land recover after wildfires, or lessen the impact of future fires.Western states typically spend less than 1 percent of their general fund each year on wildfire suppression, according to a University of Idaho research group that advises the state Legislature. When fires are severe, budgets are tight or both, the share can spike above 2 percent.Such percentages seem small but can still have a big impact, said lead author Dennis Becker, an associate professor in the department of natural resources and director of the policy research group.In states with small tax bases such as Montana, expensive fires in a tight budget year can wipe out reserve funds and escalate a fiscal crisis.Each state pays for wildland firefighting slightly differently. Lawmakers in many wildfire-prone states set aside part of their general fund each year for fighting fires. Programs in Oregon and Washington are partly funded by taxing timber companies and other forest landowners, for instance. Most states also set aside pools of money to pay for natural disasters and other emergencies.But sometimes that extra money doesnt go far enough. Then its up to lawmakers to figure out how to cover the extra cost.When theres an emergency, the money gets found, someway, somehow, said Mike Morgan, the director of the division of fire prevention and control at the Colorado Department of Public Safety. In Colorado, most counties pay into a wildfire suppression fund that generates about a million dollars a year, he said. The money runs out quickly. Some of these big fires can [cost] a million dollars a day, he said.One of the biggest fires in Colorados recent history, the Waldo Canyon fire, burned near Colorado Springs in 2012 for 17 days and cost over $16.6 million to suppress, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, a multiagency organization that helps coordinate wildfire suppression operations.When Colorados wildfire suppression fund is exhausted, the governor declares a state of emergency and state lawmakers scramble to find more money. They often end up taking money away from the capital budget used to pay for maintenance projects, Morgan said. Were robbing Peter to pay Paul.It can take months to tally the cost of a bad fire season.The federal government typically pays to put out fires on federal land, and states pay to put out wildfires on state and private land. But fires often straddle property boundaries. And when a fire starts, the fire crew closest to it will rush to the scene regardless of jurisdiction.To complicate matters, a dangerous blaze that threatens homes, roads, reservoirs and other infrastructure can involve local and state firefighters, firefighters from other states, and state or federal equipment such as bulldozers and air tankers.Its like an instant army that shows up, said Gary Schiff, policy director for the National Association of State Foresters, a Washington, D.C., based nonprofit comprised of the directors of state forestry agencies.The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse states for three-quarters of the cost of putting out fires that threaten lives and critical infrastructure. But some fires are too rural or remote to qualify. States also spend a lot of time and money putting out smaller, less dangerous fires.Reimbursement from the federal government and other entities typically covers a fraction of a states spending on fire suppression, Beckers study found. In 2015, an extreme fire year, the nine states his team studied collectively spent $1.8 billion to fight wildfires. They were reimbursed by the federal government and other payers  such as other state and local agencies  for nearly $300 million.Montana used to pay for wildfires after they happened. A few bad fire years in the 2000s made that strategy untenable. In 2007 the state created a wildfire suppression fund which currently receives revenue from surplus money found in state agency budgets and the governors emergency appropriations.State Sen. Pat Connell, a Republican who helped craft the current funding mechanism, said it has worked well every year  until this one.Montana came into 2017 facing a budget shortfall due to lower-than-expected revenue from taxes, fees and mineral royalties. Legislators passed legislation in May that authorized the state to withdraw $30 million from the wildfire suppression fund if the revenue situation didnt improve.The money was withdrawn in July, leaving just over $30 million to pay for fighting fires. That $30 million went up in smoke, Connell said.He said FEMA will help cover the cost of six of this years major fires in Montana, but its unclear what that will mean for the states bottom line and when the federal money will arrive.In Oklahoma, an ongoing budget crisis has squeezed the states Forestry Services Division and driven up the cost of fighting fires.Years of budget cuts have whittled the division down to 130 people, including administrators, at a time when the state is seeing more frequent major fires, said George Geissler, the Oklahoma state forester. We do not have the capacity, within our state, with our own personnel, to fight these fires.He said hes become more dependent on expensive out-of-state resources and on tapping the states emergency fund. After a major fire, his team waits for the invoices to trickle in with their fingers crossed. Weve come very close to thinking  how are we going to make payroll? he saidIn Oregon, state lawmakers will have to find an additional $22 million to cover the cost of fighting large wildfires this year, according to Amy Patrick, director of forest protection for the Oregon Forest and Industries Council, a trade association.Such a large additional appropriation is unusual in Oregon, which has bought catastrophic wildfire insurance from Lloyds of London almost every year since the 1970s. Its the only state that uses insurance to help pay for wildfire suppression.Oregons premiums and deductible have risen along with its fire risk, however. This year the state spent $38 million on large wildfires, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry  not enough to hit its $50 million deductible. The state expects about $6 million in reimbursements. A wildfire suppression fund landowners pay into will take care of another $10 million in fire costs.As fires get worse, states need some kind of cushion to protect themselves from a costly year, Becker said, whether thats an emergency fund, an insurance policy or another mechanism.In Idaho, state forester David Groeschl said his department hired an outside contractor to take a close look at its budget and make recommendations for improving the way the state pays for fighting wildfires.Its something that everybodys taking a look at right now, he said. How do you do this without breaking the bank?Connell said he still thinks Montanas wildfire suppression fund is a good solution to the states wildfire budgeting problem. But now the fund is empty, and hes not sure his colleagues in the Legislature will be eager to make a one-time appropriation to fill it back up. There is no money in the till for 2018, he said. It will be problematic.
When California does something, other states pay attention. Not just because it's the most populous state, but also because it's one of the most progressive and has enviably dug itself out of a $26 billion budget hole.The issue of drug prices doesn't appear to be any different.On Monday,California Gov. Jerry Brown signed what many say is the nation's most comprehensive law to make drug prices more transparent. It will likely result in similar legislation in other states. And a 2016 California ballot initiative on drug pricing is being replicated on Ohio ballots this coming November.The new law requires pharmaceutical companies to notify insurers at least 60 days before the price of a drug is expected to increase by 16 percent or more. This is a major departure from the status quo, in which drugmakers don't have to alert anyone, at any time, about price hikes.Weve been told that the rising price of drugs is a function of their cost. But what evidence weve seen is to the contrary, says Assemblymember David Chiu, a co-sponsor of the bill, citing the fact some drugs are often a fraction of the cost in other countries.The EpiPen, for example, an injection used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, saw its price jump from $249 in 2013to $600 for a two-pack last year. In England, the same injection is $69.If the industry is right," says Chiu, "then this bill will help us understand why.Pharmaceutical companies have few regulations regarding price transparency. That's starting to change.In addition to California's new law, Maryland passed a law this year requiring health-care officials to notify the state's attorney general if the price of a generic drug is raised by 50 percent or more. (In response, a trade group representing drug companies asked the courts to throw out the law. The lawsuit is still pending.) New York also passed a law that will put drug companies under scrunity when prices are raised.A prescription drug transparency bill has been introduced in Congress, but it has not gotten serious attention from lawmakers."If you take into consideration the inaction from Congress this year, [California's law] will be one of the biggest pieces of health-care legislation in the country," says Ed Hernandez, the California state senator who sponsored the bill."What I really hope is that at the Congress and the U.S. Senate level, they will look at this bill and use it as a blueprint for the entire country so we can have an honest conversation about controlling health-care costs," Hernandez told The Mercury News. When it comes to actually lowering drug prices, though, California has not had as much success.When Californians went to the polls last November, they voted on a ballot measure that would have let state health agencies pay the same for prescription drugs as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which gets a 24 percent discount off drug manufacturers' prices. The pharmaceutical industry put up a multimillion-dollar defense, and it paid off: The measure lost , four percentage points shy of passage.Undeterred by that loss, Ohio is pursuing the exact same policy.But it will be an uphill battle there, too. With $16 million in contributions, the opposition -- which includes the pharmaceutical industry -- has more than double the money on hand as the campaign in support of the legislation, which has only raised $6 million.A poll conducted in August found the majority of Ohioans are undecided on the measure If passed, proponents of the Ohio Drug Price Relief Act say it would save the state $400 million a year. But former Ohio budget director Greg Browning, who opposes the measure, analyzed the bill and says that the $400 million in savings are grossly oversold because states typically get discounts on drugs anyway.They have made this calculation without taking into consideration the profound fact that these Ohio prescription drug expenditures, which involve 3 million Ohio Medicaid recipients and about 1 million other impacted citizens, already reflect mandatory and negotiated discounts that already rival drug prices paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Browning wrote in an issue brief.But supporters say the VA program has been successful and should be replicated across the country in order to help keep companies in check in the long run."The Department of Veterans Affairs has successfully used this program for years since it was first established by President George H. W. Bush and Congress in 1992," Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator, wrote in the. "Dont be fooled when pharmaceutical companies argue that their pricing strategy is simply based on supply and demand."Michael Stinziano, a Columbus city councilmember, says the measure is necessary and a priority for citizens.A lot of money is being spent on distractions," he says. "But after hearing from so many constituents, its important that we keep pushing for change on this issue."
New Jersey on Thursday accused Insys Therapeutics Inc of engaging in a fraudulent scheme to boost sales of a fentanyl-based cancer pain drug, as Massachusetts announced a $500,000 settlement with the drugmaker to resolve similar allegations.The lawsuit by New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino accused Insys of illegally directing its sales force to push prescriptions of Subsys for a broader range of patients than the opioid drug was approved for, and at higher doses.The lawsuit, filed in Middlesex County Superior Court, alleged Insys also paid kickbacks, including sham speaker fees to medical practitioners to prescribe Subsys and defrauded insurers into paying for it.
President Trump's immigration chief ripped into Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday for signing legislation that creates a statewide sanctuary policy, saying the federal government will be forced to "conduct at-large arrests in local neighborhoods and at work sites" of undocumented immigrants.In a highly critical statement, Tom Homan, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said California's new law undermines public safety and makes it harder for federal immigration officials to do their jobs.He said Brown's decision to sign SB54 on Thursday makes "California a sanctuary state for illegal aliens -- including those who have committed crimes."Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, who wrote SB54, immediately fired back Friday, saying Homan's comments were inaccurate and amounted to fearmongering."The Trump administration is once again making heavy-handed threats against California because we won't help them tear apart families and our economy in the process," de Leon said.SB54 bars law enforcement officers in the state from arresting individuals based on civil immigration warrants, asking about a person's immigration status, keeping an undocumented inmate in jail on an immigration hold, or participating in any joint task force with federal officials for the purpose of enforcing immigration laws.The bill does not prohibit federal immigration officials or the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing federal immigration laws in California. Instead, the law says California will not use its own law enforcement resources to help the federal government in those actions. De Leon introduced the bill in direct response to Trump's crackdown on undocumented immigrants, which has left many in fear."These are uncertain times for undocumented Californians and their families, and this bill strikes a balance that will protect public safety, while bringing a measure of comfort to those families who are now living in fear every day," Brown wrote after signing the bill Thursday.Brown did not comment Friday on Homan's remarks.SB54 allows local jailers to notify immigration officials when an undocumented immigrant in custody has been convicted of a violent felony, as well as hundreds of other crimes. The law largely exempts prisons in the state, allowing state corrections officials to work with immigration officials, although prison inmates have to provide written consent for federal immigration agents to interview them while in custody.State prison officials can still hold and transfer undocumented inmates at the request of federal immigrations agents. The inmate is required to be notified of the action.Despite de Leon, Brown and some law enforcement officials in the state saying the bill does not interfere with ICE operations, Homan said it will."SB54 will negatively impact ICE operations in California by nearly eliminating all cooperation and communication with our law enforcement partners in the state," Homan said, adding the law also prohibits "local law enforcement from contracting with the federal government to house detainees."By limiting their ability to work with jailers, Homan said they will have to focus immigration enforcement in communities instead of jails and prisons, "which will inevitably result in additional collateral arrests."But ICE agents might have a tougher time raiding businesses in California too, under a second law the governor signed Thursday.That legislation, AB450, by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, bars private and public employers from allowing federal immigration authorities to look at records or conduct workplace sweeps unless they have judicial warrants to do so. The law, like SB54, takes effect Jan.1.California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said he stands "ready to fully defend" the sanctuary protections.San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland and dozens of other jurisdictions in California already have sanctuary city policies, with proponents of the protections saying it ensures undocumented immigrants can report crimes without fearing it will lead to their deportation.San Francisco's sanctuary city policy bans city employees from helping or cooperating with federal immigration agents in an investigation or arrest related to a person's immigration status. It also bars employees from asking people who are applying for city benefits about their immigration status or providing information about the release of an inmate, except in limited circumstances.Local sanctuary policies have not stopped federal immigration officials from immigration sweeps, including one last week that resulted in 27 people in the Bay Area being arrested, most with past criminal convictions. The sweep was part of an effort by the Trump administration to target sanctuary cities. Last week's raid in eight states and Washington, D.C., resulted in 498 people from 42 countries arrested, of which 181 had no previous criminal conviction, according to ICE.Ed Medrano, president of the California Police Chiefs Association, said SB54 still allows for some partnerships with federal immigration agents, such as for criminal investigations, easing concern his group had with the bill initially. The bill does bar those partnerships when the focus is immigration enforcement.Medrano said the law "reaffirms what we have held since the beginning, which is that California law enforcement should not be used to assist in mass deportations."
Columbus Day is being recognized today across the United States. But in more than 50 U.S. cities, along with a few universities, counties and states, it's not. Instead, those places are celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day.Rather than commemorating the explorer Christopher Columbus, who has come to be seen as a controversial figure in recent years, the new holiday focuses on the lives of the people he and other European explorers encountered in the New World."Indigenous Peoples Day represents a shift in consciousness," says Dr. Leo Killsback, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and assistant professor of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University. "It acknowledges that indigenous peoples and their voices are important in today's conversations."Columbus Day marks the landing of the Italian-born explorer Christopher Columbus in the Caribbean in 1492. President Franklin Roosevelt created the first federal observance of Columbus Day in 1937. President Richard Nixon established it as a federal holiday in 1972, and today its celebrated every year on the second Monday of October.Historians in recent years have reassessed Columbus and the general depiction of him as a heroic figure. Proponents of Indigenous Peoples Day say Columbus and his crew were responsible for rapes, murders and the plunder of the Caribbean islands where they landed. They also say Columbus didnt "discover" the New World because there were already people living on the islands where he landed.Our city owes our very founding to the indigenous peoples in Denver, Denver City Councilman Paul Lopez told the, shortly after the city adopted the new holiday in 2016. We do this because our history books erase such history. You honor it by making it no longer invisible.Berkeley, Calif, was the first in the nation to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day in 1992, and Santa Cruz, Calif., followed shortly after. No other cities followed suit for a couple decades. But that has changed in the past two or three years.A few dozen cities -- from Bangor, Maine, to Spokane, Wash. -- have now made the switch, along with schools such as Syracuse University and the University of Utah. Three states -- Alaska, Minnesota and Vermont -- have changed the holiday. This year alone, some 20 cities voted to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. One of them was Los Angeles."This gesture of replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day is a very small step in apologizing and in making amends," L.A. City Councilman Mike Bonin, told theStill, jurisdictions that want to change the holiday can face opposition. The parades and festivities that take place on Columbus Day are often a broader recognition of Italian-American culture. Some in the Italian-American community have pushed back against the idea of dropping Columbus Day, seeing it as an erasure of the man and what his achievements mean to some Italian-Americans.On behalf of the Italian community, we want to celebrate with you. We just dont want it to be at the expense of Columbus Day, Ann Potenza, president of Federated Italo-Americans of Southern California, told the L.A. City Council, according to the
On Friday, in the morning, at the Royal International Conference Centre, Bowen Hills, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC officially opened the 2017 Australasia Military Medicine Association Conference and addressed guests.

In the afternoon, at Government House, the Governor and Mrs Kaye de Jersey hosted afternoon tea for Queensland students attending the 2018 National Youth Science Forum where His Excellency addressed guests.
On Saturday, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey welcomed members of the public visiting Government House for guided tours as part of Brisbane Open House 2017.

In the evening, at the Queensland Art Gallery, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey attended the QAGOMA Foundation Annual Dinner where His Excellency addressed guests.
Description

GIS  9 October 2017: The first phase of the Economic and Digital Transformation project of the Foreign Service - which aims at giving Mauritius greater visibility on the international scene - was officially launched today in the Lunch Room of the National Assembly, in Port Louis.

In his address, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, said that the idea behind the project is to use the digital world to create more growth, investment opportunities and employment for Mauritius. This constitutes a turning point in the way the country conducts its foreign policy, he added.

He spoke about making the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, a showcase for other Ministries and transforming it into an economic diplomacy Ministry that will gradually contribute to investment, growth and development. Economic diplomacy will also mean taking decisions online thus reducing the length in decision-making processes, with the challenge making the Civil service work for the citizens, he pointed out.

According to the Minister, Mauritius strength lies in the fact that it is an open liberal economy and the country has come from quite a long way since attaining independence in 1968. Our future depends on our capacity to take up challenges and progress, he said. Mauritius can become one of the most important economic powers in the region as we have done it before and we are going to make of economic diplomacy the centerpiece of the Ministrys strategy adding no one will be left behind in the process, Mr Lutchmeenaraidoo said.

For his part, the Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms and Acting Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mr Eddy Boissezon, highlighted the need for a change in the mindset as the transformation process does not relate only to paperwork. Mauritius has a very intelligent public sector and is now moving towards the digitisation of the Civil service and thus the correct attitude is required to venture into the future and make the country known as a very powerful global player, he stated.

The Australian High Commissioner, Ms Jenny Dee, also present at the event extended Australias support to the Mauritian Government on this transformation process both in terms of Australian expertise and sharing experiences as regards to the incorporation process of economic diplomacy. She recalled the launching, in 2014, of Australias economic diplomacy project which represented a significant landmark of how to carry out foreign policy overseas. Economic outcomes are a top priority for Australias international efforts and we need to use all diplomatic assets in delivering economic diplomacy and that means, trade, foreign policy, investment, tourism and development to support prosperity in the region, she added.

Economic and Digital Transformation project

The Government of Estonia has offered assistance and is sharing with Mauritius a state-of-the-art digital platform that will allow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade operate an effective economic diplomacy and ensure customer-centered services in line with the whole-of-government approach. The Economic and Digital Transformation project of Mauritius Foreign Service is benefitting from Australias financial support.

The service of a Commonwealth consultant on Public Sector Business Transformation, Ms Kelly Culver (from Canada), has also been enlisted, and she made a presentation on the transformation process today in Port Louis. The Director of Central e-Government of Estonia, and one of the founders of Estonian e-Governance Academy, Mr Linnar Viik, also made a presentation on The Estonian whole-of-government approach through digitisation and enabling digital diplomacy.

The Economic and Digital Transformation project will be implemented in three phases. Phase one will focus on short and immediate-term outcomes. The target is to attain a high-level transformation strategy and implementation plan by 31 January 2018. Four Working Groups have been set up to look at all aspects of the reform agenda: Rejuvenation; Transformation; Digitisation; and, Operations and Performance.

Mauritius will moreover host an international technical expert mission from Australia on governance, economic diplomacy, capacity and longer-term alignment to development/growth enabler strategies.
Description

GIS - 09 October, 2017: Initiatives aiming at increasing food security, resilience to climate change and improving livelihood should be encouraged and supported. It is important for Mauritius in particular to support Africas initiative to strengthen and boost livestock development in the region since it is a net food importer relying heavily on exporting countries. Initiatives aiming at increasing food security, resilience to climate change and improving livelihood should be encouraged and supported.It is important for Mauritius in particular to support Africas initiative to strengthen and boost livestock development in the region since it is a net food importer relying heavily on exporting countries.

The Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Mahen Kumar Seeruttun, made this statement this morning, at the opening ceremony of the 4th General Assembly on Animal Genetic Resources in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region and the Steering Committee of the Sub Regional Focal Point on Animal Genetic Countries to Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation of African Animal Genetic Resources, held at Palms Hotel in Quatre Bornes.

Minister Seeruttun underlined the importance of advocating for a sustainable use of animal genetic resources for the development of livestock production to meet future challenges of achieving food and nutrition security. He highlighted that this project will ensure that A frica is not left behind in the global thrust to achieve sustainable utilisation and conservation of these very important genetic resources.

He also pointed out that the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease last year revealed the vulnerability of the countrys livestock sector and has highlighted the weaknesses of its biosecurity system. In this context, he said, a Biosecurity Committee has been set up to undertake a stocktaking of measures in place, identify limitations and propose recommendations and for which a consultant is being recruited.

The Minister underpinned the imperative need of formulating appropriate livestock policies, strategies and legislations to chart the way for the improvement of livestock development. He emphasised that Government e ndeavours to safeguard the local animal genetics and various initiatives are currently being spearheaded to this end.

Regarding policies and strategies, to boost up the livestock sector, Mr Seeruttun stated that the conservation of local genetic resources has been included in strategies of Government as spelt out in the Strategic Plan 2016-2020 wherein emphasis is being laid on conservation and utilisation of Animal Genetic Resources. The Minister added that a programme is being implemented specifically for the conservation of the local Creole cattle, a National Animal Identification System is being set up and a Livestock Policy Hub is being established to work on a livestock breeding policy which will be integrated in the Livestock Production Bill.

4th General Assembly on Animal Genetic Resources

The 4th General Assembly on Animal Genetic Resources in the SADC Region is being held in Mauritius from 9 to 12 October 2017.

The objectives of the General Assembly are to formulate joint interventions for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of animal genetic resources in South Africa; discuss and agree on ways to fast-track the implementation of supported initiatives, especially those on transboundary breeds and to validate the report on the Regional Regulatory Framework for the Exchange, Use and Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources in Southern Africa.
Native Americans Bid To Keep Amazon In Washington And Other HQ2 Pursuit Updates
Reduced commuting time, more time for their families and a better balance between work and personal life.

More autonomy.

Part-time telework = the sweet spot. Half the time in the office and half the time outside the office seems to help avoid these isolation and disconnect issues."

Employee perk.

Teleworking may blur the line between our personal and professional lives. In other words, some teleworkers may have a hard time keeping their personal life separate from their professional life. This report claims that this blurring may have negative effects on the health and well-being of teleworkers.

the line between our personal and professional lives. In other words, some teleworkers may have a hard time keeping their personal life separate from their professional life. This report claims that this blurring may have negative effects on the health and well-being of teleworkers. Longer work hours.

Teleworkers who are out of the office too often say they feel isolated, or separate from their colleagues and the work environment.

Most of us have seen this movie before. We know the ending, and weve made a decision about the best approach to telework.Or have we?Lets start with a bit of background. Theres plenty of history here, and Ive written quite a bit about my (evolving) views on the working from home topic as a government employee going back more than a decade in these articles from CSO magazine and SC magazine Back in May of this year, the Voice of America pointed out that a 2015 survey from Gallup found that 37 percent of Americans worked from home. In 1995, that number was only 9 percent.That article (which is certainly worth reading) listed these pros and cons of teleworking Also, Governing magazine listed their pros and cons of current government telework programs back at the beginning of 2017. Here are some of the listed pros from the Maryland Department of Budget and Management:The telework topic is resurfacing with new research and new data that suggests that more of us may be heading back into the office. Here are a few recent articles worth reading: When working from home doesnt work  Excerpt: In March of 2017, IBM wanted thousands of its workers back in actual, physical offices again.The reaction was generally unsparing. The announcement was depicted, variously, as the desperate move of a company whose revenues had fallen 20 quarters in a row; a veiled method of shedding workers; or an attempt to imitate companies, like Apple and Google, that never embraced remote work in the first place. ...The article goes on to talk about Yahoos decision to do the same thing  bring the workers back to the office. And recent studies suggest that different goals are emerging regarding work.If its personal productivity  how many sales you close or customer complaints you handle  then the research, on balance, suggests that its probably better to let people work where and when they want. But other types of work hinge on what might be called collaborative efficiency  the speed at which a group successfully solves a problem. And distance seems to drag collaborative efficiency down. Why? The short answer is that collaboration requires communication. And the communications technology offering the fastest, cheapest, and highest-bandwidth connection is  for the moment, anyway  still the office. On the humorous side, I love this video that went viral last year with a dad who was doing an interview with the BBC at home when his children came in the room  followed by a frantic mom. (Side Note: Dont we all fear this same thing could happen to us?)Clearly there are practical considerations that we all must deal with when we work at home; nevertheless, public- and private-sector experiences seem to be all over the map regarding telework programs.I have seen telework programs that are very successful and others that become a major problem  harming the team culture. One essential component is an active management approach with supervisors who truly engage employees regardless of where they are sitting (or standing).One tough issue is balancing the need to get real work done with offering a workplace perk. While in Michigan government, we tried to ensure that Fridays did not become the telework day when most people worked from home and minimal business was actually performed. And yet, in several offices, scheduling meetings or accomplishing specific goals on Fridays did become problematic. Over time, we needed to radically modify work schedules and policies and procedures due to employees who were not as productive when working from home.And we all know that professional and personal situations change over time. In order to achieve communication goals, our management team had Michigan government cybersecurity staff rotate between working centrally, sitting with customers (in their business areas) and offering times to work at home. Over more than a decade, we recognized pendulum swings in what was most effective based upon different project requirements and situational differences between client needs. Bottom line: We constantly needed to tweak what we were doing regarding telework and in-office work.In more recent private-sector experience, I work in a small office in Michigan with the majority of our Security Mentor, Inc., staff in California at our headquarters. At times, I can feel disconnected from teams, but I also am much more productive with fewer distractions, specific goals and metrics around deliverables.To overcome challenges, we have video team meetings, regular calls and meetings at conferences, along with periodic in-person visits to headquarters. Bottom line, I like this telework approach, but we actively refine areas that we know can become team weaknesses.I see this telework topic as a constantly evolving aspect of work life in the 21st century that will profoundly impact public- and private-sector cultures and organizational identity. Employee family needs certainly change throughout life. However, this topic also impacts issues like road congestion, carpooling, PC versus laptop purchases, available office space, innovation and many other topics such as cybersecurity protections at home with remote office connectivity.It is clear that the pendulum is now swinging back toward a more traditional team approach, with in-person interactions around tables in physical offices  and not just via videoconferences from home. How far this goes remains to be seen, but I dont think we are ever going back to under 10 percent working of the workforce participating in telework (at least part-time.)My advice: Revisit this topic at least annually with your executive teams, managers, supervisors and front-line staff. Ask whats working and whats not working regarding telework. Do we need to update policies and procedures? Do we need two-factor authentication on our laptops and applications? What else needs tweaking or an overhaul?Without transparency, telework programs will fail. This is not a one and done topic. Dont be afraid to have open, honest discussions with your staff as part of performance reviews. The pendulum may need to swing one way or the other for a time, but the telework boat has left the dock for most roles  in my opinion.So how well is your organizations telework boat truly sailing? Is it time to trim the sails?
(TNS) - As many as 10 wind-whipped fires burned a destructive path across the North Coast early Monday, destroying homes and businesses in Santa Rosa and the Sonoma Valley while forcing entire neighborhoods to flee in the middle of the night. At least five fires in Sonoma, Lake and Napa counties were threatening residential communities, Cal Fire officials said.The sound of explosions, mostly bursting propane tanks, punctuated the rush as authorities raced to evacuate hospitals, senior centers and apartment complexes in northwest Santa Rosa while fleeing residents packed the roads.Just about every fire resource in Sonoma County has been deployed, and at least 25 additional Cal Fire strike teams deployed from across the area to arrive, said Windsor Fire Chief Jack Piccinini, speaking from a central command post near the Kmart store in north Santa Rosa.We dont have enough help. The fire is so big, Picinini said. Everyone in Sonoma County is spread out fighting these fires, but they dont have enough resources to handle something like this. The only thing we can do is hope the wind will come down.Cal Fire Division Chief Greg Bertelli urged people close to the fire zones to err on the side of caution and evacuate early.Dont try to stay and sit it out, its important to try to help each other and evacuate, Bertelli said. Life safety, other things can be replaced, but take yourself, your loved ones.The fire burning in Santa Rosa was just one of a series of wildfires burning through swaths of Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties, breaking out in a series starting about 10 p.m. Sunday.These blazes have taken place at an individuals most vulnerable time, when they are home and in bed, State Sen. Mike McGuire said.The fire burning in Santa Rosa is believed to have begun late Sunday night near Highway 128 in Napa County and moved down Mark West Road toward Santa Rosa. The fire leveled entire blocks in the Fountaingrove area of Santa Rosa, where three-story homes were burning along Thomas Lake Harris Drive. The citys new fire station in the area, Fire State 5, was destroyed.The hills surrounding Santa Rosa glowed red early Monday and evacuees fleeing the fire clogged West College Avenue at 3 a.m., as officials opened additional shelters.Multiple fires burning in densely populated areas at night propelled by winds gusting up to 50 miles per hour severely strained firefighters, McGuire said.Of great concern is Kenwood, Glen Ellen and greater Santa Rosa, he added.Darkness made it difficult to determine how many acres had burned and impossible to fight the fires from the air. McGuire said that hundreds of firefighters were en route from throughout the state and that aerial attacks would begin at first light, with winds expected to ease by 9 a.m.In Kenwood, fire destroyed homes on both sides of Highway 12. Another branch of a wildfire was spreading from Geyserville and heading toward Cloverdale, Sonoma County sheriffs spokesman Spencer Crum said.Up here in the hills, there is lots of fire, lot of smoke, and we have to be very careful we dont get ourselves strapped, Crum said. There are a lot of one-way in, one-way out roads.In Santa Rosa, the fire burned through the Sky Farm subdivision above Santa Rosas Fountaingrove neighborhood and raced down the hill toward the Larkfield-Wikiup area. The fire tore through homes surrounding Cardinal Newman High School. Santa Rosas historic round barn, at the gateway to Fountaingrove, was also burned, as was the Journeys End mobile home park to the north of Kaiser Permanentes hospital in Santa Rosa and multiple homes along Hopper Lane.No air support would be available until first light.Its real bad, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Marshall Tuberville said. This is an example of nature in control, and we are doing what we can, but were not being that effective at stopping the fire.Wind-whipped fires burned into parts of Santa Rosa and the Sonoma Valley early Monday morning, destroying multiple homes in neighborhoods to the north and southeast of Santa Rosa.Both Sutter and Kaiser evacuated patients from their Santa Rosa hospitals as the fire approached. Traffic was backed up at multiple intersections in the Larkfield and Wikiup areas. Many people had abandoned their cars in the streets to flee the flames.By 3 a.m. flames had jumped Highway 101 on the fires westward march, as strong winds pushed ash and smoke over a wide area of the city.An emergency evacuation center was full at the Finley Community Center in west Santa Rosa, located at 2060 W. College Ave. Cars filled the parking lot shortly before 3 a.m. Monday and traffic was stopped trying to turn into the center.The Finley Center was crowded with hundreds of evacuees as of 4 a.m. Many seniors from nursing homes from the hillside region were being brought to the center.Ted Regan, who lives near Calistoga Road, said he saw the glow from the foothills behind his house about 2 a.m.It got brighter and brighter and then we saw flames. Thats when we said, Its time to go, Regan said.He, his wife, two adult sons, two dogs, four cats and two birds all got in his car and left immediately.Rachel McKenzie, who lives on Tuliptree Road, started to evacuate at 2 a.m. with her 12-year-old, Bryce Ward, and her husband, Kevin Ward. They left with their reptiles and dog as they fled their house. Pulling out, their neighbors house was fully engulfed.It was totally chaotic, McKenzie.Her neighbor later called her and said her house burned down.Laura Mills, who lives on Wedgewood Way in Fountaingrove, was forced to evacuate with her husband at 2 a.m.It was very spooky. It was like an apocalypse, Mills said of the bumper-to-bumper traffic as she left her house.Authorities were directing evacuees to the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Ave. The Petaluma Community Center, at 320 N. McDowell Blvd., was also opened as an evacuation center. The Sonoma County Fairgrounds is open for people with large animals; access the fairgrounds via Gate 7 on Aston Avenue. Bridge of Faith church, at 920 Link Lane in Santa Rosa, also opened its doors to evacuees.In the Sonoma Valley, Ramekins culinary school and inn, 450 W. Spain St., was open as a shelter.Mandatory evacuations were ordered from a wildfire reported between Calistoga and Santa Rosa, to the east of Porter Creek Road and Petrified Forest Road, the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office announced shortly after 11 p.m.Evacuations were ordered along Porter Creek, Petrified Forest, Franz Valley and Mountain Home Ranch roads. Deputies were dispatched to help firefighters and CHP officers with evacuations.If you live in this area, please be alert for the danger, the Sheriffs Office said shortly after 11 p.m. We are not on scene yet and havent been able to determine the best evacuation route.Many trees were down on Calistoga Road and 911 lines were inundated with callers reporting smoke. Dispatchers asked the public to refrain from calling, unless they were facing an immediate emergency.Multiple fires broke out Sunday night as strong winds buffeted the area. In Sonoma County, fires were reported in Santa Rosa, at Mark West Springs and Riebli roads; in Windsor at Shiloh Road and Conde Lane; in Sebastopol at Highway 116 and Fredericks Road; in Kenwood, on Lawndale Road; and in Glen Ellen, on Dunbar Road.Multiple structures were burning early Monday near downtown Kenwood, where the fire had crossed over Sonoma Creek. Fires were burning on both sides of Highway 12 in swirling winds, with gusts of 5o to 60 miles per hour. Multiple structures were also burning on Adobe Canyon Road, east of Kenwood across Highway 12.In Napa County, firefighters were battling a 200 acre fire off Atlas Peak Road south of Lake Berryessa, Cal Fire reported.The Red Cross has exhausted its volunteer pool and is seeking additional volunteers, according to the City of Santa Rosa Facebook page. Those willing to help with check-in and supply distribution are encouraged to call 707-543-4542 or go to Elsie Allen High School, 599 Bellevue Ave. or Cook Middle School, 2480 Sebastopol Rd.---
(TNS) - After the last fire truck in the annual Del Thomas Fire Truck Parade in Bloomington entered the parking lot at State Farms Corporate headquarters Sunday afternoon, the man for whom the parade was named, grinned from ear to ear.Weve been doing this for so long, he said of the two-hour event that kick starts Fire Prevention Week, that I cant remember how many we have done now. But Im always very proud and know that we get a great turnout every time.Sundays parade, which featured about 35 fire trucks, representing each fire department in McLean County, was the 25th annual event. The parade started in 1982 when Thomas, then the fire chief at Hudson, persuaded other departments to organize the parade, which begins at Franklin Park and ends in the State Farm parking lot. Once there, families are encouraged to tour the trucks and visit with firefighters and first responders. Some departments distribute fire prevention materials and small plastic fire helmets to the children.That first year, people told us we would never be able to pull it off, Thomas said, but we did and I thought it was important to get the kids involved and you can see that they are really enjoying themselves.Three-year-old Steven McEldowney visited with Sparky the fire prevention dog, who sat on top of the lead fire truck in the parade.Yeah, hes cool, Steven said.His parents, John and Kathy, said the parade serves several different purposes for parents.He gets to see the fire trucks and visit with the firefighters, too, John said. Its a good thing for everyone.Sullivan Plath, 5, of Normal, was able to try on a full-sized firefighter uniform, including boots.Its so heavy, he said, I cant even move.Brian Marshall, 7, of Bloomington, was able to sit in the cab of a Towanda Fire Department truck, and pretended to steer, while also making the noises of an engine, and at times, a siren.Im going to the fire so people need to get out of the way, he said. We can see the smoke from here.Brian said that someday, he hopes to drive a fire truck and be either a police officer or a firefighter.We come to this every year because he has so much fun and as he gets a little older, I think he understands more about what it takes to be a firefighter, said his mother, Emily.Jill Hoffman, brought her son, Dylan, 5, and daughter, Courtney, 4, to the parade.We have never been and actually forgot that it was today until we heard the sirens, Hoffman said. Its a really fun thing for the kids and its a great learning tool.For the 25th straight year, there was also no rain at the parade.It just doesnt rain on this event, Thomas said. I was watching the weather all week and wasnt a bit surprised that it rained and then cleared up for Sunday. I dont know how we have managed to have such great luck with this, but we have and today, with it being really comfortable, its just perfect.Fire Prevention Week runs through Saturday and this year, the theme is Every Second Counts: Plan Two Ways Out, said Illinois Fire Marshal Matt Perez in a statement released Friday.Firefighters from all over the state, including Central Illinois, will be visiting schools to teach students the importance of fire safety.Follow Kevin Barlow on Twitter: @pg_barlow2017 The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.)Visit The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.) at www.pantagraph.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Optimism ahead

(TNS) -- Automation has created a double-edged sword for the manufacturing sector.Although manufacturing jobs have decreased because of automation, the jobs are safer and higher paying. And for every manufacturing job created, another three or four pop up in a support field."Manufacturing is the future," says Randy Zook, Arkansas State Chamber/Associated Industries of Arkansas president and CEO. "Our manufacturers are passionate about finding the next generation of innovators and inventors."Arkansas' economy relies heavily on the manufacturing industry, Zook adds, because the sector creates jobs and opportunities.While the jobs that remain in manufacturing are higher paying than they once were, the National Association of Manufacturers anticipates a "skills gap" that will be unable to fill about two-thirds of the roughly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs that will "likely be needed."Mervin Jebaraj, interim director of the Center for Business Economic Research at the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business, said manufacturers nationally are seeing "record highs" on production output with fewer workers."The general trend in manufacturing is that it needs fewer people," Jebaraj said.Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tim Allen likewise says that manufacturing jobs nationwide continue to drop because of automation, but these jobs are higher paying because they "require a whole different skill from the neck up."Allen mentioned the new Glatfelter paper products plant at Chaffee Crossing as an example of higher tech, higher paying jobs that have been created in Fort Smith."With Glatfelter, and between 75 to 100 other projects, the average wage is much higher than it was 10 to 12 years ago," Allen added.Manufacturing jobs remain a significant piece of the pie in Fort Smith, at about 16 percent, and appear to be on a slight rebound.According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), manufacturing sector jobs in the Fort Smith metropolitan statistical area (MSA) decreased minimally between August 2016 and 2017. And the National Association of Manufacturers anticipate growth with possible tax reform.Focusing just on Fort Smith, employment in the city's manufacturing sector has dropped by about 8,400 jobs in the past 10 years, according to BLS. It has went from about 26,000 jobs in 2006 to about 17,600 in July. However, numbers improved in August, bumping up a couple hundred jobs to 17,800 in Fort Smith.Although it is possible now to make more product with less people, several more years of upgrades may be needed to make up for the high number of manufacturing jobs lost in Fort Smith.According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the gross domestic product (GDP) for Fort Smith area manufacturers has gone from over $2.8 billion in 2006 to about $1.5 billion in 2016. Manufacturing GDP for the entire Fort Smith MSA saw increases in 2009-2010, followed by lost gains from 2011 to 2012. The area's manufacturing GDP dipped below 2012 numbers from 2015 to 2016.The Fort Smith MSA includes LeFlore and Sequoyah counties in Oklahoma, which could skew data because both of those counties have higher unemployment rates than Sebastian and Crawford counties in Arkansas.The unemployment rate in LeFlore County is the highest in the Fort Smith MSA, but it has also showed gains by dropping from 7.5 percent in July 2016 to 5.8 percent in July 2017. Sequoyah County's unemployment rate dropped from 6.5 to 5.6 percent over the past year.Crawford County's dropped from 4.3 to 3.6 percent from July 2016 to July 2017. Sebastian County's dropped from 4 to 3.6 percent in that period, while Fort Smith's has dropped from 5 to 4.2 percent.Despite the lower number of jobs in manufacturing, both in Arkansas and Fort Smith, the overall unemployment rates for both are lower than the national average in July of 4.6 percent. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 156,000 in August, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 4.4 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Sept. 1. Due to the destructive hurricanes in September, the BLS recently reported, the economy lost 33,000 jobs. It was the first monthly decline in employment in seven years.On the national scale, manufacturers contributed $2.18 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2016. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, this figure has risen since the second quarter of 2009, when manufacturers contributed $1.7 trillion. Over that same time frame, value-added output from durable goods manufacturing grew from about $870 billion to $1.2 trillion, with non-durable goods output rising from $850 billion to $1 trillion. In 2016, manufacturing accounted for 1.7 percent of U.S. GDP in the economy.The National Association of Manufacturers' Outlook Survey for the third quarter of 2017 also noted the movement for tax reform has led to the highest three-quarter average of manufacturer optimism ever recorded by the NAM.""Throughout the debate on tax reform, manufacturers have been leading the charge for a bold legislative package that will spur growth and create jobs among both small and large manufacturers," NAM states.A majority of manufacturers who took part in the recent NAM survey said a pro-growth tax reform package would make them more likely to expand their business (64.3 percent), hire more workers (57.3 percent) and increase employee wages and benefits (52.2 percent).The survey also found optimism among small and large manufacturers reached the highest three-quarter average in the survey's 20-year history of 90.87 percent, up significantly from last year's three-quarter average of 59.77 percent.




1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
After a series of successful third-party test results by industry-leading companies in commercial trucking, manufacturing, and road construction, ZAF is expanding its production capacity to rapidly seed the market and drive demand for its nickel zinc battery as a replacement for lead-acid batteries in key market segments.

ZAF Energy Systems Inc. ( ZAF ) has opened a new production facility in Joplin, Missouri, dedicated to manufacturing its initial line of rechargeable nickel zinc (NiZn) batteries.

The additional production capability will enable the company to meet growing customer demand which will accelerate licensing and joint venture negotiations and commercialize NiZn batteries on a global scale. ZAFs NiZn batteries have potential uses in a wide range of applications including: automotive, heavy trucking, remote telecom, renewable energy, and marine.

The existing facility in Montana will continue to serve as ZAFs research and development hub. ZAF will begin staffing the new facility by transferring five current employees from its Montana location and then hiring 20 new employees to work alongside them by the end of 2017. The facilitys workforce is expected to grow to more than 100 workers.

NiZn batteries offer twice the storage capacity and three times the power of legacy lead-acid batteries in a smaller, lighter package. They provide a powerful and affordable alternative to their lead-acid counterparts while generating a lower environmental impact.
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GREENSBORO  Finding 12 people who can be impartial on a highly publicized death penalty case that involves homosexual activity and mental health issues is not the easiest thing to do.

Since Oct. 2, a prosecutor and two defense attorneys have been trying to whittle down more than 80 people to serve on a jury in the first-degree murder case against 29-year-old Garry Gupton.

Greensboro police said that in November 2014, Gupton met 46-year-old Stephen White at the Chemistry Nightclub, a gay bar and lounge, before the pair traveled to the Battleground Inn where they had sexual contact. After that, Gupton allegedly set White on fire, killing him.

Guptons attorneys, Wayne Baucino and Ames Chamberlin of Greensboro, said their client will admit to some of the accusations and plans to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

One potential juror questioned on Monday why he should believe what Gupton says on the stand.

If hes insane, how can I trust his testimony? he asked.

That juror was dismissed after telling Guilford County Assistant District Attorney Robert Enochs that if he believes Gupton is guilty he would not consider a life sentence, but death.

He wasnt alone.

I believe the justice I would want is the death penalty, another potential juror added. Im just being honest with you.

Others in the jury pool disagreed.

Ill probably have a hard time with the death penalty, one said. Im not a proponent of the death penalty and that would be a sticking point for me. I could not vote for the death penalty and sleep at night.

He, too, was dismissed.

Then there was the issue of homosexual relationships  which seemed to be less problematic for jurors.

The majority of those questioned on Monday said they didnt agree with homosexuality, but it wouldnt affect their views of the victim or defendant.

Baucino told those in the jury pool that White was openly gay and Gupton was struggling with his sexuality. Baucino said that although their contact in the hotel began as consensual, Gupton will accuse White of sexually assaulting him prior to White being set on fire.

Baucino also warned prospective jurors that they will have to view photographs depicting burns so severe that Whites bones can almost be seen.

For a lot of people those photographs will be very disturbing, Baucino said.

The attorneys got a reprieve as they tried to pick their 12th juror. One woman was so impartial she seemed perfect.

All that remained was the search for three alternates to serve in case something happened to one of the jury members.

One potential alternate juror added some humor to a long day when he told Enochs he could serve  even if it meant hed be late to help set up for his rehearsal dinner Friday.

They can be without one man for the morning, the juror explained.

Youre kind of an important man, Enochs quipped.

Because the state and the defense are flying in witnesses to testify, they agreed not to begin opening statements until Wednesday morning.
ELON  Elon University didnt have to go too far to find its next president.

The university on Monday announced that Constance Connie Ledoux Book will be Elons ninth president. For the past two years, Book has been provost of The Citadel, the military college in South Carolina.

Before that, Book had worked for 16 years at Elon, where she rose up the faculty and administrative ranks.

Book, 52, will be the first woman to lead Elon when she starts work March 1. Shell replace Leo Lambert, who is stepping down after 19 years. Elon did not disclose Books salary.

How lucky am I? Book said at a ceremony Monday afternoon to re-introduce her to the Elon community.

Calling herself humbled and excited by the remarkable opportunity to become Elons president, Book pledged to champion and hold this universitys future with great care.

The granddaughter of cotton sharecroppers, Book grew up in Louisiana as one of nine children. She went to college and graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism. Book worked briefly as a reporter and producer at a Baton Rouge TV station before returning to school to get her masters degree and doctorate.

Book taught communications for six years at three different colleges before Elon hired her in 1999, a few months after Lambert became president.

At Elon, Book rose through the faculty ranks from assistant professor to, eventually, full professor and wrote a book on digital television.

Book also took on several administrative roles. As a faculty fellow and a member of Lamberts senior staff, she oversaw the process that produced the strategic plan that has guided the universitys growth over the past decade. (As president, Book will write a new long-range plan that will steer Elon during the 2020s.)

Her final job at Elon was associate provost for academic affairs, which put her in charge of several programs related to curriculum, facilities, academic advising and experiential learning programs for a university thats rapidly approaching 7,000 students.

Book was one of about 150 candidates  and one of two finalists  considered for Elons presidency. Wes Elingburg, the trustee who led the search committee, said the group was impressed with her knowledge of and performance at Elon.

But it was her accomplishments in a little more than two years at The Citadel that set Book apart, Elingburg said.

Book in 2015 became the first female provost at the South Carolina military college that didnt admit women as undergraduate students until 1996. During Books tenure as the second-ranking administrator at The Citadel, the college started new programs in nursing, engineering, cybersecurity and several other disciplines. Book also opened offices for undergraduate research and study-abroad programs and helped The Citadel recruit a more diverse faculty and student body.

In a statement, The Citadels president, Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa, said Books dynamic leadership has set conditions for The Citadel to flourish.  Her service to our institution was nothing short of extraordinary.

Book was the unanimous choice of Elons trustees at their meeting Sunday on the final day of the annual Family Weekend.

Kerrii Brown Anderson, chairwoman of Elons Board of Trustees, said the Elon community wanted a new leader with many different qualities  someone who was student-centered, friendly, approachable, has a global perspective and more.

Guess what? Anderson told the audience inside Alumni Gym. We believe we met your expectations. Connie Book has all of those elements.  We have found the best person to lead the many chapters in Elons next history.
Many happy returns, UNCG

A cake 125 feet long is pretty impressive. But so is the long history of UNC-Greensboro.

Last week, the university threw a party on the 125th anniversary of opening its classroom doors as the N.C. State Normal and Industrial School in 1892. Enrollment was 198 young women.

It changed its name a couple of times over the decades, admitted men, became integrated, joined the UNC system and grew to a student body of nearly 20,000.

It has had a huge economic, cultural, artistic and intellectual impact in Greensboro.

More events during the academic year will mark the 125th, but the essence of the celebration is expressed in a salutation composed by Fred Chappell, a poet laureate and professor emeritus. It begins:

We gather to express all gratitude

For those enduring gifts that we received

From the faithful nurturing Motherhood

Of our University beloved.

Well said, and best wishes, UNCG! You have delivered many happy returns.

Subverting justice

The punitive $10 million budget cut inflicted on Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein by the Republican legislature last summer forced him to ask the states district attorneys for help. He needed them to defend some of their cases on appeal.

Last week, the legislature put a stop to that. In an unannounced addition to a budget technical corrections bill, it declared: The Attorney General shall not delegate to the district attorney, or any other entity, the duty to represent the State in criminal and juvenile appeals.

As if it wasnt clear before, it is perfectly evident now that the legislature puts a very low priority on defending criminal and juvenile matters in our appellate courts. In order to impose some political price on Stein, apparently in retaliation for winning an election last year against Republican state Sen. Buck Newton, it is willing to undermine the important work of the attorney generals office. Thats not just petty; its subverting justice.

Greensboros John Blust, a lawyer, was one of only two House Republicans to vote against this bill. Good for him.

Vaccines save many lives

Twenty million lives saved.

Thats the conclusion of a research team led by Dr. Sachiko Ozawa of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in Chapel Hill.

The group studied the effectiveness of a global vaccine alliance launched in 2000 to provide vaccines to children in 73 of the worlds poorest countries. In addition to preventing so many deaths, vaccines for 580 million children saved $350 billion in health care costs.

The UNC school not only offers world-class pharmacy training. Its leadership in this important research shows that its part of a network looking for solutions to health challenges all around the world.

When major initiatives, such as the global vaccine campaign, are made, its critical to accurately assess results. Doing so informs future policy decisions.

In this case, investments by the U.S. and other donor nations bring very gratifying results, judging by Dr. Ozawas report.

Please vote Tuesday

Do we need to remind you that Tuesday is primary election day?

Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. It will be a long, slow day for poll workers if turnout is poor.

But theres no excuse for that. There are mayoral primaries in Greensboro, High Point and Jamestown. In each municipality, three candidates will be whittled to two.

Greensboro and High Point have large fields running for at-large seats  three seats in Greensboro, two in High Point. There are primary contests in each of Greensboros five districts.

The primaries determine which candidates advance to the final ballot in November. Please dont complain then about a lack of choices if you fail to vote Tuesday  unless you voted early.

A low voter turnout will mean that a small number of people get to make important decisions for everyone else.
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Statues of Christopher Columbus were vandalized in Norwalk, Bridgeport, Middletown and New Haven in what police say may have been an action coordinated by an anarchist group.

On the eve of the holiday honoring the Italian explorer, blood-red paint was thrown across three of the statues. Only Norwalks statue escaped the red paint, but it had FAKE NEWS emblazoned on its base.

In Bridgeport, where a larger-than-life Columbus stands tall in the Seaside Park looking south toward the sea, the red paint was accompanied by the words Kill the Colonizer.

I noticed right before I parked. I was like 'What is this red thing on it?' said Marylin Osoria, of Bridgeport, who came to the park to take a walk.

Then she saw the white-brushed words Kill the Colonizer, painted below the statue.

This is not graffiti, said Osario, who considers herself no fan of Columbus. This is not art. This is pure defacement.

Police departments around the state and country have been working together after learning that an anarchist group was advocating widespread vandalism against Columbus monuments, Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez said.

Now Playing: Columbus statue defaced in Bridgeport Video: CTGlobal

We received information that the Revolutionary Abolitionist Movement was going to vandalize our statue at Seaside Park and when officers checked it this morning they found red paint had been poured on it, Perez said.

The organization, part of the anarchist movement known as Antifa, is intent on reigniting this summers fierce political debate. They put out a call on social media with the hashtag #destroycolonialism.

In August, while cities in the South roiled over the take-down of Confederate monuments, statues of Christopher Columbus came under fire in the North. One Columbus statue was decapitated with a baseball bat in Yonkers and another was smashed with a sledgehammer by people holding signs reading Racism: Tear it down.

Leaders on both sides of the Columbus-as-hero question began taking action. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio convened a commission to review the statue in Columbus Circle while the elders of Columbus Lodge 2143 in Massapequa, N.Y. declared that they would take in and prominently display all Columbus statues that other cities were rejecting.

Fred Bellise, the vice president of the lodge, said that, as of noon on Columbus Day, no one had taken up the offer.

Ill see what happens today, he said.

In Norwalk, the Christopher Columbus monument at Heritage Wall, had FAKE NEWS neatly stenciled in white paint on its base.

Marie Iannazzi, president of the Norwalk chapter of The Sons of Italy, said she was saddened by the action.

If you go into all of these heroes, everyone had a black mark, but the statue honors them for the accomplishments, not for everything in the past," Iannazzi said. "Otherwise, I dont think wed have any statues. Were all people, were all flawed.

Ken Hughes, Norwalks interim parks director, said the tagging of the statute with graffiti likely occurred Saturday night. Norwalk police are investigating. They received a complaint Sunday afternoon about vandalism of the statue, which is the centerpiece of Thomas C. OConnor park

We were there cleaning up on Thursday, Hughes said. We cleaned up the site for the ceremony and it wasnt on there then so it probably happened Saturday night. Well clean it off the first thing (Tuesday) morning.

The Sons of Italy, Knights of Columbus and St. Ann Club were to hold a Columbus Day ceremony at the statute on Sunday but relocated the event to the St. Ann Club because of the weather.

The controversy surrounding Columbus has, so far, kept its distance from Stamford.

Stamford Patrol Capt. Susan Bretthauer said the department began increasing patrols of Columbus Park and its eponymous statue on Thursday. About two weeks ago, tthe police had received notice from UNICO National, a group that celebrates Italian-American contributions to the nation, warning the statutes might become targets.

Bretthauer said that she even told her patrol officers when driving by the park to take a glance at the statue.

Just to pay attention and see if there was anyone hanging around that is up to no good, Bretthauer said.

Police in Middletown and New Haven stepped up patrols of their monuments. The red paint on those statues had been removed on Saturday.

"I don't care what your view of Christopher Columbus is, said Middletown Common Councilman Sebastian N. Giuliano, whose father and grandparents came from Melilli, Sicily. There are other ways to express your disagreement with the whole idea than to show such a lack of respect for the efforts and sensibilities of your fellow citizens.

Staff writers R. A. Schuetz and Daniel Tepfer contributed to this report
GREENWICH  Police arrested a New York City man on charges of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct on the afternoon of Oct. 4.

Raymond Rodriguez, 21, of Elliot Place, the Bronx, was accused of smashing a cell phone on Stanwich Road during an altercation with another person. Police said he also damaged property in a residence while making a disturbance.
A modified logo is in place at the just-reopened restaurant. Photo: Evan Sung

Early on, like ten years ago, I wished that somehow more people were watching what we were doing, says Daniel Humm, the Swiss-born chef who arrived in New York to take over as the chef of Eleven Madison Park in early 2006. But looking back, that was like the best thing, because you could put something on the menu and if it wasnt perfect, or you wanted to make changes, you could take it off two days later and no one would even know about it.

That, of course, is no longer the case. Humm has since won every star and accolade imaginable for his cooking at the restaurant (including the top spot on the always controversial but nevertheless influential list of the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants), and when he and partner Will Guidara closed EMP earlier this year to renovate, it was international news (at least among people who follow the goings-on of super-high-end restaurants). They overhauled the dining room, the kitchen, all of the serviceware, and the restaurants $295 tasting menu. We question everything a hundred-thousand times, Humm says, and we asked ourselves if we would leave anything or not. In the end, the chef will keep a couple heavy-hitter dishes and incorporate them into a menu filled with new ideas  which also makes Humm long for those earlier, under-the-radar days: Now, I think everything that we put forward the very first day on that menu will be talked about and criticized.

The restaurant reopened last night, and at least one dish will be familiar to EMP devotees: Humms duck, roasted with honey and lavender. Hes also updated a dish of celery root. The original was orbs of the vegetable cooked in a pigs bladder before being served with a sauce of black truffles. That dish, it was probably my most important, for me personally, the chef says. It gave us a language, and it gave us the key to the future. Not that he started cooking everything in bladders. Instead, Humm refers to the dishs stunningly austere presentation, which works to downplay the hours of meticulous work that actually go into making it. Eight years ago, when you looked at some of my food, it looked like it took 20 chefs to put it together with tweezers, he explains. Today, it might still take 20 chefs, but I dont want that to show. I want it all to be much more accessible.

Humms food has been trending toward hyperminimal for a while, and the new menu feels like a natural evolution of his style, with all the superfluous garnishes and gimmicks completely stripped away. Its a lot harder, Humm says. Back in the day, I could just say, Oh, this element is one inch from here, and this is half an inch. Today, its much more about feeling  its harder to explain how to make something look organic and beautiful.

Here, Humm talks through everything on the restaurants new menu.

Savory Black-and-White Cookies

We decided that we will keep the black-and-white cookie that starts the meal because its very much of the place, its very much New York, and its just delicious.

One of the few holdovers from previous menus. Photo: Evan Sung

First Bites

We do a series of hors doeuvre that are all based on fall traditions. The first is based on roasted chestnuts. We use a silicon mold to make a shell of chestnuts thats filled with more chestnuts and truffle. Its crispy on the outside, and has a mousse inside. Thats one bite. We also have a sweet-potato tart thats based on sweet-potato pie. Then we have three different types of apples that we compress, that you can then dip into a foie-gras caramel, and then dip into an almond-apple crumble. Its a caramel apple, with foie gras. Our fourth bite is based on game pie. Its a mixture of venison, liver, and blood sausage that we make from the venison. You know, game in New York was huge at one time.

The spread of fall hors doeuvre. Photo: Evan Sung

Clams With Fennel

Next, we have a choice of three appetizers. One is a salad of marinated clams and fennel. Theres a mousse of clam. Its labor-intensive, but also very simple. The clams are just tossed into the cooking liquid and its quite minimal. I think it is stunningly beautiful.

The food is super minimal now, Humm says of his teams plating style. Photo: Evan Sung

Mushrooms

The second appetizer you can choose is sort of like mushroom carpaccio. This has a ton of umami, and theres something thats very cool about umami. If you have a taste like acid, and you use different acidic elements in the same dish, they work against each other. Umami is different: Ingredients escalate and get stronger. They help each other, and everything gets more intentional. Here, we have king-trumpet mushrooms cooked in seaweed and then dehydrated, with a mushroom puree and pine nuts. The different sources of umami can be subtle, but with food this minimal, you want to do a lot with a little.

Humm doubles down on the umami by cooking mushrooms in seaweed. Photo: Evan Sung

Foie Gras, Two Ways

We also have foie gras, which we can do cold or hot. The cold one is an important dish for us, too. We take red cabbage, we braise it, and then we put the cabbage back together with layers of foie gras. It took us forever to figure out how to make it so that the leaves were soft but kept the shape we needed. Its such a simple dish, but it literally took us like five months to figure it out. The seared foie gras looks a little like a baby beet. We have the beet green thats fermented, and the bottom of the foie is wrapped in beets. Its quite simple, but quite beautiful.

Foie gras is served chilled with cabbage  Photo: Evan Sung

 Or warm with beets. Photo: Evan Sung

Smoked-Sturgeon Cheesecake With Caviar

Our next course is communal. Its smoked-sturgeon cheesecake with caviar. Im pretty proud of this one. In a menu, some dishes just flow, and some are showstoppers. This is definitely a bit of a moment. It comes out on the gueridon. We put the cheesecake onto the plate, we quenelle the caviar, we have a sauce thats like smoked-sturgeon hollandaise, and some pickles that are sort of on the side.

The entire spread is presented at the table. Photo: Evan Sung

The plated cheesecake. Photo: Evan Sung

Lobster With Potato and Chanterelle

After that, its a choice of lobster or tilefish. The lobster is poached in mushroom butter and its served with chanterelle mushroom tart. Its a potato tart, topped with chanterelles that are shaved super fine and fanned into shingles.

Humm says the kitchen enriches the sauce with sea urchin. Photo: Evan Sung

Tilefish With Parsnip and Creme Fraiche

Tilefish is very local, so its not so common to use. When you steam it or poach it, its kind of flaky, which is the beautiful part of this fish. We cut some parsnip into ribbons, then we cook them in a rich broth and dehydrate them to make the noodle texture. We add pike roe and the flaked fish thats intertwined with the noodles, which we finish with poppy seeds, lemon, and horseradish.

Ribbons of parsnip are intertwined with roe, flaked tilefish, and poppy seeds. Photo: Evan Sung

Whole-Roasted Kabocha Squash

The next dish is also communal. Its a whole-roasted kabocha squash. The idea was: What is the most fall bite you can have? For me, its squash. Its everywhere. Its upstate; its out on Long Island; its really part of this region. We take the squash and wrap it, half with bacon and half with seaweed. We roast it in the oven for two hours, then we open it up and sort of  scoop out the squash. We have a clear broth of roasted squash and seaweed and bacon that gets poured over. Thats the dish, really. Theres no garnish. Its super delicious.

A whole squash is wrapped in bacon (which Humm says represents upstate New York) and seaweed (meant to nod to Long Island). Photo: Evan Sung

The plated squash with a broth of bacon and seaweed. Photo: Evan Sung

Main Courses

We have substitutions of everything for vegetarians and those with allergies, but for the next course on the main menu, we have a choice of duck, veal, or the celery root. The duck is probably the only recipe that I feel I have perfected fully. In the new kitchen, the dry-aging room has a glass wall, so if you come into the kitchen, you can actually see it. We also dry-age the veal, which is a little bit uncommon. We tried it and were happy with the result, so we serve that with winter greens and some pear.

Humms famous duck preparation. Photo: Evan Sung

A main course of dry-aged veal with winter greens. Photo: Evan Sung

Humms new celery-root presentation. Photo: Evan Sung

Seasonal sides of kale, Brussels sprouts, and potato that are served with the main courses. Photo: Evan Sung

Cheddar With Pretzel and Beer

For our cheese course, we collaborated with Threes Brewing to make beer with Amagansett sea salt. We make something like a French toast with pretzel bread. Its not that, exactly, but thats the best way to describe it, then we made a sauce  its almost like a fondue  with the beer and New York cheddar. We have a little mustard in there, and obviously we serve the beer as a pairing.

The composed cheese course. Photo: Evan Sung

Apple Doughnut With Cinnamon Ice Cream

This sounds simple, but the apple doughnut is really sensual. Its deep fried, and inside its a ragout of apple and cinnamon. I think the way its done is really creative, it looks beautiful, it has such a story here in New York, and it really captures everything. When something is warm and fried, its kind of hard to beat that.

Humm calls apple-cider doughnuts the best fall dessert. Photo: Evan Sung

Cranberries

This is a series of different spheres: pear and different variations on cranberry. Theres a mousse, and an ice cream, and cranberries glazed with cranberry syrup. The idea is that everything looks the same, but when you start eating, you realize theyre all different.

A dessert of cranberry and pear spheres. Photo: Evan Sung

Cookies and Cream

The other dessert is very cool, too. Its basically cookies and cream, but it looks like two quenelles of ice cream. One is white, and one is dark. The white one is shortbread that has chocolate inside, and the chocolate shortbread has milk ice cream inside.

The final dessert calls back to the black-and-white cookies that begin the meal. Photo: Evan Sung

Chocolate Pretzels

I asked some artists to give me, like, the most perfect pretzel shape, and then we picked one that we liked and made a mold out of that shape. Its white chocolate, blended with pretzels. We mold that and we dip the pretzels in dark chocolate halfway, so you see the white and the dark. Im really proud of them.




Haiti - Politics : Customs officers accept a truce...





On Friday, the second day of the Customs strike, the General Administration of Customs (AGD) began talks with the strikers' representatives to find common ground and to end the strike called "Operation arms crossed", which paralyzed for 48 hours, all the offices and customs posts of the country...



The Committee of the Haitian Customs Association (ADH) and the union reminded that the demands of the customs officers predate the introduction of the 2017-2018 budget in Parliament and call, among other things, for a salary increase of 80% and a special status on the same basis as police officers because of the importance of their mission and their responsibilities: fiscal, economic and security (anti-smuggling).



The ADH Committee and the trade union recalled that customs officers demanded a salary increase of 80% and a special status in the same way as the Haitian National Police officers and teachers.



Luders Jean-Remy, member of the ADH Committee deplores the fact that the Ministry of Finance and the AGD who had been warned more than 8 days before this possibility https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22268-haiti-economy-customs-officers-give-8-day-ultimatum-to-authorities.html



An agreement of principle was found Friday at the end of the day in the Prime Minister's office, between the government and the trade unionists of the AGD to the Prime Minister's office.



It was agreed that from Monday, October 9, a truce will be observed and that the customs officers will resume their work, whose paralysis has important effects on the revenue of the state. This information was confirmed on Friday by Michelson Nelson, Spokesman of the trade unions of the customs officers, without knowing the details of the concessions of the Government...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22268-haiti-economy-customs-officers-give-8-day-ultimatum-to-authorities.html



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Tourism : Minister Menos on tour in DR





Colombe Jessie Menos, the Minister of Tourism, toured the Dominican Republic last week at the invitation of the Science and Art Foundation organizer of the 2nd edition of the World Ecotourism and Production Fair, to be held in Buena Vista, Jarabacoa, from 16 to 26 November 2017.



At the head of a delegation of 10 senior officials from the Ministry and NGOs who promote ecotourism as a means of development in Haiti, including agronomist Jean Camille Bissereth, President of the Foundation for Alternative Tourism, Colombe Menos came to participate in the working committees of the 2nd World Ecotourism and Production Fair.



During the 3 days of her stay, Minister Menos held several meetings and carried out company visits and met businessmen in Santiago and Jarabacoa. She was also received by her Dominican counterpart the Minister Francisco Javier Garcia.



The Minister also visited the Exhibition Center in the Buena Vista Municipal District to oversee the construction of Haiti's pavilion as a partner through the Foundation for the Development of Alternative Tourism (FONDTAH).



Recall that this Fair is a great opportunity for our Haitian artists, craftsmen and creators to take advantage of this international showcase.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Education : Northeast Department touched by Operation Books for All





As part of the "Books for All" operation https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22139-haiti-education-more-than-200-000-books-for-school-libraries-and-uprs.html a delegation from the Ministry of National Education, chaired by Jackson Pleteau, the Minister's Chief of Staff, met with 21 directors of the Northeast high school, in the presence of the departmental education authorities.



Fritz Jacques emphasized the importance of the book in the cross-training of young people and invited the high school directors to appreciate this initiative of the Ministry at its true value.



The aim is to set up library embryos in high schools or to reinforce existing ones for the benefit of pupils.



Director Pleteau and Brice Saintil, the Representative of the National Office of Education Partnership (ONAPE), explained to the heads of the lycee that this initiative is part of the improvement of the quality of education but also a healthy way to occupy the minds of young people.



After the Northeast, the North and Center are the last two departments that will be touched before completing this operation.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-22188-icihaiti-education-month-of-book-for-all.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22139-haiti-education-more-than-200-000-books-for-school-libraries-and-uprs.html



IH/ iciHaiti






















Haiti - Politics : No price increase at the pump for the moment, confirms the Government





Sunday in a note, the Ministry of Communication, informs the general public that the relevant bodies, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, have so far provided no change in the structure of prices of petroleum products at the pump in Haitian territory, set last May 15 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20940-haiti-flash-new-fuel-prices-in-haiti-official.html



Therefore, the Ministry of Communication wishes to make clear that the note of the National Distributors S.A. (DINASA) in circulation on social networks is an administrative routine, is intended exclusively for importers and distributors of petroleum products and does not concern consumers at all. Explanations also confirmed by the National Association of Petroleum Distributors (ANADIPP)



The Ministry of Communication calls on the public to rely only on official decisions by the legally constituted authorities.



It must be said that since the confirmation by Ronald Decembre r the Secretary of State for Finance that the Government was still considering the possibility of raising fuel prices to meet the expected revenue of 11 billion gourdes provided for in the 2017-2018 budget https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/17_18_projet_de_loi_de_finances.pdf , the opposition is very responsive and the public particularly sensitive and receptive to all information, true or false, on this subject...



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Published on 2017/10/08

Make your own spicy Korean chicken stew with Sue and My Korean Kitchen, Sue goes Beyond Kimchee with a recipe for Korean-style short ribs, the need to promote authentic Korean food is stressed at the Korean Food Foundation's World Hansik Festival, and make traditional bibimbap in the beautiful city of Jeonju with Sweet and Tasty TV.

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"SPICY KOREAN CHICKEN STEW (DAK DORI TANG)"

According to Sue, her latest recipe for spicy chicken stew is "super addictive and comforting". This heartwarming dish will take 45 minutes (prep and cooking time) and serves up to four people. If you've never tried your hand at Korean food before, don't worry because Sue goes out of her way to provide clear and simple instructions so you don't astray. There's also beautiful photographs of every step of the way to inspire you.

...READ ON MY KOREAN KITCHEN

"Easy Tteok-galbi (Korean short ribs patties)"

This past week, South Koreans took some time off for the country's biggest national holiday, Chuseok, "which means there would be feasts everywhere you go", writes Holly on Beyond Kimchee. A splendid variety of traditional dishes are enjoyed around this time, and here Holly shows us how to make one of them, tteok-galbi (Korean beef short ribs patties): "It takes some time and effort to make the tteok-galbi traditionally. However I have developed very easy way to make it..."

...READ ON BEYOND KIMCHEE

"[INTERVIEW] 'Authenticity should be stressed when promoting Korean food'"

Daniel Lindemann (Germany), Alberto Mondi (Italy), and Guillaume Patry (Canada) are the "Healthy Korean Food Supporters" for this year's Korean Food Foundation's World Hansik Festival (on until October 15). These passionate outsiders within are encouraging Koreans not to be tempted to promote Korean food in an inauthentic way, not to "water down" the food to please foreign tastes. "Korean food is already globalized but it depends on what kind of globalization you want", said Lindemann.

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES

"Making Bibimbap in Jeonju  Cooking Lesson in South Korea"

"Sweet and Tasty TV", a popular K-culture vlog on YouTube, gets hands-on with learning how to make authentic bibimbap, the food of kings, in the charming city of Jeonju. In this video, you'll see not only how to make one of Korea's most popular dishes from experienced local chefs, but you'll also see more of Jeonju itself: its Hanbok Village, traditional houses, Gyeonggijeon Shrine and the Jeondong Cathedral.

...WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Published on 2017/10/08 | Source

Actor Im Si-wan, who is currently completing his mandatory military duty, joined the Republic of Korea Ground Forces Festival, one of the largest military festivals in the world. The festival is held every year in Gye-ryong City, Chungnam Province.

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This year's festival will be held for five days from October 8 to October 12 with Im Si-wan in attendance.
A string of social science snapshots, remarks, observations, data from the South Caucasus.
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Penfolds reveals 2017 collection

By Jo Gilbert

One of Australias most famous producers is gearing up to release its 2017 collection, including the 2013 Grange - the 63rd consecutive vintage from the label.

The official Penfolds Collection 2017 has been revealed ahead of its release on October 19.

The historic producer has been making wine at the Magill Estate in South Australia since 1844 and releases a collection annually to the global market.

Each wine is archetypal Penfolds, the producer said, and demonstrate Penfolds house style from across five vintages (2013 to 2017).

This includes the 2013 vintage release of its flagship wine, The Grange, making it the 63rd consecutive vintage to be released from the label.

It is also the last remaining 2013 red to be released from the portfolio and will retail for approximately 575 in select UK stores.

Other parts of the collection feature 2015 Yattarna and the single-region 2016 Bin 311 Tumbarumba Chardonnay - distinctive white wines made by White Winemaker Kym Schroeter.

A number of 2015 reds also feature.

These include the 2015 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, which is described as, A great example of a vintage release that isnt Cabernet, that isnt Shiraz that probably cant be second-guessed as a Cabernet/Shiraz blend, said Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago.

A selection of wines will also have a new signature bottle bearing historical markings referencing Penfolds 173-years of winemaking.









The Penfolds Collection 2016 includes: RRP:

2013 Grange 575.00

2015 Yattarna 140.00

2015 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 345.00

2015 RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz 130.00

2015 Magill Estate Shiraz 130.00

2014 St Henri Shiraz 95.00

2016 Reserve Bin A Chardonnay 75.00

2015 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz 60.00

2015 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 60.00

2015 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 60.00

2015 Kalimna Bin 28 Shiraz 30.99

2016 Bin 23 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 36.99

2016 Bin 311 Tumbarumba Chardonnay 30.99

2017 Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling 28.99

2015 Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz 30.99

2015 Bin 138 Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache Mataro 30.99

2015 Bin 8 Cabernet Shiraz 25.99

2015 Bin 2 Shiraz Mataro 22.99

All prices are estimated RRPs for a 75cl bottle








by Andrew Walden

The Ponzi scheme allegedly run by Rep Beth Fukumotos ex-husband David Chang took another hit this week. A Cease and Desist order from the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs puts the kibosh on a $2.3M scam involving a non-existent Kapolei building. Changs WealthBridge company is named in the Order as the fake developers agent for the purpose of obtaining funding.

According to DCCA, the Kapolei scammers were allegedly fleecing their victims between Oct. 12, 2007 and Oct. 11, 2011 and " continue to advertise the project." Fukumoto married David Chang on July 20, 2012 and he divorced her on February 28, 2017. Unfortunately for Fukumoto, HNN September 7, 2017 reports the FBI is investigating WealthBridge and Chang Holding Co schemes from 2012 thru 2016all years in which Chang and Fukumoto were married.

The news of an FBI investigation into Chang, which first broke September 7, 2017 , certainly places a new light on Fukumotos party switch reasoning. As a newly-minted Democrat, Fukumoto receives the customary protection from the local media who have avoided any mention of her relationship to Chang.

How much involvement did Fukumoto have in her husbands businesses?

Fukumotos Long-Form Financial Disclosures from 2013 , 2014 , and 2016 include many details:

--Chang received salary "At least $50,000 but less than $100,000" as CEO of Chang Holding Co., valued his company stock in excess of $1M, and had borrowed amounts ranging from $50K to $250K from six different banks. --Under "Nature of Business", instead of Ponzi Scheme, Fukumoto in 2016 wrote Holding company for sub-companies WealthBridge Inc. (wealth management), WealthBridge Accounting (tax, accounting, bookkeeping), Home Care Solutions (private-duty home care services), GreenTech Pacific (green energy), Hawaii Pet Nanny (pet sitting company), The Art of Thinking SMART (writing, online blog), Pacific West Imports and Exports (import and export).

--Fukumotos 2016 disclosure demonstrates intimate knowledge of the Company business. She includes details such as:

Item #1 Ownership or beneficial interest transferred during this disclosure period Transferred Hawaii Pet Nanny to Chang Holding Company Date of transfer Dec 01, 2015 Item #2 Ownership or beneficial interest transferred during this disclosure period Home Care Solutions transferred to Chang Holding Company Date of transfer Apr 25, 2015.

Home Care Solutions was named in the September 7, 2017 HNN report:

At least one investor was willing to sue Chang, saying she put 175-thousand dollars in Just Black Holdings in 2012, with the promise that she'd get 10% back two years later. By April of 2016, four years after the investment was made, she finally demanded her money back. That same month, sources say, Chang sent an email to his staff, which Hawaii News Now has obtained and confirmed it is part of the state and federal investigations. The email tells his employees that two, elderly sisters were collectively putting $238,000 in another Chang Holding company -- Home Care Solutions -- to pay, in advance, for their long-term health care. The email appears to order the money to be divided into four parts, with $100,000 to JBH. Court records show, the woman who sued then got $100,000 from JBH, the same month.

Campaign finance reports show Fukumoto receiving four contributions totaling $1,424.50 from Wealth Bridge personnel:

David Chang $500 -- 6-15-12

$474.50 -- 5-10-16 Michael North ( WealthBridge Senior Executive of Business Development) $250 -- 5-12-16

$200 -- 6-28-16

The February 28, 2017 Fukumoto-Chang Divorce Decree (in which the plaintiff was David Chang) includes the following clause:

"Plaintiff is awarded all rights and interests in Chang Holding Company and any all other business projects, entities owned by the plaintiff." (pg 5 of Divorce Decree)

Chang contacted Hawaii Free Press after the September 7 Hawaii News Now report and stated: A former disgruntled employee that tried to start another competing firm is the one who made those false allegations. the information they reported was false and in my opinion if I wasn't the former chair of the GOP, they wouldn't have even run the story. Lynn Kawano at Hawaii News Now was extremely biased and even though I tried to explain the truth, she merely sensationalized it.

Newly-minted Democrat Beth Fukumoto has not responded to a request for comment.

---30---
Gas terminal blasts kill seven in Ghana

At least seven were killed and scores injured, mostly suffering burns, after a series of explosions at a natural gas station in Ghana's capital, Accra, on October 7. A statement from the Ghanaian Ministry of Information the following day said that seven people had been killed and 132 injured. About half of them had already been treated and discharged, the statement said.

Stock image

The initial explosion happened at a state-owned GOIL liquefied natural gas station in the suburb of Legon and spread to a Total petrol station across the street, sending a giant fireball into the night sky and causing many local residents to flee.

At least six fire engines and more than 200 police were deployed to the site of the blasts, according to Al Jazeera. Accra city authorities warned people to avoid the area.

The gas station is near a bus terminal and University of Ghana campus, and local media reported many students had escaped the blasts.

In May, a tanker discharging liquefied petroleum gas at a factory in Takoradi in western Ghana caused an explosion that killed six firefighters and injured at least 80 others.



In June 2015, more than 200 were killed as they sought shelter from heavy rain at a petrol station in Accra. Leaking fuel floating on top of rising waters caught fire, causing explosions that destroyed buildings and the filling station.

The Ghanaian Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, cut short a trip to the Northern region to visit the site of the incident in Accra.



Speaking to journalists, he said: On behalf of the president I would like to extend my condolences. All of Ghana has been affected by this major tragedy. This is one too many. This is about the eighth explosion in three years. We need a solid policy to deal with this once and for all. We owe it to the country and the government is going to take it seriously.


(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged a businessman and two companies with defrauding investors in a pair of so-called initial coin offerings (ICOs) purportedly backed by investments in real estate and diamonds.

The SEC alleges that Maksim Zaslavskiy and his companies have been selling unregistered securities, and the digital tokens or coins being peddled dont really exist. According to the SECs complaint, investors in REcoin Group Foundation and DRC World (also known as Diamond Reserve Club) have been told they can expect sizeable returns from the companies operations when neither has any real operations.

Zaslavskiy allegedly touted REcoin as The First Ever Cryptocurrency Backed by Real Estate. Alleged misstatements to REcoin investors included that the company had a team of lawyers, professionals, brokers, and accountants that would invest REcoins ICO proceeds into real estate when in fact none had been hired or even consulted. Zaslavskiy and REcoin allegedly misrepresented they had raised between $2 million and $4 million from investors when the actual amount is approximately $300,000.

According to the SECs complaint, Zaslavskiy carried his scheme over to Diamond Reserve Club, which purportedly invests in diamonds and obtains discounts with product retailers for individuals who purchase memberships in the company. Despite their representations to investors, the SEC alleges that Zaslavskiy and Diamond have not purchased any diamonds nor engaged in any business operations. Yet they allegedly continue to solicit investors and raise funds as though they have.

The SEC obtained an emergency court order to freeze the assets of Zaslavskiy and his companies.

The SECs Office of Investor Education and Advocacy recently issued an investor alert warning about the risks of ICOs.

Investors should be wary of companies touting ICOs as a way to generate outsized returns, said Andrew M. Calamari, Director of the SECs New York Regional Office. As alleged in our complaint, Zaslavskiy lured investors with false promises of sizeable returns from novel technology.

The SECs complaint, filed in federal district court in Brooklyn, N.Y., charges Zaslavskiy, REcoin, and Diamond with violations of the anti-fraud and registration provisions of the federal securities laws. The complaint seeks permanent injunctions and disgorgement plus interest and penalties. For Zaslavskiy, the SEC also seeks an officer-and-director bar and a bar from participating in any offering of digital securities.
If someone comes here to apply for asylum, they must be accepted into the asylum process and the process must be completed. This is stipulated both in international treaties and our own legislation, she reminded in an interview with Uusi Suomi on Friday.

Paula Risikko (NCP), the Minister of the Interior, views that turning asylum seekers away at the border is not an option for Finland.

The Centre Party proposed late last month that Finland turn away all asylum seekers arriving from safe countries without delay at the border, arguing that such expedited returns would be justified on grounds of the Dublin Regulation. The Dublin Regulation prescribes that an asylum application must be examined in the member state of first entry.

A source from within the party later specified that the intention is not to turn asylum seekers away immediately at the border but simply to apply an expedited, eight-day process to applications filed by people arriving from safe countries, such as Sweden.

The Green League similarly shed light on its asylum policy views in September. The Dublin Regulation, it argued, should be abolished altogether after it crumbled in the face of the influx of asylum seekers into the European Union in 2015.

Risikko on Friday conceded that the regulation has not function as intended but viewed that abolishing it would be premature.

The Dublin Regulation is still important. With people principally being able to move without internal border controls within the Schengen Area, its very important to define clearly which member state is responsible for examining a particular asylum application. The system should be developed so that it functions also in the event of massive immigration. In 2015, the system didnt work, she said.

The Finnish government began drafting its immigration policy programme last summer.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Martti Kainulainen  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
The government acknowledges that immigration should be considered a resource in light of the ageing population, employment situation and competitiveness of Finland, but also reminds that its nature and scope are difficult to predict and control.

The Finnish government gave a provisional stamp of approval for a new internal security strategy that, for example, assesses the security ramifications of immigration in Helsinki on 5 October, 2017.

Immigration must be controlled. Two-way migration shapes cultures but also affects internal security. Immigration to Finland from conflict-affected areas can increase the presence of international crime and terrorist organisations in Finland, it states in its decision-in-principle on the security strategy.

Migration is not the cause of the threat of terrorism in Finland or Europe, but those arriving from conflict-affected areas also include people who have become violently radicalised, which for its part has an impact on the phenomenon as a whole.

The government also calls attention to the security threat posed by the most radical opponents of immigration.

The offences, suspicions and violent extremism against immigrants are growing security threats in an era of increasing immigration. These security threats affect not only immigrants but also a larger group of Finns that differs ethnically or culturally from the mainstream population, it acknowledges.

The current migration trends necessitate that the capabilities of immigration and security authorities be stepped up, according to the government.

Paula Risikko (NCP), the Minister of the Interior, emphasises in a press release that in order to promote internal security in the long term, the resources of security authorities must be guaranteed for periods longer than a single year.

She estimates that the ability to anticipate social changes that have been linked to security threats is key for the long-term planning of resources and reminds that it is not possible to develop sufficient capabilities overnight after a threat has arisen.

It requires that education, instrumentation and other resources are secured well ahead of time. For example, basic police education takes three years, highlights Risikko.

She also confirmed that the government is intent on increasing the number of border officers at the border between Finland and Russia, reminding that an additional 7.9 million euros was allocated for the Finnish Border Guard in April. The western border, on the other hand, is not mentioned in the strategy despite the recent demands emanating from the Centre and Finns Party.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
Golden sand dunes and a clear blue sky fill the landscape as far as the eye can see. A caravan of camels is taking riders up the hill. This is the Mingsha Shan mountain in Dunhuang, in western China. You may have never heard of Dunhuang before, but this city was one of the most important transit points along the ancient Silk Road. Gantsu province, where Dunhuang is situated is a must travel path from China to Eurasia.

Today, 280 journalists form more than 170 countries have gathered here to learn and discuss about reincarnation of the Silk Road, a modern version of the trade route which made an essential impact on the cultures and economies of the countries it connected, from Java all the way to Venice. Chinese president Xi Jinping called it the project of the century and a staggering $292bn funding bets that its going to become just that. It is called One Belt, One Road, or shortly, the Belt and Road Initiative.

First proposed in 2013, with the working titles such as Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21-century Maritime Silk Road the B&R Initiative has already brought billions of investment dollars into infrastructure of the participating countries in central and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The effects are also already tangible; First ever train traveling directly from China to UK arrived last year. The trip took 16 days, compared to the 32 days by sea.

One of the essential elements of the OBOR is to build infrastructure links to bind China more directly to the 65 participating countries in four continents. Chinese outbound foreign direct investment in BRI countries has been an average of $13bn. per year since 2014. This investment has indeed worked, as Chinese exports to BRI countries have grown faster than total exports since 2013, to an average of around $600bn per year, which puts the investments in perspective and easy to understand. So far, the BRI has resulted in 1600 cooperative projects with 40 countries and created millions of jobs.

How do the BRI countries see the Chinese initiative? Business model and the soft power of BRI makes China more approachable says Ms. Lee Huay Leng, head of Chinese Media Group in Singapore. Singapore is of special interest as 29% of Chinese investments in BRI countries was made there.

Investments - as important as they are - are not the only tool of BRI. Lots of effort and attention has also been allocated to removing barriers for trade and making international cooperation between BRI countries easier. If you remove barriers to people starting business and remove barriers to trade; if you make it easier for people to innovate, then they do really well in starting businesses and creating jobs, Says John Liu, Executive Editor of Bloomberg in Greater China. The best thing that BRI can do is to remove barriers and build the infrastructure, and people of the BRI countries will do the rest.

What does Belt and road initiative mean for Finland?

In a Team Finland Future Watch Report titled: One Belt One Road: Insights for Finland, Prepared for Tekes in January 2016 by Enright, Scott & Associates the authors recommend that Finnish companies take initiative and seek opportunities proactively in which Finland and Finnish companies might be favoured. The report suggest that Finnish companies should seek out the right Chinese partners as the lions share of projects related to OBOR are likely to go to Chinese companies. Many countries and companies will wait until there is more definition before engaging. The trouble is that by the time projects are defined, they are often allocated. The best way to obtain business associated with the OBOR initiative is to help define the projects. says the report.

Text and image

Alexis Kouros

Helsinki Times
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THE Mayor of Henley could be named Britains best young councillor.

Kellie Hinton is one of three finalists in the category of the National Association of Local Councils Star Councils Awards, which will be announced on October 30.

Councillor Hinton, 32, of Queen Street, Henley, has been on the town council since May 2011, representing Henley Residents Group. She was made Mayor in May.

She said: I was amazed and stunned when I found out. Im very proud and thankful for being nominated.

When youre a councillor, you do a lot of work and dont expect thanks or to be put forward for accolades.

Henley town clerk Janet Wheeler, who nominated Cllr Hinton, said: Its a nationwide award and you really do have to stand out to have a chance of getting shortlisted, which I felt Kellie did.

As a young councillor, Kellie has not just been Mayor but has done so much great work for the town.
THE world is a small place these days, writes Paul Clerehugh.

Many of us travel in search of the best food and cooking the world can offer, from California to Singapore, New York to Dubai.

And rightly, we are often blown away by new, modern cooking and fabulous wines.

But I say, stop and look at what we have here in Oxfordshire. In food terms, why not try settling in and keeping your slippers on because I honestly believe that we can rival the very best the world has to offer.

Indeed, Le Manoir aux QuatSaisons is just as refined as The French Laundry in California, Orwells in Binfield Heath can hold its own against anything in Spains San Sebastian region, and Barbara Laithwaite with her English sparkling wines can cock a snook at many of the French champagne houses!

Walk into the Henley Farmers Market  held from 8am to 1.30pm on the second Saturday, fourth Thursday and fifth Sunday of every month  and you could be perusing the gastronomic delights of Perigueux in the Dordogne Valley.

Stroll the covered market in Oxford city centre, taste, sniff and pick up pies, meat, fish and tangy Oxfordshire cheese like Oxford Blue or Oxford Isis (and why should they change its name?).

Why, even Charles and Camilla popped by in the summer for a taster of local cheeses and looked like they thoroughly enjoyed them too.

The acres of splendid agricultural land in Oxfordshire yield tons of top quality produce.

One such example is Blue Tin, based in Ipsden near Stoke Row, where they rear glorious free-range rare breed pork, beef, lamb and mutton and are probably the best example of farm gate produce in Britain.

If the produce in this area wasnt top notch I would not use it in my restaurants  the Crooked Billet in Stoke Row and Readings London Street Brasserie  but as youll see, my menus are literally bursting with it!

Like the Billet, the all new Bottle & Glass Inn at Binfield Health is free from frippery and fuss. I like their treacle-cured salmon with cucumber, horseradish ad cockles. Or try their Oxfordshire Black pork belly, with Bath chap. Scrumptious.

Meanwhile, the Spice Merchant in Henley transports me to the Indian subcontinent with bursts of tangy pickles, fiery jalfrezi, charred tandoori and an unctuous butter chicken. The Three Horseshoes on Reading Road is a community pub if there ever was one and Nigel who runs it keeps revellers more than satisfied with his legendary Sunday lunch.

Sausages for supper is a British institution and, ah, the sausages in Henley! I was awarded a trophy from the Master Guild of Butchers after Kate Winslets bangers and mash wedding at The Crooked Billet  British sausage sales soared as a result.

My girls love Henley favourite Gabriel Machins handmade pork sausages and also Carl Woods of Sonning Commons award-winning bangers.

As the nights draw closer, an idyllic evening by a roaring fire can be whiled away at the 16th century Five Horseshoes in Maidensgrove.

The location may be a something of a fascinating time warp, but Im more interested in the stunning pub grub and a tall glass of something cold and frothy.

The Cherry Tree Inn, Stoke Row, is another gem hidden in the glorious Chiltern Hills where the abundance of superb fresh, local produce is celebrated on the menu.

If the October chills have you seeking a wintry warmer, head no further than the Three Tuns on Falaise Square and indulge in the ultimate comfort that is their new pie menu.

And finally, for the most delicious steak, youll catch me at The Greyhound in Peppard. For this is where the legendary Antony Worrall Thompson has sourced the absolute best well-bred, well-fed, well-hung Scottish beef.

Youll often find me there with a gorgeous glass of Malbec, soaking up the atmosphere of one of Britains best.

So instead of searching Expedia for a treat, why not enjoy what Henley and our beautiful surrounding villages have to offer? For there really is no place like home.

 Catch Paul Clerehugh every week on Food on Friday (BBC Radio Berkshire, 2pm) for food chat, recipes and a kitchen helpline.
AN Upper Thames masters eight crew were in dominant form in the annual Rund um Wannsee 15km race in Berlin last weekend.

The annual event, which was instigated to celebrate the anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down, involves a mass start which proved chaotic.

The Upper Thames crew of Tim Kitto, Graham Lloyd, Jeremy Dobbin, Will Almand, Walter Scott, Lee Brown, Paul Stuart-Bennett, stroked by Chris Howell and coxed by Svenja Perkins, quickly established a lead over their main opponents and gradually drew away over the 58 minute long race.

The crew aims to return next year to compete in the race that passes under the bridge where the famous Gary Power spy exchange took place.
DEBBIE McGEE accidentally revealed the name of the latest contestant to leave Strictly Come Dancing hours before it was confirmed on TV.

The radio presenter, who lives in Wargrave, told BBC Berkshire on Sunday morning that she was very sad to see the Reverend Richard Coles booted off.

But after realising her mistake, McGee tried to cover it up with an anecdote about how he fell over and needed treatment.

Very sad to see Richard go, the Reverend Richard, McGee said. Oh - or, or going, she quickly added.

He fell over at one point and had to be treated and everything else, so now were waiting to see whats going to happen in the results show tonight.

The results show is recorded on a Saturday after the live show but is aired on Sunday night.

McGee, who at 58, is the competitions oldest contestant, performed the quick step with partner Giovanni Pernice during Saturdays Movie Week special.

After topping the leader board with 34 points out of 40 the previous week with their Viennese waltz, the pair picked up 29 points from the judges.

Rev Coles was the second celebrity to leave the show, after Holby City actress Chizzy Akudolu.

He and partner Dianne Buswell paid homage to Flash Gordon in their Paso Doble routine in the dance-off against Simon Rimmer and Karen Clifton.

The 55-year-old former pop star turned priest said he was sorry to leave the competition but admitted he really cant dance.

A full report with more pictures will be published in this weeks Henley Standard, out on Friday.
Belgrade State Bank donated more than 600 pounds of beef and sausage to two food pantries in St. Francois County - House of Praise Food Pantry and Elvins Food Pantry.

Each food pantry received about 250 pounds of beef and 60 pounds of sausage.

While many food pantries receive non-perishable food from the community, many struggle to provide meat to those they serve. Many of the recipients at the Elvins Food Pantry are senior citizens on a fixed Social Security income.

If someone is in need of assistance please contact the East Missouri Action Agency at 573-431-0103. They have many available resources and can assign families to a local food pantry.
Damaged door of the house that was shot at in Finglas

A Finglas drug dealer and key Kinahan associate, who is believed by gardai to be the intended target of a foiled murder bid, is understood to have been behind the shooting attack on the home of an innocent member of the Hutch family.

The targeting of the house in Finglas in the early hours of Saturday, is seen as the latest act of aggression in the ongoing Kinahan/Hutch feud that has claimed a dozen lives so far, including those of two innocent men.

Gardai believe a 25-year-old drug dealer, who is a major player in the Kinahan operation in Dublin, ordered the attack on the house as a show of strength.

The front door and window of the property were hit by three bullets in the attack and, although there were people in the house at the time, there were no reports of injuries.

The damage to the door and window was still clearly visible yesterday, and the bullet holes and shattered glass had been covered in plastic film.

Muscles

A garda spokesman said no arrests had been made but the matter was under investigation.

Sources said one line of inquiry was that the drug dealer was anxious to impress Kinahan bosses and had been flexing his muscles in the north-west of the city.

Tensions have been high in the area in recent days, and gardai have set up a number of checkpoints to try to keep a lid on a potential powder keg of murderous violence.

The suspect behind the shooting is believed to be under threat from a number of criminal groups because of his reckless and threatening behaviour.

"He's been stepping on a lot of toes over the last few months," a source said.

The drug dealer has become the new kingpin for the Kinahan cartel in a major north Dublin patch.

He has stepped into the shoes of a psychotic criminal in his 30s, who is suspected of involvement in at least two feud murders but has fled Ireland for the UK.

The 25-year-old was refused entry to the US after trying to travel with a large group of associates to Las Vegas in August for Conor McGregor's showdown with Floyd Mayweather.

Sources said he has a core network of at least 20 loyal associates, all of whom are regularly stopped and searched by gardai.

Raids

The force's heavily-armed Emergency Response Unit has been involved in a number of raids targeting the gang and has spotted bulletproof windows and doors in many of the rented north Dublin properties connected to the mob.

Despite all the garda activity against him in recent months, the major drugs trafficker has so far managed to evade serious charges.

In recent months, the thug has issued a number of threats against other criminals operating in north Dublin, including convicted armed robbers Alan 'Fatpuss' Bradley and Wayne Bradley.

Gardai are aware of an incident last Christmas in which the dealer threw an object, believed to be a rock, at an SUV carrying Wayne Bradley.
Angela Martin is charged with 131 counts of theft

Gardai have been given more time to prepare their case against a department store cafe cashier accused of stealing nearly 6,000 from the till.

Angela Martin (61) is charged with 131 counts of theft from Marks & Spencer over a four-week period.

The case against her was adjourned at Blanchardstown District Court.

Ms Martin, of Greenfort Lawns, Clondalkin, is charged with stealing cash at Marks & Spencer, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, on dates between July 3 and August 4 last year.

When the case came before Blanchardstown District Court, Sgt Geraldine McManigan said more time was being sought.

She said gardai had disclosure material to send to the defendant's solicitor.

One of the officers involved was on sick leave, she added.

Bail

Judge David McHugh remarked on the number of charges before the court, and Sgt McMan- igan said they could be dealt with on a "single omnibus charge".

The Director of Public Prosecutions had directed summary disposal of the case in the district court, she said.

Previously, Judge McHugh had accepted jurisdiction to deal with the case.

The court heard the accused had been an employee of the Marks & Spencer cafe in the west Dublin shopping centre.

On the dates in question, she allegedly took cash from the till, totalling 5,832, the court was told.

Legal aid was previously granted following an application by the defendant's solic- itor. There was no garda objection.

Ms Martin was remanded on continuing bail.

The defendant, who did not address the court, has not yet indicated how she intends to plead to the charges.
Sunday Times writer David Walsh has broken his silence to explain why he wrote a character reference for disgraced ex-colleague Tom Humphries, saying he could not "abandon" a "friend of 30 years".

"The young girl whose trust Tom betrayed has suffered terribly from this crime," Mr Walsh told the Herald yesterday after his reference was submitted to court last week.

"I wrote a personal character reference for Tom because we have been friends for 30 years and, despite the serious wrong he had done, I could not abandon him."

Mr Walsh's comments came on the day it was revealed ex-Irish Times journalist Humphries, who is awaiting sentence on six counts relating to the sexual abuse of a minor, has been moved from Cloverhill Prison over fears he would be attacked by other inmates.

On Thursday, Humphries (54) was taken by prison van to the Midlands Prison, where he was confined to a cell and placed under special observation, commonly referred to as 'suicide watch' by officers.

Humphries is being held on the C1 landing, which is also home to a number of notorious inmates including killers Warren Dumbrell and Stephen Egan and Dundon-McCarthy crime figures 'Red' Larry McCarthy and Ger Dundon.

A source confirmed to the Sunday World that Humphries has been classed as a high-risk inmate.

Fears

"There were fears, given the high-profile nature of this inmate, that he would be a target as long as he remained in Cloverhill Prison," said the source.

"For that reason, a decision was taken to move him to the Midlands Prison, where he was placed in a committal cell on the C1 landing on Thursday.

"He has a basic cell. It has a bed, television, kettle, toilet and sink and is monitored every 15 minutes by officers.

"He is regarded as a suicide risk and, until that changes, he will remain under special observation by officers."

A second source said Humphries will remain in prison- issue clothes for as long as he remains in the committal area.

Grooming

Humphries will be sentenced on October 24 for grooming a girl from the age of 14 and then sexually abusing her.

Last Tuesday, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Humphries exchanged 16,000 text messages with the girl during a three-month period to March 2011 as part of the grooming process.

The journalist, who was let go by The Irish Times after admitting the charges in March, went on to sexually abuse the girl on five occasions after asking her to meet him.

The young woman, who was sexually exploited as a child by Mr Humphries, revealed how she was left feeling suicidal following her ordeal in a harrowing victim impact statement.
A Dublin house seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) from convicted drug trafficker John Gilligan, who claims to be homeless, is being earmarked for social housing to help homeless families.

The Herald has learned that the CAB has approached Fingal County Council with a suggestion that it take over the property in Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, and use it to help ease pressure on the homelessness situation.

"Gilligan bought that house with his ill-gotten gains, and in a way, it is fitting that it be used for some social good now that it has been taken off him," said one source.

Battle

Pint-sized gangster Gilligan lost the house, along with two others, after a battle with the CAB that lasted more than 20 years.

He went as high as the Supreme Court in his efforts to keep the houses, but reached the end of the legal road in February.

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Gilligan's wife Geraldine and daughter Tracey lived in the bungalow beside the already-seized Jessbrook Equestrian Centre in Kildare, and his son Darren lived in the Corduff Avenue house.

A third property, at Willsbrook View in Lucan, is currently rented out to long-term tenants by the CAB.

Gilligan and Geraldine bought the Jessbrook house in 1987. In 1995, Gilligan bought the Willsbrook View house for 73,000 and it was registered in Tracey's name.

In 1996, they bought the Corduff Avenue house for 7,000 from the local authority after renting it from 1977 to 1996.

"The plan now would be to see the Corduff Avenue house go back to local authority control. No deal has been signed yet, but talks are under way," said the source.

A spokesman for Fingal County Council said it could not comment on the matter.

"John is now spending his time between a rented property in Roscommon and his brother's house in Clondalkin - the one he was shot in," the source said.

In March, he presented himself at council offices in Blanchardstown, claiming he faced homelessness and wanted access to the Housing Assistance Payment, which offers social housing support for those with a long-term housing need.

Gilligan, who was the head of the gang that killed journalist Veronica Guerin in 1996, suffered horrific injuries in a murder bid on March 1, 2014, when a gunman burst through the front door of his brother's house at Greenfort Crescent in Clondalkin and shot him as he tried to escape into the kitchen.

He suffered a broken hip, abdominal injuries, a shot to the leg and a graze to the head, but remarkably survived the hit.

It was the second attempt on his life since his release from jail in October 2013 after serving 17 years for drug trafficking.

Just weeks after gaining freedom, Gilligan was targeted by a man who ran into a Dublin pub intent on killing him, but Gilligan was not in the pub when the would-be assassin went in looking for the gangster.

Price

There has been a lot of interest in the Jessbrook bungalow since the CAB put it on the open market in recent weeks, with more than 40 people viewing the property so far.

The seven-bedroom house with four bathrooms, on more than five acres of land, is on the books of REA McDonald estate agents in Lucan, with an asking price of 120,000.

Its website states that the house is for sale on behalf of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and was previously subject to seizure by the Criminal Assets Bureau under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time set aside to educate and inform about the causes, effects, prevention and treatment of breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in American women.

St. Francois County Health Center Assistant Director Amber Elliot said the institutes data on the rate of breast cancer in St. Francois County indicates a higher average than that of the state. According to data collected by the institute between 2010 and 2014, St. Francois Countys rate of breast cancer is 132 per 100,000, compared to the Missouri average of 125.9.

She said those numbers also appear to suggest no change, meaning the breast cancer rate is neither getting better or worse.

The National Cancer Institute issues no guidelines for breast cancer detection, but according to its website, mammography is the most sensitive form of breast cancer screening. Mammograms provide an X-ray image of breast tissue, allowing radiologists to detect possible cancerous masses.

Also according to the institute, breast self-examination was not effective in reducing deaths from cancer in clinical trials, while  studies show that screening mammography can help reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer among women ages 40 to 74, especially for those over age 50.

There are options for free or low-cost mammography to individuals in St. Francois County who find themselves in need of one.

Elliot said the St. Francois County Health Center employs a program that aims to provide women in need with breast and cervical cancer screenings.

We do a program called Show-Me Healthy Women, Elliot said. It helps detect breast cancer and cervical cancer in the early stages, when the diseases are easiest to treat. Free mammograms and pap smears are available for women that are age 35 and older, but they must meet income guidelines.

Interested women can contact the St. Francois County Health Center at 573-431-1947.

Cancer screenings can also be obtained through the East Missouri Action Agency (EMAA) Womens Wellness Center. For more information, call EMAA at 573-431-5191.

A-1 Home Care Owner Amy Keller said the Missouri Baptist Medical Center Mobile Mammography van will be coming to their office Oct. 25-26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

They dont necessarily have to be over 40 years old, because if there is a family history of it, they will also perform it for free, said Keller. That is a free mammogram and we are doing it in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Keller said they have done this the last couple of years, but are doing it for two days this year because they booked up so quickly last year.

They only planned on being there for eight hours last year, but ended up staying for around 12 hours instead, said Keller. They told us since we have had such a huge response they decided to do it for two days this year.

She added they are also going to have vendors this year. Pharmax Pharmacy will be there giving flu vaccines and other vendors will be there giving out information. There will also be free blood pressure checks and things like that.

Anyone interested in signing up for the free mammograms can call 1-800-870-5731 or 314-996-5170 to schedule an appointment. For more information contact Theresa Taylor at 314-956-9829 at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.

Similar to the Relay for Life, annual walks called Making Strides Against Breast Cancer are held through the American Cancer Society. The nearest event will take place in St. Louis on Oct. 28. For more information visit makingstrides.acsevents.org.
If You Go  What: Speech by Vice President Mike Pence;  When: Saturday, Oct. 14;  Where: Washington County Fairgrounds;  Time: Doors open at 4 p.m. Rally begins at 6 p.m.;  How to register: Visit edforvirginia.com/event/gotv-rally-vice-president-mike-pence or eventbrite.com/e/gotv-rally-with-vice-president-mike-pence-tickets-38689596625 .

Vice President Mike Pence plans to speak at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Abingdon on Saturday to stump for Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie.

The rally, according to Gillespies website, is also meant to spur support for two other Republican candidates in Virginia: Jill Vogel, who is running for lieutenant governor and John Adams, a candidate for attorney general.

A member of Gillespies campaign staff on Sunday confirmed Pences visit.

Attendees must register in advance to get a ticket to the event. A security check will also be mandatory.

Registration information can be found on Gillespies website. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the rally is set to begin at 6 p.m.

President Donald Trump endorsed Gillespie on Twitter last week. The president tweeted on Thursday that Gillespies Democratic opponent, Ralph Northam, is fighting for the violent MS-13 killer gangs and sanctuary cities and urged followers to Vote Ed Gillespie.

Gillespies campaign has issued attack ads accusing Northam of increasing gang threats by supporting sanctuary cities, which shield undocumented immigrants from federal authority.

The Annenberg Public Policy Centers FactCheck.org called the ads misleading.

Northam has consistently led the race to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. In a Washington Post-Schar School poll released Oct. 5, Northam lead Gillespie by 53 percent to 40 percent among likely voters, with 4 percent supporting Libertarian Cliff Hyra.

Gillespie owns a lobbying firm and is a former chairman of the Republican National Committee. A centerpiece of his platform is a 10-percent cut to the state sales tax, according to Ballotpedia.

Pences visit to Abingdon comes after Trump visited in August 2016 as a candidate for president. He appeared alongside miners at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to talk about his plans for coal and manufacturing.

Virginia voters head to the polls on Nov. 7.
ABINGDON, Va. -- A man is dead after being shot and killed by Washington County, Virginia deputies in the 22000 block of Golden View Drive in Abingdon.

Washington County Virginia Sheriff Fred Newman said a search warrant was executed by deputies at a drug house on Golden View Drive Sunday night.

Shortly before 10 p.m., deputies noticed an individual running from the home towards an outbuilding on the property. A search of the area and the outbuilding revealed that the suspect, tentatively identified a Roberto Avendano had barricaded himself inside a small room inside the outbuilding.

Newman said Avendano was wielding a machete and was ordered numerous times to drop the weapon, but continued to swing it at deputies.

Deputies fired at Avendano was was killed. A female suspect was arrested at the residence and has been identified as Stephanie Mae Browning, 21, of 22000 block of Golden View Drive. She has been charged with possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

Browning is being held at the Abingdon facility of the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail without bond.

Deputies also seized an ounce of methamphetamine, an ounce of cocaine, a small amount of marijuana and $2,300 in cash.

Virginia State Police Bureau of Investigation is also conducting an investigation into the shooting, Newman added.
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In the wake of the Las Vegas massacre, Republicans on Capitol Hill have shown deep reluctance to consider any gun legislation, worried that Democrats will use the shooting as a pretext to restrict law-abiding citizens Second Amendment rights.

This reluctance is understandable, particularly in the wake of the near-instantaneous effort by some Democrats to politicize this tragedy. But it is a mistake. The Las Vegas attack exposed a gaping hole in the existing and widely supported automatic-weapons ban  and Republicans can easily close it without infringing on constitutional rights.

Law enforcement authorities have confirmed that the shooter, Stephen Paddock, had 12 weapons in his hotel room fitted with bump-fire stocks, devices that effectively turn semiautomatic rifles into machine guns. Under current law, machine guns  weapons that fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull  are almost completely banned in the United States, as are devices that convert rifles to do so. Bump-fire stocks get around this ban by using the guns recoil to repeatedly bump the weapon back into the shooters trigger finger, creating an automatic effect. As Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Jill Snyder explained, Bump-fire stocks, while simulating automatic fire, do not actually alter the firearm to fire automatically, making them legal under current federal law.

Republicans should immediately announce their intention to pass legislation banning such devices.

A ban on bump-fire stocks and similar devices would not infringe on gun rights. Automatic weapons are already banned as part of the 1986 Firearms Owners Protection Act, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. Bump-fire stocks are designed to circumvent a ban that Republicans already are on record supporting. Closing this loophole does not restrict gun rights; it simply comports with the intent of existing firearms laws.

This is an opportunity for bipartisanship. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and 33 Senate Democrats have introduced the Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act, a bill to close a loophole that allows semi-automatic weapons to be easily modified to fire at the rate of automatic weapons. The Feinstein bill would ban the sale, transfer, importation, manufacture or possession of bump stocks, trigger cranks and similar accessories that accelerate a semi-automatic rifles rate of fire and makes clear that its intent is to target only those accessories that increase a semi-automatic rifles rate of fire.

So far not one Republican has co-sponsored the bill. Some, such asHouse Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the third-ranking Senate Republican, have expressed interest in learning more about the issue. Others have dismissed it outright. Im a Second Amendment man, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., declared. Im not for any gun control, okay? None.

This is a mistake. Republicans should join Feinstein to solve this problem. They should ensure that there is clear language in the bill to prevent the ATF from reclassifying semiautomatic weapons as machine guns so that it does not become a backdoor effort to ban currently lawful weapons. Then they should then make it Feinsteins job to rally her caucus to support the effort and not blow it up with more expansive legislation restricting Second Amendment rights. If Democrats then insist on more, it means they want to politicize the issue more than to arrive at a solution.

There is so little we agree on these days, but this is a chance for both parties to come together on something that most Americans would likely support  including the vast majority of gun owners. Some Republicans might oppose such a ban because they actually do not support the automatic weapons ban itself. Fair enough. But that battle was lost more than three decades ago. The ban is the law of the land. It has broad public support, including from the National Rifle Association. Opposing the closure of a loophole that was just used to massacre at least 58 Americans and injure hundreds more is the very definition of a losing battle. The Democrats principal talking point is that Republicans refuse to take even the most common-sense measures to reduce gun violence in the United States. If the GOP cant take this common-sense step, the party will be proving its critics right.

Would a bump stock ban have prevented or lessened the tragedy in Las Vegas? Well never know for sure. We do know that the automatic-weapons ban has largely worked. Paddock needed these devices to create a simulated machine gun because he was likely unable to obtain a real machine gun. So lets agree to make it harder to obtain simulated machine guns as well.

If we can ban a tool of mass murder without infringing on the gun rights of lawful citizens, we should join together and do so. Those who died in Las Vegas at the hands of a gunman using such a tool deserve no less.
Polls show that most Virginians want to keep Confederate statues in place.

As with any poll, there are some fascinating differences beneath the surface. The Roanoke College Poll found more support for statues dedicated to ordinary Civil War soldiers (76 percent) than to Confederate leaders such as Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson (66 percent).

Not surprisingly, whites are more inclined to support statues than blacks; older voters are more in favor of them than younger ones. The Roanoke College Poll found support for Lee and Jackson statues weakest in Northern Virginia (where only a bare majority backed them), higher in Hampton Roads (where support ran about 65 percent) and strongest in Richmond, the Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia, where support weighed in at about 75 percent.

Some of those regional differences shouldnt be a surprise. Northern Virginia is the most transient part of the state. Its simply not very Southern. Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley back Lee and Jackson. Again, not a surprise given their histories. Richmond was the Capital of the Confederacy; Lee and Jackson had personal connections with the Shenandoah Valley. Jackson taught at Virginia Military Institute; after the war, Lee rescued what was then called Washington College. Both generals are buried in Lexington.

However, Southwest Virginias strong support for Confederate symbols is, historically speaking, an anomaly and actually at odds with its history. Thats because during the 1860s, Southwest Virginia was relatively tepid in its support of the Confederacy.

Statue defenders say we should teach history, not erase it. Heres some history, then, thats not reflected in any of those statues.

In January 1861, as many Southern states started to peel away following the election of Abraham Lincoln, Virginia voters elected a special convention to take up the question of secession. The majority of delegates favored staying in the Union. Keep in mind that Virginia then stretched to the Ohio River. The enthusiasm for secession was concentrated in the eastern part of the state, particularly the Tidewater and Piedmont regions  which was also where slavery was the most prevalent.

We all understand today that the future West Virginia was Unionist in sentiment. However, so were lots of other parts of the state. On April 4, 1861, the convention voted against secession  and the delegates from Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia voted overwhelmingly to stay in the Union. So did the delegates from part of Southside. Then came Fort Sumter, and Lincolns call for troops to put down the rebellion. At that point, Union support in Virginia crumbled. On April 17, the convention voted 88 to 55 to secede. Most of those 55 unionist votes came from the future West Virginia and Northern Virginia, which wasnt eager to find itself on the front lines of a war.

However, there were still some Unionist votes elsewhere. The delegates from Alleghany, Bath and Highland counties voted to stay in the Union. So did the delegates from Franklin and Henry counties. In the Shenandoah Valley, Augusta Countys delegates wanted to stay in the Union, while Rockingham and Rockbridge were split. In far Southwest Virginia, Lee and Scott counties were also split.

The secessionist firebrands from the eastern part of the state were intent on defending the practice of slavery; the representatives from Southwest Virginia werent particularly interested in slavery but were swayed by the states rights argument. History is complicated. On May 23, 1861, Virginia voters went to the polls for a referendum on secession. There was no secret ballot then, and many newspapers issued public warnings against anyone planning to vote against the plan to secede. The Staunton Vindicator declared: We look upon such conduct as treason, and deserving the halter. Many Unionists got the message and simply stayed home. In most counties, even west of the Blue Ridge, the results were strangely unanimous for secession. Three notable exceptions were Carroll, Lee and Scott where hundreds dared to vote publicly to stay in the Union. We have no way of knowing what the vote would have been if mob rule had not prevailed.

We do know this, though: Even after the Civil War got underway, enthusiasm for the fight was weakest in Virginias mountains. Its unclear how many men from modern-day Southwest Virginia went off to join the Union Army, though some did. Many others, though, simply voted with their feet and deserted from the Confederate Army.

A study by historian Rand Dotson found that 23 percent of Floyd County soldiers quit the rebels and returned home, where they were welcomed and assisted by Floyds actively disloyal Unionist residents, who openly encouraged further desertion, provided food and protection for local deserters, and sometimes even hired the countys runaway soldiers as day laborers. In May 1863, Major General Samuel Jones of the Department of Western Virginia based in Dublin and charged with defending the saltworks in Saltville  reported over half the men on his rolls were absent. Encyclopedia Virginia says that was about five times the statewide desertion rate. If we want to be historically accurate, Southwest Virginia ought to put up a statue of a Confederate deserter hiding in the woods.

Southwest Virginia was not a hotbed of Unionism the way some mountainous parts of the South were. The Union fielded an entire regiment of Tennessee soldiers. In upland Alabama, Winston County supplied twice as many Union soldiers as it did Confederate ones. Southwest Virginia was plainly Confederate in sentiment, just not unanimously so. Paint Bank in Craig County was dubbed a Union hole by one local resident. Historian David Turk looks in greater depth at the Union support in Craig and Alleghany counties in his book The Union Hole: Unionist Activity and Local Conflict in Western Virginia.

Another good read is Dotsons masters thesis, Sissons Kingdom, available on Virginia Techs website at https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/36663. It provides a fascinating look at how Unionists in Floyd County spent much of the war frustrating their Confederate neighbors.

All this raises a curious question: Southwest Virginia was among the weakest in its support of the Confederacy in the 1860s, so why is it among the strongest in support of Confederate iconography today?
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The number of calls relating to mental health received by Hertfordshire Police has risen by 66.8 per cent in just four years.

According to a Freedom of Information Request, Hertfordshire Constabulary received 8,408 calls relating to mental health in 2016, a huge increase on the 5,040 such calls they received in 2013.

The findings follow a recent report from London's Metropolitan Police, which showed that it had seen an increase of almost a third in five years in the number of mental health related calls it received, which came to 115,000 in the 12 months to July.

The figures prompted warnings that police officers were being required to 'plug the gaps' in a health service under increasing pressure.

Vojislav Mihailovic, general secretary of the Hertfordshire Police Federation, said: "Policing is the service of last resort and officers have a duty of care to respond and to safeguard vulnerable members of our society in times of need.

"They often have no alternative other than to take people who are suffering acute mental distress to a place of safety, and keep them safe until they are assessed by the proper medical professionals.

"Officers should be able to leave people in the immediate care of those medical professionals, however this is not the case.

"The medical professionals are working under such pressure that officers are waiting for many hours ensuring the safety of those patients.

"All of this takes officer's' time  that is a commodity that is in short supply in the police service.

"We have 300 fewer officers in Hertfordshire.

"The population continues to increase and the variety and complexity of demands upon the policing service continues to rise unabated.

"The Government need to ensure that the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has the ability to provide the proper financial resources for the Constabulary to meet the demands upon it."

In 2015-2016, police forces across England and Wales used their power to detain people under the Mental Health Act a total of 28,271 times  an increase of more than 10,000 in ten years.

In London, police have said they expect to see a 50 per cent increase in the use of their detaining powers over the next ten years.

Vicki Nash, head of policy and campaigns at mental health charity Mind, said: "Mental health is core police business, as police will always be a possible first point of contact for people in crisis and they have specific powers under the Mental Health Act to detain people who are very unwell.

"But they should not be plugging the gaps created by failings in health services.

"People with mental health problems should get appropriate help and support as early as possible to prevent them becoming so unwell that they end up in crisis, which is when police are more likely to become involved.

"If the police do need to be involved in helping someone in crisis, they can only do this properly with the right support from the NHS, which needs adequate resourcing so that people are treated in a safe, therapeutic environment.

"Too often, people in crisis end up in police cells because there is nowhere else to take them."

PCC David Lloyd said: "I'm proud that Hertfordshire is among one of only a handful of police forces who do not put people who are suffering mental health crisis in police cells.

"We have invested in dedicated places of safety for those people sectioned under the Mental Health Act, and also in our Street Triage Scheme which enables joint mobile teams of mental health specialists and police officers to work side by side to identify people at risk and make sure they don't end up in police care.

"We've also seen significant investment across the country for mental health support, and I welcome the close working between the College of Policing, NHS England and central Government in this area."

Hertfordshire Constabulary was unable to retrieve any data on the number of times its officers were required to detain people under mental health legislation.
CLAREMONT  Claremonts downtown area closed Friday afternoon for 2017 Claremont Daze, and residents and visitors filled the streets that night to listen to Too Much Sylvia with many returning Saturday for the fall festival.

This is my first Claremont Daze, but not my first rodeo in event planning, and it has gone very smoothly, said Kara Miller, the event coordinator for Claremont.

Miller said the city could not hold the festival without help from the public works, police and fire departments.

I can plan it and organize, but it wouldnt run without those guys  they have worked so hard this year, Miller said.

Power, water and keeping the grounds clean are just a few responsibilities and some of the ton of logistics to address for the festival, she added.

We start planning Claremont Daze 10 to 12 months out  we start booking vendors and looking for new vendors to try to make each year diverse, Miller said. When we get six months out, we start thinking of new ideas and new things to do to bring bigger crowds.

This years festival included 110 vendors, varying from homemade crafts to giveaways and raffles by local businesses and organizations.

Miller said the festival typically attracts 3,000 to 4,000 people in past years, but this years estimate is higher, due in part to an increased social media campaign.

(Friday) night, we counted the people who were out watching Too Much Sylvia play, and there were 350 people, Miller said. We probably had 1,500, if not more, come through just (Friday) night.

A large number of free activities available for adults and children to enjoy helped attract a much larger crowd than previous years, she added.

And Mayor Shawn Brown played a part at the festival, too. Participants could donate $1 to dunk various city officials, including Brown.

This was my first time in a dunking booth  definitely out of my comfort zone, but its for a great cause, and I would do it again, Brown said.

The funds raised through the dunking booth benefited the PJ Stanley Memorial Scholarship.

PJ Stanley was a former council member who died fighting cancer a few years ago, Brown said, and he served with Stanley at one point.

He was a police officer, rescue member, firemen  he was everything, Brown said. We felt strongly about creating a scholarship in his memory, and we have grown from just giving one or two scholarships to being able to give out more scholarships with larger funds.

The scholarships are given to students pursuing various emergency services degrees.

For more information about upcoming events in Claremont, visit www.cityofclaremont.org/default.aspx.
HUDSON  More than 100 people have been displaced from their homes in Caldwell County due to damage caused by a tornado and heavy winds, according to a Caldwell County Emergency Management Office press release.

The damage forced emergency personnel to close off access to Mount Herman Road Sunday evening, as the tornado ran roughshod through residences in the area.

The winds were strong enough to knock over the steeple that sat atop Refugee Missionary Baptist Church, where it landed inches from a church members car.

Pastor Darren Peterson said that he and others were preparing for a 6 p.m. service, when one of the church members came in and said they had to take shelter downstairs.

We knew about the warning (that was in effect), but we knew at that point it was serious, Peterson said.

Peterson said he didnt hear the steeple topple over, but said others claimed they did. The winds also damaged the new roadside sign that the church had just purchased.

These are the strongest winds I have experienced in this area since (Hurricane) Hugo, Peterson said.

Several houses in the Mount Herman community suffered severe roof damage, according to Hudson Fire Department firefighters.

One houses American flag blew off of its station, landing lodged in between two branches of a house close to 100 yards down the road.

Power line crews were out in force in an effort to restore power to the entire area in the pouring rain Sunday night.

The emergency management office has identified South Caldwell High School as an emergency shelter, according to the press release.

Caldwell County schools are scheduled to begin on a two hour delay tomorrow.

No other statistics have been released to estimate the damage or wind power. The Hickory Daily Record will update this story as more information becomes available.
HICKORY  If a picture can say a thousand words, then Joel Sartore has spoken volumes during his years as a National Geographic photographer, specializing in documenting endangered species and landscapes around the world.

He also is the founder of the Photo Ark, a project he began more than ten years ago focused on saving these species and their habitats. Sartore has filled the Ark with more than 24,000 photographs and videos.

His message and passion for conservationism is now on display at the Hickory Museum of Art (HMA) with a one of a kind display of his work called, Endangered: Joel Sartore Retrospective, which contains prints from the Photo Ark. The exhibit is presented by both the Catawba Valley Camera Club and the HMA.

Every species is a work of art, created over thousands or even millions of years, and each is worth saving simply because it is so unique and priceless, Sartore said in a HMA press release.

The HMA exhibit includes 55 prints. Half of the images show animals in their natural environments, highlighting the effects of deforestation, industrialization, oil spills and city growth on their habitats, according to the release. The other half of the prints are Photo Ark images  studio-style portraits of the worlds captive species (species under human care) photographed against a white or black background.

What is really cool is you have an opportunity with the Photo Ark to engage one on one and look into the eyes and experience the expression of animals, HMA Executive Director Jon Carfagno said. The reason he wants you to do that is because its next to impossible to have that connection with something on this planet and not fall in love and if you fall in love with something you care about, and you want to protect it.

Carfagno thinks the exhibit offers visitors a behind the scenes feel to the work that went into every photograph as well.

Through the field work you have the opportunity to experience what its like to lay in the national park in Uganda and wait all night for a lion to wake up after sleeping in a tree, Carfagno said. Similarly, for some of these, he was laying on a polar ice cap and waiting to get that perfect shot. It gives you a nice sense of what it takes to create these bodys of work.

Sartores work is a good illustration of the role art can play in inspiring people to look for solutions for the problems they see all around them, Carfagno said.

It also opens up the space for people to become impassioned about a topic that they might not know much about, Carfagno said. We feel thats a way the art museum can really contribute to the community.

Kristina Anthony, HMAs exhibition manager, said shes seen all ages walk in and be engaged by the exhibits message.

We tried hard with this exhibit to have things for young visitors, to capture their imagination and to get them to spend more time with the photos, Anthony said.

When visitors walk in to the museum they are assigned one of the animals in the exhibit to seek out.

Theyre going to make a personal connection with the animals. Find out what threatens that species, where they live and how they can help and then they get a souvenir, Anthony said.

Carfagno said the exhibit would be a good exhibition for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering Art and Math) education in any grade.

We participated at a curriculum conference that just happened with professional development on how you can use this exhibition to teach across disciplines, the HMA executive director said.

Along with the current exhibit, the art museum will host a special event, An Evening with Joel Sartore, on Oct. 14.

It will be in HMAs Coe Gallery, 6-7:30 p.m., and will be a reception with the artist. Cost is $40 for HMA and Camera Club members and $60 for non-members.

There will be an artist talk with Sartore in the Drendel Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. the same night. Cost is $15 for HMA and Camera Club members and $20 for non-members.

The Hickory Museum of Art is located at 234 Third Ave. NE in Hickory. For more information about the exhibit, visit hickoryart.org or call 828-327-8576.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and admission is free.

For more information about Joel Sartore's Photo Ark, visit joelsartore.com.
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The 14th India- EU summit, held in Delhi on October 6, drew attention to an important dimension of Indias foreign policy and international economic engagement which normally receives scant public or analytical attention.

EU, with its present membership of 28 countries, constitutes Indias largest trading partner, accounting for more than 100 billion euros, in a balanced trade relationship. With investments in India of $83 billion over 2000- 2017, it is 24% of total FDI flows into the country. 6,000 European companies are present in India. The Indian origin community, at 2.1 million, is not insignificant, even though less than the 3.5 million in the US. France, a leading member of the EU, is an important strategic partner, with high technology cooperation in defence, space, and civil nuclear. 50,000 Indian students are in EU in higher education, with 5,000 having been provided ERASMUS scholarships.

EU also has a growing voice in international relations, even though on many issues its constituent members retain their independent voice and position. It has been part of the 5+1 talks on Iran, and the Quartet on the Middle East peace. Its members regularly coordinate positions. Germany, now emerging as the leader in Europe, so far prefers to stake a position through EU mechanisms. The European Commission, which was represented by its President, Jean Claude Juncker, enjoys transferred competence on several issues, including trade and agriculture.

It is, therefore, welcome that the process of India- EU summits, which was disrupted after the 12th summit in 2012, is falling into rhythm, with the 14th taking place soon after the 13th in 2016 in Brussels. Separate joint statements were also issued on combating terrorism, partnership for smart cities and sustainable urbanisation, and clean energy and climate change.

There was the inevitable focus on economic issues. The European Investment bank has committed Euros 1.5 billion for the year, with loans supporting the Bengaluru metro project and a solar project. Arrangements were worked out for exchange of scientists and researchers. On the Broadbased Trade and Investment Agreement, however, it was recognised that more preparatory work was necessary. This was expected due to ongoing reassessment in India of existing agreements, Brexit induced uncertainty in EU, and the global flux on trade norms introduced by the Trump presidency in the US.

Engagement with the EU also enables India to balance some of the unhelpful trends emerging from the US, and to reinforce those that meet its interests. Many of these were reflected in the joint statement issued following the summit.

On Iran, both supported staying with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, since Iran has maintained its commitment, contrary to the now anticipated decertification by the US administration. They also supported the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the EU reiterated its commitment towards $100 billion climate funding for developing countries.

There was a clear message on connectivity projects (an oblique reference to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative) emphasising good governance, rule of law, transparency, sustainability, avoiding financial indebtedness, similar to the statement India had issued on eve of the Belt and Road Forum convened in China.

There were repeated references in public comments and the joint statement to India and EU sharing core values, democracy, human rights etc. These are useful parameters to emphasise when the Asia pacific and the world has to deal with the consequences of a rising China, which works on different norms. In an op-ed on October 6, Juncker said European Union and India are natural partners, the bond is built on our shared beliefs, and that the strength of the law outweighs the law of the strong (the opposite of what China is doing in South China Sea), and there was a need to work with like minded partners. In an interview, published the same day, Donald tusk, president of the European Council, said that EU wanted to build a strong strategic partnership with India on the foundation of the common values of freedom, democracy and a credible, rules-based global order.

In view of their common interest, and also to meet the challenge of Chinas growing presence, EU also recognised Indias interest and role in Africa, expressed commitment to enhance consultation and cooperation, and invited India to participate as an observer at the next EU- African Union Summit.

There were specific references to terrorist incidents in India, which India had linked to Pakistan, and Pakistan based terrorist groups and individuals. Several individuals and groups were specifically cited, including Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Dawood Ibrahim, LeT, JeM. EU clearly has come a long way from its earlier reluctance to such specific references, no doubt because Europe itself has now been exposed to repeated terrorist attacks. It was also stated that responsible states should take adequate measures to ensure that their territory is not used for terrorist activities.

In another oblique negative reference to Pakistan both sides stressed the responsibility of those who support DPRKs nuclear and missile programmes.

Aside from the bilateral advantages from a stronger partnership with European countries, there will also be spin offs in putting Pakistan on the defensive on terrorism, China on its deviation from rule of law, and in balancing some of the uncertainties in short-term US policies.

Arun K Singh is a former Indian Ambassador to the United States

The views expressed are personal
Four months is a long time in politics. On June 8, when clashes broke out between Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters and the police in her presence in Darjeeling, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was on the backfoot, attracting nearly universal criticism for the reckless announcement that all students have to compulsorily learn Bengali till class 10. When the indefinite shutdown began on June 15, the criticism got shriller and reached a crescendo on June 17 when three protesters fell to the bullets of security forces. But by Monday  123 days after June 8  she seemed to have bounced back to a position of clear advantage.

In the fast shifting fortunes of hill politics in Bengal, lets count the gains for each camp. GJM, the principal political force in the hills, have lost the most. There is a virtual split in the Morcha with its chief Bimal Gurung going underground. Mamata Banerjee, who identified Gurung as her principal opponent, has almost succeeded in isolating him and putting several of his lieutenants behind bars. By installing her own man Binay Tamang at the head of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, where he can distribute favours, Mamata has delivered a blow to the GJM and attract supporters to her fold.

The BJP is clearly in a position of discomfort as was evident during the three-day visit of its Bengal president Dilip Ghosh to the hills in north Bengal . He not only faced the embarrassment of being heckled without any help from the GJM supporters  Bimal Gurungs faction is an ally of the NDA  but also had to face constant black flags and go back slogans. He repeatedly faced the question of why he did not come during the 104 days of shutdown and misery. People also wanted him to clear his stand on the question of Gorkhaland. Ghosh could hardly satisfy them.

Before the meeting to be convened by the union home secretary, the BJP is a tad uncomfortable as it has to do a tightrope walk on the central question of Gorkhaland. While the agitators will push hard for statehood, the BJP will find it difficult to come out with a clear stand. The party leaders know any move to consider statehood will be politically expensive as it will allow Mamata Banerjee to launch a high-decibel campaign against them for bifurcating the state. The BJP is eyeing at least half of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal in 2019 and, given half a chance, the Trinamool will use it to project the party as anti-Bengal.

For the Centre it will be especially uncomfortable since it is the single point authority to decide on the matter of a separate state. At a political level, BJP stated in the manifestos of 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha polls to sympathetically examine and appropriately consider the long-pending demand of the Gorkhas and will be under pressure for quickly spelling out its position.

For Mamata Banerjee nothing can be a better lollypop before the polls. After having undergone the pains once in 1947, partition is a hated word in Bengal, and the chief minister is more than capable to whipping up passions on this ground. That the bandh has been called off is an additional matter of comfort for the administrator.

In June, Mamata Banerjee was accused of being insensitive to the identity question of the Gorkhas and constant attempts to curb autonomy in the hills. But those noises have almost fallen silent now. She has been able to scare away Bimal Gurung, engineer division in the GJM and push the BJP on the backfoot  all in a matter of four months.

Machiavellian you may say, but nothing succeeds like success.

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From the ancient Indian teachings, we know that there are five physical elements of creation: Earth, air, fire, sky and water. Since we have access and far better understanding of technological advancement, every individual is duty-bound for the sustainable use of every single element for the survival of the upcoming generations.

In 1993, the United Nations designated March 22 as World Water Day. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted in 2015, laid emphasis on water and sustainable use. India, which has one-sixth population of the world, is working sincerely in this direction.

This year, the ministry of water resources, river development & Ganga rejuvenation is organising the four-day Fifth India Water Week, starting on October 10.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the daily drinking water requirement per person is two-four litres, but it takes 2,000 to 5,000 litres to produce a persons daily food. It estimates by 2050, the worlds water will have to support agricultural systems, which will feed and create livelihoods for an additional 2.7 billion people. According to the Central Water Commissions 2015 Water and Statistics Report, thanks to the increasing population, the national per capita annual availability of water is estimated to reduce from 1,608 cubic metre in 2010 to 1,139 cubic metre by 2050.

For India, the need for developing and managing water resources assumes significance as the nation moves up the ladder of development. Currently, more than 50% of the Indias workforce is dependent on irrigation for agriculture. World over, the irrigation sector is the largest user of water. In India, the sector uses 85% of its available water resources, having a major share of groundwater.

The erratic rainfall pattern is leading to drought-like situation in Bundelkhand, Vidarbha and parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. On the contrary, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal have been affected by heavy rains/flash floods.

This dichotomy demands serious and continuous efforts to manage our water resource with decentralised approach with the participation of states governments, panchayati raj institutions, community organisations and households and individuals.

For the development of water resource and transferring water from water-surplus basins to water-deficit basins, the government has identified total 30 links, 16 under peninsular component and 14 under the Himalayan component under the National Perspective Plan.

The Centre is pursuing the interlinking of rivers (ILR) programme in a consultative manner by taking it on high priority with the aim of transferring 170 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water from surplus to deficit areas, create an additional irrigation potential of approximately 35 million hectare, apart from the incidental benefits of flood moderation, navigation, drinking and industrial water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc. The central government is continuously coordinating with the states for the Ken-Betwa link, Damanganga-Pinjal Link, Par-Tapi-Narmada link and Mahanadi-Godavari link to bring them to a consensus for interlinking of rivers by persuasion and mutual agreements.

For rational and balanced water management, the demand and the supply side of its distribution has been re-looked at. The positive results of investment on irrigation projects can be seen as compared to investment in other infrastructures such as roads, highways, railways, airports, which take time to show results.

The Centre has launched the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) during 2015, which includes the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme and components like per drop and more crop. The Drought Prone Area Programme has also been prioritised under the PMKSY. Building a platform for convergence of investments in irrigation through comprehensive district and the state irrigation plans, this scheme envisages an end-to-end solution in irrigation supply chain viz. water resources, distribution, efficient application and extension services. The focus is on improving water-use efficiency at farm level and bridging the gap between irrigation potential created and utilisation.

To improve the extent, quality, and accessibility of water resources information, decision support system for floods and basin level resource assessment/planning and to strengthen the capacity of targeted water resources professionals and management institutions in India the government has approved the National Hydrology Project in 2016 as a central sector scheme and establishment of National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) as a repository of nationwide water resources data.

Namami Gange Programme: The programme is a holistic one. As many as 173 projects for various activities such as sewage infrastructure, river front development, ghat and crematoria, ghat cleaning, river surface cleaning, afforestation and biodiversity conservation and rural sanitation have been sanctioned and 41 of them have been completed so far.

The government cracks down on industries polluting the Ganga, resulting 35% drops in pollutants flowing into the river. Under the MGNREGA the works have been undertaken for Repair, Renovation, and Restoration of Water Bodies by the active participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project (DRIP) are currently going on for the strengthening of the dam safety activities across the Nation. The upcoming Dam Safety Bill has been prepared to provide for robust institutional and legal framework to ensure safety of dams and prevent dam related disasters by continuous surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of dams in the country.

Since water comes under the state list of 7th schedule of the constitution. Inter-State Water disputes & their amicable solution is a serious challenge for the central government. At present 08 tribunals has been there to settle water disputes among the States under the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956. The government has adopted revised National Water Policy (NWP) which includes a permanent Water Disputes Tribunal at the Centre & establishment of Dispute Resolution Committee to resolve the inter-state water disputes in expeditiously and in an equitable manner. In this regard, for resolution of sub judice water disputes a new ISRWD Bill, 2017 has been introduced in Lok Sabha to amend the existing ISRWD Act, 1956.

With coordinated and cohesive approach towards water resource management, the various department and ministries have come up together. A MoU has been signed between the ministry of water resources, river development & Ganga rejuvenation with the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship for developing skilled manpower for laying sewerage pipeline, plumbing works, construction of toilets, civil masonry works, waste collection and its disposal activities, preparing of products from pious waste materials like flowers, leaves, coconuts, hair and associate plastic bags and plastic bottles etc. and for proper packaging and promotion of such products as well as developing skills for operation and maintenance of pumps and Sewage Treatment Plants.

Several other MoUs have been signed with ministry of railways and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited for reuse of treated water. The ministry of power has made it mandatory for power plants to use treated sewage water if the concerned power plant is located within 50-km radius of sewage treatment plant by notifying the tariff policy.

The National Mission for Clean Ganga is mandated to identify the measures, which may be necessary for reuse of treated water and enter into MoU in this regard with the Union ministries such as railways, power, petroleum and natural gas etc, states, autonomous bodies at the central and state level, as well as other recognised institutes.

The Indian context with its vast geographical and cultural diversity makes water conservation and preservation a mission that requires the involvement of a large number of stakeholders. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is taking bold and incisive decisions for development.

The conservation and management of water requires everyones participation. With hard work and continuous dialogues among stakeholders, swachhta has now become a mass movement with the emerges of India as cleanliness-conscious society.

A similar approach is need of the hour for the water sector. I urge conscious citizens, grassroot community organisations, agencies, technical institution and authorities working in the water sector to document every single success story to boost awareness in the water sector. With the efforts from every strata of society and all stakeholders from the periphery to centre, India will definitely become a water-conscious society.

Arjun Ram Meghwal is Union minister of state for water resource, river development and Ganga rejuvenation and parliamentary affairs

The views expressed are personal
The Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut spat appears to be far from over. After Kangana Ranaut spoke with media about Hrithik almost a month back, Hrithik has taken the same route to present his side of the story. He has given interviews to a number of media outlets reiterating that he never met Kangana in private and what they have is not a lovers spat. He had also said that the onus of explanation should not be on him but the accused. While Kangana is yet to respond, her sister Rangoli Ranaut has questioned Hrithik on Twitter.

Meanwhile, many Bollywood personalities came out in the support of Hrithik, the most significant being Farhan Akhtar. In an open letter, Hrithiks former co-star wrote, Theyve accepted her story at face value. Isnt this discriminating against the other party? For a moment, lets put aside emotion, prejudice, biases, our understandably protective instincts and look at the facts as they exist today.

And now, it is Hrithiks Kaabil co-star Yami Gautam to talk about this. In fact, Hrithik had mentioned Yami while emphasizing the point that he doesnt meet his co-star one on one. During an interview to CNN News 18, he said, I have never met her one on one, not once. I havent met Yami (Gautam), Ronit or Rohit one on one. So it is not so unbelievable.

Yami, in her post, doesnt name both the actors. Calling them two of the biggest stars in our industry, she says she is writing it as a as a woman and a concerned citizen. She goes on to explain how vilification of a man based on make-believe evidence is dangerous and how gender-card should not take precedence over facts and objectivity.

Here is the full post of Yami Gautam:

I am usually not very vocal on social media, but I am making an exception today, since as a woman, what I am seeing right now terrifies me.

This is concerning the matter surrounding two of the biggest stars in our industry. I have, fortunately, had the opportunity to work with one of them. However, I am not writing this as a co-star or even as a friend. I am writing this as a woman and a concerned citizen of the country, and I will try to get my point across as succinctly and as objectively as possible.

I am no legal expert. And I am not privy to the details of the case. I know what has been reported in the media, and I am all for good, honest reporting. However, somehow, the tussle has turned into a gender war, with a certain faction of the society having already declared the man guilty. People have presumed that since he is a man, he must be the guilty party, since that is how it has always been. Men have oppressed women in one way or another for centuries, and its being presumed that it is the same in this case, too.

And thats dangerous. Whatever happened to innocent, until proven guilty? Whatever happened to letting the law take its own course? Yes, a lot of times, at least in this country, we have take to the streets to get justice. But thats not the case here. The police is investigating, and both the parties are privileged enough that they can represent themselves in court and fight this out legally. Sadly, our law and order is sort of classist, but lets not digress.

Here is why this vilification of a man based on make-believe evidence is dangerous. If the gender-card is allowed to take precedence over facts and objectivity, it will be a serious blow to the on-going efforts of getting women an equal standing with the opposite sex. If this baseless trial-by-media is allowed to continue, where one party has been presumed to be guilty, there is a good likelihood that people might lose faith in this equal-rights-for-all movement that has picked up momentum in India only in recent years.

I am not exonerating anyone here. I am also not suggesting malice by any one party. All I am saying is, lets not make it a fight between genders. Lets keep it a fight between two people who may or may not have corresponded in the past. Let the facts be unearthed and until then, lets reserve our judgements.

Just because this is a fight between a man and a woman does not mean it has to be a fight between genders. Making everything a gender issue can easily distract us from addressing legit sexist issues that plague our society.
If there is one reason for the pan-India popularity of the festival of Karwa Chauth then it will have to be Bollywood. The festival which is kept by married women for the long life of their husbands suddenly gained popularity in the 90s thanks to extravagant presentation in Hindi films and has now earned quite a reputation in India (DDLJ, here is looking at you).

The fraternity, meanwhile, believes in giving the aam janta more goals. On Sunday, as India celebrated the festival, Bollywoods leading ladies were also dressed in their finery and shared a lot of photos of the celebration with their fans.From Sridevi to Raveena Tandon, Celina Jaitly and more, Bollywood stars celebrated the festival with much fanfare.

Shilpa Shetty shared several pictures and videos and wrote on Instagram, Awwwww @rajkundra9 , you are my universe Saw the pic of the moon in Amritsar (someone sent on the phone) This was a good idea considering no one in Mumbai could see it #karvachauth #memories #tradition #love #gratitude.

Awwwww @rajkundra9 , you are my "universe"Saw the pic of the moon in Amritsar (someone sent on the phone) This was a good idea considering no one in Mumbai could see it#karvachauth #memories #tradition #love #gratitude A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty) on Oct 8, 2017 at 10:56am PDT

Sundaaayyyyy KarvaChauth bingeeeeeAfter waiting for the Moon till 10 pm and rituals done,we all pounced on the food like we hadnt eaten for days..@bhavanapandey @maheepkapoor @anudewan5 still can see u #sundaybinge #fastingandfurious #traditions #lastbutnottheleast A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty) on Oct 8, 2017 at 10:29am PDT

Karva chauth Ready..#karvachauth #fasting #traditional #culturallybound #halfpunjabi A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty) on Oct 8, 2017 at 5:21am PDT

Karva Chauth on the sets of #auntybolilagaoboli ..Thankyouuuuu all sooo much @radhikashaan @singer_shaan @rajivadatia @rajcheerfull for all the love #tvshow #live #winacar #karvachauth A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty) on Oct 8, 2017 at 12:57am PDT

An annual #karwachauth ritual at the Kapoors house. Thank you #SunitaKapoor @anilskapoor always amazing hosts. I just managed to get into this picture in the nick of time :) @sanjaykapoor2500 u rock as always x A post shared by Raj Kundra (@rajkundra9) on Oct 8, 2017 at 11:26am PDT

Raveena Tandon wrote, Time for celebrations ! Love laughter happiness always !:"

Time for celebrations ! Love laughter happiness always ! pic.twitter.com/Vgt30zFl8c  Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) October 8, 2017

Sridevi, too, shared a picture and wished everyone a Happy Karwa Chauth.

Happy Karva Chauth!  A post shared by Sridevi Kapoor (@sridevi.kapoor) on Oct 8, 2017 at 6:07am PDT

Suyyash Rai and Kishwar Merchant also celebrated the festival in style.

Here are a few more pics:

They've never been in a film together but they are in one frame doing #puja for #KarwaChauth at #SunitaKapoor A post shared by Bhawana Somaaya (@bhawanasomaaya) on Oct 8, 2017 at 10:47am PDT

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Actor Shabana Azmi posted a picture of a dish cooked by her friend during her trip to Florence, Italy. While the dish in the photo looks delicious and made many users on Twitter hungry, there is a slight catch.

Twitterati dont agree with what Azmi calls the dish.

Upma cooked by Ketki for breakfast in Florence!Thats what u expect was the demand of the gujju ladies im with.No sirree it was mine Love it pic.twitter.com/ISicmbt4Ue  Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) October 9, 2017

The picture appears to be of the north Indian dish poha, which is made with flattened rice and veggies like onion, potatoes, and peas, and spices.

Azmi, however, calls it upma - a common south Indian/Maharashtrian breakfast dish that has dry roasted semolina or coarse rice flour cooked as a thick porridge.

Twitter users were quick to point out that the dish in the picture wasnt upma but poha. Others mocked the actor by sharing pictures of dishes but calling them other names.

I made this Doughnuts. How do they look ? pic.twitter.com/85jJ6Hv40m   of Saggy (@AuntyNational) October 9, 2017

Since you are in Italy, you must try the Pizza there pic.twitter.com/EzfpXFgImS  Capt Obvious (@DesolateCranium) October 9, 2017

I am surprised that #MakePohaGreatAgain brigade arent protesting against this.@OneTipOneHand_  Desi Gooner (@Sahil_Adhikaari) October 9, 2017

Are u sure it's upma? To me it looks like poha - or I shld visit an opthalmologist  Methinx (@pankajmaste) October 9, 2017

Madam ji ye samose mene banaye hai

Kha ke btana kaise hai? pic.twitter.com/ExoeZfoiPd  AMIT (@AMIT_GUJJU) October 9, 2017

ma'am please Rate this modak, maine banaya hai .. pic.twitter.com/2ZWzA5nRH2  Now+win (@Brahmeme) October 9, 2017

Ye Twitterpur hai madam lit fest festival nahi, People here don't entertain Ignorance. Asli upma hai enjoy karo. pic.twitter.com/T8m91qyfnI  Sumit Mishra (@_SumitMishra) October 9, 2017
Reacting to Farhan Akhtars open letter supporting Hrithik Roshan where he asked media and public to hear out both sides, Kangana Ranauts sister Rangoli Chandel has tweeted a few questions to the Lucknow Central star. In answer to Farhans claim that Kangana is yet to submit her electronic devices to investigating agencies, Rangoli asked if there is any proof that Kangana has not cooperated with the police during the investigation.

In an open letter on Sunday, Farhan supported Hrithik Roshan in the current battle between him and Kangana Ranaut, without taking names. I am not the authority on who is right or wrong in their situation, thats for the cybercrime officials to figure out, but I do feel certain aspects of the way the events have unfolded need comment. Like anyone who has an iota of objectivity and sense of fairness, I too agree that in our society, more often than not, it is the woman who suffers injustice and repression. It is horrifying but true that in some cases of rape, a section of society has blamed the victim. I have always found this to be unacceptable.

Asking people to set emotions aside and look at the facts, he wrote, She claims they had an affair lasting 7 years and during that period, they exchanged a number of emails. While he denies ever mailing her, he has filed an official complaint, shared and submitted all necessary information and documents, handed over his personal phone and laptop to the concerned authorities. The woman has not. Apparently, she has avoided, till date, submitting her personal communication devices citing some reason or the other. In some past cases, this lack of cooperation has been deemed to be obstruction of justice.

Taking on Farhan, Rangoli wrote, Dea @FarOutAkhtar whr is d lettr frm d polic dat Kangna hs nt coperatd wid d polic invstigation? Hw cn u write dis misleadin n false lettr?... Also why she should bother about private investigations paid by Hrithik Roshan? @FarOutAkhtar pls reply to me.

She had earlier written, Dear @FarOutAkhtar your views couldve been appreciated if you and your father were not so biased to Roshans.

Dea @FarOutAkhtar whr is d lettr frm d polic dat Kangna hs nt coperatd wid d polic invstigation? Hw cn u write dis misleadin n false lettr?  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 9, 2017

....Also why she should bother about private investigations paid by Hrithik Roshan? @FarOutAkhtar pls reply to me.  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 9, 2017

After Kangana spoke with media about Hrithik almost a month back, Hrithik has also presented his side of the story in a number of interviews. He reiterated that he never met Kangana in private and what they have is not a lovers spat. He had also said that the onus of explanation should not be on him but the accused.

A number of celebs have come out to support Hrithik including Karan Johar and Sonam Kapoor. Rangoli had responded to the support writing, Dear @karanjohar and @sonamakapoor nice to see how much a gaon wali non English speaking mountain girl has ruffled so many feathers....Haha even if entire industry stands against her she will still survive because she is the chosen one.

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Chiefs of several global and Indian oil companies, including Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, want petroleum products to be included in the goods and services tax, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said.

Briefing reporters about the on Mondays meeting of CEOs of oil companies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kant said global oil giants, including Saudi Aramco and Moscow- controlled oil giant Rosneft, have committed to increasing investment in India.

The prime minister, Kant said, has assured the industry that the Centre would discuss the issue with the states which suffer from fear of the unknown.

Vedanta Resources Group chairman Anil Agarwal said India is rich in mineral resources and hundreds of companies like Cairn India can function in India.

Modi also underlined the importance of development of infrastructure in eastern India and northeast India.

According to Kant, CEOs also said India has potential to become a gas-based economy.

Modi, also wanted to institutionalised the conference which is attracting CEOs from world top oil companies.

Modi on Monday met BP Plc chief executive Bob Dudley, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Royal Dutch Shells Project and Technology director Harry Brekelmens, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Naseer, Exxon Mobil president for Gas and Power Rob Franklin, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and Vedanta Resources head Anil Agarwal to discuss the oil and gas scenario.

Government think-tank Niti Aayog made a short presentation on the status, the likely scenario of demand and supply by 2030 and current government policies.

OPEC secretary general Mohammed Barkindo and oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting. Former oil secretaries Vivek Rae and Vijay Kelkar too were invited.
PepsiCo India Chairman and CEO D Shivakumar has resigned from the company after serving for nearly four years and will join Aditya Birla Group as the head of strategy and business development.

Shivakumar has been replaced by Ahmed El Sheikh, senior vice president and general manager for PepsiCo Egypt and Jordan, PepsiCo India said in a statement.

Shiv has been with PepsiCo for the past four years and has been instrumental in leading the transformation journey for the company, PepsiCo CEO Asia, Middle East and North Africa (AMENA) Sector Sanjeev Chadha said.

Shivakumar, who is expected to join Aditya Birla Group in three months time, will report to the Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla.

He is joining as the Group head of Strategy and Business Development, Aditya Birla Group director (human resources) and chief executive officer, Carbon Black Business, Santrupt B Misra told PTI.

Shivakumar will join the company in three months or so, Misra said.

Shivakumars replacement at PepsiCo, Ahmed, will assume his role on November 1, while the former will stay till December 31 as part of the transition process.

Ahmed, who held leadership roles in both foods and beverages businesses, led the Egypt business in his last stint.

I have every confidence that Ahmed, together with our winning India leadership team, will prove to be a very powerful combination for the future success of PepsiCo India, Chadha said.
Flow of development funds and real estate boom spawned scams in the Terai region, comprising mostly the agriculturally rich Udham Singh Nagar, social activists said.

The Rs 600-crore NH 74 scam, Rs 600-crore rice scam, irregularities in the Terai Seeds and Development Corporation, and a scholarship scam, running into hundreds of crores, surfaced in the Terai region.

The NH 74 scam came to light in 2016 after the then Kumon commissioner, D Senthil Pandiyan, ordered an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the compensation given to farmers. The probe revealed that farmers showed their agricultural land as commercial property and got huge compensations. Rudrapur special land ceiling officer was suspended.

The social welfare department released scholarships in the name of fake students in the Terai region and Haridwar.

Investigations are on into the multilayered rice scam. Investigators found government officials in collusion with rice mill owners allegedly did not follow the rules set for paddy purchase, forcing farmers to sell their produce at rates lower than the minimum support price.

The millers then sold the rice to the government at minimum support price, making a profit of Rs 400 per quintal. The vehicles used for transporting the rice from mills to Food Corporation of India godowns did not carry the registration number in challans.

Linking the scams to regional imbalance, social activist Chandrahsekhar Kargeti said, Plain areas have been the focus of development; hill regions have been neglected, but Terai has witnessed development and concentration of funds. Real estate boom has also led to corruption.

Kargeti, a lawyer at the Uttarakhand high court, said a system of checks and balances did not exist in the functioning of officials in the region. There is a nexus among officials here and there is a mindset against transparency, which has spawned the scams.

Postings in the Terai area have been lucrative for officials because of the funds available, social activist Beena Joshi said. The government must focus on all areas for development so that such scams do not occur in future, she said.
Free of cost pathology and radiology tests will soon be available for all in major government hospitals of Uttarakhand, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said in a meeting of health officials on Monday.

Rawat said that the facility of free lab tests was launched (by the erstwhile Congress government) in October last year, but was applicable to only the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Beema Yojana (MSBY, or Chief Ministers Health Insurance Scheme) card holders, which were barely 36,000 in number.

We are now working to provide free tests for all residents of Uttarakhand across major government hospitals of the state so that people dont have to go to private labs, said Rawat, directing health department and National Health Mission (NHM) officials to ensure launch of the facility at the earliest.

Free lab tests will be to provided to all residents of Uttarakhand against furnishing of Aadhaar cards, while the facility will be provided at reasonable prices to those from outside the state, added the chief minister.

Chandresh Kumar Yadav, NHMs mission director, said that the Central government has sanctioned adequate budget which can be dedicated for the scheme. He added that the NHM has procured 21 blood cell counters from a French company which will be made available to 21 hospitals across all districts soon.

Dr. Archana Srivastava, director general (health), said that the health department had initiated the process of procuring 14 automatic analysers with the help of the NHM, while other equipments like autoimmune analyser and electrolyte analyser were also being supplied in association with the NHM. Computerised radiology system will be also be provided to 10 district hospitals for free tests.

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One often blames ones profession and untimely work hours for not being able to pursue ones passion. But, Delhi Police sub-inspector Syamalan PP is a brilliant example of how to perfect time-management, while making the most of ones talent. Ive been calligraphing since I was seven or eight. At that time, there was hardly any importance given to this art, and it was just my talent of drawing or sketching that got noticed, says Syamalan. The 55-year-old made a record in calligraphy writing in the presence of adjudicator of India Star Book of World Records, on October 1.

The words on this foundation stone were written by Syamalan.

This is not the first time Syamalan has created a record. He already holds four Limca Book of Records for the years 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017, in calligraphy writing style.

The officer from Kerala believes that his mother tongue, Malayalam has helped him take to calligraphy, and excel in it. Seeing my interest in arts, my mother introduced him to the world of calligraphy. I then started practising various styles of writing and really liked the alphabets in creative fonts. If you see how Malayalam is written, it looks like a calligraphy text only. To be true, awareness of the same has helped me in writing and creating various forms, he says.

Syamalan practises calligraphy as and when he gets time. (Shivam Saxena/HT Photo)

Syamalan, who joined Delhi Polices Communication Unit in 1982, is often the go-to person for his colleagues, when it comes to writing letters for higher authorities. In initial days of my job, I got ample time to devote myself to my passion. There wasnt much work in the Communication Unit, and I could practice this art almost everyday. Also, Im thankful to Delhi Police for motivating me to grow, he adds.

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Starting Tuesday, Delhi Metro rides will become costlier by a maximum of Rs 10 for those travelling over two kilometres in the city.

In an emergency meeting conducted late on Monday, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) board decided by majority that it is not competent to roll back or defer the proposed fare hike. This development has brought down the curtains on a 10-day-long political confrontation between the Delhi government and the Centre on the issue.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had expressed his opposition to the proposed hike in two missives to Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri, openly disapproved of the boards decision. Out of 16 (board members), Delhi govt had 5 directors who opposed (the move). But the Centre is adamant. Hike too steep. Centre shud hv been more considerate towards common man, he tweeted soon after the meeting concluded.

The decision of the board, headed by housing and urban affairs secretary DS Mishra, came close on the heels of the Delhi assembly passing a resolution against the proposed fare hike earlier in the day. Metro fares are set to increase by anywhere between Rs 5 and Rs 10 for those travelling over two kilometres from Tuesday. This, incidentally, is the second instance of a fare hike this year. On May 8, the DMRC board had approved the recommendation of the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) that the fare be increased in two rounds. The first took place on May 10, when minimum ticket costs were raised from Rs 8 to Rs 10 and the maximum from Rs 30 to Rs 50.

Sources said Delhi chief secretary MM Kutty, who represented the AAP government on the DMRC board, conveyed chief minister Arvind Kejriwals message that the fare hike be rolled back because it is anti-people. However, the board rejected the Delhi governments stand by citing Section 37 of the Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act-2002  which states that the FFCs recommendations are binding, sacrosanct and not subject to the Centres intervention.

Kejriwals confrontation with the Centre began when he wrote to Puri on September 30, seeking reconsideration of the proposed hike. In his response, the Union minister said it was legally untenable to place the fare hike on hold because the FFCs recommendations were binding under the Delhi Metro Act.

Puri, however, said the Centre could consider setting up a new FFC to take a re-look at the proposed hike if the Delhi government agreed to shell out an annual sum of Rs 3,000 crore for the next five years  so the DMRC can pay off its loans and bridge over operational losses.

The DMRC is afflicted with depleted savings, a Rs 45,000-crore debt, and a rising operating ratio that leaves little for maintenance work. It needs to raise Rs 16,104 crore over the next five years to fulfill several financial commitments, including repaying loan liabilities to the Japan International Cooperation Agency and meeting operational expenses.

The slugfest continued on Saturday, with Kejriwal again writing to Puri with a suggestion that the Delhi government be allowed to take over DMRC operations to ensure efficient performance. He also mooted an alternative plan, wherein the Delhi government would provide half the funds required by the Metro authorities so long as the Centre shells out a matching amount.

Puri rejected the new suggestion on Monday, stating that the guidelines for sanctioning Metro rail projects clearly indicate that operational losses are the sole responsibility of state governments. The harassed people of the national capital are in dire need of effective mobility solutions. The DMRC has offered one such solution, and people are asking for more. Politicisation of issues does not help anyone, he wrote back.

The DMRC had been requesting a fare hike since 2009, but wasnt been able to do so in the absence of a fare panel. Electricity tariff has gone up by over 90% in the last eight years, accounting for almost 30% of the DMRCs total operating costs.

DMRC sources said their operating ratio in the 2016-17 fiscal stood at approximately 76%. It reportedly came down to 65% after the first fare revision in May.

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The Delhi assembly passed on Monday a resolution against the proposed Metro fare hike even as the proceedings got off to a rocky start.

Participating in the discussion on the resolution, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said Metro fares are being increased so that cab aggregators Ola and Uber will be cheaper and people would give up using Metro.

Without naming the Centre, Sisodia said there was an attempt to make the Delhi Metro premium public transport, but the AAP government would not allow it.

Conspiracy is being hatched so that Ola and Uber companies will be benefited. This is being deliberately done so that the fares of Metro are more than that of taxis of private companies, Sisodia told the House.

Two BJP MLAs, who sought an apology from chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for using foul language during a recent debate on guest teachers, were marshalled out of the House during the discussion.

Speaker Ram Niwas Goel ordered that Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Om Prakash Sharma be marshalled out, as the BJP MLAs kept raising the issue despite his repeated requests to stick to the agenda of fare hike. This prompted a walkout by the other two BJP MLAs, Vijender Gupta and Jagdish Pradhan.

Sirsa alleged that Kejriwals statement in the House, during the October 4 debate on guest teachers, directed at the BJP was derogatory and insulting to women.

Goel, in his response, said the BJP was merely trying to divert attention from the issue of metro fare hike. You are taking Delhi towards destruction, he said at one point, as AAP MLAs collectively derided Sirsa.

The Aam Aadmi Party government has locked horns with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation over the proposed hike to be enforced from October 10 -- the second this year. The last hike was effected in May.

The resolution moved on Wednesday by transport minister Kailash Gahlot urged the Union urban development ministry to quickly and actively intervene so that the proposed unlawful and anti-people fare hike be reversed in the interest of common people and the environment.

On Monday, Gahlot said Delhi Metro was not made to be a world-class profitable venture but itll be world class when people leave their vehicles and use it.

Other members of the ruling AAP said they wont allow the fares to go up and they will protest if fares are hiked.

Earlier, CM Kejriwal had asked Gahlot to find a way to stop the anti-people fare hike.

The DMRC defended its decision by saying its input costs had gone up over the years and the increase was at par with Metro rails in other cities.

Earlier, the central government had informed Kejriwal it cannot put on hold the proposed hike unless his government gives about Rs 3,000 crore annually to DMRC as grant-in-aid for the next five years. In response, Kejriwal said his government was ready to pay Rs 1,500 crore a year, if the centre was ready to fund the other half.

He also said the Delhi goverment was ready to take over the DMRC.
A 15-year-old girl, who got separated from her friend while travelling in the Delhi Metro, had to spend a night at a metro station as the Delhi Police could not take her custody because there was no woman constable.

A woman constable of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) turned saviour by feeding her dinner and keeping the girl under her watch on September 25 night at Pitampura Metro station. The incident took place when the train services had terminated.

We conduct sweeping of stations after the train services are terminated. During the exercise, soon after midnight, the staff at Pitampura metro station saw a girl sitting alone at platform number 2. She was brought to the control room where she said that she was waiting for her male friend. We immediately called the police, said a CISF officer, who is not authorised to speak to the media.

But the Delhi Police reportedly refused to take the custody as they did not have any woman officer at that time. According to rules, the presence of female staff is mandatory while taking the custody of a girl whether she is an accused or a victim.

The Delhi Police requested us to keep the girl with a female constable of the CISF. We agreed and our constable was asked to sit in front of CCTV camera near the ladies frisking booth so that their movement can be monitored. In the morning, the girl was handed over to the police, CISF spokesperson Hemendra Singh said.

DCP (Metro) Pankaj Singh confirmed the incident and said that on that particular night, a female staff was not present at Rithala police station, under whose jurisdiction Pitampura Metro station is located. Singh said police took her custody the following morning and produced her before the Child Welfare Committee. The CWC sent her to a childrens home till the next date of hearing.

We usually hand over the missing child to the family and if we are unable to find the family, we drop the child to the nearest shelter home, said a Delhi Police officer, who did not wish to be named.

With 28 lakh passengers travelling every day and 20% of them usually first timers, every day the CISF receives at least two cases of people getting separated from their relatives. While their main job is to secure the Metro premises, such cases are taken on priority basis as delay may affect the investigation.

Officer said that most of them get separated due to automatic doors and crowded Metro stations. Last year, over 100 kids were reunited with their parents.

In 2016, we reunited 106 children with their parents, while this year till June, 60 children have been reunited. Apart from this, over 100 adults have been reunited with their families from 2016 till date. We have trained our staff to identify people roaming alone. It is a misconception that only children are vulnerable. In Metro, many first timers from other states come and often get separated, the CISF official said.

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Metro services on Yellow Line were disrupted on Monday morning for at least 10 minutes, when four supporters of National Students Union of India (NSUI) jumped on the track raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The members of Congress student wing were protesting against the proposed fare hike by the DMRC set to be enforced from October 10.

NSUIs Delhi president Akshay Lakra, along with party members Shauryaveer, Arjun Chaprana and another unidentified member, reportedly entered the Vishwavidyalaya Metro station and jumped on to the tracks at around 11am refusing to let the metro services run. The four sat for at least 5-7 minutes delaying metro services by 10 minutes.

The NSUI, later, shared pictures of the protest on Twitter.

Delhi NSUI protested against metro fare hike, inside Vishwa Vidyalaya metro station pic.twitter.com/0x3ogJgofQ  NSUI (@nsui) October 9, 2017

CISF officials at the station said the four were detained and handed over to Delhi police.

Metro fares have been hiked unreasonably. The students are suffering the most due to this move. We have been trying to meet Kailash Gehlot for many days. We had no option but to do this to make the deaf government listen to us, said Neeraj Mishra, NSUIs national media incharge.

The Delhi government and centre are locked in a face off over the proposed fare hike. The centre had told chief minister Arvind Kejriwal that they would not hike the metro fare, if his government paid the operating costs of Rs 3000 crore annually. In reply, Kejriwal on Sunday wrote to minister of state for Housing and Urban affairs Hardeep Puri that his government is ready to take over the Delhi metro Rail Corporation if centre pays 50% of the amount.
News of the Supreme Court order decreeing a cracker-free Diwali this year spread like the proverbial wildfire through wholesale markets in New Delhi on Monday, uniting shopkeepers big and small in their anger and dismay.

With losses running into crores, their Diwali was going up in smoke, said shopkeepers in Sadar Bazar and Jama Masjid, two of the biggest cracker markets in the city.

The news travelled fast in the narrow bylanes of the two markets in the Old City with shops piled high with crackers of all kinds, ranging from sparklers selling for about Rs 20 a stick to powerful bombs going up to Rs 1,000 and more.

The Supreme Court said its order of last November banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) would continue till October 31 - Diwali falls on October 19 -- in an effort to check pollution this festival of lights.

All dealers across NCR have been affected. The ban was imposed in 2016 last year and was lifted temporarily around 20 days back. Now, what will be do with the old stock? Crackers worth crores will go waste, said Amit Jain, who sells firecrackers in Jama Masjid.

Harjit Singh Chhabra, head, Sadar Nishkarm Welfare Association, estimated that losses could go up to hundreds of crores.

According to him, 500 temporary licences have already been issued to sell firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. Of these, Sadar Bazar has 24. This does not include those who have a permanent licence.

Ban nuclear weapons, not crackers, said one shopkeeper in Sadar Bazar. The Supreme Courts job is to regulate not ban, added another who had set up shop close by. They have banned Diwali in Delhi, said a third.

FB Live: Firecrackers vendors in Delhis Chandni Chowk react to SC order

The posters came up equally rapidly.

A banner saying Patake hi Patake was pulled down to make way for a new one declaring, Nashe se mar rahe hai log, Patakon se nahi (People are dying because of drugs, not of crackers.

We are selling crackers not nuclear weapons that you impose a ban. This is India, not Taliban that you can go on banning things like this, Chhabra told PTI.

Shopkeepers in Sadar Bazar have threatened to go on strike and insist they wont follow the order.

We cant sell in shops so we will sell on the pavement if nothing works out, Chhabra said, addressing a crowd that had gathered near his shop.

This is not childs play. They have revoked the old ban only to bring it again. What do we do with these crackers that we bought, he added, showing his licence giving him permission to sell crackers till November 21.

His story found wide echo in the area.

Sandeep Mahajan, another shopkeeper from Sadar Bazaar, said he has over 600 kg of crackers worth about Rs 8 lakh.

My losses will be three times more. I had bought crackers worth Rs 25 lakh, added Rajiv Saxena of RK Enterprises.

Many of them said they were just getting over the blow of 28 per cent GST on crackers.

We are clueless about what to do next! For us Diwali is finished. The last I knew, Supreme Court was authorised to regulate, not ban. This will only create new avenues for corruption. I can already see policemen taking rounds to harass us, said Surinder Chawla.

While environmentalists and others welcomed the apex court order, Chawla is amongst those hoping that the biggies of Sivakasi - firecracker manufacturing hub - manage to get a stay.

People running the industry in Sivakasi are big shots. They will get us out of this situation, Chawla said.

The cracker lobby also contests that a ban would help in reducing pollution.

Trucks are roaming throughout Delhi and there is no check. The big industries are polluting air 365 days and you dont do anything. But come Diwali and you are all alert... do they actually think that one day can make this huge impact? asked a permanent licence holder in Jama Masjid who did not want to be identified.

Pawan Khosla, who had come to purchase crackers for the festive season, had no clue about the apex court order.

Thank god you told me, he said, adding some more to his bulging gunny bags of the incendiary stuff.

Diwali is celebrated for around five days. In those five days, 10 lakh kilogrammes of firecrackers are used per day, a Supreme Court bench had said in August this year.

It was reportedly informed by a counsel that 50 lakh kg of fireworks were stocked in and around the National Capital Region.
Honking its way down the narrow Taraouri Road, in Haryanas Karnal district, the 16-wheeler truck vanished into a dense cloud of smoke billowing from a field set on fire by its owner to get rid of the paddy stubble left behind after the crop was harvested.

Agricultural stubble  millions of tonnes  is burnt by farmers in northern India every October, triggering heavy pollution in Delhi-NCR before the onset of winter.

The annual episode has already begun this year, leaving Delhi residents concerned. The memory of the 2016 smog, triggered primarily by burning of stubble and crackers, is still fresh in their minds.

Though the National Green Tribunal banned crop burning in 2015, implementing the order had been difficult. Farmers set crop residue afire mainly because of cost concerns and the short gap between summer and winter crops. Lack of incentives and equipment to cut the stubble are other issues.

Hindustan Times travelled to Punjab and Haryana for a ground report. In a two-part series, HT also tries to come up with some feasible solutions.

Ground scenario

Travelling along the National Highway from Delhi to Haryana and then to Punjab, it would be difficult for one to assess the quantum of the problem. But as one travels into the villages, off the NH, the drama unfolds.

Some farmers at Kacchhwa, a remote village in Karnal, were seen harvesting paddy. Others had set their farmlands on fire, leaving behind black ash. Smoke was seen in some farmlands at a distance. Fires were still raging.

Stubble burning has already started. NASA images revealed that red dots  denoting incidents of fire  have started appearing almost everywhere in Haryana and Punjab.

Studies show stubble burning contributes anywhere between 12% and 60% to Delhis pollution load during this time of the year, depending on wind direction and speed. (Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

In Haryana, Fatehbad, Kaithal, Karnal, Sirsa, Jind reported the maximum number of incidents. In Punjab, reports poured in from Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Patiala.

It is spreading like wildfire. Every farmer waits for his neighbour to light the fire, said a farmer who refused to be named.

The menace

Most studies speak of biomass burning, which includes crop residue fires. But hardly any talks about stubble burning and its effect in isolation.

A study  Socioeconomic and Environmental Implications of Agricultural Residue Burning published by Springer in 2015  sheds some light. Stubble burning, it says, results in emission of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, N2O, NO2, SO2, CH4 along with particulate matter and hydrocarbons.

Each tonne of crop residue on burning releases around 3kg of particulate matter, 60 kg of CO, 1,460 kg of CO2, 199kg of ash and 2kg of SO2.

According to a study by Springer in 2015, stubble burning results in emission of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, N2O, NO2, SO2, CH4 along with particulate matter and hydrocarbons. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

The damage doesnt end here. Stubble burning also takes a heavy toll on the soil, resulting in loss of nutrients, said Polash Mukerjee, senior research associate (air pollution), Centre for Science and Environment.

The same study says each hectare of paddy straw contains around 39 kg of nitrogen, six kg of phosphorus, 140 kg of potassium and around 11 kg of sulphur. It is estimated a significant amount of this nutrient source is lost on burning.

Burning also takes a toll on micro-organisms and other small creatures such as earthworms that help enrich the soil, said CR Babu, ecologist.



Reason for concern

Delhi had no reason to worry about it had it not been for the changing wind pattern at time of the year.

With the retreat of monsoon, the northwesterly winds start blowing in. This paves the way for a major chunk of the pollutants to reach Delhi and other cities located in the path of the winds, said D Saha, head of the air quality laboratory, Central Pollution Control Board.

In summer, the wind blows in the opposite direction because of which stubble burning has little effect in Delhi.

Studies show stubble burning contributes anywhere between 12% and 60% to Delhis pollution load during this time of the year, depending on wind direction and speed.

Farmers resort to burning as a quick fix in the absence of better means and resources to deal with agricultural stubble. (Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

Firecrackers during Diwali are a major source of pollution before winter but stubble burning is a larger headache as it lingers for days, starting the first week of October.

Delhis air quality has already started deteriorating and PM10 and PM2.5 levels are gradually shooting up.

These are very fine particles and can penetrate deep into our lungs, triggering a range of ailments. The elderly, children and those suffering from chronic respiratory and cardiac problems are particularly at risk, said Dr A Mohan, professor, department of pulmonary medicine and sleep disorder, AIIMS.

Government vs villagers

The main problem seems to be the demand-supply chain. The government says it has extended subsidy to farmers to purchase machinery to dispose of cut stubble. Farmers say they are yet to receive assistance.

Punjabs farmers demand Rs 300 per quintal for not burning paddy stubble, besides subsidy on machines such as happy seeders and shredders.

They say disposing of the straw in an environment friendly manner would mean an additional expenditure of Rs 5,000-6,000 per acre.

What will we do with this stubble? We have no option but to burn them. Heard about a government aid of Rs 100 per quintal but have never got a penny, said a villager at Fatehgarh Channa, Punjab. He refused to identify himself fearing action by authorities

Farmers in Haryanas Karnal and Kurukshetra had similar complaints  no aid from the government, no machines and no alternatives to stubble burning.

Punjabs farmers have demanded Rs 300 per quintal for not burning paddy stubble, besides subsidy on machines such as happy seeders and shredders. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

We are trying to provide assistance to farmers. But things cant be done overnight. We need some aid from the Centre too, said a senior official of the Haryana agriculture department.

The National Green Tribunal last week had rapped the Punjab government for not providing incentive and infrastructure assistance to farmers to stop them from burning stubble residue.

The quantum of the problem can be estimated from the fact that an estimated 35 million tonnes are burnt in Punjab and Haryana alone to make room for the winter wheat crop.

Seeking government aid to handle farm residue, farmer union representatives collectively set fire to a 25-acre field at Shajju Bhatt village in Nabha to send across a message of defiance on Tuesday.

Hindustan Times visited the village and met 67-year-old Gurmeet Singh, secretary of the Kul Hind Kisan Sabha.

We understand pollution and that this burning is causing harm even in Delhi. But we have no other way. If the government helps us out and give farmers Rs 5,000 per acre, we wont burn. This is an additional burden and relief is needed, Singh said.

Banned by NGT in 2015

The NGT had banned crop burning in 2015 and directed state governments to take coercive and punitive action against violators of its burning order. It had asked them to withdraw assistance provided to such farmers.

The tribunal had imposed penalties too. Small landowners with less than two acres of land will have to pay Rs 2,500; medium landowners holding over two acres and less than five acres will have to pay Rs 5,000; and those owning over five acres to pay Rs 15,000 per incident of stubble burning as environment compensation, the NGT had ordered.

It had asked the state governments to provide machinery free of cost to farmers having less than two acres of land, Rs 5,000 to farmers having medium landowners and Rs15,000 for large land holding farmers.

Thereafter, the state governments have been repeatedly pulled up by courts and court-appointed panels. Crop burning, however, continues unabated.
She answered a call from a wrong number this April and each event thereafter was a blur for 23-year-old Madhuri Rajput of western Uttar Pradeshs Kanaur.

Seduced by a sweet-talking Lothario, she got hitched, ditched, bludgeoned with a brick and left for dead in a comatose state. Until she regained her senses in a New Delhi hospital and remembered the man who ruined her life for the little money she stole from her family before eloping with him.

When I woke up from coma after two-and-a-half months at Batra hospital last month, police asked who attacked me. I couldnt say. I thought I would go mad. I didnt remember anything, she said.

It took me about three weeks to recall the night of June 13 when my husband tried to kill me.

Delhi police arrested her husband, Ravi Singh alias Tinku, from his home in Uttar Pradeshs Sitapur district on October 6.

The days went by like a blur for Madhuri after she took that purposefully made misdialed call. Love blossomed and she spent hours speaking to the caller.

I fled home on May 6 after stealing Rs 18,000 and some gold from my father. Tinku took me to his village and we were married by a local priest there. I still dont know why he decided to kill me, Madhuri said.

Her husband proposed about a fortnight later that that they should go to New Delhi to get their Aadhaar biometric identity cards made.

The couple landed in the national capital around the first week of June and Tinku took her to a relatives home in Narela. They stayed for a few days there, but Madhuri said she sensed something wrong and asked him to take her home.

That afternoon he told me we would go sightseeing. He took me to a restaurant in Pul Prahaldpur where we had dinner. Then he took me to a terrace of an under-construction building. It was dark, she said.

On the terrace, I remember him slapping me and hurling a brick that hit my head. The next thing I remember is I woke up at the hospital with no memory.

She was found unconscious by carpenters at a construction site in south Delhi. They alerted police and she was admitted to hospital, where doctors painstakingly tried to revive her from coma and memory loss.

Police registered a case of attempted murder but the investigation made no progress as the woman couldnt offer a lead.

Madhuri regained her memory bit by bit and told police on September 27 that her husband tried to kill her.

Her statement was recorded and she accused Ravi Singh of attacking her, said deputy commissioner of police (southeast) Romil Baaniya.

Her husband could not believe his ears when cops visited his home and disclosed that Madhuri is alive. Investigators said Singh loved another woman and seduced Madhuri only for money.

Her father, farmer Satish Chand, thanked god for giving his daughter back. The family searched for her for months before he got a call from the New Delhi hospital about her on September 27.

Police should never let him out on bail. That man must be duping innocent girls like my daughter, he said.

The family took her home after she was discharged from hospital. She promised her father she will never take calls from any unknown number.

I dont use a phone now. I use my fathers phone. Is that man suffering in jail?

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A University Grants Commission (UGC) audit committees suggestion to drop the words Muslim from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Hindu from Banaras Hindu University caused a flutter among those associated with the two universities on Monday.

The panel said the words should be dropped as they do not reflect the secular character of the universities.

Amid the uproar, union human resource development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters in Ahmedabad the government had no intention to change the names of AMU and BHU.

The mandate of the (UGC) committee is to look into the administrative, academic and research audits of universities. We will not take cognisance of what they have recommended outside of this, he said.

Meanwhile, a section of the AMU fraternity described the UGC panels suggestion as a political move.

Siddiqui also said: The AMU is a secular university. The first graduate of AMU was a non-Muslim, Ishwari Prasad.

Mohd Shoeb, AMU student leader, said: Removing the word Muslim from the universitys name is the BJPs hidden agenda. If the central government takes any step to change the AMUs name, we will approach the court.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan had founded the Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College (MAO College) in 1875. The MAO College was incorporated into the Aligarh Muslim University ( AMU ) with all its properties, infrastructure and resources by the AMU Act 1920 which was amended many times.

Parliament passed the amended AMU Act in 1981, giving the university the responsibility of uplifting and educating Indian Muslims.

Students and professors of the BHU are also not in favour of the recommendation. They said the word Hindu in the institutions name has never caused any problem on the campus.

The BHU was founded in 1916 and produced luminaries in various fields, they said. Its initial name was Central Hindu College.

Ram Pravesh Pathak, who teaches political science at BHU, said, The word Hindu is connected with the identity of the BHU. Students of all castes and creeds and also from foreign countries study together. Therefore, dropping the Hindu from BHU would not be pertinent.

BHU public relations officer Dr Rajesh Singh said, The university hasnt received any official or verbal communication from the UGC so far. Therefore, it is not appropriate to comment over the matter. He, however, accepted that he came to know about the development through media reports.

The Banaras Hindu University Bill was introduced in the Imperial Legislative Council in March 1915 by Sir Hartcourt Butler, member (education) in the council.

Dr Vishwanath Pandey, who is associated with the project for rewriting the BHUs history, said Butler had stated, The main features of the university, which distinguished it from the existing university, will be a teaching and residential university; secondly, that it will be open to all castes and creeds.

While supporting the bill as a council member, BHU founder Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya had said, My Lord, the university will be denominational institution but not a sectarian one. It will not promote narrow sectarianism, but a broad liberation of mind and religious spirit which will promote brotherly feeling between man and man.

Pandey said, Hindu in the name of BHU is part of the BHU Act passed by Parliament and amended time to time. Technically, it will not be easy to drop the word Hindu. For that, the BHU Act will have to be amended.

He recalled, An attempt was made in the mid 1970s to rake up a similar issue by MC Chagla in Parliament. The move triggered nationwide protests, including in Varanasi, and the idea was eventually dropped by the then government.

Mani Pandey, a research scholar at BHU, said, The BHU has a great history. It is not appropriate to change its name.

Anshu Kumar, a student at BHUs political science department, said Hindu was a Persian word.

(With PTI inputs)
Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) in Gurgaon will issue advisory on the bursting of crackers inside residential and condominium complexes in the light of the Supreme Court order, banning cracker sale in Delhi/NCR this Diwali. Executive members of RWAs said that they will study the apex court order and take appropriate action within a week.

RWAs are already doing their bit in ensuring an eco-friendly Diwali this year by encouraging residents to take part in rangoli and diya (earthen lamp) making competition.

Several RWA members have already issued circulars in their condominiums and have requested residents to say no to crackers.

We had already sent messages to residents last week that we should not burst crackers, as it pollutes the environment and risks health. We will celebrate the festival with lights and sweets instead, Vikas Bansal, general secretary, RWA, Sector 37C, Taksila Heights, said.

RWA members said though the Supreme Court has banned the sale of crackers in Delhi/NCR, it would have been better had the ban been extended to bursting of crackers as well.

They said that merely a ban on cracker sale in Delhi/NCR cannot be a long-term solution to the problem of pollution, as people could easily procure crackers from other cities. They said though cracker prices would be jacked up in the wake of the apex court ban, it will hard to check unauthorised sale of crackers in Delhi/NCR.

While most residents at Fresco Apartments are against bursting of crackers and are concerned over the environmental impact of the same, some want to continue lighting crackers. We will take a call soon as in the absence of any restriction by the government, we cannot stop residents from bursting crackers if they wish to do so. Children and senior citizens are trying their best to convince those who support bursting of crackers to give it up, Nilesh Tandon, president, RWA Fresco Apartments, said.

We have a meeting of members on Tuesday morning and will ensure all residents comply with the apex court order. We were already planning to launch a campaign in our society to spread the message, No Crackers. This order has only helped our cause. Many residents are fond of lighting crackers on Diwali, but we hope they will refrain from doing so in the light of the Supreme Court judgment, Rajeev Sinha, president, RWA, Essel Towers, said.

Read I Pollution watchdog calls for Diwali without crackers

Residents of Heritage City on MG Road have been pushing the RWA to ban the bursting of crackers and they have even moved a petition in that regard.

We are getting a good response and all residents have signed the petition to submit to the RWA. We have few people, including elders, who feel there is no Diwali without crackers. We are in the process of convincing them to celebrate Diwali sans crackers, Hanumant Talwar, a resident of Heritage City, said.

Several other RWAs are planning to start campaigns in order to encourage residents to boycott fireworks.

VMK Singh, general secretary, Suncity Township, said, We will engage children of our township in this cause and have decided to reward those who encourage others to give up crackers and help reduce pollution.

Some societies have planned musical events, asking residents to invite friends and relatives to celebrate a cracker-less Festival of Lights in their condominiums. They have also organised bonfire, games and food stalls as part of the celebration.

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The Wildlife Week, which started on October 2, concluded on Monday at the Sultanpur National Park, located 15km from the city.

On the occasion, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar opened a photo exhibition of domestic and migratory birds that visit the national park every year. This exhibition will continue for a week.

With a view to protect the birds from visitors, five battery carts were also launched by the chief minister.

This battery carts will help manage crowd at the park. The government will take all steps to ensure safety of birds and animals in the region, Khattar said.

The photo exhibition has on display the photographs of more than 100 birds that visit the park. The pictures were clicked by wildlife photographers.

Khattar also honoured dignitaries who have proactively contributed to wildlife conservation.

The wildlife department officials said they are working on multiple projects to raise awareness among residents about the importance of wildlife.

The visitors will be guided by a staff member who will inform them about the birds and the ecology. We have barricaded a 1.5km stretch as the Duck Point to ensure that visitors do not go deep into the core areas, Vinod Kumar, conservator of wildlife, south Haryana, said.

With winter almost here , the variety of birdlife is expected to rise soon due to the arrival of a large number of migratory birds.

Every year, more than 30,000 birds from different parts of the country and also from Europe, Russia, China and the Gulf countries visit the park during winter.

These birds include waders (water dependent birds), ducks (require slightly deeper water) and warblers (prefer reeds).

The birds that were spotted last season include pallid scops, Asian brown flycatcher, Cettis warbler, Tickells leaf warbler, ashy headed green pigeon, grey headed fish eagle, smoky warbler, grey hooded warbler, jungle nightjar, spotted crake and lesser florican.

Some of the very rare birds that were spotted in the park last season include song thrush, brown breasted flycatcher, scaly thrush, Lesser white fronted goose, white-tailed eagle, yellow legged buttonquail, brown capped pygmy woodpecker, white capped redstart and the grey-headed lapwing.

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It is that time of the year when residents of Gurgaon get ready to receive some very special guests who stay for the duration of the chilly months before heading back to their respective homes.

The ducks, waders, terns, raptors and other species of migratory birds have started arriving at the Sultanpur National Park, located 15km from the city.

Soon, the park is expected to be flooded with more than 30,000 birds from different parts of the world.

The park currently has around 60 species of migratory birds. The process of migration has started and will take a month more for it to be in full swing. Birds that have to cover a longer distance have already started their journey, Shyam Sunder Kaushik, divisional forest officer (wildlife), Gurgaon, said.

Some of the birds that have been spotted by birds at the park include Tickells leaf warbler, water pipit, jack snipe and spotted crake.

We have also spotted song thrush, Tickells blue flycatcher, Marshalls iora and grasshopper warbler, said Kaushik.

By the end of October, the region would see the arrival of ducks from Siberia and Europe, explained park officials.

The park is ready to welcome the arrival of birds that have travelled a long distance. Birds such as the Eurasian coot and shank were the first to arrive at the park, wildlife officials said.

As the region gets colder, the park will see the gadwall, mallard, ruddy shelduck and common pochard arriving. We have replenished the park water bodies with ample quantities of fish in July itself. Breeding of some birds is synchronized with influx of fish in the water body. The park also has small mounds for water birds and special attention has been given to ensure adequate aquatic vegetation, Vinod Kumar, conservator of wildlife, south Haryana, said.

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Wholesalers and retail shopkeepers selling crackers in Gurgaon expressed shock over the Supreme Courts decision to ban sale of crackers in Delhi/NCR on Monday.

Cracker traders, who make anywhere between 15 crore and 20 crore on Diwali, went into a huddle in the light of the Supreme Court ban and held discussions on their future course of action. They said they have decided to continue with cracker sales for now, as they not received a copy of the apex court verdict as yet.

Firecracker licences in Gurgaon, which used to number around 500, on Diwali, shrunk to 200 last year. This year, not a single cracker licence has been issued.

People involved in the cracker business have already invested huge amounts of money in stocking up on supplies for Diwali sale. They said that through small traders will still manage to clear their stock, they will have to bear the brunt of the cracker ban.

Business was down in the last two years and we had our fingers crossed this year as well. Although we feared losses, we hoped our livelihood concerns will be considered. We are feeling cheated after the verdict, Arun Sharma, a cracker-seller at Sadar market, Gurgaon, said.

Many people have left this business in the light of dwindling sales. Many who started cracker started cracker business after taking loans are unable to repay, Dharmender Singh, a wholesaler, said.

Even a couple of years ago, cracker traders posted good profit, but since pollution awareness campaigns and protests over worsening air quality gathered steam, business went south as cracker sales hit a slump.

Our business is in dire straits. Diwali was the only time when we made profit, but cracker sales have been down over the last few years. The Supreme Court sadly didnt give a thought to our livelihood before passing this judgment, Ashok Kumar Saini, owner of Star Night Fireworks, Gurgaon, said.

Read I Gurgaon resident starts burst hunger, not cracker campaign

There is no cracker factory in Gurgaon. They are manufactured in Jhajjar and Rohtak and the city draws additional supplies from down south as well.

Now, we have no clue what to do with our stock. We are under immense pressure to post sales and have to visit other cities (outside NCR) to sell the stock and that too, for cheap, Amit Nagpal, owner of Nagpal and Sons Fireworks, said.

At this rate, firecrackers will soon be history and the coming generations would only hear stories about them, Sanjay Kumar Sharma, owner of Bharti Fireworks, said.

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The Madras High Court adjourned on Monday the AIADMK legislators disqualification case to November 2 while reiterating that no floor test or bye-election should take place in Tamil Nadu until then.

The petition was filed by 18 AIADMK legislators belonging to sidelined leader TTV Dinakaran and VK Sasikala who were disqualified under the anti-defection law by Tamil Nadu assembly speaker P Dhanapal.

The counsel for the 18 lawmakers told the court that they have not joined another party and were only opposed to chief minister K Palaniswami.

The counsel for the Speaker defended the disqualification decision. After hearing both the sides, the court posted the matter for November 2.

The MLAs were disqualified by the speaker after they gave a letter to Tamil Nadu governor withdrawing their support to Palaniswami.
Anti-India forces, unable to stomach its growing economic might, want to damage the country and weaken its strategic position, Union home minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.

Terrorism is a big threat today but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up the issue strongly on the global stage, taking onboard most countries to address the issue, he said.

In his address after reviewing the passing out parade of the personnel of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) here, Singh said the day is not far when India would become an economic power.

Today, India is counted among the emerging economies of the world. It is emerging as the fastest growing (large) economy in the world. I can say that India is one among the top 10 economies of the world today, he said.

The world has started realising the fact that the day is not far when by 2030 India will be among the top three economies of the world, he said.

The size of Indias economy was approximately USD two trillion and it was likely to touch USD 5 trillion by 2030, he said.

But anti-India forces basically dont like all these trends. They want to cause damage in those sensitive areas where its economic and strategic strength could be weakened, he added.

Terrorist organisations want to inflict damage on the country, he said, calling terrorism a big threat to many countries.

Terrorism is a big threat...the 9/11 attacks in the US and the 26/11 incidents in India have shown that the impact of terror strikes can be felt for a long time, he said.

The home minister urged the CISF, tasked with guarding the countrys vital strategic installations like airports and industrial units, to have core competence to tackle terrorism.

So, CISF should undertake regular security audit of every installation and use new technologies to strengthen the security of such installations, he added.

He termed cyber attacks as the new face of terrorism.

Under this, efforts are made to target digital set-ups, he said.

CCTV, wifi networks and computer networks are present in every office today. And these are on the radar of hackers and anti-national forces, Singh added.

Like the CRPF has specialised units such as Rapid Action Force (RAF), CISF should also develop a dedicated wing to deal with issues like cyber attacks, he said.

The Union home ministry has issued advisories to create such a mechanism to other police forces also, he added.

Stressing on women empowerment, he urged the CISF to become the first paramilitary force to achieve 33 per cent reservation for women in the force.

After becoming the home minster, he had asked all state governments and central armed police forces to implement the quota for women, Singh said.

Women are not inferior to men in any respect, he added.

The home ministry, he said, has decided to provide a uniform allowance of Rs 10,000 every year to jawans. This would do away with the issue of fitting which they faced when they were issued readymade uniforms.

He lauded the CISF for its contribution to national security and said, in some instances, companies of the central paramilitary force had been even sent to regions affected by naxalism.

Earlier, 1043 personnel including assistant commandants, sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors took out a parade, marking their formal induction into the force.

CISF director general OP Singh said they were trained in the use of weapons, communication systems, tackling ambush and other aspects related to security.

The CISF personnel also demonstrated their skills and enacted situations, including those simulating counter-terror operations.
A dawn-to-dusk hartal is being observed on by the CPI(M) in areas falling under Panoor municipality in the district to protest the crude bomb attack on its workers, allegedly by a group of RSS men.

As many as 14 persons, including four police personnel, sustained injuries when some crude bombs were hurled around on a procession taken out by CPI(M) activists at Kaivellikal on Sunday evening, police had said.

The injured, including the CI of Panoor police MK Sajeev, SI Prakasan and police constables Sreejith and shibu, were admitted to the Thalassery Co-operative hospital and Panoor taluk hospital, they said.

Cases have been registered under section 143, 147, 148, 332, and 506(2) of IPC and section 31(1) of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, besides section 3 and 5 of Explosives Act, they said, adding no arrest has been made so far and further investigations are on.

Kannur, a politically volatile district in Kerala, has a history of clashes involving CPI(M) and BJP-RSS workers.
A man allegedly killed his wife and a minor daughter by setting them on fire in Bihars Muzaffarpur district. Police said the suspected dowry killing took place at Bela Gopi village in Gaighat police station area of the district.

Madhuri Devi, 35, and her daughter Ananya, 6, died of burn injuries late on Sunday night at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, Muzaffarpur, 71 km north of Patna, the police added.

In her statement to the police before her death, Devi said her husband Gulab Singh had been harassing her for dowry since their marriage eight years ago and set her on fire when she refused bring from her father Rs 50, 000 demanded by him.

Officials of Ahiapur police station in Muzaffarpur town recorded her statement at SKMCH and registered a case against Gulab Singh, his father Laxmi Singh and mother under sections 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 304B (dowry death) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

The FIR had since been forwarded to Gaighat police station for further investigation, Ahiapur station house office (SHO) Vijay Kumar said.

All the accused were absconding, he added.

Gulab Singh used to beat Devi frequently for dowry. On Saturday night, he came home under the influence of liquor, tied her to a wooden cot and set her on fire. When Ananya started crying he threw her into the fire, Kumar said quoting Devis statement.

In the FIR, the Madhuri Devis mother Divya Devi accused Gulab Singh, his father and mother of killing her daughter and granddaughter. They had been misbehaving with Madhuri for dowry since her marriage nearly eight years ago, Divya Devi said.

Meanwhile, a police officer, on the condition of anonymity, said Gulab Singh was engaged in illegal liquor trade.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had last week launched an anti-dowry campaign in Patna and said Bihar ranked second in the country after neighbouring Uttar Pradesh when it came to cases related to the social evil.

Last year, 987 cases of dowry deaths were registered in Bihar, while cases of dowry-related atrocities were 4,852.
An encounter broke out on Monday between militants and security forces in Baramulla district of Kashmir, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Ladoora area following information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into a gunbattle when the militants opened fire on the search party.

The cordon has been strengthened to prevent the militants from escaping, he said, adding no casualties have been reported so far.

In Budgam, an army officer was killed when a patrolling party was attacked by militants on Sunday night.

The army officer killed in the encounter in Drang area of Beerwah was identified as Subedar Raj Kumar, a junior commissioned officer (JCO) of 24 Punjab Regiment.
Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel said she does not want to contest the upcoming state Assembly polls and that she has informed BJP president Amit Shah about her decision in a letter.

The letter was written on October 4, but released on Monday.

Patels letter to Shah comes at a time when the BJP is in the process of forming three-member panels for each of the Assembly constituencies in the state to select the party candidates for the Assembly polls due later this year.

Some party workers have reportedly suggested that the 75-year-old Patel, a sitting BJP MLA, be fielded from her current constituency, Ghatlodiya in Ahmedabad district.

There has been a demand from a section of the BJP to declare the veteran politician as the partys chief ministerial face in Gujarat, which is witnessing a quota agitation by the Patel community.

A tweet by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, asking the party to make Patel the chief ministerial face in Gujarat had led to speculation about the former chief minister once again vying for the top post.

Patel, however, cited her age as the reason for not contesting the polls.

When I had resigned as the chief minister of Gujarat, I had done it in accordance with the party rule that nobody beyond the age of 75 should hold (any) post. Today also, under the same rule, I would like to say that I do not want to contest the upcoming Assembly polls, she wrote to Shah.

Patel also told the party chief that she was ready to perform whatever duty the party gave her as regards the upcoming election.

In the letter, she expressed gratitude to the party for making her the first woman chief minister of Gujarat.

Patel, who is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was made the chief minister of Gujarat after the latter shifted to New Delhi in May, 2014.

However, her handling of the Patidar quota agitation and the episode of Dalit atrocities in Una did not go down well with the top BJP leadership.

Patel resigned from her post in August, 2016 and was replaced by Vijay Rupani.

When contacted, state BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said it was for the party leadership to take a decision on Patels request.
A Netherlands-based woman has accused former CPI(M) leader Ritabrata Banerjee of sexually exploiting her on the pretext of marriage, an allegation the Rajya Sabha MP dismissed with a complaint of extortion against the woman.

The woman, who is in Delft in Netherlands, tweeted photos of the two in intimate position and tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Union women and child welfare minister Maneka Gandhi.

.@narendramodi sir @RitabrataBanerj took me to his 104 South Avenue flat under false pretext to have a physical relationship. (1)  Namrata Datta (@candinam) October 6, 2017

.@MamataOfficial police won't take a zero FIR against @RitabrataBanerj cos he is a MP. Maam I seek ur help.he also offered Rs 50 lakh (3)  Namrata Datta (@candinam) October 6, 2017

She alleged they had physical relationship during her stay in Delhi before leaving for the Netherlands.

Ritabrata, however, refuted the allegations, posting a copy of the complaint against the woman, accusing her of extortion. He also uploaded screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation he had with the woman, during which she asked Rs 50 lakh for not filing an FIR.

Hard Facts. Manufactured Lies will be combatted. Will not succumb to politically aided threats, tweeted Banerjee. He also tagged the Prime Ministers office, the Bengal chief minister and several media houses.

Hard Facts. "Manufactured Lies" will be combatted. Will not succumb to "politically aided" threats. pic.twitter.com/yGRqzPbne5  Ritabrata Banerjee (@RitabrataBanerj) October 9, 2017

Multiple romantic liaisons was one of the complaints that Banerjee faced before he was expelled from CPI(M) on allegations of anti-party activities. However, the 38-year-old legislator had threatened legal action against the partys state unit for publicly accusing him of romantic liaisons.

In his police complaint, Banerjee said he met the woman, a resident of Balurghat in north Bengal, in May 2016 and helped her get loan from SBI there for her studies abroad.

Thereafter she continued to make repeated material demands. I was induced and allured to meet her material demands till I realised that her demands were boundless, he said.

In February, the woman told him that she was suffering from lymphoma and demanded money for treatment, he said, adding that on July 20, he gave her Rs 2.25 lakh.

Banerjee said in the complaint that he tried to distance himself from her but she got even more furious and vindictive and made threat calls from unknown numbers and demanded Rs 50 lakh by October 15.

She also threatened to lodge a false police complaint against me, alleged Banerjee, adding that the woman wanted him to marry her and nobody else. He said he gave her another Rs 2.5 lakh on October 4.

There is speculation that Banerjee is planning to join BJP and is in touch with Mukul Roy, the former rail minister, who has announced his exit from Trinamool Congress and is also trying to switch to BJP.
The Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) headquarters at Sadaquat Ashram in western Patna turned into a battlefield on Monday, when supporters of partys former state unit chief Ashok Choudhary and his rivals came to blows.

The scuffle broke out when Choudharys supporters were roughed up during the meeting of newly elected BPCC delegates. The trouble began when Choudharys supporters alleged irregularities in the election of delegates and resorted to sloganeering in front of the Sadaquat Ashram gate after they were denied entry.

Choudhary and his supporters allegedly sought to create ruckus even inside the meeting venue by alleging that many party leaders were deliberately left out by people who were now ruling the roost in the state Congress.

In the meeting, Choudhary said the BJP was set to gain in Bihar if contributions of bona fide leaders were not acknowledged and rewarded.

Supporters of former Union minister and a contender for the BPCC chiefs post, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, meanwhile, began shouting counter slogans, even as Choudhary and others were manhandled in the presence of Pradip Bhattacharya, pradesh returning officer (PRO) for the election of delegates.

In the ensuing fisticuffs, kurtas of a few Choudharys supporters were also torn. Those denied entry into the BPCC office kept on raising slogans against acting BPCC chief Kaukab Quadri and Akhilesh Prasad Singh. Some party workers were also seen shouting Narendra Modi zindabad in front of the BPCC office gate.

Bhattacharya, who is also a Rajya Sabha member from West Bengal, dismissed any irregularity in the election of PCC delegates, saying total transparency was maintained. It was unfortunate that some leaders tried to create ruckus during the meeting of PCC delegates, who unanimously authorised the party high command to nominate the new BPCC president, he said.

Choudhary, however, claimed that those who sought to spoil the partys prospects in 2015 Bihar assembly polls were holding the sway in the BPCC. He alleged that the meeting of PCC delegates was called without issuing the list of elected leaders.

There were glaring discrepancies in list of declared delegates and those certified by the district returning officers, Choudhary claimed, saying he had to face the music in the BPCC for trying to protect the interest of leaders who performed outstandingly in the membership drive.

The former BPCC chief also alleged that the state unit resorted to undemocratic and unconstitutional ways to deny committed leaders their due. Ironically, I am being accused of indulging in anti-party activities for raising my voice against injustice, said Choudhary.

He termed the incident of manhandling of party workers as most unfortunate for the party.

At a subsequent joint press conference, Quadri and AICC spokesman Shakeel Ahmad denied the allegation of a scuffle taking place inside the meeting venue. They said the delegates passed a resolution authorising All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi to nominate a new state party chief.

The meeting adopted another resolution seeking elevation of AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi as the next party chief, they added.

Quadri said a five-member committee led by former minister Jyoti had been set up to probe the alleged incident of scuffle inside the hall and sloganeering outside the Sadaquat Ashram. The committee was expected to submit its report next week, he said.

Senior party leaders, including Sadanand Singh, Ashok Kumar and Bhawna Jha, shared the dais with Quadri during the press conference.

Another party leader blamed Choudhary for creating unnecessary commotion during the meeting.

He (Choudhary) misbehaved with Quadri in his chamber first and then refused to listen to the PRO, who asked him to come to the stage and tell his grievances. But he kept on demanding that the meeting be discontinued until the issues were resolved, the leader added.

Another leader, Kishore Kumar Jha, termed the meeting unconstitutional, claiming that it ought not have taken place until the list of elected delegates was notified. Many senior leaders, who enrolled a large number of members, were left out, even as those dear to a particular leader were made delegates, Jha claimed.

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A forensic investigation has found the voice samples in an audio clip where alleged payments made to the BJPs central leadership were being discussed matched with that of the partys two senior leaders BS Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar.

In a report submitted to the Karnataka polices cyber crime branch on October 4, the Bengaluru-based forensic science lab said: Similarities were observed in fundamental frequency measurement of vowels in words selected from questioned and sample recordings.

The Congress released the audio CD in February after BJPs Karnataka unit chief Yeddyurappa had alleged that to stay in power states Congress chief minister Siddarmaiah paid money to the party high command.

The CD purportedly recorded a private conversation between the former chief minister and Union minister Kumar where they were discussing payments made to central leaders of political parties.

They were mentioning how the allegation of Siddarmaiah paying Rs 1,000 crore to the Congress central leadership would dent the partys image. At that point, Kumar was allegedly heard saying that even the BJP leaders had made similar payments to the central leadership of the party.

After the CD was released, the BJP had alleged that the tapes were fabricated, prompting the state government to order an investigation by the cyber crime branch.

In May, a city court had ordered the two leaders to submit the voice samples for testing.

After the FSLs finding, the case is now likely to be transferred to the Anti-Corruption Bureau as the matter pertains to alleged corruption.

We have investigated the CD, now the charges of corruption have to be investigated, a senior police officer said on the condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Yeddyurappa and Kumar could not be contacted for their comment on the findings of the forensic report.
In early 2016, when 50-year-old Rajendra Patel was left jobless after the factory where he worked shut down, his father-in-law bought him two cows to keep him afloat.

Like several families in his village on the outskirts of Anand, he. too, started supplying milk to the Gopalpara Mandli (village cooperative), which is connected to Amul. This is one of the two village cooperatives (Haldol is the other) whose formation in 1946 served as the founding unit of what has now become a statewide three-tier supply chain of world renowned dairy brand Amul. The brand is promoted by Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF).

Seventy years after Amul was established to empower dairy farmers, people like Patel continue to depend on the movement that led to Operation Flood, the countrys milk revolution.

And as Gujarat gears up to vote for a new assembly by the year-end, the dairy sector is back in focus as lakhs of people associated with it form a significant vote bank.

The ruling BJP claims to have total control on this vote bank, with its members heading virtually all the milk cooperative unions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Banaskantha last year to inaugurate an Amul milk plant points to the relevance of the dairy cooperative in Gujarat politics.

In 18 months my cattle count went up to seven. Through milk supply, we earn as much as Rs 25,000 per month. On the one bigha land that I own, I grow fodder for my cattle, says Patel.

If there was no Amul, people would have resorted to crime and looting due to poverty and unemployment in rural Gujarat, says Shivkumar Mukhi, who heads Gopalpara Mandli. I was 10 when Mandli and Amul started functioning. I remember how village elders used to take milk in cans to the dairy in Anand. Today, we supply milk through tankers of 3,000 litre capacity, he adds.

Brand Amuls growth

Set up in 1946 on the suggestions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to bypass middlemen, Amul, with the cooperatives as its backbone, has grown into a dairy behemoth. Today, its daily procurement touches 200 lakh litres, making it Asias largest milk brand.

During the last phase of the Modi-led state government, GCMMFs turnover jumped almost 350% from Rs 8,000 crore in 2009-2010 to Rs 27,000 crore in 2016-2017.

The BJP credits itself for strengthening the network. From 10,500 village cooperatives in 2003-2004, its number today is 18,000. Dairy unions have increased from 11 to 18. The milk co-operatives are almost Congress-mukt and growing, says BJP spokesperson Bharta Pandya. Today, all 18 district unions have BJP chairmen.

The Congress accuses the BJP of manipulation. Though the cooperatives have been operational since Independence, the Congress never interfered in their functioning. This is why the party lost representation in the sector. But the BJP has brought in politics to wrest control, says Mohan Patel, Congress cooperative cell chief.

Milkmen as voteBank

Political observers say that while Amul founder Tribhuvandas Patel was apolitical, the late Verghese Kurien  the father of Operation Flood  did his best to prevent milkmen from turning into a vote bank.

Until Kurien was around, the BJP could never directly dictate GCMMF. So it adopted the bottom-up approach. Soon, cooperatives turned into milkmen votes and the chairman and the board became tools to mobilise rural masses, says journalist RK Mishra.

Through elaborate agriculture festivals and international farmers seminars, the BJP tapped the massive network of 36 lakh milk producers.

The Congress and BJP have often wrestled to gain control of every link in the dairy chain. Though, at the district level, the Congress dominance has almost vanished now.

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Angry with Haryana governments direction of taking action against farmers found burning paddy residue, defiant farmers have decided to challenge the authorities.

With a view to unite farmers, Bhartiya Kisan Union has decided to hold a protest in Ladwa of Kurukshetra district and are also planning to burn paddy waste in fields along the Kurukshetra-Saharnpur road.

We will bring 50 tractor-trolleys laden with paddy waste and take a round of the city to try and find a buyer. If we fail, we will burn it, Haryana BKU president Ratan Mann told Hindustan Times.

Haryana BKU members have decided to challenge the authorities as farmers in neighbouring Punjab are already holding protests against the stubble burning ban.

He said that the decision has been taken to make the government and the district administration aware of the problems being faced by farmers due to lack of support. We are ready to sell paddy straw if there is a buyer, farmers say. The district administration is increasing security deployment and is also planning to hold talks with the defiant farmers.

Haryana BKU members have decided to challenge the authorities as farmers in neighbouring Punjab are already holding protests against the stubble burning ban.

The farmers are also alleging that the governments decision to ban burning of paddy stubble has resulted in a labour crisis as many farmers are avoiding harvesting with combine harvesters, which spreads paddy straw in fields, following which the manual harvesting cost has increased to Rs 7,000 per acre from Rs 5,500.

However, the government has assured that they were providing subsidies on the happy seeders and straw reapers, but farmers allege that announcements remain only on paper. There are no straw reapers even in nearby villages and we cannot wait as fields need to be prepared for the next crop cycle, farmers say.

Following pressure from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Haryana government has directed district administrations to issue strict warnings to farmers regarding stubble burning and also imposed Section 144 to ensure implementation of the ban. WhatsApp numbers have also been provided to ease the process of filing complaints so that immediate action could be taken against erring farmers.

Karnal district administration has booked 18 farmers under Section 188 of the IPC and a fine of Rs 2,500 per acre has also been imposed on them. Though the state government also announced an incentive of Rs 50,000 to a village panchayat for not burning the waste and some district authorities also deciding to take action against the village sarpanch if any case of stubble burning reported in his village, but farmers say nothing will help till the government provides them with an alternative.

As per officials in the pollution control board ill-effects of these fires are not limited to Haryana as the smoke reaches Delhi because of winds, causing major health problems. Smoke from stubble burning was a major contributor to Delhis winter air-pollution.

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Indian peacekeepers under the UN mission in Congo have repulsed a major strike by around 30 members of a militia on their post in the troubled North Kivu province in which three attackers were killed and two Indian soldiers sustained injuries.

The attack on the peacekeepers post was carried out on Friday in Lubero by the Mai Mai group which have recently been targeting Congolese Army positions, Army Spokesperson Col Aman Anand said in New Delhi.

Giving details of the incident, he said around 30 militia men attacked the post in Lubero, which is about 300 km north of Goma.

It is the main town of North Kivu province where dozens of illegal armed groups control several villages.

Indian peacekeepers repulsed the attack in which three of the attackers were killed and one was wounded, Col Anand said, adding two Indian peacekeepers were also injured in the attack.

Currently, India has a total of 2,664 military personnel deployed in Congo under the UN mission there.

Fridays attack was a rare frontal assault on the UN forces deployed for protecting civilians in Congo, said the Army spokesperson.

Previously, an attack by rebels on an Indian post took place in 2010 in Kirumba in North Kivu province when three Indian soldiers were killed after the attackers were able to intrude the base, army sources said.

They said the Indian brigade currently conducts an average of 2,300 patrols per month in the troubled region, apart from ensuring protection of civilians.

They said another important task of the Indian peacekeepers is to provide assistance in undertaking targeted operations against Illegal Armed Groups (IAGs).

As per reports, President Joseph Kabilas refusal to step down at the end of his constitutional mandate last December has fuelled unrest in the countrys eastern provinces.

India has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions. The country has currently deployed more than 7,600 military and police personnel in UN peace operations in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia, the Middle East, South Sudan, Sudan and the Western Sahara.
Clara007 said: Much of that is due to the fact that these children of all races and religions are growing UP together, going to pre-school and elementary school together. So it has just become the norm. These are the ones who will change the way we see OR don't see prejudice. Click to expand...

There is deep racial prejudice and bigotry among a few (there will always be people who insist on living in a fantasy world based ideas and values from the previous century), but the great majority of San Diegans I've encountered are so used to mixed Anglo-Latino-Afro-Asian culture around them that when they see a mixed marriage they just don't pay attention. The kids were usually popular in school. Which is why the puny-minded bigots in San Diego really stand out when they act out their ignorance.My closest friend and study group partner through 4 years of law school and beyond was black, and this may be the first time I've ever used that term with regard to him and his family.He was a Vietnam Vet. Our kids grew up together, we vacationed together, when he passed away in a VA hospital in the middle of the night after we had moved to Minnesota, my wife and I spent the last night with him and his family on the phone. My daughter who lives in LA dropped everything to drive to San Diego to be there with his family.Race never came up. They had a names.
Amit Shahs son Jay on Monday filed a defamation case against news portal The Wire over a report claiming his firms turnover grew manifold after the party came to power, as the row set off by the article escalated with the Congress demanding the BJP chiefs ouster.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S K Gadhvi ordered a court inquiry into the matter under CrPC section 202 (to inquire into the case to decide whether or not there is sufficient ground for proceeding) on Jay Shahs plea.

In his application, Jay prayed for, criminal action against the respondents for defaming and tarnishing the reputation of the complainant through an article, which is scandalous, frivolous, misleading, derogatory, libelous and consisting of several defamatory statements.

The seven respondents in the case are the author of the article Rohini Singh, founding editors of the news portal Siddarth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia and M K Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the Foundation for Independent Journalism, the non-profit company that publishes The Wire.

In its article, the news website had claimed Jays firm Temple Enterprises turnover zoomed by around 16,000 times from Rs 50,000 to around Rs 80 crore in 2015-16 after the BJP came to power in 2014.

Latching on to the article, the Congress questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modis silence on the issue, demanded Shahs ouster and institution of an inquiry by two judges of the Supreme Court.

A day after the report was published, senior Congress leaders held press conferences in several places where they targeted Modi and Shah, while BJP leaders rejected the charge, insisting Jay has been wronged.

Union minister Piyush Goyal said in New Delhi that Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will represent Jay Shah in the case. He said Mehta had sought Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasads permission to appear for Jay and the approval was granted.

We believe that he (Jay) has been wronged and he must get justice. There is no harm if the best of lawyers appear for him. An ASG can appear in a matter between two private parties after taking permission, he told reporters.

Spearheading the Congress assault, its vice president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Modi and pressed him to say something on claims made in the report. He used the word shahzada to describe Shahs son. At election meetings in 2014 Modi had often targeted Gandhi calling him shahzada (prince).

Did you act as a watchman (chowkidar) or were you complicit? Please say something, Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

While tagging a copy of the news report, Gandhi had yesterday taken a jibe at the BJP chief,We finally found the only beneficiary of Demonetisation. Its not the RBI, the poor or the farmers. Its the Shah-in-Shah of Demo. Jai Amit.

The BJP made a stout defence of Jay Shah, with Union minister Piyush Goyal saying his partys conscience is clear and maintaining that he has been wronged.

Goyal also rejected any comparison between business transactions of Amit Shahs son and those of Congress president Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra. He claimed Vadras was a case of round-tripping of money with help from the government while Jay had no dealing with government.

Jay has had no dealing with government. His every transaction is official and he did his work honestly, Goyal said.

Our conscience is clear. That is why we announced on the very day (of storys publication) that we are going to court, he said.

When asked why a Union minister like him was using the BJP forum to defend a private citizen, Goyal said the story wanted to defame the party and its top leaders by making imputations and also put out their photographs.

The Congress fielded its senior spokesman Anand Sharma in the national capital where he demanded constitution of a Commission of Inquiry with two Supreme Court judges to probe the matter.

We demand the prime minister...he speaks a lot everyday and on each issue. He should break his silence on this issue and declare a Commission of Inquiry comprising two Supreme Court judges. There should be a neutral probe, he told reporters.

The Congress leader also said that like L K Advani and Nitin Gadkari, who stepped down from their posts pending inquiries, Amit Shah should also resign.

It is a tough call for Modi. The country is looking at him whether he will choose friendship and party politics or truth and morality, Congress communications incharge Randeep Surjewala said in Jaipur.

Calling for transparency and accountability, he said, Why shy away from probe if there is nothing wrong? There is no smoke without fire. The country was waiting for development ... but Jay ka Vikas ho gaya.

In Kolkata, party spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi said Modi should prove that he is above party politics and demanded a probe into the claims made in the report.

Several BJP leaders came to the defence of the party chief and his son, with general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya insisting,If there is no honesty in Amit Shahs home, there cannot be honesty anywhere.

In Coimbatore, Union minister Ananth Kumar said the allegations against Jay Shah were foisted falsely.

Congress does not have any issue and so is out to tarnish the image of Amit Shah. Instead, they should give a clarification on son-in-law model of doing business, Uttar Pradesh minister Siddharth Nath Singh said.
A top Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militant, believed to be the mastermind behind the recent suicide attacks in the restive state, was killed on Monday in a brief gunfight with security forces in north Kashmirs Baramulla district.

Police said the militant was identified as Khalid - the operational commander of the Pakistan-based militant group.

Inspector general of police (Kashmir range) Muneer Khan confirmed his identity.

The killed militant is Khalid alias Khalid Bhai, the Jaish chief in Kashmir who was behind all the recent fidayeen attacks, Khan told the Hindustan Times.

The killing of Khalid, who sources say was heading all the operations of the JeM in the valley, is another major success for the security forces, who have now gunned down many top militant leaders in the last few months.

According to sources, the encounter took place after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Ladoora area of Rafiabad following a tipoff about the presence of militants in the area. Officials said as the militants were challenged, they opened fire resulting in the encounter.

Khalid, said to be a Pakistani national, was categorised A++ or the most wanted militant.

A Border Security Force (BSF) officer was killed in Kashmir last week as forces foiled a militant attempt to storm a paramilitary base close to the high-security Srinagar airport, sparking an hours-long gun-battle that left all three radicals dead.

Khan admitted that six to seven militants of a group which infiltrated between July and August were still at large and were potential threats.

Police said the three slain militants were from the JeMs Afzal Guru squad, raised by the outfit to avenge the hanging of the 2001 Parliament attack convict.

On August 26, at least eight security personnel were killed in a similar attack by the JeM in Pulwama.

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A Sonepat court on Monday pronounced Lashkar-e-Taiba bomb maker Abdul Karim Tunda guilty in the 1996 Sonepat blasts case. The court of sessions judge Sushil Garg will pronounce the quantum of punishment on Tuesday.

Tunda has been held guilty under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act. Lawyers say he may face a jail term of minimum 10 years upto life imprisonment.

Prosecution lawyer said 43 witnesses, including those who were injured in the blasts, recorded their testimony in the court during the trial.

Tunda was arrested by Delhi Police in August 2013 from Nepal border. While recording his statement in court in September this year, Tunda had maintained that he was in Pakistan during the bomb blasts.

Prosecution lawyer said 43 witnesses, including those who were injured in the blasts, recorded their testimony in the court during the trial. Two blasts at busy spots Sonepat on December 28, 1996, had left about a dozen people injured.
BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani are set to visit Amethi, considered a Congress bastion, just after a visit by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Textiles and information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani is scheduled to arrive on Monday, while Shah will visit on October 10, said a statement issued by the district administration.

A number of schemes and projects are likely to be announced and their foundation stones laid at a function on Tuesday to be attended by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Beneficiaries of various schemes will be handed over certificates, the statement said.

Irani is also likely to attend the launch of an FM station at Gauriganj and an initiative to save the Gomti river near Pipri village, it said.

The minister will also attend the inauguration of a tuberculosis unit at the district hospital and a primary health centre at Odari Tiloi.

On October 9, Irani will visit Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) in Jagdishpur, it said.

Amethi, which has traditionally been a Congress bastion, had witnessed a high-pitched electoral battle in the 2014 Lok Sabha election between Gandhi and Irani.

Though Irani lost to the Congress leader, she reduced his victory margin from around 3.70 lakh in 2009 to 1.07 lakh in 2014.

In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly election, the BJP won six of the 10 assembly seats falling under the parliamentary constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli. Four of them were in Amethi.

Party sources said the upcoming visit of the senior BJP leaders was aimed at sending a clear message that the current regime believed in all-round development of the state and was not meting out any step-motherly treatment to the areas where the BJP had failed to make a mark.

The Congress vice president during his visit on October 5 accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of re-inaugurating the projects launched by the previous UPA regime in the district.

He asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the unemployment problem and farmers issues, and dared him to allow the Congress to resolve the problems in six months. If Modiji cannot address these, he should say so and Congress will come and do his work in six months, he said.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested former Jharkhand minister Gopal Krishna Patar aka Raja Peter on Monday on the charge of conspiring with Maoist insurgents and paying them to kill a political rival nine years ago.

Janata Dal (United) legislator Ramesh Singh Munda, also a former minister, was shot dead in July 2008 in Bundu town of Tamar constituency, which is in the middle of the states insurgency hotbed.

The politician had allegedly angered the Maoists with his frequent and scathing criticism against the group. A day before he was killed, Munda lashed out at the rebels at a public event.

Munda was Patars biggest rival and he lost to him in the 2000 and 2005 assembly elections.

But in the byelection after the murder, Patar scored a stunning victory in Tamar. He defeated chief minister Shibu Soren, forcing him to resign.

It was the intricacies surrounding the murder that prompted an investigation by the anti-terrorism agency, which suspect rival Patar paid Rs 4 crore to the Maoists to kill Munda.

Before his arrest, the NIA detained Patar for questioning as the investigators suspect an unlikely alliance  a politician, a policeman and Maoists  was forged and these people worked in tandem to eliminate the politician.

The agency had arrested an assistant sub-inspector of Jharkhand police, Sheshnath Singh, who was a part of Mundas security. He was accused of passing information about Mundas travels to Maoists.

The investigation barely moved for almost nine years and main suspect Kundan Pahan, a Maoist leader of Tamar, was on the run. The probe picked up pace after he surrendered this May.

It also helped that Mundas son, Vikas, was the Tamar MLA and his All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) is a part of the ruling BJP-led alliance.

After Pahans surrender, Vikas demanded an investigation by central agency into his fathers murder.

We always had a doubt that his political rivals could be behind the murder, he said.

The NIA began the probe in July and questioned Pahan for more than two weeks.

During interrogation, Pahan told us he took Rs 4 crore from Raja Peter to assassinate Munda, an agency officer said.

The rebels too wanted him dead for his anti-Maoist remarks and their central committee had decided to kill the legislator, he said. According to Pahan, it was Patar who bankrolled the operation.

But the Maoist leader allegedly pocketed most of the money instead of handing the entire amount to his bosses.

NIA officers said Mundas death benefitted Patar politically.

After winning the bypoll, he became a minister when chief minister Arjun Munda of the BJP ruled the state between 2010 and 2013. He went on to lead the JD (U) in Jharkhand, but switched sides and rejoined the BJP ahead of the 2014 state elections.

But the BJP left the Tamar seat for the AJSU Vikas Munda to contest. Patar fought as an Independent but lost to Munda.

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Urban households eligible for automatic inclusion in government-funded welfare schemes will come down from 18.1 million to 7.2 million if the government accepts a refined methodology recommended by an expert panel.

In terms of percentage, the number could decrease from 27.8% to 11.1%. There are 65.1 million urban households in India.

The committee, headed by NITI Aayog member and economist Bibek Debroy, was set up in January by the Union housing and urban affairs ministry. The panels goal is to fine-tune the method recommended in 2011 by another panel, led by SR Hashim, to identify poor families in towns and cities.

The panel pegged the overall number of urban households entitled to at least one government benefit, even if they dont qualify under the automatic inclusion category, at 30.9%.

The previous figure calculated through the Hashim committees method was 35%. In rural areas, nearly half of the 180 million homes fall in this category.

We are going through the Debroy panels report. No decision has been taken as yet, said a senior ministry official.

Debroy was recently appointed chairman of the economic advisory council of the Prime Minister.

The prime ministers office discussed the report in September and directed the housing and urban affairs ministry to make the findings public. The ministry hasnt done it yet.

The Hashim panels methodology, which was used for conducting the socio-economic caste census (SECC) in urban areas, found 18.1 million households to be eligible for automatic inclusion. But in the villages, which have three times the number of homes than urban areas, the figure stood at a negligible 0.89%.

In rural areas, the number of automatically included is less than 1%, in urban areas it is 27%, a government official said.

The Hashim committees methodology warranted a relook because of the huge difference in the automatic inclusion figures in urban and rural areas, according to government officials.

The divergence is on account of the panels automatic inclusion criteria, which are expansive as they include all casual workers and other factors.

The Debroy panel, which modified the previous methodology, pegged the number of urban households that will automatically become eligible for benefits at 7.2 million or 11.1%.

It said all earning adult members of an urban family, even daily or irregular earners, should be dropped from the automatic inclusion list as their income doesnt reflect their economic vulnerability.

It suggested incorporation of additional information and parameters to identify eligible beneficiaries such as credit card with defined credit limit, any member of household earning more than a given level of income each month, and paying income tax. These parameters were factored in during the rural survey, an official said.

So far, the housing and urban affairs ministry has not used the SECC data to identify beneficiaries for its pro-poor schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and National Urban Livelihood Mission.

But the rural development ministry is using the SECC data for identification of beneficiaries for, say, PMAY, National Old Age Pension Scheme, and National Widow Pension Scheme.

The Hashim committee recommended a three-stage process to identify the urban poor. These were automatic exclusion, automatic inclusion and a scoring index. Any family is automatically identified as poor if it doesnt have a home, any income or is headed by a woman or physically challenged person, according to the Hashim panels method.

A family is excluded automatically from the list if it owns a four-room home and any of these assets such as a car, air-conditioner or computer, or any of these three together  a fridge, a landline phone, a washing machine or a two wheeler.

The Debroy committee suggested families owning computers with internet connectivity or landline phone should not be automatically excluded from the urban poor list. It contended that possessing such assets does not indicate ones economic power.

The panel felt that these assets facilitates economic transactions efficiently and promote social interactions among people and it will be anachronistic if they are used as a criterion for exclusion of a deserving person from social benefits.

The Hashim committee had recommended excluding such families.

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Its gurudakshina with a difference.

In an unusual gift, an alumnus of a government school in Jhunjhunu is sending the principal of the school on a 10-day Dubai tour. The remaining school staff, including clerks and peons, has the option of going to Goa, Manali, Mumbai or any other place in the country.

Kamal Poddar, a chartered accountant and owner and managing director of a Mumbai-based financial services firm called Choice International Limited, studied at the Seth Durgadutt Jatiya Government Senior Secondary School, Jhunjhunu, from 1991 to 1997, the principal of the school, Kamlesh Tetarwal said. Tetarwal was a teacher in the school from 1994 to 1996 and then came back as the principal in 2015.

On his return to the school, he started roping in school alumni and locals to generate funds for the development of the school. Poddar who was one of the alumni contacted by the principal for funds, readily gave Rs 5 lakh for the repair and paint of the entire school building, the principal said.

Later, Poddar paid an additional Rs 2 lakh which was used for publicizing the school. The enrolment went up from 350 in 2015 to 750 in 2017.

Poddar was felicitated at a function in the school last year where he announced that teachers of classes that give over 90% results in boards will be given a tour package to Goa. The school delivered 100% results in Class 10 and Class 12 (across three streams of science, arts and commerce).

Impressed with the result, Poddar, during his visit to the school in August this year, announced that he would sponsor a three-day trip of all the staff in the school to any place in the country. There are 26 employees in the school including the principal, 19 teachers, 3 clerks and 3 peons.

For me, he said, I could go to any place in the world for 5-10 days. I could not go to any place till now because the classes in the school were going on, Tetarwal said. Recently, Poddar bought a new home in Dubai, where he already has an office, and invited me there. So I am going there with my wife for ten days on Friday. The school is also off for Diwali.

Poddar also gave cash prizes between Rs 5,000 and Rs 21,000 to meritorious students of the school and 20 gram silver coins to the school staff in August.

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China on Monday expressed readiness to jointly maintain peace along the border areas with India and said Nathu La, the frontier post visited by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman was the best witness to the UK-China treaty of 1890.

Sitharaman had a brief conversation with Chinese soldiers during her maiden visit to the Nathu La border post in Sikkim on Sunday and was even seen teaching them how to say Namaste.

The Sikkim sector of the China-India boundary has been delimited by the historical treaty of 1890, and the Nathula pass has been the best witness testifying to this fact, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing while reacting to a question on Sitharamans visit.

The Chinese side is willing to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity in the border areas with the Indian side on the basis of observing historical treaties and the relevant agreements and accords between the two sides, Hua said.

Beijing often referred to the 1890 Britain-China treaty during the Doklam standoff stating that it has defined the Sikkim section of the boundary with Tibet, therefore the border in that area has been settled.

Sitharamans interaction with the Peoples Liberation Army troops at Nathu La with Namaste diplomacy also appears to have struck a chord as Chinese commentators said it sent a goodwill signal to mend the bilateral ties following the Doklam standoff.

State-run English news channel CGTN carried snippets of her video with a caption Indian defence minister greets Chinese border soldiers.

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post headlined its story saying that Indias defence minister builds bridges with Chinese troops.

The minister experienced an unexpected wave of goodwill from Chinese soldiers when she visited troops stationed on the frontier between the countries, the Post report said.

Her interaction with the troops of the PLA also sparked positive response among the Chinese netizens on popular social media websites.

The greeting sent a goodwill signal towards mending bilateral ties and putting relations back on track toward normality, Qian Feng, an expert at the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies, told the state-run Global Times which carried a separate story on Sitharamans Sikkim visit with a caption Indian Minister waves at PLA.

The Indian government should show more determination for improving ties as Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoys advantages towards achieving that goal, it quoted Qian a saying.

Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim. The two sides so far held 19 rounds of talks at the level of Special Representatives to resolve the dispute.

Meanwhile, the state-run tabloid Global Times which routinely attacks India also carried an editorial saying that India must overcome security paranoia.

Referring to Sitharamans visit to Sikkim, it said a newly constructed airport that she inspected during the visit, the nearest to Chinas border, will be put into use in November, it said and went on to desribe it as an aggressive gesture.

But it noted that she had friendly interactions with Chinese soldiers in Nathu La. Video released by the Indian Defence Ministry shows that she acknowledged the soldiers with a traditional namaste greeting, it said.

At the same time, it said, Some Indian nationalists over-estimate Indias strength and rights, assuming New Delhi can bark orders across the border at Beijing.

Indias concerns about the Siliguri Corridors security are understandable, but New Delhi cannot mess around, it said adding that China is also concerned about the transport route security across the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca, but Beijing has not taken coercive measures to achieve its aims.
A Supreme Court ban on crackers in Delhi may clean up the capitals air this Diwali but the decision is likely to choke the livelihoods of lakhs of workers in Tamil Nadus fireworks manufacturing hub of Sivakasi that fears a loss of more than Rs 1,000 crore.

Fireworks manufacturers in the tiny southern Tamil Nadu town, which accounts for 85% of all crackers sold in the country, say they are worried that other states might emulate the top court order.

Diwali is the time we make maximum profits and the SC order will completely smash many units, Asai Thmabi, president of Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association, told Hindustan Times. He said there was no time for a review of the top court order as only 10 days remained for Diwali.

We cause pollution only for a week at best, but vehicles pollute the city 24x7 all 365 days. What about that?

Sivakasi has an annual estimated turnover of about Rs 7000 crore and employs more than 300,000 workers directly in the firecracker manufacturing factories. Another 500,000 are engaged in related industries  packaging, printing, paper rolling transportation and the like.

We are worried about loss of jobs and livelihood options for people if firecrackers are banned in other cities too, added Asai Thambi.

Sivakasi has been in the news frequently for its dangerous working conditions, employment of child labour and a rash of accidents in unsafe manufacturing units, but the industry has thrived.

Some NGO or other petitioner can spoil the Diwali of manufacturers by filing a petition in any court, citing the SC ban seek a similar order to prevent noise pollution and environmental pollution, the Sivakasi manufacturers association said.

G Sivaraman, another small manufacturer, said that Diwali celebrations were part of the tradition and culture of people. How can the court disregard the fact that stopping use of firecrackers would hurt the sentiments of many people? he asked.

FB Live: Firecrackers vendors in Delhis Chandni Chowk react to SC order

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A 25-year-old Indian Navy sailor from Visakhapatnam was sacked for breaching recruitment regulations and eligibility criteria on Monday, a year after undergoing sex-reassignment surgery to become a woman.

According to commander CG Raju, spokesperson of the Eastern Naval Command, Manish K Giri was discharged from service through the evocation of the service no longer required clause under Navy regulations. The reason for the dismissal: The sailor secretly underwent sex-reassignment surgery at a private facility whilst on leave.

He chose to undergo irreversible gender re-assignment on his own accord, wilfully altering his gender status from the one he was recruited for at the time of his induction. He has, therefore, breached recruitment regulations and eligibility criteria for employment as a sailor in the Indian Navy, Raju said, adding that existing service rules and regulations stipulate the sacking of sailors who undergo alterations in gender status or medical condition.

Giri, who now prefers to be referred to as Sabi instead of Manish, did not take the news well. How can they discharge me because I underwent sex change? I remain the same old person with the same potential and efficiency. I can perform my duties as efficiently as any male sailor. How can they say that I am not fit to do a sailors job? she questioned.

The sailor said she would explore every legal option to get her job back. I will fight till I get justice. I am consulting my lawyers, and will move court soon, she added.

Giri entered the marine engineering wing of the Indian Navy through the regular recruitment process in 2010. She served in the INS Eksila for four years, until feelings of femininity began making inroads into her male psyche. She decided on sex-reassignment surgery after a protracted psychological struggle that drove her to doctors across Visakhapatnam.

In October 2016, Giri took three weeks leave to undergo the surgical procedure at Delhi. She rejoined her job on the stipulated date, but pretended that nothing had changed. It was only when the sailor came down with urinary tract infection that she was forced to disclose her new sexual identity before naval doctors.

When Giris superiors in the Navy came to know about this, they sent Giri to a naval hospital for psychiatric treatment. I was kept in a male psychiatric ward for six months. The experience was akin to staying in prison, she said. When the doctors there were unable to prove that I was mentally ill, they finally discharged me.

Giri was subsequently taken off the sailor job, and posted in the administrative wing at Visakhpatnam. The authorities referred her case to the ministry of defence, recommending that she be discharged from service as per the rules and regulations of the Indian Navy.

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Stirring a hornets nest in the ruling AIADMK, Tamil Nadu minister Sellur K Raju on Sunday praised deposed party chief VK Sasikala saying she had played a key role in ensuring continuance of the party government.

Chinamma (Sasikala) is responsible for AIADMK remaining in power.. there is no second opinion about it, he told reporters in Madurai.

Raju made the comments at a time when Sasikala, serving a four-year term in a Bengaluru prison in a disproportionate assets case, has obtained five-day emergency parole and is staying in Chennai in view of the hospitalisation of her husband M Natarajan, who had undergone liver and kidney transplants.

The ministers remarks are expected to cause a ripple in the ruling camp which had last month removed Sasikala and her clan, including her deputy TTV Dhinakaran, from the party.

A senior party leader from southern Tamil Nadu, Raju was apparently referring to Sasikala guiding the party after the demise of late chief minister Jayalalithaa in December last year.

Raju had last month contradicted the claims of two of his cabinet colleagues that no one was allowed to see Jayalalithaa during her hospitalisation last year.

After senior leader O Panneerselvam revolted against her leadership and her conviction in the DA case in February last, Sasikala had kept her flock together in a resort near here and ensured election of Palaniswami as the AIADMK legislature party leader.

However, the camps led by Palaniswami and Panneerselvam later merged and convened a General Council meeting last month which sacked Sasikala as the interim general secretary.

Raju said since he was a minister he had to be restrained in his comments. His views should not affect the steps being taken by Palaniswami and Panneerselvam at the helm of the government and the party, he said.

On the dengue situation in the state, the cooperation minister said the present government was taking rapid action to control the spread of the fever cases.

The ministers comment hailing Sasikala had been greeted with enthusiasm in her camp.

Sasikala and Dhinakaran loyalist C R Saraswathi lauded Raju for his remarks endorsing the jailed leaders role and dramatically claimed that, the sleeper cells there are coming out one by one.

Sleeper cell, is a phrase often used by Dhinakaran, who has been seeking to oust Palaniswami from power, in the recent past to claim that he had supporters in the ruling camp and they woud rally behind him at the right time.

Saraswathi, a yesteryear actress and party spokesperson, asked how their conscience was not pricking them after seeing Chinnamma on televison going to hospital, an apparent reference to those in the Palaniswami camp.

Naturally those in the rival camp will be seized of the thought that the government was put in place by Chinamma, she told reporters in Chennai.

Only Sasikala and Dhinakaran will be able to steer the party and cadres were clear about that, she claimed.

Meanwhile, Sasikala, who arrived in Chennai on October 6, visited her husband for the second day at the Gleneagles Global Health City Hospital around noon today.

She was greeted by scores of party men in several locations as she travelled by a car to the hospital.

Sasikala was apprised on the health condition of Natarajan by doctors at the hospital. She spent a little over two hours there, sources said.

She had been granted parole with tough conditions, including one that said she should not be involved in political or any other public activity or take part in party activities.
The Hyderabad police on Monday booked a case against a member of legislative council (MLC) of Telangana Rashtra Samithi for allegedly assaulting and abusing a non-resident Indian woman who asked him to vacate her flat, which the legislator denied, claiming that he did not know who the woman was.

A video clip doing the rounds on the social media showed Farooq Hussain, who was nominated to the legislative council under MLC quota, abusing Hant-ul-Wasay and assaulting her with his chappal, following which the woman lodged a complaint with the Nampally police.

According to the complaint, Wasay (50), who lives in New York, rented her flat at Skill Splendour Apartments, Bazar Ghat area, to Hussain six years ago. She said Hussain, who had been paying only Rs 10,000 as rent, had stopped paying even that for the last few months, forcing her to come to Hyderabad a couple of days ago to settle the issue.

On Monday, Wasay went to the flat and asked the MLC to either pay the rent or vacate her flat. But he flatly refused to do so, asking her to go wherever she could to lodge a complaint.

When she insisted that he should vacate the flat and threatened to take up the matter with even chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Hussain started abusing her and assaulted her with his chappal.

The NRIs brother who accompanied her, recorded the incident on his mobile.

Nampally police inspector Sanjay Kumar said a case had been registered under sections 504 (insulting), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (outraging the modesty of a woman) of the IPC.

Hussain denied the allegation that he had misbehaved with the woman. First of all, I didnt know who this woman was. She suddenly barged into my house and started abusing me, asking me to vacate the house immediately, he told HT.

He said he had taken the flat on rent from one Abdul Samad and had been paying him the rent regularly. Nobody asked me to vacate the house and I told the landlord clearly that I need at least six month notice, if I have to vacate the flat, he clarified.

Hussain, who had been a Congress leader, switched loyalties to the TRS in April last year.

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Rejecting any role for India in Afghanistan, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday warned that the Trump administrations desire to inject New Delhi in the war-torn country would be detrimental.

US President Donald Trump in August unveiled his South Asia policy and vowed to boost strategic partnership with India in Afghanistan. Trump also sought an enhanced role for India to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

We dont believe that injecting India into the Pakistan- US relationship will help resolve anything, especially in Afghanistan, where we dont see any role for India. India has a relationship with the US. That is between them and the US, Abbasi was quoted as saying by the Arab News.

In an interview to the Saudi newspaper, Abbasi said Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan via a solution that is owned and led by the Afghans.

The prime minister warned that Washingtons desire to include India in Afghanistan would be detrimental.

India has a strategic partnership with Afghanistan and is implementing projects worth USD 2 billion to help rebuild the countrys infrastructure.

India has been supporting an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad-based and inclusive process of peace and reconciliation, and advocating the need for a sustained and long-term commitment to Afghanistan by the international community.

Abbasi said Pakistan wants an equal relationship or partnership with the US, like every other nation.

Asserting that the days of Pakistan depending on the US to meet its military and other requirements are over, the prime minister said the world should recognise Pakistans efforts in fighting the worlds war on terror.

If one source dries up, we have no option but to go to another source. It may cost more, it may consume more resources, but we have to fight that war, and thats what we emphasised to all the people that we met, he said.

Abbasi said Pakistan has major US weapons systems in its military, but it also possesses Chinese and European systems, and more recently it inducted Russian attack helicopters.
Jaipur:

A family court in Jodhpur annulled the child marriage of a woman, now 19-year-old, after a non-governmental organisation produced evidence from the Facebook account of the man with whom she was married.

Kriti Bharti, managing trustee of Sarathi trust, said Sushila, a native of Barmer district, was married at the age of 12 in 2010 to Naresh of Bisalpur village in Jodhpur.

The legal age for marriage in India is 18 for women and 21 for men.

Last year, Sushilas family members sent her to live with Naresh against her will, said Bharti. In April last year, Sushila left her home and was rescued by me from Barmer highway late in the night. Later she was presented before the child welfare committee in Barmer and sent to a government-run womens home, she said.

With Bhartis help, Sushila then filed an application in the family court in Jodhpur seeking to scrap her child marriage.

However, her husband denied in the court about the child marriage and said that only talks of an engagement had happened. Following that we looked into the two Facebook ids of Naresh to gather evidence about the child marriage, said Bharti, who has got 33 child marriages annulled so far.

The activist said they trawled through two Facebook accounts of Naresh and found him tagged in congratulatory messages posted by his friends. These friends were contacted and some of them had videos of the marriage. The evidence was presented at the court to prove that the child marriage had happened.

Based on the evidence, judge Rekha Bhargav of the Jodhpur family court number 1 cancelled the marriage of Sushila.

My marriage has been annulled with the help of Kriti didi. Now I can pursue my dreams of being a police officer to work for a better future, said Sushila.

Among all states, more girls (8.3% of those aged 10 to 17) and boys (8.6% of those aged 10 to 20) married in Rajasthan before legal age, according to a study by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights based on 2011 census data.

Activists welcomed the court decision. A strong message has been sent against child marriage. Susheela is currently studying and we are working for the successful rehabilitation of her life, said Bharti.

We are happy with the court decision of annulling the child marriage of Susheela. Efforts are being made to rehabilitate her, said Rajendra Chabra, president, child welfare committee, Jodhpur.
Wildlife enthusiasts visiting Jaipurs Nahargarh Biological Park (NBP) will now have the opportunity to include a lion safari in their tour itinerary, a top state forest official said.

By April next year, the lion safari will start, said Nihal Chand Goel, state additional chief secretary of forest and environment department. We have a sufficient number of lions in the state and will not require more from Gujarat, he said.

In 2016, chief minister Vasundhara Raje inaugurated the park, which has become a suitable for breeding centre of lions and a major tourist attraction.

The park is spread across 720 hectare and located on the Jaipur-Delhi highway, about 12km from the state capital. Lion safari is being developed in 36.72 acre area and with a total project cost  4 crore that will be funded by the Jaipur development authority (JDA), an official said.

The state forest department in order to promote eco-tourism, conserve wildlife, facilitate breeding of lions, provide nature education to visitors, has planned a lion safari at the NBP, a senior forest department official, who did not want to be named, said.

An Asiatic lioness in the park, Tejika gave birth to three cubs, including Tara a female and two male cubs Tripura and Tejas. The cubs were named by Raje. In addition wolfs, jackals and hyenas too have given birth in the park, the official said.

We are planning to shift Tejika and her cubs to the area where the safari will conducted that already houses two lions, including Siddharth, a male and Suhasini, a female, the officials said.

The three lions were brought from Gujarat last year, he said.

We were planning to bring another pair of lions from Gujarat but it seems wont be requiring the animals as we already have a pair lions at the Jodhpur zoo that could be brought here and for that the central zoo authority has approved

The project being jointly developed by the JDA and forest department, is progressing fast, the official said, adding that the forest department has completed the grassland development, weeding of juliflora, renovating four old water bodies and interlinking of pipelines.

The Jaipur development authority has started fencing work and it will be completed by the end of February, while other civil work, including an entrance gate, a retiring chamber or night shelter, a water tank, a cave, and a visitor path are in process.

The area of the lion safari lies in the Aravali foothills with hillocks with a couple of nallahs that provide visitors a view of the panoramic landscape. The central zoo authority has approved a layout plan of 36.32 hectare.

At present, the park has 21 enclosures, where endangered animals, including lions, a tiger, and a leopard among others are provided with a natural habitation.

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The directorate of elementary education in Rajasthan transferred more than 200 school teachers of different cadre despite a government ban on transfers. Some of these teachers were posted in districts where transfers are restricted for 10 years from appointment or posting. The transfers were made in the name of appointment in cells introduced to monitor state and central government schemes.

Secondary education director Nathmal Didel holding the additional charge in absence of elementary education director Puran Chandra Kishan said, We found functional irregularities and procedure lapses in the transfer process. At least 30 teachers in the directorate were transferred without adopting any transparent process. Teachers from Dark Zone districts (where government staff is not transferred for a long time to make up for shortage). I am not sure about the total number of transferred teachers in districts at this initial stage.

Didel has sent a report on this to the government.

An upper division clerk (UDC) is said to be behind the scam. He has been removed from his post and is awaiting new posting. Sources said that a group of subordinate staff misguided the authorities regarding the norms and procedure of appointments. 30 teachers, including a physical education teacher were shifted in sections and cells like SEQI, SIQE, CSR, Shala Darshan and Registrar of Departmental Examination of elementary education directorate.

The number of transferred teachers is yet to be confirmed but according to sources it can reach up to 200, as the personal staff of directorate, too, directed deputy directors and district education officers to follow the same instructions in their respective districts.

A senior officer in the directorate, who did not wish to be named said that the subordinate staff fooled the authorities about norms and made them issue transfer orders for a year.

Education department officials said teachers posted in 10 districts, Bikaner, Banswara, Baran, Barmer, Dungarpur, Jaisalmer, Jalor, Jhalawar, Pratapgarh and Sirohi, cannot be transferred before completion of 10 years of service as the rule is in place for 20 years.
While Rajasthan is facing severe power shortfall, the wind power units, which have bailed out the state in such situations in the past, are of little help this time due to post-monsoon low wind season.

The wind speed falls after September, and so wind power cannot make up for loss in thermal power output, Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation managing director BK Dosi told HT. Rajasthan has an installed wind energy capacity of 4,280 MW.

The power generation at thermal power plants in Rajathan has fallen by 3,000 MW as compared to 2,700 MW a week ago due to acute coal shortage.

Ironically, the wind developers have complained that the state power companies did not make full use of the wind power available during the high-wind season, which lasts from April to September.

In June, the Wind Independent Power Producers Association (WIPPA) had criticised the state power companies (also known as discoms) for backing down wind power and using thermal power instead. In May, on an average, there were five hours of back down per MW of wind and taking into account the states capacity of 4,000 MW the total comes at 20,000 hours, WIPPA president Sunil Jain said.

Dosi, however, said the reason for not fully utlising wind power during peak season had to do with the erratic power supply. The wind energy is erratic in nature and the output of a wind farm depends on the speed at which the wind is blowing.

Discom officials said it will take two to three weeks for the coal supply to normalise and so the load-shedding that has started with effect from Sunday will continue on a rotational basis until the coal supply is restored.

Officials said that making up for the shortage from power exchange is also unviable due to the high rate at which the power is now being sold (9 per unit), necessitating load-shedding on rotational basis.

According to sources, the thermal power stations are facing critical shortage of coal, as heavy rains in the coal producing states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh had flooded the mines.

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Is Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president, Bimal Gurung, who is facing UA(P)A charges and gone underground, getting alerts about police raids to arrest him? This question is haunting Criminal Investigation Department (CID) sleuths in Bengal as Gurung managed to give the police the slip for the second time.

Acting on intelligence inputs on his hideout at Namchi in South Sikkim, CID sleuths conducted a raid at the resort on late Saturday evening. He managed to escape just minutes before the raid. A team of Sikkim police also accompanied Bengal CID, confirmed an official from West Bengal home department.

Read: Darjeeling impasse: Gurungs photo removed on GJM foundation day; Tamang mounts pressure on BJP

Gurung narrowly escaped arrest from another resort at Namchi on August 31. A CID team raided a location where Gurung was chairing an underground central committee meeting of GJM. Although CID sleuths managed to arrest nine GJM leaders, Gurung somehow managed to escape.

File picture of agitators throwing stones at policemen in Darjeeling. Scenes like this are no longer seen on the streets of the north Bengal hills as the indefinite bandh was withdrawn and normalcy restored. (HT Photo)

After that escape, tourism minister Gautam Deb even alleged that Sikkim police cordoned off Gurung and allowed him to flee.

In both the instances the raids were conducted after informing Sikkim Police, who accompanied the sleuths of Bengal CID. It seems too much of a coincidence that Gurung managed to escape on both occasions by accident, the state government official said.

Now, the question going around in Bengals bureaucratic and police circles is that whether moles are active only in Sikkim Police, or are in Bengal police as well. The situation is very tricky, added a state government official.

Read: Darjeeling unrest: TMC, BJP hit the streets in Kolkata; Dilip Ghosh talks to Gurung

Significantly, Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has backed the demand for Gorkhaland soon after the latest chapter of violence started on June 8 in Darjeeling. He even wrote to Union home minister Rajnath Singh, expressing support for a separate state.

We all are aware that Sikkim and Darjeeling share a very close bond with similarities of language, culture, tradition, caste, food habits etc. As immediate neighbours, we Sikkimese, wish them well forever We have always been there for the people of Darjeeling Hills in times of need and we reiterate that they have our all-out support for the demand of separate state of Gorkhaland, the letter by Chamling read.

The Mamata Banerjee administration reacted strongly to that letter by Chamling. Trinamool Congress secretary general and education minister, Partha Chatterjee, wrote to Singh seeking Central intervention to stop Sikkim government in interfering in the affairs of West Bengal.

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Terming the BJP biggest liar, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the party resorted to Divisive tactics to win the UP assembly polls as it was not in a position to compete with his (Akhileshs) regime on the issue of development.

The former UP chief minister also accused the BJP of misleading people on issues such as the loan waiver for farmers and corruption.

Yadav, while addressing people at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Yadav Dharmshala in Vrindaban on Sunday, said there was no other party that lies as much as the BJP does.

The BJP has the expertise in dividing voters on communal and caste lines and it did so in UP assembly elections because they knew that they would not be able to defeat Samajwadi Party on the issue of development, he stated.

There is a need to remain alert from the BJP as they make false promises as they had assured loan waiver to farmers in UP but only few got benefit that too of paltry amount and in some cases in paisa, he stated.

In Vrindavan, a farmer had got the loan waiver of one paisa only.

BJP remains busy provoking issues like that of national anthem and has no time for the Ganga and its revival. We took steps for the Gomti in Lucknow and similar efforts are needed for reviving the Yamuna here. Instead of praising the RSS, the chief minister should work for masses in state in true sense and instead of raising issues like Kabristan (graveyard) and Shamshan (crematorium), the BJP should try to improve the standards we had set, Yadav said.

He held the UP government responsible for the death of children at a Gorakhpur hospital. On law and order, he raised the incident of suicide by a girl in Mathura after murderer of her parents was not arrested by Mathura police.

Triple murder took place in Sitapur while a BSP leader was murdered in Allahabad and none of cases are being worked out, alleged the SP leader. While laying the foundation of Yadav Dharamshala, Akhilesh supported the cause of Yadav community which, according to him, had not lagged behind in serving the nation. Moreover, Yadav who stood firm on his friendship with the Congress and said it would continue. On the demonetisation and GST, he said the masses were under belief that they would get money in their account but what they got was unemployment and losses in trade.

CAPTION Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav at function in Vrindavan on Sunday. HT Photo
Using the emotional and religious appeal of Karwa Chauth - a fast observed by women for their husbands longevity - Lucknow police reinforced the message of safe driving, distributing free helmets to married couples on Sunday.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Deepak Kumar, additional SP (ASP) traffic, Ravi Shanker Nim and ASP (East), Sarvesh Mishra, launched the campaign near Saharaganj mall in Hazratganj.

Crowd overwhelms cops, flees with helmets Soon after city cops special drive to distribute helmets to married couples got over, a crowd rushed towards the stall set up near Saharaganj mall, to grab the remaining 20-25 helmets. Although senior cops had left the booth by that time, police personnel were still present. Despite that, these people could not be stopped from running away with helmets, said an onlooker.

Speaking about the initiative, the SSP said that married women fasted on the day to pray for their husbands long life. A helmet, therefore, would be the best gift for them, ensuring their safety. We thought it would be a good idea to spread awareness in this manner, using a religious and emotional appeal, he said.

A stall was set up near Saharaganj mall, where many married couples come for shopping.

Couples who were not wearing helmets were intercepted and fined for violating safety norms, said the SSP. However, they were also surprised by being given a helmet. The men were asked to follow safety norms and their better halves were appealed to ensure that their husbands wore helmets every time they rode two-wheelers. Nearly, 200 helmets were distributed during the special drive.

The SSP added that most of the women promised to make sure their husbands wore helmets whenever they left home on their two-wheelers. They also thanked the police force for the gift of a free helmet.

A similar campaign was launched during a traffic safety drive at Chinhat intersection. Couples travelling on motorcycles were fined for flouting road safety norms, but were also presented with free helmets. The Chinhat police distributed 10 branded helmets during the drive.
Vedic knowledge impressed a German scholar so much that he sold his business consultancy firm in his country about 20 years ago to embark on a mission to spread the understanding of these ancient religious texts in India and the rest of the world.

Ever since, his enthusiasm for the task has not diminished even slightly.

Norbert Weiss, who has studied the Vedas in German, says they have the solution to every problem in the world.

He also says he uses formulas of science to prove the Vedas are a storehouse of perfect science.

Research has proved that Vedanta is a complete science which promotes peace and welfare of one and all. Knowledge of the Vedas will promote peace and thereby prosperity across the world, Weiss says in a chat with HT.

The Vedas are the ultimate hi-technology, the most complex and oldest knowledge which is still alive. Please study, practise and apply that knowledge.

He was in Varanasi for his 20th visit to speak at the International Eternal Yoga Science Convention at Jagat Shishya Ved Mandir at Tara Nagar. His guru Pandit Shiv Pujan Chaturvedi is based here

Weiss also sponsors symposiums on the Vedas and runs a yoga centre in his native Munich, Germany. This is the second such centre that he set up after the first one closed.

I started studying philosophy at an early age. But I soon found out that western philosophy doesnt answer my questions related to the cosmos and life. It only produces new questions, Weiss says.

He recalls he met some spiritual teachers when they were touring Europe about 40 years ago, but only a few of them impressed him with their knowledge.

Weiss says he learned simple techniques of meditation from one such guru and practised them. Soon, he realised he would have to visit India if he wanted to learn advanced techniques of meditation.

He recalls his first visit to India in the early 1970s to seek answers to questions about the cosmos and life. New Delhi was his first stop followed by Rishikesh.

While Western philosophy doesnt answer my queries, the Vedas do address them, he says.

After his yoga centre closed in the early 1980s, he started working as stock broker.

I earned well. I never let my hectic schedule come in the way of my study of the Vedas. I meditated and studied the Vedas daily for about an hour. By the 1990s, I was fed up with the hectic schedule and quit the job.

Weiss and his wife Susanne Weiss flew to India, spent a few months here and went back. Then he set up a business consulting firm which rendered its services to Asian companies interested in doing business in Europe.

The company did well and its clients began to trust it. But he sold his firm in the mid 1990s to begin his mission.

He has addressed thousands of Indians in over 50 symposiums, including one at the Banaras Hindu University, over the last few years.

During his visits to India, he travels between Gomukh and Gangasagar. His wife accompanies him and helps him in recording the pictures and interactions with the locals.

Weiss, who has also studied jyotish (Indian astrology), says: Rituals associated with religious practices have nothing to with spirituality and enlightenment.

I want to spread the extended understanding of Vedas across the world for the welfare of mankind. I also want to establish a permanent group of Vedic pundits in order to create sattva (coherence, synergy and peace) for the world, he says.

Such is his love for the Vedas that he has named his son Shivanand.

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A youth was arrested while trying to rape a pavement dweller inside an abandoned police booth in crowded Daliganj locality on Saturday night.

The locals rescued the woman and handed over the youth to police after thrashing him in full public view.

Reports said the woman was seen loitering around in the area and asking roadside vendors for something to eat. Accused Rahul Chowdhary, 26, took the woman inside the abandoned booth on the pretext of giving her biscuits, said Arun Singh, district police spokesman.

Inside the booth, the accused tried to pull her down on the floor and attempted to remove her clothes to rape her, the victim told the police on Sunday.

Cops said the medical examination confirmed that the accused was heavily drunk at the time of the incident and an FIR of attempt to rape had been registered against him.

A local resident told the police that they got alerted when some of them heard a woman screaming. When they rushed to the site, they found the youth forcing himself on the victim. A group of locals barged into the booth and brought the youth out. He was beaten black and blue.

Read more: 3 held for gang-raping teen, then shooting her in UP; 2 other accused on the run

A UP 100 police response vehicle (PRV) reached the spot after one of the locals informed about the incident. The youth was then handed over to Hasanganj police station, he said.

Locals alleged that inspector of Hasanganj police station was initially reluctant in taking action against the youth but had to when some media persons reached the spot and informed senior police authorities about it.
Three pesticide companies find themselves in the dock after at least 32 farmers from Vidarbha died of poisoning in the past few days. The Maharashtra government registered a police complaint against the firms and Krishi Seva Kendras or agro-input centres for selling pesticides not recommended for the region.

Yavatmal district lost 19 farmers  the highest toll so far  but deaths also were registered in Akola, Amravati, Buldana, Nagpur and Bhandara.

State agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar on Monday held a meeting with seeds and pesticide manufacturing companies. Pesticides that were not recommended or the ones that were not meant for the crop were distributed and used. Therefore, cases have been registered against companies and the distributors, he said.

It is the duty of local agriculture authorities to educate the farmers about pesticides and other inputs to be used for their crops. The agriculture department found a highly toxic and expensive pesticide was being sold to unsuspecting farmers in a bid to earn profits.

State agriculture department officials said the pesticide called police, which is recommended only for sugarcane crop, was sold in Yavatmal, a cotton-growing region in the state.

One such pesticide with trade name police is being sold in Yavatmal; it is recommended only used for sugarcane. It is expensive and highly toxic. They misguide the farmers and tell them this will be highly effective for their crop and make money out of it. Cases have been registered against companies because they cannot take farmers for a ride, said Bijay Kumar, principal secretary, state agriculture department.

Kumar said agro-input centres, which distributed pesticides that were not recommended, have also been booked.

Yavatmal district police have registered cases of sudden death and began an investigation. Based on the inspection by the agriculture department, we have registered cases against the centres that sold these pesticides. We have lodged seven first information reports, said M Raj Kumar, superintended of police, Yavatmal district.

The agriculture department of the state also cracked down on illegal stocking of highly toxic pesticides in Akola district and have seized pesticides worth Rs 12 crore, Kumar said.

Across Vidarbha region, 32 farmers have died and close to 800 farmers have been admitted to state-run hospitals after they complained of dizziness, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach-ache, difficulty in seeing, etc.

The government has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the family of the deceased.

Activists said the problem would not have worsened if a proper investigation had been carried out into deaths last year.

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Senior leaders across the political spectrum heaped praises on the 35-year-long career of state Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sunil Tatkare at the launch of Samagra, a book about him.

Though chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was expected to attend, he skipped the event at the eleventh hour. Fadnavis came under fire as Tatkare is currently facing graft charges in the multi-crore irrigation scam being investigated by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB). The agency falls under home department headed by Fadnavis.

Social activist Anjali Damania, who exposed the irrigation scam, had opposed Fadnavis attendance at the function and announced that she would stage protests at the venue. Polices detained Damania and a few Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activists when they reached Ravindra Natya Mandir auditorium to hold a silent protest.

He [Tatkare] is a good administrator and possesses all the qualities of a good political leader... Dont get disheartened by failure. Remain down to earth when you achieve success, said NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Chandrakant Patil, senior BJP leader and state revenue minister, attended on Fadnavis behalf. He complimented Tatkare for not losing patience when he was dragged into the controversial irrigation scam.

We all know what happened with him [Tatkare] recently. Still, he never lost his cool and always had a smile on his face. This is not an ordinary quality. On behalf of the BJP and the state government, I extend all the best wishes for his future, Patil added.

Tatkare said the the support of his party, its chief, and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, helped him brave the allegations. The presence of leaders from all parties is a clear message that there is something beyond politics, Tatkare said.

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Terming the recent cut in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates for several items as a victory for the public, the Shiv Sena on Monday slammed the central government and said it had been forced to swallow its arrogance and roll back the tax rates.

On the matter of GST, the government had to bow to public anger and relax it for many things, an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamna said.

The editorial alleged that the tax rate cut was done keeping the Gujarat Assembly polls in mind. Anti-government sentiment had been building in Gujarat, and several small business owners in Surat, Ahmedabad and Rajkot had taken their protests against the local government to the streets, it said.

The Sena also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his U-turn on GST. As the chief minister of Gujarat, Modi had strongly opposed the GST and mocked the tax system. But after the BJP came to power at the Centre, he became a supporter of the same tax system, the editorial said.

The Sena also used the opportunity to renew its attack on demonetisation, and alleged that the Indian economy is on a decline because of such decisions.

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There is likely to be a close contest between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is trying to tame state Congress chief Ashok Chavan on his home turf in Nanded ahead of the civic polls slated for Wednesday.

The Congress, for its part, is trying to retain the civic body it has ruled for 15 years.The BJP won 12 of the 17 civic bodies for which polls were held this year, expanding its footprint over the states urban areas at the cost of the Opposition and its ally, the Shiv Sena.

The fight for 81-seat Nanded Waghala civic body is likely to be close, with both the parties roping in key leaders to campaign.

A loss would hurt the Congress badly as it lost its other citadel in the in neighbouring Latur district, which was earlier controlled by the late Vilasrao Deshmukhs family.

The Congress has 41 sitting corporators supported by 10 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) members in the Nanded civic body. The Shiv Sena has 14 corporators, while the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has 11. The BJP has two.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi began a campaign days before the polls were announced. All key leaders including Prithviraj Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Shivraj Patil participated.

On the other hand, a dozen BJP ministers, including Pankaja Munde, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Rajkumar Badole, Dilip Kamble, were deployed for the partys campaign.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis held two meetings on Monday.

Ahead of the polls, the BJP poached more than 15 sitting Congress and Shiv Sena corporators and are counting on them to win the civic body. Among those who were poached are Shiv Sena district president and leader of Opposition in the civic body. The Congress managed to woo nine AIMIM corporators and believes that most of them will win, helping the party march towards the half-way mark.

The Congress has the advantage of gaining back the Muslim voters that had shifted, to some extent, to the AIMIM in 2012, while the BJP will have to deal with a division of votes, owing to strong Shiv Sena candidates in some wards. Muslim voters dominate more than 25 wards.

The BJP is fighting against the Congress, and its ruling partner, the Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena leaders have not taken kindly to MLA Pratap Chikalikar defecting to the BJP. Uddhav Thackeray vociferously attacked the BJP on various issues. The BJP has also attacked the Shiv Sena, which will help Congress keep its votes intact, a Sena minister said.

Responding to the scathing attack by Thackeray during his rally in Nanded on Sunday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis alleged that the Shiv Sena is contesting as the Congress team B. The Shiv Sena is acting as if their leader in Nanded is Ashok Chavan, Fadnavis said. He also held Chavan responsible for the citys poor development.

Chavan took a dig at Fadnavis by alleging that his government was interested in acquiring agricultural land to benefit a few industrialists.
A metropolitan magistrate court recently sentenced a Nigerian national and his aide, who cheated a businessman from Gujarat into buying seeds needed to manufacture medicine for AIDS worth Rs20.5lakh, to three years in jail.

According to public prosecutor Anil Nandgiri, the complainant, Chirag Patel, 34, got an email on January 12, 2016, stating that a pharmacist from a private medicine manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom was looking for a business partner in India. It said the partner could buy the Ayurvedic seeds needed to manufacture the medicine for 460 US dollars and sell them for 2430 dollars and give them 20% commission on each deal.

Patel replied to the email saying he didnt know where to buy the seeds from, to which he got an email with the phone number of Raodeep Dhanji Boricha alias Nitin Agarwal, 33. Patel met Agarwal and his aide, Shyam Govind Ariban Tripathi alias Pandey, 32, at a hotel in Vile Parle and bought seeds worth Rs31,000 from him.

Patel then replied to the email, saying he wanted to meet the representative of the company. Posing as an executive of the company, the second accused, Tony Ebuna Mujordima alias Micheal Dean, 40, met him at a hotel. He also pretended to test the seeds by putting them in a bottle and shaking it. He told Patel the seeds were good and they would need more such packets. They then made Patel buy seeds worth Rs20.5 lakh. After the purchase, the duo did not respond to Patels calls or emails.

The prosecution claimed Nigerian national Oman Osakuve alias Manka Peerjyoja, 33, was involved in sending the emails. The fifth accused, Kelvin, said to be the mastermind is still at large.

While the court held Agarwal and Dean guilty, it acquitted Tripathi and Osakuve.
The weather bureau has predicted moderate to heavy thundershowers, mostly during evening hours, in Mumbai throughout this week.

Since Friday, Mumbai has been seeing cloudy skies with high humidity, and thunder, lightning and rain in the evenings. These conditions are expected to continue.

This is the last spell of the southwest monsoon over the city, said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, India Meteorological Department (IMD). The southwest monsoon is currently withdrawing from Gujarat and may take another 10 days to withdraw from north Konkan, which includes Mumbai.

Hosalikar said the rise in temperature during the day is heating up the land. As hot air expands, it rises and cools, which leads to condensation. This builds up clouds and causes what is called convectional rains.

The latest satellite imagery indicates that a depression has formed over West Bengal and the Bay of Bengal, which will pull more moisture from the Arabian Sea and result in heavy to very heavy rainfall over the Konkan coast, including Mumbai. Also, factors such as trough over the Arabian Sea, over north central coastal Karnataka, and a cyclonic circulation over central Maharashtra will intensify rainfall, Hosalikar said.

The Santacruz weather station, which represents the citys suburbs, has so far recorded 68.2mm rain in October, which 22.2mm above normal. Colaba, which represents south Mumbai, has recorded 29.5mm rain, which is 16.9mm below normal.

From June to September this year, Mumbai has already received 23% more rain than average.

Between 8.30am Sunday and 8.30am Monday, Santacruz and Colaba recorded 10mm and 5.2mm rain, respectively.

Humidity levels have been uncomfortably high since Friday, with the suburbs recording 87% to 92% humidity and south Mumbai recording 92% to 97% humidity.

The day temperature recorded at Colaba was 32 degrees Celsius (0.3 degrees Celsius below normal), and Santacruz recorded 31.7 degrees Celsius, a degree Celsius below normal. Night temperatures were close to the normal mark.

The IMD has also predicted thundershowers in most parts of Maharashtra through this week.
Mumbai Keen on creating the next generation of entrepreneurs, the Jain community last week inaugurated a business incubation centre at Andheri to provide funds, guidance, office space and other services to budding businessmen.

The centre is one of the six facilities the Jain International Trade Organization (JITO) plans to set up in metro cities. The aim is to help young talent use the experience of businessmen to create new and interesting products. We have a team of 6,000 members from different fields. We want to facilitate mentor-innovator bonding at this centre, provided to us by Cello, said Narendra Shyamsukha, chairman, JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF).

The centre plans to provide free office space to start-ups, but will charge a monthly fee of around Rs150 for a chair if more than three chairs are used. It will also provide services related to HR, legal, IT and accounts.

Every proposed idea will be screened by an executive committee of 20 people on various grounds, such as the time taken for implementation, background of people working on it and whether it will be useful to public. (HT)

Shyamsukha said the common workspace will help young people learn from one another and form a business network. While certain seats have been reserved for the community, the centre is open to all, he said.

Deepak Bhayani, chairman and managing director, Jackson Tissues, said, It will help the younger generation get an opportunity to start their own business.

Every proposed idea will be screened by an executive committee of 20 people on various grounds, such as the time taken for implementation, background of people working on it and whether it will be useful to public. The centre has so far selected two ideas -- Exchange4Solar and eBazaar  that will help 20 start-ups on non-profit basis.

Akshay Jain, CEO and co-founder of eBazaar, got to know of the programme through a relative. His mobile app connects local vegetable vendors with customers, and is being actively used by 300 registered vendors in various parts of the city. We need a funding of around Rs20,00,000. The incubation centre will give us experienced people as mentors, along with a free office space, Jain said.
At a time when Maharashtra is facing a financial crisis, with a debt burden of more than Rs4 lakh crore, the government plans to invest in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) related to defence and aerospace manufacturing sector by creating a venture capital fund of Rs500 crore.

Venture capital fund is used to seek help from private firms for SMEs with strong growth potential.

The board of the state-owned Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) recently cleared the plan to invest Rs300 crore towards the fund, which will be managed by Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) Capital. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is the chairman of the board.

Sanjay Sethi, chief executive officer (CEO), MIDC, said IDBI capital has been selected as investment manager for the fund. The company has also committed to investing Rs50 crore (10%) towards the fund.

The cash-strapped state has a debt of Rs4.13 lakh crore, the highest in the country, which could spiral up to Rs4.40 lakh crore.

The financial stability was further affected when the government recently announced a farm loan waiver of Rs34,022 crore. The state finance department is already considering a cut of 25% on development spending across departments to reduce the financial burden.

Companies investing in Maharashtra will only be considered for the fund, said Subhash Desai, state industries minister. This is not an expenditure, donation or charity, but an investment which will grow as the fund grows, Desai said, adding, We cant stop progressing. Debt and farm loan waiver are the challenges that we will have to face, but the state cannot deprive the stakeholders. Strengthening SMEs will improve states strength. A serious competition is on among states to attract investment. This is another step to stay ahead.

The Opposition criticised the decision saying the move is to hide failure of Make in India and Make in Maharashtra initiatives. The state will spend Rs500 crore to attract investment in SMEs only to hide its failure in attracting industries. The government has claimed investment of lakhs of crores, but the reality is grim, said NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik.

The state is expecting dramatic growth in the venture capital fund as the Centre plans to allow foreign defence companies to invest in the venture fund in lieu for their offset responsibilities -- an agreement to gain benefits on spending on defence equipment.. It means the contribution to this fund will be calculated as a part of their offset responsibility. If it happens, the fund will become more viable and its size will also increase drastically creating more scope for investment, sources revealed.

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North Albany Road has never been considered traffic-light. But congestion has been especially thick on weekday mornings and afternoons now that both North Albany schools share a schedule.

Greater Albany Public Schools changed start and end times for classes this year, grouping some schools into the same categories. North Albany Elementary and North Albany Middle schools now both start at 8:50 a.m. and end at 3:45 p.m.

The parent pickup and dropoff line, combined with buses for both schools, caused a considerable traffic backup when classes resumed last month. So Greater Albany School District officials asked North Albany Community Church, which is directly across the street from North Albany Middle, if it would be all right for parents to use the church parking lot to ease congestion at the schools.

Absolutely, the church replied. And then parishioners took the favor a step further: Each weekday, a few people volunteer as crossing guards to make sure students make it safely across North Albany Road.

"Weve had a real good time just connecting with kids and families and just helping them be safe across that road," said Associate Pastor Dave Galceran, a daily volunteer.

The volunteers wear bright green safety vests and stand in the middle of the crosswalks at the intersection of North Albany Road and West Thornton Lake Drive as groups go across.

The intersection already is protected by a full-fledged traffic light, complete with buttons to press for "Walk" signals. But both volunteers and parents say they believe you can't be too careful.

"We still have nonattentive drivers," Galceron said.

Donnah Moody, who came Wednesday to collect grandchildren Hunter and Katie Anderson, 5 and 9, said she's "absolutely pleased" by the effort.

"You worry about them crossing the busy street," she said.

For Erin Burt, who moved to Albany from Oklahoma in August, the crosswalk connection brought an added benefit. Daughters Maisie, 9, and Alice, 6, enrolled at North Albany Elementary School, but Erin didn't have a preschool for 4-year-old Clara, something that's part of public schools in her home state.

She told Galceron of her dilemma and he immediately spoke to North Albany Community Church, which found a spot in its preschool for Clara. "So now I take the girls to school and her to preschool right afterwards," Burt said.

The crossing guard work is a ministry and a way to connect with the community, Galceron said. It's also an extra layer of safety on a road that didn't used to see as many walkers and bicyclists.

City crews put in sidewalks on Gibson Hill and on North Albany Road just north of the middle school two years ago as part of a road widening and overall reconstruction project. Before that, any student who chose to walk to school used the bike lanes or hugged the gravel strip along the roadside.

Ron Irish, the city's transportation systems analyst, said there's no way to track overall sidewalk use but said he sees people using them and hears they're appreciated.

Jennifer Beathe, who bikes to and from school with sons Michael, 7, and Matthew, 5, said she never would have made that transportation choice without the sidewalks.

Burt agreed. "We love walking to school," she said. "If there were not sidewalks here, we definitely would not be walking."

However, not enough parents are making that choice, Irish said. The morning pickup and dropoff times are still clogged with traffic, and most of that is coming from individual families choosing to drive kids to school.

It's a problem that feeds on itself, Irish said: Parents see congestion, conclude the area isn't safe for walking and add their cars to the traffic.

That, in turn, adds to the potential for trouble, Irish said: When drivers have been stuck in a queue for a long time, they tend to get impatient. And, he added, sometimes that leads to bad choices.

Some parents are choosing to park at North Albany Community Church and walk across, as was district's hope originally. Galceran said he sees about a dozen cars on any given day, which may increase when the weather turns.

For all those reasons, the crossing guard volunteers at North Albany Community Church say they plan to stay as long as needed.

"Can the kids be safe on their own? Yes. Will they?" Galceron shrugged. "It is an added layer."
The Juhu police on Sunday booked a 28-year-old man for allegedly smashing a beer bottle on the head of a 26-year-old man for talking to his female friend at a hotel in Juhu.

According to the police, the incident took place around 4am when Malad resident Hardik Bora, 26, was partying with his friends. The accused, identified Farhan Mandahi, 28, came to the hotel with a woman. He got angry when the woman started talking to Bora, said police.

This led to a heated argument between the victim and the accused, which soon escalated into a fight. Mandahi hit the victim on his head with a beer bottle, said police. The staffers then alerted the Juhu police.

The police said that the complainant has been treated for his injuries and has been discharged from the hospital. Mandahi is yet to be arrested.

The police have filed an FIR under section 326 (causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapon) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code against the accused.

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The Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to give another eight-month extension to a builder to redevelop a 15-storey building, which will be used to rehabilitate Pali market vendors.

After seven years of delay, the redeveloper was supposed to construct the building by September 17.

With the new deadline, 79 licensed vendors will be rehabilitated by May. Construction restarted a few days ago but there has been slow progress, alleged vendors.

HT had earlier reported earlier that the firm came under fire from the vendors who wanted to take it to the court over delay in revamp.

Keshav Gupta, a licensed vendor whose family has been doing business for about 60 years, said, The BMC is carrying out a demolition drive at Pali Naka. So we have been told that we will be rehabilitated in a few months.

As per the market revamp policy, the firm was brought by the majority of vendors to redevelop the market. The building would not only give the vendors a better place to sell their produce, but would also help clear the roads for movement of vehicles.

According to the builders website, 23 shops are to be built on a 3,936-square-foot carpet area.

The market department of the BMC had earlier told HT was the builder was mandated to complete construction by September 17, three year after reissuing commencement certificate.

Sanjay Khurakte, a vegetable vendor, said, Work has started now on the first storey where we are to be rehabilitated. The redeveloper refused to comment on the status of the project.

We have not given the developer any extension yet. But he has told us that the market area would be built by May, said another official.
Recent crackdowns against drug peddlers by agencies have forced many of them to conduct their businesses away from the city, according to senior officers.

Interrogations of arrested accused in drug deals revealed that peddlers have become reluctant to seal major deals within Mumbai, officers said. They now prefer places out of the city limits such as Nalasopara, Vasai and Mumbra after multiple agencies turned up the heat on them, they added.

Apart from the anti-narcotics cell of the Mumbai police, all the 93 police stations have also been cracking the whip. Deputy commissioner of police, anti-narcotics cell, Shivdeep Lande said they were keeping a constant watch to ensure drugs are not sold in the city and as a result, most peddlers have started avoiding the city.

This year, 201 people have been arrested in 141 cases of drug deals in eight months, Mumbai Police statistics revealed. Throughout last year, a total of 212 arrests were made in 175 cases.

In most of these cases, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is applied, under which getting bail is not easy, officials said.

Earlier in September, the Amboli police arrested two men and seized 1kg of heroin worth Rs 30 lakh from them. In the same month, the anti-narcotics cell (ANC) arrested two Kashmiri men forl selling charas collectively worth Rs1.40 crore. In August, the ANC arrested six African nationals for trying to sell mephedrone, cocaine in Worli, Bandra and Dongri.

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After battling the huge blaze at Butcher Island, off Mumbais east coast, for close to three days, the citys firefighters managed to bring it under control on Monday morning. Cooling operations have now begun.

Dubbing it the most daredevil operation of his career in a Facebook post, Prabhat Rahangdale, chief fire official of the Mumbai fire brigade, said: The fire brigade and the Mumbai Port Trusts fire-fighting teams used an aggressive fire-fighting mechanism. After a day-and-night operation for three days, the fire has been contained to only tank number 13, Rahangdale said.

Now there is very little diesel left in oil tank 13, and water curtains are being used to cool it, he added. Fire brigade officials said cooling operations have begun on the adjacent tanks numbered 12, 14, 15 and 16.

On Friday evening, a massive fire broke out in tank number 13, which contained high-speed diesel.

Officials from the Mumbai Port Trust said the fire may have been caused by lightning. The city has been experiencing thunder, lightning and heavy showers in the evenings since Friday.

More than 60 fire-fighters from the Mumbai fire brigade and the MbPT fire service worked in two shifts for three days in a row to contain the fire. The cooling operations of the tanker and others around it, however, went on till Sunday night. No loss of life or injuries was reported.

After the tanker exploded on Sunday morning, fire-fighters feared the blaze would spread to the adjacent tanks, posing a risk to those involved in the operation. The tanker tilted towards the shore on Sunday morning, before disintegrating at 11.45am. The fire-fighters used foam to contain the fire from spreading, Rahangdale said.

Firemen used thermal imaging cameras to check the level of diesel oil in the tanker. Rahangdale said, The temperature around the burning tanker varied up to 350C, so those involved in the fire-fighting operation stayed at a safe distance. We used three fixed monitors and two portable foam induction monitors to control the fire. We were simultaneously emptying oil from the other tanks.
Two months after the first death owing to pesticide poisoning  inhalation of the chemical sprayed on crops  in Yavatmal, seven farmers from the region are on ventilator support, while two others are in critical condition. The condition of 40 farmers from Akola, Nagpur and Buldhana districts is critical.

In the past two months, 19 people have died of pesticide poisoning in Yavatmal. Twenty-five farmers admitted to the Government Medical College in Yavatmal have lost vision, while 800 have been hospitalised with complaints of dizziness, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomachache, among others. Most of them are farm labourers, who take up the hazardous job of spraying pesticides to earn extra money.

Pesticide poisoning deaths have also been reported in districts of Akola, Amravati, Buldana, Nagpur and Bhandara.

Locals, farmer leaders as well as the opposition blamed the Maharashtra government for failing to act in time.

Devanand Pawar, a farmer leader from Yavatmal, told HT, Two farmers are in the intensive care unit (ICU) in critical condition.

Kishore Tiwari, from the Maharashtra government-run Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban Mission (VNSSM), said, Many patients are in critical condition in the Nagpur Medical College and Akola Medical College. The death toll in these districts could rise.

Yavatmal district is part of the drought-prone Vidharbha region that registers the highest number of farmer suicides.

Dhananjay Munde, leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, visited Yavatmal on Sunday. Despite hailing from Vidarbha, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis neither visited Yavatmal, nor did he offer condolences to the family of the farmers. Is he so busy, Munde asked.

The Maharashtra government recently ordered the additional chief secretary (home) to carry out a probe into the incident and submit a report within 15 days, in addition to another probe into the quality of the pesticides. The companies that marketed the unauthorised pesticides will be booked, Pandurang Fundkar, state agriculture minister, told HT.

Fundkar last week admitted the district administration had failed to inform the state government about the cases in Yavatmal. Navnath Kolapkar, superintending agriculture officer, Yavatmal, said the pesticides were regular compounds and not a new brand.

Farmers in Yavatmal, 670km from Mumbai, primarily grow cotton and lentils and use a highly potent mix of pesticide to save the crop from pests. These pesticides are both in liquid and powder form. The farmers dont use gloves or goggles to protect themselves while spraying pesticides, said Narendra Fulzele, residential deputy collector, Yavatmal.

According to Fulzele, last year too there were six deaths owing to pesticide poisoning.

The extreme heat in the area could have made the pesticide more lethal this year. When the pesticide is sprayed, it comes in contact with skin. It enters the body, as it mixes with sweat, Kolapkar said.

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Brace for flight delays at the Mumbai airport on Monday evening, as the authorities plan to repair a pothole on the main runway.

The pothole surfaced between taxiways N1 and N3 on Sunday morning. While the airport operator, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), has not revealed the cause of the damage to the runway, sources said it could be a result of the rain since Friday evening.

Of the 930-odd operations at the city airport daily, 800 are at the main runway.

The main runway, which shuts down for repair and maintenance every Monday and Thursday between 1.45pm and 3.45pm, will remain closed till 5pm on Monday. During this period, the secondary runway, which can handle fewer flights, will be in operation. The secondary runway will handle all operations from 1.45pm to 5pm, said an MIAL spokesperson.

Airport officials said pothole repair was needed keeping the safety of passengers in mind. An Airport Authority of India (AAI) official said, The routine Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) said the runway would be shut till 3.45pm. As it will now be extended by one more hour, the slotted flights will be delayed.

Airlines said there were minor delays on Monday morning. The flights were running 10 minutes behind schedule, considered normal for the city airport, said an airport official.
Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) has asked Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, also known as Film City, to return 51 acres of forest land that was transferred to it by mistake in 1969.

Documents obtained by city-based NGO Vanashakti, through a series of Right to Information (RTI) applications, reveal that the land, which is the size of two Oval Maidans, is disputed because there is no boundary wall between Film City, Goregaon, and the 104 sq km park.

SGNP officials said they have been asking Film City authorities to give over the land since 1970 . Wild animals roma freely this area and we have been requesting since 2011, citing safety of those at Film City, to hand over the land, said a senior forest official, adding that the last letter was sent to Film City authorities in August. Officials responded to us stating that the land was theirs and they would not budge. Recently, outdoor shoots had to be stopped at Film City after several leopard attacks were reported in the vicinity.

Vanashakti members said Film City is in the process of expanding its infrastructure and has already reclaimed several parts.

Large parcels of land, parts of SGNP and Aarey have been fraudulently sold to in the past and now the forest department is trying to retrieve it. There is a massive land scam in place. We are collating more documents to prove it. What is sad is that the forest and wildlife is suffering as a result of this, said Stalin D, director, Vanashakti.

According to the documents obtained, the state government had handed over 215 acres of forest land that comprised of two villages Sai (102 acres) and Gundgaon (113 acres) to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in 1969 and a government resolution (GR) issued in 1970 confirmed the same. However, the forest department said that when MIDC further handed over the area to Film City, which is managed by a state-run corporation - in 1977 (when it was established), over 245 acres had been transferred. Later, the area of land to be transferred to Film City was decided as 194 acres. This meant that 51 acres needed to given back to the forest department.

Forest officials said that the survey number issued as per 1970 notification incorrectly identified the survey number of Gundgaon village, resulting in the transfer of excess land to Film City. Another notification was issued in 1984-85 with a corrigendum, demarcating the correct areas of the villages and a total of 194 acres was handed over in place of 215 and the remaining 51 needed to be returned to the forest department, the official said. This has not happened ever since and the exact boundary of SGNP cannot be carved due to this reason.

He added that the department was in the process of submitting a detailed document to Film City highlighting all the developments since 1969. Owing to heavy rains on August 29 and flooding at the national park office, we lost several documents. However, the recovery process is underway, he said.

Film City officials said there was no question of returning any areas back to SGNP. Film City does not have any forest areas or areas belonging to SGNP under its jurisdiction. Whatever was handed over to us under 1970 GR was meticulously measured by the city survey department, which was further monitored by the revenue department and then handed over to us. We have not illegally acquired any areas and neither will we be giving back any, said Chandrakant Kolekar, deputy engineer and Film City officer.

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) failure to keep up with the digital age has led to the Byculla zoo revamp being delayed. Despite having email at its disposal, the civic body is still using postal mail to verify the credentials of bidders for Phase II of the project.

Civic officials said it may take six more months before Phase II can begin. This phase includes the construction of 17 animal enclosures for Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, sloth bears and jackals. In August, bidders who applied for the Rs120 crore contract of Phase II submitted certificates of their work experience with certain private and government bodies. The BMC then sent letters to these firms based in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Goa, and even Oman, to verify the contractors credentials.

Four bidders applied and we are verifying 20 to 22 certificates. However, the bidders did not submit the contact numbers or email addresses of the parties they previously worked for. We only have their addresses, so we send speed posts. We have to wait till we get a reply confirming their credentials, only then can we move ahead and award the contracts, said a civic official, who did not wish to be identified.

The deadline to open bids has been extended thrice, with the latest one being pushed to October 9. The civic body missed earlier deadlines in September for the want of verification. Now, officials are still uncertain whether all the documents will be in place on time. There are only five more certificates to be verified. Following this, we can open the bid packets. But, we cannot say how soon all five parties will get back to us with the verification, added the official.

This time, the BMC has decided to verify the credentials of all bidders. It usually verifies only the lowest bidder, in case of tenders for other civic works

Civic officials said the BMC has asked all applicants to submit Rs500 and an undertaking, saying the contractor will bear the cost of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) over and above the final cost of tender. Some are unwilling to do so, which has led to further delays, sources said.

It is so simple to do a basic internet search and find the partys phone number or email address. Besides, there are options such as Skype, which let you video call. Verifying documents should be simpler. At the end of the day, Mumbaiites stand to lose out if the zoo revamp is delayed, said activist Rishi Agarwal.
The Supreme Court ban on sale of crackers in Delhi-NCR may reduce air pollution but it is likely to hit the livelihood of hundreds of retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers in the Ghaziabad district.

As per the estimates of the fireworks manufacturers, the prime manufacturing hub of Farrukhnagar-Asalatpur in Loni amassed a business of nearly 2 crore every Diwali season, which lasted till the end of wedding season in winters. A similar figure is estimated for the sales by retailers and the wholesalers.

Last year, we sold our stock but nearly one fourth was leftover. We hoped that it will be sold this year but the ban order has completely ruled out any sale of the old stock. In the interim order in September, there was some hope that we will be able to sell some part of the stock. The dealers and the wholesalers had purchased stocks in anticipation. But it has now turned into a major loss, said Ankit Agarwal, a fireworks distributor at Kavi Nagar.

It is estimated that a wholesaler invests nearly 8-10 lakh every Diwali season in procurement of fireworks. In Ghaziabad, the administration issued nearly 590 temporary licenses in 2016. Apart from the licenses, the administration also has nearly 138 permanent licenses which are given permissions for manufacturing as well as sales.

The manufacturing is already banned as per Supreme Court order of last year. The sales will be banned as per Mondays order. We are yet to get the copy of the order but we will strictly enforce the court directions. The sub divisional magistrates have been sent to their respective areas to shut down any sales or shops with immediate effect, said Ritu Maheshwari, district magistrate, Ghaziabad.

The major impact of the apex court ban will be borne by the traditional fireworks manufacturers and sellers at Farrukhnagar.

Nearly 2,500 families in several villages have already been affected. Since last years ban, we were hoping that this year will bring relief. However, we are doomed. We cannot even sell our old stocks outside NCR as the traders there will not allow our entry in their market. Now, even there is no time left to get the new licenses made in outside NCR areas, said Asif Ali, fireworks manufacturers at Farrukhnagar.

A delegation of retailers from Indirapuram, Vasundhara, Kavi Nagar, Ghanta Ghar and other areas submitted a memorandum to the district officials on Monday.

The court order in September gave us relief and we invested and ordered stocks from the wholesalers. Now, with the ban order on Monday, our investments have been stuck up. On an average, a retailer invests 4-5 lakh every season. All our investment is now stuck up as we cannot take stocks and wholesalers will not return money, said Yogesh Gupta, a member of Ghanta Ghar fireworks market.

The retailers said they will approach the other associations in Delhi-NCR and try to move Supreme Court for relief.

We just want that our stocks should be allowed to be sold so that we can minimise losses. Even if we move court, it will take time and Diwali is already round the corner. In case of no relief, this Diwali will be black for us, said Ratnesh Kumar, another retailer from Kavi Nagar market.

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The environmentalists and residents associations have welcomed the move taken by the Supreme Court with regard to the ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR region. However, the residents said that polluted surroundings persist even during non-Diwali season.

The decision by the apex court was much needed as pollution levels in Ghaziabad remain high throughout the year. People purchased firecrackers like anything and burst them till early morning the next day of Diwali. Breathlessness, suffocation and other respiratory issues follow as a result, said Alok Kumar, president of president of federation of association of apartment owners.

As per the air quality index bulletin by the Central Pollution Control Board, the PM10 levels were recorded at 302 micrograms per cubic metre at 4pm on September 9. This was graded very poor as it could cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure. The standard limit for PM10 is 100 mpcm.

I was planning to shift my three year old son to some other location before Diwali. He suffered major respiratory ailment during last Diwali and he had to be hospitalised and put under medical treatment for more than a month. The court order is a major relief but the agencies must act tough on daily pollution creating conditions like burning of garbage, industrial wastes and growing number of vehicles, said Vikrant Sharma, an environmentalist based at Raj Nagar Extension.

Most residents from Kaushambi, located next to ISBT Anand Vihar, also welcomed the apex courts order to ban the sale of firecrackers on Diwali.

We are already contesting a petition to reduce air pollution in our area against Ghaziabad agencies. The court has taken a wonderful decision as pollution levels rise 8-9 times during Diwali and post Diwali. The hazy conditions persist for 4-5 days. People are now more concerned about their health rather that spending money on bursting crackers, said VK Mittal, president, Kaushambi Apartment Residents Welfare Association (KARWA).

Mittal said the agencies have basically failed to control the air pollution near construction sites and also the dust on roads and highways.

These conditions need to be curbed on daily basis to bring more relief to residents on a daily basis. Otherwise, the pollution levels more or less remain high in Ghaziabad, he added.

According to the figures of Uttar Pradesh pollution control board, the post-Diwali pollution levels of PM10 were recorded at 720 mpcm at Model Town station and 910mpcm at Vasundhara monitoring station. The figure for Vasundhara was highest since 2013.

The court may have taken a judicious decision while keeping in mind the pollution levels. However, the ban should be extended to all festivals and not just diwali. It should be applicable even for the wedding season as well to help bring down pollution levels, said Jaipal Singh, a resident of Vasundhara.

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WASHINGTON  Not long ago, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.,  the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee and a man physically incapable of hyperventilation  questioned Donald Trump's "stability" and "competence." Now he has said that chief of staff John Kelly, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are the "people that help separate our country from chaos."

In this case, chaos has a name. Corker has essentially described the commander in chief as a danger in need of management. The doctrine of containment, evidently, must begin at home.

Elected Republicans will eventually be judged, not so much for what they have believed, but for what many have tolerated. They have tolerated Trump's irritable narcissism and rule by ridicule. They have tolerated nepotism, incompetence and malice on a grand scale. They have tolerated Trump's unique brand of disaster management  divisive, self-serving, conspiratorial (in attributing Puerto Rico's desperate pleas for help to a Democratic plot) and more concerned with discrediting critics than demonstrating competence. And they have tolerated a string of presidential reactions  including to the Charlottesville protests and murder and to the sincere sideline activism led by African-American athletes  that amount to a racially charged pattern.

"I know his heart's in the right place," vouches House Speaker Paul Ryan, at the low point (so far) of Republican self-abasement. This indicates a GOP establishment so shaken, so uncertain of its place, that it is willing to swallow broken glass on presidential demand. A Republican establishment surrendering the last remaining redoubts of its integrity. A Republican establishment that justifies all the contempt that Trump heaps upon it.

Giving up on an occasional economic principle, or making a compromise on social policy, is an uncomfortable but unavoidable part of a public life. Accommodating racial demagoguery is a failure of courage and morality that won't be forgotten. Many elected Republicans are earning Prufrock's judgment: In short, they were afraid.

Many, but not all. "If the party can't be fixed," said Ohio Gov. John Kasich, "then I'm not going to be able to support the party, period." Leaving the party entirely might be the natural instinct of a serious and centered politician. But it also plays into the Breitbart/Steve Bannon strategy of ideological conquest. They hope to return the Republican Party to the nativism, protectionism and isolationism of the 1930s. And if their movement also reflects some of the prevailing racial attitudes of that time, so be it. Wink. Nudge.

This vision may be rancid, but it is clear and powerful  rooted in the fear of rapid economic and social change and propelled by reliable resentments. The 1980s ideology of tax-rate cuts  embodied in the current Republican tax bill  looks pale and weak in comparison. If the GOP struggle comes down to ethno-nationalism vs. supply-side economics, there is little doubt about the outcome. Human beings are wired for tribal loyalties, not for the appreciation of economic principles. Powerful movements, good and bad  from prairie populism, to the original America First, to civil rights  have embodied a conception of the nation and its true identify.

What would a compelling alternative to the Bannon appeal look like? It would be an improvement for mainstream Republicans to even ask the question. Kasich is. So are Sens. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Ben Sasse, R-Neb., at great political risk. Republican reconstruction will involve a new policy agenda, focused particularly on mitigating the painful adjustments brought on by globalization and technological change. But Trumpism has succeeded as a political movement in the total absence of serious policy, and it's unlikely to be defeated by avenging wonks.

At the least, the Republican renovation project will need to show some moral outrage that American politics has been hijacked by blind partisans and those who make a living through inciting division. It will require a healthy nationalism free from nativism; a populism that recognizes the failures of the political class but responds with reform rather than recrimination; the elevation of empiricism and competence as political ideals; an appeal to the healing and bridging role of faith; a touch of Lincoln's belief in the shared responsibility for failure and the shared calling of forgiveness.

Most of all, this project will require a leader (and, eventually, leaders) who actually believes in something, totally and convincingly. The simple force of contagious principle is often underestimated. Look at interviews with Margaret Thatcher during her political rise. She radiates confidence. She is certain that her ideas will persuade. This charisma of conviction is the single greatest need of the GOP today. And its most glaring absence.
Ghaziabad: The much-awaited 400KV substation at Indirapuram in ready, said officials of the transmission department. They have initiated a dry run and the load attribution will be initiated in a few days.

The substation is slated to supply nearly 1,000MVA of electricity to the distribution system in trans-Hindon areas of Ghaziabad and neighbouring Noida.

The project, estimated cost of which is 1,000 crore, forms a part of the 36km transmission line loop from substations at Hapur (765KV ), Ator (400KV ) to Indirapuram (400KV). The Indirapuram substation is equipped to meet the power demand of trans-Hindon areas. The substation will also supply power to the Sector 62 substation in Noida.

The electricity department officials said the 400KV gas-based substation will become fully functional before Diwali and, initially, the load for Indirapuram locality will be shifted here with two 60MVA transformers.

One MVA of power is for nearly 250 households.

The Indirapuram locality will be getting its supply of electricity from the new substation within two to three days. Thereafter, the load for Sahibabad and Noida will also be put on the new substation, said MC Sharma, chief engineer (trans-Hindon circle) with Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited.

The substation was slated to start last year but its completion was delayed when it got stuck in litigation over land availability for installation of towers and protests by farmers.

With the start of the substation, the gap between the installed capacities of transmission (grid to substation supplies) and distribution (substation to households) will be reduced drastically. In fact, the transmission capacity will be much higher to the distribution capacity in comparison, Sharma said.

Strengthening the transmission installed capacity will mean that substations will be able to draw ample power from the grid and will be in a position to supply it to households through distribution feeders.

The substation is now ready and the distribution department will soon decide to share the load of localities, said BK Tripathi, superintending engineer of the UP Power Transmission Corporation Limited.

Once the Indirapuram substation is fully operational, it will branch out 12 feeders of 33KV and three feeders of 220KV capacity. One of the 220KV feeders will cater to Noida. Ator (400KV) will also have the same number of 33KV and 220KV feeders branching out.

The 765KV substation at Hapur will convert power to 400KV and will supply to Ator which will further supply to Indirapuram. The Indirapuram substation will convert the available power to 220KV and further to 33KV which will be supplied to residential areas.

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The Supreme Court ban on fire crackers in Delhi-NCR was welcomed by the residents welfare associations, district administration and the pollution control board in Noida.

Mondays apex court order has put on hold the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. On September 12, the SC had lifted for the time its order of suspending the permanent licences for sale and retail of firecrackers within the National Capital Region (NCR).

We welcome the move because it is for the betterment of our environment. The usage of fire crackers has come down in the last few years because people have started understanding the importance of having clean air to breathe. We will be informing residents about the SC order, said AN Dhawan, Secretary General, Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations (FONRWA).

The apex court has said that its earlier order wherein it had lifted permitting them will come into effect from November 1 which is two weeks after Diwali.

Last week, the district magistrate had asked the Residents Welfare Associations to hold a meeting in all the sectors to convince residents to avoid using crackers on this Diwali.

It is a very good move by the apex court. We will make sure that the orders are followed properly in the district. We all have to take our environment seriously to lead a healthy life. Strict action will be taken against those who will be found selling crackers illegally, said BN Singh, district magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar.

On Tuesday, a draw was supposed to be held to issue licence to the people who had applied for sale of crackers in the district. We have given crores of rupees in advance to the wholesale dealers of crackers. On Tuesday, the draw was supposed to be held by the administration to issue licence to us. We invested our money in this business after the September 12 order of the SC, said Amit Kumar, a trader. He is among scores of traders who had applied for selling firecrackers in retail at one of the four designated sites in the district.

If the court had to come up with this type of order, why were we encouraged to buy crackers to sell? We will be meeting the district magistrate on Tuesday to find a way, said Kumar.

The data maintained by the pollution control board in Noida suggests that the air quality has worsened over the years in the area making it difficult for the citizens to breathe in quality air. People have to survive to celebrate and this order of SC is an appreciable move. Post and pre Diwali days are very bad for patients suffering from asthma and other breathing issues. Pollution caused during this season is very dangerous for smokers too. Such a ban is required to keep the environment clean for breathing, said Dr Mrinal Sircar, Director, Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care, Fortis Hospital, Sector 62, Noida.
You know the countdown to Diwali has started in Noida when the annual arts and crafts fair Shilpotsav starts.

The 10-day-long fair is organised annually by the Noida Authority. This year, the fair was inaugurated by UP Tourism minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Friday evening. The fair is being organised since 2008 to encourage small entrepreneurs and rural artisans who dont have permanent brick-and-mortar shops.

With over 350 stalls displaying glassware, earthenware, clothing, accessories, home utensils, cosmetics, ornaments and food from different states of India, the fair has started attracting the attention of Noida citizens.

Entrepreneurs from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Gujarat were seen displaying state specialties, be it food or the handworks of weavers and artisans.

I run a small weaving mill at my house in Mathura. Here I and others weave pure cotton sarees. We offer sarees in the 350-4,000 price range depending on the intricacy of the design. However, the quality of my product remains same. I have been coming to this fair since its inception in 2008 and I am hope to do good business again this time, said Akhilesh Kumar Agarwal, a proprietor from Mathura.

Weavers from Kashmir, too, hope that locals would warm up to their shawls.

This is my first visit to Shilpotsava. I hope that people in Noida will like our stuff. We sell Kashmiri shawls from 500-4,000. These products are made in Srinagar and then we sell it all across the country, said Asif, an entrepreneur from Srinagar.

Similar small entrepreneurs from far-off states were everywhere to be seen at the fair.

We offer Kutch work cushion covers at a price as minimal as 50. I buy the Kutch work bags, cushion covers, bedsheets and curtains from the artists in Gujarat. Their work is famous all over India, said Dinesh Kumar, entrepreneur from Surendranagar.

No desi fair is complete without Rajasthani stalls offering pachak and saunf (digestives and mouth freshners). Even in this fair, a number of Rajasthani stalls were seen offering a wide range of sweets, digestives, pickles and mouth freshners brought from the desert state.

Every year, we set up a stall at Shilpotsava and we do good business offering a range of pachaks from Bikaner. Our product range starts from 50, said Moolchand, a seller from Bikaner.

This year, the has fair even attracted foreign entrepreneurs who are hopeful of doing good business in India.

Muan, an entrepreneur from Thailand, is participating in the Noida fair for the first time. It is our first visit to Noida although we have been doing business in India since many years. We offer ladies products including cosmetics, jewellery, handbags, accessories and ornaments. Our price range starts from 30, Muan said.

Amit Srivastava, deputy director of UP Tourism said that the fair has seen decent footfall in the past few days.

We saw a footfall of 12,000 people on Saturday and similar figures are expected as Diwali gets closer. Footfalls lean in the daytime because of the heat, but business picks up as the day progresses, Srivastava said.

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A team of Scotland Yard Police on Monday visited Noidas Centre for Cyber Crime Investigation (CCCI) cell and lauded the efforts of Noida Police in handling complaints related to cybercrime.

Scotland Yards cyber units service delivery director, Alex Blatchford and three other members visited the cyber cell and met their counterparts in Noida.

He praised the way, Noida Police make use of social media channels in spreading information to citizens in real time, and keep a tab on traffic movement in the district.

Blatchford said, The volume of complaints received by Noida polices Cyber Crime Investigation Cell in a month, is equivalent to complaints received by Cybercrime Cell in London in a year. Despite so many complaints, Noida Police is faster in technical surveillance and location identification.

Both Noida Police and Scotland Yard Police use same software application for dealing with complaints on Cybercrime. Despite limitations, Noida Polices Cyber cell is handling complaints in a very efficient manner, said Blatchford, after looking at the statistics.

On an average, Noida police receives 50 complaints per day and about 1,500 complaints every month through its twitter handle @noidapolice. Most of the tweets are responded timely and many complaints are resolved promptly, observed the team from Scotland Yard.

Especially in the field of obtaining call details and identifying mobile phone location, Noida Police is far ahead of the Scotland Yard Police, Blatchford said.

He met districts senior superintendent of police Love Kumar and his team at his office in Surajpur on Monday afternoon.

Blatchford also visited Noida Police Cyber Cell at Sector 6 and Highway traffic management system on Noida-Greater Noida expressway.

He was impressed with the state-of-the-art setups and appreciated Noida police team for their innovative ideas and IT technology roadmap for the district, said Vivek Ranjan Rai, in-charge of CCCI Noida.

The team also lauded UP Dial 100 service and Operation Muskaan, used to trace missing children.
It is now well understood that how we do as a nation depends a great deal on how we perceive ourselves. This psychological factor is now understood to be critical to sustained economic growth.

Classical economics was linked closely with psychology. Adam Smiths other great work was The Theory of Moral Sentiments that dealt with the psychological principles of individual behaviour. Smith emphasised concept of empathy, the capacity to recognise feelings that are being experienced by another being. Jeremy Bentham described utilitarianism as the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong and is considered by many as the father of the welfare state.

Classical economic theory, also known as laissez faire, claims that leaving individuals to make free choices in a free market results in the best allocation of resources. Since individuals made choices, the emphasis was on understanding human beings and their behaviour as individual and as groups.

Neo-classical economists based their thinking on the assumptions that people have rational preferences; individuals maximise utility and firms profits; and people act independently.

Consequently neo-classical economists distanced themselves from psychology and sought explanations for economic analysis heavily based on the concept of rational expectations.

For most of the last century, economics became increasingly mathematical. Much of economic theory came to be presented as mathematical models, mostly calculus, to clarify assumptions and implications. It is not as if the switch was complete. Many great economists such as Vilfredo Pareto, John Maynard Keynes and Joseph Schumpeter continued to base their analysis on psychological explanations. In more recent times, this school of economics has been given greater importance and is reflected in the award of Nobel Prizes to behavioural economists such as Daniel Kahneman of Princeton University and now to Richard Thaler.

Making the announcement Nobel Committee said: His empirical findings and theoretical insights have been instrumental in creating the new and rapidly expanding field of behavioural economics, which has had a profound impact on many areas of economic research and policy.

There is a delicious irony in the award of the Nobel to Richard H Thaler. He works in the University of Chicago, the nursery of classical economics, where he is the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the Booth School of Business. Incidentally, Raghuram Rajan who is also an economics professor is a colleague, who was also, we are told being considered for the Nobel this year.

The dominance of the classical school on the world of economics can be gauged from the fact that since the relatively recent inception of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1968, the Chicago economics department faculty have won the Nobel as many as 12 times, twice as many as MIT, which has six Nobel laureates.

Seen from Harvard Universitys ivory tower, even MIT is considered as leaning more towards classical economic theory. Recent Harvard winners for economics such as Oliver Hart (2016), Alvin Roth (2012) and Eric Maskin (2007) were rewarded for their work based on mathematical empiricism than behavioural speculation. Amartya Sen (1998) was one of the few who broke this mould and won it in recognition of his work and abiding interest in welfare economics.

(Mohan Guruswamy is a Distinguished Fellow at the United Service Institution of India, New Delhi, and a Visiting Professor at the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad. He has held senior positions in Industry and Government)
The Indian railways came in for some rare accolades after a series of brickbats on Sunday when they responded to a tweet and provided an oxygen cylinder to a passenger having respiratory problems due to lung infection.

Shajahan Khatoon (35), who was on supplemental oxygen support, had boarded the Guwahati-Delhi North East Express from Mansi junction in Bihars Khagaria district along with three of her family members late on Saturday.

Soon, they realised that they were low on oxygen and contacted a Patna-based friend, Sandip Sandilya, who in turn tweeted the railway ministry for help.

The railway ministry promptly asked the divisional railway manager, Allahabad, to provide medical help.

Within an hour of Sandilyas tweet, the senior divisional commercial manager, Allahabad, reverted to him, stating that a doctor will attend at Kanpur railway station.

Though the doctor was not there at the Kanpur station, the railways did arrange for an oxygen cylinder, said Sandilya.

The request was for oxygen cylinder, which we provided to the passenger, divisional commercial manager, Allahabad, PK Sharma, said.

On why they couldnt provide help at Allahabad Junction, he said by the time they received the message at 11.58 am from the railway ministry, the train had left the station (at 11.46 am). We immediately relayed the information to Kanpur, where the train reached at 3.52 pm (late by over three hours) and the oxygen cylinder was provided.

The train had a minutes scheduled stop at Fatehpur, between Allahabad and Kanpur.

Khatoons brother, Shahnawaz Khan, told HT over phone, My sister has been admitted to the intensive care unit of Metro hospital in Faridabad and her condition is better.

Khatoons husband, Moinuddin, runs a small sweet shop near the bus stand in Bihars Madhepura district.

Prior to the September 29 stampede at Mumbais Elphinstone railway station foot-over-bridge that killed 23 people, at least eight incidents of trains jumping the tracks have been reported in the country so far this year.

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Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanyas wedding was a much talked about filmy event this year. Even though not many stars were seen at the wedding and it was a private affair, the photographs also had Twitterati going gaga over the cute couple. Now, we have got the first picture of the adorable couple of Tollywood after their wedding. The newly-weds are seen posing with a guest.

Samantha is seen in a beautiful red dress complete with her mangalsutra. It looks like the picture was clicked in Goa after all the festivities had taken place.

The family has planned to organise a wedding reception in Hyderabad, however, it is unclear when that would take place, as both Chay and Samantha are busy with their commitments. Chay will be starting work on his upcoming film Savyasachi while Samantha awaits the release of two big ticket films of hers.

She will be seen next in the Telugu film Raju Gari Gadi 2 alongside her father-in-law Nagarjuna and after that she will be seen paired with Vijay in the much-anticipated Atlee directorial, Mersal. The Tamil and the dubbed Telugu version will release on October 18 on the occasion of Diwali. She will also be seen in Rangasthalam 1985 alongside Ram Charan in the film.

And so, even the honeymoon will happen only by December. The couple have decided to take time off during Christmas and also ring in the New Year together.

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Theres more to Mauritius than honeymooners and newlyweds. The Indian Ocean islands tourism office has launched a major campaign to promote Mauritius as a hotspot for nature lovers and family vacations. If you still need convincing, check out these five stunning natural landscapes with views to delight any visitor to the island:

Le Morne Brabant

This is the picture-perfect landscape that youd expect to see on postcards of Mauritius. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Le Morne Brabant is a rugged mountain peak at an altitude of 555 metres. It is a landmark in the landscape of the south-western Mauritius coast, where vacationers laze on the islands idyllic beaches. Le Morne Brabant also offers the most stunning views over the island and is a great place to go hiking or sign up for a trek.

Seven Colored Earths is one of Mauritiuss most curious natural wonders. (Shutterstock)

The waterfall and Seven Colored Earths at Chamarel

The south-west of the island is home to the Seven Colored Earths, one of Mauritiuss most curious natural wonders. It is a relatively small area of sand dunes comprising seven different colours of sand, with shades of red, brown, violet, purple, green, blue and yellow. Although the colours mix together, they remain distinct and clearly visible. Dont leave without visiting the 100-metre-high waterfall nearby. Head to the viewing area to take in the spectacular landscape.

The Black River Gorges National Park covers over 6,500 hectares. (Shutterstock)

Black River Gorges National Park

The south-west of Mauritius is home to a host of stunning natural sights, promising superb vacation snaps for budding photographers. Covering over 6,500 hectares, this National Park offers trails that take visitors through the park to discover its various animal species and 150 varieties of plant. There are many viewing areas and points where hikers can take in the exceptional landscape and beautiful natural scenery.

Tamarin Bay is a great place to catch a glimpse of dolphins. (Shutterstock)

Tamarin Bay

Facing the stunning white sands of Flic en Flac beach, Tamarin Bay is a hotspot for amateur photographers in search of stunning sunsets. Its also a great place to catch a glimpse of dolphins.

Ile aux Cerfs

Popular with tourist trippers, Ile aux Cerfs lies in the Trou dEau Douce lagoon off Mauritiuss east coast. This uninhabited island is prized for its magnificent landscapes, with white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. Boats run every 20 minutes between Trou dEau Douce and Ile aux Cerfs.

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Zubair Khan, one of the contestants on the current season of the controversial reality show Bigg Boss, left the house, as he claims, after a heated argument with its host, Bollywood actor Salman Khan on Sunday. On the show, he was evicted after getting the least number of votes among all the nominated contestants.

Later, reports came that Zubair took many sleeping pills. Apparently miffed with Salman Khan, Zubair says he is going to file a complaint against Salman Khan. He says, I am going to Lonavala to file a complaint against Salman. Its a fake show. They tell the contestants what to do.

He seems really angry with Bigg Boss 11 host. Salman Khan is a puppet and can dance shirtless for money. I am not Vivek Oberoi who will get scared of him. I am also not Arjit Singh who will say sorry bhai on social media. I went in the show as a director. I didnt know they are introducing me as Haseena Parkars relative on the channel.

Before the show, it was publicised that Zubair is related to Haseena Parkar, underworld don Dawood Ibrahims sister who died in 2014. However, reports claimed he was not related to Parkar. Zubair says he never implied so. Six years ago, I said this live on a TV channel. My wifes name is Sana Khan and mother-in-laws name is Noor Jahan. I never said anything. Now, if theyre related to Dawood Bhai, you should ask them.

He further says, If I wanted cheap publicity, I could have done it before the release of the film I made, Lakeer Ka Fakeer, by taking such names. I never said anything at that time. This is the channels ploy to use Dawoods name.

He vehemently denies being thrown out of the show. I have left the Bigg Boss house, nobody evicted me. Salman Khan threatened me on camera that he wont let me work. Theres a saint inside the house, Shivani ji, nobody came to her rescue when she was disrespected. People are scared due to their contract.

Suddenly he changes tack and channels his anger to another contestant on the show, Arshi Khan. He says, The contract says that you cant say anything against religion. Arshi Khan is disrespecting the religious texts. If Vikas Gupta is gay, this is his personal choice. Salman Khan talked about these things, but the only thing shown on the channel was his conversation with me.

He returns to the question whether he is related to the underworld dons? See, if somebody works in the film industry, people ask them have you seen Salman, Shah Rukh? In the same way, I have grown up in Dongri, Imambada and Nagpada.

Zubair then tries to establish himself as a self-made person. I was a child labour in a theatre. I sold ice-candies in Pahlaj Nihalanis theatre called Nishat. I have done many odd jobs to become a director. My father was not Salim Khan. Salman Khans isnt the almighty who will write my fate.

He adds, Salman says how can I abuse someone? You go to YouTube and write Salman Khan giving gaali in public, youll find videos. In fact, he did it around Bajrangi Bhaijaan also. You search all the footage and tell me if I said I am Dawoods son-in-law.

He says he will not return to the show. They were calling me back. When I attempted suicide after argument with Salman Khan. I came here for my family, for my wife and kids. These guys are only showing gaalis. If I wanted I could have said him a lot of things on the national television. I said too. But they were edited.

He also reacted to the news that the producer of Haseena Parkar biopic is filing a case against him for saying that he was the producer. Samir Antule (Haseena Parkars co producer), who is filing a case against me, should go and ask the channel. If I wanted to take advantage of Dawoods name then why would I live with my mother! Who has Pradeep Sharma arrested in the extortion case? Dawoods brother, not me. I have been a journalist. I have done undercover investigation.

Zubair Khan gets eliminated with the least number of votes! #WeekendKaVaar pic.twitter.com/YTlwC5X4Ye  COLORS (@ColorsTV) October 8, 2017

He doesnt seem bothered by the contract he signed before entering the house. The contract was of two years. I would have gotten Rs 25,000 every week. After two years, I would have gotten Rs 50,000 every month. Free ka paisa kisko bura lagta hai!

He adds, The contestants are mentally prepared, brainwashed. They dont give access to any clocks or watches or TV. They get taken to 2-3 different hotels. I wasnt getting a chance to retaliate, so I took all my pills.

He concludes the conversation with an update on his health. The side effects are happening now. My intestines are affected. I am having digestive problems.

The author tweets at Twitter/@nawabjha

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Actor-comedian Mallika Dua took an Uber ride recently and the experience was not what one would call pleasant. Mallika recounted the incident and said it all started because she had requested the driver to increase the air-conditioning. The popular web series actor was taken aback when the driver brought the car to a screeching halt and yelled at her to get out of the cab. Not only did he refuse to change the temperature, but also verbally abused her when she started to respond in kind. After this incident, the actor came to know that there is no customer service point in India and also shared her frustration about not being able to reach them to file a complaint.

She wrote, When I screamed and asked him to stop he asked me to get out again and started screaming bhe***** sa*** mad****** out in the open. I can afford a car and a driver in this city. What about those who dont have that option?

She also took a screenshot of the driver information and shared it along with the post. This incident occurred on Sunday. About 2000 shares and 2000 comments later, the company in question contacted her and reassured that the driver has been barred from using their app. When she asked proof of the appropriate action taken, they did not submit any but told her that if she takes a legal recourse, the recorded conversation can be counted as proof.

Mallika did not stop there. She further wrote, My status in no way means the issue is resolved. Its merely an update. 2 polite phone calls dont fix this. The organisation needs to have a customer care number that works. Im not done with them just yet.

Read Mallika Duas post about UBER here |

Uber India is the most vile organisation to exist. They dont check their drivers profiles before hiring them and seem to learn NOTHING from their mistakes. This driver Chetan brought the car to a screeching halt and asked me to get out of the car when I asked him to increase the air conditioning. Yes OVER THE AC TEMPERATURE. He ended the trip and said uttar gaadi se. Nahi badhaunga AC. Uber Tum logon ko ad mein kuch bhi dikhaata hai ki apna gaadi samjho. Aisa kuch nahi we got into a very heated argument where I yelled my guts out at him screaming How battameez he is and how I will take action and he said nikkal tu gaadi se bhe***** and started to drive off with me still in the car. When I screamed and asked him to stop he asked me to get out again and started screaming bh***od s**li ma****hod out in the open. I can afford a car and a driver in this city. What about those who dont have that option? Are they supposed to put themselves at risk each time they order a cab? THESW are our successful startups? My ass. HOW THE F*** does a multinational company like UBER have NO customer care/ point of contact in India? Im shivering right now in broad daylight. If anyone has any contacts at the elusive bloody Uber, do let me know.

Uber India has reached out to me and assured me of corrective action from their side. Every single customer deserves to have their problems resolved, blue tick or no blue tick. This sort of shit will not be tolerated. Thank you guys for the support and concern.

They told me theyve barred this driver from their app and have escalated the matter further up. I asked for concrete evidence of this and they said they cannot provide it but assured me that since they have promised and claimed so on a recorded call, it is true and admissible in court, should I chose to take legal recourse. My status in no way means the issue is resolved. Its merely an update. 2 polite phone calls dont fix this. The organisation needs to have a customer care number that works. Im not done with them just yet.

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Over 100 websites and internet forums offering assignments to university students in Britain for a fee  many based in India  are to be blocked on campus computers and WiFi systems to prevent contract cheating  selling assignments for a fee.

Academics told Hindustan Times that thousands of students at British universities have been using Indian expertise in IT as part of contract cheating, whereby course assignments are contracted online for a fee, endangering the quality of degrees awarded.

The phenomenon  first reported in academic circles in 2008 by Thomas Lancaster and Robert Clarke at Birmingham City University  has become more sophisticated over the years, making it difficult to detect through usual plagiarism detection software.

Contract cheating happens when a third party completes work for a student who then submits it to an education provider as their own, where such input is not permitted. A student contracts the third party to provide the assessment, usually a company or individual using a website to promote themselves and receive orders.

Such companies have become known as essay mills, even though they supply more than just essays. The common approach is for the work to be outsourced once again by the mills to individual writers, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), an independent body tasked with safeguarding standards and improving the quality of higher education, said.

New guidance to be published on Monday by the QAA says that the advertising activity of essay mills has increased in recent years. It confirmed the existence of more than 100 such websites, with prices depending on the complexity of assignments and tightness of deadlines. They can range from 200 for one essay to as high as 6,750 for a PhD dissertation.

The guidance includes blocking access to essay mills on campuses. It says: Attempts to access essay mill sites would be met with a message that access is prohibitedThis will not prevent a student from accessing sites from their own devices.

However, if they do try to use providers systems, the block message will signal that the provider is aware of the sites and reinforce the importance of academic integrity. Where providers do not block sites, and students are able to access essay mills from their systems, the opposite impression may be given.

Lancaster, now at Staffordshire University, told HT: Weve observed a lot of people from India bidding to complete academic work for students. They make offers that are very appealing to students from the UK, theyll do the assignment for what is a low price for a UK student, but a good living wage for the worker in India.

As part of my contract cheating work, Im seeing a lot of advertising for essay mills around university campuses in the UK. Companies are handing out business cards and theyre advertising to students on social media. A lot of this advertising is targeted at international students, including those from India.

Universities have plagiarism detection software, but several websites offer plagiarism-free guarantees, or essays and assignments tested against such detection software, making it difficult for academics to confirm the authenticity of a students work.

Universities minister Jo Johnson said: This form of cheating is unacceptable and pernicious. It not only undermines standards in our world-class universities, but devalues the hard-earned qualifications of those who dont cheat and can even, when it leads to graduates practising with inadequate professional skills, endanger the lives of others.

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The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that he will sign a new rule overriding the Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era effort to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

The war on coal is over, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt declared in the coal mining state of Kentucky. He said no federal agency should ever use its authority to declare war on any sector of our economy.

For Pruitt, getting rid of the Clean Power Plan will mark the culmination of a long fight he began as the elected attorney general of Oklahoma. Pruitt was among about two-dozen attorney generals who sued to stop President Barack Obamas 2014 push to limit carbon emissions, stymieing the limits from ever taking effect.

Closely aligned with the oil and gas industry in his home state, Pruitt rejects the consensus of scientists that man-man emissions from burning fossil fuels are the primary driver of global climate change.

President Donald Trump, who appointed Pruitt and shares his skepticism of established climate science, promised to kill the Clean Power Plan during the 2016 campaign as part of his broader pledge to revive the nations struggling coal mines.

In his order Tuesday, Pruitt is expected to declare that the Obama-era rule exceeded federal law by setting emissions standards that power plants could not reasonably meet.

It was not immediately clear if Pruitt would seek to issue a new rule without congressional approval, which Republicans had criticized the Obama administration for doing. Pruitts rule wouldnt become final for months, and is then highly likely to face legal challenges filed by left-leaning states and environmental groups.

Pruitt appeared at an event with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at Whayne Supply, a Hazard, Kentucky, company that sells coal mining supplies. The stores owners have been forced to lay off about 60 percent of its workers in recent years.

While cheering the demise of the Clean Power Plan as a way to stop the bleeding, McConnell conceded most of those lost jobs are never coming back.

A lot of damage has been done, said McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. This doesnt immediately bring everything back, but we think it stops further decline of coal fired plants in the United States and that means there will still be some market here.

Obamas plan was designed to cut US carbon dioxide emissions to 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The rule dictated specific emission targets for states based on power-plant emissions and gave officials broad latitude to decide how to achieve reductions.

The Supreme Court put the plan on hold last year following legal challenges by industry and coal-friendly states. Even so, the plan helped drive a recent wave of retirements of coal-fired plants, which are also being squeezed by low cost natural gas and renewable power. In the absence of stricter federal regulations curbing greenhouse gas emissions, many states have issued their own mandates promoting energy conservation.

The withdrawal of the Clean Power Plan is the latest in a series of moves by Trump and Pruitt to dismantle Obamas legacy on fighting climate change, including the delay or roll back of rules limiting levels of toxic pollution in smokestack emissions and wastewater discharges from coal-burning power plants.

On Thursday, Trump nominated former coal-industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to serve as Pruitts top deputy at EPA  one of several recent political appointees at the agency with direct ties to the fossil fuel interests.

The president announced earlier this year that he will pull the United States out of the landmark Paris climate agreement. Nearly 200 countries have committed to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

This president has tremendous courage, Pruitt said Monday. He put America first and said to the rest of the world we are going to say no and exit the Paris Accord. That was the right thing to do.

Despite the rhetoric about saving coal, government statistics show that coal mines currently employ only about 52,000 workers nationally  a modest 1-percent uptick since Trump became president. Those numbers are dwarfed by the jobs created by building such clean power infrastructure as wind turbines and solar arrays.

Environmental groups and public health advocates quickly derided Pruitts decision as short sighted.

Trump is not just ignoring the deadly cost of pollution, hes ignoring the clean energy deployment that is rapidly creating jobs across the country, said Michael Brune, the executive director of the Sierra Club.
More than 40,000 people gathered on Sunday night to mark the beginning of Diwali festivities in Leicester, where the festival had humble origins in the 1950s but has now become mainstream and hailed as one of the east Midlands city's poster events.

Billed as one of the largest Diwali celebrations outside India, the event attracted people from different parts of Britain and from several religions and communities. The arterial Belgrave Road and its environs turn into an Indian district during the two-week festivities.

Sundays event was to switch on 6,000 lights along the road, sponsored by the Leicester City Council. It was followed by a prolonged fireworks display as people enjoyed some of the finest Indian cuisine in the UK to the accompaniment of Bollywood music and dance. Another major fireworks display is scheduled for October 19.

The event underscored the distance the city has travelled in the area of immigration and community integration. Immigration from the Indian subcontinent increased after independence in 1947, but reached a new high after Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda in 1972, when many arrived in Leicester.

That year, the same council that today celebrates Diwali took out a newspaper advertisement in Uganda to advise the thousands of Indians facing expulsion that said: In your own interests and those of your family you should...not come to Leicester.

A Leicester City Council spokesperson told Hindustan Times that attendance at this year's event was more than 40,000. Festivities included a range of workshops, music, drama, talks and live performances in a specially created Diwali Village near Belgrave Road, the hub of Asian business and culture where several Indian banks have branches.

The large gathering at the switch on ceremony was addressed by Leicester mayor Peter Soulsby, Leicester Hindu Festival Council president Maganbhai P Patel and deputy mayor Piara Singh-Clair.

A major fireworks display marked the Diwali lights switch on ceremony in Leicester on Sunday. (Courtesy: Leicester City Council)

Singh-Clair said: Even though we have been holding Diwali celebrations in Leicester for many years, there is still a huge sense of anticipation and excitement in the city as the nights draw in and the Festival of Light approaches.

I am pleased to welcome back the Diwali Village and the Wheel of Light which were so popular last year, and have spectacular aerial firework displays for both the switch-on ceremony and Diwali day (October 19).

Increasingly seen as a mainstream festival in the UK, major Diwali events are reported and planned in public places in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and other cities. This year, the iconic London Eye will be lit up on October 15 in an event called Light Up London  Diwali.

Sundays event at Leicester reminded many of the trepidation with which early Indian migrants celebrated Diwali in their homes. The scale of celebrations gradually came into the open since the early 1970s after Indians expelled from Uganda arrived.

The 1972 resettlement of Uganda Indians involved more than 27,000 people, who were given 90 days to leave the country by Idi Amin. They left, leaving behind all their possessions, with only 50 that they were allowed to take, and arrived at Stansted and other airports facing an uncertain future.

Today, that resettlement is seen as the most successful in Britains immigration history. After arriving at cold, windswept airports in August 1972, the disrupted lives of thousands were restored amid racism and other issues with hard work, persistence and determination over the decades. Most were educated and possessed skills.

The families  many of Gujarati origin  and their descendants revitalised local economies in places such as Leicester and integrated in British society so well that their achievements in public spheres are now seen as normal.

Leicester, now held up as an example of Britains policy of multiculturalism, is official twinned with the Gujarat city of Rajkot.

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The UN atomic agency chief on Monday affirmed Irans commitment to a 2015 nuclear deal, in a statement that came as US President Donald Trump said Tehran was not living up to the spirit of the agreement.

I can state that the nuclear-related commitments undertaken by Iran under the (nuclear agreement) are being implemented, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano said in prepared remarks during a conference in Rome.

An IAEA report released last month had also affirmed Irans compliance with the programme, which froze some of Tehrans nuclear activities.

Irans stock of low-enriched uranium -- used for peaceful purposes, but when further processed for a weapon -- did not exceed the agreed limit of 300 kilos, the report said.

It added that Iran has not pursued the construction of the Arak... reactor -- which could give it weapons-grade plutonium -- and has not enriched uranium above low purity levels.

The landmark deal was signed in July 2015 by Iran and five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States) plus Germany -- establishing controls to prevent Tehran from developing an atomic bomb.

The EUs diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said Irans compliance with the accord had been verified on at least eight separate occasions.

It is time to invest in international cooperation and open new channels and not destroy the ones we already have, she said by video conference.

It is certainly not the time to dismantle them.

Faced with the growing threat from North Korea, we cannot afford to open a new front, Mogherini added.

Trump is a fierce critic of the 2015 accord, which he has called the worst deal ever, and he is expected to announce that he is decertifying Irans compliance with it.

US officials insist this will not sink the deal itself but open the way for Congress to possibly develop new measures to punish other aspects of Irans behaviour.

Congress requires the president to certify Iranian compliance with the deal every 90 days. The next certification date is October 15.

Under the law, Congress would then have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions lifted by the deal.
Its a debate thats ignited every winter during the Chinese New Year, the biggest festival of the country  ban firecrackers or bear the pollution?

Bursting firecrackers during the Chinese New Year is as ubiquitous it is during Indias Diwali.

But gradually, if not easily, a winner in the debate is emerging in China: Sales of firecrackers are falling in cities, tighter restrictions on the sale and bursting of crackers are being put in place in most urban centres, and local governments are mulling more stringent laws.

According to the official Xinhua news agency, at least 444 cities, including 10 provincial capitals, have banned fireworks or restricted the time and place to set them off.

There is, however, no country-wide ban and major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai continue to allow fireworks but with stricter regulations.

For anti-fireworks campaigners, the good news is that sales arent lighting up as they used to.

In Beijing, for example, fireworks sales during Chinese New Year have dropped by around 30% year-on-year, and by nearly 74% compared with the figures 12 years ago, a local official told state media.

State media earlier reported that local authorities have limited the sales of crackers in Beijing, approving 511 fireworks stalls in 2017, compared to 719 in 2016. State-run China Daily newspaper said no fireworks stall was approved in central Beijing.

Beijing authorities are now planning to ban firecrackers within the fifth ring road of the city during the next Chinese New Year, which will be celebrated in early 2018. If the ban is implemented, vast areas of Beijing will be free of firecrackers for the first time in recent years.

The proposed fireworks ban has split online opinion. Many support the idea, with some even suggesting a national ban, while opponents criticised it for killing off cultural traditions and questioned its effect on addressing the obstinate winter haze in Beijing, Xinhua reported.

People make sure that all firecrackers have exploded during celebrations for the start of the Chinese New Year just before midnight in Beijing in February 2016. (Reuters)

Sometimes, public opinion cant be ignored.

Last year, central Henan province had to lift a ban on bursting fireworks across the region after people said the measure went against Chinese traditions.

Officials with Henan Provincial Environmental Protection Department said the government moved to lift the ban as it was decided that it would conflict with Chinese traditions, a Xinhua report said.

People watch fireworks to celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year in front of a restaurant in Beijing on January 31, 2014. (Reuters)

But Shanghai, for example, has already put in place stringent restrictions. In 2016, Shanghai banned all fireworks in inner-city areas surrounding the outer ring road for the first time.

The way forward would be new green firecrackers that are less polluting, say experts like Rao Hui, chief environmental engineer in Nanchang city of Jiangxi province..

If the public uses green firecrackers that cause very little pollution and have less explosive force, the matter will soon be settled, Rao told state media.

Till then the debate will continue.
A panel created to review and update the entire gamut of India-Nepal relations has agreed to recommend to both governments the need to regulate the open border between the two countries.

A meeting in Kathmandu of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India Relations, which was formed in 2016, decided to recommend that both sides should regulate the border to control illegal and criminal activities without causing any difficulties for the public.

The EPG is mandated to suggest a new course for India-Nepal ties to both governments which takes into account the changed regional and global context.

The boundary, which runs along three sides of Nepal, is 1,850 km long and open. Travellers from both sides do not need visas.

Bhagat Singh Kosiyari, Jayanta Prasad, Mahendra P Lama and B C Uprety are the Indian members of the EPG while Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, Surya Prasad Updhayay, Nilamber Acharya and Rajan Bhattarai are the members from Nepal. The panel is mandated to submit its report to both governments.

The panel will suggest a way out on several issues pertaining to bilateral ties, including existing treaties, the open border, security, socio-cultural relations, trade, commerce and transit.

During the fifth meeting of the EPG that concluded on Sunday, Uprety from the Indian side made a detailed presentation on the open border, its advantages and demerits and how both sides can regulate it.

Both sides have agreed not to close the border but to instead issue some kind of identity card so that it would be easy to cross the border, Thapa, the coordinator of the panel from the Nepalese side, told a news conference here.

The solution is not to close down the open border but to regulate it to make it more secure. The Indian side has already set up many border check posts to regulate the border, so it should be carried out on the Nepalese side of the border too.

Issues such as ensuring border security, resolving border disputes, and border management should be handled on the basis of international norms and practices, Thapa said.

Experts have pointed out that some travellers face discrimination. Those who travel by air need a valid passport or some other identity card issued by the government but no such provision is applicable to those who cross by land routes.

Consultations were going on about making it mandatory for those travelling by land routes to carry an identity card, Thapa said.

The Nepalese side is also pushing for a review and amendment of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950, which is considered the bedrock of India-Nepal ties. The panel reportedly agreed to recommend to both governments the scrapping of the treaty.
Former premier Nawaz Sharifs son-in-law Muhammad Safdar was arrested by Pakistans anti-corruption watchdog on his return to the country from the UK though he was granted bail along with his wife on Monday.

Safdar, a former army captain and the husband of Maryam Nawaz, widely seen as Sharifs political heir, was taken into custody by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) when he landed at the international airport in Rawalpindi early on Monday. Maryam was with him but she was not arrested.

Maryam and Safdar had been in London to care for her mother Kulsoom Nawaz, who is being treated for throat cancer. A NAB court had issued a non-bailable warrant for Safdar as he had failed to appear before the judge for several hearings of a case registered against members of the Sharif family.

The NAB was ordered to take action against the Sharif family, including the ousted premiers sons Hassan and Hussain, by the Supreme Court when it disqualified Sharif on July 28. Sharif and his children have dismissed the graft charges levelled against them.

Later in the day, Safdar and Maryam were granted bail by the NAB court in the Panama Papers case after they appeared separately before judge Muhammad Bashir in Islamabad. Safdar told the media he and his wife had returned to Pakistan on the advice of their lawyers.

Sharif and his sons were absent during the hearing as they are still in London to attend to Kulsoom. Sharif attended the two previous hearings but flew to London last week.

The court set the next hearing for October 13, according to court officials.

Sharifs lawyer Khawaja Haris asked the judge to exempt the PML-N party chief from all hearings. However, the judge rejected the request and said he would indict the accused even in their absence at the next hearing.

The judge also started the process for declaring Sharifs sons proclaimed offenders or fugitives as they have failed to appear before him so far. The court also decided to separate the trial of Hussain and Hassan from that of Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

Maryam, 43, appeared in the court for the first time and both she and her husband were ordered to submit surety bonds of Rs 5 million each.

The judge barred Safdar from leaving Pakistan without its permission but rejected the NABs request to confiscate his passport.

Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken into custody even though he had come back to face the case.Those who want to appear of their free will are arrested from the airport, but we are not afraid of it, she said.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said the absconders are free and hold public meetings.

She described the charges against the Sharif family as false allegations with no answers. She criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.

Sharif was re-elected the president of the ruling PML-N on October 3 and has demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the peoples mandate and democracy.
A hamburger is not the sort of thing you would expect to spark an international disagreement.

But the apparent creation of a special birthday burger for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has dragged a New York restaurant into an argument over what critics say is fake news from the Kremlin.

Russian state media reported over the weekend that Lucys Cantina Royale had produced a special spicy burger in honour of Putins 65th birthday on Saturday.

It was a shining example of how Putin is adored across the world, said Channel One, the Kremlins flagship television channel. Its not only foreign leaders that are wishing Russias president a happy birthday, but ordinary citizens too, and, what is more, in extremely original ways, a presenter gushed.

A waitress at Lucys, a Mexican restaurant near Penn Station in New York, told Russian state media that the five-patty burger, served with chips, sauce and salad, weighed exactly 1,952 grams, a reference to the year Putin was born in Leningrad.

We believe that Vladimir Vladimirovich is an outstanding politician and a historical figure, said a barmaid, identified as both Tamara and Tatiana by various Russian media outlets. The video was produced by Ruptly, a company owned by RT, the Kremlin-backed television channel. We decided to devote one day a year to [Putin], said another barmaid, identified by state media as Darya.

Tass, a state-run news agency, cited a manager at Lucys named Ted Bryant as saying Putin was the only world leader whose birthday the restaurant celebrated with a special burger. But there was a problem: the story was fake.

When Alexey Kovalev, a Russian journalist whose website exposes Kremlin propaganda, called the restaurant, a Lucys barman told him: This has nothing to do with us.

A pro-Kremlin Twitter user then posted a recording of a telephone call to Lucys, in which a barmaid confirmed the Putin burger promotion. When Kovalev called back, the same woman said the burger had been on sale in the morning and the man who had told him the Russian state media story was untrue was a trainee. She then hung up.

However, there was no mention of the purported Putin burger promotion on the restaurants website, and no sign of it on photographs posted to Lucys Instagram on 7 October, the Russian presidents birthday.

Our restaurant has never celebrated Vladimir Putins birthday in any way, shape or form and has never offered a Putin burger, Sean Ryan, a spokesman for Lucys Cantina Royale, told the Guardian in emailed comments. Lucys completely disavows the statements made in the video, which are false.

As for the barmaid featured in the state media report  apparently the same woman to whom Kovalev spoke  Ryan said: She in fact does work for us and she lied about filming a project for school.

Ryan said he was speaking to the restaurants attorneys about the incident.

Critics say the incident is a perfect example of how Kremlin-sponsored fake news operates. This whole ridiculous story betrays the deep insecurity of both Putin, his loyal media and supporters, said Kovalev, who runs the website The Noodle Remover.

They crave western attention and recognition so much that theyre prepared to resort to outright fakery to show that ordinary people in the west are in awe of the great Vladimir Vladimirovich. Its just sad, really.

Anna Belkina, RTs head of communications, said: We have no reason to doubt the authenticity of this story. She cited the Tass quote from the Lucy bar manager Ted Bryant as proof the story was true.

We do not and never have had a manager by that name, said Ryan, the restaurants spokesman, confirming that Lucys Cantina Royale was the subject of a hoax involving Vladimir Putins birthday.

Ruptly did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday. On Monday it released a statement saying it had removed the report from its website because upon further review, it did not meet Ruptlys editorial standards.
US President Donald Trump got into a testy Twitter exchange with Republican senator and foreign relations committee chief Bob Corker on Sunday, a move that could potentially imperil key policies aims.

Trump started the fight by claiming in a string of tweets that Corker had begged him for his endorsement for his re-election, and dropped out of the race when he declined. He also claimed the senator had asked to be his secretary of state and that he told him. NO THANKS (in capital letters).

Corker hit back, tweeting: Its a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning. That was a reference to White House aides tying to contain Trump from going rogue on Twitter.

The Tennessee senator went on to tell The New York Times that Trump was treating his office like a reality show and his actions could push the nation on the path to World War 3.

He concerns me. He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation, he added.

File photo of senator Bob Corker. (Reuters)

Corker was one of Trumps early supporters, coming to his side when few in the Republican Party were willing to be seen with the New York billionaire. At one point, he was also considered to be in the race for the vice presidents or secretary of states post.

Later, as chairman of the senate foreign relations committee, he developed a close relationship with secretary of state Rex Tillerson, and said he was one of three official who separate our country from chaos.

This is not the first time Trump has had a public spat with lawmakers from his own party  there is a long line of them, including Mitch McConnell, Jeff Flake and House Speaker Paul Ryan. This one with Corker is unlikely to be his last.
The Turkish Army has launched a reconnaissance mission in Syrias largely jihadist-controlled northwestern Idlib province in a bid to create a de-escalation zone, the military said on Monday.

The Turkish armed forces began reconnaissance activities on October 8 (Sunday) to establish surveillance posts as part of the operation to be carried out in Idlib province, the armed forces said in a statement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday the start of the new military operation inside Syria by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels backed by the Turkish army.

The statement was the first confirmation by the Turkish army of involvement inside Syria in the latest operation.

The operation is part of efforts by Turkey, along with Russia and Iran, to set up the zone in line with accords in Astana peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian civil war.

They agreed on four such ceasefire zones in Syria as a prelude to negotiations.

Three zones are already in place -- in Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, in central Homs, and in parts of southern Syria -- and are being monitored by Russian military police.

Idlib is largely controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group led by Al-Qaedas former Syria affiliate, which ousted more moderate rebels in recent months.

The pro-Turkish forces will need to oust HTS members in the area to allow Iranian, Russian and Turkish forces to implement the zone.

The last time Turkish forces were engaged in Syria was in August, when Turkey launched its eight-months long Euphrates Shield operation against jihadists and Kurdish militia in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo.

Even if we turn our backs on developments in Syria, can we escape from the results of the crisis? Erdogan said on Sunday, explaining the reason for Turkeys latest intervention.

This is why when we dont go to Syria, Syria comes to us, he added.

Although Moscow supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Turkey supports rebels seeking his ouster, the two countries have worked together intensively to try to end the conflict in the past few months.

Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have met several times since a 2016 reconciliation ended a crisis caused by the shooting down of a Russian war plane over Syria.

The conflict in Syria began with widespread protests against the government but has since evolved into a multi-front war that has killed more than 330,000 people.
In an escalating diplomatic row, the United States and Turkey have scaled back visa services in almost identical announcements issued just hours apart citing the need to review security concerns.

Recent events have forced the United States government to reassess the commitment of government of Turkey to the security of US mission and personnel, the US mission in Ankara said in a statement.

In order to minimize the number of visitors to our embassy and consulates while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all US diplomatic facilities in Turkey.

The Turkish government followed up with an announcement of their own in Washington DC, mirroring the American statement: Recent events have forced Turkish government to reassess the commitment of the government of the United States to the security of Turkish Mission facilities and personnel.

The spat between the two Nato allies escalated after the arrest of an American consulate employee in Istanbul last week by Turkish authorities who have since charged him with alleged links to a Pennsylvania-based Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara blames for the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016. Gulen has denied any involvement.

The Turkish government has also been holding a dozen Americans in custody, alleging they participated in the coup. They include Andrew Brunson, an American pastor. The New York Times reported last week that Erdogan has offered to release the pastor in exchange for Gulen.

They say, Give us this certain pastor, he was quoted as saying, recounting an exchange with American officials. You have another pastor in your hands; give him to us.

Turkey has ignored personal appeals for their release from President Donald Trump, who received Erdogan during a visit marred by violence started by his security personnel, and Vice President Mike Pence and a letter signed by members of congress.

In a travel advisory issued in September, the US state department said that in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt, Turkish authorities have detained US citizens without granting access to lawyers or family members Delays or denial of consular access to US citizens detained or arrested by security forces have become more common, and US mission Turkey does not have consular access to arrested US citizens who also possess Turkish citizenship.

US-Turkey relations have also been tense over Americas support for YPG, the Kurdish group in Syria viewed by Ankara to be an extension of the banned PKK, which has been fighting for equal rights and autonomy for Kurds within Turkey.
R ents in London are at their lowest autumn level in four years according to a new report.

Autumn is usually one of the busiest times of year in the rental market with an annual surge in tenants looking for a home around the start of the university year and the end of summer.

However, the Rightmove rental trends research for July to September 2017 found the average asking rent for a two-bedroom home in London dropped 3.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2016, to 1,985 per month.

This is the lowest level for asking rents at this time of year since 2013.

The report also found that properties were taking longer to let, with rental homes standing empty for five per cent longer than a year ago.

GROWTH AREAS

There were some areas within London where rents rose year-on-year. Rents rose 10.1 per cent in Battersea, to 2,204; in Elephant and Castle they were up 6.6 per cent, to 1,841. Both areas are the focus of massive regeneration and significant levels of new home building.

New build stock on the rental market has definitely contributed to the strong rise in rents in Battersea and Elephant and Castle, as new builds always command a premium, said Mr Mitchell.

However, rents in older properties are also going up, perhaps benefitting from the new builds surrounding them, which has lifted the overall market rate.

Top five highest rental growth areas in London

Area Average asking rent Q3 2017 Annual change Battersea 2,204 10.1% Elephant and Castle 1,841 6.6% Mill Hill 1,503 5.9% Barnes 2,073 3.7% Harold Wood 1,165 3.6%

Source: Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker, October 2017

THE NATIONAL PICTURE

National asking rents outside London also fell in the third quarter of the year, with a drop of 0.2 per cent  the first recorded drop at this time of year.

Rightmove said the national price drop was driven by falling prices in the South East, as a result of the changes to stamp duty on buy-to-let properties introduced last April. This led to a surge in sales to investors hoping to beat the surcharge deadline, increasing the number of rental homes available in the months that followed.

Since last Aprils second home stamp duty changes came in the supply of new rental properties in the South East has been steadily increasing, up 5.5 per cent on this time last year, said Rightmoves head of lettings, Sam Mitchell.

Agents are reporting that some investors looking for better yields are shifting their focus from London to instead buy in the surrounding counties of Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. The increase in stock in the South East has led to softening in rents in some areas where there is less competition among tenants, but they are holding up in key commuter areas where tenant demand is strong.

Rightmove found that in London, the number of rental properties increased by 26 per cent as a result of the stamp duty changes, leading to the current fall in rents.

Mr Mitchell said that as investors were replaced by first-time buyers in London, rental supply in the capital is likely to constrict, pushing rents up.
The Irish remake of UK gameshow Blind Date began on TV3 last night, with comedian Al Porter taking up Cilla Black's mantle.

Following the success of Take Me Out, it seems Blind Date has hit all the right note with its viewers, given that the most consistent description of Twitter has been "cringey".

Here are some of the best online reactions to the show's Irish debut:

In Tallaght with @TheAlPorter ready to watch #BlindDateIRL @TV3 Is he nervous? Nope - he's only up singing Sweet Caroline ?? pic.twitter.com/Ioh5exN1OE  Pamela Blake (@PamelaABlake) October 8, 2017

anything to be said for bringing back Paisean Faisean? #BlindDateIRL  Brian Casey (@bocathasaigh) October 8, 2017

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Lets have more of @TheAlPorter presenting anything before he is stolen for foreign soil! #BlindDateIRL  Aoibheann McCaul (@AoibheannMcCaul) October 8, 2017

We are only five minutes in #BlindDateIRL pic.twitter.com/IVtupzK5dR  Davey T (@Davydoesdublin) October 8, 2017

Can you actually die from cringing? #BlindDateIRL  Jamie Hogan (@FCTwenteBenson) October 8, 2017
The Roxy Music leader is bringing a big bag of greatest hits with him!

That most seasoned of musicians, Bryan Ferry, has confirmed intimate Irish shows in the Dublin Olympia (April 21) and Waterfront, Belfast (23). Tickets priced from 71.50 and 45 respectively go on sale at 10am on Friday October 13 and will doubtless be snapped up in double quick time.

The seller of over thirty million albums, Ferry, who was awarded an OBE in 2011 for his contribution to the British music industry, will be dipping into a back catalogue that stretches all the way back to the early 70s with Roxy Music classics like Love Is The Drug, Both Ends Burning, Virginia Plain, Ladytron, Oh Yeah and Avalon in abundance.
Speaking with Hot Press in the upcoming issue, Ibrahim Halawa's eldest sister Somaia discusses the process of bringing her brother home.

After four years spent in pre-trial detention, on September 18th Ibrahim Halawa was acquitted of the charges brought against him for his participation in a series of anti-military protests in Cairo, Egypt in August of 2013.

Commenting on the process of bringing him home, Somaia has said the initial delay seems to have come because "there is wrong information in his papers." "The papers had to go back to the courts from the general prosecutor. They say that they are correcting it."

However, she adds, as of October 6th, "we don't know where the delay is coming from."

"The courts told us to go to the general prosecutor office and they said to go to the courts. Its frustrating and ridiculous. In Ireland, if youre proven innocent, you just walk away and thats that. The moment we heard Ibrahim was proven innocent, my older sister Nosabaya went over straight away. She left her four kids with us, and none of us thought it would take long, maybe two or three days. The wait is starting to drain him

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Halawa's former cellmate and journalist, Peter Greste has taken to Twitter to comment on the delay by saying, "Outraged!... If Egypt respects the rule of law, he will be freed now!"
One former senior government minister is up in arms after the Hollywood star described Limerick as "Stab City".

Johnny Depp has written the foreword to a new book about Gerry Conlon, one of the Gilford Four who spent 15 years in a British prison after he was wrongly accused of being involved in an IRA bombing. His story was made into the Oscar winning movie 'In The Name Of The Father'.

But in the foreword, Depp recalls going on a sojourn across Ireland with Gerry. "Our brief pitstop in Limerick proved to be one of the most chaotic nights that I can ever remember. Suffice to say, we conquered Stab City," he writes.

But local Fianna Fail TD Willie O'Dea has slammed Depp for libelling Limerick with his scurrilous remark.

"He's basing this on a visit back in 1991," he told the Irish Independent. "Not only was Stab City the wrong designation in 1991 but in 2017 it is so out-of-date it is laughable. It's a libel on a city.

"It was always a grossly unfair and grossly overstated description of Limerick. We have worked very hard and come an awful long way and I think it's very unfortunate that someone would choose to resurrect this insult."

He is now calling on Johnny Depp to revisit Limerick. "I would extend an invitation to this gentleman to meet me on any weekend in Limerick and I'll take him around and show him what Limerick has become," O'Dea says.

"I'm available any weekend at all and he'd be more than welcome. I'd take him to the industrial parks where there's huge inward investment and I'll take him to all the cultural spots and we can finish off by going for a drink in some of the up-market bars along the river.

"That comment bares no relation to the Limerick of today. Limerick now doesn't really have a crime problem, the gardai have done wonderful work here and it is a very cultural city.

"I'd love to see Johnny Depp return to the city and we would show him the real Limerick."
The American superstar is over next April.

While Ryan Lewis sits this one out, Macklemore is returning to Dublins 3Arena on April 4. Tickets priced from 44.05 go on sale on Friday October 13.

Despite only being half the act he used to be, the Americans GEMINI solo album stormed in to the Irish Top 10 with Kesha, Offset, Eric Nally, rising neo-soul star Dan Caplen and Macklemores 100-year-old granny among the guest turns.

"I always try to get a different pallet of sounds and textures and vibes, he says of the opus. This album, I was in a good place, man. For the most part, if I'm in a happy place and life is good, that's going to be reflected in the music."
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The flood maps that help determine where homes are built in Texas, how much insurance costs and which areas would benefit from flood control projects are based on rainfall data that hasn't been updated for as long as a half-century, meaning that development has expanded here for decades without a complete understanding of the flood risks.

Those risks have come into sharp focus following the record-setting rainfall of Hurricane Harvey, which inundated areas never touched by floodwaters before, and growing expectations among climate scientists that powerful storms will not only happen more frequently, but also pack more rain as global and ocean temperatures rise. Of the 39 Texas counties that experienced flooding during Hurricane Harvey, fewer than 10, including Harris County, have flood maps based on precipitation data from this century.

And even that data, from 2001, is more than 15 years old and doesn't capture severe storms that included Hurricane Ike in 2008, the Memorial Day floods in 2015 and the Tax Day floods of 2016.

"It's important that we do the research into how much rainfall could we get, how the watersheds are going to respond to that rainfall event, how deep, who will it impact," said Jerry Cotter, chief of water resources at for Army Corps of Engineers. "We've got to do the preparedness work."

Rainfall data is one of the key components used in generating flood maps, a complex, multi-agency process that considers topography, past flooding, development and other factors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency drafts preliminary maps, which are reviewed by local governments, subjected to public comment and often disputed in contentious proceedings that can drag on for years before the final maps are adopted.

The stakes are high. Where the maps designate flood prone areas can determine the pattern of development, the value of homes, the locations of roads and highways and the designs of levees that hold back swollen rivers. In Fort Bend County, where hundreds of residents were evacuated during Hurricane Harvey over concerns that the rising Brazos River would breach levees, flood maps are still based on rainfall data from 1961.

Texas is just one of six states that has yet to update rainfall data under a program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which encompasses the National Weather Service. NOAA, which launched the program in 2004, requires state and local governments to pay the costs of data collection and analysis, which identifies weather patterns and determines the probabilities of heavy rains and catastrophic storms that cause flooding.

It would cost Texas about $1.5 million to build the comprehensive, up-to-date database of rainfall statistics and probabilities. So, far about $1.4 million has been raised to fund the program, including $400,000 from the Army Corps of Engineers, which launched the effort to fund the project four years ago, and $200,000 from the Harris County Flood Control District.

How old is your county's rainfall data? Most counties that experienced flooding during Hurricane Harvey have flood maps based on rainfall data from 1961. A handful of counties use rainfall data that was updated in 2001. Counties that use data from 1961 Fort Bend County

DeWitt County

Hardin County

Jackson County

Jasper County

Jefferson County

Lavaca County

Matagorda County (some data up to 1977)

Orange County

Victoria County

Walker County

Washington County

Wharton County Counties that use data from 2001 Harris County

Brazoria County

Chambers County

Galveston County

Liberty County

Montgomery County

Waller County See More Collapse

RELATED: Harvey -- and storms to come -- raise worries about dam safety

NOAA is expected to release preliminary rainfall data for Texas later this fall. There is no question the updated data would change Texas' and Houston's understanding of flooding, scientists and local officials say. It's just a question of by how much and where.

New data, for instance, might shrink floodplains in some areas, but expand them in others, placing residents into zones with higher flood risks that trigger federal requirements to buy flood insurance.

"It's one of the more consequential aspects of reanalyzing the data," said John Nielsen-Gammon, the state's climatologist, "because it can mean a sudden decline in property values for people who had no risk of flooding before."

Nielsen-Gammon recently warned that the state should expect the frequency of extreme rains to increase in coming years as a result of climate change, a trend that could test the safety of many Texas dams. Nearly all scientists agree that the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere  much of it from burning fossil fuels  is raising global temperatures and warming the oceans, causing more water to evaporate and creating a buildup of moisture.

Hurricane Harvey, for example, carried as much as 7 percent more rain that it would have a century ago, Nielsen-Gammon estimated.

RELATED: Unstoppable Brazos River

Scientists, however, disagree on whether so-called outlier events, whether record-shattering rains or extended droughts, should play into the analysis of precipitation records. Regardless, rainfall data should be refreshed for every 10 to 20 years, but often goes decades without an update, said Cotter of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Even in the Texas counties that updated rainfall data in 2001 -- including Harris, Galveston, Brazoria and Liberty  flood maps were drawn and development proceeded through the 1980s, 1990s and into the new century based on rainfall data primarily from the 1960s.

It took Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 to push Harris and the other 9 counties to update rainfall data. Allison dumped as much as 30 inches of rain over five days, flooded 73,000 homes and caused $5 billion in damage.

Harvey, which flooded more than 100,000 homes and caused, by some estimates, more than $100 billion in damage, could have the same result. But once the state gets the new rainfall data, updated flood maps could still be years away as they go through the lengthy approval process and face pressure from developers and residents who want to keep the costs of building and living in the floodplain low.

RELATED: Harvey abruptly changes economic fortunes

In addition, there is no requirement that local governments use the updated data to redraw flood maps, which in turn could affect property values and future development. Ataul Hannan, director of planning for the Harris County Flood Control District, said the district will weigh the impact of the updated rainfall data against these factors as it considers whether to update flood maps.

He noted that the five years of drought that followed Hurricane Allison could have the effect of shrinking floodplains. On the other hand, he said, the extreme storms of the past three years might expand them and put some Harris County residents into a floodplain, requiring them to buy flood insurance.

"We have to make a call, should we do the change now, or should we wait?" Hannan said. "How do you think every five years I'm going to change the map and tell people, 'Hey, because of my new information you are now in the flood plain?'"
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Salad bars are magnets for bacteria and viruses. Even if the sprouts and ranch dressing aren't tainted, the serving utensils could be.

The Silicon Valley startup Chowbotics has devised what it says is a partial solution. Its device, which it calls Sally the Salad Robot, is aimed at reducing the risk of food-borne illness by assembling salads out of precut vegetables stored in refrigerated canisters.

Diners use a touch screen to place their orders, choosing from a menu of recipes or designing their own salads. The machine calculates the number of calories per salad and drops the veggies into a bowl in less than a minute. There is less human contact with the food.

But as a growing number of food- and drink-slinging robots have begun interacting with diners in the San Francisco Bay area, Deepak Sekar, the device's inventor and the founder and chief executive of Chowbotics, has faced questions about whether his machine will put people out of work. He denies that will happen.

Employment fears

Sekar insists that his company's focus - which is on the salad bar market instead of restaurants more broadly - means Sally won't be a job killer.

He says workers at salad bars could restock the robot, which holds enough ingredients for 50 salads before it needs to be refilled. And, he says, restaurants can continue with their usual food preparation methods - relying on kitchen workers to do the chopping or buying precut vegetables.

In offices, the gadget could be a source of new jobs, Sekar says.

"You're going to get fresh food in, and you're actually creating jobs for people who refill the canisters in these offices," he said.

Nonetheless, robot-induced unemployment is a mounting concern. Bill Gates recently made a case for taxing companies that own robots, which could delay their implementation and provide some money to retrain people whose jobs are lost. The San Francisco board of supervisors is considering a so-called robot tax.

"We could be looking at over 50 percent of jobs disappearing in the United States over the next 10 to 15 years," said Jane Kim, a San Francisco supervisor.

"And it's not jobs going abroad, or offshoring of jobs. It's robots."

There is evidence that automation can have a devastating effect on employment. Commercial robots have already begun to eliminate jobs, according to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Boston University study published in March. Researchers analyzed the effects of industrial robots on local labor markets in the United States from 1990 to 2007, and estimated that adding one robot per 1,000 workers has led to unemployment for up to six workers and has caused a decrease in wages by up to 0.50 percent.

Some unions are discussing their own strategies for contending with a robot-clogged future.

"It's something our union and many unions are still studying," said Ian Lewis, research director for Unite Here Local 2, a union that represents hotel, food service, restaurant and laundry workers in San Francisco and San Mateo, California. "We're absolutely concerned and trying to grapple with it."

Money saver?

Sekar said his robot has the potential to save money for small businesses that install it in office kitchens alongside appliances such as coffee machines.

Walking a couple of minutes within a building to a salad-tossing robot instead of venturing outside for lunch would mean shorter work breaks and increased productivity, he said. He calls Sally "the smallest and most affordable cafeteria an office can have."

The robot is being tested in the office of the Redwood City, Calif., technology incubator GSVlabs and at Calafia Cafe and Market A Go-Go, a restaurant in Palo Alto, Calif., with an attached market owned by Charlie Ayers, who is the Chowbotics executive chef.

This fall, Chowbotics will begin fulfilling orders for 10 robots, priced at $30,000 each, Sekar said. He envisions his robots producing healthy meals in convenience stores, airports, hotels, hospitals and universities.

"You're seeing the momentum of Silicon Valley behind it," Sekar said. So far, Chowbotics has raised $6.3 million in venture funding from various investors.

If Chowbotics succeeds with salads, Sekar hopes to expand to other cuisines and admits that human workers could then be displaced.

"We're going to go after other types of food," he said. "It's hard to tell what will happen in the future and how this all might impact jobs."
October is Texas Wine Month, which means I'm checking in with Russ Kane, whose passion for and knowledge of Texas wines is unsurpassed. The author of "The Wineslinger Chronicles: Texas on the Vine" (Texas Tech University Press) and a corrosion engineer in his previous life, he was ahead of his time in making the effort to understand Texas viticulture - which is far more complicated than many realize.

The short version is that, when the right grapes are grown in exactly the right places and tended to by skilled vignerons, world-class wines result. The problem, historically, has been that these bottles tend to be too expensive for the casual consumer and therefore get overlooked.

But we're figuring out the financials, as Kane's four Texas AVA (American Viticultural Area) picks here prove. None exceeds $25.

"The Texas wine industry," Kane says, "is starting to hit its stride with a string of successful vintages with increased production and recognition for its wines outside the state, minimal spring freezes and significantly enlarged vineyard plantings of vines with Mediterranean pedigrees."

2016 McPherson Cellars Dry Chenin Blanc, Old Vines

"Chenin blanc, the often underappreciated grape used in fine French Vouvray, has done well in Texas since its introduction in the 1980s. Now an official naturalized Texan, it's adaptive to our yin-yang battle with freeze, hail and heat to be a consistent producer. While many chenins are off-dry or sweet, some of the best are like this one - dry, crisp and mineral-driven, made from older vines that naturally limit production and concentrate grape essence. Made by Lubbock's Kim McPherson from fruit grown on 38-year-old Texas High Plains vines, it has no oak aging and offers apple and green melon flavors and white floral aromas followed by tropical undertones on the palate with a crisp minerally finish."

Pairings: Gulf Coast seafood and lighter fowl or pasta dishes

Price: $13.50 at Spec's and Total Wine

2016 Fall Creek Vineyards, Creekside Vintner's Selection Dry Rose

"While sipping this dry, sunset-pink wine, think of calcareous vineyard soils around outcrops of slab limestone, not in Provence or the southern Rhone valley, but right here in the Texas Hill Country. The wine is made under the supervision of accomplished International winemaker Sergio Cuadra from a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, tempranillo and syrah, all from vineyards close to Fall Creek's winery in Tow. This wine offers notes of citrus and peach on the nose followed by strawberry and watermelon on the palate with a light, bright spicy note on the finish."

Pairings: Burgers, sausages or, in a more formal setting, roast chicken or pork

Price: $18.94 at Spec's

2015 Llano Estacado Winery, Cellar Reserve, Tempranillo

"Many claim Tempranillo to be the national grape of Texas, and it is comfortably at home here under conditions similar to its native territories in Spain. This crianza-style wine is a blend dominated by Texas-grown tempranillo (91 percent), broadened on the palate from its association with a touch of Petite Sirah (5 percent) and Malbec (4 percent). The grapes were sourced from the Newsom, Reddy and Linker Vineyards in the Texas High Plains AVA, right around the corner from this Lubbock-based winery. The wine spent 10 months in barrel gaining softness and toasty nuances from new French and American oak. This wine stands out with its offerings of red fruit and mocha on the nose followed by even richer black cherry and dark roast coffee on the palate with plentiful tannins exceptionally expressed during its long finish."

Pairings: Spanish-style tapas with hard aged cheeses and chorizo, or simply salt-and-pepper grilled beef, lamb or game

Price: $16.73 at Spec's

2015 Pedernales Cellars GSM Melange

"This wine gives a hint of more things to come for Texas wines, featuring grapes from Mediterranean climes and multi-varietal blending in the finest traditions of European winemaking. Pedernales Cellars' eighth vintage of Rhone-style GSM is a blend of Texas-grown mourvedre (58 percent), syrah (36 percent) and grenache (6 percent). After receiving 14 months in a mix of French and American oak, this wine offers medium-plus body bringing together a black-red fruit melange to the senses with readily perceptible earthiness through the mid-palate and finish. The Stonewall winery sourced grapes from Stout Vineyards near Blanco and the Bingham and Reddy Vineyards of the High Plains."

Pairings: Well-aged beef and seasoned roasts that are heavy on the garlic, rosemary, thyme and lavender

Price: $24.52 at Spec's
"Do you think we can get pho?" my daughter asked.

Lucky to escape Harvey unscathed, we were venturing out for the first time since the deluge hit Texas. There in our favorite noodle shop, it was possible to imagine a Houston untouched by disaster.

But even before Hurricane Harvey, that would have been an illusion. Disaster is what brought thousands of Houstonians here in the first place. This is a city of survivors.

Houston is by now well-known as the country's most diverse city. But it is more than an immigrant hub; it's America's No. 1 magnet for refugees.

And for anyone rocked by Harvey's life-upending losses, those refugees and their experiences can be a monumental resource. Many are facing the flood's ravages alongside their neighbors, but they are distinct because every refugee lost everything once before.

And then they rebuilt.

After 20 years reporting and living in my adopted city, I've come to feel awe at its once-displaced population. Since the 1970s, more than 70,000 refugees from 78 countries have settled in Houston, all fleeing versions of the chaos unleashed by Harvey. Most lost status, work and community, along with the possessions, snapshots and love letters that tell our life stories.

They might not fit the profile you expect. In recent years, they've been arriving from Bhutan, Burma, Iraq, Afghanistan and Cuba.

During the 1980s, they poured into the city to escape death squads and guerrilla war in El Salvador and Guatemala. And in the 1970s, Houston became home to tens of thousands of Vietnamese.

What, I wondered over my Vietnamese coffee, might they tell their fellow Houstonians right now? Mechelle Tran, the pho restaurant's 37-year-old owner, had an answer. "I came here when I was 5. I have trauma amnesia, but I grew up hearing the stories," she said.

After weeks at sea, the family landed in refugee camps in Malaysia and the Philippines.

"There were a lot of parallels to Houston right now," Tran said. "A bottle of fish sauce was like liquid gold, because all you had were processed packaged foods. Nothing real."

Living in chronic uncertainty, her parents had zero control of their future for years until a church linked them to a host family in Houston.

Damaging as it was, the displacement changed her for the better, Tran believes. For one thing, because Houston's community helped them start over, she and her peers are almost fanatical about community service. When her restaurant had no more food to give, Tran orchestrated a T-shirt drive for drenched Houston Police Department officers.

Seeing her parents' struggle to protect her also forged an iron resolve to honor their efforts.

"You had no choice, no options, no falling back," Tran said. "It's grit. The kids whose parents have lost everything in the flood will see their parents rebuilding. They will have that little bit in them that says, 'I saw Mom and Dad do this.'"

Flood survivors might also find surprising strength in seeing themselves as one striving community. Benito Juarez, who oversees immigrant affairs for the city, told me that the Latino, South Asian, African and other refugees who settled here make it a point to band together.

"A sense of solidarity is built into their situation," Juarez said.

For Harvey's survivors, that could translate to those recovering fastest sharing services and emotional help with the hardest hit.

Taking action, especially on behalf of someone else, is a lifeline, Yani Keo, a Cambodian refugee leader, believes. Keo lost more than 60 family members to the genocidal rule of Pol Pot.

Pitching in for others, Keo said, gives an uprooted life meaning again. Research backs this up. Post-traumatic growth suggests trauma builds strength. It's not always the case, but taking action, and seeing a model of someone else's resilience, make positive change more likely.

As I sipped the last of my Vietnamese coffee, Tran added one more thing. No one chooses to be wrenched from home, she said. But flood survivors overwhelmed by their future might have more power than they realize.

"The minute your foot touched that boat or canoe, you made a decision," Tran said. "You made the decision to fight."
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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter banked left, and Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan stared at this island's mountainous landscape, his chin resting on one hand.

He said little - inaudible under the roar of rotors - but even after seeing the devastation for six days, it still amazed him, he acknowledged later.

Rural roads now were visibly clear of mudslides and debris two weeks after Hurricane Maria chewed up the island, a major hurdle overcome for military and civilian disaster response teams.

That afternoon, Buchanan huddled with his staff on more pressing problems, listening to a situation report that had a grim streak to balance the progress made.

Fixing the island's shattered power grid, they agreed, would take months. The more urgent question was how fast they could shore up a dam in danger of collapsing northwest of San Juan. The territorial government had ordered 70,000 people downstream to evacuate, but it wasn't clear how many had left.

As a stop-gap to prevent erosion, Army and Marine helicopters were dropping concrete barriers and sand bags into a weakened area near the dam. The Air Force needed to fly in large pumps and pipes to help divert the water and relieve pressure caused by heavy rains from the hurricane and subsequent daily cloudbursts.

It was Wednesday afternoon. Buchanan and his staff needed to know the size of the pumps and pipes so the right cargo planes could get them to Puerto Rico in time to save the dam.

"Let's be relentless in making that happen," he said.

As commander of U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Buchanan leads American military forces responding to the devastation here and in the Virgin Islands. If relatively obscure to many people, Army North now is in a critical role.

It's the very mission for which this command was built.

Moving resources

Buchanan leads the Joint Force Land Component of the U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas and the Arctic Circle. In that capacity, he's coordinating the movement of military units, equipment and supplies to Puerto Rico from Texas and elsewhere.

He arrived Sept. 28 amid a growing military footprint. Just how long he'll head that mission isn't clear, but it might be awhile. This disaster is the biggest his command ever has faced - and it's already the third one this year.

Buchanan, who served multiple tours in Iraq, was deeply involved in the military's support of FEMA and the Texas National Guard after Hurricane Harvey struck the Gulf Coast in August, then oversaw the flow of troops and supplies to Florida in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Army North also has assisted the U.S. Virgin Islands, struck first by Irma, then Maria.

When Buchanan headed to the commonweath, some stories made it sound as if he were directing the entire operation. He's more of a facilitator, using the Pentagon's airlift assets to deliver vital equipment, fuel trucks and generators, food, water and medical care to back up FEMA and the local government.

The National Guard's deputy adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Jose Reyes, is the one moving troops around the island.

But Army North has resources no one else has, particularly medical units such as critical care air transport teams and many of cargo planes, including C-5M Super Galaxy jets that have flown out of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The command has roughly tripled its number of personnel and Black Hawks in its first two weeks in Puerto Rico. By Friday, there were more than 12,000 troops on the ground, with more en route.

The battle rhythm in Buchanan's second-floor convention center suite is more like a busy corporate office than the big, sleepless circus tent that division commanders use in war. From there, his staff reaches out to units and private companies across the United States.

Buchanan is 58, of Sierra Vista, Ariz. As the face of the U.S. military's response to the crisis, he stands in his utility uniform with Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello at daily news conferences.

"I've got a lot of experience on deployments, and I've learned that I'm not really paid for my back strength anymore. I'm paid for my mind, and if I can't keep my mind sharp, then I'm doing everybody a disservice," Buchanan said. "For me, that means I have to get a decent night's sleep, and so I try to get seven hours a night. This is more than I used to get, but I'm older than I used be, and that makes the difference for me."

Tide of troubles

The Pentagon response since his arrival here is helping, but many of the island's 3.4 million people have been mired in misery since Maria made landfall Sept. 20. Nine in 10 households have no electricity. Drinking water is in short supply.

The specter of epidemics still looms. News reports have detailed stories of impoverished people drinking filthy water and scrounging for food, especially in Puerto Rico's interior, where roads were cut off until last week.

There is desperation in middle-class neighborhoods just a 25-minute drive from Buchanan's headquarters.

Divorced, diabetic, out of money and blood pressure medication, Mariantoinette Dominguez, 36, was rationing her insulin and preparing for a flight to Orlando, Fla., to start over.

"I've been here 18 years, and I love Puerto Rico, but it's time to leave," Dominguez said in her warm, humid apartment as her boys, 5 and 12, played outside in the town of Carolina. "I can't take this."

In San Juan, the return of a semblance of normalcy is measured by traffic jams and the city's vibrant night life. Yet even though clubs and restaurants are back in business, internet connectivity is spotty and limited to guests at the biggest hotels.

Power plants are in good shape, but the electrical grid is mostly down. Cops, not lights, direct traffic in parts of the city. Hotels and hospitals run on large generators.

Taxi driver Frank Perez is back at work, but not all is well in his world. His home was flooded in the storm, though he did get help from FEMA.

"Five hundred," Perez said, raising his fingers.

Some residents said they had seen no FEMA officials.

The fact that Puerto Rico is surrounded by water doesn't help recovery efforts. Buchanan noted that Harvey dumped heavy rainfall on the Beaumont and Orange areas after hovering over Houston. With parts of Interstate 10 west of Beaumont under water, people headed east toward Louisiana, where Fort Polk soldiers came to their aid.

"The problem here is, there is no Louisiana. We're surrounded by a thousand miles of ocean," he said.

Saving the dam

Guajataca Dam is a good example of that problem. In Wednesday's staff meeting, Buchanan's team worked to procure the right pumps and pipes needed to divert water from the reservoir, brainstorming questions that sometimes had no immediate answer.

The team was told that the dam was operating as it should but that erosion underneath the spillway's concrete slabs had caused them to fall, one after the other. If the erosion compromised the dam's integrity, 100,000 people could lose their only source of drinking water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Jose Sanchez told Buchanan.

"Sir, actually, that's really the fear, of losing the dam," Sanchez said.

The logistics of getting pipe to Puerto Rico were as daunting as actually installing it. There was an assumption - but not 100 percent certainty - that the pipes should be 24 inches in diameter. Army Col. James DeLapp, an engineer, said 10,000 feet of the pipe would be needed, prompting a brief discussion about how many planes would be needed to fly it there.

"Once we get the materials in hand, this would probably be a week to 10 days to do," DeLapp said.

Buchanan's team then turned its attention to the pumps. They considered trucking them to the area versus flying them in, perhaps with a CH-47 Chinook or MH-53 Super Stallion. That prompted a few nuts-and-bolts questions.

"How much does it weigh?" asked Buchanan, an infantryman by trade.

DeLapp didn't know.

"Let's find out," Buchanan said.

Two minutes later, the lights briefly went out in the room, a common occurrence for the relatively few buildings that have power in Puerto Rico. Rossello, the governor, has estimated that only a quarter of the island might have its lights on by the end of the month.

Choosing which pumps to buy, signing the contracts, lining up Air Mobility Command to fly them to Puerto Rico and installing them is in Army North's hands and had not been finalized by the end of the week. How long the dam could hold was a matter of conjecture.

In all, 500 barriers will be used to shore up the section that is eroding and more than 1,800 bags of sand and rock will shore up the base of the spillway.

Sanchez said the goal is to finish that part of the project in two weeks. Asked if a disaster could be averted for that long, he replied, "Everything's possible."

The weather still is a wild card.

The storm ahead

Hurricane Maria brought a lot of rain to the region, along with 155-mph winds that ripped trees out of the ground and stripped branches of foliage, leaving entire mountain ranges looking like muddy wastelands. The rain hasn't stopped. Brief, intense downpours occur regularly, with 1 to 2 inches a day and sometimes twice that, swelling the lake.

Another slide popped up on the screen as the briefing continued. "Tropical Depression Nate," it said.

Buchanan can call on more troops if necessary, but the operation in Puerto Rico is all consuming and far from over. He can't say when it will end.

Over time, the U.S. government will hand over more responsibility for recovery operations to state and guard authorities. Ships and helicopter support coming from those vessels probably will leave first, followed by some Army aircraft.

Military hospitals might stay the longest.

"Now I'll just give you a window. For Texas, on the federal-military side, we were probably involved for two weeks. I'm trying to remember, but that was at most about two weeks. We've already been in the Virgin Islands for more than a month right now," Buchanan said.

"And so for here, it's going to be awhile. I don't have the exact timeline, but it's based on the conditions, not a time. When the work is done, we'll go back."
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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico  The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter banked left and Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan stared at this islands mountainous landscape, his chin resting on one hand.

He said little  inaudible under the roar of rotors  but even after seeing the devastation for six days, it still amazed him, he acknowledged later.

Rural roads now were visibly clear of mudslides and debris two weeks after Hurricane Maria chewed up the island, a major hurdle overcome for military and civilian disaster response teams.

That afternoon, Buchanan huddled with his staff on more pressing problems, listening to a situation report that had a grim streak to balance the progress made.

Fixing the islands shattered power grid, they agreed, would take months. The more urgent question was how fast they could shore up a dam in danger of collapsing northwest of San Juan. The territorial government had ordered 70,000 people downstream to evacuate, but it wasnt clear how many had left.

As a temporary stop-gap, Army and Marine helicopters were dropping concrete barriers and sand bags into a weakened area near the dam to prevent erosion. The Air Force needed to fly in large pumps and pipes to help divert the water and relieve pressure caused by heavy rains from the hurricane and subsequent daily cloudbursts.

It was Wednesday afternoon. Buchanan and his staff needed to know the size of the pumps and pipes so the right cargo planes could get them to Puerto Rico in time to save the dam.

Lets be relentless in making that happen, he said.

As commander of U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Buchanan leads American military forces responding to the devastation here and in the Virgin Islands. If relatively obscure to many people, Army North now is in a critical role.

Its the very mission this command was built for.

Moving resources

Buchanan leads the Joint Force Land Component of the U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas and the Arctic Circle. In that capacity, hes coordinating the movement of military units, equipment and supplies to Puerto Rico from Texas and elsewhere.

He arrived Sept. 28 amid a growing military footprint. Just how long hell head that mission isnt clear, but it might be awhile. This disaster is the biggest his command ever has faced  and its already the third one this year.

Buchanan, who served multiple tours in Iraq, was deeply involved in the militarys support of FEMA and the Texas National Guard after Hurricane Harvey struck the Gulf Coast in August, then oversaw the flow of troops and supplies to Florida in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Army North also has assisted the U.S. Virgin Islands, struck first by Irma, then Maria.

When Buchanan headed to the commonweath, some stories made it sound as if he were directing the entire operation. Hes more of a facilitator, using the Pentagons airlift assets to deliver vital equipment, fuel trucks and generators, food, water and medical care to back up FEMA and the local government.

The National Guards deputy adjutant general, Brig. Gen Jose Reyes, is the one moving troops around the island.

But Army North has resources no one else has, particularly medical units such as critical care air transport teams and lots of cargo planes, including C-5M Super Galaxy jets that have flown out of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The command has roughly tripled its number of personnel and Black Hawks in its first two weeks in Puerto Rico. By Friday there were more than 12,000 troops on the ground, with more en route.

Now Playing: Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan gets a briefing during a helicopter tour of Puerto Rico a few days ago.

The battle rhythm in Buchanans second-floor convention center suite is more like a busy corporate office than the big, sleepless circus tent that division commanders use in war. From there, his staff reaches out to units and private companies across the United States.

Buchanan is 58, of Sierra Vista, Arizona. As the face of the U.S. militarys response to the crisis, he stands in his utility uniform with Puerto Rico Gov Ricardo Rossello at daily news conferences.

Ive got a lot of experience on deployments and Ive learned that Im not really paid for my back strength anymore, Im paid for my mind, and if I cant keep my mind sharp then Im doing everybody a disservice, Buchanan said. For me, that means I have to get a decent nights sleep, and so I try to get seven hours a night. This is more than I used to get, but Im older than I used be and that makes the difference for me.

Tide of troubles

The Pentagon response since his arrival here is helping, but many of the islands 3.4 million people have been mired in misery since Maria made landfall Sept. 20. Nine in 10 households have no electricity. Drinking water is in short supply.

The specter of epidemics still looms. News reports have detailed stories of impoverished people drinking filthy water and scrounging for food, especially in Puerto Ricos interior, where roads were cut off until last week.

There is desperation in middle-class neighborhoods just a 25-minute drive from Buchanans headquarters.

Divorced, diabetic, out of money and blood pressure medication, Mariantoinette Dominguez, 36, was rationing her insulin and preparing for a flight to Orlando, Florida, to start over.

Ive been here 18 years and I love Puerto Rico, but its time to leave, Dominguez said in her warm, humid apartment as her boys, 5 and 12, played outside in the town of Carolina. I cant take this.

In San Juan, the return of a semblance of normalcy is measured by traffic jams and the citys vibrant night life. Yet if clubs and restaurants are back in business, internet connectivity is spotty and limited to guests at the biggest hotels.

Power plants are in good shape, but the electrical grid is mostly down. Cops, not lights, direct traffic in parts of the city. Hotels and hospitals run on large generators.

Taxi driver Frank Perez is back at work, but not all is well in his world. His home was flooded in the storm, though he did get help from FEMA.

Five hundred, Perez said, raising his fingers.

Some residents said they had seen no FEMA officials.

The fact that Puerto Rico is surrounded by water doesnt help recovery efforts. Buchanan noted that Harvey dumped heavy rainfall on the Beaumont and Orange areas after hovering over Houston. With parts of Interstate 10 under water west of Beaumont people headed east, toward Louisiana, where Fort Polk soldiers came to their aid.

The problem here is, there is no Louisiana. Were surrounded by a thousand miles of ocean, he said.

Saving the dam

Guajataca Dam is a good example of that problem. In Wednesdays staff meeting, Buchanans team worked to procure the right pumps and pipes needed to divert water from the reservoir, brainstorming questions that sometimes had no immediate answer.

The team was told that the dam was operating as it should but that erosion underneath the spillways concrete slabs had caused them to fall, one after the other. If the erosion compromised the dams integrity, 100,000 people could lose their only source of drinking water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jose Sanchez told Buchanan.

Sir, actually, thats really the fear, of losing the dam, Sanchez said.

Now Playing: Jose Sanchez (left) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers briefs Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan on Puerto Rico's power situation. Video: Brandpoint

The logistics of getting pipe to Puerto Rico were as daunting as actually installing it. There was an assumption  but not 100 percent certainty  that the pipes should be 24 inches in diameter. Army Col. James DeLapp, an engineer, said 10,000 feet of the pipe would be needed, prompting a brief discussion about how many planes would be needed to fly it in.

I think once we get the materials in hand, this would probably be a week to 10 days to do, DeLapp said.

Buchanans team then turned its attention to the pumps. They considered trucking them to the area versus flying them in, perhaps with a CH-47 Chinook or MH-53 Super Stallion. That prompted a few nuts-and-bolts questions.

How much does it weigh? asked Buchanan, an infantryman by trade.

DeLapp didnt know.

Lets find out, Buchanan said.

Two minutes later, the lights briefly went out in the room, a common occurrence for the relatively few buildings that have power in Puerto Rico. Rossello, the governor, has estimated that only a quarter of the island might have its lights on by the end of the month.

Choosing which pumps to buy, signing the contracts, lining up Air Mobility Command to fly them to Puerto Rico and installing them is in Army Norths hands, and had not been finalized by the end of the week. How long the dam could hold was a matter of conjecture.

In all, 500 barriers will be used to shore up the section that is eroding and more than 1,800 bags of sand and rock will shore up the base of the spillway.

Sanchez said the goal is to finish that part of the project in two weeks. Asked if a disaster could be averted for that long, he replied, Everythings possible.

The weather still is a wild card.

Hurricane Maria brought a lot of rain to the region along with 155-mph winds that ripped trees out of the ground and stripped branches of foliage, leaving entire mountain ranges looking like muddy wastelands. The rain hasnt stopped. Brief, intense downpours occur regularly, with 1 to 2 inches a day and sometimes twice that, swelling the lake.

Another slide popped up on the screen as the briefing continued. Tropical Depression Nate, it said.

The storm ahead.

Buchanan can call on more troops if necessary, but the operation in Puerto Rico is all-consuming and far from over. He cant say when it will end.

Over time, the U.S. government will hand over more responsibility for recovery operations to state and guard authorities. Ships and helicopter support coming from those vessels probably will leave first, followed by some Army aircraft.

Military hospitals might stay the longest.

Now Ill just give you a window. For Texas, on the federal-military side, we were probably involved for two weeks. Im trying to remember, but that was at most about two weeks. Weve already been in the Virgin Islands for more than a month right now, Buchanan said.

And so for here, its going to be awhile. I dont have the exact timeline, but its based on the conditions, not a time. When the work is done, well go back.

sigc@express-news.net
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BILOXI, Miss. - As Hurricane Nate cut a path through the central Gulf Coast overnight with roaring winds and a rush of storm-surge flooding, a limb snapped from a tree and landed on the windshield of Terry Gentry's convertible, cracking the glass and bending the hood.

His reaction? Intense relief.

"I feel blessed, my dog's still good," Gentry said Sunday. "All my family is good."

With the devastating wounds left by three monster hurricanes in six weeks still raw from Texas to Florida to Puerto Rico, the impact of an ordinary Category 1 storm like Nate felt gentle by comparison.

As it sped northward, the storm brushed over the mouth of the Mississippi River in southern Louisiana, skipped to the east of New Orleans and drove ashore again near Biloxi, the first hurricane to make landfall in Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It ripped trees from the ground, flooded low-lying areas, and sprayed the beaches with debris and the roads with sand and tree limbs.

Part of Highway 90, the main road along the beachfront, was still closed Sunday afternoon, and tens of thousands of customers in Mississippi and Alabama were without power.

Officials in Mississippi and Alabama said they were still assessing the full scope of the damage on Sunday. But according to preliminary reports, the storm mainly left an inconvenient mess, with widespread debris but only small pockets of more serious problems.

"We are very fortunate this morning," said Gov. Phil Bryant of Mississippi, a Republican, though he was quick to warn against minimizing the harm caused by Nate's 10-foot surge, strong winds and heavy rains. "Some damage has been done, particularly into some of the individual homes that are on the bay," Bryant said.

The storm ground a large stretch of the Gulf Coast to a halt, and led President Donald Trump to approve emergency declarations for the states of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, though Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana, a Democrat, said his state had been spared major damage.

The storm weakened rapidly as it sped inland, first to a tropical storm and then to a tropical depression. By late Sunday afternoon, as the center of the system was crossing into Tennessee, its maximum sustained winds had slowed to 35 mph. The main threat it poses now is flash flooding: Forecasters said the storm could drop as much as 10 inches of rain in parts of its path through the South and the Ohio Valley toward the Appalachian Mountains.

"We're not seeing widespread areas with major structural damage," Yasamie Richardson, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, said Sunday morning. "Some counties are reporting a few homes, a few structures here and there."

Still, there were hair-raising moments during the storm. Kayleigh Terrell, 29, of Orange Beach, Ala., got a tornado warning on her phone on Saturday night, and then saw the wind tear the screen door off her house.

"It hadn't quite touched down," Terrell said of the funnel cloud. "It hit the tree, pulled the door, and we have one shingle left."
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I know, I should probably be concentrating on trying to understand Britain first - we have plenty of problems of our own with Brexit and Boris and backstabbing. But sometimes, it's easier to deal with someone else's problems that face up to your own, isn't it? Which is why I'm trying to understand America but it's hard.

Let's start with the premise that life is precious in America. It must be. They elected a President on the basis that he was "pro-life". I can't think of any other reason they'd vote for him. And the figures agree - around half of all Americans call themselves "pro-life" and 69% think that abortion should be either illegal or only legal under certain circumstances. So we get it, life is precious.

Unless you're black of course. It's well documented that POC are killed in their hundreds each year by American police - 309 in 2016. It's the epitome of white privilege that a white man can get 23 guns sent up to his hotel room but a black teenager can get shot for carrying a packet of skittles.

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And Puerton Rican life? Hardly. Trump said that the island should be "very proud" of their 16 deaths. It wasn't as impressive as Katrina but still, they should be proud. There's nothing like minimizing tragedy to emphasize how unimportant those lives are to you.

White life is precious then.

Unless you're a country music fan and you get in the way of that man with the 23 guns. Life might be precious but the 2nd Amendment is more precious. Even white lives can be sacrificed in the face of pressure and campaign donations from the NRA. There's no controlling who gets killed by unlicensed guns so it's not that those lives aren't important, it's just that they come second to pleasing the gun lobby.

A child's life must be the most precious thing - children are the future of America after all. Melania Trump has said so. That's probably why Trump is rolling back women's access to free birth control - so there can be more and more American babies. Because they're doing all this for the precious, precious children. But yknow, 1,300 of them were killed in two years as a result of freely available firearms. Maybe they're not that precious after all.

Who then can be assured that their life matters? That their life truly is held as sacred and that the establishment would do anything to keep them alive? Because they embody the most American of values - sporty, handsome, white, rich, intelligent, well-connected? I'm thinking about the elite of America's youth who are hand picked by powerful university fraternities to join them because they have exactly these qualities. Surely they know their life is worthwhile.

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But no. The death of one such "pledge", Timothy Piazza, shows that even those kind of lives are considered to be cheap. The fraternity system implicitly endorses bizarre and barbaric hazing rituals which result in death and injury with surprising regularity. Timothy was unconscious in front of his frat brothers for 12 hours before anyone called an ambulance. Because even in the most dire of circumstances, the first responsibility is to the institution and the death of a pledge is less trouble than explaining it all at a hospital.

Or in fact paying for it. Because life may be cheap but healthcare is not. And the option to continue living is often only available to the ones with the right insurance. Looks like we can class the ill and injured as another group who aren't experiencing the loving support of the 47% of Americans who vote in a "pro-life" manner.
Caroline Irby

Photographed in a hospital in south London, which has asked to remain anonymous

Dream job: nurse

I lived in Abidjan with my dad, my sister and my little brother. My mother had left when I was very young, but we had a normal childhood, going to school and all. Then, when I was 12 and my sister 14, my dad took us to London to escape female circumcision. We stayed with one of his friends in Croydon and went to the mosque. After prayers, we didn't see him at the door. We sat there and waited. After many hours, a lady approached us, but we spoke only French. She took us to her home and the next day brought us to the police, then to the Home Office where we were told to apply for asylum.

I was in shock. I couldn't understand why our father had left us. I cried every night. We went in foster care on the same day. The lady was very strict and it didn't work, so I was separated from my sister and put with an emergency family, then in a children's home. I was 13 - the only girl there. It was violent, very intimidating. No one was looking after me, but a boy there taught me to speak English. Three months later, I started year eight in a girls' school in Croydon. I was bullied at first because of my accent and because my name is "Bamba", but eventually I made friends.

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I stayed for six months in the children's home, then went to live with my sister in another foster family. The lady was very caring, cooked for us and made us feel comfortable. She was like a mother to me. It was the only time I was happy. But she got other children and we had to leave. We stayed in different foster families and my sister and I grew apart. At 16, I moved to a semi-independent place with three other girls.

At 18, I got moved to a hostel with two boys, then I got pregnant and was given this basement flat. Mark, my baby is now 13 months old. I get along with his father, but he is French and lives in France most of the time. My son is French, but I have no status. I was considered an unaccompanied minor, but at 18, was supposed to apply for an extension, but didn't receive the letter, so my status expired. I tried to get a solicitor, but I have no money. I receive 45 a week from the Home Office and my son 20, but I cannot work.

My baby makes me stronger because he needs to have a future, but my life would have been better if I had stayed in Africa. I wouldn't have suffered that much. I am confused and unhappy most of the time. I stopped going to school after I had my baby. Now I just stay at home, alone, doing nothing. I have no money, no friends and no one to turn to. The most painful is not working and having people think that I don't want to work, that I just want to sit here and take benefits.

But Young Roots (a charity for young refugees) has helped me enroll in a sixth form college in Croydon to study for an extended diploma in Social Care. They have childcare there, so I will start soon. Then I'll feel a sense of accomplishment in my life. My dream job is to be a nurse because I enjoy people and caring for them and listening to them.

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Through portraits and interviews, photographer Caroline Irby and journalist Veronique Mistiaen have recorded the journeys of ten young refugees who arrived in the UK as minors and are now coming of age. They talk about the lives they have left behind, the challenges they face in the UK as well as their hopes and dreams for the future in the context of their dream jobs.
Catherine Irby

Photographed at Harding Evans, Newport, Wales

Dream job: accountant

I grew up in the Punjab region of Pakistan with my mum, dad and my two younger brothers. My mum was a doctor and my dad a forest officer. It was a very good life with lots of cousins, friends, bike rides and going to school. Then someone tried to kill my father (his left side is now paralysed). Our lives were at risk. We didn't want to leave our country, but we had no choice. I was 16.

We arrived in Newcastle and applied for asylum. After two months, we were sent to Cardiff, then Newport. We had no idea where it was. We were given a small house up a hill and went to Poundshop to buy everything we needed. When you move to a new country, you don't know anything about life there, but you have to adapt.

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When I started school, I couldn't communicate at first. We were in an English school in Pakistan, so language was not the problem - it was self-esteem. I had a very low self-esteem because I was an asylum seeker. Even now, I don't like people to know. It's something personal. Only my very good friends know. A year ago, in assembly, our teacher mentioned asylum seekers and asked what it was, and no one knew. I've created a group with three friends who are also asylum seekers: we go around universities, explaining what is an asylum seeker and why they need financial help.

I was hoping to go to uni this year to study Business and Accounting, but I would have had to pay 25,000 in tuition as an international student. So I am going to college (which is free for asylum seekers). I've done Business Administration this year and will take accounting next year. I want to be an accountant. I did work experience in an accounting firm and thought that it was something I'd be good at.

As an asylum seeker, I cannot work. My parents cannot work - but we receive 36 a week each from the Home Office. If my friends are going out, I have to think over and over "do I have enough money to go out with them?"

We have no idea when we'll get our refugee status. Being an asylum seeker means waiting - always waiting. We've been waiting for four years now. It's stopping you doing so much that you could achieve: I would be driving by now, I would be working, I would be going to uni. What helped me is going to college and working in a charity shop on Saturdays: having friends and having something to do.

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Through portraits and interviews, photographer Caroline Irby and journalist Veronique Mistiaen have recorded the journeys of ten young refugees who arrived in the UK as minors and are now coming of age. They talk about the lives they have left behind, the challenges they face in the UK as well as their hopes and dreams for the future in the context of their dream jobs.
John Woodworth via Getty Images

In May this year the #BlackExcellence campaign went viral, inspiring students across the country with a series of photos capturing black men enjoying life at Yale and Cambridge universities.

A few weeks later I received a message from a fellow Oxford alumni, Samuel Gebreselassie. He was working with Lewis Iwu - the first black president of the Oxford University Student Union in 2008 - to get together over 50 African and Caribbean Oxford alumni for a photoshoot.

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Image:Paul Tait

The aim of the campaign is to showcase the varied achievements of black Oxford alumni, both academically and in their subsequent careers. The hope is that the photos will help young black students realise there is a history of black students studying at Oxford - a history that they could become a part of.

Why does this matter? Because visual representation is essential if there is going to be improved representation of black students at Oxford. In fact, it was this lack of visual representation that prompted me to design and launch the Target Oxbridge programme while working at the diversity recruitment company Rare in 2012.

Target Oxbridge aims to combat one of the main barriers to black students applying to Oxbridge: the concern that Oxbridge 'isn't for them'. The programme combats this misconception by providing students with access to black Oxbridge students and alumni. The students also receive support throughout the application process to help them approach it with confidence.

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For two years running we've also been hosted by the University of Oxford for a three-day residential, helping young people visualise themselves as Oxford students. The approach works: 46 Target Oxbridge students have received offers from Oxford or Cambridge in the past five years.

Image:Paul Tait

Because of the University of Oxford's willingness to support efforts to improve the diversity of its intake, Lewis, Sam and I decided to work with the university to formalise the Oxford Black Alumni Network. We are joined on the committee by Daniel Stone, who is working at the University of Birmingham, Hope Levy-Shepherd, who is training as a solicitor, and Joshua Oware, who is studying for a PhD. With more than 200 alumni signed up, we are excited to be hosting our launch event later this month, at which we will become the first Oxford alumni network of this type.

The network aims to provide support to its members as they navigate their careers. While progress is being made, it is still the case that black graduates are under-represented in a number of industries. Through mentoring, buddying and networking events, we hope the network will provide its members with the connections they need to continue breaking down barriers.

We will also be working with current black students at Oxford, through the trailblazing Oxford African and Caribbean Society, to share the lessons we learn. Finally, by compiling profiles of black alumni for our website, we aim to provide schools and students with access to role models throughout the year.

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Things are changing in Africa. After years of banging on the door, it's beginning to open, and animals all across Africa are beginning to see some great benefits.

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Did you know, bees are being used to keep elephants from destroying community homesteads? In the past, damage to crops has resulted in retaliation from people, causing serious injuries to the elephants in attempts to keep them away. But now, due to the great work of the NGO Save the Elephants, the destructive power of these gigantic animals is being contained by the buzzing of bees in hives, hung along a simple fence line. Elephants are no longer getting injured, crops are not getting damaged and poor communities are earning an income from the honey they produce, it's a win win win!

There is now a much better understanding around the importance of working with communities to protect the welfare of animals, and I have no doubt that the skills and experience of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are helping to drive this change, and it is well recognised by international institutions. There was great encouragement for NGOs to strengthen their engagement with environmental matters to inform future decision making. Whether it's pollution control, rubbish management, disaster management or building resilience, more input was being sought at every level.

An emerging issue, growing in momentum, is the slaughter of donkeys for their hide, providing a product for the Chinese market which is in extremely high demand, and believed to preserve youth and improve energy levels. Having significantly reduced the population of donkeys in China, Africa is now a target market for sourcing of these animals, causing devastation to communities through donkey theft and even putting the donkey at risk from extinction in some countries over the next few years. It's hard to imagine the humble donkey becoming as rare as an Asian Elephant or a Black Rhino, but it's a reality we could face if action is not taken.

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Thank goodness for NGOs - with a presence on the ground in many African countries, Brooke, Donkey Sanctuary and others are sharing knowledge and insight, and seeking feedback from their partner organisations to provide a compelling case for these international institutions to take action. I was honoured to be moderating a panel discussion considering this important issue, enabling the NGOs to share their experiences, challenges and outline their future plans.

Riding the wave of increased awareness about animal welfare issues across Africa, formally recognised with development of the first ever Pan-African Animal Welfare Strategy led by the Africa Union, these NGOs are now pushing forward on an open door. They are working with others to develop strategies to investigate the trade, understand the impacts, raise awareness of the issues and take steps to protect communities. As fast as slaughter houses are being closed, others are licensed, and sometimes it feels like an upward battle against a very lucrative trade, but we won't stop until we win. Something is seriously wrong when people in Africa are losing their livelihoods, often the donkey is their only source of income, to supply a market thousands of miles away.

In a conference room of the United Nations last week, some exciting debates took place - the passion people have to improve animal welfare across Africa is building momentum and the importance of good animal welfare is being recognised. What needs to happen now is for us to move forward with the solutions. We have made huge strides to get to this stage where the concept of one health, the inter-dependency between human and animal welfare, is recognised, but it's time to get out of the conference room and into the field. Working together, we will make this world a better place for the animals and for the people too.
smartboy10 via Getty Images

In the 1960s my father was a victim of racist graffiti - 'No Blacks - Go Home' was sprayed on the pavement outside his home in Birmingham in the UK after a news story on how he was trying to join the West Midlands police force after passing the initial exam.

More than 40 years later we are seeing an increase in hate crimes, almost 6,000 reported in 2015/16 an increase of 27% post Brexit, according to West Midlands police. This begs the question - why aren't we making progress in race relations in Birmingham? One of the most diverse cities in the UK.

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Friends in the UK and abroad often tell me that they think the UK is one of the most open countries in Europe and in the world when it comes to diversity. Yet I feel that recent protests led by the right wing EDL group in Birmingham City Centre sends a very different message.

While communities are living in relative peace in Birmingham, there is no doubt that tensions are rising - is this because racism has always been there, but is now surfacing? And because migrant communities continue to live in fear of losing their culture and religion?

It's been a sizzling pot for some time. Back In January 2011, Baroness Warsi spoke of how Islamophobia had become socially acceptable in the UK.

As a British woman of Pakistani origin, I myself have endured racism thoughout my life and career spanning 20 years working for local, national and international organisations. It's something you get used to fighting on your own.

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I've had to deal with racist bosses and colleagues, well educated colleagues who've told me their family would never accept a 'brown' person in their family and in one London office, just a few years ago, I was told by colleagues that I was the third 'brown' person to be employed in my line of work in the history of the company's existence. The previous two left their jobs after filing complaints of racism.

I can recount how colleagues felt really awkward in discussing cultural issues and racial issues, and I ask myself why in this day and age people still feel at unease in celebrating other cultures?

I believe the fault lies on both sides, migrants who fear losing their culture and non-migrants fearing the unknown.

British Asians I know still speak about 'white people' like they are still the unknown and a world apart from them. They speak like victims. And they push the blame on - some South Asian migrant communities have turned their backs on new migrant communities from Europe. So we are now seeing a growing trend in racism between different migrant communities.

Incidents of overt and covert racism are rife, you just need to scan the news to see whats going on. Recently, the BBC reported on the Old Bailey's first non-white circuit judge constantly being mistaken for a defendant rather than a judge!

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I have travelled and worked in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and north and south America - it has been an eye opening, educational experience for someone who was born and brought up in Birmingham. And so when I'm in my hometown, I still find it hard to understand why integration is not happening the way it should.

And despite many efforts to promote better understanding of cultures in cities such as Birmingham the gap seems to be widening.

That's why the focus of my latest art installation tackles negative attitudes towards migrants.

And to promote integration , workshops have started where migrants and others can come together to air their concerns and talk face to face about issues they want to resolve.

While racism is always going to be an issue in societies where integration is lacking, dialogue is a step in the right direction in promoting better understanding between communities and better still through the arts.
If you ask me to name the hero gadgets of 2017 so far, chances are I'd reel off a list of VR headsets, cool smartwatches, maybe some cutting edge smart clothing.

And there's a lot that's genuinely new and worthy of honour in wearable tech right now. Just this week Google unveiled the Pixel Buds, a pair of wireless earphones that can translate conversations in 40 languages in real time. Think about that for a second.

Google isn't first to this but the combination of years of improvements to Google Translate and the fact the Pixel Buds will ship within two months is impressive. Two connected pucks in your ears could alter everything from ordering food on your next big trip to how people migrating to new countries interact once they arrive. In other words, it has more hero gadget potential than most.

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Now, heroes are supposed to save lives. Heroes - Achilles, say, or Wonder Woman - are supposed to be so cunning and strong and brave that they save the day. The word hero, in ancient Greek, means protector or defender. Not a word then that you'd readily apply to a screen on your wrist that can order an Uber. Possibly an earbud that comes to your rescue when you're lost in Tokyo. Too soon to tell.

We run a series called Saves The Day in which we look at tech for good that's making a difference in areas like personal safety or improving the lives of people with disabilities. Wearable tech lends itself to protecting bodies and finding clever solutions to specific problems. You can see it in ideas like the Sunu Band which uses sonar navigation and haptic vibrations to guide visually impaired people or MIT's stick-on Intrepid patch, a next-gen panic button that aims to prevent assault even if the wearer is too inebriated or physically unable to trigger it.

What has become most clear though, particularly in the last 12 months, is that Silicon Valley is turning into a health tech town.

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Perma-smiler people with disposable incomes have bodies too and bodies can fail. That's why the same companies that are hyping AR stickers and email management right now are also throwing money and talent and AI at digital health. A new FDA pilot program in the US could see health tech from Apple, Fitbit, Samsung and Alphabet's Verily Life Sciences fast tracked. Nokia selling connected blood pressure monitors tells you all you need to know about where this is heading.

So what's actually in development? Fitbit is working to make its devices able to detect disorders like sleep apnea via the Ionic smartwatch's SpO2 sensor. It's also looking into how to detect atrial fibrillation, a quivering or irregular heartbeat, by building a symptom checker into its mobile app which could sync up with tracker heart rate data.

Apple is working with Stanford clinicians and telemedicine company American Well to test whether the Watch can be used to pick up on abnormal heart rhythms, with a similar goal of tackling atrial fibrillation. With Core Bluetooth, the Apple Watch Series 3 can communicate with tech like Dexcom's under-the-skin continuous glucose monitor, designed for diabetes management. Instead of pricking a finger, people can get the data on their smartwatch and the potential is there for many more similar low power integrations.

Heart rate still isn't reliable enough on wrist based wearables but ex-Google SVP Vic Gundotra's new venture is AliveCor which has built the Kardia Band, a medical grade heart rate monitoring strap for, you guessed it, the Apple Watch.

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Women's health tech is blossoming, albeit slowly and on a smaller scale, due to stories of a lack of serious investment. Still, startup successes include Elvie, makers of a connected pelvic floor tracker; Ava's pulse tracking fertility bracelet and MIT spin-off Embr Labs, which has a heating and cooling wearable that's already raised half a million dollars on Kickstarter. Mental health, too, is getting some attention whether it's experimental VR therapy for people suffering from schizophrenia or stress-busting, everyday biofeedback wearables like Doppel. It's a start.

Visionary tech CEOs clearly sense the scale of their potential legacy should they succeed in changing how we deal with our health. Chances are you have a Health app on your smartphone, whether or not you're aware of it. Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg and the rest all have Bill Gates in their sights and, if the health tech revolution is executed responsibly with users and patients fully in control of their data, we could all benefit.
By some accounts, the existence of gender discrimination in science is a shock. For the women themselves, it's a long-suffered truth. Statistically, women remain underrepresented in most areas of science at every level, from undergraduate courses all the way through to professorships. Despite how far we've come, there's a lot further to go, as these stories from women we met exhibiting at London's New Scientist Live exposition in September highlight.

First up is Emma Wride, a Space Ambassador for her native Wales, who went straight into hairdressing after leaving school, because "that's what girls did". A lover of space science and astronomy since childhood, her passion eventually got the better of her in her thirties, when she went back to school and then onto university to study for a degree in astronomy. Today, she tours the country encouraging the next generation to get involved in science. She is forceful when we ask why she is passionate about getting women into science: "because," she says, "if they want to be whatever they want to be, they can be. And they don't have to do hairdressing just because they're a girl."

The idea that girls have one type of career while boys have another - as much as we might think it something of the past - persists, not only across generations but across countries. "We need more girls to do 'boys' jobs'", says Lidia Gabarrini, a drone operator and repair technician for the company Extreme Fliers. The women in her family never accepted traditional gender roles - her mother drove "a huge truck" - and so Gabarrini grew up oblivious to the idea that some career paths might be blocked to her on the grounds of her gender.

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Women are underrepresented within electronic engineering. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Unfortunately, the attitudes she encounters in her job make it clear that not everyone is equally oblivious. "When I do shows, people say 'oh my god, a girl can fly a drone, she can repair drones, it's so cool!'", she says. "Yes, because we can do everything." But, as the only woman in her company that flies and repairs drones, she faces an uphill struggle: as a woman, she says, she has to work much harder than her colleagues to prove herself. "It's very challenging, because it's a man's world."

This is a sentiment that is echoed across industries where men have traditionally dominated the workforce. The field of spaceflight, in particular, is notable for the bemusement with which it greeted the arrival of female astronauts - Sally Ride was famously asked if one hundred tampons would be enough for seven days in space - and, for many women, this lack of accommodation can be career-threatening.

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Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut, aboard the Challenger shuttle. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Discrimination against women is, infuriatingly, not a thing of the past, and often forward strides in policy - which should be celebrated - unfortunately also serve to conceal attitudes that remain outdated and harmful. Science charity founder Amy King, who was sporting professional-standard hair and makeup - and in the midst of demonstrating complex thermo-chemical reactions to a crowd of children - when we met her, knows this better than most. At school, she heard that as a woman in science there were only two career options open to her: "to be a doctor if you're brainy, and a nurse if you're not." Later, during her undergraduate interview for a prestigious university, she was told that she was too glamorous to be taken seriously as a scientist, and that "the 'hair and beauty' was down the road".

"She was made to recite the periodic table from memory to prove that she was a scientist," Nicola, her mother, recalls. "She got to about the third or fourth row down when they said she could stop there." The university offered her a place; she turned it down, and went instead to the University of Greenwich, where she preferred the laboratory environment. Her experiences drove her to found the charity GlamSci, dedicated to helping disadvantaged young people achieve careers in STEM. Now a lecturer and STEM ambassador aiming to gain a PhD in medicinal chemistry, Amy is one of the Royal Society of Chemistry's 175 Faces of Diversity alongside figures like Heston Blumenthal and Bill Bryson.
Tory grandee Michael Heseltine, known as 'Tarzan' in the days of Thatcher, is 84. However, more potency comes from his interjections than came from the whole party conference. At the weekend, for example, Lord Heseltine suggested Theresa May should shuffle Boris Johnson to Mongolia.

This is funny, though perhaps less funny to Mongolians. The exasperation with the foreign secretary stems from Johnson's attempt to manipulate Brexit negotiations via right wing newspapers.

Such manipulations, without informing Number 10, shows an alarming sense of entitlement, given that Boris chickened out of the 2016 leadership contest, when Michael Gove -- the Draco Malfoy of UK politics -- announced he was standing. One can only speculate why BJ so quickly stood down. Perhaps he admires Gove so much that he wanted to give him an easy ride. Or not.

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Tory knife fights can be subtle affairs, with the carnage going on behind the scenes. Using one's special advisers to brief against one's enemy, who might appear to be their closest friend, seems to be the order of the day.

Therefore, when May gets praise from the likes of Johnson and Gove, after a lamentable few months, she must sense cold steel on the back of her neck. It is not merely that such people have an insatiable desire for power, but the desire to shape Brexit amplifies the inherent Machiavellianism. Those waiting for the perfect moment to stab May could well believe that whoever shapes Brexit will gain Churchill-like status.

There are big problems with this. If you put the Brexit vote on a five-point scale, with one being 'don't want Brexit at all', two being 'not keen on Brexit', three being 'not sure', four being 'quite want Brexit' and five being 'really want Brexit', the UK voted for three. The split of the vote was almost 50/50. There certainly is nothing to suggest from the vote that the UK wants hard Brexit, with all the economic and societal damage, and legal chaos, this would entail.

Another problem with those on the right of the Conservative Party using Brexit to gain glory, while trying to drag the country to the right, is the toxicity this creates. Despite David Cameron's attempt to appear touchy feely (while imposing a cruel level of austerity), the Tory Party has been a toxic brand throughout my life. And, with the pomposity of Tory figures, it can be forgotten that they have only won two elections outright in a quarter of a century.

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Brexit is the biggest issue facing the UK, and should not be used to satisfy Tory MPs' lust for power. Beyond the power-hungry figures, however, the party is in big trouble and I can see of no outcomes from their current conflicting trajectories that avoid disaster.

May thought a snap election would strengthen her position and allow her to impose the Brexit she desired. The UK rejected this and she lost the Tories a majority. The public also squarely rejected a hard Brexit, and so to pursue hard Brexit now could well lead to another election, which would essentially be a referendum on the sort of Brexit the public wants, if it wants one at all by then.

In addition, it would be an election on who can be trusted. May was so confident before her snap election that she ran a presidential campaign all about 'strong and stable' May. This massively backfired. Rather than finding her strong and stable, voters found her weak and wobbly, not to mention unfeeling towards those most harmed by the austerity she and cronies imposed for almost a decade.

May has only become less popular since her arrogant election. However, the fact that the Tories haven't made a credible attempt to oust her suggests the party can't think of anybody likely to win public confidence or an election. For reasons I listed previously, Boris is too toxic, and Jacob Rees-Mogg has all the toxicity but none of the faux clown 'charisma' that grabs media attention.

The Tories therefore are in a precarious position. They can oust May and end up with either a Labour victory or a coalition that would stall Brexit. The other option for the Tory Party is to pretend, as they did during May's cringeworthy conference speech, that all is well -- and hope the country buys that. Given that voters didn't buy it when May was at her peak, they are unlikely to buy it now.

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[Due to the granularity of the graphs you are about to see, this piece is best enjoyed on a desktop!] As a music journalist, and as a genuinely curious human being, I love attending conferences. If that sentence makes you cringe, I completely understand. At their worst, music conferences are time-sucking, self-promotional, useless showcases of bullshit that trade in deflection and avoid any honest conversation about the industry. Unfortunately, most conferences have at least one panel that ends up in this bucket, due to factors both controllable (e.g. booking a panel entirely of male CEOs that lasts only 30 minutes) and uncontrollable (e.g. a panelist shows up stoned or on three hours of sleep after taking a redeye flight from across the ocean). At their best, however, music conferences are vibrant scenes of intellectual inquiry and cross-pollination that scrape this aforementioned bullshit from our eyes. Its basically the only chance that otherwise siloed stakeholders get to convene in one room, illuminate mutual pain points and growth opportunities, and subsequently make deals that enact meaningful change. I would certainly not be where I am now professionally were it not for attending my first conference back in 2015, and Ive also made some of my closest friends at these events. For better or for worse, conferences serve as social tokens in business and commercial culture, and particularly in music. As a space we all share, this culture must be taken seriouslyand challenged. One axis that I believe is not being taken seriously, hence my writing this article, is gender representation. As a 21-year-old woman passionate about meeting, interviewing and learning from leaders in my field, I am consistently the outlier in a sea of older males. I usually dont bring it upIm frankly used to hanging out with an older, mostly-male crowd at this point, and many of these males have become invaluable, supportive mentors that are the farthest thing away from sexistbut am well aware that gender equality in the music business, and particularly at music conferences, is still a remote fantasy. Moreover, Ive noticed a recent deluge of anecdotal coverage about sexism and discrimination in the music business, without any quantifiable benchmarks illustrating how significant the magnitude of the problem actually is. Of course, data does not provide the ultimate infallible answer, but people still need numbers to be convinced. Gender equality advocates in Silicon Valley constantly demand more statistics about their industry, and they are slowly but surely achieving the right results. Why shouldnt the music industry, which supposedly celebrates multifaceted creativity and diversity, follow suit? Interestingly, the few reliable measures Ive seen on gender in the music industry have all come from across the pond. PRS for Music, one of the largest collection societies in the UK, revealed in its latest Women Make Music report that only 16% of its membership is female. Trade group UK Music recently launched its first-ever Diversity Taskforce, which found that females in the UK music industry account for around 60% of entry-level employees, but only for 30% of senior executives. Back in 2012, the UKs Association of Independent Music (AIM) found that only 15% of its label members were majority-owned by women. To date, no such measures have been taken in the US, or on a global scale. The likes of Nielsen, the Music Business Association and the RIAA regularly publish gender-related studies about music consumers and fans, but never about music professionals or their own membership. I decided to fill in that gap by quantifying the gender inequality problem at music conferences, the hubs where some of the industrys most powerful leaders and decision-makers converge to take the pulse on whats next. Data about who speaks at these conferences is widely and publicly available, but has never really been dissected or critically examinedperhaps because we are afraid to discuss the results. Data Summary I compiled and analyzed a dataset of 1,644 total speakers from the following music industry conferences, listed in chronological order: NY:LON Connect (January 2425, 2017 in London, UK) (January 2425, 2017 in London, UK) Pollstar Live! (January 31February 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA) FastForward (February 2324, 2017 in Amsterdam, NL) (February 2324, 2017 in Amsterdam, NL) SXSW Music (March 1317, 2017 in Austin, TX) (March 1317, 2017 in Austin, TX) Canadian Music Week (April 1921, 2017 in Toronto, ON) (April 1921, 2017 in Toronto, ON) Music Biz (May 1518, 2017 in Nashville, TN) (May 1518, 2017 in Nashville, TN) IMS Ibiza (May 2426, 2017 in Ibiza, Spain) (May 2426, 2017 in Ibiza, Spain) A2IM Indie Week (June 58, 2017 in New York, NY) (June 58, 2017 in New York, NY) Midem (June 69, 2017 in Cannes, France) (June 69, 2017 in Cannes, France) CD Baby DIY Musician Conference (August 2527, 2017 in Nashville, TN) (August 2527, 2017 in Nashville, TN) Bigsound (September 58, 2017 in Brisbane, AU) Future Music Forum (September 1315, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain) NYME Digital Music Forum (September 26, 2017 in New York, NY) (September 26, 2017 in New York, NY) Full disclaimer: I was a panelist at SXSW and FastForward this year, and attended the NYME Digital Music Forum and A2IM Indie Week as a member of the press. My active participation in these conferences doesnt necessarily bias my analysis, since Im taking objective measurements of gender parity. What it does do is enhance my understanding of these conferences goals and priorities, which certainly influences whom they invite to speak. I parsed each speakers job description to see whether gender inequality was consistent across different role hierarchies (e.g. C-Suite, Founders, VPs, Directors), role verticals (e.g. Digital, Licensing, A&R) and company verticals (e.g. Major/Indie Label, Booking Agency, Consulting Firm). For the sake of protecting speakers and friends identities, I anonymized the data for this writeup, but, again, non-anonymized information is widely and publicly available for your perusal. In addition, since my analysis is focused on the business side of music, I decided not to include full-time musicians, producers or songwriters in my dataset. These artists account only for around 6% of conference speakers anyway, and their gender imbalance is consistent with the wider average (yeah, I know, those two points alone warrant an entirely separate blog post), so the overall results are not significantly affected. View from the top From a birds-eye gender parity perspective, music conferences exacerbate real-world imbalances. 73% of speakers at these conferences are male. The percentage inches even higher among C-Suite executive speakers (CEOs, COOs, CMOs, etc.), 81% of whom are male. Compare this to the findings from the UK Music Diversity Taskforce, which we can assume is directionally similar to the US: the UK music industry overall is 54% male, while, as previously cited, the distribution skews to 70% male among senior executive ranks. This means that music conferences on average are actually doing a worse job with gender equality than the real world! By Conference: More equitable = less distinct To better understand each conferences positioning, I mapped them onto a bubble chart along axes of % male speakers and % speaker overlap (the proportion of speakers that a conference shares with other conferences in the dataset), as shown below. The bubble sizes refer to the relative conference size, as measured by the number of speakers (Future Music Forum, the unlabeled yellow dot, is the smallest, while Canadian Music Week is the largest).

To me, the most interesting takeaway from this graph is the negative correlation between male representation and speaker overlap. As the proportion of male speakers decreases, the number of overlapping speakers increasesi.e. conference lineups tend to becomes less distinct as they approach 50/50 gender parity. A common hypothesis to explain this relationship is that the same few top-level women frequent all the conferences, leaving little to no room for new, non-executive female voices. AIMs Marketing & Events Director Lara Baker recently wrote in the Huffington Post that there is a huge gap between the handful of go to women at the top and the many hard-working but unrecognized women in less senior roles who are billed as speakers. On one hand, a conferences gender parity level does have a stronger correlation with the distinctness of female speakers than with that of male speakers, as the above scatterplot demonstrates. On the other hand, in the aggregate, my dataset actually weakens this hypothesis, in the sense that theres more repetition among male speakers than among female speakers. In other words, conferences tend to book the same top-level men even more than they book the same women! See belowa typical conference (labeled AVERAGE) shares 23% of its male speakers and 19% of its female speakers with other conferences:

I want to call out the two conferences sitting on opposite sides of this chart, NY:LON Connect and Future Music Forum, to demonstrate how we can tie back this data to conferences motivations and goals. NY:LON has the least unique speaker lineup across both genders out of any other conference in the dataset: 38% of its female speakers and 57% of its male speakers have spoken at one or more other conferences. Yet, Id argue that this actually falls in line with NY:LONs objectives. On its website, the conference bills itself as a forum for leading executives from the international music industry to discuss and debate key issues in the business, as well as set the agenda for the coming year. In other words, NY:LON is an intimate gathering that caters to senior leaders who appreciate familiar faces and who arent necessarily looking for something new. In contrast, while Future Music Forum is the worst performer by gender parity (90% male speakers), the few female speakers it managed to recruit are completely unique to its own lineup, and its male speaker lineup is also relatively more unique compared to the average. As with NY:LON, this uniqueness falls in line with FMFs objective: catering to music futurists and equipped with its own startup competition, FMF aims to put new, entrepreneurial faces on the industry map and reset the industrys agenda. Its extreme gender imbalance, however, somewhat tarnishes this mission  and my point here is that not having enough female speakers to choose from is not a legitimate excuse. By Company/Role Vertical: Females lead the creative conversation, but tech and live events are male turf After quantifying gender inequality on a conference level, I investigated whether certain types of music companies had a worse gender imbalance than others  a topic that Ive never seen come up in conversations around conference diversity. The following chart shows the gender split across 34 company verticals, as parsed out from speakers job descriptions:

*Even though they are increasingly important in the music business, the following company verticals are excluded from this chart due to lack of conference representation and subsequently sparse data: Hospitality and Travel, Recording Studios, General Retail (e.g. Neiman Marcus), Security, Direct-to-Fan and Crowdfunding Platforms, Venture Capital, Accelerators and Incubators, and Game Developers. Collectively, these categories account for only 3% of speakers.

Why does this company-level analysis matter? If youre a conference organizer looking to book more female speakers, you shouldnt just be thinking about attaining equal overall numbers of men and women. You make the most meaningful impact by successfully inserting female voices into conversations where they are most absent. According to the above chart, the verticals with the most blatant void of female voices at this years music conferences are: LIVE EVENTS. This umbrella category includes venues (a staggering 95% male), festivals and conferences (83% male), concert promoters (81% male) and booking agencies (80% male). Ticketing companies have a slightly more equitable representation (67% male), but more often than not are detached from direct interactions with talent. Its no coincidence that some of the most harrowing, most widely-circulated accounts of sexism in the music industry have originated in live performance and promotion (here, here, This umbrella category includes venues (a staggering 95% male), festivals and conferences (83% male), concert promoters (81% male) and booking agencies (80% male). Ticketing companies have a slightly more equitable representation (67% male), but more often than not are detached from direct interactions with talent. Its no coincidence that some of the most harrowing, most widely-circulated accounts of sexism in the music industry have originated in live performance and promotion ( here here ), but the extent to which conferences continue to perpetuate this excessive masculine energy is pretty shocking. Especially considering that live events account for a growing proportion of music-industry revenue every year, a growing diversity of music professionals should have stakes in the conversation. STARTUPS AND TECH. This includes big-tech firms like Google and Facebook (82% male), hardware manufacturers (80% male), streaming services (77% male), VR/AR studios (68% male) and other music startups (86% male). Given all the recent coverage of sexism and gender inequality in Silicon Valley, and the subsequent ousting and resigning of previously powerful tech executives, this is hardly breaking news. Nonetheless, just as with live music, I think the fact that males are leading the conversation about how streaming and tech are almost singlehandedly responsible for the music industrys financial recovery is problematic and understated. VIDEO AND FILM. This category includes video companies like Vevo and Musical.ly (83% male) and film/TV studios like 20th Century Fox (86% male). Video is essential to the music industry for the same reason that live events are thriving: regardless of their gender, artists are nothing without their visual brand, and the digital age makes it easier to ideate, evolve and distribute this brand in real time. Yet, at least as displayed at music conferences, the demographic of key decision-makers in this space remains one-dimensional. In contrast, below are the verticals with the highest proportion of female voices. Note how they lean towards creative, educational and content-driven roles, rather than technical, operational or logistical ones: MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS (PR). This category includes PR firms (53% male, the most even split out of all company types) and independent marketing & creative agencies (67% male). These findings are consistent with research beyond music: according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up 63% of all PR specialists and 59% of PR managers, while a 2013 survey in the UK found that a whopping 75% of marketing professionals in the country are female (although only 7% make it to the senior executive ranks). SYNC AND MUSIC SUPERVISION. Right after PR, this is the next most equitable company vertical, with 55% male speakers. As a profession, sync is particularly interesting because it combines creative and fiscal challenges: in addition to developing an intimate knowledge of songs lyrical, emotional and cultural currency, being successful in this role requires adept skills in financial budgeting, licensing and contract negotiation. The success of women in sync gained more public traction when the first-ever Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Supervision was issued this year to a woman (Susan Jacobs for Big Little Lies), and was the only music award at the ceremony that was not heavily Right after PR, this is the next most equitable company vertical, with 55% male speakers. As a profession, sync is particularly interesting because it combines creative and fiscal challenges: in addition to developing an intimate knowledge of songs lyrical, emotional and cultural currency, being successful in this role requires adept skills in financial budgeting, licensing and contract negotiation. The success of women in sync gained more public traction when the first-ever Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Supervision was issued this year to a woman (Susan Jacobs for Big Little Lies), and was the only music award at the ceremony that was not heavily dominated by men RADIO AND EDITORIAL. At this years music conferences, Radio reps skew 64% male, while Editorial (online or print magazine writers and editorsyes, this includes me!) skews 65% male. This is consistent with some findings in the wider journalism industry: a 2014 At this years music conferences, Radio reps skew 64% male, while Editorial (online or print magazine writers and editorsyes, this includes me!) skews 65% male. This is consistent with some findings in the wider journalism industry: a 2014 study by UNESCO, for instance, found that 37% of radio stories were reported by women. Its worth noting that the vast majority of editorial reps are invited to music conferences as panel moderators, not as actual speakers, and are often the token female presence in an otherwise all-male session. If we dig deeper and look at the speakers individual job roles, rather than the companies for which they work, we see a similar pattern. Sync and marketing roles, as well as job titles with the keyword creative, have a higher proportion of female voices, while digital, product and engineering roles remain heavily male:

*The following company verticals are excluded from this chart due to lack of conference representation and subsequently sparse data: Communications, Research, Operations, and Live roles at non-live companies (e.g. Head of Live at Beggars Group).

Again, much of this falls in line with findings outside of the music industry. For instance, General Assembly, one of the most popular continuing-education startups, recently published data on its part-time student body revealing that women account for 70% of its digital marketing classes, but only for around 35% of more technical classes like data science and JavaScript development. The overall percentage of computing occupations held by women has actually been declining since 1991, and music conferences are certainly falling victim to this downward trend. One of the most concerning statistics to me is that only 20% of music conference speakers with Digital roles are female. The Digital umbrella doesnt just include hard-tech roles, but also encompasses key phrases like Digital Strategy, Digital Marketing and Digital Business. We can assume that those taking on Digital roles in the music industry are younger on average than those in other roles, since they need to be agile and up-to-date on the latest technologies. According to the UK Music Diversity Taskforce, younger age brackets should be more equitable with gender: while women account for only 33% of the music workforce between ages 45 and 64, that number increases to 55% of the workforce between ages 25 and 34. Yet, it is precisely these digital roles, supposedly set aside for younger generations, that are among the most behind when it comes to gender parity. By Role Hierarchy: Hail to the [male] chief Nearly 20% of speakers in this dataset are CEOs or Owners of their respective companies. As I previously mentioned, 81% of these high-level speakers are male, which certainly skews the overall gender imbalance across conferences. What about the rest of the corporate ladder? Taking conference names and company/role verticals out of the equation now, is gender parity at music conferences correlated with corporate hierarchy? At first, there doesnt seem to be any clear pattern:

However, if we segment these hierarchical keywords into the following three levels (in descending order of power), a much clearer trend emerges, as shown in the succeeding bar chart: Level 1 = CEO, Other C-Suite, Founder, Owner, President

Level 2 = EVP, SVP, Executive Director, Senior Director, Managing Director

Level 3 = VP, General Manager, Head, Director
Letter: Blackmer Best Choice to Succeed Cariddi

To the Editor:



Lisa Blackmer is the perfect candidate to follow the irreplaceable Gailanne Carriddi.

Rep. Carriddi was a strong voice for women during her too-brief career in the State House, and I believe that North Adams City Councilor Lisa Blackmer is a worthy successor to represent the district in the House. She mirrors Gail's public service to her home city; she has both public and private business experience and a deep commitment to North Berkshire.

I am not a resident in the district, but the Berkshire County legislative contingent has always hung together in its advocacy for our home county. I have always felt that my friend Gail represented me, too. I miss her sorely and want her successor to reflect her passion for service to us.

Please consider casting your vote for Lisa Blackmer.

Mary K. O'Brien

Pittsfield, Mass.

O'Brien was Middle Berkshire register of deeds for 30 years and is a longtime activist in local, state and national Democratic politics
Dr Fatih Birol, the IEA Executive Director, met in Paris today with Mr Nicolas Hulot, France's Minister of Ecological and Solidary Transition.

During the meeting they reviewed progress under each of the three pillars of the IEAs modernisation strategy: (i) How the IEA is taking a broadened approach to energy security that goes beyond oil to also cover natural gas and electricity; (ii) "Opening its doors" to the emerging economies; and (iii) Becoming a global hub for clean energy.

They also discussed what can be done to speed up the clean energy transition. This drew on the key findings of the latest IEA reports Renewables 2017 and Energy Efficiency 2017,which illustrate that while the clean energy transition is gathering momentum thanks to government support and vastly improved economics, more ambitious policies and technological innovation will still be needed.



Other topics covered included the IEA Ministerial, which will take place in Paris on 7-8 November, and opportunities for the IEA to expand its ongoing collaboration with the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
(L-R) Outgoing Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI) General Manager (GM) for Philippine Products Peter Morris is joined by incoming CPI GM Louie Zhang, Visa Country Manager for Philippines and Guam Stuart Tomlinson and Caltex-Visa payWave grand winner of P1-million Dominic Tan (second from right) as they give the thumbs-up sign in an awarding ceremony in Makati City.

Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), has recently announced the grand winner of Php1,000,000 to be credited to his Visa card from the Caltex-Visa payWave Drive Away a Millionaire promo, Dominic Tan of Davao City.

Tan, a regular user of Visa and other Caltex rewards partners such as Robinsons Rewards Cards and HappyPlus, has been going for fuel ups to the same Caltex station in Bajada, Davao City for the past seven years.

I actually did not believe when I first got the news. I immediately called my wife and she also could not believe that I won a million pesos. Were very happy right now with this huge gift from Caltex and Visa, and we will surely have a lot of time together with our kids enjoying this prize, Tan shared.

Caltex has improved payment facilities in participating stations through the Visa payWave technology to enhance Filipino motorists gas-up experience. Visas newest card feature allows cardholders to pay for Caltex fuels more conveniently by waving Visa payWave-enabled cards on contactless terminals.

Aside from the grand prize winner, Caltex also gave away Php100,000 worth of StarCash to three lucky winners each.

Partnering with Visa for the payWave contactless technology has allowed us to enrich our loyal customers fueling experience with value-added services, said General Manager, Philippine Products, and incoming CPI Country Chairman Louie Zhang.

We are pleased to partner with Caltex to reward Visa cardholders when they use Visa payWave to pay for their fuel purchases. Congratulations to all our winners, including Mr. Dominic Tan, who walks away with the grand prize of one million pesos. We remain committed to bringing more relevant rewards for our valued cardholders and hope that more Filipinos get to experience the benefits of using contactless payments in the Philippines, said Stuart Tomlinson, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines and Guam.

Customers may get in touch with their local banks to inquire about Visa payWave.

The Caltex Drive Away a Millionaire promo ran from April 15 to July 31, 2017 in all participating Caltex stations.
Imperial Valley News Center

Need to knows about home genetic testing

Rochester, Minnesota - Home genetic testing is growing in popularity around the world, and doctors at Mayo Clinic say it can be an educational asset as long as people understand what the tests do and don't do.

"Most of these kits are what I would consider to be informational or infotainment," Dr. Matthew Ferber says.

Dr. Ferber runs a genetic testing lab at Mayo Clinic and sees home genetic tests as a good that help educate people.

"Genetics is a complex topic, but it doesn't have to be intimidating or scary," he says.

Dr. Ferber says there are three things to know about what these tests do and don't do.

First, they are great for finding out about who your ancestors were and where they were from. They are also good for finding others who share the same genes.

"You can actually find out that you have relatives that you didn't know existed," he says.

Second, many home genetic tests can also tell you what diseases or medical conditions you are predisposed to.

But the third thing to know is that home genetic tests do not diagnose diseases or medical conditions.

"I think that these tests, though they can provide some interesting medical insights, it's completely different than having a detailed medical evaluation and medical workup," Dr. Ferber says.

So if a home genetic test shows your DNA indicates a strong chance of developing breast cancer, for example, you should take that information to your doctor so they can perform more specific tests to see if you actually have breast cancer or just high odds of getting it at some point.

Dr. Ferber will be moderating a panel discussion on home DNA kits at the 2017 Individualizing Medicine Conference: Advancing Care Through Genomics on October 9 in Rochester. The discussion will also feature research by Dr. Robert Green who co-directs one of the first NIH-funded, prospective studies of direct-to-consumer genetic testing services.
Imperial Valley News Center

President Trump's New Immigration Priorities

Washington, DC - Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson: "The President's new immigration priorities are focused on keeping Americans safe, ensuring our sovereignty through strong borders, and preserving our country as a nation of laws. The first duty of the federal government is to provide for the national security of the American people, and President Trump's measures will end vulnerabilities in our immigration system that hinder our ability to protect our homeland.

"The State Department will do its part by, among other measures, continuing to crack down on passport fraud, making sure all visa applicants are thoroughly screened, and putting pressure on countries to curb illegal immigration at the source. Working together with other federal agencies, we will continue to implement measures that strengthen vetting of those referred for refugee resettlement. Even as we take new steps to protect Americans, we will make sure the United States remains a beacon of liberty for people the world over."
Imperial Valley News Center

National cybersecurity awareness month: simple steps for online safety

Imperial, California - With each new devastating breach of securityEquifax, Deloitte, and Sonic, to name a few recent cyber failsthe need for increased cybersecurity awareness has never been more apparent. Its a good thing, then, that this month is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM).

Observed every October since 2004, NCSAM was created by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance to ensure that every American has the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online. According to the Department of Homeland Security, NCSAM was designed to engage and educate public and private sector partners through events and initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity, provide them with tools and resources needed to stay safe online, and increase the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident.

NCSAM is broken down into weekly themes, including online safety for consumers, securing business networks, looking ahead to the security of future technologies, careers in cybersecurity, and securing infrastructure.

And now Malwarebytes is doing its part. Each week on Labs, well focus on a theme and provide helpful articles, useful tips, and valuable analysis so that you can increase awareness and spread the word. This weeks theme: simple steps to online safety.

Week 1 of NCSAM features the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign, which provides easy, actionable advice for safe surfing. STOP: make sure security measures are in place. THINK: about the consequences of your actions and behaviors online. CONNECT: and enjoy the Internet.

Sounds pretty simple, right? But what exactly does it mean? Heres our interpretation.

Make sure security measures are in place

Its often mind-numbing to think about all the things you should and shouldnt be doing online. Heres where you use technology to do the heavy lifting. Make sure youve got the following equipped on your home computer:
Governor Brown Declares State of Emergency in Napa, Sonoma and Yuba Counties Due to Fires

Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an emergency proclamation for Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties due to the effects of multiple fires, including the Tubbs and Atlas fires, which have damaged critical infrastructure, threatened thousands of homes and caused the evacuation of residents.

PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS on October 8, 2017, the Tubbs Fire began burning in Napa County, the Atlas Fire began burning in Napa County and quickly spread into Sonoma County, and multiple other fires began burning in Napa, Sonoma, and Yuba Counties; and



WHEREAS these fires have destroyed structures and continue to threaten thousands of homes, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents; and



WHEREAS these fires have damaged and continue to threaten critical infrastructure and have forced the closure of major highways and local roads; and



WHEREAS extreme weather conditions including strong winds have further increased the spread of these fires; and



WHEREAS the Federal Emergency Management Agency has granted Fire Management Assistance Grants to assist with the mitigation, management, and control of the Tubbs Fire and Atlas Fire; and



WHEREAS the circumstances of these fires by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and



WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8558(b) of the Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exists in Napa, Sonoma, and Yuba Counties due to these fires; and



WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8571 of the Government Code, I find that strict compliance with the various statutes and regulations specified in this order would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of these fires.



NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist in Napa, Sonoma, and Yuba Counties.



IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. All agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan. Also, all residents are encouraged to heed the advice of emergency officials with regard to this emergency in order to protect their safety.



2. The California National Guard shall mobilize under Military and Veterans Code section 146 (mobilization in case of catastrophic fires) to support disaster response and relief efforts and coordinate with all relevant state agencies, including the Office of Emergency Services, and all relevant state and local emergency responders and law enforcement within the impacted areas.



3. The Office of Emergency Services shall provide local government assistance to Napa, Sonoma, and Yuba Counties, if appropriate, under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act, Government Code section 8680 et seq., and California Code of Regulations, Title 19, section 2900 et seq.



4. State statutes, rules, regulations and requirements are hereby suspended to the extent they apply to the following activities: (a) removal, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste and debris resulting from these fires that have burned and continues to burn in areas that are subject to the jurisdiction of agencies within the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Natural Resources Agency; and (b) necessary restoration and rehabilitation of timberland, streams, rivers, and other waterways. Such statutes, rules, regulations and requirements are hereby suspended only to the extent necessary for expediting the removal and cleanup of debris from these fires, and for implementing any restoration plan. Individuals who desire to conduct activities under this suspension of statutes, rules, regulations, and requirements shall first request that the appropriate Agency Secretary, or his delegate, make a determination that the proposed activities are eligible to be conducted under this suspension. The Secretary for the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary for the California Natural Resources Agency shall use sound discretion in applying this Executive Order to ensure that the suspension serves the purpose of accelerating cleanup and recovery, while at the same time protecting public health and the environment. This order shall apply to, but is not necessarily limited to: solid waste facility permits; waste discharge requirements for storage and disposal; emergency timber harvesting; emergency construction activities; and waste discharge requirements and/or Water Quality Certification for discharges of fill material or pollutants. To the extent it is within their administrative authority, the boards, departments and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Natural Resources Agency shall expedite the granting of other authorizations, waivers or permits necessary for the removal, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous debris resulting from these fires, and for other actions necessary for the protection of public health and the environment.



5. As necessary to assist local governments and for the protection of public health and the environment, state agencies shall enter into contracts to arrange for the procurement of materials, goods, and services necessary to quickly assist with the response to and recovery from the impacts of these fires. Applicable provisions of the Government Code and the Public Contract Code, including but not limited to travel, advertising, and competitive bidding requirements, are suspended to the extent necessary to address the effects of the fires.



6. The provisions of Unemployment Insurance Code section 1253 imposing a one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance applicants are suspended as to all applicants who are unemployed as a direct result of these fires, who applied for unemployment insurance benefits during the time period beginning October 8, 2017 and ending on the close of business on April 8, 2018, and who are otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.



7. Vehicle Code sections 9265(a), 9867, 14901, 14902, and 15255.2, requiring the imposition of fees, are suspended with regard to any request for replacement of a driver's identification card, vehicle registration certificate, or certificate of title, by any individual who lost such records as a result of these fires. Such records shall be replaced without charge.



8. The provisions of Vehicle Code sections 4602 and 5902, requiring the timely registration or transfer of title are suspended with regard to any registration or transfer of title by any resident of Napa, Sonoma, and Yuba County who is unable to comply with those requirements as a result of these fires. The time covered by this suspension shall not be included in calculating any late penalty pursuant to Vehicle Code section 9554.



9. Health and Safety Code sections 103525.5 and 103625, and Penal Code section 14251, requiring the imposition of fees are hereby suspended with regard to any request for copies of certificates of birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage records, by any individual who lost such records as a result of these fires. Such copies shall be provided without charge.



I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 9th day of October 2017.



__________________________

EDMUND G. BROWN JR.

Governor of California



ATTEST:



__________________________

ALEX PADILLA

Secretary of State
Breast Cancer Statistics, 2017

Atlanta, Georgia - Overall breast cancer death rates dropped 39 percent between 1989 and 2015, averting 322,600 breast cancer deaths during those 26 years. And while black women continue to have higher breast cancer death rates than whites nationally, death rates in several states are now statistically equivalent, perhaps reflecting an elimination of disparities in those states.

The findings come from Breast Cancer Statistics, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and its companion consumer publication Breast Cancer Facts & Figures, reports published every two years by the American Cancer Society to describe the latest trends in breast cancer incidence, mortality, survival, and screening by race/ethnicity in the United States, as well as state variations in these measures.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among U.S. women (excluding skin cancers) with about 252,710 new cases expected to be diagnosed in 2017. It is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S., after lung cancer; 40,610 women in the U.S. are expected to die from this disease in 2017.

Eighty-one percent of breast cancers are diagnosed among women ages 50 years and older, and 89% of breast cancer deaths occur in this age group. The median age at diagnosis for all women with breast cancer is 62 years; the median age at diagnosis is younger for black women than for white women; and the median age at breast cancer death is 68 years overall (70 years for white women and 62 years for black women).

The report outlines substantial variations in breast cancer incidence and mortality rates by race/ethnicity in the United States. Non-Hispanic white (NHW) and non-Hispanic black (NHB) women have higher breast cancer incidence and death rates than women of other race/ethnicities; Asian/Pacific Islander (API) women have the lowest incidence and death rates. Although the overall breast cancer incidence rate during 2010 through 2014 was slightly (2 percent) lower in NHB women (125.5 per 100,000) than in NHW women (128.7 per 100,000), the breast cancer death rate during 2011 through 2015 was 42 percent higher in NHB women (29.5 per 100,000) than in NHW women (20.8 per 100,000).

The steep declines in breast cancer death rates since 1989 have been attributed to both improvements in treatment and early detection by mammography. By the same token, not all women have benefited equally from these improvements, as evidenced by variation in mortality trends. A striking divergence in long-term breast cancer mortality trends between black and white women emerged in the early 1980s and continued to widen over the last several decades, but recent data suggest that the racial disparity may be stabilizing.

In fact, while the excess death rate in blacks varies widely in the United States, ranging from 20 percent in Nevada to 66 percent in Louisiana, in seven states there were no significant differences in breast cancer death rates between NHB and NHW women. In many of those states, the closing gap may reflect a lack of statistical power (small numbers of breast cancer deaths among black women). But in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Delaware, the similar rates suggest equitable breast cancer outcomes are achievable.

A large body of research suggests that the black-white breast cancer disparity results from a complex interaction of biologic and nonbiologic factors, including differences in stage at diagnosis, tumor characteristics, obesity, other health issues, as well as tumor characteristics, particularly a higher rate of triple negative cancer said Carol DeSantis, MPH, lead author of the report. "But the substantial geographic variation in breast cancer death rates confirms the role of social and structural factors, and the closing disparity in several states indicates that increasing access to health care to low-income populations can further progress the elimination of breast cancer disparities.
Its almost flu season - get your flu shot early

Imperial, California - This year's annual flu shot will offer protection against the H1N1 flu virus, in addition to two other influenza viruses that are expected to be in circulation this flu season. A vaccine that protects against four strains of the virus will also be available, as will a high-dose flu vaccine for adults age 65 and older.

Influenza is a respiratory infection that can cause serious complications, particularly to young children, older adults and people with certain medical conditions. Flu shots are the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age or older be vaccinated annually against influenza.

Here are the answers to common questions about flu shots:

When is the flu vaccine available?

Because the flu vaccine is produced by private manufacturers, its availability depends on when production is completed. For the 2017-2018 flu season, manufacturers have indicated shipments began in August and will continue throughout October and November until all vaccine is distributed. Doctors and nurses are encouraged to begin vaccinating people as soon as the flu vaccine is available in their areas.

It takes up to two weeks to build immunity after a flu shot, but you can benefit from the vaccine even if you don't get it until after the flu season starts.

Why do I need to get vaccinated every year?

New flu vaccines are released every year to keep up with rapidly adapting flu viruses. Because flu viruses evolve so quickly, last year's vaccine may not protect you from this year's viruses.

After vaccination, your immune system produces antibodies that will protect you from the vaccine viruses. In general, though, antibody levels start to decline over time  another reason to get a flu shot every year.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

The CDC recommends annual influenza vaccinations for everyone age 6 months or older. Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of influenza complications, including:

Pregnant women

Older adults

Young children

Children between 6 months and 8 years may need two doses of the flu vaccine, given at least four weeks apart, to be fully protected. Check with your child's health care provider.

Chronic medical conditions also can increase your risk of influenza complications. Examples include:

Asthma

Cancer or cancer treatment

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Cystic fibrosis

Diabetes

HIV/AIDS

Kidney or liver disease

Obesity

Who shouldn't get a flu shot?

Check with your doctor before receiving a flu vaccine if:

You're allergic to eggs. Most types of flu vaccines contain a small amount of egg protein. If you have an egg allergy, you can receive the flu shot without any additional precautions. If you have a severe egg allergy, you should be vaccinated in a medical setting and be supervised by a doctor who is able to recognize and manage severe allergic conditions. There are also flu vaccines that don't contain egg proteins, and are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for use in people age 18 and older. Consult your doctor about your options.

You had a severe reaction to a previous flu vaccine. The flu vaccine isn't recommended for anyone who had a severe reaction to a previous flu vaccine. Check with your doctor first, though. Some reactions might not be related to the vaccine.

What are my flu vaccine delivery options?

The flu vaccine is recommended as an injection only. While there is an FDA-approved nasal spray vaccine that consists of a low dose of live but weakened flu virus, the CDC no longer recommends nasal spray flu vaccinations because during recent flu seasons, the spray has been relatively ineffective.

The flu shot contains an inactivated vaccine made of killed virus. Because the viruses in this vaccine are killed (inactivated), the shot won't cause you to get the flu, but it will enable your body to develop the antibodies necessary to ward off influenza viruses.

The injection is usually given in a muscle in the arm. If you're between 18 and 64 years of age, you may also choose an in-the-skin (intradermal) vaccine, or you may prefer to have your vaccine delivered using a jet injector device, which uses a high-pressure, narrow stream of fluid to penetrate the skin instead of a needle.

Can the vaccine give me the flu?

No. The flu vaccine can't give you the flu. But you might develop flu-like symptoms  despite getting a flu shot  for a variety of reasons, including:

Reaction to the vaccine. Some people experience muscle aches and a fever for a day or two after receiving a flu shot. This may be a side effect of your body's production of protective antibodies.

The two-week window. It takes about two weeks for the flu shot to take full effect. If you're exposed to the influenza virus shortly before or during that time period, you might catch the flu.

Mismatched flu viruses. In some years, the influenza viruses used for the vaccine don't match the viruses circulating during the flu season. If this occurs, your flu shot will be less effective, but may still offer some protection.

Other illnesses. Many other diseases, such as the common cold, also produce flu-like symptoms. So you may think you have the flu when you actually don't.

What kind of protection does the flu vaccine offer?

How well the flu vaccine works can vary. The flu vaccine is generally more effective among healthy children age 2 and older and adults age 64 and younger. Some older people and people with certain medical conditions may develop less immunity after receiving a flu shot.

According to the CDC, in past flu seasons when the match between the flu vaccine and circulating strains of flu virus is close, a flu shot is 40 to 60 percent effective in reducing the risk of getting influenza among people of all ages.

Can I lower my risk of the flu without getting a flu shot?

With or without a flu shot, you can take steps to help protect yourself from the flu and other viruses. Good hygiene remains your primary defense against contagious illnesses.
Ucoms mobile customers will benefit from the best internet roaming rate of 8 AMD/MB when travelling to Georgia, Egypt or the UAE

Ameriabank Launches Google Pay and Google Wallet Support for Card Users in Armenia

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases.

UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS

Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts

Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum

Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom

Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Google Ad

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces
NIH Renews Mayo Clinics Clinical and Translational Research Award

Rochester, Minnesota - The National Institutes of Health has renewed one of Mayo Clinics largest government research grants for five more years, ensuring support for clinical and translational research and training through 2022. The grant supports Mayo researchers in translating discoveries to address unmet patient needs, while engaging physicians and scientists at all levels.

We are very pleased at this news and the continued confidence from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, says Sundeep Khosla, M.D., director of Mayos Center for Clinical and Translational Science, and principal investigator on the grant. This will allow us to build on the last decade of success and especially to bolster our educational programs for researchers and our community engagement efforts for clinical research participants.

The award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, totaling $48.8 million, is effective immediately.

Originally awarded to only 12 institutions in 2006, the grant supports Mayo researchers in translating discoveries to help patients, while engaging physicians and scientists at all levels. The award is designed to fund facilities and education programs for clinical research. It was last renewed in 2011.

The Center for Clinical and Translational Science supports the infrastructure that enables Mayo investigators to perform cutting-edge clinical research. That includes Mayos Clinic Research and Trials Unit, which provides fully-equipped clinical research areas inside hospitals; a consulting and resource service center for researchers; a masters and certificate program in clinical research; a variety of mentorship programs; and a community engagement program. The centers education programs serve more than 8,100 individuals every year.

The NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards program supports a national network of medical research institutions collaborating to transform how clinical and translational science is conducted nationwide.
British Man With Hearing Difficulty Discovers Bud Stuck in His Ear for Five Years
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His writing so alive, so vibrant, it may seem as if Ernest Hemingway offered a large part of himself to readers. In truth, he was a far more private man.

As evident within the fourth of 17 volumes to be published by the Cambridge University Press, The Guardian reports, which sees Hemingway note: "If I'm to write at all, I have to keep my private life out of it."

Another letter unveils that he forbid a publisher from ever utilising personal publicity because he wanted his work judged as fiction; he was outraged by the biographical blurb published alongside an edition of The Sun Also Rises.

Complaining to his editor, Maxwell Perkins, he stated that the publisher must "at once remove that biographical crap ie SH*T about me on the back wrapper", specifically "any reference to war service or my private life such as marriage".

"It is no good my trying to keep my private life out of things and avoid bullsh*t publicity if it is then to be spread in mass production," he added. The jackets in question were swiftly destroyed, under threats Hemingway would never publish with them again.

The new volume of letters opens with Hemingway making final revisions to A Farewell to Arms, while tracking the sudden international celebrity its publishing brought upon him.

This book has been my first experience with getting letters from people who have read it," he wrote to fellow author Hugh Walpole. "What are you supposed to do? Ive answered them all  and have done nothing else."

"Its a bloody business  takes 20 minutes or half-an-hour to thank them for writing Do they become angry if you dont answer?... Or do they get sullen and never buy another?"

The Letters of Ernest Hemingway: Volume 4, 1929-1931 does not yet have a release date.
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War crimes investigators once claimed Angelina Jolie offered to be part of a plan involving US special forces to try and catch Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony in 2012.

A French investigative site called Mediapart obtained 40,000 International Criminal Court (ICC) documents which contained emails between the actress and former ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, The Sunday Times reported.

The court has been tasked with cases of genocide and other war crimes.

Recommended Ugandan army calls off search for Joseph Kony

The report said Jolie's now-estranged husband, Brad Pitt, was supposed to be part of the plan to lure Kony out of hiding.

However, it never came to be.

An email sent by Mr Moreno Ocampo at the time read: Forget other celebrities, she is the one...She loves to arrest Kony. She is ready. Probably Brad [Pitt] will go also.

Angelina Jolie at migrant camp

According to the newspaper, Mr Moreno Ocampo was hopeful that the couple would travel with US special forces to Central African Republic and that would draw Kony out of an armoured compound, allowing for his capture.

He said in one exchange to invite Kony to dinner and then arrest him," implying Ms Jolie volunteered to be some sort of bait US forces could use.

The Oscar-winning star and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for refugees sent a reply to Mr Moreno Ocampo that said: Brad is being supportive. Lets discuss logistics. Much love Xxx.

In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Show all 12 1 /12 In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Oryem Kenneth, 42 Oryem was abducted by the LRA for two days in 2003. They cut off his lips and ears with a knife and his fingers with an axe Christian Aid / Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Maracillina Amee, 68 In the early 1990s, Ugandan LRA soldiers attacked Maracillina's village, killed her 10-year-old daughter and cut off her nose with a knife Christian Aid / Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Lucy Lamara, 51 In 2003, Lucy was shot through the mouth by an LRA soldier and lost an eye. The wound still bleeds and she suffers almost constant headaches Christian Aid / Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Oyaka Evelino Jalon, 52 The LRA removed Oyakas eye with a bayonet and cut his torso during an attack on his village. Almost 50 people died in the massacre Christian Aid / Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Oryem Kenneth, 42 Oryem Kenneth, 42, was abducted by the LRA for two days in 2003. They cut off his lips and ears with a knife and his fingers with an axe Christian Aid / Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Unnamed mutilation victim No one knows how many people were maimed by the LRA in northern Uganda  yet thousands are thought to bear the scars. Mutilation  the hacking away of lips, ears, noses, hands and feet, with pangas (machetes), scissors and knives  was the groups grotesque calling card. Christian Aid / Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Dorina Adjero, 68 Dorina Adjeros husband, Luzy, 41, and youngest son, Ben, 20, were bludgeoned to death with wooden posts in an LRA attack on their village in December 1991. I am still scared even though Kony isnt here anymore. I believe he is possessed by evil spirits. He is a monster. Christian Aid / Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Norman Okello, 30 Norman Okello was abducted when he was just 12 years old. Still only a child, he was brainwashed by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and forced to kill and maim his own Acholi people in northern Uganda. I have learned how human beings are weak and I have also learned you can do anything when somebody is forcing you.' Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Geoffrey Okello, 24 Geoffrey Okellos younger sister was brutally killed by Ugandan Army soldiers when he was just five. We found dead bodies everywhere. My sister was lying on the road and her head had been smashed in at the back. We have never had any condolences from the Ugandan government. Christian Aid / Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Martin Olanya, 72 Martin was at hospital with his youngest daughter when a 30-strong rebel group struck his village. Even now I still feel a lot of anger. Maybe it is just too much to see the faces of returned child soldiers when your heart and mind are not yet mended. Christian Aid / Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Neckolina Lakot, 72 In December 1991, when returning home after spending the night in the bush to avoid LRA attacks, Neckolinas family encountered a group of rebels lying in wait on the road to their village. I am getting old and I might not live much longer to tell my story to others and I feel that its important to tell it publicly so that there is a permanent document of what happened here. Christian Aid / Will Storr In Kony's shadow: Lord's Resistance Army survivor stories Magdelena Lamunu, 70 Sheltering two young children, Magdelena watched helplessly as rebels abducted her teenage son. He has still not returned from the bush. I am sharing my story to help me to forget it  it relieves me of the pain Ive been going through. Christian Aid / Will Storr

Kony, the leader of Lords Resistance Army, was accused in 2005 of kidnapping and conscripting approximately 30,000 children as soldiers and sex slaves and has evaded capture since then.

Ms Jolie, a mother of six and longtime champion of childrens causes, told The Telegraph in 2012: Hes an extraordinarily horrible human being.

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Ms Jolie and Mr Moreno Ocampo were not strangers before the email exchange. She had gone to the ICC at The Hague, Netherlands to watch him prosecute Thomas Lubanga of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the first person to ever be convicted by the court.

Lubanga and his group were found guilty of ethnic cleansing, rape, torture, and conscripting child soldiers.

The Mediapart documents show that communication between the two tapered off after the Kony email exchange.

Mr Moreno Ocampo claimed in a statement to the Financial Times that: Someone is attempting to blackmail me using illegally obtained information.
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While Philip Pullman fans have waited over a decade for the sequel to His Dark Materials, it seems that some were luckier than others with an accidental early release.

Dutch publisher Uitgeverij Prometheus sent out copies of La Belle Sauvage, the first instalment of Pullmans upcoming Book of Dust trilogy, to bookshops in the Netherlands last week. Although the official worldwide release date is confirmed for 19 October, the publisher lists theirs as 4 October on their website.

Translated as Het boek van Stof, the early Dutch release was brought to Pullmans attention by a fan on Twitter - who was unaware until this point.

The authors agent Caradoc King told The Guardian: We are aware that some copies of the Dutch edition have been made available in Holland and action has been taken to recall these immediately.

Prometheus editor Job Lisman assured fans that, to his knowledge, no early release copies were actually sold.

The Book of Dust trilogy arrives 17 years after His Dark Materials concluded with the Amber Spyglass in 2000. Closely linked to the original trilogy, the upcoming new books have been dubbed not as a sequel or prequel, but as an equal by the author, set to stand beside the story and characters of His Dark Materials, with Lyra at the centre of the story.
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French actor Jean Rochefort, who starred in more than 100 films over five decades, has died in Paris aged 87.

The screen icon's first big role arrived in Cannes Palme d'Or nominee Hearth Fires alongside Annie Girardot in 1972 after studying drama at the famed Centre d'Art Dramatique de la rue Blanche and racking up stage credits as part of troupe Compagnie Grenier Hussenot.

His profile was raised considerably after starring in comedy An Elephant Can Be Extremely Deceptive which earned a Golden Globe nomination in 1977.

Rochefort - recognisable for his iconic moustache - was the actor who was set to play the title character in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, Terry Gilliam's long-gestating passion project which failed to get off the ground following a series of obstacles in 1998.

Branded "the perfect Quixote" by Gilliam, Rochefort was forced to step down as lead after suffering a herniated disc, an event which saw production shut down on the film months later.

He would go on to appear alongside fellow actor Johnny Depp in Lost in La Mancha, a documentary detailing the film's troubled history.

Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Show all 15 1 /15 Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Director: Martin McDonagh Martin McDonagh Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Caleb Landry Jones Plot: In this darkly comic drama, a mother personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughter's murder, when they fail to catch the culprit. Twentieth Century Fox Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Call Me By Your Name Director: Luca Guadagnino Luca Guadagnino Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg Plot: A young man named Elio, living in Italy during the 1980s, meets Oliver, an academic who has come to stay at his parents' villa, and a passionate relationship develops between them, as they bond over their sexuality, their Jewish heritage, and the landscape. Sony Pictures Classics Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Dunkirk Director: Christopher Nolan Christopher Nolan Cast: Harry Styles, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance Plot: In May 1940, Germany advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French forces, troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach using every serviceable naval and civilian vessel that could be found. At the end of this heroic mission, 330,000 French, British, Belgian and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated. Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Get Out Director: Jordan Peele Jordan Peele Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener Plot: This horror drama follows a young interracial couple who visit the girl's parents only for her boyfriend to uncover a conspiracy whereby young black adults are being captured. Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Downsizing Director: Alexander Payne Alexander Payne Cast: Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Waltz, Alec Baldwin Plot: A man and his wife join a community of miniaturized people after undergoing a process to shrink themselves. Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 The Florida Project Director:Sean Baker Sean Baker Cast:Willem Dafoe, Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince Plot: A precocious 6-year-old and her friends are homeless, living in extended-stay motels, but their summer is still filled with childhood wonder and adventure. Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 The Post Director: Steven Spielberg Steven Spielberg Cast: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Alison Brie, Sarah Paulson Plot: Ben Bradlee and Kay Graham of The Washington Post challenge the federal government for the right to publish classified information in 1971. Twentieth Century Fox Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 The Shape of Water Director: Guillermo del Toro Guillermo del Toro Cast: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Doug Jones Plot: In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda discover a secret classified experiment. Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Molly's Game Director: Aaron Sorkin Aaron Sorkin Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner Plot: The true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target. Courtesy of STXfilms Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 The Big Sick Director: Michael Showalter Michael Showalter Cast: Kumail Najiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano Plot: Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings. Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Mudbound Director: Dee Rees Dee Rees Cast: Jason Clarke, Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blige, Garrett Hedlund Plot: This Netflix film follows two who men return home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi, where they struggle to deal with racism and adjusting to life after war. Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 The Disaster Artist Director: James Franco James Franco Cast: James Franco, Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Zac Efron Plot: A big screen re-enactment of the making of Tommy Wiseau's cult film The Room deemed 'the worst movie of all time.' Getty Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Phantom Thread Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Paul Thomas Anderson Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville, Vicky Krieps Plot: Set in 1950's London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover. Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Lady Bird Director: Greta Gerwig Greta Gerwig Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Beanie Feldstein, Tracy Letts Plot: Gerwig's deirectorial debut is a coming-of-age story about a high-school senior (Ronan) and her turbulent relationship with her mother (Metcalf). Early Oscars Best Picture Contenders 2018 Darkest Hour Director: Joe Wright Joe Wright Cast: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, Ben Mendelsohn Plot: The film follows Winston Churchill's early days as Prime Minister while Hitler closes in on Britain during World War II.

The Parisian became the narrator of the French version of Welcome to Pooh Corner earning him popularity among children at the time. Consequently, Disney later hired the actor to record several audio versions of their classic movies.

His most recent credits include Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007) and sci-fi animation April and the Extraordinary World in which he lent his voice talents alongside Marion Cotillard. His final screen credit was French comedy-drama Floride which was released in 2015.
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Craig David is in a good mood. And why wouldnt he be?

Barely a year since the release of his No 1 album Following My Intuition, hes preparing to release a follow-up: The Time Is Now, in January 2018. His club night TS5 is now a juggernaut of an event, and theres a unanimous sense that hes reinstated himself back into the mainstream.

The last year has been amazing, he says. Some of the things going on, and then to think that the last album only came out a year ago.

I think it was because I was in a really creative place. I still am. Off the back of the album dropping, the arena tour I hit the ground running and didnt stop. I was in the studio and carried on throughout Christmas, New Years, and all of a sudden I had all these songs. I thought, You know what, we could actually release another album with this. Times have changed from people waiting for a certain period of time, and if youve got it, and youre not rushing it, then go for it.

On Following My Intuition there were plenty of nods to the old-school garage music that David helped to pioneer with his debut Born To Do It in 2000.

On The Time Is Now theres a clear progression of his sound, that maintains the best elements of garage and brings in UK R&B, electronic and grime music with a smorgasbord of guest features, from AJ Tracey to GoldLink, Bastille to Kaytranada.

Some songs, like its catchy, sweetly optimistic first single Heartline, have that same uplifting feel as many of the tracks on Following My Intuition. Others, like Live In The Moment featuring US rapper GoldLink, have a harder, sexier tone. If you were sceptical about Davids comeback before, you wont be when The Time Is Now drops next year.

One particular standout is I Know You, Davids collaboration with Bastilles Dan Smith, which follows the bands stint as his backing band when he made a surprise appearance for their Apple Music Festival show. Opening with cool, dreamy synth notes it builds to what David calls an anti-chorus that unfolds beautifully with anthemic harmonising between him and Smith.

When we were finishing the song, even when the first melody came out... [He sings it to demonstrate].

Its weird, when youve written a certain number of songs, you know when a song has something. Im so glad we actually did it, because we were talking about it for so long. But to also have a song that in its own right, if someone else was singing it and I heard it Id be like I wish Id written that.

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I think every session I approach as something fun. When me and Dan came in together we were in sync, we were both open to doing something that leant a little bit out of our comfort zones. I think itll surprise a lot of Bastille fans, and my fans as well maybe. Theres something about this song. It feels like we delivered on something more than we could have delivered apart. These songs feel like theyll stand the test of time.

I think this music has given me the chance to  not only have a journey with people who have grown up with my music  but also have a whole new generation who have discovered it (Supplied)

Making another album after Following My Intuition felt really organic, he says, and would have happened regardless of whether hed made it to No 1 in the album charts. And the features on this record happened almost in spite of that.

While David probably had his pick of artists wanting to feature on The Time Is Now, he chose to work with artists who are still growing  who still have a buzz around them. On Get Involved he switches up the dynamic of the record entirely with JP Cooper, where he sings a steely warning about a girl whos not quite right. David says it reminds him of the vibe of Eminems Guilty Conscience.

I feel like a lot of these artists on the album are already stars in their own right, just give them time, and Im so grateful to be a part of what theyre doing, he says.

Its so easy to go established with collaborations, but I love this, because I just think in a couple of years where AJ Tracey blows up and Kaytranada becomes like the new Pharrell And it was also to make sure the songs stand up on their own. Sometimes Ive heard collaborations where on paper it sounds alright, and Ive bought into the hype, but if you stripped it back and thought, If this was a brand new artist would you be that into this song?

So David will become one of a few artists who are championing an album of collaborations with exciting new stars, rather than those who are already established, placing The Time Is Now alongside records such as Mura Masas self-titled debut, Kaytranadas 99.9%, and Calvin Harriss Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1.

On this latest record, Calvin could have done a fall-the-floor EDM record, David nods. But he was like, You know what? Im gonna do Slide. Frank Ocean. Completely curveball and still smash it. Thats someone who lives this, its not a hobby for him. And I think thats kind of the way I live this music. From Rewind to all the way now.

Hes touched at the thought that hes re-established himself as a credible artist following one or two bumps in the road  no mean feat in an industry thats forgotten the next big thing by the middle of next week. British songwriter Wayne Hector (One Direction, Westlife, Nicki Minaj) who worked with David on Rewind: The Collection, came up with an analogy for his career, which he loves.

Your career is a bit like you jumped on a bicycle, and both the wheels are in sync, David says. Then theres a point where the wheels can start to go out of sync. Some people might jump off. But if you stay on the bike, theres a moment theyll start to go back in sync again. And he used that as a way of describing my career. You stay on and it comes back round. And to see this, now, is madness.

Davids return seems to have captured the imagination of both young and old (Supplied)

Its slightly depressing to think about how a cretin with a rubber mask managed to obscure an artist who, in 2000, had just released one of the most exceptional debut albums of the year. Yet David, who is naturally positive, does not appear to resent how hard hes had to work to get to where he is now.

What I love is that I know whats going on behind the scenes. The TS5 house parties building that for three or four years to where youre standing in front of a Glastonbury crowd like its a rave, doing a 25 minute show, and thinking how far this has come.

I think this music has given me the chance to - not only have a journey with people who have grown up with my music  but also have a whole new generation who have discovered it. For me thats so exciting, to see people who are gonna hear UK R&B (I say *UK* because it feels inherently British) and having young kids saying this is different. Most of the younger generation have only heard my dance stuff.

Davids TS5 sets are undeniably thrilling to attend. At Hackney club Shapes in 2015, when the music industry and his fans were suddenly buzzing at hints of a comeback, he played his classic tracks, hinted at new ones and re-worked hits by other artists to an at-capacity venue, with a superb understanding of his audiences craving for nostalgia and the new.

It does feel that TS5 gave me such a new lease of life, he says now. Id play Music Sounds Better With You over Wild Thoughts, do a freestyle, and the crowds He stops and shakes his head, smiling at the memory.

The one I was doing in Ibiza, Ive seen the age range is like 18-35. So when youre seeing 18-year-olds going mad for the Stardust thing cool guys over there giving it something, girls with their friends. But Music Sounds Better is Nineties So its the same mindset that I was in when I was doing Rewind, I was testing songs.

I played Rewind so many times in the club, to see which parts were working, see how the crowd reacted to it. And the younger and the older generation are loving it. Thats what TS5 allows me to do, gauge what is actually happening. Not whats playing on the radio, whats playing on here. Seeing someones face light up, or if theyre not really into it. You need that, because otherwise youre out of touch with what people are feeling.

Heartline, the first single from The Time Is Now, is out now. Craig David will be performing in November at O2 Academy Brixton, The Warehouse Project in Manchester, and the O2 Academy Birmingham in early November

The Time Is Now will be released on 26 January 2018  pre-order here
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Over the last few weeks, the Confederacy has been widely debated, sparked primarily after white supremacists protested a Confederate statue being taken down in Charlottesville.

Due to the ongoing conversation, John Oliver decided to tackle the subject on Last Week Tonight, beginning with a comparison to Jimmy Savile.

The former English TV personality was celebrated while alive, being honoured with a knighthood. However, following Saviles death, allegations of sexual abuse were finally reported, memorials to the offender being removed from around the UK.

Once we found out he was a monster, we decided it was not right to publicly glorify him, Oliver told the audience. Which brings us to our main story, the Confederacy: Americas tracksuit sex offender.

Oliver then spoke about the history of the Confederacy, explaining how Confederates were fighting for the right to keep slaves To put it simply, they wanted to own black people, and they didnt much care how.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

However, only 38% of Americans actually know what the Confederates fought for. Oliver reasoned that history cannot be changed  Im English and I would like to go to an Indian restaurant at some point in my life  but concluded some parts of history cannot be celebrated.

Some of these statues commemorate people who fought a war to preserve slavery, were erected to assert white supremacy, and were dedicated by clan members, Oliver said. Yet theres a blanket deference given by everyone, including this guy.

The host then played a clip of Trump saying history should be preserved You really do have to ask, where does it stop? Oliver quipped back that there is an answer to that question, because everything stops somewhere: You let your kid have twizzlers but not inject black tar heroin.

Oliver then offered some statues that could replace those celebrating Confederates, including Robert Smalls, a former slave who became the first black member of Congress.

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For a statue South Carolina could have, Oliver said: As for Charleston, South Carolina, Oliver argued, Why have a divisive Confederate statue when that pedestal can be filled by your favourite son, the Actual Stephen Colbert, who will stand there all day and tell you fun facts about your wonderful, town?

Underneath a sheet was, indeed, the real Stephen Colbert, who offered some fun facts about Charleston, including the city being home to Americas first free public library. Watch the clip below.

Last week, Oliver called out Donald Trump over his racist response to Puerto Rico, particularly the Presidents comments on the people of Puerto Rico being lazy.
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A Briton facing jail in Dubai after touching a mans hip has spoken out about his ordeal.

Jamie Harron, a Scottish electrician who was visiting Dubai during a stopover on a business trip to Afghanistan, appeared in court on Sunday.

Mr Harrons lawyers say he brushed against the man in order to avoid spilling his drinks at the popular Rock Bottom Bar.

He was charged with drinking alcohol and public indecency, and is due in court again in a couple of weeks' time, although an exact date has not yet been fixed.

In a press release, the Scot said the ordeal had left him "broken financially and emotionally".

The whole thing is like a horrible dream and I just dont know when it is going to end. I thought it would be over by now but it feels like it will never be, the statement said.

Dubai's new 3bn theme park Show all 6 1 /6 Dubai's new 3bn theme park Dubai's new 3bn theme park The Bollywood theme park Dubai Parks and Resorts Dubai's new 3bn theme park The Legoland Water Park Dubai Parks and Resorts Dubai's new 3bn theme park The Boardwalk area housing retail and food outlets Dubai Parks and Resorts Dubai's new 3bn theme park The Motiongate area Dubai Parks and Resorts Dubai's new 3bn theme park Motiongate Dubai Parks and Resort Dubai's new 3bn theme park A map of the entire complex Dubai Parks and Resorts

Mr Harron, who could face up to three years in jail, has lost his job and incurred more than 30,000 in expenses and legal fees, according to his family.

The 27-year-olds parents have also spoken of their distress while waiting for their son to be sentenced.

Speaking to Detained in Dubai, a campaign group that represents foreign nationals arrested in the Gulf state, his father said: "[My wife] and I have not been able to relax for a moment. We never dreamed we would have to face something like this.

"We can't believe that this nightmare has gone on for three months. Jamie is a good boy. He has never been a problem and never in trouble.

"We are a very close family and it is killing us to think of him spending even three nights in jail, let alone three years."

He also attacked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for promoting tourism to the region, saying: "People have to stop visiting that country.

"Since Jamie was arrested, I have researched and found that this is more common than any of us think.

"It is unacceptable the FCO actually promotes the United Arab Emirates to British tourists."

Although tourists are permitted to drink alcohol in Dubai, they must first purchase a licence to do so.

Purchasing alcohol without a licence is a criminal offence, as is being under the influence of alcohol in public, according to the FCO.

The countrys indecency laws also prohibit kissing, dancing, swearing and making rude gestures in public.
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Richard Thaler, the father of nudge theory, has been awarded the Nobel economics prize.

But what is nudge theory? Does it actually work? And why should we care?

What is a nudge?

The concept is a relatively subtle policy shift that encourages people to make decisions that are in their broad self-interest.

Its not about penalising people financially if they dont act in certain way.

Its about making it easier for them to make a certain decision.

By knowing how people think, we can make it easier for them to choose what is best for them, their families and society, wrote Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein in their book Nudge, which was published in 2008.

For example?

A good recent example can be found in UK pension policy.

In order to increase worryingly low pension saving rates among private sector workers the Government mandated employers to establish an automatic enrolment scheme in 2012.

This meant that workers would be automatically placed into a firms scheme, and contributions would be deducted from their pay packet, unless they formally requested to be exempted.

The theory was that many people actually wanted to put more money aside for retirement but they were put off from doing so by the need to make what they feared would be complicated decisions.

The idea was that auto enrolment would make saving the default for employees, and thus make it easier for them to do what they really wanted to do and push up savings rates.

Has it worked?

Very much so.

Since auto enrolment was introduced by the Government in 2012, active membership of private sector pension schemes has jumped from 2.7 million to 7.7 million in 2016.

(PA)

Anything else?

Organ donation is another example of an area where nudge policy is seen to have worked.

Spain operates an opt-out system, whereby all citizens are automatically registered for organ donation unless they choose to state otherwise.

This is different from the UK where donors have to opt in.

The Spanish opt-out system is one of the reasons Spain is a world leader in organ donation.

France also switched to an opt-out regime this year. Theresa May said at the Tory Party conference that the UK would do the same.

The theory is the same as with pensions: deep down most people want to be donors if they die in an accident and their organs could be used to save someone elses life but for various reasons never get around to registering.

The opt-out system makes it easier for them to do what they really want to do.

However, Mr Thaler actually prefers a system of prompted choice on organ donations to opt out.

This would prompt people to register at various points, such as when they apply for, or renew, a driving licence.

Doesnt this nudging infringe civil liberties?

The concept has certainly been criticised as paternalistic.

Yet its hard for libertarians to make a persuasive case against such policy nudges in the fields of pensions and organ donation because the opt-out option always remains available for people.

So politicians are all using nudge now?

It is proving increasingly popular.

The previous US president Barack Obama recruited Cass Sunstein as an adviser and exhorted US government departments to adopt behavioural economic concepts such as nudge.

In 2010 the UK Government set up a Behavioural Insights Team, commonly dubbed a nudge unit, to develop policies.

Administrations in Denmark, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands have also shown an interest.
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While most London-based bankers are brushing up on their German to prepare for a move to Frankfurt post-Brexit, senior staff at French investment banks expect to bow to Government pressure to bring jobs home to Paris.

Most international banks in London have declared where they will move their European business in the event of a hard Brexit, in which the UK would give up access to the single market, including financial passporting rights.

Frankfurt is by far the favourite. European giant Deutsche Bank, for example, said in April up to 4,000 UK jobs could move to Germany.

Although French banks have been wavering about their plans, the bankers who work for them in London believe pressure from the Government of Emmanuel Macron, himself a former investment banker, makes a Paris move almost certain.

The Macron administration is really pushing for the French banks to move some of us to Paris, setting up international schools there and talking tax breaks, said a senior London-based banker at one of the three main French investment banks.

Personally, I am preparing for life in Paris. Unless we get a (soft) Brexit deal, its almost inevitable, he said, asking not to be named because, like others interviewed for this story, he was not authorised to speak to the media.

That sentiment was echoed by a second London-based source from another top bank.

Most of the Americans are moving to Frankfurt and a lot of them are very advanced in their plans, so theres a lot of pressure for us, he said.

A source at Frances finance ministry maintained there was no undue pressure on the banks, but acknowledged the Government was keen for domestic lenders to base more jobs in France.

This Government is doing a lot in terms of attractiveness like getting rid of the wealth tax. We want the banks to live up to promises they have made, we want them to make a concrete gesture, one ministry source told Reuters.

French banks feel they can afford to wait until the details around Brexit become clearer because they already have EU licences through their Paris headquarters, unlike their US counterparts, which conduct nearly all of their European investment banking business out of London.

Frances two biggest investment banks in London, BNP Paribas and Societe Generale, have not set out firm plans, though SocGen CEO Frederic Oudea told Reuters in June it could move 300-400 out of the 2,000 investment banking jobs to Paris.

Credit Agricole, the third biggest, has moved its 10-person European Government bonds trading platform to Paris, but a source at the bank said the move was not related to Brexit.

All three declined to comment.

French authorities want to convince the financial community that the sector is no longer seen as the enemy, as former socialist President Francois Hollande once called it.

The previous Government was an ideological one; this one is pragmatic, a senior French banker at one of the top three told Reuters in Paris.

Banks moving to Germany aim to take advantage of the countrys AAA credit rating, relatively attractive tax regime and strong economic track record.

For its part, France has introduced measures to cut labor costs and lower taxation, and has pledged to build more international schools targeted at expatriates children.

Former Bank of France governor Christian Noyer, tasked by the Government to lobby foreign finance firms, has made more than 400 pitches to banks in New York and London in the months since Britain voted to leave the EU in June 2016.

One big win has been British bank HSBC, which said it would move up to 1,000 traders to its Paris entity in the case of a hard Brexit. That is the only major international bank so far to say France will be its new EU headquarters, however.

Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled  leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year.

Wall Street bank Citigroup said last week it was applying for a licence to conduct sales and trading activities in France, but its legal EU headquarters will be in Germany.

Noyer has said that even if banks say they are seeking a banking licence in Frankfurt, that does not mean most of the jobs will be there.

I know of some people who say Im setting up my base in Frankfurt but Im putting my trading rooms in Paris in a subsidiary. Ill create a few jobs in Frankfurt but the bulk is in Paris, Noyer told Reuters in June.

Reuters
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HSBC has selected John Flint, head of retail banking and wealth management, to be the new chief executive officer and has asked the Bank of England for permission to make the appointment, the Sunday Times reported, citing people it didnt identify.

The London-based banks board approved 49-year-old Mr Flints appointment after the arrival of new Chairman Mark Tucker last week, according to the paper. He would take over the position from Stuart Gulliver, who has been in the post for nearly seven years and has said he would retire in 2018. Gillian James, an HSBC spokeswoman, declined to comment.

Mr Flint, who heads up HSBCs largest division, joined in 1989, rising through the ranks of its Asia trading floor before returning to Europe 13 years ago. Hes been treasurer, deputy head of markets, chief of staff and head of strategy at the bank. His top concerns will likely include improving the banks technology, entailing more job cuts; continuing Mr Gullivers pivot to Asia and $100bn investment in Chinas Pearl River Delta region; and growing the asset management unit.

Recommended HSBC chairman warns over race to bottom in banking regulation

The move would be a continuation of picking a long-serving insider for the role  the bank has drawn every one of its previous 21 leaders from its own ranks over more than 150 years  rather than someone from outside the organisation. Peter Hancock, the former boss of American International Group, had been considered for the position, Bloomberg News reported earlier.

Other HSBC executives tipped for the job included Antonio Simoes, who runs the banks UK and European regional operations, and Samir Assaf, the head of the investment bank.

Bloomberg
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British defence officials have reportedly been instructed to draw up plans in preparation for potential conflict with North Korea.

The secretive communist state has conducted six nuclear tests in recent weeks and launched two missiles over Japan, increasing already fraught tensions between the US and its allies.

One military scenario could see the UKs new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth brought into early service, according to the Daily Mail, which originally reported the story.

 HMS Queen Elizabeth - Key facts and figures

"We have plenty of ships to send  the Type-45 destroyers, the Type-23 frigates," a senior Whitehall source told the newspaper. Britains new aircraft carrier could be pressed into service early if things turn south.

News of Britain's preparedness comes days after Donald Trump took to Twitter to hint at military action against Kim Jong-uns regime

The US leader claimed that only one thing will work against the pariah state.

Mr Trump also lambasted previous US presidential administrations for negotiating with North Korea.

"Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years," he tweeted. "Agreements made and massive amounts of money paid hasnt worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of US negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!

Britains Defense Secretary Michael Fallon has spoken in recent weeks of intensifying nuclear dangers from Kim Jong-uns regime. He called the country reckless and backed the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent against aggressors.

Speaking to reporters at HM Naval Base Clyde last month, Mr Fallon said: Today the nuclear dangers are intensifying from a reckless North Korea and increasingly aggressive Russia.

Nuclear weapons remain the only credible way to deter the most extreme dangers, reminding any aggressor that the benefits of an attack would be vastly outweighed by the consequences, he said.

Mr Fallon met with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg and other ambassadors at the UKs submarine base in Faslane in a show of strength amid increasing tensions with Pyongyang, STV reported.

Days later the state-run Korea Central News Agency reportedly carried remarks from a spokesman for the Korea-Europe Association, claiming Mr Fallon pigheadedly branded the DPRKs nuclear deterrence as a threat to the UK and even dared to impugn the dignity of our supreme leadership, adding that, this is an act that can never be tolerated.

Prior to the meeting in Scotland, Mr Stoltenberg said North Koreas reckless behaviour is a global threat and requires a global response and that of course also includes Nato. He said the alliance is focused on how to contribute a peaceful solution.

War between North Korea and the US could now become a real possibility however, according to a report by a respected defence think tank.

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)s report, released last month, said a war between the two countries could be triggered by either side but would not be surgical nor short, and claimed the UK would be left with nothing more than a few hours to make a decision about its response.

An MOD spokesperson said: "The UK has been clear that we are committed to achieving a peaceful diplomatic solution to the situation on the Korean peninsula."
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A woman who attempted to climb the gates of Buckingham Palace has been charged with being drunk and disorderly.

Jessica Davey, 35, of Queen's Park, west London, will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates Court on 9 October.

Footage of Davey circulated on social media and showed she was not able to make much progress before being hauled to the ground.

The clip shows two police officers pulling the woman off the railings.

A crowd of people who had gathered to witness the woman's attempts are seen in the video applauding and capturing the scenes on their smartphones.

Davey is seen in the video being handcuffed and hauled towards a police car as onlookers heckle.

One is heard saying: "Queen and country yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah!"

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: At 1740hrs on Saturday, 7 October officers in the area of Buckingham Palace observed a woman climbing the front gates of the palace.

The woman, believed to be in in her 30s was quickly detained by officers before she gained access to the palace grounds.
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A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was reported to have been deliberately run over by a truck twice.

The 19-year-old victim, who is in hospital in a serious but stable condition, was walking on the pavement in Warmdene Avenue, Patcham, near Brighton, East Sussex, when the collision happened at 8.47pm on Saturday.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: A vehicle described as a dirty pick-up truck, with a double cab and an open back, is reported to have run over the man before turning around and going over him again as his body lay on the floor. It then accelerated east on Mackie Avenue.

The victim, a 19-year-old local man, had been walking home with friends when the incident occurred. He was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton where he remains in a serious but stable condition. No one else was injured.

Detective Inspector Ian Still said: Our initial indications are that this was a deliberate act in which a pick-up truck ran over the man on the pavement, before stopping and turning around, and driving over him again as his body lay on the floor.

We are still in the early stages of our investigation and we will be carrying out extensive inquiries to establish the full circumstances.

However, in light of recent events, it is important to note that we are not treating it as terror-related.

This was a horrific incident which has left a young man fighting for his life, and I would urge anyone with any information to report it online quoting Operation Morston.

The force spokesman said: A 17-year-old boy from Brighton, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, remains in police custody at this stage.

Press Association
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The British National Party (BNP) has launched a campaign against supposed plans for a mosque that local authorities say do not exist.

The far-right group posted leaflets around the Lincolnshire town of Louth that claimed a building was being converted into a Muslim prayer site.

This autumn, the BNP are launching a campaign to stop a proposed mosque going ahead in Louth," it claimed. "Career politicians in Louth will give in to demands because they put the interests of Muslims first."

But East Lindsey District Council told The Independent no application has been received for a mosque in the area.

Undeterred, the BNP suggested the frantic attempt to deny its claims were part of a Labour-led conspiracy.

Our campaign involves asking local residents to gauge the level of support against a new mosque in Louth at this time because once planning permission is granted, its too late, a spokesperson said.

The far-right groups Lincolnshire branch has distributed several rounds of leaflets in Louth, with one last year calling for all foreign aid to be stopped until potholes are filled in.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every 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The BNP was formed in 1982 by members of the National Front and was formerly headed by Nick Griffin, who was convicted of inciting racial hatred before being expelled by his party for allegedly trying to destabilise it and harassing members.

Heavy electoral losses and the rise of new far-right groups like Britain First and banned neo-Nazi terrorists National Action have left the BNP struggling to compete.

Leaders have attempted to shift its rhetoric from overt antisemitism and racism to Islamophobia, immigration, Brexit and grooming gangs in a scramble to retain support.

During its heyday, the party had more than 50 seats in local government, one in the London assembly and Mr Griffin as one of two MEPs.

But it now has just one remaining councillor, who sits on Pendle Borough Council in Lancashire and briefly quit the party last year.

The English Defence League has also been struggling for numbers, with a recent march in Essex abandoned after just six supporters turned up.

At the same time, there have been rising warnings over radicalisation after Home Office figures revealed that almost a third of people flagged to the Channel counter-extremism programme were far-right extremists.
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A British man has been told his Ecuadorian wife cannot settle in the UK despite the couple having three young children, including a baby who is still breastfeeding.

Dan Newton, 41, lived with his wife and three young children in Abu Dhabi in the UAE for nearly five years. The couple had previously lived in the UK for a year, where they had their first child.

In June, Mr Newton was told his employment in the Abu Dhabi was to be terminated with three months notice and no previous warning, so the couple decided to return to the UK.

As a result, his wife, Carla Zamora, who is still breastfeeding their 10-month-old daughter, applied to the UK Visa and Immigration branch of the Home Office for a Spouse Settlement Visa. But their request was refused in September.

Manchester native, Mr Newton, told The Independent they were dumbfounded by the refusal.

I cant believe they have the audacity to suggest that my wife not being able to be with my family would have absolutely no impact on our family life or on the upbringing of my children," he said. "I cant believe they actually suggested that they can see them periodically in a third mutual country. Its ridiculous."

The Home Office letter said she had been rejected on the grounds that the eligibility financial requirement could not be met, because her husband was not present and settled in the UK and at that point unemployed in the UAE.

Mr Newton said he had he been actively looking for employment in the UK, but not yet been able to secure a job because most companies require a face-to-face interview. As the sponsor for his family in Abu Dhabi, he is unable to leave his family there without him.

He had assumed, because of the complexity of the situation, that his wife would be able to come to the UK under exceptional circumstances grounds.

But the refusal letter from the Home Office, seen by The Independent, said that it did not believe her refusal could or would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for her or her family.

Her family life could be maintained with her living outside the UK with visits, it said, adding that there were no insurmountable, serious obstacles preventing them from pursuing family life this way.

We are not satisfied your family life could not be maintained through regular contact with your sponsor and children in the UK and/ or visits, it read. Whilst I acknowledge that you and your family wish to settle in the UK, we are not satisfied that that you have presented evidence of any insurmountable, serious obstacles preventing you from pursuing a family life.

Refusal letter to Ms Zamora from the Home Office

The right to family life is qualified and balanced against the need to maintain an effective immigration and border control.

It said that Ms Zamora did not fall for a grant of entry clearance outside the Immigration Rules on the basis of compassionate factors, adding that they did not warrant a grant of entry clearance outside the Immigration Rules.

The couple appealed the outcome, but were told in October that Ms Zamoras application had again been refused because she did not meet the financial requirement.

Not being with her husband and children would have no impact on their family life, it said.

Mr Newton contacted the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi for support, but they told him they could not help and that it was not their responsibility.

Ive gone from being frustrated to sad, to now just very angry," he said. "Im angry with what has been suggested by my Government in regards to my children and my wife.

Im angry that my Government doesnt seem willing to help. Were not emigrating, Im British born and raised, and my kids are British. Thats four of us already who want to return to their home country, and my kids need their mum, theres no two ways about it.

Recommended Children and partners of UK nationals granted residency plummets

For the Home Office to say they dont see how my wife not being with her kids wont have any impact is ridiculous. Its absolute breach of our human rights. All you have to read is the guidelines that the UK Visa and Immigration should have followed, but rejected to do so.

It comes after The Independent revealed the number of children, partners and dependant relatives of British nationals granted the right to live permanently in the UK has plummeted by 73 per cent in the past decade.

Analysis of immigration statistics also showed that the number of family members being granted entry clearance visas, which they must obtain in order to move to Britain to apply for settlement, has also dropped by 46 per cent since 2006.

Campaigners and politicians said the figures reflect an on-going clampdown on immigration by the Conservatives through the introduction of more restrictive requirements for people wanting to join British family members, which they said has seen families torn apart.

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The financial requirements for a spousal visa is a gross annual income of at least 18,600, with an additional 3,800 for the first child and an additional 2,400 for each additional child.

As Mr Newton is not present and settled in the UK and unemployed in the UAE, the family cannot meet that criteria.

Mr Newton has now set up a GoFundMe page in pursuit of raising the money to meet the minimum gross annual income required for a spousal visa.

The Independent has contacted The Home Office for comment but none had arrived at the time of publication.
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Hate crimes targeting mosques across the UK more than doubled between 2016 and 2017, new figures have revealed.

Police forces recorded 110 hate crimes directed at Muslim places of worship between March and July this year, up from 47 over the same six month period in 2016.

The Press Association reports that racist abuse, acts of vandalism at mosques and bomb threats feature heavily among the reported hate crimes.

Smashed windows at mosques, damage to cars parked outside and graffiti were all recorded along with physical assaults on Muslims on their way in or out of the buildings, two cases of arson and two complaints of bacon being left on mosque doors.

Recommended Online hate crime to be tackled by new national police hub

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott called the figures deeply troubling.

Attacks on any religious group or minority are abominable, she said, adding: These anti-Muslim attacks will be condemned by all decent people.

Fiyaz Mughal, Director of Faith Matters which works to increase community cohesion, told The Independent it was vital to acknowledge that terrorism was the driving factor behind the worryingly consistent level of mosque attacks.

He added that social media companies had to step up and accept responsibility for hate speech being allowed to flourish online.

We have seen a rise in anti-Muslim extremism and far-right activity online, with a very slow, dinosaur approach from social media companies to take off hate, and an utter denial for three or four years that this was their responsibility.

They are now taking steps, but they are baby steps.

He said some members of the Muslim community shied away from admitting that Islamist terrorism was the biggest factor driving hate crime.

The biggest driver of anti-Muslim hate is terrorist attacks  the research is very clear here.

We need to be honest. Not wanting to acknowledge that terrorism is the biggest driver, and to blame the media instead, is very much an Islamist narrative.

We have to reduce terrorist attacks in order to reduce fractures in our community.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. 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The latest data was obtained through Freedom of Information requests made to 45 UK police forces.

The figures, based on 42 responses, showed that 25 forces saw an increase in hate crimes directed at mosques in the past year  meaning that 17 did not.

The biggest increase was reported by Greater Manchester Police  the scene of the devastating concert attack carried out by Islamist extremist Salman Abedi which killed 20 people.

The second largest increase was in London, hit by a series of terror attacks this year, with the Metropolitan Police recording 17 crimes, up from eight the previous year.

Threats, harassment and other intimidating behaviour outside mosques more than tripled across the country, from 14 crimes in 2016 to 49 in 2017.

Violent crime against Muslims attending mosques more than doubled from five recorded crimes in 2016 to 11 crimes in 2017.

Recommended Birmingham man charged with stabbing boy near mosque appears in court

Crimes recorded as vandalism or criminal damage increased from 12 in 2016 to 15 in 2017.

The true number of hate crimes directed at mosques is likely to be higher due to differences in how police forces record their statistics and the fact that not all forces are included in the figures.

The figures emerged within weeks of separate incidents in which an imam and a surgeon who treated Manchester bombing victims were stabbed outside a mosque in Cheshire and another in which a 14-year-old boy was stabbed multiple times in the face and neck outside a mosque in Birmingham.

Other high-profile cases of hate crime at mosques this year include the Finsbury Park terror attack in June, a Manchester mosque destroyed by fire in an arson attack in July and the sending of a white powder and bomb threats to three mosques across London also in July.

While police found the powder to be harmless, Erkin Guney, a community leader at one of the mosques targeted by the letters, called the threats heartbreaking.

The Shacklewell Lane Mosque in north London, where Mr Guney is funeral director, has seen attacks by the BNP, pigs' heads thrown at the door and buildings set alight over the years since his father founded the mosque in the 1970s, he said.

Have I got to worry about people getting knocked [into] the air? said Mr Guney.

That's a really heavy responsibility. Now to worry that people are going to die on my doorstep is heartbreaking.

"I'm not concerned about myself, I'm concerned about the public and the people that come here," he added.

"We've got community events that take place here. Everyone comes, it's not just about Muslims in the mosque."

The organisation Tell Mama said it recorded 141 hate crime incidents against Muslims rather than specifically targeting mosques after the Manchester attack on 22 May, a rise of 500 per cent compared with a daily average of 25 reports made to the charity rather than to the police.

Ms Abbott called on the Home Office to publish data on hate crimes against all places of worship "as a matter of course" after "worrying reports of attacks on synagogues as well as mosques".

She said: "Politicians have a particular responsibility in the language they use, the policies they advocate and the climate they create.

There should be a unanimous message that violence against any section of our society is unacceptable.

A record number of anti-Semitic crimes were also reported in the UK in the first six months of this year, with 767 incidents recorded, according to the Community Security Trust.

Some of this may be down to improved reporting, but it is sadly clear that the overall situation has deteriorated, said David Delew, the organisations chief executive.

Recommended Isis calls on women to fight and launch terror attacks for first time

A Home Office spokesman said: All forms of hate crime are completely unacceptable and the UK has some of the strongest laws in the world to tackle it.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid announced a new fund of 375,000 to encourage the reporting and funding of hate crime in January this year, in addition to the 1m of support directed at young people as part of the Hate Crime Action Plan announced last summer.

A total of 55 places of worship applied for anti-hate crime funding since the Westminster terror attack, with almost half of applications coming from mosques. The Government announced an additional 1m would be made available to provide private protection outside places of worship.

Additional reporting by the Press Association
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Malala Yousafzai, who as a child narrowly avoided death in 2012 after being shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban for her outspoken campaigning over girls' rights to an education, has attended her first lecture at the University of Oxford.

The 20-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner tweeted a photo of three philosophy books on Monday.

Alongside it she wrote: "Five years ago, I was shot in an attempt to stop me from speaking out for girls' education. Today, I attend my first lectures at Oxford."

Within hours more than 220,000 people had liked the post, which had been retweeted more than 73,000 times. Thousands of well-wishers also responded with messages of congratulations.

Among them was her brother, Khushal Yousafzai, who tweeted in reply: "Sorry for being a headache for the last 5 years. So grateful you are still with us. Ik (I know) you miss me but i am coming to oxford in 2years."

Ms Yousafzai is following in the footsteps of many world leaders in studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics, or PPE.

She did not reveal her grades but earlier this year she told a conference she had received an offer, which was conditional on achieving three As at A-level.

Ms Yousafzai narrowly avoided death in 2012 after being shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban for her outspoken campaigning over girls' rights to an education.

Her career as an activist began in early 2009, when she started writing a blog for the BBC about her life under Taliban occupation and promoting education for girls in Pakistan's Swat Valley.

But her campaign angered local militants and she was shot during an assassination attempt while taking the bus to school.

She was treated at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital and, fearing reprisals in her native country, made the city her home.

 Emma Watson asks Malala Yousafzai about feminism

In 2014 she became the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and her campaign for children's rights to education across the world has seen her addressing the United Nations on the issue.

Neither Ms Yousafzai nor the university have revealed which college she will attend, but earlier this year, sheshe had attended an interview at Lady Margaret Hall, an Oxford college.

Alan Rusbridger, the former Guardian newspaper editor and now Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, tweeted to welcome the Nobel laureate.
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Margaret Thatcher decided to award a knighthood to a suspected child abuser MP despite being aware of the allegations against him, an inquiry has heard.

The honour for then Rochdale MP Cyril Smith allowed him to continue to exploit his victims because he used the title to maintain ties with childrens organisations, investigators said.

The revelation came as the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse heard witness statements as part of its probe into how Smith was allegedly able to abuse young boys at Cambridge House hostel and Knowl View residential school in Rochdale.

Recommended Rochdale council apologises to child sex abuse victims before inquiry

Smith was knighted in 1988 having served as an MP since 1972. He died in 2010 at the age of 82. Despite persistent child abuse allegations against him during his career, he never faced trial.

The inquiry panel was told that the MPs knighthood was awarded despite people at the very highest level of politics being aware of multiple allegations he had sexually abused at least eight boys.

Brian Altman QC, lead counsel for the inquiry, said the title had given the MP a veneer of respectability and power that helped him gain access to his alleged victims.

He said: "I mention this knighthood here for two reasons. First, because it demonstrates that the Lancashire investigation and the [Rochdale Alternative Press] article had been considered at the very highest level of politics and seemingly did not prompt more than consideration of the Director of Public Prosecutions decision not to prosecute.

"Second, because it is important to bear in mind the extent to which Cyril Smith continued to involve himself in serious issues related to the welfare of children.

"A knighthood would only have reinforced Smith's veneer of respectability and power.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 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The inquiry, which is being led by Professor Alexis Jay, was also told that MI5 was aware of claims that prosecutors had lied when explaining their decision not to prosecute Smith. The allegations against the MP were investigated by Lancashire Police and three separate files passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. However, the case was dropped in 1970 when Sir Normal Skelhorn, the Director of Public Prosecutions at the time, decided it was unlikely to lead to a conviction.

Sir Norman is said to have made the decision despite being told by a senior detective that the sordid allegations against Smith stood up.

Mr Altman said documents given to the inquiry by MI5 showed that Sir Norman had misled media outlets over the decision not to prosecute the Liberal MP. His office reportedly told the the Rochdale Alternative Press newspaper that it had never received police reports of the alleged abuse.

 Child abuse victims demand justice over paedophile ring

Mr Altman said: "The documents show that the Security Service's legal adviser was informed of the false representations to the press from the DPP's office.

"Based upon their review of the information they hold, the Security Service considers they took active steps to ensure that those involved in investigating allegations of child sexual abuse against Smith were made aware of all information of relevance to their inquiries.

"However, given their function was to defend the realm, at that time, and investigation was outside their remit, they simply filed the information related to the false representations that had been made to the press."

The initial 1970 Lancashire Police inquiry into Smith concluded he had used a veneer of respectability in order to abuse young boys in the 1960s.

The report said: "It seems impossible to excuse his conduct over a considerable period of time whilst sheltering behind a veneer of respectability.

"He has used his unique position to indulge in a sordid series of indecent episodes with young boys towards whom he had a special responsibility."
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A number of right-wing figures have been widely ridiculed after they hastily labelled a London car crash a terror attack.

Nigel Farage, Katie Hopkins and Tommy Robinson were accused of exploiting the accident outside the Natural History Museum to further their own political agenda.

Just minutes after the crash on Saturday afternoon, Mr Farage gave an interview to Fox News claiming the police were clearly not only treating this as a terrorist incident, but it looks to me like they expect there could be more.

He subsequently tweeted the audio clip, with the caption: We have 3,000 suspected terrorists living in the UK & 23,000 people known to security services who could do us harm.

Meanwhile, Hopkins sent a series of inflammatory tweets, warning tourists: Right now, London is not worth the risk and apologising for the state of the city.

The MailOnline columnist also accused the BBC of peddling state propaganda, despite no confirmation from authorities that the attack was terror related.

Later, English Defence League (EDL) founder Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, arrived at the scene with a camera crew in tow.

When approached by The Independent to discuss his motives, Robinson declared the incident a jihadi terror attack despite no formal recognition of this being the case by the authorities.

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, at the scene of the collision outside the Natural History Museum in South Kensington (The Independent ) (The Independent)

A police officer intervened during the discussion, telling him authorities had not confirmed if it was a terror incident at the time of the discussion.

Subsequently, police said it was a road traffic accident and not terror related.

Hopkins was forced to backtrack after her error became clear, tweeting: I am deleting all tweets from the last two hours. I hope you stay safe. Xx

But social media sites were flooded with screenshots of the messaging and heavy criticism of the trio.

Brendan Cox, the husband of late Labour MP Jo Cox, wrote: What yesterday showed was Farage/Hopkins etc will seek to spread fear & panic at every given chance. They do the job of terrorists for them.

Labour MP Wes Streeting wrote: Not being treated as a terrorist incident, but that doesnt stop Farage from telling Fox that it is.

Eleven people were injured in the collision although none of their injuries are believed to be serious.

The 47-year-old driver was arrested at the scene and has now been released under investigation, Scotland Yard said.
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Protecting British citizens against cyber attacks must be given the same priority as fighting terrorism, the head of GCHQ has warned as online threats continue to rise.

Jeremy Fleming, the former deputy director of MI5, said that as the technological revolution spreads benefits like instant connectivity and encrypted communications, hostile states, terrorists and criminals are using the same features for their own ends.

Protecting the digital homeland  keeping our citizens safe and free online  must become and remain as much part of our mission as our global intelligence reach and our round-the-clock efforts against terrorism, he wrote in a column for the Telegraph.

Our adversaries are quick to spot new ways of doing us harm. We see that in the way terrorists are constantly changing their weapons or states are using their full range of tools to steal secrets, gain influence and attack our economy.

The vast majority of cyber attacks are attributed to criminal groups, although the information they steal may later be sold to other parties.

The Independent revealed that Isis-linked hackers targeted NHS websites earlier this year, while the terrorist group is known to have a cyber division formerly led by British militant Junaid Hussain.

Mr Fleming hailed the work of GCHQs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which was set up last year, in preventing attacks and responding to major incidents like WannaCry and attacks on the Westminster and Scottish parliaments.

Islamist hackers were linked to Isis carried out an attack on a series of NHS websites in a cyber attack exposing serious flaws in security systems meant to protect sensitive information (YouTube)

He said much of the work done by GCHQ must remain secret but his comments were another indication that the agency is moving out of the shadows, broadening its recruitment efforts and trying to engage more with the media and public.

Mr Fleming said extra government funding is being used to make GCHQ a cyber organisation as well as an intelligence and counter-terrorism one as it works with fellow intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6, the police and armed forces.

His warning came after the NCSC said it had registered 1,131 incidents in the past year alone, including 590 significant cyber attacks and more than 30 that required a cross-Government response.

Ciaran Martin, chief executive of the centre, said the UK faces threats from across the globe on a daily basis.

Its not a question of if cyber attacks will happen, its a matter of when, he added.

We are proud of what we have achieved in our first 12 months, but there is so much more to do in the years ahead to counter this threat to our values, prosperity and way of life."

The most high-profile episode was the global WannaCry ransomware outbreak that affected dozens of NHS trusts in May, while in June email accounts were targeted in an attack on parliamentary networks.

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London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group 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The NCSC said it also dealt with attacks on businesses and other organisations but was unable to give details.

It has sounded warnings over the potential exploitation of the internet of things  Wi-Fi connected everyday objects and gadgets - that can be vulnerable to attack.

Intelligence agencies have also warned that hostile states and parties may use cyber attacks to damage the UKs democracy, economy, or target critical national infrastructure like power stations and transport.

In June, the head of Frances digital security agency said the world was heading towards a permanent war in cyberspace.

Guillaume Poupard, director general of the National Cybersecurity Agency of France (ANSSI) said intensifying attacks were coming from unspecified states, as well as criminal and extremist groups.

We must work collectively, not just with two or three Western countries, but on a global scale, he added, saying attacks could aim at espionage, fraud, sabotage or destruction.

We are getting closer, clearly, to a state of war - a state of war that could be more complicated, probably, than those we've known until now.


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A Scottish woman who was separated from her adopted brother for sixty years was shocked to discover he has become one of Indias richest businessman.

83-year-old Ida Wilde told The Daily Record she last saw her brother Asgar nearly six decades ago - until he recognised her in a Facebook photo from a family wedding.

After leaving Glasgow, Mr Patel founded Patel Roadways,which has grown into one of Indias largest logistics businesses.

In 2013, the Arabian Business website estimated his personal net worth at $615 million (467.5m)

Workers with Patel Roadways trucks (Asgar Patel)

I hadnt seen Asgar in so long. It turns out hed spent years searching for his adopted Scottish family but we moved out of Glasgow and he couldnt find us, Ms Wilde told The Daily Record.

Then out of the blue I got a message on Facebook from Asgar and it was just lovely to hear from him again. I couldnt believe he had spotted my photograph after all these years - it was a miracle really.

Id said goodbye to a wee boy and now he was returning a hugely successful multi-millionaire. It was surreal.

Mr Patel was one of thousands of Indians who came to the UK to escape the violence that followed the Partition of India in 1947.

After the British Raj was dissolved, two newly independent countries were created: India and Pakistan. Two former Indian provinces, Bengal and Punjab, were divided along religious lines.

The division of the two countries displaced more than ten million people, and led to between one and two million deaths.

Asgars father was himself a wealthy businessman who wanted to find refuge for his four children in the UK.

The adopted siblings later lost touch after Ms Wildes family moved out of Glasgow. The great-grandmother now lives in Irvine, on the West coast of Scotland.

The businessman visited Ms Wilde at her home in August, and has invited her to visit him in Dubai.
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Boris Johnson will just say no if Theresa May tries to sack him, it has been reported.

The Foreign Secretary will apparently just refuse any attempts by the Prime Minister to demote him, who indicated that he could be moved into another Cabinet role in a reshuffle.

Allies of Mr Johnson have warned that doing so would undermine Brexit and destabilise the Government.

 Theresa May asked if Boris Johnson is unsackable

Ms May has been adamant that she will not hide from a challenge when dealing with the former Mayor of London, according to the Sunday Times.

The remarks led to one Tory minister saying there was a stench of death coming from Downing Street and that Ms May lacks the authority to demote Mr Johnson.

The minister told The Telegraph: "Let's say she tries to move Boris to defence secretary. Leadsom said no thank you, and Boris carries significantly more influence. He'd just say no - what is she going to do about it?

"There's a stench of death emanating from Downing Street. If you were a Brexiteer you would be worried [if Mr Johnson was demoted]. You'd look around the Cabinet table and see Remainers occupying the key positions."

Another minister said: "Brexit is absolutely crucial to democracy in this country now. If we fail to deliver that the public will never forgive us. A reshuffle would be a huge distraction, we don't need to replace people for the hell of it.

"It [removing Mr Johnson] will undermine public confidence in Brexit. It would be counter-productive."

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Instead the Prime Minister has faced calls to sack Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, for being "miserable" and for "deliberately trying to make Brexit negotiations difficult".

One Cabinet minister told The Telegraph: "He has completely failed. He has not given her any domestic announcements that she can sell. He is miserable, he talks people down, he is making Brexit hard. He just saps everyone's self-confidence."

An ally of Mr Hammond said: "The Chancellor has made very clear that we're leaving the Customs Union and Single Market when we leave the European Union in March 2019. He is not trying to frustrate the process at all."
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Theresa May has been urged to walk away from the Brexit talks if they fail to make progress this month, as Brexiteer Tories exploit her weakness to press for a no deal exit.

Bernard Jenkin, a leading anti-EU backbencher, said the Prime Minister should impose what she wants on the Cabinet  by sidelining voices of compromise, such as Chancellor Philip Hammond.

He accused EU leaders such as the French President of stringing us along by threatening to delay talks on a future trade deal until next year.

And he insisted most Conservative MPs would be fully behind Ms May if she walked away if trade talks were still blocked after a crucial EU summit later this month.

She will be cheered to the echo if she were to say, Look Ive had enough of this. We are going to get ready to leave in March 2019, Mr Jenkin said.

Britain should only be ready to talk if the EU agreed to come back to the table and talk to us about what kind of deal they want with us.

The comments came amid signs of a concerted push by Brexit-backing Conservatives, who helped rescue the Prime Minister after last weeks failed coup attempt.

Some are pressing for Mr Hammond to be sacked for what one unnamed Tory called his attempt to water down Brexit with a lengthy transition period.

In a show of defiance, Ms May has also been warned that Boris Johnson will simply refuse to move if she attempts to sack him for his open hard Brexit revolt.

The Prime Minister has already appeared to bow to the pressure by sending out a no more compromises message to the EU, ahead of the resumption of the negotiations today.

With Britain refusing to give ground on the so-called divorce bill  and EU leaders digging in on guaranteeing EU citizens rights  they are not expected to end the stalemate.

Many EU figures fear the chances of Britain crashing out of the EU with no deal are growing, with Ms May too weak to make the further concessions they are insisting upon.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Jenkin said demands for a higher exit payment were not acceptable, warning Britain was being dragged into a longer and longer period of uncertainty with no apparent reward.

He did not call for Mr Hammond to be sacked, but said: The Prime Minister should use the authority of her office to impose what she wants on the Cabinet.

Asked if Ms May had that authority, Mr Jenkin replied: Oh yes, have no doubt about that.

Just look at all the support she has had from members of parliament over the last few days, despite her difficulties.

Keir Starmer, Labours Shadow Brexit Secretary, warned that the bitter Tory in-fighting now threatened a total breakdown of the negotiations.

The single biggest threat to Britain crashing out of the EU with no deal is now Tory infighting, Sir Keir said. This has got to stop.

The prime minister will update MPs on the situation this afternoon, making clear to EU leaders that - after the concessions in her Florence speech - the ball is in their court.
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Theresa May has warned the British public to prepare for crashing out of the EU with no deal, setting out emergency plans to avoid border meltdown for businesses and travellers.

As hopes of an agreement appeared to fade at home and abroad, the Prime Minister  for the first time  set out detailed steps to minimise disruption on Brexit day in 2019. They included plans for huge inland lorry parks to cope with the lengthy new customs checks that will be needed  to avoid ports becoming traffic-choked.

The move came as Ms May admitted she expected the deadlocked negotiations to drag on for another year before any possible breakthrough.

At Westminster, Brexiteer Tories exploited the Prime Ministers weakness  after last weeks attempted coup  to demand that Chancellor Philip Hammond, and other voices of compromise, be sidelined.

Bernard Jenkin attacked the EU for refusing to discuss the long term relationship between the EU and the UK, asking the Prime Minister: When does she call time?

Meanwhile, in Brussels, Ms Mays insistence that she would make no further compromises in the talks  she told the EU the balls in their court  was firmly rebuffed. There has been, so far, no solution found on step one, which is the divorce proceedings, so the ball is entirely in the UKs court for the rest to happen, said Margaritis Schinas, the European Commissions chief spokesman.

Laying bare the impasse, Brexit Secretary David Davis did not attend the first day of the resumed talks, although he is expected to be in Brussels on Tuesday.

In the Commons, the Prime Minister continued to insist that real and tangible progress towards an agreement had been made since her high-profile speech in Florence last month. But she also made clear that new policy papers on trade and customs were intended to show Britain could operate as an independent trading nation - even if no trade deal was reached.

She told MPs: "While I believe it is profoundly in all our interests for the negotiations to succeed, it is also our responsibility as a Government to prepare for every eventuality, so that is exactly what we are doing. These white papers also support that work, including setting out steps to minimise disruption for businesses and travellers.

The planned legislation for post-Brexit customs arrangements set out what would be required under a no deal exit.

Traders that currently trade only with the EU will be subject to customs declarations and customs checks for the first time, it stated. The impact is likely to be greatest where goods are travelling in vehicles (eg HGVs, vans, etc).

And it added: It would not be desirable to hold vehicles for any length of time at ports to present goods to Customs for export. Therefore, presentation would take place inland as much as possible, and at the port there would be a means to confirm that goods have left the UK.

A bill would ensure the UK can charge customs duty on goods (including on goods imported from the EU).

In her statement, the Prime Minister suggested any Brexit agreement was a long time off and would come right down to the wire. We are negotiating a deal. We will not have negotiated that deal until, I suspect, close to the end of that period thats been set aside for it, she said.

However, Ms May did also lay down a challenge to the Brexiteers in her party, warning that a transition deal  if struck  could require the UK accepting European Court of Justice rulings. It may be that we will start with the ECJ still governing rules for part of that period, she said  while suggesting it would be for less than the expected two-years of the transition.

There were signs of a Brexiteer backlash, but Boris Johnson tweeted that he accepted that position  despite making an end to ECJ oversight one of his red lines. What matters is the end state and our freedom to do things differently and better  and, once again, the PM sets out a powerful vision, the Foreign Secretary said.

But, insisting people did not vote for a no-deal hard Brexit, pro-EU Conservative MP Anna Soubry tweeted: Negotiations to achieve a deal must continue during transitional period.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA

In a hard-hitting response, pointing out it was 16 months since the referendum result, Jeremy Corbyn said: What on earth has the Government been doing all this time?

Warning the reality for this Tory Government is beginning to bite, he added: If things dont improve, the reality may soon begin to bite for the jobs and living standards of the people of this country.

And Jo Swinson, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, said: With six months of negotiations already gone, the Cabinet is still in open revolt. The upshot is the Government has been unable to draw up a detailed plan to protect jobs and living standards from a hard Brexit.
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The European Commission has hit back at Theresa Mays comments on Brexit negotiations, admonishing the Prime Minister and warning Britain it still has more work to do before a deal can be struck.

In a statement released to the media the night before the start of the fifth round of negotiations Ms May had argued that her Florence speech meant EU had to give ground and that the balls in their court.

But speaking to reporters in Brussels on Monday the EU seemed unimpressed by the Prime Ministers approach and comments. This is not exactly a ball game, Margaritis Schinas, the Commissions chief spokesperson told reporters in Brussels.

We do not provide comment on comments. What I can remind you of is that there is a clear sequencing to these talks. There has been, so far, no solution found on step one, which is the divorce proceedings, so the ball is entirely in the UKs court for the rest to happen.

The spokesperson said this sentiment been clearly express by most if not all political groups in the European Parliament.

British officials confirmed on Monday that David Davis would not be travelling to Brussels today for the start of the talks, as he has done for the previous four rounds. As a result the customary joint press conference with Brtish and EU officials  sometimes used in the past to snipe at the other side  has also not been scheduled this time.

Asked about Mr Daviss absence  which is apparently for parliamentary duties - the European Commission spokesperson said the pace of talks would depend on the availability of British negotiators.

The European Commission article 50 team is available 24/7, the timing of talks depends on the availability of our UK partners. We are always here and we are ready, he said. As far as the Secretary of States agenda is concerned you may like to check directly with him.

The spokesperson would not elaborate directly on whether Mr Daviss absence in this instance would hold up the talks. Mr Davis and Commission chief negotiator Michel Barnier have both been absent for days during the talks before, leaving the details to officials  a though never on the first day of a round.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

The Prime Minister is set to face MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon to update them on the progress of Brexit talks.

In comments, which were pre-briefed to the media overnight, she is expected to tell MPs: Achieving that partnership [with the EU] will require leadership and flexibility, not just from us but from our friends, the 27 nations of the EU. And as we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court. But I am optimistic we will receive a positive response.
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Theresa May has warned the British public not to expect a Brexit deal until close to the last minute of the talks, as the negotiations hit the buffers again.

The Prime Minister said it would be close to the end of that period before any agreement could be expected  which would mean the talks dragging on for another year at least.

The warning came as Ms May faced Labour taunts in the Commons that Cabinet infighting and confusion were wrecking hopes of a breakthrough in Brussels.

Recommended May refuses to deny secret legal advice that Brexit can be stopped

Pointing out that it was 15 months since she reached No 10, Jeremy Corbyn said: What on earth has the government been doing all this time?

The clashes came as the Government published two white papers which underlined how ministers are now preparing to crash out of the EU with no deal

Meanwhile, Brussels rebuffed Ms Mays insistence she would make no further compromises in the talks, when she insisted  of the EU - the balls in their court

There has been, so far, no solution found on step one, which is the divorce proceedings, so the ball is entirely in the UKs court for the rest to happen, said Margaritis Schinas, the European Commissions chief spokeswoman.

In the Commons, Ms May was asked to set out the costs to Britain of leaving the EU with a deal  and of leaving without one, if the talks collapse.

 Corbyn: 'We have a cabinet at each others throats'

Its not possible to answer that question, she told Labour MP Catherine West.

We are negotiating a deal. We will not have negotiated that deal until, I suspect, close to the end of that period thats been set aside for it.

At that point, we will be able to see what the benefits of that deal will be for the British economy.

The Prime Minister told MPs that real and tangible progress was being made in the Brexit talks since her high-profile speech in Florence last month.

But she made clear that new policy papers on trade and customs would allow Britain to operate as an independent trading nation - even if no trade deal is reached with Brussels.

I'm optimistic it will receive a positive response, because what we are seeking is not just the best possible deal for us, but I believe that will also be the best possible deal for our friends, too, the Prime Minister said.

But Mr Corbyn said it was staggering that such little progress had been made  blaming a Cabinet at each others throats.

Half the Conservative party want the Foreign Secretary sacked  the other half want the Chancellor sacked, the Labour leader said.

Warning the reality for this Tory government is beginning to bite, Mr Corbyn added: If things dont improve, the reality may soon begin to bite for the jobs and living standards of the people of this country.
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Theresa May is refusing to deny she has received secret legal advice that Brexit can be stopped if MPs vote against any exit deal she secures.

The Prime Ministers spokesman dodged questions about the controversy, insisting the Government does not comment on government legal advice.

No 10 has been accused of suppressing advice that the Article 50 notification can be withdrawn unilaterally (if necessary), which would leave the UK in the EU on its current terms.

 EU hits back at Theresa May: 'Brexit negotiations are not a ball game'

The issue will be crucial if Parliament votes down any Brexit agreement next year, or if there is no deal at all  a growing possibility as the negotiations remain deadlocked in a war of words.

Ms May has declared that a rejection of her deal would simply mean Britain crashing out with no deal, insisting the Article 50 process is unstoppable.

But a prominent QC said she has been told by two good sources that the Prime Minister has been advised that the exit notice can be reversed, if MPs judge that to be the best course.

Jessica Simor, from Matrix chambers, has written to Ms May urging her to release the legal advice under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act.

But Ms Mays official spokesman told The Independent: We never comment on government legal advice. We have always been entirely clear that we are leaving the European Union.

However, he left open the possibility the advice could yet emerge, saying: If FoIs have been submitted, it will be dealt with in the usual way.

Ms Simor pointed out that Lord Kerr, the author of Article 50 as well as leading EU legal figures, also believed that the Article 50 process could be halted.

And warning there was no time to waste, she told The Observer: It is important that this advice is made available to the British public and their representatives in Parliament as soon as possible.

Chris Leslie, a pro-EU Labour MP, said he would also be pursuing the matter, arguing it was vital that the Government comes clean.

He told The Independent: If the Prime Minister has been told that the Article 50 Notice can be revoked, she has a duty to let the British public know this.

The ability to withdraw the Article 50 Notice is a lifeline the whole country needs to know is there. It could strengthen our hand in negotiations, and provide an essential insurance policy against a catastrophic cliff-edge hard Brexit.

Nick Clegg, the former deputy Prime Minister, has described the claim that Article 50 is irreversible as a myth put about by Brexiteers who want to stop the British people from changing their minds.

The issue of whether Article 50 is a one-way street has never been tested in law, after an attempt to take a case to the European Court of Justice was abandoned earlier this year.

However, Brexit Secretary David Davis once admitted it could be possible for the process to be halted, telling MPs: It may not be revocable  I dont know.
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A report drawn up by the Republic of Irelands customs authority has ruled out an open customs border with the North  effectively pouring cold water on UK plans for the frontier.

The unpublished report, drawn up after the Brexit vote and obtained by Irish broadcaster RTE, spells out the huge logistical difficulties Britain leaving the EU will cause for trade on the island of Ireland.

The UK says a unique solution can keep the customs border, which is currently not policed, frictionless  despite the UKs intention to leave the EU customs union, which would ordinarily see checks placed there.

But the report, by the Revenue Commissioners, says: It is probably somewhat naive to believe that a new and entirely unique arrangement can be negotiated and applied to the EI/UK land frontier.

Once negotiations are completed ... the UK will become a third country for customs purposes and the associated formalities will become unavoidable. While this will affect all member states, the effect will be more profound on Ireland as the only EU country to have a land border with the UK.

It continues: This extra layer of formalities for movements that are currently intra-union movements will not only place a considerable administrative burden on traders, it will also have a negative impact on trade flows and delay the release of goods.

The question of how to maintain a frictionless NI border while the UK leaves the customs union has perplexed Brexit negotiators. The EU has insisted the issue must be settled before trade talks can begin, alongside other separation issues such as citizens rights and the divorce bill. The UK has proposed an infrastructureless border based on spot checks. Both the UK and EU believe there should be no hardening of the border with the Republic.

A European Parliament motion carried last week suggested that Northern Ireland could stay in the customs union and single market, with customs checks moved to ports in the Irish Sea.

A spokesperson for Irelands Department of Finance has said the report was never finalised and predates the many developments and papers that have issued this year.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

"Thinking has now moved on very significantly. In May of this year, the Revenue Chairman told a Joint Oireachtas Committee that Revenue is not considering any new customs posts, the spokesperson said. "The Irish government has consistently said that the best outcome would be for the UK to remain in the customs union and the single market.

"The Taoiseach has also said there cannot be a return to any border on this island. Ireland will continue to work closely with the Commission Task Force and our EU partners to seek the best possible outcome to the ongoing EU-UK negotiations."
Nikol Pashinyan: We will call things not only by their names, but also surnames (video)

At today's NA briefings, Nikol Pashinyan, Head of the Yelk (Way out) faction, first mentioned that the National Assembly was revealed in a new way. "Our faction has put into circulation the bill on creation of the NA temporary Committee on Ethics, which will refer to Artashes Geghamyan in order to examine the ethical behavior of the MP and to make a conclusion. The RPA tries to show tolerance and does not give clear estimations to what has happened, it makes us say that there is a more serious political content in the events, which is the expression of the systematic loser's behavior in the debate. The RPA also records that future debates will have the same destiny, so they are looking for a solution to this problem. We want to say that they are on the wrong path, it will have certain consequences, and if this is not evaluated we should all be psychologically ready for such new manifestations in the political life, both on a large and small scales. The Yelk faction accepts the challenge." In this incident, Nikol Pashinyan did not consider him a victim and would not appeal to law enforcement agencies. "This is a relationship of attacker and the person who sets discipline, and these relationships are not connected with the criminal-law relations, but these are political relations. Geghamyan, not promising figure, the Republican Party of Armenia prepared and sent the first line, and, as a result of internal provocation, he appeared to be in such an incident. We will call things not only by their names, but also surnames." Mane Tandilian, a member of the Yelk parliamentary faction, noted that this NA should not continue the old traditions of the previous convocation. "And this question should be examined, up to the issue of the mandate."
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The SNP still has a mandate to hold a second independence referendum before the next Holyrood elections in 2021, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The First Minister has repeatedly stated she would not set a date for a ballot until there was greater clarity on Brexit.

However she has not ruled out holding another vote within the next four years.

She told STV News: "Let me just, for the sake of clarity... we have a mandate for this parliament.

Recommended Ruth Davidson urged to join forces with SNP for single market

"We won that mandate last year but after the general election I heard clearly people saying with the uncertainty of Brexit it was premature to be definitive abut a timescale right now."

She added: "So I have said I will not consider the timescale until there is a greater clarity about the Brexit talks.

"I am not going to go any further than that, that's my position."

Ms Sturgeon has been questioned on the issue in a number of broadcast interviews as the SNP hold its three-day autumn conference in Glasgow.

She had initially called for a vote to be held in the autumn of next year or the spring of 2019, but, following the loss of 21 seats in June's general election, she put the timing on hold until the terms of Brexit become clearer.

Her political opponents have urged her to ditch another vote entirely, while some figures within the SNP have called for it to be delayed until after the 2021 election.

Recommended The SNP has finally taken on the role of the establishment

While plans for another referendum will not be debated on the conference floor, Ms Sturgeon is expected to confront the issue when she delivers her speech to delegates on Tuesday.

The SNP leader is also expected to focus heavily on Brexit, with Scottish ministers highly critical of the UK Government's approach to negotiations with the European Union.

Speaking on BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Ms Sturgeon said: "Increasingly the UK right now is engulfed in chaos, we are seeing a developing disaster, in my view, with the Brexit negotiations.

"And the case for Scotland taking control of our own future, having the decisions that shape our future in our own hands, in my view gets stronger by the day".

PA
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The government has been warned that continuing with its rollout of the new Universal Credit benefits system risks plunging claimants into hunger, destitution or even homelessness over Christmas.

The Work and Pensions Secretary, David Gauke faced questions in the Commons over the scheme that has proved intensely controversial, and received angry interventions from his own side.

Labour's Frank Field, chairman of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, had asked Mr Gauke: "Given the Secretary of State's confidence in the roll-out of Universal Credit to another 150 Jobcentre Pluses, can he give the House a guarantee that none of our constituents will be faced by hunger, near destitution, for the lack of money over the Christmas period, please?"

Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams added: "As we've heard, Universal Credit is causing debts, rent arrears and even homelessness up and down the country, with many of the claimants already in work.

"Given that housing associations are saying that over 80% of rent arrears are down to UC, and the Mayor of Greater Manchester is predicting rough sleeping will double as a result of the UC rollout, how many more families does the minister estimate will be made homeless this winter as a result of this Government's refusal to pause UC rollout?"

Mr Gauke told last week's Tory conference he would tweak the system to ensure claimants get advance payments quicker, amid criticism people are waiting six weeks for any money and getting into debt.

Conservative former prime minister John Major this weekend joined those calling for the wider rollout of Universal Credit to be paused.

On Monday, Mr Gauke told the Commons that the wider rollout was proceeding "gradually and sensibly".

Expansion over the coming months, where Universal Credit will be introduced to 50 new Jobcentres every month, will increase the proportion of people claiming the benefit from 8% to 10% of those who will eventually claim it, he added.

"I do believe that on something like this we should roll it out gradually, sensibly, make changes as and when necessary, but that is exactly what we're doing," he added.

"Nobody who needs support should have to wait six weeks before they receive any support, and what we're doing is making clear that people can receive an advance of their first month's payment.

"That is then deducted over the next six monthly periods, and that is helping people deal with the cashflow issues in that first month."

The number of Tory MPs prepared to rebel over the issue has grown to around 25, according to the Telegraph.

Monday's Work and Pensions questions session saw some mild dissent from Tory MPs over technical aspects of the system.

Heidi Allen (South Cambridgeshire), who is said to be leading the rebellion, said the new system of advance payments was treating the symptoms rather than the cause of the problems.

She added: "The advance payments cover roughly two weeks' worth of money. What support is in place for people who are waiting three, four, five, six, seven weeks?"

Former minister Andrew Selous said he warmly welcomed the quicker advance payments, while backbencher Luke Graham (Ochil and South Pershire) said: "He is aware that myself and many other colleagues on these benches have pressed him on the issue of providing support to people during this six-week assessment and transition periods for Universal Credit.

"Can he confirm that Jobcentres in Scotland will proactively offer the advances in support where needed?"

Tory former work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb defended the system, asking Mr Gauke: "Does he agree that one of the reasons why more people have gone out to work this morning than ever before in our nation's history is that as a Government we've not ducked the challenge of welfare reform, we don't let people languish for years on out-of-work benefits, and that Universal Credit is an essential part of the welfare reform programme?"

Neil Gray, the SNP's social justice spokesman, said: "Isn't the Secretary of State's apparent climbdown on crisis loans and advance payments an admission that Universal Credit is failing?"

Universal Credit combines a number of benefits such as housing benefit and tax credits into a single payment.

From October the pace of its rollout is due to be ramped up, with 50 Jobcentres moving to the service every month.

Department for Work and Pensions figures released last week showed 76% of new Universal Credit claimants received their full payment on time in the latest week for which figures were available, up from 65% at the start of the year.

Some 15% of new claimants did not receive any money on time, the figures show.

Changes to the system will ensure those who want an advance payment will receive it within five working days, and those in the most immediate need will receive it on the same day.
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A cancer survivor who underwent a double mastectomy had flowers tattooed on her reconstructed breasts to help her reclaim her body.

Allyson Lynch, 30, opted for the beautiful body art over fake nipples after the life-changing operation because she didnt feel they served any purpose.

And the hairstylist and model, from Philadelphia, said when she sees the skin drawings she feels sexy  like she is wearing permanent lingerie.

Every time I look in the mirror I feel pretty, she told website mediadrumworld.com. It helps get over the loss of my breasts, it was my way of taking back what cancer took away.

Ms Lynch went for a consultation with doctors after she noticed an unusual lump on her breast and was told she had cancer.

I had some very dark moments and it was more challenging than I could have ever imagined. I wanted to give up at points. I just cried, I cried every single day, she told mediadrumworld.com.

Until, there was a day that I realised I hadn't cried and I stopped asking 'Why me?' I found a strength I never thought I could possess. I learnt it was me because I could handle this, it was me because I am a strong wonder woman and you know what, I made it through hell once and I would do it again.

She eventually underwent a double mastectomy and was given the all-clear from cancer. But she did not want to get fake nipples on her breasts after they were reconstructed.

What seemed like the right choice for me was getting a beautiful tattoo. That made me feel like me, it's like permanent lingerie, she said.

Every time I look in the mirror I feel pretty. It helps get over the loss of my breasts, it was my way of taking back what cancer took away. I was reclaiming my body.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

She added: "I had tattoos before cancer was even a thought in my mind. I had always loved the beauty behind tattoos. So, when I knew I was having a mastectomy I didn't really see the point of getting fake nipples that serve no purpose.

Ms Lynch hopes her actions will inspire other women who are fighting breast cancer. She said: Sometimes it takes a tragedy to push you into the person you were always meant to be.
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Huge wind-fanned wildfires in California wine country killed at least 10 people, destroyed thousands of buildings and drove mass evacuations, forcing many people to flee the advancing flames in the dead of night.

Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for three affected counties, writing that the blazes had damaged critical infrastructure, threatened thousands of homes and caused the evacuation of residents. Officials said at least 10 people died and two were seriously injured, and flames obliterated at least 1,500 structures.

This is really serious. Its moving fast. the heat, the lack of humidity and the wind are all driving a very dangerous situation and making it worse, Mr Brown told reporters. "It's not under control by any means.

On a day when dozens of fires burned around California, powerful winds helped whip up multiple conflagrations in an area known for the vineyards clinging to its rolling hills. As of early Monday morning, the larger Tubbs Fire had spread across more than 20,000 acres and the Atlas Fire had consumed more than 8,000 acres.

City and county officials shuttered schools, evacuated a pair of hospitals in the town of Santa Rosa and issued widening mandatory evacuation orders for areas in the path of the flames. Multiple shelters were at capacity and roads around the area were closed.

Many people were forced out of their homes in the middle of the night. Even as elected officials implored non-evacuating people to stay off major roads, residents described a desperate scramble for safety.

Mansions burn in California wildfires Show all 7 1 /7 Mansions burn in California wildfires Mansions burn in California wildfires 171174.bin Getty Images Mansions burn in California wildfires 171219.bin MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Mansions burn in California wildfires 171227.bin MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Mansions burn in California wildfires 171228.bin MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Mansions burn in California wildfires 171213.bin AFP Mark Ralston Mansions burn in California wildfires 171230.bin MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Mansions burn in California wildfires 171229.bin MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

People are running red lights, there is chaos ensuing, Ron Dodds told KTVU. It's a scary time. It looks like Armageddon.

Harrowing images and videos from the ground showed roaring flames and the utter devastation they left behind, with homes and other structures reduced to charred skeletons.

This is the Nectar Restaurant right now pic.twitter.com/XLB03JGlYT

A haze was visible in the San Francisco Bay Area, miles away from the epicenter of the flames, and an air quality regulator urged people to remain inside.
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Donald Trump has praised the intelligence of mass murderer Stephen Paddock, as authorities continue their investigations into the motives and background of the Las Vegas gunman.

The President said Paddock was "probably smart" because he set up cameras outside his hotel room, which investigators believe allowed him to observe police and security personnel approaching the suite as he carried out the massacre.

Paddock shot at a crowd of music fans from the window of his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more.

This was a sick person  but probably smart and he had cameras, but [police] got there so quickly and they really did, Mr Trump said during an interview with Christian television channel Trinity Broadcasting.

The US President repeatedly described the Las Vegas killer as "sick" and "demented", long before police commented on his mental health.

Critics pointed out that while Mr Trump compliment the killer's abilities during the interview with the Christian broadcaster, he insulted those of the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulin Cruz, saying she was "not very capable".

He said: We have the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, who didnt attend meetings, who didnt work with FEMA, who really did not do a very good job  in fact, did a very poor job.

And she was the lone voice that we saw  and of course thats the only voice the media wanted to talk to, and shes running for governor, big surprise.

Mr Trump has been embroiled in a row with the mayor after she criticised the Trump administration's response to Hurricane Maria, which devastated the US territory's infrastructure, leaving 95 per cent of the island without power.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

On a visit to Puerto Rico in the wake of the disaster, Mr Trump was accused of insulting hurricane victims by throwing provisions, including rolls of kitchen towel, at them.

Mr Trump defended his actions to Trinity Broadcasting interviewer Mike Huckabee, whose daughter Sarah Huckabee Sanders works as the President's press secretary.

They had these beautiful, soft towels. Very good towels," he said.

"And I came in and there was a crowd of a lot of people. And they were screaming and they were loving everything. I was having fun, they were having fun. They said, Throw them to me, throw them to me, Mr President.

So next day they said, Oh it was so disrespectful to the people. It was just a made-up thing. And also when I walked in, the cheering was incredible."

Mr Trump condemned journalists who covered the event, calling them "fake".
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Google has for the first time uncovered evidence that Russian operatives exploited the companys platforms in an attempt to interfere in the 2016 US election, according to people familiar with the companys investigation.

The Silicon Valley giant has found that tens of thousands of dollars were spent on ads by Russian agents who aimed to spread disinformation across Googles many products, which include YouTube, as well as advertising associated with Google search, Gmail, and the companys DoubleClick ad network, the people said (speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that have not been made public).

Google runs the worlds largest online advertising business, and YouTube is the worlds largest online video site.

The discovery by Google is also significant because the ads do not appear to be from the same Kremlin-affiliated troll farm that bought ads on Facebook -- a sign that the Russian effort to spread disinformation online may be a much broader problem than Silicon Valley companies have unearthed so far.

Google previously downplayed the problem of Russian meddling on its platforms. Last month, Google spokeswoman Andrea Faville told The Washington Post that the company is always monitoring for abuse or violations of our policies, and weve seen no evidence this type of ad campaign was run on our platforms.

Nevertheless, Google launched an investigation into the matter, as Congress pressed technology companies to determine how Russian operatives used social media, online advertising, and other digital tools to influence the 2016 presidential contest and foment discord in US society.

Google declined to provide a comment for this story. The people familiar with its investigation said that the company is looking at a set of ads that cost less than $100,000 (76,000) and that it is still sorting out whether all of the ads came from trolls, or whether some originated from legitimate Russian accounts.

To date, Google has mostly avoided the scrutiny that has fallen on its rival Facebook. The social network recently shared about 3,000 Russian-bought ads with congressional investigators, that the company has said were purchased by operatives associated with the Internet Research Agency: a Russian-government affiliated troll farm.

Some of the ads, which cost a total of about $100,000, touted Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and the Green party candidate Jill Stein during the campaign, people familiar with those ads said. Other ads appear to have been aimed at fostering division in the US by promoting anti-immigrant sentiment and racial animosity. Facebook has said those ads reached just 10 million of the 210 million US users that log onto the service each month.

At least one outside researcher has said that the influence of Russian disinformation on Facebook is much greater than the company has so far acknowledged, and encompasses paid ads as well as posts published on Facebook pages controlled by Russian agents. The posts were shared hundreds of millions of times, said Jonathan Albright, research director of the Tow Centre for Digital Journalism at Columbia University.

In a blog post, Facebook wrote it is also looking at an additional 2,200 ads that may have not come from the Internet Research Agency.

We also looked for ads that might have originated in Russia  even those with very weak signals of a connection and not associated with any known organised effort, the company wrote last month. This was a broad search, including, for instance, ads bought from accounts with US IP addresses but with the language set to Russian  even though they didnt necessarily violate any policy or law. In this part of our review, we found approximately $50,000 in potentially politically related ad spending on roughly 2,200 ads.

Meanwhile, Twitter said that it shut down 201 accounts associated with the Internet Research Agency. It also disclosed that the account for the news site RT, which the company linked to the Kremlin, spent $274,100 on its platform in 2016. Twitter has not said how many times the Russian disinformation was shared.

The company is investigating that matter and trying to map the relationship between Russian accounts and well-known media personalities, as well as influencers associated with the campaigns of Donald Trump and other candidates, said a person familiar with Twitters internal investigation. RT also has a sizable presence on YouTube.

Twitter declined to comment for this story. Executives for Facebook and Twitter will testify before congressional investigators on 1 November. Google has not said whether it will accept a similar invitation to do so.

US intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russian president Vladimir Putin intervened in the US election to help Donald Trump win. But Silicon Valley companies have received little assistance from the intelligence community, people familiar with the companies probes said.

According to the people familiar with Googles investigation, Google discovered the Russian presence on its platforms by siphoning data from another technology company: Twitter. Twitter offers outsiders the ability to access a small amount of historical tweets for free, and charges developers for access to the entire Twitter firehose of data stemming back to 2006.

Google downloaded the data from Twitter and was able to link Russian Twitter accounts to other accounts that had used Googles services to buy ads, the people said. This was done without the explicit cooperation of Twitter, the people said.

Googles probe is still in its early stages, and the number of ads posted and number of times those ads were clicked on could not be learned. Google is continuing to examine its own records, and is also sharing data with Facebook. Twitter and Google have not cooperated with one another in their investigations.

(C) Washington Post
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Earl Melchert was supposed to be at work on the afternoon of 5 September, managing a fertiliser plant in a western Minnesota town.

He returned briefly to get a diesel can he wanted to fill on his way home, so he could mow his lawn that evening. As he prepared to head back to work in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, he saw something moving in his field.

I thought at first it was a deer, Melchert, 65, said in an interview on Saturday.

What he saw, it turned out, was Jasmine Block, 15, who had disappeared on 8 August from her home in Alexandria, Minnesota, about 30 miles from Melcherts home.

I could make out her face, and I went, Oh my gosh, this is the gal from Alexandria thats been gone for 29 days,' Melchert said. Itd been on the news, itd been online. It went national. It was on posters, in stores, her face, her picture. Right away I recognised her.

She had escaped from a nearby abandoned house, where three men who abducted her had kept her for the previous few days. After knocking on the doors of several homes and not getting any responses, she swam across the lake near Melcherts property to get to his house.

Block had been at home alone when she encountered Thomas Barker, 32, outside her house. He told her he needed help with a family situation, Richard Wyffels, the Alexandria police chief, said at a news conference. Barker was a family acquaintance, Wyffels said, so Block agreed to accompany him.

At Barkers house, he restrained Block, and for the next 29 days, Barker and two other men, Joshua Holby, 31, and Steven Powers, 20, sexually and physically assaulted her, police said.

They moved her several times, ending near Melcherts property. On 5 September, the men went to get food, leaving her alone for the first time.

Shaken as she was after her escape, she was still able to help police find her kidnappers.

On Friday, the Alexandria Police Department presented Melchert with a $7,000 reward.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Melchert gave it to Block.

Its the best thing Ive ever done, said Melchert.

The New York Times
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Hotels and casinos along Las Vegas famous strip dimmed their lights on Sunday night in memory of the victims of last weeks mass shooting.

The exterior lights were put out for 11 minutes from 10:05 until 10:16 p.m, the exact time and duration of the gunfire one week ago, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said in a statement.

The mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival was the deadliest in US history. The attacker, Stephen Paddock, killed 58 victims and injured hundreds more  34 of which remain in hospital in a critical condition.

Paddocks motive remains unclear, as he left behind no suicide note, no manifesto, no recordings and no messages on social media.

We still do not have a clear motive or reason, Clark County undersheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters on Friday.

Paddock had stockpiled weapons in his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel in the days leading up to the attack.

He used a device known as a bump stock to make 12 of his rifles operate more like automatic weapons.

Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting  in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA

On Sunday, the powerful US gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, said it would oppose an outright ban on bump-stock devices.

The Red Cross has established a family assistance centre in the city to support the survivors and their loved ones.

"A week into this, a lot of people have been numb," said Red Cross spokesman Bill Fortune, who flew in from Colorado to help with the recovery effort.

"Some of those emotional crises are just showing up today, where people can't get out of bed. People have called saying they can't be in crowds."

 Jason Aldean addresses night of Las Vegas massacre

The process of returning items left behind by those who fled in the chaos could take weeks, authorities said.

So many phones, backpacks, lawn chairs and other items were left behind that the FBI has divided the huge crime scene into four quadrants, releasing items from only one of them at a time, FBI Victims Services chief Paul Flood said.

Before release, the items had to be cleaned of blood and other substances, as well as categorised, Mr Flood said. Property from just one quadrant of the scene filled seven delivery-sized trucks, he said, and required the attention of dozens of investigators.
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Tourists coming to gamble and party on the Strip will soon find something other than bright lights welcoming them to Fabulous Las Vegas.

Billboards will serve as a stark reminder that investigators remain stumped about what drove a gunman to mow down concert-goers from a perch in a high-rise casino hotel last Sunday.

We still do not have a clear motive or reason why, a frustrated Clark County Undersheriff Kevin McMahill said Friday. We have looked at literally everything.

 Las Vegas Police clueless to find a motive for mass shooting

Investigators have chased 1,000 leads and examined Stephen Paddock's politics, his finances, any possible radicalisation and his social behaviour  typical investigative avenues that have helped uncover the motive in past shootings.

We have been down each and every one of these paths, McMahill said. We all want answers.

The FBI announced that billboards would go up around the city asking anyone with information to dial 800-CALL-FBI.

If you know something, say something, said Aaron Rouse, agent in charge of the Las Vegas FBI office. We will not stop until we have the truth.

Paddock, a reclusive 64-year-old high-stakes gambler, rained bullets on the crowd at a country music festival from his 32nd-floor hotel suite, killing 58 and wounding hundreds before taking his own life.

McMahill said investigators had reviewed voluminous video from the casino and don't think Paddock had an accomplice in the shooting, but they want to know if anyone knew about his plot beforehand.

In their effort to find any hint of his motive, investigators were looking into whether he was with a prostitute days before the shooting, were scrutinising cruises he took and were trying to make sense of a cryptic note with numbers jotted on it found in his hotel room, a federal official said.

The US official briefed by federal law enforcement officers wasn't authorised to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The official said investigators were interviewing other call girls for information and looking into at least a dozen cruises Paddock took in the last few years, including one to the Middle East.

It is unusual to have so few clues five days after a mass shooting. McMahill noted that in past mass killings or terrorist attacks, killers left notes, social media postings and information on a computer, or even phoned police.

The lack of a social media footprint is likely intentional, said Erroll Southers, director of homegrown violent extremism studies at the University of Southern California. We're so used to, in the first 24 to 48 hours, being able to review social media posts. If they don't leave us a note behind or a manifesto behind, and we're not seeing that, that's what's making this longer.

What officers have found is that Paddock planned his attack meticulously.

He requested an upper-floor room overlooking the festival, stockpiled 23 guns, a dozen of them modified to fire continuously like an automatic weapon, and set up cameras inside and outside his room to watch for approaching officers.

In a possible sign he was contemplating massacres at other sites, he also booked rooms overlooking the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago in August and the Life Is Beautiful show near the Vegas Strip in late September, according to authorities reconstructing his movements leading up to the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

His arsenal also included tracer rounds that can improve a shooter's firing accuracy in the dark, a law enforcement official told the AP. It wasn't clear whether Paddock fired any of the illuminated bullets during the massacre.

Paddock bought 1,000 rounds of the .308-calibre and .223-calibre tracer ammunition from a private buyer he met at a Phoenix gun show, a law enforcement official not authorised to comment on the investigation said on condition of anonymity.

Tracer rounds illuminate their path so a gunman can home in on targets at night. But they can also give away the shooter's position.

Video shot of the pandemonium that erupted when Paddock started strafing the festival showed a muzzle flash from his room at the Mandalay Bay resort, but bullets weren't visible in the night sky.

McMahill said investigators are looking into Paddock's mental health and any medications he was on.

His girlfriend, Marilou Danley, told FBI agents on Wednesday that she had not noticed any changes in his mental state or seen indications he could become violent, according to a federal official who wasn't authorised to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting  in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA

Danley said she was unaware of any plans Paddock had when he sent her overseas to see family in her native Philippines. She was out of the country at the time of the attacks and has been labelled a person of interest, though she's not in custody and is cooperating with authorities.

Because so few people knew Paddock well, investigators will have a harder time probing his background for clues or hints he may have dropped about his plans, Southers said.There's no one to say who's he mad at, what his motive is, Southers said. The key to this case right now is the girlfriend.

AP
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A man accused of "marrying" his stepdaughter when she was 11-years-old, then holding her prisoner and repeatedly raping her for 19-years, has been arrested in Mexico and extradited to the US.

Henri Michele Piette, 62, has been charged with first-degree rape and other offences by authorities in Oklahoma after Rosalynn McGinnis, now 33, made her way to the US embassy in Mexico.

There, she told investigators she was "married" by a then 15-year-old son of Mr Piettes in the back of a van the day before he was due to marry her mother.

Ms McGinnis said she experienced 19 years of abuse (YouTube/screengrab ) (YouTube/screengrab)

Ms McGinniss mother later left Mr Piette because of his violent behaviour and lived with her daughter in protective accommodation, The Oklahoman reported.

He is alleged to have kidnapped Ms McGinnis, then 12, in 1997 while she was at school.

The newspaper reported an FBI agent saying in court: "After being introduced to ... Piette's other children as their new mother, they began travelling to numerous locations throughout the United States and abroad including ... Texas, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico."

Mr Piette is described by investigators as having deep ties to Central America and Mexico and criminal organisations there.

He allegedly went to great lengths to hide his familys location, including travelling to locations they had already left to post letters to indicate they were still there.

In captivity, Ms McGinnis alleged that she was subjected to near daily sexual assaults and bore nine children.

She said she suffered beatings, torture and was even stabbed shot during her time in Mexico.

It was only when a woman who lived near her home in Mexico brought a cake for her children that she finally revealed something was wrong. Mr Piette was out the room at the time.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The woman found Ms McGinnis "missing" poster online and contacted the authorities.

I knew that if I didnt get out of there, Id either go insane or I would end up dying and leaving my kids with that man, Ms McGinnis told People magazine.

She waived her right to anonymity after returning to the US, saying: "I want the world to know. I want him to be stopped and I want justice to be served."
Ucoms mobile customers will benefit from the best internet roaming rate of 8 AMD/MB when travelling to Georgia, Egypt or the UAE

Ameriabank Launches Google Pay and Google Wallet Support for Card Users in Armenia

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases.

UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS

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Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

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Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces
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An indigenous woman backed by Mexicos rebel Zapatista movement registered over the weekend to run as an independent candidate in next years presidential election, adding to a growing list of hopefuls bucking established political parties.

Maria de Jesus Patricio Martinez is the spokeswoman for the National Indigenous Congress, the political arm of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN), and in May was picked to be the groups 2018 presidential candidate.

Local media reported that after Patricio Martinez registered with the National Electoral Institute (INE), she pledged not to accept any funding from the government to run her campaign.

Mexicos major political parties have struggled to gain support in recent years, and voter surveys show all presidential hopefuls struggling to win support from as much as a third of the electorate.

Recommended Mexican university hosts feminism conference with no female speakers

The front-runner in most polls is former Mexico City mayor and two-time presidential runner-up Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a leftist with nationalistic leanings.

The ruling centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) of President Enrique Pena Nieto, who is barred by law from seeking a second term, has yet to pick a candidate.

Already, more than 10 first-time independent candidates have registered to run. Three of those contenders failed to meet initial requirements, according to the INE.

Also on Saturday, maverick Nuevo Leon Governor Jaime Rodriguez, a former PRI member, expressed his interest to register his own independent run for the presidency.

Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Show all 11 1 /11 Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion 'Jesus' is a churchgoer from the town Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion The church in Animas Trujano Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Gathering round the cross Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Erecting the cross Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Jesus crosses the road Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion It's more of a day out for locals than anything else Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Parasols out, because the sun beats hard Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Jesus parades through the town Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion It's a family day out for the people of Animas Trujano Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion There's a fiesta feel to the procession Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Everyone follows the cross Susannah Rigg

Last week, Armando Rios Piter, an independent former member of the center-left Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), formally registered his candidacy, further crowding the pool of anti-establishment candidates.

Patricio Martinez, a traditional healer and native Nahua speaker, is originally from the central Mexican state of Jalisco.

Her support from the Zapatistas marks a more visible turn for the insurgent movement, which has faded in recent years.

Just after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into force in 1994, the EZLN led armed indigenous insurgents in a declaration of war against the government in southern Chiapas state.

A 12-day battle with the Army claimed at least 140 lives and become an early symbol for supporters of the anti-globalization movement.
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One of Americas most controversial mercenaries is being encouraged to make a run for the US Senate - the latest insurgent candidate to be backed by Donald Trumps former strategist, Steve Bannon.

Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, a private security contractor firm used extensively by the administration of George W Bush, is said to be seriously considering challenging Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, who currently holds a senior position in the Senate Republican leadership.

Mr Bannon, the arch-nationalist who served as Mr Trumps chief strategist until he was fired this summer, is seeking to push numerous anti-establishment candidates to challenge mainstream Republicans across the country ahead of the 2018 mid-terms. Last month, Mr Bannons populist mission received a boost when the candidate he backed in the Republican primary for the senate seat in Alabama, beat the mainstream politician who had been supported by Mr Trump and the Republican leadership.

14 Iraqi civilians were killed and 18 injured in an incident in Baghdad involving Blackwater contractors in September 2007 (AP)

Reports said Mr Prince, a former US Navy SEAL officer, spent the weekend in Wyoming to discuss a possible campaign with family members. To be eligible to run, Mr Prince, who currently lives in Middleburg, Virginia, would need to establish residency in Wyoming. His family owns a large ranch in the states Wapiti Valley.

Mr Prince, the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, generated both headlines and controversy in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, when the Bush administration sought to make use of private contractors as part its so-called war on terror. Human rights groups highlighted reports of torture and abuse linked to various mercenaries.

The Associated Press said Mr Prince received millions of dollars worth of government contracts. Yet in 2007, several Blackwater employees were involved in the shooting deaths of 14 civilians in Baghdad. Four former employees were convicted on federal charges in 2014 - one for murder and the others for voluntary manslaughter.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

But an appeals court in August ordered a new trial for the defendant convicted of murder and re-sentencings for the defendants convicted of manslaughter.

This summer, Mr Prince, 48, whose business was bought by investors in 2010 and which has since been renamed Academi, found himself back in Washington where he was pitching a plan to bring an end to Americas longest running war - the conflict in Afghanistan.

Mr Prince has been shopping around a plan to replace thousands of American soldiers in Afghanistan with contractors from foreign countries led by a viceroy with huge power over US military policy. The plan received the support of Mr Bannon.

Human Rights Watch concerns over Iraq IS prisons

This plan would use former Special Operations veterans as contractors who would live, train and patrol alongside their Afghan counterparts at the lowest company and battalion levels - where it matters most, Mr Price wrote.

Mr Bannon, now back at the helm of the powerful Breitbart News, has said he hopes to support numerous anti-establishment candidates, making use not just his news platform but millions of dollars from New York hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer and his daughter, Rebekah.

Mr Bannon has already indicated he has plans to back challenges in Arizona, Nevada and Mississippi. Yet he also has his sights on Nebraska and Tennessee, where the retirement of Senator Bob Corker has created a vacancy.

Neither Mr Barrasso or Mr Prince have yet to comment on the report. Mr Prince did not immediately respond to inquiries.
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First Lady Melania Trump has issued a scathing response to her husbands first wife, after she appeared on television to promote a memoir and jokingly claimed she was a first lady.

Ivana Trump, 68, a model and businesswoman who was married to the President from 1977 to 1992, appeared on a morning television show to promote a memoir, Raising Trump. During her appearance she jokingly said: I have the direct number to White House, but I no really want to call him there because Melania is there. I dont want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because Im basically first Trump wife.

But one person who apparently did not appreciate the joke was Melania Trump, Mr Trumps third wife and the current First Lady. Her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement that she was honoured by her role as First Lady of the United States.

She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books, she added. There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex, unfortunately only attention seeking and self-serving noise.

Ivana Trump, the mother of Ivanka, was appearing on ABC to promote her book, which details her raising of the Presidents three eldest children. She said she spoke with her ex-husband every 14 days.

Sometimes I tell him not to speak that much, she said, saying that she supported his use of Twitter as it enabled him to speak to his supporters directly.

 Donald Trump discussing 'feeling Melania up in public' on The Howard Stern Show in 1999

During their divorce, Ivana Trump accused the President of raping her three years previously. But she has since clarified it was not in a literal or criminal sense.

The claim, which Mr Trump denied, was contained within a deposition and first reported in the 1993 book Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J Trump, by Harry Hurt III.

When Lost Tycoon was to be printed in 1993, Mr Trump and his lawyers provided a statement from Ms Trump, published beneath the allegation of rape.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

During a deposition given by me in connection with my matrimonial case, I stated that my husband had raped me.

I wish to say that on one occasion during 1989, Mr Trump and I had marital relations in which he behaved very differently toward me than he had during our marriage.

As a woman, I felt violated, as the love and tenderness which he normally exhibited toward me, was absent. I referred to this as a rape, but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.

Ivana Trump divorced the President when it was revealed he was having an affair with his future second wife, Marla Maples. Donald and Melania Trump have been married since 2005.
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Americas most powerful gun-rights lobbying group has claimed nothing could have been done to prevent the mass shooting in Las Vegas in which 58 people were killed and more than 500 injured.

In the aftermath of the shooting perpetrated by a 64-year-old former accountant, many have called on politicians to seize on the movement to demand tougher restrictions on guns.

Yet, a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association (NRA), which endorsed Donald Trump and donated millions of dollars to his campaign, sought to dismiss such suggestions.

Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting  in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA

Theres nothing that could have been done, unfortunately, to prevent this tragedy, Dana Loesch told Fox News.

She added: I know this investigation is ongoing and I dont want to get ahead of the law enforcement thats involved in this right now, but usually with individuals like these there are some sort of red flags and Im just curious what kind of vibe, what kind of red flags, this individual was putting out.

Following the shooting, the White House said it was not the right time to discuss the issue of gun regulations. Mr Trump said the topic would be addressed as time goes on.

Yet others said it was crucial the country used the incident to press for greater controls.

 Jason Aldean addresses night of Las Vegas massacre

The crowd fled at the sound of gunshots, Hillary Clinton tweeted the day after the attack.

Imagine the deaths if the shooter had a silencer, which the NRA wants to make easier to get.

She added: Our grief isnt enough. We can and must put politics aside, stand up to the NRA, and work together to try to stop this from happening again.

Investigators said they believed the arsenal of weapons amassed by the Las Vegas shooter, Stephen Paddock, had been legally purchased. Police have said the 64-year old used a so-called bump-stock device to fire one or more of numerous semi-automatic weapons he took to the 32nd Floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino, as if they were fully automatic.

Last week, the NRA had stunned many Washington observers when it said it was willing to support a restriction on bump stocks.

Yet over the weekend, it clarified its position, saying it would oppose an outright ban on such devices.

We dont believe that bans have ever worked on anything, said Chris Cox, the NRAs chief lobbyist.

What we have said has been very clear - that if something transfers a semiautomatic to function like a fully automatic, then it ought to be regulated differently.

Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein told NBC the US was a gun-happy country.

And I think there are many of us in growing numbers that dont want a gun-happy country, she said.
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An Iraq War veteran who stole a pick-up truck and loaded it with victims of the Las Vegas attack before driving them to hospital, has been awarded with a new pick-up truck of his own.

The owner of a car dealership in Arizona said he wanted to give the vehicle to 29-year-old Taylor Winston to show his appreciation for what he did.

The former marine was attending the Route 91 Harvest country music festival when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on the crowds.

Recommended Jason Aldean covers Tom Petty in tribute to Las Vegas shooting victims

After discovering the keys in a pick-up truck near the scene, he used it to ferry around 30 critically injured people to a nearby hospital, along with his girlfriend Jenn Lewis.

Police said 58 people were killed in the attack and 489 were wounded in the attack, which has been described as the worst mass shooting in US history.

After reports of Mr Winston's actions emerged, the owner of B5 Motors dealership in Gilbert, Arizona, posted a plea on Facebook asking to be put in touch with the former US Marine.

It said that people at the firm were "overwhelmed with the heart-breaking stories coming out of Vegas."

It added: "We would like to find Taylor and thank him for his bravery by providing him a free truck from B5 Motors.

 Body cam footage shows officers during Las Vegas mass shooting

Within hours the dealership updated followers on Facebook with a message thanking people for helping to locate him.

Mr Winston said he will sell his current vehicle and donate the money to victims of the shooting.

B5 Motors owner Shane Beus told AZCentral that he will be given a silver Ford F-150.

Its very, very courageous what he did," he said. He was willing to risk his life and run back into the storm and help out.

A new post on the B5 Motors Facebook page has told followers to tune in to watch on Facebook live when Mr Winston arrives to receive the truck.

We are honoured to play a role in this full-circle story as now Taylor will be selling his current vehicle and donating those funds to the Vegas victims, the post read.
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Giant hornets reportedly killed an elderly Japanese woman, whose would-be rescuers were forced to helplessly look as the insects struck.

Chieko Kikuchi, 87, who used a wheelchair, was said to have been stung more than 150 times.

She was travelling home from a nursing facility in southern town of Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, when she was surrounded by the creatures, the Japan Times reported.

They were said to have emerged from a building near her home.

Nursing staff accompanying her tried to help, but were unable to rescue her because of the large number of insects, which each have a six millimetre stinger.

Paramedics were called but were sent without protective clothing as they had been led to believe the woman had already been taken to a safe location.

They were also unable to get near her and were forced to watch as the insects continued to sting her for 50 minutes.

Kikuchi was later taken to hospital but died of multiple organ failure the next day.

The incident occurred in September but details have only just been released by local authorities.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Experts said hornets usually attack people when their nests are disturbed and the case has been described as unusual.

"To avoid getting stung by hornets, you should keep away from their nests, wear protective jackets and use a wasp killer spray," a forestry agency official told the Agence France Presse (AFP) news agency.

Hornets kill around 20 people a year in Japan. Their large stinger injects a venom which can cause tissue damage.

Masato Ono, an entomologist at Tokyo's Tamagawa University, once described the sting as like a hot nail through my leg.
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North Korea has claimed the US tried to assassinate its Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, earlier this year.

The state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) claimed the CIA attempted to use a chemical or biological poison to take out the dictator.

The alleged attempt shows the US is the main culprit behind terrorism, it said.

The news agency, which is seen as the propaganda wing of the countrys ruling Workers Party, said: In May this year, a group of heinous terrorists who infiltrated our country on the orders of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the US and the South Korean puppet Intelligence Service with the purpose of carrying out state-sponsored terrorism against our supreme headquarters using biological and chemical substance were caught and exposed.

This palpably shows the true nature of the US as the main culprit behind terrorism.

 Britain are 'preparing for war with North Korea'

KCNA also claimed the US changes its colours like a chameleon in order to justify overthrowing governments in other countries.

In pictures: North Korea military drill Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: North Korea military drill In pictures: North Korea military drill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video

It accused Washington of using the war against terrorism to justify its interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

North Koreas on-going missile tests have deepened tensions with the US and led Donald Trump to threaten to totally destroy the communist state.

The North Korean government claimed in May that it had foiled a US and South Korean plot to kill its Supreme Leader. A man named only as Kim was paid to carry out an attack with biological substances, the countrys Ministry of State Security claimed. The CIA refused to comment on the reports.

North Korea has a history of making contentious statements that cannot be verified. It has previously claimed the US and South Korea have hatched a plot, named Plan Jupiter, to kill Kim Jong-un.
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South Korea claims it has secured the technology it needs to build a non-lethal bomb that can paralyse North Korea's power systems.

Dubbed the "blackout bomb", the weapon spreads chemically treated graphite filaments over electrical components, which short-circuit power systems.

South Korea's state news agency, Yonhap, said the weapon was developed by its Agency for Defence Development, as part of a programme called "Kill Chain".

 Trump: US's military solution for North Korea would be 'devastating'

All technologies for the development of a graphite bomb led by the ADD have been secured," an unnamed military official told the agency. "It is in the stage where we can build the bombs anytime."

The defence department had asked that next year's budget include 500m Won (330,000) for the project, but the country's finance ministry refused to award the funding.

It was not immediately clear whether the defence ministry would be able to build the bomb without the funding.

The report came hours before North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said nuclear weapons were a "powerful deterrent" that guaranteed the sovereignty of the isolated state.

 North Korea propaganda video shows missiles blowing up US targets

Tensions in the Korean Peninsula have ratcheted up as the North has carried out a series of missile tests, including one which it said was capable of hitting the US mainland.

The secretive communist state also tested a hydrogen bomb last month.

US President Donald Trump has traded a series bombastic threats and insults with the North Korean leader.

Over the weekend he indicated military action remained on the agenda when he said "only one thing will work" when dealing with communist regime.

Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Show all 6 1 /6 Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Photos released by North Korea show Kim Jong-un talking to subordinates next to a device thought to be the new thermonuclear weapon. There is no way of independently verifying the pictures STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korea claims it has successfully tested an advanced hydrogen bomb which could be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A diagram on the wall behind Mr Kim shows a bomb mounted inside a cone STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) attending a photo session with participants of the fourth conference of active secretaries of primary organisations of the youth league of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in Pyongyang STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters

The first known use of a graphite bomb, or soft bomb, was in 1991 by the US in Iraq during the Gulf war.

Nato fighters also dropped a blackout bomb on Serbia in 1999 during Nato's military action against Kosovo.

The idea for the bombs purportedly came after a training accident in Southern California, when US military aircraft were dropping fine metal shards to confuse enemy radar.

When one aeroplane released the fragments near a power switching station, a large area of Orange County was reportedly plunged into darkness.
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Angela Merkel has agreed to cap the number of refugees arriving in Germany at 200,000, as a concession during coalition negotiations to form a new government.

The German chancellor, who has opened up Germanys borders to people fleeing the wars in the Middle East and Africa, made the concession to secure the support of the regional Bavarian party the CSU (Christian Social Union).

The CSU, the regional sister party of Ms Merkels CDU, is more conservative than its counterpart in the rest of Germany and had demanded a more right-wing approach from the Chancellor to secure its support.

The change of policy comes after the far-right AfD party did well in the German federal elections last month, securing third place and becoming the first far-right party to enter the Bundestag in half a century.

The AfD made significant ground in the elections by playing off fears and concerns about refugees and migration in general, and after the results became clear Ms Merkel said she would try to solve the problems of people who had voted for the party to win their support.

Though a million refugees came to Germany at the height of the refugee crisis, the number has actually tailed off over, with 280,000 welcomed to Germany in the recent year. As a result, if numbers continue to decline, Germany may not have to turn refugees away as part of the policy.

Germanys commitment still dwarfs that of the UK, which pledged to take just 20,000 Syrian refugees over five years  or 4,000 a year. The CSU-CDU agreement says that the total number of the intake based on humanitarian reasons  shall not exceed 200,000 a year.

Refugees from Syria prior to the arrival of German Chancellor and Christian Democrat (CDU) Angela Merkel at an election campaign stop on September 19, 2017 in Schwerin (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The deal may actually be politically advantageous to Ms Merkel because it allows her to change course on a policy costing her party votes in some areas, without suffering the humiliation of a self-inflicted U-turn.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels a European Commission spokesperson said: What we can say in general terms is that the Commission considers it extremely positive that the country that has already taken in more than one million refugees is showing readiness to welcome a further 200,000 persons a year.

The Commission and its president has repeatedly stressed how much we welcome the leading role Germany has been playing in managing the refugee crisis and shaping a joint European approach to migration to which this commission has also been central.

Refugee dinners in Berlin - In pictures Show all 5 1 /5 Refugee dinners in Berlin - In pictures Refugee dinners in Berlin - In pictures Refugee dinners in Berlin - In pictures Refugee dinners in Berlin - In pictures Refugee dinners in Berlin - In pictures Refugee dinners in Berlin - In pictures

After securing the support of the CSU, against which the CDU does not stand in election, Ms Merkel now faces the harder task of securing the support of the liberals and greens  who she will need to form a majority government.

The Jamaica coalition  so-called because the parties colours resemble the Jamaican flag  has never been tried at a national level before, thought it has occurred in Germanys state parliament.

The coalition is Ms Merkels only real option after her old grand coalition partners, the centre-left SPD, decided to return to opposition to lick their wounds after a historically awful election result last month.
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Three teenage boys have been praised after searching for a duvet for a homeless man before tucking him in to sleep.

The exploits of Szymon, Wojtek and Marcin were captured on CCTV whuch shows them walking with the bedclothes through their hometown of Nysa, in south Poland.

After their act of kindness was revealed, Nysas Mayor personally thanked the boys for their example.

Recommended Local councils blame Tory cuts for dramatic surge in homelessness

The boys told local broadcaster TVN24 they stumbled upon the man during one night and asked how they could help him.

The unnamed man said he needed a blanket to stay warm, and the boys left to find one.

In town, they found a person throwing out an old duvet, and they took it back to the man.

"We took the quilt for this gentleman, Szymon told the news outlet. We hugged him and he thanked us.

He added: "He smiled and went to sleep. I am convinced that it was worth doing. If someone asks for help, we should give him a hand."

The Mayor of Nysa, Kordian Kolbiarz, congratulated the boys, saying: "That's a big gesture. I bow to you.

"The world needs such gestures."

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The man is reportedly no longer homeless.
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The Spanish government will intervene to "protect the nation" if Catalonia declares independence, a former security minister has said.

Regional leader Carles Puigdemont is to address the Catalan government on Tuesday, but there is growing speculation that he will postpone any declaration after hundreds of thousands marched in support of Spanish unity at the weekend.

Catalonia voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence at a referendum on 1 October, but turnout was low and the ballot had been declared illegal by Spains constitutional court.

Speaking on the BBCs Today programme on Monday morning, an MP and ex-minister from the ruling Peoples Party, Francisco Martinez Vazquez, hailed the anti-separatist march on Sunday and warned that "no one can talk on behalf of the whole of Catalonia".

Mr Vazquez, who is also a professor of constitutional law, said the government would not accept a unilateral declaration of independence "just supported by a part of the Catalan society and a part of the regional government".

If Mr Puigdemont did try to declare independence, he warned, Spain will intercede. "Of course the government will do what the law and the constitution provides for the government to do," he said.

"It is not just the government, it is all the other institutions that make us a country - the constitutional court, the prosecutors - everyone reacting to protect the national state."

Asked if Spain risked "civil war" by stepping in, Mr Vazquez said: "Im sure that wont happen. I really hope the regional government, which is acting in a very improper way, will step back from what they are doing.

"We cannot accept that just because someone is saying there is going to be a disturbance, OK we are going to just accept a breach of the law. No government in the world would accept that."

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in an interview published in Die Welt on Monday that Spain would not be divided.

Asked if there was a risk that Spain would be divided, Mr Rajoy said: "Absolutely not. Spain will not be divided and national unity will be preserved. We'll do everything that legislation allows to ensure that."

France, which would border the new state if the Spanish region achieved independence, said it would not recognise Catalonia.

In a TV interview on Monday, European affairs minister Nathalie Loiseau said: "If there were to be a declaration of independence, it would be unilateral, and it would not be recognised.

Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Show all 17 1 /17 Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man faces off Spanish Civil Guards outside a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police form a security cordon around the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police evict a young woman during clashes between people gathered outside the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Spanish Civil Guard officers break through a door at a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Spanish National Police clash with pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona on Sunday AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Crowds raise their arms up as police move in on members of the public gathered outside to prevent them from voting in the referendum at a polling station where the President Carles Puigdemunt will vote later today Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters People confront Spanish Civil Guard officers outside a polling station Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Three man hold each other as they try to block a Spanish police van from approaching a polling station AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A woman shows a ballot to a Spanish Civil Guard officer outside a polling station Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man wearing a shirt with an Estelada (Catalan separatist flag) and holding carnations faces off with a Spanish Civil Guard officer Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Police try to control the area as people attempt to cast their ballot at a polling station in Barcelona Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man is grabbed by officers as police move in on the crowds Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Two women argue with a Spanish National policeman during clashes between Catalan pro-independence people and police forces at the Sant Julia de Ramis sports centre in Girona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Sant Julia De Ramis in Spain Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Confrontation outside a polling station in Barcelona, where police have tried to stop people voting AFP/Getty Images Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A Spanish National Police officer aims a rubber-bullet rifle at pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police clashed with voters as polls opened in Barcelona Sky News

"Catalonia cannot be defined by the vote organised by the independence movement just over a week ago," the junior minister said. "This crisis needs to be resolved through dialogue at all levels of Spanish politics."

A hasty decision to recognise independence following such a unilateral declaration would amount to fleeing France's responsibilities, Ms Loiseau added.

"If independence were to be recognised - which is not something that's being discussed - the most immediate consequence would be that (Catalonia) automatically left the European Union."
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Spains ruling Partido Popular party has issued its most severe warnings to date to Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont over the consequences of tomorrows widely predicted declaration of independence, with a PP spokesman saying he could end up like the historic Catalan leader Lluis Companys  in jail.

Anybody that declares it could end up like the one who tried it 83 years ago, the PPs deputy secretary for communication, Pablo Casado, said on Monday, in a reference to Lluis Companys failed bid for independence and subsequent spell in prison in 1934.

Mr Puigdemont is widely expected to declare independence in the regional parliament on Tuesday evening, nine days after the Catalan region voted for independence in a referendum dismissed by Madrid as illegal. Speaking with 24 hours to go, Mr Casado said the Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, planned to avail himself of every means provided by Spanish law and the constitution to fight any declaration.

Recommended Thousands march for Spanish unity ahead of Catalonia announcement

Although he did not say which specific charges Mr Puigdemont might face, according to El Espanol, Mr Casado warned that in Spain the crimes of sedition carry a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and rebellion against the state 25 years. Mr Companys was himself sentenced to 30 years in jail.

They [independence leaders] are going to run headlong into the [courtroom] dock, Mr Casado predicted. Its going to cost them.

Mr Casado was later careful to point out that his comparisons with Mr Companys had referred to the Catalans 1934 trial and incarceration after the independence bid, not to his subsequent capture, torture and execution by General Francos police in 1940.

I meant that history should not repeat itself, he explained, and if you forget history, youre condemned to repeat it. In history, declarations of independence by Catalonia have fared very badly.

Mr Casado also insisted there was no room now for international mediation and that the Spanish government had nothing to negotiate with the golpistas  the Spanish word for conspirators in a coup detat.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria made what she called an appeal to sensible people inside the Catalan government not to fling itself into the abyss.

She bluntly described Mr Puigdemont as a fanatic and insisted that this is why we need a double dose of common sense.

It [a declaration of independence] will not go unanswered, she said, adding that all measures necessary will be taken in response.

The PPs hardline attitude towards Mr Puigdemont has been given fresh momentum by Sundays massive pro-Spanish unity rally in Barcelona. But it also found further backing on Monday when the opposition leader Pedro Sanchez, head of the Socialist party, finally confirmed that his party would stand by the [Spanish] state if a declaration of independence materialised.

Meanwhile, Nils Muizneks, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, revealed that he has requested Spains Ministry of the Interior set up an independent enquiry into multiple claims of disproportionate use of excessive force by the Spanish police during the banned referendum on 1 October.
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A schoolgirl was assaulted by bullies apparently because she was Jewish  in an attack that came after they had beaten and taunted her for several days over her faith, a report said.

The 10-year-old  named only as Ness C  was taken to hospital for injuries to her ribs and stomach in the assault in Paris, and was kept for treatment for 10 days until she fully recovered.

The mother later complained the school failed to protect her daughter or take action against the girls classmates who were behind the attack in the school in Paris's 18th arrondissement.

The woman reported the apparent race crime to a watchdog, which published details of the incident on their website and called for a police investigation.

The National Bureau of Vigilance against Anti-Semitism also contacted education chiefs in Paris who offered to place the girl in a school of her choice, as her mother requested.

It came just weeks after a Jewish family were beaten and robbed and threatened they would be killed after robbers burst into their home in what was described as an anti-Semitic attack.

The assailants tied up the family and ransacked their property in Livry-Gargan, outside of Paris, taking valuables such as jewellery, said Jewish organisation CRIF.

In a statement, the president of the campaign group, Francis Kalifat, called on the security services to do more to protect Jews from attacks.

Frances interior ministry Gerard Collomb described the attack as a cowardly act and added that race crimes against people of the faith have no place in the French nation.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

A soaring number of Jews have left France in recent years, amounting to some 5,000 last year  down more than a quarter on 2015 when a record 7,900 quit the country, figures show.

Analysts put the exodus down to increasing anti-Semitism and over fears of further extremist attacks by Islamic radicals.
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People in Afghanistan are set for greater access to the internet and free information, thanks to a new partnership between a local telecommunications company and the Wikimedia Foundation.

Roshan Communications and the internet giant announced on Monday that all of the companys customers would be able to access the Wikipedia website through their phones  without being charged for data usage  for the next 12 months.

The initiative, called Wikipedia Zero, is due to launch later this month. It will be a fully functional version of the website, meaning users will have access to all content, search and editing functions.

 Donald Trump's ever-changing views on Afghanistan

The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organisation that runs Wikipedia and funds dozens of other open-source and other free knowledge projects.

At Roshan, we are proud to have been leading the efforts to increase access to information, Altaf Ladak, deputy CEO of Roshan, said in a statement.

The partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation expands the frontier of access to information and knowledge, especially for Afghanistans youth who make up almost two-thirds of the population.

War artists in Afghanistan Show all 6 1 /6 War artists in Afghanistan War artists in Afghanistan Work by Matthew Cook Matthew Cook War artists in Afghanistan War artists in Afghanistan Work by Jules George Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Embedded: Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Work by Jules George Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Trooping the colours: Jules George was inspired by his father and grandfather to witness and document war, if not to wage it Jules George

Afghanistan only gained access to the internet for the first time in 2002, after the fall of the Taliban. Under the extremist group, it was deemed immoral.

Mobile data services began in 2012, which the government hoped would prove an important cultural and economic turning point for the country  though by the end of 2016, it was estimated only 12 per cent of the 26-million-strong population had access to the internet.

Social media use through mobile has rocketed in the last year, however, increasing by 43 per cent  meaning nine per cent of the population in total were active users.

The UN declared in 2011 that access to the internet is a human right. In many developing countries, social media companies offer pared-back low data or free-to-access versions of their apps and websites.

Wikipedias mission is to imagine a world in which every single person can freely share in the sum of all knowledge  Millions of people in Afghanistan will now have access to Wikipedia and its sister projects without incurring mobile data charges, said Ravishankar Ayyakkannu, Regional Manager for Strategic Partnerships in Asia and Eastern Europe of the Wikimedia Foundation.

This will also empower them to participate in adding content to these projects, he added.
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Terrorists are using slaves to generate funding and attract recruits including domestic abusers and rapists, research has found.

A report published by think-tank the Henry Jackson Society (HJS) warned that modern slavery and sexual violence was fuelling Isis and other groups operating across Africa and the Middle East.

Nikita Malik, the reports author and a senior research fellow, said the sectors are routinely treated separately by different global agencies but are increasingly interlinked.

Terrorists are traffickers and traffickers are criminals, so its only natural that these groups will work together, she added.

Terrorists have an additional ideological motivation, releasing propaganda to justify the enslavement and rape of kuffar [disbelievers].

As the groups begin to lose territory, they are gaining strongholds on trafficking routes that are being exploited.

The findings come during a campaign by The Independent and Evening Standard against modern slavery, with an estimated 10,000 to 13,000 victims in the UK alone.

 Family members jailed for 'truly shocking' modern day slavery crimes

Research shows that terrorists use organise crime tactics like money laundering, migrant smuggling and drug and firearms trafficking, sometimes deliberately recruiting former gang members with relevant expertise.

The main hotspots include Libya, where Isis is among countless armed groups kidnapping, ransoming and forcing migrants into labour, with many later fleeing over the Mediterranean to Europe.

Niger and Nigeria are also key trafficking hubs, while in the Middle East Isis territories in Syria and Iraq are major hotspots.

The terrorist groups genocide against the Yazidis of Sinjar saw thousands of women and girls abducted as sex slaves to be passed around and sold among fighters.

Isis openly advertised the atrocity as part of its attempts to subjugate the minority, seeing the group issue fatwas and propaganda statements seeking to legitimise their enslavement.

The HJS report said that as well as dehumanising and punishing the Yazidis for not ascribing to Isis ideology, the genocide served as an incentive for new recruits and foreign fighters, with the promise of wives and sex slaves acting as a pull factor.

Religious elements are infused into sexual violence practices to skirt around the moral wrongdoing of rape, it added.

Forced inseminations, forced pregnancies, and forced conversions are a means to secure the next generation of jihadists.

Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Show all 15 1 /15 Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Displaced people from the minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Isis in Sinjar town, walk towards the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain, near the Syrian border town of Elierbeh of Al-Hasakah Governorate Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Displaced people from the minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Isis in Sinjar town, walk towards the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain, near the Syrian border town of Elierbeh of Al-Hasakah Governorate Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community settle at a camp at Derike, Syria. In the camps here, Iraqi refugees have new heroes: Syrian Kurdish fighters who battled militants to carve an escape route to tens of thousands trapped on a mountaintop Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis A pilot based at RAF Marham entering a Tornado GR4 prior to taking off for the reconnaissance mission over Iraq. Several RAF Tornado jets set off from RAF Marham in Norfolk this afternoon to travel to a "pre-position", from where they will fly to northern Iraq to provide improved surveillance of the situation on the ground. The jets, fitted with Litening III targeting and surveillance pods, will be able to fly over the crisis area to provide intelligence and help with the delivery of humanitarian aid Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis A British Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR4 aircraft equipped with the Litening III pod from RAF Marham, eastern England, on their arrival at RAF Akrotiri Cyprus for their reconnaissance mission over Iraq Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Aid inside a Royal Air Force (RAF) Hercules C130 J aircraft before being airdropped to civilians in Iraq Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis A Royal Air Force (RAF) Hercules C130 J military transport plane at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Britain made a third round of airdrops of supplies to aid refugees stranded on a mountain in northern Iraq, officials said, as Tornado fighters arrived at an RAF base in Cyprus preparing to provide surveillance support for the humanitarian effort Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR4 aircraft, flown in from Britain, stand on the tarmac at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis A displaced man helps a woman, both from the minority Yazidi sect fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Isis in Sinjar town, as they make their way towards the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain, near the Syrian border town of Elierbeh of Al-Hasakah Governorate Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Iraqis including Turkmen, Shabaks, Kurds, Yezidis and Christians, fleeing from assaults of army groups led by Isis, take shelter at Bahirka Camp in Arbil Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community look for clothes to wear among items provided by a charity organization at the Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community gather for food at the Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community gather for food at the Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Syrian Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take a sick Iraqi Yazidi woman to the clinic at Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria Iraq crisis: Yazidi nightmare on Mount Sinjar Iraq crisis Sick displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community wait for treatment at a clinic at Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria

Both Isis and its Nigerian affiliate Boko Haram  which largely targets Christians - have used rape and forced marriage as part of attempts to increase the population of children in their territories, who they aim to indoctrinate with jihadi ideology to continue their bloody crusades.

Ms Malik warned that national law in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Nigeria allows rapists to marry their victims to avoid prosecution, leaving few avenues for justice in a climate of shame and stigmatisation.

She added that as well as attracting recruits and serving an ideological purpose, sexual trafficking is a lucrative source of income for terrorist groups.

Kidnapping generated estimated revenues of between $10m (7.6m) and $30m (22.8m) of revenue to Isis in 2016 and experts fear that hostage taking and slavery could increase as profits from oil sales, stolen antiquities and taxes on civilians inside its shrinking territories plummet.

A letter from the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council warned that Isis and its affiliates were using sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism to advance their strategic and ideological objectives last year.

Victims of sexual violence should be considered victims of terrorism, and those responsible must be held to account and prosecuted, said Ban Ki-moon.

Domestic abusers and men with convictions for violent crime make up a disproportionate number of known terrorists, including the Westminster attacker Khalid Masood, London Bridge attacker Rachid Redouane, Orlando gunman Omar Mateen and Nice attacker, Mohammed Lahouiaej-Bouhel.

The report called for more data to be gathered on the phenomenon in order establish whether there is a link between the profiles of those who commit terrorist related violence and a prior history of domestic violence.

Migrants wait to receive aid distribution provided by the International Organization for Migration in Libya (AFP/Getty Images)

Libya, which sits at the nexus of trafficking routes from sub-Saharan Africa, could be examined by the International Criminal Court but the body has no jurisdiction over Isis territories where crimes are taking place in Iraq and Syria.

Migrants have told The Independent of their horrific experiences being detained, ransomed and forced into labour in the country, which remains at war six years after the UK led a military intervention against Muammar Gaddafi.

Research by the UNs International Organisation of Migration showed that 91 per cent of those reaching Italy on migrant boats had experienced human trafficking in Libya, including some approached with offers of arranged marriage or organ sales.

No evidence of Isis systematically using the refugee crisis has been found but one smuggler confessed that he received a call from a militant offering money in exchange for shipping 25 people in a boat to Europe last year.

The terrorist group is known to have captured and sexually abused at least 63 women in Libya so far, while many more have been sexually abused by smugglers or forced into prostitution.

The research concluded that the link between sexual violence, trafficking and terrorism is underexplored, calling for the British Government to create an international legal taskforce to work with NGOs, charities, and embassies on the ground to better track the overlap.

It recommended that laws including the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the Terrorism Act of 2006 should be interpreted more broadly to encompass the full spectrum of crimes committed by those using sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism.

Conservative MP Henry Smith, who sits on the International Development Committee, said the interconnectivity between human trafficking, sexual violence and terrorism must be examined.

It is clear that sexual violence is prevalent in human trafficking and in terrorism  and abhorrently human trafficking is becoming more closely related to terrorism, he added.

Ian Austin, a Labour MP and member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said the report was a reminder that victims of sexual violence should be considered victims of terrorism, and those responsible must be held to account and prosecuted.
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Two Israeli airlines are being sued by a group of female Palestinian Arab-Israeli students over what they allege was racial profiling in which they were forced to strip for an unwarranted security search.

The three students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem were on their way back from a short break in Belgrade in October 2016 when they were denied permission to board the return flight to Tel Aviv unless they agreed to strip searches, the women allege.

They say they were the only passengers singled out for extra security checks.

 Teacher attacked by right-wing American Jewish group 'for being Palestinian'

I overheard the chief security officer tell [a woman officer] that if I did not take off my bra I will not get on the plane, one of the plaintiffs, who asked to remain anonymous, told Al Jazeera.

I couldn't speak. It was a shock. I completely undressed the upper part of my body. It was painful.

Another of the women fainted during the two-hour-long screening.

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The search was unwarranted, said Awni Bana, the lawyer representing the women, in an interview with Al Jazeera. The women were not acting in a suspicious manner and there was no intelligence suggesting that the women posed a security threat.

The suit alleges the women were targeted because they are Arab, in a case of racial profiling.

While the flight was operated by Arkia Airlines, El Al, the national carrier, is responsible for all security processes for Israeli airlines, which is why two companies are named in the litigation.

Every action taken by any El Al security employee is closely monitored and debriefed. It goes without saying, that El Al does its very best to keep every security procedure respectful and tolerant, an El Al statement said, adding that its checks operated within all relevant laws.

The defence must answer the charges by 20 October. If they dont, a date for a trial will be determined in Tel Aviv.

Over the years there have been several attempts by civil rights groups in Israel and the Palestinian Territories to address allegations of racial and ethnic profiling of Arabs travelling through Tel Aviv or on Israeli airlines.

The last legal petition to implement uniform and equal criteria for all security processes was annulled by Israels high court in 2015.

The lawsuit is the second high-profile legal headache for El Al this year, after it lost a landmark gender discrimination case in which a court ruled it could not forcibly make women move seats on planes to accommodate the sensibilities of ultra-Orthodox Jewish male passengers.

The ruling in the case, bought by 82-year-old Holocaust survivor and former lawyer Renee Rabinowitz, declared that under absolutely no circumstances can a crew member ask a passenger to move from their designated seat because the adjacent passenger doesnt want to sit next to them due to their gender.
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Turkey has sent troops across the border into Syrias northwest Idlib province to aid anti-regime rebel groups, a move which has the potential to spark further violence in the conflict-ravaged area.

A statement from Ankara on Monday said that Turkish soldiers had moved into Idlib overnight as part of an operation to enforce the internationally-brokered de-escalation zone deal, agreed earlier this year.

They would being reconnaissance activities, the Turkish military said, without specifying how many troops had been committed to the operation, in order to make sure the de-escalation deal was maintained. Turkey said it would also provide aid for civilians in the area.

 Footage reportedly shows young Syrian refugees being beaten by Turkish soldiers at border

Idlib is now mostly controlled by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Salafist extremist group linked to al-Qaeda, which is not party to the ceasefire deal agreed between the regime and more moderate rebel groups within the Free Syrian Army (FSA) umbrella.

Turkish forces also shelled HTS positions on the edge of Idlib over the weekend. It is unclear whether HTS, heavily outgunned by the Turkish military, will put up any resistance to the Ankara offensive.

Fighting between the two could create a newly active front in Syrias complex civil war, now in its seventh year - and pose new dangers for Idlibs civilians, already pounded in the past by Russian and Syrian air strikes.

If the [US-led coalition against Isis] or Russia decides on a big operation in this area, that means millions more refugees who will try to go to Turkey. Thats why its in Turkeys interests to not have trouble in this part of Syria, said Wissam Zarqa, a rebel media activist who fled East Aleppo for Idlib when the city fell at the end of last year.

Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Show all 8 1 /8 Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Sifting through plastic: the workshop uses plastic from bottles and other waste materials to produce liquid and gas fuels. The liquid is refined into gasoline, diesel and benzene fuels, which in turn are sold for domestic and commercial use Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Khodor, 20, at the workshop in the rebel-held and besieged neighbourhood of Douma, Damascus Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Back to basics: a man checks the heat of a pipe pouring with fuel Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Khodor, 20, must keep an eye on the burning plastic inside the workshop in Douma Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste A young man takes a container of the locally made fuel, which can be used for domestic heating and on farms and bakeries Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Abu Fahad on a rest break with his colleagues inside the workshop, where the air is heavy with toxic fumes Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Fuel drips into a container at the workshop. Most locals are glad of the family-run business, which has restored a degree of normality to the region Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Khodor extracts fuel from plastic in the workshop Reuters

The question is, can that be done peacefully? Can the Turkish government have checkpoints and some influence here without fighting? Otherwise, things will get more complicated.

The new move from Ankara is the second-largest ever Turkish troop deployment into neighbouring Syria after 2016s Operation Euphrates Shield, when Turkey sent soldiers and tanks to aid local forces in removing Isis from a strip of territory on its border - and also prevent US-backed Kurdish militias from expanding their territory.

Observers say the new offensive is also designed to prevent Kurdish territorial gains in neighbouring Afrin.

Turkey views the Syrian Kurdish militias, allied to the Kurdish PKK insurgency in its own country, as terrorist organisations. However, the US-led anti-Isis coalition backs the Kurds as the most effective ground force against the militants in Syria - which has led to tensions between the world powers in the past.

While Turkey has supported rebel factions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies in Moscow throughout the conflict, in the last year relations between Ankara and Moscow have somewhat thawed.

The Turkish, Russian and Iranian cooperation on the de-escalation zone plan means that Turkey is de facto agreeing to the transition of power for Assad, said Talha Kose, an analyst at the Foundation for Political and Social Research in Ankara, speaking on a panel in Istanbul last week.

It is a very risky area - Turkey may face a backlash from moderate rebels if it cant deliver humanitarian services and could come under pressure from Russia and Iran to eliminate HTS altogether, he added.

Agencies contributed to this report
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The journalist who established her reputation with a scoop about German troop movements along the Polish border in 1939  heralding the start of the second world war  is being celebrated by Google with a doodle in much of Europe.

Clare Hollingworth, who died earlier this year at the age of 105, was a veteran Telegraph reporter and one of the most active war correspondents in the 20th century. She was the first to report on the start of the second world war after a trip across the German-Polish border, when wind blew apart hessian screens, showing German troops preparing in a valley below to invade.

In addition to that scoop, she managed to shirk rules that banned women during that war, and reported on the British North African campaign in 1941  and, in the process, blazed a trail for future generations of women correspondents.

 Secret Nazi military base discovered by Russian scientists in the Arctic

Hollingworth was resourceful in her reporting, managing to circumvent those rules to get out of Cairo where many journalists were posted. At first, she followed British troops, but was ordered to go back by General Bernard Montgomery. Before that could happen, however, Hollingworth managed to embed herself with nearby American troops, who were more open to including female journalists.

I would never use my femininity to get a story that a man could not get, she once said, a testament to her taste for danger, and her belief that better stories came from the most dangerous assignments.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Hollingworth would go on to report all across the world. Those assignments included a placement in Vietnam (where she broke the mould and wrote about conflict instead of hospitals and orphanages like most women journalists were expected), and in Beijing, where she served as the first resident staff correspondent for the Telegraph in China.

Hollingworth would have been 106 years old Tuesday.
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The threat of a nuclear catastrophe is higher now than at any time since the most tense days of the Cold War, a leading international think tank has heard. Plummeting US-Russia relations, threats from terrorists and rogue states and, significantly, the behaviour of US President Donald Trump are key factors.

Mr Trumps shadow loomed over the 10th-anniversary conference of the Luxembourg Forum with speakers expressing grave worry over Mr Trumps avowed aim of scrapping the landmark nuclear deal with Iran and his repeated public threats to annihilate North Korea.

The failure of Washington and Moscow to negotiate on their nuclear arsenals amid a series of geopolitical confrontations ranging from Ukraine to Syria has created uncertainty and instability, the meeting in Paris was told. But it was impending action by Mr Trump which was the source of deepest and most immediate concern to delegates.

Mr Trump is expected to announce this week that he will not certify the agreement with Tehran, starting a process which may lead gains of years of painstaking diplomacy unravelling. Statesmen at the summit warned that this would also have the highly damaging consequence for attempts to halt North Koreas nuclear programme with Pyongyang claiming that an international deal can be sabotaged by the US in the future.

Addressing the Forum, Tony Blair acknowledged that aspects of the agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA) with Iran, were questioned when it was signed. However, he continued: But now it has been done, it has a process of verification  it means that for now at least the nuclear programme of Iran can be stalled, and the sensible thing, in my opinion, is to preserve it. The Middle East, he added, was going through a period of great strife and abandoning the JCPOA would add another dimension of immediate risk which at present we dont need.

The former British Prime Minister described the North Korean regime as abhorrent. But diplomacy, with the help of China, and not sabre-rattling was the right avenue to stop Kim Jong-un acquiring a nuclear arsenal. We can threaten military action But unless there are elements of which I am unaware in either the weakness of the North Korean defences or the strength of US capabilities, it is hard to think of a pre-emptive strike which would not result in catastrophic consequences, said Mr Blair.

William Perry, the highly respected former US Defence Secretary who had served under Presidents Carter, Reagan and Clinton, said he was appalled by the rhetoric used by Mr Trump over the North Korean crisis: Leaving aside the matter of political decorum I think this kind of language stimulates and creates the kind of condition which may mean that the US and North Korea may blunder into a war. And the results of such a war would be catastrophic.

Mr Perry dismissed Mr Trumps claims about the supposed failure of the Iran nuclear deal. I do not agree with his views about the agreement. We can see that the agreement has been successful in significantly curtailing the Iranian nuclear programme, to the benefit of our security, he stated.

President Trump seems to think that the agreement could be scrapped and then renegotiated. But another agreement is not something which would be available. Scrapping the deal would have an effect everywhere including Europe, among our allies, who know that it is working.

Hans Blix, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said: President Trump recently spoke of his regard for the UN. The UN has said that Iran is complying with the agreement. Mr Trump now wants to walk away and unilaterally tear up this agreement, saying it is not working. But the fact is that the Iran deal is far-reaching and in place... reached multilaterally and other countries believe it is working and they will try to preserve this agreement.

Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor, the President of the Luxembourg Forum, made clear that undoing the Iran nuclear deal would be unforgivable. He also warned that the possibility of a deliberate provocation by North Korea was very real' and could trigger a global chain of nuclear strikes, with America needing to tread carefully over both issues.

Des Browne, the former British Defence Secretary, pointed out that even the most senior members of President Trumps administration are urging him not to scrap the agreement. We know that the Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson; the Defence Secretary, General James Mattis; his National Security Adviser, General HR McMaster have all taken this view. This seems to be the view across the whole world apart from a very few exceptions. This is an agreement which has the support of the international community and also the support of Iran. But we have Mr Trump determined to take this strange, lonely road. JCPOA was hard fought and hard won. It is something of vital importance, it is something worth fighting again to keep.
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Its early morning and Im tiptoeing through the undergrowth. Shafts of sunlight pierce the canopy overhead, spotlighting fragments of the forest all around me. I survey them for the slightest sign of movement. This ancient habitat is home to an extraordinary array of endangered species, but Im in pursuit of one in particular  the heaviest wild animal living on the continent, the European bison.

It wasnt too long ago that these gentle giants  the 2,000lbs herbivore cousins of the American buffalo  roamed freely across northern Europe. However, by the start of the 20th century, the European bison had been hunted to near extinction by a succession of Polish princes, Russian tsars and German troops.

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It was only in the 1930s, after a handful of bison that had been bred in captivity were reintroduced to this forest, that the breed began to recover. Today the parks wild bison population stands at around 800.

The forest in question is Belovezhskaya Pushcha, a national park and Unesco World Heritage Site in western Belarus. Straddling the border with Poland, these 650 square miles are the last remnants of a primeval forest that once shrouded the entire European Plain, from the Pyrenees in the west to the Urals in the east. As such, its home to indigenous animals rarely found elsewhere, from birds like black storks and spotted eagles, to at-risk mammals including lynx, wolves and pine marten. But the biggest animal attraction here, both literally and figuratively, is the bison.

As soon as Belarus announced five-day visa waivers for citizens of 80 countries in February, I booked my flights with bison-spotting in mind. With the national park situated 220 miles from Minsk airport  the only route in and out of the country without a visa  my time in the park would be limited to a single day, so I set off early to arrive just after sunrise.

Vehicles are not permitted in the park, so I hired a bicycle at the entrance to cover as much ground as possible. The longest cycle route in the park is 19km, but I knew that my best chance of seeing bison meant parking up every so often, and venturing deeper into the forest on foot.

Its easiest to explore by bike (Joseph Reaney)

And so here I am, two hours in, tiptoeing through the undergrowth. The tranquillity is intermittently disrupted by the rapid hammering of a woodpecker, the brash hoot of a tawny owl, and the scurrying of a red squirrel, acorn in jaw, searching for a plot to plant the next generation of forest. But no bison.

The deeper I go, the closer the trees grow together, until I find myself ducking and diving through the thicket. How would a bison  a creature the size of a Mini Cooper  graze here? I turn back.

Over the next six hours, I follow the cycle path with regular forays into the forest on foot. I have a few not-so-close encounters with small critters, but the nearest I come to anything approaching bison size is at a standing pool, where evidence of visitors comes in the form of heart-shaped tracks (from elk or deer) and mud-slathered tree trunks (signs of wild boar, who scratch themselves on bark after a bath). Theres also a deep, hoofed print, propelling me on to explore the area further for bison. But no luck.

The bison can prove elusive (Joseph Reaney)

Instead, I take time to explore some of the forests other attractions. The trees are straight out of a fairy tale, all towering 650-year-old oaks and elms with gnarled, exposed roots. And the expansive lake is a pastoral dream, replete with white water lilies, storks and cranes. Theres social history too, in the form of an overgrown railway built by the Nazis to transport felled logs. More unusual is the woodland Residence of Father Frost, a conspicuous, Belarusian Santa-themed tourist attraction  open all year.

However, the bison are always in my thoughts, so as I enter the last stretch of my cycle route, I decide its time for a final throw of the dice. Consulting my map, I opt for another detour  not into the thicket this time, but out into the open. I turn off the main path and cycle along a dirt track under a shadowy canopy, until I emerge into a sea of green: a vast field of long, lush grass, fringed by forest on all sides.

I jump off my bike and push it along the track; the ground is too boggy to cycle here. I head for the far side of the field, where I envisage a herd of bison cooling off in the marshland. As I draw closer, I look around me for any traces of activity. But there are none. No bison. Just a marsh, still and vacant.

The parks wild bison population stands at around 800 (Joseph Reaney)

I turn, defeated, to walk off into the sunset  but then I hear something. A soft rustling. I whip around; its coming from the trees behind the marshland. Staring, squinting, I can make out something: a great mass of black, faintly visible amid the darkness of the forest. A bison? Perhaps. What else could it be?

I yank the binoculars from my backpack, but its already too late. Its gone. The silhouette has vanished.

Just then, a shrill bark pierces the air, and I instinctively look up. A giant bird of prey circles above my head. Binoculars primed, I take a closer look  its a white-tailed eagle, sailing and swooping in search of a feast in the long grass. Its a majestic sight. And I realise: I may never know for sure if I saw a bison, but this animal encounter is undeniably real. And its the perfect way to end a very long day.

Travel essentials

Getting there

Belavia flies direct from London Gatwick to Minsk from 235 return. Its a five-hour drive to Belovezhskaya Pushcha.

Click here to find flights to Minsk

Staying there

The Kamenyuki Hotel is as close as it gets, located in the village of Kamenyuki, home to the national parks administrative centre. Rooms are basic but the complex also features an indoor pool, sauna and fitness centre. Doubles from 36, B&B.

More information

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Zhora Zakaryan: I did not know that the above mentioned money belonged to Samvel Babayan (video)

Four defendants: Zhora Zakaryan, Andranik Kocharyan, Karen Kocharyan and Davit Harutyunyan, who were charged with money laundering today, refused to give evidence during the court hearing on the caseof Samvel Babayan, the former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, and others. One of the defendants, Zhora Zakaryan, did not even want to comment on the charge. Arshak Vardanyan, judge of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts of Yerevan, asked "Do you insist on your preliminary testimony? Don't you have a wish to give testimony here in the courtroom? Don't you want to answer the questions?" The prosecutor filed a motion to release the defendant's preliminary testimony. Andranik Kocharyan had provided Zhora Zakaryan with a 20 euro banknote to eliminate red spots but Andranik could not manage it. Then two banknotes worth 20 and 50 euros were provided. However, he wanted to erase the spots with another material and ask for money. The judge read his preliminary testimony: "I did not know how the banknotes were going to be used after I cleaned them. Andranik told me that his brother Karen had given him the money. I am not close to him, but I knew that the money belonged to another person. I did not know that the above mentioned money belonged to Samvel Babayan," was said in Zhora Zakaryan's testimony. Andranik Kocharyan, in the testimony given in the preliminary investigation, accepted him as a partly guilty. He mentioned that the money had been given to him by his brother. During the preliminary investigation, Andranik Kocharyan's brother, Karen Kocharyan, said that Samvel Babayan had given him the money. David Harutyunyan, one of the defendants, used his connections so that the fraudulent 5,000 euros was transferred to Armenia from the RF, according to the preliminary investigation body. According to the pretrial testimony, he received the money, but could not convey to Karen Kocharyan as employees of the National Security Service detained him. Samvel Babayan, Sanasar Gabrielyan and Armen Poghosyan will give testimony during the secons session.
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Tens of thousands of airline passengers have been told their flights have been cancelled by the latest French air traffic control strikes. It began at 5pm British time on Monday and will continue until the early hours of Wednesday.

The main air-traffic controllers unions are stopping work as part of a national strike against the labour reform policies of President Emmanuel Macron.

Ryanair has cancelled over 220 flights, affecting about 40,000 passengers. While the cancellations are across western Europe, UK airports are particularly badly affected. Dozens of links from Stansted, Luton, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh to France and Spain have been axed.

The airline said: "Unfortunately, further flight delays and cancellations are likely and customers are asked to please monitor this notice which will be updated throughout the day.

"Ryanair sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused by these unjustified ATC disruptions which are entirely outside of our control.

Its rival, easyJet, said: As a large percentage of easyJets flights fly over France, this will have an impact on our flights to and from French airports, as well as those flying over French airspace.

The strike is also expected to impact many public services in France, including public transport. We advise all passengers to allow plenty of extra time to get to the airport and consider alternative transport options where possible.

British Airways has grounded its Monday evening departures from Heathrow to Marseille, Paris Orly and Toulouse, as well as Basel  which serves a Swiss city but is in French territory.

Many more cancellations are expected on Tuesday, including to cities in countries such as Spain and Italy, which normally fly over French airspace.

BA said: Yet again this will unfortunately bring another wave of unnecessary disruption for some customers travelling in Europe. It will be using larger aircraft on some flights to compensate for cancellations.

The airline is allowing anyone due to fly to or from any French airport, as well as Madrid and Barcelona, on Monday 9 or Tuesday 10 October, to move it back to a date up to and including Thursday 12 October.

Passengers whose flights are disrupted are not entitled to cash compensation, but airlines have a duty of care towards them  providing meals and accommodation until they can reach their destination. If airlines are not able to offer an alternative departure within a reasonable time, typically two days, they must pay for flights on other carriers.

Click here to compare flight options with Skyscanner
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Second-guessing the sober judgement of history from the state of wild intoxication we reel under today is an imbeciles game. Being one, I offer this prediction.

When the dust has settled on the Trump era (assuming the dust isnt so lethally radioactive that no one survives to do the judging), historians will identify 30 April 2011 as the day when history turned.

It would be easy to misidentify the historic moment: that was the day Barack Obama sanctioned the hit on Osama bin Laden.

Yet the assassination looks a trivial event compared with what immediately preceded it. A few hours before his Situation Room vigil began, Obama hilariously dissected an onlooking Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents Association dinner.

If youve never seen that stand-up turn and want to YouTube it, be warned: your laughter will turn to sobs of despair. Trumps rigid expression of red-cheeked, white-hot rage as the room erupted at the gags  birtherism, The Apprentice, him adorning the White House roof with the Trump logo  isnt as gratifying now.

I and many non-imbeciles have wondered before if Trump took a far more monumental decision that night than Obamas about bin Laden. Was that the moment he resolved to become President purely to punish Obama by dismantling his legacy?

With each week that passes, it is more certain that it was. The longer it hurtles towards wherever its headed, the more transparently this festering excrescence of a presidency is revealed as a monstrous revenger fantasy brought to life.

Identifying a pattern in Donald Trumps policies may seem a bigger fools game than anticipating history, but they have this one connecting factor. Every stance he takes is designed to unstitch a panel on the tapestry Obama so patiently created.

Trump was for universal healthcare before he was passionately against it. In the alternate universe where Obama prevented Americans getting health insurance, President Donald J Trump would be obsessed with giving it to them.

Whatever the guy who ridiculed him at the dinner did, Trumps craving for payback dictates he undo. If this Thanksgiving he takes a carving knife and slits the turkey from ear to ear, safely put it down to Obama having always pardoned the turkey in keeping with tradition.

The latest chapter in the scariest vengeance tale ever told concerns Iran. After withdrawing from the Paris climate change treaty, the frenzied attacks on Obamacare and so on, Trump wants to remove the US from the non-nuclear deal Obama (and other western leaders) struck with the theocracy; the one every sane and informed voice agrees is working as planned.

In Trumps defence, its not as if theres a recent example of how a paranoid regime will respond to what it sees as an existential threat. But even if there were one, for examples sake on the Korean peninsula, what difference would it make? Obama did the deal with Iran. Obama made people laugh at him. Ergo, the deal must die.

 Donald Trump 'asks ex-wife Ivana for advice about Tweeting'

For now, Trump will probably be denied. The other western signatories are happy with the deal, and its up to Congress whether or not to reintroduce the kind of punitive sanctions that would probably tempt Tehran to take the centrifuges out of storage.

The danger of a military strike on North Korea, on the other hand, is clearer and more present than ever. In keeping with the reality TV tone that makes it all such fun, Trump has tweet-trailed the next exciting episode.

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, he writes, hasnt worked  Sorry, but only one thing will work! Asked what that one thing might be, Trump contented himself with: Youll figure that out pretty soon.

Now that may be no more than the latest hand in his ongoing game of bluff with that brinksman supreme, Kim Jong-un. So long as hes in charge of the military troika which effected a nursery coup in the summer, he will probably be steered clear of the cataclysmically crazy. Generals Kelly, Mattis and McMaster, along with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, can together subvert his urge to attack Pyongyang and risk a counterstrike against the 10 million people some 35 miles the other side of the border in Seoul.

But Tillerson refuses to deny calling Trump a moron, while chief of staff John Kelly is rumoured to be on the verge of resigning. Trump kicked him off Air Force One on Thursday in dudgeon that didnt seem notably low.

 Trump standing with military leaders: "This is the calm before the storm"

As with all Trump hires, it was always a matter of when rather than if they would terminally displease their boss, or discover the limits of their endurance. What follows if he replaces them with ideological warmongers, in the mould of Steve Bannon, or the theatrically maniacal John Bolton doesnt bear contemplating.

In the absence of Robert Mueller finding a Kalashnikov so smoking hot that Russian collusion abruptly curtails this presidency, perhaps the worlds best hope still lies with Obama. If he could convince Trump of an epiphany  that he now sees launching a massive strike against Pyongyang and abandoning the Iran deal as the only way ahead  Trump would invite Kim Jong-un to Camp David for an all-you-can-eat artisan French cheese buffet-cum-peace summit.

Yes, of course, this would be the crudest child psychology known to humanity. But when youre dealing with the crudest child on the planet, and the Doomsday Clock is ticking down from two and a half minutes to midnight, what can there possibly be to lose?
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A Facebook advert from the personal care brand Dove has recently sparked backlash after one of its images  a black woman removing a brown T-shirt to reveal a white woman in a pink T-shirt underneath, seeming to imply that Dove products had cleaned her black skin off  went viral.

It reminded many of the Chinese advert for washing detergent in which a black man is pushed into a washing machine only to emerge as a light-skinned East Asian man.

Dove appeared to be guilty of the same abhorrent conceit. Make-up artist and blogger Naythemua (Naomi Blake) described the advert as tone deaf (not only a salient point, also a great pun). She explained: To know that colourism is a problem in the world, that includes bleaching the skin, and they would put this ad out without a thought... [It] makes no sense.

Colourism is a concept that addresses an important nuance within racism: it is not just ethnic background that determines prejudice, but being lighter or darker skinned within ones own race. People of black or Asian heritage who have a lighter than average skin tone  as well as features that more closely align with Caucasian standards  are often held in higher esteem.

In advertising, TV, film and elsewhere, including these individuals with lighter skin and classically Caucasian features while excluding darker-skinned people with traditionally non-Western features is rife. Its dangerous because it creates the facade of diversity while quietly maligning huge numbers of people. These insidious practices disproportionately affect black people  hence why the image in Doves advert was so problematic.

 Rihanna launches Fenty Beauty in London

Naythemuas point is indisputable, and Dove has apologised  albeit with the usual evasiveness that follows a shamefully insensitive display by a big brand. The cosmetics company insisted: We deeply regret the offence it caused. Needless to say, this choice of wording does not suggest, We deeply regret creating this advert in the first place, but rather, We deeply regret how you all responded to it.

Doves defenders claimed that the still currently circulating social media was taken out of context, explaining how the reveal of a white woman under the removed T-shirt was followed by the reveal of an Asian woman in the full advert.

But this defence misses the point. The reason that the transformation of a black woman into a white woman stuck such an unpleasant chord was that it seemed to make blatant a process that the beauty industry often more subtly alludes to.

Many beauty products are hinged upon the ideal of whiteness. This can be anything from the obvious  things like skin-bleaching products, the preference for hair that hangs down and the prevalence of products to support that  to the less obvious beauty norms such as red lipstick and rouge, both of which promote the pink tones common in white skin but not in black or brown complexions.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male 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Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA

People often pretend that this relationship goes both ways, and that the tanning industry relegates paleness and reveres a darker skin tone. But tanning still promotes an ideal of whiteness, because darker skin tones cannot achieve the light bronze hue that is associated with that sunkissed image. Besides, no person of colour has ever looked at their sizzling white friend and thought: This is progress.

This is not to say that issues of colourism within the beauty industry havent seen any progress recently. Revolutionary moments, such as the launch of Rihannas Fenty Beauty, a make-up brand that seeks to cater for all skin tones, have offered much-needed glimmers of optimism. Women who were being forced to lighten their skin with pale foundations because they couldnt find one dark enough are now having their needs provided for.

But this Dove advert has functioned as a sinister trigger for all the issues that remain unsolved, and for the overarching, disturbing and depressing reality that women of colour are still being taught that they are less beautiful.

Put simply, a half-arsed apology from Dove is not enough. We need a complete overhaul and some hard and fast rules for the entire industry: no more blatantly racist adverts, and no more subtly racist standards.
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The job description of Isis brides has changed. Isis has issued a general call for women to begin fighting, deeming it necessary and obligatory for female citizens to engage in jihad. To justify this, they have said that it is part of Khilafat  an Islamic mandate mentioned in the Holy Quran, which in actuality promises peace and security (24:56). Their interpretation is bizarre and goes against what it says in scripture. It almost feels like they live in some sort of parallel universe where guns are the same as roses.

I am a Muslim woman, adherent to Ahmadiyya Muslim Khilafat, as well as a mother and a feminist. I want to share a different version of Khilafat with you  which is, in fact, the mainstream Khilafat followed by tens of millions worldwide. One that honours life, rather than destroying it.

I dont own a gun, but I am well equipped with secular and religious education. Being a born Ahmadi Muslim, love for Khilafat runs in my blood. At the age of seven, I became a member of Nasiratul Ahmadiyya, a worldwide organisation of girls between the ages of seven and 15. I was trained on two main aspects of life: education and service to humanity.

Before going to school in the morning, I was supposed to read and memorise religious texts. But compromising my mainstream secular education to do that was out of the question.

On the humanitarian front, I spent several summers helping my mother to collect donations for flood victims in Pakistan. Teaching literacy to those kids who couldnt afford to attend schools and collecting clothes and school supplies for them wasnt even considered a charity  it was more like second nature to us.

 Thousands of Muslims march against Isis in London

As I grew older, I graduated to becoming a member of Lajna Imaillah (Maidservants of Allah), an international organisation for Muslim girls and women over the age of 15. The organisation came into being in 1922 with three main objectives: education, services to humanity and services to Islam.

Since 1922, we as Ahmadi Muslim women have fought the true jihad. We have fought the jihad of equal rights for women in all walks of life and in all parts of the world. From the most remote places on the planet to the most advanced countries, this organisation works relentlessly to establish womens rights to education, property and marriage.

In countries where female literacy shows a bleak picture, more than 99 per cent of Ahmadi Muslim women are literate. Not only that, but a large number of them are highly educated. While many countries are still struggling against customs such as child marriage, honour killing and female infanticide, such horrific customs are basically unheard of among Ahmadi Muslim communities. The reason is that the worldwide organisation for Ahmadi Muslim women works directly under the leadership of the true Khilafat  so the oppressive customs that are wrongly associated with Islam are ruled out in the light of the true teachings.

We are present in 210 countries of the world and pursue global sisterhood. In each country, a woman president works parallel to the male president. The female president has her own working cabinet that includes directors of various departments such as education, humanitarian services, health and fitness, interfaith relations and so on. Local and regional administration is modelled after the national administration.

 Thousands of British Muslims gather to denounce Isis and call for 'peaceful caliphate'

Under the true Khilafat we, as the maidservants of Allah, are busy defending the honour of the Holy Prophet of Islam through our pens. When an Isis female fighter brings a bad name to Islam by killing innocent people, we pick up our pens and inform the world about the true teachings of Islam. We donate our blood to save lives. We contribute to the building of mosques, open to people of all faiths and of no faith, with our hard-earned money and jewellery donations.

We translate the Quran so people can read it by themselves and do not fall for Isis propaganda. We serve in remote villages of developing countries as teachers, doctors, paramedics and nurses. We are re-establishing the core of Islam through our service and knowledge.

While doing all this, we have not neglected our families: the job we love the most is to be the mothers of our beautiful kids. The prophet Mohammed rightly noted that heaven is under the feet of mothers.

This honour and status is only possible with true Islamic Khilafat and true jihad. So we encourage our fellow Muslims not to fall for the falsehood and barbarity of Isis  instead, they should see the blessing of true Khilafat as the prophet Mohammed foretold.

Ayesha Noor is the Director of Interfaith Relations of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Womens Association in Virginia, US
They said the information was "personal" and that it would not be in the public interest to disclose it

Calls have been made for greater transparency from the Garda after the force refused to disclose how many of its officers hold a criminal conviction.

The organisation said the information was "personal" and that it would not be in the public interest to disclose it.

The Press Association had asked the Garda, under the Freedom of Information Act, for the number of gardai who have been convicted of a crime since 2016, as well as details of the crimes and disciplinary action taken.

The Garda, however, has refused to provide the information, leading to demands from a member of the Oireachtas Justice Committee for greater transparency from the force.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland and other police forces across the UK and Wales have all previously released information about the number of officers with criminal records.

Fianna Fail TD Jack Chambers said there must be openness and transparency within the force.

"The public has a right to know how many gardai have criminal convictions.

"It is about being open and transparent. As long as the information is disclosed carefully there should be no reason for it to be withheld," said Mr Chambers.

He added: "There should be a transparent release of figures like this, just as there is from other police forces.

"I think it is important that as the pace of reform continues within the organisation that there is openness and transparency."

Responding to the Press Association's request the Garda said that a search was conducted in the disciplinary section of human resources to identify the records sought.

Upon reviewing the records however, it was deemed to be "personal information" and should not therefore be disclosed.

The force added that "the public interest in preserving the personal information and the reasonable expectation that information can be maintained in a confidential manner by An Garda Siochana in the context of its disciplinary proceedings outweighs the public interest which would be served were the records released."

It also claimed that to disclose the information would "constitute a breach of a duty of confidence" and added "it would be unconscionable for this organisation, engaged in processes involved in alleged breaches of discipline, not to treat the information relating to the process as confidential".
Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs ion the House of Commons, London on the Brexit negotiations since her Florence speech last month PA Wire

Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs ion the House of Commons, London on the Brexit negotiations since her Florence speech last month. PA Wire

Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs ion the House of Commons, London on the Brexit negotiations since her Florence speech last month. PA Wire

Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs ion the House of Commons, London on the Brexit negotiations since her Florence speech last month. PA Wire

Brussels has issued a fresh warning that it is up to the UK to come forward with proposals if it wants to break the deadlock in the stalled Brexit negotiations.

As a fifth round of talks was opening in the Belgian capital, Theresa May called for "flexibility" on both sides so they can move forward to the second phase - including a free trade deal.

In a statement to MPs updating them on progress since her Florence speech last month, the Prime Minister will say that the initiative now lies with the EU side, adding "the ball is in their court".

But at his daily press briefing in Brussels, the European Commission's chief spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, insisted the next move had to come from the UK.

Expand Close Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs ion the House of Commons, London on the Brexit negotiations since her Florence speech last month. PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs ion the House of Commons, London on the Brexit negotiations since her Florence speech last month. PA Wire

"There is a clear sequencing to these talks. There has been so far no solution found on step one, which is the divorce proceedings, so the ball is entirely in the UK court for the rest to happen," he said.

His comments follow the latest assessment of the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, that there still has not been "sufficient progress" on the issues of citizens' rights, the border with Ireland and the UK's "divorce bill" for the talks to move forward.

Expand Close Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs ion the House of Commons, London on the Brexit negotiations since her Florence speech last month. PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs ion the House of Commons, London on the Brexit negotiations since her Florence speech last month. PA Wire

Downing Street insisted there had been a "constructive" response to Mrs May's Florence speech in which she promised to honour the UK's outstanding financial commitments and offered to continue paying in to the EU budget during a two-year transition following Brexit.

The PM's official spokesman said: "The Prime Minister said after her speech in Florence that the intention was to create momentum. I think we have seen that momentum.

Expand Close Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs ion the House of Commons, London on the Brexit negotiations since her Florence speech last month PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs ion the House of Commons, London on the Brexit negotiations since her Florence speech last month PA Wire

"The response from the EU and its leaders has been constructive."

However it looks increasingly unlikely that EU leaders will agree that they can move forward to the second phase when they meet in Brussels later this month.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has warned that it would take "miracles" for them to be able to move on by the time of the summit on October 19-20.

In her Commons statement, Mrs May will tell MPs she is "optimistic" that she will get a positive response from the remaining 27 member states and they will prove the "doomsayers" wrong.

"A new, deep and special partnership between a sovereign United Kingdom and a strong and successful European Union is our ambition and our offer to our European friends," she will say.

"Achieving that partnership will require leadership and flexibility, not just from us but from our friends, the 27 nations of the EU.

"And as we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court. But I am optimistic we will receive a positive response.

"Because what we are seeking is not just the best possible deal for us - but also the best possible deal for our European friends too."

She will acknowledge that "progress will not always be smooth" but will seek to strike a positive note about the Brexit process.

"By approaching these negotiations in a constructive way - in a spirit of friendship and co-operation and with our sights firmly set on the future - I believe we can prove the doomsayers wrong," she will say.

"I believe we can seize the opportunities of this defining moment in the history of our nation."

The Government is publishing white papers setting out policy on trade and customs following Brexit.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: "Theresa May says the ball is in the court of the European Commission. But she will find the ball comes back fast, with top spin.

"The Prime Minister has been wrong-footed by members of her own Cabinet, most notably her ambitious Foreign Secretary. As we start the fifth round of negotiations, it is advantage EU27 because they can see how divided this Government really is.

"The Government is now too weak to deliver a Brexit that will satisfy anyone, least of all the British people. And Brexit should not be a spectator sport - the people should have the final say on any deal."

A Conservative member of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee warned that Britain leaving the EU without a deal would be bad for both the UK and Europe.

Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Two's Daily Politics: "It would be very, very difficult for the UK economy but it would be equally difficult for the EU27.

"Remember, we inject about 60-70 billion a year of demand into the EU27, so it's in nobody's interest. There are no advantages of a no deal. It's a bad deal to have no deal on both sides."

Meanwhile, there were complaints at Brexit Secretary David Davis's decision to attend a meeting of the Government's business council in Downing Street rather than travel to Brussels for the negotiations.

Labour MP Peter Kyle, a leading supporter of the Open Britain campaign against a hard Brexit, said: "Theresa May says the ball is in the EU's court, yet David Davis can't even be bothered to pick up his racket.

"Britain deserves much better than a part-time negotiator. The clock is ticking, the time left to negotiate is finite, and every day of fruitless talks takes us closer to a destructive Brexit with no deal at all.

"David Davis needs to pull his socks up, get on the Eurostar, and negotiate for Britain rather than posture in London."
The Budget is here. Here's some of the key priorities of Fine Gael and the Independents supporting the government, what Fianna Fail is looking for, and alternative proposals put forward by the opposition parties.

Fine Gael:

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The party has a number of measures it has already promised voters as the government looks to delivered a so-called "balanced budget". Among their priorities are:

A raise in the threshold for the 40pc income tax rate to kick in.

An increase in the State pension and other Social Protection payments though they're likely to be delayed for a number of months due to the high cost of hikes over a full year.

A Christmas bonus for social welfare recipients, although it won't be restored to the full 100pc.

A reduction in prescription charges for 65 to 69 year-olds.

A rise in commercial stamp duty.

Funding for hundreds more Gardai.

An increase in excise on cigarettes and the introduction of a sugar tax.

Fianna Fail

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This year marks another budget in which Fianna Fail hold the balance of power, as the party will have to abstain to allow Minister Donohoe's budget to pass. The party has made a number of demands during negotiations with Fine Gael including:

Cuts to the Universal Social Charge (USC) targeted at low and middle income earners.

Also want a hikes to the State pension and other Social Protection payments.

Increase funding for social and affordable housing.

More funding for mental health services.

A reduction in class sizes in schools.

Independent Alliance

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Sources have indicated that Minister Donohoe is dealing with the five members of the Independent Alliance on an individual basis this year and many are reportedly unhappy with their packages, even at this late date. Their requests vary across a number of areas and include:

Increased payments for people with disabilities and carers.

The return of the bereavement grant.

A betting tax of up to 5pc on all transactions with the proceeds ring-fenced for mental health and addiction services.

Other Independents in government.

Katherine Zappone is seeking increased funding for the childcare subsidy scheme.

Denis Naughten has pushed for increased home help hours for the elderly.

Sinn Fein

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Sinn Fein's alternative budget plans includes abolishing the Help-to-Buy scheme which looks unlikely to happen tomorrow. The measures the party says it would take if in power include:

An additional 7c levy on each 1 on individual income over 100,000 would raise 662m.

Abolishing property tax which would cost 445m.

A 1.13bn spend on delivering new homes.

Abolishing the Help-to-Buy scheme for first time buyers saving 40m.

Labour

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In their pre-budget statement Labour have made a number of suggestions and have said they would:

Restore the weekly social welfare payment rates for the under-26s at a cost of 96m.

End refundable research and development tax credits to companies raising 200m.

Introduce various improvements to primary care in the health service at an overall cost of 105.5m.

Solidarity-People Before Profit

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The opposition party has prioritised taxing corporations and Ireland's wealthiest in their pre-Budget statement saying they would introduce:

Increased taxes on corporations and the "super-rich" to raise 16bn.

Provide funding for 40,000 social and affordable housing units.

Green Party

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The Green Party has tabled a radical suggestion on basic income in their pre-Budget statement, and have said they would introduce:

The ringfencing of 10pc of the transport Budget for cycling.

A trial of a basic income scheme in six towns.

Social Democrats

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The Social Democrats have focused on housing, saying they would introduce:

A new land-hoarding tax.

An enhanced affordable housing scheme for first-time buyers.

#HaveYourSay
The upcoming Budget looks set to confirm what we all already know; Ireland is no place for young people.

While the Government is to introduce a number of tax cuts, housing initiatives and increased social welfare benefits, it's unlikely that us 20-something-year-olds will see any change to our pockets.

Tax

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The first time I received a real paycheck, I anxiously opened it and waited to become Ireland's next millionaire.

My feelings of excitement and pride soon turned into disbelief and anger when I realised the amount of tax I would be paying for the rest of my life.

"Dad, surely there was a mistake, there is no way the Government get THAT much of my money?" I bellowed down the phone.

"It's not like we have fantastic roads, healthcare or infrastructure. I want my money back."

Young people today are paying huge amounts of tax, but we are completely forgotten about when it comes to tax reforms.

Surely we should be given some form of tax relief such as extra tax credits as we battle the rental market and repay student loans.

In the Budget 2018, new measures are to be introduced to help the 'squeezed middle' with tax cuts and tax band changes on the horizon.

Who are the 'squeezed middle'? Why are they more important than the rest of us?

The Government is set to change the tax band to benefit people on salaries over 33,800, but few people straight out of college are earning that amount of money, and so will see no benefit to the change in tax bands.

Leo and his team are again ignoring the young people who have not yet reached the higher tax bracket but are still paying a relatively high percentage of tax.

While we all hate the USC tax, the cut in USC is likely to mean just a minimal gain to people in their 20s.

Meanwhile, minimum wage is to rise by 30c to 9.55. This is still way below the living wage of 11.70.

It is clear the Irish Government has no interest in rewarding its young people who get up early.

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Housing

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There are a number of new initiatives proposed in the Budget that are set to help the housing market.

Unsurprisingly, few, if any are set to help young people in Ireland.

The Government is expected to retain the Help to Buy and First-Time Buyers grant scheme, as well as providing further mortgage relief to households.

These initiatives are zero help to the young people who look set to remain locked into the rental market for the foreseeable future.

We no longer allow ourselves to dream about owning a home in the cities and the word mortgage has been removed from our vocabulary, its that far out of reach. We are looking at a housing market where prices are predicted to rise for the next ten years. Its off to Canada with us if we want to be able to afford our own homes.

Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said that the Government is looking to develop apartment complexes for young professionals in an effort to reduce the cost of renting.

It is proposed that in the individual apartments, residents would have their own bedroom and en-suite, but would have communal kitchen and living-room facilities.

Is that the best the Government can do?

Throw us all in together like we're living on college campuses again?

Surely millennials should be given more supports to be able to rent private living spaces that are at least liveable?

For those of us even unluckier, many are still stuck living at home with their parents in order to escape the renting market.

Will the Irish Government do anything to help young people, or will we be again forgotten about in the housing crisis?

College fees

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One of the biggest expenses for young people is college fees, which have increased by 275pc since 2008 to 3,000.

Its unlikely that any measures will be introduced to lower this cost. Free education in Ireland? Yeah right.

Fianna Fail is pushing for some measures to be introduced in order to lower the costs of education. This includes increasing the National Training Funding levy on employers via PRSI by 0.1pc, which would raise an additional 66m.

This would be on top of another 44m the party believes should be taken from Exchequer funding to increase grants to third-level institutions.

Are these measures a genuine effort to invest in education or are they just an appeasement for Fianna Fail in the upcoming budget?

It's unlikely that any of the money will be used to reduce college fees, but they could use the money to increase grants to universities.

As Irish universities continue to fall in international rankings, the extra income will be beneficial to increase third level infrastructure but it won't do much to make education more accessible.

Young people in Ireland want to be educated and they want to be able to lead their country well in the future.

After completing my undergrad degree, I'd love to do my postgrad, but even working full time, I can't afford to do so. Many people in their 20s would like to further their education but the Government isn't doing enough to make education accessible to young people.

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Youth unemployment

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Whatsapp The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for persons aged 15-24 years in Ireland was 14.8pc in September (Stock image)

Some 15pc (28,500) of young people aged between 15 and 24 are unemployed.

Fine Gael has previously indicated that it does not believe in raising one payment over another and an increase of 5 is being looked at across-the-board and is looking at a social welfare package being discussed by the Government could come to 450m.

However, it is understood that the Government is considering delaying the introduction of the hikes to mitigate the cost.

So the best millennials can look forward to is an extra fiver in their pockets every week, even those who are already on a much-reduced weekly payment.

Youth services

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Whatsapp As of July, 2,419 children and adolescents were waiting for a first appointment with mental health services and 6,000 for primary care psychology appointments (stock picture)

During the recession, youth programmes and services were the first to go when local councils attempted to reduce their annual spending.

Will the Budget allow any funds to bring back these vital services?

One in three young people suffer from mental health issues and will need to seek help at some stage in their lives.

In this year's Budget, there is expected to be a larger increase in mental health funding than last year  which means the allocated funding will be in excess of 25m.

This increase would certainly be welcomed by all.

Overall, it looks like millennials will again be the forgotten ones in this year's Budget and will continue to struggle in areas such as housing and finance.

The next time we decide to treat ourselves and order avocado toast, give us a break yeah?
Everyone has an opinion on how the country should be run - including a group of schoolchildren who have some creative ideas for Budget 2018.

Independent.ie paid a visit to Educate Together in Firhouse, Dublin to ask its pupils what they would do if they had 400m to make a difference.

From investing in a few new players for Shamrock Rovers to building a gigantic play centre, the bright and bubbly bunch offered their advice to Leo Varadkar and Co.

"Skipping ropes and toys, that's what I would give," one student said.

"Maybe a few pet shops because people need pets if they want to be protected," another said.

Many said they would help solve Ireland's housing crisis by building more houses for homeless people.

While one young boy prioritised the school itself.

"We really need a new bell," he said.

Let's see if the Ministers listen to their sound advice on Tuesday.
A day before he takes to his feet Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is facing backlash over some tax increases he is considering in order to fund a number of Budget measures.

The Irish Independent is reporting that in order to deliver his balanced Budget the minister will turn to 'stealth taxes', including a tax hike on land sales.

This move could see stamp duty on commercial property transactions rise to as high as 5pc, which last year raised 256m at a 2pc rate.

However, Savills Ireland has warned that the rise could worsen the housing shortage as developers will struggle in the face of higher construction costs to bring properties to the market, the paper reports.

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) also said that the cost of building has resulted in the greatest shortage of supply in this sector in the history of the State.

Other measures expected to be introduced by the Government on Tuesday include a sugar tax, a hike on cigarettes, and higher carbon taxes.

Meanwhile, minimum wage is to rise by 30c to 9.55.

Here is everything we know so far:

Tax cuts

A cut to the much-hated USC and a tweaking of income tax bands will be included in next weeks Budget following a compromise between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in an effort to ensure that the budget will pass.

As part of a compromise deal being hammered out between Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Fianna Fail, it has been agreed that a double-edge approach to personal taxation will be taken.

The USC cut will help the squeezed middle earning up to 70,000 a year, while the tax band changes will benefit people on salaries over 33,800.

However, the net increase in workers pay packets is likely to be less than 20 a month.

The move is expected to cost in the region of 300m.

Pension and social welfare payments

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It is understood that details of a social welfare package are still being finalised.

The Sunday Independent revealed that the entire cost of the social welfare package being discussed by the Government could come to 450m.

Fine Gael has previously indicated that it does not believe in raising one payment over another and an increase of 5 is being looked at across-the-board.

However, it is understood that the government is considering delaying the introduction of the hikes to mitigate the cost.

Housing

It is expected that the Help to Buy scheme is to be retained, with little or no amendments to the first-time buyers grant scheme.

Homeowners are expected to further benefit as mortgage relief, which was due to expire at the end of this year, may be extended.

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Families

Parents are not getting their hopes up ahead of Tuesday's Budget with no changes to child benefit expected and very slight increases in other social welfare payments.

It is expected that the bereavement grant will be brought back but will not match the previous once-off payment amount.

Under previous commitments to increase the threshold on inheritance tax from a parent to a child to 500,000 another increase in the threshold is expected this year. In last year's budget it was raised to 310,000 but it is unlikely that this year will see the ceiling raised to the full 500,000.

Christmas bonuses for social welfare recipients will be paid but not at the full 100pc rate.

Diesel

The price of diesel is expected to remain unchanged in Budget 2018, despite speculation it could be equalised with petrol.

According to AA the average price of a litre of diesel is currently 1.22. This already includes taxes totalling almost 73c.

Petrol is around 1.35 at the average pump, including 86c in tax.

Meanwhile, the Budget will include a number of initiatives aimed at encouraging a greater uptake of electric vehicles.

A series of long-term measures are under consideration, with a focus on incentives to encourage a change in driver behaviour.

It is understood initiatives are being planned in particular to encourage the purchase of second-hand electric vehicles.

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Cigarettes and alcohol

While diesel is likely to be left untouched, sources say excise duty on cigarettes and tobacco will rise.

It will be the sixth consecutive budget to see an increase in the price of cigarettes.

Last year, then finance minister Michael Noonan added 50c to a packet of 20 cigarettes, bringing the price to more than 11 for the first time. A 50c increase is also expected this week.

It is not yet clear whether Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has any plans to change the excise duty on alcohol.

Sugar Tax

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A sugar tax is certain to feature in Mr Donohoe's Budget speech but will not be introduced before April 2018.

In an attempt to raise extra revenue the Government are exploring a number of tax initiatives with a charge on fizzy drinks top of the list.

It is expected the sugar tax will come into force for April 2018, on the same day that a similar levy is being introduced in the UK.

Education

Fianna Fail have sought a number of measures to bring about improvement in education, among them an increase in guidance counsellors, investment in third level and a reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio by one point to 25:1.

The party wants to increase taxes for employers to fund investment in third-level education.

Micheal Martins party has proposed increasing the National Training Funding levy on employers via PRSI by 0.1pc, which would raise an additional 66m.

In a Budget document seen by Independent.ie Fianna Fail suggests increasing the employer tax from 0.7pc to 0.8pc.

This would be on top of another 44m the party believes should be taken from Exchequer funding to increase grants to third-level institutions.

In terms of public services, the figures of over 500 new teachers and at least 800 new gardai have been spoken about.

Health

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Mr Varadkar has indicated the budget for health will be increased next week (it is expected that all departments will see a budget increase).

Scoliosis services will likely receive extra funding and a reduction in prescription charge fees for 65 to 69-year-olds is also expected.

However, it is not fully clear what additional measures will be announced on Tuesday. The Taoiseach has been critical of the HSE's overspend in the run up to Budget day telling the Dail:

The word around the campfire in the HSE is always that the cupboard is bare yet the facts say otherwise. We have the biggest health budget in the history of the State, he said.

We have the biggest health budget in the history of the State and it will rise again next year. It will not be long before we are in the top two or three in the world in terms of spending per capita."
Increased butter production has delivered close to 100m in additional revenue for Irish dairies so far this year.

CSO figures show that Irish butter production is running 12pc ahead of last year as processors take advantage of booming demand and exceptional prices.

Total butter production to the end of the August stood at 161,000t compared to 144,000t for the same period in 2016.

The additional 17,000t is worth around 100m to processors given that markets are returning close to 6,500/t for butter at the moment and have been paying in excess of 5,500/t since the start of the year. Overall butter production for the January to August period was up 27,000t or 17pc on 2015.

The continued buoyancy in global butter markets has seen prices more than double since the summer of last year when it was trading at 3,000/t.

The CSO data also confirms the continued surge in overall milk supplies. Creamery intakes in August were up 11.2pc on 2016 levels at almost 780m litres.

In other dairy news, former Department of Agriculture secretary general, Tom Moran is to head up a Teagasc stakeholder group to address on-farm labour shortages in the dairy sector.

"A lot of work has already been undertaken by my Department, Teagasc and industry in relation to this matter, and the establishment of this group under a very experienced chairman will bring a new focus to these efforts," said Agriculture Minister Michael Creed.

However, IFA dairy chairman Sean O'Leary called on the Government to allow farmers the flexibility to recruit staff from abroad, including outside the EU and the EEA.

Teagasc estimate that 6,000 new entrants will be needed in the dairy sector nationally over the next decade to replace retirees and provide labour for expanding herds.
A man who lost his way while searching for missing cattle was found safe following a multi-agency operation in Co Tipperary last night.

The man was reported missing in the Arra Mountains between Nenagh and Ballina at around 10pm.
Farmers have called for the promises laid out in the Programme for Government to increase the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) funding by 25m to be fulfilled in the Budget.

The INHFA said this would increase the overall spend from 195m to 220m in the 2018 ANC scheme.

INHFA president Colm O'Donnell said the monies must be targeted towards the lands with the highest level of natural constraint to address the current imbalance in the rates of payment.

After meeting with Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, the ICSA said farmers were among the first to suffer austerity cuts.

The ICSA's Seamus Sherlock said the disadvantaged area payment was seen as an "easy target" in 2008 when expenditure was cut from 257m to 220m. A second cut followed, bringing it down to 195m.

"Those impacted were the most vulnerable in the farming community and it is high time to begin the process of reversing these cuts in full," he said.

The IFA has also pressed Mr Creed to restore funding cuts to the ANC.

IFA president Joe Healy said the funding to those working in marginal areas in poor land must be increased.

"It is important in vulnerable areas given the difficulty along the west coast from the recent weather," he said.

In addition, Mr Healy said that Government-supported low-cost loans for working capital and on-farm investment were vital for all farming sectors.

"They seemed to be keen to further examine the low-cost money after the take-up last year," said Mr Healy after meeting Mr Creed.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed it was something that was under consideration for Budget 2018. "We do appreciate the real value of access to finance for farmers and access to low-cost loans in particular so it's absolutely something we're looking at," he said.

The IFA has also called for an additional 50-a -head payment for suckler cows to add on to the Beef Data and Genomics Programme that is already underway.
A few years ago Ciara Clancy went to a dinner where a lot was at stake. One of the dinner guests was going to get 20,000 for their business, and if it wasn't her, Beats Medical would probably be no more.

It was right before the deadline for submitting patents, and the company - which makes a smartphone app that provides therapies for people with Parkinson's and other neurological conditions - had run out of money.

"We hadn't raised a large round at that point and when it comes to fundraising in healthcare a lot is put on patents. They say without a patent it's very hard to raise, so I suppose I knew if we lost that, our ability to raise would be compromised," says Clancy.

People were already relying on the product so the stakes were higher than would be the case for most startups on the brink.

But Clancy won the prize and immediately sent a photo of the oversized novelty cheque to her patent lawyer - the patent was submitted.

Fast forward to today and now Clancy is looking to raise 3m in Series-A funding to help drive the company to the next level.

It's currently available directly from the app store to customers for 1 a day, but Clancy thinks business-to-business sales is what will really help scale the company quickly. The proceeds of the fundraising exercise will in large part be deployed towards growing that part of the business.

Devising corporate strategy is not something Clancy ever thought she would end up doing. From a young age she knew she wanted to enter the caring professions, and in her teens a volunteering stint with a local physiotherapist convinced her she wanted to help people struggling with Parkinson's.

As a keen dancer, movement was a source of much joy in her life, and she wanted to help people reclaim their ability to move.

She went to Trinity and studied physiotherapy - but by the time it came to hands-on work with patients, she was left unsatisfied.

"I really felt after all those years that I was falling short, that I wasn't doing everything I thought I could do. I thought I was going to help all these people with Parkinson's disease, and I was helping them - but it was on such a small scale. I was helping them in hospitals and they were going home and the symptoms were persisting."

The vast bulk of the care for Parkinson's and other neurological conditions takes place in the home and so Clancy wanted to develop something that would work there.

So-called "metronome therapy" (where patients are asked to respond to a beat to train the brain to work more efficiently) had been shown to be effective but it was only available in hospital because it had to be individually tailored every single day.

So Clancy went about building the research that would enable her to develop algorithms for individualised prescriptions. Once that problem was solved, building a business became the challenge. There was just one difficulty - she had no business experience.

"Growing up, there were absolutely no plans to go into entrepreneurship. I had no interest in business. People say they set up mini-businesses and lemonade stands and things like that. I did none of that," says Clancy.

She decided to build an advisory board that would enable her to leverage the experience of others. Telecoms entrepreneur Sean Melly - also an early investor - joined, as did Trinity physiotherapy professor Emma Stokes and Philips online sales veteran Graham Merriman.

All of this was designed to help deliver Clancy's vision of making Beats the number one provider of non-intrusive solutions for neurological conditions. Among its functions are speech and language therapies, dexterity exercises, and tailored metronome therapy to help improve patients' movement.

One of the biggest challenges, Clancy says, has been to convince people to embrace digital health products.

"Beats Medical didn't look like a pill. It didn't look like how you treat Parkinson's disease. We had people with Parkinson's who this was helping who said: 'Don't make us wait for the HSE to cover it, we want this now.'

"So we started selling direct to customers - and now we have users in 44 countries through that selling.

"But hospitals and insurers, particularly across the States, are embracing digital health like never before in the last 12 months, which has very much started to flip our business model from a B2C to a B2B model, which is one of the reasons why we're raising the Series A."

She says she has been surprised by the power of B2C in helping to build sales.

"We do go to health professionals first but in countries where we don't have a presence, what's been very powerful is one individual, telling others, who tell the neurologist and then health professionals prescribe from there.

"The B2B allows us to have much more significant impact in a much more rapid way. In a sense it's also much more accessible for individuals as well.

"If it's covered by their insurer or their major hospital scheme, you can have thousands of people coming in to the same hospital group, getting on the system and off they go. It is a potentially more sustainable model for an impact business to be B2B."

As the company grows, the pressure on Clancy grows and she wants to make sure that she continues to develop her skills as a leader and chief executive, even as a scaling business creates more and more demands on her time.

Personal mentors have included Intel vice-president Margaret Burgraff and Keelings boss Caroline Keeling.

Important too, says Clancy, is fitting in time for physical exercise which helps keep her fit for the demanding job of running the business. Surfing, hip-hop music, rock climbing and, perhaps surprisingly, breakdancing are among the hobbies she pursues during her time off.

What also helps provide sustenance is the positive feedback from customers who have used the app.

The woman who could write Christmas cards for the first time in years, for example, or the man who managed to walk from one end of Britain to the other. This, says Clancy, is the well from which she draws energy.

In its last financial year the company lost almost 220,000 but Clancy says the last two quarters have been the company's best thus far.

"This is in line with much of the growth that we've been taking. The previous year we were developing products for other neurological conditions.

"With technology it's never about standing still so it is very much about taking that next step to push the boundaries of what you can achieve - trying to push for more rather than let one thing do well."

As for the future, Clancy just wants to make sure the business fulfils her vision of helping as many people as possible.

A trade sale or a partnership might make more sense than an IPO in achieving that vision, but nevertheless Clancy believes it's important to build a business that has the potential to go public off its own bat.

As well as Parkinson's, the company's other areas of clinical focus are cerebral palsy, dyspraxia, stroke and multiple sclerosis.

"Neurological conditions are so undermanaged and they're going to become a bigger and bigger problem ... this challenge isn't going to change, it's just going to get worse.

"I believe that Beats Medical will be staying in the neurological space because you could just keep going. There are multiple neurological conditions that require treatment for speech, mobility, fine-hand movements, etc."

It's a challenge that Clancy won't walk away from until she feels satisfied she has made a difference.

"I feel like I could dedicate a lot of my life to helping people with neurological conditions. I went into that for this reason and I feel like for the future I want to play a role in making sure that happens.

"I probably won't sit happy until I know that happens. I wouldn't be able to walk away without making sure that the change we want to create has happened.

"I wanted this impact since I was quite young, and that's the reason I went into business."

Name

Ciara Clancy

Age

27

Position

Founder and chief executive, Beats Medical

Lives

Dundrum, Dublin

Education

PhD Neurosurgery Outcomes, Trinity College Dublin

Postgraduate certificate Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Trinity College Dublin

BSc Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin

Previous experience

Physiotherapist, Caritas Convalescence

Pastimes

Breakdancing, surfing
The agreement will help support the growing demand for Microsoft Cloud services from Ireland. Photo: Bloomberg

Microsoft has become one of the first multinational companies to support a new wind project in Ireland.

The tech firm has committed to a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with GE to buy 100pc of the wind energy from its 37-megawatt Tullahennel wind farm in Co Kerry.

The agreement will help support the growing demand for Microsoft Cloud services from Ireland.

"Microsoft is proud to be deepening our long history of investment and partnership in Ireland with this agreement," said Christian Belady, general manager, Datacenter Strategy at Microsoft.

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"Our commitment will help bring new, clean energy to the Irish grid, and contains innovative elements that have the potential to grow the capacity, reliability and capability of the grid. This will make it easier to incorporate new clean power sources like wind energy, and that is good for the environment, for Ireland and for our company."

Sustainable Nation Ireland, which is tasked by the Government in the IFS 2020 Strategy to grow Ireland as a hub for sustainable investment and business, welcomed the deal.

CEO Stephen Nolan said the organisation was working with Microsoft and other stakeholders to contribute to a more sustainable, increasingly green grid in Ireland.

"With only a few weeks out to the next round of international climate talks  COP23, this new agreement underpins Irelands emergence as a global leader in sustainable business and investment," he said.

As part of the deal, Microsoft also signed an agreement with Dublin-based energy trading company ElectroRoute; it will provide energy trading services to Microsoft.

"The wind energy sector is particularly vibrant in Ireland at the moment, and we are seeing the emergence of an array of new structures and procurement approaches, which I feel will persist and grow into the future," Ronan Doherty, chief executive at ElectroRoute said.
RTE has warned staff that a better redundancy package will not be offered by the company amid concerns that some staff were holding out for improved terms.

The broadcaster is seeking 250 redundancies as part of a plan to restructure the company, following losses of 20m in a worsening advertising market.

However, there are concerns among management that take-up will be lower than required and it has issued a statement to staff ahead of the deadline for applications to the scheme.

Eimear Cusack, director of HR at RTE, said in a note to staff: "As you know, both the voluntary exit and early retirement programmes close next Tuesday.

"You'll also know that the schemes form an essential part of RTE's restructuring plans as we transition to a smaller, leaner and more efficient organisation.

"We remain available to you until Tuesday close of business should you require any further information.

"A number of you have asked whether any future schemes will offer improved terms; I can confirm that they will not," she said.

In the past, improved schemes have been offered when take-up is low. But the political mood means that RTE is not in the position to revise its deal upwards.

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As first revealed in this newspaper, RTE's planned redundancy scheme was seen as too generous by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which suggested it examine other public sector schemes with lesser terms.

Although the terms are tighter than previous RTE schemes, it is believed that average pay-outs will top 80,000 while the exit deals for the best-paid will run well into six figures.

It is understood that RTE defended the scheme, which is to be capped at two years' salary, arguing that it needed to make an attractive offer to employees in order to achieve the redundancy numbers it is seeking.

It is particularly targeting the over 55s, many of whom are on defined benefit pensions and are among the best paid in the organisation.

RTE would need to get well over 250 applicants to meet its targets as not all who apply will be accepted for the programme.

RTE was badly hit by the Brexit vote as a significant portion of its advertising comes from UK-based agencies. The current financial year will also deliver a deficit. The organisation will fund the redundancy programme through the sale of a portion of its Donnybrook campus in Dublin to Cairn Homes for 107.5m.
John Malkovich in Armenia (video)

Hollywood legend John Malkovich is in Armenia at the invitation of Sergey Smbatyan, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Youth Orchestra. Actor, director, screenwriter and producer John Malkovich will be presenting a scene from Ernest Sabato's "Heroes and Graves" novel, by Alfred Schnittke's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra at the opening concert of the 5th Khachaturian International Festival. Pianist Anastasia Terenkova is the soloist. "I and Sergey have an experience of such cooperation. Last year and two years ago we presented such format in Seoul and Buenos Aires. This is a unique format which should be combined with music and poetry. The text cannot compete with the music, it should be combined with it. In this case only text can make the music rich and complete. I think a lot before making decision about the text," said Malkovich. Malkovich likes listening to the classical music, particularly live performances. By the way, he used to play on the tube and the guitar. "I did not continue playing on the instruments as I realized my lack of talent,- confessed Malkovich, who, as he had said, likes professional approach to everything.- In the past, theaters were very important, and then films took that title. Now, I prefer directing. I am also a producer. I do not always find scenarios I like, but I still work," said the Hollywood legend. In one of his interviews Malkovich said that he treated the profession of cinematographer as a work that needed to be done professionally, instead of dedicating yourself to such a degree so that one got a mental disorder. As for performing in Armenia and how well Malkovich was familiar with Armenia, he answered that he had a lot of Armenian friends, he had not read special books about the Armenian history, but there was a book which he had read, there Zmyurnia is spoken about. He also knew about the Genocide. " What can be said about that... One gets surprised on what awful things can people do." The Hollywood legend said that he had been looking forward to coming here. As always, he had already learnt what he wanted
Given all that has happened in the financial service business over the last decade, the very mention of 'subprime' will have most people reaching for their Nurofen. It conjures the worst images of distressed working-class people grimly forced to beggar themselves to meet the demands of the moneylenders. But, of course, we don't live in an ideal world and there will always be those who lack resources and need urgent cash wherever they can get it (and often irrespective of cost).

One of those subprime lenders is the well-known Provident Financial. But it has proved in recent months that the moneylenders too can get it badly wrong.

Provident's recent story of botched reorganisation, a poor grasp of what technology can achieve and its lack of appreciation that it is in a 'people business' has provided another cautionary tale for the financial sector.

Provident is the leading subprime lender in the UK, a market with three million customers. It enjoys a 60pc market share, providing home collected loans, online credit, car finance and credit cards.

It was set up in Victorian Britain by the wonderfully named Joshua Waddilove, as the Provident Clothing and Supply Company. Originally it provided vouchers that could be exchanged in local shops for goods and food.

Later it expanded into offering short-term (high cost) finance to low-income families without access to high street banks. Because it was consistently profitable, it has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1962. To the surprise of many, two years ago it vaulted into the FTSE 100.

Following the global financial crisis, personal borrowers faced a credit crunch in which big banks tightened their belts and pulled risky lending.

This proved a godsend for subprime lenders like Provident. In the four years up to 2010, Provident's home loan business increased 20pc. But the benefits were short-term. Market place changes brought a rise of other online lenders. Provident's business collapsed, falling from 1.9 million customers in 2011 to 800,000 last year.

Recently, however, the company decided to restructure its doorstep business. It replaced its 4,500 part-time agents (who visited borrowers in the local communities to deliver and collect money and were arbiters on who could afford to repay a loan) with 2,500 full-time salaried staff, aided by a computer system. The computer could not do what the foot soldiers could achieve and as a consequence the company's debt collections slowed and a process that had worked seamlessly for more than 130 years ran into trouble.

Fortunately Provident saw growth in its credit card business which offset some of these problems. The company's credit card business Vanquis was set up 15 years ago and remained a small operation prior to the financial crisis. Shortly afterwards it took off. Credit card customers jumped from 300,000 in 2007 to 1.6 million early this year. The company specialises in prepaid credit cards for those who struggle getting a card from companies like Mastercard. Provident credit cards have been very lucrative, generating a profit of 200m (223m) last year. However the business is having problems. Recently it was forced to exit its highly profitable insurance business after investigation by UK authorities. This worries investors who fear significant compensation claims.

The company's stated strategy is to invest in businesses which generate high returns to support high dividends to its shareholders. Investors were not going to argue with this and the share price quadrupled from early 2009 to the end of last year.

It also became a magnet for UK equity funds including the 'star' manager Neil Woodford, who holds 18pc of the shares. It is also a top-five stock for Investco with a key holding of 30pc. Neither will appreciate a recent profit warning which saw the share price fall and Provident fall out of the FTSE 100. Today the share trades at 8.59 (9.59), a long way from 30 (33) a few months ago. The prospect of large holdings being offloaded is a challenge for the company, and I think I'd avoid them.

Nothing in this section should be taken as a recommendation, either explicit or implicit to buy any of the shares mentioned.
Blind Date has proven a hit with Irish viewers as Sunday night's first episode debuted with an average of 266,000 viewers.

The TV3 series reached an audience of over 550,000 viewers across the hour and was also the most popular show for under 45s in its timeslot, with an audience share bigger than RTE1 and RTE2 combined.

Hosted by comedian Al Porter, the show had been highly anticipated by fans of the original version hosted by Cilla Black from 1985 to 2003.

With a plethora of cheesy one-liners from the show's daters, the episode quickly became the number one trending topic on Twitter during the broadcast.

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While Al Porter's skills as host were almost universally praised by viewers, they were more divided about their opinions of the contestants.

Many labelled the daters as cheesy, with one viewer saying it was "the most cringe thing I've ever witnessed".

Others were more forgiving and labelled it as their new "guilty pleasure".

#BlindDateIRL was perfect fluff telly, cringy, funny, predictable. Did what it says on the tin," one viewer said.

Other viewers were surprised at the disparity between the contestant's locations for their dates, with one couple sent on a luxurious trip to Portugal while another had to contend with being sent on a trip to Tayto Park.

Blind Date will be back on TV3 on Sunday October 15 at 9pm.
A Brazilian accused of murdering a man on a city street was racially abused and assaulted for no reason by the deceased and another man, a witness has told his trial.

Juraci Da Silva (36), with an address at Park Lane Apartments in Waterford, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 28-year-old James Banville at New Street in Waterford on October 8, 2016. His plea was not accepted by the State and he is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Da Silva has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan causing him harm and to a charge of producing a knife on the same date and at the same place.

Melanie Byrne told today told prosecuting counsel John O'Kelly SC that she saw a foreign looking man, who was "minding his own business", being racially abused. "I was kind of shocked," she said. She then saw the men punch the accused "for no reason".

It is the prosecution's case that the two Irish men were Conor Hogan and James Banville while the foreign man was the accused, who later stabbed Mr Banville to death.

The trial continues this afternoon in front of Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and six women.
A drunk student who brandished a hatchet at some men over a broken laptop will be sentenced to 200 hours of community service, provided he is suitable.

Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Derek Walsh to 18 months' imprisonment today but said he could carry out 200 hours community service in lieu of that sentence.

She ordered a community services report to ascertain Walsh's suitability and adjourned the matter to December 1 for a final decision.

Walsh (29) with an address in Clogher Road, Crumlin, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of producing a hatchet in the course of a dispute at St Anthony's Road, Dublin on June 10, 2016.

Garda Colin Manning told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that gardai were called to the residential area at 10am on the morning in question by neighbours who said men were fighting with knives on the street.

When gardai arrived in the area, two men started acting aggressively towards them. They then saw Walsh running towards one of the men while brandishing a large hatchet. That man had to take action to escape injury, Ms McGowan said.

Walsh then fled the area, pursued on foot by gardai. He threw the hatchet over the roof of a house before being brought to the ground by officers. He was highly intoxicated and was unable to be interviewed until later that day, the court heard.

He has 71 previous convictions including theft, production of an article, public order offences and road traffic matters. He was the only person charged over this incident.

Katherine McGillicuddy BL, defending, said her client had been studying pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing at FETAC Level 8 at the time of the offence.

She said his laptop was damaged by one of the men on the morning in question. He was very annoyed because it contained certain work he needed for college, she said.

She said Walsh came from a supportive family and had a good education, but that he started drinking alcohol and experimenting with head shop drugs in his late teens, starting a downward spiral.

He is now substance-free and is working as a scaffolder having failed some of his college exams. He is hoping to pursue his studies again in the future, the court heard.

Walsh regretted his actions and wished to apologise, Ms McGillicuddy said. No-one was injured during the incident and no victim impact statements were handed in.

Judge O'Connor said Walsh came from a more advantageous background than many offenders who came before the courts. And she noted the use of a hatchet was a concern.

Regardless of what the argument is over, whether it's a broken laptop or whatever, it can never be resolved by brandishing an article of this nature, she said.

She accepted Walsh was remorseful and noted he had skills and qualifications. She remanded him on continuing bail to await the outcome of the community services report.
A man found guilty of raping a woman he met after she became lost on a night out in Dublin city does not accept the jury verdict, a court has heard.

Egyptian national Mohamed Okda (30) was staying in a friend's flat in the city in February 2014 when he met the woman in an upset state.

Okda, formerly of Coolfin, Rathdowney, Co Laois had pleaded not guilty to two counts of raping the woman and one count of sexual assault at a flat in Dublin city centre on a date on February 9, 2014.

Last July, after a seven day trial at the Central Criminal Court, a jury took just under three hours to return unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts.

In her evidence the married mother said that she lived outside Dublin and was visiting the city with two female friends for a night out. At the end of the night she said she was drunk and tired.

She lost her friends and became upset because they weren't responding to texts or phone calls. The accused man approached her and offered to help her find her friends, she said.

He suggested she come back to the flat where she could continue to try to contact her friends on her phone. She said once back in the flat he raped her.

She said she feared for her life. She told the court that she now a broken person since the attack.

Today Ciaran O'Loughlin SC, defending, asked the court to adjourn sentencing because the defence needed more time to obtain a psychological report.

Counsel said that their client's position was that there were two people in his flat when he came back with the woman. He said that these men were not interviewed by gardai and that this was of considerable concern to his client.

He said his client doesn't accept the guilty verdict and in those circumstances it was important the report was completed and provided to the court before sentence is imposed.

The victim was not in court for the hearing and Mr Justice Michael Moriarty agreed to adjourn the sentence hearing to October 23 next.
Health Minister Simon Harris wrote to the management of a hospital asking them how overcrowding seemed to be getting worse even after a 24m A&E had been opened there.

The new emergency facility had opened at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) in May amid promises of three times more space and far better conditions for patients.

However, no sooner had it opened than the chronic overcrowding that had plagued the previous A&E reared its head once again.

Documents obtained under a Freedom of Information request revealed how the patience of Health Minister Simon Harris (below) finally ran out in July.

In an email, he wrote: "I see that UHL has worsened this afternoon rather than improved as per their expectation [and] undertaking. 27 on trollies on a summer day  is far too high and a cause of significant concern.

"We have invested heavily in a new Emergency Department and additional staffing for Limerick. I would be grateful if you could convey my concerns and the need for actions [and] improvement."

Chaos

The records also show how the hospital was hit with an outbreak of the highly drug-resistant superbug KPC, which has been an ongoing problem in Limerick.

This latest outbreak temporarily shut the orthopaedic/trauma ward of the hospital, causing further chaos in accident and emergency as it tried to deal with surging patient numbers.

The hospital later responded to the Health Minister saying the opening of the new 24m A&E was never going to solve all its problems.

Chief executive Colette Cowan told the minister that the Emergency Department had seen a spike in use of more than 5pc in its first weeks of operation.

"Literature suggests a 10pc growth in activity when new infrastructure is opened that normally peaks and reduces after four to eight weeks. A similar rise occurred when the Mater Hospital's Emergency Department opened," she wrote.
A Dublin house seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) from convicted drug trafficker John Gilligan, who claims to be homeless, is being earmarked for social housing to help homeless families.

The Herald has learned that the CAB has approached Fingal County Council with a suggestion that it take over the property in Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, and use it to help ease pressure on the homelessness situation.

"Gilligan bought that house with his ill-gotten gains, and in a way, it is fitting that it be used for some social good now that it has been taken off him," said one source.

Pint-sized gangster Gilligan lost the house, along with two others, after a battle with the CAB that lasted more than 20 years.

He went as high as the Supreme Court in his efforts to keep the houses, but reached the end of the legal road in February.

Gilligan's wife Geraldine and daughter Tracey lived in the bungalow beside the already-seized Jessbrook Equestrian Centre in Kildare, and his son Darren lived in the Corduff Avenue house.

A third property, at Willsbrook View in Lucan, is currently rented out to long-term tenants by the CAB.

Gilligan and Geraldine bought the Jessbrook house in 1987. In 1995, Gilligan bought the Willsbrook View house for 73,000 and it was registered in Tracey's name.

In 1996, they bought the Corduff Avenue house for 7,000 from the local authority after renting it from 1977 to 1996.

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"The plan now would be to see the Corduff Avenue house go back to local authority control. No deal has been signed yet, but talks are under way," said the source.

A spokesman for Fingal County Council said it could not comment on the matter.

"John is now spending his time between a rented property in Roscommon and his brother's house in Clondalkin - the one he was shot in," the source said.

In March, he presented himself at council offices in Blanchardstown, claiming he faced homelessness and wanted access to the Housing Assistance Payment, which offers social housing support for those with a long-term housing need.

Gilligan, who was the head of the gang that killed journalist Veronica Guerin in 1996, suffered horrific injuries in a murder bid on March 1, 2014, when a gunman burst through the front door of his brother's house at Greenfort Crescent in Clondalkin and shot him as he tried to escape into the kitchen.

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He suffered a broken hip, abdominal injuries, a shot to the leg and a graze to the head, but remarkably survived the hit.

It was the second attempt on his life since his release from jail in October 2013 after serving 17 years for drug trafficking.

Just weeks after gaining freedom, Gilligan was targeted by a man who ran into a Dublin pub intent on killing him, but Gilligan was not in the pub when the would-be assassin went in looking for the gangster.

There has been a lot of interest in the Jessbrook bungalow since the CAB put it on the open market in recent weeks, with more than 40 people viewing the property so far.

The seven-bedroom house with four bathrooms, on more than five acres of land, is on the books of REA McDonald estate agents in Lucan, with an asking price of 120,000.

Its website states that the house is for sale on behalf of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and was previously subject to seizure by the Criminal Assets Bureau under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
An Irishman has received a suspended sentence following an altercation at a wedding in Malta.

The man was found guilty of several charges following the incident at Hal Gharghur, Ilkin on September 29.

Maltese police revealed that the man pleaded guilty in court to four charges: He used force and caused slight injuries to his victim; He used force with the intent to insult, annoy or hurt such person or others; Pushed against the victim in the street with the object of hurting or insulting such persons; Wilfully disturbed the public good order and/or the public peace.

A police spokeswoman said factors such as the man admitting to the charges at the earliest stage of the proceedings, his clean record and cooperation with the police were all taken into account.

He was sentenced to a month imprisonment, which has been suspended for one year.

An official document obtained by Independent.ie said: "The Court explained to the defendant in ordinary language the significance of this judgement and of the consequences should he commit another offence in the period of one year."

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs told Independent.ie that they have not been requested to provide consular assistance.
Military re-enactors, husband and wife Kevin and Maura McCormack, rest on the historic Sliabh na mBan armoured Rolls Royce used by Michael Collins

Past members of the Defence Forces and their families have been honoured for their service, bravery and loyalty in a ceremony as part of Defence Forces Veterans Day.

They gathered at the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare to hear Defence Minister Paul Kehoe acknowledge their past service, both at home and around the world.

Expand Close Defence Minister Paul Kehoe with former Nato brigadier general Richard Heaslip. Picture: Fergal Phillips / Facebook

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"It is an important day to honour all of those who once wore the uniform of our Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, who have always been fundamental to the success of the Irish Defence Forces.

"Today, Irish troops are deployed in UN, EU and Nato-led missions in Africa, Europe and the Middle East," he said.

"Those pioneering missions of the 1950s and 60s began a tradition which has resulted in over 66,000 individual tours of duty on peacekeeping operations," he added.

One veteran who attended was Colonel Richard Heaslip, father of rugby legend Jamie.

He served for more than 40 years in the cavalry corps, including overseas service in Cyprus, the Middle East and Kosovo and Bosnia.

Jamie was born in Israel on one family accompanied mission abroad.

"All these medals are on my chest but they should be on my wife Christine's chest," Mr Heaslip told the Irish Independent.
North Korean state-sponsored cyber gangs are launching almost daily attacks on Irish companies, banks and utilities as it emerged a syndicate associated with the Pyongyang regime is the chief suspect in the 4.3m cyber raid on Meath County Council last year.

Ireland finds itself on the front line of an escalating global cyber war as a leading IT security expert warned that North Korea, because of UN and US sanctions, has now turned to international cyber robbery as the primary means of funding its state and massive military.

Ireland will be targeted due to the number of US multinationals based here.

Defence Minister Paul Kehoe admitted a critical element of the new White Paper on Defence will be rapidly upgrading Irelands capability of defending against cyber attacks.

The cost of cyber raids on Irish businesses has soared from 498,000 in 2014 to 1.7m in 2016  with analysts warning it is likely to increase exponentially over future years.

PWC estimates that 44pc of all economic crimes now reported by Irish businesses involve cyber crime.

The number of cyber attacks suffered by Irish businesses doubled between 2012 and 2016, but that figure is expected to double or even treble because of recent ransomware attacks.

Ronan Murphy, of Smarttech247, said it was vital Ireland understands that it was now firmly on the front line of the cyber battle because of the number of US multinationals based here.

There were always certain unspoken rules in terms of cyber warfare between countries and intelligence services, Mr Murphy said.

But North Korea has thrown the entire rule book out the window. It is basically engaging in cyber warfare to raise funds and to cause global chaos.

There is no safe hiding place anymore. These arent ordinary criminal gangs  you are essentially dealing with state cyber intelligence units.

He said that the WannaCry ransomware attack which caused global chaos earlier this year was exploited by North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns cyber security services  but only netted a measly 120,000 for Pyongyang because of an unforeseen escape route built into the malware.

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Investigators now believe the attempted 4.3m cyber raid carried out against Meath County Council in October 2016 originated in North Korea.

The funds were frozen in a bank account in Hong Kong just minutes before they were scheduled to be transferred.

The attempted fraud was carried out on October 28 and the council admitted it was a highly sophisticated attack.

Cyber thieves impersonated the identity of chief executive Jackie Maguire, and issued a fake instruction to a junior council employee for the funds to be transferred overseas.

The Garda Computer Crime Bureau is now liaising with Europol and Interpol over the matter.

Mr Murphy stressed that Ireland needs to prepare itself for even more sophisticated attacks, with hundreds of attacks already taking place across Irish firms on a daily basis.

These probing attacks are occurring almost 24/7 on Irish networks and, in most cases, the firms involved are simply not aware of it.

Smarttech logged an incredible 21 million attacks last year  and the rate of attacks is increasing on a daily basis.

Mr Murphy said different cyber syndicates have different priorities  Chinese gangs are usually targeting healthcare data and industrial secrets, North Korean gangs  usually supported by the states cyber intelligence agency  are focused on stealing funds and exploiting ransomware attacks while European and Russian hackers can have multiple motives.

Mr Murphys firm was the first in the world to liaise with computer giant IBM over the use of the super-computer Watson for real-time artificial intelligence-based defence against cyber criminals.

According to a nationwide cyber security awareness survey, over 171,000 businesses in the State could be vulnerable to crippling ransomware attacks.

Some 48pc of all businesses have no cyber security policy in place, with a further 27pc acknowledging that either their security needs tightening or they are completely unsecure, according to the survey carried out by Magnet Networks.

The Magnet Networks National Cyber Security Awareness Survey was carried out among 205 companies spread across all sectors and regions, giving an up-to-date sample of the business attitudes to a threat which could potentially ruin many of those who are attacked.

The survey found that 26pc of businesses have suffered from cyber attacks in the past two years, with a further 18pc unsure if they have been affected.

Dublin Information Sec 2017, Irelands cyber security conference, addresses the critically important issues that threaten businesses in the information age. For more on INMs Dublin InfoSec 2017 conference, go to: independent.ie/infosec
Gabriel Peelo is a fine example of what has become a rare species - the perfect gentleman.

Although he is well into his 80s, he is uprightly tall, lean and mobile. But what really defines him is his undoubtedly good soul, personified by his warm smile, firm handshake, beautiful manners and lovely sense of humour.

An only child, Gabriel's beginnings were not auspicious. A year after he was born in 1931, his father died of pneumonia. And, five years later, tragedy struck again when his mother passed away. So, he was brought up by his grandparents, in Synge Street. "My grandparents weren't the richest people in the world," he says. "They had nine kids of their own, and me. But nonetheless, it was a happy home."

After school, he did a printing apprenticeship and later toiled for many years for a company that produced bank notes. Exactly 60 years ago, he married Bernadette McGuinness, whom he had known since she was just a girl.

They surpassed the example set by Gabriel's grandparents and had 11 children of their own. Among them is Mick Peelo, the award-winning documentary maker, and presenter of Beyond Belief and Would You Believe? Gabriel's grandson Ferdia was the star of the successful movie Sing Street.

Gabriel was one of the few fortunate people in the 1940s and 1950s to be gainfully employed. "I had a good job with a good salary," he volunteers. "I always wore a suit and tie. But make no mistake, I had to work hard."

So how did he manage to accommodate such a big brood? They started out with a modest three-bedroom house and in the fullness of time, added another three bedrooms to accommodate their expanding family, as well as Bernadette's elderly mother.

However, the sense of security that this family had enjoyed for so many years, came to an abrupt and unsettling end in 1980, when the company Gabriel worked for relocated to Singapore. "I still had six children at school," he says. "So I opened up a little printing shop in Harold's Cross. Meanwhile Bernadette went back to work as a nurse." The shop helped keep the family afloat for a decade or so, but eventually they decided to close it down. "We got by, just the same," says Gabriel.

As the decades rolled on, the Peelos continued to revel in the joy a big family can bring. They have a particularly soft spot for their youngest son Paddy, who had a difficult birth many moons ago. "He was a child with special needs who has always been at the centre of this family," says his proud father. "He keeps us all under control. Paddy is now living in an apartment with people to help him."

So, all was going really well until late in 2016, when Gabriel began to feel so sick that he went to the doctor. Following various tests, including a colonoscopy, bowel cancer was diagnosed. Having had surgery to remove the tumour, he spent several weeks in hospital, followed by a fortnight in a nursing home.

"They gave me a colostomy bag, which was awful at the time," says Gabriel. "But I got used to it." Eventually, he was able to return home to his beloved Bernadette. Unfortunately, subsequent tests discovered abnormal cells in his lungs and liver. "I've had emphysema for years and it never bothered me. I've also had Type-2 diabetes for 30 years, and that now appears to have mysteriously vanished altogether," Gabriel says with some amusement.

However, the stress of all this was compounded by the fact that Bernadette was also struggling with ill health. So, by his own admission, Gabriel's mood plummeted. "I felt like a fellow in a little, open boat, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with no oars. I was totally lost."

Fortunately, Gabriel had an excellent GP to guide him. "Apart from our own family doctor, who has since retired, Dr Andrew Delany is the best GP I have ever met. He gives you all his attention and looks you straight in the eye, unlike some other doctors who never bother to take their eyes off their computers."

"Once I talked to him, I didn't feel helpless or hopeless anymore. In fact, he gave me back some hope." Dr Delany asked Gabriel if he might be interested in some counselling, but he rejected that idea. "I had enough on my plate already," he says. "I just couldn't cope with anyone else in my life at that time. Besides, I had my family around me."

The doctor then suggested Gabriel connect with Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross. And though he was reluctant at first, he eventually agreed to visit the daycare centre. So, what did he do there? "I picked cherries and I climbed a high mountain," he says, then bursts out laughing, before explaining that he did tai chi and other gentle pursuits.

The visit was so successful, Gabriel then decided to sign up for in-house respite, so he could get the help he needed to manage his various medications, particularly those needed for pain relief. "I ended up spending three weeks in respite, and now feel a big improvement in myself," says Gabriel.

"Pain is very exhausting. So, managing it is important. It's a process of trial and error. But we're getting there. The staff at the hospice are unbelievable. I think they're not real people. It's like having an Aladdin's lamp," he explains, "every time you rub it, they're there, even if it's two or three in the morning. Nothing is ever too much trouble for them."

Gabriel is now back home again and secure in the knowledge that at any time he can call on members of Our Lady's Hospice specialist community palliative care team, to help him out. "They will come to me at home if I need them," he says. "And if I want to go in for a week to be stabilised, they'll bring me back no problem. I'm in their hands and they'll look after me."

So now Gabriel is more able to enjoy his own very special family. "I want to spend as much precious time with Bernadette and the kids as I possibly can," he says. "I want everyone to know how important it is to tell your own children how much you love them. We all tell our grandchildren that but we neglect to tell our own kids. At the end of the day, it's family that really matters."

Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services provides support and medical interventions at their residential and day care centres in Harold's Cross and Blackrock in Dublin. They also have a reablement unit and offer home visits. For more information, please contact Our Lady's Hospice, tel: (01) 406-8700, or see olh.ie
The guest bedroom with its pristine bed linen is very inviting. Maria sourced the fabric for the curtains and the bedhead in the famous fabric market, Marche St Pierre, near Montmartre. She and Jonathan got the paintings, which date from 1920, in Bucharest

Jonathan and Maria in the Jardin du Luxembourg; this famous garden was created in the early 17th Century by Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France, and is used for Parisians to enjoy boating, pony rides, boules, tennis or just plain relaxing

The main living room has no fireplace, so interior designer Maria Duffy decided to make the area between the two magnificient sets of French doors the focal point. She has decorated it with an antique side table and a Baroque-style mirror which she bought from the French company Asiatides

Maria and Jonathan in the piano nobile of the apartment. Its north facing, so there is no direct sunlight, and she painted the walls white to reflect as much light as possible. The sofa is from Ikea, and the rug is Asian. With her superb flair, Maria created a feature wall with a mix of flea-market finds, mementos of her Spanish heritage and even her own work; she painted the picture of bottles

Ever since they married, Jonathan Duff and his elegant Spanish wife Maria have moved many times, and we're not just talking moving house.

They've lived in London, Brussels, Provence and Paris, and regarded each place as an adventure, once even moving to the south of France on the basis of a book they read.

They've spent 10 years - one of their longest stints in the same place - in their apartment on Rue d'Assas, a stone's throw from the Jardin du Luxembourg, and a mere 20 minutes' walk from Notre Dame Cathedral. Here, they've created a stunning home full of French antiques and Mediterranean colour.

All this moving was no hardship for either of them; Maria, an interior designer, loves doing up new homes, while Jonathan, whose family hails originally from Ulster, has been on the move since he was born. "My mother is from Down, and my father from Antrim. My father was an electrical engineer and worked abroad all my young life, and my mother and I moved with him. He worked in Ghana, The Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan, Namibia," Jonathan recalls, adding, "Actually, by the age of eight, I was back in Northern Ireland, as my parents wanted me to have a good education, so I was sent off to boarding school."

Jonathan was educated at the prestigious Campbell College; the chill winds of Belfast in the 1970s can only have been a sharp contrast to the sunnier climes he was used to, but Jonathan harbours no bitterness about the fact that he was a small boy thousands of miles from his parents. "I loved it. I was one of the few who wasn't homesick. I think it was because I was an only child, and in Khartoum and the other places we lived, we would have had only a few expat friends, whereas at boarding school, I met all these boys with similar interests," Jonathan recalls, adding with a laugh, "I remember there were very few phone calls, but every Saturday afternoon, we were given one of those four-sided aerogramme letters to write to our parents. The master dictated most of it - who we beat at rugby that week, etc, as if our parents cared."

Jonathan left Campbell College when he was 18, and went to Cambridge to study economics and English literature, after which he headed to Paris for a year to learn French. On his return to England, he got a job in market research, which he loved. Soon after his return, he met Santander-born Maria, the eldest of three siblings, who having already studied at university in Madrid, was on track for a career in academia. "I went to England to do my PhD in philosophy," she says. "One weekend, I went to a very glamorous house party in the Cotswolds, and I saw Jonathan. Before Jonathan even saw me, I knew we were going to be together forever. It was love at first sight for me, but I was worried, as I was surrounded by my beautiful blonde Swedish friends," she explains rather dramatically, adding with a laugh, "It took Jonathan at least a quarter of an hour [to fall in love]. He told me later that my friends didn't have a chance, as he prefers brunettes."

The debonair Northerner and the effervescent Spaniard were soon smitten and they married the following year - 1988. Maria began to realise that there was no point in continuing with her PhD, as she would find it hard to get work lecturing in Britain with her Spanish accent, so instead she decided to train as an interior designer. "My mother was my inspiration to change career and study interiors. She wasn't a professional, but she loved decoration. When I was a child, she created a bedroom for me on a budget, which decided my future career. She gave it a sky-blue background and used all sorts of wonderful decorations," Maria enthuses. "She made lamps from biscuit tins covered in cretonne; she made curtains with wonderful trimmings. Sometimes there are moments that define your life, and, for me, that was one of them. Yesterday, there was nothing there, and now: this marvelous place. She had that talent; it was nothing sophisticated, she just always wanted to make things beautiful."

It's obvious Maria inherited that talent, and she honed it by studying interiors at Chelsea College the year she and Jonathan married. She also trained at Christie's, did work experience with top designer Nicky Haslam, and worked with Designers Guild before setting up her own business. She was immediately successful, and her many prestigious projects included a complete refurbishment of London's Royal College of Psychiatrists, a Regency building in Belgrave Square, as well as many other important heritage buildings. "I specialised in period refurbishments and I worked a lot with people involved in English Heritage. I was really lucky, and my work featured in a number magazines," the glamorous Spaniard enthuses.

After 22 years in London, Jonathan's work took them to Brussels for three years, and Maria, despite her successful London-based business, upped sticks and went with him. She found work teaching interiors, and they lived there quite happily for three years.

Then they both started reading Peter Mayle's book, A Year in Provence, and they were hooked.

As many will know, Peter Mayle was something of a publishing sensation back in the early 1990s. An English advertising executive, he moved to a hilltop village in Provence and wrote a memoir about his early days there; though he was quite dismissive of the local tradespeople, he painted a charming picture of a laid-back idyll, and many rushed to emulate him, including Jonathan and Maria. "We had been on holiday in the Luberon, the area where the book is set, and we had loved it. I knew I could work from anywhere, so why not there?" says Jonathan adding, "We sold our flat in Notting Hill, which we had kept while we were in Brussels, and moved to Provence."

It worked out well; Jonathan freelanced and Maria acquired British clients who had houses in the area. She also restored a beautiful house for herself and Jonathan, which featured in British and French interiors magazines. However, after two years, they felt they needed to move on. "Provence is very beautiful," says Jonathan, adding, "If you want work and to be active, it's a bit quiet."

Luckily, they got a great offer for their Provencal house, and, after selling up, they moved to Paris, where Jonathan ran the Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) client magazine for five years, followed by a further five years as a corporate journalist with Kering, the international group that owns Gucci, Yves St Laurent, Alexander Mc Queen, Stella McCartney and Puma.

During this time, Maria and a friend decided to open an interiors shop, but fate was against her. "We opened on the 13th September, 2008. My colleague Pierre is very superstitious and he said, 'We shouldn't open on the 13th, it's bad luck'. I said, 'Ah, come on'. He was right. The day after we opened, Lehman Brothers collapsed. We knew the day after, it wasn't going to work. He was able to say, 'I told you so'," Maria says with a laugh, adding, "We kept going for six months. We never made any money, but we had great fun."

Many of the things which didn't sell from the shop made their way into the stunning home the couple have created in Paris.

A beautiful period apartment dating from 1850, it comprises a large salon with balconies off it overlooking the tree-lined street, with, as the French call it a vue degage: an uninterrupted view. There are also two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom.

"I think the key to decorating any space is letting the architecture tell you what to do," Maria says. She goes on to explain, "There is no chimney in this living room, so I had to create my own focal point. For me, it's the mirror with the side table beneath it. Also, I go for plain white walls here to reflect the light. And I went for almost-white silk curtains to keep that lovely light feeling. I love grey, but because the room faces north, I can't use it; it would be too dark. But white is right; it's bright."

With marvelous flair, she mixes colours, periods - contemporary pieces with antiques - and textures. Some things were wildly expensive, others very cheap, yet it all works, and the overall feel is of elegance and class.

They're moving again soon, this time to Dubai. Jonathan got an offer he couldn't refuse, and Maria is happy to go with him. And, no doubt, within months, they'll have created yet another lovely home-away-from-home. For each of them, home is where the other is.

See mariaduffinteriordesign.com

Edited by Mary O'Sullivan

Photography by Tony Gavin
US sanctions to damage Iran and Armenia (video)

The government delegation headed by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan is on a two-day visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. This visit in Armenia gives hope that economic relations will eventually move from the dead point. We are very interested in Iranian business and Iranian capital demand coming to Armenia. We are ready to provide openly the privileged regimes that Armenia has to our Iranian partners, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan said at a joint news conference with Iranian First Deputy Chairman Eshaq Jahangiri. Iranian expert Vardan Voskanyan ties great hopes of developing relations. Economic relations are the most vulnerable part of Armenia-Iran relations, because in our political sense our two countries have no obstacles and maintain very high level of relations. In the framework of the Prime Minister's visit memorandums, veterinary, fiction, cultural and scientific-technical fields were signed. The steps of the more extensive economic programs are also being taken. Free economic zones are being created on the Armenia-Iran border. Thats something that can direct the flow of Iranian investments to Armenia. It can also be a platform for the European and the Russian sides to settle here and to cooperate with Iran in more favorable conditions. According to Vardan Voskanyan, investors were found to build Armenia-Iran railroad. Additionally, Armenia builds the third high-voltage power line to Iran, after which Iran's gas exports to Armenia will increase 3-5 times. Next project to be implemented is export of Iranian gas to Europe via Armenia. Obviously, Iran is going to implement a program for exporting its gas Europe, and it would be great if it were done through Armenia, with the participation of the Russian side, said the Iranian expert. On the one hand, Armenia and Iran are taking steps to warm economic relations, on the other hand, the US President Donald Trump threatens to restore sanctions against Armenia's southern neighbor. The Iranian administration supports terrorism and Middle East exports of violence, bloodshed and chaos. Therefore, we must end Iran's ongoing aggression and nuclear invasion, said Donald Trump. If the US President does not exacerbate the position and sanctions on Iran be restored, will Iran-Armenia economic ties be again in a deadlock? Iranian expert Vardan Voskanyan said Armenia-Iran relations have vital and security significance for us. Armenia should have relations with Iran exclusively through its own system, and there will be pressures from different sides, but it is obvious that our relations with Iran have a vital importance both for us and for Iran. We solve the problem of our existence. Under these conditions, the Armenian government's right work is required, which should make the United States be aware of Iran's supremacy for the country. Armenia is not safe without powerful Iran, and Iran is not strong without developed Armenia.
By tomorrow all will be revealed as Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe presents his first Budget. It is the time when the economics merges with the politics and Government directly addresses the voters, which of itself causes unease.

Happily, the decade of slash and burn is over and we can look forward to, if not good news, then at least an absence of bad news. But by now, we are also a nation with pent-up expectations after soldiering through 10 years of doing more with less.

The danger here is that Mr Donohoe knows that he may be delivering a Budget for 2018 which could also be an election year. He must also deliver something that will help make the government-supporting Independents look good and he also has to make terms with Fianna Fail underpinning this minority Coalition.

That makes framing Budget 2018 a task that calls for some financial wizardry. But the task also calls for not losing sight of the risks of blowing the slow progress made in emerging from economic recession.

Yes, we have many problems which urgently require addressing in housing, health, and rural community decline, and we also face the looming threat of Brexit. But on the plus side we have job creation, economic growth and strong inward investment.

All of these should be regarded as gains that must be guarded and consolidated in tomorrow's Budget. That is why the overall aim has to be the rather prosaic one of "steady as she goes".

In summary, Budget 2018 will happily not be one of austerity. But neither can it be even a small Budget giveaway. Such a move risks bringing us right back to those recent very bad old days.

Irelands cyber security must be given priority

People who know about security issues will tell you that the big unfolding threat is from cyber gangs potentially wreaking havoc in data systems upon which the nations daily life now depends. But there is a significant gap between acknowledging a growing threat and taking solid action to fend it off.

Today we report a new business survey which shows that half of Irish businesses do not have a cyber-defence policy, while over a quarter are not adequately defended.

There are huge concerns that many small firms have lumbered this responsibility in with a plethora of other tasks given to one senior individual. Many firms do not even have that nominal claim to protection. It is not an encouraging picture.

In another report today, we learn that North Korean-based cyber-attack gangs, engaged in global attacks aimed at the USA, are increasingly taking Irish State agencies and utilities into their ambit of malicious attention.

We have seen that such attacks can cause chaos for the delivery of health, welfare, banking and other crucial services.

An insight into the potential scale of these attacks came to light late last year when Meath County Council was targeted and 4.3m was put in jeopardy amid suggestions of a link to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.

This is a very real and present danger which must be faced. There is evidence that this country is extremely vulnerable.
While discussing the Las Vegas mass murders with a friend during the week, I stated that it was beyond belief that Stephen Paddock was able to stockpile so many weapons without needing a gun licence in the state of Nevada.

My friend said that his wife asked him to purchase an air riffle (pellet gun) last week to shoot magpies who were stealing their hens' eggs.

He was not happy with the thoughts of shooting the magpies; however, he visited the gun shop to purchase the air rifle anyway. The gun shop owner stated he would need to fill in an application form the length of his arm and get references from two local farmers stating he was of good character before he could purchase the pellet gun.

Having thought it through, however, my friend decided against purchasing the gun, but instead that the hens would have to front up and take more responsibility for policing the eggs in the future.

Although we get many things wrong in Ireland, we should give ourselves credit when we get things right, like our strict and stringent gun laws.

Paul Hamilton

Glasson, Athlone

With the recent events in Las Vegas, and sadly in many more places around the world through acts of terrorism, there has been a need for many responses including the increased use of photo ids and facial recognition technology.

This has, conversely, and perhaps perversely, been met with outrage from some civil liberties brigades. The times when the good guys wore white hats and the bad guys wore black hats is long gone and more modern approaches are needed.

Facial recognition technology has improved greatly and when combined with a photo database, people can be identified hopefully before anything happens.

Australia recently combined sets of photos, especially from each state's drivers' licences and probably passports, so that they can be shared across the whole country by a number of protective services. Good people should have no fear of their photo being taken and them being identified.

This reasonable necessity is sometimes balanced by other considerations including, oddly, financial greed. The use of photo IDs will now be required for Australian domestic flights, although only at boarding rather than check-in as this will allow all the family and friends to go through all the preceding shopping areas rather than just the passenger.

Freedom has its costs but it shouldn't be paid at an airport coffee shop.

One side point is that the children's game of "Where's Wally" may be a lot easier now.

Dennis Fitzgerald

Melbourne, Australia

Removing stigma of mental health

In Eddie Molloy's article 'Young need action, not words, on mental health' (Irish Independent, October 7), I was very surprised he still does not realise that in this country we have not got a mental health service, we have a mental illness (psychiatric) service.

The primary care service does not have a budget for the delivery of mental health. The community mental health service is an illness model and is delivered by staff from the psychiatric service.

We will never get rid of the 'stigma' attached to mental health until mental health is part of the primary care service.

The only service where mental health is not stigmatised is in general practice and where 85pc of patients presenting with mental health issues are supported and treated.

Mr Molloy has in the past advised the HSE on management issues and has addressed nursing management on service issues.

It's not all to do with political input, it's about leadership and culture within senior management.

These are the people who have the power to make the changes, and should have the courage to do so.

Pearse Finegan

Westport, Co Mayo

O'Leary learns costly lesson

It is ironic that the bold Michael O'Leary will cost Ryanair more in settling the pilots pay dispute now than if there had been a union representing them from the get-go.

When is 'Micko' going to learn that there are more powerful forces at work than the god of Mammon?

Liam Power

Dundalk, Co Louth

Awaiting latest news on Mrs 39

As frequent visitors to Ireland, we want to commend the Irish Independent for featuring Billy Keane's weekend column, 'Keane's Kingdom'.

Mr Keane's wry and perceptive commentary is always a highlight of the Saturday paper, and none more than the recent update regarding '...the woman who has not had sex for 39 years'.

We laughed out loud reading this dispatch from Kerry and the interest of Tipperary's Mr 39 in said Mrs 39. Not to mention the honest broker services of the Tipperary councillor and Mr Keane in perhaps facilitating connubial bliss for the abstemious duo.

We eagerly await further developments in this long-running saga and, of course, Mr Keane's invariably trenchant observations.

Deirdre O'Shea and Erik Axelson

Bellingham, Washington, USA

Irish observers unlikely to advise

One aspect of the late Liam Cosgrave's political life that has been largely overlooked was his belief in the principle of consent for Northern Ireland, ie that the majority unionist community should never be coerced into a united Ireland against its wishes.

This enlightened approach was consistent with the position of his father, WT Cosgrave, decades earlier, and was enshrined, subsequently, in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

In this regard, the leaders of Catalonian separatism would do well to reflect on the limits of constitutional change where it is by no means clear that they possess a democratic mandate to make a unilateral declaration of independence.

Unfortunately, I have little faith that the Irish observers of last Sunday's referendum from Sinn Fein and People Before Profit would urge Carles Puigdemont, the Catalonian president, and his colleagues to recognise the rights of the millions of Catalan residents who wish to remain in Spain.

The hard-earned lessons of our island's political settlement could usefully be brought to this dispute.

PJ O'Meara

Cahir, Co Tipperary
Kim Yo-jong, sister of Kim Jong-un, is rarely seen in public.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has promoted his sister to his powerful politburo committee, tightening his family's grip on the reins of power.

Kim Yo-jong was made a member of the politburo - North Korea's top decision-making body over which Mr Kim presides.

Alongside Mr Kim himself, the promotion makes Ms Kim the only other millennial member of the influential body.

Her new position indicates the 28-year-old has become a replacement for Mr Kim's aunt, Kim Kyong-hui, who had been a key decision maker when former leader Kim Jong-il was alive.

"It shows that her portfolio and writ is far more substantive than previously believed and it is a further consolidation of the Kim family's power," said Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at Johns Hopkins University's 38 North website.

In January, the US Treasury blacklisted Ms Kim along with other North Korean officials over "severe human rights abuses".

Kim Jong-sik and Ri Pyong Chol, two of the three men behind Mr Kim's banned rocket programme, were also promoted.

State media announced that several other high-ranking cadres were promoted to the Central Committee, in what the South Korean unification ministry said could be an attempt by North Korea to navigate a way through its increasing isolation.

"The large-scale personnel reshuffle reflects that Kim Jong-un is taking the current situation seriously, and that he's looking for a breakthrough by promoting a new generation of politicians," the ministry said in a statement.

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, who named Donald Trump "President Evil" in a bombastic speech to the UN General Assembly last month, was promoted to full vote-carrying member of the politburo.

Meanwhile, Mr Kim insisted in a speech to his ruling party that the country's nuclear weapons were a "powerful deterrent" that guaranteed its sovereignty.

The comments came hours after Mr Trump said "only one thing will work" in dealing with the isolated country.

Mr Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind.

In a speech to a meeting of the powerful Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party, state media said Mr Kim had addressed the "complicated international situation".

North Korea's nuclear weapons are a "powerful deterrent firmly safeguarding the peace and security in the Korean peninsula and north-east Asia," Mr Kim said, referring to the "protracted nuclear threats of the US imperialists".

In recent weeks, North Korea has launched two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test, and may be fast advancing toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland.

North Korea is preparing to test-launch such a missile, a Russian lawmaker who had just returned from a visit to Pyongyang said on Friday.

Mr Trump has previously said the US would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies.

The situation proved that North Korea's policy of "byungjin", meaning the parallel development of nuclear weapons and the economy was "absolutely right", Mr Kim said in the speech.

"The national economy has grown on their strength this year, despite the escalating sanctions," said Mr Kim, referring to UN Security Council resolutions put in place to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.
Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of a damaged gas valve in the kitchen of Emile Cilliers, which he allegedly damaged it in an attempt to kill his wife Victoria Cilliers.Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of the kitchen in the home of Emile Cilliers, where he allegedly damaged a gas valve (in the cupboard shown by the arrow) in an attempt to kill his wife Victoria Cilliers. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of a damaged gas valve in the kitchen of Emile Cilliers, which he allegedly damaged it in an attempt to kill his wife Victoria Cilliers (the top arrow shows damage to a nut made by a pair of pliers found in a toolbox located in the utility room).Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of general images detailing the different parts of a parachute. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of a kitchen cupboard in the home of Emile Cilliers, where he allegedly damaged a gas valve in an attempt to kill his wife Victoria Cilliers. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

Emile Cilliers (centre) arrives at Winchester Crown court where he is on trial for the attempted murder of his wife Victoria after her main parachute failed to open during a 4,000ft jump. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of Victoria Cilliers tampered with parachute. Emile Cilliers faces two charges of attempting to murder his former Army officer wife Victoria. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of Victoria Cilliers tampered with parachute. Emile Cilliers faces two charges of attempting to murder his former Army officer wife Victoria. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of Victoria Cilliers tampered with parachute. Emile Cilliers faces two charges of attempting to murder his former Army officer wife Victoria. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

File photo dated 03/10/2017 of Army sergeant Emile Cilliers who accused of attempting to murder his wife by tampering with her parachute was "unemotional and bewildered" when he visited the airfield the following day, a court has heard. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

An Army sergeant accused of attempting to murder his wife by tampering with her parachute was "unemotional and bewildered" when he visited the airfield the following day, a court has heard.

Emile Cilliers, of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court on two charges of attempting to murder his former Army officer wife Victoria Cilliers, who suffered multiple serious injuries at Netheravon Airfield on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, on Easter Sunday - April 5 - 2015.

Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of Victoria Cilliers tampered with parachute. Emile Cilliers faces two charges of attempting to murder his former Army officer wife Victoria. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of Victoria Cilliers tampered with parachute. Emile Cilliers faces two charges of attempting to murder his former Army officer wife Victoria. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

The 37-year-old is also accused of a third charge of damaging a gas valve at their home a few days earlier in the second allegation that he attempted to kill his 40-year-old wife. He denies all three charges.

The court was told that the day after the incident, the defendant visited the airfield and met Mark Bayada, who has been chief instructor of the Army Parachute Association at Netheravon since 2013.

In his third day of giving evidence to the court, Mr Bayada said he had said in his police statement that Cilliers had appeared "unemotional" and "bewildered" during the visit.

He added that Cilliers had seemed "very quiet" and "in shock", but added that he did not know him very well personally.

Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of Victoria Cilliers tampered with parachute. Emile Cilliers faces two charges of attempting to murder his former Army officer wife Victoria. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of Victoria Cilliers tampered with parachute. Emile Cilliers faces two charges of attempting to murder his former Army officer wife Victoria. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

He said that after further investigations by his staff, a decision was made later that afternoon to contact the police about the parachute malfunction.

The prosecution allege that the main parachute was tampered with and Cilliers removed two slinks from the reserve which are used to attach the harness to the rigging.

Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of a kitchen cupboard in the home of Emile Cilliers, where he allegedly damaged a gas valve in an attempt to kill his wife Victoria Cilliers. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of a kitchen cupboard in the home of Emile Cilliers, where he allegedly damaged a gas valve in an attempt to kill his wife Victoria Cilliers. Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

He said that the landing area had been searched for the missing parts, including 45 people searching a week after the incident.

The court was told that witness James Lowrey saw Mrs Cilliers' parachute "collapse in on itself" and compared it to a "quilt with a weight attached".

Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of a damaged gas valve in the kitchen of Emile Cilliers, which he allegedly damaged it in an attempt to kill his wife Victoria Cilliers (the top arrow shows damage to a nut made by a pair of pliers found in a toolbox located in the utility room).Wiltshire Police/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of a damaged gas valve in the kitchen of Emile Cilliers, which he allegedly damaged it in an attempt to kill his wife Victoria Cilliers (the top arrow shows damage to a nut made by a pair of pliers found in a toolbox located in the utility room).Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

His statement, read to the jury, said: "I would surmise it's a line-over, which I have experienced myself before.

"The whole canopy was distorted, I have not seen anything like it before."

Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of a damaged gas valve in the kitchen of Emile Cilliers, which he allegedly damaged it in an attempt to kill his wife Victoria Cilliers.Wiltshire Police/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by Wiltshire Police of a damaged gas valve in the kitchen of Emile Cilliers, which he allegedly damaged it in an attempt to kill his wife Victoria Cilliers.Wiltshire Police/PA Wire

He also described how "it appeared to be wrapped around itself, the lines were clear to the jumper".

Responding to the description, Mr Bayada said it appeared that Mrs Cilliers was not entangled in the main parachute and "was stable at the time of deployment".

Mr Bayada was asked by Elizabeth Marsh QC, representing Cilliers, if he felt there had been "no effort" by Mrs Cilliers to "kick-out" of the twists in the lines or use the brakes in the malfunctioning parachute.

He said: "In my mind, most likely, there was another problem, something stopping being able to release the brakes.

"It might be a legal thing but to me no effort means not even bothering. To me it suggests for a reason, they didn't take control, but not that it was no effort."

Mr Bayada said that weight of a jumper would not affect the outcome of a malfunction.

The court has heard that Mrs Cilliers is of petite stature.

He said: "When it's a malfunction, it's a malfunction and even the lightest person is going to die if they do not do anything about it. When it's not working, it's not working and it's irrelevant."

Mr Bayada said that he and his colleagues had followed the procedures set out by the British Parachute Association following a parachute accident but said he had not taken photographs or video at the scene to protect Mrs Cilliers' privacy.

He said: "Should someone still be living, I would take offence if people were taking photographs. If I had seen someone with a camera, I would have had a word with them."

He said that as soon as it was clear that Mrs Cilliers was alive, the priority was to "get her medical help".

"Then it was to have an initial look at what happened because what happened to her was very unusual which I have never seen before in my whole time jumping, so when we were to start jumping again it would be safe for all the other club jumpers," he said.

Mr Bayada said he carried out a thorough search for the missing slinks and said: "I was still trying to find out in my mind a parachuting reason why this could happen.

"I was looking for missing slinks, I was looking for missing slinks, I was looking for parachuting damage or what slinks weren't there."

He said that the Safire 149 parachute used by Mrs Cilliers was a "high performance" parachute which was "more fun" to handle and one which would not be issued to normal club jumpers, but added that she was experienced at using it.

The trial was adjourned until Tuesday, when the jury will take part in a court visit to Netheravon Airfield.
A man is restrained alongside crashed vehicles after the incident in South Kensington, London, on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Getty Images

Police are still investigating a man arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after a bizarre car crash injured 11 people outside London's Natural History Museum.

The 47-year-old driver, who has not been charged or identified, was released yesterday pending further police inquiries.

London's "museum row" was open for business as usual yesterday, one day after pandemonium broke out after a car struck pedestrians, sparking fears of a new terror attack.

The crash on Saturday afternoon on Exhibition Road was initially feared to be similar to incidents earlier this year when extremists in vehicles struck pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and on London Bridge.

The March attack on Westminster Bridge and parliament and the London Bridge attack in June claimed more than a dozen lives and wounded many more. New barriers have been placed on most major bridges to deter future vehicle assaults.

The concern that a similar attack was in progress outside the Natural History Museum sparked a substantial police response to the car crash, with numerous ambulances sent to the scene along with a hazardous area response team. Shops were evacuated as a precaution and police helicopters buzzed overhead.

Police said after several hours of investigation that it was a road traffic collision unrelated to terrorism.

None of the victims' head and leg injuries turned out to be serious and most of the nine people who had been hospitalised have been discharged.
Andrej Babis is tipped to be the next Czech Republic's next prime minister (AP)

The leading candidate to become the Czech Republic's next prime minister has been charged with fraud involving two million US dollars in European Union subsidies.

Andrej Babis, a former Czech finance minister and billionaire, said the case is politically motivated aimed at hurting his chances in this month's parliamentary election.

Last month, politicians agreed to lift Babis' parliamentary immunity from prosecution.

Babis' centrist Ano movement is widely expected to win the October 20-21 election.

Another Ano official, Jaroslav Faltynek, also has been charged and denies the accusations.

The case involves a farm that received an EU subsidy after its ownership was transferred from the Agrofert conglomerate of some 250 companies that belonged to Babis to Babis' family members.

The EU farm subsidy was meant for medium and small businesses.

AP
File photo of a boy carrying a Kurdish flag on top of a car with pictures of Kurdish president Masoud Barzani and his son Masrour on the windows, in the disputed city of Kirkuk (AP)

Iraq's vice president has warned there could be a "civil war" over the Kurdish-administered city of Kirkuk if talks over Kurdish independence are left unresolved.

Ayad Allawi, in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, urged Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, as well as Iraq's central government and its Iranian-backed militia forces, to show restraint and resolve their disputes over the oil-rich city.

The head of the Asaib al-Haq militia Qais Khazali warned worshippers in a sermon on Sunday that Iraq's Kurds were planning to claim much of north Iraq, including Kirkuk, for an independent state, after Iraq's Kurds voted for independence in a controversial but non-binding referendum two weeks ago.

He said it would be tantamount to a "foreign occupation", according to remarks reported by the Afaq TV channel, which is close to the state-sanctioned militia.

Mr Allawi, a former prime minister, said any move by the country's Popular Mobilisation Front militias, which include the Asaib al-Haq, to enter Kirkuk would "damage all possibilities for unifying Iraq" and open the door to "violent conflict".

"The government claims they control the Popular Mobilisation Forces.

If they do they should restrain them, rather than go into a kind of civil war.

"And there should be a restraint on Masoud Barzani and the Peshmerga not to take aggressive measures to control these lands," said Mr Allawi.

Kirkuk was included in the September referendum even though it falls outside the autonomous Kurdish region in the country's northeast.

The ethnically-mixed city has been administered by Kurdish forces since 2014, when government forces fled from the advancing Islamic State group.

Mr Barzani held the referendum over the strong objections of Baghdad, Ankara, and Tehran, enraging leaders in the regional capitals.

Iraq's prime minister Haidar al-Abadi demanded the Kurdish self-government annul the results and called for joint administration over Kirkuk.

Baghdad closed the airspace over the Kurdish region to international flights.

Turkey and Iran also threatened punitive measures against the Kurdish region, fearing Kurds in their own countries would renew their campaigns for self-rule.

"Iraqis should be left alone to discuss their own problems without interference," said Mr Allawi.

"Kirkuk has become a flashpoint."

Mr Barzani has not declared independence for any part of northern Iraq.

AP
An entrance to the courthouse is cordoned off as the trial of two women accused of killing the North Korean leader's half-brother Kim Jong Nam is held (Vincent Thian/AP)

The Malaysian court holding the trial of two women accused of killing the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader moved temporarily on Monday to a high-security laboratory to view the VX-tainted clothes the suspects wore the day of the attack.

Judges often visit crime scenes in Malaysia, and in this case the move was made after government chemist Raja Subramaniam gave evidence last week that the VX nerve agent he found on the women's clothing may still be active.

His evidence was the first linking VX to Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam, who are accused of smearing the nerve agent on Kim Jong Nam's face in a Kuala Lumpur airport terminal on February 13.

Selvi Sandrasegaram, one of the lawyers for Siti, said Mr Raja spent more than an hour showing VX-tainted evidence from a small room inside the laboratory at the chemist department.

Ms Selvi said she was also in the room, along with Huong and two police officers, while the others watched through a glass screen outside the room.

The lawyer said Huong wanted to go into the room to have a closer look at the evidence, which included her fingernail clippings and white jumper emblazoned with the "LOL" acronym for "laughing out loud".

Mr Raja also said last week that VX was detected on Kim Jong Nam's face, eyes, clothing, and in his blood and urine samples.

That evidence was introduced in court in sealed bags, but the visit to the laboratory was arranged so the evidence from the women could be taken out of the bags for viewing.

The trial was originally due to resume after lunch at the court building but the judge deferred it after Mr Raja complained he was exhausted, Ms Selvi said.

Mr Raja will be cross-examined by defence lawyers when the trial resumes on Tuesday.

Prosecutors have also said they will present airport security videos this week which show the two women carrying out the attack and indicate they knew they were handling poison.

Defence lawyers have said the women were duped by suspected North Korean agents into believing they were playing a harmless prank for a hidden TV-camera show.

The two women pleaded not guilty at the start of their trial last week to charges of murder which carry a mandatory death sentence if they are convicted.

Kim, the eldest son in the current generation of North Korea's dynastic rulers, was believed to be a family outcast who may have been perceived as a threat by the nation's leader, his youngest sibling Kim Jong Un.

VX is banned by an international treaty as a weapon of mass destruction but is believed to be part of North Korea's chemical weapons arsenal.

AP
Harvey Weinstein has been fired from the film company he co-founded, The Weinstein Company board of directors has announced.

The decision follows a growing scandal over a string of sexual harassment allegations made against the 65-year-old Hollywood film producer.

The barrage of accusations came after the New York Times published an investigation that said Mr Weinstein had reached at least eight settlements with women over harassment claims.

The removal of Mr Weinstein from his company will leave control in his brother, Bob Weinsteins hands, along with chief operating officer David Glasser.

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In a statement the company said: In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company  Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar  have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately.

Confronted with the New York Times allegations, Mr Weinstein has, with his lawyers, issued several peculiar and disjointed statements including vowing to become a better human being, and outright denial.

The newspaper published claims he had harassed US actress Ashely Judd and at least one other actress, along with models and female employees. It also said that since 1990, following confrontations Mr Weinstein had reached at least eight settlements with women, according to two company officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.

In a statement to the New York Times last week Mr Weinstein said: I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. Though Im trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go.

The allegations levelled at Mr Weinstein include asking a British journalist to jump into a bath with him at his hotel when shed arrived for a business meeting, and also masturbating in front of a former Fox News reporter after cornering her in a restaurant.

Lisa Bloom, a lawyer acting for Mr Weinstein said in a statement that he denies many of the accusations as patently false.

But as the crisis worsened, the film producer lost many of his allies. Ms Bloom resigned, and so did his advisor Lanny Davis, a former White House hand to Bill Clinton.

Mr Weinstein has won best-picture Oscars for films including Shakespeare in Love, Gangs of New York, The Artist, The Kings Speech, Chicago, The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King and The English Patient.
'Mr Trump tweeted he had told Mr Tillerson he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.' Pic: AFP/Getty

The Kremlin on Monday called for restraint on North Korea after U.S. President Donald Trump warned over the weekend that "only one thing will work" in dealing with Pyongyang, hinting that military action was on his mind.

When asked what Russia made of Trump's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters:

"Moscow has called and continues to call on the parties involved in the conflict and on those who have anything to do with this issue to exercise restraint and to avoid any steps that would only worsen the situation."

Commenting on a Trump statement that the United States might withdraw from a nuclear deal with Iran, Peskov said such a move would have "negative consequences."

Trump repeatedly has made clear his distaste for dialogue with North Korea. Last week, he dismissed the idea of talks as a waste of time, a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington was maintaining open lines of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's government.

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"Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!" the US president said in a Twitter post on Monday.

Trump's comments seemed to further suggest that military action was on his mind.

On Saturday, Trump made a similar comment on Twitter about how negotiations have failed for 25 years and said "only one thing will work" with North Korea.
Christopher Mirasolo is registered sex offender after two convictions of sexual assault on children Photo: Michigan Department of Corrections

A man who raped a 12-year-old has been awarded joint custody of her child despite being convicted of her rape and another sexual assault on a child.

The convicted rapist assaulted the girl nine years ago and she subsequently became pregnant.

A judge has given Christopher Mirasolo, 27, parenting time and joint legal custody of the eight-year-old boy after a paternity test found he was the father.

Since his conviction for the rape in 2008, Mirasolo, from Brown City, Michigan, has been convicted of another child sex assault, for which he served four years in prison.

As reported by The Detroit News, the victim is now 21-years-old and her attorney, Rebecca Kiessling, is seeking protection under the federal Rape Survivor Child Custody Act to halt his access.

The custody was granted by Judge Gregory S Ross and Mirasolo was given the victims address and his name added to the birth certificate, without the victims consent.

This is insane, said Ms Kiessling, who filed objections on Friday with the judge. Nothing has been right about this since it was originally investigated.

He was never properly charged and should still be sitting behind bars somewhere, but the system is victimising my client, who was a child herself when this all happened.

The matters ordered by the court will be taken up at a hearing later this month.

According to Ms Kiessling, Mirarsolo forcibly raped and threatened to kill her client in September 2008.

Mirasolo was found guilty of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and sentenced to one year in jail, but only served six and half months.

In March 2010, Mirasolo committed another offence on a victim aged between 13 and 15 years olf which he served four years in prison for.

She, her 13-year-old sister and a friend all slipped out of their house one night to meet a boy and the boys older friend, Mirasolo, showed up and asked if they wanted to go for a ride, said Kiessling.

They thought they were going to McDonalds or somewhere.

Instead, he tossed their cellphones away, drove to Detroit where he stole gas from a station and then drove back to Sanilac County, where he kept them captive for two days in a vacant house near a relative, finally releasing the older sister in a park.

He threatened to kill them if they told anyone what happened.

Mirasolo was arrested a month later, she said, when her client was pregnant.

The victim decided to keep the child as she did not want the baby to be a victim too and left school to live with relatives and worked to support herself.

He was sentenced to one year in prison but only served six and half months before early release to care for his sick mother.

In March 2010, Mirasolo committed a sex assault on a victim between the age of 13 and 15-years-old. He served four years with this second offence.

Barbara Yockey, Mirasolos attorney, said it is unclear what her clients future involvement, if any, will be with the eight-year-old boy and declined to discuss any of his past criminal cases.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who pledged to help protect young people known as "Dreamers" brought illegally to the United States as children, called on Sunday for money to fund a border wall to be part of any immigration deal.

In a list of "principles" laid out in documents released by the White House, the Trump administration also pressed for a crackdown on unaccompanied minors who enter the United States, many of them from Central America.

The plan, which was delivered to leaders in Congress on Sunday night, drew a swift rebuke from Democrats, who are seeking a legislative fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that Trump ended last month.

The administration can't be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans," said House of Representatives Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

The list includes the wall, which was explicitly ruled out of the negotiations. If the president was serious about protecting the Dreamers, his staff has not made a good faith effort to do so, they said in a statement.

The Trump administration wants the wish list to guide immigration reform in Congress and accompany a bill to replace DACA, the Obama-era program that protected nearly 800,000 "Dreamers" from deportation and allowed them to secure work permits.

If enacted, the White House priorities could result in the deportation of Dreamers' parents.

The proposals emphasize immigration enforcement and include a request for funds to hire 370 more immigration judges, 1,000 attorneys for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, 300 federal prosecutors and 10,000 additional ICE agents to enforce immigration laws.

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"These priorities are essential to mitigate the legal and economic consequences of any grant of status to DACA recipients," Trump's legislative affairs director, Marc Short, told reporters on a conference call. The White House made clear it would not be pushing for Dreamers to achieve U.S. citizenship, only legal status, in a potential deal.

Trump told Congress it had six months to come up with legislation to help Dreamers, who are a fraction of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, most of whom are Hispanic.

The documents call for tighter standards for those seeking U.S. asylum, denial of federal grants to "sanctuary cities" that serve as refuges for illegal immigrants, and a requirement that employers use an electronic verification system known as "E-Verify" to keep illegal immigrants from securing jobs.

Trump campaigned for president on a pledge to toughen immigration policies and build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. He vowed repeatedly that Mexico would pay for the wall, but began prodding Congress earlier this year to approve funding. Mexico has said it will not pay for the wall.

Trump's suggestion after a meeting with Schumer and Pelosi that wall funding would not have to be part of a DACA fix alarmed some of his supporters.

The White House sees the wall as a priority but has indicated that it could be established as part of a DACA bill or through other legislative avenues. Administration officials said that legislation that did not include all of the priorities on the list would not necessarily trigger a presidential veto.

Republicans in Congress have introduced several bills that include aspects of Trumps ideas, but many Democrats and immigration groups see the proposals as too harsh.

The Trump administration has put forth a serious proposal to address the enforcement of our immigration laws and border security," said Republican House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte in a statement. "We cannot fix the DACA problem without fixing all of the issues that led to the underlying problem of illegal immigration in the first place.

The White House's wish list targets the flow of unaccompanied minors into the United States. It would require such children to be treated the same, regardless of their countries of origin "so long as they are not victims of human trafficking and can be safely returned home or removed to safe third countries," the White House documents said.

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It would expand the list of "inadmissible aliens" to include members of gangs, those who have been convicted of an aggravated felony, and former spouses and children of drug and human traffickers if they receive benefits from such behavior.

The plan also seeks to reduce the number of people who overstay their visas and reform how green cards that establish legal permanent residents are granted.

Trump's White House has so far not been able to achieve a major legislative victory, casting doubt on the potential for a breakthrough on immigration reform, which Republican and Democratic presidents have tried before without success.

Since Trump took office in January, his fellow Republicans have failed to repeal and replace former Democratic President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, and a White House plan for tax reform needs more support.
A former high school teacher has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to her sexual relationship with a teenage boy.

Ashley Leigh Lewis Weber, 31, admitted to two counts of having consensual sex with a child who was at least 15 years old.

She was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the offences, but is ultimately expected to serve six months.

The history teacher turned herself in on August 1, two months after police were tipped off about the relationship.

She met the student during the 2015-16 school year and brought him to her parents' home that summer where they had sex.

The presiding judge has ordered her not to have any contact with him going forward.
Norwegian energy giant Statoil has announced that a new discovery in the North Sea could contain in the range of 25 to 130 million barrels of oil.

The group said the find, in the Verbier sidetrack well in the outer Moray Firth, is proof that there could be significant remaining potential in the basin.

Jez Averty, senior vice president exploration in Norway and the UK at Statoil, said: This is an encouraging result for Statoil and the UK team.

We have proven oil in good quality sands with good reservoir properties, but significant work remains, most likely including appraisal, to clarify the recoverable volumes and to refine this range.

The group said it will continue to assess the data and plan further appraisals to determine the exact size of the discovery, as well as its commercial potential.

The discovery comes just weeks after new research showed that Britains oil industry could be entering its final decade of production.

A study of output from offshore fields estimates about 10% of the nations original recoverable oil and gas remains, according to the University of Edinburghs School of GeoSciences.

If the predictions are correct, the UK would soon have to import all the oil and gas it needs, the universitys scientists warned.

Jenny Morris, vice president for exploration in the UK, said: Our aim this summer was to develop Statoils UK position through testing three independent prospects ranging in geological risk and with a potential impact on our portfolio.

Whilst the results of the other two exploration wells were disappointing, we are convinced of the remaining, high-value potential on the UK continental shelf and the Verbier result certainly gives us the confidence and determination to continue our exploration efforts.
Pakistani police arrive to ensure security at an accountability court in Islamabad (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, failed to appear before a tribunal on Monday, where he was to be indicted on corruption charges along with several family members and co-defendants in the case.

Meanwhile, authorities arrested Sharif's son-in-law, also a co-defendant.

The son-in-law, Mohammad Safdar, was taken into custody at Islamabad airport after he and his wife, Maryam Nawaz, arrived from London, said cabinet minister Talal Chaudhry.

Amid tight security, police later took Safdar to the anti-corruption tribunal, called Accountability Court, where he appeared alongside his wife.

The corruption charges against Sharif, his two sons, daughter and son-in-law stem from an investigation into documents leaked from a Panama law firm which showed that the Sharifs had undisclosed assets abroad.

Minister Mr Chaudhry told reporters that Safdar and his wife had returned to Pakistan "to appear before the court as they believe in the rule of law".

Sharif is currently in London with his wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, who is said to be recovering from throat cancer surgery.

The Supreme Court disqualified Sharif from office in July, forcing him to step down over corruption allegations and undisclosed assets.

Sharif has denied any wrongdoing. He and some of his party leaders have claimed there are "hidden hands" behind his dismissal and spate of corruption cases.

Last week, Sharif appeared before the anti-corruption court but the tribunal had to delay his indictment after his children, who are co-defendants in the case, failed to appear before Judge Mohammad Bashir.

Sharif's lawyer, Khawaja Haris, requested on Monday that the judge exempt Sharif from appearing.

The judge reserved his decision on the request but granted Sharif's daughter and her husband bail. He also adjourned the case until October 13.

Sharif's ruling party expressed anger over Safdar's arrest.

Sharif's two sons, who also missed Monday's hearing, are also said to be in London with their ailing mother.

The case against the former prime minister has become the centre of much domestic media attention in Pakistan.

Last week, Pakistan's National Assembly - where Sharif's party holds majority seats - adopted a Bill passed earlier by the Senate regarding election reforms which paves the way for Sharif to regain his position as president of the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League.

AP
Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy warned that Spain will not be divided by a declaration of independence from Catalonia and said the government is ready to respond to any such attempt.

Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont plans to address the region's parliament on Tuesday evening to debate the current political situation.

Separatist politicians said there will be a declaration of independence for the northeastern region of 7.5 million during that session, although some ruling coalition politicians say the move could be simply "symbolic."

Still, Mr Rajoy was being as explicit as possible in warning on Monday that the national government in Madrid would not stand for such a declaration.

"Spain will not be divided and the national unity will be preserved. We will do everything that legislation allows us to ensure this," Mr Rajoy told the German newspaper Die Welt.

"We will prevent this independence from taking place."

Secession-minded authorities in Catalonia have vowed to break away from Spain after claiming victory in a disputed independence referendum earlier this month.

The October 1 vote has been followed by mass protests of Catalans angered by police violence as authorities tried to stop the vote and, more recently, by others in Catalonia and Madrid urging the unity of Spain.

Yet politicians supporting Mr Puigdemont's minority government and civil society groups backing independence say they will not accept anything less than a full declaration of independence.

"Credibility and dignity suggest making the declaration of independence tomorrow," Jordi Sanchez, the head of the civil group National Catalonia Assembly, said on Monday.

A politician with the Catalan CUP party said the far-left separatists will not accept anything short of a declaration of secession.

"It's very clear to me that those who I represent won't accept any other scenario," Benet Salellas said during an interview at the regional parliament.

Mr Puigdemont has not clarified what his intentions are.

Mr Rajoy's deputy, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, also warned that Spain would act decisively if there was any independence declaration.

"If they declare independence, there will be decisions to restore the law and democracy," she said on Monday during a radio interview.

She called for members of the Catalan government "who still respect democracy and freedom to refrain from jumping into the void."

Catalonia's top judicial official, meanwhile, ordered additional Spanish police protection for the headquarters of the regional judiciary.

The regional Mossos d'Esquadra police force, whose hierarchy reports to the Catalan government, had been in charge until now of guarding the palace in central Barcelona that hosts the judiciary.

But the High Judiciary in Catalonia says its president, Jesus Barrientos, has asked the chief of the National Police force in the region to join in the protection of the building.

The statement says a declaration of independence, even if illegal under Spanish laws, could trigger the suspension of the judiciary and the ousting of its president.

AP
The pound gained ground as worries over Theresa Mays leadership subsided amid rumours of a cabinet reshuffle.

Sterling rose nearly 0.8% against the US dollar around midday, but settled closer to 0.5% higher in afternoon trading at 1.312.

Versus the euro, the pound was up 0.4% at 1.117.

It follows a difficult few days for the pound, which tumbled to near four-and-a-half week lows on Friday following reports of a Tory plot to topple the Prime Minister.

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David Madden, a market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: GBP/USD gained ground today after Theresa May hinted at a possible cabinet reshuffle to get the party into line.

The pound sold-off last week as there were growing rumours of a possible leadership challenge, and the talk of a re-jig to her team has injected some much needed optimism into the pound.

Sterling was also helped by pullbacks in the greenback as it was hit by profit taking. There were many aspects of last weeks US non-farm payrolls report that were very positive for the US dollar.

The UK currencys gains weighed on the FTSE 100, as many of its listed components tend to benefit when foreign currencies are stronger.

Londons blue chip index ended the day down 0.2% or 14.98 points at 7,507.89.

It fell behind its European peers, with the French Cac 40 and German Dax closing higher by 0.1% and 0.16%, respectively.

Brent crude prices edged higher by 0.2% to $55.59 per barrel following comments by Opec suggesting that extraordinary measures may be needed to rebalance the oil market.

Mr Madden said: The oil-producing group has a track record of talking tough, and not always delivering so traders arent overly fearful of any sudden change to supply.

Adding to that, the cartel often has trouble reaching a policy that can be agreed upon by all its members, so this could be the beginning of talks about a possible shift in policy.

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In UK stocks, Wood Group dropped 7.5p to 722.5p as it announced the formal completion of its 2.2 billion takeover of Amec Foster Wheeler, having agreed to offload the majority of its North Sea operations in order to address competition concerns.

Shares in Petra Diamonds tumbled 4.5p to 79p amid warnings that the company is at risk of breaching its loans terms this year. The announcement comes nearly a month after the company was forced to suspend operations in its Tanzanian mine following a government probe into the diamond market.

Revolution Bars shares rose 4p to 211p. It comes after the company rejected a merger offer from Britains biggest nightclub operator Deltic, saying it would prefer a cash offer.

Trinity Mirror fell 4.25p to 79p after the Daily Mirror publisher posted a 8% drop in third quarter like-for-like sales amid lower revenues from print advertising and circulation.

Millennium & Copthorne shares rose 105p to 560p, taking it to the top of the FTSE 250. The hotels group on Monday agreed to a possible takeover offer from majority shareholder City Developments that would value the business at nearly 1.8 billion.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Reckitt Benckiser up 102p at 6,038p, Admiral Group up 22p at 1,875p, Associated British Foods up 33p at 3,305p, and Randgold Resources up 70p to 7,500p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Anglo American down 50p to 1,431p, Rio Tinto down 83p at 3,627p, EasyJet down 27p at 1,236p, and Antofagasta down 16.5p to 981p.
Pumpkins are strewn about Highway 90 along the Gulf of Mexico in Pass Christian, Mississippi, in the aftermath of Hurricane Nate, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A gazebo is blown over the Mississippi Gulf Coast welcome sign near the intersection of Hewes Avenue and US 90 in Gulfport (Justin Sellers/The Clarion-Ledger via AP)

Hurricane Nate brought a burst of flooding and power cuts to the US Gulf Coast - but spared the region the kind of catastrophic damage left by a series of hurricanes in recent weeks.

Nate - the first hurricane to make landfall in Mississippi since Katrina in 2005 - quickly lost strength, with its winds diminishing to a tropical depression as it pushed northward into Alabama and towards Georgia with heavy rain.

I t was a Category 1 hurricane when it came ashore outside Biloxi in Mississippi early on Sunday, its second landfall after initially hitting southeastern Louisiana on Saturday evening.

No storm-related deaths or injuries were immediately reported.

Mississippi governor Phil Bryant praised state and local officials and coastal residents for working together to avoid loss of life.

Lee Smithson, director of the state emergency management agency, said damage from Nate was minimised in part because of work done and lessons learned from Katrina.

"If that same storm would have hit us 15 years ago, the damage would have been extensive and we would have had loss of life." Mr Smithson said of Nate.

"But we have rebuilt the coast in the aftermath of Katrina higher and stronger."

Nate knocked out power to more than 100,000 residents in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida, but crews worked on repairs and it appeared many of the outages had been restored within 24 hours.

As of Sunday evening, Alabama Power said it had electricity back to more than 64,000 customers and some 36,000 remained without power, while in Mississippi power had been restored to more than 21,000 customers.

In Louisiana, there were scattered outages during the storm, while Florida governor Rick Scott said 6,800 customers had lost power in his state.

Before Nate sped past Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula late on Friday and entered the Gulf of Mexico, it drenched Central America with rains that left at least 22 people dead.

But Nate didn't approach the intensity of Harvey, Irma and Maria - powerful storms that left behind massive destruction during 2017's exceptionally busy hurricane season.

"We are thankful because this looked like it was going to be a freight train barrelling through the city," said Vincent Creel, a spokesman for the city of Biloxi.

Crews had to remove over 1,000 pumpkins blown onto Highway 90 in Pass Christian, west of Gulfport in Mississippi in the winds.

Willie Cook, 75, spent his morning chopping down a pecan tree that fell in his backyard. He said Nate was nothing like Katrina, which pushed 8 feet (2.4 metres) of water into his east Biloxi house.

"The wind was blowing, but it wasn't too rough," Mr Cook said of Nate.

AP
Wood Groups 2.2 billion takeover of Amec Foster Wheeler has been completed after the latter agreed to offload the majority of its North Sea operations.

The deal will see Amec bank 228 million for selling the upstream oil and gas operations to Australian firm WorleyParsons as part of a move to address competition concerns.

It comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) expressed fears that the takeover gave rise to antitrust issues surrounding the supply of engineering and construction services, as well as operation and maintenance services in the North Sea.

In 2016, Amecs North Sea business contributed revenues of 740 million and a trading profit of 43 million.

The move to sell the assets off effectively cleared the way for the completion of the takeover.

Robin Watson, chief executive of Wood Group, said on Monday: This transformational acquisition creates a global leader in the delivery of project, engineering and technical services to energy and industrial markets.

We expect to deliver significant cost synergies and incremental revenue synergies in a less cyclical business which retains a predominantly reimbursable, asset light model with a balanced risk appetite.

When first announcing the takeover in March, Aberdeen-based Wood Group said it will result in significant cost and revenue synergies of at least 110 million a year.

Wood Group employs 29,000 people while Amec has 35,000 workers and the new entity would be valued at around 5 billion.
Young children often go through a whole slew of dream careers growing upanything from teacher and fire fighters to Superman and The Flash.

School principal doesnt usually make the list.

But for Dr. Mandi Campbell, thats exactly what she wanted to be.

Ive known since kindergarten I wanted to be a principal, she said. Most people that are educators will say, I want to be a teacher when I grow up. But I always wanted to be a principal. I love children. I love working with teachers. I love supporting teachers.

And Campbell not only fulfilled her dream, serving as principal at Fred L. Wilson Elementary School for the past four years, but she has excelled. Campbell received the 2017 Kannapolis City Schools Principal of the Year award at a surprise ceremony Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Its exciting, she said. I was completely in shock but completely humbled, too.

The districts administrators have a hand in selecting the Principal of the Year, and having that support of her colleagues meant a lot, Campbell said, especially since she said she thought any one of them could have easily won in her place.

I hope that those people see that I work hard and I love what I do, she said. I feel like every administrator in the district is deserving of the award. Ive worked in other school districts, but Ive never worked with a team of administrators that work as hard as the principals and assistant principals do in Kannapolis.

Central Office staff also turned out to congratulate Campbell at the celebration last month, and Superintendent Dr. Chip Buckwell said Campbell more than deserved the honor.

Dr. Campbell is an outstanding instructional leader, he said. You can tell from the moment you walk through the door at Fred L. Wilson that the atmosphere there is nurturing and full of excitement for learning. Her students and staff love her because they know she truly cares about them. Shes also got an amazing educational background and a great vision for Fred L. Wilson. Its an exciting place to be, and she deserves to be recognized for her outstanding leadership.

Campbells journey into education began with her own. Growing up in a single-parent high school, Campbell said her mom emphasized school and learning.

I was the first person out of my family to ever go to college, so that was a really big deal in my family, she said. That was important to me, education was.

Campbell went to UNC-Wilmington for her undergraduate degree in elementary education, and then returned to her native Johnston Countysomething she said she never thought shed doto teach second grade under a principal who had mentored her in high school, Dr. Peggy Smith.

She hired me right out of college, Campbell said. I had just graduated, had no intention to move back from Wilmington. She called me and said, I have this second-grade position. I had known her since high school; I used to volunteer at her school when I was in high school. I went to work for her, and she was the most amazing principal. She was the one that kind of sought me out and encouraged me to go back to school. I wanted to be the epitome of just everything that she was.

Smith served as an advisor in the school administration program at Campbell University, where Campbell went to get her masters in school administration. The two still keep in touch. Campbell also earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Wingate University.

After coming to Kannapolis County Schools in 2010, she began work as curriculum coordinator at McKnight Head Start before transitioning to curriculum coordinator at Fred L. Wilson. When the district reconfigured for the 2014 school year, Erin Andersonwho now works as a principal in Cabarrus County Schoolsmoved from principal at Fred L. Wilson to Jackson Park, and Campbell took over.

During her four years as principal, Campbell has improved the schools academic performance and student growth, increasing the third-grade proficiency score by 50 percent this year and the fourth-grade math by 60 percent. She has cut down on chronic absenteeism and worked to promote good conduct through a positive behavior and good character rewards program.

But what the principal said she is most proud of is the school culture and sense of community at Fred L. Wilson.

One thing that I think is so special about this place is that its very generational, she said. Most of our parents were students here, grandparents were students here. So I feel like theyre very invested. When they come into the school, theyll tell you, I went to school here. I was a student here, and I want my kid here. Thats what brings about the sense of community here. We are truly a family.

And the teachers, Campbell said, take that culture and nurture it every day in the classroom.

I have never worked with a group of teachers that work as hard as the teachers do here, she said. Every decision they make is in the best interest of students. They teach them; they love them. The parents are supportive. The community is supportive.

New to the school this year are two magnet programs: the Global Studies program which is school wide and the Spanish Immersion, which is in just a few select kindergarten classes. Campbell said that has been an exciting challenge for both teachers and students that has gone well so far.

That has really brought us together as a school, she said. Its given us a focus. Its driving our decisions and our instructional practices. The sense of excitement even at open house immediately when people walked into the school building and saw the front foyer, its justyou can feel it. Were excited about that. I feel like thats going to take us off and make us unique. Were learning a lot about culture, a lot about diversity. I think that thats going to get us to where we need to be.
SALISBURY  Rowan-Cabarrus Community Colleges first class of the new occupational therapy assistant program is now in session.

The new occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program is the latest program to be launched at Rowan-Cabarrus. As part of the colleges Board of Trustees meeting, it held a tour of the new occupational therapy assistant space for the members of the Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board of Directors, leaders from The Leon Levine Foundation, elected officials and community leaders.

Occupational therapy assistants help patients of all ages and with all different types of disabilities and challenges to participate in everyday life activities. They are patient, reliable and compassionate individuals, said Amy Mahle, chair of the new OTA program.

The college recognized the need for certified Occupational Therapy Assistants in the region as it explored health occupations and workforce opportunities several years ago. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, occupational therapy assistant positions are projected to increase by 43 percent between 2014-2024. The average annual salary in Rowan and Cabarrus counties is $52,000-$53,800, respectively.

We are pleased to be one of only seven community colleges in North Carolina that offer the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, said Dr. Carol S. Spalding, president of Rowan-Cabarrus.

The new program resides in the newly renovated Health and Sciences Building (Building 600) which faces Interstate 85, funded in part by the 2010 Rowan County bond and a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration (EDA).

I hope that youll see how the new facility and equipment lends itself to innovative teaching and learning approaches that will help enhance the overall student experience by supporting student engagement, persistence, and success, said Dr. Wendy Barnhardt, dean of health and education programs. Occupational therapy is a vibrant, growing profession, and students can look forward to dynamic careers working in multiple settings with people of all ages.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum prepares individuals to work under the supervision of a registered/licensed occupational therapist in screening, assessing, planning and implementing treatment and documenting progress for clients receiving occupational therapy services.

Healthcare in our region will be enhanced as our students train on state of the art equipment, graduate and enter the workforce as Occupational Therapy Assistants, said Dr. Michael Quillen, vice president of academic programs.

Graduates of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, long-term/extended care facilities, sheltered workshops, schools, home health programs and community programs.

We are so excited that the program began this fall and are excited that they will be working in our community throughout their clinical work and after graduation, said Spalding.

Under the supervision of an occupational therapist, this health care professional focuses on providing treatments that will assist patients as they learn how to function independently in their homes and their communities, and help people regain skills lost due to injury.

We are excited to show you the new space for this program and allow you to see a few examples of how our students are using problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, compassion, a desire to work with patients and teamwork to achieve their goals, said Mahle.

The students will be trained as generalists so that they are qualified to work in any setting after graduation. After completing their coursework, they will sit for a national exam to become board certified and then apply to individual states for licensure.

Earlier this year, the colleges foundation exceeded its first ever multi-million dollar fundraising campaign, raising a total of $8,087,386.86. Part of the campaigns success included a $300,000 challenge grant from The Leon Levine Foundation for the support of healthcare education.

I cant thank The Leon Levine Foundation enough for their confidence in our ability to meet this challenge and secure the funds we need for healthcare education, said Spalding.

The Leon Levine Foundation offered $300,000 to the colleges foundation for healthcare education if the healthcare education gifts within the Foundations Building a More Prosperous Community Major Gifts Campaign reached $1.2 million for healthcare education by May 31, 2016. The Rowan-Cabarrus Foundation reached its $1.2 million goal with the generous support of numerous community members and organizations like Novant Health and the Rowan County Commission, whose recent donations helped the campaign meet the challenge grants goals.

Being able to purchase the latest medical equipment, on which our students are trained, is an important factor in their ability to gain employment and our commitment to deliver a skilled healthcare workforce currently in demand by our local healthcare providers, said Carl M. Short, chair of the Rowan-Cabarrus Board of Trustees.

Additionally, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners generously allocated $65,000 to the college for healthcare lab facilities.

The program, with more than 60 qualified applicants, accepted a class of 20 students. The average age is 31, with a range of students from 19-51 years of age.

Students told us that they chose this program for many reasons  from wanting to be successful and becoming someone who can help others to knowing that they have an end goal as an occupational therapy assistant in only two short years, said Mahle.

Occupational therapy focuses on functioning in the daily occupations of life. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people of all ages who are recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

We are excited to start this new program and are so pleased that these students are here, ready to make a difference within our institution and within the community, said Short. We cant wait to see them be successful!

For more information about Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, please visit www.rccc.edu or call 704-216-RCCC (7222). The college has eight-week fall courses beginning October 18, 2017, and spring classes will begin January 8.
GST relief for exporters, SMEs among key GST Council decisions from October 2017

A host of concerns raised by exporters and small businesses over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund mechanism and increased compliance burden were addressed by the GST Council meeting on Friday.

For exporters, the finance minister, Arun Jaitely, confirmed that refund of GST for July will be secured by October 10, and for August by October 18. Further, exporters will have access to a digital wallet by April next year, in which a nominal amount will be deposited for tax credit purposes. Until then, exporters will be subject to a nominal GST of 0.1 percent.

For small businesses, the option to file returns and pay taxes by quarter will ensure ease of compliance  instead of the monthly requirement. Nonetheless, the GST-3B form will have to be filed monthly till December this year.

Further, the composition scheme will be extended to businesses with a turnover of up to US$150,000 (Rs 1 crore), instead of the previous US$110,000 (Rs 70 lakh) limit.

In other decisions, the GST rates were revised for selected goods and services.

RELATED: Tax Compliance Advisory

India clears select foreign investment proposals in single-brand retail

The federal government recently approved five foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals in the tightly regulated single-brand retail sector. The companies benefiting are: Oppo Mobiles India, Louis Vuitton Malletier, Chumbak Design, Daniel Wellington AB, and Actoserba Active Wholesale Pvt. Ltd for the Zivame brand.

The clearance of investments comes soon after the FDI policy for 2017 was announced  it consolidated the relaxations introduced since late 2016 and confirmed new procedures after the dismantling of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

In fact, Oppo secured its investments through the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotions (DIPP) foreign investment facilitation portal  the successor to the FIPB.

RELATED: Shutting Down Indias Shell Companies  Government Continues Anti-Corruption Drive

Tracking post-demonetization activity, crackdown on shell companies intensifies

Banking and financial transactions since last Novembers demonetization have exposed numerous companies suspected to be fronts for money laundering. Last week, the government acted on data provided by 13 banks showing post-demonetization transactions for 5,800 companies  some of which held up to 100 accounts each. This is the tip of the black money iceberg, according to federal officials, and investigations are ongoing.

Parallel to this, the government has intensified its crackdown on shell companies and introduced new rules for establishing company subsidiaries. As of September end, this year, financial authorities have struck off 217,239 firms from the Registrar of Companies, and disqualified as many as 450,000 directors for their association with shell companies.
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Rana Daggubati and Prabhas met for the first time while filming Baahubali, and in those five years that they worked together, they became best friends. Their bond is so strong that they never skip an opportunity to praise each other and come to one anothers rescue if anyone points a finger at any one of them.

(Also Read: 15 Interesting Facts About Prabhas You Should Know Before Calling Yourself His Biggest Fan)

Twitter

(Also Read: 9 Times Onscreen Enemies Rana Daggubati & Prabhas Made Us Jealous Of Their Unbreakable Bond)

On the sets while filming the magnum opus, they used to have a lot of fun. So much so, that Rana once admitted that when Prabhas was not around, he would miss him and wait for the time they would shoot together.

Instagram

Now that they are busy working on different projects, Rana is missing all the madness that they shared on the sets of Baahubali. Posting an adorable picture on social media, Rana writes he misses the kingdom of Mahishmati.

What fun we had in between all the madness..every day of filming this epic was memorable!! Miss being in the great kingdom of Mahishmati!! pic.twitter.com/xStwLsxsXi  Rana Daggubati (@RanaDaggubati) October 8, 2017

This brings a big smile on our faces too. May their friendship stay strong forever!
Bigg Boss 11 contestant Zubair Khan who made an exit from the show after getting humiliated by the host Salman Khan has hit back at him. In an exclusive interview with Indiatimes, Zubair Khan said, "Salman is the Dawood Ibrahim of the film industry." While giving an interview to us, Zubair was on his way to Lonavala to file an FIR against Salman, when he said,

I am going to file an FIR against Salman Khan and the channel; they mentally harassed me to almost commit suicide. He insulted me on national television and even threatened me.

Talking about giving abuses to contestant Arshi Khan, he clarified, They showed the half footage of me abusing Arshi Khan, but didnt show the footage of why I was abusing her. She was making such filthy statements against my religion which left me fuming.

He even revealed that before entering in the house, channel had asked the contestants to abuse and do unnecessary fights for TRP.

Zubair even questioned Salman Khans Being Human image, Who is Salman Khan to tell me to leave the house? He said I abused the girl, while he himself abuses on sets of Bigg Boss every time. He is known for his bad image. He is the founder of Being Human, but he didn't have the courtesy to visit me in the hospital. I was admitted in a private and not government hospital after I had sleeping pills. The reason they admitted me in a private hospital was because they didn't want any FIR to be filed. They werent letting me leave the house so I had to take those sleeping pills. 

Zubair attacked the Sultan star by calling him the Dawood Ibrahim of the industry,  Salman called me a nalla don on national television, but when did I say that I belong to Dawood family? 6 years ago, I gave a clarification that I am not from the underworld family. The media has said that too. There is no proof."

"Salman is the dirtiest person in the industry. I will expose the world how cheap he is. He did his image makeover after the 2002 hit and run accident through his PR. Salman himself has a connection with Dawood, his film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke was financed by the underworld.

He furthered attacked and said, He is one double standard man, every time he says that he does shows for the contestants and channel, its a lie, he is doing the show for the money, for the Rs 11 crore, if he wont do then Shah Rukh Khan will do or someone else will.

ALSO READ: After His Bigg Boss Elimination, Zubair Khan Files A Police Complaint Against Salman Khan

Zubair is deeply hurt how channels maligned his image, I made it very clear that I have no connection with the underworld. I dont belong to Dawood or Haseena Parkars family. Before coming on the show I told the channel that I will come only to clean my image, but it was all reverse. When I was in Lonavla they showed the promo footage of mine, after that my family tried to contact me through channel to inform me that they are maligning my image. In fact they didnt even show me the contract which I had signed.

Also read: After Salman Lashed Out At Zubair Khan, He Consumed Some Pills & Was Rushed To Hospital

Zubair said he will only be back on the show if SK apologises to him, 

Salman Khan gets 11 crore per episode for doing the show, if I will get 22 crore then also I wouldnt go back to the show. I dont mind going back to the show only if Salman apologies to me, he concluded.

Indeed this season is full of drama.
Let's not make it a fight between genders.

The entire industry maintained silence on the Kangana-Hrithik row for the longest time, until recently when Hrithik Roshan spilled the beans on the matter and revealed his side of the story in detail.

Twitter

After Farhan Akhtar who wrote an open letter supporting Hrithik and questioning taking some facts into consideration, actress Yami Gautam has shared a post on Facebook.

What I am seeing right now terrifies me, she writes urging everyone to not make it a fight between genders but two people. She says gender-card shall not be allowed to take precedence over facts and objectivity.

Twitter

Here's what she wrote:

"I am usually not very vocal on social media, but I am making an exception today, since as a woman, what I am seeing right now terrifies me.

This is concerning the matter surrounding two of the biggest stars in our industry. I have, fortunately, had the opportunity to work with one of them. However, I am not writing this as a co-star or even as a friend. I am writing this as a woman and a concerned citizen of the country, and I will try to get my point across as succinctly and as objectively as possible.

I am no legal expert. And I am not privy to the details of the case. I know what has been reported in the media, and I am all for good, honest reporting. However, somehow, the tussle has turned into a gender war, with a certain faction of the society having already declared the man guilty. People have presumed that since he is a man, he must be the guilty party, since that is how it has always been. Men have oppressed women in one way or another for centuries, and it's being presumed that it is the same in this case, too.

And that's dangerous. Whatever happened to innocent, until proven guilty? Whatever happened to letting the law take its own course? Yes, a lot of times, at least in this country, we have take to the streets to get justice. But that's not the case here. The police is investigating, and both the parties are privileged enough that they can represent themselves in court and fight this out legally. Sadly, our law and order is sort of classist, but let's not digress.

Here is why this vilification of a man based on make-believe evidence is dangerous. If the gender-card is allowed to take precedence over facts and objectivity, it will be a serious blow to the on-going efforts of getting women an equal standing with the opposite sex. If this baseless trial-by-media is allowed to continue, where one party has been presumed to be guilty, there is a good likelihood that people might lose faith in this equal-rights-for-all movement that has picked up momentum in India only in recent years.

I am not exonerating anyone here. I am also not suggesting malice by any one party. All I am saying is, let's not make it a fight between genders. Let's keep it a fight between two people who may or may not have corresponded in the past. Let the facts be unearthed and until then, let's reserve our judgements.

Just because this is a fight between a man and a woman does not mean it has to be a fight between genders. Making everything a gender issue can easily distract us from addressing legit sexist issues that plague our society."

(Also Read: Confessing He Was Harassed By Kangana, Hrithik Questions If No Means No Applies Only To Women)
Flying Officers Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh on Saturday created history by becoming India's first three women fighter pilots when they were formally commissioned into the Indian Air Force.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar commissioned them into the IAF after they successfully completed their training at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan respectively, the trio was the cynosure of all eyes at the Combined Graduation Parade at the academy and said they were happy over the opportunity given to them to serve the nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet from his personal Twitter handle: "It is a matter of immense pride & joy to see the first batch of women fighter pilots being inducted in our Air Force. More power to them."

The three women, who broke the gender barrier to etch their names in IAF history, will get to fly fighter jets next year only after the completion of stage-III training at Bidar in Karnataka.

Talking to reporters, they said it was a great honour to be in the first batch of women fighter pilots in the IAF. "We are happy to get this opportunity to serve the country," said Chaturvedi.

While women pilots have been flying helicopters and transport aircraft since 1991 in the IAF, it was last year when the government decided to allow women into fighter jet cockpits.

In February, President Pranab Mukherjee announced that women cadets will be allowed in combat roles in all three defence services.

Does this achievement make you proud?

Is this a big step forward for breaking the gender - biases prevailing in the country?

(With inputs from IANS)
People in India are often seen cheering and clapping for the soldiers in different parts of the country. One such moment was seen on Sunday when people at Jammu airport stated clapping and cheering the moment CRPF soldiers entered the airport. The CRPFs twitter handle has shared a video where the people are seen clapping in order to pay their respect to the soldiers.

The public felicitated the CRPF personnel present at Jammu airport with thunderous applause #NationFavoursTheBrave pic.twitter.com/TFfTnObBFK  CRPF (@crpfindia) October 9, 2017

Soldiers are seen touched by this sudden gesture and were seen thanking the people. On April 18, a similar video was seen where soldiers were seen hailed by people with claps and slogans at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi time and again have asked people to encourage the soldiers whenever they get an opportunity. Last week when PM was Bhopal, he had requested people to show their regards and love for the soldiers who protect our motherland from the enemies.
In a shocking alleged racist incident, a Nigerian national was tied to a rope and thrashed by a mob for allegedly committing theft in the national capital's Malviya Nagar last month, reported ANI.

A video circulating on the internet shows the Nigerian man trussed to a lamp post, throwing up his hands to defend himself against the blows being rained down on him. The attackers can be seen hitting the man with stout sticks and shouting, "Maaro isse! Chodna mat isko (Beat him up! Don't let him go!)."

#WATCH Nigerian national tied to a pole and beaten up by locals for alleged theft in Delhi's Malviya Nagar (24.09.2017) pic.twitter.com/3zWgbeqvN5  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

The incident reportedly took place on September 24 in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar, where a large community of African students and businessmen thrives.

There have been several episodes of violence against Africans across Delhi-NCR in recent years. Earlier this year, a mob attacked two African students at a mall in Greater Noida on the unsubstantiated suspicion that they peddled drugs. A few days later, a Kenyan woman was pulled out of an auto and assaulted by a group of men.

A group of African envoys had condemned the attacks as "xenophobic and racial" in nature and condemned the government's lack of action on the matter.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known for his oratory skills and Saturday's speech at IIT Gandhinagar wasn't any different.

The PM addressed IIT students while inaugurating its new campus in Gandhinagar. PM spoke about days when he was a tea seller and also shed light on his motivation to do best in every circumstance.

AP

You are IIT-ians, I was a Tea-ian when I was young (I sold tea). On this day, a few years ago, I took oath as CM for the first time. Till then, I had never even been an MLA. I had decided that whatever I will do, I will do to the best of my abilities, Modi said, evoking laughter from the audience

The Prime Minister also encouraged the students to focus on innovation and not just academics.

Our academics should not be exam driven. The focus should be innovation, PM Modi said.

PM Modi also said that country can't afford a digital divide among masses and therefore the government will launch a programme under which one member of each of the 6 crore families living in villages would be made digitally empowered. In this day and age, we cannot afford to have a digital divide. If some are empowered in technology and some not, this digital divide can create a big problem for social harmony, he said, adding digital literacy was an important element in ensuring good governance and transparency.
We all are aware that Delhi ranks on top when it comes to pollution but the Supreme Court has a different plan to make things better. On Monday, the aoex court banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and national capital region ahead of Diwali, which will be celebrated on October 19, this year.

It will be a cacophony- and smoke-free Diwali this year in Delhi and in the National Capital Region (NCR), thanks to the Supreme Court.

bccl

While the SC had issued a similar ban in the NCR region last year, it didn't have the opportunity to observe the impact on pollution levels, it said. Therefore, it also ordered that a relevant agency compute the impact of a noise-and smoke-free festival this year.

The SC simultaneously suspended all licenses issued by the Delhi Police to shopkeepers that allowed them to sell fireworks.

Bccl

The SC allowed the sale of firecrackers to resume after November 1 this year.
bccl

On Monday, the apex court banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and national capital region ahead of Diwali, which will be celebrated on October 19, this year. Read more

Here are more top news of the day:





1) 2002 Godhra Train Burning Case: Gujarat HC Commutes Death For 11 Convicts To Life Imprisonment

Reuters

The Gujarat High Court on Monday commuted the death sentence of 11 convicts in 2002 Godhra Riots case to 'life in prison'. Read more

2) GST Council To Reduce Products In Highest Slab, Following Complaints By State Finance Ministers

Reuters/Representational Image

The GST Council may reduce the number of products in the highest slab, following a series of complaints by state finance ministers, who have argued that several common-use products face a 28% levy, causing hardship to people. Read more

3) Amit Shah Junior Slaps Rs 100 Crore Defamation Case On Website, Claims No Irregularities In Biz

BCCL

BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay Shah has slapped a Rs 100 crore defamation suit on a website, which exposed alleged irregularities by a company owned by Shah junior. Read more





4) UGC Panel Recommends Removal Of 'M' And 'H' From AMU And BHU Respectively

A government audit of central universities has suggested to remove the words Muslim and Hindu from Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University respectively in order to reflect the secular character. Read more





5) Gorakhpur Hospital Deaths: 16 More Children Die At BRD Medical College In Last 24 Hours

representational image

Continuing with the recent spate of deaths, 16 children, including ten infants, died at the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College in Gorakhpur during the last 24 hours. Read more
Karwa Chauth was celebrated countrywide on Sunday, but UPs capital Lucknow celebrated Karwa Chauth in an entirely different way. It proved that it is still a city of 'Tehzeeb and Tameez.' Read to know how.

While the men who were caught riding their two-wheelers without a helmet were challaned, their wives were gifted helmets by the Police as a mark of caution and awareness with regard to traffic rules as well as personal safety.

Maximum deaths in India are due to road accidents. We gave them helmets asking them not to drive without one, Deepak Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Lucknow was quoted by Indian Express.

Lucknow: On #KarvaChauth UP Police gifted helmets to wives whose husbands were caught driving without one pic.twitter.com/SRChqGdN6l  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 8, 2017

According to a report published by Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, more people have died in roads accidents in India last year, as compared to the number of deaths in 2015. The data has further revealed that the states of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have accounted for the maximum number of deaths this year.
Years and years of oppression has laden this world with stupid and incongruous practices. In the name of religion, people have been stealing others of their fundamental rights.

Commons

Well, one is certainly isn't here to question religious sentiments, but a piece of clothing that cloaks you down from head to toe is far from devotion. In a bid to do away with that, Denmark is all set to ban the burqa.

Also read: After Germany's Burqa Ban, Now German Minister Refuses To Wear Hijab On Visit To Saudi Arabia

The Danish parliamentarians will hold a formal vote to ban what they termed "masking".

On Friday, Denmark announced that it is planning to become the next European country to enact a nationwide ban on the burqa and the niqab, the full-face coverings worn by some Muslim women. France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Bulgaria have already done this.

University of Michigans Institute for Social Research

"This is not a ban on religious clothing, this is a ban on masking," Jacob Ellemann-Jensen, the party's spokesperson, said on Friday.

Also read: Germany Just Approved A Partial Burqa Ban In Public Spaces

Denmark's Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen, a member of the Liberal Alliance party that also makes up the governing coalition, likewise described the legislation as a "masking ban," reports DW.

"There will come a masking ban in Denmark. That's how it is," he wrote on Facebook.

While other religions must not really have a say in what one does, a lot of Muslim women in the past have expressed their dissatisfaction towards wearing a veil. A veil is a form of oppression and it must go away.

Also read: Trouble For Immigrants Mounts In Germany As Chancellor Angela Merkel Tightens Noose, Calls For Burqa Ban

"We are ready to ban the burqa if that is what it takes... But there are some dilemmas, not least with regards to how such a ban would be enforced," the Social Democrats' leader Mette Fredriksen said on Thursday during a parliamentary debate on the issue.

unilad

It's necessary that everyone gets to be what they want to be. One must wear whatever they want to and oppression in any form should not hold them back.
At their Made By Google event in San Francisco last week, Google unveiled their new camera that you can clip onto anything, called Clips. The idea is that you can just set it up at a good point and it then uses AI to identify people in your contacts or smiling faces to snap photos.

Google

It sounds great obviously, considering you can live in the moment while also having the equivalent of a photographer to capture the memories for posterity. The downside is one that a lot of people have been wondering about, whether the camera can be used to spy on people remotely.

After all, the camera is pretty small and, if placed in a good hiding spot, while still having a line of sight to snap photos autonomously. You wouldnt even know it was there unless it made a sound or flashed a light. However, Google claims thats not the case, and theyve taken a few precautions to prevent Clips from being misused.

Google Clips is designed specifically with parents and pet owners in mind, Google product manager Juston Payne told VentureBeat. Its a camera and made to be used intentionally to capture more moments  seven-second clips  of the people that are important to you. It doesnt work well as a set it and forget device or something you wear  it is designed to give you more spontaneous moments using machine learning of the people youve taught it are familiar to you and are smiling, and looks for clear and stable shots.

This doesn't even *seem* innocent  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2017

Payne also adds that the camera stores all photo and video locally, and only transfers them when you connect your phone. In addition, if another phone tries to pair with the device via Bluetooth, it wipes all local data.

That doesnt cover all the bases however, as some cyber-security experts worry about how a hacker may misuse the device. For instance, a thief with enough connections could place a Clips camera in an ATM or coffee shop, thereby gaining access to your PIN or email password. He wouldnt even need a cable to retrieve the footage, just sitting nearby with his Bluetooth on is enough.

Not just that, experts also worry whether these devices are capable of filtering out private moments. For instance, if the cameras become widespread, one left on accidentally (or even on purpose) in a bedroom or locker room could lead to people being easily victimised. After all, if the AI clicks the photo on its own, how would courts even rule in a case involving this camera. Perhaps its a well-meaning idea, but then again most such ideas in the tech industry end up being misused for nefarious purposes.
The Greek government must implement no less than 27 "prior actions" involving privatizations, called "key deliverables" by the EU Commission, by the end of December in order to meet a goal of concluding the third review of the current bailout by the end of the year.
The Ogun State Police Command have confirmed the arrest of three self acclaimed Islamic clerics,identified as Adebayo Mudashiru (36), Raheed Abass (33) and Rasaq Adenekan (42). The suspects were caught with fresh and dried human parts, human skull, reptiles and assorted charms on October 5.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ilyasu, disclosed that on interrogation the suspects were discovered to be serial killers, with their operational office located at number 6 Baase compound, Totoro, Abeokuta.

However, the three suspects, while speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, claimed to be alfas  Islamic scholars. They said they engaged in the rituals to help solve their clients problems.

Source: ( Premium Times )
Pope Francis for the first time met with German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday since taking over the largely ceremonial post, with migration and refugees on the agenda.

Mr. Steinmeier, who assumed office in February, held a private audience with the pontiff in the Vatican.

The talks were also expected to focus on international tensions as well as the outcome of Septembers German election, which resulted in new right-wing populist party, the Alternative for Germany, entering the national parliament in Berlin for the first time.

A Protestant and former Foreign Minister, Mr. Steinmeier has repeatedly sought to promote ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue.

His visit to Rome coincides with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which forged anew the relationship between the Protestant and the Catholic churches.

Steinmeiers predecessor, Joachim Gauck, met with the former Pope, Benedict, in 2012.

Source: (dpa/NAN)
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that it raided the home of Nnamdi Kanu Yesterday, Sunday in Abia state, The Python Dance in Abia State, while confirming said:

We were there in search of weapons, no household items were removed from Kanus home.

The things removed, may be technical items, somebody was also arrested with a weapon in the compound, he said.

Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has alleged that the soldiers carted away some household items.

He said the items include television, generating sets, clothes among other belongings of the family.

The international community should prevail on the Nigeria Army to stop raiding our home again. We have been telling the Army to produce my bother whose whereabouts has remained unknown since after the September 14 military invasion of our compound, Emmanuel said.

Source  Ebiwalismoment
Members of the Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, have vowed to lock down Anambra state come November 18th so as to show their determination for the creation of their desired country, Biafra.

Anambra state governorship election is slated for November 18th.

Meanwhile, IPOB leader, NNamdi Kanu is said to have absconded to the UK after his home in Umuahia, was invaded by the military on September 14th.

According to the statement released by its publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, the group says they will teach corrupt Igbo politicians that money cannot buy IPOB because they are a special breed.

They added locking down Anambra State will pave the way for IPOB to announce a date for a substantive referendum later next year with or without the approval of Nigeria.

Read the statement below;

We the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leadership worldwide under the command of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to bring to the attention of IPOB members in Biafraland particularly those in Anambra State that November 18 2017 gubernatorial election is the day of destiny for all lovers of freedom. Every genuine Biafran desiring of freedom for Biafra from this Islamic bondage of Hausa Fulani caliphate called Nigeria, must not only stay at home on that day, but must also make sure those around them do not vote. November 18, 2017 is a date with history. If we Biafrans succeed in demonstrating before international observers that we are serious about our freedom by locking down Anambra State on that day, the world will be in no doubt that Biafra is unstoppable. Our destiny is firmly in our hands. We must teach corrupt Igbo politicians that money cannot buy IPOB because we are special breed untainted by the corrupt tendencies of Nigerian politics. Locking down Anambra State will pave the way for IPOB to announce a date for substantive referendum later next year with or without the approval of Nigeria.

Events in Catalonia and Kurdistan has pointed the way forward for we Biafrans because it was clearly demonstrated by both nations that we can call for and conduct our referendum with or without the cooperation of Nigeria. Election boycott is the only legitimate tool left in the hands of we oppressed people to register our displeasure with the ongoing genocide in our land, arbitrary arrests, torture and reign of saboteurs in government houses across Biafraland. If we vote, Nigeria will never again take Biafra agitation serious. The whole world is watching to see how serious we are towards the realisation of this great nation of Biafra. The successful boycott of the election come November 18 will prove to the entire world how determined we are towards having our own new nation where all men will be equal before the law.

For the sake of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was abducted and presumably murdered by the Hausa-Fulani rulers of Nigeria and their co-conspirators in Igboland, especially Igbo governors and Ohaneze leadership, we must as a people boycott the elections. For the sake of the blood of our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters murdered in cold by Buhari, Buratai, Willy Obiano and Okezie we must boycott the elections. For the sake of our hope and collective aspiration as a people unfulfilled and down trodden in Nigeria, we must boycott this every other election in Nigeria.

The Nigerian government, Igbo governors and certain sections of Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership have been pouring billions of Naira into a well prepared media propaganda to try and tarnish the clean image of IPOB and that of our leader with no success. Every lie and fabrication have been cleverly deployed by these conspirators through their well paid and compromised media houses to sell fear and anarchy to the people of Anambra State. The truth remains that corrupt Igbo politicians want to destroy IPOB by all means because they know we represent the people and will never take money from Abuja to compromise the struggle as they have all done. They were the people that begged Buratai to bring his Islamic army into our land to kill our brothers and sisters because they value the crumbs they are getting from Abuja over our well-being as a people.

We are therefore asking every Biafran and IPOB member who believe in the supremacy of the restoration of Biafra over deceitful game of Nigerian politics to sit at home and not venture outdoor on the 18th November 2017 no matter the amount of threat and intimidation from Willy Obiano, Ohaneze, Buratai and Buhari (Jubril from Sudan).

We are equally well aware that Willie Obiano campaign organisation and other South East governors, have funded a door to door campaign of thievery to buy voters cards from unsuspecting registered voters. IPOB under the supreme command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is determine to show the world how serious we are towards the restoration of Biafra. Come the 18th of November November, the world will know that Biafrans cannot participate in a fraudulent election organised by those that came to our land, killed us and when we complained, they tagged us terrorists.

Biafrans must be aware international observers will be on ground that day from USA, EU, AU, Russia, UK, Israel and France. That is why compromised Efulefu governors, Ohaneze and other sponsored groups have been attacking IPOB and our noble leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. If we lock-down Anambra State in spite of their billion of Naira, Operation Python Dance II, blackmail from Ohaneze leadership, the killing of Biafrans at the home of our leader, then Biafra has come. Nigeria will have no choice than to negotiate terms of a referendum.

We must remain strong and resolute before our enemies as our leader taught us. He have come too far to allow propaganda and blackmail to derail us. As the blessed children of the Most High, it is our duty to let the world know that terrorists dont vote.
Controversial Investigative journalist, Kemi Olunloyo, has narrated what happened during the night that Tagbo died, and promised Nigerians she will get the root of Tagbos death.

She wrote on Instagram:

#BREAKING

#HNNInvestigates #HNNTagbo

The last may not have been heard of the death of Tagbo Umeike. Tagbo DIED on his birthday. On the 2nd of October, 2017, according to Asa Asika, who is Davidos manager and owner of Shisha lounge, Tagbo came to the bar.

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According to friends of Tagbo, he went to Shisha Lounge to meet up with Davido and the rest of the crew who arrived some time later. Available is the footage of Tagbo partying with Davido, Dammy Krane, Elejo and others. It was Tagbos birthday on the 3rd of October 2017.

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After a round of drinks, the group decided to go with Davido to Oniru beach where an event was happening. There is CCTV footage of the group at the car park of the Shisha lounge around 12:18am. Tagbo could be seen staggering and to be amongst those leaving with Davido.

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At some point in the car park, Davido and some other men were attempting to get Tagbo into Davidos vehicle, Tagbo seemed to be resisting. According to Asa Asika, two men took Tagbo to his car (Tagbos own car)  there is however, no evidence of this.

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The footage shows two cars (a Mercedes Benz and a Lexus) allegedly belonging to Davido driving out of the car park at 12:29a.m. According to Staff at General Hospital, Broad Street, Lagos Island and hospital CCTV footage which has been recovered by the police, two men with face caps came into the hospital reception at about 5:40 a.m. to seek medical attention for someone they had in the car.

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They were told to register the person. They were told to provide a means of identification for the person, which they went back to the vehicle to produce. The identification produced was that of Tagbo Umeike. During the period, a nurse went with the boys to the car to get Tagbo.

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On getting to the vehicle where he was laid on the back seat, the nurse suspected he was already dead and called for a doctor who confirmed this. Following the declaration, the two men were obviously distraught. In a bid to get contact details from the men, they made excuses and disappeared.

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It is unclear who Tagbo eventually left the lounge with. It is unclear who these men who dropped Tagbo at the hospital are.

It is yet to be determined what happened between the hours of 12:28a.m when they left Shisha Lounge and 5:40a.m on the 3rd of October, 2017 when they brought him in his car to the hospital.

The IGP and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police are fully involved in the case. Davido and some other men including Asa have been interrogated by the Police. An autopsy has been scheduled for the 9th of October, 2017 while investigations are still on-going but the question remains:

What happened to Tagbo Umeike? I will have the CORRECT details for you as I get it. I am fully in this investigation and this is the investigate journalism Nigerians hate me for and the government locked me up for. Let journalists do their jobs.

What or who killed Tagbo? Click #HNNTagbo to read my updates. Call me on WhatsApp or text me if you are a witness. 081319**599. I have begged Adeleke to please talk to me. No response.

Do not trust any mainstream newspaper Davido. They will cause your FALL. Speak to a credible journalist like meKemi Omololu-Olunloyo #MadamKOONews Director @HNNAfrica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

-Instagram/Kemi Olunloyo
There is apprehension in Ihiala town, Anambra as a N500million mansion belonging to a late billionaire is abandoned over his connection with Okija shrine.

A visit to a village called Uzoakwa in Ihiala town, Anambra State  the home of the late popular billionaire business mogul, Chief Victor Okafor popularly known as King of Money (EZEGO), showed how his N500m mansion had been deserted after his demise.

It was still a surprise to many in the community that despite the expensive properties and valuables inside the abandoned mansion, robbers have not burgled the place to steal any of them because of the late Okafors rumoured issue with the dreaded Okija Shrine which they claimed caused his death.

According to some of the indigenes, there was a mystery behind the abandoned mansion comprising many houses with expensive valuables kept inside which made robbers not to vandalise or tamper with those items.

There were even no security in place as the members of the immediate family including his wife and children have not returned to the mansion since he died some years ago. Exotic properties inside the mansion such golden chairs and tables, expensive fabrics, rugs, electronics, electrical appliances, abandoned vehicles and others worth millions of naira were said to have remained intact because robbers were avoiding the place.

P.M.EXPRESS tried to find out why it was so despite the fact that robbers would have made a fortune from there going by the reported high rate of crime in the area especially in the immediate community. Some of the residents explained that any robber who broke into the mansion may be in serious danger over the story that the Late Okafor had issue with the dreaded Okija shrine.

It was gathered then that Okafor might have attracted the anger of the deity and died due to his failure to come to the shrine to defend himself over a report by one of his kinsmen who reportedly dragged him to the shrine over business transaction which he alleged that Okafor had cheated him.

It could not be verified whether the shrine killed Okafor or not, despite the fact that some believed it happened. However, it was gathered that if any person died as a result of any issue or altercation with the deity in Igbo land such like the Okija shrine, automatically all the properties belonged to that shrine unless certain rituals were performed.

The late Okafor also known as Udu Bunch died in December 1999 after he had an accident around Okija town, few kilometers to his village when he was returning for Christmas and to celebrate his birthday. His death came with controversies which led to the collapse of his immediate family and business empire.

His wife, Nkechi reportedly abandoned the family and remarried. The will Ezego had prepared was not read because the lawyer who prepared the will one Barrister Barnabas Igwe was brutally murdered with his wife.

Some members of the community who spoke to P.M.EXPRESS expressed their regrets over his death and explained what it used to be when he was alive. One of the residents said that when Udu Bunch was around, the whole community was lively because he was assisting individuals and the community as whole without any discrimination.

However, it was gathered that despite his contribution that the community had refused to honour him. And their reason was said to be that he was not really a free born of the community and does not deserve to be bestowed any honour meant for free borns in Ihiala community.
A mother of two, Mrs. Juliana, lost her medical doctor husband, Diolu after he encountered a Celestial Church woman who reportedly gave him hot s3x romp in Lagos.

According to PM NEWS, the doctor reportedly abandoned his wife and two kids and moved to the strange womans house in an undisclosed location where they now live as husband and wife.

The incident happened at Joseph Street area of Ejigbo where Diolu used to live with his family behind a popular hospital before he moved over to his new lovers house.

It was reported that trouble started between Diolu and his wife, Juliana in 2015 when she got information that her husband was having an affair with the woman but had no details until she caught the two of them and rebuked her husband over the illicit affairs.

It was gathered that Juliana later told her husband that he broke her heart, asked to know why he was doing so and the husband replied her that he fell in love with the woman and liked her performance.

Juliana persuaded Diolu to leave the woman and face his family but he refused. She then reported the illicit affair to his family members who expressed shock over such act, tried to discourage their brother and save their marriage. However, it appeared that was what Diolu needed as he scolded Juliana for revealing that to his family and that worsened the matter.

It was gathered that Diolu became angry that his wife had to report him and used it as an excuse to abandon her and moved over to the Cele womans house. The embattled Juliana has gone to several churches making prayer points and it appears things were getting worse as she claimed that her husband had forgotten his family completely and does not ask of his children any longer.

Some of the residents who knew what happened were saying that there must be something behind Diolus decision to abandon his family for the woman. Some said the strange woman might have been controlling him spiritually to the extent that he does not know he has a wife and children any longer.

It was gathered that Juliana has gone to a popular Catholic priest to intervene to bring back her husband to his family. She was said to have accepted to allow the husband to bring the woman home to marry the two of them.

When P.M.Express correspondent contacted Juliana at the church, she confirmed that a strange woman had snatched her husband from her. She narrated that she was still shocked and wondered what really attracted her husband to the woman.

PM NEWS
Chief Areoye Oyebola who claimed that a Nigerian Senator earns more than the American President and UK Prime Minister, has called for the senators allowances to be reduced by 10 percent.

The Initiator and Chairman, Movement for Nigerias Total Transformation, Chief Areoye Oyebola, has decried the non-responsiveness of Nigerian federal lawmakers to the widespread call for the downward review of theirmonumental salaries and allowances.

According to a report by Punch newspaper, Oyebola said the recent criticism of the federal legislators by the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), was just one of many criticisms that had trailed the lawmakers over the years but to which they had turned deaf ears.

He recalled that he had raised the same issue in a publication, tagged, Grave Issues Nigeria Must Tackle, which was publicly presented at a gathering that had in attendance eminent Nigerians such as a former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola(SAN); human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN); and Prof. Pat Utomi.

Oyebola had, in the presentation, decried what he described as the insensitivity of the lawmakers, who he said, were living large in the midst of widespread poverty in the country.

He noted then that the earnings of the United States of Americas President were far lower than what a Nigerian lawmaker took home.

He had said, It is also strange, unthinkable and very disheartening that a senator, not minding the grinding poverty of Nigerians, earns $1.7m a year, which is far higher than the $400,000 yearly income of the United States President, whose stupendous country is the richest in the world. Even a member of the House of Representatives also earns more than the American President. What a tragic and pathetic situation!

Worse still, each of our National Assembly members earns more than the British Prime Minister, while the pay of a member of Ghanas unicameral legislature is a very small fraction of our House of Representatives member jumbo pay of more than N10m in a month, let alone the monumental quarterly allowances that have led to serious public outcry.

The multi-million naira earned by the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives even worse, more outrageous and mind-boggling.

Oyebola noted that despite their modest pay, compared to the Nigerian federal lawmakers, the legislators in Ghana worked harder and have minimal absenteeism, while they had also done much to sustain their countrys democracy, which is a model for many African countries.
Chief Areoye Oyebola, Chairman, Movement for Nigerias Total Transformation has slammed Nigerian Lawmakers over their perceived incompetence even though according to him they earn more than most world leaders including American President Donald Trump.

Oyebola complained that while the lawmakers did quite little, they still earned more than most. He noted that the claims of Professor Itse Sagay over the lawmakers behaviour have landed on deaf ears which has been the same fate suffered by most of the criticism that has been made about Lawmakers.

He also recalled the words hed spoken from a publication, tagged, Grave Issues Nigeria Must Tackle, which hed presented publicly.

Hed said; It is also strange, unthinkable and very disheartening that a senator, not minding the grinding poverty of Nigerians, earns $1.7m a year, which is far higher than the $400,000 yearly income of the United States President, whose stupendous country is the richest in the world. Even a member of the House of Representatives also earns more than the American President. What a tragic and pathetic situation!

Worse still, each of our National Assembly members earns more than the British Prime Minister, while the pay of a member of Ghanas unicameral legislature is a very small fraction of our House of Representatives member jumbo pay of more than N10m in a month, let alone the monumental quarterly allowances that have led to serious public outcry.

The multi-million naira earned by the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives even worse, more outrageous and mind-boggling.

Oyebola also noted that Ghanaian lawmakers who dont earn as much as their Nigerian counterparts do way more for the country and its democracy.

Source  Herald
The Nigerian Army on Sunday raided the Abia home of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

According to Kanus younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the soldiers said they were searching for technical items.

He claimed that the soldiers, however, took away from the house items such as television sets, generator and clothes.

He called on the international community to urge the army to stop raiding his fathers palace and to also account for the whereabouts of the IPOB leader.

The raid was confirmed by the desk officer of the military Operation Python Dance in Abia State.

The desk officer, who declined giving his name, said the raid was informed by fresh intelligence report suggesting that arms were hidden in the compound.

He said the raid was a joint operation between the army and other security agencies.

But contrary to the claim by Kanus brother, the military officer insisted that only technical items and not household appliances were taken.

The things removed may be technical itemsSomebody was arrested with weapon in the compound, he said.

Punch
President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken to President Nana Akufo-Addo to offer his condolences to the government and people of Ghana on the gas explosions in the Legon suburb of Accra on Saturday.

In a telephone call on Sunday, Mr. Buhari prayed for those who lost loved ones and friends in the tragedy and a speedy recovery for the injured.

A statement by Mr. Buharis spokesperson, Femi Adesina, on Monday said the Nigerian leader told his Ghanaian counterpart that his  personal thoughts and prayers, as well as that of all Nigerians, are with our Ghanaian brothers and sisters as they mourn their loved ones.

President Buhari further prayed that Ghanaians, who are known for their strength and resilience, will overcome this disaster and rise above the losses the country had suffered in recent times from gas-related explosions.

President Akufo-Addo thanked President Buhari for his comforting and kind words.

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent condolence message to President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo on the gas explosions in the Legon suburb of Accra on Saturday.

In a telephone call on Sunday, Mr. Buhari prayed for those who lost loved ones and friends in the tragedy and a speedy recovery for the injured.

A statement by Mr. Buharis spokesperson, Femi Adesina, on Monday said the Nigerian leader told his Ghanaian counterpart that his  personal thoughts and prayers, as well as that of all Nigerians, are with our Ghanaian brothers and sisters as they mourn their loved ones.

President Buhari further prayed that Ghanaians, who are known for their strength and resilience, will overcome this disaster and rise above the losses the country had suffered in recent times from gas-related explosions.

President Akufo-Addo thanked President Buhari for his comforting and kind words.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
Nollywood actor Odunlade Adekola, in a new interview with Premium Times, has revealed why he decided on returning to school to further his education.

Read excerpts below

PT: Is it true that you are presently an undergraduate at the University of Lagos?

Odunlade: Yes I am presently in 500 Level at the University of Lagos studying Business Administration. As a student, I loved business studies and anything that pertains to leadership. That is why I am studying Business Administration. I am also of the opinion that when you study Business Administration, you can fit into any profession. As we all know, if you have a lot of money and you do not know how to manage it, you would squander it in no time. If you are a doctor, heading a hospital, and you dont know how to manage the hospital, the establishment can pack up. So, the knowledge of business administration is the key to the smooth running of any organisation. I already have a diploma from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.

PT: You are already a household name, why return to school?

Odunlade: I am a firm believer in knowledge acquisition so I always tell young actors, who want to enter our industry to get an education first. In fact, if you tell me you are interested in acting, I will ask you what you are doing presently. If you say you are currently in school, I will advise you to finish before you join the movie industry. Even if you are learning a trade, make sure you are certified before you join the movie industry. If you are seeking to gain admission into the university, ensure you complete your studies first before you come into the movie industry. If you fail to do so, once you become a famous actor, it will be difficult for you to go back to school. Education is very important in anything you do in life.

Source  Premium Times
As many as seven persons have been feared dead as another tragic boat mishap happens yet again in a Kebbi State community.

It has been revealed that as many as seven people were feared dead in a boat mishap involving a family returning from a farmland across the River Niger in Yauri Local Government of Kebbi State, Sunday night.

According to to Premium Times, Abdullahi Takwa, Chairman of Yauri Boat Builders and Wakilin Sarkin Ruwa (representative of Chief of the River), who spoke with Premium Times on Monday, said the family were returning from their onion farm in Rokubalo, a village about four kilometres across the river.

He said a strong wave accompanied by violent wind forced the boat to capsize.

I just spoke with one of the survivors, who told me that, they were nine in the boat that was struck by strong water wave with strong wind while on their way back from the farm, around 6:30pm yesterday (Sunday), he said.

Musa Mohammed, Chairman of Yauri Local Government Council, when contacted on phone also said the boat was ferrying nine members of the same family.

The boat was ferrying nine family members, two women and seven men, who were returning from their farmland where they went to plant onions.

He said two survivors have been found while seven are still missing.

But, so far, we cannot say they are dead or not. What we will do is to declare them missing, the chairman said.

He said water surge released from Kainji and Jaba dam which increased the water level in the river was part of the cause of the tragedy, which also alters navigation and covers stumps under water.

A recent report by Premium Times revealed that at least 33 Nigerians have died since April this year in three boat accidents on the River Niger in Yauri Emirate of Kebbi State, with two of the mishaps occurring on Wednesday and Thursday last week.

Many passengers are still not unaccounted for.

The last two accidents occurred in the area over five months after the Nigerian Senate passed a resolution urging the federal government to urgently implement some measures that could have prevented the accidents.

The first accident occurred in April when a boat ferrying traders to Warra in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State from Malale market in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State capsized and killed nine persons. Officials had also declared 25 of the passengers missing after 26 of them were rescued.

Initial reports had stated that about 150 passengers were crammed into the boat for the ill-fated trip.

Following the accident of April, the Nigerian Senate called on the Federal Government to provide Warra community with a modern 50-seater boat to check the disasters.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over Senate plenary on May 5, while reading the resolution of the Senate, also called on the federal government to assist the communities in blasting the big stones and cutting the big stumps in the river that hinder safe navigation around the area.

Senate also resolved to urge the Ministry of Transport through the National Inland Waterways Authority to immediately conduct a survey into the stretch of River Niger in the area with a view to putting safe navigational aid in place. The Senate also urge the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to assist the communities with relief materials in order to cushion the effect of the disaster, Mr. Ekweremadu said.

Earlier, the sponsor of the motion that led to the resolution, Mr. NaAllah, who represents Kebbi South Senatorial zone, said despite the sacrifice by the some communities which were resettled by the then Northern regional government in order to build the current Kainji Dam to provide electricity for Nigeria, the communities are without drinking water and electricity. Only plank canoe is used to transport people through the river.

He also said the incessant boat mishaps and loss of lives in the Yauri end of River Niger called for the urgent intervention of the federal government. Mr. NaAllah said that despite the disturbing development which had become an annual occurrence; nothing had been done to prevent future recurrence.

He also expressed concern that many of the victims were not accounted for due to lack of passenger manifest.

Adamu Aliero, a former governor of Kebbi who is now a senator representing Kebbi Central, while contributing to the motion, said the communities had for long been suffering from serious environmental degradation as a result of their resettlement for the building of Kainji Dam.

He described the motion as very timely and apt in order to save lives and facilitate the provision of water and electricity as well as relief materials to the victims of mishap in the area.

A former governor of the state, Abubakar Musa, said in Warra that the government needs to provide life jackets and modern passenger boats for trips on the river.

Most importantly, the chopping off of those stumps under the water. If that problem is not solved we will continue to have this problem of accidents, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. NaAllah, when contacted on Sunday, said he had contacted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to know his effort to address the incessant boat mishaps in the riverine areas of Kebbi South, the senatorial zone he represents.

I met Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to follow up on federal governments intervention, few days before these recent unfortunate accidents. I am quite optimistic that assistance will come from the federal government very soon, he said.

He condoled with the governor of Kebbi State and the Emir of Yauri and all those who had lost their loved ones.

He commended several efforts made by the Yauri Emirate and the state government to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the riverine areas.
The United States government announced that its embassy in Abuja and its Consulate General Office in Lagos will remain closed on Monday because of the countrys national holiday.

The government, which issued the announcement on Monday morning on Twitter, using its official handle @USEmbassyAbuja, said that today is celebrated as Columbus Day in the U.S.

Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries in the Americas and elsewhere. The day is set aside to celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus arrival in the Americas in October 1492.

Mr. Columbus, an Italian explorer, is credited with discovering the routes to the Americas.
Development company RD Capital is seeking zoning approval to build a mixed-use property in Elk Grove, Calif., that will include self-storage as well as a 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store. The proposal is for the 4.7-acre property on the northwest corner of Bond and Waterman Roads, which is bordered by the Fallbrook and Quail Ranch neighborhoods, according to the source.

The project would comprise seven structures, including a three-story climate-controlled building containing 780 units. The gas station and convenience store would sit on just under 2 acres, with the rest reserved for the storage facility. The site is currently zoned for commercial, but the developers will need a conditional-use permit, the source reported.

City officials suggested RD Capital meet with residents about the project before submitting its application. "The city was very conscious of what we were putting together," said Steve Diede, a principle with the development firm.

Diede and fellow principle Rohit Ranchhod met with residents twice to discuss the project. During an Oct. 4 meeting at the Fairfield Inn in Elk Grove, Ranchhod spoke to the group about the propertys design and asked for feedback. He presented pictures of a recently completed storage project in Galt, Calif., and stressed the proposed development would be well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing. The storage facility would have little effect on the neighborhoods and would be a quiet neighbor, he said.

Following the presentation, dozens of people expressed their concerns about the project and asked questions, including how the company would handle graffiti, if the sites design would blend with the areas rural culture, and what the landscaping would look like.

RD Capital plans to continue gathering input from residents and is expected to submit its application to the city early next year. The review process will take about four months before the proposal is submitted to the Elk Grove Planning Commission for the first legislative step of the approval process.
Willis Towers Watson has announced two senior appointments for its insurance consulting and technology business, adding to more than 1,200 executives operating in 35 markets worldwide.Neil Bruce moves to the UK P&C insurance consulting and technology team from Travelers Syndicate Management, while Tim Rourke joins the business from LV=. Bruce brings with him over two decades of experience across insurance consulting and the Lloyds/London market; Rourke, more than 15 years of experience in senior roles in the UK personal lines insurance industry.At Travelers, Bruce was chief actuary for over nine years and was also responsible for re-engineering the end-to-end reserving processes, as well as improving the understanding and impact of actuarial delivery to underwriters and management. He has held advisory and committee appointments in the IFoA, including being co-deputy chair of the LMA actuarial committee. Bruce also worked at PwC for eight years and was group actuary at Creechurch Underwriting.Rourke, meanwhile, held a number of senior roles at LV= such as head of broker pricing and head of personal lines underwriting. Prior to delivering business transformation to maximise broker partnership benefits at LV=, he led the personal lines pricing function at Ageas and was responsible for the home, motor, commercial vehicle, and non-standard business lines.We are delighted Neil and Tim are joining our growing advisory practice in insurance consulting and technology, said Tammy Richardson, managing director, UK P&C leader, Willis Towers Watson. We look forward to leveraging their considerable experience, technical expertise, and market relationships to ensure we continue to provide our clients with leading edge solutions that span strategy and operations through to advanced analytics.
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. has appointed Steve Eccles to serve as the chief underwriting officer for its international business.



Eccles, who joins from Travelers Insurance upon completing his notice period, has over three decades of industry experience. At Travelers he was the active underwriter of syndicate 5000 and a director on the boards of Travelers Insurance Company Limited and Travelers Syndicate Management Limited.



Celebrate excellence in insurance. Join us at the Insurance Business Awards in Chicago on October 26.



The underwriting veteran also serves as an elected director on the board of the Lloyds Market Association (LMA), as well as the chairman of the LMA underwriting committee. He was a broker in the aviation market for 18 years before becoming an aviation underwriter.



Argo Group continues to build an impressive international platform with a growing bench of top-tier talent, and Im pleased to have Steve join the team, said Jose Hernandez, head of international at Argo Group. His strong leadership experience and deep knowledge of the industry will serve us well in this newly created, cornerstone role.



Hernandez added: Steves expertise will be valuable as he works with the team to further establish our footprint as we strive to be a leading specialty lines insurer internationally.



Earlier this year the international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products completed its deal to buy Ariel Re. It has also unveiled a series of strategic organisational updates, as well as international leadership hires in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.






Consolidation is a hot topic in the insurance industry. It requires everyone to stay on their toes and keep on top of their game.It can sometimes be challenging to keep up with all of the consolidation that is taking place in the insurance industry, according to Emil Moskowitz, founder and president at the inspection and premium auditing company, Cal Inspection Bureau.Theres a lot of consolidation going on, which means you cant get complacent, Moskowitz told Insurance Business. In my position, as the owner of a company, you develop lots of relationships with clients, some of which even turn into friendships. But you have to be careful. Ive had clients that have been bought by larger companies and the person I had a link with now has a different role or maybe isnt with that company anymore.Unless youre ever-innovating and always moving forward, youre going to struggle to keep up with industry consolidation. You cannot rest on your laurels and trust in an old relationship to always be there. If you do, you might find yourself and your company in hot soup.Cal Inspection Bureau is a nationwide inspection and premium auditing company. As well as keeping up with insurance industry consolidation, the company is also tracking trends in technology and automation, said Moskowitz.It is in the process of developing a new website that will include enhanced technological capabilities, so that Cal Inspection Bureau can provide audit-based data on a larger scale to its clients and give them more detailed information on their risks in real-time.Technology is driving a number of changes in the business, Moskowitz commented. There was a time (not so long ago) when you would send out an inspection or audit request by mail and wait for it to come back completed for you by mail. But with the advent of modern technology, you can do everything and react to situations in real time.At Cal Inspection Bureau, were promoting what we call a hybrid audit, which is where our professionally trained auditors carry out the task via email and phone rather than organizing in-person meetings. In our opinion, it produces the exact same results but with more efficiency and at a reduced cost. We call it a hybrid audit because were also reducing our carbon footprint, like a hybrid car.Inspection and premium auditing is an important part of the insurance industry. It harbors the same pressures for constant innovation and value-add services. But despite the rise in technology, its the personal touch that matters most, said Moskowitz.Were a family-owned company that cares about the services we provide. We customize reports to meet individual client needs and we review each risk and audit individually, he added. Thats a big deal nowadays. Its a personal touch. It matters.
An alliance of insurers has agreed to combat pirate fishing by refusing to provide marine insurance for fishing vessels that bring in more than US$10 billion worth of illegal catch a year.



The agreement was signed by over 20 companies, headlined by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, AXA, Generali, Hanseatic Underwriters and the Shipowners Club. The United Nations has also lent its support to the project.



The insurers coalition will reject coverage for more than 100 vessels engaging in illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing that are part of a blacklist maintained by the European Union, reports Reuters. The EU blacklist is based on reports from regional fisheries management agencies worldwide.



In the past, pirate fishers have exploited legal loopholes, allowing them to obtain insurance for the vessels that harm marine life.



We will encourage the adoption of measures that help to reduce and eliminate IUU fishing, the alliance said in a statement, released at the Our Ocean conference in Malta. The insurers pledged to not knowingly insure or facilitate the insuring of vessels that have been officially blacklisted for their involvement in IUU fishing.



According to scientists estimates, IUU fishing inflicts financial damage of between US$10 billion and US$23.5 billion a year to the global economy, equivalent to between 11 and 26 million tonnes of fish.



Aside from the EU blacklist, the Interpol also issues purple notices about pirate ships, but these are not available to the public. Furthermore, a UN agreement issued in 2016 requests countries to deny port access to vessels engaging in IUU fishing.


A federal court has refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought against an insurer by a Georgia woman accused of killing her husband.



Sherry Bailey had made a claim as a beneficiary of a Prudential Insurance Company life insurance policy following the death of her husband, Russell. The claim was approved, and Prudential deposited $343,420.50 into a Prudential Alliance Account in her name. Five days later, however, Bailey was indicted for the murder of her husband.



Following the indictment, Bailey wrote three checks on the account, withdrawing $83,855.50, according to a report by FC&S Legal. Then Prudential notified her that it had frozen the account. Prudential filed an interpleader complaint with the US District Court for the Southern District of Georgia and deposited the remaining life insurance proceeds  nearly $260,000  with the court.



Bailey filed a counterclaim that argued Prudential had stolen the money from her and deposited it with the court without her permission, FC&S Legal reported.



The court sided with Bailey, rejecting Prudentials claim and every challenge it raised to Baileys claim. The court ruled that Bailey, who claimed Prudential had defrauded her, had established the elements of fraud, since Prudential had told her it was distributing benefits and that her money would be secure in the Prudential Alliance Account it set up.



The court also said Bailey had cause to sue for legal fees under Georgias bad faith law, FC&S Legal reported. The court noted that Bailey accused Prudential of distributing money and then illegally removing it from her account, and of lying to her about the terms of the account.






TigerRisk Partners, a global reinsurance brokerage, has enlisted the help of industry peer Willis Re in developing its reinsurance placement platform, globalREmarket, which was formerly named X-gRm.The two firms have created a third-party company, RePlace Holding, to work on the reinsurance placement platform. Willis Re will have a controlling interest in the company.GlobalREmarket provides a unified and secure repository for various reinsurance markets, enabling them to submit and receive offers on transactions, as well as exchange information such as exposure data, analytics, and terms and conditions with brokersThis has been an important mission for us over the last several years, said Rod Fox, CEO of TigerRisk. Since the launch of globalREmarket in 2015, all TigerRisk business has been transacted through the platform and its proven hugely successful with our markets. Close to 1,000 users from over 200 reinsurance carriers are using the platform to see our business.Meanwhile, Jayant Khadilkar, global head of analytics and technology at TigerRisk stressed the benefits of the new technology.Providing information via multiple emails and FTP sites is inefficient and antiquated, said Khadilkar. Its time the reinsurance industry pounced on digitization to deliver a better, faster product for the ultimate benefit of clients. We are proud to be at the forefront of that evolution.GlobalREmarket absolutely presents the best technology available to do this, added John Cavanagh, global CEO of Willis Re. Once further developed, it will improve the ease, speed and quality of our reinsurance transaction processes, and enable more focus on value-add services for the benefit of markets, for our clients, and for our own business.
National wholesale insurance brokerage and managing general agent Worldwide Facilities has appointed industry veteran John Galaviz as its new chief financial officer.Prior to his appointment at Worldwide Facilities, Galaviz served as CFO for Answer Financial, an Allstate company that provides online distribution for property and casualty insurance. Hes also worked in corporate development for Berkshire Hathaway company Symetra Financial and in investment banking with Lehman Brothers, Dillion & Read and Merrill Lynch.Im looking forward to utilizing my skill set and expertise to help Worldwide Facilities continue its growth trajectory, Galaviz said.We are extremely pleased to have John join the Worldwide Facilities executive team, said Ron Austin, president of Worldwide Facilities. His considerable experience and knowledge will surely contribute to the growth goals of the company.
Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Company has returned $21 million to Maine employers insured by the workers compensation provider.

About 18,000 employers in the state will see insurance returns from the Portland-based insurer. MEMIC president Michael Bourque attributes the lower costs to better workplace safety. Bourque says fewer injuries keep costs down.

The state Legislature created MEMIC in 1992 to fill the void left by commercial insurers that left Maine because of rising costs. MEMIC provides 65 percent of workers compensation insurance in Maine. According to Bourque, the mutual insurance company has returned more than $240 million in dividends to thousands of Maine employers since 1998.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Workers' Compensation Commercial Lines Business Insurance Talent Maine
Federal officials have visited Connecticut to study the mineral blamed for causing foundations to crumble in thousands of homes.

WVIT-TV reports officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished a two-day visit to the state Thursday.

Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy says the team will discuss their findings with lawmakers at the end of the month. Malloy says he requested short order guidance on standards for quarries and concrete manufacturers.

The federal team says more state assistance would depend on an act of Congress.

Officials have traced the problem to the mineral pyrrhotite. The mineral reacts with oxygen and water, and causes cracks in concrete foundations over time.

State officials estimate up to 30,000 homeowners are affected.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Connecticut
Zurich Insurance will have cut costs by $700 million by the end of the year, nearly halfway to its goal to save $1.5 billion by 2019, Chief Executive Mario Greco said in an interview published on Saturday.

Were on track, Greco told the daily Neue Zuercher Zeitung. Its a big challenge, because we must simultaneously cut costs as well as invest.

Greco, who had engineered a turnaround at Italys Generali , was brought in last year by Zurich to reduce the companys high cost base and simplify its business to help boost profitability that had been falling short of its own targets.

Asked if a dividend target of 75 percent of net profit was too high, Greco responded by saying the company is satisfied with its AA debt rating and has no ambition to attain AAA, meaning further measures to strengthen capital is not a priority.

An excessive build-up of capital reserves weakens our discipline and leads to a situation where money is deployed inefficiently, Greco said. Additionally, it puts pressure on the return on equity and doesnt help us any further.

Greco told the newspaper Zurich does not need additional capital to support organic growth of its property insurance or life insurance businesses, as these already generate significant cashflow.

But the company needs to invest in internal initiatives including new digital technology to become more responsive to its customers changing needs, he said.

For small purchases, we have enough capital, he told the paper, adding the company could turn to shareholders to raise cash should it decide to make a large acquisition.

(Reporting by John Miller; editing by Clelia Oziel)

Related:

Topics Trends
Pen Underwriting, the UK managing general agent, has announced a new long-term capacity deal with Zurich in the specialist area of hazardous and tanker transportation, building on a successful partnership that extends back more than 30 years.

The agreement will see Zurich provide capacity for up to 150 million (US$196 million) in premiums over the next five years for Pens hazardous goods and environmental motor fleet solution  formerly branded as OAMPS  which is tailored to the specific needs of different segments of the UKs high hazard transportation and distribution sector, such as fuels, chemicals and liquid waste as well as non-hazardous tanker operators.

The new deal underlines Pens commitment to serving and supporting the hazardous and environmental industries by providing brokers and their clients with continued direct access to experienced technical underwriters, market-leading propositions and embedded extras such as 24/7 emergency spill response service.

Key features of Pens hazardous industries motor fleet solution include:

Legal liability for damage caused by spillage or crossover/wrongful delivery as a result of driver error or omission

24/7 Environmental Response Service  365 days a year

Environmental statutory liability up to 1 million ($1.3 million)

10 million ($13.1 million) in third party property damage including hazardous goods

New replacement vehicle cover for vehicles less than 12 months old (including commercial vehicles) where repair costs exceed 50 percent of the manufacturers recommended retail price

Were delighted to have secured a long-term commitment from Zurich to continue supporting our specialist fleet insurance solutions for this highly specialist market, said Adam Shefras, managing director of Hazardous Goods & Environmental Industries at London-based Pen Underwriting.

Our track record in writing profitable business with well-managed loss ratios in an industry where risk is, by definition, everywhere, has given us a sustainable underwriting footprint and is thanks to the knowledge and experience of our sector specialists  many of whom have been with us for 15 years or more, he added.

Our partnership with Zurich ensures we can continue offering brokers superior cover as standard, to meet the unique risks and challenges presented by the transportation of hazardous goods, Shefras went on to say.

Richard Wood, head of Sales at Zurich, said: Were pleased to build on our long-term strategic partnership with Pen Underwriting, supporting its fleet solution for hazardous industries. Pens experienced team are well-known for their technical expertise, with a risk management-led focus on underwriting quality business, making this an attractive distribution opportunity for Zurich.

About Pen Underwriting

Pen Underwriting is a multi-class, multi-territory managing general agent (MGA) that operates as a virtual insurer, meaning it can fulfill all the typical functions of an insurance company  from sales, distribution, pricing and product innovation through to claims, analytics and governance  except carry risk.

Source: Pen Underwriting

Topics Underwriting Insurance Wholesale Pollution Human Resources
Capsicum Re, the London-based specialist reinsurance broker, announced the appointment of Conrad Williams as the latest addition to its cyber team. He will report to Ian Newman and Samantha Thompson, partners in Capsicum Res London property and specialty division, and begins his new role with immediate effect.

Williams brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role, having completed this year a four-year doctorate in Cyber Security at the Centre for Doctoral Training on Cyber Security, Royal Holloway University of London, the company said in a statement. Williams was one of only 10 students in his peer group to be selected for this program and has published four peer-reviewed research papers on his specialism, Access Control, at conferences in America, Asia and Europe. Prior to this, Williams graduated from Royal Holloway with a first class honors degree in Mathematics and worked as a technical business analyst at Acturis Ltd.

Source: Capsicum Re

Topics Cyber Agencies London
A former physician and Boy Scout leader from Missouri has been ordered to pay $120 million to a boy who he sexually abused for years.

The Kansas City Star reports a Jackson County judge awarded the damages in a civil lawsuit brought against 45-year-old Joseph Mackey of Lees Summit. Mackey pleaded guilty last month to sexual assault.

Circuit Judge Jack Grate awarded $20 million in compensatory damages and $100 million in punitive damages.

The lawsuit against Mackey alleged that he repeatedly abused the victim, including rape and sodomy, at Mackeys house, his medical practice and at Boy Scout events.

When Mackey was charged in 2015, investigators said other people had accused him of abuse.

Mackey volunteered with the Boy Scouts for 10 years until 2011. He lost his medical license in 2013.

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Topics Legislation Missouri
Officials in western Iowa are worried that $50 million in levee repairs wont be completed quickly enough to avoid having an area deemed a flood zone, which would require costly insurance coverage.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to remap Council Bluffs potential flood zones in 2023, The Daily Nonpareil reported.

This is undoubtedly the biggest threat facing Council Bluffs today, Mayor Matt Walsh said.

Walsh said the city should be able to complete repairs in time. But the Army Corps of Engineers lack of funding has slowed down the approval process on the citys repair plans. Walsh said the Corps hasnt reviewed and approved any levee-repair projects since last spring.

Walsh said that if the project isnt completed in time and the area is deemed a flood zone, flood insurance costs could triple the cost of mortgages.

Half of the homes in Council Bluffs would essentially have no value because people would not be able to pay the costs involved in buying them because of the flood insurance requirement, he said. The impact of that loss on the citys property tax base and property tax revenues would be devastating.

The state created a flood mitigation program after flooding in 2008 caused extensive damage in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. The city applied for funding through the program to repair the levee and replace a box culvert on Indian Creek. The city is eligible for up to $57 million, which will be payable over 20 years, City Engineer Matt Cox said.

However, the city wont receive a large portion of the funds until after the 2023 mapping deadline.

City officials are considering selling bonds secured by anticipated flood mitigation program payments the city would receive from 2023 to 2035, Walsh said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Flood Iowa
Kansas residents are broadening the fight over an oil-related waste disposal well in the Flint Hills into a protest of similar wells across several counties.

Residents of Chase, Morris and other counties known for open pastures and tallgrass ecology lost efforts last month to block operation of a saltwater injection well near the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Strong City, KCUR-FM reported.

Petitioners said they wont appeal the decision by the Kansas Corporation Commission, the states energy-regulating body.

Doing so would be fruitless, said Cindy Hoedel, a resident in Matfield Green. I dont think theres any chance that they would change their minds.

Residents said theyre now focusing on fighting plans of additional wells across several counties, and have already filed protest letters against another application for saltwater injection near Hamilton.

Energy companies use such wells to dispose wastewater resulting from oil and natural gas production. U.S. Geological Survey officials said a proliferation of these wells is behind the recent earthquake spike in Oklahoma and south-central Kansas.

More than 5,000 temblors strong enough for people to feel have struck Kansas and Oklahoma since 2008. Flint Hills residents said that Quail Oil & Gas, the company behind the newly approved Strong City well, will dump up to 5,000 barrels of wastewater a day and ultimately trigger quakes.

The KCC decision has residents planning to seek regulatory changes through the Kansas Legislature.

Hoedel said shes concerned no state agency is tasked with proactively guarding the state, its residents and property owners against activities that cause earthquakes. She and other residents argued the KCC only limited wastewater disposal in south-central Kansas after temblors grew frequent.

We dont find it a satisfactory answer to drill, cause damage and then try to mitigate the damage, she said.

In May, 30 state legislators wrote to the KCC about Quails Morris County well. Lawmakers urged the commission to err on the side of caution.

Man-induced earthquakes are a relatively new phenomenon, lawmakers wrote. What is the tipping point of risk?

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Topics Legislation Kansas
The Trump administration last week asked Congress for $29 billion in disaster aid to cover ongoing hurricane relief and recovery efforts and to pay federal flood insurance claims.

The request comes as the government is spending almost $200 million a day for emergency hurricane response and faces a surge in flood claims for federally insured homes and businesses slammed by hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told lawmakers in officially submitting the request that the federal flood insurance program is not designed to handle catastrophic losses like those caused by Harvey, Irma, and Maria. The NFIP is simply not fiscally sustainable in its current form.

Mulvaney proposed a package of changes to the flood insurance program that, among others, would protect low-income policyholders from big rate hikes, allow the government to drop from the program properties that have been repeatedly flooded, and phasing out policies on new homes in flood zones.

In the meantime, the request proposal would provide $16 billion to pay those flood claims, along with $13 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief efforts. Federal firefighting accounts would receive $577 million as well to replenish them after a disastrous season of Western wildfires.

The Senates top Democrat backed the aid request but signaled opposition to the administrations proposed restrictions on flood insurance.

This funding request is a good start, but those affected by Maria, Harvey, Irma and wildfires still have a long and difficult road ahead, said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. We should act on this supplemental quickly, but it should be just the beginning of Congress efforts to aid in rebuilding.

Congress last month approved a $15.3 billion aid package that combined community development block grant rebuilding funds with emergency money for cleanup, repair and housing.

Flood Claims Burn Rate

The federal flood insurance program is on track to run out of money to pay claims during the week of Oct. 23. Mulvaney said more than 20,000 federal workers have been deployed by various agencies to help in the hurricane recovery effort. The burn rate of almost $200 million a day is requiring an infusion of cash into FEMA coffers.

The request would bring the price tag for this years costly hurricane season to about $44 billion  and thats before rebuilding efforts get under way in earnest. A final estimate is a ways away since damage assessments of Puerto Rico may take some time, but Mulvaney said the administration will submit assessments in time for a budget hoped-for budget agreement later this year.

The year-end package would rebuild infrastructure, help people without insurance restore their homes, and, perhaps, help Puerto Rico reconstitute its shattered electrical grid.

The hundreds of thousands of people affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria have suffered enough. Congress must provide whatever is necessary to get these families back on their feet and to rebuild their communities, said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J. This will be a long process, and this next round of funds certainly wont be all that is needed.

Congress is in the midst of an effort to reauthorize the flood insurance program, which critics say makes taxpayers subsidize properties that have repeatedly flooded. A bipartisan effort to reform the program was enacted in 2012. It was significantly watered down just two years later after complaints of huge premium increases and resulting disruptions in coastal real estate markets. But theres sure to be bipartisan opposition to Mulvaneys extensive roster of changes to the program, which has strong backing from Republicans in coastal states.

Trump raised eyebrows in an interview last Tuesday with Fox News when he said the Puerto Rican governments debt would have to be wiped out.

They owe a lot of money to your friends on Wall Street and were going to have to wipe that out, Trump said.

But on Wednesday, Mulvaney told reporters that we are not going to be offering a bailout for Puerto Rico or for its current bondholders.

Trump surveyed hurricane damage in Puerto Rico on Tuesday. He praised his administrations response, even as lawmakers returning from the island say the president is painting far too rosy a picture.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., the situation there presents more difficult challenges than disasters in the continental U.S. For instance, without power or internet service, victims of Maria cant go online to register for aid. Housing vouchers are largely useless since the entire Island is devastated. He said many thousands of Puerto Ricans will need to be evacuated to the U.S. mainland.

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Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Flood Hurricane
Traffic accident deaths in the U.S. continue to rise, even while deaths related to distracted driving decline.

Pedestrian and motorcyclist deaths are way up.

The number of vehicle miles traveled on U.S. roads in 2016 increased by 2.2 percent, producing a fatality rate of 1.18 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT)  a 2.6-percent increase from the previous year, according to the latest overview and analysis from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

There were 37,461 lives lost on U.S. roads in 2016, an increase of 5.6 percent from calendar year 2015, according to NHTSA data, which was collected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The 5.6-percent increase from 2015 to 2016 is down from the 8.4-percent increase from 2014 to 2015.

The last time the United States had similar back-to-back fatality increases of this magnitude was from 1963 to 1964 (9.4%) and from 1964 to 1965 (3.2%), according to NHTSA.

Distracted and Drowsy Driving

NHTSA found that distracted driving and drowsy driving fatalities declined, while deaths related to other reckless behaviors  including speeding, alcohol impairment, and not wearing seat belts  continued to increase. The number of fatalities in distraction affected crashes decreased by 2.2 percent from 3,526 in 2015 to 3,450 in 2016. Fatalities in distraction affected crashes were 9.2 percent of total fatalities in 2016.

The number of fatalities involving a drowsy driver decreased by 3.5 percent from 832 in 2015 to 803 in 2016. Fatalities involving a drowsy driver were 2.1 percent of total fatalities in 2016.

Motorcyclist and pedestrian deaths accounted for more than a third of the year-to-year increase. There were 11.5 times as many unhelmeted motorcyclist fatalities in states without universal helmet laws (1,923 unhelmeted fatalities) as in states with universal helmet laws (166 unhelmeted fatalities) in 2016.

Every month except January, August and December saw increases in fatalities from 2015 to 2016. The highest increase was in February at 22.7 percent.

The 2016 national data shows that:

Distraction-related deaths (3,450 fatalities) decreased by 2.2 percent;

Drowsy-driving deaths (803 fatalities) decreased by 3.5 percent;

Drunk-driving deaths (10,497 fatalities) increased by 1.7 percent;

Speeding-related deaths (10,111 fatalities) increased by 4.0 percent;

Unbelted deaths (10,428 fatalities) increased by 4.6 percent;

Motorcyclist deaths (5,286 fatalities  the largest number of motorcyclist fatalities since 2008) increased by 5.1 percent;

Pedestrian deaths (5,987 fatalities  the highest number since 1990) increased by 9.0 percent; and

Bicyclist deaths (840 fatalities  the highest number since 1991) increased by 1.3 percent.

NHTSA has been promoting safe vehicle technologies that promise to reduce the number of crashes and save lives. The organization is also involved in the debate over regulation of autonomous vehicles. Congress is considering legislation that would would grant the NHTSA the authority to exempt self-driving vehicles from existing federal safety requirements.

Additional facts from the NHTSA report:

Motorcyclist fatalities for people 60 or older saw 156 more fatalities in 2016 than in 2015, an increase of 21.5 percent. Overall, there were 257 more motorcyclist fatalities in 2016, an increase of 5.1 percent over 2015.

The number of young drivers 16 to 20 years old involved in fatal crashes increased by 3.6 percent from 2015; the number of young drivers who died in fatal crashes also increased by 0.1 percent from 2015.

Among drivers involved in crashes the 16-to-24 age group had a 9.4-percent increase and the 65+ age group had a 9.9-percent increase from 2014 to 2015; whereas from 2015 to 2016 the 16-to-24 age group had a 4.0-percent increase while the 65+ age group had an 8.2-percent increase.

There is a 10-year trend of more older drivers being involved in fatal crashes than younger drivers in general. The 65+ age group has the largest percent increases compared to the other age groups.

Source: NHTSAs 2016 Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview

Related:

Topics USA Auto Personal Auto
The Texas congressional delegation has requested $19 billion to help the Lone Star State recover from Harvey, with both Republicans and Democrats teaming up behind a request to repair water projects and help homeowners and communities rebuild from the storm.

The bipartisan request comes on top of President Donald Trumps request for $29 billion in hurricane aid, pairing $13 billion for emergency hurricane response with a $16 billion cash infusion for the financially troubled federal flood insurance program. It was delivered in a letter to the House and Senate appropriations committees.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the House will vote on Trumps request this week. Its unclear whether the powerful Texans will succeed in getting some or all of the additional money. Texas Republicans voted almost unanimously against legislation in 2013 that delivered comparable help to New York and New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy.

The Texas request combines $10 billion for repairs to Army Corps of Engineers projects, dredge navigation channels, and complete existing projects. Another $7 billion is requested for community development block grants that would help rebuild communities and individuals without flood insurance repair or replace their homes, among other purposes. They said that Texas alone will require $40 billion in such grants.

Repairs to transportation infrastructure and disaster loans for small businesses make up the rest of the request.

In light of the unprecedented damage from Hurricane Harvey and the historically epochal flooding of Houston, Beaumont and surrounding regions, we all recognize that the funding already appropriated is a small fraction of the federal resources needed to help rebuild Texas and reinvigorate the American economy, the delegation letter said.

Congress last month approved a $15 billion first installment for hurricane relief.

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Topics Texas Hurricane Politics
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is considering a rule change that would ban all state employees and officials from lobbying for two years after their tenure ends.

The proposed rule change would create what Oklahoma officials are calling a cooling-off period, The Journal Record reported.

A group of lobbyists, lawyers and lawmakers asked the commission to abandon it at a recent meeting.

An exception to the proposed rule change would be attorneys representing outside interests in court after leaving the state government roster.

You do want to protect against unintended consequences, said executive director Ashley Kemp.

Several critics said there isnt a way to fully guard against unintended consequences under the proposed change.

State Rep. John Paul Jordan, R-Yukon, said he was concerned about legal consequences that could result from the Oklahoma government limiting lobbying. He said the Supreme Court has ruled that lobbying is protected speech under the Citizens United decision. He also cited a federal court case in Ohio that struck down a similar law.

I think the last thing the Ethics Commission and the state need is to be hit with a federal lawsuit, Jordan said.

Officials said they didnt have any intention of acting on it that day.

More than 30 states nationwide have a cooling-off period. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, eight of those states have implemented two-year periods.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation Oklahoma
Dallas-based independent insurance brokerage RHSB has named Julia Miller Spracklen J.D. as chief operating officer and Courtney Woodruff as senior vice president in its Commercial Lines Division. Additionally, John Losurdo will transition from the role of chief operating office to chief administrative officer.

Julia Spracklen joined RHSB in April 2015 as vice president of Risk Services, the division of RSHB responsible for claims oversight, claims review and audits, loss control coordination, and loss trend analysis. Prior to RHSB, she was a senior claims counsel at Travelers Insurance Co.

Courtney Woodruff joined RHSB in 2007 as an account executive in the Commercial Lines Division of RHSBs Dallas office. In 2013 she was promoted to the vice president of the Dallas Commercial Lines Division. Prior to joining RHSB, she was an account executive for Travelers Insurance Co.

In addition to the noted changes, RHSBs senior leadership team is also comprised of Chief Executive Officer Tom Hughston, Fort Worth Office Leader Bart Tucker, Chief Information Officer Karen Bitzer and Vice President of Finance/Accounting Grady Allums.

RHSB is an independent insurance broker and a member of Assurex Global, a privately held risk management and insurance brokerage group. RHSB has offices in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

Source: RHSB

Topics Agencies Texas Leadership
A Mississippi insurance agent was arrested last month for allegedly converting customers premium payments for his own use.

Attorney General Jim Hood said Sept. 12 that a Lamar County Grand Jury indicted 30-year-old Brian Hudson, of Sumrall, on two felony counts each of wire fraud and embezzlement and one misdemeanor count each of embezzlement and uttering forgery.

Hoods office, in a news release, says Hudson took more than $34,000 while he worked as an insurance agent. Hes also accused of changing customers mailing addresses without their permission in order to receive refund checks that he also allegedly converted for his own use.

If convicted on all six counts, Hudson faces 21 years behind bars, $32,000 in fines and full restitution.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Agencies Mississippi
Authorities say a freight train derailed and crashed into a home in Atlanta, knocking it askew and injuring a man.

Atlanta Fire Rescue officials said in a brief statement that multiple cars had derailed about 3 a.m. Thursday, sending one of the cars into the bedroom of the house.

Atlanta fire Sgt. Cortez Stafford said the man was conscious and talking when he was taken to the hospital. He was later reported in stable condition.

Stafford said the CSX train went about 5-10 feet (1-3 meters) inside the house. News photographs showed the home apparently knocked from its foundation with some siding ripped away, revealing its interior.

CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle says the train was traveling from Waycross, Georgia, to Cincinnati, Ohio, when it derailed.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Georgia Trucking
Un ottobre da sogno per Antonio Conte: lex ct della Nazionale italiana, attualmente alla guida del Chelsea, nelle ultime quattro gare di Premier League ha collezionato solo successi, conditi da 11 reti segnate e addirittura nessuna incassata. Numeri da record che non sono certo passati inosservati alla Federazione inglese, la quale ha conferito al tecnico leccese lambito premio di Manager del mese.

Unavventura oltremanica iniziata in sordina, quella di Conte, pur a fronte di tre vittorie nelle prime tre gare di campionato. A far vacillare, anche se solo per un momento, le certezze del patron del club londinese, Roman Abramovich, i risultati conseguiti tra la 4a e la 6a giornata, coincisi con un pareggio sul campo dello Swansea City e, soprattutto, con le due pesanti sconfitte subite dal Liverpool, sul terreno casalingo di Stamford Bridge, e dallArsenal. In particolare, la debacle interna coi Reds, aveva irritato non poco il numero uno russo, poiche occorsa proprio nel giorno della sua 250esima partita da presidente della societa.

Come detto, solo un momento. Dopo lincontro dellEmirates, il tecnico salentino cambia modulo, adottando un piu equilibrato 3-4-3 e inserendo elementi di corsa come lo spagnolo Pedro. Una svolta totale perche, di li in poi, il Chelsea inanellera solo e soltanto vittorie: 2 gol allHull City e al Southampton in trasferta, 3 ai campioni dInghilterra del Leicester e 4 allo United in casa, con un meraviglioso numero zero nella casella delle reti subite. Un fantastico poker, ottenuto tra l1 e il 29 ottobre. Un cambio di marcia sbalorditivo, confermato dal 5 a 0 rifilato ai toffees dellEverton nel primo match di novembre, e una scalata che, man mano, ha portato i blues al secondo posto in classifica, a soli 2 punti dal Liverpool capolista.

E allora, non poteva mancare il riconoscimento di migliore allenatore del mese, ottenuto surclassando tecnici del calibro di Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) e Mark Hughes (Southampton). Tanta, ovviamente, la soddisfazione: E un grande onore e voglio condividerlo con i giocatori e con la societa  ha dichiarato Conte sul sito ufficiale della Premier League -. E la prima volta che lavoro in un altro Paese, con una cultura diversa, e portare la propria filosofia non e facile, ma ora sono contento di questa scelta.

A completare la festa, la premiazione del fantasista belga, Eden Hazard, come miglior giocatore di ottobre. Due risultati importanti per il club, ottimo incentivo per la rincorsa al trono dei campioni, occupato dal Leicester di Ranieri. Il prossimo appuntamento per l11 di Conte sara al Riverside Stadium, tana del Middlesborough neopromosso. Il tempo di festeggiare e gia finito.
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel has been awarded 52 times to 86 Laureates who have researched and tested dozens of ground-breaking ideas. Here are five prize-winning economic theories with which you'll want to be familiar. These are ideas you're likely to hear about in news stories because they apply to major aspects of our everyday lives.

Key Takeaways Elinor Ostrom was awarded the prize in 2009 for her research and analysis about the economics of common-pool resources.

Daniel Kahneman's research about behavioral finance earned him the prize in 2002.

The Nobel Prize committee honored George A. Akerlof, A. Michael Spence, and Joseph E. Stiglitz in 2001 for their work about asymmetric information.

John C. Harsanyi, John F. Nash Jr., and Reinhard Selten received the prize in 1994 for research they conducted about the theory of non-cooperative games.

James M. Buchanan developed the theory of public choice, for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1986.

1. Managing Common Pool Resources (CPRs)

The term common pool resources (CPRs) refers to resources that aren't owned by one particular entity. Rather, they are held by the government or are allocated to privately owned lots that are made available to the general public. CPRs (or commons as they're commonly known) are those that are available to everyone but are in finite supply, including forests, waterways and water basins, and fishing grounds.

Ecologist Garrett Hardin wrote "The Tragedy of the Commons," which appeared in Science in 1968. In his paper, he addressed the overpopulation of the human race in relation to these resources. Hardin surmised that everyone would act in their own best interests, meaning they would end up consuming as much as they possibly can. This would make these resources even harder to find for others.

In 2009, Indiana University political science professor Elinor Ostrom became the first woman to win the prize. She received it "for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons."

Ostrom's Groundbreaking Research

Ostrom's research showed how groups work together to manage common resources such as water supplies, fish, lobster stocks, and pastures through collective property rights. She showed that Hardin's prevailing tragedy of the commons theory isn't the only possible outcome, or even most likely when people share a common resource.

Ostrom showed that CPRs can be effectively managed collectively, without government or private control, as long as those who use the resource are physically close to it and have a relationship with each other.

Because outsiders and government agencies don't understand local conditions or norms, and lack relationships with the community, they may manage common resources poorly. By contrast, insiders with a say in resource management will self-police to ensure that all participants follow the community's rules.

You can read about Ostrom's prize-winning research in her book, Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action, and in her 1999 Science journal article, "Revisiting the Commons: Local Lessons, Global Challenges."

2. Behavioral Finance

Behavioral finance is a form of behavioral economics. It studies the psychological influences and biases that affect the behavior and decisions of investors as well as financial professionals. These influences and biases tend to explain various market anomalies, especially those found in the stock market. This includes very drastic increases and drops in the price of securities.

Psychologist Daniel Kahneman was awarded the prize in 2002 "for having integrated insights from psychological research into economic science, especially concerning human judgment and decision-making under uncertainty."

Kahneman's Work

Kahneman showed that people do not always act out of rational self-interest, as the economic theory of expected utility maximization would predict. This concept is crucial to behavioral finance. The research identified common cognitive biases that cause people to use faulty reasoning to make irrational decisions. These biases include the anchoring effect, the planning fallacy, and the illusion of control.

He conducted his research with Amos Tversky, but Tversky was not eligible to receive the prize because he died in 1996.

Kahneman and Tversky's Theory

"Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision Under Risk," is one of the most frequently cited articles in economics journals. Kahneman's (and Tversky's) award-winning prospect theory shows how people really make decisions in uncertain situations.

They demonstrated that we tend to use irrational guidelines such as perceived fairness and loss aversion, which are based on emotions, attitudes, and memories, not logic. For example, Kahneman and Tversky observed that we expend more effort just to save a few dollars on a small purchase than to save the same amount on a large purchase.

Kahneman and Tversky also showed that people use general rules, such as representativeness, to make judgments that contradict the laws of probability. For instance, when given the description of a woman concerned about discrimination and asked if she is more likely to be a bank teller or a bank teller who is a feminist activist, people tend to assume she is the latter even though probability laws tell us she is much more likely to be the former.

The Nobel Prize is not awarded posthumously.

3. Asymmetric Information

This discipline is also known as information failure. It occurs when one party involved in an economic transaction has much more knowledge than the other. This phenomenon typically presents itself when the seller of a good or service possesses greater knowledge than the buyer. But in some cases, the reverse dynamic may also be possible. Almost all economic transactions involve asymmetric information.

In 2001, George A. Akerlof, A. Michael Spence, and Joseph E. Stiglitz won the prize "for their analyses of markets with asymmetric information." The trio showed that economic models predicated on perfect information are often misguided. That's because one party often has superior information in a transaction.

Understanding information asymmetry has improved our knowledge of how various markets work and the importance of corporate transparency. Today, these concepts are so widespread that we take them for granted, but when they were first developed, they were groundbreaking.

Akerlof, Spence, and Stiglitz's Research

Akerlof showed how information asymmetries in the used car market, where sellers know more than buyers about the quality of their vehicles, can create a market with lemons (a concept known as "adverse selection"). A key publication related to this prize is Akerlof's 1970 journal article, "The Market for 'Lemons': Quality Uncertainty and the Market Mechanism."

Spence's research focused on signaling or how better-informed market participants can transmit information to lesser-informed participants. He showed how job applicants can use educational attainment as a signal to prospective employers about their likely productivity and how corporations can signal their profitability to investors by issuing dividends.

Stiglitz showed how insurance companies can learn which customers present a greater risk of incurring high expenses. He called this process screening. According to Stiglitz, asymmetric information occurs by offering different combinations of deductibles and premiums.

4. Game Theory

The theory of non-cooperative games is a branch of the analysis of strategic interaction commonly known as game theory. Non-cooperative games are those in which participants make non-binding agreements. Each participant bases his or her decisions on how he or she expects other participants to behave, without knowing how they will actually behave.

The academy awarded the 1994 prize to John C. Harsanyi, John F. Nash Jr., and Reinhard Selten "for their pioneering analysis of equilibria in the theory of non-cooperative games."

Harsanyi, Nash, and Selten's Analysis

One of Nash's major contributions was the Nash Equilibrium, a method for predicting the outcome of non-cooperative games based on equilibrium. Nash's 1950 doctoral dissertation, "Non-Cooperative Games," details his theory. The Nash Equilibrium expanded upon earlier research on two-player, zero-sum games.

Selten applied Nash's findings to dynamic strategic interactions, and Harsanyi applied them to scenarios with incomplete information to help develop the field of information economics. Their contributions are widely used in economics, such as in the analysis of oligopoly and the theory of industrial organization, and have inspired new fields of research.

5. Public Choice Theory

This theory attempts to provide the rationale behind public decisions. This involves the participation of the general public, elected officials, political committees, along with the bureaucracy that is set up by society. James M. Buchanan Jr. developed the public choice theory with Gordon Tullock.

James M. Buchanan Jr. received the prize in 1986 "for his development of the contractual and constitutional bases for the theory of economic and political decision-making."

Buchanan's Award-Winning Theory

Buchanan's major contributions to public choice theory bring together insights from political science and economics to explain how public-sector actors (e.g., politicians and bureaucrats) make decisions. He showed, contrary to the conventional wisdom, the following:

Public sector actors act in the public's best interest (as public servants).

Politicians and bureaucrats tend to act in their own self-interest, the same way private sector actors (consumers and entrepreneurs) do.

He described his theory as "politics without romance." Buchanan laid out his award-winning theory in a book he co-authored with Gordon Tullock in 1962, The Calculus of Consent: Logical Foundations of Constitutional Democracy.

We can get a better understanding of the incentives that motivate political actors and better predict the results of political decision-making using Buchanan's insights about the political process, human nature, and free markets. We can then design fixed rules that are more likely to lead to desirable outcomes.

For example, instead of allowing deficit spending, which political leaders are motivated to engage in because each program the government funds earns politicians support from a group of voters, we can impose a constitutional restraint on government spending, which benefits the general public by limiting the tax burden.

Honorable Mention: Black-Scholes Theorem

Robert Merton and Myron Scholes won the 1997 Nobel Prize in economics for the Black-Scholes theorem, a key concept in modern financial theory that is commonly used for valuing European options and employee stock options.

Though the formula is complicated, investors can use an online options calculator to get its results by inputting an option's strike price, the underlying stock's price, the option's time to expiration, its volatility, and the market's risk-free interest rate. Fischer Black also contributed to the theorem, but could not receive the prize because he passed away in 1995.

The Bottom Line

Each of the dozens of winners of the Nobel memorial prize in economics has made outstanding contributions to the field, and the other award-winning theories are worth getting to know, too. Working knowledge of the theories described here, however, will help you establish yourself as someone who is in touch with the economic concepts that are essential to our lives today.
What Is Cross Culture?

Cross culture in the business world refers to a company's efforts to ensure that its people interact effectively with professionals from other backgrounds. Like the adjective cross-cultural, it implies a recognition of national, regional, and ethnic differences in manners and methods and a desire to bridge them.

Key Takeaways Cross culture is a concept that recognizes the differences among business people of different nations, backgrounds. and ethnicities, and the importance of bridging them.

With globalization, cross culture education has become critically important to businesses.

Business people working abroad need to learn subtle differences in style and substance in order to be effective.

Understanding Cross Culture

A field of study, cross-cultural communication, has emerged to define and understand the many ways the different peoples of the world communicate with each other verbally and non-verbally.

The concept of cross culture is becoming critically important with the globalization of businesses. Many companies that seek to expand the markets for their products devote substantial resources to training employees on how to communicate and interact effectively with those from other cultures.

For example, when employees of an international company transfer to another country, they need to master the cross culture. They must not only learn the language but adapt to its social norms.

Today, cross culture education is considered imperative for employees acting in managerial capacities abroad. Failure to effectively communicate with subordinates or understand their actions can lead to cascading problems within the business.

The Disadvantages of Cross Culture

Every culture shapes how the most minute social, societal, and professional behaviors are interpreted, and that inevitably carries over into business. Some cultures view the association between a manager and a subordinate as a symbiotic relationship. In others, the manager is expected to rule as a bureaucrat.

Cross culture extends to body language, physical contact, and perceptions of personal space. In cultures that adhere to strict religious standards, interactions between members of the opposite sex, even in the business sphere, may be complicated.

Body language such as hand gestures may be frowned upon or, worse yet, may have meanings that were entirely unintended. In some cultures, casual touching is common, while in others it is viewed as rude, disrespectful, or worse.

In some cultures, casual touching is common, while in others it would be viewed as disrespectful or worse.

Cross Culture Examples

Failing to observe any of the customs listed below would be a serious cross culture faux pas.
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Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) Facial and Body Recognition Patent Application Received a Notice of Allowance

San Diego, CA - November 9, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) with GBT Tokenize Corp. ("GBT/Tokenize") received a notice of allowance for its facial and body recognition non-provisional patent application.

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Breaking EV Stock News: Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) Enters into Agreement with Newgate Motor Group, one of Ireland's most Recognized Auto Groups, to Distribute the Mullen I-GOTM in Ireland and United Kingdom

BREA, Calif. - November 9, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer, announces today that it has entered into an agreement to appoint Newgate Motor Group, one of Ireland's most recognized dealership groups, as marketing, sales, distribution and servicing agent for the Mullen I-GO in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

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By Tom Tuite

Phone company Eircom has been fined 10,500 after it admitted overcharging customers.

Eircom Ltd, trading as Eir, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court today to offences under the Communications Regulation Act 2002. The prosecution was in connection with complaints by five people who went to industry watchdog ComReg after Eircoms customer service teams failed to resolve their problems.

Cavan pensioner Irene McHugh, who attended the hearing, was an existing customer who had been cold-called by an Eircom sales agent last year and agreed to a fibre optic broadband plan for 65 a month.

ComReg compliance analyst Una Milton agreed with prosecution counsel Ronan Kennedy that a verbal contract was entered into but a day later she had second thoughts.

She was concerned the payments were difficult to make and made a number of calls to cancel. She ended up paying two bills, her old account which she believed was cancelled and the new account.

Ms Milton agreed with Mr Kennedy that the pensioner felt like it was talking to a brick wall when she dealt with the Eircom's helplines.

She ended up getting disconnected and left without a service for two weeks. The court heard that she had a personal alarm on her wrist and would not have been able to contact anyone in an emergency. The court heard she was overcharged by 148 but has since been refunded by Eircom.

The court heard that another woman, who had moved from Belfast to the Glenties in Co. Donegal, had opted for a landline and mobile broadband service which did not work. She was overcharged 592 and cancelled her direct debit payments after which she got disconnected.

Ms Milton agreed that the woman was upset and in an emergency she would not have been able to contact anyone.

The third customer was overcharged by 205, told she would have to pay an early cease charge of 450 and had a debt collection agency contact her.

The fourth complainant was overcharged by 31 after she changed her package and the fifth complainant had been overcharged by 149 after a discount was not implemented, Judge John Brennan heard.

The court was told that the company had two prior convictions for similar offences. It was fined 21,000 in 2015 and 16,500 in March this year.

Refunds were granted after the customers made complaints to ComReg.

Defence counsel Joe Jeffers asked the court to note Eircom had refunded them and had co-operated with the investigation. He said the company has put in place new ways of dealing with customer issues. This has seen complaints drop from 1,000 to 300 a month, he said.

The court heard human error as well as system errors were responsible for the overcharging of the customers. He also issued an apology on behalf of the company which had agreed to pay prosecution costs.

Judge Brennan said it was clear the measures taken after the 2015 case were not sufficient and he noted the distress caused. However, he accepted what the court had been told about the new system put in place to improve customer service.
A rescue operation was launched after a member of the public reported a parachutist in the sea - but it turned out to be a Spider-Man balloon.

Two RNLI lifeboats, the Sunderland and Seaham Coastguard teams and the Coastguard rescue helicopter were called out just after 3.30pm on Sunday when the alarm was raised about someone in the sea at Ryhope Dene.
Colm Cooper made the claim on the Late Late Show on Friday night. Patrick OSullivan then sent a tweet saying: Its a pity joe brolly cant tell the truth. I saw the text joe sent colm. Classy guy joe he cant tell the truth.

When contacted by the Irish Examiner yesterday, Mr OSullivan said he had been asked to say no more.

He said Cooper was quite entitled to get what he could out of life. Cooper, known as The Gooch is holder of five All-Ireland senior medals with Kerry, eight All-Star awards and an All-Ireland senior club medal with his club, Dr Crokes.

I didnt hear anyone complaining when he gave up 15 years of his life, Mr OSullivan said.

The decision to hold a testimonial dinner for Cooper, the first ever for a GAA player, has divided public opinion.

A spokesperson for the GAA said they did not agree with Cooper holding a testimonial but that he didnt need our imprimatur as legal advice indicated it did not breach the organisations amateur status.

He said they had no reason to fear a breakout of these type of testimonials.

Brolly, a former All-Star and All-Ireland medal winner with Derry, wrote in a recent newspaper column that its a great pity Colm has done this [agreed to a testimonial].

As an icon of Irish sport, he could have set an example of altruism, but instead has chosen to enrich himself. What could and should have been a night the GAA could have taken great pride in, has instead become something cheap and self-serving, Brolly wrote.

However, on the Late Late Show, Cooper said Brolly had since changed his tune.

Joe actually sent me a text this week to say sorry about all the fuss, he said. [He said] he wishes there wasnt the reaction that there was and that its gone overboard. And hes apologising for it. So, hes obviously changed his tune since. And he fully respects that Im entitled to have a testimonial night if I want.

Theres players doing dinner dances and speaking after events. Theres brand ambassadors, theres players doing launches all the time. So, unfortunately for the GAA, there are players earning money. So, if thats the argument, I dont really get it.

However, Brolly subsequently denied apologising via Twitter.

I didnt apologise to Colm for anything I said, he tweeted. I stand by every word. I said I didnt intend him to be demonised as a result. I said face to face to Colm he was wrong. I stand by that absolutely.

Patrick OSullivan then rowed in saying he had seen Brollys text to Cooper and that he had apologised. Brolly was also challenged on Twitter in relation to any earnings he had made on foot of his association with the GAA. He was asked Do you attend all your Gaa events/panels for free Joe, Or do you charge an appearance fee based on your profile? Is this not the same?

Brolly replied: Have never charged. And do around 30-40 per year between talks, dinners, training sessions. Check it out.

Coopers testimonial, scheduled to take place at the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge on October 27, with a table of 10 priced at 5,000, is expected to raise roughly 250,000.

Prior to his Friday nights television appearance, Cooper had said some of the money raised would go to Our Ladys Childrens Hospital Crumlin and Kerry Cancer Support Group.
Consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist Cathy Burke said the number of women waiting more than 18 months for an outpatient appointment had reduced by one third, down from 1,013 in April to 693 by the end of August. The overall waiting figure is 4,292, down from 4,667 last April.

Weve been working hard running additional gynae clinics over the summer and we will do so until the end of the year in an effort to eliminate the outpatient waiting list over 18 months as we promised when we met the minister in March.

Our initiatives are being undertaken in good faith and on the understanding that the minister will keep his end of the bargain, said Dr Burke.

In March, Mr Harris, who described the waiting lists as not acceptable, committed to a 14m investment over three years, including a 7.5m capital investment and 6.5m in running costs.

Dr Burke said they had requested 2.7m for 2018 to provide for two additional consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist posts, the opening of the second gynaecology theatre, opening of the Gynaecology Day Unit and the provision of a pre-operative assessment service for all patients.

A spokesperson for Mr Harris said the department is not in a position to comment on funding issues for 2018 while the budgetary process is ongoing.

Dr Burke said they expected the funding target to be met given the level of effort that has been put in at our end and the ministers unequivocal agreement to honour the terms of our business plan.

Dr Burke said doctors had been working on reducing the inpatient waiting times as well through access to additional theatre lists, which she said has not been as easy to achieve.

She said they were still working at only 30% of maximum capacity in our gynae theatres.

Nationally, the number of women on waiting lists for outpatient gynae appointments stood at more than 28,000 at the end of August, of whom 1,831 were waiting more than 18 months.

The number of inpatients/day cases stood at 4078, of whom 165 were waiting 18 months.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said waiting longer than is absolutely necessary can often lead to a reduction in the quality of life experienced by women.
Cllr Tony Fitzgerald, Fianna Fail, praised financial consultant and former politician Damian Wallace for his voluntary work at the helm of the opera house over the last decade.

I would like to thank him on behalf of the people of Cork for his energy and commitment to the arts of the city, he said.

His work has helped put the theatre on a sound financial footing so that it can be enjoyed by the people of Cork into the future.

Mr Wallace confirmed over the weekend he will step down from the voluntary role at the end of this month.

The time is right for me to step down and hand the role over, he said.

Mr Wallace, a former Fianna Fail city councillor and lord mayor, was appointed to the board in 2004 and appointed chairman in 2008 just as the recession hit.

In 2010, he was involved in the decision to close the theatres doors for three months on the back of 300,000 in losses for the previous financial year.

The announcement came a week after Mr Wallace had to ask Cork City Council for a 1m loan to save the venue from total closure.

The venue closed from July 4 until September 29, 2010, to help stem the losses and staff were told cost reduction measures through significant payroll reductions would be required.

The board described the enforced closure as an unpalatable decision but said the cost-cutting measures and restructuring were essential to address the companys financial crisis.

Mr Wallace said he was confident the tough measures would ensure the long-term viability of the company.

A taskforce and a sub- finance committee were set up to review the entire operation and, by the end of the 2013 financial year, the company reported a 260,000 profit  its first profit in five years.

The financial recovery was consolidated the following year when the company posted a 250,000 profit.

Thanks to rigid management of finances and a renewed artistic programme, first overseen by former chief executive Mary Hickson and, in more recent years by her successor Eibhlin Gleeson, that trend has continued.

Last month, the venue recorded its fifth profitable year in a row  posting a profit of just over 265,000.

Mr Fitzgerald said Mr Wallace deserves huge credit.

There has always been a great connection between people of Cork and the Cork Opera House, and Mr Wallace has ensured that that connection is alive and well, and viable going forward for years to come, he said.

Mr Wallace said the credit should be shared with all board members who served alongside him, and by the theatres staff.

Ive been lucky to have served with many board members who had different skillsets. They all made a significant contribution to the theatres recovery, he said.

He singled out for special mention Valerie OSullivan, who is also stepping down from the board.

But I would like to pay tribute to the staff, in particular, who constantly tried to accede expectations, and provide a fantastic entertainment experience 300-nights a year. The recovery is a measure of their success really, he said.

The retired head of finance of Cork City Council, Tim Healy, will take over as board chairman.
As well as locations within St Finbarrs Cemetery of nearly 6,000 burials, geneaologists, historians and other researchers can find details of the religion, occupation, place of birth, marital status, and the last address of each of the deceased laid to rest there over a period covering its first 30 years of use.

The records, which have been transcribed and uploaded to the website of Cork City and County Archives, are for the period from the first burials, dating from December 1867 up to June 1896.
Conducted by Local Enterprise Offices in the south-west, the survey was compiled to mark the launch of the Cork and Kerry Food Market event in Cork City Hall early next month.

It also shows 97% of people are happy to support food businesses which contribute to the local economy and create employment.

The event replaces a former food forum and is primarily aimed at consumers.

It will feature more than 60 artisan food and drink producers as well as cookery demonstrations from chefs Kevin Dundon and The Happy Pear brothers, David and Stephen Flynn.

Of those surveyed, 88% said they make an effort to buy Irish food and drink products with 69% saying they consider the source of a product when doing their grocery shopping.

A reported 30% said they shop on a day-to-day basis with 42% saying they use a shopping list to do their weekly shop. 90% also said they were more likely to buy a brand when they know the story behind it and 88% said they buy more local artisan produce at Christmas time.

Supported by a partnership including the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) Cork and Kerry, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Kerry County Council, SuperValu and Bord Bia, the unique food market event will be free and take place from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, November 4, showcasing the best products to add to the Christmas shopping list this year.

Joe Burke, Local Enterprise Office South Cork, said: In the five-year period between to 2017, our offices in Cork and Kerry have grant-aided 150 food projects, and provided specific food training and mentoring to hundreds of people, proving the local food industry continues to soar with Irish retailers choosing more locally produced produce.

Kenneth OConnor, Supervalus Food Academy project manager, said: We seek out the best local producers to give our customers the very best of what Ireland has to offer.

Consumers are more aware than ever, when they buy local, they are not only investing in a high-quality product but also helping to create local jobs.

In the run-up to Christmas, we want our customers to be more mindful of this fact and to make a conscious effort to seek out new artisan products to fall in love with.
Father Shay Cullen, an Irish missionary who has been rescuing street children in the Philippines since 1974, said hundreds of thousands of sex tourists travel to the country from Europe, the US and Australia.

The Columban priest missed out on the Nobel prize last week, but praised the decision to award it to a campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

The whole moral fabric of society and protection of human rights and the dignity of women and children is breaking down, said Fr Cullen.

One thing right now I would say to any government is to pass a law that would ban all convicted sex offenders from travelling abroad. That would be a very good thing they could do.

Why not? The international and Irish sex tourists, why are they coming here raping our children?

Fr Cullen revealed on Friday his team had rescued a 12-year-old girl who was pregnant after being raped by a neighbour. On Thursday, a five-year-old girl was also rescued after being raped by her father.

The missionarys Preda Foundation (Peoples Recovery, Empowerment and Development Assistance) has helped vulnerable children in the Philippines for more than 40 years.

Independent TD Maureen OSullivan is examining if there are constitutional blocks to revoking passports of known or suspected sex offenders. The UK has official counter-terror orders which can force restrictions on overseas travel.

In the last year, Fr Cullen has been an outspoken critic of Filipino president Rodrigo Dutertes war on drugs which has left about 8,000 people dead, about half of whom are characterised as drugs personalities, while the deaths of others are unexplained.

I hope the nomination of the Nobel Peace Prize will highlight our work on human rights and protecting children and protecting young people from the death squads, Fr Cullen said.

Based in Olongapo city, the missionary also rescues children detained illegally in jails and victims of human trafficking.

Speaking from the Preda Foundation offices, he described life in the Philippines.

Its dire. Its very sad. We have thousands, hundreds of thousands of sex tourists coming here to abuse women and children, Fr Cullen said.

The abuse of children at this extent is terrible  incest is growing here because of the sex tourism.

Fr Cullen welcomed his own Nobel nomination, put forward by a committee in the German Bundestag, but he heralded the decision to award it to the International Campaign To Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

My God, it brings up the debate of weapons of all kinds, and war and killing and murders thats going on in Yemen, Syria and the threats, including from North Korea, he said.

Its amazing. Its good that they got it and not some big politicians.

There were 318 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize, of which 215 are individuals and 103 are organisations. The identities are traditionally kept secret.

Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel used his will to establish five Nobel Prizes after his death in 1896 with many believing he wanted a legacy beyond inventor of dynamite.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe will host a series of last-minute meetings with ministerial colleagues today to overcome the severe impasse.

Several Government sources, speaking to the Irish Examiner, have confirmed that Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty has yet to finalise her budget with Mr Donohoe and was according to sources unhappy with progress over the weekend.

Sources close to Ms Doherty said she remains optimistic of a successful resolution, after five Cabinet sources referred to her displeasure over the weekend.

While it is virtually certain that the weekly old-age pension will see a 5 increase, a disagreement has broken out over other welfare payments such as carers grants and payments to lone parents.

It is understood that Mr Donohoe has suggested staggering the increases to some of the payments in order to contain the costs, but this has proven difficult to finalise, given objections from within Government and from Fianna Fail.

The Irish Examiner has learned that Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and officials are to meet Mr Donohoe at 9am today, while Ms Doherty has to hammer out the details of her 450m welfare package.

Mr Murphy was in his office yesterday, working through his priorities, but it is understood many of the issues in his department are tied up with the Social Welfare package. Mr Donohoe also has to meet again with Independent Alliance members of Government today at 6pm, with alliance members upset at lack of progress on their priority issues.

We feel like we are at the back of the queue. Paschal has forced us to wait until Monday night and if we are not happy what do we do? We are hardly going to collapse the Government over it, and they probably know that, said one Alliance minister.

Several Alliance members rejected comments from their own colleague, Finian McGrath, saying he would resign if he did not get what he wanted from Mr Donohoe.

That is total bullshit; Finian is going nowhere, said one Alliance minister.

Government sources were selling the virtue of the intention of Mr Donohoe to increase the so-called fiscal space by raising taxes from alternative sources, which will not impact on the public.

The Irish Examiner understands that among his considerations is a 4% increase in Commercial Stamp Duty, which would raise about 400m in additional taxes in 2018.

The rate was 9%, it is now 2%, so if you raise it to 6%, it is still below what it was, said one Government source.

Also, it is felt that the Government needs to try and force developers to stop building commercial buildings in major urban areas, and concentrate on home building. There is a recognition that we need to incentivise more the building of homes and maybe target the developers who concentrate solely on commercial development. We have a housing crisis and more of the cranes in Dublin need to be for apartment building, said the source.

The Budget will have an emphasis on the building of roads, schools, and medical centres, as a precursor to the 10-year capital plan to be launched next month.

Health Minister Simon Harris signed off on his 2018 budget as of Friday, except for potential cuts to prescription charges and changes to the drugs payment scheme.

Budget predictions

Income Tax and USC

It has been apparent for quite some time that there will both movement on income tax and on the Universal Social Charge (USC). Fine Gael are keen to increase the entry point at which people begin to pay the top marginal rate of tax while Fianna Fail have demanded a continued reduction in the USC.

According to sources, the Government could raise the threshold at which the higher rate of income tax is applied by as much as 1,000, at a cost of 175 million in the first year.

However, sources have warned that should numbers come under pressure at the 11th hour, a 500 increase could be likely at a cost of 102 million. A reduction in the middle 5% USC rate by half of a per cent is now expected, at a cost of about 170 million in the first year. Such increases could see people between 2 and 4 better off a week

Revenue Raisers

In order to pay for a host of additional spending and tax cuts, Paschal Donohoe and Leo Varadkar have agreed that substantial amounts of money will need to be raised in other tax areas.

The big hope for Budget 2018 is increases in commercial stamp duty, which had been slashed from 9% to 2% during the crash. This will definitely increase with each percent increase amounting to about 100 million. One senior Government minister said an increase of up to 6%, which would deliver 400 million, was very possible.

Elsewhere, a new controversial sugar tax is due to come in from April, raising about 40 million, while excise on alcohol and diesel are virtually certain to increase.

The extent to which they increase will be determined by what sort of shortfall Donohoe is facing later on this evening.

Changes to corporation tax is also likely which will limit the amount companies can write off to 80% of the income arising from valuable intellectual property, down from 100%.

Health

Health Minister Simon Harris signed off on his budget on Friday and is said to be happy with his allocation. The health budget, at over 14bn will increase again by 3% in 2018.

Mr Harris had been arguing that much of the costs overrun this year were caused by events out of his control like the Lansdowne Road pay deal.

But both Independent ministers and Fianna Fail have called for services to be extended, particularly in respite and speech and language.

Medical card holders earning less than 60,000 were due to lose out on a USC exemption at the end of the year, but that is due to be continued, sources say.

The Government is also considering reducing the prescription charge by 50c to 2 per item and decreasing the maximum for the drugs payment scheme by 10 to 134.

Therefore, no family should pay more than 100 a month for medicine. It would mean a saving of 180 a year to hundreds of thousands of people who are on regular medication.

Pension and Welfare

By last night, the negotiations on a welfare package totalling 450m were no where near concluded with Minister Regina Doherty said to be very unhappy.

The trickiest package of the budget has yet to be finalised but there are a number of items we do know.

Firstly, it is virtually certain that the old-age pension will be increased by 5 despite concerns from economists that it is not merited. That increase of 5 a week on the pension will cost 150m, but the row has centred on increases to other benefits. Doherty has made a virtue about wanting to help lone parents and it is believed about 75 million has been earmarked for this group, who he singled out as the most vulnerable in society. The reintroduction of the 850 bereavement grant is also expected.

Paschal Donohoe has also rejected an Independent Alliance demand for a payment for grandparents who mind their grandchildren whose parents are at work, much to Shane Ross annoyance.

Housing

Described yesterday by Minister Richard Bruton as the Governments top priority, measures dealing with the housing crisis will form a centrepiece of Donohoes budget.

With the 10-year capital plan to be unveiled later in the year, tomorrows budget will focus in on short term interventions like the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) likely to be extended. At present, payments of up to 1,300 per month are allowed depending on your location and number of dependents. One of the key demands of the Independent Alliance has been the giving of more discretionary powers to city and county councils to intervene and stop people being made homeless and this appears to have been accepted.

The controversial Help to Buy scheme, which provides a tax rebate of up to 20,000 to first-time buyers looks set to be in store for some minor tweaking instead of being abolished, as previously hinted at by Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy.

There is also likely to be an increase in the 1.2bn spent on the building on social housing.

Schools, hospitals, roads

With Paschal Donohoe setting out three-year spending commitments on Budget day, there is expected to be a major emphasis on investment on infrastructure.

In English, that means more spending on schools, roads and hospitals.

This will obviously be a precursor to the 10-year capital plan to be announced next month, but within the 1.8bn of additional spending in 2018 is a large chunk of money to deal with our growing population.

Sources have said the spend on such projects will be significant, potentially in excess of 4bn over the three-year period. While specific individual projects are not expected to be mentioned, Donohoe is preparing to set out the direction of what the government intends on investing in.

Meanwhile, after heavy lobbying, the special 9% Vat rate for tourism and hospitality industry is likely to remain untouched, despite speculation and pressure on Donohoe to end the tax break. The break which also benefits newspapers is seen as outliving its purpose.
It is almost a year since the expert commission on the funding of domestic public water services published its recommendation that services should be funded from general taxation  a conclusion that was welcomed and rejected with equal zeal.

Business groups in particular were doubtful the right call was made. ISME stated categorically: There is simply no way that the required 13bn of capital expenditure identified by Irish Water will be paid for through general taxation.

Neil Walker, head of infrastructure at Ibec, said at the time that the proposal was flawed, relying on governments of the day to fulfil promises of their predecessors when economic circumstances pressure them to do otherwise.

The effective elimination of domestic water charges may be politically expedient, but it has the potential to hinder much-needed investment in the creaking infrastructure, he said.

Eleven months on, hes still waiting to be convinced to the contrary. They have funding secured for the next year but thereafter, capital expenditure will be determined by what the exchequer is willing to fund and that will depend at the time on the budget and competition from other worthy projects such as hospitals and schools.

The only glimmer of hope would be when the Government publishes the national planning framework and the 10-year capital plan. Well be studying that to see whats in it and whether or not its consistent with the long-term needs of the different utilities  transport and so on as well as water  so well keep our powder dry until then.

The national planning framework, which is currently in draft form, sets out how the country will need to plan and build for a population thats expected to grow by 1m between now and 2040.

It acknowledges that investment in water-services infrastructure is critical to the implementation of Ireland 2040 and repeats the sentiment in various ways throughout the document.

Ibec made a submission to the public consultation on the draft in which it made clear that sentiment is not enough.

The funding of public-water infrastructure needs to be put on a much more secure footing, the organisation said.

Ibec is increasingly concerned about the heavy reliance on exchequer subvention in the absence of domestic user charges.

One obvious risk is that vital projects will be delayed or scaled back due to competing demands from other investment-hungry sectors such as healthcare and social housing. It will be essential for the company to retain access to innovative sources of finance such as public-private partnerships.

Public-private partnerships, which use private investment and/or concessions to provide and/or run public services, can currently only account for 10% of capital spending by the State in any given year. Ibec wants that cap lifted.

Thats just a round number that was plucked out of the air and we have publicly called for it to be amended or done away with because its preventing investment, and not just in the water area, said Dr Walker.

Unless the frameworks accompanying 10-year plan comes up with a surprise solution, he can see trouble ahead in meeting the investment needs of water.

Its a matter for Irish Water to determine what it thinks is needed and submit its programme and then for the commission for regulation of utilities to assess and decide whether or not to approve the programme and then you have to hope that the money rocks up.

Since they [Irish Water] cant borrow and theres certainly very limited scope for user charges now, then how you reconcile what the regulator believes is necessary having reviewed the capital investment plans of the utility and what the exchequer is willing to fund  well, were in new territory.

You wouldnt have that debate for electricity networks and you wouldnt have that debate for gas networks because they are funded through user charges. You do have that debate for water.

Solidarity TD Paul Murphy of the Right2Water movement is far more optimistic. And thats despite the fact that he believes the 13bn in projects identified as priorities by Irish Water is far less than needs to be invested.

The reason for his confidence is because he believes a public utility funded by the State is the only model that can work  practically as well as politically.

The model of Irish Water as a semi-state company getting private funding on the investment market doesnt make any sense. Theyve a higher cost of money than the State does directly. That was something that came out very strongly in the Oireachtas committee.

You may need to borrow to invest but the State can borrow a lot cheaper than Irish Water which pays a substantially higher interest rate so its the financially logical thing to do.

He is also keen that Irish Water stays clear of public-private partnerships.

Their argument for it will be, we dont have the money, but ultimately it is more expensive to do it via any of these private funding mechanisms because youre involving a private company that wants to make profit and their profit comes out of what is paid for by the taxpayer.

Weve seen it with the disaster of the toll roads. With public-private partnerships, what inevitably happens is that the public takes the risk and the private takes the gain.

He does see one alternative or at least complementary funding source to general taxation and State borrowing. You get it through taxation measures on your corporations  Apple tax for example.

Apples unpaid tax bill, as calculated by the European Commission, happens to be 13bn  exactly the value of Irish Waters investment plan.
The new emergency facility opened in May amid promises of three times more space and far better conditions for patients.

However, no sooner had it opened than the chronic overcrowding that had plagued the previous A&E reared its head once again. Documents obtained under freedom of information reveal how the patience of Health Minister Simon Harris finally ran out in July when promised improvements had not taken place.

In an email, he wrote: I see that UHL has worsened this afternoon rather than improved as per their expectation [and] undertaking. 27 on trollies on a summer day  is far too high and a cause of significant concern.

We have invested heavily in a new emergency department and additional staffing for Limerick. I would be grateful if you could convey my concerns and the need for actions [and] improvement. The records also show how the hospital was hit with an outbreak of the highly drug resistant superbug KPC (klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase), which has been an ongoing problem in Limerick.

This latest outbreak temporarily shut the orthopaedic/ trauma ward of the hospital, causing further chaos in accident and emergency as they tried to deal with surging patient numbers.

The hospital later responded to Mr Harris saying the opening of the new 24m A&E was never going to solve all its problems.

Chief executive Colette Cowan told the minister that the emergency department had seen a spike in use of over 5% in its first weeks of operation.

She wrote: Literature suggests a 10% growth in activity when new infrastructure is opened that normally peaks and reduces after four to eight weeks. A similar rise occurred when the Mater Hospitals Emergency Department opened.

Ms Cowan said the hospital had consistently said the new unit would not resolve our capacity issues but said it had greatly improved the privacy and dignity for our patients.

She wrote: [A] study in recent weeks  indicated that UHL at 89% occupancy would require 50 additional beds immediately. We continue to operate at 110% to 115% occupancy.

The hospital said it had a long list of measures in place to manage its A&E but that it faced a challenged environment with high activity and low bed stock.

The documents also reveal how within days of the 24m facility opening, Limerick was cropping up in daily reports with a surge in patient numbers.

Repeatedly, throughout the summer the hospital was mentioned in daily briefing reports as one of the sites of most concern.

One report described how there were 36 extra beds/trolleys in use on July 5 with no prospect of reducing same, given steady demand.

A week later, a separate briefing for the Department of Health described how the hospital was now dealing with an outbreak of the superbug klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC).

It said: One of the biggest risks to flow is that KPC is now in the orthopaedic/ trauma ward therefore closed to admissions and transfers out which is impacting very significantly on other wards as this is the main trauma season. Site remains severely congested.

In a statement, the hospital said a range of measures were in place to relieve pressure on the emergency department with a separate plan already in place for this winter.

The statement said: While patients still face delays in the new emergency department, it provides for a much improved patient experience compared to the old department.
To revive the ailing European project, the ugly conflict between Catalonias regional government and the Spanish state may be just what the doctor ordered.

A constitutional crisis in a major European Union member state creates a golden opportunity to reconfigure the democratic governance of regional, national, and European institutions, thereby delivering a defensible, and thus sustainable, EU.

The EUs official reaction to the police violence witnessed during Catalonias independence referendum amounts to dereliction of duty. To declare, as the president of the European Commission did, that this is an internal Spanish problem in which the EU has no say is hypocrisy on stilts.

Of course, hypocrisy has long been at the centre of the EUs behaviour. Its officials had no compunction about meddling in a member states internal affairs  say, to demand the removal of elected politicians for refusing to implement cuts in the pensions of their poorest citizens or to sell off public assets at ridiculous prices (something I have personally experienced).

But when the Hungarian and Polish governments explicitly renounce fundamental EU principles, non-interference suddenly became sacrosanct.

The Catalan question has deep historical roots, as does nationalism more broadly.

But would it have erupted the way it recently did had Europe not mishandled the eurozone crisis since 2010, imposing quasi-permanent stagnation on Spain and the rest of the European periphery while setting the stage for xenophobia and moral panic when refugees began crossing Europes external borders? An example illustrates the connection.

Barcelona, Catalonias exquisite capital, is a rich city running a budget surplus.

Yet many of its citizens recently faced eviction by Spanish banks that had been bailed out by their taxes.

The result was the formation of a civic movement that in June 2015 succeeded in electing Ada Colau as Barcelonas mayor.

Among Colaus commitments to the people of Barcelona was a local tax cut for small businesses and households, assistance to the poor, and the construction of housing for 15,000 refugees  a large share of the total number that Spain was meant to absorb from frontline states like Greece and Italy.

All of this could be achieved while keeping the citys books in the black, simply by reducing the municipal budget surplus.

Alas, Colau soon realised that she faced insurmountable obstacles. Spains central government, citing the states obligations to the EUs austerity directives, had enacted legislation effectively banning any municipality from reducing its surplus.

At the same time, the central government barred entry to the 15,000 refugees for whom Colau had built excellent housing facilities.

To this day, the budget surplus prevails, the services and local tax cuts promised have not been delivered, and the social housing for refugees remains empty.

The path from this sorry state of affairs to the reinvigoration of Catalan separatism could not be clearer.

In any systemic crisis, the combination of austerity for the many, socialism for bankers, and strangulation of local democracy creates the hopelessness and discontent that are nationalisms oxygen.

Progressive, anti-nationalist Catalans, like Colau, find themselves squeezed from both sides: the states authoritarian establishment, which uses the EUs directives as a cover for its behaviour, and a renaissance of radical parochialism, isolationism, and atavistic nativism.

Both reflect the failure to fulfill the promise of shared, pan-European prosperity.

Catalonia provides an excellent case study of Europes broader conundrum. Choosing between an authoritarian Spanish state and a make Catalonia great again nationalism is equivalent to choosing between Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the president of the eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, and Marine Le Pen, the leader of Frances far-right National Front: austerity or disintegration.

The duty of progressive Europeans is to reject both: the deep establishment at the EU level and the competing nationalisms ravaging solidarity and common sense in member states like Spain.

The alternative is to Europeanise the solution to a problem caused largely by Europes systemic crisis.

Instead of impeding local and regional democratic governance, the EU should be fostering it.

The EU treaties could be amended to enshrine the right of regional governments and city councils, like Catalonias and Barcelonas, to fiscal autonomy and even to their own fiscal money.

They could also be allowed to implement their own policies on refugees and migration.

If there was still demand for statehood and separation from the internationally recognised state to which they belong, the EU could invoke a code of conduct for secession.

For example, the EU could stipulate that it will sanction and govern an independence referendum if the regional government requesting it has already won an election on such a platform with an absolute majority of the voters.

Moreover, the referendum should be held at least one year after the election, to allow for a proper, sober debate.

As for the new state, it should be obligated to maintain at least the same level of fiscal transfers as before.

Rich Veneto could secede from Italy, for example, as long as it maintained its fiscal transfers to the South.

Moreover, the new state should be prohibited from erecting new borders and be compelled to guarantee its residents the right to triple citizenship (new state, old state, and European).

The Catalonia crisis is a strong hint from history that Europe needs to develop a new type of sovereignty, one that strengthens cities and regions, dissolves national particularism, and upholds democratic norms.

The immediate beneficiaries would be Catalans, the people of Northern Ireland, and maybe the Scots (who would in this manner snatch an opportunity out of the jaws of Brexit).

But the longer-term beneficiary of this new type of sovereignty would be Europe as a whole.

Imagining a pan-European democracy is the prerequisite for imagining a Europe worth saving.
He did so as he unveiled a Famine memorial in Perth as part of his 24-day visit to Australia and New Zealand.

Is the plight of those risking everything to cross continents and seas in search of refuge or a better life so different from the choices that faced our own people, he asked, rhetorically.
Power generation is a huge issue in the world of telecommunications. Its front of mind when storms take down the grid and the telecom network it hosts. That situation, of course, is far too familiar this year. It is not, however, the only interest that carriers and service providers have in creating a stable and reliable power infrastructure.

Web companies such as Google and Facebook have revolutionized many of the processes that are also used by telecommunications companies. One of those is securing access to the huge amounts of power necessary to run such mammoth operations.

Today, Microsoft said that it has entered a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with GE to buy all the energy produced by the new 37 megawatt Tullahennel wind farm in County Kerry, Ireland. The press release says that Microsoft also signed an agreement with ElectroRoute, an energy trading company based in Dublin.

The nature of the deal, which is expected to produce data on battery and energy storage, is not unique. The main takeaway is that web companies are thinking of new ways to approach energy which, after all, is its lifeblood.

The concepts around how energy is produced, what its sources are and how it is stored, distributed and managed are changing rapidly. The devastation of Puerto Ricos grid clearly has given people cause for concern. It also offers and opportunity. People are taking notice. For instance, Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello tweeted that he is intrigued by Elon Musks offer to provide its technology to buttress Puerto Ricos electrical grid.

Solar power has gradually become a supporting element of telecom networks. In most cases, these are standalone-around arrays that provide power to cell towers and other field equipment in disconnected, one-off scenarios. If the Puerto Rican network is rebuilt using modernized methods, from Musks Tesla and/or other companies, it would be done at a far more fundamental level. Changes have been ongoing for years. A showcase project, however, likely would expedite the transition.

The cable industry is well aware of the importance of power issues. It technology consortium, The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), has had organized energy programs for years. The global cable industry spends about $1 billion annually on energy, according to Light Reading. That figure could quadruple by 2021. The SCTE, along with the International Society of Broadband Experts (ISBE), found that about 83 percent of this energy is used at the edge of the network. Thats a good thing, in a way: Such an inefficient topology offers some relatively easy gains:

As part of these efforts, cable technologists are exploring various distributed access architecture (DAA) approaches to shift at least some of the equipment and functions out of the cable headend or hub and deeper into the access network. By adopting a DAA strategy, they aim to greatly reduce power and cooling costs, while also cutting their headend and hub space requirements, trimming their other operating expenses and providing greater bandwidth capacity as the traffic loads on their HFC networks continue to grow.

Power needs clearly will grow, likely exponentially. A new and exciting innovation in modern business is cyber currency. Its a complex and interesting field in which activities are replicated in the cyber realm. A key element is mining for the bitcoins, a task done by huge computers instead of picks and shovels. The IEEE Spectrum describes miners as electromagnetic alchemists who stress the system. Mining uses, in the words of the writer, an absolutely stunning amount of power.

The story is full of extreme assessments and assertions, even beyond mining. Simple transactions are costly because the entire network must be updated:

Because of all that calculation, the energy cost of Bitcoin is high in comparison with that of conventional financial transactions. For example, according to one estimate, processing a bitcoin transaction consumes more than 5,000 times as much energy as using a Visa credit card.

There are many tensions in the relationship between telecommunications and energy. There are sweeping threats (such as aging and fragile infrastructure) and elegant solutions (such as massive batteries and wind and solar power). Hopefully, the pendulum will swing fully toward the solutions.

Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.
Before the enterprise starts to rely on IoT infrastructure for core business operations, it needs to consider the fact that without broad access to data from a plethora of sources, it is unlikely to produce the kind of results that support a truly effective digital business model. This means data integration must be built into IoT environments as a core capability, a challenge that many organizations are still struggling with in their legacy environments.

The good news, however, is that because IoT infrastructure is only just starting to take root, there is still plenty of time to craft a fully integrated environment that can grow and expand without forming the data silos that currently plague the data center.

According to Vodafones most recent IoT Barometer Report, more than 80 percent of companies that have embarked on IoT development say that its key role is to integrate analytics, artificial intelligence and key digital initiatives. In part, this involves linking IoT processes with legacy back-office solutions like Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). The broader the integration, it seems, the more efficient and cost-effective the new IoT environment will be.

On the downside, however, it seems that defining the need for integration and actually achieving it are two very different matters. According to a recent survey by IFS, 84 percent of industrial companies have yet to integrate the data coming from connected devices with what is being generated by ERP and other systems. This is putting a damper on strategic decision-making and the ability to streamline operations, which in turn is undermining the ability of newly deployed IoT technology to foster a digital services-based business model. The solution, of course, is to bring legacy functions into the new IoT paradigm by forging greater connectivity across all data points, but this is not easy to do without disrupting existing operations.

But to truly make the IoT work, integration needs to happen horizontally between hardware, software and application layers, not just across vertically distributed resources. VMware and SAP recently teamed up to address this challenge by linking their respective virtual- and application-layer platforms under a common framework that can extend across devices, infrastructure, edge, cloud and application domains. The idea is to forge ties between VMwares Pulse IoT portfolio, which oversees infrastructure management and visibility, with SAPs Leonardo IoT and Cloud Platform solutions that concentrate on workflow and process coordination. Together, the companies hope to arrive at broad OT-IT integration supported by holistic analytics capabilities on pre-tested, pre-integrated platforms.

Meanwhile, C3 and MapR Technologies are looking at key IoT integration solutions for targeted industries like health care as they attempt to combine legacy data with advanced, intelligent analytics. The two have teamed up to support the integration of legacy, mission-critical applications on multi-tenant infrastructure across on-premises, cloud and edge deployments. In this way, says HIT Infrastructures Elizabeth ODowd, forward-leaning health care organizations can leverage both newly created and historical data sets for life-saving diagnostic and other functions as well as for broader population health and research purposes.

In the old days (as in, earlier this decade), it was bad enough if one half of the enterprise didnt know what the other half was doing. But in this age of streamlined, app-driven business processes, maintaining this state of willful blindness is no longer tenable.

If data truly is the lifeblood of the enterprise, then failure to integrate it across all aspects of the operational environment is tantamount to ignoring the arterial clots surrounding your vital organs.

Arthur Cole writes about infrastructure for IT Business Edge. Cole has been covering the high-tech media and computing industries for more than 20 years, having served as editor of TV Technology, Video Technology News, Internet News and Multimedia Weekly. His contributions have appeared in Communications Today and Enterprise Networking Planet and as web content for numerous high-tech clients like TwinStrata and Carpathia. Follow Art on Twitter @acole602.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
ONE of television's top stars visited the Isle of Wight to film her latest series.

Dame Penelope Keith, star of The Good Life and To the Manor Born, visited Freshwater on Friday, October 6 to see the sights and chat to the locals for her Channel 4 show, Hidden Coastal Villages.

Armed with her beloved vintage Batsford travel books, it sees her travel to Britain's villages to discover what makes them special.

In the fourth series, Hidden Coastal Villages, to be broadcast in the spring, she heads to the seaside. In Freshwater, she explored its rich history and the way in which it has adapted in the modern world.

Among the residents Dame Penelope spoke to was Gail Middleton, who owns Mrs Middleton's Shop and the Rabbit Hole.

Gail said: "I met with her at Dimbola Lodge in Freshwater Bay and we discussed the history of the area.

"We went into what was the bedroom of Julia Margaret Cameron, who pioneered photography and we talked about how Freshwater Bay came to attract so many artistic people in the 1800's.

"Julia would look out of the window, see the villagers, and later take their portraits. She was a great friend of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who owned Farringford just up the road and he also posed for her.

"Tennyson's move to Freshwater Bay attracted many more writers and painters and that is still the case now because of its beauty. We have so many talented people here, as we had then."
Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday issued the 13th veto of his term, targeting a revamped elections bill that cancelled the 2018 judicial primaries.

And its not clear whether the legislature has enough votes to override Coopers veto, providing his first victory over the super majority Republicans have in both chambers.

Legislators have overridden nine previous vetoes, including the state budget, while two remain eligible for a vote and one  involving newspapers and legal notices  has become moot with last weeks 58-57 House vote in favor of a local bill affecting only Guilford County.

As part of a compromise reached Wednesday by state House and Senate leaders, a Section 4 was added to Senate Bill 656 that would prohibit holding party primaries for several judicial races: N.C. Supreme Court justices; N.C. Court of Appeals judges; District and Superior Court judges; and district attorneys.

Critics of the move say it could lead to the 2018 general election ballot being jammed with multiple candidates for each race.

The final version of SB656, when compared with the initial bill, also raises the number of registered and qualified voters required for a new political party and an unaffiliated candidate to be put on the general election ballot.

This legislation abolishes a scheduled election and takes away the right of the people to vote for the judges of their choice, Cooper said in a statement. It is the first step toward a constitutional amendment that will rig the system so that the legislature picks everybodys judges in every district instead of letting the people vote for the judges they want.

If the legislature doesnt like the fact that judges are ruling many of their laws unconstitutional, they should change their ways instead of their judges.

The House passed SB656 on Thursday by a 70-44 vote, with two Democrats voting for the bill and two Republicans voting against. The Senate concurred on House changes to the bill by a 30-16 vote with one Republican voting no.

If all 120 House members and 50 senators were present for an override veto of SB656, it would take 72 votes to defeat the veto in the House and 30 in the Senate.

House Elections and Ethics Law committee chairman David Lewis, R-Harnett, called Coopers veto disappointing.

This legislation makes needed, non-partisan reforms to our ballot access laws and gives judicial candidates the time they need to analyze any forthcoming changes to judicial maps that the General Assembly may make, Lewis said.

HB717 in its current status would not affect state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals races.

Eliminating primaries for judicial elections in 2018 is about buying more time to figure out how to agree on either new and gerrymandered judicial maps or some other plan like merit selection, said Rob Schofield, policy analyst for left-leaning N.C. Policy Watch.

The vetoes of House bills 205 (newspaper legal notices), 511 (game nights/nonprofit fund raisers) and 576 (allowing aerosolization of leachate) have been in a holding pattern, also known as a veto garage, for several months.

Cooper chose to sign into law Senate Bill 582, a technical corrections bill that included controversial elements involving the duties of the states attorney general that Cooper strongly opposed as partisan attack on that office.

Some left-leaning advocates have questioned the constitutionality of the aspects affecting the attorney general, citing Article IV, section 18 of the state Constitution.

Cooper said he chose to sign the bill because the legislation does include some important provisions.

In particular, it lifts the (July 1, 2020) sunset on the film grant program. The film industry creates jobs in North Carolina, and we need to do more to bring certainty for the companies that come to our state, he said.

In addition, the legislation provides at least a temporary fix to the school principal pay problem. We need a permanent fix to attract and retain great principals.

Unfortunately, the legislature failed to fix the unfunded class size mandate that will force local schools to make major cuts, Cooper said. This needs to be done immediately.
The General Assembly has approved $450,000 in funding to allow between three and five hospitals to participate in a traumatic brain injury pilot program.

However, it could take months to determine which hospitals will participate.

The legislature committed $150,000 to the program in the 2017-18 state budget, and $300,000 in the 2018-19 state budget. The funding goes to the N.C. Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse.

Changes to the programs legislation are contained within Senate Bill 582, a technical corrections bill that passed the legislature Thursday.

Unrelated legislation in SB2  in particular Republican-sponsored changes to the authorized duties of the state attorney general  may prompt a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

The purpose of the pilot program is to increase compliance with internationally approved, evidence-based treatment guidelines for severe adult and pediatric traumatic brain injury in order to reduce patient mortality, improve patient level of recovery, and reduce long-term care costs, according to SB582.

The program would provide care for adults and youths, so it may be possible that Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and affiliate Brenners Children Hospital combine on an application or file separate applications.

The language in SB582 raises the number of potential participants from three to as many as five.

However, legislators stripped a commitment of $100,000 in additional funding for each participating hospital.

There has been no determination on participating hospitals, said Cobey Culton, a spokesperson with N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

DHHS anticipates issuing a request for applications that incorporates the changes outlined in SB582, Culton said.

Dr. Jason Hoth, director of the adult trauma center at Wake Forest Baptist, said that as the regions only Level 1 trauma center, we would be very interested in participating in a program like this.

We look forward to learning more about it as the information becomes available.

Cone Health spokesman Doug Allred said Moses Cone Hospital would be interested in applying.

An independent entity would receive a state contract to assist the participating hospitals with setting up the designated services and quality assurance measurements.

DHHS would be required to provide a joint legislative oversight health care committee with a final report on the programs rollout by Jan. 7, 2019.

In North Carolina, we have some of the best and finest trauma centers in the nation, said Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, and former president of N.C. Baptist Hospital.

Allowing them to create a pilot program to improve the quality of care, while looking to reduce cost, is a good way to determine best practices that may help other provider sites.

Legislators left alone language in the state budget that committed $2.37 million in recurring annual funds to be used exclusively for traumatic brain injury services.

The Brain Injury Association of N.C., Carolinas Rehabilitation, receives $359,218 in funding to assist families with continuum of care.

The remaining $2.01 million goes to support residential programs statewide that care for individuals with traumatic brain injury, as well as individuals who need financial assistance with transportation, home modifications and other requests deemed necessary by their local behavioral health managed care organization.
Ive been financially courted by alleged officials of foreign lands and supposed members of royal families who are out, with my most gracious participation, to split a big cash reward, but its the first time Ive gotten an offer I cant refuse from someone pretending to be the former First Lady of the United States of By-Gosh America.

I get on average of two or three scam emails each day offering, in poorly worded English, riches beyond my wildest dreams. By now, nearly everyone knows the standard pitch: Turn over your bank account information for the transfer of funds or pony up a few dollars  or thousands  to expedite the process in some faraway land then book a room on Easy Street, baby.

Ive written about it, poked fun at and, eventually, grew bored with it. Same old offers, same old scams  until this week, when I received an email and business proposal from Mrs. Michelle Obama, The White House (Official Residence of the President of the US).

Apparently, Michelle hasnt gotten around to filling out that change of address form at the post office and shes dropping by once a week to pick up her mail.

Heres how my latest scam letter begins:

How are you today? This is the last you will ever hear from me and you fail to comply.

Good manners but the writer has a much shakier grasp of the English language than the real Ivy League-educated former first lady.

I am Mrs. Michelle Obama and I am written to inform you about your Bank Cheque Draft brought by the United Embassy from the government of Benin Republic in the white house Washington DC which contains the sum of $20,000,000 millions us dollars credited from the bank of America, the delivery of your funds has been mandated to be deliver to your address as soon as you get back to me with your address and your cell phone number.

Bear in mind that I have taking my time to be in charge of your funds as instructed by my husband to ensure that you received your funds successfully from the white house to reduce the economy and Im the only one that has your funds in regard to my husband Mr. Barack Hussein Obama II and you will have to pay the sum $68.00

And why do I need to pay a $68 fee?

the reason why the fee is required is to have your funds clearance paper from the origin of the funds to avoid any harassment from the authority

Putting it that way, it makes perfect sense. But what if I am a little short on cash?

even if you dont have the $68 try to borrow it and send it immediately today because this is your life opportunity and I dont want you to lose the chance any more.

That would likely to lead to a conversation like this:

Hey, Bill, can I borrow $68?

 Why do you need $68?

For my funds clearance paper. Michelle Obama wants to send me $20 million and shes afraid I will be harassed by the authority without it.

Wow, that sounds like your life opportunity.

It probably isnt but I think I can get a column out of it. Can I still borrow $68?

No.
WASHINGTON -- Last week, President Trump once again publicly humiliated his secretary of state, this time tweeting that Rex Tillerson was "wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man."

On Tuesday, the president tossed rolls of paper towels to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico like T-shirts at a sporting event. He contrasted the disaster they are enduring to the "real catastrophe" of Hurricane Katrina and lauded the "great job" his administration has done responding to Maria.

On Wednesday, Tillerson non-denied an NBC News report that he had called the president a "moron." The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee opined that Tillerson, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, and White House chief of staff John Kelly "are those people that help separate our country from chaos."

On Thursday, a day after the Senate Intelligence Committee's bipartisan leadership reaffirmed the intelligence community's conclusion that Russia tried to interfere in the 2016 election -- and the panel's Republican chairman said that "the issue of collusion" with the Trump campaign "is still open" -- the president tweeted that the panel should be "looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE!"

This situation is not normal. This behavior is not OK. We -- we in the media, and we Americans -- need to keep reminding ourselves of this, day after day, tweet after tweet. We need to call out every false statement. We need to remember, after every failure of empathy and every narcissistic demand for praise, after every impulsive, bellicose taunt and every challenge to constitutional norms, that this is not the way a president acts.

Each of the past week's episodes -- and last week offered an overflowing but not unique bounty -- is disturbing and disappointing in a different way. They exposed Trump's dangerous recklessness and his racially tinged indifference to the suffering of U.S. citizens, his appalling ignorance and his even more appalling lack of respect for democratic values.

Taking them in order: First, Trump's serial undercutting of Tillerson erodes his standing to speak for the United States. If there is method in the insults he hurls at Kim Jong Un, Trump is playing an awfully risky game.

Second, at this point, Trump's empathy impairment is no surprise, nor, sadly, is the particular failure of his empathy when it comes to victims of color. But the glaring gap between Trump's energetic response to the hurricanes in Texas and Florida and his lackadaisical approach to the disaster that has befallen U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico has been especially repellent, tweeting that the people there "want everything to be done for them." The jarring insouciance of the towel-tossing put a fittingly ugly coda on all that had gone before.

Third, let us pause for a moment to take in that it is entirely believable that a member of his own Cabinet would call the president a moron, not to mention that this remarkable effrontery would leak -- or that many Americans hearing it would nod in agreement.

Americans, maybe even Cabinet secretaries, have scoffed at their presidents before, but the depth and combination of Trump's inattention, ignorance and bluster know no equal. Similarly with Republican Sen. Bob Corker's chilling comment: When, before, have we imagined the Cabinet as a thin blue line against presidential chaos?

Finally, perhaps most alarming of all, Trump's persistent indifference to a foreign adversary's efforts to undermine our democracy. He has directed more anger at the mayor of Puerto Rico than at Vladimir Putin. This is a terrible thing to have to say, but the president is not a patriot, if an essential part of patriotism means being willing to stand up for your country when it is under attack.

And the authoritarian, anti-constitutional suggestion that the Senate intelligence panel should have some role in probing "Fake News Networks" at home betrays, yet again, Trump's contempt for, if not fear of, a free press. Clamping down on information and dissent is the first instinct of every would-be dictator.

Our Constitution and our governing institutions are, I trust, too resilient to let Trump translate that urge into reality. Still, the desire alone is scary enough.

Properly calibrating degrees of outrage is a delicate task in the age of Trump. There is so much to lament and to call out. Energies understandably flag with the fourth unhinged tweet of the day. Episodes that would ordinarily consume news cycles for days pass with scarcely a there-he-goes-again shrug.

This is no time for shrugging.

The Washington Post
STEVE SCROGGIN, Winston-Salem

Symbols and abstractions

The flag is just cloth, my friends say. One need not regard cloth with reverence. But it is much more than cloth. The flag is a symbol of the United States.

And the United States is an abstraction. It is a feature of our shared memories, rather than a feature of the real world. If we forgot it, it would be gone. You can touch its land, but you cant touch the United States, or feel it, or soothe it or punch it. You can make it seem more real with a flag that symbolizes it.

The flag may be merely a symbol of an abstraction, but these are powerful things. Taking a knee in protest is also a symbol. In another context, taking a knee could symbolize reverence.

Money is another abstraction. And the green pieces of paper that we spend so much of our time gathering up are valued because they represent agreed-upon purchasing power. The giant corporations who influence all of our lives: abstractions. Perhaps you can touch what it owns, and call it a person, but you cant touch a corporation. Ownership is another bundle of abstractions. So are laws.

Our lives are shaped at every step by our shared abstractions. Before we die for, or suffer for, or revere an abstraction, let us remember that it is only as real as our shared memories make it real to us. And it is only as timeless and enduring as we and our descendants make it.

***

MARILYN CARDWELL, Winston-Salem

More than enough

Yes, Scott Sexton, we have had more than enough (Has anyone else had enough? Oct. 3). Its way beyond time to talk about making sense of the shooting; its time to make sense of the response.

The Las Vegas shooting is indeed on Congress, but it is also on voters who continue electing representatives who accept NRA myths and money. Moments of silence, sympathy for the victims, even prayers are fine, but they are meaningless gestures when done by those who refuse to take action.

Legislators who claim that proposing tougher gun laws now would be politicizing the tragedy do not deserve their leadership roles. How many more tragedies will it take?

***

PAUL D. WHITSON, Advance

Nothing gets done

An average of about 90 people per day are shot to death in the United States and it almost never gets mentioned. Yet 58 deaths happen at the same place at the same time and our public figures bring out their predictable scripted speeches and platitudes and nothing gets done in the way of gun control.

President Trump has already said that now is not the time to talk about gun control. Apparently it is not the time to do anything either. If not now, when? Where are Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, and Reps. Virginia Foxx, Ted Budd and Julia Howard?

I have to question if the grieving for 58 people (tragic as it is) while accepting the daily average of about 90 with hardly a whimper is the proper response of an informed, thinking and rational society.

Please submit letters online to Letters@wsjournal.com or mail letters to: The Readers Forum, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Letters are subject to editing and are limited to 250 words. For more guidelines and advice on writing letters, go to journalnow.com/opinion/submit_a_letter.
SAN DIEGO -- When it comes to race, conservatives will never ace the quiz.

It stands to reason that this bunch would be slow to understand a subject that they usually downplay, dismiss or deny. Those on the right -- including many Republicans and most Trump voters -- often pretend to be colorblind in order to seem enlightened. Ironically, the opposite is true.

By the way, conservatives aren't really oblivious to race. Ronald Reagan mentioned a "welfare queen." George H.W. Bush approved the Willie Horton ad. Jesse Helms used a campaign commercial featuring white hands holding a job rejection letter while the narrator criticized affirmative action. These weren't dog whistles. They were fog horns.

Be that as it may, those on the right are often a couple slices short of a full loaf when it comes to racial matters.

This is one of the takeaways from my recent appearance on Fox News Channel's "Tucker Carlson Tonight."

I was invited onto the show to discuss a recent column where I suggested that -- after the Las Vegas massacre by Stephen Paddock, a white male who stockpiled large amounts of high-powered weapons -- it was time for authorities to profile white males who stockpiled large amounts of high-powered weapons.

To many people, that is common sense. To Carlson, it was anti-white racism.

Apparently, the part about being slow on race extends to liberal-to-moderate Republicans who masquerade as hard-right conservatives to please a television audience that leans so far to the right that, on issues like trade, it wound up on the left.

You see, I knew the old Tucker, the smart and likable writer who -- in publications such as "The Weekly Standard" -- worked his way through thorny subjects in a fair and thoughtful way. This is the person who -- when discussing hot-button cultural issues such as gay rights, immigration, abortion and gun control -- was known more for seeking nuance than breathing fire. Though he has lived in Washington for 25 years, the television host is still -- at heart -- a California conservative. Raised near San Diego, before attending a private boarding school in Rhode Island and graduating from Trinity College in Connecticut, he is more comfortable around chardonnay than NASCAR.

I've known that guy for 20 years, and I consider him a friend. He's always been nice to me. And I'm proud of his success, which he owes to a combination of talent, luck and perseverance.

The departures of Bill O'Reilly and Megyn Kelly helped put Carlson into the prime real estate of an 8 p.m. time slot.

And good for him. This is a guy who has been fired from hosting gigs on CNN and MSNBC. But he never gave up, and look at him now. It's impossible not to root for someone like that.

But as other conservatives in Washington have already figured out about our old friend, the bright lights and seven-figure paychecks of prime-time television can change a brother.

In May, Weekly Standard founder and former Fox News contributor Bill Kristol said it was painful to watch Carlson -- his friend and former employee -- "beating up some 20-year-old college liberal because he said something stupid."

In July, during an on-air street fight with Carlson over U.S. intervention, conservative Max Boot told the host that his judgment was "clouded by ratings because you feel compelled to be a spokesman for Donald Trump." As Boot later noted in an essay for Commentary Magazine, Carlson's new shtick is "sarcasm, condescension, and mock-incredulous double-takes."

My old pal hit me with all three, and it didn't go well for him. He tried to talk down to me, by saying something like "What I'm trying to get you to understand ... " I cut him off with a scolding: "Tucker, don't be condescending to me! It makes you sound like those white liberals that you and I both find so annoying." For a second, the professional talker was speechless.

For most of the segment, Carlson simply called me a "racist." This didn't bother me. In 25 years of opinion writing, I've been called every slur in the book -- and a few that aren't in there because they're too ugly.

The exchange made me miss the guy I used to know. It also made me nostalgic for the good old days of politics when conservatives pushed back against those who called people "racist" -- instead of reflexively calling other people "racist."

I went on Tucker Carlson's show hoping to find some critical thinking. I got plenty of the critical, but not much thinking.

The Washington Post
Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car

I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ...
Canada reached a major settlement on Friday with indigenous victims of the so-called Sixties Scoop [class-action website], agreeing to pay [BBC report] C$800 million ($635m; 488m) to some 20,000 victims, $50 million of which will be used for reconciliation initiatives.

Sixties Scoop refers to the practice in Canada of scooping up children of Aboriginal peoples from their families to place them in foster homes or to adoption facilities. An estimated 16,000 indigenous children were taken from their families and communities. The agreement includes restitution for the individuals who lost their cultural identities as a result of their removal from their families and into non-Indigenous foster and adoptive families, and it will also establish a foundation to contribute to healing and systemic solutions for survivors.

In February, the Superior Court in Ontario decided [text] for the indigenous plaintiffs class-action lawsuit against the Canadian government. A compensation hearing was set to take place October 11, but the lead claimant Marcia Brown Martel chose to close the court date to engage in discussions with the Canadian federal government to achieve recognition and justice for the thousands of individuals taken from their homes.

Canadian provinces changed their adoption policies in the 1980s when indigenous leaders, among others, began to condemn the practice as a form of cultural genocide.

This practice was not unique to Canada, however. Thousands of indigenous children were also gathered and sent to mostly non-indigenous homes in the US, New Zealand, and Australia during this time period.
Jose Miguel Vivanco [profile], director of Human Rights Watchs Americas division, sent a letter [press release] to several heads of the Colombian government Sunday, urging them to implement legislative proposals of a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas.

A peace agreement [text, PDF] between the two sides was signed on November 12, 2016.

The letter is in regard to the Statutory bill on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace [text, PDF], which is considered to be a crucial part to sustainable peace in the South American nation. Vivanco urged the government to focus on five areas; restrictions on freedoms and rights, suspension of criminal proceedings, command responsibility, victim participation in proceedings, and selectivity.

Colombia has been focused on bringing the nation to peace, seeking arrangements with any rebel groups in the country. In September Colombias government signed a peace agreement [JURIST report] with the National Liberation Army, ending hostilities between the two sides.
A Sarajevo court on Monday acquitted Naser Oric, a commander revered by many as the defender of Muslims during Bosnia's 1990s conflict but viewed as a butcher by Serbs, of war crimes charges.

The ruling sparked outrage from Serbian leaders and victims' groups while it was hailed by Bosnian Muslims in the country deeply divided along ethnic lines since its 1992-1995 war.

Oric, 50, was a bodyguard to former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and is one of only a few Bosnian Muslim commanders to have faced trial for atrocities committed against Serbs.

He was acquitted of killing three ethnic Serb prisoners in 1992. Another Bosnian army soldier, Sabahudin Muhic, was also found not guilty.

The testimony of a protected witness, key for the indictment, lacked credibility and was contradictory, the judge ruled.

"The testimony of witness O-1 ... cannot serve as a credible basis to conclude that Naser Oric committed this murder," judge Saban Maksumic said.

Oric defended the eastern town of Srebrenica, where 8,000 Muslim men and boys were eventually massacred by Serb forces, the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II.

But in 2006, Oric was sentenced by a UN war crimes tribunal to two years in prison for not doing enough to protect Srebrenica's Serb population during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war.

He was acquitted on appeal in 2008, a ruling that angered Serbs, who accused The Hague-based court of "partiality."

- 'Jeopardising peace' -

Monday's ruling again exposed grievances.

The verdict "is proof that in Bosnia there is no punishment for criminals (committing crimes) against Serbs," Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik said.

"A Muslim (judge) tries a Muslim," he said, suggesting that the ruling would pave the way for a referendum on ethnic Serbs' participation in Bosnia's judicial bodies.

In the past Dodik was repeatedly threatened with an independence referendum for his entity of Republika Srpska, which along with the Muslim-Croat Federation makes up post-war Bosnia.

In Belgrade, Serbian Defence Minister Vulin slammed Oric's acquittal.

"The court which could free a proven criminal, a butcher, Naser Oric, is a court which jeopardises peace, security, trust, reconciliation in the whole Balkans," Vulin said in a statement.

Oric's acquittal will "radicalise the situation on the political field," Vinko Lale, head of an association of Serb prisoners of war, told AFP.

As a young police officer, Oric was a member of a Belgrade unit tasked with protecting Milosevic, who led the former Yugoslavia's bloody collapse in the 1990s.

Some 130,000 people were killed in the wars that raged on the former federation's territory between 1991 and 1999. Bosnia's conflict claimed 100,000 lives.

When the war between Bosnia's Croats, Muslims and Serbs started, Oric was in his native town of Srebrenica and organised its defence from April 1992.

However he was withdrawn from Srebrenica with several other officers for military training three months before it fell on July 11, 1995.

In Bosnia, many have questioned whether the move was a sign that the authorities had decided to abandon Srebrenica to its fate.

Unhappy with Oric's acquittal by the UN court, Belgrade in 2014 launched an international warrant accusing him of leading "several attacks against Serb villages in the Srebrenica region, to empty them of their Serb population by intimidation, torture and murder."

The victims' associations estimate that 2,428 Serb civilians and soldiers were killed in the area during the 1992-1995 conflict.

- Expected verdict -

Oric was arrested in Switzerland in 2015 on a Serbian warrant but extradited to his country to face charges.

"I have nothing to say, the court said what it had to say," Oric briefly told reporters after leaving the tribunal as he was welcomed by supporters.

"We were expecting such a verdict since this man is not guilty," Kada Hotic, whose son, husband and two brothers were killed in the massacre, told AFP Monday.

After Bosnia's war, Oric kept a low profile until his arrest and transfer to The Hague in 2003.

In 2009, he was sentenced to two years in prison in Sarajevo for illegal arms possession, but was pardoned by the presidency.
A Sarajevo court on Monday acquitted Naser Oric, a commander revered by many as the defender of Muslims during Bosnia's 1990s conflict but viewed as a butcher by Serbs, of war crimes charges.

The ruling sparked outrage from Serbian leaders and victims' groups while it was hailed by Bosnian Muslims in the country deeply divided along ethnic lines since its 1992-1995 war.

Oric, 50, was a bodyguard to former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and is one of only a few Bosnian Muslim commanders to have faced trial for atrocities committed against Serbs.

He was acquitted of killing three ethnic Serb prisoners in 1992. Another Bosnian army soldier, Sabahudin Muhic, was also found not guilty.

Appearing calm as the verdict was read out, the grey-bearded Oric was hailed by dozens of supporters as he left the tribunal.

"I have nothing to say, the court said what it had to say," Oric briefly told reporters before getting into a car.

His acquittal came after the judge ruled that the testimony of a protected witness, key for the indictment, lacked credibility and was contradictory.

"The testimony of witness O-1... cannot serve as a credible basis to conclude that Naser Oric committed this murder," judge Saban Maksumic said.

Oric defended the eastern town of Srebrenica, where 8,000 Muslim men and boys were eventually massacred by Serb forces, the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II.

But in 2006, Oric was sentenced by a UN war crimes tribunal to two years in prison for not doing enough to protect Srebrenica's Serb population during the Bosnian war.

He was acquitted on appeal in 2008, a ruling that angered Serbs, who accused the Hague-based court of "partiality."

- 'Jeopardising peace' -

Monday's ruling again exposed those grievances.

The verdict "is proof that in Bosnia there is no punishment for criminals (committing crimes) against Serbs," Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik said.

"A Muslim (judge) tries a Muslim," he said, suggesting that the ruling would pave the way for a referendum on ethnic Serbs' participation in Bosnia's judicial bodies.

"Clearly we will have to fight for justice and that we will always be the only one accused," said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, a former minister under Slobodan Milosevic.

Oric's acquittal will "radicalise the situation on the political field," Vinko Lale, head of an association of Serb prisoners of war, told AFP.

As a young police officer, Oric was a member of a Belgrade unit tasked with protecting Milosevic, who led the former Yugoslavia's bloody collapse in the 1990s.

An estimated 130,000 people were killed in the wars that raged on the former federation's territory between 1991 and 1999. Bosnia's conflict claimed 100,000 lives.

When the war between Bosnia's Croats, Muslims and Serbs started, Oric was in his native town of Srebrenica and organised its defence from April 1992.

But he was withdrawn from Srebrenica along with several other officers for military training three months before it fell on July 11, 1995.

In Bosnia, many have questioned whether the move was a sign that the authorities had decided to abandon Srebrenica to its fate.

Unhappy with Oric's acquittal by the UN court, Belgrade in 2014 issued an international arrest warrant accusing him of leading "several attacks against Serb villages in the Srebrenica region, to empty them of their Serb population by intimidation, torture and murder."

The victims' associations estimate that 2,428 Serb civilians and soldiers were killed in the area during the 1992-1995 conflict.

- Reconciliation at risk -

Oric was arrested in Switzerland in 2015 on a Serbian warrant but extradited to his country to face charges.

"We were expecting such a verdict since this man is not guilty," Kada Hotic, whose son, husband and two brothers were killed in the massacre, told AFP Monday.

But Radojka Filipovic, president of a Serbian victims group, called the decision "terrible".

"How can our children go to school together tomorrow, how can we live side by side?"

But Bakir Izetbegovic, the Muslim member of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, denounced Serb attempts "to balance out the responsibility" for the war crimes, which he said "undermines the process of reconciliation".

After Bosnia's war, Oric kept a low profile until his arrest and transfer to The Hague in 2003.

In 2009, he was sentenced to two years in prison in Sarajevo for illegal arms possession, but was pardoned by the presidency.
LINCOLN (AP)  Nebraska prison officials say a prison employee has been arrested on suspicion of bringing drugs into the Nebraska State Penitentiary.

A news release from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says the State Patrol arrested 33-year-old Jami Cutshall on Friday. She was being held in the Lancaster County Jail on suspicion of unauthorized communications with a committed offender, unlawful acts by a corrections employee and sex abuse of an inmate or parolee.

The release says Cutshall had been a caseworker at the prison since 2015. She has been suspended without pay.

Cutshalls arrest followed the discovery last week that inmates were using K2, a synthetic marijuana. One inmate required outside medical attention related to the drug use.
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FILE - In this March 2, 2014 file photo, Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Oscars in Los Angeles. Weinstein has been fired from The Weinstein Co., effective immediately, following new information revealed regarding his conduct, the company's board of directors announced Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
Editors note: Each Monday, the Kenosha News takes a look at the life of a Kenosha County resident who recently died. We share with you, through the memories of family and friends, a life remembered.

Cooking was the way Josephine Savaglio showed her love and one way she provided for her family.

No matter what  even if she was sick  she would cook and save meals for us, said her son, Fred. She was always saying, Have something to eat. Try it; its good. 

Drawing on skills and traditions learned in her homeland of Marano Principato, Cosenza, Italy, Josephine fed her family lasagna, mostaccioli al forno and Italian doughnuts.

Cooking in Kenosha restaurants in the evenings, she helped her family pay for their home.

She made the best meatballs; it was like they were grilled outside, but they werent, said LuAnne Grandow, longtime server at Luigis Pizza Kitchen.

Fred recalled how when he was transferred to Kansas on business for three years, his mother would send him off with a suitcase of frozen meals to sustain him until his next visit every two or three weeks.

She was a caregiver; thats what she lived for, Fred said.

Josephine died Sept. 2, at St. Catherines Medical Center. She is survived by her husband, Carmine; four children, Gina (Luigi) Aiello, Franca (Fedele Greco) Ianni, Fred (Cinzia) Savaglio and Tony (Dee Dee) Savaglio; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ada Ricchio; a brother, Benny (Carmelina) Ricchio; and many nephews and nieces.

Jopsephine was born Giuseppina Ricchio on Dec. 16, 1927, in Marano Principato, the oldest child of Leopordo and Carmela Ricchio. When she was a teenager she met Carmine Savaglio, a young man who lived in the area near her home. After he returned from military service, they married on Dec. 31, 1945.

Coming to Kenosha

For the next 18 years, the Savaglios raised their first three children in Italy. During that time both Josephine and Carmines parents had moved to Kenosha. In 1963, the family emigrated to Kenosha to give their kids opportunities they hadnt had, said Fred.

The rigors of growing up in Italy during World War II made Josephine appreciative of the modern amenities in the United States, Fred said.

Her father had been a prisoner of war, and the family knew privation, he said.

Although she was very happy to be here, coming to this country as an older woman posed some challenges to Josephine.

Learning English was difficult, and often she would take Fred with her to translate when she went shopping or to the bank.

What she may have lacked in language fluency, Josephine made up in other areas.

She was very smart with finances, Fred said.

She was also frugal. She wouldnt waste a nickel on herself, but would spend if her kids needed something, Fred said.

He recalled a time in Italy when he was very young and his family didnt have much money for food, but his mother found a way to get him a special toy.

Nights spent cooking

To help family finances, Josephine went to work nights at the former Marys Parkview, a restaurant in Columbus Park, not far from their home. She cooked at the restaurant, becoming known for her lasagna and meatballs.

Shed make sure us kids were settled in for the night, walk to the restaurant and come home in the morning, Fred said.

After Marys closed, Josephine went to work in the kitchen at Luigis on 39th Avenue where her stuffed peppers, manicotti and signature meatballs became featured menu items.

Her chief motivation for working as hard as she did was her family, said Fred.

She wanted to make sure we had the best of everything because in Italy she suffered so much, he said.

She continued working at Luigis until she was 78, long after it was a financial necessity.

She worked there so long because she loved the interaction with people. Fred said.

Becoming citizens

In May 1999, 36 years after arriving in this country, Josephine and her husband became U.S. citizens.

She loved this country so much and wanted to become a citizen sooner, but she was shy about her language skills, Fred said.

A year later, the Savaglios voted in their first presidential election. (Mom) was very excited to vote and voted in every election after that, said Fred.

Returning to Italy was not on Josephines list of things to do, said Fred. She said that all of her good memories were here with her children and grandchildren.

Josephines family said they are grateful for all of her love and hard work on their behalf.

She was the backbone of all of our successes, Fred said.
Two brothers and longtime doctors in Kenosha were hailed Sunday as pillars of the community.

Dr. Alfred John Capelli, a family physician, and Dr. Paul A. Capelli, a retired obstetrician, were honored by the Italian American Society at its 93rd annual Columbus Day Banquet.

Steven R. Torcaso, the groups president, called the brothers two distinct pillars of the community who grew to their respected practices that are fostered by compassion and humility,

We respond to warmth, caring, compassion. ... These are all traits that cant be earned at any Ivy League school or by a degree, he said, noting the brothers are trusted in the community to care for the whole person.

The two are the youngest and eldest sons, respectively, of Alfred and Josephine Capelli, who owned two grocery stores in Kenosha.

Born in Kenosha, Paul Capelli, opened his practice here in 1962.

He became the first medical director for Aurora Health Care and helped to build its first Kenosha outpatient clinics, surgery center and hospital in 1998. He retired in 2003 and now focuses on volunteering in the community, he said.

He said the family has been deeply connected to Kenosha and committed to the Italian-American Society, which has worked to build a strong and inclusive community, focusing on everything from overcoming language barriers to access to housing and access to medical care.

Ive never regretted practicing medicine because I was always received well by the people that we met, he said.

John, aka A.J., started his practice in 1981. He said Sundays honor was emotional.

Ive had a good life, he said, reflecting on his family, who came from small impoverished villages in Italy.

What these folks right here gave up ... they gave up their lives (to come to America), he said. They were like Columbus. They came to this country for a new life ... so they could have something.

A.J. said he was lucky to have chosen medicine as his profession and that the three most important bones to being in the profession included a wish bone, a back bone and a funny bone because life cannot always be fair when it doesnt treat you right along the way.

The event featured a number of dignitaries including U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.; Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; state Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha; Mayor John Antaramian and Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser.

The Italian-American Ladies Auxiliary also honored the Capellis sisters, Carol Knight, a nurse, and Pauline McTernan, a local teacher.
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How can we combat the opioid epidemic?

One of the governments most recent suggestions is to take Opana ER, an opioid indicated for very severe pain, off the market. The request, filed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June, was linked to concerns of abuse-related HIV and hepatitis C outbreaks.

But removing access to opioids altogether isnt the solution. There are individuals suffering from chronic pain who need or strongly benefit from these drugs. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that a fourth of the nations population suffers from pain lasting longer than 24 hours. Millions more suffer from acute pain.

As a researcher who studies how pharmaceuticals are used and what effects they have, I believe it makes more sense to reduce both the supply and demand side of prescription drug abuse  without interfering with their safe and appropriate use. We can do this by reimagining how we design and prescribe addictive drugs.

Redesigning the pill

Opioids such as morphine typically relieve pain by acting on opioid receptors distributed throughout the central nervous system.

The FDA has come up with a number of ways to deter abuse by changing the way drugs work. For example, manufacturers could include an opioid antagonist in the formulation. This is essentially a drug that blocks the opioids effect by binding to the same receptors in the brain that the opioid would. Changing the formulation in this way would reduce the chances of experiencing the euphoric high that leads to addiction.

A good example of an opioid that does this is Targiniq ER. If Targiniq ER is crushed or dissolved, it releases Naloxone, an opioid antagonist that blocks the effect of the opioid.

Another option is to redesign the drug so it must be injected or implanted, instead of taken orally. That way, the drug would potentially have to be delivered under medical supervision. Requiring the drugs to be delivered under medical supervision could also potentially reduce the improper use of needles and related outbreaks.

Even so, no method is foolproof; abusers can sometimes manipulate a changed drug. For example, Opana ER was designed to be difficult to crush, but abusers began to dissolve the drug into a solution and injecting it. To deter drug abuse, Opana ERs manufacturer, Endo Pharmaceuticals, devised a new medication formula that made the coating more difficult to crush or dissolve. Unfortunately, abusers still found a way to remove the coating and inject the drug.

Required prescription monitoring

Prescription drug monitoring programs have shown considerable promise in tracking potential abusers.

These programs provide emergency departments and physicians with information about a patients past use of controlled substances at the point of care. This can immediately flag any potential for abuse, making the doctors decision to prescribe opioids  or not  much easier.

Now, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has funded at least nine states to combine their prescription monitoring programs with local hospital electronic health records and other systems already in place. These collaborations provide clinicians with a comprehensive history of controlled substance, so they can make informed decisions about patient health.

This has already had some success. For example, Illinois saw a 22 percent decrease in number of opioid prescriptions issued by prescribers and a 41 percent decrease in the number of patients who received at least one opioid prescription.

More information on the nature of the epidemic  particularly its link to rural areas  could yield clues about where and how to intervene. However, publicly available data have limited geographical information and dont cover all information we might need, such as data about dose or treatment duration. What data are available are restricted to protect the identity of individuals.

Rather than look at patients with opioid issues, we decided to look at the doctors who prescribe the drugs. Our group has been working with the state of South Carolina to combine our prescription drug monitoring program, called South Carolina Reporting and Identification Prescription Tracking System, or SCRIPTS, with Medicaid data.

While we were able to combine only two years worth of data, our research led to important insights into the abuse potential within South Carolina.

By geocoding state prescription information, we found that a relatively small percentage of providers, concentrated in a few counties, accounted for most opioid prescriptions. In 2010, the top 10 percent of prescribers wrote more than half of all opioid prescriptions.

This group represents a potential target for physician education and engagement in handling pain management and appropriate use of opioids.

Rethinking how we assess patients

Many solutions to the opioid crisis tend to focus on how far it has come and how to mitigate it. However, a more sustainable approach would be to rethink the process of care and engage the patient  who is at the center of it all.

When patients are engaged in the care process, they tend to adhere more to their prescribed regimens and experience better health outcomes.

In most primary care settings, it is considered standard practice to ask patients to rate their pain on a scale from one to 10. This is a very crude measure, but now we need a more sophisticated method. Medical care should consider not only the providers preferences, but the patients, too.

We need a tool that gets at not only the level of pain an individual experiences, but also their preferences in dealing with pain. Studies show that patient-provider communication plays an important role in pain management. If patients could share their specific concerns regarding their pain and their goals for treatment, then clinicians would be able to find the best treatment plan that is tailored to individual patient preferences.

Rather than using a standardized approach that matches pain level to doses of an analgesic or opioid, clinicians should assess each patient individually, looking at their tolerance for pain, their priorities for treatment and how they value outcomes.

By centering pain management on individual patients, we can give them a voice in the decision-making process. Given the issues with opioid abuse, I think such a pain management tool would yield a multitude of benefits, such as cutting down unnecessary prescriptions, matching the therapy to the patients needs and improving outcomes.

Zaina Qureshi is an assistant professor, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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One cold winter night many years ago, someone dropped off a calico cat and her two kittens in our snowy driveway, and we went from a two cat family to a five cat household. I learned a few things from that.

When I was a resident, two thirtysomething family docs had an office upstairs from the residency program. Ned and Peter precepted us, and they sometimes ran downstairs to ask the director, Dr. Pete, for his input when they had a tough case themselves.

It was very clear to me that Ned and Peter had a shared vision of how a practice should run, even though Im sure they werent clones of each other. They also seemed to be really in tune with the residency, and one of them later became its director.

My first job after graduation was with two middle-aged doctors in a small Maine mill town. They covered seamlessly for each other, even though they seemed like very different people. I realized quickly that my comfort level with some of the things they tackled in the hospital was never going to catch up with theirs, so I moved on to where I am now the medical director. I did express my discomfort with handling patients in the intensive care unit, for example, and they did tell me they were considering giving it up, but not right away. I was their employee, and although they offered me a partnership, they were the majority and the founding partners.

The clinic where I ended up spending most of my career is very different, and very typical for medical practices today. We are a nonprofit organization with a board and a chief executive officer. I may be the medical director, but the physicians and nurse practitioners here really answer more to the CEO than to me.

The providers here are a little like my one-time herd of five cats, gathered under one roof by circumstance rather than from a clear and particular desire to work with each other. Sure, Dr. Brown was my doctor when he worked in the city many years ago, and he came here in part because he knew me, and Dr. Kim had practiced in the next town over and had been curious about us. He did call and talk to me before going very far in negotiations with our CEO, just to make sure hed fit in, but others came here because of our location or some other reason besides knowing that we would all work well together or that we shared some deep practice philosophy.

We are not a group practice in the sense that group practices were formed when I started out. So my job as medical director is a lot more like herding cats than leading a group of like-minded visionaries in the early days of the new specialty of family practice. Also, because I care for a full compliment of patients alongside my colleagues and depend on their coverage and cooperation, I am in no position to be heavy-handed in leading our medical staff. I may work to set an example in some cases, by building consensus in others, but I seldom lay down commandments on stone tablets.

That is a stark contrast to Elijah Lamb at Cityside Medical Group. At his hospital owned mega practice, he isnt just the medical director, but a hospital vice-president of medical affairs. He is more clearly in the chain of command, and his medical staff knows it. He even fires people.

Right now, a newly hired provider at my clinic is asking that we not contradict her antibiotic stewardship when she sees another providers patient for a bronchitis. I did a practice style inventory several months ago, and we all said we didnt prescribe antibiotics for a bronchitis of fewer than seven days duration. But Karen knows we often do, and she feels we undercut her by giving in to patients that call us the day after seeing her.

We have also had several exchanges and meetings about how we handle opioid prescriptions. When one of my colleagues reduced her hours in semiretirement, Dr. Kim inherited many of her patients, and started tapering some off their opiates. Much unrest followed. We had to sit down to find common ground about whether patients could switch from Dr. Kim to another provider just to see if they would reinstate their opioids. We decided, along with our CEO, not to allow internal transfers of that nature. Anything else would likely tear apart the fabric of our group, we reasoned. Interestingly, the retiring physician told us that the patients Dr. Kim had tapered off opioids were people she herself had contemplated doing the same with. She just hadnt done it yet.

Do I wish my job was more like Dr. Lambs? Would I be happy seeing a few token patients and spending the rest of my time being a medical administrator? I dont think so, no more than I would have preferred not to live with five cats of different disposition.

As a doctor, I never tell my patients what to do. I outline, explain and support my patients in choosing between options. That is how I act toward my colleagues, too. Just like with integrating five cats, it may not be the quickest way to get things done, but in the big scheme of things, it is the only way that really works if you want peace in your house.

A Country Doctor is a family physician who blogs at A Country Doctor Writes:.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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Unless youve been living under a rock, youre well aware that the United States is in the grip of a really big epidemic of opioid abuse. The epicenter of much of this has been my beloved Appalachia. My home-town, Huntington, WV, might as well be re-named Oxycontin, or maybe Heroinville. Its ugly.

Enormous amounts of ink have been spilled on this topic, and I dont intend to explain the genesis of it in detail. In short, however, about 20 years ago some doctors thought we werent being kind enough in our treatment of pain. Some articles were published to draw attention to this theory. We started using the pain scale. 0 = no pain, 10 = the worst pain ever.

Around the same time, administrators discovered the customer/patient satisfaction score. Taken together, physicians and nurses were pressured by 1) academic peers and medical directors as well as 2) administrators, to give more pain medication.

So, to recap mathematically:

Pain scale x Satisfaction score = Better reimbursement + Death

Recently, smart people have discovered that a lot of what we were told to do in clinical practice was probably (to put it delicately) utterly stupid and ultimately deadly. Having said that, not all of the drug abuse in the country is because doctors gave out too many pills (although pill-mills are obviously a problem).

Some of it, in particular, the heroin and fentanyl nightmare, has to do with bad decisions, experimentation and the high marketability of those drugs. Enormous amounts of those drugs are manufactured in other countries and shipped here (obviously illegally). Money talks, as it were.

The problem is, research suggests that patients of doctors with very high satisfaction scores often do poorly. Think of your kids. How do they turn out if you give them whatever they ask? Not usually very well. Often quite badly. Ditto for patient care. Nobody should get a CT scan or antibiotic just because they want it. Nor should they get narcotics just because they scream its a ten! Or because they ask to talk to the patient advocate or administrator.

The further problem is that administrators (and government) seem to be lagging behind science. (Not that doctors dont also; cant throw too many stones in the glass house.) But they get all worried when people complain that their pain wasnt treated. And indeed, in many insurance payment schemes, pain management is really important. Dont treat pain? Dont get reimbused well.

Ultimately, however, this national obsession with pain relief has landed squarely in the emergency departments of the land. I work in a mid-volume emergency department in a community hospital. And Ill recap a few pain complaints that I have seen which illustrate the problem:

I had dental surgery, and my oral surgeon said if my pain was worse I should go to the ER. My pain? Its about a 9/10.

I had a car wreck a month ago and broke some ribs. I missed my follow-up appointment, but I need more pain medicine. My pain is a 10/10.

I fell down and hurt my knee yesterday. (X-rays negative, mild swelling.) Tylenol and Motrin are like taking candy. I need something stronger.

The list is exhaustive. Ask your nurse and doctor friends; especially those who work in emergency medicine. Ask them about the pain scale and watch them roll their eyes.

Weve turned pain into a religion; worse, into a kind of physical victimization in which the victim of the pain is always right. And is always entitled. In the process, we have allowed people to forget that pain is important and normal. That it is necessary for our safety. That it probably helps healing; a body that doesnt know theres a problem doesnt heal as well.

And weve created far too many people whose entire lives are predicated on a drowsy euphoria spent sitting on the couch or in the bed, while other people provide for them and care for them.

In addition, the constant requests for pain meds can distract us from those in genuine pain, and who really, truly need the good stuff. The fractures, cancers, sickle-cell, and other patients who need urgent relief.

This is immoral. Its bad, bad, bad for our patients. But its also terrible for our hospitals; in particular, my beloved emergency department. Because it means that around the clock, even as we try to make decisions that will hopefully save lives and prevent permanent harm, we are tasked with responding to every whim of the pain-scale.

All day, and in particular all night, our societal pain obsession has been shifted onto the backs of physicians and nurses in the ER. There is seldom a break from this. And because federal law prohibits financial screening in the ER, many of our more nefarious and manipulative customers know that if the pain clinic expects cash, at least the ER doesnt. If the surgeon wants money to see you in follow-up, you can hoof it to the nearest ER and get pain meds (if youre annoying enough) and maybe a sandwich or a ride home. And with all due respect, our Medicaid population knows the same thing. So a 3 a.m. visit for a minor complaint (with pain thrown in as a side) might get some narcotics, and doesnt cost anything personally.

This leaves staff members exhausted, bitter and burned out. More so when administrators habitually take the side of the customer against the already overwhelmed staff.

The bottom line is were hurting people. Patients and professionals alike.

And it turns out, this is so pervasive that even the dogs have pain scales. My wife and I cracked up when we saw this in the vets office. I mean, pain relief is fine for dogs (its mostly NSAIDs). But a visual analog pain scale for dogs?

Lassie! Bark once for each pain scale level! Whats that? 20 barks? What are you a pure-bred Lab? It only goes to ten. Youre a drug seeker, and you have a problem  Wait, is that my prescription pad? Go home; youre stoned 

America: Not all pain to be suppressed, and most pain doesnt require an ER visit. Many people do need pain relief, and this frantic desire to treat every little ache and discomfort makes it harder for us to threat the ones really hurting.

Edwin Leap is an emergency physician who blogs at edwinleap.com and is the author of the Practice Test and Life in Emergistan.

Image credit: Edwin Leap
What contributes to good mental health?

What makes us feel good about ourselves, what gives us that sense of well-being.

The question was asked by Caroline Crotty, psychotherapist and counsellor at an event as part of International Mental Health Week n Kilkenny. She said people should wake up every day and say to themselves; I am good enough. I am happy being me. I'm not perfect but I'll do.

She said it was importnt be happy or to try to attain happiness but she said some forms of happiness like retail therapy were transient and that happiness meant different things for different people and that everyone's feeling of happiness was different. She said it could be a warm memory from the past, a place or an event.

Carolines philosophy is that we can become happier and more confident within ourselves when we learn and practice relevant skills and techniques such as challenging negative thinking; being solutions-focused, exercising positive self-talk and controlling anxieties. She regards her role as a therapist as spotlighting the positive (because we are adept at spotting the negative.

The other speaker was John Lonergan, former governor of Mountjoy.

His philosophy is that change, personal or otherwise, cannot be enforced on people, believing that real and meaningful change only comes about through dialogue, consent and agreement.

There was large crowd for the event at Langton's Ballroom.
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Work has begun this morning on a new 10 million project to upgrade the Inistioge and Thomastown water supply schemes.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government John Paul Phelan was in Thomastown to turn the sod on the project at a special ceremony this morning. Irish Water, in partnership with Kilkenny County Council,says the investment will bring significant improvements to water quality in the area.

The project will target water quality and supply issues and will ultimately enable the removal of the Inistioge supply from the EPAs Remedial Action List. It will also enhance the supply and treatment capacity at Thomastown.

The Inistioge and Thomastown Water Supply Schemes currently operate independently, serving populations of 1,390 and 2,647 respectively. As part of this investment, it is proposed to link the two networks and supply the entire network from the Thomastown source. This will mean that the existing vulnerable source supplying Inistioge can be abandoned, thereby removing water quality issues that have led to that supply being included on the EPAs Remedial Action List.

Ward and Burke Construction Ltd will carry out these works on behalf of Irish Water. The work is currently progressing and will take approximately 18 months to complete. It will include the following elements:

This is a very significant investment and I am delighted to be here to turn the sod on a project which will have many benefits for this area," he said.

"In carrying out this work, Irish Water and Kilkenny County Council will ensure that the people of Thomastown and Inistioge have access to a safe, secure and reliable supply of drinking water, with the added benefit of removing the Inistioge supply from the Remedial Action List.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council David Fitzgerald also said it was a very welcome investment by Irish Water in Inistioge and Thomastown.

"Not only will it ensure that the community has access to a safe drinking water supply but it will also provide the resilience in the supply to support ongoing economic development in this area," he said.

As part of this project, approximately 16km of pipeline will be laid in public roads. Detailed traffic management plans will be put in place and this work will be limited to short sections to minimise disruption to residents, businesses and road users.

The works will also involve some short-term water shut-offs for a number of hours in each area while the pipes are being connected to the system. The project team will advise the local community in advance of any planned works and all customers will be given a minimum of 48 hours notice in advance of any disruption to supply.

Contact details for the project team will be provided to local residents and businesses in the event they have any queries.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. Thunder possible. High 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
The war of words continues, as over the weekend statements made by leaders in both the United States and North Korea have once again taken this verbal conflict up another level. The war of words 2.0 continues.

As reported by MarketWatch, A brace of Saturday afternoon tweets by President Donald Trump signaled a potentially new sort of resignation over North Koreas push toward nuclear armament and the U.S.s long-running effort to preclude that eventuality  this line, in particular: Sorry, but only one thing will work!

This tweet is a follow-up to recent statements made by President Trump indicating the real potential for military action. However, up until these most recent tweets, his fire and fury statements were in the context of a defensive retaliation for any moves initiated by the North Korean. It seems as though that line of reasoning has changed, at least in regards to his most recent statements.

These statements speak about the calm before the storm, which could easily be interpreted as yet another defensive statement threatening North Korea against making any initial moves. However, this weekends tweet stating that only one thing will work is obviously a veiled reference to military action.

This weekend Kim Jong Un doubled down on his desire to become a nuclear power by stating this program is a treasured sword protecting the countrys independence.

The rogue dictator of North Korea spoke to the Central Committee of the Ruling Workers Party saying that his nuclear weapons are a powerful deterrent protecting peace on the Korean Peninsula. He added that the missiles are a precious fruition borne by its peoples bloody struggle for defending the destiny and sovereignty of the country from the protracted nuclear threats of the U.S. imperialists.

These weekend statements quickly fell onto the ears of market participants and traders who began bidding up gold prices in overseas trading yesterday. In the United States, market participants continue to bid up gold pricing, resulting in a gain today of $11.50. As of 430 EDT, the most active Decembers gold contract is currently fixed at $1286.40.

Todays upside spike in gold pricing is primarily due to traders bidding up gold. According to the Kitco Gold Index spot gold is currently fixed at $1283.50. This is a $7.40 gain, with only one dollar of todays gain directly attributable to a weakening U.S. dollar, which is only fractionally lower, and the remaining $6.40 gain directly attributable to buyers in the market.

For those who would like a deeper analysis, simply use this link.

Wishing you as always, good trading,
By Swati Pandey and Charlotte Greenfield

SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The New Zealand dollar sank to four-month lows on Monday after a final vote count in the country's tight general election failed to identify a clear winner, while its Australian cousin loitered near a 3-month trough.

The New Zealand dollar declined for a third straight session to $0.7050, a level not seen since May 30, from $0.7090 on Friday. It was last down 0.3 percent at $0.7071, having fallen in eight out of the last ten sessions.

The losses have largely come on election-related uncertainties at home, with the near-term fate of the kiwi likely determined by the composition of the ruling coalition which is expected to be known this week.

The final vote count released over the weekend showed the ruling centre-right National Party lost some ground to the centre-left Labour-Green bloc, compared with the preliminary tally announced on the Sept. 23 poll day.

That means the small nationalist New Zealand First Party remains in a kingmaking position.

National is sitting on 56 seats and Labour and Greens together have 54 seats, leaving them both reliant on NZ First's nine seats to meet the 61 seats needed for a majority in parliament in New Zealand's proportional representation system. "The downward bias for the NZD...is likely to continue following the tallying of the final vote count," said Con Williams, economist at ANZ Bank. "Volatility could pick up on government negotiation headlines as the week progresses."

NZ First's Winston Peters is continuing talks on Monday with both Labour and National as the clock counts down to its self-imposed deadline of Oct. 12 to announce which party it would support.

Peters told reporters that a morning meeting with the National Party was "great" and that he would meet with the ruling party again later in the day.

Economists say the kiwi would likely rally if Prime Minister Bill English emerges victorious but a Labour win might lead to further losses in the currency with curbs on immigration and trade renegotiation on its agenda.

Across the Tasman Sea, the Australian dollar hovered at $0.7777, from a near three-month trough of $0.7733.

The currency has tumbled 3.5 percent since hitting a more than two-year peak of $0.8125 last month as U.S. policymakers look to unwind stimulus, a contrast to Australia where rates are expected to remain at record lows for at least another year.

The Aussie posted its fourth straight weekly decline on Friday.

New Zealand government bonds gained, sending yields about 2 basis points higher at the long-end of the curve.

Australian government bond futures were mixed, with the three-year bond contract flat at 97.850. The 10-year contract slipped 1 basis points to 97.1450.

(Editing by Sam Holmes)
BEIJING, Oct 9 (Reuters) - China Construction Bank Corp (CCB) , the country's second biggest lender, has appointed Tian Guoli as its chairman, months after sources told Reuters that he will leave the smaller Bank of China to head CCB.

"Mr. Tian Guoli serves as chairman and executive director of the board from 9 October 2017," CCB said in filings to the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges, where it is listed.

In late July, sources told Reuters that Tian, then the boss Bank of China Ltd , had been nominated as CCB's chairman. Tian was replaced by Chen Siqing. (Reporting by Zhang Min in Beijing and Lee Chyen Yee in Singapore, editing by Louise Heavens)
* New listings have struggled as investors wary of risk

* Aiming to establish 1 million ounce mine

* Malian government seen as investment-friendly

By Barbara Lewis

LONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - West African-focused Cora Gold Limited on Monday lists on London's AIM market for small companies to raise 3.45 million pounds ($4.5 million) to fund exploration at its flagship Sanankoro project in Mali.

The company, whose shares start trading at 0700 GMT, is the latest in a string of junior miners to launch on the London market this year as the sector slowly recovers from the commodity price crash of 2015-16.

CEO Jon Forster said Cora Gold would stand out as an African small-cap exploration and development company.

"We will occupy a niche in the London market," he said in an interview. "There are very few peer comparisons, very few junior explorers and this is the sector that has the greatest chance of making multiples for investors."

It also offers some of the highest risk and junior miners have struggled to attract investment this year even as the major companies have rallied, led by Glencore , which has embarked on a series of deals as it moves from recovery to growth. Forster said Cora Gold was still relatively low-risk as historic exploration work has established the presence of gold and his team has a track record of finding resources.

His aim over the next 9 months is to demonstrate the value of a 14 kilometre stretch of gold territory.

"We believe we have very good potential to increase the scale of the discovery to 1 million ounces of in-situ gold and create a standalone mine," he said.

Other miners that have listed in London this year are Rainbow Rare Earths , active in Burundi, Jangada Mines , which is exploring for gold and platinum in Brazil, Phoenix Global Mining , developing a U.S. copper mine, Russian gold miner Polyus, , and Altus Strategies , which describes itself as a "project generator". With the exception of Polyus, listed on the main market, new small-cap listings have tended to struggle.

One issue is concerns about political risk as the sector disputes South Africa's proposed mining law and Tanzania's president has introduced a series of measures to increase greatly the nation's share of profits from mining. Forster said he was confident the Malian government would remain friendly.

"Mali is very pragmatic. It understands the advantage of having a thriving mining sector," he said.

($1 = 0.7656 pounds)

(Editing by Louise Heavens)
MILAN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is still concerned with the stock of non-performing loans clogging up bank balance sheets, ECB Executive Board member Yves Mersch said on Monday.

The ECB last week issued new proposals that will force euro zone banks from next year to set aside more cash to cover newly classified bad loans and may also present additional measures to tackle the sector's huge stock of bad debt. Italy - whose banks hold nearly 30 percent of the euro zone's 915 billion euros of bad loans - has reacted angrily to the new measures, asking the ECB to soften them following a public consultation that will be held until Dec. 8.

"Since we have found already a solution for NPLs going forward we are still concerned we have to deal with the existing stock," Mersch told a conference in Milan when asked about Italy's concerns over the new proposals.

"If we have rules in Europe, we cannot always put forward cultural exceptions, especially if these cultural exceptions are ... home-made," he said.

He added that in order to speed up the European banking union "you need to bring your own house in order in every country."

(Reporting by Valentina Za, writing by Silvia Aloisi)
At the reception (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)

During the reception, Mr. Nhan appreciated friendship and cooperation activities by the two peoples, stressing that they are practical activities to mark the 50year since Vietnam and Cambodia set up diplomatic relations, contributing to reinforcing and developing the traditional friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries.

He confirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people, including authorities and people in Ho Chi Minh city, would do their utmost to foster and develop the relationship with Cambodia, to the benefit of both countries, and contribute to maintaining peace and development in the region and in the world.

Noting that Ho Chi Minh city has made positive contribution to the strong development of the Vietnam - Cambodia relationship in all areas, including politics, economics, education, tourism, trade and investment, he said that Ho Chi Minh city has accelerated exchanges of delegations, tourism and trade links, investment promotion and humanitarian programs in Cambodia.

According to Men Sam An, Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Association, in realization of the agreements signed by the two countries leaders, the Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Association has carried out diverse cooperative programs with Vietnam.

She pledged to promote people-to-people diplomatic activities, and educate the young generation to maintain and increase solidarity between the two countries, for peace and development in each country.

Thanking Ho Chi Minh citys leader for the reception, Vu Mao, President of the Vietnam - Cambodia Association, expressed his hope that the city would continue to carry out friendly and cooperative activities with Cambodian people, especially giving assistance to Cambodian students in the city and increasing exchanges among the youth.

The 4th Vietnamese - Cambodian people's cooperation and friendship meeting is being held by the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations from October 7th-12th in Ho Chi Minh city, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces./.
* Emerging markets index returns get more concentrated

* Tech sector drives lion's share of performance

* Alibaba, Tencent valuations balloon as ETF inflows increase

* Active manager stock picks move closer to the index

By Helen Reid

LONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The boom in emerging market technology stocks is becoming a problem for fund managers of all stripes.

The soaring market capitalisation of a handful of companies such as China's Alibaba and Tencent is steadily lifting their weighting in the MSCI emerging equities index .

This means investors in funds that track indexes (exchange traded funds or ETFs) - who want exposure to a range of companies for a lower fund management fee - are finding themselves increasingly exposed to a single sector.

Meanwhile, active fund managers, who justify charging higher fees for their individual stock-picking expertise, are under pressure to buy those tech stocks to ensure their funds keep up with the index's gains.

And with both sets of investor chasing the same thing, the risk of dramatic outflows increases if the sector falters.

"It's the opposite of what you are trying to do with an ETF - you want cheap diversified exposure but you end up being concentrated in basically 10 stocks," said Rory McPherson, head of investment strategy at Psigma, who holds active EM funds.

The biggest five emerging market companies in the index are tech firms Alibaba, Tencent, Samsung , Naspers and Taiwan Semiconductor .

They comprise almost 19 percent of the index's market capitalization. That is a bigger chunk than the S&P 500 where the top five firms - Alphabet , Apple , Facebook , Microsoft , and Amazon - make up 13 percent .

The increasing use of ETFs has helped boost valuations further because they must follow the index weighting.

And the index's concentration has intensified as valuations rose - the five companies' share was 13.9 percent in January.

DISCOMFORT

The shift towards passive investing, evident across most asset classes, has come into focus in emerging equities, which have enjoyed a sparkling 60 percent rally since early-2016. But the sector may also illustrate the concentration risks that exchange-traded funds can bring to portfolios.

Emerging equity funds have received some $56 billion so far this year, Lipper data shows. Of this, $23 billion went into ETFs.

Investors are keen on tech companies which are making profits by disrupting the status quo in sectors from media and advertising to retail and industrials.

But the dependence on technology for returns is causing some discomfort among investors who prefer shares in emerging market car or beverage makers for instance for exposure to consumer demand in the developing world.

Ed Kerschner, chief portfolio strategist at Columbia Threadneedle, says the tech companies' performance mostly reflects that of their U.S. peers rather than providing exposure to developing countries.

"The question is are you buying emerging markets or are you buying technology?" Kerschner said. "The risk of buying EM benchmarks is that you are not diversifying away from the S&P."

As a result of the tech rally, the conventional market-cap weighted emerging equity index, with bigger weightings in companies with the largest market caps, has begun strongly outperforming the index where all companies are assigned the same weighting.

The success can also be reversed. Any faltering by the tech leaders would have a proportionally weighty effect on ETFs, potentially spurring big outflows.

Scott Snyder, co-portfolio manager of the ICON emerging markets fund, estimates that the four biggest tech firms have accounted for a third of 2017's emerging equity returns.

"A lot of people that might just be piling into passive strategies in EM could be overly exposed to technology right now," ICON's Snyder said.

THE "WRONG" REASON

There are also signs that many active emerging market managers, who would have had more diverse investments than ETF funds, are sticking more closely to the benchmark.

Data from Copley Fund Research shows the average active share of global emerging market funds - the extent to which their holdings differ from the index - has fallen to 74.7 percent from a peak of 78 percent in April 2016.

Partly this is due to the addition in May 2016 of U.S.-listed Chinese firms to the emerging benchmark - because active investors held these stocks before their inclusion in the index - but competition from ETFs may also play a role.

"The effect of rising ETF flows and narrowing breadth has been to push active investors to get closer to their benchmarks," said Edward Cole, a portfolio manager at GLG Man Group.

Even among active managers, many may be holding tech stocks for the "wrong" reason - fear of underperforming the index, said Kiran Nandra-Koehrer, senior product specialist in Pictet Asset Management's emerging equities team.

While many investors are wary of paying higher fees for funds to replicate the index, active managers don't want to risk missing out on meaty returns from tech.

A streak of losses and fund closures remains fresh in their mind, with 746 emerging market funds liquidated in the last five years, according to Lipper data.

But Psigma's McPherson cited one of his holdings, Mirabaud's Emerging Markets fund, which has returned over 33 percent this year, outgunning the MSCI index's 29 percent. That shows an active manager can overcome concentration risks.

"We would rather our active managers weight to the small tech companies that are better value," McPherson said.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Breadth of returns in Emerging Markets Active EM funds shift closer to the index Weight of top five companies in global indexes ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Sujata Rao and Claire Millhench, Graphics by Helen Reid and Ritvik Carvalho; editing by Anna Willard)
LUXEMBOURG, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Greece's bailout programme will proceed as planned, euro zone financial leaders said on Monday, shrugging off concerns that the new German government may harden its stance on the aid plan and debt relief for Athens.

After German elections in September, Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right party will start talks next week to form a coalition government with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), whose leader has criticised outgoing Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble for not being tough enough on Greece .

The head of euro zone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, said the agreement on the Greek 86-billion-euro bailout was "solid" and could not be changed by new governments.

"Individual elections in individual countries cannot change the programme," Dijsselbloem told reporters on his arrival at a meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Luxembourg.

Greece is expected to implement a number of belt-tightening reforms agreed with euro zone creditors by the end of the year, before it can exit the bailout programme, the third since 2010, in August.

But differences between Athens and euro zone negotiators on reforms have often delayed so-called "reviews" of the Greek programme that are necessary for the disbursement of subsequent loan tranches to Greece.

Athens is also seeking a further reduction of its debt with euro zone creditors - an issue that has long been contentious in Germany and could become even more so with the new government. "I'm very confident that Germany (..) will remain a decisive pro-European partner," the EU economics commissioner Pierre Moscovici told reporters. "I'm quite sure we will find solutions in Greece as we did in the past," he said. "We must concentrate on the essential and the essential is not this or that political comment about this or that political coalition."

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio, editing by Ed Osmond)
(Kitco News) - Fund managers continued to run from bullish gold positions in the latest reporting week for Commodity Futures Trading Commission data, although the third straight weekly decline may have cleared the way for some buying to return to the market, analysts say.

Oct. 3 was the cutoff data for the most recent CFTC data. During the week-long period covered by the report, Comex December gold fell to $23.10 to $1,274.10 an ounce, while December silver lost 19 cents to $16.655.

Net long or short positioning in the report reflect the difference between the total number of bullish (long) and bearish (short) contracts. Traders monitor the data to gauge the general mood of speculators, although excessively high or low numbers are viewed by many as signs of overbought or oversold markets that may be ripe for price corrections.

Following the recent weakness, the latest CFTC data showed gold positioning at the least bullish level in close to two months as longs were trimmed, said Sam Laughlin, senior precious-metals trader with MKS (Switzerland) S.A.

The disaggregated report shows that money managers cut their net-long position to 179,444 futures contracts in the week to Oct. 3 from195,976 the week before. This was mostly the result of long liquidation, as the number of longs fell by 14,773 lots. There was also some fresh selling, as reflected by a 1,759 increase in gross shorts.

Factors behind bulls exodus from long positions included a stronger U.S. dollar, expectations for more Federal Reserve monetary tightening after comments from policymakers, and some abatement  as of Oct. 3, at least  of geopolitical worries, said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst with at Price Futures Group. Additionally, the price slide itself no doubt triggered further buying, he explained.



There was some discouragement in the markets performance, Flynn said. So some people threw in the towel.



The net long is now down by 29% from the peak of 253,517 lots as of Sept. 12. However, gold prices have risen since Oct. 3 the cutoff for the latest CFTC data, trading as high as $1,288 so far Monday.

It might be good that we got rid of some of that length, Flynn said. Now we can start rallying again because of the weak jobs (U.S. nonfarm payrolls) number.

Meanwhile, in silver, money managers net long fell to 55,447 futures contracts from 57,866 the prior week. The decline was due to a combination of liquidation (gross longs fell by 1,141 lots) and fresh selling (total shorts rose by 1,278).
Oct 9 (Reuters) - Below are the ratings awarded by Investment Information Credit Rating Agency Ltd. (ICRA) for local debt instruments as of October 6, 2017.

COMPANY INSTRUMENT RATING AMOUNT MOVEMENT

(RS.MLN) ------ ---------- ------ ----- --------- SHORT TERM RATINGS: ------------------- Allevard Iai Suspensions Pvt Non-fund based - BG ICRA A4 1.8 Reaffirmed Ltd Altico Capital India Pvt Ltd CP Programme ICRA A1+ 5000 Assigned /

Outstanding Aseem Exports Non-FBL ICRA A4 15 Assigned Cruso Granito Pvt Ltd Non-FBL ICRA A4 30 Assigned Susee Motors (India) Pvt Ltd ST Non-fund Based ICRA A4 30 Review process is underway Tata Global Beverages Ltd Non-fund based ICRA A1+ 240 Reaffirmed Tata Global Beverages Ltd ST debt (including ICRA A1+ 7150 Reaffirmed /

CP)** Assigned ** Total borrowing under CP and fund based facilities from banks to remain within an overall limit of Rs 715 crore

LONG TERM RATINGS: ------------------- Allevard Iai Suspensions Pvt FB - TL ICRA B+ 113 Reaffirmed Ltd Allevard Iai Suspensions Pvt Fund based - CC ICRA B+ 25 Reaffirmed Ltd Allevard Iai Suspensions Pvt Fund based - OverdraftICRA B+ 20 Reaffirmed Ltd Allevard Iai Suspensions Pvt Unallocated limits ICRA B+ 5.2 Reaffirmed Ltd /ICRA A4 Arihant Dream Infra Projects LT-Fundbased Limits ICRA D 149 Ltd Issuer did not cooperate; based on best available information Aseem Exports FB Limits ICRA BB- 82 Assigned Aseem Exports Unallocated Limits ICRA BB- 0.5 Assigned Chhaddami Lal Jagdish Saran FB FacLT ICRA B+ 99 Charitable Trust Issuer not cooperating Cruso Granito Pvt Ltd FB Limits ICRA B+ 600 Assigned Crystal Sea Foods Pvt Ltd BLR ICRA B+ 295

/ICRA A4 Issuer not cooperating Dedicated Freight Corridor Credit Opinion ICRA AAA - - Corporation Of India Ltd Review process is underway Graphic Era Educational Society LT FBL ICRA BBB- 2141 Graphic Era Educational Society Proposed/ Unallocated ICRA BBB- 1859

Bk Fac Kissan Poultry (India) Pvt. FB Fac ICRA D 136.1 assigned Ltd. Prime Home Loan Trust Ii PTC Series A ICRA AA(SO) 1076.7 Assigned Sri Radha Krishna Rice Industry FBL - CC ICRA B+ 112.5 Reaffirmed Sri Radha Krishna Rice Industry Unallocated limits ICRA B+ 37.5 Reaffirmed Susee Motors (India) Pvt Ltd LT Fund Based ICRA B 30 Review process is underway Symcom Communication BLR ICRA B+ 250

/ICRA A4 Issuer not cooperating Tata Global Beverages Ltd LT Debt (including ICRA AA+ 250 Reaffirmed

NCD) Tata Global Beverages Ltd LT Debt (including ICRA AA+ 3250 Assigned

NCD) Tata Global Beverages Ltd LT Debt (including ICRA AA+ 3250^ Withdrawn

NCD) ^Rs. 325 crore NCD has been fully repaid Tata Global Beverages Ltd Fund Based WC Limits##ICRA AA+ 4000 Reaffirmed

/A1+ ## Long term fund based limits can also be utilized as short term fund based limits, wherein the short term rating of ICRA A1+ would be applicable -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $: Rating watch with positive implication #: Rating Watch with Developing implications @: Rating Watch with Negative Implications %: Rating under Credit Watch wd -Rating Stands Withdrawn sp -Rating Suspended pp -Principal Protected pn -Principal Not Protected ICRA may apply + or - signs for ratings to reflect a comparative standing within the category. BG-Bank Guarantee; CC-Cash Credit; CCPS-Cumulative Convertible Preference Share; CD-Certificate of Deposit; CLO-Collateralized Loan Obligation; CPA-Claims Paying Ability; CP-Commercial Paper; CPS-convertible preference shares; CRPS- Cumulative Redeemable Convertible Preference shares; DDB-Deep Discount Bond; EPBI-Exchange premium bond; FBL-Fund Based Limits; FRB/FRN -Floating Rate Bond/Note; ICD -Inter Corporate Deposit; ITD-Immediate Term Debt; LOC-Letter of Credit; LT -Long Term; LTB -Long Term Borrowing; LTD -Long Term Debt; MOCD-multiple option convertible debenture; MTD -Medium term Debenture; MTN-medium term notes; NCD(SO) - Non-Convertible Debenture-(Structured Obligation); NCD-Non-convertible Debentures; NCRB-Non Convertible Redeemable Bonds; NM-Not Meaningful; OCD-optionally convertible debenture; OD-Over Draft; OFCD-Optionally Fully Convertible Debenture; PCD-Partially Convertible Debenture; PCN-partly convertible notes; PCPS-Partly Convertible Preference Share; POCD-partly optional; PP-privately placed; PSPC-Post Shipment & Packing Credit; PS-Preference Shares; PTC-Pass Through Certificates; RPS-Redeemable Preference Shares; SCPN-secured convertible preference notes; SDO-Structured Debt Obligation; SLR-Statutory Liquidity Ratio; SO-Structured Obligation; SPCD - Secured Partly Convertible Debentures; SPN-secured premium notes; STB-Short Term Bond; STD-Short Term Debentures; ST-Short Term; Sub. Bonds-Subordinate Bonds; TB-Taxable Bond; TFB-Tax Free Bond; TL-Term Loan; TOCD-triple option convertible debentures. (Mumbai Rate Reporting Unit + 91 22 6180 7222 / 3317 7222 , E-mail at rru.data@thomsonreuters.com)

Keywords: INDIA RATINGS/
BERLIN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Policymakers attending IMF and World Bank meetings this week should agree to end ultra-loose monetary policies and high fiscal debt, a senior German government official said on Monday.

"It would be an excellent time this autumn to get a strong commitment from (the meeting in) Washington to put an end on excessive debts and loose policies," said Ludger Schuknecht, chief economist of German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.

"If we want to press ahead with what is really needed, we need an exit from the extraordinary now," Schuknecht added.

Schuknecht said the IMF in its latest review had rightly pointed to increasing risks to financial stability resulting from over-expansionary monetary policy.

"Search for yield by investors around the world, risk of fiscal dominance looming for central banks, misallocation in the real economy all put our common goal of strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth at risk," he warned.

(Reporting by Michael Nienaber and Gernot Heller,; editing by Joseph Nasr)
BEIJING, Oct 9 (Reuters) - China should continue to open up its economy, reform its exchange rate system and ease capital account controls, Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the country's central bank, told Chinese business magazine Caijing in an interview.

Zhou said the timing of reforms is very important and that the window of opportunity should be seized when it opens, according to the interview published on Monday. Costs will rise if the opportunity for reforms is missed, he said.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo and Elias Glenn; editing by Mark Heinrich)
(Adds note about Grupa Azoty) Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Monday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours):

LG CHEM'S CAR BATTERY FACTORY Korean firm LG Chem plans to invest over 4 billion zlotys ($1.09 billion) and employ over 2,000 people in its new plant in Poland that is to produce batteries for electric cars, Puls Biznesu daily reported citing an unnamed sources.

The investment is likely to be officially announced on Thursday, Puls Biznesu said.

Last week, Poland's Ministry of Economic Development sent out letters to media inviting them to the announcement about the LG Chem's plant that would become Europe's largest car battery factory, but the ministry later postponed the event.

JUDICIARY BILLS

Poland's ruling PiS party and President Andrzej Duda say they are closer to a compromise on overhauling the judiciary, an issue that has divided the once close political allies and worried the European Union. GRUPA AZOTY Poland's anti-corruption authority CBA has arrested the head of the supervisory board of state-run Grupa Azoty in a case concerning a demand for a 40 million zlotys bribe, CBA and state news agency PAP said.

OPINION POLL

Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is supported by 40 percent of voters, while the largest opposition party Civic Platform (PO) is at 21 percent, a survey for Rzeczpospolita daily by pollster IBRIS showed.

ALLEGRO

Poland's competition watchdog UOKiK has received signals from private sellers that online marketplace Allegro could have promoted its own products disadvantaging other sellers, Rzeczpospolita daily reported.

The daily quoted the head of UOKiK as saying that an important announcement will be published by UOKiK on the issue.

KONSALNET

Poland's second-largest security firm Konsalnet is considering debuting on the Warsaw stock exchange , Parkiet daily reported.

****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****

For other related news, double click on: Polish equities E.Europe equities Polish money Polish debt Eastern Europe All emerging markets Hot stocks Stock markets Market debt news Forex news For real-time index quotes, double click on: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX ($1 = 3.6735 zlotys)

(Reporting by Warsaw Bureau; Editing by Toby Chopra)
* No sign of compromise after big pro-Spain protests

* Organisers say protest represents "silent majority"

* Catalan leader could declare independence on Tuesday

* Spain PM Rajoy does not rule out suspending Catalan autonomy

* France says won't recognise unilateral independence

* More firms to consider moving HQ outside Catalonia

By Sam Edwards and Paul Day

BARCELONA/MADRID, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The Spanish government and its Catalonia region showed no signs of compromise on Monday, a day after hundreds of thousands of pro-Spain unionists protested in Barcelona against Catalan leaders' plans to declare independence as early as this week.

Spain fears the Catalan parliament could declare independence on Tuesday, when the regional government's leader is due to speak to the assembly in the wake of a banned referendum on Oct. 1. Catalan officials say people voted overwhelmingly for secession.

However, on the eve of Tuesday's parliamentary session, neither Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy nor Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont showed signs of entering into talks, with each buoyed by large protests on both sides of the independence divide.

The Catalan crisis has presented Spain with its biggest political challenge since it became a democracy four decades ago.

Losing Catalonia, which has its own language and culture, is almost unthinkable for Madrid. It would deprive Spain of a fifth of its economic output and more than a quarter of its exports. A stream of Catalonia-based firms, including its two largest banks, have moved their legal bases outside the region.

There is widespread opposition to a Catalan breakaway among people in the rest of the country and also among a large section of the Catalan population. The majority of the region's unionists boycotted the Oct. 1 referendum, which was banned by Madrid and disrupted by a violent police crackdown.

The European Union has also shown no interest in an independent Catalonia, despite an appeal by Puigdemont for Brussels to mediate in the crisis.

France, which borders Catalonia, said on Monday it would not recognise a unilateral independence declaration. On Sunday, a crowd estimated by local police to number 350,000, took to the streets of the Catalan capital Barcelona, waving Spanish and Catalan flags and carrying banners saying "Catalonia is Spain" and "Together we are stronger".

The show of support for Madrid helped calm Spanish markets on Monday, along with comments on Friday from credit rating agencies Moody's and DBRS that they expected Spain to remain united. Spanish borrowing costs fell to a one-week low and the main share index touched a week high. PROTESTS, NO TALKS

With Puigdemont under pressure to back down, there is speculation he may baulk at moving an independence motion on Tuesday, or that he might call snap regional polls, turning them into a de facto, legal referendum on independence.

Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy has not ruled out removing Catalonia's government and calling fresh regional elections himself if the region claims independence. He says he could also suspend the region's existing autonomous status.

The Catalan authorities say more than 90 percent of those who voted backed secession, but opinion polls on the issue suggest the region is more closely divided. Turn-out for the referendum was 43 percent.

Sunday's anti-independence demonstration, which included Catalans and people from other parts of Spain, underlined how the dispute has riven the region itself. A month ago, a million people rallied in the city to support independence.

"We feel both Catalan and Spanish," Araceli Ponze, 72, said during Sunday's rally. "We are facing a tremendous unknown. We will see what happens this week but we have to speak out very loudly so they know what we want."

Puigdemont will address the Catalan parliament at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Tuesday on "the current political situation" amid speculation he could ask the assembly to declare independence.

Puigdemont said in an interview broadcast on Catalan television on Sunday that a law passed by the Catalan parliament preparing the way for the referendum called for a declaration of independence in the event of a "yes" vote.

"We will apply what the law says," he said, according to a partial transcript released by TV3.

Puigdemont said he had not been in contact with the Madrid government for some time because Spain refused to discuss independence.

"What is happening in Catalonia is real, whether they like it or not. Millions of people have voted, who want to decide. We have to talk about this," he said.

Rajoy has said repeatedly he will not talk to the Catalan leaders unless they drop their plans to declare independence.

Madrid sent thousands of national police to the region to prevent the vote. About 900 people were injured when officers used rubber bullets and batons against voters in scenes that shocked Spain and the world, and escalated the dispute.

The political stand-off has pushed banks and companies to move their legal headquarters outside Catalonia.

The boards of Catalonia-based infrastructure firm Abertis , telecoms company Cellnex and property group Inmobiliaria Colonial will meet on Monday to discuss moving, sources said. Major lenders Caixabank and Sabadell have already resolved to leave the region.

(Additional reporting by Raquel Castillo and Robert Hetz in Madrid, Elisabeth O'Leary in Edinburgh and Madeline Chambers in Berlin; Writing by Mark Bendeich; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
(Kitco News) - Gold is drawing some support from bargain hunting after holding around a widely followed moving average, plus there is buying from geopolitical worries, said George Gero, managing director with RBC Wealth Management.

As of 9:26 a.m. EDT, Comex December gold was $8.20 higher to $1,283.10 an ounce. Gero said the gold market is back to the basics, supported by factors that tend to result in safe-haven buying, such as worries about the U.S. political situation, North Korea and Venezuela.

Participants in the key-gold buying nation of China have also returned from a week-long holiday, he noted. Further, gold held at a moving average last week, thus bargain hunters are slowly stepping in, he said. December gold held just above the 200-day average that currently passes through $1,259.40 and has now moved back above the 100-day average around $1,279.

Expectations of another Federal Reserve rate hike are pretty much priced into the market, but nevertheless this remains a worry for traders, so rallies could be muted, Gero added.
MADRID, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The leader of Spain's Socialists, the main opposition to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative People's Party (PP), said on Monday the party would back government action if Catalonia makes a unilateral declaration of independence on Tuesday. "We'll support the response of the rule of law in the face of any attempt to break social harmony," Pedro Sanchez said during a conference in Barcelona.

(Reporting by Blanca Rodriguez; Writing by Paul Day; Editing by Adrian Croft)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
Delegates at the meeting

Congratulating Slovakia on its National Day, Bui Quang Hai, President of the Vietnam - Slovakia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh city, shared that tens of thousands of Vietnamese cadres and scientists had been trained in Czech and Slovakia. Many of them have held important positions in the Vietnamese Party and State, becoming bridges for the good Vietnam - Slovakia friendship relationship, he said.

He appreciated the support of the Slovak Embassy and the Slovak Consulate in Ho Chi Minh city for the activities of the Vietnam - Slovakia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh city. According to Mr. Hai, the building of the Friendship Tower in Ho Chi Minh city will become a typical symbol for the good traditional friendship between Vietnamese and Slovak peoples.

Over the past years, the friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Slovakia has continuously developed, with the two-way trade turnover of some USD450 million in 2016. So far Vietnam has reported 8 projects invested by Slovakia, with registered capital of nearly USD245 million, ranking 35th of 122 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Vietnam has also invested one project in Slovakia.

Charge d'affaires from the Slovak Embassy in Vietnam Le Hong Quang confirmed that the Vietnam - Slovakia traditional relationship had been reinforced and increased in all areas, including automobile manufacturing, mechanics, industrial devices, electronics, infrastructure, information and technology, and consumer products. He also pledged to make favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Slovakia./.
OSLO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Norway's central bank gave the following result of an auction for its NST 40 treasury bill on Monday. Allotment Price 99.6110 Yield (percent) 0.42 Alloted Volume (billion crowns) 3.000 Total volume of bids (billion crowns) 6.943 The Norwegian central bank said the allotment rate on the lowest accepted bids was 57 percent.

(Reporting by Oslo newsroom)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
ISTANBUL, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Here are news, reports and events that may affect Turkish financial markets on Monday.

The lira stood at 3.7098 against the U.S. dollar at 0531 GMT, tumbling from 3.6160 at Friday's close.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year bond was at 11.07 percent in spot trade on Friday and rose to 11.08 percent in Monday-dated trade.

The main BIST 100 share index fell 0.19 percent to 104,137.48 points on Friday.

GLOBAL MARKETS

Chinese shares climbed on Monday after a week-long break as a disappointing survey on the country's service sector did little to dent optimism on global growth, while political uncertainty caused turbulence for the Turkish and British currencies. Liquidity was lacking with Japan and South Korea on holiday and a partial holiday in the United States where stocks will be open but bonds will be closed. U.S., TURKEY ROW

The U.S. mission in Turkey and subsequently the Turkish mission in Washington mutually scaled back visa services after a U.S. consulate employee was arrested in Turkey, in the latest sign of fraying diplomatic relations between the NATO allies. Last week, the U.S. mission employee in Istanbul was arrested on charges of links to a cleric blamed for last year's failed coup, a move condemned by Washington as baseless. SYRIA

A Turkish army reconnaissance team scouted out Syria's Idlib province on Sunday, a senior Syrian rebel said, before an expected military operation to impose peace in the bitterly contested Syrian northwest. "When we don't go to Syria, Syria comes to us," Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told members of his ruling AK Party. "If we didn't take our measures, bombs would fall on our cities." ERDOGAN

President Tayyip Erdogan visits Kiev and holds talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko. He is scheduled to hold a news conference at Istanbul's Ataturk airport before his departure (0730 GMT).

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION The Turkish Statistical Institute will release industrial production data for August (0700 GMT).

For other related news, double click on:

Turkish politics Turkish equities Turkish money Turkish debt Turkish hot stocks Forex news All emerging market news All Turkish news For real-time quotes, double click on:

Istanbul National-100 stock index , interbank lira trading , lira bond trading (Writing by Daren Butler)
Oct 9 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening 2 points higher at 7,524.7 on Monday, according to financial bookmakers.

* HSBC: HSBC wants to appoint company insider John Flint as its next chief executive and has approached regulators seeking their approval, Britain's Sunday Times newspaper said. * MONARCH AIRLINES/ BOEING: Boeing Co had pumped in more than 100 million pounds ($130 million) into Britain's Monarch Airlines which collapsed last week, the Financial Times reported on Monday. * EASYJET/AIR BERLIN: Talks between the insolvent carrier Air Berlin and easyJet over the sale of up to 30 planes are at risk of falling apart, according to a report in Germany's B.Z. newspaper on Monday. * SKY/ TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY FOX: Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper group said on Friday one of its titles had hacked the computer of a former intelligence officer, an admission which critics said showed why his takeover of European broadcaster Sky should be blocked. * BREXIT: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May will meet GlaxoSmithKline , Vodafone and HSBC and other major companies on Monday to hear what they want from talks on Britain's relationship with the EU after Brexit. * UK LENDING: Jon Cunliffe, deputy governor of the Bank of England, said he hoped a new requirement for lenders to hold more capital would dampen signs of a "bit of exuberance" in credit card and personal lending to British consumers. * CONSUMER SPENDING: British consumer spending jumped in September, but not by enough to halt a year-on-year decline that reflects rising living costs, a survey by payments company Visa showed on Friday. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.2 percent up at 7,522.87 points on Friday, as political uncertainties linked to Theresa May's premiership pushed the pound lower, giving a boost to dollar-earning groups such as pharma stocks. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets

* UK CORPORATE DIARY: Centamin PLC Q3 Production XP Power Ltd Q3 Trading Update

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times > Other business headlines Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit * For Top News : (Reporting by Esha Vaish in Bengaluru)
* Spain Deputy PM

* No sign of compromise after big pro-Spain protests

* Organisers say protest represents "silent majority"

* Catalan leader could declare independence on Tuesday

* Spain PM Rajoy does not rule out suspending Catalan autonomy

* France says won't recognise unilateral independence

* More firms to consider moving HQ outside Catalonia

(Adds Deputy PM's comment, recasts)

By Sam Edwards and Paul Day

BARCELONA/MADRID, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Catalonia's secessionist leader came under intense pressure on Monday to abandon plans to declare independence from Spain after hundreds of thousands of unionists took to the streets at the weekend to protest against the region breaking away.

Spain fears the Catalan parliament will vote for independence on Tuesday, when Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is due to address the assembly in the wake of a banned Oct. 1 referendum in which Catalan officials say people voted overwhelmingly for secession.

Under Catalonia's referendum law, deemed unconstitutional by Madrid, a vote for independence on Tuesday would start a six-month process that would envisage divorce talks with Spain before regional elections and a final act of separation.

But the Spanish government, buoyed by Sunday's protests in Barcelona, the Catalan capital, made it clear on Monday it would respond immediately to any such vote.

"I'm calling on the sensible people in the Catalan government...don't jump off the edge because you'll take the people with you," Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said in an interview with COPE radio station.

"If there is a unilateral declaration of independence there will be decisions made to restore law and democracy."

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has not ruled out removing Catalonia's government and calling new regional elections if it claims independence.

The stakes are high for Spain as it faces its biggest political crisis since it became a democracy four decades ago.

Losing Catalonia, which has its own language and culture, would deprive Spain of a fifth of its economic output and more than a quarter of exports. A stream of Catalonia-based firms and banks have moved their legal bases outside the region.

The crisis has also reopened old divisions in a nation where fascism is a living memory easily revived by strong displays of nationalism.

Among many moderate Spaniards, though, there is widespread opposition to a breakaway, including in Catalonia. Most of the region's unionists boycotted the Oct. 1 referendum, which was banned by Madrid and marred by a violent police crackdown.

The European Union has also shown no interest in an independent Catalonia, despite an appeal by Puigdemont for Brussels to mediate in the crisis.

France, which borders Catalonia, said on Monday it would not recognise a unilateral independence declaration. On Sunday, a crowd estimated by local police to number 350,000, took to the streets of the Catalan capital Barcelona, waving Spanish and Catalan flags and carrying banners saying "Catalonia is Spain" and "Together we are stronger".

The show of support for Madrid helped calm Spanish markets on Monday, along with comments on Friday from credit rating agencies Moody's and DBRS that they expected Spain to remain united. Spanish borrowing costs fell to a one-week low and the main share index touched a week high. PROTESTS, NO TALKS

With Puigdemont under pressure to back down, there is speculation he may baulk at moving an independence motion on Tuesday and call snap regional polls, turning them into a de facto, legal referendum on independence.

But Puigdemont appeared resolute in a TV interview on Sunday, saying the region's referendum law called for a declaration of independence in the event of a "yes" vote.

"We will apply what the law says," he said, according to a partial transcript released by TV3.

Catalan authorities say about 90 percent of those who voted on Oct. 1 backed secession, but opinion polls suggest the region is more closely divided. Referendum turn-out was 43 percent.

Sunday's anti-independence demonstration, which included Catalans and people from other parts of Spain, underlined how the dispute has riven the region itself. A month ago, a million people rallied in the city to support independence.

"We feel both Catalan and Spanish," Araceli Ponze, 72, said during Sunday's rally. "We are facing a tremendous unknown. We will see what happens this week but we have to speak out very loudly so they know what we want."

Puigdemont will address the Catalan parliament at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Tuesday on "the current political situation" amid speculation he could ask the assembly to declare independence.

Puigdemont said on Sunday he had not been in contact with the Madrid government for some time because it refused to discuss independence.

"What is happening in Catalonia is real, whether they like it or not. Millions of people have voted, who want to decide. We have to talk about this," he said.

Rajoy has said repeatedly he will not talk to the Catalan leaders unless they drop their plans to declare independence.

Madrid sent thousands of national police to the region to prevent the vote. About 900 people were injured when officers used rubber bullets and batons against voters in scenes that shocked Spain and the world, and escalated the dispute.

The political stand-off has pushed banks and companies to move their legal headquarters outside Catalonia.

The boards of Catalonia-based infrastructure firm Abertis , telecoms company Cellnex and property group Inmobiliaria Colonial will meet on Monday to discuss moving, sources said. Banks Caixabank and Sabadell have already resolved to leave the region.

(Additional reporting by Raquel Castillo and Robert Hetz in Madrid, Elisabeth O'Leary in Edinburgh and Madeline Chambers in Berlin; Writing by Mark Bendeich; Editing by Julien Toyer and Angus MacSwan)
(Adds detail, background)

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The euro zone bailout fund should play a role in monitoring government fiscal policies and their compliance with EU budget rules while managing automatic debt restructuring of bailed-out governments, a German paper on euro zone reforms said.

The document, prepared for discussions of euro zone finance ministers on Monday in Luxembourg, lays out the views of Berlin in a debate on the future of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) - the lender of last resort to euro zone governments - on how to turn it into a European Monetary Fund.

Unlike the International Monetary Fund, which is also the lender of last resort for governments around the world, the ESM does not have policy-monitoring powers before a government is cut off from market borrowing and asks for a rescue programme.

"It is therefore important to expand the ESM's radar and give it a stronger role in terms of monitoring country risks," the German paper, seen by Reuters, said.

"The aim is to identify, in cooperation with other institutions, stability risks for and in Eurozone member states more effectively and at an earlier stage than in the past, and to monitor these risks so that they can be reduced by the affected countries themselves.

"The IMF's Article IV consultations could serve as a blueprint for this new role," it said.

But under EU treaties this role is reserved for the European Commission, which polices EU budget rules - the Stability and Growth Pact. It enforces limits on government borrowing and implements disciplinary steps for those who break them.

"Fiscal responsibilities and fiscal control belong together, whatever it takes," the paper said. "The ESM could gradually be given a stronger, neutral role with regard to the monitoring of the Stability and Growth Pact," it said.

The paper further said EU budget rules enforced by the Commission have become too complex and less predictable.

"This is why we have to develop these rules further, with the debt rule at least on an equal footing with the deficit rule. As long as national debt is on a declining path, national deficits could be treated flexibly," the paper said.

To better enforce fiscal discipline and ensure fair burden sharing between the ESM and private creditors, Germany proposes setting up a sovereign debt restructuring mechanism that would be known to investors before they buy government bonds.

If a government were to ask for a bailout, the maturities of its bonds would be automatically extended and, if debt sustainability required that, there would be a comprehensive debt restructuring.

Among the expanded tasks of the ESM, euro zone officials often mention becoming the financial backstop for the Single Resolution Fund for banks. But the German paper said this could only happen if proposals on reducing risks of failure of banks in the euro zone were stepped up.

The paper ruled out the ESM's role as a backstop for the yet-to-be-created European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) or a potential euro zone budget. It said the euro zone did not need a special budget to provide incentives for government to implement unpopular structural reforms.

"In this respect we should examine whether future euro members contributions to the EU budget could be better linked with structural reforms in the euro area, based on the Commission's country specific recommendations," it said.

It also said that ideas for deeper euro zone integration like a euro zone budget or an unemployment insurance scheme were economically not necessary in a stable monetary union.

It argued that the euro zone already had well developed welfare policies which worked as stabilisers during economic downturns.

Finally, the German paper dismissed Commission ideas of creating European Safe Bond, or a Sovereign Bond Back Security which the EU executive sees as a way to help differentiate risk in bank bond portfolios, now often dominated by paper from only the national sovereign.

"There is no demand in the market. We must be able to create real stability through reforms, not through complex and expensive financial engineering," the paper said.

(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; editing by Mark Heinrich)
(Adds company news items)

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 futures were down 0.19 percent ahead of the cash market open.

* HSBC: HSBC wants to appoint company insider John Flint as its next chief executive and has approached regulators seeking their approval, Britain's Sunday Times newspaper said. * MONARCH AIRLINES/ BOEING: Boeing Co had pumped in more than 100 million pounds ($130 million) into Britain's Monarch Airlines which collapsed last week, the Financial Times reported on Monday. * EASYJET/AIR BERLIN: Talks between the insolvent carrier Air Berlin and easyJet over the sale of up to 30 planes are at risk of falling apart, according to a report in Germany's B.Z. newspaper on Monday. * SKY/ TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY FOX: Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper group said on Friday one of its titles had hacked the computer of a former intelligence officer, an admission which critics said showed why his takeover of European broadcaster Sky should be blocked. * CORA GOLD: West African-focused Cora Gold Ltd on Monday lists on London's AIM market for small companies to raise 3.45 million pounds ($4.5 million) to fund exploration at its flagship Sanankoro project in Mali. * TRINITY MIRROR: Trinity Mirror , publisher of the Daily Mirror tabloid, said on Monday it was seeing signs of stronger demand for advertising in its national titles as a decline in like-for-like revenue improved slightly in the last quarter. * BREXIT: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May will meet GlaxoSmithKline , Vodafone and HSBC and other major companies on Monday to hear what they want from talks on Britain's relationship with the EU after Brexit. * UK LENDING: Jon Cunliffe, deputy governor of the Bank of England, said he hoped a new requirement for lenders to hold more capital would dampen signs of a "bit of exuberance" in credit card and personal lending to British consumers. * CONSUMER SPENDING: British consumer spending jumped in September, but not by enough to halt a year-on-year decline that reflects rising living costs, a survey by payments company Visa showed on Friday. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.2 percent up at 7,522.87 points on Friday, as political uncertainties linked to Theresa May's premiership pushed the pound lower, giving a boost to dollar-earning groups such as pharma stocks. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times > Other business headlines Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit * For Top News : (Reporting by Esha Vaish in Bengaluru)
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Mostly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 35F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 19F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
By Yoon Ja-young



Luxury brands operating here such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel as well as global tech giants Apple and Google are to be subject to external audits.



This follows a law revision aimed at preventing them from keeping corporate information secret.



The revision to the External Audit Law was recently approved at the National Assembly, laying the ground work for regulators to make limited liability companies publicly disclose key corporate information.



While limited liability companies are little different from corporations in terms of business operations, they are not obligated to make public disclosures.



According to the Financial Services Commission and the National Tax Service, the number of limited liability companies totaled 26,858 as of 2015, which is more than double the 12,091 from a decade ago. There has been suspicion that some firms are transforming their corporate structures to bypass public disclosure regulations.



While most Korean companies are operating as corporations, many of the Korean units of multinational companies operate as limited liability companies here. They include luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton Korea, Gucci Korea, Chanel Korea, Prada Korea and Hermes Korea, as well as IT giants Microsoft Korea, Apple Korea, Google Korea and Facebook Korea.



Some of them started operations as corporations, but switched to being limited liability companies. Louis Vuitton Korea, for instance, transformed its corporate structure in 2012, and Gucci Korea did the same in 2014. Apple Korea switched to its current form in 2009.



Avoiding disclosure rules means they are free from responsibilities society expects from them. Many foreign businesses operating here are criticized for channeling most of their earnings to their headquarters as dividends and royalties, while making little in the way of social contributions.



Limited liability companies can avoid criticism since they don't have to disclose information such as sales, earnings, dividends or donations.



The Financial Services Commission pushed for a revision of the law, to make such companies disclose this information.



Currently, corporations are subject to external audits if they have more than 12 billion won in assets. When considering that around 2,000 limited liability companies have over 12 billion won in assets, the number of companies newly subject to external audits will surpass 2,000.




Strategy and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon, left, talks with Standard & Poor's sovereign ratings global head Craig Parmelee during their meeting at Standard & Poor's headquarters in New York, Sept. 21 (local time). / Courtesy of Ministry of Strategy and Finance



By Nam Hyun-woo



Strategy and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon is expected to meet senior executives of the world's top credit rating houses in the United States, in what seems to be a preemptive effort to prevent a cut in South Korea's sovereign rating amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.



According to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Kim is scheduled to meet officials at Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings during his visit to Washington D.C. to attend the 2017 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund slated for Oct. 13 to 15.



Kim's meeting with ratings officials will come less than a month after he told ranking officials at the firms that South Korea's economic fundamentals are solid and risks coming from North Korea's continued provocations are contained during President Moon Jae-in's visit to the U.S. in September.



Given the frequency of their meetings, it is interpreted that the South Korean government's efforts to control the country's sovereign ratings preemptively, in order to prevent a massive capital flight or other financially negative events stemming from a potential rate cut.



Currently, South Korea's sovereign rate is Aa2 stable at Moody's and AA at Standard & Poor's -- the third highest level in their respective rating scales. Fitch Ratings currently rates Korea's credit rating at AA-, the fourth highest.



Though the ratings firms have been reaffirming South Korea's credit rating despite the North's pursuit of nuclear programs, Moody's last month raised its view on the possibility of any outright military conflicts on the Korean Peninsula to "low" from "very low."



The government believes that an abrupt adjustment in South Korea's rating is not likely.



In an economic ministerial meeting on Sept. 28, Kim said the CEOs of the ratings houses clearly recognize the South Korean economy's solidity and they said "they are not considering any change in Korea's rating" during his September meeting.



"One of the ratings firms said Korea was supposed to get a higher rating if there were no North Korea issues," Kim said.



Despite the government's optimism, foreign investors showed keen reactions to the development of the North Korea situation. Before South Korea was to have 10 days of Chuseok holiday, foreign investors offloaded bonds, mostly treasury bonds, worth 3 trillion won from Sept. 26 to 27.



On Sept. 27, South Korea's CDS premium rose to 75 basis points, the highest level this year. CDS Premium is a credit derivative showing a country's default risk.



Kim said that those moves were done as part of realizing a temporary benefit and do not seem to be connected to North Korea risks.
The Korea Times has partnered with Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in Evanston, Illinois, in the United States, under which graduate journalism students at Medill's newsroom in Washington, D.C., will write articles about Korea. This is the seventh such piece under the partnership. Kim Yoo-chul, an assistant editor of The Korea Times, contributed to this article.

Economic sanctions seen insufficient to change NK dictator



By Kim Yoo-chul





Scott Snyder

CHICAGO, IL  A leading U.S. expert said "a path is open" for North Korea to cut a devastating confrontation with Washington by pursuing more effective direct communication and dialogue.

"I support establishment of more channels of dialogue with the North Korean leadership, including by South Korea. This will help Kim Jong-un to realize the risks he is taking and avoid miscalculation," Scott Snyder, senior fellow for Korean studies and director of the program on U.S.-Korea policy at a council on foreign relations, said in a recent interview with The Korea Times.

Snyder said there's a compelling need for more talks between Washington and Pyongyang given the war of words that has ensued, if for no other reason than to minimize the prospect of "mistakes."

Washington and Pyongyang were using the "New York channel," an office inside North Korea's mission to the United Nations, to handle the most challenging parts of the relationship via informal talks about nuclear tensions as the United States has no official diplomatic relations with North Korea.

But Snyder said he was "pretty skeptical" the North Korean nuclear issue will see much progress. "It will be an issue that remains with us for a long time," he said.

"Kim Jong-un seems to feel a need to defend his honor against Trump. Trump is baiting Kim into pursuing a course of action he might live to regret."

While Trump threatens to "totally destroy" North Korea, if it threatens the United States or its allies, Washington needs to have more evidence to justify any action against North Korean aggression, according to the expert.

"The United States would be justified in retaliating against North Korean aggression or possibly in defending itself against moves that look like an imminent nuclear attack. North Korea's course of action has increased the risks of miscalculation on both sides."

Rather, Snyder said North Korean military and civilian leaders should be provided with incentives to "act first" and "be safe" by peeling away from the rogue state before it is too late.

Mentioning a few middle-class people in North Korea, he agreed economic sanctions will impose pressure on Pyongyang; however, he stressed: "It's not clear whether it will be sufficient to cause Kim Jong-un to change his mind. Much depends on who within North Korea is hurt by sanctions. Kim will be the last one to suffer from sanctions."

Snyder remains quite skeptical over whether China and Russia should entirely cut off vital resources such as oil and textiles to the reclusive country, urging them to join forces with the international community to curb the North's nuclear ambitions.

"China and Russia should uphold sanctions implementation and join in a united front of opposition against North Korea's nuclear program, which is a threat to the entire world," the expert said.
Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the minor opposition Bareun Party shows a chart claiming that some North Korean refugees from the North's nuclear test sites in Kilju and Yongbyon showed symptoms of radiation exposure, during the party's Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Monday. He called on the government to check the health of North Korean defectors amid growing concerns of radiation exposure as the North continues nuclear tests. / Yonhap




By Lee Kyung-min







At least half of the 20 officials at the Cyber Command unit of the military, mobilized to carry out an online smear campaign in the lead-up to the 2012 presidential election and the upcoming general elections, were on state-funded scholarships at Korea University graduate school programs, a lawmaker said Monday.



According to data from Rep. Kim Hae-young of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, the Cyber Command under the Ministry of National Defense and the Korea University Division of Information Security Graduate School of Information Security agreed to operate a three-year program only for Cyber Command officials qualified to attend the program starting Aug. 25, 2014.



Twenty officials attended the program for master's and doctorate degrees, with the 14 million won ($12,000) yearly tuition paid for in full by both the ministry and the university.



Of the total, at least half, Kim said, were identified as having worked for the psychological warfare unit under the Cyber Command, a department known for orchestrating online campaigns to help conservative politicians and pundits including ousted former President Park Geun-hye, and to hurt liberals.



Of the current attendees, two in the doctoral program and nine out of 16 in the master's program are officials working at the unit.



Kim said harsh criticism should follow not only for funding such a program in the first place but more for failing to cancel it.



The program continued despite the allegation of the military's political maneuvering made during the National Assembly inspection in October 2013.



It was continued in August the following year when a special investigation team under the military convicted two senior chiefs of the Command for violating the Military Law that bans its officials from engaging in any activities that influence the outcome of a politically divisive issue.



Of the two, commander Yeon Je-wook was given a suspended sentence and the military court released Ok Do-kyung on one year of probation.



Among the doctoral candidates is a man only identified by his surname Park, the former head of the Command's psychological warfare unit.



Park was confirmed to have written a report on details about the activities of his unit in the lead up to the general election in 2012. The report was reviewed by then Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin who regularly briefed President Lee Myung-bak about the developments.



Lee awarded Park with a Presidential honor in recognition of his national merit in February 2013, soon after Park Geun-hye was elected President.



The unit head Park was convicted for violating military law but received a suspended sentence.



Korea University was unavailable for comment.




By Kim Rahn

Roh Moo-hyun

The nation's spy agency under the former Lee Myung-bak administration attempted to denigrate two previous liberal presidents by encouraging conservative civic groups to campaign against them, the prosecution said Monday.

According to the prosecution and the National Intelligence Service's (NIS) internal fact-finding panel, the agency's psychological warfare unit urged two conservative civic groups to issue comments criticizing former President Roh Moo-hyun and the then opposition Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) in April 2009.

It was when the prosecution was summoning Roh's family members for questioning over the allegation that Taekwang CEO Park Yeon-cha offered bribes to Roh's family in exchange for business favors.

When Roh's son was called in on April 12 that year, the National Federation of the New Right made a comment to demand the MDP apologize to the people for producing a "bad president named Roh Moo-hyun."

"The MDP produced a bad president who was incompetent, corrupt and cheap, making people suffer for the last five years. Now it shames people with the corruption scandal," it said.

On April 10, a day before Roh's wife Kwon Yang-sook was summoned, another civic group said in a comment: "Roh himself demanded money from Park _ it is even disgusting to call him a former president of Korea."

The prosecution and the NIS panel said they secured emails exchanged between the NIS and the civic groups to discuss what comments to issue.

Roh, who was summoned on April 30, killed himself on May 23.





Kim Dae-jung

For Roh's predecessor Kim Dae-jung, the spy agency made plans to have his Nobel Peace Prize revoked, the prosecution said after seizing emails exchanged between a staffer at the NIS unit and another conservative civic group head.

The two people talked about the group sending a petition to the Norwegian Nobel Committee to have Kim's award revoked after Kim passed away in August 2009. Kim received the award in 2000 for his dedication to democracy, human rights and reconciliation with North Korea.

The group received funds from the NIS during the Lee administration and placed ads to support government policies or criticize opposition politicians, according to the prosecution. It also made comments right after Kim's death that he took advantage of regionalism for political purposes and damaged South Korea's identity through the June 15 joint statement with the North.

Regarding the allegation, Kim's youngest son, Hong-gul, said he never imagined such an attempt had been made.

"When my father died in 2009, the Lee administration, which had been surprised at the public commemorating the memory of former President Roh in May that year, tried to avoid a repeat of the commemoration," he said in a Facebook post.

"I never imagined they would have made such a conniving attempt regarding the Nobel prize as well. But I guess that was not impossible considering they also made political attacks when my father received the prize."

Kim Hyun, a spokeswoman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, said in a press release, "Lee should regret his wrongdoing and apologize to people. The petition attempt to revoke Kim's Nobel prize, made by the NIS under the Lee administration, is political retaliation."

Lee Haeng-ja, a spokeswoman of the minor opposition People's Party, also said, "If the attempt is true, it is a huge incident that trampled on the nation's reputation. If former President Lee was involved, he should not be exempted from the investigation."
By Jun Ji-hye



President Moon Jae-in is facing a slew of tough tasks, from North Korea's nuclear and missile threats to the renegotiation of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), following the Chuseok holiday.



He has come under attack from opposition parties for failing to stop the North's provocations and succumbing to U.S. pressure to amend the trade deal.



Moon minimized his official schedule during the 10-day holiday and spent much of the time at his residence, pondering how to tackle the critical issues.



A Cheong Wa Dae official said Monday, "During the holiday, President Moon straightened up his thoughts on a pile of challenges while being briefed on North Korean issues."



How the President will resolve security and foreign affairs issues alongside upcoming international conferences next month is drawing keen attention.



An Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit will take place Nov. 10 and 11 in Vietnam that will be followed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations+3 and East Asia Summit meetings in the Philippines.



During his itinerary, Moon will meet with leaders of the countries deeply involved in North Korea's nuclear and missile issues _ U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin.



Trump is also likely to visit South Korea as part of his Asia tour.



Moon will discuss with his counterparts peaceful and diplomatic ways of resolving tension on the Korean Peninsula, as he has claimed that his top priority is to maintain peace and that war must never break out here again.



Moon must also find a way to cope with Trump's America-first policy that is putting more pressure on the South Korean economy.



Trump earlier said he will "renegotiate or terminate" the KORUS FTA, calling the deal "horrible," and his trade negotiators have successfully brought South Korean officials to the renegotiation table.



On Saturday, Seoul and Washington agreed to initiate amendment negotiations at the U.S. government's request. They are likely to kick off as early as January.



The Moon government has to resist growing U.S. trade pressure to minimize damage to Korean companies from the Trump administration's protectionist moves.



In addition, Moon needs to resolve China's economic and cultural retaliation against South Korea's decision to host a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery.



China has been strongly protesting the decision, claiming the THAAD radar could be used to spy on Beijing's military activities, although Seoul and Washington have insisted the battery is only to deter the North's growing nuclear and missile threats. Beijing has been consistently demanding Seoul withdraw the system.



Domestically, Moon faces criticism from opposition parties for what they call a poor North Korea policy built on seeking to restart dialogue and offer humanitarian aid.



They also said the Moon government lied to the people by saying earlier this year there would be no revisions to the KORUS FTA, although Cheong Wa Dae said official discussions would begin only after legal procedures are completed in both countries.



Despite the criticism, the President cannot be hard on them because he needs support from the opposition for the passage of government-drafted bills, including the budget for next year.



The President is also tasked with filling his Cabinet after Park Seong-jin, who was a nominee for minister of SMEs and startups, stepped down following the National Assembly's refusal to approve him over his controversial religious and historical views.




By Jun Ji-hye



President Moon Jae-in is facing a slew of tough tasks, from North Korea's nuclear and missile threats to the renegotiation of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), following the Chuseok holiday.



He has come under attack from opposition parties for failing to stop the North's provocations and succumbing to U.S. pressure to amend the trade deal.



Moon minimized his official schedule during the 10-day holiday and spent much of the time at his residence, pondering how to tackle the critical issues.



A Cheong Wa Dae official said Monday, "During the holiday, President Moon straightened up his thoughts on a pile of challenges while being briefed on North Korean issues."



How the President will resolve security and foreign affairs issues alongside upcoming international conferences next month is drawing keen attention.



An Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit will take place Nov. 10 and 11 in Vietnam, followed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations+3 and East Asia Summit meetings in the Philippines.



During his overseas trips, Moon will meet with leaders of the countries deeply involved in North Korea's nuclear and missile issues  U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin.



Trump is also likely to visit South Korea as part of his Asia tour.



Moon will discuss with his counterparts peaceful and diplomatic ways of resolving tension on the Korean Peninsula, as he has claimed his top priority is to maintain peace and that war must never break out here again.



Moon must also find a way to cope with Trump's America-first policy that is putting more pressure on the South Korean economy.



Trump earlier said he will "renegotiate or terminate" the KORUS FTA, calling the deal "horrible," and his trade negotiators have successfully brought South Korean officials to the renegotiation table.



On Saturday, Seoul and Washington agreed to initiate amendment negotiations at the U.S. government's request. They are likely to kick off as early as January.



The Moon government has to resist growing U.S. trade pressure to minimize damage to Korean companies from the Trump administration's protectionist moves.



In addition, Moon needs to resolve China's economic and cultural retaliation against South Korea's decision to host a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery.



China has been strongly protesting the decision, claiming the THAAD radar could be used to spy on Beijing's military activities, although Seoul and Washington have insisted the battery is only to deter the North's growing nuclear and missile threats. Beijing has been consistently demanding Seoul withdraw the system.



Domestically, Moon faces criticism from opposition parties for what they call a poor North Korea policy built on seeking to restart dialogue and offering humanitarian aid.



They also said the Moon government lied to the people by saying earlier this year there would be no revisions to the KORUS FTA, although Cheong Wa Dae said official discussions would begin only after legal procedures are completed in both countries.



Despite the criticism, the President cannot be hard on them because he needs support from the opposition for the passage of government-drafted bills, including the budget for next year.



The President is also tasked with filling his Cabinet after Park Seong-jin, who was a nominee for minister of SMEs and startups, stepped down following the National Assembly's refusal to approve him because of his controversial religious and historical views.




By Kim Bo-eun



Kakao is in discord with the government's move to ban assigning work after hours via phone messenger apps, such as Kakao's own mobile messenger app Kakao Talk.



It is a common practice in Korea and President Moon Jae-in, when elected, pledged to end it to guarantee workers complete, uninterrupted rest after work.



Government discussions on the issue began in August. Last month, the labor minister approached Kakao to join hands in figuring out a means to make this happen, particularly requesting Kakao add a function that would enable users to set a time for their messages to be delivered.



Kakao's response came on Monday, almost a month later, expressing its reluctance to take pre-legislative action.



"We welcome the social discussion on the right to disconnect after work hours, but we do not believe this is a matter that should be proceeded with by individual discussions between the labor ministry and a certain mobile messaging service," Yonhap News Agency cited a Kakao official as saying. "We do not have plans to discuss the matter with the ministry."



Critics said the government was pushing to act to please voters without proper legislative grounds.



A survey by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) showed 74 percent of office workers said they received work-related messages after working hours and 60 percent of them said this puts them under severe stress.



Korea is known for its long work hours. According to OECD's 2015 figures, the average working hours for Korean citizens were 2,124 per year, the second-longest among OECD states.



While it is commonplace to remain at the office after hours, the ever-connected work environment is placing an even greater burden on workers as they can be easily reached even after they leave work.



National Assembly politicians have begun to recognize the right to disconnect but are moving slowly.



In August, Reps. Lee Yong-ho and Son Kum-ju of the minor opposition People's Party proposed a bill that would limit employers from assigning work via electronic devices. The bill defines this practice as a violation of employees' right to a private life. The bill states the employer pays workers at least half of their base wage for after-duty assignments in case work must inevitably be done.



On the provincial government level, however, things seem to move faster.



Last month, Seoul's city council passed amended ordinance banning city government officials on the managerial level from assigning work via social media or instant messengers after hours.








By Park Hyong-ki







Oct. 10, 2017 is the final deadline to extend a currency swap between Korea and China.



Even though the country's fiscal and monetary authorities say their working-level officials are continuing to engage in negotiations with their Chinese counterparts, it remains uncertain whether the two sides will further extend the period of the $56 billion swap.



This is mainly because of the ongoing geopolitical dispute over the U.S. anti-missile system deployed here.



And Beijing has been direct to say and show it is not and will not be happy with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), even if Seoul and Washington say it is aiming at Pyongyang.



China has been retaliating against the Korea-U.S. alliance's move, targeting mostly Korean companies, including Lotte, Hyundai Motor and AmorePacific.



The world's second largest economy even refused to talk to Korea by not sending its commercial trade minister to the ASEM meeting in Seoul last month.



As the ongoing situation does not seem to brighten the future relations between the two sides, it is taking a toll on the outlook for the bilateral swap deal.



The government and the central bank have asked the public to wait and be patient as they are working with China.



"Our policy is we seek to extend the swap with China without setbacks, and we are doing our best to achieve the best result," Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said of late.



Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol also echoed Kim, recently telling reporters, "We would like to conclude the talks as fast as we can, and the People's Bank of China's position over this issue is no different from ours."



Korea and China sealed the swap deal three years ago, following two extensions in 2011 and 2014.



The country first made the won-yuan currency swap in December 2008 as Korea sought to further prepare itself against future financial crises by beefing up its foreign currency reserves.



Meanwhile, China has been seeking to make the yuan as one of the key global currencies, along with the U.S. dollar, euro and Japanese yen.



Korea's $56 billion swap with China is significant because it accounts for nearly 46 percent of the country's total swap deals with other economies.



Some say it will not make any difference even if the talks to extend the swap fall apart given Korea's foreign currency reserves at more than $380 billion, a record high.



However, others say if they do not extend it, it would be lose-lose for both because Korean banks will face losses from not being able to trade yuan. Also, China's efforts to make the yuan an international currency will be negatively affected.



The BOK chief held a meeting with his counterparts Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of the People's Bank of China, and Haruhiko Kuroda, the governor of the Bank of Japan, on macroeconomic issues in Songdo, Incheon, last month.



However, the Korean central bank said then the currency swap was not part of the agenda.



Korea had a $70 billion currency swap deal with Japan as well. But they did not extend it due to diplomatic conflicts over Korea's statues commemorating wartime sexual slavery victims.




By Joseph S. Nye, Jr.



CAMBRIDGE  This week, Kurds in northern Iraq voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence for the country's Kurdistan Region. With some 30 million Kurds divided among four states (Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran), nationalists argue that they deserve the world's recognition. In Spain, some 7.5 million Catalans have raised the same question.



Does it matter that polls show Catalans, unlike Kurds, to be closely divided on the issue? Does it matter that the states bordering Iraqi Kurdistan might use force to resist secession?



National self-determination, the principle that US President Woodrow Wilson put on the international agenda in 1918, is generally defined as the right of a people to form its own state. But who is the "self" that makes this determination?



Consider Somalia, whose people, unlike those of most other newly independent African states, had roughly the same linguistic and ethnic background. Neighboring Kenya was formed by colonial rule from dozens of peoples or tribes. Somalia claimed that the self-determination principle should allow Somalis in northeastern Kenya and southern Ethiopia to secede. Kenya and Ethiopia refused, resulting in a number of regional wars over the Somali national question.



The ironic sequel was that Somalia itself later fragmented in a civil war among its clans and warlord leaders. Today, its northern region, Somaliland, exists as a de facto independent state, though it lacks international recognition or United Nations membership.



Voting does not always solve problems of self-determination. First, there is the question of where one votes. In Ireland, for example, Catholics objected for many years that if a vote were held within the political area of Northern Ireland, the two-thirds Protestant majority would rule. Protestants replied that if a vote were held within the geographical area of the entire island, the Catholic majority would rule. Eventually, after decades of strife, outside mediation helped bring peace to Northern Ireland.



There is also the question of when one votes? In the 1960s, the Somalis wanted to vote immediately; Kenya wanted to wait 40 or 50 years while it reshaped tribal allegiances and forged a Kenyan identity.



Another problem is how one weighs the interests of those left behind. Does secession harm them, by taking resources away or causing other disruption? Iraqi Kurdistan holds significant oil reserves, and Catalonia is estimated to account for a fifth of Spain's GDP. Spain's government argues that the upcoming independence vote in Catalonia is illegal under the Spanish constitution.



History is not encouraging. After the Habsburg Empire was dismantled in 1918, the Sudetenland was incorporated into Czechoslovakia, even though most people there spoke German. After the agreement reached in Munich with Adolf Hitler in 1938, the Sudeten Germans seceded from Czechoslovakia and joined Germany. But the loss of the mountainous frontier where they lived was a terrible setback for Czech defenses. Was it right to allow self-determination for the Sudeten Germans, even if it meant stripping Czechoslovakia (which Germany dismembered six months later) of its military defenses?



To take another African example, when the people of eastern Nigeria decided to secede and form the state of Biafra in the 1960s, other Nigerians resisted, in part because Biafra included most of Nigeria's oil. They argued that the oil belonged to all the people of Nigeria, not just the eastern area.



After the Cold War ended, self-determination became an acute issue in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. In the Caucasus, Azeris, Armenians, Georgians, Abkhazians, and Chechens all demanded states of their own.



In Yugoslavia, Slovenes, Serbs, and Croats managed to carve out independent republics, but the Muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina were less successful, and were subjected to a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" by both Croatian and Serb forces.



In 1995, a NATO peacekeeping force was sent to the troubled area, but when NATO intervened militarily in Kosovo in 1999, Russia backed Serbia's objections to secession, and Kosovo has still not been admitted to the UN. In turn, Russia invoked self-determination to support Abkhazia's secession from Georgia in 2008, and its invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014.



Self-determination turns out to be an ambiguous moral principle. Wilson thought it would bring stability to Central Europe; instead, Hitler used the principle to undermine the region's fragile new states in the 1930s.



The lesson remains valid today. Given that less than 10% of the world's states are homogeneous, treating self-determination as a primary rather than secondary moral principle could have disastrous consequences in many parts of the world. Indeed, hostile ethnic groups are often mixed like a marble cake, rather than neatly separable like a layer cake. That makes partition difficult, as India discovered in 1947. Perhaps that is why only a few new states have been admitted to the UN in this century. After it seceded from Sudan, ethnic turmoil inside South Sudan continued, practically unabated.



The best hope for the future is to ask what is being determined as well as who determines it. In cases where groups cohabit a state uneasily, it may be possible to allow a degree of autonomy in the determination of internal affairs. Countries like Switzerland or Belgium provide considerable cultural, economic, and political autonomy to their constitutive groups.



Where autonomy is not enough, it may be possible to arrange an amicable divorce, as when Czechoslovakia peacefully divided into two sovereign countries. But absolute demands for self-determination are more likely to become a source of violence, which is why they must be handled extremely carefully. Before invoking self-determination as a moral principle, one must heed the diplomatic version of the Hippocratic Oath: Primum non nocere (first, do no harm).







Joseph S. Nye, Jr. is a professor at Harvard and author of The Future of Power. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate.








By John J. Metzler



UNITED NATIONS  Perhaps it's the dangerous global threat from North Korean nukes. Maybe it's political fatigue and crisis overload. Or it could be the escalating ethnic cleansing in Burma. But the long running and brutal Syrian civil war has become largely an afterthought for many delegates at the current UN Assembly session.



Last year Syria's sanguinary headlines and gripping humanitarian saga still dominated UN discussions. Nonetheless a deadlocked Security Council with Western countries, the USA, Britain and France facing off China and Russia seemed to set the conflict in stone, and allow it to slip into near oblivion with new disasters in Yemen and Burma/Myanmar taking the limelight.



Yet, Syria's political calculus and dynamic has changed. American and coalition forces are soundly defeating the barbarous Islamic State (ISIS) while Russia's military intervention has truly tipped the military balance away from the terrorists and back towards the Assad regime in Damascus.



After six years of civil conflict, more than 500,000 killed, and millions of Syrians civilians internally displaced or having fled as refugees, there could finally be an endgame. But the word victory presents an illusion.



The good news is that diplomats have brokered six major "de-confliction zones" inside the country. Unofficial ceasefires if you will.



Staffan de Mistura, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, told the Security Council that, "The situation remains fragile and highly susceptible to backsliding." He adds that while "ISIL is being beaten back" and that Government (namely Assad) forces have broken some rebel sieges, conflict continues.



"As terrorism is being defeated in Syria, we need to preserve those gains on the ground and sustain them through a real and inclusive political process," stressed de Mistura. The eighth in a series of political talks in Geneva are planned for late October. He stressed, "No one is asking the opposition to suddenly stop being an opposition," but he urged unity among the maze of groups opposing the central government.



Mark Lowcock, the UN's Humanitarian Chief, while praising the overall military "de-escalation" in the conflict, nonetheless stressed the ongoing sieges of Syrian towns by both the government and the opposition. While the Syrian military finally broke the siege of Deir ez-Zor town liberating 93,000 citizens, the fact remains that "419,920 people most of them, according to UNICEF, children, now remain besieged in 10 locations across Syria. Of these, 95 percent are besieged by the Government of Syria," he recounted.



In other words, medieval style sieges of towns reducing the inhabitants to starvation, squalor and sickness continue to plague Syria.



Lowcock conceded, "The Syrian people remain trapped in a cycle of violence that must be broken."



U.S. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley stated, "Although there has been some lessening of the violence in Syria, this is no time to become complacent. If the Syrian people don't see a political process working in parallel with our de-escalation efforts, the violence will resume. Any gains against ISIS will only be temporary."



Amb. Haley stressed realistically, "But the only lasting solution in Syria, the only way to end the violence and defeat terrorism, is through a political transition, one that does not allow Iranian influence to replace ISIS or Assad in power. If the civil war continues, more people will suffer."



Again easier said than done. The power vacuum in Syria which the Obama Administration allowed, permitted Vladimir Putin to militarily intervene to prop up the then teetering Assad.



Equally a maze of terrorist groups proliferated, ISIS, Al Qaida and Al Nussra among them. Correspondingly the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Hezbollah militia from Lebanon, tipped the balance towards Damascus.



Russia, along with Iran and Turkey have thrown their weight behind a political process, but probably not to our liking. Though I vigorously disagree with Turkey's President/Sultan Tayep Erdogan's machinations in neighboring Syria, we must concede that Turkey has taken in over two million Syrian refugees. This is economically and politically destabilizing. Turkey wants a political quid pro quo for its humanitarian efforts.



Yet it is Iran who plays a far more sophisticated geopolitical game in this ancient land. Iran's Shiite clerics support the minority Shiite/Alawite clan in Syria through which they can fuel division of the Islamic communities in the region. Equally Tehran has gained a military foothold on the Mediterranean allowing Iran a strategic advantage.



The EU's top diplomat Federica Mogherini warned, "The war in Syria is not over yet. The people of Syria are still suffering." Finding a political solution remains elusive. Nonetheless, no matter which side ultimately gains it's only a Pyrrhic victory.







John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issue. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism the Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China."




It takes more than prizes to promote Korean literature





The highlight of this year's Nobel Prize season is Kazuo Ishiguro, the Japanese-born British writer who was announced as the winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature last week.



The 1989 Man Booker Prize winner is well known for "The Remains of the Day," considered one of the most highly regarded post-war British novels. The novel about the life and love of a devoted English butler before and after World War II was made into film in 1993 starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson and gained eight Academy Awards nominations.



When considering the status Ishiguro has enjoyed in the English-speaking world for "The Remains of the Day," and more recent works such as the 2005 "Never Let Me Go," his Nobel Prize is well deserved. "In novels of great emotional force, he has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world," the Swedish Academy said.



Although Ishiguro is a British writer and has written exclusively in English, his Nobel win has triggered much excitement in his native country. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe congratulated him and his native town of Nagasaki also rejoiced over the news.



Koreans' reaction is mixed. Many Koreans found it fascinating that a writer born in Nagasaki, Japan, won the world's most highly regarded prize in literature for works written not in his mother tongue but in English. The Nobel win has also renewed interest in his works in Korea. After he won the prize, his trademark works "The Remains of the Day" and "Never Let Me Go" became best-sellers on Yes24, one of Korea's major online book shops. But for some Koreans, the news is painful since it means that Ko Un, a famous Korean poet who has been mentioned as a candidate to win the prestigious prize, once again failed to win.



Since 2002, the Korean media habitually prints stories about whether Ko will win the Nobel Prize or not. Like Ishiguro and previous laureates, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature is someone who has moved global audiences with a universal message. It is uncertain whether Ko fits this qualification since even many Koreans do not know or care for his works. It's time for the media to stop fixating on Ko's possible win every Nobel season.



Korea's long desire for Nobel Prize in Literature is incomprehensible when considering its weak reading culture and general indifference for writers and poets. The more fundamental question is not whether we will ever have a Nobel laureate in literature, but what the country can do for the consistent growth of our literature and promotion of a reading culture.



The government should be more forthcoming about promoting works by a younger generation of writers such as Han Kang, the 2016 Man Booker Prize winner, and helping them connect with global audiences through more diverse translations.








This image shows how KT's network technologies can be used to help build the driverless vehicle cluster in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province. The image explains the fifth-generation (5G) network-driven hybrid vehicle-to-everything (V2X) telecom services offered by KT. / Courtesy of KT



By Lee Min-hyung

KT has won a license to build the world's first autonomous vehicle cluster in the tech-savvy startup district of Pangyo in Gyeonggi Province, the company said Monday.

The fixed-line operator plans to build a core telecom infrastructure  including a fifth-generation (5G) wireless network and big data platforms  for the 20 billion won ($26.16 million) project, set to be finished by the end of 2019.

The company was able to win the contract from the state-run "Pangyo Zero City" project in recognition for its expertise in managing big data and a series of internet of things (IoT) network services, the company explained.

The cluster will cover 432,000 square kilometers in size. KT said it plans to conduct a pilot 5G network service this year before successfully establishing the driverless vehicle town by 2019.

The company will provide what it calls hybrid vehicle-to-everything (V2X) network services whose two building blocks include security-enhanced long-term-evolution (LTE) network and wireless access for vehicle environments (WAVE).

The hybrid network will allow KT to smoothly analyze and manage the enormous amount of big data coming from autonomous cars. The datasets will then be used to help vehicles monitor road conditions and pedestrians, according to the company.

"We are teaming up with our big data software development subsidiary, KT NexR, to lead the upcoming hyper-connected 5G era," a company official said. "When the project ends, this will help take 5G-related technologies and components to the next level."

In a bid to find untapped revenue areas, the company unveiled its vision of generating 500 billion won in annual sales in its connected car business by 2022.

Amid sluggish growth in the local telecom market, KT and its home-turf rivals  SK Telecom and LG Uplus  are intensifying their rivalry to engage in emerging tech areas, including the IoT, 5G and driverless vehicles.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman intends to create a working group jointly with business to draw up a bill toughening responsibility of representatives of law enforcement agencies for harassment of business in two or three weeks.

"I am initiating today with you, together, the creation of a working group - very fast - to introduce in two or three weeks a bill to the parliament that provides the responsibility of representatives of law enforcement and controlling agencies, right up to the criminal punishment, for excessive pressure on the really working business," the prime minister said at a roundtable in Kyiv on Monday.

Groysman urged businesses to participate in drawing up the bill.

"I have a question: why are "corrupt officials in uniform" still not brought to justice? Those who press or create excessive pressure on a really working honest business in the country? It is very important that we resolve this not with words and promises, but with concrete legal actions," the prime minister said.

He also said that within 7-10 days the profile committee of the Verkhovna Rada should submit a bill on the Financial Intelligence Service (FIS) to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk and British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Alan Duncan have signed a protocol on amending the agreement between the governments of Ukraine and the United Kingdom on avoiding double taxation, the Ukrainian Finance Ministry has reported.

According to the protocol, the signing of the protocol helps avoid tax evasion and simultaneously reduce the pressure on law-abiding taxpayers, as well as to ensure the exchange of tax information.

The protocol foresees the taxation of dividends at a rate of 5% if the actual owner of dividends is a company with a minimum of 20% of the capital of the company that pays dividends. For other cases, the rate was raised from 10% to 15%. Also, according to the document, the parties agreed to increase the rate of interest taxation from 0% to 5% and royalty taxation from 0% to 5%, the ministry said.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has signed Law No. 2167-VIII "On creation of necessary conditions for peaceful settlement of the situation in certain regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions."

This was reported on Saturday by the press service of the Ukrainian president.

As reported, the document stipulates that the procedures will only take effect "after all conditions stated in Article 10 of the law [on special local self-governance procedures] are fulfilled, specifically as regards the withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine of all illegal armed formations, their military equipment, and militants and mercenaries."

The presidential press service said that this law also determines that Ukraine in its strive to restore territorial integrity remains committed to a peaceful settlement of the situation in certain regions of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions on the basis of the principles and norms of international law and the UN Charter. The law also says that Ukraine's sovereignty extends over its entire territory, which, within the internationally recognized border, is integral and inviolable.

"The law also provides the necessary preconditions for deploying a UN peacekeeping operation in certain districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, particularly taking into account the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada's resolution No. 253-VII dated March 17, 2015 'On approving Ukraine's addressees to the Security Council of the United Nations and the Council of the European Union regarding the deployment of an international peacekeeping operation in Ukrainian territory," it said.

It was reported earlier that the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada on October 6 had passed the legislation extending the law on special self-government procedures in certain districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by one year. The law was to expire on October 18, 2017.

The bill 'On providing essential preconditions for a peaceful settlement of the situation in certain districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions' was supported by 229 parliamentarians.

"The responsible voting by a majority will help our army to minimize the number of casualties in holding the defense, and diplomats to increase international pressure on Russia," Poroshenko said in a video address in commenting on the legislation.
Sri Lanka Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) R D S Kumararatne unanimously elected to chair the Fifth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) key annual meeting the High-level International Investment Agreements Conference on Investment, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Productive Capacity  building and Sustainable Development that is being held in Geneva from 09  11 October 2017. The opening session was attended by UNCTAD Secretary General Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi.

The opening statement delivered by Ambassador Kumararatne.

Press Release

9 October 2017

Sri Lanka Permanent Mission

Geneva
PRESS RELEASE

UN Blacklists Saudi Coalition in Yemen for Killing Children

Oct. 7, 2017 (EIRNS)On Oct. 5, the UN blacklisted the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen for killing and injuring 683 children in Yemen and attacking dozens of schools and hospitals in 2016, even as it said the coalition had taken action to improve child protection, reported Reuters. According to the annual Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) report for 2016, the actions of the Saudi-led coalition "objectively led" to it being blacklisted for killing and injuring 683 children and for 38 attacks on schools and hospitals last year. It added that all incidents were verified by the UN. The blacklist was diluted by adding a list of names: the Houthi rebel group, Yemen government forces, pro-government militia and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) for violations against children in 2016.

The report was divided into two parts, apparently in order to avoid the kind of controversy that ensued in 2016 when the Saudis were briefly put on the blacklist, and then removed by Ban Ki Moon under pressure from the Saudis. The first part of the report lists those who are taking measures to protect children, which includes the Saudi-led military coalition, and the other includes parties that have not. The report apparently has no practical effect other than to "shame" the parties to the conflict to work to better protect children.

Amnesty International, in a statement on Oct. 6, condemned the report for exactly that reason.

"While we welcome the overdue listing of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in the CAAC report, it is a shame that the UN caved in to pressure and included it in a new category specifically designed to limit condemnation of the coalition,"

it said.

The report, submitted to the UN Security Council by Secretary General Antonio Guterres, does not impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia, but nonetheless the Saudis objected to it vociferously. "We express our strong reservation in respect to this information," said Saudi Ambassador to the UN Abdallah al-Mouallimi said in a statement, reported Al Jazeera. "We exercise the maximum degree of care and precaution to avoid civilian harm," he insisted.
(Text after fifth para added in news item issued on Oct 7)

Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Vasyl Hrytsak, has said that the SBU established the involvement of Russia's so-called private military company called Wagner headed by Dmitry Utkin, in destroying Il-76 aircraft in Donbas, attacking Luhansk airport and events in Debaltseve (Donetsk region).

"What was the Wagner group engaged in? It downed Il-76 aircraft with our paratroopers on board, attacked Luhansk airport and Debaltseve," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Saturday.

According to him, 72 militants of this PMC took part in the first two operations, 15 of them were killed. "We know their names," Hrytsak said.

"Some 205 Wagner militants took part in the attacking of Debaltseve, during which 21 members were killed. We know each of them," he said.

The SBU chief also said that 36 militants were killed on the line of demarcation.

The group was first sighted in action on May 21, 2014, he said. The geography of its operations covers the breakaway parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Syria. In Syria, there were 1,350 Wagner members (near Latakia and Homs), Hrytsak said.

The SBU knows of 277 Wagner group members who fought both in Donbas and Syria, 67 of them were killed, he said.

Hrytsak said he considers the Wagner group to be fighters of the Russian Federation armed forces. "On December 28, 2016, Russia passed legal changes allowing to recruit non-servicemen for military counterterrorism missions outside of Russia. Such individuals are regarded as those in active military service... thus, starting from December 28, 2016 we consider members of the Wagner private military company to be servicemen of the Russian Federation armed forces," Hrytsak said.

"This project allows Russian politicians to confidently say that they are not there or that 'we did not send them there'," he said.

The group receives secret funding from the Russian national budget, and in 2017 the funding was increased by 185 million rubles, he said. As for its ethnic composition, the SBU has identified about 40 fighters as Ukrainians and 95% of the members as Russian citizens, Hrytsak said.

At the same time, Russia keeps denying that some of Wagner members were Russian citizens after reports of them emerged, he said.

The SBU has issued a notice of suspicion to Wagner chief Utkin, he said. "Our investigators have issued a notice of suspicion for Utkin... We will hand it over to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office on Monday, we hope the Office will support us," Hrytsak said.

He did not say what the charges are against Utkin. "Let us first endorse the suspicion before we give any further information," Hrytsak said, noting the voluminous text of the document.

The SBU passes data regarding the group on to security agencies in Europe and other countries, given that this "private army" might be used "to destabilize the situation in any part of the world," Hrytsak said.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Information Policy will jointly hold a special briefing in Brussels on October 19 regarding the "Wagner campaign," the Ukrainian security chief said.
Live, unabashed nudity is, perhaps unsurprisingly, a rarity at public literary events. Dance, performance art, wigs, one-liners, keyboards, skateboards, popcorn, dental floss, video loops, audience participation, and even, quite frankly, unfettered joy, also make infrequent appearances on the reading circuit, but Sept. 29 at the newly opened Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, a free event called Experiment I managed to contain all this and more.

People want a playful outlet, said event curator Michelle Tea, author of cult favorite memoirs Valencia and Rent Girl, and most recently Modern Tarot. As a founding member of the long-running Sister Spit poetry tour, she has curated literary happenings since 1994.

I like to be surprised and entertained, she said. I like to challenge myself and challenge my writer friends to do something different. Tea billed Experiment I as a compilation of unexpected readings and performance  intended to inspire new thoughts, humor and daredevilry.

Advertisement

Comedian Lizzy Cooperman performs at Experiment 1. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

A game of truth or dare initiated by comic Lizzy Cooperman provided perhaps the most direct response to daredevilry, but a presentation from Pave the Way Skateboards, represented by Tara Jepson and Miriam Klein Stahl, author of Like a Dog and illustrator of Rad Women Worldwide, respectively, saw Jepson wheel across the museum floor to read a queer skateboarding manifesto in heels and tights. Wendy. C. Ortiz, who describes her latest book, Bruja, as a dreamoir, dared the audience to reveal who among us had dreamed of alligators or matricide. The evenings opener, the Brontez Purnell Dance Company, performing a partially unclad piece called Chronic: A Dance About Marijuana, dared the audience of roughly 50 people to settle in for an experimental experience and open our minds.

Hold on to your hats and whatever other accessories you happen to be wearing, Tea told the audience as the performance began, but for Brontez Purnell, author of Since I Laid My Burden Down, and the rest of the troupe, those clothing-on rules did not apply. The dancers began in witchy black wigs like the three weird sisters, and made excellent use of ICAs three connected rooms, beckoning the crowd to follow them around corners and back again.

The Brontez Purnell Dance Company performs at Experiment 1" at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

The sound of popcorn kernels raining from the dancers hands onto poured concrete was as dramatic as a broken string of pearls, and later, when they bathed themselves in a popped batch, the smell of buttery popcorn drove the message home: in a dance about marijuana, this was the munchies portion. (A loop of Ice Cube and Chris Tucker in Friday playing behind them was an inspired touch.) Post-popcorn, in the large main gallery, the dancers unspooled a web of dental floss from their mouths, a giant cats cradle that connected them to one another, stretching farther and farther like the string of a kite. The performance was thrilling, and intentionally scented here, too. Mint floss  evoking green, like marijuana, Purnell later explained, was a stylistic choice.

Members of the Brontez Purnell Dance Company toss popcorn during a performance to open the Experiment I. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

Wendy C. Ortiz followed, reading from Bruja  but with a twist. Im a psychotherapist, so I use the word experiment a lot, she said of the evenings theme. If it fails, its still good. I love the word experiment. Ortiz encouraged audience members to raise their hands if they too had dreamed of the images described in her entries, at which point her daughter presented them with a wisteria pod collected from their backyard. They feel like velvet, said Ortiz, introducing a tactile element to the event.

Dreams of cats, seals, sharks and even matricide all had multiple takers; befitting of current events, bombs were perhaps the most commonly shared dream. The ICA is white-walled and well-lit, which exposed the audience and made raising our hands feel vulnerable, but there was something touchingly intimate about looking around to discover which strangers had dreamed of tidal waves too.

Comedian Lizzy Cooperman performs at Experiment I. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

During her set, stand-up comedian Lizzy Cooperman often stood behind a keyboard, which she used to punctuate her jokes with ominous organ notes  the discordance between her dire score and the audiences laughter was funny in and of itself, stoking the audience more and more. Nothing elicits more rage in me than an invitation for an evening of crafting, she said, slamming her hands down on the keys. I get these emails, like, Hey lady, come over on Tuesday. Bring scissors and glitter and lets sit around and die! she yelled over a funereal note, adding, and theyre not even spelling it right! Theyre spelling it DIY.

Cooperman clearly knew her audience, delivering jokes in a theatrical old crone voice, playing truth or dare with the crowd and giving us the opportunity to laugh at ourselves. I just want to explore the boundaries! she screamed, Cause Im so sex positive! At times, laughter nearly drowned out her keyboard. No drink minimum necessary, Cooperman killed.

Tara Jepson, right, of Pave the Way Skateboards organizes an Instagram photo op for Experiment I. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

Are we not punks? Do we not value energy over Juilliard training? These were the questions posed by Jepson in Pave the Way Skateboards queer skateboarding manifesto, the final performance of the night. As queer skateboarders we believe  that part of dismantling toxic hierarchies and undermining patriarchy is creating an even playing field for all skill sets and abilities, and learning to value the energy, or stoke, a person brings to their skateboarding, read Jepson to snapping and affirmative applause. She looked up, remarking, This is what it feels like to run a superchurch.

The manifesto embodied the ambitions of not only Pave the Way, but of Experiment I. A skate video intercut with Miriam Klein Stahls illustrations of writers such as Adrienne Rich and Audre Lorde screened in the background, and Stahl invited a friend to read from Sophie Scholls entry in Rad Women Worldwide. Audience members took the stage to pose for Instagrams with Pave the Way decks and poster-board signs bearing encouraging slogans like go fast, you might fall, but you might not and baditude 2 raditude, whether or not they could skate. All interested parties belong on a skateboard, Jepson said.

That sentiment was echoed by attendee Antonio Rodriguez after the event, who said, every citizen in this city should be comfortable walking into a museum. He hadnt been to many traditional readings of late, but was intrigued by this one, explaining, I love when media crashes into each other.

Another audience member, Lexi Welch, had read Purnells novel, and admitted that straightforward readings can be hard to get into. She prefers the energy of performance, and was glad that the Brontez Purnell Dance Company had kicked the evening off. After theyre confronted with performance, she said, people tend to be a lot more open.

As the crowd filed out, Tea swept up leftover popcorn, like confetti after a party, with a push broom.

Michelle Tea sweeps up popcorn after Experiment I. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

agatha.french@latimes.com

@agathafrenchy
Harvey Weinstein lured TV reporter Lauren Sivan into a quiet place in 2007 and then engaged in a disgusting and kind of pathetic display of sexual harassment, Sivan said in her first television interview about the encounter.

Appearing Monday on NBCs Megyn Kelly Today, Sivan  who is now a reporter with KTTV, a Fox affiliate in Los Angeles  said the movie mogul took her downstairs at the New York City restaurant Cipriani, cornered her in a vestibule, tried to kiss her and then masturbated in front of her. She said Weinstein got her downstairs by offering her a tour of the kitchen.

I could not believe what I was witnessing, Sivan told Kelly. It was disgusting and kind of pathetic. More than the disgusting act itself, which of course was gross, the demeaning part of it all, that just 20 minutes earlier he was having this great conversation with me and I felt so great and flattered by it. And then [he said], Stand there and be quiet, just a few minutes later, just negated any warm feelings I had, and I realized, Oh, that is what this is all about.

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Sivan, who was a reporter with New York cable channel News 12 Long Island at the time, did not publicly tell her story until this weekend, after the New York Times published a report on multiple alleged incidents of sexual harassment by Weinstein.

Weinstein was fired by his company Sunday amid the allegations.

Sivan said Weinsteins apology, which followed the report Thursday, spurred her to come forward. In his statement, Weinstein apologized for unspecified past behavior, yet he also blamed his conduct on coming of age in the 60s and 70s, when all of the rules about behavior and workplaces were different.

Sivan first told her story to the HuffPost on Saturday.

That apology was the final straw for me, and so when I was contacted by a reporter, thats when I said, Oh, no, enough is enough with this guy, Sivan told Kelly. There was no remorse; there was no, even, acknowledgment of the type of behavior that was going on. If he did this with me, who is just a stranger, who is not an actress in Hollywood and doesnt need anything from him, I can only imagine how many other women something like this has happened to.

Kelly said Weinstein did not respond to a request to comment on the allegations Sivan presented on her program.

stephen.battaglio@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
Welcome to California Inc., the weekly newsletter of the L.A. Times Business Section.

Im Business columnist David Lazarus, and heres a rundown of upcoming stories this week and the highlights of last week.

Trading resumes Monday after news that hurricanes Harvey and Irma walloped the labor market, causing the nation to lose jobs for the first time in seven years. Total nonfarm employment declined by 33,000 jobs in September compared with an upwardly revised gain of 169,000 the previous month. The Labor Department said 1.5 million workers  the most in 20 years  were not at their jobs during the survey week last month because of bad weather.

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LOOKING AHEAD

Goodbye Columbus: Los Angeles city workers will have the day off Monday, but dont even think about calling it Columbus Day. The City Council re-designated the holiday Indigenous Peoples Day, bowing to activists who see the explorer as a symbol of genocide. To ease resistance to the change, the Council named Oct. 12 as Italian American Heritage Day. Federal workers also have Monday off  but for them, its still Columbus Day.

What a blast: SpaceX will have a doubleheader of launches this week. The Hawthorne-based company is set to launch a rocket with 10 commercial satellites for Iridium Communications from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Monday. Then, on Wednesday, SpaceX will launch a previously-flown Falcon 9 rocket from NASAs Kennedy Space Center carrying a European-built television broadcast satellite. The launches will be SpaceXs 14th and 15th of the year.

Water plan: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether it will contribute $4.3 billion to a proposed re-engineering of the the states water system. That amount would pay for about 25% of the California Waterfix, a $17-billion proposal to construct two massive tunnels that would change the way water supplies move through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Backers of the plan are worried that not all water districts will agree to share the cost.

Love is all around: The Paley Center for Media will present a salute to women in the television industry on Thursday at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. The event, called Paley Honors in Hollywood: A Gala Celebrating Women in Television, will feature a tribute to comedy icon Betty White. Presenters and participants include Kristin Chenoweth, Nadia Comaneci, Allison Janney, Debra Messing, Rita Moreno, Wanda Sykes and Lynn Whitfield.

Signing deadline: Gov. Jerry Brown faces a deadline Sunday to act on bills approved by the Legislature before it adjourned. One prominent business measure would force pharmaceutical companies to justify big price hikes on drugs. Other high profile bills include one that would deny access to the California ballot for any presidential candidate who wont release personal tax returns  a not-so-subtle jab at Donald Trumps refusal to do so in 2016.

THE AGENDA

Mondays Business section looks at the challenges faced by U.S. manufacturers. Case in point: Whirlpool, which has filed an unusual trade complaint against South Koreas Samsung and LG, which it says have dumped washing machines into the United States at below fair-market prices. Trade experts say the case could result in the Trump administration slapping penalties on imports of washers and key parts from anywhere in the world. The White House is open for business in terms of these petitions, one expert says.

STORY LINES

Here are some of the other stories that ran in the Times Business section in recent days that were continuing to follow:

Harassment claims: Harvey Weinstein, the pioneering independent film executive, was ousted from his company after a blockbuster news report that detailed decades of sexual harassment accusations against him. The New York Times said that the allegations were levied by actresses including Ashley Judd, as well as former employees of Weinstein Co. and the executives former company, Miramax. Weinstein has reached at least eight settlements over the alleged harassment, the paper said.

Contraceptive coverage: The Trump administration said it will limit an Obama-era rule that employers must provide women with contraceptives as part of their health plans, giving a broad exemption for executives or owners who have religious or moral objections to doing so. The Obama administration treated birth control as preventive care that must be covered by health insurance and gave female employees access to the full range of contraceptives at no cost.

Payday lending: The top consumer financial watchdog issued tough nationwide regulations on payday and other short-term loans, aiming to prevent lenders from taking advantage of cash-strapped Americans. The long-awaited rules from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  the first such broad federal regulations  would require lenders in most cases to assess whether a consumer can repay the loan.

Wells Fargo: CEO Tim Sloan appeared before the Senate Banking Committee, where Sen. Elizabeth Warren said the Wells Fargo chief should be fired for a steady stream of new revelations about irregularities at the bank since its accounts scandal erupted last year. Afterward, Wells Fargo took action on one issue, saying it will refund fees assessed to mortgage borrowers whose delays in completing their loan applications were primarily the banks fault.

Downtown project: The owner of a two-block stretch just south of downtown is seeking to either sell or bring in a partner to develop a massive $1.2-billion mixed-use project that would include a hotel, shops and residences. The site south of the 10 Freeway is now occupied by parking lots and just one main building, the 12-story Reef/LA Mart, which houses home furnishings showrooms and space for creative businesses and events.

WHAT WERE READING

And some recent stories from other publications that caught our eye:

Hard labor: In attempt to keep individuals convicted of low-level crimes out of prison, some judges are sending people to rehab facilities that are really just work camps for private industry, reports Reveal. The beneficiaries of these programs span the country, from Fortune 500 companies to factories and local businesses. The defendants work at a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Oklahoma, a construction firm in Alabama, a nursing home in North Carolina.

Exploiting the elderly: The New Yorker reports on private guardians in Las Vegas who have misused laws meant to protect the elderly, abruptly removing the seniors from homes, isolating them from their adult children and seizing their assets. While Nevada has belatedly moved to prevent such abuses, the magazine says, the mistreatment has left a generation of ill and elderly people who were deprived of their autonomy, and also of their families, in the final years of their lives.

Tech fight: The bitter feud between Apple and Qualcomm over the iPhones wireless modem could have a deep impact on the cellular phone business, says Bloomberg. Apple wants Qualcomm to lower the price it charges for the $18 part. Qualcomm contends that Apple has been using its influence to get Korean government regulators to intimidate Qualcomm on antitrust grounds. The feud could come to a head next year in a San Diego courtroom.

An agents path: The New York Times profiles Charles D. King, formerly Hollywoods top African-American talent agent and now the 48-year-old founder of a media start-up called Macro. In Kings own career, breaking down barriers has meant keeping cool and taking his lumps  some of them simply for being an outsider  as he studied the business and fought his way up from a subminimum-wage position in the William Morris mailroom.

SPARE CHANGE

If theres a character that Hollywood knows well, its talent agents. Jerry Maguire is a prominent case in point. Better still, Matthew McConaughey in Tropic Thunder, Woody Allen in Broadway Danny Rose and Martin Short in The Big Picture. Of course theres also Jeremy Piven in Entourage, but I cant provide a link and still keep this newsletters PG rating.

For the latest money news, go to www.latimes.com/business. Mad props to Scott J. Wilson for helping put this thing together.

Until next time, Ill see you in the Business section.
On most mornings, Matthew Shaver casually emerges from the packs of speed-walking commuters scuttling across Union Station and quietly takes a seat at the public piano at the heart of one of Los Angeles busiest transportation hubs.

For 20 straight minutes  the maximum play time, according to the posted rules  Shaver takes over the keys, filling the atrium with buoyant improvisations of jazz, pop and blues.

His playing often attracts a small crowd. Tourists film him. Regulars drop spare change and bills. Hes such a fixture that if the security guards are otherwise occupied (or feeling generous), he might get to play longer than the time limit.

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On a recent Monday morning, a man jumps out of the crowd and joins the pianist for an impromptu duet. When the number is over, the crowd applauds and cheers. A woman in a wheelchair wanders over, tucks a bill into his hand and says, Bless you, child.

Thank you, Shaver says quietly. Thank you so much.

Despite these well-received appearances at Union Station, the pianist often draws a double take.

Shaver, 30, is homeless  or as he likes to describe it: home-free.

Tall and slender with chiseled features, Shaver dons a uniform that consists of a pair of ragged Carhartt overalls worn without a shirt. His chest is emblazoned with a pair of tattoos: one an elaborate fish resembling a Japanese block print; the other an image of a pirate and the words life and death.

I love pirates, he says with a smile.

You pray about something and then you meditate on it. The piano is my meditation.  Matthew Shaver

Matthew Shaver plays the free piano at Union Station in Los Angeles. He describes it as his meditation. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times )

Shaver has played piano since he was 4  introduced to the instrument by two older sisters who taught him the basics. He was soon studying classical music with private instructors, but says he really came to love piano when he learned about jazz and blues.

The piano, he says, is the most positive influence in my life.

It is through the piano, he says, that I felt accepted, I felt wanted, I felt that I was useful, that I could do something that could last.

Shaver lives on the streets outside of Union Station and materializes most mornings to play  for money, but also fulfillment.

Its a meditation, he says. Like, you pray about something and then you meditate on it. The piano is my meditation.

Shaver is from the Seattle area. He says he grew up in foster care, that he is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, that he was injured in Afghanistan about half a dozen years ago and that he has done stints in jail. In conversation, his thoughts frequently meander  and the details of his life are often described cagily and hazily, making many of them impossible to verify.

But a rap sheet that matches his name and his circumstances in Washington state shows a guilty plea for drug possession, among other things, and numerous appearances at a Veterans Treatment Court.

Depression has always been a thing, Shaver says over breakfast at a Dennys across the street from Union Station.

I like to get baked, he adds. I like to get high occasionally. Though he says that in recent years hes cut back on drinking, which has a tendency to bring out his aggression.

Halfway through our conversation, he points at the ceiling so that we might observe that Chubby Checker is playing on the restaurants speaker system. Shaver is a big fan of Motown.

Whatever the details of his biography, it is Shavers piano playing that makes him such a striking figure.

Matthew Shaver says he isnt homeless, but home-free. He plays the piano at Union Station on most mornings. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times )

Doing drugs doesnt make a person bad. Just like going to church doesnt make you a good person. [But at the piano], I have respect.  Matthew Shaver, pianist

A circle of people nearly always surrounds him, respectfully listening whenever hes at the keys. Its hard to think of many situations in which someone who lives on the streets is treated with such deference by complete strangers.

Jay Taj operates a small recording studio in Santa Ana and is host and content creator for All Def Music, a digital hip-hop network founded by Russell Simmons. He is a regular commuter through Union Station.

The first time I heard him, I didnt even know there was this piano, Taj says. Then I thought it was like a thing where they have an entertainer play. And then I saw him playing and he was wearing these worn-down overalls.

As a piano player myself, it was magnificent. I watched him jump from ragtime to classical to bluesy stuff.

It was Taj, in fact, who was seen jumping in for an impromptu duet with Shaver on a morning in late September.

He says he has a great deal of sympathy for the musicians situation.

I got into some trouble myself and I too was dealing with some emotional issues, he says. Drugs can take away a lot of who you are, so its magnificent that someone can keep up with that talent  and to do it in a way that is so witty.

Ken Pratt, who helps oversee operations at Union Station, says the piano has been a hive of activity since it was installed last year  drawing expert players and amateur tinklers alike, all of whom are allowed their allotted time of 20 minutes.

I cant tell you, he says, how many renditions of Chopsticks Ive heard.

He is familiar with Shavers playing and knows him by name. He says the piano is serving its purpose of connecting people  to each other and to a young man they might otherwise ignore.

[People arent] going to look at him just for his appearance, says Pratt. They will look at him for his talents and his humanity. And his problems too. So maybe they will give him a little bit of slack.

He also notes that the outreach team at the station has offered Shaver access to services. But so far, Pratt says, Shaver has declined.

Shaver, in the meantime, appreciates the presence of a piano that he can play  no questions asked.

Sometimes, he says, Ill go into a church and say, Hey, can I play for two or three minutes? Sometimes he is accepted. But on many occasions he is refused.

Rejection is something he frequently contends with.

Ive been called disgusting by guys in suits, he says matter-of-factly. Doing drugs doesnt make a person bad. Just like going to church doesnt make you a good person.

But at the piano, that all falls away. I have respect, he says.

Shaver says he used to use his piano-playing skills as a way of charming the ladies. Now he sees that as a misuse of the gift that God gave me.

Its the only thing I got left, he says. Its the only thing I got left.

carolina.miranda@latimes.com

@cmonstah

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Reina Gossett, a transgender filmmaker, writer and activist, has accused filmmaker David France of stealing work from her to create "The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson," which debuted Friday on Netflix.

Gossett alleges that France had access to and was inspired by a grant application she submitted while seeking funding for her own picture, "Happy Birthday, Marsha," with collaborator Sasha Wortzel.

France, however, says transgender activist Johnson was a friend and hed been doing research and considering doing a project on her life and death for years.

Gossett wrote Saturday on Instagram, "[T]his week while I'm borrowing money to pay rent, david france is releasing his multimillion dollar netflix deal on marsha p johnson. i'm still lost in the music trying to #pay_it_no_mind and reeling on how this movie came to be and make so much $ off our lives and ideas This kind of extraction/excavation of black life, disabled life, poor life, trans life is so old and so deeply connected to the violence Marsha had to deal with throughout her life."

Johnson is best known for helping jumpstart the Stonewall Riots of 1969 that gave birth to the modern LGBTQ rights movement. In July 1992, the body of the firebrand  a fixture in New Yorks Village scene  was found in the Hudson River. Police said her death was a suicide, but many doubted that conclusion. "The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson" follows the work of trans activist Victoria Cruz to solve the case herself.

Gossett's post prompted trans activist and author Janet Mock to voice her support of Gossett, noting on social media that the allegations were another example of white cis folk profiting off the lives of trans people of color.

"These are our stories, our lives and we will not be erased or silenced," Mock wrote.

France responded to the allegations via Twitter Saturday and posted a more complete statement on his film's website shortly after.

"I owe a debt to those who have kept Marshas story alive over the years. My creative work builds on theirs. But it is its [sic] own scholarship," the statement reads.

France went on to note that he knew Johnson and covered her death while he was a writer for the Village Voice. He said he's always wanted to help tell her story. He said that he did hear about Gossett and Wortzel's project, but it didn't come until he was years-deep into research for his film.

"I reached out to [Gossett] about sharing resources, at which point she informed me she was working on a scripted short film about Marsha and Sylvia [Rivera] in the hours leading up to Stonewall, which is not at all the focus of my film," the statement continued. "These stories seemed different enough to me that there was no cause for concern. ... It seemed there was room in the landscape for both films with very different stories, methods and approaches. As part of a sincere desire to see their film completed, I connected Gossett, her co-director Sasha Wortzel, and their producers with our funder."

For Gossett and other aspiring filmmakers, the perception remains that privilege and access based on ones maleness, whiteness, and cis-ness opens doors. France addressed these concerns in his statement saying he admires Gossetts work and witnessed the obstacles she faces as an artist who is also a transgender woman of color, obstacles that have been far less onerous for him.

As Hollywood grapples with calls for greater inclusion in front of and behind the camera, many activists have pointed out the need to address (conscious and unconscious) biases related to how some stories see the light of day and others dont.

Racism and transphobia are hideous cancers. By joining my voice to the campaign for Marshas justice, I hoped to amplify that call, not complicate it, and to bring whatever attention I could draw to this history and those who defend it, France said. But I have complicated it nonetheless. I know that history-telling is not a zero sum equation. But funding and cultural power can be. It is wrong that our projects have not received equal attention.

Netflix declined to comment.

For more information about Gossett and Wortzels Happy Birthday, Marsha  starring Tangerine breakout Mya Taylor  check out their website.

Get your life! Follow me on Twitter (@TrevellAnderson) or email me: trevell.anderson@latimes.com.
Lloyd Pursall began dabbling in film and photography at a young age in Britain, but the 26-year-old didnt fully hit his stride until the rise of social media.

Pursall honed his craft at the London College of Fashion, where he studied fashion photography. In 2015, he landed in L.A., a place he had been eyeing for many years.

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Last month, at Hubble Studio downtown, Pursall debuted his first solo exhibition, To Live and Try in L.A., a one-night-only event focused on all things Los Angeles and featuring small mixed-art installations that greeted guests on arrival.

Overall, the installations appeared to speak of the essence and spirit of the city. Think neon signs, pinatas, a copper-gold shopping cart filled with oranges and a multicolored beach parasol with the words Well figure it out inscribed across the top.

To Live and Try in L.A. exhibit at Hubble Studio in downtown L.A. (Tara Paniogue / Los Angeles Times )

The main course of the exhibition was the 19 five-foot-tall prints of Pursalls photographs that were suspended from the ceiling. This portrait series was a showcase of Angelenos and their journeys as creatives trying to make it in L.A.

To tell these stories, Pursall assembled a diverse cast of actors, musicians, artists, editors, models, DJs, stylists and dancers. One notable face in the mix of cool kids was Moonlights Ashton Sanders.

Overall, Pursall said his exhibition aimed to break down existing tropes about L.A. and salvage a myth about the city that, in many ways, has been co-opted by Hollywood.

Upon examination, each photograph in the series appears to capture an intimacy and a connection between the photographer and his subject.

In my work, I always consider the people I work with as people, not subjects, and it is important to form a personal connection, Pursall said in a recent interview.

Asked about his personal and professional fascination with Los Angeles, Pursall said, L.A. felt like the right place to explore the medium of photography and push my boundaries as an artist. L.A. is a city that revolves around people and allows natural collaboration and connections to form.

The event also included a panel discussion and live photography studio, where Pursall shot portraits of guests. The show was sponsored by British online fashion and beauty brand Asos and B&O, the luxury Danish electronics brand.

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Every year, the beer world travels to Denver for the brewers version of the Oscars, known as the Great American Beer Festival. Now in its third decade, the GABF awards are the most prestigious beer prize in the country. And this year, a half dozen L.A. area breweries won awards for beers that ranged from classic German styles to adventurous uses of fruit and vegetables.

Nearly 8,000 brews were entered into the 98 different categories. The judges, some 275 beer experts from around the world, had their work cut out for them, especially in the ultra-popular categories such as American IPA, which saw more than 400 entries this year.

Beachwood Brewing in Long Beach, perhaps Los Angeles Countys most decorated brewery, took home the L.A. areas only gold medal this year, for Hoppa Emeritus  its dark and densely hoppy entry into the American Black Ale category. The Beachwood family also scored a bronze medal in the always hotly contested chili beer category for Dia de los Mangos from the Beachwood Blendery. The latter beer starts as a funky and tart lambic-style base and is dosed with mangoes and tamarind along with a mix of fresh and dried chiles.

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Weve been singing the praises of the refined and refreshing Seafarer Kolsch from Three Weavers Brewing Co. all summer, and the GABF judges agree. The light and crisp flagship scored a silver medal in the German-style kolsch category, and it wasnt the only German-style brew from the L.A. area to win a prize in the competition. Sanctum Brewing in Pomona earned a silver medal for Solar in the Munich-style helles category. Seafarer from Three Weavers is now widely available in six packs of cans or bottles, but youll have to visit the Sanctum tasting room in Pomona to try the winning helles (for now at least).

GABF isnt all about the rigorously on-style brews  there are a number of more experiment-friendly categories, and Ohana Brewing scored a bronze medal in the field beer category for brews that use vegetables as flavoring. Spa Water Saison has long been a favorite in the Ohana Tasting room in downtown Alhambra, and the ultra-refreshing mix of a light Belgian-style table beer, lemongrass and cucumber tastes even better than it sounds.

The hop-driven styles are the most hotly contested categories at the awards, and two of the L.A. areas under-the-radar hop destinations medaled in the competition. The Torrance brewpub HopSaint Brewing Co. won silver in the Australian-style or international-style pale ale category for its dialed-in Pure Intention pale ale, while Claremont Craft Ales took a bronze medal in the English-style IPA category for the floral and rye-spiced Jacaranda IPA. The Claremont brew is available around town in cans, but youll need to stop in for a bite at HopSaint to try Pure Intention pale ale  and dont miss the pecan pie while youre there.

You can see the complete list of medal winners, including many beers from Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego, at the Great American Beer Festival site.

food@latimes.com

@latimesfood

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Fires leave elderly evacuees with nearly nothing. Shes 85 and hes 87. How do you start all over?

Amid the rubble of his mother-in-law's mobile home Alex Perez salvaged a couple of ceramic artifacts, nothing else pic.twitter.com/A6klIiV9VR  Nina Agrawal (@AgrawalNina) October 10, 2017

At the Journeys End mobile home park for seniors on Mendocino Avenue, sons and daughters returned to the skeletons of their parents homes for the first time since the fire to see what could be salvaged.

Almost all of the parks 160 homes had been completely destroyed, though some on Sahara Street, near the Kaiser Permanente hospital, were still intact.

Alex Perez, 41, said he would drink tea with his mother-in-law at her home on Biltmore Street. All that remained Tuesday was the trailers steel frame, the carcass of her sons motorcycle and the shells of a washer, dryer, microwave, refrigerator and stove. Two stools, a countertop and a sink lay on the ground.

Im just glad shes safe, thats it, Perez said. He said she had only thought to evacuate because her brother had texted asking if she was OK. Perez said his mother-in-law wished shed had more notice. She only saved her documents for the house and a Bible.

A couple of doors down, Carrie Reindahl said her mom and stepdad only got out in time because they woke up from the noise of their U.S. flag whipping in the wind. By then, two trailers and a tree were already ablaze.

They tried to wake up some neighbors, and they barely got out with the clothes on their back, Reindahl said.

On Tuesday, Reindahl managed to pull out her grandmothers collection of porcelain Kewpie dolls from the rubble. Some had been broken.

Its just so devastating, she said, looking at the wreckage of her mothers home of 25 years. Shes 85 and hes 87. How do you start all over?

Reindahl said her mom and stepdad had been able to drive out in their own car, but she worried about others at the park. Trailers go up like a match, she said.

A few streets over, Jeff Moroni, 55, had come back to see what he could collect of his mothers belongings. Shirley, 86, lived in the biggest and newest home in the park, Jeff said, a three-bedroom, double-wide trailer.

Jeff Moroni salvaged his dad's coin collection from a mobile home in Journey's End. Little else was left pic.twitter.com/AMjpFvcSTB  Nina Agrawal (@AgrawalNina) October 10, 2017

Shirley Moroni had kept a few of her late husbands prized possessions, including an antique bathtub he had turned into a flower planter and a lifelong collection of Morgan silver dollars, old pennies and nickels. On Tuesday, the coins were in good shape, but the surrounding papers were burned to a crisp.

Jeff also searched for his familys cat, an 11-year-old orange tabby. Shirley Moroni hadnt had time to grab much when sheriffs deputies knocked on her door early Monday morning and evacuated her in their patrol car to the veterans building downtown.

The only thing she had time to grab was my dad  his urn, Jeff said, holding back tears. The family had been saving the ashes, he said, so they could be mixed with his mothers when the time comes.

The fires destructive speed surprised him. Jeff said he thought the flames might have started in the hills above Fountaingrove Parkway and then raced down.

He said, It looks like a bomb dropped.
Los Angeles schools chief Michelle King is recuperating from surgery and has appointed a subordinate to run the school system in her stead.

In an email over the weekend, she told senior staff that Associate Supt. Vivian Ekchian would serve as acting superintendent for the remainder of my absence.

I have the utmost confidence in Mrs. Ekchians leadership and ability to oversee all business matters, and maintain the districts upward trajectory toward 100% graduation, King wrote in the email, which went out at 10:32 a.m. on Saturday.

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Vivian Ekchian is serving as acting L.A. Unified superintendent while Michelle King recuperates. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times )

Ekchian followed up with an internal email confirming that she had agreed to step in.

The district has not discussed Kings medical problems, but some insiders said she injured herself in an accident while on vacation with her family. Whatever the details, she was apparently suffering from severe leg pain, which ultimately required surgery, said district sources, who could not be named because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

King, 56, had begun using a cane at work and then simply stayed at home, directing the district via phone and email. She hasnt attended a board meeting since Sept. 12, the district confirmed Monday. Her last day in the office was Sept. 15. When contacted last week, a district spokeswoman downplayed the effect of the medical issue.

Dr. King will be back in the office on Monday, said spokeswoman Shannon Haber. She has been in constant contact  and fully involved on all district matters  with staff and board members during her brief time away from the office.

But by the weekend, Kings return date had been set back.

Unexpectedly, my doctor informed me that I am not yet released to return to work, due to my continued need to recover from my medical procedure, King wrote to her senior staff. The doctor will reassess my progress at the end of this month.

King, who attended L.A. Unified schools, became superintendent of the nations second-largest school system in January 2016. She had worked for the district for three decades, starting as a teacher and steadily rising through the ranks. She is the first African American woman to hold the superintendents job.

Ekchian, too, has risen through district ranks, from her job as an elementary school teacher in 1985. She has served as a principal, as a director of instruction, as head of human resources, as chief labor negotiator and as a regional superintendent in the west San Fernando Valley.

howard.blume@latimes.com

@howardblume

UPDATES:

5:45 p.m: This article has been updated with additional details about Kings absence, including how long she has been out of the office.

This article was originally published at 1:55 p.m.
A smoke advisory was issued Monday for the San Francisco Bay Area as the result of massive wildfires in Napa and Sonoma counties.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the advisory. The San Francisco Department of Emergency Services told residents to close windows/doors and limit outdoor activities. Keep pets inside for protection.

Multiple fires ravaged Napa and Sonoma counties on Monday, forcing widespread evacuations across wine country and burning tens of thousands of acres.

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Smoke blankets San Francisco and the Bay Area from the fire in Napa and Sonoma counties pic.twitter.com/5SR50HznsX  Ron Lin (@ronlin) October 9, 2017

One of the fires  which burned more than 20,000 acres  had the city of Santa Rosa under siege Monday morning, with a large area north of downtown under evacuation order.

The area of Fountaingrove appeared to be particularly hard hit, with photos showing numerous homes on fire. Officials said homes were also lost in the community of Kenwood and at a mobile home park off the 101 Freeway.

While many evacuation centers were set up, some were filled to capacity due to the large number of people fleeing.

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Santa Rosa under siege as huge fire carves path of destruction; homes, hotels, businesses lost

At least 1,500 structures destroyed by rampaging Northern California wildfires

Santa Rosa Hilton Hotel, Kmart engulfed in flames
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, during his visit to India on October 5 and October 6, held talks with representatives of the republic's foreign policy department. The parties have agreed on joint film production in Ukraine for the first time, the press service of the Foreign Ministry has reported.

"During the talks, the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and a wide range of global and regional problems were considered. The sides agreed on the need for a significant intensification of the Ukrainian-Indian political dialogue and in principle agreed to exchange visits at the highest level in 2018," the press service of the department said on Friday evening.

Klimkin during his working visit to India met with Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India Sushma Swaraj and the state external ministers Mobashar Akbar and Vijay Singh.

Separately, there was a marked increase in bilateral economic cooperation and official and business contacts in this area.

At the same time, the sides confirmed the agreement to hold the next meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation in Kyiv in November 2017.

The sides also positively assessed the significant revival of cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere.

On the same day, Klimkin gave an interview to one of the leading newspapers of India, 'The Hindu', in which he analyzed the current state and prospects of Ukrainian-Indian relations in the main areas of mutual interest, and also noted Ukraine's readiness to further intensify bilateral cooperation with India in all key areas.

New positive trends in relations between states were separately noted. In particular, during 2016-2017 years it was recorded an unprecedented number of Indian students willing to receive higher education in Ukrainian universities - more than 4,000 people - in the history of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and India.

In addition, for the first time the parties have agreed on joint film production on the territory of Ukraine.

Also on Friday, Klimkin met with honorary consuls of Ukraine to the states of the South Asian region. The event was attended by honorary consuls to Mumbai (India), Nepal and Sri Lanka. During the conversation, the minister stressed the need to further intensify the work of the honorary consular institutions of Ukraine, primarily in terms of protecting the interests and rights of Ukrainian legal entities and individuals on the territory of their consulates.

"Specific tasks were set for each of the honorary consuls to promote the Ukrainian export products to the markets of South Asian countries, launch joint economic projects, develop cultural and humanitarian contacts, and popularize Ukraine's image," the report reads.
At least 10 people have died and at least 1,500 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed as more than 14 fires ravaged eight counties throughout Northern California on Monday, authorities said.

The Sonoma County Sheriffs Office reported seven fire-related deaths late Monday. In addition, two died because of the Atlas fire in Napa County, said a CalFire spokesperson. One person died as result of the Redwood Valley fire in Mendocino County.

Update: Northern California death toll rises to 11 as fires continue statewide>>

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In Sonoma County, the dead were found in the hot spots of the fire, an official said.

We are a resilient county; we will come back from this, said Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane. But right now we need to grieve.

1 / 59 An inmate firefighter monitors flames as a house burns in the Napa wine region. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 2 / 59 Flames ravage a home in the Napa wine region in California. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 3 / 59 A firefighter walks near a pool as a neighboring home burns in the Napa wine region. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 4 / 59 Firefighters douse flames as a home burns in the Napa wine region, as multiple wind-driven fires whip through the region. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 5 / 59 Louis Reavis views the burned remains of his classic Oldsmobile at his home in Napa. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 6 / 59 A tent structure built for the 2017 Safeway Open burns in Napa on Monday. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 7 / 59 The Estancia Apartment Homes on Old Redwood Hwy. were completely destroyed in Santa Rosa. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 59 A resident rushes to save his home as a wildfire moves through Glen Ellen, Calif. Tens of thousands of acres and dozens of homes and businesses have burned in wildfires in Napa and Sonoma counties. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) 9 / 59 A Fountaingrove Village man surveys the rubble of his home in Santa Rosa. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 59 Downed power poles and lines block a street in Hidden Valley. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times ) 11 / 59 A fcar burns in the driveway of a destroyed home in Fountaingrove Village. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 59 A wheelchair left abandoned at the evacuated Villa Capri assisted living facility on Fountaingrove Parkway in Santa Rosa. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times ) 13 / 59 A resident rushes to save his home as fire moves through the area in Glen Ellen, California. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) 14 / 59 A San Jose firefighter keep flames down at a home in Hidden Valley. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 59 A Fountaingrove Village couple takes in the ruins of their home after fire ripped through the neighborhood. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 59 A home destroyed in the fast moving wildfire that ripped through Glen Ellen. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 59 A swimming pool reflects the damage caused by the wildfires that moved through neighborhoods near Glen Ellen. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 59 Benicia Police Officer Alejandro Maravilla, left, offers resident Gwen Adkins, 84, a soda while patrolling in the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 59 Spencer Blackwell, left, and Danielle Tate find Tates fathers gun collection, melted and burned, inside a gun safe at her fathers home in the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times ) 20 / 59 An American flag is draped on a burned pickup truck on Camino del Prado in the Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times ) 21 / 59 Scorched wine barrels at the Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa after the wildfire burned through. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 59 Fire lights up the night sky framed by a vineyard near Kenwood. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 59 Oakland police officers knock on doors as residents of the Rancho de Calistoga mobile home park are told to evacuate in Calistoga. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 59 An aerial view of the Coffey Park neighborhood detroyed by wildfire in Santa Rosa. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times ) 25 / 59 Contra Costa paramedics help Bill Parras, 96, evacuate his home in Calistoga. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times ) 26 / 59 CHP officers study neighborhood maps before going door to door to tell Sonoma residents to voluntarily evacuate ahead of the wildfire. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 59 A home perched on top of a hill sits in the foreground of a fire moving up on Shiloh Ridge near Santa Rosa. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times ) 28 / 59 Scorched grapes and vines along the edge of Storybook Mountain Vineyards in Calistoga. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 59 John and Jan Pascoe survived the firestorm by running out of their home and into their neighbors swimming pool in Santa Rosa. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 59 Hundreds of burned wine bottles at the destroyed Helena View Johnston Vineyards near Calistoga. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 59 A Contra Costa County firefighter breaks a wall with an ax as his crew battles flames inside a home along Highway 29 north of Calistoga on Oct. 12. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 59 Atascadero Firefighters try to control flames burning inside a home along Highway 29 in Calistoga on Oct. 12. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 59 Contra Costa firefighters work to put out flames burning inside a home along Highway 29 north of Calistoga on Oct. 12. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 59 Search teams sift through the debris of mobile homes at the Journeys End Mobile Home Park in Santa Rosa. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times ) 35 / 59 A worker pulls out a firearm from the burned wreckage as search team members look through the debris at the Journeys End Mobile Home Park in Santa Rosa. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 59 Search team members sift through debris at the Journeys End Mobile Home Park in Santa Rosa. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 59 Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Coursey surveys the damage to the Coffey Park neighborhood. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times ) 38 / 59 Melted metal is seen on a car in the shadow of a destroyed home in Napa. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 59 Lola Cornish, 50, and her daughter Kat Corazza, 18, look over recovered family jewels that survived the fire at Cornishs grandfathers home in Napa. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 59 Some residents were allowed to return to their properties Friday in a neighborhood in Napa that was ravaged by the Atlas fire. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 59 A helicopter prepares to drop water on a fire that threatens the Oakmont community along Highway 12 in Santa Rosa. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 59 A helicopter drops water on a fire that threatens the Ledson Winery and Historic Castle Vineyards in Kenwood on Friday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 59 Manuel Mendoza sorts through donated clothing at the Bridge Church in Santa Rosa on Sunday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 59 Jean Schettler hugs Father Moses Brown after Mass at St. Rose Church on Sunday. Schettlers daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, after losing their house in the fires, have moved into the Santa Rosa home of Jean and Jim Schettler. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 59 Gianna Gathman, 18, hugs her grandfather Jim Schettler during Mass at St. Rose Church in Santa Rosa on Sunday. Gathmans family lost their home in the Fountaingrove neighborhood to the fire. They are now living with the Schettlers. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 59 Kimberly Flinn holds onto the only item that wasnt lost in a fire that destroyed her home in the Mark West Springs area in Santa Rosa. Flynn recovered a ceramic white butterfly that she had made in memory of a boy she used to babysit and was killed in a hit and run accident. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 59 Gerry Miller, 81, tells San Francisco Police Department Officer Gary Loo how grateful she is to find her home still standing. Residents were allowed to return to their homes in the Mark West Springs area in Santa Rosa Sunday night. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 59 Denise Finitz, 61, thanks Torrance Fire Department firefighters Keith Picket, right, and Capt. Mike Salcido on Oct. 16 after they helped her find her mothers wedding ring in the ashes of her home, destroyed by wildfires on Carriage Lane in Wikiup. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 59 A search and rescue crew member gives a cadaver dog some water during the hunt for a possible fire victim in the Mark West Springs area of Santa Rosa on Oct. 15. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 59 Burned cars like this vintage Volkswagen litter the landscape in Coffey Park. The neighborhood was completely destroyed by the Tubbs fire 11 days ago, with many residents fleeing in haste as their homes were enveloped in flames. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 59 A giraffe framed in the smoke filled air at the Safari West preserve. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 59 A Watusi bull looks out through the haze of the recent Tubbs fire at the Safari West preserve. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 59 Peter Lang, 77, owner of the Safari West preserve, stands between a pair of white rhinos against a backdrop of charred hillside in Santa Rosa. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 59 Mark Sharp, a resident of Coffey Park, sifts through the remains of his charred home in search of his wifes wedding band. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 59 Flowers were left on the mailbox of Roy Howard Bowman, 87, and his wife, Irma Elsie Bowman, 88 who died at their Fisher Lake Drive home from the Redwood Valley fire. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 59 Dee Pallesen, left, and her daughter Emily Learn console each as they look over Pallesens home, destroyed by the Redwood Valley fire. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 59 Jason Miller plants an American flag on the charred remains of his house as residents of Coffey Park return home. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 59 Burned vehicles litter the landscape in Coffey Park. The neighborhood was completely destroyed by the Tubbs fire 11 days ago, with many residents fleeing in haste as their homes were enveloped in flames. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 59 A pickup truck rests beside a row of charred trees in the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The vast devastation over just a few hours made this firestorm one of the worst in California history, with Gov. Jerry Brown declaring a state of emergency. Officials said the fires in Northern California have scorched 73,000 acres.

Local hospitals were treating those injured while others are unaccounted for, officials said. Additional fatalities were possible as search efforts continued.

One of the raging fires had Santa Rosa under siege Monday morning, with a large swath of the city north of downtown under an evacuation order.

The area of Fountaingrove appeared to be particularly hard hit, with photos showing numerous homes on fire. The Fountaingrove Inn, a Hilton hotel and a high school also burned. Officials said homes were also lost in the community of Kenwood and at a mobile home park off the 101 Freeway.

Coffey Park, a large Santa Rosa subdivision of dozens of homes, was burned to the ground.

Its fair to say its been destroyed, Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott said of Santa Rosas Fountaingrove neighborhood.

Bill Miken douses embers at his neighbor's house, with his dog Buddy by his side. He said only 8 of the 27 homes on his block survived. pic.twitter.com/P2wlRB6YC9  Phil Willon (@philwillon) October 9, 2017

Late last night starting around 10 oclock you had 50 to 60 mph winds that surfaced  really across the whole northern half of the state, he said. Every spark is going to ignite.

Northern California has seen its share of horrific wildfires  the states second-deadliest is the October 1991 Tunnel fire in the Oakland Hills, in which 25 people died. The Tunnel also ranks as the most destructive, charring 2,900 buildings.

But the combination of high winds, dried-up vegetation and low humidity driving flames into neighborhoods is more typical of Southern California.

This is exactly what you would expect in the Southern California fall fire season, Pimlott said.

Despite a wet winter, he said vegetation still hasnt recovered from Californias punishing drought, and at the end of the summer dry season, was ready to burn.

Firefighters are hopeful the winds will calm Monday afternoon. But red flag weather conditions will persist into Tuesday.

The city of Santa Rosa imposed a curfew starting at 6:45 p.m. Monday until sunrise Tuesday to prevent looting of empty homes in the evacuation zone, said acting Santa Rosa police chief Craig Schwartz.

We have had a number of reports in the evacuation zone and the fire zone of people driving around and suspicious behavior, Schwartz said.

While many evacuation centers were set up, some were filled to capacity due to the large number of people fleeing.

The Tubbs fire near Santa Rosa has burned more than 35,000 acres as of 6:40 a.m., Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon said during a televised news conference Monday morning. Officials said the other large fire in Napa County  Atlas Peak  has reached 25,000 acres.

Schools throughout the Napa and Sonoma valleys were closed for the day, and cellphone service has been affected in Napa County, where residents and businesses are experiencing power outages and trees have been knocked down by the wind, officials said.

More than 50 structures, including homes and barns, have burned in the Atlas Peak fire alone, Napa County Fire Chief Barry Biermann said during the news conference.

Residents described running from the approaching flames early in the morning.

Late Sunday night, Ken Moholt-Siebert noticed the smell of the smoke from his Santa Rosa vineyard just off Highway 101.

It was not until midnight that he spotted the flames: a small red glow growing a couple of ridges to the east, off Fountaingrove Parkway.

He ran up the hill on his property to turn on a water pump to protect the ranch his family has been raising sheep and growing grapes on for four generations.

Before the pump could get the water fully flowing, a small ember from the Tubbs fire landed nearby. With the wind picking up, the ember sparked a spot fire about 50 feet in diameter. Then it was 100 feet in diameter.

There was no wind, then there would be a rush of wind and it would stop. Then there would be another gust from a different direction, Moholt-Siebert, 51, said. The flames wrapped around us.

He ran for cover.

I was just being pelted with all this smoke and embers, he said. It was just really fast.

Moholt-Siebert retreated through a 150-year-old redwood barn on his property  where his sons wedding reception had been held in June. He jumped a fence back toward his house and fell to the ground to catch gulps of less smoke-contaminated air before reaching his home.

As he fled with his wife Melissa in their Ford sedans, the flames reached their vineyard full of Pinot Noir grapes and crept toward a 200-year-old oak tree on the property  the namesake for the family winery, Ancient Oak Cellars.

As he drove through falling embers and smoke he thought about what he left behind. The sheep on his ranch, he thought, would be safe since they were on shortly cut wet grass. He left behind family mementos and furniture from his grandparents.

The property was dotted with old valley and black oak as well as some California ash trees.

That is probably all gone, Moholt-Siebert said. I have a feeling there is not going to be much left.

Smoke from the fires drifted into the Bay Area, into San Francisco and as far south as San Jose.

 Widespread destruction at Hidden Valley neighborhood in Santa Rosa.

The #TubbsFire is now at 20,000 acres.  Santa Rosa Fire Department (@SantaRosaFire) October 9, 2017

The smell of smoke is everywhere throughout the county, Napa County spokeswoman Kristi Jourdan said.

In Santa Rosa, Kaiser Permanente Hospital and Sutter Hospital were evacuated.

We have safely evacuated the Santa Rosa medical center due to fires burning in the area. Many patients were transported to Kaiser Permanente in San Rafael and other local hospitals, Kaiser spokeswoman Jenny Mack said in an email. All scheduled appointments and surgeries have been canceled for the day in Santa Rosa and the Napa medical offices.

#GOES16 satellite update: around 3 am Monday morning. Satellite continues to show multiple wild fires across the North Bay, and a new fire start has been detected just to the east of Cloverdale. Strong and gusty northeast winds will continue through at least mid morning. #cawx pic.twitter.com/jufkkU38wZ  NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) October 9, 2017

The Santa Rosa fire began around 10 p.m. The cause of the fires is still under investigation.

Upward of 300 firefighters are battling the blazes in Napa County, she said. There are three evacuation centers for Napa County residents, though one  the Crosswalk Community Church  is full, she said. The other two are the Calistoga Fairgrounds and at Napa Valley College.

Those who evacuated described a chaotic scene.

Around 2 a.m., the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office ordered evacuations around Kay Drive and Mark West Station Road in Windsor. Jen Ancic, 31, fled with her two young sons and boyfriend.

As the family drove north on U.S. Highway 101, Ancic said she could see buildings and trees burning.

The whole town was on fire, she said. It was crazy.

A Santa Rosa native, Ancic said that fires in the mountains are not uncommon, but nothing like this has happened in Santa Rosa.

She was devastated to learn from online news reports that Coffey Park, where shed played as a child and had recently held a recent birthday party for her son, had burned. Theres nothing left, Ancic said.

Weather conditions  strong winds and high temperatures  made conditions ripe for a major inferno.

We also had really gusty winds and really warm temperatures, said National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Mehle. This time of year it does happen quite a bit. For the San Francisco Bay Area, our summer is late September to early October; thats when we have our warmest and driest conditions.

Fires in Northern an Southern Calif. create widespread damage, destroying homes and claiming live

The destructiveness of the fires shocked officials. The worst fire in recent California history was the Cedar blaze in San Diego County in 2003, which destroyed more than 2,800 homes. The 2007 Witch fire, also in San Diego County, destroyed more than 1,600. Both of those fires occurred in October.

This time of year is when historically the states largest, most damaging and most deadly fires have occurred, Upton said. Critical fire conditions fanned by high winds act as a fuse for sparks, she said.

A key reason why the fires burning through Napa and Sonoma counties became so devastating was that the ignitions happened at the worst possible moment: extremely dry conditions combined with so-called Diablo winds that fanned flames on the ridgetops with gusts as high as 70 mph.

Its similar to the conditions that caused one of the most destructive blazes in Northern California history, the October 1991 firestorm that struck the Oakland and Berkeley hills that killed 25 people and destroyed more than 3,300 single-family homes.

The wine country fires so far havent approached that level of catastrophe, with officials reporting at least 1,500 structures lost, in part because the area burned isnt as densely populated as the area that was hit hard in 1991.

Staffers at Safari West, a wildlife preserve in Santa Rosa, fled the property Sunday night, but some employees returned Monday afternoon to find the fire basically jumped over the preserve Sunday night.

There are still a lot of fires all around so the situation is very dynamic at the moment, Safari West executive director Keo Hornbostel wrote in an email.

The 400-acre property is known for its rhinos, giraffes, zebras and other animals. Guests also can stay in tents on site.

Marie Martinez, conservation and outreach manager at Safari West, said that staff and guests left the facility Sunday night, with staffers taking some birds and a tortoise with them.Erin Harrison, director of marketing and communications at Oakland Zoo, said the zoo is willing to coordinate evacuation of the Safari West animals if needed.

Willon reported from Santa Rosa, St. John from Napa.

Los Angeles Times staff writers Nina Agrawal in Santa Rosa, Makeda Easter, Rong-Gong Lin II, Joy Resmovits, Javier Panzar, Dakota Smith, Bettina Boxall and Geoffrey Mohan contributed to this report.

sonali.kohli@latimes.com

Twitter: @Sonali_Kohli

ALSO

Smoke from Wine Country fires billows into Bay Area, prompting air quality warnings

That is probably all gone: A Santa Rosa rancher describes fleeing his vineyard

Santa Rosa under siege as huge fire carves path of destruction

UPDATES:

6:50 p.m.: This article was updated with updated acreage numbers.

6:20 p.m.: This article was updated with information about a curfew in Santa Rosa and the Safari West wildlife preserve.

5:40 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the deaths and a quote from a Sonoma County supervisor.

4:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional deaths.

3:40 p.m.: This article was updated with more information about the Santa Rosa fire.

2:20 p.m.: This article was updated with more details from evacuees.

1:10 p.m.: This article was updated with news of the death in Mendocino County.

12:05 p.m.: This article was updated with information about Diablo winds.

11:09 a.m.: This article was updated with witness accounts, weather conditions.

10:15 a.m.: This article was updated with more details about the fires and damage.

9:50 a.m.: This article was updated with more details about acreage and areas affected.

9:15 a.m.: This article was updated with Gov. Jerry Browns declaration of a state of emergency.

8:25 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details about the fires in Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties.

7:30 a.m.: This article was updated with more details about the size of the fires and information concerning hospital evacuations.

This article was originally published at 6:40 a.m.
The woman on the other end of the line said her husband had been beating her for years, even while she was pregnant.

She was in danger and wanted help, but was in the country illegally  and was convinced she would be deported if she called authorities. Fearful her husband would gain custody of her children, she wanted nothing to do with the legal system.

It is a story that Jocelyn Maya, program supervisor at the domestic violence shelter Su Casa in Long Beach, has heard often this year.

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In the first six months of 2017, reports of domestic violence have declined among Latino residents in some of Californias largest cities, a retreat that crisis professionals say is driven by a fear that interacting with police or entering a courthouse could make immigrants easy targets for deportation.

President Trumps aggressive stance on illegal immigration, executive orders greatly expanding the number of people who can be targeted for deportation and news reports of U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agents making arrests at courthouses have contributed to the downturn, according to civil liberties and immigrant rights advocates.

In Los Angeles, Latinos reported 3.5% fewer instances of spousal abuse in the first six months of the year compared with 2016, while reporting among non-Latino victims was virtually unchanged, records show. That pattern extends beyond Los Angeles to cities such as San Francisco and San Diego, which recorded even steeper declines of 18% and 13%, respectively.

Sheriffs Deputy Marino Gonzalez talks with community members during a block meeting in Cudahy. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times )

Domestic violence is traditionally an under-reported crime. Some police officials and advocates now say immigrants without legal status also may become targets for other crimes because of their reluctance to contact law enforcement.

The Long Beach abuse victim, fearing she had no other recourse, sent her oldest children back to Mexico to live with relatives.

Were supposed to be that assurance that they dont have. That safety net, Maya said. But its getting harder for us to have a positive word for them and say: Its going to be OK. You can go into a courtroom. You can call the police. 

Los Angeles County sheriffs Deputy Marino Gonzalez said he addresses such apprehension frequently as he patrols the streets of East L.A.  even though his department doesnt question people about their immigration status.

Theyre afraid of us. And the reason theyre afraid of us is because they think were going to deport them. They dont know that we dont deport them; we dont ask for their immigration status, he said. They just gotta go based on what they see on social media and what they hear from other people.

On a warm afternoon, Gonzalez pulled his cruiser to a stop near a row of apartments in Cudahy, ahead of a community meeting in a predominantly Spanish-speaking neighborhood. There was a lone woman waiting for Gonzalez and a few other deputies, offering lemonade to passersby.

The mood in the city was tense. The night before, a pro-Trump demonstrator protesting the citys sanctuary status had been arrested on suspicion of brandishing a gun. Gonzalez and city officials went door-to-door, flashing smiles and speaking Spanish to residents, urging them to attend the meeting.

Gonzalez spoke calmly to the assembly of several dozen people sipping from Styrofoam cups.

Were not here to ask you where youre from, he said in Spanish, drawing thankful nods.

Gonzalez, who came to the U.S. from Mexico as a child, said he knows why people are scared, but hopes face-to-face conversations will persuade more victims to come forward.

The community here, they dont know, and they wont know, unless we reach out, he said.

Were not here to ask you where youre from.  Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Deputy Marino Gonzalez

Sheriffs deputy Marino Gonzalez, left, talks with deputies while investigating a disturbance in Maywood. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times )

ICE officials also said they do not target crime victims for deportation and, in fact, often extend visas to those who report violent crime and sexual abuse.

Officials in the agencys Los Angeles office declined to be interviewed. ICE issued a statement dismissing links between immigration enforcement and a decline in crime reporting among immigrants as speculative and irresponsible.

The drop in reporting could result from an overall decrease in domestic violence crimes, the agency said. But police statistics reviewed by The Times suggest that statement is inaccurate. The decline in domestic violence reports among Latinos in several cities is far steeper than overall declines in reporting of those crimes.

In Los Angeles and San Diego, reporting of domestic violence crimes remained unchanged among non-Latinos. The decline among Latinos in San Diego was more than double the overall citywide decrease, records show. In San Francisco, the reporting decline among Latinos was nearly triple the citywide decrease.

The pattern extends outside California.

In April, Houston police Chief Art Acevedo said the number of Latino victims reporting sexual assault had dropped 42% in his city. In Denver, at least nine women abandoned pursuit of restraining orders against their abusers after immigration enforcement agents were filmed making an arrest in a city courthouse earlier this year, according to City Atty. Kristi Bronson.

Claude Arnold, who oversaw ICE operations in Southern California from 2010 to 2015, said misconceptions about the agency may be driving the downswing. Crime victims are far more likely to receive a visa application than a removal order by reporting an attack, he said.

ICE still has a policy that we dont pursue removal proceedings against victims or witnesses of crime, and I havent seen any documented instances where that actually happened, he said. To a great degree, we facilitate those people having legal status in the U.S.

Nationwide, the number of arrests made by ICE agents for violations of immigration law surged by 37% in the first half of 2017. In Southern California, those arrests increased by 4.5%.

Arnold said some immigrants rights activists have helped facilitate a climate of fear by spreading inaccurate information about ICE sweeps that either didnt happen, or were in line with the Obama administrations policies.

But professionals who deal with domestic violence victims say the perception of hardcore enforcement tactics under Trump has led to widespread panic.

Adam Dodge, legal director at an Orange County domestic violence shelter called Lauras House, said that before February, nearly half of the centers client base were immigrants in the country illegally. That month, ICE agents in Texas entered a courthouse to arrest a woman without legal status who was seeking a restraining order against an abuser.

We went from half our clients being undocumented, to zero undocumented clients, he said.

A video recording earlier this year of a father being arrested by ICE agents moments after dropping his daughter off at a Lincoln Heights school had a similar effect on abuse victims in neighboring Boyle Heights, said Rebeca Melendez, director of wellness programs for the East L.A. Womens Center.

They instilled the ultimate fear into our community, she said. They know they can trust us, but they are not trusting very many people past us.

Even when victims come forward, defense attorneys sometimes use the specter of ICE as a weapon against them, to the frustration of prosecutors.

In the Bay Area, a Daly City man was facing battery charges earlier this year after flashing a knife and striking the mother of his girlfriend, according to court records. The mans defense attorney raised the fact that the victim was in the country illegally during pretrial hearings, although a judge eventually ruled that evidence was irrelevant and inadmissible at trial, records show.

The case ended in a hung jury. But when prosecutors sought a retrial, the victim said she would not cooperate, in part, because her immigration status was raised during the trial, said Max Szabo, a spokesman for the San Francisco district attorneys office.

LAPD officers investigate a reported disturbance in a Sylmar mobile home park. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascon said the case was one of several where his prosecutors felt defense attorneys sought to leverage heightened fears of deportation against victims. He believes that tactic, combined with ICEs expanded priorities and presence in courthouses, is driving down domestic violence reporting among immigrants in the citys sprawling Latino and Asian communities.

Gascon described the situation as a replay of the fear he saw in the immigrant community while he was the police chief in Mesa, Ariz., during notorious Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaios crusade against people without legal status, which led to accusations of racial profiling.

Stephanie Penrod, managing attorney for the Family Violence Law Center in Oakland, also said the number of immigrants without legal status willing to seek aid from law enforcement has dwindled.

Abusers frequently will threaten to call immigration enforcement agents on their victims, a threat Penrod believes has more teeth now given ICEs increased presence in courthouses.

The biggest difference for us now is those threats are legitimate, she said. Previously we used to advise them we couldnt prevent an abuser from calling ICE, but that it was unlikely ICE would do anything.

If the problem persists, Gascon fears the consequences could be deadly.

The level of violence increases, he said. It could, in some cases, lead to severe injury or homicide.

Times staff writer Kate Mather contributed to this report.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.

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One by one, the mourners called out the names.

Andrea Castilla, the first one said. She was a makeup artist from Huntington Beach celebrating her 28th birthday when she was shot and killed in Las Vegas on Oct. 1.

Erick Silva, said another voice. He was a 22-year-old security guard who died saving lives.

Susan Smith, an elementary school office manager from Simi Valley, was among those named.

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As the sun set over the ocean, a throng of people huddled along the Huntington Beach Pier to remember those who lost their lives too soon. They clutched flame-less candles and held aloft cellphone flashlights. Strangers embraced one another. Beats from a drum circle echoed. Some wept as 58 names were read.

They were among thousands of people who gathered at candlelight vigils across the state  including events in Placentia, La Verne, Bakersfield and Simi Valley  over the weekend to commemorate victims of the Las Vegas massacre.

Exactly a week ago, a gunman perched on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel sprayed a crowd of 22,000 country music fans with gunfire at the Route 91 Harvest festival.

The shooter Stephen Paddock killed 58 people and wounded hundreds more before turning a gun on himself, according to police.

More than half of those killed, 33 people, were from California.

They were teachers, mothers and big sisters, drawn together by their love of country music. Some, like Castilla, traveled to Vegas to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries.

At the pier in her hometown, Castillas loved ones wore postcards around their necks bearing her photograph and the phrase #PrayForVegas. They remembered her as a sympathetic listener who was always smiling. She was light on a gloomy, cloudy day, one friend said, standing next to a memorial with sunflowers, candles and a photograph.

That weekend, her boyfriend of seven months, Derek Miller, was planning to propose.

Those grieving could pick up tissues and candy from a table nearby, sign their names or donate to victims families.

I feel the love, said Jacque Nafison, 58, of the Huntington Beach vigil. Castilla was her best friends niece. The warmth and serenity and caring people have for each other.

Nafison said Castilla didnt die in vain.

The world will change, she said. Hopefully it changes.

At a candlelight vigil Sunday in Placentia, a large crowd gathered in the field of Sierra Vista Elementary School to honor Teresa Nicol Kimura, who also died in the Las Vegas attack.

Kimura, who went by Nicol, graduated from El Dorado High School and Cal State Fullerton and worked for the state government. She was known for her energy and infectious smile.

Her friend Chad Elliott said the pair had attended 15 concerts this year alone, but the Route 91 festival was her favorite weekend of the year.

In Huntington Beach, many of those who were present during the shooting were scattered in the crowd, orange and purple ribbons pinned to their shirts. Several spoke of the guilt they felt for making it out alive while another thanked a veteran for saving her life.

Among those who survived the attack was Mignon Underwood, 51, who said she came to the vigil to process it all.

Its been hard, she said of the last week. Im trying to get through the day without thinking about it. Im trying not to fall apart.

During the vigil, survivors held hands and walked up and down the pier, while attendees followed behind.

Bethany Webb, 56, carried a sign saying, Now is the time to talk about sensible gun laws.

Six years ago, she lost her sister when a gunman opened fire inside a Seal Beach hair salon.

Fifty-eight families cant breathe right now, Webb said. Not until enough people have walked in our shoes.

makeda.easter@latimes.com

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

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UPDATES:

10:45 p.m.: This article was updated with information from the vigil in Placentia.

9:20 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information from the vigil.

This article was originally published at 7:20 p.m.
Adults in California 21 and older will soon be able to buy marijuana legally for recreational use. But where will they smoke it?

Under Proposition 64, approved by state voters last year, it will be legal to grow, buy and sell marijuana beginning in January. However, the ballot initiative included strict limits on where that marijuana could be consumed.

Not in public places, such as streets or in parks. Not in a car. Not in any space  such as a bar or office building  where tobacco smoking is already banned. Not on the premises of any business where tobacco or alcohol is sold. Landlords and property owners also can ban smoking in apartments and hotel rooms.

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Basically, the only place, other than a private home, where one could legally smoke marijuana would be at a business licensed for on-site consumption, such as a marijuana lounge or an Amsterdam-like cafe. Proposition 64 gave local governments the option to permit or ban that sort of on-site consumption. But so far, many California cities, including Los Angeles, have no proposals to allow for such places.

Its neither rational nor fair for the state to legalize marijuana and then make it nearly impossible for people to use it without running afoul of the law.

This page has supported Californias strict restrictions on smoking tobacco in public places so that adults who choose to endanger their own health dont inflict harm on others in the process. Weve also supported the right of landlords to ban tobacco smoking in their buildings to protect people from secondhand smoke. But tobacco smokers always have the option of going outside to smoke.

Its neither rational nor fair for the state to legalize marijuana and then make it nearly impossible for people to use it without running afoul of the law. Getting caught smoking pot in public can result in fines of up to $250.

The lack of legal places for people to use marijuana puts a particular burden on renters, who may not be allowed by their landlords to smoke cannabis in their homes. That also could have a disproportionate effect on low-income people and people of color. After marijuana was legalized in Colorado, blacks were more than twice as likely as whites to be arrested for using it in public.

If city and state rules make it impossible to find a place to smoke marijuana legally, that also undermines one of the key arguments for Proposition 64, which was that its ultimately better for public health and safety to bring marijuana out of the shadows and allow it to be used in a legal, regulated and controlled way. But without licensed locations for consumption, there is a big gap in the controlled marketplace.

Marijuana entrepreneurs are a creative bunch, and some have come up with a workaround: members-only marijuana clubs, where people can bring their own weed and smoke it in a private space. They are increasing in number, but they may or may not be legal.

But, again, the goal of Proposition 64 was to legalize and regulate marijuana. It makes sense to set standards for where on-site consumption may occur (for example, away from schools and day care centers,) to establish rules for the responsible operation of such venues and to issue licenses that can be revoked if a business becomes a nuisance.

Theres also something a bit hypocritical about permitting and collecting taxes from marijuana growers and sellers, but then refusing to license on-site consumption for fear of encouraging drug use.

There are legitimate concerns about marijuana users driving while high. That is a problem, like the scourge of drunk driving, that needs to be addressed through public education and robust enforcement of DWI laws.

Cities across California are confronting tough decisions about how to manage the legalization of marijuana. Even states with longer experience with legal cannabis, like Colorado, are only now beginning to experiment with allowing what theyre calling social use of marijuana.

Last year, Denver voters supported a pilot program in which approved businesses could let customers bring their own pot to consume on site. Supporters of the ballot initiative said it was an attempt to treat marijuana more like alcohol  as a legal product that adults should be able to consume responsibly in a more social setting, like a bar.

With the passage of Proposition 64, Californians also said they wanted to treat marijuana more like alcohol. Cities should be open to creating legal spaces for adults to use legal marijuana.

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The ongoing civil war in Yemen was instigated by the regions major powers, with Iran on one side and a Saudi Arabia-led coalition of Persian Gulf states on the other. The fighting  especially airstrikes by Saudi and United Arab Emirates pilots  has devastated Yemen, one of the Arab worlds poorest nations. It has created what three U.N. agencies call the worlds largest humanitarian crisis: Sixty percent of the Yemeni population is food insecure; 700,000 have been infected with cholera, a deadly disease spread by a lack of clean water and sanitation.

There are plenty of man-made catastrophes around the world today, but the conflict in Yemen is unique because the United States is not a bystander or neutral arbiter. We have gone along for the ride, providing indirect military assistance on the Saudi side.

Without congressional authorization  and without a peep from the leaders of either party  the Obama and Trump administrations made the U.S. a participant. Now a bipartisan group of House members is invoking the War Powers Act of 1973 and demanding that Congress either support our involvement in Yemen or direct the president to end it.

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Americans arent pulling triggers, but we are integral protagonists in the fight in Yemen.

Since March 2015, when the Saudi coalition began bombing Houthi rebels in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, the U.S. Air Force has assisted  enabled  Riyadh and its allies in the air campaign. Americans arent pulling triggers, but we are integral protagonists in the fight.

Air Force intelligence identifies Houthi targets to hit and civilian facilities to avoid. At the U.N., in the Security Council and the Human Rights Council, Washington has protected Riyadh from censure, watering down resolutions and preventing war crimes inquiries. Most important, throughout the war, Saudi and Emirati jets have used U.S. midair refueling capabilities to keep up the pace of operations without having to return to a base.

According to Pentagon statistics, the Air Force has refueled Saudi aircraft more than 9,000 times. American pilots dont have to traverse Yemeni airspace to reach coalition planes, which keeps us technically out of the fighting, but without this U.S. help, it is unlikely the Saudi side could maintain its participation in what regional analysts already call a quagmire.

Congress has had no say in U.S. involvement in the war. Out of cowardice, political concerns, general disinterest in Yemen or (unjustified) allegiance to Saudi Arabia, lawmakers have not debated  let alone voted on  whether U.S. national security interests are served by picking winners and losers in a proxy contest between rival Mideast factions. U.S. participation has been left to the president to decide, as if Congress had no responsibility in scrutinizing American foreign policy.

This is not what the Founders envisioned. The Constitution places no higher priority on the legislative branch than determining when the United States will send its servicemen and women into war. In this case, long before the military aid was offered, the American people, through their elected representatives, should have had a national debate about what, if any, U.S. objectives would be served by entering the Yemen conflict, what military support would be required, whether diplomatic conditions should be attached to military action and how aiding Riyadhs bombing campaign could affect our other interests in the region. (In fact, the destruction of Yemen has strengthened Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and worked against our counterterrorism operations there.)

On Sept. 27, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Torrance), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) stepped in to fill the void in congressional leadership. They introduced whats called a concurrent resolution under the the War Powers Act, demanding an end to U.S. involvement in the Yemen civil war in 30 days unless Congress votes otherwise. Under provisions in the act, such a resolution supposedly cannot be stalled or buried in committee. If the House Foreign Affairs Committee does not move the resolution forward within 15 days, it can be brought to the full House for debate and a vote anyway.

Supporters and opponents of U.S. policy in Yemen should make their case to the American people through Congress, just as the founders intended and the Constitution requires. Lawmakers have the power to make that happen, but that power is meaningless if they refuse to use it.

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities, a think tank launched in 2016 that advocates for foreign policy restraint.

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If hypocrisy were a greenhouse gas, the ice caps would be gone by now.

Lets start with the obvious: Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein wasnt fired for being a pig, he was fired for being exposed as one. The Weinstein Co. board probably didnt know everything, but they surely knew enough. The only relevant new revelation was public outcry.

The New York Times, which broke the story, knew what was going on long before the publication date, too. Former Times reporter Sharon Waxman said she had the goods on Weinsteins act in 2004. The Times gutted the piece after Weinstein, who was not just a Hollywood player and political rainmaker, but a major advertiser, visited the paper to make his displeasure known. Now some at the paper are denouncing the medias long silence about Weinstein, even though it was part of the problem for years. Still theyre heroic in this story compared with everyone else.

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Consider Hollywood itself. If God punished hypocrisy with lightning bolts, that town would be in smoldering ruins. Even as various insiders condemned Weinstein, they admitted that his alleged wrongdoing had long been an open secret.

Why didnt they speak up earlier? Perhaps because attacking Weinstein had downsides while attacking, say, Donald Trump promised only rewards.

How many people in that room knew about Weinstein? How many refused to speak up  even after he was fired?

At last months Emmys, the stars of 9 to 5  a feminist-lite flick about sexual harassment in the workplace  reunited. Back in 1980, in that movie, we refused to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot, explained Jane Fonda.

And in 2017, we still refuse to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot, Lilly Tomlin added.

The crowd roared with approval. Take that, Trump!

How many people in that room knew about Weinstein? How many refused to speak up  even after he was fired? Saturday Night Live went silent when it came to Weinstein. Its a New York thing, executive producer Lorne Michaels explained.

So far, many right-wing readers are probably nodding along to this column. Well, stop. If you never spoke up about Trump, or if you responded to those accusations with a dismissive, What about Bill Clinton? you should probably just sit this one out.

Because if you decry piggish behavior only when it helps your side, or if you think accusers are telling the truth only when they speak up about people you hate (or dont need professionally), then you dont actually care about sexual harassment.

Steve Bannons Breitbart.com reported this week that Weinstein had visited the Obama White House 13 times. The Horror! This is the same Bannon who insists that the first and greatest test of loyalty to Trump was whether you supported him after the Access Hollywood video was released.

I cant wait for Sean Hannity to ask Bill OReilly  ousted from Fox for his Weinsteinish behavior  to opine on the latest news about those pervs in Hollyweird.

It may be that liberals including Weinstein, Bill Clinton and Bill Cosby together have a worse rap sheet than Trump, ousted Fox News head Roger Ailes and OReilly. But, my God, who cares?

Is it the new standard of the tribalized right that so long as our guys dont sink to the lowest standards of their guys, its OK?

Is the rule for the left that you can be a personal and professional pig so long as your public politics are correct? I still remember Gloria Steinem dismissing Bill Clintons exploits, leading wags to proclaim a one free grope rule. No wonder Weinstein thought he could buy off Hollywood by promising to attack the National Rifle Assn.

That brings me to the one group that has understandably been spared any criticism at all: the victims. I dont condemn their silence when young and powerless. But theres a real problem: Many stayed silent for decades happily pocketing money from people they were willing to denounce only after it was safe  or even profitable  to do so.

While the most sympathetic, that hypocrisy may be the most dangerous, because it sends the signal to young women that such compromises pay off and you can buy indulgences after youre successful. Thats not a message I want my teenage daughter to hear.

jgoldberg@latimescolumnists.com

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After much debate, both the Los Angeles City Council and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors recently voted to replace the Columbus Day holiday with Indigenous Peoples Day, beginning no later than 2019. Although to many this change will seem long overdue, others wonder why our elected officials have ventured into this political thicket.

This week marks 525 years since Christopher Columbus first set foot in the Americas. Nobody questions the historical significance of that feat, but how we understand Columbus and his place in world history has changed dramatically over the centuries.

Throughout the 1800s and 1900s, civic leaders hailed Columbus as the man who brought culture and civilization to the Americas and in so doing planted the seeds that grew into the democratic republic of the United States. They honored this proto-Founding Father in innumerable proclamations, statues, monuments, street names and public plazas. All this adoration culminated in 1937, when, following massive Italian immigration to the U.S., the federal government proclaimed a national holiday in his honor. The city of Los Angeles followed suit that year.

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Today, however, those who know most about the life of Columbus see him as more than a skilled mariner, expert promoter and courageous explorer. Increasingly they point to the other aspects of his character and life: his arrogance, his poor administration of his colonial ventures and his blinkered conscience, which was untroubled by the enslavement of Native Peoples, even when doing so went against the wishes of his royal backers.

Even though California was among the last regions to be colonized by Spain, the shadow cast by Columbus reached all the way to our shores.

Moreover, Columbus landfall ushered in one of the greatest injustices in human history: the wholesale transfer of wealth and lands from native peoples to Europeans; the unprecedented depopulation of vast swaths of the Americas as European diseases reduced native populations by 90%; and the violent oppression of indigenous culture and beliefs, as Spanish conquistadors and missionaries sought to convert indigenous peoples into servile laborers and observant Catholics.

That the colonization of the Americas made possible by Columbus was both cruel and tragic is not a matter of debate. The history is settled.

This is why, since 1992, municipalities large and small across the country have been stepping back from their public commemorations of Columbus. Its why, in July 2015, Pope Francis asked for forgiveness on behalf of the Catholic Church for crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America. And its why the City Council and Board of Supervisors voted to change the holiday in his honor.

Even though California was among the last regions to be colonized by Spain, the shadow cast by Columbus reached all the way to our shores, and his namesake holiday is a particular affront to Californians whose ancestors suffered as a result.

Before Spanish colonization, the regions that make up modern California were home to the largest and most densely settled population of indigenous people north of the Valley of Mexico. Some 350,000 people lived here before Spanish missionaries and soldiers arrived in 1769. By the 1830s, the Franciscans had baptized more than 80,000 Natives, but 60,000 of them had died in the missions, and nearly 25,000 of the dead were children under 10.

Its fitting to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day because Natives from California, and indigenous people who immigrated here from other regions, played a crucial role in the early history of Los Angeles.

The first indigenous settlers to arrive in the L.A. Basin, in the 1780s, had been displaced from Baja California and from the regions that are now the Mexican states of Sonora and Sinaloa. Once here, these newcomers hired Gabrielino-Tongva villagers to work as farmhands.

These indigenous newcomers built the pueblo that would become Los Angeles, establishing farms, ranches and commercial networks. Hundreds of Gabrielino-Tongva, who had weathered the storm of colonization, found work in the community. A newer indigenous L.A. grew up alongside the survival of an older one.

But after the U.S. acquired California from Mexico in 1848, the Gold Rush drew a tidal wave of Anglo Americans from the U.S., who brought with them a murderous racism that worked to oppress indigenous people and render them all but invisible.

Nevertheless, indigenous people  those native to California and those who had settled here  persisted in Southern California, and many more continued to move here from all corners of the Americas. In fact, according to recent census information, no county in the country has a higher percentage of indigenous people than L.A. County.

Some trace their California ancestry back hundreds of generations, others are more recent arrivals, but all have played a crucial role in the history of this city. Indigenous Peoples Day correctly celebrates and honors their place in L.A.s past, present and future.

Steven W. Hackel is a professor of history at UC Riverside and the author of three books, including Junipero Serra: Californias Founding Father.

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There was something so Tom Petty about the way the news arrived. How the CBS report that he died the morning of Oct. 2 was later rescinded. Even in the way that the hours between the false reports and the official announcement allowed Petty fans to imagine that the man who sang I wont back down was, in his last moments, not backing down.

Few outside the music business know just how accurate those lyrics were. Within it, the story is canonical. Decades before Prince changed his name to a glyph and compared the major-label system to indentured servitude, Petty took on the entire industry, waging a battle for his music rights that changed forever how artists negotiate with record companies.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had released two hit albums when, in 1978, their label, Shelter Records, announced it was going to be sold by its parent company, ABC Records, back to what had been the labels original parent company, MCA.

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Petty, a scrappy 28-year-old punk from Gainesville, Fla., had been in the business for only a few years, but that was enough time to have acquired a simmering rage. Believing that publishing referred only to sheet-music songbooks, he had signed over 100% of his songwriting rights for a $10,000 annual advance. He soon managed to get some of those rights back, but it left a mark. My songs had really been taken away from me when I didnt even know what publishing was, he said.

In standing up to MCA, Petty demonstrated the premise that an artist with fans has leverage.

The Heartbreakers record deal was almost as bad as Pettys publishing deal. And, as is routine, although the record company fronted the Heartbreakers money to make their albums, those costs were deducted against the bands meager royalties.

When it was announced that the Heartbreakers would be transferred to MCA, Petty balked. I just felt like they sold us like we were groceries, or frozen pork, he said.

Petty had an out. As part of a previous renegotiation, he had managed to add a clause to the Heartbreakers deal stipulating that their label, Shelter, must consult with him before selling the bands contract to another company.

That clause gave Petty plausible grounds to claim that Shelter had breached their contract, and that he was therefore free to shop for a new label. But when he moved to act on that premise, MCA and Shelter sued Petty for breach of contract, preventing him not only from negotiating with other labels but also from releasing music or playing live.

What did Petty do? Like so many artists do today, he self-funded the recording of the bands third album, racking up more than $500,000 in debt. Then, when MCAs lawsuit left him legally unable to do anything with it, he filed for Chapter 11. Technically youre bankrupt, he later said. And if youre bankrupt, all contracts are void.

Petty was the first mainstream rock star to file for bankruptcy expressly to get out of a contract with his record label. And because he was the first, MCA had to make sure he didnt succeed. As soon as they thought my action might set an industry precedent, Petty explained, they rolled out the big guns. So began one of the most epic games of chicken in music-business history.

The companies tried to persuade Petty to drop the bankruptcy claim, to which he responded: Ill sell . peanuts before I give in to you. In one meeting with MCAs lawyers, Pettys manager later said, Petty had a penknife that he got out, opened the penknife and started cleaning his nails. To pay for their legal bills, the Heartbreakers went on a short tour, the Lawsuit Tour. They wore T-shirts that said, Why MCA?

In the end, Petty reconciled with MCA, signing a deal with an artist-friendly label under the MCA umbrella, and the rest, of course, is Billboard chart history. The Heartbreakers next album, Damn The Torpedoes, went triple platinum, unleashing two of Pettys most omnipresent songs on the radio, Dont Do Me Like That and Refugee. (Somewhere, somehow, somebody mustve kicked you around some, he sings in the latter.) In all, Petty recorded some 68 singles, a record 28 of which became mainstream-rock top 10s.

In standing up to MCA, Petty demonstrated the premise that an artist with fans has leverage. He used that leverage over and over. He did it in 1981, when MCA tried to sell the bands fourth album for a dollar more than the standard. And he did it in the late 1990s, when he capped his concert ticket prices at $50.

Although many Petty songs illustrate why he enjoyed such an unparalleled career (a word he wouldnt use, apparently), its a sly lyric buried in 1991s Into the Great Wide Open that may mean the most for recording artists. The song tells of Eddie, a young kid who moved to Hollywood and started a band. They made a record, met movie stars, partied and mingled, Petty sings, before delivering the gut punch: Their A&R man said, I dont hear a single. The future was wide open.

Gary Jules is a singer-songwriter.

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The 85 words almost seemed an afterthought when Congress hurriedly crammed them into a massive budget bill late in the Obama administration, as if lawmakers wanted to acknowledge Americas outlook on marijuana had changed, but not make a big deal of it.

Almost three years later, a multibillion-dollar industry and the freedom of millions to openly partake in its products without fear of federal prosecution hinge on that obscure budget clause.

But now, Congress may throw it overboard amid pressure from an attorney general who views marijuana as a dangerous menace.

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What has become known as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment constitutes a single paragraph of federal law. It prohibits the Justice Department from spending even a cent to prosecute medical marijuana users and sellers operating legally under state laws. Since its passage, it has largely shut down efforts by federal prosecutors or drug enforcement officials to interfere with otherwise legal sales of marijuana in 29 states and the District of Columbia that have passed legalization measures.

The prospect that the ban on prosecutions could expire has spread anxiety across the marijuana industry.

In California, the freedom of an attorney facing jail time for advising a marijuana operation hangs in the balance. In Washington, a pro-marijuana GOP congressman ponders whether to use the White House access he has gained to enlist President Trumps help preserving the pot amendment.

Pot sellers and patients wonder if federal raids are next.

It is shocking to think that this is at risk, said Sarah Trumble, deputy director of social policy and politics at Third Way, a centrist think tank that advocates easing federal restrictions on cannabis.

This would give the attorney general a blank check to go after medical marijuana. Without it, he might try, but it would be really hard for him.

The first big sign of trouble for pro-marijuana advocates came in September, when the House balked at preserving the amendment. GOP leaders refused to allow a vote on it in a committee chaired by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), who is no relation to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, but is as fiercely anti-marijuana.

The Senate has already reaffirmed its support for the provision in an affront to its former colleague, the Sessions who runs the Justice Department. But both houses must agree for the measure to remain in effect.

The hedging in the House followed an aggressive lobbying campaign by the attorney general, who complained in writing to lawmakers that the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment was hampering law enforcement and endangering the public.

The Department must be in a position to use all laws available to combat the transnational drug organizations and dangerous drug traffickers who threaten American lives, Sessions wrote.

The uncertain fate of the pot provision has created tension among Republicans, dozens of whom have cast votes to prevent the federal government from a crackdown on medical marijuana. Many would like to do so again.

The most vocal is Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, the amendments namesake, who along with former Rep. Sam Farr, a Democrat from the Central Coast, got the ban into federal statute in 2014 after trying for a decade.

That victory wasnt long ago, but came during a very different time. The Obama administration had just pledged to let states go their own way on medical and recreational pot. The measure reflected a Congress subtly backing off its war on marijuana and nudging the Justice Department to do likewise.

After it passed, Rohrabacher began calling judges to insist they dismiss cases.

I told one of them, If you have in your courtroom a federal prosecutor who is now trying to convict someone for possession of medical marijuana, there is only one criminal in your courtroom, and that is the prosecutor, he said.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco last year put the Department of Justice on notice that as long as the prosecution ban is in place, marijuana charges filed against defendants operating legally under state law wont fly, at least in California and the eight other western states under the appeals courts jurisdiction, all but one of which have legalized marijuana in whole or in part.

Sessions warned in his letter to Congress that the ruling threatened to immunize drug runners and gangs.

Rohrabacher finds such claims absurd. The attorney general, he said, is out of step with the president, who has expressed support for medical marijuana. Rohrabacher insists Trump would step in to protect medical pot if someone could get him to focus on what is going on.

The congressman, who is a strong Trump supporter, is potentially a good candidate to do that. But like so many other things around pot politics  and the Trump administration -- the dynamics are complicated, and strange.

Rohrabacher said he doesnt want to mess up  something really important to the president that hes working on by throwing marijuana into the mix.

Rohrabacher wants to broker a deal between the Trump administration and Julian Assange, the fugitive founder of Wikileaks. According to Rohrabacher, Assange told him he has absolute proof that emails stolen from Democratic operatives during last years campaign did not come from the Russians.

That is proof he will provide if we can work something out so Assange leaves the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has taken refuge for more than five years, Rohrabacher said. Assanges evidence would disprove the accusation that our president stole the last election in cooperation with Russia, he asserts.

Much of the rest of Washington is skeptical, and White House officials have kept Rohrabacher away from Trump.

Meantime, the dalliance with Assange isnt keeping lawmakers from working with Rohrabacher on pot. His most prominent partner is his otherwise political opposite, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a liberal Democrat from Portland, Ore., who is co-sponsoring the latest version of the Rohrabacher amendment.

There are dozens of Republicans who realize this is a really bad political move, Blumenauer said, referring to Sessions effort to block the amendment.

Marijuana got more votes than Trump. There are millions of Republicans and independents who voted for it. There are 20 million people a month who use it.

Both Blumenauer and Rohrabacher said they know how many lawmakers have reconsidered their support for the prosecution ban amid lobbying by Sessions.

None of them, said Rohrabacher.

Thats all cold comfort to Troy Dayton, co-founder of ArcView, a San Francisco group that connects deep-pocketed investors with promising cannabis startups. The prosecution ban has been a boon to business. The stalling in the House, Dayton said, was another wake-up call to the marijuana industry that anything can happen at any time.

It was revolutionary when it passed, Dayton said of the ban. People were skeptical at first, he said, asking whether it would really halt prosecutions. For the most part, it has, he said.

The impact if it were to vanish?

Chilling.

Perhaps even more so for Nathan Hoffman, a lawyer facing prison time and disbarment for his role advising a large marijuana growing and sales operation that was busted in 2011. The recent court rulings give Hoffmans attorney, Ronald Richards, hope that Hoffmans law license and freedom can be saved.

In a brief I field last night, I said why are they in a rush to disbar my client and convict him when these prosecutions are becoming archaic? said Richards.

But if the ban goes up in smoke, that argument likely goes along with it.

evan.halper@latimes.com

Follow me: @evanhalper

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Lawmakers who favor a deal to protect some 700,000 young immigrants facing possible deportation because of the end of the Obama administrations DACA program are seeking to drive a wedge between President Trump and hard-liners on his staff, launching appeals directly to a president who they see as potentially sympathetic to people brought illegally to the U.S. as children.

In his public comments, Trump has shown an unwillingness to be boxed in by his most hard-line advisors on immigration. He initially wavered on what to do with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has protected the young immigrants known as Dreamers, then openly contradicted Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions hours after the attorney general announced the end of the program last month.

The day that announcement was made, Trump initially said that only Congress could step in and protect the Dreamers, who will begin losing their work permits and deportation deferrals starting in March. By days end, he had softened, writing on Twitter that if Congress failed to act, he would revisit the issue.

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Its that tendency of the president to rely on his own instincts and buck his staffs advice that Democratic lawmakers, some Republicans and advocates of immigrants hope to capitalize on as negotiations get underway in earnest to come up with legislation to provide legal status for Dreamers.

On Sunday, the White House demanded harsh terms from lawmakers. The proposals read like a wish-list from immigration hardliners in the administration, including Trumps speech writer and senior policy director Stephen Miller, who used to work for Sessions.

Whether Trump will stick to that approach will go a long way toward shaping the debate over the next several weeks.

Some immigration advocates say they have reason to believe he wont do so. Trumps instincts are to be tough on immigration, but he has indicated a willingness to make an exception for children brought to the country illegally at a young age, said Frank Sharry, the executive director of Americas Voice, and a longtime advocate for immigration reform.

He gets that exposing these kids to deportation would go down in history and would define his presidency, Sharry said.

He got played by his staff, Sharry said. The question is, will the boss fall for it again?

But thats only one possible interpretation of Trumps actions. Other immigrant advocates say they have stopped giving the president any benefit of the doubt, noting that he repeatedly has toyed with the future of the Dreamers over the last several months, promising to do something nice for them only to revert to campaign-style harsh rhetoric and proposals.

Some leading advocates for immigration restriction say theyre not concerned about Trump giving away too much.

Those counter-signals he sends are things that suggest hes open to a little negotiation, said Roy Beck, the head of Numbers USA, a Virginia-based group that advocates reducing legal immigration levels. I think thats it. That seems to be his M.O.: These are what I really care about, but, hey, Im a negotiator.

The immigration priorities that White House officials set out on Sunday align with speeches Trump made on the campaign trail, Beck noted.

While Trumps first offer on immigration has little chance of passing, it set down markers which allied him with the most restrictionist voices on the Republican side of the debate over immigration.

Tripling the number of deportation officers, shutting off legal immigration channels, and clamping down on asylum claims, among other proposals, reflect a view that new immigrants take jobs from native-born Americans, as well as a fear that some immigrants are unlikely to assimilate in the U.S. and ultimately could be radicalized by terrorists and present a long-term security threat.

But while those views are strongly held by some members of Congress, people on Trumps staff and a large share of his voters, many other Republicans disagree. Even before the White House released its list of demands, some Republican lawmakers had dismissed as unworkable the idea of trying to make far-reaching changes in the immigration system in the short time available to protect Dreamers.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) complained at a Judiciary Committee hearing last week that the list of proposals which were then under discussion at the White House reads like a laundry list for comprehensive immigration reform.

It would be very helpful to get from the administration what the priority is, Tillis said. I, for one, think that should be a respectful, compassionate, sustainable treatment for the DACA population, and it must include some border security, Tillis added. I think that would be a good success for the president.

Those who think Trump will not allow his hard-line advisers to lock him onto a fixed course note that the president prizes his ability to understand his own base of voters, many of whom have shown they are willing to trust his lead and are not as stringently opposed to legalization for the Dreamers as Sessions and his allies have shown themselves to be.

I would suggest the president look over the proposal himself, get more involved, instead of outsourcing immigration policy to a thirtysomething hardliner, said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), vice chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, referring to Miller, who is 32.

Castro called Trumps opening bid in the negotiations for an immigration bill a Breitbart Christmas list of anti-immigrant policies, pointing to the right-wing website run by Trumps former top advisor, Stephen K. Bannon.

Dreamers and their advocates, though, are reluctant to rely fully on Trumps unpredictable decision making as they lay the groundwork in Congress for a year-end showdown.

Congress faces a Dec. 8 deadline to fund the government. The Republican majority, led by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), will likely not be able to pass the needed legislation without Democratic votes. That creates a point of leverage for the Democratic leaders, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York, to exploit.

Were going to stand firm, said Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Were going to use every leverage point at our disposal to protect these Dreamers.

Twitter: @ByBrianBennett

brian.bennett@latimes.com

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Khakivsky district court of Kharkiv region has arrested director of private joint-stock company Ukrgazvydobutok and Kharkiv volunteer Vadym Mokhov with a bail option under a request of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

"The court arrested Mokhov for 60 days with a UAH 5 million bail option. We asked for a larger bail  UAH 32 million," the press service of Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office told Interfax-Ukraine.

Mokhov's defending lawyer Oleh Holovkov said that they plan to challenge the court decision.

"On Monday will be pay the bail and will file a counterclaim against the pretrial restriction," Holovkov said.

As reported, on October 5, 2017, police detained Mokhov. Mokhov is charged with committing crimes under Part 2 of Article 240 (illegal mining) and Part 5 of Article 191 (large scale embezzlement by abuse of office).

It was established that the deposit use license of the company was suspended due to the failure to comply with the instructions of the State Agency for Geology and Deposits, but the enterprise did not stop its activity and continued to extract gas and gas condensate illegally.

"According to preliminary data, this activity inflicted multi-million losses," the press service of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office reported.
The Trump administration revealed a sweeping set of hard-line immigration demands Sunday night  including the building of a wall on the southern border and major changes to the legal immigration system  as trade-offs for legislation to protect the so-called Dreamers, a move that could kill prospects for a deal to protect roughly 700,000 young people now facing possible deportation.

The White House proposals would curb the ability of American citizens to sponsor family members to join them from abroad, upending decades of immigration policy, and put strict new limits on asylum claims. The list also includes increased money for border security and mandatory use of the governments E-Verify system for employers to ensure that workers they hire are legal residents.

Also on the list is a tighter crackdown on so-called sanctuary cities, localities that decline to cooperate fully with federal immigration authorities. The list also included measures to more quickly remove minors who have crossed into the U.S. from Central America in recent years seeking asylum.

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The proposal would reduce the number of permanent resident visas issued, lower the number of refugees accepted, restrict family-based green cards to spouses and minor children and create a point-based system for legal immigration. Administration officials would not say how much legal immigration would be reduced under the plan, but the impact would clearly be significant.

Democrats quickly denounced the proposals, saying they did not come close to what President Trump and congressional Democratic leaders had discussed over Chinese food last month at the White House when they struck a tentative deal for legislation to protect the Dreamers, young people who arrived in the U.S. illegally when they were children.

This list goes so far beyond what is reasonable. This proposal fails to represent any attempt at compromise, Democratic leaders Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York said in a statement. The wall, specifically, was off the table, Schumer and Pelosi have said.

Trump announced last month that he would end the Obama administrations Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, that provided a temporary legal status for the Dreamers, meaning that starting March 5, when the program expires, tens of thousands of them each week will face losing their jobs and possibly being deported.

Ever since Trump announced that he and Chuck and Nancy had discussed a possible legislative deal to protect the Dreamers, hard-line elements of his administration have worked with immigration restrictionists in Congress to derail the effort. The demands released Sunday reflected a wish list of their proposals, many of which are not only opposed by Democrats, but go far beyond what a majority of congressional Republicans would back.

If Trump insists on each of the proposals, the move would probably kill any prospect of legislation.

Whether the hard-line proposals truly reflect Trumps views, however, remains uncertain  he advocated immigration restrictions during his campaign, but also repeatedly has said that he does not want to see the Dreamers deported.

Several critics of the White House plan emphasized on Sunday the hope that the proposals reflected only the views of advisors such as White House domestic policy chief Stephen Miller and Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and that Trump would eventually back away from them.

WH Immigration Principles drafted by Stephen Miller dont fully reflect @realDonaldTrump views, Alfonso Aguilar, president of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, wrote in a message on Twitter.

In Congress, many Republicans have warned that the complex problems with the nations immigration system cannot be expected to be resolved in the short time before the DACA program expires. Diving into issues such as reducing the number of legal immigrants would make a deal impossible, several indicated last week.

Others, however, will be pushing Trump to maintain a hard line. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert W. Goodlatte (R-Va.) called the White House offer a serious proposal and indicated support for tying DACA to a broader overhaul.

We cannot fix the DACA problem without fixing all of the issues that led to the underlying problem of illegal immigration in the first place, he said.

Trumps advisors say that while they realize some of the proposals will be controversial, they represent what he ran on and intends to fight for.

They would not say which, if any, of their principles were deal-breakers in a comprehensive immigration agreement.

Were not discussing whats a veto threat right now, said one administration official who briefed reporters on the proposals on the condition that the official not be identified by name. These are all priorities. Theyre all important to the nations security.

Other administration officials insisted they were simply closing loopholes that endanger children subject to smuggling and protecting workers from unfair competition for low-end jobs.

These requirements are truly essential to ensuring border security and national security, said Ronald D. Vitiello, acting deputy commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Congress has been struggling to devise a solution for the Dreamers ever since Trump announced he would phase out the DACA program.

The nearly 20-year-old Dream Act remains the top pursuit for Democrats, and what Trump, at dinner and on other occasions, has told the leaders he would sign into law. It would provide temporary legal protection for the young people. If they remain in good standing, pursuing education, jobs or military service, they would be able to start a path to eventual citizenship.

Several Republican bills, including measures proposed by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) follow similar, though more stringent, approaches that would ultimately result in legal status for the young immigrants. Those proposals have gained support in Congress, despite protests from some in the GOP who deride any path to citizenship as amnesty.

But an administration official said on Sunday that Trump would not sign a bill granting citizenship to Dreamers, as the Dream Act promises, only a lesser form of legal status.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

Twitter: @noahbierman

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Gov. Jerry Brown approved a measure Monday to increase disclosure on prescription drug prices, the focal point of growing efforts to clamp down on climbing pharmaceutical costs.

Supporters call the law the nations most sweeping effort to make prescription drug pricing more transparent. The measure would require drugmakers to provide notice to health plans and other purchasers 60 days in advance of a planned price hike if the increase exceeds certain thresholds.

The measure, SB 17 by state Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-Azusa), will also require health plans to submit an annual report to the state that details the most frequently prescribed drugs, those that are most expensive and those that have been subject to the greatest year-to-year price increase.

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The essence of this bill is pretty simple, Brown said at a Capitol signing ceremony. Californians have a right to know why their medical costs are out of control, especially when pharmaceutical profits are soaring.

The disclosure, backers say, would help shed light on how prescription drugs are contributing to overall healthcare costs.

SB 17 speaks to the needs of all Californians who have felt the strain of nonstop prescription drug price increases, Charles Bacchi, president and chief executive of the California Assn. of Health Plans, said in a statement. Pharmaceutical prices have long played an outsized role in driving up the cost of health coverage across the board. SB 17 gives us the tools to address the issue by helping us prepare for price hikes and discouraging needless cost increases.

But pharmaceutical companies strongly opposed the measure, arguing the information would paint an inaccurate picture of drug spending, since the disclosure centers on full sticker cost set by manufacturers. Purchasers rarely pay the full list price, either through negotiated discounts or through use of consumer rebates or coupons.

It is disappointing that Gov. Brown has decided to sign a bill that is based on misleading rhetoric instead of whats in the best interest of patients, Priscilla VanderVeer, a spokeswoman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said in a statement. She said the measure ignores the reality that spending on prescription medicines remains a much smaller portion of overall healthcare spending.

VanderVeer said the manufacturers group was ready to work to combat affordability issues but added: Its time to move beyond creating new, costly bureaucratic programs that dont make a dent in patients costs for medicines.

Escalating drug prices inspired a slate of measures from lawmakers this year. Brown on Monday signed an additional measure, AB 265 by Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg), that will restrict the use of drug rebates or coupons for brand-name drugs when cheaper generic alternatives are available.

The law includes a number of exemptions, including for when patients have gotten authorization from their health insurers for brand-name treatments. But Wood has pitched his measure as a way to stem widespread use of such vouchers, which some researchers have said drive higher overall healthcare costs by giving patients incentive to pick pricier medicines.

Other related bills, including a measure to clamp down on gifts doctors can receive from pharmaceutical companies and a proposal to regulate pharmacy benefit managers, a little-scrutinized part of the drug supply chain, sputtered earlier this year.

The disclosure bill was seen as the centerpiece of the focus on drug prices, setting off a fierce lobbying battle in which the pharmaceutical industry squared off against a coalition of backers that included health plans, labor groups and consumer advocates.

It also garnered support from some Republican lawmakers, who have typically been aligned with drug makers.

Shouldnt we do something to help make this system operate better so we can get better cost savings for our consumers? Thats a conservative principle, said Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City).

Now, Hernandez said, he hoped the law would inspire similar action on a national level.

I want to challenge our federal elected officials...to do the same thing at the national level, he said, so that we can make sure that every single person in this country not only has access to healthcare but they can afford their healthcare premium dollars.

In his signing remarks, Brown said the angst over rising drug costs  and manufacturers substantial profits  was symptomatic of the broader gap between the haves and have-nots.

The social and political fabric is being ripped apart, Brown said. The inequities are growing. The rich are getting richer, the powerful are getting more powerful and a growing number of people are getting more desperate, more alienated.

He directed a message to the pharmaceutical industry that opposed the bill: Youve got to join with us. Youre part of America. And if we all dont pull together, were going to pull apart.

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Follow @melmason on Twitter for the latest on California politics.

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Updates from Sacramento

UPDATES:

5:19 p.m.: This article was updated to add information about a second drug pricing bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown and a comment from Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City).

1:30 p.m.: This article has been updated with comments from Brown and Hernandez.

This article was originally published at 10 a.m.
Trump promotes sons Justice with Judge Jeanine interview President Trump promoted via Twitter an interview with his son Eric Trump just before it aired Saturday night on Fox News Justice with Judge Jeanine. Eric Trump on @JudgeJeanine on @FoxNews now!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018 Eric Trump called into the show to defend his father from criticism prompted by the first government shutdown in more than four years, as well as a series of Womens March events that saw protesters in dozens of cities take to the streets to oppose the presidents policies. .@EricTrump joined me over the phone from Mar-a-Lago ! pic.twitter.com/Hro3TzUW52  Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) January 21, 2018 Speaking to host Jeannine Piro  who is reportedly an old friend of the presidents  Eric Trump offered effusive praise for his father, ticking off glowing statistics to illustrate the strength of the U.S. economy and gains against Islamic State fighters overseas. My fathers working like no ones ever worked before to bring back this country and to fulfill his promise to make America great again, said the executive vice president of the Trump Organization. He also repeated a sentiment recently expressed on Twitter by his father: That Democratic lawmakers forced a government shutdown on the anniversary of the presidents inauguration in a bid to distract from his achievements. You look at this whole government shutdown, and the only reason they want to shut down government is to distract and to stop his momentum, Eric Trump said. I mean, my father has had incredible momentum. Hes gotten more done in one year than arguably any president in history. Facebook

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Trump tweets: a perfect day for all Women to March President Trump hailed the nationwide Womens March gatherings Saturday. On Twitter, the president called it a perfect day for all Women to March, seeming to imply that those taking part were celebrating his administrations accomplishments: Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Participants in the marches across the United States were actually seeking to deliver a powerful rebuke to Trumps policies and mount a crucial mobilization for this years midterm elections. But Trump continued to tout his administrations unprecedented success in tweets sent later in the day: Unprecedented success for our Country, in so many ways, since the Election. Record Stock Market, Strong on Military, Crime, Borders, & ISIS, Judicial Strength & Numbers, Lowest Unemployment for Women & ALL, Massive Tax Cuts, end of Individual Mandate - and so much more. Big 2018!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 The Trump Administration has terminated more UNNECESSARY Regulation, in just twelve months, than any other Administration has terminated during their full term in office, no matter what the length. The good news is, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO COME!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018 In addition to the roll call of major American cities where womens marches took place  including New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta  protesters also raised their voices in suburbs and small towns, reflecting the aim of coalescing a broad-based movement on the anniversary of Trumps inauguration to oppose the presidents stance on immigration, healthcare, racial divides and an array of other issues. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Laura King. Facebook

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Trump calls shutdown a present from Democrats By Associated Press President Trump is blaming Democrats for the government shutdown  tweeting that they wanted to give him a nice present to mark the one-year anniversary of his inauguration: This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 That comes after Senate Democrats late Friday killed a GOP-written House-passed measure that would have kept agencies functioning for four weeks. Democrats were seeking a stopgap bill of just a few days in hopes that would build pressure on Republicans, and they were opposing a three-week alternative offered by GOP leaders. Democrats have insisted they would back legislation reopening the government once theres a bipartisan agreement to preserve protections against deporting about 700,000 immigrants  known as Dreamers  who arrived in the United States illegally as children. Trump on Saturday accused Democrats of holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration: Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Cant let that happen!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Democrats are laying fault for the shutdown on Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress and the White House and have struggled with building internal consensus. In a series of tweets hours after the shutdown began, the president tried to make the case for Americans to elect more Republicans to Congress in November in order to power through this mess: Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 He noted that there are 51 Republicans in the 100-member Senate, and it often takes 60 votes to advance legislation: For those asking, the Republicans only have 51 votes in the Senate, and they need 60. That is why we need to win more Republicans in 2018 Election! We can then be even tougher on Crime (and Border), and even better to our Military & Veterans!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 #AMERICA FIRST!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 The stopgap spending measure won 50 votes in the Senate, including five from Democrats. Although the House and Senate were in session Saturday, it was unclear whether lawmakers would take any votes of consequence. Trump had been set to leave Friday afternoon for a fundraiser at his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., where he intended to mark the inauguration anniversary. But he remained in Washington and ended up scrapping his plans to attend the Saturday fundraiser. Read More Facebook

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Trump tweet casts doubt on likelihood of averting shutdown President Trump appeared to cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching a deal to avert a government shutdown Friday night in a tweet. Trump also sought to blame Democrats for what would be the first shutdown since 2013. His message came just hours before the midnight deadline by which lawmakers must pass a measure to fund government agencies, or some operations will cease. Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border. Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Despite last-minute negotiations Friday between Trump and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Congress remained deadlocked over a spending bill and the federal government was headed toward a shutdown at midnight. Senate Democrats  joined by some GOP deficit hawks and immigration allies  were set to filibuster a stopgap funding bill approved by the House on Thursday. A Senate vote was planned for 10 p.m. Eastern, and even White House officials predicted it would fail. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Lisa Mascaro. Facebook

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Trump signs surveillance law after confusing tweets By Associated Press President Trump on Friday signed a bill into law to renew a foreign intelligence surveillance program, announcing his action in the latest in a series of confusing tweets about the spy program: Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection. This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 19, 2018 Trumps tweet on Jan. 11 created chaos in the House just before it voted to reauthorize what is known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He linked the intelligence program to a dossier that alleges his presidential campaign had ties to Russia. That caused people to wonder if he didnt support the program that allows U.S. spy agencies to collect intelligence on foreign targets abroad. Trump and other Republicans have alleged that Obama administration officials improperly shared the identities of Trump presidential transition team members mentioned in intelligence reports. Democrats say there is no evidence that happened. Shortly before the House vote, and after conferring with House Speaker Paul Ryan, Trump did an apparent about-face. This vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land, he tweeted. We need it! Get smart! In his tweet announcing that he had just signed the bill, Trump wrote: This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first! There are no obvious links between the dossier Trump spoke of, which includes salacious but unsubstantiated allegations against him, and the reauthorization of the spying program, or between the program and Trumps oft-repeated claims that the Obama administration conducted surveillance on Trump Tower during the presidential campaign. Facebook

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In tweet, Trump suggests that Pennsylvania trip is a political one The White House press office was once again forced to walk back a tweet from President Trump on Thursday morning after he described a trip to Pennsylvania later in the day as a political one  a statement that would force the Republican Party, not taxpayers, to pay for the journey. The White House had said Trump was going to an industrial equipment company outside of Pittsburgh to highlight the good economy and new tax cuts, making it an official, policy-oriented event. It was widely assumed that the trip had a political cast  the area is holding a special election to fill a congressional seat vacated by a Republican who resigned. Trump, by his tweet, seemed to confirm that politics was the whole purpose: Will be going to Pennsylvania today in order to give my total support to RICK SACCONE, running for Congress in a Special Election (March 13). Rick is a great guy. We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 Trump later shared via Twitter a pair of video clips of his speech at H&K Equipment, in which he touted the tax cuts he signed into law just before Christmas and tried to turn the conversation back to his accomplishments after weeks dominated by distractions, including questions about his mental health and comments about immigration that some considered racist: Departing Pittsburgh now, where it was my great honor to stand with our incredible workers, and to show the world that AMERICA is back - and we are coming back bigger and better and stronger than ever before! pic.twitter.com/kWPgylqFzj  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 AMERICA will once again be a NATION that thinks big, dreams bigger, and always reaches for the stars. YOU are the ones who will shape Americas destiny. YOU are the ones who will restore our prosperity. And YOU are the ones who are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! #MAGA pic.twitter.com/f2abNK47II  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 The Republican National Committee, rather than the White House, is supposed to pay for political travel so that taxpayers are not financing party activities; for trips that combine policy and politics, parties have split the cost under past presidents. Neither the RNC nor the White House responded to emails sent Thursday asking who would pay. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement later Thursday suggesting that taxpayers would foot the bill. She insisted that Trump would be conducting government business while in Pennsylvania. Read More This post contains reporting from the Associated Press and Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook

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Trump tweets praise of Bob Dole after awarding him Congressional Gold Medal By Associated Press Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole knew the art of the deal before President Trump published the 1987 book of the same name. The two shared a stage under the Capitol dome Wednesday as Dole, 94, accepted Congress highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, for his World War II service and decades of work in the House and Senate. Trump later praised Dole in a tweet, attaching to his message a video composed of clips from the ceremony: Today, we witnessed an incredible moment in history  the presentation of Congress highest civilian honor to our friend, and true AMERICAN HERO, Bob Dole. #CongressionalGoldMedal pic.twitter.com/qNQqDLRmCk  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2018 At the ceremony, the president saluted Dole as a patriot and gave tribute to Doles struggle as a veteran who worked his way back from a grievous shoulder wound he suffered in Italy. He knows about grit, said Trump. But it was Doles penchant for working across the aisle that earned him his latest award, according to the legislation. Bob Dole was known for his ability to work across the aisle and embrace practical bipartisanship, reads the legislation Trump signed in September. Some of the awards 300 recipients include George Washington and Mother Teresa, according to the Congressional Research Service. Read More Facebook

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Trump touts report that seeks to link terrorism cases with immigration By Joseph Tanfani The Trump administration on Tuesday released a report attempting to link terrorism with migration, arguing that it was evidence of the need to dramatically reshape the nations immigration system. New report from DOJ & DHS shows that nearly 3 in 4 individuals convicted of terrorism-related charges are foreign-born. We have submitted to Congress a list of resources and reforms....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 ....we need to keep America safe, including moving away from a random chain migration and lottery system, to one that is merit-based. https://t.co/7PtoSFK1n2  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The report, ordered by President Trump in an executive order last year, said that 75% of the 549 people convicted of terrorism charges since 9/11 were born outside the U.S. Administration officials called that a sign that the U.S. needs to scrap its policy of family preferences for visas, which they call chain migration, and a diversity visa lottery program. But the report did not specify how many  if any  of the convicted terrorists entered the country through those means. It also did not detail how many of the convictions were related to attacks or plans in the U.S. versus overseas and how many involved people who went to fight overseas for the Islamic State or another terrorist group. Those details were not available, officials said. The report, due last year, is being released in a highly charged moment in the immigration debate, as Trump and some Republicans in Congress seek tough new border and immigration measures in return for a deal protecting the 690,000 people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Trump also fired off a pair of tweets on the topic earlier Tuesday: We must have Security at our VERY DANGEROUS SOUTHERN BORDER, and we must have a great WALL to help protect us, and to help stop the massive inflow of drugs pouring into our country!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The Democrats want to shut down the Government over Amnesty for all and Border Security. The biggest loser will be our rapidly rebuilding Military, at a time we need it more than ever. We need a merit based system of immigration, and we need it now! No more dangerous Lottery.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The focus of our immigration system should be assimilation, a senior administration official said on Tuesday, speaking on condition that his name not be used. He said the nation should give priority to potential immigrants who speak English, who have an education and those who are committed to supporting our values  not family members of people already here. The official said the timing of the report was coincidental. Read More Facebook

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Trump tweets welcome to president of Kazakhstan By Associated Press President Trump said Tuesday that he and the president of Kazakhstan are united in a shared determination to prevent North Korea from threatening the world with nuclear devastation. Trump and President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed North Korea along with other issues during meetings at the White House. Today, it was my honor to welcome President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan to the @WhiteHouse! pic.twitter.com/TerYFZViax  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 Trump said Kazakhstan, once part of the Soviet Union, is a valued partner in our efforts to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons. Together we are determined to prevent the North Korean regime from threatening the world with nuclear devastation, he said, as both presidents addressed journalists between meetings. Nazarbayev noted that his country once had one of the worlds largest nuclear arsenals but voluntarily gave it up after the Soviet Union collapsed. He said his country is in talks with Iran, which was the focus of a global deal that lifted some economic sanctions in exchange for Irans curbing its nuclear program. Trump has sharply criticized the Iran nuclear deal and threatened last week to pull out soon unless other countries fix what he says are terrible flaws. Read More Facebook

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Trump falsely claims his approval rating among black Americans has doubled By Alex Wigglesworth President Trump lashed out at the news media Tuesday morning in a tweet denouncing the special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion among members of his campaign team. Do you notice the Fake News Mainstream Media never likes covering the great and record setting economic news, but rather talks about anything negative or that can be turned into the negative. The Russian Collusion Hoax is dead, except as it pertains to the Dems. Public gets it!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 It wasnt immediately clear exactly what prompted the presidents tweet, but it appeared as though he was watching Fox & Friends. A short time later, Trump tweeted a headline from a report that aired during that mornings episode: 90% of Trump 2017 news coverage was negative -and much of it contrived!@foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The segment focused on the latest survey results from conservative watchdog Media Research Center, which purportedly analyzed the evening news broadcasts on ABC, CBS and NBC from Jan. 20 to Dec. 31 and found that 90% of the statements made about Trump were negative. Study: 90% of Trump media coverage in 2017 was negative pic.twitter.com/vbrwup4Drg  FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 16, 2018 But believe it or not, through all this negative coverage, they did a survey of 600,000 people about how black America views this president, co-host Brian Kilmeade said. His numbers have actually doubled in approval. Trump highlighted the statement in another tweet: Unemployment for Black Americans is the lowest ever recorded. Trump approval ratings with Black Americans has doubled. Thank you, and it will get even (much) better! @FoxNews  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 But its not true. The claim appears to have originated from a misreading of data from the online polling firm SurveyMonkey, according to factcheck.org. The firm polled 600,000 Americans in 2017 and found that Trumps approval rating among blacks actually dropped from 23% early in his presidency to about 17%, as of the week ending Jan. 3. Some conservative outlets, including Breitbart, produced an average from those and other SurveyMonkey figures and compared them to the scores Trump received from black voters in the 2016 exit polls. That methodology is not sound. And since the statistics measure different things, the comparison is misleading. Facebook

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Trump goes after senator who surfaced his immigration remark By Associated Press President Trump turned his Twitter torment Monday on the Democrat in the room where immigration talks with lawmakers took a famously coarse turn, saying Sen. Richard J. Durbin misrepresented what he had said about African nations and Haiti and, in the process, undermined the trust needed to make a deal. Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting, Trump tweeted, using a nickname to needle the Illinois senator. Deals cant get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military. Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting. Deals cant get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 Trump was referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects young people who came to the United States illegally as children. Members of Congress from both parties are trying to strike a deal that Trump would support to extend that protection. Trump also cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching an agreement in tweets sent earlier Monday: Statement by me last night in Florida: Honestly, I dont think the Democrats want to make a deal. They talk about DACA, but they dont want to help..We are ready, willing and able to make a deal but they dont want to. They dont want security at the border, they dont want.....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 ...to stop drugs, they want to take money away from our military which we cannot do. My standard is very simple, AMERICA FIRST & MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 On a day of remembrance for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Trump spent time at his golf course with no public events, bypassing the acts of service that his predecessors staged in honor of the civil rights leader. Instead, Trump dedicated his weekly address to Kings memory, saying Kings dream and Americas are the same: A world where people are judged by who they are, not how they look or where they come from. That message was a distinct counterpoint to words attributed to Trump by Durbin and others at a meeting last week, when the question of where immigrants come from seemed at the forefront of Trumps concerns. Some participants and others familiar with the conversation said Trump challenged immigration from shithole countries of Africa and disparaged Haiti as well. Without explicitly denying using that word, Trump lashed out at the Democratic senator, who said Trump uttered it on several occasions. Read More Facebook

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Trump thanks pundit for laudatory Fox & Friends spot By Alex Wigglesworth President Trump thanked Fox News personality Stuart Varney after Varney praised Trump during an appearance on Fox & Friends. In a pair of tweets early Sunday, Trump quoted from Varneys commentary, in which he argued that Trump deserves more credit for the booming economy. The pundit, who also hosts a show on Fox Business Network, cited moves by some corporations to raise workers minimum wage or pay out one-time bonuses in response to the GOP tax cuts. President Trump is not getting the credit he deserves for the economy. Tax Cut bonuses to more than 2,000,000 workers. Most explosive Stock Market rally that weve seen in modern times. 18,000 to 26,000 from Election, and grounded in profitability and growth. All Trump, not 0...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 ...big unnecessary regulation cuts made it all possible (among many other things). President Trump reversed the policies of President Obama, and reversed our economic decline. Thank you Stuart Varney. @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 Varney was reacting to a quote from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who on Thursday called the bonuses handed down to workers pathetic in comparison to the gains corporations are expected to see from the tax cuts. In terms of the bonus that corporate America received versus the crumbs that they are giving to workers to kind of put the schmooze on is so pathetic, Pelosi told reporters. Its pathetic. Varney shot back Sunday that the bonuses, along with explosive stock market growth, are enriching all Americans. This is a huge shot in the arm, its the result of this tax cut deal and I think President Trump should get the credit for it, he said. .@Varneyco Sets the economic record straight after Nancy Pelosi calls U.S. mass bonuses crumbs pic.twitter.com/BvjIHGm3HE  FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 14, 2018 The sweeping tax plan passed last month lowers the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and cuts personal income taxes. Analysts say the benefits will largely flow to corporations and the wealthy, as theyre more likely to be in positions to share in corporate profits. For instance, Wells Fargo & Co., which responded to news of the tax overhaul by announcing it will raise workers pay to at least $15 an hour, also reported that it expects to pay an effective tax rate of 19% this year, down from about 31% in previous years. That should amount to tax savings of more than $3 billion annually. On average, middle-class Americans are expected to see a very small tax cut in the near term and a tax increase after 2025, when all of the tax cuts for individuals expire. The tax cuts for corporations, however, are permanent.  This post contains reporting from Times staff writer James Rufus Koren. Facebook

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Trump touts MLK proclamation in tweet, but ceremony is overshadowed by reports of racist remarks By Associated Press President Trump signed a proclamation Friday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, noting the contributions of a great American hero. Today, it was my great honor to proclaim January 15, 2018, as Martin Luther King Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service activities in honor of Dr. King's life and legacy. pic.twitter.com/samlJsz1Nt  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 Overshadowing the event was mounting backlash from Trumps comments during a private meeting with lawmakers the day before. A short time after the meeting, which was called to discuss a possible immigration deal, reports emerged that Trump had asked participants why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin, the Senates second-ranking Democrat, appeared to confirm those reports on Friday. Trump did not respond Friday to several questions about the incident, including whether he actually used vulgar language to describe African nations, or if he is racist. The president said at the White House that love was central to the slain civil rights leader. Trump said the nation celebrates King for standing up for the self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or place of our birth, we are all created equal by God.  This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook

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Trump criticizes Democrats in tweet calling for stricter immigration rules President Trump hit out at Democrats on Thursday night in a tweet calling for stricter immigration rules. Trump wrote that members of the party seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the border with Mexico: The Democrats seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the Southern Border, risking thousands of lives in the process. It is my duty to protect the lives and safety of all Americans. We must build a Great Wall, think Merit and end Lottery & Chain. USA!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 It wasnt immediately clear exactly what prompted the tweet. Earlier Thursday, Trump rejected a bipartisan compromise to resolve the standoff over so-called Dreamers, young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children but have temporary permits to work, attend school or serve in the military. The president drew widespread condemnation after reports emerged that he had asked participants in an Oval Office meeting about the proposal why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Read More Facebook

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Trump touts bill aimed at improving border screening for fentanyl By Associated Press President Trump signed legislation Wednesday aimed at giving Customs and Border Protection agents additional screening devices and other tools to stop the flow of illicit drugs. Speaking at a surprise bill-signing ceremony while flanked by members of Congress from both parties in the Oval Office, Trump described the bill as a significant step forward in the fight against powerful opioids such as fentanyl, which he called our new big scourge. He echoed that language Thursday in a tweet: Yesterday, I signed the #INTERDICTAct (H.R. 2142) with bipartisan members of Congress to help end the flow of drugs into our country. Together, we are committed to doing everything we can to combat the deadly scourge of drug addiction and overdose in the United States! pic.twitter.com/ELZvFol5Lo  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018 The legislation will pay for new portable and fixed chemical screening devices to detect and intercept fentanyl at ports of entry and in the mail, along with other laboratory equipment and personnel, including scientists. Trump has made fighting the opioid epidemic a centerpiece of his administration, though critics say he hasnt dedicated nearly enough money or resources to make a difference. Trump suggested during his remarks on Wednesday that hed like to take a more aggressive approach to the drug crisis  but the countrys not ready for what he has in mind. So were going to sign this. And its a step. And it feels like a very giant step, but unfortunately, its not going to be a giant step, because no matter what you do, this is something that keeps pouring in, he said. And were going to find the answer. There is an answer. I think I actually know the answer, but Im not sure the countrys ready for it yet, he added. Does anybody know what I mean? I think so. Facebook

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Trump applauds news that Toyota-Mazda plant is slated for Alabama By Associated Press Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda on Wednesday announced plans to build a mammoth, $1.6-billion joint-venture plant in Alabama that will eventually employ about 4,000 people. President Trump lauded the news in a tweet: Cutting taxes and simplifying regulations makes America the place to invest! Great news as Toyota and Mazda announce they are bringing 4,000 JOBS and investing $1.6 BILLION in Alabama, helping to further grow our economy! pic.twitter.com/Kcg8IVH6iA  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Good news: Toyota and Mazda announce giant new Huntsville, Alabama, plant which will produce over 300,000 cars and SUVs a year and employ 4000 people. Companies are coming back to the U.S. in a very big way. Congratulations Alabama!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018 Several states had competed for the project, which will be able to turn out 300,000 vehicles per year and produce the Toyota Corolla compact car for North America and a new small SUV from Mazda. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and company executives held a news conference to announce that the facility is coming to the Huntsville area not far from the Tennessee line. Production is expected to begin by 2021. The decision to pick Alabama is another example of foreign-based automakers building U.S. factories in the South. To entice manufacturers, Southern states have used a combination of lucrative incentive packages, low-cost labor and a pro-business labor environment, because the United Auto Workers union is stronger in Northern states. Read More Facebook

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Trump highlights call for border wall in tweets on visit with Norways prime minister By Associated Press President Trump praised Norways prime minister in a tweet on Wednesday after Erna Solberg became the first foreign leader to visit with the president in 2018. Today, it was my great honor to welcome Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway to the @WhiteHouse - a great friend and ally of the United States! Joint press conference: https://t.co/qWR1BhfQZI pic.twitter.com/PJvwznjRCO  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Trump also shared via Twitter a video clip of a joint news conference he held with Solberg on Wednesday afternoon. In the clip, Trump responds to a question from a reporter by saying there can be no bipartisan immigration deal absent funding for his long-promised wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been seeking a solution for hundreds of thousands of so-called Dreamers, young people who were brought to the United States as children and are living here illegally. The United States needs the security of the Wall on the Southern Border, which must be part of any DACA approval. The safety and security of our country is #1! pic.twitter.com/4CFzQXb5aS  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 We need the wall for security, we need the wall for safety, we need the wall for stopping the drugs from pouring in, Trump said Wednesday.  Any solution has to include the wall because without the wall, it all doesnt work. On Tuesday, Trump drew widespread attention when he said during a meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers that he would be agreeable to signing a stand-alone bill to protect the Dreamers, before moving on to a more comprehensive immigration bill. That contradicted the Republican consensus that Dreamers fate needed to be part of a broader immigration bill that would include some version of Trumps promised border wall and other immigration reforms. Trump backed away from a stand-alone Dreamer bill in subsequent tweets and public comments. Read More This post contains reporting from Los Angeles Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook

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Trump praises Cabinet in tweet touting meeting By Associated Press President Trump promoted a meeting of his Cabinet on Wednesday, sharing via Twitter a link to a video of the session posted on the White House YouTube account. In his tweet, Trump thanked his Cabinet for working tirelessly on behalf of our country and wrote that the last year has been one of monumental achievement. I want to thank my @Cabinet for working tirelessly on behalf of our country. 2017 was a year of monumental achievement and we look forward to the year ahead. Together, we are delivering results and MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! https://t.co/ptXa1hAPwW pic.twitter.com/yv6RALkQf3  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 The former reality television star continued to dispense accolades at the meeting Wednesday, greeting reporters in the Cabinet Room by saying: Welcome back to the studio. Then he proceeded to relive a Cabinet Room session from the prior day, when he had allowed reporters and TV cameras to stick around for much of his meeting with a bipartisan group of legislators on the thorny issue of immigration. It was a tremendous meeting. Actually, it was reported as incredibly good. And my performance  you know, some of them called it a performance  I consider it work, Trump said. Trump went on to say he had received letters from news anchors calling it one of the greatest meetings theyve ever witnessed. He added that the media will ultimately support Trump in the end, because theyre going to say, if Trump doesnt win in three years, theyre all out of business. Asked for examples of letters received from news anchors, the White House said it had received private communications. It also offered a series of positive on-air comments and tweets from journalists about the unusual access to the meeting. During his remarks, Trump swung from praising his own meeting coverage to telling journalists that they were dependent on his presidency for ratings to threatening a strong look at libel laws. Still, Trump thanked the journalists in front of him, joking: Youve gotten very familiar with this room. I appreciate your nice comments yesterday. Facebook

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Trump blasts DACA ruling in tweet calling courts broken and unfair By Lisa Mascaro President Trump denounced the federal courts Wednesday as broken and unfair after a district judge in San Francisco issued a nationwide injunction keeping protections in place for so-called Dreamers. Trump tweeted: It just shows everyone how broken and unfair our Court System is when the opposing side in a case (such as DACA) always runs to the 9th Circuit and almost always wins before being reversed by higher courts.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 On Tuesday night, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco temporarily blocked the Trump administrations decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, which has protected from deportation some 700,000 people who came to the country illegally as children. Alsup granted a request by the state of California, the University of California and other plaintiffs to stop Trump from ending DACA on March 5. The administrations decision to end DACA, which was announced in September, was based on a flawed legal analysis, Alsup wrote in his decision. Dreamers would be irreparably harmed if their DACA protections, which allow them to live and work legally in the U.S., were stripped away before the courts had a chance to fully consider their claims, he ruled. The action is the mirror image of a ruling in 2015 by a federal judge in Texas who ruled in favor of that state when it sought to block President Obama from expanding DACA to include the parents of Dreamers. Trump administration officials praised that judicial ruling. By contrast, they sharply criticized Alsups decision. Read More Facebook

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Trump thanks lawmakers for productive immigration meeting, says deal must include border wall President Trump thanked a bipartisan group of lawmakers for participating in a meeting on immigration legislation on Tuesday. Much of the discussion involved so-called Dreamers, an estimated 700,000 young people who were brought to the country illegally as children and are now facing deportation. In a tweet, Trump wrote that there was strong agreement to negotiate a bill to protect Dreamers, as well as put into place some of the reforms favored by Republicans. Thanks to all of the Republican and Democratic lawmakers for todays very productive meeting on immigration reform. There was strong agreement to negotiate a bill that deals with border security, chain migration, lottery and DACA. https://t.co/SdqAQ3aL3z pic.twitter.com/8DYHZHspAy  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 The most notable exchange of the meeting came when Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the San Francisco Democrat, asked Trump whether he would be agreeable to signing a stand-alone bill to protect the Dreamers, before moving on to a more comprehensive immigration bill. Yeah, I would like to do it, Trump responded. The statement drew widespread attention because it contradicted the Republican consensus that Dreamers fate needed to be part of a broader immigration bill that would include some version of Trumps promised border wall and other immigration reforms. Trump later backed away from a stand-alone Dreamer bill, tweeting that a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico must be part of any deal: As I made very clear today, our country needs the security of the Wall on the Southern Border, which must be part of any DACA approval.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Pressure has been mounting for Congress to broker an immigration deal by Jan. 19 as part of a must-pass budget package to fund the government. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook

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Trump thanks officers and veterans in tweets President Trump doled out a slew of accolades Tuesday via Twitter. He thanked the nations law enforcement officers, including in his message a hashtag denoting a day of appreciation organized by a national support group for law enforcement families. On behalf of the American people, THANK YOU to our incredible law enforcement officers. As President of the United States - I will fight for you, and I will never, ever let you down. Now, more than ever, we must support the men and women in blue! #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/Qb4uxB4JRm  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 Trump later expressed gratitude for federal immigration agents, in particular: .@ICEgov HSI agents and ERO officers, on behalf of an entire Nation, THANK YOU for what you are doing 24/7/365 to keep fellow Americans SAFE. Everyone is so grateful!#LawEnforcementAppreciationDay

President @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/HXCpTlruVo  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 The president thanked veterans as he cited his administrations efforts to curb the number of veteran suicides by improving mental health treatment for the high-risk group: Today, it was my great honor to sign a new Executive Order to ensure Veterans have the resources they need as they transition back to civilian life. We must ensure that our HEROES are given the care and support they so richly deserve! https://t.co/0MdP9DDIAS pic.twitter.com/LP2a8KCBAp  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 Trumps tweet included photos of the president signing an executive order Tuesday directing the secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to develop a plan to provide seamless access to mental health and suicide prevention resources for 12 months for members leaving the armed forces. Also on Tuesday, Trump touted a law he signed the day before designating the birthplace of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. a national historic park: It was my great honor to sign H.R. 267, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act, which redesignates the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. https://t.co/Qe0b6HBFTY pic.twitter.com/QTgaqTawPT  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 And he thanked House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) for sharing a video compilation comprised of clips of politicians and commentators praising the GOPs tax cut bill: Thank you @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy! Couldnt agree w/you more. TOGETHER, we are #MAGA https://t.co/QaxtqpyXTR  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018  This post contains reporting from the Associated Press and Times staff writer Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook

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Trump hails tax bill in tweets recapping speech to farmers By Associated Press Connecting with rural Americans, President Trump on Monday hailed his tax overhaul as a victory for family farmers. Farm country is Gods country, Trump told the annual convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Trump became the first president in a quarter-century to address the federations convention. His Southern swing also included a stop in Atlanta for the national college football championship game. Cant wait to be back in the amazing state of Tennessee to address the 99th American @FarmBureau Federations Annual Convention in Nashville! #AFBF18



On my way now - join me LIVE at 4:00pmE: https://t.co/QaljAqekdD. pic.twitter.com/Wm7Io0hYT8  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Joined by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and a group of Tennessee lawmakers, Trump said most of the benefits of the tax legislation are going to working families, small businesses, and who  the family farmer. The package Trump signed into law last month provides generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and more modest reductions for middle- and low-income individuals and families. In every decision we make, we are honoring Americas PROUD FARMING LEGACY. Years of crushing taxes, crippling regs, & corrupt politics left our communities hurting, our economy stagnant, & millions of hardworking Americans COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN. But they are not forgotten ANYMORE! pic.twitter.com/MdYS7xnukQ  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 The president vastly inflated the value of the package in his speech, citing a total of $5.5 trillion in tax cuts, with most of those benefits going to working families, small businesses and who? The family farmer. The estimated value of the tax cuts is actually $1.5 trillion for families and businesses because of cuts in deductions and the use of other steps to generate offsetting tax revenue. We have been working every day to DELIVER for Americas Farmers just as they work every day to deliver FOR US. #AFBF18 pic.twitter.com/QDH7fvFkZ7  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 From Nashville, Trump traveled to Atlanta to watch Alabamas Crimson Tide and Georgias Bulldogs face off Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship. We are fighting for our farmers, for our country, and for our GREAT AMERICAN FLAG. We want our flag respected - and we want our NATIONAL ANTHEM respected also! pic.twitter.com/16eOLXg6Fi  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Before departing for the game, Trump referenced his ongoing defense of the American flag and the national anthem, saying there was enough space for people to express their views. We love our flag and we love our anthem, and we want to keep it that way, he said. Facebook

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Trump tweet hails drop in unemployment rate for African Americans By Associated Press President Trump touted a drop in the unemployment rate for African Americans on Monday in a tweet. African American unemployment is the lowest ever recorded in our country. The Hispanic unemployment rate dropped a full point in the last year and is close to the lowest in recorded history. Dems did nothing for you but get your vote! #NeverForget @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 The rate fell to 6.8% in December, the lowest level since the government began tracking such data in 1972. The reasons range from a greater number of black Americans with college degrees to a growing need for employers in a tight job market to widen the pool of people they hire from. Trump also hailed the development via Twitter on Saturday. His latest tweet on the topic came about an hour after it was discussed during an episode of Fox & Friends, according to Mediaite. Facebook

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Trump talks up the economy and dresses down the media in Sunday tweets With President Trump cheering from the sidelines, the White House on Sunday pressed its defense of the presidents fitness to govern, as fired former aide Stephen K. Bannon reversed course and apologized for his role in a new books explosive portrait of Trump. The presidents critics, meanwhile, said Trumps stream of taunts and insults in response to the book  Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, released last week  served only to underscore the authors unsettling portrayal of Trumps year-old presidency, depicting a leader whose own aides consider him childish, ignorant and dangerously erratic. Trump provided more ammunition Sunday morning, as he continued to attack the book via Twitter while preparing to depart Camp David for the White House: Leaving Camp David for the White House. Great meetings with the Cabinet and Military on many very important subjects including Border Security & the desperately needed Wall, the ever increasing Drug and Opioid Problem, Infrastructure, Military, Budget, Trade and DACA.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Ive had to put up with the Fake News from the first day I announced that I would be running for President. Now I have to put up with a Fake Book, written by a totally discredited author. Ronald Reagan had the same problem and handled it well. So will I!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 The most vehement defense of Trump on Sunday came from senior advisor Stephen Miller, a onetime Bannon acolyte who distanced himself from his former mentor. In a combative appearance Sunday on CNNs State of the Union, Miller called the book grotesque and writer Michael Wolff the garbage author of a garbage book. Trump is known to closely monitor aides televised performances in putting forth his case, and he gleefully weighed in within moments of Millers televised clash with host Jake Tapper. CNN has long been a particular target of Trumps ire. Jake Tapper of Fake News CNN just got destroyed in his interview with Stephen Miller of the Trump Administration. Watch the hatred and unfairness of this CNN flunky!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Trumps reaction, however, seemed to bolster Tappers on-air depiction of Miller as using his appearance on the show to play to the president rather than addressing questions put to him. I get it  theres one viewer that you care about, the host said exasperatedly after Miller turned the discussion repeatedly to negative news coverage of the president while deflecting specific queries. Later on Twitter, Trump took up two themes that have been prevalent on his social media feeds recently. The president again went after the news media, tweeting that the recipients of his self-proclaimed most dishonest & corrupt media awards of the year, which he promised earlier in the week to announce on Monday, would actually be revealed the following Wednesday: The Fake News Awards, those going to the most corrupt & biased of the Mainstream Media, will be presented to the losers on Wednesday, January 17th, rather than this coming Monday. The interest in, and importance of, these awards is far greater than anyone could have anticipated!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Trump later lauded a New York Post opinion piece that compared him favorably with his predecessor, President Obama, as well as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. In quoting the op-ed, Trump initally misspelled consequential as consensual, but he deleted those tweets and re-sent the messages. His is turning out to be an enormously consequential presidency. So much so that, despite my own frustration over his missteps, there has never been a day when I wished Hillary Clinton were president. Not one. Indeed, as Trumps accomplishments accumulate, the mere thought of...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 ...Clinton in the WH, doubling down on Barack Obamas failed policies, washes away any doubts that America made the right choice. This was truly a change election  and the changes Trump is bringing are far-reaching & necessary. Thank you Michael Goodwin! https://t.co/4fHNcx2Ydg  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Trump also continued talking up the economy, which has been enjoying a period of strong gains. The Stock Market has been creating tremendous benefits for our country in the form of not only Record Setting Stock Prices, but present and future Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Seven TRILLION dollars of value created since our big election win!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 In addition to Miller, other senior administration officials made the rounds of Sunday news talk shows to decry the claims made in Wolffs book. CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Wolffs characterization of Trump as averse to digesting classified briefing material was ludicrous, and the ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, insisted that that those around Trump love their country and respect their president. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Laura King. Facebook

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Responding to book that mocks his intelligence, Trump tweets hes like, really smart By Tracy Wilkinson President Trump declared himself a very stable genius on Twitter on Saturday and later in a televised news conference called the author of a book that questioned his mental fitness a fraud. His comments came on a bone-cold day at Camp David during a weekend retreat with top administration officials and Republican congressional leaders strategizing on the years legislative agenda, including matters such as infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and national security. Now that Russian collusion, after one year of intense study, has proven to be a total hoax on the American public, the Democrats and their lapdogs, the Fake News Mainstream Media, are taking out the old Ronald Reagan playbook and screaming mental stability and intelligence.....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 ....Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star.....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 ....to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius....and a very stable genius at that!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Still, Trumps explosive rebuttal to author Michael Wolffs claims not only opened the day, but it also ensured the presidents capability to fill the highest office in the land was a topic that would not go away. In his early-morning tweets, Trump said two of his greatest assets have been mental stability, and being, like, really smart. He noted that his former Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, played these cards [about competence] very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). Read More Facebook

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In morning tweets, Trump touts job numbers and takes digs at news media By Associated Press President Trump used Twitter on Saturday morning to tout a drop in the unemployment rate for African Americans. He also used the tweets as an opportunity to take digs at media outlets whose past coverage he has found to be critical. The African American unemployment rate fell to 6.8%, the lowest rate in 45 years. I am so happy about this News! And, in the Washington Post (of all places), headline states, Trumps first year jobs numbers were very, very good.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 The unemployment rate for African Americans fell to 6.8% in December, the lowest level since the government began tracking such data in 1972. The reasons range from a greater number of black Americans with college degrees to a growing need for employers in a tight job market to widen the pool of people they hire from. Still, the rate for black workers remains well above those for whites and some other groups, something experts attribute in large part to decades of discrimination and disadvantages. Robust job creation has lowered unemployment for all Americans. U.S. employers added nearly 2.1 million jobs in 2017  the seventh straight year that hiring has topped 2 million. In his tweet, Trump praised a report that noted the numbers, touting the fact that it appeared in the Washington Post (of all places). Minutes later, Trump renewed his attack on an ABC News reporter who was suspended last month after filing an erroneous report on Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security advisor. Brian Ross, the reporter who made a fraudulent live newscast about me that drove the Stock Market down 350 points (billions of dollars), was suspended for a month but is now back at ABC NEWS in a lower capacity. He is no longer allowed to report on Trump. Should have been fired!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 The reporter, Brian Ross, was reportedly reassigned within ABC News upon returning from his unpaid suspension. But on Saturday, Trump wrote that he should have been fired. Trumps tweets came hours before he was set to host congressional Republicans and administration officials at Camp David. The meeting scheduled to begin at midmorning Saturday was expected to touch on the budget, infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and the shape of the midterm election this fall. Facebook

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Trump commends Sen. Rand Paul after he proposes eliminating all U.S. aid to Pakistan President Trump commended Sen. Rand Paul after the Kentucky Republican announced plans to introduce legislation that would eliminate all U.S. aid to Pakistan. Trump tweeted Friday night: Good idea Rand! https://t.co/55sqUDiC0s  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 On Thursday, the Trump administration announced it was suspending security assistance to Islamabad until the country moves aggressively against local militants who have attacked U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan. Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration at the apparent inability of Pakistani authorities to rein in militants who cross out of the countrys rugged tribal areas to attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson. Facebook

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Trump continues to lash out at Sloppy Steve Bannon in tweets on tell-all book By Associated Press President Trump is praising a major Republican donor family for distancing themselves from his former advisor Steve Bannon. Trump tweeted Friday: The Mercer Family recently dumped the leaker known as Sloppy Steve Bannon. Smart!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Trump has continued to lash out at Bannon over an explosive new book that quoted his former aide as questioning Trumps competence and describing a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower among Donald Trump Jr., Trump campaign aides and a Russian lawyer as treasonous and unpatriotic. On Thursday, billionaire GOP donor Rebekah Mercer issued a statement distancing her family from Bannon. Mercer is a co-owner of Breitbart, the populist website Bannon helps run. I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected, Mercer said. My family and I have not communicated with Steve Bannon in many months and have provided no financial support to his political agenda, nor do we support his recent actions and statements. The book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, quickly shot atop Amazons best-seller list, and the publisher moved up its release date by four days, to Friday. Trump took up the topic again on Twitter on Friday night, denouncing both Bannon and the books author, Michael Wolff, in starkly personal terms: Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book. He used Sloppy Steve Bannon, who cried when he got fired and begged for his job. Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone. Too bad! https://t.co/mEeUhk5ZV9  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Trumps message linked to a meme depicting a parody book cover titled, Liar and Phony, that featured a photo of Wolff and disparaging quotes about the author. In a tweet sent earlier Friday morning, Trump suggested the book was intended to serve as a distraction from the FBIs investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, which Trump wrote is proving to be a total hoax. Well, now that collusion with Russia is proving to be a total hoax and the only collusion is with Hillary Clinton and the FBI/Russia, the Fake News Media (Mainstream) and this phony new book are hitting out at every new front imaginable. They should try winning an election. Sad!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 That came amid reports that Trump directed his White House counsel to tell Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions to not recuse himself from the Justice Departments Russia investigation. Trumps effort to keep Sessions, a vocal and loyal supporter of his election bid, in charge of an investigation into his campaign offers special counsel Robert Mueller yet another avenue to explore as his prosecutors work to untangle potential evidence of obstruction. Read More Facebook

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Trump praises the economy ahead of meetings at Camp David By Associated Press President Trump is praising the strength of the U.S. economy ahead of meetings at Camp David with congressional Republicans. Trump tweeted early Friday: Dow goes from 18,589 on November 9, 2016, to 25,075 today, for a new all-time Record. Jumped 1000 points in last 5 weeks, Record fastest 1000 point move in history. This is all about the Make America Great Again agenda! Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Six trillion dollars in value created!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 The president also told reporters on the South Lawn that the tax cuts are really kicking in after Congress passed a package of tax cuts at the end of 2017. And the president praised the December jobs report, which found U.S. employers added 148,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate stayed at 4.1%, the lowest level since 2000. The modest but steady pace of hiring is a reassuring sign for investors who have been buoyed by the just-passed Republican tax plan and have been sending stock market indexes roaring to uncharted heights. The president is meeting with Republican congressional leaders and members of his Cabinet on Friday and Saturday to discuss the 2018 agenda. Read More Facebook

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Trump tweets as Dow crashes through 25,000 By Associated Press President Trump dispatched a congratulatory tweet as the Dow Jones industrial average rose above the 25,000-point mark Thursday, just five weeks after its first close above 24,000. Dow just crashes through 25,000. Congrats! Big cuts in unnecessary regulations continuing.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 After the Dow closed above 25,000, Trump shared a graphic depicting the stock indexs record-setting rise. MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/iONbr1DkVk  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Later in the day, the president was back on Twitter, complaining that news outlets had barely covered the stock market milestone. He suggested that the strength of the economy would be the biggest story on earth, had it unfolded during the presidency of his predecessor. The Fake News Media barely mentions the fact that the Stock Market just hit another New Record and that business in the U.S. is booming...but the people know! Can you imagine if O was president and had these numbers - would be biggest story on earth! Dow now over 25,000.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 The Dow broke past 1,000-point barriers in 2017 on its way to a 25% gain for the year, as an eight-year rally since the Great Recession continued to confound skeptics. Strong global economic growth and good prospects for higher company earnings have analysts predicting more gains, although the market may not stay as calm as it has been recently. The Dow has made a rapid trip since it reached 24,000 points Nov. 30, partly on enthusiasm over passage of the Republican-backed tax package, which could boost company profits this year with across-the-board cuts to corporate taxes. Read More Facebook

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Trump reacts to Fire and Fury book in tweet lashing out at author and Sloppy Steve President Trump lashed out at the author of a soon-to-be-released book about the chaotic first year of his presidency Thursday night. In a tweet, Trump called Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, a phony book and claimed that hed never spoken to its author, Michael Wolff. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! Trump wrote. He appeared to be referring to former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, whose stunning criticisms of Trump and his circle figure prominently in the title. I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that dont exist. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Trumps tweet came hours after he had his lawyer demand that Henry Holt & Co. and Wolff stop publication the book. Instead, the publisher expedited the books release to Friday, four days before it was slated to hit bookstore shelves, in response to unprecedented demand. Published excerpts on Wednesday and Thursday whetted that appetite and roiled Washington. Bannons comments, including that it was treasonous and unpatriotic for Trumps son Donald Trump Jr., son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager Paul Manafort to have met in 2016 with Russians said to have dirt on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, prompted Trump on Wednesday to rebuke his former advisor, saying Bannon had lost his mind. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writers Brian Bennett and Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook

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Trump thanks senators who attended meeting on immigration President Trump tweeted thanks to Republican senators who attended a meeting about possible immigration legislation on Thursday. In his message, Trump also listed his top priorities when it comes to any type of overhaul of the nations immigration system. Thank you to the great Republican Senators who showed up to our mtg on immigration reform. We must BUILD THE WALL, stop illegal immigration, end chain migration & cancel the visa lottery. The current system is unsafe & unfair to the great people of our country - time for change!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Trumps tweet echoed his remarks at the beginning of Thursdays meeting, when he insisted again that constructing a border wall and overhauling two legal immigration programs must be part of any deal with Democrats to protect the so-called Dreamers from deportation. Two-year deportation protections and work permits given under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program begin to expire March 6 under an executive order. Trump announced in September that he was ending the Obama-era program, but told Congress to draft a law to continue protections for people brought to the country illegally as children  a group that has widespread public support. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Brian Bennett. Facebook

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Trump resumes Twitter war against kneeling NFL players President Trump has resumed his Twitter war against NFL players who kneel during the national anthem to protest social injustice and racial inequality. In a tweet early Thursday, Trump replied to a supporter who shared a meme that appears to depict family members lying on the grave of a fallen soldier with the caption: This is why we stand. Show this picture to the NFL players who still kneel! Trump wrote. So beautiful....Show this picture to the NFL players who still kneel! https://t.co/tJLM1tvbvb  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 The president has denounced players who kneel during the anthem in previous tweets. Hes also called for the firing of players who do so. His latest message came amid news that the NFL finished the regular season with TV ratings that fell nearly 10% below the previous season. Analysts attribute the drop to controversies facing the league, as well as changing viewing habits and a possible saturation point in the number of games available. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writers Stephen Battaglio and Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook

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Trump credits himself with facilitating talks between North and South Korea By Associated Press President Trump says his tough stance on nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula is helping push North Korea and South Korea to talk. Trump tweeted early Thursday: With all of the failed experts weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasnt firm, strong and willing to commit our total might against the North. Fools, but talks are a good thing!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 That assertion is in conflict with some of the presidents own statements. Last year, he ridiculed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for talking about negotiations with the North. This week, Trump seemed open to the possibility of an inter-Korean dialogue after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare overture toward South Korea in a New Years Day address. But Trumps ambassador to the United Nations insisted that talks wont be meaningful unless the North is getting rid of its nuclear weapons. The overture about talks came after Trump and Kim traded more bellicose claims about their nuclear weapons. In his New Years Day address, Kim repeated fiery nuclear threats against the United States. Kim said he has a nuclear button on his office desk and warned that the whole territory of the U.S. is within the range of our nuclear strike. Trump mocked that assertion Tuesday evening in a tweet. Facebook

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After disbanding his vote fraud panel, Trump still says voting system is rigged By Brian Bennett One day after disbanding his troubled voter fraud commission without any findings of fraud, President Trump continued to call the U.S. voting system rigged and said states should require that Americans have voter-identification cards. In two tweets on Thursday morning, Trump blamed the commissions failure on the lack of cooperation from mostly Democrat States that refused to hand over voter rolls because they know that many people are voting illegally. However, voting supervisors in Republican-led states refused as well, objecting on privacy and other grounds. Many mostly Democrat States refused to hand over data from the 2016 Election to the Commission On Voter Fraud. They fought hard that the Commission not see their records or methods because they know that many people are voting illegally. System is rigged, must go to Voter I.D.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 As Americans, you need identification, sometimes in a very strong and accurate form, for almost everything you do.....except when it comes to the most important thing, VOTING for the people that run your country. Push hard for Voter Identification!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Despite Trumps assertions, analysts have not found evidence of widespread voter fraud. Trump created the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity in May after alleging, without proof, that millions of illegal votes were cast for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Trump was elected after winning a majority in the electoral college, but the nationwide count showed Clinton received nearly 3 million more votes. The commission sought personal data on voters across the country and faced mounting lawsuits in recent months over privacy concerns. Read More Facebook

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Trump touts another good day for stocks, credits tax cut By Associated Press President Trump touted another good day for the stock market Wednesday in a tweet. Stock Market had another good day but, now that the Tax Cut Bill has passed, we have tremendous upward potential. Dow just short of 25,000, a number that few thought would be possible this soon into my administration. Also, unemployment went down to 4.1%. Only getting better!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Big gains for technology and healthcare stocks helped U.S. indexes set records again Wednesday. Some analysts attributed the surge to investor enthusiasm for Trumps $1.5-trillion tax cut. All told, Wall Street analysts estimate the tax package should boost earnings for companies in the Standard & Poors 500 index by roughly 8% this year. Thats much more generous than the average tax cut of 1.6% that middle-class families will receive, according to the Tax Policy Center. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 The public has been less enthusiastic about the tax law. A Monmouth University poll last month found that nearly half of Americans disapproved of it, with only 26% in support. Still, as Trump also noted on Twitter, some workers have seen a benefit: So far, dozens of companies have announced bonuses and higher minimum wages as a result of the tax cut. AT&T, Comcast, Bank of America, and American Airlines have all pledged to pay $1,000 bonuses to their employees. Some 40 U.S. companies have responded to President Trumps tax cut and reform victory in Congress last year by handing out bonuses up to $2,000, increases in 401k matches and spending on charity, a much higher number than previously known. https://t.co/bmWrwWzxMR  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Investors also appear less concerned than many politicians about how the additional profits will be used. The Trump administration says it expects companies will plow much of the extra profit back into their businesses, purchasing more software, machinery, and other equipment. Those investments will make workers more productive and provide a key boost to the economys long-run growth. They should also boost wages and salaries for employees. Opponents of the tax law respond that companies are more likely to pass the windfall on to shareholders in the form of higher dividend payments and share buybacks, which raise the price of those shares still in investors hands. Previous cuts in corporate tax rates, in the United States and overseas, havent always led to higher wages. For Wall Street, its all good, at least in the short run. Most analysts take the view that either way, companies and the economy will benefit. Facebook

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Trump reacts to death of Mormon Church president By Associated Press President Trump mourned the death of Mormon Church leader Thomas S. Monson on Wednesday evening. Trump tweeted a link to a statement in which he said that Monson demonstrated wisdom, inspired leadership, and great compassion and delivered a message of optimism, forgiveness, and faith. Melania and I are deeply saddened by the death of Thomas S. Monson, a beloved President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...https://t.co/ETD3fWtfU3  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 A church bishop at the age of 22, Monson became the youngest church apostle ever in 1963 at the age of 36. He served as a counselor for three church presidents before assuming the role of the top leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. After a life of church service, Monson died Tuesday at his home in Salt Lake City, according to church spokesman Eric Hawkins. He was 90. Read More Facebook

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Trump tweets that Iranian protesters will see great U.S. support at the appropriate time By Associated Press President Trump continued to express support for Irans anti-government protesters on Wednesday. In a tweet, Trump commended the protesters and pledged that the United States will support them at the appropriate time. Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government. You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Trumps tweet Wednesday morning came as Iranian Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo sent a letter to United Nations officials complaining that Washington was intervening in a grotesque way in Irans internal affairs. The President and Vice-President of the United States, in their numerous absurd tweets, incited Iranians to engage in disruptive acts, the ambassador wrote to the U.N. Security Council president and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The U.S. didnt immediately respond to the letter, which maintains that Washington has crossed every limit in flouting rules and principles of international law governing the civilized conduct of international relations. At least 21 people have been killed and hundreds arrested in Iran during a week of anti-government protests and unrest over economic woes and official corruption. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people took part in counter-demonstrations Wednesday backing the clerically overseen government, which has said enemies of Iran are fomenting the protests. Trump has unleashed a series of tweets in recent days backing the protesters, saying Iran is failing at every level and declaring that it is time for change in the Islamic Republic. Facebook

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Trump congratulates Sen. Orrin Hatch upon news of his retirement By Associated Press President Trump congratulated Sen. Orrin Hatch for an absolutely incredible career upon news of Hatchs impending retirement. In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, Trump called Hatch a tremendous supporter and wrote that he will be greatly missed in the Senate. Congratulations to Senator Orrin Hatch on an absolutely incredible career. He has been a tremendous supporter, and I will never forget the (beyond kind) statements he has made about me as President. He is my friend and he will be greatly missed in the U.S. Senate! pic.twitter.com/0VjzLEeHTl  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Hatchs decision to retire from the Senate after four decades lets the Utah Republican walk away at the height of his power after helping to push through an overhaul of the tax code and persuading Trump to downsize two national monuments. Retirement also preserves the 83-year-olds legacy by allowing him to avoid a bruising reelection battle that would have broken his promise not to seek an eighth term. Read More Facebook

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Trump tweet exaggerates progress in improving veterans care By Associated Press President Trump played up tremendous progress in improving care for veterans in his first year on Tuesday in a tweet. His message linked to an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is fighting for our veterans. But it overstates the impact of these steps. We will not rest until all of Americas GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time. Keep up the great work @SecShulkin @DeptVetAffairs! https://t.co/ir25vW15hx pic.twitter.com/OtuzIgxMn6  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the Veterans Affairs system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The departments poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard. A fifth claim involves telehealth, a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasnt been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House. A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited effect so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims. The last two initiatives make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trumps watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the effect on veterans care is not fully known. Facebook

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Trump unleashes his first tweetstorm of 2018 By Noah Bierman President Trump clearly didnt resolve to change his Twitter habits this year. With nine disparate tweets over three hours on Tuesday morning, the first working day of 2018, Trump continued to exploit social media to be the most aggressive commentator in chief in American history. For any other president, his posts would have made for a monumental day of (mis-)statements. Yet for Trump, the series  attacks on political foes and media, provocations of foreign leaders and self-praise for events he had nothing to do with  was all but unremarkable. His Twitter barrage  sent between 7:09 a.m. and 10:16 a.m.  reflected a familiar gamut after nearly a year in office: Attacks on political foes: Nearly 14 months after his election, Trump called for the jailing of Huma Abedin, Crooked Hillary Clintons top aid (his misspelling, another occasional feature of Trump tweets). Crooked Hillary Clintons top aid, Huma Abedin, has been accused of disregarding basic security protocols. She put Classified Passwords into the hands of foreign agents. Remember sailors pictures on submarine? Jail! Deep State Justice Dept must finally act? Also on Comey & others  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 In the same tweet, he disparaged the Deep State Justice Dept, headed of course by his appointees, calling on it to act against James B. Comey, the FBI director he fired for investigating the Russia thing. Diplomatic provocations: Trump again called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Rocket man, ridiculed the volatile nuclear-armed foe for recent military defections and openly speculated about potential talks between North and South Korea. Sanctions and other pressures are beginning to have a big impact on North Korea. Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea. Rocket man now wants to talk to South Korea for first time. Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not - we will see!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not  we will see! Trump wrote. Later Tuesday, Trump tweeted: North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times. Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Also later Tuesday, Trump tweeted an attack on Pakistan, his second in as many days, and added a new one against Palestinians: It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They dont even want to negotiate a long overdue...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 ...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Undermining media: Trump offered Congratulations! to A.G. Sulzberger, who took over as publisher of the New York Times this week. The Failing New York Times has a new publisher, A.G. Sulzberger. Congratulations! Here is a last chance for the Times to fulfill the vision of its Founder, Adolph Ochs, to give the news impartially, without fear or FAVOR, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved. Get...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 ....impartial journalists of a much higher standard, lose all of your phony and non-existent sources, and treat the President of the United States FAIRLY, so that the next time I (and the people) win, you wont have to write an apology to your readers for a job poorly done! GL  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 But the two-part post was really yet another slam against a perceived media foe: Trump said the paper had a last chance to fulfill its journalistic mission, and accused it of relying on phony sources and substandard reporters  just days after he granted another exclusive interview to the paper. As a bonus, the tweet contained a recycled falsehood, that the paper apologized after the election for reporting on him unfairly. It didnt. Trump later said on Twitter that he would soon announce the most dishonest & corrupt media awards of the year. Stay tuned! I will be announcing THE MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 oclock. Subjects will cover Dishonesty & Bad Reporting in various categories from the Fake News Media. Stay tuned!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 The president also tweeted a quote from Fox Business Networks Lou Dobbs Tonight, which aired a segment praising Trumps first-year accomplishments. Dobbs reportedly joined Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday for a gala to celebrate New Years Eve. President Trump has something now he didnt have a year ago, that is a set of accomplishments that nobody can deny. The accomplishments are there, look at his record, he has had a very significant first year. @LouDobbs Show,David Asman & Ed Rollins  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Taking credit: Trump congratulated himself for policing the border with Mexico, an area where his policies and anti-immigration rhetoric are believed to have had some effect on reducing illegal crossings. Thank you to Brandon Judd of the National Border Patrol Council for your kind words on how well we are doing at the Border. We will be bringing in more & more of your great folks and will build the desperately needed WALL! @foxandfriends  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 He took credit for employee bonuses by companies after he signed Republican tax cuts into law last month. Companies are giving big bonuses to their workers because of the Tax Cut Bill. Really great!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 But the jaw-dropper was Trump congratulating himself for planes not crashing. Since taking office I have been very strict on Commercial Aviation. Good news - it was just reported that there were Zero deaths in 2017, the best and safest year on record!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 It was the safest year on record worldwide, but the American streak without commercial jet passenger deaths goes back to 2009. Trump, who has promoted deregulation as one of his top accomplishments, has not signed off on any new airline safety regulations. The White House pointed to new security screening of passengers, to electronic devices to prevent terrorist attacks and to Trumps support for privatizing air traffic control  a proposal that has gotten nowhere in Congress. Falsehoods: Trump said President Obama, in brokering the 2015 nuclear arms limitation deal with Iran, foolishly gave money to the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. He didnt. The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their pockets. The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 The nuclear deal, which included major U.S. allies as signators, released Irans own funds that had long been frozen. Trumps art of the deal: When Trump sees a big deal looming, he often blasts the other side  to gain leverage, as hes written. This week he resumes a showdown with Democratic lawmakers over funding the government and immigration protections for so-called Dreamers, who were brought to the country illegally as children. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA - just interested in politics. DACA activists and Hispanics will go hard against Dems, will start falling in love with Republicans and their President! We are about RESULTS.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Trump, who in September ordered a gradual end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, sought to shift blame for the resulting controversy, saying Democrats are doing nothing for DACA and are just interested in politics. Trump has insisted that any help for Dreamers be paired with funding for a border wall and a crackdown on legal immigration. Democrats, and some Republicans, are opposed. Read More Facebook

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In tweet, Trump suggests U.S. will withdraw financial assistance to Pakistan By Shashank Bengali Pakistan lashed out Monday after President Trump accused its leaders of lies & deceit and suggested the United States would withdraw financial assistance to the nuclear-armed nation it once saw as a key ally against terrorism. It was the presidents latest broadside against Pakistan after a speech in August in which he demanded its leaders crack down on the safe havens enjoyed by Taliban militants fighting U.S.-backed forces in neighboring Afghanistan. The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018 U.S. Ambassador David Hale was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the presidents statement, U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said. Pakistan lodged a strongly worded protest and asked for clarification about Trumps comments, according to two foreign office officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Pakistans prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, called a Cabinet meeting for Tuesday and a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday to discuss Trumps New Years Day tweet. Read More Facebook

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Trump continues to tweet in support of Iranian protesters By Laura King President Trump expressed renewed support Sunday for protesters in Iran, declaring that people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. In a tweet from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, the president said the nationwide economic protests that began on Thursday  and have taken on wider political overtones as they have grown in size  were a signal that Iranians will not take it any longer. Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Trump has tweeted about the protests for three days straight as Iranians took to the streets despite a heavy police presence, tear gas and scores of arrests. The defiance gained urgency after two people were reported shot to death in the city of Dorud, about 200 miles southwest of Tehran. As the conflict escalated, Iranian authorities on Sunday slapped a temporary ban on Instagram and the messaging app Telegram, which were widely used to fan protest fervor. Iran, the Number One State of Sponsored Terror with numerous violations of Human Rights occurring on an hourly basis, has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Irans leaders already are casting Trumps increasingly effusive expressions of support for the demonstrators as opportunistic meddling and are painting the demonstrators as foreign pawns, adopting a strategy that some analysts say could jeopardize the legitimacy of the nascent antigovernment protests. Read More Facebook

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Trump tweets condolences after Colorado deputies are shot in ambush, one fatally By Associated Press A man fired more than 100 rounds at sheriffs deputies in Colorado early Sunday, killing one and injuring four others, before being fatally shot himself in what authorities called an ambush. Two civilians were also injured. President Trump expressed sorrow, writing on Twitter: My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement - God Bless them all! #LESM  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock said deputies came under fire almost
Republicans, in a shift after Las Vegas massacre, are open to considering a gun limit -- on bump stocks

The Las Vegas massacre has forced a breach in congressional Republicans solid opposition to gun restrictions, prompting many, from party leaders on down, to say they will consider banning bump stocks that turn assault rifles into virtual machine guns.

The National Rifle Assn., to which most Republicans are loyal and which had been silent since the gunmans attack Sunday night, on Thursday in a statement said it could back such limits -- as a federal regulation, not law.

The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations. its statement on Thursday said.

The NRAs blessing will probably increase the number of Republicans willing to back restrictions, but if those limits come in the form of regulations from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), rather than in a law, Democrats are certain to object.

Just Wednesday, when California Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation to ban bump stocks by law, only fellow Democrats joined with her.

By Thursday, however, top GOP leaders in the House and Senate, including Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, signaled their interest in working on legislation that that could limit access to the devices.

Clearly thats something we need to look into, Ryan told MSNBC host Hugh Hewitt in an interview scheduled to air this weekend.

Senators on Thursday morning privately discussed ways they could tackle the issue as they met for routine business.

I will tell you that the unique aspect of the bump stock and how you would literally transform a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic weapon is something that I think bears looking into, Cornyn told Texas reporters on a conference call.

He has asked Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley of Iowa to convene a hearing and look into it.

Even Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus of conservative hard-liners, told reporters earlier in the week hed be willing to consider banning bump stocks, if the Senate passes a bill and sends it to the House.

The shift is notable for Republicans who, under great pressure from the NRA and other gun rights groups, have resisted past efforts at gun control, even after some of the most devastating mass shootings in the United States.

Coming after the Las Vegas shooting, which left 58 dead and hundreds wounded in what authorities said is the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, the movement may indicate the potential limits of the gun lobbys reach into politics and policy.

Polls show Americans overwhelmingly want measures that could curb gun violence and pressure has mounted as cultural figures, including late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, have delivered heart-wrenching criticisms of congressional inaction.

Democrats, who have at times splintered on firearms issues as conservative-state lawmakers joined Republicans to defeat gun-safety bills, welcomed the changed outlook.

They have called on President Trump to cut across partisan lines and push Congress toward legislation to reduce gun violence that polls show most Americans would support.

Will the president stand up? said Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York. The president has a choice.

Many Democrats, however, will not want to limit action to bump stocks.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said bump stock legislation was one approach, but no substitute for a background check bill that she said would have bipartisan support in the House if Ryan would allow a vote.

It really is all up to the speaker, she said. Is he going to bring the bill to the floor?

At the same time, lawmakers were skeptical that initial interest in limited bipartisan legislation would translate into enough actual votes to write the restriction into law.

We need to move Republicans from being open to the idea to being willing to actually work on it, said Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a Democrat who has become a leader on firearms safety measures since the 2012 killings of 20 first-graders and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

One key Republican, Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who co-sponsored a bipartisan background check bill that was defeated a few years ago, was noncommittal Thursday. He said he was just learning about bump stocks and needed more information.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas told reporters it was too soon, as the investigation in Las Vegas was just underway, to consider legislation.

Lawmakers, though, appeared concerned that the device offers a way to get around the existing ban on automatic weapons, which have been outlawed for years except for military use.

In the House, several military veterans, led by Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois, sent a letter to federal officials asking them to reconsider how they regulate the devices. During the Obama administration, the ATF authorized use of the stocks.

This is definitely an area were going to look [at], Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield said on Fox News.

A number of lawmakers, including Ryan, an avid hunter, said they were unfamiliar with bump stocks before the Las Vegas shooting. The alleged gunman appears to have used the device for rapid shooting.

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Floppy-eared golden retrievers bounded through Huntington Beachs Central Park on Sunday for the inaugural Goldie Palooza.

Hundreds of owners took their dogs to the park to enter a costume contest and take part in other festivities.

The event was organized by SoCal Golden Retrievers Buddies, a group that meets regularly around the region.

Proceeds from the festival will go to Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue and the Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles Rescue.
Ukraine will host the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO for the first time in 2020, Verkhovna Rada First Deputy Speaker Iryna Gerashchenko has said.

"I just received a text message from the chair of our parliamentary delegation to NATO PA, Iryna Friz, with important and wonderful news: the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will be held for the first time in Ukraine in 2020," she wrote on her Facebook page on Sunday evening. Gerashchenko believes that Ukraine is taking the right steps on the Euro-Atlantic path.

"Our NATO PA delegation is doing a good work in Bucharest, where this decision has been passed today. We are on the Euro-Atlantic path," she added.
History and culture are the focus of a new seven-day tour in Japan offered by Classic Journeys. The excursion begins in Tokyo with a guided walk to the old district of Asakusa, followed by a sushi-making class and a trip to a karaoke bar.

In Hakone, known for its hot springs and views of Mt. Fuji, participants will spend two nights in a traditional ryokan, or inn. A bullet train will speed them to Kyoto, home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Activities here include visits to the Arashiyama bamboo forest, the Golden Pavilion and Nijo Castle; participation in a tea ceremony; and a tour and tasting at a sake brewery.

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A pre-trip extension in Tokyo and a post-trip extension to Hiroshima also are available

Dates: April 16-22, May 14-2, Sept. 10-16, Oct. 1-7

Price: From $6,695 per person, double occupancy; $2,195 single supplement. Includes six nights accommodations, all breakfasts, two lunches and four dinners; admission to tastings, sites and other events; guides and land transportation.

Info: Classic Journeys, (800) 200-3887

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Israel had opposed the nuclear deal brokered between the United States and Iran, but if President Trump follows through on threats to scrap the pact, the move will present Israel with a volatile predicament.

Though Israel long called the terms of the deal flawed, some Israelis fear its demise would spur Iran to further its nuclear ambitions. Under the deal, Iran agreed to destroy or disable most of its nuclear infrastructure in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.

In the words of Yoaz Hendel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus former director of communications, were in the same dilemma  the U.S. administration is in.

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On the one hand, he said, its a bad deal. Israel and the United States must say that all the time. Its a bad deal.

On the other hand, canceling the deal will mean that Iran will harden its position. It wants to be the regional hegemon, and it will want to prove itself. And I mean that in the Middle Eastern sense  militarily  not using the graces of European diplomacy.

The Israeli government declined to comment on Trumps possible actions. The president must notify Congress by Sunday whether Iran is complying with the pact. Over the objections of several of his top national security advisors, Trump is leaning toward announcing that Iran is not in compliance.

Netanyahu fought hard against the deal, and the disagreement with the Obama administration shook Israels historic ties to the United States.

This deal caused us very significant damage, Hendel said in an interview, but its spilled milk. If Trump certifies the deal, we have a borderline nuclear nation at our border and major consequences in terms of Irans subsidy of terror organizations, especially Hezbollah. But if he decertifies, were back where we were in the old days, where the only way to change the regional situation is a military strike.

Candidate Trump made canceling the Iran deal, the Obama administrations signature foreign policy achievement, a central campaign promise. In talking of withdrawing from a deal ratified by Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, Trump appears to be trying to change the pacts framework. Until now, the agreement focused on Irans nuclear development.

In a recent speech to the American Enterprise Institute, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said the United States could change what constitutes compliance with the agreement, as Netanyahu has been pushing it to do. Perhaps, for example, a revised pact would address Irans development of missiles.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has been complying with the deal, but critics say the U.N. agency has been too lenient in its reviews of Irans actions.

If Trump declares Iran out of compliance with the 2015 deal, it would fall to Congress to decide whether U.S. sanctions related to the Islamic Republics nuclear program should be put back in place. Under law, Congress would have 60 days in which to act.

[Trump] wants the headlines of deconstructing various aspects of Obamas legacy  Cuba, Obamacare, the Iran deal  without the actual real-world impact of those decisions or coming up with alternatives, said Dan Shapiro, who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel from 2011 to 2017.

Even some prominent opponents of the deal are trying to spin the fact that Trump will decertify but Congress will decide not to renew the sanctions that were suspended. They seem to want their cake and to eat it too, Shapiro said.

For Israel, said Eldad Pardo, an expert on Iran who teaches at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the best case would be to leave the deal and then improve it to include missile development.

Trumps advantage is that Iran perceives him as unpredictable, he said. They are not irrational actors. They will have to submit to him out of fear that the regime could collapse if Trump prepares for war. Iran is in a position of great weakness in relation to the United States, and rattling the deal will remind them of this.

Pardos prediction may have been borne out late Friday when an Iranian source confirmed to Reuters that, hoping to reduce tensions, Tehran had indicated to the six Western signatories of the Obama-era deal that it is open to talks about its ballistic missile arsenal.

The assessment of Israels military intelligence professionals has consistently been that the deal has offered Israel tangible benefits  that even though inspections in Iran by monitors are not as rigorous as some would like, they are better than no inspections.

The prevailing view of current and retired Israeli military officers is that while it is flawed, the deal is serving Israels interests, Shapiro said. Canceling it now will bring the moment of truth of Iran getting nukes much closer, and that is not to Israels advantage.

Tarnopolsky is a special correspondent.
Military Prosecutor'a Office transfers assets of ex-minister of tax and income to national agency for stolen asset recovery

The main military prosecutor's office has transferred confiscated assets of ex-minister of tax and income of Ukraine Oleksandr Klymenko worth over UAH 900 million to the National Agency for Stolen Asset Recovery.

"Under a court ruling the main military prosecutor's office today first transfers assets arrested in the criminal case investigating into the Yanukovych-Klymenko criminal group to the management of the National Agency for Stolen Asset Recovery," Ukraine's chief military prosecutor Anatoliy Matios said in Kyiv on October 6.

He said that over the period of the investigation since May 2016, 154 property units located in Ukraine, 22 vehicles, 1,000 gondola cars and corporate rights of companies have been arrested.

The prosecutor recalled that the government of Lichtenstein froze assets of Klymenko and his cronies in the amount of around $20 million.

He said that the total cost of confiscated assets is UAH 900 million and corporate rights of companies - over UAH 400 million.

He also said that in the near term it is planned to transfer immovable property in Donetsk  actually the entire center of the city  to the National Agency for Stolen Asset Recovery.

Head of the National Agency for Stolen Asset Recovery Anton Yanchuk said that in the near future the agency will analyze these assets, appraise them and selects the most effective ways of managing them.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will have an urgent debate during its autumn session in regard to Ukraine's education law, including Article 7 that prescribes the language of teaching.

According to the PACE session's agenda, the urgent debate on Ukraine's education law will take place on Thursday, October 12.

The rapporteur has yet to be named.

As reported earlier, Ukraine's education law took effect on September 28. Inter alia, the law defines the official language of Ukraine as the language of education, however, one or several subjects may be taught in two languages of more, such as the official language of Ukraine, English, or other official languages of the European Union, consistent with the curriculum.

Persons belonging to national minorities are guaranteed the right to learn in their native language along with the Ukrainian language in separate classes (groups) of municipally owned institutions of preschool and primary education.

On September 28, the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine sent the law "On Education" for examination to the Venice Commission.
A 21-year-old Mountmellick woman was threatened at gunpoint while working in Centra at the Belfield Campus in University College Dublin on Wednesday, October 4.

Gardai are currently investigating the armed robbery in which the Laois woman and a male colleague were held at gunpoint after two armed raiders entered the store at approximately 10pm, just as they were closing the shop.

The two employees were threatened and forced to hand over a sum of cash before being tied up by the raiders.

It is understood the raiders, who brandished an iron bar and a handgun, made off across the Belfield campus on foot.

The two employees were uninjured but shaken after the incident.

The matter remains under investigation by gardai at Donnybrook Garda Station.

The woman has confirmed the incident to the Leinster Express but was unable to comment at this time.

Read more: Garda appeal as farm field gates stolen.

Read the latest news in Laois here.

Read more Mountmellick news here.
The annual Leaves Festival of Writing and Music is just around the corner, celebrating the diversity and richness in todays literary, music, theatre and film scene.

Leaves aims to excite and engage with audiences young and old and this year the weekend-long programme will be held in Emo Court.

Opening the weekend in the Drawing Room, Emo Court, on Friday night, November 10 at 8pm are poets Jean O Brien, Martin Figura, and Helen Ivory. They will be joined by musician, Una Keane and the event will be chaired by Arthur Broomfield.

The Tea Rooms in Emo Court is the venue for Saturday mornings writing workshop, to be led by Helen Ivory. It runs from 10am-12.30pm.

Returning to the Drawing Room for the rest of Saturdays events, are poets Denise Curtin, Paddy Moran, Karen J Mc Donnell, joined by Portlaoise born musician, Gary Dunne. This event will be chaired by Seamus Hosey and commences at 3pm.

To celebrate National Harp Day, Scottish Harpist, Catriona McKay together with Swedish nyckelharpa player Olov Johansson, will perform a special concert. They will be accompanied by the Music Generation Laois Harpists and it commences at 5pm.

Saturday evening will see Lisa Harding and Kevin Barry reading from and discussing their novels with Sean Rocks, presenter of Arena, on Radio 1 and it commences at 8pm.

On Sunday at noon, the Drawing Room will be the setting for the premiere of Thresholds.

This new music commission celebrating the theme of pollination, by Ian Wilson will be performed by saxophonist, Cathal Roche. It was funded through the Creative Ireland Laois programme. The winning poems on the theme of pollination, will be read by the prizewinners at this event. The new Laois Spoken Word artist, who will commence their ten month residency during the Leaves Festival will be introduced to the public at this gathering also.

The Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise has scheduled events for Leaves, including My Cousin Rebecca and the live broadcast from the Harold Pinter Theatre, London of Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Dubliners Women, by Katie O'Kelly, featuring female characters from James Joyce's Dubliners, will be performed.

For more information please contact the Arts Office, Laois County Council Portlaoise, Co Laois. Email artsoff@laoiscoco.ie, www.laois.ie
Students will be arriving to school in the middle of the night soon, at Colaiste Iosagain in Portarlington, on the Laois Offaly border.

The 1,000 pupil secondary school is holding a 'Rise and Raise' wellness event on the last day of term, with yoga, dance and a healthy breakfast planned.

The event will be one of many held in the school this year to boost mental health, because the school has just won its second Cycle Against Suicide Ambassador School status for its work last year.

Margaret Nolan is the Link Teacher and Wellbeing Committee Co-ordinator.

We were delighted. The students are already working very hard on our latest venture for year three, a Rise and Raise wellness event on October 27 from 6.30am to 8.30am, greeting the sun on our last day before holidays with yoga, a healthy breakfast and dancing, she said.

Already this year the school proved its CAS support, with student Sarah Keenan selected as one of 13 National Student Leaders.

Last September 12, at an awards ceremony in Dublin, the school was represented by Ms Nolan, and students Sarah Keenan, Chloe Ready, Anthony Murphy, Katie Murphy, Ava Worrell and Conor McLaughlin.

Last year they made a film on anti-bullying, shown at the student leader congress, among many events.

The Ambassador School Programme is one aspect of Cycle Against Suicide, which features an annual cycle around Ireland at its core.

Schools integrate mental health activities all year, sending the message Its OK not to feel OK; and its absolutely OK to ask for help.
A broke Kildare man studying at Limerick Institute of Technology Clonmel spent the start of first year sleeping in a tent.

Newbridge Game Art and Design student Barry Lumsden is struggling to survive off his SUSI Maintenance Grant and will have to quit his dream course if he doesnt get a break soon.

The 26-year-old now sleeps in the back of his Nissan Almera as he searches high and low for a part-time job in Clonmel to make ends meet.

Barry has fallen through the cracks of the system and feels he is being punished for wanting to better himself.

I love Clonmel and want to move here so I can get more involved in college life, but its financially impossible for me at the moment and its looking like I may have to drop out if things dont get better, Barry says.

I get 160 a month and use some of that to help out at home. I drove up and down the first week but it was costing me a crazy amount, so I started camping at The Apple Farm in Cahir for 7 a night. It has since closed for the winter so I now sleep in my car for a few nights, drive home and get myself sorted, and then back to sleeping in my car in Clonmel, an emotional Barry narrates.

Barry Lumsden spent the start of first year sleeping in a tent.

Barrys dream of becoming a 3D environment artist is looking bleak at present, but he remains defiant.

Im living off savings and they are depleting fast, but I will fight on. Ive always wanted to study Game Art and Design and have worked so hard to get where I am today. I dont just want to throw it all away overnight. I have been advised to drop out, stay unemployed for year and reapply for Back to Education Allowance but I wont give up on my dreams that easily.

I have applied for jobs in Clonmel and Im hoping my luck will turn the right direction. And in the end if my knuckles are bloody from knocking, my arms tired from swinging and still that door doesnt open, at least I know I have tried my best, he continues.

Barry worked as a barman, waiter, kitchen porter, in retail and technology after finishing Patrician Secondary School in Newbridge, and feels he has a lot to offer any workplace. I'm great with my hands - I used to paint houses over the summer, and have rebuilt parts of my motorcycle, along with getting lawnmowers working again. I like to figure out how things work, Barry highlights.

Barry Lumsden is part-time job hunting in Clonmel.

A sufferer of seasonal affective disorder, Barry also enjoys helping others in need.

I have learnt to never give up on yourself. I know what it is like to suffer with depression as it has haunted me from a young age. But this makes you stronger than the average person, going through the hardships of life while fighting the demons in your head. I can now look back, and although I still struggle, my past now lets me help others. I look at things now and know it could be worse, and it will be better, Barry adds.
Members of the Irish-speaking community from Kildare met with their local representatives last week to voice their concerns around Irish language and Gaeltacht funding as Clinic Na Gaeilge came to Kildare Street in Dublin.

The ten-hour mobile clinic at Buswells Hotel saw Alswyn Ni Aonghusa-Ni Dhuill and others sit down with local representative Frank ORourke TD to ask for their support for an Irish Language and Gaeltacht Investment Plan which could create over 1,150 new jobs.

Local representatives from 27 constituencies across Ireland travelled to the capital to meet 83 TDs, Senators and representatives in a bid to secure funding of 5.3 million for the plan in Budget 2018.

Clinic na Gaeilge brings the voice of the Irish-speaking community to the seat of power, where they can air the local issues that matter to them most, said Alswyn.

It was good to sit down as Gaeilge with Frank and encourage him to make investment in the Irish language and in the Gaeltacht a priority for the Government in Budget 2018."

Dr Niall Comer, President of Conradh na Gaeilge said that the Irish Language and Gaeltacht Investment Plan has been agreed by 87 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups, and would create over 1,150 new jobs.

It will also provide essential resources towards the language planning process, and afford the public many opportunities across the country to use Irish, said Dr Comer.

Irish language and Gaeltacht employment authorities have seen their resources slashed by up to 70% since 2007.

It is time to honour the Programme for Government and invest in our Gaeltachts and in our language.

The event was held as part of Conradh na Gaeilges #SEAS17 (seisiuin eolais agus spreagtha) pre-budget campaign, which involves information and progress sessions on Irish language and Gaeltacht affairs.

As well as the representatives of many constituencies who are joining us today, other Irish speakers have been phoning their local politicians, calling into their local drop-in clinics, and sending personal emails or tweets, said Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha, Advocacy Manager with Conradh na Gaeilge.

Like Clinic na Gaeilge, this is all tremendously enormously important work before the Budget is decided.

We are stronger as a community when we work together on these core issues - ni neart go cur le cheile.

Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Joe McHugh TD, also launched a report by Comhlachas na gComharchumann Gaeltachta and Comhlachtai Pobalbhunaithe in Buswells Hotel.

Conradh na Gaeilge and their local representatives are calling on the Government and on the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, to allocate 5.3 million in funding to the Irish Language and Gaeltacht Investment Plan, as agreed by 87 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups, in Budget 2018.
An Bord Pleanala has grant planning permission to Intel for their modified new chip manufacturing facility in Leixlip.

Two appeals had been lodged with An Bord Pleanala against the decision by Kildare County Council to grant planning permission originally on May 2 last.

Welcoming the decision, former Kildare North TD, Emmet Stagg, said the development comprises revised design of a previously permitted manufacturing facility and utility support buildings to ensure that the Intel site has the capacity to manufacture the latest semiconductor technology in its bid to secure an estimated $4 Billion new chip.

Mr Stagg said Intel's corporate parent has yet to decide to proceed with the proposed new plant and Intel in Leixlip are competing with other locations, most notably Israel to land the investment.

Mr. Stagg stated that the need for the revised planning permission stemmed from a change in the standard design of Intel's manufacturing plants, known as Fabs. The permission granted is for a smaller facility than for the one which received planning permission in 2013. It is envisaged that 3,000 people will be employed in construction for three years and when operational the plant would have 850 permanent jobs on site, he said.

Intel Ireland spokesperson, Sarah Sexton, confirmed the granting of permission. "I can confirm that planning permission has been granted to Intel by An Bord Pleanala. As previously stated Intel is not announcing any new investment at the Ireland campus and planning applications such as this are part of our regular business practice to ensure preparation and readiness. It is a prudent measure for the company to have flexible options available which allow us to be responsive in our manufacturing operations."
Anti social behaviour has escalated at Monread Park, Naas.

Thats according to residents who are complaining about fires being lit, fireworks let off and bikes "being driven around."

And there are fears the situation could worsen as Halloween approaches.

Fianna Fail TD James Lawless wants the gardai to get involved by increasing the number of patrols undertaken in the area and to monitor the park itself more closely.

Residents who have to live with this ongoing anti social behaviour which increases every year as Halloween approaches. This has caused a great deal of stress, Deputy Lawless said.

He added the gardai have have also taken some measures to curtail the anti social behaviour such as taking away and blocking run away areas for these offenders to escape into.

The TD said in the longer term there are plans to move the playground nearer the road  though the public will be consulted before this happens.
A man who violently broke into the home of his estranged partner and young son, where he threatened to kill her unless she got back with him, has had his jail term cut on appeal.

Martin Stokes (37), with an address at Dara Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at Naas Circuit Criminal Court to aggravated burglary, two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of assault with intent to commit an indictable offence at an address in Maddenstwon, Co Kildare on March 9, 2015.

He was sentenced to eight years in total by Judge Michael O'Shea on March 18, 2016.

Stokes successfully appealed his sentence today, Monday, with the Court of Appeal holding that the Circuit Court judge ought to have considered suspending some of his sentence given his progress towards rehabilitation while in custody.

He was accordingly resentenced to eight years imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended.

Giving judgment, Mr Justice John Edwards said Stokes was the estranged partner of Geraldine Cummins who was staying with her mother, aunt and two children, one of whom was Stokes' son, at the address in question.

Sometime after 2.40am on the night in question, Stokes put in a window at the house and jumped in. Awoken by this, Ms Cummins' mother began shouting he's here, he's here.

When Geraldine Cummins went out into the hallway, Stokes immediately grabbed her by the neck and dragged her into the kitchen all the while pressing something sharp into her neck. She was five months pregnant at the time.

Stokes told her he would kill her unless she got back with him.

He suggested the baby she was carrying wasn't his and that she was cheating on him.

He told her that armed gardai were coming, that he was going to slit her throat, that the gardai would shoot him and we'll die together.

In the meantime, the victim's mother, who had been placed in a bedroom by Stokes, along with other occupants of the house made good their escape and they summoned help. Two men eventually wrestled Stokes to the ground.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Cummins said the events of the night in question had scarred her family for the rest of their lives. She described Stokes holding a knife to her throat, throwing her around the place when she was five months pregnant with his son.

She said she genuinely believed Stokes would have killed her and her son that night and that he had broken me down in every possible way.

Worst affected by the incident, according to Ms Cummins, was their young son who she described as a little, lost voice since the incident. If he falls and cuts his knee, he's terrified from seeing any blood. I feel like my son has been broken by the one person he should have been able to trust, Ms Cummins said.

Stokes was unemployed at the time of the incident and had 41 previous convictions. He was not found to be suffering from any major mental illness but had a background of childhood adversity.

He wrote to the sentencing court expressing remorse for what he had done and, while in custody, had attended a number of courses including the Alternative to Violence programme at levels 1 and 2.

Mr Justice Edwards said it was an appalling incident involving five victims including two children, all of whom were subjected to a terrifying experience as well as dreadful and unnecessary trauma.

He said Ms Cummins' description of the affect on her young son was heart rending and poignant.

Mr Justice Edwards said the Court of Appeal had some reservation about the Circuit Court judge's refusal to consider suspending any part of Stokes' sentence. He said a track record of real progress required serious consideration.

Given the strength of the evidence concerning Stokes' progress towards rehabilitation while in custody, Mr Justice Edwards said the Circuit Court judge ought to have, on balance, suspended a portion of his sentence.

He said Stokes continued to work towards addressing his anger management issues. His engagement was real and commitment appeared to be genuine, the judge said.

In recognition of the work he had done to date and to incentivise his continuation along that path, Mr Justice Edwards, who sat with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Hedigan, resentenced Stokes to eight years imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended.

Stokes was required to enter into a good behaviour bond for the suspended period and for three years post release. He acknowledged himself so bound.
Poroshenko: NATO PA in Ukraine in 2020 most powerful signal of solidarity and support from Alliance

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has said a decision to hold a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Alliance in Ukraine in 2020 is an extremely powerful signal of solidarity with Kyiv on the part of NATO.

"Ukraine will host the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in the spring of 2020. For us this is an extremely powerful signal of solidarity and support in the struggle for sovereignty and territorial integrity from the Alliance," Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page on Monday afternoon.

As reported, on October 8, Verkhovna Rada First Deputy Speaker Iryna Gerashchenko said Ukraine will host the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO for the first time in 2020.

"I just received a text message from the chair of our parliamentary delegation at the NATO PA, Iryna Friz, with important and wonderful news: the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will be held for the first time in Ukraine in 2020," she wrote on her Facebook page on Sunday evening.

Gerashchenko believes that Ukraine is taking the right steps on the Euro-Atlantic path. "Our NATO PA delegation is doing a good work in Bucharest, where this decision has been passed today. We are on the Euro-Atlantic path," she added.
There are 21 emergency accommodation beds in the Peter McVerry hostel in Newbridge, but they are all full.

As winter fast approaches, fewer than 100 properties are available to rent in County Kildare, and most are financially out of reach for those struggling to keep their heads above water.

That is the stark reality outlined recently by Francis Doherty of the Peter McVerry Trust.

SEE ALSO: Sleep out for charity with Housing Action Kildare

Kildare is very difficult because there are so few rental properties available. We dont have any social housing to move them into to free up beds. Thats a huge factor in terms of people accessing the service, he said.

Mr Doherty explained how the Trust has seen the same mix of people accessing its services as you would see in other counties  people of different ages, from different backgrounds. some with alcohol and drug dependence issues, some dealing with mental health issues, as well as the recession generation, who have been hit financially.

He pointed out many people dont have transport and often need access to medical services, which means they have to live near urban centres.

One of the latest campaigns launched by the Trust is to target vacant buildings that could be used for accommodation.

Mr Doherty highlighted the Repair and Leasing Scheme, where a 40,000 government grant is available to repair an empty property.

The Trust looked at vacant houses across Kildare, particularly in the Athy area, having recently opened up the family hub there for emergency accommodation.

We are looking at securing two to three units in seven towns including Athy, Leixlip, Naas, Leixlip and Monasterervin. We don't want to put a large number of people with high dependency needs in one spot, said Mr Doherty.

The Trust would like to expand the services in Kildare and is working with Kildare County Council.

Given the way the homeless picture is looking its going to be a very difficult winter for a lot of people, he added.

The Trust identified 90 vacant properties in Athy. Ten units were signaled out and the Trust met with the owners.

They were in various states of disrepair. Some needed a major facelift while others just needed a facelift to bring them up to the proper rental stands.

If you look at the main street in any town, there is vacant space over a lot of the stores on the upper floors, he added.

There is probably more scope in Kildare, as it seems there are a lot of properties in some of the town centres left idle, especially after the recession.

The fact is that we have a shortage of housing and the council needs to start building social and affordable housing and we hope that we can build houses ourselves in partnership with the council on a very small scale, in say 10 apartments.

Mr Doherty urged any property owner with an empty premises anywhere in Kildare, to get in touch with the Trust.

There is a grant of 40,000 and then they get a rental contract which goes straight to the landlords bank account. Its very attractive.
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Ukrainian investigators have identified all participants in the criminal group involved in the killing of former Russian State Duma deputy Denis Voronenkov in central Kyiv and the prosecutors are sending the case to court, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said.

"A large-scale investigation has helped to identify all participants in the criminal group, including the masterminds and the perpetrators involved in this murder," the prosecutor general said at a briefing in Kyiv on Monday.

According to him, investigators established that Voronenkov's murder had been ordered and that the reason for the murder was his testimony on the participation of Russian troops in combat operations on Ukrainian territories, now occupied by Russia, in particular, Crimea. Lutsenko said that the murder had been prepared by representatives of the leadership of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and the leaders of criminal groups.

He also said that the prosecutor's office was forwarding the case to court.

Lutsenko confirmed the reports made earlier that this contract killing had been executed by Ukrainian citizens.

Deputy Prosecutor of Kyiv Pavlo Kononenko, in turn, said at the briefing that the weapon for the murder had been sold to the perpetrators by Hennadiy Konev, who was engaged in the trade in mock weapons. At the same time, he noted that the gun from which the ex-deputy had been killed had passed through the lists of a military unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Artemivsk (Donetsk region), where it was purchased by Konev.

Lutsenko added that Konev had the right to legally sell non-combat weapons, namely mock-ups, but he also sold the ones that could be converted into combat weapons.

He recalled that Voronenkov's killer had been shot dead at the scene of the crime, two persons involved in the case - Los and Yaroslav Tarasenko  had been arrested and are in jail; and two more are on the wanted list, particularly Yaroslav Levenets and Yuriy Vasylenko, the leader of a criminal group.

"A notice of suspicion was handed to Yuriy Oleksandrovych Vasylenko, born in 1979, whose location is currently being determined. Yaroslav Anatoliyovych Levenets, born in 1985, was also notified of the suspicion in committing a crime envisaged by Clause 12, Part 2, Article 115 of the Criminal Code Ukraine and placed on the international wanted list," Lutsenko said.

According to him, one of the detainees - Los - was together with Levenets, a co-organizer of the crime. He organized two drivers and a killer, whereas Tarasenko was the driver of a Lanos car, on which the killer arrived, Lutsenko said.

At the same time, according to Lutsenko, the procedural status of Dmitry Tyurin, a son of Vladimir Tyurin, who organized and ordered Voronenkov's murder, "has not currently been determined, it is still necessary to conduct a number of investigative actions." He suggested that he could be incriminated with complicity.

"His prospect is Article 27 or 28 [of the Ukrainian Criminal Code] - complicity in criminal actions," he said.

According to earlier reports, Voronenkov was killed in central Kyiv on March 23. The assassin, Pavlo Parshov, was wounded by the former deputy's security guard and later died at a hospital.

Voronenkov's assassin had an accomplice, Yaroslav Levenets, who has been wanted for economic crimes since 2012. Yaroslav Tarasenko is also a suspect in the crime. He was detained on July 16.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has confirmed the death of one Ukrainian as a result of the crash of An-12 plane in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa on September 30, and not three, as it was reported earlier, spokeswoman of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Mariana Betsa has reported.

"According to official confirmation from the competent bodies of Congo, we know that there is one Ukrainian citizen among the killed crew members of the An-12 plane, which crashed on September 30 near Kinshasa," Betsa said in a comment to Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also specified that according to the information of the DR Congo's Ministry of Defense, the remaining killed crew members have another citizenship.

"Now our embassy in Morocco, together with the honorary consul of Ukraine to Congo, are working on the issue of the repatriation of the body of the killed citizen of Ukraine," Betsa said.

As reported, on September 30, radio station Radio Okapi reported that about ten people were killed as a result of the crash of a military aircraft in one of the districts of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the radio station, technical problems were identified immediately after the taking off of the aircraft from the airport, after that the flight operations officers lost contact with the aircraft. Emergency services arrived on the scene of the incident for the examination together with specialists to determine the causes of the crash.

On October 2, the Ukrainian 24 TV channel referring to the publication Actualite.cd (DR Congo), reported that on September 30, shortly after the take-off from Njili airport (Kinshasa), a military aircraft caught fire and fell, killing 12 people. At the same time, the local newspaper said that there could have been three Ukrainians among the dead.

Later on the same day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed to the 112.Ukraine TV channel that three Ukrainians had been killed in the DR Congo during the fall of the military aircraft: "Three Ukrainians died in the capital of the Congo, Kinshasa. However, no details were given, since the dead were not military," the TV channel said.

On October 4, the official representative of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova reported that as a result of the crash there had been three Russian citizens among the dead. "On October 3, the Defense Ministry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported that among the five killed crew members of the An-12 plane, which crashed on September 30 in the suburbs of Kinshasa, besides the citizens of Ukraine and Uzbekistan, there had been three Russians: the second pilot Igor Morozov, flight engineer Boris Mironov and navigator Andrei Chebotarev," she told reporters at a briefing.
A bill on the temporary restriction of the right of citizens of Ukraine to travel to Russia was registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Monday.

The initiators of bill No. 7187 "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine (on the introduction of a temporary restriction of the right of citizens of Ukraine to leave Ukraine for the aggressor state)" were the people's deputies of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction Andriy Nemyrovsky and Andriy Shynkovych, as well as non-factional member of the political council of Ukrop Andriy Denysenko, the official website of the Ukrainian parliament said.

The draft law has now been submitted for consideration to the leadership of the parliament. The text of the document on the website of the Verkhovna Rada is currently missing.

As reported, on Friday the Verkhovna Rada adopted the presidential bill in the first reading on securing the sovereignty of Ukraine over the occupied Donbas, which, in particular, defines the Russian Federation as an aggressor country.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko says he is satisfied with the Ukrainian-Turkish negotiations and achieved results.

"The meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council between Ukraine and Turkey has been completed in a very trust-based and constructive atmosphere," he said during a joint briefing with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Kyiv on Monday.

According to Poroshenko, this meeting is "a unique opportunity to discuss all issues of the Ukrainian-Turkish relations."

The president of Ukraine said that during the talks an agreement was reached on further coordination of actions between the two countries, in particular, to protect the rights of Ukrainians.

"Today we've agreed to continue coordinating our actions to protect the rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens within the framework of international mechanisms," he said.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said that Ukraine and Turkey intend to deepen strategic partnership, and a direct telephone line has been set up between the presidents of the two countries.

"Our goal is to enhance strategic partnership between Ukraine and Turkey. Our goal is to ensure trust, stability, sustainable development and prosperity in the whole region on the basis of respect for international law," the Ukrainian president said at a joint briefing with the Turkish president in Kyiv on Monday.

The president of Ukraine said that Ukraine and Turkey are striving to intensify bilateral cooperation at all levels "in the spirit of trust and mutual respect."

"Of course, the implementation of our goals will be facilitated, inter alia, by the arrangement of a special communications line, which has recently been set up between the presidents of Ukraine and Turkey," Poroshenko said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey is trying to take any measures to release the Crimean Tatars imprisoned by Russia in Crimean territory.

"We are now trying to take any measures with regard to our brothers, the Crimean Tatars who are imprisoned, and I think that eventually we will get the result of these efforts. We are keeping a wary eye on this situation and Turkey's position on the Crimea issue and those issues, both at the national and international levels, are well-known. We will not see our brothers apart from us anymore," he said during a joint briefing with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kyiv on Monday.

The president of Turkey said his country considers the issue of Crimea to be very important and sensitive.

Poroshenko said that during the talks the two presidents had agreed to coordinate their actions on the issue of the Crimean Tatars imprisoned by the Russian Federation.

"We also agreed to coordinate our actions for [seeking] the release of Akhtem Chiygoz and Ilmi Umerov and other representatives of the Mejlis who are now political hostages and kept in prisons of the Russian Federation without having committed any crime, except that they are Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians," the Ukrainian president said.
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Fifteen wildfires in Northern California, many of them in the Wine Country, ravaged homes, businesses, vineyards and farmland Monday. Eleven people were confirmed dead and several others were severely burned. Major highways were shut down, and local officials requested help from around the region as Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency.

Information from authorities and residents on the ground was developing throughout Monday. Officials said efforts were focused on saving peoples lives, so many details were not fully known.

What we know:

 Ten people are confirmed dead  seven in Sonoma County, two in Napa County and one in the Mendocino County town of Redwood Valley. More than 110 people were treated at hospitals, many for smoke inhalation but a few for severe burns.

 Sonoma County officials said Monday night they had received up to 50 reports of missing individuals.

 At least 1,500 homes and commercial facilities have been destroyed in the fires, which are burning in Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Lake, Nevada, Butte, Calaveras, Shasta, and Yuba counties. A fire station in the Fountaingrove area of Santa Rosa was among the ravaged structures.

 At least 73,000 acres in total have burned.

 Napa County officials said three fires are burning in their jurisdiction: the Tubbs Fire near Calistoga and Santa Rosa at 27,000 acres, the Atlas Peak Fire at 25,000 acres and the Partrick Fire in the Carneros area at 3,000 acres.

 There was zero or extremely limited containment on all of the fires.

 Mandatory evacuation orders were in place for certain residential areas of Santa Rosa, numerous areas elsewhere in Sonoma County, and in and around the city of Napa. People in some neighborhoods in Fairfield were being encouraged to evacuate.

 Emergency dispatch centers in the Bay Area were being overwhelmed by 911 calls. Officials urged people to only call 911 for active, unattended flames or life-threatening emergencies.

 The National Weather Service issued its highest possible alert, a red flag warning, because of extremely dry, windy conditions Monday. The warning will stay in effect through 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Any new fire starts will have the potential for rapid fire growth, forecasters said in a statement. Shifting winds may push ongoing fires in new directions.

 At one point, more than 114,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers in the North Bay lost power. Hardest hit was Santa Rosa, with more than 23,460 customers blacked out, and St. Helena, with more than 7,660 losing electricity service. The utility, which mobilized workers from outside the Bay Area to respond to the emergency, managed to restore electricity service to about 12,000 of those customers by midday.

 The California Highway Patrol said it had rescued 44 people, ranging from ages 5 to 91, by helicopter. Five dogs and a cat were also airlifted.

 A number of historic structures and popular destinations, including Santa Rosas luxury Fountaingrove Inn and the Signorello Estates winery in Napa, were destroyed.

Portable classrooms, the library and the main office at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa was destroyed. The Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa was damaged.

 Sonoma County officials said they have received reports of looting, and Santa Rosa police issued a mandatory curfew that will be in effect from 6:45 p.m. Monday until sunrise.

What remains unclear:

 The causes of all the fires remain under investigation. Daniel Berlant, spokesman with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said investigators were in the area to determine the causes and origins of the fires.

 Officials do not yet know how many people were injured in the fires. But a spokeswoman for St. Joseph Health said Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital treated about 60 people for wildfire-related injuries, including two burn patients in critical condition. Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa treated about 40 patients, transferring one person with significant burns to a specialty center.

 The exact number of damaged and destroyed structures was not known, but officials believe there were more than 1,500.

 The exact number of evacuees was not known, but officials believed there were about 20,000.

 How much money and how many resources  including an exact number of firefighters  being devoted to firefighting was not clear. Hundreds of firefighters from as far away as San Diego were assisting in the efforts.

 It wasnt known Monday whether President Trump would approve Browns request for a major disaster declaration and additional federal aid.

 The total number of missing individuals was not known. Those looking for relatives and friends may file a missing-person report with Sonoma County officials at (707) 565-3856.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
On Tuesday, October 10, at 12.30, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference, entitled "Problems of Popularization of Science in Ukraine: Scientists' views." During the press conference, the results of a special study conducted by the 'Rating' sociological group on the results of a survey of 1,000 scientists from 35 scientific institutions in five Ukrainian cities (Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Lviv) will be presented. The participants will include head of the 'Rating' sociological group Oleksiy Antypovych; Ph.D. (medicine), Professor Viktor Dosenko; businessman and philanthropist Ihor Yankovsky; head of the 'House of Innovations' Oleksandr Kulvanovsky (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation. Additional information by phone: +380 (44) 254 3693, +380 (44) 254 3694 or at: www.ratinggroup.ua.
If you pass Hugo Ortega these days you might want to accidentally on purpose graze him; maybe some of his good luck will rub off.

In a year of notable highs, another honor was bestowed on Ortega over the weekend when the Southern Foodways Alliance named him the recipient of its Craig Claiborne Lifetime Achievement Award. The award presented at the Alliance's annual symposium goes to an individual who has made an indelible mark on cuisine and culture.

Ortega and his wife/partner Tracy Vaught of H-Town Restaurant Group were at the Oxford, Miss., symposium to accept the award. The theme of this year's symposium was "El Sur Latino"

The Craig Claiborne award was just the latest accolade in the Year of Hugo 2017. The year began on a high note when he and Vaught opened their ambitious Xochi, an ode to the foods of Oaxaca just before the Super Bowl at the new Marriott Marquis Houston. That was followed by the 2017 James Beard Award as Best Chef Southwest in May  the sixth time Ortega was up for the "Oscar" of the culinary world. Finally, it was his.

Ortega's work was Xochi was so compelling that Chronicle restaurant critic Alison Cook bestowed on it a rare four-star review in June. In July Eater national agreed: Xochi found itself on Eater restaurant editor Bill Addison's 2017 Best New Restaurants list. And last month Xochi found itself as the No. 1 restaurant in Houston in Cook's annual Top 100 Restaurants list.

The Southern Foodways Alliance said this about Ortega during the award presentation:

"This year we honor a son of Mexico who endured profound adversity to claim the South, a man who now so fully and completely claims his now hometown of Houston that the mayor, on learning he won the 2017 James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest, proclaimed a citywide day of celebration.

"Ortega was born in Mexico City, the oldest of a family of eight children. In 1984, he immigrated to Houston with no contacts or job leads. Ortega began to set down roots and found his first job, as a dishwasher, at a popular bar and nightclub. There he learned the fundamentals of the restaurant business and found contacts to help him improve his English.

"It was Ortega's dishwashing job at Backstreet Cafe that would mark the turning point of his life. In Mexico, he learned cooking from his mother and grandmother. At Backstreet, he moved from dishwashing to line cook and finally executive chef. Backstreet is also where he met his wife, Tracy Vaught. Together, they opened the critically acclaimed Hugo's, which brought Authentic Regional Mexican Cuisine to a Tex-Mex city. In 2013, the Ortega and Vaught opened Caracol, a Mexican coastal kitchen highlighting the richness of seafood found along Mexico's 16 coastal states; and in January 2017 they opened Xochi, which celebrates the flavors of Oaxaca, Mexico."
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A final judgment has yet to be reached in the lawsuit between City of Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz Jr. and his brother.

Saenz is being sued by a trust in his brother's name over claims that millions of dollars in funds were not evenly distributed between partners. The mayor's brother, Rolando Saenz, said about $7 million is owed to him by Las Blancas Mineral Limited Partnership. He claims about $2.5 million was not correctly distributed into his trust through 2006.

At a recent summary judgment hearing in the 341st District Court, Baldemar Garcia Jr. and David Garcia, attorneys for Pete Saenz, argued that his brother had in fact received 25 percent of everything the partnership has ever made after conducting a formal accounting to confirm.

READ MORE: Trial canceled for Laredo man accused of inappropriately touching 13-year-old

Of the several arguments brought up during the hearing, attorneys for Saenz argued that Rolando Saenz was relitigating an issue from a previous lawsuit.

In 2005, Pete Saenz and his sister, Graciela, were sued by Rolando Saenz for allegedly conspiring together. Attorneys stated that the previous case also involved the trust and that parties could not be sued in the same capacity. They noted that the 2005 case in the 406th District Court concluded with a settlement agreement, and said that would bar the claims in the current case.

But Rolando's attorney, Edward Fahey Jr., argued that the two cases aren't similar. Fahey said the first lawsuit dealt with the distribution of money in accordance with the trust agreement. The current lawsuit, he said, is about the management of Las Blancas Minerals Limited Partnership.

RELATED: Fourth elected official in 8 months files legal action against Webb County Commissioners Court

According to Fahey, no facts that pertain to the Las Blancas Minerals Limited Partnership were litigated in the previous lawsuit. He also said Pete Saenz was being sued in a different capacity. This time, he is being sued as a partner as opposed to the previous lawsuit in which Saenz was sued as an advisor to the trust, Fahey said.

The lawsuit was filed in September 2015 by Alberto Ortiz, trustee of the Rolando Saenz Trust, against Las Blancas Minerals Limited Partnership and Pete Saenz Jr. The mayor is named both individually and as general partner of the Las Blancas Partnership.

The lawsuit states that Ortiz reviewed records and found, among other things, that distributions to the trust do not coincide with provisions of an amended partnership agreement.
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The Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce learned about the growth coming to the city during their Oct. 5 luncheon when Liberty County Judge Jay Knight discussed the future of both the city and the county.

Knight explained what the county has accomplished in the past few years, including the work between him and the county commissioners.

"My first year, our goal was to establish the use of workshops," he said. "Our first year we had 33 workshops."

These open meetings led to discussions to help better prepare for upcoming court meetings. Knight then discussed the business for county governments and asked how many citizens believe growth is coming to Liberty County.

"It's going to grow," he said.

Knight presented a book on the subdivisions and developments of Liberty County, which he says can help establish rules and regulations for developers wanting to establish projects in Cleveland.

Liberty County was once considered to be farm land. However, according to Knight that is no longer the case and says the land that is available for developers is going to be considered for residential growth, industrial growth and light industry.

"We had to change," he said. "the user group has changed. Therefore, we have to change as well."

Knight explained that if you're not ready to change, you need to start thinking about it.

"Harris County is coming our way," he said.

Knight further explained that to prepare for change the county needed a strategic plan for economic development for responsible growth.

"You have to have a passion for this and you have to really do some serious planning," he said.

According to Knight, the county has started working on a strategic plan since 2015. The cost of this plan is an estimate of $150,000.

Liberty County has reached out to Texas A&M. The university has a program called Texas Target Communities, which seeks to provide training, tools and assistance to help a community transform into a more resilient and adaptive form.

"They have never tackled a project that involved a county," said Knight.

Knight says a grant is available through the Texas Agrilife Extension Office in the amount of $53,000.

"We got the grant and we got the book," said Knight.

The plan also works with what will be coming with the opening of the Grand Parkway.

Knight says members of Texas A&M worked with citizens of the county to see what they would like to see for the future. One such suggestion is a biking trail.

"These are things that we've wanted to attack and get on top of," said Knight. "So far we've been successful."

The next goal was to get the Cleveland EDC, the Liberty EDC and the Dayton CDC to work together.

"You no longer treat this as each individual city," he said. "We're in competition with the surrounding counties."

Knight says the goal is to bring in new industry and businesses into the county and Cleveland for economic growth. He believes this can be accomplished especially with the three EDCs working together.

The presentation moved towards the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey. Knight says the community proved to be the true saviors of the county. He especially commended local churches and their efforts.

"We weren't saved by Red Cross," he said. "We were saved by the cross."

Knight also presented information on the county's 2017-2018 budget, which sits at a total of $43,656,654.00. Last year's budget was $41,049,861.18.

Some of the changes include raises and slight alterations to portions of the budget. The sheriff's department budget increased from $6,251,804.58 to $7,205,361.00.

The property tax rate remains the same at $0.578800 per $100 valuation. More information on the newly adopted budget can be found online at http://www.co.liberty.tx.us/.

"We're as transparent as possible," said Knight. "If we don't have the answers, we're going to do our best to get them for you."
ONANCOCK, Va. - Drive down the Eastern Shore of Virginia and you'd be hard-pressed to figure out that a favorite son of this isolated strip of farms and fishing villages is running for governor.

There are far more campaign signs for Republican Ed Gillespie than for Democrat and Eastern Shore native Ralph Northam, despite the fact that this is the very kind of rural area Democrats say they want to reclaim in the wake of Donald Trump's election.

Some in rural districts across Virginia complain that the state Democratic machinery continues to be more interested in populous urban areas that are reliably blue on Election Day than rebuilding relationships in the countryside. One county chairman briefly resigned two weeks ago, accusing the state party of "malevolent neglect."

Monday's third and final debate of the governor's race is being held in Wise County, in the far southwest, to highlight rural issues. But if national Democrats still stinging from Trump's victory are looking to Virginia for a strategy to turn rural America blue again, they may be disappointed.

"The plain fact is that for Democrats the votes are in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Tidewater, Virginia Beach - and it's probably enough to win an election if a Democrat racks up very large margins in the urban corridor. I think we're seeing that with the Northam campaign strategy to this point," said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.

Virginia Democratic leaders argue that the criticism is off the mark. For one thing, their candidate, Northam, speaks with a distinct Southern lilt and grew up working on fishing boats and tending chickens and goats.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Swecker grew up on a farm in Highland County, also one of the most isolated parts of the state, and she said she has been doing a lot of unglamorous work to build up the party's foundation.

"We didn't lose rural voters overnight, and we know we're not going to win them back overnight, but I think it's very important that we show up and compete everywhere," Swecker said.

But gravity is strong around Virginia's urban crescent. African Americans have been key to Democratic victories in statewide elections in recent years, and more of those voters are in cities and suburbs. Rural areas where Democrats were strong a generation ago have gone heavily red; many haven't elected a Democrat in years. With all 100 House of Delegates seats up for election this year, the party has concentrated resources in areas that have some chance of success.

Jay Clarke, chairman of the Democratic committee for Rockbridge County outside Lexington, brought the issue to a head recently when he fired off an angry resignation letter to Swecker. The missive made the rounds, was reported in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and drew an outpouring of sentiment from fellow operatives in Virginia and even other states, Clarke said.

He complained that neither the party nor the campaigns asked field workers in his remote part of the state to do any canvassing. He said the party had sent out bad data that included information on Republican residents who were never going to vote for Democrats. After months of fruitless complaining to headquarters in Richmond, he said, he was done.

"I understand the temptation to go where the votes are. It's a necessity, of course," said Clarke, a retired history professor. But over time, that strategy cedes vast parts of the state to Republicans and lets them cement control of the General Assembly, he said.

"Goodness, you ought to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. You can certainly appeal to voters in urban areas and contest in rural areas as well. I don't see why the two should be incompatible," he said.

The party responded quickly, promising to fix the data, hire more field workers and communicate better. "Do I understand their frustrations? Yes, because I'm from where they're from," party chairwoman Swecker said. "But I believe we have worked through whatever concerns he [Clarke] may have had."

Clarke rescinded his resignation.

But others say the trouble is deep-seated.

"I don't think the problems have been unique to just this year. I think, in fact, really all over the country some of the Democrats in rural areas have been a little frustrated that they've been taken for granted," said Gene Zitver, chairman of the Democratic committee in Lexington. "I think there is an effort. It's just going to take time to get it going," he added, praising the party's formation of a rural caucus.

Taikein Cooper, chairman of the Democratic committee in Prince Edward County, outside Farmville, said he's "very disappointed" with the party's rural outreach and that leaders may be missing a rare opportunity. Though Republicans have a comfortable 66-to-34 majority in the House of Delegates, Democrats pumped up by anti-Trump fervor have fielded a historic number of candidates to try to slice into that GOP advantage.

Many of those Democrats are running in solidly red districts but want to demonstrate that their party is reaching out.

"My decision to run is to show them that, yes, we are active down here," said Alicia Kallen, 25, a novice Democrat running against powerful incumbent Republican Del. Terry Kilgore in Wise County, in coal country. Kilgore hasn't had a challenger in years.

Kallen, whose father is the local Democratic committee chairman, said the state Democratic apparatus has offered training and regular consultations. But she feels she is fighting against years of decay as the region has turned more and more red. "My running is to kind of be that blue beacon to say we are still here, we are still fighting, there is hope for us," she said.

Holly Hazard, a Falls Church resident who has been a longtime volunteer for the party in Northern Virginia, recently traveled to Wise to help Kallen's campaign and was shocked by what she found.

Canvassers had to make crude photocopies of campaign fliers and didn't have up-to-date voter information, she said. "It's clear they're not getting support from the party. . . . I do not believe there is a strategy for winning back those areas," Hazard said, suggesting it's more a matter of priorities than lack of resources.

Hazard and others have started a group called Blue Migration to help far-flung parts of the state.

"These are our people," she said, referring to voters there. "I can't imagine we can't slowly win back their confidence, but we're not going to do it if no one is out there talking to them."

Del. Sam Rasoul of Roanoke, the westernmost Democrat in the House of Delegates, resigned a leadership role in the party caucus last year to protest what he said was its lack of outreach to rural voters who went for Trump.

This summer, he started an initiative called Democratic Promise that aims to help constituents with real-world problems. Several rural party leaders have signed up to participate - an end-run around the official party mechanisms.

"It's clear in rural Virginia where we've seen the number of super-Republican precincts double that we're losing touch with a lot of Virginia, and we need to do more as Democrats to ensure we rebuild those relationships," Rasoul said.

In the cutthroat environment of this year's governor's race, though, it's hard not to focus on sheer numbers. Former congressman Tom Perriello challenged Northam in the primary by going directly after rural voters. He held town halls, bluegrass concerts and listening tours throughout the western and southern parts of the state.

In the primary, Perriello drew far more votes than Northam in those rural areas. But Northam's edge in Northern Virginia made that irrelevant. Northam won the nomination by 11 points.

Northam's campaign insists it hasn't written off the remote parts of the state. In fact, he spent years as a state senator and as lieutenant governor working for candidates in precincts large and small all over Virginia. He has released proposals to improve the economy and education in rural areas, and he talks often on the stump about his small-town upbringing and his time at Virginia Military Institute.

But when it comes to active campaigning, Northam is more often found in Northern Virginia, Richmond or Hampton Roads.

That may just be smart politics, said Geoffrey Skelley, a political analyst at the University of Virginia. The state has become extremely disparate, he said, with wildly different values in its urban, suburban and rural areas.

"Cultural conservatism versus cultural liberalism is a major divide and one that's very difficult to overcome," he said. "I'm not sure what they can do to better appeal to those voters. The Democratic Party is not going to change its position on a host of issues just to appeal to rural voters."

Northam is hampered by the fact that the single biggest issue in southern and western Virginia is a pair of natural gas pipelines being constructed there. Northam has infuriated environmentalists by refusing to condemn the pipelines, saying their ultimate approval is up to federal regulators.

His Republican opponent favors the pipelines, but activists have focused their ire and disappointment on Northam - perhaps making him even more reluctant to campaign in their midst, Skelley said. The campaign strenuously denies that this is the case.

Gillespie, meanwhile, who lives in Fairfax County, is working to build on Republican strength in rural parts of the state to help take the edge off Northam's presumed lead in urban areas. That focus drives some Democrats crazy.

"It's very galling the way Gillespie on his ads says 'for all Virginians,' " said Clarke, the Rockbridge Democratic chairman. "It's a bit patronizing, perhaps, but also effective. Why isn't Northam doing that?"
A year and a half ago, Andrew Wheeler, a prominent coal lobbyist who worked for years for Senate Republicans, joined many other "establishment" Republicans in criticizing the long-shot candidacy of political newbie Donald Trump.

In February 2016, ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries, Wheeler laid out in a Facebook post a skepticism of Trump's character, business acumen and viability as a general-election candidate.

He wrote that Trump was a "bully," one who "hasn't been that successful" in business and who "has more baggage then all of the other Republican candidates combined." He wrote that Trump was a candidate who "has demonstrated through the debates and interviews that he doesn't understand how the government works."

But what truly precluded Trump from becoming president, Wheeler wrote in the since-deleted Facebook post obtained by The Energy 202, was his propensity to bully. "This alone should disqualify him from the White House."

Fast-forward to now: President Trump nominated Wheeler on Thursday to be deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

In an interview on Friday, Wheeler explained to me how he went from critic of Trump to a volunteer for the eventual GOP nominee to, ultimately, Trump's choice for the No. 2 EPA position - a nomination that has engendered some of the harshest condemnation of the administration from environmentalists to date.

"I was just looking at the debates and what I saw on the news, and I hadn't focused on what he was saying," Wheeler said this week of Trump, "and when I started looking into what he was saying and what his campaign and what his candidacy was about, I was fully on board."

Rewind to 2016: Back in February of that year, Wheeler was working as a volunteer consultant for energy and environmental policy for the campaign of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

Ahead of the "Super Tuesday" vote in 11 states, Rubio was in a crowded race for the GOP presidential nod. The biggest hurdle between Rubio and a spot on the general-election ticket was Trump.

Friends of Wheeler - who has spent nearly a decade lobbying for energy companies such as coal giant Murray Energy - encouraged him to post on his personal Facebook page the day before the mega-primary a plea to those considering voting for Trump to reconsider.

"I'm from Ohio and have a lot of friends in Ohio who vote on Super Tuesday," Wheeler told The Post, "and a couple of friends had said to me when I was working for Rubio that I ought to post something about the campaign."

About three months later, Trump gave a major energy policy speech in North Dakota, where for the first time he laid out his "energy dominance" agenda emphasizing the development of domestic fossil-fuel resources.

In that May 2016 speech, Trump promised to "cancel" the Paris climate accord and undo Obama administration efforts to give the EPA broader authority to regulate water pollution as part of the "Waters of the United States," or WOTUS, rule.

"I think the federal government should get out of the way," Trump told the crowd. "We have so much potential energy, people wouldn't even believe it."

"A lot of my friends in the Republican energy and environment field here in D.C. were impressed with that speech," Wheeler said this week.

Wheeler said he was finally swayed in June when Trump spoke at a closed-door fundraising dinner in Wheeling, West Virginia, hosted by Robert Murray, chief executive of Murray Energy, and attended by Wheeler. After leaving Capitol Hill, Wheeler worked as an energy consultant and lobbyist for Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting, where his clients have included Murray Energy. (Wheeler has also represented utility holding company Xcel Energy and the Nuclear Energy Institute, which lobbies for the U.S. nuclear industry.)

"It was about a 40-minute energy speech that [Trump] gave," Wheeler told The Post. "He didn't use notes. He didn't use a teleprompter. I really thought it was the most comprehensive energy speech by a presidential candidate I had ever heard." After that, Wheeler said he joined the Trump campaign as one of two volunteer energy and environmental policy consultants.

"I didn't talk to a lot of people about being on the campaigns," Wheeler said.

Rewind even more: Wheeler has been working in Washington since the early 1990's, starting as a career employee at the EPA in the George H.W. Bush administration and making a name for himself on Capitol Hill where he worked for more than a decade for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

If confirmed by the Senate, Wheeler will become the latest former staffer for Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the committee's former chairman, to join the EPA, now being run by another Oklahoma Republican, Scott Pruitt. Both Inhofe and Pruitt are known for questioning the scientific consensus that human activity is warming the planet.

Wheeler may join Ryan Jackson, Inhofe's former chief of staff who became Pruitt's chief of staff; and Amanda Gunasekara, who will advise the EPA administrator on air and climate issues.

Bigger picture: Wheeler isn't the first "establishment" Republican to join the Trump administration. You don't have to look beyond Trump's Cabinet for other examples, which include Energy Secretary Rick Perry (who once called Trump "a cancer on conservatism") and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson (who once questioned Trump's religious faith).

Many Republicans will never see eye to eye with Trump on some issues, such as rewriting free-trade agreements or ramping up infrastructure spending.

But they can agree with the president on reining in the EPA.

Like other Republicans once apprehensive of Trump, Wheeler changed his tune after Trump articulated an energy and environmental platform (and, of course, once it became increasingly clear that Trump would win the GOP nomination).

Trump's emphasis on environmental deregulation is one of the several ways the unconventional Republican has endeared himself to the party's pre-2016 establishment.

Just take a look at one of Trump's harshest election critics, Jeb Bush. Last December, the former Florida governor heaped praise on Trump for choosing Pruitt as EPA administrator. "I cannot think of a person more suited to lead the Environmental Protection Agency," Bush wrote in a CNN op-ed.

Looking forward again: As Wheeler prepares to join the EPA, the agency is reviewing pollution rules that the Obama administration placed on coal-fired power plants that, in turn, affect coal suppliers such as Murray Energy.They include rules regulating how much mercury coal plants can emit into the air and how a byproduct of those power plants called coal ash is disposed of.

Environmental groups harshly criticized Trump for nominating Wheeler. Citing his time in Inhofe's office, Melinda Pierce, legislative director at the Sierra Club, said, "There actually could not have been a worse choice for this highly influential position."

Expect to see Senate Democrats ask Wheeler whether he will recuse himself from working on any EPA rules he lobbied on.

- Fight or flight: Here's the latest on the investigations into Cabinet members' flying habits...

The EPA's inspector general is now probing Scott Pruitt's use of military and private flights, reports our colleague Brady Dennis. Pruitt took at least four chartered and military flights costing $58,000 since February, per recent disclosures that led to the inspector general's investigation. The IG's office initially began examining Pruitt's frequent travel to his home state of Oklahoma.

- Rick Perry can't exactly get in trouble from the White House for a chartered flight he took in September, the day before Tom Price resigned as HHS secretary over his own use of private planes. That's because Perry's trip that came at the request of the White House, The Hill reports. Otherwise, Perry appears to be prefer flying Southwest or United.

- Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is facing new criticism about his travel - often accompanied by his wife, who is managing a Republican campaign in Montana - that included stops at political fundraisers and donor events. Mic has a full report here: "Two sources close to the Interior Department described an internal effort to hide the presence of Lola Zinke on the official trips where she accompanied her husband."

That brings the total number of inspector general investigations into Cabinet members' flying habits up to at least five, as The Post's Drew Harwell, Lisa Rein and Jack Gillum report.

-- The latest on Puerto Rico:

There are still people dying in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. But the government has been slow to update its official death toll. According to BuzzFeed, funeral home directors say they have buried far people than accounted for in the official tally. And elected officials and people on the island have said they have buried people without notifying the government.

Last week, the Post wrote about the importance of getting Puerto Rico's communications system up and running in order to restore electricity. Now, Google's parent company, Alphabet, says it's here to help. The FCC approved Alphabet's application to provide emergency cell service to Puerto Rico through solar-powered balloons, Reuters reports.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello has said that he will ask lawmakers for a long-term relief package by January, Bloomberg reports.

Meanwhile, as the recovery efforts continue, the political tensions are rising. FEMA administrator Brock Long said in an interview Sunday that criticism from San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz has been ignored. "We filtered out the mayor a long time ago, we don't have time for the political noise," Long said.

-- Friction between FERC and Perry: Two little-noted comments from two of the three current members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week are big deal for the fate of Perry's proposal to recover more revenue for coal-fired and nuclear power plants.

Background: Last month, Perry directed FERC to look into issuing new regulations to ensure that coal and nuclear plants were paid properly for adding to the reliability of the electric grid. In short order, representatives from other parts of the energy sector - including oil, gas, wind and solar - banded together in opposition to the the quick pace Perry wants those changes to be made.

What just happened: It looks like two FERC commissioners share some of those apprehensions. Robert Powelson, a FERC commissioner appointed by Trump, told an audience at the annual meeting of the Organization of PJM States, according to SNL Financial:

"We will not destroy the marketplace," Powelson said. "Markets have worked well and markets need to continue to work well." He added, "I did not sign up to go blow up the markets."

Following Powelson's remarks, Cheryl LaFleur, another FERC commissioner who was appointed by President Obama, issued her own "hear! hear!" on Twitter:

Why it matters: Even with the implicit support of the third FERC commissioner, Neil Chatterjee, who has already signaled he could be receptive to the move (saying recently, "I believe that generation, including our existing coal and nuclear fleet, need to be properly compensated to recognize the value they provide to the system"), Perry doesn't seem to have the FERC votes he needs to get the sweeping electricity-market regulations he wants.

-- Trump couldn't save this one: The latest in a string of coal plants to announce it is shuttering is the Monticello power plant in Texas, The Houston Chronicle reports. "The market's unprecedented low power price environment has profoundly impacted its operating revenue and no longer supports continued investment," Curt Morgan, CEO of Dallas-based Vistra, said in announcing the closure of the 1,800-megawatt facility.

What's important here: News of FERC's ongoing review of the U.S. electricity markets, which may send more revenue to coal and nuclear power plants - and in general, the Trump administration's pro-coal priorities - weren't enough to give operators at Luminant, a subsidiary of Vistra Energy, the confidence to keep the plant going. (Although it's worth noting that Texas's deregulated electricity market, contained within the state's borders, is not subject to the same interstate FERC jurisdiction most other U.S. electricity markets are.)

-- That was quick: Yet again following a major Atlantic storm - this time, Hurricane Nate - oil production in the Gulf of Mexico was halted. But a line buried in a Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement report, pointed out by Bloomberg News, indicates: "No damages have been reported." Already Chevron and Enbridge workers are returning to offshore platforms.
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The sky has brought nothing but trouble lately - hurricanes, tornadoes, torrential rain. For good reason, people look up with wary eyes. On ordinary days, a pleasant wisp of white or a menacing thunderhead serve a more pedestrian preoccupation, a pragmatic barometer for how to dress or where to go.

Then there are those who gaze skyward for contemplation, even inspiration - especially when that azure canopy is tinted by white.

Whether they're streaking from horizon to horizon or floating in whiffs and puffs, clouds play large in our lives. They saturate our speech: Think of cloud nine. Our songs: Cue Joni Mitchell. Our literature, our art, even our geology is filled with clouds. What are some of the highest mountains in Colorado named? Mount Nimbus, Stratus, Cirrus & Cumulus.

As Yeats wrote, "I know that I shall meet my fate somewhere among the clouds above."

For climatologists, though, clouds are scientifically important as well as deeply challenging.

"Clouds are hard to model," NASA associate research scientist Kate Marvel said. "They're the result of water vapor or ice crystals coalescing around microscopic bits of dust, particles of smoke and sea salt. . . . So they have a dual effect on climate. They trap the heat from the planet and spit it back down, making things warmer, but they also block sunlight, which is a cooling effect."

All of which frustrates climatologists trying to understand the effect of clouds on the planet.

"Even small changes to the distribution of clouds with rising temperatures could substantially diminish or enhance global warming," said David Romps, a professor of Earth and planetary science at the University of California at Berkeley.

In July 2016, the journal Nature published research showing cloud cover had increased over Earth's polar regions, accelerating greenhouse gas concentrations.

"Right now, clouds are more air conditioner than heater," Romps noted, "but that will change as the planet warms."

Some scientists have even theorized certain distinctive cloud formations can be harbingers of imminent earthquakes. A Chinese engineer claims to have successfully predicted more than 30 temblors.

Psychologically speaking, clouds also have both positive and negative impact. Overcast weather turns us inward and helps us focus, the experts say. Sunny weather, by contrast, slows cognition.

Researchers in Australia tested their theory with an experiment several years ago. They showed - for the first time in a real-life setting - weather-induced moods can significantly affect memory. On rainy, cloudy days, which caused a gloomy mood, the ability to recall objects was three times greater than on sunny days, despite all the positive vibes they triggered.

To artists and writers, clouds have been everything from eye-catching backdrops in paintings to humorous metaphors in literature - even objects of philosophical inquiry. Where would religion be without clouds? The Bible's many references start at the very beginning with Genesis 9:13. ("I have set my rainbow in the clouds," God says, "and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the Earth.")

When 17th century French thinker Rene Descartes wasn't busy becoming the father of modern philosophy ("I think, therefore I am,") he was looking up at the sky and musing confidently on his scientific acumen.

"We imagine [clouds] so lofty that even the poets and painters depict them as the throne of God," he wrote. "This makes me hope that if I explain their nature . . . one will easily believe that it is possible in the same way to find the causes of everything wonderful on the Earth."

More than 400 years later, Dutch visual artist Berndnaut Smilde creates his own fleeting clouds indoors. He uses a complicated mix of smoke and water vapor, then captures the results on photographs before the clouds disintegrate back into nothingness.

Smilde has conjured clouds in a Turkish bath in Istanbul, at a deserted mining company in Belgium, even in a centuries-old London dungeon.

"You need a certain space and want it to float," he explained. "The search for the ideal cloud can take a long time."

Clouds have often come with numbers attached, the most prevalent being cloud nine. It played a starring role in The Temptations' 1968 album of the same name, with its eponymous Grammy-winning song. It then resurfaced 19 years later as an album title for former Beatle George Harrison.

The phrase, indicating a state of euphoria, may have originated from the early cloud classification system in which cloud nine was the tallest formation. Then again, cloud seven carried you into bliss, according to the 1960 American Dictionary of Slang. You definitely didn't want to end up on cloud eight - it meant you were drunk, per a 1930s book about the criminal "underworld."

Gavin Pretor-Pinney sees cloud-watching as a leisure activity. On a lark in 2005, the Londoner founded the Cloud Appreciation Society. Its membership today tops 43,500 with "cloudspotters" ringing the globe from the Congo to Canada, Iceland to Iran, China to Chile. The United Kingdom is home to more than half the organization's members. The United States is second with nearly 10,000.

Many regularly send their best cloud photos to Pretor-Pinney, who uses them for his "cloud of the day" and "cloud of the month" emails. In fact, interest has grown so much that the Cloud Appreciation Society is now a full-time business. Pretor-Pinney, an art designer by training, is leading "sky holidays" to particularly cloudy parts of the world. The first trip was to Canada in February to see the Northern Lights.

"I've always felt the sky to be the most dynamic, most poetic part of nature," Pretor-Pinney said. "So it's always struck me as a shame that it's gotten bad press."

The society even helped identify a new class of cloud, a turbulent formation named asperitas that was officially added this March to the 121-year-old International Cloud Atlas.

The group, of course, has nothing good to say about lovers of cloudlessness - including beachgoers, most prominently. They call the worship of monotonous cloudlessness "blue sky thinking."

Pretor-Pinney rejects such a limited view of the heavens. "Cloudspotting is a conscious invitation to daydream, a sensitivity to your surroundings," he said. "It's a kind of sky geekiness, which is beautiful."
Longtime Republican donor Foster Friess said Monday he is exploring a 2018 bid for U.S. Senate in Wyoming, making him the latest conservative figure to consider challenging Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., a low-key member of the leadership.

"Normally, over the years, I've dismissed these urgings," Friess wrote in an email to The Washington Post. "But due to the stature of the people requesting, I sense a responsibility to prayerfully explore the possibility."

Friess added that he is partly motivated by his concerns about the nation's health-care system and his desire to see health-care providers "publish prices." Those concerns, he wrote in the email, "might be enhanced by a position in the Senate."

Friess, 77, did not specify who has encouraged him to run, but a person close to former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon said the two men have had conversations in recent days.

Bannon, who chairs Breitbart News, is a close ally of wealthy hedge-fund executive Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah, who are focused on funding a slate of primary challengers. Bannon and the Mercers see Friess as a potential high-profile recruit to their cause to upend the Republican establishment in Congress.

Friess, a Wyoming-based investor who is known for his folksy persona and for wearing a white cowboy hat, made a fortune in mutual funds. He rose to national prominence among conservatives in 2012 when he donated millions to a super PAC supporting former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

During his time as a Santorum booster, Friess sparked controversy for his comments about women and birth control. He told MSNBC in February 2012: "Back in my days, they used Bayer Aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn't that costly."

Santorum distanced himself from Friess at the time, calling it a "stupid joke" and "not reflective of me," but they have remained friendly.

Friess, however, is not the only Republican mulling a race against Barrasso.

Erik Prince, the founder of the security company formerly known as Blackwater, is considering his own Senate bid in Wyoming and has also been in touch with Bannon, according to the New York Times.

Barrasso won more than 90 percent of the GOP primary vote in 2012, and won reelection with more than 73 percent of the vote statewide that year. But because of his ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Wyo.), Bannon and others think he could be vulnerable to an insurgent and well-funded primary rival.

Friess supported President Donald Trump last year and hosted Donald Trump Jr. at a fundraiser in October 2016, according to the Jackson Hole Daily.
Knox Singleton envisions a time when health care is more focused on prevention than treatment. When genes will accurately predict illness and doctors are incentivized to keep patients well.

But after 35 years building a multilayered health-care system in Northern Virginia, Singleton will step down as chief executive of Inova Hospital System next year to cede space for the next leader to shape that future.

"You wouldn't pick someone like me for the next decade," he said during a recent interview in his Fairfax, Virginia, office. "I've done a reasonable job of getting us here, but if we want the second stage to kick in . . . I think it would be someone with a deeper appreciation of the science, the research and more of the clinical knowledge of how these new systems are going to evolve."

Singleton was 34 years old and from a small Appalachian town in North Carolina when he arrived in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 1982 to oversee operations of three nonprofit community hospitals with about 1,000 employees in a county of about 650,000 people. A year later, he was promoted to chief executive.

At 69, he is now twice that age, and Fairfax has doubled its population. And the modest hospital system he inherited has evolved into a $3.5 billion enterprise with 17,000 employees.

He's not especially nostalgic when he reflects on his tenure and instead looks forward, describing his aspirations for America's health-care system and where, after all these years, it still falls short.

Singleton entered into the health-care industry accidentally. His father owned a hardware store and an insurance company, so Singleton assumed he, too, would work in insurance. But as a college student during the late 1960s, he became swept up in the national fervor to pursue an interest larger than oneself.

As a senior business major at the University of North Carolina, he was offered two opportunities post-graduation. He could move to Uganda with the still relatively-new Peace Corps or work in the administrative offices of a Cleveland hospital.

He said he often jokes that he chose the more "exotic" option and moved to Ohio.

Health care "melded the purpose I was looking for when I was all about the Peace Corps and wanting to do something good in the world, with the skills in business I had learned in my education," he said. "And I never looked back."

During his years running Inova, the hospital system performed the metro area's first successful heart transplant in 1986 - the woman is still alive; established specialty hospitals like Inova Women's Hospital and Inova Children's Hospital; created clinics for low-income patients; and developed the Inova Schar Cancer Institute - a research hospital Singleton hopes will one day be on par with the esteemed Mayo Clinic.

But he's most excited about Inova's early entry into the world of genomes, which he came to champion after he and his mother were diagnosed with lymphoma.

Inova has one of the few laboratories in the country researching patients' genes for inherited risk factors. Every baby born at Inova has a gene profile created, he said.

"I became convinced that was the biggest scientific discovery since World War I when doctors discovered bacteria and viruses," he said. Genomes are "the first time you could see the future of your health."

Singleton enlisted Dr. John Neiderhuber, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006 to be the director of the National Cancer Institute, to run Inova's genomics program. They've partnered with the University of Virginia to bring a regional campus of the university's medical school to Inova.

Neiderhuber said he'll miss Singleton's "folksy" approach and his genuine interest in understanding the science that drove his business decisions.

"He wanted to seriously take Inova to a whole other level," Neiderhuber said. "He's spent a whole lifetime building this system, and everyone owes him a lot for that."

Singleton's tenure has not been without controversy. In 1991 Singleton was criticized for taking a salary of $394,898, more than any other hospital executive in Virginia. And over the years, as Singleton grew Inova and took over smaller health-care entities, he's been accused of operating the nonprofit system as a monopoly.

He's also been recognized for his charitable work. He runs a community development organization for Haiti and advocated for more affordable housing in Northern Virginia so that lesser paid hospital staff wouldn't be priced out of the area.

He's optimistic about the future of health care, particularly doctors' abilities to personalize medicine to focus on keeping patients well and avoid illness. Yet after more than three decades in the industry, he still worries about dramatic disparities in access to better care.

"There are a lot of people who can access some of the best health care in the world, they have access to really good care and professionals, but alongside that is a large and growing group of people who have real difficulty accessing health care," he said. "The gaps between the haves and have nots are getting wider, not narrower."
A scholarly journal pulled a controversial article that defended colonialism just before Columbus Day, a federal holiday that some cities see as insensitive and are instead marking as "Indigenous People Day."

"The Case for Colonialism," written by a political-science professor at Portland State University, drew immediate outcries from scholars when it was published last month by Third World Quarterly. Fifteen members of the journal's 34-member board resigned in protest, and two petitions demanded that the journal retract the piece.

Bruce Gilley's essay argued that countries colonized by Western powers "did better" than those that were not. He also said that colonialism was generally "beneficial" and "subjectively legitimate." The essay's abstract said: "For the last 100 years, Western colonialism has had a bad name. It is high time to question this orthodoxy."

Some scholars immediately decried the article as racist and others disliked it because they said it was based on faulty data. It was published at a time when several cities, including Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Seattle, have opted not to mark Columbus Day because of the colonialism overtones and instead celebrate indigenous peoples. There's also a push in some cities for the removal of Columbus statues.

In its coverage of the controversy over Gilley's essay, the Chronicle of Higher Education wrote: "A full-throated defense of colonialism would stand out almost anywhere; it was especially surprising at Third World Quarterly. How did the paper find a home in a journal described by some of the scholars closest to it as 'anticolonialist' . . .?"

The article recently disappeared from the journal's website with an explanation that it was withdrawn "at the request of the academic journal editor, and in agreement with the author of the essay, Bruce Gilley." The journal's publisher, Taylor & Francis, cited "credible threats of personal violence" against the journal's editor as the reason for the removal.

"Taylor & Francis has a strong and supportive duty of care to all our academic editorial teams, and this is why we are withdrawing this essay," the statement said. The publisher acknowledged that during the peer review process, at least one reviewer recommended rejecting the article.

Gilley made waves in academic circles before the article published for leaving the American Political Science Association on the grounds that it didn't accept right-wing viewpoints. He explained his decision in an August essay on Minding the Campus: "APSA has become barely distinguishable from the Democratic Party and its far-left wing. Its web page runs a constant stream of anti-Trump or anti-Republican news."

After Gilley's colonialism essay appeared, University of Winnipeg English professor Jenny Heijun Wills, who began one of the petitions on Change.org, called the article "appalling" and "racist." Wills said it contained "white supremacist and Eurocentric" viewpoints.

Brandon Kendhammer, the director of the International Development Studies program at Ohio University, said that Gilley's argument for the benefits of colonialism ignores "a vast body of research and analysis that demonstrates just the opposite," in a commentary for The Washington Post.

Others argued it was a public relations stunt. Swati Parashar, a senior lecturer at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, said the article for Gilley was "a perfect career move to generate publicity" and to "draw attention to himself as the academic provocateur."

The article's publication also led to turmoil within the journal itself. Fifteen editorial board members offered a joint letter of resignation on Sept. 19, claiming they were "deeply disappointed by the unacceptable process around the publication" of the article.

The letter said the essay was published without consultation from the editorial board. It added that the journal previously rejected the piece from a special issue.

Even Gilley himself asked for the piece to be withdrawn, writing "I regret the pain and anger that it has caused for many people," on his website, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

But some remaining members of the board argued against retraction.

Noam Chomsky, an MIT professor of linguistics emeritus who serves on the editorial board, argues vehemently against colonialism. But he told Inside Higher Education that while the journal might not have followed the proper procedures, "retraction is a mistake - and also opens very dangerous doors. . . . Rebuttal offers a great opportunity for education, not only in this case."

"I'm sure that what I publish offends many people, including editors and funders of journals in which they appear," he added.

"Wow. "The Case for Colonialism" was a bad essay, but journal editors should never be pressured with violent threats into withdrawing pieces.

- Alexander Lanoszka (@ALanoszka) October 8, 2017"

"Shocking. That controversial TWQ article finally withdrawn due to threatened violence against the editor. Mob rule.

- Lee Jones (@DrLeeJones) October 8, 2017"

"An absolute disgrace - @thirdworldq pro-colonialism essay withdrawn due to threats of violence against the author.

- Shahar Hameiri (@ShaharHameiri) October 9, 2017"
A version of this article that moved Oct. 5 incorrectly referred to the possible target of an electronic disruption that also affected cellphone service in western Latvia. It is Sweden's Oland Island, not Finland's Aland Islands.

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BRUSSELS - Latvia's intelligence services are examining a partial disruption of the nation's cellular network and emergency-services hotline that may have been a fresh example of Russia's electronic-warfare capabilities, Latvian and NATO officials said.

The break in cellphone service in western Latvia and the 16-hour outage of the country's equivalent of 911 came around the time of recent major Russian military exercises that were a powerful demonstration of the Kremlin's ability to wage modern war.

If confirmed as attacks, the electronic breakdowns would show another capability in the Kremlin's arsenal - not just the reborn, muscular tank army and the accurate long-range missiles that were on display during the "Zapad" exercises but also the capacity to disrupt civilian communications remotely. Such a tool could severely hamper Western authorities' ability to organize a quick civilian response in case of war. NATO officials already are concerned that Russia's potent antiaircraft missile technology gives the Kremlin effective control of most of Baltic airspace if there is a conflict.

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said authorities do not believe their country was directly targeted in the Aug. 30 incident that disrupted cellular service in the western Kurzeme region for seven hours. Instead, he said, Latvia may have been in the path of a broader electronic disruption directed at Sweden's Oland Island. NATO officials said that Russia possesses electronic-warfare assets in its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad and that at least one ship with that technology was in the Baltic Sea during the war games.

The island, located in a key spot in the Baltic Sea, are considered a weak point in Sweden's territorial defense and a prime Russian target in any move against the country, which is not a member of NATO. The autonomous archipelago, long demilitarized by international convention, is ethnically Swedish and fiercely independent.

Rinkevics said Latvian authorities also are examining possible Russian involvement in a Sept. 13 outage of Latvia's emergency phone hotline. Nothing has yet been proved, he said.

Officials also are looking at other explanations for the outages, which one characterized as not posing a major security threat.

During the Zapad exercises, which ended Sept. 20, "there were some unusual things going on," Rinkevics said. "It hasn't happened since the end of the exercises. It didn't happen three months ago. I wonder why." He said that the Latvian Foreign Ministry has not formally complained to its Russian counterpart because the intelligence services have not yet made a conclusive assessment.

Two other senior NATO officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss preliminary assessments of the exercises, echoed the Latvian concerns while also cautioning that Western intelligence services have yet to reach conclusions. A third senior NATO official said the alliance believes that Russia used jamming technology and drones during the exercises that it has also used in Ukraine and Syria.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The officially declared start of the joint exercises in Belarus and Russia's western regions was Sept. 14, but senior NATO diplomats said that military activity intensified weeks before. NATO leaders say Russian military planners evaded transparency requirements by claiming that a single major exercise was actually a series of smaller ones that fell below reporting levels designated by international agreements. The Kremlin denies the accusation.

NATO allies watched the exercises carefully to learn more about the Russian military's modernization efforts - and also to guard against any possible incursion into allied territory. In the end, allied officials say, between 40,000 and 60,000 troops participated in the exercises, well above the 13,000 threshold that triggers transparency requirements.

"This was a demonstration of muscle. This was not defensive but offensive," Rinkevics said, echoing the broader Baltic and NATO assessment.

The U.S. Army's senior commander in Europe, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, said that Russia has been honing its cyberwarfare capabilities since the 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. It has used electronic blocking and jamming techniques against the Ukrainian military, which has fought Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine since shortly after Russia took Crimea.

"They've put on display a significant electronic-warfare capability that is powerful, sophisticated," Hodges told reporters in Brussels. "A lot of this was on display during the exercise."

The Baltics' tangled geography that has both sides feeling surrounded.
Shortly after he launched his drug rehabilitation center in the Pittsburgh suburbs, David Francis recounted his own struggle with addiction in a cable news interview.

"This is what helps keep me clean, is helping other people," Francis said of his work as founder and chief executive of the Next Step Foundation in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.

The 2006 interview with Comcast Newsmakers lauded the facility for "providing new hope for people recovering from drug and alcohol addictions."

Clad in a dark suit and silver striped tie, Francis described how Next Step had tailored its efforts to each resident's needs, offering transitional living, support groups and job placement to more than 100 people.

"It's a caring and concerned and forgiving atmosphere to recover," Francis said.

But federal drug enforcement agents claim that by summer 2017, Francis was doing just the opposite. Rather than helping people get clean, he was dealing heroin and fentanyl out of the rehab center, a business he owns next door and his nearby home, according to a federal criminal complaint filed Friday.

Raids on the properties Friday morning uncovered at least five "bricks" of fentanyl, read the complaint, which was signed by a Drug Enforcement Administration officer. A brick typically contains about five grams of opioids broken into 50 small bags, though court documents did not give specific amounts.

Authorities also described finding used needles and empty drug bags scattered throughout the properties and people lingering in the rehab center who had been using drugs.

Francis, 66, made a brief appearance in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon and was escorted away in handcuffs to jail, as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. He faces a charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

It was not clear Monday morning if Francis had retained an attorney. The docket does not show that he has entered a plea. A call to his business line was not immediately returned.

Allegheny County, which encompasses Pittsburgh and its suburbs, has experienced a surge in fatal drug overdoses in recent years. In 2016, 648 people in the county died of overdoses, up from 424 the previous year, according to a report conducted by the DEA and the University of Pittsburgh. Statewide, fatal overdoses jumped nearly 37 percent in 2016, with 4,642 deaths.

Health and law enforcement officials haveblamed the spike on an influx of fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more powerful than heroin. "It's become where there is an expectation that if you buy heroin, it will have some fentanyl in it," Allegheny County Health Department Director Karen Hacker told the Post-Gazette in June.

Authorities said they were put on Francis' trail when they were alerted to a spate of heroin- and fentanyl-related overdoses earlier this year in McKees Rocks and Ingram, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh.

Francis operated the Next Step rehab center on a main thoroughfare in Mckees Rocks. He also owned a tax preparation business in the adjacent building and lived in a house less than a mile away, court records show.

Several confidential sources fed authorities information about Francis over a period of about two months, according to the complaint.

One source told agents during a July meeting that Francis had been supplying "large quantities of fentanyl/heroin" to residents at Next Step and others in the area, the complaint said. The source described knowing Francis for several years, and turned over his cellphone number and home address.

Another source described meeting a "paramour" at rehab center in 2013, who died of a fentanyl overdose in May of this year. The source allegedly told investigators that when anyone in the rehab program needed heroin or fentanyl, they would get it from Francis or one of his associates.

The source went on to state that Francis had a building behind his house in McKees Rocks where users could inject the drugs he provided them, according to the complaint.

A breakthrough for authorities came in September when state troopers caught a third confidential source carrying "a quantity of heroin/fentanyl." The source told law enforcement that the drugs had come from Francis, and referred to them as "China white," the complaint said.

China white is the street name of a designer opioid with many of the same properties as fentanyl.

The source would "purchase brick amounts of heroin/fentanyl from Francis for $350 per brick and the last purchase took place approximately three days prior to the interview with law enforcement," the complaint said. Francis would keep dozens of bricks of opioids at a time in shoe boxes in his house, the source allegedly told investigators.

For distribution, Francis would package the drugs in "stamp bags" - small wax-coated bags commonly used to hold heroin - with small skull logos printed on them, according to the complaint. The source estimated that Francis was receiving 80 to 100 bricks of heroin/fentanyl per month, according to the complaint.

Between February 2016 and September 2017, the complaint said, police were called to the block where the rehab center is located 11 times to respond to drug overdoses. Officers reported finding "individuals who were unresponsive, along with evidence of drug use, including stamp bags suspect of heroin/fentanyl at these locations."

On Friday morning, authorities raided both of Francis' businesses and his house.

They found three people inside the rehab center, all of whom "admitted to law enforcement that they had been using drugs all night" - specifically "China white" they got from Francis, the complaint said. Used needles and empty stamp bags littered the counters, according to the complaint.

At Francis' home, officers announced their presence and asked to be let in. When no one answered, they smashed down the door and found Francis on the second floor.

In a closet, they discovered at least five bricks of fentanyl, according to the complaint. Authorities said they also recovered several digital scales and thousands of empty stamp bags.
Trump says "only one thing will work" with DPRK

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that "only one thing will work" with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after past talks with Pyongyang had yielded no results.

"Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea (DPRK) for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid," Trump tweeted.

"...Hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of US negotiators," Trump wrote. "Sorry, but only one thing will work!"

Trump did not make clear to what he was referring to in his tweets.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders later confirmed to media that all options are still on the table and she had nothing further to add at this time.

Tensions ran high on the Korean Peninsula as the DPRK conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sept. 3.

In response, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a new resolution tightening sanctions against Pyongyang. Later, the DPRK tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile which flew over Japan.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson revealed during a visit to China in late September that the United States has direct channels of communication with the DPRK.

"We have lines of communications to Pyongyang. We're not in a dark situation or a blackout. We have a couple of direct channels to Pyongyang. We can talk to them ... We've made it clear that we hope to resolve this through talks," Tillerson said.
Spain's government said it stood ready to intervene and reassert control over Catalonia, warning that the rebel region risks economic chaos if it presses ahead with its bid for independence.

As the standoff enters a critical few days, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said ministers were prepared to stop Catalan President Carles Puigdemont. Spanish Energy Minister Alvaro Nadal said the push to break away is doing more damage to the Catalan economy than August's terrorist attacks as companies decamp.

"If this man unilaterally declares independence, measures will have to be taken and the government will take measures," Saenz told Spanish radio. She said action would be taken even if the government doesn't win cross-party backing. "We will seek support, but the act will not be left without a response from the government."

After a weekend of mass demonstrations in favor of Spanish unity, the country was braced for escalation of a crisis that threatens the breakup of a European sovereign state. With the risk of turmoil rippling beyond Spain, German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, reaffirming her support for Spanish unity and discussing ways to strengthen dialogue between Madrid and Barcelona.

Puigdemont has vowed to press ahead with his independence drive and is due to address the regional Parliament Tuesday. Rajoy, who will address the Spanish parliament on Wednesday, pledged that "national unity will be maintained" by using all instruments available to him. That includes suspending the regional administration and sending in security forces.

"The risk of this getting a lot worse, with correspondingly bad market development for Spanish assets, is still too great for my risk appetite," said Erik Nielsen, chief economist at UniCredit. He predicted at least another week of pressure on Spanish and Catalan debt and assets before "things will eventually normalize."

Spanish government debt rose on speculation both sides will step back from the brink, with the yield on 10-year bonds dropping 4 basis points to 1.66 percent at 3:28 p.m. in Madrid. Spain's benchmark stock index was up 0.7 percent.

The Ibex has still lost about 1.2 percent since Catalans voted in defiance of the Constitutional Court on Oct. 1. Catalan companies including lender CaixaBank are meanwhile moving their legal bases out of the region. A delegation from Cercle d'Economia, a business forum, met with Puigdemont on Saturday to demand he withdraw his threat to declare a Catalan republic.

Raul Romeva, foreign affairs chief for the separatist government in Barcelona, called for dialogue with Spain, saying that all of Europe faces economic damage unless a resolution is found. He insisted the door was open for talks if Rajoy was willing to engage.

"We need two to tango, we need the other side to be at the table," Romeva said in an interview in Barcelona on Sunday. "We're always going to be at the negotiation table, but to start negotiations we need the other party to negotiate with."

The leaders of the Catalan National Assembly, a civic group that led a series of massive pro-independence demonstrations and works closely with Puigdemont, vowed in a video posted on Twitter that Tuesday's session will see the president declare independence. Marta Pascal, who heads Puigdemont's party, told the BBC there will be a symbolic recognition of the result of the illegal referendum, but no unilateral declaration of a new state.

Nadal, the energy minister, suggested Catalonia would be jeopardizing electricity supplies and communications networks. Catalonia has little control over energy supplies and is reliant on the big Spanish companies that, in theory, could suspend service and turn the lights off.

"It's so terrible a scenario the idea of independence, that everything won't work from the single moment from which independence is declared," Nadal said in a Bloomberg Television interview. "There will be a problem in the energy sector, there will be a problem in the telecom sector, in the financial sector of course."

Pressure is mounting for a resolution to the constitutional crisis rooted in grievances the Catalans trace back centuries. That sense of enmity was fueled by Spanish police beating Catalans as they tried to vote, images that prompted the EU Commissioner for human rights to write to Spain's interior minister urging "swift, independent and effective investigations."

After last weekend's focus on Catalans as victims, this Sunday saw demonstrations in Barcelona involving some 350,000 people protesting against independence and in favor of a united Spain, shouting "Viva Espana!" and "I am Catalan and Spanish."

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Bloomberg's Charles Penty, Sharon Smyth and Francine Lacqua contributed.
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that a person accused of a crime has the right "to have the assistance of counsel for his defense." Yet for nearly 200 years in America, that language was interpreted to mean that courts can't stop someone from hiring a lawyer - not that the courts are required to provide such lawyers.

In 1963, that changed. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Gideon v. Wainwright that states must offer a defense attorney to all people accused of crimes who can't afford help themselves. It was a decision that transformed the concept of fair trials in America and sparked the creation of public defender systems in states across the union.
Back in February 2016, Andrew Wheeler, a prominent coal lobbyist, was working as a volunteer consultant for energy and environmental policy for the campaign of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

Ahead of the 11-state "Super Tuesday" primary vote March 1, Rubio was in a crowded race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination. The biggest hurdle between Rubio and a spot on the general election ticket was the seemingly long-shot candidacy of political newbie Donald Trump.

Friends of Wheeler - who has spent nearly a decade lobbying for energy companies such as coal giant Murray Energy - encouraged him to write a post on his personal Facebook account the day before Super Tuesday pleading with those considering voting for Trump to reconsider.

"I'm from Ohio and have a lot of friends in Ohio who vote on Super Tuesday," Wheeler told The Washington Post on Friday, "and a couple of friends had said to me when I was working for Rubio that I ought to post something about the campaign."

In his six-point critique on Facebook, Wheeler laid out a skepticism of Trump's character, business acumen and viability as a general-election candidate that many elected GOP officials and "establishment" Republicans shared at the time.

Trump was a "bully," Wheeler wrote in the since-deleted Facebook post obtained by The Post, one who "hasn't been that successful" in business and who "has more baggage then all of the other Republican candidates combined." Wheeler added that Trump "has demonstrated through the debates and interviews that he doesn't understand how the government works."

But what truly precluded Trump from becoming president, in Wheeler's view at the time, was his propensity to bully. "This alone should disqualify him from the White House," Wheeler wrote.

Now more than a year and a half later, that White House, now occupied by President Trump, nominated Wheeler this week to be deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

In an interview with The Post, Wheeler explained how he went from critic of Trump to a volunteer for the eventual GOP nominee to, ultimately, Trump's choice for the No. 2 position at the EPA - a nomination that has engendered some of the harshest condemnation of the administration from environmentalists to date.

If confirmed by the Senate, Wheeler will join Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who once called Trump "a cancer on conservatism," and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, who once questioned Trump's religious faith, among several high-level administration officials who had pilloried Trump during the 2016 election.

"I was just looking at the debates and what I saw on the news, and I hadn't focused on what he was saying," Wheeler said this week of Trump, "and when I started looking into what he was saying and what his campaign and what his candidacy was about, I was fully on board."

Having worked in Washington since the early 1990s - starting as a career employee at the EPA in the George H.W. Bush administration before working on Capitol Hill - Wheeler fits the bill of an establishment GOPer.

For over a decade, Wheeler worked in various roles for Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Work Committee, which oversees the EPA. If confirmed by the Senate, Wheeler will become the latest former staffer for Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Okla., the committee's former chairman, to join the EPA, now being run by another Oklahoma Republican, Scott Pruitt.

Similar to Pruitt, Inhofe is known for questioning the scientific consensus that human activity is warming the planet. Once famously tossing a snowball on the Senate floor, Inhofe has called climate change "the greatest hoax" ever foisted on U.S. citizens.

This week, environmental groups again harshly criticized Trump for nominating Wheeler. Citing his time in Inhofe's office, Melinda Pierce, legislative director at the Sierra Club, said, "There actually could not have been a worse choice for this highly influential position."

In early 2016, as Trump began winning presidential primaries and accumulating delegates, Wheeler said he wasn't sure where Trump stood on energy and environmental issues. "I hadn't heard him speak," Wheeler explained this week. "I hadn't really looked at what he was saying."

Indeed, in that February Facebook post, he wrote: "no one really knows what his political beliefs are, he has donated to both parties over the years and to people with completely opposite views." He added that Trump "has given no details, no details at all, about what he would do or how he would do it."

Like other Republicans once apprehensive of Trump, Wheeler changed his tune once Trump articulated an energy and environmental platform - and once it became increasingly clear Trump would win the GOP nomination.

About three months after picking up more delegates than any other GOP candidate on Super Tuesday, Trump gave a major energy-policy speech in North Dakota, where for the first time Trump laid out his "energy dominance" agenda emphasizing the development of domestic fossil-fuel resources.

In that May 2016 speech, Trump promised to "cancel" the Paris climate accord and undo Obama administration effort to give the EPA broader authority to regulate water pollution, known as Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

"I think the federal government should get out of the way," Trump told the crowd. "We have so much potential energy people wouldn't even believe it."

"A lot of my friends in the Republican energy and environment field here in D.C. were impressed with that speech," Wheeler said this week.

Wheeler said he was finally swayed in June when Trump spoke at a closed-door fundraising dinner in Wheeling, West Virginia, that Robert Murray, chief executive of the coal-mining company Murray Energy, hosted and that Wheeler attended. After leaving Capitol Hill, Wheeler worked as an energy consultant and lobbyist for Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting, where his clients have included Murray Energy in 2009.

"It was about a 40-minute energy speech that he gave," Wheeler told The Post. "He didn't use notes. He didn't use a teleprompter. I really thought it was the most comprehensive energy speech by a presidential candidate I had ever heard."

After that, Wheeler said he joined the Trump campaign as one of two volunteer energy and environmental policy consultants. "I didn't talk to a lot of people about being on the campaigns," Wheeler said.

Already, Trump has made good on many of those campaign promises, to the lament of environmentalists and their Democratic allies. In June, the Trump administration announced its intent to withdraw the United States from the Paris agreement and to revoke the WOTUS rule.

As Wheeler prepares to join the EPA, the agency is reviewing pollution rules that the Obama administration placed on coal-fired power plants that, in turn, affect coal suppliers such as Murray Energy. They include rules regulating how much mercury coal plants can emit into the air and how a byproduct of those power plants called coal ash is disposed of. Senate Democrats will probably ask Wheeler if he will recuse himself from working on any EPA rules he had lobbied on in the past.

Watching from afar, Wheeler said he is happy with what he has seen so far. "I've really liked what I've heard Administrator Pruitt talk about," Wheeler said, "getting back to the core mission of the agency."
WASHINGTON - Sen. Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and an early supporter of Donald Trump's candidacy, said Sunday that the White House had devolved into "an adult day care center" and warned that President Trump's behavior is setting the nation "on the path to World War III."

Corker's comments, first made via Twitter and later in an interview with the New York Times, came in response to an extraordinary feud instigated by Trump and marked the sharpest rebuke of this president by a senior Republican officeholder.

"He concerns me," Corker told the Times. "He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation." He added, "I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, it's a situation of [senior administration officials] trying to contain him."

The explosive comments not only breach what had been one of Trump's few personal relationships on Capitol Hill, but also jeopardize the president's legislative priorities. As chairman of the foreign relations panel, Corker, Tenn., will help determine the future of the Iran nuclear deal, and his support will be critical in passing broad tax cuts.

Trump alleged Sunday morning in a Twitter tirade that Corker recently "begged" him for his endorsement, did not receive it and decided to retire because he "didn't have the guts" to run for reelection next year.

Corker tweeted a biting retort: "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning."

Meanwhile, Corker's chief of staff, Todd Womack, denied Trump's characterization of his private conversations with the senator, who announced last month that he plans to retire and not seek reelection in 2018.

Trump's outburst comes after Corker made headlines last week when he starkly suggested that the administration's national security team provides the president with badly needed adult supervision. Corker told reporters that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly "are those people that help separate our country from chaos."

Trump, who has little tolerance for public criticism and prides himself on counterpunching those who cross him, took to Twitter on Sunday to attack Corker.

Trump tweeted: "Senator Bob Corker 'begged' me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said 'NO' and he dropped out (said he could not win without . . . my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said 'NO THANKS.' He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal! Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run!"

Womack said Trump has repeatedly offered to support Corker, and as recently as last week asked the senator to change his mind and run for reelection.

"The president called Senator Corker on Monday afternoon and asked him to reconsider his decision not to seek reelection and reaffirmed that he would have endorsed him, as he has said many times," Womack said in a statement.

Apparently unwilling to let Corker's "adult day care center" barb be the last word, Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon that Corker was an ineffective senator and could not "get the job done."

"Bob Corker gave us the Iran Deal, & that's about it," Trump tweeted. "We need HealthCare, we need Tax Cuts/Reform, we need people that can get the job done!"

In a 25-minute telephone interview with the Times, Corker questioned Trump's fitness for office and said that the president's recklessness is endangering the country - an assessment he said was shared by most other Senate Republicans.

"Look, except for a few people, the vast majority of our caucus understands what we're dealing with here," Corker told the Times. He added, "Of course, they understand the volatility that we're dealing with and the tremendous amount of work that it takes by people around him to keep him in the middle of the road."

Corker, who is one of Tillerson's few confidants and staunch defenders in Washington, criticized a Trump tweet last weekend that undercut Tillerson's negotiations with North Korea.

A lot of people think that there is some kind of 'good cop, bad cop' act underway, but that's just not true," Corker told the Times. He added, "I know [Trump] has hurt, in several instances, he's hurt us as it relates to negotiations that were underway by tweeting things out."

The squabble comes just days before Trump is expected to "decertify" the Iranian nuclear pact reached with world powers in 2015 and punt to Congress a decision about whether to restore sanctions against Iran. This would be the first in a series of highly orchestrated steps that White House, State Department and congressional officials - primarily Corker, as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee - have been planning for months.

Corker has been one of Tillerson's few allies and staunch defenders in Washington, working closely on such issues as toughening sanctions on Russia and engaging North Korea diplomatically - two issues on which Trump has disagreed with Corker.

Corker also looks to play a key role in the upcoming debate over taxes. One of the Senate's most committed deficit hawks and outspoken members on budgetary issues, Corker already has expressed concerns with the Trump administration's proposal on tax cuts, and his vote will be key to any deal getting done.

Trump's attack also highlighted his increasingly strained relationship with Senate Republicans, who Trump feels have failed to deliver on his agenda.

In recent months, Trump has also gone after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Ky., and Sens. Lindsey Graham, S.C., John McCain, Ariz., and Jeff Flake, Ariz., with cutting and sometimes personal insults.

Republican lawmakers and operatives have voiced exasperation that Trump is spending his time attacking senators he will need as allies if he hopes to sign any signature legislation.

"The Corker-Trump side show, which is all it is, is great if you love reality TV," GOP strategist Rick Tyler said. "We can stay tuned for the next episode. But it doesn't get you anywhere. It may feel satisfying, but it is meaningless in the context of Republicans proving that they can be a governing majority."

Corker was a prominent supporter of Trump's 2016 campaign and one of the few Republicans with gravitas willing to embrace the reality television star's candidacy before he won the GOP nomination.

Corker publicly praised Trump's first major foreign policy speech in April 2016, at a time during the primaries when most other party elders were shunning Trump. Corker also helped tutor Trump on foreign affairs, and he in turn considered the senator as a possible running mate and secretary of state.

Both Trump and Corker entered politics after careers as business executives, both in real estate and construction, and their shared backgrounds gave them a level of mutual understanding at a time when few in Congress can claim to understand the president's motivations. Corker was one of only a few senators to develop a personal relationship with Trump and his family.

Known for his blunt commentary, Corker had long softened any public criticism of Trump or his administration with carefully worded praise. But that changed this past summer, as tensions between the men flared.

In August, Corker criticized Trump's handling of the deadly white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, saying, "The president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful."

Then, as now, Corker became a subject of Trump's ire. In response to the senator's "stability" and "competence" comments, Trump tweeted, "Tennessee not happy!"

Trump later gave Corker grief about the comment during a meeting in the Oval Office, according to a Republican congressional official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the private conversations.

But the episode did not seem to derail what was generally a good-natured relationship between the two. When Corker later called Trump to tell him that he had decided to retire - a decision Corker made on his 65th birthday, Aug. 24 - the president expressed disappointment, the congressional official said.

More recently, Trump has fumed over Corker's tangential connection to last month's Alabama Senate Republican primary runoff election, in which Trump's favored candidate, Sen. Luther Strange, was defeated by former judge Roy Moore, who enjoys the backing of many of Trump's supporters in the state.

Corker urged Trump to visit Alabama and campaign alongside Strange in the closing days of the runoff campaign, and the president now partly blames Corker for encouraging him to get involved in a contest that has hurt his political standing, according to a person close to Trump and familiar with the dynamics.

Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said Sunday that he thinks Corker feels free to speak his mind now that he is not seeking reelection.

"I think it's going to be fun to work with him, especially now that he's announced that he's not running for reelection, because I think it sort of unleashes him to do whatever and say whatever he wants to say," Mulvaney said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
WASHINGTON - When President Donald Trump said a few weeks ago that he wanted to find a way to continue protecting young "dreamers" from deportation, some Republicans touted the possibility of a "Nixon-goes-to-China" moment that could reset the president's deeply frayed relationship with Latino voters.

But ever since, Trump has returned to antagonizing this growing segment of the electorate - including proposing new hard-line immigration measures on Sunday - deepening a rift that many in his party fear will do lasting damage to the GOP's ability to win future elections.

Trump's hostile rhetoric and actions toward Latinos, Republican strategists say, could not only undercut candidates in competitive 2018 races and make the White House harder to retain in 2020 but also further tarnish a GOP brand that party leaders have struggled for years to sell to skeptical Latino voters.

"A whole generation of minority voters is essentially hearing the GOP tell them, 'We don't like you,'" said Doug Heye, a former communications director for the Republican National Committee. "That might not have sunk the GOP against a flawed candidate like Hillary Clinton, but the demographics are moving into a direction where this will be political suicide."

Trump's actions have already hurt the ability of Republicans to recruit Latino candidates to run for local and state office. And they've become fodder in this year's Virginia governor's race, as well as races in states such as New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Florida, where an energized Latino turnout could tip what are expected to be competitive elections next year.

The latest source of tension is Trump's announcement last month that he plans to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a popular Obama-era initiative that provides work permits to undocumented immigrants who arrived here as children, calling it "unconstitutional."

Trump said he would work with Congress to find a way to protect the 690,000 "dreamers" enrolled in the program. But on Sunday, the White House said what he wants in return includes the funding of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a crackdown on the influx of Central American minors and curbs on federal grants to "sanctuary cities," all policies seen as hostile by Latinos.

Trump continues to face criticism over his administration's response to the severe damage Hurricane Maria did to Puerto Rico.

In just the last few days, Trump has offered a cringe-worthy pronunciation of "Puerto Rico" while speaking at a Hispanic Heritage Month event, appeared insensitive by tossing paper towels at victims of Hurricane Maria and persisted in a feud with the female mayor of San Juan begging for more assistance in the wake of the storm.

In Virginia, which will elect a new governor next month, Trump waded into the campaign by endorsing GOP candidate Ed Gillespie in a tweet where he charged that Democratic candidate Ralph Northam supports the MS-13 street gang all while Gillespie is airing TV ads that seek to tie Northam, Virginia's lieutenant governor, to the violent gang comprised mostly of Latinos.

Claims in the ad have been labeled misleading by nonpartisan fact-checkers and racist by immigration advocates. At issue is a tiebreaking vote Northam cast in the state Senate against a bill that would have banned sanctuary cities. But Virginia does not have any of these municiplaties, which Gillespie has acknowledged.

The president - whose job approval rating has dipped to 16 percent among Hispanics, according to Gallup - also became a central issue in a special state Senate race in a heavily Latino Miami-area district last month that flipped from red to blue. The losing candidate had appeared on Trump's reality show, "The Apprentice."

The GOP contender, state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, had also joined a White House advisory board of Latino leaders and touted his close ties to Trump, even posting a "selfie" of the two. But when Democrats made an issue of it, Diaz deleted the photo.

An ad paid for by a Florida Democratic campaign committee began with Taddeo turning off a television on her kitchen counter that was playing images of Trump.

"Families are too busy to worry about this drama," she said before accusing Diaz of supporting "Trump's every move" - including plans to cut Medicare funding and revamp the Affordable Care Act.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, a presidential battleground state where the Latino population is exploding, there's been an uptick in registration by voters identifying themselves as Hispanic in the months since Trump took office, an encouraging sign, Democratic consultants there say.

Trump boosters say concerns about his standing with Latino voters are overstated, arguing that if the president continues to preside over a strong economy and create jobs, Republicans will be rewarded by voters across the board, including Latinos.

Trump, who kicked off his campaign by calling Mexicans "rapists," has provided plenty of reasons for Latino voters to be suspicious, including his pardon in August of Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was held in contempt of court for racial profiling.

Gallup polling suggests there has yet to be a permanent realignment of party loyalties under Trump. As of last month, half of Hispanic adults identified themselves as Democrats or leaning Democratic, about twice as many as identify with Republicans. That is virtually unchanged since 2008.

But many GOP party leaders have long argued the status quo isn't good enough. Following Mitt Romney's loss in 2012, the RNC commissioned an "autopsy" report that explored the party's lackluster support among Latinos and emphasized a need to reach out to these voters.

"I think one can safely say that Donald Trump has not taken the 2012 autopsy report to heart," said White Ayres, a longtime Republican pollster. "To this point, there hasn't been much by the way of initiatives or language or tone that would attract anyone who's not already in his corner."

A National Election Studies poll showed Trump winning 23 percent of the Latino electorate last year. Some Democratic-leaning pollsters argue that overstates his support.

Across the country, Republican consultants said they know of many cases of Latinos taking a pass on running for office because they did not want to be tied to Trump.

Juan Hernandez, who has advised Texas GOP candidates for decades, recalled trying to convince a well-known Latino in Texas to run as a congressional candidate, but the potential contender took a pass, telling him: "I'm a Christian, I'm a Latino and I'm a Republican, but I can't be associated with Trump."

"I get calls all the time from Latinos like that all the time," Hernandez said, confessing he doesn't have a good answer. "It's very, very, very difficult."

Leslie Sanchez, a Latino Houston-based GOP operative, agreed that candidate recruitment and cultivating younger Latinos should be top-of-mind concerns.

"You have Gen Y, Gen Z, kind of young students in their high school or formative years in college who already believe that the president doesn't like them," she said "And it's taken an entire generation to reverse some of the falsehoods that the Republican brand had in some minority communities, and this devastates that."

Mike Madrid, a Latino GOP consultant based in California, said that part of the problem is that "DACA is a hugely important issue, especially with the emotion and energy unlike some of the others where you can roll your eyes and say it's Trump being Trump."

"Will Trump ever get majority support of Latinos? No, it's too late," Madrid said. "But can he shore it up a little bit? Yes, absolutely."

Sanchez said that based on polling and focus groups, she believes Latino support for Republicans has to be gauged state-by-state.

While the GOP is slipping in the western states of Arizona, Nevada and Colorado, the party is still performing well in states like Florida, which is larger, and more urban with Latinos who hail from Cuba, Venezuela and Puerto Rico - where illegal immigration is not as relevant or as immediate. Meanwhile, among Spanish-speaking Latinos, there is a "visceral" response to the GOP brand, Sanchez said.

"Republicans are going to have an extraordinarily difficult time separating the Republican brand from Donald Trump among young Latinos," she warned.

In states with sizable Hispanic populations, Democratic gubernatorial candidates have already tried to highlight the uncertainty on DACA.

In Florida, one of 36 states with governor's races next year, Democratic candidate Gwen Graham seized on Trump's initial announcement, calling it "utterly devoid of humanity." In a statement, she also targeted her potential GOP opponents, accusing one of "leaving 50,000 Floridians in limbo."

Jennifer Duffy, a senior editor at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said she expects Democrats to continue to make links between GOP opponents and Trump.

"It's not just on immigration," she said. "There's a whole list of things. Hurricane Maria didn't help."

An Associated Press poll found Trump received particularly low marks for his handling of the response from Hispanics. Roughly one in three Americans overall approved of the response, while roughly one if five Hispanics did.

Rick Wilson, a Florida-based GOP strategist, said the problem with Trump's response is it gives Latino voters something vivid to remember, much in the way that George W. Bush's detached response from Hurricane Katrina was damaging. Among other things, Trump said in a tweet that Puerto Ricans wanted "everything to be done for them."

"There's an anecdotal power with Katrina or Maria," Wilson said. "People find something to latch onto. 'Bush left us to die.' 'Trump said we're lazy.' "

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VIDEO

The Trump administration released a list of hard-line immigration principles Oct. 8, which could threaten to derail a deal in Congress to protect "dreamers." (Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post)

--http://wapo.st/2y6pvq2

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Miao people compete in a tug-of-war in Hongshui village, Guangxi Rongshui Miao autonomous county, on Saturday to celebrate the year's good harvest. Many tourists joined in, as they traveled there for the weeklong National Day holiday. [Long Linzhi/China Daily]

With a record-high number of trips made during the past eight days, the National Day holiday, one of the most important times of a year in China, has inspired big changes in the way people travel.

Usually, the National Day holiday runs from Oct 1 to 7 and is dubbed "Golden Week".

This year, the holiday was prolonged to eight days, as it coincided with Mid-Autumn Festival. The longer duration of the holiday enabled more people to take trips.

Statistics from the China National Tourism Administration showed that 705 million trips were made during the eight-day National Day holiday this year, 663 million of them in the first seven days, up 12 percent from the seven-day holiday last year. Five years ago, 428 million trips were taken during the seven-day holiday.

But the increasing number of trips is not the only change in the past several years.

Rail travel, particularly on high-speed trains, has enabled more people to travel during the holiday. Estimates from China Railway Corp, the national rail operator, showed that about 40 percent of trips during the holiday were made by train, including on the Fuxing, the high-speed train developed by China that was put into operation in June and travels at speeds up to 350 km/h.

At the same time, the free-of-charge policy on expressways during public holidays, which first went into effect during the 2012 National Day holiday, made it cheaper and more convenient for people taking road trips. This encouraged more people to travel by car.

Yang Pei, 46, a resident of Dezhou, Shandong province, took his wife and daughter on a road trip to Tianjin during the holiday. On other days, a road trip between his hometown and the North China municipality would cost travelers 210 yuan ($32) to pass the toll stations on the expressways.

"With the 'free pass' policy on holidays, our only cost during this trip is gasoline, which is about 300 yuan," he said. "It's very economical because traveling by high-speed train would cost a family of three twice as much."

In addition, tourists in China also used shared bikes more frequently during the holiday, which added convenience in urban areas and helped the environment.

As of the end of July, more than 16 million bikes will have been put into operation nationwide. According to Ofo, one of the major bike-sharing companies, the usage frequency of its bikes increased by 15 percent during the National Day holiday. Carbon emissions were reduced by about 78,000 metric tons, it said.

Zhang Min, a Beijing resident who traveled to Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, said shared bikes helped her when she was sightseeing in the city.

"It's really comfortable to ride a bike and appreciate the scenery in the mild autumn weather, not to mention that I don't have to call an expensive taxi or wait for the always-crowded bus," she said, adding that the occurrence of new things has given people more choices in their outing.
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WASHINGTON  The lines hardened Monday against President Donald Trump's new list of demands for a deal that would extend protections for young immigrants brought into the country illegally as minors.

Democrats and advocates for young "Dreamers," some 800,000 people enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, promised all-out resistance to Trump's conditions.

More than 120,000 have enrolled in the DACA program in Texas, more than any other state besides California.

With the Trump administration struggling to pass GOP bills on health care, border security and taxes, some Hispanic lawmakers vowed to tie up the rest of his legislative agenda and envelop the administration in further chaos and controversy.

Meanwhile Republicans and immigration hardliners cheered the president's latest move, a reversal from a tentative agreement with Democratic leaders last month that left open whether Trump would insist on new funding for a wall on the southwest border.

The outline Trump sent to Congress Sunday includes everything from border wall funding to more aggressive immigration enforcement and cuts to legal immigration, particularly for extended family members of DACA beneficiaries. It would also cover federal grants to so-called sanctuary cities, local jurisdictions that the administration says don't cooperate fully with federal immigration agents.

The differences have come into their sharpest focus yet a month after Trump said he would wind down the Obama-era DACA program, giving Congress six months  until March  to hash out a plan to make the program permanent.

With the two sides pulling apart, the fate of "Dreamers" has become increasingly uncertain.

"DACA recipients are living in limbo, confronted by an uncertain future while still clinging to their American dreams," said Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who held a forum at the Leland Federal Building in Houston Monday for "Dreamers" to tell their stories.

Trump's requests mirror much of the GOP agenda on immigration, including proposals to emphasize skills and training in favor of family-oriented "chain migration," which has emerged as a major flash-point in the national debate on immigration reform.

Among those speaking out in favor of Trump's new reform outline was San Antonio Republican Lamar Smith, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee where many of the GOP measures have been brought forward.

"We need to know who's coming into the country," Smith said. "We need to save jobs for American workers. We need to protect American taxpayers. We need to have immigrants respect our laws and we need to keep our communities safe from criminal immigrants."

Supporters of the new Trump requirements see them as a fulfilment of the "America First" theme that propelled his 2016 campaign, which centered on a border wall and protections for American-born workers.

"Most politicians who have been commenting lately on immigration policy have failed to show the compassion and support that the Trump Administration is offering the women and men of America who want a decent shot at a decent job without having to compete with millions of new foreign workers being added to compete with them," said Roy Beck, president of NumbersUSA, which advocates for lower immigration levels across the board.

Immigrant rights activists portrayed Trump's demands as an attack on young immigrants and their families, many of them made up of workers who have long become an integral part of the U.S. economy. Some also termed it a "poison pill" killing off any hope of permanent protections for "Dreamers," a class of immigrants that enjoys broad public sympathy both among Democrats and Republicans.

House Democrats pointed to a series of recent polls finding that a majority of Americans want young immigrants brought to America protected from deportation. Two weeks ago, a Quinnipiac University national survey reported 82 percent of American voters, including 69 percent of Republicans, believe that the "Dreamers" should be allowed to stay and apply for citizenship.

"This proposal is a Breitbart Christmas list of anti-immigrant policies. It's a non-starter in Congress," said U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, referring to the far-right online news outlet that embraces hard line immigration policy. "It's a perfect example of why this administration and this president have failed to pass any significant legislation  because they don't seem to be able to work with anyone," Castro told reporters.

Other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus said the administration's immigration proposals could spark a deeper backlash against the rest of Trump's agenda for the rest of the year.

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said her members will seek to enlist all House Democrats in blocking critical bills unless an agreement for a DACA fix is reached with "reasonable" border security provisions.

"The reality is that there are a lot of must-pass pieces of legislation that require Democratic support to get over the finish line," she said. "And Democrats have made it clear that if the Dream Act is not addressed, if DACA extension through legislation is not in effect, that they are not going to have Democrats to get them over the finish line on anything that they may need."

The Hispanic Caucus has been instrumental in gathering 195 signatures to support a so-called discharge petition for the Dream Act, which would force a floor vote if 218 House members sign on. But the likelihood that an insufficient number of Republicans will sign makes it unlikely that the tactic will succeed.

Castro said he believes that Trump is being influenced by others on immigration, particularly White House senior advisor Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's embattled refugee restrictions.

"I would suggest that the president look over the proposal himself, get more personally involved rather than assigning that to a 30-something year-old hardline zealot on immigration," Castro said, referring to Miller.

'Slamming the door'

Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke said Trump's plan is designed in part to eliminate "the magnets for illegal immigration."

Trump's legislation request also asks Congress to remove standards for the treatment of immigrant children put into place by a 1997 court settlement and a 2008 law. It comes during historically low illegal immigration. After falling precipitously at the beginning of the year Border Patrol apprehensions climbed in recent month, but in August agents detained 2,994 unaccompanied children, the lowest for that month since 2012.

Michelle Brane, director of the Migrant Rights and Justice program at the Women's Refugee Commission, said Central American children and families afraid of Trump's immigration policies are turning to smugglers rather than surrendering to Border Patrol agents or are seeking asylum in other countries in the region. The legislative proposals would open the door for the U.S. government to keep children in detention, prolong the detention of families and deny asylum requests, Brane said.

"It's slamming the door," she said. "It's undermining longstanding American traditions of protection."

While many Republicans support some kind of permanent legal status for "Dreamers," the chances of hammering out a bill by next March depend on whether the two sides can come together on countervailing enforcement measures.

In a Senate hearing last week on DACA, Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn assayed the balancing act before Congress.

"Creating a legislative fix is the right thing to do but there is a big caveat," said Corny, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate. "Before we provide legal status to these young people, we must reassure, and actually, regain the public confidence that we're serious when it comes to enforcing the law and securing our borders."

Migrants' stories

Jackson Lee's event in Houston drew numerous "Dreamers," who shared their stories.

Karen Atilano came to the United States from Monterrey with her parents as a tourist when she was 9 years old.

"We overstayed our welcome," Atilano said. "I didn't know I was illegal and that people didn't want me here."

Atilano's parents work 17-hour days every day delivering newspapers and cleaning food trucks. To see her aging parents still working long, unforgiving hours just to provide for themselves makes her angry, she said.

"It hurts to see that people don't want a hardworking person in their country," Atilano said. "This is my home, I don't know any place like I know the U.S."

Under DACA, Karen was able to get a driver's license and a job to help her parents put her through Prairie View A&M University, where she graduated in May. She has a job now, but returning to her birth country is not an option.

"If I were to go back to Mexico, I wouldn't be able to fend for myself," Atilano said.

 Jason Buch and Marialuisa Rincon contributed to this report.
Chris Potter, 35, lumbered about dressed in a homemade Groot costume, a treelike character from the film Guardians of the Galaxy, Sunday, the second day of an annual event in the battle against multiple sclerosis.

Flanked by supporters and family posing as Guardians characters, bicyclists at the 28th annual Bike MS: Valero 2017 Ride to the River on Sunday flocked to them for a photo as they sought rest and an energy boost from bananas, water and other snacks.

We always try to do something thats out of this world, Potter said of their rest stops theme, sponsored by his bike group, Team Wingman.

Bike MS is a yearly effort presented by H-E-B to raise money to directly benefit the search for a cure for multiple sclerosis. This years event featured bike rides from San Antonio to New Braunfels on the first day and shorter routes in New Braunfels on the second day.

The disease attacks the protective sheath covering nerve fibers, causing communication problems between the brain and body, according to the Mayo Clinics website.

This year, about 1,300 riders battled the hills of New Braunfels and rode into the sunrise Sunday as they reached the Guardians-themed rest stop at 5454 FM 2272 in Canyon Lake.

Jamie Moy of Team Valero had gone 15 miles before she reached the second rest stop.

Our legs are about to give out, Moy said as she stood next to a friend attempting the feat with her, also on a mountain bike.

At least 30 of the cyclists on Team Wingman, including Potter, have MS.

In total, the event raised more than $1 million. Team Wingman alone raised more than $87,000, according to their website.

Potters first struggle with MS came at the age of 15.

I couldnt walk for three days. It took three days of steroid treatments, he recalled.

The doctors treating him did not know he was being affected by MS, Potter said. He was 30 when he got the MS diagnosis in 2012.

When I got diagnosed, there were five treatments, all injections, Potter said. With the help of all these amazing fundraisers over here, now we have over 15 meds, some available in pill (form).

His wife, Melissa Potter, 33, said theyve kept a close watch on his symptoms since the diagnosis early in their marriage.

Potter gave up alcohol when he realized it caused him pain in his stomach.

If you feel bad one day youre like, What did I do? she said.

Chris Potter was looking forward to what future advancements were to come as Texas is the first state to approve investigational stem cell treatments to patients with severe chronic diseases or terminal illnesses under HB 810. The law went into effect in September.

It doesnt need to be a sad thing, it can be a positive thing, she said. Its about a positive attitude and support, and for us, we have it.

jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA | This article was updated to clarify that Bike MS featured multiple bike routes over the weekend.
AUSTIN  Lawmakers in the Texas House this week will continue exploring the state's response to Hurricane Harvey, this time delving into how schools and their funding are affected.

The House Public Education Committee will meet in Austin Thursday to explore the scope of school districts' financial losses  including damages to facilities and how the state will fund schools this year given the state divvies out money based on how many students are enrolled.

Due to Hurricane Harvey, many families have had to move into other districts, leaving lawmakers concerned schools could be punished financially for decreases in enrollment.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has said he wants to ensure finances are stable for school districts slammed by Harvey and is expected to announce a plan early this month.

The hearing follows a week after the House launched its first battery of committee hearings focused on Harvey recovery. Last week, lawmakers from the Appropriations and Urban Affairs committees met at the University of Houston to hear the latest on recovery efforts, and the natural Resources Committee heard testimony from local officials and the public about the need for better flood-control planning.

House Speaker Joe Straus has ordered several legislative committees to collect testimony and make recommendations on several storm-related issues, including about how the storm has affected schools, how the state can maximize federal funds, and figure out what kind of infrastructure is needed to help flood-control efforts.

The San Antonio Republican also wants lawmakers to recommend measures needed to "prevent unintended punitive consequences" to students and districts from student testing, which is scheduled to take place next spring. Morath, the education commissioner, said last month he did not anticipate making changes to the state's annual standardized test used as a measuring stick for student and school district performance, but said no decision has been made, yet.

The House Public Education Committee is expected to explore the testing issue  a hot button issue for school districts and parents, alike  at a future committee meeting.

Andrea Zelinski covers politics for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (File photo)

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced here Sunday that if the United States imposes new sanctions against Iran, it would have repercussions for Washington.

In case the United States imposes fresh sanctions, they will have to relocate the U.S. regional bases out of the reach of Iran's missiles, state media quoted the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps commander as saying.

Jafari cautioned the U.S. government of what he termed as the dire consequences of imposing new sanction against Iran.

The possible move by the U.S. administration would be considered as U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers sealed in 2015, he commented.

The IRGC commander also noted that if Washington decides to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, the IRGC will in turn treat the U.S. Army around the world, particularly in the Middle East, as the forces of the Islamic State militants.

The U.S. administration has imposed several rounds of sanctions against Iran over the past months claiming that Iran has not observed the spirit of the nuclear deal Oswald two years ago.

Washington says that Iran's missile program is threatening the regional and international peace. Iran denies the allegations stressing that it's missile program is only for deterrent purposes.
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(Photo/CGTN)

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader, Kim Jong Un, has tasked the nation to go forward with nuclear and missile development despite numerous UN sanctions, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday.

At the Second Plenum of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea held in Pyongyang on Saturday, Kim justified the development of nuclear and missile programs by the DPRK as the only way of defense against "protracted nuclear threats" by the United States.

"He solemnly declared: The nuclear weapons of the DPRK are a precious fruition borne by its people's bloody struggle for defending the destiny and sovereignty of the country from the protracted nuclear threats of the US imperialists. And they are a powerful deterrent firmly safeguarding the peace and security in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia," said the report.

The nuclear and missile capacities of the DPRK are also "reliably guaranteeing the Korean nation's sovereignty and rights to existence and development and a treasured sword of justice to remove the nuclear clouds of tyranny bringing a horrible disaster to mankind and make it possible for the people to lead an independent and happy life under the clear and blue sky," Kim said.

Kim accused the United States of "making last-ditch efforts to completely stifle the sovereignty and the rights to existence and development of the DPRK by cooking up UNSC (UN Security Council) sanction resolutions one after another."

He said the country's science and technology have "developed by leaps and bounds and the national economy has grown on their strength this year despite the escalating sanctions of the US imperialists and their vassal forces."

"The Chairman (Kim) affirmed that the prevailing situation and the reality show that our Party (Workers' Party of Korea) was absolutely right when it dynamically advanced along the socialist road of Juche, holding fast to the line of simultaneously pushing forward the economic construction and the building of nuclear force and that our Party should invariably keep to this road in the future, too," said the report.

Juche, meaning self-reliance, is an ideology in the DPRK for achieving absolute independence in political, economic, military and international affairs.

Twitter screenshot. (CGTN)

Meanwhile, the US President Donald Trump on Saturday issued new threat to the DPRK claiming only one thing will work with the DPRK via a series of Twitter posts but he did not give any details.

The UNSC has imposed a raft of sanctions on the DPRK to curb its nuclear and missile development programs.

The latest round of sanctions came after the DPRK conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on September 3. In response, the DPRK then tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile which flew over Japan.
Another 'Red Notice' fugitive returns to China after 7 years on the run

(Photo/CGTN)

A fugitive suspected of common bribery and shielding or concealing crimes returned to China on Sunday to turn herself in, according to the Communist Party of China's disciplinary authority.

Guo Xin, who was a former associate professor in the School of History and Archives Science at Yunnan University, fled to the United States in August 2010, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said.

She was number 27 on China's top 100 fugitives listed in an Interpol "red notice," and the 47th to return so far.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2017 > A Must Read for those Meticulously following Afghan Events

BOOK REVIEW

by Dipak Malik

Farewell To Kabul: From Afghanistan to a more dangerous world by Christina Lamb; William Collins, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, London; 2015; pages 640; price: $ 22.47.

The story of Afghanistan does not blur out after the 9/11 moment of cataclysm, it has increasingly incremented into a beleaguered frontline state and society against global and indigenously breeding terrorism faced with almost mystical intransigence on the part of the US Administration to identify the obvious backseat drivers like the ISI, the terror producing Directorate of the Pakistan Army, and the Salafi regime of Saudi Aradia with its generous coffers of dinar flowing liberally to grease the global terror-machine. This will keep the Afghanistan regime on tenterhooks turning it into a jinxed land for an unforeseen future. President Ashraf Ghani, basically an old academic hand who has spent almost all of his professional life in the United States, is still trying to convince the US that it should not walk away from its supposed obligation towards the cold, inhospitable terrain and people of Afghanistan. He would like to remind the American taxpayer that given what Osama alone could do, what if a third, a halfGod forbidor all of Afghanistan is a centre of global terrorism incorporated; thus he says to the Time interview carried on June 12, 2017 that not only America but surely the whole world would slip into a danger zone.

Christian Lambs book, Farewell to Kabul, draws a graphic picture of the American as well as Western alliances military presence of NATO partners pointing out the sheer blinkered view of Washington, London and an over-active and anxious Pakistan to install its proxy regime of the Taliban over Afghanistan. Being a war correspondent, Christina Lambs book contains the ground-level reporting about the myriad world of lies, deception, double-talk, corruption at the very door-step of the former Mujahidin fighters who grew into formidable warlords while waging their mercenary war empowered by the strategic planners in Pentagon along with the security advisor to President Carter, Zbiginiew Brzezinsky, who aimed at splitting the Muslim majority inhabited Soviet Central Asia and destroying the fragile secular regime in Afghanistan via jehad redesigned by the Pentagon and CIA outfits as the lethal instru-ment of dismantling a very shaky and yet in flux regime professing to bring both socialism and modernisation, a task almost impossible in a well-embedded medieval society. Most of these Mujahidins of the past have now either become ISI- backed chieftains, a few of them opting out to defect to the Taliban camp or the bulk of them as uncomfortable operators of the current regime which is compelled to depend on these warlords in the absence of a state machinery. The current dispensation of President Ghani, not very unlike his predecessor, Karzai, has a limited constituency in the 19th century Arg Palace, the presidential seat, and a few streets encircling it. The claim that Afghanistan has moved into the orbit of modernisation with 80 TV stations and 180 radio stations is not of much help as outside Kabul the rest of Afgha-nistan remains in the harsh medieval world.

The British, of course, had the bitterest memory of their venture during the fateful first Anglo-Afghan war (1839-1842). The memory of that, it seems, has not completely faded away as is the custom in the tribal societies among the ill-informed, yet extremely militant, villagers of this rough, barren and ruined world. It lurks again and again as the diary of Christina Lamb goes. As a matter of fact Afghanistan had two short brushes with modernisation, once during the short rule of King Amanullah Khan, who tried to abolish slavery, give a proper govern-ment and a place for women out of purdah, but unfortunately he had to pay the price for all that and was duly dethroned by 1929; the second opportunity came when as a result of a coup by some military brass trained in Moscow an alliance of the two Left-wing parties, Khalq and Parcham, came to power in 1978. They in essence tried to build a modern state and started by land reform, equality to women and womens education, but they too had to face the same fate as Amanullah Khan with one exception that this time the demise of the regime of Saur (April) Revolution came as a result of inter-vention due to Americas drive against communism, particularly revenge-taking after its humiliating defeat at Vietnam, through Pakistan under General Zia Ul Huq on the long march towards building a Muslim fundamentalist regime, Army and society. The land reform drove the Afghan feudal lords scuppering for help to Pakistan, which was excessively funded by the US Administration to devise the temper of a jehad, a jehad well-chiselled and moduled by the half-witted Pentagon-CIA outfit in the US; of course it was bound to boomerang with 9/11. The secular state- formation effort, though done in a rather shoddy manner, on account of the embedded back-wardness of the society, failedand it brought the mullahs, landlords and warlords in the lap of the Islamabad-Washington axis.

Ms Lamb had started covering this troubled land right from the early days of the Mujahidin jehad.

She knew a large number of them right from the field. She was taken by Karzai himself on the pillion seat of his motor cycle to an area where Karzai had his tribe and men resisting the Soviet forces. The Americans succeeded in pushing a communist takeover and the Soviet Army; there was an extremely dampening effect leading ultimately to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Pakistan got its bonanza, and in course of time, it became a classic dependencia of the USA, it could rear up an elite class and upper middle class but remained a failed state, democracy and economy without being able to do land reform and requisite industrialisation, but it has managed to remain a client state as well as manipulate a superpower like the US. Today it is shifting to another emerging power, China, to its benefit.

But the combined war of the Mujahidin, covered by the Pakistan Army and financed by the US treasury and the emboldening of the feudal lords, many of whom turned into warlords and religious zealots who came to this camp as they were totally opposed to any reform for a humane Afghan society and ultimately stalled the process of building a just, human and non-feudal polity in Afghanistan, an opportunity in hand after about half-a-century since King Amanullahs effort to build a modern Afghan society and an Afghan state which could usher in these historic changes.

Ms Lambs book, Farewell to Kabul, is a day-to-day diary of a war correspondent whose decades of reporting Afghanistan had brought down all the scales from the eyes of Western observers which they normally wear. Her reportage gives a detailed and true account of duplicity, greed, corruption and violence in vogue on an unprecedented plane. Ms Lamb refers to a talk with the General Ali Aurakazai, a former commander of the Peshawar Corps working as the Governor of the North West Frontier Province; he reminded her of the British experience of the first Anglo-Afghan war when the British became complacent after having put their puppet as the King of Afghanistan and built the cantonment and brought their wives and sweethearts from Delhi. Their man, Alexander Burnes, cabled Delhi that all is well, but in the meantime the Afghans were preparing to attack which left the bloodiest trail in British imperial history. He said that no amount of US troops will be able to bring peace in Afghanistan. He of course evaded the fact that the ISI and Pakistani Army were backing the Taliban in full force. Simultaneously General Musharraf went on receiving $ 100 million a month from the Washington Administration; incidentally Musharraf was the President of Pakistan at that time and he had convinced the White House that Pakistan was fighting a full- scale war against the Taliban.

Ms Lambs book brings out these facts and day-to-day fighting on the hills and frontline provinces in bold relief, noting the Western gullibility and agony of the British and American commanders in the field. The book is immensely readable and a must for all who keep a wary eye on the affairs of Afghanistan.

A former Professor of Banaras Hindu University, the reviewer is the Director Emeritus, Gandhian Institute of Studies, Varanasi.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2017 > Right to Privacy

The word private has the meanings: (1) belonging to a particular person (his/her own body or his/her own property), (2) not sharing thoughts or feelings with others, and (3) not connected with a persons work or official role. From this adjective, we obtain the abstract noun privacy, which means a state in which one is not watched or disturbed by others. Thus privacy is something precious to a biological person, and includes the need to be left alone, even while remaining a member of society.

Glenn Greenwald, recounting Edward Snowdens exposure of the US NSAs clandestine surveillance, writes: Only when we believe that nobody else is watching us do we feel freesafeto truly experiment, to test boundaries, to explore new ways of thinking and being, to explore what it means to be ourselves... for that reason, it is in the realm of privacy where creativity, dissent, and challenges to orthodoxy germinate. A society in which everyone knows they can be watched by the statewhere the private realm is effectively eliminatedis one in which those attributes are lost, at both the societal and the individual level.

The Constitutions Preamble secures to all its citizens liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. Thus the Constitution assures freedom of thought, word and deed. A person is essentially free to think about anything, and there can be no external control on the thought process except perhaps only in very broad terms, such as political or religious propaganda or insidious advertisement. A persons thoughts are revealed directly or indirectly only through his/her words or deeds. However, adminis-tration of certain so-called truth drugs by (illegal) narco-analysis can force the inner-most thoughts to surface in words or movements, although the veracity and reliability of such revelations are questionable. Thus, by thought alone, one person cannot violate another persons privacy. But by expressing his/her thought(s) through words or deeds, another person can be disturbed, and thus constitute invasion of privacy. Hence the need to have reasonable restrictions on the right of expression.

But the issue of privacy calls for somewhat more detailed consideration in the context of the relationship between the state and the individual human being (citizen hereinafter), where the right to privacy assumes different aspects and dimensions. [This author prefers to use the word citizen instead of person, because the word person can be extended to corporate bodies which possess the legal fiction of personhood.] To understand the aspects of the right to privacy and its effects on the private and civic life of a citizen, one needs to look at the historic unanimous verdict (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India, Puttaswamy Judgment hereinafter) of the Supreme Courts nine-judge bench on August 24, 2017, in which the right to privacy was pronounced as a fundamental right which, like other fundamental rights, is subject to reasonable restrictions.

It is appropriate to begin with para 3 of the Order, which states that the right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 and as a part of the freedoms guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution., and that privacy is a value whose protection is a matter of universal moral agreement: the innate dignity and autonomy of man.

Expanding the idea of privacy, the Putta-swamy Judgment (para 142) speaks thus: Privacy has distinct connotations including (i) spatial control; (ii) decisional autonomy; and (iii) informational control. Spatial control denotes the creation of private spaces. Decisional auto-nomy comprehends intimate personal choices such as those governing reproduction as well as choices expressed in public such as faith or modes of dress. Informational control empowers the individual to use privacy as a shield to retain personal control over information pertaining to the person.

This unequivocally places the citizen at the heart of privacy, which is integral to his/her human dignity, liberty and autonomy. Privacy is not created or granted by the Constitution, which only recognises and guarantees it as a fundamental right of the citizen, who is the basic unit of the Constitution. Para 12 of the Puttaswamy Judgment states that privacy is an inalienable natural right. Thus, privacy has a position of centrality in the Constitution of our democratic Republic.

Privacy concerning information about a citizen such as income status, religious persuasion, sexual orientation or other demographic data goes beyond the physical body. Indeed, para 81 of the Puttaswamy Judgment speaks about informational privacy thus: ... [it] does not deal with a persons body but deals with a persons mind, and therefore recognises that an indivi-dual may have control over the dissemination of material that is personal to him. Unauthorised use of such information may, therefore lead to infringement of this right, while para 142 enables the citizen to have control over his/her informa-tional privacy: Informational control empowers the individual to use privacy as a shield to retain personal control over information per-taining to the person.

In present times, personal information is digitised and constitutes data, the protection and security of which is vital to the citizens control over his/her privacy. The Aadhaar system immediately comes to mind in this connection, noting that the Aadhaar number is seeded (linked) with different silos of information which a citizen may have. The UIDAIs Aadhaar system has captured biometric data of around one billion citizens at enrolment by private operators, who are employed by Registrars who in turn are appointed by the UIDAI through an MoU. These private operators, essentially contractors, capture biometric data, hold it and transmit it to the UIDAIs database, which is called the Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR). There is no check whether the private operator may have made a copy of data before transmitting it or has deleted the acquired data after transmitting it. Further, the UIDAIs CIDR was created by foreign contracting firms which have close links with their respective governments and intelligence agencies, and have access to data in the CIDR and data-safety features of the CIDR.

Thus the Aadhaar system compromises the security of personal data at a systemic level, thereby disempowering the citizen and making him/her vulnerable through loss of privacy. Notwithstanding that the Aadhaar system was designed long before the Puttaswamy Judgment, it passes comprehension how the designer of the systemreportedly a corporate honcho, expert in information technologywas so negligent and casual about the data security of citizens. The Union Government having belatedly constituted the Srikrishna Committee to address the issue of data protection and draft an appropriate Bill, is proof enough that data security of Aadhaar is inadequate, and that citizens privacy is already a casualty. This could be the reason that the criminal culpability concerning this design flaw is being highlighted in some quarters.

If a citizen has control over his/her personal data, it includes opting to share it with any entity which may demand it, such as a govern-ment department which provides benefits, or a bank, or a commercial service provider. However, the state has a responsibility in this, according to para 70 of the Puttaswamy Judgment, which reads: The State must ensure that information is not used without the consent of users and that it is used for the purpose and to the extent it was disclosed.

Furthermore, the citizen who decides to part with personal data needs to understand the implications, including the risks and conse-quences of doing so. The vast majority of the population which has already provided their biometrics to UIDAI and also used their bio-metrics at many fingerprint recording machines for various purposes, is unaware of these, and may be conned or pressured into parting with his/her data, which may be used for commercial purposes or even illegal purposes. Hence, when a citizen consents to share data, it has to be informed consent, and the Puttaswamy Judgment rules that informed consent is central to informational self-determination and by extension, to the citizens privacy. Further, even after providing data with informed consent, the citizen continues to retain privacy control over the information, in that the receiver of the data shall use it only for the limited purpose for which it was received, and shall not share it with any other entity.

Regarding decisional autonomy of the citizen, the Puttaswamy Judgment has made it clear that ... liberty enables the individual to have a choice of preferences on various facets of life including what and how one will eat, the way one will dress, the faith one will espouse and a myriad other matters on which autonomy and self-determination require a choice to be made within the privacy of the mind.

The right to privacy also permits a citizen to be different in Indias pluralistic, heterogeneous society, always providing that he/she is not a nuisance to society. Para 168 of the Puttaswamy Judgment says: ... privacy is an intrinsic recognition of heterogeneity, of the right of the individual to be different and to stand against the tide of conformity. This laudable, bold assertion essentially permits deviation from the need to conformthe phrase tide of conformity is the key to recognition that individuality is under pressureand become a yes-man or ji huzoor to powerful people in society, ranging from notable persons in public life to teachers in schools who discourage, even abhor, questioning.

Conclusion

The matter before the nine-Judge Bench was sharply focused upon whether or not privacy was a fundamental right. It is to be noted that the case came up as a result of the Union of India arguing during the hearings concerning challenges to the Aadhaar system, that privacy was not a fundamental right, and even that a person had no right over his/her own body. [One can well imagine the crushing power of the State over the citizen, had the nine-Judge bench upheld the arguments of the Union of India.] The arguments were however not related to the concrete example of Aadhaar which is yet to be adjudicated, but were conceptual in nature. The Puttaswamy Judgment essentially sets out the parameters within which the state could reasonably restrict or limit the right to privacy of a citizen.

In the current ambience of terrorist threat, and the state having to ensure the safety of citizens, the state would attempt to justify the need for raising the levels of surveillance, which will inevitably impinge upon citizens privacy and other freedoms. This would include untargeted or suspicionless street-corner surveillance combined with use of advanced facial recognition techniques, besides geospatial tracking of persons through mobiles, credit card use, etc. Modern information technology hard-ware and software capability enables capture and analysis of metadata (data mining, collection and analysis) for very large populations, and can create a situation of a police state, with shadowy, unaccountable intelligence forces in control. It is in this ambience that the citizens protection against a domineering and intrusive State will have to be adjudicated based upon the touchstone of the different aspects of privacy as a fundamental right.

It is in this and similar situations that courts will need to decide on the limits to the fundamental right to privacy, so as to strike a balance between the public good achieved by policies, programs and executive orders of governments on the one hand, and the dignity, autonomy and liberty of the individual citizen on the other, while never losing sight of the high standards set for the State by the historic Puttaswamy Judgment.

In times of growing, overweening and coercive state power over ordinary citizens, the nine-Judge Bench has created a foundation for civil liberties in the context of privacy, human dignity and autonomy. However, one can expect litigation in the future on a case-to-case basis, perhaps beginning with Aadhaar. These litigations will surely exercise both the Judiciary and legal fraternity on fundamental rights which the Constitution guarantees every citizen, in the years to come.

Over the years since January 26, 1950, the Supreme Court of India has come a long way in interpreting the Constitution of India and the courageous and unequivocal Puttaswamy Judgment is proof of that. Indeed, in a September 10, 2017 New York Times article titled Indias Supreme Court Expands Freedom, Menaka Guruswamy writes:  ... the privacy ruling represents a remarkable shift in the Supreme Court from a reticent post-colonial court on matters of individual liberty to an erudite constitutional court safeguarding freedom in the terrifying times of new India.

[Acknowledgement: The above article is based on a reading of the Puttaswamy Judgment. The author gratefully acknowledges reference to the excellent commentary on the Puttaswamy Judgment in Indian Constitutional Law and Philosophy, downloaded on September 11, 2017 from

]

Major General S.G. Vombatkere is Petitioner No.1 in three PIL cases concerning Aadhaar, which have been clubbed with Justice K.S.Puttaswamy vs Union of India.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2017 > Are Refugees Outsiders?

Communist leader Jyoti Basu ruled West Bengal for two-and-a-half decades. He fought relentlessly against the communal forces. It is surprising how the RSS has penetrated and practically taken over the State. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees Trinamul Congress is in power in the State at present but even her adherents admit that they are fighting a losing battle.

The RSS has moved into the interior of the State and its morning shakhas are being held in every park. How and why it has happened is a case study. Communism and the communist ideology are what the Left pursued. In sharp contrast is the RSS preaching, completely archival and conservative. The rich Bengali culture is today sandwiched between the RSS and Communists.

Mamata is accused of trying to appease the Muslims when she vainly banned the immersion of Durga idols beyond certain hours. The State Government, according to news reports, appre-hended that both the immersion processions and Muharram processions will be taken out deliberately to cross each others path, putting the contaminated administration to a stern test. However, the Calcutta High Court intervened to restore the status quo.

Perhaps what prompted Mamata to order the ban was the steady string of communal riots that have been breaking out in the districts. Controversies over the routes of Muharram processions, too, had ignited the spark. In addition, the accusations by belligerent Hindu groups, comprising both Bengalis and non-Bengalis, had sprung up to resist Bangladeshi infiltrators and Islamic terrorists.

All these added to the communal cauldron that was already boiling, thanks to a steady exodus of Hindus from Bangladesh in recent times. The upper-caste Hindus, who were a part of Bangladesh before the country was liberated from West Pakistan, had migrated to India and even today they maintain two houses, one in Bengal and the other in Bangladesh. Their children study in Indian schools and have even acquired identity and become citizens of India in some cases.

However, the rising Islamic radicalism and steady attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have led to fresh exodus over a decade. Unable to find a living, the economically poor are mostly confined to the border districts, eking out a living through odd jobs. Understandably, the Bengalis harbour deep resentment of the other Muslims. And these are the ones that the RSS has targeted cleverly to pull Hindus on to its side.

Against this backdrop, the Bangladeshis are going through a peculiar problem of exodus of Rohingyas, a minority Muslim community, from Myanmar. Dhaka has provided shelter to these refugees on humanitarian ground but beyond a point it cannot help much. The number of Rohingya refugees, who fled Myanmar to Bangladesh since late August, has reached 480,000, challenging the efforts to care for them, according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

The Office for the Coordination of Humani-tarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the number of Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar into Bangladesh since late August has now topped 480,000, he said. This brings the total number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to more than 700,000. The Rohingyas are denied citizen-ship under a 1982 Myanmar citizenship law. The Myanmar Government recognises them as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangla-desh.

The exodus of Rohingyas has also posed a problem to New Delhi since some of them have infiltrated into India through the North-Eastern States which are sharing a long border with Myanmar. Even as the government is trying to prove to the court their association with Pakistani terrorist groups, BJP MP Varun Gandhi has advocated asylum for Rohingya Muslims who have escaped the violence in Myanmar. This is a view that is in contrast to what the government has advocated. In a recent edit-page piece in the Navbharat Times, Varun has expressed that the Rohingya refugees should not be deported but treated humanely.

No doubt, it has created a stir in political circles, particularly with Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Ahir, saying that Varun Gandhis view was against Indias interest. Anyone who cares about national interest will never give such a statement, said Ahir.

The government recently told the Supreme Court that it will give evidence to the Court. According to the government, some Rohingya militants are linked with Pakistan-based terrorist groups. The Centre has said it will deport all the 40,000 Rohingyas who are illegal immigrants. The move has been challenged in Court by two Rohingya petitioners who said that their community is peace-loving and that most of them have no link to any terror activity.

New Delhi has to face the refugee problem stoically. There are Kashmiri pundits in Jammu and Bangladeshi Muslims in Kolkata and Guwahati. So is the case with Sri Lankan Tamils who have taken asylum in Tamil Nadu. Small skirmishes are already taking place and pose a serious problem. But the Rohingyas exodus has forced the government to revisit the issue of refugees, giving a political colour to a humane issue.

What is disconcerting is that the problem is slowly getting a communal colourHindu versus Muslim. West Bengal, which is already sitting on a volcano, has to retrieve the situation which may get out of control. In fact, the secular and democratic forces would have to join hands to fight against the onslaught of the Hindutva elements.

Sadly, one has to admit that the country is going towards a philosophy which has been fought by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Our heritage is pluralism and its essence has to be kept alive. This is not a one-party task. All like-minded and non-BJP forces have to come together to fight against the creeping communal forces.

With the Hindu extremists getting an upper hand in every sphere, it is an uphill task. But there is no option either. If we want communa-lism to be rolled back to restore the ethos of pluralism, the secular forces have to go to the grassroots. The Communists are giving the impression as if they alone are putting up a fight. The Congress is also doing so relentlessly, however irrelevant it looks in the present scenario.

The author is a veteran journalist renowned not only in this country but also in our neighbouring states of Pakistan and Bangladesh where his columns are widely read. His website is www.kuldipnayar.com
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2017 > Whither India?

With the announcement of the quantum of punishment to the perpetrators of the January 1993 serial blasts in Bombay by Judge G.A. Sanap of the Special Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act [TADA] court on September 7, 2017, probably the longest terror case trial in India comes to a close. In the first phase of this trial, Judge P.D. Kode of the Special TADA Court had sentenced 12 convicts to death and 20 to life term on September 12, 2006. With the latest judgment, 100 of the 123 accused have been punished.

This is a job well done! The Muslim terrorists who killed 257 and maimed hundreds of innocent residents of Bombay in January 1993 have been punished. Many of them have been sent to the gallows, awarded life sentences and so on. But what about those terrorists who butchered 575 and maimed hundreds of people of the minority community in December 1992 in the same city? In fact, some of the instigators later occupied high constitutional offices in democratic-secular India. This is true of the Khalistani terrorists also. They were hanged or killed on roads but for the 1984 massacre of Sikhs the Indian state is yet to conclude its process of finding the real culprits.

Sadly, with regard to communal and caste violence, India has two kinds of laws, one for minority/Dalits and other for majority/high castes. Whenever the former suffer, the Indian state plays a game of forming commissionscommissions to ensure that the heinous crimes against minorities and Dalits disappear from the public memory. In this regard the 1992-93 Bombay violence can be an interesting case for study. But if violence is believed to be perpetrated by minorities/Dalits, the punishment is instant. This latest judgment ensures punishment for January 1993 perpetrators but despite the Justice B.N. Srikrishna Commission Report holding almost all Hindutva organisations responsible for the killings of minority people in December 1992, the indicted perpetrators were not even questioned, what to talk of arresting them.

One unfortunate aspect of our post-indepen-dence governance has been that whenever the country witnesses large-scale violence against minorities and Dalits, the search for perpetrators continues endlessly and criminals are rarely punished. Major incidents of violence against minorities like the Nellie massacre (1983), Sikh massacre (1984), Hashimpura custodial massacre of Muslim youth (1987), pre/post-Ayodhya mosque demolition violence against Muslims (1990-92), Gujarat carnage (2002) and Kandhamal cleansing of Christians (2008) are testimony to this reality.

The status of anti-Dalit violence is no different. The major incidents of persecution and massacre of Dalitsthe 1968 Kilvenmani massacre, 1997 Melavalavu massacre, 2013 Marakkanam anti-Dalit violence, 2012 Dharmapuri anti-Dalit violence (all in Tamil Nadu), 1985 Karamchedu massacre, 1991 Tsundur massacre (both in AP), 1996 Bathani Tola massacre, 1997 Laxmanpur Bathe massacre (both in Bihar), 1997 Ramabai killings, Mumbai, 2006 Khairlanji massacre, 2014 Javkheda Hatyakand, (all in Maharashtra), 2000 Caste persecution in (Karnataka), five Dalits beaten/burnt to death for skinning a dead cow in 2006, 2011 killings of Dalits in Mirchpur (all in Haryana), 2015 anti-Dalit violence in Dangawas (Rajasthan)are among the thousands of incidents of Dalit persecution wherein most of the perpetrators remain unidentified. Moreover, in almost all the anti-Dalit violence cases, the culprits are acquitted or released on bail despite murder charges against them.

As a nation wedded to the exalted ideals of democracy, secularism and egalitarianism, we must never shy away from critically investi-gating this kind of dichotomy unless we feel that we have already the lost battle to religious bigotry and casteist hegemony.

Shamsul Islam, a well-known theatre personality, is a former Associate Professor (now retired), Department of Political Science, Satyawati College, University of Delhi. For some of the authors writings in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu and Gujarati use the following link: http/du-in.academia.edu/Shamsullslam
Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries remain top destinations for Chinese outbound tourists during this years National Day holiday, according to the China Tourism Academy. [File Photo: ctrip.com]

Southeast Asian countries remain top destinations for Chinese outbound tourists during the National Day holiday, according to the China Tourism Academy.

Monitoring data from the academy showed that Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are among the 10 most popular destinations for outbound travelers during the holiday from Oct. 1 to 8, said Dai Bin, head of the academy.

Over 45 percent of the travelers chose Southeast Asian countries, Dai said. He attributed the boom to a rapidly increasing number of flights between China and its southeastern neighbors and the latter's favorable visa policies for Chinese tourists.

Among the 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members, nine offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival policies for Chinese tourists. More than 2,700 flights fly between China and ASEAN countries every week.

Lu Lingxi from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said his family had not thought of going to Bali until Sept. 29. However, the late decision did not disrupt their trip, thanks to the visa-free policy of Indonesia.

In 2016, more than 30 million trips were made between China and ASEAN countries, compared with 10 million in 2011. The two are each other's largest overseas tourist destinations and largest sources of tourists, said a report on bilateral tourism cooperation issued in September.

2017 marks the China-ASEAN Year of Tourism. Promoting regional economic integration through tourism is part of the theme of the 14th China-ASEAN Expo held in Guangxi last month.
Ahmedabad : The Gujarat High Court today commuted the death sentence of 11 convicts in the 2002 Godhra train carnage case to life imprisonment. The high court also upheld the life sentence awarded by the special SIT court to 20 others in the case.

Fifty-nine `karsevaks' were killed in the Godhra train burning incident of February 27, 2002, triggering the worst communal riots in the history of Gujarat. A division bench of Justices Anant S Dave and G R Udhwani of the high court pronounced the judgement on appeals filed by the convicts as well as the prosecuting agency.

The special SIT court had on March 1, 2011 convicted 31 persons. The trial court sentenced 11 persons to death and 20 others to life imprisonment, while acquitting 63 others. The high court today also ordered the state government and the railways to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of those killed in the train burning incident. PTI
Something for the steak-lovin carnivores: internationally-acclaimed New York steakhouse, Wolfgangs Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener, will open its doors on our Singaporean shores this October. Located at The Quayside at Robertson Quay, it will be the first New York-style steakhouse to open in Singapore.

Wolfgangs Steakhouse has carved (no pun intended) a name for itself for its mouthwatering tender sub-primal cuts of USDA Black Angus Meat, which are dry aged in a proprietary-designed aging room for yes  28 days. As each chunk of meat ages, it naturally tenderizes to produce a robust, concentrated flavour profile that results in the distinctly deep, deliciously tender and nutty flavour in all their steaks.

If you havent had the chance to visit the original family-run New York institution in the Big Apple, youll be heartened to know that the The Quayside restaurant in Singapore bears interiors inspired by the original. With its solid walnut floors, rich mahogany bar, mosaic tiles and Italian chandeliers, you might just feel like youve been whisked into the heart of an NYC steakhouse.

From a sinfully creamy Lobster Mac n Cheese to a classic dry-aged Rib-eye, browse some of the scrumptious dishes (p.s. theyre not all steaks!) youll get to sink your teeth into at the new Wolfgangs Steakhouse in the gallery above!

Wolfgangs Steakhouse in Singapore will officially open this October 14th, daily from 11.30AM to 11.30PM. It offers lunch, happy hour and dinner, and will soon be launching a weekend brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays.

Sarah Khan

Photos: Wolfgangs Steakhouse

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Brace Yourselves: A Mac n Cheese Burger is coming to Singapore this October

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MARTINSVILLE  The City Council on Tuesday will consider scheduling two joint public hearings with the Martinsville Planning Commission on Oct. 24.

One concerns a request from the city and the Martinsville Redevelopment and Housing Authority for a special-use permit necessary for a vehicle terminal to be developed at 1 Progress Drive in the Clearview Business Park. The site is near the intersection of Clearview, Progress and Royal drives.

According to local officials, the terminal would be a garage where First Piedmont Corp., a regional waste management company, would store and repair vehicles. No garbage would be deposited there.

The terminal would replace one already operating in Henry County. First Piedmont wants to relocate the facility to Clearview to be closer to the solid waste transfer station that the company operates at the citys former landfill on Arden Circle, which is off Clearview Drive about a mile away, officials have said.

The Redevelopment and Housing Authority is City Council seated as another panel to handle public housing matters and redevelopment issues.

The planning commission advises the council on land-use issues, such as whether to grant rezoning and special-use permit requests.

The other hearing would be about proposed revisions to the citys subdivision ordinance, which is to become part of the revamped zoning ordinance that took effect on Aug. 1.

The subdivision ordinance is aimed to promote orderly, beneficial growth within the city and assure that land is subdivided and developed in an orderly way that promotes public health, safety and welfare, according to Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Wayne Knox.

After hearing basic information about the requests, the council will consider scheduling the hearings for its Oct. 24 session. Public comments on the requests will not be heard during Tuesdays meeting.

Also on its light agenda, the council will:

@ Consider proclaiming October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

@ Consider routine-type budget amendments.

@ Hear any public comments about city matters not scheduled to be discussed.

The public portion of the council meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of the municipal building on West Church Street uptown.

At 7 p.m., the council will meet privately to consult with its legal counsel and consider potential appointments to local boards and commissions.
On October 9th, 1967 Ernesto Che Guevara was killed by the Bolivian army, backed by the United States. Fifty years later, Guevara remains one of the most popular revolutionaries amongst workers and youth around the world. To commemorate the figure of Che, but also, and most importantly, to understand the relevance of his life and ideas to today's struggles, we are publishing an edited version of an article written for the Italian Marxists theoretical magazine ten years ago on the 40th anniversary of his death.

Guevara was and still is, together with Fidel Castro, a symbol of the Cuban revolution and moreover of the struggle against oppression throughout the world. His spirit of self-sacrifice, his rigour and his intellectual honesty are a source of inspiration to us all.

It is not by accident that his profile and works find themselves time and again at the centre of political debate. In the year of the 40th anniversary of his murder, this is truer than ever.

Ches beginnings

Ernesto Guevara de la Serna was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1928. He moved to the capital city, Buenos Aires, to study medicine. In 1951 he embarked on a motorbike journey through Latin America with his friend, Alberto Granado. In that period, a political consciousness began to take shape in his mind. Particularly important to this process was his stay in Guatemala, where he became involved in the resistance against a coup detat staged by the US against the elected President, Jacobo Arbenz, in 1954. The latter was implementing agrarian reforms that clashed with the interests of the US corporation, United Fruit Company.

In Guatemala, Che met Hilda Gadea, who introduced him to Marxism, and who later became his wife. But what kind of Marxism was Guevara becoming acquainted with while taking his first steps as a revolutionary? It could only have been an outlook heavily influenced by Stalinism, which at that time enjoyed enormous influence due the victory of the USSR in the Second World War, and also with the Chinese CP coming to power in the Chinese Revolution of 1949.

The origins of the cuban revolution

In spite of this, Castro and Guevara were not prepared to support the policy of the Stalinised Latin American Communist parties, which were extremely degenerate and followed a criminal policy of support for their own national bourgeoisies. And one of the most rightwing of these was the Cuban Communist Party which ended up participating in the first Batista government with two ministers. The Cuban revolutionary youth launched their own organisation, the 26th of July movement (Movimiento 26 de Julio), named after the failed assault on the Moncada barracks in 1953. The movement was to launch an armed landing in Cuba with the idea of sparking a mass insurrection against the dictatorship. That also failed, and they were then forced to embark on a protracted guerrilla war.

The goal of this guerrilla movement, when it began its struggle against the Batista dictatorship, was not a socialist revolution but a number of radical reforms aimed at the establishment of genuine national independence, while remaining under capitalism. This is clearly revealed in the famous speech History will absolve me, delivered by Fidel Castro in his own court defence against the charges brought against him after he led the failed attack on the Moncada barracks in 1953. Fidel proposed to grant workers and employees the right to share 30% of the profits of all the large industrial, mercantile and mining enterprises and the establishing of social justice, based on industrial and economic progress.

At this time Che Guevara had already developed a more radical perspective, that of socialist transformation, and in his Diaries he hints at the idea that after the victory of the revolutionary war he might have to break with his comrades and push further ahead.

In the first months of 1959, immediately after the seizure of power, even Che Guevara had illusions about a democratic development within the limits of capitalism, as he explained in this interview:

We are democratic, our movement is democratic, [we are] of a liberal consciousness and keen for cooperation throughout America. It is a classic deception of the dictators to call Communists those who refuse to submit to them. Within a year and a half, a political force will be organized with the ideology of the 26 July Movement. Then there will be elections and the new party will compete with the other democratic parties. (H. Thomas, Cuba: A history, page 831, Italian edition).

In Cuba, however, there could not be a "democratic" stage of capitalism. A clash with US imperialism due to its total domination over every aspect of Cuba's economic and political life was inevitable, given the fact that the US multinationals owned ninety percent of the islands industry and controlled the sugarcane crop!

From the minute the July 26th Movement entered Havana, the US began to hinder and sabotage the new revolutionary government. There was therefore no possibility of any economic or social development under capitalism. In the same period, the Soviet Union, China and the rest of Eastern Europe provided an important point of reference. And when the US government refused to buy sugar from Cuba, Moscow offered to buy it in its place.

On the basis of a massive revolutionary thrust, capitalism was eliminated in Cuba. The building of the new system, however, did not follow the example of the republic of the Soviets of Lenin's time, but that of the Soviet Union of Stalin and Khrushchev. That system, as a result of the backwardness and the isolation of the USSR, had seen a bureaucracy develop which usurped political power from the working class. All the bodies of a workers democracy, the soviets, the councils, and so on, were reduced to mere transmission belts of decisions by the state apparatus.

In Cuba in those early years there was a great desire on the part of the workers and oppressed classes to become politically active, with millions joining the mass organisations (particularly the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution), and hundreds of thousands taking up arms to defeat the imperialist Bay of Pigs attack. But there was no democratic structure through which they could have an input into the main decisions and exercise direct control over the economy and the running of society. Workers had no opportunity to elect officers and administrators from within their own ranks, nor the ability to recall those who failed in their duties.

The Cuban revolutionaries, having no other model as a point of reference, applied the one suggested by their Soviet advisers. In those early years, Che Guevara was genuinely convinced that this was the correct course, and there is much evidence to prove it. Take for example the "Reglamento de la Empresa consolidada" elaborated by Che when he was Minister of Industry. One can read that the manager, nominated by the Ministry, was entitled "to know and administer all the planning, the organization, the implementation and the control phases, all the functions and tasks of the consolidated enterprise, and to administer its means and its facilities and all that is involved in this, and to represent it in every circumstance" (E. Guevara, op. cit., page 509).

The Soviet Union, in spite of all the distortions that ultimately led to the collapse of the system at the end of the 1980s, could at that time boast great successes in the field of economics, science and culture. This was despite the bureaucratic control, and thanks to the abolition of the market system and the planning of economic resources. Here is an account of Ches first impressions on visiting the USSR: "Even I, coming to the Soviet Union, was surprised because one of the things you notice most is the enormous freedom that there is (...) the enormous freedom of thought , the enormous freedom that each one has to develop according to his own abilities and temperament" (E. Guevara, Scritti, discorsi e diari di guerriglia, Einaudi, 1969, page 946). These words were pronounced in 1961, five years after the military repression of the Hungarian workers revolution by Moscow.

And on the strategy of the development of socialism, speaking again about the USSR, we can see the confused ideas of the Argentine revolutionary: "Listen carefully: every revolution, whether we like it or not, we wish it or not, has to pass through an inevitable stage of Stalinism, because it must defend itself from the capitalist encirclement "(KS Karol, La guerriglia al potere, Mondadori 1970, page 53).

Stalinism here is treated as a disease of childhood. Instead, it was a process of political counterrevolution carried out by a political caste: the bureaucracy of which Stalin was the representative, and which did not exhaust itself upon his death. It involved the physical elimination of all the Bolshevik old guard, who had led the October Revolution. The thread of revolutionary tradition was interrupted in many countries: for this reason, anti-Stalinist positions in the Communist movement, including those of Trotsky, were weak in countries like Cuba, and were often explained in a caricatured manner. Che probably became aware of all of this in the last years of his life.

The problem for Cuba in the early years was that cooperation with the Soviet Union which was not only inevitable, but necessary, and resulted in the transposition of the Soviet model to the island. It was (mistakenly) believed that, under such a bureaucratic model, Cuba could carve out an unalterable and guaranteed role as supplier of raw materials and foodstuffs (sugar and nickel), without worrying too much about the harmonious development of the economy. The process of bureaucratisation of the Cuban revolution, however, was not without its problems. In the first stage there were many sharp clashes between the Cuban revolutionaries and the Soviet bureaucrats (and their followers on the island, in the old Communist party, PSP). These debates ranged from economic to foreign policy, to issues of Marxist theory to questions of the arts and culture.

The debate on the economy

Che began to develop his first doubts after looking at the problems afflicting the management of industry: the sector of which he was minister. In the debate on the "budgeting system" (sistema de financiamiento presupuestario) in which Che was accused of introducing capitalist measures, he explained: "There are many similarities with the monopolies calculation system, but no one can deny that monopolies have a very efficient one and criticized the system used by the USSR as one that produced inequalities by providing individual incentives (especially to managers) as the central axis.

The main plank of Ches heated argument with the Stalinists over economic planning was that he advocated a budgeting system, in which the central economic authority would allocate resources to different branches of the economy. Above all, he was concerned with developing industry, which he saw as crucial, inasmuch as it would also strengthen the working class.

The Stalinists on the other hand advocated giving enterprises more autonomy, using criteria of profitability to incentivise production in each enterprise and using market criteria in the relations between different enterprises.



In this Che Guevara was correct, although perhaps he had a position which tended towards voluntarism.

In the discussion about the incentives which was linked to it, Guevara criticized the exclusive use of material and economic subsidies by focusing on moral incentives.

One of the most important mechanisms in Ches organization of society was social emulation, considered as "a weapon to increase production and an instrument for raising the consciousness of the masses" (quoted in the book of Carlos Tablada Perez, Economia, etica e politica nel pensiero di Ernesto Che Guevara, page 209, italian edition).

However, the debate on the economy in those years in Cuba was flawed in one crucial respect. The key question missing was that the only moral incentive for production in a planned economy lies in workers democracy, the fact that workers not only are nominally the owners of the means of production, but rather that they feel they have real power in society, that they are in charge and that the decisions they take shape the development of society and therefore benefit themselves individually and collectively as a class. We always return to the issue stressed by Trotsky: "The planned economy needs democracy as the human body needs oxygen."

Guevara, on the other hand, always gave more importance to voluntarism: to the development of the new man, as can be seen in one of his most famous writings, Socialism and Man in Cuba. To try to build a "new man", free of alienation and selfishness, must certainly be one of the priorities of a communist when it comes to the development of a socialist society, but this process must have sound material foundations in society and must be based on the decisive role of the working class in the new system.

On the relationship between the leaders and the masses in the Cuban socialist state, Che provides an interesting perspective: The initiative generally comes from Fidel, or from the revolutionary leadership, and is explained to the people, who make it their own. In some cases the party and government take a local experience and generalize it, following the same procedure. (E. Guevara, Socialism and Man in Cuba)

And again: At the great public mass meetings one can observe something like the dialogue of two tuning forks whose vibrations interact, producing new sounds. Fidel and the mass begin to vibrate together in a dialogue of growing intensity until they reach the climax in an abrupt conclusion crowned by our cry of struggle and victory.

This description is very apt of the mood which existed, particularly in the first years of the revolution and the close and intense relationship between the leadership, which had an enormous moral and political authority, and the masses, which supported them enthusiastically. However, that is not enough. There were no real channels for the masses to participate democratically in the running of the state and the economy. The principles of a workers state as described by Lenin in State and Revolution (the election and right of recall of all officials, no official to earn a wage higher than that of a skilled worker, no standing army but the people in arms, the rotation of officers so no-one could become a bureaucrat, etc) did not exist in Cuba.

Later, in the same text, Che deals with the problem of the participation of the masses in the process of decision-making, when he explains that "it is necessary to deepen conscious participation, individual and collective, in all the structures of management and production". He is looking for "new revolutionary institutions": "This institutionalization of the revolution has not yet been achieved. We are looking for something new that will permit a complete identification between the government and the community in its entirety". However, he cannot indicate the means by which to do this. This indicates how deep was the bureaucratic break from the ideas of true Bolshevism and the October Revolution, when even sincere revolutionaries like Che failed to elaborate an alternative to Stalinism.

On this last point, the extreme position that Che developed on the question of the trade unions is symptomatic: About one thing I'm sure, it is that the trade unions are a brake that need to be destroyed, but not with the method of withering away: they must be destroyed as the State should be destroyed, in one go." (This and all the other quotations of the Unpublished works of Che are taken from articles by Antonio Moscato, published in the daily paper Liberazione between September and October, 2005).

The alleged uselessness of trade unions in the planned economy does not take into account that even the best system of workers democracy will never be perfect, because it will reflect the antagonisms of the different classes that have not yet disappeared. It may happen that workers will have to organize to defend themselves from abuses of power, even under a workers state. Hence, the need for a trade union structure in the transitional era. This was the position Lenin defended in the trade union debate in the Soviet Union in 1920. In that debate Lenin clashed with Trotsky, who later conceded he was wrong.

Internationalism or chauvinism?

The main conflict between Guevara (and, at least in the early period of the revolution, Fidel as well) and the Soviet Union was, above all, on internationalism. In the 1960s, Cuba launched several appeals for socialist revolution in Latin America; for example, in the Message to the Tricontinental and in the Second Declaration of Havana, both written by Che Guevara. The need to extend the revolution was one of Che's main insights, which could hardly be conciliated with the "peaceful coexistence", advocated by Khrushchev. As far as Guevara was concerned, socialism in one country was simply impossible.

Guevaras unpublished works reveal his very firm position: "Internationalism is replaced by chauvinism (of a weak power or small country), or by submission to the USSR, while maintaining the discrepancies between other popular democracies (Comecon)."

Ches later years are characterized by a growing mistrust of the role of the countries of "real socialism" (i.e. of the Stalinist bloc), and his unpublished works provide an even clearer context to his speech to the Second Afroamerican Economic Seminar, which took place in Algiers in February 1965:

How can it be mutually beneficial to sell at world market prices the raw materials that cost the underdeveloped countries immeasurable sweat and suffering, and to buy at world market prices the machinery produced in today's big automated factories? If we establish that kind of relation between the two groups of nations, we must agree that the socialist countries are, in a certain way, accomplices of imperialist exploitation. It can be argued that the amount of exchange with the underdeveloped countries is an insignificant part of the foreign trade of the socialist countries. That is very true, but it does not eliminate the immoral character of that exchange. The socialist countries have the moral duty to put an end to their tacit complicity with the exploiting countries of the West. (At the Afro-Asian Conference in Algeria).

Along with these arguments we find a harsh critique of the bureaucracy, described as "a brake on revolutionary action," but also "a corrosive acid that distorts (...) economy, education, culture and public services" to the point that "it damages us more than imperialism itself".

Che Guevara and Trotskyism

The search for a different path towards socialism was certainly one of Che's main concerns during his last period. His tragic death interrupted this search, so today it is difficult to determine what would have been. But we can be sure that Guevara had broken with Stalinism.

For Guevara "proletarian internationalism is a duty, but also a revolutionary necessity", thus clashing with the nationalism of official Communist parties and with the strictly "Cuban" vision of so many revolutionaries on the island. Until the end of his life, the goal of Ches political activity was to spread revolution throughout Latin America. He had no confidence in the supposedly progressive nature of the various national bourgeoisies, defended by Moscow and Beijing:

On the other hand, the autochthonous bourgeoisies have lost all their capacity to oppose imperialism  if they ever had it  and they have become the last card in the pack. There are no other alternatives; either a socialist revolution or a make-believe revolution. (Message to the Tricontinental)

As we have seen, Che came into conflict with the Soviet bureaucracy on this and various other issues. But to state that he had become "Trotskyist", as some "alternative" historians claim, does not correspond to reality. To sustain this falsehood would do disservice to the figure of Ernesto Guevara, who considered honesty and intellectual rigour as core principles. Guevara was a revolutionary who thought deeply about his political experiences and about perspectives for the revolution. In the last period of his life, he read Trotsky, as testified by his notebooks, focusing on books such as The Permanent Revolution and the History of the Russian Revolution, from which he recopied entire pages.

But Ches reflection on these texts remained incomplete. The choice of using guerrilla war first in the Congo and later in Bolivia confirms this, backed by a few excerpts from his unpublished works. When Guevara asked himself whether the proletariat still represents the driving force behind the revolutionary process, his answer is categorical:

"The examples of China, Vietnam and Cuba prove the inadequacy of this thesis. In the first two cases the participation of the proletariat was none or poor, in Cuba the struggle was not led by the party of the working class, but by a multi-class movement radicalized after the takeover of political power.

As a matter of fact, in Cuba, the general strike, which paralyzed the country for a week, was a decisive factor in the seizure of power. The working class had entered the stage of revolution with force, but without any representative body, comparable to the Soviets in 1917. Instead, it put its trust in the peasant guerrillas. This hugely facilitated the rise of a bureaucracy that was placed at the head of the state apparatus. In China and Vietnam, the guerrilla struggle led to victory over imperialism and the collapse of capitalism, but the regimes that emerged were from the beginning deformed workers' states in the image and likeness of the USSR.

One of the lessons of the Russian Revolution of 1917 was that even in a backward country the proletariat plays a decisive role, no matter how small it may be from the numerical point of view.

Marxism does not underestimate the importance of the peasant movement. Without the support of the mass of poor peasants, millions of which engaged in the vanguard, the October Revolution would have never been possible. But it was the industrial working class - in spite of the fact that it represented a minority of Russian society (just over 10%) - who led the revolutionary movement. It is in industry, in every country where capitalist production relations have been established, where the decisive clash takes place. The leading role in the struggle for socialism is given to the working class not by divine law, but by the role it plays in production.

We find it quite understandable that Che Guevara, politically educated in the 50s and 60s, did not consider the proletariat of the Western countries as decisive, given the long lull in the workers' movement in those countries, facilitated by the post-war economic boom. But it was wrong to elevate a period of lull in the workers struggles to a general theory. Unfortunately, May 68 in France and the Hot Autumn in Italy came too late to allow Che to correct his analysis. In an attempt to create "two, three, many Vietnams" Guevara generalized the methods used in the Cuban Revolution. In his opinion, the struggle had to be developed outside of the city, there was no need to build a party as the vanguard of the working class. These theories, later adopted by others in many Latin American countries even when they had already been proven wrong by the experience of Che in Bolivia, led revolutionary organisations to take cadres from factories and cities and take them into the countryside, even in highly industrialized countries such as Uruguay or Argentina!

The Foco theory can be summed up in the following words of Che Guevara: It is not always necessary to wait for all the necessary conditions for a revolution, the insurrectionary foco can create them (E. Guevara, ibidem, page. 284). The history of the workers' movement shows the opposite: revolutionaries intervene in revolutions, they do not create them. And the experiences of the Congo and Bolivia confirm this hypothesis. Despite all Ches efforts, and also thanks to the corrupt character of the Congolese nationalist guerrilla leadership, the last period in the Congo would become "the year we were nowhere", according to some of Che's comrades.

Congolese student groups, trained in China and Bulgaria, as Guevara recounts, "had no intention of risking their lives in combat". On arrival, they asked for 15 days of leave and protested "because they did not have a place to leave luggage and there were no weapons ready for them. A really comical situation, had it not been so sad to see the attitude of those guys on whom the revolution had placed its hopes "(The year we were nowhere, by P.I Taibo II, F. Escobar, F. Guerra, 1994, page 233-234).

In Bolivia, the conscious boycotting role played by the Bolivian Communist Party leadership was striking. Even Fidel Castro, in one of his forewords to the Bolivia Diaries, excoriated the PCB leadership for "treason". But this factor alone can not explain the failure of the Cuban expedition in Bolivia.

Guevara went to create a guerrilla movement in the area around Nancahuazu, a depopulated area, unsuitable for guerrilla warfare, with virtually no supporters in the towns and cities. Here we see all the limitations of the Foco theory. Even if we admit that Che's intention was to create a "political-military school for Bolivian guerrillas" the substance of the question does not change at all. Forming a conscious vanguard, willing to make sacrifices, is one of the first tasks of a revolutionary. But equally important is that this vanguard does not separate itself from the masses, and above all that it operates among those masses that are the decisive factor for revolutionary change.

In Bolivia there was a strong workers movement, whose vanguard were the tin miners. A few years after the death of Guevara, a movement of the masses swept away the dictatorship in 1970, and opened the brief experience of the La Paz Commune in 1971. Where were the best resources, therefore, for a really effective revolutionary struggle?

Guevara paid for his mistakes with his life. To discuss today his political and theoretical legacy is an indispensable task. Guevara was a sincere revolutionary, and the study of his thoughts assumes meaning for the current situation: not least in relation to the past, present and future of the Cuban and Latin American Revolution.

We consider one of Ches conclusions more relevant than ever today: the need to spread the struggle for the socialist revolution throughout the Latin American continent, internationalism not as an abstract word, but as a central idea of the revolutionary movement. We think it is not an accident that Che and the Cuban Revolution in its early years were in fierce conflict with the Communist parties under Moscows influence on this particular subject. In internationalism lies the only salvation for the Cuban revolution. The international struggle is more relevant than ever. When we see mass mobilisations and revolutions taking place from Venezuela to Bolivia, from Ecuador to Argentina, we are committed to providing political and material support to the forces of Marxism in those countries.
The Boston Bruins are still dealing with the injury bug in the first week of the 2017-18 season, but the Black and Gold are set to get a big boost on their blue line.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney announced Monday that defenseman Torey Krug has been removed from injured reserve and is eligible to play in Monday's afternoon game against the Colorado Avalanche.

In a corresponding move, forward Austin Czarnik was also taken off of IR and will be eligible to play Monday, while forwards Noel Acciari and David Backes were both placed on IR. To make room for the expected return of Krug, Boston also assigned defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to the Providence Bruins.

Krug, 26, missed Boston's season opener Thursday after suffering a fractured jaw during a preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings on Sept. 19. He was slated to miss three weeks of action following the injury.

Krug should add some scoring punch to Boston's D corps and top power-play unit, as the blueliner tallied eight goals and 43 assists over 81 games last year before missing all six of the Bruins' playoff games against Ottawa with an MCL injury.

Boston will be without Acciari and Backes for the foreseeable future. Acciari, one of Boston's top bottom-six forwards, will be sidelined for six weeks after breaking his left index finger Thursday, while Backes will miss at least three to four weeks due to diverticulitis.
SPRINGFIELD -- With the start of subway car production at CRRC MA's massive new factory in East Springfield just months away, Gov. Charlie Baker and Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno are set to tour the facility.

They'll be at the factory, a $95 million behemoth nearing completion at the old Westinghouse site on Interstate 291, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

In 2014, Changchun, China-based CRRC received a $566 million contract from the MBTA to build 152 Orange Line cars and 252 Red Line cars. In December, the state upped the order with another 120 new Red Line cars, with production starting in June 2022 at a cost of $277 million.

The state went without federal funding on the original order so that it could require that the cars be assembled here in Massachusetts.

The goal was to jumpstart a rail car industry here. And so far, it looks like that is working.

CRRC has announced plans to build cars for other cities at the Springfield facility:

Los Angeles:

Philadelphia:

In Springfield, CRRC plans to have 150 people working at the plant when it is in full production. The company has said production jobs will pay $55,000 to $60,000 a year.

In March, CRRC sent 23 union members, several engineers and production supervisors to its factory in China for training. They returned in August, the company said.

At the Springfield plant, car shells manufactured in China will arrive at the Stevens Street side of the building. Once inside, workers will finish them, installing wheel assemblies called bogies, as well as electronics, control systems, motors and interiors.

At the end of the process, CRRC will use a giant shower to test each car and make sure it is weathertight.

CRC has also built a 2,240-foot-long test track running parallel with the highway, complete with an electrified third rail. That's where CRRC plans to test the subway cars.
We've all had this experience in the car.

We're flipping around the radio stations, searching for a song we love or perhaps something new and exciting.

But there doesn't seem to be anything on.

Then, just when you're ready to give up and listen to the same Led Zeppelin song for the millionth time, you hear it.

A different chord.

A different voice.

Or maybe a different drum beat or riff.

And suddenly that new song is your new favorite song and you can't wait to hear it again.

I had the same sort of experience a few weekends ago tasting different wines.

Some were good and familiar and reliable like a song by The Rolling Stones or The Cars.

A few were as sweet and sappy as a bubblegum pop song. In fact, "bubblegum" is the perfect word since some California wine makers seem obsessed recently with making wines that taste like gum. Don't ask me why but I have lost track of the number of red wines I've tried recently from California that taste like Bazooka Joe. Don't get me wrong. I like gum. I just don't want my wine to taste like it.

Then I opened another California wine which more than made up for the awful ones I just had.

And if you saw this wine on a shelf, you might easily overlook it since the label looks something you used to make with those label making machines everyone used to have in a kitchen drawer decades ago.

The red label simply said Saldo. But if you're looking for the wine in a store, ask for the 2015 Saldo California Zinfandel ($29.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield).

I've written here before many times about many great California zinfandels. I'm also well aware of the criticisms some people have about these wines.

They're too overpowering.

They're too over the top.

One of my favorites California zinfandel wineries, Turley, often gets criticized for these reason. But in the last decade or so, I honestly cannot remember ever having a single bad bottle of Turley Zinfandel. Every single one was a radio-worthy hit, even though some of them have a sky-high alcohol content.

When a wine's well made, you frankly don't even notice whether it's high or low in alcohol. It just tastes great.

I had the same feeling the second I took a sip of the Saldo Zinfandel. Made by the same Oakville, California company that produces the popular Prisoner wine, this wine tasted beautiful and well balanced straight out of the bottle. There were hints of dried plums, dark chocolate and almonds mixed with the smell of licorice and leather.

And even though this wine is 15.9 percent alcohol, my wife and I didn't even notice and didn't feel the slightest bit drunk after easily finishing this delicious wine over the course of 2 or 3 hours.

Normally, I save some of the wine in a bottle for the next day to see how it evolves over the course of several days. But the Saldo tasted so great, we simply couldn't help ourselves. It was that good.

Let me add that we didn't even have the wine with food, something that I usually advise when it comes to big, full-bodied zinfandels.

I hope this review convinces people who don't normally like California zinfandels to give this one a try. And if you already are a zinfandel fanatic like myself and you've never tried the Saldo before, boy, are you in for a real treat!

Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican's weekend section every Thursday.

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From the October 9, 1967 edition of The Springfield Union

Fifty years ago, this week, about 200 people protested the Vietnam war during a convocation ceremony at Williams College in Williamstown. During the convocation, First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, received an honorary degree for her efforts at beautification. The ceremony marked the official opening of the Center for Environmental Studies at the college.

Over in Vietnam, U.S. Green Berets parachuted into the Communist controlled Central Highlands of Vietnam. Their mission was to set up a border base near a Cambodian airfield that was being used by the North Vietnamese to supply their troops.

From the October 8, 1967 edition of The Springfield Union

Later in the week, a small plane that had been missing since June 25 was found on the slope of Mt. Williams near North Adams. A pilot taking off from Harriman Airport in North Adams noticed the wreckage on the mountain below. A couple from Baltimore, Maryland had been killed in the June crash and their bodies were found in the wreckage.

From the October 13, 1967 edition of The Springfield Union

Twenty years later, 72-year-old Arthur Rondeau, of Palmer, harvested the last crop of corn from his farm. Retiring from farming, he sold most of his 290-acre farm to a local developer. He would continue milking his herd of 200 Holsteins until December, when they would be sold.

From the October 12, 1987 edition of the Springfield Union~News

These are some of the headlines you'll see from Page 1 of The Republican and its predecessors over the past fifty years for the week of October 8 - October 14. Each week I'll put together a slideshow of Page 1 images from selected years over the course of that week. We're starting with a look back at one, five, thirty, forty and fifty years ago, with Page 1s from each day of the week for those years.

The slideshow for October 8 - October 14 is embedded at the top of this article.

We'll also find some humor printed out on page one over the years. In 1967 'Dennis The Menace' could be found on the bottom of page one six days a week.

From the October 9, 1967 edition of The Springfield Union

Other newspaper comics from the archive can be found in the Featured Collection photo galleries on MassLive.

Five years ago, three casino companies filed plans with the city of Springfield in an effort to build a casino in the city. With the deadline to file past, no other companies would be allowed to enter the competition to build in the city.

And a year ago, this week, Cara Rintala was found guilty in the 2010 killing of her wife in Granby. The 2016 trial was the third as jurors could not reach a verdict in the 2013 and 2014 trials.

As you'll find with looking through the slideshow, that while many stories come and go, many of the issues and topics that affected lives in the past, continue to have an impact on our lives today.

Copies of these and other stories can be found in the online archives. The Historic Archive includes stories from 1824 to 1989, and the Newsbank Archive covers 1988 through the present day.
An olympian will visit Massachusetts this winter.

Gymnast Laurie Hernandez will visit Pioneer Gymnastics in East Longmeadow to meet young gymnasts enrolled at the gym.

Hernandez took home the gold as a member of the U.S. women's gymnastics team at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She went on to compete and win season 23 of Dancing with the Stars.

The event is a fundraiser to benefit Baystate Children's Hospital.

"It's a win-win for the kids and the children's hospital," said Chris McKinnon, who owns the gym with his wife, Danielle. McKinnon said they are hosting the event as a way to give back to the community and hope to host similar fundraisers in the future.

Gymnasts will fundraise to win prizes connected to the event. Families that raise $125 will be invited to attend a gymnastics clinic with the olympian. Those that raise $250 will have the opportunity to meet Hernandez for pictures, autographs and attend a question and answer session with her.

Top fundraisers will have the opportunity to participate in private clinics with Hernandez and lunch with her.

The event will be held at Pioneer Gymnastics on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.

Pioneer Gymnastics opened in East Longmeadow more than 50 years ago and has taught thousands of young gymnasts over the years. The McKinnons bought the junior olympic gym 13 years ago, teaching entry-level gymnastics and taekwondo to tumbling and competitive gymnastics teams.
Government bodies in Amherst and Northampton will consider in coming weeks the "End of Life Options Act" pending in the state Legislature.

Amherst Town Meeting members will be asked to support the initiative next month, and the Northampton City Council is expected to consider supporting the same initiative next week.

Nadine Shank is bringing the article to Amherst Town Meeting. In an email, she wrote, "Cambridge and Provincetown have already passed a very similar resolution, so having Amherst and Northampton join them would increase statewide support for the Legislature to pass 'The End of Life Options Act.'"

The Massachusetts Joint Public Health Committee held a hearing on the End of Life Options Act last month, and the committee needs to vote to advance it. Bills have been filed in both the House (H.1194) and Senate (S.1225).

Shank hopes that residents in Amherst contact State Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose, D-Amherst, and residents in both communities contact state Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst.

The Northampton City Council is scheduled to talk about and possibly vote Oct. 19 on the the same resolution, submitted by the Pioneer Valley Death with Dignity Action Group.

Voters statewide defeated a "Death With Dignity" ballot question -- 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent -- five years ago, but 72 percent of Amherst voters support it, according to the Amherst resolution.

Shank wrote, "(Passage of the bill) would certainly help to raise awareness of this issue throughout the community as well as sending a message to legislators at the state level that residents of Amherst (support it.)"

She said that if it passes, "People in Amherst and across the state will have the freedom to decide their futures if they meet the requirements of the law. Oregon recently reached the 20th anniversary of having this legislation, and to date there has been no issues with misuse.

The Massachusetts Medical Society, meanwhile, has reaffirmed its opposition to the bill.

Opponents have expressed concern that if physicians are allowed to prescribe life-ending medication, people could be pressured into ending their life early and some might see suicide as a relatively cheap way to handle people with complex medical needs.

Rep. Louis Kafka, a Stoughton Democrat who sponsored medical aid in dying legislation, has said this bill includes "more safeguards" than the 2012 ballot question.

Falmouth primary care physician Roger Kligler, who has been diagnosed with incurable stage IV prostate cancer, will speak about the bills Oct. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at the Northampton Friends Meetinghouse, 43 Center St. and Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz St.

He is a volunteer with the national organization Compassion and Choices.

Amherst Town Meeting begins Nov. 6. It is uncertain when members would vote on the resolution. Town Meeting lasts several nights.
A resolution has been brought forth in Brookline to recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day rather than Columbus Day.

The change would bring awareness to the history and importance of Native Americans in the U.S. rather than celebrate the deaths of those people, supporters say.

Voters will take up the resolution at Brookline Special Town Meeting on Nov. 14.

"As we write this, there is increasing awareness about the pain and damage caused by symbols such as confederate flags and statues, attention should also be paid to the longstanding request of many native people to abolish the Columbus Day holiday, which to them is a celebration of the deaths of millions of their people, and instead declare Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday in October in order to bring more awareness to the history and continued presence of native people here in the US," reads the resolution, which is article 20 on the Town Meeting warrant.

Cities are beginning to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day rather than Columbus Day in New England and beyond.

Cambridge, Amherst and Northampton all celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, celebrating the natives who lived on the land before Columbus arrived in 1492.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the first Massachusetts tribe to make contact with the Pilgrims, will now call the second Monday in October Indigenous Peoples Day.

And, Plimouth Plantation recently announced that it would recognize Indigenous Peoples Day.

There is a petition circling to name an Indigenous Peoples Day in Boston.

The Indigenous Peoples Day movement started in Berkeley, California in 1992 to change the scope of the holiday in protest of honoring cruelty against natives by Christopher Columbus and his men.

In Brookline, supporters cite various reasons for wanting to make the change, including the reported rape and enslavement of native women and girls and accounts of murder against natives.

The resolution claims that two Brookline residents purchased seven Native Americans and sold them as slaves.

"Other accounts refer to signs of an Indigenous village that was located in the area where the Ackers family subsequently established a farm, near the present-day Brookline Reservoir, by Boylston and Eliot Streets," the resolution reads.

A Facebook page for the Brookline movement has been updating people with meeting dates ahead of the Special Town Meeting.
One week after a mass shooting began as Jason Aldean entrained a crowd of more than 22,000 people, the country music star returned to Las Vegas to visit with those who were critically wounded.

The University Medical Center of Southern Nevada thanked Aldean in a Facebook post on Sunday after he spent time with patients.

"Our extreme gratitude to Country Music Star Jason Aldean for visiting UMC today. Jason spent time with our patients who were critically injured during the Las Vegas shooting," the center wrote. "His visit helped heal hearts and cheer those who were wounded in this tragedy."

Fifty-eight people were killed and around 500 were injured on Oct. 1 when Stephen Paddock opened fire upon the crowd at the Route 91 Harvest Festival.

Paddock was staying in a suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where he had a cache of weapons and had installed cameras, likely so he could see police coming for him.

Authorities say Paddock shot and killed himself before police could get into his hotel room.

Aldean's visit with patients on Sunday came after his tribute to the victims on Saturday Night Live.

"This week we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history. Like everyone, I'm struggling to understand what happened that night, and how to pick up the pieces and start to heal," Aldean said. "So many people are hurting."

Aldean's wife, Brittany Aldean, shared a photo of the couple in Las Vegas and wrote that it felt surreal to be back.

"Visiting some of the strongest people we have ever met... fighting the toughest battle of them all... for their lives. You have helped us try to begin the healing process by seeing the strength each one of you have," she wrote on Instagram. "Thank you for today. We will never forget."
A man talking on WeChat in Guangzhou. Photo: IC

Starting Sunday, anyone administering group chats, such as WeChat and Sina Weibo, will need to be responsible for managing the group, according to a new national regulation on Internet group chat.

The regulation, from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), states that anyone administering WeChat, QQ and other Internet group chat must "inspect the conduct of group members and the information posted in groups so that it accords with the law, user agreements and online platform conventions," according to the CAC website.

"Service providers and users of such online groups must promote socialist values and encourage a positive and healthy Net culture," read the regulation.

A WeChat group host surnamed Liu told the Global Times that she and many other group chat hosts have been warning their members about the need to stop passing illicit content now.

"It's reasonable for cyberspace regulators to strengthen their online investigation since Internet violence was getting rampant. Now, users will have to be more careful in sending group messages," Liu concluded.

"The new regulation can serve as an alarm for all Internet users to show them that they need to be more cautious in posting comments," Wang Sixin, deputy dean of the Communication University of China's School of Literature and Law, told the Global Times on Sunday,

"In the case of those online service providers that used to turn a blind eye to illegal online comments, they'll have to be more responsible for the illicit content and controlling their users now that the new regulations have come out," Wang added.

Service providers will need to check the qualification of a group's hosts by examining their real identity or credit rating, the regulation states, and that service providers need to enforce the real-name registration of all their users before they post any comment, but users can choose not to reveal related information on the user pages.

Qin An, the head of the China Institute of Cyberspace Strategy, told the Global times on Sunday that the real-name registration could still protect the online users' need for virtual identity, while helping the country clean up its Internet world.

Qin said that the regulation complements China's Cyber Security Law, while Wang adds that to make full use of the regulation, law enforcement officials also need to turn to China's Criminal Law and related laws since the regulation does not specify penalties for violators.

Since the Cyber Security Law took effect in June, several net users have been fined or detained for posting illegal content via social media.

Last month, police in East China's Anhui Province detained a man for five days for posting insults concerning traffic police in a chat group.

Sina Weibo has also announced in late September that it will hire 1,000 reviewers to closely watch the content on its platform to better regulate its content.

The 1,000 people will be responsible for detecting and reporting pornographic, illegal, or other harmful content to the administrator to help the company deal with illicit content more effectively.
SPRINGFIELD - The uproar over questions about whether Dr. Seuss' books include racially insensitive pictures and ideas continued this week when three local children's authors declined to attend a Children's Literature festival at the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum.

Mo Willems, Lisa Yee and Mike Curato wrote a letter saying they found a mural taken from a page from Dr. Seuss' first book, "And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street" offensive and "deeply hurtful." The mural includes a cartoon of a stereotypical Chinese man.

A statement issued by the Springfield Museums on behalf of Dr. Seuss Enterprises later in the week said the Mulberry Street mural will be replaced "with a new image that reflects the wonderful characters and messages from Dr. Seuss's later works."

That was followed by an offer from Chinese-American entrepreneur Andy Yee offering to purchase and preserve the mural with his business partner Peter Picknelly.

The mural complaints were preceded by a different clamor over Dr. Seuss books started a week earlier when Cambridge Public Schools Librarian Liz Phipps Soiero turned down a gift of Dr. Seuss books from First Lady Melania Trump for National Read a Book Day. She stated that "Dr. Seuss's illustrations are steeped in racist propaganda, caricatures, and harmful stereotypes."

Politicians and others have been weighing in, most notably Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, who has been trying to defend the city's most famous author. In his efforts, Sarno invited President Donald J. and Melania Trump to the museum, which created a new controversy.

Here are some of the things people have been Tweeting about the never-ending debate over the books of the well-known children's author.
Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises of La Jolla, Calif., could meet with Springfield Museums officials in the coming days to discuss the uproar over a mural at The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum.

Sources involved in the mural debate said Brandt would likely visit Springfield early this week. However, Springfield Museums spokeswoman Karen Fisk said there were no plans for Brandt to be at the museum this week.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno's office said they have not been notified of a visit.

Dr. Seuss Enterprises and the museums announced on Thursday that they would remove the "And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street" mural after three children's authors complained that Theodor Giesel's artwork contained a "jarring racial stereotype" -- a Chinese man with chopsticks.

Until its removal, the Springfield Museums reportedly plans to place a note that reads: "This mural is the parade scene from Theodor Seuss Geisel's first book for children, published in 1937 under the pen name Dr. Seuss, 'And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.' In this book, as well as some works before 1955, including political cartoons, one can see characters that depict racial or other stereotypes common at that time. This image is a part of the history and evolution of Dr. Seuss. We hope it can be a teachable moment for parents and teachers to discuss with children why stereotypes can be hurtful."

That decision sparked an uproar with Sarno calling for the mural to remain in place.

On Saturday afternoon, restaurateur and real estate developer Andy Yee, the son of Chinese immigrants, and his business partner, Peter Picknelly, offered to buy the mural and find a new home for it if necessary.

Yee and Picknelly said yesterday have not heard back from the museums or Dr. Seuss Enterprises on their offer, but have heard rumors the answer is no.

The museum mural depicts the Chinese man as redesigned by Geisel many years after the publication of his 1937 book "And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street."

"I had a gentleman with a pigtail. I colored him yellow and called him a 'Chinaman.' That's the way things were 50 years ago," the Springfield native once said. "In later editions, I refer to him as a 'Chinese man.' I have taken the color out of the gentleman and removed the pigtail and now he looks like an Irishman."
Barry Hampe, Ex-Republican, later a libertarian (small L) leaning Independent, described a good political party as a party with a clear political philosophy, consistent with governance... It would attract members by the strength of that philosophy, rather than by modifying it to pander to special interest groups. Its members in office would focus on doing the people's work, including making compromises with members of other parties when necessary so that the perfect does not become the enemy of the good. It would stand for maximum personal liberty and economic reality. It would at all times strive to ensure that government is never any larger than it needs to be.

The above good qualities are visible on the day to day activities of the worlds largest political party, the Communist Party of China (CPC).

No doubt that CPC continues to enjoy a fruitful relationship with its political allies across the globe. It has successfully established a stronger political relationship with more than 400 political parties in more than 160 countries. This is done under four key principles: the CPC maintains its independence; ensures complete equality  which deals with treating all its relations equally; have mutual respect  respecting the opinions of the different political parties; non-interference in the internal arrangements of political parties; and does not impose its ideology on them.

The ruling All Peoples Congress Party of Sierra Leone (APC) happens to be one of the good allies of the CPC. The history between the two development-oriented political parties could be traced as far back as 1979 after the two nations established diplomatic relations on the foundation of mutual trust and respect in July 1971. Sierra Leone voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, recognizing the Peoples Republic of China as the only and legitimate representative of China in the UN Body, just three months after entering into diplomatic ties.

That produced dividend in terms of much-needed infrastructure in Sierra Leone from China, in the areas of Magbass Sugar Complex - under agriculture; Youyi Building, Military and Police Headquarters, Mange and Kambia Bridges  under infrastructure etc.

The China-Sierra Leone friendship, which was started by then-President Siaka Stevens of Sierra Leone and Chairman Mao of China, has not only further strengthen the diplomatic and people-to-people relationship between China and Sierra Leone, but has lifted the bars of political diplomacy, and expanded the cultural relationship between the two countries.

The month of October serves as a busy moment for both political parties, whose membership will be meeting to not only discuss successes and the way forward but also to inaugurate a new line-up of leaders who will rule their parties for the next five years.

The APC agreed to hold its national delegates conference on the 14th and 15th October, 2017 at the newly constructed Ernest Bai Koroma conference Center in Makeni City, whilst the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will be held in Beijing, the People's Republic of China, opening on the 18th October, 2017.

Coincidentally both leaders, President Xi Jinping of China and Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, celebrated their 64th birthdays this year. But on the other side of the presidential equation, whilst President Koroma is saying goodbye to the presidency after completing his second term in office, his counterpart, President Xi Jinping, who is also the party general secretary and the head of China's military, is all but assured of a second five-year term.

As a leader that will continue to hold on to the mantle of leadership in his party, President Koroma has enjoyed working with China and appreciates the continued support and intervention in many areas of economic, education, and technical cooperation. He has on several occasions reaffirmed Sierra Leones commitment and support to the one-china policy, assuring further deepening and strengthening the already existing cordial bilateral ties between the two countries and peoples for mutual benefit.

On the Chinas side, President Xi has a stronger conviction that both Sierra Leone and the Peoples Republic of China share common friendly relations and has assured that the bilateral relations between the two countries will grow from strength to strength.

Such friendly relations between the two countries have further strengthened not just the bilateral relations between China and Sierra Leone but helped to promote the Sino-Africa relations.

China continues to support development programmes in Sierra Leone, agreed upon for the mutual benefit of all sides and also implement exchanges, especially at the political level.

The relationship between the two countries was however not much effective under other regimes since the APC under late President Dr. Joseph Saidu Momoh was overthrown by the military in 1992. The return of the APC to office in 2007 under the leadership of President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, saw a swift rebirth of the excellent relationship between China and Sierra Leone.

Each year, the CPC receives over twenty delegations from different political parties in Africa to exchange ideas in conferences and meetings where development issues are mostly discussed. CPC Central Committee members, on the other hand, are sent annually to visit some Africa countries as part of the multilateral exchange visits.

Since 2007, both parties have continued to have high-level exchange visits, leading to the APC learning much about Chinas development stirred by the CPC. Key areas of development like intercity, towns, district and provincial connections with good roads, maintenance of peace, agricultural development, national economic growth, and etc., are amongst key development spheres Sierra Leone has learned from China.

Another area learned by the APC is the principal role of the CPC, which affords the party the opportunity to be the guiding instrument for policy and programmes. The CPC does not only provide guidelines but is participants at every level in the development of China. For the APC, it has provided the guideline in the Agenda for Change and Agenda for Prosperity which concentrated on major sectors of the Sierra Leone economy.

President Koroma will be happily leaving a sound legacy with the help of China. His visit to China in 2016 saw the singing of six cooperation agreements, including 300 million RMB Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement; Freetown Ring Road (Limkokwing University to Regent Village); Debt Relief of 20 million RMB (of previous Interest-Free Loan); Establishment of Consultation Mechanism between the two foreign ministries; Cooperation Agreement for Hospital Partner Assistance; and Mutual Visa Exemption of Diplomatic and Service (Official) Passport Holders.

There is progress in the energy sector with an improvement from 6 megawatts inherited to now over 100 megawatts. With the help of China, the country is having hydro projects and has gotten assurances for other areas such telecommunications, transport, and communication. There is also an increase in the number of scholarships offered by China to deserving Sierra Leonean students. This year, 113 students have been offered the opportunity to study in various fields and institutions in the Peoples Republic of China.

Both countries continue to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation. China under Preside Xi has made a commitment towards the construction of a Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in Sierra Leone to serve the West African Sub Region and building the capacity of Sierra Leones health sector.

Sierra Leone, under President Koroma, is using the scaled-up bilateral relations through comprehensive, strategic cooperative partnership in a bid to fully take advantage of the ten point cooperation package announced during the 2015 Johannesburg Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, which focuses on industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, financial services, green development, trade and investment facilitation, poverty reduction and public welfare, public health, people-to-people exchanges, and peace and security.

I believe that there is some truth in the adage, "Great leaders are born, not made." To some extent, the capacity for great leadership is innate. President Xi has clearly demonstrated to the world that learning how to be a more effective leader is within everyones grasp  whether you lead a nation, multiple teams, an entire company or just one staff member.

Both Xi of CPC and Koroma of APC are political leaders with a combination of charisma and integrity, as well as having the ability to assess a situation and make a decision based on what would be best for the greatest number of people. Most of all, they have proven that leadership in a political framework that requires statesmanship  as opposed to just being a politician  this means having the integrity and willingness to stand up for what is right.

The OCTOBER Family Meetings of CPC (China) and APC (Sierra Leone) is a sharing of good purpose of political leadership. Whilst President Koroma will be saying goodbye to the seat of power; President Xi will be receiving greater assurances of support from his comrades in the CPC and will have his presidential mandate extended.
A key focus of electric vehicle (EV) makers is maximizing the range users can get from each charge, and for that reason new battery technologies are poised to play a huge part in driving their adoption. Toshiba has developed a new fast-charging battery it claims could allow EVs to travel three times as far as they do now, and then be fully recharged again in a matter of minutes.

Nick Lavars

http://newatlas.com/toshiba-scib-battery-triple-range/51667/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=43bf731d46-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-43bf731d46-92465361
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Mobile: (406) 600-3595
With a population of almost 1.4 billion, transporting millions of commuters every day is no small task for Chinas public transport system. And so a group of 42 African, South Asian and Southeast Asian journalists recently visited DiDi Chuxing, a firm that runs a shared transport platform in the Chinese capital, Beijing, to find out how it helps in facilitating mass transit across the country.

Taking the journalists around, Aaron Liu, one of DiDis Public Relations Managers, said the platform was set up in 2012 because the transport situation in major cities was getting worse as demand outstripped supply. The shared public transport platform began with taxis before expanding to other modes of transport.

400 Chinese cities covered

The application enables subscribers to use cost-effective means of transport in 400 Chinese cities, with 450 million registered passengers and 19 million drivers, Sun Liang, DiDi Senior Communications Director explained. On average, 25 million rides are made each day as customers requests are responded to with the closest possible services. There are pickup points for passengers.

DiDi's services can be summarised by the belief that there is always a better journey. Photo by Kimeng Hilton

The output of drivers is tracked through Global Positioning Systems (GPS) installed in subscribers phones; and also feedback from passengers, explained Sun Liang. This way, hard working and well behaved drivers are rewarded with better pay, Sun Liang told the visiting journalists. According to her, DiDis services can be summarized in the catch phrase, There is always a better journey.

17.50 million jobs created

As many as 17.50 million job opportunities have been created in 400 cities across China since DiDi came into existence five years ago. The platform helps in transporting more than 440 million passengers. The platform employs 7,000 workers, 50 per cent being engineers and data scientists and half of them being female. Because of the pressure of work, engineers are obliged to exercise at work for 10 to 15 minutes on Wednesdays.

DiDis goal is to become a global leader in smart transportation and automotive technology, the worlds largest operator of vehicle networks and a global leader in smart transportation systems by 2020. We are committed to work with communities and partners to solve the worlds transportation, environmental and employment challenges by using big data-driven deep learning algorithms that optimize resource allocation, explained Sun Liang.

DiDi's shared ride platform covers 400 Chinese cities. Photo by Kimeng Hilton

By continuously improving users experiences and creating social value, we strive to build an open, efficient, collaborative, and sustainable transportation ecosystem, Sun Liang underscored. After six months of operations, DiDi had only 1,000 rides a day at the end of 2012. Today, it boasts 25 million daily rides. The companys partners have a fleet of 250,000 electric vehicles.

Foreign outreach

DiDi began extending its activities abroad in 2015. Management believes that there are prospects in the developing world where car ownership is still low. DiDi merged with Uber China in 2015, Kuaidi in 2014 and has partnerships with Ola in India, Taxify in South Africa, Careem in the Middle East and North America, 99 in Brazil, Lyft in the US and Grab in Southeast Asia. DiDi now has 9 different businesses. Meanwhile, Careem is currently testing the shared transport application in Egypt and South Africa.

Security safeguards to protect passengers. Photo by Kimeng Hilton

DiDi Chuxing offers a diverse range of transportation services through one mobile application. It uses an intelligent ride-matching system that ensures multi-person car-pooling within and across cities, real-time traffic mapping and route optimization. Cities are supported by DiDi to efficiently and sustainably plan transportation using big data-based transportation capacity.

Security safeguards

DiDi Express is the most cost effective service costing at least 13 RMB a ride. Normal taxis in Beijing charge from 15 RMB per ride. The security measures taken by DiDi include verifying that drivers are actually who they claim to be, checks are carried out on drivers backgrounds and their papers are thoroughly scrutinized in conjunction with law enforcement and local transport authorities, officials stressed. Subscribers and drivers phone numbers are concealed in order to protect them.

"There is an emergency button on the application installed in subscribers phones. There is also round-the-clock service throughout the week," Sun Liang assured, adding that the application is able to track down the location of drivers and passengers at any time. Moreover, a comprehensive insurance package is offered to drivers and passengers in the event of accident.

From 12,000 rides a day in 2012, DiDi 's platform today makes an average of 25 million daily rides. Photo by Kimeng Hilton

Averting gridlocks

DiDi makes use of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence to warn drivers and customers of areas of traffic congestion. In order to make better use of time, the application enables subscribers to go to designated pick-up points just when vehicles are about to arrive.

*Kimeng Hilton Ndukong, a contributor to Peoples Daily Online, is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently a 2017 China-Africa Press Centre, CAPC fellow.


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It has really happened. That moment in sci-fi movies where the protagonist travels through time but no one believes him has arrived. Only that it could just be case of a drunk man's wishful illusions. A guy from Wyoming claims to have come from the future to warn us of a danger looming ahead. Bryant Johnson was arrested by police on account of public intoxication when he told them he had come from the year 2048 to warn the world about an alien invasion.

 Casper Police Department

He told the police that the aliens were coming next year and we needed to make sure to leave as fast as possible. Oh boy!

The police said Johnson was heavily drunk. But he said he needed to be drunk in order to travel from the future into the past. He told the cops that the aliens filled alcohol into his body, which is why he was able to travel into the past. The man demanded to speak directly to the president.

 Universal Pictures

There seemed to be a miscalculation in Johnson's time machine' though. He said he was supposed to come back to 2018, but ended up in 2017.

If we believe the gibberish of a drunkard, we are the fools. If we don't and it turns out to be actually true, we are the fools still. Every time I watched a time travel movie, I got angry at all the people who refused to believe the protagonist. We sure don't wanna be in the same place now, do we?!

H/t  HuffPost
Harvard graduates might get a first-class education and a doctorate but it is all theoretical. In the Israeli Defence Forces, soldiers get a doctorate in life" - David Ivry, a former commander of the Israeli Air Force.

Innovation, Guns and Chutzpah

Israel, in 1948, was nothing more than a pariah state. In dire need of some military gear to protect itself from the enemies knocking on its borders, Israel had to smuggle arms for its military because no other country was willing to sell their weapons to them. Fast forward to 2017 and it seems to be some kind of poetic justice that Israel is the weapons export capital of the world. How did a country with so little financial and technological assets become a military superpower? What spurred this incredible race for military-tech superiority?

We need to invest in soldiers' brains, not just muscles  Shimon Peres, Israel's former prime minister.

Israel currently spends 4.27 percent of its GDP on research and development and out of that budget almost 30% goes to military technologies. With such centred focus, Israel is ahead of most of the developed militaries across the world including the United States, in terms of its weapons development programs.

 Reuters

But that was not the case back when they came into existence. The state of Israel in the 50's had two options on the table  innovate or perish. As Haim Eshed, the founder of Israel's satellite programme once said, The shadow of the guillotine sharpens the mind. Surrounded by enemies and with no real geographical assets, Israel started to expend the only real resource it could apprehend  its human capital, and also spending a large chunk of its military budget on specialized educational programs planned to bring only the best talent into the military.

Also by the late fifties, with the Jewish tradition of 'education and scholarship', the Israel Defence Academy ushered in an era of mandatory military service where an absence of hierarchy shaped an informal culture of chutzpah. Lower rank mechanics even now do not shy away from a debate with their generals on the most recent fighter jet upgrades, and that is what sets the Israelis apart from their counterparts in different parts of the world where discipline is of paramount importance.

Drones, Satellites and a World in Chaos

The cold-war era of the 60s and 70s defined modern warfare for every military in the world. Israel, in that sense, was the first country to identify information as the ultimate weapon for a world in chaos. At the time, when traditional spies were planted deep into enemy territory, Israel's futuristic drone program was a sci-fi fantasy not many people believed in. And that in a sense is what catapulted Israel's military-tech into the big leagues.

 Reuters

Almost 60 percent of the global drones' exports today come from Israel. But back in the 1960s, Israel started their drone program by purchasing remote-controlled airplanes from a Manhattan store and working on them. Those drones were used in 1969 along with miniature cameras tied to their bellies, to spy on Egypt along the Suez Canal. The drones, in retrospect, would never have come into existence had the US allowed Israel to use their satellite imaging to gather intelligence. There were already reports at the time that Israel's Arab neighbours were planning an invasion, but after Washington turned Tel Aviv's request down, it was clear that Israel needed its own satellite program.

The drone program, however, fell silent after the Suez Canal recce and was only reactivated in 1982 when 'Scout'- Israel's first combat drone played an important part in locating and neutralizing Syrian anti-aircraft missile systems. With zero collateral damage, this new drone captured the attention of every military around the world. That one mission was a watershed moment in modern warfare and a breakthrough for Israel's defence programs.

Heron TP  The drone that can reach Iran

 Reuters

From humble beginnings in a toy store, the Israel drone program is now one of the most sophisticated in the world. The Heron TP, one of Israel's premiere drones has an 85-foot wingspan with a payload capacity of one-ton. It can carry out critical missions for a maximum of 24-hrs and shows the operational superiority of Israel in a world where chaos is the order of the day.

Spy satellites

 Reuters

Israel's mini spy satellites are also one of a kind. Stealthy and effective, the Israeli spy satellites weigh just 300 kgs and are fitted with a synthetic aperture sensor (a radar system) that works in all weather conditions and can even gather intelligence through camouflage nets. Israel currently has eight mini-spy satellites in orbit and monitors each and every activity across its volatile borders.

Merkava Tanks

 Reuters

There was a time back in the 60s when the UK refused to sell battle tanks to Israel. That snub, in retrospect, was a blessing in disguise for the highly motivated Israeli generals and engineers. In the 70s, Israel started to build its own indigenous tanks and Merkava is the product of that effort. Now considered as the most advanced military tank in the world, the next generation Merkava Mk-4 can reach uptp 40 mph and comes fitted with an armor kit. This kit means that Merkava can be fitted with operation specific gear. The Merkava is one of the most top secret Israel defence projects and no one really knows the true destructive power of the tank that is miles ahead of Israel's immediate neighbours.

Self-Reliance and Nothing Else

For decades, Israel has thrived in a region with zero allies and has contributed a lot to its development as an independent nation. The country at present cannot think about cross border trade or peace and that has led to self-preservation which is necessary for its survival. Their number one asset is their community and somehow that translates into a massive advantage, as the people-to-people bond drives innovation faster.

 Reuters

While the culture of military innovation has driven the Israeli economy for most of its existence, their mutual disregard for authority and the presence of a highly skilled labour enabled a society of entrepreneurs. This is what further catalyses the process of innovation and generates massive thrust towards world domination in the field of military tech.

The reality of Israel just 67 years ago was that it was just striving for survival, caught amidst a number of enemies because of its geographical disadvantage. But because of its wide-array of policies insisting on building a nation that was a hub for incredible innovations, the Israel of 2017 is a multi-faceted military superpower. The state of Israel is now adept in launching complex satellites and missile defence systems, self-sufficient in producing adaptive armour and cyber weapons, and has found a way to consistently dodge financial, technological and geographical barriers. And this drive, to invent and innovate, has made Israel the military-tech superpower that it is today.






By: By: Aaron Mehta 6 hours ago













Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis speaks during the opening ceremony of the AUSA annual meeting at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. on Monday. (Mike Morones)







Americas relationship with North Korea remains a diplomatic one, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said Monday, but he urged members of the military to be prepared in case the situation breaks down.





Mattis also used his keynote speech at the annual AUSA conference in Washington, D.C., to thank allies who have stood with the U.S. through the ages.





It is right now a diplomatically, economic-sanctions-buttressed effort to try and turn North Korea off of this path, Mattis told the audience. What does the future hold? Neither you nor I can say.





Tensions with North Korea have ratcheted up since the start of the year, following a series of missile launches that culminated in a nuclear test on Sept. 3. Those tensions have been matched with rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who regularly issues provocative tweets and has taken to calling North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un rocket man.





There is a belief among experts that North Korea will attempt some kind of launch or detonation late Monday, timed around a local holiday. As of publication, weather reports show non-ideal conditions for a launch, which may delay whatever show of force is being considered from Pyongyang.

























In contrast to some of the presidents tweets, Mattis comments represent a fairly regular baseline of the North Korea situation  that diplomacy has the lead, with the military ready to back it up.There is one thing the U.S. Army can do, and that is you have to be ready to ensure we have military options that our president can deploy if needed, Mattis said. The international community has spoken, but that means the U.S. Army must stand ready. So if youre ready, thats your duty at this point and time, and I know the Army will always do its duty.Readiness for a major conflict was a theme throughout the secretarys speech, which burrowed into the Armys history and came with a series of book recommendations. The big takeaway, Mattis emphasized, was that the Army needs to be ready to go at a moments notice because if diplomacy fails, the military must be deployable right away.What we want to do is be so ready and be very much aware that we fight the way we come, that everybody in the world wants to deal with Secretary Tillerson and the Department of State, not the Department of Defense and the United States Army, Mattis told the audience to applause.Diplomacy, and allies, were also a theme of the speech, with Mattis noting that while he has had the honor of fighting many times for America, he never fought in a purely American force structure.From NATO to Europe to the Pacific, our message to our allies is we are with you, Mattis said.
Egypt's Army Chief of Staff Mahmoud Hegazy met on Sunday in Cairo with the new director-general of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in Sinai Robert S. Beecroft to discuss coordination and cooperation between the Egyptian Armed Forces and the MFO, the Egyptian army announced.

The meeting was attended by a number of Egyptian military officials.

A former US ambassador to Cairo who finished his three-year term in June, Beercroft replaced David Satterfield in July as the director-general of the MFO in Sinai, which observes the peace between Egypt and Israel according to the Annex I to the 1979 Treaty of Peace between the two countries.

The MFO was officially founded in 1981 following the peace treaty.There are 13 countries participating in the MFO including the United States, United Kingdom, Norway and Fiji.

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The Palestinian delegations will visit the Egyptian capital on the invitation of Egypt's intelligence chief Khaled Fawzy

Delegations from the Palestianian movements Fatah and Hamas will arrive in Egypt for talks on Tuesday, continuing discussions on the process of national reconciliation, according to reports in Palestinian news agencies on Monday.

Several leading figures in Hamas and Fatah will discuss the next steps in reconciliation, including another meeting of all Palestinian factions to activate a reconciliation agreement reached in Cairo in 2015.

Tuesday's meeting is in response to an invitation earlier this month from Khaled Fawzy, Egypt's intelligence chief and special presidential envoy.

Fawzy extended the invitation during his visit to Gaza and Ramallah to oversee the implementation of the national reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah.

Egypt opened the Rafah border crossing on Monday to allow passage of the Palestinian delegations, Ma'an news agency reported.

The Hamas delegation will be led by the deputy head of the political bureau Saleh Al-Arory, with the participation of the head of the movement in Gaza Yahia Al-Senwar, among other leading members, WAFA news agency reported.

The Fatah delegation will be headed by central committee member Azzam Al-Ahmed, with the participation of Palestinian intelligence chief Maged Farag and other leading figures, WAFA added.

The reconciliation talks started in Cairo in September, with senior figures in both Palestinian movements taking part.

As a first step on the path to Palestinian reconciliation, Hamas agreed to hand over power in the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian unity government.

Last week, Prime Minister Rami El-Hamdallah chaired the first meeting of the Palestinian cabinet in Gaza for three years.

Hamas seized the Gaza Strip in 2007 after fighting with Fatah forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas and has ruled the besieged strip of 2 million people since then.



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Prime Minister Sherif Ismail's decree will remain in force so long as Egypt maintains its state of national emergency, which is up for renewal on 10 October

Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has issued a decree stipulating that several crimes in breach of certain security and economic laws will be referred to state security emergency courts so long as Egypt maintains it national state of emergency.

According to a cabinet statement issued on Sunday, the decree covers breaches of laws on protests, assembly, terrorism and strikes.

The decree also includes the illegal possession of arms and ammunition, the law prohibiting protests in places of worship, and crimes related to thuggery and terror, as listed in the penal code.

Ismail's decision was published in the Official Gazette on Saturday.

The cabinet decision includes economic crimes violating regulations on supply of goods and violations of mandatory pricing rules.

On April 10, a national state of emergency was declared following deadly terror attacks on churches and renewed for a second three-month period in July.

The state of emergency comes up for a further three-month renewal on 10 October, pending a descision from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and approval by parliament.

The decree only applies to new cases and will not be applied retroactively.

However, the state security courts are entitled to continue trying ongoing cases after the state of emergency ends, the decree reads.

Verdicts issued by state security emergency courts cannot be appealed, but they must be ratified by the Egyptian president, who is also entitled to reduce or cancel them.

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HARTFORD  While the landmark Citizens Election Program was saved when Gov. Dannel P. Malloy vetoed the Republican budget that was passed with the help of eight Democratic legislators, proponents know it will continue to be a target for budget cuts.

A day after Malloy vetoed the budget, the State Elections Enforcement Commission wrote legislative leaders to remind them the CEP costs very little in comparison to the potential costs of corruption and the liberation that public financing affords lawmakers, like you, who are more interested in doing what is right instead of what a big donor may think is best.
The Navy moved in two ships behind Hurricane Nate along the Gulf Coast over the weekend but the main military response to a succession of major storms remained in Puerto Rico, where there was more political fallout over the pace of the response.

Hurricane Nate made landfall at about 8 p.m. local time at the mouth of the Mississippi River and again at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning near Biloxi, Mississippi, as a Category 1 storm with sustained winds of 85 mph.

By Sunday afternoon, Nate had weakened to a tropical depression with sustained winds of 35 mph as it moved inland over Mississippi and Alabama, the National Hurricane Center said.

More than 70,000 in Alabama and 30,000 in Mississippi were without power Sunday in the storm surge and flooding but the region appeared to have been spared the kind of catastrophic damage that Texas, Florida and the Caribbean suffered in the recent series of hurricanes. New Orleans, which had feared a major hit, on Sunday lifted a curfew that had been in effect over the weekend.

"We are very fortunate this morning and have been blessed," Gov. Phil Bryant, R-Mississippi, said while noting that there had been damage to homes primarily from the storm surge produced by Nate.

On Saturday, the amphibious dock ship Iwo Jima and the transport dock New York -- both with Marines aboard from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, left port in Mayport, Florida, to be in position behind Nate if they were needed.

U.S. Northern Command, which was coordinating the military response with the Federal Emergency Management Agency along the Gulf Coast, as well as in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, set up an Installation Support Base at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, over the weekend to stage supplies and personnel as Nate arrived.

The Defense Department also readied relief for states potentially impacted by Nate by putting on standby a search and rescue package of light, medium and heavy-lift helicopters, an Air Expeditionary Group (for support operations), and an E-3 Airborne Early Warning and Control System along with trucks and general purpose boats, NorthCom said.

In Puerto Rico, the hospital ship USNS Comfort on Saturday coordinated a medical evacuation after a generator failed at Hospital Menonita in Caguas in the central mountainous area of the island that has been the most isolated since Hurricane Maria hit on Sept. 20, NorthCom said.

Early Sunday, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz renewed her feud with the Trump administration and FEMA over the pace and scope of the relief effort.

"Power collapses in San Juan hospital with 4 patients now being transferred out. Have requested support from FEMA. NOTHING," Yulin Cruz said in a Tweet.

In another Tweet, Yulin Cruz said "Increasingly painful to understand the American people want to help and US Gov does not want to help. WE NEED WATER!"

FEMA Administrator Brock Long dismissed her complaints. On ABC-TV's "This Week" program, Long said "We filtered out the mayor a long time ago. We don't have time for the political noise. The bottom line is, is that we are making progress every day," he said.

President Donald Trump joined in renewing the administration's criticism of Yulin Cruz, saying she "really did not do a very good job, in fact did a very poor job" in coordinating relief.

In an interview Saturday night with former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Arkansas, on the Christian network Trinity Broadcasting, Trump also defended his casual flipping of paper towels to Puerto Ricans during his visit to the island last Tuesday.

"They had these beautiful, soft towels. Very good towels," Trump said of the incident in San Juan. "And I came in and there was a crowd of a lot of people. And they were screaming and they were loving everything. I was having fun, they were having fun," he said. "They said, 'Throw 'em to me! Throw 'em to me, Mr. President."

Hurricane Maria knocked out Puerto Rico's power grid, and keeping generators fueled and running at the island's 69 hospitals has been a continuing problem.

The Comfort, which moored in San Juan last week, has been working its way counter-clockwise around the island enroute to Ponce on the southern coast and was taking on patients and providing assistance along the way. The ship was expected to arrive Sunday off Aguadilla on the island's northwestern tip.

Eight Marine MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft were expected to arrive in Aguadilla Sunday to support relief operations, NorthCom said, to bring the total number of rotary aircraft involved in the response to 58.

As of Sunday, the Comfort, which has more than 200 hospital beds and 500 medical personnel on board, had treated 78 patients ranging in age from six months to 89 years, NorthCom said.

On Saturday, DoD supplied more than 162,000 gallons of bulk water, 44,000 gallons of bulk fuel, and 1.5 million meals to Regional Support Centers throughout the island, NorthCom said.

To date, approximately 7.5 million meals, 6 million liters of water and 294 generators have been delivered to Puerto Rico in support of FEMA and local officials, NorthCom said.

--Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Beta test in the field first. Fix the bugs along the way.

That's what the U.S. Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment is doing to its latest weapons programs in Europe as Russia actively keeps its hybrid war alive, the head of one of the service's Stryker infantry units said Monday.

"Being forward deployed in Europe gives us a unique position," Col. Patrick J. Ellis, the regiment's commander, said at the Association of the United States Army's 2017 annual meeting.

"It gives us a unique perspective of our adversaries," he said, adding, "we kind of know who the enemy is, we look a lot at the Russians and Russian aggression."

The Vilseck, Germany-based Stryker unit, which has been tasked with testing new technologies to counter Russia's advances, currently has one battalion in the "enhanced forward presence" in northern Poland as part of a NATO requirement enacted at the Warsaw Summit in 2016, Ellis said.

Yet Ellis noted the Army has found itself coming up short in electronic warfare, counter drone and air defense technology when it comes to confront the Russian threat. That's been especially true in recent years thanks to budget cuts.

And the U.S.'s weapons strength is still not perfect, he said.

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"We went back and identified these requirements, and were also very willing to test, evaluate and then provide feedback early on in the process," Ellis said.

Since Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, the Army has bolstered a few technologies that have proved useful: counter unmanned aerial vehicle mobile integrated capabilities, better known as CMIC.

The "rapid prototype" vehicles designed to counter unmanned aircraft systems joined the unit's Strykers this spring. They provided new "radios, computers, 3-D mapping, and full-motion video receivers, along with advanced electronic capabilities," the Army said at the time of their deployment.

The 2nd Cav -- one of the Army's two maneuver brigades -- was among the first infantry units to test that vehicle and provide input to get "software rewritten so that it's doing what we need to do," Ellis said.

He did not specify what needed to be reprogrammed.

Ellis said he's seen similar progress in smoothing kinks on the prototype Dragoon version of the General Dynamics Land Systems-made Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle, which has been amplified with a 30-millimeter cannon.

"We've been involved in that process since the very beginning," he said of the gun, which is expected to be operational by 2018.

"We just recently allowed some of our soldiers to go out, go back and shoot the weapons system and provide feedback to the guys building that system," he said, referencing the cannon's maker, Kongsberg.

Doug Wiltsie, director of Army Rapid Capabilities Office, said it's a new way to provide deterrence in ways the 'enemy' wouldn't expect.

In addition to a massive electronic warfare package that is set to be completed in phases in coming months, the capabilities office is "working a second effort, called Titan, for the 2 CR dealing with GPS in a GPS denied environment" which relays position navigation solutions in an Anti-Access Aerial Denial situation, Wiltsie said.

"It's under contract starting with Stryker, and then we'll put it in the other ground combat vehicles," Wiltsie said.

The process overall -- live test first, perfect along the way -- is what's giving the Army leverage.

"We're getting systems in our hands, in the hands of our soldiers, so that we're ready to use these tools. And it's much more aggressive than we've seen in the past," Ellis said.
Have you ever been drawn to nature? Have you had an urge to sit by the sea, hike in the woods or just stand barefoot in the...
An Egyptian juvenile misdeaneamor court has acquitted 4 Al-Azhar University students on charges of illegally gathering and rioting in front of the university during demonstrations against the overthrow of former president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.



The defendants were also accused by prosecutors of of vandalizing public property and assault on police officers tasked with securing the university's perimeter.



Al-Azhar University in Cairo witnessed a number of protests and violent incidents calling for Morsi's reinstatement in the aftermath of his removal.

Many student protesters have stood trial and received various sentences in similar cases.

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RIGA TOWNSHIP, MI - One woman is dead after a single-vehicle crash during the weekend in Lenawee County's Riga Township.

Tiffany L. Shaw, 29, of Toledo, Ohio, was killed in the crash reported 11:48 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 on Yankee Road, just north of the Michigan-Ohio border, according to a release by the Michigan State Police.

The exact time of the crash is unknown, as there are no known witnesses, but police believe Shaw was driving eastbound on Yankee in a 2007 Ford Five Hundred when she lost control of her vehicle, went off the road and overturned, police said.

She is believed to have been wearing her seat belt, but was partially ejected from the vehicle and later pronounced dead at the scene.

Police believe that vehicle speed and weather conditions - wind gusts and rain hit Southeast Michigan on Saturday evening, with downpours in some locations - were factors in the crash.

Anyone with information on this crash are asked to contact the Michigan State Police Monroe Post at 734-242-3500.
A judge has granted a prosecutor's motion to delay the parole of a twice-convicted sex offender.

Ronald L. Irwin, 47, is serving a prison sentence of between three years and two months and 12 years after being convicted in 2012 of molesting his 15-year-old "special-needs" stepdaughter, according to Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith's office.

He was convicted in 1993 of two counts of criminal sexual conduct in Cheboygan County, for which he served nearly 11 years in prison, according to Michigan Department of Correction online records.

Circuit Judge James Biernat granted granted Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith's motion to stay Irwin's release and arguments in favor of delaying Irwin's parole will be heard by the state Court of Appeals.

"Irwin has not had a psychological examination since 2013, and performed poorly in prison-ordered sex offender treatment," the prosecutor's office said in a statement Monday. "Irwin admits that he is still attracted to underage girls.

"The Department of Corrections agrees that he 'needs additional sex offender therapy', but wants him to do this at large in the community."

Smith disagrees with the Department of Corrections decision to allow the ongoing treatment to occur outside of prison.

"This is a repeat, habitual sex offender who has not been rehabilitated," Smith said. "He remains a danger to the community.

"I applaud Judge Biernat for acting to keep this convict behind bars during the term of his sentence."
Judge Michael J. Theile

FLINT, MI - A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit from a Genesee County judge fighting to overturn a state law barring judges from election or appointment to the bench after age 70.

Detroit U.S. District Judge Bernard A. Friedman issued the opinion striking down Genesee Circuit Family Judge Michael J. Theile's lawsuit against the state on Wednesday, Oct. 4, saying that while the court does not take issue with Theile's arguments that judges over 70 should be able to sit on the bench, the court is bound by the previous decisions of the Sixth Circuit and Supreme Court.

Previously, the higher courts determined that "disqualifying judicial candidates over sixty-nine years of age promotes judicial efficiency by avoiding the disruption in litigation from reassigning cases because of mid-term judicial vacancies," as well as avoiding special judicial elections by limiting the candidate pool "to those who are able to serve an entire term."

But attorney Michael B. Rizik Jr., who represents 68-year-old Theile in the suit, says the over-century-old Michigan law placing an age limit on state judges is outdated and intends to appeal the issue to the Sixth Circuit Court.

"We've got 30 days (to appeal), I'm already putting the paperwork together," Rizik said. If the Sixth Circuit Court dismisses the suit, Rizik said he's prepared to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Theile, 68, filed the lawsuit in June in U.S. District Court against the state, the Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson.

Appointed judge in Genesee County in 2005 by then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm, he retained his seat in 2006 and was successful in re-election campaigns in 2008 and 2014.

He would be up next for election in 2020 but will be 71 and unable to run due to the state law. However, if the law is overhauled, the judge says he will seek re-election in the November 2020 election.

Michigan's Constitution says judges cannot be elected or appointed after reaching 70 and was enacted in 1963. The current law was modeled after the same age requirement was written into law in 1908, the lawsuit said.

Theile's lawsuit says the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not include age as a classification under the amendment's equal protection clause.

"With age comes experience," the lawsuit argues. "No branch of government is more essential in safeguarding our fundamental rights than the judiciary. Yet, in Michigan, we shelve judges at 70 years of age."

Calling the judicial age limit "perversely illogical," Theile argues that because federal judges are lifetime appointments, Michigan judges disqualified by age could then be appointed to the federal court for the rest of their lives.

There are five Genesee Circuit Court judges and one Genesee District Court judge who are currently prevented from running for re-election because of their age, according to Michigan Supreme Court Communications Director John Nevin.

"If they're so enfeebled by turning 70, why do we allow them to do other work that gives them just as much or more power," Rizik previously asked. "Why are we treating a man who is going to turn 70 -- why are we treating him differently? It's just unfair. It has to change."
The committee's chairman Kamal Amer said members will send a message to Egypt's president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, urging him to contest next year's presidential election. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Kamal Amer, head of parliament's defence and national security committee, revealed Monday that members of the committee have prepared a message of "appreciation, confidence and support" to send to Egypt's president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

Amer told reporters that the message calls upon President El-Sisi to contest Egypt's 2018 presidential election.

"Members of the committee want to see President El-Sisi running in this election because this is very important to the country's security and stability," said Amer.

Amer, a former chief of military intelligence, said "the committee will lead a campaign aimed at mobilizing support for President El-Sisi in next year's election."

The committee's message said "as President El-Sisi has shown a good example of loyalty to national interests, firm resolve, and high creativity in leading Egypt, not to mention his prominent role in restoring Egypt's role in international circles, members recommend that he runs for a second four-year in office."

Amer said President El-Sisi fought a ferocious battle against terrorism and extremist organizations and led a campaign in favor of reforming religious discourse.

"After four years in office, President El-Sisi was able to restore stability at home as well as Egypt's relations with most world countries in way that serves its national and economic interests," said Amer, adding that "members of the committee want El-Sisi to complete his programme that is focussed on keeping Egypt a civilian state based on democratic values, social justice and religious tolerance."

President El-Sisi has so far refrained from officially announcing that he will run in next year's election. El-Sisi, however, said many times that "he is ready to run again for president only upon the wish of Egyptians."

Egypt's next presidential election is expected to be held in May or June 2018.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Omar Marawan said in an exclusive interview with Al-Ahram last week that members of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), which will be in charge of supervising 2018's president election, have been named.

"The names of the ten members of this commission were approved by minister of justice Hossam Abdel-Rehim and they have yet to be ratified by a presidential decree very soon."

Marawan said NEC will soon get down to business as it will meet to supervise a parliamentary by-election in the upper Egypt of Sohag, moving next to prepare for 2018's presidential election.

Article 142 of Egypt's 2014 constitution stipulates presidential candidates must first secure the endorsement of a minimum of 20 MPs or 25,000 citizens from across at least 15 governorates in order to stand in presidential elections.

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The Administrative Control Authority will follow the office of the presidency and granted administrative and financial independence. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Egypt's parliament approved amendments of the law regulating the performance of the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) on Monday.

The law, approved by parliament's legislative and constitutional affairs committee on Sunday, aims to amend ACA's law (law no.54/1964) to go in line with Egypt's 2014 constitution and to reinforce its role in combating corruption.

Bahaaeddin Abu Shokka, the head of the Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee, told MPs that the draft amendments were revised by the State Council's Department of Legislation.

"This revision was necessary to ensure that the draft amendments go in line with the constitution," said Abu Shokka, adding that "it is high time for this draft law to be passed in order to step up the war against corruption in government and administrative circles," Shokka said.

A report prepared by the Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee said the draft law seeks to amend five articles.

"Article one states that ACA is a supervisory authority which is affiliated with the president of the republic in line with article 214 of the constitution, having administrative, technical, and financial independence," Shokka explained.

The report also indicated that article five of the law will be amended to oblige ACA to submit an annual report to the president of the republic, parliament, and cabinet.

"This goes in line with article 217 of the constitution, which also states that ACA's report should cover its performance in a year in terms of fighting all forms of corruption and graft and submit recommendations in this field," said the report.

The report added that the new law obliges ACA to coordinate with other watchdog institutions such as the Central Auditing Agency to forge a new anti-corruption strategy and improve the values of transparency and integrity in line with article 218 of the constitution.

The report said the amendments give the president of the republic the right to name ACA's chairman, deputy chairman and board members only after parliament's approval and in line with article 216 of the constitution.

Abu Shokka said the ACA has uncovered a number of high-profile corruption cases in recent years.

"The amendments give ACA more powers to tighten control on corruption and help the government's 2014 National Anti-Corruption Committee fight nepotism and reinforce accountability in government circles," said Abu Shokka, adding that "we hope ACA exercising a more active role in combating graft will help improve Egypt's position on Transparency International's Perceptions of Corruption Index."

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Toyota is all set to unveil its latest subcompact-crossover, the TJ Cruiser at the Tokyo Motor Show this month. The Tj Cruiser is the newest model to come from Toyota and is based on the funky box trend design as seen in Toyota's Scion xB series.

Manufactured likely on the next generation TNGA platform, the 4*4 car will come with a 2.0-liter class engine + hybrid system.

According to the companys official website the T in the vehicle's name TJ Cruiser stands for the word toolbox, and J for joy. And the word Cruiser is assigned to the car's name to express the power of the vehicle. The vehicle, thus, is meant to be a compact family car and also an off-roader.

The vehicle has a square-shaped cabin. The hood, roof and fenders are dirt and scratch resistant and also come with large tires that give the vehicle a sturdy muscular feel.

Everything aside, it is the interior that makes the vehicle stand out. All the seats, except the drivers seat can be folded, giving up to three metres long space. This large space along with large rear door and sliding side doors enable you to turn the vehicle from a family carrier to a mini van for carrying goods.

It is not yet clear whether the four seater car will go for mass production. But it will not be a surprise if Toyota does try to take a chance with the futuristic and innovative vehicle that it claims of representing the harmonious balance between the roominess of a cargo van and the powerful design of an SUV.
Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com told CNBC-TV18, "Today Titan Company and PC Jeweller should do well even in a market which is not supposedly opening too well. For Titan, Rs 550 remains a fairly decent stop. We should expect it to get back towards Rs 650."

"Similarly, PC Jeweller has had a bit of a rally but I think it is still off its recent highs. So, I think we should see another 10 percent on PC Jeweller as well."

"GAIL India is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 446 and target of Rs 470. BASF was up 20 percent on Friday, but that is a beginning of a rally. So more upside is here. This is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 1,750 and target of Rs 1,790."

"Bharat Forge is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 640 and target of Rs 675. Ashok Leyland is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 120 and target of Rs 132. EID Parry is also a buy with a stop loss of Rs 356 and target of Rs 372," he added.

"SRF has not really performed over the last few months. It is again below its 200-day moving average. So I dont think much is going to come out of this. For the moment I think you have to look at stocks which are on the downside because today will be a bit of a down day. So, Adani Enterprises, Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), etc. are also good short positions. Balance them with a couple of these jewellery stocks. I think that should be the trade for the day."

"Tata Chemicals is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 680 and target of Rs 710. Sundram Fasteners is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 460 and target of Rs 485. Godrej Properties is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 640 and target of Rs 675."

"Maybe Rs 770-780 on Tata Steel looks likely. A lot of money seems to be getting into metals fairly quickly."
Recently-appointed Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran is clear in his mind that the sprawling Tata Group has to be streamlined -- with several businesses needing to be consolidated, and others scaled up further.

Chandrasekaran, the former CEO of key Tata Group company TCS, took charge as chairman of the groups parent firm, Tata Sons, after the bitter ouster of Cyrus Mistry earlier this year.

Since then, he told CNBC-TV18s Shereen Bhan in an exclusive interview, he has been busy collecting data, formulating strategy, building a team and laying out a capital allocation plan for the USD 100 billion-plus group.

The Tata Group has about 100 operating companies, 29 listed entities and over 900 subsidiaries, but the top 10 companies account for 94 percent of the groups revenues.

The top companies include TCS, Tata Steel, Tata Motors and Tata Power, among others, and Chandra at length outlined the broad-based strategy for most of these while avoiding going into specific in some cases.

There are three big companies -- Tata Steel, Tata Motors and TCS -- and they have scale. If you take the remaining, there are a number of companies in different sectors, but they have not scaled up. So I need to figure out a way of scaling them up, he said.

Besides these three, the Tata Group will look to focus on five segments: retail and consumer, financial services, infrastructure, tourism and defence.

All of them present significant opportunity of growth and we want to address that. There we need to see how to consolidate where we can, how to synergise where we cannot consolidate and how we scale, he said.

But he refrained from saying whether or when the group would decide to take a serious call on consolidation or shutdown for scores of small Tata firms, many of which have either similar businesses to other group firms or are under-performing.

When asked whether he would apply the rule of three to each of Tatas business (which calls for a conglomerate to operate a firm only if it among the top three in the industry), he said the direction of the companies would matter.

I think the group has enormous opportunity and we have people who want to deliver and we want to look at each of these companies where they are and where they can reach as an aspiration, but they cannot overnight switch to some number one position or number two position. That will be a very unfair ask. But as long as we can move in the right direction with the right velocity, we are fine.

The Tata Group has nearly a billion customers, Chandrasekaran said, adding, it has the most "powerful story" and the "biggest opportunity" on the consumer business side.

"Our consumer businesses have to scale and whether it is in terms of only merely consolidation, the answer is no. There may be consolidation opportunities, but also we have to look at our product portfolio," he said. We will have to take a call on which markets in which we operate because I feel that the domestic consumer market is huge.

The Tata Sons boss touched upon problem areas, such as Tata Teleservices, which is caught in a litigious battle with its Japanese partner NTT, and Tata Powers Mundra plant, which has suffered from a lack of supply of cheap coal.

But overall, Chandrasekaran said he was quite satisfied to see the progress the company made since he came on as chairman.

He said he was also enjoying the move from TCS on the personal front. I am very regular [with running] now because the travel has come down. The number of days I used to travel in TCS has significantly come down. So on a personal front, it has been fantastic.
LT Foods has launched a premium healthy snacks brand Kari Kari in joint venture with a Japanese company. In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Ashwani Kumar Arora, MD & CEO of the company spoke about this deal and his outlook going ahead.

Arora said the company wants to leverage brand equity to reach USD 1 billion revenue by 2022.

He expects Kari Kari brand to reach Rs 100 crore revenue by 2022.

On export front, he said Iran will be open for exports from December.

According to him, value added products will be Rs 1,500 crore by 2022.
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Even as the senior-level placements for public sector banks are underway, the government has approved the appointment of nine executive directors, according to reports.

This comes five days after the appointment of State Bank of India Chairman Rajinish Kumar on October 4. He will be succeeding Arundhati Bhattacharya, who completed her four-year term.

On July 4 this year, the Chairman and members of the Banks Board Bureau (BBB) recommended 15 General Managers to the Government of India for the post of Executive Directors in public sector banks.

These recommendations were based on interactions held by the Banks Board Bureau with eligible candidates from PSBs towards appointment against vacancies in PSBs for the period 2017-18, BBB had said.



AK Srivastava as ED of Indian Overseas Bank





BS Shekhawat as ED of Central Bank of India





GN Dongre as ED of Punjab & Sindh Bank





MV Rao as ED of Canara Bank





Kul Bhushan Jain as ED of Andhra Bank





RK Yaduvanshi as ED of Dena Bank





Chaitanya Gayatri Chunthapalli as ED of Bank Of India





Krishnan S as ED of Syndicate Bank

LV Prabhakar as ED of Punjab National Bank

The governments latest appointments are as follows:
October last year corporate India saw one of its most bitter corporate battles. It changed things for the House of Tatas and it changed things for the man who is now heading the House of Tatas, N Chandrasekaran.

Below is the transcript of his interview with CNBC-TV18's Shereen Bhan.

Q: It has obviously changed life for you in many ways but what was the mandate that was given to you when you took this job on? What was the brief that was given to you when you took this job on?

A: The board of Tata Sons, when they appointed me, had concerns about the performance of the different businesses. I think it was a broad brief to get the group together and also to look at individual companies and then define the roadmap for the future. Some of them are private companies, some are holding companies, so it was a broad brief.

I spent the first month or so looking at all the data and taking stock and then formed an agenda which I played it back to the board later on.

I think there are big positives in the group. I was just completely overwhelmed by the level of support I got from within the group as well as from corporate India.

The single most thing that also impacted me is the level of trust that this group enjoys and everybody wants you to succeed. There is a tremendous amount of goodwill, which feels very good, and at the same time it puts a lot of responsibility as well.

Key among the areas I needed to look at was capital allocation because that is the feedback I got from several investors.

Q: So you are taking on a fund managers approach now?

A: They pushed me so much on returns and disciplined investments and all the things which we have heard from the media.

The second thing is I feel, while the strength of the group is the portfolio and the platform that you have, there is tremendous opportunity in each of the sectors. On the other side there is the complexity of the groupIf we have to move forward then that has to be addressed as well.

So, in a manner of speaking, if I can use three words it will be like simplify, synergise and scale; that is the kind of approach in terms of the business performance.

The second thing is, I felt there were gaps in talent for the things that I needed to do. So I decided that my first focus should be on building a team. So, I went about building a team and you have seen it in media and pretty much it is all known. Significant amount of time went in building the team.

Q: Is it done now?

A: It is more or less there but you always have a few additions. Many key people have come onboard and a few more will come on board as we go along. But major portion of the formation of Tata Sons team is done.

The other aspect is also, we have to communicate a little bit more in terms of what we are going to do and how we do etc, build little bit more transparency and that is something that I am working on.

Q: Let me pick up on each of those points that you talked about. Let me start by asking you about simplification, 100 operating companies, 29 listed entities, over 900 subsidiaries and let us now talk about performance. The top 10 companies account for 94 percent of the groups revenues and 60 percent of your companies actually have a return of equity of less than 10 percent. So, when you start to now look at whether it is restructuring, rationalising, pruning, what are the parameters that you are going to put individual companies through before deciding what you intend to do with them?

A: You cant do a clinical mathematical approach overnight, that is not the approach that I will adopt. Let us look at it in multiple dimensions, first going forward what is the capital allocation policy? That we have firmed up and we will look at returns very seriously in every which way. Some companies we will look at capital employed, some companies we will look at return on equity, we have worked out what the process is going to be, what the returns are going to be and we will use it very rigorously.

Now, when you look at the existing companies, there are companies which are performing well, and others which are not performing well and you need to get into the details. You cannot just say that this company is not performing well. Maybe execution is bad, then we need to fix that. Every single company has to be looked at. If there is an opportunity to fix that, we will fix that. If we cannot fix it, then we have got to take the call.

Q: In your assessment today and you have spent the last seven months doing exactly that, how many companies fall under the head where it is not fixable anymore, it is time to let go?

A: I cannot get into numbers and statistics yet because I would like to also tell you that I have to simplify some structures. If you look at the whole group, there are three big companies, Tata Steel, Tata Motors and TCS and they have scale. If you take the remaining, there are a number of companies in different sectors, but they have not scaled up. So I need to figure out a way of scaling them up. If you take the total group, the areas of growth has to be, apart from (Tata) Steel, (Tata) Motors and TCS which are segments of their own, if you will, then we have retail and consumer, then we have financial services, then we have infrastructure, then we have, for want of a better word, tourism. In each one of these sectors, we have multiple companies and also we have defence, multiple entities over there. I can talk about each one of those. So, at least there are five segments apart from the three big companies and all of them present significant opportunity of growth and we want to address that. There we need to see how to consolidate where we can, how to synergise where we cannot, and how we can scale.

I particularly have not mentioned telecom. The area where we have a big issue is telecom. If you take telecom, we have three companies. We have Tata Teleservices and Tata Tele (Maharashtra) which is the mobile consumer business. Then we have Tata Communications and then we have Tata Sky. While Tata Sky and Tata Communication are in a great place, Tata Teleservices, the mobile consumer business is really in bad shape. We have a huge debt and with the foot print we have and the kind of spectrum we have it is very difficult, close to impossible for us to be able to recover. So that is a company that we have got to find a solution very quickly.

Q: You have been trying to find a solution for Tata Teleservices for a while. You have been on the lookout for a buyer. You have not found one. So, how much more runway do you actually have before you take a call on whether you pull the plug altogether and where do things stand with the possibility of finding a buyer for that business?

A: Whichever way, I have given myself Tata Teleservices as the number one priority to find a solution and I had Steel also and that deal has been done. On Tata Teleservices, I am at a point that I need to make a call. I am looking at all options. I will figure out a way this fiscal year.

Q: So that would mean closing down the business altogether?

A: It could mean anything. It basically means that I do not want to put good money after bad. I have a situation where already the debt is about Rs 31,000 crore. Additionally, I have spectrum liability and we are making cash losses on a month on month basis. So, it is not a business that I can easily turn around unless and otherwise I am willing to commit another Rs 50,000-1,00,000 crore. And that is not prudent. So, I will make a call. I am at the point now. Do not ask me whether it is this month, this quarter, next quarter, but this financial year, I would like find a solution.

Q: Do you still believe that there is a possibility of finding a buyer?

A: Let us not speculate because every newspaper, your channels, others channels have been speculating. In fact speculation has been more than what is really happening, so I do not want to add to it.

Q: Would it be fair to say that the interest from a potential buyer at this point in time is not looking particularly bright?

A: Let us leave it at a statement that I have to find a solution and I am committed to finding a solution one way or the other. I will have to take a tough call and I will.

Q: You said TTSL is your number one priority. What is your number two priority in terms of the company or the business that requires fixing today?

A: Basically, if you look at the group, in the group let us look at a concept. I think priorities are also there for growth, priorities are also there for execution, priorities are also there for balance sheet. From a balance sheet point of view, a few companies are highly leveraged. Telecom is number one, Tata Teleservices is number one. Then we have high leverage in steel and I think we have found a very beautiful solution in the way we have formed the joint venture, the way we have done the capital structure of that entity, I think it frees up Tata Steel India to focus on the growth in India. So Tata Steel in India, we have definitely aggressive growth plans, whether it is organic or inorganic because there is demand, there is market in this country. So we will definitely go about building the steel business in India and the joint venture will operate on its own, the capital structure is solid, so the joint venture will survive on its own, in fact it will grow on its own.

Q: If I can just pursue the conversation on steel for a little bit longer. You said that the focus now, very clearly is going to be on growing the business in India organically or inorganically. There is a bunch of potential distressed assets on the block. Are you on the lookout? Have you examined any possibility closely?

A: Yes, very much. It all depends on where it ends finally, but we will definitely look at it.

Q: What is the kind of war chest that we would be talking about for potential acquisitions within the steel business?

A: It is fair enough to say that whether it is organic or inorganic, we have the potential to double our capacity in India. For what period of time, I do not know. It depends on whether it is organic or inorganic. But definitely, I think there is a big possibility for growth and we look at what deal comes and at what price, whether it makes sense and we will do it. Otherwise, we will go about parallelly, looking at organic options because our Kalinganagar plant has to scale up.

Q: Again, just a quick word on the steel business and if one looks at the return on equity, Tata Steel at 2.5 percent, JSW Steel at 16 percent, so given the outlook and the vision that you have now for the domestic business and the fact that you believe that you will be able to double capacity whether organically or inorganically, what is it going to mean from the new business perspective?

A: If you look at Tata Steel, once you remove the European business and the pain, still, while doing this deal, we have taken some pain in Tata Steel India. But what it does now is, it brings all the capital ratios under control, both for the European entity and for Tata Steel India. Immediately, once this structure is done, we will have very respectable capital ratios and Tata Steel India is a well-run business and the EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) per million tonne of steel is a benchmark. So I think, from here in terms of returns, Tata Steel will perform exceedingly well.

Q: Let me talk to you about Tata Motors and you acknowledged this in your speech at the AGM as well that you are disappointed with performance of Tata Motors. You hope that things will turn around. You would like to get back to the path of providing dividends to shareholders. I spoke with the MD and he said that there is a long-term turnaround plan and there is currently a short-term turnaround plan that has already been put into place to ensure that we see a turnaround over the next 6-9 months. What is your view specifically on Tata Motors because whether you look at margins on either the passenger vehicle side of the business or the commercial vehicles side of the business, lagging peers like Maruti and Ashok Leyland quite significantly and for significant periods of time? What is the view now on Tata Motors?

A: Tata Motors, we are definitely on the move. The team is working extremely hard. We have had intense discussions and if you look at Tata Motors business per se on a Rs 2,80,000 crore business, approximately, Rs 2,35,000 crore business is Jaguar Land Rover which is doing well which is giving a double digit volume growth year on year and some years their margin is good, some years, their margin is not so good, but the point is that they are very committed and their balance sheet is good. They have significant number of products that are being launched and it is all committed for 2019, 2020, 2021 and so forth. Now if you look at the remaining almost Rs 45,000 crore business, Rs 35,000 crore business is commercial vehicles and I think passenger cars is roughly around Rs 8,000-9,000 crore. And we have to get both the commercial vehicles and the passenger cars performance both in terms of growth, market share, as well as profitability and that is the journey we are on.

If you look at commercial vehicles, the market share has dropped significantly and now, we are working very hard to turn around the market share and we are confident because of two or three reasons. One is there is a tremendous focus that has been brought in in terms of commercial vehicles. Second is, any product gap that we have, we are addressing it, some decisions have been taken and those vehicles are coming, some are in the works. There is a significant effort going on specifically on cost management, on profitability improvement and you will start seeing the results. I hope the results will be seen sooner than people expect.

Q: When you say sooner than people expect? The guidance?

A: I do not want to, I think Guenter Butschek is the right person to speak and I am fully supportive of what the team is doing and we are engaged closely.

Then in terms of the passenger cars, passenger car business, margins are suffering very deeply in every single model. Every single model it is suffering and that is something that we have got to work on and there, the challenge is twin. First is, they have got to get the volumes. At the same time, they have got to fix the margins because you see more volume on a loss-making product and you will continue to make more losses.

So, I must say that the recent models have got a lot of traction and we are looking into the contribution margin and the margin of that business and that is under review as we speak. So Tata Motors is a priority. I think we will come out strong, both in terms of market share and in performance and I am also very happy that we won this EV (bid). That is again a call we took because we spent time looking at all the models. They have got multiple models on EV, they have done a lot of work and we sat together and said we have got to go for it. And I am very glad the team put up a great show and we are there.

Q: Since you spoke of the bid that you have just won, do you make any money because the second bid was Mahindra and Mahindra and there is a difference of Rs 2 lakh between your bid and their bid.

A: I have seen the comments by Pawan Goenka and Anand Mahindra, both of whom I deeply respect, but I want to tell you that we will make money.

Q: You will make money?

A: Yes.

Q: Is this going to be done through the Sanand plant?

A: Leave the details. If you want the details, you go to Guenter Butschek and Mayank Pareek. I know, I have the details but I do not want to speak on behalf of Guenter or Mayank. Otherwise, you will tell them that your boss told me this. I think they are working very hard and they know what is going on and I think you should talk to them.

Q: Let me then go back to my conversation on Guenter and put that forward to you. When I asked him specifically what is the future as far as the Nano is concerned and he said, that decision will have to be taken in context of our strategy for passenger vehicles and that decision will have to be taken keeping a view on where we stand and as far as the entry level segment is concerned for the passenger vehicle space. What is the call finally as far as the Nano is concerned?

A: I want to clarify this for everybody. This question keeps on coming. People are targeting Nano for no reason. Tata Motors passenger cars has multiple models starting from Indica. They have got a series of models. The only model that makes money is Indica. Every other model makes loss and Nano loss on a yearly basis is less, I have actual numbers, it is less than 4 percent, it is about 4 percent of the total loss that the passenger car vehicles make. So, whether you shut down Nano, whether you give it life, number is not going to change, needle is not going to move. But, we have got multiple options in front of us, not only for Nano, but for every other model and we are evaluating all those models.

In fact, I am also learning this industry. I am not an auto expert. I have looked at the financials but I am also learning these models. Every other passenger car maker always has multiple models. So how do you actually make money on these models? It is if you are able to sell especially after you have depreciated the investments on the product development you start making money as long as the product sells. So this decision has to be taken for every model, but the limited point I want to make is that this is not a billion dollar question in front of Tata Motors. But this is a question that will be answered for every model and we will see what is the model that can be repurposed, what models we will launch for our electric version and what models can continue to sell and what models have to be upgraded, all these questions have to be looked at. But Tata Motors actually has a very small passenger car business, so we need to scale up because the number of vehicles we sell is one tenth of the market leader. So, that definitely means that there is a market and overall the market is also expanding. So there is a big market in this space. So how do we capture this market and it is not going to be a one quarter affair, but we will work on it.

Q: Let me then ask you about Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). In terms of scale versus its global peers, if you look at BMW or if you look at Daimler, JLR for FY17 was about 0.6 million units versus 2.2 for Daimler and about 2 million for BMW. So what is the aspiration for JLR in terms of scale and again, the question that keeps coming back, are you looking at a listing for JLR? Is it likely to be any time soon? Is that an active consideration today?

A: Couple of answers. I think you should meet Ralph Speth when he comes here. There have very ambitious plans. Obviously, how we achieve that is something that we have got to see because the amount of money that we are investing in terms of new product development, the capital that we are putting in place is very significant. We put 4-5 billion every year. So, there is a big ambition and what is the route to achieve that ambition is something that is being deliberated upon.

Q: If there is an inorganic opportunity also?

A: If there is an opportunity, yes. But there are no easy options in that space because they are a very super high-end luxury segment and there no easy options there. But definitely, Ralph and team have high aspirations. You never answer these questions like whether you are going to list JLR but I can definitely say, if you are asking me whether it is under active consideration, the answer is no.

Q: Let me then move on from Tata Motors and talk to you about perhaps the other pain point that is on your radar and that is what is the strategy going to be as far as Tata Power is concerned and specifically with respect to Mundra? Where do things currently stand?

A: Tata Power has to me, three priorities and I do not want to talk specifics, but at a broad level, if you look at it, one is, we have got to deleverage the company and depending upon which accounting standard you use, their debt is either six times or eight to nine times EBITDA. So it is a very high leverage and that needs to be fixed.

Q: What is the plan of fixing it?

A: We have to pare down the debt, I think we are looking at definitely how we can get out of the non-core assets and what does it mean in terms of monetising, definitely Tata Power board is deliberating on that. So we will figure out a way. But the board definitely is of the view that the leverage has to come down.

Q: Is there a target that you have in mind that you would like to move towards?

A: We have internal targets but I would not want to talk about it, but basically, get the leverage under control. And each of these industries have got benchmarks and it is what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. At least we have to move towards what is acceptable.

Q: In the case of TTSL you said very clearly that something has to be done within this financial year. In terms of Tata Power?

A: Tata Power situation is it would be gradual. We will get the leverage going in the right direction and then there will be a destination and we will hit it at some point. Second is, we have got to find a solution to Mundra and we do not have one. The current situation we have is untenable and there are no easy options. We are looking at basically a couple of options now. One is this talk about whether this proposal that is floating around in terms of divesting. Second option we have is whether we can get cheaper coal and we have not found one. So we are exploring all options and currently, I would say that it is a problem but we do not have a solution and we are actively thinking.

Q: Has there been any further conversation with the government about the future and the fate of Mundra?

A: I think you have to talk to Anil Sardana. Third aspect is again we will have to simplify the company. That is the theme we are working on.

Q: So when you say simplify the company, what do you mean?

A: We are looking at what markets we should be in, should we have presence in many markets, should we have smaller plants, should we have so many joint ventures. All these things have to be looked into because unless or otherwise we can scale again, you are not going to make progress. So these are the three things that Tata Power board is looking at.

Q: I want to digress from talking about individual companies to pick up on one of the points that you mentioned earlier on. In the context of simplification, reorganisation, you said where consolidation is possible, you will look at consolidating. If I were to just look at your listed universe now, you have got Tata Motors in the auto space and then you have got smaller listed entities like Automobile Corporation of Goa, Automobile Stamping and Assemblies, in technology CMC has already been done (merged) with TCS, but then you have got Elxsi where Tata Sons has about 42 percent. In the metals space, there is Tata Steel, Tata Metaliks, Tata Sponge Iron, TRF, Tin Plate. Where do you see the scope of consolidation today?

A: Thank you for reeling out my task list. There are things to do in every area and obviously listed companies are sensitive and we have to take it up with the boards and some will make sense, some will not make sense. And unlisted companies, easy calls sometimes, but everything that we do will be done very judiciously. Nothing will be done in a rash manner. But there are opportunities everywhere. Give me some time. I have been here for six months.

Q: But broadly in just the three areas that I listed out for you which is the automotive space, the technology space?

A: I cannot be specific.

Q: But do you see these are the three spaces where you would like to see the consolidation?

A: There are many other spaces as well.

Q: But these three specifically you would like to see?

A: We look at across the board. Wherever possible we will do it. Wherever possible and it makes sense, we will have to press the button.

Q: let me then go back to talking to you about the possibility of scaling up companies. Tata Global Beverages for instance, what is the aspiration there? Once again, the possibility of Tata Coffee and Tata Global Beverages and the possibility of consolidation there, is that something that has been considered at all? What is the aspiration on this part of the business?

A: Let me just say simply that we are the best brand in terms of the Tata brand. We have a huge connect with the consumer base in this country. The Tata Group, I read somewhere in the analytics that we are almost touch 900 million consumers. And so, if you look at the group brand and the consumer that we have, we have the most powerful story and we have the biggest opportunity. So definitely, our consumer businesses have to scale and whether it is in terms of only merely consolidation, the answer is no. There may be consolidation opportunities, but also we have to look at our product portfolio and again, we will have to take a call on which markets in which we operate because I feel that the domestic consumer market is huge.

Q: Would it be fair that that is going to be the emphasis for most businesses within the group because you see that the India story to your mind is more attractive?

A: You dont say anything definitely but I feel very bullish about the India story. Where in the world you will have such a large consumer base and such a situation where the affordable spend for the consumer will continue to increase for a long period of time? The demography is such, the aspiration of the consumer will constantly increase. So, it is a question of organising ourselves whether we may have a presence in the space today, we may not have a presence in the space today, whether it is consumer, whether it is retail, whether it is financial services, organising ourselves to address that aspiration is a huge opportunity and I am bullish on that.

Q: Tata Pigments, Tata Ceramics, Tata Decor, Tata Unistore, Tata Petrodyne, have you now evaluated and again I understand sensitivities involving specific companies but is there now clarity that you have on which are the spaces that you believe are not viable for you to continue in the future?

A: Do I have clarity? I have clarity. Do I have a view in terms of what should get consolidated, where it should go? Yes. It will be only my decision? No. I need to engage with the listed companies individual boards and even in unlisted situations I will have to get a view because something may look very small today and I may be of the view that last 3 or 4 years it has not performed or 10 years it has been there in some form but the point is, is there a way that there is a huge opportunity of growth in that company, that is something that specifically we will look at. We are looking at all of those things and all the companies we have listed, we are looking at them.

Q: Are lot of people making representations to you about where things stand as far as their businesses are concerned and where they see the future, trying to convince you to bet on them?

A: It is a question of being transparent, it is a question of not taking any high handed decisions. Every decision has to be properly analysed and should be data based. As long as you do that, you can carry everybody. I always believe that I have to convince or I have to get convinced.

Q: Let me ask you about Indian Hotels and the process of exiting non-core assets within Indian Hotels has been underway as well. Taj Mansingh that is going to be the big one and I am sure that you have got your warchest ready to take on the domestic big boys as well as the international big boys. Are you ready for a fight on Indian Hotels?

A: Taj Mansingh is a very prestigious property of the group. I think the group has done a fantastic job. It has been a flagship hotel, we have paid our dues and we would definitely like to keep that asset with us. So, we will see, everything has to make sense eventually. However we are very keen to have that property because it has been our hotel for a long time. There are many people outside the group also who would want to see us succeed. Whenever people meet me in this connection they tell me, we hope that it will stay with you. So, I hope it does.

Q: The hope within some quarters of government certainly is, that the Tatas should actually come back to Air India. Is that under active consideration?

A: So, far there has only been broad news about Air India being divested.

Q: It is not news, there is a group of ministers that meets very regularly.

A: I know the process is underway but we still dont have all the details. Every business proposal will be very seriously looked at and we will look at that. However currently we dont have the data. What is the structure because there are so many different groups within Air India, there is real estate, there is debt, there is liabilities, we have to look at all of that and we will definitely look at it. We have a team which can definitely spend the time as soon as the details are out.

Q: So, you are saying that if it makes business sense you would consider the Air India option?

A: That is true for any proposal.

Q: You already have two aviation businesses.

A: We need to look at aviation as a whole. We are sub scale, we have two airlines, both are sub scale. So, any decision that we take Air India or otherwise, we have to have a story because we cant be operating with 15 and 20 aircrafts. Again I feel scale is important. In every industry and every group we operate in, scale is important. Without scale, you get to a situation where you are all over the place and it is very difficult to pay management attention and all problems usually come because of marginal plays. That is my learning in life. So you cannot have too many marginal plays. So we have got to look at it holistically.

There are things that I have to do today, there are things that are important and I will have to do it over a period of time. And everything does not happen overnight. These are strategic decisions and data is required and a long-term story is required and we will take a call.

Q: So as I said, the process is currently underway. IndiGo has already expressed its interest in Air India. They would like to take only the international operations, but we do not know whether that demerger will in fact be approved by the government. Would you be interested in all of Air India or like IndiGo, are you also interested in some parts of Air India?

A: We have to look at all the data. We do not have all the data yet.

Q: Have you had an informal conversation with your partner, Singapore Airline on whether this would make sense for you?

A: Do you think I would not have? And do you think I am going to tell you about what we discussed?

Q: Are they on board with the possibility?

A: Do you think I am going to answer that question?

Q: What next now as far as Indian Hotels is concerned? You have been able to bring down your debt to equity to about 1:1 by March, 2017. What is the aspiration now?

A: Indian Hotels is a great brand. Pretty much, I should not look like a broken record, simplification is required there also. Currently we have debt, we have roughly Rs 3,000 crore of debt and that needs to be brought down and we are going for a rights issue for Rs 1,500 crore which the board has approved and I think the process is on. There are non-core assets in Indian Hotels and I am waiting for Puneet Chhatwal to join. Puneet is joining in first week of November. I had the opportunity to meet him last week when I was in Europe. So as soon as he comes, we will sit down and have a discussion.

Q: Let me then ask you about your aspiration for the financial services business. You have got one listed entity there which is Tata Investment, you have Tata AIG and Tata Finance and so on and so forth. How strategic is the financial services play going to be for you given the fact that this is highly competitive and some would also say commoditised market.

A: I think it is a beautiful business. It is a very strategically important business. Again, if you look at our financial services business, leave Tata Investment Corporation, I think I would put the remaining four as the financial services business and that is more investment business. We have two insurance companies and we have Tata Capital and we have the asset management company. I think we have again, it comes back to a couple of things. We have a fantastic brand and for the brand positioning we have, we should be doing better. We should also look at the group leverage we have whether it is in the insurance space or the NBFC space, we can scale. Our insurance companies are doing very well and our Tata Capital business is also on the upward curve.

We have to appoint a CEO for Tata Asset Management. We did appoint a CEO for Tata Capital. He is joining again in one month's time. I think we will take a holistic look at financial services. We will look at distribution, we will look at digital, we will look at the processes and the cost income ratios. There are many different aspects that we want to pay attention to. We want to be a big player in this space and we have everything in terms of ingredients. So we need to bring it altogether.

Q: So would the rule of three apply to each of your businesses? And when I see the rule of three that you want to be in the top-three in terms of the pecking order and that will decide future capital allocation that will decide the kind of bets that you make?

A: That will be too harsh a statement to make and too strong a statement to make, too early. I think the group has enormous opportunity and we have people who want to deliver and we want to look at each of these companies where they are and where they can reach as an aspiration, but they cannot overnight switch to some number one position or number two position. That will be very unfair ask. But as long as we can, on the right direction with the right velocity, we are fine.

Q: Very quickly I will ask you about your defence aspirations. Which is going to be the main entity for your defence business? There are parts of it in Tata Motors, parts of it in Tata Advance Systems. What is really going to be your defence entity?

A: We have four defence entities and some are, at least two of them are unlisted and two of them are subsidiaries of listed companies. We will have a single face to the defence market, that is my aspiration whether it is consolidation or cooperation, we need to see where we can get to. But my aspiration is that we will have a big play in defence and we will have a single face to defence.

Q: Any specific area within the defence space that you would like?

A: All the spaces that we are in today, we will play in all the spaces. If you look at the Tata Group, one thing that has been a big learning for me after I moved to this job, Tata Group merely does not look at only financial performance and that is something that I am focused on, as you know, very strongly. But Tata Group has always done things to build India. Whatever the priority for the nation, Tata Group aligns very quickly. Defence is a priority for the country, so we will align and we will be a big player because if there is an indigenisation of defence, definitely we would like to play. And it is a long-term gain. This is not an industry which will happen in 12-24 months.

I can say that we have spent time on this and we have got a blueprint and we have got to see in terms of structurally, when I say blueprint, blueprint in terms of structure how you have to go and we are exploring a couple of options and hopefully, you will see us executing in six months.

Q: More partnerships like with Lockheed Martin, is that on the cards?

A: Wherever it makes sense, yes. We will need partners because in this space we do not have the skill sets in India, so we will need partners and I have also experience in working with some of these companies in my previous job, so we will look at what partners we can bring.

Q: So given the fact that your you are bullish on India, you are bullish on the fact that you want your businesses to look at the domestic opportunity, what kind of investment plans can we expect over the next year or so as part of the group?

A: Firstly let me take the write down on Tata Teleservices then I will come back to you. That is for the next interview. Now I am in a mood to take write offs.

Q: Since we are talking about write offs and as I said, I did not want to dwell on the past, but I will just ask you about the big headline that came in from Cyrus Mistry about the potential write down which caused a great degree of anxiety and nervousness. Now that you have assessed where things stand within the group, was that an exaggerated claim?

A: I do not want to, I am not here to pick a fight or anything, so unnecessarily do not want to be drawn. But I tell you, when you run a large group, there will be decisions that will be taken that will go well, there will be decisions that will not go well. When the decisions go well, you move on and if you are talking about write down, what did you talk about JLR? Investment was less than USD 2 billion, USD 1.5 billion or something. Today the value of Tata Motors is 100 percent JLR value, more than USD 20 billion. It is a remarkable story. So, some goes well because the strategies and execution is right. Some does not go well because the strategy may be right, external factor was wrong or execution is wrong or we did not take corrective action at the right time. When you make big bets, we have the responsibility also to take corrective actions and some will go well, some will not go well and if it does not go well, just move on.

TCS was listed at the right time. If TCS was not listed at the right time, it was a very complicated decision at the time in 2004. I was at least very closely involved with Ram at the time and that decision, had it not been taken that day, we would not be where we are today. A group also will not have that fire power. So I feel that you take decisions and some are bold decisions and you hope that you can make all of them work and if some of them do not work then you have got to take tough calls in putting them behind and moving on. And if you do not then you will never have the stomach to take the next big decision and you need to always have the stomach to take the next decision.

Q: Speaking of having the appetite for risk and having the stomach for risk, the underperformance that we have seen, 132 billion, that was the Tata Group value in 2015. It is down to 131 billion in 2017. Priority for you is to get all engines to fire?

A: Absolutely.

Q: And you feel confident of being able to do that?

A: I do not want to be arrogant to say what I will deliver. That is an outcome. That depends on a lot of factors. But you will not find me wanting in setting up a very high aspiration. Count down me on that.

Q: Are you getting any time to run at all?

A: Yes, I am very regular now because the travel has come down. So I am really enjoying it because the number of days I used to travel in TCS and the number of days I have travel now, it has significantly come down. So on a personal front, it has been fantastic.
9. Vishwaraj Sugar Industries: Listed on October 15, 2019 on the BSE and NSE, the stock has returned 33 percent so far. It had an issue size of Rs 60 crore. (Representative Image Source: Reuters)

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Dwarikesh Sugar Industries Ltd expects sales to rise by up to 15 percent in the 2017/18 crop year as production in Uttar Pradesh could jump to a record high, a top company executive said on Monday.

Farmers in the country's top sugar producing state where the company has its operations, have adopted anA early-maturing cane variety that has boosted productivity, Vijay Banka, the chief financial officer of the company, told Reuters.

The state's output could jump 14 percent from a year earlier to a record 10 million tonnes, he said.

"We are expecting 10 to 15 pct increase in crushing and production. Our sales will also riseA commensurately," he added.

Dwarikesh Sugar produced 330,000 tonnes of the sweetener in the 2016/17 crop year that ended on Sept. 30.

Higher cane supply will help the company to operate factories at 18,500A to 19,000A tonnes per day (tpd) capacity in the new season, compared with 17,500A tpd a year ago, he said.

The company's profit jumped more than 88 percent to 592.7 million rupees in the June quarter, helping it to reduce its debt.

Dwarikesh Sugar's debt has come down to 760 million rupees from 3 billion rupees at the end of March 2016, he said, adding that the company would be debt-free very soon.

Uttar Pradesh fixes the floor price for cane that is mandatory for mills to pay farmers.

"If cane prices rise marginally and sugar prices sustain, thenA EBIDTA margin should remain healthy, but it could fall if Uttar Pradesh raises state-advised prices sharply," he said.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
Over 90 lakh truckers will participate in a two-day nation-wide Chakka Jam from Monday to protest issues ranging from disruptive impact of the Goods and Services Tax to the extortion at RTO barriers in states.

The decision to protest was taken as last minute negotiations with the government did not materialise, Harish Sabharwal, Additional Vice President (North) of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), told News18.com.

"We are going on a nationwide Chakka Jam today and tomorrow. Negotiations with the government did not yield any results as they did not agree to our demands. The truckers will suffer a loss of Rs 2,000 crore. We are compelled to suffer this loss," said Sabharwal, who is also a member in the Road Safety Council of the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways.

Sabharwal said small-time truck drivers have been making "frantic calls to the association since morning."
Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said there is scope for further reforms in the country's energy sector as he met CEOs of top global and Indian firms to explore ways to raise domestic output and cut imports.

Chief executives of firms ranging from BP Plc of the UK to Russia's Rosneft, Exxon Mobil, Saudi Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell flew in specially for a three-hour meeting, in a rare display of their faith in India and its policy reforms, top sources said.

In the three-hour long meeting, the honchos appreciated the reforms initiated in the last 40 months which has created an environment for companies like BP to revive USD 6 billion in investment plan in gas production and Saudi Aramco to consider investing in refining and petrochemical projects, they added.

"The absolute coordination between policy, strategy and implementation came in for special praise with some CEOs saying they have not seen any parallel world over on the speed with which reforms have been implemented," a source said.

Modi, they said, at the meeting stressed that India in the energy sector is growing vertically - from exportation to midstream refining and fuel distribution and technological innovation, as also horizontally in taking energy to last man in the queue by giving over 3 crore free LPG connections in last 15 months and promising 4 crore electricity connections to 4 crore households in the next 15 months.

"India is a priority for investment for them," another source said, adding speakers praised reforms like deregulation of auto fuel prices, gas pricing and marketing freedom, production augmentation strategy and a new policy for exploration and production.

India, the world's third-biggest oil consumer, is using its market size to strike better deals with oil exporters and attract investment into upstream exploration, refining and petrochemical industries.

"Participants appreciated the pace and drive with which Prime Minister Modi has brought about reforms in the energy sector," a statement issued by Prime Minister's Office said.

Subjects such as the need for a unified energy policy, contract frameworks and arrangements, requirement of seismic data sets, encouragement for biofuels, improving gas supply, setting up of a gas hub and regulatory issues came up for discussions, it said.

The CEOs also suggested including natural gas and electricity in the GST regime to make these competitive.

Modi, who had previously met a smaller group of oil and gas CEO in January 2016, said the status of the energy sector in India was highly uneven and there exists a scope for reform in many areas, according to sources.

More than a year after the January 2016 meeting, the government had allowed higher natural gas price for yet-to-be-produced fields in difficult areas like deep sea.

The main theme of today's meeting, sources said, was to seek investment in exploration and production, processing, transportation and distribution network in oil and gas.

Some of the officials suggested that the government should allow private and foreign firms to take a stake in producing oil and gas fields of ONGC with a condition that they would get a fixed USD per barrel fee for producing more than the pre-determined baseline output.

The government is looking at private investments to raise domestic oil and gas production, which has stagnated for the last few years while fuel demand has been rising by 5-6 percent annually.

Modi in 2015 had set a target of reducing India's oil dependence by 10 percent to 67 percent, based on import dependence of 77 percent in 2014-15, by 2022. The dependence has since risen to over 80 percent.

Sources said the participants at the meeting felt that investing in new unproven areas is not just risky with no guarantee of results but would also take a long time.

Involving companies with proven technology and having capital in existing producing fields for improving output is the way forward, they said.

Modi welcomed the suggestion made for a comprehensive energy policy, the statement said.

He also welcomed all possibilities for innovation and research in the oil and gas sector, the release said, adding that he flagged the potential of biomass energy and invited participation and joint ventures in the coal gasification.

According to the release, Modi also said that "scope for reform in many areas still exists".

He thanked all participants for sharing holistic suggestions, keeping in mind India's unique potential and requirements in the oil and gas sector, instead of merely confining themselves to the concerns of their respective organisations.

He observed that the suggestions made today covered policy, administrative as well as regulatory issues while stressing upon the need to develop energy infrastructure and access to energy in eastern India.

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told the gathering that the liberalised India offers around USD 300 billion investment opportunity in the next 10 years in the oil and gas sector.

"We want investors, both domestic and global, who can bring in the best technology and capital," he said.

The government is devising policies to more than double the share of gas in the energy basket to 15 percent.

"We are planning a gas trading exchange and making sure there is open access to the gas grid. Global experience in this area would be useful," he stated.

According to Pradhan, in the last 40 months, the government has taken several policy initiatives in the energy sector in line with the prime minister's vision of energy access, efficiency, sustainability and security.
UNESCO's executive board is choosing a new leader to replace departing director Irina Bokova, whose tenure was marred by funding troubles and tension over its inclusion of Palestine as a member.

Intense diplomatic wrangling has marked the race among seven candidates to become the next director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Arab countries have long wanted to lead the organization, though divisions over Palestinian membership have complicated their push.

Voting by UNESCO's executive board starts Monday and continues through the week.

Leading candidates include Qian Tang of China, former Egyptian government minister Moushira Khattab and Qatar's former Culture Minister Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari.

The U.S. and Israel suspended UNESCO funding when its members voted to make Palestine a member state in 2011.

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Nitish Kumar_BJP

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would launch new development projects for the state during his visit on October 14, which would form a part of the Rs 1.25-lakh crore package he had announced in the run-up to the state election in 2015.

Kumar hailed the Centre's "very positive" approach towards development in Bihar and said it was providing assistance to the state by way of projects, particularly in the field of roads, energy and infrastructure.

The prime minister is scheduled to visit the state capital on October 14 for the centenary celebrations of the Patna University.

"The projects to be launched will be a part of the prime minister's promised Rs 1.25-lakh crore special package for Bihar ahead of the assembly elections," Kumar told reporters after his weekly 'Lok Samvad' (public interaction) programme.

Modi had on August 18, 2015, announced the mega package during a public event at Arrah in the run-up to the assembly elections later that year.

Kumar had resigned as chief minister on July 26, dumping coalition partner Lalu Prasad's RJD and joined hands with Opposition BJP to form a new NDA government in Bihar.

"The Centre's approach towards Bihar in terms of development is very positive. Many pending projects are being cleared for the state as part of this," the chief minister said.

Kumar, however, said the demand for a special status to Bihar, would not be on the agenda during this visit. "...as the prime minister is coming for the Patna University centenary celebration."

However, he added a special status was needed to encourage industries to come in the state.
India Economy

The current economic slowdown has pushed India down one spot to eighth on a list of most valuable nation brands compiled by Brand Finance.

Meanwhile, US continues to be at the top the list, followed by China, Germany, Japan and United Kingdom, according to Brand Finances Nation Brands 2017 report.

In terms of valuation, India's National Brand Value in 2017 is USD 2.04 trillion, down one percent from last year's USD 2.06 trillion. The country's brand rating, however, improved from 'AA-' to 'AA'.

Despite a rating improvement, India does not feature in the list of 10 best performing nation brands.

"With so much focus on China, the emergence of India as a top-tier

investment destination has not received the notice that it warrants," the report said.

"Indias nation brand still lags behind that of China in the league table, but it now sits comfortably in the top ten and if its economic performance continues to stay strong, it might well crack the top five soon," it added.

However, India took a hit on several fronts. "The less than impressive track record of implementing change renders the nations outlook unstable. This poses a threat to its future nation brand value, said David Haigh, CEO, Brand Finance told Business Standard.

In 2015, India surpassed both US and China to top list of greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) by volume. In 2016, Indian companies were responsible for 272 overseas projects, placing India third as an Asian source country for FDI, behind Japan and China, according to the report.

While the US is still on top, a meagre growth of 2 percent is putting its dominance at risk. Macroeconomic challenges and slow GDP could be reason for stagnation in the US.

"However, perceptions of Donald Trumps presidency are not exactly helping Brand America either," the report said adding, "Trumps administration is seen as increasingly unpredictable."

The fastest growing nation brand in absolute terms was China, which recorded a rise of USD 3.1 trillion. "Particularly striking is the rise of China, which is narrowing the value gap with the United States at breakneck speed," Haigh said.

Even at this growth rate, China's nation brand value is half that of the United States. "Sustaining growth will be key to narrow the gap," Haigh added.

The report also said that Asian nation brands are seeing a boom as the West stagnates.

Iceland topped the 'Top 10 best performing nation brands' list. "Thanks to the hit television show, Game of Thrones, which films most of its winter scenes in Iceland, the country has seen a record 1.8 million foreign visitors in 2016, up 40% from 2015," the report said.
Smart City

The Smart City project being implemented in Puducherry with the French government aims at transforming the city into a global tourism destination by leveraging its heritage, cultural, spiritual and educational advantages, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said here today.

Speaking after inaugurating a one-day conference on 'implementation of Puducherry Smart City Project' organised by Puducherry Smart City Development Limited, which is executing it, he said France had been consistently supporting the union territory in various developmental projects.

He said France based Development Agency (Agence Francais pour Development) had signed an agreement with the Puducherry government in January 2016 to provide technical support in sustainable urban development through this project.

At the conference today, an agreement was signed between Puducherry government and French Development Agency to augment drinking water supply at an outlay of Rs 534 crore. While the Agency would provide Rs 455 crore as loan, the balance of Rs 79 crore will be provided by the Puducherry government to ensure water supply in all the four regions.

Chief Secretary Manoja Parida and Nicolas Fornage,Director of the French Development Agency, signed the agreement. The Chief Minister said that Puducherry (a former French colony), had been described as 'a window on French culture' by former Prime Minister, the late Jawharlal Nehru. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for including Puducherry as one of the cities under the Smart city mission.

The Chief Minister also recalled the encouragement Vice President M Venkiah Naidu had given for Puducherry when he was Urban Development Minister by accommodating the UT in the third round of allocation of projects to various cities. Local Administration Minister A Namassivayam said the Project involved a total outlay of Rs 1,828 crore.

While the Centre and Puducherry government each contributed Rs 500 crore crore, the balance was mobilised through open market borrowing and public private partnership.

The project will go on stream in the next four years. French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler said Puducherry had come out with an impressive draft plan for implementation of the project. He said France had always stood beside Puducherry and would cooperate in developmental programmes and implementing the project.

He said participation of delegates of 23 French firms in deliberations on various projects of Smart Cities club at the conference spoke volumes of his government's commitment to support Puducherry. Chief Secretary Manoj Parida and Chief Executive Officer of the Smart City Project Limited P Jawahar were among those who spoke.

French Consul General in Puducherry Catherine Suard, Minister Counsellor and Head of the Regional Economic Department for South Asia (French Embassy) Jean Marc Fenet and Ministers of Puducherry were among those present.

An MoU for beach restoration project was inked between PSCDL and National Institute of Ocean Technology on the occasion. Opposition AIADMK legislators A Anbalagan and Vayyapuri Manikandan staged a walkout within minutes of commencement of the conference to protest against 'improper' seating arrangements by the organisers'.
MUMBAI, INDIA - OCTOBER 6, 2005: Gautam Singhania of Raymond at the launch of its new range of exquisite and innovative fabrics at a press conference At Hotel Hilton Tower. (Photo by Santosh Harhare/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

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Amid the ongoing dispute within the members of Raymond's promoter family over their JK House property in Mumbai, Akshaypat and Anant Singhania, cousins of company chairman Gautam Singhania, hit back at him on Monday in an interview with Economic Times.

In 2007, when JK House was up for redevelopment, Raymond got into an agreement with its subsidiary Pashmina Holdings, which had leased the property from Raymond. The agreement said that once the property was renovated, for which Raymond would bear the expense itself, Pashmina Holdings will sell the flats back to the tenants at a price of Rs 9,200 per square foot carpet area.

Until then, Pashmina Holdings had sub-let the flats in JK House to various members of the Singhania family, the original tenants.

In June this year, at the company's annual general meeting, Gautam Singhania asked shareholders to vote against the proposal of selling the flats to the tenants as it would be a major loss to the company, while abstaining from the vote himself since he was a related party. The family is now waiting for a final verdict from the court.

"For any contract, there is a give and take. I have given you my house, now you are saying that I won't give it back to you," said Anant Singhania, terming Gautam's actions as "absurd."

Both Akshaypat and Anant agree that the market prices have gone above what they were in 2007 but said that JK House was supposed to be handed over to the family within 3 years and not 10.

Moreover, JK House was supposed to be a 14-storey building originally but is now a 37-storey one, complete with its own helipad and swimming pools.

"Did we ask you to spend that kind of money? Did we ask you to make 37 floors [instead of the original 14], 10 floors of parking, helipad and swimming pools? And then you are loading that cost on to me?" asked Akshay Singhania.

He also questioned his cousin Gautam's and the company's intentions with regard to the property. "Okay, the company does not intend to give it to the four tenants. Then what is it planning to do?" he asked.

The brothers have now left the outcome of the family dispute to the court. "There is no best or worst way to resolve this dispute. It only depends on what the courts say. Out of court, what will we do?" said Akshay.

The brothers also pointed that this dispute has ruined their brand name. "This has destroyed the Raymond brand. The values of Raymond are 'complete man', 'feels like heaven', family values. Where are the family values?" said Anant Singhania.
A new Renault Kadjar car is seen during the 87th International Motor Show at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse - RTS11QWC

India is accelerating its way towards an electric fleet market with 2030 set as the likely target for the transition. Industry players, however, want government to think backward and scrap old cars before looking forward and contemplating addition of new cars.

When we are driving a car, there are three more mirrors apart from the wind screen Two on the side and one rear You need to see backwards as well You need to scrap old cars, Sumit Sawhney, country chief executive officer and managing director, Renault India, told Moneycontrol.

Sawhney said that the government must first ensure scrapping old vehicles to make room for new vehicles, eventually creating demand in the industry.

Imagine, today, you have 40 million cars of which 15 million were added after 2000 You can scrap today 15 to 20 million cars Even if you start with five to 10 percent that will be one million If you scrap it, it will inject fresh demand, he said.

Ministry of road transport and highways is yet to formulate voluntary vehicle modernisation programme (VVMP) to scrap commercial vehicles older than 10 to 15 years.

Also read: No plans to launch electric vehicles in India: Toyota

The ministry is expected to hold a detailed conference soon with various stakeholders to finalise the policy.

Union minister for road transport, Nitin Gadkari, had previously said that there is an urgent need to replace old vehicles as they cause as much as 65 percent of vehicular pollution. As per government estimates, approximately Rs 5 lakh rupees would be saved on each truck.

Indias Electric Vehicle Push: Can India go from 1 to 100 in 13 years?

When I hear the vision and the mission of making India as the biggest hub of electric car, then the words and the acts should match, said Sawhney.

He also said that India must adopt China like model to achieve the twin objective of growing industry and addressing environmental concerns. He believed that the border country grew only by scrapping old vehicles thereby infusing fresh demand.

Indian automotive industry, today, is at 3.3 million (volume per year sold). If you scrap it (old vehicles), it will inject fresh demand Thats how China has grown. China today is 28 million market, Sawhney said.

The CEO of India unit, however, opined that it is difficult to have an all e-vehicle fleet by 2030.

100 percent fleet by 2030 is not possible, he said, adding cars are becoming more and more technologically driven We will have more opportunities coming in cars (but) internal combustion cars will continue (till and after 2030).

Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, has set 2030 as the deadline for having e-fleet in India.

EVs in India, however, hold less than one percent market share of total auto sector, of which 95 percent are low speed scooters.

Also read: Bulldozer, E-vehicles and BS-VI: Gadkari must bring 'clear' vehicle policy soon, feel experts

There were only 2,000 electric cars in 2016-17 for three million fuel based cars. The number stood at 23,000 for e-scooters against more than 16 million fuel based two-wheelers.

Sawhneys expectation of the e-vehicle policy also gives the most attention to bringing the scrappage policy as soon as possible coupled with creating the right ecosystem for the industry.

My expectation is that, clearly, we need to have a long term strategy We need to make sure that we are not looking short term, he said adding In the policy there could be scrapping, making sure that we are creating infrastructure for battery manufacturing, car manufacturing we dont have that right now.

I would say, most important part of the policy is to create the ecosystem and then, obviously, the natural demand will take over.

Sawhney said that Renault views e-vehicles as the opportunity for India to give a nudge to its auto industry, growing, both, domestically and internationally.

There is lot of opportunity for electric cars in India and outside of India, in terms of exports So if we say that we make India as the export hub, we create more opportunities, he said.

Sawhney also brushed aside any fear regarding overall job loss in the industry.

If certain jobs will go down, there would be certain new jobs that would come up, he told, adding that India does have the required skill set to manufacture e-vehicles.

I think we have enough talent pool Its about finding and nurturing the talent, he said. Skill is not an issue Global units are leveraging from India.
Prakash Gaba of prakashgaba.com told CNBC-TV18, "Hindustan Unilever (HUL) is certainly looking good to me. It can climb to maybe levels closer to Rs 1,230 zones, stop loss below Rs 1,204 should be fine."

IndusInd Bank is another stock that looks good to me. It looks like it has a good base formation. As long as the level of around Rs 1,680 holds, there is a very good chance that it can see a move up to maybe around Rs 1,740 zones," he added.
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We expect Q2 to be better than Q1, which would give relief to the market as the trend is likely to improve on a QoQ basis, Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services said in an exclusive interview with Kshitij Anand of Moneycontrol.

The H1FY18 is over and the S&P BSE Sensex rose just over 6 percent and for the year it has gained a little over 18 percent. Where do you see markets headed in the next 6 months of FY18?

We had cut our target for Sensex by 5 percent last quarter to 31,000, post poor Q1FY18 results. This was due to lower results than expectation and premium valuation which was increasing despite lack of earnings growth.

We continue to have a cautions view in the near-term due to a slowdown in economic activities and liquidity from FIIs and non-MF institutions.

At the same time, we also feel that the trend of this consolidation will be limited since earnings are likely to come back over the next 1-2 quarters as economic activities resume post the stabilisation of GST procedures.

Slipping macros is something which is troubling market participants at the current juncture. Do you think this will cap the upside for Indian markets or are such fears unfounded?

It is already impacting the performance of the market in the last 2-3 months and we feel that it could continue in the near-term due to the risk of a further downgrade in earnings.

At the same time, another factor which will increase the impact is a change in global liquidity. Though QE is likely to be reduced over the long-term it may have a conflict in the near-term due to a change in global investors perception.

What is your call on the rupee? Do you see it heading towards Rs 70/USD in the near-term?

Recently, the rupee had started to depreciate due to selling in India by FIIs within the EM basket. We feel it was largely in anticipation of breaching the fiscal deficit, a slowdown in economy growth and premium valuations compared to other EMs.

Currently, the rupee is under relief as FIIsd selling has stabilized, but this trend can continue as per the outcome of Q2 results and pace of reducing in QE by US Fed & ECB.

September quarter earnings will kick off from next month. Do you expect a recovery in earnings in this quarter?

We expect Q2 to be better than Q1 as mentioned by the uptick in WPI and IIP numbers. This will give a relief to the market as the trend is likely to improve on a QoQ basis.

But, on a YoY basis, the economy stance is likely to be subdued hence downgrade in earnings may continue depending on the sector-wise performance.

What is pushing foreign investors away from Indian markets? They sold about Rs 11000 crore from Indian equity markets in September.

It is largely due to India's premium valuation within the EM basket. This premium is expanding as earnings growth is reducing due to the double whammy of demonetisation and GST.

For example, Sensex's PAT growth in Q1FY18 was -6 percent. As a result, the confidence of the market is also coming down. We feel earning growth will resume over the next 2 quarters but by that time what will be the view of FIIs on the EM will depend on the change in Quantitative Easing policy.

The US Fed is planning to reduce QE over the long-term in a structured manner.

Your list of top five stocks which could turn multibaggers in the next 2-3 years?

Here is a list of top 5 stocks which could give superior returns:

Bharat Electronics

BEL will emerge as a key beneficiary from the on-going defence modernisation programmes & GoI focus on indigenisation. The current order backlog of Rs 40,000 crore is 5.3x FY17 sales, which has significantly improved the earnings outlook.

We factor order book to grow at 15 percent CAGR; consequently, earnings is expected to grow by 14 percent CAGR over FY17-FY19E. We value BEL at P/E of 22x on FY19E on improved order inflow outlook.

Symphony

Symphony is the largest air cooler manufacturer with a market share of ~50 percent in the organised market in India. Led by strong R&D, launched more than 40 new products in the last six years.

Its asset-light business model has enabled the company to sustain its EBITDA margin level above 20 percent and ROCE above 40 percent over the years. Introduction of a new premium range of air coolers will prove to be margin-accretive in the long run.

We expect earnings to grow at 22 percent CAGR over FY17-19E led by volume growth.

Mahindra CIE Automotive

Diversified product portfolio, broad-based customer profile and strong geographical presence establish MCIE a preferred choice for the OEMs. Scaling up the new product line to drive growth in two-wheeler business will paint a positive outlook to the company.

We expect EBITDA margin to improve by 350 bps over CY16-18E led by cost control initiatives and capitalizing the OEM mix. Consolidated Revenue/PAT to grow at 14 percent/57 percent CAGR over CY16-18E led by increase in order book from OEMs & recent acquisition (BFPL).

TCI

Transport Corporation of India (TCI) is one of the largest well-integrated players in the organised logistics industry providing freight, supply chain, warehousing solutions & shipping services. Has a fleet of 9000 trucks, 5 ships & 11mn sq ft of warehousing space.

TCI will emerge as a key beneficiary from the implementation of GST, which is expected to boost third-party logistic players (3PL) business. With the improvement in scale, free movement of goods and lower transit time is expected to bring overall efficiency thereby improvement in margin profile.

Aarti Industries

AARTI Industries (ARTO) is a global leader in Benzene-based derivative products. Has a diversified product portfolio with end-users in pharma, agrochemicals, specialty polymers, paints & pigments.

Recently, bagged contract worth Rs 4,000 crore for the supply of high-value agro chemical intermediary from a global chemical supplier. Managements focus on high margin products, forward and backward integration is expected to provide higher growth opportunities.

We expect PAT to grow at 22 percent CAGR over FY17-FY19E. Given strong earnings outlook, we continue to remain positive on the stock.

Top sectors which will lead the next leg of the rally on India markets?

As per our coverage, these are the sectors on which we are positive...

NBFC

The rural economy is improving on the back of two consecutive normal monsoons which enhances the outlook and bodes well for NBFCs across consumer durables, SME and auto financing.

Further, reducing the cost of funds, re-monetisation and new avenues of growth will continue to drive strong performance for NBFCs. We also like the housing finance space which will see large benefits flowing from governments push for affordable housing.

We, therefore, expect the sector to continue its outperformance and prefer NBFCs with stable operating performance with steady asset quality.

Cement

The industry had been in a stage of high capacity additions during the last one decade (increased from 157MT in FY06 to current ~421MT) which has come down subsequently due to subdued demand growth owing to slower progress in infrastructure projects, low off-take from the housing sector and excess capacities in various industrial sectors.

We forecast low additions in new capacity over the next 2 years at ~25MT which coupled with a revival in demand on account of enhanced focus of GoI on housing and infra will lead cement demand & supply gap to narrow in the coming years.

Infrastructure

Increase in government spending on infra space will create a positive sentiment to the sector, which was in doldrums for a period of time. Further, road sector is the bright spot in the infrastructure space.

The government continued to focus on road infrastructure with an ambitious target to build 41 km per day in FY18 has kept the sector on a sound wicket.

On the other hand, increased capex of Rs 1.31 lakh crore for constructing new railway tracks, doubling, electrification, gauge conversion will give ample opportunities for railway EPC players.

Moving swiftly in the pursuit of affordable Power for All, the power sector is likely to witness major changes in a budgeted allocation to Rs 106 billion for integrated power Development and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana.

Chemicals

Till recently, major global chemical giants met their sourcing requirements from China due to lower cost and favorable currency.

However, during recent times, there is a higher regulatory compliance requirement in China which has led MNCs to diversify their RM sourcing arrangement from China and adding India as an additional sourcing destination.

Govt. initiatives in the form of port-based Chemical Parks in SEZ, improvement in infrastructure, tax concessions; rationalization of duty structure, FDI relaxation, etc. would facilitate further growth of Indian chemical industry into a major chemical hub.

Defence

There is a major push from the government to reduce the import dependence to 30 percent from current 60 percent-70 percent. In line with this objective, high priority is given to defence under Make in India initiative.

As a result of this, we are witnessing a higher order flows towards domestic companies and improved traction in terms of government intent towards finalizing delayed large orders.

Pharma

During the last 1-2 months, we have slowly shifted our view on pharma sector from neutral to positive. This is due to the recent positive regulatory responses received from US FDA for certain pharma companies.

The valuations of those companies are very attractive in that it is almost impossible to avoid such businesses from a long-term perspective. The pharma sector is most likely to stabilise over the next 1 to 2 years.
Anuj Puri

With several property developers in our metros developing skyscrapers of 150-250 metres and more, an increasingly pressing question being asked by property buyers is whether they are safe. This is an obvious and natural concern, given the increasing incidence of fires, earthquakes and building collapses that the media throws at us fairly regularly. Let us take a closer look at this.

As opposed to the scenario seen in more developed countries, is India lagging behind with implementing strict norms for the structural and fire safety for high-rise buildings? Actually, as we have seen in a recent case of a residential tower in London, this can present a challenge even in such global cities. However, considering the rapid pace of urbanization being seen in cities like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, there is no doubt that strict and enforceable safety norms for skyscrapers are vital.

Earthquake resistance: While fire safety is one aspect, earthquake resistance of high-rises is a relatively lesser cause of concern. In India, most high-rise buildings are developed as per the local building bye-laws and NBC standards for structural safety, which are considered safe to withstand certain intensities of earthquakes. Of course, since most parts of India are located in seismic zones, it is very important for builders and structure safety authorities to ensure that construction is being done as per the prescribed standards.

It can be said with a fair degree of certainty that developers have become quite cautious these days, and that most of them do conscientiously follow the guidelines for construction of earthquake resistant buildings. For the record, every high-rise building built in India today must mandatorily adhere to prescribed structural standards to ensure that they are safe and earthquake resistant. Developers must and do conform to all earthquake-related measures.

Fire Hazard Safety: In a country like India, lack of skilled labour and technicians, poor building designs, low-quality building materials - and, importantly, lack of reliable safety and fire-fighting systems - were justifiable causes for concern in the past. Let us take fire-fighting in a high-rise as a possible scenario.

In a city suffering from chronic infrastructure deadlock, extinguishing a fire even on the 7th or 8th floor becomes difficult - leave alone a fire on the 25th or 30th floor. So, with what assurance can one buy a flat in a skyscraper in a city like Mumbai or Delhi?

Obviously, it is not be possible for a lay individual buyer to do a complete safety audit of such a building. However, it is certainly possible to inquire about and study the basic fire safety and emergency evacuation facilities available in the project before choosing to live there.

Then again, the fire safety of any building does not depend only on the safety and evacuation measures undertaken by the developer and the project management agency retained to manage the building. The dynamics of the location and state of the infrastructure there also play a huge role. There need to be adequate approach roads and avenues for fire-fighting vehicles.

This can be a challenge in highly congested areas with chronic traffic issues, and it is unfortunately in such locations where skyscrapers are sometimes the only option for mass housing in the first place.

High-rises are here to stay

In many areas of the larger metros in rapidly urbanizing India, high-rises are the only affordable option for people with constrained budgets - and indeed, there will usually be no options for low-rise buildings among the fresh supply coming in. Basically, high-rises allow builders to reduce their land costs and churn out more units on a single plot.

Skyscrapers are therefore more cost-effective for buyers on a unit-to-unit basis. However, indiscriminate development of high-rises in highly densified urban areas can also be very risky as it will invariably lead to infrastructure-related issues - with a direct impact on potential fire hazards.

How does RERA help here?

RERA has made it mandatory for building plans to be approved and made available to customers, along with all features and amenities. In the past, the safety of buildings was often compromised when builders developed open areas which were initially meant to be kept unused and open. This will now become impossible under RERA, as no changes to the original project plans will be permitted unless two-third of the existing property owners give their consent for such changes.

To summarize

Much can be said about this - but to cut a long story short, there is no substitute for awareness and due diligence. There are many questions that a buyer needs to ask before buying or renting a home in a high-rise residential building. The building's layout plans can also be studied by a competent expert. A lot of the guesswork can be taken out of the process by using the services of a reputed real estate consultancy to identify the safest options.
CEAT  the flagship company of RPG Enterprise has closed a deal to purchase a 163-acre land parcel in Chennai to set up a radial tyre manufacturing plant and plans to invest approximately Rs 5,000 crore into this mega greenfield project in a phased manner over next five years.

This is their first plant in South India and is expected to create over 2,000 jobs in and around the region, boosting its overall socio-economic status.

The primary reason for CEAT to choose Chennai  and specifically this land parcel - for this investment was the proximity to OEMs like Hyundai, Renault Nissan, Ford, Daimler, KIA, Isuzu, etc,. The local skill availability, favorable incentive structure, ecosystem for tyre manufacturing and a very proactive Government machinery were also important influencing factors. Other major investments which are underway include big names like PSA, Peugeot Citroen, Schwing Stetter XCMG, Freudenberg as well as existing companies expanding in Chennai, including Hyundai, Samsung, Ford, Foxconn and Saint Gobain, said Sarita Hunt, Managing Director  Chennai & Coimbatore, JLL India.

This is one of the largest industrial investments and private land acquisition arrangements in Tamil Nadu facilitated by an international property consultancy. As CEATs exclusive transaction advisers for this land acquisition, JLL India also facilitated the associated incentives negotiation with the Tamil Nadu Government.

The land parcel is located along the upcoming ChennaiBangalore corridor in the industrial cluster of Sriperumbudur. This corridor commands high strategic importance due to the presence of many automobile OEMs in the vicinity.
Contemporary Mansion, District One project by Meydan Sobha, Dubai.

Demonetisation did have a temporary setback with regard to high-networth Indians investing in properties abroad but the market has rebounded with Indians showing interest again to invest in international properties, especially residential real estate priced less than USD 1 million and of size less than 1,500 sq ft.

UK, US, UAE and Australia are the favourite investment destinations among Indians and this has primarily to do with HNIs childrens education and Indian social and cultural links due to the strong presence of Indian diaspora in these countries.

Demonetisation had a temporary setback but the market has rebounded and HNIs are showing interest in international property investment again, Vimal Anand, Director, Global Media Network told Moneycontrol.

Also, the investment pie in international residential projects has increased with regard to Indian HNIs. It is on the growth path but it is more of residential investment. Commercial properties are not being considered for international investment as of now as the investment ticket size in commercial property is high. HNIs invest in residential properties for capital growth, rental returns, second home or for residency/citizenship, he says.

Among other HNI investment trends tracked by a report titled Looking beyond Borders, jointly brought out by Knight Frank India and the International Real Estate Expo (IREX), as many as 68 percent of the buyers who invest in overseas properties are businessmen/industrialists followed by self-employed/traders. The report findings also reflect healthy returns on investments for such buyers which augurs well for the real estate sector as a whole.

The report says that Dubai offered the highest overall returns of 49.3 percent followed by Australia at 38.7 percent. The returns were negative from Cyprus due to the decline in property prices and appreciation in the rupee. Investing into properties in Malaysia is the cheapest amongst the 5 countries followed by Dubai while Australia has become expensive on account of high property price appreciation over the past 1 year.

"Resident Indians buying overseas homes at the end of Q2 2012 and selling the property five years later gained from the investments in 4 out of the 5 most preferred international markets," it says.

According to the report, 51.6 percent Australia witnessed the highest property appreciation followed by Malaysia (43.8 percent) between Q2 2012 and Q2 2017. While property buyers in Dubai have benefitted the highest with an overall return of 49.3 percent followed by Australia at 38.7 percent. "Dubai offered dual returns as the Indian rupee depreciated versus the local UAE currency and property prices in the Gulf destination appreciated between Q2 2012 and Q2 2017," the report said.

Besides factors such as children studying or planning to study abroad, the interest is propelled by future plans to settle overseas. Better lifestyle is the most important factor which makes foreign shores attractive to resident Indians. Transparent and cleaner real estate market, safety and security and better infrastructure come a close second, it says.

Also, a majority of Indians buy a property abroad for investment purposes closely followed by the aspiration of having a second home, says the report.

As many as 68 percent of the Indian buyers preferred apartments when buying abroad and 20 percent of the buyer preference is for a villa - since countries such as Cyprus and Sri Lanka are seen more as second home options and holiday destinations.

There is a clear preference from the Indian buyer for a more compact size when looking for a property abroad. As many as 63 percent of the Indians prefer property less than 1,500 sq ft. Also, in terms of pricing 77 percent of the Indian buyers prefer a property that is less than USD 1 million. Nearly 1 out 4 resident Indians prefer to spend more than USD 1 million for a house overseas, says the report.

The doubling of the foreign exchange remittance limit to Rs USD 25,0000 per individual per year by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS) introduced last year has also made home buying in foreign countries easier for rich Indians. It has made it easier as a family of four that can invest about a million dollars in a financial year. International real estate companies also offer construction-linked easy payment plans where one can invest over a two to five-year period, explains Anand.

The quantum of money sent through LRS for acquisition of property has increased almost 59 times, from USD 1.9 million in 200506 to USD 111.9 mn in 201617, says the report.

The report said that queries from resident Indian buyers increased marginally from 11 percent in 2015 to 15 percent in 2016 and held steady around that mark in 2017. Similarly, sales volumes rose from 6 percent in 2015 to 8 percent in the subsequent year and sustained at 7 percent this year.

Around 40 international real estate developers and marketing companies are showcasing their real estate projects at the International Real Estate Expo (IREX) currently being held in Mumbai. These companies are from Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, the UK, and the US and the price of units starts from Rs 2 crore onwards.
Pressure mounted on Monday against Catalan vows to break away from Spain after hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied to defend national unity, but the region's leader maintained his threat to formally declare independence possibly within days.

The protests followed days of soaring tensions after police cracked down on voters during a banned October 1 Catalan independence referendum, prompting separatist leaders to warn they would unilaterally break away from Spain.

Catalan separatists have called on regional president Carles Puigdemont to declare independence in defiance of the central government when he addresses the regional parliament on Tuesday evening.

He hinted in an interview on Sunday that the region would go ahead and declare independence if Madrid continues to refuse dialogue.

"We have left the door open to mediation and we have said yes to so many mediation options that have been proposed," he told Catalan television channel TV3.

"The days are going by and if the Spanish state does not give a positive response, we will do what we set out to do."

Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving demonstrators, calling themselves a "silent majority", packed central Barcelona on Sunday to protest against the plan, which has sparked the country's worst political crisis in a generation.

Around 350,000 people attended the rally, municipal police said, while organisers put turnout at between 930,000 and 950,000.

Some protesters called for Puigdemont to go to jail for holding the independence vote.

Others called for dialogue. The slogan for the demonstration -- organised by the Societat Civil Catalana, the main anti-independence group in Catalonia -- was: "Enough, let's recover good sense!"

Tentative signs emerged last week that the two sides may be seeking to defuse the crisis after Madrid offered an apology to Catalans injured by police during the vote.

But uncertainty still haunts the country, with the standoff also raising deep concerns in the European Union as it continues to grapple with Britain's planned exit from the bloc.

On the eve of Sunday's rally, Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy refused to rule out suspending Catalonia's regional autonomy -- a move that risks further unrest.

But Rajoy assured Catalan leaders that there "is still time" to backtrack and avoid the imposition of direct rule from Madrid.

Kofi Annan, in his role as chairman of The Elders, a group of notable public figures formed in 2007 to promote peace, said: "The constitutional crisis that is unfolding in Spain calls for consultation and not confrontation.

"I urge the Spanish government and the regional government of Catalonia to renew their commitment to a resolution through dialogue," the former UN chief added.

Recent opinion polls indicate that Catalans are split on independence, although regional leaders said police violence during the referendum turned many against Madrid.

Police said 700,000 people joined a pro-independence protest in Barcelona two days after the vote.

With its own language and cultural traditions, demands for independence in Catalonia date back centuries but have surged during recent years of economic hardship.

Catalonia, a northeastern region about the size of Belgium, is home to 7.5 million people and accounts for a fifth of Spain's economy.

At Sunday's rally, demonstrators cheered and applauded when a national police helicopter flew over and some people shook the hands of national police officers to thank them for their efforts to stop the referendum.

Protesters jeered members of Catalonia's regional police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, which had largely ignored a court order to close polling stations and seize ballot boxes during the referendum.

Dozens of protesters surrounded two Mossos vans and called the officers standing on guard in front of them "traitors".

The Catalan government on Friday published final results from the referendum indicating that 90 percent of voters backed the proposal to break away from Spain.

Turnout was 43 percent as Catalans who reject independence largely boycotted the poll.

The vote was not held according to official electoral standards as there were no regular voter lists, electoral commission or observers.

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The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain any urgent application by Jaypee Associates (JAL) for modification of the Supreme Court order in September that had said that JAL, the holding company of distressed Jaypee Infratech, deposit Rs 2,000 crore in the apex court by October 27, sources said.

JAL had requested for an urgent hearing on October 13 for an extension of the 45-day period (that ends of October 27) for depositing Rs 2000 crore but the Supreme Court disallowed it, they said.

The Apex court disallowing the mentioning by JAL may also mean that the Supreme Court is not interested in modifying its September 11 order in any manner and that is a positive for homebuyers, say legal experts.

The Supreme Court last month had assured that homebuyers' interest would be protected and had ordered Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, the holding company of distressed Jaypee Infratech, to deposit Rs 2,000 crore in the apex court by October 27.

The apex court in September had also ordered that the IRP shall forthwith take over the management of JIL. The IRP shall formulate and submit an interim resolution plan within 45 days before this court. The interim resolution plan shall make all necessary provisions to protect the interests of homebuyers," it had said in its September order.

The Supreme Court had told JAL's counsel, Rupinder Singh Suri, that the company could sell its land with the apex court's consent to generate Rs 2,000 crore, which would serve as security for the investments made by homebuyers in Jaypee Infratech's housing projects.

It had ordered the MD and directors of Jaypee Infratech and JAL not to leave India without its permission.

It had also said that Shekhar Naphade, learned senior counsel along with Shubhangi Tuli, Advocate-on-Record, shall participate in the meetings of the Committee of Creditors under Section 21 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 to espouse the cause of the buyers.

More than 40,000 buyers of Jaypee Infratech in Noida and Greater Noida are worried that the insolvency proceedings would leave them in the lurch and without a recourse to get either a house or compensation from the company.

Last week, in a letter to the amici curiae representing homebuyers in the insolvency proceedings, buyers have demanded that the developer Jaypee submit Rs 15,000 crore in Supreme Court to ensure that the projects are completed and handed over by December 2018.

In the letter, they have demanded that meetings be scheduled with insolvency resolution professional Anuj Jain and members of the amici curiae team  Subhangi Tuli and Shekhar Naphade and that an escrow account be created with the buyers to protect the funds that they intend to deposit in the future.

It should be noted that in a BSE filing end of September, Jaypee Associates had said that its shareholders had given the nod to raise up to Rs 2,000 crore through issue of securities via routes like qualified institutional placement (QIP). The proposal was approved by the shareholders as over 85 per cent of votes were polled in favour, it had said.

The special resolution was approved by the shareholders at the company's annual general meeting held on September 23.
IRB Infrastructure Developers | In 2020 so far, the share price has moved up 76 percent to Rs 131.20. It's trailing twelve months (TTM) P/E was 6.40 multiple while 5-year average P/E was 8.30 multiple.

Leasing activity for prime office space across key cities in India remained robust during the third quarter of 2017, crossing 10 million sq ft. Bengaluru led leasing activity, followed by Hyderabad, signaling the growing prominence of the cities as preferred destinations by corporates. NCR recorded 2.4 million sq ft of new supply year-on-year in the first nine months, says the latest India Office MarketView ReportQ3, 2017 by CBRE South Asia Pvt Ltd.

Space take-up was dominated by the IT/ITeS sector with 34 percent share of overall space leased across key cities. It is noteworthy to highlight that the share of office leasing by e-commerce firms grew from 3 percent earlier this year to 10 percent in the third quarter of 2017. Other segments that drove the demand included the engineering and manufacturing segment (19 percent), BFSI segment (10 percent), and co-working/business centres (6 percent) which is witnessing increased activity in recent months, it says.

With Europe, Middle East and African corporates (EMEA) showing an increased interest in Indias office segment, the share of office leasing from these firms was recorded at 14 percent in the third quarter of this year, up from 9 percent in the second quarter of 2017.

During the third quarter of 2017, new supply addition witnessed a marginal, quarter-on-quarter dip to reach 7.2 million sq ft during the third quarter. Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru accounted for almost 80 percent of the supply addition followed by Chennai and Hyderabad. Leasing activity was driven by small and medium-sized transactions (less than 50,000 sq. ft.) with small-sized transactions (less than 10,000 sq. ft) comprising 40 percent of all transactions reported during the quarter, it says.

A review of the data for the first nine months of the year reveals that leasing activity continues to remain robust across the key cities. Other highlights for the segment for January-September 2017 period were: Absorption touched 29 million sq ft; marginally lower compared to same period of 2016 and new office space completion was down 3 percent year-on-year.

Indias prime office market is evolving at a rapid pace. Occupier strategies continue to focus on consolidation/expansion as well as cost and greater flexibility of office space. The advent of co-working and shared office space formats are also influencing the market to some extent. While demand for traditional office space will continue to dominate the segment, it will have to make allowance for newer formats that are slowly gaining prominence and absorbing a part of the overall pie, says Anshuman Magazine, ChairmanIndia & South-East Asia, CBRE.

Ram Chandnani, Managing Director  Advisory & Transaction Services, CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd. added, Despite availability of quality, ready to move in office space remaining constrained, overall office leasing continued to be high during the quarter. The sustained interest from EMEA and US corporates highlights Indias continued preference as a destination for office space. Going forward, as occupiers continue to future proof their portfolios and hedge against future rental escalations, we can expect to witness a rise in pre-leasing of space across various cities. This shift in occupier strategy, focus on cost, and the growing prominence of alternative options like co-working spaces, could impact the demand for office space in the short-term."

In the National Capital Region, Gurgaon dominated leasing activity during the quarter. While quarterly supply addition increased, it was limited to Gurgaon primarily due to receipt of long pending completion certificates for key developments. The leasing activity was dominated by IT/ITeS corporates, followed by engineering and manufacturing firms.

In Mumbai, office space take-up was largely concentrated in PBD-Navi Mumbai, Thane, accounting for almost half of the citys leasing activity. Supply addition witnessed in PBD-Navi Mumbai and ABD. BFSI companies continued to dominate space take-up, followed by IT/ITeS/BPO/KPO companies and rental values remained stable, says the report.

In Bengaluru, leasing activity fell marginally on a quarter-to-quarter basis, largely concentrated in non-SEZ developments. Office space demand was mainly driven by engineering and manufacturing, IT/ITeS and e-commerce firms which took up large sized spaces. Supply addition remained subdued with only Northern Bengaluru witnessing supply addition during the quarter. Co-working operators continued to be active.

In Chennai, leasing activity grew on a quarter-on-quarter basis; mainly concentrated in OMR Zone I and Mount Poonamallee Road (MPH Road). Rental growth witnessed in OMR Zone I (IT) and GST and MPH Road (SEZ). Office space demand was mainly driven by e-commerce, IT/ITeS and BFSI firms. Supply addition rose in the city on a quarter-on-quarter.

As for future trends, office leasing activity is expected to sustain in the short-term, backed by companies looking to expand or consolidate their operations. Moving ahead, occupiers will continue to keep space utilisation and innovation in workplace strategies at the forefront of their expansion plans. Demand and use of co-working spaces is expected to rise with the concept being adopted by corporates who have fluid expansion/occupation plans, says the report.

With supply continuing to remain constrained across most cities, the demand-supply gap will lead to rental growth across most peripheral and sub-urban micro-markets. Pre-commitments in projects which are nearing completion are also expected to continue in the coming months, due to the limited availability of ready-to-move-in space in the coming quarters, it added.
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Anil Ambani led Reliance Capital arm will get a loan assistance of Rs 300 crore from government body IREDA to utilise funds for on-lending to renewable energy sector.

"Reliance Money (a brand of Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd or RCFL) signs Rs 300 crore agreement with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA)," Reliance Money said in a statement today.

The company will use the funds for lending to its renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, it said in a statement.

"Our partnership with IREDA opens new opportunities for us to create solutions for renewable power sector," said Devang Mody, Executive Director and CEO, Reliance Commercial Finance Limited (RCFL).

RCFL finances wind and solar energy projects besides providing assistance for developing infrastructure and projects in renewable energy space backed by government.

The Make in India campaign of the government under its initiative like 'Prayas' has aimed at creating 5 gigawatts (GW) of photo-voltaic manufacturing capacity from 2019 and build 20 GW of projects by 2026.

Government has targeted to raise its renewable energy capacity to 175 GW by 2022 from 45 GW at present.

"With the Prime Minister's vision of promoting renewable energy we too understand the importance of what right financing will do to the sector. With the funding we are confident that RCFL will provide solutions and help fill any gaps in financing the renewable energy sector," said K S Popli Chairman and Managing Director, IREDA.

RCFL is part of Reliance Capital that offer products like business expansion loans, vehicle loans, loans against property, infrastructure financing, agriculture loans and supply chain financing among others.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order directing federal agencies to recommend changes to a temporary visa program used to bring foreign workers to the United States to fill high-skilled jobs during a visit to the world headquarters of Snap-On Inc, a tool manufacturer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S., April 18, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

By Vivek Wadhwa

About 800,000 young immigrants could lose their jobs and be rounded up by police and deported to countries where their lives are at risk  and which are foreign to them  if the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is allowed to lapse.

Attorneys general from 10 states have challenged DACA, which allows young, unauthorized immigrants, known as dreamers, to live and work legally in the United States without fear of deportation. They plan to sue the Trump administration if it doesn't begin rolling back the program by Tuesday. Given that in 2016, Texas successfully challenged an effort by President Barack Obama to expand DACA, such a lawsuit might succeed. And the chances that Attorney General Jeff Sessions will defend DACA are slim, given that in July he maintained his position that the Justice Department would have no objection to abandoning DACA because it is very questionable, in my opinion, constitutionally.

These children took a big risk by registering with the government to be covered under DACA. Now, this trust in the American government may lead to their deportation if the Trump administration doesn't act to save the program.

In 2012, Obama launched DACA to allow children of undocumented parents to work without punishment. The parents of these children brought them here to give them better lives, and the children didnt knowingly break any laws. These dreamers grew up as Americans, believing they were entitled to the same rights and freedoms as their friends. Yet when they became old enough to work or go to college, they learned that there are limits on where they can study and what they can do. They had to live as second-class citizens in the shadows of society.

So DACA allowed them to come out of those shadows by giving them a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit if they passed a rigorous background check. The plan was to follow this up with comprehensive immigration reform  a full legalization of status.

President Trump has on several occasions expressed compassion for these children. He said at a news conference in February: Were going to show great heart. DACA is a very, very difficult subject for me, I will tell you. To me, its one of the most difficult subjects I have because you have these incredible kids. He refrained from doing what he promised during the election campaign: to deport these children. But the administration, which is still deciding the program's fate, has yet to make a decision on deportation.

From what Ive been reading, there is a possibility that Trump will do nothing, letting the attorneys general take the heat for the humanitarian crisis that is likely to ensue if Sessions has his way and the program is allowed to lapse.

David Bier of the Cato Institute estimates that with DACA rescission, 110,653 permits will expire in 2017, 404,909 in 2018 and the remainder in 2019. That would mean that these children would be subject to deportation at the whim of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

By playing with the lives of young immigrants, we are hurting the soul of America itself again.
CNBC-TV18 brings you a brand new week of Bull's Eye. It's the popular game show where market experts come together to dish out trading strategies for you to make your week more exciting and compete with each other to see whose portfolio is the strongest.

Remember these are midcap ideas not just for the day, but stocks that look attractive in the medium-term as well.

This week, Kunal Saraogi, Sumeet Jain and Jay Thakkar battle it out for top honours.

Below their top stock picks and analysis:

Kunal Saraogi of Equityrush

Buy Escorts with a stoploss at Rs 685 and target of Rs 710

Buy United Breweries with a stoploss at Rs 848 and target of Rs 875

Buy Petronet LNG with a stoploss at Rs 242 and target of Rs 249

Buy Voltas with a stoploss at Rs 521 and target of Rs 540

Sumeet Jain of Destimoney Securities

Buy Eveready Industries with a stoploss at Rs 309 and target of Rs 364

Buy South Indian Bank with a stoploss at Rs 30.50 and target of Rs 35

Buy Indoco Remedies with a stoploss at Rs 212 and target of Rs 246

Buy Gujarat Alkalies with a stoploss at Rs 598 and target of Rs 648

Jay Thakkar of Anand Rathi Securities

Sell Jain Irrigation Future with a stoploss at Rs 100.60 and target of Rs 95.60

Sell RBL Bank Future with a stoploss at Rs 525 and target of Rs 506

Buy Glenmark Pharma Future with a stoploss at Rs 605 and target of Rs 661

Buy Chennai Petro Future with a stoploss at Rs 406 and target of Rs 430
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Axis Direct's research report on Tata Steel

Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp AG have signed MOU to form 50:50 joint venture of their European operations. Tata Steel expects commencement of JV by March 2019, post clearance of various regulatory approvals.

Outlook

The JV is Positive for Tata Steel as the company can now focus on Indian growth opportunity. Tata Steel would now likely look to expand Kalinganagar (Odisha) capacity. Expansion would be value accretive, given (a) strong steel demand/supply dynamics in India and (b) lower capex cost being a brownfield expansion. While we await details about complete financial arrangements, we raise our target EV/EBITDA multiple for Tata Steel Europe by 1x and maintain BUY rating on the stock with revised target price of Rs 765 (Rs 690 earlier).

For all recommendations report, click here

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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Shares of Godrej Consumer gained 2 percent intraday on Monday as investors cheered a ratings upgrade on the stock along with a hike in target price.

Global brokerage house, Nomura, upgraded its rating to neutral from reduce and increased the target to Rs 990 from Rs 945.

Nomura highlighted that the recent 10 percent correction in the stock has brought valuations to a fair territory. Our earnings estimates remain unchanged and our 11% revenue growth assumption implies strong 13.6% revenue growth for the consolidated entity for the remaining nine months of FY18F, with strong continued growth in Africa and a strong rebound (off a low base) in India the likely catalysts, the firm said in its report.

Having said that, it is concerned about the weak business in Indonesia. We do not foresee growth picking up meaningfully in the near term in the geography. The issues, more specifically with the Household Insecticide category, are likely to take time to be resolved, the report further added.

Nomura continues to like the long-term story and believes Africa will remain the pillar of growth for the long term. However, macro-economic challenges in Indonesia, Latin America and Europe could weigh on the companys shares in the near term,

At 12:00 hrs Godrej Consumer Products was quoting at Rs 957.80, up Rs 10.40, or 1.10 percent, on the BSE. It touched an intraday high of Rs 964.70 and an intraday low of Rs 949.00.
Representative image

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Shares of Jain Irrigation Systems advanced 2.5 percent intraday Monday on the back of order win worth Rs 84.50 crore.

The companys pipe division has bagged Bhusawal water supply project of Rs 84.50 crore from Bhusawal Municipal Council through national competitive bidding.

This project has received funding under the AMRUT scheme of the central government.

The project involves work from source to the customers premises.

The work involves in this project is intake structures, water treatment plant, 220km pipe line which includes raw water, pure water main pipeline and distribution systems, 11 numbers of RCC elevated storage tanks.

Under the project, water will be delivered from the Tapi river to the people staying in the Bhusawal city.

The project will be implemented in 24 months and will take care of water supply to the Bhusawal city.

Atul B. Jain, joint managing director of Jain Irrigation said, This project is one more milestone in our progress to be a complete player in the entire water infrastructure space.

At 14:36 hrs Jain Irrigation Systems was quoting at Rs 99.95, up Rs 1.55, or 1.58 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
ICICI Direct's currency report on USDINR

Government bonds fell sharply this week, as investors sold notes after the countrys rate - setting Monetary Policy Committees latest meeting suggested little chance of near - term rate cuts  The GoI benchmark 6.79 % 2027 bond yield rose to 6.76 % from 6.73% in the previous session  Yield on the US 10 - year yield rose to 2.36 % from 2.35 % in the previous session.

The rupee fell for a fourth straight week against the US$, as a string of solid US economic data and tax cut plans amid growing bets o n a third Federal Reserve rate increase this year boosted US$ prospects  The US$ fell mildly against major currencies a s sharply lower - than - expected September employment data weighed on rate hike sentiments. US September payrolls contracted by 33000 rolls against expectation of addition of 80000 rolls. However, wage growth was higher at 2.9% against expectation of 2.5%. Lower employment data along with a change in the Fed chair would keep the US$ in focus in the near term. The British pound continue d to slide as the UK Prime Minister is seen losing support amid Brexit negotiations.

In the currency futures market, the near month dollar - rupee October contract on the NSE ended at 65.55. The October contract open interest increased 8.30 % from the previous day  November contract open interest increased 1.42 % in the previous session  We expect the US$ to meet supply pressure at higher levels. Utilise up side in the pair to go short on the US$INR.

Intra-day strategy

US$INR October futures contract (NSE) View: Bearish on US$INR Sell US$INR in the range of 65.60-65.70 Market Lot: US$1000 Target: 65.45 / 65.35 Stop Loss: 65.80 Support Resistance S1/ S2: 65.45 / 65.35 R1/R2:65.60 /65.80

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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Union Urban Development Hardeep Singh Puri today rejected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's offer to take over the DMRC, while suggesting that the city government may explore taking up the operations of its proposed phase IV as a "test case".

Puri also dismissed Kejriwal's suggestion that the Centre and Delhi government share the operational expenses of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), saying it would be a violation of the existing policy governing financing of metro projects.

The three suggestions made by CM  Centre directing its nominees on DMRC to seek postponing hike, sharing 50% of operational losses, handing over DMRC operations to Delhi government  are a violation of the existing law and policies and governments cannot be seen violating their own laws. These suggestions not well thought out. Operational losses are the sole responsibility of state governments, Puri wrote in a letter.

The central and state governments are not intended to run metros in case of 50:50 joint venture metro projects like DMRC. Only special purpose vehicles have been created under policy to run them like DMRC, he wrote.

Earlier in a letter to Puri, Kejriwal had offered to take over the DMRC to make it more efficient and said his government was ready to provide half the funds needed to meet the gap in its finances for three months. If Delhi government is keen to prove its abilities, it can take over Delhi Metro Phase IV for doing so under the new metro policy recently announced by Centre, Puri wrote.
Turkey's foreign ministry on Monday summoned the U.S. embassy undersecretary and called for an end to a dispute between the two countries, Turkish foreign ministry sources said, after the NATO allies suspended visa services.

The sources said the undersecretary was told the visa suspension move caused "unnecessary tensions" and should be reversed. They said Turkey's foreign ministry undersecretary also spoke by phone with the U.S. ambassador on Sunday.

In a move signalling a sharp deterioration in relations between the two NATO allies, the U.S. mission in Turkey and the Turkish mission in Washington mutually scaled back visa services after a U.S. consulate employee was arrested in Turkey.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi sees scope for further reform of the country's energy sector and has received "focused suggestions" from some of the world's leading energy companies, the office of the premier said on Monday.

Under Modi, the world's third-biggest oil consumer is trying to use its market size to strike better deals with oil exporters and attract investment into India's exploration and refining industries.

Executives from companies including Rosneft, BP, Exxon Mobil, Reliance Industries, Saudi Aramco, Royal Dutch Shell, Vedanta, Schlumberger and Halliburton met Modi as the industry gathered in New Delhi for the three-day India Energy Forum, which finishes on Tuesday.

"Participants appreciated the pace and drive with which Prime Minister Modi has brought about reform in the energy sector," Modi's office said in a statement after the meeting.

"Subjects such as the need for a unified energy policy, contract frameworks and arrangements, requirement of seismic data sets, encouragement for biofuels, improving gas supply, setting up of a gas hub and regulatory issues came up for discussion."

The statement said that many suggestions at the last meeting in 2016 have helped guide Indian policy-making and that Modi said he appreciated the "focused suggestions" made this year and that "scope for reform in many areas still exists".

Modi was quoted as saying he looked forward to "various opportunities" for cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia, the second biggest oil exporter to the country behind Iraq.

State-run Saudi Aramco, which on Sunday launched a new office near New Delhi, is in talks with several Indian refiners for a possible joint venture by next year.

Its Chief Executive Amin Nasser told the conference after the Modi meeting that India's oil demand would double by 2040 to about 10 million barrels per day, making it the world's largest market for the fuel and a priority for the company.

In the meeting, Modi thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and Rosneft for their support to India's energy sector. The two leaders were instrumental in helping to seal Rosneft's $12.9 billion acquisition of India's debt-laden Essar Oil, strengthening ties between the world's largest oil producer and the fastest-growing fuel consumer.

In another vote of confidence for India's energy sector, BP and Reliance have previously said they would jointly invest $6 billion to boost India's gas output. A BP executive said on Monday that the company was "excited about gas, upstream and digital innovation in India".

Alay Patel, a senior analyst with consultancy Wood Mackenzie, the global president of which also met Modi, said that India's domestic energy production outlook was positive thanks to steps such as a simplified licensing regime and clarity on contracts.

"But more is needed," said Patel. "Allowing marketing and pricing freedom for all gas production, regardless of shore status and contract vintage would incentivise companies to develop gas in the less explored basins."
In the middle of all the whiplash against the Narendra Modi government ever since GDP growth rate slumped to 5.7 percent in the April-June quarter, data compiled from the IMF shows a silver lining: Indias national debt is projected to reduce over the course of the next few years.

The national debt as a percentage of GDP is a crucial figure that projects the actual net value of the GDP being generated in an economy and it largely depends on GDP growth rate.

Basically, the lesser national debt eats into the GDP, the more money generated in the economy, at the end of the day.

National debt as a proportion of the GDP hovered more or less around 69 percent between 2011 to 2016.

Now, the IMF data predicts that national debt as a share of GDP is all set to go down over the course of the next three years, with projections for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 being at 67.8%, 66%, 64% and 62% respectively.

If the economy behaves as projected by the IMF it would be a welcome relief for the RBI and the Governor Urjit Patel who has made multiple statements that reduction in debt would give way to a much-needed credit rating upgrade for Indias economy.

Standard and Poors, a credit rating agency, said in November 2016 that it will consider improving Indias rating if its national debt falls below 60 percent of the GDP. In the same month, Moodys had said that government debt is a key constraint on Indias credit ratings.

Patel has also maintained that government borrowing cannot be a shortcut to long-lasting growth.

Data from the RBI showed that Indias external debt was at USD 471.9 billion, showing a decline of USD 13 billion as compared to the previous year.

At the current rate, Indias GDP growth is expected to remain steady at more than 7 percent for the next few years, which also happens to be double of the current global GDP number.

Being one of the populous countries in the world, Indias GDP is presently on a slow and steady rise, which is mostly attributed to the services sector.

India's GDP, as per data from IMF, is expected to jump by USD 800 billion over the course of next three years, with a rise from present USD 2454 billion in 2017 to projected rise to USD 3252 billion in 2020.

In case the GDP growth rate falters due to some problem, the debt-GDP ratio becomes an even bigger concern.

World Bank president Jim Yong Kim on October 6 while commenting on the slowdown in the growth rate in the last quarter, said that GST will have a hugely positive impact on India's GDP.

He also added that the slowdown over the last two quarters is an aberration owing to temporary disruptions in preparation for the GST.

However, there may not be any reason to cheer soon. Despite the projected reduction, standing at 67.7 percent of its GDP, Indias gross general debt is much higher than most other Asian economies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to continue with the slew of reforms despite the temporary slag in GDP growth rate in the last quarter.
Nathu-la: In this combo picture of the two stills taken from a video snippet posted by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, she is seen interacting with the Chinese soldiers at the border at Nathu-la in Sikkim on Saturday. PTI Photo/ Twitter @nsitharaman (PTI10_8_2017_000201B) *** Local Caption ***

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had a brief conversation with Chinese soldiers during her maiden visit to the Nathu La border post in Sikkim and was even seen teaching them how to say 'Namaste'.

Two short video clips of her interaction with the Chinese soldiers yesterday were posted today by the Defence Minister's official Twitter handle.

In the first clip, she was seen greeting the PLA personnel with a "namaste" while in the second video the Defence Minister wished good luck to the people of China.

"Do you know what 'Namaste' means," Sitharaman was seen asking one of the People's Liberation Army personnel who appeared confused and said Namaste while trying to explain the meaning.

At this point, some Indian soldiers tried to come to the assistance of their Chinese counterparts but Sitharaman asked them to let the PLA men find the meaning on their own.

After some time, one of the soldiers, with a smile on his face, said "Namaste means nice to meet you."

Then Sitharaman asked "What would you say in Chinese?"

"Ni hao," responded the Chinese soldiers, triggering laughter on both sides.

Earlier, one of the Chinese soldiers was seen introducing his commander to Sitharaman.

The first video has gone viral on the social media.

In the second video of her interaction with the Chinese soldiers posted by the Defence Minister's official Twitter handle this evening, Sitharaman was seen wishing good luck to the people of China.

"I wish good luck to the people of your country," Sitharaman was seen telling the Chinese soldiers.

Responding to her wish, one of the PLA personnel said, "thank you. India and China are great nations".

Yesterday, Sitharaman had posted a photo of her waving at the Chinese troops.

"Acknowledged a row of Chinese soldiers from across the fence who were taking pictures on my reaching Nathu La," she had tweeted.

The defence minister visited various forward areas along the India-China border yesterday in Sikkim including Nathu La, which is around 30 km from Dokalam, the site of the 73-day- long standoff between Indian and Chinese soldiers.

Her visit came amid reports that China has strengthened its military presence at the Dokalam Plateau and even started widening an existing road which is at a distance of around 12 km from the area of the conflict.
Ficci President Pankaj Patel will lead a business delegation to the US starting tomorrow, accompanying the finance minister, to discuss ways to enhance trade and investment ties between the two countries, the industry body said today.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is going to the US to attend the IMF-World Bank meeting this week.

Several engagements have been planned during this visit, including round-table with institutional investors and US India Strategic Partnership Forum in Boston, Ficci said in a statement.

"Senior management representatives from some of the largest funds in the US will be participating at this meeting and interact with the Finance Minister and members of the Ficci delegation," it added.

Ficci is organising an interactive session with the minister at the IMF Headquarters on October 12. It will be attended by senior officials representing institutional investors, financial institutions, investment banks and think tanks.

It said the visit is "critical to strengthen bilateral co-operation between businesses in the two countries".

The members of the delegation include Ficci Secretary General Sanjaya Baru, Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Rajan Bharti Mittal and Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Chairman, Sun International.
The Gujarat High Court on Monday commuted the death sentence of 11 convicts in the Godhra train burning case to life imprisonment and ordered the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those who died in the tragedy.

A bench of Justices AS Dave and Justice GR Udhwani also observed that the state government had failed to maintain law and order, directing the compensation to be paid within six weeks.

We have gone through the entire evidence. We have basically relied on passengers, injured victims, railway employees, forensic evidence, statements of witnesses. We have also considered the question of compensation which was not considered by the trial court, Justice Dave said.

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A view of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam at Kavadia colony, 194 km (121 miles) south of the Indian city of Ahmedabad August 4, 2006. It is held up as a flagship for the development of modern India, and reviled as a symbol of how the rights of the poor are trampled upon. As neighbouring China puts the finishing touches to the Three Gorges Dam just nine years after first breaking ground, work on western India's Sardar Sarovar dam has taken more than three times as long. Photo taken August 4, 2006. To match feature INDIA NARMADA DAM REUTERS/Amit Dave (INDIA)

The Rs 16,000 crore Pat-Tapi-Narmada river-linking project encompassing Gujarat and Maharashtra has triggered protests in the Dang, Tapi, and Valsad districts which are dominated by tribal population, the Indian Express reported.

A large chunk of the project involves the districts of Gujarat where protests are emerging. The state-run Water and Power Consultancy Services India stated that the creation of the six reservoirs for the project would affect 61 villages, most of which are located in Dang and Valsad districts.

According to the report, four protests have taken place over the past month in Dangs Waghai, Ahwa and Kali Vhil areas and Valsads Dharampur town.

Tribals are joining the protests in large numbers as they fear losing their land owing to the project.

Mukesh Patel from Sarvar village in Ahwa taluka of Dang told the newspaper that the tribals had worked on the riverside forest land which was allotted to them and turned it into agricultural land and based their livelihoods on that. In the displacement process they would lose both land and livelihood, he said.

Gujarat Irrigation Minister Nanubhai Vanani said that the government would sufficiently compensate the displaced people.

He added that every new project runs into some sort of opposition and the government will continue the work.

Congress MLA from Dang district, Mangalbhai Gavit, said that it was development of other people at the expense of tribals.

Displacement of tribal population, especially followed by hurdles in compensation and resettlement, has long been a sensitive issue in the state. The Medha Patkar-led Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) has repeatedly argued about dams, especially of the Narmada Valley project, leading to large displacement of tribal communities. According to official data, 42,000 families were dislocated because of the Sardar Sarovar dam on Narmada River.

The inter-linking project of Par, Tapi, and Narmada rivers, aims to transfer surplus water from the Western Ghats to Saurashtra and Kutch regions which suffer from water deficiency. The project also proposes irrigation and power project plans.
File Pic: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that no licenses would be issued for new meat shops in residential areas of the city, according to an official statement.

Khattar presided over a monthly meeting of the District Public Grievances Committee here. "No licenses will be issued for new meat shops in the residential areas of Gurugram," the chief minister told the meeting, according to the release.

A three-member committee will be constituted to deal with issues related to sewer and water problem in old Gurugram, Khattar said, adding two machines would be purchased by the year-end for sewer-cleaning.

The cleaning would be done by renting machines till the purchase is complete, he said.

Meanwhile, hearing complaints of the people during a Janta Darbar at the Swantrata Senani Zila Parishad Hall here, Khattar asked the police to register complaints even in minor cases, saying they should not bother about increase in the number of FIRs as their truthfulness will be out during investigation.

He also said that since the entire Gurugram district lies in the Dark Zone -- an area where groundwater level has fallen beyond a parameter -- permission for digging new tubewells cannot be granted.

He, however, said a master plan would be prepared to provide adequate amount of drinking water to the residents.

The demand for a new tubewell had come from a farmer of the Bhora-Kalan village during the Janta Darbar -- an occasional meeting of the chief minister with people during which he hears their problems.

The chief minister also said Real Estate Regulatory Authority was being constituted in the state and its chairman and members would be appointed by the end of this month.

"One can file a complaint in RERA authority even if the real estate project is not registered under RERA," he said.

He also announced that a commission would be formed to hear and solve all disputes of cooperative group housing societies here.

Earlier, speaking after launching the 'Intensified Mission Indradhanush' round in four districts -- Faridabad, Palwal, Mewat, Gurugram -- Khattar said the state government has decided to start Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in December.
Nathu-la: In this combo picture of the two stills taken from a video snippet posted by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, she is seen interacting with the Chinese soldiers at the border at Nathu-la in Sikkim on Saturday. PTI Photo/ Twitter @nsitharaman (PTI10_8_2017_000201B) *** Local Caption ***

China on Monday expressed readiness to jointly maintain peace along the border areas with India and said Nathu La, the frontier post visited by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was the "best witness" to the UK-China treaty of 1890.

Sitharaman had a brief conversation with Chinese soldiers during her maiden visit to the Nathu La border post in Sikkim n Sunday and was even seen teaching them how to say 'Namaste'.

"The Sikkim sector of the China-India boundary has been delimited by the historical treaty of 1890, and the Nathula pass has been the best witness testifying to this fact", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing while reacting to a question on Sitharaman's visit.

"The Chinese side is willing to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity in the border areas with the Indian side on the basis of observing historical treaties and the relevant agreements and accords between the two sides", Hua said.

Beijing often referred to the 1890 Britain-China treaty during the Dokalam standoff stating that it has defined the Sikkim section of the boundary with Tibet, therefore the border in that area has been settled.

Sitharaman's interaction with the People's Liberation Army troops at Nathu La with Namaste diplomacy also appears to have struck a chord as Chinese commentators said it sent a "goodwill signal" to mend the bilateral ties following the Dokalam standoff. State-run English news channel CGTN carried snippets of her video with a caption "Indian defence minister greets Chinese border soldiers".

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post headlined its story saying that "India's defence minister builds bridges with Chinese troops".

"The minister experienced an unexpected wave of goodwill from Chinese soldiers when she visited troops stationed on the frontier between the countries", the Post report said.

Her interaction with the troops of the PLA also sparked positive response among the Chinese netizens on popular social media websites.

"The greeting sent a goodwill signal towards mending bilateral ties and putting relations back on track toward normality", Qian Feng, an expert at the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies, told the state-run Global Times which carried a separate story on Sitharaman's Sikkim visit with a caption "Indian Minister waves at PLA".

The Indian government should show more determination for improving ties as Prime Minister Narendra Modi "enjoys advantages towards achieving that goal", it quoted Qian a saying.

Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim. The two sides so far held 19 rounds of talks at the level of Special Representatives to resolve the dispute.

Meanwhile, the state-run tabloid Global Times which routinely attacks India also carried an editorial saying that "India must overcome security paranoia".

Referring to Sitharaman's visit to Sikkim, it said "a newly constructed airport that she inspected during the visit, the nearest to China's border will be put into use in November", it said and went on to describe it as an "aggressive gesture."

But it noted that she had friendly interactions with Chinese soldiers in Nathu La.

Video released by the Indian Defence Ministry shows that she acknowledged the soldiers with a traditional namaste greeting, it said.

At the same time, it said, "Some Indian nationalists over-estimate India's strength and rights, assuming New Delhi can bark orders across the border at Beijing".

"India's concerns about the Siliguri Corridor's security are understandable, but New Delhi cannot mess around, it said adding that China is also concerned about the transport route security across the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca, but Beijing has not taken "coercive measures to achieve its aims".
Sale of Chinese goods like lights, gift items, lamps and wall hangings may decline by 40-45 per cent this Diwali as compared to last year as Indians are likely to prefer domestic products like earthen diyas (lamps), according to a report.

Chinese products had recorded a 30 per cent decline in sales last year on Diwali, the festival of lights which coincides with the Hindu New Year.

A survey by Assocham-Social Development Foundation mapped responses of wholesalers, retailers, traders in cities of Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mumbai to estimate the demand for Chinese products across India.

"There seems to be a decline of about 40-45 per cent in consumption of Chinese products on this Diwali in comparison to last year. Chinese items that are most sought fancy lights, lampshades, Ganesha and Laxmi idols, rangolis and crackers etc. As per the findings, this Diwali, people are preferring Indian products over Chinese goods," Assocham said.

According to the survey, the demand of electronic items like LCDs, mobile phones and other items made in China has also declined by 15-20 per cent.

Shopkeepers who took part in the survey said most of the customers are demanding Indian lights or earthen diyas. According to an estimate, the value of Chinese goods sold in 2016 during Diwali was around Rs 6,500 crore, out of which Rs 4,000 crore was for products such as toys, fancy lights, gift items, plastic ware, decorative goods etc.
Almost 150 former Turkish military personnel went on trial Monday over clashes on an Istanbul bridge during last year's failed coup that claimed dozens of lives, including a key aide of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The bridge across the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul was the scene of bloody fighting between Erdogan's supporters and renegade soldiers seeking to oust the elected government on the night of July 15, 2016.

It was later renamed by the government as July 15 Martyrs' Bridge.

The dead included Erdogan's campaign manager Erol Olcok and his 16-year-old son Abdullah Tayyip, who were killed when soldiers opened fire on protesters on the bridge which connects Asia and Europe.

Erol Olcok had named his son after Erdogan and his predecessor as president, Abdullah Gul.

A total of 143 suspects, including 30 officers, appeared in court. All the suspects barring eight are being held under arrest.

They are accused of crimes ranging from murder to attempting to overthrow the parliament and the government, according to the 1,052-page indictment.

If convicted, the suspects each face 37 life sentences, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Outside the court, souvenir sellers tried to catch on the mood of national solidarity by selling scarves, banners and other memorabilia with Erdogan's face on.

"Your path is our path," read one slogan on an Erdogan scarf.

Many civilians rushed to the bridge on the night of the coup, heeding Erdogan's call to quash the putsch bid, but the renegade soldiers then shot at them.

Fatmanur Goksu, 24, was one of those shot on the bridge as well as her father.

"The same bullet hit my arm and then my father's," she told AFP outside the court, where some of the victims' relatives gathered wearing T-shirts with the word "martyr" and the name of their dead loved one.

Goksu said she got out onto the streets "without any second thought" after Erdogan's call.

Victims' relatives were brought to court in a special red bus with the slogan "We have not forgotten July 15 and we will not forget!" written on the side.

Thirty-four civilians and seven coup plotters were killed on the Bosphorus bridge, according to the indictment.

But by the early morning hours, the soldiers surrendered to police, laying down their arms on the bridge and raising their hands in an enduring image of the coup's defeat.

Erdogan attended the funeral of the Olcoks and others two days after the coup bid, weeping openly in a rare show of emotion.

"We're here today to settle accounts with those who attempted to invade our country," Mahir Unal, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman told reporters before the trial began.

Monday's trial is one of several legal processes seeking to bring to justice those believed to have played a role in the coup bid which left 249 people dead, not including the putschists.

Veysel Kilic, the father of one of the military academy students being held, said he did not have any hope in the "unsound" justice system.

Kilic took part in the main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdarogu'smonth-long foot march in July to protest against alleged injustices under Erdogan.

Like many relatives, Kilic said his air force academy student son was "deceived" and "told to join an unplanned exercise to measure their obedience to their commander".

"The students were totally unaware. They did not fire. Those children remained neutral," adding that more would have been killed if the students had taken sides.

Last week, a court in southwestern Turkey handed life sentences to 40 people convicted of plotting to assassinate Erdogan at an Aegean hotel.

Erdogan has vowed to purge all state institutions to clean the "virus" of US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen whom his government blames for the putsch.

The cleric, who lives in Pennsylvania, has denied any involvement.

Over 50,000 people have been arrested since last July, accused of links to the Gulen movement, while more than 140,000 public sector employees have been sacked or suspended.

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Chiefs of several global and Indian oil companies, including Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, want petroleum products to be included in the Goods and Services Tax, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said.

Briefing reporters about the Monday's meeting of CEOs of oil companies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kant said global oil giants, including Saudi Aramco and Moscow- controlled oil giant Rosneft, have committed to increasing investment in India.

Vedanta Resources Group Chairman Anil Agarwal said India is rich in mineral resources and hundreds of companies like Cairn India can function in India.

Modi also underlined the importance of the development of infrastructure in eastern India and northeast India.

According to Kant, CEOs also said India has potential to become a gas-based economy.

Narendra Modi also wanted to institutionalise the conference which is attracting CEOs from world top oil companies.

Modi on Monday met BP Plc Chief Executive Bob Dudley, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Royal Dutch Shell's Project and Technology Director Harry Brekelmens, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Naseer, Exxon Mobil President for Gas and Power Rob Franklin, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Vedanta Resources head Anil Agarwal to discuss the oil and gas scenario.

Government think-tank Niti Aayog made a short presentation on the status, the likely scenario of demand and supply by 2030 and current government policies.

OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting. Former oil secretaries Vivek Rae and Vijay Kelkar too were invited.

Disclosure: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd
LUCKNOW, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 5: Lucknow Metro near Alambagh area which was inaugurated by Central Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Transport Nagar Metro Depot on September 5, 2017 in Lucknow, India. The 8.5-km 'Priority Corridor' from Transport Nagar to Charbagh, which is part of the Phase-1 of the project, will be operational for the public from 6 am to 10 pm every day. (Photo by Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Amid a face-off with the Centre over a proposed metro fare hike, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal offered to take over the DMRC to make it more efficient and said his government was ready to provide half the funds needed to meet the gap in its finances for three months.

In a letter to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Kejriwal said the Centre bore the entire loss of Kolkata Metro and there should be no difficulty if it provided half the funds in the case of Delhi.

Puri had on Friday told the Delhi government it would need to pay Rs 3,000 crore annually for five years if it wanted to stop the metro fare hike.

Kejriwal said Puri's contention that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was bound to follow the Fare Fixation Committee's recommendations seemed "untenable".

Citing Section 86 of the DMRC Act, he said it was the Centre which had set up the fourth FFC after a lapse of seven years. Therefore, the Union minister's contention that the central government was "powerless" in respect of fare fixation was "flawed".

The FFC-recommended fare hike, a second in seven months, will come into effect on October 10.

He said the city government was confident it would be able to fund the DMRC by improving its efficiency rather than effecting steep fare hikes.

"As for your suggestion regarding a grant to the DMRC for meeting the gap in their finances, my government is willing to bear half the grant if only a matching grant is provided by the central government.

"As you know, the central government and the Delhi government are 50-50 owners of the DMRC and its equity etc. have been shared in this proportion all along," Kejriwal said in the letter.

"Let an assessment be made of the financial gap likely to be created on account of the postponement of the second fare hike and we will be able to bear half of it," he said.

Sources in the Delhi government said the CM offered to provide on a short-term basis half the funds the DMRC needed to meet the gap in its finances so that another FFC could be set up to recommend fresh fares.

Besides cooperative federalism, the point remains that the Centre and Delhi government are equal partners in the DMRC, Kejriwal said.

"From the recent developments, it is becoming evident that the relationship is not one of equal partners since what the Delhi government proposes is often summarily disposed by the Cental government.

"If the Central government agrees, Delhi government would be willing to take over the DMRC," he said.

Fares will go up by a maximum of Rs 10 after the latest hike comes into effect.

The existing fare structure is: up to 2 kms -- Rs 10, 2-5 kms -- Rs 15, 5-12 kms -- Rs 20, 12-21 kms -- Rs 30, 21-32 kms -- Rs 40 and for journeys beyond 32 kms -- Rs 50.

From October 10, for a distance of up to two kilometres, the fare will remain Rs 10, but for a distance between two and five kilometres, it will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20.

For the subsequent slabs, it will go up by Rs 10 each, which means the maximum fare will be Rs 60.

Delhi Metro managing director Mangu Singh also met the chief minister at his residence today. It was immediately not known as to what transpired at the meeting.
Farmers | The government also announced Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog, a scheme to enhance the productivity of cows.

Commerce minister Suresh Prabhu will aim to strengthen India's stand to reach a permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding programmes for food security in the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco, according to media reports.

India is to bat for making the "permanent solution" a central agenda at the Marrakesh meet of worlds trade ministers, The Hindu Businessline reported.

The main issue for India is to stay secured against WTO action regarding minimum support price (MSP) given to farmers above the WTO cap. The issue gains more import in view of the recent farmer agitations across the country.

Prabhu will meet his counterparts from other nations in Marrakesh to decide on priority issues to be tabled in the Buenos Aires ministerial meeting scheduled to be held in December this year.

For India and other G-33 countries with agriculture-dependent population, subsidies like MSPs to farmers are extended for stockholding programmes and these are important for the large agricultural communities.

But intiatives like MSP are seen by the WTO as trade-distorting domestic support and are not allowed beyond a certain point.

In 2013, India made some progress on the agricultural issue as its draft proposal made way for safeguarding minimum support prices to farmers in developing countries above the WTO cap till a permanent solution is reached by 2017.

It achieved an interim peace clause which shielded the country from any action being taken by other member countries of WTO regarding domestic imposition of MSP. It also ensured, according to the government, Indias food security operations are not constrained due to WTO rules.

The 2013 Bali Package, negotiating trade barriers between developed and developing countries, relieved the G-33 countries from strict import quotas on agricultural produce. It was part of the Doha negotiations for trade liberalisation, and the negotiations will continue in Buenos Aires.

From 2013 onwards, G-33 countries tried to get the green box treatment for public stockholding programmes for food security. The goal was to include the price support systems under the limitless subsidies allowed by Green Box system of WTO. The Green Box subsidies are allowed on government support to farmers (other than price support), environmental protection, etc. The subsidies categorically do not include any provision that creates trade distortion.

But the proposal for this green box alteration was vehemently opposed by USA, European Union, Canada, Australia, Pakistan among others.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday hit out at the RSS-BJP, saying the Left party was capable of giving a suitable answer if the saffron outfits did not stop political violence.

The CPI(M) on Monday held a march till the BJP headquarters in New Delhi to protest against the alleged saffron terror in Kerala and to counter the ongoing protest marches of the BJP against the alleged violence by the Left.

"We will not keep quiet. We warn the BJP that if they do not stop violence then we will answer back. We will not bow down," Yechury said.

The march was led by Yechury who was joined by former party general secretary Prakash Karat and other Politburo members.

Addressing party cadres in front of the BJP headquarters, Yechury alleged that while the BJP was campaigning in Delhi against the "Left violence" in Kerala, it was continuing violence against the Left cadres.

Yechury referred to Sunday's incident in which RSS workers allegedly threw bombs at Left cadres in Kannur.

Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah over the violence.

She alleged that Shah was trying to instigate terror against the Left cadres in Kerala, but the people of the state would not bow down in front of the RSS or the BJP.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray dared his party's ruling ally BJP to "resign" from the Maharashtra government and face midterm polls.

The state's ruling partners are also part of the NDA at the Centre, but relations between them are strained for quite some time.

"I challenge you to resign from the government and face polls once again. We will show you the Shiv Sena's power. Even during the (Modi) wave, the BJP got votes in Sena's name," Thackeray said, addressing a rally for a local election in Nanded.

Thackeray also took swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Gujarat visit.

"I was watching news on television today. Saw the PM campaigning for the Gujarat polls which are two months away. How did he suddenly remember his school today? Did he not feel like visiting his school before? Why before the polls?" he asked.

Modi today visited Vadnagar, his birth place in north Gujarat, first time since he became the prime minister. He also visited his school.

Thackeray also said people were now forwarding a joke on social media that prime minister of India 'may visit India soon', apparently referring to Modi's frequent foreign tours.
Nobel Prize

The United States of America has produced the largest number of Nobel Laureates by a wide margin since the first time the prize was distributed in 1901.

Not considering the nationalities of this years recipients, the US has 260 Nobel Prize winners under its belt. This is followed by the United Kingdom with 84 recipients, which is almost 3 times fewer than their American counterparts.

Looking at the laureates for the individual prize categories, the gap is equally wider where the US trumps the rest of the world in all categories, barring literature.

With the Nobel Prize for Literature, the US comes second, with 12 writers winning the prize. The French have the highest number of writers with 15 recipients for the Literature prize.

Taking all the prize categories into consideration, Harvard University has the largest number (133) of Nobel winners followed by Columbia University with 99 prize winners. This includes Prize winners who have studied or taught at the university as professors.

These are also universities which receive billions of dollars in endowments, which play a vital role in furthering research. Harvard, Columbia University, the University of Chicago, Oxford University and Princeton University received more than USD 5 billion in endowment funds in 2016.

Finally, there is yawning gender gap in the numbers of women who hvae received the Nobel prize. Out of the 900 recipients of the prize so far, only 48 women have won the prize. For every woman who received the prize, 19 men have bagged it in the Nobel's century-long history.
India's Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles, mounted on a truck, pass by during a full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, January 23, 2006. REUTERS/Kamal Kishore/File Photo TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTSGNF4

Domestic orders placed for the BrahMos missiles have been worth more than USD 7 billion over the last 20 years, and if exports fructify the sales could double in the next five years, BrahMos chief said today.

BrahMos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian joint venture formed in 1998, manufactures the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land.

While India could use the BrahMos missiles for its three services -- Army, Navy and the Air Force -- it could not export them before June, 2016, when it became a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

The MTCR membership enabled India to trade in high-end missile technology and also enhance its joint ventures with Russia.

"The journey of (nearly) 20 years has not been easy. We have struggled with our finances, technology, users. Challenges have been so many," BrahMos Aerospace's CEO Sudhir Kumar Mishra said speaking at the Deftech 2017, an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Defence Ministry.

The company started making profit only in its 14th year, he said.

Over a period of time, the missiles have been developed to become more effective for all the three services, he said.

"The journey has been meaningful because we invested USD 300 million and today we have orders worth more than USD 7 billion," Mishra said.

After India joined the MTCR, many countries, especially Vietnam, expressed interest in buying the BrahMos missiles.

"If exports fructify, then this (the order for BrahMos missiles) can almost double in another five years," he said.

Later, when asked about exports of the missiles, he declined to comment, saying he was not authorised to talk to the media and the Defence Ministry would be in a position to comment on it.

In August, there were reports of India supplying BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles to Vietnam. However, the information was dubbed "incorrect" by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the programme, G Satheesh Reddy, the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, said a strong research and development (R&D) base is necessary for making the country self-reliant in defence technology.
A committee of the University Grants Commission (UGC) has recommended that Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) should remove the religious words from their names in order to comply with the stipulated secular conduct, the Indian Express reported.

The committee was set up by the university regulatory body in April this year after the Human Resource and Development (HRD) Ministry ordered an inquiry into complaints of irregularities in 10 centrally-funded universities. There are five committees in total for this purpose.

The recommendation gives the university two options  either to be called only Aligarh University or be named after the university-founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

The committee was not probing BHU, but it nonetheless prescribed the same step for BHU arguing that the step will bring out the secular nature of the universities, as per the report.

The AMU audit committee consisted of IIT-Madras professor Shripad Karmalkar, IIM-Bangalore professor Sankarshan Basu, Guwahati University professor Mazhar Asif and Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Universitys Vice-Chancellor Kailash Sodani.

The audit, taken up by five committees, spanned across academic, research, financial and infrastructural aspects of the universities in question.

The AMU auditing committee also branded the university as feudal. It suggested that the University should step up to better the condition of poor Muslim students on campus.

Earlier, the committee had reportedly suggested that the V-C of AMU should be selected in the same way as other universities.
Representative image

Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer, Vinit Kumar, today took over as full-time chairman of Kolkata Port Trust, a statement said.

For almost 18 months, Vizag Port Trust chairman M T Krishna Babu was in charge of Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) in an interim arrangement.

Kumar is an IRSEE officer of 1993 batch, the KoPT statement added.

Before taking up his new role, Kumar was Chief Electrical Engineer in Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd and was looking after the World Bank-funded Mumbai Urban Transport Project.

Kumar held a meeting with the deputy chairmen and heads of departments of Kolkata Dock System and Haldia Dock Complex at KoPT and encouraged them to accept the challenges and opportunities arising in the port and shipping world and also share the development initiatives and efforts taken by the KoPT.
Oktoberfest 2020 has been cancelled due to coronavirus.

Moneycontrol News

Niels Bohr gained more than just fame and a medal after winning the Nobel Prize in 1922 for his work in early quantum mechanics.

The scientist was generously awarded a free beer tap by Carlsberg upon winning the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Niels Bhor (right) with Werner Heisenberg (Image: Wikipedia)

When Niels Bohr got the Nobel for his work on the atomic structure and quantum theory, the Carlsberg Brewery, known for its company values of upholding scientific innovation, gifted the scientist a house right next to one of its breweries.

Moreover, the house had a free beer tap connected to the Carlsberg brewery via a pipeline- which means that Bohr could get free beer whenever he wanted.

Back in 1875, the brewery was one of the first to isolate a new species of yeast that was used to brew pale lagers, apart from making discoveries in protein chemistry that ended up having applications elsewhere.

The beer bond goes just beyond free drinks, and in 1921 Bohr founded that Insititute for Theoretical Physics with the help of the Danish government and the Carlsberg Foundation.

Bohr went to unearth complementarity, which became a key principle in quantum mechanics.

Meanwhile, research by students at the University of Chicago, Illinois suggests of a possible link-up between being drunk and being creative. The work compiled responses by students to insight puzzles based on their being drunk or sober.

More than half a century after his death, it can only be left to speculation if the scientist was tipsy before unearthing foundational theories in quantum physics.
Islamic State took control of some Syrian villages in a rebel-controlled area east of Hama on Monday, opening new frontline days after the Syrian military said it had cleared Islamic State from a nearby area.

Islamic State said in a statement it had taken control of 12 villages and carried out a big attack on the militant alliance Tahrir al-Sham.

Tahrir al-Sham, spearheaded by al Qaeda's former affiliate the Nusra Front, said in its own statement that Islamic State had stormed several villages and accused the Syrian army of allowing it to cross government territory.

A war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Islamic State had taken 15 villages from Tahrir al-Sham, but that the jihadist alliance then took five of them back.

On Friday the Syrian army said it had cleared Islamic State from its last pocket of territory in a nearby part of the countryside east of Hama after months of fighting.

The Observatory and Tahrir al-Sham said those same fighters were the ones that captured the villages, appearing to have crossed government-held territory. The Observatory said some of them had crossed with groups of civilians.

Although Islamic State and the groups that make up Tahrir al-Sham, including the Nusra Front, subscribe to hardline jihadist ideology, they have opposed each other for years.

Islamic State has not held territory abutting areas held by jihadists or other rebel groups in northwest Syria, the most populous area held by the insurgency, since last year.

It has since lost swathes of ground to the Syrian army, backed by Russia, Iran and Shi'ite militias, and a rival campaign by Kurdish and Arab groups in the north supported by the United States.

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Trump acts "like he's doing 'The Apprentice' or something," Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reportedly told the Times. The senator added he was concerned by the president's behavior, the outlet said.

In a stinging rebuke of Donald Trump, Republican Senator Bob Corker charged in an interview on Sunday that the United States president was treating his job like a "reality show," and that his rashness could set the country "on the path to World War III," The New York Times reported.

Trump acts "like he's doing 'The Apprentice' or something," Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reportedly told the Times. The senator added he was concerned by the president's behavior, the outlet said.

Corker's support will be crucial for Trump to pass tax reform, which is the president's best and perhaps last hope for reaching a legislative landmark this year, according to the NYT.

The senator's remarks followed a caustic exchange on Twitter on Sunday in which Trump lambasted the senator for "the horrendous Iran Deal" and claimed, among other things, that Corker had "begged" him for an endorsement on a re-election.
Q12. The development of the "short-link" radio technology was initiated in 1989 by Nils Rydbeck, CTO at Ericsson Mobile in Lund, Sweden and Johan Ullman. What was it later called?

Ericsson has picked Ronnie Leten, the former boss of mining gear maker Atlas Copco, as its new chairman, as the mobile equipment company battles to revive its fortunes.

Leten will, pending shareholder approval, take over from Leif Johansson, who said in July he would step down.

Ericsson has been hit hard by competition from China's Huawei and Finland's Nokia as well as weak emerging markets and falling spending by telecoms operators, with demand for next-generation 5G technology still years away. Its shares have almost halved in value in the past two years.

Leten, a 60-year old Belgian, stepped down as CEO of Sweden's Atlas Copco earlier this year.

Under his leadership, Atlas Copco shares rose 326 percent, twice as much as the European industrial sector index, with investors applauding its nimble cost structure and strong aftermarket sales that drove high margins and a robust cashflow.

Leten is also leaving his position as chairman at Electrolux, the home appliance maker said in a separate statement on Monday.

"Mr Leten is a very skilled businessman, technically savvy and strategically versatile," Johan Forssell, chairman of Ericsson's nomination committee, said in a statement.

At 0720 GMT, Ericsson shares were up 2 percent at 47.66 Swedish crowns.

Ericsson drafted in new a CEO, Borje Ekholm, earlier this year, but corporate activist investor Cevian Capital, which has bought a more than 5-percent stake, has been pushing for further change.
Pakistan's anti-corruption authorities today arrested the son-in-law of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from an airport here in connection with corruption cases pending against him.

A team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) took former army captain Muhammad Safdar into custody minutes after his arrival from London at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport along with his wife Maryam Nawaz.

Safdar has been nominated by NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Pakistan's former premier Sharif, his daughter Maraym, sons Husain and Hasan and his son-in-law Safdar.

The couple had arrived to appear before an anti-graft tribunal in connection with the NAB reference pertaining to London properties owned by the Sharif family.

Safdar was later presented before a court in Islamabad, NAB officials said. Maryam, who was not detained, separately appeared in the same court for the first time.

However, Sharif and his two sons were absent as they are in London where 67-year-old Sharif's wife is battling throat cancer.

Sharif attended the previous two hearings but went to London last week to see his ailing wife.

The court held brief hearing and took a break before announcing the hearing will resume shortly. During the brief hearing, Maryam was given copies of the case documents.

Sharif's lawyer also presented an application to exempt him from appearance today as he was with his wife in London.

The trial judge had earlier issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Safdar and Sharif's two sons for failing to appear in court in the last hearing held on October 2.

The court, however, repeated the bailable warrants for Sharif's daughter.

"We are going back and will appear before the court and go through the wheels of justice. We respect the rule of law and the Constitution," local media quoted Maryam as saying.

Asked whether her brothers would return to Pakistan to face the NAB references against them, she said, "Hassan and Hussain would themselves tell you about their decision".

Safdar told Geo News that the couple had decided to return to Pakistan on the advice of their lawyers.

Sharif had to step down as prime minister and president of the ruling PML-N party after he was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers scandal.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling PML-N on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the people's mandate and democracy.
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is launched from the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska during Flight Experiment THAAD (FET)-01 in Kodiak, Alaska, U.S. on July 30, 2017. Picture taken on July 30, 2017. Courtesy Leah Garton/Missile Defense Agency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC13EC2BF7F0

Prompted by Iran's threats to the Gulf region, the US has reportedly approved the sale of THAAD anti-missile defence system to Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of USD 15 billion, the Pentagon said on Friday.

THAAD is a kind of missile meant for being deployed against ballistic missiles.

The approval has now opened the way for Saudi Arabias purchasing of the 44 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launchers and 360 missiles, as well as fire control stations and radar, says a report in Reuters.

This sale is likely to further US national security and foreign policy interests and support the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.

Iran, whose hostile behaviour has got the US and Saudi Arabia concerned recently, also happens to have one of the biggest ballistic missile programs in the Middle East.

Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television reported on Thursday that the kingdom agreed to buy Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, an announcement that came on Saudi King Salman's maiden visit to Russia, which was also the first-ever visit by a Saudi monarch.

US military sales to Saudi Arabia has come under increased scrutiny as a Saudi-led coalition is involved in military intervention in Yemen.

The US deployed THAAD to South Korea this year to guard against North Koreas shorter-range missiles, which has drawn criticism from China saying that the systems powerful radar can probe deep into its territory.
Nobel Prize

The 2017 Nobel Prize for Economics has been awarded to American economist Richard H Thaler.

Thaler was awarded the prize for his contribution to behavioural economics and in the field of economics, the Nobel committee announced at a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden on Monday.

Former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan was earlier tipped as a frontrunner for the prestigious prize.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awards the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel, said that Thaler "has incorporated psychologically realistic assumptions into analyses of economic decision-making. By exploring the consequences of limited rationality, social preferences, and lack of self-control, he has shown how these human traits systematically affect individual decisions as well as market outcomes."

Born on September 12, 1945, Thaler is a US citizen and the founder of asset management firm Fuller & Thaler Asset Management.



JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING RICHARD H. THALER!

Just awarded the Prize in Economic Sciences "for his contributions to behavioural economics. pic.twitter.com/jUaobO6cA9

 The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2017

He is currently a professor of Behavioural Science and Economics at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.

Thaler had first gained attention in the field for his regular columns titled Anomalies, in the Journal of Economic Perspectives between 1987 and 1990.

Thaler attended the University of Rochester, where he completed his PhD after attending Case Western Reserve University.

The 72-year-old economist has authored six books including as Quasi-rational Economics, The Winner's Curse and most recently, Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioural Economics. He has also co-authored a book with American legal scholar Cass Sunstein.

He had also played a cameo as himself in the 2015 film The Big Short, which was nominated for the Best Picture award at the Oscars.
October 09, 2017

Syria - Turkey Violates Astana Agreement - Renews Alliance With Al-Qaeda

Yesterday Turkish army forces entered the Syrian Idleb governate from the west. The move is officially part of a de-escalation supervision process agreed upon between Syria, Turkey, Russia and Iran. One point of the agreement is to continue the fight against al-Qaeda in Syria, currently operating under the name Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS controls large parts of Idleb governate.

This is confirmed in the official Turkish Idleb Operation Explanation. "To purge terrorist organisations, especially DAESH, PKK/PYD-YPG and HTS from the region," is describes as one aim of its de-escalaton force.

But the Turkish forces have made a deal with HTS. When their reconnaissance teams entered Idleb yesterday they were escorted by heavily armed HTS forces (video). According to their agreement with the terrorists the Turkish forces will only take up three positions. All of these will be bordering the Kurdish enclave Efrin (Afrin).



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An (anti-Syrian government) journalist reports:

Hassan Hassan - Verified account @hxhassan - 5:22 PM - 8 Oct 2017 1. Turkey established three checkpoints in Darat Izzat, west of Aleppo, in coordination with HTS.

A senior HTS official tells @MousaAlomar Turkish forces won't be present anywhere other than those checkpoints "for now."

2. Mousa asks a series of questions to the HTS official:

Q. Will the Turkish army enter [rebel-held] areas?

A. Yes (but not beyond the three areas agreed with HTS)

Q. Any imminent battle in Idlib?

A. No. So far things are good, unless Turkey changes its position

My own sources confirm that an effort to keep things peaceful between Turkey and HTS is so far successful.

The purpose of this Turkish incursion is obviously not to counter al-Qaeda/HTS but only to surround the Kurdish held enclave around Efrin.

An aggressive Turkish move could now try to cut of the Kurdish Efrin area (yellow) from the Syrian government held areas (red) by connecting the Turkish controlled rebel area in the north (blue) with the al-Qaeda controlled Idleb governate (green). Such a move would encounter fierce resistance not only from Kurdish elements and the Syrian government but also from Iran. Auxiliary Iranian troops hold the government corridor between Aleppo and Efrin to protect some important Shia villages in the area.

On one side one can understand the Turkish abrogation of its duties under the Astana agreement. Erdogan is afraid of the domestic backlash a real fight against HTS would likely cause. But it was Turkey that created the mess by supplying al-Qaeda in Syria with men and goods for nearly six years. It is its duty to kill the monster it created. It also has to uphold its diplomatic agreements.

Turkey has proven again that it is not trustworthy. Erdogan may hope to get NATO cover should he incur new Russian wrath about his breach of trust and his abrogation of the de-escalation agreement. But the expanding spat between the State Department and the Turkish government, as well as low Turkish standing within NATO populations, do not bode well for any bet on that alliance.

Posted by b on October 9, 2017 at 9:35 UTC | Permalink

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ASHEVILLE - The Appalachian Mural Trail recently announced several new additions.

The Cradle of Forestry in America, a facility located within the Pisgah National Forest off mile marker No. 412 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, created a backdrop mural in its large multi-shaped Forest Discovery Center. The mural encompasses the entire space and serves to educate visitors about forest conservation education.

 Each brush stroke in this massive painting shares the feelings of the forest, as if you're standing in a deep, mystical land of trees, said Doreyl Ammons Cain, director of the Appalachian Mural Trail, an organization which promotes murals throughout western North Carolina as a way to celebrate the heritage of Appalachian art and culture.  Incorporated into the painting are educational materials and sound effects.

Established in 1916 by George and Edith Vanderbilt, the Cradle of Forestry in America is a heritage site based on a living stewardship legacy. The 6500-acre area is considered the birth place of forestry and forestry education in America and is home to the Biltmore Campus Trail, the Forest Festival Trail and the Forest Discovery Trail.

The facility hosts the Songcatchers Music Series, Woodsy Owl's Curiosity Club, Junior Forester Program, National Public Lands Day, Bring Back the Monarchs, May the Forest be with You, Forest Festival Day and The Legend of Tommy Hodges outdoor drama.

Just down the road from the Cradle of Forestry in Brevard, artists Billy Smith and Ashley Lowe are painting a mural celebrating the music and musicians of this highly creative small town.

Another addition to the trail is the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit at Hayesville in Clay County. This mural presents the Cherokee and their ancestors telling the story of their ancient history encompassing 10,000 years in western North Carolina. Two walls of public art represent legends and stories about Cherokee ancient history and their way of life.

Complete with a reconstructed 17th - 18th century homestead exhibit, history comes alive with a Cherokee summer house, a winter house, food storage crib and more in this free, self-guided tour. The Homestead Exhibit is open air and accessible 24/7.

Murals at the Green Energy Park in Dillsboro in Jackson County highlight the art of blacksmithing and glass blowing.

"At the Green Energy Park, we turn trash into treasure, garbage into gas, and problems into opportunities," said Tim Muth, director of Green Energy Park. "The GEP uses renewable energy resources as fuel for glassblowing studios, blacksmith forges and pottery kilns. By doing so, we're able to offer artists and craftspeople a chance to create jobs for themselves, which in turn brings more visitors to the area, helping everyone in our community.

The Appalachian Mural Trail encircles the Blue Ridge Parkway and draws in visitors to the towns and communities where the outdoor murals are located, helping the economy through increased tourism and the employment of artists. Appalachian Gateway cities and towns also are being included on the mural trail. Cities surrounding the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain areas such as Morganton, Winston Salem, Greensboro and towns in Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia are invited to submit their murals to the Appalachian Mural Trail. For more information, visit www.muraltrail.com.
The loan is part of the external financing stipulated by the $12 bln IMF Extended Fund Facility agreement

Related IMF sees 'good progress' on reforms in Egypt The German government allocated $250 million in 2018 to plug Egypts budget deficit, German ambassador to Cairo Julius Georg Luy said in a press conference Monday, Ahram Arabic news website reported.

The German loan is part of the external funding to help Egypt close the financing gap in its budget, which is stipulated by the 2016 $12 billion IMF Extended Fund Facility agreement.

Egypts overall budget deficit fell to to 10.8% of GDP in FY2016/17, from 12.5% of GDP in FY2015/16.

The primary deficit decreased to 1.8% of GDP in FY2016/17, from 3.5% of GDP in FY2015/16.

The German ambassador Luy also said Germany's Economic Cooperation and Development Minister is in Cairo to meet with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Investment and International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr, and to visit Siemens gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Beni Suef.

On tourism, the ambassador said the number of German tourists who visited Egypt this year reached 720k tourists, an 85% increased compared to the same period last year.

The German week will kick off in the Nile Delta on 29 October, until 2 November, in cooperation with 10 German institutions, hosting a number of cultural events, the minister noted.

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Students at Drexel Elementary were in a figurative race across the United States in recognition of National Walk to School Day that was celebrated this past week.

Due to the roads around Drexel Elementary not being safe enough for kids to walk to school, they resorted to walking on the school grounds, said Jodi Brown, a physical education teacher at DES.

Throughout the week, students have been tracking miles that they have walked around their school track and, as of Wednesday morning , they have walked all the way to Monterey, Tenn. According to Google Maps, that totals to approximately 257 miles walked.

Our principal (Keith Recker) said that he would like to do it all week to promote walking, healthy habits, lifetime activities and also being able to socialize with friends and teach them how to enjoy physical activity while with their friends, Brown said.

They have a goal to reach the west coast by the end of the week, she said.

Six laps on the track is a mile, so we are counting their laps as they go by and converting that into miles, Brown said.

She wants this week of celebration to stick with her students for many years to come.

(I want them to have) a life-long activity of walking and doing it in a way where its positively interacting with each other, Brown said. It is something they need to learn so as they are growing older they can still enjoy walking.

International Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day, according the www.walkbiketoschool.org.

The week was to promote exercising, but Chartwells, the school systems independent dining service , jumped in on the activities to show students that eating healthy is just as important.

On Wednesday morning, a Chartwells' representatives brought Theo the Lion, a mascot for the company, to DES to greet students leaving or entering the cafeteria for breakfast.

Staff Writer Jonelle Bobak can be reached at jbobak@morganton.com or 828-432-8907.
Jordanian photographer and theatre director Raed Asfour launched his photo exhibition Barbed Wire on 30 September at Beit El-Sura, one of Cairo's several photography hubs. The works will remain on display until 20 October.

With over 25 photos that he captured in Third World countries, Asfour shows the role of barbed wire within people's lives in various contexts, from refugee camps to street protests.

Behind every single barbed wire there is a life to observe  refugees who are trying to settle down, demonstrators who are trying to break out, flowers and birds that manage to pass through, and ultimately cities and villages that are never really cut off by the forced presence of this wire, Asfour said.

In the exhibition at Beit El-Soura, a photography and art center in Maadis Street 15, Asfour shows a small selection from the original Barbed Wire exhibition that he put on in his home city Amman in February this year.

The first picture was captured at the heart of the jewel city of the Arab Spring: Tunis.

It was in the beginning of the Jasmine Revolution in the early days of 2011 and the demonstrators started coming to the heart of the city, and the police, fast and firm, put up the barbed wire to stop the protest, Asfour recalled.

For the last picture of the display, Afour also chose a shot from the same day in Tunis, when the police expanded the scope of the barbed wire around a big statue of the prominent 12th century philosopher and physician Ibn Roshd.

This seemed absurd really, but it was also very significant; Ibn Roshd is a man of thoughts and ideas, and there is no way anyone can keep ideas behind barbed wire, Asfour said.

In between these two photos are several pictures from different Palestinian cities, as well as Beirut, Damascus, Lima, Alexandria and Damascus.

Obviously, most of the pictures are from Palestine, the ultimate presence of barbed wire, whereby the Israeli occupation is trying to use the barbed wire to cut off the Palestinians from their land, villages, wells and olive trees, Asfour said.

The life of a refugee, especially the Palestinian refugees, and its association with the barbed wire is particularly present in a few pictures taken around Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and Syria, prior to 2011. Here, the refugees use the wire to hang up their clothes and to keep their shoes away from their sleeping space.

In the narrative of a refugee, the barbed wire has a very intense and long-term presence, unlike the case of the demonstrator, where the barbed wire is there only temporarily, Asfour noted.

But in both cases it does come across as a set of crossing knives that is blocking the open space, he added.

Barbed Wire is Asfours first exhibition in Cairo. He is planning to take it to Beirut in a few weeks, and to Abu Dhabi after that.

Following the first show in Amman, he put on a second photo exhibition: Once Upon a Time a Movie Theate. The exhibition relates a sad story that Amman shares with so many other capitals: the derelict state of its movie theatres.

In Amman we once had close to 40 movie theatres and you could go watch the latest productions and even see the prominent stars of Egyptian cinema attending their premiers in the Jordanian capital. This is no more the case, and we now only have two operating cinemas, Asfour said.

Yes, it is a sad story of our Arab world, this decline in celebrating cinemas, Asfour said.

He argues that the decline has many causes, both economic and cultural, because there was a time when the cinema production across the Arab world did suffer a decline in quality.

Asfour started photography as a hobby, alongside his profession as art director, which he began in 1990.

For the past 12 years had has helped to create a free art space in Amman called Masrah ElBalad (The City Theater), where young artists from across the Arab world can show off their talents.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 71F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 56F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Each play will be performed for three nights, differently exploring gender related subjects

From 13 to 22 October Falaki theatre will host The Show Goes On, a programme of three different plays on the theme of gender.

Each of the plays will run for three consecutive days; Hal El-Dafayer (Untangled), 45 and Hekayat Khat El Om (Motherline).

Untangled is a social gender-centric comedy directed by Mohamed Fouad Abdeen, who co-wrote it with Sally Zohney, and performed by Wojood theatre troupe.

The play reflects on the issues and struggles of being young, from the stigma of infertility, to social pressures regarding marriage among other contemporary issues.

Directed by Nada Sabet, 45 is a monodrama performed by Abeer Soliman. A Woman at the age of 45 examines her life after awakening on the hospital bed as the effect of anesthesia wears off.

Amal explores her entire life, the choices she has made and not made, comparing, judging, dreaming and fantasizing alternative lives, the plays description reads.

45 has been previously performed in Cairo, Asyut, Qena, Aswan, Al Minya.

Motherline is a storytelling performance by the U.S based The Mother Line Story Project, a storytelling collective and incubator for female expression, as stated on their website.

The project invites participants to write and perform 2-minute monologues in the voice of their mother, or grandmother of great grandmother, thus exploring their mother line.

This is the projects first time in the Middle East, and the performances are directed by Eliza Simpson and Dalia El-Basiouny, after moderating a workshop held with actresses of the Egyptian Sabeel for The Arts Theater Company.

Programme:

13, 14, 15 October, 7pm

Hal El-Dafayer

16, 17, 18 October, 7pm

45

20, 21, 22 October, 7pm

Motherline

AUC Falaki Theatre, 24 Falaki St., Downtown, Cairo



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The president and founder of the now-defunct mortgage company Mortgage Security has plead guilty to charges that he defrauded Ginnie Mae of about $2.5 million.Robert Pena pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and six counts of wire fraud.The charges stem from Mortgage Security contracts with Ginnie Mae to pool eligible residential mortgage loans and then sell Ginnie Mae-backed mortgage bonds to investors. Under the contract, Penas company would service the loans in the pools it created and was required by Ginnie Mae to provide regular reports about the pools.Starting in 2011, Pena began to divert the money he received from borrowers. He deposited high-dollar, loan-payoff checks into bank accounts unknown to Ginnie Mae and diverted borrowers escrow funds and mortgage insurance premiums. Pena then used those funds for personal and business expenses.The scheme resulted in total proceeds of $2.5 million, which Ginnie Mae had to pay to investors whose investments it had guaranteed. In addition, Pena also provided false reports about the loan pools in an attempt to cover up his scheme.The statutes under which Pena was charged provide for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.US Senior District Court Judge Mark Wolf scheduled sentencing for Jan. 5, 2018.
Wells Fargos officers and directors, including CEO Tim Sloan, cant duck a lawsuit by shareholders seeking to hold them personally liable in the megabanks fake-accounts scandal, a judge has ruled.



US District Judge Jon Tigar said that shareholders can continue with a lawsuit that alleged that top Wells Fargo officials ignored the issue as sales employees faced unrelenting pressure to meet quotas, prompting many to open phony customer accounts. The lawsuit also claims the banks top execs misled the public about fraudulent practices, according to a Reuters report.

Read more: Wells Fargo will refund up to $98 million in mortgage fees

Where, as here, plaintiffs claims arise from a pervasive and undisputed fraud going to the core of the companys business, it is reasonable to infer senior executives knew about, or at least recklessly turned a blind eye to, the stream of red flags, Tigar wrote in his decision.



There were plenty of issues to raise red flags. Wells Fargo has been rocked by one scandal after another since news broke last year that it had opened millions of phony customer accounts. Since then, it has been revealed that the bank made mortgage modifications without borrowers knowledge or consent, added unnecessary insurance to the car loans of hundreds of thousands of customers, and charged mortgage borrowers rate-lock extension fees for delays that were the banks own fault.



Tigar said in his ruling that in the unlikely event that Sloan didnt know about the banks various questionable practices before 2013, when he was chief financial officer, he was certainly aware of these issues by December of 2013, when he told the Los Angeles Times that he was not aware of any overbearing sales culture.
Midland ISD appears headed toward a District of Innovation designation.

During the monthly board meeting today, the board will hear a presentation about the District of Innovation process that allows independent school districts to access most of the flexibilities available to Texas open enrollment charter schools.

Innovation plans eventually created can include exemptions from state laws, including:

-site-based decision-making processes;

-uniform school start date;

-minimum minutes of instruction;

-class-size and student-teacher ratios;

- 90 percent attendance rule (but compulsory attendance still applies);

-student discipline provisions (with some exceptions, such as the requirement to have a code of conduct and restrictions on restraint and seclusion);

-teacher certification (except as required by federal law or as applicable to charter schools);

-teacher contracts;

-teacher benefits, including state minimum salary schedule, duty-free lunch and planning periods; and

-teacher and principal appraisal systems.

Should trustees opt to pursue the designation, MISD will be following in the footsteps of ECISD, which sought its designation last spring.

The process, according to school district documents, involves a board resolution, which is on the agenda for today, and a public hearing, which is set for Nov. 13. Also, the board would need to appoint a committee to develop a plan with a comprehensive education program with innovations and a list of state education code provisions to be exempt.

Then, a district advisory commute will hold a public hearing and must pass a plan by majority vote, according to district documents. The plan will be sent to the Texas Education Agency commissioner, and that plan will be posted online for 30 days.

Upon completion of those steps, the school board must then approve the final plan by a two-thirds majority. Finally, the district notifies the commissioner of approval of the plan and a list of approved Texas Education Code exemptions. The plan will be in effect for five years.

Innovation plans are about local control, according to the Texas Association of School Boards. The TASB expects innovations would not impact school personnel, although the association acknowledges there could be substantial changes to key employment policies related to contracts and benefits of employment.

The Texas Classroom Teachers Association, on its website, refers to the Districts of Innovation as Districts of Exemption and that unfortunately, some districts are also choosing to grant themselves the ability to ignore state laws that provide basic, but very important, teacher legal protections.

While these Districts of Innovation seem like a good way to experiment and tailor state law to local objectives and give districts the ability to do the most with their already stretched dollars, some of the exemptions have the potential to be harmful to students, teachers and parents rights, the website states.

Judging from the plans filed to date, it appears that certified teachers and small class sizes are considered to be major impediments to innovative education.  TCTA believes that while there may be some cumbersome statutes in the Education Code, state law establishes a baseline of protections not only for teachers, but for students and parents as well. 
The conference on CML brought together both doctors and patients suffering from the cancer

This years World Leukaemia Day, which falls on 22 September, was marked in Egypt with a conference organised by a local group for leukaemia patients.

The conference in Cairo brought together a panel of professionals alongside patients, and aimed to highlight the problems facing Egyptians who suffer from chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).

CML begins in myeloid cells, which are cells within bone marrow that make red blood cells, platelets and most white blood cells. The problem starts when a genetic change occurs in an early version of these cells, forming abnormalities.

The abnormal leukaemia cells then grow and spread to other parts of the body like the spleen.

The panel explained that CML is rarely seen in children, and although it is typically a slow-growing leukaemia, it can sometimes change into a fast-growing leukaemia that is very hard to treat.

According to the World Health Organisation, the symptoms of CML are vague, and can include fatigue, loss of weight, pain in the bones, feeling full after eating very small portions of food, and an enlarged spleen.

Dr Mervat Mattar, a professor of haematopathology at Caro University, said that huge progress had been made in treating the disease in Egypt in recent years. She explained that until 2000, drugs were scarce, and the only treatment option for patients were marrow transplants, which led to many fatalities.

Now, however, the second generation of drugs means almost 90 percent of cases are treatable in the chronic form.

Ahmed Awad, founder of the patient-support group The Power of CML, said that the aim of the conference echoes that of the group, which is to spread awareness regarding the disease and make the voices of those affected heard both by the government and by the media.

The conference concluded with recommendations that the disease and the experiences of CML patients be highlighted in the media, to dispel myths and stigmas and increase knowledge of the condition.

It was also recommended that more patient groups be established around the country.

The conference also recommended that production of drugs that treat the disease conform to the standards either of the American regulator, the FDA or the European equivalent, the EMA.

It called also for the government to increase the number of patients being treated for free, and to ensure that adequate medications were available.

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PLAINVILLE  Blankets, toys and toiletries filled up 200 duffel bags this week as part of an event by the Wheeler Clinics foster care program.



There are about 4,000 children in Connecticut that are in foster care and in any given day 800 of those do not have a permanent place to live, said Sharon Pendleton-Ponzani, director of the foster care program at Wheeler Clinics Northwest Drive facility.



She said that often youth in the foster care system are forced to transport their belongings in trash bags from place to place.



On Monday, employees from Wheeler and volunteers from Mott Corporation, headquartered just down the street, decorated the bags called sweet cases with drawings and encouraging words like one day at a time.



Its a great cause, said Boris Levin, president of Mott Corporation.



The manufacturing company donated items for the bags and employees were on site Monday to help decorate and fill them. Motts partnership with Wheeler includes support for a full-time community health worker serving Bristol, Hartford and New Britain as well as health ambassador volunteers.



We feel its our time to contribute when the federal and state funds are being reduced, Levin said.



Wheelers foster care program is funded by the state Department of Children and Families and provides family homes to youth ranging from 6 to 17 years old.



This is one way we can give them something, Pendleton-Ponzani said of the bags.



After the bags were decorated, they were filled with items like toothbrushes and toothpaste. Stuffed animals, games and fleece blankets were also added.



The event was connected with Together We Rise, a non-profit organization working to change the way the foster care system is navigated.



The organization has replaced over 100,000 trash bags with new duffel bags for youth in foster care to take with them.



Wheeler said they hope to host more sweet cases events in the future.



More information can be found at https://www.wheelerclinic.org/



akus@record-journal.com 203-317-2448 Twitter: @KusReporter






SOUTHINGTON  The crowd of a few hundred that gathered for the unveiling of a Christopher Columbus bust Monday at the municipal center included supporters from Italian-American groups and protesters with signs referring to the explorer as a mass murderer.



The estimated 50 protesters were silent throughout the ceremony, but they made their presence felt by standing around the monument while the white sheet was removed.



Italian-American groups started fundraising for the monument and bust six years ago. Two years ago, the project was unanimously approved by the Town Council. The bust was installed last month in front of the municipal center, at 200 N. Main St.



Antonio Cusano, president of the Sons of Italy and past president of Southington Unico, said he was pleased with Mondays ceremony, and he said protest is a part of democracy. His group only became aware of opposition to Columbus in the past few months, Cusano said.



For Cusano and many others at the unveiling, Columbus was a brave Italian explorer whose voyage eventually led to the immigration of their ancestors to the United States.



Without Columbus, a lot of Europeans would have never been able to immigrate here for a better future, Cusano said.



Protesters signs pointed to the other consequences of Columbus arrival, such as slavery and genocide.



Not all Italians honor Columbus, read one sign. Columbus was a mass murderer, read another.



Several signs mentioned that Columbus couldnt have discovered a land already inhabited by people.



Erica Roggeveen Byrne, founder of Southington Women for Progress, organized the protest. The goal was a peaceful demonstration that showed opposition. She felt the goal was achieved.



People were respectful, people were silent. We didnt interrupt the dedication in any way, Byrne said.



While some supporters took photos of the monument when it was unveiled, others complained that their photos were marred by protesters and their signs in the background. A protester with an upside-down American flag also angered some in attendance.



Due to the rain, most of the ceremony was held indoors. Protesters gathered outside and then entered the municipal center but found there was almost no room for them in the packed council chambers. Many then left to stand behind the monument outside, forming a backdrop as the bust was unveiled.



More than a dozen police officers were in and around the municipal center. Columbus statues in New Haven and Middletown were vandalized in recent days.



Two ACLU legal observers, wearing blue vests, were also present.



Several Town Council members and state Sen. Joe Markley spoke at the ceremony, along with representatives of Italian-American groups, including the Knights of Columbus.



Markley urged listeners to avoid the arrogance of the present by judging past figures too harshly. While some of Columbus actions were wrong, he said, the explorer should be recognized for his good qualities and how his voyage shaped the history of Western civilization.



What we should look for is the virtue of history, Markley said. His virtue was his unwavering courage. Today we honor a man who challenged the greatest single barrier of his world.



Town Council Chairman Michael Riccio said he was glad for the discussion about Columbus. He acknowledged that Columbus had a mixed legacy but that there was good that could be recognized.



Columbus wasnt perfect, Riccio said. He was a product of his time. His voyage was the first true steps towards globalization.



jbuchanan@recordjournal.com 203-317-2230 Twitter: @JBuchananRJ






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A fire ripped through a sprawling scrap yard in American Canyon on Sunday afternoon, burning 50 to 100 junked cars and destroying two structures while sending plumes of black smoke into the air that was visible as far away as Oakland.

The blaze started around 3 p.m. and quickly swept through 18 to 20 acres of the scrap yard in the 800 block of Green Island Road, just east of the Napa River, said Scott McLean, a spokesman for Cal Fire
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Tonia Whitaker wished she had grabbed more.

She had just minutes to snatch up some blankets, clothes and a few stuffed animals for her two sons before she and her family joined the thousands of bleary-eyed evacuees, jarred awake by the threat of flames that were burning through Napa and Sonoma counties, eerily illuminating the darkest hours before dawn.

Whitaker had left behind bicycles, toys, unopened birthday presents, a full refrigerator. Her sons first teeth, their sonograms and birth certificates. Others left behind their photographs, their wedding rings, their valuable art. Their best memories, their safe havens, their dreams for the future.

But as the wildfires raged Monday, turning the once-lush lands of the Wine County into a hellscape, it was the evacuees who were left with the same smoky cloud of frustration and uncertainty: No one knew for sure what had been spared, what would be lost, when they could return home  and if there was still a place they could call home.

The sky was glowing pink and orange when Susan Bostwick, 72, woke at 3:30 a.m. at her ranch-style home in Calistoga. She sprinted to her neighbors homes, pounding on their doors to wake them.

We made a mad dash, she said. We were in a panic.

She and her neighbors found safety at the evacuation center at the Napa County Fairgrounds, but about midday, Bostwick returned home to gather some clothes, photos and her prized fishing gear. Though her house was intact, she knew that could change. Hours after she had evacuated, the flames were still visible from her home, and they were moving closer.

Bostwicks daughter, Dawn Thistlethwaite, who had driven up from San Leandro with her family, helped her mother hose down the front porch and roof. Thistlethwaites daughters, Anni and Tristan, 10 and 14, hauled garbage and duffel bags of their grandmothers belongings into three cars, as her husband, Javier, shouted last-minute reminders to turn off the gas and electricity.

For five generations, Bostwicks family has owned pieces of the property that she affectionately called Happy Hollow ranch. She bought her house on the land in the 1970s, and Dawn was born there.

Weve had birthday parties here. One Thanksgiving, the dog was eating the leftover turkey off the table, said Javier Thistlethwaite. This place has got memories.

But as the flames grew closer, all they could do was leave, return to the evacuation center  and hope for the best.

Rachael Clark, 49, spent Sunday night helping family members pack up and evacuate from their home in the Stags Leap area near Napa as large flames crept closer and closer.

The Napa Valley real estate agent had to evacuate her own home as well, yet Monday morning Clark was at the CrossWalk Community Church on First Street in downtown Napa, volunteering and comforting the other evacuees. She said she felt compelled to help because two years ago her mother and sister needed assistance when the Valley Fire ripped through Lake County, destroying both their homes.

This is what this community does, she said. We help each other.

Bernie Consten, 75, had no idea what was going on when he and his neighbors were ordered to leave the Country Inn retirement community in Napa and get into vans that would evacuate them to the shelter at the CrossWalk Community Church.

But as the vans took them away from their homes, he saw smoke, and the flames up on the ridge burning strong. He watched as people at the farm across the street opened the gates of their livestock corrals and released their goats and llamas, hoping the animals would escape the fire on their own.

I knew it was an emergency, but when I saw that I said, Oh boy, its the real thing, Consten said.

Dreama Goldberg woke in the middle of the night at her home in the Coffey Park area of northwest Santa Rosa, not because of a raging fire that was racing toward her house, but because she is 7 months pregnant and needed to use the restroom.

It was when she got out of bed that she noticed heavy smoke and high winds, and that her house had lost power.

She and her husband, her 7-year-old stepdaughter and another housemate were able to escape with not much else but Marcel, the familys 1-year-old cat, and Chocolate, the stepdaughters favorite stuffed dog.

Within 30 minutes of their departure, Goldberg said, the flames overtook the familys home along with their entire neighborhood.

Her husband went back after the sun had risen Monday and found the home was gone. Goldbergs 2008 Honda Accord, which she had just paid off, was gone. Her wedding and engagement ring, gone. The new crib for her baby boy, due in November, destroyed. The gifts from the baby shower last Saturday were no more.

Were lucky that we got everybody out, Goldberg said.

Now Playing: Jerome Johnson, 55, recalls seeing tons of smoke, hearing explosions from his home on the 2100 block of Northfield Drive in Santa Rosa. He and his family evacuated to nearby Finley Park. Video: Kurtis Alexander, The San Francisco Chronicle

Inside a Santa Rosa Safeway, the lights flickered on and off as people scrambled through the aisles.

The store was fully stocked, with people buying everything from propane to grapes. Neighbors ran into each other in the aisles, recounting their tales from the morning: A narrow escape. A night in their car. Swaths of homes burned.

Theresa Poulson was frantically filling her cart with grapes, apples, yogurt  anything that didnt need to be cooked on a stove. She was one of the fortunate ones. Her house had been spared, and she was preparing to take in family members who had been evacuated.

Peter Alan, on the other hand, wasnt so fortunate. After he lost his home in Glen Ellen on Monday morning, all he had was the clothes on his back, an extra gym bag and the food he was buying at Safeway.

But he had his life, he said. As the flames engulfed his home, he didnt think he was going to survive.

It was like driving through Armageddon, he said.

Of the doctors who reported for duty at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital on Monday, many had lost their homes hours earlier, said Chief Medical Officer Chad Krilich.

But 160 patients had come in since midnight  90 of them for wildfire-related injuries, including 12 with burns. The doctors knew their services were needed.

Krilich was one such doctor. He said he grabbed two photos  a picture of his wedding day and one of his children  five pairs of underwear and Hip Hop, the familys aquatic turtle, before fleeing his Santa Rosa home about 2 a.m. and heading into work. He assumed his home was lost.

When Whitaker, the Sonoma County mother, finally had time to reflect on the morning, she may have wished she had thought to grab more when she and her family fled their home located about 2 miles from Glen Ellen. But at the time, possessions were irrelevant.

She and her husband, a former logger, had seen the glow of flames through the trees near their home and felt the erratic wind. They knew they needed to leave in a hurry.

The family spent the early-morning hours driving around, looking for a place to go and getting caught in traffic on almost every road they turned on. It was 4 a.m. when the family finally found the Petaluma Community Center, which had been converted into a haven for evacuees.

But as her adrenaline died down and Whitaker and her family sprawled out on the floor of the community center, her mind raced, going over all the things left behind.

It may sound silly to some people, but that stuff is important, she said, as she sat with her 14-month-old son in her lap. I want to cry, but I dont want my sons to see me crying.

Chronicle staff writers Peter Fimrite, Jill Tucker, Michael Cabanatuan and Jenna Lyons contributed to this report.

Trisha Thadani, Catherine Ho, Marissa Lang and Vivian Ho are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com, cho@sfchronicle.com, mlang@sfchronicle.com, vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani, @cat_ho, @marissa_jae, @VivianHo
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Energy Secretary Rick Perry is defending tens of thousands of dollars spent on flights aboard charter and government aircraft, as a congressional inquiry into the travel expenditures of members of the Trump administration widens.

In May, Perry and members of his staff flew aboard a chartered Gulfstream jet to a Department of Energy event in Kansas City at a cost of up to $35,000, according to documents the Department of Energy sent the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee last week.

Along with three other flights aboard government aircraft, the Department of Energy estimates it has spent more than $56,000 on non-commercial travel for the secretary and his staff.

"The Department of Energy strictly follows both government-wide and internal DOE travel regulations and policy," a spokeswoman said. "The Secretary travels almost exclusively on commercial aircraft."

On the surface, Perry's travel budget seems modest in comparison to former Health Secretary Tom Price, who resigned last month following disclosures that he'd run up a more than a $500,000 bill on charter flights and other air travel since the Trump administration took office in January.

In a letter to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly last month, House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and Ranking Member Elijah Cumming, D-Md., reminded the administration Cabinet members should travel "'by the most expeditious means of transportation practicable' and 'commensurate with the nature and purpose of the [employee's] duties,' and by no means should include personal use."

In a memo to the White House in May, Perry's chief of staff, Brian McCormack, explained the Gulfstream flight to Kansas City as a necessity.

"I have determined other modes of transportation, including scheduled airline flights, will not meet the secretary's schedule requirements," he wrote.

The round trip flight traveled from Reagan National Airport in Washington to the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas on May 17, for a "Small Business Forum & Expo" hosted by the Energy Department, as well as to tour a facility operated by the National Nuclear Security Administration in Kansas City.

The New Century airport is located about 45 minutes drive from the Kansas City International Airport, where both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines fly non-stop from Reagan National.

To Read what the Department of Energy sent to the House Oversight Committee, click here.
Last week, an issue was raised by reader L.T. She and her husband owned a house. He died intestate in the late 1980s. She wants to leave the house to her new second husband, but because of the intestacy law the first husbands half of the house is owned by their children who are uncooperative. The remedy discussed last week was to file the Will for Probate as a Muniment of Title, but there were several possible roadblocks that could stifle that approach.

There is another possible remedy, which has only been part of state law for about a month. SB 1249 was passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by Governor Abbott, then became effective on September 1, 2017. It is now codified as Section 16.0265 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. This new law applies only in limited circumstances.

First, the real estate must have been inherited as co-tenants by two or more people under the laws of intestacy.

Second, one of those co-tenant heirs must have, for an uninterrupted 10-year period: a) held exclusive possession of the property, b) used and enjoyed the property, and c) paid all of the property taxes within two years of their due date.

Third, other co-tenant heir, during that 10-year period, have not: a) paid property taxes or paid to maintain the property, b) contested the occupants right to exclusive possession or claimed an economic interest, like asking to share rental receipts, c) filed a notice of interest in the deed records, or d) had an agreement with the occupant allowing the occupation.

If all those factors line up properly, then the occupying co-tenant may file an Affidavit of Adverse Possession in the county deed records. Supporting documentation must be attached to the Affidavit. Notice must be published in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks, and written notice of the claim must be sent by certified mail to the last known address of all other co-tenants.

Once those steps are taken, the other co-tenants have five years during which they can defeat adverse possession by filing a Controverting Affidavit, or by filing suit against the occupying co-tenant.

If the other co-tenants take no action during that five years, then when the five-year period ends, the occupying co-tenant becomes the sole owner of the property. Title to the property vests in that new sole owner, and all claim of ownership by the former co-tenants is precluded.

Is this a way for L.T. to become sole owner of the house, blocking her childrens inherited portions? It seems that the children, already alerted to L.T.s desire to leave the house to her second husband, would simply respond by filing a Controverting Affidavit after receiving notice by certified mail.

Further, since this is a new law which has not been tested in court, the extent to which the law will apply has not been determined. The law states that the co-tenants must simultaneously acquire identical, undivided ownership interests. The children might assert that this would apply to an argument between the children (who did acquire identical, undivided interests at moment their father died) but that it would not apply to L.T. because she acquired her interest years earlier when the property was first purchased. Either way, L.T. should talk with her lawyer to decide if the risk of this new approach is worth the possibility of regaining title to the house.

Paul Premack is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with offices in San Antonio and Seattle, handling Wills and Trusts, Probate, and Business Entity issues. View past legal columns or submit free questions on legal issues via www.TexasEstateandProbate.com or www.Premack.com.
After a weekend of fan speculation, Whataburger and James Avery officially announced the release of a sterling silver charm made in honor of the beloved burger chain.

Red Beard Mantiques, a San Antonio antiques store, posted on Facebook about the charm on Friday, though nothing official was available until Monday, when the San Antonio-based burger chain announced they worked with the jeweler to create the "one-of-a-kind" charm, which features the "flying W" on the outline of Texas.
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After a bout of bad luck, a woman sent a small rock home to a Central Texas park.

"I'm returning this rock to it's (sic) owner (Enchanted Rock). I've had nothing but bad luck since I took it. Sorry I did it," reads a note signed by a woman named Maria. "P.S. Not able to do it in person."

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials shared a photo of Maria's note to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and the returned rock on Facebook Monday morning. The photo has been shared more than 80 times as of 11 a.m. and commenters reminded park visitors to refrain from taking rocks home.

RELATED: Texas Parks and Wildlife: Please stop painting rocks

"Doubt it had anything to do with the rock but maybe she'll learn not to take things she shouldn't which could help her luck," they said.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials did not immediately respond when asked if other rocks had been returned for causing bad luck. Officials at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, which is north of Fredricksburg in Central Texas, could not be reached.

According to TPWD's website, it is against federal and state law to take "plants, animals and artifacts" from Texas parks.

"Take only memories and photographs," reads the website.

RELATED: Brazos Bend State Park shares photos of cottonmouth hissing, you know, for education

Although Maria did not provide proof of bad luck in her note, it could have some basis in park lore.

Legend has it the spirit of "an Indian maiden who saw her tribe killed by an enemy" haunts Enchanted Rock. After witnessing the killing of her tribe, the woman jumped off the top of Enchanted Rock, according to the park's website.

kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @kbrad5
GREENWICH  For decades, Alan Sharkany Jr. has channeled the same drive and strength that inspired him to join the Marines into helping others prepare themselves to serve their country. And now his efforts have gotten the attention of none other than the president of the United States.

Last Thursday, in a special ceremony outdoors at Camp Simmons, Sharkany, a Greenwich resident, was presented with the presidents Volunteer Service Award for Lifetime Achievement for his more than 25 years of training and mentoring aspiring service members through a rigorous non-profit program he runs called BUD/S and Beyond. Several of the programs graduates were on hand as part of the crowd of more than 50 that came to salute Sharkany.

I am not here receiving this award, getting these accolades, by virtue of my strengths and skills, Sharkany said. It is a gift, a calling that I may have the privilege to lead amazing young men and women. And when I say leadership, Im talking about my favorite definition of the word, where metaphorically on bended knee, I come and serve these individuals. In light of wearing the uniform no longer, I pour myself into these candidates.

Saying no one ever accomplishes anything by themselves, Sharkany paid tribute to his family, including his father, Alan Sr., and his children Jade, Amber, Alan and Michael, who he called four amazing pillars who sustained him and allowed him to handle anything. Two of his children  Jade and Alan  attended Thursdays ceremony.

Sharkany was visibly emotional upon receiving the award and spoke passionately about his desire to serve his country and inspire future leaders.

I was given the tremendous privilege of learning three components that I impart to these candidates today  a tremendous work ethic, the ability to persist in light of unbelievable odds and how to be a leader of men, he said.

The ceremony was led by Greenwich resident and former Navy SEAL Carl Higbie, who serves in the Trump administration as chief of external affairs for the Corporation for National and Community Service. Higbie said the award is given out very rarely and only to people who have a great impact on the community and those around them.

A lot of people are recommended for this award and it goes up against a pretty rigorous board of people who decide whether the service provided is worthy of this, Higbie said. Alan Sharkany has put over 25,000 hours into this program and there arent many people more worthy of this awardThis is a chance for me, on behalf of the president, to recognize him for the amazing things he contributed to this community.

Higbie read a statement that had been authorized by President Donald Trump for the event.

Rain or shine, through countless hours working to strengthen military candidates, he persevered, the statement read. Although this program is primarily for tier-one military candidates, Alan has made it clear the program is open to anyone who wants to properly prepare for a military career. Each year between 50 and 100 candidates work closely with Alan, growing personally, physically and mentally. Not only is he helping these young people prepare for the military. Hes teaching them about leadership and giving back to the communities that raised them.

Higbie praised the programs growth through the years to be able to meet the high demands placed on candidates for all branches of the service. The program, which was initially once a week for conditioning and mentoring of those who wanted to be Marines or in the special forces, meets twice a week and calls for a 12 to 15 hour weekly commitment.

More information about the program is online at https://www.facebook.com/budsbeyond and at www.instagram.com/budsbeyond.

The crowd included State Reps. Michael Bocchino (R-150th) and Fred Camillo (R-151st) as well as Chief of Police James Heavey and First Selectman Peter Tesei, who personally thanked Sharkany for his work.

You are an inspiration to young people to take up the call of service, Tesei told Sharkany. For that we are eternally grateful, proud and respectful.

Several of the other mentors who work in the program with Sharkany were also in attendance and he called them up to share the moment with him. He also shared the honor with the current and former members of the program and said it was their dreams and dedication that continued to inspire him.

They could go on and be a success in anything they choose, in the business world or anywhere, but they set that aside and choose to commit their heart and their time and a part of their life for this great country, Sharkany said.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
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MIDDLETOWN  Dr. Jeffrey T. Shelton, chief of psychiatry at Middlesex Hospital, cant overstate the importance of having a dose of nalaxone ready for patients at high risk of death from opioids.

To my knowledge, Ive had 15 overdoses reversed and Im just one provider, he said.

So I believe in this, he said, pulling out the plug on a palm-sized training device inside a rescue kit.

The hospitals emergency room has just been outfitted with 10 naloxone kits under a state Department of Public Health pilot program. The little red pouches contain two doses of Evzio, which can reverse an opioid overdose.

This trainer contains no needle or drug, a female voice intones once the plug is removed. If you are ready to use, to inject, place black end against outer thigh, then press firmly and hold in place for five seconds, the voice says as Shelton demonstrates the medication on his own leg.

People talk a lot about first responders having to have this, but the real first responders are other addicts  people who are actually there when the overdose happens, Shelton said.

In response to a community needs assessment compiled six months ago, which identified substance abuse as one of the top health crises locally, the hospital recently created a 15-member opioids committee. The board is tasked with creating resources for patients with substance abuse disorders and reducing the number of those with these addictions, said Dr. Rachel I. Lovins, chairwoman of the department of medicine and co-chairwoman of the committee.

Its interesting, Shelton said. The overdoses that were reversed, they were not the person I had prescribed it for: a neighbor, a family member, a child (injected the life-saving drug). My goal is to make this a street drug in Middletown. This has to be out there, everywhere.

Statistics coming out of the nations opioid epidemic are alarming.

Connecticuts Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James Gill said in August that he estimates there will be 1,078 fatal drug overdoses by the end of 2017 in Connecticut, a skyrocketing figure when compared to 2012, when fatal overdoses totaled 357.

Since 1997, 300,000 Americans have died of opioid overdose, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Opioid misuse is now the No. 1 cause of death in Americans under the age of 50, according to the American Science of Addiction Medicine.

During a news conference ahead of National Drug Takeback Day in Middletown in April, U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly said 917 people in Connecticut died from an overdose in 2016, many of them between the ages of 18 and 26.

The hospitals new initiative includes decreasing the number of opioids being prescribed, tracking them, creating accountability and making sure the hospital has providers who can give medication-assisted treatment, she said.

Its a really complex problem, so it takes a multidisciplinary approach to address it, Shelton said. Part of it is, as providers and physicians, how are we prescribing opiates?

The number of opioid prescriptions dispensed has increased 400 percent since 1997, Lovins said.

In his psychiatric career, Shelton said, hes treated more than 1,000 people addicted to heroin. Not one started with heroin. They all started with some sort of prescription opioid: either illicit or prescribed, he said.

Eighty percent of all heroin users start with prescription pain medication, Lovins said.

And in my experience, its even higher than that, Shelton said. I dont think Ive ever seen anybody who started an opiate addiction with heroin, he said.

Medication-assisted treatment, Shelton said, is using drugs like suboxone or methadone to support someones recovery.

The committee is focusing on creating a continuum of care for those addicted to opioids  no matter where or how they enter the health care system: through their primary care physician, in the emergency room, being admitted to a medical or psychiatric in-patient unit, Shelton said.

Part of getting effective treatment  and successfully recovering  is overcoming the stigma of addiction.

Shelton, who has been prescribing naloxone for years to his drug-addicted patients, said after talking with a patient one day, he realized the man had been too embarrassed to fill the prescription because he was afraid he was going to be discriminated against.

Its not enough to give them the script. You have to actually give them the medication, Shelton said. Its a huge barrier to recovery.

Times have changed since Lovins and Shelton were in medical school and learned about the fifth vital sign. Most times, when a health care worker assesses a patient, he or she records body temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure.

We were told that they were not addictive and that we should check the vital signs and ask every patient, every day, their pain level, and should give whatever is needed to treat their pain, she said.

That process took the physicians objective decision making taking out of the equation, she said. So we started prescribing huge amounts of opiates.

I remember feeling uncomfortable having a patient tell me they were in a 10 out of 10 pain level and looked unbelievably comfortable  but were also not so great at assessing other peoples pain, she said.

Now, state law requires that physicians check the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring Program, which identifies all the controlled substances a patient has been given in the last year in Connecticut and neighboring states, Lovins said.

So when an opiate-addicted patient cant get legal drugs, the option is to hit the streets, or quit cold turkey. The latter doesnt work, Lovins said.

Were told this in med school: Opiate withdrawal doesnt kill you. Thats the end of the story, Shelton said. I was talking to a patient who said, The first day I was so sick, I was scared I was going to die. The second day, I was so sick, I was scared I was going to live, Shelton said.

Middlesex now tries to use nonopioid medicine whenever possible, and opioids are only prescribed for acute and severe pain, such as broken bones, according to the hospital. When opioids are prescribed, doctors usually only prescribe a two-day or three-day supply and encourage patients to follow up with their regular doctors as soon as possible, staff said.

The defining thing about opiates is, people get tolerant and dependent so what they need to get high escalates over time, Shelton said. And the introduction of fentanyl-laced opioids, 50 times more powerful than heroin, is killing more people than ever: a 4,000 percent increase in deaths associated with the drug since 2012, Lovins said.

Its terrifying, Shelton said.

There are legitimate uses, Lovins said, in surgery and for cancer pain. Its a very powerful pain reliever, she said.

Besides the psychiatry departments daytime program that is dual-pronged and can help people with mental health issues and drug-dependency  which often go hand in hand  Shelton has created an intensive evening recovery program for people addicted to any substance.

We want to meet people when they can meet. Recovery is much more than stopping using drugs. Its about that, plus finding your joy and having a family and a job and housing and all those things, he said.

I think the best thing we have in this hospital to help get rid of stigma is him, Lovins said, referring to her colleague. Because hes so passionate, hes so nonjudgmental. And if we can train everybody in the hospital to have his attitude, itll be a completely safe place, she said.

For information, visit middlesexhospital.org.

Managing Editor Cassandra Day can be reached at cassandra.day

@hearstmediact.com.
1 Nursing home deaths: Two women who lived at a nursing home in Hollywood, Fla., that lost air conditioning during Hurricane Irma have died, becoming the 13th and 14th fatalities linked to the home. Police said Monday that Cecilia Franco, 90, and Francesca Andrade, 95, died from ailments suffered when the facility lost power Sept. 10 during the hurricanes passage. Police are treating the deaths as part of a criminal investigation. So far, no one has been charged.

2 Drone protest: Anti-drone activists protested Monday at an Air Force Base 40 miles north of Las Vegas where two demonstrators were arrested for blocking an entrance gate last week. Codepink and Veterans for Peace were among the groups that gathered at the entrance to Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs to protest the use of unmanned aircraft in military actions.
I have to admit; my job is pretty exciting. Talking about toilets, caulking, paint and stain may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I have worked in a lumberyard since I was 25 (and I am turning 63) so it's what is on my mind when I wake up.

When you email me, before you start a project, I get as excited as you do. I received some great questions this week, and I want to share them with all the readers. If you have a project, let me help. Email me  happyhandyman2@yahoo.com

Question: I have cleaned up the dirty grout on my floor, and now I want to know how to keep it clean for a while. Do sealers work? Is there an easy way to apply it? What sealer is the best?

Answer: Stonetech is a line made by Laticrete, and they do an easy to use sealer called Advanced Grout Sealer. It's a simple spray that can be used on cement based grout to keep it looking new. It can be used on porcelain, ceramic or natural stone tiles, inside or outside.

When you are cleaning grout, don't wear yourself out by using a small toothbrush-sized brush. Make your cleaning job even easier by using a wallpaper brush to clean three feet at a time.

Question: I want to clean some bricks outside by my air conditioner. They mildewed because they are right beside a drain hose.

Answer: Clean up the brick with 30 Second Outdoor Cleaner. For this small job, use the ready to use quart size and just spray the brick. Let it work for a few minutes and then rinse off. If a stain remains after the bricks are dry, then repeat the process.

Do you have an area outside your home that constantly collects mildew? Zep Clear Shell is a clear mildew inhibitor that will keep mildew away for 18 months.

Question: I just had the worst time removing some outside light bulbs at the coast. Is there anything that I can use on the new bulbs, so that when I replace them they don't break?

Answer: What you want to use is a product called Di-electric grease. It's a non-conductive silicone-based grease that seals out moisture and prevents corrosion on electrical connectors. It will make it easy to remove old bulbs especially the outdoor ones.

Question: I saw an article recently about products to freshen up around the home. I have some leather furniture that is gently used. It looks dusty and dry with little luster. What would you recommend to refresh and clean the leather?

Answer: When my dad closed all our stores in San Antonio back in 2008, I put all of our office furniture in storage. I was going to sell all of it when it was more convenient and a cooler time of year. Well fast forward 10 months later, and I am working in a little hardware store and dragging out the office furniture that had been in storage. It shocked me how bad it looked from just being in storage for such a short time. I grabbed one leather cleaner that Dad had called Leather Only and cleaned all the leather chairs up in no time. They looked as beautiful, like brand-new. It made such a difference that I cleaned only half of one of Dad's chairs, and I would show my customers what a good cleaner it was. When cleaning your leather, work in small areas at a time using a quarter - sized amount of cleaner on a soft white rag. Turn your rag when cleaning, so you are always working with a clean side.

Question: I have been using Delete Germ from your store in our toilets. My wife is pleased with the results. But is there a way to get rid of rust that is in the tank? We enjoy your articles.

Answer: Yes there is a product called Instant Power Tank Cleaner. Just pour in the tank and let it work overnight. It will clean off all the stains. When you clean the inside of the tank, it will help with the stains that happen in the bowl.

If you cannot find the products mentioned here locally, you can find them at www.happyhandyman.com. Click on Shop Johnnie's Favorites, or call the store at 210-341-1573. Email happyhandyman2@yahoo.com. Mail can be sent to Johnnie Chuoke's Home and Hardware, 2361 NW Military, San Antonio, TX 78231.
From Article 155 to DUI, the Spanish constitutional crisis is a thicket of confusing acronyms and abbreviations. Here's a glossary to help you through the confrontation that's hurtling to its climax in Barcelona this week.

ANC - Not to be confused with the regional parliament, or indeed Nelson Mandela's political party, the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) is a civic organization led by Jordi Sanchez that advocates for secession. It has 40,000 paying members and local branches in about 500 municipalities. Sanchez faces possible sedition charges and up to 15 years in jail for his role in organizing the Oct. 1 makeshift referendum.

Article 155 - Spain's former foreign secretary, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, once described this article in the 1978 Constitution as an "atomic bomb." It's never been used before and would allow Madrid to suspend the regional administration and take direct control of Catalonia.

Carles Puigdemont -- The president of Catalonia was elected at the start of last year as a compromise candidate to break a post-election deadlock between the mainstream separatists of Junts pel Si and the more radical CUP. Since then, he's been the public face of the separatist push.

CUP - The Popular Unity Candidacy is a grass-roots Catalan party that has 10 seats in the regional parliament. After Junts pel Si fell just short of a majority in the 2015 regional election, Puigdemont needed the backing of the CUP to take office. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has called on Puigdemont to distance himself from the CUP in order to enable talks.

DUI - Short for unilateral declaration of independence, this is the Catalan government's own nuclear option. Local law stipulates that once a referendum is held (never mind that it was suspended by Spain's Constitutional Court) the results must be presented to parliament. In the event of a "yes" vote, the parliament is supposed to declare independence within two days.

Junts pel Si - The Catalan name of this political alliance means "Together for Yes." It's a coalition of regional parties, including the center-right PDeCAT and the left-wing ERC. After the election, it struck a deal with CUP (see above) to form a majority in parliament and elect Puigdemont and has largely been responsible for the renewed independence push and the Oct. 1 referendum.

Mariano Rajoy -- First elected in 2011, Spain's prime minister is the one with his finger on the Article 155 button. He was widely criticized for the scenes of police violence on Oct. 1 when the separatists held the illegal referendum. Complicating the situation is the fact that his party has lost its majority in parliament in 2015. While opposition parties agreed, eventually, to let him take office again, they've refused to back his handling of Catalonia, leaving the prime minister exposed.

Mossos d'Esquadra -- The Catalan regional police force. Its chief Josep Lluis Trapero was interrogated by the National Court on possible sedition charges last week after his officers refused to help out national police who were trapped by protesters in Barcelona last month. One of the big questions in the crisis is just how loyal to Madrid the Mossos will be if push comes to shove.

Omnium Cultural -- Originally created to promote the Catalan language and culture, the organization has become more political of late and has helped the ANC to bring hundreds of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets of Barcelona in previous demonstrations.
BERLIN - Earlier this year, Austria faced a dilemma.

Like other European nations, it sought to ban the full-body burqa and other coverings worn by some Muslim women. Unlike some of those nations, however, Austria did not want to call it a burqa ban, fearing possible discrimination lawsuits.

Instead, Austria came up with a controversial law prohibiting everyone in the country from covering their faces, with some exceptions for medical or professional purposes. The law took effect this month, but it does not appear to be working as intended - illustrating the problems some European nations are facing as they try to ban certain religious symbols viewed as contravening Western values while also striving to uphold their own constitutions, which often enshrine religious freedom.

For one thing, most Austrians still refer to the new law as a "burqa ban," despite officials' efforts to forestall such a shorthand.

Moreover, the targeting of Muslim facial coverings without labeling it as such has led to some strange situations in Austria. With legislative elections only days away - in which the right-wing Freedom Party could gain as much as 25 percent of the vote - police appear to be enforcing the new law rather too stringently, interpreting the statute in a somewhat extreme fashion.

Officers are stopping people on bikes who are wearing scarves. On Friday, police fined a man about $175 for wearing a shark costume for promotional purposes in Vienna's city center. The news about the fine was made public by the man's employer - a PR agency - and has since been confirmed by authorities.

"He was dressed as a stuffed animal and not as a terrorist," said Jakob Kattner, an executive with the PR agency. Kattner said his company would not appeal the fine, acknowledging that the costume had violated the letter of the law.

Reflecting the confusion over the statute, however, police said Monday that the charges against the man would probably be dropped.

"This law does not apply to professionals who need to cover their faces due to their jobs," said police spokesman Harald Soros, who acknowledged certain shortcomings in the law. Several cyclists have erroneously been stopped for wearing scarves as protection against the cold, Soros confirmed, but he added that none of them was fined.

"It is true that officers need to proceed quite sensitively when applying this law. It's not comparable to a speeding ticket. Instead, every case should be considered individually," he said.

Meanwhile, authorities have clarified that Halloween will not be affected by the new law.

The widespread confusion has sparked renewed criticism of the new law, but for somewhat different reasons than when it was initially proposed. Many Muslim women and other opponents of the law, which was passed as part of an "integration package" that included measures intended to help newcomers assimilate into Austrian culture, have deemed it discriminatory and racist.

Before the legislation was approved, President Alexander Van der Bellen had publicly declared that he supported a woman's right to wear an Islamic headscarf - and even appeared to suggest that all women should wear a headscarf in solidarity to battle prejudice against Muslims. In the end, he still signed the ban on facial coverings, saying that he did not welcome it but that it also was not in conflict with the constitution.

Whereas opposition to the ban was previously most vocal within Muslim communities, the outrage has now spread far beyond.

"The absurdity of the recent incidents shows how useless this law really is," Kattner said.
The firefighter found Richard Dabate on the floor of his kitchen, where he had made a desperate 911 call minutes earlier, court records show. Bleeding and lashed to a chair with zip ties, the man moaned a chilling warning: "They're still in the house."

Smoke hung in the air, and a trail of blood led to a darkened basement, as Connecticut State Police swarmed the large home in the Hartford suburbs two days before Christmas in 2015.

Richard, 41, told authorities a masked intruder with a "Vin Diesel" voice killed his wife, Connie, in front of him and tortured him. Police combed the home and town of Ellington but found no suspect.

With no witnesses other than Richard Dabate, detectives turned to the vast array of data and sensors that increasingly surround us. An important bit of evidence came from an unlikely source: the Fitbit tracking Connie's movements.

Others from the home's smart alarm systems, Facebook, cellphones, email and a key fob allowed police to re-create a nearly minute-by-minute account of the morning that they said revealed Richard's story was an elaborately staged fiction.

Undone by his data, Richard was charged with his wife's murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

The case, which is in pretrial motions, is perhaps the best example to date of how Internet-connected, data-collecting smart devices such as fitness trackers, digital home assistants, thermostats, TVs and even pill bottles are beginning to transform criminal justice.

The ubiquitous devices can serve as a legion of witnesses, capturing our every move, biometrics and what we have ingested. They sometimes listen in or watch us in the privacy of our homes. And police are increasingly looking to the devices for clues.

The prospect has alarmed privacy advocates, who say too many consumers are unaware of the revealing information these devices are harvesting. They also point out there are few laws specifically crafted to guide how law enforcement officials collect smart-device data.

Andrew Ferguson, a University of the District of Columbia law professor, says we are entering an era of "sensorveillance" when we can expect one device or another to be monitoring us much of the time. The title of a law paper on the topic put the prospect this way: "Technology is Killing Our Opportunity to Lie."

The business research company Gartner estimates 8.4 billion devices were connected to the internet in 2017, a 31 percent increase over the previous year. By 2020, the company estimates there will be roughly three smart devices for every person on the planet.

"Americans are just waking up to the fact that their smart devices are going to snitch on them," Ferguson said. "And that they are going to reveal intimate details about their lives they did not intend law enforcement to have."

- - -

The Dabates' yellow Colonial was festively decorated with wreaths on the windows the morning of Dec. 23, 2015. Richard, Connie and their two boys, ages 6 and 9, bustled around getting ready for the day.

To many of their acquaintances, the family appeared to be an ordinary one in a quiet bedroom community. Richard was a network administrator, and Connie worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative.

Joann Knapp, a former neighbor of the Dabates, fondly recalls Connie popping over to her house to ask her out for walks while Knapp was having a difficult pregnancy. Knapp said Connie and Richard appeared to have a happy - even passionate - marriage.

"They couldn't keep their eyes off each other," Knapp said. "It was a look that you would want."

But behind that public face, Connie's killing would reveal a darkly tangled relationship and a major secret.

Richard and his attorney did not respond to requests for comment. Richard gave a detailed - but shifting - account of Connie's killing to detectives over six hours on the day of the slaying. It is contained in his arrest warrant.

On the drive to work that morning, Richard said, he got an alert on his phone that the home's alarm had been triggered. He said he shot an email to his boss and returned home, arriving there between 8:45 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Richard told police he heard a noise on the second floor and found a hulking intruder wearing camouflage and a mask inside the walk-in closet of the master bedroom. The intruder demanded his wallet at knifepoint.

Soon after, Connie returned home from an exercise class; Richard told investigators he yelled at her to run. Connie fled into the basement, and the intruder followed.

When Richard arrived on the lower level, he made his way through darkness, finding the man pointing a gun at Connie's head. Richard said that the gun was his own and that Connie must have removed it from a safe to defend herself.

Richard said he charged but heard a deafening blast and fell. When he got up, Connie was slumped on the ground. Police would later determine the gunshot hit her in the back of her head.

The intruder disabled Richard and then zip-tied one of Richard's arms and one of his legs to a folding chair, according to the account.

The intruder jabbed Richard with a box cutter. The man also started a fire in a cardboard box using a blow torch, which he then turned on Richard's ankle.

Richard told investigators he saw an opening: He jammed the blow torch in the man's face and singed it. The intruder ran out.

Richard said he crawled upstairs with the chair still attached, activated the panic alarm, called 911 and collapsed. The firefighter found him soon after.

- - -

The chaotic scene inside the Dabate home had all the hallmarks of a home invasion, but a few details would prompt investigators to take a closer look.

Dogs brought in to track the suspect could find no scent trails leaving the property and circled back to Richard, according to arrest records. Richard also aroused suspicion when detectives asked whether their probe would reveal any problems between him and Connie.

He took a deep breath and offered: "Yes and no."

Richard told a bizarre story. He said that he had gotten a high school friend pregnant and that it was Connie's idea. He said the three planned to co-parent the child, since his wife wanted another baby but could not have one for health reasons.

Later, Richard changed his story, saying that the pregnancy was unplanned and that he had a romantic relationship with the friend. Detectives found no evidence Connie knew of the pregnancy.

"This situation popped up like a frickin' soap opera," Richard told detectives.

The admission pointed toward a possible motive for Connie's killing, but it would be the data detectives uncovered that would give them evidence to conclude his story was a lie.

Detectives had noticed Connie was wearing a Fitbit when they found her body.

They requested the device's data, which showed she had walked 1,217 feet after returning home from the exercise class, far more than the 125 feet it would take her to go from the car in the garage to the basement in Richard's telling of what happened.

The Fitbit also registered Connie moving roughly an hour after Richard said she was killed before 9:10 a.m. Facebook records also cast doubt on Richard's timeline, showing Connie had posted as late as 9:46 a.m.

Detectives would also come to doubt that Richard left home that morning, after examining data from his home alarm system and his email account.

Records indicate he used a key fob to activate his home alarm from his basement at 8:50 a.m. and then disabled it at 8:59 a.m. from the same location.

Richard also told investigators he emailed his boss from the road after getting the alert about the alarm. But records from his Microsoft Outlook account showed he sent the email from the IP address associated with his home.

Combined, the data punched major holes in Richard's story. Police obtained an arrest warrant for him in April.

The high school friend of Richard's told authorities he had said he planned to serve divorce papers on Connie the week she was killed. Richard had texted her the night before Connie's death: "I'll see you tomorrow my little love nugget."

- - -

The Dabate case is just one of a handful in which law enforcement officials have resorted to smart-device sleuthing.

In September 2016, an Ohio man told authorities he awoke to find his home ablaze, but police quickly suspected he set the fire himself. They filed a search warrant to get data from his pacemaker.

Authorities said his heart rate and cardiac rhythms indicated the man was awake at the time he claimed he was sleeping. He was charged with arson and insurance fraud.

Prosecutors in a 2015 Arkansas murder case sought recordings from the suspect's Amazon Echo when a 47-year-old man was found floating in the suspect's hot tub after a night of partying. Authorities thought the voice-activated assistant may have recorded valuable evidence of the crime.

Amazon.com challenged the search warrant in court, saying that the request was overly broad and that government seizure of such data would chill customers' First Amendment rights to free speech. But the challenge was eventually dropped because the suspect agreed to allow Amazon to turn over the information.

(Amazon chief executive Jeffrey Bezos is the owner of The Washington Post.)

Virginia State Police Special Agent Robert Brown III of the High Technology Division said the current trickle of such smart-device cases will probably soon become a flood.

"It will definitely be something in five or 10 years, in every case, we will look to see if this information is available," Brown said.

Amazon and Fitbit said in statements that they won't release customers' data to authorities without a valid legal demand, but they declined to say how many such requests they have received from law enforcement.

"Respect for the privacy of our users drives our approach," Fitbit said in its statement.

Ferguson, the law professor, said a case before the Supreme Court could be key in determining how exposed smart-device data is to searches by law enforcement.

In 2011, investigators in Detroit obtained months of cellphone location data on a suspect in a robbery investigation without a search warrant. Timothy Carpenter was later convicted, in part on this information gleaned from cellphone companies.

Carpenter is arguing in his appeal that such cellphone location data is so powerful it should be covered by the protections of the Fourth Amendment and that police should be required to get a search warrant to obtain it.

Courts have long held that people who voluntarily disclose information to a bank, cellphone company or other third party have no reasonable expectation of privacy. Ferguson said that since many smart devices transfer data to company servers, this third-party doctrine could apply to them, as well.

Ferguson said a ruling against Carpenter might clear the way for authorities to seek smart-device data stored on those servers without a warrant.

"In a world of truly ubiquitous connectivity where we are recording our heartbeat, our steps, our location if all of that data is now available to law enforcement without a warrant, that is a big change," he said. "And that's a big invasion of what most of us think our privacy should include."
The hurricane that wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico last month has driven down production of widely used intravenous solutions, sending several prominent hospitals across the country scrambling to find alternative supplies, change the way they administer drugs and devise backup plans to make the fluids themselves.

The products affected are smaller-volume bags of sodium chloride, known as saline, and dextrose. These normally ubiquitous solutions are used to rehydrate patients and to dilute medications from antibiotics to painkillers to cancer drugs. Their manufacturer, Baxter International, has said that "multiple production days" were lost in the wake of Hurricane Maria, and it has set up an allocation system for hospitals based on past purchases.

The situation could be a harbinger of further shortages resulting from the extensive damage to Puerto Rico's sprawling pharmaceutical-manufacturing sector. Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said in a statement Friday that the agency is working to help the island "recover its medical product manufacturing base. . .a key component of the island's economic vigor."

However, he warned, even facilities with only minor damage are working at just partial capacity. "New shortages could result from these disruptions, and shortages that existed before the storms could potentially be extended," he said.

More than four dozen FDA-approved drugmaking facilities are in Puerto Rico, including ones owned by Pfizer Inc., Merck, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Amgen. The plants produce treatments for cancer and HIV, as well as immunosuppressants for patients with organ transplants. Among the top-selling medications manufactured there are the blood thinner Xarelto and the cholesterol drug Lipitor, according to a report by Healthcare & Life Sciences Review.

Several manufacturers said recently that they didn't anticipate product shortages resulting from the hurricane, saying their facilities weren't heavily affected. But people on the island say it has been a challenge for many to get to work and to get products in and out.

A Baxter spokesman said Friday that "limited production" of IV fluids is occurring at its Puerto Rico facilities. He said the company is "working to leverage our global manufacturing footprint to support alternative production of these products as we work to restore operations."

Some hospitals on the U.S. mainland said late last week that they haven't been impacted by Baxter's problems, while others said they are having trouble getting the popular "mini-bags" that they use to deliver drugs to patients. While two other manufacturers make IV solutions, supplies are tight. Some medical centers are switching to other brands or to larger-volume IV bags that Baxter makes elsewhere.

But those and other changes can require a change in procedures on how drugs are administered - and new orders and training for the nursing staff - to ensure efficiency and patient safety, according to hospital officials.

Chicago's Rush University Medical Center, like many other systems, uses a Baxter product called the "mini-bag plus" to administer IV solutions to patients. The bags allow a nurse to add a prescribed medication, mix it up and give it to the patient quickly.

Thomas Wheeler, corporate director of pharmacy at the medical center, said he no longer can get the Baxter bags and so has shifted to a product that works somewhat differently. Usually, he said, he would have made such a change slowly after extensive planning. But in this case, he added, he had to put it into place in 48 hours.

Kuldip Patel, associate chief pharmacy officer of Duke University Hospital in Durham, N.C., said he ran out of the mini-bags after getting only 25 percent of his normal order. Like other large hospitals, Duke has its own compounding service that can prepare IV solutions from raw ingredients if necessary, but the process is time-consuming, Patel said.

Jeff Thiel, assistant vice president for pharmacy services at NorthShore University HealthSystem, which is headquartered in Evansville, Ill., said he's getting half his normal supply from Baxter. Switching to a different product "is not terrible," he said, "but it does cause some disruption in the work flow." And Erin Fox, director of the Drug Information Center at the University of Utah Health system, said it hasn't been able to get the Baxter mini-bag plus since before the hurricane. "We are thinking, how do we conserve the small bags that we have?" she said.

All the hospital officials said that patient care has not been impaired.

For years, hospital pharmacists have had to grapple with shortages of dozens of drugs. Experts blame several factors, including manufacturing glitches, quality-control problems and business mergers. The IV-solutions market has seen significant upheaval since last year. Pfizer bought Hospira, a pharmaceutical and device company, and spun off its IV products to the infusion company ICU Medical Inc. Another company, B. Braun Medical Inc., has a smaller share of the IV market. Baxter remains the dominant player.

"This year has been challenging for multiple manufacturers," said Chris Snyder, drug information pharmacist for shortages and recalls at the Cleveland Clinic. "And the hurricane has definitely compounded it."

Several doctors and pharmacists remain on edge about the possibility of additional problems. Peter Adamson, who is chairman of the Children's Oncology Group, said that the clinical trials it conducts nationwide have not yet had participating hospitals hit by drug shortages related to Puerto Rico. But Adamson, a pediatric oncologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said "there remains great concern that treatment for children with cancer may soon be affected."

Several hospital officials are calling on the FDA and drugmakers operating in Puerto Rico to release more information about what other products might soon be in short supply, as well as to allow hospitals to purchase some supplies from overseas, if necessary.

An agency spokeswoman said it is working with some companies to speed up import of supplies from other manufacturing sites. It also is working to expedite approval of other dosage forms and generic versions, she said. In his statement, Gottlieb said he plans to provide more details on specific products as he learns more about the situation there.
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Officers ended the search for three men who allegedly led police on a short chase that ended near Lone Star College Montgomery.

An officer with the Oak Ridge North Police Department spotted what turned out to be a stolen vehicle in that area around 12:30 p.m. Monday and chased the vehicle for a short time. The vehicle eventually stopped on Texas 242 at the community college, and three men bailed from the car and began running toward the campus, according to reports.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's escalating feud with Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, captures in miniature why he's been ineffective during his first nine months as president.

It's unclear what exactly triggered the thin-skinned commander in chief to post three tweets attacking the Tennessee senator on Sunday morning. The most plausible explanation is that he was reacting to a segment on "Fox News Sunday." The show aired a soundbite of Corker telling reporters last week that Rex Tillerson is one of three people in the administration who "separate our country from chaos." That came in response to an NBC report that the secretary of state had called the president a "moron."

"Senator Bob Corker 'begged' me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said 'NO' and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement)," Trump tweeted. "He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said 'NO THANKS.' He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal! Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run!"

Corker, who has felt liberated since announcing his retirement last month, gleefully fired back. His office quickly went on the record to insist that Trump had, in fact, promised to endorse him, urged him not to retire and just last week asked him to reconsider his decision. The 65-year-old then tweeted this:

Fully uncorked, Corker then called a New York Times reporter to say that Trump's reckless threats toward other countries could set the nation "on the path to World War III." "He concerns me. He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation," the chairman said during a 25-minute interview with Jonathan Martin. "I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, it's a situation of trying to contain him."

Trump's myopic impulse to counter-punch whenever he feels attacked caused him to lose another news cycle and will overshadow an immigration proposal that the White House planned to talk about today. It also underscored several of the factors that have caused the president so much trouble:

1) Trump is unserious about passing legislation.

Make no mistake, going after Corker will make it harder for Trump to get his way on both tax cuts and the Iran deal. The senator was quoted on the front page of Sunday's Washington Post expressing concern about his party's hypocrisy on the national debt. He says he will vote against any tax bill if he doesn't think it will reduce the deficit.

If Trump sincerely cared about getting big bills done, he wouldn't go to war with Corker. Especially when his party has a working majority of just two seats in the Senate.

Nine months in, with unified control of the government, Republicans have failed to pass a single significant piece of legislation into law. Trump has repeatedly gone all-in for health-care bills that subsequently failed. He's threatened to shut down the government to get funding for his border wall - only to blink. Twice. He's set deadlines and drawn red lines - only to see them ignored or blown past.

2) Trump has alienated several Senate Republicans that he needs more than they need him. Since taking office, Trump has criticized Mitch McConnell, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Jeff Flake, Lisa Murkowski, Dean Heller, Rand Paul and others by name. That doesn't include several others he went after as a candidate, including Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Ben Sasse.

Corker said that his concerns about Trump's ability to govern are shared by nearly every Republican in the Senate. "Look, except for a few people, the vast majority of our caucus understands what we're dealing with here," he told the Times. "Of course they understand the volatility that we're dealing with and the tremendous amount of work that it takes by people around him to keep him in the middle of the road."

Going after Corker is like when Trump described the health bill that passed the House as "mean." It makes it less likely that other lawmakers will go out on a limb for him. The president has triangulated against congressional Republicans for political purposes (i.e. having a scapegoat to justify his inability to deliver on his campaign promises) at the expense of substantive policy achievements.

3) Trump cares more about showmanship than statesmanship. In between his attacks on Corker, Trump praised Vice President Mike Pence for walking out of an Indianapolis Colts game to protest players kneeling during the national anthem. The episode was a pre-planned publicity stunt designed to fan the flames of outrage among Trump's base and keep alive a divisive culture war that had been drifting out of the news.

Corker called Trump "a reality show" president Sunday night, telling the Times that he acts "like he's doing 'The Apprentice' or something."

4) Trump still does not understand how government works. Much of what has gone haywire since January was a foreseeable consequence of electing someone with no prior government or military experience to lead the government.

Because he's never been in government, Trump does not grasp how many things - big and small - that committee chairmen like Corker can do to thwart a president under the radar. Even if he doesn't vote "no" on the tax cut bill, the outgoing senator is not going to be in any mood to do favors for Trump when the White House calls. Whenever Tillerson departs from Foggy Bottom, as an example, Corker will chair the confirmation hearing for his successor. He can easily hold up other nominees or initiatives, as well.

Corker, who is close with Tillerson, believes Trump is in way over his head. He is mad that the president undercut his chief diplomat's negotiations with North Korea last weekend. "A lot of people think that there is some kind of 'good cop, bad cop' act underway, but that's just not true," Corker told the Times. "I know he has hurt, in several instances, he's hurt us as it relates to negotiations that were underway by tweeting things out."

When asked whether Trump is fit to be president, Corker declined to directly answer. Instead, he replied that the president is not fully aware of the power of his office. "I don't think he appreciates that when the president of the United States speaks and says the things that he does, the impact that it has around the world, especially in the region that he's addressing," Corker told the Times. "And so, yeah, it's concerning to me."

5) The president's credibility is shot in Washington.

Trump claims Corker "begged" him for his endorsement. Corker says Trump repeatedly offered his support and called him just last week to ask him to change his mind about retiring. Someone is not telling the truth. Whom do you believe?

"I don't know why the president tweets out things that are not true," Corker told the Times. "You know he does it, everyone knows he does it, but he does."

Trump's penchant for twisting the truth on things big and small makes it very hard for people to take him at his word. Remember, he categorically denied James Comey's accounts of their one-on-one conversations - even though the ousted FBI director had written memos about them immediately after they took place. "This is why people take contemporaneous notes when they speak to the president," quipped Preet Bharara, a U.S. attorney who was fired by Trump after being told he'd be kept on.

Because Trump always wants the last word, he tweeted about Corker Sunday night for a fourth time after the Tennessean pushed back: "Bob Corker gave us the Iran Deal, & that's about it. We need HealthCare, we need Tax Cuts/Reform, we need people that can get the job done!"

In fact, Corker opposed the deal.

What Corker does next will count the most in determining his legacy. "If he believes what he says, then as the chairman of the relevant committee in the Senate he has important tools to use," James Fallows writes in The Atlantic. "He can issue subpoenas and summon executive branch witnesses as soon as he can get his colleagues back in town. He can draft legislation about the procedure, the grounds, and the justifications before the U.S. commits troops to war. . . .

"As it happens, there's a convenient precedent for Corker to apply. Just over 50 years ago, his predecessor as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee was another man from the middle south: J. William Fulbright, of Arkansas. . . . In 1966 Fulbright decided to use his power as committee chairman to convene a high-level, merciless series of hearings on whether his fellow Democrat in the White House, Lyndon Johnson, was making a disastrous error with his deepening commitment to Vietnam.

"J. William Fulbright had his share of failings, notably alignment with the Old South segregationist forces in the Senate. . . . But Fulbright was on the right side of history in doing everything he could to change a course of disastrous error set by his own party's president. He is rightly honored for his foresight, toughness, and courage in taking that stand. And he had at his disposal exactly the tools that Bob Corker will have through the 15 months left in his term: chairmanship of one of the Senate's most important committees. . . . (Fulbright) didn't manage to avert that era's war. Maybe (Corker) can be remembered for doing better to head off this era's catastrophe."
President Donald Trump's renewed demands for a border wall and dramatic changes to immigration laws in exchange for deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants may help Democrats by keeping the issue alive in the 2018 election year.

Polls show voters side with Democrats on shielding the immigrants, known as Dreamers. By adopting a hard line, Trump is setting the stage for a prolonged fight in Congress that could help Democrats gain seats in the House and Senate.

The White House on Sunday demanded "complete construction" of a U.S.-Mexico border wall and expedited removal of undocumented immigrants -- just weeks after Trump agreed with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on a simpler bipartisan plan. It called for allowing 800,000 young immigrants to stay in the U.S. with a possible path to citizenship in exchange for stiffer border security but no wall.

Both Democratic leaders -- dubbed "Chuck and Nancy" by Trump when their surprise deal was hatched at a White House dinner of Chinese food on Sept. 13 -- late Sunday declared the accord all but dead.

"We told the president at our meeting that we were open to reasonable border security measures alongside the DREAM Act, but this list goes so far beyond what is reasonable," Schumer of New York and Pelosi of California said in a statement. "This proposal fails to represent any attempt at compromise."

Trump's shift in posture Sunday night may reflect a tough negotiating strategy to win support for his border initiatives, or an effort to appeal to anti-immigration supporters. Either way, he risks getting no support from Democrats, which would doom the measure and alienate voters who back allowing Dreamers to remain in the U.S.

"For years, this country, including Capitol Hill and the swamp, they've always asked, 'What more can we do for the illegal immigrant? What's fair to the illegal immigrant?'" Trump aide Kellyanne Conway said on Fox News on Monday. "This president is asking, 'What's fair to America? What's fair to the American worker?'"

Trump is negotiating as if he has leverage on immigration when he doesn't, said Jim Manley, who was a top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.

"This is one of the worst opening bids I've seen in politics in recent years," Manley said. "None of this is ever going to get through the Senate based on what we've seen so far."

The president's position on immigration threatens to leave him -- and Republican lawmakers -- with no major policy achievements during Trump's first year in office. Republicans unsuccessfully pushed a partisan approach to repeal Obamacare. They're taking the same approach in trying to overhaul taxes this year amid opposition from Democrats.

Democrats have little to lose. They either will get the deportation protections for Dreamers or an opportunity to expose deep rifts among congressional Republicans over immigration. In the Senate, the chamber most up for grabs in next year's midterm elections, two Republicans most at risk -- Dean Heller of Nevada and Jeff Flake of Arizona -- both face immigration-hardliner challengers in their primary races but need support from Latino voters to prevail in November.

Trump's new plan calls for fully funding his proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, money to hire thousands of additional immigration agents and revamping the asylum system. Its principles are meant as the framework for a legislative reworking of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that Trump terminated in September with a six-month delay to allow for congressional action.

"These findings outline reforms that must be included as part of any legislation addressing the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients," Trump said in a letter to congressional leaders. "Without these reforms, illegal immigration and chain migration, which severely and unfairly burden American workers and taxpayers, will continue without end."

Administration officials who briefed reporters Sunday night described Trump's principles -- including an end to so-called chain migration, in which permanent residents and citizens can sponsor relatives for entry to the U.S. -- as neither a veto threat against a DACA bill lacking the provisions nor an opening bid.

Bipartisan support for any deal on immigration is necessary because it would require 60 votes in the Senate, which Republicans control 52-48.

Broadening the scope of that deal would highlight a sharp divide among Republican over the fate of the young immigrants and the best approach to tighten immigration enforcement.The leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus said Monday he looks forward to changes that will "restore law and order."

"Members of the House Freedom Caucus continue to work with the administration and other congressional Republicans on potential fixes to the unconstitutional Obama-era DACA program," said Rep. Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican who is chairman of the caucus. "We look forward to the administration's insistence on these principles in any deal that is signed into law."

Flake, a long-time advocate of protecting the Dreamers, last week introduced a measure designed to help advance Trump's agreement with the top Democrats. On Thursday he introduced a bill that would provide $1.6 billion in funding for border security, target members of gangs like MS-13 for deportation, and allow DACA recipients or children in the U.S. since 2012 to stay for up to 10 years with conditional resident status. They also could get a green card if they meet certain requirements.

Yet other conservative Republicans are moving in other directions.

Trump met last week to discuss DACA legislation with a small group of conservative Republican lawmakers including Sens. David Perdue of Georgia and Tom Cotton of Arkansas. They have proposed revamping U.S. immigration priorities and creating what they call a "merit-based" system that would move away from chain migration and cut legal immigration in half over a decade.

The bill has attracted no other cosponsors, and its principles are opposed not only by Democrats but also many Republicans. But the two senators have sympathizers among Trump's aides, and possibly in the president himself, for whom immigration was a major campaign issue.

Separately, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley of Iowa last week said he's demanding that any deal include a mandatory E-Verify system for employers to check the immigration status of job applicants.

White House Legislative Director Marc Short said a review of U.S. immigration laws ordered by Trump identified shortcomings in three major areas: the ability to promptly remove undocumented immigrants at the border; the enforcement of immigration standards inside the U.S., including visa overstays; and ending chain migration, which he described as unfair to taxpayers and citizens.

The review was carried out by agencies including the departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security, Short said.
ISTANBUL - When they met last month in New York, President Donald Trump hailed what he called his "personal relationship" with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and said the United States and Turkey were "as close as we have ever been."

Erdogan called Trump "my dear friend Donald."

Close observers of Ankara and Washington, D.C., would have been forgiven for rolling their eyes. For the past several years, the ties between them have repeatedly frayed to near a breaking point, only to be temporarily patched. On Sunday, they snapped.

Following the arrest last week of Metin Topuz, a Turkish employee of the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, the United States announced it was immediately suspending the issuance of non-immigrant visas in Turkey. Ankara quickly responded with identical restrictions, suddenly upending the plans of countless Turkish and American tourists, students, businesspeople and others who did not already possess the necessary travel documents.

While the government provided no information about the Topuz arrest, the Daily Sabah, a pro-government paper, said in a Monday editorial that he was accused of "facilitating the escape" from Turkey of "known Gulenists" - followers of a U.S.-based Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of being behind a July 2016 coup attempt.

That report and others provoked John Bass, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Turkey, to post a 4 1/2-minute video on the embassy site to "explain" the visa suspension decision. Topuz, who worked in an office liaising with Turkish law enforcement and "ensuring the security of American and Turkish citizens," was the second such U.S. diplomatic employee arrested this year, Bass said, raising questions "about whether the goal of some officials is to disrupt the long-standing cooperation between Turkey and the United States."

Without guarantees of Turkey's respect for "the principles of rule of law that all modern democracies follow," he said, the United States could not be sure its facilities were safe. He expressed hope the suspension of new visas at U.S. facilities in Turkey would not last long but offered no prediction.

Turkish prosecutors also said Monday in a vaguely worded statement that they had summoned yet another consulate staffer to testify. The statement mentioned that the staffer's wife and son had been detained on Gulen-related allegations but did not say what charges, if any, the staffer faced.

Other than Bass' video, neither the State Department nor the White House made any comment Monday on the Turkey situation. Erdogan, traveling in Ukraine, called it "saddening."

But the administration's sharp action appeared to mark a turning point in what Soner Cagaptay, a Turkish American political scientist at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, called the long-standing idea "that the U.S. would cut some slack for Erdogan and look the other way" in the belief that its relationship with Turkey was bigger than the Turkish president.

The latest argument has exposed divides that began in the Obama administration and become steadily deeper, despite Ankara's initial optimism that Trump would be more to its liking.

President Barack Obama, Erdogan's government had charged, was weak in executing their joint policy of supporting opposition forces fighting to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and dragged his feet on Turkey's request for Gulen's extradition. Under Obama, Turkey believed, the United States was too supportive of Syrian Kurdish guerrillas fighting the Islamic State in that country.

"We have positive opinions of the new administration," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in March, after Trump and Erdogan spoke by telephone during the U.S. president's early weeks in office.

During the phone call, Trump was noncommittal when Erdogan warned the United States not to directly arm the Syrian Kurds, despite American military plans to use the fighters as its main ground force in a major offensive to clear the Islamic State from northern Syria, including the de facto militant capital of Raqqa. Turkey, Erdogan said, saw the Kurdish force as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, the separatist group both countries have designated as a terrorist organization.

By the time Erdogan visited Trump in Washington in May, the decision had already gone against him. There was talk that Turkey would retaliate by throwing U.S. forces out of its Incirlik Air Base, a central hub for U.S. attack aircraft operating against the Islamic State. Turkey, which had already sent forces into northern Syria to block Kurdish expansion close to its border, also threatened to block the U.S.-backed advance into Raqqa.

Neither of those things happened. But the relationship, already unraveling, was reaching a crisis point.

Turkish officials have also tried to win the release of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish Iranian gold trader facing U.S. charges of evading sanctions on Iran. Last month, U.S. federal prosecutors also indicted a former Turkish economy minister for allegedly conspiring with Zarrab.

Charges have also been brought in absentia against Erdogan bodyguards who are accused of beating protesters outside the Turkish ambassador's Washington residence during the presidential visit in May.

Despite near-constant Turkish appeals, the administration has reported no progress in adjudicating its request to extradite Gulen, a permanent U.S. resident who lives in Pennsylvania. The Justice Department has not yet judged as sufficient evidence presented by Turkey describing a massive anti-government conspiracy, which has led to the arrest of tens of thousands of Gulen followers as well as ordinary critics of the government.

The post-coup sweep has also ensnared a number of U.S. and European citizens, whose release Erdogan recently tied to progress on Gulen's extradition.

In what was read in the United States as a gratuitous slap, Erdogan this month hosted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on an official visit, just as the Trump administration called for other countries to reduce their ties with Maduro's repressive government. Erdogan has also tightened links with both Iran and Russia.

As relations between the NATO allies worsen, their long-standing military alliance - vital to the U.S.-led effort to eliminate the Islamic State from the region - has come under threat.

About 2,700 U.S. troops are based in Turkey, mostly at Incirlik, the air base near the Syrian border. The base also houses dozens of tactical nuclear weapons, said Kingston Reif of the Washington-based Arms Control Association. While instability is unlikely to threaten the weapons' safety, he said, further political pressure from Ankara could restrict the Pentagon's ability to deploy the F-15 and F-16 fighters capable of delivering them.

Retired Adm. James Stavridis, who commanded NATO under Obama, described Incirlik as "beyond valuable" and urged the United States "do everything we can to ensure we have a balanced, sensible and strategic relationship" with Turkey.

But Bulent Aliriza of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, described the U.S.-Turkey breach as one "born out of the mutual needs of the Cold War." For years, he said, "the two sides have been making ad hoc efforts" to make work a relationship whose reason for being has disappeared.

Now, he said, the "chickens are coming home to roost," and "it's difficult to see how to get back on an even keel."

- - -

Fahim reported from Istanbul. Carol Morello and Alex Horton in Washington contributed to this report.
Democrat Ralph Northam has maintained a slight lead over Republican Ed Gillespie in Virginia's governor's race, according to a new poll released Monday.

The survey from the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University found Northam had the support of 49 percent of likely voters, while Gillespie had 42 percent.

The survey is a weekly tracking poll, the first of four that Wason will release until the Nov. 7 election.

The poll, the latest to find Northam either leading or in dead heat, comes as the White House ramps up efforts to support Gillespie in the nation's marquee statewide contest this year. Both national parties are watching the contest for a hint of what may come in next year's midterms.

Vice President Mike Pence plans to campaign with Gillespie at a Saturday rally in Abingdon, Gillespie spokesman Dave Abrams confirmed. It's friendly territory in southwest Virginia, an economically depressed region that has suffered from coal's decline and overwhelmingly voted for Trump in November.

Politico first reported the vice president's plans. Pence had previously been scheduled to headline an August fundraiser for Gillespie in Richmond, but cancelled the appearances, saying he had to attend to White House matters. That event was to take place shortly after the deadly clash in Charlottesville after a white spupremacist rally and as President Donald Trump was being widely criticized by both parties for his handling of Charlottesville.

Pence's wife, Karen, appeared at a "Women for Ed" fundraiser for Gillespie in Fairfax in September. The Pences have been friends with Gillespie and his wife, Cathy, for years.

Last Thursday, President Trump falsely accused Northam of supporting the violent MS-13 gang and urged Virginians to vote for Gillespie in a nighttime tweet, an announcement that came as a surprise to both Gillespie and White House staff.

Senior administration aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly, said Trump has been following the Virginia race, does not want the Democrats to win the governor's mansion and is concerned that Republicans may not turn out to vote.

It is unclear if the president will hit the campaign trail for Gillespie in Virginia, where Trump has dismal overall approval ratings.

Former President Barack Obama is expected to campaign in the state for Northam.

The Wason Center poll also found little anxiety about crime and gangs, as Gillespie launched an advertising blitz appealing to fears about MS-13 gang violence.

A series of mailers and television and radio ads invoke the street gang's "Kill, Rape, Control" motto and contend Northam put Virginians at risk by casting a deciding vote against a bill to ban sanctuary cities - an assertion that non-partisan Factcheck.org concluded was misleading because Virginia does not have sanctuary cities and that immigration advocates call a racist appeal to fears of Latino crime.

The poll found roughly six in 10 voters disagreed that crime and gang-violence was a problem where they lived, with Northam and Gillespie supporters largely in agreement.

While more than half of voters didn't think illegal immigration was a problem in their communities, a third of Gillespie supporters and six percent of Northam supporters did.

"Gillespie's focus on crime and immigration appear to be attempts to appeal to his base," said Rachel Bitecofer, assistant director of the Wason Center.

Those results echoes the results of a Washington Post-Schar School poll released last week that found about six in 10 voters did not believe illegal immigration was a problem in their part of the state, but that Republicans were twice as likely as Democrats to believe they were.

The Wason Center poll also found the other two Democrats running for statewide office have doubled their leads over their GOP rivals since the organization's last survey two weeks ago.

Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring is now leading his Republican challenger John Adams by 11 points in his bid for a second term. In the race to succeed Northam as lieutenant governor, Democrat Justin Fairfax leads state Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, by eight points.

Pollsters surveyed 616 likely voters between Oct. 2 and Oct. 6 on landline and cell phones. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
Work on a $2.8 million project Texas Department of Transportation to improve curb ramps along several state roadways in Lamb and Hale counties, including the city of Plainview, is set to begin the week.

The project will add or upgrade ramps to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards at various locations on BU27, FM400, SH194, US70 and FM3466, said Stevan Perez, P.E., TxDOT Littlefield Area engineer overseeing the project.
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Paul Adams bought a hatchet, rope, burlap sacks and multiple pairs of handcuffs just days before the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Tristan Dilley, officials said.

At the campsite Adams setup off of FM 1135 in Vidor, deputies also found MREs, dumbbells, bottled water, a water purification kit, $577 in cash and a book about human anatomy, Jasper County Sheriff Mitchel Newman told BeaumontEnterprise.com.

"We have no idea what he was planning on doing with them," Newman said of the supplies.

The items were bought from a Vidor Walmart on Sept. 28, three days before Dilley was found shot to death inside her mother's Buna home on Oct. 1. Officials found a receipt and obtained surveillance footage from the store that shows Adams shopping.

> > MORE: Details emerge in the death of Silsbee cheerleader

The day after Dilley's death, Adams died from a gunshot wound to the head. The gun used is believed to be the same .22 caliber Magnum revolver used in the fatal shooting of the Silsbee High School cheerleader, Newman said.

Earlier that morning, Texas Rangers were meeting with Adams' mother in Vidor when he called her.

Adams told his mother and the Rangers that he was at Dilley's house at the time of the shooting, but that he wasn't the gunman, Newman previously told BeaumontEnterprise.com.

Adams said someone broke into the girl's home and shot her, and that he ran because he was scared, Newman said. The Rangers tried to coax Adams into coming in to talk with them, telling him he could be a useful witness in Dilley's killing. Newman said that's when Adams hung up.

> > MORE: Vidor suspect in Silsbee girl's death identified

Adams left a note at the scene of his death, Newman confirmed. JCSO is waiting on several pieces of evidence to return from forensic testing before releasing the contents of the note.

Text messages on Dilley's phone led investigators to believe that she and Adams had a secret relationship, Newman said. Adams was a nursing student at Lamar State College-Orange; Dilley was a freshman at Silsbee High School.

> > MORE: Silsbee grieves 'firecracker' teen killed on Sunday

MGstalter@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/morgGstalt
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Austin police arrested the man they believe robbed several convenience stores armed with a roman candle and a wearing a Jabbawockeez mask.

Sean O'Brien, a 44-year-old Lockhart man, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated robbery.
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ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP)  Hundreds of undead people have gathered at the New Jersey shore to take part in an annual zombie walk.

The event was staged Saturday in Asbury Park and featured a variety of mutated characters, including four undead Disney princesses and gory nurses. A zombie Donald Trump pushed a tombstone with his name on it and threw paper towels into the crowd while asking, "Does anyone need saving?"

Walk organizers tout the event as one of the biggest gatherings of the undead on the planet. Most participants apply their own ghoulish makeup before arriving, but others get their look done on scene from professional makeup artists.

Security was beefed up for the event following the mass shooting in Las Vegas, and organizers banned the use of prop weapons.
AUSTIN  Longtime House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, did not face censure from his home county GOP on Monday, despite continued attempts by a handful of members to force a vote during a meeting marked by angry outbursts.

Tensions erupted at the start, when Bexar County Republican Chairman Robert Stovall rejected attempts to put the censure resolution on the agenda. Several precinct chairs, who had for weeks pushed to censure Straus at Mondays executive council meeting, jumped out of their chairs in protest, demanding a vote and waving signs saying drain the swamp.

He wont recognize any of us; he wont let us speak, said precinct Chair Patricia Gibbons, who was asked by Stovall to leave at one point after she continued to stand and request a vote. We will bring it up again.

Stovall, who opposed efforts to censure the five-term speaker, said the meeting went fine overall and chalked up disruptions to a small group.

We had some ups and downs, he said. This is to be expected sometimes. We are here to elect more Republicans, not infighting.

The faction leading the anti-Straus effort failed to fix technical issues with the censure resolution by a deadline last Friday, making it ineligible for consideration, Stovall said. A pro-Straus resolution submitted by other Bexar County GOP members also did not meet criteria by the deadline, Stovall said. Under a new rule, proposals must be submitted in advance and vetted by a special committee before a full vote. The three-page censure resolution was too long and missing information about those who sponsored it, Stovall said.

It didnt meet the criteria to be submitted. It was not about content; it was just about the format, Stovall said.

Proponents of the resolution that accuses Straus of abusing the power of his office and undermining the party platform labeled the new committee illegitimate.

Straus did not attend the meeting. He said recently: When I place my hand on the Bible and I raise my right hand on the first day of the session, I pledge to uphold the Constitution of the United States and of this state, and not any party conventions platform.

Efforts to publicly rebuke Straus ramped up after a contentious session this year that pitted the five-term speaker against tea-party aligned Republicans advocating policies to restrict abortion, transgender bathroom access and other social issues.

More than 50 Republican Party organizations across Texas have taken votes of no confidence or passed other rebuffs of Straus leadership, according to news reports.

Bexar County was no different. In July, a symbolic resolution passed calling for a change in leadership in the Texas House speakership.

The censure, if passed by two-thirds of Bexar County Republican precinct chairs at an executive committee meeting and then approved by the state party, would let the state party withhold financial support for Straus or endorse a challenger in the primary, party officials have said.

The latest resolution accuses Straus of abusing the power of his office by taking actions that conflict with the party platform.

Specifically, it claims Straus obstructed Gov. Greg Abbotts agenda and through his choice of committee chairs, dealt fatal blows to controversial policies, including the so-called bathroom bill. Championed by Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the policy sought to require people use public restrooms that match the gender on their birth certificate. Straus opposed the bill, which was decried by business leaders and advocates as discriminatory against transgender people.

There was no debate of the resolutions contents or Straus credentials at the meeting, which was attended by roughly 130 Bexar County GOP members and dozens more guests who crammed into the back of the room. Chaos reigned from the start, with members standing and shouting for a point of order as Stovall kept reading opening announcements. At one point he seemed to lose control, as precinct Chair Mark Dorazio stood at the back of the packed room and called a vote. Several ayes rang out as someone else shouted, You cant do that! At some points, Stovall threatened to remove members. If you are going to act unruly, I do have people who will escort you out of here, he said. When he later called for Gibbons to leave, several precinct chairs jumped to their feet and left the room.

Stovall wont let us change the agenda, he wont let us vote, said Barbara Miller, one of those who walked out. He is friends with these people, the establishment.

Others were frustrated by the meetings contentious tone. It seems like its always the same people who stand up and object. I would just like to go on to the meeting, said Michael Hostetter, who planned to oppose censuring Straus if it came to a vote. I just see the same people rebelling all the time.

amorris@express-news.net
Ethel Faye Linton Robinson was known for being a great cook and devout Christian who was passionate about helping others in her community.

Robinson died Sept. 27 at 93.

She was born in the Central Texas town of Taylor. Her father was a sharecropper and brought the family to San Antonio when she was 5 years old, to live in the Kenwood community in the still-rural Olmos Park area.

Her father had approximately 100 acres of farmland that the family, including Ethel, helped work, said her son Raymond C. Robinson.

My grandmother became paralyzed during childbirth with one of my uncles, and at the age of 10 my mother had to do most of the cooking for the family, Raymond Robinson said. Later she became one of the famous personal cooks for very prominent people here in San Antonio.

Ethel Robinson could cook anything, her son recalled, but her favorites to make were biscuits and dinner rolls. During the Christmas season she would have significant orders and would stay up all night cooking dinner rolls. She had 12 dozen orders at a time. She loved to cook, he said.

She attended Phillis Wheatley High School, which was one of the only public schools in the state designated for African American students.

After graduating, she was visiting a friend in El Paso who introduced her to her future husband, John Lewis Robinson. He was in the Army and stationed at Fort Bliss. They were wed in 1949 and started a family in the Denver Heights neighborhood on the East Side.

More Information Ethel Faye Linton Robinson Born: May 22, 1924, Taylor Died: Sept. 27, 2017, San Antonio Preceded by: Husband, John L. Robinson Sr.; brothers, Walter, Richard, Bobby, J.D., and Leroy Linton; and sisters Edna Linton, Norvella Roberts and Ruby Edwards. Survived by: Sons John L. Robinson Jr., Eric T. Robinson and Raymond C. Robinson; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Services: Vistitation set for 11 a.m. Tuesday , funeral service 12:30 p.m. at St. Johns Baptist Church, 6800 Evers Road, with burial to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. See More Collapse

As an election judge in Denver Heights for 50 years, she knew the importance of minority voting rights and made sure the process was correct and orderly, her son said.

St. John's Baptist Church, where she attended, didnt have a culinary team and Ethel stepped up and brought dishes to various functions, said its pastor, the Rev. Herman Price  he recalled her beef enchiladas in particular  and she loved to help people, he said.

A few years ago, Ethel was honored as one of the oldest living original members of the St. John Baptist Church, Price said. She was a great servant of the Lord.  Every Sunday was a big meal prepared for friends and family and anyone who wanted a meal.

Robinsons house was the place to be on Sundays, her son said.

At any given time, there would be maybe 10 to 15 people in this little home eating and fellowshipping as a family. My mother never turned anyone away who needed a meal or a kind word, he said.

caleman@express-news.net
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A man who tortured his girlfriend's son with ice baths, electric shocks and by rubbing cayenne pepper in his eyes before killing him was sentenced by a Seattle-area judge to 65 years in prison on Friday.

In August, Matthew Christenson was convicted in the 2014 murder of 18-year-old Otto Smith, who had autism. Christenson was also convicted of abusing Smith's then 13-year-old brother J.C., whom he forced to sleep on the bathroom floor of the boys' mother's apartment.

Wearing a red jumpsuit and orange socks underneath a pair of brown flip-flop sandals, Christenson showed no emotion as Senior Deputy Prosecutor Ben Santos and family members asked King County Superior Court Judge Chad Allred for an exceptional sentence.

RELATED: Man guilty of fatally torturing girlfriend's autistic son

"Otto was a loving, kind, gentle little boy in a young man's body," said Santos, addressing Allred in his fourth-floor courtroom at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. "Everyone was drawn to him. He was loved, and this man took him away. And not only did he take him away, he made his last days his worst, and he destroyed many lives along the way. ... The defendant should spend the rest of his life in prison."

Christenson was found guilty of homicide by abuse, second-degree murder, three counts of second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment and felony harassment on Aug. 11. Allred found there was "substantial and compelling reasons justifying an exception sentence." Christenson has maintained his innocence and is appealing his convictions.

Both of Smith's grandmothers and an uncle described the horrors Smith and J.C. endured under Christenson, which included hours of forced exercise and meals restricted to one apple or empty taco shells, according to testimony. Christenson made the boys take hours-long ice baths and beat Smith with a toy keyboard the teen loved.

"He took two of Otto's pleasures from him by destroying his keyboard and turning his enjoyable daily baths into a horrific, traumatic punishment," Smith's maternal grandmother Sue Coley said. "Two young men who had only known love and compassion were forced to live in a home filled with hatred, disdain, degradation and trauma."

"Imagine being a person with severe autism and developmental disabilities, already locked into a prison of your own mind; then to be beaten, abused, made to wear garbage sacks, beaten with your own toys," Bill Carroll, Smith's uncle, said. "Everything you enjoyed was used to torture you."

On the night of April 13, 2014, Christenson forced Smith to take an ice bath, then bound Smith hand and foot, jammed a sock in his mouth and wrapped his head in layer after layer of duct tape. The boys' mother Pascia Backman found Smith lying on the ground with Christenson sitting in a chair nearby, drinking beer and smoking marijuana.

"Regardless of what anyone thought about Pascia and her utter failure to protect her children, no one will forget how she described walking into the living room and seeing the defendant sitting in a chair as Otto laid on the living room floor taking his last breath," Santos said.

Backman then covered for Christenson, telling authorities Smith fell down a flight of stairs. Smith was found to have died of natural causes until detectives with the King County Sheriff's Office major crimes unit revived the investigation after Backman told detectives she'd lied and that Christenson killed Smith.

RELATED: Mom: Beau's love left me 'euphoric,' then he killed my son

Christenson was first charged with assault. A murder charge followed months later.

Backman met Christenson after posting a personal ad on Craigslist in January 2014. The night they met, Christenson and his then 20-year-old son Jordan moved into Backman's apartment in unincorporated Auburn. During trial, Backman, J.C. and Jordan Christenspn testified that Matthew Christenson took over the household and began abusing both boys within a week of moving in.

"Mom brings home the devil, but I don't know if the devil would do some of these things to these kids," Carroll said. "I hope you die in prison, never again again seeing the beauty of the outside world."

Reporter Stephen Cohen can be reached at 206-448-8313 or stephencohen@seattlepi.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter at @scohenPI.
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On Friday, a Texas antique store broke the news of Whataburger and James Avery partnering to create the ultimate Texas-themed charm.

"Next week Whataburger releases the first ever James Avery Whataburger Texas charm. Only available at shop.whataburger.com. The goal........sell out within the first 48 hours and show everybody that Texas is Whataburger Country!" Red Beard Mantiques wrote on Facebook on Oct. 6.

Within two days, the post was shared more than 22,000 times and more than 9,500 people commented on the post wondering the validity of the post.

"If it was James Avery, it would be available on their website, too," Jenny Lynn Smith commented on the Facebook post. Sharron Welch similarly said, "We've tried every website we could think of. Not listed. shop.whataburger.com doesn't have a charm listed."

McKenzie Aguirre commented on the post saying, "I went to the website but did not find it anywhere on it. So I'm guessing it's not getting put up until next week."

Though, one woman shared a photo of her own Texas-shaped, Whataburger-themed charm saying, "Got mine today :)." Quickly, several people reached out to the young woman to ask how she got her hands on the coveted item. KSAT reports that Whataburger's corporate employees get early access to newly released items.

RELATED: These are the 15 healthiest fast-food menu items in America

Regardless of the official release date, Whataburger/James Avery fans are ecstatic for the new merchandise to come out with the majority of the comments saying "I need this" and others are tagging loved ones saying they'll be getting them the charm once it's out.

Chron.com reached out to both Whataburger and James Avery to get confirmation from them. As of publication, neither companies have confirmed reports of the charm.

In the meantime, go through the photos above to learn the facts and secrets about Whataburger that you didn't know about before now.
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The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is holding a daylong forum Wednesday with community leaders and people living with HIV to discuss strategies to stop the spread of HIV infection in Bexar County.

The number of people newly diagnosed with HIV has increased by more than 50 percent in the last decade, from 234 in 2006 to 360 last year. As of 2015, almost 5,800 people in Bexar County had HIV.

The rate of infection in the county, 19.1 cases per 100,000 people, is well above the U.S. average of 12.3 cases.

Health officials want to reverse that and are ramping up prevention, testing and education efforts.

The forum this week, which is open to the public, will begin at 8:30 a.m. at UT Healths Academic Learning and Teaching Center on the Long Campus, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive. (Enter at the main gate near Floyd Curl and Medical Drive.)On the agenda are remarks by Mayor Ron Nirenberg and County Judge Nelson Wolff and a panel with Councilwoman Ana Sandoval and people living with HIV.

The purpose is to launch the Fast Track Cities initiative, a program to use global and local data to reach a 90-90-90 target.

Those numbers stand for: 90 percent of people with HIV are aware they have it, 90 percent of people with HIV are receiving treatment, and 90 percent of people undergoing treatment have suppressed viral loads.

There are antiretroviral therapies that people who are HIV positive can take and, when done correctly, can lower the amount of HIV in their bloodstream to virtually undetectable. Thats super important, said Metro Health Director Colleen Bridger.

In the afternoon, attendees will divide into working groups to discuss different methods of achieving the 90-90-90 target.

Fast Track Cities was launched on World AIDS Day in Paris in 2014 and is a partnership with organizations including the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. The initiative also thrives on collaboration with local, statewide and national entities.

In 2014, mayors from 27 cities in over 50 countries signed the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities to ensure their commitment to accelerate local efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.

Ultimately, what we want is everybody who is HIV positive to be on the right medications at the right time to get that viral load to zero and thats going to significantly decrease the transmission of HIV, which is how we will eventually get to the point of decreasing the new infections, Bridger said.

sravani@express-news.net | Twitter: @SarRavani
A man suspected of using stolen credit cards at several Central Texas stores may be linked to 130 similar cases that span Texas and the U.S., authorities said.

The man most recently used stolen cards in Best Buy stores, including locations in New Braunfels and Georgetown, police said.
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AUSTIN -- A week ago, John Wittman, Gov. Abbott's press spokesman, packed up the contents of his desk. He turned in his state ID card, and surrendered his state cell phone.

He was off to a new job starting the following Monday, as Abbott's press spokesman -- at the governor's campaign office, just three blocks away.

His move is part of a silent trek that happens every fall before an election year in Texas, when state employees take leave from their bosses' official taxpayer-paid staff to work on their reelection campaigns, a jump that keeps their work from violating state law.

To political insiders, it marks the official start of the election season. "The campaign shuffle," some call it.

By the end of this year, Texas officials and ethics watchdogs say that perhaps as many as 300 state employees may be doing the shuffle as the campaign season ramps up -- some taking time off during their state workday to do campaign business, some leaving their state jobs altogether like Wittman.

He was among four employees in the governor's office who made the move to Abbott's campaign on Oct. 1, with others expected to follow in coming months.

"The governor wants to avoid the appearance of any ethics issue," Wittman said. "It keeps things clean to do it this way, to make sure things do not cross over into an ethical area."

Under state law, public officials are prohibited from using state employees or resources to run for reelection or to help their campaigns. Violations, though, can be difficult to prove and politically thorny to prosecute.

In other Texas Capitol offices, some staffers have their salaries paid partly with campaign funds, and they split their time on political business. Or they are required to take leave from their state job to do any campaign work. Some even help on campaigns after hours, on their own time, after state offices close.

In past years, the conflict between official business and campaign business has repeatedly made headlines and given many incumbents heartburn as their opponents have blistered them with bad publicity during election campaigns.

"The issue is: where is the line between your public office and your campaign?" said longtime ethics watchdog Craig McDonald, director of the Austin-based Texans for Public Justice.

"Can people change their hats from one minute to the next, from public office to campaign and then back, and not have some type of conflict? That's always the question: Who are they really serving, their boss or the taxpayers?"

The line between campaign and state duties was not always as fine as most officials say it is now, even though critics -- and even supporters -- say the bar is still high for anyone to actually get into trouble for crossing it.

Before an ethics scandal erupted in 1991 over lobbyists lavishing free getaways and expensive meals on lawmakers, as they pushed bills that benefited those lobbyists, the line between campaign and state duties were often blurry. Some officials ran their campaigns from their Capitol offices, reimbursing the state for expenses if someone made an issue of it.

But after the Texas Ethics Commission was established in 1991, after voters who had tired of cronyism at their State Capitol passed a constitutional amendment to enact reforms, most officeholders began drawing much clearer distinctions between their official roles and their campaigns.

Dozens of officeholders during the 1990s installed a separate phone in their office for making campaign calls. After cellphones became popular, many carried two -- one for official business, one for the campaign.

Some lawmakers and state officials routinely wrote checks to the state comptroller to cover the costs of any inadvertent personal and campaign phone calls that might have been made during one month or the other.

Questions about the two hats worn by staff surfaced as then-Gov. George W. Bush ran for president in 2000. The same happened when Gov. Rick Perry, who replaced Bush, ran for president in 2011.

Each denied any conflicts, and each took steps to ensure the separation of their staffs was clear.

Most of the issues that have arisen since have been in legislative offices, which have smaller campaign budgets for totally separate political staffs than statewide officeholders, who can raise much more money for larger campaigns.

Three years ago, after Perry was indicted for alleged abuse of power, the Legislature changed ethics laws to allow incumbent Republican officials and lawmakers to be prosecuted in their home counties rather than in Democratic-leaning Austin. Perry's indictment was ultimately dismissed.

Critics said the change would likely make it nearly impossible for incumbents to get busted, especially for relatively minor infractions such as using state resources for campaign business -- even though the target was to protect incumbents from political prosecutions.

Despite that, Attorney General Ken Paxton has since been indicted on felony charges in Collin County, where he is from, for alleged securities infractions before he was elected. He has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial next year.

Earlier this year, State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, was indicted in her home county on 13 counts alleging she misused public funds for her personal gain -- the same section of the law that prohibits officials from using taxpayers funds or employees to campaign.

"This issue gets to be complicated the more you peel back the onion," said Texas Ethics Commission Chairman Steve Wolens, who served in the Texas House from 1981 until 2005.

During his tenure as a lawmaker, he said he kept his state and campaign operations completely separate.

"But campaign activities have to be done outside a state office."

For his part, Wittman said he views the separation from Abbott's campaign and his $85,000 year state job as a good thing. He said he was originally scheduled to switch jobs in July, but a special legislative session called by his boss delayed that, and then on Sept. 1, but that was called off by Hurricane Harvey.

Even though Abbott only has token Democratic Party opposition so far -- Jeffrey Payne of Dallas and Tom Wakely -- the GOP incumbent has had a campaign staff at work since he first launched his run for Texas' top office in 2013.

The governor's campaign aides said he now has more than 75 people working on his campaign, after announcing his reelection plans July 14 in San Antonio. By the end of the year, that staff will top 100 in the field alone, they said, with the overall campaign staff including several more from Abbott's Capitol office.
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Several massive wildfires burned out of control in Napa and Sonoma counties early Monday, destroying an untold number of homes, forcing the evacuation of many thousands of people and shutting down major roadways as firefighters sought to halt the advance of the infernos driven by powerful winds.

There was no immediate information on damage and injuries  nor an explanation for the sheer number of fires  but structures including homes were burning in both counties, according to authorities and witnesses.

Residents described fleeing for their lives in the middle of the night, in cars or on foot. Two hospitals in Santa Rosa, those run by Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health, were evacuated. People flocked to gas stations in cities that were safe from the conflagrations, to fuel up and buy water and other supplies.

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The series of fires began to ignite Sunday and multiplied as the night went on, impacting five counties. In Mendocino County, authorities evacuated communities near Redwood Valley and Willits. In Marin County, officials said at 3 a.m. that a grass fire had closed part of Highway 37. In Alameda County, fire crews from multiple jurisdictions were battling a blaze in the North Berkeley Hills at 3:45 a.m.

All over the region, flames raced across fields and freeways and skies filled with embers and ash. The National Weather Service said the blazes, which caused power outages and blanketed much of the Bay Area in smoke, were fanned by strong and dry northeast winds.

In Napa County, the Atlas Fire broke out near Atlas Peak Road and blackened hundreds of acres in a famed wine-growing area northeast of the city of Napa and the Silverado Trail. A second Napa County blaze to the northwest, near Calistoga, forced residents to flee their homes as well.

Guests of the Silverado Resort and Spa on Atlas Peak Road said they had been evacuated in a rush as flames approached. The resort had hosted the Safeway Open, a PGA Tour event, which ended Sunday.

We were sleeping, but we kept smelling smoke, said Chris Thomas, 42, of Kirkland, Wash., who arrived in the Napa Valley late Sunday with his wife, Marissa Schneider, for a wine-tasting trip.

They saw a firetruck pass, then were ordered to leave by loudspeaker. The power went out. Then things went downhill fast.

It was surreal, Thomas said. When I started loading stuff into the car it was a hell-storm of smoke and ash. There were 30 to 40 mph winds. I couldnt even breathe, so I ran back to the unit to get Marissa. It was so smoky I went to the wrong unit. When I found her I said, Forget it, lets just go. It went from being an annoying evacuation to something really scary.

Schneider said, Debris was gusting around. The flames were about 100 feet from our door. It was scary.

They drove to downtown Napa and found a hotel room, though they were wary of being evacuated again.

Evacuation centers were set up at the Napa County Fairgrounds at 1435 North Oak St. in Calistoga and CrossWalk Community Church at 2590 First St. in Napa.

In the Kenwood area, east of Santa Rosa, evacuations were ordered along Porter Creek, Petrified Forest, Franz Valley and Mountain Home Ranch roads.

In northern Santa Rosa, evacuations were ordered for residents and businesses in the Skyfarm Drive, Fountaingrove Parkway and Montecito Heights areas east of Highway 101, according to the Police Department.

Just after 2 a.m., though, Santa Rosa police reported the fire had jumped Highway 101 and ignited structures west of the freeway near a Kohls department store on Hopper Avenue. Evacuations were then ordered for that area.

This is a life threatening event, officials said. Leave immediately.

Among those who left the Hopper Avenue area were 11 members of the Flores family, who woke up and piled into two vehicles with four dogs after being jolted awake by neighbors. They said the air was thick with smoke and the wind was blowing so hard that trash bins toppled over.

We couldnt really see anything, said Bradley Flores, 15. We just got our dogs and got into the car and left. The wind was so bad our car was shaking.

He spoke from the parking lot of a Chevron gas station in Petaluma. The lot was full of evacuees who were fueling up, buying water and talking on cell phones.

Santa Rosa evacuees were directed to the Finley Community Center in that city, and when it filled up, were steered to Santa Rosas Veterans Memorial Building at 1351 Maple Ave. or the Petaluma Community Center at 320 North McDowell Ave.

Also in Petaluma were Lance and Barb Cottrell, who live near Santa Rosa. At about midnight, they had seen fire cresting over the ridge near their home, after neighbor rang the doorbell. They packed a couple of suitcases, grabbed some prized antiques and headed to a friends house to the west of Highway 101.

Our house is probably gone, Lance said. We just finished it in 2014.

Soon, though, flames raced so fast into their friends neighborhood that neighbors ran for their lives. Lance jumped in his car, and Barb in hers, and they tried to drive away, but they they saw a house engulfed in front of them and had to flip a U-turn. They ended up stuck in traffic before escaping down country roads west of Santa Rosa, avoiding trees that had blown down.

The scene was similar in Napa County. On Highway 121 between Sonoma and Napa, flames chewed up vegetation on both sides of the road, shooting embers as a stream of people fled the area. Some drivers pulled over to the side of the road at safe spots, looking back at the fires. Police and firefighters tried to keep people moving.

Sonoma County officials said emergency dispatchers were being overwhelmed by 911 calls from residents smelling smoke, adding, Please only call 911 if you see actual unattended flames. Authorities in Marin and San Francisco counties made the same plea, asking residents who smell smoke not to call 911 unless they see flames.

Peter Fimrite, Jill Tucker and Demian Bulwa are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com, jtucker@sfchronicle.com, dbulwa@sfchronicle.com Twitter @pfimrite @jilltucker @demianbulwa
It won't last long, but San Antonio residents can expect a cool break over the next few days, according to the National Weather Service.

A cold front will make its way into Texas Monday evening, dropping the high temperature for Tuesday to 74 degrees, down from the high of 93 degrees on Monday. Tuesday's low temperature will be 62 degrees.
After mass shootings like the nightmare in Las Vegas, there are always complaints that we dont talk enough about gun control in America, that we need to actually have the debate about guns and mass murder that the National Rifle Association and the Republicans supposedly keep shutting down.

I dont think this is right. We do keep having a debate over guns in the United States; its just that the side thats convinced that new regulations will prevent another Newtown or Orlando or Las Vegas keeps on losing the argument.

Gun rights is one of the few issues where the Republican Party is actually in touch with what many Americans seem to want.

Why is gun control losing? One answer is structural. Gun ownership is a form of expressive individualism no less than the liberties beloved in blue America, and it makes sense that a culture that rejects erotic limits would reject limits on self-defense as well.

But the gun control cause also has a more specific political problem. The regulatory measures anti-gun activists propose, even when they poll well, often lack any direct connection to the massacres themselves.

If you go back through the list of recent mass atrocities, for instance, you dont see many killers buying guns through the supposed gun show loophole or without a background check. Instead you see examples of why, in a well-armed country, legal barriers to gun ownership dont necessarily prevent lunatics and fanatics from getting them: Some of the killers passed background checks with flying colors, some passed them because of human and bureaucratic errors, and others simply used someone else to acquire their weaponry, circumventing legal and regulatory obstacles entirely.

The diversity of weapons used in the massacres, too, has made it hard to claim that reviving the Clinton-era assault weapons ban (whose likely effect on murder rates was nil) would make deadly sprees much rarer. James Holmes and Adam Lanza used high-powered rifles, but Nidal Hasan, Jiverly Wong and Dylann Roof were all extremely deadly just with handguns. Aaron Alexis was prevented from buying an assault rifle; he killed a dozen people at D.C.s Navy Yard with a shotgun. In a free society, madmen and monsters find a way to kill  as the killer in Vegas, a man of means and no significant criminal history, almost certainly would have even with tighter gun regulations and stiffer background checks.

But there is one way in which the latest massacre could be different. If, as it seems right now, there was a link between the sheer scale of the Las Vegas killers spree and his apparent use of a bump stock that lets a semi-automatic weapon fire at the rate of a machine gun, then gun-control advocates could make a more-direct-than-usual case for making such stocks illegal in response.

If you cant manufacture automatic weaponry and you can buy only an old automatic under strict conditions, you shouldnt be able to make a nonautomatic weapon fire like a machine gun by simply adding on a legal part.

Would this be a meaningless gesture, given that no recent mass killing before this one has involved automatic fire? Remember that mass killings are a form of social contagion, whose perpetrators copy their predecessors.

So moving pre-emptively to block a specific means of imitation isnt necessarily fruitless; it might be an entirely reasonable precaution against some dark ambition thats just now taking shape.

Seeking a modest precaution after such a monstrous bloodletting will no doubt strike gun control advocates as a hopelessly insufficient goal. But a cause that has been losing ground for 20 years cant be picky in the victories that it seeks.

Las Vegas seems to offer a clear case for a particular kind of gun regulation. Im provisionally convinced. So lets study the facts, have the argument and see how it turns out.

Ross Douthat writes a column for the New York Times.
People are moving to Boerne in droves.

They are drawn to this Hill Country town, just 30 miles northwest of San Antonio, for its outstanding schools, gorgeous scenery and easy quality of life. Its a place where you can stretch out and see the stars, stroll past old buildings on Main Street and feed the ducks waddling along River Road Park.

Its a good life in Boerne, and thats why people keep moving there. But with the new rooftops comes traffic; and with more people come convenience stores, strip malls and chains.

Life is changing in Boerne as the San Antonio region grows and sprawls.

This is a basic reality across the Hill Country as the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area continues to grow. Already at 2.4 million people, the region is expected to add 1 million more by 2040, putting enormous pressure on our roads, infrastructure and water supplies.

Not to mention the quality of life.

In Boerne that means tension between rural charm and suburban sprawl.

Much of that was spelled out in an Express-News article by Vianna Davila recently.

All of us want Boerne to stay Boerne, Boerne Deputy City Manager Jeff Thompson told Davila. But To say there will be no growth in Boerne is just completely unrealistic.

At least 5,000 new homes are expected in and around Boerne over the next 15 years. Thats a big deal in a city whose population is about 15,000. Its a big deal in Kendall County, where the population is more than 40,000.

That means needing more teachers, emergency responders and service workers. It means more affordable housing and traffic control. It means more water. It means more crime. It means building more schools.

While these growth challenges are daunting, leaders and elected officials from across the region can take some valuable lessons from Boernes growing pains.

Foremost is the need to empower counties to better manage growth. And that means convincing state legislators.

Much of the growth around Boerne is in the unincorporated county where the taxes and building costs are lower than in cities.

This is a familiar dynamic across the region. Counties have very limited planning and zoning authority, which is an invitation to sprawl and poor planning.

State lawmakers, who have aggressively curbed city annexation, should at least empower counties to properly zone and manage this coming growth. Otherwise, its going to be bottleneck city out there.

The next lesson is that we are all in this together. When people think about growth, they think about San Antonio, the nations seventh largest city. But it is the entire region that will grow, and that means growing  intelligently  together.

We have to be thinking as one region, and working toward regional solutions to our growing pains. Residents who live in Boerne might very well work in San Antonio  most recent estimates peg more than 6,400 daily work trips from Kendall to Bexar County. And residents in San Antonio might very well fill many of these needed positions in fast-growing Boerne.

Put another way: We drive on each others roads. We visit each others parks. The broader region relies on the colleges, universities and hospitals in Bexar County. And the growth in Bexar County is going to dramatically change the broader region.

Were in this together and need to be partnering on smart-growth policies. That means persuading the Legislature to give us the tools to do that.

If we do this right, come 2040, Boerne will still be Boerne.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein found herself in a strange position Monday when she announced plans to seek re-election to a sixth term. While California voters generally approve of the job shes doing, many are itching for change, and a bolder voice, in a time when the state is a hub of anti-Trump resistance.

Is she the right person for this moment? asked Aram Fischer, a leader of Indivisible San Francisco, which at 4,500 members is one of the largest local resistance groups in the nation. There are parts of her legacy we all respect. At the same time, she has a preternatural preference for compromise, and shes operating at a time of bomb throwers. And you cant compromise when people arent making offers.

So the question for us is: Who will be the best senator for California over the next six years? Not who has been the best in the past, Fischer said.

Feinstein, 84, generally drew praise from her fellow Democrats Monday when she tweeted from her campaign account, I am running for re-election to the Senate. Lots more to do: ending gun violence, combatting climate change, access to health care. Im all in!

However, recent polls have revealed frustration with Feinstein, the former San Francisco mayor who was first elected to the Senate in 1992. A Public Policy Institute of California survey last month found that half of likely voters didnt think she should seek another term.

The poll found that while 54 percent of likely voters approved of Feinsteins job performance, a majority of independents (55 percent) and Republicans (69 percent) didnt think she should run again. The survey found that 57 percent of Democrats backed another term for Feinstein.

A Berkeley IGS poll unearthed similar lukewarm feelings, with 45 percent of registered voters saying they were inclined to re-elect the senator and 41 percent not. Perhaps more ominous for her prospects was that among voters 29 years old and younger, 35 percent disapproved of Feinstein, while 34 percent approved.

She also has drawn the ire of progressives for not endorsing single-payer health care. While Feinstein said she favored a public option for health care, that is not in line with the position of the executive board of the California Democratic Party, which has endorsed single-payer health care. And she has voted for 11 of President Trumps 22 Cabinet and other upper-level nominees, while fellow California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris voted to confirm only four.

The senators slipping approval rating is rooted in the view by progressives that she hasnt been aggressive enough in opposing Trump. During a Commonwealth Club appearance in San Francisco last month, Feinstein drew scattered boos when she said that she hoped Trump has the ability to learn and to change. And if he does, he can be a good president. And thats my hope.

IGS poll Director Mark DiCamillo cautioned that while his organizations survey showcased certain weaknesses for Feinstein, it was taken when she had no opposition, and she might seem better in comparison to somebody else.

She has won very comfortably in previous cycles, DiCamillo said. Unless we see somebody pop up soon to challenge her, I would expect her to maintain a strong position.

DiCamillo pointed out that Feinstein holds strong support among the Democratic Party base in California. Harris said Monday that she strongly support(s) Diannes re-election campaign and (I) am thankful she is again offering to serve our state. What Californians get from Dianne is someone who sticks to her principles and achieves results regardless of powerful opponents, from the assault weapons ban to the CIA torture report. We are better off with her leadership.

And Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, who told The Chronicle earlier this year that he would consider running for the Senate if Feinstein didnt seek re-election, tweeted Monday that Senator Feinstein is one of the most thoughtful, substantive and effective leaders in Congress. We need her leadership now more than ever.

But Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, said Monday that Feinstein is out of touch with the grassroots on economic issues and foreign policy.

The fact that the establishment is rallying around her re-election shows that D.C. insiders continue ... protecting one of their own over the voters concerns, Khanna told the online site Vox on Monday. He said he is not considering a run for the seat.

So while there is dissatisfaction with Feinstein, the larger question for Democrats and others remains unanswered: Who is going to challenge her?

Theres been talk that somebody might give her a challenge, but lets see if it materializes or if it is all talk, said Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan publication about Congress. For those who might think recent polls show Feinstein has some weak spots, Duffy said, Thats not a reason to run.

And it certainly wont be a Republican, Duffy said, alluding to the GOPs weakness in California.

Challenging Feinstein would be a monumental task. While she has only $3.5 million in cash on hand, according to federal campaign finance records, she is one of the wealthiest members of the Senate and could draw upon her personal wealth, estimated at $94 million, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Three of Feinsteins potential rivals offered cryptic reactions to her announcement.

Billionaire environmentalist and former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer of San Francisco said: The whole political establishment in this country has failed. As always, Im committed to moving California forward. I am still looking at all options and will make an announcement about my intentions very soon.

In a series of tweets responding to Feinsteins announcement, wealthy Orange County entrepreneur and progressive activist Joseph Sanberg wrote: Here at home, Californians are leading the resistance to bullies like #Trump. But we need representatives willing to do the same in D.C. California deserves a bold progressive fighter who will stand up to Trump  bullies like Trump are defeated by courage, not patience

A spokesman for California state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, declined to comment on Feinsteins announcement, a silence notable in that top politicians rarely miss an opportunity to gladhand a fellow member of their party on a re-election announcement.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
FOOTBALL administrator and Zanu PF central committee member, Philip Chiyangwa, has claimed to be the brains behind the infamous 2004 Tsholotsho Declaration, adding he has always been President Emmerson Mnangagwas party boy since 1994.

Addressing mourners at the late Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) deputy director, Nixon Chirindas funeral in Chinhoyi yesterday, Chiyangwa said the precursor to the Tsholotsho meeting, which led to the axing of several Zanu PF provincial chairpersons, was held at his rural home in Zvimba.

He said contrary to public perception that the indaba was meant to plot former President Robert Mugabes downfall, the agenda of the meeting was to elevate Mnangagwa to the Vice-Presidency to replace the late Simon Muzenda.

I fought in President Mnangagwas corner during the Tsholotsho Declaration, Chiyangwa said.

Remember the meeting was held at my Zvimba rural home to elevate President Mnangagwa to replace the late Vice-President Simon Muzenda.

In fact, I was appointed the fundraising chairperson of Zanu PF by President Mnangagwa in 1994 [and] since then, I have always been his party boy contrary to what others say.

Chiyangwa, long considered to be closely related to Mugabe, said the initial indaba was attended by Local Government minister July Moyo, former politburo member, Jonathan Moyo, ex-war veterans leader, Jabulani Sibanda and National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda.

Mugabe lied in Bindura that I wanted to replace him with President Mnangagwa, thats not the truth . . . I wanted Mnangagwa to be elevated to the position of Vice-President, he said.

Chirinda, who died in an horrific road accident on Saturday night, was declared a provincial liberation war hero and will be buried at Glen Forest Memorial Park in Harare on Saturday.

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WASHINGTON  Legislation that would allow year-round sales of higher ethanol blends will not move through the U.S. Senates Environment and Public Works Committee this year, after it attracted amendments that targeted major environmental laws, reports Politico.

Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) and Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), co-authors of S. 517, told the news source that their bill lacked the votes necessary to move out of committee and onto the Senate floor. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), who opposed the bill, said it would have weakened the Clean Air Act, while other senators expressed concern about the legislation and industry sources said Democrats had a string of their own plans to try to address concerns about higher food prices and increased air pollution. The combined weight of the amendments under discussion ultimately sunk the bill.

"The original sponsor said the votes aren't there; I don't expect to see it this year," Barrasso said. Fischer agreed that the bill would not come up for a vote this year.

Ethanol producers have long argued that allowing year-round sale of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol would help increase the number of credits that refiners must use to comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard  and ultimately drive down prices. But the oil industry sees the RFS as "broken," and major producers have no interest in small tweaks, especially one that would cut into the sale of their product.

Fischer won committee time in May for her bill, which would waive a Clean Air Act provision that prevents summer sales of E15 in some states after a last-minute scramble for votes on a resolution to kill an Obama-era rule limiting methane leaks by gas producers. Barrasso agreed to give her bill a hearing and a markup vote in exchange for votes from Fischer, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and other corn-state Republicans. The methane resolution ultimately failed.

Ethanol producers had hoped to sway Democrats by touting the fuel's lower greenhouse gas profile than gasoline, and the hope that allowing E15 to be sold all year would create higher demand for advanced biofuels with even lower emissions, a top concern for longtime RFS supporter Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

The committee also has five senators among its members thought to be considering running for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020: Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Kamala Harris (Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (Ore.). Ethanol remains a key issue in Iowa, and a "yes" vote could have been a boost to a primary bid.

But industry sources say that Democrats, along with the Sierra Club, which opposed the bill, had concerns about the potential for higher food prices and air pollution. A biofuels and a refining industry source said Democrats wanted an amendment to cap ethanol volumes if food prices ran too high, and some Democrats worried that the air waiver, which has to do with fuel evaporation provisions, would create air pollution problems.

Though Fischer had sought a rifle shot that would address only the Clean Air Act waiver, the legislation ultimately "ricochets all over the place," said a refining industry source who opposed the bill.

"I think what happened [was] it looked like we were really going to do this. So we loaded the box up with every Clean Air Act amendment we could think of," he said.

Inhofe had his sights on the Clean Air Act, and he had planned a host of amendments, including killing the Clean Power Plan and the Waters of the United States rule, and sunsetting the conventional biofuel requirement that is typically filled by ethanol. The amendments would be hard for Republicans to oppose but would have been virtually impossible for Democrats to support, if any got attached to the bill.

"We think it is very unfortunate that this bill has been caught up by unrelated issues," John Fuher, senior director for government affairs for Growth Energy, an ethanol group, said in a statement. "We continue to believe that this legislation is necessary, as it would lift an outdated, unnecessary restriction on retailers who want to offer their customers the choice of a cleaner, more affordable fuel option year-round."

Oil groups who opposed the legislation were more upbeat.

"We are pleased that E15 waiver is not moving," said Frank Macchiarola, downstream director for the American Petroleum Institute. "We think it reflects a broad bipartisan consensus that, first, E15 is not ready for the market place, and second, the RFS needs to be addressed holistically with significant reforms based on free market fundamentals that protect the American consumer."

To view, click here.
Tipperary members of the Irish-speaking community met with their local representatives this week to voice their concerns around Irish language and Gaeltacht funding as Clinic Na Gaeilge came to Kildare Street in Dublin.

The ten-hour mobile clinic at Buswells Hotel saw Tipp lady Orlaith Nic Ghearailt, from Roscrea, and others sit down with local representative Carol Nolan TD to ask for their support for an Irish Language and Gaeltacht Investment Plan which could create over 1,150 new jobs.

Local representatives from 27 constituencies across Ireland travelled to the capital to meet 83 TDs, Senators and representatives in a bid to secure funding of 5.3 million for the plan in Budget 2018.

Clinic na Gaeilge brings the voice of the Irish-speaking community to the seat of power, where they can air the local issues that matter to them most, said Orlaith from Roscrea.

It was good to sit down as Gaeilge with Carol and encourage her to make investment in the Irish language and in the Gaeltacht a priority for the Government in Budget 2018."

Dr Niall Comer, President of Conradh na Gaeilge said that the Irish Language and Gaeltacht Investment Plan has been agreed by 87 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups, and would create over 1,150 new jobs.

It will also provide essential resources towards the language planning process, and afford the public many opportunities across the country to use Irish, said Dr Comer.

Irish language and Gaeltacht employment authorities have seen their resources slashed by up to 70% since 2007.

It is time to honour the Programme for Government and invest in our Gaeltachts and in our language.

The event was held as part of Conradh na Gaeilges #SEAS17 (seisiuin eolais agus spreagtha) pre-budget campaign, which involves information and progress sessions on Irish language and Gaeltacht affairs.

As well as the representatives of many constituencies who are joining us today, other Irish speakers have been phoning their local politicians, calling into their local drop-in clinics, and sending personal emails or tweets, said Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha, Advocacy Manager with Conradh na Gaeilge.

Like Clinic na Gaeilge, this is all tremendously enormously important work before the Budget is decided.

We are stronger as a community when we work together on these core issues - ni neart go cur le cheile.

Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Joe McHugh TD, also launched a report by Comhlachas na gComharchumann Gaeltachta and Comhlachtai Pobalbhunaithe in Buswells Hotel.

Conradh na Gaeilge and their local representatives are calling on the Government and on the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, to allocate 5.3 million in funding to the Irish Language and Gaeltacht Investment Plan, as agreed by 87 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups, in Budget 2018.
The Raiders came into the 2017 season with Super Bowl aspirations. After three straight losses, giving the Raiders a 2-3 record on the year, tensions are running high in Oakland.

With enough issues on the field, the Raiders found a new one off the gridiron between player and fans in the Coliseum parking lot. As Donald Penn was pulling out of the parking lot after the team's 30-17 loss vs. the Ravens, fans started yelling at Penn.

Penn then got out of the car and started talking back to the fans. Security intervened between Penn and the fans. The confrontation can be seen below.

Warning: NSFW language.

Penn signed a two-year, $21 million contract extension with the Raiders in September. He was named to his second Pro Bowl after the 2016 season.

***

According to Penn, one of the fans threw a bottle at his car.
Hurricane Maria-ravaged Puerto Rico suffered a setback in its attempt to restore electricity to the island when a substation failed early Sunday, leaving some residents without power and renewing political bickering, NBC News reported.

Gov. Ricardo Rossello said in an interview with MSNBC that the failure shows "how fragile the energy system in Puerto Rico is."

The substation failure dropped the share of San Juan residents with power through the electrical grid from almost 12 percent to about 7 percent. Rossello said the station would be operational again Sunday night.



Hurricane Maria plunged most of Puerto Rico into darkness when it hit more than two weeks ago, ravaging the U.S. territory's already-dilapidated energy system. Rossello told NBC News on Sunday that 38 of the 66 people confirmed to have been killed in the storm died in Puerto Rico.
The U.S. said Sunday it was suspending non-immigrant visa services at its diplomatic facilities in Turkey following the arrest of a consulate employee, prompting Turkey to halt visa services in the U.S.

The U.S. Embassy in the capital of Ankara tweeted a statement from the U.S. Mission to Turkey saying that recent events have forced it to "reassess the commitment of the Government of Turkey to the security of U.S. Mission facilities and personnel."

The Turkish Embassy in Washington responded with a similar statement on Twitter late Sunday and said it would "reassess the commitment of the Government of the United States to the security of Turkish mission facilities and personnel." It said the measures would apply to e-Visas, visas issued at borders and visas in passports.

This week, Turkish authorities arrested a U.S. Consulate employee of Turkish nationality for alleged links to the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish government blames for last summer's failed coup. Gulen denies involvement.

Metin Topuz is accused of espionage and "attempting to overthrow the Turkish government and constitution." Turkey's official Anadolu news agency reported that he allegedly communicated with former police chiefs in a 2013 corruption probe, 121 people involved in the attempted coup and hundreds of people using an encrypted mobile messaging application. The U.S. Embassy said it was "deeply disturbed" by the arrest.

Hamza Ulucay, a translator of the U.S. Consulate in the southern province of Adana, was arrested in March for alleged links to outlawed Kurdish militants.

The U.S. statement said the suspension of non-immigrant visa services was "effective immediately" to minimize visitor numbers to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate for now. The suspended services will affect business, tourism, medical treatment, student, exchange visitor, crew member, media and journalist, treaty trader, diplomatic and official visas.

Relations between Turkey and the U.S. have been tense over disagreements on Syrian Kurdish militants, which the U.S. backs in the war against the Islamic State group. Turkey considers them a terror group and an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK, which has waged an insurgency within Turkey's borders for more than 30 years.

An infamous brawl during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to DC in May led to an indictment charging 19 people, including 15 Turkish security officials, of conspiracy to commit a crime of violence. Erdogan called the indictment "scandalous" and said his security detail was protecting him against Kurdish militants protesting outside his ambassador's residence.

U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for over 20 years, has also been behind bars for a year for alleged links to Gulen. Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the U.S. was pressing Turkey to return a "cleric" while refusing to hand over another "cleric."

More than 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 have been fired from government jobs as part of a state of emergency declared after the failed coup in Turkey.
Five people are dead and at least 29 more were wounded in shootings across the Chicago-area over the weekend.

The first fatality of the weekend occurred just before 5 p.m. on Friday evening, when an 18-year-old man was shot in the chest in the 800 block of East 83rd Street. The man was taken to Christ Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

On Saturday morning, a 20-year-old man was riding in a car with an 18-year-old man when they stopped and showed a gun to a person outside of the vehicle. That person then opened fire, striking both men.

The 20-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, and the 18-year-old was also pronounced dead with a gunshot wound to his neck.

On Sunday night in the 1300 block of North Mason. The shooting, which occurred at around 7:26 p.m. according to police, took place when the man was standing outside of a car and a person in a passing vehicle fired shots at him. He was shot in the chest multiple times, and was pronounced dead at Loyola.

The weekend's latest fatality took place around 12:30 a.m. Monday, when a 24-year-old man walking in a group with several other men was shot by an unknown gunman. The man was pronounced dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to the head, police said.

Friday

An 18-year-old man was shot in the chest in the 800 block of East 83 rd Street. Police discovered the victim lying unresponsive after he was shot, and he was taken to Christ Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Street. Police discovered the victim lying unresponsive after he was shot, and he was taken to Christ Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A 19-year-old man was shot in the 12300 block of South Wallace at approximately 5:55 p.m., police said. He was walking when two men approached him from an alley and opened fire. He was taken to Metro South in serious condition with a gunshot wound to his stomach and right leg.

Two 17-year-old boys were shot while driving in a car in the 200 block of West Garfield at approximately 8:45 p.m. One of the victims was shot in the leg, and was taken to Stroger in stable condition, according to police. The other boy was taken to St. Bernards with a gunshot wound to his left knee.

In the 11600 block of South Church at approximately 11:53 p.m., a 31-year-old man was shot in the chest and neck. He had just exited a car when he was shot. He was taken to Christ Hospital in critical condition, police said.

Saturday

Two people were shot in the 200 block of West Root at approximately 1 a.m., according to police. A 29-year-old was shot multiple times after a verbal altercation with another person. He was taken to Stroger in critical condition. A 23-year-old man was also shot in the groin, and was taken to Stroger in serious condition.

A 26-year-old man was shot in the face while sitting in a vehicle in the 4500 block of West Congress at approximately 9:02 a.m. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in stable condition, according to police.

At approximately 10:52 a.m. Saturday morning, a 20-year-old man was riding in a car with an 18-year-old man when they stopped and showed a gun to a person outside of the vehicle, according to police. That person then opened fire, striking both men. The 20-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, and the 18-year-old was also pronounced dead with a gunshot wound to his neck.

A 32-year-old man suffered a graze wound to his leg when he was shot in the 4300 block of West Jackson at approximately 12:45 p.m. He was taken to Loretto Hospital in good condition, police said.

A person in a gray sedan fired shots at an 18-year-old man in the 2500 block of South Whipple at approximately 10:40 p.m., police said. The man was shot in the right hand, and was taken to St. Anthonys in stable condition.

A 44-year-old man was shot by a home owner during an attempted home invasion in the 4500 block of South St. Lawrence at approximately 10:54 p.m. According to police, the man forced his way into the home with a crowbar, and he was shot multiple times. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, and charges are pending against the alleged burglar in the case.

Two men were shot when a group of four men approached them and attempted to rob them. When the victims tried to flee, they were both shot. A 30-year-old was shot in the buttocks and was taken to Stroger in serious condition, and a 29-year-old was shot in the legs and was taken to Christ Hospital in serious condition.

Sunday:

Three people were shot in the 4500 block of South Cottage Grove at approximately 1:54 a.m when a person in a car fired shots at them. A 32-year-old was shot in the face, a 25-year-old was shot in the foot, and another 32-year-old was shot in the buttocks. All three brought themselves to Provident Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition, according to police.

A person in a black SUV got out and fired shots at a 25-year-old man as he sat in a car in the 1900 block of South Wentworth at approximately 2:32 a.m, police said. The victim was taken to Northwestern Hospital in stable condition with gunshot wounds to his right side and right hip.

A 28-year-old man was shot in the shoulder by a man on foot in the 300 block of South Sacramento at approximately 2:47 a.m. He was taken to Mt. Sinai, but he walked out without receiving treatment, according to police.

A 24-year-old man was standing on a sidewalk in the 2400 block of West Haddon when he was shot in the right arm at approximately 3:42 a.m. He was taken to St. Marys in stable condition, police said.

A black vehicle drove up to a 21-year-old man in the 2400 block of South Whipple at approximately 5:21 a.m., and one of the occupants opened fire, according to police. The man was shot in the left leg, and he was taken to Mt. Sinai in good condition.

A 27-year-old man was standing outside in the 2900 block of East 87 th Street at approximately 12:42 p.m. when he was shot in the buttocks, according to police. He was taken to Trinity Hospital in good condition.

Street at approximately 12:42 p.m. when he was shot in the buttocks, according to police. He was taken to Trinity Hospital in good condition. A 42-year-old man was exiting a vehicle when a man approached on foot and fired shots at him. The incident occurred in the 12200 block of South Aberdeen at 1 p.m., according to police. He was taken to Christ Hospital in stable condition.

In the 1300 block of North Mason around 7:26 p.m. according to police, a 30-year-old man was standing outside of a car and a person in a passing vehicle fired shots at him. He was shot in the chest multiple times, and was pronounced dead at Loyola.

A 24-year-old man was shot in the head while standing in the 1400 block of North Latrobe at approximately 8 p.m. He was taken to Stroger in critical condition, according to police.

A 32-year-old man was shot while standing in a park just minutes after 10 p.m. in the 4100 block of West Hirsch. Police said the man told authorities he heard shots and felt pain. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the face, according to police.

About a 30 minutes later, a 21-year-old man was shot while standing in a gas station parking lot in the 100 block of North Western Avenue. The man was taken to Stroger Hospital with a wound to the left hand, police said.

At the same time, a 27-year-old man was shot in the right leg while walking in the 300 block of South Leamington, police said. The man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in stalbe condition.

A 34-year-old woman was walking on a sidewalk in the 1000 block of North Massasoit around 11:20 p.m. when she told police she heard shots and felt pain. She was transported to Stroger Hospital with a wound to the buttocks, police said.

Around the same time, a 23-year-old woman was standing on a front porch with a man when three other men walked up and began beating the man she was with, authorities said. During the fight, a weapon was fired and the woman was shot in the neck. She was taken in stable condition to Stroger Hospital, police said.



Monday:
Three Connecticut police departments are investigating after statues of Christopher Columbus in Middletown, New Haven and Norwalk were found vandalized.

Middletown police told NBC Connecticut they are investigating after someone vandalized the statue of Christopher Columbus at Harbor Park with red paint. The vandalism happened sometime overnight. The graffiti read "kill the colonizer."

A statue in Wooster Square in New Haven was also vandalized with red paint, according to New Haven police.

Both departments have stepped up security in those areas.

Prakash Melvani

Norwalk police said they are investigating vandalism of a statue of Columbus, but did not release any other details.

For years a debate has raged over Columbus' historical legacy, with some arguing that a man who opened the Americas to European domination should not be celebrated.

By focusing so much on Columbus you eliminate and erase the histories of the people who were here before him and I think thats horrible, Yale University senior Chris Rice said.



But many Italian-Americans argue that Columbus is a symbol of their ethnic pride.

Well it means everything because actually if it wasnt for Columbus we wouldnt be here, so it's fundamental to us and for the next generation to celebrate this holiday and keep it a holiday in this country, said Gennaro Sevino, a member of the Sons of Italy Valley Regional Lodge in Derby.



It's not the first time the debate has led to vandalism. Last month in New York vandals doused the hands of a Christopher Columbus statue in blood-red paint and scrawled the words "hate will not be tolerated." In August, a statue in Yonkers was beheaded.

New Haven resident Imani Williams took the middle ground, though she was disturbed to hear of the vandalism to the statue outside the window of her Wooster Square home.

This is a historic statue just like the one in New York City. They should stay. Maybe some newer statues that dont need to be there, maybe they can be removed. But the older statues, historic statues, they should stay, Williams said.

Similar incidents have been reported over the years in cities across the country.

Those who spoke to NBC Connecticut tended to agree that the vandalism was wrong.

"I'm not OK with anybody vandalizing any property, I feel that's wrong," said Jersey City resident Tynesha Banks. "However, I can understand why people are against a statue of Christopher Columbus being up."

"It sucks that people actually have the audacity to do that and take away from a great town like us," said Destiny Rosado, of Middletown.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who represents New Haven as part of the 3rd District, chimed in on the incidents.

I am proud of my Italian heritage. Christopher Columbus is part of the history of America. Honoring him is something I am proud to be a part of. Vandalism is unacceptable, DeLauro said.

It's not clear if any of the incidents are connected. The penalty for this type of crime can be as many as five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. Anyone with information should contact local police.
Monday marks 101 days without a state budget and there are mixed messages on the status of budget talks from legislators and the governor.

Four days ago Governor Dannel Malloy said he wanted a deal by this Friday, but did not want to give false hope. He said there are still hundreds of millions of dollars apart.

On Friday and throughout the weekend, NBC Connecticut is told, top Republicans and Democrats met without the governor.

"In the past few days, there has been an open and honest dialogue. And where everyone has given in areas where in March, April, or in May we probably wouldn't have gave," Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz said.



They could be working on a bipartisan budget thats veto-proof, but there are no guarantees.

Agreeing on a funding formula for education  from K-12 to higher education -has been a problem. Typically by now, local school districts would know how much theyd be getting from the state and receive that money in October.

"We recognize to get a bipartisan budget to have to give here and give there. When we have our negotiations we keep in mind our membership and what we need to protect in our caucus. But you cannot have a bipartisan deal unless there's give and take on both sides of the aisle," State Senator Len Fasano said.

The deadline of Friday, Oct. 13 looms because that could determine how much money the states hospitals could receive from the federal government.

Cities and towns are already receiving less money from the state than they did last year because there is no budget in place.
An attorney representing the mother of a missing 3-year-old girl in Richardson said Wednesday that the woman is "distraught" over the disappearance of her daughter.

Attorney Kent Starr met with Sini Mathews at the family's home and then briefly addressed reporters outside. Starr said the parents have two attorneys to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

Starr said Mathews has spoken with Richardson police and has cooperated with police. He said all she wants is for her daughter back and is "very hopeful that her daughter will be returned."

But Richardson police told NBC 5 that both parents stopped co-operating over the weekend.

The child, Sherin Mathews, was reportedly last seen at 3 a.m. Saturday by her father, Wesley Mathews.

Mathews told investigators that he told the child to stand by a tree, 100 feet from their home, after not drinking her milk, according to police. He reported the child missing five hours later, police said.

Wesley Mathews was arrested Saturday on a child endangerment charge, and he was released Sunday night on $250,000 bond.

Police have said the girl's mother was asleep and is not facing charges.

Speaking as to why Sini Mathews has hired an attorney, Starr said everybody has a right to legal council and the fact the Wesley Mathews may be accused of a crime is not indicative that his wife is involved.

"There has been no accusations of wrongdoing against Mrs. Mathews," Starr said.

FBI Evidence Team Processes Home

An FBI Evidence Response team worked through the night Tuesday to process the family's Richardson home.

The search for the adopted girl has also expanded beyond the immediate neighborhood.

The FBI Evidence Response team arrived at about 7 p.m., shortly after Richardson police knocked on the door with a search warrant. The team could be seen combing for clues in the front and back yards.

Richardson police would not elaborate on what prompted the search, only saying it is where the "natural progression of the investigation" led them.

One of three vehicles taken from the home of a missing 3-year-old to be examined for possible clues in the childs disappearance has been released, according to Richardson Police.



A Lexus, driven by Sini, was returned to her late Wednesday. Two other vehicles, an Audi and a minivan, remain in police custody.

Police confirmed the girl is still considered missing and said no arrests have been made in her disappearance.

An Amber Alert was discontinued Monday afternoon because there had been no new information in the case, but authorities said the alert could be re-activated in the future.

A criminal defense attorney spent about an hour at the home late Tuesday afternoon, but left without answering questions from the media.

Meanwhile, Richardson police provided Tuesday a more detailed timeline of the disappearance of the girl and the time that elapsed before she was reported missing by her father, 37-year-old Wesley Mathews.

According to police, the girl's father told detectives he directed the girl to stand next to a tree behind the fence at their home after she wouldn't drink her milk at about 3 a.m. Saturday. The tree is across an alley and about 100 feet away from the home.

A police affidavit said Mathews returned to get his daughter about 15 minutes later, but he discovered that she was gone. He set out to try to find her, but was unable to.

Mathews then went inside his home, hoping she would return on her own, according to police Sgt. Kevin Perlich. Mathews then did a load of laundry and wanted to wait for daylight to search for her again.



The father didn't notify police that his daughter was missing for about five hours, Perlich said, adding that the delay in reporting the matter "is certainly concerning to us."

FBI Evidence Response Team preparing to enter Mathews home. Being told the missing 3yo parents are not here. @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/KSkaj4MWh5  Meredith Yeomans (@YeomansNBC5) October 10, 2017

"That does not seem like a normal response that one would do if you have a missing child," Perlich said.

The girl's father was arrested Saturday on a charge of abandoning or endangering a child. He was released from jail Sunday night on a $250,000 bond.

Police said the girls mother was reportedly asleep during the entire incident. She does not face charges at this time.

Officials with Texas Child Protective Services removed the toddler's 4-year-old sister from the family Monday and placed her in protective custody as police continue to search for the missing child.

CPS would only say they have had "contact" with the Mathews family before, but "details are confidential."

Police said Wesley Mathews told detectives he knew coyotes were seen in the area where he left his daughter, but investigators say there's no indication one may have dragged the girl away.

Ongoing Search

The search for the girl has expanded beyond the neighborhood and include making contact with sex offenders in the area and businesses that could potentially have useful surveillance video.

"We don't have any other indication or evidence that she was forcibly abducted from that area," Perlich said.

Sherin Mathews is described as 3 feet tall and 22 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink top, black pajama bottoms and pink flip-flops.

Police said the toddler has "developmental issues and has limited verbal communication skills." The Mathews family adopted the girl two years ago at an orphanage in India.

Sherin was malnourished when the couple took her in, and Mathews told investigators it wasn't unusual for the girl to wake up late at night to eat so that her weight would increase, Perlich said.

Investigators have seized three vehicles, cellphones and laptops from the family in an effort to find out what became of Sherin, Perlich said. Footage from surveillance cameras in the area also is being reviewed.

Community Reacts

I dont know what happened, said Philip Mathew, Sherin Mathews's great-uncle.

Mathew and others arrived at the familys home on Monday evening, but no one answered the door.

Mathew insists the girl's parents are good people.

Theyre nice people. The parents are believers in Christ, he said.

Meanwhile, members of Emmanuel Bible Chapel in Irving, where Sherin and her parents are members, printed fliers with the girl's description and posted them in and around the Richland Meadows neighborhood over the weekend. Joanna Cherian walked around to any post she could find and taped fliers.

I cant believe I have to do this right now, she said in disbelief. I never thought this day would come that the cutest baby in our church has gone missing.

Church elder Jose Cherian was asked about the allegations surrounding the girl's father.

I cant say anything about that, he responded.

Cherian did speak about the girls mother, who police say is not facing any charges at this time.

Shes very much worried and depressed, he said. If anyone have in possession baby Sherin, please bring back and report to police, to Richardson police. Those who, any of you who brings the baby God will bless you. God will reward you, he said.

Anyone with information about Sherin Mathews or her location was asked to contact the Richardson Police Department at 972-744-4800.

NBC 5's Diana Zoga contributed to this report.


At 84, Sen. Dianne Feinstein is at an age when many Americans are deep into their retirement years. But the oldest member of the Senate announced Monday that she will seek another term with a ready retort for those who might suggest her best years are behind her.

"Experience counts," the veteran California Democrat said.

The announcement that she would seek a fifth full term was expected and she has been stockpiling campaign dollars for a re-election bid. In recent months, the former San Francisco mayor has shown no signs that she was thinking about stepping aside for another generation.

With seats on several of the most powerful panels on Capitol Hill  the Judiciary, Appropriations and Intelligence committees  Feinstein has been a leading Democratic foil to President Donald Trump and his agenda.

As the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Feinstein has focused, often in futility, on gun control issues and immigration. The Intelligence Committee has been conducting an inquiry into Russia's election meddling and whether there was any collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign.

In a statement, she said the Trump era has seen "democracy challenged in unacceptable ways," from the attempts to roll back national health care for millions of people to attacks on reproductive rights and efforts to slow climate change.

"I cannot and will not step away from this fight," she said. "There's still so much work left to be done."

Feinstein never directly referred to her age but argued her years in the Senate, where seniority carries clout, made her an effective voice for a state that is home to 1 in 8 Americans.

"The ability to get things done counts. And the compassion, vigor, and stamina to make a difference counts," she added, seeming to anticipate questions about her age.

With another six-year term in Washington, Feinstein could be in the Senate into her 90s.

Questions about her advancing age circulated in 2012, when at 78 she was easily re-elected over token Republican opposition. She had a pacemaker installed in January.

Nonetheless, she enters the race the favorite to hold the seat she first won in 1992 in the strongly Democratic state. Democrats control every statewide office in California, dominate both chambers of the Legislature and hold a 3.7-million edge in registered voters.

In a state where Republican influence has withered, Feinstein's biggest challenge next year could come from her own party. The break between the party's establishment and liberal branches played out during last year's Democratic presidential primary. And at a state Democratic convention this year, liberals inspired by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., nearly captured the party's top job.

Feinstein's centrist credentials and lack of enthusiasm for universal health care have created friction with her party's restless left wing. She's had protesters outside her home, and has been criticized by some for appearing too temperate at times in remarks about Trump's White House.

"I don't think any progressive Democrat would be happy with the news" of her re-election bid, said Michael Thaller, a former chair of the California Democratic Party's Progressive Caucus.

And, State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon has openly considered a seat for months and could challenge Feinstein, NBC News reported. Markos Moulitsas, the founder of the liberal Daily Kos blog, tweeted Monday that he and Leon should "talk" because they had a "common interest" in the race.

"Lets beat the most pro-Trump Blue-state Dem in the country!" he tweeted.

However, with no announced major candidates to challenge her, it's not clear how big the threat might be. Recent polling suggests Feinstein is overwhelmingly popular with state Democrats. Although from Northern California, she has consistently carried crucial Los Angeles County, home to 10 million people. She has also displayed crossover appeal, pulling votes from a significant chunk of independents and even some Republicans.

Several big-name Democrats quickly lined up behind her.

California's junior senator, Democrat Kamala Harris, wrote on her Facebook page that she strongly supported Feinstein's bid for a fifth term. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is hosting a fundraiser for her on Tuesday in Beverly Hills. Lt. Gov. Newsom used Twitter to announce his support, calling Feinstein "tough as nails."

As the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Feinstein has focused, often in futility, on gun control issues and immigration. The Intelligence Committee has been conducting an inquiry into Russia's election meddling and whether there was any collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign.

On Twitter, Feinstein declared, "I'm all in."


Two more elderly patients who lived inside a stifling Florida nursing home that lost its air conditioning during Hurricane Irma have died, bringing the total to 14, authorities said Monday.

Cecilia Franco, 90 and Francesca Andrade, 96, have died, Hollywood police officials confirmed.

Franco's husband, 93-year-old Miguel Franco, also died after the tragedy.

"The family is in extreme mourning right now, the pain is cut so deeply having lost not one but two parents and grandfather, and grandmother, they're in a virtual state of shock," family attorney Albert Levin said.



Levin said that although Cecilia suffered from Alzheimers, she was in stable condition up until the storm. The family is convinced she died because of negligence.

"There's no question that the conditions at the nursing home contributed to her demise, 26 days after the passing of her husband of 62 years. That's not an issue whatsoever, this woman didn't die of something unrelated to this incident," Levin said.



Franco and Andrade are the latest victims to succumb to the sweltering heat inside the Rehabilitation Center of Hollywood Hills.

More than 100 patients were evacuated from the home on Sept. 13 after three patients were found dead. Five more died later that day and others died in the following days. Some who died had body temperatures as high as 109.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

The dead range in age from 57 to 99. No one has been charged but the incident is being treated as a criminal investigation.

Police said they are treating the most recent deaths as part of the criminal investigation, unless otherwise advised by the medical examiner's office.

The Franco family has already filed a wrongful death lawsuit and a negligence lawsuit against the center. The negligence suit will now be upgraded to a wrongful death lawsuit, Levin said.

Last week, it was announced that the facility had laid off 245 workers.
The family of an FDNY EMT who was killed by a hit-and-run driver last weekend revealed he was celebrating his birthday and a new promotion when his life was cut short. And now theyre pleading with the public for information about the driver who left him to die.

Police say 27-year-old Kevin Liang was riding his Ducati motorcycle the evening of Sept. 30 when an SUV hit him on the Kosciuszko Bridge. Liang lost control of the bike and fell to the pavement. He was pronounced dead at Woodhull Hospital.

At the time, Liang was on his way to his girlfriends house to celebrate his birthday, which had been the day before. His family says he spent two years as an FDNY EMT and had just heard he passed the test to become a firefighter.

He wanted to help the city of New York and he wanted to help home, his sister said.

Fighting back tears, Avril Liang said her brother was there for me for absolutely everything.

He was a great son, he was a great brother, and a terrific friend, she said.

His family is offering a $25,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the hit-and-run driver.

Top Tri-State News Photos

There must be something, somebody who saw this or caught some footage, or something that can help lead to the identification of the hit-and-run driver, his cousin, Pang Lee, said.

Relatives say Liang never hesitated to help others, and now theyre hoping someone will do the same for him. And at a wake Monday, dozens of fellow first-responders, family members and friends came out in mourning and support.

His job was to be a first responder, to help somebody whos in need, and now we just need somebody to come out and help him, Lee said.

His former coworkers at the FDNY said they also want the driver cuffed.

"I want everybody who's (reading) this to try aand get all the information you can," said FDNY Lt. Dionne McCoy. "Anything to try and help us find this person that hit our brother."

Police say the vehicle that hit him was a dark SUV, possibly a Lexus.
Is it time to say "arrivederci" to Christopher Columbus?

A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has gained momentum in some parts of the U.S., with Los Angeles in August becoming the biggest city yet to decide to stop honoring the Italian explorer and instead recognize victims of colonialism.

Austin, Texas, followed suit Thursday. It joined cities, including San Francisco, Seattle and Denver, that had previously booted Columbus in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day.

But the gesture to recognize indigenous people rather than the man who opened the Americas to European domination has also prompted howls of outrage from some Italian-Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too.

"We had a very difficult time in this country for well over a hundred years," said Basil Russo, president of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America. "Columbus Day is a day that we've chosen to celebrate who we are. And we're entitled to do that just as they are entitled to celebrate who they are."

It's not about taking anything away from Italian-Americans, said Cliff Matias, cultural director of the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, which is hosting a "Re-Thinking Columbus Day" event Sunday and Monday in New York City.

"The conversation is Columbus," he said. "If they're going to celebrate Columbus, we need to celebrate the fact that we survived Columbus."

The debate over Columbus' historical legacy is an old one, but it became emotionally charged after a similar debate in the South over monuments to Confederate generals flared into deadly violence in August at a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In Akron, Ohio, a September vote over whether to dump Columbus opened a racial rift on the city council that was so heated, conflict mediators were brought in to sooth tensions.

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More

In New York City, where 35,000 people are expected to march in Monday's Columbus Day parade, vandals last month doused the hands of a Christopher Columbus statue in blood-red paint and scrawled the words "hate will not be tolerated."

Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed a committee to evaluate whether monuments to certain historical figures should be removed, prompting a backlash from fellow Italian-Americans who vowed to defend the Columbus statue that has stood over Manhattan's Columbus Circle for more than a century.

Many Italians who migrated to the U.S. initially had a rough time. In 1891, 11 Italians were lynched in New Orleans by a mob that held them responsible for the death of a local police official.

At the end of the 1800s, Italians began to link themselves more with Columbus. Italian-American businessman and newspaper owner Generoso Pope was among those who worked to get Columbus Day recognized as a federal holiday in 1937.

"It was one of the things that would allow them to become Americans symbolically," said Fred Gardaphe, a professor of Italian-American studies at Queens College.

Indigenous Peoples Day began to gel as an idea in advance of the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage to the Americas.

South Dakota began celebrating Native American Day on the second Monday of October in 1990. Berkeley, California, got rid of Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day in 1992.

Many places that have adopted Indigenous People's Day since then, including Alaska, have sizable Native American populations.

A few cities have compromised. Salt Lake City officials declared Tuesday that they would keep Columbus Day but celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on the same day.

In Akron, a city with few Native Americans and a large Italian-American community, an attempt to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous People's Day on Sept. 11 split the all-Democrat city council along racial lines. Five black members voted to rename the holiday and eight white members voted against it, following a debate that devolved into shouting.

"The first voyage of Columbus to the Americas initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It would lead to the kidnapping, deaths, and slavery of tens of millions of African people," said Councilman Russel Neal, who is black.

But Councilman Jeff Fusco, who is Italian-American, said, "It's a celebration of Italian heritage. It's very similar to other days throughout the year that we celebrate for many other cultures."

States and municipalities aren't legally bound to recognize federal holidays, though most do. Columbus Day is already one of the most inconsistently celebrated. Places that choose to replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day may give their own workers or schoolchildren a day off, teach in schools about Native Americans instead of Columbus, issue proclamations or mark it in other ways.

There is no question that Columbus' arrival in the New World under the sponsorship of Spain was bad for the indigenous people of Hispaniola, the island he colonized that is now split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Many of the native people of the island were forced into servitude. Multitudes died of disease. Spain repopulated the workforce with African slaves.

Columbus is celebrated in Latin America, too. A massive monument to the explorer, the Columbus Lighthouse, opened in 1992 in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico commemorates Discovery Day on Nov. 19, marking the day Columbus landed there.

Ralph Arellanes, chairman of the activist group Hispano Round Table of New Mexico, said that as a Hispanic, he supports Columbus Day.

"It was the marriage of two peoples creating a new people, in a new land," he said.

Though Columbus "wasn't a saint," he said, he believes Anglo-Americans like President Andrew Jackson should be held more responsible than the Spanish for the hardships Native Americans faced.

Arellanes also said he doesn't understand why Italians claim Columbus for themselves when Columbus was sailing

Dake Kang reported from Akron, Ohio.
What to Know The 2011 Christmas fire killed 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah Badger, 9-year-old Lily Badger, and their maternal grandparents

Their mother, Madonna Badger, and her then-boyfriend Michael Borcina, escaped

The girls' father, Matthew Badger, sued on their behalf, saying the city failed to properly inspect renovations at the home

The former boyfriend of Madonna Badger, the New York advertising executive whose parents and three young daughters died in a horrific fire that consumed their $1.7 million Connecticut home on Christmas Day 2011, has died.

Michael Borcina, 58, who was also the main contractor renovating the Victorian home at the time of the fire, died "suddenly" on Oct. 3, according to a brief obituary on the website of the Long Island funeral home holding his services.

The obituary lists no cause of death, but describes Borcina as the "beloved brother of Mitch and Matthew." The Hartford Courant reports he had cancer. According to the Connecticut Post, Borcina's attorney, Robert Laney, said he's "not sure ever recovered" from that Christmas day blaze in Stamford that took out an entire family.



Laney did not immediately respond to NBC 4 New York's call for comment.

Badger's 9-year-old daughter Lily and 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah, along with their maternal grandparents, died in the fire. She and her then-boyfriend Borcina escaped. Authorities said a bag of fireplace ashes left in a mudroom bin sparked the blaze. Borcina, as the contractor, was later accused in a lawsuit of contributing with other defendants to make the house a "firetrap," including failing to install a smoke detection system during the renovation work.



He was deposed several times and originally told investigators he had put the ashes in the mudroom after feeling them to make sure they were no longer hot. Later, though, he testified that Badger had placed the ashes in the room and he had lied to protect her. Badger disputed that statement.

The dead children's father, Matthew Badger, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in July 2012 against Borcina, his company Tiberias Construction of New York City, the city of Stamford and others. Three years later, Borcina agreed to settle part of that by paying Matthew Badger $5 million. Matthew Badger, who started an educational development foundation in memory of his three daughters, died in February. His cause of death was not released.

The city of Stamford also agreed to settle earlier this year. The terms were not disclosed.

Visitation and a religious service for Borcina will be held Wednesday afternoon and evening at at Fives Patchogue Funeral Home on East Main Street, followed by burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram.
A man broke into a house and sexually assaulted two children in their bedroom, police said Sunday.

Craig Lassiter, 33, of Middletown, New York, was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a minor less than 13 years old, burglary, tresspassing and other charges, New Jersey state police said.

He's accused of entering a house in Wantage Township, New Jersey, on Sept. 18. The children said he threatened them with violence, told them he had a gun and sexually assaulted them, troopers said.

The children eventually told their family, who searched the house and found the front door was left open, police said. Then someone called 911.

Troopers tried to stop a Chevrolet Silverado that was leaving the area, but the driver swerved, hit a mailbox and drove off, police said. The pickup, which was reported stolen in New York, was then abandoned in a field.

Detectives identified Lassiter as a suspect and arrested him Friday in Bayshore, Long Island, troopers said.

He was in the Sussex County Jail awaiting a bail hearing. It wasn't clear whether he had an attorney.
A gunman killed a man and critically injured another during a double shooting in North Philadelphia Sunday afternoon.

The two men were sitting inside a car on the 2400 block of Arlington Street at 3:42 p.m. when a gunman opened fire.

One man was struck multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:55 p.m. The second victim, a 27-year-old man, was shot twice in the head, twice in the chest, once in the right leg and once in the right arm. He was taken to Temple University Hospital where he is currently in critical condition.

No arrests have been made and a weapon has not been recovered. Police also have not released a description of the suspect.




The Santa Fe Depot  the iconic, 102-year-old downtown San Diego Landmark known for its soaring towers and tilted domes  is in the process of being sold, according to a media report.

The building on San Diegos Kettner Boulevard and Broadway is being sold to a local private investor, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Escrow is set to close the first week of next month; Voit Real Estate Services is representing both the buyer and seller.

Per the deal, the building  which was constructed to welcome visitors to San Diego for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition  would remain in place, as would its use as an Amtrak station, at least through 2021.

The deal doesnt include the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, which is housed in a building that was once used for baggage.

The Santa Fe Depot includes a waiting room, souvenir and snack stands, train ticketing offices and an information booth. It is unclear if those parts of the facility will remain as is, or if they will transform into other retail or restaurant spaces.

The building, designed by the San Francisco firm of Bakewell and Brown, became known as Union Station between 1916 and 1951 because it harbored passengers of the San Diego and Arizona Railway, according to The Great American Stations website.

In 1972, the Santa Fe Depot landed a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the decades, the building and surrounding site has been restored several times, including the addition of the landscaped plaza. With the sale, additional refurbishments are likely, including improvements to the restrooms and towers.

Bruce Coons, executive director of the Save Our Heritage Organisation, told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the depot is one of San Diegos most iconic historic structures, alongside the San Diego Mission, Hotel del Coronado and Balboa Park exposition buildings.

The current owner of the Santa Fe Depot is ProLogis, a San Francisco-based logistics real estate company.
She's played spies on the big screen, but Angelina Jolie reportedly considered playing the role of a secret agent in real life, too.

According to a report from The Sunday Times, the Oscar-winning actor wanted to help arrest Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, leader of guerrilla group the Lord's Resistance Army. For more than a decade, Kony had been wanted on charges of rape, murder and abducting and forcibly enlisting children to fight.

However, this year the U.S. military ended its mission to capture Kony, as his army had diminished to only about 100 soldiers, according to The New York Times.

As The Sunday Times reported based on leaked ICC documents, Luis Moreno Ocampo, the ICC chief prosecutor at the time, claimed in one email that Jolie "has the idea to invite Kony to dinner and then arrest him." As the honeytrap plot was allegedly shaped, the actress was meant to act as celebrity bait to lure Kony out of his compound to clear the way for U.S. Special Forces to move in and apprehend the warlord.

Angelina Jolie's Best Roles

And according to the report, had the plan come to fruition, she may have worked alongside her then-husband Brad Pitt. According to The Sunday Times, an email to Jolie mentions the possibility of Pitt helping with the mission.

"Apparently you can be embedded with the special forces that are chasing Kony. Can Brad go with you?" Moreno Ocampo wrote in an email, according to The Times.

"Brad is being supportive," the star reportedly replied. "Let's discuss logistics. Much love Xxx."

However, according to The Sunday Times, the dinner "does not appear to have gone ahead" and, despite an indictment by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Kony has not been captured. Moreno Ocampo finished his term at the ICC in 2012, the same year that Jolie publicly called for Kony's arrest.

As The Sunday Times reported, Moreno Ocampo claimed he had been "the focus of a cyber-attack." E! News has reached out to Jolie's camp for comment on the report.
Vice President Mike Pence will be campaigning in southwest Virginia this week with Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie.

Gillespie spokesman David Abrams says Pence and Gillespie will appear at a rally Saturday in Abingdon. It will be Pence's first campaign event for Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman who is facing Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam.

The race is one of only two off-year gubernatorial contests in November, and it's being viewed as a possible early referendum on President Donald Trump's first year in office and a preview of the 2018 midterm elections.

Pence's visit will come about a week after Trump weighed in on the race for the first time. The president took to Twitter to criticize Northam and urge voters to support Gillespie.
Two people from Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, have been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), the school system announced Monday.

Officials did not specify whether the affected individuals were students or staff members. Both individuals are being treated, and officials says there's no additional risk for exposure.

But out of an abundance of caution, the school system is working with health professionals to offer screenings.

Tuberculosis, a bacterial illness, is spread through the air, usually by coughing or sneezing. TB can't transmitted by touch or by sharing eating utensils. It responds well to proper medical treatment, officials said.



It usually takes at least eight hours of close contact in a small room for TB transmission to occur, according to a press release from Prince George's County Public Schools.

"We are working expeditiously to provide information, screening, and any additional follow up to maintain the health and wellness of the Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School community,  said Ms. Pamela Creekmur, Health Officer.

Parents can call the Prince George's County Health Department's TB Control Program at 301-583-3110 for more information.
A Maryland native who was shot in the head during the Las Vegas massacre is making some improvements.

Tina Frost's family posted on GoFundMe the young woman had a good night Saturday. Her stats remain stable and as we speak she is having a trache put in, the post said. This is more comfortable for her and there wont be all these tubes coming from her mouth and less risk of infection.

She is also off her blood pressure medication.

Frost has been in a coma since the shooting Oct. 1.

Stephen Paddock, 64, unleashed gunfire on attendees of the Route 91 Harvest Festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Fifty-eight people were killed and more than 500 were wounded in the attack. Paddock killed himself before police reached his hotel room.

Frost, who grew up in Anne Arundel County and went to Arundel High School, was shot in the head. Her family said the bullet lodged in her right eye, and doctors had to remove the eye.

Frosts family credits her boyfriend with saving her life. After she was shot, he carried her to the truck of a stranger, who drove her to a hospital.
By Lisa Soronen

South Dakota has filed a petition in South Dakota v. Wayfair asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a challenge to its law requiring out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax.

In Quill Corp. v. North Dakota (1992), the Supreme Court held that states cannot require retailers with no in-state physical presence to collect sales tax.

In March 2015 Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote a concurring opinion stating that the legal system should find an appropriate case for this court to re-examine Quill. Kennedy criticized Quill in Direct Marketing Association v. Brohl for many of the same reasons the State and Local Legal Center stated in its amicus brief. Specifically, internet sales have risen astronomically since 1992 and states and local governments are unable to collect most taxes due on sales from out-of-state vendors.

Following the Kennedy opinion, a number of state legislatures passed legislation requiring remote vendors to collect sales tax. South Dakotas law is the first to be ready for review by the U.S. Supreme Court. In September the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled that the South Dakota law is unconstitutional because it clearly violates Quill and it is up to the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule it.

Ruling in South Dakotas favor will require the U.S. Supreme Court to take the unusual step of overruling precedent. In its petition South Dakota explains why the court should agree to hear this case and rule in its favor:

"Quill clearly needs to go. When this court considers overruling its precedent, it looks to whether the existing rule: (1) is constitutional or statutory; (2) has engendered reliance interests; (3) has been undermined by changed circumstances; (4) has been consistently criticized as inconsistent with broader doctrine; and (5) has proven unworkable or outdated with experience. Quill fares poorly on every measure. It is a severely criticized, constitutional holding that itself warned when decided that it might later be reconsidered. It is also, in Justice Gorsuchs words, a 'precedential island[]  surrounded by a sea of contrary law.' And after 25 years of technological progress and economic changes, it has proven entirely out of date."

At this point all South Dakota is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to do is agree to hear its case. The Supreme Court review is discretionary. Four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree to hear any case. If the court refuses to do so, the South Dakota Supreme Court ruling that South Dakotas law is unconstitutional will stay in place.

It is possible the court could hear this case this term meaning it would issue an opinion by the end of June 2018.

Lisa Soronen is executive director of the State and Local Legal Center and a frequent contributor to the NCSL Blog on judicial issues.
Two bills pending in the Vermont Senate and Vermont House of Representatives call for Columbus Day to be renamed as Indigenous Peoples Day in the state, to recognize the historic and cultural significance of the original people who lived here.

He wasnt a good man, Jennifer Morton-Dow said of Christopher Columbus.

Morton-Dow, who is a member of the Ojibwe Native American tribe, said she sees Columbus as symbolizing oppression and the loss of native lands.

The running joke is about Columbus walking into your house and saying, This is mine now, you have to go! Morton-Dow said. And thats kind of what Columbus Day feels like for a lot of us.

In Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, proclaimed Oct. 9 Indigenous Peoples Day, but that covers just this year.

Morton-Dow, who was demonstrating traditional basket-weaving at the drop-in center of Burlingtons Spectrum Youth & Family Services Monday, said she would like to see that name change become permanent.

Its taking a step towards acknowledging us and acknowledging that were still here, the member of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs told necn.

Rep. Brian China, P-Burlington, helped introduce the House proposal.

Columbus Day has been a national holiday for a while, so we do expect some resistance to change, China told necn affiliate NBC 5 News. [Vermont has] been ahead of the curve on many issues, and this is another issue where we can set an example for the rest of the country about how its important to recognize the truth about our past.

A defense of Christopher Columbus was published in Mondays USA Today.

The explorers descendent, Christopher Columbus XX, wrote an opinion piece suggesting itd be an unfair simplification to heap too much blame on Columbus alone for such a complicated past.

The author also wrote in the newspaper that his ancestor deserves credit, too, because after his voyage, For the first time in history, the world acquired a truly global perspective.

President Trump is also sticking by Columbus. In a statement issued by the White House, the president honored Columbus as a skilled navigator and man of faith who connected continents.

President Trump also said, The permanent arrival of Europeans to the Americas was a transformative event that undeniably and fundamentally changed the course of human history and set the stage for the development of our great Nation.

Buoyed by Vermonts support for Indigenous Peoples Day, Jennifer Morton-Dow said she promises to keep advocating for visibility of her tribe and others, hoping the day is eventually recognized everywhere.

The idea of an Indigenous Peoples Day was created in 1977, Cina noted, by a delegation of native nations before the International Conference on Discrimination.

Since then, awareness of the day has grown, with an increasing number of cities and towns making the switch from Columbus Day in recent years.
A man charged with stealing 16 guns from an Army Reserve facility in Massachusetts, escaping from a Rhode Island prison and trying to rob two banks has reached a plea deal with prosecutors that could put him behind bars for 15 years.

James Morales' deal with federal prosecutors, first reported by the Telegram & Gazette, was signed Sept. 15 and filed in court Friday. A change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13.

Morales' federal public defender did not immediately respond to a phone call for comment Monday, a holiday.

Morales, a former Army reservist from Cambridge, Massachusetts, stole six M-4 carbines and 10 M-11 handguns from the Lincoln W. Stoddard U.S. Army Reserve Center in Worcester in November 2015, prosecutors said.

Morales was tied to the theft through DNA evidence and an electronic monitoring bracelet he was wearing because he was out on bail on a child rape charge at the time, authorities have said.

He was captured in New York days later. He escaped from the privately run Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, on Dec. 31, stole a car in nearby Attleboro, Massachusetts, and was recaptured five days later after allegedly trying to rob banks in Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts, prosecutors have said.

According to the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to recommend 14 years in prison for the charges stemming from the gun thefts and bank robbery attempts, and one additional year for the escape. The deal also calls for three years of probation. Morales faced up to 90 years in prison if convicted at trial of all the charges.

The judge isn't bound by the prosecution's recommendations.

Two people convicted of helping sell the stolen guns already have been sentenced. Tyrone James received nearly five years behind bars, while Ashley Bigsbee received a nearly 2-year sentence.
A new plan has been approved for the way Massachusetts judges the performances of public schools.

According to the Boston Globe, MCAS scores will remain but a new accountability system will create a system of schools that can produce graduates who are ready for college and for employment  regardless of their socioeconomic background or life circumstances.

The Globe reports that state standardized test scores will remain the core feature of the system as will graduation rates for high schools.

The new system will also evaluate a schools progress in helping students who do not speak English.

State officials will no longer rely on tracking a school's progress in cutting achievement gaps in half between students of different backgrounds over a five-year period, according to the Globe. Instead, the system will measure student performance for specific subgroups based on race, income levels, and other student characteristics.

The US Education Department approved the new plan on Sept. 21. The changes are expected to go into effect fall 2018.
Police in New Hampshire are searching for a male suspect they say shot a McDonalds employee during a robbery behind the restaurant early Monday morning.

Lebanon police said they received a call reporting the armed robbery at the Plainfield Road restaurant around 12:30 a.m.

Responding officers learned a 19-year-old male employee was confronted outside by a male wearing either a red shirt or red hooded sweatshirt, with his faced and head covered.

The suspect forced the employee back inside and demanded money. The suspect then stole an undisclosed amount of cash, moved the employee to the back door and shot the employee in the leg as he fled the scene.

The employee was taken to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with a non-life-threatening injury.

The suspect was last seen running on foot from the restaurant in an unknown direction.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lebanon Police Department at 603-448-1212 or their anonymous tip-line at 603-448-CLUE.
Police in Maine are asking for help locating a missing Minot teen who was last seen Sunday.

According to WCSH, 15-year-old Taylor Smith was last seen at her home Oct. 7. Her cell phones last location indicated she was on Sabattus Street in Lewiston on Oct. 8.

Smith is 5'2" and 110 pounds. It is not known what she was last wearing before her disappearance.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.


New pastor welcomed by Kings Lynn Church New pastor welcomed by Kings Lynn Church

Kings Lynn Church of the Nazarene has announced that it will be inducting its new pastor, Rev Augustine Baah, at a service on Saturday, October 14.

The Church of the Nazarene in Kings Lynn will host an induction service for Rev Augustine Baah at Reffley School on Saturday, October 14 at 3pm.



Originally from Ghana, Rev Augustine Baah has previously served in the Fenton Church of the Nazarene in Staffordshire since 2012. He and his wife, Eunice, arrived in Kings Lynn on July 31 with their three daughters, 12-year old Perpetual (Pep), 10-year old Precious, and 3-year old Pearl.



Augustine has a BSc in Agriculture, and a BA in Theology, and has just heard that he has successfully achieved his MA in Theology. His theology studies have taken place as a part-time student at Nazarene Theological College in Didsbury, Manchester. He was ordained in 2015.



June Mitchell, a member of Kings Lynn Church of the Nazarene, said: His wealth of bible knowledge, and ability to convey the gospel clearly and with humour, together with his compassion and love for people has already endeared him to the congregation at Kings Lynn.



Eunice and the girls, with their big smiles and friendliness to all, have also found their place in our hearts already, and we look forward to the impact their ministry will make, not only in our local church, but in our community here in West Norfolk.



Visitors would be most welcome at this special Induction Service.



Reffley School, Reffley Lane, Kings Lynn, PE30 3SF



Photo: Rev Augustine Baah with wife Eunice and daughter Pearl.
Matthew Pickhaver, who lives in North Norfolk, has just published the third of his series of play scripts on the theme of Christmas, which is now available to buy.

Matthew Pickhaver, who lives in North Norfolk, has just published the third of his series of play scripts on the theme of Christmas, which is now available to buy.

Advent and Christmas events at Norwich Cathedral From an Advent Open Evening to Carols in the Cloister and an array of special services and concerts with Norwich Cathedral Choir, there is lots to look forward to at Norwich Cathedral this festive season. Read more

Norwich church to hold Sunday healing service Witard Road Baptist Church is hosting a healing service on November 27 led by Rev Ray and Ruth Scorey from Norfolk Healing Rooms. Read more

Sheringham youth attend forbidden church The youth group at Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham were forced to meet at a secret location earlier this month when the Lighthouse building had, supposedly, been shut down by the authorities. Read more

Christmas pud workshop at Norwich church Not made your Christmas pudding yet? Don't know where to start? Come along to a Christmas pudding workshop at Norwich Central Baptist Church on November 21 with MasterChef contestant Jane Wyndham. Read more

Norwich Foodbank provides over 4,700 food parcels Norwich Foodbank gave out 4,793 emergency food parcels to people across Norwich in the last year  with 1,790 of these going to children. Read more

Poppies cascading in Sheringham church A fall of poppies cascades from the pulpit in St Andrews Methodist Church in Sheringham, and anyone is welcome to come and see them. Read more

Bishop Graham's prayers for COP27 climate conference Bishop Graham is publishing daily prayers on social media for the current COP27 climate conference, and is asking all to join. Read more

Discovering the Orange in your life The vibrant colours of autumn have been inspiring regular contributor Jane Walters to focus on the positive. Read more

YMCA annual celebration set to inspire YMCA Norfolk is set to hold its much anticipated 2022 annual celebration and awards ceremony on November 17, after almost 3 years since the last event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

Hub manager vacancy at community shop Earlham Community Shop Community Interest Company is looking to appoint a manager for this new venture being developed in the heart of NR5 Norwich. Read more

Abbey Days brings Christmas Magic to Wymondham Visitors to Wymondham Abbeys Christmas fair will be able to treat their children to a magic show and fun baking workshop while they browse more than 60 stalls. Read more

Salvation Armys new Christmas Appeal in Norfolk The Salvation Army has launched their new Christmas appeal across Norfolk which, this year, has evolved from the much-loved Toys and Tins appeal. Read more

Are we storing up treasures on earth? Rising prices affect us all, and Anna Heydon urges us to spare a thought for those who will be struggling with the cost of living this winter. Read more

Latest Norfolk Christian community events Events of interest to the Norwich and Norfolk Christian community happening over the next few weeks are listed. Read more

Covid leaf memorial at Norwich church St Peter Mancroft Church Norwich Presents The Leaves of the Trees an installation by sculptor Peter Walker which provides a memorial for those who died of Covid-19 Read more

Community Chaplaincy Norfolk begins a new chapter Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN) celebrated the beginning of a new chapter this week, as the new chair of trustees Chris Tomlinson led his first annual meeting. Read more

Lowestoft Christians launch on-line bible helps app The Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth branch of Good News for Everyone (GNFE), formerly the Gideons, have introduced a new mobile phone app called On-line Bible Helps. Read more
Hundreds take part in Downs School event

HUNDREDS of pupils and staff took part in this years Downs School 10K walk to raise money that will benefit students throughout the year.

Almost 20,000 was pledged in sponsorship money by families and friends as 1,200 fundraisers walked the circular route along the Ridgeway, starting and finishing at the school in Compton.

The money raised will be used for pupil rewards and a variety of projects to benefit them, such as a new school minibus.

Speaking on the day of the walk, the headteacher, Chris Prosser, said: Each year our sponsored walk keeps getting better and better, and todays event was just brilliant.

The sun shone, students were in great spirits, and their behaviour was perfect.

Well done to everybody. I am very proud of our school community.

Enormous thanks to everyone who has been involved or supported us today, you have helped to raise a tremendous sum of money for the benefit of our pupils.

The annual sponsored walk forms part of the schools British Week programme, designed to celebrate traditional British values, for which the whole school community comes to-gether to raise money and to enjoy an afternoon in English countryside.

Many chose to dress up for the trek while those who couldnt take part provided much-needed cups of tea to returning walkers and applauded them as they arrived back.

The Friends of The Downs School also provided a tuck shop for the event.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A video has surfaced showing a Nigerian national tied to a pole, being beaten with sticks by a group of men after he allegedly tried to burgle their house in south Delhis Malviya Nagar.

A police officer said the incident had happened on September 24 and the Nigerian, Ahmed, was arrested. A case was registered against him. He is in jail.

#WATCH Nigerian national tied to a pole and beaten up by locals for alleged theft in Delhi's Malviya Nagar (24.09.2017) pic.twitter.com/3zWgbeqvN5  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

He said Krishna Kumar (54), a resident of Savitri Nagar, had claimed that Ahmed broke into his house and tried to steal valuables. When he tried to catch Ahmed, he ran down the stairs, slipped and fell and got injured. The officer said no action was taken against Kumar because Ahmeds injuries were suspected to be from the fall. After the video surfaced on Monday, the police have arrested Kumar.

On the intervening night of 23-24 September, a PCR call was received at PS Malviya Nagar regarding apprehension of a thief. The staff went to the address where local residents handed over the custody of an African national, DCP south, Ishwar Singh said.

Ahmed didnt say that the public thrashed him, didnt tell anyone how he got injured. So, he was arrested. We got to know about this today. We have registered a case and arrested Kumar but there is no indication of racial attack.

NEW DELHI: A video has surfaced showing a Nigerian national tied to a pole, being beaten with sticks by a group of men after he allegedly tried to burgle their house in south Delhis Malviya Nagar. A police officer said the incident had happened on September 24 and the Nigerian, Ahmed, was arrested. A case was registered against him. He is in jail. #WATCH Nigerian national tied to a pole and beaten up by locals for alleged theft in Delhi's Malviya Nagar (24.09.2017) pic.twitter.com/3zWgbeqvN5  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017 He said Krishna Kumar (54), a resident of Savitri Nagar, had claimed that Ahmed broke into his house and tried to steal valuables. When he tried to catch Ahmed, he ran down the stairs, slipped and fell and got injured. The officer said no action was taken against Kumar because Ahmeds injuries were suspected to be from the fall. After the video surfaced on Monday, the police have arrested Kumar. On the intervening night of 23-24 September, a PCR call was received at PS Malviya Nagar regarding apprehension of a thief. The staff went to the address where local residents handed over the custody of an African national, DCP south, Ishwar Singh said. Ahmed didnt say that the public thrashed him, didnt tell anyone how he got injured. So, he was arrested. We got to know about this today. We have registered a case and arrested Kumar but there is no indication of racial attack.
Newport Classical offers holiday concerts for the whole family

As families come together, there is no better way to celebrate the season and community than through the power of music.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Snow during the morning will give way to lingering snow showers during the afternoon. High 38F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
New Delhi: The Centre on Monday imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of certain steel wire rods from China for five years, with a view to guard the interest of domestic players from cheap in-bound shipments.

The duty was imposed after the commerce ministry's directorate general of anti-dumping and allied duties (DGAD) recommended duty on such imports.

In its findings, the DGAD had concluded that 'wire rod of alloy or non-alloy steel' has been exported to India at below the normal value due to which domestic industry has suffered material injury.

"The anti-dumping duty imposed...shall be effective for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier) from the date of imposition of anti-dumping duty, that is, the 2nd November, 2016 and shall be payable in Indian currency," the department of revenue said in a notification.

The duty would be the difference between the landed value of the steel products and USD 535 per tonne while for others, it should be the gap between the landed value and USD 546 per tonne.

These steel products are used in many sectors such as automotive components, railway, engineering and construction. India has already slapped anti-dumping duty on certain cold-rolled flat steel products from four nations, including China and South Korea.

While DGAD recommends the duty to be levied, the finance ministry imposes it.

Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to determine if the domestic industry has been hurt by a surge in below-cost imports. As a counter-measure, they impose duties under the multilateral WTO regime.

Anti-dumping measures are taken to ensure fair trade and provide a level-playing field to the domestic industry. They are not a measure to restrict imports or cause an unjustified increase in cost of products.
New Delhi: The government will clear pending GST refunds of exporters by November-end and over the next six months no tax will be levied on exports as the Council has decided to revert to the pre-GST era, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said.

Over July-August, an estimated Rs 67,000 crore has accumulated as the Integrated GST (IGST), of which only about Rs 5,000-10,000 crore will be due as refunds to exporters, he told PTI in an interview in New Delhi.

While no tax will has to be paid on goods to be exported in the remaining months of current fiscal, from April 1 an e-wallet service will be launched that will give exporters notional credits that can be used to pay GST, he said. The credit in the wallet would be transferable.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST), the amalgamation of over a dozen indirect taxes like excise duty and VAT, does not provide for any exemptions, and so exporters are required to first pay Integrated-GST (IGST) on manufactured goods and claim refunds after exporting them. This put severe liquidity crunch, particularly on aggregators.

To ease their problems, the GST Council on Friday decided a package for them that includes extending the Advance Authorisation / Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) / 100 per cent EOU (Export Oriented Unit) schemes to sourcing inputs from abroad as well as domestic suppliers till March 31, thus not requiring to pay IGST.

"For a period of 6 months we are actually reverting back to the pre-GST scenario (where manufacturing exporters or those who manufacture goods for exports did not pay any tax).

So, they have no reason for any complain now," he said. A nominal 0.1 per cent tax will be levied on merchant exporter as they themselves do not manufacture.

"Under GST even a merchant exporter who collects goods from many producers and exports has to pay full rate of duty and seek refund. But, he is only an aggregator. So, that was the problem and it has been sorted out," he said.

Asked by when the issue of refunds to exporters would be settled, Adhia said "it will be solved in a month or two".

After March 31, there will be a system of e-wallet, where a notional credit will be made into the holder's account so that the same could be used for payment of GST.

The credit would be made to exporters based on their past performance or on the basis of export orders in hand, he said, adding this would mean no hard cash is spent on taxes.

"It is possible that the manufacturing exporter himself has no liability to pay, but the supplier who gave him inputs may have. So, he can transfer credit (from e-wallet) to the supplier account. So, the e-wallet would be transferable, just like any other wallets, but the only restriction is that it can't be given in cash, it can be only used for payment of duty," he said.

After executing the export order, a refund application will have to be made and the refund will be credited in form of credit to the same e-wallet.

"So, his account will get replenished by the refund. So, the refund process will take place, but he is not deprived of funds and will not have to invest his own working capital. Liquidity will be maintained with him," he said.

Adhia said with these measures, issues faced by exporters have been taken care of. "It's an innovative idea that we have come out with, while not compromising on GST's basic structure wherein ideally exemption should be given".

On refunds on taxes paid already paid since introduction of GST in July, he said the rules provide that if IGST is paid on export, immediate refunds should be made.

But, since that system is not ready, the refund claims of July totalling about Rs 600 crore will start from October 10 and another Rs 800 crore for August from October 18, he said. However, for claiming the refunds, exporters have to fill Table 6A while filing GSTR-1 for July, August and September.
New Delhi: Indian Energy Exchange Ltd (IEX) launched its initial public offerings (IPO) to raise Rs 1,000-crore on Monday.

In this regard, IEX has fixed a price band of Rs 1,645-1,650 per share for its public issue.

The issue by which the company is selling 60, 65,009 shares or 20 percent of the post-issue paid-up capital is open for subscription during October 9-11.

Axis Capital, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company and IIFL Holdings are the managers to the issue.

The IPO will see the sale of equity shares by existing shareholders, including Tata Power, Aditya Birla Group, Madison India Capital and Multiples Private Equity Fund.

Fifty percent of the total offer is reserved for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), of which the company may allocate up to 60 percent of the QIB portion to anchor investors like SBI Mutal Fund, Birla Sunlife MF, Birla Sunlife Trustee Company and ICICI Prudential MF and Nomura.

In a stock exchange filing on Saturday, the company said would allot 18,19,501 equity shares to 23 anchor investors at a price of Rs 1,650 per share, by which the total amount works out to Rs 300.22 crore.

IEX is India's first power exchange providing automated trading platform for electricity (for physical delivery) and renewable energy certificates.
Last month, King Salman announced the historic change by ending a conservative tradition which limited women's mobility and was seen by rights activists as an emblem of their suppression in the kingdom where Islam originated.

Saudi Arabia was the only remaining country in the world to bar women from driving, a policy that will officially end in June 2018.

Ending the ban on women driving has been hailed worldwide as proof of a new progressive trend in the deeply conservative Muslim kingdom.

Needless to say, many car manufacturers also came forward and welcomed the decision with some powerful advertisements.

      #___ pic.twitter.com/gsmQC168KO  Nissan Middle East (@NissanME) September 26, 2017

Now to continue the celebrations, the Saudi band "Most of Us" has come out with a music video encouraging the women to drive. Extending support to the women in their country, the band has covered Steppenwolfs famous anthem "Born to Be Wild."

The celebratory video shows two men in traditional outfits seated in the back of the car being driven by a woman driver.

Here's the video:
New Delhi: Over 90 lakh truckers will participate in a two-day nation-wide Chakka Jam from Monday to protest issues ranging from disruptive impact of the Goods and Services Tax to the extortion at RTO barriers in states.

The decision to protest was taken as last minute negotiations with the government did not materialise, Harish Sabharwal, Additional Vice President (North) of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), told News18.com.

Supplies of commodities, including food, are likely to be affected due to the proposed token strike.

"We are going on a nationwide Chakka Jam today and tomorrow. Negotiations with the government did not yield any results as they did not agree to our demands. The truckers will suffer a loss of Rs 2,000 crore. We are compelled to suffer this loss," said Sabharwal, who is also a member in the Road Safety Council of the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways.

Sabharwal said small-time truck drivers have been making "frantic calls to the association since morning."

"Our means of protest is to stop our own vehicles and suffer losses. Small truck drivers and people associated with the job cycle have also been rattled, but we will soon go an indefinite strike if the government turns a blind eye to our demands," an AIMTC member told News18.com.

Their protest primarily is against the disruptive policies under Goods and Services Tax (GST). They also want the inclusion of diesel in the new indirect tax's ambit.

The AIMTC claims there is confusion over various policies imposed on the transport sector. Dealers have claimed that they are forced to do coercive registration and unnecessary compliance due to GST in taxes where they were earlier exempted.

The AIMTC says the proposed E-Way Bill does not factor in all road transport issues and must be amended.

Sabharwal had earlier told News18.com that after the implementation of the GST, most states have not removed the RTO barrier as expected, resulting in extortion, which has in turn caused a "loss of over Rs 80,000 crore in bribes.

"Truckers are bearing a loss of Rs 80,000 crore as bribes to various RTO barriers which have not ceased post GST. Only four states out of 22 have agreed to remove RTO barriers. GST has been an utter failure where the government is itself confused about the tax regime. We have been bombarded with three different tax slabs," said Sabharwal.

The truckers have also demanded that since diesel, along with toll, accounts for more than 70% of the cost of operations for a trucker, "diesel prices must be slashed and be brought under GST to create a uniformity in pricing.

One of the other key demands of AIMTC is that a special investigation team having their representation at the state level be constituted to probe into and address issues of corruption with ITOs, CTOs, RTOs.

The AIMTC has sought that "challans must be prohibited" if there is no electronically verifiable proof by the official concerned to validate whether he or she actually belongs to the Road Transport Office.
New Delhi: An African national, accused of theft in Delhi's Malviya Nagar area, was tied to a poll and beaten mercilessly by a mob some 15 days ago. A video, which came to light on Monday, purportedly shows a group of people descending on a person of color as he screamed and sought mercy.

A person could be seen hooking the legs of the African man while another hit the soles with a stick. Men surrounding the African national hurled abuses at him; some even shot the video on their phones.

None of the people came forward to rescue the bruised man who was then handed over to the police. The incident occurred on September 24, but the video started doing the rounds on social media on Monday. No arrest has been made in the case as yet.

The national capital and its adjoining areas have previously, on several occasions, witnessed incidents wherein African nationals have come under attack. A group of African students, earlier this year, was attacked in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida by residents who took out a candle-light march after a 17-year-old boy Manish died in the NSG Black Cats Enclave due to a suspected drug overdose.

Two days after the aforementioned incident, a young Kenyan woman was attacked by a group of men in Noida. The woman was on her way to Greater Noida from Delhi when her car was stopped by unknown men near Knowledge Park, police had said. She was, then, allegedly slapped and thrashed.
New Delhi: VHP chief Pravin Togadia on Monday said the Gujarat government should appeal against the Gujarat High Court order commuting the death sentence of those convicted in the Godhra train burning case to life imprisonment.

Seeking capital punishment for convicts in the 2002 carnage, he said the state government should appeal in the Supreme Court before Diwali for the sake of justice to devotees of Lord Ram.

"Why not death by hanging to those jihadis who burnt Hindus in Godhra with planned conspiracy? This is an insult to their sacrifice," Togadia said in a statement.

He added that Hindus were not getting "basic justice". A division bench of the Gujarat High Court today upheld the conviction of the 11 persons sentenced to death but commuted their punishment to "rigorous life imprisonment".

The high court also upheld the life sentence awarded by the special SIT court to 20 others in the case.

Fifty-nine `karsevaks' were killed in the Godhra train burning incident of February 27, 2002. It led to communal riots across Gujarat in which around 1,200 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.
Lucknow: Assistant Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) Ashok Kumar Chaurasia, who was posted in Pratapgarh of Uttar Pradesh, died after a heart attack on Sunday night.

The provincial medical association has accused the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Rajkumar Naiyyar and District Magistrate Shambhu Kumar of scolding and insulting the officer, leading to the ACMOs depression and subsequent heart attack.

Hailing from Allahabad, Dr Ashok Kumar Chaurasia complained of heartache on Sunday evening and was rushed to Saraswati Heart Care Hospital where he died shortly after being admitted.

Post the incident, Pratapgarhs provincial medical association along with other doctors have demanded strict action against DM and CMO. Doctors have also decided to shut down OPD services in the district on Monday. However, emergency services have been kept open, despite the strike.

Dr Manoj Kanaujia, Secretary of the District Provincial Medical Association said that on Sunday the Indradhanush program was to be inaugurated at the District Women's Hospital. The ACMO Dr Ashok Kumar was at the event around 8 in the morning. Even then, CMO Dr Rajkumar Aiyyar publicly scolded Dr Ashok and alleged that he was not doing his job properly.

DM Shambhu Kumar, who was also present at the event, further insulted the ACMO, after which he went into a bout of depression. The further deterioration of his health, led to Dr Ashok suffering a fatal heart attack, said Kanaujia.

Meanwhile, DM Pratapgarh Shambhu Kumar had denied his involvement in the case and said, Dr Ashok Kumar was the nodal officer of the Indradhanush programme. There was a discussion about the program with him in the meeting but there was no such thing as scolding. He was already diabetic. There is no connection with the discussion we had in the meeting and his heart attack.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court would pronounce on Monday its verdict on whether firecrackers would be sold in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) during the upcoming festive season of Diwali.

A bench headed by Justice AK Sikri had on October 6 reserved its order on a plea seeking restoration of the apex court's last year order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.

The top court, through its November 11 order last year, had suspended all licences which "permit sale of fireworks, wholesale and retail within the territory of NCR". Later, on September 12, the apex court had temporarily lifted its earlier order and permitted sale of firecrackers.

During the hearing on the plea seeking restoration of last year's order, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had told the bench that they "support" the application.

Advocate Gopal Shankarnarayanan, appearing for petitioner Arjun Gopal, had contended before the court that ban on use of firecrackers should be restored as the NCR had witnessed a huge rise in air pollution during and after Diwali last year.

He had said that rise in air pollution during last Diwali was because of several reasons, including the extensive use of firecrackers.

The counsel, appearing for the permanent licencees selling crackers, had opposed the plea and said the September 12 order temporarily lifting the ban, was "well-reasoned" and passed after hearing all the parties, including the CPCB.

He had argued that all aspects raised by the petitioner now were considered by the apex court while passing the order last month and though firecrackers impacted air quality, it was "not the greatest cause of particulate matter (PM) 2.5".

The apex court had last month temporarily lifted its earlier order suspending licences for sale of fire crackers, saying a complete ban would be an "extreme step" and a graded approach was needed to curb pollution caused by them.

The court, however, had said its order lifting the ban on sale of fire crackers might require a "review" after Diwali depending on the ambient air quality after the festival.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Appointment of Dalit priests in Kerala temples managed by Travancore Devaswom Board has been welcomed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, but with a caveat.

If the knowledge, life and lifestyle of the Dalit priests are in accordance with the traditions of temples and our shastras, only then we do not have a problem. It is a welcome move otherwise, said Surendra Jain, International Joint General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

There is no link between ones birth and appointment as priest. Our history shows that Valmiki, Ravidas and Vaishya were priests. The larger issue is about the lifestyle and traditions that should align with the requirements of the temples and our shastras. Dalit priests should not be eating cow meat, all of this should be verified at the time of making them the priests, Jain told News18.

This is the first time six people from the Scheduled Castes have been recommended for appointment as priests in Kerala temples being managed by the TDB. They are among the 36 non-Brahmins. There was a written examination, followed by interview on the lines of those conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) for the appointment of part-time priests. It is a merit-based appointment in Kerala.

There are many states where cow meat is eaten. That can be tradition of the state but not of the temple. While working for the temples, we should respect the traditions. If we try to dilute the importance of temples requirements then there will be a reaction, which is going to dissolve our purpose and work of inclusion. Non-Muslims will not be allowed in masjids, similarly there are certain things that are not allowed in mandirs.

He added, There is also widespread assumption that if one is a Dalit, then he must be eating cow meat. That is not true. In fact, many Dalits are part of our cow protection movement.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region with immediate effect, saying its September 12 order temporarily permitting sale of firecrackers would be effective from November 1.

A two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice AK Sikri said it wanted to test the effect of the ban on the national capitals notoriously toxic air in view of the upcoming Diwali. "We should see at least in one Diwali the impact of a cracker-free festivity," the bench said.

Diwali is on October 19 and the order effectively means that no firecrackers will be available for purchase before the festival.

The court had on September 12 temporarily lifted its order of November 11, 2016, suspending permanent licences for sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.

During the hearing on the plea seeking restoration of last year's order, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had told the bench that they "support" the application.

The petitioner in the case, Advocate Gopal Shankarnarayanan, appearing for petitioner Arjun Gopal, had submitted before the apex court that ban on use of firecrackers should be restored as the NCR had witnessed a huge rise in air pollution during and after Diwali last year.

The petitioner had put the blame squarely on the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and authorities like the Delhi government for not divulging all the facts before the bench.

However, the cracker manufacturer association had contended that the order of September 12 was a very well-reasoned one.

Three children had gone to the court asking that its order banning the sale of crackers in Delhi in November 2016 be restored. The Central Pollution Control Board supported the petitioners and wanted the ban be restored.
New Delhi: Delhis air quality has been rated very poor on a scale compiled by the government. And this is before the stubble burning in farms in Punjab and Haryana and Diwali, both of which will significantly worsen the air quality.

Delhis overall air quality stands at around 320 on the SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) scale. The scale runs from 1 (Good) to 500 (Severe). And the forecast for the next two days is not good. Air pollution is set to get worse: PM10 (micrograms per cubic metre) is set to increase from 196 on Monday to 201 on Tuesday before reducing slightly to 204 after 3 days. PM2.5 (g/m3) is set to increase from 120 to 125 in the same period.

Out of four cities measured Delhi has by far the worst air. The other cities are Mumbai (Good), Pune (good) and Ahmedabad (Moderate).

As of today there is no indication that smoke from stubble burning from Punjab and Haryana is happening, Dr. Gufran Beig, Project Director, SAFAR told News18. Dr. Beig added that in the near future it could not be discounted that this will make air pollution in Delhi worse.

Stubble burning has just started in the grain bowl of India. Every year around October farmers in Punjab and Haryana start burning the agricultural stubble left over from the Kharif harvest. This is a cheaper alternative to clearing the fields in preparation for the winter crop than to employ labour and farm equipment.

However, the smoke from the millions of tones of agricultural waste significantly adds to the air pollution in cities that lie downwind, like Delhi. Add the smoke from crackers during Diwali and you have the recipe for one of the worst air qualities in the world.

The thick smog that hung over Delhi last year during Diwali has been described as worse than the great smog of 1952 in London.

The reason for the bad air quality in Delhi is the dipping of the minimum temperature, with the transition from autumn to winter. The cold air traps the pollutants closer to the ground because they cannot escape to the upper atmosphere.

This year the courts have taken cognizance. The Supreme Court today banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region with immediate effect, saying its September 12 order temporarily permitting sale of firecrackers would be effective from November 1.

A two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice AK Sikri said it wanted to test the effect of the ban on the national capitals notoriously toxic air in view of the upcoming Diwali. "We should see at least in one Diwali the impact of a cracker-free festivity," the bench said.

Diwali is on October 19 and the order effectively means that no firecrackers will be available for purchase before the festival.

There are six air quality categories: good + satisfactory, moderately polluted, poor, very poor, severe. Each of these categories is based on the concentration of eight air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, ammonia, and lead).
Kolkata: Heavy rain coupled with gusty winds on Monday wreaked havoc in Kolkata and southern parts of West Bengal, killing at least one person and leaving many homeless.

Met officials said the situation is likely to get worse with more thundershowers likely on Tuesday. The meteorological department has said that the sudden showers have been caused due to low pressure over Gangetic Bengal and adjoining Jharkhand and Odisha.

Situation will likely get worse due to upper air cyclonic circulation in Bengal and in Jharkhand, sources said.

The bad weather forced the Air Traffic Control at the NSCB International Airport to divert nearly 30 flights enroute to Kolkata. Departures were also affected as flights were delayed due to rough weather and waterlogging on some runways. Several trains were also delayed and commuters had to face a harrowing time.

The incessant rain also affected normal life in the city as waterlogged streets and blocked roads led to huge snarls during the rush hours. Uprooted trees at Loudon St-Short St crossing, Minto Park, Lake View Road and RB Avenue also added to the chaos.

Traffic had to be diverted in many areas, and senior municipal corporation officials had to personally monitor the situation at major junctions.

Severe waterlogging was reported in and around the city with areas like Ultadanga, Central Avenue, Shyambazar, Garia, Esplanade, Barasat, Lake Town and Behala being the worst affected.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation had to install water pumps at many areas to clear the roads. There were also reports of a house collapsing and accidents due to open potholes.

Apart from Kolkata, Howrah, Murshidabad, Hooghly, Burdwan, East Midnapur, West Midnapur, Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Nadia, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas were also inundated.

According to a statement issued by the Met department, the rainfall at most places will be heavy to very heavy (7-20 cm) and extremely heavy (above 20 cm) at a few isolated places during the next 24 hours. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off west Bengal coast during next 24 hours, it said.

Special control rooms have been set up at the state secretariat and all officials and employees of the Disaster management have been asked to keep a close watch on the situation.
DSSSB DTC Tier 1 Admit Card 2017 has been released by the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) on its official website - dsssbonline.nic.in.

DSSSB had released a recruitment notice to recruit candidates for the posts of Assistant Forman, Manager (Information Technology), Deputy Manager (Personnel), Manager (Mechanical) and Deputy Manager (Traffic) for Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) in the state of Delhi.

The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board Tier 1 examination is scheduled for 15th October 2017 and candidates who have applied for the same can follow the instructions below to download their admit card:

How to Download DSSSB DTC Tier 1 Admit Card 2017?

Step 1: Visit the official website - dsssbonline.nic.in

Step 2: Click on Generate/Print eAdmit Card

Step 3: Enter your application number, date of birth, security code and submit

Step 4: Download your e-Admit Card and take a print out

Direct link: https://dsssbonline.nic.in/AdmitCardEntry.aspx/

The DSSSB DTC Tier 1 Exam 2017 timing is 10:30AM  12:30PM.

Candidates can check the schedule here:

Candidates must carry their e-admit card to the examination centre along with an original identity proof and take a photocopy of the same. Prefer to carry your Aadhaar Card, PAN Card or Voters ID card and its copy. The same needs to be furnished and submitted at the examination centre. Candidates must reach the exam center at least 15-30 minutes before the exam time to avoid last minute hassles.

The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) had released an advertisement where it had invited applications for the recruitment of Assistant Foreman, Manager (Information Technology), Deputy Manager (Personnel), Manager (Mechanical) and Deputy Manager (Traffic) in DTC  Delhi Transport Corporation. Candidates who will clear the DSSSB DTC Tier 1 2017 exam will qualify for the next round i.e. Tier 2 exam which will be followed by interview for final selection.
Kolkata: Expelled Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Ritabrata Banerjee lodged an FIR against a woman who alleged that she was sexually exploited by him on the pretext of marriage.

Ritabrata lodged the complaint at Garfa Police station in Kolkata, demanding action against the woman for maligning his image and leveling "false allegations".

On October 5, Namrata Datta, a resident of Balurghat in South Dinajpur district, tweeted that the Rajya Sabha MP had promised to marry her before getting physical in his Delhi flat.

Her tweet to Mamata Official reads, @MamataOfficial maam pls help me 2 fight my battle against this @RitabrataBanerj so that I can maintain my modesty. He promised to marry me.

.@MamataOfficial maam pls help me 2 fight my battle against this @RitabrataBanerj so that I can maintain my modesty. He promised to marry me Namrata Datta (@candinam) October 6, 2017

The woman claimed that when she protested, the MP offered Rs 2.5 lakh, asking her to stay quiet and forget the whole incident. He offered another Rs 50 Lakh to me, her tweets to Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi read.

He took me to his 104 South Avenue flat a under false pretext to have a physical relationship. He is completely denying it now. Also, gave me Rs 2.5 lakh day before as compensation like I'm a prostitute. Police won't take a zero FIR against him cos he is a MP. I seek ur help. He also offered Rs 50 lakh 2shut up. He is threatening me over the phone, saying she will send ppl (people) 2rape me (Sic), her series of tweets to Maneka reads.

@narendramodi police won't take a zero FIR against @RitabrataBanerj cos he is a MP.I seek ur help.he also offered Rs50 lakh 2shut up, he tweeted.

.@Manekagandhibjp Maam, @RitabrataBanerj took me to his 104 South Avenue flat under false pretext to have a physical relationship. (1) Namrata Datta (@candinam) October 6, 2017

.@Manekagandhibjp @RitabrataBanerj is completely denying it now.Alsogave me Rs 2.5 lakhs day before as compensation like i'm a prostitute(2) Namrata Datta (@candinam) October 6, 2017

.@Manekagandhibjp police won't take a zero FIR against @RitabrataBanerj cos he is a MP.I seek ur help.he also offered Rs50 lakh 2shut up (3) Namrata Datta (@candinam) October 6, 2017

She also tweeted to Lok Sabha MP Md Salim pleading for justice. Dear @salimdotcomrade I was raped by @RitabrataBanerj. I've emailed u d details. Police not helping. Pls help me sir, else I've 2commit suicide, her tweet read.

Dear @salimdotcomrade I was raped by @RitabrataBanerj.I've emailed u d details.Police not helping.Pls help me sir, else I've 2commit suicide Namrata Datta (@candinam) October 6, 2017

Rubbishing woman's allegations, Ritabrata tweeted in the morning, reading, Hard Facts. Manufactured Lies" will be combatted. Will not succumb to "politically aided threats.

Hard Facts. "Manufactured Lies" will be combatted. Will not succumb to "politically aided" threats. pic.twitter.com/yGRqzPbne5 Ritabrata Banerjee (@RitabrataBanerj) October 9, 2017

He also lodged an official complaint at Garfa Police Station on October 6 in Kolkata and demanded stern action against the woman.

This is to bring to your kind notice that I (Ritabrata) got acquainted to the aforementioned lady (Namrata Datta) in May, 2016. During the course of my interaction with her, she had portrayed and represented herself to be a hapless lady in urgent need for a loan from SBI Balurghat Branch. Thereafter, she continued to make repeated material demands. I was induced and allured to meet her material demands till I realized that her demands are boundless, excerpts from Ritabratas FIR reads.

When I expressed my inability to give in to her consent demands which had been continuing for a considerable period of time, she immediately showed her true colours and started exerting tremendous pressure upon me over telephone for giving in to her wrongful and exorbitant demands. It is pertinent to mention herein that in the month of February-March, 2017, she informed me that she was suffering from Lymphoma and again demanded money for her treatment. Due to her threat, I was compelled to make a payment of Rs 2.25 lakhs on July 20, 2017, it read.

It further read, I was left with no other choice but to distance myself from her, as a result of which she got more furious and vindictive and went to the extent of giving me threat calls. She also demanded Rs 50 Lakhs by October 15, 2017. She also threatened to lodge a false complaint against me if I fail to deliver the amount or if I marry anyone else other than her. Out of fear, I transferred another sum of Rs 2.5 Lakhs on October 4, 2017. I strongly apprehend that such malicious acts of hers are politically motivated and backed by influential political persons in order to cause harm to my life, property, career and reputation. Please take necessary action and rescue me from her evil clutches.

On September 17, the CPI (M) expelled Ritabrata Bandopadhyay from the primary membership for grave anti-party activities, including moral degeneration in relation to women.

Besides moral degeneration in relation to women, the other charges against Ritabrata include continuous leakage of internal party matters and discussions to the media, serious inconsistencies between his income and expenditure and leading a lavish life incompatible with the member of the Party.
Ranchi: The National Investigation Agency on Monday arrested former Jharkhand minister Gopal Krishna Patar in connection with the murder of rival MLA Ramesh Munda nine years ago.

Patar, more popularly known as Raja Peter, was detained on Sunday after it emerged that he had paid Rs 4 crore to Naxalites to eliminate the JD(U) MLA, officials said. The Maoists were also upset with Munda because of his frequent outbursts against them.

According to NIA sources, surrendered Naxalite Kundan Pagan had led the agency to Peter. Pahan was the main suspect after Munda was shot dead in July 2008 in Bundu, Tamar.

Pahan, during interrogation, had reportedly confessed to the murder and said Peter had paid him the Rs 4 crore to murder Munda and clear the political landscape for him.

Peter had lost to Munda in the 2000 and 2005 assembly elections. But in the by-election called after Mundas murder, Peter scored a stunning victory in Tamar defeating chief minister Shibu Soren, forcing him to resign.

NIA has sought Peter's custody from a special Ranchi court to question him further in connection with this alleged conspiracy.

The NIA on Sunday had also arrested a Jharkhand Police assistant sub-inspector, who was part of the MLAs security detail, for his involvement in the case.

Investigations have revealed that ASI Sheshnath Singh provided prior information about the movement of Munda to Naxals, who then attacked and killed him, an NIA spokesperson said.

Singh has been sent to policy custody till October 15, he said. The NIA teams are also conducted searches at four locations in Ranchi in connection with the case, the spokesperson said.

Munda, who was a Janata Dal (U) MLA, was killed allegedly by Naxalites when he was delivering a speech at a function in his assembly constituency. His two bodyguards were also killed in the attack.
Srinagar: Kailash Satyarthi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for waging a peaceful struggle to protect children from being exploited as labour, assured them on Monday that he would make all efforts to ensure their safety.

He urged the children in Jammu and Kashmir to stay away from violence, and said "together, we will win this battle".

Without naming separatists and militants active in the Valley, he asked them not use children to achieve their goals.

"Children... can achieve everything with education. They are your children and our children too," he said.

Satyarthi is on a Bharat Yatra to spread awareness about crimes against children. Last week, he held several programmes in Uttar Pradesh. He had begun his Yatra from Kanyakumari.

In Srinagar, he addressed students drawn from various schools. "I will knock the doors of governments in Delhi and in Srinagar. Tell them to allow children to study and rise as high as they can," he said at the gathering.

"I will make appeals and prayers for you and need be, I will struggle too, provided you stay away from violence."

Satyarthi was born in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh.

After completing an electrical engineering degree, he worked as a teacher. In 1980, he left teaching and founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which has freed thousands of children from slave-like conditions.

He said nearly nine lakh people have taken the pledge to fight child abuse. "Our target was 10 lakh but we are going to cross 12 lakh. One crore people have taken the pledge online," he said.
New Delhi: In a major win for the security forces, Jaish-e-Muhammad Kashmir commander in chief, known only as Khalid, was killed in an encounter in Baramulla on Monday.

Khalid was among the top five wanted A++ militants active in Kashmir, responsible for the recent attack near the Srinagar airport, that killed one BSF jawan.

The encounter started at 9.11 am in Ladoora in the district when Khalid fired at a police special operations group (SOG) party.

We immediately rushed 179, 177, 92 battalions of our paramilitary forces. Subsequently 32 Rashtriya Rifles also reached the spot and we together started a cordon and search operation. Jaish cadres generally move in groups of at least four. But this time, we caught him alone which is why the operation was over in a short span, said CRPF sources.

Khalid, who has been identified as a Pakistani native has been overseeing Jaish activities for the last three years, at least. Top sources in the state police department told CNN-News18 that he was one of the top militants in North Kashmir, who had lived in the valley as a local thus strengthening the Jaish network.

Khalid is believed to have trained and infiltrated from Pakistan and was active in north Kashmirs Sopore area. He is believed to have a hand behind the suicide attack on District Police Lines in south Kashmir district Pulwama a month ago, that killed four CRPF men and four policemen, thus making his killing one of the biggest catches for the security forces this year.

Jaish also claimed responsibility for the recent attack on a paramilitary complex near the Srinagar airport that killed one BSF jawan.

Khalids name had cropped up for the first time in October 2016, when the Army busted a JeM module in Baramulla. Police officials had then said that the module, headed by Khalid, was responsible for the attack on an army convoy in Baramulla in August that year, which killed two Army men and one cop.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing in the Love Jihad case after the lawyer representing the husband claimed that BJP chief Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath were using the case for their political propaganda.

Dushyant Dave, lawyer for Hadiyas husband Shefin Jahan, said that Adityanath and Shah were trying to vitiate the atmosphere by raising slogans against the marriage and calling it love jihad. "This is politics - Amit Shah going to Kerala vitiating the atmosphere. And the UP chief minister going there raising love jihad issue," he told the court.

Dave also got into a heated exchange with the additional solicitor general and counsel for the National Investigation Agency Maninder Singh after he claimed that NIA had no business investigating the case and was only being used for political purposes. Singh had objected to the names of the BJP leaders being dragged into the case.

The apex court also took strong objection to Daves statements. Calling the allegations inexcusable, the court said it would not him to disturb the decorum of the court by making political speeches. We take strong objection to the names of politicians being mentioned in the court. We will decide the case merely on legal points, the SC said.

The next hearing in the case will be held on October 30, when the court is expected to take up two questions central to the case  can a high court annul a marriage under a habeas corpus petition and should NIA probe the Hadiya case?

On Monday, the court also raised the question that if Hadiya is saying that she has willingly married Jahan, then how can her personal liberty be curbed.

The NIA, however, argued that there is a pattern of wrongdoing. There are certain individuals who are indoctrinating and hypnotizing girls, the agency claimed.

The court, on October 3, had also remarked that a father cannot have control over a 25-year-old woman and that prima facie, a high court should not have the jurisdiction to annul the marriage of an adult woman.

Hadiya, 25, had married Jahan in December last year after converting to Islam. The Kerala HC, however, nullified the marriage and ordered the state police to investigate into such cases. The HC also handed over the custody of the adult woman to her father.

Jahan challenged the annulment of his marriage in the SC and urged the court to seek presence of the woman before it. The apex court, however, ordered a NIA probe into the matter on August 16 after the agency told the bench that love jihad is for real.

The Kerala government, in an affidavit in the SC on Saturday, opposed the NIA probe and pointed out that during the two-month long "thorough" investigation by the Kerala Police, no such incriminating material was found that called for an intervention by the central agency.
New Delhi: The Nobel Committee will announce this years awardee in the field of Economics on Monday, and among the probables is former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, who had predicted the 2008 global financial crisis three years before the markets melted.

Rajan is among six economists on the list of probable winners compiled by Clarivate Analytics, a company that does academic and scientific research and maintains a list of dozens of possible Nobel Prize winners based on research citations. The entry to the list does not guarantee that Rajan is a front-runner but he is a probable who stands a chance to win.

Formally known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced in Stockholm at 3:15 pm IST.

Raghuram Rajan, whose three-year term as Reserve Bank Governor ended on September 4, 2016, is considered a candidate for his "contributions illuminating the dimensions of decisions in corporate finance", Clarivate said.

According to Clarivate Analytics, the list of possible Nobel Prize winners based on research citations include Colin Camerer of the California Institute of Technology and George Loewenstein of Carnegie Mellon University (for pioneering research in behavioural economics and in neuroeconomics); Robert Hall of Stanford University (for his analysis of worker productivity and studies of recessions and unemployment); and Michael Jensen of Harvard, Stewart Myers of MIT and Raghuram Rajan of the University of Chicago (for their contributions illuminating the dimensions of decisions in corporate finance).

Rajan, who at 40 was the first non-western and the youngest to become the chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, shot to big fame three years after he predicted a financial crisis at an annual gathering of economists and bankers in the US in 2005.

He was appointed RBI Governor by the previous UPA government in 2013 and although he wanted a second term he was not offered an extension, which most of his predecessors got, by the current NDA regime.

He is currently the Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago.
Hyderabad: An NRI woman has filed a police complaint against TRS MLC Farooq Hussain in Hyderabad for assaulting her. The entire incident was video recorded by her brother, which shows the MLC attacking her with his Chappal (footwear), hurling abuses and threatening her with his influence.

Antul Wasay, who stays in New York, flew down to get her house vacated after Farooq Hussain allegedly refused to vacate her house in Lakdi Ka Pul area for last two years.

Wasay said, "TRS MLC Farooq Hussain has been staying in my house for last 6 years. But since last 2 years I am trying to get my house vacated. He has not been paying rent for past 6 months. After he stopped taking my calls, I came personally to request him to vacate my house. But he used vulgar language and hit me with Chappal."

The NRI lady has filed a police complaint against the TRS MLC in Nampally police station.

"He always threatened me by saying you cannot get the house vacated. But is this right to hit a woman and use foul language? I have registered a criminal case against him", Antul Wasay added.
Patna: Union Minister Ashwini Choubey landed in trouble on Sunday when he remarked that Biharis were flocking to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and straining the premier institutes resources.

Inaugurating the Indradhanush campaign for vaccination of children, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare added that he had directed doctors to send such patients back to the state.

Choubey made the controversial comment while stressing on the need to develop health infrastructure in Bihar. We have this peculiar habit of visiting AIIMS in Delhi for everything. The people of Bihar tend to go there even for a small disease. This has put pressure there and I have directed the doctors to send such patients back to the state.

The statement snowballed into a political controversy with the opposition RJD and even BJP ally JD(U) condemning it.

How can he direct doctors to not treat patients from Bihar? He has no right to do so. He is holding a ministerial portfolio at the Centre for the first time and has forgotten his responsibilities, said RJDs national vice-president Shivanand Tiwary.

The BJPs defence that Choubey had been misquoted didnt fly with ally JD(U) as well, as the latters spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said the minister should not have made the remarks. Our chief minister Nitish Kumar is trying to develop health infrastructure, but people are always free to pick the hospital of their choice.

However, Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey, who was on the dais when Choubey made the comment, defended the Union Minister, saying, He was trying to say that the newly constructed AIIMS in Patna will be developed at par with the AIIMS in Delhi and that there would be no need for the people of Bihar to visit Delhi for treatment.

Ashwini Choubey, who represents Buxar in Lok Sabha, had previously landed in trouble when, as the health minister of the state in 2012, he threatened to chop off the hands of doctors on strike.
New Delhi: A number of militants have been killed in Kashmir in the last few months, including Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders Bashir Ahmad Wani, Abu Dujana, Abu Ismail and Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat. The latest to join the list is Jaish-e-Muhammad commander Khalid, an A++ militant who was killed in an encounter in Baramulla on Monday morning.

Not much is known about Khalid, whose name first cropped up in October 2016. JeM had also claimed responsibility for the recent attack on Border Security Force (BSF) base near Srinagar airport, killing one BSF jawan.

Khalid is also believed to have had a hand behind the suicide attack on District Police Lines in south Kashmir district Pulwama a month ago, that killed four CRPF men and four policemen.

His killing comes almost a month after LeT commander Abu Ismail, the Amarnath Yatra attack mastermind, was shot dead along with another LeT operative in an operation on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Post his killing, IGP, Kashmir Police, Muneer Khan, had said there was still a long way to go to eliminate militancy. With Khalid out, here are the four most wanted men in Kashmir right now.

Zakir Musa, Al-Qaida

The man on top of the forces list. After his split from Hizbul, Musa launched the Kashmir chapter  Ansar Ghazwat-ul Hind  of Al-Qaida. In a very short span, Musa has become popular among Valleys youth and cadre of other terror groups. Many militants, including the once chief of Lashkars operations in Kashmir, Abu Dujana, joined him at various stages, and possibly lent him help in the form of weapons and ground network.

Forces want to eliminate him because he has been spreading propaganda for an Islamic caliphate in Kashmir and beyond, an ideology that is rapidly gaining ground among Valleys youth.

Riyaz Naikoo, Hizbul Mujahideen

The chief of Hizbul Mujahideen, Naikoo, and an A++ category militant, Naikoo at 29, is one of the most experienced Hizbul commanders and at present its head of operations in Kashmir. He took over from Yaseen Ittoo after his death in an encounter. Naikoo, who is from Durbug, Awantipora, is considered tech savvy. In a recent militant funeral he appeared in public to counter Zakir Musas anti-Pakistan propaganda.

He has been booked by police in several murder cases, including that of policemen. To bolster his moderate image he had earlier released an 11-minute video asking Kashmiri Pandits to return to the Valley. Naikoo overlooks at the massive Over Ground Worker (OGW) support for Hizb, the oldest terror group in the Valley.

Saddam Padder, Hizbul Mujahideen

Remember the group photograph shared by slain Hizb commander Burhan Wani? Padder is now the only active militant of the 12 men shown in the picture. Apart from Padder, only Tariq Pandit, who featured in that photograph, is alive as he had surrendered.

Padder comes from a family of farmers. Not much is known about him, except that Hizbul thinks highly of him. Padder is a school dropout who joined militancy about 4-5 years ago. He was with LeT until he joined Hizbul in 2015. After Musa left as the chief of Hizb, Saddam Padder was one of the top contenders to be the next Hizb chief, a place later taken by Naikoo. While he might not be highly educated, he is considered a clever militant and was among the few people whom Wani trusted.

Zeenat-ul-Islam, Lashkar-e-Taiba

The most likely person to take on Lashkar leadership in the Valley is Zeenat. The 28-year-old is a resident of Sugan Zanipura, Shopian, and was recruited in 2015. He is considered one of the main accused in the Shopian attack in February that left three soldiers dead. Known as an IED expert, he is a former member of Al-Badar terror outfit.

He was once arrested in 2008 where he is said to have confessed to being an over ground worker (OGW). He was eventually released four years later and is said to have gotten married too before joining the Lashkar module.
This year's most-awaited film, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum-opus Padmavati's trailer is out and it has only added to the already existent curiosity and excitement about the film.

A little over 3-minute, the goosebump-inducing, breathtaking trailer of the upcoming film Padmavati has taken the social media by storm.

Majestic sets, Deepika Padukone's beauty, Shahid Kapoor's royalness and Ranveer Singh's fierceness has everyone going gaga about the trailer and the versatile actors that star in the film.

Of course, Shahid and Deepika's chemistry too is something that does not go unnoticed.

On one hand while Shahid's dialogue, "Chinta ko talwar ki nok pe rakhe, woh Rajput. Ret ki nav leke samundar se shart lagaye, woh Rajput. Aur jiska sar katey, phir bhi, dhar dushman se ladta rahe, woh Rajput", showcases the Rajputana pride and valour, on the other Deepika's line, "Rajputi kangan mei utni hi taakat hai jitni Rajputi talwar mei" portrays how fearless and bold the Rajput wives were.

And although we did not get to hear Ranveer in the trailer, his barbaric Khilji avatar, intense performance and menacing look in his eyes has us look forward to seeing more of him.

The most interesting aspect of the trailer is that without revealing much, the filmmaker has said a lot and still managed to maintain the curiosity level.

Soon after the trailer released, we spoke to designers Rimple and Harpreet, who have been working tirelessly towards achieving perfection in the outfits that the three lead character's wore in the film, and asked about what went into creating such magnificently stunning garments, working with the actors and more.

"Given that we are dealing with 14th century royals, and not much is actually documented of that era, we had to shift and isolate key elements that might have been prevalent then and eliminate all modern/Mughal/ European influences from the garments to enter a pure-zone that Mr. Bhansali envisioned for the character," designers Rimple and Harpreet in an exclusive interview with News18.com.

"Initially, our design team started research by delving into various travellers' accounts and manuscripts to get an idea of how the lifestyle of the royals used to be back then," they added.

Giving a fair understanding about the beautiful hand embroideries done on the ensembles worn by the characters, the designers said, "Rajasthan has been a centre for embroideries done by women for centuries. Our team visited various clusters in Rajasthan to study the traditional embroideries such as Mukke Ka Kaam which is an example of very fine intricate embroidery done by couching gold and silver metal threads over the base fabric. Golden mukke ka kaam used along with red thread edging is known as Raato while silver mukke ka kaam with blue thread edging is called Dhaulo. For the ornate court looks for Deepika, we tried to achieve a vintage, aged effect by mixing both Raato and Dhaulo."

Talking about the various techniques that they used to get the desired outcome, Rimple and Harpreet said, "A lot of techniques have gone into creating the detailed looks that are reminiscent of the era. Our teams got special blocks developed from Sanganer and Bagru for the block-printing. Some prints have up to 24 different colors in one motif and as many blocks had to be created to achieve the effect. The block prints were further detailed with hand-painting and embroideries."

"The prints were then layered with gota work for which we specially sourced badla wires that were given to weavers to create authentic gota. The authentic gota has a high percentage of copper which was further electroplated to achieve a gold finish and then oxidised to age. We did not want to use the modern-day plastic wire gota that is readily available in the market. The garments were aged and treated with various concoctions and materials such as natural dyes, indigo, pomegranate, rose to achieve the natural colors that were prevalent then," the designer duo added.

On working with three versatile actors, the designers said while it was a dream to work with Deepika,

"Deepika is a dream to work with. She is extremely disciplined when it comes to her craft and willing to go to great lengths to get under the skin of the character."

Elaborating that it took 4 months and 22 artisans to get the desired look for Shahid, both Rimple and Harpreet were of the opinion that the actor's regal look in the visual extravaganza is fitting of Rajput glory with each costume made to suit the province of that time.

"Shahid who essays the role of Rawal Ratan Singh in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati, will be seen in a look like a never before. Playing the brave and noble Indian Rajput king, Shahids regal look in the visual extravaganza is fitting of Rajput glory with each costume made to suit the province of that time.

The Delhi-based designers sourced organic fabrics from Rajasthan that were all embroidered by hand by 22 local artisans. It took the designers 4 months to work on his look, from sourcing fabric to working on the finer detail of every garment. While the colors and hues used are masculine, they are on the brighter side, keeping the traditional Rajasthani colors in mind.

Harpreet said, "Shahid is an actor par excellence who truly imbibes the virtues of the character he is portraying and assimilates himself into the being of the protagonist.

Talking about working on actor Ranveer Singh's garments, who essays the role of the ambitious and obsessive Alauddin Khilji, the designers said that the actor's deadly look is truly one that will be long remembered.

The duo, who worked towards creating an antagonist's look that was dark and ominous given his tribal invader background, truly gave in all to achieve the fantabulous result.

Says designer Rimple Narula, "We wanted to create the look of an antagonist whom audiences would remember for a long time to come...an iconic cinematic character who befits Mr Bhansali's grand vision. Given Khilji's nomadic Turkish origins, we did a lot of research on the costumes and textiles of the belt, right from Afghanistan to Kazakhistan to the central Asia belt around Turkey."

"Our own travels also came in handy as we have, over the years, collected samples of various old textiles such as Suzanis and Tapestries from flea markets and auctions, which were great reference points for getting the styling, the look and feel just right, said designer Harpreet.

"Khilji's color pallete is decidedly dark and ominous given his tribal invader background and we have used very robust nomadic elements layered with different textures and fabrics to achieve a very rugged look that goes with the character's evolution through the course of the narrative- from a young warrior-invader to the Sultan of India who is besotted by Rani Padmavati's beauty. Numerous vintage shawls and drapes have been used to layer and style the ornate hand crafted armours to give the look an authentic feel," Harpreet added.

(All images from the official trailer of the film Padmavati)
There's more to Mauritius than honeymooners and newlyweds. The Indian Ocean island's tourism office has launched a major campaign to promote Mauritius as a hotspot for nature lovers and family vacations. If you still need convincing, check out these five stunning natural landscapes with views to delight any visitor to the island.

Le Morne Brabant

This is the picture-perfect landscape that you'd expect to see on postcards of Mauritius. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Le Morne Brabant is a rugged mountain peaking at an altitude of 555 meters. It is a landmark in the landscape of the southwestern Mauritius coast, where vacationers laze on the island's idyllic beaches. Le Morne Brabant also offers the most stunning views over the island and is a great place to go hiking or sign up for a trek.

The waterfall and Seven Colored Earths at Chamarel

The southwest of the island is home to the Seven Colored Earths, one of Mauritius's most curious natural wonders. This surprising clearing is, in fact, a relatively small area of sand dunes comprising seven different colors of sand, with shades of red, brown, violet, purple, green, blue and yellow. Although the colors mix and blend together, they still remain distinct and clearly visible. Don't leave without visiting the 100-meter-high waterfall nearby. Head to the viewing area to take in the spectacular landscape.

Black River Gorges National Park

The southwest of Mauritius is clearly home to a host of stunning natural sights, promising superb vacation snaps for budding photographers. Covering over 6,500 hectares, this National Park offers trails that take visitors through the park to discover its various animal species and 150 varieties of plant. There are many viewing areas and points where hikers can take in the exceptional landscape and beautiful natural scenery.

Tamarin Bay

Facing the stunning white sands of Flic en Flac beach, Tamarin Bay is a hotspot for amateur photographers in search of stunning sunsets. It's also a great place to catch a glimpse of dolphins.

Ile aux Cerfs

Popular with tourist trippers, Ile aux Cerfs lies in the Trou d'Eau Douce lagoon off Mauritius's east coast. This uninhabited island is prized for its magnificent landscapes, with white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. Boats run every 20 minutes between Trou d'Eau Douce and Ile aux Cerfs.
Mumbai: Superstar Aamir Khan, known for producing and acting in some of the most commercially successful films like Dangal and Taare Zameen Par, says test screening is necessary as it helps him to understand various aspects.

"Test screening is a very important process for me because it gives me a great deal of understanding on many aspects. When you make a film, you become so close to it and subjective, you lose your objectivity.

"But during test screening when I share the rough cut with a group of people who are completely out of the film business, their feedback brings a different aspect," the actor told media here on Sunday.

He started this process from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988).

"I think it is very important to understand how our cine, our communication is being received, and if there is any miscommunication, we can correct that before the film releases. So we invite random people, show them the film and take feedback," said Aamir.

The actor has shared his screen space with a lot of child actors in films like Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Dangal and Taare Zameen Par and now Secret Superstar.

"I think the responsibility is more because you have to understand that you cannot make them overwork or for long working hours. Once the right casting is done, you know that the actor will deliver, whether a child or an adult... you will get the moment right on-screen.

"But filmmakers have to be little more sensitive towards the child. We have to keep short working hours, have to give them breaks in between so that they are not exhausted," he said when asked about his experience of working with children.

Aamir's upcoming home production Secret Superstar is releasing on October 19.
Zubair Khan, one of the most controversial inmates in the latest season of Bigg Boss, has been evicted from the house, but reports that he filed a complaint against host Salman Khan are denied by the Maharashtra police.

Zubair turned against Salman after the star actor lashed out at him in the episode aired Saturday for badmouthing women inmates. Salman even called Zubair a "fraud" over the contestant's claim - since denied by members of the family of Dawood Ibrahim's sister - that he was Haseena Parkers son-in-law.

Tumne aise kaun sa kuch kar diya hai life mein? Wo jo tumhara interview dekha tha sab jhooth hai. Ye kisi ka damaad nahi hai. Fraud hai ye ( What have you done in your life? What you said in your interview is false. He isnt anybodys son-in-law, he is a fraud, Salman was heard saying on the Bigg Boss 11 first Weekend Ka Vaar, which was aired on October 7.

Zubair was "upset" at Salman's outburst, that he reportedly took a few pills and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. On Sunday's episode Salman announced Zubair was evicted from the house and a statement from TV channel Colors said he had received the least number of votes.

This time, the votes are in and the verdict says that Zubair has received the least number of votes and thus, will not return to the Bigg Boss house post his medical treatment

Reports said Zubair had filed a complaint against the star actor for allegedly "threatening" him but Mumbais Antop Hill police clarified that no complaint was filed even though the contestant approached them as Bigg Boss house is not under their jurisdiction. The station officer issued him a letter directing him to approach the Lonavala police station.

#ZubairKhan fans ke liyeHe filed a case on #SalmanKhan for threatening him by saying tjhe m kutta bnaunga bahar dekhunga #BiggBoss11 #BB11 pic.twitter.com/RpwKVPBHgp #BiggBoss11 (@BiggBoss24x7) October 8, 2017

He had come to us last evening at around 6.30 pm or 7 pm. No complaint has been registered. There is no question of even a non cognizable offence being registered as the area does not come under our jurisdiction, a police officer at Antop Hill police station told News18.

Police at Lonavla, the station under which the area falls, said no complaint was filed till Monday noon.
New Delhi: Sadaqat Ashram, which headquarters Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC), on Monday, witnessed a pitched battle between two Congress factions one of which started chanting "Narendra Modi, Zindabad" slogans.

Acting state party president Kaukab Qadri had called a meeting of all 1240 delegates, MLAs and MLCs. However, to many district leaders' surprise, their names were missing from the list. They alleged Qadri of foul play.

Soon after, the supporters of Bhagalpur Congress leader Naseem Siddiqui attacked the Qadri supporters. A few of the party leaders were seen coming out of office in torn kurtas, suggesting there was a fistfight between the two factions. Amid the ensuing chaos, Naseem and his supporters shouted: "Narendra Modi, zindabad".

When asked why the group was praising Narendra Modi, Naseem said: "See, how decisions are taken in our party. This is also one of the reasons behind the rise of Narendra Modi. He is better than our leaders."

Meanwhile, Ashok Choudhary, who was recently removed from the post of state president, entered the party headquarters, facing stiff resistance from Qadri supporters. Choudhary alleged that names of delegates had been changed to manipulate the results of intra-organisation elections.

Ashok Choudhary alleged that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) miscreants, who attacked them at the behest of national general secretary CP Joshi, were patronized in the party office. He left office with two of the 27 MLAs - Anand Shankar and Sanjay Tiwari - by his side.

The Congress party is facing a severe crisis ever since Nitish broke out of the Congress-RJD-JD (U) alliance and formed the government with the BJP. A few partly leaders had complained to the high command that Choudhary was conspiring to split the party. Eventually, CP Joshi, Party in charge of the state, removed Choudhary from the post on the orders of Sonia Gandhi.

Qadri was made the acting chief of the BPCC until new elections to be held next month.
New Delhi: Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday told the Supreme Court that the BJP-led government has been carrying on a "politically-motivated vendetta" against him and his son.

The apex court was hearing CBI's appeal challenging a Madras High Court order staying the Centre's look out circular (LOCs) against Karti and others in an alleged graft case over irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007.

Chidambaram and his son Karti, facing the criminal probe, have filed separate affidavits in the apex court alleging vendetta.

"Since the NDA government came to power, the central government has been carrying on a politically motivated vendetta against my family and especially my son. The agencies of the central government have not spared the friends of the first respondent (Karti) or even persons remotely connected with him," Chidambaram said.

He also said the FIPB that dealt with the proposal of INX Media Ltd was chaired by D Subba Rao, who later became RBI Governor, and was succeeded by Ashok Chawla who later became Chairman of Competition Commission of India.

"The other members of FIPB, at the relevant time, were equally distinguished civil servants," he said.

"The FIR in the INX Media case is a politically motivated FIR intended to embarrass and humiliate me and the members of my family," Chidambaram added.

On the other hand, Karti Chidambaram on Monday sought permission to travel to the United Kingdom to admit his daughter for higher studies in the Cambridge.

Karti, in his affidavit, responded to CBI's allegation that he has multiple accounts and assets abroad, saying his family owns only one asset abroad which was acquired by transfer of funds through nationalised banks under the RBI's liberalised remittance scheme.

Karti also added that he has got only one account in UK's Metro Bank which was opened in 2016 and has not received any remittance from anyone except him, his wife and daughter.

He also stated that the banks in UK have strict laws for opening bank accounts for 'Politically Exposed Persons' and, because of his father's political clout, they were subjected to rigorous scrutiny by the international banks.

The CBI FIR, lodged on May 15, had alleged irregularities in FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Karti's father was the Finance Minister.

On October 4, the CBI had alleged in the apex court that Karti had "tampered" with evidence relating to an alleged graft case against him during his visits abroad in the months of May, June and July this year.

The agency had said that there was a need to issue a LoC against Karti as he had the "potential" to tamper with the evidence and he had done this during his visits abroad.

CBI had last month told the apex court that Karti was prevented from travelling abroad as he was allegedly closing several of his foreign bank accounts.

The CBI's contention was strongly refuted by Karti's counsel.

The top court is hearing CBI's appeal challenging Madras High Court order staying the government's LOC against Karti in the alleged graft case.
Amethi: Former Uttar Pradesh minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati's wife Maharaji Devi on Sunday alleged that the Congress had fielded a candidate from Amethi only to ensure her husband's defeat in the Assembly polls held in the state earlier this year.

The Congress had contested the polls in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, which had fielded Prajapati from Amethi.

"The Congress is a cheat and (Congress vice president and Amethi MP) Rahul Gandhi had played a foul game with the emotions of the people of Amethi," she told reporters here.

She also alleged that Rahul Gandhi's thinking was "anti-people".

Prajapati had lost to the BJP candidate in the election. Maharaji also claimed that her husband, an accused in a gang-rape case, was innocent and that he had been made a "scapegoat".

"At a proper time, the names of those, who made my husband a scapegoat, will be disclosed," she said.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday granted six-months time to the Centre to look into accounts of political parties, including the Congress and the BJP, for traces of foreign funds.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar gave the "last opportunity" to the Ministry of Home Affairs for compliance of its 2014 judgement, in which the high court had found both parties flouting the norms of the FCRA by accepting donations from Indian subsidiaries of UK-based Vedanta Resources.

Section 4 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) prohibits a political party or legislature from accepting foreign contributors.

On March 28, 2014, the high court had ordered the Election Commission and the Ministry of Home Affairs to look into the accounts of political parties and take action within six months.

However, MHA represented by central government's standing counsel Monika Arora, sought extension of time till March 31, 2018 to comply with the court's directions.

The Centre in its application said the records are voluminous in nature and are of few decades old, hence, to collect, collate and then analyse them requires more time.
Patna: Senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui on Monday repudiated the allegations that party supremo Lalu Prasad had made him transfer property worth crores of rupees in Rabri Devi's name "in return" for making him a minister.

Siddiqui also lashed out at Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who had reportedly levelled the allegations on Sunday, challenging him to "come up with proof or resign".

"Sushil Modi seems to be stricken by Lalu phobia. It appears he has based his entire politics around maligning the RJD supremo and his family.

"Moreover, he also seems to be drawing inspiration from Goebbels (Nazi propagandist). He keeps making false statements but never shows the consistency to stick to these", Siddiqui told reporters at the partys state headquarters.

"I challenge Sushil Modi to come up with documentary evidence showing that I have transferred any piece of land in the name of our leaders family members. If he does so, I will resign from all the posts that I am holding. If he fails to do so, then he must resign", the RJD MLA who was Finance minister in the previous "Mahagathbandhan" government, said. Siddiqui was reacting to media reports quoting the Deputy CM as having stated, in Darbhanga district, that Lalu Prasad was the "Robert Vadra of Bihar", in an obvious dig aimed at the charges of acquiring huge benami properties currently being faced by the RJD supremo as well as Congress president Sonia Gandhis son-in-law.

The RJD leader also said "in my view, Sushil Modi intends to divert public attention from the failures of BJP leaders and governments formed by the party in various states by these rhetorics".

Elaborating further, he alleged "there has been a collapse of law and order in Bihar ever since the BJP became a part of the ruling coalition. Similar is the case in other BJP-ruled states, though leaders of the party are too fond of calling the RJDs rule in Bihar as jungle raj".

"Besides, the way Srijan scam has surfaced, it hints towards the involvement of BJP leaders, even if indirectly. What do photographs of the NGOs late founder Manorama Devi alongside leaders like Union Minister Giriraj Singh, party MP and Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari signify", he asked.

Asked whether he was thinking about sending a legal notice to or even filing a defamation suit against the Bihar Deputy CM, the RJD leader initially tried to side-step the query saying "jiska maan ho usi ki maanhaani hoti hai" (only the one who has some honour, can be slapped with a defamation suit).

However, when pressed further, Siddiqui said "we have to watch how things unfold in future. If the need so arises, one may consider the option of a defamation suit".
China has denied responsibility for alleged cyber attacks in the United States appearing to target exiled tycoon Guo Wengui, who has levelled corruption allegations against senior Communist Party officials and applied for political asylum. The Ministry of Public Security said in a statement provided to Reuters on Sunday an investigation had found "no evidence" of Chinese government involvement in the alleged cyber attacks. The law enforcement agency said China had also provided the U.S. government with evidence that Guo, who has applied for political asylum in the United States, fabricated documents used to support his claims. It said China would make an official request for U.S. authorities to investigate the matter. "The falsified official documents and the false information he fabricated are sensational and outrageous," the ministry said in a rare English-language statement.

Guo denied the documents were forged and said the Ministry of Public Security's statement should not be believed. The Washington-based Hudson Institute think tank was scheduled to host Guo last Wednesday in a rare public appearance but cancelled the event the day before without explanation. The event would have coincided with the visit of an official Chinese delegation to the U.S. capital for a high-level law enforcement and cybersecurity dialogue between the two countries.

The Hudson Institute said it had detected a Shanghai-based attack aimed at shutting down access to its website several days earlier.

Also read: Vodafone, Airtel, Reliance Jio Trying Massive MIMO to Bring 5G Connectivity to India

POLITICAL ASYLUM

The suspected attack was raised by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions during a meeting with China's Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun on Wednesday, a Department of Justice spokesman told Reuters on Sunday. China had "pledged to cooperate", the spokesman said. However, the New York-based Guo Wengui said: "Just because the Ministry of Public Security said China didn't do it doesn't make it true."

"Why did the U.S. raise it in their meeting?" he told Reuters. Guo Wengui applied for U.S. political asylum in September but said this week the law firm representing him, Clark Hill PLC, had backed out after being targeted by Chinese hackers. Clark Hill lawyer Thomas Ragland, who lodged the asylum claim, confirmed he was no longer representing Guo Wengui, without elaborating. Guo Wengui held a news conference at the National Press Club on Thursday, after his Hudson event was called off, where he produced what he claimed were "top secret" official documents showing China had sent secret agents into the United States. China's Ministry of Public Security said the documents shown by him were "clumsily forged" and "full of obvious mistakes".

Guo Wengui has made wide-ranging corruption allegations against senior Communist Party leaders through a daily stream of Twitter and YouTube posts since the start of the year, which he says are aimed at disrupting a key five-yearly Communist Party congress that begins next week. The Chinese government has been seeking to discredit Guo Wengui, who is the subject of an Interpol red notice issued at Beijing's request, as a criminal suspect who should not be trusted.

Watch Video: Samsung Frame TV First Look | A 4K UHD TV That Transforms Into Art
Finnish company HMD Global has sold over one million Nokia-branded Android smartphones since its revival earlier this year. The installation numbers of Nokia Mobile Support application on Google Play Store suggest that the installation numbers are over one million and less than five million. "This certainly confirms that over a million Nokia Android smartphones are active in the market and this doesn't include Nokia 6 from markets like China where Play Store is not officially accessible," a report in NokiaPowerUser said on Monday.

In an earlier interview, Pekka Rantala, CMO of HMD Global, had told Nokioteca that "the company has already sold millions of Nokia-branded Android smartphones". Officially unveiled earlier this year, Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 have witnessed good initial traction in important markets such as India, the UK and other European markets. HMD Global, which owns the rights to manufacture, market and sell Nokia-branded smartphones for 10 years also launched the flagship Nokia 8 smartphone with top-notch specifications and Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset.

The device has "Dual-Sight" video or "Bothie" feature that lets simultaneously Livestream a selfie while also using its main camera, in a split-screen visual, for both photos and videos.

Watch Video: Samsung Frame TV First Look | A 4K UHD TV That Transforms Into Art
Bucharest, Romania: NATO's chief said Monday the alliance does not want a "new Cold War" with Russia, despite members' concerns about the Russian military buildup close to NATO's border.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke at the end of a four-day NATO parliamentary assembly in the Romanian capital.

"We are concerned by .... (Russia's) lack of transparency when it comes to military exercises," he said.

He mentioned a Russian-Belarus operation in September involving thousands of troops, tanks and aircraft held in Belarus, on NATO's eastern edge. The drills included maneuvers designed to hunt down and destroy armed spies.

Still, Stoltenberg said: "Russia is our neighbor ... we don't want to isolate Russia. We don't want a new Cold War."

He said the 29-member alliance had increased jets patrols in the Black Sea in "response to Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine."

Romanian and Bulgarian pilots have conducted air exercises in the Black Sea in recent months, designed to reassure NATO members who are uneasy after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and started supporting separatists fighting the Ukrainian government in eastern Ukraine.

Speaking about the alliance's mission in Afghanistan, where it retains more than 13,000 troops, Stoltenberg said "the cost of walking away would be much higher" than the human and financial cost of the mission.

Afghanistan would descend into chaos and become a safe haven for international terrorists should NATO pull out, he said.

NATO says the Taliban have expanded their control of parts of the country after the alliance ended its combat mission in 2014. Some alliance troops have remained to train and advise Afghan forces under the NATO-led Resolute Support mission.

"We have been there for many years, but we have achieved many things ... it is no longer a safe haven for international terrorists," Stoltenberg said. "We are in Afghanistan to protect ourselves."
London: Iran promised on Monday to give a "crushing" response if the United States designated its elite Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group.

The pledge came a week before President Donald Trump announces a final decision on how he wants to contain the Islamic Republic.

He is expected on Oct. 15 to "decertify" a landmark 2015 international deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme, a step that by itself stops short of pulling out of the agreement but gives Congress 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions.

Trump is also expected to designate Iran's most powerful security force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, as he rolls out a broader, more hawkish US strategy on Iran.

"We are hopeful that the United States does not make this strategic mistake," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA.

"If they do, Iran's reaction would be firm, decisive and crushing and the United States should bear all its consequences," he told a news conference reported by IRNA.

Individuals and entities associated with the IRGC are already on the US list of foreign terrorist organisations, but the organisation as a whole is not.

IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said on Sunday, "If the news is correct about the stupidity of the American government in considering the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group, then the Revolutionary Guards will consider the American army to be like Islamic State all around the world."

Jafari also said that additional sanctions would end chances for future dialogue with the United States and that the Americans would have to move their regional bases outside the 2,000 km (1,250 mile) range of IRGC's missiles.

WARY EUROPE

US sanctions on the IRGC could affect conflicts in Iraq and Syria, where Tehran and Washington both support warring parties that oppose the Islamic State militant group (IS).

France said on Monday it was worried that classifying the IRGC as a terrorist group could exacerbate tensions in the region.

Germany said it was worried Trump would decide Iran is not respecting the nuclear deal, negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama, and fears such a step will worsen insecurity in the Middle East.

A US pullout could unravel an accord seen by supporters as vital to preventing a Middle East arms race and tamping down regional tensions, since it limits Iran's ability to enrich uranium for nuclear fuel in exchange for the lifting of sanctions that damaged its oil-based economy.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog's inspectors have repeatedly declared Iran in compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal.

Trump called Iran "a corrupt dictatorship" during his first speech to the U.N. General Assembly and said the nuclear deal was "the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into".

The other five world powers in the deal were Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China.

The prospect of the United States reneging on the agreement has worried other partners that helped negotiate it.

The Kremlin said that any US withdrawal from the nuclear deal would have "negative consequences."

British Prime Minister Theresa May, who supports the nuclear pact, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes it, agreed in a phone call on Monday that they need to be "clear-eyed" about the threat Iran poses to the Middle East.

"They agreed that ... the international community should continue working together to push back against Iran's destabilising regional activity," May's spokesman said.

"MALIGN ACTIVITIES"

Despite the nuclear deal, Washington still maintains its own more limited sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile programme and over accusations Tehran supports terrorism.

Iran says it is developing missiles solely for defensive purposes and denies involvement in terrorism.

The Trump administration aims to put more pressure on the IRGC, especially over recent missile tests and what Washington has called its "malign activities" across the Middle East.

The US government imposed sanctions in July on 18 entities and people for supporting the IRGC in developing drones and military equipment. In August, Congress overwhelmingly approved the "Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act" which imposed new sanctions on Iran for its ballistic missile programme, as well as sanctions on Russia and North Korea.

In an interview aired on Saturday night, Trump accused Iran of "funding North Korea" and "doing things with North Korea that are totally inappropriate".

Qasemi, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, said the US accusations were "baseless". He added, "Israel and some specific countries are raising these accusations to create Iranophobia."
Goma: Militants attacked two military bases in northeastern Congo on Monday, killing a UN peacekeeper and injuring a dozen others, the UN mission and the army said.

The mission, known as MONUSCO, said it had deployed attack helicopters in response to the raid.

Congo's army has been battling militants this weekend for control of a stretch of road linking the area to Uganda in a fresh outbreak of violence for a region plagued with ethnic tensions and a history of massacres.

"I can confirm an attack on the MONUSCO base at Mamundioma this morning which killed one peacekeeper and injured 12," said the spokeswoman for the U.N.'s Congo mission Florence Marchal, referring to a village near the city of Beni.

Army spokesman Mak Hazukay said the attacks were carried out simultaneously and blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan Islamist group active near the border between Congo and Uganda, for the attacks. He said the U.N. base houses Tanzanian peacekeepers that formed part of an intervention brigade which has a mandate to conduct offensive operations against militants.

ADF is believed by authorities to have ambushed and killed many civilians nearby this weekend after a lull in attacks against civilians near Beni this year.

Congolese authorities have blamed the ADF for massacres between 2014-2016 in the area that killed more than 800 people. However, independent and U.N. experts say several armed groups as well as national army commanders have been involved.
Seoul: The promotion of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's 28-year-old sister to the country's top decision-making body is a sign he is strengthening his position by drawing his most important people closer to the centre of power, experts and officials say.

Kim Yo Jong was named as an alternate member of the politburo within the ruling Workers' Party of Korea - the opaque, all-powerful party organ where top state affairs are decided, the North's official media said on Sunday.

It makes her only the second woman in patriarchal North Korea to join the exclusive club after Kim Kyong Hui, who held powerful roles when her brother Kim Jong Il ruled the country.

"Since she is a female, Kim Jong Un likely does not see her as a threat and a challenge to his leadership," said Moon Hong-sik, research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. "As the saying goes blood is thicker than water, Kim Jong Un thinks Kim Yo Jong can be trusted."

Unlike her aunt, who was promoted to the politburo in 2012 after serving more than three decades in the party, Kim Yo Jong has risen to power at an unprecedented pace.

Kim Kyong Hui has not been seen since her husband, Jang Song Thaek, once regarded as the No.2 leader in Pyongyang, was executed in 2013. South Korea's spy agency believes she is now in a secluded place near Pyongyang undergoing a treatment for an unidentified disease, according to an August briefing to parliament.

Jang and his wife are not the only relatives to fall from Kim Jong Un's favour.

Kim Jong Un's estranged half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, was killed with a toxic nerve agent at a Malaysian airport in February. Two women are on trial for the murder, which South Korean and U.S. officials believe Kim Jong Un's regime was behind.

Kim Jong Nam, who lived in exile in Macau, had criticized his family's dynastic rule and his brother had issued a standing order for his execution, according to some South Korean lawmakers.

IN A PONYTAIL AND BLACK SUITS

The smartly dressed Kim Yo Jong, her hair usually pulled back in a ponytail and mostly seen in black suits and black-heeled shoes, made her first debut on state media in December 2011, seen standing tearfully next to Kim Jong Un at the funeral of their father.

Since then, Kim has made several appearances with her brother, giggling at concerts, riding a white horse, smiling as she receives flowers on his behalf at state functions.

Her youth and bubbly personality seen in state media are in stark contrast to the usually glum generals and ageing party cadres who follow Kim Jong Un on official duties.

Having previously only occasionally appeared in the background, the young heiress has moved to the front and centre of media photos more recently, assisting her brother at numerous high-profile state events.

At a massive military parade in April to mark the 105th birth anniversary of founding father Kim Il Sung, she was seen rushing out from behind pillars to bring paperwork to her brother as he prepared to give an address.

The same month, she stood alongside him during the unveiling ceremony of a construction project in Pyongyang.

In March 2016, she accompanied Kim Jong Un to a field guidance for nuclear scientists, where he claimed successful miniaturisation of nuclear warheads.

"Kim Yo Jong's official inclusion in the 30-strong exclusive club of North Korea's chief policy makers means her role within the regime will be expanded further," Cheong Seong-chang, senior fellow at the Sejong Institute south of Seoul.

BEHIND THE VEIL

Apart from her age, little is known about Kim Yo Jong. She was publicly identified for the first time in February 2011 when a South Korean TV station caught her at a Eric Clapton concert in Singapore with her other brother, Kim Jong Chol.

The three, who all reportedly went to school in Switzerland, are full blood siblings, born to Kim Jong Il's fourth partner, Ko Yong Hui.

Kim Jong Chol, the oldest of Kim Jong Il's sons, does not involve himself in politics, leading a quiet life in Pyongyang where he plays guitar in a band, according to Thae Yong Ho, North Koreas former deputy ambassador in London who defected to the South.

In 2014, Kim Yo Jong was made vice director of the Workers' Party's Propaganda and Agitation Department, which handles ideological messaging through the media, arts and culture.

The position led the U.S. Treasury Department to blacklist her along with six other North Korean officials in January for "severe human rights abuses" and censorship that concealed the regime's "inhumane and oppressive behavior".

Last year, South Korea's former spy chief said Kim Yo Jong was seen "abusing power", punishing propaganda department executives for "minor mistakes".

In a North Korean state media photo in January 2015, she was spotted wearing a ring on her fourth finger during a visit to a child care centre.

South Korean intelligence officials say Kim might have wed a schoolmate from the prestigious Kim Il Sung University, but there has been no confirmation of whether she is indeed married or to whom.
Islamabad: The daughter and son-in-law of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif were on Monday granted bail by the country's anti-graft court in the Panama Papers scandal as they appeared before it following their return from London.

Maryam Nawaz, 43, along with her spouse, former army captain Muhammad Safdar, returned to the country late last night to appear in the Accountability Court. Safdar was arrested on his arrival as the the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrant against him. Both separately appeared in the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir here.

Sharif and his two sons were absent during the hearing as they are in London to attend his wife Kulsoom who is battling throat cancer.

Sharif had attended the previous two hearings but flew to London last week to see his ailing wife, who underwent a third surgery.

The court accepted the bail applications of Maryam and Safdar and postponed the hearing till October 13, according to court officials.

Sharifs lawyer Khawaja Harris asked the court to adjourn hearing for 15 days with commitment that Sharif would also appear. The court rejected the plea announced that it will indict the accused during the next hearing. The court also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharifs sons -- Husain and Hasan -- proclaimed offender as they have failed to appear before it so far.

The court also decided to conduct separate trials of Husain and Hasan from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law. Maryam, who is being groomed as Sharif's political successor, appeared in the court for the first time on Monday. She was ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 50,000 against a non-bailable arrest warrant against her.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lawyers asked the court to send Safdar to jail on judicial remand but the court granted him bail and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 for surety bonds.

The court also asked him to seek its permission before going abroad and rejected the NAB request to confiscate his passport.

Both Maryam and Safdar have been charged by the NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Sharif.

Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken into custody despite the fact that he had come back to face the case.

"Those who want to appear by free will are arrested from airport, but we are not afraid of it, she said. Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said that the "absconders are free and hold public meetings". She also criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.

"Questions will be asked if the cases which started with Panama ended with Iqama (Job contract). The judges would have to answer it, she said referring to dismissal of Sharif for non-declaration of his salary from his sons company in the UAE.

"Those who sent home representative of 20 crore people should also be brought to justice," she said. During the hearing, Sharifs lawyer also presented an application to exempt his from appearing before the court on Monday. The court accepted the plea.

The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Husain, Hasan and Safdar last Monday after they failed to appear before it.

The cases were filed after the July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif. Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling \Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the people's mandate and democracy.
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Researchers at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond have induced heart attacks in dogs, surgically implanted pacemakers into them and trained them to run on treadmills, all in the name of studying heart health in humans.

Some of the experiments are known to inflict severe pain in the dogs and puppies  some are as young as 6 months  while withholding pain relief.

The experiments are abusive and wasteful, and derive some of their funding from taxpayer dollars, according to a letter sent by state Sens. William M. Stanley Jr., R-Franklin County, and Glen H. Sturtevant Jr., R-Richmond, to Gov. Terry McAuliffes office.

Senator Sturtevant and I firmly believe that one of the first steps we have to do here is not only get more information, but make our fellow legislators aware of where our taxpayer money is going, make the governor know where the taxpayer money is going, and letting the public in the commonwealth know, Stanley said.

At least $99,970 went toward the experiments through a state grant that was awarded to the projects principle investigator, the letter states. Another $50,000 grant went toward the research from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Both grants cover a period during which numerous violations were documented, the letter states.

The letter also asks whether the state was informed of violations relating to the experiments, some of which were outlined in a report by the VA Office of Research Oversight.

If the taxpayer money is going to be spent on this, then the taxpayer should know the truth and the taxpayers perspective should be respected, said Robin Starr, CEO of the Richmond SPCA, which has spoken out against the experiments. I think most people think that this is unethical, and the Richmond SPCA certainly thinks its unethical.

A public backlash has grown around the experiments since details came to light through lawsuits and Freedom of Information Act requests filed by the White Coat Waste Project, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group with a goal of ending taxpayer-funded animal experiments.

We filed (FOIA) requests to get more details about the current projects happening at the Richmond VA, and discovered through those requests that Richmond is the only federal facility in the country that is conducting so-called maximum pain experiments on dogs, in which significant pain is induced and is intentionally not relieved, said Justin Goodman, the groups vice president of advocacy and public policy.

Some of the FOIA documents the group received indicated that experiments were still going on as of January.

The watchdog group submitted a complaint to the VA Office of Inspector General that was referred to the Office of Research Oversight, which released a report on the experiments.

The goal of the experiments, according to the report, was to study cardiac health  particularly regarding what can lead to heart abnormalities. It justified the use of dogs due to the similarities in size and physiology between dog and human hearts.

The report outlined instances of noncompliance relating to documentation and incomplete records of the dogs receiving appropriate veterinary care. In some cases, the report confirmed, mistakes made during surgeries resulted in the death of at least four dogs.

I keep seeing and hearing the word euthanasia used  thats not euthanasia, Starr said. That does not qualify as euthanasia, thats not euthanasia as the dictionary defines it. Theyre being killed.

The primary investigator on the project, Dr. Alex Tan, was barred from working with animals. He remains in his position as a cardiologist at the McGuire VA. He did not respond to a request for comment.

A VCU spokesman said in a statement that although the university awarded a one-time $50,000 grant to Tan for the research, it did not oversee the care and use of the animals involved.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has four classifications for animals involved in research. Some classifications state that the experiments cause no or very little pain, while the highest classification refers to experiments in which the animals are subjected to pain without relief. Some of the dogs used for the VAs experiments, Goodman said, were in this latter classification, according to the documents the watchdog group received through its FOIA requests.

Dr. Michael Fallon, chief veterinary medical officer with the VA, said in a statement that the Office of Research Oversight did not deem the experiments deficient or find that the investigators did not provide adequate veterinary care, but rather found areas when veterinary care was not documented appropriately.

ORO did not find any evidence that these deficiencies reflected any negligence, incompetence, recklessness or intentional misrepresentation, Fallon said. He added that the deaths were related to the risks associated with any complicated and difficult surgery.

To eliminate these deficiencies, Richmond VAMC amended the protocols to make the risks more explicit, with increasingly stringent training requirements and supervision by the Attending Veterinarian, and ultimately by replacement of the surgeon on the protocols, he said.

Fallon said the VAs animal research program has saved lives in the past. He said dogs are needed for experiments on hearts not only because dogs hearts are more similar to humans than animals like mice or rats, but because dogs are easier to train for light treadmill activity needed for some of the studies, and they enjoy it, in contrast to pigs and other large animals.

Research on canines has led to various medical advances, he said, including successful human liver transplants and the understanding that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer.

He also noted that studies involving dogs and other large animals are rare, since the VA typically uses mice or rats. Canines accounted for fewer than 0.05 percent of animals used in VA research in 2016.

Stanley, the state senator, said he understands the reasoning behind the experiments, but that subjecting dogs to so much pain goes a step too far.

Certainly we want to do what we can to help make our fellow citizens healthier, but not at this expense, he said. As human beings we are tasked with the responsibility for caring for those who cannot care for themselves in the canine community, and here we are abusing that trust that we have with companion animals.

He said he plans to file legislation that will address the issue.

One being that no (taxpayer) money can be used for such experiments where a companion animal  in a sense mans best friend  is being inhumanely treated in the name of science, he said.

Legislation introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Dave Brat, R-7th, that would strip funding for all painful dog experiments at the VA recently received unanimous support.

Starr said her organization has reached out to the McGuire VA to try and adopt some of the dogs they use for experiments, but to no avail.

We have, over many generations, encouraged dogs to become our best friends and our lifetime companions, and I think most people think it is wrong to turn around and subject them to a life of being chopped up in a research facility to be followed by death, Starr said. We have made them into the trusting, loving companions that they are to us.
The horror the horror.

The English language, expansive as it is, lacks sufficient vocabulary for the near-ceaseless popping sound of an automatic weapon pounding bullets into terrified people as they run away from and toward  the unknown.

How do you express the inconceivable, the imponderable? You try to put yourself there. What would you have done? Run, but to where? Seek cover, but under what? Help others, but how? Survival was all anyone could hope for. Then what?

Guilt.

Survivors now speak of feeling guilty that theyre alive while at least 59 others are not. Why were they alive? As reports of heroism flood in, they wonder: Did I do enough?

Brian Claypool, who spoke to CNNs Chris Cuomo, is one of these. Tuesday was Claypools birthday and the concert had been his way of celebrating. He had meant to return to his home and family in Los Angeles on Sunday, but gazing out upon the venue from his hotel room, he decided to stay another night.

When am I ever going to be able to do this again? he recalled saying to himself.

Struggling with tears, Claypool wondered whether he should have died. He was on the run when a man signaled for him to dash into a small room under some bleachers. Five or six young women were huddled, sobbing, in a corner. Instinctively, Claypool stood in front of them, perhaps to protect them. Or was he supposed to go outside where others were falling?

It seemed clear during the interview that Claypool was still in shock and trying hard to make sense of what had happened, discovering his thoughts and emotions as Cuomo prodded him to dig deeper. If theres an Emmy for empathetic reporting and on-the-spot psychoanalytical investigation, Cuomo deserves it. Others watching CNN surely noted his remarkable ability to help his guests navigate the chaos of their personal trauma, offering words of solace and paternal wisdom.

Lisa Fine was another who tried to articulate what it was like to be suddenly transported from a happy evening of fellowship and fun to a nightmarish scrimmage in a war zone. She spoke of seeing people take a bullet and fall in front of her, of a truck loaded with bodies: It was just the luck of the draw, she said of her survival. There are no words. It was horrific.

From the relative comfort of ones television-viewing perch, numbness begins to set in. Weve seen this before, heard the commentary, witnessed the overwhelming grief. Columbine, Orlando, Blacksburg, Newtown, you know the list.

The Washington Posts website offered headlines that were all too reminiscent of past tragedies elsewhere: The lives lost in Las Vegas; Gunman was ... known for keeping to himself; 10 ways politics may  or may not  change after the Las Vegas shooting; I felt the gunfire would never stop.

Monday night, America went to bed shocked at the numbers. Twenty-two thousand revelers, 23 guns in the shooters hotel room, at least 59 dead, more than 500 injured. Tuesday morning, we checked the numbers again to see if they had changed. The names, faces and short biographies of the dead scrolled across television screens. They were slaughtered by the usual suspect  no one in particular.

He was just a guy, said the shooters stunned brother, Eric Paddock. Neighbors delivered their script: He seemed like a regular person. Normal, you know. A gun dealer who thought he may have sold Paddock some of his guns said he didnt seem unfit or unstable.

But he was obviously something. A bad seed. Sick. Evil. Why had Paddock peered out of his 32nd-story hotel window and decided that this was the night he would kill as many people as possible? By chance alone, he would not kill Claypool or Fine  and theyll live with that surreal, taunting reality the rest of their days.

We get to live, another survivor had said to Claypool when they chanced upon each other the next day. Yeah, Claypool said, we get to live. But why? To what end? For what purpose?

Such are the questions that have stumped humankind since first consciousness made life fathomless. A random bullet from an unseen stranger brings the unbearable mystery into sharp focus. Why me? Why not me? Why at all? In the absence of answers, faith and hope intercede and the search for meaning becomes a more-manageable quest for summation.

Lisa Fine, her face drawn from lack of sleep, reached through the numbness and offered the best one could: Love your loved ones, and be the best person you can be. Thats all weve got.

Parker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Washington Post. Email her at kathleenparker@washpost.com.
Harrison backed for prosecutor

I have had the privilege of knowing Bethany Harrison since the time she began as a prosecutor in the Lynchburg Commonwealth Attorneys Office. At that time, I was living in Lynchburg working as a criminal defense attorney, Judge William Petty of the Court of Appeals of Virginia was commonwealths attorney, and you knew that Harrison as a young prosecutor had the special qualities necessary for success.

Shortly after she began, she was one of the first prosecutors to welcome me despite my being new to prosecution, congratulating me on my choice to fulfill my career in prosecution. Since that time, we have both grown in our profession, as she was promoted to chief deputy in Lynchburg, as I worked my way through the ranks through my election in 2015 as the commonwealths attorney for Rockbridge County and the City of Lexington. Through that time, I have been staying in touch with her and could not be more pleased to see her work hard in her run to be the first female commonwealths attorney for Lynchburg.

Life as a commonwealths attorney is extraordinarily challenging, as it requires a multitude of skills and abilities, careful judgment, and commitment to justice for all citizens. It requires a zealous advocate dedicated to the success of the office, and a person to whom assistants and staff can look with confidence. A commonwealths attorney does not control what and how many cases come into their office and cannot turn cases down or assign them to other offices as private counsel can do. A commonwealths attorney needs to temper justice with mercy, know when to drop the hammer and when to brush a feather, when a defendant needs a harsh sentence and when someone made a mistake and needs a second chance. Knowing the difference between these scenarios is why you simply must have experience to run a large and busy office like Lynchburg.

Harrison has the requisite qualities and character to continue the outstanding legacy created by Commonwealths Attorney Mike Doucette and, before him, Bill Petty, and I urge the voters of Lynchburg to vote for her Nov. 7.

CHRIS BILLIAS

Commonwealths Attorney for Rockbridge County and the City of Lexington
The Zanu-PF Youth League continues to question the acquisition of Barclays Zimbabwe by a foreign firm, saying this is not in the best economic interests of the country.



Reiterating the same point he made at the Youth League national assembly in the capital on Saturday, the wings secretary Cde Kudzanai Chipanga told The Herald yesterday that the country was doing itself a major disservice by handing over such an asset to a foreign company. He questioned the conspiracy of silence surrounding the deal.



We are concerned with the Barclays deal, especially on why a foreign company was allowed to acquire the bank, said Cde Chipanga. We are really doing a disservice to ourselves. Why is Government silent about this.



First Merchant Bank of Malawi (FMB) finalised the acquisition of the 105-year-old local bank in June this year after UK-headquartered Barclays Plc announced its divestiture from its African operations, including Zimbabwe. The Malawi Stock Exchange-listed FMB also has interests in Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia. According to Cde Chipanga, it did not make sense for the country to continue to open new local banks, while at the same time selling existing ones to foreign entities. This, he said, was detrimental to the economic sovereignty of the country.





It is really unfathomable that we are making efforts to open new banks such as Empowerment Bank, while also selling the ones that we have. At least locals should have been given the right of first refusal in the transaction in line with the indigenisation and empowerment regulations. It will not be surprising that after the deal, the new investors will come with a new staff complement and adopt an operational framework that might not be friendly to locals. We are not saying we have to grab the bank, but at least the deal should be compliant with the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, he said.





And why is the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, including the Ministry of Youths, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment silent about this issue. Well, are we saying that it is now water under the bridge?





On June 12 this year, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya told a parliamentary portfolio committee that the deal was compliant with local empowerment regulations, as Barclays Plc was effectively selling 43 percent of its shares, which is relatively lower than the 49 percent threshold for foreign investors.





It is believed that of the 68 percent that is being disposed of by Barclays, 32 percent will remain listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, while 15 percent is earmarked for employees and management. Barclays Plc will retain 10 percent of the business for the next three years to ostensibly ensure business continuity. Challenges to the disposal of Barclays Zimbabwe have been playing out in the courts, with the banks workers, including senior management, seeking to block the deal.





Senior executives are seeking a management buyout of the bank. Since establishing operations in Zimbabwe in 1912, Barclays Zimbabwe has since grown its footprint to include 38 branches with more than 1 000 workers. Barclays Plcs Zimbabwe and Egyptian units were not included in the 2013 transaction that saw eight other operations in Africa  housed under Barclays Africa  being sold off. herald
PRESIDENT Mugabe has deplored the vendor menace and lack of order in the Harare central business district (CBD), saying Harare should be the smartest city in the country as the capital. He said vendors operating in and around the capital should be moved to designated points to allow for the free flow of human and vehicular traffic in the CBD.







Addressing members of the ZANU-PF Youth League national assembly from the countrys 10 provinces at the partys headquarters in Harare on Saturday, Mugabe said the capital city must be the smartest of all the countrys towns. He said he had already engaged Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo and Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere over the bad state of the capital.

The President said he had been alerted to the alarming state of Harare recently when he was told that vendors had virtually taken over streets such as Julius Nyerere Way and Robert Mugabe Road. He said vendors sold their wares at night to avoid arrest, in the process blocking traffic. The President said he had been told the vendors could also not be arrested due to the forthcoming elections. He then decided to engage the responsible ministers when he was told the roads in the CBD had been rendered impassable.





Ndikati aah okay, ndichanotaura na Minister of Local Government, VaKasukuwere. Saka nezuro (Friday) ndaitaura naVaChombo ndichiti ko, tingabvume here kuti migwagwa yedu yovandiyo zvitoro munotengeserwa zvinhu, ko kusanopa vanhu kuti imi munotengesera apa? The President told the minister; Asi migwagwa must be left free for the cars to run. Hamudi? Hanzi vakati isu tinoda kunotengesa pesepese. Aiwa indiscipline iyo hatiide! Pasi nayo, pasi nayo, he said.





President Mugabe said people should be allocated sites to operate from to restore order in the city.





He said once council designated selling points, vendors should immediately move there. We must clear the roads. Ah, hona tsvina dzoga dzoga. Ngatiregerei kudaro town yedu. Harare must be the smartest of all towns because its our capital city, said the President.





HCC acting town clerk Mrs Josephine Ncube told The Herald yesterday that council, with the full support of the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, all law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in Harare, would soon roll out an operation code-named Restore Order to clean the city of illegal street vending.





This will be done through the re-organisation of the informal sector, long distance bus operations and commuter omnibuses as part of efforts to lay the foundation for sustainable vending and commuter omnibus operations in our beautiful Harare, she said.

Mrs Ncube said council recognised the important role played by the informal sector in the national economy, especially as the country was still facing serious economic challenges.





We accept that the informal sector is critical in income generation but there is need to balance that with order, compliance with by-laws, and respecting formal businesses that contribute to the development of the country through payment of taxes. The city has previously registered over 30 000 vendors. Some of them have since abandoned their sites. Therefore, all registered vendors who have electronic cards are directed to return to the allocated sites. Not all vendors can be accommodated in the central business district, others will be accommodated in the districts, said Mrs Ncube.





Those allocated space for weekend flea markets, she added, should start operations every Saturday after 1pm and remove their wares and clean up their areas by 5pm every Sunday. She said a new vendor registration programme would begin tomorrow (Tuesday 10 October 2017) at the Housing and Social Development Department Offices along Remembrance Drive in Mbare. There would also be a registration desk at the corner of Speke Avenue and Cameron Street in the CBD, she said.





Trading outside the demarcated zones will attract the full wrath of the law and deregistration for repeat offenders. All fresh produce wholesalers are prohibited from operating in the CBD; their space is at Mbare and Lusaka wholesale markets. Pushcarts are also prohibited in the CBD in terms of the pushcarts by-law. In addition to that, the city will demolish all illegal structures on vending sites and ranks. We therefore urge those who had erected illegal structures to pull them down immediately, failure of which council will assist them to do so, said Mrs Ncube.





She said the sale of groceries on the streets was prohibited and that obstruction of roads by vendors was a punishable offense in terms of the Criminal Law and Codification Reform Act. Last week, Government, through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, directed local authorities to identify new loading bays for conventional transport operators away from the central business district as part of measures to decongest cities and towns and to contain touts who have become a menace to the travelling public. Responding to questions from backbenchers during a question and answer session in Parliament last week, Minister Kasukuwere said Harare council would soon close down old bus termini like Market Square and Copacabana, among others.





The phenomenon (of touts) has caught us not ready for it. We have seen a rise of men working as touts. We still have old bus stops like Market Square, Copacabana. And even buses which are supposed to load at Mbare Musika are loading passengers in the city centre. The City of Harare must identify loading bays and close down old bus terminus in the CBD, said Minister Kasukuwere. Herald
The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has said shops have no choice but to increase prices as they are sourcing foreign currency from the black market where they are charged steep premiums.



This comes as retailers have significantly increased prices of basic goods, amid escalation of the cash crisis in the country.



This is despite the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, John Magudya, insisting that Zimbabwes economic indicators are improving, accusing the retailers of having rent seeking behaviour.



CZR president, Denford Mutashu, told the Daily News that retailers dont want to increase prices. But the issue of foreign currency (shortage) and retailers having to go on the black market to get forex has been the biggest factor.



We have no choice but to pass that component on to the consumers, he said.



Concurring with Mutashu, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI)s branch, the Groceries and Manufacturers Association, said the sectors viability is under threat after players have been hit by a spate of price hikes by suppliers.



The associations chairperson, Nancy Guzha, said the situation was far from improving.

As manufactures, what we have seen coming to us is a spate of price increases from our suppliers. I think a lot of us who use cooking oil have seen this increase. We have seen price increases in packaging, she said.



We had one packaging supplier saying they are temporarily sending their employees home because they dont have enough forex to import raw materials, Guzha said, adding that not only are there price increases but there is a complexity.



She said none of their members was getting enough of their foreign currency requirements.

We will put in a payment to bankers and wait for six or eight weeks and if you are very lucky maybe two weeks and that is putting us in a predicament of sourcing forex at a premium on the black market or else having to take the hard decision to scale down production, she said.



We find ourselves in a tough position and the reality is that we are fighting hard to just maintain the bottom line that we budgeted, Guzha said.



Industry and Commerce permanent secretary, Abigail Shoniwa, told the Daily News that in the advent of price increases, they have been getting complaints daily of the trend continuing.



We are receiving information from all corners of the country that prices are going up. Retailers of all sorts, I have heard about fabrics prices going up 50 percent. Takeaway prices have gone up from $3 to $4, 50. I can go on and on, she said.



Prices have gone up 100 percent overnight just because of the panic. We have the information. Seriously, I think we need to think of the consumer because in the long term there could be resistance of some products.



But Magudya argues that Zimbabwe is experiencing side effects of a growing economy.

The economy is growing on account of the agriculture and mining sectors that are doing well. Sometimes I feel I am not in the same country as others because when I read the magazines and newspapers I read that certain companies are retrenching or that some are closing. (But) to the contrary, we have seen a net increase in employment in Zimbabwe...I can give you a number of firms for example clothing industry I think a year ago they employed 1 000 people, now they employ 6 000, so maybe its because Zimbabweans want to spend time on the negative side, he said.



I know in life there are always two sides. So its natural. But as far as we are concerned, the economy is expanding and what we are going through are the side effects of a growing economy.



Instead, Mangudya urged Zimbabweans to practice consumer resistance and just dont buy goods and services that are astronomically priced.

There is need for consumer resistance, Mangudya.



There is a lot of rent behaviour (from business). People say ahh because people could afford cooking oil at $5 so it remains there.



What should actually happen is that business should reduce their prices, he said, adding

we dont expect prices to remain high. That is rent seeking behaviour. We dont expect that from business people. daily news
National Vendors Union Zimbabwe chairperson Sten Zvorwadza has said President Robert Mugabe is daydreaming in his bid to ban street vending.



Zvorwadza told the Daily News yesterday that they will not listen to Mugabe.

As the informal sector, we will not listen to such nonsense; we are going to stay in the streets. He is daydreaming. I bet with my head, the president has no capacity to remove vendors from the streets.



He must depart from this issue of daydreaming. Mugabe must appreciate the role of the informal sector. Zimbabweans must understand that Mugabe is old and he is a dead man walking.



The move to chase away vendors will be a final blow to the dying economy. Mugabe is living a good life with his family; he thinks that we are in the streets because we want to do so, failing to understand that he is the one who created this situation.





Mugabe said on Saturday that he will be issuing an edict aimed at bringing order to the bustling city of some 2 million people.



He said food stalls would be moved off the pavements and some could be relocated to new sites. He said he will not allow street vending to be a common feature of Harare Nigerian style.



The teetotaller said the vendors should move out as the government will not accept the chaos they bring, adding that they must accept to be relocated to designated vending stalls and trade openly where the authorities assign them.



This comes as Mugabe has failed to create jobs for the burgeoning, young population.

When I arrived from South Africa, I heard that Harare is now dirty with vendors now everywhere, even streets which were given names such as (Julius) Nyerere and Robert Mugabe are now covered with dirt, Mugabe told the meeting of his Zanu PF youth wing.



Some vendors are selling their wares during the night so that they cannot be arrested.

Ever since the City of Harare launched a crackdown on vendors, they have taken to selling their wares well into the night to evade municipal police and also make a better killing through quick sales to a homeward bound workforce.



Mugabe said he was told that some senior Zanu PF leaders are protecting the vendors because they fear losing the forthcoming 2018 elections.



I was talking to (Home Affairs minister Ignatius) Chombo yesterday saying why do we allow our roads to be grocery shops. I said we must give them designated areas so that they will sell their wares outside the roads and leave the roads free.



He told me that the vendors are saying they want to sell their products everywhere.

I said that we dont want that indiscipline, down with that indiscipline, they must go to designated areas.



We dont want the Nigerian style. Harare must be the smartest city because it is our capital city, Mugabe said. Daily News
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He was trying not to spill his drink. That's what a Scottish tourist says led to his arrest in Dubai for touching a man's hip, the BBC reports. Jamie Harron, 27, says he was walking with a drink in the crowded Rock Bottom Cafe when he put out his hand "to avoid impact" with a patron, per the Press Association. The incident happened July 15 after the electrician stopped off in Dubai for a couple days en route to a job in Afghanistan. Police arrested Harron on charges of public indecency and drinking alcohol, casting the electrician in an "outrageous" saga that shows no signs of ending, says Radha Stirling of the Detained in Dubai NGO. "This is another example of how vulnerable tourists are to arrest and detention in Dubai," she says.

Harron was locked up for five days and his passport was seized so he couldn't leave the country while the case is pending. Stirling says Harron "is under immense pressure and stress." He lost his job and has so far racked up more than $39,000 in legal bills and expenses for what he calls a "cultural misunderstanding," per the Sun. His parents say their son has never been in trouble before. "We can't believe that this nightmare has gone on for three months. Jamie is a good boy," says dad Graham Harron. The legal troubles have left the family finances in shambles, and mom Patricia Harron desperate with worry. "There's no chance of sleep," she says. Jamie Harron says he has witnesses ready to back up his version in court. (A woman was jailed in Dubai after reporting a rape.)
Two heroes have emerged in Minnesota: an abducted 15-year-old girl and the 65-year-old farmer who found her. Fox News and the Twin Cities Pioneer Press report Jasmine Block disappeared from her Alexandria home on Aug. 8, and she was reportedly held for nearly a month in an abandoned house, where she says she was physically and sexually assaulted. On Sept. 5, however, she broke out, swam across a lake, and started running when she got to the other side. It was then that Jasmine ran into Earl Melchert, who said he saw a "speck" rushing toward him in his truck; he tells the New York Times he thought it was a deer at first. As she got closer, he realized it wasn't a deer, but a missing girl he recognized from newscasts and posters around town. He got Jasmine into his truck, called 911, and started driving the teen to the local police station.

As they drove, Jasmine saw a car driven by one of the suspects, which helped cops catch them the same day. But it was Melchert's next "incredible act of kindness," as the Alexandria Police Department notes on Facebook, that brought on even more hugs: He turned down the $7,000 reward and gave it to Jasmine instead. "He believes that young lady that came running towards him that September day is the real hero," the Alexandria PD notes, adding, "Thank you Earl, it is people like you that make this world a better place." Melchert tells the Press he was simply "in the right place at the right time." Jasmine is back in school and healing with the help of a therapy dog, while the three suspectsThomas Barker, 32, a family acquaintance, as well as Joshua Holby, 31, and Steven Powers, 20have been charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault, and criminal sexual conduct. (Read more uplifting news stories.)
President Trump defended his throwing of paper towels to Puerto Rican hurricane victims in a weekend interview on a Christian networkand claimed to have invented the term "fake." The towel-throwing, which San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz described as "terrible and abominable," was simply a bit of fun with the crowd at a distribution center, Trump told Mike Huckabee on Trinity Broadcasting. "They had these beautiful, soft towels. Very good towels," Trump said, per NBC News. The crowd was "loving everything. I was having fun, they were having fun," he said. "They said, 'Throw 'em to me! Throw 'em to me, Mr. President!" Trump accused Cruz of "doing a very poor job" with her hurricane response.

Trump went on to boast about the term "fake." "I think one of the greatest of all terms Ive come up with is 'fake,'" he said. "I guess other people have used it, perhaps, over the years, but I've never noticed it." It wasn't entirely clear whether he was taking credit for "fake" or "fake news," but he would be wrong in either case, according to CNN, which Trump often accuses of creating "fake news." The word "fake" has been around for 200 years, while the term "fake news" started appearing in newspapers in the late 19th century. On Sunday, Trump tweeted that nobody could have done what he did in Puerto Rico "with so little appreciation." He also shared a video of hurricane relief efforts "that the fake news media won't show you." (Read more Puerto Rico stories.)
In a plan that sounds more like a rejected movie script than reality, Angelina Jolie offered to help capture bloodthirsty warlord Joseph Kony by inviting him to dinner, according to leaked emails. In International Criminal Court emails leaked to the French website Mediapart, former chief ICC posecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo said Jolie had offered to embed herself with American troops hunting Kony in the Central African Republic and help lure the Ugandan guerrilla army leader out of hiding, the Times of London reports. "Forget other celebrities, she is the one," Moreno Ocampo wrote in one email in 2012. "She loves to arrest Kony. She is ready. Probably Brad will go also."

"Apparently you can be embedded with the special forces that are chasing Kony. Can Brad go with you?" Moreno Ocampo wrote in an email to Jolie, per the Times. She replied: "Brad is being supportive. Let's discuss logistics. Much love Xxx." There are no other references to the plan in the 40,000 leaked emails, and Jolie has declined to comment. Moreno Ocampo served as the ICC's top prosecutor from 2003 to 2012 and the leaked emails suggest he was starstruck by celebrities, especially Jolie, People reports. They discussed several issues over the years, but she stopped replying to his emails toward the end of his time at the ICC. He got no response to an email saying: "Dear Angie, I hope you are well. I miss you." Kony, meanwhile, is still at large.

(Read more Angelina Jolie stories.)
A Colorado man out for a hike has died from a rattlesnake bite. Daniel Hohs, 31, was with a friend on Saturday when he was nipped on the ankle by a 4-foot-long snake, the Post Independent reports. Hohs took a few steps and sat down. His friend called for help at 12:40pm, but emergency responders had to hike about 1.5 miles from the trailhead in Golden to reach him. It took them 22 minutes. During that time, a doctor who was on the trail tended to him. Hohs, an endurance athlete, was rushed by ambulance to a hospital, but it was too late. He died a short time later, per KKTV. No cause of death was released pending an autopsy. Signs on the trails outside Denver warn there are snakes in the area, and hikers tell CBS4 you have to stay alert.

"I have seen rattlesnakes," says one local. "You really have to use your senses. Watch for them, listen for them, and speak with other people coming the opposite way." Hohs, who competed in triathlons, liked to recruit friends into the sport. Training partner Heather Gollnick called Hohs "so vibrant" with a "huge smile and this energy that just made you happy. It was contagious to everyone." Colorado is home to two types of rattlesnakes, per KKTV. State reptile specialist Tina Jackson says hikers who encounter snakes should leave them alone. "In most cases, the snake is not going to bother you," she says. "Don't try to kill it." Fatal snakebites are rare; chances of dying from a lightning strike are higher. (A copperhead surprised a woman in a restaurant.)
The "deal" with President Trump on DACA that top Democrats spoke of last month is still very much a work in progressand the two sides are so far apart that it might not happen at all. In a list of "principles" released by the White House Sunday night, the Trump administration called for hard-line immigration measures to "mitigate" granting legal status to Dreamers, including funding the border wall, hiring 10,000 new ICE agents, and cracking down on unaccompanied minors arriving in the US illegally, reports Reuters. The proposals "live up to the president's campaign commitment to have an immigration system that puts the needs of hardworking Americans first," a senior administration official says.

Democrats said they were appalled by the proposals, which include cuts to legal immigration. The list "is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community, and to the vast majority of Americans," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a joint statement Sunday night, per the Washington Post. "We told the president at our meeting that we were open to reasonable border security measures ... but this list goes so far beyond what is reasonable. This proposal fails to represent any attempt at compromise." White House sources tell Politico that Trump was not heavily involved in crafting the proposals, which the administration sees as an "opening bid" for a deal on Dreamers. (Read more Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals stories.)
Relations between the US and its NATO ally Turkey are going downhill fastand many travelers have been caught in the diplomatic crossfire. Both countries abruptly suspended the issuing of most visitor visas for each other Sunday in a tit-for-tat move apparently sparked by the arrest of an employee of the US Consulate in Istanbul, the Washington Post reports. The consulate staffer was charged with espionage and accused of having links to Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric who lives in Pennsylvania. The Turkish government blames Gulen for the 2016 coup attempt against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In a statement Sunday, the US embassy in Ankara said nonimmigrant visa services for US citizens had been suspended because the commitment of Turkish authorities to the security of the US diplomatic mission had been suspended. Turkey fired back hours later with an almost identical statement about visa services for Americans, per the BBC. Reuters reports that US-Turkish relations, already strained by attempts to extradite Gulen, started going downhill faster after violence broke out at a protest during Erdogan's visit to the US in May. Turkey was also angered by the Trump administration's decision to side with a Kurdish group in the fight against ISIS. (Read more Turkey stories.)
"I don't know. I'm not a diplomat" is an odd statement to make if you're a high-ranking US Cabinet official tasked with critical matters of diplomacy. Yet those words were uttered by the US secretary of state during a September meeting at the UN regarding Iran's nuclear weapons program, the kickoff anecdote in Dexter Filkins' deep dive in the New Yorker into the Trump administration oddity that is Rex Tillerson. From a hardscrabble childhood in Texas, Tillerson ascended to the top of the Exxon hierarchy, where he got used to calling the shots and making major decisions of his own volition. It's a drastically different role than his current post as President Trump's foreign policy chief, where the reticent former executive now finds himself in a job "marked by strife and confusion" and "uncomfortably subordinate to an unpredictable man," Filkins writes.

The story delves into Tillerson's "mixed" legacy at Exxon, including his attempts to rehab the company's image on climate change, as well as an almost obsessive drive to make multibillion-dollar deals with overseas entities, even those that may have flouted US foreign policy; his "very close" relationship to Vladimir Putin receives special note. His challenges now are quite different, including a high number of vacancies in the State Department, a seeming inability to keep up with the day-to-day, and a reportedly sour relationship with UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. "Rex  f---ing hates her," one official says. The undercutting of Tillerson's efforts by the president himself is only adding to the pile-on that has observers wondering how much more he can take. "Tillerson was contemplating his retirement from Exxon, after which he could do whatever he wanted.  Now he's got to feel like he's covered in s---," one aide says. "I can't imagine this is what he expected." Entire profile here. (Read more Rex Tillerson stories.)
A Saudi woman who appeared in a video driving a car in Riyadh was briefly detained for violating the country's ban on women driving, which is set to be lifted in June, per the AP. The state-linked Sabq news website reported on Monday that the woman in the video, who was unnamed, was identified and summoned by security authorities. AFP notes she was spotted driving out of a hotel in the capital. "We call on all Saudi citizens to respect the law and wait until the ban on women driving formally ends," a police spokesman says.

The spokesman adds that the woman wasn't arrested, and that the car's owner was also booked for breaking traffic rules. Her male guardiantypically a woman's father or husbandwas then asked to sign a pledge that she wouldn't violate traffic regulations again. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world to ban women from driving. King Salman announced last month that women will be granted driving licenses and be allowed to drive next summer. The decision came after decades of struggle by women's rights activists. (Read more Saudi Arabia stories.)
The Trump administration will abandon the Obama-era Clean Power Plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said Monday. "The war on coal is over," he said, per the New York Times. Speaking in Kentucky coal country, Pruitt said he will sign a proposed rule on Tuesday "to withdraw the so-called Clean Power Plan of the past administration." The plan aimed to restrict greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants and steer states toward cleaner sources of electricity. It was a centerpiece of the Obama administration's environmental policies, reports the AP.

The Environmental Protection Agency will declare that the Obama-era rule exceeded federal law by setting emissions standards that power plants could not reasonably meet. "The EPA and no federal agency should ever use its authority to say to you we are going to declare war on any sector of our economy," Pruitt said. He spoke at an event with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The move means the US likely wouldn't be able to meet emissions standards as part of the Paris climate accord, which President Trump has vowed to ditch. (Read more Scott Pruitt stories.)
Two months after police in Salt Lake City, Utah, shot and killed 50-year-old black man Patrick Harmon, the Salt Lake County district attorney determined Wednesday their use of deadly force was justified. Soon after, the police department released body cam footage of the shooting, sparking outrage among many in the community who believe Officer Clinton Fox shot Harmon in the back unnecessarily, CNN reports. Even District Attorney Sim Gill says when he first saw the video he thought, "Oh my god, this isn't right," CBS News reports. But after slowing the video down Gill says one could see Harmon pivoting toward the officers. Since Harmon was shot in the side, and since a knife police claim Harmon was holding was found at the scene, Gill determined the officers feared for their safety.

Members of Harmon's family say they see things differently, especially after viewing the footage Thursday. They say Harmon, who had been pulled over by the officers after riding his bicycle across six lanes of traffic without a red tail light on Aug. 13, was bipolar and schizophrenic. One of Harmon's nieces, Alisha Shaw, told the Guardian, "They just murdered him flat-out." The Salt Lake City Police Department had received praise before the shooting for its implementation of de-escalation training, which had resulted in more than two-and-a-half years without a fatal officer-involved shooting in the city. But, according to a local Black Lives Matter activist, that training failed Patrick Harmon. That officer disregarded his de-escalation training, Lex Scott says. How could anyone with eyes and ears believe that that officer was justified? (Read more Utah stories.)
The concerned father of a University of Pittsburgh student broke into his daughter's room at an off-campus home when she didn't come to the door and found her dead, the student's brother said. Alina Sheykhet, 20, was the victim of blunt force trauma, and the case was ruled a homicide, police said. Artem Sheykhet, Alina Sheykhet's brother, told television station WPXI he learned of his sister's death upon waking up Sunday, his 25th birthday, the AP reports. He said when his parents went to pick up his sister, her housemates said she was still sleeping. When she didn't answer, he said, his father kicked in her door and found her on the floor.

Alina Sheykhet was working toward becoming a physical therapist, her brother said. Her Facebook page indicates she attended high school in a Pittsburgh suburb after moving from Ivanovo, Russia. Police said the young woman's parents contacted them around 9am Sunday. Neighbors reported a party at the house Saturday night attended by about 30 people, but police have not said whether that figures in their investigation. "We do not believe at this time that this was a random act of violence," Police Chief Scott Schubert said in a statement. The university issued a statement expressing sadness and extending "its deepest sympathies to the student's family and those who knew her." Counselors were available Monday for students who needed them.

(Read more homicide stories.)
Donald Trump's first presidential proclamation of Columbus Day was long on praise for the famed explorer but failed to mention the Native Americans who were here when he arrived. Dated Friday, the proclamation honored Christopher Columbus as a "skilled navigator and man of faith, whose courageous feat brought together continents" and "fundamentally changed the course of human history," USA Today reports. It also called Columbus, a native of Genoa, a representative of the "rich history of Italian American contributions to our great nation." But unlike his predecessor, Barack Obama, Trump's proclamation says nothing about the indigenous populations that were almost wiped out by diseases and enslaved by the arriving Europeans, CNN reports.

Trump's proclamation comes at a particularly fraught time for the Columbus Day holiday. In August, Los Angeles stopped celebrating the holiday, choosing instead to honor native cultures with Indigenous People's Day. On Thursday the Austin City Council voted to do the same, joining other cities like Seattle and Portland, Oregon. At least 16 states don't recognize Columbus day as an official state holiday, including Alaska and Hawaii. The last president to fail to mention Native Americans in his Columbus Day proclamation was George W. Bush. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
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New Delhi:

Chiefs of several global and Indian oil companies, including Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, want petroleum products to be included in the Goods and Services Tax, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said.

Briefing reporters about the todays meeting of CEOs of oil companies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kant said global oil giants, including Saudi Aramco and Moscow-controlled oil giant Rosneft, have committed to increasing investment in India.

The prime minister, Kant said, has assured the industry that the Centre would discuss the issue with the states which suffer from fear of the unknown.

Vedanta Resources Group Chairman Anil Agarwal said India is rich in mineral resources and hundreds of companies like Cairn India can function in India.

Modi also underlined the importance of development of infrastructure in eastern India and northeast India.

According to Kant, CEOs also said India has potential to become a gas-based economy.

Modi, also wanted to institutionalised the conference which is attracting CEOs from world top oil companies.

Modi on Monday met BP Plc Chief Executive Bob Dudley, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Royal Dutch Shells Project and Technology Director Harry Brekelmens, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Naseer, Exxon Mobil President for Gas and Power Rob Franklin, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Vedanta Resources head Anil Agarwal to discuss the oil and gas scenario.

Government think-tank Niti Aayog made a short presentation on the status, the likely scenario of demand and supply by 2030 and current government policies.

OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting. Former oil secretaries Vivek Rae and Vijay Kelkar too were invited.

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New Delhi:

Protesting against proposed Delhi Metro fare hike, a group of NSUI activists on Monday stopped a metro train in its tracks on the Yellow Line.

The proposed hike will come into effect on Monday.

The incident occurred at the Vishwavidyalaya station of the busy corridor, connecting north Delhi to Gurgaon, around 12 pm. The protest disrupted metro services on Line 2.

NSUI Delhi president Akshay along with two other activists stopped the metro due to the unjustified fare hike. We demand that the proposed hike be rolled back and students be provided subsidised passes, an NSUI spokesperson said.

The Delhi government has been opposing the fare hike with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal even offering to take over the operations of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The Centre, however, told the Delhi government it would need to pay Rs 3,000 crore annually for five years if it wanted to stop the metro fare hike.

If the hike is effected, the fares will go up by a maximum of Rs 10.

The existing fare structure is: up to 2 kmsRs 10, 2-5 kmsRs 15, 5-12 kmsRs 20, 12-21 kmsRs 30, 21-32 kms -- Rs 40 and for journeys beyond 32 kmsRs 50.

From October 10, for a distance of up to two kilometres, the fare will remain Rs 10, but for a distance between two and five kilometres, it will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20.

From October 10, for a distance of up to two kilometres, the fare will remain Rs 10, but for a distance between two and five kilometres, it will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20.

For the subsequent slabs, it will go up by Rs 10 each, which means the maximum fare will be Rs 60. PTI

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New Delhi:

Security provided outside Kancha Illaiahs residence on Sunday after he complained of threatening calls from Arya Vysya Sangam.

Earlier on October 3, Civil society forum SAHMAT condemned the attack on noted Dalit writer and thinker Kancha Ilaiah, saying the tide of hounding intellectuals has become the new normal.

In a statement, SAHMAT (Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust) said civil society must stand up against goondaism and demand security for Iliah, before we have another Gauri Lankesh.

Lankesh, a veteran journalist, was gunned down by unidentified assailants outside her residence on September 5 in Bengaluru.

Ilaiah had on September 23 filed a police complaint in Parkal in Warangal, Telangana, alleging that four people attacked his vehicle in the town and tried to kill him.

The Arya Vysya community has taken offence over Ilaiahs book Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu (Vysyas are social smugglers) and are demanding an apology from the writer.

SAHMAT said the book in question is a reprinted version of a chapter titled Social Smuggler from Iliahs earlier work called Post-Hindu India published in 2009.

The booklet at the center of this row, explains the age old centralisation of wealth in the hands of Baniya caste in cahoots with Brahmins at the expense of Dalit-bahujans and Adivasis.

After the brutal murder of Govind Pansare, Narendra Dhabolkar, M M Kalburgi and the recent brutal killing of Gauri Lankesh, this tide of hounding the intellectuals to their brutal death is becoming a new normal, Ashok Kumari, Secretary of SAHMAT, said.

Kancha Ilaiah is an Indian political theorist, writer and activist for Dalit rights. He is a prolific writer in both English as well as Telugu.

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News:

A top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad was gunned down by the Indian Army in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district on Monday. Inspector general of police, Kashmir range, Muneer Khan confirmed the killing of Jaish-e-Mohammad operational chief of Kashmir, Khalid.

Khalid was behind several Fidayeen attacks on security forces in the region, added Khan.

Another Jammu and Kashmir police officer not willing to be named said Khalid alias Khalid Bhai was a Pakistani national.

He had infiltrated to India between July and August this year. Khalid was categorised in A++ list of Militants  most wanted, added the officer.

Another senior Jammu and Kashmir police officer said, "Pakistani militant Jaish Khalid was gunned down by the Indian Army during a fierce battle near Ladoora village, around 60 kilometers from Srinagar."

Also read| J&K: Pakistan violates ceasefire in Poonch sector, Indian Army retaliates



Khalid was the operation commander of JeM in north Kashmir.

The officer added, Khalid along with other militants opened fired at army team patrolling near Baramulla-Handwara highway. Taking position security forces immediately retaliated.

Khalid was injured during the retaliation firing. The operational chief escaped from the encounter site and took shelter in a building at Ladoora village, he added.

Also read: Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa says ready to fight war at short notice



According to the officer, security forces cornered injured Khalid and asked him to surrender but he opened fire.

Security forces retaliated to Khalids firing in which he was killed, said the police officer.

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New Delhi:

An Indian Army officer was killed in an encounter with terrorists at Jammu and Kashmirs Badgam district on Monday morning.

According to sources, terrorists opened fire at a party of the 53rd Battalion of Rashtriya Rifles  dedicated unit of the Indian Army  was on combing operation at Drang Village in Badgam district.

A senior Army officer not willing to be named said that the killed army personnel was a junior commission officer.

Jammu and Kashmir: A party of the 53 RR was fired upon in the Drang Village of Badgam by terrorists, one soldier lost his life in crossfire

A senior police officer of Jammu and Kashmir said, The RR party was in combing operation in the area when the terrorists opened fire at the team.

Combing operations was launched in the area after intelligence alerted presence of terrorists in Badgam region.

Also read: J&K: Soldier martyred as Pakistan violates ceasefire in Keran sector

The army officer suffered fatal bullet injuries in the cross firing and later succumbed to his injuries.

In an another incident, terrorists have attacked security forces at Baramullas Ladoora.

Sources said, security forces have cordoned the area and a massive manhunt has been launched to nab the terrorists.

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New Delhi:

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, who leaves no opportunity to attack BJP, took a potshot at his own party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi. He said: I think only two people can be Congress President - mother or son. Rahul has already said he is ready to contest the election.

Aiyars comments show his displeasure for being sidelined in the grand old party. The Congress leader had once bet for Rahul and had advocated to appoint him as party president after witnessing defeat in UP Assembly polls in March 2017.

He had pitched a role of a mentor for party president Sonia Gandhi and had asserted that the Congress has to move from being an inclusive party to setting up "an inclusive alliance".

On Sonia's role in the party when Rahul is anointed president, Aiyar had said, "I expect her to play the role of Lee Kuan Yew, first mentor."

"I hope her health is good enough. So, she would be available as the most important mentor that the Congress party has and let Rahul Gandhi, who still, for at least a few years, belongs to the generation that constitutes about 70 per cent of our population" become the part president, the former Union minister had said.

A change of heart shows his discontentment against the party leadership to which he reflected on Sunday.

Also Read: Mani Shankar Aiyar backs Jairam Ramesh, says Congress needs new ideas, thoughts

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New Delhi:

The Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch sector late night on Sunday. The Indian Army also retaliated strongly to unprovoked firing which continued for two hours.

In another violation on Friday, the Pakistani troops had targeted Indian posts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

The troops resorted to small arms firing along forward areas in Baba Khori and Kala along LoC around 1930 hours, a senior district officer had said.

The firing was going on intermittently, he had said, adding there was no casualty.

#FLASH: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector late last night; exchange of fire continued for two hours. pic.twitter.com/o4w1K2ds0w  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

The Pakistani Army had targeted the Poonch sector by initiating unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars on October 4.

Also Read: J-K: Pakistan violates ceasefire in Digwar sector of Poonch district; Army retaliates

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New Delhi:

Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi while addressing a gathering of students in Srinagar vowed to make all efforts to ensure the safety of Kashmiri children.

"I will make appeals and prayers for you and need be, I will struggle too, provided you stay away from violence." Satyarthi was born in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh.

He urged the children in Jammu and Kashmir to stay away from violence and said "together, we will win this battle".

Satyarthi, who is on his "Bharat Yatra" to spread awareness about crimes against children reached Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.

He addressed students drawn from various schools. "I will knock the doors of governments in Delhi and in Srinagar. Tell them to allow children to study and rise as high as they can," he said at the gathering.

Without naming separatists and militants who are spreading unrest and violence in the Valley, he urged them to not use children to achieve their goals.

"Children...can achieve everything with education. They are your children and our children too," he said.

Last week, he held several programmes in Uttar Pradesh. He had begun his Yatra from Kanyakumari.

After completing an electrical engineering degree, he worked as a teacher. In 1980, he left teaching and founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which has freed thousands of children from slave-like conditions.

He said nearly nine lakh people have taken the pledge to fight child abuse. "Our target was 10 lakh but we are going to cross 12 lakh. One crore people have taken the pledge online," he said.

(With PTI Inputs)

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New Delhi:

Eyeing investment in energy sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted CEOs of top global and Indian companies, including BP of the UK, Russiaas Rosneft, Saudi Aramco and Reliance Industries.

The meeting was aimed to revive investment in oil and gas exploration and production.

Modi held talks with BP Plc Chief Executive Bob Dudley, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Royal Dutch Shellas Project and Technology Director Harry Brekelmens, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Naseer, Exxon Mobil President for Gas and Power Rob Franklin, RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Vedanta Resources head Anil Agarwal for over two hours to discuss the global oil and gas scenario.

The main theme of the meeting, sources said, was to seek investment in exploration and production, processing, transportation and distribution network in oil and gas.

The Niti Aayog made a short presentation on the status, the likely scenario of demand and supply by 2030 and current government policies.

This is the second meeting Prime Minister had with CEOs of oil majors.

His first meeting was in January 2016 where suggestions for reforming natural gas prices were made. More than a year later, the government allowed higher natural gas price for yet-to-be-produced fields in difficult areas like deep sea.

The government is looking at private investment to raise domestic oil and gas production, which has stagnated for the last few years while fuel demand has been rising by 5-6 per cent annually.

India is dependent on imports to meet its 80 per cent of the demand and more than half of its natural gas requirements.

The prime minister in 2015 had set a target of reducing Indiaas oil dependence by 10 per cent to 67 per cent (based on import dependence of 77 per cent in 2014-15) by 2022.

Import dependence has only increased since then and the government is now looking for ways to raise domestic output.

#Visuals PM Narendra Modi interacted with oil and gas CEOs and experts from across the world, today in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/4pn878H5IU a ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting. Former oil secretaries Vivek Rae and Vijay Kelkar were also invited for the meeting.

Pradhan told the gathering that the liberalised India offers around USD 300 billion investment opportunity in the next 10 years in the oil and gas sector.

aWe want investors, both domestic and global, who can bring in the best technology and capital,a he said.

The government is devising policies to increase share of gas in the energy basket to 15 per cent from 7 per cent.

aWe are planning a gas trading exchange and making sure there is open access to the gas grid. Global experience in this area would be useful,a he stated.

According to Pradhan, in the last 40 months, the government has taken several policy initiatives in the energy sector in line with the prime ministeras vision of energy access, efficiency, sustainability and security.

Also present at the meeting were ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Shashi Shanker, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Chairman Sanjiv Singh, GAIL India head B C Tripathi, Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) Chairman Mukesh Kumar Suran, Oil India Chairman Utpal Bora and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) Chairman D Rajkumar.A

(With PTI Inputs)

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New Delhi:

On his first visit to his birthplace since occupying the top post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid an unplanned visit to the school he attended.

According to news agency ANI, PM Modi was on his way to inaugurate a multi-specialty hospital 100 kilometres from Ahmedabad and when he visited the school.A

Modi, who once sold tea at the Vadnagar railway station, recalled his journey to Delhi from Gujarat where he was the chief minister for 13 years from 2001.

He said he has managed to serve the nation with the blessings of Lord Shiva since 2001 despite some people "spewing venom" at him during these years. He was apparently referring to the attacks on him during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister after the riots of 2002 in the state.

"Vadnagar has taught me to drink poison," he said, while noting that his birthplace is the land of Shiva, like Kashi (Varanasi), his Lok Sabha constituency.

Modi was addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a newly-built medical college and launching an immunization programme here

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New Delhi:

Uttar Pradesh Minister minister has threatened parents to send their wards to schools or be prepared to be locked up in police stations.

The diktat was passed by UP Divyaang Empowerment Minister Om Prakash Rajbahar during a party meeting at Uttar Pradeshs Rasda.

If wards of poor do not go to school, their parents will be forced to sit in police stations for five days without food and water. I am going to enact a law of my own, said Rajbahar.

He warned the parents to send their children to schools or to face the music.

Send your wards to school or police will pick you (parents), said the Divyaang minister.

The minister added, Till now your leader, son, brother and close ones were trying to make you understand. You did not pay heed. I will try for next six months and if you still do not understand get ready to be picked up by police.

His statement stoked controversy but the minister firmly stood on his statement.

The minister said, Why are they not sending their children to school when government is providing all facilities for education.

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New Delhi:

Post-Dokalam, the Indian government is planning to take measures to reduce its dependence on China for pharmaceutical products. The recent rift between two countries has triggered the government to take actions which will help in lessening the reliance on China.

To limit the dependence on the China as well as tighten the regulatory check and balances to ensure only good quality supplies are entering the market, the health ministry along with drug regulators is planning to take a slew of measures.

India might face a major risk of severe drug shortage if India's diplomatic relations with China exacerbate further as India gets around 70-80 percent of its medicines and medical devices supplies, including raw material for pharmaceuticals (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) from China.

Even, National security Adviser Ajit Doval has also warned the government about India's reliance on China for API in 2014 and stressed that how spar between the countries can put the public health system of India in jeopardy.

A committee spearheaded by experts was formed to penned down the specific policy to bolster API manufacturing in India, after the Doval's warning.

The government list of regulatory and financial measures includes routine inspections of plants, higher registration charges, hike in licensing fee, tougher sourcing procedures, higher customs duty and deeper scrutiny of the supply chain.

"We do not want the trade to cease between the two countries. The idea is to regulate small foreign players who may not be supplying quality products but giving pricing advantage.

This, in turn, is hurting the interest of Indian patients as well as the industry. We want to create a level playing field for Indian companies and also ensure good quality products for Indian patients," Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) G N Singh said.

To hike registration charges and licensing fee, the government is thinking to make changes to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules.

The imposition of tougher norms on Chinese companies is not the solution, the government has to take some measures to foster the growth of Indian industry.

Also, according to the industry executives, Indian companies are subjected to much higher fees when they sell their products in China or in other countries.

"The measures are important to bring a parity to fee structures but it has its consequences like impact on prices and competition," says DG Shah, secretary general of Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.

The landed price of API from China in India is 15-20% less than its production cost here, making it more viable for companies to import. Goods move also reduces importing computers from China. Instead, import from the US which is original...Chinese goods are fake.

Stop getting their network equipment they can evesdrop..NSA advisory.."Once the government strengthens the regulatory mechanism and imposes higher fee structures, a lot of fly by night operators will stop operating in this space.

While Indian players will benefit from this, it will also ensure patient safety," said Himanshu Baid, managing director of Ploy Medicure and chairman of CII Medical Technology Division.Currently, API accounts for less than 10% of India's over Rs 1 lakh crore pharmaceutical industry.

However, India was once a favored destination for sourcing low-cost, good quality raw material for manufacturing medicines. Gradually, China has taken over this bulk drug market globally in the past few years by creating huge capacities
New Delhi:

It was in the year 2005 that NASA's scientists were attracted towards the star, officially titled KIC 8462852, and sometimes called Boyajians Star. While monitoring the F-type main-sequence star, NASAs Kepler Space Telescope captured a series of rapid dimming events.

"We propose that the secular dimming behaviour is the result of the inspiral of a planetary body or bodies into KIC 8462852, which took place ~10 to 1e4 years ago", astronomers wrote in an April 2017 study.

"Up until this work, we had thought that the star's changes in brightness were only occurring in one direction - dimming", Simon explained.

The star has been observed having unusual dips in brightness, which do not characterize other normal stellar objects that are slightly more massive than the sun.

Located in the constellation Cygnus, approximately 1,280 light-years from Earth, KIC 8462852, also known as Tabbys Star or Boyajians Star, exhibited strange fluctuations in brightness seen by the Kepler Space Telescope during its primary mission searching the region for exoplanets.

In 2016, Tabetha Boyajian of Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge led a study of the star, which resulted in it being unofficially nicknamed in her honour.

Video: Three Aliens spaceship spying International Space Station

A new study using NASA's Spitzer and Swift missions, as well as the Belgian AstroLAB IRIS observatory, suggests that the cause of the dimming over long periods is likely an uneven dust cloud moving around the star. This discounts the "alien megastructure" notion and other exotic speculations.

The smoking gun: Researchers found less dimming in the infrared light from the star than in its ultraviolet light. Any object larger than dust particles would dim all wavelengths of light equally when passing in front of Tabby's Star.

"This pretty much rules out the alien megastructure theory, as that could not explain the wavelength-dependent dimming," said Huan Meng, who did the research as part of a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona. Meng, who graduated with a PhD from the UA's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in 2014, is the lead author of the new study published in the Astrophysical Journal. "We suspect, instead, there is a cloud of dust orbiting the star with a roughly 700-day orbital period."

According to the study, it has been found that the dimming is caused by particles of dust, but it does not really specify the origin of the dust, which could be direct or indirect results of the planetary impact events.

It only explains the long-term dimming and not the sudden short-term dimming events.

Also Read: Aliens do exist? New Alien galaxies slamming Earth with cosmic rays

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New Delhi :

Bangladeshi youth has been on the run from the police for defying a state imposed ban on marrying member of the Rohingya refugee.

Shoaib Hossain Jewel, a 25 year old youth married Rafiza and have been on the run since last month.

Bangladesh have given shelter to thousands of Rohingya refugees who has been facing violence at the hands of Mayanmarese army. The state has also imposed a ban on local citizens marrying members of the Rohingya refugees.

The ban on marrying members of the Rohingya muslim community has been imposed by the Bangladeshi administration in order to prevent them from applying for citizenship in the country since 2014.

The Bangladeshi police have not yet been able to trace the whereabouts of Babul Hossain even after interrogating his parents.

The police authorities of Bangladesh are strictly monitoring movements in the refugee camps in order to prevent women and child trafficking since many have come without parents or guardian.

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Moscow:

At least three thousand people were evacuated from a shopping centre in Moscow after a massive fire broke out, Russias emergency services ministry said on Sunday.

About 55,000 square metres (592,000 square feet) of the commercial centre, which specialises in building materials, was engulfed in flames from around 1850 GMT on Sunday, the ministry said in a statement.

Billowing clouds of thick black smoke rose into the sky above the partially collapsed roof of the structure, an AFP journalist observed.

In total, 3,000 people were evacuated from the building, the ministry said, adding that the fire caused injuries according to preliminary information.

More than 290 firefighters, 170 firefighting vehicles and three helicopters were dispatched to the scene.

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Islamabad:

Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) sleuths on Monday arrested the son-in-law of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from Benazir Bhutto International Airport in connection with corruption cases pending against him.

NAB officials took the former army captain Muhammad Safdar into custody minutes after his arrival from London.

Safdar has been nominated by NAB in one of the three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Pakistan'sformer premier Sharif, his daughter Maraym, sons Husain and Hasan and his son-in-law Safdar.

The couple had arrived to appear before an anti-graft tribunal in connection with the NAB reference pertaining to London properties owned by the Sharif family. Safdar was later presented before a court in Islamabad, NAB officials said. Maryam, who was not detained, separately appeared in the same court for the first time.

However, Sharif and his two sons were absent as they are in London where 67-year-old Sharif's wife is battling throat cancer.

Sharif attended the previous two hearings but went to London last week to see his ailing wife. The court held a brief hearing and took a break before announcing the hearing will resume shortly. During the brief hearing, Maryam was given copies of the case documents.

Also Read: Sharif's indictment over corruption cases deferred to October 9

Sharif's lawyer also presented an application to exempt him from appearing as he was with his wife in London. The trial judge had earlier issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Safdar and Sharif's two sons for failing to appear in court at the last hearing held on October 2.

The court, however, repeated the bailable warrants forSharif's daughter. "We are going back and will appear before the court and go through the wheels of justice. We respect the rule of law and the Constitution," local media quoted Maryam as saying.

Asked whether her brothers would return to Pakistan to face the NAB references against them, she said, "Hassan and Hussain would themselves tell you about their decision". Safdar told Geo News that the couple had decided to return to Pakistan on the advice of their lawyers.

Sharif had to step down as prime minister and president of the ruling PML-N party after he was disqualified by theSupreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers scandal. Sharif was re-elected as the president of the rulingPML-N on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the people's mandate and democracy.

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New Delhi :



In a major development, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has promoted his younger sister Kim Yo Jong to a new post at the ruling Worker's Party of Korea.

The promotion happened to mark the 20th anniversary of Kim Jong Il's acceptance of the title of general secretary. The position is that of alternate member of the decision-making political bureau of the party's central committee.

The elevation happened on Sunday night in the presence of thousands, mostly youngsters who gathered at the Kim II Sung square in Pyongyang and marked the anniversary with dance and firework.

In his address to the gathering Kim asserted North Korea's defiance of the US and promised to revive the economy amidst international sanctions.

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Kiev:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, during a visit to Ukraine, that Turkey wont recognise Russias annexation of Crimea.

Erdogan said during visit to Kiev on Monday that Turkey will continue to support Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Russia and Ukraine have been in a tug-of-war following Moscows annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Erdogan said that Ankara will continue to follow the situation of Crimean Tatars, and thanked Ukraine for defending their rights.

Some Crimean Tatar activists have complained of infringements on the rights of the Turkic ethnic group after Russias annexation of the Black Sea region.

Erdogans statement comes even though he has sought to maintain warm ties with Russia and cooperated with it on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria.

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Moscow:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday warned his US counterpart Rex Tillerson that Washington risks sparking an unacceptable escalation in tensions with North Korea.

In a phone call with US Secretary of State Tillerson, Lavrov stressed the unacceptability of an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula, which the American military preparations in the region are leading to, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russias top diplomat called for resolution of differences exclusively through diplomatic methods.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that diplomatic efforts with North Korea have consistently failed.

He also tweeted last week that Tillerson was wasting his time trying to negotiate and added that: only one thing will work!

The US has not ruled out the use of force to compel Pyongyang to halt missile and nuclear tests, and Trump has threatened to destroy the country.

The US and its ally South Korea staged drills in September near the heavily-fortified border with North Korea.

China has proposed a plan, which Russia has backed, in which North Korea would suspend its nuclear weapons programme in return for the United States halting its military drills in the region.

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DANBURY - UFO investigators will conduct a conference Saturday to share information and collect eyewitness accounts about unexplained sightings, according to a release.

The UFO converence is planned at the Danbury Library, 170 Main Street.
By Ben Axelson | baxelson@nyup.com

Just in time for the start of peak foliage season, Trip Advisor has named its "20 best fall vacations in America for seeing the colors."

Two places in Upstate New York made the list: Cooperstown, in Central New York, and Saugerties, in the Catskills.

The 20 cities that made the list were included for their "breathtaking beauty of their natural surroundings" and "incredible fall foliage." Here's what Trip Advisor said about each spot.

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Photo courtesy of Hunter Mountain

Saugerties, Ulster County

"This one's a real hit with weekending New Yorkers, who come to soak up views of the Catskills and the Hudson River on long meandering hikes. Save half a day for discovering the Opus 40 quarry sculpture park, a good pick for both kids and adults."

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ThisisCooperstown.com

Cooperstown, Otsego County

"New Yorkers love Cooperstown, with its farm-fresh dining scene, forested hills, and great hiking and biking trails. Don't miss Otsego Lake and Gilbert and Glimmerglass State Parks, where you can wander right into the vibrant foliage of the changing season."

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Nearby neighbors

The list also includes plenty of towns, cities and villages in New York's neighboring states that might be worth your time to visit as well, including:

Kent, CT

Stowe, VT

Wellsboro, PA

Milford, PA

Manchester, VT

Lenox, MA

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Peak foliage

Of course, there are plenty of other great places right here in Upstate New York to see spectacular fall colors. Some, including parts of the Adirondacks near Tupper Lake and Whiteface Mountain, reached peak colors this weekend.

Others, including Alexandria Bay in the Thousand Islands and Skaneateles in the Finger Lakes, still have a few good weekends of color ahead of them.

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Don't Edit

READ MORE: 23 places to see spectacular fall foliage in Upstate NY

Vibrant reds, oranges and yellows paint the landscape during fall in Upstate New York, creating stunning settings throughout the region. Truly appreciate the beauty of the season by visiting one of these beautiful places in Upstate New York during fall.
In his 19th-century drama An Enemy of the People, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen pits two brothers against each other in a dilemma fraught with ethical, political and economic repercussions.

Yale Repertory Theatres current production, officially opening Thursday, Oct. 12, at the The University Theatre, features Yale School of Drama classmates and former brothers-in-arms Reg Rogers and Enrico Colantoni. The production, directed by YSD Dean and Yale Rep Artistic Director James Bundy, reunites Rogers and Colantoni on the Rep stage for the first time since the pair graduated in 1993.

We complement each other in many ways, said Rogers, who plays Dr. Thomas Stockmann in the production, which started public performances Friday.

When James started talking about it, he said, Ive been thinking about who would be your brother, and he mentioned Rico, said Rogers, who performed with Kevin Kline in Noel Cowards Present Laughter this year. I said, Rico? Are you kidding? Yes! Of course, the question with Rico is, is he available? Or is he busy doing film or television somewhere?

Colantoni, who has worked nearly nonstop in such TV hits as Just Shoot Me and Flashpoint, eagerly cleared his schedule to return to New Haven to work with his old pal Reg.

I hadnt done a play in 15 years, said Colantoni, who plays Mayor Peter Stockmann. It seemed that coming home again is a great way to do it.

More Information University Theatre, 222 York St., New Haven, Oct. 6-12, dark Sunday and Monday except Oct. 9, 8 p.m. other nights with 2 p.m. matinees on most Saturdays and on Oct. 18. $30-$90. See More Collapse

Reg and I always had fun working together in grad school, Colantoni said. We sort of fed off of each other. There was no judgment. I always felt we had great empathy for each other. Both of us are a little offbeat. We had something weird about us, and we sort of relished that.

Were better now then we were, naturally, said Rogers, and we get to  just not set anything. Just feel it out.

I just did Present Laughter with Kevin Kline, Rogers said. You went into the scene, even on the closing night, going, Alright, get on your toes, get on your toes! Whats gonna happen?

And to be able to do that with somebody else, this is what it should be, Rogers said of Colantoni. This is fun.

An Enemy of the People, which opens Yale Reps new season and continues through Oct. 28, is set in a small Norwegian town renowned for its healing waters. When Dr. Thomas Stockmann uncovers a toxic and potentially lethal element that, were its nature publicly disclosed, would possibly bankrupt the town. Mayor Peter Stockmann, fearing his constituents ruination, fights to bury his brothers discovery in eternal secrecy.

Its astonishing that Ibsen wrote a play in 1882 that is as resonant with contemporary culture, said Bundy. It makes you realize what a great poet can do in terms of observing human behavior and motives, and packing them into a story that is both timely and timeless.

Colantoni, who was also in TVs Person of Interest, said that its surprising that Ibsens play has grown in poignancy over the past 135 years.

In light of how polarized this whole country is with politics these days, its such a great play to listen to and feel like it doesnt take sides at all, said Colantoni, a native of Toronto, Canada. Everybody in the play has a strong point of view and a valid point of view. Whats really at stake is, is it really for the benefit of the whole? Or the individual and what he believes is right? Do we want to talk about climate change but not give up our fossil fuel-injected vehicles? How many of us are really ready to make that change?

Writing the main characters as brothers, Bundy said, raises the stakes in several ways.

I think that he was recognizing the ways in which nepotism operates in cultures, Bundy said. And also recognizing the complexity of family dynamics, and how they can be played out in political life. And, as many great dramatists do, he was raising the stakes by combining the story of a family at war with itself and a political culture in which there is also strife.

One of the things the play really brings forward is the way we describe a problem to ourselves, said Bundy. The way in which we are drawn, as human beings, as seeing the problem as being the other person, or the other group of people, as opposed to being a problem that is shared among all people.

Of the myriad translations of An Enemy of the People, many versions, such as Arthur Millers, last seen in New Haven at Long Wharf Theatre during its 1991-92 season, plays as melodrama, with sympathy tilted toward the good Dr. Stockmann fighting nobly against a blood-thirsty rabble. Bundy, Colantoni and Rogers all praised Paul Walsh, professor in the practice of dramaturgy and dramatic criticism at YSD, for his freshly printed translation with its level playing ground.

Its a play about what happens when peoples concern for their own economic well-being comes into tension, or conflict, with their concern for other peoples well-being, said Bundy. These are issues that are being played out in virtually every arena of our society right now. What is our self-interest, and what is our group interest? And what are the ways to negotiate that?

I do my best to not listen to James and Rico talk about why hes right, said Rogers, meaning Colantonis mayor. But I know hes doing whats best. And the thing about the brothers is (that) until we cant sustain it any longer, we want the other to be with us. We dont want to not be brothers, in spite of everything. Its only in the last few minutes of the play that it doesnt sustain itself anymore.

Bundy said that one of the plays biggest issues that resonates with contemporary audiences is how people view problems from only one of two exclusive sides.

We tend to see things in terms of either-or, Bundy said. Its red or its blue. And so often our first framing is not around the problem, but around an enemy.

Theres a reason the play is called An Enemy of the People, not The Enemy of the People, Bundy said. And the phrase has been used since before the first century B.C.E. Its used again in the French Revolution, in Stalins Russia, and used again by the president of the United States in February. So the dynamic of looking for an enemy has yet to go out of style.
NEW HAVEN  While insurance plans have increased restrictions on the prescribing of opioids, the highly addictive drugs are still easily obtainable without limits such as requiring prior authorization, according to a Yale University study.

The researchers compared formularies for Medicare plans from 2006, 2011 and 2015 and found that two-thirds of these drugs were subject to restrictions. One-third, however, did not have such limits.

I think we all know that were in a national opioid crisis right now and we need to know what may be contributing and we need to have all possible strategies at our disposal to help curb this crisis, said Dr. Sanket Dhruva, a cardiologist at the Yale School of Medicine and member of the research team, on Monday.

The study was published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The researchers compared Medicare Advantage and Part D formularies for 2006, 2011 and 2015 because Medicare is often a standard other insurers use for their formularies. Essentially, formularies determine the availability of these medications, Dhruva said. If a drug is not on the formulary, the patient and doctor must go through an appeals process.

If the drugs are available, the insurance companies can use one of three strategies, he said. They may require prior authorization from the insurance company before the prescription will be approved. They can implement so-called step therapy, in which a patient must try drug X before he can receive drug Y, Dhruva said. Or they can limit the quantity of drugs that may be dispensed at one time.

Connecticut passed a law in 2016 limiting most opioid prescriptions to seven days, with some exceptions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines in 2016 for opioid prescriptions, but the Yale researchers found that these were not always followed. Still, a large number of opioids dont have restrictions imposed on them, Dhruva said. We want to make sure that opioids are going to patients that are going to benefit and are not going out in high doses.

Comparing formularies from 2006 with 2015, Its an improvement, but I still think we have a ways to go, he said.

The CDC guidelines use a measure called morphine milligram equivalents to compare different opioid medications and call for a limit of 90 per day on that scale.

They say nothing more than 90 and what we found was, even if there was a quantity limit, 31 percent of the time a patient could receive more than 90 morphine milligram equivalents per day, and 33 percent of the time there were no restrictions placed on the drugs, Dhruva said.

I think that insurance plans  should use these tools that are at their disposal to bring their formularies more in line with the CDCs recommendations and we believe this would likely lead to safer opioid prescribing, Dhruva said.

I think theres an important opportunity here and we hope that the formularies can be part of the solution to addressing this crisis.

More than 900 people died in Connecticut in 2016 of drug overdoses, according to the states chief medical examiners office.

Dr. Dan Knecht, head of clinical strategy and policy for Aetna Inc., said the company has instituted restrictions on all opioid prescriptions. As of Jan. 1, For an initial prescription written, there will be a seven-day limit, he said.

A research study showed that after a patient receives a prescription of more than seven days of opioids, the likelihood of abuse doubles, he said.

He said the insurer sent letters to the top 1 percent of opioid prescribers warning them that they are outliers. We do intervene on these physicians who are excessive prescribers, he said.

Knecht also said Aetna encourages other medications for pain-relief, such as Tylenol and ibuprofen before opioids are prescribed. The company also covers treatments such as physical and occupational therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic, which are proven treatment modalities that do manage pain, he said.

Our formulary has safety guardrails to keep our members safe, Knecht said. But there is a therapeutic relationship between the patient and the physician that we also respect.

According to the CDC, opioid prescriptions peaked in 2010 and declined through 2015, but the dosages increased dramatically. Patients were prescribed an average 180 morphine milligram equivalents per day in 1999 and 640 in 2015.

It is important to prevent patients from becoming addicted to opioids, because many users then move on to illegal street drugs such as heroin or fentanyl. Once you start, it just opens up the door, Dhruva said. Of course, [in] the vast majority it doesnt, but weve got young people dying, weve got people addicted. Weve got a real problem on our hands.

Contact Ed Stannard at edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com or 203-680-9382.
At the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, we are participating in a nationwide educational effort organized by the Value of Water Coalition called Imagine a Day Without Water on Oct, 12 . We are joining hundreds of groups across the country to raise public awareness about the need for reinvestment in drinking water infrastructure and resources.

The American public is already widely supportive of implementing these needed investments. Above any other pressing political issue, Americans name rebuilding our nations infrastructure as the issue they most want our elected officials to address. Two thirds of voters said so in a recent national poll by the Value of Water Campaign. And 82 percent of Americans said in the poll that water infrastructure needed to be a top priority.

But unfortunately, investing in water infrastructure has not been a priority for decades. The federal governments drinking water funds have declined precipitously, leaving states, municipalities and water utilities to make up the difference. While many of these challenges are regionally specific and will require locally driven solutions, reinvestment in our water must be a national priority.

At the RWA, we address our massive infrastructure system of pumps, plants and pipes each year by preparing a prioritized list of improvements, additions and renovations to the water system for projects that are needed to provide for present and future water supply requirements, the protection of the existing water supply, and to meet the water quality standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act. We invest approximately $27 million annually in infrastructure improvements.

Like the majority of American communities, the RWA uses bonds to finance local infrastructure improvements. All of us who pay for water service absorb the cost of this investment primarily through higher water rates because these improvements are the main driver for rate increases. Although the RWAs operating efficiencies, planning and effective use of capital dollars have helped to mitigate rate increases by 16 percent since 2009, we need more help from federal legislation that lowers the cost of borrowing for infrastructure projects.

Currently, the Environmental Protection Agencys Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, and The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provide low-interest loans and grants to help community water systems upgrade their infrastructure to remain in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. We must encourage our U.S. Congressional representatives to stand behind more of this much-needed legislation because it will directly benefit customers. In doing so, its vital that each of us support our local elected officials and community leaders in making decisions necessary to address the infrastructure that connects, protects and delivers high-quality water.

Despite the vast challenges facing American water infrastructure, the good news is that there is great opportunity in investment. A study conducted by the Value of Water Campaign has found that there is over $220 billion in economic activity to be gained nationwide by closing the water infrastructure investment gap.

Water is a public health issue and an economic issue. No community can thrive without it, and every citizen deserves a safe, reliable, accessible water supply. Some communities in America already know how impossible it is to try to go a day without our most precious resource: Water. Lets demand better, and make sure no one ever has to imagine a day without water.

Beth Nesteriak is the senior adviser to the president and director of business strategy at the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority.
Chairman of the Movement for Nigerias Total Transformation, Chief Areoye Oyebola, has faulted the Nigerian federal lawmakers for ignoring the widespread call for the downward review of their monumental salaries and allowances.Oyebola said the recent outburst of the federal legislators by the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), was just one of many criticisms that had trailed the lawmakers over the years but to which they had turned deaf ears.It is also strange, unthinkable and very disheartening that a senator, not minding the grinding poverty of Nigerians, earns $1.7m a year, which is far higher than the $400,000 yearly income of the United States President, whose stupendous country is the richest in the world. Even a member of the House of Representatives also earns more than the American President. What a tragic and pathetic situation!Worse still, each of our National Assembly members earns more than the British Prime Minister, while the pay of a member of Ghanas unicameral legislature is a very small fraction of our House of Representatives member jumbo pay of more than N10m in a month, let alone the monumental quarterly allowances that have led to serious public outcry.The multi-million naira earned by the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives even worse, more outrageous and mind-boggling, he said.Oyebola noted that despite their modest pay, compared to the Nigerian federal lawmakers, the legislators in Ghana worked harder and have minimal absenteeism, while they had also done much to sustain their countrys democracy, which is a model for many African countries.Oyebola called for a 90 per cent cut in the earnings of Nigerian elected public officials, saying with that they would still be richer than their counterparts in the US and the UK.He added, As suggested below, for the National Assembly, the President, ministers, state governors, state legislators, chairmen of local governments and councillors should have their pay and allowances reduced to 10 per cent of their present earnings. If effected, each senators present earnings of N15m a month will be reduced to N1.5m or N18m a year. A similar 90 per cent reduction should be effected from the pay of members of the House of Representatives.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has accused the United Nations of failing in its responsibility to ensure global peace.Jonathan said this at a panel on the dialogue of civilisations at Rhodes Forums 15th anniversary summit in Greece.Speaking on the theme, Multipolarity and Dialogue in Regional and Global Developments: Imagining Possible Futures, the ex-Nigerian leader identified dialogue as the key to the realisation of a peaceful world.According to him, the UN security council charged with the responsibility of maintaining international peace has been more effective in opening new frontiers for conflicts, rather than providing answers to the ones it sought to resolve.He also said the UN may have succeeded in preventing third world war but cannot boast of ensuring global peace.That the world needs peace is a declaration no one ever contests, given what the absence of peace portends, Jonathan said.The ongoing wars in Syria, Iraq, distressing Rohingya dilemma in Myanmar, as well as a threat of conflicts and wars in other parts of the world, are all signs that the UN is failing the world.In each case, the UN was helpless in resolving the conflicts.That the only road to a peaceful world is through dialogue is also incontrovertible. What then raises a valid contention is the argument over the steps taken by leaders towards realising peace. Are they the right or wrong steps?At the end of World War II, 51 nations came together to form the United Nations on 24 October, 1945. The UN security council was also formed the same day.The UN was set up principally as a replacement for the ineffective League of Nations, in order to prevent another world war and guarantee world peace.In terms of carrying out the mandate of preventing a Third World War, we could say the UN has done exceptionally well up to this moment.However, we cannot say the same thing over its mandate of ensuring world Peace as it is obvious that the UN has not achieved much in this regard.From 1945, when 51 nations came together and now that the UN has 193 member states, the world has not known real peace, he notedHe said Nigeria and some other African countries by employing intense and purposeful dialogue had resolved, as well as prevented, many conflicts and stabilised and strengthened democracy in many countries in the sub-region.He, therefore, called for a review of the UNs approach to dialogue.Late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, a Nigerian philosopher and musician of international repute, tried to rebrand the UN in his own way, by calling it Disunited Nations. He might have exaggerated. Nonetheless, his grouse was that nations, going through bitter conflicts were all members of the UN, he said.Yet, the global body, primarily set up to guarantee world peace, appears not to have been able to muster the required willpower, to resolve those issues that cause conflicts, for decades.The security council which is the most powerful UN organ, with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, cannot inspire that confidence, because of the way it is presently configured.If anything, the system, which has remained unreviewed in over half a century, has been more effective in opening new frontiers for conflicts, rather than providing answers to the ones it sought to resolve.It is important that all member nations of the UN must have faith in the organisation, and believe that it is fair and representative enough to protect them.I believe in the UN as an effective global body that should lead the quest for the peace we desire. I am also convinced that for the organisation to bring about world peace, the UN method and approach to dialogue must be reviewed.The UN dialogue method must, therefore, change.
A group, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC), has warned against attempt to frustrate the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.It also called for probe of the alleged scandal in Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and suspension of its Group Managing Director (GMD), Dr. Maikanti Baru.In a statement signed by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer (PRO), Stanley Mukoro, the group said that the minister deserved to be treated fairly and accorded due respect.It said: We have been watching the activities of the GMD of the NNPC, Dr. Baru, since he came on board and we are not impressed with the way he is treating the Minister of State for Petroleum and people from the Niger Delta region working in the NNPC.We have seen that the GMD of NNPC is bent on destroying the solid foundation laid by the Minister of State for Petroleum and determined to frustrate the minister, but we are not going to take this likely because the oil Dr. Baru is presiding over belongs to the people of the Niger Delta region and not the North.The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, must be allowed to take charge of the board of NNPC. In another development, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari lacks the wherewithal to oversee the oil industry owing to the controversy surrounding the award of $26 billion contract in the NNPC.It, therefore, demanded the immediate resignation of Buhari as the Minister of Petroleum. National Secretary of the party, Dr. James Okoroma, who addressed reporters in Abuja, also asked Kachikwu to resign his appointment since it has become apparent that he has become a stranger in President Buharis cabinet.Also, the party called for the immediate suspension of Baru to enable investigation into alleged impropriety in the award of the contract. Besides, the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has said that he was confident that the NNPC feud would effectively be addressed by Buhari.Okechukwu, who spoke against the backdrop of the feud between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, said: I am not the spokesman of the President. President Buhari will do the needful and will not allow anyone to dent his image or tarnish his integrity quotient. If the allegations are valid, this is his political capital upon which we followed him, upon which Nigerians voted for him and upon which the international community endorsed him.However, youths, under the aegis of Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), have called for cabinet reshuffling. The AYF in a statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, posited that those expected to assist the President in his change agenda have failed in the discharge of their duties, hence the need for cabinet reshuffling in a statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu and made available to newsmen in Kaduna at the weekend, the youths said a situation where majority of Nigerians languish in abject poverty and penury is a worrisome development and a cause for concern.
IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu

Following his clash with the government, IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu has become many things to different people.

Love or loathe him, Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra has gained himself a considerable political mileage in the south-eastern part of the country since his grandiose release from prison.

Since resurrecting the Biafra spirit, Kanu and his separatist agitators have been a thorn in the flesh of the government who strongly opposed ideas capable of causing the balkanization of Nigeria. Obviously, his separatist adventures gave impetus to the renewed call for restructuring after the move was unceremoniously thrown out of the National Assembly by lawmakers who are not in sync with the needs and aspirations of the masses.

Prior to October 14 2015, the name Kanu had an unfamiliar tone many people did not recognise and cared less about. But, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari through a combination of political immaturity and overzealous desire to gag him inadvertently thrust him into political limelight by incarcerating him for 2 years, thus giving him an undeserving political relevance and national prominence.

Many from his ethnic group saw his arrest as a continuation of Buharis personal vendetta against south-easterners especially after the President had immaturely exposed his divisive mindset during a speech at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on July 22nd when he openly said he would treat those who voted him into power differently from those who didn't vote for him.

I hope you have a copy of the election results. The constituents, for example, gave me 97% [of the vote] cannot in all honesty be treated on some issues with constituencies that gave me 5%.

I think these are political reality, Buhari goofed.

As a result, Kanu's arrest on the 14th of October 2015, instead of being seen as a positive step taken by the government to tackle a loose canon, his arrest was perceived as a political fight against the Igbos, thus heightening tension in the country with thousands of his followers demonstrating for nearly two years forcing the government to release him.

The once unknown Kanu before our very before metamorphosed into a regional leader so powerful that his words were followed religiously. Many of his followers kowtowed in reverence before their hero - the man who resurrected the spirit of Biafra like never before since the days of Odumegwu Ojukwu.

To the government of Buhari, Kanu was an unrepentant villian desperately horny for attention. He was seen as a loud mouth, a propagator of hate speech and nothing from his mouth was worth listening to as far as it would mean dividing the country. The All Progressives Congress-led government did not for once stop to consider what could have renewed the call for Biafra.

While passing Kanu off as another divisive tool by the opposition to derail its government, the APC-led government failed to see how its policies and failure to run an all-inclusive government brought division among the ethnic groups in the country - and not to talk of its failure to keep to its campaign promises. Buhari unlike any other Nigerian President was insensitive to Nigeria's diversity and constitution when he unwittingly filled his cabinet with his northern kinsmen to the disadvantage of other ethnic groups especially the south-east.

Not just that, he did far worse things.

The three presidents before Buhari (Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan) ran an all-inclusive government where the ethnic groups were represented well in government. Buhari touted as an ethnic bigot did the opposite. For instance, the country's six service chiefs are made up of four northerners, then one each from west and south-south respectively. Conspicuously, no military man of igbo extraction (south-east) was worthy to be given a relevant position by Buhari.

The names of the service chiefs are: Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin as Chief of Defence Staff (west); Major-General T.Y. Buratai as Chief of Army Staff (north); Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff (south-south); Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff (north); Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Saliu Usman as Chief of Defence Intelligence (north) and Retired Major-General Babagana Monguno as National Security Adviser (north).

The north holds the leadership positions of the National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Defence Intelligence, National security adviser, Director-General of State Security Services, Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service, Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service, Chairmanship of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission etc.

By this act, President Buhari showed himself not just as a nepotic fellow but ranks number one as Nigeria's most divisive president who flagrantly neglected the constitution's federal character principle in section 14 (3) of the 1999 constitution to pursue his own ethnic agenda. His policies instead of uniting Nigerians have become tools sparking separatist agitations.

Buhari's ministerial and non-ministerial list set the tone for his nepotic overtures with northerners in clear majority leaving people from other ethnic groups to wonder if they are still part of the country. People from other ethnic groups were considered 'not-good-enough' as Buhari continued his nepotic agenda.

Just some weeks back, there was an uproar when it was discovered that recent appointments into top management positions at the country-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was dominated by northerners.

Out of the 15 new directors, 10 (67 percent) came from the mostly Hausa-Fulani North; three Yorubas; two from the South-South. But none from the South-East.

Many wondered why the north should have 10 top directors out of 15 newly appointed directors when they contribute not even a drop of oil at the detriment of the people from whose region the oil is gotten. The divisive nature of Buharis appointments have shown his inability to comprehend the dynamics of nation-building. Sadly, Buhari is the only President I know in Nigeria's regrettable history who is desperately convinced in his mind that people from his own region are superior to others from the other ethnic groups considering the manner he is going with his appointments. The reason for such shallow thinking is unknown.

The government's inability and excuses not to tackle the horror and nightmare visited upon Nigerians by dreaded Fulani herdsmen who invade villages raping, maiming and killing innocent people is a betray too many.

While the herdsmen are given preferential treatment and all manner of excuses made up for them, victims of the massacre are left to count their loss. The sluggish approach by government to tackle these herdsmen who go about with AK47 machine guns and other dangerous weapons is a serious indictment on Buhari who many believe is afraid to call his Fulani brothers to order. The slaughter of innocent villagers in Agatu, Ekiti, Imo, Enugu, Anambra and other states in the country with the government staring aimlessly at the bereaved families is totally regrettable.

How do you expect to have a united country when laws are applied to a particular group while another group can flout it without consequences simply because they are the President's kinsmen?

Recently, a video showing soldiers forcing IPOB members to swim in dirty mud water - something clearly against the rules of engagement - has since been thrown into the archives with the military busy issuing irrelevant statements like a radio station. The conduct of the government, its arms and agencies have reflected negatively in drumming home the idea of a united Nigeria.

Frankly, the methods adopted by Kanu (hate speech, violence and blocking of roads) to drive home his points are faulty. There is need to restrategize to avoid loss of innocent lives. It is true that Biafra is a spirit and no matter how many Kanus are killed, a million of him will emerge so far as the people are marginalized as has been the case with Buharis administration. It is very important that the agitation follow constitutional means via a referendum.

The government must know that trying to force Igbos to be a part of Nigeria by FORCE and the senseless use of the army to shed innocent blood will only fill the hearts of the people from the region with deep hatred that will one day bring the nation to its knees. You do not kill a people agitating for their right, label them terrorists in a bid to commit wanton atrocities and expect them to keep shut. One day, the victims will rise against the oppressor in a far more brutal way. That is why dialogue and not force is the best formula used in settling political differences. Unlike the latter, the former does not drink unnecessary blood.

No matter what you make of Kanu and his IPOB members, Nigerians must tell themselves the truth: the agitation in the different parts of Nigeria is because of a systematic failure of governance. The political elite since independence have profited from the country's resources at the detriment of the masses. From North, West to the East and South, it has been the same shameful story of corruption, maladministration and massive looting of our resources. The uprising we see today happen because of disenchantment from the masses, lack of infrastructural development, bad leadership and abuse of power. The people are tired of being used as pawns.

In fact, the political elite have so divided Nigerians with their inefficiency, corrupt mind and harebrained policies that for the past 57 years, it has been disaster all through.

For 57 sad years now, Nigerians have never had the privilege of enjoying steady power supply for straight 3 days. Never! While the political class buy the latest generating set for uninterrupted power supply, the masses sleep in mosquito-infested rooms dying of heat. After seeing all these, why will people not agitate? Nigeria is a mess and we all are drowning in it. A rubbish country dominated by a shameless political class. A country where most political office holders are indicted and even found guilty of stealing money meant for infrastructural development, yet such idiotic individuals have the guts to front themselves in public spaces looking for political relevance.

The call by Buhari that Nigeria's unity is sacrosanct is not out of love but because of the oil from the south which has sustained states in the country for years. If Nigeria must remain as one, then the government must as a matter of urgency consider calls for restructuring of the country which has gained positive momentum. The backwardness of the country cannot be detached from this pseudo-federalism we are practicing. There is need for economic empowerment of states to control their own resources and use it in providing the much needed dividends for the people. The time to restructure the country is now to avoid terrible consequences in the future.

The government must be made to understand that by sending armed soldiers to kill IPOB members after labeling them terrorists, it is preparing the ground for a more rebellious agitation that might not be peaceful. That could be a precursor to more damning consequences to come should peace and dialogue not be followed.

To the average south-easterner, Nnamdi Kanu is a hero - the man who could not watch while the cowardly leaders of the region sat akimbo while the south is marginalized by a nepotic President. Even though the tactics he employed are crude, Kanu has resurrected the consciousness of his people to the fact that they are also stakeholders in the country called Nigeria.

Alexander Thandi Ubani

He writes from Lagos.

thandiubani@yahoo.com
The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu has reassured Nigerians that PresidentMuhammadu Buhari will resolve the reported feud between the Minister of state for petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr. Maikanti Baru.Fielding questions from journalists in Enugu on Sunday, Okechukwu, who earlierdeclined comment on the basis that he was not presidential spokesman, said: President Buhari will do the needful and will not allow anyone to dent his image or tarnish his integrity quotient, if the allegations are valid. This is his political capital uponwhich we followed him, upon which Nigerians voted for him and upon which the international community endorsed him.The VON DG equally noted that Buharis urgent meeting with Kachikwu had vindicatedsome of them who believed abinitio that the Ministers letter did not get to the President.As I said before, I have not seen nor heard from Mr President since the altercation;I am at Enugu as you know, but permit me to opine from my observatory that the meeting President Buhari had with Kachikwu vindicated some of us who had expressed the candid view that it was possible that those who blocked Kachikwu from seeing Mr Presidentmight had blocked the letter from getting to him.Otherwise the urgent verification meeting he had with Kachikwu signposts thisassumption. Aso Villa has unresolved culture of mix-bag, he said.Going further, Okechukwu said for the much he knew of President Buhari, he hadalways placed public interest above self and cannot allow his political capital of integrity quotient to be extinguished by anyone, even his traducers can attest to his selflessness.He attributed the unfolding events to the palace guards, in every palace, whosometimes in this instance, work 100 degrees at variance with Buharis public service trajectory. They wittingly or unwittingly fail to recognize the treasury and premium Buhari places on the Social Contract he has with Nigerians to make a CHANGE.Asked whether President Buhari was in charge, Okechukwu retorted, He is in charge.How can you spew such propaganda? He is not the talking type. His approach is slow and steady, which wins the race. For a president who in his independent anniversary speech X-rayed how he met an almost empty treasury and huge infrastructure deficit, and tookthe pain to travel round the world to source for funds to revamp the infrastructural deficit, it is unfair to profile him in that manner. Dont fall for His Excellency, Governor Fayose or Peoples Democratic Partys propaganda.If he is not in charge how come he mobilized the Armed Forces to tame and containthe Boko Haram? How come he is waging with Ibrahim Magu as filed commander, strident war against corruption? How come he raised $30 billion infrastructure loan? I understand he is sourcing more money for Port Harcourt  Maiduguri Eastern Corridor Railway,Enugu Coal and other vital infrastructure. As I said before, Aso Villa has the tendency to alienate people from the president, especially when some key officials are not as pro-people as Mr President. It happened to Gen Sani Abacha of blessed memory, ChiefOlusegun Obasanjo and Dr Goodluck Jonathan.When questioned over the concentration of appointments in the North, okechukwusaid Buhari has a broader view of Nigeria than most people can imagine. His concentration is on infrastructural development of the country than any other thing.Assuring that the President is going to make amends on appointments, Okechukwusaid a lot of pundits and public critics are not aware that his Zone the North West did not benefit as much as North-East, pointing out that the North West has only one member in the 14 member NNPC Board, North East-four and South East none.According to him, North-West did not produce the Chiefs of Army Staff, Chiefof Navy, Chief of Airforce nor NSA, as South-East you hype. Watch out, there is going to be changes.Methinks Mr President is a good listener, he had heard the complaints of Nigerians,not only that of his dear wife  Aisha, Nasir Elrufai, Ibe Kachikwu and a host of compatriots. He is fully aware that in the Chest Board game, there is only one King, every other player is a Pun. He will make amends, appointments are transient and temporary.Dont forget that he is a retired Army General. Watch out.
The Federal Polytechnic in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, was shut indefinitely yesterday, following a violent protest by students over...

The Federal Polytechnic in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, was shut indefinitely yesterday, following a violent protest by students over the death of two of their colleagues.News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that trouble began on campus late Friday when the two students reportedly complained of malaria.They were said to have been rushed to the health centre for treatment, but their condition worsened and they died on Saturday.In a statement, the Registrar, Mrs. Sade Adediran, announced the closure of the school.She did not confirm if any student actually died at the polytechnics health centre, which was said to have trigger the protest.The statement warned that any student found on campus after the closure would be apprehended and made to face the consequences.NAN gathered from campus sources that the students, on learning that their colleagues had died, mobilised and burnt the health centre.Besides destroying property, students blocked roads leading to the institution and obstructed traffic.One of the students, who asked not to be mentioned, condemned the attitude of the polytechnics authorities on their welfare and well-being.He alleged that the only drug available at the health centre was paracetamol.According to him, paracetamol was also given to the two students, instead of effective malaria drugs or injection.
Protesting Edo State indigenes on Monday demanded the immediate redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Mr. Haliru Gwandu, over rising cases of killings and kidnapping in the state.They petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari; the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, citing cases which remained unresolved.They also demanded an apology from the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, for allegedly not doing enough to address the security situation in the state.We, the concerned citizens of Edo State are gathered here today to share our pains with Mr. President; the President of the Senate; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the worsening security situation in our state, they stated.Led by their Coordinator, Mr. Henry Okpamen, the protesters matched through some streets in Abuja to the National Assembly and the police headquarters.For instance, they said in March this year, a former local government council chairman, Mr. Suleiman Malik-Afegbua, and some persons were kidnapped by suspected herdsmen along the Benin-Ehor Road.They disclosed that he was later killed by the kidnappers.Strangely, while the family was still negotiating the release of the other persons who were kidnapped along with Malik-Afegbua, the commissioner announced to the whole world that the kidnappers had been released, which was not true, they added.The protesters pointed to several other kidnapping incidents after the killing of Malik-Afegbua, especially farmers, women in Ewu, Uromi, Ubiaja and Ebigbere communities in the state.There was the case of an environmentalist, Dr. Andy Ehanire, who was kidnapped on September 24.Three policemen were said to have died while attempting to confront the kidnappers.Similarly, the protesters recalled the incident on October 3 when a renowned musician, Mr. Osayomore Joseph, was also kidnapped.Okpamen spoke further, To cap it all, and on a very sad note, criminals struck again on October 5 with the assassination of a Professor of Engineering at the University of Benin, Paul Otasowie.For these recurring criminal activities to occur in one geopolitical location in the state, one does not require a scientific sense or robotic technology to know that this area is a flashpoint that warrants increased police presence and enforcement.They also complained of lack of cooperation in intelligence sharing among security agencies in the state, a development further compounding the security situation.At a point, and on a daily basis, the Okada junction in Ovia North-East Local Government Area became a criminal hideout with adverse implications for residents and travellers along the Lagos-Benin Expressway, they said.In addition, the protesters observed that though the Police Service Commission had redeployed Gwandu through a July 5 letter, the commissioner had remained in the state.Among others, they called for the enforcement of the redeployment of Gwandu and the deployment of a team of intelligence officers to work with a new CP to ensure that intelligence information is analysed and used to process the arrest of suspects in the state.
A renowned political economist and one-time presidential aspirant, Prof. Pat Utomi, has rejected the recent classification of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, by Nigerian government as a terrorist organisation, saying the Nnamdi Kanu group might be a nuisance, but they are not a terrorist organisation.Utomi, who was reacting to the Federal Governments categorisation at a function at Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos, argued that people have the right to express themselves, stressing: People have the right to say theyve been unjustly treated. To take away that right from them is to say you want to enslave them. When you talk about modern slavery, its the most grievous violation of human rights in the 21st century.Ive not seen what terror they (IPOB) have committed. They are not, I repeat, quote me anywhere, any day, they are not a terrorist organisation.Thats just a political thing. It doesnt make sense which way you look at it. Its just a political thing. You can carve any name, you can be IPOB or ITOT, its just a name.Nigeria is going through a necessary and interesting phase of its evolution as a country. I am not one of those unduly worried about the things going on in the country. They are part of the thesis and anti-thesis that will produce synthesis that is a nation.Asked to advise the nations leaders, Utomi said: That we all seek Gods blessings for all, no one is a child of a lesser God. And as those who wrote that piece of play has said, our arms are too short to box with God. I wish peace to all, progress to all, growth of abundance mentality, human charity that leads to accommodation.
Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to step down as the substantive Minister of Petroleum over the alleged contract matter in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).Apart from asking Buhari to sack self as a minister, Falana also called for the suspension of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Maikanti Baru, to allow for a probe which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should handle.The statement which is issued, on Sunday, stated, The people of Nigeria were surprised last week to read the embarrassing petition of the Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, addressed to President Buhari pertaining to his inability to consult with the president and substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources and the unilateral award of $25 billion contracts by Baru.Although it was reported that Mr Kachikwu has since been given access to the president, the details of the discussions between the duo have not been made public. However, apart from sanctioning the officers responsible for creating the wide gulf between Mr Kachikwu and the president, the allegation of the unilateral award of contracts worth $25 billion by Mr Baru ought to be investigated in line with the anti-corruption policy of the Buhari administration.Reacting to Falanas call for Buhari to step down as petroleum minister, some lawyers said there is no constitutional backing for it, as anyone could occupy any position of choice.An Abuja-based lawyer, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, said the call had no legal backing.According to him, let him read the NNPC Act 2007. Anybody can become the petroleum minister. Section 147 of the constitution backs this. The only snag here is that it requires confirmation by the Senate. Section 130(2) makes him the chief executive of the federation.Mr Kole Ojo, Director of the Centre for Practical Legal Training, also supported this assertion but added that I think combining that role with the Presidency is too much power and work on him and Falana may be making a positive point.Mr Kole Ojo, Director of the Centre for Practical Legal Training, also supported this assertion but added that I think combining that role with the Presidency is too much power and work on him and Falana may be making a positive point.President Buhari has been called upon to investigate properly the award of $25 million contracts.Former chairman, Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Captain Tunji Selle (retd.), made the call while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, just as he also called on the National Assembly to investigate the scam and come out with a report and go ahead to do the needful.The Action Democratic Party (ADP), on Sunday, came hard on an anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, saying his government was only paying lip service to its war against corruption, which had been largely selective.The national secretary of the party, Dr James Okoroma, who addressed newsmen at the party secretariat in Abuja, over the $25 billion NNPC contract scandal, said the national economy had collapsed under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.
Troops of the Army Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs), a component of Operation Lafiya Dole, have killed two Boko Haram insurgents attempting to...

Troops of the Army Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs), a component of Operation Lafiya Dole, have killed two Boko Haram insurgents attempting to enter Sambisa forest in Borno State.A statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Kingsley Samuel, said the insurgents were killed in an ambush.It said: The Army Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) of Operation Lafiya Doles resolve to rout remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) has yielded another result, with troops successfully ambushing unsuspecting terrorists, about 10.45 pm, on Friday, October 6, while they attempted to cross into Sambisa Forest, from Mayanti village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.The troops sprung the ambush on the terrorists and neutralised two of them, while others escaped with injuries.Two bags of maize were recovered from the site. The MSTs, particularly in Bama, since its inauguration by Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Buratai, has been a potent deadly mobile lethal force engaging and neutralising the BHTs in several staging areas.
The Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru, on Monday officially responded to the recent allegations of insubordination and corruption levelled against him by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu.According to the NNPC, the response was following a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari to Baru and his team, mandating them to react to the issues raised in the petition that was written by Kachikwu.Following the publication of alleged lack of adherence to due process in the award of NNPC contracts, the President ordered the Group Managing Director and Management of the NNPC to consider and respond expeditiously to the allegations, the corporation said in a detailed response issued by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja on Monday.The oil firm stated that the substance of the allegations made by Kachikwu in a letter to the President dated 30th of August 2017, was that a number of major contracts were never reviewed or discussed with me (Kachikwu) and the NNPC Board.The NNPC stated that it was important to note from the outset that the law and the rules do not require a review or discussion with the Minister of State or the NNPC board on contractual matters.What is required is the processing and approval of contracts by the NNPC Tenders Board, the President in his executive capacity or as Minister of Petroleum, or the Federal Executive Council, as the case may be. There are therefore situations where all that is required is the approval of the NNPC Tenders Board while, in other cases, based on the threshold, the award must be submitted for presidential approval. Likewise, in some instances, it is FEC approval that is required.
Nigerian Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo is currently in London where he just delivered a keynote address at the FT Africa Summit, themed &qu...

Nigerian Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo is currently in London where he just delivered a keynote address at the FT Africa Summit, themed "What Makes Africa Work".





In his words, none of that is on the cards.

Osinbajo further explained that militants in the oil producing Niger Delta region no longer pose a significant threat to oil production anymore. We dont have all the time in the world with oil. We have to use oil while it makes sense to do so, he added.




The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) Senator Tayo Alasoadura, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately suspend the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru.Alasoadura specifically stated that Barus continued presence at the NNPC could jeopardise the Senate investigation into the allegations that he allegedly approved contracts to the tune of $25bn without the approval of the corporations board.The senator said this during a live programme on Channels Television titled, Sunday Politics.When asked if they should be suspended, Alasoadura said, I believe so; especially the man who is doing the day-to-day running of the organisation. In order not to hinder or hamper that investigation, because records will be needed and even from the date of the leakage of that letter, I think action should have been taken to ensure that nothing will be missing when investigations startSo, I think the two of them should be asked to step aside and when investigation is over, whoever is culpable will go and whoever is not culpable, will continue with his duties.The lawmaker, who represents Ondo Central Senatorial District, said one of the causes of the problem was the fact that Buhari doubled as the Minister of Petroleum Resources.Describing the arrangement as faulty, Alasoadura said Buhari should step down and appoint a substantive minister who would be able to do the job more effectively.He added, Judging from the many problems plaguing our country today, I believe Mr. President should devote more time to other things and let an independent person run the petroleum resources ministry who will then report to him twice or once a week.Alasoadura confirmed that 40 firms, which received the $25bn contracts would be invited by the Senate.He added, We are probing them because we want to get to the root of this matter. If you are doing an investigation, even those who have not been mentioned may have to be invited, but as of today, these are the people that we think should be invited and from there, we may need to invite many more organisations as the probe continues.Meanwhile, the firms to be invited by the Senate include Oando, Sahara Energy, MRS Oil and Gas, AA Rano, Bono, Masters Energy, Eterna Oil and Gas, Cassiva Energy, Hyde Energy, Brittania U, North West Petroleum, Optima Energy, AMG Petroenergy, Arkiren Oil and Gas Limited and Shoreline Limited.Others are Entourage Oil, Setana Energy and Prudent Energy, Trafigura, Enoc Trading, BP Trading, Total Trading, UCL Petro Energy, Mocho, Tevier Petroleum, Heritage Oil, Levene Energy, Litasco Supply and Trading, Glencore, Hindustan Refinery, Varo Energy, Sonara Refinery, Bharat Petroleum and Cepsa.The companies are listed on the NNPC website as benefiting from crude term contracts.In a related development, the OurMumuDonDo group, led by popular musician, Charles Oputa, aka Charly Boy, said it would meet on Tuesday to conclude on how, where and when to stage protests over the $25bn contracts allegedly awarded without due process.The Publicity Secretary of the group, Raphael Adebayo, revealed this to newsmen on Sunday.Adebayo said the group was also planning a protest against Buharis delay in taking action on the report submitted to him by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on the probe of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ayo Oke.When asked if the protest would be taken to the NNPC, Adebayo added, We are looking at staging one this week. We are looking at combining this one and the SGF issue into one protest.We can already see the reaction of the Presidency. The Presidency is trying to reconcile both parties (Kachikwu and Baru).On Friday, the President and Baru still prayed together at the National Mosque. So, you can see the response. Between now and Tuesday, we will reach a decision on the next line of action.
The desk officer in charge of Python Dance in Abia State, has confirmed that troops raided the family residence of Nnamdi Kanu on Sunday.

The desk officer in charge of Python Dance in Abia State, has confirmed that troops raided the family residence of Nnamdi Kanu on Sunday.

We were there in search of weapons, no household items were removed from Kanus home.





The things removed, may be technical items, somebody was also arrested with a weapon in the compound, he said.





Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has alleged that the soldiers carted away some household items.





He said the items include television, generating sets, clothes among other belongings of the family.





The international community should prevail on the Nigeria Army to stop raiding our home again.





We have been telling the Army to produce my bother whose whereabouts has remained unknown since after the September 14 military invasion of our compound, Emmanuel said.
The Defence Headquarters has explained that the inability of the military to rescue lecturers, oil workers and women in Boko Haram enclav...

The Defence Headquarters has explained that the inability of the military to rescue lecturers, oil workers and women in Boko Haram enclave was because the terrorists were using the distraught captives as human shield.It said the military cannot apply full force to free the captives because doing so would endanger their lives. Recall that ten women among them female police personnel were on June 21, abducted in a raid by the militant group on a military/police convoy along Damboa Road,in Borno State. They were abducted after Boko Haram fighters reportedly attacked a convoy of security personnel in the Damboa area of Borno State when the officers were said to be going to a burial in Adamawa State. On the other hand, some staff of the University of Maiduguri, who were part of the oil exploration team in the state were ambushed by Boko Haram on Tuesday,July 25.But the Defence Headquarters, speaking through its spokesman, John Enenche,a Major General, following Vanguards enquiry, on the development, assured that the distraught captives would soon be freed like some Chibok school girls. Enenche insisted that the military was applying a lot of caution in its rescue efforts so as not to jeopardize the lives of those being held by the terrorists. He frowned at those with the view that the entire area where the terrorists are holding the captives be bombed, asking what would be the achievement in carrying out such action. So, that is why a lot of caution is always exercised even if you have a footage, even if you have real time evidence that these people are there.Once they are being used as human shield,then you need to be very careful on the rescue mission. I assure you that actions are on, intelligence is still being processed and strategies and tactics are being considered on how to ensure that the lovely citizens come out alive just like some of the Chibok girls,he said. Major General Enenche spoke further: Efforts are on. And let me tell you ,when you get information, you convert it to intelligence and even what is uploaded on the YouTube was also a guide. But the ultimate of what Nigerian government should do and the military in its own aspect of that overall action should do is to as much as possible, ensure that these people come out alive.I make bold to tell you that just like somebody said we should go and carpet bomb the whole of the North East. If you carpet bomb North East, then who are you saving and who are you defending? Is it land that you are defending? Is it land you are going to rescue, it is human beings. So, that is why a lot of caution is always exercised even if you have a footage, even if you have real time evidence that these people are there but once they are being used as human shield,then you need to be very careful on the rescue mission.The captives,in a video released by the terrorists on YouTube, had various pleaded with the Nigerian government for intervention with a view to releasing them. Two of the University of Maiduguri workers in the video,said they were lecturers in the Geology Department of the University and gave their names as Yusuf Ibrahim and Dr. Solomon N. Yusuf. The third man identified himself as Haruna
ATLANTIC CITY -- A jury awarded an Atlantic City property owner and two others a total of $210,000 after it determined the three had been unconstitutionally prosecuted by the city and spent several months in jail.

Melanie Shaw, Anthony Florio and Dr. Timothy McGuarn will each receive $70,000 as a result of the jury award, the PressofAtlanticCity.com reported.

Shaw, Florio and McGuarn were arrested in October 2012 after police responded to Shaw's house in the 600 block of North New York Avenue after a report of a man on the property with a gun.

Officers Andre Corbin, Sgt. Mark Benjamin and Detective Franco Sydnor charged the property's owner and the two others with criminal trespass and possession of a weapon with intent to use it for an unlawful purpose, according to the report.

The three explained to officers that three teens ages 16 to 18 had broken in the home, where the three had been staying to make renovations to the property, and they attempted to scare them off with a broken 1939 Japanese rifle that belonged to Shaw's father.

Still, Shaw, Florio and McGuarn were held in the Atlantic County jail and eventually indicted in January 2013, at which point a judge raised their bail to $50,000 cash. The trio was released roughly three months later, the report said.

The charges were dropped in June 2013 after a police lieutenant determined the more than 70-year-old rifle was inoperable, the PressofAtlanticCity.com reported.

While the jury found that they were wrongfully prosecuted, it determined that they were not wrongfully arrested, the report said.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Before Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election and before he was a caricature portrayed by Alec Baldwin on "Saturday Night Live," he was a costume.

Halloween 2017, the first Halloween of the Trump presidency, is no exception, as the president leads a pack of trendy costumes including Wonder Woman, Pennywise, the dastardly clown from the "It" reboot and "SNL" Halloween guy David S. Pumpkins.

For two years running, you could buy Trump "combover" wigs.

Now, even kids can get in on all the presidential action by sitting on the very shoulders of No. 45. (Spirit Halloween)

Now you can bag long red ties and paper Trump masks featuring actual photos of the president's various expressions -- one is called "Surprised Candidate," another, "Yelling Candidate" -- that accompany Melania and (winking) Putin masks ("Giant Russian Figure Head") at Spirit Halloween.

Erin Springer, spokeswoman for the national Halloween retailer, based in Egg Harbor Township, points to another Trump costume, available in both child and adult sizes, that makes the wearer look like they're riding atop the shoulders of a very squat president.

At HalloweenCostumes.com, there's also a costume depicting the famous inflatable "Trump chicken" that sat outside the White House this year.

'SNL,' politics and David S. Pumpkins

"You'll still see plenty of Donald Trump out there," says Devin Rubink, spokesperson for the Mankato, Minnesota-based company. Don't be surprised to see variations on the concept of "fake news" or Trump tweets, too. "More than likely a Sean Spicer -- especially with Melissa McCarthy's 'SNL' character," he says. Easy enough, if you've got a motorized podium/podium on wheels at hand. After all, we are skimping less and less on Halloween costumes.

According to a survey from the National Retail Federation, American spending on Halloween has ballooned to $9.1 billion this year, or $86.13 per household, which is an increase of 8 percent, with $3.4 billion going to costumes. Most Americans, the survey shows, will be shopping for their costumes during the first two weeks of October.

Superheroes reign as the top costumes for children in 2017, with a separate category for Batman costumes coming in second, while witch costumes are tops for adults. Most pets, however, get the pumpkin costume treatment.

But trending costumes are a different animal. Another "SNL" look, the pumpkin suit-wearing David S. Pumpkins (as he's wont to remind you, he's his "own thing"), came on the scene last year in late October, when most had already plotted or purchased their costumes.

"I'm David S. Pumpkins," he informed us in the show's "Haunted Elevator" bit. "Any questions?" The genius of the sketch meant that the suit Tom Hanks wore to play the character immediately sold out.

Still, don't relegate David S. Pumpkins to 2016. Later this month, NBC is airing a David S. Pumpkins animated special, in fact. You can easily recreate the look with any number of Halloween-patterned suits and a pair of skeleton costumes for two backup dancers (if you're doing it right). A fun variation on the David S. Pumpkins look would be David S. Pimpkins, the pimped out version of the character seen in this rap sketch.

Wonder Woman, 'Star Wars' and evil, evil clowns

Patty Jenkins' "Wonder Woman" movie, starring Gal Gadot, debuted this past summer, raking in $412 million in the United States and $820 million worldwide. Wonder Woman looks were already popping up last Halloween, in recognition of the forthcoming superhero movie. Rubink says the cultural phenomenon should supplant Suicide Squad's Harley Quinn as the trendy costume for women and girls.

Wonder Woman: queen of 2017. (HalloweenCostumes.com)

Look for more strong female characters, like the returning Rey from "Star Wars," especially since we're heading into the "The Last Jedi," latest installment in the franchise this December, along with Daenerys Targaryen (Target has a dragon costume for dogs, if you're so inclined) and Cersei Lannister from "Game of Thrones" and Belle from the rebooted "Beauty and the Beast."

In the realm of other supheroes, expect long-running Halloween favorite "Spider-Man" to turn up once again with costumes fueled by the recent "Homecoming" movie, along with the denizens of "Guardians of the Galaxy," especially Baby Groot, and another mainstay, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Surging past antihero to all-out terrfiying villain is Pennywise, the demonic, child-chomping clown from Stephen King's "It," recently adapted into a feature film. Related costumes embrace both Bill Skarsgard's rendition of the clown and Tim Curry's version from the 1990 TV series and compound what was already a strong interest in the evil clown genre, highlighted by last year's evil clown "sightings."

Rubink's verdict: "You're going to see a lot of scary clowns out this year."

'Stranger Things' and pop culture nostaglia

Netflix's "Stranger Things," a show that banks on pop culture nostaglia, is back for a second season just before Halloween. So expect lots of waffle-toting Elevens and boys on bikes to show up to the party -- HalloweenCostumes.com is also showing a Winona Ryder look strewn with Christmas lights. In the trailer for the series, the cast is dressed in "Ghostbusters" costumes, which dovetails nicely with the enduring popularity of that squad and its newer, all-female version.

Another Eleven costume pic.twitter.com/csyXyETlYV -- Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) September 29, 2017

Other '90s and '80s nostaglia looks include costumes inspired by Steven Spielberg's "E.T.," "Baywatch," given the recent movie, ditto for "Power Rangers" and "Space Jam," which has a sequel in the works, plus the 1993 movie "Hocus Pocus," about a coven of witches -- Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy -- which are top-selling witch costumes (and remember, witch is the No. 1 costume for adults overall) at Spirit Halloween.

Social media and memes

The year in social media had us "Babashook" over the Babadook's new gay icon status, thanks to a screenshot of the 2014 thriller in Netflix's "LGBT" category, and HalloweenCostumes.com has a DIY look to celebrate that moment, complete with rainbow suspenders and feather boa.

We were also ranting and raving about millennials and avocado toast -- so feel free to don an avocado costume and half a grilled cheese costume or other bread-having look to achieve such ends.

2017 was the year when, thanks to the strings of fate (a screenshot allegedly showing Netflix placing the film in an LGBT category), the 2014 horror film 'The Babadook' became a gay icon. Here's a look that celebrates that moment. (HalloweenCostumes.com)

Joining the immensely popular inflatable dinosaur costume at Spirit Halloween are a series of emoji costumes, some of them inflatable, like an inflatable poop emoji look. And you may spot a surplus of unicorns this year, given the social media-propelled rainbow "unicorn" food trend and debut of Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino. Related: mermaids.

"People just have a fascination with both of those mythical creatures," says Springer, of Spirit Halloween.

There's also the instantly recognizable Salt Bae meme (see 0:30), if you wouldn't mind sprinkling salt for the duration of your Halloween celebration, and the Distracted Boyfriend meme, if you can get two other people to stand in as the girlfriend and the woman who distracts you.

You can dress as Snapchat's jubilant dancing hot dog filter, too. Just wear a hot dog costume and ... dance.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.
UPDATE: 2 men found shot to death in vehicle ID'd by police

NEWARK -- Two people were killed Sunday in a shooting on the city's South Side, authorities said.

The two males were found dead when police responded to the shooting at 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the 400 block of Irvine Turner Boulevard, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly of the Prosecutor's Homicide Unit said.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes Task Force, which includes Newark police detectives, is investigating the double homicide.

No other information was immediately available.

The killings marked at least the 50th and 51st murders in Newark this year compared to more than 68 slayings during the same time in 2016.

The last person fatally shot in the city was killed about a mile from the crime scene Sunday night. Farad Green, 39, of Newark, was found dead Sept. 23 inside a retail store in the 400 block of Hawthorne Avenue, authorities said.

Check back for updates.

Luke Nozicka can be reached at lnozicka@njadvancemedia.com or on Twitter @lukenozicka.

Find NJ.com on Facebook and Twitter.
A man was shot on Martin Luther King Drive in Jersey City Monday morning, the fifth shooting incident in the past five days.

This morning's shooting occurred near the Glenn D. Cunningham branch of the Jersey City library, near Bostwick Avenue, said Joe Shine, a freelance photographer for The Jersey Journal who was at the scene after the shooting.

Details on the shooting were not immediately available from Jersey City police. The victim in this shooting was fired upon Friday at roughly 6 a.m. in the area of Ocean and Bayview avenues, according to police radio transmissions.

There was also a daytime shooting Sunday on Neptune Avenue. In that incident, a man suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening.

On Saturday, a 34-year-old man was shot in the arm on Communipaw Avenue near Grand Street just before 2:30 a.m., Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said this afternoon. The injuries were not considered life-threatening.

On Thursday night, a Union City man who was visiting his family in Jersey City was shot and killed on Central Avenue. Authorities say he also suffered blunt force trauma to his head.
New sensory gym in Kenner is designed so all kids can play, without judgment
Hieu Nguyen, left, and Ngoc Pham were arrested by the West Bank Major Crimes Task Force as part of a drug investigation.(JPSO)
Justice For Danny: 'This is what an American hero looks like'
Here's where the New Orleans mayoral candidates went to school
Although he dropped out of the race in August, a new poll shows Orleans Parish Coroner Jeffrey Rouse trailing opponent Dwight McKenna by only 6 points, with 34 percent of the voters still undecided going into the election Saturday , Oct. 14, 2017. (Photo by Ted Jackson, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)
The study looks at two smaller-scale projects that are in some ways predecessors to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, the $2 billion plan to slow land loss erasing Louisiana's coast. Construction on that project could begin as early as next year, while a similar one on the opposite side of the river known as the Mid-Breton Diversion could follow.
Morgan Freeman, left, interviews Albert Woodfox -- a member of the so-called "Angola 3" -- at Woodfox's New Orleans home for the National Geographic Channel documentary series "The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman."(Screengrab / National Geographic)
Welcome to non league daily news now - your number one spot for all things relating to the National League System. Our dedicated reporters have come straight from the sidelines to bring you news fresh from the dugout - but not before theyve stopped off at the burger van first!

We know that non league football fans are full of heart, passion, and belief. You trust the manager, you believe in the team, and, for some strange reason, you trust those rickety stands, too! Here at Non League Daily, we hope we can become your trusted non league news resource - a platform thats just as passionate about non league daily news now as you.

Come rain or shine, well be out reporting on the latest non league fixtures. Well also be scouring the news, refreshing social media, and sourcing information from team websites in the hopes of finding the latest breaking non league daily news for our readers.

As youll soon see, weve got exclusive match reports on the Vanarama National League, weve got transfer speculation thatll affect the National League South, weve found great stories thatll spice up the National League North, and weve even got news on the latest giant killers of the FA Cup.

We may not be able to agree on who is going up this year, but we can all agree that any news on the NLS worth knowing will be published here, at Non League Daily.
HAMMOND  With a hard hat on and safety glasses, Lake Central High School junior Taylor Walla is learning the basics of welding.

Lake Central senior Niyelle Lee and Hammond Gavit High School senior Karissa Korba are learning the culinary arts and were busy watching culinary arts instructor and pastry chef Derek Bodley make a Kentucky hot brown.

Highland High School senior Lexie Reyes checked "patients" for life-threatening conditions in an emergency medical services class with instructor Samantha Thomas.

These students are all enrolled at the Hammond Area Career Center, which teachers and administrators call a "gold mine" within the district.

Students from a dozen school corporations are able to attend the Hammand Area Career Center and major in 16 areas to prepare for college and a career.

A 'university' within the career center

Five years ago, the school district established the Area Career Center University, designed for students in the Hammond school district to give them an edge on college and career choices.

ACCU Principal JoEllen Raby said May was when the first graduation was held for students enrolled in the ACCU program. She said 19 students in the first graduating class of 41 seniors were commended for their academic achievements.

The university program works with Vincennes University, and nine of the students graduated with an associate degree through the Early College Program supervised by Vincennes.

"Most of our seniors went on to a four-year university," Raby said. "We had a few students who went into the military and one who chose to go directly into the work force."

Raby said she and ACCU counselor Kate Lemon start early, visiting Hammond middle schools and talking to students and parents about the accelerated programs offered through the ACCU program.

"These students are taking college classes as early as their freshmen year," Raby said.

"They have to apply to come here, and we look at their test scores and other information to estimate their success. We provide transportation for students from Gavit, Morton and Clark. Students from Hammond High walk over because it's so close."

They said the dual credits students earn in the university program can be transferred to other universities.

The ACCU has a total of 280 students, from freshmen to seniors.

"We work really closely with students on college and career access," Lemon said.

"The point of this program is to offer early college access to students from low-income areas. It's a really good opportunity for students who may not otherwise have that conversation about post-secondary options."

Career Center options

Elsewhere in the Hammond Area Career Center, some 550 students are enrolled in career and technical classes. CTE counselor Cindy Lewis said she and Principal Scott Miller work closely with students to get them in the classes of their choice and make sure they are successful in getting internships.

Hammond schools Assistant Superintendent Theresa Mayerik said the Hammond Area Career Center and the ACCU are helping to prepare students for postsecondary education and careers immediately after graduation from high school.

Bodley, the chef, said he closely follows the Indiana State Standards, which are highlighted on the board as students walk into the room.

On Thursday, students were learning about different types of sandwiches and how to make them. At the conclusion of the 2-hour class, students made a Kentucky hot brown, an American hot sandwich originally created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, by Fred K. Schmidt in 1926. The hot brown is an open-faced sandwich of turkey and bacon, covered in Mornay sauce and baked or broiled until the bread is crisp and the sauce begins to brown.

Lake Central's Lee will join her her classmate Korba on Oct. 20 working at Mrs. Dornberg's Culinary Experience in Highland. The two teens provide assistance to the owner.

Similarly, George Trinidad, who teaches industrial maintenance/welding, said he has students who are working in the community, and others who have joined local unions.

Thomas, the EMS instructor, also has students working at local hospitals and ambulance services. Highland High School graduate David Hoffman was at the career center last week acting as a patient for some students.

Hoffman, 20, who works at a local hospital and as an EMT, said he saved a lot of money in his education by taking the classes at the career center. "I really enjoy my job. I wanted to come back here and help out," he said as he laid on the floor and pretended to be a patient.
LAPORTE  A mural of Meinrad Rumely and his grandson, Edward, was unveiled Saturday with help from a descendant of the once world famous makers of farm machinery.

Fran Jones had a tear in her eye during the official grand opening of the Rumely Allis Chalmers LaPorte Heritage Center.

Jones said her brother, Paul, bears a striking resemblance to her great-grandfather, Meinrad, who came to LaPorte from Germany in 1848. A few years later, Meinrad Rumely began churning out Rumely tractors and other farm implements.

She has five Rumely Oil Pull tractors. One of them, weighing 20,000 pounds, is on display at the museum beneath a lighted sign from a former Allis Chalmers dealership.

"I appreciate all of this. Thank you," said told a crowd of more than 50 people after helping to remove the drape from the mural beside another one of the old 10-stories-high Allis Chalmers smokestack unveiled when the museum opened in April.

In 1931, Allis Chalmers bought out the Rumely Co. and operated from the same location along Pine Lake Avenue until closing in the 1980s.

Another highlight during the ceremony was the museum receiving a 110-year old Rumely Co. postcard.

The postcards were used for advertising. The one turned over to the museum, depicting a Rumely tractor plowing a field, was mailed to Ira J. Barnard of Westville.

"I kept it all of this time, and I thought today was the appropriate time for it to be given to the Rumely people," said Jeanette Woodke, whose husband is Barnard's great-nephew.

Another new addition to the museum is a steam-powered Allis Chalmers whistle heard throughout the city at the start and end of each shift and lunch break.

"Clear as a bell," said Bill Zila on how the whistle sounded from his childhood home along Johnson Road, about a mile from the plant.

Paul Rymer, president of the Heritage Center board, said the museum is open at no charge the first Saturday of every month, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In January, the goal is to open the doors three days a week, depending on financial support.

Long term, the plan is to put an addition on the museum, which cost about $200,000, mostly from donations.

Rymer, called to the plant frequently as a telephone repairman, grew up on the other side of Clear Lake from the factory.

"I cannot tell you how much time and effort has been put in to get this together. We've got so many good people helping us. It's been work, but it's been a lot of fun," Rymer said.
HAMMOND  A federal judge has ordered two political operatives of convicted former Calumet Township Trustee Mary Elgin to stand trial next year.

U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen recently issued an order for a two-week trial to begin April 2 for Ethel Shelton and Alex Wheeler.

It is the fifth continuance in the case, which began in December 2014, with a grand jury indictment.

Wheeler was Elgin's former campaign manager and one of her supervisors at the township trustee's office. Shelton was Elgin's executive secretary. They are pleading not guilty to federal conspiracy and fraud charges.

The government is accusing Wheeler and Shelton of conspiring with Elgin to shake down other township government employees for money and work for Elgin's re-election as trustee.

Kimberly Robinson defeated Elgin and went on to win election as the Calumet Township trustee in 2014.

Elgin pleaded guilty May 8, and her son, Steven Hunter, the township's computer director, pleaded guilty May 11 to forcing her staff to buy her political fundraising tickets. The two are still awaiting sentencing.

Several months before a federal grand jury indicted the four defendants in 2014, the government alleges FBI agents met with Wheeler to discuss political fundraising and campaign activities by township employees under Elgin.

The government released a transcript of his alleged FBI statement last June as part of pre-trial motions filed before Van Bokkelen, who will preside over the trial.

Wheeler told the agents he first met Elgin while he was a union official for steelworkers and served as one of her campaign managers in her first election in 2002.

He said she hired him, without a formal application process, as her deputy in charge of helping township residents find jobs and get off of the township's financial assistance program.

Wheeler said Elgin believed her township employees owed her political support in the form of buying political fundraising tickets and taking part in campaign activities, such wearing her political T-shirts and marching in holiday parades.

Wheeler said all employees, including himself, were required to sign a township policy statement prohibiting them from doing political activities on their public time, but he said Elgin still expected employees to do political work then, anyway.

He said the policy they signed was to protect Elgin in case her employees were caught doing political work "on the clock."
MUNSTER  The towns representative on the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority Steering Committee will be a local resident.

Town Council President Joseph Simonetto appointed Lynn Eplawy to the steering committee during the Oct. 2 Council business meeting. Eplawy is not only a Munster resident but also managing partner at Gary Jet Center.

Eplawy was one of several candidates who applied following some rancor and confusion at a council meeting held early in the summer. The steering committee is meant to give a place at the table to communities that have their tax dollars taken by the RDA, but do not have a vote on its board.

Indiana House Bill 1144 authorized the development of transit development districts near stations along the current South Shore commuter rail line and the proposed West Lake extension.

The RDA is taking a lead role in that development, and a steering committee in each county will advise it on proposed projects that will be subject to municipal planning and zoning ordinances.

Earlier this year, Simonetto had indicated he would appoint council member Lee Ann Mellon, Ward 2, to the steering committee. However, that proposal met stiff opposition from residents who thought a non-official should be given a chance at a committee seat.

Simonetto said he initially thought the towns representative had to be an elected official. But when he was able to confirm that a resident could serve, he opened up a seven-day application period. Interviews were conducted and Eplawy was chosen.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said "only one thing will work" in dealing with North Korea after previous administrations had talked to Pyongyang without results.

"Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid," Trump said in a tweet. "... Hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!"

Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind.
Kim Scipes, Purdue Northwest associate professor of sociology, spent eight weeks during summer teaching at Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, and experiencing the Vietnamese culture.

Referred by a friend who taught in the labor studies program at TDTU, Scipes was introduced to the universitys chair of the sociology department, Le Thi Mai. This led to Scipes invitation to Vietnam as the first keynote speaker at the TDTU conference on education and social integration in 2016.

This year Scipes was invited to return as a guest instructor where he taught qualitative research methods, based on sophisticated interviewing skills and techniques, to more than 70 Vietnamese students.

Founded in 1997, Ton Duc Thang University is located in the highly populated Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. It is the only university in Vietnam that requires students to take an examination in English as a graduation requirement, Scipes noted.

The best part of the trip was teaching the students, Scipes said. They were very eager to learn, and worked extremely hard. Since I taught in Englishthere was no translationthey were working in a second language, and we were in class five hours a day, twice a week.

This was a very successful trip. Over 80 percent of the class earned a grade of 80 or higher on their course examinations, Scipes added. They also had to interview an educator, recent graduate or senior student for 30 to 45 minutes on how we could improve education at TDTU and then write up their findings in a three-page research report in Englishand almost half of them got a grade of 80 or higher on this assignment.

The people were very warm, and delighted Id come to teach their students. Faculty, staff and the students worked hard to make me feel welcome, Scipes said.

He already has been invited to return and teach in summer 2018.
DYER  Pattis All-American raised $2,275.00 to help with the fight against childhood cancer in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Camp for a Cure was held in September and all tuition fees went directly to the foundation. All staff donated their time for the special event. Doreens Pizza and House of Pizza donated dinner for the children in attendance and Goodys Popcorn donated treat bags. Additional donations were collected at the front desk through a drop box.

VALPARAISO  Porter County Parks & Recreation welcomed volunteers from Swartz, Retson & Co. Certified Accountants to Sunset Hill Farm Park last month for a day of service. These volunteers worked to clear invasive plants from the natural prairie and plant beneficial trees around the pond. Greg Ward, principal at Swartz, Retson & Co. said, Our firm likes to volunteer as a way to give back to the community. We choose Porter County Parks and Recreation since it has great facilities like Sunset Hill Farm that many of us use and want keep nice for years to come.
PORTAGE  Waving flags and hosting parades are fine ways to honor veterans.

But, said retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jim Bauerle, all those celebrations fade without making progress on veteran's issues.

"The General Assembly and governor are patriotic, but that doesn't mean action. People in Indiana think highly of veterans, but having a parade, holding a flag, doesn't help a vet who is homeless. It doesn't help a guardsman who's been deployed to Puerto Rico for six weeks, nor does it help his employer," Bauerle said this week prior to addressing the Portage Mayor's Veterans Committee.

Instead, he later told the veterans, "call your legislator and tell them to get up off their behind and go see the committee chairman to lend support to a bill."

Bauerle, of Indianapolis, served 32 years in the military, fighting in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.

He's still fighting, but this time for veterans, active duty personnel and their families as vice president of The Military/Veterans Coalition of Indiana. The group is a coalition of several other military-related organizations in the state, aimed at advocating for veterans, educating Hoosiers about veterans issues and celebrating veterans and active duty personnel.

"Our focus in this is to get bills passed that will support those who are serving or who have served," he said.

Bauerle said Indiana doesn't have an exemplary track record when it comes to veterans issues, such as ranking 42nd in the nation last year in benefits paid while ranking 16th in overall veteran population.

Bauerle reviewed the group's 2018 legislative agenda, saying in the last nine years they have helped usher through 50 pieces of additional legislation.

Last year they supported a bill that allowed an exemption for the first $6,250 of retired military income from state income tax. Next year, he said, they want to up the amount.

The group is also lobbying for $500,000 extra from the state to support veterans treatment courts and have been trying to get legislation passed that would provide a data base of veterans statewide through the drivers license renewal process.

For more information on The Military/Veterans Coalition of Indiana, visit inmilcoal.org.
An 80-year-old was taken to a Chicago hospital with a head injury and two others, including a Porter County sheriff's deputy, were injured in a three-vehicle crash Sunday on Ind. 149, police said.

Indiana State Police said a preliminary investigation showed Lawrence Caronch, 20, of Valparaiso, was driving a 1995 Jeep Cherokee north on Ind. 149 a half mile south of County Road 700 North when he stopped because of a large lampshade in the middle of the road.

Edward Allande, 80, of Valparaiso, was driving a 2017 Subaru Outback behind Caronch and also stopped, police said.

Porter County Deputy Tim Bell, 37, failed to see Allande stopped, police said. His fully marked 2015 Ford Explorer hit the back of Allande's Outback, causing the Outback to strike the Cherokee.

Allande was extricated from his car, and all three drivers were initially taken to Porter Regional Hospital, police said.

Allande was later taken by ambulance to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago for a head injury, police said. Caronch and Bell were treated at Porter and released.
VALPARAISO  Students dealing with gender identity or gender orientation issues are more likely to be bullied or harassed, commit suicide or find themselves homeless.

A group of youth workers gathered at Dunebrook, a child advocacy center, to participate in a LGBTQ Cultural Diversity Training program sponsored by The Indiana Youth Institute as part of their youth worker cafe program.

The program had Jill Schlueter-Kim, executive director of Girls on the Run of Northwest Indiana, thinking about a young girl in the program nearly a decade ago. Schlueter-Kim said she learned the girl is now transgender.

"I wonder if we did enough then," she said. "Could we have served her better?"

"Kids are starting to have these questions early," Schlueter-Kim said about why she attended the program on Wednesday.

"We serve a lot of youth across many spectrums, adults too," said Joyce Leon, director of human resources of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana. "We want to serve them as best as we can."

Esther Stiles, family advocate with Dunebrook and a member of the Northwest Indiana LGBTQ Community Coalition, told the group of about 15 teachers, counselors and other youth workers that the aim of the program wasn't to change their minds on the issue, but to give them tools to be more sensitive and respectful to youth who may be dealing with gender identity or orientation issues in their lives.

"Some folks are very clear at an early age. For some it is a longer process. Based on your relationship with kids, you may be the safe person to come out to, but that does not necessarily mean they want to come out to everyone," she said.

Stiles defined the terms sexual orientation and gender identity for the group, explaining some of the terms associated with the LGBTQ community.

She emphasized that there is a "very real sense of a lack of safety in the community" and encouraged the participants to provide safe spaces, especially in a school setting.

Some transgender youths may never use a restroom at school, she said, because of fear of being found out or being bullied. That could lead to them being dehydrated or malnourished, which, in turn, affects their education.

A 2013 National School Climate Survey indicated 65 percent of the LGBTQ youths reported hearing repeated homophobic remarks at school; 30 percent missed school at least one day a month because they felt unsafe and 85 percent said they were verbally harassed in the last year. LGBTQ youth are also at a higher risk of dropping out, depression and suicide.

She also urged the youth workers not to make assumptions, in language or actions, and not to build communication barriers between themselves and the youths they serve.

For more information on the Indiana Youth Institute, visit iyi.org. The group will sponsor additional presentations on LGBTQ youth on Oct. 20 in LaPorte and Dec. 5 in Merrillville.
New York Universitys Taub Center for Israel Studies will host a screening of The Siege of Bethlehem, a PBS Frontline documentary, and a talk by reserve Col. Lior Lotan, chief Israeli negotiator in the Siege of the Church of the Nativity, on Sun., Oct. 15, 6-8 p.m. at the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center [screening room] (53 Washington Square South [between Sullivan and Thompson Streets]).

The event is free and open to the public. RSVP by calling 212.992.9797 or emailing rsvp.taub@nyu.edu. Space limited to availability. Subways: A, B, C, D, E, F, M (West 4th St.).

In 2002, a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings against Israeli civilian targets resulted in Israeli military intervention in the major Palestinian cities. Armed Palestinian militants took refuge in the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem and were besieged by the Israel Defense Forces for 39 days. A negotiated settlement allowed over 200 priests and civilians in the Church to escape unscathed, while the militants agreed to go into exile thereby avoiding arrest. Lotan, who will speak on his experiences immediately following the screening, was the chief Israeli negotiator during the siege.

Lotan, a senior researcher at the Interdisciplinary Centers International Institute for Counter-Terrorism in Israel, is regarded as a foremost expert in hostage-barricade situations and hostage negotiations. He commanded the Israel Defense Force (IDF) hostage negotiation team from 1998 until 2005. From 1993 to 1996, he commanded the IDFs Counter-Terrorism Unit.

Editors Note:

The Taub Center was established with a gift from the Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation. The gift supports an endowed professorship and two graduate fellowships in Israel Studies, and funds lectures, seminars, scholarly colloquia at the Center, and other special programs for students, faculty, and the community. In addition to offering its own programming, the Taub Center works closely with NYUs departments to create cross-disciplinary programming, serving to broaden NYUs offerings in Judaic and Middle Eastern studies.
In the government report presented in March, Premier Li Keqiang pledged to carry forward medical reform during the year 2017. As of the end of September, most of the policies had been implemented, influencing every aspect of peoples life.

Direct settlement for cross-regional medical fee

A nationwide settlement network for cross-regional medical treatment has been established, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. By Sept 25, 7,226 designated medical institutions have launched cross-provincial medical care service.

People can now register at the local medical insurance management units, and benefit from the direct settlement of medical costs if they received treatment in other provinces designated hospitals.

In addition, a new type of rural cooperative medical care system for intra-provincial medical fees settlement has covered nine provinces by the end of August, involving 150 million people in rural areas, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Tiered medical system boosted

The State Council decided to set up more medical treatment partnerships among big hospitals and grassroots medical centers, according to a circular released in April.

This move is aimed at establishing a tiered medical system, which encourages people to see doctors at basic-level hospitals with indisposition, large hospitals with severe illness, and undergo rehabilitation back at basic-level hospitals.

At present, about 80 percent of the third-level hospitals have established a tiered medical system.

China is also to expand contract-based family doctor services to 85 percent of prefecture-level cities. The contract rate for family doctors among key groups is set to reach above 60 percent in 2017.

More medicines, lower prices

Public hospitals were required to remove medicine markups before Sept 30, and were prohibited generating profits from medical examination and test. The average increase of medical care fees over the year is to be capped under 10 percent.

In addition, once high-priced and rigidly demanded, 36 medicines were included into medical insurance coverage, with average price reduced by 44 percent compared with 2016.

Moreover, big data will be used to monitor medicine shortage to guarantee supply.

A simplified invoicing mechanism has been carried out in 11 medical reform pilot zones, which only requires two invoices from medicine production to circulation enterprises and then to hospitals, meaning more transparent pricing and cheaper medicine for patients.

Diversified payments for different illness

The State Council decided to roll out a diversified medical care payment in line with different illness in 2017, according to a circular issued in June.

The payment, classified into hospitalization, treatment at basic-level hospitals, and diagnosis fees, will facilitate a more regulated medical charges.

Medical insurance subsidy increased

In 2017, the annual average medical insurance subsidy from financial departments will be increased by 30 yuan per capita from 420 yuan to 450 yuan.

In addition, the state subsidy for basic public health services is to be raised from 45 yuan to 50 yuan.

Other changes in medical insurance

Basic medical insurance and maternity insurance will be merged in 12 cities as pilot projects, including Handan in Hebei province and Jinzhong in Shanxi province, according to a circular released by the State Council in January.

Critical illness insurance will be improved to lift patients burden, with more favorable subsidy to poor families.

Local governments are required to increase the reimbursement ratio. The poor in county-level regions can receive treatment before payment.
The rule of the law will be the same for Roy Moore if he is elected to the U.S. Senate.

There are constitutionally backed laws and procedures, and he will be expected to follow them.

Can Roy Moore do that?

Do the voters in Alabama care?

If he is elected, as many predict he will be in this Red state, care we had better, because otherwise our state is headed for nothing but stagnant limbo if Moore cant manage to find other senators, lawmakers and policy-setters to work with him.

Its not an executive-branch office he is seeking, as did Donald Trump with the White House. Instead, it is membership to a club, a club that governs with votes; and right now, that club has a skeptical eye cast toward Roy Moore.

That could be a problem for a state that desperately needs representation that will be respected.

There is great fanfare and now more of a national spotlight on Moore, or the Ten Commandments judge, as many seem to prefer calling him.

We here in Alabama know the story. Moore grabbed headlines on more than one occasion by taking populist stands sure to gain votes and just as sure to defy laws and dare the mean ole establishment to do something.

Alabama voters like that kind of thing.

Headlines such as firmly planting a Ten Commandments monument on public property or urging clerks to disregard federal laws and mandates regarding same-sex marriage do much for moral arguments, but much less in respect for the law.

Laws that twice have led to Moore being stripped of his job, although many critics feel he took the stands he did as an opportunistic political play to become a voter hero.

And it worked.

However, Alabama cannot afford for his strike three to come in the U.S. Senate, as the state already has endured enough embarrassment with its recent history of criminal indictments and scandals in high offices of supposed leadership.

We need our next senator to fully understand just how important it is to fulfill the many countless needs we have of that so-important office, and it starts by merely being able to keep the job.

Can Roy Moore do that this go-around?

His election is not a sure thing just yet. Moore still must defeat Democrat Doug Jones in the Dec. 12 general election to fill the Senate seat.

There is enough backlash to President Trump and enough head-shaking at Roy Moore becoming the GOPs Senate candidate that Jones actually could garner a surprising share of the votes. But it would require a huge upset to win, otherwise leaving Moore in the role.

If that happens, Moore certainly will have a chance to have an influence on Capitol Hill.

Given his history, however, that influence could turn negative, and it could cost Alabama.

Lets hope Roy Moore understands what winning the role of U.S. senator could mean in actual responsibility, not just in carrying a meaningful yet single banner of moral proclamation that goes only so far in the shark-frenzied waters of Congress.

Congress, we all can attest, certainly needs more good influence, but it first must respect the source.

Roy Moore, like it or not, must follow the rule of the law to get the job done.

So far, hes not been willing to do that, and we will get nowhere if that history repeats itself.

Can Roy Moore do this job?

It likely wont take long to find out.
Uganda will export electricity to South Sudan after officials from both governments signed an agreement to build power lines to the border towns of Nimule, Kaya and Kajo-Keji.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in Kampala on Monday, the minister of state for energy, Simon DUjanga, said Uganda will extend 132kV power lines from Lira to Arua.

This will boost the current 33KV power line to South Sudan. He said Uganda enjoys a cordial relationship with its northern neighbour, and therefore it only makes business sense to contribute to South Sudans economic progress for the benefit of both countries.

Under the East African Community framework, cross-border electrification is highly promoted to provide electricity to our people living at the borders for economic, social and household use in order to enhance their socio-economic development, DUjanga said.

DUjanga said this MOU is not the first as Uganda already has similar agreements with Rwanda and Tanzania, where it shares electricity with its two southern neighbours.

The minister also revealed that feasibility studies are already being undertaken for Uganda to build a 400kv power line from the 600MW Karuma hydropower dam to South Sudans capital city, Juba.

Speaking at the same function, Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, the minister of Energy and Dams in South Sudan, hailed Uganda for the decision to extend electricity to the border towns. He said this will spur economic activity in these areas and reduce on the number of South Sudanese refugees fleeing to Uganda.

I want to appreciate the hospitality extended to us by the people of Uganda this project is going to have a lot of impact on our people residing at the border who, before the war, were about 130,000 but now are about 30,000. This will relieve Uganda of the burden of refugees, Mathok said.

We are going to work out mechanisms to see that we implement what we have signed, he added.

Mathok revealed that his government is doing whatever it takes to end the war that is currently raging in the different parts of the country to allow for the commencement of laying of the infrastructure for more electricity supply.

Asked about the cost of the project, DUjanga said the two countries are going to set up a joint technical committee that will draw up plans and arrive at the figure of how much will be needed to see the project to fruition.
More than a week after their violent ejection from parliament, opposition MPs; Allan Ssewanyana [Makindye West], Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu a.k.a Bobi Wine [Kyadondo East] and Gerald Karuhanga [Ntungamo municipality] say they are yet to recover from the beatings at the hands of presidential guards. Heres their story:-

MPs fighting with SFC soldiers in parliament

Gerald Karuhanga

No sooner had Speaker Rebecca Kadaga stepped out of the chambers after suspending the 25 MPs than security men stormed the House. About 10 of them jumped on me and squeezed me as they dragged me out.

In the lobby, out of sight of the cameras, the gang slammed me down and started kicking me and dragged me on. As we approached the eastern gate, we were joined by another soldier who pushed us down the steps. I was only saved from breaking my back by pushing my legs against the wall.

The same fellow followed as I was carried away. He squeezed my nose, shut it for like four minutes and twisted my neck. At that moment I thought I was dying.

The group carrying me away then got into a disagreement with another lot who were manhandling [Erute North MP Charles Angiro] Gutumoi. It was during this exchange that the guy let go of my neck and nose. The same soldier deliberately pushed me so hard when we got to the police van that I knocked my head against the cars bodywork, resulting in severe pain.

Inside the van, I found MPs Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, Ssewanyana, Odonga Otto, Muhammad Nsereko, Denis Lee Onguzu (Maracha) and Kyagulanyi. We were ordered to keep quiet after being threatened with death.

Moments later, Mityana municipality MP Francis Zaake Butebi was brought in, convulsing and hardly breathing. This guy was going to die; his entire body was shaking badly. At that point I said if they want, let them kill me. I pushed the window open and shouted that this man is dying thats when the van was opened. He was pulled out and taken to the ambulance.

After Zaake was withdrawn, the rest of us were driven at breakneck speed around Kampala before they finally dumped us at Kira police division. We were kept there for hours before we were taken to our respective homes after midnight.

Karuhangas story is similar to that of Ssewanyana and Kyagulanyi who were both held in the same van although the duo were instead driven to Naggalama police station in Mukono district.

The Sergeant-at-Arms attempts to calm down the situation

Allan Ssewanyana

I was beaten severely by the Special Forces Command (SFC) men before being bundled into the Besigye van, [police van]. My body still aches. I still have a lot of pain but I dont want to cry in public because when you are in a struggle, you should be stronger than those youre leading.

I joined politics knowing so many things would come my way, including death. But I chose the path of fighting for freedom and democracy.

We are not going to allow sanity to prevail in parliament every time they talk about the age limit removal.

At least for me I will do whatever I can to defeat that bill. We are not going to allow this bill to sail through. We shall fight it up to the last man, even in the committee where it has now gone, we are going to disorganise them.



Robert Kyagulanyi

When they dragged us away from the cameras, they tortured us. I was personally manhandled by what seemed like over 40 people; kicking me all over. I tried to defend myself but they overpowered me.

We knew that to win this debate wasnt about numbers but about right or wrong. We would do anything and use any means necessary for right to prevail. Even if Museveni insists and he gets his way in parliament and he goes to the vote, he will not win. I know he will steal [the vote] but this time round, our people are aware.

To avoid all these embarrassments, Museveni should go peacefully.



Not moved

The three MPs promise to soldier on with their efforts to stop the amendment of Article 102(b), and drop the 35 and 75- year lower and upper age limits respectively for presidential candidates.

President Museveni will be 77 in 2021 when Ugandans go to the polls again. It is believed that this amendment is about his unspoken desire to be president for life.

Robert Kyagulanyi addressing the media recently

Between him and that objective are people like Kyagulanyi, Ssewanyana, Karuhanga, assorted religious leaders, civil society actors, university lecturers, ordinary people, retired senior civil servants, some cultural leaders and others who are saying enough is enough after 31 years of Museveni.

We are not wavering at all; we shall keep up the pressure and appeal to the conscience of Ugandans and Museveni particularly -- who is the only beneficially of this bill not to allow blood in this country because we have failed to transfer power from one leader to another, Karuhanga said.

Karuhanga says he is energised by knowledge that majority of Ugandans dont want the presidential age limits lifted. There are fears that the price could yet get higher in this struggle.

Already, Kyagulanyi and Ssewanyana have had their homes attacked with flash bang hand grenades. But in this fight, the two say they are willing to lay down their lives.

bakerbatte@observer.ug
I have been following President Musevenis actions trying to convince a skeptical public about the good intentions of government regarding private land.

Meanwhile, on the sideline is a seven-member commission of inquiry into land matters revealing the horror that many Ugandans have faced over the last few decades at the hands of the rich, powerful politicians and technocrats. These actions have taken a particularly hard toll on the women and children.

The small sample of cases by the commission paints a really grim picture and yet this only represents a tip of the giant iceberg that is Ugandas land problems.

Meanwhile, the presidents peasants, as he once fondly called them, suffer after a long dry spell. Heavy rains have caused deaths and washed away many a livelihood. As if this is not enough, we have a governing party preoccupied with removing age limits from our sacred Constitution, with Evelyn Anite even issuing an ominous warning to dissenters: We have the maggye [army].

It is no surprise then that the president finds a cynical public that has been twice bitten and exceedingly shy. Many of those the president entrusted to be his eyes and ears have also become his teeth, with a really big bite. It is no wonder then that Ugandans have very little trust in a man that was once their entire hope and pride.

My advice to the president is to start defanging his crew because with friends like these, you really dont need enemies. I wonder where the brave young girl is. She needs to tell the emperor that he is naked.



Juliet Nakato Odoi,

Forum for Women in Democracy (Fowode).

Can debt be relied on to revamp our economy?

Uganda, through her national development plans, has highlighted a number of key sectors crucial in transforming the economy.

These include transport and infrastructure, agriculture, information and communications technology, and tourism, among others. It has also given a number of sources of income to finance such sectors as external and domestic borrowing.

The countrys debt stock in nominal value, however, is rising exponentially, currently at the tune of Shs 34 trillion, representing an increase of 14.1 per cent relative to June 2016 and 16.7 per cent in the same period a year before.

The state of the economy report published by Bank of Uganda in June 2017 underpins that about Shs 21.1 trillion ($5.7 billion) is owed to external creditors, commanding a dominant share of 62.4 per cent of the total public debt, while Shs 12.7 trillion in domestic debt.

This clearly represents an increase of Shs 1.55 trillion since January 2017. Its still imperative to note that Ugandas debt, especially domestic, has shot higher, over and above the set threshold as given by the Public Debt Management Framework.

Given the governments move to undertake these huge projects, it is imperative to question whether the debt can be steadily relied on to boost economic growth and at what cost.

First, Ugandas national debt is the total amount of money the government owes the private sector (domestic, foreigners or institutions).

However, if government is borrowing to invest in public services such as transport and education, it is possible to increase productive capacity and enable a higher rate of economic growth.

But it beats ones thinking that government spending on capital projects is much the same year-to-year. The current report on performance of loans approved by the 8th, 9th and 10th parliament indicates that a total of 137 loans have been approved.

However, its unfortunate that although some loans were approved, many have not started disbursing the borrowed funds yet they attract commitment fees.

What needs to be done, therefore, is to support the private sector, and boost aggregate demand through injection of money in agriculture, which has both backward and forward linkages.

Prioritization of domestic revenue mobilization efforts remains the primary available option Uganda can incorporate for financing infrastructural development.

Therefore, efforts to improve domestic revenue mobilization should be scaled up. These include decisively addressing weaknesses in the legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks; expanding the tax base; unlocking the potentially large contributions from the informal sector; and reducing tax exemptions. In addition, the government can opt for pension funds to finance some of these projects given that they are best financed in local currency.

Richard Ssempala,

Research associate, Uganda Debt Network.

Kalonzo Musyoka doesnt know Museveni!

While presiding over the graduation of Utamu University, Kenyan politician Kalonzo Musyoka, one of Raila Odingas senior partners in the Nasa coalition, was quoted by the media advising Ugandans to handle President Museveni well because he is fit to be East Africas first president.

For sure, I did not expect this gentleman to make such a reckless statement. For starters, Kalonzo and his counterparts are in alliance in Kenya trying to wrestle power from the Kikuyu who are clinging onto power.

The same Kalonzo wants Ugandans to bear with Museveni, claiming he is East Africas presidential material.

Secondly, Kalonzo should be informed that unlike Kenyas Kikuyu-Kalenjin perpetual rule, Uganda is threatened by a suspected Museveni dynasty rule which is in its 31st year.

Kalonzo should also know that when Museveni gets into power, he never lets go in spite of his dismal performance. Before you finish fighting the Kikuyu hegemony, dont invite the Museveni problem for Kenya or the region at large. Its bigger than what you are wrestling in Kenya now.

Kennedy Kabonge,

kabongek@yahoo.co.uk.

Lets record all rights violations

Ugandans should not go to sleep; we are living in a very violent society. You have smartphones with cameras, recorders, you can write, etc. You can gather data better than ever before.

Record every threatening event or violation of your rights: time, place, witnesses, possible suspects, etc.

After that, then you can choose time to decide. Such data can be very helpful to prosecute such characters on a later date, even if you are dead. Dont forget one important thing; to share such data with someone else.

Such data should be kept for a minimum of eight years. The best thing is to deposit it on a cloud in form of images, sound and text.

Bwanika Nakyesawa,

Luweero.
If you enjoy staring at womens thighs while you eat, theres now a place that allows you to do just that, without looking like a pervert. Welcome to Japans new World of Thighs Photography Cafe!

Its no secret that Japan loves themed restaurants and cafes, but if you thought airsoft restaurants and reptile cafes were a bit too much, youre going to love this new joint that is colored by the world of thighs. Young girls thighs, that it. Designed as an extension of Japanese photographer Yurias artistic exhibitions, the newly opened cafe in Tokyos Ebisu district is decorated with photos of womens thighs from Yurias existing portfolio, as well as some never-before-seen pics from a recent photo shoot in Guam. If youre unfamiliar with Yurias body of work, its pretty much centered around female thighs.

Photo: Yuria

Called World of Thighs Photography Cafe, Tokyos newest themed cafe was inaugurated on October 6 and will stay open until December 6, allowing patrons to feast on various popular dishes while surrounded by dozens of photos of young womens thighs. Judging by some photos released by the organizers, the food will also feature thigh-shaped decorations, although its not yet clear if those are edible.

For die-hard female thigh fans, World of Thighs Photography Cafe also features a thigh-themed gift shop where you can buy pins and other thigh-related merchandise.

Photo: Yuria

via SoraNews24
Ryan Croy

Fifteen Minutes managing partner Ryan Croy is launching PublicHaus, a PR and digital marketing shop that will connect clients with customized services through a network of independent practitioners. With access to a group of nearly 75 marketers, PublicHaus will offer services that include media relations, influencer marketing, social media marketing, website design, app development, and search engine optimization. It will be run in partnership with digital strategist Natacha Gaymer-Jones, formerly VP/Los Angeles director for San Diego-based BrightHaus digital. Croy will remain a consultant to Fifteen Minutes, and that agencys chairman, Howard Bragman, will serve as crisis communications counsel within the PublicHaus network.

Molly Barnett (L) & Chelsea Nachman

Theater press agents Molly Barnett and Chelsea Nachman unveiled Grapevine Public Relations, which specializes in representing theatrical talent. Formerly at theater PR firm DKC/O&M, Barnett and Nachman have worked on such shows as Dear Evan Hansen, Kinky Boots, Fun Home and Beautiful. Several creatives associated with those shows, including actors Jessie Mueller, Billy Porter and Blair Brown as well as composers Cyndi Lauper, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul and Jeanine Tesori, have signed on as Grapevine clients. Barnett and Nachman will continue to work with DKC/O&M on Dear Evan Hansen. In addition, DKC/O&M staffer Andy Snyder has started up a writing-focused agency, Thinkwell NYC.

Crosby Marketing Communications recently celebrated its fifth annual Inspiring Actions That Matter Day of Service. The agency closed its Annapolis, Md., headquarters and Washington, D.C., office for the day, so members could participate in service projects benefiting local charities and nonprofit organizations. The Crosby team donated 560 hours of community service through service projects at three organizations: the Capital Area Food Bank, located in Northeast Washington, D.C.; Maryland Therapeutic Riding in Crownsville, Md.; and the Oyster Restoration Program of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, located in Shady Side, Md. Crosby also made a $5,000 donation to each organization plus making a contribution of $5,000 for hurricane relief efforts in the United States. We are proud that in the five years of this service program, Crosby has donated 2,040 hours of employee time and $70,000 to charities and nonprofits, said agency president and CEO Raymond Crosby.
Kevin Foley

After NBC News reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson referred to Donald Trump as a f-----g moron in the presence of senior government officials, the president quickly labeled the story fake news declaring the news organization concocted it out of whole cloth.

When Tillerson was subsequently offered an opportunity to deny the NBC report, however, he didnt.

Ive figured out what President Trump means by fake news. These are factual reports Trump doesnt agree with. This includes virtually every critical news story about the president and his administration presented since he took office.

Russian meddling in the 2016 election? Never happened. Inauguration crowd? Biggest ever in history. Don Juniors meeting with Putin operatives? Adoption.

Trump, of course, is playing to his base, the 35 percent or so who blindly support him. Like The Donald, these folks are predisposed to hate credible national news media for doing their job. I have right-wing friends down here in Georgia who still insist the Bush administration was right about WMD in Iraq and that the news media conspired to hide the facts. Thus, when the president characterizes the Tillerson story as phony, this crowd reflexively agrees.

While Trump continues his attack on the legitimate press, he caters to the more compliant conservative media serving his most ardent fans.

As noted in MediaMatters for America, the president has granted interviews to Fox News 14 times and two with the Christian Broadcasting Network. CBS, NBC, ABC, and MSNBC have all done just one interview with Trump and CNN has not done an interview with the president since he took office, according to MMfA.

The president has not done a one-on-one national TV interview with a non-conservative host in nearly five months, since he sat down with NBCs Lester Holt on May 11. (That interview went poorly for the president.), reported MMfA.

Trump cant do real interviews because hell be forced to defend and justify his administration, just like past presidents had to do.

There will be pesky questions about Special Counsel Robert Mullers Russia probe, or Trumps decision to work with Democrats on saving Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), or why he wants to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal when his top advisors tell him to stay in.

Accountability to the voters? No, thats not for Trump. His recent interview with CBNs Mike Huckabee was an example of the sort of fawning interview he prefers.

You were a rock star (in Puerto Rico), I saw the video of it, gushed Huckabee, whose daughter Sarah is Trumps press secretary.

You have a lot of things out there on the horizon, including North Korea and Kim Jong Un -- or as you like to call him, Rocket Man, which I thought was a great moniker, the journalist told Trump.

And how about this softball: But in tax reform, this would be a rocket fuel for the economy. And weve already seen almost a tripling of the GDP just since the beginning of the year. Thats huge. How do reducing taxes and reforming taxes transfer into an economic boom?

Trump thanked Huckabee for the support over the years at the end of the interview and added that the Republican host has been so fantastic, MMfA noted.

What a detestable disservice to the American electorate. Rather than perform the role of professional skeptic, Huckabee and all the rest of these shills tell audiences only what they want to hear and not what they need to know. Thats fake news.

The price we pay for such willful ignorance is the man currently occupying the Oval Office. God help us.

***

Kevin Foley owns KEF Media Associates, Inc., an Atlanta-based producer and distributor of electronic publicity. He can be reached at [email protected].


Lewis D'Vorkin



The Los Angeles Times today named 40-year media veteran Lewis D'Vorkin editor-in-chief, succeeding Darvan Maharai, who was ousted in August by parent company tronc Inc.

Most recently chief product officer at Forbes Media, D'Vorkin has reporting and editing experience at the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek and New York Times.

Lewis is one of the most transformational editors and digital innovators in the media industry and is exceptionally qualified to lead the evolution of the Los Angeles Times newsroom, said CEO/publisher Ross Levinsohn in a statement. He knows how to build a competitive, sustainable media business with global clout while preserving the highest standards of journalistic integrity.

The LAT also tapped Mickie Rosen president to handle business development and drive LAT's digital growth across tronc's properties.

D'Vorkin and Rosen report to Levinsohn.

Tronc's properties include New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Sun-Sentinel (South Florida) Hartford Courant, The Morning Call (Allentown, PA) and Daily Press (Newport News, VA).
When Edel Kealys daughter Leanne was born 12 years ago, what should have been a purely joyous occasion for the Birr family was tinged with anxiety and confusion.

Leanne was born with albinism, leaving her with very little vision, and Edel was unsure of what lay ahead for her child or where to turn for help and information.

Really when somebody is given a life changing and hugely impactful diagnosis for their new born baby there should be intensive counselling at best and information at least. I was given nothing; I had to find everything out for myself. It was a massive shock; it took me almost a year to get over it if I am honest, explains Edel, from Birr.

Edel and Leanne found practical and emotional support from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI). NCBI is Irelands national charity working for the rising number of people affected by sight loss. Its practical and emotional advice and supports help 8,000 people and their families face their futures with confidence every year and the charity works with 2,000 children nationwide.

There are 911 people with serious sight loss in Offaly, according to Census 2011 figures, with figures from Census 2016 due out next month. Services offered by NCBI include rehabilitation training, independent living skills, mobility training, low vision solutions, IT training, guidance in choosing a range of assistive technology, employment advice and counselling. The majority of people using NCBIs services have some level of vision.

With sight loss on the increase as our population ages, the charity is keen to create awareness around the help that is out there for people who may be struggling, particularly around World Sight Day, Thursday 12th October. This is a call that Edel echoes, as she struggled to find information on supports and services in the early days.

We were given no guidance at all after Leannes diagnosis and I really needed reassurance that everything was going to be ok. I needed information and I needed somebody to give me all that in a calm manner. NCBI did all that and more. I wanted the best for my little girl and it was like NCBI were our champions.

The Kealys found their way and Leanne is now a thriving 12 year old, who will start secondary school in 2018. Like all children her age, technology is vitally important and for Leanne, it takes on a new level of importance, as she relies on it for her schoolwork. Technology has made a huge difference to the lives of people who are blind or vision impaired. More and more, mainstream technology is becoming accessible to people with sight loss, such as smartphones, which have built in accessibility features that can be switched on or off so the same phone can be used by someone with sight loss and someone with full sight.

Leanne uses an iPad in school but is also learning Braille and in fact, Braille and technology work hand in hand, with the development of digital Braille devices, which allow users to both type notes in Braille, email them and get online, as well as reading back notes or emails in Braille, as the dots are raised up on the device. It is advances like this that will make all the difference to children like Leanne when it comes to third level education and employment opportunities.

Technology is vital and really gives options to people with visual impairments, says Edel. Leanne uses an iPad in school, as well as magnifiers to help her read standard print. She is learning Braille as well and finds it very relaxing; she says it helps to rest her eyes after looking at the iPad all day.

Like any parent, Edel wants a bright future for Leanne and she is certainly on the way to achieving that. Leanne is so independent and that is what I want for her - independence and happiness. I am going to push her to the last, to make sure that she gets the very best out of life. Working with NCBI has given Leanne self-confidence and thats invaluable. Leanne has less than 10% vision but she absolutely makes the most of what she has.

World Sight Day is this Thursday October 12, and to mark the day NCBI are launching a bursary. The NCBI bursary will provide financial aid to students who are visually impaired going into third level education every year.

For more information on NCBIs services visit www.ncbi.ie or phone 01 830 7033.
Agricultural News

Economist Dr. Derrell Peel Breaks Down the Latest Numbers in US Beef Export Market Performance

Mondays, Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry. This analysis is a part of the weekly series known as the "Cow Calf Corner" published electronically by Dr. Peel and Dr. Glenn Selk. Today, Dr. Peel reviews the latest monthly and year-to-date data on the US beef and cattle trade.





"Beef exports have increased year over year every month in 2017. August beef exports were up 14.7 percent over last year supporting the year to date increase of 14.5 percent year over year. August exports were up strongly to Japan (up 39.3 percent) and Hong Kong (up 28.0 percent) though exports to South Korea were down 6.3 percent compared to last August. August exports also increased year over year to Canada (up 18.1 percent) and Mexico (up 8.9 percent). For the first eight months of the year, exports are up to all of the major beef export destinations led by Japan with a 30.6 percent share of beef exports; South Korea with 16.2 percent; Mexico with 14.8 percent; Canada with 11.3 percent and Hong Kong with 10.1 percent. These top five markets accounted for 83 percent of beef exports for the January through August period.







"Beef imports increased 7.9 percent in August, the third consecutive monthly year over year increase in beef imports. Total beef imports for the first eight months of the year are down 2.8 percent from one year ago. August beef imports were larger from New Zealand (up 18.6 percent); Australia (up 15.1 percent); Mexico (up 14.0 percent); Canada up (0.5 percent) but down 26.5 percent from Brazil. For the year to date, Canada has the largest share of U.S. beef imports at 23.2 percent followed by New Zealand (21.8 percent); Australia (21.7 percent); Mexico (18.8 percent) and Brazil with 5.0 percent. Uruguay and Nicaragua are close behind Brazil with just over four percent of total imports each. The top five imports sources account for 90.5 percent of total imports and with Uruguay and Nicaragua account for 98.8 percent of beef imports.







"Cattle imports in August were essentially unchanged with imports from Canada up fractionally year over year and imports from Mexico down fractionally compared to last August. For the year to date, total cattle imports are up 3.9 percent with imports from Canada down 16.5 percent and imports of Mexican cattle up 21.7 percent. Canadian imports are a mix of feeder and slaughter cattle with feeder cattle imports down 34.0 percent through August and slaughter cattle imports up 9.7 percent. Slaughter cattle imports from Canada for the year to date consist of 68.8 percent slaughter steers and heifers and 31.2 percent slaughter cows and bulls. Total feeder cattle imports from Canada and Mexico are up 9.7 percent for the January through August period.





"Through August, feeder cattle imports from Canada consisted of 77.1 percent heifers and 22.9 percent steers with steers down 61.6 percent from last year and heifers only down by 13.6 percent. Year to date feeder heifer imports from Mexico have more than doubled from last year with heifers making up 15.3 percent of feeder cattle imports from Mexico compared to 9.1 percent last year. Steers imported from Mexico are up 13.6 percent year over year through August. Increased heifer imports from Mexico may be a reflection of stronger domestic Mexican demand for steers to support growing feedlot production in Mexico leaving heifers to make up a bigger share of cattle exports. It may also signal slowing heifer retention and herd growth in Mexico as heifer exports compete with domestic breeding demand for heifers. For the first 8 months of the year, feeder heifer imports from Mexico and Canada have increased to 23.5 percent of total feeder cattle imports, up from a share of 20.1 percent one year ago."













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Agricultural News

Oklahoma's State Forester George Geissler Named National Association of State Foresters President

Oklahoma State Forester George Geissler was recently named president of the National Association of State Foresters (NASF).





"As leaders of state government, State Foresters have high standards for leadership of the association that represents their interests at the national level," said Jay Farrell, executive director of NASF. "It is an honor for George Geissler to be elected President of NASF by his peers. This means state foresters across the nation recognize his leadership skills and have a high level of confidence in his abilities to serve their common interests."





Geissler has a distinguished career in forestry, having worked as a forester and wildland firefighter for variety of organizations, including the United States Forest Service, a private corporation and as a business owner before joining Oklahoma Forestry Services in 2006, where he serves as the director and state forester. In his current role Geissler provides leadership for the conservation, enhancement and protection of Oklahoma's 12.5 million acres of forests and wildfire mitigation and suppression for all 77 counties in the state. Geissler will serve a one year term as NASF president, succeeding Wyoming State Forester Bill Crapser.





"State forestry agencies work to ensure the health, productivity and sustainability of our nation's trees and forests while protecting our citizens from loss due to threats such as wildland fire," said George Geissler. "I look forward to working with my fellow state foresters and our partners to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead."





Established in 1920, NASF is a non-profit organization composed of the directors of forestry agencies in the states, territories and the District of Columbia of the United States. State Foresters manage and protect state and private forests, which encompass two-thirds of the nation's forests. State forestry agencies in cooperation with federal agencies are the primary delivery system for forestry activities.





Source - Oklahoma Forestry Services













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Law enforcement officials say meth flows in and out of Omaha to be transported throughout the Midwest. Above, meth confiscated in June along I-80 in Lancaster County that was destined for Omaha, along with drug funds.

Mom-and-pop meth-making labs of a decade ago have given way to production of the drug by Mexican cartels. Today, meth  whose use dipped for a time  is outpacing opioids as the most common hard-core drug in Nebraska and Iowa. Law enforcement authorities say that despite some large drug busts and stiff penalties for smuggling, meth cases are increasing. "The price is as low as it's ever been and the purity as high as it's ever been," says a Drug Enforcement Administration official.

LINCOLN  Methamphetamine has dropped out of the public spotlight since the time, more than a decade ago, when it was labeled "America's most dangerous drug."

But the highly addictive stimulant is at least as common now as it ever was in Nebraska, far outpacing the opioids plaguing many other states.

Consider:

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Nebraska prosecuted nearly five times as many meth-related cases last year as in 2007, and meth accounted for nearly 93 percent of drug prosecutions last year.

The Omaha Police Department made 668 meth-related arrests last year, more than twice the number five years earlier.

The rate of Nebraskans seeking meth treatment was higher in 2015 than in any year back to 2000. Only alcohol sent more people into treatment.

Meth factors in to more Nebraska child welfare cases than any other drug. Parents of nearly one in three Nebraska foster children use meth.

"Right now, meth is very abundant," said Brenda Daley, coordinator for the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or HIDTA, a regional drug-control effort. "It's supply and demand, and there is a lot of supply."

The area's last surge in meth use occurred in the early 2000s.

At that time, meth was a target of concern across the nation. The drug's popularity brought with it a proliferation of explosive and hazardous home meth-making laboratories.

"At one point it was probably on everyone's mind," said Detective Greg Chase of the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and Council Bluffs Police Department.

Nebraska and Iowa saw a dip in use after they and the federal government passed laws restricting sales of pseudoephedrine, a decongestant and key meth-making ingredient.

The laws require pseudoephedrine to be kept behind pharmacy counters. Buyers have to show identification and are logged in a statewide database.

The mom-and-pop meth labs virtually disappeared after the restrictions took effect.

In 2005, the Nebraska State Patrol busted 252 meth labs and Iowa law enforcement seized 760 labs. Last year, Nebraska authorities found only three labs, while Iowa authorities found 85.

"We're almost to the point where meth labs have been eliminated," said Sgt. Dave Bianchi of the Omaha Police Department's narcotics unit. "It's almost gone the way of unicorns. Extremely rare."

The decline in use that followed the demise of home labs was shortlived, though.

International drug cartels soon stepped in to fill the gap in production, pumping high volumes of highly potent meth into Nebraska and other states from large-scale laboratories in Mexico.

As a result, law enforcement officials throughout the Midwest continue to rank meth as the top drug threat to the region, according to a survey by the Midwest HIDTA.

That differs from the eastern United States, where heroin and prescription opioids have replaced meth and cocaine as top concerns in recent years.

Opioid use also is increasing in Nebraska and Iowa, along with the numbers of overdose deaths, Daley said.

But meth remains the most common hard-core drug with the greatest impact in the two states.

"It's been our No. 1 threat since 2005," said Lt. Jason Scott of the Nebraska State Patrol. "It's always there."

Nebraska law enforcement points to meth as the drug that contributes most to violent and property crimes in the state, the survey found.

Users tend to be young white adults, who can be from any corner of the state. In fact, child-removal statistics suggest that meth is more common in rural parts of the state than in urban Omaha.

"If you were to drive west on I-80, every town is going to have (a meth) problem," said Darin Thimmesch, an agent in the Drug Enforcement Administration's Omaha office.

The drug comes north from Mexico via the nation's Interstates, hidden in private and commercial vehicles. Sometimes the drugs travel by mail.

Situated at the intersection of Interstates 80 and 29, Omaha has become a trafficking hub, several in law enforcement said.

Drugs and money flow in and out of the city to be transported throughout the Midwest. Last year the Nebraska State Patrol seized 71 pounds of meth on the state's highways.

In February 2016, a record-breaking bust resulted in the arrests of 64 people across Nebraska and into Colorado. The yearlong investigation was orchestrated among 30 agencies, targeting mostly dealers at the end of distribution networks.

Meth collected from the bust came from four states  Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado and Utah  but could be traced to Mexico.

Mexican cartels control most of the trafficking, with the Sinaloa cartel dominant in the region.

Those caught smuggling face stiff penalties  up to life imprisonment under state and federal laws  depending on the circumstances. But rather than cases slowing down, authorities have seen them increase in recent years and drug availability grow.

"The price is as low as it's ever been and the purity as high as it's ever been," Thimmesch said.

Several years ago, wholesale prices for meth ranged from $15,000 to $20,000 a pound, he said. These days the price for that pound has dropped to between $3,000 and $5,000.

On the street, one-sixteenth of an ounce  called a teener  can sell for $100, Bianchi said. That small amount can equal four uses.

Meanwhile, the purity of the meth that is available has increased.

In 2008 the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation lab reported an average purity of 35 percent for meth seized by law enforcement. By 2013, the average was 93 percent. Law enforcement agencies across the Midwest report that the influx of meth from large Mexican laboratories has pushed purity levels to 90 percent or more.

That means a given amount of meth, once mixed with filler ingredients, can supply more users. It also means the high that meth users get likely packs a larger punch, Daley said.

"It's become almost a perfect science," said Lt. Scott Wagner of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office's narcotics division. "(Cartels have) chemists doing it. Millions and millions of dollars put into these labs."

Scott, of the State Patrol, said he doesn't expect a change in the situation anytime soon.

"I don't want to say we're not winning," he said. "Every time we pull a kilo of meth, that's a win. That's a pound of meth that's not going to be grammed out and sold to our community.

"But it's a supply-and-demand issue and a numbers game," he said. "There's a ton of meth out there."

martha.stoddard@owh.com, 402-473-9583
LAS VEGAS  As part of his summer training, Maj. Charles Chesnut, a U.S. Air Force surgeon, practiced assembling mobile medical operations within 10 minutes of landing in a war zone to treat wounds from high-caliber bullets, shrapnel and explosions.

On the night of Oct. 1, in an unimaginable test for the 34-year-old doctor, Chesnut's neighbors here in the United States became his patients from the battlefield.

The Las Vegas Strip shooting became the first time that Chesnut used his new training to treat multiple gunshot victims at the same time. Called "Austere Surgical Teams" and finalized by the Air Force in July, the teams are designed to build off the lessons learned by the U.S. military during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After receiving a telephone alert about Stephen Paddock's rampage on Sunday night, Chesnut jumped into his car and drove to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada as gunshot victims were streaming into the trauma center.

What followed was one of the most hectic nights of Chesnut's military career, reflecting the warlike carnage that Paddock inflicted on concertgoers at a country music festival.

"These are injuries I never expected to see stateside," said Chesnut, adding that he went through 40 pairs of sterile medical gowns just to treat the crush of patients.

At the hospital, Chesnut was quickly joined by Lt. Col. Jason Compton and two other military surgeons from the Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.

In an interview Wednesday evening, Chesnut and Compton recounted the frenzied scene inside the hospital and how their war-training made a difference.

In all, Paddock killed 58 people and wounded nearly 500 before he took his own life. The University Medical Center treated 104 of those patients. More than 80 percent of them suffered gunshot wounds from high-caliber ammunition.

The rounds struck victims with horrific force, causing severe damage to human tissue and organs.

"These were definitely injuries you would see in a war zone," said Compton, the general surgery flight commander for the 99th Medical Group, who has been deployed to U.S. military hospitals in Qatar twice.

When Chesnut and Compton arrived at the University Medical Center shortly after midnight, the trauma center was packed with patients in urgent need of assessment.

Crude tourniquets had been affixed onto many victims to control bleeding, but quick decisions had to be made to prevent fatal blood loss.

And with hospital resources taxed by the influx of patients, Chesnut and Compton said, their military training proved invaluable in helping to triage patients.

The new Air Force mobile surgical teams  more nimble offshoots of military field hospitals  were redesigned by the Air Force this year so medical decisions can be made faster on the battlefield, according to Col. Virginia Garner, the commander of the 99th Medical Group.

Each team consists of a surgeon, an anesthesiologist, an emergency room physician, a critical-care nurse, a scrub technician and a medical administrator. One team can conduct five sterile, open-air operations.

The team members are trained to react expeditiously under overwhelming circumstances, relying on their medical instincts to decide which patients can be stabilized quickly enough for evacuation to military hospitals.

"We use very little blood, no CT scanners, just ultrasounds, and our clinical diagnostic skills," Chesnut said. "So, when I walked into that trauma resuscitation bay on Sunday night and Monday morning, I thought to myself, 'How would I treat these patients working in the middle of the desert in five-man teams'?"

Initially, Chesnut and Compton saw 20 to 30 patients waiting for evaluation for what appeared to be gunshot wounds to their arms and legs. To move them along the treatment process, the two began helping other doctors to check the victims' pulse rates.

If pulse rates in damaged extremities differ from other parts of the body, that would be a sign that an amputation may be needed.

No amputations ultimately were required, so the surgeons then began assessing for internal injuries. High-caliber weapons can leave deceptively small entrance wounds, Compton said.

"The hospital only had so many CT scanners, and you have a lot of people with extremity injuries . . . so who gets that precious CT scanner first?" said Compton, an 11-year-veteran of the Air Force. "The triage skills that we learned, training to go out on these small surgical teams, where even five or six patients and we can be overwhelmed, all helped us decide who gets that resource first."

As the backlog of patients began to lessen, the Air Force surgeons began helping University Medical Center doctors care for even more critically wounded patients.

Because Paddock had been firing from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, many bullets struck victims in the chest before smashing downward into the abdomen. That caused rare, severe wounds to both patients' chests and their abdomens.

"The thing that struck me most, which I did not expect to see, is the trajectory," Chesnut said. "When gunshots enter through the chest and go through the abdomen, you have potentially catastrophic injuries because you can die from an injury to the chest and injury to the abdomen."

Chesnut and Compton also found it unusual that so many patients did not suffer exit wounds, considering the speed of the rounds.

"We found a lot of bullets," Chesnut said. "Whether those bullets passed through another individual and ended up in our patients, it's impossible to say."

The rounds also caused devastating injuries to arteries, Chesnut said. He recalled helping to put a chest tube into one young man.

"I have never seen so much blood pour out of anyone," the officer said. "But we saved his life."

About nine hours after they arrived, Chesnut and Compton left the hospital Monday. Now, they must carry the weight of the experience onto far more familiar grounds.

Chesnut is leaving this weekend to take part in the Air Force's rescue mission in Puerto Rico. Compton also is preparing for deployment, but he can't say where for security reasons.

When they arrive on their missions, both hope they never again see what they saw Sunday night. But if they do, they said, they will be even more prepared.

Early Monday morning, Chesnut recalled having to tell a man who was huddled in the University Medical Center that his wife did not survive a gunshot wound to the head.

"Every surgeon has a graveyard in their mind of the patients that we have lost, and we use what we learned from the patients that we lost to better care for patients in the future," he said.
Mattel said last week that it will not move forward with plans to sell a kid-focused smart hub, after new executives decided it did not fully align with Mattels new technology strategy, according to a company statement.

Childrens health and privacy advocates last week petitioned the toy giant not to release the device, which they argued gave the company an unprecedented look into the personal lives of children.

In a statement, Mattel said that it had decided internally not to take the product to market after a new chief technology officer reviewed it and decided not to bring Aristotle to the marketplace as part of an ongoing effort to deliver the best possible connected product experience to the consumer.

Aristotle was designed for a childs room. It could switch on a night light to soothe a crying baby. It was also designed to keep changing its activities, even to the point where it could help a preteen with homework. And the device would learn about the child along the way.

Objections to Aristotle were twofold. The existence of a home hub for kids raised questions about data privacy for a vulnerable population. It also triggered broader concerns about how quickly companies are marketing products to parents without understanding how technology could affect early childhood development.

The product drew attention from Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, who sent Mattel a letter asking the toymaker for more information on how it will store and retain data it collects on children.

Mattel has said it would protect the Aristotle data with high-level encryption and would not sell that information to advertisers, in compliance with childrens data privacy laws.

But privacy matters werent the only concern. My main concerns about this technology  apart from the privacy concerns that (Markey and Barton) are trying to address  is the idea that a piece of technology becomes the most responsive household member to a crying child, a child who wants to learn, or a childs play ideas, said pediatrician Jennifer Radesky.

Aristotle may be gone, but it would have been one of many products that companies are offering to make the parenting world more high-tech. Kid-focused tablets and apps have been around for years, and parents have made their own decisions about the proper place for technology in their childrens lives.

Experts say little is known about the effects of tech devices on early childhood development, and it will take time to figure that out. But child privacy and child development experts are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with where the tech is heading.

Several privacy advocates and physicians signed a petition asking Mattel not to release Aristotle, which was set to hit stores next year.

Young children should not be guinea pigs for AI experiments, the petition read. It had 15,000 signatures.

We commend Mattel for putting childrens well-being first and listening to the concerns of child development experts and thousands of parents who urged them not to release this device, said Josh Golin, executive director for the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. This is a tremendous victory for everyone who believes children still have a right to privacy and that robots can never replace loving humans as caregivers.
LINCOLN  Methamphetamine has dropped out of the public spotlight since the time, more than a decade ago, when it was labeled Americas most dangerous drug.

But the highly addictive stimulant is at least as common now as it ever was in Nebraska, far outpacing the opioids plaguing many other states.

Consider:

 The U.S. Attorneys Office for Nebraska prosecuted nearly five times as many meth-related cases last year as in 2007, and meth accounted for nearly 93 percent of drug prosecutions last year.

 The Omaha Police Department made 668 meth-related arrests last year, more than twice the number five years earlier.

 The rate of Nebraskans seeking meth treatment was higher in 2015 than in any year back to 2000. Only alcohol sent more people into treatment.

 Meth factors in to more Nebraska child welfare cases than any other drug. Parents of nearly one in three Nebraska foster children use meth.

Right now, meth is very abundant, said Brenda Daley, coordinator for the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or HIDTA, a regional drug-control effort. Its supply and demand, and there is a lot of supply.

The areas last surge in meth use occurred in the early 2000s.

At that time, meth was a target of concern across the nation. The drugs popularity brought with it a proliferation of explosive and hazardous home meth-making laboratories.

At one point it was probably on everyones mind, said Detective Greg Chase of the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and Council Bluffs Police Department.

Nebraska and Iowa saw a dip in use after they and the federal government passed laws restricting sales of pseudoephedrine, a decongestant and key meth-making ingredient.

The laws require pseudoephedrine to be kept behind pharmacy counters. Buyers have to show identification and are logged in a statewide database.

The mom-and-pop meth labs virtually disappeared after the restrictions took effect.

In 2005, the Nebraska State Patrol busted 252 meth labs and Iowa law enforcement seized 760 labs. Last year, Nebraska authorities found only three labs, while Iowa authorities found 85.

Were almost to the point where meth labs have been eliminated, said Sgt. Dave Bianchi of the Omaha Police Departments narcotics unit. Its almost gone the way of unicorns. Extremely rare.

The decline in use that followed the demise of home labs was short-lived, though.

International drug cartels soon stepped in to fill the gap in production, pumping high volumes of highly potent meth into Nebraska and other states from large-scale laboratories in Mexico.

As a result, law enforcement officials throughout the Midwest continue to rank meth as the top drug threat to the region, according to a survey by the Midwest HIDTA.

That differs from the eastern United States, where heroin and prescription opioids have replaced meth and cocaine as top concerns in recent years.

Opioid use also is increasing in Nebraska and Iowa, along with the numbers of overdose deaths, Daley said.

But meth remains the most common hard-core drug with the greatest impact in the two states.

Its been our No. 1 threat since 2005, said Lt. Jason Scott of the Nebraska State Patrol. Its always there.

Nebraska law enforcement points to meth as the drug that contributes most to violent and property crimes in the state, the survey found.

Users tend to be young white adults, who can be from any corner of the state. In fact, child-removal statistics suggest that meth is more common in rural parts of the state than in urban Omaha.

If you were to drive west on I-80, every town is going to have (a meth) problem, said Darin Thimmesch, an agent in the Drug Enforcement Administrations Omaha office.

The drug comes north from Mexico via the nations Interstates, hidden in private and commercial vehicles. Sometimes the drugs travel by mail.

Situated at the intersection of Interstates 80 and 29, Omaha has become a trafficking hub, several in law enforcement said.

Drugs and money flow in and out of the city to be transported throughout the Midwest. Last year the Nebraska State Patrol seized 71 pounds of meth on the states highways.

In February 2016, a record-breaking bust resulted in the arrests of 64 people across Nebraska and into Colorado. The yearlong investigation was orchestrated among 30 agencies, targeting mostly dealers at the end of distribution networks.

Meth collected from the bust came from four states  Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado and Utah  but could be traced to Mexico.

Mexican cartels control most of the trafficking, with the Sinaloa cartel dominant in the region.

Those caught smuggling face stiff penalties  up to life imprisonment under state and federal laws  depending on the circumstances. But rather than cases slowing down, authorities have seen them increase in recent years and drug availability grow.

The price is as low as its ever been and the purity as high as its ever been, Thimmesch said.

Several years ago, wholesale prices for meth ranged from $15,000 to $20,000 a pound, he said. These days the price for that pound has dropped to between $3,000 and $5,000.

On the street, one-sixteenth of an ounce  called a teener  can sell for $100, Bianchi said. That small amount can equal four uses.

Meanwhile, the purity of the meth that is available has increased.

In 2008 the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation lab reported an average purity of 35 percent for meth seized by law enforcement. By 2013, the average was 93 percent. Law enforcement agencies across the Midwest report that the influx of meth from large Mexican laboratories has pushed purity levels to 90 percent or more.

That means a given amount of meth, once mixed with filler ingredients, can supply more users. It also means the high that meth users get likely packs a larger punch, Daley said.

Its become almost a perfect science, said Lt. Scott Wagner of the Douglas County Sheriffs Offices narcotics division. (Cartels have) chemists doing it. Millions and millions of dollars put into these labs.

Scott, of the State Patrol, said he doesnt expect a change in the situation anytime soon.

I dont want to say were not winning, he said. Every time we pull a kilo of meth, thats a win. Thats a pound of meth thats not going to be grammed out and sold to our community.

But its a supply-and-demand issue and a numbers game, he said. Theres a ton of meth out there.
The Omaha area will struggle to get out of the 40s today, and after more rain, overnight lows could be around the freezing mark in some locations in Nebraska.

Its a more fall-like forecast for the week, said KMTVs Ryan McPike.

More rain and cooler conditions were forecast over eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa today and tonight.

But the rainfall totals were not expected to be anything close to the amounts that the region received last week, the National Weather Service office in Valley said.

The weather service also issued a freeze watch for parts of south-central, central and northeast Nebraska because of this mornings lows, which were expected to be in the low to mid-30s. It issued a freeze warning for parts of central and north-central Nebraska until 10 a.m. today because of expected lows of 28 to 32.

Today, the Omaha area should see showers  mainly before 1 p.m.  and a high of about 48. Tonight, there is a slight chance of showers and a low around 40.

Omahas Eppley Airfield reported 2.12 inches of rain from Thursday through Saturday last week. A location in Florence recorded a three-day total of 2.18 inches. A spot near 126th and Binney Streets had 3.25 inches.

The monthly rainfall total through Saturday at Eppley Airfield was 3.02 inches. Lincoln reported 3.89, Norfolk had 3.28, Valley reported 4.52, Tekamah had 2.70 and Falls City had 3.39.

Wednesday through Friday in the Omaha area will be mostly sunny with highs in the low 60s to low 70s. Overnight lows should be in the mid-40s to the mid-50s.

Saturday will bring a chance of showers and a high of about 70. Sundays high is expected to be around 65.
A man was injured Monday morning after he was attacked by two German shepherd mixed dogs in South Omaha.

Reports to Douglas County 911 dispatchers indicated that the man suffered bites to his arms and legs in the attack around 8:45 a.m. near 32nd Avenue and Vinton Street.

The man, possibly a serviceman, was taken to Nebraska Medical Center in serious condition, according to rescue squad personnel at the scene.

He may have walked into the dogs' fenced yard, an official said.

An earlier version of this story attributed the attack to two pit bulls after initial reports from the scene blamed the man's injuries on pit bulls.
SHELTON, Neb.  Some 1,300 people ate red meat Sunday as they listened to red state political speeches from four sitting governors.

They gathered at Paul and Deb Gangwishs PG Farms between Grand Island and Kearney as part of a re-election event for Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts.

It was billed as the first of what is intended to be an annual Grow Nebraska steak fry, with a goal of celebrating agriculture, promoting conservative values and, of course, helping Ricketts re-election campaign.

Steak, the Huskers and patriotism were all popular topics among the speakers, including three other governors who have all made names for themselves in conservative circles.

Not popular among attendees of the event: property taxes, government regulation and people who kneel during the national anthem.

Get government out of the way. Thats what Im going to be focused on for the next four years, Ricketts said.

The event drew families and featured a number of children running around, including one who started a tractor while Ricketts was speaking.

Kathy Mentzer of Omaha said she was excited to attend Ricketts event so that she could learn more about his policies.

I cant miss it, she said.

She said she grew up in a farming family near Kearney and hopes Ricketts has more events for the agriculture community.

Tom and Glenda Yates drove from Millsap, Texas, for the event.

Tom Yates wanted to promote his organization, Patriotic Restoration, which aims to teach schoolchildren about standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. The group creates videos of military service members talking about what the flag means to them.

Govs. Eric Greitens of Missouri, Matt Bevin of Kentucky and Scott Walker of Wisconsin all talked about the importance of electing conservative leaders and getting out the vote for Ricketts.

Strong conservative reforms work, Greitens said. They make a difference.

Ricketts said all three are his friends and colleagues.

Theyre great people, he said.

All three governors have brought some controversy to the governors offices.

Walker, a former presidential candidate, drew large protests to the Wisconsin State Capitol as he pushed anti-union measures.

Bevin came into office in Kentucky as a Tea Party-backed outsider, and hes pushed for spending cuts and abortion restrictions.

Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, came into office in Missouri as a political newcomer attacking corrupt career politicians.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds was scheduled to attend, but Ricketts said she had an illness in the family that prevented her from being there.

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, an Omaha Republican, attended, as did several state senators and other Republican elected officials.

In an interview after the event, the governor said hed hoped to create a sense of excitement, and he thought that was accomplished with the estimated 1,300 attendees.

He said the top concerns he heard about at the event included property taxes, red tape and commodity prices.

Ricketts told the crowd: My commitment to you is to work on tax relief every year that I am governor, and thats so that you can keep more of our hard-earned money.
The man was hit around 6:15 a.m. near 13th and Pacific Streets, police said. He was crossing 13th Street from east to west about 75 feet north of Pacific when he was struck by a southbound Subaru Impreza, police said. He was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center for treatment of a broken leg and a possible head injury.
A new $10 million building in the heart of Omaha wants to be the hub of well-rounded care for those who need it most.

Kountze Commons, a partnership of Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church, Lutheran Family Services and Methodist Health System, held a dedication Sunday afternoon.

Four services  a food pantry, behavioral health clinic and two medical clinics  are housed in the 17,500-square-foot building and will work together to provide food and administer mental and physical care.

People can come to one location to get all of their needs met  for mind, body and soul, said Todd Reckling, a Lutheran Family Services vice president.

The building is at 26th and Douglas Streets, the former location of KETV studios. Workers touted its easy access  a bus stop is just outside, there are plenty of parking stalls and it is close to Interstate 480.

The Kountze Food Pantry, which had been in a multiuse area in the church, now has a dedicated 3,300-square-foot space.

The 10 long shelves, giant serving tables and refrigerators are now empty, but in as little as two weeks they will be full of food to give to the 350 to 500 people who visit weekly. The pantry is open on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Joyce Palmer, urban ministry coordinator for the church and director of the pantry, said she hopes more people learn about the service because of the beautiful building.

Its very visible now, so people will come, she said. You build it, theyll come.

On the same level is the Lutheran Family Services wing, with eight behavioral health therapists who can help with an array of mental health services five days a week and are called to emergency situations by law enforcement or a hotline.

Reckling said Lutheran Family Services estimates that it will serve about 1,000 people per year in the new building, in addition to the people helped at its main office three blocks away.

At a church service before the dedication, Ruth Henrichs, the Lutheran Family Services president and chief executive officer, praised the Kountze congregation for its vision and said the commons will be a model of different organizations with similar missions working together.

Kountze Commons reflects dignity and respect for all of Gods people, she said. We will become a beacon of hope to a broken and suffering world.

Upstairs, the Methodist Community Health Clinic doubled its space from a previous location at the Salvation Army building at 36th and Cuming Streets. The clinic, which provides low- or no-cost care for the needy, now has seven exam rooms and two labs.

Diane Millea, a nurse practitioner with the clinic for 20 years, said the clinic cares for patients with chronic illnesses, sexual assault survivors, pregnant women and more.

The Methodist clinic closes early Thursday afternoon, allowing for the Healing Gift Free Clinic, put on by the Kountze church with the help of volunteer doctors and nurses, to use the rooms from 4 to 7 p.m. There is also an in-house pharmacy that provides free non-narcotic medications.

Josie Abboud, the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Methodist Health System, told churchgoers that they should be proud of contributing to a collaborative cause.

We knew that collectively we would serve a greater purpose, she said. Collectively we would be stronger and we would really enrich our community by serving together.
OSMOND, Neb.  There is a lot of work still to be done, but one thing is for sure: Osmond will again have a grocery store.

James Bessmer and his wife, Nancy, are rebuilding after a July 9 fire caused the Tiger Town Food and Floral Center to burn to the ground.

Standing at the scene at the time, Bessmer said he remembers thinking, What a mess.

The state fire marshal determined that the fire originated in the meat department and attributed it to old wiring. In the weeks that followed, Bessmer pondered whether to reopen the store, which was insured.

The community support for a grocery store finally helped me make a decision to reopen, Bessmer said.

That, however, may have been the easy part.

The biggest obstacle was demolition of what was left of the store and removal of the debris. Because there was food involved in the fire, all the debris had to be hauled to a landfill, which took three weeks.

But Bessmer, whos also Osmonds mayor, was determined to move forward.

Osmond is a very unique community, Bessmer said. We are very close-knit and work very hard to survive. Osmond offers its residents everything they need.

The community has a strong main street and wants to keep it that way, he said, which includes having a grocery store.

The store that burned was housed in three connected buildings, the oldest of which was constructed in 1904. The combined square footage of the three buildings gave Bessmer sufficient retail area to allow his new building to be erected at the same site.

Footings have been poured, and work is underway on plumbing and electrical. After the floor is poured and coolers delivered, the 9,000-square-foot steel building will be erected by Aschoff Construction of Osmond.

Bessmer didnt start off in retail. He spent 20 years as an insurance agent. When he left insurance sales, he began a trucking career. But when Osmonds grocery store came up for sale in 2011, he thought, Why not?

Im not ready to retire, and as long as my health lets me, Ill sell groceries, Bessmer said.

As for his political career, hes getting close to the end of his third term in office, having spent a term as a councilman before taking on the mayors job. He will not be running again in 2018, hoping that younger people will be ready to take the lead.

The grocery business was successful, which was one of the factors that guided him in making his decision to reopen.

He employed 10 full- and part-time workers, and all of those employees have found other jobs since the fire. So hell be hiring new employees as a projected Dec. 21 opening date nears.

For now, other than Bessmer and his wife, only representatives of the Associated Wholesale Grocers cooperative have seen the floor plans for the new store.

Im keeping them a surprise, and I think the community will be surprised, Bessmer said.
BEATRICE, Neb. (AP)  State Sen. Ernie Chambers says Gage County has violated the Nebraska Constitution with a plan to house inmates across the state line in Kansas.

He has asked the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office to issue a legal opinion on a contract the Gage County Board approved in late September, the Beatrice Daily Sun reported.

The one-year contract reserves 10 beds in the Washington County (Kansas) Jail for Gage County inmates at a cost of $246,000 a year.

Chambers, of Omaha, said in a letter Wednesday to the attorney general that its a violation of the Nebraska Constitution to transport an inmate to another state for any offense committed in Nebraska.

Gage County Board Chairman Myron Dorn declined to comment on Chambers allegation.
Various cultures have different phrases for expressing the idea of having it both ways at once. To take a swim and not get wet is an Albanian proverb. Poles talk about having the cookie and eating it. Iranians want both God and the sugar dates.

The Trump administration has been weighing a contemporary geopolitical version of this straddle. Hardliners have been urging the president to decertify the Iran nuclear agreement next week but insist that he wants to strengthen the deal, not break it.

The idea is enticing politically, certainly, but it has as much chance of working as (forgive me) washing your fur but not getting wet, as a German aphorism puts it.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., a leading critic of the Iran deal, described this ambiguous diplomatic approach last week at the Council on Foreign Relations.

I dont propose leaving the deal yet. I propose taking the steps necessary to obtain leverage to get a better deal. Cotton wants decertification, but no sanctions, so that the U.S. can . . . what? Apparently, the idea is that American pressure will convince Iran to make unilateral concessions that it refused during the 13 years the deal was being negotiated.

Magical thinking is always appealing in foreign policy, but it usually produces nothing more than fairy dust. In this case, there is no evidence that putting the agreement in limbo would bring any security benefits for America or Israel.

It would introduce uncertainty where the U.S. and its allies should most demand clarity  in insisting on compliance by all sides with an agreement that caps Irans centrifuges and stockpiles of enriched material for at least another decade.

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, hardly a dove on Iran, bluntly told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday that the nuclear deal was something that the president should consider staying with. When pressed by Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, on whether he thought the pact was in Americas national-security interest, Mattis paused and answered: Yes, senator, I do.

Officials speak truth to power at their own risk in Donald Trumps Washington. So Mattis argument for sustaining what the president has called the dumbest and most dangerous deal was important, though the outcome of the debate still isnt clear. Its probably because of Mattis military advice, however, that Trump has dropped his campaign talk of simply tearing up the agreement.

How would Iran react? Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian official who stays in close touch with his ex-colleagues, told me recently that if Trump doesnt certify, but Congress doesnt re-impose sanctions, and the other P5+1 negotiators assure full implementation, then Iran may continue to adhere to the agreement.

But he cautioned that this line is opposed by some political factions in Iran who argue for suspending the pact if Trump challenges Iranian compliance.

As for administration hopes of forcing Iran to renegotiate the sunset provisions and other details of the agreement, Mousavian says thats a nonstarter in Tehran.

The real challenge with Iran isnt the nuclear issue, which was put in a box for at least a decade by the agreement, but Tehrans aggressive behavior in the region. Iran and its proxies continue to destabilize the Middle East. They seek to manipulate and control nearly every major capital: Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, Saana.

According to the White House, Iranian proxies are mining the Bab el Mandeb Strait, pointing missiles from Yemen toward Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, and seeking to carve a zone of influence on the ruins of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

The administration claims to be focused on this big Iran problem. Would that it were so. Officials claim that Trump has signed off on a broad strategy that makes Irans behavior the central issue going forward. But the decertification debate will probably dominate the headlines over the next weeks and months  needlessly focusing attention on the one part of the Iran problem thats capped and manageable, and defusing efforts on the real challenge.

Theres a final, crucial reason Trump should certify that Iran is complying with the nuclear deal: Because its true. Even Cotton conceded as much this week, arguing against certification not primarily on the grounds related to Irans technical compliance, but rather based on the long catalogue of the regimes crimes and perfidy against the United States.

A question for the Iran hawks: If America refuses to certify an agreement when a country is technically in compliance, why would any other country ever make a deal with us again? A great country keeps its word.
Medicaid coverage in Nebraska involves big numbers and complexities. In the first seven months of this year alone, more than 4 million Medicaid claims were processed. Payments to providers exceeded $400 million through June.

These payments cover important services for low-income residents, including medical care, prescription drugs, mental health assistance and substance abuse treatment.

Its vital that the state manage these millions of Medicaid claims in a timely and efficient manner so that needed services are rendered and providers are compensated. Nebraska has about 228,000 Medicaid recipients.

At the start of the year, Nebraska launched a new system, called Heritage Health, for handling most Medicaid accounts. Under it, providers of health care or behavior health services can choose among three managed care companies for claims processing.

The arrangement so far has brought important positives, with better coordinated care and additional services, but also troubling negatives in some cases. At public hearings, some providers and clients have vented their frustration, describing failure to be paid, long lag times and other problems.

At a September hearing, Melanie Standifer with CenterPointe, a behavioral health treatment center with programs in Omaha and Lincoln, said she has seen improvements, but problems remain.

Its really inexcusable that were here in September and still experiencing this level of difficulty, she told state senators.

Jon Novak, with Total Respiratory and Rehab, described difficulties in getting payment approval for wheelchairs provided to Medicaid patients. He said his company is owed $1.4 million.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which has successfully implemented efficiencies and revamps in some of its other operations, has pressed the three managed care firms for appropriate action. Claims processes have been adjusted, oversight procedures improved and communications with providers strengthened.

Problems remain in some instances, though, as the recent public hearing demonstrated, and HHS is threatening sanctions against one of the providers, WellCare Health Plans.

After HHS imposed penalties in June against another of the companies, Nebraska Total Care, the firm made adjustments and achieved improved results, and HHS ended the penalties.

The Heritage Health system involves not only claims processing but also a range of new or better-coordinated services. Case managers help clients move from homelessness to housing, take their medication more reliably, better manage their medical and behavioral healths needs as a whole and reduce reliance on emergency room visits.

The need now is to keep Nebraskas Medicaid system on the path toward greater progress. HHS should continue energetic oversight. The three managed care companies should strive to reach all performance requirements. The Legislature should work to maintain strong Medicaid funding and reasonable compensation rates.

Low-income residents from across the state depend on such action. Nebraska mustnt shirk this crucial responsibility.
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By Lee Williams, Special to The Oregonian

"Caught" doesn't play by the rules.

That is, the new work at Artists Repertory Theatre doesn't, for the most part, conform to conventional theater structure or content.

Part art installation, part TED Talk, part drawing room detective mystery, the mind-tickling triptych is pretty near a multimedia masterpiece. Playwright Christopher Chen, director Shawn Lee, actor Greg Watanabe and various Portland visual artists aided by a "Guild" of assistants from Artists Rep, designed distinct, intensifying segments precisely executed. Unpacking the enigma of "Caught" is like opening bigger, better presents in a stack of nesting boxes.

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Photo by Shawn Lee, courtesy of Artists Repertory Theatre

The core of "Caught" is Lin Bo. The Chinese conceptual artist, we're told, was imprisoned in his home country after mounting a virtual protest commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Chen's script name checks Mike Daisey, the former contributor to the "This American Life" radio program who fictionalized a story about working conditions at the Apple company's factories in China. From the stage, "Caught" also extracts some intrigue from John Guare's "Six Degrees of Separation."

Revealing more would tip the surprise, which explodes with the power of a hundred popping balloons. It's no spoiler to say the show cues up the ubiquitous "fake news" fulmination probably being Tweeted right now. And the digital-era adage, "Look before you link" has never sounded more relevant.

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Courtesy of Artists Repertory Theatre

(You know you need to keep on your toes in a show where a notice flashes that you'll get a buck off drinks in the theater's lounge if you post photos of Lin Bo's work to your Facebook feed.)

"Caught's" aggressive caginess treads daringly close to tiresome. And as Tim Gunn would remark when he sees a garment with fringe, feathers and sequins, it is possible that too many of the ambitions are in the embellishments here.

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A Q&A portion is long, labored and ultimately irrelevant, other than introducing a performer employed in the epilogues. You read that right. Epilogues. Two of those. And then you're still not sure if the show is finished.

Even those final acts can't diminish the scope and seduction of this massive, immersive real-time puzzle. "Caught" is unlike any other play you'll see this season. Not just because you never know what's coming next. It's a different kind of theater experience because it doesn't just ask questions Chen and company thoroughly explore a very specific, meticulously developed possibility. The work is an elaborate "What If?" with a firm, often very funny, reply.

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Line of the night

"A lie is like a cockroach  if you see one there are a hundred you don't see," says "Bob," played by Chris Harder.

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Greg Watanabe performs in Artists Repertory Theatre's production of "Caught," with performances Oct. 1-29 in Portland. Caught by Artists Repertory Theatre (Photo by Russell J Young, courtesy of Artists Repertory Theatre)

Strengths

The folks at Artists Rep didn't just commit to "Caught." They held a ceremony and wed the work. Along with installing performance and sculptural pieces in the Morrison Lobby, the Morrison Stage has been transformed into another gallery with a rectangular space for the dramatic segments. Helpers even vandalized the outside of the building with graffiti art promoting the show.

Charming, arrogant, sympathetic, desperate and dangerous to know, Watanabe's performance is the electrifying magnet pulling the pieces together. Through pratfalls, tantrums and unraveling tensions, the actor is well supported by Dmae Roberts, Chris Harder and Sara Hennessy.

The actual artworka little precious, a little obvious, a little more whimsical than politicalis thoroughly captivating. You can stick American flags, cocktail umbrellas and plastic daisiesall items made in the U.S.Ainto portraits of Chairman Mao, for example. It's interactive. It's thoughtful. It works.

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Weaknesses

That round and round Q & A section, besides, going nowhere, stops cold "Caught"'s delicious suspense. This may be the point, but we feel as though we're trapped next to a table of over-caffeinated poli-sci grad students debating at Starbucks.

The premise of "Caught" evokes a crucial question: Does the reveal in the show undermine or belittle the cause of dissenting artists persecuted in other nations? There are other homework questions for the audience to ponder. But this one should be answered more clearly and on site.

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Photo by Russell J Young, courtesy of Artists Repertory Theatre

Take-away

One step into the Morrison Lobby and you're already caught in Christopher Chen's wondrous work that surely defines next-level theater.

 Lee Williams for The Oregonian/OregonLive

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'Caught'

Where: Morrison Stage, Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 S.W. Morrison St.

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 28; additional performances 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3 and 24; noon Wed. Oct. 18; 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Oct. 29

Tickets: $25-$50; www.artistsrep.org; 503-241-1278

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Don't Edit
Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer (16-6), who had been dealing with a hamstring injury recently, will get the start on Monday in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.

The series is deadlocked 1-0 after Chicago won Game 1, 3-0 and Washington won Game 2, 6-3.

The series now shifts to Chicago, where the Cubs will counter with Jose Quintana (11-11), making his postseason debut. He came over from the crosstown White Sox in a midseason trade and will play the Nationals for the first time in his career.

Want to watch Game 3 between the Cubs and Nationals? Check out the details here.

What: The Chicago Cubs take on the Washington Nationals in Game 3 of the NLDS.

When: 1 p.m. Pacific time, Monday, Oct. 9.

Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago.

TV: TBS.

Online: MLB Network (subscription); TBS.

Full results and schedules: Bookmark our MLB scoreboard for postseason scores and schedules.
A 46-year-old Bend woman who filed an $8.75 million lawsuit against her doctors -- claiming that for months they misread telltale signs that she was about to suffer cardiac arrest -- has dropped her 2016 lawsuit.

Attorney Gordon Welborn said cardiac arrest victim Shelley Harding decided to withdraw her lawsuit against doctors Dana Rhode and Jeffrey Scott after it became clear she didn't have the evidence to prove her case. Welborn, who represented the doctors, said they both testified in pretrial depositions that they never heard Harding tell them, "I feel like I'm having a heart attack."

Hardings lawsuit said she uttered that statement to Rhode during an office visit about three weeks before her heart stopped beating in August 2014.

According to her lawsuit, Harding alleged the doctors and other medical staff at Bend Memorial Clinic also didnt take her other complaints seriously during office visits she made in the five months leading up to her cardiac arrest. Among those complaints: chest tightness, left shoulder pain and blue fingers, her suit said.

Harding was revived at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend and flown by helicopter to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. Harding and her husband, Brent Harding, sought damages because of lingering and extreme fatigue that left her unable to work or carry on with the normal activities of her life, according to her suit.

The lawsuit's dismissal comes about a month before a scheduled November trial.

The doctors -- who at the time both worked for Bend Memorial Clinic -- disagreed with many of the claims in the lawsuit, Welborn said. But Welborn said he couldn't talk in detail because of patient privacy laws.

It was a horrible situation for Mr. and Mrs. Harding, Welborn said. But it was also horrible for the doctors involved for having to face the claims that they werent listening to their patient and werent doing the right things. Its tough to face those allegations.

Welborn added, of Rhode and Scott: They thought they were doing everything they could.

Hardings attorney, Shawna Meyer, offered this statement:

Cases are dismissed for a variety of reasons. Often those reasons are due to the very high costs of going to trial in cases that require expert witnesses and/or because the burden of proof can be difficult to overcome in certain circumstances, Meyer wrote.

Additionally, the standard of care that one would desire for their loved ones and the standard that the law requires may be different," Meyer wrote. "One can simply hope that their physician understands them and goes the extra mile in treating them and those they love.

-- Aimee Green
Favian Garcia

A man with a history of drunken driving charges was arrested in a fatal crash near Salem that killed a mother and her four small children, Oregon State Police said.

Authorities lodged Favian Garcia, 27, in the Marion County Jail Monday morning on suspicion of five counts of manslaughter, felony DUII, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license, said Lt. Cari Boyd, an Oregon State police spokeswoman.

Court records show Garcia was convicted of driving under the influence of intoxicants in 2011 and arrested on suspicion of the same crime in July of this year. Police said the Gervais man had multiple outstanding warrants when he was detained.

Garcia was driving on Highway 99E north of Salem Sunday when his Land Rover slammed head-on into a Buick Century driven by Lisette Medrano-Perez of Molalla around 4:30 p.m., police said.

The 25-year-old mother was in the car with her children, an 8-year-old boy, a 6-year-old boy, a 4-year-old girl and a 2-year-old girl.

All five family members died at the scene, police said. Garcia was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries.

"Those were completely innocent children," said Boyd. "There are just no words to explain what happened."

The last accident when five or more people were killed in a crash involving two cars was in 2012. That same year a bus crash was even deadlier.

A database maintained by The Oregonian/OregonLive tracks crashes with five or more fatalities.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh

skavanaugh@oregonian.com

503-294-7632 II @shanedkavanaugh

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FOTO Soldatii ucraineni au afisat o mitraliera pe care nu ar trebui sa o aiba
Goose Creek, SC (29445)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then cloudy skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
No law could have thwarted last week's massacre in Las Vegas, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee said Sunday.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a longtime advocate of stricter gun laws and author of the 1993 assault weapons ban, said the shooter, Stephen Paddock, legally acquired the arsenal he used to carry out the attack. Asked by CBS' "Face the Nation" host John Dickerson whether any law could have stopped him, Feinstein said, "No. He passed background checks registering for handguns and other weapons on multiple occasions."
A 15-year-old boy is in the countys juvenile care center after authorities investigated a threat made toward a Midland County high school and found it was not credible.

The threat of violence toward the Bullock Creek High School was made Sunday over Facebook messenger, and was reported to the Midland County Sheriffs Office.

It was not credible, Midland County Sheriff Scott Stephenson said of the threat.

A media release states a deputy was called to the Midland Law Enforcement Center at 11:29 a.m. to speak with a 14-year-old girl and one of her parents. The girl wanted to report she had received a private message from a classmate threatening violence would occur at the high school. Deputies contacted school administration to make them aware of the threat, then contacted the boy and his parents.

The boys parents were cooperative during the investigation, the release states. The boy, from Lee Township, was taken to the Midland County Juvenile Care Center.

Bullock Creek Superintendent Shawn Hale sent a message about the situation to parents Sunday afternoon.

He wrote he was contacted by deputies about noon regarding the threat of violence that was sent from one student to another. He also thanked the sheriffs office for the swift response.

As a District, we will continue to do everything we can to keep children safe, Hale wrote. I am also very thankful that the receiver of this message had the courage to share this information with law enforcement.

Stephenson echoed Hales thanks to the student who came forward.

I would like to commend the student who reported this potential threat to her parent and law enforcement, Stephenson stated in a media release. He also thanked school officials for their assistance.

We all have a responsibility to work together to keep our schools safe, Stephenson stated.

Classes were conducted as regularly scheduled on Monday.

When the investigation is complete, reports will be sent to the Midland County Prosecutors Office for review.
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BLOOMINGTON  After the last fire truck in the annual Del Thomas Fire Truck Parade in Bloomington entered the parking lot at State Farms Corporate headquarters Sunday afternoon, the man for whom the parade was named, grinned from ear to ear.

Weve been doing this for so long, he said of the two-hour event that kick starts Fire Prevention Week, that I cant remember how many we have done now. But Im always very proud and know that we get a great turnout every time.

Sundays parade, which featured about 35 fire trucks, representing each fire department in McLean County, was the 25th annual event. The parade started in 1982 when Thomas, then the fire chief at Hudson, persuaded other departments to organize the parade, which begins at Franklin Park and ends in the State Farm parking lot. Once there, families are encouraged to tour the trucks and visit with firefighters and first responders. Some departments distribute fire prevention materials and small plastic fire helmets to the children.

That first year, people told us we would never be able to pull it off, Thomas said, but we did and I thought it was important to get the kids involved and you can see that they are really enjoying themselves.

Three-year-old Steven McEldowney visited with Sparky the fire prevention dog, who sat on top of the lead fire truck in the parade.

Yeah, hes cool, Steven said.

His parents, John and Kathy, said the parade serves several different purposes for parents.

He gets to see the fire trucks and visit with the firefighters, too, John said. Its a good thing for everyone.

Sullivan Plath, 5, of Normal, was able to try on a full-sized firefighter uniform, including boots.

Its so heavy, he said, I cant even move.

Brian Marshall, 7, of Bloomington, was able to sit in the cab of a Towanda Fire Department truck, and pretended to steer, while also making the noises of an engine, and at times, a siren.

Im going to the fire so people need to get out of the way, he said. We can see the smoke from here.

Brian said that someday, he hopes to drive a fire truck and be either a police officer or a firefighter.

We come to this every year because he has so much fun and as he gets a little older, I think he understands more about what it takes to be a firefighter, said his mother, Emily.

Jill Hoffman, brought her son, Dylan, 5, and daughter, Courtney, 4, to the parade.

We have never been and actually forgot that it was today until we heard the sirens, Hoffman said. Its a really fun thing for the kids and its a great learning tool.

It just doesnt rain on this event, Thomas said. I was watching the weather all week and wasnt a bit surprised that it rained and then cleared up for Sunday. I dont know how we have managed to have such great luck with this, but we have and today, with it being really comfortable, its just perfect.

Fire Prevention Week runs through Saturday and this year, the theme is Every Second Counts: Plan Two Ways Out, said Illinois Fire Marshal Matt Perez in a statement released Friday.

Firefighters from all over the state, including Central Illinois, will be visiting schools to teach students the importance of fire safety.
Late last month, President Trump gave his first address to the United Nations. Trump used the U.N. podium to push his "America First" agenda (in front of representatives from over 190 countries). Someone on Twitter likened the spectacle to the comment section giving a speech at the UN. Full of "color," something was missing from the transcript: a call for peace in the Middle East, namely between Israelis and Palestinians. Brokering an end to hostilities in the Middle East, a priority for nearly all past presidents, seems to have largely been left to Jared Kushner.

Stories coming out of Israel and Palestine today are too often about oppression or violence. But there are stories still  especially of young people  on making art, working together, finding common ground, and even falling in love.

Enter Israeli artist Amir Guberstein and New York-born artist Jordan Nassar, who is Palestinian. They're married and producing art that reflects their unique cultural identities. Jordan is showing at Anat Ebqi gallery in Los Angeles through October 21, and both Jordan and Amir have work for sale on Twyla now. We caught up with the pair to talk about how identity influences art, navigating the expectations of different cultures, and learning embroidery.

Where'd you guys grow up?

Nassar: I was born on the Upper West Side; my dad was born here. His dad, who is Jordanian Palestinian, came to the U.S. as a teenager.

Guberstein: I was born in Israel, and I moved to Berlin when I was 21. I got my BFA and MFA there, and I moved [to New York] three and a half years ago. I met Jordan in Berlin. I was graduating when they overturned DOMA, and that was a big part of what made New York possible.

Despite moving from Berlin to New York, your work is primarily focused on the Middle East, right?

Guberstein: Yeah, I moved here and started doing research on independent monitoring agencies that are based in the West Bank  agencies that track everything from human rights violations to the bisecting roads that are only for Israelis. Out of that research arose a body of large-scale abstract paintings based on restriction of movement in the occupied territories. There's a choreography that comes out of the prohibition of movement.

Courtesy Amir Guberstein

You're also doing some interesting work with hate mail.

Guberstein: Yeah, I've created a small body of work that's influenced by color patterns that are based on excerpts from hate mail and conspiracy theories sent to the East End Temple in Gramercy, Manhattan. It feels so pertinent today when there's so much warping and twisting of reality.

And what about the sand in your art?

Guberstein: I bring sand from my hometown in Israel and sand from the West Bank and I mix it into a compound that I use to make paintings.

Amir's art is abstract, and more of a political commentary on the modern Middle East. Your art, Jordan, is really different  basically folk art  and very Palestinian.

Nassar: There was definite guilt with dating an Israeli. Growing up, my dad was very vocal about Palestine. He's a doctor and does a lot of humanitarian work in the West Bank. As a teenager on the Upper West Side, I thought New York is telling me one thing and my dad is telling me the opposite, so I really tried to just put the politics aside.

When I met Amir, I started going to Israel, and I was also a baby artist. It converged to make me want to do something Palestinian. I was doing crafty, textile stuff at the time, and in wanting to do something that was emblematic of my heritage, I recalled that this embroidery was all over my house growing up. It became obvious that it was a visual I should start playing around with.

I'm Palestinian, and grew up getting birthday cards from my father that were hand embroidered by women in Palestinian. Those cards look just like your art.

Nassar: I learned all about [embroidery] and came to realize there's so much to work with in the medium. I'm only a little surprised I'm still working with it six years later.

I first started copying patterns from books. I learned each pattern comes from a village but I'm not from a village, I'm from New York. So I made up a bunch of patterns that look like Palestinian embroidery that don't exist there as a way for a Palestinian in New York to participate.

Jordan Nassar

What has been the reaction of Palestinians to your work?

Nassar: This past trip was the first time I went to women's centers that do this work -- from a Christian mission shop to a refugee camp. They were all shocked that I'm doing this work as a man. But I brought some samples to show the ladies and they were very impressed with the difficult fabric I was using. One lady in particular told me that I'm good at it because my blood is Palestinian. That made me feel good.

Amir, as an Israeli, how has your work been influenced by being gay?

Guberstein: I had a very easy coming out story. Dealing with the subject matter [in my art] has been lubricated by how easy it has been to confront my homosexuality. If anything, it's allowed my personal demons to be more political than anything else.

As a gay Palestinian with a Muslim father and a Catholic mother, I find I get a lot of questions about how I identify and how I reconcile all of the different components  cultural, ethnic, religious  of who I am. Do you get the "what are you" question, Jordan?

Nassar: Well, identity is something I've just been thinking about. I was just at an artist's residency in Tel Aviv for five weeks and as a Palestinian it's already complicated to be in Israel. As a gay Palestinian in Israel you ask: is it more important to be in a gay space or more important to be in an Arab space? There are a lot of Israelis who feel like, why wouldn't gay Palestinians in Israel be happy that they're in Israel where they can go to gay bars and Pride? A gay Palestinian in the West Bank would have to be closeted. So one camp says I'm lucky to be on the Israeli side and another says I don't need a gay bookstores, it's better to be in an Arab country with Arab context.

I feel it. On this last trip, when I was in Palestine I was told not to wear earrings, to cover up my arm tattoos. It was weird feeling so welcomed by Palestinians, like I was part of their family and on their side, and then thinking I couldn't wait to get back to Israel to wear my jewelry.

How did your dad react to you marrying an Israeli?

Nassar: It wasn't always easy for him, but Amir and my dad are basically best friends. And something he said at my wedding is that he understands his limitations in his capacity to understand, and he's proud of me for not having that.

Amir, growing up, did you ever think you'd be married to a Palestinian?

Guberstein: I didn't think I'd be married. [Laughs.]

Splash image courtesy Guberstein and Nassar


Poonawalla was arrested on Saturday for killing his live-in partner Shraddha Walker on May 18 in the Mehrauli area of the national capital.
Yesterday we reported that Apple's CEO was to visit France on Monday to meet with their President over taxes and opportunities. Today we're learning that Tim Cook met with one of their key iPhone partners Eldim, located in Normandy. Eldim are experts in advanced optical display technologies and Optical metrology. The technology is reportedly used in the facial recognition camera found on the new iPhone X.









The photo above shows Apple's CEO checking out the optical material used for iPhone X Face ID camera earlier this morning.

Talk about long-term research. A reporter for Ouest-France noted that executives said the two companies had actually been working together for almost a decade, mostly in an R&D capacity. It was only with the release of the iPhone X that the facial recognition system is being baked into a product, however.

Eldim CEO Thierry Leroux told reporters that working with Apple was "an incredible adventure," but added that there have also been huge technical challenges over the years. "For us, it was a little like sending someone to the moon," Leroux told reporters. Cook responded, "It's great what you have done for us."

The visit was no doubt a thrill for Eldim's 42 employees. It was also likely a diplomatic move by Cook, who is scheduled to meet with Macron at 4:15 p.m. CET today. You could read more about this story here.





While in Normandy, Apple's CEO spent some time at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War 2.

About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.
Earlier today Patently Apple reported on Apple's CEO meeting with the CEO and team of Eldim in Normandy France. Their technology is behind the new Face ID camera for iPhone X. Later in the day Apple's CEO met Emmanuel Macron in Paris. According to French officials, Cook didn't push back against calls by the French president and European allies to change rules in the region to get technology giants to pay more taxes. The two met at the French presidential palace at the request of Cook, Bloomberg reports.

The report further noted that "Macron is leading a group of countries -- including Germany, Italy and Spain -- that are seeking a way to plug the European loopholes that allow some companies to minimize taxes by funneling profits to jurisdictions such as Ireland or the Netherlands. Macron's office said the two didn't discuss past tax disputes, but Cook accepted that fiscal laws worldwide are shifting toward making companies pay tax where money is actually earned.

Monday's meeting was Macron's first with an Apple CEO as president. French officials said they also discussed climate change, education, and French economic reforms." If I learn of anything new and newsworthy about their meeting I'll update this report later today.



About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.
Some additional passages from Geraint F. Lewis and Luke A. Barnes, A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016):

Almost everything is already discovered, a young Max Planck was told in 1874. Planck, who would become one of the greatest scientists of the twentieth century, had travelled to Munich to embark on a career in physics, only to be told by Professor Philipp von Jolly to study something else, as theoretical physics was approaching a degree of completion which geometry had possessed for hundreds of year.'

(p. 183) [Quoted from Friedel Weinert, The Scientist as Philosopher: Philosophical Consequences of Great Scientific Discoveries (New York: Springer, 2004), 193.]

Science is facing a seemingly simple question whose answer would completely change what we think about the physical world. And that question is Why is the Universe just right for the formation of complex, intelligent beings? . . . Why, in the almost infinite sea of possibilities, was our Universe born with the conditions that allow life to arise?' (pp. 1, 2)

Also, even our best and deepest physical theories have loose ends. There are numbers in the equations that the theory cannot predict. We just have to measure them. They are called the constants of nature. Why do they have the value that we measure? If that question has an answer, it must go beyond our current theories. (p. 8)

Luke: Maybe its like the lottery  a winning ticket isnt too unlikely because lots of people buy different tickets.

That last idea, applied to the fine-tuning of the Universe for life, is rather ambitious. It supposes that a universe that is right for life exists because there are untold multitudes of universes with different properties. In the cosmic lottery, we got lucky.

Geraint: Sounds like science fiction.

Luke: Some think so. Others, seeing the lack of plausible ideas for explaining the values of the constants of nature, take the idea seriously.

Geraint: And us?

Luke: Were writing a book about it. (p. 9)

Every cell in your body, for example, has molecular machines for moving itself, tagging and transporting molecules, processing food, defending against invaders, DNA duplication and repair, producing proteins and receiving and processing outside signals. On top of all that, this entire machine can tear itself in half and produce a complete working copy in about 20 minutes. A modern computer is pretty great, but it cant do that. (pp. 11-12)
According to us, the Pope is doing something which Cardinal Muller is far too polite even to consider, at least publicly: inviting Bishops and the faithful to ignore and act contrary to doctrine and sacramental discipline. Pope Francis does so, I am sure, in order to help people in difficult situations.

According to us, the Pope is doing something which Cardinal Muller is far too polite even to consider, at least publicly: inviting Bishops and the faithful to ignore and act contrary to doctrine and sacramental discipline. Pope Francis does so, I am sure, in order to help people in difficult situations.

*

Dear Prof. Shaw,

*

Thank you very much for your latest reply. We are delighted that you agree with Cardinal Muller that Amoris laetitia has no new doctrine  but an acceptance of the doctrine of the Church and the sacraments.

*

We wonder why, then, you include twelve passages of Amoris laetitia in the Correctio, which you say in conjunction with acts, words, and omissions of the Holy Father serve to propagate seven heretical propositions. We also wonder why you mentionin the first paragraph of the Correctiothe propagation of heresies effected by the apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia and by other words, deeds, and omissions of Your Holiness.

*

If the propagation of heresies is, in part, effected by Amoris laetitia, then it would seem that the papal exhortation is a cause for the dissemination of heresies. But if you agree with Cardinal Mullers assessment of the exhortation, then you should revise the Correctio and omit any mention of Amoris laetitia as a cause for the spread of heresies.

*

We also note that you believe the Pope is doing something which Cardinal Muller is far too polite to even consider, at least publicly: inviting Bishops and the faithful to ignore and act contrary to doctrine and sacramental discipline. In effect, you are saying that you are reading into Pope Francis something subjective that others such as Cardinal Muller do not see. This only proves the point we made in our last reply. You are relying on subjective impressions that you believe are superior to the impressions of others.

*

You say you have [presented] at length a large amount of objective evidence which we have continued to decline to assess. It would take a much longer response to show how each one of your cases of objective evidence allows for a more benign interpretation. Moreover, your accusations are directed against Pope Francis, not us, so it would not be appropriate or possible for us to speak for the Holy Father in terms of his intentions regarding each of the statements, deeds, and omissions you bring forth as evidence.

*

You complain that we have not supplied adequate reasons why we question whether the Correctio embodies the virtues of prudence, justice, and charityand this despite the arguments we put forth in our La Stampa article Critics of Amoris laetitia ignore Ratzingers rules for faithful theological discourse and our subsequent responses to you. It seems that you missed our point. Those who are accused of spreading heresies are entitled, in justice, to due process and a fair hearing. You, though, have publicly accused the Roman Pontiff of propagating heresies based on evidence that is colored by subjective impressions.

*

We know you believe you are acting for the good of the Church. That is why we respectfully urge you to consider the harm your actions can cause to the reputation of the Holy Father and ecclesial communion.

*

Let us trust in the Holy Spirits guidance of the Church and pray for Pope Francis.

*

In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae,

*

Robert Fastiggi, Ph.D. and Dawn Eden Goldstein, S.T.D.

*
To celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary this weekend millions of Poles surrounded their country in prayer.

The news that a million Poles encircled their country with prayer in a public witness was a powerful reminder of the struggles that face Western countries with a Christian heritage. They were commemorating the Battle of Lepantoa great victory of minority Christian forces against an invading Islamic army. In doing so they were also standing up against what they see as an invasion by stealth of millions of Islamic immigrants. However, while remembering the victory won through the power of prayer at Lepanto, we should also remember the role the Poles played in the victory over the forces of darkness twice beforeat the Battle of Vienna and in the fight against communism.

On my blog Ive written about Polish heroes in the past and how they have defended the faith. Go here to read the whole article

For the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary Ive also included some resources for praying the rosary. Go here to connect.
Patna: Historical Patna University, in an attempt to bring millions of its former students many of whom have gone on to make a name for themselves and for the state, launched its alumni portal on Sunday ahead of its ambitious alumni meet to be held on December 10.

PU Vice Chancellor Ras Bihari Prasad Singh, with the click of a mouse, inaugurated the portal http://www.patnauniversity.org.in/pualumni/index.php?page=welcome.php for registration by former students.

One can go to the above website and register by providing some basic information about himself or herself and by paying the required fee which is Rs. 500 for those living in India and $50 for the non-resident Indians.

In case of any problem, one could call Prof. Kriteshwar Prasad on his mobile phone.

"Our goal is to first get all the former students of Patna University on one stage. After that, we will forward a proposal to form a permanent alumni association at the university level so ex-students could meet once a year to meet with their friends, mingle with the faculty members, and suggest ways to improve life in Patna University in general," the VC said.

Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dolly Sinha, Registrar Dr. Ravindra Kumar, and Prof. Kriteshwar Prasad were among many present at the press conference.
Patna: Senior Congress leader and former Central Minister Akhilesh Singh, apparently seeing the writing on the wall about the dwindling fortune of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family amid a host of corruption charges against them, at a press conference in Patna on Sunday ruled out playing second fiddle to the RJD anymore saying Congress was the 'number one' party in the nation will remain so in future.

"Congress is a national party and remains a force to reckon with in the Indian politics. We have no desire to be the B-team of the RJD chief. Though the final decision whether to stay in alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav in Bihar remains in the hands of the party high command, it is safe to say we won't be kowtowing to the RJD anymore," Singh said.

Downplaying Congress' history of riding on the coattails of Lalu Prasad Yadav to share power in Bihar in the past several years, Singh said that the Congress had officially dumped RJD in 2010 and its future with Yadav could best be defined as uncertain.

Party state acting President Kaukab Qadri, meanwhile, denied any dissent within the party saying all was well within Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) and there was no need for anyone to be alarmed.

Dismissing intra-party turmoil in the aftermath of the collapse of the 'Mahagathbandhan', Qadri said that former BPCC President and Education Minister Ashok Kumar Chowdhary made a few statements against the party because he was under tremendous amount of pressure following Nitish Kumar's decision to walk out of the Grand Alliance last July.

"I will not tolerate any indiscipline by any party member regardless of his or her position in the party. Chowdhary said a few things against the party but I am sure he feels sorry now and will attend tomorrow's meeting of the office holders to put everything in place," Qadri said.

Chowdhary is on record disparaging his party after he was unceremoniously removed from his post and replaced by Qadri. He said he felt insulted the way Congress top leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, treated, or rather, mistreated him.
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
Iran's Ex-Reformist President Banned From Public Appearances Week After Six MPs Sentenced to Prison

10/09/17

Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran

Iran's former reformist President Mohammad Khatami has been banned from making public appearances and receiving political guests for three months.



Former President Mohammad Khatami.

The ban, first reported on October 5, 2017, was issued by the Special Court for the Clergy one week after six prominent reformist politicians, including Khatami's younger brother, were sentenced to a year in prison for the charge of "propaganda against the state." They were also banned from political and media activities for two years.

Following the news, thousands of Iranians defended Khatami on social media.

On October 5, more than 17,000 tweets were posted under the hashtag #_, "Khatami Forever," the vast majority of which originated from inside Iran, according to an investigation by the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

         ""     #_    pic.twitter.com/7IQGAlSql3   (@hooshmandk) October 5, 2017

"We say a big 'No' to the illegal Special Court for the Clergy for imposing unlawful restrictions on Mohammad Khatami," tweeted formerly imprisoned senior reformist politician Mostafa Tajzadeh.

The order was issued by a prosecutor in the Special Court for the Clergy, Ebrahim Raisi, who unsuccessfully ran against President Hassan Rouhani-an ally of Khatami-in Iran's May 2017 election.

"The Special Court for the Clergy sent a letter, signed by the Special Prosecutor for the Clergy Ebrahim Raisi, to Mohammad Khatami's home prohibiting him from attending any political or promotional events for three months," Kalame, an opposition website, reported on October 5, 2017.

"Also, individuals and officials from the government, seminary schools as well as political, trade union and student groups, are not allowed to meet with Khatami," added the report.

Another opposition website, Ensaf News, quoted Javad Emam, one of Khatami's close associates, confirming the order without providing further details.

Since 2015, Khatami, who for two terms led the Islamic Republic of Iran's first reformist government from 1997 to 2005, has been restricted from being quoted or appearing in images in the country's media because of his support for the peaceful protests against the result of the 2009 presidential election.

Those protests, which came to be known as the Green Movement, are referred to as the "sedition" by hardliners in government. Its leaders-former presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, as well as Zahra Rahnavard-have been under extrajudicial house arrest since 2011.

"On behalf of freedom seekers, I beseech the great leader [Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei] to issue an order to resolve the house arrests," tweeted Khatami on August 20, 2017. "This is in the interest of the state and a sign of the country's security and strength."

Khatami has also been banned from travelling abroad since 2009.

News of the court order against Khatami came on the heels of statements a day earlier by Mohammad Reza Tabesh, the deputy leader of the reformist Omid (Hope) block in Parliament.

"[Tabesh,] the MP from Ardakan, spoke about new restrictions imposed on the head of the reformist government and described them as regrettable," the semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported without further detail on October 4.

Hours later, quoting an anonymous "informed source," the semi-official Mehr News Agency denied reports that new restrictions had been imposed on Khatami.

"An informed source denied false reports by some individuals and media outlets and emphasized that no new restrictions have been placed on one of the leaders of the 2009 sedition," said the report. "As before, he is being treated in accordance with Supreme National Security Council's rulings."

Two days later, Tabesh, the reformist MP, said the denial of the reports by an anonymous source was the result of public disapproval of the new measures taken against the popular former president.

"We are pleased that under public pressure, the 'informed source' was forced to lie about the new restrictions," he told the semi-official Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA), on October 6.

In a video message issued ahead of Iran's May 2017 presidential election, Khatami strongly endorsed Rouhani's bid for a second term. The message was banned from appearing in the Iranian press, but was widely shared on social media.

"We started on a path with Mr. Rouhani and we are at the halfway point," said Khatami in the video published on May 14, 2017. "Repeat your vote for the dear Mr. Rouhani to strengthen hope and a better future."
"Working Children" of Tehran celebrate National Children Day

10/09/17

Source: Tehran Times

TEHRAN -- The State Welfare Organization held a ceremony in Tehran on Saturday for 500 working children to celebrate the National Children Day. Iran annually observes the National Children's Day on October 8 and the National Children's Week on October 7 to 13.



by Javad Takjou, Ghanoon daily

Entitled "Smile of God", the ceremony was held at 22 Bahman Complex, the first non-governmental center for working and street children.



The complex, which accommodates 50 boys between 12 to 16 years of age, aims to empower working children.



During the celebration, the director general of Tehran department of the organization, Asghar Baqeri, announced that the organization supports the children through paying their education expenses.





by Mehdi Azizi



According to a study conducted by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), children from poor households and from households without a formally educated household head are more likely to be engaged in child labor and less likely to attend school than members of rich households and children living with an educated household head.



The National Children's Week 2017 is underway in Iran under the theme of "Every Child Is a Proof of God's Existence".

Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (an Iranian institution with a wide range of cultural and artistic activities in the field of mental and cultural development for children and young adults) has coordinated and is running various recreational and educational programs for the children over the one week celebration of the event.


Cement manufacturing companies have expressed dissatisfaction with the valuation cost of clinker by the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).



Chairman of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Ghana, George Dawson-Ahmoah, said several petitions have been forwarded since March 2017 with all relevant documentation and evidence to show that the current customs valuation of $44.00 per ton was far above the current international pricing of about $34 per ton.



He said the huge difference has had adverse effect on the production of cement, as clinker constitutes about 80 percent of the raw material used in the production of cement.



He expressed appreciation with efforts by the acting commissioner of customs to deal with the matter, but bemoaned the undue delay that has characterized the work of the committee investigating the petition.



This attitude is very injurious to the local industry, he said.



The Association has therefore given ultimatum to customs to come out with a firm decision to review the valuation cost of clinker to save the local cement industry from collapse.



Dr. Dawson-Ahmoah appealed to the Ag Commissioner to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the matter, stressing that the unfavorable economic environment has made business in Ghana difficult, as the cement industry and other local established industries are already struggling with the high cost of production, energy and various taxes.



Touching on the importation of bagged cement into the country, he said various unfair trade practices have characterized the trade and pray that the Ghana international Trade Commission comes into force to check the injurious trade practices.





Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Nearly four tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated $260m (200m) have been seized by international law enforcement officers in the Atlantic.



The drugs were found on a boat between Portugals Madeira and Azores islands.



Officials found 165 individual packages of cocaine weighing 23kg  a total of 3.7 tonnes  concealed beneath the vessels cooking area.

It is not clear where the drugs were being taken to.



The Comoros-flagged vessel was towed into the Spanish port of Cadiz on Friday after Spanish officials received intelligence from the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA).



The crew, from Turkey and Azerbaijan, were arrested.

The operation was jointly conducted by Spanish customs and police and the NCA under the overall co-ordination of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre-Narcotics (MAOC-N) in Lisbon.



Seizing this quantity of cocaine represents a major disruption to international crime groups, depriving them of revenue potentially running into the hundreds of millions of pounds, NCA spokesman Mark Blackwell said.



There have been two other big Atlantic drug busts in recent months.

Thirteen Spanish citizens of Moroccan origin were arrested on Monday over what is believed to be a record seizure of cocaine in the North African country, officials there said.



Police were reported to have seized more than 2.5 tonnes of the drug, with a street value of hundreds of millions of dollars.



The cocaine was thought to have come from Venezuela on its way to Europe or the United Arab Emirates.



Moroccos investigations chief Abdelhak Khiam said South American drug cartels were using smuggling routes through sub-Saharan countries where he said there was little control.



The Portuguese navy and air force is also reported to have carried out a drugs seizure on Thursday after intercepting a yacht suspected of transporting cocaine to the country from the Caribbean.



The vessel was stopped about 965km (600 miles) south of the Azores, Portugal News Online reported, and was carrying a large amount of highly pure cocaine believed to be worth about $23.5m (18m).

Source: bbc









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking the support of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to rid the country of ozone depleting substances (ODS).



The move will enable the customs division to effectively monitor and prevent ODS from entering the country through its borders.



Some of the ODSs include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, methyl bromide, carbon tetrachloride, hydrobromofluorocarbons, chlorobromomethane, and methyl chloroform.



Sensitisation workshop



A sensitisation workshop was organised at the Peduase Valley Resort for customs officers to help them to be conversant with the use of a refrigerant identifier to improve the ODS qualitative monitoring and control capabilities.



Attended by senior customs officers at the various entry points in the country, the workshop also created a platform for interaction between officials from the EPA and the customs officers.



They were taken through topics such as the Ozone depletion phenomenon, International and national response,  Licensing and permission procedures, climate change, causes and effects and linkages to ozone depletion, and the role of customs officers and other key stakeholders.

Conventions and protocols





Addressing the participants to officially open the workshop, the Executive Director of the EPA, Mr Peter Abum Sarkodie, recalled that Ghana became a party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in 1988.



He said apart from that, Ghana was party to the 1989 Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, and subsequently signed all other related amendments namely; the London, Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing amendments.





Mr Sarkodie explained that the signing of those protocol and amendments signified that Ghana had committed itself to the process as well as the efforts of 197 countries globally to restore the depleted ozone layer.



He said under the provisions of the protocol, the country had an obligation to control the consumption of all ozone depleting substances at the national level, and to achieve this, the monitoring and control role of customs is key.



The UNDP Deputy Country Director for Operations, Mr Mulugeta Abebe, explained that the Montreal Protocol was designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere.



He said this year marked the 30th anniversary of the protocol and since its ratification in 1989, Ghana has been and continues to be a model implementer, a country that other African countries learn from in terms of implementation and innovative programmes.



He acknowledged the crucial role of the customs officers in the implementation, monitoring and control of ODSs in the country and pledged the continuous support in the implementation of trade controls of ODSs.



Donation of refrigerant identifiers



In a related development, the EPA with support from the UNDP, presented six refrigerant identifiers to the customs division for distribution and use at selected active customs border posts to enable customs officers to isolate bad refrigerants from good ones.



The refrigerants, valued at $30,000, would be used by the customs officers to effectively monitor the various entrances into the country to prevent entry of ODSs.



the Assistant Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA, Mr Bob Senyalah, received the items and reaffirmed the commitment of the customs officers to play their roles effectively in ensuring that Ghana met the international standards and all her international obligations.



He said the refrigerants identifiers would help the Customs to be more effective in the monitoring and control of the kind of refrigerants that entered the country.



Mr Senyalah thanked the EPA and the UNDP for the items and added that his division appreciated the donation. He also gave an assurance that with the sensitisation and the equipment, Ghana would live up to expectation.





Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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There was pandemonium at Wassa Akropong in the Wassa Amenfi East District of the Western Region last Friday when some irate youth burnt and vandalized several properties belonging to some Chinese in the area following a reported killing of a Ghanaian by a Chinese businessman.



The news of the death of 29-year-old Nana Buah, also known as Scorpy, which spread throughout the Wassa Akropong area at about 5:30 pm on Friday, incensed the youth to visit their anger on the Chinese.



Various assets, including a casino and hotels being operated by the Chinese, particularly at a place called Shangai City, were said to have been vandalized by the youth who were protesting the death of Nana Buah.



About 14 cars belonging to the Chinese were burnt. Hotels and casinos operated by them have been vandalized, whilst many other properties have been looted, a source told DAILY GUIDE.



Possible Cause Of Riot



According to an eyewitness account, Nana Buah accompanied a plumber friend to collect money from a Chinese who engaged him (plumber) to do some work for him (Chinese).



DAILY GUIDE learnt that the foreigner was supposed to pay the (Ghanaian) plumber an amount of GH150.00 for the services rendered but the Chinese allegedly refused to pay the money, which resulted in a confrontation.



Eyewitnesses asserted that during the exchanges, which occurred near a popular filling station at Wassa Akropong, the Chinese  identified as Jan Gi Hi, 49  pulled a gun and fired at Nana Buah, killing him on the spot.



DAILY GUIDE gathered that when the youth got wind of the alleged incident they became furious and went on a rampage.



The situation was really serious because the Chinese are many here and they live differently and since the youth were determined to revenge the death of their colleague, one could see vehicles and other properties belonging to the Chinese set ablaze, a resident indicated.



It took the intervention of a joint police and military team deployed to the area, as well as the paramount chief of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, Tetrete Okuamoah Sekyim II and the District Chief Executive for the area, Helena Appiah, to restore calm.



Arrest



A police source told DAILY GUIDE that three other Chinese, together with the alleged killer, were arrested in connection with the incident.



The names of the other three Chinese suspects were given as Chu Chan Jun 34; Li Ju, 33, and Su Soglan, 46; and were taken to the Asankragwa division police in the region for investigations.



Confirmation



The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Western Regional Police Command, ASP Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, told DAILY GUIDE that at about 5.30 pm last Friday, the police at Akropong received a distress call that a Chinese had shot a Ghanaian to death near a filling station.



She added that the police moved to the filling station but did not see the victim nor the Chinese suspect.



She indicated that the Akropong town folks rushed to the scene and attempted to kill Chinese.



The youth destroyed properties, burnt six vehicles and vandalized five other vehicles. Police and the Omanhene of the area and some council of elders accompanied the police to the Wassa Akropong Government Hospital and saw a male deceased, Nana Buah, aged 29, in the morgue pending autopsy, ASP Adiku said.



Already there was a team of officers who were deployed to the town on Friday night to control the situation. The Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwesi Duku, and a team of other security personnel also visited the town to assess the security situation, she told DAILY GUIDE.



Initial reports were that the police were assisting to send the Chinese nationals in the area to Kumasi for their safety, but ASP Adiku said nothing like that happened.



She stressed that the police had commenced investigations into the matter.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A petition filed by staff of the Electoral Commission (EC) against the Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, calling for a full-scale probe into various allegations, including willfully causing financial loss to the state and abuse of office has been withdrawn.



The petitioners withdrawn the application over the legitimacy of lawyer Thaddeus Sory to represent both the EC and Charlotte Osei.



The petitioners had argued that, Thaddeus Sory should not be allowed to represent the EC boss.



The application for withdrawal by the petitioners was granted by the presiding Justice Kwaku Ackaah-Boafo.



Justice Ackaah-Boafo in his ruling said the withdrawal has become necessary because lawyer for the petitioners Maxwell Opoku Agyemang has caused another lawyer to enter appearance on his behalf in the same matter in a different court and awarded the cost of GH4000 in favour of the lawyer for Charlotte Osei.



Background



Some staff of the EC on July 19 filed a petition against the Chairperson calling for a full-scale investigation into alleged misconduct and abuse of office on her part.



She was also accused by her staff for financial malfeasance.



The concerned staff in their petition claim her decision to cancel a contract awarded to Superlock Technologies Limited (STL), a company contracted to supply and manage Biometric Voter Registration machines (BVRs) and the Biometric Voter Devices (BVDs), as well as her directive for the payment of $76,000 to IT firm, Dream Oval, were fraudulent and hence she should be removed from office.



They have petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for her removal as well as sent a similar to the Economic and Organised Crime Office asking for investigations into Mrs Osei's stewardship.

Source: Pulse Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Audio Attachment: Listen to Alhassan Tampuli in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo'

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has attributed the Atomic Junction gas explosion to negligence on the part of the Gas station.



Dozens of security personnel from the Police and Military Services are reported deployed to the scene of the fatal gas explosion that occurred at the Atomic Junction off the Madina-Haatso road.



An inferno last Saturday claimed lives and injured several others after a gas leak ignited.



The fire was first noticed by attendants at a gas station when LPG that was being discharged at the vicinity started to leak.



The station attendants began to evacuate the area.



Speaking in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi, the Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Alhassan Tampuli has dismissed the reports on the Khebab seller saying "mostly, youll see a truck at the station to discharge LPG and that is normally the cause of the problem".



According to him, the Authority had notified the gas station in July this year to undertake some precautionary measures which they station authorities failed to comply with all directives given them.



He said; "we wrote a letter to the company on the 10th of July, 2017, after our routine monitoring and inspection visit to a number of stations and we do that all the time . . . and the letter we wrote to them was titled Compliance with monitoring of LPG refilling plant in the Greater Accra Region 2017 and its addressed to the Managing Director . . ."



A number of things came out and we wrote to them and requested of them to put them in place by the 4th of September 2017. We told them there was too much activity on the forecourt especially around the cylinder; traders, vulcanizers and so forth. The place has become like a taxi rank or trotro station. They can discharge passengers and convey passengers. So, one of the things that we indicated to them was that there was too much activity on the forecourt. Secondly, we also said that more safety signs should be provided at the vicinity. And thirdly, customers must be prevented from accessing the filling area, a separate waiting area must be provided . . . We did a follow-up visit. When we did a follow-up visit, to some extent, they had put in place some of the measures but they still had some activities of uninvited people at the forecourt, Mr. Tampuli told Kwami Sefa Kayi.



Mr. Tampuli also noted that the cause of the explosion is normally due to the trucks that discharge the petroleum product at the gas stations.



On Saturday's incident, he said the explosion occurred when a truck was on-site discharging gas which triggered the leak resulting in the fire outbreak.



"Mostly, youll see a truck at the station to discharge LPG and that is normally the cause of the problem . . . The one at Trade site resulted when the truck was on-site. The one at Takoradi  Ghumco disaster  happened when the truck was on-site. Last Saturdays own happened when the truck was on-site. In Kumasi where it happened, the truck was on-site . . . so we have an understanding that either its the way and manner that the discharge is done or it is a major catastrophic attempt to pull something which should not be done in just to control the environment . . . Mostly, its as a result of discharge error; either the driver and the mate do not have the requisite training (number 1) or the discharge facility, either the pump, is faulty or the breakaway coupling is weak and then that results in some amount of leakages . . . then the driver and the mate will bolt away without taking the precautionary measures to put in place before even asking for reinforcement.



"The other problem that we found out about the last explosion is that normally, discharge of product is not done in the night. Do you understand? You dont discharge in the night. So, clearly, that was in violation of the procedures that we had put in place for the discharge of petroleum product", he stressed.

















Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has held several meetings with some global business leaders in a bid to woo foreign investors to the country.



As part of actvities marking his maiden presentation at the United Nations General Assembly in New York recently President Akufo-Addo pitched Ghana as West Africas premier destination for foreign investment



The President was also the headline speaker at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum, which saw global business captains such as Jack Ma, Executive Chairman, Alibaba Group, Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder, Blackstone; and Tim Cook, CEO, Apple in attendance.



At a closed-door investor session hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding, the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, met with Appolonia Citys developer Rendeavour, Africas largest urban land developer, and other private sector representatives, including FedEx Corp, Kosmos Energy and MasterCard International. The theme, according to some of the participants, was the transformational change that has invigorated Ghana since the start of the year.



Mr Ofori-Atta promised a focus on transparency by the government, with the objective of upholding the position of Ghana as the pillar of stability within the region.



Introducing the Finance Minister to speak at the forum, Mr Frank Mosier, Chairman of Rendeavour, congratulated Ghana on its commitment to strengthen the country and the region.



Ghana is a country renowned for its stability and growing economic prospects for investors, whether the investors are entering into Africa for the first time or expanding within Africa, he said.



King city project



Rendeavours two Ghanaian developments, Appolonia City in Accra and King City in Takoradi, will see aggregate infrastructure investment over the course of the developments of over $1 billion and the creation of many tens of thousands of new jobs.



Clearly, there has been a significant change in emphasis by the Republic of Ghana since January this year. We are happy to count on the support of President Akufo-Addo and his very capable Cabinet on our investment journey, Mr Mosier said.



Ghana is one of the first West African countries to recover from the commodities down cycle. Strong growth in the hydrocarbon, mining, infrastructure and retail sectors significantly strengthened Ghanas real GDP growth to 6.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2017.



The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr Yofi Grant, continued the theme of transparency, highlighting the wealth of opportunity that was available in Ghana.



Extending the hand of friendship to Ghanaian and international investors, he reaffirmed the fact that Ghana was seen as a bastion of reliability in the region.



British consortium invests in Appolonia



In a related development, a consortium, led by prominent British investor, Mr Simon Edwards, has purchased 30 homes at The Oxford, with an intention to accelerate their availability to the Ghanaian market.



The homes are intended as an investment asset for resale or rent to the general public.



The Oxford will be developed to a total of 420 homes across a total area of 20 hectares (49 acres) on completion, with over 50 homes already under construction.



We are very impressed with the Appolonia City site and the quality and construction of The Oxford. We believe The Oxford provides value for money and an attractive solution for the marketplace, Mr Edwards said.



Appolonia City offers buyers of The Oxford homes flexible payment terms, with a 40 per cent payment on signing and the balance over 18 months. The Appolonia city also has a partnership arrangement with Ghana Home Loans to provide mortgage facilities to buyers with a 20 per cent down payment and 80 per cent paid over 15-20 years.



The investment in the Oxford by Mr Edwards and his consortium underscores the strong product offering and value for money at Appolonia City, Mr Bright Owusu-Amofah, CEO of Appolonia City said



Appolonia City is a 2,325-acre (941-hectare) mixed-use and mixed-income urban development just 20km from Accra. The project includes a variety of social infrastructure underpinned by world-class construction and estate management services.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the best Christmas gift he can give the people of Yendi and Ghana, this year, will be the enskinment of a new Ya Naa, ahead of the celebration of the Damba Festival.



This, according to President Akufo-Addo, will be the crowning achievement of my first year as President of the Republic, adding that I am going to do everything that a President can do to make sure that we get there.



President Akufo-Addo made this known on Saturday, 7th October, 2017, when he paid separate courtesy calls on the Regent of Dagbon, the Kampakuya Naa, Yakubu Abdulai Andani; and the Bolin Lana, Mahamadu Abdulai, at Yendi, on day 2 of his 3-day tour of the Northern Region.



Addressing the issue of the 15-year long impasse in Dagbon, the President noted that the issue at play is how to apply the customs of Dagbon, with the relevant compromises, to resolve the issue.



It is for this reason, President Akufo-Addo recounted the role played by the former President of the Republic, the wise statesman, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, in setting up the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, who are responsible for fashioning out an acceptable formula for the resolution of the crisis.



The Eminent Chiefs selected by former President Kufuor, in the view of President Akufo-Addo, are amongst the greatest Chiefs in our country.



They are the overlord of Mamprugu, the Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga; the overlord of Gonjaland, the Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boresa I; and the Chairman of the Committee, who, according to President Akufo-Addo, has been doing a yeomans job, and is no less a person than the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.



Whatever formula, whatever understanding they come to, amongst the parties to the Dagbon conflict, will have the full, unequivocal support of my government. I want to reassure you that I dont have an interest in the outcome of the accommodation, the President said.



He continued, I want to repeat, I am not an Andani, and I am not an Abudu. Not only am I not an Abudu, nor an Andani, I am not even a Dagomba. I have no interest, other than the peace and security of Dagbon.



To the Kampakuya Naa, President Akufo-Addo assured that any officials of mine who are seen to be impeding the resolution of the matter, according to custom, will have me to play with.



He assured further, in response to a request made by the Imam, who offered the opening prayer at the Kampakuya Naas palace, that the Regent has nothing to fear from me. He will be very well looked after in the process. His father was my friend, and it will not be right that I do not treat his son right. He [the late Ya Naa] will not forgive me.



By the same token, President Akufo-Addo pleaded with the Andanis and Abudus to accommodate whatever missteps that occur, in the process to find a lasting solution to the problem, stressing that if we are committed to the end of the journey, and there are missteps along the way, we should find a way to accommodate it, so that we do not jeopardize it.



The President, thus, appealed to all involved in the Dagbon matter to work together, and ensure the necessary accommodation and compromises to bring this 15 year old crisis to a conclusion. The people of Ghana will see Dagbon for what it is  a historic state of our nation  and we want to see it rise again.



Yendi Water Treatment Plant



With the Yendi water supply system seeing no upgrades since 1973, President Akufo-Addo stated that I am happy to inform you that my government has secured a credit facility of $30 million from the EXIM Bank of India to be able to establish a Water Treatment Plant from the Oti River, to supply Yendi and all the surrounding towns.



He indicated that the beginning of the next quarter of 2018 will witness the completion of the requisite paper work, and the commencement of the project.



In the same way the strengthening of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) also requires that we expand and strengthen the infrastructure of our healthcare delivery system.



The message you (Kampakuya Naa) have given me, on the need to expand and strengthen the Yendi hospital, that message, I am taking it straight with me to Accra to the Minister for Health, President Akufo-Addo added.



He also commended the Kampakuya Naa for supporting the fight against galamsey, adding that the fight against galamsey is a fight for our future survival.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Navigating the streets of the Gayborhood in Philadelphia was no easy task on Oct. 8, 2017.

OutFest, the largest National Coming Out Day event in the world, was going on and the streets were packed.

More than 35,000 attended the event, according to organizers Philly Pride. They came to see the drag shows and the high heel races. They vogued, danced, drank and laughed. Even a handful of anti-gay activists couldn't damper the mood.

Most of the businesses in the Gayborhood had their doors wide open, with bars having dance parties that spilled out into the streets in front of them. The streets themselves were filled with a mix of vendors selling rainbow everything and community organizations. The organizations varied from providing information on how to get help for those with suicidal thoughts to the 411 on where to hang out with Jewish LGBTQ Philadelphians.

You can see photos from OutFest in the gallery at the top of this article. You can also get a sense for the event in the video below.

Want more information on OutFest or other Philly Pride events? Check out phillygaypride.org.

Want more stories about Philly? Click here for all our coverage of the City of Brotherly Love. You may also enjoy these videos from our Philadelphia team:

Y
The owner of the Colonial Park Mall has agreed to sell the property.

Washington Prime Group, which owns the mall located in Lower Paxton Township, is selling the property and another mall in Iowa as it restructures its portfolio in an effort to reduce debt.

CoStar.com, which maintains a database of commercial real estate information, says the company agreed to sell the 738,798-square-foot mall to an as-of-yet unidentified private real estate investor for $15 million, or about $20 per square foot.

Officials with the company could not immediately be reached for comment.

Washington Prime Group promotes the mall as having a customer base of 455,600 with an average household income of $72,400 and 28,000 cars passing by daily.

Colonial Park Mall opened in 1960 as Colonial Park Plaza, an open-air shopping center. It became an enclosed mall and was renamed a decade later. It's anchored by Bon-Ton and Boscov's.
LEWISBURG -- Located a few miles outside of Lewisburg in Central Pennsylvania, Pik Rite is a small company that makes large farm equipment - if you need to harvest acres of tomatoes, they're the guys to call.

Specifically, you should inquire about the Pik Rite 190, a tractor-pulled Rube Goldberg-esque wagon covered in conveyor belts, chains, hydraulics and electronics that can pull and pick 30 to 40 tons of tomatoes per hour (while automatically separating and rejecting the unripened fruit), and, depending on options, will run you around $175,000 new (here's a video of one in action).

Pik Rite -- which also makes other farm equipment including manure spreaders and holding tanks -- manufactures each tomato harvester at its factory outside Lewisburg. Each unit starts as a collection of raw materials stored in the shop, which is then cut, bent, milled, bolted and welded into a harvester, spreader or tank, which they paint in-house and, if necessary, will mount on the truck body of your choice.

It's a pretty cool small manufacturing company of about 70 people, which has been humming along for a little more than 30 years since its founders built their first tomato picker to harvest their own fields. The company has a dealership network and sells tomato harvesters across the U.S. (primarily in the Great Lakes region, where there are, apparently, lots of tomato farms) as well as internationally. Pik Rite shipping Manager Jeff Ansell said the company has shipped units to Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, Israel and Saudi Arabia, among other places.

So, shipping a tomato harvester to Argentina should be pretty easy, right? Apparently not. Between language barriers, documentation requirements and an odd customs request, it ended up taking Pik Rite almost a year to ship a harvester into the South American nation.

Pik Rite's customer -- Alcaraz Gourmet -- was interested in buying a refurbished tomato harvester to support its expanding tomato farming operations. So, after receiving a deposit, Pik Rite refurbished a used tomato picker and, after receiving final payment, began to prepare it for export -- no simple task even under normal circumstances.

"There's a lot of moving pieces" to international sales and shipping, Ansell said. Typically, when shipping within the United States or to Canada, the company can simply load a harvester onto a trailer and ship it via truck.

Pik Rite Shipping Manager Jeff Ansell explains how the Lewisburg company's tomato harvesters work.

"But sending it in a container ... there's a lot of disassembly ... it makes for an interesting process," Ansell said. "The parts and unit need to be well documented going into the container and well thought out, so it can be put back together."

Then there's the matter of paperwork. It typically takes about three days to gather the required paperwork to export an item. That includes a commercial invoice, a packing list and a shipper's letter of instruction (to whom it is being shipped, who it was sold by and who is paying taxes and fees associated with export/import).

In the case of Argentina, this process stretched out to two or three months. "There was a little bit of a language barrier to figuring out what customs down there was requiring," Ansell said.

Specifically, Pik Rite needed to have paperwork from Argentina translated so the company could figure out what Argentinian customs was requiring, and Spanish-speaking international business experts are not exactly common in Lewisburg.

But the area is home to the SEDA Council of Governments (a coalition of local governments based in Lewisburg), which does have an international business team that has contacts with Pennsylvania's network of foreign trade representatives.

SEDA-COG was able to have the documents translated, which informed Ansell that, because the harvester was used, it needed to be fumigated before it could be shipped to Argentina.

"We didn't know where to start," Ansell said, so he went back to SEDA-COG for more advice.

"We work with a lot of companies, but Pik Rite's problem was fairly unique," said Noelle Long, SEDA-COG's export director. "We have never had to fumigate a piece of equipment before."

Long was able to use her contacts with the USDA to essentially get a "to-do list" for Pik Rite. Fumigating farm equipment is not a common service and ultimately required shipping the packaged harvester to the Port of New York and New Jersey, where it was fumigated and loaded onto a cargo ship bound for Argentina.

"Every country is different," when it comes to importing, Long said. "There's no one-sized-fits-all solution ... there's all kinds of idiosyncrasies" in documentation, product codes, and export controls on where you can and can't ship -- which can often change depending on international relations.

That is the one thing Long said that she tries to drive home when a company approaches her about setting up international business for the first time. "You need to know who you are shipping to and where it is going and what it is being used for," she said.

'It doesn't matter if you're making a Twinkie or a tomato harvester, you have to do your due diligence. You need to make sure you're not selling to questionable individuals."
The storm that was once known as Hurricane Nate is moving through the state, bringing what meteorologists are saying is some much-needed rain.

And that's about it.

By the time post-tropical cyclone Nate is gone, it will leave behind 1 to 2 inches of rainfall.

"It's a light, moderate and beneficial rain," said Bill Gartner, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service at State College.

The Harrisburg area woke up to a dreary morning with steady rainfall, but the most significant amount associated with the storm is tapering off now as Nate moves east into Lancaster County towards Philadelphia.

Showers are to continue until about 1 p.m. with a slight chance of some continuing, scattered showers through the evening. Wind gusts up to 26 mph are possible.

Meanwhile, Gartner said a high-pressure system on the Atlantic Coast will keep temperatures unseasonably warm with a high of 78 expected today and a high of 80 on Tuesday.

Things will cool down a bit on Wednesday, which will see a high of 70 and a low of 54 with a new weather system bringing a 50 percent chance of showers.

There is a 30 percent chance of continuing showers on Thursday, which will be cooler yet with a high near 66 and a low of 54.

Friday will be partly sunny with a high climbing back up to 70 and a low of 55.

Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high near 73 and a low of 56.

And Sunday will be mostly sunny with a high near 77.

Visit PennLive.com/weather for your latest weather updates.
A police incident involving local police and the Dauphin County crisis response team ended peacefully Sunday evening.

Just before 5 p.m. Oct. 8, Swatara Township police were dispatched to the 8200 block of Old Derry Street for a man undergoing a mental health crisis. Police determined that the man may have had a firearm and established communications with him until the crisis response team arrived at around 6 p.m.

The man surrendered about an hour later and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Swatara Township police said no charges are being filed, adding that there is no danger to the community.
A pair of North Carolina residents is accused of stealing a number of items from three people in Londonderry Township.

Lezlie Gwanette Woodrow and Chuck Michael Greene face felony charges after the victims reported the theft Sept. 25. From the victims' home on the 3000 block of Brinser Road, Woodrow and Greene are accused of stealing a 1987 Chevrolet Suburban, 3 rifles, 120 DVDs, an air compressor, a circular saw, and a cordless electric drill, state police said.

The suspects also made $4,000 in unauthorized purchases on a Home Depot store credit card. Warrants have been issued for the arrests of Woodrow and Greene.
President Donald Trump's visit to Harrisburg this week will be a more intimate affair than his two previous visits to the area when he held large rallies.

Local Republican leaders say the White House is planning a smaller, town hall type of event in front of 500 to 1,000 people at a location near the Harrisburg International Airport, which is where Air Force One would land.

Before Trump addresses the crowd about his new tax reform plan, Fox News host Sean Hannity plans to record an interview with the president about tax reform, immigration and other "top news headlines," according to a statement Fox News.

Hannity will meet the president for his exclusive interview at the Harrisburg Air National Guard Base "prior to the primetime presentation and before President Trump's speech in Harrisburg later that evening," the Fox News statement said, noting that the Hannity interview was rescheduled.

Hannity had originally intended to interview Trump last Wednesday, but it was postponed.

The Hill news website said Trump also was supposed take questions from the audience during Hannity's original interview, but the new statement from the network didn't mention audience questions.

The exact time and location of Trump's visit have not been revealed but several sources told PennLive they were told the president would speak in the late afternoon Wednesday or early evening. They noted the time and location were still subject to change at any time.

But one thing appears firm: the event is invitation-only, with tickets being distributed through the county Republican committees, local business chambers and other organizations.

Local Republican leaders on Monday compiled lists of donors and volunteers who would get tickets. The exact number of seats available had not been determined, York County Chairman Alex Shorb.

"The number of tickets will be based on the ultimate venue, the fire marshal and Secret Service and all the logistics that go into that," Shorb said.

Dauphin County Republican Chairman David Feidt said there is not a link posted on the president's website like previous visits to sign up for tickets.

"I think it's more of an intimate event," Feidt said. "The ticketing is being done in a more structured format."

Cumberland County Chairman and state Rep. Greg Rothman said he was allowed 20 tickets for guests from his county. He said local chambers and business owners also got invitations.

The visit by Trump marks the third to the area since Trump took office. His last visit in April occurred in Harrisburg city proper at the Farm Show Complex. He also visited the Giant Center in Hershey.

The repeated visits to the area make sense, Rothman said, because of Central Pennsylvania's potential as an economic driver with its key location for distribution. That's why e-commerce is booming and warehouses and logistical centers are located here, he said.

"It's why the Navy's here and why the Army's here," he said. "It's a good place to talk about tax reform."

And the national spotlight on Harrisburg again is good for the region, said David Black, president of the area's business chamber.

"It's a neat thing to have a president visit, because it gets us on the map," Black said. "He must like it here because he keeps coming back. It lets people know there's more to Pennsylvania than Pittsburgh and Philadelphia."

UPDATE: This article was updated to clarify Sean Hannity's role on Wednesday and add information from Fox News.
Canadian themed dolls are shown at the Maplelea pop-up shop store at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto on January 11, 2017. While the pop-up shop may have started as a way for online retailers to stage a lower-risk experiment with a physical presence, the temporary storefront has morphed into a marketing tool for established brands, often ones that already boast multiple locations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Radial, the $1 billion (yearly sales) King of Prussia "parcel logistics" company that helps merchants compete with Amazon, has been purchased for $820 million by bpost, the publicly traded Belgian postal service, which is trying to build a global shipping network to rival Amazon, FedEx and Germany-based DHS.

The sale means a major expansion for bpost, whose yearly sales totaled $2.9 billion before the deal. Bpost said Radial gives it a U.S. payments and anti-fraud technology "foothold," in addition to 24 warehouses employing 6,700 year-round, plus 27,000 Christmas-season temporary workers. The company employs about 400 in the Philadelphia area, down from 1,000 in 2015.

Radial sells "integrated e-commerce logistics and omnichannel technology solutions," plus payment and tax services and fraud protection, to retail clients such as Everlast and Shoe Carnival. It's been scrambling to keep up with Amazon and protect clients from fraud, at a time when Amazon is speeding up deliveries with its "Super Flex" service and credit-reporting agency Equifax's failure to keep consumer data from hackers has led to a 90 percent drop in the black-market price of customer credit-card numbers and addresses  to as little as 10 for a penny.

Bpost says Radial shipped about 308 million packages last year. It expects the company to earn at least $65 million in profits not counting financial costs (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) this year.

The deal is "a great leap forward for bpost," CEO Koen Van Gerven said in a statement. "Offering integrated and seamless e-commerce logistic solutions to our U.S. and European customers will help them grow." Bpost will hire "all Radial employees," he said. Bpost expects global e-commerce sales to hit $4 trillion by 2020, more than double 2016 estimates.

Fraud is proliferating alongside smartphone sales and direct shipping, Michael Graff, senior fraud manager, told the Inquirer last week. "We are playing whack-a-mole. When you shut down a location, they reappear, using different devices and different IPs." While fraudsters formerly congregated in a few developing countries, today "you are going to be exposed to risk, no matter what. Supply-chain fraud can happen even with ATMs, [which can be] compromised from outside the delivery truck. You need prevention."

Radial's fraud-prevention competitors include services owned by Visa and American Express, among others.

The merger is "a critical next step for both companies," Radial CEO Matthew Espe said in a statement. Bpost said it will start making money on the deal in 2020. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC advised Radial in the sale.

Radial, founded as GSI Commerce by Michael Rubin, was owned by eBay from 2010 to 2015, and sold with three other businesses in 2015 to a group of private-equity firms for a total of $940 million. (Rubin now owns Fanatics, the pro and college team-gear sales giant, with financial backing from Alibaba, China's eBay.)

The businesses were split among the new owners. Radial, the largest of the four successor companies, was owned by Sterling Partners and Longview Asset Management, which merged the group with Georgia-based Innotrac and other assets before its sale to bpost.

In 2010, eBay had paid $2.5 billion for the group but lost business as more retailers chose to set up their own online shopping systems. Under its private-equity owners, Radial recruited managers from Silicon Valley and sought to beef up its client logistics-planning services.

(This story has been updated to correct the number of employees at Radial.)
Puerto Ricans and U.S. forces will be working for months to get storm-wrecked utilities, hospitals, and communications running.

The even tougher steps needed to make the island more self-sustaining are well-known, but have been found difficult and left untried, said Anthony Stevens-Arroyo, a native of Philadelphia's Puerto Rican diaspora whose long career as priest, professor and family man included testimony on Puerto Rico's future before the United Nations Decolonization Committee (starting in 1978) and the U.S. House of Representatives (1990s):

"Puerto Rico needs to eliminate its dependency on imported sources of energy" and stop relying on U.S. fuel imports, Stevens-Arroyo told me. Solar-power companies are already rushing panels and batteries to the island in hopes of restoring the wrecked electrical grid.

The island faces the same problems as other Caribbean islands and needs to trade and cooperate with them, not just depend on U.S. aid, debt, and fickle corporate investment.

If the U.S. under Trump can't or won't pay for reconstruction and public services, "Puerto Rico should be recognized," not as an independent country  a "19th-century concept" that few Puerto Ricans support  but "as an autonomous political entity that has a right to representation within the U.N.," like the Palestinians. This "would make economic development and trade arrangements with the global community" negotiable by Puerto Rico's elected government.

By contrast, at present "the U.S. Congress governs the colony," he said. Though there is still an elected governor and legislator, fiscal power lies with the seven-member PROMESA oversight board, which "favors bankers." With United Nations status, Puerto Rico would more likely qualify for participation with the World Bank, UNESCO, and other development grant and loan funders, subject to the fiscal restraints they place on borrower governments.

With a population double Philadelphia's in an area smaller than South Jersey, "Puerto Rico cannot feed itself. It has to buy. To buy, you need things to sell," Stevens-Arroyo told me. "Puerto Rico's natural place is within the Caribbean community. In that community, Cuba has the largest population [about the size of Pennsylvania], the Dominican Republic has the greatest agricultural potential, Puerto Rico has the largest technically trained workforce," including workers who served in factories that closed when federal corporate income-tax breaks ended in the 2000s. (Drug companies like Johnson & Johnson, which made some of the largest investments, remain.) Jamaica and the smaller islands could fit. Haiti, with its wasted soil and epically ineffective government, will need extra help.

"Together, they form a large enough market to be a viable community," he said.

Won't the U.S. resist any arrangement with Communist Cuba? "That's selfishness," Stevens-Arroyo said. "The U.S. has until now preferred bilateral relations  the U.S. and the Dominican Republic, the U.S. and Haiti, the U.S. and Puerto Rico," and that has left the Caribbean islands in North America's debt. "But Cuba is finally moving away from communism." Time to advance together.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello's party supports statehood for Puerto Rico  which the U.S. has been reluctant to grant because of the cost of bringing the island to U.S. material standards, as well as fears that residents would elect Democrats to Congress. The parties have left a leadership gap. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz's appeal "not to kill us with indifference" provoked Trump to complain about "poor leadership"  which Stevens-Arroyo said has increased her popularity: "She is politically incorrect, but people say she is telling the truth."

Unlike Cuba, where the United States intervened in a deadly independence war in 1898, Puerto Rico became a self-governing Spanish territory before the U.S. invaded. France copied the Spanish model for its Caribbean islands. "We were a model for the European Union, which despite its problems has created a homogeneous economy, with each region free to develop its cultural independence and interdependence," said Stevens-Arroyo.

He added that Puerto Rico's patriots hope to break the cycle of dependence that reaches back to the days of slave-worked plantations.

"Perhaps," he concluded, "the natural disaster and the inability of the U.S. any longer to 'afford' Puerto Rico may finally lead to real planning in a way that leads to interdependence, and self-reliance."
Gov. Tom Wolf says he can fix the state budget mess by himself. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read more

The 47th governor of Pennsylvania, the 14th Democrat to hold the office, is suddenly making some noise.

To some it sounds like clucking. For as we pass 100 days with no state budget and no signs of settlement, Gov. Wolf is playing the Little Red Hen.

You know the story. Couldn't get anybody to help her do anything so she did it all herself.

Well, we now have Wolf: "Who will help me raise money to clean up the deficit I created last year?"

"Not I," said the House Republicans.

Or: "Who will help me balance our new budget with a shale severance tax?"

"Not I," said the legislature, including House Democrats and moderate Republicans who couldn't even move a shale-tax bill from committee.

"Then I'll do it myself," said the Little Red , I mean, said Wolf. And he announced he'll pay for the deficit and balance the budget all on his own.

For starters, he'll borrow $1.25 billion to be paid back over 20 years with profits from our arcane booze system run by the Liquor Control Board (LCB), which, along with our legislature, is another suspect arm of a less-than-laudatory government.

Wolf's action joins a mix of long-brewing Harrisburg crazy. It raises questions: about governing by fiscal fiat; about why (if it's such a good idea) it wasn't done before yet another bond-rating downgrade; about how it could create a new hole in an annual budget currently fed with booze profits; about long-term repercussions, financial and political.

For example, Sen. Scott Wagner, a candidate for the GOP nomination to oppose Wolf next year, used campaign email to offer his view of the borrowing plan. Wagner wrote of Wolf, "He's out of his mind."

Wagner, you may have heard, isn't known for subtlety.

The conservative Commonwealth Foundation says leveraging LCB profits to pay down a loan could well mean the end of liquor privatization efforts.

This will send House Speaker Mike Turzai, long the privatization crusader and a potential GOP candidate for governor, even further around the bend than his normal travels often take him.

(Perhaps you caught reporting by my colleagues Angela Couloumbis and Liz Navratil: an irate Turzai spotted pounding on Wolf's Capitol office door on a day Wolf was in Philly. Talk about huffin' and puffin.')

And, since Wolf suggests he can, through various actions, balance the budget "indefinitely," maybe we should find a way to just get rid of the nation's largest "full-time" legislature and save $313 million a year.

Speaking of which, the legislature is not in session. Again. Left last Wednesday. Due back Oct. 16. Columbus Day break, don't you know. You maybe get a day off. They take a week-plus  while, by the way, continuing to be paid, perked, and per-diemed throughout months of failing their constitutional duty to pass a budget.

All part of the pricey, head-shaking lunacy that is Pennsylvania governance.

Remember, we're talking $32 billion in spending the legislature approved in June and Wolf allowed to become law  without any way to pay for it.

Sound sane to you?

I asked Wolf, during a phone chat Saturday, "How you enjoying the crazy thus far?"

He said, "I did what I did because it's time to move on.  I will balance this budget."

His ire was clear. He stressed he's had "enough of this nonsense," and he all but bit off his phrase of the week, the month, the year: "This is not the way government is supposed to work."

He's right. It isn't. Yet it happens so often. With never any fundamental reforms. Never any accountability connected to the process. The fact we pay them (Wolf takes no salary) for their dereliction of duty is madness.

But the fact we always seem in sad fiscal straits, no matter who's in charge, might be a Pennsylvania thing.

I mentioned Wolf is our 14th Democratic governor. Our first Democratic governor was also a Wolf, George Wolf (1829-1835). Among the things he was noted for? New taxes to pay off big loans. Where, one wonders, are lessons of history?
Parents and students fill the 1,020-seat auditorium at Williamstown High during a emergency Monroe Twp school board meeting in Williamstown, NJ on Oct. 9, 2017. Student in Williamstown, NJ will have the week off as the Monroe School District inspects buildings for mold. Read more

Sitting cross-legged in aisles and standing shoulder to shoulder against walls, hundreds of Monroe Township parents and students packed into Williamstown High School's theater for an emergency meeting Monday night prompted by the township school district's announcement that it was closing all of its schools for at least a week because of possible mold infestation.

At the front of the room, people yelled at the school board members, saying their leadership was "deplorable" and "a disgrace." In the back rows, folks stood, booing and saying school officials didn't care about students' health.

The contention had been brewing for days, and was worsened earlier Monday when it was announced that all schools would be closed for the week while inspectors test for mold. There are nearly 6,000 students in the district's four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

Holly Glen Elementary School was closed on Thursday after the district released a report from an environmental testing company that showed mold was detected on ceiling tiles, flooring, walls, lockers, desks, and toys. Students were temporarily reassigned to other schools for the clean-up. The school, which has 357 students in kindergarten to grade 4, is to remain closed at least three weeks.

Just before the meeting began at 7 p.m., the theater was hushed, with parents exchanging stories of children's respiratory problems, ones they had thought were seasonal or run-of-the-mill illnesses. Now, they said, they aren't so sure.

Professionals who had inspected the school and those working on clean-up tried to quell parents' worries.

"It is a fixable problem," said Timothy Popp of TTI Environmental, which inspected Holly Glen. "I'm confident we can return your school back to a safe environment."

Superintendent Charles Earling said the situation was changing day to day, with students' well-being a priority. Officials said they would know more about the length of school closures later in the week.

Earling also introduced an air quality task force, which was formed Monday morning by leaders of the district's unions and intends to focus on solutions.

Township Mayor Daniel P. Teefy was the first to speak during the public comment section.

"Stick together, stay calm. Worry about accusations and accountability later," Teefy told the crowd before addressing the board.

But during much of the comment portion, it was clear many parents were concerned with accountability.

The director of plant operations, David Sullivan, was called on to move from the public area and stand in front of the auditorium. Sullivan said he had known of the problem since January but had acted appropriately in calling in the health department three times.

An antiquated air-conditioning system was likely a large contributor to the problem, Sullivan said. Officials said the vent system in Holly Glen had likely not been updated since the 1960s.

Schools were already closed Monday for students because of Columbus Day; an in-service day for staff was canceled because of the air-quality testing.

On Facebook earlier Monday, parents worried about making arrangements to take care of their children after the schools were abruptly closed.

Nick DiFelice, who has a 9-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son at Radix Elementary, said his concern was, "How long has the administration known about this and how long have they not done anything about it?" He said his children have had respiratory problems. He wonders now if those are related to mold.

Christina Capate, who taught first grade at Holly Glen two years ago, said she noticed problems then.

"I had a dehumidifier in my classroom that I had to dump out at least twice a day," she said in an interview. "It held about 2.5 gallons, and normally you wouldn't have to do that unless you were in a very wet basement."

Capate, who worked at the school for a year before leaving, said students would have asthma attacks in her class about twice a week.

A statement from the Monroe Township Education Association and the Associate of Education Secretaries said the two organizations had documented a mold problem at Holly Glen for the last five years.

"It may seem as the district is moving swiftly, but they are attempting to correct a five-year-old problem in five months," the statement read. "Had the district responded appropriately then, there would be no crisis now."

Some parents had created a petition calling for the removal of Earling, as well as staff members Sullivan and Ralph Ross, saying they had known of the mold's existence in the schools "for an extended amount of time" and ignored requests for the mold to be tested. The petition had more than 1,300 signatures late Monday afternoon.

There was also concern Friday when parents of children who attended Williamstown Middle School learned mold was found on ceiling tiles in that building.

Michael Keller, an industrial hygienist and indoor air quality consultant, said Monday it was unusual for a possible mold problem to shut down an entire district.

Mold can develop when the relative humidity exceeds about 60 percent, Keller said. A single mold spore in a damp place  fed by sources needed to grow, such as dust, paper, hair, fiber and wood  can spur mold growth, he said.

"They have to find out what caused the problem, not just that there's a problem," said Keller, a member of the Indoor Air Quality Association's chapter in Trenton. He is not involved in the remediation.

Mold of various species is common indoors and out, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two of the most frequently found indoor molds  Aspergillus and Cladosporium  were identified by a consulting firm that examined Holly Glenn as the most common there as well.

"Most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick. However, people with weakened immune systems or lung diseases are at a higher risk of developing health problems due to Aspergillus," the CDC says on its website. Those problems "include allergic reactions, lung infections, and infections in other organs."

Inflammation can particularly affect children with asthma. The Environmental Protection Agency publishes a booklet to help school officials manage asthma, which can be triggered by mold as well as roaches, dust mites, and other factors.

Old, damp buildings such as schools are ideal places for mold to grow. The Cheltenham School District in Montgomery County, among the wealthiest in the region, fought a decades-long battle with mold at Cedarbrook Middle School. The school board finally gave up shortly before Christmas 2013, and voted to close the school and relocate its 750 students.

Closing the entire district as a precaution while determining the extent of the mold "is probably as reasonable as taking a couple of snow days," James Palmer, chief of rhinology for Penn Medicine, said. "The reason you take off for a snow day is so the school bus isn't in a wreck."

For children with asthma, mold can cause runny or watery eyes, oozing, and nasal obstruction. "If parents are seeing asthmatic-type symptoms in their kids that are new since school started, I would get them looked at," Palmer said, "but I wouldn't be overly alarmed."

Staff writer Don Sapatkin contributed to this article.
Cook County, Ill., lawmakers will consider repealing a tax on soda and other sweetened drinks that went into effect this year. Read more

The nascent movement to impose taxes on sweetened drinks, which has encountered passionate opposition in the Philadelphia region and elsewhere, is about to undergo a major test in the Chicago area.

Just two months after it went into effect, Cook County commissioners on Tuesday will vote on whether to repeal the penny-an-ounce tax on soda  called "pop" in Chicago  and other sweetened drinks. The repeal appeared likely to succeed, after four lawmakers announced last week they had changed their minds about the tax.

While a similar vote by City Council to end the tax in Philadelphia is unlikely any time soon, the levy's opponents and advocates will be watching the outcome closely.

Taxes on sweetened drinks are a new phenomenon for U.S. cities  Philadelphia became the first major U.S. city to pass one. The battle over them has played out in advertising campaigns, lobbying efforts, and court challenges.

Millions have been spent on lobbying and advertising in Philadelphia alone, as both sides wait to hear whether the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will take up a challenge of the tax.

Locally, tax opponents are hopeful that a repeal in Illinois would serve as a red flag for officials here, in the handful of cities that approved similar taxes in the wake of Philadelphia's vote last year, and in other cities that might consider it in the future.

"I think it's really instructive," Anthony Campisi, a spokesman for the Ax the Bev Tax coalition in Philadelphia, said of the Chicago vote. "I think it's testament to both the damage the tax is causing and the real anger coming from county residents about this tax."

City Hall sources say that no movement is afoot for a repeal vote. Instead, city officials say they are focused on the programs the tax is funding, including pre-K and community-school programs, and improvements for parks, libraries, and community centers.

"The fact is, many Philadelphians recognize that we chose a means to fund these programs that is less onerous than other taxes," said Mike Dunn, a spokesman for Mayor Kenney. "And these Philadelphians are proud that City Council has remained steadfast in support of funding these vital programs despite months of the industry's incessant repeal drumbeat."

Philadelphia officials "routinely monitor" tax issues in other municipalities, Dunn said. But he said Kenney's administration does not see the vote in Chicago as a harbinger. "The Cook County tax is very different, both in terms of the tax structure and the political landscape."

Philadelphia's tax, 1.5 cents per ounce, is higher than Cook County's. The county adds the tax at the point of sale, or directly on consumers. Philadelphia taxes distributors, who have passed on price increases to consumers. The taxes also differ in what they pay for; in Illinois, the money goes to the general county fund and is not targeted to specific programs, as is Philadelphia's.

Public health advocates also point to the health benefits of taxing soda. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has poured millions into supporting the taxes in Philadelphia, Chicago, and elsewhere, pushes the taxes as a way to fight obesity.

Cook County's commissioners barely approved the tax last fall, with its board president breaking a tie vote and one commissioner not voting. But after one commissioner told the Chicago Tribune he had changed his vote Thursday, others followed suit and made a repeal appear almost certain.

In Philadelphia, the tax passed by a 13-4 margin, but some Council members were swayed to vote yes after it became clear that the tax had enough votes to pass.

"We want certainly for our children to be able to go to preschool, and we feel bad for those who are paying taxes," said Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell, who initially opposed the tax but switched sides in the final hours before the vote.

The beverage industry, which says taxing soda leads to job losses and hurts local businesses, successfully lobbied against the tax in Santa Fe, N.M., where voters rejected it in May. But in addition to Cook County, San Francisco; Seattle, Oakland, Calif.; and Boulder, Colo., have all followed Philadelphia's lead.

While the beverage industry and elected officials battle over the tax, polls have offered mixed results for insight into voter opinions.

A poll commissioned by the beverage industry surveyed nearly 1,600 Philadelphia voters in September and found that 62 percent supported a repeal of the tax. Of those who supported the repeal, 44 percent said they felt strong support for a repeal.

Before the tax went into effect, a survey by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that 54 percent of Philadelphians supported the tax. And a national poll by Harvard University and Politico released last month found that 57 percent of Americans supported taxing soda and other sugary drinks to pay for preschool and children's health programs.

Meanwhile, the tax continues to generate revenue. Philadelphia raised $6.6 million from August drink sales, the mayor's office said last week.

That amount falls short of the $7.7 million average monthly revenue needed to meet yearly projections.

Blackwell said she still sees good and bad in Philadelphia's tax, but, "I'm hoping that ultimately this stuff will work itself out."
Refinery workers attend a rally at Monroe Energy in Trainer to urge President Trump to fix the Renewable Fuel Standard, which they say is hurting independent refiners. Read more

Several hundred refinery workers rallied Monday to urge President Trump to fix the Renewable Fuel Standard, saying the federal ethanol-blending rule is creating an unfair and onerous burden for the region's independent refiners.

In a driving rainstorm that became a metaphor for the storm that embattled refiners face in Washington, a bipartisan lineup of politicians, labor and business leaders called upon workers to pressure Trump to reconfigure the market for ethanol fuel credits, which they say has been hijacked by big oil interests and "Wall Street sharpies."

"The people gathered today represent the manufacturing jobs that President Trump and Congress talk so much about preserving," said Jeff Warmann, chief executive of Monroe Energy, which is owned by Delta Air Lines. "These are good jobs."

"This is manufacturing," said U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R., Pa.). "You don't have to bring it back. It's here today. We just have to keep it."

The rally was organized by the Fueling American Jobs Coalition headed by the refiners, who have been fighting an uphill battle in Washington to rework the Renewable Fuel Standard. The RFS requires blending biofuel, principally ethanol, into motor fuels.

The coalition is trying to redefine its message so that it does not appear opposed to the RFS, which has strong legislative support in farming states, where most of the corn ethanol is produced. Rather, they want the administration to reconfigure who is responsible for shouldering the cost of biofuel credits called RINs, or Renewable Identification Numbers.

"This is not a fight against biofuels," said Warmann, who said Monroe Energy spends $500,000 a day for RINs, or more money per year than the $150 million Delta Air Lines spent in 2012 to buy the refinery.

The RFS program, established in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency to force the industry to blend ever-increasing volumes of biofuel like ethanol into motor fuel. Every gallon of ethanol that is blended into fuel generates a RIN, which is then sold to a producer or importer of gasoline.

Integrated refiners, who blend fuel and distribute it to their own retail outlets, generate their own ethanol credits. But merchant refiners, who sell fuel to blenders, need to buy RINs on the market to meet their obligations. The price of a RIN has escalated from a few pennies to more than a dollar.

Independent refiners  including Monroe Energy; Philadelphia Energy Solutions, which operates the South Philadelphia refinery complex; and PBF Energy, which owns refineries in Paulsboro and Delaware City, Del  say the soaring cost of the credits does not benefit producers of biofuel, but large oil companies and traders that control the unregulated RINs market.

"All it's doing is hurting the working men and women," said U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Pa.), who spoke at the rally, along with U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R., Pa.). "It's just making the rich richer."

Supporters of the refiners suggest that the EPA could step in and rewrite the RFS rules to put caps on the price of RINs or other market controls.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration released a list of hard-line immigration principles late Sunday that could threaten to derail a deal in Congress to allow of hundreds of thousands of younger undocumented immigrants to remain legally in the country.

The administration's wish-list includes the funding of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a crackdown on the influx of Central American minors and curbs on federal grants to sanctuary cities, according to a document distributed to Congress and obtained by the Washington Post.

The demands were quickly denounced by Democratic leaders in Congress who had hoped to forge a deal with President Trump to protect younger immigrants, known as "dreamers," who were brought to the United States illegally as children. Trump announced plans last month to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an Obama-era program that had provided two-year work permits to the dreamers that he called "unconstitutional."

About 690,000 immigrants are enrolled in DACA, but their work permits are set to begin expiring in March. Trump had met last month with Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D., N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and agreed to try to strike a deal, worrying immigration hawks who feared that Trump would support a bill that would allow dreamers to gain full legal status without asking for significant border security measures in return.

The list released by the administration, however, would represent a major tightening of immigration laws. Cuts to legal immigration also are included.

"The administration can't be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans," Schumer and Pelosi said in a joint statement Sunday evening. "We told the President at our meeting that we were open to reasonable border security measures  but this list goes so far beyond what is reasonable. This proposal fails to represent any attempt at compromise."

In a conference call with reporters, White House aides described the proposals as a necessary step to protect public safety and jobs for American-born workers, which was a centerpiece of Trump's campaign. The president has moved to tighten border security since taking office through a series of executive orders, including curbs on immigration and refugees from some majority-Muslim nations and an increase in deportations from the interior of the country.

The number of immigrants who have attempted to enter the country illegally across the Mexican border has dropped sharply since Trump took office.

Democrats had hoped that Trump, who had equivocated over the DACA program before deciding to terminate it in the face of a legal challenge from Texas, would be open to crafting a narrow legislative deal to protect the dreamers. But White House aides emphasized they expect Congress to include the principles released Sunday in any package deal, a nonstarter for Democrats and some moderate Republicans.

"We ask that the priorities be included in any" deal for DACA, White House legislative director Marc Short said in the conference call.

Immigration hardliners expressed support for the administration's immigration proposals. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R., Va.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, praised the administration for "a serious proposal" and said that "we cannot fix the DACA problem without fixing all of the issues that led to the underlying problem of illegal immigration in the first place."

Trump had said several times over the past month that he did not expect a DACA deal to include funding for a border wall, emphasizing that the money could be included in separate legislation. But ensuring funding for the wall, which is projected to cost more than $25 billion, is the first priority on the list. White House aides declined to specify during the call with reporters about how much money the president would expect from Congress.

The administration also is proposing changes aimed at reducing the flow of tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America who have entered the United States illegally in recent years. Immigrant rights groups have said the minors, as well as women and families, have fled gang violence and other dangers in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Under current law, minors who arrive from non-contiguous nations are afforded greater protections than those from Mexico or Canada, but the Trump administration is proposing to treat them all the same in a bid to be able to deport the minors more quickly. Such proposals are likely to face fierce resistance from Democrats and human rights groups.

The administration also has sought to increase pressure on "sanctuary cities" which refuse, in some cases, to cooperate with federal immigration agents seeking personal information on illegal immigrants who've committed other crimes in their jurisdictions. Under the immigration priorities released Sunday, the administration is proposing that Congress withhold federal grants to such jurisdictions and that it clarify the authority of state and local jurisdictions to honor detainers issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"There is no justification for releasing a public safety threat back into the public," said Thomas Homan, the acting director of ICE. "We will not stop illegal immigration unless we stop the pull factors that are driving it Entering this country illegally is a crime but there are no consequences for sneaking past the border or overstaying visas."

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D., Texas), vice chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said that "Congress should reject this warped, anti-immigrant policy wish list. The White House wants to use Dreamers as bargaining chips to achieve the administration's deportation and detention goals

Trump aides said the administration's priorities are imperative because legalizing the dreamers without fixing other parts of the immigration system would allow the problem to continue to recur. The last major legislative overhaul to the nation's immigration laws came in 1986, which included a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, but there are more than 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally today.

But the White House's list of immigration principles moves the debate over the fate of the dreamers toward a thep prospect of broader comprehensive reform. Efforts to forge a comprehensive bill failed under the past two presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

During his campaign, Trump had threatened to end DACA on his first day in office, but he equivocated for months, suggesting that the decision over the fate of the dreamers was among the most difficult he faced. After Texas and several other states announced plans to sue the administration over the program, Trump moved to end DACA but said he would hold off the most drastic measures for six months to give Congress time to forge a legislative solution.

"We would expect Congress to include all the reforms in any package that addresses the status of the DACA recipients," said one White House aide on the conference call who was not authorized to speak on the record. "Other views had their fair day in the democratic process."

Noting the Republicans swept the White House and both chambers of Congress last November, the aide added: "The American public voted for the reforms included in this package."
Neo-Nazis, alt-right supporters, and white supremacists march the night before the Unite the Right rally on Aug. 11 through the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Read more

Shortly before James Fields Jr. used his car to kill Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old white woman, and injure 19 others in Charlottesville, Va., he was photographed alongside the hate group Vanguard America. Fields, a young white man with a history of domestic violence, held a shield adorned with the group's insignia.

The shield exemplifies white nationalists' use of imagery and language to signal their defense against a perceived siege on white Christian heterosexual men, "their" country, and  given the status of women as property within their ideology  "their" women.

When hate groups terrorize those they characterize as "dangerous," they rationalize their attacks as preemptive self-defense. This rationale has been a mainstay in the historical persecution of racial and religious minorities, especially in the Western world, when white women are depicted as the targets of threat.

Long before the genocidal mass murder of Jews, Nazi propaganda depicted Jewish men as animal-like caricatures, with darkened skin and exaggerated facial features, preying upon Aryan women.

Before the forced internment of Japanese Americans, advertisements for World War II U.S. bonds caricatured Japanese men, with rodent-like features and darkened skin, attacking white women.

Popular cultural images in the 19th and early 20th centuries depicted black men as brutish, beastlike sexual predators. With wide-scale white complicity, the enslavement, segregation, torture, mutilation, and white-mob lynching of black people were accepted as necessary to protect white women, as the resulting human-rights atrocities were simply overlooked.

Meanwhile, black women and other women of color  dehumanized as chattel and hypersexualized through racialized and gendered stereotypes  had no recourse regarding the physical and sexual violence perpetrated against them within the racist social systems that denied them bodily autonomy and the protections of the law.

White supremacist political organizing and recruiting practices draw on the interconnected legacies of racism and sexism. The "danger" narrative fuels white vigilante violence  for terrorist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan, and lone mass killers like Dylann Roof, the white man who murdered nine black people as they prayed in a Charleston, S.C., church, telling his victims, "I have to do it. You rape our women and you're taking our country."

These ideas should sound familiar for another reason: They now echo from our nation's highest office as rhetorical strategies President Trump repeatedly returns to, bearing a familiar narrative structure.

Trump sensationalized "dangers" posed to "his" America long before he ran for office. He demanded the death penalty for the "Central Park Five," a group of young men of color falsely convicted of the rape of a white woman in 1989. He vilifies Muslims and people of Arab descent as "anti-woman," and has called for targeted investigations into crimes against women that profile Muslim foreign nationals. He disparaged Mexican immigrants as "rapists" and "animals" who "slice and dice" young girls. His endorsements of racial and religious profiling, "rougher" policing, and xenophobic immigration restrictions recall the white American political tradition of demonizing men of color as predators to justify policies and practices that violate the civil rights and civil liberties of marginalized communities.

Trump's gender equity posturing is discredited by his record of harassing, demeaning, objectifying, and assaulting women, as well as his particularly vitriolic treatment of women who challenge or critique him publicly. His budget and policy agenda would gut protections and services for victims of rape and domestic violence, as well as women's health programs. Under his administration, the Department of Education has made the removal of protections for rape victims on college campuses a top priority.

He projects an image of himself as a righteous "defender" in much the same way that James Fields Jr. and Dylann Roof did: belying his hypocrisy as he prepares to do harm.

Trump was elected to office not just by those who overtly endorse his xenophobic, racist, and misogynistic worldview, but also by those who were simply willing to overlook it. As history has repeatedly demonstrated, the complicity of the broader public with "danger" narratives poses the greatest of dangers.

Ashley C. Rondini is an assistant professor of sociology at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster.
Goodbye to Francek Knez, Slovenia's silent climber

62-year-old Slovenian mountaineer Francek Knez died on 6 October 2017. Reserved and modest, Knez was considered by many as one of the strongest alpinists of his generation. Published below is a profile written by Slovenian journalist Urban Golob in 2010 when, together with Silvo Karo, Knez was conferred the Order of Merit for his contributions to mountaineering.

Francek Knez began climbing back in 1973. Since then he has climbed more than 5000 routes and by the year 2005 he carried out 730 first ascents. He has climbed in the Slovenian Alps, the Himalaya, Patagonia, Yosemite and Andes and is one of ony a handful of climbers who made first ascents in all "Three Problems of Alps" the Eiger, Matterhorn, and Grandes Jorasses . In the summer of 1982 he climbed the original route up the North Face of the Eiger in just six hours, the fastest ascent at the time. He has also traced routes on some of the important faces in the Dolomites, such as the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Killer on Cima Picolissima and Moc misli - The Power of Thoughts - on the North Face of Cima Grande, now partly followed by the bolted route ISO 2000), as well as the Mamolada, Civetta and Tofana.



Together with Silvo Karo and Janez Jeglic, Francek Knez climbed many difficult routes in the Slovenian Alps, but the three are known above all for their climbs in Patagonia when there was still much wilderness to be explored. First ascents by the "Three Musketeers" as Knez, Karo and Jeglic were dubbed, were carried out on Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and Torre Egger and highly respected by Patagonian veterans. After his period new routing in Patagonia, Francek progressed to the Himalayas. He played an important role in forging the well-known Yugoslavian route on Trango Tower in Pakistan's Karakorum, as well as for two other routes on the steep rock face of Meru and one of Bagirathi II in alpine style, both in India. He even established a new route on Broad Peak while descending from Camp II to Base camp. Francek was also  together with Vanja Matijevec  the only man to reach the SW ridge of Lhotse after climbing the South Face of this mountain with a big Yugoslavian expedition back in 1981. During the course of the '80's Francek Knez, the silent climber, made a name for himself among Slovenian alpinists for his new approach to alpinism and especially to rock climbing, and Silvo Karo once described Francek as the guru of modern climbing in Slovenia. He was certainly far ahead of his time and many of his hardest routes, despite numerous attempts, still remain unrepeated.



The Order of Merit has provided national and international recognition to one of the most powerful climbers who, interestingly, has never searched for media attention and has never promoted himself. Exactly the opposite is true. He has always been a silent, modest, hardworking man with a regular factory job even while carrying out his unbelievable amount of alpine ascents. The following serves as illustration: despite the regular job and two expeditions in 1983, still managed to make 315 alpine ascents, of which 107 were first ascents. And he never, even to this day, owned his own car or had a driving licence...



Thirteen years ago Francek was involved in a climbing accident due to his belayer at his local crag. He broke his back, but thanks to his determination and positive thinking he completely recovered and he still keeps on climbing new routes in some of his secret places in the Slovenian Alps. After a long period of gentle persuasion Francek Knez finally wrote his book Ozarjeni Kamen a couple of years ago. It has not been translated.



by Urban Golob, December 2010
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The time has come to take a long hard look at abolishing the Democratic and Republican political parties. America stands divided politically, socially and economically and the seed of division has been planted in our government. Party affiliation has taken precedent over common sense and country. Republicans and Democrats alike, push and pull for power within government, taking what amounts to blood money from lobbyists, special interest groups, and corporations that have no intention of serving the greater good.

Conversations between constituents are often colored blue or red without regard to facts, only allegiance to a party. We tune each other out with labels and ignorance, based on preconceived political ideology. We dont listen to each other and our government, in turn, doesnt listen to us. Democratic and Republicans often vote on party lines regardless of conscience. In-house feuds lead to petty score-settling and the infantile games of tit for tat, leave American citizens as the inevitable loser in the equation.

Party over common sense and conscience is a dangerous and real threat to the ideals of democracy. From the perspective of voters, casting a ballot solely in blind allegiance to party serves no one. Candidates for office often highlight party talking points simply for voter and financial support, without actually having any real or effective game plan for implementation. Prospective party driven officials, also are susceptible to the influence of private donations from corporate entities, that only have their own bottom line in mind. Policy is frequently dictated by corporate dollars donated to political parties, instead of in the interest the greater good of American citizens.

There has never been an independent president in America. The current monopoly of Republican and Democratic parties stifles and crushes the idea of independent thought. Money is a driving force in politics and ideas are an afterthought. Decent men and women who would otherwise serve honorably, are hindered by a system of greed and cronyism. We The People, arent having our interests served, when our officials are locked into an operation that serves the upper class only. Finances should not be the end all, be all loudest voice in government.

Personal values of candidates also come into play in a party system. No Republican or Democrat embodies ALL of the ideals of its respective party. We have seen politicians from both sides of the aisle embroiled in a scandal that represents the direct opposite philosophy of their party platform. From sexuality to abortion and everything in between, officials have demonstrated that they may lean in a certain direction, but dont govern themselves entirely by platform. How can we expect honest representation in government when our officials arent even honest with themselves?

Candidates who arent pigeonholed within the constraints of archaic ideology may, in fact, serve the common core of America better than what weve witnessed thus far under the status quo model. America requires innovative thought that encompasses the best of all platforms and beyond. The country is in dire need of a government that understands that social harmony is just as important as economic growth. Under the current system that is simply impossible. Our way of governing has become stale and ripe for the seeds of corruption and indifference to grow.

Special interest groups and private corporations have bullied their way into our government, by infiltrating political parties with the lure of the almighty dollar. Money is indeed the root of all evil, and within the structure of government, cash destroys the foundation of a democratic society. Abolishing political parties could be the first step in fending off the insidious practices of quid pro quo, brought on by special interest groups such as the NRA and corporate henchmen, like the Koch brothers.

Our government as it stands today, is rife with self-serving, tone-deaf men and women who exploit holes in the system for personal and party gain. Agendas are short-sighted, lack inclusiveness, vision, and national accountability. We cannot continue down the same path politically and expect real change in our lives. The world around us is rapidly changing, and yet our government remains the same in spite of itself. Our system is clearly broken, and it must be rebuilt with the future in mind, instead of the past.

Democrats and Republicans alike, have done a porous job advocating for the citizens which they serve. Party over country has no place in America, and its time that we consider the kind of change that would empower a true representation of America. Our government needs bold, brilliant, compassionate, visionary leaders and that is something that would make America truly great again. The time for real change is upon us.
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WASHINGTON (Reuters)  Google has discovered that Russian operatives spent tens of thousands of dollars on ads on YouTube, Gmail, Google search and other products, The Washington Post reported on Monday.

The ads do not appear to be from the same Kremlin-affiliated entity that bought ads on Facebook Inc, which may indicate a broader Russian online disinformation effort, the paper reported. Google runs the worlds largest online advertising business and YouTube is the worlds largest online video site.

Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the story.

Google has downplayed the possibility of Russian influence on its platforms, but launched a probe into the matter, according to the Post. Both Twitter Inc and Facebook have said that Russia bought ads and had accounts on their platforms.

A source who was briefed on Googles review but who did not work for the internet and search group said Google had uncovered less than $100,000 in ad spending that had potentially been linked to Russian actors.

Facebook, on the other hand, unearthed $100,000 in spending from just one Russia-affiliated entity, the Internet Research Agency, the source said.

Meanwhile, Congress has started multiple investigations into the Russian interference in the 2016 election, with lawmakers on both political sides saying Russia intended to sow discord in the United States, spread propaganda and sway the election to elect President Donald Trump.

Google officials are expected to testify publicly before both the House and Senate intelligence committees on Nov. 1 alongside Facebook and Twitter about Russian attempts to use their platforms to influence the election.

(Reporting by Dustin Volz; Additional reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Jeffrey Benkoe)
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WASHINGTON (Reuters)  Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello on Monday ordered an investigation into water distribution on the hurricane-battered island and warned there would be hell to pay for mishandling of supplies.

Rossello said drinking water supplies have been restored to nearly 60 percent of the island but some areas in the north remained at around 20 percent nearly three weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the U.S. territory.

The government was delivering food and water supplies to municipalities but people in some areas said they were not receiving them from local authorities.

Rossello told a news briefing in San Juan he ordered an investigation of water distribution after receiving complaints.

If we are indeed getting  several hundred thousand liters of water and several hundred thousand portions of food to the municipalities, yet some people in those municipalities are claiming that theyre not seeing anything be delivered or they dont know where to find food, then its important that we investigate why this is happening, he said.

The distribution of supplies including food, water and fuel has been a major challenge for the struggling government after Maria wiped out its power grid, flooded roads and crippled the communications system.

He said the government was trying to identify problems in the distribution pipeline and looking to ensure that local leaders deliver resources as soon as they arrive in a municipality.

The governor said National Guard troops and auditors were helping to determine what was occurring.

If there is a place, a locality that is not delivering food to the people of Puerto Rico that need it, theres going to be some hell to pay, Rossello told CNN earlier Monday.

Three weeks after the storm hit, Puerto Rico still has a long road to recovery, having only 15 percent of electrical power restored and struggling to regain communication services. The White House has asked Congress for $29 billion in hurricane relief for Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida.

The federal governments waiver of the Jones Act for Puerto Rico will not be extended after it expires on Sunday night, a Department of Homeland Security official said on Monday. The act limits shipping between U.S. coasts to U.S. flagged vessels and can drive up the cost of goods.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Additional reporting by Makini Brice and Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Bill Trott and Jeffrey Benkoe)
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 71F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low near 55F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
WASHINGTON  America's biggest business group is warning the Trump administration a withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement would be a "political and economic debacle" that would cost hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs.

John Murphy, a senior official with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber would work to rally support for the trade deal and against the administration's hardline demand for concessions from Canada and Mexico. The comments were unusually blunt for America's biggest business group.

The Trump administration, which has threatened to pull out of NAFTA if the three countries can't agree on far-reaching changes to favor American interests, quickly returned fire.

"The president has been clear that NAFTA has been a disaster for many Americans, and achieving his objectives requires substantial change," said Emily Davis, spokeswoman for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. "These changes of course will be opposed by entrenched Washington lobbyists and trade associations. We have always understood that draining the swamp would be controversial in Washington."

The fourth round of talks to overhaul NAFTA, which was enacted 23 years ago, is scheduled for next week in Washington.

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NAFTA erased most trade barriers along the United States, Canada and Mexico and led to an explosion in trade between the three countries. U.S. farm exports soared. U.S. manufacturers moved production  and jobs  south of the border to capitalize on lower Mexican wages. In doing so, they built complicated supply chains that crossed NAFTA borders.

Before the renegotiation began in August, many business and farm groups hoped the Trump administration would settle for tweaking rather than abandoning the trade deal  updating it, for example, to reflect the rise of e-commerce. But U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer declared at the outset that the U.S. wouldn't be satisfied with minor changes.

Instead, the administration has been seeking to ensure that more auto production be made in America to receive NAFTA benefits, that more government contracts go to U.S. companies and that NAFTA expire unless the countries agreed every few years to extend it. It also wants to scrap a dispute-resolution process favored by Canada.

Murphy, the chamber's senior vice president for international policy, said that businesses "broadly and emphatically" oppose the proposals.

"We are increasingly concerned about the state of play," he said.

The first three rounds of talks dealt mostly issues that weren't in dispute. But Round 4 is expected to move into tougher territory.

"They've worked through things that were mostly agreed upon," said David Salmonsen, senior director of congressional relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation, trade group for U.S. agriculture. "Now we're getting to the contentious issues."

Robert Zoellick, a former U.S. trade rep, last week told a conference at the Atlantic Council in Washington that he thought Trump might turn to brinkmanship over NAFTA to distract attention from other problems.

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"There's a very serious risk, depending on what happens with Trump's popularity and the investigations, that at some point he'll withdraw from the agreement."

The president had vilified NAFTA on the campaign trail as a job-killing disaster, especially for U.S. factory workers who, Trump argued, had been the victims of U.S. companies moving jobs to Mexico. Trump threatened to pull out of pact in April before talks even started but reversed himself after pushback from American businesses, especially farm groups.

If the United States left NAFTA, trade barriers to Canada and Mexico would pop back up. Some of the tariffs would not be especially high. But Mexican tariffs on many American farm products could soar.

Lori Wallach, a NAFTA critic who is director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, said business groups have been slow to realize that Trump was serious about leaving NAFTA if he couldn't negotiate a more favorable deal for American workers.

"They are going to have to decide, after they get done hyperventilating, whether they want something or nothing," Wallach said. "The status quo is not one of the choices."
Last week's most salacious public safety story in Rochester  and a fair distance beyond  probably was the one about Tasha Schleicher, 40, accused of driving drunk with several children in her car.

In addition to the kids in the car, there were several more at the family's home in southeast Rochester. Schleicher was raising 10 children.

She swerved several times down the highway, the report says, and one of the responding officers claimed she was nursing her newborn when he arrived.

So why in the world would Schleicher's neighbors call her "a very good person" and bristle at the idea that she's a bad mother?

For her part, Schleicher denies nursing her baby at any point in the incident and said she swerved because her tire blew out. The off-duty officer who first approached her was in his own vehicle and reportedly didn't have his badge.

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She doesn't, however, deny drinking alcohol.

Still, said a neighbor who didn't want her name used, "You can't put all the blame on her. We did our best to support her  you could see she was struggling."

Their kids played together, the neighbor said, and Schleicher shared her concern about a couple of her children's behavior.

"I could not believe the lack of support for her," the woman said. "There was nothing from social services, no mental health or chemical dependency support."

Another neighbor said they'd had "no issues, no complaints" about Schleicher's family in the short time they'd lived there.

"We tried to help where we could; I took some of the kids to the park a few times," the man said. "Her kids mean the world to her."

So how did Schleicher end up on the side of a road in Olmsted County, three years after real warning bells began to ring, seemingly lost to her 11 children? The story might surprise you.

When Tasha Schleicher was arrested last month on suspicion of driving under the influence, her story was reported widely  and what a story it was, full of attention-grabbing details:

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The vehicle she was driving south on U.S. Highway 52 north of Rochester struck the median cable barrier several times at highway speed.

She drove for five miles until a flat tire eventually wore down to the rim, finally pulling onto the shoulder as an off-duty Rochester police sergeant followed her.

And the most dramatic part: Five of her children  including a newborn baby  also were in the car, authorities said. Five more children were at home.

A quick search of court records revealed two open child protection cases in Hennepin County ; a third case was opened there a few days after the Sept. 23 incident in Olmsted County.

There's more to Schleicher's story, though, and it's one that deserves to be told.

Be prepared: It's probably not what you're expecting.

*******

A Google search of her name turns up the earliest mention: A January 2008 report in the Bowling Green (Ky.) Daily News about Tasha Lynn Schleicher, 31, charged with four counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants.

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Eleven months later, Schleicher was convicted of DWI in Wisconsin  she'd delivered her fifth child three months earlier.

For the next several years, there's no mention of Schleicher, online or in court records.

2015

On Sept. 24, 2015, Hennepin County Child Protection received a report of neglect and physical abuse of Schleicher's children. Someone told authorities her two oldest kids, then 14 and 13, weren't attending school and were "walking in the neighborhood high," the report says, adding Schleicher was giving her children the marijuana.

The 14-year-old allegedly was caring for eight siblings for a week, while Schleicher and her husband were in California.

Schleicher denied giving her children marijuana and said a relative had provided care for the kids while she and her husband were gone.

The case was closed at investigation, with no services offered to the family, per the county's report.

Not long after, the 13-year-old went to live with his father in North Carolina. He's lived there since.

2016

On Feb. 9, 2016, members of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Violent Offender Task Force executed a search warrant at an address in North Minneapolis to look for marijuana and weapons.

Eleven people were in the home, including eight children between the ages of 11 years and 3 weeks old, all Schleicher's.

A 2-year-old was asleep on the couch; a loaded handgun was under the couch cushions, the court document says.

About 3.3 pounds of marijuana was found in nine separate containers, and another loaded handgun was found in a closet in an upstairs bedroom.

Schleicher had given birth to her 10th child two days earlier; she was recuperating in her bedroom when the raid occurred.

Her husband, Taiwan King, was arrested; Hennepin County Child Protection was notified about a month later.

Schleicher told a caseworker she and her children had moved out of the home and were planning a move to Idaho, where her parents live. Once again, no action was taken against Schleicher, who promised to stay away from King.

No resources are mentioned in the report filed by child protection workers.

In June 2016, a child welfare case was opened in Indiana after Schleicher allegedly fled from law enforcement, who then found drugs in her car.

Her 4-month-old son also was in the car, court documents say. He was the only child named in the protection case, which remains open. No resources were offered, and he remained in her care.

A year passed.

This year

The Google search also turns up this, from the Douglas County (Ore.) News Review: Tasha Lynn Schleicher, 40, of Winchester, arrested on suspicion of two counts of driving under the influence of intoxicants, second-degree failure to appear and providing false information to a police officer.

On April 11, Schleicher's husband was arrested in Oregon after a traffic stop recovered a box "filled with marijuana and had a shipping address to another state," according to an Oregon State Police report.

The arrest was a violation of the terms of his probation in Minnesota; he's been in custody since. Schleicher believes he'll be released later this month; they've been separated for about two years.

Schleicher's oldest child, now 16, was behind the wheel during the traffic stop, resulting in an endangerment charge. That, combined with allegations of drug manufacturing against King, prompted officials in Douglas County to open a child protection case.

Schleicher's six oldest children  ages 16, 13, 12, 9, 7, and 6  were named in the case and placed in protective custody.

In May, Schleicher was back in Minnesota with her three youngest children, now ages 5, 3 and 1.

Her six oldest children remained in protective custody in Oregon, and she was 7 months pregnant with her 11th child.

On Mother's Day, New Hope Police received a call about a car with Oregon license plates that was "running red lights, cutting other vehicles off and driving across the concrete center median," the report says.

When officers found the vehicle, it was pulled onto the shoulder; Schleicher was unresponsive "due to an unknown substance," court documents say.

The three children had gotten out of the vehicle and allegedly were playing in the street. They were placed on a 72-hour police hold with a family friend.

Schleicher regained consciousness but was confused. She was taken to the hospital, where a "poor blow" into a breathalyzer indicated an alcohol content of .16, the report says.

She denied drinking alcohol but told an investigator the next day that she'd bought a bottle of water from "a man at the park," drank it, then pulled over when she began to feel sick. She "blacked out" and remembers only waking up at the hospital.

Child protection cases

Three days later, on May 17, the first Minnesota child protection case naming Schleicher and her children was opened. It named the three youngest children.

An investigator learned the six oldest children were in protective custody in Oregon, but the rest of the information provided was either incomplete or incorrect.

The Oregon authorities believed  and told Hennepin County authorities  the three youngest children were in Indiana.

They also claimed Schleicher was an active substance abuser, had untreated mental health issues and was "involved in criminal activities along with King," despite no mention in reports of chemical or mental testing.

Though the Indiana protection case for the youngest child remained open, officials there had no idea where he was, the report says.

They believed King had physical custody of him  despite the fact that King was by now in prison in Nebraska.

The three youngest children remained in foster care placement from May 14 through Aug. 18.

During that time, Schleicher was diagnosed with nonspecified adjustment disorder , but there was no recommendation for mental health services "as Ms. Schleicher was already receiving care for her chemical health issues," the Hennepin County paperwork says.

She entered into outpatient chemical dependency treatment and submitted to random urinalyses and breathalyzer tests. All were negative, the reports say.

Schleicher further complied with a case plan by meeting with a parenting worker through Volunteers of America , attended supervised visits with the children and had no new child protection reports.

The six oldest children were brought to Minnesota from Oregon the first week in August.

On Aug. 18  three months into her case  all nine children were returned to her care.

She was a week away from giving birth to her 11th child.

**************

"I don't even know where to start," Schleicher said Thursday.

She acknowledged the police raid in February 2016 in North Minneapolis but didn't speak about the incidents in Indiana and Oregon.

A search of both states' court records reveals no criminal cases in Schleicher's name.

"On Mother's Day, I had a nervous breakdown," she said of the May incident in New Hope. She claimed she'd just learned one of her daughters had her arm broken in foster care in Oregon; her 13-year-old had been allowed to leave in a car with much older teenagers.

That day in New Hope, "they took the three youngest and placed them in protective parenting," Schleicher said. "I did everything to try to get them back; I fought and got them back."

By then she'd moved to Rochester, promising to submit to testing through Olmsted County and finishing her chemical dependency treatment here.

"Everything was going really, really well for me  then I had a baby on the 25th of August," Schleicher said. "I think I've suffered since then from severe postpartum depression ."

The little girl was born breech , at home, with only Schleicher's mother assisting. The birth left her with a dislocated hip.

"I was supposed to go back to treatment" after the birth, she said. "I'd been able to continue (with the court-ordered case plan). I never made any mistakes. I never drank. I did everything they wanted."

But "I wasn't able to continue because I'd just had the baby, and I had three small children at home," Schleicher said. "I got them into a certified day care," which then refused to take them because Schleicher is a conscientious objector of immunizations . She was raised that way, too, she said.

"On top of everything else," Schleicher said, "there was just the adjustment of them coming back and living with me."

Her 5-year-old, she said, "probably three days a week, they had to bring him home from school. It was a pretty uncontrollable situation with behaviors that I'd never experienced in my life."

Almost no help for her

Schleicher claims Hennepin County Child Protection provided her with very few, if any, resources after returning the children to her care.

"I wasn't offered any support services," she said. "I contacted social services myself; everything I did, I did on my own. I was doing it all on the money I saved from working" at a restaurant in the Twin Cities area.

Schleicher claims she's never accepted "welfare," never received food stamps or used Section 8 housing . The property owner of the tidy home she rented in southeast Rochester confirmed it wasn't subsidized housing but declined further comment.

An official with Hennepin County Child Protection didn't follow through with a scheduled interview with the Post Bulletin. But, a statement arrived the next day from the public relations office.

"We cannot comment on individual cases; however, the safety of children is our top priority. We complete a systemic review of all critical incidents in order to learn as a system what we can to maximize safety and well-being for children."

Schleicher saved the text messages she exchanged with her case worker in Hennepin County.

"I kept in contact with her" because the children, especially, "were going through so much emotionally. They didn't offer counseling, though, so I ended up working with the school and finally getting some counseling," Schleicher said.

Rochester Public Schools  Riverside Central Elementary School, specifically  "was actually the only one that offered me any help," she said. Her son was a safety issue for the school, "so I was dealing with the school on a daily basis with different behavior issues with the kids."

She'd also gotten them into the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester: "I was trying to talk to anyone who could help me."

The case plan enacted in Hennepin County meant the resources were there, not in Rochester.

"I kept calling (Hennepin County officials), crying and telling them everything that was going on," Schleicher said. "All they said was, 'Well, we made a referral,' but it was a month later, and nobody ever called.

"It wasn't just that they gave me back a couple kids and I screwed up," she said. "It was a lot more stress than that."

'Thought I was going crazy'

Though Schleicher claims she doesn't drink regularly, "I made a huge mistake after it got really stressful. I don't know."

Two hours after her arrest Sept. 23, a breathalyzer indicated an alcohol content of .17, more than twice the legal limit to drive in Minnesota.

And just like that, all 10 of the children were gone, placed in three separate foster care homes.

"After I got out of jail, I went and spoke with my family physician, which is my ob/gyn," Schleicher said. "They diagnosed me with severe postpartum depression.

"I didn't even know what it was," she said, "or understand what I was going through. In hindsight, I can definitely say after my last son, and this baby, definitely, I've had it before.

"I didn't know what it was," she said. "I just thought I was going crazy."

Schleicher started counseling Friday, the soonest doctors could see her.

"I feel like the times I received DUIs, the dates all are after I had just had a baby," she said. "I feel like it affected my decision-making, but I hadn't received the diagnosis. I told my doctor, 'Something's wrong with me. I mean, what do you think? Is this normal?'"

Since the diagnosis, she's been doing some research, learning about cases such as Andrea Yates , the Texas woman who drowned all five of her children after suffering from postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis .

"I would never hurt my kids," Schleicher said. "I didn't ever think about hurting them, but I made a decision that wasn't anything near what I normally would have made, ever.

"I didn't have anyone to help me," she said, then paused, as if considering how it sounded.

"It's my fault because of the decisions I made," she admitted, "but I think they could have helped me more. Just by seeing my file.  They're licensed social workers; at least check on me, or maybe offer me something. I don't know."

'I can't blame them'

Schleicher alleges two of her younger children were physically abused in foster care, saying their social worker "wasn't very proactive."

She stopped again, obviously reconsidering.

"I guess I can't blame it on them," she said of the caseworkers. "They're my kids, and I should've taken care of them and not drank, so I don't want to place blame on them because I'm the one who let (the kids) down."

Schleicher has moved back up to the Twin Cities area, where she lives in an apartment and continues to recover from the difficult childbirth. She's been going to an outpatient treatment center for a week.

She has no idea what will come next; she's due back in Hennepin County Juvenile Court on Oct. 18.

"I contacted my public defender, but I haven't heard back," she said through tears. "I've complied with everything they've wanted me to do, and I'll continue to do anything to get my babies back or at least make it OK for them."

Schleicher seemed reluctant to acknowledge "part of the root of all the problems are my choices in men. I was with someone who was emotionally and physically abusive, but there are other issues at play, too.

"Everyone has choices to make every day, so I can make the choice to get better," she said. "I don't know what to tell you: I'm worried about the kids; that's my main thing. I hope we can receive the counseling and help we need to make us all better, healthier people.

"I'd like them to be back together and be safe," she said. "However that gets accomplished is the main goal for me."

Beyond that, she hopes her situation can serve as an example for future child protection cases.

"I'd like to see them offer more family support and counseling upon reunification," Schleicher said, "and offer training about postpartum depression so they can take the proactive measures to have moms evaluated. It could prevent a lot of problems."

It seems her newfound knowledge about the disorder that can affect up to 15 percent of new mothers has given her a renewed energy.

"I'm going to do everything in my power to get them back," she said, "and pray every day that God will give me my kids  and another chance."
At least one residence has been evacuated this afternoon after construction in northwest Rochester caused a natural gas leak.

An underground boring machine struck the 2-inch line near Nottingham Drive and Members Parkway Northwest, said Steve Belau, deputy chief of the Rochester Fire Department.

Minnesota Energy is en route to the scene, which is being monitored by RFD.

Once Minnesota Energy employees arrive, the fire department will work with them, using probes driven into the ground, to assess the scope of the problem, Belau said.

"Underground leaks are particularly dangerous," he said, "because we can't determine where the natural gas is migrating, or how concentrated it is."
President Trump has issued the traditional proclamation recognizing Columbus Day with unambivalent praise. That seems eminently reasonable to me. Columbus Day is intended to commemorate the first link in the chain of events leading to the founding of the United States. Those of us who love the United States are inclined to celebrate the day.

Trump puts it this way in the proclamation: The permanent arrival of Europeans to the Americas was a transformative event that undeniably and fundamentally changed the course of human history and set the stage for the development of our great Nation. The Trumpian accent here is slight and has the added advantage of being true.

Well, of course, this cannot stand. CNNs Holly Yan takes issue with Trumps Columbus Day proclamation in Trumps praise of Columbus omits dark history.

Every day we are inundated with our dark history in the media, in our public discourse and in our schools. Cant Holly Yan wait for the beatings to resume tomorrow? No, she cant.

Here let me insert a historical note of my own. Columbus Day has become a national holiday pursuant to the congressional joint resolution of April 30, 1934, modified by statute in 1968 (36 U.S.C.  107), as amended. The statute requests the president to proclaim the second Monday of October each year as Columbus Day. The statute also requests the president to invit[e] the people of the United States to observe Columbus Day, in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies that express the public sentiment befitting the anniversary of the discovery of America.

Columbus Day is under assault by the proponents of multiculturalism. The ideology of multiculturalism conducts a permanent offensive against the United States, against its founding principles and against its survival as a country dedicated to the proposition (you know the rest). It seethes with thinly concealed hatred of the United States. It demands that those of us who believe in the goodness of our founding and the rightness of our founding principles get our minds right.

President Obama is of course a forceful advocate of multicultural ideology. In office he served as a leader in the relentless culture war waged by the left on our principles and traditions. Columbus Day seems like a trivial front on which to wage a battle in the culture war, but Obama would not let any such occasion or opportunity go to waste.

Obama introduced multicultural ambivalence into presidential proclamations of the holiday and Yan holds them up as an example. Obamas 2016 Columbus Day proclamation carried this message at its heart:

As we mark this rich history, we must also acknowledge the pain and suffering reflected in the stories of Native Americans who had long resided on this land prior to the arrival of European newcomers. The past we share is marked by too many broken promises, as well as violence, deprivation, and disease. It is a history that we must recognize as we seek to build a brighter future  side by side and with cooperation and mutual respect. We have made great progress together in recent years, and we will keep striving to maintain strong nation-to-nation relationships, strengthen tribal sovereignty, and help all our communities thrive. More than five centuries ago, one journey changed the trajectory of our world  and today we recognize the spirit that Christopher Columbuss legacy inspired. As we reflect on the adventurers throughout history who charted new courses and sought new heights, let us remember the communities who suffered, and let us pay tribute to our heritage and embrace the multiculturalism that defines the American experience.

Obamas 2016 proclamation expanded on the ambivalence expressed one way or another in Obamas previous proclamations of 2015 (Though these early travels expanded the realm of European exploration, to many they also marked a time that forever changed the world for the indigenous peoples of North America. Previously unseen disease, devastation, and violence were introduced to their lives), 2014 (a history shared by Native Americans, one marred with long and shameful chapters of violence, disease, and deprivation), 2013 (they could not have foreseen the ways in which their journey would shake contemporary understanding of the world, or the lasting mark their arrival would leave on the Native American societies they encountered), 2012 (As we reflect on the tragic burdens tribal communities bore in the years that followed), 2011 (On this day, we also remember the tragic hardships these [indigenous] communities endured), 2010 (Today, we reflect on the myriad contributions tribal communities have made to our Nation and the world, and we remember the tremendous suffering they endured as this land changed) and 2009 (These immigrants joined many thriving indigenous communities who suffered great hardships as a result of the changes to the land they inhabited).

Obamas Columbus Day proclamations broke with tradition. They introduced into presidential proclamations of Columbus Day the multicultural assault on the holiday. Yan seeks to make it obligatory.

Yan has a yen. She promotes Obamas break with tradition. She seeks to normalize Obamas assault on the day. She implies that Obamas introduction of multicultural doctrine into the presidential proclamation of Columbus Day is somehow obligatory, as though it were part of the statute. She yearns for the restoration of the permanent campaign against the United States to the Oval Office.
When President Trump put an end to the illegal DACA program, he placed in jeopardy (though not immediately) approximately 780,000 illegal immigrants who had relied on the program to obtain lawful status. At the same time, Trump signaled that he wants Congress permanently to remove these individuals from jeopardy by passing legislation granting them the status they enjoy under DACA. Given the illegality of DACA, such legislation is, in fact, the only way permanently to protect them.

Democrats and pro-amnesty Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham have seized upon the presidents invitation to protect DACA participants as a pretext for granting status to a much larger number of illegal immigrants. This class of illegals goes by the label Dreamers.

The vehicle for accomplishing this much broader amnesty is the Dream Act proposed by Sen. Graham and Sen. Dick Durbin. Doing his best to hide the ball, Durbin stated at a press conference:

Were aiming at the DACA population, which is 780,000, but Dream Act leaves that open.

Thats rubbish. If Durbin and Graham were aiming at the DACA population, they would confine their bill to that cohort. The Dream Act leaves that open because it is aiming to grant amnesty to a much larger population.

How much larger? For those like Durbin and Graham who favor extremely broad amnesty, its a simple case of the more, the merrier. For those who want to protect individuals who entered the DACA program in good faith, but who dont want to amnesty for millions more, a better answer is required.

Durbin has none, at least not that hes willing to share. At the same press conference, he said:

I dont know that we have numbers. We can tell you 780,000 DACA. You have got ask how many are eligible for DACA today that didnt apply, and I dont know what that number is. I really dont. It is going to be more than 780,000, but I dont know what it is.

John Binder and Neil Munro of Breitbart are more helpful. They cite the pro-amnesty Migration Policy Institute which has estimated that 3.3 million illegal immigrants would be eligible to obtain amnesty under the Dream Act. This number includes 1.8 million who would become eligible for amnesty immediately and 1.5 million who may become eligible in the future.

The 1.5 million figure consists mostly of high school dropouts who could become eligible for amnesty by enrolling in  not passing, just entering  a high school education course. It also includes a few hundred thousand children who could apply when the get older.

These numbers dont take into account chain migration. The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that amnesty for just the DACA population would result in a surge of potentially double that number of chain migration immigrants  i.e., roughly 1.5 million people Amnesty for the much larger Dream Act population would, of course, produce a surge of many million more.

Mexicans make up the vast majority of DACA beneficiaries, and presumably of Dreamers. According to the CIS report, Mexico has the highest rate of chain migration. Indeed, the most recent five-year cohort of immigrants studied (1996-2000) showed that each new Mexican immigrant sponsored 6.38 additional legal immigrants.

No wonder, Dick Durbin doesnt want to talk about numbers.

President Trump and congressional Republicans cannot mirror Durbins (no doubt feigned) indifference. They should insist that amnesty be limited to the DACA cohort and that it be accompanied by enhanced security and enforcement mechanisms to offset the tendency any amnesty has to encourage illegal entry to the U.S.

If Democrats wont agree to this deal, the DACA beneficiaries should lose their new status and return to the one they had before President Obama illegally ordered the DACA amnesty.
Michael Oren is Israels deputy minister for diplomacy and a former Israeli ambassador to the United States. Writing in the New York Times, Oren disputes the argument that the only alternative to the Iran nuclear deal is war. Noting that the same argument was made before the Iran deal was reached in 2015, he responds that, now as then, the alternative to the deal isnt war, but a better deal.

Orens response was probably valid back in 2015, when Iran was trying to bargain its way out of crippling sanctions. But is a better deal a realistic alternative now that it has?

Im far from convinced. Having received substantial sanctions relief, Iran is not in the dire situation of 2015. It has reason to doubt that the U.S. could rally key players to reimpose crippling sanctions. European nations eager to deal with the regime might well reject the idea that they should refrain from dealing just because America is unhappy with the terms it agreed to.

But even if they thought they faced the prospect of the old sanctions regime, Irans leaders would almost certainly reject Americas call for a do-over. The mullahs just arent into that sort of humiliation at the hands of America.

Moreover, its almost impossible to believe the regime would agree to the do-over Oren proposes which includes, above all, eliminating the sunset clause. That clause permits Iran eventually to produce nuclear weapons. If Oren thinks the regime will give that up, he seriously underestimates Irans determination to become a nuclear power, it seems to me.

Does this mean that war is the only alternative to the deal? Not necessarily. Its possible that Iran, while refusing to negotiate, would continue substantially to abide by the agreement, or at least refrain from a full tilt effort to develop nukes. This approach might keep Iran on the good side of the Europeans, while isolating America. And it would virtually eliminate prospect of U.S. military action.

But its also possible that Iran wont refrain. Oren says the contention that Iran will rush to make nuclear weapons in the absence of an agreement is unfounded. He notes that Iran could have made that rush before 2015 but did not  deterred, he says, by a tough talk from Benjamin Netanyahu and the implicit military threat that backed it up.

Perhaps. But its just as plausible to surmise that Iran didnt rush to make nuclear weapons back then because the regime thought that it could induce President Obama into a deal that would preserve its right to develop them later and would lift key sanctions that were crippling the economy. This, of course, is what happened.

If the U.S. breaks that deal, I am not as confident as Oren that Iran wont push ahead and develop nukes. Thus, while war isnt the inevitable outcome of a U.S. pullout, we shouldnt pull out of the deal unless we are prepared to wage war.

The Trump administration, by all accounts, will not pull out of the deal or urge Congress to vote for pulling out. Rather, the administration will refuse to certify the deal and, on that basis, push for tough sanctions that are not precluded by the deal. Having stayed in the deal, Trump will expect European cooperation.

The idea is to pressure Iran into renegotiating the deal without giving the regime cause to renounce it. As I argued above, it Iran is unlikely to renegotiate. However, tough sanctions will weaken Iran and, conceivably, weaken the mullahs grip on power.

Thus, the approach Trump is expected to take seems like a sensible one under the circumstances, assuming he wants to minimize for now the risk of war. But sensible is not the same thing as satisfactory.
The Weekly Standard has posted a brilliant column by senior editor Lee Smith reflecting on the meaning of the disgrace of Harvey Weinstein. Lees piece is titled The human stain: Why the Harvey Weinstein story is worse than you think. It is unlike anything else you will read on Weinstein and full of quotable quotes to boot, including this cutting thought experiment:

Would the Weinstein story have been published if Hillary Clinton had won the presidency? No, and not because he is a big Democratic fundraiser. Its because if the story was published during the course of a Hillary Clinton presidency, it wouldnt have really been about Harvey Weinstein. Harvey would have been seen as a proxy for the presidents husband and it would have embarrassed the president, the first female president.

Bill Clinton offered get-out-of-jail-free cards to a whole army of sleazeballs, from Jeffrey Epstein to Harvey Weinstein to the foreign donors to the Clinton Global Initiative. The deal was simple: Pay up, genuflect, and get on with your existence. It was like a papacy selling indulgences, at the same time that everyone knew that the cardinals were up to no good. The 2016 election demolished Clinton world once and for all, to be replaced by the cult of Obama, an austere sect designated by their tailored hair shirts with Nehru collars. That is not who we are as Americans, they chant, as Harvey Weinsteins ashes are scattered in the wind.
Investment, infrastructure limitations in Central and Eastern Europe and the importance of trust in business dominated Thursday's joint statement by Polish and Bulgarian presidents Andrzej Duda and Rumen Radev at the close of a Polish-Bulgarian Economic Forum in Warsaw.

President Duda stressed that the foreign expansion of Polish enterprises was a priority issue in his foreign policy, and pointed to broad prospects for closer cooperation between Poland and Bulgaria, especially in investment, infrastructure projects and innovation. He remarked, however, that this would require "deep change", especially as far as the elimination of transport hindrances was concerned. May be of interest to you Three Seas' goals in line with EU's growth concept

"If we want to raise our economic relations to a level answering our true economic potential, and especially our ambitions, we must carry through some deep changes", Andrzej Duda said, observing that this mainly entailed increased investment in roadbuilding, railways and air transport. In this context, he stressed that transport problems were a common challenge for all countries embraced by the Polish-Croatian Three Seas Initiative involving raised cooperation between Central-East European countries in the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Sea regions.

Participants in the project include Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

President Duda continued that one necessary area for cooperation was at the level of specialist companies.

"I am convinced that the Polish economy's innovation increases the competitiveness of Polish companies, and that Polish products created by high-technology firms, including start-ups, will gain recognition on the Bulgarian market", he said.

Andrzej Duda noted that in 2016 Bulgaria's economy booked its first budget surplus since 2008 and a 3.5-percent growth rate, with unemployment down to 7 percent. He also mentioned the fast rise in Bulgarian exports to Poland, and reminded that in 2016 Polish-Bulgarian trade was 10 percent up on the previous year, topping EUR 1.5 billion.

Radev appealed to Polish entrepreneurs to invest in Bulgaria and to cooperate with local companies. He stressed that his country had achieved economic stability in recent years and pointed out that owing to its location, Bulgaria was not only a gate to European markets, but also a door to Asian and African ones.

He also praised the Polish-Bulgarian Economic Forum, and informed that it had led to signing business contracts worth EUR 35 million. In the Bulgarian president's opinion, this was "a further step on the path towards our cooperation". (PAP)
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  High school teachers and administration readied in their assigned areas Friday for the districts first in-school active shooter drill.

Superintendent Kim Gruccio said the drill had been in the works for months and wasnt conducted because of the recent Las Vegas concert massacre, but it was timely.

It brings it to the forefront of your minds, which makes you stop and think this could be real, anywhere, anytime, she said of the Oct. 1 mass shooting.

A 2013 FBI report concluded school shootings were the second-most prevalent location for active shooters from 2000 and 2013, when there were 39 mass school shootings.

FBI data show 47 active-shooter incidents from 2001 to 2016 were in educational settings.

I thought it was important to do, in general. We havent done anything of this magnitude since Ive been here, Gruccio said.

A 2010 New Jersey law requires schools to hold one fire and one emergency drill per month. Emergency drills may include an active-shooter scenario, lockdown or nonfire evacuation.

School transportation coordinator Warren Skip Fipp initiated a similar drill for the buses in the district this summer and worked with Gruccio for the in-school drill.

On Friday, after students left early on a half-day, members of the administration gathered in the main lobby, waiting for police and federal air marshals to set up the mock emergency.

Faculty members were spread through the school as they would be on a normal day, but cameras rolled to record the faux response.

Gruccio said trainings are necessary because thousands of people  students, faculty and staff  in the school every day need to know how to react in an active-shooter situation. Future drills will include the students.

I want them to be comfortable with what it sounds like, looks like, feels like, Gruccio said.

This drill was the firstto be conducted at every school in the district this month.

After the drill, the faculty gathered in the auditorium with police Capt. Dave Druding.

Dont be prey, he told the teachers.

Druding said this type of training is two-fold, because it helps the school and helps the emergency responders. He said the drill allows police to experience various situations, because emergency situations are dynamic and fluid.

Its not going to go away, and its not something we can ignore, Druding said. Youve always got to be ready. Youve got to prepare for the worst, and thats why you train.
State Republicans have asked Comcast Corp. to stop running an advertisement that supports a local Democrat, arguing the ad falsely claims its Assembly candidate raised taxes when he was a Brigantine councilman.

The ad, bought by the General Majority political action committee, says Sera is a political insider who raised property taxes for the people of Brigantine. It supports a Democratic candidate, Buena Vista Township Committeeman John Armato, one of Seras opponents in the race.

During Seras first year on the council in 2015, the municipal property tax levy rose $40,000 from the previous year. In the two years following, Brigantines property tax levy decreased, according to public records.

General Majority PAC lawyer Ezra Reese responded by sending a letter to Comcast saying Sera is a public figure and nothing in the ad is inaccurate.

Therefore, the ad should stay on the air, the letter says.

Councilman Sera and the NJGOP may wish that the General Majority PAC would include his entire tax record as a city councilman, Reese said in the letter. That is not the obligation of his political opponents.

Sera disagreed.

Their ad is a lie, plain and simple, he wrote in a statement.

General Majority has raised and spent millions supporting local Democratic candidates and has been tied to Camden County Democratic power-broker George Norcross, according to previous press reports.

Douglas Steinhardt, an attorney representing the New Jersey Republican State Committee, sent a cease-and-desist letter to Comcast demanding it stop running the ad.

Without attribution or qualification, and without basis in law or fact, the General Majority PACs advertisement is misleading at best and intentionally false at worst, Steinhardt wrote in the letter. Overall, the municipal tax levy went down some $900,000 during Mr. Seras tenure, and the General Majority PACs failure to address that has slandered and libeled his record.

The general election is Nov. 7.
LONGPORT  A local resident has expressed concerns about the effect the pending dune project will have on the migration of monarch butterflies to the mountains outside Mexico City.

Doug Farrell said the destruction of established dunes between 32nd and 36th avenues to make way for a new dune would destroy the plants that provide food for the hungry monarchs traveling to tropical climes from early September to late October. Farrell said there is an abundance of goldenrod on the dunes where the monarchs feed at this time of year.

They are all over the goldenrod bushes gaining strength for their long trip to Mexico, he said Oct. 4.

Ceasing to destroy the older dunes and preserving the life of the milkweed and the needed habitat for the monarchs should be of primary importance, Farrell wrote in an email to a representative of Conserve Wildlife NJ.

He is seeking more information from the organization about how to stop destruction of the habitat by the state Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dune project, which is scheduled to start in Longport sometime this fall.

Farrell said he does not care that the dune will be built, but destroying all of the vegetation on the old dune is unacceptable.

In June, the DEP published a comprehensive guide on how to protect and grow the declining monarch butterfly population. In a press release about the guides release, the DEP cited reasons for the decline of the monarch population, including loss of plants on which to feed.

Farrell said he is willing to protest the dune project, which has been widely acceptable to most Longport residents, to preserve the old dune and protect wildlife. However, his protest might be short-lived.

Farrell, a retired dentist, is a summer resident of Longport who swims the ocean nearly every day for exercise and good health.

I love the ocean. I love Longport. And I dont want to see them destroy the old dunes, he said.

Rumor has it they will tear them down, Yarmouth Avenue resident Peter Finnegan said when he questioned commissioners at the Aug. 23 Borough Commission meeting about the Army Corps plans for the dunes.

Engineer Richard Carter said that during plan review discussions, the Army Corps agreed the old dunes would be incorporated into the new dune.

A property owner who lives between 32nd and 33rd avenues has asked that the old dune in front of his home be left alone, which the Army Corps agreed to, Carter said.

Solicitor Pacifico Pat Agnellini said the existing dune is higher than the proposed dune.

Because the two dunes will be merged into one wider dune, we will have more protection, Agnellini said. Its the quantity of sand in the cross-section that will protect against storms.

Carter said he met with the state and Army Corps on Oct. 3 to review construction surveys.

It appears that the new dune line can be placed in the area of the existing dune. That means that the existing dune can stay and not be touched, Carter said.

At a subsequent weekly construction meeting Thursday, Carter was advised that the Corps will not be touching nearly all of the existing dunes except for possibly placing sand on the waterward side to establish a straight and uniform dune line, he said.

The breaks in the existing dunes at the street ends will be filled in to ensure there are no breaks in the dune, he said.

They (Army Corps) will not be touching the top of the dune at this time, Carter said.

He said the commissioners will have to decide whether they want to file a permit with the DEP to have the old dunes lowered. The issue will likely be discussed at the next workshop meeting 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12.

DEP spokesman Robert Geist said the new dune will be planted with native beach grass and spartina patens, a salt marsh hay native to the Atlantic coastal region.

Goldenrod will also come in and grow on its own, he said. Goldenrod is a species commonly used by monarchs during the fall migration. The sand placement will be completed this winter, and the dune will be planted by mid-March. The dune vegetation should be well established by next fall's migration.
Galloway spurns business

Whether youre a Republican or a Democrat, everyone should agree that its important that government establish a climate that allows businesses to grow and prosper.

Thats not happening in Galloway Township, where Mayor Don Purdy and his team recently drove a multimillion-dollar investment out of town. Instead of an asphalt plant being built in Galloway, it was built only 40 miles up the White Horse Pike in Winslow Township, bringing good-paying jobs and infrastructure investment with it. Unlike Galloway, Winslow smartly worked with the developer to make sure construction could begin as soon as possible.

In order for businesses to thrive, Galloway Township needs to be in the business of saying yes. Unfortunately, all officials can seem to say is no, giving small businesses the runaround.

Pam Conroy

Galloway Township

Worried about EHC church

Recent activity suggests St. Nicholas Church in Egg Harbor City will close. The church was merged with Assumption Church to form the new Parish of Our Lady Of Perpetual Help.

A priest who I think is no friend of St. Nicks was recently appointed pastor of OLPH. He immediately ended some sacramental practices.

The school, which was closed in 2008, has been up for sale by the Diocese of Camden. While St. Nicks Church is in need of repair, and the sale of the school can very likely pay for these repairs, the new pastor and the Diocese plan to apply the sale proceeds to the debt of the new Assumption Church and School.

St. Nicholas Church was built in 1864 with local heart, sacrifice, labor and funds from both Catholic and Protestant residents. Support came from as far away as Cleveland. The church witnessed countless weddings, baptisms and funerals.

It is still a home to English speaking and Hispanic parishioners. Three well-attended Masses are held every weekend. People come to hear the choirs.

The church needs new siding and bathroom renovations. The rectory, a beautiful building and structurally sound, can be renovated for parish offices, meeting rooms and gathering places.

Closing St. Nicholas Church would be closing history and St. Nicholas School, also built with local heart and sacrifice, can keep that history alive.

Joseph Picardi Sr.

Galloway Township

Immigrants could cut cost of building wall

If President Trump intends to build a border wall, I suggest the government hire undocumented immigrants to man the construction crews. They no doubt would work for less money than American citizens or documented immigrants, thus saving taxpayers duffle bags full of money.

Trump, when he was a brash real estate developer, used a contractor who later was found to have hired undocumented Polish immigrants to work on the project. Such cost saving measures could make the wall the most cost effective project ever.

Lawrence Uniglicht

Galloway Township
ORANGE, Calif., Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- American Advisors Group (AAG), the nation's leading reverse mortgage lender, formally announced today the grand opening of its first stand-alone operations center in Austin, culminating a two-year nationwide site selection process. The 24,750 square-foot space at Paloma Ridge designed by Sixthriver Architects will leverage Austin's skilled workforce to maximize business continuity and resilience with AAG's California headquarters. A small team of AAG employees has been working in Austin since January 2017 to help facilitate operations while also providing support to call center sales and centralized retail operations. The Paloma Ridge office will initially have about 25 employees but is expected to hire an additional 150 associates.

"As a fast-growing company, we were seeking a location that provided long-term scalability for future growth," said AAG Chief Sales Officer Paul Fiore. "The community needed to be desirable enough to attract top talent, but also centralized and highly accessible. Austin has all this, as well as many similarities to our headquarters location, which creates a nice cultural synergy."

In August 2015, AAG kicked off the operations center site selection process with the help of DTZ + Site Selection Group. The goal was to select a location that offers an ideal balance of labor availability, quality and cost, economic incentives, competition, real estate, business continuity, community access, and tax environment. Starting with 822 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), AAG narrowed the list to its top nine communities that were evaluated in detail against specific search parameters. Geographically, the location needed to have reasonable access to Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York airports, a scalable labor force, and minimal natural disaster risk.

"Our priority is funding our customers' loans," said Chief Information Officer Michael Josephs. "If we have an event or a natural disaster in another location and have to be down for any length of time, the Austin location provides continuity of business operations, minimizing impact to our customers."

Moving forward, the operations center will primarily focus on loan processing and tracking, and customer support. It will also house production support for the company's national field sales division.

"As a part of this expansion, our national field sales production support team will also be based in Austin," said AAG Executive Vice President of Alternative Distribution Jesse Allen. "This allows us to attract and maintain high caliber employees who will grow as the national field sales team continues to develop."

As of this year, AAG is the only reverse mortgage lender with a major presence located in the Austin area. Reverse mortgages are often utilized by older Americans for home modifications, long-term care needs or to help cover monthly expenses, among many other uses. Texas has the third largest population of older Americans (more than 3 million aged 65 or older) and ranks third in the United States in total Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), commonly referred to as reverse mortgage loans.

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

American Advisors Group, NMLS #9392, 3800 W. Chapman Avenue, Orange CA 92868

SOURCE American Advisors Group

Related Links

https://www.americanadvisorsgroup.com


SAN DIEGO, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, a company developing novel antimicrobial agents for life-threatening fungal infections, today announced that it presented results from two Phase 1 studies of APX001, plus new nonclinical data highlighting its breadth of spectrum, at IDWeek 2017 held in San Diego, CA.

APX001 is a broad-spectrum antifungal drug candidate with a novel mechanism of action for the treatment of life-threatening, invasive fungal infections caused by Candida, Aspergillus and rare, hard-to-treat molds, and strains that are resistant to standard-of-care antifungal therapy.

"We are very encouraged by the exemplary safety and pharmacokinetic data from both Phase 1 studies, which showed APX001 to be very well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile across all doses of intravenous (IV) and oral formulations tested," said Michael Hodges, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Amplyx Pharmaceuticals. "The ability to dose APX001 once-daily and switch from IV to oral administration are critical in optimizing care in patients with invasive fungal infections."

Two Phase 1 studies, with a total of 166 subjects enrolled, were conducted to assess both IV and oral formulations of APX001. Both were randomized, dose-escalation, double-blind, placebocontrolled studies to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of APX001 in healthy subjects following single and multiple doses. The Phase 1 studies were also designed to evaluate an IV loading dose regimen; the effect of food on APX001; and the drug-drug interaction potential of APX001.

APX001 data highlights from intravenous and oral administration Phase 1 studies:

All doses of APX001 tested were safe and well tolerated.

Most adverse events (AEs) were mild, transitory and resolved without intervention.

Target exposures of APX001 for efficacy against Candida and Aspergillus were exceeded.

The average plasma half-life of APX001 was ~2.5 days.

The oral formulation showed greater than 90% bioavailability.

At the conference, Amplyx also presented five nonclinical studies of APX001 that demonstrate efficacy against a range of pathogenic fungi, including the multidrug resistant superbug Candida auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, which causes cryptococcal meningitis, and Rhizopus delemar which causes invasive mucormycosis, an invasive fungal infection with some of the highest documented mortality rates. Notably, 16 strains of C. auris showed a greater susceptibility to the active moiety APX001A than other antifungal agents. When tested in an immunocompromised mouse model, mice treated with APX001 had a significantly higher percentage survival than those treated with the control drug anidulafungin.

"There is a critical need for new antifungals, yet developing new drugs is extremely challenging given the genetic similarity between fungi and humans  compounds that effectively target fungi often also interact with the human homolog and consequently result in toxic side effects," said Ciara Kennedy, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Amplyx. "Demonstrating safety in humans for a potential new antifungal is a major development hurdle. This is a significant milestone for the APX001 program. APX001 has shown impressive activity against drug resistant strains and has potential to address some of the most recently identified fungal threats, including multidrug-resistant C. auris."

About APX001

APX001 is the prodrug of APX001A, which is a first-in-class small molecule drug candidate that inhibits the highly conserved fungal enzyme Gwt1, compromising growth of major fungal pathogens, including Candida and Aspergillus. In many nonclinical studies, APX001A has shown broad-spectrum activity against common species of Candida spp., and Aspergillus spp., including multi-drug resistant strains and rare, hard-to-treat molds including Fusarium spp., Scedosporium spp., and fungi from the Mucorales order.

About Amplyx Pharmaceuticals

Amplyx Pharmaceuticals is developing novel, broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents for the treatment of life-threatening fungal infections in vulnerable, immune compromised patients. Amplyx's drug discovery and development efforts have been supported by significant venture investment and more than $10 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health. For more information, please visit www.amplyx.com.

SOURCE Amplyx Pharmaceuticals

Related Links

http://www.amplyx.com


NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Nanotechnology Day on October 9, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), pays homage to the nanometer scale 10-9 and recognizes the efforts of its members, the standards-setting organizations and their technical experts that develop standards that will benefit the entire nanotechnology community, including manufacturers, suppliers, regulators, and consumers.

The United States National Nanotechnology Initiative's nanotechnology day is an annual event that features nationwide community-led events and activities to help raise nanotechnology awareness. ANSI, coordinator of the U.S. standardization system, is involved in several key nanotechnology efforts and highlights ways to get involved in the U.S. and internationally on its new National Nanotechnology Day webpage.

ANSI Nanotechnology Standardization Work

ANSI's Nanotechnology Standards Panel (ANSI-NSP), established in August 2004, serves as the cross-sector coordinating body for the purposes of facilitating the development of standards in the area of nanotechnology including, but not limited to, nomenclature/terminology; health, safety and environmental aspects; materials properties; and testing, measurement and characterization procedures.

Today, the work of the ANSI-NSP has expanded to include providing support and advocacy for existing standards efforts. In 2013, the NSP launched its Nanotechnology standards database  nanostandards.ansi.org  a community-driven effort to bolster the visibility of nanomaterials and nanotechnology guidance documents, reference materials, and standards. And in 2015, the NSP launched its quarterly ANSI-NSP newsletter, which provides information regarding nanotechnology standards and related topics of interest, including guest columns from experts within the nanotechnology community.

Participation on the ANSI-NSP is open to all interested parties. Interested stakeholders can find out more via www.ansi.org/nsp.

ISO Nanotechnology Standards under Technical Committee 229

As the U.S. member body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ANSI encourages stakeholder participation in ISO/Technical Committee (TC) 229 on Nanotechnologies.

ISO/TC 229's first environmental health and safety document, published in 2008, was based on work originating in the U.S.: the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology: An Information Exchange with NIOSH. ISO/TR 12885  Health and safety practices in occupational settings relevant to nanotechnologies, provides information to help companies, researchers, workers, and others to help prevent adverse health and safety consequences during the production, handling, use, and disposal of manufactured nanomaterials.

The U.S. holds important leadership roles within TC 229, including convenor of Working Group (WG) 3 on Health, safety and environment, and chair of two TC 229 Task Groups, which are focused on consumer and societal dimensions of nanotechnologies, and issues pertaining to nanotechnology and sustainability. Additionally, U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) members currently lead the development of approximately 15 ISO standards, technical specifications and technical reports in areas such as determination of nano-object particle size distribution using a variety of spectroscopy techniques, toxicity assessment, and occupational health and safety.

IEC Nanotechnology Standards under Technical Committee 113

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) TC 113 focuses on Nanotechnology standardization for electrical and electronic products and systems. The U.S. National Committee to the IEC (USNC) TAG to TC 113 is the forum through which U.S. technologists and manufacturers of nano-enabled electrotechnical products can participate in the development of standards for characterizing nanoscale-attributes and the reliability and durability of nano-scale subassemblies.

Nanomaterial suppliers and product development experts in nano-electrotechnical measurements and performance assessments are urged to join the TC 113 TAG and help the U.S. lead in this vital work. For questions, contact TC 113 TAG Secretary Mike Leibowitz, NEMA.

ANSI's National Nanotechnology Day webpage also includes case studies from various organizations to demonstrate how nanotechnology standardization is making a difference  on National Nanotechnology Day and every day. These include:

To find out more about nanotechnology standardization participation, contact Heather Benko, senior manager, ANSI nanotechnology standardization activities, [email protected].

About ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. The Institute represents the diverse interests of more than 125,000 companies and organizations and 3.5 million professionals worldwide.

The Institute is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

SOURCE American National Standards Institute

Related Links

http://www.ansi.org/


WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the filing of a federal lawsuit on behalf of six individuals challenging the lawfulness of President Trump's most recent attempt to implement a "Muslim ban."

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. [NOTE: The plaintiffs are represented by lawyers with Profeta & Eisenstein, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, and CAIR].

For a copy of the lawsuit, click here:

http://www.cair.com/images/Zakzok_v._Trump_5b10.6.20175d.pdf

While this latest executive action now includes two countries -- Venezuela and North Korea -- that are not Muslim majority, nationals of those countries do not face categorical bans. North Koreans, who last year received only about 100 US visas last year, can still obtain diplomatic visas and only some Venezuelan government officials and their families are affected by the ban.

The plaintiffs include Eblal Zakzok, a U.S. permanent resident who fled Syria after being detained and tortured there. He is now trying to bring his daughter to the United States on an immigrant visa that the Proclamation will make impossible to get.

Another plaintiff, Fahed Muqbil, has a wife of Yemeni origin who has also applied for an immigrant visa the proclamation will prevent her from getting. For Muqbil and his wife, who gave birth to a child last year with severe birth defects, her inability to get that visa precludes her from tending to the needs of their daughter as she undergoes intensive treatment and surgery in the United States.

"The United States is not made safer by preventing citizens from bringing their loved ones to this country," said CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri.

"This Proclamation -- the latest iteration of the Trump Administration's Muslim Ban -- is fooling no one. It is clear that this executive action is simply another attempt to stigmatize Muslims and disfavor Islam," said CAIR National Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas.

The lawsuit is the latest CAIR legal filing challenging the Trump Administration's efforts to implement its Muslim Ban.

In September, CAIRwith the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and Profeta & Eisensteinfiled an amicus brief with U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of seven American Muslims.

READ Amicus Brief

https://www.cair.com/images/pdf/170918_-_Trump_v_Hawaii_-_Amicus_Brief_FINAL.PDF

These groups also filed an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit in August.

Read CAIR's Amicus Brief

https://www.cair.com/images/pdf/17-16426-Hawaii-v-Trump---Brief-of-Amici-Adam-Soltani-et-al.pdf

In January, just days after Trump signed the first Muslim ban executive order, CAIR filed suit.

SEE: CAIR Files Federal Suit Challenging Constitutionality of Trump's 'Muslim Ban' Executive Order

http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14069-cair-files-federal-suit-challenging-constitutionality-of-trump-s-muslim-ban-executive-order.html

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La mision de CAIR es mejorar la comprension del Islam, fomentar el dialogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprension mutua.

CONTACT: CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri, 248-390-9784, [email protected]; CAIR Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 720-251-0425, [email protected]; CAIR-Columbus Executive Director Jennifer Nimer, 614-451-3232, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Related Links

http://www.cair.com


OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cal/OSHA is encouraging employers and workers at risk of exposure to the hepatitis A virus to review preventive measures posted online. Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver disease, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, and can be fatal in some cases. Outbreaks have been reported in San Diego, Santa Cruz and Los Angeles counties.

"Employers must take steps to prevent or reduce the spread of the hepatitis A virus," said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. "Preventive measures are essential to protecting workers at risk of exposure."

In outbreak locations, workers who have direct contact with persons who are homeless or use illicit drugs have an increased risk of hepatitis A exposure in settings that include the following:

Health care and laboratory

Public safety and emergency medical services

Sanitation and janitorial

Homeless services and substance use treatment facilities

A person can be exposed to the hepatitis A virus after coming into contact with objects, food or drinks contaminated by an infected person. Employers should maintain a clean and sanitary workplace and provide proper handwashing facilities and protective equipment. Training on new hazards is required for at-risk workers in outbreak locations to understand how hepatitis A is transmitted and how to prevent infection.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers and workers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can call Cal/OSHA's Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424.

Complaints about workplace safety and health hazards can be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices. Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR's Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).

Members of the press may contact Erika Monterroza or Peter Melton at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR's press releases or other departmental updates.

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR's Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR

https://twitter.com/CA_DIR

http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR

http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1



SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations, Cal/OSHA

Related Links

http://www.dir.ca.gov/


CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CAUSEGEAR L3C, www.causegear.com, the Chicago-based social enterprise announced its "For Human Justice" campaign to expand its roster of socially responsible companies as allies to tackle human trafficking and slavery. With more than 750 million people living in poverty around the world (World Bank), and human trafficking and slavery at unprecedented levels, the call to action has never been more urgent.

The Market Tote. Made from 100% organic canvas. Every tote provides life's essentials through a life-changing job.

"Slavery is in large part a symptom of poverty," said Brad Jeffery, founder of CAUSEGEAR. "The average minimum wage in South Asia, a leading fashion manufacturing region, is less than $2 a day, consistent with the World Bank's definition of poverty." "Young women and girls from families that struggle to survive become easy targets for kidnapping, slavery, and prostitution," he said.

Jeffery created CAUSEGEAR to employ former victims of human trafficking and forced prostitution in South Asia, including in the largest red light district in Kolkata, India. They are trained as crafters to produce Jeffery's fashion-forward line of t-shirts, bags, totes, and accessories. "Jobs that support rescued individuals in the regions where the need is greatest, attack the problem at the source and begin to develop a self-sustaining trend that cares for humans," he said.

The company's empowering MADE BY FREE WOMEN label offers a range of products for retail and service businesses and their employees, from aprons to t-shirts; and co-branded merchandise for their customers and clients. "As with all CAUSEGEAR, the women who make MADE BY FREE WOMEN products are paid five times the average minimum wage which allows them to obtain life's essentialsfood, water, clothing, housing, medical, & education," Jeffery said. The 5X jobs model reduces the need for long-term aid and charitable donations while supporting a dignified pathway of self-reliance. THE MADE BY FREE WOMEN Project has an initial goal of providing work for 20,000 women video.

The company's "For Human Justice" Campaign is actively seeking alliances with ethically minded and socially responsible businesses. "MADE BY FREE WOMEN offers an unparalleled opportunity to businesses and consumers to solve one of the most urgent causes of our time, through a shift in the brands they support," said Jeffery. Companies that have already joined the campaign include Duracell, Takeda, World Relief, Lockton, Ravinia Festival, Milwaukee Ballet, CDW, and Staffmark.

To learn more about the MADE BY FREE WOMEN project and CAUSEGEAR, visit causegear.com.

Contact Katherine Jeffery at [email protected]

Designed in Chicago and handcrafted in India, CAUSEGEAR's mission is to transform the lives of one million people trapped in unfathomable poverty & injustice to become self-sustaining. CAUSEGEAR is an L3C low profit social enterprise with 90% of profits benefiting crafters. Learn more and read the personal stories of freedom at causegear.com.

SOURCE CAUSEGEAR

Related Links

http://causegear.com


WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Common Voices is working to promote and share information to promote fire sprinklers during National Fire Prevention Week, which begins today. The Advocates' Coalition is kicking off in Washington, D.C., and will also have demonstrations in Chicago, Arlington, Virginia and New York City before the week is done.

Advocate Sher Grogg will be featured and will share fire safety tips that can prevent fires before they start. Grogg lost her brother, sister-in-law, and their four grandchildren in an Annapolis, Maryland fire in January of 2015.

"The tragic fire that claimed six members of my family was started by their Christmas tree. Don died trying to save his loved ones. There are simple steps that everyone should know to keep their family safe," said Sher Grogg. "We also know that if the house had fire sprinklers, the outcome would have been much different. Fire sprinklers buy time, and time buys life."

Grogg has educated herself regarding fire, flashover, and the resulting destruction. She became an advocate for fire safety and fire sprinklers in the two years and nine months since her family tragedy. She credits finding Common Voices as a key part of her recovery process, even though nothing will ever be able to bring her family members back. Helping to educate others in their memory eases the pain.

"As fire chiefs, we know one of the most effective ways to minimize the loss of life and property is to have working smoke alarms and fire sprinklers," adds Shane Ray, President of the National Fire Sprinkler Association. "Fire is fast, but fire sprinklers are faster and control the fire until firefighters arrive."

For details and fire safety information, including all of our advocates' stories, visit www.fireadvocates.org

For more fire sprinkler information, visit www.homefiresprinkler.org and www.firesprinklerinitiative.org

About Common Voices: Common Voices (www.fireadvocates.org) is an advocates' coalition of members who all have been directly affected by fire. By bringing their voices together, they hope to educate others regarding fire and its devastating impact. Their mission is to create a fire-safe America by sharing their stories, creating resources that educate and sharing fire statistics.

CONTACT: Vickie Pritchett

615-533-0305

SOURCE Common Voices

Related Links

http://www.fireadvocates.org


In this newly titled role, which reflects the company's commitment to transform its operations into an all-inclusive, 24/7 seamless marketplace, Brennan leads auction and digital operations for Inventory Solutions. He and his team are responsible for building upon the multi-year investment enabling clients to buy and sell cars more efficiently and effectively  and other inventory solutions products  whenever and wherever they choose.

"Simply put, Patrick knows our business," said Grace Huang, president of Cox Automotive Inventory Solutions. "He is a respected, trusted leader with a proven track record who is well equipped to drive Inventory Solutions Marketplace to deliver greater efficiencies and better serve clients and our industry."

Backed by his more than 25 years of working with the company, Brennan most recently served as senior vice president of Logistics Solutions for Cox Automotive, improving the efficiency and client experience of Ready Logistics and Central Dispatch. Prior to that, he held positions of increasing responsibility with Cox Automotive and performed in operational and finance leadership roles for Manheim.

Brennan starts October 9 in his new position, reporting to Huang. Cox Automotive is seeking a replacement for the senior vice president of Logistics Solutions.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader, Dealer.com, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital, vAuto, Xtime and a host of other brands. The global company has 33,000 team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.

Contact:

Lois Rossi

Senior Director, Public Relations

Inventory and Financial Solutions, Cox Automotive

+1 678 645 2028

[email protected]

SOURCE Cox Automotive

Related Links

https://www.coxautoinc.com


In Vieques, a GATR antenna is currently providing connectivity for almost the entire island including cellular service for residents to text and call loved ones as well as internet connectivity for a local pharmacy to fill prescriptions, businesses to run credit cards and city hall officials to conduct business and stay in touch with national relief organizations. It has also helped reactivate the cell service enabling 911 dispatchers to send medical aid and other emergency services to those in need.

"We truly appreciate getting connected to the internet because we have a lot of work to do," said a Vieques pharmacy manager. "We can now refill critical prescriptions and look up insurance for our patients who have been without their medications for weeks."

Other residents thanked Cubic's techs and one person told them that this was a "game-changer" and he was shocked the team had reestablished communications in less than five hours upon their arrival.

Another GATR antenna mounted on the top of the Army National Guard roof is providing a free Wi-Fi hotpot to disaster victims. Additional antennas are providing the same services throughout the island.

"We understand the importance of staying connected to loved ones, especially during these difficult times," said Brad Feldmann, president and chief executive officer of Cubic Corporation. "Our unique technology has restored communications for residents of Puerto Rico and we will continue to provide our services to help as many people as we can."

Since the GATR 2.4-meter antenna is inflatable, it can be packed and transported in two cases weighing less than 100 pounds each or one case less than 87 pounds for the 1.2-meter version. This enables recovery workers to get to the islands quickly via helicopter or small boat and establish critical communications until traditional satellites (fixed rigid dish technology) can be brought in to replace the GATR antennas.

"GATR satellite systems are invaluable during humanitarian and disaster response missions," said Mike Twyman, president of Cubic Mission Solutions. "They provide high-bandwidth satellite connections for rescue and recovery responders as well as disaster victims to access to data, video and voice communications in the most extreme environments."

Our partners, such as Global DIRT (Disaster Immediate Response Team  a non-profit that provides aid during disasters) and Vanu (a cellular networking company), have also been instrumental in aiding the efforts to restore connectivity quickly on the island. "The GATR antennas are mission critical right now. Working with the Cubic team and Vanu is allowing us to restore connectivity and help the residents of Puerto Rico until traditional satellite communications can be put in place  which can take weeks," said Adam Marlatt, founder of Global DIRT.

"We worked with Cubic years ago and when I learned that Cubic was deploying satellite systems to Puerto Rico, I reached out and offered our cellular connectivity to the satellite deployment," said Vanu Bose, chief executive officer of Vanu, Inc.

GATR antennas have been deployed in response to natural disasters since 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Additionally, GATR antennas were utilized to aid Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts in Houston, Texas and Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

About Cubic Corporation

Cubic Corporation designs, integrates and operates systems, products and services focused in the transportation, defense training and secure communications markets. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions, special operations and intelligence for the U.S. and allied forces. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp.

SOURCE Cubic Corporation

Related Links

http://www.cubic.com


SAN DIEGO, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced its Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) business division is releasing the Cubic NextBus next-generation platform to selected clients. This new platform from NextBus, the leader in real-time passenger information (RTPI) systems, is designed for multimodal transit agencies, authorities and operators. It introduces a new Transit Management as a Service (TMaaS) model utilizing latest technologies including public cloud architecture and machine learning capabilities for further enhanced RTPI, proactive transit fleet operations and mobile user experience.

NextBus RTPI provides a completely redesigned prediction algorithm and system that enables flexible data sourcing, greater accuracy and richer contextual information across more channels than ever  including mobile, energy-conscious and high-resolution displays at transit stations, bus stops and vehicles as well as APIs with other applications. Based on the NextBus RPTI core platform, planned new modules of the NextBus platform will deliver greater customer experience fully integrated with journey planning, intelligent information analytics and mobile payment capabilities.

"The next-generation NextBus platform is entirely new and built from the ground up by combining NextBus' experience in RTPI with Cubic's expertise in urban revenue management, systems integration and turnkey services for transportation agencies," said Matt Cole, president of Cubic Transportation Systems. "Achieving this market launch milestone is very gratifying for our entire team because it is the culmination of a major commitmentand investmentmade by Cubic over the last two years to help move NextBus and its customers forward into the future."

The next-generation NextBus platform will be demonstrated at the American Public Transportation Association Annual Meeting & EXPO on October 912 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. It will be available to the broader NextBus customer base in 2018.

About Cubic Corporation

Cubic Corporation designs, integrates and operates systems, products and services focused in the transportation, defense training and secure communications markets. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions, special operations and intelligence for the U.S. and allied forces. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp.

SOURCE Cubic Corporation

Related Links

http://www.cubic.com


FCA US LLC technical business leaders received honors for their career achievements at the annual Women of Color STEM Conference held October 5-7 in Detroit.

The Women of Color Conference honors the significant achievements of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professions. The conference ensures that the accomplishments of outstanding women in technical fields are highly visible to industry professionals, government officials and students.



"The Women of Color Awards celebrate some of the country's most promising and influential female business and community leaders," said Kelly Tolbert, Head of Diversity, FCA US LLC. "FCA US is proud that our women leaders are consistently recognized among such accomplished honorees."



FCA 2017 Women of Color Award Recipients



Chairman's Award: Recognizes an elected or appointed leader who makes innovative financial or diversity decisions and recommendations to corporate or community leadership

Keera Riddick  Electrical Engineering Components

Technology All-Stars Award: Recognizes accomplished professionals who have demonstrated excellence in the workplace and in their communities.

Sohaila Feizy-Marandy  Interior Electromechanical Design

Mary Camilla Raju  PentaSAP Procurement

Technology Rising Stars Award: Recognizes young professionals who are helping to shape technology for the future.

Paulina Almada  Powertrain Automatic Transmissions

Pallavi Annabattula  Computational Fluid Dynamics

Gabriela Perea Aguirre  HVAC Systems

Tianna Barnes  Quality Control, Warren Stamping Plant

Shin Boulware  EMC Components

Caron Drake  World Class Manufacturing, Jefferson North Assembly

Lora Faraon  Electrical Engineering

Hong Geng  Powertrain Virtual Engineering Programs

Aisha Johnson  Human Machine Interface & Ergonomics

Erika Keeling  Pressroom, Sterling Stamping Plant

Divya Myneni  Active Noise Cancellation

Dr. Neeharika Anantharaju  Vehicle Safety/Crash Engineering

Nikkita Soni  Digital Marketing

Sangeeta Theru  Powertrain HIL & Validation Tools

Over the years, FCA US employees consistently have earned important technical professional recognition from various diversity organizations, including Black Engineer of the Year, Women of Color, HENAAC Great Minds in STEM and others, reflecting the Company's strong commitment to developing its diverse workforce.



Additionally, the Company actively supports initiatives that aim to increase the number of college-bound minority students in the STEM pipeline. For instance, FCA US partnered with Florida International University (FIU) to sponsor a STEM education initiative called "Engineers on Wheels." The program features mobile classrooms, bringing hands-on engineering and science experiments and experiences to South Florida K-12 schools, and to the community at large. FIU annually graduates the largest number of Hispanic engineers in the U.S., and is one of the country's top institutions for graduating African-American engineers.



About FCA US LLC

FCA US LLC is a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It designs, manufactures, and sells or distributes vehicles under the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo brands, as well as the SRT performance designation. The Company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler Corp., established in 1925 by industry visionary Walter P. Chrysler and Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (F.I.A.T.), founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli. FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA).



FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FCAU" and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol "FCA."



Follow FCA US news and video on:

Company blog: blog.fcanorthamerica.com

Company website: www.fcanorthamerica.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FiatChrysler.NorthAmerica/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA

Twitter: www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA

Twitter (Spanish): www.twitter.com/fcausespanol

YouTube: www.youtube.com/fcanorthamerica

Media website: media.fcanorthamerica.com

SOURCE FCA US LLC

Related Links

http://www.fcanorthamerica.com


LONDON, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Researchers from the UCL Cancer Institute and the specialist healthcare company BTG plc (LSE: BTG) have begun the first clinical trial of an experimental treatment for liver cancer using X-ray imageable microscopic beads loaded with a targeted anti-cancer drug placed directly in the liver. The trial will evaluate delivering a precisely controlled dose of vandetanib, an inhibitor of multiple tumour growth pathways, directly to the arteries feeding a liver tumour by pre-loading the drug on a radiopaque bead which can be visualised on CT scans. Although still at a very early stage of research, the development programme aims to improve current treatments for patients with primary liver cancer and metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150805/255981LOGO )



The current standard of care for liver cancer patients is known as transarterial chemoembolisation, or TACE, and involves injecting beads through an artery using a microcatheter to block the tumour-feeding blood vessels, starving the tumour of oxygen and nutrients. These beads are usually loaded with a chemotherapy drug that is released over time directly at the tumour site, avoiding exposure to the rest of the body and reducing side effects. Despite advances in this procedure, liver cancer remains one of the most common causes of cancer death worldwide[i].

To improve the treatment of patients with primary liver cancer and mCRC, the beads used in the VEROnA study ( v andetanib- e luting r adi o paque be a ds in patients with resectable liver malignancies) are pre-loaded with a multi-kinase inhibitor called vandetanib. Vandetanib targets genetic alterations and cell-signalling pathways that lead to liver cancer growth, recurrence and metastasis. These pathways, including vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF-A and C) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), stimulate new tumour blood and lymph vessel growth and aid the development of solid tumours. They may also promote spread of the cancer to other organs and inhibit the body's own immune response to the tumour. A phase II trial of vandetanib in patients with advanced liver cancer showed some promise[ii], and provided a strong rationale for the loco-regional delivery of this drug.

Professor Ricky Sharma, Chair of Radiation Oncology at University College London and the study's primary investigator, said: "The incidence and mortality rates for primary liver cancer continue to climb and it is vital that we explore new treatment approaches. This research is exciting because it is the first time we have been able to pre-load a targeted cancer drug on to an imageable bead, to deliver the targeted drug in high doses to the cancer and see exactly how well the beads reach the target we have defined. By refining the treatment using information from this clinical trial, we may be able to develop a liver-directed treatment as a superior alternative to the rather poorly tolerated drug treatments we currently offer patients with this type of cancer."

The vandetanib-eluting bead was developed in collaboration with Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland and Dr. Alban Denys, professor at the department of medical radiology at CHUV. Vandetanib-eluting beads use BTG's recently developed radiopaque bead platform.[iii] Beads that can be visualised with CT or fluoroscopic imaging offer the advantage of providing visible confirmation of bead location during and after the embolisation procedure, enabling real-time adjustments to optimise patient treatment[iv].

Melanie Lee, Chief Scientific Officer at BTG said: "As leaders in Interventional Oncology, we are continuing to pursue better solutions for patients through innovation. Our suite of products are used to treat different stage cancers and they are delivered into the cancer tumour in a very targeted way, an approach called loco-regional therapy. This programme is at a very early stage of research, but testing vandetanib-eluting beads in man is an exciting milestone. Bringing to market the first embolic beads visible under X-ray imaging has enabled increased control and precision during treatment, and adding a targeted anti-cancer agent we may be able to offer a new option for hard to treat cancers in the liver."

The VEROnA study is sponsored by BTG and supported by the Cancer Research UK Experimental Cancer Medicines Centre and the UCL Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre. Patients with primary liver cancer or mCRC who meet the eligibility criteria will be offered participation in the clinical trial at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Patients suitable for the VEROnA study are those scheduled to have their liver tumours removed surgically. By studying the resected tissue in great detail, and comparing it to the scans performed before the operation, researchers will be able to assess exactly where the vandetanib-eluting beads have been deposited in and around the tumours, and how much drug has been delivered to the target. In this way, the VEROnA "window of opportunity" clinical trial will assess the safety and tolerability of the new treatment and the potential it offers for treating liver cancer.

About Liver Cancer:

Primary liver cancer occurs when liver cells become abnormal and grow uncontrollably, forming a tumour. The most common form of primary liver cancer is called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the world[v], and one of the most challenging to treat. Each year, more than 700,000 patients worldwide are diagnosed with liver cancer.[vi] Long-term infection with the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus, which are more prevalent in Asian countries, are a common cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. In developed countries, increasing prevalence of obesity in the general population and alcoholic liver disease account for the rising incidence of HCC.

The liver, which continuously filters blood circulating through the body, is also susceptible to "secondary" cancers, caused when tumours in other organs such as the colon, rectum, breast, head or neck have spread to the liver. These tumours are also known as liver metastases. The liver is the most common site of metastasis in patients with CRC. Approximately 50% of CRC patients will develop liver metastases during the course of the disease[vii].

About UCL

UCL (University College London) was founded in 1826. We were the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to open up university education to those previously excluded from it, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. We are among the world's top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables. UCL currently has over 39,000 students from 150 countries and over 12,500 staff. Our annual income is more than 1 billion

http://www.ucl.ac.uk | Follow us on Twitter @uclnews | Watch our YouTube channel YouTube.com/UCLTV

About UCL Cancer Institute

The UCL Cancer Institute is a 40 million investment in central London based at University College London (UCL), one of the world's top universities and a founding member of the Crick Institute. UCL Cancer Institute draws together over 300 scientists working together to develop world-class basic and translational cancer research.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cancer | Follow us on Twitter @uclcancer

About the National Institute for Health Research

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR): improving the health and wealth of the nation through research.

Established by the Department of Health, the NIHR:

funds high quality research to improve health

trains and supports health researchers

provides world-class research facilities

works with the life sciences industry and charities to benefit all

involves patients and the public at every step

For further information, visit the NIHR website (http://www.nihr.ac.uk).

About BTG

BTG is a global specialist healthcare company bringing to market innovative products in specialist areas of medicine to better serve doctors and their patients. We have a portfolio of Interventional Medicine products to advance the treatment of cancer, severe emphysema, severe blood clots and varicose veins, and Specialty Pharmaceuticals that help patients overexposed to certain medications or toxins. Inspired by patient and physician needs, BTG is investing to expand its portfolio to address some of today's most complex healthcare challenges.

To learn more about BTG, please visit: btgplc.com.

i. Ferlay, J., Soerjomataram, I., Dikshit, R., Eser, S., Mathers, C., Rebelo, M., Parkin, D. M., Forman, D. and Bray, F. (2015), Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: Sources, methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012. Int. J. Cancer, 136: E359-E386. doi:10.1002/ijc.29210.

ii. C. Hsu, et al. Vandetanib in patients with inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J. Hepatol., 56 (5) (2012), pp. 1097-1103

iii. Preparation and Characterisation of Vandetanib-eluting Radiopaque Beads for Locoregional Treatment of Hepatic Malignancies. Hagan, A., Phillips, G.J., Lloyd, A.W., Czuczman, P., Lewis, A.L., Eur. J. Pharm. Sci., 101, 22-30, 2017.

iv. First Human Experience with Directly Image-able Iodinated Embolization Microbeads. Levy, E.B., Krishnasamy, V.P., Lewis, A.L., Willis, S., Macfarlane, C., Anderson, V., van der Bom, I.M., Radaelli, A., Dreher, M.R., Sharma, K.V., Negussie, A., Mikhail, A., Geschwind, J.H., Wood, B.J., Cardiovasc. Intervent. Radiol., 39(8), 1177-86, 2016.

v. World Health Organization (WHO). Cancer factsheet. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/ . Last accessed 6 March, 2017.

vi. American Cancer Society. What are the key statistics about liver cancer?. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/livercancer/detailedguide/liver-cancer-what-is-key-statistics . Last accessed 6 March, 2017.

vii. Nicolay NH, Berry DP, Sharma RA. Liver metastases from colorectal cancer: role of radio-embolization with systemic therapy. Nature Rev Clin Oncol 2009, 6: 687-697.

For further information contact:

BTG

Chris Sampson, Corporate Communications Director

+44-20-7575-1595; Mobile: +44-7773-251-178

Ben Atwell/Simon Conway, FTI Consulting

+44(0)20-3727-1000

UCL Cancer Institute

Chris Lane, Media Relations Manager

+44(0)20-3108-9222 Mobile: +44(0)7717-728-648

SOURCE BTG Plc
Based on GPT's first-generation ToF sensor chip, the three optical-solid-state surface laser radar frameworks fulfill 3D sensing requirements over close-range, medium-range, and long-distance applications. They provide 3D sensing capability with a large field of view (70 degrees) and high spatial resolution (0.006 degrees H), and can work in strong light conditions (100Klux). They can be applied in human behavior recognition, robot navigation and avoidance, optical inspection and ranging solutions for self-driving cars. GPT sensor combines pulsed laser, 2D GPT image sensor, and proprietary depth extraction algorithms, to achieve 2x to 5x higher depth resolution over similar products.

Reflected signals will only be transferred and collected to the sensor from a specified range of interest, therefore allowing users to accept light contributions from a user-controlled and programmable distance range while rejecting light contributions from outside of certain range. With their low cost and high spatial resolution, GPT's laser radars are an ideal choice for mass-produced autonomous cars, which utilize laser radars to generate intricate 3D maps of vehicles' surroundings to make informed decisions on reacting to different circumstances and obtain an advantage over conventional vehicles in terms of awareness levels.

"This new series of disruptive products from GPT are the result of five years' worth of effort," said Bruce Bai, CEO of GPT. "After countless rounds of development and experiments by our engineers, GPT's latest image laser radar reinvents 3D sensors with the GPC patents which technologically break through from traditional ToF depth cameras, realizing advanced performance in long distance, under strong light condition with high resolution vision-presents. It will greatly promote the development of the artificial intelligence industry and expedite the mass production of intelligent robots and self-driving vehicles."

GPT is also working with universities and academic institutions to build a dense 3D database for packed circumstances, which will have a revolutionary impact on the future development of artificial intelligence. Sheryl Root, the Program Director of Technology Ventures in Carnegie Mellon University Silicon Valley, Jiang Yuhong, the Counselor from Consulate-general of The People's Republic of China in San Francisco, and Del Christensen, Chief of Global Business Development of Bay Area Council attended the product release event.

"We believe that the new generation of solid-state LIDAR sensors represent the latest technology trends. Repetitive perceptual technologies and revolutionary products in the field of artificial intelligence are the ultimate impetus for human progress," Bai said during the event.

For more information, please visit http://www.genius-pros.com

About GeniusPros Technologies

Founded in 2015, GeniusPros Technologies (GPT) is an industry-leading company that provides 3D Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor systems, solutions, and data that is used to enhance and improve artificial intelligence. Typical applications of the company's sensors include security/surveillance, self-driving cars, robot navigation, 3D reconstruction, AR/VR, human-computer interaction, and more.

SOURCE GeniusPros

Related Links

http://www.genius-pros.com


SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hodges Ward Elliott ("HWE"), the world's leading independent hotel brokerage and investment-banking firm, with offices in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and London, is announcing they represented Pacific Hospitality Group ("PHG") in the recent sale of the Bacara Resort & Spa ("Bacara") to Carey Watermark Investors Incorporated ("CWI 1") and Carey Watermark Investors 2 Incorporated ("CWI 2" and, together with CWI 1, "Carey Watermark"). HWE also advised Carey Watermark on the financing of the Bacara acquisition. Carey Watermark will rebrand Bacara as The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara.

Hodges Ward Elliott President Mark Elliott and Director Michael DiPrima represented the seller in the transaction and Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets, Lawrence Britvan, advised the buyer on the financing of the acquisition.

PHG, along with its lead investors Eagle Four Partners and William Foley, acquired the Bacara Resort & Spa in February 2013. Since then, PHG invested more than $27 million in capital improvements to the resort, including a complete guestroom renovation, the development of a new signature restaurant Angel Oak, and upgrades to the resort's technology as well as its other food and beverage venues.

"Bacara is one of the premier ocean front resorts in North America. We knew this was a rare investment opportunity that would generate significant interest once we brought it to market," adds Michael DiPrima, Hodges Ward Elliott. "It was a great honor for Hodges Ward Elliott to have been given the opportunity to market this prestigious asset and successfully execute its sale for the second time in four years."

The 358-room, 24-building beachfront luxury resort is situated on 78 acres along the California coastline, 10 minutes from the Santa Barbara Airport and 35 minutes from the Santa Ynez Valley wine country. The property also includes three salt-water swimming pools, a 42,000-square-foot spa with 36 treatment rooms, a salon, fitness center and both indoor and outdoor event space.

About Hodges Ward Elliott:

Hodges Ward Elliott, founded in 1975, is the leading independent hotel brokerage and investment-banking firm in the world providing total capital solutions, including hotel sales, recapitalizations and capital markets advisory for its clients. Over the past 5 years, HWE has sold or financed more than $20 billion of hotels and resorts across the U.S. and Europe including more than $8 billion since January 1, 2015. Based in New York, HWE's commercial investment sales and capital markets practices have expanded its service lines to include office, multifamily, retail and land transactions.

Contact:

Great Ink  212-741-2977

Tom Nolan ([email protected])

SOURCE Hodges Ward Elliott

Related Links

http://www.hwehotels.com


Plasma is the straw-colored liquid portion of blood comprised of water, salts, and proteins. These proteins are necessary for carrying out critical functions in the human body, such as antibodies to fight diseases and clotting factors to regulate bleeding. If a person has insufficient levels of any one plasma protein, his or her body cannot carry out these vital functions, causing a variety of chronic and life-threatening medical conditions.

Plasma is used to create lifesaving therapies to treat chronic, life-threatening diseases including bleeding disorders, hereditary angioedema, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, primary immune deficiencies, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and certain rare neurological disorders. In addition, these therapies are used in emergency and surgical medicine.

Plasma protein therapies are made from human plasma which can only be obtained from healthy, qualified donors who generously give their time to donate. Plasma donors are the foundation of the plasma protein therapeutics industry. Healthy and committed donors are paramount for preparing safe and effective therapies; plasma protein therapies would not exist without the generosity of donors in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.

In addition to meeting regulatory requirements, the majority of plasma donation centers have achieved International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP) certification. PPTA's voluntary standards program provides global leadership for the industry's goal of continuous improvement with a focus on safety and quality from the donor to the patient.

"People throughout the world rely on plasma protein therapies which are developed through the generosity and commitment of plasma donors. PPTA is proud of the contributions we and our member companies make to saving and improving lives," said Joshua Penrod, PPTA, Vice President, Source & International Affairs.

PPTA member companieswhich collectively operate more than 650 IQPP-certified plasma collection facilitiesare planning a variety of donor appreciation events during IPAW which helps remind donors of the immense contribution they make toward improving a patients' life. In addition, patient organizations representing individuals with rare diseases have pledged their support. A multi-language media kit is available; use #IPAW2017 when sharing the materials to show your support.

About PPTA

The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA), a global industry trade association, represents the private sector manufacturers of plasma-derived and recombinant analog therapies, collectively known as plasma protein therapies and the collectors of source plasma used for fractionation. These therapies are used by millions of people worldwide to treat a variety of diseases and serious medical conditions. PPTA also administers standards and programs that help ensure the quality and safety of plasma protein therapies, donors, and patients.

SOURCE Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA)

Related Links

http://www.pptaglobal.org


PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Janrain, the company that pioneered the Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) category, today announced the launch of Janrain University, a new training and certifications program designed to give brands the experience and guidance they need to fully leverage the power of the Janrain Identity Cloud to deliver outstanding customer experiences.

With the information gleaned from Janrain University, course attendees can master Janrain's platform and architecture to successfully design and implement an identity management solution for streamlining customer identification and enabling a diverse set of engagement applications for generating rich customer data.

Janrain University's courses, which can be delivered online (live and on-demand) or in traditional classroom settings, can be custom-tailored to meet the needs of:

Application developers

IT engineers

Software architects

Security professionals

System integrators

Digital marketing professionals

Project managers

Business users

"Janrain leads the market in global enterprise deployments, and we have consistently heard that a global rollout needs to be based on a foundational understanding of core identity concepts and the latest technology," said Kory McDow, Program Manager, Janrain University. "Janrain University gets teams up to speed quickly, so they can focus on creating groundbreaking digital experiences faster."

Janrain University course attendees can gain special expertise and certifications in a multitude of important subject areas, including:

Social login

Registration

Customer profile data storage

Customer segments and insights

Single sign-on (SSO)

Consent Lifecycle Management

Advanced Policy Management

And much more

To learn more about Janrain University, please reach out to your Janrain representative or contact us here.

About Janrain

Founded in 2002, Janrain pioneered Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) and is widely recognized by industry analysts as a global CIAM leader. The Janrain Identity Cloud provides identity management, security and activation solutions that enable seamless and safe customer experiences across their digitally connected world, while providing enterprise organizations with deep customer insights. Janrain's identity capabilities include social and traditional login and registration, single sign-on, customer profile data storage and management, customer segments, customer insights and engagement solutions. The company powers brands like Pfizer, Samsung, Whole Foods, Fox News, Philips, McDonald's and Dr Pepper. Janrain is based in Portland, Oregon, with offices in London, Paris and Silicon Valley. For more information, please visit www.janrain.com and follow @janrain.

Media Contact:

Chris Blake

MSR Communications

Phone: 1-415-989-9000

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Janrain

Related Links

http://www.janrain.com


NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- KAFFNY Infinite Cinema will return to New York City for the 11th year on Saturday, Oct. 14. Held at the Brooklyn hotspot The Wythe Hotel Cinema from 1:00 p.m. until Midnight 12:00 a.m., the annual event will celebrate some of the most promising indie filmmakers of different cultures from around the world.

This year, five distinct blocks of programming will approach the topic of Infinite Culture through specific lenses: INFINITE FOOD CONNECTION, INFINITE FASHION CONNECTION, WORLDWIDE KOREAN CONNECTION, INFINITE MIGRATION CONNECTION, and CRAZY, RICH ASIAN AMERICANS. Alongside the screening of 25 short films and two feature-length films, the audience will also get the opportunities to engage in meaningful discussions with the filmmakers during the moderated panel discussions.

"We are very excited about returning to New York and continue to celebrate the connection of cultures through films," says Chung Tsang, the President of KAFFNY. "The past ten years of experience in telling Korean American stories helped KAFFNY to identify and find commonality with other stories at the intersection of all cultures. We are ready to evolve, with a new mission to identify unifying commonalities and bust cultural stereotypes by connecting voices through our shared experiences."

Previously named KAFFNY (Korean American Film Festival New York, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), the group has recently rebranded as KAFFNY Infinite Cinema. For 11 years, it has explored cultural fusion through the medium of film. KAFFNY Infinite Cinema's mission is to allow the audience to connect stories that are often missing from the mainstream narrative, allow the audience to engage in dialogue with the content makers to fuse a new understanding of our world, and hopefully inspire our audience to repeat this process by seeking out new ways to connect to a culture outside their own. Which is KAFFNY's motto: CONNECT. FUSE. REPEAT.

EVENT DETAILS

The 11th Annual KAFFNY INFINITE CINEMA 2017

Venue : Wythe Hotel Cinema (80 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11249)

: Wythe Hotel Cinema (80 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg, 11249) Date: Saturday, Oct. 14

Time: 1:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.

Official event site  kaffny.org

Tickets Online - $7-$15 per screening

kaffny.eventbrite.com

Sponsors:

viddsee.com (Asian shorts platform, Singapore )

) Post Fin (DCP Services, Seoul )

) Wythe Hotel Cinema (venue sponsor)

Karaoke City (venue sponsor)

88rising (music partner)

Re/make (content partner)

Munchies (content partner)

Godmode music (content partner)

A Complete list of films:

On Saturday, Oct. 14 KAFFNY Infinite Cinema invites filmgoers to a one-day cinematic passport experience. Embracing the motto of CONNECT. FUSE. REPEAT. KAFFNY Infinite Cinema challenges its audience to discard notions of cultures as separate, discrete and insular, instead exploring the infinite possibilities of contact, fusion, and creation born from the mixing of different backgrounds. Let the screen transport your mind to new places, new practices, and new perspectives, leaving you entertained, challenged and confident to forge new relationships with those outside of your bubble.

Five distinct blocks of programming will approach the topic of Infinite Culture through specific lenses with thematic panel discussions to follow.

INFINITE FOOD CONNECTION - 1:00 p.m.

On the menu of this program is a group of short fiction and documentary films highlighting the bonding power of food as a centerpiece of human nourishment. After the screening, we'll have a panel to discuss the many different stories behind the people who make the food that we eat.

Films include The Last Tip by Patrick Chen (4:36), Cooking With Granny by Caroline Shin (10:00), Shield by Yijie Mei (20:00), Kimchi Taco by Seran Kim (14:16), Migrant Kitchen by Sarah K. Khan (10:00), Refugee Chef by Ben Ferguson for Munchies (10:00).

INFINITE FASHION CONNECTION - 3:00 p.m.

Go behind the glamour of the runway, exploring the lives of those who create the clothes and the nuanced relationship between self-expression and fashion. Stay woke on world fashion with this selection of short films. After the screening, we will have a panel to discuss ethical fashion and how the clothes we choose impacts people who make them.

Films include Prince's Test by Amy Park (5:20), Euna by Seung-Hyun Chong (18:24), Perception by Minu Park (2:13), Factory Man by Jihye Ku (4:33), En Route by Anman Cao (10:04), Made In Cambodia by Asad Faruqi for Re/make (9:33)

WORLDWIDE KOREAN CONNECTION - 5:00 p.m.

Shorts. Embracing KAFFNY's legacy as a platform for narratives of the Korean and Korean Diaspora community, this is our 11th annual selection of both English and Korean language films. A few films focus on mental health & domestic abuse which we seek to discuss and explore after the screening.

Films include I'm Here, Too by Eunsoo Jeong (5:00), Mom by Mingi Kim (8:00), Fractured by Arnold Chun (13:51), Angeltown by Nancy Liu (20:30), Tetsu Kono's Crazy Routine by Sebastien Simon (16:30), Fault by Daniel Lee (10:17), Family by Seung-Hyun Chong (22:34)

INFINITE MIGRATION CONNECTION - 7:30 P.M.

U.S. Premiere for our centerpiece documentary screening of "Amsterdam Stories: West." Join a modern day Lewis and Clark as they traverse American communities in various towns and cities named Amsterdam, reflecting on local history, individual struggles, and a poignant examination from the eyes of foreigners of the enduring legacy of the American Dream.

Along with the short film Dear Mother, these stories that deal with issues of home, migration, and adoption. After the screening, we'll have an interactive experience led by Kayla Tange, a performance artist and the subject of Dear Mother.

Films include Dear Mother by Matthew Kaundart (3:45), Amsterdam Stories USA - West by Rob Rombout & Rogier van Eck (90:00)

CRAZY, RICH, ASIAN AMERICANS? - 10:00 p.m.

These two films tell two very different stories set around characters who are part of rich Asian American families. Is being rich and Asian American a blessing or a curse? Come to the screening and discussion afterwards as we try to find the answer to that question.

Films include Lola by Isabella Tan (25:00), The Last Tour by Ryun Yu (71:00)

About KAFFNY

KAFFNY Infinite Cinema is a new international cinema festival platform dedicated to the exploring the infinite cultural connections that intersect in our world. Embracing the motto of CONNECT. FUSE. REPEAT. KAFFNY Infinite Cinema challenges its audience to discard notions of cultures as separate, discrete and insular, instead exploring the infinite possibilities of contact, fusion, and creation born from the mixing of different backgrounds. Let the screen transport your mind to new places, new practices, and new perspectives, leaving you entertained, challenged and confident to forge new relationships with those outside of your bubble. For more information, please visit: http://kaffny.org

For media requests, please contact:

Chung Tsang

KAFFNY Infinite Cinema

Tel: 201-496-4723

Email: [email protected]

Related Files

KAFFNY Infinite Cinema 2017 PR - With Film List.pdf

Related Links

KAFFNY Infinite Cinema

Related Video

https://vimeo.com/235935630

SOURCE KAFFNY Infinite Cinema

Related Links

http://kaffny.org


The following Las Vegas resorts and businesses participated in the tribute.

Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa

ARIA Resort & Casino

Bally's Las Vegas

Bellagio

Caesars Palace

California Hotel Casino

Circus Circus

Delano Las Vegas

Encore Las Vegas

Excalibur

Fashion Show Mall

Flamingo Hotel & Casino

Fiesta Henderson

Fiesta Rancho

Fremont Hotel & Casino

Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa & Casino

Gold Coast Hotel & Casino

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Harrah's Hotel & Casino

Hooters Casino Hotel Las Vegas

Luxor Las Vegas

Main Street Station Casino Brewery Hotel

Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino

Miracle Mile Shops

Monte Carlo Resort & Casino

New York-New York

Palace Station Hotel & Casino

Palms Casino Resort

Paris Hotel & Casino

Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino

Red Rock Casino Resort& Spa

Sam's Town Las Vegas

Santa Fe Station Hotel & Casino

SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino

South Point Hotel Casino and Spa

Stratosphere Hotel &Casino

Suncoast Hotel & Casino

Sunset Station Hotel & Casino

Texas Station

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

The Cromwell

The LINQ Hotel & Casino

The Orleans Hotel & Casino

The Palazzo Las Vegas

The Venetian Las Vegas

Treasure Island

W Las Vegas

Walgreens

Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino

Wynn Las Vegas

Vdara Hotel & Spa

For more information on how to help those affected, please visit www.VisitLasVegas.com/how-to-help.

For more photos and video of the tribute, please visit the LVCVA Newsroom at http://press.LVCVA.com.

ABOUT THE LVCVA

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With nearly 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 11 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. Download the virtual reality app, Vegas VR, to experience Las Vegas from your iPhone or Android by visiting http://www.vrtv.vegas/. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.visitlasvegas.com.

SOURCE Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Related Links

http://www.press.LVCVA.com


STAINES-UPON-THAMES, United Kingdom, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced it will conduct a new Phase 4, multi-center, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study to further assess the efficacy of H.P. Acthar Gel as a therapy option in patients with symptomatic sarcoidosis, one of 19 indications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"In my experience, a considerable number of sarcoidosis patients can have persistent disease that may not be resolved by first line treatment," said Dr. Robert Baughman, M.D., Professor from Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.1 "The results from this sarcoidosis Phase 4 study in this patient population can potentially provide substantial evidence to further support Acthar as a treatment option in appropriate symptomatic sarcoidosis patients."

"We are pleased to announce our plans to initiate this study of the efficacy of Acthar therapy as a later line treatment option for sarcoidosis patients with persistent disease," said Steven Romano, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President at Mallinckrodt. "H.P Acthar Gel is new to many pulmonologists and the new phase 4 study  a 'pilot' study in 100 patients  is being designed as an exploratory evaluation of a subset of the more challenging patients, many of whom may not have responded to multiple previous therapies. The study will help us better understand and outline for physicians which patients may benefit from a treatment alternative like Acthar  perhaps those who aren't responding to traditional treatments."

Further details will be available on www.clinicaltrials.gov in the near future with the study's posting, and updated upon enrollment of the first subjects expected in early 2018.

About Symptomatic Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a challenging, yet treatable, rare multisystem disease. In some cases the symptoms may come and go throughout a lifetime. This is referred to as symptomatic sarcoidosis.2 In people with sarcoidosis the immune system overreacts, forming clumps of cells called granulomas that result in inflammation to the body's tissues.2 The disease can impact any organ, but it most often impacts the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, and skin.2 Over 90 percent of people with sarcoidosis will suffer lung problems.2 Concomitant involvement of organs outside of the lungs is common, occurring in as many as half of all sarcoidosis cases.3

About H.P. Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection)

Indications

H.P. Acthar Gel is an injectable drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of 19 indications. Of these, today the majority of Acthar use is in these indications:

Treatment during an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of systemic lupus erythematosus

Monotherapy for the treatment of infantile spasms in infants and children under 2 years of age

The treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis in adults. Controlled clinical trials have shown H.P. Acthar Gel to be effective in speeding the resolution of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis. However, there is no evidence that it affects the ultimate outcome or natural history of the disease

Inducing a diuresis or a remission of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome without uremia of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus

Treatment during an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of systemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis)

The treatment of symptomatic sarcoidosis

Adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy)

Treatment of severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye and its adnexa such as: keratitis, iritis, iridocyclitis, diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis, optic neuritis, chorioretinitis, anterior segment inflammation

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Contraindications

Acthar should never be administered intravenously

Administration of live or live attenuated vaccines is contraindicated in patients receiving immunosuppressive doses of Acthar

Acthar is contraindicated where congenital infections are suspected in infants

Acthar is contraindicated in patients with scleroderma, osteoporosis, systemic fungal infections, ocular herpes simplex, recent surgery, history of or the presence of a peptic ulcer, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, primary adrenocortical insufficiency, adrenocortical hyperfunction or sensitivity to proteins of porcine origins

Warnings and Precautions

The adverse effects of Acthar are related primarily to its steroidogenic effects

Acthar may increase susceptibility to new infection or reactivation of latent infections

Suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-axis (HPA) may occur following prolonged therapy with the potential for adrenal insufficiency after withdrawal of the medication. Adrenal insufficiency may be minimized by tapering of the dose when discontinuing treatment. During recovery of the adrenal gland patients should be protected from the stress (e.g. trauma or surgery) by the use of corticosteroids. Monitor patients for effects of HPA suppression after stopping treatment

Cushing's syndrome may occur during therapy but generally resolves after therapy is stopped. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms

Acthar can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and hypokalemia. Blood pressure, sodium and potassium levels may need to be monitored

Acthar often acts by masking symptoms of other diseases/disorders. Monitor patients carefully during and for a period following discontinuation of therapy

Acthar can cause GI bleeding and gastric ulcer. There is also an increased risk for perforation in patients with certain gastrointestinal disorders. Monitor for signs of bleeding

Acthar may be associated with central nervous system effects ranging from euphoria, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression, and psychosis. Existing conditions may be aggravated

Patients with comorbid disease may have that disease worsened. Caution should be used when prescribing Acthar in patients with diabetes and myasthenia gravis

Prolonged use of Acthar may produce cataracts, glaucoma and secondary ocular infections. Monitor for signs and symptoms

Acthar is immunogenic and prolonged administration of Acthar may increase the risk of hypersensitivity reactions. Neutralizing antibodies with chronic administration may lead to loss of endogenous ACTH activity

There is an enhanced effect in patients with hypothyroidism and in those with cirrhosis of the liver

Long-term use may have negative effects on growth and physical development in children. Monitor pediatric patients

Decrease in bone density may occur. Bone density should be monitored for patients on long-term therapy

Pregnancy Class C: Acthar has been shown to have an embryocidal effect and should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus

Adverse Reactions

Common adverse reactions for Acthar are similar to those of corticosteroids and include fluid retention, alteration in glucose tolerance, elevation in blood pressure, behavioral and mood changes, increased appetite and weight gain

Specific adverse reactions reported in IS clinical trials in infants and children under 2 years of age included: infection, hypertension, irritability, Cushingoid symptoms, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, pyrexia, weight gain, increased appetite, decreased appetite, nasal congestion, acne, rash, and cardiac hypertrophy. Convulsions were also reported, but these may actually be occurring because some IS patients progress to other forms of seizures and IS sometimes mask other seizures, which become visible once the clinical spasms from IS resolve

Other adverse events reported are included in the full Prescribing Information.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

For parents and caregivers of IS patients, please also see Medication Guide.

ABOUT MALLINCKRODT

Mallinckrodt is a global business that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. Areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; and analgesics and hemostasis products. The company's core strengths include the acquisition and management of highly regulated raw materials and specialized chemistry, formulation and manufacturing capabilities. The company's Specialty Brands segment includes branded medicines and its Specialty Generics segment includes specialty generic drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients and external manufacturing. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com .

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

CONTACTS

Investor Relations

Coleman N. Lannum, CFA

Senior Vice President, Investor Strategy and IRO

314-654-6649

[email protected]

Daniel J. Speciale, CPA

Director, Investor Relations

314-654-3638

[email protected]

Media

Rhonda Sciarra

Senior Communications Manager

908-238-6765

[email protected]

Meredith Fischer

Chief Public Affairs Officer

314-654-3318

[email protected]

1Dr. Baughman's association with Mallinckrodt includes research grants support, consulting, and involvement with the speaker's bureau. 2What Is Sarcoidosis? Acthar Sarcoidosis website. Available at: http://www.actharsarcoidosis.com/understand-symptomatic-sarcoidosis/overview.html. Accessed July 19, 2017. 3About Symptomatic Sarcoidosis. Pulmonary Center for Healthcare Professionals website. Available at: https://www.actharpulmonology.com/about-symptomatic-sarcoidosis. Accessed July 19, 2017.

SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc

Related Links

http://www.mallinckrodt.com


KELOWNA, British Columbia, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Marapharm Ventures Inc. (OTCQB: MRPHF) (CSE: MDM.CN) (FSE: 2M0) ("Marapharm" or the " Company") (http://www.marapharm.com/) announces construction plans for a third building which will be 65,635 square feet on the 7 acre property located in Las Vegas, adjacent to 2 existing cultivation buildings. The ground prep pad is ready to build on, most infrastructure is designed and in place and building plans go for bid in October 2017. Construction will begin soon thereafter. This building is slated to be the first 3 story cannabis building in the state of Nevada.

"Current pricing and comparable facilities in Nevada indicate that revenue from the new 3 story building will potentially be $50 million gross and $30 million net, after operating costs, for the first year (source Kurt Keating). We will be at about 20% build out with regard to the square footage of the licenses we have. Marapharm is the largest marijuana license holder in Nevada." Linda Sampson, CEO, Marapharm.

Marapharm engaged Kurt Keating to do the evaluation of this project. Kurt won 2 High Times Cannabis Cups in 2014 while cultivating medical cannabis and he has been consulting, evaluating and growing cannabis for several years. The market price for this type of marijuana at present is approximately $2300 wholesale per pound in Nevada. The evaluation for the three floors is 22,600 pounds per year.

OTHER ITEMS:

The September 28, 2017 edition of the Las Vegas Review Journal stated that dispensaries in Nevada raked in more than $27 million during the first month of recreational marijuana sales, generating more than $3.6 million in taxes, according to figures released by the Nevada Department of Taxation. The state also pulled in $6.5 million in marijuana license and application fees. How does this stack up against the other states with legal marijuana? It's double.

Dept. of Taxation to Open Additional Retail Marijuana License Application Period in 2017 The Nevada Department of Taxation will be accepting additional applications for retail marijuana establishment licenses in the near future. Temporary regulation T002-17 provides that the Department may open for additional applications for not more than five days prior to the end of the year. We intend to open the window for applications in October or November. The application window will not necessarily be for five days, but we will give at least two weeks' notice of our intent to open the application period with the number of days that we will accept applications.

Marapharm has engaged a real estate agent to source and secure store front properties in Las Vegas for retail sales. Marapharm will apply for 3 dispensaries in Nevada in October and or November 2017.

The 2 existing buildings of 5000 square feet each are nearing completion. Mother plants will transition from the interim buildings located on the Marapharm property to the completed buildings within 45 days. Photos are on the Marapharm website.

ABOUT MARAPHARM VENTURES INC.

http://www.marapharm.com

Marapharm is a publicly traded company primarily investing in the medical and recreational cannabis space, with corporate operations based in British Columbia, Canada. Since 2016 they have rapidly expanded their footprint to include production locations in the key North American states of Washington, Nevada, and California. They actively seek expansion opportunities worldwide.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

http://www.marapharm.com or Linda Sampson, CEO +1-778-583-4476 email [email protected]

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: facebook.com/marapharm

Twitter: twitter.com/marapharm

STOCK EXCHANGES:

Marapharm trades in Canada, ticker symbol MDM on the CSE, in the United States, ticker symbol MRPHF on the OTCQB, and in Europe, ticker symbol 2Mo on the FSE. Marapharm also trades on other recognized platforms in Europe including Stuttgart, Tradegate, L & S, Quotnx, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Berlin.

Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQB has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQB accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", 'may", "will", "project", "should", 'believe", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumption but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and the forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. The potential revenue and yields are based on management estimates of crop yields which may not be achieved as well as based on current pricing which may fluctuate based on supply or other market factors in the future. Accordingly the revenue potential is based on management's estimates only which may not be achieved.

Contact:

Linda Sampson

+1-778-583-4476

[email protected]



SOURCE Marapharm Ventures Inc.
BALTIMORE, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Maryland 529, formerly College Savings Plans of Maryland, today announced the dates for their Webinar Series for the 2017-2018 enrollment year. Maryland 529 is an independent, non-profit state agency that provides two flexible and affordable 529 plans: the Maryland College Investment Plan, managed and distributed by T. Rowe Price, and the Maryland Prepaid College Trust. In 2016, Morningstar awarded the Maryland College Investment Plan a "Silver" rating, placing the plan among the top ten best-in-class plans.

The Webinar Series offers free, informational webinars detailing the ease and affordability of partnering with Maryland 529 to save for higher education. During each hour-long webinar, Maryland 529 will review the specifics of the two plans, and explain the tax benefits offered. There will also be time set aside to answer any questions prospective account holders may have.

The hour-long webinars will run now through April, 2018. Registration for the webinars is now open. To enroll in a webinar or to find additional details visit: maryland529.com/webinars.

Please carefully read the Enrollment Kit which describes the investment objectives, risks, expenses, and other important information that you should consider before you invest in the Maryland 529 Plans. The Enrollment Kit is available at www.Maryland529.com or by calling 888.4MD.GRAD. Also, if you or your beneficiary live outside of Maryland, you should consider before investing whether your state or your beneficiary's state offers state tax or other benefits for investing in its 529 plan.

Morningstar analysts reviewed 63 plans for its 2016 ratings (10/25/16), of which 3 plans received a "Gold" rating and 10 plans received a "Silver" rating. Morningstar analysts reviewed 63 plans for its 2015 ratings (10/20/15), 64 plans for its 2014 ratings (10/21/14), 2013 ratings (10/22/13) and 2012 ratings (10/15/12), of which 4 plans received a "Gold" rating. To determine a plan's rating, Morningstar's analysts considered five factors: the plan's strategy and investment process; the plan's risk-adjusted performance; an assessment of the individuals managing the plan's investment options; the stewardship practices of the plan's administration and parent firm; and whether the plan's investment options are a good value proposition compared to its peers. Plans were then assigned forward-looking ratings of "Gold," "Silver," "Bronze," "Neutral," and "Negative." To earn a "Top" rating, a plan must be best-in-class across all five areas.

Analyst Ratings are subjective in nature and should not be used as the sole basis for investment decisions. Analyst Ratings are based on Morningstar analysts' current expectations about future events and therefore involve unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Morningstar's expectations not to occur or to differ significantly from what was expected. Morningstar does not represent its Analyst Ratings to be guarantees.

Maryland 529 Administrator and Issuer

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., Program Manager and Investment Advisor

T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., Distributor/Underwriter

SOURCE Maryland 529

Related Links

http://www.Maryland529.com


ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, has raised $2.75 million in support of victims of domestic violence. The nation's leading residential cleaning company is the only residential cleaning franchise to create its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Ms. Molly Foundation, which strives to increase public awareness of domestic violence and provides assistance to local shelters and agencies nationwide.

Each October, for the past 21 years, the franchise system comes together in honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month for the Ms. Molly Making a Difference Drive. Local Molly Maid offices collect funds and personal care items to donate to community shelters and agencies. In addition, franchise owners donate a portion of every house cleaning service to the cause, actively supporting the Ms. Molly Foundation. More than 80 percent of the franchise system participates in the drive.

The company recognizes a franchise owner each year for their commitment and support for victims of domestic violence at its annual convention. This year, Charlie and Megan Willingham, owners of Molly Maid of St. Louis, were honored as the 2016 Ms. Molly Making a Difference Award winners. They exceeded their $10,000 fundraising goal in 2016 through a well-planned campaign that began last August, and involved donating a portion of every clean throughout the year in addition to customer donations.

"Our team's support of the Ms. Molly Foundation was truly inspiring and this year's award belongs to them," said Megan Willingham. "It was amazing to see how instrumental everyone became in fundraising, from encouraging customers to get involved to even donating their own money in support of victims of domestic violence."

In 1996, Molly Maid Founder David McKinnon established the Ms. Molly Foundation. The nonprofit organization strives to increase public awareness of domestic violence and provides assistance to local shelters and agencies, supporting more than 100 this year.

"We're proud to honor the Willinghams and their staff with the Making a Difference Award for their collaborative support of ALIVE in St. Louis. Through the Ms. Molly Foundation, we hope to empower our communities to stop the cycle of violence in the home," said Molly Maid President Meg Roberts. "Ms. Molly allows our franchise owners, their employees, and customers to come together and support a cause that affects millions of women, men and children."

For more information about the Ms. Molly Foundation or to donate, visit www.msmolly.org.

About Molly Maid

Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, is a residential cleaning franchise that cleans more than 1.7 million homes annually. Founded in 1979 and franchising since 1984, there are more than 450 Molly Maid units operating in the United States. Molly Maid established the Ms. Molly Foundation in 1996 in an effort to raise awareness and support for victims of domestic violence. Acquired by Dwyer Group in 2015, Molly Maid is part of Neighborly, a community of home service experts with professional home service experts across 13 brands in the U.S. and Canada. This unique collection provides consumers assistance with nearly all aspects of their home care needs. Neighborly brands include: Aire Serv, Five Star Painting, Glass Doctor, Portland Glass, Molly Maid, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Electric, Mr. Handyman, Mr. Rooter, Protect Painters, Rainbow International, Window Genie and The Grounds Guys. Additional information about Neighborly can be found at www.GetNeighborly.com. For more information about Molly Maid, visit www.mollymaid.com and to learn about franchising opportunities with Molly Maid, visit http://franchise.mollymaid.com.

Media Contact: Bre Whalen, Fishman PR, 847-945-1300 or [email protected]

SOURCE Molly Maid

Related Links

https://www.mollymaid.com


"We are very excited to have Rebecca leading our Pharmacy Practice," said Brock Squire, chief operating officer of Lockton Benefits in the Mountain West series. "Rebecca's passion for client service, collaboration, and innovation represents a continued investment in our team to ensure Lockton is well positioned to meet the needs of current and future clients."

The St. Louis native has experience in product development, account management and sales. Throughout her career, she has worked directly with clients to build and execute strategies around program design and cost containment.

Lich completed an AMCP & ASHP accredited residency with the University of Massachusetts. She also holds a PharmD from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and a MBA from the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

Prior to relocating from St. Louis to Denver, Lich volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters for eight years and served two terms as an alumni board member for the organization.

About Lockton

Lockton is a global professional services firm with 6,500 Associates who advise clients on protecting their people, property and reputations. Lockton has grown to become the world's largest privately held, independent insurance broker by helping clients achieve their business objectives.

For nine consecutive years, Business Insurance magazine has recognized Lockton as a "Best Place to Work in Insurance."

SOURCE Lockton

Related Links

http://www.lockton.com


MIAMI, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Latino Center on Aging has presented Nestor Plana, Chairman and CEO of Independent Living Systems (ILS), with the organization's prestigious Golden Age Award. The Latino Center on Aging advocates for improved services for Latino seniors and provides information on the availability of community resources. Presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to Latino communities throughout the world, the Golden Age Awards has honored effective leadership, lifetime contributions, public policy initiatives, corporate contributions, and community involvement since 1993.

"I am both grateful and humbled to be recognized by an organization that has worked so diligently to improve the lives of seniors by supporting the creation and delivery of programs and services designed to improve their health and well-being," said Plana. "It is a privilege to support the organization's mission and to be recognized alongside other outstanding community leaders."

Mr. Plana founded ILS in 2001 to partner with health plans and providers in the delivery of health care services to America's most vulnerable and at-risk populations including the frail, elderly, and those with Special Needs. Under Plana's leadership, ILS has developed and provided a full continuum of services including Care Management and Coordination, Managed Long-Term Services and Supports, Nutritional Support Services, Transitional Care Services, and Third Party Administration.

About Independent Living Systems:

Independent Living Systems (ILS) is a Miami-based health care services company that provides a range of health care management services on behalf of health care plans, providers, hospitals, and community-based organizations. ILS provides member-centric health and support solutions to millions of America's Medicare, Medicaid, dual eligible, Special Needs, long-term care, and PACE members. The company employs more than 700 employees. For more information, visit www.ilshealthservices.com.

Media Contact:

Christian Heath, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

Independent Living Systems

[email protected]

(305) 397-7024

SOURCE Independent Living Systems

Related Links

http://www.ilshealthservices.com


WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The so-called Donald Trump of Britain, Nigel Farage, is set to speak on Thursday, October 12 at 8 PM at the Georgetown Marriott located at 1221 22nd St NW, Washington, DC.

As leader of the UK Independence Party and longtime member of Parliament, Farage stoked the Trump-like populist revolt which resulted in the dramatic, game-changing withdrawal of Britain from the European Union. The Brexit uprising against the established order has already changed the face of Britain, the EU, and the US.

Schedule of events: 7 PM open bar reception  West End Lounge

8 PM Nigel Farage Speaks followed by open Q & A  Metropolitan Galleries 1-2

9 PM Dessert, coffee and photo ops/interviews with Mr. Farage  West End Lounge

The evening is presented by LibertyNation.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ATTEND THIS EVENT:

Contact: Leesa K. Donner, Editorial Director, LibertyNation.com at [email protected] or (703)759-7500.

SOURCE Liberty Nation

Related Links

https://www.libertynation.com/


PROVO, Utah, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) today announced as part of its Nu Skin LIVE! event, the company will host an investor meeting on Thursday, Oct. 12. Key members of Nu Skin's management team will discuss recent business trends and upcoming initiatives.

For those who cannot attend the event in person, a webcast will begin at approximately 1:45 p.m. ET and will be available at ir.nuskin.com. A replay of the webcast, along with accompanying slides, will be made available from the same location through Oct. 26.

About Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. develops and distributes innovative consumer products, offering a comprehensive line of premium-quality beauty and wellness solutions. The company builds upon its scientific expertise in both skin care and nutrition to continually develop innovative product brands that include the Nu Skin personal care brand, the Pharmanex nutrition brand, and most recently, the ageLOC anti-aging brand. The ageLOC brand has generated a loyal following for such products as the ageLOC Youth nutritional supplement, the ageLOC Me customized skin care system, as well as the ageLOC TR90 weight management and body shaping system. Nu Skin sells its products through a global network of sales leaders in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific. As a long-standing member of direct selling associations globally, Nu Skin is committed to the industry's consumer guidelines that protect and support those who sell and purchase its products through the direct selling channel. Nu Skin is also traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NUS." More information is available at nuskin.com.

SOURCE Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.nuskinenterprises.com


Investors have the legal right to weigh in on important company decisions, or "vote their proxies." Yet proxy voting participation is historically low for individual investors. During last year's proxy season, just 28 percent of outstanding shares held by retail investors resulted in votes, according to a report by Broadridge Financial Solutions. The process is currently extremely complex, with shareholders either blocked from using their power by fund managers, or overwhelmed by paper packets and obscure ballot measures.

"Shareholders directly and indirectly own nearly 80 percent of U.S. equities, which means CEOs work for us," said Joshua Levin, co-founder and chief strategy officer, OpenInvest. "Until now, however, it has been virtually impossible to use this power. By unleashing the world's first digital democracy, we're putting the economy's most important decisions - whether to pollute or sustain the planet, whether to discriminate or diversify - at the fingertips of its rightful owners: you and me."

Using OpenInvest's app, individual investors can ditch the paper packets mailed to them and easily set up a low-cost market-performance investment portfolio tailored to their personal values. They then receive push notifications about corporate actions, divest-invest campaigns, and succinct descriptions of the proxy votes that matter to them most. They can swipe for or against an initiative as easily as selecting a Tinder date, and then share with others. As users take actions, their portfolios auto-rebalance so they don't have to sacrifice returns. Furthermore, on their dashboards, users can view their real-time environmental and social impacts.

Proxy ballot measures typically include: electing directors to the board, approving a merger or acquisition and approving a stock compensation plan. However, some of the most important votes include social and environmental issues, such as assessing climate change risk or issuing an anti-discrimination policy. For example, on October 10, Procter & Gamble (P&G) will have an important proxy vote to request a report on how the company will defend LGBTQ employees and their families against discrimination and harassment in states with new "Religious Freedom" laws.

To download the OpenInvest app and begin proxy voting with a swipe, visit www.openinvest.co/proxy-vote/ or the App Store.

About OpenInvest

OpenInvest (https://openinvest.co) is a YCombinator and Andreessen Horowitz-backed startup providing the world's first Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) platform for retail investors. The company was founded by a unique set of innovators: a technology leader from the world's largest hedge fund (Bridgewater), a sustainable finance leader from the world's largest environmental NGO (WWF), and the founder of a consumer tech unicorn (Deliveroo). Together with their team, they are committed to mainstreaming ethical investing by making it easy, personalized, and social. Vote in shareholder resolutions with a swipe, divest-invest, measure your impact, and claim the power that is rightfully yours in public markets. To get started, visit openinvest.co or download the app to sign up for free. Follow OpenInvest on Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contact

Melissa Barto

JCUTLER media group

[email protected]

SOURCE OpenInvest

Related Links

https://www.openinvest.co


WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Orolia, through its Spectracom brand, a global leader in Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions, today announced the availability of its latest technology innovation, VersaPNT.

VersaPNT provides virtually failsafe battlefield navigation, even in GPS-denied environments, to protect critical networks with Assured PNT technology. This new, ground, air or sea vehicle-mounted solution is ideal for military environments, with a ruggedized, compact, low power and lightweight form factor.

Today, military vehicles are portable networks, providing seamless connections with U.S. headquarters, regional command posts and individual soldiers. Remote areas are challenging environments for military networks, and enemy forces are jamming, spoofing and disrupting operations.

"VersaPNT provides continuous mission assurance and C4ISR support, even in hostile environments," said Orolia Vice President, PNT Networks and Sources, Rohit Braggs. "This innovative technology solution protects critical networks for complex military and homeland security land, air and sea operations."

Every minute counts on the battlefield, and VersaPNT provides critical decision support with real-time situational awareness to facilitate a rapid response. This lifesaving technology can also help keep soldiers and civilians out of harm's way, while ensuring continuous tracking of friendly and enemy forces.

VersaPNT provides essential command and control, navigation, communication and electronic intelligence support for U.S. and allied military, homeland security, first responder, civilian agency, special operations and intelligence missions. Demonstrations are available at the AUSA Annual Meeting, Orolia Booth #2944.

For more information, visit the VersaPNT information page.

About Orolia

Orolia is a world leader in Assured PNT solutions that improve the reliability, performance and safety of customers' critical, remote or high-risk operations. With locations in more than 100 countries worldwide, Orolia provides virtually fail-safe GPS/GNSS and PNT products and solutions for their customers' most mission critical needs. www.orolia.com

About Spectracom

Spectracom, an Orolia brand, is a leading provider of Assured PNT solutions that increase multi-signal reliability, time synchronization and security for critical applications. We offer outstanding customer service backed by continuous certification to ISO9001 and other global quality standards.

Contact:

Jennifer Hewitt

Boscobel Marketing Communications, for Orolia

[email protected]

(571) 388-8671

SOURCE Orolia

Related Links

http://www.orolia.com


IRVING, Texas, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- QEO Group, LLC ("QEO") and Clear Blue Financial Holdings, LLC ("Clear Blue") announced today that the two companies have agreed to a long-term, exclusive relationship for QEO to write its commercial automobile insurance program on Clear Blue's carriers, Clear Blue Insurance Company and Clear Blue Specialty Insurance Company.

"We are very excited to announce this exclusive relationship for QEO to write its commercial auto program with Clear Blue," said Jerome Breslin, Clear Blue's Chief Executive Officer. Clear Blue recently added $42 million of capital from its private equity backer, Pine Brook, to support this new growth.

"QEO is pleased to announce this exclusive, long-term relationship with Clear Blue. This provides QEO the ability to sustain its growth for the coming years, and to do so as the exclusive provider of Commercial Automobile Insurance for Clear Blue. This is a tremendous opportunity for QEO and its appointed agents," said David Disiere, QEO's Chief Executive Officer.

The relationship provides QEO with nationwide exclusivity to write its commercial automobile program for five years. "The agreement with Clear Blue, among other things, allows QEO to avoid any market confusion and channel conflicts for its agents and their customers," said David Disiere. "QEO could not be more excited about this relationship and the opportunities that it provides to fuel QEO's future growth and success."

About QEO Group, LLC

QEO Group, LLC is a privately owned, full-service MGA that offers commercial automobile insurance through its network of independent agents.

About Clear Blue Financial Holdings, LLC

Clear Blue Financial Holdings, LLC is a privately owned company, which through its wholly-owned subsidiaries offers fronting and related services to the U.S. insurance marketplace. Clear Blue is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clear Blue is AM Best rated A- (VIII). Clear Blue Insurance Company is an Illinois domiciled insurer, and Clear Blue Specialty Insurance Company is a North Carolina domiciled insurer.

About Pine Brook

Pine Brook is an investment firm that manages more than $6.0 billion of limited partner commitments that makes "business building" and other equity investments, primarily in energy and financial services businesses. Pine Brook's team of investment professionals collectively has over 300 years of experience financing the growth of businesses with equity, working alongside talented entrepreneurs and experienced management teams to build businesses of scale without relying on acquisition leverage. For more information about Pine Brook, please visit the company's website at www.pinebrookpartners.com.

Contacts:

Ed Walsh

For QEO Group, LLC

Romph & Pou Agency

318-424-2676 ext. 345

[email protected]

Dan Kennedy

For Clear Blue Financial Holdings, LLC

980-202-5780

[email protected]

SOURCE QEO Group, LLC
Raytheon, in partnership with Student Veterans of America, offers two scholarship opportunities designed to help student veterans achieve educational goals that will lead to success in their civilian lives. The Raytheon-SVA scholarship is open to all U.S. military veterans who want to further their education in engineering and related technology fields after returning to civilian life. The Patriot Scholarship, named after the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System , is offered annually to two U.S. Army veterans pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited university. Both scholarships require applicants to demonstrate leadership and commitment to their communities.

The 2017 Raytheon-SVA scholarship recipients are:

Daniel Smith , a U.S. Navy veteran at Pennsylvania State University , where he studies Industrial Engineering.

a U.S. veteran at , where he studies Industrial Engineering. Joseph Lehning , a U.S. Marine Corps veteran at Arizona State University , where he studies Information Technology.

, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran at , where he studies Information Technology. Michael Bryan , a U.S. Marine Corps veteran at Florida State University , where he studies Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

a U.S. Marine Corps veteran at , where he studies Electrical and Electronics Engineering. Sanjay Shrestha , a U.S. Army veteran at Saint Mary's College of California , where he studies Mathematics and Computer Science.

, a U.S. Army veteran at , where he studies Mathematics and Computer Science. Stephen Proud, a U.S. Air Force veteran at the University of West Florida , where he studies Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

The 2017 Raytheon Patriot Scholarship recipients are:

Charles Deibel , a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger veteran currently pursuing a joint Juris Doctor and Masters of International Affairs degrees at Pennsylvania State University.

, a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger veteran currently pursuing a joint Juris Doctor and Masters of International Affairs degrees at Pennsylvania State University. Jennifer Hosley , a U.S. Army veteran, who served in Kuwait and Korea as a Patriot operator, and is now a student at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith pursuing a degree in Middle Childhood Education.

"We want to help position student veterans for future success as they make the transition from active military service to civilian life," said Tom Laliberty, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "These scholarships will support them as they attain their personal goals and pursue successful and rewarding careers."

Raytheon has provided more than $200,000 in scholarships to student veterans in partnership with SVA since 2013. The scholarships are part of the company's 5-year $5 million partnership commitment with SVA to empower student veterans to reach their higher education and career goals. For more information on SVA scholarships, visit studentveterans.org.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2016 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 95 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter.

About Student Veterans of America

SVA is the country's premier organization for student veterans. SVA supports all veterans through their transition from the military, educational advancement, and career growth. SVA represents a network of nearly 1,500 chapters on campuses in all 50 states and four countries representing over 600,000 student veterans at those colleges and universities. For more information, visit us at www.studentveterans.org.

Media Contact

Samantha Sullivan

+1.978.858.1110

[email protected]

SOURCE Raytheon Company

Related Links

http://www.raytheon.com


For more specific information, Recaro Automotive Seating has launched a special microsite under www.recaro-automotive-sema.com . Over the coming weeks the site will provide details about the new RECARO products, details on the pre-order process, a dealer search and a link to the online store for Recaro seats in the US. But first of all, fans can apply for a chance to win an unforgettable experience: Recaro Automotive Seating and the Ford Racing Performance School have joined forces for SEMA 2017  and the winner will enjoy one day of high performance driving instruction at the Ford Performance Racing School .

About Recaro Automotive Seating:

Recaro Automotive Seating is a product group of Adient. At seven locations in Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Japan, Mexico, and the USA, we design, manufacture, and market complete seats representative of our core competencies of design, ergonomics, craftsmanship, robustness, lightweight construction, and first-class workmanship, under the brand name Recaro. Recaro Automotive Seating consists of two units: While Recaro Performance Car Seating offers passenger car seats for OEMs and the aftermarket, Recaro Commercial Vehicle Seating focuses on commercial vehicle seats in the OEM and aftermarket segments. Recaro Automotive Seating uses the brand Recaro under a license of the Recaro Holding.

About Adient:

Adient is a global leader in automotive seating. With 75,000 employees operating 230 manufacturing/assembly plants in 33 countries worldwide, Adient produces and delivers automotive seating for all vehicle classes and all major OEMs. From complete seating systems to individual components, the company's expertise spans every step of the automotive seat-making process. Adient's integrated, in-house skills allow it to take products from research and design all the way to engineering and manufacturing  and into more than 25 million vehicles every year. To learn more, please visit adient.com.

SOURCE Recaro Automotive Seating
ATLANTA, Oct. 9. 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With Illinois becoming the 24th state in the country on September 19th, 2017 to achieve Full Practice Authority Status for APRNs, the APRNs of Georgia have a renewed Call to Action to Support SR 188 "Barriers to Georgians' Accessing Adequate Healthcare." The SR 188 Study Committee takes an in-depth look at the physician shortage data. Additionally, it explores how APRNs in Georgia could be an important part of the solution for the access to healthcare crisis across Georgia which is particularly severe in the state's rural areas. Many citizens of Georgia do not receive any care or drive long distances beyond their own counties to access primary care and other health services. Finding access to quality healthcare for all communities is possible if Georgia follows the national trend removing legal barriers for APRNs to practice at the fullest scope of their education, training and certification.

It is important for everyone supporting the efforts of Nursing to continue to have a notable presence at all SR 188 hearings. The first meeting of SR 188 was convened at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, September 27th. Despite scheduling challenges due to Hurricane Irma, there was standing room only at the first meeting. The next committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 16th at 12p at Augusta University. The meeting is scheduled in the Lee Auditorium that will accommodate everyone that would like to show their support by attending the meeting. Please sign up at the following link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d44a8ae2ba1f85-sr188ga. The third meeting of SR 188 will occur on Monday, November 6th at 10 am with the location to be announced. The final committee meeting is scheduled for 10am on Monday, November 27th at the Georgia State Capitol.

APRNs and RNs are asked to attend all meetings wearing a white lab coat and blue scarf to identify themselves and show support as nurses. For nurses that do not already have a signature scarves, one will be provided to them as they arrive to the meeting by the Georgia Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (CAPRN). Supporters who cannot attend the entire meeting should feel free to attend for the time they are available. This is an exciting time for the nurses of Georgia. We look to Georgia's future as a state that is growing and poised to ensure that all segments of Georgia's healthcare provider workforce is able practice to the fullest extent of their education, training, and certification. This must be done in order to meet the need for access to optimal healthcare for all Georgians. So what number full practice authority state will Georgia be? If Georgia's almost 160,000 nurses are engaged at the legislative table, they will have a powerful voice in determining a successful outcome.

About UAPRN of GA: UAPRN of GA exists to represent APRN legislative and practice issues and to support the advancement of the APRN role. One of the organization's purposes is to promote collaboration and unification of all APRNs in Georgia. "Energized by 1 voice" is the new UAPRN of GA organizational slogan that speaks to the unification and inter-collaboration among the nursing organizations in Georgia. To learn more about UAPRN of GA and its initiatives along with SR 188 please visit https://uaprn.enpnetwork.com.

SOURCE United Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Georgia (UAPRN of GA)
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ESS|Source4Teachers is partnering with Kidsbridge in sponsorship of the third annual Character Education Leadership Awards2017, to recognize New Jersey educators who promote character education and bullying prevention. ESS|Source4Teachers, a leading national substitute teacher and paraprofessional staffing firm in K-12 education, has partnerships with 104 New Jersey school districts.

"Because we have over twelve thousand substitute teachers and support personnel who work in New Jersey schools, we wanted to recognize the work they and others do that goes above and beyond day-to-day classroom work," said ESS|Source4Teachers CEO Buddy Helton. "There are so many educators who work to ensure a positive classroom experience for students so they can learn in the best environment. These educators deserve recognition."

All New Jersey teachers, principals, counselors, substitute teachers and paraprofessionals are eligible for nomination from their colleagues until October 20th. A group of educators and community business leaders will then pick the first, second and third place winners, who will each receive a cash prize and be honored at the Eleventh Annual Kidsbridge Humanitarian Awards Celebration on November 9th.

"We work with hundreds of educators each year and rely on them to help us promote a caring classroom environment," said Kidsbridge Executive Director Lynne Azarchi. "The responsibility of today's educators goes well beyond teaching kids math or science  they're training kids on how to be compassionate, thoughtful and respectful, both now and through adulthood. We're grateful that ESS|Source4Teachers is partnering with us and making sure these hardworking teachers who inspire kindness are properly acknowledged."

This is ESS|Source4Teachers's fifth year supporting a Kidsbridge event. Previously, Source4Teachers participated in the New Jersey-based anti-bullying organization's Walk2Stop Bullying fundraiser.

"We're proud to work with Kidsbridge and support its mission to educate and empower youth through character education, diversity appreciation and pro-social life skills training," said Helton. "When students are better equipped with social and emotional skills, their overall school experience is improved and they become more successful."

ESS|Source4Teachers also has partnerships with school districts in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Florida, Oregon, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, Maryland and Missouri.

About ESS|Source4Teachers:

Established in 2000, ESS|Source4Teachers is a leading national provider of managed solutions in K-12 education. It recruits, hires, trains, places and manages qualified substitute teachers, paraprofessionals and other support staff for school districts in 15 states throughout the United States. Each day, the organization fills more than 10,000 daily, long-term, and permanent school assignments for more than 400 partners serving 1.5 million students. For more information, call (877) 983-2244 or visit Source4Teachers.com or ESS.com.

About Kidsbridge

Kidsbridge is a nonprofit organization which hosts the only youth-focused tolerance center in the U.S. The organization offers developmentally appropriate programs for preschool/kindergarten, elementary and middle school. Empathy, empowerment, social-emotional skills and diversity education programs are offered either at the Center or mobile to schools or camps. Youth participate in 'evidence-based' small group discussions and interactive activities led by trained facilitators. Topics include: bias and stereotype awareness; bullying/teasing prevention; creation of a support team; disability and LGBT issues; diversity appreciation and respect; empathy, UPstander behavior and empowerment; genocide and the Holocaust; and media literacy. Located in the Ewing Senior and Community Center in Ewing, NJ, more than 2,000 students and 200 educators are educated through Kidsbridge programs each year.

SOURCE Source4Teachers

Related Links

http://www.Source4Teachers.com


BANGKOK, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Royal Thai Government has scheduled a Royal Cremation ceremony for His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away on October 13 last year, to be held during October 25 to 29, 2017 at the Sanam Luang Royal Ceremonial Ground in Bangkok. The actual cremation will take place on October 26, which has been declared a national public holiday to allow the public to participate and share in the nation's mourning at the passing of our dearly beloved and revered monarch.

During this time of great sadness and mourning, there may be changes in service hours at some tourist attractions, including road closures in the vicinity of the Sanam Luang Ceremonial Ground. Business travelers should therefore reconfirm their itineraries and check local media regularly for updates. All MICE venues, transport, banks, hospitals and other public services will be operating as usual.

Throughout this month, Thai people will be dressed in black as a sign of mourning and respect. Foreign visitors, however, are asked to be in harmonious with this period of the great loss of the Thai nation.

TCEB takes this opportunity to extend our thanks to all business travelers for their understanding and continued support for Thailand.

For more details on the Royal Cremation, please visit: http://www.kingrama9.net/EN

For further information, business travelers should call TCEB: +66 (0) 2694 6000, TCEB Call Centre at 1105 (within Thailand only), visit www.tceb.or.th or contact [email protected]. We will be issuing regular updates.

SOURCE Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)

Related Links

http://www.tceb.or.th


Days Of Future Passed was the Moody Blues' landmark second album and is widely considered to have formally marked the beginning of the band's psychedelic era. Featuring the London Festival Orchestra, this richly orchestrated album followed in the wake of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour but was in itself a unique and highly original piece of work. The album includes the hits "Tuesday Afternoon" and the ever-enduring "Nights In White Satin," which established the Moody Blues as true pioneers in the development of progressive rock.

The Moody Blues' Days Of Future Passed 50th Anniversary Tour continues in January 2018 with U.S. dates on sale now. For details, visit moodybluestoday.com.

Currently nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2018, The Moody Blues have been at the forefront of the UK's classic rock music scene for fifty years and have continued to be a mainstay of concert stages, recording studios and the airwaves to the present day. During their immensely successful career, they have sold, according to the band's files, more than 70 million albums worldwide and have been the recipients of numerous prestigious awards.

The Moody Blues: Days Of Future Passed 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition [2CD/DVD]

Disc 1 (CD1)

Original 1967 Stereo Mix (previously unreleased on CD)

1. THE DAY BEGINS

2. DAWN: Dawn Is A Feeling

3. THE MORNING: Another Morning

4. LUNCH BREAK: Peak Hour

5. THE AFTERNOON: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) / Time To Get Away

6. EVENING: The Sun Set: Twilight Time

7. THE NIGHT: Nights In White Satin

Bonus Tracks

BBC Saturday Club Session

8. Long Summer Days

9. Think About It

10. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

BBC Easybeat Session

11. Love And Beauty

12. Leave This Man Alone

13. Peak Hour

BBC Dave Symonds Session

14. Nights In White Satin

15. Fly Me High

16. Twilight Time

Disc 2 (CD2)

1972 Stereo Mix

1. THE DAY BEGINS

2. DAWN: Dawn Is A Feeling

3. THE MORNING: Another Morning

4. LUNCH BREAK: Peak Hour

5. THE AFTERNOON: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) / Time To Get Away

6. EVENING: The Sun Set: Twilight Time

7. THE NIGHT: Nights In White Satin

Bonus Tracks

8. Tuesday Afternoon (Alternate Mix)

9. DAWN: Dawn Is A Feeling (Alternate Mix)

10. The Sun Set (Alternate Version without orchestra)

11. Twilight Time (Original vocal mix)

12. I Really Haven't Got The Time (B-side single)

13. Fly Me High (A-side single)

14. Love And Beauty (A-side single)

15. Leave This Man Alone (B-Side single)

16. Nights In White Satin (A-side single)

17. Cities (B-side single)

Disc 3 (DVD)

Audio Content

5.1 Surround Sound Mix & 96kHz / 24-bit 1967 stereo mix

THE DAY BEGINS / DAWN: Dawn Is A Feeling / THE MORNING: Another Morning / LUNCH BREAK: Peak Hour / THE AFTERNOON: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) / Time To Get Away / EVENING: The Sun Set: Twilight Time / THE NIGHT: Nights In White Satin

Visual Content

British Gala Du MIDEM (France 1968): Peak Hour / Tuesday Afternoon / Nights In White Satin

The Moody Blues: Days Of Future Passed [180g Vinyl LP]

Restored Original 1967 Stereo Mix

Side One

1. THE DAY BEGINS

2. DAWN: Dawn Is A Feeling

3. THE MORNING: Another Morning

4. LUNCH BREAK: Peak Hour



Side Two

1. THE AFTERNOON: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) / Time To Get Away

2. EVENING: The Sun Set: Twilight Time

3. THE NIGHT: Nights In White Satin

SOURCE UMe
NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ThyroSeq, a joint partnership between UPMC and CBLPath, announced today, that the results of a double-blind, multi-center international study, validating the performance of ThyroSeq V3 in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology, will be presented at the 87th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association (ATA). The meeting will be held on October 18-22 in Victoria, BC, Canada. A clinical oral presentation and a poster presentation will demonstrate ThyroSeq's V3 effective tools for a definitive diagnosis and ability to decrease the largest number of avoidable diagnostic surgeries, thus providing the most cost-effective patient care.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to present our findings demonstrating the performance of this new, most comprehensive version of ThyroSeq for diagnosis of cancer in thyroid nodules," said Yuri Nikiforov, M.D., Ph.D, Professor of Pathology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and principal investigator of the multi-center ThyroSeq V3 trial. "The results of rigorous test validation in multiple clinical centers in the U.S. and abroad provide confidence that this most accurate test will allow us to save the largest number of avoidable thyroid surgeries and offer individualized management of patients with thyroid nodules and cancer based on the cutting-edge genomic science."

Clinical oral presentation and poster presentation are as follows:

Title: Results of the multi-institutional prospective double blind study of ThyroSeq V3 performance in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology. Presenters: Steven Hodak, M.D., NYU Langone Medical Center

Yuri Nikiforov, M.D., Ph.D, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Bryan Haugen, M.D., University of Colorado Date/Time: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, Noon - 1:00 PM Location: Victoria Conference Center, Oak Bay



Title: Analytical Performance of the ThyroSeq V3 Genomic Classifier for Cancer Diagnosis in Thyroid Nodules

(Short Call Poster Presentation) Presenters: Marina N. Nikiforova, M.D., University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, et al. Date/Time: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 9:30-10:45 AM; 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Location: Victoria Conference Center, ATA Exhibit Hall



Title: Clinical Validation of ThyroSeq V3 Performance in Thyroid Nodules with Indeterminate Cytology:

A Prospective Blinded Multi-Institutional Validation Study

(Clinical Short Call Oral Presentation) Presenters: Yuri Nikiforov, M.D., Ph.D, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, et al. Date/ Time: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Location: Victoria Conference Center, Salon AB

About ThyroSeq

ThyroSeq is a joint partnership between UPMC and CBLPath. ThyroSeq is an innovative test for thyroid nodules and cancer. With a 10-year history of continuous refinement, it incorporates all major scientific discoveries and utilizes advanced technology to provide the most accurate diagnosis of benign or malignant disease in thyroid nodules. For more information, visit ThyroSeq online.

About CBL Pathology

CBLPath, Inc. is a leading provider of sub-specialized anatomic pathology and molecular diagnostic laboratory services. For more information, please visit www.cblpath.com

Jeanine Wilson

(845) 548-1211

[email protected]

SOURCE ThyroSeq
ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Trident Processes has received the prestigious Canadian Business Excellence Award for Private Businesses for 2018. This award is given annually to 25 private businesses across Canada.

"Excellence Canada would like to congratulate the entire team from Trident Processes on being awarded the Canadian Business Excellence Award (CBEA) for Private Businesses," stated Allan Ebedes, President and CEO of Excellence Canada.

Trident Processes has received the prestigious Canadian Business Excellence Award for Private Businesses for 2018.

Trident has commercialized a unique process for recovering and repurposing valuable resources from livestock manure and municipal wastewater. Its technologies recover nutrients and other resources which is a growing focus of agricutural, municipal and industrial wastewater industries. The company has grown exponentially the past three years capturing notice of important clients, including some of the largest and most influential dairy farms and municipal districts in Canada and the USA.

This award is presented by Excellence Canada and PwC Canada and is a special recognition of Canadian businesses that demonstrate exemplary performance of strategic plans and exceptional achievement of their business goals. Applicant's companies are evaluated by an independent adjudication committee from organizations that include BC Business Magazine, CEO Global Network, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Carleton University, CPA Canada, MaRS, PwC Canada, and Excellence Canada.

"I continue to be amazed at the level of recognition our company has been able to achieve the past couple of years," states an exuberant Kerry Doyle, CEO of Trident Processes, at a posh awards ceremony held at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. "Who would have thought a small company that processes dairy manure and municipal wastewater would be receiving an award alongside big consulting firms, bankers and IT professionals?"

This award follows another award presented for innovative technology by the US Environmental Protection Agency in April 2016 at the White House, and in July 2016, Kerry Doyle was invited by the Honourable Ed Fast, Vice Chair of the Canadian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to present the benefits of Trident's technology and the benefits it has for clients and the environment.

"It highlights the importance of the work we are doing," says Doyle. "Just tonight a Toronto TV newscast reported on the distructive affects algae blooms are having on Lake Erie. Our nutrient recovery technology focuses on solving exactly those problems."

Trident's technologies are in lock-step with innovative adoptors looking for ways to achieve more sustainable practices and recover value from their waste streams. They are good for the environment and able to protect or even add to the operator's bottom fiscal line.

While, Trident's unique technologies had their inception in the agricultural sector there is also interest from the municipal wastewater sector. In early 2017, Trident test piloted a sludge dewatering system at one of the largest municipal wastewater districts in the USA. "It's still too early to publish the data," says Doyle, "but the results look very promising. The technology integrates well into existing municipal wastewater systems and has the potential to save districts a lot of money."

Trident Processes, Inc. is an integrated resource recovery company headquartered in British Columbia with proprietary technologies for processing wastewater and sludge. Trident's technologies process wastewater and sludge into clean water and recovers other valuable components for reuse. Trident uses specialized equipment and proprietary processes specific to customer projects. Trident technologies can be found worldwide on waste stream projects for industries such as agricultural operations, waste treatment plants, and food processing operations. www.tridentprocesses.com

Media Contact: Richard Shatto, Point Nexus Consulting Inc. [email protected] 1.604.807.6334.

SOURCE Trident Processes Inc.

Related Links

http://www.tridentprocesses.com


SAN FRANCISCO, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The global trivalent chromate finishing market is expected to reach USD 379.1 million by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The increasing awareness about health and safety issues coupled with regulatory mandates to enforce trivalent chromium as a replacement for hexavalent chromium is projected to fuel the market growth. In addition, rising demand from the European region is further expected to propel the demand over the forecast period.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160524/371361LOGO )

In terms of revenue, decorative was the largest application segment in 2016 and the trend is anticipated to continue at a growth rate of 4.6% over the forecast period. Increasing need for improving the surface appearance of components is expected to contribute to the growth. Decorative chrome is being widely used on account of various properties such as stain and abrasion resistance. The extensive research to reduce the use of harmful chemicals in the chrome finishing process is boosting the demand for trivalent chrome finishing. The growth in construction activities due to the rising demand from the residential sector on account of easy credit availability is anticipated to drive the decorative chrome application in the architecture industry.

Trivalent chromate finished components are used in the manufacturing of various types of aircraft, which require precise dimensional measurements and corrosion resistant property. The increasing national security threats and mounting global tensions have boosted the budget spending for aerospace in the defense sector. The increased spending is expected to trigger the need for various ferrous and non-ferrous aerospace components, which use trivalent chromium finishing to improve the appearance and other properties of aircraft parts. These factors together are anticipated to boost trivalent chromium finishing market demand over the forecast period.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Trivalent Chromium Finishing Market Analysis, By System (Plating, Conversion Coatings, Passivation), By Application (Decorative, Functional), By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/trivalent-chromium-finishing-market

Further Key Findings From the Report Suggest:

Plating segment is expected to experience the fastest growth, in terms of value, at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2017 to 2025 as plating systems find application in various end-use industries such as automotive, hydraulics, and heavy machinery

Decorative emerged as the largest application segment, in terms of revenue, in 2016 and is estimated to be valued at USD 284.4 million by 2025. The growing popularity on account of corrosion and abrasion resistance properties is projected to drive the growth.

by 2025. The growing popularity on account of corrosion and abrasion resistance properties is projected to drive the growth. Automotive was estimated as the largest end-use industry due to different types of decorative and functional chrome being widely used for components in vehicle manufacturing

The U.S. trivalent chromium market, in terms of revenue, was valued at USD 44.07 million in 2016 and is estimated to reach USD 69.25 million by 2025. The automobile industry in the U.S. is projected to witness substantial growth over the next 8 years owing to the increasing demand for energy.

in 2016 and is estimated to reach by 2025. The automobile industry in the U.S. is projected to witness substantial growth over the next 8 years owing to the increasing demand for energy. Key players including MacDermid Incorporated; Atotech Deutschland GmbH; Sarrel Group; Chem Processing, Inc.; Kakihara Industries Co., Ltd.; and Ronatec C2C, Inc. have a prominent presence in the global trivalent finishing market

Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Epichlorohydrin Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/epichlorohydrin-ech-market



Anthracene Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/anthracene-market



Marine Coatings Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/marine-coatings-market



Radiation Cured Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/radiation-cured-market

Grand View Research has segmented the global trivalent chromate finishing market on the basis of system, application, end use, and region:

Trivalent Chromium Finishing System Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Plating Decorative Plating Functional Plating Conversion Coatings Decorative Conversion Coatings Functional Conversion Coatings Passivation

Trivalent Chromium Finishing Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Decorative Functional

Trivalent Chromium Finishing End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Automotive Oil & Gas Aerospace Hydraulics & Heavy Machinery Others Appliance Industry Architectural Industry Fastener Industry Hardware Industry

Trivalent Chromium Finishing Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Europe Germany UK Italy Asia Pacific China India Japan Central & South America Brazil Middle East & Africa



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About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

Contact:

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Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc

Phone: +1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

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Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
AMSTERDAM, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

UBM announced today the continuation of its strategy to ensure Medtec Europe is the preeminent, stand alone, European-focussed, medical technology platform by deciding to integrate Medtec Ireland and Medtec Europe. This is part of a long-term plan to integrate all domestic European events into one main event covering the whole of the European market, providing both exhibitors and visitors with a much stronger commercial proposition. This strategic move will provide even more networking opportunities for the medical technology industry across Europe, combined with a strong offering of content during the event and across the whole year.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539190/UBM_Logo.jpg )



Medtec Ireland, one of the longest standing pure medical design and manufacturing events, successfully brought together more than 700 attendees over two days at this year's event. However, from 2018, Medtec Europe will become the focal point for the full spectrum of the of the medical technology industry across Europe. This up-tiering approach has been successfully used before with Medtec UK, Medtec France, and Medtec Italy, resulting in an average increase in visitor numbers from these markets at Medtec Europe of 22.5%. Furthermore, there has been increased interest and attendance at Medtec Europe by Irish visitors, making the focus on Medtec Europe in line with industry trends.

Medtec Europe 2018 will bring together leading experts, buyers and sellers from across the medical technology industry, with companies from the UK and Ireland receiving special visibility with a dedicated pavilion.

"This year's Medtec Ireland was a great success and a real opportunity for attendees to upskill on the big topics that are driving the industry, both locally and globally," said Anne Schumacher, Brand Director, Medtec. "We've seen continued interest from Irish visitors to Medtec Europe and, as a valued partner for our customers, it was a natural step to consolidate our activities and meet the needs and aspiration for a true, European event. Making Medtec Europe the prime location for the medical technology industry will ensure that our partners in Ireland and across Europe have opportunities to reach into bigger networks while providing an attractive value proposition. With increased visitors from across markets, Medtec Europe will facilitate collaboration and commercialisation opportunities that will drive the medical technology industry forward."

Medtec Europe 2018 will take place in Stuttgart on 17-19 April 2018. As one of the most exciting sectors of the Industry, one key element of Medtec Europe 2018 will be Smart Health innovations. The industry is developing a need for digitalisation and smart solutions throughout all segments of the medical device production chain and there will be live demonstrations, expert speaking sessions, and exhibitors focussing on this sector. To register for Medtec Europe 2018, please visit: www.medteceurope.com/europe

About Medtec Europe

Medtec Europe is the preeminent medical technology platform showcasing the key trends and insights across the entire supply chain of the medical technology industry. Medtec Europe brings together companies in the medical device supply chain in order to share ideas, meet partners, and discover, experience and source products & services from all stages of production in order to create the next generation of medical devices.

About UBM EMEA

UBM EMEA connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands, and expand their market. Through premier brands such as Medtec, CPhI, TFM&A, Internet World, IFSEC, MD&M, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, and many others, UBM EMEA exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites, and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors.

The UBM plc. annual schedule of medical events includes:

Medtec Europe (17 - 19 April 2018)

Medtec Japan (18 - 20 April 2018)

BIOMED Boston (18 - 19 April 2018)

Medtec China (2019)

MD&M West (6 - 8 February 2018)

UBM EMEA is committed to the continual improvement of sustainability

To ensure long term profitability, UBM EMEA aims to be a leader in sustainable business, aligning all key business decisions with our sustainability strategy. UBM EMEA sees it as fundamental that we are conscious of the impact that our actions have on the environment and the communities in which we operate. UBM EMEA strives to manage its impact by ensuring that the principles of sustainability are at the core of all our activities. A corner stone to our journey towards sustainability is our certification to the ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Management System. UBM EMEA is one of the first major organisers to successfully implement and certify our sustainable event management system against the International Standard ISO 20121.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Jonathan Falcone

TogoRun

T: +44-(0)-20-8618-2752

E: [email protected]

SOURCE UBM
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute, the leading biotechnology incubator at the University of Florida, reports that resident company MLM Biologics Inc., a medical device start-up company focused on advanced wound care and musculoskeletal innovation, has responded with humanitarian help for needy patients in Puerto Rico following the Hurricane Maria devastation to the island.

Chandra Nataraj, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, MLM Biologics, said, "When we saw the crisis unfolding in Puerto Rico after the hurricane's destruction, we wanted to help as an organization. Our mission is to help patients worldwide and it's an emergency situation there so we mobilized to get wound care supplies to them."

Coordinating their efforts with MMM Healthcare, the first Medicare Advantage health plan provider in Puerto Rico, MLM Biologics participated in the airlift of medical supplies for the Puerto Rican elderly and special needs population. ReliOx Corporation, another Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute resident company, also participated in the relief efforts.

MLM Biologics' health care network solutions partner, Trinity-Pharmaco Solutions, helped facilitate the handover of the first shipment of wound care and anti-microbial supplies, valued at more than $75,000. The supplies arrived in Puerto Rico Oct. 1st.

Merrie Shaw, Assistant Director of the Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute, said, "MLM Biologics' patient welfare efforts are another wonderful example of how our resident companies continue to feed, fuel and heal the world."

About MLM Biologics Inc.

MLM Biologics is a medical device startup company focused on the advanced wound care and musculoskeletal markets. A resident company of the Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute, the company is currently commercializing its advanced wound care product, the bio-ConneKt Wound Matrix. This FDA-cleared all-biologic device is clinically- and cost-effective, and designed to serve the needs of patients and doctors worldwide. For more information visit MLM Biologics.

About Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute at the University of Florida

The Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute is the leading biotechnology incubator headquartered at the University of Florida in Alachua, Florida at Progress Park. The Institute has been honored with national and international awards for incubator excellence and achievements in technology commercialization, funding access, job creation and technology-based economic development. It is dedicated to mentoring and accelerating the growth of innovative early-stage bioscience and biotechnology companies, and supporting the economic growth of the North Central Florida region. For more information, visit SidMartinBio.com.

Contacts:

Chandra Nataraj, Ph.D., CEO, MLM Biologics Inc., 1-844-465-6246, [email protected], www.mlmbiologics.com

Merrie Shaw, Assistant Director, Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute, 386-462-0880, [email protected], www.sidmartinbio.com

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Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute - University of Florida

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MLM Biologics Inc.

SOURCE Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute

Related Links

http://SidMartinBio.com


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today plans to refranchise its corporate-owned territory in Memphis, Tenn. The company is seeking a sales-driven entrepreneur to invest in this turnkey franchise opportunity and further strengthen its market presence. For over 17 years, Valpak of Memphis has been mailing its signature Blue Envelope  to as many as 120,000 homes in the Memphis area and surrounding communities, but is looking to expand its reach to 400,000 homes over the next several years.

As the second largest metropolitan area in the state, the Memphis market offers a stable climate for economic growth. In addition to the city's vibrant history and diverse economic activity, Forbes recently recognized Memphis as one of the Top 100 Best Places for Business and Careers.

"Valpak's territory in Memphis is the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs who are looking to capitalize on an established and flourishing market," said Greg Courchane, Valpak's director of franchise sales. "Many households across Memphis already recognize our Blue Envelope of savings. We look forward to partnering with a hands-on entrepreneur to take this territory to the next level and provide the very best print and digital marketing solutions to even more small and medium-sized businesses in the area."

A leader in cooperative direct mail, Valpak mails coupons to nearly 37 million demographically targeted households per month in 47 states and three Canadian provinces. In addition to its flagship Blue Envelope, Valpak offers its business customers an impressive portfolio of digital advertising products including valpak.com, Smartphone apps, Google partnerships, website development, mobile web optimization, and reputation management.

With more than 25 million Americans using couponing apps each month, Valpak's digital offerings have been a big draw for new franchisees. Digital coupon use is on the rise, and ample gains are projected in 2017. In the past year, Valpak's print offerings have also expanded with on-envelope advertising and circulars.

Ideal candidates for Valpak franchise ownership should possess a desire to join a trusted, industry-leading brand, work within a proven franchise system, develop relationships with local businesses and have a comfort level with selling new, digital technologies. Franchisees should also have a minimum liquidity of $75,000, and a minimum net worth of $150,000.

For more information on Valpak franchise opportunities, please contact Greg Courchane at [email protected] or 727-399-3091 or visit www.valpakfranchising.com.

About Valpak

Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Valpak is one of the leading direct marketing companies in the U.S. and Canada. We provide print and digital advertising through a network of 150 local franchises. From mailbox to mobile phone, Valpak brings exciting local business offers and opportunities to millions of consumers. Each month, our well-known Blue Envelope of savings is mailed to nearly 37 million demographically targeted households in 47 states and in three Canadian provinces. Our digital suite of products, including Valpak.com, reaches more than 110 million users.

CONTACT:

Dave Williams

Valpak

727-319-5443

[email protected]

Alexya Williams

Fish Consulting

575-202-7367

[email protected]

SOURCE Valpak

Related Links

https://www.valpak.com


The new inpatient rehabilitation hospital will provide treatment for patients with a number of neurological injuries and diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. This hospital will also provide care for individuals with amputations, arthritis, and orthopedic needs, including hip fractures, joint replacements, and osteoporosis. "Our model focuses on the individual needs of each patient, with a goal of restoring them back to their highest possible functional ability and returning to home," stated Michael Long, Division President of Vibra's rehabilitation division.

The services provided by the new inpatient rehabilitation hospital will help address the post-acute care needs of the community and will also complement the services currently provided by Vibra's nearby long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) located in Folsom, CA. "This new free-standing rehabilitation hospital located just 10 minutes from downtown Sacramento, in addition to our existing 60 bed LTACH, Vibra Hospital of Sacramento, will provide the greater Sacramento community excellent options for post-acute care hospital services for both rehabilitation and post-ICU care," stated Ann Gors, Division President of Vibra's LTACH division.

Brad Hollinger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vibra Healthcare added: "We are looking forward to meeting the medical rehabilitation needs of the greater Sacramento community. Our specially designed, state-of-the-art inpatient medical rehabilitation hospital will offer the most advanced equipment, clinical services, and therapeutic care available. We are eager to contribute to the community in a meaningful way, with a goal of facilitating the recovery process after a debilitating injury or illness and restoring our patients back to health."

About Vibra Healthcare

Vibra Healthcare, LLC is a post-acute care provider based in Mechanicsburg, PA that is focused on the development, acquisition, and operation of freestanding specialty acute care hospitals, medical rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient physical rehabilitation centers. Teams of highly trained specialists lead clinical programs at Vibra's specialty hospitals for rehabilitating patients who suffer from strokes, multiple traumas, major orthopedic, neurologic, cardiac, and respiratory conditions. Vibra and its affiliates currently employ over 6,000 employees and own and operate 45 specialty hospitals, transitional care units/facilities, and hospital-based outpatient physical therapy locations in 14 states. For additional information about Vibra Healthcare's network of specialty hospitals and post-acute care continuum, please visit our website at www.vibrahealthcare.com.

SOURCE Vibra Healthcare, LLC

Related Links

http://www.vibrahealthcare.com


If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
New Delhi, Oct 4 : A turtle sanctuary in Allahabad and a River Biodiversity Park at Sangam are to be set up, the government said on Wednesday.

The project, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.34 crore, will include development of the Biodiversity Park at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, said the Ministry of Water Resources.

The approvals have been made under the Namami Gange programme.

"This project will provide much needed platform to make the visitors aware of their place in the ecosystem, their roles and responsibilities, improve their understanding of the complexity of co-existence with the environment and help generate awareness for reducing the impact of human activities on critical natural resources," a ministry statement said.

The project is 100 per cent centrally funded.

The Ganga and Yamuna at Allahabad are home to some of the most endangered turtles, Gangetic dolphin, Gharial and numerous migratory and resident birds.
New Delhi, Oct 4 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for an extradition treaty between India and Lithuania, said an official.

The treaty will provide a legal framework for seeking extradition of terrorists, economic offenders and other criminals from and to Lithuania.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The treaty will help in extradition of fugitive criminals including terrorists for criminal prosecutions from Lithuania who may have committed crimes against India. It will bring the criminals to justice," an official release said.
New Delhi, Oct 4 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the CBI if it was ready to share with Karti Chidambaram, son of senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, the documents the agency submitted to the court in a sealed cover in the lookout circular case.

Karti Chidambram is facing a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged role in facilitating the 2007 Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX Media Ltd when his father P. Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud also asked the agency if a Division Bench (two judges) be asked to examine the validity of its lookout circular against Karti Chidambaram.

Asking the CBI to come back with its response on October 9, the court said Karti Chidambram could move the designated court for permission to travel abroad.

The court's directions came in the course of hearing of a CBI challenge to a Madras High Court order that stayed its lookout circular against Karti Chidambaram which the agency issued to ensure that he did not leave the country.

The top court, by its August 14 order, had restored the lookout circular by putting on hold the High Court order.

"You have to satisfy the court on the evidence collected during the investigation in support of allegation of various wrongdoings by Karti Chidambaram," the court told Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, adding that everything should be on the strength of law and nothing else.

Mehta told the court that Karti Chidambaram had gone aboard twice -- in May and June -- and used his visits to tamper with evidence in the case.

Pointing to alleged involvement of Karti Chidambaram in various wrongdoings, Mehta said: "These are not based on statements by people. These are based on contemporaneous official records."

"If he is permitted to go out of India, he will return. He may return, I presume," Mehta said and then pointed to the FIR in the INX Media case and said that an FIR was a starting point in any case.

As the Additional Solicitor General claimed that Karti Chidambaram held several undisclosed assets, the latter's counsel Kapil Sibal asked him to show at least one such property.

Sibal told the court that the case before it rests on a particular transaction wherein Advantage Strategic Consultant company was paid Rs 10 lakh allegedly for facilitating FIPB clearance to INX Media.

Sibal said that though his client was not even a shareholder in the company, he was projected as alleged beneficiary of the said payment.

Sibal said his client may be involved in alleged violation of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act or other laws, but evidence collected in those cases can't be brought before the court in the matter relating to INX Media for sustaining the lookout circular.

When the court questioned him on this count, Sibal said: "That is the problem of criminal law. A lookout circular is for a particular transaction. You can't justify that lookout circular on the strength of material the CBI is producing now."

Justifying the continued operation of the lookout circular against Karti Chidambaram, the CBI had on September 22 told the apex court that he held several overseas accounts in which he had transferred money.

During the September 11 hearing, the agency indicated that Karti Chidambram had 25 offshore properties.

Karti Chidambram denied it and told the apex court that the CBI should disclose any of the overseas assets allegedly held by him or his family and seize them.

Karti Chidambaram is alleged to have received Rs 3.5 crore from Mumbai-based INX media, now 9X Media, for helping it get FIPB clearance when it was run by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, both accused in the Sheena Bora murder case.

The FIR in the case does not mention Chidambaram senior, though it said he cleared the FIPB approval for Rs 4.62 crore of Foreign Direct Investment in the firm at an FIPB meeting on May 18, 2007.
United Nations, Oct 5 : India has demanded that troop-contributing countries, whose soldiers lay down their lives in peacekeeping operations, should be involved in the decisions by the Security Council on their mandates.

The Military Adviser at India's UN Mission, Colonel Sandeep Kapoor said the current system of excluding the troop and police-contributing countries (T/PCCs) from process of framing the mandates is not sustainable and they should be involved from its beginning.

He made the case for better coordination at a closed meeting of Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Reforms held on Tuesday.

The Security Council decides on the mandates of the peacekeeping operations and changes it unilaterally without involving the T/PCCs, who ultimately have to execute them.

In effect, it is the five permanent members who have the final say and they make the least contributions to the operations, although China has lately begun to raise its involvement.

"It is a great irony that T/PCCs who provides their troops to execute the mandates and the troops on ground who lay down their lives to fulfil these mandates have no say in the process of formulation of the mandate," Kapoor said.

Historically India is the largest contributor to the peacekeeping operations, with nearly 200,000 Indians donning the UN blue helmets in about 50 missions and 168 of them dying in the missions.

Currently India is the third largest contributor to the peacekeeping operations with 7,049 personnel.

The nature of peacekeeping operations has changed over the years and now peacekeepers have to contend with non-State actors and terrorists and have more responsibilities for protecting civilians while facing limits on use of force.

Kapoor brought up the case of two operations, UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (known by the French acronym Monusco) and UN Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss) that are among the most problematic of the current missions.

In Unmiss, the mandate was changed last August and the Council decided to deploy Regional Protection Force (RPF) of 4,000 without consulting the troop-contributors, he said.

So far neither the changes to the mandate nor the RPF deployment has been effective, Kapoor said.

Unmiss now has 2,471 Indians and so far seven have been killed while serving in it.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN has been running the longest peacekeeping operation starting with Monuco in 1999, which morphed into Monusco in 2010 with a mandate emphasising stabilising the country.

Yet there are at least 20 major armed groups operating there, he said.

"Security Council extended mandate of Monusco until March 31, 2018, with a drastic reduction of 3,600 troops which is incompatible with the prevailing political and security challenges," he said.

Without consulting the T/PCCs, the Council has increased the area of the operations four to five times and added responsibilities for protecting civilians and supporting last December's agreement between the government and the opposition and the electoral process, he said.

The peacekeepers have limited capacity to be able to protect civilians under these circumstances, he said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a report to the Council in May admitted that the agreement was in danger of unravelling.

In Monusco, 3,207 Indians are currently serving and five have been killed. Last December 32 Indian peacekeepers were injured in an explosion.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
Washington, Oct 6 : US President Donald Trump plans to scrap his predecessor Barack Obamas signature plan for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from the nations power plants, arguing that the previous administration overstepped its legal authority, the media reported.

A 43-page proposal, which is expected to be made public over the coming days, comes months after Trump issued a directive instructing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin rewriting the controversial 2015 regulation known as the Clean Power Plan, reports The Washington Post.

In a copy of the proposed repeal, the EPA does not offer an alternative plan for regulating carbon dioxide emissions, which the Supreme Court has ruled that the agency is obligated to do.

Rather, the agency said that it plans to seek public input on how best to cut emissions from natural-gas and coal-fired power plants.

"Any replacement rule that the Trump Administration proposes will be done carefully and properly, within the confines of the law," EPA spokeswoman Liz Bowman said in an email on Thursday.

The Clean Power Plan was an integral part of the commitment US officials made as part of a historic international climate accord signed in 2015 in Paris, from which Trump has said he intends to withdraw, The Post reported.

It directed every state to form detailed plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from such sources as coal-fired power plants, with the goal of decreasing carbon pollution by about one-third by 2030, compared with 2005 levels.
New Delhi, Oct 6 : Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Friday warned Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Managing Director Mangu Singh that the government would take action against him if he goes ahead with the proposed Metro fare hike.

The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government has been opposing the proposed Metro fare hike from October 10 and has locked horns with DMRC over the second increase this year.

Gahlot in a letter addressed to the DMRC chief on Friday said that Singh was nominated by the Delhi government "to put forward the view point of Delhi government in the Board meetings of DMRC as well as other forums and meeting".

Gahlot went on to add that "If at any point it is felt by the government of NCT of Delhi that its views are not being presented in the right perspective, the government shall be constrained to act as per the prevalent and applicable rules and regulations".

The DMRC was formed in 1995 with equal equity participation of the central government and the government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Last week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had asked Gahlot to find within a week a way to stop the "anti-people" fare hike.

Later, Gahlot had met Singh and asked that the proposed hike be put on hold till the Delhi government completes an inquiry in the matter.

The DMRC defended its decision on hike saying its input costs have gone up over the years, and the increase is at par with Metro rails in other cities.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also warned of protests if the DMRC remains adamant on increasing fares.

On Thursday, Gahlot had asked Chief Secretary M.M. Kutty to call a meeting of all Delhi government-nominated Directors on the DMRC Board.

The Delhi Assembly will also meet on Monday to discuss the proposed hike and pass a resolution against it.
New Delhi, Oct 7 : RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday discussed the issues related to constitutional amendments needed to integrate the troubled Jammu and Kashmir and also the present economic situation of the country with top intellectuals of the country.

Continuing his outreach programmes, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday met intellectuals from different walks of life and officials of different government and NGOs here at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.

The event, attended by Vice Chancellors of various central universities, heads of PSUs, top bosses of other government-run organisations and eminent personalities like doctors, former bureaucrats, lawyers and industrialists, was a indoor meeting.

The meeting of the RSS chief with the top intellectuals of the country assumes significance as the government is under attack within and from the opposition as well over the state of economy.

"After Vijaya Dashmi speech, Sarsanghachalakji meets people from different walks of life and discusses issues raised in his speech. He discussed the issues here also," Manmohan Vaidya, the head of RSS Publicity Department (Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh) told IANS.

Bhagwat also got feedback from the invitees about the working of RSS and the improvement needed in the organisation.

Besides the RSS chief, senior functionaries like Bhaiyaji Joshi, Krishna Gopal and Dattatreya Hosabale, Manmohan Vaidya attended the meet.

Before reaching Delhi, Bhagwat met with a minor accident during his return from Vrindavan in the morning.

Bhagwat, since last few years, has been meeting industrialists, educationists, diplomats and intellectuals from different walks of life to strengthen the saffron organisation.

Recently, Bhagwat met diplomats of different countries here at a function organised by India Foundaion.

During his Dussehra speech, Bhagwat had raised concerns about constitutional provisions like Article 35(a), that empowers the state's legislature to define Jammu and Kashmir residents and accord citizenship rights to them, for the "backward life" of these Hindu migrants and also Kashmiri Pandits, who migrated from the valley in early 1990s when an armed insurgency broke out in the state, saying their condition "remains as it is".
New Delhi, Oct 7 : India will issue medical visas to a three-year-old and a man from Pakistan, both requiring urgent treatment, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said, living up to her promise made on Independence Day.

"We are issuing visa for the open heart surgery of your three-year-old daughter in India. We also pray for her speedy recovery here," Sushma Swaraj tweeted in response to a request by Lahore-based Uzair Humayun.

Replying to a tweet from another woman, Noorma Habib, Sushma Swaraj tweeted: "Yes, Noorma. We are allowing visa for the liver transplant of your father in India. We wish him a successful surgery and a long life."

Last month too, India issued a medical visa to a Pakistani child seeking open heart surgery in India.

On Independence Day, the External Affairs Ministry announced that India would provide medical visas to all bonafide Pakistani patients.

Sushma Swaraj had said: "On the auspicious occasion of India's Independence day, we will grant medical visa in all bonafide cases pending with us."

As ties between the two countries soured over various issues, the ministry announced in May that only a letter of recommendation by then Pakistan Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz will enable a Pakistani national to get a medical visa for India.

The action was termed "highly regrettable" by Islamabad, which said that asking for a letter from the Foreign Affairs Adviser violated diplomatic norms and such a requirement had not been prescribed for any other country.

However, on July 18, a patient from Pakistan-administered Kashmir, seeking treatment in New Delhi for liver tumour, got a visa. Sushma Swaraj said he needed no recommendation from the Pakistani government for a medical visa because the territory "is an integral part of India".
Damascus, Oct 8 : Sporadic clashes have been reported on Sunday between the Turkish forces and the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham rebels on the Turkish-Syrian border, media reports said.

The intermittent clashes were reported near the town of Kafr-Lusin on the border in the northern countryside of Idlib province in northwestern Syria, Xinhua cited local media as reporting.

Several mortar shells landed near the Bab al-Hawa border crossing between Syria and Turkey, believed to be fired from the Turkish side of the border.

Some mortar rounds slammed near the Deir Hassan camp for Syrian displaced people on the border area in northern Idlib, amid a state of fear among the people there.

Also Sunday, the Al Qaeda-linked Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, Arabic for the Liberating Levant Committee, which includes the Nusra Front, was said to have destroyed a Turkish tank in a border area between Atama and Sarmada area in northern Idlib.

The skirmishes come as the Turkish forces and Turkey-backed Syrian rebels of the Free Syrian Army are bracing to enter Idlib to defeat the Al Qaeda-linked groups, as part of a deal struck recently with Russia in the recent sixth round of Astana talks on Syria.

A day earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey was conducting an anti-terror operation in Syria's Idlib.

"Today a landmark operation is underway in Idlib, and it will continue," Erdogan said at the ruling Justice and Development Party's meeting in Turkey's western province of Afyonkarahisar.

Last month, Erdogan said Turkey would deploy troops in Syria's northwest Idlib as part of a de-escalation agreement brokered by Russia in August.
Kollam (Kerala) : Kollam (Kerala) Oct 8 (IANS) On his first visit to Kerala after becoming President, Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday paid glowing tributes to the manner in which different faiths and religious communities go about in the state.

"It is remarkable to note the mutual accommodation and understanding of different faiths and religious communities in Kerala's history. This is a state where one community has willingly given space to another.

"This is a history that we cannot forget and must learn from. And this is an accommodation and understanding that is at the essence of spiritualism," he said at the 64th birthday celebrations of Mata Amritanandamayi at Kollam, about 85 km from the state capital.

Kovind reached Thiruvananthapuram from Delhi in the morning, flew to a spot near Alappuzha on a helicopter, and then drove to the Mutt at Kollam.

He pointed out that Kerala has done so much to defend "our ethos and our culture".

"I refer to Kerala's role as one of the leading spiritual homes of our country and of our composite society. The bravery of our soldiers and the compassion and wisdom of our spiritual leaders are twin pillars on which we rest our hopes.

"These keep our civilisation secure. The flame of spiritualism shines brightly in Kerala and has done so for thousands of years.

"I refer to such revered people as Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Narayana Guru and Ayyankali. They did so much to unite our country with a common sense of spiritualism, as well as to push for much needed social reform," he said.

The President also launched the Rs 100 crore clean water initiative for rural India and also distributed certificates for 'open defecation free' status achieved by 10 villages adopted by the Mutt.

Kovind returned to Delhi via Thiruvananthapuram after the function.
Washington, Oct 9 : US President Donald Trump has sent a 70-point enforcement plan to Congress proposing the stiffest reforms ever offered by an administration, including calls for a border wall with Mexico and a merit-based system of granting visas, the media reported.

The plans sent on Sunday also include call for more deportation agents, a crackdown on sanctuary cities and stricter limits to chain migration, all issues the White House said it needs to be part of any bill Congress passes to legalise illegal immigrant "Dreamers" currently protected by the deportation amnesty known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Nearly 800,000 undocumented young people currently benefits from DACA.

The plans also break serious new ground on the legal front, giving federal agents more leeway to deny illegal immigrants at the border, to arrest and hold them when they are spotted in the interior, and to deport them more speedily, reports The Washington Times.

The goal, the White House said, was to ensure major changes to border security, interior enforcement and the legal immigration system.

"Anything that is done addressing the status of DACA recipients needs to include these three reforms and solve these three problems," a senior White House official told The Times.

"If you don't solve these problems then you're not going to have a secure border, you're not going to have a lawful immigration system and you're not going to be able to protect American workers."

The plan includes a total of 27 different suggestions on border security, 39 improvements to interior enforcement and four major changes to the legal immigration system.

The White House said the plan was built from the ground up, with inputs from the Justice, State and Labour Departments and the three main immigration agencies at Homeland Security, each of whom was asked what tools they needed to finally get a handle on illegal immigration, The Washington Times reported.

Also on the list are proposals that have been included in past immigration bills that garnered bipartisan support such as cancelling the annual visa lottery that doles out 50,000 green cards at random, and requiring all businesses to use E-Verify, the government's currently voluntary system for checking to make sure new hires are legally eligible to work.
Srinagar, Oct 9 : Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city on Monday to prevent separatist-called protests against growing incidents of braid chopping in the Kashmir Valley.

According to the police, restrictions were imposed in the areas of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Safa Kadal, Maisuma and Kralkhud.

Shops, public transport and educational institutes remained closed here and also in other major cities and towns of the valley.

Private transport, however, moved normally at places where restrictions were not imposed.

Over a dozen incidents of braid chopping have been reported from different parts of the Valley during the last one month but nobody has been arrested.
London, Oct 9 : Unilever-owned personal care brand Dove has deleted a "three-second video clip" from its Facebook page, apologising for the racially insensitive ad by saying that the company "missed the mark in representing women of colour thoughtfully".

The advertisement showed a black woman wearing a brown shirt removing her top to reveal a white woman in a lighter top.

A third image then showed the white woman removing her shirt to show a woman of apparently Asian descent, nbcnews.com reported late on Sunday.

"An image we recently posted on Facebook missed the mark in representing women of colour thoughtfully. We deeply regret the offence it caused," Dove posted after removing the ad that stirred a controversy on social media.

"Dove is committed to representing the beauty of diversity. The feedback that has been shared is important to us and we'll use it to guide us in the future," it added.

The ad triggered backlash from consumers.

"This is gross. You think people of colour can just wash away their melanin and become white? What were you going for, exactly? Your creative director should be fired," one Facebook user posted.

A screenshot of the advertisement was first shared by US makeup artist Naomi Leann Blake which later went viral.
Dhaka, Oct 9 : At least 12 Rohingya migrants were killed after a boat carrying them capsized off the coast of Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, police said on Monday.

"The bodies of 10 children, one man and one woman have been recovered," Xinhua news agency quoted a senior police official as saying.

He said the accident took place late Sunday night.

Law enforcement officials recovered the bodies which were floating in the Bay of Bengal near Shah Porir Island of the district which is now home to nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, the official added.

Eleven migrants were rescued and the official said the toll might increase as many were reported missing.

A search operation is underway.

The bodies of 132 Rohingyas and a Bangladeshi boat man were recovered from the Naf River since August 29 in at least 25 boat accidents.

Over half a million Rohingya people have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar's Rakhine state amid a fresh wave of violence in the region since August 25
Islamabad, Oct 9 : Ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz appeared before an accountability court here on Monday over a reference filed against her by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pertaining to London properties owned by the family.

Maryam arrived at the court amid tight security, accompanied by senior ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party leaders and ministers, reports Dawn news.

Her husband, retired Captain Muhammad Safdar, who was taken into custody by the NAB, was also brought to the court later.

During the hearing, PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry submitted surety bonds worth 5 million Pakistani rupees ($47,450) on Maryam's behalf. She was also provided a copy of the NAB reference along with relevant details.

The court also heard arguments on an application filed by Nawaz Sharif seeking permanent exemption from appearance in the court.

Meanwhile, the NAB prosecution asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif, who they said had left for London to look after his ailing wife, without informing NAB authorities.

Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir reserved his decision on the former Prime Minister's application, reports Dawn news.

Captain Safdar was taken into custody by a NAB team minutes after he landed at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport along with wife Maryam from London earlier Monday.

The arrest followed issuance of non-bailable warrants by the accountability court for Capt Safdar after he failed to appear on previous hearings despite notices.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court on July 28 had directed the NAB to file references against Nawaz Sharif and his children in six weeks in the accountability court and directed the trial court to decide the references within six months.

The former premier and his sons have been named in all three NAB references, while Maryam and husband Safdar were named in only one.

On October 2, the accountability court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Sharif's sons - Hussain and Hassan Nawaz - Captain Safdar
Islamabad, Oct 9 : An accountability court on Monday granted bail to ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz over a reference filed against her by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pertaining to London properties owned by the family.

Maryam's husband Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd), who was taken into custody by the NAB upon his arrival in Islamabad from London earlier on Monday, was also granted bail, reports Dawn news.

Talking to media persons after appearing before the court here, Maryam said her family was being tried despite already receiving the punishment, that is the disqualification of her father Nawaz Sharif.

"These trials will last till the day of judgement unless something emerges in which he (Nawaz Sharif) or anyone from his family is caught," she said.

Maryam said the questions taken up the Supreme Court-mandated Joint Investigation Team regarding her family businesses continue to remain questions "because they are false allegations with no answers".

Asked when her brothers, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, will appear before the court, Maryam said they would take their decisions themselves.

"My brothers live abroad... The laws of here (Pakistan) don't apply on them."

The court also heard arguments on an application filed by Nawaz Sharif seeking permanent exemption from appearance in the court as he had left for London to look after his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz, reports Dawn news.

Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir reserved his decision on the former Prime Minister's application.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court on July 28 had directed the NAB to file references against Nawaz Sharif and his children in six weeks in the accountability court and directed the trial court to decide the references within six months.

The former premier and his sons have been named in all three NAB references, while Maryam and husband Safdar were named in only one.

On October 2, the accountability court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Sharif's sons and Captain Safdar for failing to appear on previous hearings despite notices.
October 09: : A Hindu ritual, Karwa Chauth or Karva Chauth is celebrated by married women by observing a one-day 'nirjala' fast from sunrise to moonrise for the well-being of their husbands. The fasting also helps unmarried women to find suitable grooms.

The Ritual 'Karwa Chauth'

Source: IANS Mathura: Women celebrate Karva Chauth in Mathura, on Oct 8, 2017. Source: IANS Women celebrate Karva Chauth in Lucknow, on Oct 8, 2017. Source: IANS Women celebrate Karva Chauth in Ghaziabad, on Oct 8, 2017. Source: IANS Mathura: Women celebrate Karva Chauth in Mathura, on Oct 8, 2017. Source: IANS Actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra during the celebration of "Karva Chauth" at Anil Kapoor's residence in Mumbai on Oct 8, 2017.

The ritual falls in the month of Kartik as per the Hindu lunar calendar. Before sunrise, women wake up and eat 'sargi' which includes fruits, sweets, and sevvaiyan. They continue the fast till moonrise. Once the moon is spotted, Married women look at their husbands with a 'chhalani' and water is offered to the moon to seek moon's blessings. Thereafter, husbands offer water to their wives to break the fast. The women treat themselves with a scrumptious feast along with their families after breaking the fast.

Story behind 'Chhalani'

There is a story behind this wonderful tradition as well. A soon-to-be-married woman named Veervati fasted for her husband's long life. Since the young woman was becoming weak, her brothers lit a diya behind a bush to make her believe the moonrise. Veervati broke her fast thinking the moon has appeared, looking at the diya. Her husband dies after a few days. Veervati came to know about her brothers deception and fasted again. It is believed that she worshipped the moon with chhalani. Her husband came back to life miraculously. Since then 'chhalani' is considered to bring bliss in the marital relationship and the negative thoughts, ill-will are warded off when a women looks at her husband through chhalani.
Washington, Oct 9 : A Republican Senator has warned that President Donald Trump was treating his office like "a reality show" with reckless threats toward other countries that could set the nation "on the path to World War III", the media reported.

Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Sunday said he was alarmed about a President who acts "like he's doing 'The Apprentice' or something", reports The New York Times.

"He concerns me... He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation."

The Senator's remarks came after Trump, earlier on Sunday, accused Corker of deciding not to run for re-election because he "didn't have the guts".

Trump said he had "begged" for his endorsement. "I said 'no' and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement)."

He also said that Corker had asked to be Secretary of State. "I said 'no thanks'," he wrote.

In response, Corker shot back in his own tweet: "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care centre. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning."

Trump poses such an acute risk, the Senator said, that "a coterie of senior administration officials must protect him from his own instincts".

"I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, it's a situation of trying to contain him."
Bengaluru, Oct 9 : Some four years ago, headlines about a country "sinking into the sea" drew the world's attention to the Republic of Kiribati, an island in the Central Pacific, over 5,000 km northeast of Australia.

Its former President, Anote Tong, who drew the world's attention to the effects of global warming by highlighting his country's "sinking" due to rising sea levels, believes "there's no room for politics" in climate change.

"It is extremely unfortunate that climate change has become politicised, when the issue is a challenge for all humans equally. There is no room for politics in climate change. As far as countries like mine are concerned, we will be submerged regardless of what, unless something drastic is done," Tong told IANS here during a visit to the city.

Tong, who was President of the island nation from 2003 to 2016, was in the city as a speaker at the "Roundglass Samsara Festival", a global environment and sustainability event.

The nation, comprising 33 atolls (ring-shaped islands formed by corals) and one raised island with a population of over 110,000, has a gradually receding coastline with the sea levels rising across the world at 3.4 millimetres per year.

For a large part of its history, Kiribati remained a country the world was oblivious to, until Tong was elected President and began sharing the island's reality with the international community.

"When I was first going to be speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in 2004, I was wondering what I could speak on that was relevant to all the countries, while also being important to my country.

"That was the first time I spoke about climate change, at a time when everyone was occupied with terrorism and global trade. But I don't think anybody really listened to me then. But I have kept speaking ever since," said Tong, who won against his older brother Harry Tong in presidential elections in 2003.

The issue of climate change has had many countries changing their stances with a change of political parties in government, 65-year-old Tong said.

"I've seen the positions of countries change on climate change with changing governments -- from Australia to New Zealand and now the United States. The most positive change I've seen was Canada, which has taken a 180 degree turn," the former President said.

As President, Tong took part in several sessions of the Conference of Parties (CoP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the decision-making platform where countries discuss and lay down guidelines for their climate change commitments.

Global leaders often argued with him that keeping the rise in global temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius could not help them achieve the economic growth they were aiming for, he said.

"But for us, climate change is not about economic growth but survival. If a country's emissions go overboard, they become mine, and the future of my country is at stake," Tong said.

The Paris Agreement of 2016 was "good", but it needs many more details to be laid down so that it becomes "meaningful and effective", he said.

Tong, who is a part of the advisory group for the 23rd session of CoP to be held in Bonn, Germany, from November 6 to 17, hopes to generate a discussion that leads to "concrete and credible" action.

After Cyclone Pam hit Kiribati in 2015, living on the islands has been accompanied by fear, he said. "During that time we had mothers and grandmothers looking around to save their babies, putting them in a bucket or an icebox. This was the first time we faced something so devastating," he said.

After New Zealand had agreed to take in 75 people from the country each year, people have been "migrating with dignity", he said.

"I reject the notion that we should migrate as climate refugees. We have more than enough time to prepare and be brutally honest about what's coming. People (who migrate) do miss home, but they're happy to be finding opportunities to make a living," Tong said.

The "reluctant leader", as he calls himself, is not giving up on any opportunity to save his country.

"I like to think out of the box. There's no doubt in my mind that we can build the islands up higher (raise the elevation) and make it resilient to climate change. It has been possible to build Palm Islands (in Dubai), so why not raise our islands?" he asserted.

"We have done enough damage to this planet and it's almost beyond repair now. It's time we arrest our actions to aid a healing process," Tong added.

(Bhavana Akella can be contacted at bhavana.a@ians.in)
Chennai, Oct 9 : Around five lakh trucks went off roads in Tamil Nadu on Monday pressing for various demands including a revision of GST rates and an end to daily revision of diesel prices, said an official of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC).

"The trucks are participating in the two-day token strike. The business loss in the state will be around Rs 5,000 crore and at the national level it will be nearly 10 times that figure," AIMTC Vice President-South Zone, P.V. Subramani told IANS.

According to him, the double taxation -- 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax while buying and selling of trucks -- was killing the truckers.

Speaking to IANS, S. Yuvaraj, President, Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Federation, said federation members were also participating in the strike.

Yuvaraj said the truckers were willing to pay a one-time toll fee so that trucks do not have to wait at the toll gates but the government was not agreeing to that.

He also said that the government should revise the diesel prices once in three months and not daily so that they could price their services accordingly.
Islamabad, Oct 9 : The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday arrested ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law as he arrived in Pakistan. He secured bail along with his wife Maryam Nawaz.

Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd), who was taken into custody upon his arrival from London, was granted bail by an accountability court in a case pertaining to the Sharif family's properties in London, reports Dawn news.

After appearing before the court here, Maryam told the media that her family was being tried despite already receiving the punishment -- the disqualification of her father Nawaz Sharif.

"These trials will last till the day of judgement unless something emerges in which he (Nawaz Sharif) or anyone from his family is caught," she said.

Maryam said the questions taken up the Supreme Court-mandated Joint Investigation Team regarding her family businesses continue to remain questions "because they are false allegations with no answers".

Asked when her brothers Hassan and Hussain Nawaz will appear before the court, Maryam said they would take their decisions themselves.

"My brothers live abroad... The laws of here (Pakistan) don't apply on them."

The court also heard arguments on an application filed by Nawaz Sharif seeking permanent exemption from appearance in the court as he had left for London to look after his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz, reports Dawn news.

Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir reserved his decision on the former Prime Minister's application.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court on July 28 had directed the NAB to file references against Nawaz Sharif and his children in six weeks in the accountability court and directed the trial court to decide the references within six months.

The former premier and his sons have been named in all three NAB references, while Maryam and husband Safdar were named in one.

On October 2, the accountability court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Sharif's sons and Captain Safdar for failing to appear on previous hearings.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : Enhancing its engagement with the Baltic region, India on Monday signed an extradition treaty with Lithuania following a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Lithuanian counterpart Linus Linkevicius here.

"India & Lithuania signed Treaty on Extradition and Protocol amending & supplementing the Agreement relating to Air Services," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Linkevicius also gifted Sushma Swaraj a copy of Sanskrit-Lietuviu Mala, a compilation of 108 Sanskrit words that are common in both the languages.

"He told me that there are some 10,000 Sanskrit words in Lithuanian language. The compilation work is in progress," she stated in a separate tweet.

Lithuanians have great interest in Indian cultural traditions, including yoga. An estimated 70 per cent of Lithuanians visiting India have spiritual and yogic interests.

The Indian community in Lithuania is around around 700-strong, including students.
Ahmedabad, Oct 9 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a frontal attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of crony capitalism, and hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah over allegations that his son's business fortunes soared after the NDA government came to power in New Delhi.

Addressing enthusiastic crowds in Nadiad in central Gujarat, on the second phase of his party's Navsarjan Yatra in the poll-bound state, Gandhi took pot shots at the Modi government as the gathering cheered loudly.

"When it comes to helping, they help only a handful of industrialists. For 10-12 years, Amit Shah's son's company had nothing, but started earning only after 2014. 'Ajeeb duniya hain' (It's a strange world). He (Jay Shah) started with Rs 50,000, and in a year it jumped to Rs 80 crore. This is 'Start Up India', 'Make in India'," he said, mocking the Prime Minister's pet schemes.

At his aggressive best, Gandhi went on an interactive mode while addressing the crowd. "Complete my sentence, 'Na khaunga, Na khaney dunga. Kahan gaya chowkidar? Ye hain Gujarat ki sachchai (I will not indulge in corruption, nor let others indulge in corruption. Where is the gatekeeper? This is the reality of Gujarat)," he said, as the cheering crowds repeated after him.

Gandhi was referring to Modi who has often said he is the chowkidar of the nation and will not allow any corruption.

Quoting from Modi's earlier speeches, Gandhi said in a taunt: "Chhappan ki chhaati hain. Mein akela rozgar dunga. Kisiko kuchh nahi karna padega (I have a 56-inch chest. I will alone provide employment. No one needs to do anything).

"Every 24 hours, 30,000 unemployed youth come in the job market but only 450 get jobs. In China, everyday 50,000 youth get jobs. The biggest problem in this country is unemployment.

"Modi should accept he has failed. He should say the promises I gave, I was not able to fulfil, and I have failed."

He said that former BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee acknowledged in Parliament that the Congress party had done developmental work, but Modi was constantly blaming it.

"For 22 years, you are with the Congress party. I will not forget this, you will be respected. Iss mandir mein kisike Mann ki Baat nahi suni jaati," he said taking a pot shot at Modi's monthly radio talk show Mann ki Baat.

Gandhi spoke to the crowds at the popular historic Santram Temple in Nadiad. It is a 250 year old temple highly revered by the people. A spirited Gandhi also gave a flying kiss to crowds and they applauded loudly. He was also seen taking pictures from his cell phone.

The Congress leader was greeted by enthusiastic crowds wherever he went in Central Gujarat's Charotar region. The ruling BJP and Congress are evenly placed in this region.

The Congress lost two senior legislators, Shankersinh Vaghela and Ramsinh Parmar, during the run up to the August Rajya Sabha elections in this region.

Later, the Congress Vice President visited the home of Sardar Patel in Karamsad and garlanded his statue as well as one of Mahatma Gandhi. Sardar Patel, who was born at his maternal uncle's home in Nadiad, belonged to Karamsad in the same region.

Addressing crowds there, Gandhi again attacked Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

"Is it Start Up India, is it Make in India. Modi destroyed small traders, ordinary people, and from that fire rose a company, that of Amit Shah's son," he said, to loud cheers.

He was also interact with workers of the Amul dairy plant.

Gandhi's latest visit comes a day after Prime Minister Modi ended his two-day trip to Gujarat, where he visited his hometown Vadnagar and launched the "Intensified Mission Indradhanush".

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
Patna, Oct 9 : Two days after Union Minister Giriraj Singh virtually rejected the JD-U's demand for Special Category status to Bihar, the ruling party on Monday said it was ready to compromise in case special facilities were extended to the state.

"In the changed political situation, the Janata Dal-United is ready to compromise on its demand if some special facilities are given to Bihar," JD-U General Secretary and the party's leader in the Rajya Sabha R.C.P. Singh said here.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the JD-U President, has been raising the demand for the last one decade. In May, he again demanded Special Category status and special assistance for Bihar for its rapid growth.

In a three-page letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Nitish Kumar said that even after achieving double-digit growth in the past many years, Bihar still remained behind the national average on major developmental parameters.

"A new policy framework is needed to uplift Bihar from backwardness and bring it to the national mainstream. A Special Category status will ensure its further growth because of greater availability of resources due to increased central share in its schemes and incentives to private investors," the Chief Minister said.
Islamabad, Oct 9 : Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said the days of Islamabads dependence on Washington to meet its military requirements have ended.

In an interview to Arab News, published on Monday, the Prime Minister said the world should recognise Pakistan's efforts in fighting the "world's war" on terror. "If one source dries up, we have no option but to go to another source. It may cost more, it may consume more resources, but we have to fight that war, and that's what we emphasised to all the people that we met."

"We have major US weapons systems in our military, but we've also diversified (our arsenal). We have Chinese and European systems. Recently, for the first time we inducted Russian attack helicopters," Abbasi said.

Responding to a question, the Prime Minister said that US' newly devised policy to include India for peace-building in Afghanistan will be detrimental for the region.

"We don't believe that injecting India into the Pakistan-US relationship will help resolve anything, especially in Afghanistan, where we don't see any role for India. India has a relationship with the US, and that is between them and the US," Abbasi said.

He added that Pakistan wants an "equal relationship or partnership with the US, like every other nation" and wants to work with Washington in resolving regional and global issues ranging from the "economy to nuclear matters".

He said that in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly and side meetings, he stressed that nobody wants peace in Afghanistan more than Pakistan.

"We're partners in the war on terror, and that's what we emphasised. We emphasised to everybody we met (at the UNGA) that nobody wants peace in Afghanistan more than Pakistan".

Abbasi said that in the recently held meeting between Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Asif told his counterpart that Islamabad pursues a zero-tolerance approach to "all terrorist and militant groups".

He called his meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence, "very constructive".

"There was no meeting scheduled (with President Trump). In fact, the meeting with Vice President Pence wasn't scheduled (either). It was at their request," the Prime Minister said.
Lucknow, Oct 9 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday slammed the central and Uttar Pradesh governments and said they had failed to redress the problems faced by the country's people.

Both the BJP-led governments had failed to address serious problems like poverty, inequality, price rise, and unemployment, which had made life miserable for the common man, the former Chief Minister said at a function here to mark the 11th death anniversary of party founder Kanshiram.

"Instead of sorting out these serious problems, the Bharatiya Janata Party is out to destroy the social and communal fabric of the country and the state," she said while accusing these governments of "apathy towards monuments of great personalities and ideologues belonging to backward castes".

The Dalit leader told BSP workers that it was disheartening that the party could not form a government in Uttar Pradesh for the fifth time, due to which, she added, the mission to uplift the poor, downtrodden, and marginalised had suffered a huge setback.

She alleged that the BJP was raking up issues of nationality, patriotism, and raising a war cry to deflect public attention from real issues, on which the government had failed miserably.

"The BJP is misusing government machinery to hound out honest and dedicated officials and they were being threatened and even sent behind bars in many cases for not towing the BJP line," the BSP leader said.
Ranchi, Oct 9 : Former Jharkhand Minister Gopal Krishna Patar alias Raja Petre was arrested on Monday by the NIA in connection with the murder of former state Minister and JD-U legislator Ramesh Singh Munda in 2008.

Munda was gunned down by the Maoist guerrillas on July 9, 2008 when he was attending a programme in a school on the outskirts of Ranchi. Maoist commander Kundan Pahan's name had figured in the killing. Kundan Pahan surrendered in May this year. The probe was handed over to the National Investigating Agency (NIA) three months ago.

The NIA team on Sunday detained and interrogated Raja Petre for several hours. His arrest in the crime has exposed the Maoist-politician nexus in Jharkhand.

This is the first case in which a politician has been arrested in the killing of another politician. NIA sources said that Raja Petre became a legislator from Tamar Assembly seat in 2009, which fell vacant after the murder of Munda.

Raja Petre had created history in Jharkhand as he had defeated then Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM chief Shibu Soren in the January 2009 by-election to the Tamar seat. After Shibu Soren lost the poll, President's Rule was imposed in Jharkhand.

Raja Petre was again elected legislator in the 2009 assembly poll held in November and he became Minister.

Besides Raja Petre, the NIA also arrested Assistant Sub Inspector Sheshnath Singh who is accused of providing advance information regarding the movement of Munda to the Maoists. Singh is in NIA custody till October 15. Singh was the bodyguard of Ramesh Singh Munda.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : Environmental organisations on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court's ban on the sale of firecrackers here and in the National Capital Region, and said it will help to curb noise and air pollution.

The Green bodies, however, said more such restrictions were needed for overall better air quality. They called for more focus on the other sources responsible for emitting pollutants throughout the year.

"This (decision) will play a crucial role in regulating air pollution in the region and reduce the impact on human health.

"The ban will ensure that the levels of air pollutant do not reach as high a limit as they did last year around Diwali," said Ajay Mathur, Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Greenpeace also appreciated the top court's decision and said it might give some relief for the episodic air pollution levels in October.

However, Greenpeace also said that pollution levels in north India were many times higher than the national standards throughout the winter months.

It said there was need to look at a stricter, comprehensive and time-bound action plan to address all sources of air pollution across India.

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that there will be no sale of firecrackers during Diwali, as it restored a November 2016 order, banning the sale and stocking of firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region.

Firecrackers, a source of PM2.5 (particles in air with diameter less than 2.5 mm), a major pollutant with direct consequences on life expectancy, were not the sole reason behind the 2016 smog situation in Delhi.

According to a TERI report, in Delhi 35 per cent of PM2.5 comes from sources including transport (tail-pipe, road dust), construction and refuse (landfill sites).

In the NCR, domestic biomass burning for cooking, industries, transport and diesel generator (DG) sets contribute 25 per cent of the PM2.5 In the month of October, the meteorological conditions are not favourable for dispersing dust and particulate matter in a short interval. Thus the emissions from firecrackers, stubble burning including landfill fire, construction dust, power plant emissions, transport emissions and DG sets, cannot be dispersed making the air quality worse as compared to the rest of the year.

"We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court... There is though also need to address other emitting sources," Sunil Dahiya, senior campaigner Greenpeace told IANS.

In 2016 (November to December), the national capital suffered from one of its major air quality crises in a decade after Diwali.

The after-Diwali effect in 2016 (emissions from crackers and other sources), large-scale stubble burning in neighbouring Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh led to a cumulative effect of dragging the AQI to "severe" category; thereafter the AQI (PM2.5 and PM10) breached the 500 mark at all locations in Delhi.

Schools were closed following government advisories and outdoor activities were officially discouraged.
Kabul, Oct 9 : The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reduced its presence in militancy-hit Afghanistan following a series of attacks on its staff, the organisation announced on Monday.

Following discussions at its headquarters in Geneva, the organisation decided that there is no other option but to reduce its presence and activities in Afghanistan, said ICRC Afghanistan delegation head Monica Zanarelli in a statement issued here.

The decision came one month after a woman Spanish physiotherapist was shot dead by a patient in an ICRC hospital in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, Efe news reported.

"Since December 2016, the ICRC has been directly targeted in northern Afghanistan three times, including in what we considered one of our safest facilities, the rehabilitation centre in Mazar-e-Sharif," she said.

"These incidents have affected not only the ICRC in Afghanistan, but the organisation as a whole," Zanarelli added.

ICRC spokesperson Syawash Kohzad said that the reduction in operations will mainly affect the organisation in northern Afghanistan, where the Red Cross lost seven workers in armed attacks in the last nine months.

Kohzad explained that the offices in Kunduz and Faryab will be closed and will result in a serious reduction in the work and personnel in Mazar-e-Sharif.

The ICRC will try to transfer some of their operations to other entities by the middle of next year, such as those in the orthopaedic centre in Balkh, which could be transferred to other partners or the Afghan government, he said.

"This is a difficult moment for the ICRC and the staff," said Zanarelli.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Delhi Assembly on Monday passed a resolution seeking withholding of the proposed Metro fare hike set to come in force from Tuesday.

Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel also wrote to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, urging him to withhold the hike, citing the resolution.

The Aam Aadmi Party government has locked horns with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation over the proposed hike to be enforced from October 10 -- the second this year. The last hike was effected in May.

The resolution moved on Wednesday by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot urged the Union Urban Development Ministry to "quickly and actively intervene" so that the proposed "unlawful and anti-people fare hike" be reversed in the interest of common people and the environment.

"Calls upon all the stakeholders to stop forthwith the implementation of the proposed fare hike by DMRC," the resolution reads.

On Monday, participating in the discussion on the resolution, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the Metro fares are being increased as "a conspiracy" so that cab aggregators Ola and Uber will be cheaper and people would give up using Metro.

Gahlot said that Delhi Metro was not made to be a world-class profitable venture but it'll be world class when people leave their vehicles and use it.

Other members of the ruling AAP said that they won't allow the fares to go up and they will protest if fares are hiked.

While BJP member Jagdish Pradhan said that fares should be low, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, of the BJP, said that the recommendation to increase fares was binding.

The DMRC was formed in 1995 with equal equity participation of the central government and the government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had asked Gahlot to find a way to stop the "anti-people" fare hike.

The DMRC defended its decision by saying its input costs had gone up over the years and the increase was at par with Metro rails in other cities.

On Friday, the central government informed Kejriwal that it cannot put on hold the proposed hike unless his government gives about Rs 3,000 crore annually to DMRC as grant-in-aid for the next five years. In response, Kejriwal said that his government was ready to pay Rs 1,500 crore a year, if the centre was ready to fund the other half.

He also said that the Delhi goverment was ready to take over the DMRC.
Ghaziabad, Oct 9 : Manufacturers and retailers of firecrackers in Ghaziabad on Monday protested against the Supreme Court decision to ban sale of crackers in Delhi and National Capital Region this Diwali and said the livelihood of lakhs of people were at stake.

The protest was organised in Farukh Nagar locality, a hub for manufacturing firecrackers in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Firecrackers Association President Rahim Pradhan said over two crore persons were engaged in the manufacture and sale of firecrackers and their livelihood was at risk, adding that the court was not listening to their problems.

"Our children will be forced to beg in the streets," Pradhan said.

"We went to district headquarters where officers told us that our licences cannot be renewed since the Supreme Court has banned sale of firecrackers. Earlier, there were 37 manufacturing licences issued in the city, which were terminated after the apex court judgement in the past. As many as 138 retail licences were to be renewed, but officials refused to do the same in view of Monday's judgement," he said.

The Supreme Court on Monday restored its November 2016 order to ban the sale and stocking of firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region this Diwali.

Earlier, the apex court had granted permission for sale of firecrackers to exhaust 50 per cent of the stocks during this Diwali.
Chennai, Oct 9 : Actor Nivin Pauly, who plays a highwayman in upcoming Malayalam period film "Kayamkulam Kochunni", is getting trained in Kalaripayattu, an ancient martial arts form of Kerala, while shooting for the film.

"The film is currently being shot in Mangalore. Nivin takes Kalaripayattu classes every morning for a few hours before joining the team for the shoot. A team of martial arts expert has been flown in from Kerala for this schedule," a source from the film's unit told IANS.

Being directed by Rosshan Andrrews, the film is based on Kochunni, the real life famed highwayman, who was active in central Travancore during the 19th century. He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor.

For nearly a month, the team has been shooting in Mangalore.

"They have been shooting in locations such as Manjeshwar and Udupi. They will shoot for one more month before leaving for Sri Lanka for the next schedule," the source added.

For his role, Nivin will be seen sporting a short crop and a handlebar moustache.

Amala Paul plays the leading lady.

Nivin awaits the release of Tamil film "Richie". He also has Geethu Mohandas's "Moothon", apart from "Hey Jude" and "Love Action Drama" in his kitty.

Next year, he is expected to start shooting for Malayalam film "Kairali", based on the disappearance of a bulk carrier, owned by Kerala Shipping Corporation.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : Two Indian peacekeepers in Congo were injured when an armed militia attacked their post in the troubled North Kivu province, a statement said on Monday.

The attack on the post in Lubero on Friday by around 30 members of the Mai Mai group was repulsed, with three of the assailants killed and another one injured.

The Mai Mai group has recently been attacking Congolese Army positions.

The Lubero region lies about 300 km North of Goma, the main town of North Kivu province, where dozens of illegal armed groups control several villages. They have been at odds with the government and are exploiting mineral resources and preying on local residents, the statement said.

"Friday's attack was a rare frontal assault on UN forces deployed for protecting civilians in Congo. President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down at the end of his constitutional mandate last December has fuelled unrest in the country's Eastern provinces," the statement said.

The UN mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) is the largest and most complex mission under the UN flag in which India has a major troop presence, having contributed a total of 2,664 personnel.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : India's apparatus to deal with disasters like floods is inadequate but a lot of it can be improved if women in flood-prone areas are trained in disaster-management skills, said CSR Director Ranjana Kumari on Monday.

Talking to reporters about a training programme that Centre of Social Research (CSR) conducted in collaboration with the Asia Foundation for women in four districts of Bihar and Nepal, Kumari said women are natural leaders and are the first ones to participate in relief work in situation of disaster.

"We trained around 2,600 women in these districts who will further train other women on important skills which can help them manage their livelihood and protect themselves properly during floods," Kumari said.

The training was conducted in Supaul and Saharsa districts of Bihar and Sunsari and Saptari districts of Nepal between May and August.

Women were taught things like moving to high ground before the floods approach, dig a hand pump there for water supply, take stock of the old, disabled and children and those who cannot protect themselves, store medicines, secure the identity proofs like Aadhar, voter id and ration card etc.

"Women are natural leaders and are first to step up to plate whenever any adversity strikes. But the patriarchy has kept them disempowered in these places ... we need to change that. Their awareness is very important to deal with such disasters," she said.

"The governments only swing into action after the disasters have wreaked havoc... a lot can be avoided if only they spend 20 per cent of their disaster management budget on the training of women," she added.

Kumar also claimed that training of women in Nepal's Sunsari district, which saw the death of 178 people last year during floods, prevented casualties because of the floods this year.

All four districts were chosen for training for they are prone to be affected during the floods in Kosi river, which flows in southern Nepal and northern Bihar.

In 2008, the flooding in the river in Bihar had cost about 250 lives, destroyed 300,000 homes and 800,000 acres of cropland, and displaced over 30,00,000 people.
Visakhapatnam, Oct 9 : Conduent Inc, a US-based business process services company, will set up a global development centre and Business Process Outsourcing centre in this Andhra Pradesh coastal city.

The company on Monday signed an MoU with the state government for creating 5,000 jobs including 2,000 in financial technology in the first phase over the next three years.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Conduent's Global CEO Ashok Vemuri during the Blockchain Business Conference, which began here on Monday.

The facility to come up in Fintech Valley Vizag will create 5,000 jobs in the first phase. State government officials said this could be scaled up to 11,000. If the company builds its own campus, the investment will be Rs 300 crore, the officials said.

Andhra Pradesh Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh later told reporters that Conduent has not made any financial commitment yet but signed the MoU to create 5,000 jobs.

He said the proposed facility it would not be a traditional IT development centre but a tech-based global delivery centre. The BPO would be only a small part of the operations.

He said facility would work on Blockchain solution for parking and other innovative projects for their global operations. It will create high-end R&D jobs in niche areas.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : Madhu Jain says she is going to celebrate three master-weaves and motifs at the forthcoming Amazon India Fashion Week (AIFW) Spring-Summer 2018. The ace designer says they are a glorious offering to Indias rich and diverse textiles tradition.

"Internationally renowned dancer, cultural visionary and Padma awardee, Prathibha Prahlad, has choreographed a powerful dance sequence by her group, Prasiddha Repertory, as a prelude to this very special collection," said the designer in a statement.

The first textile in this collection is a paean to the frescoes and murals of the temple paintings of Kerala's Guruvayur temple complex, the intricacy of which have long fascinated Jain.

Her collection in cotton brings alive the depiction of Puranic themes with a vibrancy and wealth of detail. She has incorporated the highly-stylised temple motifs with exquisite detail and a rare delicacy that are enhanced by the natural pigments and dyes used by her in rendering these outstanding works of art.

The second textile is the diametrical opposite: a deceptively simple bamboo-silk collection in undyed, luminescent ivory. For the last 15 years her experiments with bamboo have finally yielded perfection, for which she has been fAted on several platforms. .

Finally, the triad is completed with a Royal Venkatagiri collection from Andhra Pradesh that has been woven in the Jamdani tradition, where the designer has incorporated tribal motifs to thrilling exuberance.

The five-day fashion event will flag off on Wednesday.
Srinagar, Oct 9 : Security forces shot dead a Pakistani operational commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) while militants killed a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

Separatist guerrillas gunned down soldier Raj Kumar in Drung village in Badgam district when security forces launched an operation shortly after Sunday midnight, police sources said.

"As the cordon was being tightened, the hidden militants opened fire injuring Raj Kumar who later succumbed to his injuries," an officer said. But Defence Ministry sources said that the JCO died in a gun battle.

In Baramulla district, also in the Kashmir Valley, the JeM commander, codenamed Khalid, got killed when security forces surrounded Ladoora village after receiving information about his likely presence.

When they came close to the house where the Pakistani was hiding, the security personnel were fired upon, triggering a gun battle.

"A Pakistani, codenamed Khalid, who was the operational chief of the JeM, was killed in the encounter," an officer said.

Khalid was on the most wanted list of the security forces and his death is seen as a major blow to militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The JeM is based in Pakistan.
Vishakhapatnam, Oct 9 : Thomson Reuters, a multinational mass media and information firm, on Monday launched two strategic initiatives to foster digital development in Andhra Pradesh.

The company collaborated with the Andhra Pradesh government and GITAM University to launch a FinTech lab called Innovation AppStudio.

Innovation AppStudio will be hosted at the GITAM University campus in this coastal city and will be open to students, academia, researchers, start-ups and the ecosystem across Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister Nara Lokesh inaugurated the facility at the Blockchain Business Conference which began here on Monday.

Thomson Reuters has also joined hands with the state government to launch 'Digital Content Exchange' initiative as a part of the government's e-pragati programme.

It will offer trusted content powered by Thomson Reuters e-book software, ProView and legal research solution, WestLaw and will be used by education institutions and government departments.

While ProView will facilitate quick access to a host of e-books from Thomson Reuters as well as third-parties, WestLaw will give stakeholders access to global and local content including expert materials.

Lokesh said trough Fintech Valley Vizag, the government was fostering a fintech innovation culture.

"Our vision is to transform Fintech Valley Vizag into a global fintech capital by enhancing a fintech ecosystem of start-ups, financial Institutions, technology vendors, incubators, accelerators, innovation labs, and investors to contribute and thrive in this ecosystem," he said.

Pradeep Lankapalli, Managing Director, Thomson Reuters, South Asia, said Innovation AppStudio would enable the students, start-ups and researchers to access Thomson Reuters Open Platform capabilities.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : A team of doctors has achieved success of a new kind by conducting a deformity correction on a 21-month-old male child who was suffering from a spinal cord deformity called kyphotic deformity -- an excessive outside curvature of the spine which causes hunching.

Doctors from the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) explained that generally, upper back spine is normally curved outwards to a certain degree which in medical terms is called "kyphosis" or the "kyphotic" curve.

"We conducted MRI which revealed that there was destruction of back bones due to tuberculosis, which caused severe deformity and spinal cord compression leading to weakness in the legs," said Gururaj Sangondimath, Consultant Spine Surgery, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), in a statement.

The normal curvature of neck and lower back bends the spine inward. These outward and inward curves of the spine help the spine to bear the load of a person with less energy consumption. Abnormal curvature is known as kyphotic deformity.

In this case, the boy had a curvature of 110 degrees, whereas normal curvature is up to 40 to 45 degrees. For the team of doctors treating the patient, the procedure was not without challenges, the doctor pointed out.

The doctors undertook a four-hour-long surgery to correct the spine deformity. The surgery was successful as the deformity was corrected by reducing the curvature to 40 degrees from 110 degrees.

"This was a highly challenging case of kyphosis, especially due to the age of the patient. It is for the first time in India that such a young child has successfully undergone a spinal deformity correction," Sangondimath said.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 9 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday hit back at BJP President Amit Shah, accusing him of "spreading canards" about the CPI-M and political violence in the state.

Writing on his Facebook page, Vijayan pointed out that there was no space in Kerala for the kind of politics Shah preached -- built on caste, creed, hatred and money power.

"After realizing that this agenda of his is not going to sell in Kerala, he started spreading canards and baseless lies. His feeling of dejection is understandable and that's the reason he is speaking like this," the CPI-M leader said.

Shah had on October 3 launched a blistering attack on Vijayan, holding him responsible for the killings of RSS and BJP activists in Kerala.

"I pity the failed efforts of Shah, who is the President of a party that rules the country and who tried his best to impose the RSS agenda on Kerala and has failed," Vijayan said.

He said it was "most unfortunate" that he led a march to the office of another national party (CPI-M). He called this nothing but a blatant violation of democratic principles.

On Monday, the Communist Party of India-Marxist protested against the Bharatiya Janata Party all across the country.
Istanbul, Oct 9 : Turkish Army units have entered Syria to begin a reconnaissance mission in the northwestern province of Idlib, military officials announced on Monday.

The operation is under an international agreement reached between Turkey, Russia and Iran during the Astana peace talks to establish de-escalation zones in Syria, Efe news reported.

The Turkish armed forces explained in a statement that the de-escalation zones were created to "enhance effectiveness of the ceasefire regime, end conflicts, bring humanitarian aid to those in need, establish the necessary conditions for the return of those displaced".

The Turkish General Staff said elements of the country's armed forces had been conducting reconnaissance activities in Idlib since October 8 to establish monitoring positions.

The announcement of the Turkish armed forces came two days after a major deployment of tanks and military vehicles in the Turkish province of Hatay, bordering Idlib.

On Saturday, it was reported that Ankara had helped Syrian rebel militias move from the northern Aleppo regions through Turkish territory to Hatay, where they could advance on Idlib, currently held by the Salafist militant group known as Tahrir al-Sham.

Tahrir al-Sham, formed earlier this year as a merger of the former Nusra Front and other ultra-Islamist groups ideologically linked to Al Qaeda, had taken control of Idlib in July.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday said it too was worried about pollution in Delhi but said it was not in favour of banning firecrackers during Diwali.

AAP leader Ashutosh was responding to a Supreme Court ban on the sale of crackers in Delhi and NCR till November 1.

Ashutosh said exploding crackers during Diwali was part of "our culture".

He said while they respect the Supreme Court and its decision, it should have come up with a decision on how to check pollution rather than banning sale of crackers.

"Diwali without crackers is incomplete. We can't even think about it," he said.

Ashutosh refused to say if the AAP will go to court against the Supreme Court decision.
Srinagar, Oct 9 : A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed on Monday in an ongoing gunfight between security forces and militants holed-up in a house in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said.

Security forces surrounded Gatipora village in Shopian in the afternoon following information about a group of militants hiding there.

"When the security forces closed on the house in which the militants were hiding, the militants opened fire at them, triggering a gunfight.

"One militant has been killed in this ongoing operation so far. Initial reports said two to three militants were hiding in the house," a police official said.
Paris, Oct 9 : The French government on Monday said it will not recognise Catalonia if it declares independence from Spain and such a move will mean expulsion from the European Union.

European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau said the crisis following the banned October 1 referendum had to be resolved through dialogue within Spain, BBC reported.

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is expected to address the regional Parliament on Tuesday as there was no sign of a compromise with Madrid.

The region of Catalonia, home to 7.5 million people in the northeast, is crucial to Spain, which is the EU's fifth-biggest economy and a member of Nato.

Catalonia's High Court asked for Spanish national police to provide extra security at the court building in the event of the Catalan Parliament declaring independence. The building was later guarded by local police.

The leader of Spain's Socialist opposition party, Pedro Sanchez, told reporters in Barcelona that his party would back government action if independence was declared unilaterally on Tuesday.

"We reach out for dialogue but we'll support the response of the rule of law in the face of any attempt to break social harmony."

Catalonia's Parliament had been due to meet on Monday with the expectation that it would endorse the declaration of independence. However, the session was blocked by the Spanish Constitutional Court, which had likewise sought to stop the referendum itself.

Final results from the referendum suggested that 43 per cent of Catalan voters turned out and 90 per cent of them backed independence -- but "No" voters largely boycotted the ballot.

At least 350,000 people joined a unionist rally in Barcelona on Sunday, after recent massive rallies by separatists and democracy activists in the city.

According to Catalonia officials, some 900 civilians and 33 police officers were hurt on referendum day when police sought to stop the vote at some polling stations by force.
Rome, Oct 9 : Police in Italy and Germany on Monday held 17 suspected members of a criminal gang that allegedly carried out armed robberies of armoured vehicles transporting cash to and from banks.

Two other suspects were required to report regularly to police.

The Italian arrests were made in provinces of Salerno and Naples in southern Italy's Campania region, in the province of Foggia in Italy's southern Puglia region and in the province of Verona in the northeast Veneto region, police said.

In Germany, suspects were arrested in the southwest state of Rhineland-Palatinate, according to police.

The suspected gang members are from the Salerno and Naples area in the Campania region and from Albania, police said.

The alleged gang is accused of using weapons including Kalashnikov rifles in five armed robberies in several Campania provinces and in the province of Foggia, police said.

Monday's operation followed a probe that began in February after a heist in Fisciano in the province of Salerno, said police.
San Francisco, Oct 9 : After Facebook and Twitter admitting the presence of Russian operatives on their platforms to influence the 2016 US presidential election, Google has reportedly discovered that millions were spent on ads by Russian agents who aimed to spread disinformation across Google's platforms, including YouTube.

According to a report in The Washington Post on Monday, "the ads by Russian agents aimed to spread disinformation across Google's many products, which include YouTube, as well as advertising associated with Google search, Gmail, and the company's DoubleClick ad network".

Google was yet to comment on this, the report added.

The advertisements, said the report, do not appear to be from the same troll groups that bought ads on Facebook and could be part of a much broader effort to meddle with the US election.

Facebook and Twitter will appear before the US Congress to testify to Russian interference during the 2016 US election while Google was yet to confirm its appearance.

The three companies have been asked to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on November 1.

An estimated 10 million people in the US saw the Russian ads that were present on Facebook during the 2016 presidential election, the social media giant has revealed, while handing over nearly 3,000 Russian political ads worth $100,000 to the US Congress.

Twitter has also announced that it deleted over 200 fake Russian accounts and identified Russia Today of buying ads targeted at American users' accounts.

"Google is conducting a broad internal investigation to determine whether Russian-linked entities used its ads or services to try to manipulate voters ahead of the US election," media reports said.
Shimla, Oct 9 : Two days after Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi endorsed his chief ministerial candidature in the coming assembly polls, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday said the move had put the opposition BJP on edge.

"Certainly, it has given a push to the Congress ahead of the assembly polls. There has been a massive public response after Rahul Gandhi announced my chief ministerial candidature," an elated Virbhadra Singh told reporters here.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should also declare its chief ministerial candidate. Let the people know who is going to be their leader. They will vote on the basis of CM (Chief Minister) face," Virbhadra Singh said.

He also said that winnability will be the criterion during the allotment of Congress tickets and the party will not disturb any sitting MLA unnecessarily.

Virbhadra Singh and his family are accused of amassing wealth of Rs 6.1 crore which is allegedly disproportionate to his known sources of income between 2009 and 2011 when he was the Union Steel Minister.

The Enforcement Directorate had filed a money laundering case against the Chief Minister, his family members and others after CBI action in this regard in September 2015.

Ending months of speculation and turmoil within the party, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said at a public rally in Mandi that Virbhadra Singh will "become the Chief Minister for the seventh time".

"Virbhadra Singh ji has done tremendous development as six-time Chief Minister. He will be the Chief Minister for the seventh time. This will have the full backing of the party," he said.

Asked which constituency he will like to represent in the next assembly, the Chief Minister said he might contest from any seat.

Last month, he said his son Vikramaditya Singh will contest from Shimla (Rural), the seat he represents in the current assembly.

The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by state Congress President Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and a state party in-charge Ranjeet Ranjan at an event here, said: "The government is doing its job and the party its own. We are progressing on the same path."

Polls for the 68-member assembly are likely to be held in November.
Islamabad, Oct 9 : Five people were shot dead on Monday in Pakistan's Balochistan, an official said.

Two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire at a vehicle and killed the five occupants, comprising three Shia Hazaras and two Pashtuns, Quetta police spokesperson Muddasir Hussain told Efe.

The spokesperson added that four of the deceased were shopkeepers and were going to a market to buy vegetables, while the fifth victim was the driver.

Hussain could not confirm if the incident was a sectarian attack.

Sectarian attacks, especially against Shias, who account for 20 per cent of the Pakistani population, are relatively common in the country.

Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, is one of the most conflict-ridden areas of Pakistan, with the presence of armed separatist groups, Taliban factions and other rebel groups.
Manila, Oct 9 : Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has witnessed the biggest drop in his ratings upon losing 11 points following several scandals linked to the anti-drug campaign in the country, according to a survey published Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella played down the relevance of the results and pointed out that he still enjoyed the people's support, Efe news reported.

Controversy over the deaths of young people in the "war on drugs" launched by Duterte after coming to power last year and allegations of his alleged fortune were responsible for the decline, according to a survey conducted by independent pollster Social Weather Stations.

However, 67 per cent of the respondents claimed to be "satisfied" with Duterte's management as opposed to 19 per cent who were not, and 14 per cent were undecided, according to the survey of 1,500 people polled throughout the country at the end of September.

The data showed a sharp decline in the President's popularity from June, when another survey by the polling company had shown that 78 per cent of Filipinos were satisfied with Duterte while 12 per cent had said they were dissatisfied and 10 per cent were undecided.

The new survey came at the most difficult time of Duterte's 15 months in power, during which his anti-drug campaign left 3,800 people dead at the hands of the police and a similar number killed by neighbourhood patrols protected by the climate of impunity prevailing in the country.

Moreover, the Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines had launched an investigation into Duterte's bank accounts following allegations by his biggest political rival, Senator Antonio Trillanes, that the President was concealing an undeclared fortune.

Net satisfaction of Filipinos with the President's performance was "good", down from the "very good" in the survey carried out four months ago.

The survey also measured Duterte's "net trust rating", an indicator that recorded more moderate falls.

Seventy three per cent of the respondents said they had a lot of trust in their President, compared to 82 per cent in June.

The presidential spokesperson said in a televised press conference that the results were as expected.
Thiruvananthapuram, October 09 : Congress leader and leader of the opposition in Kerala Ramesh Chennithala on Monday trained his guns on the BJP over a report carried by news website The Wire on the alleged financial irregularities by a company owned by BJP president Amit Shahs son Jay Shah.

Flagging the damning news report against Jay Shah, Chennithala wrote in a facebook post that the news that BJP president Amit Shahs son Jay Shahs company recorded a 16,000-fold increase in its turnover since the Narendra Modi-led government came to power at the centre was shocking.

The revelation that Jay Shahs company secured loans worth crores of rupees from a public sector undertaking under the central government and a company having links with the reliance group was also shocking, he added.

BJP came to power promising to bring back black money stashed abroad but now evidence of BJP fattening its own pocket was tumbling out, Chennithala quipped.

The BJPs duplicity got exposed by the filings made by Jay Shahs company before the registrar of companies, the congress leader wrote, charging that the BJP presidents sons company was recording exponential growth at a time when the economy of the country was nosediving due to misguided economic policies.

Pointing out that Mr. Shahs company was in the red in the financial year 2013-14 prior to Narendra Modi coming to power but the turnover of the company increased to 80.5 crore rupees over the next two years, Chennithala called for a probe into the charges of financial irregularities against the company.

News website The Wire in a story carried on October 8 revealed the unusual spike in turnover witnessed by Jay Shahs company temple enterprises private limited since the Narendra Modi-led BJP government came to power at the centre.

The story titled The golden touch of Jay Shah relied on filings with the registrar of companies to reveal that the turnover of Shahs company temple enterprises increased 16,000 times in the year following Narendra Modis becoming prime minister and Shahs taking over the reins of BJP.

Revenue from company owned by Amit Shahs son jumped from just Rs 50,000 to over Rs 80,00,00,000 in a single year, the report authored by Rohini Singh said.

However, soon after the news broke, leaving the BJP red faced, the partys IT cell and BJP supporters came out all guns blazing trying to discredit the story by calling into question the credibility of the reporter who broke the story.

They alleged that Rohini Singh was a known BJP-hater and that she was fired from economic times for writing false stories about the BJP during the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

However, pat came the reply from several social media users who rushed to the journalists defence, pointing out that she had previously exposed congress president Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadras shady land deals and that the BJP had then lapped up the story for its political ends.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : The CBI on Monday told a court here that specifications were changed to enable the AgustaWestland company meet eligibility criteria for the supply of VVIP helicopters.

The accused, including former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi, hatched a criminal conspiracy to change the specifications of the contract -- including cabin height and operational flight ceiling -- to favour the Britain-based company, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told Special Judge Arvind Kumar.

The CBI filed a charge sheet on September 1 in the Rs 3,726 crore AgustaWestland chopper case against Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev alias Julie, then IAF Vice Chief J.S. Gujral, advocate Gautam Khaitan, Italian defence and aerospace major Finmeccanica's former chief Giuseppe Orsi, former AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini, and three alleged European middleman Christian Michel, Guido Haschke, and Carlo Gerosa.

The court was told on Monday that Gujral in 2005 for the first time introduced the requirement of cabin height of 1.8 metres,which earlier was neither mandatory nor desirable.

The CBI told the court that words "at least twin engine" were inserted in the amendment proposal in 2005 to bring AgustaWestland within eligibility criteria as its helicopters sport three engines and a service ceiling of 4,500 metres.

Tyagi, the CBI has alleged, took bribes of several crores of rupees through middlemen and a complex route of companies in several countries, from AgustaWestland to change the contract specifications by reducing operational flight ceiling from 6,000 metres, as originally proposed, to 4,500 metres.

The CBI probe allegedly revealed that several payments were made to the Tyagi brothers by the three middlemen as bribery. In the charge sheet, Khaitan is described as the "brain" behind the deal.

Orsi and Spagnolini have already been sentenced by an Italian court for bribing Indian officials to get the contract illegally.

Tyagi, the IAF chief from 2004 to 2007, his brother Sanjeev and Khaitan were allegedly involved in irregularities in the procurement of 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland. They were arrested in December last year by the agency in connection with the case. They are now out on bail.
Panaji, Oct 9 : The Goa Congress on Monday passed a unanimous resolution to request Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to take over as party chief.

The state party unit, through a separate resolution, empowered Congress President Sonia Gandhi to appoint the new state unit chief and as well as the state's members to the All India Congress Committee.

"I moved the resolution to request Rahul Gandhi to take over as the Congress President. We look forward to his leadership. The resolution was passed unanimously," Goa Congress President Shantaram Naik told reporters here.

"It is up to the Congress chief to appoint a new Goa Congress chief since Naik's term is over. We will back Sonia Gandhi's choice," a party official said.
Sharjah, Oct 9 : The Expo Centre Sharjah on Monday announced the success of the MidEast Watch and Jewellery Show, which attracted 61,456 visitors for its 43rd edition.

The exhibition concluded on October 7, having enjoyed notable local and international participation.

Expo Centre Sharjah said that the exhibition, which was held with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, "demonstrated its leadership on the regional and international levels in attracting prominent local and international players and UAE-based brands in the design, manufacture and trade of watches and jewellery".

The centre said that stakeholders participating in the show signed deals, formed partnerships, promoted emerging businesses and achieved the maximum benefits of the event.

Sharjah Chamber's dedicated special pavilion for Emirati designers at the exhibition was an additional factor that attracted visitors to the show, providing them with an opportunity to learn about the work and innovations of the UAE's young and innovative talents in the jewellery industry.

The initiative, which included nine Emirati designers, is the first of its kind within the framework of the chamber's efforts to support young entrepreneurs, develop their professional and marketing skills in this field, and enable them to develop competitive brands capable of competing on an international level.
Srinagar, Oct 9 : A Pakistani operational chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit who was killed on Monday was involved in several killings in Jammu and Kashmir including the October 3 attack on a BSF camp near the Srinagar airport.

Police said the slain commander was to blame for many security and civilian killings in addition to masterminding suicide (Fidayeen) attacks.

The militant "was constantly exploring the opportunities to kill the security forces and police personnel and to attack police and security establishments in the state", a statement from the police said.

"He was motivating youth and poor boys to join his outfit to execute grenade attacks for monetary benefits on behalf of the Pakistan-based JeM commanders," it added.

Acting on a tip off, police set up a covert checkpost in Ladoora village in Sopore area. The militant fired at the police party which retaliated, leading to a gun battle in which the Pakistani was injured.

He managed to escape from the spot and entered a house, which security forces immediately cordoned off. In the meanwhile, the CRPF and Army also joined the operation.

As the gun battle continued, the militant, identified as Khalid alias Shahid Showkat, got killed, the police said.

He was involved in an attack on a Special Police Officer (SPO), Altaf Ahmad Khan, at Hajin Handwara in which the SPO along with his son and father were seriously injured.

He was also involved in the killing of mobile phone tower guard Eidul Amin Mir in Sopore, Fayaz Ahmad Rather of Saidpora, Suhail Ahmad Dar of Handwara and Sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Khawaja of Kralgund besides an attack on Naz Khan in Handwara.

He was also linked to a Fidayeen attack on an Rashtriya Rifles camp in 2016 at Khaja Bagh in Baramulla and masterminded the attack on a BSF camp at Humhama near the Srinagar airport on October 3 which left a trooper and three militants dead.
Lucknow, Oct 9 : A day ahead of the visit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah to Amethi, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani arrived in the Gandhi bastion on Monday evening.

Soon after her arrival at Chowdhary Charan Singh Airport in Lucknow, she drove in a cavalcade to Amethi, from where she had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections against Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

She made a stopover at Rae Bareli, the parliamentary constituency of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, where she interacted with party workers and visited the residence of local BJP legislator Dal Bahadur Kori.

She later told party workers that this time they would have to work even harder to ensure that the BJP won all the booths contested.

She later chided her representative Vijay Gupta for such a long cavalcade and presence of heavy police force and asked what was the need for all this as she was among the people.

She then drove to Parshedpur-Chatoh-Naseerabad-Jayas before going to Amethi. She is scheduled to visit the house of a local BJP leader Rajesh Agrahari to meet his ailing mother, after which she will attend a mourning event at the house of Ghanshaym Pandey, a local leader at Bhetua block.
Islamabad, Oct 9 : At least three security personnel were killed and seven others injured when their convoy was attacked by militants on Monday in Pakistan's tribal area of North Waziristan, the media reported.

The paramilitary troops from the Frontier Corps came under gunfire in Dosli area of the North Waziristan Agency, a semi-autonomous tribal area along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Dunya News reported.

The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attackers fled from the scene after the attack. Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of security forces rushed to the attack site, imposed curfew and kicked off a search operation.

The injured security personnel were shifted to a hospital in the agency's headquarter Miran Shah where some of them were said to be in critical condition.

The number of terror attacks in North Waziristan, once a hotbed of the militants, has fallen drastically following a military offensive, Zarb-e-Azb. But the militants still carry out sporadic attacks on security forces in the area.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Supreme Court on Monday did not stay the Kerala High Court order cancelling the marriage of a Hindu woman to a Muslim man and giving her custody to her father.

The high court had annulled the marriage between Shafin Jahan and Hadiya (name changed after conversion to Islam), 24, while hearing a habeas corpus plea by the woman's parents who alleged that she was forcibly converted by organised groups with links to terrorist outfits.

Refusing to stay the high court verdict, the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud asked the parties to address it on the question as to under which law the high court order was justified or not.

Amid a slanging match between lawyers for both sides, the court fixed the next date of hearing on October 30.

The court on Monday witnessed some heated moments when senior counsel Dushyant Dave, appearing for petitioner Shafin Jahan, told the court that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah during their recent visit to Kerala tried to take political advantage of the issue.

As the bench objected to the naming of politicians as the issue was purely legal, Dave said his client was concerned about the safety of his wife, who had married him "willingly" but her "liberty has been taken away by a judicial order."

He told the court that Hadiya appeared before the high court and filed multiple affidavits saying that she had married on her own accord yet the scope was sought to be enlarged by handing the case over to the National Investigation Agency, which was ordered to probe the case by the apex court in August.

Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for NIA, defended the high court decision to hand over the custody of the woman to her parents, citing judgments holding that the custody of an adult could be given to the parents in certain factors and circumstances.

As the ASG pointed to there being a pattern to religious conversions similar to this case, Dave said that it was all politics. He said the NIA has no business to investigate the matter, blaming it of playing into the hands of the government.

At this, Maninder Singh described Dave's arguments and raising of his voice as "obnoxious". As he said that this is a pattern that one will shout in the court, Dave retorted: "We do it in the court and not outside, as your government does."

At this, the bench stepped in, reiterating its stand made in the previous hearing that it "wanted to know under what circumstances the high court can invoke its powers under Article 226 of the Constitution and cancel a marriage and hand over the custody of the adult woman to her father".

The woman is currently in her parents' custody at their house near Kottayam.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Delhi Assembly will meet on Tuesday to discuss Lt Governor Anil Baijal's concerns over the Assembly House Committees.

Though the house was supposed to discuss the issue on Monday, members of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party sought discussion on the issue of Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah's son Jay Amit Shah, holding out newspapers and posters.

Two days back, an online news website ran a story on "exponential increase" in revenue of a company by Jay Amit Shah.

On Monday, AAP MLAs protested before the chairman's podium demanding discussion on the issue and a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the matter.

"BJP's hand with Amit Shah's son" read one of the posters held out by an AAP member.

The House was adjourned twice over the commotion, before it was extended to Tuesday.
Srinagar, Oct 9 : Security forces shot dead a Pakistani operational commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and a Hizbul Mujahideen militant while guerrillas killed a soldier in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

Separatist guerrillas gunned down Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Raj Kumar in Drung village in Badgam district when security forces launched an operation shortly after Sunday midnight, police sources said.

"As the cordon was being tightened, the hidden militants opened fire injuring Raj Kumar who later succumbed to his injuries," an officer said. But Defence Ministry sources said that the JCO died in a gun battle.

In Baramulla district, also in the Kashmir Valley, the JeM commander, identified as Khalid alias Shahid Showkat, got killed when security forces surrounded Ladoora village after being tipped off about his presence.

The militant fired at a police covert checkpost in Ladoora village in Sopore area. The police party retaliated, leading to a gun battle in which the Pakistani was injured.

He escaped from the spot and entered a house, which security forces immediately cordoned off. In the meanwhile, the CRPF and Army also joined the operation.

As the gun battle continued, the militant got killed, the police said.

Khalid was on the most wanted list of security forces and his death is seen as a major blow to militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The JeM is based in Pakistan.

A police statement said he was involved in several killings in Jammu and Kashmir and also masterminded the October 3 attack on a BSF camp near the Srinagar airport which left a trooper and all three militant-attackers dead.

The militant "was constantly exploring the opportunities to kill the security forces and police personnel and to attack police and security establishments in the state", the statement said.

"He was motivating youth and poor boys to join his outfit to execute grenade attacks for monetary benefits on behalf of the Pakistan-based JeM commanders," it added.

He was involved in an attack on a Special Police Officer (SPO) Altaf Ahmad Khan, at Hajin Handwara in which the SPO along with his son and father were seriously injured.

He was also involved in the killing of mobile phone tower guard Eidul Amin Mir in Sopore, Fayaz Ahmad Rather of Saidpora, Suhail Ahmad Dar of Handwara and Sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Khawaja of Kralgund besides an attack on Naz Khan in Handwara.

He was also linked to a Fidayeen attack on an Rashtriya Rifles camp in 2016 at Khaja Bagh in Baramulla.

Security forces also shot dead a Hizbul Mujahideen militant in a house in Gatipora village in Shopian district, police said.

Police said initial reports said two to three militants were hiding in the house.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 9 : Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said a particular lobby was spreading canards about migrant labourers in Kerala, adding the state had always been appreciative of and considerate to these labourers.

"A north Indian lobby is trying to propagate a false campaign through the social media against the migrant labourers in Kerala and is meant to create unrest. This has been done on purpose to damage peace in Kerala and project it in poor light," Vijayan said in a statement here.

Nearly three million migrant labourers from West Bengal, Bihar and the north-east eke out a living in various sectors in Kerala at present, according to a study.

"The truth is Kerala has extended special schemes for them, including insurance cover for health and accidents. Over the years, on numerous occasions, the state government has extended a helping hand to families of those who died working here. No other state in the country has done what we have been doing for them. Police has started to look into the malicious campaign and appropriate action will be taken against wrongdoers," Vijayan said.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Congress on Monday stepped up its attack over Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's business demanding resignation of the BJP chief and Rahul Gandhi bringing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the line of fire accusing his government of practicing crony capitalism.

The Congress also sought a probe into the "sudden spurt" into the turnover of a company belonging to Jay Shah by a two-member commission of Supreme Court judges, questioned the timing of the closure of Jay Shah's company weeks before demonetisation and the move of Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta deciding to fight the case for Jay Shah.

The BJP hit back accusing Rahul Gandhi of being anti-progress and terming Congress as "sultanate of corruption." Party leader Smriti Irani also said that Jay Shah's business was perfectly legitimate and legal and rejected allegations of crony capitalism.

She accused the Congress of attempting to divert attention "from their own scams and misdeeds."

Uttar Pradesh minister Siddharth Nath Singh also took potshots at Rahul Gandhi, saying "this leader fails to come out of his diaper as he does not even pay attention to the fact that the company he is referring to had closed before demonetisation".

The BJP had on Sunday rubbished the allegations and Jay Shah issued a statement saying the article carried by the website 'The Wire' had made "false, derogatory and defamatory imputations" against him.

The Congress offensive on Monday had a national footprint with Rahul Gandhi leading the attack in Gujarat during his tour of the election-bound state and the party holding press conferences at New Delhi, Lucknow and Jaipur. The Kerala unit of the party also issued a statement.

Gandhi spoke to enthusiastic crowds in Nadiad district of Gujarat and took pot shots at the Modi government.

"When it comes to helping, they help only a handful of industrialists. For 10-12 years, Amit Shah's son's company had nothing, but started earning only after 2014. 'Ajeeb duniya hain' (It's a strange world).

"He (Jay Shah) started with Rs 50,000, and in a year it jumped to Rs 80 crore. This is 'Start Up India', 'Make in India'," he said, mocking the Prime Minister's pet schemes.

"Complete my sentence, 'Na khaunga, Na khaney dunga. Kahan gaya chowkidar? Ye hain Gujarat ki sachchai (I will not indulge in corruption, nor let others indulge in corruption. Where is the gatekeeper? This is the reality of Gujarat)," Gandhi added, as the cheering crowds repeated after him.

He also made a tweet, describing Jay Shah as "Shah jada" and asking Modi if he was "chowkidar" (gatekeeper) or bhagirdar (participant)" in the former's fortunes.

Congress leader Anand Sharma held a press conference in the national capital and asked why Temple Enterprises, a firm owned by Jay Shah, shut down four weeks before the November 8 demonetisation.

"We are not levelling any allegations (of criminality) in this. But it should be made public which commodities were exported/imported by Jay Shah's firm Temple Enterprises and to which countries so that they earned Rs 51 crore from foreign countries and their turnover swelled by 16,000 times," he said.

On Sunday, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said at a media briefing that Temple Enterprises had recorded losses in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 of Rs 6,230 and Rs 1,724, respectively but showed a profit of about Rs 18,000 in 2014-15.

But the following year (in 2015-16), the company's turnover jumped to Rs 80 crore, he said.

Sharma said it was " beyond comprehension" why persons who had raised company's turnover 16,000 times in a year would suddenly decide to shut it down.

The Congress also continued to raise questions over Rs 10.35 crore loan given to Kusum Finserve, a company owned by Jay Shah that dealt in shares and stocks before getting a contract to build a 2.1 MW windmill in Madhya Pradesh.

"We request the Prime Minister to break his silence over this issue and constitute an inquiry commission consisting of two sitting judges of the Supreme Court," the Congress leader said.

"We are not levelling any allegations. And for the sake of fair and impartial inquiry, Amit Shah must resign as the BJP President as well as from the Rajya Sabha," Sharma said, adding that former BJP chiefs including L.K. Advani, Bangaru Laxman and Nitin Gadkari had resigned in the wake of allegations against them.

Irani, in a statement, said the Congress aggression against Jay Shah was "clearly off tack". "Jay Shah's business is perfectly legitimate and legal. TDS is paid, loans are repaid and company closed after losses. Does this reek of cronyism?" she asked.

"Instead of seeking answers on 80 crores of transactions that are within the purview of the law, it would be more prudent for the Congress to give an account for the more than 80 scams and the Rs 1,80,000 crore that India has lost due to corruption and cronyism of successive Congress governments," she said.

She alleged that the Nehru-Gandhi family "was pressuring banks to give loans to Vijay Mallya in return of airline upgrades is now questioning others."

Irani said Congress attempt to divert attention "from their own scams and misdeeds will not work" and added that "people of India comprehensively rejected the Congress' 'Sultanat' of Corruption".
Mumbai, Oct 9 : Warning of challenges ahead, the State Bank of India's new Chairman Rajnish Kumar asked all the 268,705 employees of the country's largest bank "to maintain the highest standards of ethics and provide courteous services to customers".

In a two-and-a-half page long letter to each employee this week, he has said that in its 211-year old history, the SBI has gone from strength to strength and faced various challenges.

"But, let's face it, that, right now, banking industry is passing through very tough times. This is happening worldwide. India has also not escaped the tremors," Rajnish Kumar warned.

Despite the grit, fortitude, hard work and resilience, the SBI also could not stay insulated from the unfavourable macro conditions, especially in a highly-interconnected world and economic environment, pointed out the SBI chief who took over the reins of the country's biggest PSB on Saturday.

To tackle the challenges, Rajnish Kumar asked the staff, especially the frontline people, who are "the face of the bank", to be smiling and polite and grow the loyal community of customers.

"Customers prefer to bank with the people who treat them well. We may have best of products, technology, ambience, but if we are not courteous and polite to our customers, our business will not endure. We will not progress. Politeness is what builds a Great Bank."

Touching on ethics, he said it (ethics) matters in a fiduciary setting like a commercial bank, which "must stick to strong ethical standards".

"To do so, our conduct must be absolutely clean. But clean conduct requires that we follow the rules of governance and principles of strong ethics. SBI has always stood for highest ethical standards in the country," Rajnish Kumar said.

Pointing to a "severe trust deficit amongst the various stakeholders in the financial eco-system," he said ethics is the only way to bridge the gap and called upon all staffers to "unconditionally promote moral and ethical grandeur" in their daily actions and decisions.

Stressing on the need for all staff to become tech-savvy, the chairman said bare adoption of digital platforms for delivery will not serve the purpose, and all staffers would have to educate and functionally update themselves on the tech-front continuously to provide and easy to navigate and seamless digital services especially for Millenials and Gen-X customers, to help deliver New Age banking to the country.

About welfare of the staffers who are the backbone of SBI, and their families, he said it was imperative that the employees remained 'healthy and happy' to ensure top productivity and performance which are non-negotiables.

For this, he highlighted initiatives focused towards work-life balance by introducing sabbaticals, work-from-home, and refining some existing schemes, while urging all employees to pay attention to their health.

Dwelling on the importance of on-job training and learning, Rajnish Kumar said each employee would be empowered to tackle future challenges through 'Saksham', which leverages the power of technology to bring out the best potential of all the bank's employees.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : The BJP on Monday hit back at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi after he targetted party chief Amit Shah over allegation related to his son's business and described it as the party's attempt to divert attention from their own scams and misdeeds.

"Their recent aggression against Jay Shah are clearly off track. Jay Shah's business is perfectly legitimate and legal. TDS is paid, loans are repaid and company closed after losses. Does this reek of cronyism," Union Minister Smriti Irani said in a statement, a day after her ministerial colleague Piyush Goyal defended the junior Shah.

She said that instead of seeking answers on 80 crores of transactions that are within the purview of the law, it would be more prudent for the Congress to give an account for the more than 80 scams and the Rs, 1,80,000 crore that India has lost due to corruption and cronyism of successive Congress governments.

"The Nehru-Gandhi family, which was pressuring banks to give loans to Vijay Mallya in return of airline upgrades is now questioning others," she said.

"The Congress' attempt to divert attention from their own scams and misdeeds will not work as the people of India have seen through them repeatedly and comprehensively rejected the Congress' 'Sultanate of Corruption'," she said.

Citing Congress' internal fighting in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and several other places, Irani said that a party that can't manage its own house can hardly be expected to run an entire nation.

The BJP leader also criticied Gandhi for making mockery of development in Gujarat and accused it of prefering vote bank politics.

"Rahul Gandhi is not only anti-progress but also mocks the idea of a developed and empowered India. He has clearly indicated that his party and him prefer the idea of vote bank politics. The manner in which he has made fun of the dreams and aspirations of the people of Gujarat will lead to a historic defeat for the Congress party in the December 2017 state elections," she said.

She added that 'Vikas' is not something to be ridiculed but instead should be welcomed.

"What Rahul Gandhi is doing in Gujarat is to insult the dreams and aspirations of 6.5 crore Gujaratis," she said.

Irani suggested Rahul Gandhi to devote time to Amethi, his Lok Sabha constituency, instead of engaging in political activity.

"Amethi needs immediate attention and more development works. The people of Amethi are asking for 'Vikas' even as the local MP goes around the nation mocking 'Vikas' and insulting the poor of India," she said.

Earlier on the day, Rahul Gandhi launched a frontal attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of crony capitalism, and hit out at Amit Shah over allegations that his son's business fortunes soared after the NDA government came to power in New Delhi.
Istanbul, Oct 9 : Turkish prosecutors on Monday ordered the arrest of a US consulate worker in connection with last year's failed coup in a move set to escalate a diplomatic quarrel between Ankara and Washington hours after both parties mutually imposed visa restrictions on each other on alleged security grounds.

The Turkish police were unable to arrest their latest target as he remained inside US consular grounds. They have instead detained his wife and son for questioning, Efe news agency cited the local media as saying.

According to the report, the police believed that just before the failed coup of July 15, 2016, their suspect's wife deposited a large sum of money into a bank with ties to Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish Islamic cleric exiled in the US.

Ankara holds Gulen responsible for orchestrating the failed putsch -- an accusation denied by the cleric.

The latest police operation came almost a week after authorities arrested another US consulate employee, Metin Topuz, on the same grounds.

This prompted the US embassy to issue a statement on Sunday evening confirming that it had suspended all non-immigrant visas in its facilities in Turkey.

Ankara implemented tit-for-tat reciprocal measures in a statement released Monday morning identical to the US advisory notice in its wording.

Since the failed coup, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has embarked on a wave of mass arrests, the majority targeting people with suspected links to Gulen.

Ankara has on several occasions asked the US to extradite the cleric, although it has not submitted a formal request.
Visakhapatnam, Oct 9 : Visa, the global leader in digital payments technology, and the Andhra Pradesh government Monday announced that their initiative to make Visakhapatnam a less-cash city will soon touch 90 percent of the coastal city's two million population.

After successful completion of the pilots in few departments, they are looking to extend the digital payment to almost all citizen services.

T.R. Ramachandran, Group Country Manager, Visa, India & South Asia said they plan to roll out the services in 7 to 8 other districts of Andhra Pradesh this year.

State Information Technology Ministry Nara Lokesh said they were on course to make Visakhapatnam India's first less-cash city.

They were talking to reporters on the sidelines of blackchain business conference being organised by Fintech Valley Vizag.

Ramchandran said the initiative was unique as it promotes digital payments in sectors which directly and deeply impact common man on the street.

Launched early this year, the initiative successfully completed the pilot on Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation buses plying in the city. Passengers have to tap contactless cards provided by banks into a machines to take ticket. The service will be shortly rolled out on all 500 buses.

People can also make their electricity and LPG payments by scanning BharatQR code with their mobile phones. The service will also be extended to temples, tourist centres, municipal taxes, ration shops, medical shops, hospitals, educational institutions and other services.

Andhra Bank, State Bank of India, Axis, HDFC and ICICI banks and McKinsey are the partners of Visa for the project.

The state government plans to amend Shops and Establishments Act to encourage merchants to receive digital payments.

Ramachandran said it was a cost-effective and easy method of payment as the merchants don't have to invest in machines.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : Existing rules do not allow the central government to interfere with the Metro train fares, neither do they allow metro operations either by the state or central governments, Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday.

He also said that as per existing guidelines, the operational losses are the sole responsibility of state governments and hence there is no question of Centre sharing the grants-in-aid to DMRC required to stop the fare hike.

"Besides violation of this policy, your suggestion has wider financial implications for such projects which are already operational in good number with more in the offing. Central Government again can not be seen violating its own policies unmindful of the consequences," Puri said in a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had on Sunday offered to give half of the grant of around Rs 3,000 crore to defer the hike, and also offered to take over Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) "if the central government agrees".

Puri also said that the new Metro Rail Policy "in respect of 50:50 joint venture metro projects as is the case of DMRC, does not envisage metro operations either by the state or central governments".

He said that as per Section 37 of the Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, recommendations of the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) are "binding and sacrosanct and the central government can not interfere in the matter of metro fares".

The Minister said that advising the nominees of the central and state governments on the Board of DMRC to postpone the hike for a few months -- which Kejriwal called a "simpler course" -- was "not in conformity" with the Act.

Puri also warned Kejriwal to be "guided by the experience of DTC" before thinking of taking over the DMRC as he suggested the Chief Minister that Delhi government may take up for autonomous execution and operation the Delhi Metro Phase-IV, which has already been delayed by about two and a half years.

He pointed out that the hike in Metro fares comes to "less than 7 per cent per year, considering the gap of about eight years".

"The harassed people of the national capital are in dire need of effective mobility solutions. DMRC has offered one such solution and people are asking for more of it. Politicisation of issues of basic concern to them does not help anyone," Puri wrote in his letter.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram, facing CBI charges of holding multiple accounts abroad, told the Supreme Court on Monday that he had just one bank account and one asset overseas.

He also also sought the court's permission to travel abroad, from October 19 to November 13, for the admission of his daughter to the Cambridge University.

Pointing out that he has just one overseas asset, the finances for which were sent through channels of the nationalised bank under the RBI's liberalised remittance scheme (LRS), Karti Chidambram told the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud that his family also "has no other overseas property".

Appearing for the junior Chidambaram, senior counsel Kapil Sibal said that his client had just one overseas account which was opened in 2016 in Britain's Metro Bank and that he had never held any bank account abroad prior to that, barring the time he was a student in the US and Britain between 1989 and 1995.

An affidavit filed by Karti Chidambaram on Monday said that all remittances in his British account were only from his wife and daughter.

"The transfers were affected under the LRS of the RBI through nationalised banks and were made by scrupulously following the law and rules of the country," Sibal told the court.

Reiterating that his client's hands were clean, Sibal asked the court to allow Karti Chidambaram to travel abroad, stressing that even on an earlier occasion he had returned after being called by the Central Bureau of Investigation for questioning.

Addressing the CBI's allegation that Karti Chidambaram would use his foreign visit to close his accounts and tamper with evidence, Sibal told the court that he undertakes that during his visit abroad, he will not go to any bank.

The hearing was adjourned till Tuesday as the CBI will tell the court if it was ready to share with Karti Chidambaram the documents it submitted to the court in a sealed cover in the lookout circular case to cement its case for the continuation of the look-out circular issued against him.

Karti Chidambaram is facing a probe by the CBI for his alleged role in facilitating the 2007 Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX Media Ltd when his father was the Union Finance Minister.
Bhopal, Oct 9 : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is going to organise a three-day meeting of its national executive in the city starting October 12 and Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has already arrived in the city.

The meet would deliberate on the Sangh's future programmes and discuss the state of affairs in the country, an RSS official said on Monday.

According to information provided by the Sangh, the national executive meeting, to be held in the Kerwa Dam area-located Sharda Vihar Residential School of Bhopal, will continue till October 14.

Deepak Sharma, the RSS Publicity Secretary for central India, said: "Final touches are being given to the preparations. Around 300 representatives from across the country are likely to take part in the programme.

"The meet will evaluate its performance, discuss the present situation in the country and decide the programmes for the coming days."

Bhagwat reached the Madhya Pradesh state capital on Saturday -- five days ahead of the meet -- and has already met and held initial discussions with senior RSS leaders. He also met Murli Manohar Joshi on Sunday.

Terming the meet a routine affair, Sangh officials said that executive committee meetings are held twice a year -- in March and October.
Visakhapatnam, Oct 9 : The first car out of South Korean auto major Kia Motors' plant in Andhra Pradesh will roll out in January 2019, Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh said on Monday.

The plant, Kia's first in India, is coming up in Penugonda in Anantapur district.

Lokesh told reporters here that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is personally monitoring the project.

It was in April that Kia had announced that it will foray into India by setting up the plant with an investment of $1.1 billion and the plant will produce three lakh cars a year.

It was then stated that the production will commence in the second half of 2019.

The minister said Dixon's electronic manufacturing unit at Renigunta near Tirupati would soon be inaugurated.

India's first lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant is also coming in Renigunta.

Andhra Pradesh has set a target of attracting 200,000 jobs and $5 billion investment in electronics by 2019.

Lokesh, who is son of the Chief Minister, said the state had bet big on manufacturing, which currently contributes 8 percent to State Gross Domestic Product (GSDP).

He hoped that with plants by Kio, Asian Paints, Hero Motors, Apollo Tyres and Ceat Tyres, the sector would ramp up substantially and the state would be able to achieve the target of 30 percent by 2024.

The contribution of manufacturing to Gujarat's GSDP is 34 percent against the national average of 16 percent, he added.
Women in Technology

Women in Technology (WIT), the largest organization committed to empowering and educating women and girls about opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) in Georgia today is accepting sponsors for the annual Women of the Year Awards. The event celebrates female executives for their accomplishments as leaders in business, visionaries of STEAM and remarkable women who make a difference in the community.

The 18th annual WIT Women of the Year Awards will be held November 16, 2017 at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. This years awards are presented by NCR Corporation, a leader in omni-channel solutions that enable nearly 700 million transactions daily across retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology and business.

This year 109 women from various industries were nominated for their commitment to excellence and leadership in business and the community. A select group of nominees were chosen by a distinguished group of judges to advance to the next stage of the awards process. All nominees hold business or leadership roles within a STEAM organization in Georgia or maintain STEAM leadership positions within a non-technology organization. Award winners will be announced at the WIT Awards in the following categories:



Large/Enterprise Organizations

Medium/Mid-Size Organizations and Educational Institutions

Small/Emerging Organizations

Non-Profit Organizations

In addition to honoring the women of the year, WIT also recognizes one special WIT girl as girl of the year for her exemplary achievement and dedication to STEAM education.

The event also features a special VIP reception before the event, sponsored by Cox Automotive, a leading provider of digital marketing, wholesale and e-commerce solutions across the automotive industry.

Top Atlanta companies gather each year at WITs Woman of the Year Awards to celebrate women and girls in STEAM. Sponsors utilize this marketing opportunity to reach key decision makers and to solidify their reputation as an advocate for women of all ages in Georgias STEAM community.

Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available for purchase. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the event, contact Pat Hurston at info@mywit.org or by phone at 470-823-3228 to secure a sponsorship.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader, Dealer.com, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital, vAuto, Xtime and a host of other brands. The global company has 33,000 team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues of $18 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit http://www.coxautoinc.com.

About NCR Corporation

NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in omni-channel solutions, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables nearly 700 million transactions daily across retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology, and small business. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier.

NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Ga., with over 30,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.

About Women In Technology

Women in Technology (WIT) empowers and educates women and girls about opportunities in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM) by educating middle and high school girls, and young women in college, and by sharing the stories of successful professional women in STEAM. Our team of more than 250 volunteers delivers professional development and networking opportunities to our more than 2,500 professionals, and programs to more than 1,000 students. From the classroom to the boardroom, WIT is committed to bringing the best STEAM content and programming to women and girls in Georgia. http://www.mywit.org
The SPEAC System Helps Patients and Their Seizures Be Heard This rapid detection is valuable, given that timely treatment of seizure events can be lifesaving

In a new study published on October 5, 2017, in the medical journal, Epilepsia, Brain Sentinels SPEAC System which uses the surface electromyography (sEMG) biomarker demonstrated equivalence with the gold standard, video EEG, in detecting generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) using surface electromyography (sEMG). The prospective multicenter phase III trial was conducted at eleven level-IV National Association of Epilepsy Center sites in the US. The SPEAC System is the first and only FDA-cleared, non-EEG, physiological signal-based system for seizure monitoring.

Validation of sEMG as a useful biomarker in the monitoring of our seizure patients gives us a new tool to help patients get their seizures under control, said Jonathan Halford, M.D., lead author of the study and Associate Professor of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina. Knowing when dangerous GTCS occur and how often is important for keeping patients safe and improving their outcomes. As we mentioned in the study, This rapid detection is valuable, given that timely treatment of seizure events can be lifesaving, Halford continued.

Key Study Facts



The study enrolled 199 subjects

24 subjects had a GTCS who had the sEMG monitor properly placed on the biceps

29 GTCS were detected and recorded

100% of these GTCS were matched to the patients vEEG record

Average time to alarm was 5.53 seconds for adults

The average false alarm rate was 1.4 per twenty four hours

The use of sEMG represents a new paradigm for how we monitor and treat patients with epilepsy, said Dr. Jose E. Cavazos, MD, PhD, and Brain Sentinel cofounder. The sEMG signal reflects the activation of the motor cortices of the brain, Cavazos continued. This finding gives physicians the option of monitoring the biceps muscle in patients with motor seizures. This change enables people with epilepsy to be monitored with less stigma and for a longer period of time giving us a more complete objective seizure record.

Luke Whitmire, PhD, Chief Science Officer of Brain Sentinel, said, Now that we have demonstrated the sensitivity of the Systems automated detection algorithm, we want to continue our research in three main areas. Whitmire continued, First, we want to quantify unique wave signatures of the various epileptic and non-epileptic motor events even further. Second, we want to understand the impact of long-term sEMG data on diagnostic decision making. And, third we want to understand the impact of data captured by the SPEAC System on patient outcomes, healthcare resource utilization, and overall costs.

About the SPEAC System 

On February 16, 2017, Brain Sentinel received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) de novo clearance to begin marketing the SPEAC System, the Brain Sentinel Monitoring and Alerting System. The adjunctive seizure monitoring system is indicated for adults at home or in healthcare facilities during periods of rest. A lightweight, non-invasive monitor is placed on the belly of the biceps muscles to analyze surface electromyography (sEMG) signals that may be associated with generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizures. It provides an alarm to alert caregivers of unilateral, appendicular, tonic extension that could be associated with a GTC seizure. The System records and stores sEMG data for subsequent review by a trained healthcare professional. The SPEAC System is currently available to the VA Health System.

About Brain Sentinel

Brain Sentinel, Inc. is a privately held, medical-device, start-up company based in San Antonio, Texas. The company manufactures and markets its sEMG-based System under the name, the SPEAC System: the Sensing, Portable sEMG, Analysis and Characterization System. Brain Sentinel is committed to helping people gain better control over their seizures and be heard by their physicians.
Yoga has long been associated with the teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism, making many Christians cautious to explore this spiritual path. Reverend Gena Davis believes this distinctive philosophy is one that could actually aid Christians in their search for the divine and enhance their journey of getting to know Christianity. Reverend Davis helps readers find Jesus from the yoga mat in YogaMass: Embodying Christ Consciousness.

Davis is a certified Nosara Yoga Interdisciplinary teacher and an ordained Episcopal priest who co-created YogaMass, a spiritual practice that blends yogic teachings with religious reverence. The worship expression merges breath work, meditation, Holy Communion and yoga.

YogaMass: Embodying Christ Consciousness is a resource tool that emphasizes the link between yogic principles and Christian theology, while also sharing Daviss personal spiritual journey. By bridging the two spiritual teachings together, Davis encourages individuals to embrace a path of fulfillment for the whole self, integrating the mind, body, soul, and spirit.

Yoga is often seen as a physical exercise in Western culture, but is it so much more than that, Davis said. In reality, yoga is a science that offers a spiritual path for seeking the divine that Christians and people of all faiths can embrace. YogaMass deepens the experience of being fully human and guides us to a palpable awareness of Gods presence within.

For more information, please visit http://www.genadavis.org or http://www.yogamass.com.

YogaMass: Embodying Christ Consciousness

By Gena Davis

ISBN: 9781504377775 (hardcover), 9781504377751 (softcover)

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Balboa Press

About the author

Gena Davis is an author, yoga educator, Episcopal priest, and founder of YogaMass. She leads YogaMass in various locations in partnership with the Institute for Spirituality and Health. Davis holds a Bachelor and Masters degree of Business Administration and a Master of Divinity from the Seminary of the Southwest. She is a spiritual director, meditation facilitator, retreat leader, Certified Daring Way Facilitator, and a Benedictine Oblate with the World Community for Christian Meditation. Gena completed her first yoga teacher training at the Nosara Yoga Institute and is currently nearing completion of an additional 300-hour teacher training in the Pralaya Yoga System.

Review Copies & Interview Requests:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Satara Williams

480-998-2600 x 586

swilliams(at)lavidge(dot)com

General Inquiries:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Jacquelyn Brazzale

480-998-2600 x 569

jbrazzale(at)lavidge(dot)com
Alex Guerrero, Chief Development Officer of VEDC with Pastor Shane B. Scott, Chairman of Macedonia CDC, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters of District 43. The new computer lab is another step towards stronger financial health for Watts residents.

Watts Entrepreneur Business Accelerator (WEBA) today announced the opening of its Computer Lab to residents of Watts, Los Angeles and surrounding communities intended to provide online assistance and training to entrepreneurs seeking to expand their businesses through the internet. The Computer Lab is funded through VEDCs partnership with the Macedonia Community Development Corporation (CDC), and will provide workstations and online services for entrepreneurs use.

The WEBA Computer Lab is part of a three-year grant intended to create a minimum of 40 new jobs and decrease unemployment and poverty rates in the economically distressed community of Los Angeles. Along with the new Computer Lab, WEBA provides technical assistance to small business owners in the form of free workshops, site visits, business plan creation, and financial education. Since its creation in November 2016, the accelerator has assisted 33 businesses and created 10 stable jobs for residents.

WEBA also provides affordable financing through the Watts Small Business Loan Fund, a $2 million loan fund which to date has lent more than $50,000 to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Watts. Powered by VEDC, the loan fund is focused on raising economic standards by assisting with job creation and workforce development, as well as creating and growing new businesses.

The computers will benefit these underserved communities, providing local entrepreneurs access to the information superhighway, training resources, and interaction with their clients that in many cases hasnt been possible. said Alex Guerrero, Chief Development Officer at VEDC.

The new computer lab is another step towards stronger financial health for Watts residents, said Shane B. Scott, who serves as Chairman of the Macedonia CDC, as well as Lead Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church. WEBA is currently located on Macedonia Baptist Churchs campus as a professional meeting space and entrepreneur resource center.

VEDC is proud to be partnering with Macedonia CDC in such an important launch that will connect entrepreneurs in Watts and surrounding areas to unlimited possibilities and access to the internet with the new Watts Entrepreneur Businesses Accelerator Computer Lab, said Nishen Radia, Chairman of VEDCs Board of Directors.

The WEBA Computer Lab opens on October 15th, 2017, and will be available to individuals planning to start a new business as well as existing businesses participating in WEBAs programs and services. In addition to the Computer Lab, VEDC and Macedonia CDC have announced a series of new workshops for WEBA which will begin in October 2017 shortly after the opening of the Computer Lab. One-on-one Counseling will continue to be available as well.

WEBA serves as an innovative business hub specifically focusing on the needs of small business owners, entrepreneurs, and people in historically challenged communities who are looking to participate in emerging industries. The program provides financial literacy to individuals with the inspiration, drive, and organizational framework required to build sustainable businesses and promote economic development within depressed communities.

For more information about the Watts Entrepreneur Business Accelerator, please contact the office at (323) 566-2959, or visit elevatewatts.org.
REDCOM has been a key part of WIN-T for more than 10 years, and we look forward to delivering the next wave of innovations to support the Army.

REDCOM Laboratories, Inc., the leading supplier of tactical edge communications systems, is pleased to announce it will be exhibiting at the 2017 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition, 9-11 October in booth #654.

At AUSA, REDCOM will be conducting live interoperability demos that show how the companys technology can reliably connect virtually any voice communications system in the world, from strategic command and control out to the tactical edge. One REDCOM system can provide connectivity between AS-SIP phones, landlines, smartphones, satellite phones, radios, and even magneto crank-phones.

REDCOM has been a key part of WIN-T for more than 10 years, and we look forward to delivering the next wave of innovations to support the Army, said REDCOM President Dinah Gueldenpfennig Weisberg. Our latest solutions  which well be showing at AUSA  continue REDCOMs tradition of delivering unmatched interoperability, reliability, and security.

REDCOM will also be exhibiting the latest versions of its military-grade software, Sigma Core and Sigma Client. Sigma Core is the companys powerful and flexible software-based call control platform that delivers a comprehensive set of UC functions, including VoIP, point-to-point video, XMPP with presence, conferencing, and unified messaging. Sigma Client is a secure VoIP app for Windows and Android with full preemption controls and Push-to-Talk for instantaneous voice communication via IP.

Low SWaP call control for the tactical edge

Together, REDCOM and PacStar have reimagined what it means to be low SWaP at the tactical edge, said Chris Fish, Director of Government Programs at REDCOM. The PacStar 400-Series is the ideal platform for our Sigma Core software, enabling us to deliver powerful and secure call control capabilities to organizations requiring a proven, small form factor comms package.

REDCOM is proud to announce that Sigma Core 2.0.1 can now be integrated on PacStar 451 and 455-Series of rugged communications modules, delivering dramatically improved capabilities for tactical, expeditionary and mobile organizations. Integrated with PacStar 400-Series, REDCOM Sigma Core can function as a stand-alone Local Session Controller (LSC) or as an adjunct to an existing Enterprise Session Controller (ESC) to deliver advanced voice services such as transcoding and conferencing for red and black networks. REDCOM will be joining PacStar in booth #1552 for live demonstrations.

PacStar 400-Series customers can benefit tremendously with the integration of REDCOMs Sigma Core software into our platform, said Peggy Miller, chief executive officer for PacStar. With the addition of the comprehensive suite of secure, interoperable, unified communications capabilities in Sigma Core, our customers have a one-stop shop to meet their military-ready networking and communications needs.

Defense against the denied environment

At AUSA, REDCOM will also showcase CrucialConnect, the companys solution for communicating in a denied environment. CrucialConnect is a family of customizable and deployable packages designed to restore critical communications in minutes, with options for HF, VHF, LTE, and SATCOM redundancy.

Todays warriors must understand the challenges of the cyber domain, learn how to leverage it to their advantage, and most importantly be well-versed and practiced in sustaining critical command and control functions in the cyber denied environment, said REDCOM Director of Strategy, Col Mike Sweeney, USMC (Ret). REDCOMs products are designed to provide our troops, first responders, and government agencies with unmatched security, connectivity, and interoperability in the IP environment while providing the mechanisms to communicate securely when that environment has been rendered inoperable.

About REDCOM

REDCOM specializes in the design and manufacture of advanced tactical and strategic communications solutions with a focus on interoperability, reliability, and security. REDCOM's MIL-spec products are optimized for low size, weight, and power (SWaP), making them the ideal communications core for denied environments or deployments to the tactical edge. The companys latest innovation, Sigma Core, is a military-grade software platform that delivers robust call control, media handling, and encrypted communications. REDCOMs customers include all branches of the military, government agencies, emergency responders, integrators, and enterprises. For additional information, please visit the REDCOM website at http://www.redcom.com.

About PacStar

Pacific Star Communications, Inc. (PacStar) is a leading technology-based systems integrator that delivers advanced, reliable and interoperable tactical and enterprise communications systems to the military, federal, state and local government agencies, as well as emergency responders. PacStars unified and tactical network communications systems are ideally also suited for commercial sector organizations with mission-critical, complex communications requirements. Visit the PacStar website at http://www.pacstar.com for more information.
The healthcare industry faces an ever-increasing need to ensure data security, especially with the vendors and third parties they entrust with their technology services.

Infotecs Americas Achieves Major Milestone of HIPAA Compliance

Infotecs Americas, a leading international security solutions provider, today announced that the company has achieved compliance with the requirements of the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. With this compliance, Infotecs addresses regulations and security needs of enterprises that handle electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI).

The number of U.S. healthcare data breaches almost doubled in 2016, according to a Protenus report, with more than 27.3 million patient records compromised. The stakes are high for protecting this sensitive information. Infotecs is prepared to answer this call, said Brian Hart, Head of Sales for Infotecs Americas. The healthcare industry faces an ever-increasing need to ensure data security, especially with the vendors and third parties they trust to ensure that they are using secure technology services. This led us to achieve HIPAA compliance so we could ensure that our current and future clients have confidence in Infotecs as their provider of security solutions. We are already working with a number of partners and end-customers in the healthcare industry and are committed to helping them remain compliant and to keep patients ePHI secure.

The Infotecs Americas HIPAA compliant environment goes well beyond mere technical controls. It invokes a series of safeguards and policies from data encryption to physical work environments to procedures for disclosure and risk analysis, said James Quinn, Privacy Officer at Infotecs Americas. By implementing these measures, we continue to allow customers to align their use of our solutions with their specific security, legal, and regulatory requirements. All with one common thread: keeping protected health information (PHI) secure.

About Infotecs

A leading international security solutions provider and pioneer of software-based VPN solutions since 1991, Infotecs developed its peer-to-peer ViPNet technology to deliver greater security, flexibility, and throughput than other solutions on the market. The Infotecs ViPNet Security and Threat Intelligence platform provides complete multi-layer security in one cost-effective solution. ViPNet is the only solution that supports true endpoint-to-endpoint security and delivers robust security which is scalable, flexible, easy to deploy, manage and maintain. ViPNet solutions seamlessly integrate into existing networks enabling customers to achieve the right balance of high security with low complexity and low risk. More than 1,000,000 clients, offices, and servers have been securely connected with ViPNet solutions, backed up by an unparalleled world-class support, development, and technical team as well as a strong network of partners. For additional information on the company please visit: http://www.infotecs.us.

Contact

Infotecs Americas Inc.

James Quinn

77 Water Street, 8th Floor

New York, NY 10005

Phone: +1(646) 274-1494

James.Quinn(at)infotecs.us

Twitter: https://twitter.com/InfotecsAmerica

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/infotecs-americas-inc-
Why the Tortoise Has a Patchy Back: a whimsical and authentic activity book that depicts a famous Nigerian folktale. Why the Tortoise Has a Patchy Back is the creation of published author, Ene Oloja, a renowned actress, director, script writer, and producer from Nigeria who has been a pioneer of many artistic works on stage and in television, and has appeared alongside Jodi Foster in The Brave One. She holds a bachelors degree in theatre arts and a masters degree in international relations and strategic studies. Ene has spoken on a variety of issues affecting women in Nigeria and Africa on radio, television, and in numerous political forums.

If we can truly endeavor to be our brothers keeper, and follow the teachings of the faith, planet Earth will experience much better harmony and true advances toward peace and progress for all, Ene writes.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Ene Olojas new book teaches the importance of honesty and integrity in dealing with people throughout their journey in life, and the consequences of neglecting such good character traits.

This tale centers on a cunning and deceitful, but very wise tortoise who is nonetheless especially loved by children because of his repertoire of interesting stories, and adults because of his infinite wisdom. After capturing the attention, love, and trust of the community around him, he betrays this trust by proffering an unsuspectedly underhanded solution to the community when they experienced a crisis. When the deceit is eventually discovered, the consequences are severe.

Readers of this story are provided with activities after each chapter to color and customize the story depictions/illustrations, providing a personalized artistic involvement with the story.

View a synopsis of Why the Tortoise Has a Patchy Back on YouTube.

Consumers can purchaseWhy the Tortoise Has a Patchy Back at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, Kobo or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Why the Tortoise Has a Patchy Back, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Were very happy to be able to continue working with [Measured Progress] on high-quality assessments that will support our goals for continually improving student learning in our state.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (SDE) has awarded Measured Progress a potential six-year contract for its Oklahoma School Testing Program (OSTP). The new contract provides yearly assessments based on Oklahoma Academic Standards for grades 3 through 8 in English language arts and mathematics, and for science in grades 5 and 8.

This contract continues the strong working relationship between the Oklahoma SDE and Measured Progress, which began in 2013 with the award for the English language arts and mathematics portions of the former Oklahoma College and Career Readiness Assessment program (replaced by OSTP). In 2014 and 2015, the state again chose Measured Progress to support two more programs in the OSTP. Measured Progress worked on the Oklahoma Core Curriculum tests in science, geography, and social studies as well as the high-school End-of-Instruction (EOI) tests.

eMetric, a K12 assessment technology leader and Measured Progress business partner, also continues a long relationship with Oklahoma as a result of this new contract. eMetrics end-to-end iTester online test delivery system has been used effectively in numerous states. In Oklahoma, eMetric has successfully administered 4.8 million test sessions since 2014, supporting approximately 40,000 concurrent users. Through its proven Data Integration reporting platform, eMetric will introduce new interactive reporting options to Oklahoma educators.

Dr. Jeanene Barnett, Deputy Superintendent of Assessment and Accountability for the Oklahoma SDE, said We had a competitive bidding process for this contract, and Measured Progress presented the best solution to meet Oklahomas needs. Were very happy to be able to continue working with them on high-quality assessments that will support our goals for continually improving student learning in our state.

Our relationship with the Oklahoma education department has been one of respect and openness from the beginning, said Martin Borg, president and CEO of Measured Progress. We share strong convictions about creating opportunities for students, and about improving teaching and learning through meaningful assessments. Were pleased and honored to be awarded this contractand to continue working with the SDE to serve students across the state.

Planning meetings for the new program began in Dover, New Hampshire in September.

For more information about Measured Progress, visit http://www.MeasuredProgress.org.

About Measured progress

Measured Progress, a not-for-profit organization, is a pioneer in authentic, standards-based assessments. Since 1983, we have successfully partnered with more than 30 states and hundreds of districts across the nation to support their assessment programs. Today, we develop 21st century assessment solutions for classrooms, districts, states, and collaboratives. We are proud to be the nations leading provider of alternate assessments for students with cognitive disabilities.

Measured Progress connects the K12 educational community with innovative and flexible assessment programs and services. Our goal is to provide meaningful information about student progress to improve teaching and learning. Its all about student learning.
Hawaii State Federal Credit Union (Hawaii State FCU) has partnered with CyberScout to offer its members comprehensive services that fight identity theft and fraud.

All Hawaii State FCU consumer checking accounts feature free ID Theft Assistance through CyberScout. This service, available since June 1, 2017 to consumer checking members and their household, includes proactive education, risk-reduction strategies, identity theft protection, privacy management and unlimited 24/7 resolution support to address identity theft and fraud. If fraud or identity theft is experienced, unlimited access to resolution assistance from CyberScouts fraud investigators who guide them until their identities are restored is available.

The risk of identity theft increases when consumers personal information is stolen or their digital life is exploited by cyber criminals. On a daily basis, consumers must guard against a variety of ingenious hacks, often with minimal information or support. With this new service, Hawaii State FCU members have an added level of protection for their personal information and assets.

ID theft unfortunately is an issue that all consumers need to be especially vigilant about as cyber criminals are targeting major organizations such as Equifax, said Andrew Rosen, Hawaii State FCU president and CEO. Through our partnership with CyberScout, we are providing a service to help our members reduce the risk of identity theft.

Our surveys show that consumers turn to their financial service provider first if they experience identity theft, said Matt Cullina, CyberScout CEO. Millions of people have been made more vulnerable to identity theft because their personal information was exposed by data breaches. Hawaii State FCU is leading the way in Hawaii by providing this timely service to their members.

Members can learn more about protecting themselves online at http://www.hawaiistatefcu-idtheft.com/.

About Hawaii State Federal Credit Union

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union (Hawaii State FCU) was founded in 1936. Serving state, city and county employees as well as non-profits and select businesses and their families across the state, Hawaii State FCU has more than 98,000 members and holds more than $1.5 billion in assets. Hawaii State FCU provides financial advising, checking, savings and loan services on Oahu and in Kahului, Maui. For more information, visit http://www.hawaiistatefcu.com/peace-of-mind-protection.

About CyberScout

As the industry leader for more than 14 years, CyberScout sets the gold standard for identity and data defense services  from proactive protection and education to successful resolution. CyberScout combines boots-on-the-ground experience with high-touch personal service to help commercial clients and individuals minimize risk and maximize recovery. CyberScout offers unrivalled support for more than 660 client partners and 17.5 million households. The company has locations in the U.S. and Canada, as well as in Ireland to serve partners in Europe. To learn more, visit http://www.cyberscout.com.

Media Contact for CyberScout:

Kate Bachman

InkHouse for CyberScout

cyberscout(at)inkhouse(dot)com

781-966-4126
Vanguard earns Honorable Mention at min's 2017 Magazine Media Awards At Vanguard our approach is not typical of trade magazines, law reviews or newspapers, but rather a combination of these approaches." - Blake Davis, editor for Vanguard

Vanguard, an international law magazine operated by TrueLine Publishing, received high honors at the 2017 Magazine Media Awards, presented by min. The awards honor brand excellence, with special emphasis on longevity and scope of operation.

min has hosted events and coverage of a variety of media for 70 years.

Its annual banquet, held in New York City, brings together hundreds of magazine media professionals, saluting the years accomplishments across diverse magazine media. Publishers are recognized for content, design, digital, marketing and events.

Vanguard received honorable mention in the following three categories:



Digital Edition

Digital Excellence

Magazine Design

Our goal is to provide clearly written stories about people and companies in the legal sector, with a measure of chutzpah, says Blake Davis, editor for TrueLine Publishing and creative lead for TrueLines sister company, TrueLine Public Relations.

At Vanguard our approach is not typical of trade magazines, law reviews or newspapers, but rather a combination of these approaches. This amalgamation makes Vanguard unique and provides a platform for law professionals to share their stories, truthfully, accurately and beautifully, Davis adds.

TrueLine Publishing, headquartered in Portland, Maine, produces a suite of domestic and international digital publicationsVanguard, Blueprint, Terra Firma, Vision, Vanguard Latin America, US Builders Review, among othersthat help businesses grow their reputations online through custom feature articles, social media and by word of mouth.

TrueLine Public Relations is a digital marketing and public relations firm that specializes in everything from website design and professional writing to personal brand management.

For more information on Vanguard, TrueLine Publishing and TrueLine Public Relations, please contact Erica Berry at eberry(at)truelinepublishing(dot)com or 207-517-8386.
Algolux, Inc., a provider of machine learning optimization platforms for imaging and computer vision systems, was named winner of the Most Exciting Startup Category at the AutoSens Awards 2017 held in Brussels on September 20th, 2017.

Part of the international AutoSens vehicle perception conference and exhibition, the Awards, running for the first time in 2017, were judged by an expert panel drawn from OEMs, Tier 1s and Tier 2s, industry organizations and academia to assure a robust process.

The Most Exciting Startup Category, sponsored by NXP.

NXP, a leader in ADAS solutions for the automotive market, is committed to help our partners and customers achieve the different levels of automation the self-driving vehicle needs said Paul Lee, global distribution marketing manager for NXP's Automotive Microcontroller and Processors Business Line.

For self-driving cars to be a reality, the industry must overcome many challenges, we think the AutoSens event makes it easy for design engineers to acquire new knowledge, learn about new products and features that will help them make the autonomous vehicle a reality in the near future.

Were delighted to support this award category and congratulate Algolux on their achievement

Rob Stead, Managing Director of Sense Media Group, Conference Director of AutoSens was commented on the positive result for Algolux: One of the greatest challenges in developing vision systems for automotive is ensuring the best possible computer vision robustness and image quality for improved vehicle safety. The Algolux solution, and a key reason for this award recognizing their exciting machine learning innovations, addresses that challenge through the novel use of new optimization and deep learning methods. We'll watch their progress with interest as the company grows and their reputation spreads, but it gives me great pleasure to highlight the work of a small, young and exciting new company.

Feedback from the judging panel added: The judging panel congratulates Algolux on their dedication to using a cleverly engineered solution to crack a difficult problem. As with all startups, their journey - while comparatively brief - is expected to make a significant impact as the company grows.

Algolux is honored to be recognized with this AutoSens Award by experts in the automotive community. It serves as an excellent validation of our approach to helping companies optimize their vision systems, said Allan Benchetrit, CEO of Algolux. The AutoSens conferences and this new award help shine a light on the innovations that startups are bringing to this sector. In turn, this will enable a much richer engagement with the leaders in the automotive industry.

About Algolux

Algolux enables autonomous vision - empowering cameras to see more clearly and perceive what cannot be sensed with todays imaging and vision systems. Computer vision is at the heart of autonomous cars, ADAS, mobile devices, security cameras (IoT), AR/VR, robotics, drones, and medical equipment, leading the next wave of market growth and social impact. Developed by an industry-recognized team of machine learning, computer vision, and image processing researchers, our patented machine-learning technologies address the complexity of optimizing imaging and vision systems while improving the costs, time-to-market, and expertise challenges faced by product development teams.

Visit us at http://www.algolux.com.

About AutoSens

Created by engineers, for engineers. Built on the vision of senior technical experts at automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, and delivered by conference experts with a passion for engineering, AutoSens is the worlds leading technical summit for ADAS and autonomous vehicle perception technology.

The AutoSens Awards 2018 are open for nominations at: http://auto-sens.com/2018-award-nominations/

About Sense Media, organizers of AutoSens

Sense Media is a smart, agile, B2B events business. Serving technology verticals that enable machine perception via sensors and signal processing, we connect cutting edge innovation with business opportunities. By bringing the worlds foremost sensor experts together with end users and senior business managers, our meetings deliver equal value from the learning and networking experience.
Apiary Fund buys and sells in the spot market. As an institutional fund managed by thousands of traders around the world, Apiary employs the same hedging strategies and techniques it teaches its traders. Apiary traders use the purchasing power of the Apiary fund to get better pricing.

Apiary Fund announced today it is officially a dealer in metal bullion and offers its traders the opportunity to use the company's purchasing power to buy and sell precious metals  silver, gold, palladium, platinum, and others  to hedge their portfolios.



People interested in investing in metals should contact Apiary Fund directly. Each investor decides the volume of metal they want to buy and Apiary sells the physical asset to them at a slight premium over the spot market price.



"We encourage investors and our traders to consider buying hard assets such as metals to hedge against the volatility of paper assets found in many investment portfolios," said Shawn Lucas, CEO, and founder of Apiary Fund. "Our ability to purchase bullion in bulk allows us to offer metals at a better price than may be available at other locations."



Apiary Fund will also buy metals for its own inventory from its traders.



"As we deal more and more in metals, we foresee a day when we are buying and selling metals a majority of the time among our thousands of traders," said Lucas. "This provides a strong hedge for our traders as well as the Apiary Fund."



For more than a year, Apiary traders traded metal contracts. Today they can buy and sell physical metals. The transaction adds shipping costs of the metal to the buyers location.



Apiary Fund points out three key reasons to consider investing in metals:





Leverage: They can tap into the purchasing power of the Apiary Fund to buy gold and silver at lower rates than other bullion dealers.

Hedging: Traders often have volatile portfolios that continually go up or down based on market conditions. Physical assets such as gold and silver protect their portfolios against this volatility.

Speculative purposes: Apiary doesn't recommend buying and selling gold for speculative purposes, but it is available for those purposes if investors want to speculate about the increase in the value of their purchase.



Apiary Fund buys and sells in the spot market. As an institutional fund managed by thousands of traders around the world, Apiary employs the same hedging strategies and techniques it teaches its traders. Apiary traders use the purchasing power of the Apiary fund to get better pricing.



About Apiary Fund



Located in Orem, Utah, Apiary Fund is a private company that develops traders and gives people the opportunity to seek the freedom of flexible income by trading with our money. Through technology and education, we empower our traders to work toward their path to success. http://www.apiaryfund.com
Negotiations with the Department of Energy (DOE) were completed and Phase 1 of the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts with AVAP (ABBA) project has begun. The ABBA project will co-produce full replacement renewable jet fuel, gasoline, diesel and Bioplus nanocellulose from woody biomass in an integrated biorefinery at AVAPCOs site in Thomaston, Georgia.

The project aims to demonstrate that co-production of high volume commodity fuels and low volume, high value co-products enables profitable biorefineries at commercial scale. ABBA integrates the biorefinery value chain by converting wood to cellulose and cellulosic sugars, which are then converted to cellulosic biojet and nanocellulose. Patented technologies and intellectual property will be provided by AVAPCO, Byogy and Petron. Technology collaborators also include the Renewable Bioproducts Institute at Georgia Tech and the University of Tennessee,Knoxville.

The $3.7 million Phase 1 DOE award was made under the program Project Definition for Pilot- and Demonstration-Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biopower. Its scope includes definition engineering, permitting, and financing activities. Upon successful completion of Phase 1, the project is also eligible for a subsequent Phase 2 award of up to $45 million from the DOE for construction and operation of the project.

AVAPCOs AVAP technology has been demonstrated at the Thomaston Biorefinery since 2012 for co-production of biomass-derived lignocellulosic sugars, cellulosic ethanol, cellulosic butanol, nanocellulose, and lignin. Petron will provide its innovative and proven Ethanol to Ethylene (ETE) conversion technology to demonstrate the conversion of cellulosic ethanol to ethylene. The Byogy Alcohol To Jet (ATJ) processing facility, which has been successfully proven under extensive full replacement fuel testing with the US Air Force and the FAA CLEEN program, has also been relocated to the Thomaston site as part of the project to convert the bio-ethylene to full replacement biofuels.

Collaborators also include Dr. Yulin Deng, International Academy of Wood Science Fellow, at the Renewable Bioproducts Institute at Georgia Tech and Dr. Art Ragauskas, Governors Chair in Biorefining, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who will focus on developing high strength fibers from nanocellulose for textiles and automotive composite applications. This segment of the project is co-funded by P3Nano, a Public-Private Partnership to Advance Commercialization of Cellulosic Nanomaterials established by the USFS Forest Products Laboratory and the US Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

Theodora Retsina, CEO of AVAPCO comments, Project ABBA is aligned with DOEs goal to spur the creation of the domestic bio-industry by transforming our renewable biomass resources into commercially viable, liquid infrastructure compatible biofuels and bioproducts that replace the whole barrel and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. ABBA will promote GHG reduction through fueling transportation equipment with renewable fuels and light weighting them with Bioplus nanocellulose.

ABBA will not only help advance the ATJ ASTM specification, but will demonstrate that integrating the full supply chain of technologies enables the production of drop in renewable fuels and high value co-products in a wood based biorefinery which is profitable even at todays cost of crude oil, states Kevin Weiss, CEO of Byogy Renewables.

Yogendra Sarin, President & CEO at Petron Scientech Inc. adds, Petron Scientech is very pleased to provide its efficient Ethanol to Ethylene conversion technology to fully support and help progress ABBA on the path to commercial production of renewable fuels. The learnings from the ABBA project will help advance the cost-effective production of renewable drop-in liquid transportation fuels.

The three CEOs joined voices to express their gratitude to the DOE agency and staff for their vision and continued support of the national renewable industry.

About the Partners

AVAPCO LLC and its affiliates including American Process Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, are biorefinery technology companies focused on developing, demonstrating and scaling-up technologies for the production of biomass derived renewable materials, fuels and chemicals. The companies operate two demonstration biorefineries within the US- the Alpena Biorefinery in Alpena, MI and the Thomaston Biorefinery in Thomaston, GA.

Byogy Renewables Inc., is a biofuel technology provider headquartered in San Jose, California that, through an advanced ATJ platform, catalytically produces premium quality renewable jet fuel, renewable diesel, bio-naptha and bio-gasoline from any form of ethanol or butanol. Byogys fuels are direct, full replacement, renewable substitutes, not blending components, for petroleum-based fuels that offer increased fuel efficiencies, reduced engine maintenance, and a significantly greater reduction of greenhouse gases than most biofuels.

Petron Scientech Inc., headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, is a Technology development, Design & Engineering and Consulting company licensing technology for the conversion of renewable ethanol to bioEthylene and further conversion of Ethylene to various derivatives including bioEthylene Oxide, bioGlycols, and other chemicals used in a wide range of day-to-day renewable plastics. A majority of the world's current standalone Ethanol-to-Ethylene (ETE) plants run on Petron processes and Catalysts.

Contacts:

American Process Inc.

Kim Nelson, PhD

knelson(at)americanprocess.com

404-872-8807, ext 213

Byogy Renewables, Inc.

admin(at)byogy.com

408-800-7704
David Blue, SVP of Sales at 7Summits Aside from the tremendous market opportunity to grow the company, our community-led, multi-cloud go-to-market vision really sold me.

7Summits, the leader in community-led, multi-cloud solutions today announced that David Blue has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Sales, reporting to Paul Stillmank, CEO and Founder at 7Summits. Blue's responsibilities will include day-to-day sales operations for all aspects of direct and indirect sales, as well as overseeing 7Summits channel ecosystem. This will better enable 7Summits expanded focus on sales strategy and overall company direction. To support this, David brings ten years of experience in the services and consulting world, the majority of which have been in the Salesforce ecosystem. During that time, he has helped many enterprise customers achieve success while growing sales teams to critical mass.

As Senior VP of Sales for 7Summits, David will be responsible for ensuring that the sales organization can drive continued growth while maintaining the same white-glove service that 7Summits clients have come to know. As a result of significant M&A activity, a lot of mid-size Salesforce partners are now part of much larger conglomerates, leaving a void in the partner landscape, said David. A lot of customers have Big Four fatigue or dont want to risk project quality with over-leveraged teams that are also in transition. 7Summits is positioned strongly to help fill that void because I think customers want to work with consulting firms that have a boutique feel, but can scale to meet their global demands, which is a mold 7Summits certainly fits.

David was most recently with Magnet 360, a Salesforce provider of cross-cloud solutions, where he was Vice President of Sales over the West region. With that organization, he helped lead consistent, year-over-year growth, which ultimately led to a strong market value as represented by that firms recent acquisition. David holds a BA from Florida Gulf Coast University.

"David is a proven leader and industry veteran who will help us scale, and play a key role in executing our growth strategy as we continue to lead the way with community-led, multi-cloud solutions," said Paul Stillmank, 7Summits Chief Executive Officer. "Organizations around the world are recognizing the value of becoming a more-connected enterprise by directly leveraging social communities across all of their customer, partner and employee constituents. 7Summits is uniquely positioned to help companies transform their business through a range of online community experiences that reveal unexpected insights and business value once in place, and Davids experience across industries and multi-cloud solution sales will be a major asset for us.

When asked why he chose 7Summits, David said, Aside from the tremendous market opportunity to grow the company, our community-led, multi-cloud go-to-market vision really sold me. As we think about how to unlock business value for our customers, community-led, multi-cloud solutions allow us to service customers regardless of where they are in their journey with Salesforce. For existing customers, Communities presents an opportunity to gain more value out of the investments theyve already made in Sales, Service, and/or Marketing Clouds. For customers new to Salesforce, Communities can be a low barrier-to-entry that drives immediate value but also presents additional opportunities to bring solutions that leverage other Salesforce clouds to bear in the future. Community-led solutions make us incredibly well-positioned to help customers leverage the Salesforce platform to drive digital transformation; whether thats to empower their customers, enable their partners, or unleash their employees 

For 7Summits, this is another valuable addition to the organization to solidify our stronghold in the market and showcase our expertise. Earlier this year, 7Summits was also recognized by Gartner as a multi-platform partner in Gartners Market Guide for Enterprise Social Networking Application.

For more information, visit 7SummitsInc.com or follow the conversation on Twitter (@7SummitsInc).

About 7Summits

7Summits Inc. is a leading online community solutions provider, guiding companies to engage their customers, partners and employees to grow their business and become more fully networked enterprises. 7Summits creates business solutions that deliver top line revenue growth and bottom-line productivity improvements. The company is a valued strategic partner of Fortune 500 companies and has received investment funding from both Sverica Capital Management and Salesforce Ventures. 7Summits is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with an extended presence in Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Denver, Washington DC, California, Seattle, Michigan and Ohio.
Astrapi Corporation is pleased to announce the award of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant related to Spiral Polynomial Division Multiplexing (SPDM). SPDM provides a structured way to dramatically increase the flexibility of symbol waveform design and to use this additional flexibility to address key problems in telecommunications. In addition to robust synchronization, potential benefits of SPDM include dramatically increased spectral efficiency, improved interference rejection, lower latency, and reduction of the Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR). This second phase of the research will further reduce SPDM to practice, leading to a hardware implementation.

In Phase II we have extended our research partnerships, said Dr. Jerrold Prothero, Astrapi Founder and CEO. In addition to Dr. Fred Harris of the San Diego State University Research Foundation, the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has joined the team. Promising discussions concerning additional Phase II-related partnerships are in progress. This research will eventually provide benefits for a wide variety of communication systems, including satellite, defense, mobile, and Internet of Things. For example, the satellite DVB-S2 industry network standard reflects a broad potential market for SPDM-based systems. Other potential markets for our technology include those serviced by Cellular (4G- and emerging 5G-LTE), Wireless Local Area Network (802.11 a/g/n), Digital Audio and Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DAB, DVB-T), Cable Service (DOCSIS 3.1), and Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL and VDSL2) among others. Astrapi is now actively establishing technology transition relationships.

A critical and limiting problem for any communication system is synchronization between the transmitter and receiver. Phase I project results for SPDM demonstrated considerable promise for supporting very precise and low-overhead synchronization. Phase I also pointed towards very significant SPDM power advantages.

Follow this link to the NSF Awards page: https://nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1738453&HistoricalAwards=false

ABOUT Astrapi Corporation

Astrapi is the pioneer of spiral-based signal modulation, which opens an unexplored area for innovation at the core of telecommunications. Based on a generalization of Eulers formula, the foundational mathematics for telecom, Astrapi provides fundamentally new ways to design the symbol waveforms used to encode digital transmissions. By applying new mathematics to signal modulation, Astrapi is able to improve the trade-off between the four fundamental parameters in telecommunications: bandwidth, signal power, data throughput, and error rate. The resulting efficiency translates into higher spectral performance with more bits available at a lower cost.

http://www.astrapi-corp.com

ABOUT the National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering."

NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. NSF receives approximately 55,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships.

ABOUT Southwest Research Foundation

Southwest Research Institute is an independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization using multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving. The Institute occupies 1,200 acres in San Antonio, Texas, and provides more than 2 million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for nearly 2,600 employees who perform contract work for industry and government clients. http://www.swri.org/content/who-we-are

ABOUT San Diego State Research Foundation

The purpose of SDSU Research Foundation is to further the educational, research and community service mission of San Diego State University. Established in 1943, SDSU Research Foundation is a non-profit, auxiliary organization chartered to further the educational, research and community service objectives of San Diego State University. SDSU Research Foundation is currently administering approximately 1,000 active grants and contracts, and annual revenues approaching $160 million. The Foundation is the largest auxiliary within the California State University (CSU) system. SDSU is an urban, public education institution, the oldest and largest in the San Diego region. Designated as a research university with high activity by the Carnegie Foundation, SDSU offers 81 bachelor's degrees, 72 master's, and 16 doctorates.
Dr. Steven A. Benner - The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution "We expect that in addition to creating new technology, this work will also drive discovery of a deep understanding of biological systems, how the parts work together to create a whole in a living cell."

The National Institutes of Health announced today that one of eight Transformative Research Awards granted each year nationwide will be received by the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME) in Alachua, Florida. This award, totaling ~ $3.5 million, was established in 2009 to promote cross-cutting, interdisciplinary research to meet challenging problems in the biomedical sciences. It is granted to laboratories that propose research that could potentially create or challenge existing paradigms. The project will be directed by Dr. Steven Benner at the FfAME.

This award recognizes three decades of pioneering work in the Benner Laboratories that helped established the fields of "synthetic biology" and "paleomolecular biology". Synthetic biology seeks to connect biochemical molecules to behaviors seen in living organisms, including the ability to respond to their environments, reproduce, adapt and evolve. It does so not by dissecting living systems, but rather by constructing living systems from the bottom up. This approach forces scientists away from tightly scripted "hypothesis based research" in ways that leads to new discoveries and new paradigms.

Using this research strategy, the Benner laboratory re-invented DNA, creating new genetic systems that encode information with as many as 10 different building blocks, far more than the four building blocks found in natural DNA. This work has transformed our understanding of DNA and genetics in general. It is currently guiding NASA in its search for extraterrestrial life on Mars, Enceladus, and elsewhere in the solar system. Further, this expanded DNA is allowing the generation of proteins with more than the 20 amino acids found in natural proteins. Under controlled laboratory conditions, the system can adapt under the guidance of molecular scientist to produce new receptors, ligands and catalyst having biomedical impact. This transformative research award will allow the full potential of synthetic biology to be realized.

The transformative research project that the NIH will support in the Benner laboratory will create cells that exploit this expanded genetic alphabet. "Constructing cells that use synthetic genetic systems is the ultimate "grand challenge" in biomolecular science," said Prof. Benner. "We expect that in addition to creating new technology, this work will also drive discovery of a deep understanding of biological systems, how the parts work together to create a whole in a living cell."

Already, this synthetic biology work has had practical medical value. The artificial genetics created at the FfAME support diagnostics products for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and respiratory disease viruses, as well as tests for cystic fibrosis used in genetic counseling. Synthetic DNA from FfAME also supports kits for public health surveillance for mosquito-borne viruses, noroviruses, and coronaviruses (e.g. SARS, MERS). The expanded DNA is also supporting a new phase in biotechnology where DNA molecule are synthesized, in a revolution that may soon match the revolution in medicine that was created by low-cost easy DNA sequencing.

This award also reflects the discoveries about evolution made using this synthetic biology. FfAME scientists, in collaboration with the group of Prof. Weihong Tan at the University of Florida, have shown that these artificial genetic systems can be replicated, evolved, and adapted in the laboratory. This laboratory evolution has delivered new molecules that bind to breast cancer cells, liver cancer cells, and proteins from anthrax. Work with Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, also in Alachua, and the laboratory of Brian Paegel at The Scripps Research Institute (Jupiter FL) is promising to develop a new class of drugs that not only bind to proteins that cause diseases, but also destroy them.

The Transformative Research Award program is one of four programs run from the NIH "Common Fund", two of which are directed at early stage researchers. I continually point to this program as an example of the creative and revolutionary research NIH supports, said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. The quality of the investigators and the impact their research has on the biomedical field is extraordinary.

What is remarkable about this particular award is its venue. "The other Transformative Awards went to established institutions, specifically, UCLA, MIT, Columbia, Rockefeller, Harvard, CalTech and the University of Washington," noted Nigel Richards, Professor at Cardiff University and a member of the Board of Directors of FfAME. "This is excellent company for FfAME, which received the only Transformative Award nationwide granted to a private foundation. This shows the depth and breadth of the science being done at the FfAME today."

Contact: Kellie Rucker

Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution

13709 Progress Boulevard Box 7, Alachua FL 32615

Tel 386 418 8085; Fax 844 259 6519

 MORE 

About the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution

The FfAME was founded in 2001 as a nonprofit research organization to addresses big questions, from the extent of life in the cosmos to the molecular biology of human disease. FfAME scientists also use insights made by addressing big questions to solve practical problems, including the diagnosis and treatment of disease, the extension of healthy life spans in humans, and application of the molecular sciences, bioinformatics, and engineering to commerce.

Supported by philanthropy, technology transfer, and grants and contracts from public and private organizations, including the John Templeton Foundation and the Templeton World Charity Foundation, the FfAME is one of the few nonprofit, private scientific organizations in North Central Florida. Its accomplishments in technology include the development of materials to measure the load of viruses in infected patients, surveillance of public spaces for Zika, norovirus, and other infectious agents, whole genome sequencing, and new catalysts for human therapy.

On the more exotic side, FfAME scientists perform Jurassic Park experiments that resurrect genes and proteins from nowextinct organisms, using these to understand the evolution of life on Earth in its changing environment. FfAME is a longstanding member of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, where it has contributed to the search for biology on Mars, Titan, and elsewhere in the Solar System.

FfAME is committed to public outreach and education. The book: Life, the Universe, and the Scientific Method, teaches scientific methods by seeking answers to big questions such as: Does alien life exist? FfAME staff lecture on space exploration at Cape Canaveral and elsewhere, and give public lectures across the country and around the world. Find more information at: http://www.ffame.org.

About the NIH Common Fund:

The NIH Common Fund encourages collaboration and supports a series of exceptionally high-impact, trans-NIH programs. Common Fund programs are managed by the Office of Strategic Coordination in the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives in the NIH Office of the Director in partnership with the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices. More information is available at the Common Fund website: https://commonfund.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

The NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

Social Media Content from the NIH Common Fund

Main announcement

https://commonfund.nih.gov/TRA/recipients

The following Social Media Content will be posted to the NIH Common Funds Twitter and Facebook platforms. Please feel free to retweet and share liberally.

Twitter

Tweets from @NIH_CommonFund



The @NIHDirectors awards fund highly creative scientists tackling major research challenges: https://go.usa.gov/xnccv #NIHHighRisk

The @NIHDirectors New Innovator award supports early career researchers. Meet the 2017 awardees: https://go.usa.gov/xnccV #NIHHighRisk

@NIHDirectors Transformative Research awardees may overturn scientific paradigms. 2017 awardees: https://go.usa.gov/xnccd #NIHHighRisk

@NIHDirectors Pioneer awardees pursue bold approaches to major research challenges. 2017 awardees: https://go.usa.gov/xnccE #NIHHighRisk

@NIHDirectors Early Independence Awardees jump-start independent research careers. 2017 awardees: https://go.usa.gov/xnccy #NIHHighRisk

Facebook

Posts from Facebook.com/NIHCommonFund


"Were here to acknowledge great work and help each other. ~Sharyl Thompson, chair of the 2017 SANsational Award Committee

The WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) and the State Authorization Network (SAN) are pleased to announce the winners of the 3rd annual SANsational Awards. These awards recognize outstanding efforts by SAN member institutions and organizations in developing a high-quality, comprehensive solution to a challenging state authorization issue. Works recognized by the SANsational Awards present solutions that meet the needs of regulators, the institution and, most especially, students. These efforts serve as models which can be adapted or replicated by others.

The 2017 SANsational Award winners are categorized into three areas: identifying where students are located, notifications/disclosures for institutional state authorizations and compliance status, and notifications/disclosures for professional licensure program status in each state.



University of Missouri  Kansas City

- Awarded: Institutional Authorization - Notifications and disclosures for institutional state authorizations and compliance status.

The Ohio State University

- Awarded: Location - How do you identify where your students are located?

- Awarded: Licensure Programs - Notifications and disclosures for professional licensure program status in each state.

The SANsational Awards committee enthusiastically recognizes the good work of the institutional winners, said Sharyl Thompson, CEO, HER (Higher Education Regulatory Consulting and the chair of the 2017 SANsational Award Committee. She continued: Not only do their efforts demonstrate improvement at their own institutions, but publishing them through nomination for this award makes it possible for other institutions to see how compliance can be done. It all fits into the partnership culture among the SAN member institutions. Were here to acknowledge great work and help each other."

The SANsational awardees will be recognized at the State Authorization Network (SAN) Coordinators Meeting on October 24th, prior to the WCET Annual Meeting in Denver, CO October 25-27, 2017.

A webcast to highlight the SANsational award winners will be held. Learn more about the the webcast and the awards.

Further Information

University of Missouri  Kansas City.

While state authorization can be confusing to those in charge of institutional compliance, it is doubly confusing to current and potential students. UMKC Online designed its State Authorization page to be user-friendly for both students and UMKC employees. With the clickable map, students can easily identify which online degree programs are available in their state of residence. Additionally, by clicking on their state, students may view Consumer Protection Information for that particular state. Each states SARA status is indicated in the drop-down menu. If there are stipulations for residents of a certain state, there is a statement indicating that the student needs to contact the online advisor for more information. In each states drop-down menu, the programs listed are linked to the official program web site where they can learn more about the program as well as who to contact for more information.

In order to ensure accuracy, the online degree department coordinators are contacted each spring and fall semester to ensure there have been no changes to their curriculum and that the program is still offered online. All of this information is documented on a behind-the-scenes website: Confluence. On this wiki, they will find updated information including what states and territories in which UMKC is authorized, a map of SARA states, any news in the field of state authorization, and a chart listing any stipulations for each state, including advertising and recruiting information.

Contact: Brandi Elliott, elliottba@umkc.edu and Nickolas Liddeke, liddeken(at)umkc.edu

____

The Ohio State University

Student Location Tracking

To comply with state and federal regulations and NC-SARA reporting requirements, the Ohio State Universitys State Authorization Team implemented a system to track student location. The tracking solution requires minimal effort by staff and students, and helps to achieve institutional compliance. The Team created a splash page that appears in the online student service center when a student is registering for online classes. On the splash page, students are asked to verify contact information, including a physical address. After courses that include an on-ground field experience are verified at the department level, a splash page will also be implemented for students registering for those courses.

Licensure Programs

To comply with federal and foreign regulations and NC-SARA requirements, The Ohio State Universitys State Authorization Team developed a multipronged communication strategy to meet student notification and disclosure requirements for licensure-track programs. Central to that strategy are the universitys state authorization websites, where authorization status and disclosures are updated in real time and are searchable by program or state. The websites also link to relevant professional licensure boards in each state. The websites provide disclosure templates for staff responsible for enrollments in traditional, campus-based licensure programs. Finally, students must acknowledge receipt of the licensure disclosure with a signature on the students acceptance letter.

Contact: Lisa Siefker, 614-292-2582, siefker.69(at)osu.edu

________________________________________________________________________________

About WCET

The WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) is the leader in the practice, policy, and advocacy of technology-enhanced higher education. More information about WCETs institutional membership resources and services can be found on WCETs website, http://wcet.wiche.edu

About the State Authorization Network

Working collaboratively, institutions can navigate the state regulations processes more efficiently than working on their own. WCET's State Authorization Network (SAN) guides, supports, and facilitates collaboration of its members to understand and apply state and federal regulation compliance requirements for institutions out of state activities. http://wcet.wiche.edu/advance/state-authorization-network
Michael P. McSorley This is such an exciting time for the Distillery. Shifting Mike into the distilling leadership role helps the whole team to move forward and excel in their respective roles, as well as sharpen up and dial in our processes to lead our brand to the next chapter.

Utah grain-to-glass craft spirits pioneer, Dented Brick Distillery, welcomes Michael Patrick McSorley as Head Distiller, previously Head Distiller at Batch 206 in Seattle, Washington. Prior to Batch 206, McSorley was at Soft Tail Spirits in Woodinville, WA. McSorley got his start in the beverage business as a bartender and beverage program consultant. However, his attention to detail, superb palate, and extensive experience in bartending quickly distinguished him and soon he was distilling.

McSorley has won several awards in bartending and in distilling; he has competed in international bartending competitions and boasts a Double Gold Medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for Soft Tail Spirits Vodka. His creativity and expertise has been called upon by beverage industry leaders in the US, China, and India.

After an encounter with Dented Brick CEO/Founder Marc Christensen via a LinkedIn job posting, Christensen knew he too wanted to pull McSorley into his corner. He not only has an exceptional palate for distillation and the passion to present consumers with the highest quality spirits made, he is incredibly creative, innovative and forward-thinking  hes been looking for ways to experiment with new ingredients and techniques and expand our offerings. Christensen added, This is such an exciting time for the Distillery. Shifting Mike into the distilling leadership role helps the whole team to move forward and excel in their respective roles, as well as sharpen up and dial in our processes to lead our brand to the next chapter.

Dented Bricks team is comprised by Scott Millet (Assistant Distiller), Karina Soriano (Marketing/Brand), and Channalyn Tek (Sales/Retail).

Since opening in March 2016, Dented Brick Distillery has been busy crafting spirits and gaining the attention and favor of tasters and sippers.

A few highlights:



Tours & Tastings: Dented Brick Distillery, a licensed liquor store and packaging agency, also offers daily tours and tastings for public and private parties.

Special edition, limited releases: The palate of the West inspired the Dented Brick team to launch an ongoing series of tasting room-only, limited releases and experimental batches available only onsite, including a dark rum, white whiskey (to-be-aged), and signature liqueurs.

Honors & Awards: Dented Brick has been awarded 19 medals and honors at international spirit & cocktail competitions, most recently ranked in USA Today's 10Best Craft Vodka Distilleries.

Brick Club: Members of Brick Club, Dented Bricks Loyalty Program, will now have access to exclusive merchandise, events, and early and limited release tastings.

What's Next: As the creative force behind the still, McSorley already has a number of projects underway, including the introduction of well and super premium labels. McSorley remarks, As a distillery we are moving past our introduction stage, we are out in the market and have made headway into other states. Our focus is now shifting to building our brand and getting recognized nationally as a producer of high quality, innovative, and handcrafted spirits. We will be adding more products that include well and super premium labels that let us connect with a wider audience and give us more insight into how to best meet their expectations and that of our brand. As far as new products go, we are planning an oak-aged dark rum that has been maturing in our wine barrels; a new gin brand is underwayitll feature our core tea botanical; a white whiskey, in the short term with an aged whiskey in the horizon. I'm really excited to get the stills fired up!"

About Dented Brick Distillery

Dented Brick Distillery is owned and operated by Salt Lake City Distillery, LLC with majority Utah private investors.

Dented Brick Distillery is a spirits producer which handcrafts artisan Vodka, Gin, Rum, Dark Rum, and White Whiskey, onsite using the grain-to-glass method, allowing the Distillery to create a premium product unique to the Wild West. Salt Lake Citys first destination distillery, Dented Brick brings the art of grain-to-glass liquor100% fermented, distilled, infused, and bottled from high quality botanicals, grains, yeast, and molasses  to the people of the Wasatch Front. The 17,000 square foot distillery is built to house the custom-built 500 gallon Vendome copper batch still, 28 foot tall stripping still with vodka arm and gin basket, and is capable of running 24/7 with a startup capacity of 12,000 to 15,000 cases per year. The still room, retail store, and barrel aging room will line the east-facing front of the distillery, giving a curbside view of the size and scope of distillery operations.
Alvin Queen If someone wants to apologize to me and make this right, fine. But Im not holding my breath. In the meantime, Ill bring my music, this American art form, to every other country in the world. I know they like me in Canada. Ill start there.

Mr. Queen, the former drummer for Oscar Peterson, whose career includes memorable collaborations with a veritable whos who of music royalty, including Nina Simone, Horace Silver, George Benson, Ruth Brown, Buddy DeFranco, Wynton Marsalis, Billy Taylor, Wild Bill Davis, George Coleman, George Braith, Larry Young, Harry Sweets Edison and Johnny Griffin, was set to perform at a concert in Washington, DC on November 15th, 2017, at the behest of The French-American Cultural Foundation.

The evening, entitled JAZZ MEETS FRANCE, has Wynton Marsalis as its Honorary Chairman, and Dr. David Skorton , Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution , is Master of Ceremonies. The event marks the centenary of the US entry into WWI and specifically honors the Harlem Hellfighters . Ironically, these were the African-American soldiers who served in WWI, and who introduced jazz music to France and the rest of Europe, yet whom were never officially honored, until now.

Mr. Queen, who has held a Swiss passport for thirty years, was informed this week that, due to a run-in with the law as a youth, a half century ago, while a minor, he would have to apply for a Waiver from the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, despite the fact he was born in the USA. This would take months, making it virtually impossible to participate, barring Presidential decree, and we know thats unlikely. But this is not fake news.

Sadly, this doesnt surprise me one bit, comments Mr. Queen, 67, from his home in Geneva. Ive spent months preparing for this concert. Dozens of others are also implicated in its planning. Funny thing, I gave up my U.S. passport to make life simpler at tax time. I never dreamed I would one day be denied entry, and with such ridiculous reasoning. I am frankly disgusted to be disrespected in this way, after a half century devoted to music.

Mr. Queen, who until 2016 held dual citizenship with the United States and Switzerland, has previously worked numerous times for the US State Department as a Cultural Ambassador, and participated in numerous tours of Brazil, Africa and Japan. Queen also performed at the American International Jazz Day in Paris several years ago.

Mr. Queen has held a U.S. passport, and regularly worked under the auspices of the American government, for over fifty years of his life. Like many citizens, hes had brushes with the law, but these have never impeded his ability to enter and exit his native country. A one-time DWI charge and a minor drug offense both resulted in not guilty charges.

For this occasion, the US State Dept had only to apply for an O1B Work Visa in order for Mr Queen to enter in the United States. This was done correctly, but after the process was completed, fingerprints matching a 1967 FBI file were dredged up and presented as a reason to prevent him from entering the USA. So now we can see that the infamous travel ban is not limited to citizens of Sudan, Syria, and Iran. It extends to a then 16-year-old drummer who once sat in with John Coltrane.

How can you process someone fifty years later for charges that occurred when they were a youth, a mere child? And why punish this now acclaimed adult, a leading light on the international jazz scene, who is now 67 years old? He obviously forged a path and created a fabulous life for himself. Adds Queen, I feel this is more about racial profiling than anything. Its all about trying to control everyone. I am not a criminal and in fact never was. When I became a Swiss citizen, I became a criminal again in the eyes of US law enforcement. If I was undesirable fifty years ago, why have I been issued a fresh passport every ten years for the past six decades? Indeed, this is the question.

For now, those wanting to experience Alvin Queens jazz mastery will need to follow him to Montreal, Canada, where he is set to give a master class with pianist Wray Downes on Fri Nov 3 at 1:00 pm (free and open to the public) at Concordia University and then a full concert with his trio the following evening, at Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill , on Sat Nov 4, for two sets, at 7:30 and 9:45 pm.

Queen has the last word. If someone wants to apologize to me and make this right, fine. But Im not holding my breath. In the meantime, Ill bring my music, this American art form, to every other country in the world. I know they like me in Canada. Ill start there.

This coming week Alvin will be featured on The Jazz Network Worldwide http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com with a sneak peek of two singles from his CD re-issues of "Mighty Long Way" and "I Ain't Looking' At You" slated for late fall 2017.

The official website for Alvin Queen is http://www.alvinqueen.com to learn more about his current engagements and all things Alvin.

Mr Queen is available for interviews relating to this story.

##

Follow Alvin on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alvin.queen.73

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvin-queen-a2a3a42a/
Gross domestic product, gross national income, human development index  we know just enough about these numbers to know mean something. These stats play an important role in global function and regulating the world economy, but do we truly know the purpose and impact of this data on society? Economic historian Richard T. Griffiths, examines the intersection between economics and politics in his book Configuring the World: A Critical Political Economy Approach

Divided into three distinct sections, Configuring the World critically studies the various dimensions of globalization and analyzes the power relationships within the international system. Griffiths discusses the methodology and statistics utilized by social scientists, highlighting how these rough estimates should not act as a basis for public policy.

Additionally, he analyzes the role trust plays in establishing equality, governance and policy in a civilized society and explores how imbedded industries and lobbyists play a role in shaping the global framework.

There is this pipeline of information that dictates the structure of international politics and the global economy, but does the average citizen know the truth behind this data? Griffiths said. Configuring the World show you how to breakdown the world around you, examine its components and then reassemble it in a more meaningful form.

Configuring the World provides readers with digestible insight into the inner workings of global development. For more information on the author and book, please visit http://www.configuringtheworld.com.

Configuring the World: A Critical Political Economy Approach

By Richard T. Griffiths

ISBN: 9781504371315 (hardcover) 9781504371322 (softcover) 9781504371339 (ebook)

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and HIPE Publications

About the author

Richard Griffiths was born in Middlesex, England in 1948. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from University College Swansea and a Doctorate in History from Cambridge University. He was a professor of Economic and Social History as well as International Studies at Leiden University from between 1995 to 2015. He has taught and researched on 19th and 20th century economic history, European integration, development cooperation and small states. He currently teaches several online MOOCs and in 2016 he received Courseras Outstanding Educator Award for Innovation. In 2015, he established HIPE Research and HIPE Publications to encourage accessible, policy relevant studies that link economics to the real world of politics and society and that offers serious attention to the role of historical contexts.

###

Review Copies & Interview Requests:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Jacquelyn Brazzale

480 998 2600 x 569

jbrazzale(at)lavidge(dot)com

General Inquiries:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Satara Williams

480-998-2600 x 586

swilliams(at)lavidge(dot)com
Eskers intelligent capture, filtering and tracking capabilities have enabled our AP department to work faster and more efficiently

Esker, a worldwide leader in document process automation solutions and pioneer in cloud computing, today announced it is working with ELIX Polymers, a leading manufacturer of ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) resins and derivatives, to automate its accounts payable (AP) process. With the goal of improving supplier payments, ELIX Polymers selected Eskers cloud-based Accounts Payable solution to automate an annual volume of 8,000 invoices from 2,000 suppliers in Spain and North America.

Prior to Esker, ELIX Polymers manually processed its supplier invoices (75 percent of which are received via email and 25 percent via postal mail), which resulted in significant delays in the time to allocate expenses to the right cost center.

Today, received invoices are scanned in batches and entered into an automated workflow. Eskers intelligent image recognition technology extracts data, identifies the corresponding manager according to the supplier code and then dispatches the invoice for approval. Thanks to machine learning capabilities, Eskers solution quickly identifies and corrects errors, knows which invoices to prioritize and which to reject, collates those from purchase orders and validates them through an electronic approval workflow. The streamlined process improves reliability and accelerates the processing of future invoices.

Eskers intelligent capture, filtering and tracking capabilities have enabled our AP department to work faster and more efficiently, said Jose Antonio Martin Sierra, head of accounting at ELIX Polymers. Our supplier relationships have improved, too, thanks to accurate and on-time payments.

Benefits of AP automation

Thanks to Esker, ELIX Polymers has achieved numerous benefits, including:



Faster invoice processing

Increased visibility over the whole AP process

Ability to monitor team performance and invoice status thanks to dashboards and metrics

Improved efficiency when searching for invoices via electronic archiving and key-word search

Improved communication with suppliers and reduced collection calls

Seamless ERP integration with the companys SAP system

About ELIX Polymers

ELIX Polymers Americas is a subsidiary company in America of ELIX Polymers. ELIX Polymers is a leading manufacturer of ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) resins and derivatives in Europe.

Operating from its head office in Tarragona, Spain, and with Sales support teams in all key markets, the company is a specialist provider of tailor-made solutions for high quality thermoplastics applications. With a 40-year track record, ELIX Polymers is an expert in ABS polymers, and it has the resources, the expertise and the experience to create value for its customers through highly individual solutions.

ELIX Polymers offers a broad range of material solutions for a variety of industries and applications, meeting the stringent requirements of the Healthcare, Automotive, Appliances, Electronic, Toys and other industries.

About Esker

Esker is a worldwide leader in cloud-based document process automation software. Esker solutions, including the acquisition of the TermSync accounts receivable solution in 2015, help organizations of all sizes to improve efficiencies, accuracy, visibility and costs associated with business processes. Esker provides on-demand and on-premises software to automate accounts payable, order processing, accounts receivable, purchasing and more.

Founded in 1985, Esker operates in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific with global headquarters in Lyon, France and U.S. headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2016, Esker generated 66 million euros in total sales revenue. For more information on Esker and its solutions, visit http://www.esker.com. Follow Esker on Twitter @EskerInc and join the conversation on the Esker blog at blog.esker.com.
This is an exciting time for FCM in Europe in terms of expansion and innovation

FCM Travel Solutions, the flagship business travel division of Flight Centre Travel Group, has been named Leading Travel Management Company for Europe for the ninth consecutive year at the prestigious World Travel Awards.

The World Travel Awards programme celebrates its 24th anniversary this year and is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade. Awards are voted for by travel and tourism professionals worldwide and these accolades recognise the commitment to excellence FCM has demonstrated over the past 12 months.

Tomas Tachovsky, General Manager - Europe Network, FCM Travel Solutions commented: We are extremely proud to win this award for another year. This is an outstanding achievement and testament to the exceptional travel management services, professionalism and value that our people provide for clients in Europe.

This years award is particularly significant for FCM as 2017 has been a landmark year for the travel management company. Over the last 12 months FCM has grown its equity owned footprint in Europe considerably following acquisitions by parent company Flight Centre Travel Group of Travellink Corporate in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, and Opodo Corporate in Germany which will operate under the FCM brand.

In addition, FCM has also pioneered the use of artificial intelligence and chatbot technology in the business travel management sector with the launch of Sam, a Smart Assistant for Mobile that supports business travellers with all aspects of travel via a conversational interface on their mobile device. FCM has also recently launched its next generation technology suite of interconnected business travel tools, FCM Connect that transform the business travel process.

This is an exciting time for FCM in Europe in terms of expansion and innovation, which is part of our overall strategy to provide unique services and experiences to our clients travellers, bookers and managers, said Tomas Tachovsky.

ends

About FCM Travel Solutions:

FCM Travel Solutions is the flagship global travel management brand of the Flight Centre Travel Group which has expanded to become one of the worlds largest travel companies. FCM is the business travel partner of choice for large national, multinational and global corporations. Our global network spans more than 90 countries, employing over 6000 people. We are transforming the business of travel through our empowered and accountable people who deliver 24/7 service and are available either online or offline. Leveraging FCM's negotiating strength and supplier relationships in conjunction with our tailored business travel programs, our expertise delivers more for our clients where it matters most to them
New Name, Website Follows HALO Branded Solutions' Acquisition of Michael C. Fina Recognition in Early 2017

After being acquired by HALO Branded Solutions in February 2017, Michael C. Fina Recognition, a leading global rewards, recognition, and incentives provider for the past 50 years, officially unveiled their new HALO Recognition branding at this year's HR Technology Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas.

Michael C. Fina Recognition's New York office, administrative center, management team, and daily operations will remain the same. The company's former website will redirect to halorecognition.com.

The name "HALO Recognition" combines the strengths of HALO Branded Solutions and Michael C. Fina Recognition. Uniting the best of both organizations, the new company takes expertise in recognition best practices, brand advocacy, promotional products, and sourcing to market while offering the most comprehensive digital (online recognition) and physical (gifts and awards) recognition experiences available.

"Our goal is to provide our valued recognition and branded merchandise clients with a single point of expertise," said Marc Simon, CEO of HALO. "The HALO Recognition rebranding will provide clarity and consistency to our client base as we expand our combined offering."

"As HALO Recognition, we've changed our name but the DNA remains the same - we are still committed to creating memorable experiences and celebrating employee success," added Jeffrey Fina, chief customer officer, HALO Recognition. "This new chapter opens up new capabilities, expertise and possibilities for our customers."

HALO Recognition is an exhibitor at the HR Technology Conference & Exposition Oct. 10-13 at Booth 3631. For more, please visit halorecognition.com.

About HALO

HALO Branded Solutions, with operational headquarters in Sterling, Illinois, and HALO Recognition, based in Long Island City, New York, are industry-leading providers of branded merchandise and global recognition solutions. With a national salesforce, HALO creates growth by offering innovative client solutions priced competitively and supported by world-class operations and customer service.
Diamond Caviar Bracelet Spark Collection Steven Lagos, the main designer and founder of LAGOS, started the brand in 1977 with the goal of creating pieces that complemented each woman's elegance, integrity, and sensuality.

Bromberg & Co is proud to announce this fall they'll be celebrating 40 years of LAGOS, a brand that has defined bold femininity through iconic jewelry. Each piece designed and handcrafted by the company is created with a particular woman in mind. She is a woman who has poise, grace and effortless beauty combined with clear strength and sophistication. LAGOS pieces are known for complementing the wearer, not defining them. This jewelry is only sold at Bromberg & Co.s Mountain Brook store.

Steven Lagos, the main designer and founder of LAGOS, started the brand in 1977 with the goal of creating pieces that complemented each woman's elegance, integrity, and sensuality. Lagos's designs are inspired by the intense feelings and experiences he gains during frequent travels to places all over Asia and Europe. Through his travels, he absorbs unique insights into beauty and style that are simply missing from most contemporary jewelry.

MY LAGOS MY WAY is a slogan that's defined the personality and confidence the brand has helped women maintain for more than 40 years. Bromberg's carries a wide range of LAGOS products, including necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and more. Each team member at Bromberg's has intimate knowledge of the LAGOS line of jewelry, and they've helped women find the perfect pieces for their weddings, anniversaries, or other special occasions. They are constantly rotating their stock of LAGOS jewelry to fit the changing styles of customers in the area.

The unmistakable signature of LAGOS is the Caviar Collection. Countless steps are taken by the designers at LAGOS to create a single piece of Caviar. Each item transforms sterling silver and 18k gold into iconic jewelry that's comfortable to wear and captivating to the eye. In order to maintain its unique style and personality, each LAGOS piece begins with a hand sketch by Steven Lagos himself. LAGOS pieces are only crafted using the finest available stones, metals, and materials available.

Bromberg & Co is a family owned and operated business that has been providing top-quality jewelry from LAGOS and other brands for discerning customers in Alabama and beyond since opening for business in 1836. They've established a solid reputation in the community by consistently offering quality diamonds as well as elegant jewelry, timepieces, and gifts. They are proud to be considered Alabama's leading jeweler.
ThinOPTICS, the manufacturer of revolutionary go-anywhere stemless reading glasses, is proud to announce they have made Sonoma (City of Sonoma or Sonoma Valley) the official location of their new headquarters.

After basing research, development and fulfillment in Sonoma for the past 5 years, ThinOPTICS has decided to move all operations to a new office in Carneros Business Park. Located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, ThinOPTICS is excited to make a significant commitment to this vibrant and growing Northern California community. U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson toured the new facility on August 24 to welcome ThinOPTICS to Sonoma Valley. We are looking forward to having all operations under one roof in Sonoma, a perfect place for ThinOPTICS, because of the incredibly well-connected community supporting us in aspects like retail expertise, supply chain know-how and identifying investors, said David Westendorf, ThinOPTICS CEO. Being in Sonoma Valley will grant us access to exceptional marketing talent; the same talent that brought the rise of fine Sonoma wines.

After only four years in business, ThinOPTICS now markets and ships their products to over 170 countries directly from Sonoma, and will be shipping its 2 millionth pair of reading glasses this month. They can be purchased on the companys website and Amazon, and are also available in Walmart Optical, Target, and stores, as well as over 1,600 Independent Specialty Retailers across the U.S.

For information on ThinOPTICS and its line of products, visit http://www.thinoptics.com.

###

About ThinOPTICS

ThinOPTICS entered the market in 2014 and was launched by a passionate team who believed that reading glasses users should be able to access their glasses at any given time. After 200 prototypes and countless trials, the ThinOPTICS team created the stick anywhere, go everywhere reading glasses that are as thin as two credit cards, weigh less than a nickel. The glasses easily attach to phones or can be slipped into a wallet, purse or pockets. The reading glasses can be purchased in four strengths: +1.00, +1.50, +2.00, and +2.50 and currently offer cases for Apple and Samsung phones, as well as in a Universal Pod and Keychain case. ThinOPTICS was named Best in Class  Iconic Design by Inc., Best of CES 2015 by PCWorld and has been featured on CBS News Sunday Morning, Yahoo! Tech, FOX News, Real Simple, Refinery29 and more. For additional information on ThinOPTICS, please visit http://www.thinoptics.com.
Wi-Tronix is a leading innovator in real-time monitoring for rail. - Johannes Emmelheinz, CEO of Customer Services at Siemens Mobility Division

With Wi-Tronix, Siemens expands its digitalized services for predictive maintenance in the rail sector



Siemens makes a significant strategic equity investment in Wi-Tronix

Wi-Tronix to remain a standalone, founder-led company

The transaction has been executed in October 2017

Siemens and Wi-Tronix, headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, near Chicago, U.S., are launching a partnership to expand digital predictive maintenance for rail services. Through the integration of their technologies, and joint development of new innovations, the companies seek to move the industry toward the objective of one hundred-percent availability of safe, efficient service. Siemens has made a significant equity investment in Wi-Tronix. Both companies have agreed to maintain confidentiality regarding financial details of the deal.

Wi-Tronix is a provider of remote monitoring, video analysis and predictive diagnostic systems for rolling stock and rail infrastructure, making critical data available to operators in real time through its Software as a Service (SaaS) solution. Worldwide, approximately 12,000 locomotives  primarily in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Australia  are equipped with Wi-Tronix technology and connected with SaaS-based solutions. Among them are the 70 electric Siemens ACS-64 locomotives operated by Amtrak, the American passenger service corporation.

Wi-Tronix is a leading innovator in real-time monitoring for rail, explained Johannes Emmelheinz, CEO of Customer Services at Siemens Mobility Division. The company has profound expertise in key technologies such as video analysis, providing unique information for both real-time and predictive applications. Partnering with developers of exceptional technologies is a key part of our strategy to deliver expansive digital services for predictive maintenance.

We were very deliberate in seeking the ideal partner to work with, stated Larry Jordan, President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Wi-Tronix. Siemens shares our commitment to improving the world by making the transportation of people and goods safer, more reliable, and more efficient. This requires rail operators to have access to critical data which supports both real-time decisions and predictive maintenance. With their global reach and resources, we will accelerate development of our products and expand our footprint to serve customers across platforms around the world.

Siemens operates a worldwide network of Mobility Data Services Centers to analyze masses of data that are continually collected from hundreds of sensors and controllers in trains, locomotives and rail infrastructure. On the basis of these analyses, early forecasts of system failures are made and recommendations for acute or scheduled maintenance are sent to technicians in the Siemens depots as well as to the operators.

This press release is available at: http://www.siemens.com/press/digitalservices and

www2.wi-tronix.com/press/siemens

Contact for journalists

Denise Senter

Phone: +1 312 659 9930; E-Mail: dsenter(at)wi-tronix.com

Follow us on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/witronix

For further information about Wi-Tronix, please visit: http://www.wi-tronix.com

Contact for journalists

Eva Haupenthal

Phone: +49 89 636 24421; E-Mail: eva.haupenthal(at)siemens.com

Follow us on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/SiemensMobility

For further information about the Mobility Division, please see: http://www.siemens.com/mobility

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the worlds largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment  such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems  and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2016, which ended on September 30, 2016, Siemens generated revenue of 79.6 billion and net income of 5.6 billion. At the end of September 2016, the company had around 351,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at http://www.siemens.com.

About Wi-Tronix

Wi-Tronix is a leading provider of remote monitoring, video analytics, and predictive diagnostic solutions for high-value mobile assets in rail, marine, mining, and other industrial markets. Utilizing both edge computing and cloud-based SaaS services, Wi-Tronix provides real-time data aggregation and analytics on an unprecedented scale. Wi-Tronix works closely with its customers to improve the safety, service reliability, and operational efficiency of their transportation systems. The entire Wi-Tronix team is passionately committed to our global vision of saving lives and ensuring the most efficient and reliable movement of goods and people throughout the world. Wi-Tronix corporate headquarters are located in Bolingbrook, Illinois. For more information visit http://www.wi-tronix.com or follow Wi-Tronix on Twitter at @WiTronix.
Gilbane Building Company Announces Strategic Hire in Columbus Office

Gilbane Building Company is pleased to welcome David Williams as a project executive in our Columbus office. Mr. Williams brings a solid reputation in the healthcare market and over 20 years of leadership experience while building complex healthcare projects.

Mr. Williams has led projects ranging from renovations within operational healthcare facilities to the construction of freestanding hospitals and medical office buildings. In his role as project executive, David will leverage his significant healthcare experience and his track record of successful programs to support Gilbanes continued growth in Ohio.

We are very pleased to have David Williams join the Gilbane family as a project executive with a specific focus on growing our presence in the regional healthcare market, said Brett Meyer, Vice President at Gilbane Building Company. David brings unique lessons learned and best practices from his previous client based healthcare experience, which will further bolster our strategic commitment to the Ohio healthcare market.

Mr. Williams is a graduate of Texas A&M University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science. He is a member of the Associated General Contractors and a past board member of their Dallas chapter.

About Gilbane Building Company

Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services  from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build and facility management services  for clients across various markets. Founded in 1873 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 50 office locations around the world. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com. Gilbane has been providing construction management services in Ohio since 1959.
Come and learn about Apstras latest innovation, AOS 2.0 that enables for the first-time a vendor-agnostic integrated underlay and overlay network infrastructure.

Apstra Inc. has been selected to demonstrate the Apstra Operating System (AOS)  the vendor-agnostic, intent-based networking system  at the ONUG Fall Conference, on October 17-18, located at The Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. Apstra will be highlighted at the following showcases at the event:



Mansour Karam, Founder and CEO of Apstra will be joined by IT executives from State Street, Versa Networks, Kentik and Moogsoft on the ONUG Town Hall Meeting Panel Session: How Fast Will Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Disrupt IT Jobs? on October 18 at 2:10 pm. The session will focus on what jobs will live on in a post-artificial intelligence (AI) world?

Apstra will showcase its latest technologies in a Proof of Concept Demonstration, located in the Proof of Concept Theatre. Apstra will demonstrate AOS 2.0, integration of physical and virtual networks with VXLAN support, Intent-Based Networking and Intent-Based Analytics.

Apstras innovative technologies will be on display at Booth #26. Come and learn about Apstras latest innovation, AOS 2.0 that enables for the first-time a vendor-agnostic integrated underlay and overlay network infrastructure. Schedule to meet with us at ONUG Fall 2017 to learn more about how AOS can transform your data center network.

SCHEDULE A MEETING:

Members from the Apstra team will be available to meet with customers, prospects and partners at the event. If you will be attending and want to learn more about Apstra and AOS, schedule a meeting here.

Read the latest blog post from Apstra CEO & Founder, Mansour Karam on Underlay - Overlay Integration for the Data Center.

To learn about Apstra Autonomous Networks view recent Apstra Webinars.

AOS 2.0 will be featured in a webinar on Tuesday, October 10th.

About Apstra, Inc.

Apstra has delivered the only Intent-Based Network operating system that enables a Self-Operating Network, an autonomous network that configures itself, fixes itself and defends itself. The company is redefining network operations and economics to make the network a CIOs most valuable asset to address business velocity. The Apstra Operating System (AOS) provides the only vendor-agnostic, intent-based, closed-loop command and control system delivering agility and massive TCO savings through automation of the full lifecycle of network operations. Apstra is based in Menlo Park and is privately funded.

http://www.apstra.com

Apstra Blog

Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook

YouTube

About ONUG

ONUG is the leading community of IT executives focused on enabling greater choice and options for IT business leaders by advocating open interoperable hardware and software-defined infrastructure solutions that span across the entire IT stack, all in an effort to create business value. The ONUG Board is composed of IT leaders from Bank of America, BNY Mellon, Cigna, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, eBay, FedEx, Fidelity Investments, Gap Inc., GE, Intuit, JPMorgan Chase, the Lippis Report, Morgan Stanley, Pfizer, State Street, TD Ameritrade, UBS, and Yahoo. For more on ONUG, go to http://www.onug.net or follow us on Twitter @ONUG_

PRESS CONTACT:

Mari Mineta Clapp

mari(at)apstra(dot)com

408-398-6433

http://www.apstra.com

@ApstraInc
Pariveda Solutions, a leading technology and management consulting firm that specializes in improving clients' performance, is pleased to announce that Susan Paul, the Office Managing Vice President for its Dallas location, was selected as an honoree for the Dallas Business Journal's 2017 Women in Technology Awards.

An October 6 special publication of the journal featured Ms. Paul and the other award recipients. An awards event to recognize the honorees took place on Tuesday, October 3.

In the publication and at the event, the journal recognized the work and contributions of 25 women who are leading tech companies, helping to shape the Dallas tech community and driving innovation in technology. The Women in Technology Awards has highlighted female leaders in technology in multiple industries for four years.

"Susan has been a terrific asset to our firm," said Bruce Ballengee, the CEO of Pariveda Solutions. "In her role, she will design and implement a model for us to continue our fast-paced growth while continuing to focus on talent development and community. In her prior role, she spearheaded the launch of our strategy practice in our Dallas office and across our firm.

"It's a great honor to be recognized by the Dallas Business Journal and to be one of its Women in Technology award recipients this year," Susan Paul said. "I congratulate the other honorees and look forward to the continued growth and development of the technology community in Dallas."

Over the course of her career, Ms. Paul has kept her finger on the pulse of trending topics in technology that would have a significant impact on clients. Pariveda has Susan to thank for evangelizing cloud technology a number of years ago, which has grown into one of our largest service offerings and she continually works with her team to identify trends that will impact our clients.

Susan Paul joined Pariveda in 2008. She has spent her career in the technology consulting industry starting at Accenture. Ms. Paul has an MBA from the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business and a BS in Economics and Biochemistry from the University of Michigan.

To learn more about Pariveda Solutions, visit http://www.parivedasolutions.com.

About Pariveda Solutions

Pariveda Solutions, Inc. is a leading management consulting firm specializing in improving our clients performance. We are complex problem solvers who provide strategic consulting services and custom application development solutions for mobility, cloud computing, data, portals and collaboration, CRM, custom software, enterprise integration and user experience needs of our clients.

Pariveda Solutions and The Business of IT are trademarks of Pariveda Solutions, Inc., Dallas, Texas, USA.
Vertical Bridge Holdings, LLC, the largest private owner and manager of communication infrastructure in the United States, today announced that Joe Meleski has joined the company as Vice President of Broadcast Leasing. With an official start date of October 2, Meleski will focus on supporting Vertical Bridges growing presence in the broadcast industry.

We are thrilled to welcome Joe to our broadcast leasing team, said Alex Gellman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Vertical Bridge. His tenure and deep connections in the broadcast space, in addition to his unique combination of experience in sales, project management, and construction, will play an important role in helping us continue to expand our broadcast portfolio.

Meleski brings more than two decades of broadcast experience to Vertical Bridge. Most recently he served as Vice President of U.S. Sales at Electronics Research, Inc. (ERI), a leading manufacturer of FM and TV antenna products and provider of broadcast solutions. Throughout his career, Meleski has also been directly involved with some of the largest broadcast tower and antenna projects in North America.

Vertical Bridge has evolved into one of the top players in the broadcast infrastructure space, and Im looking forward to helping it continue this successful momentum, said Meleski. I am also excited to be part of a company that understands where the industry is headed and can quickly adapt to those changes.

About Vertical Bridge Holdings, LLC

Vertical Bridge is the largest private owner and manager of communication towers and locations in the United States. The company owns, operates and manages over 55,000 tower, rooftop, billboard, utility attachment and other site locations in support of wireless network deployments. Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Vertical Bridge was founded in 2014 by key executives from Digital Bridge Holdings, LLC and former senior officers of Global Tower Partners. The senior management team at Vertical Bridge has over 150 years of collective experience in tower infrastructure and related sectors. For more information, please visit http://www.verticalbridge.com.

Contact for Vertical Bridge:

Erica Robertson, (561) 406-4032, ERobertson(at)verticalbridge(dot)com
Inteva Products, a leading global Tier One automotive supplier of engineered components and systems, is pleased to announce that Marco vom Wege has joined the company as Executive Director of the Interior Systems Product Line effective Oct. 2, reporting directly to Inteva CEO and President Lon Offenbacher.

Vom Wege was previously with Adient, formerly Johnson Controls, where he held several leadership positions. His most recent role was as Vice President & General Manager with responsibility for Complete Seat BMW, Daimler, VW Group & South Africa, and Ford & General Motors. Prior to that role, vom Wege served as General Manager for the Interior & Headliner business for Daimler, BMW, VW and Opel for the area of Johnson Controls that has now become part of Yanfeng Automotive. During 2008 and 2009, he served as General Manager of the European Change Program. Prior to these roles, he held various positions in Sales, Program Management, and Finance.

Vom Wege earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Verwaltungs- und Wirtschaftsakademie Wuppertal (Administrative - and Business academy Wuppertal) in Wuppertal, Germany. He also received his Industrial Manager degree from Gebr. Happich GmbH, Wuppertal, Germany.

Vom Wege replaces Pat Stewart who was reassigned as Vice President & General Manager in Europe earlier this year. He will be based in Intevas office and technical center in Vandalia, Ohio.

About Inteva Products, LLC

Inteva Products, LLC is a leading global automotive supplier providing automakers with innovative, reliable, environmentally friendly products that enhance vehicle quality, safety and performance. Inteva has global resources for engineering, manufacturing and customer service for Closure Systems, Interior Systems, Motors and Electronics, and Roof Systems. Formed in 2008, the tier-one supplier is focused on achieving sustained global growth, providing excellent customer service and driving innovation. Inteva was founded on innovative solutions and the use of applied technology to drive value-based solutions. Inteva employs more than 15,000 people globally and is headquartered in Troy, Michigan USA.

For future company updates, please visit the Inteva Products website, or the companys Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages.
At its national board meeting in North Carolina, ARCS Foundation President Andi Purple announced Dr. Christopher Stubbs, a professor in Harvard Universitys Departments of Physics and Astronomy, has been selected for membership in ARCS Alumni Hall of Fame. Dr. Stubbs was a member of the winning team for the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental physics for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe, recipient of a NASA Achievement medal, Packard Foundation Fellowship, National Academy of Sciences award for initiative in research, and founder of the APOLLO collaboration to probe for novel gravitational effects beyond the standard physics model.

To be recognized by ARCS Foundation is a tremendous honor, as I am grateful to the foundation for the role it has played in helping me along the educational path, said Dr. Stubbs, who was an ARCS Scholar at the University of Washington sponsored by ARCS Seattle Chapter. The generosity of ARCS Foundation in fulfilling its mission of promoting science education was vital not only for me but for countless other peers of mine, and to have my work recognized by those who played a role in my success is very special for me.

Inductees to the hall of fame are ARCS Scholar Alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of science and to increase our nations scientific competitiveness. These alumni are selected by a panel comprised of ARCS Foundation national board members and based on alumni contributions in the areas of scientific innovation, discovery, economic impact, development of future scientists, and communication of the importance of U.S. scientific superiority.

It was three decades ago that Dr. Stubbs received a scholar award while finishing his Ph.D. at the University of Washington, and his success since then is a testament to how and why ARCS Foundation works in fostering education, said Purple. We are proud to list Dr. Stubbs among ARCS alumni and welcome him into the exclusive and distinguished group that constitutes our hall of fame.

As a member of ARCS Alumni Hall of Fame, Dr. Stubbs joins the company of other outstanding alumni who received ARCS Foundation funding to support their education in past years.

# # #

About ARCS Foundation: ARCS Foundation is a national nonprofit volunteer womens organization that promotes American competitiveness by supporting talented U.S. citizens working to complete degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and health disciplines at 50 of the nations leading research universities. Since 1958, the organization has awarded more than $100 million to more than 10,000 students. ARCS Scholars have produced thousands of research publications and patents, secured billions in grant funding, started science related companies, and played a significant role in teaching and mentoring young people in the STEM pipeline. More at http://www.arcsfoundation.org.
Founder and CEO Vigdis Eriksen, pictured with several members of the Eriksen team, accepts the Done Deals Champion Award. We are fortunate to have built long-term relationships with global companies who are committed to supporting diverse suppliers. Our ability to build and maintain a stable, consistent workforce is one of the key reasons weve been able to develop such strong partnerships over the years.

Eriksen Translations Inc. (http://www.eriksen.com), a leading multilingual services provider, received the WBE Done Deals Champion Award on Friday at the Women Presidents' Educational Organizations (WPEO) Annual Breakthrough Breakfast at New Yorks Plaza Hotel. The award honors the WPEO Womens Business Enterprise (WBE) that reported the most Done Deals with WPEO corporate members during the challenge period.

Eriksen is proud to be recognized for the work it conducts with WPEO corporate members, leading global corporations that are firmly committed to supplier diversity. Eriksen helps its clients produce multilingual customer support materials, online content, and marketing messaging along with the human resources and training materials they need to support international workforces. While this award recognizes Eriksen for its work with clients in the fields of finance and insurance, the company also supports businesses in law, creative services, healthcare, and education, as well as nonprofits and leading museums and cultural institutions.

This is the seventh time that Eriksen has received a Done Deals award from the WPEO, which attests to the companys leadership as a woman-owned business and the strong relationships forged with clients.

"We are fortunate to have built long-term relationships with global companies who are committed to supporting diverse suppliers, said Vigdis Eriksen, Founder and CEO. Our ability to build and maintain a stable, consistent workforce is one of the key reasons weve been able to develop such strong partnerships over the years. My team always puts the clients first. This customer-centric approach stems from the top down and drives us each and every day.

This years Breakthrough Breakfast featured speakers from Microsoft, Wells Fargo, Avis Budget Group, and Ampcus, addressing the topic of Disruption: Impact on the Supply Chain and Procurement. Panelists discussed the opportunities and challenges presented by disruption, and the importance of interconnectivity at all levels of the supply chain as businesses seek to reinvent themselves.

About Eriksen Translations Inc.

One of the top 40 language services providers in North America, Eriksen Translations Inc. helps companies reach their audiences in the domestic and global marketplace. Founded in 1986, Eriksen provides language solutions in over 100 languages, offering print and website translation, desktop publishing, multimedia localization, cultural consulting, transcription, and voiceover and subtitling services. Headquartered in Brooklyn, Eriksen partners with companies in finance and insurance, law, creative services, health care, and education, as well as nonprofits and leading museums and cultural institutions worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.eriksen.com / @eriksentrans

About the Women Presidents' Educational Organization

The Women Presidents' Educational Organization (WPEO) is a regional affiliate of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation's premier third-party certification organization for Womens Business Enterprises (WBEs). The mission of the WPEO is to create increased access to business opportunities for WBEs. Its programs develop skills and knowledge for WBEs, advocate in the public and private sectors, foster relationships between WBEs, corporations and the government, and provide full service, third-party certification to women entrepreneurs in areas that include New York, Northern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. WPEO is incorporated in the state of New York and is recognized as a 501(c) (3) organization. For more information, visit http://www.wpeo.us / @wpeonydc
This dance is a part of the Xcaret night show, Xcaret Mexico Espectacular. The show has over 300 dancers and is a tribute to Mexicos history, with influences coming from pre-Hispanic to present day.

These men, ranging from 55 to 76 years old, are often older than their performing peers, but the adrenaline rush they feel on stage makes it all worth it.

We enter as good as new, Gabriel Angel Revilla Arellano said. Because we have some parts that hurt at this age: knees, legs, our back. But out there, theres no pain.

Dancing is a competitive profession, and older performers can have a difficult time finding work. In this show, these men have a chance to do what they love.

"They are excellent actors and dancers, said Leticia Aguerrebere Salido, Director of Art and Culture of Grupo Experiencias Xcaret. Every night they come on stage with great enthusiasm to give their best performance.

This dance is an interpretation of the Michoacan dances of the Purepecha region and honors the Elder God of Fire.

The dancers say the look of joy they see on the audiences faces is priceless.

The most exciting part of the performance is when I kneel and I take off my hat and my mask, Arellano said.They look at me and say, He is an Elder!

ABOUT XCARET

Xcaret is one of Mexico's premier ecotourism destinations located on the shore of the Caribbean Sea. This park showcases both Mexican cultural traditions and the beautiful nature of the region. While at the park, guests can watch a grand spectacle with more than 300 artists on stage, explore underground rivers surrounded by magnificent natural scenery and enjoy a traditional Fiesta Charra. Guests also have the chance to get up close with animals that are protected by Xcarets conservation programs, including 1,500 different types of birds in the aviary, such as quetzals, toucans and parrots.
Medical Solutions created Travel Nurses Day as another fun, interactive way to celebrate Travelers everywhere for all their hard work and steadfast commitment to quality patient care. Travel Nurses deserve our gratitude for everything they do and we hope theyll enjoy the special recognition.

Medical Solutions, the nations third-largest Travel Nurse staffing company, is currently celebrating ahead of the Fifth Annual Travel Nurses Day, this Friday, October 13, 2017.

The pet-friendly healthcare staffing agency launched the yearly holiday in 2013, as another way to celebrate and honor hardworking Travel Nurses worldwide.

Medical Solutions created Travel Nurses Day as another fun, interactive way to celebrate Travelers everywhere for all their hard work and steadfast commitment to quality patient care, says Medical Solutions CEO Craig Meier. Travel Nurses deserve our gratitude for everything they do and we hope theyll enjoy the special recognition this week.

The 2017 celebration has already begun, with a variety of quizzes, activities, and prizes at TravelNursesDay.com. Games this year include travel libs, photo finds and two quizzes  a Where Should I Travel Next? quiz and a Whats Your Ultimate Source of Bliss? quiz. Travel Nurses can play and participate through Sunday, October 15, 2017, at midnight CT, and winners will be announced the week of October 16. Tons of great prizes will be given away this year.

Completing activities and quizzes will enter Travel Nurses to win one of the following prizes:



5  $50 Amazon gift cards

5  North Face Recon Backpacks

3  pairs of WonderWink Scrubs

3  pairs of Alegria Shoes

3  pairs of Sockwell Socks

4  LeSportSac bags

4  handcrafted necklaces from Shiny Little Blessings

3  pizza parties for you and your unit

Medical Solutions is also hosting a #NurseLaughLove Photo Contest with 5 Amazon Tap Alexa-enabled Portable Bluetooth Speakers up for grabs as prizes.

Click here to visit TravelNursesDay.com to learn more, play games, and win prizes.

ABOUT MEDICAL SOLUTIONS: Medical Solutions L.L.C. is a healthcare staffing firm that specializes in placing registered nurses in temporary travel assignments throughout the nation. The company is the third-largest Travel Nurse staffing agency in the United States, with locations in Omaha, San Diego, Cincinnati, Denver, and Tupelo, MS. Medical Solutions was one of the first Travel Nursing and Allied Healthcare staffing companies to be certified by the Joint Commission and has been continuously certified since January 2005. Medical Solutions was named one of Modern Healthcares 2016 Best Places to Work in Healthcare, named among Staffing Industry Analysts 2017 Best Staffing Firms to Work For, has been named 10 times to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, and its flagship Omaha office won the 2014 Better Business Bureau Integrity Award. A nationwide network of qualified healthcare providers allows Medical Solutions to help its client hospitals continue to provide excellent patient care amidst a nursing shortage. Medical Solutions has contracts with 2,200+ client hospitals nationwide and is one of the fastest-growing companies in the Travel Nursing industry. Visit MedicalSolutions.com to learn more.
Private school criticized for harsh methods

VietNamNet Bridge - A parent has criticized Luong The Vinh High School and its teachers for harsh education methods, stirring a debate about how to educate students: with an iron will or loose discipline?









Deputy headmaster of Luong The Vinh School Van Thuy Duong













Huong Giang, the parent, enrolled her daughter in Luong The Vinh, a private school in Hanoi, even though the girl had exam scores that were high enough to apply to Viet Duc, a prestigious state-owned school.



Luong The Vinh sets reasonable tuition levels and has a good reputation: the number of students passing the exams to university is always very high.



However, Giang discovered that her daughter regularly returns home in a mood of sadness and anxiety.





How to educate students: with an iron will or loose discipline?



Parents were constantly requested to come to see the teachers, and students had to write reports admitting their mistakes and bear punishment, Giang said.



Students were punished if they chatted during the lessons, did not do home exercises, came to school late, did not take notes in their notebooks or because their clothes and hair were not orderly. They were overloaded with mountains of exercises.



The parent went on to say that she attended three parents meetings and never saw a smile on the teachers lips. She later found that Thu, the teacher at Luong The Vinh School, also worked for a state-owned school in Ba Dinh district.



Parents were surprised that the first private school in Hanoi did not have adequate teaching staff and had to use visiting teachers, she said.



After realizing the problems the daughter was facing, she wrote a letter to Van Thuy Duong, deputy headmaster of the school, asking for another teacher.



However, the request was refused. Duong told the parent that the school had not forced students to study at Luong The Vinh and that the student could move to another school.



Only 13 out of 37 students said in a poll they wanted to change the head teacher, so, Thu remained the head teacher of the class.



Meanwhile, Duong told VietNamNet that the parents she spoke with said they were satisfied with the teacher and didnt want another.



She also said the school has made the final decision after checking information. In principle, students can leave the school if they and the school do not share the same education views.



Thu, who has been working as a teacher for 20 years, said that asking students to write reports and promise not to repeat mistakes, or force them to do community service are common punishments which help students recognize their mistakes and become better.



I felt sad that the education method followed by me and Luong The Vinh School was criticized as severe, she said.





RELATED NEWS

Are Vietnamese students too "excellent"?

Hanoi vows to develop high-quality, state-owned schools





Le Van
Disability Solutions nonprofit consulting service helped to implement Pepsi ACT (Achieving Change Together) in nine cities across the U.S. with close to 300 employees with disabilities hired. More than 300,000 people with disabilities visit the site every month to find careers with outstanding companies.

As top employers strive to diversify their workforce, they frequently turn to niche job boards to attract diverse talent as a key component of their recruiting strategy. While there are a many opportunities for reaching multiple diversity groups, there have been limited options focused on reaching talent with disabilities.

In response, Disability Solutions, a nonprofit consulting service that creates inclusion strategies for national companies, launched its own online Career Center one year ago. Today, more than 300,000 people with disabilities, including veterans, visit the site every month to find a career that is the perfect fit for their skills.

Employers face challenges striking the right balance between meeting their federal compliance obligations, improving their position in a competitive job market, and having a positive impact. They simply dont know where to start, explained Julie Sowash, Senior Consultant for Disability Solutions. Advertising on our Career Center provides employers a quick start platform, with many options for establishing or strengthening their talent brand among the national talent pool of people with disabilities.

The national unemployment rate varies each month, but what has not varied is that the unemployment rate of people with disabilities is approximately double the overall population.

Sowash notes that by posting job opportunities on the Disability Solutions Career Center, businesses can attract qualified applicants with disabilities, as well as demonstrate OFCCP compliance. Furthermore, Sowash knows the power of employer branding and talent value messaging in the disability community. We want to hear a message about our value to your company; hiring us is not an act of charity, says Sowash, who herself has a mental health disability. When employees and jobseekers believe a company wants to hire great talent with disabilities, increased self-disclosure and employee referrals will follow.

Our Career Center is a great way for an organization to begin building a new pipeline of talent with a variety of skill, experience, and education levels, said Sowash. Our ultimate mission is to change employers minds about the talent value of our community and to change the lives of people with disabilities who find careers with outstanding companies. We establish inclusive hiring as a standard way of business and culture in the workplace. We have outcomes data that demonstrates this to be a business value proposition placing a high talent value in this untapped pool of talent.

This month Disability Solutions and employers across the country are celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Although a year round business priority, October is as an opportune time to learn about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of Americas workers with disabilities.

The 2017 NDEAM theme of Inclusion Drives Innovation speaks to the diverse and unique perspectives that employees with disabilities bring to any workforce. The market of disability consumers has an annual spending power in the U.S. alone of over 645 billion dollars. The broader market, including the spending power of family and allies, is over 4 trillion dollars annually. Like other diverse communities, the consumers in the disability market make buying decisions based on a companys action (or inaction) in both hiring people with disabilities and having accessible products and services. Employees with disabilities can lend their voice and perspective to inform advertising and product development, strengthening young and established companies.

We encourage organizations of all sizes to use the NDEAM observance to launch year-round activities that highlight the importance of including disability in all of the organization's diversity endeavors. Doing so delivers numerous internal and external benefits to employers, added Sowash.

Beyond connecting jobseekers with disabilities with employment opportunities through the Career Center, posted jobs are shared through Disability Solutions wide social networks of jobseekers. Said Sowash, The companies we work with are seeing real results. The Career Center is one of the many ways employers can reach talent. We partner with major corporations across industries and across the world including PepsiCo, Synchrony Financial, American Express, Staples, Office Depot Max, Aon, and Aramark to develop and implement a strategic approach to attracting, hiring and promoting talent with disabilities for their talent needs. This month we celebrate NDEAM as we work year round to change minds and change lives through inclusion. 

Founded in 2012, Disability Solutions is the national non-profit consulting division of Ability Beyond headquartered in Bethel, Connecticut. Disability Solutions focuses on helping corporations tap new channels for qualified talent, manage culture change, respond to a changing regulatory environment, and strengthen their workforce through diversity. To learn more visit: http://www.disabilitytalent.org/ or for more information about the Career Center, please visit http://www.disabilitysolutionstalent.org.

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Progressive Dinner Invitation "We say farm to table so nonchalantly these days. Do we ever stop to think about how many things must go just right to get food from farm to table? said Alicia Ellingsworth, farm to institution manager, at KC Healthy Kids.

KC Healthy Kids is hosting farm-to-table progressive dinner in association with its Carrot Gold network on Tuesday, October 17. This local dinner adventure will take guests on a tour of some of Kansas Citys finest farm to table restaurants.

Seven farm-to-table Carrot Gold restaurants are participating in this event. Guests will taste courses at two out of seven participating restaurants. The adventure features three separate routes for course tastings. KC Healthy Kids will pick the dinner routes. The guests will know their routes for dinner by October 15. After dinner, they will head to 901 West on the rooftop of The Fontaine for drinks, dessert and conversations.

Here are the participating restaurants for Carrot Gold progressive dinner along with the routes & times:

Johnson County: >> Renee Kellys Harvest>> Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar >> The Fontaine

The Westside: Blue Bird Bistro >> The Rieger >> The Fontaine

River Market: The Farmhouse >> Howards KC >> The Fontaine

Times:

6:00 - 8:00 pm First & Second Stops

8:00 - 10:00 pm Rooftop of the Fontaine on the Country Club Plaza

Guests can choose from following ticket options available on Eventbrite:

Early Bird Progressive Dinner Tickets- $55 plus $3.74 (fee)

Progressive Dinner Tickets- $65 plus $4.24 (fee)

Dessert Event- $20 plus $1.99 (fee)

We say farm to table so nonchalantly these days. Do we ever stop to think about how many things must go just right to get food from farm to table? said Alicia Ellingsworth, farm to institution manager, at KC Healthy Kids. Sun, wind, rain, highways and byways, potholes and ice packed coolers, cell phones and Internet connections, chef skill, walk-in-cooler space, sous chef attention and a receptive community like Kansas City, she added. It's almost magic. We are so fortunate here.

This farm-to-table event will bring to the forefront many benefits of the farm-to-table movement. The movement, though in its nascent stage, is gaining ground. Among its many benefits include- environmental sustainability, animal welfare, boosting local economy by purchasing from local farmers and above all, healthy food for everyone. Food that is delivered from within a few miles renders more benefits in both short and long term. Restaurants, businesses,organizations all benefit from participating in such a concerted effort. Its a win-win situation for everyone.

KC Healthy Kids Carrot Gold partners are playing a great role in supporting local KC farmers by purchasing produce from local farmers, following sustainability in kitchen practices and creating healthy menu options for the public.

About Carrot Gold

Carrot Gold grows the demand for local food and keeps farmers farming. Its a network of restaurants and institutions that are setting the standard for local food purchasing, sustainable kitchen practices and healthy menu options. The growing list of partners includes restaurants, schools, corporate cafeterias, government facilities, grocery stores, value-added producers and food trucks.

About KC Healthy Kids

KC Healthy Kids rallies the people in our communities to improve access to affordable fresh food and safe places to walk and play. When our neighborhoods support healthy habits, we are less likely to suffer from obesity, which is linked to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and poor mental health. To make a lasting impact, we shape policies that improve our food system and physical surroundings and ultimately, the places where we live, work, learn and play.

For more information, please visit http://www.kchealthykids.org
In a new interview with CMRubinWorld, Peter Robinson, President and CEO of USCIB, says the guiding principle for government should be to protect and enable/retrain the worker, not protect the job. Robinson believes that fears over jobsolescence are over-hyped, noting there is an established track recordof new technologies creating at least as many new jobs as they displace. Usually these new jobs demand higher skills and provide higher pay.

When asked by C. M. Rubin what the biggest obstacle to employability is, Robinson states that educational institutions wont be able to keep pace with new skills demands. He adds that schools should prioritize the arts and humanities in order to create T-shaped individuals capable of adapting and going where the demand lies.

The CEO of USCIB explains, middle-class employees without higher education beyond high school need more established paths to long-term employment. Robinson calls for increased partnerships among employers, policy makers, and educational institutions because no one sector of society can address this alone.

Peter M. Robinson has been the CEO and President of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) since 2005. Established in 1945, USCIB builds awareness among business executives, educators and policy makers related to issues in employment, workforce training and skills management. In his position as co-chair of the B20 Employment and Education Task Force, Robinson has provided significant input to G20 leaders on training for jobs of the future. He also serves on the board of the International Organization of Employers.

Read the full article here.

CMRubinWorld launched in 2010 to explore what kind of education would prepare students to succeed in a rapidly changing globalized world. Its award-winning series, The Global Search for Education, is a highly regarded trailblazer in the renaissance of 21st century education, and occupies a widely respected place in the pulse of key issues facing every nation and the collective future of all children. It connects todays top thought leaders with a diverse global audience of parents, students and educators. Its highly readable platform allows for discourse concerning our highest ideals and the sustainable solutions we must engineer to achieve them. C. M. Rubin has produced over 500 interviews and articles discussing an extensive array of topics under a singular vision: when it comes to the world of children, there is always more work to be done.

For more information on CMRubinWorld

Follow @CMRubinWorld on Twitter

Contact Information

David Wine

CMRubinWorld

David(at)cmrubinworld(dot)com
Aleyant, an innovative leader in providing robust software services to the graphic communications industry at value-driven prices, today announced that it has partnered with Ultimate TechnoGraphics to integrate Aleyants full suite of order entry and production automation solutions with Impostrip Automation from Ultimate TechnoGraphics to create the Automation Hub. The combination of these award-winning solutions in the Automation Hub creates a complete easily customizable automated workflow from order entry through production for the sign and display graphics and textile industries. The two companies will be demonstrating this unique ecosystem at SGIA, scheduled for October 10-12 in New Orleans. Both will be located in Booth 2719 at the show.

Combining the Aleyant suite of productivity solutions with Ultimate TechnoGraphics Impostrip Automation delivers one of the most affordable and easy-to-use fully automated solutions for the sign & display graphics and textile markets, said Greg Salzman, President of Aleyant. It provides companies with a fully automated solution from the online Pressero storefront for order entry, to online design with eDocBuilder, to estimating with PrintJobManager and prepress automation with tFLOW, and finally, automated imposition for output. We are looking forward to discussing the opportunities this presents with attendees at SGIA, learning more about their businesses and helping them find ways to make themselves more efficient and profitable.

By implementing Aleyant and Ultimate TechnoGraphics Automation Hub, organizations can benefit from:

-Improved profitability

-Fewer errors with less rework and waste

-Fewer manual touches and less labor

-Faster cycle times with the ability to more effectively handle todays demanding market requirements

Heres How it Works

With PrintJobManager, Aleyants estimating, pricing and production management solution, a print service provider can create their selling price from material, equipment and labor costs. This enables pricing controlled in ONE location to provide instant pricing for orders whether through an online store or via mobile device. Pricing information is then pushed automatically to Pressero, Aleyants private B2B and public B2C online storefront solution, which instantly updates pricing for your storefront items. One benefit here is when there is a price change for raw material, labor or equipment in PrintJobManager, this change will automatically update within your Pressero storefronts in real- time.

Also when an order is placed in Pressero, its automatically pushed into PrintJobManager, helping you manage your job production, including time-tracking capabilities. Within Pressero, you can sell standard or off-the-shelf items, custom items via either the built-in eDocBuilder online design templates or customer supplied artwork. Fulfilling orders from finished goods including tracking inventory levels is also supported. tFLOW, Aleyants automated prepress, approval and collaboration workflow solution,

can auto-receive files via Pressero. Imagine having jobs automatically checked and fixed as

they arrive instead of CSRs chasing customers for approvals and files. tFlOW automatically fixes files and sends proof files to your clients for approval. After approval, the print-ready production files are auto-sent to production queues including RIPs; specific departments; 3rd party imposition or cutters.

Adding Impostrip Automation from Ultimate TechnoGraphics to the mix enables an additional layer of automation, automatically imposing and nesting including dynamic marks, barcodes and generating the cut file for finishing. Aleyants Automated Workflow Integrator (AWI) uses a rules-based approach to automate connections between Aleyants solutions and Ultimate Technographics Impostrip Automation.

SGIA attendees can schedule one-on-one sessions with experts during the show by registering at http://imposition.com/en-us/Contact-Us/SGIA_Registration.

For additional information about Aleyant offerings, please visit http://www.Aleyant.com or call +1.630.929.0104. More information about Ultimate TechnoGraphics can be found at http://www.imposition.com.

About Ultimate TechnoGraphics

Automation drives results in printing. This is the foundation of all Impostrip product developments and today, Print Service Providers worldwide benefit from increased productivity in a digital and hybrid environment. Impostrip is about flexibility, power, speed and ease of use.

Ultimate TechnoGraphics invented digital imposition with the first release of Impostrip in 1989, and has continued to play a leading role in the market by providing the most innovative imposition products. Ultimate TechnoGraphics today leads in imposition and finishing automation software solutions because of its deep understanding of the print manufacturing process. The company has a rich history of providing and integrating imposition technologies into hardware and workflow solutions for print and finishing industry leaders.

About Aleyant

Founded in 2005, Aleyant is an innovative leader in providing robust software services to the graphic communications industry at value-driven prices. Its expertise lies in developing highly functional and flexible applications using the most current Web development technologies available, including workflow aimed at lights-out automation. Its flagship web-to-print software, Pressero, is a highly customizable retail and business-to-business storefront interface and has launched many of its clients into the exciting world of Internet-based print sales. Aleyant tFLOW is an affordable yet powerful digital workflow automation and customer service solution for commercial, large format, label, and specialty graphics. tFLOW simplifies difficult file management tasks and processes to optimize efficiency and production throughput.Aleyant also offers a Web-based online design and variable data publishing (VDP) system, eDocBuilder, as a separate product. Its solutions are integrated with multiple MIS and web-to-print systems. Our latest product, Aleyant PrintJobManager is MIS/ERP simplified. It uses a new mobile, cloud-based approach to MIS that includes a fast means of generating market-driven pricing, job management, inventory tracking, real-time job tracking and estimating.
"Paws of Gotham is Louies Legacy's fourth annual calendar aimed at raising funds to rehabilitate and re-home animals from high-kill shelters across the United States. "Paws of Gotham was shot by famed South African photographer Candy Kennedy. The images she captured focus on the diversity of both people and pets, and showcase the noise and colorful energy of New York City. Each month features a stunning photo of a real rescue pet, most from Louie's Legacy, with a celebrity, influencer or model, and is shot in front of an iconic New York scene.

Candy Kennedy, along with celebrities, influencers, activists and models such as Mario Cantone, Maggie Geha, KhrystyAna, Brett David and Chef Roze Traore, just to name a few, have all donated their time and efforts in hopes to raise funds for Louies Legacy's important cause.

This project has given me the opportunity to combine my love for animal charities and New York," says Kennedy. Not only was I able to work with some amazing and creative people on this calendar, but they all share the same love for animals, which makes this project very rewarding and special. I am very proud of how hard everyone worked to find the perfect locations, people to shoot, and most importantly, to fit the right pet with the right person. There is nothing better than the feeling of helping an animal or person in need."

Pre-orders start Monday, Oct 9th and can be made by going to http://www.louieslegacy.org/wp/calendar.

About Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue

Louies Legacy Animal Rescue, Inc., is a non-profit, grassroots all-breed animal rescue, which saves, rehabilitates and re-homes animals from high-kill shelters across the United States. Louie's Legacy operates in Cincinnati, OH and Staten Island, NY. Since 2009, Louie's Legacy has saved over 10,000 animals. Recently, during the hurricane season of 2017, LLAR rescued more than 200 animals who were in shelters in Texas and Florida prior to Hurricane Harvey and Irma, taking on over $10,000 in additional non-routine medical expenses in addition to the cost of the rescue mission.

Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue is proudly foster based, meaning their animals live in homes, not shelters. This differentiates them and allows them to more thoroughly get to know the animals, ensuring they are matched with suitable, screened adoptive homes, which meet their high standards. As part of their commitment to the health and wellbeing of all of the animals and to reduce pet overpopulation within the community, every pet is spayed or neutered prior to adoption. They are committed to ensuring the safety of their animals for their entire lifetimes so that they will never suffer abuse, neglect or abandonment again.

For more information, please visit http://www.louieslegacy.org and follow them on Twitter and Facebook @louieslegacy and @LouiesLegacy on Instagram at louieslegacy.

About Candy Kennedy

Candy Kennedy is a South African born, New York based Commercial Advertising Photographer and Director that brings edge and excitement into traditional brands. Candy is a collector of moments and her images are both intimate and edgy. With a natural ability to relate to her subjects, the images she captures are known for being alive and packed with expression and emotion. She prides herself on seizing real moments with the ordinary, famous and bizarre, and turning them into beautiful photographs. Her passion, strong work ethic and professionalism have afforded her the opportunity to work with brands such as Virgin Mobile, Adidas, Nike, Vogue, GQ, Wrangler and Macys just to name a few.

To learn more about Candy, please visit Candykennedy.com or TheKennedys.NYC and follow her on Instagram @CandyKennedy or Facebook @candykennedyphotographer.

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Employees from Chesapeake Utilities Corporation helped the Food Bank of Delaware pack more than 5,300 nutritious, kid-friendly meals for children in need.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) wrapped up its fifth annual Chesapeake Summer Cares Volunteer Program in August as more than 165 Delmarva employees and family members partnered with the Food Bank of Delawares Milford facility and the Maryland Food Bank  Eastern Shore in Salisbury, MD. Employees from the Companys Chesapeake Utilities, Eastern Shore Natural Gas, Sandpiper Energy and Sharp Energy business units, as well as the corporate office, packed more than 5,300 kid-friendly, nutritious meals to be put into backpacks for children in need and sorted produce and canned goods to keep the shelves fully stocked.

According to Feeding America, the nationwide network of food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States, one in six children in Delaware and Maryland struggles with hunger. Summer months spent out of school, where meals are made available for students, are the most vulnerable time for children.

The work the Food Bank of Delaware and the Maryland Food Bank does year-round to provide meals to families in the region is so important, and were honored to be a part of it, said Michael P. McMasters, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. Our employees appreciate the opportunity to connect with the community through partnerships with the Food Bank and other groups. We are committed to giving back to the communities in which we work and live.

The Food Bank of Delaware is proud of the strong commitment made by Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, said Chad Robinson, Milford Branch Director for the Food Bank of Delaware. They have made a strong corporate commitment to our mission of ending hunger in the State of Delaware. Their employees come to their volunteer experience with a great enthusiasm and all pitch in to get the job done. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a model of corporate generosity and we could not be more thankful for their efforts.

About Chesapeake Utilities Corporation

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy company engaged in natural gas distribution, transmission, gathering and processing, and marketing; electricity generation and distribution; propane gas distribution; and other businesses. Information about Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's businesses is available at http://www.chpk.com.

About the Food Bank of Delaware

The Food Bank of Delaware distributes millions of pounds of food and grocery products each year through its network of 620 hunger-relief program partners throughout the state and also provides thousands of meals a month for children through the After-School Nutrition Program, the Summer Food Service Program and the Backpack Program. The Food Banks hunger-relief programs directly provide for Delawareans at risk of going without meals each year. For more information about the Food Bank of Delaware, visit http://www.fbd.org or call (302) 292-1305.

Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
David McGowan Thank you to the Security Industry Association for this award and for providing me the opportunity to connect to a large audience of security companies, allowing me to build new alliances and to gather new ideas.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) today announced David McGowan, Tiffany & Co.'s Vice President-Global Protection Services, as the 2017 recipient of its SIA Insightful Practitioner Award. SIA will present McGowan with the award during SIA Honors Night, a gala event to celebrate achievements in the security industry, on Nov. 15 in New York City. Registration is open at http://www.securityindustry.org/honors.

The SIA Insightful Practitioner Award is presented to a security practitioner who demonstrates leadership and excellence in promoting the implementation of innovative security solutions through education, advocacy and teamwork with the industry and other stakeholders.

"Thank you to the Security Industry Association for this award and for providing me the opportunity to connect to a large audience of security companies, allowing me to build new alliances and to gather new ideas, particularly at the Securing New Ground conference," said McGowan. "Through Securing New Ground, I also have been able to share important insights as a security practitioner with global responsibilities. I look forward to more opportunities for a robust exchange of information with SIA members in the future."

"Trusted partnerships between suppliers and security practitioners is key to the successful implementation of enterprise security strategies. Dave has been instrumental in putting this principle into practice and strengthening the productive relationship between the Security Industry Association and the International Security Management Association. He has been a leading voice in leveraging the expertise of ISMA and SIA members to deliver value for our respective members," said SIA CEO Don Erickson. "We salute David McGowan's formidable contributions to the security industry, and we are excited to recognize him as our SIA Insightful Practitioner."

SIA will present McGowan with the SIA Insightful Practitioner Award during the Honors Night event at The Current at Chelsea Piers in New York, New York, on Nov. 15. The gala event is held concurrent with ISC East, nearby at the Javits Center on Nov. 15-16. To register for SIA Honors Night, visit http://www.securityindustry.org/honors.

McGowan began his career at Tiffany & Co. in 1996 as Director of Security. Today, as the company's Vice President-Global Protection Services, McGowan is charged with ensuring a workplace and shopping environment that provides for the safety of all employees and customers and for protecting the company's physical, inventory and intellectual assets. McGowan is responsible globally for the company's physical security programs; investigations programs; retail and supply chain asset protection programs; travel security and event security programs; the company's occupational safety and environmental compliance programs; trademark enforcement actions to protect the Tiffany brand and intellectual property; and the company's resilience programs, including emergency preparedness, incident management and business continuity.

McGowan is a member of the Board of Directors and Second Vice President of the International Security Management Association. Also, he is an active member of The Conference Board's Business Continuity and Crisis Management Council. And he is an active member and company representative in the Jeweler's Security Alliance.

About the Security Industry Association

The Security Industry Association (SIA) (http://www.securityindustry.org) is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with more than 750 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. SIA protects and advances its members' interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation at the federal and state levels; creating open industry standards that enable integration; advancing industry professionalism through education and training; opening global market opportunities; and collaboration with other like-minded organizations. As a proud sponsor of ISC Events expos and conferences, SIA ensures its members have access to top-level buyers and influencers, as well as unparalleled learning and network opportunities. SIA also enhances the position of its members in the security marketplace through SIA Government Summit, which brings together private industry with government decision makers, and Securing New Ground, the security industry's top executive conference for peer-to-peer networking.
Were excited to move one step closer to bringing PetPaces innovative technology solutions to Brazil, said Avi Menkes, CEO of PetPace.

PetPace, the provider of an innovative smart collar for remote continuous monitoring and analysis of pet vital signs and activity, was granted the Certificate of Homologation following the completion of the certification requirements set by Brazils National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) on August 21.

PetPace products are scheduled to be available for purchase in Brazil through the companys online store later this month. PetPace is currently being used by leading universities, veterinarians in both general and specialty practices, and pet owners at home.

The companys smart collars are already successfully monitoring vital signs and saving the lives of dogs and cats across the EU, U.S., Canada, U.K., Israel, Australia and New Zealand.

For us, it was an absolute honor to work with PetPace. Not only do they have a great and innovative product, which is incredibly helpful to any pet owner, they understand the importance of meeting the safety and regulatory requirements in each country their product is available. It shows how much they care about their customers and their beloved pets, said Maristela Bento, CEO of Master Certificacoes.

Pet Paces Health Monitoring Solution allows pet owners to track vital signs like temperature, pulse, respiration, plus heart rate variability, activity and calories, and will send alerts to the owner through a smartphone app if any of parameters change and indicate a problem.

Were excited to move one step closer to bringing PetPaces innovative technology solutions to Brazil, said Avi Menkes, CEO of PetPace. Our goal in creating PetPace is to help pet owners and veterinarians worldwide, better understand pet health and wellness easily from their internet-connected device. Bringing our technology to Brazil is a massive step in accomplishing that goal.

In addition to receiving smartphone alerts of impending medical emergencies, PetPaces mobile application provides an in-depth look into nearly every metric of a pets health. Recorded data is displayed in easy to understand graphical interface, making it easy to monitor specific aspects of a pets health and wellbeing over time. This feature is especially useful for owners caring for older or sick pets.

Health data recorded by the collar can also be shared with a pets primary care veterinarian, allowing them to better understand a pets overall health or receive notifications in an emergency.

For more information about PetPace or PetPace products, please visit http://www.petpace.com.

About PetPace

PetPace creates innovative technology that delivers peace of mind to pet owners. Our smart IoT pet collar continuously monitors the wellbeing of elderly, sick, healthy, and at-risk dogs and cats, alerting caregivers remotely and immediately of changes in key health parameters. In the home or in the clinic, PetPace leverages data gathered non-intrusively from onboard passive sensors and advanced cloud-based analytics to keep all pets healthier and happier.

Founded in 2012 and privately-held, PetPace is headquartered in Israel, has a U.S. headquarters in Burlington, MA, and a global sales presence. For more information, please visit http://www.petpace.com.
CMSA 2018 Conference & Expo

Registration opens this week for the 28th Annual Case Management Society of America (CMSA) Conference & Expo, the only case management conference that stretches across the entire healthcare continuum. The conference will be held June 19- 23, 2018 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. Professionals will convene to elevate their careers and experience an event focused on case managers, proudly proclaiming We Are Case Management.

This years content focuses on case managers and their roles in advocacy, leadership, as well as influencers and problem solvers! In support of case managers, CMSA continues to forge the future for this rapidly expanding healthcare profession. Conference main, concurrent and poster sessions are designed to spark conversations and innovations, provide strategies, solutions and practical tools to create successful initiatives for professional case managers and case management systems.

CMSA is the leader of innovation in case management practice. We lead in establishing standards of practice, and also in informing legislators, health care systems, and health care plans to establish a viable case management model, said CMSA President Mary McLaughlin-Davis DNP, RN, MSN, ACNS-BC, CCM. We look forward to welcoming our vendor partners who provide us with the latest in technology, services and educational opportunities; and to renewing our relationships with members across the country and across the world.

Concurrent and poster presentations provide a variety of continuing education opportunities, which are based on rigorous market research to provide the best programs possible. The focus this year is on several key practice settings, including acute care, workers compensation, discipline-specific case management, long term care, leadership, population health and managed care, community health programs and the patient-centered medical home.

Educational sessions will give attendees an opportunity to build successful teams of care and consider what those changes mean across the continuum of care for all stakeholders. Additionally, sessions will address the very important issue of defining successful initiatives, establishing best practices to demonstrate impact and improve outcomes in every aspect of the patients healthcare journey, through every transition of care. CMSA continues to be the known experts in transition of care worldwide, and this continuity of care is intertwined throughout the conference, just as it is intertwined into all aspects of true case management.

This year a leadership track has been added to empower case managers to lead not only themselves but also their colleagues and peers through the areas of education, certification, mentoring, preceptorship and experience. The content will also explore the paths to advanced case management  how case managers should be properly educated, trained and certified to meet the complex needs of all patients, healthcare systems and plans whether private or government.

The 2018 event is expected to welcome well over 2,500 healthcare professionals to the conference, which includes additional pre-conference educational activities, certification courses, an opening destination event as well as a special military event for our active military, VA and DOD case managers. Over 250 companies will welcome attendees at CMSAs 2018 Expo, providing information and demonstrations regarding the most current products and services. Attendees will part with new resources and connections to advance their abilities to recommend and implement the latest technologies when they return to their practice.

Three keynote presenters will engage, entertain and inspire attendees through their unique and diverse perspectives. This years keynote presentations opens with Dr. Travis Stork, a board-certified emergency medicine physician and Emmy-nominated host of the award-winning talk show, The Doctors. The second keynote, Dr. Allan Hamilton, MD, FACS, is a best-selling author of the books Lead With Your Heart and The Scalpel and The Soul. The conference closes with the motivational and award-winning journalist Dr. Rick Rigsby, President and CEO of Rigsby Communications, whose best-selling book, Lessons From A Third Grade Dropout, chronicles the life lessons he learned and continues to follow, from his father, a third grade dropout.

CMSA executive director, Kathleen Fraser, remarked, The CMSA conference is special and unique for so many reasons. High caliber and timely educational offerings are just the tip of the iceberg; at our conference, there are opportunities to bond with industry colleagues who have your same struggles, goals and successes. You can connect with the companies that make the tools and resources you use (or need) in your daily practice. Join us for our annual event in energetic and upbeat Chicago to truly understand why CMSA Annual is not just an event  its an experience.

The conference provides for the professional case manager to create her own unique experience with seven concurrent session blocks offered in addition to the keynote sessions and symposia. Through educational content, resources, exhibits, technology, public policy, cultural excursions and peer-to-peer networking, the attendee can have a custom experience which meets all his or her professional needs.

Learn more and register for CMSAs 28th Annual Conference and Expo at cmsa.org/conference.

About the Case Management Society of America (CMSA)

Established in 1990, the Case Management Society of America is the leading non-profit association dedicated to the support and development of the profession of case management. CMSA serves more than 40,000 members, subscribers and participants, and 85 chapters worldwide, through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy and established standards to advance the profession. For more information, visit http://www.cmsa.org or follow CMSA on Twitter @CMSANational.
Park Cities Pet Sitter Stuffed an SUV with pet supply donations for Take Me Home Pet Rescue "(Take Me Home Pet Rescue) Their organization does so much for the homeless cat and dog populations in this area, and this clearly resonated with the stores shoppers." Joette White, President of Park Cities Pet Sitter

On Saturday, September 30th, 2017, Park Cities Pet Sitter filled a brand new 2018 Infiniti QX80 SUV with donated pet supplies for local Richardson non-profit organization, Take Me Home Pet Rescue. The SUV was donated for the day by Sewell Infiniti of Dallas, and was decorated with numerous balloons to get the attention of drivers and shoppers passing by the Pet Supplies Plus store at 200 N. Coit Road in Richardson, where the event took place. Numerous adoptable dogs from Take Me Hope Pet Rescue were on hand at the site of the event, along with volunteers from the rescue to answer any questions.

Park Cities Pet Sitter staff solicited donations from shoppers and passersby, and would honk the horn of the Sewell SUV every time a donation was placed into the vehicle. After 5-hours, they had gathered over 300lbs of dry food, 200 cans wet food, dozens of collars and leashes, as well as pet toys, cash and gift cardsall to be used by Take Me Home Pet Rescue volunteers and foster families.

Park Cities Pet Sitters President, Joette White, was on hand for the event and was thrilled to see how generous the Pet Supplies Plus store shoppers were with their donations. We were so excited to put on this pet supply donation drive for Take Me Home Pet Rescue, said White. Their organization does so much for the homeless cat and dog populations in this area, and this clearly resonated with the stores shoppers. We couldnt believe how many Richardson residents that came to the store today ended up donating. They were incredibly generous, and their donations will do a lot of good for the rescue.

Take Me Home Pet Rescue was founded in 2008 as a non-profit rescue organization committed to reducing the homeless pet population. All rescued dogs and cats in their care are sterilized, microchipped and given necessary medical care prior to being adopted out. Rescued pets under Take Me Home Pet Rescues care live in foster homes until they find their very own forever homes. TMHPR is a 501c3 organization and relies 100% on donations to fund their efforts. To learn more about Take Me Home Pet Rescue, visit http://www.TMHPR.com.

Park Cities Pet Sitters Stuff the SUV event kicked off their 5-week pet supply drive, which is part of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters national Presents 4 Pets program. Donations for Take Me Home Pet Rescue will be accepted by Park Cities Pet Sitter through October 31st. Donations may be dropped off at the PCPSI offices Monday through Friday from 10am-4pm at 5831 McCommas Blvd in Dallas, or can be picked up by a Park Cities Pet Sitter staff member during any regularly scheduled pet sitting visit through the end of October.

About Park Cities Pet Sitter: PCPSI has served the Dallas/Plano areas 7 days a week, 365 days a year since 1992, and was recently named the 2017 Business of the Year by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. Pet sitting,daily dog walks, pet taxis, overnight sitting, pet supply shopping, litter box cleaning and dog training are all part of the services PCPSI offers. Park Cities Pet Sitter is bonded and insured, and all sitters are employees--not independent contractors. A manager is on-call 24 hours a day to handle any emergencies. Go to http://www.pcpsi.com to learn more.
GrocerKey (http://www.grocerkey.com), the software and operations leader transforming brick and mortar retailers into digital leaders, today announced its CEO and cofounder, Jeremy Neren, is an invited speaker at a food industry conference sponsored by research house Redburn for its institutional investor clients. The event takes place October 11, 2017, at Claridges in London.

I look forward to speaking at this important conference and thank Redburn for inviting me, said Neren. Im excited to share the growth story of GrocerKey as we help U.S. grocers adopt an omni-commerce strategy to address disruptive changes in the industry. Other speakers at the event include Craig Herkert, former CEO of SuperValu and previously a senior executive at Walmart.

Mr. Nerens enterprise software and eCommerce grocery operations experience was developed through a decade in the eCommerce grocery industry. GrocerKeys customers include several major retail chains throughout the U.S. The company goes well beyond advanced digital technology to partner with its customers  specifically with planning, training, and strategy to help ensure the profitability of their eCommerce grocery operations. GrocerKey has several key industry veterans as strategic advisors.

About GrocerKey Inc.

Founded in 2014 and based in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, GrocerKey is a fast-growing software company that helps brick and mortar retailers adapt to the new digital and mobile world. The company offers a retailer-branded eCommerce and mobile shopping solution for retailers of all sizes. Offered on a highly scalable software-as-a-service platform, GrocerKeys solution helps brick and mortar retailers become successful omni-commerce retailers. The GrocerKey solution includes an omni-commerce platform designed to integrate with retailers existing merchandising, loyalty, and point-of-sale technologies. It also includes online and mobile shopping, store-based picking, and delivery management capabilities. For more information, please visit http://www.grocerkey.com.

About Redburn

Redburn was launched in 2003 on a passionate belief in the importance of in-depth, uncompromised, fundamental research to serve its clients. Headquartered in London, it also has offices in New York, Boston, and San Francisco. Redburn hosts annual industry research conferences that focus on delivering insights and analysis of the topics, trends, and issues in a particular industry. Speakers include private company executives, academics, consultants, government figures, experts, and regulators. Third-party expertise often challenges established views and delivers fresh perspectives for its clients.

#ecommerce #retail #groceryecommerce #onlinegrocery #omnicommerce #foodindustry #investors #digital #transformation #Amazon #WholeFoods #Walmart #SuperValu
Attorney Jeffrey Herman, founder of the Law Office of Jeffrey Herman, PLC, in a recent NALA North American Speaker Series (NASS) segment illustrates the three governmentally created types of intellectual property: patents, trademarks and copyrights. The NALAs NASS gives small and medium-sized business owners a unique platform to present their stories and industry expertise to a diverse, hyper-local audience through short, poignant audio segments.

In his NASS segment, Herman explains how the different types of intellectual property may be obtained and how they are useful for a small business, individual or company. A patent protects new and useful inventions. A trademark protects brands; essentially, trademarks protect the identifying source of goods or services, said Herman. Copyrights protect originality, or original authorship.

Furthermore, there are three types of known patents for which a person can file. A utility patent is the most common and sought-after, and is valid for 20 years. A utility patent protects the way an invention or new product functions, whereas a design patent protects the way something looks, such as a new type of chair, and is valid for 14 years. Then there is a plant patent, which protects a new type of plant that is bred.

In regards to trademarks, they are valid indefinitely, so long as the trademark holder maintains the trademark in good status. The trademark and a patent are both applied through the United States Patent and Trademark Office, added Herman. Lastly, a copyright is valid for a full lifetime plus 70 years, and protects original authorship.

Achieving intellectual property gives the holder power to enforce legally protected rights. These Federally recognized rights serve to exclude others from protected turf as the landlord (rights holder) has ultimate command how that turf is used, concluded Herman. Issued rights, even pending rights, can also be very valuable for marketing purposes.

To listen to Hermans NASS segment in its entirety, please visit http://thenala.com/north-american-speaker-series/jeffrey-herman.

About Jeffrey Herman, Law Office of Jeffrey Herman, PLC

Jeffrey Herman is admitted to the State Bar of California and the Supreme Court of the United States of America. He is also a member of the Notary Public in Arizona and the American Bar Association. The Law Office of Jeffrey Herman specializes in intellectual property and business law, including trademarks, copyrights, contracts, license agreements and more. For more information, please call 1-844-454-3762, or visit http://www.jhermanlaw.com.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
New West Covina Dentist I look forward to continuing to provide patients with safe, honest and professional care

Smile Brands Inc., one of the nations leading providers of business support services to dental groups in the United States, is announcing todays relocation and grand opening of its newest Bright Now! Dental office.

After more than 19 years at the at 1400 West Covina Parkway location, Bright Now! Dental has moved to a new, nearby location at 1000 W. West Covina Parkway, Suite A. The new office has more patient rooms, state-of-the-art digital scanning equipment, convenient parking and a host of other amenities.

The new office is home to the same great team that patients have grown to love, headed by Dr. Alejandro Orendain. Dr. Orendain and the Bright Now! Dental team will provide a full suite of dental services, including: check-ups, braces, wisdom teeth removal, veneers, bonding, implants, Invisalign and more. I look forward to continuing to provide patients with safe, honest and professional care, says Dr. Orendain. We are very proud that the West Covina community has recognized our promise of high quality dental care which is reflected with our 4.4 online Google rating.

Bright Now! Dental is committed to making it easier and more affordable for patients to get regular dental care. The convenient new location is open five days a week and has evening hours to accommodate busy schedules. Same-day, walk-in and emergency patients are welcome as well.

For directions to the new office or to make an appointment, patients can call (626) 338-4848 or 888-BRIGHT NOW (888-274-4486), or they can request an appointment online.

About Bright Now! Dental

Bright Now! Dental offers general dentistry, preventive care, childrens dentistry and, in certain locations, specialty care services such as orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics and endodontics. Bright Now! Dental has 69 locations in California. Learn more at http://www.brightnow.com

About Smile Brands

Based in Irvine California, Smile Brands Inc. is one of the largest providers of support services to dental groups in the United States. Smile Brands Inc. provides comprehensive business support services through exclusive long term agreements with affiliate dental groups, so dentists can spend more time caring for their patients and less time on the administrative, marketing, and financial aspects of operating a dental practice. Smile Brands supports 360+ Bright Now! Dental, Monarch Dental, Castle Dental, A+ Dental Care, OneSmile Dental, and Johnson Family Dental offices in 16 states, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Smile Brands is a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors (Gryphon), a leading middle-market private equity firm based in San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit http://www.smilebrands.com.
Dr. Matthew A. Dimassi Im absolutely confident that Dr. Dimassi will be a great addition to our team, and am looking forward to the positive impact he will have on our practice. Past News Releases RSS BridgeMill Dentistry Releases New...

BridgeMill Dentistry Named Best...

Doctor Matthew A. Dimassi recently joined the experienced team at BridgeMill Dentistry in Canton, Georgia. A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Dimassi brings a well-rounded background to one of the regions most established dental offices. Before entering private practice, Dimassi treated our nations Veterans at the VA Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

In addition to earning a reputation as a skilled dentist, Dimassi has displayed an uncommon commitment to enhancing the lives of others through volunteer work at the Georgia Mission of Mercy, Cahaba Valley Health Center, Give Kids a Smile 5K Run, and the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Walk. He believes that his new position will continue to offer many opportunities to serve the community inside and outside of BridgeMill Dentistrys state-of-the-art facility. The practice of dentistry has always been more than a job for me, Dimassi said. I want to be an active and positive member of the community in as many ways as possible, and Cherokee County is a great place to achieve that goal.

Dr. Scott V. Merritt, BridgeMill Dentistrys Founder, is confident Dimassi will help enhance the practices commitment to exceptional treatment and results. Weve been looking for a dentist who is both skilled in the treatment room and committed to the level of service and care weve become known for in the region, said Merritt. Im absolutely confident that Dr. Dimassi will be a great addition to our team, and am looking forward to the positive impact he will have on our practice.

Dimassi is a member of the American Dental Association and Academy of General Dentistry and active outdoorsman with a love of hiking, camping, and snowboarding.

About BridgeMill Dentistry: Founded in 2002 by Dr. Scott Merritt, BridgeMill Dentistry provides comprehensive dental care to individuals and families in a friendly and comfortable environment. With their experienced and highly motivated team, the practice is able to provide patients with everything from routine cleanings and check-ups to sophisticated periodontal, restorative, and cosmetic procedures. The office has been named Best Dental Practice in Canton over fifteen times by various community magazines.
Monarch Dental Coat Drive Details It is only with support from partners like Monarch Dental, that we are able to serve more than 2,500 children through our annual coat drive,

The affiliated offices of Monarch Dental of Dallas and Fort Worth are joining with Community Partners of Dallas, a nonprofit ensuring safety, restoring dignity and inspiring hope for the abused and neglected children served by Dallas County Child Protective Services, to collect coats for needy children across the Dallas/Fort Worth area now through December 24.

More than 20,000 children across the region are served by Community Partners of Dallas annually. Monarch Dental is honored to partner in efforts to make it easier for these kids to get the support they need to succeed in school and in life, whether affordable dental and orthodontic care or clothing that boosts spirits and keeps them warm.

By turning all 51 Monarch Dental Dallas/Fort Worth locations into drop-off points, these local dental offices are making it easier than ever for area residents to make a difference. In an effort to encourage more families to participate this year, Monarch Dental will be providing dental savings of $200 discount off braces or 10 percent off dental services for anyone who donates a new coat or coats totaling at least $50 in value to any Monarch Dental Dallas location.*

All of us at Monarch Dental feel strong ties to the communities we support, said Dr. Robert Crim, Monarch Dental chief dental officer. We believe that every child should have access to resources to keep warm and healthy, which is why we are proud to be working with Community Partners of Dallas to solicit donations of much needed clothing supplies.

This effort is part of the Community Partners of Dallas annual coat drive, which aims to collect more than 3,000 coats to ensure children throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area are kept warm throughout winter.

It is only with support from partners like Monarch Dental, that we are able to serve more than 2,500 children through our annual coat drive, said Paige McDaniel, Community Partners of Dallas CEO. Equipping children with a brand new coat not only keeps them warm and healthy, it also helps to restore their dignity and self-esteem.

For more information and a list of the most needed supplies, visit Monarch Dental's Blog.

*To receive a coupon for $200 off braces or 10 percent off dental services, please present a receipt totaling $50 or more for a coat(s) at any of the 51 affiliated Monarch Dental locations in Dallas/Fort Worth. Ten percent discount valid when you purchase dental services with combined ARV (actual retail value) of $300 or more. Offer is not redeemable for cash or credit. Not valid on services for which reimbursement is limited due to deductibles, maximums, co-insurance or other insurance restrictions. Offer is subject to change and cannot be combined. Treatment must be rendered by 12/31/17.

Modern Dental Professionals - Dallas/Fort Worth, P.C Karol Brown, DDS; Brinda Patel, DDS; Sandra Horner, DDS; Jane Poquiz, DDS, Modern Dental Professionals - San Antonio, P.C., Marcus Ervin, DMD; Edgardo Gonzalez, DDS; Stephen Slotnick, DDS

About Monarch Dental

Monarch Dental provides general dentistry, childrens dentistry and specialty care services such as orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics and endodontics at 89 locations throughout Texas, Arkansas and Utah. Monarch Dental affiliated practices make it easy and affordable for individuals and families to get the dental care they need with convenient locations, extended hours and same-day appointments. The Monarch Dental mission is to create healthier smiles by making dental visits easy and enjoyable. Learn more at http://www.monarchdental.com.

About Community Partners of Dallas

Since 1989, Community Partners of Dallas has ensured safety and restored dignity and hope to abused and neglected children by providing crucial resources and support to the caseworkers of Dallas County Child Protective Services. Community Partners of Dallas provides items such as winter coats, diapers and formula, holiday gifts, school uniforms, personal hygiene products, food and more, to send the abused children in our community the message that someone does care. Please visit http://www.communitypartnersdallas.org for more information.

Contacts:

Jody Martin

Smile Brands Inc.

pr@smilebrands.com

714.427.1299

Joanna Clarke

Community Partners of Dallas

joanna@cpdtx.org

214.624.7584
Realtor Lenka Martin It has been a privilege to be part of the homebuilding and real estate industry, educating people how to better their lives and helping them achieve the dream of homeownership. Past News Releases RSS

Covington Homes Realtor Lenka Martin is celebrating her eighth anniversary as a real estate professional. It has been a privilege to be part of the homebuilding and real estate industry, educating people how to better their lives and helping them achieve the dream of homeownership, said Lenka, who is also a member of The Peak Producers, which is comprised of the top ten percent of all real estate agents in the Pikes Peak Region.

Lenka was born and raised in Prague, Czech Republic. After moving to United States, she graduated from UCLA in Business Economics and started a design/remodeling firm. Over time, I realized I could bring a great level of expertise to real estate transactions and be a resource to people looking to build their new home, so I became a licensed real estate broker, noted Lenka.

Lenkas specialty is in new-built, custom and energy-efficient homes. She has also obtained the EcoBroker designation, the premier green designation program for real estate professionals.

Aside from supporting the real estate and home building industry, Lenka believes in giving back to the community and supporting worthy causes. Participating, organizing and sponsoring activities and fundraising events for CASA, Peak Vista, Springs Rescue Mission, St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, and various animal groups are among the top contenders. The most recent 2017 Colorado Springs St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway and the St. Jude VIP Fundraiser, which took place at the Pinery in mid-September 2017, helped raise almost $900,000 to fight childhood cancer this year. Covington Homes has been a major contributor to St. Jude, both as a home builder and as a sponsor of the two events.

I am very proud to be a part of this great team that cares about others and makes things happen, concluded Lenka. Over the last two years, we helped raise over $1.7 million to fight childhood cancer.

About Lenka Martin, Covington Homes

Lenka Martin is a Certified New Home Sale Professional, Residential Real Estate and Relocation Expert, New Built and Custom Home Specialist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist and Certified Military Residential Specialist. Covington Homes is a local and family-owned business committed to building homes for the joy of experiencing the smiling faces of its homeowners on the day they hand over the keys. For more information, please call (719) 448-5000, or visit http://www.covingtonhomesco.com.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
To thrive in this space, WISPs need the right tool for the job, and when it comes to connecting NLOS customers with high capacity broadband without breaking the bank or requiring a PhD to run it, Baicells has proven to us to be the obvious choice.

Baicells Technologies, a provider of disruptive global LTE solutions, has announced at Wireless Internet Service Providers Associations (WISPA) annual WISPAPALOOZA show that it has crossed the 300 operator mark in North America. More North American wireless internet service providers (WISPs) have chosen Baicells LTE solutions than any other LTE brand. The milestone was achieved in mid-September 2017, with less than one year of commercial availability that began in October 2016.

Baicells LTE solutions are available for a variety of markets, from IoT, to small cell and neutral host, however, the relevant products for the WISP market are its Nova outdoor LTE base stations and Atom family of customer premise equipment (CPE) operating in the 3.65 GHz (& future CBRS) and 2.5 GHz (EBS/BRS) band ranges. Nova base stations range from a 250 mW model for microcells (e.g. RV parks, campuses, apartment clusters) to a 1 watt model supporting cell ranges up to 14km, and a high power 10 watt model for both the U.S. 2.5 GHz and Canadian 3.5 GHz bands. Atom CPE choices include a zero truck roll indoor modem, as well as 11 dBi and 19.5 dBi outdoor models.

WISPs face several major challenges only our LTE solution collectively solves, Patrick Leary, President of Baicells Technologies North America, Inc. explained in detail, Bandwidth needs have sharply increased in the past few years. WISPs have to keep pace with demand, yet most wireless technologies cant deliver high bandwidth where line of sight is obstructed by trees. LTE as a technology does this much better, but other LTE solutions are costly and complex, being based on products and business models ported over from the mobile carrier market. Basically, theyre asking WISPs to cram a platinum round peg into a square steel hole. Baicells built a solution and business model from scratch from the code on up wrapped around and catering to the unique needs of fixed operators, whether theyre rural WISPs or private network operators like utilities. Were honored this effort has so quickly resulted in over 300 North American operators choosing Baicells, which I think may be double any other LTE vendor.

To thrive in this space, WISPs need the right tool for the job, and when it comes to connecting NLOS customers with high capacity broadband without breaking the bank or requiring a PhD to run it, Baicells has proven to us to be the obvious choice, commented Joshua Powell owner of IL-based Rocket Communications and an early Baicells adopter. Baicells has even staffed key senior positions with former WISPs to keep them grounded on our needs, and it shows in how their team supports its customers.

A proud member of WISPA, Baicells solutions are available via several select channels listed on our http://www.na.baicells.com website.

About Baicells

Baicells is a privately-held, high tech company with offices in China and USA. It has introduced some real breakthrough technologies to LTE, like moving a complete LTE system to unlicensed spectrum and building it with an IT based architecture. With Baicells turnkey end-to-end solutions, it becomes much easier to provide wireless broadband within everyone's reach at a very low cost.

Chinese Press Contact

Eva Wang

PR Manager

Baicells Technologies Co. Ltd.

(+86) 186 8066 8591

North American Press Contact

Savannah Lancaster

Marketing Communications Manager

Baicells Technologies, North America

savannah.lancaster(at)baicells(dot)com

+1 (972) 623-7329
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A series of massive wildfires spread through the counties of Napa, Sonoma, and six others early this week, destroying at least 3,500 homes, businesses, and other structures, and sending residents fleeing for their lives in the middle of the night. An estimated 50,000 people have left their homes for shelters and hotels, and new evacuation orders were issued late on Wednesday.

Dry, gusty winds returned overnight, threatening to push flames into unscathed areas.

The situation is considered one of the deadliest fires in state history. At least 31 people are reportedly dead, and another 463 people are reported missing in Sonoma County. Hundreds more have been hospitalized. Local officials describe the death toll as a "fluid number," as the hot zones cool and

An inferno called the Tubbs Fire (which has accounted for 13 of the deaths) has burned more than 34,000 acres in and around the city of Santa Rosa, according to the Cal Fire website. The Atlas Fire in Napa has charred an additional 43,000 acres. Residents and public officials won't know the full extent of the damage until evacuation orders have been lifted.

"Make no mistake," Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott said in a news briefing on Wednesday. "This is a serious, critical, catastrophic event."

We will continue to update this story throughout the day.

A series of wildfires ravaging pieces of Northern California's wine country is being called one of the worst firestorms in state history. The largest blazes hit Napa and Sonoma.

There is the city of Napa and the county of Napa, considered the holy grail of wine country. It's home to more than 400 wineries, with many packed side by side along State Route 29.

Sonoma County stretches across nine cities and is three times the area of Napa County.

On Monday, videos and photos on social media showed fires burning out of control in Sonoma and Napa, moving through vegetation, buildings, roads, and mobile-home parks.

An estimated 50,000 people in Northern California have been evacuated.

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Emergency shelters are popping up across Northern California. Jack Tibbetts, vice-mayor of Santa Rosa, told Business Insider that the shelters are reaching capacity quickly.

There are nearly two dozen shelters for fire evacuees in Sonoma County alone. Tibbetts stressed that safety is the number one priority for local officials and public servants.

"I think local officials' objective is evacuating everybody, more so than it is about protection of property," Tibbetts, who fled his home in Santa Rosa around 3 a.m. on Monday, said.

As many as seven fires ignited on Sunday night and grew as hot, dry winds  with gusts of up to 70 miles per hour  carried the flames from ridge top to ridge top in Napa.

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"In a two-to-three-hour period, we had seven different counties affected by fire all at once," Deputy Chief Bret Gouvea of Cal Fire told the San Francisco Chronicle. "And not just ordinary fires. Because of those wind conditions, these fires got out of hand very quickly."

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Residents speaking to local media outlets described "fleeing for their lives in the middle of the night from the fire, in cars or on foot." Many left with only the clothes on their backs.

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In Napa, guests of the Silverado Resort and Spa were sleeping when an order to evacuate came on over the loudspeaker. The power went out as the flames crept closer.

Just evacuated Silverado Re... @ Marissa Schneider

"It was surreal," Chris Thomas, who arrived at the resort on Sunday with his wife for a wine-tasting trip, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "When I started loading stuff into the car it was a hell-storm of smoke and ash. There were 30 to 40 mph winds. I couldn't even breathe."

The PGA Tour's season-opening event ended Sunday at the resort.

"The fire has burned all the way through the Silverado Country Club," Napa County Fire Chief Barry Biermann said during a press conference on Monday. Here's the aftermath.

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Two of the victims who were identified on Tuesday, Charles Rippey, 100, and his wife Sarah, 98, wed 75 years ago. They died trying to escape their home at the Silverado Resort.

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Santa Rosa, the largest city in Sonoma County, appears to be hit the hardest.

A Kmart store on Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa was engulfed in flames on Monday.

The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel was among the scores of buildings destroyed.

A cluster of single-family homes in Santa Rosa's Coffey Park neighborhood has largely turned to ash. About 8,000 people lived in Coffey Park and a neighboring subdivision.

A children's playground nearby was unscathed.

The destruction was widespread. Near the Silverado Trail, a winery in Napa Valley burned.

Multimillion-dollar homes in and around the Silverado Country Club were destroyed.

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Mary Caughey, an office manager at a Santa Rosa middle school, found a glimmer of hope after discovering her wedding ring in the debris that's left of her home in Sonoma.

Flames climbed the ivy-covered walls of the Signorello Estate winery, located on the Silverado Trail, until it eventually collapsed. It was one of a handful of wineries that burned.

The remains of burned bottles of wine were seen at the Signorello Estate winery.

Entire neighborhoods in Santa Rosa were leveled.

The scenes are apocalyptic.

Satellite images provide a view of the devastation from above.

1st images from space this ... @ Drew Tuma

The cause of the fires remained under investigation on Wednesday morning.

On Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown of California issued a state of emergency for Napa, Sonoma, and Yuba counties  a declaration that called the California National Guard into action.

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Mandatory evacuations remain in place in some areas.

People in San Francisco awoke to red, hazy skies and a thick stench of smoke on Monday.

SF sky covered with smoke f... @ Ma. Leticia Gomez

It alarmed some residents, who suspected the flames reached much closer to San Francisco. Many posted on social media, and others called emergency responders.

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The San Francisco Fire Department posted this from its official Twitter account.

10f2-If your smelling smoke... @ San Francisco Fire

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service told The Mercury News that strong winds are responsible for blowing the smell of smoke from the north to the Bay Area.
READ MORE: Mahama consoles victims of gas explosion

The Director of Public Affairs of the University Stella Amoah in an interview on Accra FM, said "20 of our students suffered injuries and they received treatment at the University Hospital16 of them have been discharged and four have been detained for further observation."

She noted that the accident has had a toll on academic activities on campus as some of the students could not sit for their exams.
According to the "Make You No Forget" hitmaker, the project would include editing, colour grading and correction, visual effects, music composition, securing music rights, sound effects and sound mix, marketing and film festival expenses.

Blitz the Ambassador started the crowdfunding on Kickstarter a few days ago and has since raised over $8,000. This means, he is left with $67,000 to make his dream a reality.

"The Burial Of Kojo" follows the tumultuous relationship between two brothers, Kojo (Joseph Otsiman) and Kwabena (Kobina Amissah-Sam) after Kojo causes a car accident that tragically kills Kwabena's bride on their wedding day.

Kwabena in turn, devices an elaborate plan to seek revenge 7 years later. He lures Kojo to an abandon mine, knocks him unconscious and leaves him in the mine shaft to die.

Kojo must survive with no food and water, while his wife, Ama (Mamley Djangmah) and Detective Koomson (Joe Addo) race against time to find him.
According to officials, the man also set himself ablaze at the childcare center in the remote town of Janauba in Minas Gerais state.

In a video footage, parents gathered and cried amidst panic as the news of the unfortunate incident broke.

Reports indicate that twenty-five people, mostly children aged four and five, are being treated for burns in local hospitals.

There are fears that depending on the severity of some of the cases, some of the patients may still need to be airlifted to a specialised burns unit in the state capital, Belo Horizonte.

The mother of one of the victims, four-year-old Juan Miguel Soares Silva, told O Globo newspaper that, she had been considering enrolling him in another nursery prior to the attack.

Jane Kelly da Silva Soares said "We are about to move to a different neighbourhood.

"I woke up early to drop him at the nursery. When I saw him again he was already dead in hospital."

Meanwhile, the said security guard who perpetrated the barbaric act, identified by police as 50-year-old Damiao Soares dos Santos, also died in a hospital of his wounds.

Police are investigating to ascertain the reasons for the attack. But local media has reported that he was dismissed after returning from annual leave last month with an alleged health condition.

According to O Globo newspaper, he went to the Gente Inocente childcare centre to hand in his medical certificate and then started the fire.

Brazilian President, Michel Temer in a tweet expressed condolence to the bereaved families, saying "I'm very sorry about this tragedy involving children in Janauba. I want to express my sympathy to the families."

He added that "This must be a very, very painful loss."
Walking out of stage plays in good spirits is something quite commonplace, but the atmosphere here was a cut above that. This was total excitement, with an urge for more.

As the show came to an end the only chorus that could be heard from the hundreds of audience that made their way was Ama 2G! Ama 2G! Ama 2G!.

READ ALSO: Ebony to perform at Accra Fashion Week slated for October 5

As those words  the title of the stage play just witnessed  reverberated around the auditorium of the National Theatre, it was clear the satisfaction that everybody was served.

Time and money well spent!

The stage play Ama 2G tackles many issues of real life, from emotional abuse in marriages to parents imposing careers on their children and then to the specimen of who a modern day wife should be.

The play opens with some soothing music from a saxophonist, while audience are teased to the scenes of the storyline by a storyteller who delivers his lines in a tantalizingly poetic manner.

Overall, the play features a 13-man cast, however, the main theme hovers over a very difficult man named Asamoah, whose complicated character sees him try to step over everything just to get to the top.

His wife  Ama  as submissive as she is, barely gets the respect she deserves from her husband. With her husband always downplaying her intelligence and calling her out at the least provocation, it is impervious to logic how Ama still manages to keep her home and marriage intact.

As a motivational and inspirational speaker, Asamoah does the exact opposite of what he preaches to his followers, by maltreating and lowering the self-esteem of his wife and anyone below his level.

The play looks at the contrast between the Eagle, quietly efficient, and the Parrot, so vocal yet so unskilled, and compares it to real life scenarios where people want their little good deeds to be heard by everybody, by spreading it through social media.

The title Ama 2G was coined from the derogatory statements made by Asamoah against his wife, as he countlessly referred to her as outdated, slow and as boring as a 2G network.

The various scenes explore the difficulties that some women have to go through to maintain their marriages, with Ama always sacrificing her happiness for the love of her husband and accepting blame even in times that she had not done any wrong.

The subplots also feature the son of the aforementioned couple, Yaw Dada, whose dream to become a musician drew derision from his father.

The play looks at the situations of many wards who lose focus in life due to the fact that parents try to choose careers for them, instead of encouraging their children to pursue what they love.

READ ALSO: Remy Martin holds Opulence Revealed in Accra

It further examines the role of some parents in ensuring good futures for the children, when it comes to willing properties.

In this case, the story of Susu  the niece of Asamoah  who labored to get her inheritance due to the fact that her late father entrusted it into the hands of a wicked uncle.

There are many lessons to be learnt from the stage play Ama 2G, and there is no doubt that the audience must have picked up a lesson or two after watching on.

However, despite all the excitement on the night, there were some low points that must also be highlighted.

Sound was a problem throughout the show, with the mics of some characters failing to work when they were on stage.

There were also breaks and distractions in the sound whenever the characters were performing a song.

Then finally, getting to the tail end of the play the adverts just became too much, almost ruining the perfect show that audience had witnessed.

Stage plays are not meant to keep audience seated for long hours, so its better to keep the adverts as short as possible, in order not to get audience bored.
Here are five weird religious beliefs and practices still going on around Africa.

1. Killing Albinos for ritual purposes

In Malawi, Tanzania and Burundi people believe their traditional healers who say that acquiring the body parts of a human with a melanin deficiency, can assist with improving their luck, health or wealth.

2. Women bull jumping ritual, Hamer tribe

This may seem difficult but to Hamer women from the South-western Ethiopia, its more like a normal phase of life.

Before you can be allowed to engage in this ritual, youll first have to go through a series of whipping on both the back and buttocks until there are some scars that will signify that youve already gone through the ritual and youre now a grown woman who is very ready for marriage.

3. Circumcision rites, Zulu tribe

Circumcision is often done on boys but as a baby. This is not the case in South Africa as Zulu teenage boys have to undergo a bizarre circumcision rite to become men.

These boys will be abducted and then taken to a secret place that can only be accessed by elderly women who bring them food and drinks. They are then covered in white dust before being allowed to use sharp blades or rocks to circumcise themselves. They end up having disfigured genitals, and some even die during the process.

The wounds are normally treated and dressed using mad or animal waste and may take four months or more to heal.

4. Magun

The Yoruba ethnic group use Magun for adulterers and most times the outcome is not palatable as the offender could lose his/her life.

The Magun is placed on a woman without her being aware of it either by her husband or his family. If she commits adultery, her lover could end up losing his life or getting stuck while in the act.

5. Reincarnation

The concept of reincarnation is found among many African tribes and is not limited to a country.

Reincarnation refers to the soul of a dead person being reborn in the body of another. There is a close relationship between birth and death in Africa.
The MDs revelation follows the Bank of Ghanas increase of the minimum capital in September 2017. The Bank of Ghana increased the Minimum Capital Requirement from 120 million cedis to 400 million cedis.

The Governor, Dr Ernest Addison, after announcing the new Minimum Capital Requirement said banks have the go-ahead to merge and do business.

In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Baiden said Fidelity has shown interest in merging with some other banks.

Meeting the new minimum capital requirement of 400 million cedis is not a problem at all for Fidelity Bank. We are looking into the banking space. It is possible that we will be interested in a few banks and signal consolidation.

It is likely that Fidelity will merge or invite other smaller banks to merge with us into a bigger entity, he added.

Even though he did not name the particular bank(s) they are targeting, he maintained that the move is a strategy to entrench the banks position as one of the biggest indigenous banks in the country.

READ ALSO: Electricity tariff to go down next year

Fidelity bank is one of the two indigenous banks who have emerged as very strong because our capital adequacy is one of the highest. Our liquidity ratio is also one of the highest in the country.

Baiden spoke to Citi Business News on the sidelines of the launch of a book titled Developing Africas Financial Services: The Importance of High Impact Entrepreneurship,.
Quist who is recognised as the first Ghanaian woman to head a multinational telecommunications company announced her resignation on her Facebook page.

In the post on her timeline, Quist did not state the reasons for resigning. However, this could be attributed to the merger between Tigo and Airtel Ghana.

After three and a half years of leading the amazing team at Airtel Ghana, the time is right for me to move on to the next chapter. It has been a truly remarkable journey and I thank each and every one of you for your support, encouragement and business partnership over the course of my stewardship. We are proud of our achievements.

READ ALSO: 11 tips to prevent Mobile Money fraud

Particularly, I want to thank all those who have been part of the many initiatives I have led over the last few years to empower young people and every young person who works with me for that matter. Notably the Evolve with STEM and the Bold New Normal initiatives. I look forward to empowering more young people even as I continue my professional leadership journey. Together we will create the Bold New Normal of prosperity for our country and continent, she added.

Her resignation brings to rest questions her role after the merger is concluded.

Lucy Quist did not state what her next move would be.

Lucy Quist joined Airtel Ghana in 2014 as the first Ghanaian female CEO of a major multinational telecom company.

During her tenure, she successfully led her team to re-position and transform Airtel Ghana into one of the fastest growing telecom companies in the country, as well as the industry leader in data and digital innovation, and the most loved telecom brand in the daily lives of Ghanaians.

She is credited with leading the launch of breakthrough initiatives for Airtel Ghana, including the introduction of bespoke sub-brands and value propositions for customers  such as Airtel Premier, the telecom industrys first ever sub-brand that provides telecom and lifestyle solutions for High-Value customers.

READ ALSO: These banks will give you a loan for your luxurious wedding

She also led the creation of Airtels Data Business  building a specific sub-brand to grow the data side of the business  resulting in a significant growth in customer and revenue market share for data.

Airtels Data Business became the conduit for digital inclusion, and some of the most remarkable innovations in the data and internet service provider space within the Ghanaian telecom industry.

Personal achievements

Mrs Quist has been recognized by several reputable organisations Corporate Leadership Award (Ghana Legacy Honours 2017), Telecom CEO of the Year (Ghana ICT and Telecoms Award 2016), CSR CEO of the year (Ghana CSR Excellence Awards 2016) and CIMG Marketing Woman of the year (2014).

She is on the Board of many distinguished local and international organisations including the International Board for African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Petra Trust Company Ltd, the Business Environment Enabling Programme under the UK Department of International Development (DFID), the Climate Innovation Center Ghana and The Exploratory among others.

She is a founding member of the Executive Women Network, a non-profit organization of women in senior management and executive positions committed to inspiring, empowering and supporting women executives to succeed and become influential both locally and internationally.

How will her resignation affect Airtel customers
With the khebab radio theory, it is just unfortunate that we should be having misinformation on social media. Fire investigation is a technical job and it is only the technically trained people that would be able to determine the cause of the fire. As much as it is possible for fire from a kebab sellers place to cause that fire, there are several possible causes of that fire. You need to determine the indicators before you are able to ascertain the causes.
He said the country is wasting resources on EPA and NPA who have not lived up to expectations.

READ MORE: UPSA students demonstrate against fuel station

His comment comes on the back of a gas explosion at Atomic junction on Saturday, that claimed seven lives and left several others injured.

Most Very Reverend Titus Awotwe Pratt addressing the induction service of the newly lay president of the church at Adum Wesley Methodist church in Kumasi said the gas explosions could have been prevented if the two agencies were effective.

READ ALSO: Mahama consoles victims of gas explosion

He said "And yet we have well-seasoned men and women well trained, high qualifications and they sit there and these things happen, very sad indeed and when you talk about it they tell you think about church things in the Bible; dont speak about social things. I pay my tax, i cast my vote during elections, Im a citizen of this nation by birth not by certificate.

"I have every right to speak when things are going bad and our people always ask us what is the church saying, these are the things that baffle my mind so those occupying high office in this country are they men and women of high repute?"

The gas station explosion has killed at least 7 persons and injured 132 people.
The cases, which were recorded led to the death of more than 250 Ghanaians include the twin disaster at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle on June 3, 2015, Tema, Takoradi, Nungua and Kasoa gas explosions.

Here's the number of times gas explosions occurred in the country.

Kwame Nkrumah Circle gas explosion

On June 3, 2015, At least 150 people have died after a devastating explosion ripped through a petrol station during heavy flooding.

READ ALSO: Mahama consoles victims of gas explosion

A gruesome scene was left in the capital of Accra, with charred bodies and neighbouring buildings burning through the night.

The blast was caused when floodwater washed stored fuel into a nearby fire while victims were sheltering from torrential rain.

Tema gas explosions

One person has been killed, with one other injured, after an explosion at Delta Agro, a soap manufacturing company in the Tema Industrial area on August 18, 2017.

The Administrative Manager of the factory explained that three workers were in the process of cleaning an empty oil tanker when the explosion occurred.

He said the tank which exploded contained dirty oil and that some contractors were working on it at the time; there was built-up pressure and it caused the tank to explode.

Also in Tema on February 26, 2017, there has been another gas explosion at Tema Tulaku on the Michel Camp road resulting in several deaths and some injuries.

The cause of the explosion is immediately not known but several tanker vehicles have been burnt while efforts by a combined team of military and personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service with support of the National Ambulance to save lives.

Tulip Inn Hotel explosion

Gas explosion at the Tulip Inn Hotel at Shiashie in Accra has killed four employees after all attempts to save their lives at the hospital proved futile.

The incident happened around 1:00pm on September 26, 2017 in the hotels kitchen.

The impact of the explosion was so intense that it tore part of the wall and killed the staff of the hotel.

READ ALSO: 4 killed in gas explosion at Tulip Inn Hotel

According to reports, the four staff  Francis Dzigbor, electrician; Emmanuel Baffoe Gyan, gas technician; Alex Akomani, cook; and William Gbedemashie, driver.

Atomic junction explosion

On October 7, 2017, at least seven people have been confirmed dead with dozens injured in the Madina Atomic Junction gas explosion that occurred on Saturday night in Accra.

Two of the deceased are said to have been knocked down by speeding vehicles during the chaos.

More than 20 vehicles are also reported to have been razed down by the explosion.

READ ALSO: Bawumia assures of radical policy to deal with gas explosions

Many of the injured persons were sent to the 37 Military Hospital and Legon Hospital for treatment.

Kasoa gas explosion

On August 4, 2015 at Kasoa, two people are reported to have died when a gas cylinder exploded at a fuel station at Ngleshie Amanfrom near Kasoa.

Several people are also believed to have sustained serious injuries from the blast which happened around 1 pm.

According to reports, the explosion was caused by maintenance work on one of the cylinders at the station.

Nungua-Zongo gas explosion

On July 18, 2014, six family members at Nungua zongo, a suburb of Accra have sustained multiple degrees of injuries with one reported dead in a gas explosion Wednesday.

Reports revealed that the family attempted to use a faulty gas cylinder, which had just been fixed by a repairer.

The deceased, according to a Senior Resident at the Korle Bu Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit, Dr. Nyigba Edem suffered a 100 per cent total body surface area burn, which means every part of the skin was badly affected.

Trade Fair explosion

On December 23, 2016, six people are reported to have been burnt beyond recognition after a gas explosion at the Louis Gas Station behind the Trade Fair Centre at Labadi in Accra.

At least 12 others are said to be in critical condition after sustaining severe burns from the fire that came with the explosion.
I woke up to messages and posts saying the poor khebab seller located at Atomic Junction was to blame for the sad incident which occurred on Saturday, 7th October.

READ ALSO: UPSA students demonstrate against fuel station

And when I asked these people to tell me the source of their information, most of them pointed to a video on Joy FM's page on Facebook, in which you, Kojo Yankson, explained what you called, "The Chronology of Events Leading to the Explosion".

I watched the video and there are some issues I would like to bring to your attention.

Now, to be honest, that is a really heavy statement to make; to the best of my knowledge, no official report has thus stipulated how the explosion first started, not to talk of pinpointing the location of the spark that started it.

I suppose it was part of your psychological conditioning of the audience to make them better understand the point you were trying to make. But as a journalist, that is not your job; but more on that later.

I really don't know where you got your "facts" from, but you sounded like an eyewitness, which you never stated throughout the video that you were, so I am guessing you were not. And this begs the question, "where did Kojo Yankson get his details from?".

To evacuate means to "remove (someone) from a place of danger to a safer place", and per your "chronology" the members of staff of the gas station moved away from the leakage, they did not evacuate anyone.

Objectivity in journalism aims to help the audience make up their own mind about a story, providing the facts alone and then letting your audience interpret those facts on their own. To maintain objectivity in journalism, journalists should present the facts whether or not they like or agree with those facts.

And you didn't deliver facts, and even those non-facts, you delivered them in the wrong way.

I understand we are all emotional about the lives lost and the damage caused by the unfortunate accidents, however, if as a journalist, you cannot present the facts without trying to steer the interpretation of the audience, then maybe you shouldn't have run the report.

The classic idea of "objective reporting" on anything is that the job of the journalist is to witness, analyse and leave the judgements and campaigns to others.

Of course, theres no such thing as purely objective reporting, but its easy to spot journalism that isn't. Sometimes the journalist will become involved and that can have a dramatic impact and that is I think what happened to you, Kojo.

But these are just my issues with the way you delivered your report - there are more qualms with the fodder of the report on the whole.

Factually, I believe there is a lot with your report.

You never once mentioned how you came about your rather explosive conclusions, you never stated whether you heard it from an eyewitness or from an official report by the Ghana National Fire Service, NADMO etc.

To take words from Ace Ankomah, "With a visible gas leakage, with a gas smell all over the place, and with people being evacuated, he insists on lighting a fire. So he (1) puts charcoal on the grill, (2) adds paper to it, (3) pours kerosine, (4) takes out a box of matches or a lighter, and then (5) starts a fire", that is a perfect summary of your report.

But here is the part that you don't put in your report - "when his fire connected with the gas and the explosions started, he had time to (1) gather all of his meat, oil, onions and pepper mix and accoutrements, (2) put out his fire on the grill, (3) place an aluminum cover over the grill, (4) place stones on the cover, and then (5) flee for dear life" - that is the part that makes no sense.

And come on Kojo, you stood by such a "neat" and "unpacked" stand and claimed it was the genesis of the explosion?

Just take a closer look at the grill and take another look at your report and come out to issue an apology to Ghanaians and the khebab seller.
The meteorological Agency, as the name suggests, is the sole state agency responsible for studying the weather and climate changes and forecasting any pending weather-related conditions, so as to guide both the public and central government in planning their day-to-day activities and itineraries.

However, over the years, despite some accurate predictions that earned the agency some commendations, some analysts hold the view that the inaccuracies and in some cases, inertia of the agency leave much to be desired.

There is an ensuing debate among a section of the public regarding the relevance or otherwise of the Meteorological agency following the shutdown call by lawyer Kofi Bentil. While some agree completely with him, others hold the opinion that the agency is under resourced and needs retooling and overhauling to make it as effective as expected.

For some time now, the ineffectiveness of that institution has been part of discussions in the media, but the debate has been rekindled after last Fridays heavy downpour that caused lots of havoc in certain parts of the country including the national capital, Accra.

Mr. Bentil thought the agency could have been more proactive and accurate with their forecasts in order to avert most disasters such as the one that happened on Friday tumbling a part of former President Rawlings Ridge residence.

READ ALSO: Family sues neighbour for copying the look of their house

Kofi Bentil wrote on Facebook, Said before, I repeat, if we shut down Meteo nothing will happen. We shd give their salaries to an orphanage. Thats better.

However, it is equally not out of place when the agency suggests that Ghanaians fail to pay attention to weather reports until a disaster takes them unawares. It also claims that most media firms fail to provide it slots to publicise forecast reports.
He is leading the Commonwealth Observer Group to report on the elections in Liberia.

The team will check compliance with electoral laws.

As former Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Mahama has been celebrated for his commitment to ensuring the stability of the sub-region and the continent generally.

In a Facebook post, he said he has called a meeting of Heads of all the Observer Missions ahead of Tuesdays election.

READ MORE: Mahama leads Commonwealth Group to monitor Liberia polls

Liberia votes

In landmark elections slated for October 10, Liberians will vote in the countrys third postwar presidential and legislative races.
Her CDU/CSU conservative alliance would first hold separate talks with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the left-leaning Greens on that day, before all parties would jointly meet two days later, she said.

Merkel won a fourth term in the September 24 vote but the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) poached one million votes from her conservative bloc, leaving her without an obvious coalition to lead Europe's largest economy.

Merkel said in a speech on Saturday that the negotiations with the FDP and Greens would be "difficult", but added: "I hope the coalition will fall into place."

Such an alliance -- which would be unprecedented in Germany at the national level -- has been dubbed the "Jamaica coalition" because the colours of the three parties match the black, yellow and green of the Caribbean country's flag.

On Sunday, the CDU and CSU agreed in 10 hours of talks on a compromise to set a benchmark of 200,000 refugee entries a year, removing a major hurdle before they enter into the wider coalition talks.

The CDU/CSU bloc scored 33 percent in the September vote, its worst outcome since 1949, while the Social Democrats, Merkel's junior partners for eight years, were crushed with just over 20 percent and vowed to go into opposition.
Was Corker patriotically sounding the alarm about a president who could put the country "on the path to World War III," as he told Sunday's edition of The New York Times?

Or, having announced that he will not seek re-election next year, is he merely a lame duck lawmaker relishing the opportunity to throw off the shackles of party unity?

Either way, one of the most respected establishment senators -- one from Trump country in Tennessee, no less -- has gone public with grievances many are sharing in private.

Like Trump, Corker is a businessman turned elected official. He is also the chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a powerful voice on foreign policy.

Corker fired the first shots last week when he said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly "are those people that help separate our country from chaos."

A furious Trump took to Twitter to demean Corker, alleging the senator had "begged" him for a 2018 endorsement and that he "didn't have the guts" to run for re-election.

Corker hit back, telling the Times that he felt Trump posed a sharp risk to US national security, particularly over his comments about North Korea.

"I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, it's a situation of trying to contain him," the 65-year-old said.

"He concerns me," the senator added. "He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation."

Wrong fight?

In his nine months in office, Trump has openly criticized several in his party, including senators like John McCain who refused to back his Obamacare repeal effort.

He has also feuded with congressional leaders such as top Republican Senator Mitch McConnell for failing to get the health bill over the line.

The president branded Senator Lindsey Graham "publicity seeking" for criticizing him over his response to racially-charged violence this summer in Charlottesville.

He attacked Senator Jeff Flake as "weak on crime" and border protection.

And Trump chided House Speaker Paul Ryan for failing to reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling, forcing the president negotiate with Democrats.

But few have spoken out so bluntly against the president as has Corker -- and the president's response has confounded some experts.

With Trump poised to decertify the Iran nuclear pact and leave it up to Congress whether to reimpose punitive sanctions, Corker will play a crucial role in what happens next.

"Corker may be the most important partner in that dance. This is so dumb," tweeted Ilan Goldenberg, a former senior State Department official.

Trump also needs Corker, who has served as an ally behind the scenes, if he does not want his legislative agenda derailed in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority.

The party has a tax reform plan that provides substantial tax breaks for the wealthy, but Corker has signalled he will oppose the legislation if it adds to the US deficit.

Corker has 15 months left in his term, and his remarks imply he is prepared to assume the role of Trump's chief critic within the Republican Party during that period.

He also made it clear Sunday that most Senate Republicans share his view about the volatility of the president.
"La Cueillette des Pois" (Picking Peas), a gouache from 1887, emerged earlier this year on display at the French capital's Marmottan Museum, more than 70 years after being snatched from art collector Simon Bauer in Nazi-occupied France.

A court will on Tuesday begin examining who are the rightful owners -- Bauer's descendants or an American couple who say they had no idea as to its wartime fate when they bought it at auction in 1995.

Bauer, a self-made businessman, was among the thousands of French Jews who were rounded up for deportation in 1944. He narrowly escaped being sent to the Nazi death camps due to a train drivers strike.

"La Cueillette des Pois" was one of 93 works that were confiscated from him before he was sent to the Drancy internment camp near Paris and sold on by an art dealer.

On his release in 1944, he immediately began looking for his paintings but had only managed to recover a fraction of the works by his death in 1947.

His family then took up the hunt, but lost all trace of the Pissarro for half a century before it turned up at the Marmottan, on loan from its current owners for a major retrospective of the artist's work.

Bauer's grandson Jean-Jacques Bauer, 87, immediately filed a legal claim to prevent the painting leaving France while beginning a process to try wrest it back from Bruce Toll and his wife Robbi.

In May, a court granted his request to have it impounded in France pending a ruling on its on ownership.

'Free the painting'

The Tolls, patrons of Washington and Tel Aviv Holocaust museums who bought the work at Christie's auction house in New York, say they did so in good faith, unaware it was wartime loot.

"It is not Mr Toll, who bought this painting at public auction in 1995, who should pay for the crimes of Vichy," the couple's lawyer Ron Soffer told AFP, referring to France's puppet regime under the Nazis.

Bauer's descendants will attempt to show that legal precedence is on their side.

They have noted that since 1945 French courts have routinely annulled the sales of other works that were part of Bauer's collection and ordered they be returned to his family.

They are pinning their hopes on the application of an April 1945 law which renders void transactions of looted works.

The Tolls will attempt to show that the 1945 law does not apply in this case and contest the competence of the court to decide the matter.

If the court does not have jurisdiction in the affair it will have to "free the painting", Soffer said.

He added that the outcome would potentially be of "great importance" in the art world as it highlighted "a risk of legal insecurity regarding works which are lent to exhibitions in France.".
A report from the security intelligence group RedLock found at least two companies which had their AWS cloud services compromised by hackers who wanted nothing more than to use the computer power to mine the cryptocurrency bitcoin. The hackers ultimately got access to Amazon's cloud servers after discovering that their administration consoles weren't password protected.

"Upon deeper analysis, the team discovered that hackers were executing a bitcoin mining command from one of the Kubernetes containers," reads the RedLock report. Kubernetes is a Google-created, open-source technology that makes it easier to write apps for the cloud.

"The instance had effectively been turned into a parasitic bot that was performing nefarious activity over the internet," the report says.

The companies impacted were Aviva and Gemalto, both multi-billion dollar, multi-national companies. They were notified by RedLock about the issues.

Hackers are known to slip into corporate servers to steal data, which they usually sell for money, or give to state-actors who are looking for intel. But bitcoin mining is a different thing all together. These hackers are basically just stealing pricey space in corporate cloud storage.

Amazon, Aviva and Gemalto did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Power in numbers

Though anyone could try to mine bitcoin off their computer services, the process is super energy intensive, and could be costly in electricity costs alone. But it's worth while for many because success can be very lucrative.

To avoid the high cost of going at it alone, most bitcoin miners join a pool of different computers which combined their powers to solve complex algorithms. Successfully solving the problem generates a set number of new bitcoin, which as of Friday were worth upwards of $4,300 each. Inherent to its design, the cryptocurrency can be mined until there are a total of 21 million bitcoin floating around the internet, but the process becomes more and more difficult as the years pass.

RedLock discovered the breaches along with hundreds of other administration consuls which were unlocked across AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud  most likely by a careless systems administrator. But illicit bitcoin mining isn't always coming from the outside.
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CAN recently stated that the Federal Government is trying to Islamise the country with the financial loan.

Speaking with Punch, the president of the group and Professor of Eschatology, Ishaq Akintola, gave several reasons why this is untrue.

He also compared CANs behaviour to that of a spoilt child, adding that more Christians have bought Sukuk bonds.

In his words, CAN knows what it is doing. Its false alarms are deliberate It is laughable that CAN encouraged a bishop to mobilise street protests against Islamic banking in the South-East

CAN is like a spoilt child who has everything and needs nothing else. But like a dog in the manger, CAN will rather stand between its deprived Muslim neighbours and their needs. Being a smart alec, CAN makes so much noise about being the victim of Islamisation in order to turn attention away from its overbearing posture and the gross imbalance in the socioeconomic life between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. These are issues that border on restructuring. Those clamouring for restructuring and those who are considering areas of common ground should pay attention to this. We (Muslims) are shortchanged in the present democratic setting. We have been marginalised. What is our gain from independence? Where is our dividend of democracy?

On the issue of Islamisation, Akintola said, We cannot worship freely on Friday whereas Christians are free from dawn to dusk on Saturday and Sunday. Muslim families are scattered like wild oats on Friday

But every Christian is free to go to church on Sunday with his wife and children. This is a gross imbalance. Yet, CAN is shouting Islamisation! Islamisation my foot! However, the good news is that Muslims are making their demands in an atmosphere of decorum and respect for law and order. We are not issuing threats. We are not engaging in violence. We are simply putting our cards on the table in a civilised manner.

Islamisation agenda is a mirage. CAN should sing another song  this one is rickety and weather-beaten. Who is Islamising who? Muslims have participated in hundreds of Westo-Christian bonds. Yet, we are not Christianised. So, how can anybody become Islamised via Sukuk? For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Governments N100bn Sukuk was oversubscribed by N5bn. The interesting aspect is that more Christians participated in it than Muslims!"

CAN is just rabble-rousing. Nigerian Christians are not deceived. Just yesterday (Thursday), the government announced that the Sukuk fund would be spent on 25 federal roads. How can anybody stand between a facility designed to enhance the growth of infrastructure? Who is the enemy of progress? We dont blame Nigerian Christians. They are simple folks. The problem is the Christian leadership. I mean CAN officials It is sheer propaganda. CAN is merely whipping up anti-Muslim sentiments. The leadership of the umbrella body of Nigerian Christians is Islamophobic.

We understand why CAN must make a noise. It has to justify sitting on billions of naira in tithes from members across the country. It is a game of numbers. It is also a gimmick for securing and sustaining CAN leaderships affluence in the face of abject poverty, disease and squalor among its followers in particular and the masses in general."

He added that Meeting CAN separately on Sukuk is unnecessary. A public statement on the rationale for Sukuk plus a massive public enlightenment campaign on it is better.

The MURIC president also made a recommendation to CAN. He urged the Christians to offer its own bond to the FG. In his words, We are not opposed to Christians enjoying any aspect of their religious rights. We have said it several times and we will repeat it now: even apart from Christian bonds, let CAN tell the Federal Government all the things it wants. We will not play dog in the manger over CANs demands. It is the Muslims who have always been making demands because the status quo suits Christians.

The Christians need little or nothing from the present system because the British colonialists who were essentially Christians operated a Christian system in Nigeria after tyrannically and undemocratically stopping all Islamic systems in the land. The Christians have not been asking for anything because they were made comfortable by the British. For the avoidance of doubt, let us ask CAN clearly: What do you want? We are now in the court of public opinion. What religious rights do you want from the Federal Government? Say it loud and clear so that you can allow Nigerians to sleep soundly without cries of Islamisation.

This sentiment has been echoed by a popular lawyer, Femi Falana, according to Sahara Reporters.

Speaking at the strategic dialogue roundtable organized by the Social Economic Rights and Accountability (SERAP) in Lagos, he advised CAN to Christianise Nigeria.

I am challenging CAN to Christianize Nigerians; Christianize us by setting up interest-free banks he said.

Mr Falana went on to describe the bond as a legitimate means for the government to generate funds, adding that this is already practised in other countries.
Speaking on how to fix the education sector on a Channels TV program, Sunrise, Osaghale says the establishment of private and public schools have divided Nigeria into two classes of the rich and the poor.

He therefor called for the promotion of public school education to promote social inclusion in the society, adding that the establishment of private schools which has now become the schools for the rich is a colossal disaster for the economy.

"Public education is what binds the country together. It is what holds and promotes social inclusion. I will give you an example. I have a friend he told me that his biggest problem is that his kids don't have poor friends.

"I went to a public primary and secondary school, there were poor people, there were middle class and there were rich kids. What we have succeeded in doing in this society now is creating a class. Education is meant to promote social inclusion.

"If I put a poor child next to a middle-class child in the school, there is that incentive that the poor child will want to work hard to be like the rich kids.

ALSO READ:This picture confirms the poor state of education in Nassarawa
In the case of Tagbo, his death has raised so many eyebrows because of the controversy surrounding his demise. He was reported to have been with Davido and his crew at a nightclub on October 4, 2017, before they allegedly decided to play a drinking game which had a winning price of an iPhone 8 and N200,000 cash, a game which went bad.

ALSO READ:Autopsy report says Tagbo died of excessive drinking

It was alleged that Davido and his crew decided to leave the club and insisted that Tagbo should ride in Davido's car, an offer he declined. However, he was allegedly carried to the General Hospital where his corpse was dumped, leaving speculations over what transpired after the drinking contest.

Just when the death of Tagbo was still causing a lot of commotion, the death of DJ Olu and Chime both friends of Davido was announced. Shocking right?

On October 8, 2017, it was reported that DJ Olu and Chime were both found dead in DJ Olu's car. It is still unclear as to what really was the cause of death. DJ Olu was a member of the HKN Label, which had Davido as its boss.
The source who spoke on the attempts the billionaire kidnap suspect made to escape said Evans offered the sum of $50,000 at first to one of the security guards manning his cell but when he was turned down, he increased the money to $100,000.

It was gathered that Evans was allegedly coordinating his escape bid with some members of his gang by telephone which he managed to sneak into his cell not knowing that he was being monitored closely.

It was learned that intelligence officers and Inspector General of Police Special Tactical Squad detected his plot before he could carry them out.

"When Evans was in our custody, he tried to escape but we were able to abort all his plans. We discovered that he had access to phones which were hidden in the middle of loaves of bread, eba, semovita and so on.

He was making calls from these smuggled phones in the middle of the night, making arrangements with some yet to be identified members of his gang to arrange for his escape.

We intercepted how he was luring one of the guards with about $50,000 to $100,000. He wanted an insider to serve as an informant to him and members of his gang, the source who is a member of the IGP team said.
She has also been very wayward, sneaking out of the house to parties and sleeping with different men in our community. When her troubles were getting too much, I had to take her to live with me thinking I would be able to tame her.

Little did I know that bringing her into my own home would be the cause of my agony. How could I have known that my husband would stoop so low to sleep with my own sister? I now believe that most men think with their manhood and not their brains.

Or how else would a man succumb to the temptation of sleeping with his sister's wife and even getting her pregnant in the process?

I got to know what happened when I came back from work one evening and met Bimpe bleeding seriously. I was shocked and asked her what was wrong with her but she could not give me any reasonable answer.

I was so worried and called our family doctor who said I should bring her to the hospital. I got a taxi and took her to the hospital but by the time we got there, she had passed out and had to be taken to the theater immediately for an urgent operation.

I called my husband to come to the hospital but he gave me some flimsy excuses as to why he could not make it.

I did not want to make it an issue of on the phone, so I let it go. I called two of my siblings who live in Lagos and they all rushed to the hospital.

After almost two hours, the doctor came out of the theater and said Bimpe had come out of the coma and would be okay but that her fallopian tube had been destroyed due to a badly done abortion.

I was shocked and wondered how she could have gotten pregnant despite my strict rules at home and not letting her have the kind of freedom she had at home.

I was still in this worried mode when we went in to see her in the ward and when she saw us, Bimpe started crying and asking me to forgive her. My brother told her to shut up and tell us who got her pregnant and why she had an abortion without telling me.

That was when I got the shock of my life as Bimpe confessed that it was my husband that got her pregnant and took her to a quack doctor for the abortion. She also added that he had been sleeping with her since she came to live with us.

I almost passed out when I heard what my sister said and it was by sheer providence that Kay had not come to the hospital because my brother could have killed him.

I had to beg him not to come with me to the house because I know the temper he has. When I got home and confronted Kay, all he could say was that Bimpe seduced him and begged for forgiveness.

Despite myself, I was very calm as I picked some of my things, took my children and moved to my sister's place where I have been for weeks now trying to sort myself out.

Kay has been sending people to beg me and my family but I don't think I can ever go back to a man who could do such a thing to me. I have told him to go ahead and marry my sister and I have filed a divorce suit against him.

Some people are saying I should forgive him for the sake of the children but I don't think I can ever come to terms with living with him again.

Ireti."
Ngozi is the star of Nigerian-American writer, Nnedi Okoroafors debut for Marvel, an eight-page comic titled Blessing in Disguise.

Okorafor announced the comic in August. Now, with the comics release, she has let us know that the lead character, Ngozi was inspired by the Chibok girls.

After they were kidnapped in 2014 by members of the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram, the clamour for their release or rescue came from around the world.

Notable personalities including the former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama called for the release, drawing huge international attention to the case.

Some of the girls have since been released or rescued. The stories of their travails in the hands of their captors are nothing short of inspiring; suggesting huge courage and fortitude in the face of great evil.

It was an important decision for me to base Ngozi on one of the Chibok girls, Nnedi Okorafor, who has won the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, told the Reuters.

They were normal girls who suddenly had to deal with a huge change in their lives  and their story of perseverance is so powerful, Okorafor added. Like many Nigerian girls, Ngozi comes in a small package but is strong-willed and determined.

I had asked the artist to make Ngozi in the likes of one of Chibok girls  I asked her to draw Ngozi in her likeness, Okorafor told the BBC.

Ngozis story is set in the bustling city of Lagos. It will feature as part of Marvels new Venomverse series and will see her on the same page as familiar characters like the Black Panther and Rhino.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio to immigrant parents of Igbo origin, Okorafor uses the scientific and metaphysical to address issues such as sexism and racism.

The writer is most known for over 20 fantasy novels, including Who Fears Death (A World Fantasy Award Winner for Best Novel), Akata Witch (An Amazon.com Best Book of the Year) and her Binti trilogy (the first of which won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novella).

While novels are clearly her forte, Ngozi is not her first shot at writing comics; she is credited as a writer in 2012s Mystery in Space, a one-shot anthology by Vertigo Comics, loaded with unsettling short stories.

Okorafor is a big fan of some of Marvels more characters, particularly Wonder Woman. The success of this years Wonder Woman - the first superhero movie to star a woman since 2005 - inspired the writer to push forward with Ngozis story.

She admits that new ground has been broken by telling stories with strong females in the lead, but pushing the envelope from Greece to Chibok is the next frontier.

Im not just talking about race and sexual orientation, but about having a range of personalities with different desires, dreams and flaws, she told Reuters. I dont only want to see badass female characters, I want to see much less predictable ones.
Both Stephen and Tobi (for male and female categories) beat eighteen others to clinch the top spots at the modelling competition that opened with a dancing performance.

The event kicked off with the twenty (20) finalists; Ayomide and Alex, Deborah and Anthony, Chukwuka and Elizabeth, Daniel and Glory, Ifeoma and GilChrist, Jeffery and Marvelous, Nnamdi and Precious, Stephen and Tobi, Tofunmi and Valerie, Toyosi and Zainab were lined and introduced to the audience in that order to kick off the event.

ALSO READ:EMLN Winner Davidson Obennebo emerges 1st black winner

After a sultry performance from Aramide, female models came out in pieces from womenswear Yutee Rone for their first modelling session for the night. Male models soon followed to strut their stuff in menswear brand Morafa.

After the first session, Agbani Darego, Veronica Odeka were introduced as judges for the night.

The competition got fiercer as female models sashayed down the runway in Andrea Iyamah swimwear pieces followed by the male models who came out in their swim trunks getting the crowd excited.

For another round in the competition, female models paraded the runway in creations by Lanre Da Silva Ajayi while the male chose fluid, flowy pieces from Sisiano. The female finalists closed wearing stunning pieces from South African designer Gert-Johan Coetzee while the male models closed in pieces from Mai Atafo.

Marvelous, Zainab, Tobi, Elizabeth and Glory made top five for ladies while Stephen, Daniel, Tofunmi, Alex and Gilchrist made top five for guys.

In the end, Stephen and Tobi won 1 Million and a chance to represent Nigeria at the ELite Model Look finals.
Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!
Thinking of exploring West Africa? Ensure you visit these locations that have everything to offer. From sandy dunes to pristine beaches, these are five of West Africa's most beautiful places.

ALSO READ: 7 African destinations perfect for a romantic getaway

1. Lome, Togo

Everywhere in Togo is equally pleasant and very beautiful. From Lomes pristine sands and butterfly walks in Kpalimes beautiful forests, Togo ranks high for natural beauty.

Also, learn about coffee and cocoa plantations on a guided tour exploring the area around beautiful Kpalime.

Lome is West Africas most chilled capital and Kpalime has got some nice waterfalls if you're willing to trek.

Lome has a laid-back vibe and hosts West Africas biggest nightclub.

2. Visit the World's biggest church in Yamoussoukro, Cote dIvoire

Try visiting Cote dIvoire in your spare time. Nightlife in Abidjan is a big deal. Biking from the Liberian border is also an epic jungle trail.

The capital is really laid back and quaint.

3. Try Guinea's Fouta Djallon

With many of the region main rivers originating in the Fouta Djallon, this place is filled with mountains and waterfalls.

Conakry has a pretty decent nightlife and displays great variety. The beach parties are a hit too.

4. Freetown Peninsula, Sierra Leone

Enjoy Jungle mountains by the sea and fantastic beaches too. Sierra Leone is our ultimate vacation spot!

In Freetown, colourful stilted houses make you remember the days when freed slaves from the Caribbean were resettled upon these shores.

5. Kokrobrite, Ghana

Another ultimate destination. It is often said if you haven't visited Kokrobite, you haven't been to Ghana.
According to a report by Premium Times, over 2000 police officers gathered in front of the Salaries Office inside the command headquarters on Monday, demanding the payment of their salaries.

Some of the protesters laid the blame at the feet of the Federal Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, for misrepresenting the situation to President Muhammadu Buhari.

One of them said, "She already lied to Mr President that all is well. How can you fight corruption and you dont pay police their two months salaries."

The state's commissioner of police, Cyril Abeh, commented that the payment delay was not the fault of the police institution, but that of the Ministry of Finance's IPPS office.

"They are police officers operating under the law, if they misbehave, we will deal with them according to the law. This is mutiny. I am in the field attending to a very important security matter, but will be on my way back to headquarters to address them now," he said.

According to the Premium Times, eight commands are owing officers August and September salaries.
According to a report by TheCable, BBC said sources at the ministry of justice revealed that the federal government has commenced the secret trial with four undisclosed judges.

The report, however, did not disclose the number of suspects that have been arraigned so far for the trial.

In September 2017, the attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, said prosecutors had been appointed to handle the cases involving over 1,600 suspects.

Malami also disclosed that four judges have been appointed by chief judge of the federal high court to sit on the cases and dispose of them with speed and efficiency.
According to Kanu's younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the soldiers invaded the house on Sunday, October 8, claiming they were searching for 'technical items.'

He said the army personnel eventually left the house with television sets, generator and clothes.

Prince Emmanuel called on the international community urge the Nigerian army to stop the indiscriminate invasion of his brother's house and to disclose his whereabouts.

The desk officer of the military Operation Python Dance in Abia State confirmed the raid.

The officer, who did not give his name, said the raid was carried out following a fresh intelligence report suggesting that arms were hidden in the house.

ALSO READ: I will die installing Biafra  Kanu says

But he denied Kanu's younger brother's claim that the soldiers took away household appliances.

"The things removed may be technical itemsSomebody was arrested with weapon in the compound."
The other defendants are: Adama Osabuohien, Prince Stephen Alao, Dove Momodu and Mallam Ali Sulayman.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Oct. 5, arraigned the defendants before Justice Ovbiagele for allegedly using their offices while serving as board members of the Edo Universal Basic Education Board, to award contracts to their cronies after collecting money from them.

After they all pleaded not guilty to the 50-count charge, the judge ordered their remand in Oko Prisons and adjourned the case until Oct. 9 for the hearing of the bail application.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, defence counsel, Mr Candy Ohio, urged the court to grant his clients bail, and argued that his clients were charged on matters bordering on criminal offences and not capital offence.

Ohio pleaded with the court to use its discretion to grant the accused bail.

EFCCs counsel, Mr Harrison Ibekwute, however, opposed the bail application.
According to a report by The Punch, a family source confirmed that Lt.-Gen. Malu died in the early hours of Monday at the age of 70.

Malu has had health troubles in the past as he was rushed to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in 2018 after going into a coma. He was placed on life support in the intensive care unit and was treated for stroke until 2009.
The command Public Relations Officer, ASP Muktar Aliyu told the News Agency of Nigeria, that the incident happened at about 3:00 a.m., after the police were alerted.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad patrolling the highway received a distress call and immediately responded and shot one of the suspected armed robbers, he said.

He said that one AK 47 was recovered from the suspect, adding that the police were trailing other suspects.

According to him, the suspect, who was injured, confessed that they were operating along the road when the police engaged them in a shoot out.
President Buhari, in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, also commiserated with the Nigerian Armed Forces on the demise of a very distinguished and professional colleague.

President Buhari recalled that as Force Commander of the ECOMOG peace-keeping troops in Liberia from 1996 to 1998, General Malu was an icon of professionalism, bravery and discipline.

He noted that Malu aptly demonstrated these attributes throughout his national and international military assignments.

According to him, the late General will be fondly remembered for his dedication and commitment as a military officer; and his numerous landmark contributions to Nigerias unity and development.

President Buhari urged the bereaved family, friends and associates to honour Malus memory by upholding his invaluable sacrifices for a peaceful and united Nigeria.

He prayed that Almighty God would comfort all who mourned Gen. Malu, and grant his soul perfect peace.

Malu, 70, died in at a Cairo hospital in Egypt in the early hours of Monday.

Gen.Malu was born on January 15, 1947 at Katsina-Ala, .

He enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, in 1967 as part of the 3rd Regular Course and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant enlisted upon graduation in 1970.

He also attended Command and Staff College, Jaji and the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.
This was disclosed in a press statement by the president's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who revealed that the two African leaders spoke in a telephone conversation on Sunday.

The Nigerian leader offered heartfelt condolences to his Ghanaian counterpart over the explosions in the Legon suburb of Accra on Saturday, October 7.

He also prayed for strength for the Ghanaian people to overcome the disaster that threw the country into mourning over the weekend.

According to Adesina, President Akufo-Addo was very appreciative of the comforting words from his counterpart.

The statement read, "President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken to President Nana Akufo-Addo to offer heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Ghana on the gas explosions in the Legon suburb of Accra on Saturday, October 7, 2017.

"In a telephone call on Sunday, President Buhari prayed for those who lost loved ones and friends in the tragedy and a speedy recovery for the injured.

"The Nigerian leader told his Ghanaian counterpart that his personal thoughts and prayers, as well as that of all Nigerians, are with our Ghanaian brothers and sisters as they mourn their loved ones.

"President Buhari further prayed that Ghanaians, who are known for their extraordinary strength and resilience, will overcome this disaster and rise above the losses the country had suffered in recent times from gas-related explosions.

"President Akufo-Addo thanked President Buhari for his comforting and kind words."

ALSO READ: Anger after four die in Ghana fuel station fire

Four people were killed when a tanker truck carrying natural gas caught fire in the nation's capital, triggering explosions.
THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

Poor infrastructure threatens 2017 non-oil export revenue target

For operators in the nations non-oil export sector, the parlous state of infrastructure at the various gateways may be costing the economy more than it hopes to realize from the sector if the concerns linger further.

Gowon urges unity, as North takes position on restructuring

Former Head of State and founder of the interfaith association Nigeria Prays, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has appealed to well- meaning Nigerians to convince those calling for the breakup of the country to desist.

Niger Delta group warns against attempt to frustrate Kachikwu

A group, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC), has warned against attempt to frustrate the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

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VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

How govt can accelerate self-sufficiency in sugar by 2021 - GMD Dangote Sugar

To acquire massive land to produce sugar in commercial quantity is a major challenge.

The Debt Debate: Deconstructing the debt story by Kemi Adeosun

National debt is an emotive issue as well as an economic one. The thought of saddling future generations with unserviceable debt, is not conscionable and certainly not part of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led-administrations agenda.

Fear grips A/Ibom residents as Monkey Pox hits Uyo

RESIDENTS of Akwa Ibom State were, weekend, gripped with apprehension after the state government announced the outbreak of the dreaded Monkey Pox disease in the state, making it the third state in the Niger Delta region, following earlier reports of outbreak in Bayelsa and Rivers states.

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THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Suspend Kachikwu, Baru, Senate panel chair tells Buhari

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) Senator Tayo Alasoadura, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately suspend the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru.

SGF, Ikoyi cash: ACF asks Buhari to act on Osinbajos report

The pan-northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, on Sunday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action on the report of the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajos three-man presidential committee that probed the suspended Director General of National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Lawal Babachir.

Army raided Kanus home again, says brother

The Nigerian Army on Sunday raided the Abia home of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

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THISDAY NEWSPAPER

In Political Realignment, Atiku, Jonathan Meet over 2019 Presidency

The push to get former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) and return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to enhance the opposition partys bid to return to power in 2019 may have gained traction with a recent discrete meeting between him and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tinubu Proposes 7-Point Agenda to Revive Nigerias Economy

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has proposed a seven-point agenda, which he said, would revive the countrys troubled economy and drastically reduce her dependence on petrodollars.

NNPC: Gas Company Profit Drops By N6.7bn

The Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Limited (NGPTC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has declared a profit after tax of N15.81 billion for its 2016 trading year, some N6.79 billion less than what it made the previous year.

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THE BUSINESSDAY NEWSPAPER

Foreign buyers drive Nigeria yields lower

Nigeria is slowly warming its way back to the hearts of foreign investors, at least in the short term, as demonstrated by the last Treasury bill auction.

Government may re-route $3billion Ajaokuta - Abuja - Kano gas pipeline

The extension of the $3billion Ajaokuta  Abuja  kano gas pipeline scheduled to be undertaken by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) might by shelved, as industry sources say there is a new thinking in government circles, which favours an alternative pipeline to Kano.

Lagos plans downtown rail connections to Murtala Airport
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu had, in a letter written to Buhari, accused the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Maikanti Baru of corruption.

Falana in a statement issued on Sunday, October 8, said the President should suspend Baru indefinitely while the EFCC carries out its investigation.

He described the allegations as a "reckless contravention of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act."

The senior lawyer also advised Buhari to step down as the Minister of Petroleum Resources due to his "busy schedule" as President, urging him to appoint another competent Nigerian to take the position.

He said relinquishing the ministerial position would "remove undue pressure on the health of the President and allow him to attend to urgent matters of the state."

Falana criticised "the embarrassing petition of the Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to Buhari pertaining to Barus failure to consult the President and substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources" and "the unilateral award of $25bn contracts" by the NNPC's GMD.

ALSO READ: It's a shame that Kachikwu and NNPC GMD are fighting

According to him, the $25 billion contracts should be revoked once the EFCC investigation confirms that they were awarded without the approval of the NNPC Board.

"However, apart from sanctioning the officers responsible for creating the wide gulf between Dr. Kachikwu and the President, the allegation of the unilateral award of contracts worth $25bn by Dr. Baru ought to be investigated in line with the anti-corruption policy of the Buhari administration," the statement said.

"In order to conduct a thorough investigation into the grave allegations of the reckless contravention of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, Mr. Baru should be placed on indefinite suspension while the Presidency should refer the case to the EFCC.
The youths, under the aegis of North Central Youth Leaders Forum, made the call in a communique issued at the end of its one day general assembly held on Sunday in Minna, Niger State capital.

The communique jointly signed by Alfa Nma, National Coordinator, Nurudeen Iliya, Secretary and Zara Ibrahim, Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee, said the Forum shall commence consultations with eminent Nigerians to convince Buhari to seek re-election in 2019.

The forum said the call for Buhari to stand for re-election in 2019 had become necessary given the positive impact he has made on the region and the entire country.

After a critical assessment of the President Buharis administration and its impact on the good people of North Central Nigeria, we have resolved that Buhari should seek re-election in 2019.

The entire north central youths are ready and willing to support him in that regard.

It added that Buhari needed a second term in order to sustain the ongoing war against corruption and to ensure effective management of Nigerias resources.

We also resolved that the anti-corruption war of The Federal Government must continue irrespective of corruption fighting back in many forms.

And while fighting corruption, Mr President should have it in mind that, there were some patriotic Nigerians who were fighting corruption during the previous administrations but corruption ganged up and they were framed to be corrupt.

Such people should be immediately cleared and made to join the anti corruption crusade, it added.

According to the communique, the north central states remain committed to the unity of Nigeria as the countrys strength lies in it diversity.

The north central states are not part of any separatist agitation, ultimatum or whatever it is called as we are committed to one united Nigeria, it said.

The forum decried the inability of some north central governors to pay workers salaries despite bail out funds from the Federal Government.
Osinbajo stated this on Monday, October 9, 2017, at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London.

There have been unconfirmed reports that President Muhammadu Buhari might not seek reelection for health reasons.

Some of the talks have also been about the possibility of Osinbajo contesting in the 2019 elections.

But when asked about that possibility, the Vice President said, None of that is on the cards, according to .

Similarly, the Presidency has disowned a group which pits Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo against President Muhammadu Buhari as presidential candidate in the 2019 election.
The bridge across the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul was the scene of bloody fighting between Erdogan's supporters and renegade soldiers seeking to oust the elected government on the night of July 15, 2016.

It was later renamed by the government as July 15 Martyrs' Bridge.

The dead included Erdogan's campaign manager Erol Olcok and his 16-year-old son Abdullah Tayyip, who were killed when soldiers opened fire on protesters on the bridge which connects Asia and Europe.

Erol Olcok had named his son after Erdogan and his predecessor as president, Abdullah Gul.

They are accused of crimes ranging from murder to attempting to overthrow the parliament and the government, according to the 1,052-page indictment.

If convicted, the suspects each face 37 life sentences, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.

'Bullet hit me and dad'

Many civilians rushed to the bridge on the night of the coup, heeding Erdogan's call to quash the putsch bid, but the renegade soldiers then shot at them.

Fatmanur Goksu, 24, was one of those shot on the bridge as well as her father.

"The same bullet hit my arm and then my father's," she told AFP outside the court, where some of the victims' relatives gathered wearing T-shirts with the word "martyr" and the name of their dead loved one.

Goksu said she got out onto the streets "without any second thought" after Erdogan's call.

Thirty-four civilians and seven coup plotters were killed on the Bosphorus bridge, according to the indictment.

But by the early morning hours, the soldiers surrendered to police, laying down their arms on the bridge and raising their hands in an enduring image of the coup's defeat.

Erdogan attended the funeral of the Olcoks and others two days after the coup bid, weeping openly in a rare show of emotion.

"We're here today to settle accounts with those who attempted to invade our country," Mahir Unal, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman told reporters before the trial began.

'Students were deceived'

Monday's trial is one of several legal processes seeking to bring to justice those believed to have played a role in the coup bid which left 249 people dead, not including the putschists.

Veysel Kilic, the father of one of the military academy students being held, said he did not have any hope in the "unsound" justice system.

Kilic took part in the main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdarogu's month-long foot march in July to protest against alleged injustices under Erdogan.

Like many relatives, Kilic said his air force academy student son was "deceived" and "told to join an unplanned exercise to measure their obedience to their commander".

"The students were totally unaware. They did not fire. Those children remained neutral," adding that more would have been killed if the students had taken sides.

Last week, a court in southwestern Turkey handed life sentences to 40 people convicted of plotting to assassinate Erdogan at an Aegean hotel.

Erdogan has vowed to purge all state institutions to clean the "virus" of US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen whom his government blames for the putsch.

The cleric, who lives in Pennsylvania, has denied any involvement.
But a regional appeals court in Istanbul quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial, CHP spokesman Bulent Tezcan told AFP, though adding that Berberoglu will remain in jail for now.

"From the start, we have said it was an illegal decision... we expected it to be quashed," Tezcan said.

"This is a joyous move but the fact that a decision for his release was not given shows his rights continue to be violated."

Tezcan said Berberoglu's lawyer would appeal to the court for the MP to be released.

Following the conviction, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu walked from Ankara to Istanbul where he was joined by thousands of others to highlight alleged injustices under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Kilicdaroglu walked 450-kilometres (280 miles) in 25-days and ended his march with a "justice" rally attended by hundreds of thousands in Istanbul.

That rally was the biggest opposition action in Turkey since nationwide protests against Erdogan's rule in June 2013.

Berberoglu was the first lawmaker from the main secular opposition party -- founded by Turkey's first president Mustafa Kemal Ataturk -- to be held in custody since last year's coup bid.

Following the attempted overthrow of Erdogan, more than 50,000 people including journalists have been arrested under the state of emergency raising concerns in the West.

Eight MPs from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party including co-chairman Selahattin Demirtas as well as former party co-leader Figen Yuksekdag, who was stripped of MP status, are currently in detention in Turkey.

Berberoglu's case relates to the controversial publication by the opposition Cumhuriyet daily in 2015 of images purportedly showing the Turkish intelligence service seeking to transport arms over the border to Syria.
Oric, 50, was bodyguard to former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and is one of only a few Bosnian Muslim commanders to have faced trial for atrocities committed against Serbs.

Oric defended the eastern town of Srebrenica, where some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were eventually massacred by Serb forces, the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II.

But in 2006, Oric was sentenced by a UN war crimes tribunal to two years in prison for not doing enough to protect Srebrenica's Serb population during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war.

He was acquitted on appeal in 2008, a ruling angering Serbs, who accused The Hague-based court of "partiality."

As a young police officer, Oric was a member of a Belgrade unit tasked with protecting Milosevic, who led the former Yugoslavia's bloody collapse in the 1990s.

Some 130,000 people were killed in the wars that raged on the former federation's territory between 1991 and 1999. Bosnia's conflict claimed 100,000 lives.

'A courageous man'

Oric, a martial arts expert, attended Milosevic's meetings as a bodyguard by day and moonlighted as a security guard in Belgrade nightclubs at night.

When the war between Bosnia's Croats, Muslims and Serbs started, he was in his native town of Srebrenica and organised its defence from April 1992.

"For us he is a hero, a courageous man who fought with the few means he had," Kada Hotic told AFP.

Her son, husband and two brothers were killed in the massacre.

However Oric was withdrawn from Srebrenica with several other officers for military training three months before it fell on July 11, 1995.

In Bosnia, many have questioned whether the move was a sign that the authorities had decided to abandon Srebrenica to its fate.

Oric has remained tight-lipped about that period.

Unhappy with Oric's acquittal by the UN court, Belgrade in 2014 launched an international warrant accusing him of leading "several attacks against Serb villages in the Srebrenica region, to empty them of their Serb population by intimidation, torture and murder."

The victims' associations estimate that 2,428 Serb civilians and soldiers were killed in the area during the 1992-1995 conflict.

'No remorse'

In 2015, Serbia's then-prime minister and now President Aleksandar Vucic accused Oric of killing a prisoner, Slobodan Ilic, in 1992 after gouging out his eyes.

Oric was arrested in Switzerland in 2015 on a Serbian warrant but extradited to his country to face charges.

He was tried in Sarajevo along with Muhic for the murder of Ilic and two other prisoners of war.

"As a soldier, I have no remorse," Oric said repeatedly.

After Bosnia's war, Oric kept a low profile until his arrest and transfer to The Hague in 2003.

In 2009, he was sentenced to two years in prison in Sarajevo for illegal arms possession, but was pardoned by the presidency.
Renate Langer, a 61-year-old former actress, told Swiss police last month that she met Polanski while working as a model in Munich before travelling to his home in Gstaad, where he raped her.

"The prosecutor's office in the Canton of Bern has confirmed ... it will handle (the file)", prosecution spokesman Christof Scheurer said in an email.

Langer is the fourth woman to publicly accuse Polanski of sexual assault.

Polanski in 1977 pleaded guilty in the United States to having unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer -- aged 13 at the time -- but fled the country before he could be sentenced. He remains a fugitive from the US justice system.

British actress Charlotte Lewis also accused Polanski of assault in 2010. Lewis claimed the director "forced himself" upon her just after her 16th birthday.

In August, a woman identified only as Robin told a news conference in Los Angeles she was "sexually victimised" by the French-Polish film director when she was 16, in 1973.

Polanski's film career has continued to flourish since he fled the US for France, where many consider him an icon.
Fall is here, and, unfortunately, that means flu season soon will be, too. To prepare, flu vaccination clinics are being scheduled throughout the area.

Here are the clinics going on this week throughout the Quad-Cities area:

Rock Island County

Today: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Rock Island County Health Department, 2112 25th Ave., Rock Island.

Wednesday: 9-11 a.m., South Rock Island Township offices, 1019 27th Ave.; 1-3:30 p.m., Blackhawk Township offices, 230 W. 4th St., Milan.

Friday: 2-5 p.m., Andalusia Township Ambulance Barn, 220 6th Ave. W.

The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends everyone ages 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine.

There is no out-of-pocket expense for those with Medicare Part B or an Illinois Medicaid card. Most Blue Cross, Health Alliance, Aetna, UnitedHealth Care, Coventry/First Health, HFN, HealthLink and Humana insurance plans also are accepted, according to a news release. Bring all insurance cards with you.

For those who are not using insurance, the cost is $30. Visa and Mastercard are accepted for payment.

For more information, call the health department, at 309-794-7080.

Henry and Stark counties

Today: 9-10 a.m., State Bank of Toulon, 102 W. Main.

Wednesday: 9-10 a.m., Augustana Lutheran Church, 628 6th St., Andover; 1-2 p.m., Township Hall, N. State St., Atkinson.

Thursday: 9-10 a.m., Kewanee Public Library, 102 S. Tremont; 1-2 p.m., Carmody Center, 218 1st St., Bradford.

Friday: 9:30-10:30 a.m., Geneseo Public Library District, 805 N. Chicago St.

The health department is encouraging everyone ages 6 months and older to get a flu shot.

Flu shots are $27. Flu shots might be free for those who have Medicare Part B (with Medicare card), and some insurance plans are accepted.

For Children's Flu Vaccine, call the Health Department at 309-852-5272 for pricing and availability information.

For more information, call 309-852-0197 or 309-852-3115, or visit henrystarkhealth.com.
Former Rock Island High School track star Triona Roberts wants to raise awareness about cancer by promoting the importance of health and fitness.

Now living in Atlanta, the 25-year-old 2010 RIHS hall of famer and graduate will bring to the Quad-Cities FITN5 Flex 4 the Fight Fit Tour. The fun-filled event focuses on health and fitness activities with information about how to reduce your risk of getting breast cancer.

Proceeds from the event will go to Sisters Hair Salons Wigs for Cancer Movement to help make custom wigs for cancer patients who have lost their hair, Ms. Roberts said. We want to instill confidence back in those who have suffered from the bad effects of cancer.

Ms. Roberts, who has a degree in health sciences from the University of South Florida and was a Division 1 college track star, uses her knowledge to raise money in other cities, including the Quad-Cities area, Chicago, Atlanta and St. Louis.

The event focuses on healthy living, she said. I have four people in my family that are fighting cancer, three aunts and a cousin. I also lost my uncle to bone cancer when I was 17. Cancer doesnt discriminate. This tour is my way to get people up and working out. If you can at least work out five minutes per day consistently, you can accomplish your goals of being healthy.

Her mother, Yolanda Atwater, had a recent breast cancer scare. She is the owner of Sisters Hair Salon, at 701 9th St., Rock Island. It is one of the best-known salons in the area, she said. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I want people to know its important to help women feel good. When women have cancer, they not only lose their breasts, but a lot more. Making them feel pretty may help them cope better.

Ms. Roberts, who is the mother of a toddler, also hosts fitness camps across the country. She is a certified trainer and teaches healthy eating.

Its about helping others be healthy, she said.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  A Chicago Christian church pastor will serve more than three years in federal prison for defrauding a summer food program for impoverished children.

The U.S. attorney for the Central District of Illinois reported that U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough sentenced 50-year-old Robbie Wilkerson on Friday to 37 months.

Wilkerson was also ordered to pay $441,000 in restitution. His wife, 45-year-old Tasha Wilkerson, was sentenced to 12 months in the scheme.

Wilkerson's New Birth Christian Center was a large recipient of federal funds from 2008-10 for the Summer Food Service program.

Robbie Wilkerson admitted in court that he submitted $714,000 in fraudulent claims for 267,000 meals. Fewer than 100,000 were served.

Three other co-defendants were sentenced last month to prison, home confinement or parole.
CHICAGO (AP)  The getaway driver convicted in the 2011 murder of an off-duty Chicago police officer has been sentenced to 84 years in prison.

Edgardo Colon was arrested was charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Officer Clifton Lewis.

The 41-year-old Lewis was working as a security guard at a West Side convenience store when he was killed trying to break up a robbery.

The 40-year-old Colon was convicted in July of murder, armed robbery and aggravated battery. Prosecutors said Colon acted as the driver while two accomplices entered the store and fatally shot Lewis as he took cover behind the counter and returned fire. The gunmen escaped with money and Lewis' weapon.

Cook County Circuit Judge Judge Erica Reddick on Friday said in sentencing Colon the slaying left an "utter hole" for Lewis' family.

Two others allegedly involved in the shooting, Alexander Villa and Tyrone Clay, are awaiting trial.
PEORIA (AP)  For years, dusty, battered volumes of records from the 19th and early 20th century have been stored in boxes in a forgotten corner of the Peoria County Courthouse.

The dirty, yellowed and rodent-chewed pages were on the verge of becoming useless. That was until Peoria resident Bob Hoffer stumbled across the books on a genealogical hunt for details in the death of his wife's great-grandfather.

"They were going to dust," Hoffer told the Journal Star in Peoria. "Left like they were for too much longer and they might not have had any value at all."

They are called the undertakers' records. They were compiled and stored by a fledgling Peoria County Health Department in the 19th century then moved to the county courthouse to free up storage space.

Inside the damaged books are the scribbling's of local undertakers, who by order of the state Legislature were required to record the name, date of death, burial location, home address, age, birthplace, undertaker, doctor and cause of death of every person who died in Peoria.

Hoffer's interest in the records prompted the transcription of local undertakers' writings in the early years into tidy, easy-to-read computerized columns. The records, which cover deaths from 1872-1881, contain 4,180 entries, and are available for purchase from the Peoria Genealogical Society. They can be used for free in the Local History section on the lower floor of the Peoria Main Library.

The records are a snapshot of a bygone era, reflected mainly beneath the "Cause of Death" column.

"They are the missing link in Peoria genealogy," said Amber Lowery, who works in the local history section of the Peoria Public Library, and who discovered a couple of her own ancestors listed in the books. "Their value to genealogists can't be overstated."

Hoffer gets credit for the first part of the salvaging of the information written in the undertakers' records. He took the books to Peoria Camera, which donated space and equipment to the project to do it right.

The photographed images on a computer flash drive were then given to Alice Brophy, a retired schoolteacher and volunteer database creator for the Peoria Genealogical Society. Brophy then typed the information from the photographed images into her computer to create the database. She is working on the second volume of the Undertakers' Records. She transcribes the records for hours every day.
ROCK ISLAND -- One of the best views in the area can be had from outside the Swiss-style chalet that sits at the highest point in Longview Park, 18th Avenue and 17th Street, on the park's north edge, next to Whitewater Junction water park.

The public was invited to savor it Sunday at a This Place Matters program celebrating the 100th anniversary of the unique building, home the past five years to Kimberly Miller, the parks department office manager. The program was sponsored by the Rock Island Preservation Society, Friends of Longview Park, Rock Island Parks and Recreation, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

"It's really neat," Ms. Miller said while standing on the chalet's wide porch, which recently had its screens removed. "I like the peace and quiet. At nighttime, it's gorgeous here."

Before Ms. Miller moved in, the building had been vacant for three or four years. Historically, it has been a rented residence for parks employees.

Marty Bush, president of the Preservation Society, said a main goal Sunday was to get ideas from the public on what the city should do with the two-story chalet to open it to the community. "Do something more with it than have a park employee live here," he said.

"People don't know that it's here. It's owned by the park, and a park is usually public," said Diane Oestreich of the Preservation Society. "It was built for the public. We're trying to make it a destination. That's what we're trying to do with Hauberg (Civic Center)."

"It isn't really large ... but it's nice, and for a private event, there's plenty of parking here," she said. "Park buildings don't have to make money, but it would be nice to make it a little more self-sustaining."

"There is some security. If something is happening here after hours, you have someone here," she said of the current chalet.

These kind of chalets, a popular architectural style when it opened a century ago, are rare in the region; there are no others in Rock Island, Mrs. Oestreich said.

The chalet was built nine years after the park opened. Originally referred to as the Inn, it first operated as a public cafe. It was used as a cafe until 1922, and later became home to park employees. It was used about five years as a preschool in the 1970s, Mr. Bush said.

Plans were bought from Swiss-born architect Frederich Ehrson of Reading, Pa., and noted local architect George Stauduhar worked on the interior design.

Some of Mr. Stauduhars most well-known Rock Island buildings include St. Marys Rectory (1890), Sacred Heart Church (1901), Villa de Chantal (1900-1919), and Potter House (1907).

Typical of its Swiss style, the Longview Park chalet was finished in stucco with timbering and featured wide eaves overhanging broad porches, according to a Preservation Society history. Beneath each window was a flower box.

The chalet's two-story main room originally had stained-glass windows near the top, and interior walls were marble wainscoting. The ceiling was frescoed. The inside was not open to the public Sunday.

The second story, which includes two bedrooms and a bathroom, is mainly in the back half, and there is a balcony that overlooks the main hall. On the first floor are men's and women's bathrooms and a kitchen.

Members of the Preservation Society on Sunday asked visitors for ideas on uses for the building, writing them on sheets with the National Trust's "This Place Matters" logo, which shows support for keeping important historic buildings intact. The chalet is not on the National Register of Historic Places, nor is it listed as a city historic landmark, said society member Linda Anderson.

"We'll put the ideas on Facebook, and just try to promote interest in the building," she said, noting the ideas will be forwarded to the city.

Suggested ideas included using the building as an art gallery, banquet/event center, cafe, retreat center, preschool, hostel, restaurant or microbrewery.

"Preserve it; just don't tear it down," said Herman Bredar of Davenport, a Rock Island native. The parents of his wife, Norma, lived in it for over 10 years, starting in the '70s. Her father, Delmar Clark, worked for the parks department.

"I think they ought to use it where they can hold things there -- receptions, whatever. Use it. That's what it's for," Mr. Bredar said. "It hasn't changed much."

The city replaced the roof a couple years ago, Mr. Bush said. During last month's United Way Day of Caring event, 50 volunteers did a lot of work, including repainting the exterior wood, putting in new landscaping, building new steps, removing old screens from the outdoor porch, and painting the porch.

"What a view, too," said Sibylle Seal, a native German who's visited many chalets in Switzerland and lives in Rock Island.

"This is a small one," she said. "Old buildings attract me like a magnet. I appreciate them."

"If it had more bedrooms, I could see it as a bed-and-breakfast," said Ms. Seal, who ran a B-and-B for a year and a half in southern Illinois. "But it doesn't, so a restaurant or receptions, with this porch -- wow."
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  Kosovo's president on Monday accused the international community of not keeping its end of the bargain after the country created an unpopular war crimes court to prosecute ethnic Albanians in cases linked to Kosovo's war.

Hashim Thaci said among the things that international officials promised in return were to fast-track Kosovo for European Union and UNESCO membership and visa liberalization, and allow Kosovo to form a military.

Kosovo created the court but the international community didn't do any of the things it promised, he said.

Kosovo's special court was inaugurated at The Hague last year, but it hasn't processed any cases.

Nineteen international judges from European Union member countries, the U.S. and Canada are based in The Hague, with jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes under Kosovo law that allegedly occurred between Jan. 1, 1998, and Dec. 31, 2000.

About 10,000 people died and 1,700 went missing during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war, which ended after NATO intervened on behalf of the Albanian majority.

Thaci said he agreed to lead "an unfair historical process for Kosovo despite opposition from the public, political and civil opinion to this court, in order to protect the strategic partnership with U.S., EU and NATO."

Thaci said the court was unfair to Kosovo.

The special court has had "maximal and bilateral cooperation with Serbia" but "minimal, symbolic and unilateral" cooperation with Kosovo, he said.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, which Serbia hasn't recognized.

"Authorities in Belgrade claim they know who is to be charged and what the charges will be for Kosovo Albanians," Thaci said, adding "the Serbs fully believe they are correctly informed no Serb will be charged."

He deplored that the special court would not consider any of "400 massacres" or any of the more than 20,000 alleged cases of Albanian women in Kosovo raped by members of the Serb forces.

A court spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.
Here is what I recall from my childhood in a town of just 1,200.

Life was pretty good in my town for the expanding white middle class. Decent jobs were plentiful at nearby factories.

On hot summer evenings, sans AC of course, couples would sit on their front porch swings to catch a breeze and call out howdys to neighbors strolling by on the sidewalk, trying to do the same.

Saturdays just about every farm family came into our towns bustling main street. Wives would do their marketing at one of the four groceries.

The men might slip down to Charley Hicks barbershop underneath the post office to watch haircuts and spin lies from the rocking chairs. Or slip in the back door -- never via the Main Street entrance -- to have a beer at Harry Wilsons Cafe, the one beer emporium in our conservative town.

Others sat in cars, windows open, parked around the courthouse square, honking in applause to the municipal bands renditions of Lady of Spain and spirited Sousa marches. I was always last alto saxophone, no matter how many of us there were.

[In high school, we musicians would enjoy the ice cream social -- great berry pies. By college, we would slip up to the Happy Hour in the big factory town of Kewanee (pop. 18,000 then; 12,000 today) to quaff a beer. Any fella tall enough to plant his beer money on the bar would be served.

My early years -- the kind Norman Rockwell could have drawn -- revolved around family, school, church and Dads weekly newspaper. I helped out, running the clanking, cranky Linotype machine, our version of high tech.

But there was a darker side as well.

Whites were still lynching blacks in the South for not knowing their place.

My older brother died at age 5 of kidney problems, which would be easily resolved today; Mother never really recovered. Mothers also lived in horror that their children would contract the dreaded polio, scourge of the earth then.

I still shudder at the March of Dimes pasteboard donation placard on the counter at Humphreys Cafe, with the photo of little Johnny entombed alive in an iron lung. One summer we couldnt swim at the local lake out of fear.

And I recall my older sister telling of her new, quite good high school Spanish teacher. Soon after his arrival, it was learned, or thought, that he was a homosexual. Dad was among the leading men of the community who quickly drove the teacher out of town, to protect our young.

Divorce was unusual, though Im sure many couples suffered miserable lives together. As most women were at home, not working, they had no escape, no place to go, for them and their children.

Today, in addition to the marvelous advances in health care and the new digital technologies, the biggest changes, it seems to me, have been the loss of good-paying jobs and the breakdown of the intact family.

What to do?

I fear the good-paying jobs for the unskilled are gone. And soon even jobs for many white-collar workers will be lost forever to artificial intelligence.

In an earlier column (go to jimnowlan.com for an archive), I call for American service credits -- modest government compensation for un- or underemployed workers in return for performing valuable volunteer work, to supplement their income. Better than welfare.

As for the breakdown of the intact family, I recall a teacher from my early era saying that if a child in her class came from a broken family, it was so unusual as to be remarked upon; today it is commonplace.

A school social worker told me not long ago that of the 60 youngsters at her alternative school for problems kids -- out here in rural Illinois -- only one(!) came from an intact family.

So, we must figure out how to encourage young women to delay and limit the number of children they have before becoming secure enough to rear them in a positive way.

Readers of a draft of this column tell me the idea of mine is way too harsh: Since government is becoming dad to so many children in my white community, I think society has a right to impose some tough love.

Because, for a low-skilled single mother, having more than one child is almost a death sentence for ever living independently.

So, after a child is born and single mother may need government assistance, she would have options: go on the dole, or not. But if she wishes to do so, she must in return wear a long-term birth control patch. I welcome better ideas.

Life is a struggle for all of us, always will be. And tough choices are required.
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Czech Republic to extradite ex-Russian official charged with embezzlement - report

MOSCOW, October 9 (RAPSI)  Justice Minister of the Czech Republic Robert Pelikan has approved the extradition of former Russian high-ranking official Alexander Nikolayev charged with embezzling public funds, according to the Czech newspaper Pravo.

The minister held that there are no obstacles to Nikolayevs extradition to Russia, the newspaper reported citing his spokesperson Jakub Riman.

Earlier, Czech authorities rejected an application of the former Russian official for political asylum, Pravo writes.

Russian federal budgetary office's former chief was arrested in Karlovy Vary in January 2016 based on the international arrest warrant issued by Moscows prosecutors. In November 2016, a court ruled to extradite Nikolayev.

Reportedly, Nikolayev manipulated a tender for a public contract worth roughly 250 million rubles for the reconstruction of a railway platform and waiting room for rail transport of the Russian president in mid-2011. Russian authorities stated that the deal was overpriced and the work of poor quality.

Nikolayev pleads not guilty and claims he is a victim to a new wave of Russian repressions, according to the Czech newspaper.
Alleged organizer of ex-Russian MPs murder identified - Ukrainian prosecutors

MOSCOW, October 9 (RAPSI)  Investigators have identified alleged organizer of the murder of former Russian lawmaker Denis Voronenkov, Larisa Sargan, the spokesperson of Ukraines Prosecutor General, wrote on her Facebook page on Monday.

According to Ukraines Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko, the murder was ordered by Vladimir Tyurin, the former husband of Voronenkovs widow Maria Maksakova. However, prosecutors claim, that the crime was planned by Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), the statement reads.

Law enforcement authorities believe that the murder of Voronenkov is connected with his evidence of the Russian military prescriptive in Ukraine, and testimony in the treason case against former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych.

Russian security services prepared a scheme of the witness liquidation, Lutsenko stated.

Investigation is completed; the case has been forwarded to the Shevchenkovsky District Court of Kiev, according to the statement.

Former deputy of the Russian State Duma Denis Voronenkov was shot dead in the central part of Ukrainian capital Kiev on March 23, 2017. His murderer was mortally wounded in the act and later died in a hospital.

The killer was identified as a Ukrainian citizen Pavel Parshov, who served in the Ukrainian National Guard, adviser to the Interior Minister of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko said earlier. Parshov was wanted by the Ukrainian police for fictitious business activity and money laundering.

According to Ukrainian prosecutors, two men allegedly involved in the murder have been arrested and detained. Two other suspects have been put on the wanted list.

Voronenkov, a former member of the Communist Party, moved to Ukraine last October together with his wife Maria Maksakova, also an ex-lawmaker, and was granted Ukrainian citizenship in December 2016.

In Russia, Voronenkov faced numerous criminal charges, among them of fraud, and was arrested in absentia by a Moscow court; his name was put on the Russias federal wanted list.
Russian ex-Deputy Culture Minister sentenced to 1.5 years in prison

MOSCOW, October 9 (RAPSI)  The Dorogomilovsky District Court of Moscow has sentenced former Deputy Culture Minister Grigory Pirumov to 1.5 years in a penal colony and fined him one million rubles (about $17,000) for embezzling public funds allocated for restoration of cultural heritage objects, RAPSI correspondent reports from the courtroom on Monday.

The court has taken into consideration the time Pirumov spent in detention and freed him in the courtroom.

The defendant admitted his guilt in full and his case was reviewed under special procedure. Prosecutor in the case noted that Pirumov met all conditions of his deal with investigators.

Other defendants in the case are head of the Center of restoration Oleg Ivanov, and director of the Ministrys department of property management and investment policy Boris Mazo, project manager of companies Stroykomplekt and Baltstroy Vladimir Svanbek, BaltStroy manager Alexander Kochenov, businessman Andrey Kokushkin and ex-director of the State Center of Contemporary Art Mikhail Mindlin.

In late August, BaltStroy head Dmitry Sergeyev received a 4.5-year suspended sentence. According to the prosecutor, the fraud involving Sergeyev resulted in the embezzlement of 71 million rubles ($1.2 million) and the defendant himself unlawfully obtained 11 million rubles ($188,000).

In June, it was revealed that former Deputy Minister of Culture Grigory Pirumov and other defendants in the case paid about 163 million rubles in damages (about $2.7 million).

Investigators believe that in 2012-2016 the defendants embezzled over 160 million rubles allocated on restoration of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, Ivanovsky Convent in Moscow and other objects across Russia.

In December 2016, Dmitry Medvedev, the Chairman of the Russian Government, relieved Pirumov of his post.
I dont usually think about North Carolinas metropolitanization as I make my weekly drive from my home in Durham to visit my mom in Raleigh 25 miles away. But questions about how places in the state are becoming more metro erupted when I looked at the Raleigh News & Observer on September 13.

There on the front page was a story about the plans of technology consulting giant Infosys to employ up to 2,000 workers at a Raleigh site. I knew that with great press fanfare the open-source software firm Red Hat had already moved to downtown Raleigh. So reading about Infosys moving to Raleigh made me think: There goes another tech company locating in downtown Raleigh instead of Research Triangle Park. Guess the economic future really is urban.

But the story said that the Infosys facility would be on Alexander Drive in the area known as Brier Creek. That is about as far away as you can get from downtown and still be within the legal confines of Raleigh. I pass by Brier Creek on my route and never thought of it as being in the city.

My practice is to avoid congested Interstate 40. Instead, I get to moms retirement community by starting on NC-147 out of Durham. I get off on Alexander Drive and turn left through the eastern end of Research Triangle Park. After a quick right turn on NC-70, I merge onto the Interstate 540 outer loop and drive on to my moms place about nine miles away in suburban Raleigh.

On Alexander, I pass by an entrance to the IBM campus  which remains the largest anchor employer in the Park. Soon, the Parks formal boundary ends. Then comes a nondescript combination of two thin shopping strips, a handful of newly built distribution centers, entrances to smaller residential developments, and a good amount of undeveloped land.

But vestiges of RTP still appear. For example, I pass the campus of medical testing company LabCorp. While outside the confines of the Park, the LabCorp facility and other places in the surrounding area still have a special Research Triangle Park, North Carolina zip code.

A little farther down on Alexander is a sign indicating that I am leaving Durham County and entering Wake County. I soon come upon the massive new suburban and corporate mixed-use area known as Brier Creek.

I still feel that I am on the edge of the RTP area. There is not a skyscraper or even a 10-story office building anywhere in sight. In my view, the mixed-use oasis of Brier Creek is an up-to-date extension of the RTP model. Its an RTP 2.0 with a new suburban element rather than an urban area.

I am not the only one who thinks of Brier Creek as connected to Research Triangle Park. So does North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, North Carolinas Commerce Department, and the state Senator whose district includes Brier Creek.

Its exciting that Infosys chose North Carolina and particularly the Research Triangle Park, declared Governor Cooper at a September 12th press conference. Global business consulting and information technology company Infosys has selected North Carolinas Research Triangle region as the location for a new technology hub, proclaimed a press release from the states Department of Commerce. The release included a statement from State Senator Jay Chaudhuri praising Infosyss commitment to harnessing talent and strengthening the economic prosperity of all citizens within the Research Triangle Park community and Wake County.

I understand why Raleigh city officials claim a big win with the Infosys announcement. After all, they offered a million-dollar incentive package (in addition to the states $25 million package) to help lure Infosys to the Brier Creek site. And they stand to gain way more in enhanced property plus other tax revenues. I also understand why the News & Observer would claim Infosys as a hometown win.

Infosys even says it is deciding whether some of its workforce will work at other places in Raleigh. Perhaps it will place some employees closer to downtown at N.C. States Centennial Campus so that they are near the universitys data analytics experts. That would be neat for Raleigh. (Of course this triumph will be diminished if Infosys fails to follow through on its promise to recruit heavily from local Triangle universities, instead relying on the importation of indentured H-1B workers.)

But the bottom line is that Infosys mother-ship will be in non-urban Brier Creek. After first touching the Brier Creek area, you need only hook less than a mile on Alexander to reach the four-story Legacy at Brier Creek site where the Infosys operation will initially be housed. Its not a self-contained campus in the RTP style. But it hardly has an urban air. The Legacy is being built in the midst of neo-suburban residential development alongside undeveloped land on which Infosys can expand.

Updating the non-urban model near RTPs boundary and being close to the neighboring Raleigh-Durham airport turned out to be more important to Infosys than locating downtown. The thing about downtown is, expansion is always going to be an issue, Infosys president Ravi Kumar told the Triangle Business Journal.

Thus Infosys decision seems to expose the half-truth nature of the vision  associated with such prophets as Richard Florida  that tech companies with millennial-heavy workforces are compelled to citify. Driving on Alexander to The Legacy also makes it hard to understand the recent insistence of a Bloomberg View writer that even such new developments continue the great urban revival. And it makes absurd the recent claim by a Wall Street Journal technology writer that RTP and its non-urban character should be relegated to the dustbin of historic failures.

The News & Observer reported that the average age of an Infosys employee is 27 and that Infosys projects average pay of $72,146 at its new site. Brier Creek is certainly the antithesis to a Brooklyn-esque hipster enclave. But does anyone really think that Infosys will have trouble employing all the reverse-commuting millennial techies it wants? Moreover, as MIT Professor Alan M. Berger has recently pointed out, Census Bureau residential-pattern data indicate that millennials are not a monolithic generation of suburb-hating city-dwellers.

So the emergence of Brier Creek on the edge of Raleigh and Infosys location there are both part and parcel of our states metropolitanization. City and country are indeed merging. But heres the crucial thing: metropolitanization North Carolina-style is not simply urbanization. It involves far more than expansion of the densely packed, vertically built city style. Significant parts of downtown Raleigh are certainly becoming more vibrant and self-consciously urban. At the same time, however, metropolitanization is also encouraging the opposite. As the city grows outward, it is becoming less urban and something more indescribably in-between.

Mac McCorkle is Associate Professor of the Practice and Director of the Masters Program at Dukes Sanford School of Public Policy.
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Between school, social life and sleep, trying to get a job on top of all that can be extremely stressful. Here's a list of four side hustles that are possible for any UGA student to do.
Firm says the proposed drones can also be used to identify other such objects, along with aircraft, plying within Indian skies

As part of its efforts to use drones to handle some of its operations, online marketplace giant Amazon Inc has filed a patent application in India for exclusive rights on multi-scale fiducials, black and white marks on any object for the self-operating aerial vehicles to identify them from different distances.

The proposed drones can also be used to identify other such objects, along with aircraft, plying within Indian skies, said the company.

According to the specifications filed with the Indian Patent Office, the multi-scale fiducials will have three or more scales, where the child fiducials are nested or linked by a relative position to the parent fiducials, thereby, facilitating target identification and tracking.

Another application may be focused solely on an innovation that would enable target identification of other drones or similar aerial vehicles.

Fiducials are optically recognisable features often used in computer vision applications.

Common fiducials include grids of black and white blocks of a fixed size, which may be randomly generated and it could be used in various applications, including localisation, tracking and detecting orientation of objects marked with these features including robotics, printed circuit board manufacturing, printing, augmented reality and automated quality assurance, among others, elaborates the firm.

A video was posted on company's website showing the use of drone technology for the safe delivery of packages to its customers.

Amazon Prime Air is a delivery system designed to deliver packages to customers within 30 minutes or earlier using unmanned aerial vehicles.

In the video, it was shown how a Prime Air vehicle delivered a package at a specific landing marked with grids of black and white blocks, fixed at the customer premises.

Earlier, Amazon Technologies had filed another patent application in India seeking approval for a technology that would ensure a quick response from the propellers of a drone, in case it detects an object like a human or an animal on its way.

This would help the automated aerial vehicle (AAV), as it is referred, from hitting a pet or a human being while delivering a payload.

The AAV could also communicate with other such air-borne objects in the area and share information related to obstacles and weather conditions.

"For example, if a dog approaches the AAV as it is landing, and the dog enters the safety perimeter of one of the propellers of the AAV, a safety profile is automatically performed so that the animal is not harmed by the propeller," it said in the specifications filed for the previous patent application.

While filing a patent application does not mean that the company may get an approval for a said innovation or ist commercial use, it is an indication that the company could be interested in deploying such technology in India.

The company has also been conducting trials in the United Kingdom (UK) to gather data to improve the safety and reliability of these systems.

It is currently permitted to operate during daylight hours when there is low wind and good visibility.

Operations are, however, stalled during rainfall and in similar tough weather condition like during snowfall and in ice-cold conditions, said the company on its website.

Amazon is looking to expand its drone operations, once it gathers more data on how to improve the safety and reliability of such systems.

"We are working with regulators and policymakers in various countries in order to make Prime Air a reality for our customers across the globe," stated Amazon on its website.

Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Gold reserves remained unchanged at $20.691 billion.

The country's foreign exchange reserves fell by $2.590 billion to $399.656 billion in the week ended September 29 due to decline in foreign currency assets, RBI data showed.

In the previous week, the reserves decreased by $262.3 million to $402.246 billion, after touching a lifetime high of $402.509 billion in the week to September 15.

The foreign currency assets, a major component of overall reserves, decreased by $2.565 billion to $375.186 billion, the data showed.

Expressed in US dollar terms, FCAs include effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies such as the euro, the pound and the yen held in the reserves.

Gold reserves remained unchanged at $20.691 billion.

The special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declined by $10 million to $1.502 billion.

The country's reserve position with the IMF declined by $15.2 million to $2.276 billion, the apex bank said.

Photograph: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters
Justice Bobde underlines that the 'Arthashastra prohibits entry into others' house, without the owners consent.

He also observes that, 'In Christianity, we find the aspiration to live without interfering in the affairs of others in the text of the Bible', while the Hadith 'makes it reprehensible to read correspondence between others', writes Gopal Krishna.

The third in a 7-part series.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com.

In his 40-page order as part of the unanimous verdict on Right to Privacy, Justice S A Bobde made it absolutely and unambiguously clear that the judgment has been delivered 'in the context of a constitutional challenge to the Aadhaar project, which aims to build a database of personal identity and biometric information covering every Indian -- the world's largest endeavour of its kind'.

He was referring to the Central Identities Data Repository of biometric data-based 12-digit Unique Identification or Aadhaar numbers of residents of India, who have lived in India for at least 182 days after September 12, 2016, when Aadhaar Act, 2016 came into force and those residents who lived even for a single day as a resident prior to that date.

Justice Bobde had inadvertently assumed that this project is covering every Indian.

The fact is that it is covering every defined resident of India and every undefined resident prior to a specified date. As per the Aadhaar Act, it means that the CIDR of residents of India is a universal set and Indians, citizens of India, who come under it are its subset.

As per the gazette notification from the ministry of electronics and information technology, In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of Section 1 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016), the central government appointed the 12th day of September 2016, as the date on which the provisions of Sections 1 to 10 and 24 to 47 of the said act shall come into force.

This Act of Parliament had received the assent of the President on March 25, 2016.

As a consequence, definition of resident provided in Section 2(v) of the Act too came into force. As per this sub-section, resident means an individual who has resided in India for a period or periods amounting in all to 182 days or more in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for enrolment.

A release from the ministry of communications, dated April 4, 2016, announced that the Unique Identification Authority of India has generated the 100th crore Aadhaar on that day, touching the landmark in a span of five-and-a-half years since the first Aadhaar was issued in 2010.

This comes just a few days after a historic legislation Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits, and Services) Act 2016 has been notified by the government, it said.

The release was jubilantly claiming it to be a historic moment for India and indeed a momentous occasion.

It claimed that the UIDAI authenticates over 40 lakh transactions per day.

It also claimed that over 150.6 crore authentication transactions have been done by the UIDAI.

These claims reveal that, admittedly, 100 crore people who were enrolled for Aadhaar were not residents of India as per the definition under the Act. Does it not mean that all those who got themselves enrolled for Aadhaar number prior to September 12, 2016, are not residents as per the Act?

At some point, the 37,304 enrolment stations manned by 3,76,543 certified operators spread across the country may have been informed about the need for enrolling only the defined residents after having enrolled 100 crore people of South Asia and elsewhere.

Notably, out of these, 34,000 operators have been blacklisted for trying to make fake Aadhaar, which is about 10 per cent of all (3,76,543) operators.

It may be recalled that the first Aadhaar numbers were given to the villagers of Tembhali village in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra on September 29, 2010, by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who said that the Aadhaar number will ease these difficulties in identification, by providing a nationally valid and verifiable single source of identity proof. The UIDAI will ensure the uniqueness of the Aadhaar numbers through the use of biometric attributes (finger prints and iris) which will be linked to the number.

This shows how Indians were taken for a ride because neither the first woman who was issued Aadhaar is a defined resident nor the 100th crore one. This makes the 100 crore moment of enrolment dubious and questionable.

Justice Bobde records in his order, To the petitioners argument therein that Aadhaar would violate the Right to Privacy, the Union of India, through its attorney general, raised the objection that Indians could claim no constitutional right of privacy..

This observation makes it unambiguously clear that the verdict of the Constitution Bench has found no merit in attorney general of Indias objection that Indians could claim no constitutional right of privacy made to continue with the implementation of CIDR of Aadhaar number project.

This makes the constitutional basis of attorney general for promoting the project dubious and questionable too.

It is noteworthy that the case against the CIDR of Aadhaar number project was filed on October 18, 2012, and registered on November 10, 2012.

This first petition stated that collecting biometric information as a condition precedent for the issue of Aadhaar number is an invasion of the right to privacy of citizens.

It submitted that the Aadhaar number is being issued to a non-citizen on the ground that he is residing in this country.

As a consequence he becomes entitled to the Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution as Fundamental Rights under Article 14 and 21 are available to all persons in India and consequently also right to a remedy under Article 32 of the Constitution.

It also submitted it is a matter of great security concern for the nation also.

The first order against the Aadhaar project was issued on September 23, 2013.

Justice Bobde was part of the first division bench that heard the matter along with Justice Dr B S Chauhan, who is currently the chairman of the 21st Law Commission of India.

Since then, more than 20 cases have been filed in the court seeking scrapping of the CIDR of Aadhaar project and Aadhaar Act, 2016.

Notably, Justice Bobde was part of the original three-judge bench that had referred the matter to a Constitution Bench of appropriate strength.

Part 1: Right to Privacy and the Bhagavad Gita

Part 2: How Aadhaar promotes a digital caste system

He was also part of the five-judge Constitution Bench that referred the issue of Right to Privacy to the nine-judge Constitution Bench.

He underlined that the question, which was framed by a bench of three of us in August 2015 was reiterated by a bench of five. This led to the setting up of the nine-judge Constitution Bench, which conceived and delivered the right to privacy verdict to safeguard the very concept of civilisation.

Taking note of decisions in an unbroken line of at least 30 cases affirming the existence of a constitutional right to privacy, Justice Bobde expressed his concurrence with the opinions of Justices J Chelameswar, Justice Rohinton F Nariman and Justice D Y Chandrachud.

Recognising the existence of the State, a new actor with an unprecedented capacity to interfere with natural and common law rights alike, the State as an abstract and diffuse entity and citizens as agents of political power qua the state, he observes that Preambular people of India -- create the State, a new entity to serve their interests and be accountable to them, and transfer a part of their sovereignty to it.

But he underlines the rise of the new political hegemon and new peril of a diffuse and formless entity against whom existing remedies which has traditionally been adopted are no longer efficacious.

Justice Bobde refers to Jurisprudence of Roscoe Pound -- which has been cited in the verdict in Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala (1973) -- who, while dealing with natural rights, says, Perhaps nothing contributed so much to create and foster hostility to courts and law and constitutions as this conception of the courts as guardians of individual natural rights against the State and against society; this conceiving of the law as a final and absolute body of doctrine declaring these individual natural rights..as a super-constitution, beyond the reach of any agency but judicial decision.

He takes note of individuals who could be spied upon facing interference with Fundamental Rights by the State or any other similar entity recognised by Article 12 of the Constitution or by individuals clothed with the powers of the State.

Significantly, he observes that privacy must also mean the effective guarantee of a zone of internal freedom in which to think and goes on to infer that expressive freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution depends on the existence of a corresponding guarantee of cognitive freedom.

It is of immense value that these observations are being made in the course of the deliberations on the reference that emerged from the Aadhaar case.

Justice Bobde underlines that the Arthashastraprohibits entry into others' house, without the owners consent. (Kautilya's Arthashastra is a highly regarded text of 3rd century BC.)

It is noteworthy that Kautilya Unleashed, a modern look at Arthashastra by C T William, has identified two key principles from this text, namely, acquisition of resources and retention of acquired resources.

It is germane to recollect that both the principles are relevant to the acquisition and retention of biometric information underway in the name of creating the largest online digital identity platform in the world.

Biometrics Design Standards for UID Applications prepared by UIDAIs Committee on Biometrics states in its recommendations that biometrics data are national assets and must be preserved in their original quality.

Notably, these very national assets and resources have been acquired by foreign companies as per the contract agreements between the UIDAI, as purchaser and L-1 Identity Solutions Operating Company, and Accenture Services Pvt Ltd. Outrageous facts revealed by the Right to Information queries.

At clause 15.1 of the contract it is stated, By virtue of this Ccontract, M/s Accenture Services Pvt Ltd/Team of M/s Accenture Services Pvt Ltd may have access to personal information of the purchaser and/or a third party or any resident of India, any other person covered within the ambit of any legislation as may be applicable.

The purchaser is President of India through UIDAI.

Clause 15.3 of the agreements reads, The data shall be retained by Accenture Services Pvt Ltd (for) not more than a period of seven years as per retention policy of (the) government of India or any other policy that (the) UIDAI may adopt in future.

This clearly implies that all the biometric data of Indians which has been collected so far is now available to the United States government and the French government.

Accenture is a US-based company. L1 used to be a US company but got bought over by Safran Group of France.

Similar contract has been signed with Ernst & Young. These documents have been accessed using RTI.

Justice Bobde observes, In Islam, peeping into others houses is strictly prohibited and added, the Hadith makes it reprehensible to read correspondence between others.

The CIDR facilitates peeping into others houses.

Notably, J Satyanarayana as secretary, department of electronics and information technology [DeitY] (currently named ministry of electronics and information technology) finds mention at page no 46-47 of the report of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology that examined the work of his department.

He was asked about the surveillance by National Security Agency of the US.

The report states that in the context of privacy of data, the committee desired to know the departments stand on the issue of surveillance by the US and interception of data sent through e-mails.

To this, Satyanarayana, as secretary, DeitY, responded as under: Sir, about the US surveillance issue, there has been a debate, as you are aware, this morning in the Rajya Sabha itself and the honble minister has addressed this issue. He also emphasised that as far as the government data and government mails are concerned, the policy, the copy of which I have given to the committee earlier, is going to address a large part of it.

Hopefully, by the end of this year, if it is implemented, the things will be absolutely safe and secureIn the reply the Hon minister also said that we have expressed our serious concern about the reported leakages and in the name of surveillance, the data that has been secured from various private sources, internet resources by the US government.

We have expressed it formally to the government of the US and also, during the secretary of states visit a few weeks ago in India, this has been reinforced on a person to person basis.

He added, We have been assured that whatever data has been gathered by them for surveillance relates only to the metadata. It has been reiterated and stated at the highest level of the US president that that only the metadata has been accessed, which is, the origin of the message and the receiving point, the destination and the route through which it has gone, but not the actual content itself.

This has been reiterated by them, but we expressed that any incursion into the content will not be tolerated and is not tolerable from Indian stand and point of view. That has been mentioned very clearly and firmly by our government.

In effect, the Government of India has formally communicated to the government of the US that India has no problem if they conduct surveillance for metadata. In fact it is acceptable and tolerable but incursion into the content will not be tolerated and is not tolerable.

It is reprehensible even to collate metadata. Metadata refers to all the information about a communication except content.

An Urdu couplet -- hum woh hai jo khat ka mazmoon bhaap lete hai lifafa dekhkar (we are those who can assess the content of letter by merely looking at the envelope) captures the message from the US and which the political class in general has missed.

Such faith in the government of US' empty words is inexcusable and indefensible.

The same Satyanarayana is currently part-time chairman of the UIDAI since September 6, 2016.

Justice Bobde observes, In Christianity, we find the aspiration to live without interfering in the affairs of others in the text of the Bible. Confession of ones sins is a private act.

The reference to Bible in the case is of immense significance because it pertains to numbering of human beings in the Indian Territory that finds specific mention in the Bible.

The Number of the Beast is a term in the Book of Revelation of the New Testament.

Revelation chapter 14 states that whoever receives the mark of the Beast, shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.

The mark is a permanent designation of ownership applied to your forehead or right hand. The Biblical prophecy implies that there will be a time when humanity will be forced to take a mark, and that mark will be on the right hand or the forehead.

It has been contended that marriage of biometric and digital identification will be the mark of the beast because it can be a mark in your hand that you can transmit.

Fortunately, the beast gets killed in the end.

Among several other arguments, this Biblical prophecy has been used to oppose REAL ID Act in 2005 introduced during George W Bush era.

The US Senate never discussed or voted on the REAL ID Act specifically and no Senate committee hearings were conducted on the Act prior to its passage, exposing its undemocratic character and the bill's proponents avoided a substantive debate on a far-reaching piece of legislation by attaching it to a must-pass bill.

Barack Obama categorically opposed it during his 2008 presidential election campaign.

By 2008, all 50 states had either applied for extensions of the original May 11, 2008, compliance deadline or received unsolicited extensions.

Some 25 states from the US have approved either resolutions or binding legislations not to participate in the programme. Among other concerns, they have argued that it infringes upon states rights.

With Janet Napolitano, a prominent critic of the programme as the head of US Department of Homeland Security, the future of the law appears sealed.

On March 5, 2011, the DHS postponed the effective date of the REAL ID Act.

Through Document Number FR 5-08, DHS announced that US states would need to be in compliance with the REAL ID Act by December 1, 2017. Bills have been introduced into US Congress to amend or repeal it.

The controversial, $4-billion REAL ID initiative was meant to provide secure licences in the hands of 245 million Americans by 2017. The new proposal, Providing for Additional Security in States Identification (PASS ID) Act was expected to eliminate many of the more burdensome technological requirements.

The Bill was meant to repeal title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005 and amend title II of the Homeland Security Act, 2002, to better protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personally identifiable information collected by states when issuing drivers licences and identification documents, and for other purposes.

It is surprising as to why the government of India, which has been keen on emulating REAL ID Act when it was adopted in the US, has developed cold feet in following the same example when it is practically abandoned there.

Justice Bobde concludes by saying, Any interference with privacy by an entity covered by Article 12s description of the State must satisfy the tests applicable to whichever one or more of the Part III freedoms the interference affects.

It emerges that not only does the CIDR project fails the test of fairness, justness and reasonableness besides the test of not being fanciful, oppressive or arbitrary; it also fails the test of Arthashastra, Hadith and the Bible.

Part IV in the series: Aadhar Act contravenes right to life and liberty

Gopal Krishna is convener, Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties, which is campaigning against surveillance technologies since 2010.
The verdict in the Right to Privacy case establishes dharma, righteousness, and destroys adharma, the evil acting on behalf of the universal principal 'I' mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, says Gopal Krishna.

IMAGE: Women wait in line to get their Aadhaar card done. Photograph: Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters

Having read the orders of Justices Rohinton F Nariman and Dr D Y Chandrachud on the right to privacy case, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul authored a separate but a concurring 47-page order as part of the nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.

He underlines, 'This reference has arisen from the challenge to what is called the 'Aadhaar card scheme', referring to the biometric profiling based scheme of Central Identities Data Repository of Aadhaar numbers.'

Significantly, Justice Kaul raises the question of dharma (justice) and adharma (injustice) in his order.

He writes: 'It is wrong to consider that the concept of the supervening spirit of justice manifesting in different forms to cure the evils of a new age is unknown to Indian history.'

He recalled the Sanskrit verse of Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita to underline that the meaning of this profound statement, when viewed after a thousand generations is this: That each age and each generation brings with it the challenges and tribulations of the times.'

'But that supreme spirit of justice manifests itself in different eras, in different continents and in different social situations, as different values to ensure that there always exists the protection and preservation of certain eternally cherished rights and ideals.'

'It is a reflection of this divine brooding spirit of the law', 'the collective conscience, the intelligence of a future day that has found mention in the ideals enshrined in inter alia, Article 14 and 21, which together serve as the heart stones of the Constitution.

The significance of the Bhagavad Gita verse which Justice Kaul cited in his order becomes more evident if it is read with its preceding, very famous, verse: Yada Yada hi dharmasya, glanirbhavati bharata; abhyutthanam adharmasya, tadaatmanam srujamyaham.

The subsequent verse reads: Paritranaaya sadunaam, vinashayacha dushkritaam; dharmasansthaapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge.

Together they mean: 'Whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness is rampant, I manifest myself. I manifest myself from age to age to defend the pious, destroy the wicked and strengthen righteousness.'

Notably, Justice Kaul traces the origin of Article 14 (right to equality before law) and 21 (right to protection of life and liberty) of the Indian Constitution in the Bhagavad Gita.

It is evident that his order refers to government's position on the right to privacy in the scheme of CIDR of Aadhaar numbers as adharma, or evil.

He factors in the contemporary and historical context of human identification and profiling.

The verdict in this case is historic and of global significance because it establishes dharma, righteousness, and destroys adharma, the evil acting on behalf of the universal principal I mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita.

He observes, 'It cannot be said that a person should be profiled to the nth extent for all and sundry to know', something which is being done under the Aadhaar scheme.

He cites the European Union Regulation, 2016, on data privacy that deals with the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.

The Regulation defines 'profiling' as any form of automated processing of personal data, consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person's performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements.

'Such profiling can result in discrimination based on religion, ethnicity and caste,' it says.

This is what the predecessors of Adolf Hitler did in Germany.

Prior to the arrival of the Third Reich, the German government had hired the services of IBM, a United States-based company which was in the census business, including racial census that entailed not only counting the Jews but also identifying them.

As a result, when Hitler came to power, he had the lists of Jewish names based on profiling during the census. The Nazis inherited these lists from the previous government.

At the US Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, there is an exhibit of an IBM Hollerith D-11 card sorting machine that was responsible for organising the census of 1933 that first identified the Jews.

IBM has not disputed its involvement in the exercise. It merely said that its subsidiary in Germany was beyond its control, a fact which has been highlighted in the book IBM And The Holocaust.

If this is not adharma, what else is?

Dwelling on the subject of 'the right to be or right to privacy before recollecting the words of the Bhagavad Gita, Justice Kaul cited the words of Lord Acton contained in The History Of Freedom And Other Essays published in 1907 wherein he said, 'The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments of musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of divinity itself, and can never be obscured by mortal power.

Drawing on such eminent resources Justice Kaul observes, Privacy is an inherent right. It is thus not given, but already exists and adds that privacy is nothing but a form of dignity, which itself is a subset of liberty.

He further observes, Privacy is also the key to freedom of thought. A person has a right to think.

Notably, the mind is the name given to the sequence of thoughts and in fact it is the human mind which takes birth, grows and governs human life.

Taking note of the concerns expressed regarding Aadhaar scheme 'infringing the right to privacy', he has suggested tests 'for limiting the discretion of the State'.

These tests include ascertaining whether the proposed action is 'necessary in a democratic society for a legitimate aim', the 'extent of such interference' is 'proportionate to the need for such interference', whether there are 'procedural guarantees against abuse of such interference' and whether actions such as seeding of UID/Aadhaar number with citizens social entitlements and existing databases is 'sanctioned by law'.

There is sufficient evidence to establish that this scheme fails in all the four tests because the aim itself is unnecessary and illegitimate, entails disproportionate and unlimited interference and the 'procedural guarantees' do not meet the test of natural justice because of provisions like deactivation of UID numbers which results in 'civil death'.

Against such a backdrop, disclosures made in 2010 in a release by the Centre (external link) bearing the subject 'approach paper for a legislation on privacy', assumes great relevance.

It seemed to underline the virtues of databases which are in disconnected silos -- which ensure privacy -- and information is made available on a need-to-know basis.

Convergence of databases as envisaged in the scheme of CIDR of UID/Aadhaar numbers through seeding, which was inherited and adopted by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government from the previous United Progressive Alliance government, results in death of privacy.

It has been admitted officially that 'data privacy and the need to protect personal information is almost never a concern when data is stored in a decentralised manner. Data that is maintained in silos is largely useless outside that silo and consequently has a low likelihood of causing any damage.

'However, all this is likely to change with the implementation of the UID project. One of the inevitable consequences of the UID project will be that the UID number will unify multiple databases.

'As more and more agencies of the government sign on to the UID Project, the UID Number will become the common thread that links all those databases together. Over time, private enterprise could also adopt the UID number as an identifier for the purposes of the delivery of their services or even for enrollment as a customer.

'Once this happens, the separation of data that currently exists between multiple databases will vanish.'

The document reveals that 'private detective agencies, if allowed to operate without regulation, could potentially wreak considerable havoc on the personal information of a citizen'.

The information obtained under Right to Information reveals that private foreign agencies involved in CIDR of UID/Aadhaar have been operating as part of their 'business of private surveillance' without regulation for quite a long time.

They are helping in the creation of 'an identifiable profile of everyone on that public database' which includes personal sensitive information like racial or ethnic origin, political affiliations or opinions, religious affiliations and beliefs or other beliefs of a similar nature, membership of a trade union, physical or mental health or condition, sexual life and criminal record.

Besides these, it also includes genetic information about an individual that is not otherwise health information, information or an opinion about an individual, financial or proprietary confidential corporate data, data on a person's personality, private family relations, biometric data, social welfare needs of a person or the benefits, support or other social welfare assistance received by the person; and data collected on a person during the process of taxation.

Justice Kaul has agreed with the concerns of the petitioners against UID technology that 'the technology has made it possible to enter a citizen's house without knocking at his/her door and this is equally possible both by the State and non-State actors'.

He underlines that 'if the individual permits someone to enter the house it does not mean that others can enter the house. The only check and balance is that it should not harm the other individual or affect his or her rights', reacting to the argument that if citizens have shared data with some digital companies, they should not be reluctant to share for biometric profiling by Unique Identification Authority of India.

He concurred with other judges who held that that the right of privacy cannot be denied, even if there is a minuscule fraction of the population which is affected. The majoritarian concept does not apply to Constitutional rights.

Drawing on Daniel Solove's 10 Reasons Why Privacy Matters (external link), Justice Kaul observes, 'An individual has a right to protect his reputation from being unfairly harmed and such protection of reputation needs to exist not only against falsehood but also certain truths.

'It cannot be said that a more accurate judgment about people can be facilitated by knowing. private details about their lives -- people judge us badly, they judge us in haste, they judge out of context, they judge without hearing the whole story and they judge with hypocrisy.

'Privacy lets people protect themselves from these troublesome judgments.'

He cites the poetic words of Felicia Lamport in his order. It is titled Deprivacy and reads as:

Although we feel unknown, ignored,

As unrecorded blanks,

Take heart! Our vital selves are stored

In giant data banks,

Our childhoods and maturities,

Efficiently compiled,

Our Stocks and insecurities,

All permanently filed,

Our tastes and our proclivities,

In gross and in particular,

Our incomes, our activities,

Both extra-and curricular.

And such will be our happy state,

Until the day we die,

When well be snatched up by the great,

Computer in the sky.

This poem was published by The University of Michigan Press in The Assault on Privacy by Arthur R Miller.

Justice Kaul observes, 'The impact of the digital age results in information on the internet being permanent. Humans forget, but the internet does not forget and does not let humans forget. Any endeavour to remove information from the internet does not result in its absolute obliteration. The footprints remain.

'It is thus said that in the digital world preservation is the norm and forgetting a struggle'.

He refers to the European Union Regulation of 2016 that has recognised 'the right to be forgotten', which means that an individual who is no longer desirous of his personal data to be processed or stored, should be able to remove it from the system where the personal data/ information is no longer necessary, relevant, or is incorrect and serves no legitimate interest.

He has recommended that 'privacy of children will require special protection not just in the context of the virtual world, but also the real world'.

Drawing on European Union Regulation of 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, in concurrence with Justice Chandrachud, he has directed 'the State must ensure that information is not used without the consent of users and that it is used for the purpose and to the extent it was disclosed'.

Drawing on the findings of the government's Group of Experts on privacy under the chairmanship of Justice A P Shah, he observed, 'The concerns about privacy have been left unattended for quite some time and thus an infringement of the right of privacy cannot be left to be formulated by the legislature'.

It is noteworthy that he concurred with the view that the majority judgment in the case of ADM Jabalpur vs Shivkant Shukla 'was an aberration in the constitutional jurisprudence of our country and the desirability of burying the majority opinion ten fathom deep, with no chance of resurrection'.

Having taken this position, this otherwise good order seems to display its imperfection from the philosophical point of view when Justice Kaul deviates to say, 'However, no right is unbridled and so is it with privacy.'

He goes on to say that while 'the right of an individual to exercise control over his personal data and to be able to control his/her own life would also encompass his right to control his existence on the internet', but adds 'needless to say that this would not be an absolute right'.

He reiterates, 'The right to privacy as already observed is not absolute' by referring to 'national security' and 'public interest'.

While these words have the meaning which the State gives to them, in exceptional circumstances, reasonable restrictions have compelling logic but such restrictions cannot be made applicable indiscriminately.

Exceptional circumstances cannot make an absolute natural right less absolute for 'we, the people'.

In ADM Jabalpur case, a majority of four judges of the court (with Justice H R Khanna dissenting) held that: 'Liberty is confined and controlled by law, whether common law or statute. It is in the words of Burke a regulated freedom. It is not an abstract or absolute freedom', incorrectly assuming that the Constitution was the sole repository of the right to life and liberty.

Given the fact this verdict has been overruled and needs to be 'ten fathom deep, with no chance of resurrection', how can it be inferred that right to privacy as part of right to life and personal liberty is not an absolute right?

Human life is a gift of privacy of our ancestors, our mother and father. Will human beings dare say to their parents that they do not have an absolute right of privacy?

Will Mother India tell her children that they must be exposed to public at large like animals? Who will have the heart to their children and grandchildren that they do not have this right?

The Centre -- through the then attorney general, several state governments like Haryana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, the UIDAI, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy -- showed the audacity to do so. But have been roundly repulsed by the Supreme Court for their questionable stance.

But now that the Constitution Bench has unequivocally held that 'the judgments rendered by all the four judges constituting the majority in ADM Jabalpur are seriously flawed. Life and personal liberty are inalienable to human existence', it follows that right to privacy being an intrinsic part of it is an absolute right, subject to deviation only in rare and exceptional circumstances.

There is a compelling logical compulsion to recognise it to be so in the era of 'de-privacy' to prevent permanent destruction of the quietude and serenity of the human mind.

This is the first in a 7-part series.

Part 2: Right to Privacy and the Bhagavad Gita

Gopal Krishna is convener, Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties, which is campaigning against surveillance technologies since 2010.
'Can a Wodehouse, an R K Narayan, a Scott Fitzgerald and yes, a Le Carre, with the sensibilities of a bygone era still captivate a modern reader's attention?'

'Le Carre is making a brave and hitherto successful effort,' says B S Prakash.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

What makes a celebrated writer go back to his novel penned over 50 years ago and recreate its back-story in another novel, now, in a contemporary setting?

The writer is John le Carre (the name by which David Cornwall got known), 86 years old, and with 25 novels in his oeuvre.

For those who do not know him, he is acknowledged as one of the great English novelists of our times, and not just in his genre of spy-fiction.

Literary critics tend to agree that of the famed English writers of our times, three, P G Wodehouse, P D James and John le Carre, have transcended their specialised genres -- humour, crime, and espionage, respectively -- and are great masters of literature as such.

His latest book The Legacy Of Spies published recently is making waves, as his books have nearly always done for the last 40 years.

Those who have followed him after the end of the Cold War (I have been a keen and admiring reader of every one of his novels since my college days in the '60s!) are familiar with his themes once the ideology of the Cold War conflict had lost its relevance.

The new problems and evils of the world that became his material were: corporate oligarchs, arms merchants, unscrupulous pharma companies, exploitation of the Third World by the erstwhile masters, and above all, an imperious America -- a technologically sophisticated war machine that is naive and arrogant in its understanding of the world.

The characters of le Carre that his fans grew up with and who became legendary in their own right, such as George Smiley, the elderly and brainy mandarin-spy; Kalra -- his nemesis in Moscow; Connie Sachs, an Oxbridge scholar extraordinaire and a researcher of the plots weaved in the Kremlin -- and others of their tribe had disappeared.

Each new novel set in exotic or horrific locales -- Panama, Ingushetia, Kenya, Georgia -- had new complexities and fresh characters. But le Carre's old faithful readers never forgot Smiley or his acolyte Peter Guillam who were further immortalised in classic BBC television dramas or in carefully crafted movies such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

So in 2017, twenty years after Smiley had disappeared from the printed page, what made le Carre bring him back, albeit fleetingly and almost regretfully?

Too much of the plot of the latest novel cannot be revealed, since the pleasures of the unravelling of its story is akin to a chess game and should not be spoilt for the potential reader.

But this much one can say to whet the appetite of millions who know about The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, le Carre's classic from 1965.

That story involving The Wall in Berlin separating and symbolising the barrier between the erstwhile East and West Europe at the height of the Cold War, is the backdrop and the reference point in the current novel.

The characters in that novel, all long retired, and living not so peaceably in England, are being woken and hauled up for their beliefs and behaviour, all those years ago.

In the practice of their spy craft, did they only deceive or also destroy lives?

Did they sacrifice their agents as 'pawns', as means to a greater end, and if so, were they justified?

Was there torture, extraordinary rendition, 'fake news' and other forms of unethical behaviour?

In any case, what is ethical and unethical in an ideological war and how can it be understood in the current post-ideological State?

Some of these dilemmas may remind an Indian reader of the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, whatever the facts are in that complex saga.

Some aspects may remind us of the ill-fated Rohingyas and the difficult choices for the Indian State in dealing with them: Are they to be treated as refuges or illegal immigrants or potential terrorists?

Another contemporary feature that le Carre had foreshadowed is the rise of the ultra-nationalistic party Alternative for Germany (AfD) in an earlier novel -- A Small Town In Germany.

But why does le Carre revive the past, since he had moved successfully to the ills and the villains of the present?

The novel towards its end provides a glimpse of his motivation. But more than the novel, the series of interviews and broadcasts that he is currently engaged in provide a clue.

Le Carre today emerges as an embittered and deeply aggrieved intellectual with liberal impulses despite a deeply conservative professional background.

During the Cold War years, le Carre consistently questioned the moral certainties and the political posturing of both sides.

He was sensitive to the human tragedies on either side of the Iron Curtain and excelled in portraying the ambiguity in the decisions and actions of that era.

One of the finest examples is in The Spy Who Came In From The Cold which leaves the reader befuddled as to which side was right.

Not for him the trumpeting of the virtues of the West, or the vices of the Soviet system. Both sides were caught in a vicious and dehumanising conflict that fortuitously came to an end.

That being said, all along le Carre had admiration for open and free societies, where an individual can retreat and retire to a quiet corner, a dream that many of his protagonists aspired to.

Post the Cold War, however, in his view, the military-industrial complex in America is forever in search of new enemies and conflicts.

In the last decade, his novels have shown an underlying antipathy towards the American establishment, even while invoking the liberal values of the West.

In the recent period, the application of labels without reflection -- nationalism, anti-globalism, Communism, Islamic extremism -- and the exaggeration of threats that can result in calamities brought about by the powerful American interests, seem to alarm him.

Some of his novels are about the damage and destruction caused by American might with a simplistic understanding of the threats that it conjures up.

Another tragedy for him is Brexit and the underlying sentiment of Britain distancing itself from Europe.

In the novel Smiley in his old age seems to be lamenting both these factors: An unthinking Trumpian America without any moorings, and a Britain that is divorcing Europe. 'This is not what we fought for' is the cry of the cold warrior as he weeps about a world without credible convictions.

How does this nostalgic and melancholic mindset appeal to a contemporary audience?

Can the masters of yesteryear, a Wodehouse, an R K Narayan, a Scott Fitzgerald and yes, a Le Carre, with the sensibilities of a bygone era, still captivate a modern reader's attention?

Difficult for me to say. But le Carre is making a brave and hitherto successful effort to assess the past in terms of the present and vice versa.

B S Prakash is a former Ambassador and a long-standing Rediff columnist.
The American police said that the Las Vegas shooting was not an act of terrorism because he acted alone. The killer was a Christian.

Would the police have said the same thing if he was Muslim? I don't think so, says Aakar Patel.

A few days ago a man in the American city of Las Vegas killed 58 strangers who were at a concert. He shot his machine guns into the crowd for almost 10 minutes, and wounded over 500 people.

The American police said that this was not an act of terrorism because he acted alone. The killer was a Christian. Would the police have said the same thing if he was Muslim? I don't think so.

Not much is known about the man or his motives and so this conclusion that this was not terrorism needs to be examined, along with the wider issue of how we understand terrorism.

My dictionary defines terrorism as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

If we look at this definition, many acts of violence can be defined as terrorism. Communal violence fits this perfectly because it is unlawful, aimed to intimidate, aimed at civilians and has political aims.

However, most of us do not see communal violence as terrorism.

The massacre of Sikhs in 1984 is called a riot.

The Muzaffarnagar violence against Muslims was a riot.

The Mumbai violence in which hundreds of Muslims were killed after the Babri Masjid was brought down were riots.

The retaliatory bomb attacks that followed were called terrorism.

The massacre of 97 Muslims in Ahmedabad's Naroda Patiya in 2002 was a riot.

The massacre of 30 Hindus in Ahmedabad's Akshardham the same year was a terrorist attack.

The second problem is the line aimed at civilians. The majority of attacks in Jammu and Kashmir are against the armed forces and not civilians, but we consider them to be terrorist attacks.

American law defines terrorism as the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

This definition aligns more or less with the dictionary one. As I said before, not much is known about the Vegas shooter or his motives. Absent that, it is unclear how the police was convinced this was not a terror attack because his political or social objectives were unknown.

India's law against terror is called POTA and was legislated by the Vajpayee government in 2002. Like many laws in India, it is very poorly drafted and the language is all over the place.

It defines terrorism as "whoever (a) with intent to threaten the unity, integrity, security or sovereignty of India or to strike terror in the people or any section of the people does any act or thing by using bombs, dynamite or other explosive substances or inflammable substances or firearms or other lethal weapons or poisons or noxious gases or other chemicals or by any other substances (whether biological or otherwise) of a hazardous nature or by any other means whatsoever, in such a manner as to cause, or likely to cause, death of, or injuries to any person or persons or loss of, or damage to, or destruction of, property or disruption of any supplies or services essential to the life of the community or causes damage or destruction of any property or equipment used or intended to be used for the defense of India or in connection with any other purposes of the Government of India, any State Government or any of their agencies, or detains any person and threatens to kill or injure such person in order to compel the Government or any other person to do or abstain from doing any act."

This is not all, the law continues: (b) is or continues to be a member of an association declared unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), or voluntarily does an act aiding or promoting in any manner the objects of such association and in either case is in possession of any unlicensed firearms, ammunition, explosive or other instrument or substance capable of causing mass destruction and commits any act resulting in loss of human life or grievous injury to any person or causes significant damage to any property, commits a terrorist act.

The crucial words are unity, integrity, security and sovereignty. Our fear of Indian disintegration, a wholly unfounded fear, is what primarily drives the definition. Why such strange words like dynamite (which is a mining explosive never used in terrorism) were specifically included but not RDX or C14 or another modern explosive is not known.

Probably because the bureaucrat writing the law got his knowledge of explosives from watching Bollywood movies.

The POTA definition is at once wide and broad and very narrow, which is a good indication that not much thinking went into it. This does not surprise me because we have many laws that are poorly drafted and sweeping.

All states have them. Without any crime being committed, Tamil Nadu can lock you up for a year without trial under the Prevention of dangerous activities of bootleggers, drug-offenders, forest-offenders, goondas, immoral traffic offenders, sand-offenders, sexual offenders, slum-grabbers and video pirates Act.

To repeat, no crime needs to be committed, the government can jail you for a year if they suspect you will or may commit a crime in future. How does the government know someone is going to be a sand-offender or video pirate? Perhaps it has employed soothsayers and astrologers to do bhavishyavani.

To return to the issue of defining terrorism, I think we all know the real logic. The linguist and writer Noam Chomsky, talking about American atrocities across the world, said: when we do it, it's counter-terrorism. When they do it, it's terrorism.

Similarly, when we do it, it's a riot or individuals acting alone. When Muslims do it, it's terrorism.

Aakar Patel is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own.

You can read Aakar's earlier columns here.

Image: A student at a march for peace in Mumbai. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters.
IMAGE: Congress workers burn an effigy of BJP president Amit Shah and his son Jay Shah during a protest in Lucknow on Monday. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo



The Congress on Monday stepped up its offensive on Amit Shah over claims in a media report that a firm owned by his son saw a huge rise in turnover after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014 and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove him as BJP chief and order a probe by Supreme Court judges.

As part of their strategy, Congress leaders addressed press conferences in several state capitals to target the BJP president over the alleged business dealings of his son while prodding the prime minister to speak on the issue.

The charge has been rejected by the BJP and Shah's son, Jay Amit Shah, who termed the report 'false, derogatory and defamatory'.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Modi pressing him to 'say something' on claims in the report by news website The Wire and used the word 'shehzada' to describe Shah's son.

Modi earlier used to mockingly dub Gandhi as 'shehzada' during the 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign.

'Modiji, ...Did you act as a watchman or were you a partner? Atleast say something,' Gandhi said on Twitter.

Addressing a gathering at Kamla village in Kheda district in poll-bound Gujarat, Gandhi again targeted the prime minister.

"Modi ji had also said another thing (before the elections) that he does not want to become prime minister and be the chowkidar (watchman) of the country's wealth. Now, where has the chowkidar gone?."

Recalling Modi's assertion that he would neither engage in corruption nor allow it to happen, the Congress leader said, "Now when Amit Shah's son's company has grown 16,000 times, Modi ji has gone silent," Gandhi said.

Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma asked the prime minister to remove Amit Shah as BJP chief and demanded a Commission of Inquiry by two Supreme Court judges.

Party's communications incharge Randeep Surjewala addressed a press conference in Jaipur, while other leaders spoke in various cities including in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, both poll-bound states.

Sharma said Modi should 'break his silence' on the claims and hit out at Union minister Piyush Goyal for defending Jay Shah, asking whether Goyal was 'a minister, a spokesperson or business manager'.

"He (Modi) speaks a lot, everyday and on each issue. He should break his silence on this issue and declare a Commission of Inquiry (to probe the charges against Jay) comprising two Supreme Court judges. There should be a neutral probe," he told reporters.

"Amit Shah should give up his post until the probe is over. He should do what Advaniji did, Gadkariji did. He should also resign or are there new parameters for him?," he said.

In Jaipur, Surjewala said Modi should relieve Shah of the party president post and get the claims probed by a two-member commission of Supreme Court judges.

Calling for transparency and accountability, he asked why should anyone "shy away" from a probe if there is nothing wrong. "The country was waiting for development...but 'Jay ka Vikas ho gaya'," he said.

In Kolkata, party spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi said Modi should prove that he is above party politics and demanded a probe into the claims of the media report.

"It is very easy to order a probe against opposition leaders but it is tough to order a probe against one's own party leaders," Gogoi told reporters.

In Lucknow, UP Congress chief Raj Babbar termed it as the "son's model" of doing business and demanded a Supreme Court probe and Shah's removal.

"This is the new "son's model" of doing business," he said posing a set of seven questions.

In Shimla, All India Congress Committee secretary Ranjeet Ranjan repeated the charges and demanded a probe by sitting Supreme Court judge into companies of Jay Shah.




Harvey Weinstein has been terminated as co-chairman of The Weinstein Company following allegations of sexual harassment published in the New York Times.

The board made the decision to oust Weinstein from his company at a meeting held on Sunday afternoon, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company -- Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar -- have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately, read a statement from the TWC board.

The Sunday meeting was tense and Weinstein was offered by the board to settle with the company and leave but he refused, THR said citing a source.

Weinstein apparently argued that the scandal would blow over but the nine-member board, whose three members had resigned following the allegations, disagreed.

The company has also hired a law firm, Debevoise & Plimpton, to investigate the allegations independently despite his ouster.

Weinstein is being represented personally by David Boies and Charles Harder.

The October 5 New York Times article by investigative reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey detailed sexual harassment claims spanning decades against Weinstein, including from actress Ashley Judd.

Two unnamed sources told the newspaper that Weinstein has reached at least eight settlements with women.

Weinstein, in an initial statement, explained, I came of age in the 60s and 70s, when all the rules about behaviour and workplaces were different. That was the culture then.

He also said he was taking leave of absence from his company in order to direct his attention to campaigning against the National Rifle Association and President Donald

Trump.

But the movie moguls lawyer Charles Harder has confirmed that they were preparing to sue the Times as their story is saturated with false and defamatory statements about Harvey Weinstein.

The after effects of the scandal have resulted in several Democratic politicians giving away the money that Weinstein had donated to them over the years.

Following the NYT story, several other women have spoken publicly about their encounter with Weistein.

Image: Aishwarya Rai with movie mogul Harvey Weinstein during the 2005'sat Time magazine's 100 most influential people dinner. Photograph: Jeff Christensen JC/Reuters
Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah's son Jay Shah on Monday filed a defamation case against news portal The Wire over a report claiming his firm's turnover grew manifold after the party came to power, as the row set off by the article escalated with the Congress demanding the BJP chief's ouster.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S K Gadhvi ordered a court inquiry into the matter under Code of Criminal Procedure Section 202 (to inquire into the case to decide whether or not there is sufficient ground for proceeding) on Jay Shah's plea.

In his application, Jay prayed for, 'criminal action against the respondents for defaming and tarnishing the reputation of the complainant through an article, which is scandalous, frivolous, misleading, derogatory, libelous and consisting of several defamatory statements'.

The seven respondents in the case are the author of the article Rohini Singh, founding editors of the news portal Siddarth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia and M K Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the Foundation for Independent Journalism, the non-profit company that publishes The Wire.

A day after the report was published, senior Congress leaders held press conferences in several places where they targeted Modi and Shah, while BJP leaders rejected the charge, insisting Jay has been 'wronged'.

Union minister Piyush Goyal said in New Delhi that Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will represent Jay Shah in the case. He said Mehta had sought Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's permission to appear for Jay and the approval was granted.

"We believe that he (Jay) has been wronged and he must get justice. There is no harm if the best of lawyers appear for him. An ASG can appear in a matter between two private parties after taking permission," he told reporters.

Spearheading the Congress' assault, its vice president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Modi and pressed him to 'say something' on claims made in the report. He used the word 'shahzada' to describe Shah's son.

At election meetings in 2014 Modi had often targeted Gandhi calling him shahzada (prince).

'Did you act as a watchman (chowkidar) or were you complicit? Please say something,' Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

The BJP made a stout defence of Jay Shah, with Union minister Piyush Goyal saying his party's conscience is 'clear' and maintaining that he has been 'wronged'.

Goyal also rejected any comparison between business transactions of Amit Shah's son and those of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra.

He claimed Vadra's was a case of 'round-tripping of money' with help from the government while Jay had no dealing with government.

"Jay has had no dealing with government. His every transaction is official and he did his work honestly," Goyal said.

"Our conscience is clear. That is why we announced on the very day (of story's publication) that we are going to court," he said.

When asked why a Union minister like him was using the BJP forum to defend a private citizen, Goyal said the story wanted to 'defame' the party and its top leaders by making imputations and also put out their photographs.

The Congress fielded its senior spokesman Anand Sharma in the national capital where he demanded constitution of a Commission of Inquiry with two Supreme Court judges to probe the matter.

"We demand the prime minister...he speaks a lot everyday and on each issue. He should break his silence on this issue and declare a Commission of Inquiry comprising two Supreme Court judges. There should be a neutral probe," he told reporters.

The Congress leader also said that like L K Advani and Nitin Gadkari, who stepped down from their posts pending inquiries, Amit Shah should also resign.

"It is a tough call for Modi. The country is looking at him whether he will choose friendship and party politics or truth and morality," Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said in Jaipur.

Calling for transparency and accountability, he said, "Why shy away from probe if there is nothing wrong? There is no smoke without fire. The country was waiting for development ... but 'Jay ka Vikas ho gaya'."

In Kolkata, party spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi said Modi should prove that he is above party politics and demanded a probe into the claims made in the report.

Several BJP leaders came to the defence of the party chief and his son, with general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya insisting,"If there is no honesty in Amit Shah's home, there cannot be honesty anywhere."

In Coimbatore, Union minister Ananth Kumar said the allegations against Jay Shah were 'foisted falsely'.

"Congress does not have any issue and so is out to tarnish the image of Amit Shah. Instead, they should give a clarification on son-in-law model of doing business," Uttar Pradesh Minister Siddharth Nath Singh said.

Photograph: PTI Photo
Two days after seven military personnel were killed in a helicopter crash in Tawang, images of their bodies wrapped in plastic sacks and tied up in cardboard surfaced on Sunday, triggering an outrage.

This prompted the army to come out with a tweet saying the wrapping of the bodies with local resources was an aberration and that the fallen soldiers are always given full military honour.

IMAGE: Lt General HS Panag (retired) posted this image on Sunday lamenting the manner in which the soldiers' were brought home. He tweeted, "Seven young men stepped out into the sunshine yesterday to serve their motherland, India. This is how they came home". Photograph: @rwac48/Twitter

Seven young men stepped out into the sunshine yesterday to serve their motherland, India. This is how they came home, tweeted former Northern Army commander Lt Gen HS Panag (retired), along with the images of the bodies.

Reacting to the issue, the armys additional directorate general of public information tweeted that the carriage of the mortal remains in body bags, wooden boxes and coffins will be ensured.

Fallen soldiers (are) always given full military honour. Carriage of mortal remains in body bags, wooden boxes, coffins will be ensured, it said.

It said wrapping the bodies in local resources was an aberration.

IMAGE: The Indian Army later posted this photo saying that the bodies were later given full military honours and that the previous wrapping was an 'aberration'. Photograph: @ADGPI/Twitter

The photographs were taken when the bodies were in Guwahati, as per an official.

Lt Gen Panag (retired) said proper military body bags must be used to transport bodies from forward locations until ceremonial coffins were available.

Several people on Twitter also expressed their anguish after the images surfaced.

Five Indian Air Force personnel, including two pilots, and two army men were killed when the Mi-17 V5 chopper crashed on Friday morning in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
Three state units of the Congress on Monday urged party vice president Rahul Gandhi to take over the leadership of the party.

The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee and the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee adopted resolutions requesting Rahul to take charge as the party president.

The JKPCC also lauded the role of incumbent chief Sonia Gandhi and authorised her to finalise the name of the president of the state party unit, its spokesman Ravinder Sharma said.

He said a meeting of newly elected PCC delegates from the Jammu province was held at the party headquarters here under the chairmanship of Pradesh Returning Officer and Rajya Sabha MP Hussain Dalwai.

"The meeting unanimously lauded the role and leadership of Rahul who is fighting the forces of hatred and leading the party as it faces the most difficult challenges," Sharma said.

He said the speakers were unanimous in their demand that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi take over the leadership of the party.

The meeting was attended by APROs Moqsood Mirza, Deepak Rathode, PCC President G A Mir and all senior functionaries, MLAs and MLCs and other PCC delegates from all districts and parts of Jammu province.

"The entire cadre is behind his leadership and the younger leadership has great desire that he should lead the party," Sharma said.

He said a resolution moved by party leader Thakur Hari Singh and seconded by all senior leaders was unanimously adopted to authorise Congress president to finalise the list of AICC members and president of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee.

The speakers praised the leadership of Sonia who led the party with great dynamism and vision, he said.

"She always took the right decision in the interests of the country and party at all crucial times. They lauded her selfless services and dynamic leadership," Sharma said.

The GPCC, which met the first time since elections were held for various posts under it recently, also adopted a resolution empowering Sonia Gandhi to decide new state party unit chief as well as All India Congress Committee members from the state.

Shantaram Naik is the incumbent president of the Goa Congress.

"The newly-elected PCC has resolved to request Rahul Gandhi to take over as the party president," Congress Pradesh Returning Officer R Dhruvanarayan told reporters.

Dhruvanarayan said no names for the post of state unit president were discussed at the GPCC meeting.

He said the party high command is expected to take the decision on the nomination of new GPCC chief in the fortnight.

Many leaders in Congress feel Rahul Gandhi's elevation as the party president is long overdue.

Senior leader Sachin Pilot had recently said the party vice-president may take over as the Congress president shortly after Diwali.

The MPCC also adopted a resolution to elevate Rahul to the post of party president.

Newly-appointed AICC general secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Deepak Babaria and other party leaders attended the meeting, wherein the committee also passed another resolution empowering Sonia to decide the new chief of the state party unit and members of the AICC from the state.

Arun Yadav is currently the MPCC chief, and there are speculations that the party's leadership might shortly replace him with Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, and project him (Scindia) as the chief ministerial candidate for 2018 end state assembly polls.

"Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ajay Singh put forth the proposal for Rahul's elevation, while Congress MLA Rajendra Singh tabled the another one requesting Soniaji to take a call on the state leadership and AICC members from the state," state Congress spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said.

On Saturday, the newly-elected members of the Delhi unit of the Congress unanimously adopted a resolution urging Rahul to take over as the party's president.
IMAGE: An army personnel takes position during an encounter in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. Photograph: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com

In a double breakthrough, security forces killed three top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including its chief recruiter Zahid, in an encounter in Shopian and a top Jaish-e-Mohammed commander in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, police said.

An Army jawan also died in a brief encounter with terrorists in the Budgam district of the state.

The gunned down Jaish terrorist is believed to be the mastermind of the recent attack on a Border Security Force camp near the airport in Srinagar, they said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Ladoora area of Baramulla district following information about the presence of terrorists, an official said.

The operation turned into a gunbattle when a search party was fired upon, he added.

In the retaliatory action, one terrorist -- identified as Khalid alias Shahid Showkat of the JeM -- was killed, he said.

IMAGE: Khalid alias Shahid Showkat.

He was the mastermind of 'fidayeen' (suicide) attacks on the BSF camp near the Srinagar Airport earlier this month and on the district police lines in Pulwama last month, a police spokesman said.

"He was also involved in a fidayeen attack on 46 RR Army Camp at Khajabagh, Baramulla in 2016," he said.

Khalid was constantly exploring the opportunities to attack security forces and establishments, the spokesman said, adding that the killed terrorist would incite young boys to join his outfit to carry out grenade attacks on behalf of Pakistan-based commanders for monetary benefits.

"He was involved in the recent attack on an SPO named Altaf Ahmad Khan at Hajin Handwara in which the SPO along with his son were seriously injured. He was also involved in the killing of tower guard Eidul Amin Mir at Behrampora, Sopore," the spokesman said.

The JeM terrorist was involved in three other killings as well, he added.

Meanwhile, three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in a separate gunbattle with the security forces in the Keller area of Shopian district, police said.

Those killed included Zahid, the chief recruiter of the Hizbul Mujahideen in the Kashmir Valley, an official said. The other two have been identified as Irfan and Ashif, he said.

In another encounter in the Budgam district, a soldier was killed.

A Junior Commissioned Officer was killed in a brief encounter with terrorists in the Khag area of Budgam, an Army official said. The slain soldier was identified as Subedar Raj Kumar.
US ends 20 years of sanctions on Sudan

Publisher IRIN Author Anthony Morland Publication Date 6 October 2017 Cite as IRIN, US ends 20 years of sanctions on Sudan, 6 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db1c394.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The United States has lifted decades-old economic sanctions against Sudan even though it still considers the country a state sponsor of terrorism and despite the fact Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir still faces arrest on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.

In July, Washington said a decision on whether to do away with the sanctions, which Barack Obama had suspended shortly before leaving the White House, would be delayed for three months.

Khartoum's recent move to end its support for North Korea seems to have tipped the balance in its favour and Donald Trump's administration said there was now enough evidence of progress to justify the move.

The sanctions were imposed in 1997 when then-president Bill Clinton issued an executive order citing Sudan's "continued support for international terrorism, ongoing efforts to destabilise neighbouring governments, and the prevalence of human rights violations."

Including a comprehensive trade embargo and blocking the assets of Sudan's government, they were expanded in 2006 to target individuals involved in the conflict in Darfur. The ICC's charges against Bashir relate to acts, including murder, rape, and torture, committed by Sudanese troops in Darfur between 2003 and 2008.

Obama stipulated that the sanctions would only be ended if Sudan made progress in five areas: co-operation on counter-terrorism; resolution of the conflicts in South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur; improving access to humanitarian aid; ending support to armed opposition groups in South Sudan; and addressing the threat of the Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army.

On Wednesday, Sudan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hamed Momtaz told the Reuters news agency that his country had "fulfilled all the necessary conditions relating to the roadmap and the US administration is a witness to that and therefore we expect the sanctions to be lifted."

Khartoum had already won significant international support for this claim, with Israel and Saudi and Arabia busy lobbying on its behalf. And back in July, the UN Country Team in Sudan, which includes all United Nations development and humanitarian agencies working there, called for Washington to take a "positive decision" on the sanctions, saying there had been a "marked improvement in humanitarian access over the past six months" in areas from where aid agencies had previously been restricted.

Some key figures in the UN, however, paint a less rosy picture. Civilians in Darfur still face "violence and criminality", the UN's then-head of peacekeeping told the Security Council in January. Herve Ladsous pointed in particular to the "widespread proliferation of weapons and the inadequacy of law and justice institutions" as well as inter-communal violence over land, water, and other resources.

Human rights activists have warned that lifting the sanctions will embolden Sudan and other states to continue committing atrocities.

On Thurday, Human Rights Watch Senior Researcher Jehanne Henry tweeted: "recent attacks on Darfur IDPs [Internally Displaced Persons] and new political arrests. Has Sudan made 'progress' on human rights? @potus"

Henry's tweet linked to a May position statement by HRW that criticised Obama's 11th-hour suspension of sanctions for its failure to "identify clear benchmarks for progress or explicitly require improvements to the human rights situation before making the suspension permanent."

Twenty years after the sanctions were first imposed on Sudan, "the human rights situation has not improved," according to HRW.

"Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and aligned forces, notably the newly created Rapid Support Forces, have continued to attack civilians in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile with utter impunity. National security agents engage in entrenched patterns of repression, targeting civil society leaders, human rights activists, and students for harassment, arbitrary detentions, and torture; restricting civil society organisations and independent media; and using lethal force to disperse protesters, killing hundreds in broad daylight," the May statement said.

And as researcher Jerome Tubiana pointed out in an opinion piece for IRIN in August, accurately measuring progress in human rights in theatres of conflict is almost impossible.

"Arguably, less is now known about what's happening in Darfur than at any time since 2004, because access for international observers, aid workers, researchers, and journalists is constantly squeezed and is more difficult than ever. Those who do manage to get in are so afraid of being kicked out that they often prefer, consciously or not, to under-report, not to report, or even to deny the extent of the violence," Tubiana wrote.

He also noted that "the wars in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile have not ended, and humanitarian access is far from what it was in Darfur in 2004, when the conflict there was at its peak.

"The international narrative that the wars in Sudan are now 'low-intensity conflicts', with sufficient security on the ground to implement early recovery and development programmes, is a dangerous fiction."

Editor's take - It's not about human rights

The lifting of US sanctions against Sudan 20 years after they were imposed marks a long-fought victory for Khartoum, in particular al-Bashir and his inner circle. A trade embargo and a freeze on Sudanese government assets essentially isolated Sudan from the global financial system and prevented any US citizen or entity doing business with it. By contributing to the freefall of Sudan's economy, the sanctions made it harder for al-Bashir to maintain his grip on the country. Yet neither the sanctions, nor an ICC indictment for genocide and crimes against humanity made the Sudanese president a pariah among his African peers; indeed several African countries have blithely ignored their Rome Statue obligation to arrest al-Bashir during his visits to their territory.

When he imposed the sanctions in 1997, Bill Clinton cited Sudan's rampant violations of human rights as the main justification. But there is little evidence of a major improvement in the country's human rights record, even though this is one of five areas of progress cited by Washington in justifying the lifting of the sanctions. In its latest report on human rights across the world, the US State Department cited "aerial bombardments of civilian areas by military forces and attacks on civilians by government and other armed groups in conflict zones" as well as abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and rape, all committed with impunity by intelligence agents. Reducing internal wars was another US benchmark, but armed conflict continues to simmer in the regions of Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan, where humanitarian access remains very restricted. It seems the US decision to lift sanctions is more closely linked to Khartoum's role in global counter-terrorism and its recent cutting of ties with Pyongyang.
Uzbekistan: Some Workers Excused from Cotton Fields

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 5 October 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Uzbekistan: Some Workers Excused from Cotton Fields, 5 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db1cd84.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The Uzbek government has recalled university students and some health and education workers from forced labor in the cotton fields, the Cotton Campaign said today. Other workers remained involuntarily in the fields or faced extortion to pay for workers to replace them if they left.

On September 21, 2017, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov ordered officials to recall students and education and medical workers, who had been picking cotton under threat of penalty since the harvest began on September 10, despite an August degree banning recruiting these workers. Students began to leave various regions for home later on September 21.

"Bringing students home from the fields is a significant change and shows the importance of political will in ending forced labor," said Umida Niyazova, director of the Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights (UGF). "Now it is crucial for Uzbekistan's international partners to urge the government to allow all involuntary workers to return from the fields without penalty, including being required to pay for someone else to work in their place, and to monitor and publicly report on findings."

For years the Uzbek government has forced Uzbek citizens, including education and health workers, students, and people receiving public benefits, to pick cotton for the state-run cotton industry involuntarily and under the threat of penalty, such as dismissal or expulsion from their jobs or loss of benefits.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed forced labor in his speech to the UN General Assembly on September 19. It was the first time an Uzbek president has acknowledged the issue on the international stage, after a decade of campaigning by the Cotton Campaign and allies and international pressure from governments and other stakeholders. Forced labor was raised again in a meeting with the World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim, on September 20.

These significant developments offer hope that Uzbekistan is finally taking steps to end the decades-long practice of mobilizing massive forced labor to harvest cotton, the Cotton Campaign said. But these positive steps should not obscure the persistence of forced labor in the current cotton harvest, or the continuing threats against activists trying to monitor the situation. The Uzbek government should follow these steps with meaningful reforms to end this repressive and exploitative form of production once and for all.

Preliminary monitoring by Uzbek-German Forum, which independently monitors forced labor in the cotton sector in Uzbekistan, shows that teachers and healthcare workers in some districts have been recalled from the fields, but workers in other districts have not.

"We applaud the Uzbek government for finally acknowledging a situation that subjugates about a million Uzbek citizens into forced labor every harvest," said Nate Herman, senior vice president, Supply Chain, for the American Apparel & Footwear Association. "President Mirziyoyev's statement is a significant step forward, but regrettably only a single step. Forced labor still persists in this fall's cotton harvest. We will continue to monitor the situation and push for the complete end to government-orchestrated forced labor in Uzbekistan."

Interviews by Uzbek-German Forum monitors revealed that even as workers are being brought back from the fields, some local officials are extorting funds from businesses and individuals to pay for "replacement" workers. In some areas, returning teachers were made to pay about US$40, half of their monthly wage, to hire a replacement worker. In the Fergana region, officials told business owners that refusal to participate in the collection would be tantamount to an "anti-state action" that would result in a visit from the tax inspector. The Uzbek-German Forum's independent monitors are also still forced to work in secret because of multiple detentions by authorities and even physical assaults during the 2016 and 2015 harvests.

"It is premature to speak about meaningful reform in Uzbekistan if activists are still threatened with detention and violence," said Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "President Mirziyoyev's government should send an unambiguous message to independent activists and cotton monitors that their work is valued and that they will be free to monitor this cotton harvest without retaliation or interference."

For the third year in a row, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has contracted with the World Bank, which has invested more than US$500 million in projects that benefit agriculture, to monitor forced and child labor in World Bank project areas. A recent letter from the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) expressed serious concern regarding the ILO's monitoring methodology and recommended improvements in its mandate during the 2017 harvest.

All stakeholders, including the ILO and the World Bank, should closely monitor the situation on the ground from the harvest, including information provided by nongovernmental monitors, and judge progress toward eliminating forced labor in terms of how that reality matches the president's statements, the Cotton Campaign said.

"We believe that the new Uzbek president has a historic opportunity to advance reform that will move Uzbekistan beyond the legacy of the Soviet era," said Bennett Freeman, former US deputy assistant secretary of state, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. "We are ready to engage with the Uzbek government to finally come to terms with Uzbekistan's terrible human rights legacy and move toward a better future."

The Cotton Campaign is a global coalition of human rights, labor, investor and business organizations dedicated to eradicating child labor and forced labor in cotton production.

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Mozambique: Killing of anti-corruption mayor must be investigated

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 5 October 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Mozambique: Killing of anti-corruption mayor must be investigated, 5 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db1e934.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

In response to the apparent assassination of the mayor of Nampula City, Mahamudo Amurane, by an unidentified gunman late on 4 October in Nampula, Mozambique, Amnesty International's Regional Director for Southern Africa Deprose Muchena said:

In response to the apparent assassination of the mayor of Nampula City, Mahamudo Amurane, by an unidentified gunman late on 4 October in Nampula, Mozambique, Amnesty International's Regional Director for Southern Africa Deprose Muchena said:

"Mozambique authorities must launch a prompt, thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation into this killing, make public the report of any such investigation, and ensure that suspected perpetrators are brought to justice in a fair trial."

Background

Since his election as mayor of Nampula, Mahamudo Amurane embarked on a quest to root out corruption in the city's administration and revitalize public infrastructure.

Following disagreements with the leadership of the MDM, he had announced his intention to leave the party and form his own to run for re-election in the October 2018 municipal elections.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Key Finding on Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria

Publisher Human Rights Watch Author Ole Solvang Publication Date 5 October 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Key Finding on Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria, 5 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db24e24.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

A few days after the March 30 attack, on April 4, nearly 100 people died from chemical exposure in Khan Sheikhoun. Despite evidence that a Syrian government aircraft dropping chemical weapons caused the deaths, Syria, with Russia's help, has tried to deflect blame by presenting alternative theories to explain the presence of chemicals.

Immediately after the attack, Russian and Syrian officials claimed that the chemical exposure in Khan Sheikhoun was due to a Syrian aircraft dropping a bomb on a rebel chemical weapons factory on the ground. Among other problems, this theory collapsed when OPCW found that Khan Sheikhoun victims had been exposed to sarin. Producing sarin is complicated and would never result from the bombing of stored chemicals.

Russia and Syria then pushed a second theory to explain the chemical exposure, namely that armed opposition groups staged it to frame the government. We found zero evidence to support this theory, and Russia and Syria have never publicly presented any.

This is where yesterday's revelation comes in. In addition to the evidence pointing to government responsibility, the complexity of staging an attack on the scale of the one in Khan Sheikhoun already made this theory unlikely. Doing so in two locations on two different dates renders it even more implausible.

A joint investigation by the United Nations and the OPCW is expected to deliver its conclusion on who was responsible for the Khan Sheikhoun attack later in October. In drawing its conclusions, it should take the OPCW's finding on the use of sarin on March 30 into account.

The convention banning chemical weapons, ratified or signed by 192 states, is one of the strongest in international law. The Syrian government's repeated use of chemical weapons is unprecedented in the history of the convention. State parties to the convention should send the strongest possible signal that they will not tolerate Syria undermining this ban.

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Disclaimer

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
Mexico: Treatment of Tzeltal people in Chiapas by society and authorities, including displacement of members or supporters of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN); situation in Tenejapa in 2011 and presently (2015-September 2017).

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 22 September 2017 Citation / Document Symbol MEX105980.E Related Document(s) Mexique : information sur le traitement reserve par la societe et les autorites aux Tzeltals au Chiapas, y compris le deplacement de membres ou de partisans de l'Armee zapatiste de liberation nationale (Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional - EZLN); information sur la situation actuelle et en 2011 a Tenejapa (2015-septembre 2017). Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: Treatment of Tzeltal people in Chiapas by society and authorities, including displacement of members or supporters of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN); situation in Tenejapa in 2011 and presently (2015-September 2017)., 22 September 2017, MEX105980.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db29864.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Tzeltal People

According to an entry on the Tzeltal people published in Native Peoples of the World: An Encyclopedia of Groups, Cultures and Contemporary Issues and prepared by Gloria E. Chacon, Assistant Professor of Literature at the University of California, San Diego, specializing in indigenous studies (UCSC 2 June 2015), the Tzeltal are a group of "Maya Indians that live primarily in the eastern highlands of Chiapas in southeastern Mexico" (Chacon 2013, 166). According to sources, the Tzeltal people account for approximately one third of the indigenous population of Chiapas (Rodriguez and Fortier 2007, 91; Houston Institute for Culture 2004).

A BBC report notes that "the levels of poverty and marginalisation in Chiapas are among the highest in Mexico, particularly for indigenous peoples, who make up roughly 65% of the local population" (BBC 1 Jan. 2014). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a Professor of social anthropology at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, specializing in the study of indigenous groups in Chiapas, noted that the Tzeltal population in Chiapas receives [translation] "unequal treatment" from mestizo [mixed race] society, while indicating that the human rights situation varies for Tzeltal groups depending on political and religious affiliation, as well as economic status (Professor 7 Sept. 2017).

1.1 Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) in Chiapas

According to the encyclopedia entry, the Tzeltal participated in the 1994 Zapatista uprising which asserted indigenous rights (Chacon 2013, 166).

For further information on the Zapatista National Liberation Army (Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional, EZLN), see Response to Information Request MEX103776 of June 2011.

A 2014 report by Al Jazeera notes that "the Zapatistas remain popular at the local level" in Chiapas (Al Jazeera 1 Jan. 2014). Associated Press (AP) reports that the 20 years following the Zapatista rebellion have featured periods of tense relations between the government and the Zapatista movement (AP 1 Jan. 2014).

In 2011, La Jornada, a Mexico City-based newspaper, reports that Tzeltal communities are being persecuted by government groups in an attempt to deprive the Zapatistas of their land (La Jornada 7 Oct. 2011). According to the Professor, indigenous EZLN supporters are [translation] "victims of systematic repression and harassment" by members of governmental institutions, paramilitary groups, non-zapatista armed groups and members of the civilian population (Professor 7 Sept. 2017). The Professor also noted that being an EZLN supporter in Chiapas, including in Tenejapa, poses a high risk (ibid.).

1.2 Displacement of members and supporters of the EZLN

According to a 2014 report by the International Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), which monitors internal displacement around the world under the aegis of the Norwegian Refugee Council (IDMC May 2015, 3), "30,000 IDPs [internally displaced people] have been living in protracted displacement in Chiapas since the 1994 to 1995 Zapatista conflict, with no durable solutions in sight" (ibid., 19). A 2012 report by the same source highlighted that "99 per cent of those affected [were] members of indigenous groups with an acknowledged special attachment to their land" (IDMC Apr. 2013, 39). The same source further adds that because many indigenous IDPs in Chiapas "have lost access to their land and livelihoods, they have reportedly become poorer as a result of their displacement" (ibid.). According to the professor, in the past two years, the indigenous population has experienced a lot of displacement due to the political situation in the region, caused by the arrival of new political parties which created social conflict resulting in the appearance of armed fronts and divisions in the indigenous communities (Professor 7 Sept. 2017).

SinEmbargo, a digital Mexican newspaper, reports that in cases of dispossession in Chiapas, operators of the state government, with the support of police, force indigenous groups and Zapatista supporters to leave their land, with impunity (4 Feb. 2015).

El Universal, a national Mexican newspaper, reports that in 2016 indigenous Zapatistas staged a protest in San Cristobal de las Casas, in Chiapas, to demand an end to "harassment and threats" to a group of 47 displaced supporters of the EZLN, 36 of which were living in "inhumane conditions, without employment or medical attention" (El Universal 3 Feb. 2016). According to another report by the same source, in July 2017, members of four indigenous communities, displaced by political conflict, staged a protest outside the state palace of the government in Tuxtla Gutierrez, in order to claim a safe return and reparations for losses and financial damages (ibid. 10 July 2017).

1.3 State Protection

Sources indicate that, in 2012, the state of Chiapas adopted the Law for Prevention and Response to Internal Displacement (The Brookings Institution 17 Feb. 2012; El Universal 14 Feb. 2012). However, according to some sources, application of the law has been lacking (IDMC May 2015, 19; Frayba Oct. 2014, 12). The Fray Bartolome de las Casas Human Rights Centre (Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolome de Las Casas, Frayba), a non-profit, independent NGO that was founded in 1989 and promotes human rights in the state of Chiapas (Frayba n.d.), reports that the Mexican government is a [translation] "persistent offender" regarding forced internal displacement and human rights violations (ibid. Oct. 2014, 11).

El Universal reports that the National Commission for Human Rights (Comision Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, CNDH) have asked the federal government to create a national law regarding displacement and quotes the CNDH as noting that the country's legal system lacks regulation regarding forced internal displacement (El Universal 12 May 2016). According to the professor, no official program exists to assist victims of armed conflict and forced displacement (Professor 7 Sept. 2017). The IDMC reports that "[e]fforts to assist IDPs have been piecemeal and fragmented" (IDMC 31 Dec. 2013).

1.4 Civil Society

Sources indicate, without providing further details, that the Indigenous Development Commission (Comision Nacional para el Desarollo de los Pueblos Indigenas, CDI) provides some assistance to IDPs, including housing (IDMC 31 Dec. 2013; CDI 12 May 2016).

2. Situation in Tenejapa in 2011

According to sources, on 4 December 2011 four families of Zapatista sympathizers were displaced in Tenejapa after they were assaulted by individuals affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional, PRI) (La Jornada 7 Mar. 2013; SinEmbargo 4 Feb. 2015).

The following information comes from several reports in La Jornada:

The displaced families belong to the Tzeltal community of Banavil, in Tenejapa (17 July 2013). The families stated that they were [translation] "attacked with fire arms, displaced, incarcerated, persecuted like criminals, and mocked by the authorities" due to their being indigenous and EZLN supporters (7 Dec. 2013). Lorenzo Lopez Giron, one of the victims and son of Alonso Lopez Luna, who disappeared following the incident, is quoted as saying that the public prosecutor [translation] "has been an accomplice of the aggressors and has refused to search for his father's body" (7 Mar. 2013). In a press release on the commemoration of the fifth year of the disappearance of Lopez Luna, Frayba indicated that on 21 February 2013, one of the members of the displaced families, an 11 year old girl, died due to the [translation] "consequences of suffering the vulnerability of forced displacement," as the family remained in a "precarious" situation (5 Dec. 2016).

Sources also indicate the following about the incident of 4 December 2011:

Pedro Mendez Lopez was killed (La Jornada 20 Jan. 2012; Frayba Oct. 2014, 22);

Lorenzo Lopez Giron was injured and arrested in the incident (ibid.; La Jornada 7 Mar. 2013);

Six others were injured (La Jornada 7 Dec. 2013; Frayba Oct. 2014, 22);

Alonso Lopez Luna was disappeared (ibid.; La Jornada 20 Jan. 2012). According to La Jornada, he is an indigenous Tzeltal from Banavil, Tenejapa (ibid. 5 Dec. 2016). The same source reports that on 23 December 2011, a severed arm was found in Mercedes, adjacent to Banavil, which, according to the family, belongs to Lopez Luna, based on a scar he had on one of his fingers (ibid. 20 Jan. 2012). La Jornada states that evidence suggests that Lopez Luna was killed (ibid. 17 July 2013). According to Frayba, five years after his disappearance, the government has not searched for his body (ibid. 5 Dec. 2016);

EZLN supporter Francisco Santiz Lopez was arrested and imprisoned for 14 months (ibid. 7 Mar. 2013). La Jornada indicates that although witnesses report that he was not present at the time and place of the incident, he was accused of having initiated the violence (ibid. 20 Jan. 2012). A judge reportedly declared that the charges against him were unfounded (ibid. 8 Oct. 2012).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Associated Press (AP). 1 January 2014. Jose Maria Alvarez. "Mexico's Zapatista Rebel Movement Marks 20 Years since 1994 Uprising." (Factiva) [Accessed 29 Aug. 2017]

Al Jazeera. 1 January 2014. Duncan Tucker. "Are Mexico's Zapatista Rebels Still Relevant?" [Accessed 29 Aug. 2017]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 1 January 2014. Will Grant. "Struggling On: Zapatistas 20 Years After the Uprising." [Accessed 29 Aug. 2017]

The Brookings Institution. 17 February 2012. Elizabeth Ferris. "Good News from Chiapas - But a Larger Challenge for Mexico." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolome de Las Casas (Frayba). October 2014. Los derechos humanos a debate: Entre el cinismo oficial y la Dignidad de los Pueblos. [Accessed 25 Aug. 2017]

Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolome de Las Casas (Frayba). N.d. "Sobre nosotros." [Accessed 6 Sep. 2017]

Chacon, Gloria E. 2013. "Tzeltal and Tzotzil." Native Peoples of the World: An Encyclopedia of Groups, Cultures and Contemporary Issues. Edited by Steven Danver. London and New York: Routledge.

Comision Nacional para el Desarollo de los Pueblos Indigenas (CDI). 12 May 2016. "Visita a Casa del Nino Indigena en Chiapas." [Accessed 5 Sep. 2017]

El Universal. 10 July 2017. Oscar Gutierrez. "Indigenas desplazados realizan planton en Chiapas." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

El Universal. 12 May 2016. Marcos Muedano. "CNDH pide crear ley sobre desplazados." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

El Universal. 3 February 2016. Oscar Gutierrez. "Indigenas zapatistas exigen retorno de desplazados en Chiapas." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

El Universal. 5 July 2015. Katia Torres. "Crime, Poverty and Conflicts Trigger Exodus in Mexico." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

El Universal. 14 February 2012. Oscar Gutierrez. "Chiapas aprueba iniciativa de Ley para desplazados." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

Houston Institute for Culture. 2004. John P. Schmal. "Chiapas: Forever Indigenous." [Accessed 11 Sep. 2017]

Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). May 2015. Global Overview 2015: People Internally Displaced by Conflict and Violence. [Accessed 23 Aug. 2017]

Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). 31 December 2013. "Mexico: Internal Displacement in Brief." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). April 2013. Global Overview 2012: People Internally Displaced by Conflict and Violence. [Accessed 6 Sep. 2017]

La Jornada. 5 December 2016. Elio Henriquez. "Gobierno, sin accion ante desaparicion de Tzeltal hace 5 anos: Frayba." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

La Jornada. 1 April 2014. Hermann Bellinghausen. "Crean en Chiapas ONG en defensa de desplazados." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

La Jornada. 7 December 2013. Hermann Bellinghausen. "Denunacian a fiscal especializado indigena de Chiapas por incumplir aprehensiones." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

La Jornada. 17 July 2013. Hermann Bellinghausen. "Tzeltales desplazados de Tenejapa exigen atencion del gobierno." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

La Jornada. 7 March 2013. Hermann Bellinghausen. "Desplazados de Banavil piden intervenga Pena Nieto." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

La Jornada. 13 January 2013. Hermann Bellinghausen. "Libertad inmediata para el indigena Francisco Santiz Lopez, exige el Frayba." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

La Jornada. 8 October 2012. Hermann Bellinghausen. "Un juez reconoce su inocencia, pero Santiz sigue en la carcel." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

La Jornada. 20 January 2012. Hermann Bellinghausen. "Demanda el Frayba detener las agresiones de priistas contra indigenas." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

La Jornada. 7 October 2011. Hermann Bellinghausen. "Se recrudece la persecucion contra bases de apoyo zapatistas en los Altos de Chiapas." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]

Professor, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City. 7 September 2017. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Rodriguez, Jeanette and Ted Fortier. 2007. Cultural Memory: Resistance, Faith and Identity. Austin: University of Texas Press.

SinEmbargo. 4 February 2015. Sandra Rodriguez Nieto. "Chiapas: Tierra de desplazados  por su proprio gobierno." [Accessed 25 Aug. 2017]

University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). 2 June 2015. Institute for Humanities Research. [Accessed 11 Sep. 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Centro de Derechos Fray Bartolome de las Casas; Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Francisco de Vitoria; Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Augustin Pro Juarez; Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos; Congreso Nacional Indigena; Federacion Indigena Empresarial y Comunidades Locales de Mexico; Mexico - Comision Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indigenas, Consejo Nacional para Prevenir la Discriminacion; UN - Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons.

Internet sites, including: Agencia Mexicana de Noticias; Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Estudios Politicos; Freedom House; The Guardian; Human Rights Quarterly; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; IRIN; Minority Rights Group International; Mundo de Hoy; NOTIMEX; Radio France internationale; Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty; ReliefWeb; Reuters; UN - OHCHR, Refworld.
Turkmenistan: Raids, fines, torture, detentions, threats

Publisher Forum 18 Author Felix Corley Publication Date 3 October 2017 Cite as Forum 18, Turkmenistan: Raids, fines, torture, detentions, threats, 3 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db2a954.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Dashoguz Police threatened to inject a Jehovah's Witness with drugs and send her to a psychiatric hospital. Officers detaining a Jehovah's Witness in Turkmenabad "twisted his hands, strangled him, threw him to the floor, and forcefully shut his mouth to keep him from calling for help".
Turkmenistan: Pressure in schools, sackings, haj restrictions

Publisher Forum 18 Author Felix Corley Publication Date 4 October 2017 Cite as Forum 18, Turkmenistan: Pressure in schools, sackings, haj restrictions, 4 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db2b074.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Teachers and police intimidate Jehovah's Witness children in schools, including for refusing to wear the national flag. Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses have been sacked from state jobs. A student was expelled from university. This year had the smallest government-sponsored haj pilgrimage group since 2009.
Uzbekistan: Extra jail terms, no amnesty

Publisher Forum 18 Author Mushfig Bayram Publication Date 5 October 2017 Cite as Forum 18, Uzbekistan: Extra jail terms, no amnesty, 5 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db2ba34.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Teachers and police intimidate Jehovah's Witness children in schools, including for refusing to wear the national flag. Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses have been sacked from state jobs. A student was expelled from university. This year had the smallest government-sponsored haj pilgrimage group since 2009.
France: Whether an individual aged 18 years or older, born in a foreign country to a French mother, is of French nationality and whether they can pass on their nationality to their children, also born in a foreign country; procedures for having French nationality recognized

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 13 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol FRA105788.FE Related Document(s) France : information indiquant si un individu age de plus de 18 ans, ne a l'etranger d'une mere francaise, a la nationalite francaise et s'il peut la transmettre a ses enfants, egalement nes a l'etranger; marche a suivre pour faire reconnaitre la nationalite francaise. Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, France: Whether an individual aged 18 years or older, born in a foreign country to a French mother, is of French nationality and whether they can pass on their nationality to their children, also born in a foreign country; procedures for having French nationality recognized, 13 April 2017, FRA105788.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db36da4.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. French Nationality

France's Civil Code (Code civil) (last amended 2 March 2017) provides the following:

[translation]

Article 18

A French child is one who has at least one French parent.

Article 18-1

However, if only one parent is French, a child who is not born in France has the option of renouncing his or her French nationality in the six months prior to attaining the age of majority or within twelve months thereafter.

That option is lost if the parent who is stateless or a foreign national acquires French nationality while the child is a minor. (France 1804)

Other sources also report that French nationality is passed on to an individual if one of their parents is French (US 3 Mar. 2017, 19; France 17 July 2015). Service-public.fr, the official website of the French government, specifies the following: a child born in France or in a foreign country is French by descent when one of the child's parents is French; the parents do not need to be married, but the name of the French parent must appear on the child's birth certificate (France 17 July 2015). It also specifies that [translation] "[t]he nationality of a parent is assessed the day of the child's birth and while the child is a minor" (France 17 July 2015).

The same source reports that it is possible to hold multiple nationalities in France and that a French person does not have to renounce their French nationality if they acquire another (France 13 July 2015).

Article 20 of the Civil Code states the following:

[translation]

Article 20

A child who is French under the provisions of this Chapter shall be considered to have been French from birth, even when the existence of the statutory requirements for granting French nationality is established only at a later date.



Article 20-1

The parentage of a child impacts his or her nationality only when it is established while the child is a minor. (France 1804)

Similarly, the website of the Consulate General of France in Toronto explains that in order for French nationality to be passed on to a child, the parent-child relationship with the French parent must be established before the child turns 18 years of age (France 18 Apr. 2011).

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a minister-counsellor at the Embassy of France in Canada summarized as follows:

[translation]

A person over 18 years of age, born in a foreign country to a French mother [who, herself, was born in France or in a foreign country], may have French nationality if and only if at their birth, their mother retained her French nationality and [if] the parent-child relationship with that French parent was established while the child was a minor

A French individual may pass on their nationality to their children (by descent) if, on the day of the children's birth, the individual retained their French nationality and if the parent-child relationship with that French parent was established while the child was a minor. (France 12 Apr. 2017, emphasis in original)

Regarding the issue of an individual passing on French nationality to their children when their own French nationality has yet to be recognized on the day their children are born, the minister-counsellor explained: [translation] "Because every case is unique, there is unfortunately no standard answer when it comes to nationality law. The ultimate way to lay doubt to rest is [to]  apply for a certificate of French nationality [CNF]" (France 12 Apr. 2017).

The minister-counsellor provided the following example:

[translation]

If [the French parent, on the day of the birth of their children,] submits no valid French document ([secure national identification card], passport, registry record, etc.) and has not, a fortiori, had their foreign birth certificate added to the French civil registry, and if their parents have not demonstrated any ties to France in 50 years, there may be disuse, and the person concerned would have to apply for a [CNF] (France 12 Apr. 2017).

According to the website of the Consulate General of France in Washington, the loss of French nationality by disuse is set out in article 30-3 of the Civil Code (France 9 Sept. 2016).

Section 30-3 of the Civil Code states the following:

[translation]

Article 30-3

When a person habitually resides or has resided in a foreign country, in which the ancestors from whom they hold the nationality by descent have remained settled for more than 50 years, that person may not prove that they hold the nationality by descent if they or the parent who could have passed on the nationality to them have not been a French national.

In that event case, the court must conclude the loss of French nationality under the article 23-6. (France 1804)

2. Procedures for Having French Nationality Recognized

The website of the Consulate General of France in Montreal states that the [translation] "[CNF]  is the only probative document with respect to nationality" (France 13 Feb. 2017). The website of the Consulate General of France in Washington indicates the following with regard to the CNF:

[translation]

The certificate of French nationality is an official document, which serves to prove French nationality.

It indicates the legal provision under which the applicant is of French nationality and the documents used to establish this.

It may be requested in the following cases: issuing of a first computerized identity card or a passport, application for a job in the civil service. (France 6 Sept. 2016)

In the case of an individual born and living in a foreign country, Service-public.fr lists the following steps for obtaining a CNF: contact the Department of Nationality for French People Born and Established Outside of France (Service de la nationalite des Francais nes et etablis hors de France) (at 30 Rue du Chateau des Rentiers, 75647 Paris Cedex 13); submit the application in person (if one is unable to travel, the application may be submitted by correspondence in certain courts); and, for individuals born in a foreign country who have one French parent, the following must be provided:

photo identification;

proof of identity;

proof of residence (recent electricity bill, lease, notice of tax assessment, etc.);

a complete copy of the individual's birth certificate indicating the parent-child relationship;

a complete copy of each parents' birth certificate;

all documents concerning the parents that demonstrate French nationality (national identity card, passport, consular registration card, certificate of nationality, military booklet, voter card, etc.);

a complete copy of the parents' marriage certificate or, if the parents are not married, a complete copy of the certificate recognizing and proving parentage (France 30 Sept. 2015).

The site also indicates that the birth certificate must be recent so as to make it possible to verify a possible change of nationality (France 30 Sept. 2015). It also indicates that CNFs are issued at no charge by the senior court registrar and that the period of validity of CNFs is not limited (France 30 Sept. 2015).

The same site provides information on possible recourse in the event that an application is rejected: an informal appeal, which involves contacting the Ministry of Justice in writing (by including a copy of the refusal), and a legal appeal, for which the case is submitted to the high court of competent jurisdiction and which requires representation by counsel (France 30 Sept. 2015).

The minister-counsellor explained that under article 30 of the Civil Code, [translation] "it is up to the person concerned to prove their French nationality" (France 12 Apr. 2017). Section 30 of the Civil Code provides the following:

[translation]

Article 30

The burden of proof in matters of French nationality lies with the person whose nationality is at issue.

However, that burden lies with the person challenging the French nationality of anyone holding a certificate of French nationality issued in accordance with article 31 and following. (France 1804)

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

France. 12 April 2017. Embassy of France in Canada. Correspondence with the Research Directorate by a minister-counsellor.

France. 13 February 2017. Consulate General of France in Montreal. "Certificat de nationalite francaise." [Accessed 4 Apr. 2017]

France. 9 September 2016. Consulate General of France in Washington. "Repudiation/Perte de la nationalite francaise." [Accessed 13 Apr. 2017]

France. 6 September 2016. Consulate General of France in Washington. "Le Certificat de Nationalite Francaise." [Accessed 4 Apr. 2017]

France. 30 September 2015. Service-public.fr. "Certificat de nationalite francaise (CNF)." [Accessed 4 Apr. 2017]

France. 17 July 2015. Service-public.fr. "Dans quels cas un enfant est-il Francais?" [Accessed 3 Apr. 2017]

France. 13 July 2015. Service-public.fr. "Peut-on avoir plusieurs nationalites?" [Accessed 7 Apr. 2017]

France. 18 April 2011. Consulate General of France in Toronto. "L'enregistrement de la naissance d'une personne majeure nee de parents non maries." [Accessed 4 Apr. 2017]

France. 1804 (amended in 2017). Code civil. [Accessed 3 Apr. 2017]

United States (US). 3 March 2017. Department of State. "France." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016. [Accessed 4 Apr. 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: France - Consulate General of France in Toronto.

Internet sites, including: ecoi.net; France - ministere des Affaires etrangeres et du Developpement international; United Nations - Refworld.
Bangladesh: The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), including operational capacity, areas of operation, and activities (2015-November 2016)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 15 November 2016 Citation / Document Symbol BGD105673.E Related Document(s) Bangladesh : information sur le Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), y compris sa capacite operationnelle, ses activites et les regions ou celles-ci sont exercees (2015-novembre 2016) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bangladesh: The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), including operational capacity, areas of operation, and activities (2015-November 2016), 15 November 2016, BGD105673.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db388c4.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

Sources indicate that the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh [1] (JMB) is an "Islamist" (CNN 23 Feb. 2016; BBC 27 Aug. 2016), "jihadist" (CNN 3 July 2016), or "militant Islamic" group in Bangladesh (PHW 2015, 121). Sources indicate that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen means "Assembly of Jihadists" (Power Politics 1 Oct. 2016) or "Party of the Mujahideen" (SATP n.d.a). Sources indicate that the group's objective is to establish Islamic rule in Bangladesh through the use of violence (Roul Nov. 2011, 16; SATP n.d.a) and it is "opposed to the establishment of democracy" (ibid.).

Sources describe the JMB as the most significant or prominent local jihadist group in Bangladesh (Jamestown Foundation 6 Feb. 2015, 3; CNN 3 July 2016). Sources indicate that the group was founded in 1998 (SATP n.d.a; Roul Nov. 2011, 16); or "first surfaced in 2004" (BDNews24 17 Aug. 2016). Sources indicated that the JMB is banned in Bangladesh (ibid.; CNN 23 Feb. 2016). The South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), a New Delhi-based online database related to terrorism and "low intensity warfare" in South Asia (SATP n.d.b) notes that the JMB was "proscribed by the [Bangladeshi] Government" on 23 February 2005 (ibid. n.d.a). The JMB was listed on the UK Home Office's 15 July 2016 list of proscribed terrorist organizations, and indicates that the JMB was "proscribed" to the list in July 2007 (UK 15 July 2016, 13).

1.1 Links with Extremist Groups Outside Bangladesh

According to sources, the JMB pledges allegiance to ISIS [Islamic State; Daesh; ISIL] (CNN 3 July 2016; Pakistan Today 12 Aug. 2016; Reuters 29 Aug. 2016) or is affiliated with ISIS (The Washington Post 28 Aug. 2016). The Jamestown Foundation, a Washington-based policy institute focused on providing information about "societies which are strategically or tactically important to the United States and which frequently restrict access to such information" (Jamestown Foundation n.d.a), states that ISIS media releases have expressed support for the JMB (ibid. 24 June 2016, 4).

Sources report that the JMB has links with Pakistan-based militant groups like HuJi [Harkat-ul Jihad-al Islami] and LeT [Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Lashkar-e-Toiba] (The Diplomat 7 July 2016; Power Politics 1 Oct. 2016), and the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan (ibid.). An article in Power Politics, an India-based news magazine (ibid. n.d.), indicates that the JMB is also active in Indian states of West Bengal and Assam where it is associated with the "Indian Mujahideen, Al Jihad, Al Ummah and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)" (ibid. 1 Oct. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.2 Bombings and Attacks in 2005

Sources indicate that the JMB was responsible for the coordinated explosion of approximately 460 bombs on 17 August 2005 (PHW 2015, 121; Roul Nov. 2011, 16). Sources state that the bombs detonated in 63 of the 64 districts of Bangladesh within 30 minutes of each other (ibid.; Power Politics 1 Oct. 2016). In an article in CTC Sentinel, the journal of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point Academy in the US, Animesh Roul [2] indicates that the 2005 bombings killed two people and injured nearly one hundred more (Roul Nov. 2011, 16). Sources further indicate that the JMB was also implicated in two courthouse bombings that killed two judges in 2005 (PHW 2015 121; SATP n.d.a). Roul states that later in 2005, the "JMB targeted the country's judiciary - court buildings, judges and government officials - with suicide attacks in an effort to intimidate authorities into releasing around 400 JMB suspects arrested after the August countrywide blasts" (Nov 2011, 16). The Political Handbook of the World 2015 (PHW) reports that Bangladeshi authorities captured JMB leaders Maulana Abdur Rahman and operations chief of the Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) [3], Siddiqul Islam (also known as Bangla Bhai), and sentenced them to death; they were executed in 2007 along with four other JMB members (PHW 2015, 121). Roul further indicates that after the 2005 bombings, authorities also "apprehended more than 700 suspected members of JMB and [JMJB]," and that in March 2007, "the Bangladeshi government executed a number of JMB's leaders including its chief, Shaikh Abdur Rahman" (Nov. 2011, 16).

1.3 Factions and Links to Domestic Groups

An article in Power Politics indicates that "many" members of the JMB are also members of Islami Chhatra Chibir, which is the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, a Bangladeshi political party (1 Oct. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. For further information on Jamaat-e-Islami, see Responses to Information Requests BGD105262 of August 2015 and BGD104759 of January 2014.

Sources state that the JMJB is an "off-shoot" of the JMB "militant outfit" (The Independent 6 June 2016), or a "closely linked" organization to the JMB (PHW 2015, 121). Similarly, Roul describes the JMJB as an "affiliate party" of the JMB (Nov. 2011, 16).

BDNews24, a Bangladeshi online newspaper, states that after 2013, a faction of the JMB "regrouped and gained strength by joining  with other groups like Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT)" [4] and changed its tactics to "select assassinations," with targets such as "secular bloggers and writers, publishers, priests of minority communities," and foreigners (BDNews24 17 Aug, 2016). The same source cites "intelligence officials" as stating that this faction resurfaced as "Neo-JMB" [New JMB] (ibid.). According to India-based newspaper Kashmir Images, Neo-JMB is "ideologically linked to ISIS" (9 Oct. 2016). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Membership

The undated SATP profile of the JMB which was compiled from news reports, states that the JMB "is known to maintain about 10,000 full time and 100,000 part-time cadres" (SATP n.d.a). The same source further states that "reports also suggest that there are approximately [one million] trainees" [5] (ibid.). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The Dhaka Tribune states in a May 2016 article that, according to the police, there is a 15-member JMB sleeper cell working as a "killing squad" across North Bengal (9 May 2016). A June 2016 article in The New York Times cites Monirul Islam, the Chief of the Bangladeshi police counterterrorism unit, as stating that the JMB "has trained 50 to 100 madrassa [madrasa] [6] students as killers  organizing them into cells of four or five" (8 June 2016). Agencia EFE, a Spanish news agency, cites the Chief of the Rapid Action Battalion of Bangladesh as stating that, according to their investigations, the "New JMB" faction of the JMB had nearly 300 members operating in July 2015, and that due to police actions, as of the 21 October 2016 article, the group had 21 members left (Agencia EFE 21 October 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The Diplomat magazine, a digital international affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific region (The Diplomat n.d.), notes in a July 2016 article that, "despite a series of arrests of JMB operatives in recent years, intelligence agencies in Bangladesh warned earlier [in 2016] that JMB was reconstituting itself" (ibid. 7 July 2016). Bangladesh intelligence agencies told the Dhaka Tribune that it is aware that the JMB was resurging, with sleeper cells formed with "'highly educated members and technology experts'" (9 May 2016). BDNews24 similarly reports that while the JMB was associated with "madrasa educated boys mostly from rural areas," the Neo JMB faction recruits come from "the upper middle class or rich families exposed to English-medium education and modern technology" (17 Aug. 2016). Further and corroborating information on the size of the JMB could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Activities

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom's 2016 Annual Report for Bangladesh states that authorities had attributed incidents to the JMB, or the JMB had claimed responsibility for incidents, in which "minority leaders and laity from Christian, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities were killed, injured, or threatened and some houses of worship were attacked" (US 2 May 2016). Similarly, The Diplomat magazine indicates that

[s]ince the early 2000s, JMB has claimed responsibility for a number of bombings in Bangladesh  and has carried out targeted assassinations of members of the country's Hindu minority, Shia community, academicians, public intellectuals and secular forces. (7 July 2016)

A CNN article similarly states that JMB's activities have focused on attacking religious minorities, such as "Hindu clerics and non-majority Muslims from Shiite, Ahmadiyya [Ahmadi] and Sufi communities" (CNN 3 July 2016). In a February 2016 article, CNN further cites Monirul Islam, the Joint Commissioner of the Bangladesh Police, as stating that the JMB was "responsible for most of the attacks on Shiite mosques, Hindu temples, churches and religious leaders  since October [2015]" (ibid 23 Feb. 2016). The New York Times cites Monirul Islam, the Chief of the Bangladeshi police counterterrorism unit, as stating that the JMB was involved in a number of killings of targeted individuals, such as a homeopathic doctor, an English Professor at Rajashi University who was "not known to have written critically of Islam," and an elderly Japanese man who had converted to Islam (8 June 2016). According to a May 2016 article by the Dhaka Tribune, the JMB has carried out 14 attacks since October of 2015 (9 May 2016).

3.1 Incidents

Sources indicate that the Bangladeshi Government attributed a 1 July 2016 attack on a cafe in Dhaka, named Holey Artisan Bakery Cafe, to the JMB (Al Jazeera 27 Aug. 2016; BBC 27 Aug. 2016). The action was described by the BBC as the worst attack in the country's history (ibid.). However, sources also report that ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack (Al Jazeera 27 Aug. 2016; BBC 27 Aug. 2016; The Telegraph 27 Aug. 2016). Sources report that Bangladeshi authorities denied this claim (BBC 27 Aug. 2016; The Telegraph 27 Aug. 2016). Reuters reports that the police believe that the "New JMB" was involved in organizing the attack (Reuters 21 Oct. 2016). According to sources, 22 people were killed in this attack, including 2 police officers (BBC 27 Aug. 2016; The Telegraph 27 Aug. 2016; Al Jazeera 27 Aug. 2016); 18 of those killed were foreigners (The Telegraph 27 Aug. 2016; Al Jazeera 27 Aug. 2016). Sources indicate that Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-born Canadian and suspected mastermind behind the attack, was killed by Bangladeshi security forces in August 2016 (BBC 27 Aug. 2016; The Telegraph 27 Aug. 2016; Al Jazeera 27 Aug. 2016). Al Jazeera reports that Chowdhury was killed when police raided a house and a one hour fight ensued; police stated that the suspects threw grenades and fired assault rifles (ibid.).

The US National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) maintains the Global Terrorism Database (GTD), an open-source database of over 150,000 entries on terrorist events throughout the world from 1970 to 2015 (START n.d.a), and lists 16 incidents in 2015 in which the JMB were either responsible for or suspected of perpetrating (ibid. n.d.b). The incident descriptions and details related to the JMB's 2015 attacks as provided in the GTD database, are attached to this Response. Sources further report that the JMB has claimed responsibility for, or is believed to be involved in, the following attacks:

An October 2015 grenade attack on a Shia shrine in Dhaka which killed a person and injured 80 is suspected by the government to have been organized by the military wing of the JMB, although ISIS claimed responsibility (BBC 26 Nov. 2015).

The October 2015 murder of a Japanese citizen was alleged to have been committed by JMB members, who were arrested in connection to the killing (Dhaka Tribune 9 May 2016; UNB 10 July 2016), 8 of whom were later charged in July 2016 (ibid.).

An assault on an Italian Catholic priest in the Dinajpur district in late 2015 (BBC 21 Feb. 2016).

An attack in Panchargh, northern Bangladesh, whereby two JMB attackers threw grenades and shot at the a Hindu temple, injuring a Hindu worshipper; they also cut the Hindu priest's throat, killing him (CNN 23 Feb. 2016);

The killing of a homeopathic doctor and wounding of a teacher of the Islamic University in the Bottoil area of Sadar Upazila on 20 May 2016 in what police called a JMB plan to kill "'secular people'" (Daily Star 1 Nov, 2016).

The June 2016 killing of the wife of a police officer who had been involved in investigating the JMB in Chittagong (AFP 5 June 2016; The Independent 6 June 2016) and who had led high profile operations against the group (AFP 5 June 2016). The Independent reports that the officer had received death threats from the JMB and that higher authorities had warned the officer about a possible attack on him (The Independent 6 June 2016).

4. Areas of Operation

In February 2016, CNN cites Monirul Islam, the Joint Commissioner of the Bangladesh Police, as stating that the JMB has been responsible for attacks "across Bangladesh" since October 2015 (23 Feb. 2016). In June 2016, The New York Times cites the Chief of the police counterterrorism unit, Monirul Islam, as stating that the reorganized JMB is active "almost exclusively in northern Bangladesh" (8 June 2016). Similarly, the Dhaka Tribune cites intelligence agencies as stating in 2016, the JMB had been reconstituting itself earlier in the year, particularly in the north of the country (9 May 2016). According to Roul in a Jamestown Foundation article, "hotspots of Islamic militancy" where "search and sweep operations" have occurred since June 2016, include Dhaka, Chittagong, Bogra, Khulna, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Kushtia, Gaibandha, and Rajshahi (24 June 2016, 3).

Sources report police actions against JMB members, including in the following areas of Bangladesh:

the Western Rashahi District in June 2016, where the police shot a member of the JMB suspected of being involved in a bombing of an Ahmadiya mosque (BBC 7 June 2016);

the Mirpur zone in Dhaka, where in September 2016 the police shot a "military commander" of the Neo JMB thought to have been involved in training the Dhaka cafe attackers (The Daily Star 3 Sept. 2016);

the Shirajganj district where three JMB members were arrested on 4 October 2016 and cases were filed against them for "conducting terrorist activities" (Prothom Alo 5 Oct. 2016);

the Shibpur area in Puthia Upazila of Rajshahi in October 2016, where one JMB member, who was accused in a 2005 JMB bombing, was arrested and bombs and jihadi books were recovered from the scene (The Financial Express 7 Oct. 2016);

the outskirts of Dhaka, where twelve New JMB members were killed in a shoot-out with the police on 8 October 2016 (Reuters 9 Oct. 2016);

the Gazipur and Tangail districts in suburban Dhaka, where four JMB members were killed by the police in October 2016 in separate raids (Reuters 8 Oct. 2016; Kashmir Images 9 Oct. 2016);

the Khalishkhali village in Kachua upazila of the Bagerhat district, where four suspected JMB members were arrested on 25 October 2016 after a gunfight with the police (The Financial Express 25 Oct. 2016); and

the Kushtia district, where a suspected JMB regional leader was killed on 31 October 2016 during a gunfight with the police (Dhaka Tribune 31 Oct. 2016; The Daily Star 1 Nov. 2016).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] JMB is also known as Jama'at ul Mujahideen, Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh, Jamaat Ul Mujahideen, Jamaatul Mujahedin, Jaamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh, Jamaat-ul-Mujahidin Bangladesh, Jama'at ul Mujahideen Bangladesh, Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh, and Jamayetul Mujahidin.

[2] According to a description on the Jamestown Foundation website, Animesh Roul is "the executive director of the New Delhi-based policy research group Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict [and] specializes in counterterrorism, radical Islam, terror financing, and armed conflict and violence in South Asia" (Jamestown Foundation n.d.b).

[3] According to Power Politics, JMJB means "Awakened Muslim Masses of Bangladesh," and is an organization that is active in northwestern Bangladesh, which is responsible for "a series of suicide bombings in Bangladesh" (1 Oct. 2016).

[4] According to The New York Times, Ansar al-Islam, which resurfaced and is known as ABT, is a "radical Islamist group" involved in the "fight against secularism," and has been involved in attacks, including the targeting and killing of bloggers involved with the Shahbag protest (8 June 2016). For information on the Shahbag social movement, see Response to Information Request BGD104759 of January 2014.

[5] SATP states there are reportedly about "10 lakh trainees" (SATP n.d.a). According to the Oxford Dictionary, a "lakh" is defined as "a hundred thousand" (Oxford Dictionaries n.d.a).

[6] SATP indicates that a madrasa is a seminary (SATP n.d.a). According to the Oxford Dictionary, a madrasa is "a school for Islamic instruction" (Oxford Dictionary n.d.b).

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 5 June 2016. "Suspected Militants Kill Bangladesh Police Officer's Wife." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Agencia EFE. 21 October 2016. "Bangladesh Confirms Extremist Group Chief Killed in Police Raid." (Factiva)

Al Jazeera. 27 August 2016. "Bangladesh Police 'Kill Main Dhaka Cafe Attack Suspect'." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

BDNews24. 17 August 2016. Suliman Niloy. "How JMB Evolved to 'Neo JMB'." [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 27 August 2016. "Bangladesh 'Cafe Attack Planner Killed' in Police Raid." [Accessed 28 Oct. 2016]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 7 June 2016. "Bangladesh Hindu Priest Murdered by Militants." [Accessed 31 Oct. 2016]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 21 February 2016. "Bangladesh Hindu Priest Beheaded 'By Islamic State'." [Accessed 31 Oct. 2016]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 26 November 2015. "Bangladesh Shia Mosque Attacked by Gunmen." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Cable News Network (CNN). Tiffany Ap. 3 July 2016. "Who Are the Terror Groups Jostling for Influence in Bangladesh?" [Accessed 11 Nov. 2016]

Cable News Network (CNN). 23 February 2016. Sugam Pokharel and Tim Hume. "Arrests Made Following Killing of Bangladeshi Priest." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

The Daily Star. 1 November 2016. "JMB Leader Involved in Doctor Killing Say Police After the Militant Killed in Kushtia 'Shootout'." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

The Daily Star. 3 September 2016. "Bangladesh Militant Commander Linked to Cafe Attack Killed." (BBC Monitoring South Asia/Factiva)

The Dhaka Tribune. 31 October 2016. Kudrote Khuda Sobuj. "Suspected JMB Leader Killed in Kushtia 'Gunfight'." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

The Dhaka Tribune. 9 May 2016. Mohammad Jamil Khan. "Militants Resurgent in North Bengal." [Accessed 12 Nov. 2016]

The Diplomat. 7 July 2016. Rohan Joshi. "Dhaka Hostage Crisis: Anatomy of A Terror Attack." [Accessed 28 Oct. 2016]

The Diplomat. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]

The Financial Express. 25 October 2016. "Police Nab Four JMB Suspects." (Factiva)

The Financial Express. 7 October 2016. "Police Arrest Suspected Member of JMB in Rajshahi." (Factiva)

The Independent. 6 June 2016. "'JMB?Planned Murder in Ctg Jail'." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

Jamestown Foundation. 24 June 2016. Animesh Roul. "Bangladesh Launches Crackdown on Islamist Threat." Terrorism Monitor. Vol. 14, Issue 13. [Accessed 28 Oct. 2016]

Jamestown Foundation. 6 February 2015. Animesh Roul. "Spreading Tentacles: The Islamic State in Bangladesh." Terrorism Monitor. Vol. 13, Issue 3. [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

Jamestown Foundation. N.d.a. "About Us." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

Jamestown Foundation. N.d.b. "Animesh Roul." [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]

Kashmir Images. 9 October 2016. "Dhaka: Security Raids Kill Four Suspected Neo-JMB Militants." (Factiva)

The New York Times. June 8 2016. Geeta Anand and Julfikar Ali Manik. "Bangladesh Says It Now Knows Who's Killing the Bloggers." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

Oxford Dictionaries. N.d.a. "Lakh." Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]

Oxford Dictionaries. N.d.b. "Madrasa." [Accessed 9 Nov. 2011]

Pakistan Today. 12 August 2016. "Bangladesh Police Arrest Five Planning Suicide Attacks in Dhaka." (Factiva)

Political Handbook of the World 2015 (PHW). 2015. "Bangladesh." Edited by Thomas Lansford. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

Power Politics. 1 October 2016. "Terror in B'desh: Of Concern to India?" (Factiva).

Power Politics. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]

Protham Alo. 5 October 2016. "Seven JMB, HuT Members Captured." (BBC Monitoring South Asia/Factiva)

Reuters. 21 October 2016. "Bangladesh Says Dead Militant Headed Group Behind Cafe Attack." (Factiva)

Reuters. 9 October 2016. Ruma Paul. "Update 3-Bangladesh Kills 12 Islamists Blamed for Cafe Attack." (Factiva)

Reuters. 8 October 2016. "Bangladesh Kills Four Members of Islamist Group Blamed for Cafe Attack." (Factiva)

Reuters. 29 August 2016. Lesley Wroughton and Serajul Quadir. "Update 1-Islamic State 'Connected' to Bangladesh, Says Kerry, Offering Security Aid." (Factiva)

Roul, Animesh. November 2011. "Jamaatul Mujahidin Bangladesh: Weakened But Not Destroyed." CTC Sentinel. Vol. 4, Issue 11-12. [Accessed 13 Nov. 2016]

South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP). N.d.a. "Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)." [Accessed 20 Oct. 2016]

South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP). N.d.b. "South Asia Terrorism Portal." [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]

START, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. N.d.a. Global Terrorism Database (GTD). "Overview of the GTD." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

START, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. N.d.b. Global Terrorism Database (GTD). "Search Results: 16 Incidents." [Accessed 4 Nov. 2016]

The Telegraph. 27 August 2016. Roland Oliphant. "Bangladesh Police Kill 'Mastermind' of Dhaka Cafe Massacre." [Accessed 7 Nov. 2016]

United Kingdom (UK). 15 July 2016. Home Office. Proscribed Terrorist Organizations. [Accessed 1 Nov. 2016]

United News of Bangladesh (UNB). 10 July 2016. "Eight Charged with Hoshi Kunio Murder." [Accessed 12 Nov. 2016]

United States (US). 2 May 2016. US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). "Bangladesh." Annual Report 2016. [Accessed 28 Oct. 2016]

The Washington Post. 28 August 2016. Saad Hammadi and Annie Gowen. "Suspected Mastermind of July Cafe Siege in Bangladesh is Killed in Shootout." (Factiva)

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: International Crisis Group; Professor of political science, Illinois State University; Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Bertelsmann Stiftung; Canada - Public Safety; Council on Foreign Relations; ecoi.net; Factiva; Federation internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; IRIN; Radio France internationale; Stanford University - Mapping Militant Organizations; UN - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Refworld, Development Programme; US - Department of State.

Attachment

START, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. N.d. Global Terrorism Database (GTD). "Search Results: 16 Incidents." [Accessed 4 Nov. 2016]
Bangladesh: Whether the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Dhaka issues order sheets and arrest warrants in absentia of the accused in petition cases; whether an accused person can obtain a copy of an order sheet and an arrest warrant in petition cases from the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate; whether there is a registry of such documents held at the court; how court documents can be verified; appearance and security features; prevalence of fabricated petition cases at the court (2014-October 2016)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 18 November 2016 Citation / Document Symbol BGD105614.E Related Document(s) Bangladesh : information indiquant si le magistrat en chef de la metropole (Chief Metropolitan Magistrate  CMM) de Dacca delivre des ordonnances et des mandats d'arret en l'absence des accuses dans des affaires concernant des requetes; information indiquant si un accuse peut obtenir une copie d'une ordonnance ou d'un mandat d'arret aupres de la Cour du CMM dans des affaires concernant des requetes; information indiquant si un registre de avec de tels documents est tenu a la cour; information sur les methodes de verification des documents de la cour; l'aspect et les caracteristiques de securite; la prevalence des requetes inventees a la cour (2014-october 2016) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bangladesh: Whether the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Dhaka issues order sheets and arrest warrants in absentia of the accused in petition cases; whether an accused person can obtain a copy of an order sheet and an arrest warrant in petition cases from the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate; whether there is a registry of such documents held at the court; how court documents can be verified; appearance and security features; prevalence of fabricated petition cases at the court (2014-October 2016), 18 November 2016, BGD105614.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db39e64.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Issuance of Order Sheets and Arrest Warrants in Absentia

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a lawyer from Dhaka-based law-firm The Law Counsel who practices banking and corporate law stated that the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court in Dhaka

is empowered in certain cases and does issue warrants of arrest on the first date against an accused in absentia. Whether or not a warrant shall be issued on the first date a matter comes to court depends on the nature of the offence. In less serious offences, the [CMM] would issue a summons first and then if the accused did not appear pursuant to the summons, [he or she] would [be] issue[d] a warrant of arrest to compel appearance on the following date. (Lawyer, The Law Counsel 1 Sept. 2016)

In further correspondence, the lawyer indicated that arrest warrants are issued with "Bangladesh Form 3905 (High Court Criminal Process Form No. 12)" (ibid. 19 Sept. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. The same source noted that the form for an arrest warrant is in Bengali and can be found on the website of the Law and Justice Division of the government of Bangladesh (ibid.). A sample of the form, including its translation into English, is attached to this Response.

2. Obtaining Copies of CMM Documents

2.1 Copies of Witness Statements and "Order Sheet"

Sources indicated that an accused person is allowed to obtain certified copies of an "'Order Sheet'" [1] and witness statements from the CMM court in Dhaka in a petition case by making an application for the documents (Lawyer, FM Associates 18 Aug. 2016; Lawyer, The Law Counsel 15 Aug. 2016). Sources indicate that in order to obtain these copies, the accused person has to have surrendered him or herself to authorities and not be a fugitive (ibid.; France June 2015, 23). However, the report of a fact-finding mission organized by the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Office francais de protection des refugies et apatrides, OFPRA) cites a Bangladeshi lawyer as stating that if there is more than one accused person in a given case, they could possibly obtain a [translation] "simple copy of a 'certified copy'" of court documents through the lawyer of a co-accused (ibid.). The report further states that according to another lawyer, trials in absentia are [translation] "relatively rare," and that for such a trial to happen, several conditions to declare the accused a fugitive, which are set in the criminal procedure code, must be met first (ibid.). These conditions include a proclamation that has to be posted in different places, including at the last known home address of the accused, followed by an Order of Seizure of Property (ibid.). Finally, a notice to appear has to be published in the Bengali language in at least two daily newspapers (ibid.). Additional and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a lawyer and managing partner at the Dhaka's office of FM Associates and who is also a barrister and advocate before the Supreme Court of Bangladesh indicated that fees also have to be paid to the court, after which the court takes two to three weeks to issue the certified copy of the documents (Lawyer, FM Associates 18 Aug. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to sources, applications for certified copies of CMM court "'Order Sheets'" and witness statements in petition cases do not need to be made in person, and can be obtained through a lawyer or a representative (ibid.; Lawyer, The Law Counsel 15 Aug. 2015) such as a family member or a friend (Lawyer, FM Associates 18 Aug. 2016). However, the lawyer at The Law Counsel indicated that, "in practice such applications will only be accepted from the accused or his lawyer" (15 Aug. 2016).

2.2 Copies of Arrest Warrants

Sources stated that, when an arrest warrant is issued, a copy is sent to the relevant police station and not to the person who is being accused (Lawyer, The Law Counsel 15 Aug. 2016; Lawyer, FM Associates 18 Aug. 2016). The Lawyer at FM Associates specified that arrest warrants are sent to the court's "dispatch section" prior to being forwarded to the police (ibid.). Sources indicated that neither the accused or his or her lawyer or representative can obtain a copy of an arrest warrant (ibid.; Lawyer, The Law Counsel 15 Aug. 2016). The Lawyer at The Law Counsel noted, however, that "the accused (if he is not a fugitive), or his or her legal representative, may obtain a copy of the order authorising the issuance of a warrant of arrest" (ibid.). Further and corroborating information, or information on how to obtain the order authorising the issuance of an arrest warrant, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Appearance and Security Features

3.1 Court Documents

According to the lawyer at FM Associates, CMM court documents in a petition case exhibit the court seal, the case number, and the signature of the authority (18 Aug. 2016). The lawyer at The Law Counsel further stated that certified copies of court records are "issued on government printed paper (popularly known as folio)," and these contain "several" dates at the top of the sheet, including the date of application for the certified copy, the date on which the copy was ready for delivery, and the date of delivery of the certified copy, and the fee amount paid for the copy (15 Aug. 2016). He added that certified copies also have the signatures of the court officials who have verified the certified copy, and the seal of the court from which the copy was issued (ibid.).

3.2 Arrest Warrants

The lawyer at The Law Counsel stated that arrest warrants do not have security features (15 Aug. 2016). According to the lawyer at FM Associates, arrest warrants exhibit the seal of the court, memo number, date of issuance, and the signatures of the "Present Officers" (POs) of the court (18 Aug. 2016). Further information, or information on how to obtain the order authorising the issuance of an arrest warrant, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

4. Verification of Court Documents

4.1 Court Documents

Without providing further information, the lawyer at FM Associates indicated that, in order to verify whether court documents are genuine, "the appropriate court seal, the case number and signature of the relevant judge of the court, the date of the issue of the documents along with the signature of the court authority shall be present" (18 Aug 2016). The Lawyer at The Law Counsel stated that there is a "separate office" at the court that maintains a register of the issuance of certified copies, including date of application for the copies, "case particulars (i.e. case numbers and name of the parties in the case)," and the date of delivery of the certified copies (15 Aug. 2016). The same source added that, in order to determine whether or not a document is genuine, it can be verified, "to a certain extent," by checking whether an entry has been made in such register (ibid.).

4.2 Arrest Warrants

According to the lawyer at The Law Counsel, arrest warrants are issued through a formal court order, and therefore "the fact of issuing a warrant of arrest will be found in the order sheet of the court which issued the warrant of arrest" (Lawyer, The Law Counsel 15 Aug. 2016). He further provided the opinion that, "[i]f there is any doubt as to the genuineness of the [warrant of arrest], it has to be compared with the order of the court authorising its issuance" (ibid.). The same source also noted that in his opinion, "there have been very good forgeries in recent times" and that "the only reliable method of checking the genuineness of a certified copy is to compare [it] with the original kept in the court's record" (ibid.). In further correspondence, the same lawyer explained that the verification of court documents for a pending case must be completed in person by a lawyer of one of the parties to the case (ibid. 19 Sept. 2016). Verification requests cannot be made by third parties (ibid.). According to the same source, "once a proceeding has come to an end, an application may be made by any person to check/verify [court] documents" (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

5. Prevalence of Fabricated Petition Cases

The lawyer at the Law Counsel provided the opinion that it is "highly unlikely" that the CMM Court itself fabricates petition cases, but that it is "usually" the complainant who will fabricate and file a petition case, "to harass the accused," after which the CMM Court, depending on the nature of the offence, issues a summons or arrest warrant (Lawyer, The Law Counsel 1 Sept. 2015). In further correspondence, he explained that "in certain cases," fabrication of allegations in Bangladeshi courts is "not uncommon" (ibid. 19 Sept. 2016). The same source provided the following examples of "fabricated allegations [that] are very common":

where the complainant and the accused are members of opposing political parties, with the fabricated complaint being filed to show loyalty to political superiors in the hope of advancement or where a divorced/separated wife alleges domestic violence or alleges demand of dowry after the divorce proceedings have been initiated by the (former) husband (this is usually done to prevent the divorce as it still carries a lot of social stigma in the rural areas). (ibid. 19 Sept. 2016)

Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Information on instances of fabricated cases at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court Dhaka between 2014 and October 2016 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] According to the report of a fact-finding mission organized by the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Office francais de protection des refugies et apatrides, OFPRA), in the case of a procedure in absentia of the accused, the details on actions taken by the court to find the accused are registered in the Order Sheet, which is a part of the administrative court file (France June 2015, 23).

References

France. June 2015. Office francais de protection des refugies et apatrides (OFPRA). Rapport de mission en Republique populaire du Bangladesh. [Accessed 15 Sept. 2016]

Lawyer, The Law Counsel, Dhaka. 19 September 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Lawyer, The Law Counsel, Dhaka. 1 September 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Lawyer, The Law Counsel, Dhaka. 15 August 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Lawyer, FM Associates, Dhaka. 18 August 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Ain o Salish Kendra; Asian Human Rights Commission; Bangladesh - Bangladesh Police, Law and Justice Division; Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust; British School of Law; Dhaka - Metropolitan Police; lawyer based in Bangladesh specializing in corporate law; lawyer based in Bangladesh specializing in criminal law; lawyer based in Toronto trained in Bangladesh specializing in immigration.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Bangladesh - Bangladesh Police, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; BBC; CNN; The Daily New Nation; The Daily Observer; The Daily People's Time; The Daily Star; Dhaka - Metropolitan Police; ecoi.net; Factiva; Federation internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; The Independent; IRIN; The News Today; Norway - Landinfo; Observatoire pour la protection des defenseurs des droits de l'Homme; Odhikar; Radio France internationale; Transparency International; UN - Development Programme, Refworld; US - Department of State.

Attachment

Bangladesh. N.d. Law and Justice Division. Bangladesh Form No. 3905, High Court Criminal Process Form No. 12: Arrest Warrant, Section of Criminal Proceedings. Translated by the Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada. [Accessed 19 Sept. 2016]
Mali: Security Council urges parties to adopt timeline for implementing peace agreement

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 6 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Mali: Security Council urges parties to adopt timeline for implementing peace agreement, 6 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db4bef4.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The Security Council today expressed a deep concern over the persistent delays in fully implementing key provisions of the peace agreement between the Government of Mali and the Plateforme and Coordination armed groups, urging the parties to adopt an agreed-upon timeline for implementation.

In a press statement, the Council welcomed the signing on 20 September 2017 by the Plateforme and Coordination armed groups of a series of commitments, including an immediate, comprehensive and definitive cessation of hostilities, calling on the armed groups to strictly adhere to this commitment.

The 15-member body underscored the pressing need to deliver tangible and visible peace dividends to the population in the country's north and elsewhere to keep the momentum of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, signed in 2015.

The Council expressed its intention to dedicate a specific focus of its upcoming visit to the Sahel region to the implementation of the Agreement.

The Council urged all parties to comply with their obligations under applicable international law and to bring an end to all human rights violations and abuses, and encouraged the Government to continue its efforts to combat impunity, with the support of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

Expressing a concern about the security situation in Mali and the threat posed by terrorism and transnational organized crime in the Sahel region, the Council underlined that the efforts by the force of the Group of Five for the Sahel States to counter the activities of terrorist groups and other organized criminal groups will contribute to create a more secure environment in the region and help MINUSMA fulfil its mandate to stabilize the country.
September 'deadliest month' of 2017 for Syrians, UN relief official reports

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 6 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, September 'deadliest month' of 2017 for Syrians, UN relief official reports, 6 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db4c494.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Hospitals, ambulances, schools and displaced people escaping violence are being routinely targeted by airstrikes in Syria, resulting in high numbers of deaths and injuries, and making September the deadliest month of the year, according to the United Nations regional relief coordinator for the crisis.

"I am appalled by reports of high numbers of civilian casualties due to heavy air attacks in Syria," said Panos Moumtzis, the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis .

"September was the deadliest month of 2017 for civilians with daily reports of attacks on residential areas resulting in hundreds of conflict-related deaths and injuries," he added in a news release issued by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

This week, airstrikes on Raqqa City killed dozens of people and injured many others while some 8,000 others remain trapped there.

Between 19-30 September, airstrikes on residential areas in Idlib killed at least 149 people - the majority of whom were women and children.

"Attacks on medical facilities are depriving people in need of their right to life-saving medical care," stressed Mr. Moumtzis.

Schools and hospitals in Idlib have been forced to close for fear of being targeted. Three explosions in Damascus city caused the death of 20 people and injured 15 more. Civilian casualties were also reported in Rural Damascus, Hama, Aleppo and Deir-ez-Zor.

"I would like to praise the phenomenal work carried out by humanitarian workers and in particular national staff," he continued, noting that rescue workers on a daily basis risk their lives to help others.

"The UN calls on all parties to the conflict to immediately take all measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure throughout Syria," underscored the Mr. Moumtzis. He asserted that targeting civilians and facilities, including hospitals and other medical facilities is "simply unacceptable and constitute a grave violation of human rights and international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes."

"All parties to the conflict must respect their international obligations and act in a way that ensures the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers," concluded Mr. Moumtzis.
UN seeks more funds to assist Rohingya amid world's fastest growing refugee crisis

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 6 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, UN seeks more funds to assist Rohingya amid world's fastest growing refugee crisis, 6 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db4c854.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

United Nations agencies are seeking more funds to cope with the mass exodus of people fleeing violence in Myanmar into Bangladesh, which the top UN aid official described the world's fastest growing refugee crisis.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock told reporters in Geneva today that the more than half a million people who have arrived in Bangladesh from Myanmar in recent weeks need a greater level of help from the international community.

He called the situation one of the most heart-rending, recalling his encounter with an 11-year-old boy who was cradling his critically ill baby sister during his visit earlier this week to the host communities in Bangladesh.

His mother, the boy and his four siblings had set off on a journey lasting, I think nine days, fleeing violence and the burning of their village. The mother died on the journey. This little boy is now in sole charge of his four siblings, including his two-and-a-half-year-old severely acutely malnourished sister, he said.

Mr. Lowcock, who is also the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said some $434 million will be required in the coming months, calling for donor support ahead of the pledging conference in Geneva later this month.

For its part, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking $83.7 million in additional funds for the next six months to help the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Latest estimates show that some 515,000 refugees have fled from Myanmar since 25 August, including people continuing to arrive this week by the thousands.

The emergency assistance is focused on refugee protection, shelter, water and sanitation and bolstering the capacity of the local host communities across south-east Bangladesh. Relieving dramatic overcrowding in the two existing camps  Kutupalong and Nyapara  which are now twice their population prior to the latest crisis is also a priority.

In light of the scope and speed of displacement, UNHCR has declared a 'Level 3 Emergency'  the top level  for this crisis.

Level 3 emergency

In the context of Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), a Level 3 emergency would typically be a sudden onset complex emergency requiring the activation of a UN system-wide response, with agreed mechanisms, tools and procedures.

Glossary, UNHCR Global Report 2014

We have so far organized five airlifts, flying in some 500 metric tonnes of aid. More flights are being planned. We have also doubled the number of our staff in Bangladesh to almost 100, UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic told reporters in Geneva.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is also appealing for $10.2 million to support critical health interventions in the Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar area.

The health needs of this immensely vulnerable population are massive, and growing, said Roderico Ofrin, Regional Emergency Director for WHO South-East Asia in a press release.

Though WHO has provided critical support to health services delivery  including by supporting mobile medical teams and mobilizing life-saving medicines  the need to scale-up operations is clear.

WHO is currently working with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and partner agencies to plan and implement an oral cholera vaccination campaign that will provide life-saving protection against the disease to 900,000 people.

Since the first signs of the rapid influx emerged, WHO has established joint coordination of the health sector to best utilize WHO's technical and operational capacity, and helped vaccinate 135,000 children against measles and rubella and 72,000 against polio. WHO also supported the provision of Vitamin A to 72,000 children.

To increase access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, WHO has deployed an environmental health team to Cox's Bazar to assess and monitor drinking water and initiate cholera prevention measures. As part of this, WHO has provided supplies to treat 20,000 cases of diarrheal disease.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), an estimated 2,000 Rohingya refugees a day are still arriving in Cox's Bazar. Observers believe that as many as 100,000 more people may be waiting to cross into Cox's Bazar from North Rakhine's Buthidaung Township in Myanmar.

The UN migration agency this week issued an appeal for $120 million through March to provide desperately needed aid to the refugees who have flooded into Cox's Bazar.

The IOM appeal is part of a broader humanitarian response plan seeking $434 million to help 1.2 million people, including the Bangladeshi host community.
Central African Republic: More aid needed amid deteriorating security, UN relief official warns

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 6 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Central African Republic: More aid needed amid deteriorating security, UN relief official warns, 6 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db4cc74.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

In spite of humanitarian access to help tackle some of the most critical needs in several Central African Republic (CAR) hotspots, eroding security since the beginning of 2017 has sparked additional needs, the United Nations humanitarian wing reported today.

Reiterating an appeal for the international community to invest more to avoid the worst scenario, such as a large-scale humanitarian crisis affecting the entire region, today Humanitarian Coordinator Najat Rochdi advocated for financing the Humanitarian Response Plan to better protect civilians targeted by armed groups.

At a briefing by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yaounde, Cameroon, she said that the plan is intended to lift the population from poverty and vulnerability, and that it indisputably contributes to accompanying the wishes of peace of the majority of fellow Central Africans.

The current indicators are similar to those that existed between 2013 and 2014  at the peak of the crisis.

Today, 600,000 people are internally displaced with 513,666 refugees in neighbouring countries, the highest levels reached since 2013. To date, the population in need has grown from 2.2 at the beginning of the year to 2.4 million.

The 2017 Revised Humanitarian Response Plan (RHP) of $497.3 million was funded as at 30 September to $148.5 million, leaving 30 per cent of needs unmet. With a shortfall of $348.8 million, that number jumped to 70 per cent, compromising assistance for half of the population.

New contributions to the RHP will give "a chance for hundreds of thousands of people to meet their urgent needs and thus promote the reconstruction of their lives and their country," underscored Ms. Rochdi.

Indeed, humanitarian action covering the most critical needs would gradually strengthen the resilience of the communities.

"It is only at this price that the country will emerge from the vicious circle of crises," she added.

Ms. Rochdi thanked those donors whose contributions to the Humanitarian Response Plan have led to the effective and rapid response to the several crises regularly plaguing the country, particularly commending "the additional contributions received recently, notably from Japan, DFID and the Netherlands, which were a stitch in time at a moment when concurrent crises challenged the operational capacities of humanitarian actors."

The Humanitarian Coordinator also announced that she would take an international tour to raise awareness of the current plight in the Central African Republic.
Cameroon: UN rights office urges dialogue to address decades-long grievances

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 6 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Cameroon: UN rights office urges dialogue to address decades-long grievances, 6 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db4db74.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Voicing concern over tensions in Cameroon, the United Nations human rights wing has urged the Government and dissatisfied groups to engage in a meaningful political dialogue to fully address long standing grievances.

Speaking to the press today in Geneva, Rupert Colville, the Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also called on the authorities in the African nation to conduct impartial and effective investigations into Sunday's violence in which at least 10 people were killed.

Credible sources indicate that some of these deaths resulted from excessive use of force by the security forces, said the Spokesperson at the regular news briefing.

Cameroon's Anglophone regions have seen multiple strikes and demonstrations over the past year as resentment and tensions have built at what, he said, English-speakers see as discrimination against them in favour of the majority French-speaking population.

Noting that over the past few months, public and private property has been damaged, including arson attacks on a number of schools, Mr. Colville called on all people to pursue peaceful means to make themselves heard.

In the same vein, he also urged the authorities to ensure that the security forces exercise restraint and take measures to prevent the use of force when policing demonstrations.

People should be allowed to exercise their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, including through having uninterrupted access to the internet, he stated.

Further at the briefing, he noted that OHCHR welcomed the comments by President Paul Biya, on Sunday, in which the President condemned all forms of violence, irrespective of the perpetrators, and called for dialogue as the only way to find a durable solution.
Mali continues to make progress, but swift action needed as civilians still face threats  UN envoy

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 5 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Mali continues to make progress, but swift action needed as civilians still face threats  UN envoy, 5 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db50704.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

While recent crises threatening the peace process in Mali had been overcome and new agreements reached, progress must be accelerated as the situation remains perilous for peacekeepers and civilians, the head of United Nations peacekeeping efforts in the West African country told the Security Council today.

"Despite the positive developments, we must remember that the agreed deadlines of 2018 are quickly approaching and the challenges are enormous," said Mahamat Saleh Annnadif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Mali and Head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said via videoconference from the Malian capital, Bamako.

"All parties must redouble their efforts to re-establish trust between them and, despite the prolonged delays in the implementation of the Agreement [on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali], engage in necessary reforms and provide a peace dividend to the people," he added.

He said that the period under the Council's review, mid-June to mid-September, witnessed debate over a draft revision of the national Constitution amid armed clashes between the Platform and Coordination, the two coalitions that had signed onto the 2015 peace agreement. The combined efforts of the signatory movements and the international community had allowed MINUSMA to overcome the crises, but delays in implementing the agreement persisted.

Following the clashes, he said, truces were agreed upon in August, with further commitments to end hostilities having been signed in September. Earlier in the day, several prisoners held by the groups had been freed and recent progress included the participation in a 20 September high-level meeting in New York of both coalition leaders, who had agreed to accelerate the peace agreement's implementation.

Some of the specifics they had discussed included establishing a second chamber of Parliament, operationalizing territorial collectives, launching demobilization activities, security sector reform and redeploying the reformed national military.

"Yet, the challenges remain enormous," he stressed. The Human rights situation remains a source of deep concern, particularly given the rise of armed extremism, the absence of State authority in certain areas and the imposition of anti-terrorism measures. While progress in fighting impunity for abuses that occurred during the 2012 crisis included the conviction of Aliou Mahamane Toure, there must be justice for all and every perpetrator must held accountable, he said.

He added that the recently authorized sanctions regime was an important part of the pursuit of justice and peace. Initiatives such as the dissemination of information on human rights and the establishment of the international commission of inquiry would also help fight impunity, he said, adding that MINUSMA continued to support State institutions in all areas through regular dialogue.

The security situation remained a major obstacle, he said, with nearly daily losses of UN peacekeepers due to anti-personnel mines and improvised explosives. Accelerated reconciliation efforts were needed as was the full deployment of the escort battalion for the regional reaction force. Given all the challenges, he reiterated the need for funding to invest in protection, improve monitoring, enhanced patrolling and detection, and early warning systems to reduce the toll of attacks.
Security Council authorizes UN Mission to verify truce between Colombian Government and ELN

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 5 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Security Council authorizes UN Mission to verify truce between Colombian Government and ELN, 5 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db50c44.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Acting unanimously, the United Nations Security Council today expanded the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, tasking it to monitor a temporary bilateral ceasefire between the Colombian Government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) armed group.

The Council, through a new resolution, decided that the UN Verification Mission will, on a temporary basis until 9 January 2018,"verify compliance with the temporary, bilateral, national ceasefire with the ELN at the national, regional and local level."

"[It shall also] endeavour to prevent incidents through enhanced coordination between the parties and resolution of disagreements" noted the resolution.

The Council also tasked the Verification Mission with enabling a timely response by the parties to incidents, as well as verifying and reporting publicly and to the parties on compliance with the ceasefire.

The Council also approved an addition of no more than 70 international observers, as requested by the Secretary-General for liaising with the Colombian Armed Forces and ELN to avoid conflicting movements and prevent armed clashes.

The resolution follows an agreement reached in early September in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, between the Colombian Government and the ELN on a bilateral and temporary ceasefire. The ceasefire entered into force on 1 October, and is due to remain in force until the second week of January 2018.

Also today, the Council adopted a presidential statement in which it recognized the work of the (now closed) UN Mission in Colombia and welcomed the "remarkable achievements" in the country following the 2016 Final Agreement between the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP).
Libya: UN Mission condemns deadly bombing in Misrata

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 4 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Libya: UN Mission condemns deadly bombing in Misrata, 4 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db51424.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Condemning an attack against a court house in the Libyan city of Misrata, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) underscored that those behind the incident must be held accountable.

At least three individuals were killed and more than 15 injured in the attack today, the responsibility for which is claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) terrorist group.

"Indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including employees of the judicial institutions, are violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and cannot be justified," the Mission said in a statement.

"Those behind today's bombing and other such despicable acts must face justice."

In the statement, the Mission also expressed its solidarity with the Government and people of Libya.

It added that the Special Representative for the Secretary-General for the country and the head of UNSMIL, Ghassan Salame, expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and wished a swift recovery to the injured.
Rohingya refugees living in 'dire' conditions, senior UN officials warn, appealing for assistance

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 4 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Rohingya refugees living in 'dire' conditions, senior UN officials warn, appealing for assistance, 4 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db517a4.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The human tragedy unfolding in southern Bangladesh is staggering in its scale, warned two senior United Nations officials today as they wrapped up a mission to Cox's Bazar with calls for a "significant increase in assistance" for the thousands of Rohingyas have settled in the area after fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar.

"We leave Bangladesh [] all the more determined that the United Nations do all it can to assist the Government of Bangladesh in coping with this crisis," said Mark Lowcock, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and Anthony Lake, Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

In the last few weeks, well over half a million Rohingya people have crossed the Myanmar border in to Bangladesh, making this the world's fastest developing refugee emergency.

"People arrive fearful, exhausted and hungry, and in desperate need of immediate help including shelter, food, clean water and sanitation, and healthcare," they asserted. "They bring with them terrible accounts of what they have seen and suffered - stories of children being killed, women brutalized, and villages burned to the ground."

The UN officials lauded the Government and people of Bangladesh for its "extraordinary spirit of generosity" in opening the country's borders and their providing relief to the refugees as "an inspiring example of humanity."

Explaining that the refugees are living in flimsy shacks in sprawling, densely-crowded sites that have sprung up to accommodate them - with ever-growing risks for a disease outbreak - they underscored the urgency for funding so that all refugees have access to food, shelter, water, sanitation facilities, health care and protective services.

"Conditions in the temporary settlements are dire. Without a significant increase in assistance, the refugees, who have suffered so much already, could face another catastrophe on top of the tragedies that caused them to flee their homes," they stressed.

Today an update to the UN and the international aid community's response plan was released, seeking $434 million to scale up the relief operation supporting the refugees and host communities. In support of this, an additional $12 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has been allocated to help establish additional sites for newly arrived refugees.

While the two senior UN officials welcomed assurances of close cooperation with the Government, they underscored that the "appalling situation" is not over as people continue to flee for their lives, crossing from Myanmar into Bangladesh - and requiring immediate support.

"We call again on the Myanmar authorities to allow the full resumption of humanitarian action across all of Rakhine state, and will continue to advocate for conditions to be created that allow for people to safely, securely and voluntarily go home," they concluded.
In Bangladesh, UN aid chief urges scaling up response for Rohingya refugee crisis

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 3 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, In Bangladesh, UN aid chief urges scaling up response for Rohingya refugee crisis, 3 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db51f94.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

With over half a million Rohingya refugees having fled their homes in Myanmar since violence erupted in late August, the top United Nations humanitarian official has underscored that the solution to the crisis needs to be found within Myanmar.

"The root causes of this crisis, as you know, are in Myanmar and the solutions need to be found in Myanmar," Mark Lowcock, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, told journalists at a news conference in Cox's Bazar, where many of those fled are taking refuge.

Noting that relief operations are gathering momentum, he informed the media that over the past six weeks, aid agencies have delivered more than nine million food rations, provided more than 300,000 with water and sanitation support, inoculated more than 100,000 children and provided some 50,000 with counselling and psycho-social support.

However, the sheer numbers of those in need mean that much more has to be done.

"The conditions in the camps are terrible. We need to do a lot more to scale up beyond what we have done so far," added Mr. Lowcock, urging the international community to scale up their support.

VIDEO: In Bangladesh, UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock, highlights ongoing efforts to deliver aid to the Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar and calls for international support to ramp up the operations.

He also announced that, as the manager of the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), he today allocated an additional $12 million to relief efforts and enable humanitarian partners kick-start life-saving critical health care, access to clean water and sanitation and camp management in the new sites.

These funds follow a previous CERF allocation of $7 million, bringing the total CERF support to $19 million.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number of Rohingya refugees who have fled into Bangladesh from Myanmar has now reached 509,000. UN agencies, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), humanitarian partners, together with the Bangladeshi Government have been working alleviate the plight of those uprooted from their homes as well as supporting the host community cope with the scale of the influx. Yesterday, a diarrhoea treatment centre was opened at the Kutupalong Refugee Camp, where refugees who have been living since 1992 have taken in thousands of newcomers. By the end of this week, there will be a total of 80 beds at the centres in three locations, with two more centres planned to open next week. UN agencies together with the authorities have conducted an immunization campaign for children to protect them against measles and have launched another one against cholera. Similarly, UN humanitarian staff along with refugee volunteers, are visiting refugee camps and informal settlements to identify people who may be sick but have not sought treatment.
Iraq: UN migration agency assists thousands displaced from west Anbar

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 3 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Iraq: UN migration agency assists thousands displaced from west Anbar, 3 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db52594.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

With some 8,500 people displaced over the past two weeks amid Iraq's military operations to retake Anbar province, the United Nations migration agency announced today that it is stepping up provision of life-saving assistance.

"People newly displaced from their homes often arrive dehydrated, suffering from hunger and thirst," said Dr. Hamed Amro, in a news release while assisting recently internally displaced people (IDPs) in Rutba.

While military operations to retake west Anbar were officially launched on 19 September, many families - often children, women and older people - walk long distances, some for several days, often in intense heat, to reach safe areas.

"Many require psychosocial support and need medical care. Some have chronic illness and exacerbated conditions due to long term lack of care, and others suffer from malnutrition; we have also received a few trauma cases," Dr. Amro stressed.

From early January through 2 October, IOM's Emergency Tracking has identified a total of 54,546 displaced individuals from west Anbar, particularly from Ana, Al Ka'im and Ra'ua districts.

An IOM update shows that some 85 per cent of them transited through Kilo 18 screening site and are displaced within Anbar governorate. By district, Falluja hosts 25,300 individuals, Ramadi another 15,100 and Heet 3,100. At the same time, 3,600 sought safety in the Baghdad governorate and 4,400 in the Erbil governorate.

Since January, 32,886 of the total 54,546 IDPs are currently registered in camps, and 21,660 in out-of-camp locations - with 21,132 in private settings and 528 in critical shelter arrangements.

In Anbar, IOM medical staff are providing immediate assistance to nearly 1,000 IDPs per week through four Mobile Medical Teams working in greatest-need locations, including Falluja city, Ameriyat al Fallujah, Heet and Garma. All are identified in cooperation with Anbar Directorate of Health, part of Iraq's Ministry of Health.

In the past two weeks, IOM has worked closely with Iraq's Ministry of Migration and Displacement in distributing 795 non-food item kits, including a plastic cool box and rechargeable fan, to families in Al Habanyah - in addition to 500 kits previously distributed to those not living in camps in Heet. Additional distributions are scheduled for the coming week.

"Life in Al-Ka'im city, under the control of ISIL, was extremely difficult," said Ahmed, who, according to IOM, was displaced with his family of six to Haditha district, Anbar, in a perilous and long journey. "I hired smugglers to help my wife, four children, my mother and myself to escape. They drove us early morning through unpaved roads. Now we are displaced and living in an unfinished building; we have spent all our limited savings and have no money to cover our needs. The supplies we received today will help us get through this difficult time," Ahmed told IOM staff at an aid distribution.
UN agency alarmed by largest influx of Congolese refugees into Zambia in five years

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 3 October 2017 Cite as UN News Service, UN agency alarmed by largest influx of Congolese refugees into Zambia in five years, 3 October 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59db52974.html [accessed 15 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Growing violence in south-eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has driven at least 3,360 refugees into northern Zambia over the past month, the United Nations refugee agency said today, warning that the humanitarian needs of the displaced could intensify on both sides of the border as the rainy season approaches.

"This is the largest influx of Congolese refugees into Zambia in the past five years," Andrej Mahecic, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told reporters in Geneva.

The refugees and asylum-seekers, mainly from the Congolese provinces of Haut-Katanga and Tanganyika, are escaping inter-ethnic clashes, as well as fighting between Congolese security forces and militia groups.

"Those arriving in Zambia report extreme brutality, with civilians being killed, women raped, property looted and houses set alight," Mr. Mahecic said.

Some 60 per cent of those arriving in Zambia are children. Many show signs of malnutrition. Malaria, respiratory problems, dysentery and skin infections are common among the refugees.

The Zambian Government, UNHCR and the Zambian Red Cross are distributing hot and providing psycho-social support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The humanitarian response team is delivering basic items, including tents, plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, blankets, buckets, hygiene kits and soap. Temporary shelters are being erected, boreholes are being drilled for drinking water and temporary latrines are being constructed.

Because of overcrowding, UNHCR has started work on a second transit facility to receive the growing number of new arrivals. A more permanent settlement will also be developed, with a social infrastructure where new arrivals will be able to stay for longer and develop some self-sufficiency.

Since the beginning of 2017, about 5,761 Congolese have crossed the border into Zambia. In total, there are 27,338 Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in that country.

Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is scaling up its displacement assessments and emergency activities in Tanganyika as well as the Kasai province.

Increased ethnic violence throughout these provinces has uprooted more than 1.4 million people over the past few months, bringing the total number of internally displaced nationwide to some 3.4 million.

In Tanganyika province, the UN migration agency has carried out a survey in six of the 12 displacement sites in and around the city of Kalemie to collect information on the profile, needs and intentions of the displaced, including on their return and reintegration requirements.

The survey will be conducted at the remaining sites in the following weeks. According to IOM's database, as of September 2017, an estimated 90,000 individuals reside in these sites in precarious conditions.

"The data collected during this assessment will provide useful information to IOM and its partners on the needs and intentions of internally displaced persons," said IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) expert, Stephanie Daviot. "It will also allow us to better target the assistance to those most vulnerable on the sites."

In Central Kasai province, DTM has identified around 197,000 internally displaced persons and 490,000 returnees in 1,809 villages.

The DTM assessments in Central Kasai will continue over the upcoming weeks and provide an overview of the displacement situation in the entire province by the end of October.
Imprisoned in Denmark, the man accused of killing a woman in his submarine has described her death as a tragic accident, and the subsequent disposal of her body in the waters off Copenhagen as understandable, considering his emotional state at the time.

Peter Madsen was showing a 30-year-old reporter named Kim Wall around his boat in August, he told a court last month. He said he lost his grip on a heavy hatch, which crashed into Wall's skull, and then he panicked and gave her what prosecutors described as a "burial at sea."

"In the shock I was in, it was the right thing to do," Madsen told the court, Agence France-Presse reported.

But on Saturday, after divers recovered the better part of Wall's remains from the sea floor near Copenhagen, police described what her "burial" looked like:

In plastic bags weighted with metal, they found her severed legs, according to the Associated Press.

They also brought up her head, which showed no signs of fracture by a hatch or otherwise.

The divers found a knife in one bag, as well as the dead woman's clothing. In the same waters several weeks earlier, police found a naked torso, which the AP reported had been stabbed 15 times.

Police have never believed Madsen's account, which has changed several times since Wall disappeared on his boat.

As The Washington Post has previously reported, Wall was working on a story about the 46-year-old inventor and engineer, who had built the 60-foot UC3 Nautilus several years ago and plans to crowdfund a rocket launch from his space lab.

The two were seen boarding the Nautilus on Aug. 10. Madsen was spotted leaping from the sinking vessel the next morning, and Wall was never again seen alive.

Madsen first claimed that he had dropped the reporter off on shore before his submarine malfunctioned and sank. But police found blood in the boat when they pulled it up from the seafloor.

The inventor was soon arrested on a manslaughter charge, and accused of scuttling his own ship.

Madsen admitted Wall died on board several days later, after a passing cyclist found a headless, limbless, punctured torso washed ashore.

But he claimed it was an accident - the falling hatch and the burial at sea.

Nevertheless, a judge upgraded the charges against him to murder last month.

"Two people are on a boat. Her legs and head and arms were cut off, and we can prove that," a special prosecutor for the Copenhagen police told The Washington Post at the time.

Under questioning by prosecutors, Madsen said he had an interest in sadomasochism and had sex on board the Nautilus at least once, though he denied doing so with Wall. His defense lawyer told a Swedish newspaper that her client was "not quite like other people" in his sexual preferences - though they were harmless.

But earlier this week, as Susan Hogan wrote for The Post, prosecutors revealed they found videos on Madsen's computer of women being strangled, decapitated and burned. And these images were believed to be authentic.

The footage on the computer wasn't his, Madsen said. It could have belonged to anyone who worked in his space lab.

Madsen remains in pretrial detention through Oct. 31, though it could be extended.
When Democrats struck a tentative deal last month with the president to protect dreamers from deportations, they were skeptical it would turn into anything real.

That skepticism was well founded. Either President Donald Trump has changed his mind about shielding from deportation thousands of young immigrants in the country illegally, or he never really wanted to in the first place. We know this because late Sunday, the administration released a wish list of immigration principles it wants in any deal. No. 1 is funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Except, the wall is a manifestation of everything Democrats despise about Trump and his hard-line immigration stances, simplistic policy ideas and identity-focused politics. Basically, it's a total nonstarter for Democrats and their base. Trump knows this well.

He's spent the better part of this year pushing his wall right up to the edge of negotiations with Congress, only to back off at the last minute because of Democrats. In April, Congress was up against a deadline to keep the government open. Trump wanted Congress to make a down payment to build his border wall. Senate Democrats threatened to filibuster any spending bill that funded a dime for it, which would effectively force the government to shut down on Republicans' watch. Trump backed off.

The exact same scene played out in September's budget negotiations: Trump demanded wall funding. Democrats threatened to walk away. Trump backed off.

"The WALL, which is already under construction in the form of new renovation of old and existing fences and walls, will continue to be built.

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017"

Congressional leaders haven't ruled out that Trump will ask for wall funding in December, when it's time to pass yet another spending bill. They have no idea how serious he'll be about fighting for it, but it's a threat they have to take seriously because it's one of the policy issues that could cause a government shutdown. And now, Trump is pulling out his wall card for this deal to give dreamers deportation protections that he, himself, is removing.

"The administration can't be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a joint statement Sunday evening, referring to the wish list.

Trump could be derailing a deal to protect dreamers for a wall that he hasn't, to date, been serious about getting built. He's not even pretending anymore that Mexico will pay for it. He's backed off every opportunity he's had to force Congress to include money for it. And he waffled on whether the wall was even seriously discussed when he and top Democrats announced their late-night September deal to protect dreamers.

Democratic leaders left the White House that Sunday night sure that a wall wasn't part of any deal. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders then said it was. Trump said the wall would come later. Then he said, "If there's not a wall, we're doing nothing."

"While DACA and border security were both discussed, excluding the wall was certainly not agreed to.

- Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) September 14, 2017"

The whole deal devolved into murkiness that raised Democrats' suspicions they weren't going to have a trustworthy negotiator on the other end of the table. Sure enough, there haven't been any significant developments on a dreamer deal since then - until Sunday, a development that could very well end the deal.

The thing is, Trump has very few friends in Washington who want to help him build this wall. Mainstream Republicans don't like the wall, either. Some of the more hard-line members of the party like the idea, but nearly every border Republican is opposed. They argue that money could be better spent on more technologically advanced border security tools.

Plus, using untold billions of dollars for building a wall along 1,900 miles of mostly desert - without a check from Mexico - would be a fiscally irresponsible thing to do for the party that thinks it's the fiscally responsible one.

House Republicans voted through a $1.6 billion down payment this summer, and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., put out a flashy video championing it. But they did all of this knowing the wall was dead on arrival in the Senate and that they wouldn't be forced to actually write that check.

It's hard to overstate what a barrier Trump's border wall has been for getting things done in Washington. It's just as difficult to discern whether he's serious about getting Congress to approve the wall. But by even bringing up the wall as part of a deal with Democrats, it's pretty clear he doesn't want to make one.

---

The Trump administration released a list of hard-line immigration principles Oct. 8, which could threaten to derail a deal in Congress to protect "dreamers" from deportation. (Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post)

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China's rise to become the world's second-largest economy was largely powered by cheap, dirty coal gouged out of the earth by migrant workers and processed at plants such as this one in Mentougou on the outskirts of Beijing, shown in a photo taken on Dec. 12, 2016.

China's government may be taking its toughest stand yet in its war against pollution by threatening to ban new projects in regions that have exhausted their "environmental capacity."

In a document issued on Sept. 20, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the cabinet-level State Council said they had devised an "environmental and resource capacity" alert system to measure "overloading" in at-risk regions.

The color-coded alert scheme divides regional environments into three categories, those with "overloading, near overloading and not overloading," state media said.

Regions facing capacity overloading would be given a red or orange alert, while those close to capacity would be warned with a yellow or blue alert, according to Xinhua.

A green rating will be reserved for regions "without excessive pollution and resource loss," the official news agency said.

In the worst case of a red-alert area, authorities would deny approvals for "relevant projects." Polluting enterprises will face penalties including fines, production restrictions and shutdowns, it said.

The announcement gave rise to a host of questions.

How will "capacity" be measured? What would be considered a "resource?" Would the government define "regions" as smaller units like counties or larger ones like provinces?

Details may be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.

But for now, the government seems satisfied with sending a message of stricter environmental enforcement in the days before the CPC's 19th National Congress, scheduled to start on Oct. 18.

The Central Committee and State Council followed up their announcement of the alert system a day later with renewed pledges to improve the accuracy of environmental data and punish falsification.

In June, an unnamed Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) official told Xinhua that the agency would establish a system "to prevent and punish" data fraud following the sentencing of environmental officials in Shaanxi province to prison terms for tampering with monitoring equipment in the capital Xi'an last year.

The larger question

Aside from the uncertainties about definitions in the alert system, the larger question is whether the threat to block new projects in polluted areas is anything more than a get-tough message for the party congress event. China analysts believe that it is.

"I do think the Party is in the process of substituting environmental progress for rapid growth as a goal, since rapid growth is no longer achievable and environmental improvement is much needed," said Derek Scissors, an Asia economist and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.

How the government's commitment will stand up to economic pressure in the future is another question.

"The test is not now, when the economy doesn't need boosting. It's when the next slowdown hits. What happens then to environmental plans?" Scissors said.

Recent developments in the economy and the environment may be seen as evidence on both sides. The government's record has been mixed since Premier Li Keqiang declared a "war against pollution" in 2014.

In the past year, the government pumped up the economy with infrastructure projects and bank loans while pushing smokestack industries like coal and steel to reduce production overcapacity. The result was a collision between growth-driven demand and threatened cuts in supplies.

Higher prices prompted increases in coal and steel output in the second half of last year, creating a smog crisis in northern cities during the winter heating season. The reaction has led to tighter environmental inspections and enforcement in 2017.

The inspections in turn have forced some industries in polluted areas to lower production, an outcome that was seen as unlikely until this year.

Last month, Reuters reported that some 30 independent oil refineries in Shandong province had closed since mid-July along with several petrochemical plants due to random checks.

Prices for fuel and some plastic products in Shandong have risen as a result.

Production of nonferrous metals also fell in August, marking the first year-on-year decline since December 2015.

The drop was attributed to the environmental crackdown, Reuters said.

The choice of the environment over economic growth has also been seen in new rules that will cut winter steel production by half in the northeast city of Tianjin and suspend most construction in Beijing during the four winter months.

Scooter riders wait to cross a road on a heavily polluted day in Shijiazhuang, northern China's Hebei province, Dec. 21, 2016. Credit: AFP Effect of alert system

A strict application of the environmental capacity alert system could have a significant effect on polluted industrial centers like Hebei province, which is home to China's highest concentration of coal-fired steel mills.

Last week, Hebei provincial officials announced a six-month campaign against pollution-related crime, focusing on hazardous waste disposal, small factory emissions and data fraud, Xinhua said.

Whether the new alert system leads to shutdowns may technically depend on the definitions of the new capacity policy. But residents in neighboring northern cities know pollution when they see it. Public pressure seems likely to push such regions into the red-alert zone.

Last year's excessive stimulus spurred the economy to a 6.9-percent growth rate in the first half, overshooting the government's targets and potentially giving it more room to slow industrial output in the remainder of the year.

Mikkal Herberg, energy security research director for the Seattle-based National Bureau of Asian Research, said the alert system could have a significant energy and environmental impact, if it is enforced.

The timing of the announcement before the party congress is likely to be a sign that the leadership is serious about enforcement, despite expected resistance from local government and business interests.

"It could be both a statement for the party congress and something more serious. I would think of it both ways," Herberg said. "It puts all the cadres on notice that this is a high-priority item."

Herberg sees environmental enforcement as a test of President Xi Jinping's drive to consolidate power and extend control over social and political forces through party discipline.

Pollution "has just become an incredibly urgent social problem for the leadership," he said.

The visible pollution of smog outbreaks in the northern cities has become a public test of central government authority.

"I think the leadership is extremely worried about the functional consequences of being perceived as not being able to control the pollution problems," Herberg said.

But the outline of the alert system also suggests a narrow focus on keeping local pollution below the threshold of public complaints, leaving the door open for industrial development in regions with less "capacity overloading."

Efforts to curb industrial pollution in the east have already shifted some production to less developed western regions.

"The scale of pollution creation will be less in the west than the reductions in the east. I think that's their hope and expectation," Herberg said. "But their most important goal, first and foremost, is to start cutting pollution in the east."
Rohingya refugees carry their children and belongings after crossing the Naf River from Myanmar into Bangladesh in Whaikhyang, Cox's Bazar district, southeastern Bangladesh, Oct. 9, 2017.

The Rohingya militant group responsible for deadly attacks on police outposts in Myanmars violence-wracked northern Rakhine state ended its month-long unilateral humanitarian cease-fire on Monday, a suspension of hostilities that the Myanmar military had rejected.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), whose assaults on 30 police outposts and an army facility on Aug. 25 triggered a military crackdown on Rohingya Muslims that has driven more than a half-million villagers from their homes, said on Saturday that its self-imposed cease-fire would expire at midnight on Oct. 9.

The groups humanitarian pause which began on Sept. 10 was a temporary cessation of offensives in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung townships  the epicenter of recent violence and ethnic strife  so aid groups could reach people there.

During this humanitarian pause, ARSA provided safe passage [to] and assisted thousands of victims fleeing into Bangladesh from Burma due to war crime[s], genocide, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing committed by the Burmese military regime, ARSAs statement said.

The group blamed the Myanmar government for blocking humanitarian access to the region because of its sustained military operations and a political strategy which uses mass murder, violence, arson, intimidation, and genocidal rape as tools of depopulation.

Rights groups and the United Nations have accused the Myanmar military of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing in northern Rakhine amid numerous reports by Rohingya of soldiers murdering civilians, burning villages, torturing people, and raping girls and women.

The government has denied the allegations and blamed the killings and torchings of villages on the Muslim militants.

ARSA also called on the Myanmar government to reinstate and restore the status of the Rohingya as a native indigenous ethnic group of Rakhine, grant them all human rights guaranteed in the universal Declaration of Human Rights, and let them freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar views the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and has denied them citizenship and basic rights, though many have lived in Myanmar for generations.

Late last week ARSA announced that it was willing to discuss a further cease-fire and the end of military offensives for the purpose of humanitarian access.

Myanmar Defense Minister Lieutenant-General Sein Win, who spoke to the media on Monday in the administrative capital Naypyidaw, said the government army did not recognize ARSAs cease-fire.

No government negotiates with terrorist groups, he said. We dismiss them [ARSA].

Asked about the current security situation in Rakhine, he said the army and home affairs ministry are working together to ensure the rule of law and regional stability in northern Rakhine.

But given the nature of the area, it is very large, so there may be some destruction if they [ARSA] want to carry out attacks, Sein Win said.

Zaw Htay, director general of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyis office, said on his Facebook page on Monday: We have no policy to negotiate with terrorists.

On Sunday, he wrote a post that Islamic organizations in Myanmar had condemned ARSA terrorists for their acts and urged Muslims to help stabilize the country.

Bangladeshi volunteers bury Rohingya children, who died when their boat capsized while crossing the Naf River from Myanmar into Bangladesh, at a graveyard in Shah Prior Dwip in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar district, southeastern Bangladesh, Oct. 9, 2017. Credit: AFP Tragic loss of life

Meanwhile, thousands of Rohingya Muslims from northern Rakhine continue to flee to safety in neighboring Bangladesh where many are succumbing to drowning incidents, dehydration, starvation, exhaustion, and illnesses.

On Sunday, at least 14 refugees, including children, died when their boat capsized while crossing the Naf River that separates Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The boat, which had up to 35 people on board, went down near Shah Porir Dwip on the southern tip of Bangladesh late on Sunday, Reuters reported, citing Bangladeshi police.

Todays drowning and tragic loss of life is yet more evidence of the desperate situation still prevailing in Rakhine state," said James Gomez, director of Southeast Asia and the Pacific for London-based Amnesty International, in a printed statement.

While the Myanmar military has engaged in a campaign of violence, there is mounting evidence that Rohingya women, men, and children are now also fleeing the very real threat of starvation, he said.

Rights groups and Rohingya who have made it to Bangladesh have indicated that violence is still occurring in northern Rakhine and that Myanmar has hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid, though the government has said that attacks and military operations ended on Sept. 5.

The Myanmar authorities are actively blocking aid groups from reaching affected areas in northern Rakhine state, where people are on the brink of survival, Gomez said. These restrictions show a callous disregard for human life and must end immediately.

Bangladeshi officials and relief agencies are struggling to provide food and basic health services to the nearly 519,000 Rohingya who have arrived in the country during the last six weeks and are living in makeshift shelters in refugee camps in the southeastern part of the country.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Kyaw Kyaw Aung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Public security officers in northwestern China s Qinghai province have begun to restrict the unauthorized resale of gasoline by Tibetan villagers, recently detaining five men and two women in a police sweep and threatening further arrests, Tibetan sources say.



Taken into custody were villagers living about 30 miles away from the Choeje and Oje townships of the Tsolho (in Chinese, Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, an area resident told RFAs Tibetan Service.



Though they live at this distance from the towns, they must go there to get gasoline for their farming machinery, motorcycles, and cars, since they have no gas pumps in their villages, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



Villagers going to the towns to fill their gas tanks often bring small containers to fill and take home for future use, and sometimes sell one or two liters at a time to other villagers who have run low, the source said, describing this as a regular practice in the past.



They are not involved in mass distribution or in resale for profit, the source said, adding, They do this just to be of help.



The authorities never bothered about this before, he said.



Though the local government hasnt installed gas pumps in the villages, they still send spies there to take pictures of secret transactions and use these later as evidence to charge villagers with illegally trading in fuel, he said.



Purchases of gasoline have from time to time been restricted in Tibetan areas hit by self-immolation protests challenging rule by Beijing, sources have told RFA in earlier reports.



But weve had no burnings in this area, RFAs source in Tsolho said.



Weve only had peaceful protests here.



Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Richard Finney.




Authorities in a county of northwest Chinas Xinjiang region that is largely populated by Muslim ethnic Uyghurs have been ordered to send almost half of area residents to re-education camps, according to officials, who say they are struggling to meet the number.



Officials from two villages in Hotan (in Chinese, Hetian) prefectures Qaraqash (Moyu) county recently acknowledged to RFAs Uyghur Service that they had been given a target percentage for arrests as part of a verbal directive issued by higher-level authorities during an online conference.



Since Xinjiang Communist Party chief Chen Quanguo was appointed to run the region in August last year, he has initiated several harsh policies targeting the religious freedom of Uyghurs.



The new quota for sending residents to re-education camps appears to be Chens latest measure aimed at assimilating members of the ethnic minority, who complain of pervasive ethnic discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression under Chinese rule in the region.



When asked about whether a target percentage of re-education arrests had been ordered by authorities, an official from No. 1 Village, in Qaraqashs Aqsaray township, confirmed the directive, but referred RFA to the local Communist Party secretarywho had recently been admitted to the hospital and was unreachablefor the exact number.



But a police officer from Aqsarays No. 2 Village, said he had been informed during an online conference in mid-June that his department was to detain 40 percent of the local population for exhibiting signs of religious extremism.



No deadline was set for the initiative, he added.



We were told to target people who are religious  for example, those who grow beards despite being young, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.



There are 82 people who have been placed in re-education camps [since the order was given], and 61 [of them were later] imprisoned  This is far from the expectations of village officials, but compared to other districts in the township, we have the best rate in achieving our target.



According to the officer, No. 2 Village is home to 2,060 people, meaning his department had failed to send even four percent of the population for re-education since the order was given.



The department had planned to send an additional 85 people for re-education by the end of September, he said.



Severely punished



An officer at the Shaptul township police station in neighboring Kashgar (Kashi) prefectures Peyziwat (Jiashi) county told RFA that while he had not been given a target percentage of people to detain for re-education camps, he was informed at an online staff meeting in June that 80 percent of those arrested were to be severely punished, including those with extreme views.



We were not given exact numbers [to arrest], but we must ensure that we do not miss anyone with extreme views and we must punish 80 percent of all those arrested severely, said the officer, who also asked to remain unnamed.



We didnt receive any formal documentationit was all announced during one of our meetings. These days, we have online conferences, where we meet in the police station and view the monitor to listen to speeches.



According to the officer, 46 people had been detained in Shaptul since the order was given33 of whom were imprisoned.



While the imprisonment rate meant that his department had only severely punished nearly 72 percent of detainees, the officer said that the remaining 13 people had been placed in re-education camps, and that they could be sent to jail at a later date.



If we find any evidence against them during re-education, they will be transferred to prison, he said.



Vast network



The ruling Chinese Communist Party blames some Uyghurs for a string of violent attacks and clashes in China in recent years, but critics say the government has exaggerated the threat from the ethnic group, and that repressive domestic policies are responsible for violence that has left hundreds dead since 2009.



Rights groups accuse Chinese authorities of heavy-handed rule in Xinjiang, including violent police raids on Uyghur homes that sources say in some areas have detained one member of every two households.



At the end of last month, sources told RFA that re-education camps in Ghulja (Yining) county, in Ili Kazakh (Yili Hasake) Autonomous Prefecture, and Korla (Kuerle) city, in neighboring Bayingholin Mongol (Bayinguoleng Menggu) Autonomous Prefecture, hold at least 3,600 inmates and are labeled career development centers in a bid to mask their true nature.



The thousands of politically incorrect inmates are rarely freed despite undergoing months of training, the sources said.



Investigations by RFA suggest there is a vast network of re-education camps throughout the Xinjiang region.



Sources indicate that there are almost no majority ethnic Han Chinese held in the Xinjiang camps, and that the number of detainees in the regions southwhere the highest concentration of Uyghurs are basedfar surpasses that in the north.



Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Alim Seytoff. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Authorities in the southern province of Guangdong have fined the manager of a hotel in the border city of Shenzhen for breaking a ban on ethnic minority Uyghur guests ahead of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's five-yearly congress later this month.



An employee who answered the phone on Monday at the hotel in Shenzhen's Lo Wu district, near the internal border with Hong Kong, confirmed the fine.



"According to rules set by the local police station, we had to pay a fine for accepting a guest from Xinjiang," the employee said, in a euphemistic reference to the mostly Muslim, Turkic-speaking Uyghur ethnic group.



"Security has been much tighter now that it's the 19th party congress, and there is a ban on people from Xinjiang," she said, adding that the hotel had been fined 15,000 yuan (U.S. $2,260) for breaking the rule.



"I know that you can't generalize about an entire group of people, and that any group has bad people in it, but we are being told [by police] that we can't have guests from Xinjiang."



An employee in a sauna in Shenzhen's Futian district said all service businesses had been required to demand IDs from customers since late September, as part of new security regulations linked to the 19th Party Congress.



The details would be immediately available to police via a shared database, and police could veto any guests they believed to be a threat, the employee said.



"They definitely have to register, and we can't have people from Xinjiang, but Han Chinese from Xinjiang can come in once they have registered," the employee said.



An employee who answered the phone at the Dongpu Tianhe branch of the 7Days Inn hotel chain in Guangdong's provincial capital Guangzhou confirmed the ban was across the hospitality industry.



"For the time being, we can't accept Uyghur guests," the employee said.



The ban appears to have been imposed nationwide, with an employee who answered the phone at the Senlin Commercial Hotel in the central city of Zhengzhou, in central China's Henan province, confirming that similar rules are in force there.



"Not at the moment ... only Han Chinese," the employee said, when asked if the hotel was accepting Uyghur guests. "This started on National Day [on Oct. 1] and has been that way ever since."



"There have been similar requirements in the past, but they weren't quite as strict as this," he said.



'Stability maintenance'



China's nationwide "stability maintenance" regime is no stranger to ethnic profiling.



Last week, Uyghurs in Xinjiang's Hotan (in Chinese, Hetian) city, said there are now special "green lanes" for Han Chinese drivers to bypass security on roads leading into the city, while Muslim Uyghurs submit to inspections that include ID checks and body searches.



One Uyghur businessman told RFAs Uyghur Service that similar checkpoints with separate lanes are everywhere leading into Hotan citythe seat of Hotan prefecture, where two deadly attacks took place in Qaraqash (Moyu) county in December 2016 and in Guma (Pishan) county in February this year.



Beijing blames some Uyghurs for a string of violent attacks and clashes in China in recent years, but critics say the government has exaggerated the threat from the ethnic group, and that repressive domestic policies targeting their religion and culture are responsible for violence that has left hundreds dead since 2009.



Previously, Tibetans and Uyghurs have been placed on security watchlists when they seek hotel rooms in major Chinese cities during periods of high alert, with staff informing local police stations when they try to check in.



However, the bans were previously applied more unevenly across the country, with some Han Chinese residents of Xinjiang telling RFA that they have faced similar security restrictions because of their place of residence.



Meanwhile, authorities in Xinjiang have brought in new security rules restricting the sale of kitchen knives, local residents told RFA.



"When we buy a knife, we have to register [with our name and ID card number]," a resident of Hotunsumul (Hejing) county, in Xinjiang's Bayin'gholin Mongol (Bayinguoleng Menggu) Autonomous Prefecture, told RFA. "There is a QR code embossed on every knife now."



The new rules began to be introduced "a few months ago," and are enforced by police, he said.



Meat vendors at markets in the county, and in neighboring counties in the prefecture, are also gradually having their knives and choppers stamped with identifying codes, according to a post on the local police department's official WeChat account.



Reported by Qiao Long and Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Siu-san and Dai Weisen for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Virginia Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Virginia LISC for short, recently honored two people, a nonprofit and a major corporation, for efforts to support neighborhood development.

Individuals recognized were Sunday Jones, a resident and leader in the Highland Park neighborhood in Richmonds North Side, and Mary White Thompson, a longtime resident of Richmonds Church Hill who has worked with Virginia LISC and other nonprofits on sustaining housing and small-business issues in her neighborhood.

Project: HOMES was honored for its work as a partner with Virginia LISC to renovate housing in many neighborhoods in Richmond and Petersburg.

Altria Group, parent company of Philip Morris USA, was recognized for supporting neighborhood work in Richmonds South Side along Jefferson Davis Highway.
An Ellwood Thompsons cafe is coming soon to Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Monroe Park campus.

The Richmond-based grocery store announced Friday that its opening a second location of its popular in-store cafe inside the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, the universitys landmark art museum.

The cafe is slated to open along with the ICA in the spring.

The ICA is excited to partner with Ellwoods to bring locally sourced, healthy, delicious food to our visitors and campus community, said Lisa Freiman, ICA inaugural director, in a news release. When we open, we will be a forum for community engagement and dialogue, and those values align with Ellwoods. We both believe good food and drink are essential to a meaningful life.

The $41 million building, which covers 41,000 square feet, is at 601 W. Broad St., at the corner of Belvidere and Broad.

The cafe menu will include offerings similar to the Ellwood Thompsons Local Market near Carytown, such as coffee, smoothies, bagels, pastries, sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads and beer, wine and cider  with an emphasis on local ingredients, products and produce.

We will be offering a variety of healthy, locally sourced, made-in-house food. We are excited about this partnership because VCU promotes health, quality and community  values we can get behind, said Colin Beirne, marketing director for Ellwood Thompsons.
The health insurance giant Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is planning to change its guidelines for reimbursing imaging services like MRIs and CT scans, favoring freestanding outpatient clinics or imaging centers over hospitals.

In a statement, the company said a subsidiary, AIM Specialty Health, will help identify when hospital outpatient services for certain imaging tests, such as MRIs and CT scans, are medically unnecessary, in which cases members can receive those services  frequently used to help in the diagnosis process  at free-standing centers instead.

Anthems new guidelines already have launched in some states, and will roll out in Virginia, California, Connecticut and Maine on March 1.

Anthem is Virginias largest health insurer, covering nearly 3 million residents. As of the end of 2016, it held about 34 percent of the states accident and sickness insurance market, according to the State Corporation Commission.

According to the insurers statement, the rationale for making the guideline changes, first reported by The Virginian-Pilot, centers on cost  both for the insurer and the member in out-of-pocket expenses.

The clinical guideline gives members an opportunity to save up to hundreds of dollars for each imaging test, the statement reads. It also helps health plans keep premiums more affordable.

Typically, imaging services are more expensive at hospitals versus physician offices, according to Virginia Health Information. In central Virginia, an MRI of a knee cost $597 at a physician office in 2015, compared with $1,678 at a hospital. A CT scan of an abdomen cost $385 at a physician office and $1,233 at a hospital.

But not everyone thinks the cost is a strong enough reason to make these changes.

Julian Walker, spokesman for the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, said in a statement that limiting where patients can receive care can lead to care fragmentation, and a more convoluted and confusing process for patients.

Decisions about advanced imaging tests that patients need to diagnose and treat an illness or injury should be made with patient interests in mind, Walker said. Decisions by insurers to restrict where patients are permitted to receive a necessary medical procedure fail to meet that standard.

In a statement, a VCU Health spokeswoman echoed Walkers sentiments about the risk of fragmented care, saying, Evidence-based medicine supports the practice of coordinated care, which could be threatened by requiring patients to only receive services from select unrelated providers.

A Bon Secours Richmond Health System spokeswoman said in a statement that the health system is in discussions with Anthem to understand how the policy will be implemented, adding, Bon Secours firmly believes the selection of the proper setting for imaging services should be a medical decision, rather than a business decision.

When asked for comment, HCA Virginia directed inquiries to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

The American College of Radiology, a professional medical society headquartered in Reston, issued a statement about Anthems guideline changes, calling them arbitrary and unwise.

Denying patients covered access to care at such a vast number of facilities will delay care, increase wait times and force many patients to travel outside of their communities to get advanced imaging, the group said. The policy may particularly impact patients in inner city and rural areas. In many areas, the local hospital outpatient setting may be the only immediate access point for advanced imaging outside of the main hospital.
A rising number of women in its jails has led Henrico County to make a deal to house female inmates in Chesterfield County.

Henricos Board of Supervisors voted in September to give the sheriffs office $750,000 to cover some of the costs of housing about 50 female inmates at Chesterfields jail because of overcrowding in Henrico. The allocation was part of a $23.7 million funding resolution to amend Henricos budget.

Our female population skyrocketed in the last year, Henrico County Sheriff Mike Wade said in an interview. We dont have enough space for them.

Between its eastern and western jails, Henrico dedicates 239 beds for women. The total average inmate population for females in 2017 for the two jails is 268. Thats up from 124 in 2016. The average female inmate population in 2015 was 120 and, in 2014, it was 118. As of October, there were 69 pregnant inmates in Henricos jails. There were 66 in 2016.

The extra female inmates are sleeping on cots and mattresses on the floor, Wade said. He said 200 beds are being ordered for the women until more space becomes available.

Wade said two things have driven the number of female inmates: the opioid epidemic and sex trafficking.

We were way over, Wade said. It shot up in a matter of months.

Wade said housing female inmates in Chesterfield is a short-term solution for the overcrowding. In the long run, more space needs to be built.

County Manager John Vithoulkas said there are plans to ask the Board of Supervisors to approve a renovation of the western jail that would create more space for inmates and the construction of another building to house jail staff. At best, those plans could come to fruition in the next 18 to 24 months, Vithoulkas said. In the longer term, more space could be added to the eastern jail.

The immediate plan was to relieve some of the overcrowding of our female inmates, Vithoulkas said. There is going to be a need for another building.

Board Chairwoman Patricia S. OBannon of the Tuckahoe District said she first became aware of the overcrowding issue several months ago. She said part of the problem was in the approach being taken by the office of Henricos commonwealths attorney.

Their job is to be a lawyer and to prosecute, not to be a social worker, said OBannon, adding that jail should be the last resort for people to get treatment.

But jail is often the only place people can go to sober up and deal with their addiction or get away from the people exploiting them.

Michael Feinmel, a deputy commonwealths attorney who oversees drug- and prostitution-related cases, said that given the scant resources in the community, jail is often the only way people dealing with trauma and no support systems can get healthy. Its not ideal, but it at least gets them off the streets, Feinmel said.

We dont have an understanding of the fact that rehabilitation is not enough, Feinmel said of the larger community. Youve got to help someone rebuild their life.

Since 2012, Henrico has taken a more aggressive approach to prostitution and human sex trafficking that has led to more women with lengthy arrest records in jail, said Feinmel, who helped write the Virginia law that in 2015 made sex trafficking a felony. He cited partnerships with nonprofits that offer support to survivors of human trafficking and drug treatment programs in Henricos jails as ways of helping people recover.

We dont want to be part of that revolving door, Feinmel said.

The difference between a prostitution case and a sex trafficking case has to do with whether a pimp or sex trafficker is involved, Feinmel said. If there is no apparent pimp or sex trafficker involved in a case, its treated as prostitution. In Henrico, juveniles are always treated as trafficking victims.

There are people who would describe any woman or man working in prostitution as a trafficking victim, and there is certainly some measure of exploitation that goes on in all circumstances, Feinmel said.

He said most victims of sexual assault never have their trauma properly addressed and, when they use drugs to cope, it leaves them vulnerable to be preyed upon by sex traffickers. With people dying of overdoses while out on bond, judges are becoming more inclined to hold people during pretrial proceedings who have an opiate-related charge, Feinmel said.

Cathy Easter, Safe Harbors executive director, said victims of sex trafficking released from jail often end up back with their traffickers. She called Henrico a leader in addressing sex trafficking. Safe Harbor offers support for survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault. The nonprofit has gotten annual funding from Henrico since 2000.

Henrico has worked to bring it out of the shadows and address it, Easter said.

Also playing out across localities is the national problem of opioid addiction.

The Chesterfield County Jail did not house women long term until 2016 as a result of what Sheriff Karl Leonard called the heroin epidemic. There are 100 inmates in addiction recovery programs at Chesterfields jail and 100 inmates on the waiting list to get into its Heroin Addiction Recovery program.
Alfredo Martinez was working on a construction project when he heard a radio ad about illegal immigrants and the gang MS-13 committing rape.

OK, this is nothing new. Ive heard this before, he thought. He said something to his colleagues, who changed the station and told him not to worry. But the ad hurt.

They say illegal immigrants, he said. To me, thats like ripping me apart as a human being.

Richmond-area Latinos with ties to the immigrant community like Martinez, who is from Mexico, said TV and radio ads from GOP gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie are inaccurate and depict their communities in negative ways. They said they welcome candidates who want to work with the Latino community to combat the violent gangs, but said the advertisements dont give that message.

In response, the Gillespie campaign said he wants to combat the gang and a campaign surrogate said he disagrees that the ads stereotype Latinos.

The series of ads attack Democratic candidate Ralph S. Northam. In one, the MS-13 motto, Kill, Rape, Control, comes on screen along with a picture of heavily tattooed gang members. The narrator says, MS-13 is a menace. Yes, Ralph Northam voted in favor of sanctuary cities that let dangerous illegal immigrants back on the street, increasing the threat of MS-13.

The ad has been widely fact-checked.

Martinezs wife is Lana Heath de Martinez, the welcoming-all coordinator at the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. The center encourages acceptance of immigrants and religious and cultural minorities, pushes back against white supremacy, and lobbies the Virginia General Assembly.

No Virginia city has declared itself a sanctuary city. And theres no agreed-upon definition of what the phrase means, she said.

You have some cities that have declared themselves sanctuaries when all theyve done is say Immigrants are welcome here but they dont have any policy to back that up. And you have other cities, and it looks like California now as a state, are just declining to cooperate in any way with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Theyre not sharing residents information. And so that is the more commonly understood version of sanctuary, she said.

Gillespies ads indicate that sanctuary cities shield people who commit crimes from deportation or the criminal justice system, and both of those things are untrue, she said.

If youre committing a crime in a city thats a sanctuary city, that does not mean that youre not going to be prosecuted, she said. It does not mean that you wont be charged. It doesnt mean that you wont face the same repercussions as anybody else committing a crime.

Northams vote referenced in the ads was set up by Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, voted with the Democrats on a bill to force Northam, the lieutenant governor presiding over the Senate, to cast a tiebreaking vote. Northam did so, and the Republicans immediately voted again, this time with Norment voting on the Republican side.

In its watered-down version, House Bill 2000  the bill Northam voted against  said that no locality could adopt any ordinance or policy that restricted enforcement of federal immigration laws. In his veto statement, Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe noted that localities were already constitutionally forbidden from overriding federal immigration laws and have a choice of whether to voluntarily enter into agreements with ICE.

The bill, the Democrats said, would only send a hostile message to immigrant communities.

MS-13 is a gang formed in Los Angeles whose members primarily are immigrants from El Salvador. It has functioned since at least the 1980s and has more than 10,000 members in the U.S., according to the federal Department of Justice. President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions have made combating it a priority. Trump cited the issue Thursday in an endorsement of Gillespie, tweeting that Northam was fighting for the violent MS-13 killer gangs & sanctuary cities.

Gillespie campaign spokesman David Abrams said in a statement that MS-13 in particular is part of an increase in gang activity in Virginia and noted that police associations have endorsed Gillespie.

In Northern Virginia there have been eight publicly reported MS-13-related murders since November, and more than 2,000 MS-13 members in Fairfax County alone, he wrote. We have also seen them active in the Shenandoah Valley and other parts of the commonwealth.

Ed is the only candidate in the race with a detailed plan to combat MS-13 and other gangs in Virginia to make us safer, especially those in immigrant communities most vulnerable to MS-13 violence. Leadership is not just about responding to problems, its about preventing them as well, and states that have allowed sanctuary cities have not made their people safer.

Nayeli Montes of Petersburg has lived in Virginia for more than a decade. She is from Veracruz, Mexico, and came to Virginia as a teenager. Divorced and a single mother of two, she started her own cleaning business and also works part time in a restaurant.

She said the Gillespie ads stereotype Latinos.

Putting out that picture is like saying Latinos are dangerous for everyone, she said. If you see that picture, its like giving the opportunity to others to think bad of our community.

We have more people who are here for a better future and trying to do the right thing in life. Its not fair.

Gillespie is certainly not the first politician to use immigrants as part of a campaign, said Oscar Contreras, who hosts a Latino radio show on WBTK (1380 AM).

No community wants gangs, or for their children to be preyed upon by gangs, he said.

Gangs are dangerous. Gangs are violent, yes. Illegal immigration is an issue that we need to work on, yes, he said.

But it has a different feeling, these ads, he said. I dont think its speaking to the parents who are worried about their children becoming members of a gang.

Contreras said he doesnt identify strongly with either Democrats or Republicans and likes points made by both. In this years campaign, he said, neither party has reached out to the Latino community.

Vilma Seymour of Hanover County, a Puerto Rican and president of the Richmond region of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said Gillespies ads are beyond despicable and fearmongering.

MS-13 has absolutely nothing to do with sanctuary cities, she said. LULAC, regardless of documentation and regardless of status, is absolutely 100 percent against harboring any type of criminal activity, especially as violent as MS-13, and we would call on candidate Ed Gillespie to retract and remove that ad because it is totally false. Its not necessary.

She noted, as has been widely reported, that the image of the gang members Gillespie used in the TV ad is not of MS-13 members but of another gang and was taken from a newspaper in El Salvador.

For this story, the Gillespie campaign asked the Richmond Times-Dispatch to talk to elected supporters such as state Del. Jason S. Miyares, R-Virginia Beach.

Miyares, a Cuban-American, was formerly an adviser to Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell and an assistant prosecutor in Virginia Beach.

As a state-level prosecutor, Miyares said, he was barred from asking about the immigration status of a defendant. He said the public would support local law enforcement investigating the immigration status of someone arrested and reporting people to the federal government.

He said he was proud of Gillespie for addressing the MS-13 issue and said he doesnt see the TV ads as stereotyping immigrant communities. This is the most violent gang probably on the planet and they are heavily prevalent in Northern Virginia, he said.

I have a unique perspective. Im a Latino. And Im a former prosecutor.

Lana Martinez responded that local officials inquiring about immigration status poses a constitutional challenge, and immigrants who are victims of gang violence may not report it without assurance that they or their families wont be deported.

Miyares speaks for himself, not for the Latino community, she said in an email.

A statewide poll released Monday by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University found 85 percent of likely voters disagreed with the statement, Gang-related crime is a problem where I live. Thirteen percent agreed.

Alfredo Martinez, who became unsettled after hearing the radio ad, said its easy to tear down a community but the damage is hard to undo.

I feel used. And if they really want to find out what our community represents they should seek us out and reach out to the people that are leaders in the community and basically, you know, ask for ideas. Ask us who we are.

Martinez has owned his own business  Alfys Woodn Art  for 10 years. It specializes in carpentry and custom woodwork.

Were all here looking for a better life, he said. Were not trying to harm anybody. We are a very faithful community, very family-oriented, hard workers. We pay our taxes.
Nine years ago, a group of parents and concerned citizens launched an effort to start the citys first charter school. The Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts ran into obdurate resistance from the city establishment.

The school system used bureaucracy as a blocking tactic. It criticized the proposal for being too ambitious. It even gave Patrick Henry a hard time over noncompliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act  even though, at the time, 50 out of 55 of the systems own schools were also noncompliant. But the charter group held tough, and eventually won permission to open.

Recently Patrick Henry held an open house. The old school building on Semmes Avenue that the charter school moved into is still very much a work in progress: Vacant upstairs classrooms are filled with dust and loose and broken flooring tiles. The computers in the IT lab are packed tightly in a smallish room. The school still feels a bit like it is squatting.

Yet there is no disputing what Patrick Henry has been able to accomplish. Enrollment, at 330 students, is more than double the size of the schools first year. Another 200 potential pupils are on a waiting list. The student body is racially diverse (55 percent black, 35 percent white, and 10 percent everything else). Forty percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-priced meals, and students from every elementary-school zone are represented.

The school has been fully accredited for the past two years, despite the fact that it receives almost $3,000 less per pupil than the citys traditional public schools. By contrast, only 12 of those 44 schools are fully accredited. Thats a decline from 17 the year before, in a year when accreditation figures for both the state and the immediate region have been rising.
The Trump administrations apparent decision to dump Barack Obamas so-called Clean Power Plan is a triumph for the rule of law, the Constitution, the U.S. economy, American workers, good science, and the environment. In overturning a bureaucratic edict that was certain to both cost a fortune and accomplish almost nothing to slow global warming, the Environmental Protection Agency will open the door for debate about more effective ways to address climate change. The plan was a heavy-handed, Rube Goldberg attempt to curb greenhouse gas emissions, with an emphasis on phasing out coal as fuel for generating electricity. A carbon tax (offset by tax cuts elsewhere) can achieve far more with far greater efficiency.

Government must act as a responsible steward of both the environment and the economy. The ultimate solution to risks posed by higher temperatures and increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide will almost certainly arise ultimately from innovation and advances in technology, rather than from unrealistic government regulations that primarily appease the green lobby. China and India will not abandon affordable energy and condemn billions of their citizens to persistent poverty. To a considerable degree, they have a moral duty to fossil-fueled economic growth.

The U.S. economy is more free, flexible, and prosperous. It is the worlds best hope for progress in alternative energy production, transmission, and storage  if the government gets out of the way. Thats why the CPP was a step in the wrong direction: It threatened to make the U.S. economy less dynamic and imaginative  and therefore less likely to create long-term solutions to the climate-change challenge.
Families in Virginia should not have to worry about their drinking water or whether in the future their children will continue to enjoy the same clean creeks and streams that we fish and swim in today. Yet Virginia environmental officials find themselves at a crucial moment, poised to make a decision that could either protect our waters or put us on a path toward endangering our most valuable natural resource.

Dominion plans to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline through the heart of Virginias most intact forests and steep mountain landscapes. It will cross Virginia waterways approximately 1,000 times, including many streams, rivers, and wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Construction of this pipeline would mean the large-scale disturbance of thousands of acres of land in its path, putting hundreds of our streams, rivers, and wetlands at risk of harmful sediment pollution from erosion and stormwater runoff. Whats more, clearing this land means thousands of acres of trees and forested land that keep our air and water clean will be gone, and more pollutants will be able to flow into our waters.

And in a direct assault on our waters, construction would also require in-stream trenching and blasting that scientific analysis shows would lead to a surge of sediment and nutrient pollution.

But this pipeline is not a done deal. The State Water Control Board members have the authority to stop this pipeline from moving forward until changes necessary to protect water quality are made. The board has the authority to reject the Department of Environmental Qualitys draft water quality certification if it finds that it is inadequate. As it stands, the draft certification lacks critical information for the board to make a sound decision.

For instance, the DEQ decided to wait to review erosion and sediment control and stormwater management plans until after the water quality certification process. Yet unless this critical information is carefully evaluated as part of the certification review, the board cannot issue this permit in accordance with the law.

The Clean Water Act requires that before certifying a federal permit or license, states must have reasonable assurance that state water quality standards will not be violated. At this time, the board does not have that assurance.

Congress specifically intended the Clean Water Act to give states the ability to block projects, which might otherwise win federal approval, for environmental reasons. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline is the embodiment of the kind of project Congress envisioned when it rightly gave states this authority.

State environmental agencies considering water quality certifications for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Mountain Valley Pipeline in North Carolina and West Virginia have recently shown that they are serious about exercising their legal authority to protect state waters. Both states have slowed down their review process to take a closer look at how the construction of natural gas pipelines would diminish water quality for the people living those states.

Virginians should expect no less. We should not be beholden to Dominions timeline to build its pipeline and race forward toward a water certification without first understanding the risks to our waterways and requiring adequate, specific mitigation plans. Our state officials must take this process seriously.

The role of Virginias environmental leaders to safeguard our water has never been more clear or important. Without their approval, Dominion cannot build this pipeline. Until the Department of Environmental Quality addresses the deficiencies of the draft water quality certification, the State Water Control Board must exercise its authority under the Clean Water Act and deny approval.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
BUCHANAN  At the historic Buchanan Theater, a Main Street icon in this small town, recent showings have featured a gun-slinging battle of good versus evil in The Dark Tower, high-speed automotive action in The Fate of the Furious, and the World War II story of Dunkirk.

And for the drama of small-town politics, meetings of the Buchanan Town Council.

Faced with large crowds and the controversies that draw them, the council has been forced at least four times since May to move its meetings from Town Hall across the street to the theater, where more seating is available. A folding table on the stage serves as a makeshift dais.

The most recent change of venue was for a public hearing Tuesday, when comments about revisions to the town charter turned into a debate about whether the town manager, Mary Zirkle, should be a resident of Buchanan.

Zirkle, who was hired in 2014 as Buchanans first town manager, currently lives about an hour away in Bedford County.

Anybody thats responsible for spending my money should live in this town with me, Buchanan resident and taxpayer Paul Graham said. Graham was one of about 15 people to speak at the hearing, where some members of a restless crowd shouted down comments they didnt want to hear.

Buchanans charter currently requires the town manager to live there. But some on the council would like to change that. A vote could come at a meeting Tuesday.

Other hot topics this year in Buchanan have included a complaint that Mayor Larry Hall spoke disrespectfully to female town employees  allegations that, while discounted by an independent investigation, show a growing tension on the council.

Its a black eye on the town of Buchanan, all because somebody wanted to get me dismissed, Hall said, a reference to Vice Mayor James Manspile, who raised the allegations at an April council meeting by reading aloud a letter from a constituent.

A private attorney hired to look into the matter found no basis to determine that the mayor discriminated against any female employee, according to a statement read at the councils August meeting, held at the theater to accommodate another overflow crowd.

The recent unpleasantness is really a shame because Buchanan is such a nice community, Hall said.

Communication challenges

The Buchanan Town Council has a new look this year; some would say a new feel.

Manspile was elected in November and is serving his first year on a body that was reduced from seven to five members though actions at the local and state level intended to make the local government more efficient.

The town manager position is still relatively new, and Hall said theres been some confusion about the lines of responsibility between elected officials and town staff.

A professional mediator was brought in recently to help clear things up.

The consultant met with council members individually and as a group in an effort to promote a better understanding of their civic roles in this town of 1,200, where secrets are rare and speakers at meetings dont always bother to identify themselves because they assume everyone knows everyone else.

How well the mediation worked seems unclear.

Communication is the biggest problem between the five of us, Manspile said.

According to the mayor, Manspile and the voters who support him are displeased with Zirkle. Not long after Manspile started his term, Hall said, he told me point-blank that if you werent mayor, she wouldnt be the town manager. And Ive been fighting that for the past three-quarters of the year.

Manspile denies that he has it out for Zirkle. But he does take issue with the way questions about her residency have been handled.

Anytime youre dealing with the public, youll have people complain. But its not so much a beef with her job performance, he said. What has got the town upset is that it has been a hush-hush deal that Mary wasnt living in the town.

Its no secret in Buchanan that Hall, who as mayor performed many of the duties of a town manager before Zirkle was hired, is one of her strongest supporters.

What we have a problem with is the mayor running too much interference for Mary, Manspile said. He doesnt want town council members to talk to her about anything.

Residency requirement

As it is currently written, Buchanans town charter states that the town manager shall reside within the town limits.

When Zirkle was appointed in 2014, she was working in the Roanoke County Planning and Zoning Division after nearly 10 years as the chief planner for Bedford County. She and her husband live on a family farm, which is his primary occupation, in Bedford County, not far from Vinton.

Within nine months of taking her job, Zirkle purchased a home in Buchanan as a second residence. A legal opinion from the town attorney, Joe Obenshain, determined at the time that was sufficient to meet the charters residency requirement. Hall said a hiring committee was satisfied with that interpretation.

I am committed to Buchanan, Zirkle wrote in an email.

I am happy to commute about 10 hours each week to a town I love and feel privileged to serve. I have never misrepresented where I live. My house in Buchanan allows me to be here for emergencies, events such as nine nights of Carnival, and provides tax revenue to both Buchanan and Botetourt. I am willing to pay taxes in all three localities for me to be employed in Buchanan.

Zirkle is on call around the clock, and Hall said he does not believe that living outside of Buchanan has impaired her job performance.

Weve made some great strides, with Zirkle as town manager, Hall said.

He cited upgrades to the town water system, improvements to a park along the James River and more festivals and events to draw visitors to a town that already boasts attractions such as the Buchanan Theater, an old-time drug store and soda fountain along with a growing number of restaurants, antique stores and a busy outfitting business that rents canoes, kayaks and inner tubes to river enthusiasts.

Shes done a wonderful job and most people in town feel that she was the best applicant for the job, Hall said.

Charter changes

Yet questions linger about how much time Zirkle spends in the town after shes done with her daytime shift.

Its been a slow rumble and then a roar, Manspile said of the public sentiment hes heard. If it had been done right from the get-go, Larry wouldnt be squirming right now and the town attorney wouldnt be squirming right now.

On the towns website, a proposed draft of the revised town charter states that the town manager shall maintain a residence within the town limits  wording that would appear to allow Zirkles current arrangement of owning a home in Buchanan while living full-time in Bedford County.

But at a work session last month, the council voted 3-2 to keep the charter as it is currently written, requiring full-time residency in Buchanan. Manspile and councilmembers Jane Kneisley and Della Hylton supported keeping the status quo. Hall and Michael Burton voted no.

A binding vote wont be taken until an official council meeting. Other, less controversial changes to the charter would create staggered terms for council members and shift the supervision of the town clerk and treasurer from the council to the town manager. Any changes approved by the council would then go to the Virginia General Assembly for final action.

At last weeks public hearing, some speakers said the rules that were in place when Zirkle was hired should apply today.

What we have here is a requirement that the town manager live in the town, Ed Tolley said. Are we going to have laws that are not followed, eliminated, ignored, corrupted, or whatever?

Others defended Zirkle, suggesting that all the talk about the charter is a thinly-veiled attempt to oust her for personal reasons. Shes doing a good job, Marty Rickman said. Leave her alone.

At times, the hearing bordered on boisterous. When a few speakers strayed off topic, Hall cut in to remind them the council was considering public comments only about the charter. Later, when speakers began to praise Zirkle, they were interrupted by hecklers.

Not about the charter, some members of the audience shouted.

Theater booked again

Although elected state officials in Virginia are required by law to live in the jurisdiction they serve, theres no such mandate for appointed officers such as town managers or county administrators.

Michelle Gowdy, general counsel for the Virginia Municipal League, said its not unusual for some local government employees to commute to work from nearby locales. Advances in technology make it easier to work from home and after-hours, and in the minds of some residency is not as important as it once was.

The league does not take a position on the issue, which Gowdy said is best left to each local government.

Some localities, including Botetourt County, require their top administrative official to live within town or county lines, either through language in their charter or an employment contact.

My sense of it is that its more common than not, said Blacksburg town attorney Larry Spencer, immediate past president of the Virginia State Bars local government section.

The general idea is that a resident is better connected to the issues of a community and more accountable for the decisions that he or she must make.

Others argue that limiting a job search to residents can reduce the pool of qualified applicants.

What happens in Buchanan may be decided at Tuesdays 7 p.m. meeting at town hall.

Expecting another large turnout, town officials have already booked the Buchanan Theater, in case its needed again.
Four people escaped a burning structure without injuries Monday morning after a home caught fire in Salem, according to Salem Fire-EMS.

Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the back of the house after they went to the 800 block of Yorkshire Street at around 7 a.m. The blaze was contained to the kitchen and was under control within 10 minutes.

The Salem Fire Marshals Office determined that the fire was accidental and estimated damages at $30,000, according to a news release. The four residents are working with their insurance company to find alternate housing.

Salem spokesman Mike Stevens said the fire appears to have started in the range hood area of the stove. No one was cooking at the time. An electrical cause has not been ruled out.
For Del. Chris Head, this election cycle is all about Republicans taking back the governorship and with it, the power to control executive vetoes of legislation.

As he rallied a group of volunteers for a full day of door-knocking one crisp late summer morning, Head talked more about the statewide Republican ticket than himself.

Putting Ed Gillespie in the Virginia governors mansion and stopping a Democrat from vetoing Republican-backed legislation that passes the General Assembly, Head says.

Head, whose legislation stipulating that franchisees and their employees cant be treated as employees of the larger franchise has twice been vetoed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, knows the ultimate role the states chief executive can play in the legislative process.

Despite being surrounded by yard signs and handing out water bottles bearing his name, Head downplayed his own re-election bid in this particular mornings pep talk. Winning the governorship is paramount, he said.

Head, R-Botetourt, is seeking re-election to Virginias 17th House District. The three-term Republican from Roanoke County is opposed by Democrat Djuna Osborne, a political newcomer who was motivated to run in part, because of Donald Trumps presidency.

A Trump supporter, Head feels he exemplifies the values of 17th District voters.

Voters in the district that includes much of Roanoke County and parts of Roanoke and Botetourt County are firm in their anti-abortion, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-business and pro-school choice beliefs, he said.

As for facing an opponent whose campaign was spurred by national politics, Head said presidential politics dont factor into the job of a state delegate.

Roanoke politics, Richmond politics are not Washington politics, he said. The things that we deal with in Richmond are not the issues if youre running on being upset about whats going on in Washington.

Osborne has raised more money than Head during the past four campaign finance reporting periods this election cycle. But when factoring in campaign cash raised during previous election cycles, Head has more campaign funds overall by a margin of about $2,000.

When asked about fundraising, Head seems unconcerned.

Money isnt the litmus test, he said. Money is not the yardstick. It is not at all unusual for Republicans to be overwhelmingly victorious and be outspent 2:1.

Head prefers a campaign cash deficit to the challenges of Republican colleagues facing tougher re-election bids. Besides, a Democrat hasnt represented the 17th District since Vic Thomas, who served for 30 years, stepped down in 2003.

Years before first running for office, Head was introduced to the state legislature when, in the mid-2000s, a complicated bureaucratic battle forced him to fight state health regulations on senior care industries.

Head and his wife Betsy opened a franchise of Home Instead Senior Care in 2001, a business they still jointly operate in a shared office.

But in the early 2000s, their in-home elder care business was an emerging industry, and unaccounted for under state law.

Thats when the state health department paid the Heads a visit. Concerned the Home Instead franchise was an unlicensed home-health organization, state officials pressed the couple to apply for a home care license.

The problem was, the license didnt fit Home Insteads business model.

Seeking help, Head paid a visit to then-Del. Morgan Griffith. Together, they discovered the General Assembly had passed laws updating the states definition of home care organizations. The law carved out an exemption for Heads business, but the state health department was following outdated regulations that did not.

So began a three-year battle in which Head lobbied for an update to regulations for home care organizations.

This is what happens when youre creating an emerging industry because we were in a place where nobody knew what to do with us at the time, he said. The bureaucracy was so gummed up and the legislature was what helped us fix it.

Fast-forward to 2009 when Republican William Fralin vacated the 17th District seat. Head ran for the Republican nomination and finished second in a five-way race.

Two years later, Republican Bill Cleaveland decided not to run for re-election and Head was recruited for the 17th District seat, soundly defeating a Democratic opponent along the way.

During his six years in the General Assembly, Head has carved out a legislative niche for himself in health care and business affairs.

Early in his legislative career, Head and several other freshman legislators started a series of small business roundtable discussions in the summer of 2012. Over the next few years, the legislators held nearly 20 discussions for small business owners across the commonwealth.

Head and his colleagues asked business owners what laws and regulations they would alter if they were given the chance.

The discussions led to some state tax and other legislative reforms, Head said.

A lot of it is small, but sometimes it is the little, small stuff that gets in the way, Head said. If you can move those stones it makes people breathe a little easier.

When it comes to local issues, what really gets Head talking is the prospect of creating a Roanoke Valley Governors School for Career and Technical Education.

In 2016, Head sought $100,000 to study the feasibility of building such a school in the valley. The study is now underway.

Like other governors schools, the coursework would be rigorous and the application process competitive, but the focus would be on preparing students for jobs in career and technical fields.

Ideally, the prominent governors school label could eliminate some of the stigma surrounding career and technical education, Head said. At the same time, the school could inspire students to work with their hands.

There are an awful lot of bright folks who dont like sitting in a classroom unless theres a reason for it, he said. The career and technical studies programs makes that light bulb come on.

As Head knocked on doors in one Roanoke County neighborhood, he encountered 17th District voter Elias Chehade. The Roanoke school bus driver is a Lebanese immigrant, staunch Republican and Trump supporter. Chehade declared if he were elected president, he would put a statue of Robert E. Lee on every corner as a historic symbol.

While Chehade always votes Republican, this was his first time meeting Head. He was delighted, and asked for a yard sign before starting in on a lively discussion about the current president and the need to crack down on illegal immigration, because as Chehade sees it, immigrants should pursue the legal route to citizenship like he did.

Trump and federal politics loom over Heads re-election campaign. From tax reform to overhaul of the Affordable Care Act, Head supports Trumps plans, but is frustrated by inaction from the United States Senate.

The federal health care debate trickles down to Virginia House races as Democrats continue to push for the state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Head is vehemently opposed to Medicaid expansion because of the high costs it could inflict on Virginias budget. He also calls the Affordable Care Act an unmitigated disaster partly because of the costs it imposes on small business owners.

Prior to the Affordable Care Act, Head offered his Home Instead caregivers a minor medical plan and covered 100 percent of the premiums. Now, Head said he and his employees pay higher out-of-pocket costs each month. The premiums alone went up 28 percent this year, he said.

To say that youre in favor of expanding Medicaid at this point demonstrates a colossal lack of understanding of any of the economics involved, Head said. Washington has got to fix this because this is about to get seriously ugly.
Are the stars aligning for Appalachia, and perhaps all of rural Virginia?

There are some glimmers that wed like to think are glimmers of hope.

There is certainly a lot of talk these days about how to build a new economy in rural communities. Well find out eventually if that talk turns into action  perhaps even in the next few months. For now, lets review some hopeful signs:

n The GO Virginia economic development initiative has produced some very frank assessments of nine different economic regions of the state. The reports for Southwest and Southside Virginia are especially blunt about the shortcomings of the regions workforce skills and lack of infrastructure (especially the lack of broadband internet). Its possible those reports will simply collect dust on a shelf.

However, we also have a window of opportunity to engage the states business and political leadership to address the problems of the states most economically-distressed areas  and these reports provide fresh (and frank) data to push for changes.

n Our two major party candidates for governor are talking about the rural economy in a way we havent heard in a long time. For the first time ever, both the Democratic and Republican nominees have endorsed a state role in extending broadband to rural communities. Both Democrat Ralph Northam and Republican Ed Gillespie have also endorsed making it legal for Virginia farmers to raise industrial hemp, which wouldnt solve all our problems, but could help create a supply chain of new businesses based in rural areas. Northam has also proposed greatly expanding the University of Virginias College at Wise to create a new economic engine in the coalfields; thats an idea we hope is pursued regardless of who the next governor is. The two candidates have a perfect opportunity to talk about that tonight when they meet in Wise, the first time a debate has been held that far west.

n In Washington, four U.S. senators  two Democrats, two Republicans  have sponsored their own study on Appalachia. This might be the most high-level government attention the region has gotten since Lyndon Johnson launched his war on poverty in the 1960s and created the Appalachian Regional Commission, which has funded lots of infrastructure over the years.

There are lots of reasons, of course, to be pessimistic about the future of Appalachia. President Trump has proposed eliminating not just that Appalachian Regional Commission but several other economic development agencies that focus on rural areas. This seems exactly the opposite of what a president elected with record margins in Appalachia would do.

On the other hand, there are some reasons to be optimistic, too, and this report is one of them. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, says he can see about a dozen bills coming out of this report bills that ought to have bipartisan support. Most are technical in nature, dealing with creating tax incentives to invest in Appalachia, or changing the eligibility for Pell Grant recipients to include older, non-traditional students pursuing credentials programs at community colleges. Those are small-bore bills that could have a big impact; their technical nature may make them more likely to get through a polarized Congress.

Another reason to be optimistic is a more tonal one. Its the way both Democrats and Republicans  at least the ones sponsoring this report  are finding new ways to talk about why Appalachia needs special attention. If you want to get economic growth in this country back to 3 percent, you better get Appalachia going, says Sen. David Perdue, R-Georgia. Otherwise, its a drag on the whole country.

Were also seeing least some politicians in both parties depart from political orthodoxy when it comes to dealing with rural issues.

Here are Republicans acknowledging that government must play a stronger role in developing rural economies. Del. Israel OQuinn, R-Bristol, spoke on a panel in Washington when the report was released and said some things Republicans dont usually say. On rural broadband: We can piecemeal this together, but when its all said and done, its going to take a federal effort through the FCC [Federal Communications Commission], he said. We just cant have 50 different ways to approach this particular problem. Generally I like solutions that come from the state level; this is one thats going to take some help.

We also have Democrats talking about cutting taxes and cutting regulations: In Virginia, Northam proposes to waive certain business taxes for start-ups in rural areas, essentially adopting the old Republican idea of urban-based enterprise zones and applying it to rural communities. There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical that this would work, but it at least demonstrates engagement and creative thinking. In Washington, Warner talks about how the Dodd-Frank banking regulations may work fine for big banks but have choked start-ups in rural areas by making it harder for community banks to give loans to potential entrepreneurs.

President Trump hasnt shown much interest in the details on anything  and fixing the Appalachian economy involves lots of details. However, Warner acknowledges that Trump might still prove to be helpful on these issues. In the last three presidents, you didnt really have much attention paid by Bush 43 or Obama to Appalachia, Warner says. At least this president, with whom I disagree on almost every issue, knows where the region is. At some point, Warner says, even Trump will have to show Appalachian voters how hes improved their lives.

Heres one of the most interesting ideas: American companies have $3 trillion or more parked in overseas banks to avoid higher U.S. tax rates. Both parties want to encourage companies to bring that money home and invest it here, but the details of even a temporary tax cut for repatriation are devilish. Warner adds this wrinkle: He proposes that the coming tax reform bill include lower taxes for companies that invest in Appalachia  or, more broadly, economically-distressed areas in general.

I think theres a lot of first blush interest, Warner says. It would be a grand, bold experiment  and potentially spur a huge investment in Appalachia that wouldnt involve a single tax dollar. Are the stars aligning?, Warner asks. I actually think theres a decent chance.

Check back, he says, to see if they stay that way.
Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey

MP John Healey has backed calls for the government to support the steel industry.

UK Steel, which represents the steel industry, has called on Chancellor Philip Hammond to announce help for the steel sector in the Budget on November 22.

The organisation has made a number of recommendations, including that the industry is given help with energy costs, new funds for capital investments and research and development and reform of business rates, to bring them into line with European competitors.

Wentworth and Dearne MP Mr Healey, speaking in the wake of Liberty Group bringing mothballed equipment back into use at its Rotherham plant, said: Liberty has shown its commitment to our South Yorkshire steel by putting on jobs and firing up equipment thats been out of use.

Now we need the government to play its part.

This is a something for something Budget bid and, having done half a dozen budgets as a Treasury minister, its a submission the government should take seriously.

This is a time of new opportunities for our UK steel but there is still much to do to put the sector on a more prosperous and sustainable footing.

We need the government to step in and help the steel industry unlock its potential.
(The Economic Times) - Diamond traders who participate in auctions at Mumbai's Indian Diamond Trading Centre (IDTC) say they are not getting the stones directly from miners like De Beers, Rio Tinto and Alrosa due to taxation issues, increasing their cost as they need to procure those now from overseas hubs. To supply diamonds in India, the miners want the government to adopt turnover taxation like Belgium has done - under this regime, a fixed percentage of the turnover is levied as tax, instead of taxing the profits. But Indian tax authorities want to enter into advance pricing arrangement and fix the tax rate. Miners don't agree to this as they fear that tax outgo may hurt them in those years when business is not good.
CIBJO releases Ethics Commission's special report

10 october 2017 News

With fewer than five weeks to go to the opening of the 2017 CIBJO Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 5, 2017, the fifth of the CIBJO commissions' Special Reports has been released.

Prepared by Cecilia Gardner, President of the organisation's Ethics Commission, the report focuses on social investment in and by the jewellery industry, looking at how it is proliferating through activism at the grassroots level.

"The task of initiating proactive sustainability programmes is a complicated one for the gem and jewellery business, where the overwhelming majority of players work in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with limited resources For SMEs, however, it is considerably more difficult to become involved, let alone initiate programmes that may have a lasting effect on the lives of people and communities, particularly when they are located elsewhere geographically, and at other stages along the chain of distribution, " Gardner writes.

A feature of the past several years, Gardner notes, are voluntary and grassroots initiatives by interested individuals, companies and organisations in the jewellery sector. One of these is the Jewelry Industry Summit, where CIBJO is involved, and which is acting as an incubator for sustainability and CSR projects in a variety of industry-related fields, most related to responsible sourcing.

"There are many opportunities for you to act now to improve and sustain our supply chain and benefit those who are your business partners. Those who work in every level of the supply chain make possible your success - without them, you cannot operate. Their health and success are essential to the health and success of the jewellery industry, and any actions taken to improve their lives will reverberate up and down our chain of supply," Ms. Gardner writes.



Alex Shishlo, Editor of the Rough&Polished European Bureau in Brussels




Drug maker AstraZeneca (AZN,AZN.L) announced Monday that the US Food and Drug Administration has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation or BTD for Tagrisso (osimertinib) for the 1st-line treatment of patients with metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC.

The BTD was granted based on data from the Phase III FLAURA trial of Tagrisso versus standard-of-care EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor or TKI therapy in previously-untreated patients with locally-advanced or metastatic EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC.

In the trial, median progression-free survival was nearly double at 18.9 months for Tagrisso compared with 10.2 months for current 1st-line EGFR TKIs (erlotinib or gefitinib).

Improvements were seen in all pre-specified subgroups, including patients with and without brain metastases. Tagrisso was well tolerated with a safety profile consistent with previous experience.

Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca, said, "The Breakthrough Therapy Designation acknowledges not only Tagrisso's potential as a 1st-line standard of care in advanced EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC, but also the significant need for improved clinical outcomes in this disease. The results of the FLAURA trial have the potential to redefine clinical expectations and offer new hope for patients who currently have a poor prognosis."

This is the sixth BTD that AstraZeneca has received from the FDA for an oncology medicine since 2014.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Finland's foreign trade deficit decreased notably in August from a year ago, as exports grew much faster than imports, preliminary figures from Finland Customs Office showed Monday.

The trade deficit fell to EUR 150 million in August from EUR 481 million in the corresponding month of the previous year.

Both the value of exports and imports advanced by 18.0 percent and 9.0 percent, respectively in August from last year.

Exports to EU countries surged 21.0 percent and those to non-EU countries by 14.0 percent.

During the eight months of the year, total trade deficit of the country was EUR 1.4 billion versus a shortfall of almost EUR 2.0 billion in the same period of 2016.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Retiring Republican Senator Bob Corker has called the White House an "adult day care center."

It was in apparent retaliation to President Donald Trump's twitter tirade Sunday against Corker.

In a series of posts, Trump claimed that Corker had begged for his endorsement for reelection, and decided not to seek reelection when Trump declined to support the fellow Republican.

"Senator Bob Corker begged me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said "NO" and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement)".

He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said "No Thanks," according to Trump.

The President also put the blame on the Tennessee lawmaker "for the horrendous Iran Deal."

Corker replied to it within an hour on Twitter by saying it's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. "Someone obviously missed their shift this morning", he added.

One of the Senate's most influential Republican leaders, Corker announced last month his decision not to seek another term to the Upper House.

And according to media reports, Trump asked Corker to reconsider his decision, and run again for Senate.

As the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Corker controls the confirmation of diplomatic nominees, and has influential voice on issues such as the Iran nuclear deal, North Korea, and US response to alleged Russian meddling in the presidential election.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
It seems that while Samoans can boast one of the highest levels of mobile phone coverage in the Pacific, we still have a long way to go in terms of benefitting from e-commerce.

In 2013, 99887 Samoans had mobile phones. This leapt to a staggering 134,619 in 2016 according to the telecommunications research site Budde.

However according to a recent assessment by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (U.N.C.T.A.D.) which deals with trade, investment and development issues we have a raft of challenges up ahead that are impeding our growth in the area of e-commerce.

E-commerce for the uninitiated, is transacting or facilitating business on the Internet.

Some of the challenges are difficult to address  our isolation for example, while others will be a slow process such as changing peoples attitudes and habits. Then there are still others where the Government will need to step up and step in.

The assessment by U.N.C.T.A.D. is a valuable document by a group with no particular axe to grind making it difficult for Government to dispute their findings.

There is no doubt that many changes and initiatives will need to come from Government.

Expensive air transport, better port facilities and increased transportation options were three areas that need addressing, according to the report.

Then there are the unreliable and expensive internet connections despite the claims suggesting the contrary is also an issue coupled with the minimum wage structure which keeps two thirds of the country offline.

We have also been subjected to extravagant claims from the government which hopes that the arrival of the 1,3000-kilometre submarine cable connecting Samoa to Fijis Southern Cross Cable will boost connectivity and affordability.

The U.N.C.T.A.D. assessment has shown that improved infrastructure alone will not make the island nation e-commerce-ready.

Meanwhile, many Samoans while accepting of the boosted connectivity claims, prefer to adopt a more cautious wait and see approach to the lowered costs claims.

Then there is the fact that the majority of our people do not have bank accounts or credit cards.

Samoans remain largely unbanked, the report says, adding that only around half the adult population has a bank account or access to other formal services such as credit unions and microfinance.

And it seems that the mistrust many Samoans have about mobile payments may be well placed.

One of the reasons Samoans seem reluctant to trust online payments, the report says, is an incomplete and at times outdated legal framework. The top concern, according to the assessment, is consumer protection online, particularly data protection and privacy, for which Samoa has no legislation.

The assessment calls for a thorough review of Samoas legal framework.

Another specific challenge is the contradicting and overlapping regulations adopted by different ministries and government agencies, the report says.

And then it seems there is a gender barrier where more e-commerce facilities are more accessible by well-established male-owned businesses.

The ability to make trade more inclusive and offer opportunities to women and youth -- two segments of the population often left out -- is what makes e-commerce a game changer, says Mere Falemaka, Permanent Representative of the Pacific Islands Forum to the World Trade Organization.

So while there is a lot further to go than just the new cable, the report does end on an optimistic note.

The government of Samoa is committed to take advantage of e-commerce. And with the right vision and concerted efforts to remove persistent bottlenecks, Samoa could become an e-commerce hub for the region.
Samoa has made considerable progress in recent years in getting businesses and consumers online but still faces challenges before being fully ready to benefit from e-commerce, an UNCTAD assessment of the country says.

Made up of eight islands sitting halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, the country's isolation fuels high import prices and creates challenges for Samoan entrepreneurs to access global markets and grow their businesses.

By giving exporters direct access to potential clients around the globe and allowing Samoan consumers and businesses to find the best deals for what they import, e-commerce could help the country overcome its geographical disadvantages, the report says.

"As is the case for most small island developing states and especially in the Pacific," the assessment says, "trade logistics constraints remain a key bottleneck for Samoa."

Air transport is the most expensive way to ship goods, yet because most goods Samoans buy and sell small parcels online, Faleolo International Airport is currently the main entry and exit point. And this takes a toll on businesses' profits and consumers' wallets.

Better port facilities and increased transportation options would make e-commerce less expensive, the assessment says, adding that the lack of a postal addressing system also limits the scope of e-commerce in Samoa.

Government reforms bringing more competition and better regulation to the telecommunications sector have made mobile phones an everyday reality for most of the population. But Internet connections are still unreliable and expensive, keeping more than two thirds of the population offline.

A monthly 2GB ADSL subscription was US$43 in 2015, and a prepaid 3GB data plan for a mobile was US$40, in a country where minimum-wage workers earn just over US$2 an hour.

The government hopes that the arrival of a 1,3000-kilometre submarine cable connecting Samoa to Fiji's Southern Cross Cable will boost connectivity and affordability. But the assessment has shown that improved infrastructure alone will not make the island nation e-commerce-ready.

Even if the population is better connected, e-commerce cannot take off if the majority of the population does not have a bank account or credit card and remains skeptical of mobile payment solutions.

"Samoans remain largely unbanked," the report says, adding that only around half the adult population has a bank account or access to other formal services such as credit unions and microfinance.

And cultural beliefs in the value of cash and a general reluctance to trust mobile payments -- only 3.7% of mobile phone owners have a mobile money account -- are preventing online businesses such as Samoamarket and Makeki Online from boosting sales despite increased traffic to their websites.

One of the reasons Samoans seem reluctant to trust online payments, the report says, is an incomplete and at times outdated legal framework.

The top concern, according to the assessment, is consumer protection online, particularly data protection and privacy, for which Samoa has no legislation.

The assessment calls for a thorough review of Samoa's legal framework, despite being one of the most advanced in the region according to UNCTAD's Cyberlaw Tracker.

"While the framework is in place, it seldom covers specific e-commerce aspects," says Cecile Barayre, an UNCTAD legal officer who worked on the assessment.

"One specific challenge is the contradicting and overlapping regulations adopted by different ministries and government agencies," she adds.

But even if more Samoans are connected to the Internet and trust online payment, if they are uninformed of the opportunities e-commerce offers and lack the necessary technological skills, online sales will continue to drag.

"The lack of understanding and awareness of what e-commerce is and how to benefit from it has been a common thread throughout the assessment period," the report says, adding that assistance could focus on small and medium businesses owned by women since current e-commerce facilities are more accessible by well-established male-owned businesses.

The top concern, according to the assessment, is consumer protection online, particularly data protection and privacy, for which Samoa has no legislation.

The ability to make trade more inclusive and offer opportunities to women and youth -- two segments of the population often left out -- is what makes e-commerce a game changer, says Mere Falemaka, Permanent Representative of the Pacific Islands Forum to the World Trade Organization.

Through the assessment, the government has realized that e-commerce is about more than ICT infrastructure, transport and regulation, and that it requires investment in soft infrastructure and skills, and a thorough, encompassing national e-commerce strategy.

"UNCTAD's e-trade readiness assessments are a first step for Pacific Island countries to develop a coherent national e-commerce policy," Ms. Falemaka says.

The government of Samoa is committed to take advantage of e-commerce, the report says. And with the right vision and concerted efforts to remove persistent bottlenecks, Samoa could become an e-commerce hub for the region.

The Samoa Rapid e-Trade Readiness Assessment, funded by the Enhanced Integrated Framework, a multi-donor programme for least developed countries, is the third such assessment UNCTAD has done.

It was carried out following a regional workshop on e-commerce in June this year that UNCTAD and the World Trade Organization held with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The ulu (breadfruit) has been touted as one of the most important crops of the 21st century.

A government backed research shows that this highly abundant and under utilised fruit has mass potential in economic benefits for Samoa as well providing another food medium that could aid in reducing the epidemic of diabetes cases in this country.

This week the global model breadfruit dehydrator prototype will be showcased here in Samoa for the 2017 Breadfruit Summit.

The dehydration systems will be crucial for developing a global market for breadfruit flour as consumers are becoming more health conscience. In the U.S.A alone there is a multi billion dollar health market for gluten free low glycemic food products.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa is an active supporter of the ulu project and is confident that the marketability breadfruit produced from Samoa will ensure employment for the youth of today and tomorrow.
Former Cabinet Minister, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, returned to the District Court this morning.

Laaulialemalietoa, his wife Heather, and business associates, Apulu Lance Polu, Martin Schwalger and Tuitui Aipulupo appeared before District Court Judge Fepuleai Roma Ameperosa.

The Court heard that the Attorney General's Office has finalised the charges against them. They face a total of 233 criminal charges, the Court was told.

The charges are in relation to an on-going dispute over a nonu company involving another senior member of the ruling Human Rights Protection Party and Associate Minister of Cabinet and Prime Minister, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga.

All five defendants are represented by an overseas lawyer, Luafutu Andre Volentras.

The criminal charge involve forgery, theft, obtaining money by deception and obtaining a forged document. More details soon.
Can I borrow a pencil?

No, dont have a pencil. Will a pen work?

No. Need a pencil.

Advertisement

Even today in the digital age, the No. 2 pencil remains the required writing implement for students taking standardized tests in the U.S., said Ryan Raffaelli, professor at Harvard Business School.

Meet Faber-Castell, one of the biggest pencil companies in the world. While Apple is coming out with the new iPhone X, Faber-Castell is still making pencils  and making lots of money doing it.

The company started in 1761 when Kaspar Faber, a German cabinet maker by trade, decided to get into making slide rules. His business booms. (When I was in high school, I used a Castell Novo Duplex slide rule). When pocket calculators were developed in the early 1970s, their slide rule business got crushed by Texas Instruments and Hewlett Packard. (I still use the reverse logic HP 12C.)

In the 1850s, a Faber married into the Castell clan and they began to make pencils. You do not normally think of the two words, pencil and innovation, in the same sentence, but you would be wrong. It has been a family business for eight generations and up until his death in 2016, the CEO was Count Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell. In the early days to test the pencils, they would drop them off the 75-foot-high parapet at the top of their family castle. Kind of quaint, but today the company operates 14 factories around the globe and employs 8,000 people. The basic technology underlying a pencil has not changed much, but one barrier to entry is that it takes a lot of money to make pencils. The equipment is complex and expensive.

In the 1980s, the leadership of the company made a key decision. Instead of chasing the calculator business or the CAD drafting and design business, they added a new product -- a cosmetic pencil. And in the last decade they started to buy forest land in Brazil, so they can own their wood. (Manage the supply chain).

Nota bene to all men: Women use cosmetic pencils and they need lots of different colors, so they buy lots of pencils.

In addition, there was a barrier to entry in that cosmetic pencils require regulatory approval. And Faber was early to that game, so they got some first mover advantage. Then they decided to make pencils with colored graphite, the kind that artists (like Picasso) used in their drawings.

Most importantly, they stayed with their core mission statement. Whether it was from memories in the classroom (in the little red school house) or a letter written home to a loved one, they wanted the time you spent with their product to be time well spent.

Come on, I know this is corny, but I will bet when you think of the word pencil, you see the six-sided yellow Faber. And as for authors who wrote only with a pencil: try Vladimir Nabokov, Truman Capote, Joyce Carol Oates, John Steinbeck (used up to 60 cedar pencils per day), and Ernest Hemingway.

What interests me in this story is how companies and people react to massive technology shifts. In 2014, our city removed the cap on taxi medallions. The thinking was that lifting the cap would allow drivers to be their own bosses and make more money. That is not how it worked out. Medallions which used to cost $140,000 are now being given back. The taxi industry (owners and drivers) was so busy fighting among themselves that they did not see Uber and Lyft coming  and essentially eating their lunch.

It is true that some of the regulations imposed on the taxi industry (insurance, location pick-ups, business licenses etc.) are not equally imposed on the Uber/Lyft companies. But in retrospect, the taxi companies did not identify the real threat  the gig economy  and the use of new technology to improve the customer experience. Only now are they beginning to create a taxi app to compete. (Sure, after Uber and Lyft have raised more than 2 billion dollars).

I love the Faber-Castell story because they created a brand (no real patent protection, it is just a pencil) and they knew what they stood for  (a pencil that worked really well and engendered good feelings).

Rule No. 532: If I were a pencil, what would I write?

Source: From Neil Senturias book Im There for You, Baby:The Entrepreneurs Guide to the Galaxy, which has more than 200 rules for entrepreneurs (imthereforyoubaby.com).
Since 2012, The Daily Meal has ranked Americas best pizzas, and its been a half-decade thats seen Americas pizza landscape go from spectacular to otherworldly. Its no small feat to set out to rank the best pizzas in America, but for the sixth year in a row, weve sought the nations best pies and slices, considering more places than ever in our quest for the best.

101 Best Pizzas in America (Slideshow)

If youre as passionate about pizza as we are, you know our bona fides and you know the drill. Weve been at this for a while. Weve obsessively cast as wide a net as possible across the country to search for the best pizzas. All year, once each annual list appears, we research new spots ourselves and follow up on the discoveries of others wherever they are across the country. We tap friends for recommendations, pore over reader tips, argue, seek out experts to help us rank responsibly - and eat as much pizza as we can.

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We know that no list is perfect, least of all one involving a subject about which people feel as strongly as they do about pizza. Unlike many arbitrary lists, though - rankings diversified for the purpose of geographical engagement, expert listicles chosen by a handful of New York Citys food writers - these rankings were approached methodically and comprehensively, and bring a great deal of pizza expertise to bear.

We start by defining the perfect pie. What are the essentials? Considering the varied pizza styles (Neapolitan, Sicilian, New York, Connecticut, California, Detroit, St. Louis, bar pie, deep-dish, Grandma... well stop ourselves there), thats a loaded question. Suffice it to say, no matter your pizza denomination, we believe the following qualities are basic to the platonic pie: a nuanced sauce, neither too sweet nor salty (assuming that it has sauce); good-quality, well-distributed cheese (assuming that it has cheese); good-quality and sensibly combined toppings; a flavorful, savory crust; and, perhaps most important aside from the overall quality of the ingredients, a judicious, well-balanced, and pleasing ratio of sauce, cheese, toppings, and crust that maintains a structural integrity no matter the style.

(Speaking of crust, what is this fancy-pants term cornicione that figures in many of our captions? Cornicione, pronounced cor-nee-CHO-neh, is Italian for cornice or moulding, and in pizza terms it means the edge, crust, or rim on a pizza.)

From defining the perfect pizza we went big, considering nearly 900 spots in every corner of the country - slightly more than last year. How did we narrow this number down to just 101? To begin with, we ate at as many pizzerias as possible ourselves. The Daily Meals in-house pizza experts - including eight-time James Beard Award winner and Daily Meal editorial director Colman Andrews and the sites senior eat/dine editor Dan Myers, along with our city editors, Daily Meal Council experts, and Culinary Content Network bloggers - pitched in.

But we also called upon a blue-chip, geographically diverse list of pizza panelists - chefs, restaurant critics, bloggers, writers, and just plain pizza authorities - asking them to share their considerable pizza experience with us, but to vote only for places where theyve actually eaten. (If youre in food media or are a recognized pizza expert and you disagree with this list and didnt vote for it, send us an email with your pizza cred and well consider you for our panel in 2018.) All told, 56 qualified experts weighed in this year.

So who says the 101 pizzas on this list are the countrys best? A sampling of our panelists includes former longtime Best New Restaurants columnist for Esquire and author of Marianis Virtual Gourmet Newsletter John Mariani, Worst Pizzas Craig Agranoff, Real Food, Fake Foods Larry Olmsted, Barbara and Eric Cheifet of Barb and Erics Pizza Adventures, Taste of New Havens Colin M. Caplan, filmmaker Gorman Bechard, A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours Tony Muia, and Pizza Therapys Albert Grande. Obviously, when pizza is the topic at hand, these folks know what theyre talking about.

This year, the experts finalized a list that spanned 23 states. The top eight states for pizza included New York (35); Illinois (12); California (10); Connecticut (8); New Jersey (6); Pennsylvania (4); Texas (4); and Massachusetts (3). From last year, New York picked up six spots (thanks to the addition of several outside of New York City), California held strong with 10 spots, Illinois gained three spots, Jersey picked up a favorite, and Texas picked up two.

So who made the list? You can click here for the full ranking.
A maddeningly slow inspection process that can make crossing the border an ordeal lasting as long as six hours for trucks carrying cargo from Tijuana to San Diego soon could be dramatically sped up.

Under a new program expected to launch this month at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, qualifying shippersmany carrying products from Tijuanas large maquiladora industrycan expect significantly reduced wait times as U.S. and Mexican inspectors conduct joint inspections.

The program is a first for Otay Mesa, the second busiest commercial port of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border. It will allow users enrolled in the secure-cargo shipping program known as FAST (Free and Secure Trade) to forgo outbound inspections in Mexico, and instead drive straight into the U.S. port to be inspected simultaneously by inspectors from both countries.

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Youre cutting inspection times in half, not to mention increasing the efficiency in the primary lanes and the wait times in between, said Pete Flores, director of CBPs San Diego Field Office.

The joint inspections started last August in Calexico, where U.S. and Mexican officers are doing 200 trucks a day, and at times over 300 trucks in a day, Flores said. The relationship with Mexico is the strongest its ever been. It continues to get stronger for us.

The close collaboration between U.S. and Mexican officials aimed at facilitating the flow of trade between both countries at the border comes in contrast to the rhetoric and uncertainty surrounding the current re-negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, involving the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Whether NAFTA is signed or not, these are operational efficiencies we need to have, said Gustavo de la Fuente, executive director of the Smart Border Coalition, a binational group that promotes more efficient border crossings between Tijuana and San Diego. This region should be at the forefront of these things.

Under the traditional system, goods sent from Mexico to the United States must undergo two inspections, first as they leave Mexico and then again as they enter the United States. The joint inspections offer the promise of savings both in terms of time and money.

At a time of tight federal dollars for expanding ports of entry and hiring inspectors to process both people and goods, the program has been winning applause on the Arizona border where it was first launched last year at the Mariposa cargo facility in Nogales, and has since been expanded to Douglas and San Luis. In San Luis, the joint inspections now apply to all categories of cargo traveling and includes joint inspection of southbound shipments as well.

The program has drastically reduced wait times for commercial truck trade in Nogalesby as much as 85 percent, from three hours to thirty minutes.

It has just been tremendous, everyone is delighted with it, said Russ Jones, a customs broker and international freight forwarder whose company has offices in Arizona, California and Texas. The efficiencies of this goes without saying, said Jones, who is chairman of the Border Trade Alliance.

Though the past year has seen a dramatic expansion of joint inspections, the United States and Mexico have long been laying the groundwork for this to take place. Among those measures is Joint Declaration on 21st Century Management signed by the two governments in May 2010 and aimed both at promoting economic competitiveness and enhancing security along the border.

In October 2015, a pilot pre-inspection program allowed armed Mexican customs officers for the first time on U.S. territory to inspect southbound air cargo shipments at the airport in Laredo, Texas. The joint inspections there have now been expanded to include rail and trucks, according to CBP.

In January 2016, Otay Mesa became the first point on the U.S.-Mexico border to allow armed U.S. customs officers to work with Mexican counterparts in Mexicoin this case a pre-inspection facility for certain northbound agricultural products. But the traffic has been fairly light with inspectors processing about 10-12 shipments a day, Flores said, more than 20 on busy days.

Overall some 3,000 to 3,500 trucks cross northbound each day at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, according to CBP. About a third are enrolled in the FAST program, and would benefit from the joint northbound inspections, Flores said. The exact date of the launching of these joint inspections has yet to be announced, but they are expected to begin sometime this month.

Many of those who stand to benefit directly from the program are members of Tijuanas maquiladora industry, said Eduardo Acosta, a customs broker and president of the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce. Companies such as Foxconn, Toyota and Sony are eager to see the program start.

Trucking companies who carry the cargo are also eagerly awaiting the changes. Were hoping to start this as soon as possible, said Alfonso Esquer, whose company, Fletes Esquer, crosses between 25 to 50 shipments at Otay Mesaall through the FAST program. As wait times are reduced, were hoping to move more loads with the same amount of equipment and personnel, he said.

Esquer said under the current system, we can go from one to three hours, easy, to clear both Mexican and U.S. customseven if his trucks are not pulled over for secondary inspection.

Jose Luis De La Fuente, the owner of another trucking company, Atlas, whose 34 trucks that specialize in short-haul movement of merchandise between Tijuana and San Diego, said the wait can take five to six hours if you get pulled into secondary.

Jones of the Border Trade Alliance sees joint inspections as a trend that will continue, and could even at some point be extended to passenger vehicles. And even with strains over NAFTA, such collaboration shows that on the border it is business as usual, in spite of the rhetoric and positioning that we read and see.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
A state judge in Mexicali has approved a record 335-year sentencethe highest ever in Baja Californiafor a man convicted of kidnapping four migrants, one of whom died of gunshot wounds suffered as he tried to escape.

A statement from the Baja California Attorney Generals Office identified the man as Jesus Alonso N. He was also ordered to pay a fine of more than $200,000.

Sentenced separately was an unnamed accomplice who was a minor at the time of the crime.

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The incident occurred in April 2015 in a residential area of the Baja California capital. The victims were hoping to be smuggled to the United States. According to one news report, they originally had contacted their supposed smugglers in Tijuana.

But the migrants, all men, never made it across. Instead, they were brought to a neighborhood in Mexicali known as Los Pinos, where armed captors held them for four days.

According to prosecutors, the victims were threatened and forced to call family members and ask them for money. The migrants were beaten so that relatives could hear and be pressured to make deposits, the statement said.

Fearing for their lives, the migrants decided to rise up, the statement said. On April 29, one of them made his move as Jesus Alonso N removed his handcuffs so that the migrant could eat.

This led to a scuffle that resulted in the shooting of one of the migrants, identified as Pedro Gomez Chavez, who died of his injuries. The three others were able to escape after another victim grabbed their captors weapon, the statement said.

Following the incident, police arrested Jesus Alonso N and his accomplice.

Jose Maria Gonzalez, Baja Californias deputy attorney general for organized crime, said in the statement that the sentence approved earlier this month by a court in Mexicali not only was a record for the state, but the second highest in Mexico.

Mexico does not recognize the death penalty, and the maximum sentence for an an individual crime is 50 years. In this case, the subject has five working days to file an appeal, authorities said.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
One by one, the mourners called out the names.

Andrea Castilla, the first one said. She was a makeup artist from Huntington Beach celebrating her 28th birthday when she was shot and killed in Las Vegas on Oct. 1.

Erick Silva, said another voice. He was a 22-year-old security guard who died saving lives.

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Susan Smith, an elementary school office manager from Simi Valley, was among those named.

As the sun set over the ocean, a throng of people huddled along the Huntington Beach Pier to remember those who lost their lives too soon. They clutched flame-less candles and held aloft cellphone flashlights. Strangers embraced one another. Beats from a drum circle echoed. Some wept as 58 names were read.

They were among thousands of people who gathered at candlelight vigils across the state  including events in Placentia, La Verne, Bakersfield and Simi Valley  over the weekend to commemorate victims of the Las Vegas massacre.

Exactly a week ago, a gunman perched on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel sprayed a crowd of 22,000 country music fans with gunfire at the Route 91 Harvest festival.

The shooter Stephen Paddock killed 58 people and wounded hundreds more before turning a gun on himself, according to police.

More than half of those killed, 33 people, were from California.

They were teachers, mothers and big sisters, drawn together by their love of country music. Some, like Castilla, traveled to Vegas to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries.

At the pier in her hometown, Castillas loved ones wore postcards around their necks bearing her photograph and the phrase #PrayForVegas. They remembered her as a sympathetic listener who was always smiling. She was light on a gloomy, cloudy day, one friend said, standing next to a memorial with sunflowers, candles and a photograph.

That weekend, her boyfriend of seven months, Derek Miller, was planning to propose.

Those grieving could pick up tissues and candy from a table nearby, sign their names or donate to victims families.

I feel the love, said Jacque Nafison, 58, of the Huntington Beach vigil. Castilla was her best friends niece. The warmth and serenity and caring people have for each other.

Nafison said Castilla didnt die in vain.

The world will change, she said. Hopefully it changes.

At a candlelight vigil Sunday in Placentia, a large crowd gathered in the field of Sierra Vista Elementary School to honor Teresa Nicol Kimura, who also died in the Las Vegas attack.

Kimura, who went by Nicol, graduated from El Dorado High School and Cal State Fullerton and worked for the state government. She was known for her energy and infectious smile.

Her friend Chad Elliott said the pair had attended 15 concerts this year alone, but the Route 91 festival was her favorite weekend of the year.

In Huntington Beach, many of those who were present during the shooting were scattered in the crowd, orange and purple ribbons pinned to their shirts. Several spoke of the guilt they felt for making it out alive while another thanked a veteran for saving her life.

Among those who survived the attack was Mignon Underwood, 51, who said she came to the vigil to process it all.

Its been hard, she said of the last week. Im trying to get through the day without thinking about it. Im trying not to fall apart.

During the vigil, survivors held hands and walked up and down the pier, while attendees followed behind.

Bethany Webb, 56, carried a sign saying, Now is the time to talk about sensible gun laws.

Six years ago, she lost her sister when a gunman opened fire inside a Seal Beach hair salon.

Fifty-eight families cant breathe right now, Webb said. Not until enough people have walked in our shoes.

makeda.easter@latimes.com

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

ALSO

In the solitary world of video poker, Stephen Paddock knew how to win. Until he didnt

A brotherly journey from Alaska to Vegas ends in sorrow

Trumps ardent pro-gun stance is new, but will Las Vegas force him to give ground?

The geography of death in Las Vegas: Remembering the 58 who died

UPDATES:

10:45 p.m.: This article was updated with information from the vigil in Placentia.

9:20 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information from the vigil.

This article was originally published at 7:20 p.m.
Jorge Heredia, an inmate, left, and Jesse Estrin, a facilitator, right, comfort one another during an emotional meeting, mourning the loss of Arnulfo Garcia at San Quentin State Prison. Christina House / Los Angeles Times (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Down past the prison yard, where blue lilies grow near a fence topped with barbed wire, the men who manage one of the nation's only inmate-run newspapers were mourning.

The front page of their next edition would mark the death of Arnulfo Garcia, who had been their editor in chief  and so much more.

Garcia had come to San Quentin State Prison as a heroin addict and burglar. He had transformed himself over more than 16 years into a beloved leader and living, breathing symbol of hope and redemption.

At the prison, they called him jefe because he ran the San Quentin News. They called him pachuco because in his youth he used to walk with such swagger. They loved his dry chili peppers, which he carried in his pocket and passed out to them like candy.

And they felt such hope for him when he walked out to freedom in July, full of big plans for not just his but their future.

He was deep into those plans two months after his release when he got in a car with his sister. She was driving. They were in a crash. Both were killed.

Garcia was a three-striker whose sentence was cut for good behavior from 65 years to 16. He used to tell men serving decades for robberies, assaults and murders to focus not on getting out of the infamous penitentiary but on becoming better men  men who moved forward and thought big.

"It takes a team to make it to the moon, he used to say.

Left: Arnulfo Garcia reads the latest edition of the San Quentin News produced by himself and a group of fellow inmates. Right: James King signs a sympathy card for the family of Arnulfo Garcia at San Quentin State Prison.

And they had faith in his goals, no matter how grandiose  to reform the criminal justice system, to end gang violence, to turn a fledgling newspaper into an award-winning publication.

Out in the yard, prisoners divide by color  blacks with blacks, whites with whites  but in the old laundry room turned newsroom, Garcia led a mix of men whose sole focus was telling stories and putting out the paper.

That work continued on a recent afternoon.

Jesse Vasquez, a staff writer serving 30 years to life for attempted murder, placed a thermos with Garcias favorite tea out on the pavement near the newsrooms front door to ferment in the hot sun, the way Garcia taught him. Jonathan Chiu, in for first-degree murder, pieced together the papers crossword puzzle. And Richard Richardson, long and lanky like Snoop Dogg, bent over his computer pushing himself to finish his toughest assignment yet: Garcias obituary.

Richardson, who goes by Bonaru, serving time for home robbery, took over as editor after Garcia left. The two were best friends, he said.

He taught me how to be a man, how to be a father, to be responsible and accountable for my actions.

Drop that monkey off your back

Garcia, who was 65 when he died, was in and out of jail for nearly 50 years.

He spent part of his childhood picking prunes on a farm in Northern California and as he grew up became a heroin addict. When he was busted for home robbery in the 1990s and faced 123 years in prison, he skipped bail and fled to Mexico.

His mother pleaded with him. Quit drugs, have a child, settle down.

Drop that monkey off your back, Carmen Garcia told him. Then I can die in peace.

Garcia did what his mother asked in the countryside of Mexico, working on a farm, staying clean. He met someone, and they had a daughter and named her Carmen.

But eventually his past caught up with him. He was arrested and sent to San Quentin.

In his 6-by-10 cell, he started writing. He told his life story and the stories of other inmates expelled from society because they killed their wives, shot up gang rivals, robbed gas stations, peddled drugs.

Garcia wrote thousands of words  now scattered in notebooks, on flash drives and pieces of toilet paper.

Inmates pass around a ceremonial rock when its their turn to speak in a gathering mourning Garcia.(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Left: A photograph of Arnulfo Garcia sits in an empty seat during a gathering of inmates mourning Garcia's death. Right: Inmates pass around a ceremonial rock when it's there turn to speak in a gathering mourning Garcia.

He was a listener, someone you could talk to about your secrets and your sadness and the harm that youve done to others, said his brother Nick, who also served time at San Quentin.

For years, Garcia had brushed aside his mistakes. I blamed my father, the police, the probation office, the D.A., the judges, he wrote in a 2014 column. I blamed everyone but myself.

Writing, he said, brought a new kind of clarity. I came full circle to the realization that the person responsible for my situation was me.

When he and Richardson began working in the prisons print shop, Garcia didnt even know how to turn on a computer. But they used to listen to the chatter of reporters and editors nearby in the newsroom.

Theyd be arguing about what story to run on the front page, Richardson said. And wed get in there and tell them our opinion.

The prison newspaper was just revving up again then. A prison warden had brought it back to life, after more than 20 years. It ran on donations, as it does now, and the help of journalists on the outside.

Garcia was hired on as a writer in 2009 and began spending more and more time there. Two years later, he was editor in chief.

He saw in the San Quentin News an opportunity not just to give prisoners a voice but to educate them about prison programs they could use to improve themselves. He published stories about inmates doing yoga, putting on Shakespeare plays, getting paroled after participating in rehab programs, showing remorse for their crimes.

He once wrote about how three inmates saved a correctional officer as he choked on a piece of steak.

Garcias paper featured soul-searching profiles and editorials critical of budget cuts and prison conditions. He invited in district attorneys and judges, for forums to update them on life at the prison.

San Quentin inmates mourn their former editor in chief. (Video by Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Bob Ayers, the warden who brought back the newspaper, said Garcia didn't just want a publication that squashed prison gossip. He wanted to do serious, respected journalism.

While I may have plugged in the lamp, which was the resurrected San Quentin News, he said. Arnulfo tweaked it until it became a beacon."

Garcia did so under strict supervision. The newsroom had no internet access. Each story was carefully vetted.

By the time he left prison, the San Quentin News was printing 28,000 copies, distributed to 35 prisons run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Wall City, the quarterly magazine he dreamed up, was nearly a reality. The first volume, full of inmates stories, was just about to go to press.

Left: Sunlight through the bars at San Quentin State Prison. Right: Inmates gather and mourn the death of Arnulfo Garcia at San Quentin State Prison.

A brave new vision

The morning of the crash, Nick Garcia, who had also been paroled, spoke to his brother on the phone.

Arnulfo was at a gas station in Hollister. He sounded excited.

His biggest plan was to build a reentry home with a full treatment center, somewhere in the countryside, a place where newly freed prisoners could acclimate themselves to life outside the walls.

He had the support of officials at public safety agencies, social workers and several prosecutors, including those who had once locked him up. His family planned to help him pay for it.

He and his sister Yolanda were on their way to check out a possible property.

The crash occurred minutes after the brothers hung up. Police say Yolanda Garcia missed a stop sign. Her car was hit first by an SUV, then by a big rig.

Brother and sister died at the scene.

This ones hard to take

Richard Richardson, left, works on writing the obituary of his best friend Arnulfo Garcia. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

At San Quentin, a weekly support group helps prisoners manage their day-to-day anger.

Garcia once led the group. Now those who came were grief-stricken.

In a high-ceiling room that was nonetheless airless, they sat in a circle and took turns saying goodbye.

Arnulfo, you pulled one on us, man, said one inmate, his face slick with tears. This ones hard to take.

Many times I wanted to quit, said another, staring at the floor. You told me, Come on, lets go

I appreciate you, said Fateen Jackson, 41, because you saw value in me.

Lucia de la Fuente, one of the groups coordinators, told the inmates that Garcia had squeezed every last bit of his two months of freedom. Barbecues, shopping trips with his daughter. Food  lots of great food.

De la Fuente said it made him so happy, he texted her photos of his beans, his scrambled eggs and Mexican sausage.

He was abundant in every single way, de la Fuente said.

She got her final text from him three days before the crash, she said.

He was coming over the Bay Bridge at sundown.

The light, he told her, was so beautiful.

esmeralda.bermudez@latimes.com

@LATBermudez

Times staff reporter Chris Megerian contributed to this story.
San Diego officials were informed repeatedly of the dangers of disease-carrying runoff from homeless encampments into area waterways, as far as a decade before the current hepatitis A crisis spurred action.

Typical of the volumes of reports is a 2015 city plan for Mission Bay, which cited hepatitis research in setting priorities for officials regarding environmental quality.

The issues raised by transient encampments are socio-economic by nature, the city Transportation and Storm Water report said. Addressing the sources of homelessness requires coordination with law enforcement, social services, and the legal community. Therefore, it has been designated as an uncontrollable source.

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A U-T Watchdog review of public records shows state water regulators and city officials produced nearly a dozen studies in the decade before this years outbreak, reports and policy documents highlighting the link between homeless camps and human waste-tainted water.

The documents from the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control board show problems like homeless encampments went unaddressed for years.

By the end of last month, city leaders  faced with a headline-grabbing wave of hepatitis infections that has killed 17 people and sickened 481 others since November  had police sweep away downtown homeless encampments, while sanitation crews power-washed sidewalks with chlorine and bleach.

Around the same time, a pair of City Council members, noting that the viral liver infection could spread from polluted city waterways and into the Pacific Ocean, fired off a letter to their local, state and federal colleagues urging them to treat human waste in the San Diego River Valley as a top priority.

Some of the same City Council members also led a media-friendly clean-up of hepatitis-ravaged homeless camps along the San Diego River  home to an estimated 300 year-round unsheltered residents, as well as four known hepatitis cases and one death since the outbreak was identified late last year.

The cleanup came nearly 10 years after Ruth Kolb, a city stormwater specialist, contributed to a 2007 water quality report that cited runoff from homeless camps among the potential sources of pollutants discharged into that same river.

Neither Kolb nor a city spokeswoman returned requests for comment on the citys response to such disclosures.

A July report delivered to the water quality board  which is charged with local enforcement of permits issued under federal clean water regulations  issued another, somewhat more urgent warning about the link between human waste and waterborne illness.

The report, commissioned by city and county officials and meant to determine the cost of various water quality improvement efforts, found undiluted human waste in San Diego waterways was likely to generate high rates of illness among exposed homeless populations.

It said the most cost-effective way to reduce those risks was to prioritize human sources first.

Like the 2015 report, it cautioned that efforts to do so could require coordination among multiple agencies, civil society organizations and other stakeholders.

David Gibson, executive director of the water quality control board, said local officials were certainly cognizant of the red flags.

If anything, he said, Julys analysis may have underestimated the human cost of waste in San Diegos waterways.

This hep A outbreak sadly confirms my fears, Gibson added. I do think the report was a big indication of the homeless community as a source (of contaminated water).

Its really unfortunate this situation has gotten where it has.  The boards concern is that we dont allow the conditions that allowed for this to happen again.

Gibson said conditions at San Diego area homeless camps arguably raise questions about local officials compliance with permits issued under the Clean Water Act, the 1972 law enacted to prevent pollution in U.S. waterways.

He said officials with the Environmental Protection Agency had been called in to aid his agencys inquiry into those questions.

MaryAnne Pintar, district chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, confirmed the three-term congressman sought EPA intervention in a Sept. 18 letter that urged the agency to take the immediate steps necessary to address concerns over the spread of hepatitis through San Diego waterways.

She said Peters, D-San Diego, expected more detail on those efforts by early next week.

When we followed up yesterday we were told that the EPAs Water Division is working with (the water quality control board) to develop recommendations that would be included in the response we receive on Tuesday, Pintar wrote in an email on Thursday. The congressman would rather have a complete and accurate response, one that includes concrete recommendations, rather than one that is incomplete.

We look forward to receiving that on Tuesday and sharing it with the city and county.

Peters sent a similar missive to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sept. 5, asking that agency to evaluate San Diego Countys response to the hepatitis outbreak.

Dr. John Ward, director of the CDCs viral hepatitis division, replied that he was impressed by the rapid action undertaken by county and state health officials to address the crisis.

The city, for its part, has emphasized plans to take on additional river cleanup activities over the coming weeks.

Spokeswoman Christina Di Leva Chadwick wrote in a Sept. 29 news release that the city funds weekly San Diego River inspections and an annual inspection covering the full length of the waterway.

Chadwick said the nonprofit River Park Foundation, a city contractor, has removed more than 66 tons of trash and debris from the river bed so far this year.

She said the city has a similar contract with I Love a Clean San Diego, which conducts 15 river cleanups a year  three of which occurred last year on the San Diego River.

Chadwick did not respond to a request for a copy of those contracts.

Timeline:

July 2006: An investigation report from the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control board lists four San Diego-area water bodies  from Loma Alta slough to San Elijo lagoon  that had been polluted by bacteria and did not meet federal water quality standards. The order found homeless encampments may be among the sources of those pollutants.

December 2007: A technical report issued by the water quality board again lists waste from encampments of homeless persons among possible contributors to bacteria-impaired bodies of water.

June 2008: A report on water quality at Baby Beach and Shelter Island Shoreline Park notes wash-off from encampments of homeless persons can potentially contribute elevated bacteria loads to water bodies due to improper disposal of human waste.

May 2014: A summary report from the water quality control board cites homeless camps on the San Diego River present the largest challenge for trash abatement for both the municipal storm water committees and Caltrans.

September 2015: City-hired consultants put out a Mission Bay watershed management plan that classifies homeless camps as an uncontrollable source of human waste pollutants in San Diego waterways, explaining that addressing the sources of homelessness requires coordination with law enforcement, social services, and the legal community.

July 2017: A city- and county-sponsored cost-benefit analysis encourages focusing on homeless camps and other human waste sources of water pollution, but concludes that ultimately, peoples values and preferences will greatly affect the decisions regarding the ways to make surface waters safe to swim.
More than 5,000 people joined parishioners of San Diegos Polish mission in Pacific Beach for a weekend full of pierogi, polka and all things Polska at an annual festival, organizers said.

While the fundraiser, in its 23rd year, is an important source of funding for St. Maximilian Kolbe Roman Catholic Polish Mission, organizers said the unity that the three-day event brings to the Polish community and its neighbors is even more critical.

Its not just a fundraiser anymore, said Bogdan Maziarz, one of the volunteer organizers. Its a statement of Polish culture. Its a celebration of our heritage.

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As the sun warmed the air on Sunday afternoon, smells of potato pancakes and kielbasa sausage cooking intensified in the decorated church parking lot. Red and silver streamers flapped in the breeze below Polish and American flags.

Sundays portion of the celebration began around noon, and early attendees kicked off the day with national anthems from the U.S. and Poland. By 1 p.m., the parking lot was packed with people eating dishes and watching performances that ranged from traditional folk dance troupes to a family of Polish fiddlers.

Filip Ponulak pointed artifacts from St. Maximilan Kolbe Roman Catholic Church in Pacific Beach. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Father Czeslaw Rybacki has been at St. Maximilian Kolbe church for about two years, he said, and has been working in churches outside Poland since 1993.

Hes proud of what his parishioners accomplish each year with the festival.

Theres such a great opportunity to put people together with a common purpose, Rybacki said.

His parishioners are scattered across the San Diego area, with some driving from as far as Temecula to attend Mass in Polish. Because of the lengthy commutes, some save the trip for Easter, a particularly important time in the Polish Catholic tradition because people bring a basket of food to the church for the priest to bless before they eat it.

Those who do come every week often stay after Mass for social gatherings, he said, which is an important element of the churchs mission.

Churches have historically served as centers for new immigrants to find support, said Maziarz, who commutes to St. Maximilian Kolbe from San Marcos.

Its our heritage, our culture, Maziarz said. We all grew up praying in Polish, and thats very important to us.

Maziarz has been volunteering to help organize the festival for more than a decade.

The Polish dance group, Krakusy from Los Angeles entertained the crowd during the annual Polish Festival at St. Maximilan Kolbe Roman Catholic Church in Pacific Beach. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Beata Appelt commutes every week from Rancho Penaquitos to attend mass in Polish at the church, she said. She prefers to pray in Polish and wants future generations of her family to continue that tradition. She came to San Diego from Poland about 27 years ago.

She helped organize the first 11 festivals, she said.

From the beginning, this is all homemade, Appelt said, gesturing to the food stalls. We put a lot of effort in.

She had difficulty deciding which of the traditional Polish foods at the festival was her favorite. She particularly likes the stuffed cabbage and the rose-filled Polish doughnuts, she said.

On Sunday, several women worked in the churchs basement kitchen, heating up the mounds of food that had been prepared in advance. They also sold frozen food for attendees to take home.

The Polish dance group, Krakusy from Los Angeles entertained the crowd at the annual Polish Festival at St. Maximilan Kolbe Roman Catholic Church in Pacific Beach. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

The preparations required 10 freezers and six refrigerators, all rented for the event. Before the celebration ended, they had run out of some menu items.

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Indie film impresario Harvey Weinstein, a towering figure in Hollywood, was fired from his company Sunday night after allegations that he sexually harassed women for decades.

Weinsteins ouster, which comes just days after accusations against him were made public, marks a humiliating fall for one of the movie industrys most powerful  and controversial  men.

He was credited with remaking the business of independent cinema and backing Oscar-winning films including Shakespeare in Love and The Kings Speech. Weinstein, 65, helped make the careers of film luminaries such as Quentin Tarantino and created the modern Oscar campaign. But the scrappy Queens, N.Y., native was also known for his volatile temper and outbursts at employees and filmmakers that would bring people to tears. The alleged inappropriate sexual behavior that would ultimately be his undoing was widely described as an open secret in Hollywood circles.

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Weinstein is the latest high-profile entertainment and media figure whose career was unraveled by alleged sexual impropriety in the workplace. Those accused of such misconduct have included comedian Bill Cosby, former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes and former Fox News host Bill OReilly. Each denied wrongdoing.

Weinstein was ousted after the New York Times published a story Thursday detailing allegations that the Oscar-winning movie and TV producer had sexually harassed numerous actresses and employees over a span of more than 20 years, including Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan. Weinstein had reached at least eight settlements with women who accused him of harassment, including multiple former employees of the Weinstein Co. and his previous business, Miramax, according to the article.

In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company ... have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately, the company said in a statement.

The board members said Friday they had hired a law firm to investigate the sexual harassment allegations. At the time, the company said Weinstein was taking an indefinite leave of absence but stopped short of calling for his ouster as some had demanded. His brother, Bob Weinstein, and David Glasser, the companys president and chief operating officer, were put in charge during his absence.

But it quickly became clear that Weinstein Co., which is based in New York and has about 150 employees, would not be able to survive if its co-founder stayed in place, according to people close to the company who were not authorized to comment on the matter. Filmmakers threatened to pull their projects if the executive was not dismissed. And few directors and producers, if any, would have been willing to bring their film and TV projects to the company given the toxicity of its co-chairman.

Adding to the chaos, employees and outsiders were dumbfounded by Weinsteins attempts to defend himself in public. In an initial statement responding to the allegations, he appeared to apologize for unspecified past behavior. Yet he also blamed his alleged conduct to coming of age in the 60s and 70s, when all of the rules about behavior and workplaces were different, an excuse that was widely viewed as tone deaf and offensive.

The board of directors had wanted to reach an exit deal with Weinstein so that he would resign voluntarily, but could not come to an agreement. They were left with no choice but to fire him, said one knowledgeable person.

There is zero tolerance in corporate America for sexual harassment and discrimination, said C. Kerry Fields, a professor of business law and ethics at the USC Marshall School of Business. Society and corporate boards have changed for the better and Harvey Weinstein has not.

The executive, who founded the Weinstein Co. in 2005 with Bob Weinstein and served as its co-chairman, lost key supporters inside and outside the company as he came under pressure to leave. Over the weekend, Los Angeles attorney Lisa Bloom quit representing Harvey Weinstein after she faced criticism for working with him. Crisis manager Lanny Davis also stepped down from Weinsteins team.

On Saturday, MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski threatened to pull out of her book deal with Weinsteins publishing imprint unless he resigned.

Meanwhile, allegations about Weinsteins alleged misbehavior continued to mount, putting more pressure on the board to act.

A report surfaced late Friday in the Huffington Post contending that Weinstein had made unwanted sexual advances toward a TV journalist, Lauren Sivan, a decade ago in New York, including cornering Sivan at a restaurant and masturbating in front of her.

Another account in Britains the Times on Sunday alleged that Weinstein propositioned a female writer to share a bath with him at his London hotel.

At first, Weinstein Co.s board had been divided on how to respond to the allegations. Four Weinstein Co. board members resigned their positions last week: billionaire Dirk Ziff, Avenue Capital Group CEO Marc Lasry, Technicolor executive Tim Sarnoff and hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones.

The statement announcing Weinsteins removal was signed by Bob Weinstein, along with three board members: Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar.

The allegations and Harvey Weinsteins response have put such a stain on the firm that the company is likely to change its name, the knowledgeable person said.

With few exceptions, entertainment power players including studio executives, producers and actors said little in public about the accusations against Weinstein, despite past outcries against offenses in other industries.

The allegations against Weinstein were particularly awkward for Hollywood and Democrats because over the years Weinstein has given generously to Democrats and liberal causes, donating tens of thousands of dollars to the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

The lack of public response from the entertainment industry reflects the power Weinstein wielded in the industry for decades.

Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News personality who accused Ailes of sexual harassment, praised Weinsteins firing. Womens voices heard, she wrote on Twitter. Again and Finally.

The Weinstein brothers established their reputation as purveyors of quality cinema in the late 1970s. Through their company Miramax  a portmanteau for their parents, Miriam and Max Weinstein  they turned titles including Sex, Lies and Videotape, My Left Foot, The Crying Game and The Piano into art-house hits.

Walt Disney Co. purchased Miramax in 1993, and a year later the brothers released Pulp Fiction, which catapulted them to a new level of Hollywood renown and helped establish their long relationship with Quentin Tarantino. They won their first best picture Oscar with The English Patient, released in 1996, followed by Shakespeare in Love and Chicago. The brothers left Disney in 2005, ending an acrimonious relationship with the parent company.

Harvey Weinstein was known as a master Oscars strategist, and was also known to sometimes bad-mouth the competition. His reputation among auteurs suffered as he frequently insisted that directors re-cut their movies to make them more commercial, earning him the nickname Harvey Scissorhands.

Now, the Weinstein scandal could serve as a wake-up call to the entertainment industry, where the so-called casting couch has long been part of Hollywood culture. Silicon Valley is facing sweeping changes in the ways technology firms are dealing with sexual harassment and discrimination as venture capital firms demand that corporations clean up their act, Fields said.

It will soon affect Hollywood, he said.

ryan.faughnder@latimes.com

@rfaughnder

ALSO

Longtime Fox News legal counsel Dianne Brandi takes a voluntary leave

Senators start giving away money Harvey Weinstein donated to them

Gretchen Carlsons lawsuit and Cosbys accusers paved the way for Weinstein allegations to go public

UPDATES:

9 p.m.: This article was updated to include additional reaction to Weinsteins firing.

5:03 p.m.: This article was updated to include additional context.

This article was originally published at 4:30 p.m.
Tuesdays, 2-5 p.m. and Thursdays, 1-4 p.m. Continues through Dec. 22

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The 55-year-old man arrested in the death of a woman found on the floor of a City Heights apartment Saturday night was the victims husband, San Diego police said Sunday.

Someone nearby called police about a person who may be in distress at the home on 38th Street at Cedar Street about 5:35 p.m.

When officers went inside, they found 51-year-old April Davis unconscious and unresponsive, San Diego police Lt. Todd Griffin said. Paramedics tried to help the woman, but she died before she could be taken to a hospital.

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Davis husband, Dana Davis, was arrested soon after. He was booked into jail on suspicion of murder. Investigators did not say what may have prompted the killing.

According to their social media accounts, the couple had six children and had been together for decades.

April Davis posted regularly about her husband and children on her Facebook account. One post from May was a video of the two rollerskating together, a hobby they had shared for more than 30 years, she wrote.

Dana Davis commented that he was in seventh heaven when he was in a rink with her, and the only thing he loved more than his skates was his wife and children.

April Davis worked as a treasurer and tax collector specialist with the County of San Diego.

Broken-hearted family members turned to social media to grieve.

My heart is heavy today. My sister April was taken from us last night, wrote brother Thomas Arcala. ...You will always be remembered for the love you had for your family.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com
A 47-year-old man from Las Vegas was found dead in a National City motel room early Monday morning, police said.

Officers were called to the Howard Johnson Express Inn on Roosevelt Avenue near West Fifth Street shortly after 4:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a man not breathing in one of the rooms, said police Sgt. Christopher Sullivan.

Firefighters tried to revive the man, who is a Las Vegas resident, but he died before he could be taken to a hospital. The county Medical Examiners Office will be conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death, Sullivan said.

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Officers said there were no signs of foul play.

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com
Dr. David Brenner, a physician-scientist who is known as an empire builder for leading a multi-billion expansion of the health sciences at UC San Diego, interviewed Monday for the presidency of the University of New Mexico.

Brenner is one of five people named as finalists to lead UNM, a public research university in Albuquerque that has a medical school and a pharmacy college. The universitys board of regents is expected to name its choice between Oct. 27 and Nov. 5th.

Brenners competitors include Dr. Ken Kaushansky, who served as chair of the Department of Medicine at UC San Diego before he left in 2010 to become senior vice president for health sciences at Stony Brook University in New York.

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Brenner served as a gastroenterologist-researcher at UC San Diego from 1985-93, then left for stints at the University of North Carolina and at Columbia University, where he was the chair of medicine.

He was brought back to UC San Diego in 2007 as vice chancellor of health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine. He oversees UC San Diego Health, the universitys system of hospitals, clinics and physicians.

Over the past decade, Brenner has guided a roughly $2 billion expansion of the health sciences that includes the openings of Jacobs Medical Center and the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, which tries to speed discoveries into new drugs and therapies.

Those buildings have helped the university increase employment at its health sciences campus to 8,000, from 1,500, over the past decade. Health sciences also dominates research, bringing in about half of the $1.2 billion the university obtained in that area last year.

Brenner played a key role in convincing philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to donate $100 million to UC San Diego for stem cell research. He also has recruited such star faculty as Jill Mesirov, Rob Knight and Napoleone Ferrara, and helped to persuade geneticist J. Craig Venter to build a major research institute on campus land.

Brenner, who describes himself as a blunt-spoken New Yorker, also has been the source of controversy.

He became involved in a highly public and nasty fight with the University of Southern California for control of a nationwide Alzheimers disease research program thats long been centered at UC San Diego.

The fight cost him the services of Paul Aisen, a respected Alzheimers expert who left the university for USC.

University of New Mexico officials have not announced precisely when they will choose a new president. They said the other three finalists are: Anny Morrobel-Sosa, president and founder, The Micaela Group; Charles Chuck Staben, president of the University of Idaho; Garnett S. Stokes, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, University of Missouri.

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Twitter: @grobbins

gary.robbins@sduniontribune.com
Fifteen years ago, he was Rufus the Stunt Bum, a homeless alcoholic in La Mesa goaded into degrading and damaging antics by young men with video cameras.

Then Rufus Hannah turned his life around. He stopped drinking and became an advocate for the homeless. He got married, co-authored a book, reconnected with his family.

He seemed headed for a happy ending.

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On Oct. 4, Mr. Hannah was killed when the car he was riding in with his sister was T-boned by a truck not far from their home in Adrian, Ga. He was 62.

Its just the saddest thing ever, said Barry Soper, a San Diego businessman who befriended Mr. Hannah and steered him toward sobriety. To have come that far, and then to have this happen.

Born Nov. 27, 1954, in Swainsboro, Ga., Mr. Hannah moved around a lot as a child and found comfort in drinking. Some kids are born with silver spoons in their mouths, he wrote in A Bum Deal, a 2010 memoir he co-authored with Soper. I was born with a beer bottle in mine.

He dropped out of high school at 14 and worked construction, then enlisted at age 27 in the Army. An injury during basic training led to his discharge and a deeper descent into the bottle.

Homeless, he drifted to California and wound up in La Mesa, where he and a buddy, Donnie Brennan, drew the attention of an aspiring filmmaker who paid them $10 to perform stunts. Brawling with each other. Riding in shopping carts down stairs. Jumping off buildings. Running head-first into brick walls.

Packaged into a 2002 video called Bumfights, the footage was a cult sensation that led to several sequels; collectively the films sold hundreds of thousands of copies and spawned a drinking game among college students watching them: Toss a shot back every time Mr. Hannah  toothless, wild-haired, the letters B-U-M-F-I-G-H-T tattooed across his knuckles  falls down.

The films also drew the attention of homeless advocates, who blamed them for helping to spark a wave of violence against transients, and law enforcement officials, who charged four men involved in producing the videos with misdemeanor charges of conspiring to stage illegal fights.

They pleaded guilty, and two of them eventually went to jail for several months for failing to complete their community service. The filmmakers also paid $300,000 to settle a civil suit filed on behalf of the homeless men.

By then, Mr. Hannah had started to change course, thanks to a friendship with Mr. Soper. Theyd met one day when Mr. Hannah was Dumpster-diving for aluminum cans at a townhome building Mr. Soper owns in San Carlos. Rather than run him off, Mr. Soper hired him to do odd jobs around the complex.

He opened my heart to the less fortunate, Mr. Soper said.

After a doctor told Mr. Hannah he would be dead within a year if he didnt stop drinking, Mr. Soper reinforced the point by taking him to a local mortuary. Get into rehab, Mr. Soper told him, or pick out your casket.

He chose rehab. He went to work for Soper as an assistant manager at the townhome complex. He married a former girlfriend, the mother of two of his children. He toured the country as an advocate for the homeless, speaking often at high schools and colleges.

About three years ago, he moved to Georgia to be closer to family.

Survivors include four children. Mr. Hannah was predeceased by his wife and by a son, Eric.

Funeral services are pending.

john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
Local officials have long faced criticism over their response to homelessness, and the very related problem of hugely expensive housing and a shortage of housing stock. Now theres welcome good news on the first front, and more bad news on the second.

After being roasted for a slow and bureaucratic response to a deadly outbreak of hepatitis A centered in areas of San Diego where the homeless gather, City Hall has stepped up vitally needed efforts to improve sanitation. Monday, the city plans to open its first sanctioned encampment for the homeless. Food, showers, restrooms, security and social services will be available in a tented area in a public works yard near Balboa Park. The expectation is the city will be able to provide direct help to more than 200 people. The temporary camp will be used while work proceeds on setting up three large tents to provide temporary shelter to the homeless, Mayor Kevin Faulconer said Wednesday in comments at the public works yard.

County Supervisor Ron Roberts  noting the 17 local hepatitis A deaths and nearly 500 local hepatitis A cases  said Wednesday that the encampment is what unsheltered San Diegans need. This is what our city needs. Homelessness is our number-one social service issue right now.

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But while theres a sense of relief that local efforts to help the homeless have ramped up, theres also a welcome appreciation among local officials that there are no easy answers  and much more work to do. San Diego Councilman Chris Ward spoke Wednesday of the need to review a wide range of responses to the problems facing the community.

San Diegans, we cannot say No, Ward said. There will always be an obstacle. And our job as public officials is to figure out how to get to Yes.

If only the San Diego Housing Commission had such a can-do attitude. A 2003 Public Policy Institute of California study said a big reason that so many local communities struggled to meet goals for creating affordable housing were local housing bureaucracies that focused far more on process, producing detailed reports and analyses, than on results  adding housing stock. Fourteen years later, Californias affordable housing crisis is worse than ever, so much so that the Golden State has emerged as the epicenter of American poverty  and the citys housing commission is still stuck in the old-school rut cited by the PPIC in 2003.

Thats the only obvious conclusion from the news that fiscal 2016-17 marked the fifth straight year the commission didnt reach its goals for creation of affordable rental housing units. Even though the commission had an 85 percent increase in available affordable housing fund revenue, San Diego Union-Tribune reporter James DeHaven noted that housing officials funded 51 rental units  fewer than 20 percent of the affordable rental housing units they hoped to finance over the past fiscal year.

Wheres the sense of urgency? Wheres the appreciation that a lack of housing stock has driven rents and mortgage prices so high that it means misery for middle-income families, not just the poor? Wheres the understanding that older San Diegans already see their children moving to less appealing but less expensive areas where home ownership doesnt seem like a distant dream? Wheres the realization that the housing crisis is a direct driver of the local growth of homelessness?

Housing commission officials say their record will improve in coming years. That makes sense  because its hard to see how it could get worse.
Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee over the weekend became the eighth Republican senator to publicly come under criticism from President Donald Trump , who -- nine months into his presidency -- has made a habit of attacking lawmakers in his own party.

The attack was significant given that Trump, even with a GOP -controlled House and Senate, has not been able to deliver on his campaigns legislative promises, including repealing and replacing Obamacare. This failure has led Trump to take out his frustration on his fellow Republicans.

But the president will also open fire in response to criticism.

Most recently, Trump lashed out at Corker on Twitter  first on Sunday and then again on Monday  after the senator said last week that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were the people that helped separate our country from chaos, a clear shot at Trumps conduct.

Trump hit back via Twitter on Sunday, mocking Corkers recent decision to not seek re-election in 2018, saying the senator didnt have the guts to run!

Corker responded with a barb of his own: Its a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning, referring to Trumps Sunday morning tweets. In a subsequent interview with The New York Times, he said the president could set the U.S. on the path to World War III.

Despite his overwhelming support from Republicans, Trump doesnt hesitate to go after lawmakers from his own party. Here are other GOP senators who have faced public criticism by Trump, including some who ran against him in the 2016 election cycle.

Sen. John McCain , R-Arizona

Over and over and over again, Trump has lambasted McCain as a weak leader. His latest criticism came in September, when the Arizona senator voted against his own party to repeal Obamacare.

Sen. Jeff Flake , R-Arizona

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida

Unless Trump changes his ways, this list probably will grow. Besides Republican senators, his GOP targets include House Speaker Paul Ryan and other notable conservatives like Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich .

Is it wise for Trump to attack lawmakers of his own party when he needs them to pass legislation in Congress? Or is this part of a larger strategy to drain the swamp, as he famously promised to do during his presidential campaign?

Have some thoughts to share?

Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet.

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez

Read The Conversation on Flipboard.
Sixteen years after Andrew Tan Tai Moore was murdered in a robbery at his downtown San Diego apartment, his parents still tear up as they ask the unanswered questions:

Who did it? And, why?

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Richard and Rita Moore of Lebanon, Pa. made their annual trip to San Diego to hand out a City College scholarship in their sons name, check on progress of the homicide investigation, and urge anyone with information to come forward.

Were here in memory of our son, Andy, who was murdered here in San Diego, Rita Moore told reporters in front of San Diego Police headquarters Tuesday.  ... He was just beginning to see his world open up. Then someone murdered him.

Their son, who was 26 when he died, would have turned 42 on Monday. The Moores timed their San Diego trip to coincide with his birthday and a City College scholarships award ceremony held Saturday at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park. The couple and their daughters screen the applications and bestow $500 on one student who has been in the workforce and returned to college, as their son did.

The couple adopted 7-month-old Nguyen Tan Tai after he was airlifted out of Vietnam in 1974. He grew up in the small Pennslyvania town with his two older sisters. He fell in love with San Diego the summer during high school that he worked at Sea World while staying with his uncle, his mother said.

He loved it out here, she said, saying he felt at home amid San Diegos ethnic diversity. After graduation he returned to San Diego, taking jobs as a cook until being hired as a chef at Maloneys Tavern in the Gaslamp Quarter. He began taking City College classes with an eye to a major in international business.

Then, on a weekend in 2000, Rita Moore got worried when she couldnt reach him by phone. She asked her brother, in North Park, to check on her son on Sept. 12.

 Unsolved homicide of Andrew Moore

The uncle went to Andys apartment on Eighth Avenue, looked in a window, and called police. Officers forced open the door and found the young mans body. He had been shot and stabbed, his place was ransacked, and his red and black, 1995 Suzuki Katana motorcycle was gone, police said.

The motorcycle was found a month later in Golden Hill.

The Moores said they have found comfort in a grief support group and Parents of Murdered Children  a group you never want to belong to, Rita Moore said, choking back tears. No one else knows, not one else can understand this. And then not knowing who did it or why they did it.

The homicide investigation has yielded no solid leads to the killer. But detectives keep working on it. They believe, for reasons they have not disclosed, that he was killed a few days before he was found, likely on Sept. 8.

We run DNA checks on that case about two or three times a year in hopes of obtaining additional information, homicide Lt. Manny Del Toro said Tuesday. He said they also re-run fingerprints for possible hits, and are involving additional detectives and other police agencies.

Although there are no known witnesses at the time, we continue to interview individuals who we believe might have possible information, Del Toro said. The case is a difficult one to solve, but we are optimistic that someday we will catch a break and be able to solve this case.

Richard Moore said his family is grateful for the support they get from San Diego police, and that the case is considered a priority.

The Moores contributed a $5,000 reward for any tip that leads to a conviction in their sons murder. Crime Stoppers has put in $1,000 and the state governors reward program is offering $50,000.

We want justice for Andy, his mother said. He deserves that.
Apart from hosting and possible maintenance costs, there are not exactly downsides to having your own website. Even if its just a personal blog it can always become more useful down the line, if you utilize it in the right manner. In other words, more
Unprecedented amounts of rain fell across Northern California last winter, ending a damaging drought that reached to the southern edges of San Diego County.

The dramatic turnaround was highlighted by a series of powerful, river-like storms that might become more frequent in the future.

Thats the thinking of many scientists, including Marty Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at UC San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Scripps researcher Alexander Sasha Gershunov.

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Ralph and Gershunov put the past and future in perspective during a discussion with the Union-Tribune.

Q: The drought ended last winter, in part, because northern and central California were hit by a series of atmospheric rivers  those narrow bands of moisture that can dump tremendous amounts of rain and snow.

Are there reasons to believe that those regions will experience a greater number of these storms in the future? Specifically, how do you expect that our weather and climate will change, and over what period of time?

A: Recent scientific studies including several led by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have concluded that it is likely there will be more atmospheric rivers, some of them stronger, but that conditions could be drier between them. Thus, total annual precipitation could increase or decrease depending on how these offsetting factors evolve.

Q: Would an increase in atmospheric river events means that Californias overall rainfall and snowfall will increase?

A: No, not necessarily. Overall, we expect more variability of annual precipitation from year-to-year, but not necessarily more precipitation on average for California.

Actually, we expect a little more in Northern California and less in Southern California. As far as snow, snowpack will definitely decrease long-term as temperatures warm. It will, and already is, decreasing starting from lower elevations, with snow getting progressively confined to the highest elevations.

Q: Would Southern California experience an increase in atmospheric rivers?

We expect Southern California to experience an increase in the intensity of atmospheric rivers  their moisture content and precipitation production  not necessarily in their frequency. This will be very important for water resources. At the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes we work with water managers in the state to be prepared for those fluctuations so they are able to capture precipitation when it occurs to offset periods of drought, or to better anticipate flood risk.

Q: If the majority of the moisture flows into the central and northern part of the state, what will happen to Southern California? Would that make the region more susceptible to wildfires?

A: Likely, yes. As the frequency of precipitation decreases, dry vegetation that is fuel for wildfires will more likely remain dry into the traditional wet season of December and January, which coincides with the peak of the Santa Ana wind season. These winds will keep fanning fires as long as the fuels are dry, so we expect a lengthening of the wildfire season.

Q: If we experience a clear change in weather patterns, will you be able to quantify how much of it is due to natural variability and how much of it stems from the increased use of fossil fuels by humans?

A: Yes, scientists continue to work on being able to quantify what is natural and what is not. So far, the last few years with historic drought followed by unprecedented rainfall provided an example of what we expect more of in the future.

Q: In recent years, the National Weather Service has spent more time explaining how confident it is in the forecasts it issues. You might see a statement that says, The weather service is moderately confident in this forecast. Is it likely that climate scientists will make a stronger effort to explain how confident they are in their own long-term forecasts?

Q: Yes. Ensemble and multi-model approaches are being taken and are being further developed. In response to regional water management needs, the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes is leading the development of Atmospheric River Outlooks that extend two to three weeks into the future and strive to predict the odds of more and less than normal atmospheric river activity hitting the west coast during that period.

Not so much the exact dates and locations of atmospheric river landfall, but whether week-2, or week-3 might be more or less active than normal in terms of landfalls.

Red flag fire weather warning issued for San Diego County

San Diego experienced wetter than average rainfall in 2016-17

Twitter: @grobbins

gary.robbins@sduniontribune.com
Philadelphia, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/09/2017 -- Age in Place Home Care (https://www.aiphc.com) proudly announced today the addition of its two (2) newest local office locations serving the Philadelphia Area. The offices are located at 4946-50 Parkside Avenue, Suite B-1 Phila Pa 19131 and 2301 E. Alleghany Avenue Suite 307A Phila Pa 19134.



Our new community offices have administrative, field support and caregiver staffing to address all the needs and requirements of our Philadelphia home care consumers. The ever-evolving healthcare landscape is accelerating the use of local home care agencies like Age in Place Home Care as a reliable alternative to nursing homes or other types of assisted living institutions.



"We are incredibly excited and look forward to working with everyone locally in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties," says Mike Gold, Executive Director at Age in Place Home Care. "Even though our agency has been servicing consumers with local caregivers for a number of years now, having a local office presence will allow us to provide an even greater level of service to all Philadelphia consumers", adds Mr. Gold.



Age in Place Home Care, Philadelphia is planning to have a grand opening in the near future. A follow-up communication will be sent out when the date is firmed up.



If you or someone you know is interested in home care services please contact Age In Place Home Care at 888-990-4555 or email client@aiphc.com.



About Age In Place Home Care

Age in Place Home Care is a full-service provider of non-medical home care services that allow seniors and the physically disabled to lead dignified, independent lifestyles in the comfort and safety of their own homes. Age in Place Home Care proudly serves the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.



For additional information please go to their website at https://www.aiphc.com.



Contacts:

Roxanne Curry

Community Development Mgr

Age in Place Home Care

215 680-1735

rcurry@aiphc.com



Selena Culver

Community Development Mgr

Age in Place Home Care

215 680-1079

sculver@aiphc.com



Roberta Jaquez, Hispanic

Community Development Mgr

Age in Place Home Care

215 779-6273

client@aiphc.com
San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/09/2017 -- The instant deal notification App Salereporter announced that it has partnered with Bagel Bakery. Salereporter App allows a business to issue discounted deals at a time then the business is experiencing low foot traffic. For a restaurant, each empty table is potentially lost revenue. Salereporter on its website states that customers would likely visit a business if they get instant alerts. In an article about the shopping malls foot traffic, Wall Street Journal quoted "Personalized shopping experiences are becoming a focus for customers, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, a trade group. In its survey of 1,022 adults in February, 39% of the respondents said they would visit a mall or shopping center more often if they received alerts from stores that are selling products they are interested in purchasing."



Salereporter fills that void. A local business utilizes the Salereporter business platform to notify the people nearby. Salereporter App allows a business owner to drive up their sales by attracting foot traffic. Customers tend to spend more when they come to a business. When the consumers have installed Salereporter App, they don't have to chase deals. The deals come to them. Consumers don't have to collect coupons. It is not fun to collect coupons. People spend their valuable time collecting coupons and often times they forget to use them and the coupon expires. Moreover, most coupons come with many strings attached  for example a consumer can use them at certain time, date and minimum purchase. Salereporter eliminates all those inconveniences. The App brings the live deals to consumer and the users choose whether to take the deal or not.



A business does not need to offer deals when they are busy during peak times such as dinner time. Salereporter App saves business money by eliminating the cost of producing and distributing coupons which in turn reduces the cost of customer acquisition.



About Salereporter

Salereporter was born when the founders saw many small business owners were shutting their doors because they could not compete with larger competitors with deep pockets. Salereporter team believes in supporting local businesses while providing the best value to users. There isn't really a "deal" where one party wins at the cost of another. With Salereporter, consumers feel a sense of happiness when they get to support their favorite local businesses.



About Bagel Bakery

Bagel Bakery specializes in baking the best bagels. All bagels and breads are baked daily and served fresh. The Bakery has been serving breakfast and lunch for over twenty five years.



CONTACT:

Company: Salereporter

Address: San Francisco, California, USA

Phone: 415-688-2419

Email: hi@salereporter.com

Website: http://www.salereporter.com/
A biocompatible and highly elastic hydrogel sealant can effectively seal wounds in shape-shifting tissues without the need for common staples or sutures, a new study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine shows.

To repair ruptured or pierced organs and tissues, surgeons commonly use staples, sutures and wires to bring and hold the wound edges together so that they can heal.

However, these procedures can be difficult to perform in hard-to-reach areas of the body and wounds are often not completely sealed immediately. They also come with the risk that tissues are further damaged and infected.

The new study, led by Harvard University Professor Ali Khademhosseini and Northeastern University Assistant Professor Nasim Annabi, presents a robust solution for the efficient repair of wounds in mechanically challenging body areas  a surgical glue called MeTro.

A good surgical sealant needs to have a combination of characteristics: it needs to be elastic, adhesive, non-toxic and biocompatible, Dr. Annabi said.

Most sealants on the market possess one or two of these characteristics, but not all of them. We set out to engineer a material that could have all of these properties.

Professor Khademhosseini, Dr. Annabi and their colleagues from the United States and Australia demonstrated that MeTro can be photochemically tuned to effectively seal incisions in arteries and lungs of rats and to repair wounds in the lungs of pigs, all suture and staple-free.

MeTro is shorthand for methacryloyl-substituted tropoelastin  a protein derived from the elastic fibers that make up human tissue, the authors explained.

MeTros high elasticity makes it ideal for sealing wounds in body tissues that continually expand and relax  such as lungs, hearts and arteries  that are otherwise at risk of re-opening.

The material also works on internal wounds that are often in hard-to-reach areas and have typically required staples or sutures due to surrounding body fluid hampering the effectiveness of other sealants.

MeTro sets in just 60 seconds once treated with UV light, and the technology has a built-in degrading enzyme which can be modified to determine how long the sealant lasts  from hours to months, in order to allow adequate time for the wound to heal.

MeTro seems to remain stable over the period that wounds need to heal in demanding mechanical conditions and later it degrades without any signs of toxicity, Professor Khademhosseini said.

It checks off all the boxes of a highly versatile and efficient surgical sealant with potential also beyond pulmonary and vascular suture and staple-less applications.

The beauty of the MeTro formulation is that, as soon as it comes in contact with tissue surfaces, it solidifies into a gel-like phase without running away, Dr. Annabi added.

We then further stabilize it by curing it on-site with a short light-mediated crosslinking treatment. This allows the sealant to be very accurately placed and to tightly bond and interlock with structures on the tissue surface.

University of Sydney Professor Anthony Weiss described the process as resembling that of silicone sealants used around bathroom and kitchen tiles.

When you watch MeTro, you can see it act like a liquid, filling the gaps and conforming to the shape of the wound, he said.

It responds well biologically, and interfaces closely with human tissue to promote healing. The gel is easily stored and can be squirted directly onto a wound or cavity.

The potential applications are powerful  from treating serious internal wounds at emergency sites such as following car accidents and in war zones, as well as improving hospital surgeries.

The next stage for the technology is clinical testing, Professor Weiss said.

_____

Nasim Annabi et al. 2017. Engineering a highly elastic human protein-based sealant for surgical applications. Science Translational Medicine 9 (410): eaai7466; doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aai7466
[NAIROBI] It is necessary for Sub-Saharan African countries to invest more in conducting agricultural censuses for sustainable growth of the continents agricultural sector, a conference has heard.

According to the FAO, agriculture census is the process of collecting and disseminating data on the structure of agriculture in a country.

Experts at a regional meeting of the World Programme for the Census of Agriculture (WCA) 2020 held last month (18-22 September) in Kenya said that African countries have some capacity to conduct census on agriculture because 22 countries from the region participated in the last census held in 2010. But they added that there is a need for more capacity building and financial investments to ensure more countries conduct censuses.

Africa has the highest number of undernourished people but most countries have poor capacity for collecting, analysing and disseminating agricultural data. Jairo Castano, FAO

The experts were concerned that available agricultural data in the region was not comprehensive enough to aid planning and decision making in the sector.

The meeting that was organised by the FAO brought together agricultural research scientists and policymakers to discuss new features of the WCA 2020 in the light of UNs Agenda 2030 on sustainable development and other initiatives.

Jairo Castano, FAO senior statistician, said that with about 800 million people malnourished globally, it is imperative that governments and development agencies have accurate, timely and accessible data for decision making.

Africa has the highest number of undernourished people but most countries have poor capacity for collecting, analysing and disseminating agricultural data, said Castano. This is because of low investments and prioritisation of agricultural data.

He urged African countries to improve their capacity to conduct well managed agricultural census, citing confidence provided by the FAO through roundtables to prepare countries for the 2020 census.

The meeting was organised for 20 African countries including Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

According to Castano, some agricultural officials have inadequate or no basic data such as number of farmers in their countries and the average age of the farming population. He said that the continent needs to strengthen the quality and availability of data if it wants to feed the rising population.

The FAO has organised the 2020 WCA under 15 themes including land, irrigation, crops, livestock, demographics and social characteristics, household food security, fisheries and aquaculture.

Willy Bett, Kenyas cabinet secretary for agriculture, livestock and fisheries, said that the country will conduct its first ever comprehensive agricultural census in 2019 whose methodology will be informed by the WCA 2020 guidelines.

Owing to our unique farming systems, Africa needs data more than any other parts of the world, said Bett adding that African countries are faced by systematic challenges that hinder generation and management of high quality agricultural data and statistics.

Agnes Kyalo, coordinator of Kenyas census of agricultural programme at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, tells SciDev.Net that it is imperative that the upcoming national censuses incorporate gender dynamics component.

We must find out if we have any changes in terms of how we address gender issues in agriculture that will inform how we respond to them, said Kyalo, citing a need to know whether land owners are men or women.



This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
Rachel Duggins got interested in cocktails early, from watching old movies in which the glamorous witty women and debonair men always seemed to have a drink in hand. When she was little, her family visited the iconic Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul; Duggins was transfixed by the beautiful bar there. She asked her mother if she could get a drink, and her mother agreed, with rules on what she could order. So Duggins climbed up and politely asked for a Shirley Temple, with extra cherries.

She was 5. And those early stars in her eyes never went away.

Everyone starts somewhere different, with different goals. Maybe you want to be a good host, ready for any drink request. Or maybe there's just a particular cocktail that you wouldn't mind having at home from time to time.

We can help. Starting up doesn't have to be overwhelming. You don't have to become a temple of mixology, creating your own syrups, infusing your own bitters, sending out drinks that would fit in on a Paris runway. You don't need a graduate degree in potions or enough money to afford a booze collection that requires its own wing. Just take it step by step.

That's how Paul Clarke, author of "The Cocktail Chronicles" and executive editor of Imbibe magazine, did it when he first got into cocktails around 2003, via a dinner party where everyone was laying claim to making a dish. Clarke figured he could either make a cocktail or wash dishes. He found a punch recipe, and everyone at the party liked it. It felt great, he says, joking that "the heavens opened and the Jesus light came down."

With a birthday coming up, he allowed himself a present: William Grimes' classic cocktail book "Straight Up or On the Rocks" and bottles of rye whiskey and sweet vermouth, because "I realized I had probably never had rye whiskey in my entire life, and I don't think I'd ever had a proper Manhattan."

He laughs recalling his early creations: "I dutifully measured out my Wild Turkey rye and my Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth, shook the [hell] out of it, got 'em nice and foamy . . ." (The Manhattan, properly prepared, is a stirred cocktail.)

Frothy Manhattan notwithstanding, Clarke was in. But he was also a responsible working dad, and so he set limitations: Each paycheck, he would allow himself one new bottle. "The idea was expansion - with this check, I'll look for a nice bottle of gin. Next check, I need to explore daiquiris, so I'll go look for a white rum."

These days, even his broom closet is filled with bottles. "The only places I have not stored it in my house are in the bathroom - that's gross - and the kids' rooms. Though I did think about that when they were littler and I was like, 'Hmm, maybe on the top shelf . . .?' "

("I have no idea what you're talking about," I told Clarke, eyeing the ever-expanding mass of bottles that threatens to become autonomous and roam, bloblike, through my home, absorbing the couch and the dog.)

But if Clarke were to start over, he would reclaim his broom closet. I heard the same from several passionate cocktailers who went down the rabbit hole in the early days, acquired hundreds of bottles, then realized they didn't really need all of them. Some have kept collecting, but they are more disciplined in curating what they acquire. Others have downsized.

You don't need 50 bottles of booze, and you don't need hundreds of bitters, says Brian Robinson, a financial adviser who serves as the review editor for the Wormwood Society, a nonprofit group that provides education about absinthe. Robinson is a serious collector of spirits, but, he says, "you can build out a nice, versatile bar with 15 or 20 bottles." In his bar area, he keeps a his go-to mixing spirits, and he can access a mini-fridge for perishables such as vermouth.

You don't need umpteen kinds of glassware, either, Duggins says. You probably need three kinds: a Collins glass, a rocks glass and a coupe. She's built out her collection of glassware and cocktail tools amply over the years, "but before then, I would mix cocktails in a Mason jar. That was good for stirring and for shaking because you can just put a lid on it."

Lawyer and longtime cocktail blogger Marshall Fawley gave away a lot of his extraneous liqueurs when he and his family moved. The way he drinks now is a shift from the early days. "Once we were being as complicated and fancy as we could be, because we were excited that we could do the same things at home as these fancy bars were doing," Fawley says. "But these days, I'm not necessarily going to spend an entire weekend macerating 60 different herbs to make my own bitters. A good Old-Fashioned is one of life's simple pleasures."

Here's a recommended course to grow your home cocktailing collection in a way that each round of purchasing will enable you to make new drinks. This list doesn't include such items as sugar/simple syrup and fresh citrus fruits, which you'll want to keep on hand. It's also smart to keep a decent bottle of Brut-style sparkling wine chilled for whenever you need it. By the end, you'll have a versatile, guest-friendly and manageable collection - and hopefully, a good sense of whether you want to expand it further.

TOOLS

You need: A cocktail shaker (which can double as a mixing glass), a measuring jigger, a long spoon, a julep strainer

You could also get (but can manage without): a mixing glass, a muddler, a fine-mesh strainer Glasses:A Collins glass, a rocks glass and a coupe (I'd advise against V-shaped "martini" glasses, which seem to be designed to spill drinks.)

ROUND 1

A good mid-price rye (such as Dickel or Redemption) or bourbon (such as Buffalo Trace or Maker's Mark); Angostura bitters; club soda

Budget: $50

You can now make:Whiskey & soda, Old-Fashioned

ROUND 2

A good dry gin (such as Beefeater or Plymouth); sweet and dry vermouth (Dolin Dry, Cocchi vermouth di Torino for the sweet); tonic water (Fever Tree is good); orange bitters

Budget: $65

You can now make:Manhattan, Martini, Gin and Tonic, gimlet, Tom Collins, Gin Rickey, French 75 (assuming you have sparkling wine)

ROUND 3

A good white rum (such as Banks 5 Island or Havana Club)

Budget: $30

You can now make:Daiquiri

ROUND 4

Campari (if you like it); a good silver or reposado tequila (such as Siembra, Ocho or El Tesoro)

Budget: $60-$70

You can now make: Negroni, Americano, Margarita

ROUND 5

Orange curacao (such as Pierre Ferrand); maraschino liqueur (such as Luxardo), grenadine

Budget: $60-$75

You can now make: El Presidente, Hemingway daiquiri, Martinez (usually made with sweeter Old Tom gin, but works with dry gin)

ROUND 6

A good rye or bourbon (whichever you didn't get in Round 1), absinthe, Peychaud's bitters

Budget: $80 (good absinthe is expensive; a small bottle will last a long time)

You can now make:Sazerac
CHARLESTON, S.C.  South Carolinian Darla Moore and her foundation have pledged $1 million to the International African American Museums (IAAM) Founders Fund.

This major leadership gift adds momentum to the IAAMs fundraising efforts, which have progressed steadily over the year.

The IAAM, slated to break ground in early 2018, will be a museum and memorial built in Charleston on the former site of Gadsdens Wharf, where nearly half of all enslaved Africans forced to America disembarked. This nationally significant institution will commemorate and celebrate the foundational role that Africans and their descendants played in the making of America.

Darlas incredible generosity has provided invaluable support to some of our most treasured parks and green spaces, said Joseph P. Riley Jr., former Charleston mayor and IAAM board member. She is a philanthropic leader whose long-term commitment to South Carolina has been transformative in beautifying and preserving our communities.

Moore, who was born in Lake City and lives in her hometown, has made significant investments in the states educational institutions, including the University of South Carolina, Clemson University and Claflin University.

Over the years, Ive collaborated with Mayor Riley on many endeavors that benefitted Charleston, Moore said. This is one more extraordinary opportunity to work together to better not only this city but our country at large.

The IAAM will harness the power of state-of-the-art interactive media to provide its visitors with dynamic and engaging learning opportunities. Its exhibits will highlight the often under-acknowledged role of African-Americans in American and world history, providing guests with a new vision of the Lowcountry region, the nation and the world through the diasporic experiences of African ancestors and their descendants. Further, the IAAM will serve as a trailhead site, encouraging visitors to explore within and beyond the museum building, engaging a network of historic sites, as well as cultural and heritage resources relevant to the African-American experience.

Darla and her foundation have demonstrated a deep commitment to institutions that promote education, improve communities and sharpen young minds, said Michael Boulware Moore, president and CEO of the IAAM. One of the foremost goals of the IAAM is to foster lifelong learning in students of all ages by illuminating the innumerable contributions of African-Americans to the fabric of our nation. We are honored to announce this leadership investment.
Fourth in a series

FLORENCE, S.C.  Hurricane Matthew damaged the Pee Dee, but as neighbors helped neighbors recover, students learned the value of generosity.

This year, students in area schools are collecting school supplies for those affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

They remember everyone elses generosity and want to pay it forward, says Wendy Frazier, principal at Dewey L. Carter Elementary School.

Frazier said many of her schools students were negatively impacted by Hurricane Matthew. Donations poured into the school, and it served as a storehouse for food and household items. Families got needed supplies at the elementary school.

Remembering that generosity, students and families donated more than $500 worth of school supplies to Hurricane Harvey victims. Teachers at Dewey L. Carter connected with teachers in Texas, and they sent the supplies to them in September.

Frazier said that no matter the income levels of students families, everyone wanted to donate.

They are all just so passionate about it, Frazier said. Once they find out we have a need, the donations just start pouring in.

Fifth and sixth grade girls at Moore Intermediate School are leading a donation drive for hurricane victims in Florida and Texas.

Madison Strickland, a student helping with the drive, said she remembers being disappointed when Hurricane Matthew interrupted her birthday plans. Her family was safe, and they ended up celebrating her birthday later, but she said she knows how it feels to have everyday life interrupted by a hurricane.

It could affect them like it affected me, Madison said.

Madison, along with other girls, is now telling her classmates about the need for school supplies in Florida and Texas.

They could have ruined book bags and textbooks, Madison said. They need supplies.

Madison is a part of the KICK (Keeping It Classy Kids) Team at Moore Intermediate School. The group promotes kindness. Brandis Winstead, school guidance counselor, oversees the group but lets girls come up with the details of different kindness projects.

KICK Team students compiled a list of needed supplies. They are presenting in front of their homeroom classes and will collect items through Oct. 20. Then they will send half of the items to a school in Florida and the other half to a school in Texas.

Students and staff at Hannah-Pamplico Elementary/Middle School are sending 30 shipping cartons of school supplies to a school in Houston.

Neal Vincent, superintendent for Florence District Two, said the community is greatly motivated to donate. They connected with a graduate from the district who now lives in Houston.

Each class collected items that they thought a class their grade would need, and the office staff collected items for the office staff in Houston.

That was a unique perspective, Vincent said.

Students are also wrote notes to students in Texas and placed them in shipping cartons and inside notebooks.

As the greater community heard about the donation drive, more people started to donate supplies and money for shipping costs. Approximately $600 was raised for shipping expenses.

When a shipper donated transportation, Hannah-Pamplico Elementary/Middle School was able to use the money raised for shipping expenses to buy more school supplies.
He reports directly to Windstar president John Delaney and works alongside fleet and technical operations personnel to maintain and enhance safety standards.

Inman has been involved with Windstar over the past nine months as a consultant for the line's new Alaska voyages, providing support on safety, environmental and regulatory issues.

Delaney said Inman's 'vast knowledge and expertise will help us meet our critical objective of safe operations everywhere we sail, every day and on every ship.'

Inman previously worked as VP safety and environmental operations for Holland America Group, focused on safety, occupational safety and environmental issues for a fleet of nearly 40 ships. He also led the marine safety investigation program there and played a key role in supervising emergency response, maritime regulatory audits, environmental compliance and safety management systems.

Following 30 years at USCG, Inman signed on with Holland America Line/Seabourn in June 2010, then took an expanded role in the Holland America Group, which intregrated Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia, in November 2014.

At USCG Inman led complex operations across varied geographic areas including the Caribbean, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska and North Pacific Ocean. His work involved commanding multiple Coast Guard vessels and their crews, overseeing emergency search and rescue missions and spearheading international law enforcement efforts. He also helped plan and expand USCG operations in the Arctic, influencing national level policy and decisions.

Inmans deep knowledge of Alaska maritime operations will benefit Windstar when it begins Alaska service in May 2018. At USCG he served as captain of the port for Southeast Alaska, Sector Juneau, and oversaw more than 12,000 miles of coastline, responsible for marine safety, law enforcement, environmental protection policies, aids to navigations and national security issues.
The government said in a press release that it is proposing to amend Schedule 2 to the Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Shipowners Liability) Ordinance (Cap. 434) to incorporate the latest liability limits adopted by the IMO in the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims into local legislation.

The amendments will increase shipowners financial liability limits for maritime incidents in order to align with the IMOs requirements, a spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB) said.

The Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development and relevant advisory and consultative committees of the Marine Department have been consulted, THB said, adding that members supported the legislative proposals.

The proposed amendments are scheduled to be tabled at the Legislative Council on 11 October.
The engine manufacturer is moving to encourage more owners to retrofit existing vessels to LNG power following the conversion of 1,036-teu feeder containership Wes Amelie to dual fuel.

Speaking at the Our Ocean 2017 Conference in Malta last week Wayne Jones, chief sales officer of MAN Diesel & Turbo, said: MAN Diesel & Turbo believes that it is time for what we call a Maritime Energy Transition to find clean solutions for seaborne trade and transportation.

He noted the recent retrofit, Just recently, my company set a new benchmark with the worlds first conversion of a container ship from conventional fuel to gas operation.

And in a move to get more owners to take the plunge said, In order to encourage more shipowners to follow this example, MAN Diesel & Turbo is pledging EUR2m discount for 10 such LNG- retrofits to convert existing HFO engines into modern, clean, efficient gas- engines. In doing so, we hope to play our part in moving the worlds fleet towards the clean technology our industry and our oceans deserve.
Press Release

October 8, 2017 Koko: PDP Laban to stop accepting new members by end of November 2017 Senate President and PDP Laban President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Monday said that PDP Laban will stop accepting new members by the end of November 2017, citing the need for the Party to have sufficient time to screen, vet, and choose the official Party candidates for the May 2019 national and local elections. "After the massive influx of new members into the Party for the past year, we now have significant presence in most of the provinces of the country. We should now focus on teaching all the members the Party Ideology and Program of Government and deepening their understanding of these. After this, we can present a solid and united front come 2019", said Pimentel. The Senate President said that he is wary of "latecomers" who would show up at the last minute to claim the privileges of Party membership without actually contributing anything to the development of PDP Laban. Pimentel said, "PDP Laban is a party for those who believe in its principles, whether it is in power or not. We are not a party of political convenience. By stopping recruitment, we will have time to indoctrinate and train our members, screen possible candidates, and absorb our new members into our grassroots infrastructure." PDP Laban is one of the few parties in Philippine politics that actively recruits from the grassroots and which has an ideology, that it captures in the following terms: "Belief in God; Human Dignity; Love of Country; Equal Opportunities for All; Consultative and Participatory Democracy; and Federalism." Even as Pimentel mulls closing the Party's doors to new members next month, the recruitment drive continues until then. In the previous week, Governor Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, Governor Zaldy Villa of Siquijor, and Vice Governor Peter Alfaro of Occidental Mindoro led new PDP Laban members in taking their oaths of membership before Senate President Pimentel. Before them came local government officials from Pangasinan, Leyte, Cavite, Laguna, Iloilo Province and City, Negros Occidental, Compostela Valley, Catanduanes, and Masbate, among others. Pimentel said, "It is the duty of every member of PDP Laban to pursue the Change that we have promised under President Duterte, foremost of which is the shift to the Federal System of Government."
Press Release

October 9, 2017 Sen. Leila M. de Lima's statement on Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco's resort to the media in replying to De Lima's motion to inhibit The press statement released by the Honorable Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero J. Velasco Jr. denying the grounds of my motion for inhibition is unusual to say the least, and highly irregular if not in violation of judicial ethics at most. There is a prejudgment on the motion for inhibition filed against him when Justice Velasco first makes a press release on his opinion on the motion even before acting upon it thru a proper resolution as a judge should. As the judge who will act upon the motion, Justice Velasco is not entitled to expressing his position on the litigated motion by press release. That is prejudgment already and hence, a lack of impartiality. My own motion was reported in the media as is, as the subject of legitimate news about developments in my case. And now here comes Justice Velasco responding to it not thru a resolution, but practically making a decision on the motion via a press release. This violates the canon of judicial ethics on appearances of regularity and impartiality, precisely adding to the grounds of my motion, or at least strengthening them or proving them more. Res ipsa loquitur. This media-oriented predisposition of Justice Velasco on the motion for inhibition speaks for the credibility of the allegations raised against him in said motion. If Justice Velasco wants to engage in a media tit for tat on the motion by taking the venue from the court and bringing it to the media, instead of thru a court resolution, all the more he should inhibit, to give him leeway in his choice of settling the issue regarding his inordinate interest in the case before the media.
Press Release

October 9, 2017 Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement on the Zero EJK claim of the Duterte Administration

Dispatch from Crame No. 180 The PNP and Malacanang claim that there are zero EJKs under the Duterte Administration because as defined in Administrative Order No. 35 issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III, the term "extra-judicial killing" only covers the killing of members of cause-oriented militant organizations and media. Secretary Andanar went further. He said there can be no EJK in a country that does not recognize "judicial killing" due to the abolition of the death penalty. Ginagago na naman tayo. Puro lang panggagago. Ang puno't dulo ng pamahalaang ito ay puro kagaguhan. AO35 did not seek an all-encompassing definition of EJK. It defined EJK for purposes of the objective for which it was issued, the creation of an inter-agency committee that would investigate the killings of activists and media personnel which were the prevalent cases of EJKs during the Arroyo Administration. It was to limit and to make clear that the mandate of the committee was not to investigate any and all cases of EJKs but only those that involved activists and media personnel slain during the Arroyo Administration and even under the Aquino Administration, albeit with the latter registering much fewer no. of incidents. A.O.35 had to be clear about the nature of the EJKs it was to investigate in order to be effective, lest the urgency of investigating the kind of rampant EJKs then committed under the immediately preceding administration of President Arroyo would lose focus. I should know. I drafted AO 35. Of course, it was then farthest from my mind to spell out in big capital letters and large fonts that AO 35's DEFINITION OF EJKs WAS ONLY FOR PURPOSES OF ITS OPERATIONALIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION, i.e., the investigation by the inter-agency committee of the killings of activists and journalists, and not for purposes of freeing public officials from accountability for state-sanctioned murder. I did not, because I did not know then that the Administration succeeding the Aquino Administration will be populated by hustlers, wags and falsifiers who think they can get away with murder if this proviso in AO 35 is written in small font only. Besides, I did not know then that such succeeding regime will be that of the murderous Duterte who like his stint as Mayor of Davao, will be targeting drug offenders and petty criminals for summary execution, hence, the non-inclusion of such specie of EJKs in the operational coverage of AO35. It is not even worthwhile anymore to engage Malacanang in this kind of amateurish but perverse word games, except for the fact that they still are in control of government and the life of this country. Because when our top government officials have no remaining self-respect whatsoever to even try to mask their lack of moral and intellectual integrity, there is no longer any hope left. Secretaries Abella and Andanar, the PNP and yes, Secretary Cayetano (the originator of the tactic in muddling AO35) can pretend that Duterte and his administration can get away with 13,000 EJKs through wordplay. But they can pretend only for so long. Already the writing is on the wall. No amount of spin and deception can cover-up the double-digit plunge of Duterte's popularity in one survey period, a plunge that came precisely from the people's belief and fear that anyone of them or their loved ones can now be the victim of EJKs anytime. Because of the government's EJK policy, most Filipinos now think that they can die anytime. And when Duterte's much-ballyhooed promise of security and order turns into the people's uncertainty as to their own survival from marauding police vigilantes, it becomes clear that this administration is no longer fooling anyone... All they are fooling are themselves, in their belief that they can get away with the murder of thousands.
Press Release

October 9, 2017 Invest more on social infrastructure, De Lima to Senate colleagues Senator Leila M. de Lima has alerted her Senate colleagues about some "red flags" in the proposed 2018 P3.8-trillion national budget as she urged them to invest more in people, especially for their social protection, basic education and public health. In her letter sent to fellow senators, De Lima lamented that the proposed national budget for social services fundamental to ensuring people's safety and productivity have received huge cuts, if not funded at all. "In building a nation, we do not just build physical edifices and infrastructures. While those are important, there is no justification for overlooking people," she said. "Living, breathing human beings, who have health, social welfare and basic needs that must be addressed. Especially those who, like the victims of the conflict in Mindanao, particularly Marawi, are not just in need of a rebuilt city, but also of rebuilt lives; like the victims of the drug problem, and the victims of the War on Drugs. They need physical, psychological, emotional and social rebuilding as well," she added. Note that infrastructure development programs is one of the priorities under the proposed national budget for 2018, with the government's "Build, Build, Build" getting P1.097 trillion or almost a third of the budget. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) received the budget allocation of P643.3 billion, a 37.5% increase from its 2017 allocation of P467.7 billion while the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has been allocated P73.8 billion. The departments in charge of the country's safety and public order -- including the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of National Defense (DND) -- have also been allocated higher budgets. The DILG will receive P172.3 billion, 15.4% higher than the 2017 level, while the DND will expect an increase by 5.5 percent to P145.0 billion. De Lima noted while there is great emphasis on infrastructure projects and law enforcement agencies, the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) community-based drug rehabilitation program and the Department of Education's (DepEd) random mandatory drug testing initiatives received no funding. She said the Duterte administration failed to recognize that the drug problem is as much a social and health issue, as a peace and order issue. "PNP Chief Ronald M. Dela Rosa himself recently admitted that there are more poor people being killed in relation to the War on Drugs, reasoning that this is to be expected because there are more poor people involved in drugs. If we are to take his statement at face value, then that in itself, at the very least, ought to have prompted the government to realize that there is a correlation between poverty and susceptibility to becoming involved in drugs," she said. "If the government is not even attempting to address the drug problem as a social welfare and health issue -- both in relation to its cause and its resolution through community-based drug rehabilitation program -- then what exactly is the driving policy behind the government's war on drugs? If we are spending that much money for intelligence funds, what do we do with the information? Use it to identify the poor people who will be subjected to the 'Final Solution'?''" she questioned. To address the illegal drug use, De Lima noted there should be adequate funding for constitutionally appropriate, school-centric drug intervention programs, saying youth are more susceptible to vices, such as drug-use, due to peer pressure. In addressing poverty that can compel parents to leave their children for a better economic opportunities abroad, De Lima suggested two solutions: Improve the availability of domestic jobs capable of sustaining a decent standard of living and look after the welfare of the family the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) left behind. De Lima further questioned the "worrying" minimal increases on social protection, basic education and public health. "This representation flags this as worrying considering the needs that have clearly arisen in relation to these areas in light of recent developments, such as the increasing unemployment rate, the rising prices of commodities, the devastation to the lives, property and health - physical, psychological and spiritual - of those affected by the crisis in Mindanao, as well as reports of the rising number of cases of HIV infection among a critical demographic of society, just to name a few," she said. The Senator from Bicol maintained there are better means to spend the government's money that are less vulnerable to corruption and abuse. "Clearly, there are more efficient and effective ways to spend the budget than putting unprecedented lump sum amounts in multiple confidential and intelligence funds, discretionary funds, than in purely infrastructure projects and even for overhead expenses of the Office of the President [amounting to P6.03 billion for 2018]," she said. Although "problematic," De Lima said she believes the proposed 2018 national budget is still "correctible" as long as proper amendments are made.
Press Release

October 9, 2017 GORDON RECOMMENDS GRANTING ADDITIONAL BUDGET TO BOC To aid the Bureau of Customs in its goal to be more efficient in the correct assessment and collection of Customs duties and taxes thus enablIng the bureau to meet its target, Senator Richard J. Gordon has initiated the approval for additional budget for the BOC's procurement of additional X-ray machines. During one of the hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's investigation into the P6.4-billion shabu smuggling through the BOC, Gordon, committee chair, was able to determine that the bureau needed additional X-ray machines to improve its operations. He committed to support in the budget deliberation, the BOC's request for P1.3-billion additional budget for the procurement of additional X-ray machines to ensure the speedy inspection of all shipments entering the country's ports. Hence during the deliberation of the BOC's budget, Gordon urged his colleagues that in order to help the BOC meet its target, the Senate should give the bureau the necessary resources. "Ngayon, natutuwa ako na kinokolekta ninyo na yung buwis on the basis of proper valuation, walang green lane. Kaya ako ang disposisyon ko, katulad nung kay Sen. Legarda, is bigyan kayo ng gamit, bigyan kayo ng tamang kakailanganin ninyo," he said. Gordon asked the BOC officials if the procurement of additional X-ray machines would ensure that the inspection of shipments would be expedited for faster movement of goods. "Kung makukuha niyo ba yung additional X-rays, mabilis po ba? No congestions? So if you have more X-rays, ergo bibilis ang proseso, matutuwa ang mga negosyante, lalaki ang collection?" he said, adding that the United States was able to grow its Navy, its Army and pay off its debts through the collections of their Bureau of Customs. For his part, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena assured that not only will the additional X-ray machines expedite the inspection process, but it will also help eliminate the "tara" system in the bureau. The BOC saw improved collection performance in 2006 when the use of X-ray machines in the bureau was first implemented. Meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda, head of the Senate Finance Committee, supported Gordon's initiative in recommending the approval of the P1.5-billion additional appropriations for the BOC - P1.3-billion for additional X-ray machines and P178-million for additional computers.
Press Release

October 9, 2017 GORDON STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION, COOPERATION BETWEEN NATIONS With the different threats and dangers the world currently faces, Senator Richard J. Gordon has underscored the importance of communications and cooperation between nations. As the guest speaker at the first inaugural ceremony of the Shishi High School last Friday, Gordon said nations must learn to communicate and work together for the upliftment of human dignity for the benefit of mankind. "We live in a very dangerous world today. Our nations - China and the Philippines, two great countries, must speak to one another. Understanding between our people must be reinforced. We must learn to speak to one another. When we can speak to one another, we can open our hearts to one another and we can work together for the benefit of mankind and for the upliftment of human dignity," he said. Gordon cited as example his communication with the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines which led to significant progress in the investigation that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which he chairs, is conducting in connection with the P6.4-billion shabu smuggled through the Bureau of Customs. "...members of the international drug ring were caught because of the good cooperation between the Chinese people, the Filipino people and our leaders in government," he noted. The senator also commended the Chinese institution's alumni association for giving importance to the values inculcated by their school and by their traditions. "I would like to congratulate you for having your first alumni homecoming here in the Philippines. You are proud Shi Shi students who come here today to connect with friends from yesteryears," Gordon said. "Traditions are important, especially when a country is in peril, especially when there is misunderstanding throughout the world. A man who has seen a long past is always capable of seeing a long future," he added. Gordon said the Chinese people set a good example for good work ethic, a trait worth emulating. "You are good models na kung ang isang tao ay may work ethic at talagang magsisipag ay gaganda ang buhay niya," he said. The senator also noted that the officials of the school must be proud that their graduates, who are now staying in the Philippines, are successful, that they care about their past and that they have set a new direction, a better future here.
Press Release

October 9, 2017 HONTIVEROS ON DUTERTE'S SATISFACTION AND TRUST RATINGS: OMINOUS WARNING OF WIDENING RUMBLINGS OF DISCONTENT The survey is an ominous warning. There are deep and widening rumblings of discontent across different social classes and all over the country with rampant killings, fake news and numerous accusations of corruption. President Duterte's authoritarian style of governance is losing its appeal and support among the public. The writing on the wall is simple and clear: President Duterte cannot govern based on fear, lies and killings. He cannot govern outside the rule of law and with total disregard for human rights and expect no consequences. He cannot brag about cleaning the government of corruption when he himself cannot substantially and convincingly satisfy the public's demand for an explanation of his undeclared bank accounts. President Duterte has no choice but to go back to the path of democracy. There is no alternative to democratic governance. There is no substitute for the rule of law and human rights. I reiterate my call to the President to stop his bloody war on drugs that has killed thousands, including innocent minors. I also join the growing public clamor for President Duterte to fully explain the issues surrounding his alleged bank records. The President may think that he is still popular. His supporters may even arrogantly believe that he is a "Teflon president" because they perceived that criticism, blame and scandal are never sticking to him. But even the strongest Teflon is not immune to damage. The survey showed deep damage to the President's reputation. And once the Teflon wears off, everything will stick.
Press Release

October 9, 2017 Legarda Pays Tribute to Washington SyCip Senator Loren Legarda paid tribute to SGV Founder, Washington SyCip, who passed on last October 7, 2017. "Philanthropist and nation builder Washington SyCip was a great inspiration. He was a genius who had a heart for service and for the people. He was wise, but what made him brilliant was his advocacy of promoting education. He was a globally known industrialist, but his heart remained for the children, and though he is sought-after by the country's top businessmen and executives and sat on the boards of many global corporations and foundations, he would always humbly describe himself as a bookkeeper," said Legarda. "Though his passing leaves a void, the generations of businessmen and children he taught and inspired would be his living legacy. Rest in peace, Uncle Wash. Thank you for your life-long dedication to academic excellence, ethical and transformational leadership, and compassionate heart for the Filipinos," she added. Legarda will file a Senate Resolution honoring SyCip, founder of SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV), which has emerged to be the biggest and most sought after auditing firm in the country; and of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). He also helped organize the largest corporate-led non-profit social development foundation Philippine Business for Social Progress in 1970. In 1982, SyCip was elected as the first Asian President of the International Federation of Accountants (IFA). He was also President of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants. SyCip was bestowed the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding in 1992; the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan in June 2017; The Order of Lakandula, The Rank of Grand Cross in 2011; the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit by the Federal Republic of Germany in 2006; and Officer First Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star by Sweden in 1987, among many other local and international recognitions.
Press Release

October 9, 2017 Villanueva lauds PH for being the lone country to meet int'l standards on mining; reiterates call to pass 'FOI for mining' bill Senator Joel Villanueva lauded on Monday the latest achievement of the Philippines by being the first country to meet all the requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The EITI is an internationally recognized framework and practice that monitors revenue and public benefit from mining and other extractive resources. According to the 'Validation' report which is the EITI's independent evaluation mechanism, the Philippines has gone beyond the minimum requirements set by the EITI standard. These areas include disclosing information on the legal and fiscal framework, disclosing contracts, revenue management, revenue expenditure and social expenditures. The report also stated that the engagement of the PH-EITI in formulating recommendations for reform and driving these proposals in the sector, including the distribution of mining revenue from central to local levels and revenue management within local governments, "has ensured the EITI has had tangible impact, particularly in terms of reform of government systems." It also added that the EITI Board considered that the Philippines has achieved the broader objective of revenue transparency despite challenges in covering the coal sector. The report, however, emphasized the need that the coal sector participated in the EITI. "All stakeholders in the multi-stakeholder group value transparency in the manner by which the development and management of the extractive sector must move forward. What has been validated for the Philippines is the perseverance of all stakeholders to do what is right and what is best not only for the extractive industries but more importantly for the country and our people." Teresa Habitan, Assistant Secretary of Finance and Chair of PH-EITI, said. Cielo Magno, Secretary of the Board of Bantay Kita, a civil society network, said: "The results of the Philippine validation reflect the hard work and commitment of the different stakeholders to improve governance in the extractive sector. It affirms that having a political space to work together as co-equal facilitates convergence of interests. PH-EITI is a success because we aimed to be relevant. There are still tons of work to be done so I hope we will continue to be effective, open, critical and radical." Meanwhile, Senator Villanueva reiterated his call to institutionalize PH-EITI or the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative or PH-EITI which acts as an oversight body of the extractive sector. Through his measure, Senate Bill No. 1125 or An Act Providing for the Creation of Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the PH-EITI is mandated to disclose all data of material, national and local payments, and revenues sourced from the extractive activities covered by the scope of the PH-EITI; make available to the public all concessions, contracts/licenses, agreements and joint ventures of the government; and to publicly release all data, information, reports on the extractive industries that allows the public to freely use, re-use and redistribute them, for any purpose, without restrictions. The bill does not only cover mining but also other sectors in the extractive industry such as oil, gas, coal and all other sectors that require the extraction of non-renewable natural resources for commercial use. The PH-EITI shall be composed of a broad coalition of stakeholders, including representatives from the government, the private sector, the indigenous community, and non-governmental organizations. It will be headed by a Chairman appointed by the President. "We laud this achievement and we see the importance of transparency in policy making particularly in extractives. It is important that the EITI also covers other sector like the small-scale mining and non-metallic sector like quarry which is being done in most areas. To ensure smooth and effective implementation, I propose that it be institutionalized to mainstream transparency and participatory governance in the extractive sector," Villanueva said.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. restored power Monday to some of its customers blacked out by the wildfires raging across Napa and Sonoma counties, but as the day wore on, the utility cut natural gas service to an increasing number of homes and businesses close to the flames.

By 4 p.m., 99,000 customers in the North Bay remained without power, down from 114,000 earlier in the day. Santa Rosa and St. Helena remained the hardest hit areas, according to a PG&E website that tracks outages. The blackouts occurred through a broad swath of the wine country, from Geyserville in the north to Napa in the south.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

PG&E also cut off natural gas service in areas close to the fires, shutting down gas service to 30,000 customers in Kenwood, Napa, Santa Rosa, Yountville and in the stretch of Mendocino County from Calpella to Willits. The number of customers losing gas service grew through the afternoon.

PG&E was mobilizing employees  from within the Bay Area as well as other parts of the state  to converge on base camps in both Napa and Sonoma counties to assess damage and where possible restore power. In some cases, the utility cut power to lines in areas where firefighters were working, said spokeswoman Andrea Menniti.

But as of Monday afternoon, the utility still wasnt sure how much of its equipment and infrastructure had been damaged, she said.

It also remained unknown whether PG&Es power lines may have sparked some of the fires, either by toppling over in the high winds or coming into contact with swaying tree branches. As winds picked up Sunday, the utility posted warnings on social media for people to be on the lookout for downed utility poles and lines.

We know its possible that power poles may have come down, and power lines, Menitti said. If you see a downed power line, stay away.

The winds and fires also knocked out AT&T and Verizon cell phone and wireless Internet service to residents of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties, according to the companies.

Our engineers are aware of this issue and are working with our vendor partners to resolve this issue quickly, said Verizon spokeswoman Heidi Flato.

Chronicle Staff Writer Katie Dowd contributed to this report.

David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
More than 100 people were treated Monday for injuries caused by the wildfires that tore through Napa and Sonoma counties and forced the evacuation of two Santa Rosa hospitals.

With Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health medical centers evacuated, the St. Joseph Health hospitals in the two counties took on much of the burden.

Santa Rosa Memorial Hospitals emergency department treated about 90 patients for wildfire-related injuries, including 12 for burns that left them in critical condition, said Vanessa deGier, a spokeswoman for St. Joseph Health in Northern California.

Five were treated and released, while three remain in the intensive care unit and the medical-surgerical units, deGier said. Four patients were transferred to burn centers.

Mason Trinca/Special to The Chronicle

The majority of injuries were related to smoke inhalation. In total, Santa Rosa Memorial treated 160 people since midnight, and Chief Medical Officer Chad Krilich said the staff anticipates that number will climb to around 200 by end of day  a jump from the typical patient load of about 125 per day.

Santa Rosa Memorial also accepted a total of 12 transfers from Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa and Sutter Medical Center  the six transfers from Sutter included several expectant mothers in active labor and newborns.

Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa treated a number of people for smoke inhalation, deGier said. The hospital saw 50 patients for wildfire-related injuries, with four patients treated and released for minor burns and a fifth who suffered significant burns transferred to a burn center.

Although Petaluma Valley Hospital did not receive any burn victims, hospital personnel treated 28 patients,including several who needed to be evacuated from Sutter Medical Center, Kaiser Santa Rosa and senior living facilities in the area.

The majority of patients sought care for smoke-related illnesses such as shortness of breath, dizziness, asthma and smoke inhalation, deGier said. Four patients were admitted to monitor their injuries and four patients were in active labor.

Chad Krilich, the chief medical officer at Santa Rosa Memorial, said many doctors who reported for duty Monday had lost their homes just hours before. The hospital was providing on-site accommodations for staff and volunteers who needed a place to sleep.

Krilich said he assumed his home was gone. He said he grabbed two photos  a picture of his wedding day and one of his children  five pairs of underwear and Hip Hop, the familys aquatic turtle, before fleeing his Santa Rosa home about 2 a.m. and heading into work.

Vivian Ho and Marissa Lang are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com, mlang@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @VivianHo @Marissa_Jae
A fire ripped through a sprawling scrap yard in American Canyon on Sunday afternoon, burning 50 to 100 junked cars and destroying two structures while sending plumes of black smoke into the air that was visible as far away as Oakland.

The blaze started around 3 p.m. and quickly swept through 18 to 20 acres of the scrap yard in the 800 block of Green Island Road, just east of the Napa River, said Scott McLean, a spokesman for Cal Fire
Fifteen wildfires in Northern California, many of them in the Wine Country, ravaged homes, businesses, vineyards and farmland Monday. Eleven people were confirmed dead and several others were severely burned. Major highways were shut down, and local officials requested help from around the region as Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency.

Information from authorities and residents on the ground was developing throughout Monday. Officials said efforts were focused on saving peoples lives, so many details were not fully known.

What we know:

 Ten people are confirmed dead  seven in Sonoma County, two in Napa County and one in the Mendocino County town of Redwood Valley. More than 110 people were treated at hospitals, many for smoke inhalation but a few for severe burns.

 Sonoma County officials said Monday night they had received up to 50 reports of missing individuals.

 At least 1,500 homes and commercial facilities have been destroyed in the fires, which are burning in Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Lake, Nevada, Butte, Calaveras, Shasta, and Yuba counties. A fire station in the Fountaingrove area of Santa Rosa was among the ravaged structures.

 At least 73,000 acres in total have burned.

 Napa County officials said three fires are burning in their jurisdiction: the Tubbs Fire near Calistoga and Santa Rosa at 27,000 acres, the Atlas Peak Fire at 25,000 acres and the Partrick Fire in the Carneros area at 3,000 acres.

 There was zero or extremely limited containment on all of the fires.

 Mandatory evacuation orders were in place for certain residential areas of Santa Rosa, numerous areas elsewhere in Sonoma County, and in and around the city of Napa. People in some neighborhoods in Fairfield were being encouraged to evacuate.

 Emergency dispatch centers in the Bay Area were being overwhelmed by 911 calls. Officials urged people to only call 911 for active, unattended flames or life-threatening emergencies.

 The National Weather Service issued its highest possible alert, a red flag warning, because of extremely dry, windy conditions Monday. The warning will stay in effect through 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Any new fire starts will have the potential for rapid fire growth, forecasters said in a statement. Shifting winds may push ongoing fires in new directions.

 At one point, more than 114,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers in the North Bay lost power. Hardest hit was Santa Rosa, with more than 23,460 customers blacked out, and St. Helena, with more than 7,660 losing electricity service. The utility, which mobilized workers from outside the Bay Area to respond to the emergency, managed to restore electricity service to about 12,000 of those customers by midday.

 The California Highway Patrol said it had rescued 44 people, ranging from ages 5 to 91, by helicopter. Five dogs and a cat were also airlifted.

 A number of historic structures and popular destinations, including Santa Rosas luxury Fountaingrove Inn and the Signorello Estates winery in Napa, were destroyed.

Portable classrooms, the library and the main office at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa was destroyed. The Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa was damaged.

 Sonoma County officials said they have received reports of looting, and Santa Rosa police issued a mandatory curfew that will be in effect from 6:45 p.m. Monday until sunrise.

What remains unclear:

 The causes of all the fires remain under investigation. Daniel Berlant, spokesman with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said investigators were in the area to determine the causes and origins of the fires.

 Officials do not yet know how many people were injured in the fires. But a spokeswoman for St. Joseph Health said Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital treated about 60 people for wildfire-related injuries, including two burn patients in critical condition. Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa treated about 40 patients, transferring one person with significant burns to a specialty center.

 The exact number of damaged and destroyed structures was not known, but officials believe there were more than 1,500.

 The exact number of evacuees was not known, but officials believed there were about 20,000.

 How much money and how many resources  including an exact number of firefighters  being devoted to firefighting was not clear. Hundreds of firefighters from as far away as San Diego were assisting in the efforts.

 It wasnt known Monday whether President Trump would approve Browns request for a major disaster declaration and additional federal aid.

 The total number of missing individuals was not known. Those looking for relatives and friends may file a missing-person report with Sonoma County officials at (707) 565-3856.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
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Police escorted Stacee Rodrigues Etchebers body from San Francisco International Airport to her hometown of Novato on Sunday, in a solemn procession honoring the wife of a San Francisco police officer and mother of two killed in the Las Vegas massacre.

The 50-year-old Marin County woman died among the victims in the horrific attack at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Oct. 1.

The gunman fired from the 32nd-story windows of his hotel suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, killing 58 and wounding hundreds more before taking his own life in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.

Stacee was married to San Francisco Police Officer Vinnie Etcheber, who was with her at the concert but became separated from her as he rushed to save those who had been shot.

Vinnie Etcheber later learned his wifes body was at the Clark County morgue after searching for her for 24 hours.

Stacee worked as a hairstylist and was remembered by her family as a tough cowgirl and devoted soccer mom.

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said her death has been felt across the department, which has been grieving for the past week.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Sundays procession offered some closure, following a week of heartbreak and sorrow.

Police escorted a hearse containing her remains from the airport to a funeral home in Novato. The family planned a private funeral in Marin County to honor Etcheber.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter; @EvanSernoffsky
Carole Shorenstein Hays, owner of the Curran theater, which literally reopened earlier this year after extensive renovations, is looking to open it in figurative ways, too. Since January, shes invited more than 4,000 students from public and private schools around the Bay area to attend free performances. The Curran Occasion event on Wednesday, Oct. 4, was both a celebration of the theaters arts education program and a forecast of things to come.

Students, parents and teachers from a long list of schools and institutions  including the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts; Oakland School of the Arts; Mercy, Riordan, Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, Live Oak and Sonoma Academy high schools; the Community Music Center; and UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital  were invited to roam around the theater lobbies, to get comfortable in the physical space. On each lobby level and in the staircases, student performing groups played to welcome the crowd to the theater.

That preceded an onstage program that featured Hardly Strictly Bluegrass performers Ron Thomason and Heidi Clare, as well as Carmen Cusack, who has the lead role in Bright Star, the Steve Martin/Edie Brickell musical that will open at the theater in November. If youre thinking this event was a two-fer  celebrating the notion of young kids at the theater and promoting the show  you wouldnt be wrong.

Bright Star producer Peter Asher, whos had an active career in music since being part of the British pop duo Peter and Gordon decades ago, emceed the Bright Star portion of the festivities, and even got audience members to join in a sing-along. But the best sing-along of all came afterward, driving home, when, having been spurred by Ashers presence to research Peter and Gordon songs, my pal and I dueted on a sublime  youll have to take that on my word  version of World Without Love in the car.

Surely this will come soon to San Francisco, a city of innovation. The New York company Kreemart describes its mission as taking contemporary artists out of their typical creative process by introducing them to the medium of sugar. Unrestricted, they are partnered with the best pastry chefs to produce their own conception. The company has just announced its new Pastry Portrait collection, the first being Marina Abramovics Taste.

Each of the three macarons in one package, created with the help of the French macaron-baker Laduree, is stamped with the conceptual artists fathers family crest, which represents the delicate balance between fragility and strength. The particular shade of blue of the macarons is tied to Abramovics memory of her parents who were war heroes. The pastries are in a pyramid-shaped box, a shape whose origin lies in freemasonry, a symbol of energy and power. ... It is an object that represents a conceptual artwork, emphasizing the performative experience of tasting the artist.

I guess this is the high-flown version of a pastrami sandwich named after a comedian.

Photographer Nick Aitkens new set of Paper Dolls: A Deck of Playing Cards, includes 52 gay men posing as soldiers, performers, royalty and the like, anything with a little pizzazz. Hes selling decks of the cards, each bigger than a standard playing card, for $75. According to a story in the Bay Area Reporter, Mark Leno, who poses as a sheriff, is the five of hearts and the only politician in the series. Instead of toting a gun, however, his holster is holding a dahlia, San Franciscos official flower. (Is that a dahlia in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?) More information is on Aitkens website, www.nickaitken.net.

Greg Chew went to the University of San Francisco on Wednesday night to hear Kevin Kwan, whose best-selling novel, Crazy Rich Asians, is in movie production. Kwan was born in Singapore; his novel has been called an English-major-house novel about the ways of the wealthy in Singapore.

At the start of his appearance, reports Chew, the author said, I hope not to bore you with this hour talk. Otherwise, Ill just ... invite everyone out for a drink. The book, Kwans third, was first going to be called Empire Days, he said, but at the last minute, it was dubbed Crazy Rich Asians, a successful title, he said, because it caught the attention of publishers and agents  and its just obnoxious.

Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik

Public Eavesdropping

I have to finish

the last draft of my memoir before

tomorrow.

Girl of about 10 to girl of about 10, sitting on a Telegraph Hill stoop and overheard by Gyongy Laky
It was just last year that the young Polish conductor Krzysztof Urbanski made a knockout debut with the San Francisco Symphony, leading the orchestra with a rare combination of dramatic intensity and kinetic flair. It was the kind of performance so striking that it left you not quite believing what youd just witnessed.

Well, you can believe it, all right. Urbanski returned to Davies Symphony Hall on Friday night, Oct. 6, for the first of two nonconsecutive guest weeks with the orchestra, and it turns out his earlier appearance was no fluke at all.

Urbanski takes to the podium like a cross between Arturo Toscanini and Fred Astaire, turning each interpretive decision into a balletic piece of performance art. He makes music with taut physicality and shimmery lyricism, and he brings the orchestra into the dance with him so that the entire ensemble moves effortlessly as one.

The results, in music by Penderecki, Mendelssohn and Shostakovich, were both intellectually probing (in a terrifying feat, Urbanski conducts even the most intricate orchestral works from memory) and sensuously direct.

The more we hear from this 35-year-old conductor, the more urgent it becomes to see what else he can do. Urbanski is currently music director of the Indianapolis Symphony, but I cant say I envy the orchestra manager whos being asked to keep him down on that particular farm.

Fridays program opened with a daring, daunting rarity, Pendereckis 1960 cri de coeur Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima. This is a piece more known about than known, one that figures in nearly every history of 20th century music without actually showing up in the concert hall (the Symphony has performed it only once before, in 1977 under Seiji Ozawa).

Threnody is scored in painstaking detail for 52 string players, and its full of unusual instrumental techniques that give the music a ghostly, agonizing surface. Shrieks, whispers and ominous clatters coalesce and disperse, in an expressive landscape that is somewhere between grief and accusation; famously, the piece ends with a giant, densely packed chord that seems to encompass every possible note.

Its the kind of thing that can easily come off as mannered or even kitschy (especially at more than half a centurys remove), but Urbanski and the orchestra gave it a keen emotional specificity. After asking for a moment of silence in honor of the victims of last weeks mass shooting in Las Vegas, Urbanski got the music under way with an almost gentle edge.

Soon enough, though, the performance grew increasingly intense and heartfelt. Just as Penderecki had to invent new notational symbols for some of his more striking instrumental effects, Urbanski seemed to have created a whole new podium lexicon for the occasion  from five-finger explosions to elaborate caressing maneuvers  and all of it bore audible fruit.

He and the orchestra proved no less dynamic after intermission, with a forceful and often raw-boned account of Shostakovichs Tenth Symphony. The epic first movement, which can register in the wrong hands as an overlong slog, charted a tersely compelling journey, and both the pile-driver rhythms of the second movement and the counterintuitive gaiety of the finale came through powerfully.

In between came Mendelssohns Violin Concerto, with Augustin Hadelich serving as an oddly recessive soloist. Ive heard Hadelich play with much more robustness and rhythmic freedom than he showed on this occasion, in which even the slow movement sounded a bit thin and reedy. The encore, Paganinis Caprice No. 21, had more vitality in its few wonderful moments than the entire concerto did.

Joshua Kosman is The San Francisco Chronicles music critic. Email: jkosman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoshuaKosman

San Francisco Symphony: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. $15-$159. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F. (415) 864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org
LAS VEGAS  Investigators met with the brother of the Las Vegas gunman while friends and relatives of the 58 killed and other concertgoers who survived the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history returned Monday to reclaim baby strollers, shoes, phones, backpacks and purses left behind in the panic as they fled.

The interviews with Stephen Paddocks brother Saturday and Sunday were part of an exhaustive search through the 64-year-olds life in search of clues about why he unleashed gunfire from broken windows in the 32rd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel casino.

Eric Paddock declined to say what he was asked, but he said hes cooperating with investigators, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Im trying to get them to understand Steves mind-set, Paddock told the newspaper. I dont want them to chase bad leads.

In a newly revealed court document obtained by CNN, Stephen Paddock described himself as a nocturnal creature who bet up to $1 million each night while gambling at Las Vegas casinos in flip-flops and sweatpants, catching sleep in the day. The description of his lifestyle comes from a deposition filed as part of a civil lawsuit he filed against Cosmopolitan Hotel, where he slipped and fell in 2011.

The personal effects being recovered were strewn across the massive grassy concert venue where 22,000 country music fans attended the Route 91 Harvest festival have become sentimental memories of loved ones for some, and haunting reminders of the night of terror for others.

People left behind thousands of lawn chairs, hats, wallets, souvenirs, cell phones, purses, boots and other items, Clark County Emergency Manager John Steinbeck said. People are being allowed to come retrieve their things in groups based on where they were seated, he said.

Authorities are powering up cell phones and asking people to text their full names to the phones to ensure they are returned to the correct owners.

Eric Paddock said he came to Las Vegas to retrieve his brothers body in hopes of sending the cremated ashes to their 89-year-old mother in Orlando.

Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg said Monday that he could not discuss the results of an autopsy done on Stephen Paddock, who police said shot himself dead before officers arrived at the Las Vegas Strip hotel suite from which he rained gunfire on a concert crowd below.

Regina Garcia Cano and Ken Ritter are Associated Press writers.
BILOXI, Miss.  Hurricane Nate brought flooding and power failures to the Gulf Coast before weakening rapidly Sunday, sparing the region the kind of catastrophic damage left by a series of hurricanes that hit the southern U.S. and Caribbean in recent weeks.

Nate  the first hurricane to make landfall in Mississippi since Katrina in 2005  quickly lost strength, with its winds diminishing to a tropical depression as it pushed northward into Alabama and toward Georgia with heavy rain. It was a Category 1 hurricane when it came ashore outside Biloxi early Sunday, its second landfall after initially hitting southeastern Louisiana on Saturday night.

The storm surge from the Mississippi Sound littered Biloxis main beachfront highway with debris and flooded a casinos lobby and parking structure overnight. By dawn, however, Nates receding floodwaters didnt reveal any obvious signs of widespread damage in the city where Hurricane Katrina had leveled thousands of beachfront homes and businesses.

No storm-related deaths or injuries were immediately reported.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant praised state and local officials and coastal residents for working together to avoid loss of life.

Lee Smithson, director of the state emergency management agency, said damage from Nate was held down in part because of work done and lessons learned from Katrina.

If that same storm would have hit us 15 years ago, the damage would have been extensive and we would have had loss of life. Smithson said of Nate. But we have rebuilt the coast in the aftermath of Katrina higher and stronger.

Nate knocked out power to more than 100,000 residents in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida, but it appeared many of the blackouts had been restored within 24 hours.

Nate knocked out power to more than 100,000 residents in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida, but crews were working on repairs.

Mississippis Gulf Coast casinos got approval to reopen in midmorning after closing Saturday as the storm approached.

Before Nate sped past Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula late Friday and entered the Gulf of Mexico, it drenched Central America with rains that left at least 22 people dead. But Nate didnt approach the intensity of Harvey, Irma and Maria  powerful storms that left behind massive destruction during 2017s exceptionally busy hurricane season.

Jeff Amy is an Associated Press writer.
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A few weeks ago, Mayor Libby Schaaf put on an Oakland As hat, an Oaklandish T-shirt with a stylized oak tree, jeans and sneakers to serve salami sandwiches to people living in the homeless tent community underneath Interstate 880 near Seventh Street, one of about 100 bedraggled encampments in Oakland.

She went out with Cityteam Oakland, a faith-based nonprofit that operates a soup kitchen. It serves roughly 8,000 meals per month. Cityteam also runs an emergency shelter and regularly passes out blankets, food and toiletries at homeless camps.

Twice a week, around dinnertime, Cityteam takes sandwiches to tent encampments. Mike Murray, Cityteams rescue mission manager, said Schaaf seemed moved talking to the people she met.

He recalled Schaaf spending 20 minutes listening to a homeless womans concerns about hygiene.

I wish more people who worked for the city would do that to kind of get a feeling for what its really like instead of what they hear at town hall meetings, Murray told me. I think it would open their eyes more instead of hearing people complain about it.

Theres a lot to complain about, but theres also a lot that can be done.

Well, Oakland is about to try something  again.

On Tuesday, the Oakland City Council voted unanimously to carve out plots for safe haven sites. At the sites, residents will camp in secure, fenced-in areas where theyll have access to health, drug addiction and employment resources.

More important, the sites will be used to funnel people into temporary housing.

The idea was inspired by the Compassionate Communities program, an experimental city-sanctioned camp with portable toilets, handwashing stations and trash service under Interstate 580 near 35th and Peralta streets. That camp, guided by Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney, was eventually scrapped after two fires and complaints by neighbors.

Here are the proposed locations for the new camps:

A city-owned lot at 3831 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in West Oakland.

6th Street between Castro and Brush Streets

A city-owned parcel at East 12th Street and 23rd Avenue near the Fruitvale district. Its already dotted with couches and tents.

Each site will serve 40 people at a time, and there will be 24-hour security, controlled access (only residents will be allowed to enter) and on-site management. The new plan also includes Tuff Sheds, storage units that look like backyard playhouses. Residents will be able to stay in the city-sanctioned camps for up to six months.

According to a report prepared by the city administrators office, the annual operating cost to the city will be about $472,000. Theres an added one-time cost of $78,000 for the Tuff Sheds, fencing, office space and storage facilities. The citys latest budget appropriated $450,000 per year for two years for the program.

The new plan looks great, but I see one glaring problem: The homeless crisis in Oakland affects thousands. It would provide relief to only a fraction of the people on Oakland streets and sidewalks.

The homeless population in Oakland jumped by 25 percent to 2,761 between 2015 and 2017, according to a recent point-in-time count. The citys solution helps 120 people.

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What about everyone else?

Were not pretending this is a permanent solution or a complete solution, Schaaf told me. But we have to start somewhere. And this is what we can do immediately.

People who drive past encampments daily see the piles of garbage and stockpiles of furniture, clothes and whatever else can be collected. But its a different experience when you walk through the camps and talk to people.

Thats where youll learn that the narrative of homeless people being lazy drug addicts doesnt fit everyone who lives in a tent. Many homeless people have jobs. They just dont make enough to afford a roof over their heads.

There are as many circumstances as people in those camps, Schaaf said. To paint broad strokes or make sweeping assumptions on every single one of these thousands of unsheltered residents who call Oakland home is misguided and unhelpful, because if you want to solve a problem you have to understand the problem.

Murray, who visits homeless camps daily, said the new camps might be the right step to solving the homelessness problem  if theres follow-through with these people to get them into permanent housing.

That way, the public will become more accepting of the situation if they see that theres a positive outcome afterwards, Murray said. As long as theres follow-through, the public could actually get behind it.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
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Dozens of schools in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties that were closed have yet to reopen. As the fires have spread, so have the closures.

Here is a full list of known school closures:
Im so disappointed in myself.

I should be 100 percent supportive of establishing Californias own single-payer health system, which means the government, not insurance, pays health care costs for all people. After all, the best Californians are for it.

Californias next governor, Gavin Newsom, has made single-payer central to his campaign. Americas next president, California U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, is running on it. And good progressives  in unions, nonprofits and the Democratic Party  have made single-payer their No. 1 political litmus test. Any officeholder who doesnt support it now faces recall and Twitter bullying.

So why do doubts keep springing to my diseased mind?

I confess that, in dark moments, I wonder whether single-payer is just a weapon for some political interests to use against opponents. But how can I think such a cynical thing when President-in-Waiting Harris recently assured us  as she cosponsored federal legislation to protect you from health insurance by making it illegal for your employer to provide it  that single-payer is a nonpartisan issue?

Now, sometimes I get cynical and wonder how practical single-payer is, or whether it might be wiser to build on the existing system. I also think about the one-third of all Californians, and half of all California children, who are on Medi-Cal, Californias version of Medicaid, which means the government pays for their health care. The people in this smaller version of single-payer struggle to get care because there arent enough doctors and institutions that will serve them.

Then I start thinking about money  money! for shame!  and ask: Why doesnt the single-payer legislation in California and in Congress explain how you pay for single-payer? Then I read these estimates that a single-payer health care system in California alone would cost $400 billion, which is 2 times the size of the state general fund.

That gives me an anxiety attack, since raising taxes requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, which can be a little bit hard to get. And then I worry  Im not proud of this  about my kids schools. The two big pieces of the state budget are education and health care, so when you see a big run-up in spending on health, the schools get hit, and teachers get laid off and instruction time gets cut.

But then I get ahold of myself, and listen to Bernie Sanders (who like all Vermonters knows California deeply), and I stop worrying.

Because Californias schools already do remarkably well with some of the lowest state funding levels in the country. So why would it matter if theyre cut further? Because everyone will be so much healthier under single-payer, the teachers will be able to teach more kids in less time, and the children will learn faster!

And after listening to single-payer advocates, Im sure that this single-payer health care will pay for itself; in fact, it will save money, because all the dough we spend on insurance and pharmaceuticals will just be replaced by new taxes, and the efficiencies will create savings. (Dont sweat the details.) While there might be startup costs, this is California, with an economy the size of Frances. Weve got plenty of money. If the taxes dont come through at first, well have a Kickstarter campaign. Or crowdsource it. Or make Mexico pay for it.

Since having those realizations, Ive been totally behind single-payer  with the exception of one bad bender of doubts. My trigger for that episode was the housing crisis.

I was reading a UCLA Anderson report about how far behind we are in meeting Californians housing needs. And then I saw the news that, spurred by rising homelessness, Los Angeles and San Diego counties now have hepatitis outbreaks that constitute public emergencies.

So I couldnt stop my mind from thinking: How can these fancy people running our state be talking about some pie-in-the-sky single-payer when theyre utterly failing to provide Californians with the most basic piece of the healthy life  shelter?

But then I realized I was stuck in the past. Just because our systems for education and housing havent produced enough of either doesnt mean that single-payer health care wont produce enough health care.

Then it hit me: All my doubts about single-payer are a form of illness, and that illness is itself the best possible argument for single-payer.

Because, clearly, Im sick in the head. And if there were a cure, I couldnt afford it.

So bring on single-payer. It will fix me, and good.

Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at SFChronicle.com/letters.
Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

California Highway Patrol helicopters airlifted more than two dozen people to safety as flames approached two high-elevation Napa County wineries, officials said Monday.

Those rescued were apparently working overnight as wine harvest laborers, officials said.
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Update: Safari West officials confirmed that several personnel have been allowed to return to the preserve and are "assessing the situation," according to a statement shared on Facebook. Contrary to reports circulating on social media, no fences at the park were cut, nor were animals released.

Giraffes, rhinoceroses, cheetahs and other African animals on the Safari West Wildlife Preserve in Santa Rosa were out of imminent danger Monday afternoon as multiple wildfires raged around the region, multiple sources confirmed.

Firefighters were on-site Monday to extinguish spot fires around the 400-acre preserve, Oakland Zoo spokesperson Erin Harrison said. Safari West staff and visitors were evacuated Sunday night.

Harrison said staff from the Oakland, San Francisco and Sacramento are on standby to attend to the park's hundreds of animals, assisting in evacuations or providing vet care as needed.

"Imminent fire danger seems over," Harrison said, "but some animals could be affected by smoke inhalation."

Story continues below.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

Harrison noted that some "small animals," primarily birds, were evacuated in the personal vehicles of staff members Sunday night.

In a statement posted shortly before 11 a.m., Safari West officials said, "While the situation remains dynamic and very dangerous, we have received word that the Safari West Wildlife Preserve appears to have weathered the worst of this firestorm. The situation is still very much active and could take a turn, but for the moment, it looks like our preserve and our animals are OK."

Tonja Candelaria with the Sacramento Zoo noted that Safari West staff members returned to the park Monday afternoon to monitor the situation and care for the animals, all of which were accounted for. Road closures prevented staff from reaching the preserve early Monday morning.

Safari West sees around 70,000 annual visitors seeking an "African adventure in the heart of California wine country." Visitors can get up close and personal with the park's animals by taking a three-hour guided safari experience or staying overnight in one of dozens of "glamping" sites. Birds, monkeys, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, wildebeests and dozens of other species reside on the sprawling preserve in the hills of Santa Rosa.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

Sarah Miller, a freelance writer for The San Francisco Chronicle, contributed to this report.

Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.




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REDWOOD VALLEY, Mendocino County  At least one person died as a wildfire burned through this small Mendocino County town, and officials warned Monday of what they might discover as they pick through the charred landscape.

Redwood Valley, a town of some 2,000 people about 8 miles north of Ukiah, had one confirmed fatality as a direct result of the Redwood Complex Fire. The blaze grew to an estimated 19,000 acres by Monday afternoon, said Patricia Austin, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Two people also suffered serious burn injuries, she said.

Authorities fear more people were trapped in homes that were incinerated Sunday night, said sheriffs Capt. Gregory Van Patten.

There were areas where there just wasnt enough time to give an evacuation notice because the spread of the fire was so rapid, he said.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

A series of 14 fires consumed tens of thousands of acres in eight Northern California counties, killed at least 10 people, injured more than 100, and destroyed more than 1,500 homes and commercial facilities.

The Redwood Complex Fire was the result of two fires merging  the Potter Valley and Redwood Valley fires. Under the dark of night, all the smoke, they combined, Austin said.

This morning, it looked like the whole valley was socked in with fog, Van Patten said. But it wasnt  it was smoke.

Sixty to 80 county workers are dedicated to helping with evacuations and other fire-related situations, Van Patten said. Were already seeing looting, he said. We interrupted a burglary (in an evacuated home) and made an arrest.

Outside the Redwood Valley Market, virtually the only business in town that was still open, about 300 people milled around, their cars packed with possessions.

They waited for news of their homes and decided whether to go to evacuation centers, said Alex Chehada, who has owned the market for 15 years.

Some customers are already saying they lost houses, he said. We can see the mountains burning.

The market still had power, unlike most of the town, but Chehada expected the electricity and phone service to go soon. His employees were handing out water and sandwiches.

At Ukiah High School, the main evacuation center for Mendocino County, several hundred fire evacuees, some from as far away as Santa Rosa 60 miles to the south, settled into the gym on cots provided by the Red Cross.

The spirit is definitely somber, but theres a sense of community, of people coming together, said Gabriel Sherman, director of maintenance, operations and transportation for Ukiah Unified School District. At one point this morning we had more volunteers than we had community members taking shelter.

Michael Cabanatuan and Carolyn Said are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com, MCabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @CSaid, @ctuan
Now Playing: Thanks to @brandynharris for the video Video: KTVU

A railway tour of wine country was derailed Sunday afternoon when the Napa Valley Wine Train crashed into a stretch limousine bus near St. Helena.

No one was seriously injured in the collision, according to Rick Evanich, the managing director of Napa Valley Wine Train.
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It will take time to determine the cause of multiple wildfires that ripped through Napa and Sonoma counties, but several possible culprits emerged Monday.

Officials cautioned that they didnt know the cause of any of the fires, and the investigation may be complicated by the number of blazes  14 were burning throughout Northern California.

Accidental factors cant be ruled out, and neither can arson.

Another possibility is electric lines. They can start wildfires even when they dont fall, if they become tangled with tree branches being blown by the wind and give off sparks. For example, the 70,868-acre Butte Fire in 2015 started because a pine tree in Amador County came in contact with a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power line.

Utility companies are responsible for trimming trees close to their lines. PG&E spokeswoman Andrea Menniti referred questions Monday about the cause of the fires to officials with the state Department of Fire and Forestry Protection.

Conditions were ripe for fires overnight. Dry winds out of the northeast gusted up to 50 mph, and the vegetation that flourished after last years drought-ending rains provide ample tinder.

High pressure over the Great Basin and low pressure near the coast caused a weather pattern reminiscent of the one that propelled the Oakland Hills fire 26 years ago, said Matt Mehle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Monterey.

Its the same scenario, Mehle said. Weve had a large crop of grass and brush  what we in the fire-weather community call fine fuel  that set the stage for a potential wildfire.

Northeast winds that swept through the Bay Area overnight blew the sooty air from Wine Country all the way down to the South Bay. Residents throughout the nine Bay Area counties woke up to choking fumes and the smell of smoldering wood. People in San Francisco, Contra Costa and Alameda counties reported that their cars and homes were caked with ash.

Air monitors detected elevated levels of fine particulates throughout the region, said Kristine Roselius, spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Those particulates  so tiny you could fit many on the head of a pin  are especially of concern to children, the elderly and anyone with respiratory problems, Roselius said.

They can go into your lungs, bypass your bodys normal filtration system and even into your bloodstream, she said. They can trigger asthma attacks and exacerbate respiratory issues.

The air district issued a smoke advisory for the entire region Monday. Children, the elderly and people with respiratory ailments were particularly vulnerable, said district spokesman Tom Flannigan.

But Flannigan noted that wind conditions changed by Monday afternoon, as a westerly breeze blew in from the coast.

So the dirty air is moving out of the Bay Area and being replaced by clean air from the ocean, Flannigan said.
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The national conversation has shifted as of late towards the country's monuments and landmarks: Who deserves to be memorialized? Which moments in our history should be honored, and how?

San Francisco is host to controversial monuments of its own, some cast in stone and others tucked into the names of its streets and neighborhoods.

See the above gallery to learn the wild stories behind some of San Francisco's most famous landmarks.

But not every famous landmark in the city was dedicated to men whose value systems might be frowned upon by contemporary sensibilities.

Take Lotta's Fountain on Kearny Street, one of SF's oldest monuments, where there's an annual gathering to mark the anniversary of the 1906 earthquake. Charlotte Mignon (Lotta) Crabtree was a Gold Rush-era entertainer, known for dancing on barrels as her fans showered her with golden items. Crabtree returned their affections by gifting the city a striking fountain 142 years ago, designed in the likeness of a lighthouse prop from a now-forgotten play called "Zip."

Now Playing: The Golden Gate Bridge has a storied history, but do you know the whole story? Video: San Francisco Chronicle

Some legends are more recent, like that man-made island of mud in the middle of the bay. As a child, crossing the Bay Bridge from the East Bay into San Francisco, a sense of wonder always overtook me as the car sped past Treasure Island. What lay on that curiously named slab of land beside the bridge? My childish imagination spent the remainder of the car ride answering such a question.

This was partly the builders' intention, says Anne Schnoebelen, vice president of the Treasure Island Museum Association.

Schnoebelen says the island was named after the Robert Louis Stevenson novel, a rollicking tale of pirates and hidden riches, "because of the belief that the mud at the bottom of the bay would contain gold washed down [from] Northern California's watersheds during and in the aftermath of the Gold Rush."

While most accounts claim that no gold was found, one claims a smidgeon of the substance was dredged up.

What's in a name? Well, stories  both true and embellished.

Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

WASHINGTON  Steve Bannon plans to back primary challengers to almost every Republican senator who runs for re-election next year in an effort to depose Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and streamline Senate voting procedures, three people familiar with his plans said.

Only Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is safe from the nascent political organization led by President Trumps former chief strategist, the people said  because Cruz is considered conservative enough and is thought to be moving toward the more populist approach Bannon favors.
WASHINGTON  Blackwater Worldwide founder Erik Prince is considering a Republican primary challenge to Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a senior member of the Senate GOP leadership team, in a race that could pit the partys establishment against insurgents fueled by allies of President Trump.

Prince was in Wyoming this weekend to discuss a possible Senate campaign with family members and has been encouraged to run by Steve Bannon, a former top White House strategist to Trump, according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private deliberations.

Princes potential candidacy was first reported by the New York Times. A Barrasso campaign spokesman declined comment and Prince did not immediately comment on the report.

Following the Republican failure to scrap Barack Obamas health care law, Bannon has been recruiting populist Republican Senate candidates to counter the influence of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has become the target of a simmering anti-incumbent mood. Barrasso is a close McConnell ally and would receive extensive support from the Senate GOP leader and the Senate Republicans campaign arm in a competitive primary.

Trump has expressed his displeasure with Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, who is seeking re-election next year, and the White House has encouraged primary challengers in the state. McConnells ability to protect vulnerable Republican senators, meanwhile, has been thrown into question since Sen. Luther Stranges loss to conservative firebrand Roy Moore in a Senate GOP runoff in Alabama.

Prince rose to prominence during the Iraq war when his private security company received lucrative government contracts and came under scrutiny when several Blackwater employees were involved in the shooting deaths of 14 civilians in Baghdad in 2007.

Four former Blackwater employees were convicted on federal charges in 2014  one for murder and the others for voluntary manslaughter. But an appeals court in August ordered a new trial for the defendant convicted of murder and re-sentencings for the defendants convicted of manslaughter.

Prince is also the founder of Frontier Resource Group, a private equity firm, and the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

Ken Thomas is an Associated Press writer.
Google for the first time has uncovered evidence that Russian operatives exploited the companys platforms in an attempt to interfere in the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the companys investigation.

The Silicon Valley giant has found that tens of thousands of dollars were spent on ads by Russian agents who aimed to spread disinformation across Googles many products, which include YouTube, as well as advertising associated with Google search, Gmail, and the companys DoubleClick ad network, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that have not been made public. Google runs the worlds largest online advertising business, and YouTube is the worlds largest online video site.

The discovery by Google is also significant because the ads do not appear to be from the same Kremlin-affiliated troll farm that bought ads on Facebook  a sign that the Russian effort to spread disinformation online may be a much broader problem than Silicon Valley companies have unearthed so far.

Google previously downplayed the problem of Russian meddling on its platforms. Last month, Google spokeswoman Andrea Faville told the Washington Post that the company is always monitoring for abuse or violations of our policies and weve seen no evidence this type of ad campaign was run on our platforms.

Nevertheless, Google launched an investigation into the matter, as Congress pressed technology companies to determine how Russian operatives used social media, online advertising, and other digital tools to influence the 2016 presidential contest and foment discord in U.S. society.

Google declined to provide a comment for this story. The people familiar with its investigation said that the company is looking at a set of ads that cost less than $100,000 and that it is still sorting out whether all of the ads came from trolls or whether some originated from legitimate Russian accounts.

To date, Google has mostly avoided the scrutiny that has fallen on its rival Facebook. The social network recently shared with congressional investigators about 3,000 Russian-bought ads that were purchased by operatives associated with the Internet Research Agency, a Russian-government affiliated troll farm, the company has said.

Some of the ads, which cost a total of about $100,000, touted Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and the Green party candidate Jill Stein during the campaign, people familiar with those ads said. Other ads appear to have been aimed at fostering division in the United States by promoting anti-immigrant sentiment and racial animosity. Facebook has said those ads reached just 10 million of the 210 million U.S. users that log onto the service each month.

At least one outside researcher has said that the influence of Russian disinformation on Facebook is much greater than the company has so far acknowledged and encompasses paid ads as well as posts published on Facebook pages controlled by Russian agents. The posts were shared hundreds of millions of times, said Jonathan Albright, research director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University.

In a blog post, Facebook wrote it is also looking at an additional 2,200 ads that may have not come from the Internet Research Agency.

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russian president Vladmir Putin intervened in the U.S. election to help Trump win. But Silicon Valley companies have received little assistance from the intelligence community, people familiar with the companies probes said.

Elizabeth Dwoskin and Adam Entous are Washington Post writers.
WASHINGTON  Richard Thaler was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science on Monday for incorporating a more realistic understanding of human behavior into economic theory, and for using the resulting insights to improve public policy.

Thaler, a professor at the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business, is a pioneer of the discipline known as behavioral economics, which marries the work of psychologists with that of economists to produce better models of human decision-making.

The Nobel committee, announcing the award in Stockholm, credited Thaler with taking the field from the fringe to the academic mainstream. The committee also noted that his work had driven a wide range of public policy improvements, notably a sweeping shift toward the automatic enrollment of workers in retirement savings programs.

Thaler said Monday that the basic premise of his approach to economics was that, In order to do good economics, you have to keep in mind that people are human.

Asked how he would spend the prize money  9-million-kronor ($1.1 million)  he replied: This is quite a funny question. He added: I will try to spend it as irrationally as possible.

The economics prize was established in 1968 in memory of Alfred Nobel and is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. One of Thalers frequent collaborators, Daniel Kahneman, was awarded the prize in 2002.

Mainstream economics was built on the simplifying assumption that people behave rationally. Economists understood this was not literally true, but they argued that it was close enough.

Thaler has played a central role in pushing economists away from that assumption. He did not simply argue that humans are irrational, which has always been obvious but is not particularly helpful. Rather, he showed that people depart from rationality in consistent ways, so that their behavior can still be anticipated and modeled.

Thaler more than anyone has disciplined the idea of animal spirits, said Cass Sunstein, a Harvard law professor who is another of Thalers frequent collaborators. The two men wrote a best-selling 2008 book, Nudge, which argued that behavioral economics could be applied to public policy, improving lives at little cost.

Two years later, the British government created a behavioral economics unit based on Thalers advice. Other countries, including the United States, followed suit. Some victories are relatively minor. The British government found that people were more likely to pay automobile registration fees if the billing letters included a picture of the vehicle and a reminder that unregistered cars could be seized. Other measures, like automatic enrollment in savings programs or in school lunch programs, have had far-reaching benefits.

Thaler, 72, was born in East Orange, N.J. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University and then earned a doctorate in economics at the University of Rochester.

Binyamin Applebaum is a New York Times writer.
Parts of this story originally ran on SFGATE on Oct. 9. 2017.

A statue of Christopher Columbus in San Francisco was vandalized the day before the federal holiday named for him.

On Sunday, city workers cleaned up the statue at the foot of Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill that had been covered in red paint. Graffiti on the base read Destroy all monuments of genocide and Kill all colonizers.

The New World explorer has become a polarizing figure, and many places across the country have switched from honoring Columbus to paying tribute to the indigenous communities who faced violence and disease when explorers like Columbus arrived. More than 100 cities celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day. San Francisco made the change in 2018.

Now Playing: These activists staged a whipping to protest Christopher Columbus. Video: NowThis News

Schools are also changing the way they teach Columbus.

For decades, every American kid in a schoolyard has known Columbus as the Italian explorer who "in 1492, sailed the ocean blue." But that little ditty is being phased out faster than you can name the explorer's three ships.

The rhyme is part of Columbus' romantic image, which includes searching for riches and spices, discovering America and befriending the "Indians." But historians have been pointing out for some time there is much more to this story, a rather grisly and gruesome tale of conquest. Now many teachers are presenting more perspectives on European colonization, and they don't paint Columbus as statue-worthy.

A longtime educator has created an increasingly popular lesson that turns the classroom into a courtroom and asks students to put Columbus, his crew, the King and Queen of Spain and the indigenous people on trial for murder.

"It begins on the premise that there's this monstrous crime in the years after 1492 when perhaps as many as 3 million or more Tainos on the island of Hispaniola lost their lives," says Bill Bigelow, the curriculum editor of Rethinking Schools and the co-director of the Zinn Education Project. "It asks students to wrestle with the responsibility in this."

The students play the role of the defendants and are asked to defend themselves against the charges, and to explain who they think is guilty and why.

Bigelow taught high school in Portland, Ore., for 30 years and he now creates lesson plans and teaching materials with a more critical view of historical narratives. He says more than 73,000 teachers across the country, including many in San Francisco and the Bay Area, have registered with Zinn Education Project and downloaded hundreds of thousands of the free lesson plans. "The People vs. Columbus, et al." is the most popular.

Bigelow says Columbus has long been inaccurately presented in the classroom as a godlike figure.

"In the traditional stories, Columbus is presented kneeling, planting a flag and claiming the lands he supposedly discovered in the name of the King and Queen of Spain. Children are never taught to ask, 'What right did he have to that land?'" says Bigelow. "The myth begins there with dividing the world in two, with the people who are the rulers and the people who are there to be ruled. The traditional story legitimizes the cleaving of the world into the worthy and the unworthy."

In actuality, Bigelow says, Columbus wasn't the first to discover America. His ships landed in the Bahamas and he went on to become the first to transport slaves across the Atlantic, sending the indigenous Caribbean people know as the Taianos to Spain.

"In February 1495, he ordered his men to round up 1,600 of the Tainos and to choose the 500 best and to ship them as slaves to Spain, and then he told his men to help themselves to the rest," Bigelow says. "He forced the Tainos to search for gold and they had a quota that they had to meet, or else they'd have their hands chopped off."

He adds: "The defense is that he was a man of his time."

When Bigelow teaches his lesson in Columbus, he always starts by asking students what they know about this time period, and not a single student has ever mentioned the Tainos.

"We all know this name of this one white guy who came from Europe but none of us know the names of the people who came here first," he says. "What does that say about our education?"

SFGATE heard from teachers at several schools around the Bay Area  including Lowell High School and the Synergy Alternative High School in San Francisco, the Bayshore School in Daly City, and the Academy of Alameda  who said their students have put the explorer on trial in their classrooms.

Dominic Altieri, who teaches sixth through eighth grades at Synergy, says he spends two weeks on the project and his students are all assigned roles  from Columbus himself to Columbus' sailors to Tainos. They study the history of their characters, make costumes and prepare their defenses for the trial.

"We don't try to cast moral judgement," Altieri says. "We're trying to look critically at those events and that allows us to look at Columbus' discovery in a more accurate light. Who was really responsible for the deaths of millions of indigenous people? I try to not get too judge-y with it, and when he is on trial, they draw their own conclusions."

Maya Baker, an eighth grade teacher at the Bayshore School, introduced the lesson in her classroom for the first time this year.

"What was powerful was the kids had to be thoughtful about being on the other side," Baker says. "They are like, 'I know that King Ferdinand and Isabel are guilty. They should be guilty.' But they had to think about it, think about why they did what they did."

Baker says the lesson involves putting the "System of Empire"  the government at the time and its conquest for riches  on trial. That was the most challenging and enlightening part for her students.

"The system is the most complicated one," Baker says. "It gives them this whole other perspective and awareness. How can you blame the system? They have to think about the structures that were in place and what that means. The jury got really thrown off.

"Kids are recognizing that there are these structures in place and people just make assumptions about it. They started thinking about it in other ways and how it plays into modern society. Why we have certain holidays off. They become aware of the assumptions people make based on the structures in our system and learn it's important to challenge them."

Lauretta Komlos teaches ninth grade modern world history at Lowell High School and has had her students participate in a mock trial  complete with witnesses  for the past three years.

"I think that what we get out of it is that there's understanding of how history can be written one way and there can be this dominant narrative for hundreds of years, so much that we can have this national holiday celebrating Columbus," says Komlos, who practiced law before becoming a teacher. "And now that we're becoming more open about understanding history and we're realizing this was not a very nice man. It's not even close to a person you'd want to celebrate."

ALSO: 'Destroy all monuments of genocide' Christopher Columbus statue in San Francisco vandalized

Bigelow's lesson is mainly taught in middle and high schools. Nancy McTygue, executive director of California History-Social Science Project, says teaching the complexities to elementary school children is more complicated.

McTygue is one of the lead writers of a new framework for the curriculum at California's K-12 public schools presented in 2016, and she says fifth grade teachers, who teach the explorers and founding of the country, are now encouraged to present multiple perspectives in their lessons.

"I think one of the reasons Columbus has become a symbol is that it's easy for school children to glom onto one person," McTygue says. "I think Columbus in and of itself isn't as important as what happened when these two civilizations came together. That I think is the larger and more significant story."

In the new framework, teachers are advised to help students trace and learn the routes of the explorers and study the trade routes. They're also asked to have students discuss the explorers' economic and religious motives and answer questions such as "What happened when Europeans encountered indigenous people?"

It's suggested that students read the letters European explorers like Christopher Columbus wrote to the sponsors of their voyages to help students understand that all historical actors have agendas and perspectives.

Original source material  whether logs, journals or letters  are recommended as a teaching tool through the new framework to present a more accurate picture of history. Anthea Hartig is the executive director of the S.F.-based California Historical Society that's working with the California History-Social Science Project at UC Davis to identify, collect and make materials available.

She's thrilled to see the rethinking of the history of Columbus in public schools.

"History has been traditionally taught in the hero style. A great man, rarely a woman, at the center of an event, "Hartig says. "Maybe you could stick Joan of Arc in there. These men were exalted and meant to inspire. If you read a lot of juvenile literature you'll notice this. But really, the revolutions Columbus launched weren't the revolutions for which he's celebrated. What he imposed on the islands was some of the most heinous genocide and labor forced on the world. By 1555 there were no more natives. Then they started to import slaves from Africa."

Amy Graff is a digital editor for SFGATE. Email her at agraff@sfgate.com.
Social media sites exploded overnight as Bay Area residents  some located more than a hundred miles from the rapidly spreading Wine County fires  called emergency responders to report the smell of smoke while those closer to the destruction shared photos of the spreading disaster.

A total of 14 fires were reported burning in the North Bay early Monday afternoon.

As of 11:30 a.m., Cal Fire reported that the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa had burned at least 25,000 acres and the Atlas Fire in Napa County also 25,000 acres. Two smaller blazes also had done significant damage: the Nuns Fire in Sonoma County with 5,000 acres charred and the Patrick Fire in Napa County with 3,000 acres burned. In Mendocino County, the Redwood Fire scorched more than 10,000 acres. No containment was reported for any of the blazes.

The Atlas Fire was near Atlas Peak Road in an area, northeast of the city of Napa and the Silverado Trail. Some were evacuating near a second blaze in Calistoga.

A number of evacuations were also underway in Sonoma County where, just after 2 a.m., Santa Rosa police reported a fire had jumped Highway 101 on the north side of the city and "ignited structures" on Hopper Avenue. Evacuations were also ordered for residents and businesses in the Skyfarm, Fountaingrove Parkway and Montecito Heights areas, according to the police department. Those evacuees were directed to the Finley Community Center on West College Avenue and Stony Point Road, according to The Chronicle.

RELATED NEWS: Get the latest on evacuations here.

For residents in the lower Bay Area counties, air quality deteriorated so quickly that dispatch reported several calls to 911 in San Mateo County due to "drift smoke from Sonoma County." Others simply took to social media to to express their concerns, causing #napafire  and later #sonomafire, #tubbsfire and #atlasfire  to jump to the top of Twitter's trending San Francisco topics.

Police requested that people do not call 911 to report smoke.
SACRAMENTO  Pharmaceutical companies must notify health insurance companies before they raise the price of prescription drugs  and they must explain the reasons behind the hike  under a bill Gov. Jerry Brown signed Monday.

Under the new law, drug companies must issue the notifications at least 60 days in advance when the price increase is at least 16 percent over a two-year period. Supporters of the legislation say it will discourage significant price increases.

Brown said SB17 will provide greater transparency at a time when the public is increasingly disillusioned as the rich get richer.

Californians have a right to know why their medical costs are out of control, especially when pharmaceutical profits are soaring, Brown said in a rare bill-signing ceremony on Monday in his office in the State Capitol.

SB17 by state Sen. Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina (Los Angeles County) applies to drugs that have a wholesale price of least $40 for a course of therapy. The companies also have to provide a description of factors that led to the decision to raise the price.

The 60-day notice takes effect Jan. 1, while the remaining elements of the law, including justification for the increase, take effect in 2019.

SB17 requires health insurers to report each year to the state certain spending details on prescription drugs, such as a list of the 25 most commonly prescribed drugs, the 25 most costly drugs and the 25 drugs with the highest year-over-year price increases. Supporters of the bill said the information will help consumers better understand how much their health plans spend on drugs. Supporters say the information also will help health plans negotiate prices with drug manufacturers.

The bill was supported by consumer groups, including Health Access California, and unions, including the California Labor Federation.

With Gov. Browns signature today, no longer will pharmaceutical companies get to hike prescription drug prices by double digits without any notice or explanation, said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California. Prescription drug companies will think twice about raising prices.

Pharmaceutical companies, represented by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a national trade group, argued that the bill creates mounds of red tape. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a top pharmaceutical lobbying group, said the bill is a form of price control that will scare away investors.

Brown has until Sunday to act on the remaining 330 bills on his desk that were passed last month by the Legislature. Over the weekend, Brown signed AB249 by Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo, which requires the top three donors to a ballot measure campaign to be disclosed in political advertisements if the groups give $50,000 or more.

Called the Disclose Act, supporters of the bill said it will shed light on campaigns, which have been able to hide behind misleading organization names to conceal their top donors. For example, the small and barely readable print that flashes quickly at the end of a television political ad will have to be legible, and the actual groups funding the campaign  not the obscure committee names  would have to be disclosed.

Brown vetoed AB63 by Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Oakley, that would have required adults younger than 21 who are just learning to drive to hold a provisional license for a year  just as 16 and 17 year olds are currently required to hold for their first year. The provisional license bars new drivers from being behind the wheel between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. and from driving passengers under 20 years old unless accompanied by their parent or a licensed driver over the age of 25.

Brown vetoed a similar bill by Frazier in 2013.

I believe adults should not be subject to the same driving restrictions presently applied to minors, Brown said in his veto message.

Brown also vetoed SB42 by state Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, that would have created an account that could be used to pay for a public access road to Martins Beach near Half Moon Bay. Brown said in his veto message that the bill precludes the use of eminent domain and limits the states options.

The publics right to access Martins Beach will be determined in further judicial and administrative proceedings, Brown wrote.

Billionaire landowner and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla decided to reopen gates blocking access to the road leading to Martins Beach between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., but the California Coastal Commission said that he is still not in compliance with state law in the years-long dispute.

Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA)  Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to visit Sacramento Monday to push tax reform on his 3-day trip to California, the White House said.

Pence will join House Majority leader Kevin McCarthy to meet with local businesses, community leaders and families to discuss the need for tax reform, the press office said.

"I think it's very exciting to have a Vice President in Sacramento. There's a great many of us who are excited they're visiting the west coast," said Adam Ellison, the national co-chairman of the Young Republican National Federation.

Ellison says he's looking forward to hearing the Vice President talk about tax reform.

"Washington is so far away and when you hear directly from the administration right here in person, it does a lot to create energy and awareness around an issue," Ellison said.

The California Highway Patrol told KCRA that officers will assist Secret Service with security.

Although Pence and McCarthy are expected to meet with community leaders, most of the Sacramento City Council members, including Mayor Darryl Steinberg, have no plans to meet with the Vice President.

"I think Mayor Steinberg would be making a huge mistake if he missed the opportunity to speak with the administration," said Ellison.

One council member, Steve Hansen, said he will instead be at UC Davis, where former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will speak at the Mondavi Arts Center Monday.

Pence arrived in Los Angeles Sunday for an fundraising reception.

The Orange County Register said that includes a Monday luncheon in wealthy Newport Beach, with tickets starting at $2,700.

California is a majority Democratic state that soundly rejected Donald Trump in the presidential election and has firmly opposed the administration's immigration policy. Trump hasn't visited since he won office.

But, California also has several GOP Congressional members who are Democratic targets.

Pence's events could raise several million dollars for the GOP.

The Associate Press contributed to this report.
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Raiders defensive tackle Darius Latham was suspended for four games without pay for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy, the league announced Monday.

Latham will be eligible to rejoin the team Nov. 6, the day after Oaklands game in Miami against the Dolphins.
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina  Bosnias war crimes court on Monday acquitted the commander of Srebrenica, who was accused of committing atrocities against Serbs during the 1992-95 Balkan conflict.

The acquittal of Naser Oric angered Serbian leaders, with Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin saying the ruling threatens security, trust and reconciliation in the whole of the Balkans.

Oric was accused of war crimes against three Serb prisoners of war who were murdered in villages around the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in the early days of the conflict. A panel of judges presiding over the trial ruled Monday that the prosecution did not present evidence proving the case against Oric.

Oric is seen as a hero by many Muslim Bosnians for his role in defending Srebrenica, where Serb forces massacred 8,000 Muslim men and boys in 1995. The killings, the worst single atrocity in Europe since World War II, is the only episode of Bosnias war to be defined as genocide by two U.N. courts.

Serbs continue to claim that the 1995 Srebrenica slaughter was an act of revenge by uncontrolled troops because they say soldiers under Orics command killed thousands of Serbs in the villages surrounding the eastern town.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said it is clear that we will have to fight for justice ourselves. Still, he urged Serbs not to utter a hard word against Bosniak neighbors so that we build friendship with them, and build a future together with them.

Oric had previously been tried by a U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, where he was also acquitted in 2008.
Bullit Marquez/Associated Press

MANILA  A mission of international parliamentarians and civil society leaders on Monday urged President Rodrigo Dutertes government to halt what it says is the extremely alarming number of drug suspects being killed in the campaign against illegal drugs and the administrations aggressive efforts to silence its critics.

European parliamentarians in the group warned that the Philippines risks losing a preferential trade deal that allows 6,200 of its products to enter the European Union duty free if it fails to immediately stop the killings and political persecution of critics. The General System of Preference deal is under review and an EU report is expected in January.
1 Congo violence: The United Nations says two peacekeepers have been killed and several more injured after an attack in eastern Congo by Ugandan rebels belonging to the group known as ADF. Suspected rebels attacked Monday near a U.N. base in Mamundioma, 22 miles from Beni. Forces have been deployed to the area in the North Kivu province as fighting continues. The assault comes after local administrator Amisi Kalonda said fighting in the region overnight Saturday killed 10 people. However, David Muhaze, the president of a civil society organization, said at least 22 people are missing.

2 Myanmar refugees: At least 12 people died when an overcrowded boat carrying Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar overturned, police said Monday. Five of the dead were children, and up to 35 people were on the boat. The capsizing occurred late Sunday in Bangladeshs southern coastal district of Coxs Bazar. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25 when the military launched a crackdown that had been decried by the United Nations as ethnic cleansing. Myanmars military launched what it described as clearance operations after an insurgent group attacked security posts and killed several police and border guards.
ISTANBUL  Turkish prosecutors on Monday summoned an employee of the United States consulate in Istanbul to testify in a criminal matter, only days after the governments arrest of another U.S. consulate employee set off a bitter and unusually public feud between the Trump administration and the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish authorities provided few details about the latest warrant, and a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Ankara declined to comment. But with its timing, the summons amounted to another provocation in an accelerating crisis between Turkey and the United States that has raised concerns about the future of their alliance and stunned officials and observers in both countries.
Michael Hill International, the jewellery retailer founded by its namesake, lifted sales 7.8 percent in the first quarter as its performance in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada continued to improve, making up for a dip in US revenue.

Group sales from all stores rose to A$130.3 million in the three months to Sept. 30, from A$120.9 million in the same quarter in 2016. Same-store sales grew 3.5 percent to A$122.7 million in the three months.

Michael Hill same-store sales rose 3.8 percent to A$120.3 million in the first quarter, while Emma & Roe same-store sales dropped 12 percent to A$2.4 million. Total store sales for the Michael Hill chain increased 7.4 percent to A$126.9 million in the quarter, while Emma & Roe total sales jumped 27 percent to A$3.5 million in the period.

In the latest financial year, the jewellery company boosted annual profit by two thirds as its Michael Hill chain grew steadily in its main markets of Australia and New Zealand and recorded stronger growth in Canada. Still, its troubled US business and its fledgeling Emma & Roe chain posted wider losses.

In the first quarter of 2018, the Michael Hill brand traded well in Canada, up 7.6 percent in same-store sales in local currency in the quarter with total store sales growth of 22 percent to C$26.6 million dollars. Same-store and total sales for the brand also rose in New Zealand and Australia, but in the US same-store sales dropped 9 percent to US$2.6 million while total sales fell 15 percent.

There were 313 Michael Hill stores trading at the end of September, with 10 opened in the period. Three opened in Australia with a further three planned for the December quarter; one opened in New Zealand; six opened in Canada, and another will open in this quarter, with the company looking for "high quality sites" to determine future openings there.

Emma & Roe had 30 stores at the end of the quarter, with one having opened in the period, and is the final stages of a brand review, the company said. In its annual results, the company said losses from the brand had exceeded expectations and it would likely adjust the brand, which sells charm bracelets and accessories, in the current financial year.

Dual-listed Michael Hill shares gained 2.5 percent to $1.21 on the NZX, and have shed 8.5 percent this year.

(BusinessDesk)

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Former Genesis Energy retail head David Goadby has teamed up with Fairfax Media to start an energy 'club' he says will charge membership fees in exchange for selling electricity at cost price to members who are in Vector's distribution network.

Goadby is founder and chief executive of energyclubnz, according to his Linked In page. The Companies Office lists him as director of Future Energy New Zealand, which is 50.99 percent owned by Future Energy Management and 49.1 percent by Fairfax New Zealand. Future Energy Management is owned by Jenna Edward and a trustee company via law firm Lockhart Legal. Goadby declined to comment on the ownership, which he said is predominantly held by an investment trust.

Future Energy NZ was incorporated in November 2016 and has been working since then to establish an electricity retailer, which Goadby says is a complex task in New Zealand. It uses a billing system from Auckland-based Agility, he said. The company takes long-term contracts with Vector and delivers electricity to its members "at cost - we don't make any money". Club fees run at $5 a week.

He cites the example of a customer at Meridian Energy paying $285 a month for electricity who is able to save $45 a month by switching to energyclubnz. The club aims to offer other goods and service "at cost price/zero mark-up," according to his Linked In page but the immediate focus is to roll out its service across New Zealand's 28 electricity networks, with the majority to be completed over the next year. Its website has a bill comparison tool.

"We want to make sure we have the ability to scale," he said. Fairfax was a good partner because it was "very digitally driven and community driven." The new business "replicates the great stuff with Stuff Fibre. We're someone that wants to deliver value to New Zealanders."

Fairfax launched Stuff Fibre last year as part of efforts to move beyond its traditional journalism business. The fibre-only internet service provider offers uncapped data starting at $79.50 a month for a 12-month contract.

Fairfax owns 51 percent of that business while 49 percent is owned by Giant Management, whose shareholders include former Vodafone executives Sam Morse, David Chapman-Smith, Geoff D'Augney and Robert Tihanyi and former Sky Network Television manager John Simmons. It also owns Neighbourly, a local social media site that now claims more than 500,000 members, which earns fees from targeted advertising.

"We welcome energyclubnz into the fold as we continue to explore new opportunities that will support our core business of journalism," Fairfax New Zealand chief executive Sinead Boucher said in a statement.

Fairfax and rival media company NZME, which is listed on the NZX, have said they're planning to press on with an appeal against the Commerce Commission's rejection of a merger proposal they say offers them the best shot at countering the impact of Google and Facebook, who now dominate New Zealand's digital advertising market. The appeal is set down for a 10-day hearing in the Wellington High Court starting on Oct. 16.

Fairfax New Zealand's pre-tax earnings fell 7.7 percent to $55.5 million in the 12 months ended June 30 as sales fell 7 percent to $326 million, reflecting the decline in advertising sales.

In August, Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood said the Stuff website in New Zealand is key for Fairfax NZ's pipeline of products, providing "a platform to monetise audiences through new products and businesses" such as the Stuff Fibre internet service and KPEX advertising inventory pool set up by local media companies.

Goadby was retail manager at Genesis from July 2014 to August 2016 and has held a number of positions in the energy sector in Australasia and the UK in the past two decades, his Linked In page shows. His longest spell was at Proctor & Gamble UK in the 1990s.

(BusinessDesk)

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error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0991d50)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f09e3868)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0991d50)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f09e3868)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0a149b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f09e3868)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f09e3868)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612efc63180)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0987a20)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0987a20)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0235958)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0659ed0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0235958)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0659ed0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f061c988)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0659ed0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0659ed0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e719f728)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0332598)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0332598)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f03f7e80)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0330590)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f03f7e80)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0330590)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f040d390)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0330590)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0330590)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e719eac8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f04197a0)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f04197a0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by Hugh Wheeler. Directed by Richard Block. Musical director Leonard Weiss. Dramatic Productions. Gungahlin College Theatre. Until October 21. Bookings: 6253 1454 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm) or stagecenta.com.

It's always good to see Sweeney Todd return. It's a musical of a dark nature with a gruesome story that comes out of Victorian England. And it is given a forthright production by Richard Block, led by David Pearson's powerful and brooding Todd and well supported by a mostly youthful company who clearly delight in the material and its ironies.

David Pearson (left, Sweeney Todd) and Meaghan Stewart (Mrs Lovett) embody the evil duo well in Sweeney Todd. Credit:Janelle McMenamin

Todd returns to London having been wrongfully transported to Australia by Judge Turpin (Max Gambale) who covets Todd's wife and later his daughter Johanna (Demi Smith). His rescuer is the young sailor Anthony (Lachlan Agett) who shortly falls in love with Johanna. Todd falls in with Mrs Lovett (Meaghan Stewart), who owns a very run-down pie shop. She is quick to recognise him and to recognise a business opportunity when Todd's first murder leaves them both with an inconvenient body to dispose of.

After that it's cheerfully (if grimly) downhill all the way, with Sondheim's magnificent score, which receives excellent treatment here from Leonard Weiss and the orchestra, sweeping the audience along.
Lawyers for a Canberra woman who fatally struck her mother in the head with a hammer say she was "floridly psychotic" at the time and could be seen as "less blameworthy morally" for the killing.

Gabrielle Woutersz, 26, was arrested after Norma Cheryl Woutersz, 56, was found dead in her backyard at Dunlop in October 2014.

Gabrielle Woutersz, 26, pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminshed responsibility over her mother's death in 2014. Credit:Rohan Thomson

Police said Woutersz repeatedly hit her mother's head with a claw hammer before she dragged the woman's body outside and tried to bury it in a planter box she emptied of dirt.

She was charged with murder but pleaded not guilty.
Canberra's legal community have questioned Chief Minister Andrew Barr's citizens' jury on compulsory third party insurance, labelling the process "shambolic" just days before it begins.

ACT Law Society president Sarah Avery and ACT Bar Association president Ken Archer said there was growing concern and frustration about the deliberative democracy exercise, describing as alarming a matter as serious as compulsory insurance for motorists being considered in "such an ad hoc and disjointed manner".

Chief Minister Andrew Barr has championed the citizens' jury. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

Just 117 Canberrans nominated to be part the jury deliberations, about half of whom will take part from Saturday.

Despite 6000 invitations being sent to potential nominees, only 76 responses were received, requiring facilitators to conduct a second recruitment drive to find 56 participants.
At 18 he was a star. A hair curl under two metres tall, he was a beautiful kick and had good hands. He was never quick but he was a goalkicker.

In his first year he did nothing to disabuse the idea that pick two in the draft was a good place for him.

Josh Schache, photograghed during his draft year, has ached to be closer to his Seymour home Credit:Simon O'Dwyer

Then in his second year the homesickness became acute. His form dropped. Then dropped again. He was soon to be out of contract so clubs were watching him closely. Was he enough of a competitor? They tracked his every move, his every kick, which did not take much tracking.

The pressure on him to re-sign and stay in Brisbane grew. So Josh Schache signed to stay. He was homesick but wanted to do the right thing by the club. At year's end Brisbane tried to do the right thing by him  they wondered if the homesickness would get any better next year and the one after.
The man behind Australia's biggest ever home loan swindle has been sentenced to five years in prison for running the scheme that cooked up $170 million in fraudulent loan applications.

Najam Shah, 58, was on Monday sentenced in the Victorian County Court to a minimum of three years and three months jail before he will be eligible for parole.

Australia's big banks were victims of Shah's $170 million scheme. Credit:Paul Rovere

Shah pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud financial institutions. He was behind the dodgy loan scheme being run out of finance broking company Myra Home Loans based in Footscray in Melbourne's western suburbs.

Shah was accused of running a sophisticated scam to draft up home loan applications for people who would otherwise struggle to get a home loan.
Clive Palmer's Mineralogy has been ordered to pay a $22 million bill owed to a Singapore-based exploration company.

BGP Geoexplorer carried out survey work in the Gulf of Papua for Palmer Petroleum, which went into liquidation in July 2016.

Another expensive day at court for Clive Palmer. Credit:AAP

Mineralogy last month claimed in a Brisbane Supreme Court trial it was not obliged to pay BGP Geoexplorer the debt because it had breached its contract with Palmer Petroleum relating to scope of the work.

Justice David Jackson on Monday dismissed the claim and ordered Mr Palmer's company to pay the US$17.6 million bill.
Australia's Chief Scientist Alan Finkel has vigorously defended his energy review, saying the crisis can be solved within three years and that going back to coal is not the answer.

However, the states and federal governments continue to fight over the right solution to a crisis that is fueling higher power prices and the risk of blackouts during the summer.

The closure of Hazelwood Power Station and Coal Mine in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, left a massive gap in Victoria's energy mix. Credit:Arsineh Houspian

Dr Finkel was speaking at an energy summit attended by government and energy industry heads in Sydney on Monday.

Australia's chief scientist Alan Finkel, who has made a series of recommendations, said adherence to his proposed strategy and policy mechanisms could defuse energy pricing and supply issues.
The Australian hotel sector is set for a shake-up with the giant, French-based Accor hotel group, making a non-binding $1.2 billion takeover offer for Mantra Group, Australia's second-largest hotel operator in the small to medium asset sector.

Its ends speculation that Mantra is in play, which started in March, when there was a run on its shares.

Accor's newest asset in Australia is the $500 million Sofitel Darling Harbour, which opened last week. Credit:Belinda Rolland Photography

At the time the international operators of Marriott, InterContinental and Hyatt chains as well as the China-based HNA and Manshan, were said to be interested parties, but no bid emerged.

The indicative and non-binding proposal from Accor pitched at $3.96 cash a share, or $4.02 a share including the 6 final dividend - a 23 per cent premium to Mantra's closing price of $3.23 on Friday. It values the business at $1.17 billion.
Australia Post has launched one of its most significant delivery programs in recent years, Shipster, ahead of the arrival of internet juggernaut Amazon.

The move, which will offer free delivery, will be welcomed by local retailers who are preparing for the increased online shopping competitions.

Shipster works in a similar way to Amazon Prime, where customers pay a small monthly fee, but get many delivery benefits. Already 40 Australian retailers have signed up to Shipster.

According to Australia Post, online shopping has grown from 11.5 per cent to 15 per cent in the past 12 months, and the service is predicting the busiest year for online shopping "we've ever seen at Australia Post".
In a kitchen in suburban Melbourne sit two English lawyers who have saved hundreds of convicted criminals from execution.

Parvais Jabbar and Saul Lehrfreund's strike rate of keeping death row clients alive in the Caribbean and Africa is nothing short of extraordinary  more than 90 per cent, they say, much of it done from a cluttered London office smaller than the kitchen we are sitting in.

Indonesian police with drugs seized in 2005 which led to the arrest of the Bali Nine. Credit:Jason Childs

Across the kitchen table is Melbourne barrister Julian McMahon, an intense, quietly spoken criminal defence advocate.

His record is grimmer then his English counterparts, though not from lack of effort. McMahon was recently awarded of Companion of the Order of Australia for his efforts trying to keep Australians on death row alive.
With the killing of 58 and the wounding of hundreds in Las Vegas last weekend, Americans are once again debating gun violence. Adding to the passion and the entrenched political and economic interests that make that conversation so intense are a number of myths - about how much violence there is, what causes it and how to prevent it. Here are some of the most stubborn.

Gun violence in the United States is at an all-time high.

Then-candidate Donald Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 with a speech that described a country besieged by violence. He said that President Barack Obama "has made America a more dangerous environment than frankly I have ever seen". Earlier this year, Trump declared the U.S. murder rate to be "the highest it's been in, I guess, 45 to 47 years". Half of Americans in a Pew Research Center poll said gun violence is "a very big problem" today, with 59 percent of non-gun-owners saying the same.

Yet the current rate of firearm violence is still far lower than in 1993, when the rate was 6.21 such deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 3.4 in 2016. The high rate in the early 1990s was linked to a variety of conditions, most notably the emergence of a large and violent market for crack cocaine. It's too early to determine the causes of recent increases in gun violence or whether the upward trend will continue.
Most patients with incurable cancer battle to the end. They exhaust all evidence-based active treatment options and clinical trials before being told that supportive care measures are now best.

A request to die is uncommon, and is often driven by poorly controlled pain or nausea, as well as fear, loss of function and hopelessness. Usually when pain and other symptoms are under control, good nursing care is on hand, and psychological support has been provided, patients no longer want their death to be hastened.

For family members watching a loved one die, the experience can be agonising. However, with appropriate involvement of palliative care, the preparation and education of family members about the normal processes of dying (such as irregular breathing and fluctuating consciousness), and with the administration of pain relief, there is minimal physical suffering.

When a patient seeks assisted dying, it is often when they are first told they have a limited life expectancy and before they are truly unwell. They are so distressed by such difficult news that they anticipate what is to come and can be consumed with fear and an urge to regain control. They may respond by seeking assisted dying at a time of their choosing. In overseas jurisdictions where this is legal around 80 per cent of those who access it have cancer.
Of course, we don't need to rely on industry bodies or the compliant folk in human resources departments. The Australian Human Rights Commission oversees a robust system and it experienced a 13 per cent spike in both sexual harassment complaints and in complaints under the Sex Discrimination Act during the last annual reporting period.

The college has received 126 reports so far this year and, of those, five are about sexual harassment; and Ferguson understands there are cases of which no one is ever notified. It's worth noting the college finally instituted a proper complaints system so those that who did report would have a process.

"If you are not compliant, you are not registerable," Ferguson says. She also acknowledges there have been internal complaints that the module does not focus sufficiently on sexual harassment. She is horrified when I tell her that female surgeons are still being told to withhold complaints.

So what will the surgeons' college do to punish those who don't comply? Its vice-president, Cathy Ferguson, tells me there will be a tough response to those who don't complete the module.

Just a reminder that the very existence of this module only came about because female surgeons were brave enough to complain about sexual harassment  exposed by surgeon Gabrielle McMullin in 2015 when she reluctantly advised female surgeons to accept sexual harassment if they wanted to keep their careers.

How to progress? For surgeons, perhaps the threat of deregistration will be enough, although surely the fact that sexual harassment is illegal should already be a motivator. Apparently not. McMullin suggests a black box, much like those found in cockpits, in every operating theatre  to catch whatever happens in a public setting.

But Liz Molloy, a professor of work-based learning at the University of Melbourne, says education works to change the culture. She and her team in the medical school taught both the online module and the face-to-face workshops for the surgeons' college, and says the response has been positive. She didn't need to say that  the surgeons I spoke to on Monday were praised the sessions as practical, "not saccharine", "not useless". The roleplay workshops require participants to get "hot and itchy", which forces them be engaged.

Yet Molloy is all too aware of the participants who come with both their minds closed and their arms crossed. "There's always a rotten strawberry in the punnet," she says  but her view is that they are isolated from the main culture, which is being forced to change through education.

And if education doesn't get you, those who experience harassment and those who support them will. Sara Charlesworth of RMIT is one of Australia's leading researchers into sexual harassment. I speak to her every time we have a case like this; we seem to talk a lot.

She says the good news about cases like Weinstein's is that the complaints will eventually come out. "It speaks to some kind of hope that [those like Weinstein] will be held to account," she says.
Extending the life of the Springvale coal mine will raise to "extreme" the risk of damage to upland swamps while locking in long-term pollution issues for Sydney's water catchment, according to evidence prepared for the Land and Environment Court.

Whether the court will hear such evidence is in doubt, however, after the Berejiklian government revealed on Monday plans to weaken laws protecting water quality.

New legislation to be introduced to parliament on Tuesday will nullify a ruling by the Court of Appeal in August that the mine extension approval was invalid.

Opponents of the mine, which is located near Lithgow and is the sole source of fuel for the nearby Mount Piper power station, planned to call six experts later this month to challenge claims advanced by mine owner Centennial and plant owner EnergyAustralia to support the extension.
On Tuesday, the High Court will begin hearing the cases of the Citizenship Seven, as Enid Blyton might have dubbed them.

These are MPs of the Australian Parliament who were dual citizens.

The High Court will consider the eligibility under Section 44 of the Constitution for politicians (anti-clockwise from top left) Barnaby Joyce, Fiona Nash, Matt Canavan, Nick Xenophon, Malcolm Roberts, Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam. Credit:Fairfax Media

They are all Australian citizens who, unknowingly, had become or remained nationals of another country through the gift of foreign law.

Under section 44 of the Constitution, this may make them ineligible to not only serve but have been elected in 2016. Here, Ill explain broadly what the Court must decide, and the consequences.
Joyce inherited New Zealand citizenship from his father. He has refused to step aside from his roles in cabinet, including as Deputy Prime Minister.

The High Court will consider the eligibility under Section 44 of the constitution for politicians (anti-clockwise from top left) Barnaby Joyce, Fiona Nash, Matt Canavan, Nick Xenophon, Malcolm Roberts, Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam. Credit:Fairfax Media

Federal Parliament's "citizenship seven" will finally go before the High Court this week, for three days of public hearings. The court's decision  expected within weeks  could result in a string of disqualifications, a NSW byelection and further chaos for the Turnbull government.

What happens if he is disqualified? A byelection in Joyce's northern NSW seat of New England. Joyce would be favourite to retain the seat, even if former MP Tony Windsor was to throw his hat in the ring again  but no unpopular government likes a byelection.

Fiona Nash

Senator Fiona Nash in the Senate at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 4 September 2017. Fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The deputy Nationals leader discovered she was a UK citizen by descent because her father was born in Scotland. Like Joyce, she has refused to step aside from cabinet.

What happens if she is disqualified? This would be messy. Because of the way the Coalition's NSW Senate ticket is formulated, Nash's seat would go to a Liberal: disability advocate Hollie Hughes. That could have knock-on effects for the Coalition agreement and numbers in cabinet.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.

London: Tony Abbott says voters should beware the science of climate change but argues that higher temperatures "might even be beneficial" because "far more people die in cold snaps".

The former prime minister made the comments in a speech in London on Tuesday to the Global Warming Policy foundation which was established in the lead up to the 2009 Copenhagen conference by the climate sceptic and member of the House of Lords Nigel Lawson.

Sir Michael Hintze, an Australian-born, London-based hedge fund owner who helped bankroll the Brexit campaign, was among the guests. Mr Abbott singled out former Liberal prime minister John Howard and the Cardinal George Pell, who is facing sexual abuse allegations in Victoria, as previous Australian speakers.
Among others, Bloom has represented an accuser of Bill Cosby in a sexual assault case, and she has pursued claims of sexual harassment and assault against Uber. In an interview with The Washington Post on Thursday, Bloom said she had been counselling Weinstein over the past year about his behaviour toward women, and was not serving in a strictly legal role.

"I'm not on a side," she said. "This is not a side... I'm on the side of moving the ball forward for women's rights. There are a lot of ways to do that. I speak about it, I appear on TV, I write books about it. I saw this as a unique opportunity to advise a high-profile guy how to respond. And he listened."

She said she would not be part of a potential defamation lawsuit against the newspaper; Weinstein said he intends to sue the Times for $50 million. (A Times spokeswoman responded to the lawsuit threat Friday by saying that "Mr. Weinstein and his lawyer... have not pointed to any errors or challenged any facts in our story.")

Weinstein has also tacitly acknowledged that his behaviour toward women over the past three decades has been problematic. Following the publication of the Times article, he said in a statement that "the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it."

Bloom said Thursday that she has had "frank talks" with Weinstein about his legendary temper, his use of profanity in public settings and his propensity for "loose talk about sex" around women he employs or has worked with.
The Anglican Diocese of Sydney has donated $1 million to the "no" campaign which is lobbying Australians to oppose legalising same-sex marriage.

Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies made the announcement in an address to the 51st Synod of the Diocese of Sydney on Monday, but the donation was given to the Coalition for Marriage about a month ago.

The Anglican Diocese of Sydney is a founding partner of the Coalition for Marriage, the group leading the "no" case in the national postal survey on same-sex marriage.

"The standing committee has also enthusiastically backed our participation in the Coalition for Marriage and has taken the bold step of drawing down $1 million from the Diocesan Endowment to promote the 'no' case," Archbishop Davies said in his address.
Gladys Berejiklian's government has passed the least bills of any new NSW premiers in three decades, a new analysis of records shows.

In the eight months since Ms Berejiklian took power in mid-January, 43 bills have been made into law.

That's nearly half as many during predecessor Mike Baird's first eight months and two-thirds as much as in the government with the second-shortest list of passed bills: Labor Premier Morris Iemma.

The passage of legislation is only one measure of a government and comparisons between premiers are complicated by what point in the election cycle they take over and because executive work on finance and infrastructure projects isn't reflected in legislative output, experts say.
The state government is at odds with the Commonwealth government and much of its political base on the question of whether it should relax rules on gas exploration because of mounting prices, an exclusive poll for Fairfax Media has found.

As the Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian came to political blows over greater gas exploration last month, a ReachTel poll conducted exclusively for Fairfax Media shows almost 49 per cent of Nationals voters and nearly 45 per cent of Liberal voters believe in relaxed restrictions.

About 28 per cent of Nationals and 30 per cent of Liberals remain undecided on whether restrictions ought to be relaxed. The balance is opposed.

Sydney gas prices climbed 15 to 20 per cent on July 1.
Developer lobby groups have reacted to a poll in which two-thirds of NSW residents declared Sydney was "full" by seeking to refocus the debate on housing affordability and the need to provide homes for future generations.

Fairfax Media reported on Monday that a ReachTel poll found that 66.4 per cent of NSW respondents oppose more development in existing areas to accommodate a bigger population.

Property Council of Australia NSW executive director Jane Fitzgerald.

The findings come amid rising tensions over plans by the Greater Sydney Commission for hundreds of thousands of new apartments in "priority precincts" in the next 20 years to accommodate population forecasts.

But Property Council of Australia NSW executive director Jane Fitzgerald said the "well overdue discussions" about Sydney's sustainable growth should focus on "what we want from our future, not what we don't".
A Queensland man who allegedly stabbed to death a German tourist after an early-morning argument on a major inner-Brisbane road will remain in custody.

Jamie Saxon, 33, is accused of stabbing the 30-year-old in the abdomen and back on Friday and was charged with murder after the backpacker died in hospital.

A man has been charged with murder over the stabbing of a German tourist early on Friday morning. Credit:Nine News Queensland - Twitter

Police said the German man and a friend were crossing Milton Road, most likely heading home from a night out, when they crossed paths with a man and a woman in a car about 4am.

After a heated argument, Saxon - from Lockrose, west of Brisbane - allegedly got out of the vehicle and attacked the man.
A smart speaker showdown is brewing as Google takes centre stage in a battle with Sonos, the king of multi-room audio.

For 15 years Sonos has set the gold standard for multi-room audio, offering impressive wireless speakers which make it easy to fling music to the far corners of your home. You can tap into your home music library or a wide range of subscription music services, controlling everything from your computer, smartphone or tablet.

Google Home Max is ready to strut its stuff, vying with Sonos for centre stage in our homes. Credit:AP

While smart speakers from the likes of Google, Amazon and Apple might be easier to use  responding to spoken requests such as "Okay Google, play The Rolling Stones"  so far these smart rivals have posed little threat to Sonos in terms of sound quality.

Sonos has a loyal fan base and anyone with an ear for quality would never abandon even a pint-sized Sonos Play:1 speaker in favour of a Google Home or an Amazon Echo, with the latter likely to appear in Australia soon when Amazon finally plays its hand.
A former Muslim cleric found guilty of marrying an underage girl to a 34-year- old man wants his conviction overturned because it was a religious marriage.

Ibrahim Omerdic, 62, appeared before the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday to appeal against a conviction that he unlawfully solemnised a marriage between the 14-year-old girl and the man at a Noble Park mosque in 2016.

Imam Ibrahim Omerdic, (right) is appealing his conviction. Credit:Jason South

Omerdic was found guilty in June in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court and sentenced to two months in prison.

But he avoided jail after he was immediately placed on a two-year recognisance release order by magistrate Phillip Goldberg.
Former Fremantle and Melbourne AFL player Colin Sylvia has fronted court after he allegedly secretly filmed his ex-girlfriend while she slept.

Victoria Police confirmed Sylvia, 31, was arrested over an incident on High Street, Windsor about 4pm on Sunday.

He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday on assault-related charges where he was granted bail to reappear on November 28.

Police allege Sylvia sent his ex-girlfriend abusive messages after the end of their seven-year relationship before he climbed her balcony and confronted her on Sunday, Channel Seven reported.
Victorian independent schools have been accused of "gaming the system" to almost double their federal funding for students with a disability.

In a rare moment of unity, the Australian Education Union and Catholic Education Melbourne have joined calls for an independent review of new disability data tied to the Gonski 2.0 school funding model.

Funding was previously based on medical assessment, but under the new system it is based on teachers' assessments of students' needs.

The union's federal president Correna Haythorpe called for an independent audit into "what appears to be a further gold-plating of the private system at the expense of children in public schools".
SES volunteers have scoured private bushland in search of a woman's thumb severed in a horse riding accident.

The woman was thrown from the horse she was riding at a property in Huntly, near Bendigo on Sunday evening when a bird startled the animal.

SES fail to find rider's severed thumb. Credit:Kirk Gilmore

Her thumb became tangled in the horse's reins and was torn off.

While the woman was taken to hospital, SES volunteers searched the property for the digit.
Dozens of taxi drivers have been fined in a police sting for refusing to take short fares from Melbourne Airport.

Plain-clothes Fawkner Highway Patrol officers posing as passengers issued the $396 fines on Friday after receiving dozens of complaints.

The taxi holding area at Melbourne Airport. Credit:Jesse Marlow

One taxi driver was also picked up for driving while suspended, the post on the Hume Police Service Area Facebook page revealed.

One leading constable who was part of the operation told Fairfax Media that residents in nearby suburbs such as Gladstone Park and Westmeadows were "struggling" to get taxis home from the airport.
The trial of a convicted rapist who is accused of murdering West Australian teenager Hayley Dodd 18 years ago begins this week.

Francis John Wark has denied killing the 17-year-old girl, who was last seen alive walking along a road near Badgingarra, 200km north of Perth, on July 29, 1999.

Hayley Dodd went missing near Badgingarra in 1999.

His trial will be heard before a judge alone after Wark argued he could not have a fair jury trial because of publicity surrounding his case.

Supreme Court Justice Janine Pritchard granted his request in June.
A 38-year-old man has died in hospital following a horror car crash on Saturday in Treeby.

At around 10.10pm, the man was driving a Daewoo Lacetti west along Armadale Road, between Ghostgum Avenue and Tapper Road.

Major Crash officers are investigating.

It is believed the man attempted to complete a U-turn when his car was hit by a Mitsubishi Outlander travelling east.
Police are investigating after a 20-year-old fast food delivery driver was threatened with a machete while on a job on Sunday evening.

At around 7.50pm, the driver stopped at an address on Baxendale Way in Camillo to make a delivery.

Police are seeking information relating to the incident. Credit:Rob Gunstone

He left his work car running as he went to the door of the residence, and three unknown men took the opportunity to get inside his vehicle.

Armadale Detectives say when the delivery driver approached them, he was threatened with a machete.
Mexico City: The body of a photographer abducted from his house by men dressed as police, has been found in the northern state of San Luis Potosi, Mexican officials said.

The photographer, Edgar Daniel Esqueda Castro, is the fifth journalist to be killed in Mexico this year in retaliation for their reporting, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York.

An image of slain Mexican journalist Edgar Daniel Esqueda Castro, in protest, before the start of a press conference about his death. Credit:AP

According to Esqueda's wife, armed men broke into the couple's house while they were sleeping and said they were government agents. "They grabbed Edgar by the neck and threw him to the ground while pointing a gun at me," she told Reporters Without Borders, a press freedom group.

Esqueda's body was found at on Friday a day after the abduction, dumped in an open area near the airport, the San Luis Potosi state prosecutor said in a statement. Esqueda had been tied up and tortured, according to Metropoli San Luis, one of two online newspapers to which he contributed.
Fast-moving wildfires raged across several counties in Northern California overnight, destroying over 1500 buildings and forcing the evacuation of at least two hospitals and numerous neighbourhoods on Tuesday.

Firefighters were battling blazes in eight counties - Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Yuba, Nevada, Calaveras and Butte, officials said.

A law enforcement officer blocks a road as flames burn in a residential area in Santa Rosa, California. Credit:AP

"It was an inferno like you've never seen before," Marian Williams, who escaped in a caravan with neighbours through flames before dawn near the town of Kenwood, told the Associated Press. "Trees were on fire like torches," she said.

Janet Upton, a deputy director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said that at least 14 fires had destroyed an estimated 1500 residential and commercial structures and had burned over 57,000 acres since late Sunday night. Thousands had been evacuated, she said.
Beijing: Australia's top foreign policy official has encouraged Chinese students at Australian universities to speak up if they hear something they disagree with, to gain an "authentic Australian education".

"The silencing of anyone in our society  from students to lecturers to politicians  is an affront to our values. Enforced silence runs counter to academic freedom," warned Frances Adamson, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Frances Adamson. Credit:Andrew Meares

Ms Adamson, a former ambassador to China, delivered the Confucius Institute annual lecture at the University of Adelaide, saying Australia and China were only just getting to know one another.

She cautioned against allowing the flourishing trade relationship to run on autopilot.
New Delhi: Imagine Christmas without Christmas trees - that's how some in India are describing a Supreme Court order banning the sale of fireworks in New Delhi, ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

The ruling is an effort to prevent a repeat of last year's post-Diwali toxic smog in the Indian capital, which plunged the city into an air pollution emergency, forcing authorities to temporarily shut down construction sites, a power plant and close schools for three days.

People gather during Diwali celebrations in Delhi, India. Credit:Bloomberg

According to The Hindu, a panel of Supreme Court judges said, "Let's try out at least one Diwali without firecrackers."

The test-run this year, if successful, could result in restricted Diwali fireworks around the country in the future. To many, that signals a radical change in how Diwali has been celebrated for years and threatens the country's Hindu traditions.
Wellington: New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says foreign ownership is playing a part in government-formation talks with the Labour and National parties as they try to form government after inconclusive election results last month.

On his way out of a two-hour meeting with National on Monday Peters said he was talking about similar policy areas with both parties.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. Credit:AAP

"These talks are about a change in the way this country is run both economically and socially," Peters said.

Green Party leader James Shaw said his party could work with Peters but they were unlikely to support a Labour-NZ First government from the sidelines.
Moscow: Russia and China have called for restraint on North Korea after US President Donald Trump warned over the weekend that "only one thing will work" in dealing with Pyongyang, hinting that military action was on his mind.

The comments followed an extraordinary interview by Republican senator Bob Corker, who told the New York Times that Trump risks setting the nation "on the path to World War Three".

Corker, who was once considered a vice presidential candidate for Trump, told the newspaper he was alarmed about a president who acts "like he's doing The Apprentice or something" - in a reference to the reality television show that Trump had once hosted.

When asked what Russia made of Trump's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters:
Washington: The US and Turkey each suspended visa services for citizens looking to visit the other country, a sharp escalation of a diplomatic spat.

The moves followed the arrest on October 4 of a Turkish national who works at the US consulate in Istanbul for alleged involvement in the July 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Hours after the Trump administration halted visa services in Turkey on Sunday, Erdogan's government responded in kind, even repeating verbatim much of the US statement.

Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen who is based in the US, is accused by Turkey of organising last year's failed coup. Credit:AP

Both sides said "recent events" had forced them to "reassess the commitment" of the other to the security of mission facilities and personnel. Only two weeks ago, US President Donald Trump had heaped praise on Erdogan when they met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying the Turkish leader "is becoming a friend of mine" and "frankly, he's getting high marks".

The US last week called charges against the man "wholly without merit", saying it was "deeply disturbed" by the arrest and "by leaks from Turkish government sources seemingly aimed at trying the employee in the media rather than a court of law". Turkey responded by saying the arrested Turkish citizen wasn't part of the US Consulate's staff but a "local employee".
PeopleVine Spun Off to Separate Corporation to Better Prepare for Potential Partners

CHICAGO, IL  (Marketwired)  10/09/17  Alliance Creative Group, Inc. (AllianceCreativeGroup.com) (OTC PINK: ACGX) is pleased to announce that software company, PeopleVine, has been spun off into its own private Delaware Corporation.

The new company will start with 2 board members, Jordan Gilman and Paul Sorkin. Alliance Creative Group, Inc. has been the sole investor to date and has invested $700,000 in cash and services since 2015 and will be a shareholder of the new Corporation. The same two original founders of PeopleVine are also shareholders of the new corporation.

Alliance Creative Group, Inc. (Stock symbol ACGX) currently owns 3,364,375 shares of the new private corporation with a current value of $.50 per share based on the price of the last investment into the new company.

PeopleVine will continue discussions and possible partnerships, investments, and strategic alliances with multiple potential parties.

President and Founder of PeopleVine, Jordan Gilman, said, Alliance Creative Group has been an amazing partner. Their team and capital have helped us create a significantly improved platform with even more advanced features in our all-in-one CRM marketing platform. This new structure will allow us to have more focused conversations with potential investors and partners and hopefully allow us to grow faster.

Paul Sorkin, COO and General Counsel of Alliance Creative Group and PeopleVine, said, Our original goals with PeopleVine included improving the overall UI/UX experience, adding clients, and increasing the number of useful features in the platform. After accomplishing those goals we have been evaluating multiple ways to accelerate the growth and traction and secure strategic partnerships with people with industry experience and additional resources to help elevate us to the next level. As for ACGX, our higher priorities have included reducing our debt and dilution while positioning ourselves for more increased growth without the need for substantial share dilution. This new structure allows us to attract more relevant and specific strategic partners without having to issue the new investors or partners any convertible debt or having to issue them more ACGX shares.

Alliance Creative Group, Inc. (Stock Symbol: ACGX) is a full-service product-development agency that since 1997 has been helping clients connect their products and services to their customers. ACG focuses on creative and design services, printing and packaging, brand and product development, fulfillment, logistics and transportation, strategic consulting, digital marketing and engagement, and software development. For more information, visit or .

PeopleVine is a software platform combining CRM, marketing, CMS, and sales into a single, seamless customer engagement suite. PeopleVine was started in 2014 with the vision of providing a consolidated platform for businesses to better connect and engage their customers.

PeopleVine is a turnkey platform providing 60+ out-of-the-box pages and experiences to further engage with consumers. PeopleVine users can either leverage the out-of-the-box experience or customize it by making a few design tweaks to building their own experience on the same APIs we used. Flexibility is key to ensuring a consistent and unique branded experience, but also saves developers time by not having to start from scratch.

Together with our fully integrated marketing and automation engine PeopleVine is able to ensure continuous engagement all tracked and managed from a single platform. PeopleVine can help power clients websites, text campaigns, ecommerce, memberships, and more. Whether launching a loyalty program or your entire website, our tools make it easy to get goingand growingquicker. For more information

Primary Trucking is an asset-based carrier located in Chicago, IL. We specialize in truckload freight outbound from Chicago. We have over 30 years of experience in the transportation industry and we have the tools to be your primary source for transportation. We customize transportation solutions based on our customers needs. If you need to move your freight locally or coast to coast, we have you covered. No job is too big or too small. We can handle anything, from moving a few pallets to moving an entire warehouse. Primary Trucking is your Primary source for transportation needs.

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Rapid Freight Solutions (Rapid) provides domestic shipping services nationwide, quickly and safely moving products across the country. Rapid specializes in LTL, air freight, hot shot, trade-show, flatbed, intermodal, over-dimensional, step-deck, and refrigerated trucking. Thanks to our teams 30 years of experience, we have relationships with more than 140 carriers nationwide, helping ensure our customers quality service with competitive pricing. For more information, go to

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, product and service demand and acceptance issues, changes in technology, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government regulation, unforeseen changes in agreements, potential future disputes, and other risks described in statements filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements that may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

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New York (UN), Oct 9, 2017 (SPS) - Mr. Carlos Costa, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Mozambique to the United Nations, has said that the lack of progress in the decolonization of Western Sahara continues to be a cause for grave concern to Mozambique, in his statement to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly.

"The lack of progress in the decolonization of Western Sahara, the sole African country still to exercise the right to self-determination continues to be a cause for grave concern to Mozambique. Regrettably, all the efforts deployed by the United Nations, the African Union and other actors to bring about an accepted settlement aiming to grant the people of Western Sahara their inalienable right to self-determination and independence has not yielded results," he said.

Granting the inalienable rights of self-determination to the people of the territory of Western Sahara remains the noble objective of the International Community, and in particular, the United Nations and the African Union. In this regard, the principle of self-determination and right of freedom should also be a reality for the sister people of Western Sahara.

We would like to seize this opportunity to call upon the Security Council, the General Assembly and the international community to exercise their responsibility by implementing their own resolutions, as well as to support the African Union and its Special Envoy to Western Sahara, Mr. Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique.

We would like to express our full support to the joint UN-AU Framework for enhancing Peace and Security, signed this year, and the recent appointment of Mr. Horst Koehler as Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara, representing additional efforts which will contribute to put forward concrete actions for a durable and sustainable solution for the question of the Western Sahara, concluded Mr. Carlos Costa, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Mozambique to the United Nations in his statement to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly. (SPS)

062/SPS/




Professor Talbot is a world-renowned expert in molecular plant pathology. He is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact at the University of Exeter, and leads an internationally renowned research group. Professor Talbot will be joining The Sainsbury Laboratory in September 2018.

He says:

I am greatly honoured to be joining the worlds premier laboratory for the study of plant-microbe interactions. The Sainsbury Laboratory is home to some extraordinarily talented scientists and I am looking forward to working with them. We have some exciting times ahead, with new hires to come and many other new developments that will keep the laboratory at the forefront of its field

The appointment of an Executive Director ushers in a new era for the Laboratory; cementing an updated governance structure, refreshed vision, and renewed research and capital funding from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. These exciting developments coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and the upcoming 30th anniversary of The Sainsbury Laboratory.

The current Head of Laboratory, Professor Cyril Zipfel comments:

This is excellent news; Professor Talbot will bring a wealth of excellent scientific and administrative experience. His appointment, coupled with the new strategic vision and confirmed funding from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, will thus ensure the excellence and impact of TSL for the many years to come.

Peter Hesketh, Director of The Gatsby Charitable Foundation said:

This is fantastic news - myself, Gatsby Trustees and David Sainsbury are all delighted. Nick has been an invaluable plant science advisor to the Foundation for many years and has been involved in the success of several of our research programmes. After almost three decades, TSL has built an incredible international reputation for scientific excellence. As the Laboratory now charts an innovative and ambitious future, we can think of no-one better placed than Nick to lead TSL in taking forward its new strategic vision.
According to speakers at the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants (BIAC) conference, there are a number of challenges in rural development  but with the right modifications to planning practice the sector could really drive forward.

I do believe the Government is genuine in its intention to support the countryside, said Steve Ingram, president of the Planning Officers Society. However, Im not sure the tools it is using are the right ones.

Affordable housing is the biggest issue, with house prices now 7.6 times the average wage in rural areas, against 6.5 in urban areas. Although the Government introduced permitted development rights to make it easier for landowners to convert redundant farm buildings into residential or commercial use, the reality is that the process is so restrictive that few developments are going ahead.

Planning barriers put people off investment, explained Ross Murray, president of the Country, Land and Business Association. Four-fifths of landowners want to invest more in rural development, but poor understanding of rural needs among planning departments is a real concern. Too often planning is a triumph of process over outcome.

Communication  between landowners, planning officers, and tenants  is the key to successful development, added George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association. Setting out a strategy and working together to achieve mutual goals will lead to a vibrant, productive countryside, benefiting all parties.
Despite this years good grass growing season, making the most of the crop hasnt been so straight-forward and has led to a mixed bag when it comes to silage quality, says Cargill ruminant specialist Philip Ingram.

For many, an early growing season and a good first cut of silage was followed by wet weather from August. Reports on silage quality across the country confirm that its a mixed bag when it comes to interpreting results with some local averages reporting low fibre but high lactic acid and others reporting the contrary.

What is crucial though, is that farmers get their silage analysed regularly  every four to six weeks  so they know exactly what theyre feeding. We can deal with any forage on a farm if we know its quality and whats in there. The forage can be carefully balanced to provide a ration that will enable the cows to perform to potential.

Dr Ingram warns farmers not to base decisions on one analysis early in the year or on a national rule of thumb.

If quality is over-estimated then cows are not getting a balanced ration and are likely to under-perform in the short term and there can also be longer term consequences on fertility that might be picked up months down the line. Under-estimating the feed can lead to over-feeding, wasted feed and a reduced feed efficiency  this carries a price tag too.

Picking up potential problems from a silage analysis helps farmers avoid pitfalls further down the line too.
For decades, every American kid in a schoolyard has known Christopher Columbus as the Italian explorer who "in 1492, sailed the ocean blue." But that little ditty is being phased out faster than you can name the explorer's three ships.

The rhyme is part of Columbus' romantic image, which includes searching for riches and spices, discovering America and befriending the "Indians." But historians have been pointing out for some time there is much more to this story, a rather grisly and gruesome tale of conquest. Now many teachers are presenting more perspectives on European colonization, and they don't paint Columbus as statue-worthy.

A longtime educator has created an increasingly popular lesson that turns the classroom into a courtroom and asks students to put Columbus, his crew, the King and Queen of Spain and the indigenous people on trial for murder.

"It begins on the premise that there's this monstrous crime in the years after 1492 when perhaps as many as 3 million or more Tainos on the island of Hispaniola lost their lives," says Bill Bigelow, the curriculum editor of Rethinking Schools and the co-director of the Zinn Education Project. "It asks students to wrestle with the responsibility in this."

The students play the role of the defendants and are asked to defend themselves against the charges, and to explain who they think is guilty and why.

Bigelow taught high school in Portland, Ore., for 30 years and he now creates lesson plans and teaching materials with a more critical view of historical narratives. He says more than 73,000 teachers across the country, including many in San Francisco and the Bay Area, have registered with Zinn Education Project and downloaded hundreds of thousands of the free lesson plans. "The People vs. Columbus, et al." is the most popular.

Bigelow says Columbus has long been inaccurately presented in the classroom as a godlike figure.

"In the traditional stories, Columbus is presented kneeling, planting a flag and claiming the lands he supposedly discovered in the name of the King and Queen of Spain. Children are never taught to ask, 'What right did he have to that land?'" says Bigelow. "The myth begins there with dividing the world in two, with the people who are the rulers and the people who are there to be ruled. The traditional story legitimizes the cleaving of the world into the worthy and the unworthy."

In actuality, Bigelow says, Columbus wasn't the first to discover America. His ships landed in the Bahamas and he went on to become the first to transport slaves across the Atlantic, sending the indigenous Caribbean people know as the Taianos to Spain.

"In February 1495, he ordered his men to round up 1,600 of the Tainos and to choose the 500 best and to ship them as slaves to Spain, and then he told his men to help themselves to the rest," Bigelow says. "He forced the Tainos to search for gold and they had a quota that they had to meet, or else they'd have their hands chopped off."

He adds: "The defense is that he was a man of his time."

WATCH: Activists perform public whipping to protest Columbus statue (story continues below)

Now Playing: These activists staged a whipping to protest Christopher Columbus. Video: NowThis News

When Bigelow teaches his lesson in Columbus, he always starts by asking students what they know about this time period, and not a single student has ever mentioned the Tainos.

"We all know this name of this one white guy who came from Europe but none of us know the names of the people who came here first," he says. "What does that say about our education?"

SFGATE heard from teachers at several schools around the Bay Area who said their students have put the explorer on trial in their classrooms.

Dominic Altieri, who teaches sixth through eighth grades at Synergy, says he spends two weeks on the project and his students are all assigned roles  from Columbus himself to Columbus' sailors to Tainos. They study the history of their characters, make costumes and prepare their defenses for the trial.

"We don't try to cast moral judgement," Altieri says. "We're trying to look critically at those events and that allows us to look at Columbus' discovery in a more accurate light. Who was really responsible for the deaths of millions of indigenous people? I try to not get too judge-y with it, and when he is on trial, they draw their own conclusions."

Maya Baker, an eighth grade teacher at the Bayshore School, introduced the lesson in her classroom for the first time this year.

"What was powerful was the kids had to be thoughtful about being on the other side," Baker says. "They are like, 'I know that King Ferdinand and Isabel are guilty. They should be guilty.' But they had to think about it, think about why they did what they did."

Baker says the lesson involves putting the "System of Empire"  the government at the time and its conquest for riches  on trial. That was the most challenging and enlightening part for her students.

"The system is the most complicated one," Baker says. "It gives them this whole other perspective and awareness. How can you blame the system? They have to think about the structures that were in place and what that means. The jury got really thrown off.

"Kids are recognizing that there are these structures in place and people just make assumptions about it. They started thinking about it in other ways and how it plays into modern society. Why we have certain holidays off. They become aware of the assumptions people make based on the structures in our system and learn it's important to challenge them."

Lauretta Komlos teaches ninth grade modern world history at Lowell High School and has had her students participate in a mock trial  complete with witnesses  for the past three years.

"I think that what we get out of it is that there's understanding of how history can be written one way and there can be this dominant narrative for hundreds of years, so much that we can have this national holiday celebrating Columbus," says Komlos, who practiced law before becoming a teacher. "And now that we're becoming more open about understanding history and we're realizing this was not a very nice man. It's not even close to a person you'd want to celebrate."

***

Bigelow's lesson is mainly taught in middle and high schools. Nancy McTygue, executive director of California History-Social Science Project, says teaching the complexities to elementary school children is more complicated.

McTygue is one of the lead writers of a new framework for the curriculum at California's K-12 public schools presented in 2016, and she says fifth grade teachers, who teach the explorers and founding of the country, are now encouraged to present multiple perspectives in their lessons.

"I think one of the reasons Columbus has become a symbol is that it's easy for school children to glom onto one person," McTygue says. "I think Columbus in and of itself isn't as important as what happened when these two civilizations came together. That I think is the larger and more significant story."

In the new framework, teachers are advised to help students trace and learn the routes of the explorers and study the trade routes. They're also asked to have students discuss the explorers' economic and religious motives and answer questions such as "What happened when Europeans encountered indigenous people?"

It's suggested that students read the letters European explorers like Christopher Columbus wrote to the sponsors of their voyages to help students understand that all historical actors have agendas and perspectives.

Original source material  whether logs, journals or letters  are recommended as a teaching tool through the new framework to present a more accurate picture of history. Anthea Hartig is the executive director of the S.F.-based California Historical Society that's working with the California History-Social Science Project at UC Davis to identify, collect and make materials available.

She's thrilled to see the rethinking of the history of Columbus in public schools.

"History has been traditionally taught in the hero style. A great man, rarely a woman, at the center of an event, "Hartig says. "Maybe you could stick Joan of Arc in there. These men were exalted and meant to inspire. If you read a lot of juvenile literature you'll notice this. But really, the revolutions Columbus launched weren't the revolutions for which he's celebrated. What he imposed on the islands was some of the most heinous genocide and labor forced on the world. By 1555 there were no more natives. Then they started to import slaves from Africa."
LAS VEGAS  An auto dealership owner plans to give a pickup truck to Taylor Winston, who helped save people during the Oct. 1 mass shooting along the Las Vegas Strip.

Shane Beus of B5 Motors near Phoenix said he reached out the 29-year-old Marine Corps vet from San Diego to offer him a Ford F-150, The Arizona Republic reported.

Winston previously said he transported about 20 to 30 people who were injured to the hospital; he repeatedly noted how other people made rescues, too.

WHERE'S MY TRUCK? Truck owner messages Marine who took his pickup to save lives

The shooting killed 58 people and injured nearly 500 others. The gunman, who attacked people at an outdoor concert while he was on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay resort and casino, later took his own life.

Winston helped people over a fence and also saw trucks that he thought might have keys in them that he could use to help people. The first vehicle he checked had a key to drive it, he told CBS News.

Winston, who plans to sell his current vehicle and donate the money to victims of the shooting, is expected to visit the dealership Monday, according to The Arizona Republic.
NEW CANAAN  Five New Canaan teens were charged after they allegedly broke into a home under construction to drink inside the property.

Police were able to track down the teenagers after the homeowner saw the teens leaving the property on Sept. 20 around 10:15 p.m. and got the license plate number of the vehicle. The homeowner was alerted to the teens presence after they found 53 cans of Bud Light inside the master bedroom of the Proprietors Crossing property.
Fauquier County officials determined that no crime was committed when six Liberty High School students, aged 16 and 17, falsely alleged in a private online chat room that another student was going to shoot up the school and had a school shooter list.

The Fauquier County Sheriffs Office launched an investigation Oct. 2 into the conversation that took place using an app, Discord, after being contacted about it by a school administrator. The name of the conversation was operation-will-to-kill, according to a joint news release Friday by the sheriffs office and Fauquier County Public Schools.

The conversation between the students primarily focused on their shared dislike for the other student, who was not part of the online discussion. When one of the chat room participants showed the conversation to the other student being accused of potential violence, that student took it to school administration.

From there, the sheriffs office interviewed all of the Liberty High School teens and an investigation was conducted with assistance from the Fauquier County Commonwealths Attorneys Office and the school system.

After extensive review and consideration of all the evidence in this matter, there is insufficient evidence to prove any of the elements of a crime under the Code of Virginia. There are very few statutes that criminalize speech, either oral or written, according to the news release.

Although there were comments in the chat about killing, they were not directed to the other student and were not posted in a public forum where the student would have likely seen them, the release said.

There is no evidence the participants in this conversation intended to communicate a threat directly or indirectly to the student, and the student was not invited into the chat. The comments are disturbing and highly inappropriate; however, they do not constitute a criminal violation of the law, according to authorities.

Fauquier authorities said there are no actual threats of violence being perpetuated on school grounds or at a school event in spite of the chat room allegations of such.

Comments of this nature are always taken seriously and these allegations were thoroughly investigated. All of the participants admitted that these statements were false and no evidence of such a plan or list was found, according to the news release. The Sheriffs Office and the Fauquier County Public Schools Division take the safety and security of our students and schools very seriously and work together to ensure such measures are in place. Fauquier County Public Schools Administration is in the process of conducting a threat assessment and continues to follow established school safety protocols.

Although no criminal charges are being placed, the Fauquier County Sheriffs Office will consult with the Juvenile Court Services Unit to explore other avenues, such as the Restorative Justice Program.
Grand Island Public Schools Success Academy recently received a Master Conservationist Award in education, sponsored by the Omaha World-Herald and UNLs Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. GIPS received the award during the recent Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Annual Conference in Kearney.

Earlier this year, Success Academy students, along with members of area conservation groups, began working on a four-acre monarch butterfly research habitat, which is located on an easement of the Wood River Flood Control Project on the west side of the South Locust Street bridge in Grand Island.

The Success Academy was nominated for the honors by the Central Platte NRD.

Marcia Lee, information/education specialist for the Central Platte NRD, said the nomination was based on the Success Academys participation in the butterfly research habitat and other conservation projects, such as the butterfly habitat at Dodge Elementary School.

Criteria involved in the nomination process involves such factors as community involvement and educational, Lee said. The Central Platte NRD provides funding through their outdoor classroom program.

Last year, Ken DeFrank, director of Success Academy for the Grand Island Public Schools, approached the Central Platte NRD about starting a monarch butterfly habitat that could involve schoolchildren as part of a hands-on outdoor learning program.

According to Lee, due to loss of natural habitat, herbicide use and destruction of milkweed plants, the monarch butterfly population is decreasing rapidly.

To address that loss of natural habitat, Lee said a multi-agency partnership formed between the Central Platte NRD, Success Academy, Roots N Shoots, Walnut Middle School, Pheasants Forever and the Nebraska Wildlife Federation. The coalition aims to provide migrating monarchs with food, water and shelter.

Lee said the agencies have provided educational workshops for students to educate them about using the site to conduct scientific observation and data collection. This data will be shared with monarch butterfly programs at the University of Minnesota and the University of Kansas.

She said from there, the program grew to involve a number of agencies and different parts of the Grand Island Public School system.

Lee said the Central Platte NRD was able to provide the four acres of the habitat on an easement they had on the Wood River Flood Control Project. It was also a site that gave the public access to the project.

DeFrank said the project has been a year in the works.

He called the four-acre habitat project basically an outdoor classroom for kids to go out and collect data and do research on monarch butterflies, plant identifications, insect collections and a lot more.

DeFrank said the project is teaching the students about planting.

A lot of kids dont know what goes into planting, DeFrank said. The whole idea of this is to grow this habitat. This will be a four-acre research classroom outside for Grand Island Public Schools. We are trying to build capacity to get kids out of the classroom and into the field doing live science data collection.

The main goals of the Success Academy are to help students stay in school, graduate from high school and be successful lifelong learners. Between 2003 and 2010, the alternative program grew, as well as the number of students needing an alternative learning environment. Due to that growth, the district built a new building that opened in 2011.

According to the Success Academys website (www.gips.org/success-academy), There will always be students who do not fit into a traditional high school environment because of a variety of reasons and risk factors. Research indicates that those students who are motivated to obtain their high school diploma, are more likely to be successful in an alternative setting when they were not successful in a traditional high school program.
How to Submit an Obituary or In Memoriam

Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. You may also submit the obituary on your own. Pricing for obituaries is based on word count. One photo is allowed.

If you wish to submit an obituary or in memoriam notice, please contact us at 308-487-3334 or email us:

Hemingford-Ledger News
ALLIANCE  Western Nebraska Community College is hosting a Powerline Maintenance & Construction Open House Oct. 18 from 3-6 p.m. at the WNCC Powerline Lab, located at 1621 Kansas St.

The event is free and open to any prospective student and their family who is interested in the powerline industry. Attendees can participate in hands-on activities with simulations including the rescue pole top, digger and bucket tops and pole climbing.

We are excited about hosting students and their families who are interested in the Powerline Maintenance & Construction program, Admissions Director Gretchen Foster said. The best part of the event is for them to get to know our students and learn about their experiences. The electrical power industry is an exciting and rewarding one with very competitive wages and gives them the ability to live and work almost anywhere.

Attendees will visit with WNCC faculty and current students about the program and representatives from WNCC Admissions and Financial Aid will also be on hand to discuss scholarships and financial aid opportunities.

Everyone is encouraged to stay and enjoy a complimentary meal, served by WNCC staff and students.

For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Foster at 308-635-6183 or email powerline@wncc.edu.
Romania's President Klaus Iohannis believes the crossed presence of Romania and Poland on the eastern flank of NATO is an example that dividing the alliance into subassemblies would not be very good. "We, the Romanians, are participating in the allied presence in Poland, as Poland, Romania's strategic partner, participates in the multinational brigade. This crossed presence - Romania in the northern part of the eastern flank, the Poles in the southern part of the eastern flank - is a concrete example of cohesion and an example that Romania and Poland wanted to show in order to indicate that the eastern flank is unique and subdivisions are not very good. Of course, it is gratifying that significant developments have taken place in the area, but we believe it is still not enough," Iohannis told a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

He showed that progress had been made with the presence of NATO in the Black Sea and that efforts would be continued to strengthen the alliance's maritime posture. The Romanian head of state said he had discussed with the NATO secretary general the preparation of the NATO Summit in Brussels and the significant progress with implementing NATO's advanced presence in Romania and also in the region. "We have succeeded in taking important steps to make the Multinational Brigade in Craiova operational (...). Romania has also hosted and contributed a sizeable contingent in the last year of extensive NATO exercises, of which I would like to mention the Saber Guardian exercise, a very large exercise. I was personally at this exercise and I am pleased to acknowledge the high level of interoperability of the Romanian Armed Forces with the Allied Forces. We want to keep up a sustained pace of the joint exercises both on the national soil as well as elsewhere in the region. For that to happen, we will also use the intensified training framework at a joint level or, as it is called, Combined Joint Enhanced Training, the Romanian initiative adopted in Warsaw as part of the advanced Allied Presence. At the same time, the allied air presence in the country has been consistent in 2017 and will remain so in the period ahead," said Iohannis.

Iohannis added that NATO should strengthen its progresses by showing that "credible defence and deterrence requires persistent and robust NATO presence and a unitary approach of the eastern flank." "I am convinced that we will identify together the best concrete measures that we will then adopt at the summit," Iohannis said.

Agerpres.
President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday in Craiova, where he went on an information visit to the Headquarters Multinational Brigade South-East, that Romania is and will remain a part of NATO's effort to improve regional and global security and will continue to share in NATO's presence in Poland, as well as the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. "(...) Romania will continue to share in NATO's presence in Poland, within the US-led body, as well as in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. Romania is and will remain part of NATO's effort to improve regional and global security by a multidirectional approach. The exceptional conduct of the Romanian Armed Forces and allied counterparts, proven in national exercises as well as in international missions and operations, demonstrates the high level of professionalism we need to make Romania's cooperation truly effective. I am convinced that the work you are doing here at the Multinational Brigade South-East is indispensable to achieving the central goal of the North Atlantic Alliance, which is to successfully carry out actions to meet the current security challenges," Iohannis said.

The President underscored that NATO means solidarity and unity, and the participation of member states in joint activities observes this principle. "The North Atlantic Alliance means, first of all, solidarity and unity, and the participation of other NATO member states - whether it is the multinational personnel that includes the headquarters of this brigade or the Allies' participation in joint training and exercises - I am grateful to the allied states that have committed themselves to participating in this joint effort. I am convinced that the foreign soldiers deployed in Romania, coming from Canada, Spain, Portugal and Poland, will appreciate our hospitality and work excellently with their Romanian partners," added Iohannis.

President Klaus Iohannis, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Defence Minister Mihai Fifor and Chief of Romania's Army Staff Nicolae Ciuca made an informational visit to the NATO Headquarters Multinational Brigade South-East (HQ MN BDE-SE) in Craiova, on Monday.

Agerpres.
With its commitment to earmark 2 per cent of the GDP for defence expenditure in 2017, Romania should be regarded as an example for others, the same as it should be regarded as an example for the manner in which it involved in NATO activities, the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said at Vila Lac 1, where he met Prime Minister Mihai Tudose.

The NATO Secretary General also wanted to show his gratitude for the contributions that Romania brought to the Alliance in many sectors, during the years. He spoke about Romania participating with troops in missions in theaters of operations and also about the presence on Romanian territory of the NATO Multinational Brigade and of the anti-missile defence system in Deveselu.

Jens Stoltenberg underscored Romania's importance as a source of stability in the region. He went further to appreciate Romania's contributions to the collective security, helping NATO to keep a stability climate in the region, in the East and South, while supporting Ukraine and Georgia and also fighting against terrorism on the Southern flank of the Alliance, by being present in Afghanistan and Iraq, and also by ensuring a climate of security in the Balkans, namely through its contributions with troops to the NATO missions in Kosovo.

He also added that Romania is very important for NATO also for being a "host country" for a multinational brigade of the Alliance, to also be added the air police missions. During the same meeting, Jens Stoltenberg also mentioned the Italian and Canadian pilots, who are flying with the Romanian and Bulgarian ones in the Black Sea region. Moreover, the NATO official mentioned the military drills conducted by Romania and the country's presence in the Black Sea region, as an example of the manner in which NATO adjusts to global security challenges. The Secretary General of the Alliance added that Romania is also important because it hosts the anti-missile defence system located in Deveselu, which, in his opinion, is very important in terms of defence, with a plan to strengthen the anti-missile defence system by building a similar one in Poland.

Jens Stoltenberg underscored Romania's involvement in cyber attacks defence area and also mentioned that our country has experts who are important for the whole Alliance, experts that are currently involved in training the specialists of Ukraine. He also said that Romania's announcement saying that the county will spend 2 per cent of its GDP on defence in 2017 was a very much welcomed decision by NATO, both from the perspective of strengthening Romania's defence and that of NATO. Romania should be regarded as an example, said the NATO official, for it joined the group of countries that earmarked 2 per cent GDP for defence. Moreover, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg congratulated Mihai Tudose for taking over the Prime Minister office, taking into account that this is their first official meeting.

Agerpres.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference in Bucharest on Monday that Romania is an influential and steadfast NATO ally. I really thank Romania for your strong contribution to our presence in Afghanistan, he said. Let me also thank Romania for your leadership in cyber defence, including NATO's Cyber Defence Trust Fund for Ukraine. Last but not least, I commend your announcement to spend 2 percent of GDP on defence this year and your commitment to maintain that level of spending for the next ten years, he added. Romania is leading by example, helping to give the Alliance the capabilities we need and ensuring fairer burden-sharing, Stoltenberg said after a meeting with Romania's President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

He pointed out that Romania is an influential and steadfast NATO ally. Stoltenberg thanked Iohannis for hosting a multinational brigade in Craiova. In the air, Canada and Italy are reinforcing the efforts of Romania and Bulgaria to keep NATO airspace safe. And in the Black Sea, we are present with more ships and more naval exercises. Together, these measures send a clear message: NATO is strong and NATO is united, added Stoltenberg. He pointed out that Romania is essential NATO's Ballistic Missile Defence, as well as to NATO missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Agerpres.
The government will endorse the efforts made in attracting Romanians from the diaspora back home, Prime Minister Mihai Tudose stated on Monday, on the occasion of a meeting he had at the Government Palace with the representatives of the RePatriot project, a project aimed at bringing back to the country Romanians working abroad, through entrepreneurship.

According to a release of the Executive, the representatives of RePatriot ask for public policies and a legislative framework favourable for Romanian entrepreneurs from abroad, while showing that 57 per cent of the Romanians from the diaspora want to return home, as an opinion poll shows. Prime Minister Tudose showed that the Executive will endorse the efforts made in attracting Romania from the diaspora to come back to Romania, while specifying that their return would be a real progress and that the governmental endorsement needed for this desideratum to be achieved shouldn't depend on the political colors.

Moreover, the same source said that the Government wants to ensure all the conditions for the Romanians now working abroad to come back home and reintegrate in Romania, especially through helping them adapt to the entrepreneurial environment, while being also interested in creating a legislative framework adapted to their current needs. Participating in the discussions were Secretary General of the Government Mihai Busuioc and state counselors Florin Vodita, Felix Rache and Ramona Lohan.

The delegation of the representatives of the RePatriot project was made of Felix Patrascanu, project leader, managing partner Fan Courier; Alexandra Badicioiu, project manager; Simina Cristea Bossennec - Head of Financial Crime Compliance Operations at HSBC Private Bank Monaco; Cristian Anastasiu, managing director Chapman Mergers&Acquisitions; Mircea Divricean, Romania's honorific counselor to the USA, Utah and also president and general manager of Kostopulos Dream Foundation and Michael Divricean, chief operation officer Kostopulos Dream Foundation, head of the Association of Romanians from Utah.

Agerpres.
Romania's President Klaus Iohannis on Monday welcomed President of the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO Paolo Alli at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, amidst the NATO PA annual session going on in Bucharest. According to a Presidential Administration press statement, the two officials exchanged views on security developments in the Euro-Atlantic area, preparations for the NATO summit to be held in 2018, including the relevance of NATO-EU cooperation amidst strengthening the European Union's role in the field of security and defence.

"President Klaus Iohannis welcomed the fact that the annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly was taking place for the third time in Bucharest, expressing appreciation for the role of this forum in promoting the values and principles on which NATO is founded, and also congratulated the NATO PA leadership for the outcome of the session, a substantial agenda that has an important role to play in preparing for the NATO Summit next year."

The Romanian head of the state also highlighted the role of the national parliaments in supporting the NATO objectives, as well as the member states' honouring their commitments, including the allocation of adequate defence resources. President Iohannis reviewed the areas in which the alliance needs to further strengthen: from further strengthening the eastern flank and ensuring a strong allied presence, to ensuring greater coherence between the north and the south flanks, to a greater involvement of NATO in the fight against terrorism, including contributions in Afghanistan and Iraq, to ensuring complementariness between developments at NATO level and those at EU level, and to strengthening cooperation between the two organisations.

In his turn, Paolo Alli thanked Romania for its contribution to NATO and President Iohannis for the speech to the NATO AP session, which clearly showed Romania's vision of NATO's future. "Paolo Alli has praised Romania for its substantive contribution to global security and agreed on the need for a robust ally response to the threats stemming from the Eastern Neighborhood, while also underlining the importance of building synergies at allied level to achieve NATO goals, including through better use of resources," the press release said.

The two senior officials also discussed the importance of supporting the Western Balkan states joining NATO and the EU, with Iohannis reiterating Romania's support to this end. "The two interlocutors expressed their appreciation for the consolidated strategic partnership between Romania and Italy, which is at a very good level, both politically and economically, and to which the Romanian community in Italy contributes consistently," according to the Presidential Administration.

Agerpres.
Updated to reflect Monday's closing share price.

Shares of Express Scripts, the nation's No. 1 pharmacy benefit manager, fell Monday morning after Raymond James analysts downgraded the stock to "underperform" from "market perform."

The St. Petersburg, Fla.-based brokerage cited Express Scripts' vulnerability to "escalating competitive pressures."

The risk for the north St. Louis County-based company has heightened given its "pure play" PBM model, high profit per claim, and exposure to "at-risk" contracts coming up for bid, excluding Anthem Inc., Raymond James said.

The brokerage trimmed its fiscal year 2018 earnings per share estimate by 5 cents to $7.55, reflecting a heightened competitive environment

Shares of PBMs all were affected after CNBC reported on Friday that Amazon.com is in the final stages of figuring out its strategy to get into prescription drug market.

Up to Friday's close, Express Scripts stock has fallen 9.4 percent year-to-date.

Express Scripts shares fell 5 percent to close at $59.22.
Heres the exciting thing about Cardenio, the new production at St. Louis Shakespeare: 10 minutes before the ending, you cant decide if it will end with two weddings or four funerals.

Thats because  unlike most Shakespeare plays  you never have seen it before. And its so suspenseful, you really cant tell where its going.

Of course, Cardenio is not exactly by Shakespeare. Its thought that he co-authored the play with John Fletcher, his successor as the house playwright for the Kings Men, a London theater troupe. They based it on an episode in a then-new novel, Don Quixote.

But the script disappeared. (People speculate that it was lost in a fire.) More than a century later, writer Lewis Theobald claimed to have three copies of the play, but they went missing, too. (Another fire?) Nevertheless, Theobald produced a play called Double Falsehood that he described as a new version of Cardenio, with his own improvements.

Skip ahead almost 300 years. Several contemporary writers have also come up with playable versions of Cardenio, working from Double Falsehood, textual analysis and, of course, their own imaginations. In fact, the program for St. Louis Shakespeare says Cardenio by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher/Re-imagined by Gregory Doran of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Shakespeare scholars no doubt are going to enjoy debating authorship for years to come. The rest of us can forget about that. We can just enjoy an exciting new play that feels weirdly familiar.

Set in Spain, the play tells the story of a young Spanish aristocrat, Cardenio (Erik Kuhn, in fine form), who is hesitant to tell his demanding mother (Larisa Alexander) that he wants to marry an entirely appropriate young woman, Luscinda (Shannon Lampkin), who was his childhood friend. Before he can work up the nerve, he is summoned to court to be a good influence on the Dukes second son, a dashing cad named Fernando (Jason J. Little, who gives Fernando all the swagger we could want but needs to concentrate on diction).

Fernando is in love with Dorotea (Lexie Baker), the beautiful daughter of a wealthy farmer. Dorotea has money but no title, so Fernando is sure they cant marry. He ravishes her anyway, taking what he wants with no heed of the consequences. He forgets all about her when he sets eyes on Luscinda, aristocratic as well as beautiful. But, believing herself pledged to Cardenio, shed rather die or take the veil than marry him.

Cardenio, not knowing of her refusal and feeling betrayed by his friend and his beloved, goes to live as a madman among the shepherds, where Dorotea now lives too, disguised as a boy.

How ever will all this work out?

Director Donna Northcott, who founded St. Louis Shakespeare, gets us there with swift action that mixes plenty of comedy(at one point members of the ensemble play sheep, staring vacantly as they nuzzle wooden posts or chew cud) with heartbreaking tragedy.

Both Lampkin and Baker sum up their characters wretched situations in thoughtful, clear monologues that map out the only acceptable futures they can engineer on their own. This is what comes of forcing women against their will, mourns Luscindas father, Don Bernardo (crisply played by Colin Nichols). Indeed, this Cardenio can be read as a Renaissance version of no means no.

We see echoes of plays we do know again and again: the girl who hides her sex (like Viola in Twelfth Night or Rosalind in As You Like It), the price of lost virginity (which Hero is wrongly forced to pay in Much Ado About Nothing), the madman in the wild (like Edgar in King Lear).

It also looks like Shakespeare productions we see today, with a dash of Spanish glamour for good measure. Scenic designer Matthew Stuckel, working with movable pieces that keep the action brisk, incorporates a series of pointed archways that hint at Spains Moorish past. Costume designer Michele Friedman Siler makes the same point with gorgeous costumes for Dorotea and her maid, who wear wide trousers under heavy skirts slit up the front. And corseted white dresses for the ladies and billowing white shirts for the men evoke fluffy sheep in a flash.
When we think of old newspapers, we often picture tiny gray type that begs for a giant magnifying glass.

But 100 years ago, newspapers also printed beautiful artwork that took up full pages. Bright strips of comics wrapped the outside, and special sections celebrated culture.

In 1902, the St. Louis Globe-Democrats magazine section announced The Easter Hat Is Almost Here with colored drawings of fancy toppers.

Five years later, the same paper had a full-page, color illustration of immigrants laying railroad tracks. The hand-lettered headline says, St. Louis Newcomers From Italy.

It alludes to the kind of story that is still written today, describing both the citys changing population and showing how it attracts new arrivals.

These pages and hundreds more  both gray and in color  are on display at the St. Louis Mercantile Librarys Headlines of History: Historic Newspapers of St. Louis and the World Through the Centuries. The exhibit officially opens Monday and will be on display for two years.

Billed as the citys first extensive newspaper exhibit, it includes some 750 items, from original pages (Dewey Defeats Truman and Men Walk on Moon) to Auguste Rodins sculpture of Joseph Pulitzer and the Post-Dispatchs collection of gold medals for Pulitzer Prizes in public service. Photos, comics, paintings and even some literary magazines round out the show.

Regularly called the first rough draft of history, newspapers still record history, but they also are history. The Globe-Democrat has been gone since 1986. A national museum in Washington, now 20 years old, has drawn millions of visitors to witness, in part, the professions past and to learn about First Amendment rights.

Echoing the Monty Python character, however, the mediums not dead yet. Washingtons Newseum posts online the front pages of some 900 newspapers every day.

And when it comes to breaking news, such as the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas, internet rumors and Facebook links are verily trounced by professional reporting published both online and in daily print.

The Mercantile exhibit, though focused on the past, acknowledges the present. In a banner headlines authoritative presence one sees history in the making, library director John N. Hoover writes. An example of recent history: Hail and farewell: Rock legend Chuck Berry dies at 90.

That Post-Dispatch report from March now is a part of a centuries-old newspaper collection, joining other very special time machines on paper that had come to the Mercantile, Hoover writes in the exhibits catalog.

Librarys quest

Founded in 1846, the Mercantile Library is the oldest surviving library west of the Mississippi River. Newspapers have always been part of its collection.

The reading room was filled with them. Newspapers were always considered the bedrock of the information a library would want to get out to its readers, says Hoover, who has been the library director for more than 30 years.

St. Louis had 18 to 20 daily papers in the mid-19th century, he says. It was a different kind of internet age. A curious Mercantile patron would also have access to papers from England, France and Germany, along with other major U.S. cities.

The Mercantile Library, which patrons joined by subscription, was for decades on Locust Street downtown. Now, it is in the Thomas Jefferson Library of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. A subscription is no longer required, although the library of rare and historic material still loves people to become members.

By the 1870s, Hoover says, St. Louis readers would not have waited long for out-of-state reports. It was the height of the industrial age, and with railroad and steamboat travel, newspapers from other cities were often less than a week old.

Some of the historic artifacts in the exhibit are a 1675 issue of the London Gazette, a 1641 extra from France, and a 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence in The Pennsylvania Ledger. The Pennsylvania paper, which had been loyal to Englands king, soon went out of business.

The oldest known copy of a Missouri newspaper is the Missouri Gazette from July 26, 1808. It was published in English and French by Joseph Charless.

There are newspapers from the frontier (including The Pioneer and The Western Settler), the Latter Day Saints (the Times and Seasons of Nauvoo tells about the death of Joseph Smith) and the Civil War (the Rolla Daily Express reports in 1861 the proclamation of martial law at the federal armys local headquarters in St. Louis).

The exhibit includes examples of German-language papers here and the predecessors of the Globe-Democrat and Post-Dispatch, the longest lived papers of record in St. Louis.

Digital vs. print

After the Globe-Democrat folded, Hoover jumped at the chance to acquire its photo and story files. He estimates the library holds 500,000 photos and 10 million clips of stories. The resources are among the most-requested items at the Mercantile.

When the Mercantile acquired the clipping files and morgue in 1987, the phone started ringing and never stopped, he says.

The library is working on digitizing more of the Globe items; much of the paper was already on microfilm. In 2001, the Mercantile also obtained bound original editions of the Post-Dispatch that had been sitting in the papers humid basement.

Bit by bit, piece by piece, Hoover says, the Mercantile, State Historical Society of Missouri and other institutions, such as universities and the Missouri Historical Society, are collecting, rescuing, preserving and digitizing the newspaper heritage of the city.

Thankfully a handful of other great historical libraries across the nation continue to rescue newspapers from dusty paper shards and graying microfilm, but the process takes time and continual effort and resolve by many hands, he says. Newspapers are our first love.

These efforts make more newspapers available online in open access settings like the Mercantile.

But  and this is a big but: Hoover has no plans to pitch original print editions, and he bemoans libraries that have.

For one thing, the Mercantile is a rare book library, so it believes in the object and the artifact, he says. There is nothing more expressive than to use the paper object and focus on how people originally presented the information.

For another, microfilm records are in black and white, and some newspaper pages, with their folds and creases, can be hard to read.

The technology wasnt as good as the analog, Hoover says. Newspapers as artifacts allow one to look more closely at color, sections and comics. Seeing how a page is presented supplies information beyond an individual story online.

Hoover wants at least a few libraries to carry the torch and keep the original object, which allows scholars a clearer picture of what was presented in the past.

The newspaper exhibit is one of four that Hoover has planned that require large space and plenty of exhibition cases.

The library previously showed off its historic maps. It followed with its Audubon book and other natural history artifacts. After the newspaper exhibit, Hoover wants to display Americana, he says.

But in the meantime, there are programs to plan and a lot to see, even if the newspapers on display are only part of the librarys 1.5 million editions.
ST. LOUIS  In June, doctors told the loved ones of 7-year-old Deniya Irving that she was unlikely to survive the quadruple shooting that claimed the lives of her parents and left her in critical condition.

Some family members announced on Facebook that she had died. Doctors expected to take her organs for transplant, then turn off life support.

Then, there was a flicker of activity on the brain monitor.

On Sunday, roughly four months after she was shot in the back of the head, Deniya gripped her cane tightly and walked down the aisle of the Mount Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on her own, with family members and fellow parishioners cheering her on.

Shes suffered severe brain damage, according to her grandmother, but shes back at school, in the second grade. One of her favorite things to do is play hide-and-seek with her little sisters. She says she likes the seeking more than the hiding, though. Deniya says she plans to be a witch for Halloween, and a doctor when she grows up.

Im grateful, and Im thankful, and were blessed, because she is doing so well, said her grandmother and primary guardian, Lawanda Griffin. Shes doing wonderful.

Deniya was riding in a car with a sister, mother, father and another man on June 2 when shots rang out at Beacon and Lillian avenues. Her parents  Derrick Irving, 27, and Jessica Garth, 24  were killed, along with Julian Hayes, 38. Deniyas younger sister was not injured.

The close-knit family is still grieving those losses, Griffin said, but finding hope in Deniyas progress.

Its not easy. But weve made it through by the grace of God, Griffin said.

Lt. John Green, who oversees the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments homicide division, became emotional speaking to Deniya on Sunday.

To see her standing here today is a miracle. Deniya, we thought about you. The department thinks about you, Green said through tears. You are a very tough girl. Youre probably tougher than me.

Im sorry. I lost it there a little bit. I see a lot of violence. And to see somebody survive that, a small child, is amazing, he added.

A St. Louis man, Jerome Leon Buress Jr., 28, has since been charged for the crime after turning himself in to the police in June. He is being held without bail, charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Irving, Garth and Hayes.

Additionally, Buress faces six counts of armed criminal action, two counts of assault, and one count each of shooting a firearm at a motor vehicle and tampering with a witness. St. Louis Circuit Judge Michael Stelzer granted the state a protective order to file charges identifying that witness only as secret witness.

Authorities have not given a motive in the shooting.

Deniya, meanwhile, still has a grueling road ahead. Griffin says immediately after school each day, Deniya heads to occupational, physical or speech therapy. Shes determined to get better, her grandmother said.

She never wants any help. She wants to do everything herself, she said.

The church and other supporters raised more than $5,000 to help pay for Deniyas recovery, presenting it to the family on Sunday.

Mount Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Ronald M. Fraction Sr. said he hoped people would hear Deniyas story and be more willing to come forward to help police when they witness violence in the city.

We have a lot of children who are getting hurt and getting shot for no apparent reason. But we must stop the foolishness, he told reporters.

Occasionally, he paused in his remarks to point out Deniyas improvement.

Shes showing you, shes moving her arm, she can move her leg a little bit, he said. And with a toothy grin, Deniya kicked both feet in the air.

Its a happier ending than Green usually gets to see, but he says Deniyas case is not one hell soon forget.

It affects you a lot because a child is innocent, he said. But shes a prime example, dont give up. They were close four times to just calling it, but shes still here.
JEFFERSON CITY  State lawmakers and Gov. Eric Greitens will have to find an additional $26.3 million in the coming months to satisfy years of underpayment to more than 3,000 blind people.

In a judgment entered late last month and made public Sunday, Cole County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Joyce outlined the latest tally owed by the state, adding that taxpayers could have been billed $7 million less if the state had settled the long-running lawsuit five years ago.

The payout is due to blind people who had been shorted by the Department of Social Services blind pension fund, which was put in place in the 1920s as a way to provide a social safety net for the blind.

Today, about 3,000 blind Missourians are paid about $728 a month from a special levy on property taxes.

In 2006, the Missouri Council of the Blind sued the state for using money flowing into the program for other government costs.

Joyce sided with the blind, but the state has been using various appeals to keep the case alive. Those delays have cost taxpayers millions of dollars because Joyce has ordered the state to pay interest at 9 percent per year.

The state will be paying over $2 million a year in interest until they pay people, so its in their interest to get the judgment satisfied, said attorney John Ammann of St. Louis University Legal Clinics, who helped litigate the case.

Attorney General Josh Hawleys office has until Nov. 6 to decide its next step. A spokeswoman did not have an immediate response to the ruling.

Chris Gray, executive director of the Missouri Council of the Blind, said hes unsure whether the attorney general will appeal the latest decision.

But, he said, They are putting off the inevitable. We just need to get on with this and get closure.

For some of those affected, the payout will be added to their monthly check. Others will receive a lump sum payout ranging from a few dollars to an estimated $3,000, Ammann said.

But, between Hawley and the Legislature, it remains unclear when those payouts will be made available. Lawmakers are not due back to the Capitol until January and the budgeting process typically lasts until May.
UPDATED at noon Monday with information about second victim.

ST. LOUIS  Detectives were investigating after a Sunday afternoon shooting in St. Louis left a man in "very critical" condition at a hospital, police said.

A second man was also critically injured in the shooting, in an empty lot near the intersection of West Florissant and Thrush avenues.

The first man, 25, had been shot in the chest and was found by arriving officers in the lot. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Homicide detectives were called to the scene due to the severity of his injuries. The second man, 20, was taken to a hospital by others.

In an update Monday, police said both men were in critical but stable condition. Each had been shot multiple times.

The men were shot about 1:40 p.m. The scene is in the Walnut Park East neighborhood, near Calvary Cemetery.

Police did not have information about the shooter or shooters, and gave no other details Monday.

A man was found shot to death near the same intersection in June.
Advocates are worried that about 27,000 Missouri children are at risk of losing their health care coverage if Congress fails to renew funding for a bipartisan program enacted under the Clinton administration.

Congress allowed the program called CHIP (Childrens Health Care Insurance Program) to expire on Sept. 30. Health care groups and advocates are calling on Congress to reauthorize it to continue coverage for nearly 9 million low-income children nationwide.

In order to keep those kids covered, we need to have this funding renewed, said Judy Dungan, director of policy and advocacy for Missouri Childrens Leadership Council.

Most states, including Missouri and Illinois, are not in immediate jeopardy of depleting their CHIP funding. However, advocates are concerned that Congress allowed funding to expire given that CHIP has historically enjoyed support from both Republicans and Democrats.

This is very troubling that Congress hasnt gotten this done, said Joan Alker, executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University.

The more time that Congress allows to pass before renewing the funding, the more pressure it puts on state departments to start preparing to wind down these programs.

States have wasted time and money and energy because they have to prepare, Alker said. They cant move on a dime.

Arizona, North Carolina, Minnesota and the District of Columbia are expected to exhaust federal funding for CHIP by the end of the year.

Missouri is expected to run out of money by March, and Illinois is slated to deplete its funding by May, according to a report by Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, a nonpartisan agency that provides analysis to federal health agencies.

I believe CHIP is one of the more important federal programs in health policy, said Alan Freeman, CEO of Affinia Healthcare, a clinic that primarily serves low-income individuals. It concerns us that children may go without preventive or primary care if their access to care is somehow impaired due to the lack of reauthorization of the CHIP program.

At the end of August, nearly 27,000 Missouri children were enrolled in CHIP. As many as 88,000 kids may have received health coverage through CHIP during some point in 2016, experts estimate, because its very common for Medicaid recipients to churn on and off the program as their financial circumstances change.

Traditional Medicaid and CHIP together cover nearly 626,000 children in the state. The majority of the nearly 986,000 people receiving care through Medicaid in Missouri are children.

CHIP was established in 1997 to offer coverage to children whose family income was too high to qualify for traditional Medicaid but too low to afford commercial coverage.

In Missouri, a child could receive CHIP coverage if the household income did not exceed 305 percent of the federal poverty level, or $75,030 for a family of four.

The Missouri Department of Social Services, which oversees CHIP and Medicaid in the state, did not say whether the department was preparing for the coming funding issue. A spokeswoman said in an email only that the department was monitoring congressional activity around CHIP.

There has been movement in both the House and Senate to renew the funding that expired Sept. 30. On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee approved a bill to extend $100 billion to fund CHIP for another five years.

CHIP is a literal life-saver for Missouri kids, which is why Im proud to support it, and why Im equally discouraged that Congressional leaders let us get to this point of letting it expire, Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill said in a statement Wednesday.

The House passed a similar version out of committee Wednesday, but it seeks to take money from other health programs to fund CHIP. No Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted in support of the bill.

The uninsured rate among children reached another historic low in 2016, according to a report by researchers at Georgetown Universitys Health Policy Institute and Center for Children and Families.

In 2016, 95.5 percent of children had health insurance coverage, compared with 2009, when nearly 9 percent of kids were uninsured.
JEFFERSON CITY  The Missouri House Democratic leader has invited Gov. Eric Greitens to testify against a lawmaker who hoped for the hanging of whoever splattered paint on a Confederate monument in Springfield.

In a letter to the governor dated Thursday, House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, noted that Greitens had criticized Rep. Warren Love, R-Osceola, after Love posted his wishes for the hanging on Facebook in August.

She said Greitens, a Republican, had also criticized state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, who hoped for the assassination of President Donald Trump on Facebook in August.

Greitens said in a tweet the two should face the "same consequences" and that both should not represent Missourians. The Senate has since censured Chappelle-Nadal. Democratic, and Republican leadership has stripped her of her committee assignments.

Both lawmakers have refused to resign.

Love has yet to face any consequences. Beatty has moved for a House ethics panel to weigh discipline against him. The committee is scheduled to meet on Oct. 16.

"If you sincerely believe that both Rep. Love and Sen. Chappelle-Nadal should face the same consequences, as you have previously stated, your testimony and leadership would go a long way toward ensuring that Rep. Love does not escape accountability for his actions," Beatty wrote to the governor.

A Democratic spokesman said Beatty had yet to hear back from the governor as of Monday morning. Beatty first made the letter public Monday morning.

Parker Briden, the governor's spokesman, could not immediately be reached for comment.
CHESTERFIELD  An unusually festive business feud has customers picking sides  and pumpkins  in West County this fall as rival pumpkin patches vie to replace a longtime fall destination.

In July, Rombach Farms and Pumpkin Patch in Chesterfield announced it would close while heirs of its founder sue each other over land ownership. The business opened in 1951 and was known for pumpkin picking, hay rides and other fall activities.

Owners Marcia and Chip Rombach say there is a slim chance it will reopen for one more year in 2018.

Two new patches are hoping to fill the pumpkin-shaped hole the business left behind.

Chesterfield Valley Pumpkin Patch and Boones Crossing Farm Market & Pumpkin Patch both opened for the first time this fall less than 4 miles apart. Both sell pumpkins, offer hayrides and are on properties alongside two different Chesterfield outlet malls.

Chesterfield Valley Pumpkin Patch opened first, on Sept. 23 on a property next door to the old Rombach Farms, 18575 Olive Street Road. Owner Betty Miller and manager Peter Wolff were vendors for the Rombachs for some 20 years, said operations manager Gretchen Thal.

People went to Rombachs for generations, Thal said. We knew it was going to be missed and we had experience to know how to run something like this.

But the owners of Rombach Farms say they dont want to be affiliated with their former business associates. Chip and Marcia Rombach claim they are on bad terms with Wolff and feel that the business is trying to profit off their work.

Were telling our customers to go to Boones Crossing, Chip Rombach said. It seems to be an honest business.

Before the Chesterfield Valley patch opened, about a dozen one-star reviews began to appear on its Facebook page with people criticizing the business for preying on other peoples hard work and misfortune.

Wolff could not be immediately reached for comment Sunday, but Thal said she hopes the community will focus on the fun rather than any bad blood between the owners.

We of course were sorry Rombachs closed, she said. But that was the bread-and-butter for the owners here every year, too, so they are trying to run their own business now that its gone.

About 3.5 miles away, at 17057 North Outer Road, Boones Crossing Farm Market & Pumpkin Patch opened Saturday and is operated by Summit Produce, which also runs the Kirkwood Farmers Market.

Co-owner Dan Mitchell said his mother, Carol, started the business as a produce stand in Gray Summit in 1978. It then expanded in 1984 to Kirkwood, where it sells its produce as well as pumpkins in the fall and Christmas trees every winter.

Wed been wanting to expand to Chesterfield for a while, Dan Mitchell said. And we of course wanted to move in after Rombachs closed. If we could sell even a tenth of the pumpkins they did, I thought we would be a success.

Mitchell said he got access to the land for the pumpkin patch about three weeks before opening and has quickly worked to transform it into a fall destination.

He plans to keep the Chesterfield location running through Oct. 31, but will also reopen as a Christmas tree and holiday shop in late November.

We just want to get the word out and get people to know were here, he said. The Rombachs support was helpful in that.

Kristine Baldwin, of Ballwin, visited Boones Crossing with her husband and two children Sunday after seeing Rombachs endorsement.

Weve been going to Rombachs for years, Baldwin said. So I was happy to see theres another option they sent us to and theres a lot of great produce here.

Lindsay Jente, of Glendale, instead decided to visit Chesterfield Valley Pumpkin Patch Sunday with her husband and kids after following the feud on Facebook.

We loved Rombachs, but they did a really nice job here and theres just a lot more activities to do for the kids, Jente said. Youve got to give the new business a chance.

Others arent choosing sides.

Claire Lauber watched her 5-year-old son climb on the hay mountain at Boones Crossing Sunday.

Were going to go to both, she said. Really get in the fall spirit.
ST. LOUIS  Hundreds of protesters marched in the Shaw neighborhood Sunday to mark the third anniversary of the death of VonDerrit Myers.

At one point, protesters moved street barricades that were set up for the Shaw Art Fair. The fair was over, but artists' tents and stages were still set up.

Many held "Black Lives Matter" signs or carried candles. At least one person was holding a "Police Lives Murder" sign.

Alderman Stephen Conway directed traffic at the intersection of Klemm Avenue and Shaw Boulevard when protesters first began to gather at about 6 p.m., as he has during previous protests in the area.

Protesters briefly marched eastbound along Flora Avenue toward Grand before circling back to the intersection. Someone announced at about 8:45 p.m. that the "organized action," had ended, but several dozen people still gathered in the area.

Separate investigations by police and the circuit attorney's office concluded that Myers fired shots at a police officer before the officer returned fire.

Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyces office cleared former officer Jason Flanery of criminal wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Myers on Oct. 8, 2014.

Officials said evidence supported Flanery's claim that Myers fired shots at him during a confrontation while Flanery was working an off-duty secondary job for a private security company.

The shots Myers fired at Flanery missed, authorities said, at least one striking a car behind him and others landing in a dirt hill where Flanery took cover.

The killing of Myers ignited sometimes-violent reactions in the Shaw neighborhood where it happened and led to weeks of demonstrations.

Flanery abruptly resigned from the police department in January 2016 after he was charged with DWI in a different incident. He was driving his police car at the time and struck a parked car.
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said Sunday he believed Congress could reach an agreement on health care that includes continuing the funding of a key set of Obamacare subsidies to keep down insurance premiums.

The conservative Wisconsin senator said in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" that he understands some of his Republican colleagues are against funding the cost-sharing reduction -- or CSR -- payments. But he said the government should keep making the payments to prevent the cost of insurance skyrocketing.

President Trump has not committed to paying insurers the cost-sharing subsidies, which reduce deductibles and co-pays for low-income Obamacare enrollees. This has prompted many insurers to raise their premiums for 2018 to make up for the anticipated loss of the subsidies. The 2018 rates have already been finalized.

Johnson added that any such move to support continuing those payments would come with strings attached.

"We should get something in return for that," he said.

For example, he said, Congress should make it so anyone has the option to purchase a "catastrophic plan" -- insurance with relatively low premiums but high deductibles that provides fewer benefits.

Johnson also said they should make health savings accounts more usable.

"There's a number of things that I would certainly agree to," Johnson said.

President Donald Trump on Saturday said he spoke with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about health care the day prior, telling reporters at the White House that it would be "great" if the leaders could strike at least a temporary deal on health care.

Asked about the call by CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday, Johnson said he was not troubled by Trump's overture to the Senate's top Democrat, noting later in the interview that any compromise would have to pass the Republican-controlled Congress.

"If people really want to do a deal, they are going to have to come through a Republican House and a Republican Senate," Johnson said.

Johnson was a key player in a last-ditch effort to repeal and replace much of Obamacare last month. The bill failed to gain enough support among Senate Republicans to be passed under a special legislative maneuver known as budget reconciliation.

Johnson contended Sunday that the bill, led by GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, was still alive and that senators had simply run out of time to pass it.

A bipartisan group of senators, led by Lamar Alexander, a Republican from Tennessee, and Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, are working on a deal to stabilize Obamacare. Among the issues on the table are funding of the cost-sharing subsidies and broadening the number of people who can buy catastrophic plans.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's younger sister Kim Yo Jong was promoted Saturday at a key meeting of the country's ruling party, state media reported.

Kim Yo Jong's profile has been rising since 2014, when she was made deputy director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers' Party.

She and Kim Jong Un were born to the same mother, Ko Yong Hui.

Kim Yo Jong was selected as an alternate member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party at the Second Plenum of the party's 7th Central Committee.

Also in the reshuffle, according to state news agency KCNA, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho was selected as a member of the Politburo and Choe Ryong Hae, vice chairman of the Worker's Party and a close aide to Kim Jong Un, was appointed to the party's Central Military Commission.

Shadowy figure

The Politburo is the North Korean regime's top decision-making body, led by Kim Jong Un.

According to NK Leadership Watch, a project of The US-Korea Institute, members and alternate members of the politburo can take part in debates and meetings, but only full members can vote.

A recent major decision by the Politburo was the expulsion in December 2013 of Kim's uncle and high-ranking party member Jang Song Thaek, who was later executed for treason.

Like most members of the Kim clan, little is definitively known about Kim Yo Jong beyond her official rank. According to NK Leadership Watch, she is a close aide of her brother's "and since his accession manages his public events, itineraries and logistical needs, among other tasks."

Born in 1987, Kim Yo Jong studied in Switzerland like her brother and is believed to have attended Kim Il Sung University and a western European school for her higher education.

"Since her brother's accession to the supreme leadership of (North Korea), Kim Yo Jong has been routinely observed attending Kim Jong Un's public appearances," NK Leadership Watch said.

Her position is such that, according to a Seoul-based think tank run by North Korean defectors, Kim Yo Jong briefly took charge of the country while her brother was reportedly ill with gout or diabetes in late 2014.

Nukes a 'powerful deterrent'

The key meeting of the Worker's Party comes amid an ongoing standoff between North Korea and the United States.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump was critical of past attempts to reign in North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.

"Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid ... hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of US negotiators," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Sorry, but only one thing will work!"

In a speech Saturday, Kim Jong Un said the country's nuclear weapons "are a precious fruition borne by its people's bloody struggle for defending the destiny and sovereignty of the country from the protracted nuclear threats of the US imperialists."

North Korea has long defended its nuclear program as essential to defend the country against US aggression, pointing to the experience of countries like Iraq and Libya.

Nuclear weapons, Kim said, are a "powerful deterrent firmly safeguarding the peace and security in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia and reliably guaranteeing the Korean nation's sovereignty."

October 10 marks the founding anniversary of the Worker's Party. North Korea has in the past marked key dates with missile or nuclear tests.

Last week, Russian lawmaker Anton Morozov, recently returned from Pyongyang, told state media preparations were underway for "new tests of a long-range missile."

Despite the pro-nuclear rhetoric, Kim's speech was also heavily focused on the economy, which has proven surprisingly resilient despite being heavily targeted by US and international sanctions.

According to KCNA, Kim "noted with appreciation that the country's science and technology have developed by leaps and bounds and the national economy has grown on their strength this year, despite the escalating sanctions of the US imperialists and their vassal forces."

Advocates of dialog with North Korea have pointed to increased economic ties as a potential avenue toward deescalation of tensions and improved relations both between North and South Korea and Pyongyang and Washington.

CNN's Dugald McConnell contributed reporting.
Gill Sutherland talks to Haydn Gwynne about her role playing pushy mum Volumnia in Coriolanus at the RSC

Haydn Gwynne

A brilliant comic actor, stage, film and TV performer, not to forget award-winning musical actor, Haydn Gwynne is what you might call a versatile all-rounder, if it didnt sound incredibly patronising.

Meeting her for a chat about her role as Volumnia in Coriolanus in a functional meeting room at the RSC admin offices, you get the impression of someone who would not be happily patronised. She is relaxed and friendly but also clever and thoughtful, and not someone you would want to put dumb questions to.

But I cant help myself. You see I was a young and eager journalist when sitcom Drop The Dead Donkey hit the nations telly screens in 1990 and I became a massive fan; it was set in a newsroom and I adored its satire and wit  and in particular the character of Alex Pates, the fierce and cynical assistant editor played by Haydn, then in her early 30s.

How was it being in Drop the Dead Donkey? I ask with all the editorial savviness of a five-year-old.

She kindly recalls walking around Soho when it was being filmed and getting conspiratorial nods from hacks, like she was an honourary journalist. We then reminisce about an episode or two, and we chortle over the tragic-comic figure of ill-fated media mogul Robert Maxwell, whose death in 1991 was a source of satire for the hugely popular show.

More recently Haydn has gained another cult-like appreciation for her performance as Camilla in Channel 4s The Windsors, who she plays as dementedly jealous and controlling, and as if played by Joan Collins in a soap opera called Balmoral. It is sublimely brilliant.

Continuing in my rather lame line of enquiry, I ask Haydn which roles from her impressive CV has she enjoyed most.

Everyone is different and it depends on who you are working with, she observes. One of the things you enjoy is doing things that are wildly different and thats one of the fun things about the job. So two years ago I was doing Beauty and the Beast [for Disney] where I was playing a horrible old hag. I went from that to Desiree in Sondheims A Little Night Music in Boston [Massachusetts], and I had never thought about doing that  she does Send In The Clowns and that was surprisingly fulfilling. The summer before I did The C Word with Sheridan Smith, which is based on a real-life story. I went from that to playing a woman dressed as a man in Ripper Street I think its having that stimulation of being thrown very odd and different challenges that makes your eyes sparkle.

The last time Haydn was at the RSC was with her dancing shoes on in 2006's musical The Merry Wives of Windsor (she subsequently picked up a Drama Desk award for her role in Billy Elliot on Broadway).

So had you thought about coming back to the RSC, or indeed had the role of Volumnia, Coriolanuss rather pushy mum, ever crossed your mind?

No I hadnt actually, she replies. The first time I came to the RSC used to be in the days when the company all started together on the same day, eventually moving on to Newcastle and London, and staying in the same company for a year or two. But very soon afterwards I started a family and the truth of the matter is its very difficult to take prolonged periods away.

Haydn has two sons, aged 17 and 19, with her partner Jason Phipps, a psychoanalyst, and its clear that her boys are her priority  turning down work if it means long periods away from them.

Merry Wives worked because it was rehearsed in London, then it was over Christmas and few weeks in January, she says. So in a way the RSC has been off the agenda, and I havent given it a great deal of thought just because of the practical difficulties.

She continues: I hadnt thought about Volumnia. In fact I actually met Sope [Dirisu, who is playing Coriolanus], we have a mutual friend in common and together went to see One Night in Miami, in which Sope was playing Cassius Clay last year, and meeting him afterwards I remember him telling me he was going to be Coriolanus, and I congratulated him and nothing pinged in my head at all!

When a direct offer came to play Volumnia via director Angus Jackson, Haydn was cautious.

I got an e-mail and I thought because of the commute, the kids and what have you, I knew it would be difficult to do, but also difficult to turn down.

After a long chat with Angus she was on board.

What sold it to me was a combination: Sope, Angus and Angus making it as practically possible for me to do! says the London-based actress.

She continues: Great roles in Shakespeare are very few and far between. Ive done one of them, which was Elizabeth in Richard III [2011s Sam Mendes epic Old Vic production starring Kevin Spacey]. I actually didnt realise what a great role Volumnia is and its not like I could say no as it will come round again, as its not performed that often.

The relationship between Volumnia and her son Coriolanus is very psychologically complex  why do you think Shakespeare gave Coriolanus a mum rather than a dad?

That complex relationship between Richard and the Duchess of York is seen in here in this Roman history There are these powerful women, and its very interesting psychologically  whatever else is going on in the play  theres this tension. Coriolanus is very much a creature that Volumnia has created. His father was probably a soldier who died in battle when he was young. But rather than remarry, all her energy, focus and love goes into him and she almost lives vicariously through him. If it were a different generation she would be fighting or leading Rome herself.

She continues: I think Shakespeare is interested in the influence of mothers on sons, like in Richard III Shakespeare is interested in how his spirit is deformed.

Everything is pre-Freudian, but it works in terms of how we understand those relationships in the modern world.

As a mum do you empathise with her pushiness at all? I suspect all us mums are guilty of willing our offspring on a little too keenly at times

She is a Tiger Mum  Im definitely not but I am very involved and I have sons and only sons; and I do identify with that passion that you have for them.

Volumnia is in a society where marshall power is seen as a prime thing and that is difficult to get ones head around: to be a soldier, to be a killer of men is the greatest thing you can be. The First World War changed all that  the idea of conquering distant lands with the reality of what that actually meant.

Coriolanus has been interpreted in a number of different ways over the years: during Hitlers years in Germany it was seen as a model for dynamic leadership; while Brecht brought out the issues of class struggle. What themes are being brought to the fore in this production?

Its modern dress but unlike the current production of Titus Andronicus we havent got mobile phones  its a more dystopian world. Historically this was based in a world 500 years before what we think of as being the Roman Empire, at a time when city states are warring. Were quite stripped down: we havent got phones, or guns and theres not much set, so were right down to the words and ideas and personalities.

She continues: So hopefully you can put what you want on it; we are not imposing a societal reference, which is unusual in some ways. So the audience is going to decide whose side they are on: right wing, left wing, are the people justified? Maybe the right response will be to swing between. Coriolanus does say some terrible things  hes a bully and shes manipulative but at the same time hes a human, so what makes that forgiveable?

She concludes: Hes very pure of heart as well as of purpose. So while you can condemn him for his pride and arrogance and lack of empathy perhaps you can also admire potentially someone who can only be himself  he cant dissimilate. He says what he thinks.

With our interview time at an end, and the recording equipment turned off, Haydn takes time to ask me about my own family. Just a mum having a chat with another mum... the next time I see her she will be a very different, slightly scarier mum. Crikey!

When and where: Coriolanus is on at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre until 14th October. Dido, Queen of Carthage runs until 28th October at The Swan Theatre.
Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer.

ASTON Martin CEO Andy Palmer says he spoke with Prime Minister Theresa May during a recent trade trip to Japan about his concerns over Brexit.

In an interview with Automotive News Europe, Mr Palmer said that despite the company being on track to have four straight quarters of profit for the first time in a decade largely because of strong demand for its new DB11 supercar, the downside was the uncertainty over the UKs split with Europe.

Our message to the Prime Minister was that our number one concern is the non-tariff barrier. I can hypothesize how I can cope with a tariff. The thing that really hurts is the non-tariff barrier. The car is stuck in a port in Germany or France because the administrator doesn't rush to sign through the paperwork. That has a much bigger impact on the bottom line than dealing with a ten per cent tariff. We need import-export to be as frictionless as possible.

If we're part of the EU and we're exporting then we're at 95 percent local content. If you're exporting exclusively from the UK, then we're somewhere between 30 and 40 per cent. We're a long way from 60 per cent, therefore your origin-of-source under current regulations becomes an issue. Suddenly you've got to start re-shoring big lumps of metal back to the UK, but I can't see a scenario where we bring engine production back. The cost of capital for equipment on an engine is huge.

Aston Martin vehicle sales were 3,687 last year but Mr Palmer is forecasting 5,000 for this year which is regarded by the Gaydon-based company as very encouraging but not grounds for complacency in light of the ongoing confusion over Brexit.
People in Russia have staged separate anti-government rallies, including mostly unauthorized ones, in the country, expressing support for the imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny and clashing with police.

Demonstrators flocked to the streets in some 80 cities in Russia on Saturday, demanding the release of Navalny and that he be allowed to stand in the 2018 presidential election.

A local court last week accused Navalny of repeatedly violating laws on the organization of public meetings and sentenced the opposition leader to a mere twenty days in jail.

The anti-government rallies coincided with President Vladimir Putins 65th birthday, and most were unauthorized, including those in the capital, Moscow, and St. Petersburg.

Coming out on streets means first of all our will and desire to move forward, to challenge the stagnation that exists in our countrys political life, a protester said.

In Moscow, an estimated 3,000 people gathered at Pushkinskaya Square under heavy police presence, chanting, Putin will leave! We will not! and Happy birthday!

Violence erupted after police called on the protesters to disperse and they refused, with some marching toward the Kremlin, which had been cordoned off by police.

Russians responded to Navalnys call for protests against alleged corruption across the country in March and June this year.

Navalny, an outspoken critic of President Putin hopes to run in the presidential election in March 2018 even as Russias central election commission has declared him ineligible because of a suspended prison sentence, which he says was handed down to him for political reasons.

Navalny has been arrested before over various charges, including embezzlement and fraud.

In recent months, Navalny has traveled across Russia in a bid to bolster his makeshift election campaign.

Putin has yet to announce if he would seek re-election, but he is widely expected to run, and with his current approval ratings that surpass 80 percent, he is set to easily win another six-year term in office.
Amid US President Donald Trump's promises to "do what needs to be done" with regard to North Korea as "only one thing will work" hinting at a possible military action against Pyongyang, Kim Jong-un has praised the country's nuclear weapons as a means of "safeguarding peace" on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that the country needs nuclear weapons to "protect destiny and sovereignty from the long-standing nuclear threats of the US imperialists."

He praised Pyongyang's nuclear weapons saying they help North Korea "safeguard peace" on the Korean Peninsula and in others parts of northeast Asia.

Addressing the Second Plenary Session of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea on Saturday, Kim said as cited by the KCNA that Washington is attempting to strip North Korea of its sovereignty by "fabricating a series of 'sanctions resolutions" in the UN Security Council [] with their followers.

He also said that despite UNSC sanctions against Pyongyang over ballistic and nuclear missiles' launches, the North Korean economy has shown growth.

The newly released Kim statement comes after US President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Saturday, saying that "only one thing will work" with regard to Pyongyang as "talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid hasn't worked."

Trump's remark comes after he said US State Secretary Rex Tillerson is "wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man," adding that "we'll do what has to be done."

In ratcheting up the warlike rhetoric, Trump previously vowed that the US will "totally destroy" the DPRK if required as a means to protect itself and its allies from the threat of a nuclear attack.

Meanwhile, earlier this week a Russian lawmaker, who has just returned from North Korea, claimed that Pyongyang is ready to test a missile capable of reaching the US western coast. The Pentagon responded by telling Sputnik that it is "closely" watching North Korea.

The North Korean nuclear and missile test issue has been aggravated in recent months as Pyongyang has held several rounds of missile launches and nuclear tests. The most recent one was conducted on September 15, when North Korea launched a ballistic missile, which flew over Japan before falling into the northern Pacific some 20 minutes after the launch.

On September 11, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted its toughest resolutionyet against North Korea over its latest nuclear test and repeated missile launches. The move prompted harsh criticism from Pyongyang which subsequently vowed to use any means possible to retaliate against the United States.
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Positive changes for domestic workers View(s):

Are stiff barriers breaking down in West Asia, the land of El Dorado for many men and women from Sri Lankan rural communities? Most civil society activists engaged in working for the rights of migrant workers are likely to disagree.

However, there seem to be positive moves in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other West Asian nations towards providing a more decent and safer work environment for migrant workers, especially women engaged in domestic work. Two recent developments stand out in this process: A new law in the UAE (made up of seven emirates including Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah) stipulates working conditions for domestic workers including a regular weekly day off, 30 days of paid annual leave and the right to retain personal documents (passports), the last named being a progressive step forward against the ages-old practice of an employer retaining the passport of a worker as a precaution against running away, among other matters. The second progressive development, most likely to positively impact on the rights of domestic workers, is that Saudi Arabia  which has a sizable number of Sri Lankan domestic workers  recently announced that Saudi women would be allowed to drive. While the move will be legally effective in June 2018, it is also expected to result in greater womens participation in the workplace and the economy.

Nearly half of the 1 million+ Sri Lankan workers in West Asia are women employed as domestic workers. Many of these women face problems in the households they work in, often having to suffer abuse, assault, sexual harassment and non-payment of wages. While many amongst them face difficulties trapped in a web of anger, despair and helplessness, they escape from their sponsors only to meet a worse fate. Many end up either in detention camps, deportation or welfare centres run by the state for immigration-connected violations like loss of passports, expiration of the visa, or running away from a sponsor who refuses to release the exit permit or passport for multiple reasons.

As if reflecting my thoughts on migrant workers while typing this piece on a laptop, I could hear Kussi Amma Sera asking for my views, probably for the first time. The fact remains that if you dont respond to any of her queries, there is hell to pay in the house. The food lacks variety and spice and leaves and dirt gather in the front-yard.

One of the girls in the village in Kurunegala has problems abroad. Whom should her family contact here? she asked in Sinhala. I explained about the process and reaching out to the Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment which handles issues of this kind. However, it got me thinking as to whether the information flow on awareness about migrant workers and whom to contact in an emergency, particularly in Kurunegala where the largest number of domestic workers to West Asia comes from, is up-to-date and within easy reach of the families of women abroad.

While local authorities claim that the public is aware of whom to contact in an emergency, the reality is that much of the awareness is brought to the village through civil society organisations even to the extent of negotiating the release of a person in detention abroad. While a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since the terrible 2013 tragedy of under-age Sri Lankan domestic worker Rizana Nafeek, who was executed for smothering an infant in her care in Saudi Arabia, that case would never have reached the public domain the way it eventually did if not for civil society groups stepping in. Though it was too late, bitter lessons were learnt and employment agents are more cautious in sending under-age girls, though trafficking through Dubai continues with the Sri Lankan Government even detecting one case recently.

The state policy on the recruitment of women as domestic workers overseas is one of restriction. The policy is aimed at restricting the number of women going abroad as domestic workers, more out of concern over the issues they face in foreign lands. It is mostly unskilled or semi-skilled women who face problems in the workplace (mainly homes) where often issues or disagreements are one-sided, with employers getting their way even if workers are abused or harassed. Another restrictive provision is the mandatory Family Background Report (FBR) for women seeking overseas migrant employment in the domestic sector.

While this report is to ensure the care and protection of children of female domestic workers, a recent UN report saw this as an arbitrary measure which denied the right of many Sri Lankan women to migrate as domestic workers. While there is overwhelming acceptance of this circular being good and safeguarding children and the family, there is also discussion on the discriminatory nature of the circular that goes against the Constitutional commitments to gender equality and right to employment enjoyed by all women and men in Sri Lanka, the report noted.

Policies such as this should be crafted without discrimination or gender bias and ensure shared responsibilities, with the man in the house being equally responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and protection of children in a household. Unfortunately, a 2013 fundamental rights plea  seeking leave to proceed  filed by a courageous woman challenging the Government on her fundamental right to travel and against such movement being barred by her husband or any other official, was rejected by the Supreme Court. The court took the view that the rule was not gender discriminatory nor violated an individuals human rights and was based on the protection of women and children as many women have faced problems overseas. The ruling also referred to the culture and tradition in Sri Lanka where the woman in the family is a strong binding force.

While guidelines and policies in recent times are crafted more in line with deterring women from seeking employment abroad as domestic workers, which the Government often says are for the protection of children and ensuring a happy home rather than a broken one, new policies should ensure village communities will prepare for a future where mothers and young women see greater opportunities at home. Another reality is that most women seek jobs abroad as a means of escapism from abuse at home or relief from a dreary and heavily-burdened life as a homemaker.

As society increasingly moves towards an era of shared responsibilities in the home, local authorities  rather than enforcing ban-like conditions on women going abroad  must help upgrade the skills of migrants to make them employable as skilled house-keepers or care-givers, which is a growing need in the west and countries where the ageing population is rapidly rising.

However, all these issues pale into insignificance given new realities in West Asia where remittances from migrant workers have been dropping for the second year in succession owing to political instability, an economic slowdown and falling oil revenues, according to a report in the Business Times this week. This could also force the authorities to pay less attention to the remittances economy and focus on growing foreign exchange earners like tourism which is targeting 5 million arrivals in 2025 and heading fast towards being the countrys largest foreign-exchange earner. But missing in the equation, very often when discussing the sector that brings in the largest foreign exchange, is that tourism like garments (currently the second highest forex earner after remittances),has a sizable component of foreign exchange input in both garments and tourism , while remittances is a 100 per cent saving. The same yardstick would apply to tea exports in which the country gets a near 100 per cent benefit in foreign exchange, but has been upstaged by garments.

So while challenges continue for Sri Lankas female migrant workers to be able to work in a trouble-free environment, the new measures in the UAE aimed at providing a more decent work environment and women given greater responsibilities in Saudi Arabia are steps in the right direction towards enhancing the protection of Sri Lankan women working in West Asia.
SriLankan Airlines gets lifeline from Treasury By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):

In a last ditch attempt to maintain SriLankan Airlines till a foreign partner is found, the government has decided to infuse Rs.13.2 billion as a loan from two state banks, Bank of Ceylon (BOC) and the Peoples Bank (PB).

This came after a directive from the President to the airlines board of directors to turn it around or depart at a meeting in June in which the management was heavily criticised on management issues.

The President has given them time to prove results till last month (September). But no progress has been made up to now, official sources revealed.

In the meantime, the Government approved a proposal by State Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim seeking necessary funds from the Treasury for this purpose, official sources said.

The Treasury has issued two letters of guarantee to the PB and the BOC to provide a credit facility of Rs. 6.75 billion and Rs. 6.45 billion, respectively to meet the airlines financial requirements.

In March 2016, the then Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake directed the Treasury to provide funding to the ailing national carrier for six months, a senior Finance Ministry official said adding that this period lapsed in September last year.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in April 2016 to allow the Treasury to take over the airlines total debt of Rs. 461 billion and set up a joint venture to operate it profitably.

Minister Hashim, who is responsible for SriLankan, has been entrusted with the task of devising new strategies to turn around the loss-making airline within this period and rescue it from its deep financial mess.

The attempts made to restructure the national carrier under a public private partnership basis and the process of finding a new investor in the past 12 months has been unsuccessful up to now.

The airline has submitted a restructuring plan recently to the government to reduce its debts and achieve breakeven point in the short-to medium term.

The plan is to downsise the group while operating its ground handling and engineering as separate entities under separate managements, and purchasing fuel at competitive prices, etc.

The accumulated loss of the airline had risen to over Rs.170 billion, he said adding that it has recorded a profit of Rs.4.4 billion in 2008 and thereafter suffered heavy losses amounting to Rs. 107 billion under the administration of the then chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe, brother-in-law of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Adding insult to a very deep constitutional injury View(s):

Sneaky strategies adopted by the Government to smuggle hasty amendments to the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act at the committee stage so as to transform that Amendment into an entirely strange creature altogether must be condemned, strongly and categorically.

A nightmare becomes real

Such wily tricks on the part of those in political power are not unknown to us. Previous Governments also attempted to twist Bills employing this device. Anxious care was taken when Bills were constitutionally challenged in the past therefore to ensure that no committee stage amendments were brought in later so as to reverse judicial rulings already made.

In the mid 199Os when the Supreme Court took its constitutional role of checking executive and legislative excesses with due solemnity, I recall perturbed conversations following the Courts jurisdiction being invoked, as to what preventive action could be taken if, in fact, entire sets of committee stage amendments were passed bypassing public scrutiny. At that point, the dangers were intermittent. None involved pasting entirely different amendments to a Bill of a much different character. Now it appears as if this nightmare has indeed become real, ironically under the seal of the yahapalanaya (good governance) administration.

In this instance, the exercise is both blatant and unscrupulous so as to circumvent a recent ruling of the Court. It effects amendments (totally unrelated to the initial Amendment) which interalia, results in the postponement of provincial polls. This is certainly not a feat that this Government should be proud of. More than a decade ago, it had been sternly warned by the Court that the power given to the Commissioner of Elections to determine the date of polls is not merely symbolic. It is a substantive power and must be exercised independently. That reasoning holds true even now.

This is not responsible law making

Surely these dubious machinations could not have been intended when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, enveloped rosily in the 2015 election euphoria, promised that Parliament would return to responsible law making. Yet what is happening now is exactly the converse of what was promised. In the first instance, Sri Lanka allows only for judicial review of Bills rather than scrutiny of unconstitutional laws. This is the very anti-thesis of a democratic process. Advocates had long been fighting for this to be changed. Denying even that slim window of opportunity for public challenge by a devious tactic of committee stage amendments is adding insult to a very deep constitutional injury.

It also exposes the 19th Amendment to be farcical in its avowed objective of reversing past constitutional degradations. And in a context where the legislative process is instrumentally subverted, how can discussions on reform of the Constitution take place with any credibility, I may ask with reason? It beggars the imagination as to how good citizens of Colombo who flock with delight to seminars and discussions on constitutional reform can afford to look away when this flouting of the legislative mandate takes place. On the contrary, these honourable gentlemen and gentlewomen should hang their heads in shame, if shame is indeed an emotion that is still experienced. Out there and beyond the artificial comfort of the Colombo bubble Sri Lanka voters grasp precisely what is going on. And their displeasure is great, make no mistake about that.

Let us take the facts. Here was an Amendment which was unimpeachable at first blush, relating to a minimum quota for women candidates. It attracted no critical scrutiny. Then the Government had the brazen effrontery to take the Bill and use it to stare down a decision of the Court which decided, on a constitutional interpretation of relevant provisions, that Parliament cannot extend the term of provincial councils without the approval of the people at a referendum and a two-thirds majority in the House as the franchise was affected. No doubt, this exercise is an insult to the very campaign for a quota for women candidates given the casual and contemptuous use of a long needed corrective for a very different purpose.

Setting a disastrous precedent

Some have attempted to defend this on the apparent logic that the amendments were progressive on the whole and that therefore, the means of passing them should be winked at. But this is most unacceptable reasoning. It is exactly the same rationale in play when a Chief Justice was removed from his seat by a letter of the President weeks after the 2015 election victory, cheered on by the Bar and other sundry groups. Certainly the profound unsuitability of this gentleman to occupy that seat had been well proven during the Rajapaksa period, as observed trenchantly in these column spaces.

However, the means employed to eject him from that seat set a disastrous precedent. At the time, it caused many of us, including this columnist, to look askance at contradictions between yahapalanaya rhetoric and the reality. Now these contradictions have become so problematic so as to impact on the very integrity of the unity alliance, to the dismay of all those who hoped for a genuine change in 2015.

Of course, the hypocrisy of Rajapaksa loyalists in their dancing on political platforms and leveling shots at the subversion of the Amendment is palpable. These characters can scarce afford to talk of democracy when they were responsible for the violation of every single norm in the rule book. Equally, those who have taken upon themselves to file a legal challenge to the amendments, were responsible for chaos and political controversy during their tenure in office. Talk of interventions in the public interest in these contexts must be taken with more than the proverbial pinch of salt. Regardless however, the issue must be distanced from personalities, good or bad as they may be.

Bitter lessons forthcoming in the future

In sum, there is little doubt that bitter lessons will be taught to those who imprudently gamble with constitutional imperatives. History teaches this to very good effect. The postponement of provincial polls will not accomplish anything very much. It will only postpone the inevitable. Where the popular mandate is concerned and if that hope in 2015 to be captured anew, the Government must look to changing its own dynamic with the people. Its badly battered financial probity must be restored. Democratically cancerous tactics of effecting committee stage amendments to change the basic structure of a proposed amendment must be abandoned.

In the default, grand talk of constitutional reforms makes little sense.
Guess who didnt come for Diyawanna Lakeside party? The House hosts 70-year birthday bash but over 70 MPs fail to show up to blow the candles on anniversary cake View(s): View(s):

Compared to the 200-year-old mother of all parliaments, Britains Westminster, which blushes to be reminded of her age like any old Grande Dame would blush crimson to be told the candles will cost more than the cake, Lankas 70-year-old parliament looks like a teeny bopper still to come of age.

And, going by the recent wild antics enacted there in public glare, a delinquent kid at that. But can you really blame it if it sometimes acts punk and goes off its rocker, given the sort who habituate its hallowed environs?

But first a brief stroll down the streets of history.

The British parliament evolved to its present ennobled state with the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 when the feudal chieftains rebelled against King John of England to wrest from him not the divine right to rule  that happened later with Cromwell  but to subject its absolute authority to the principle that the king shall not levy or collect taxes without the Royal Councils consent.

No one, not even the feudal barons of those medieval times, set out to create a parliament on that sceptred isle of England in the manner the Greeks of old had done in Athens? Like Hinduism evolved in India from the grassroots thousands of years ago  the only major religion that has no founder  parliamentary democracy in England evolved sans any messiah to proclaim its advent or outline its shape and form or declare its tenets. And, it took eight hundred years in the making to gain its present form, warts and all.

It took eight centuries of going through the furnace, where revolts were ablaze, where wars were common strife and invasions were but mares of the night to trouble the peace of every Englishmans peace of mind, to make the British mettle of democracy to prove the sterling quality of its Sheffield steel. Not to forget, of course, that it also withstood and transcended serial divorcee King Henry the Eights tempestuous love life which resulted in a born again Catholicism in Englands royal courts and in its sleepy shires : Anglican Christianity.

The British earned their democracy with blood, sweat, toil and tears. They didnt codify it and put articles and clauses in writing on paper. The struggles to earn their freedoms were writ in blood in the fleshy slab of their beating beefy British hearts. The Americans had to undergo a bitter battle to ratify the proposed American constitution to merit their Bill of Rights over two hundred years ago; and the part it played in dousing the flames of anguish the people bore during that dark period of the new found lands infancy, when the new born nation was struggling to unite the vast land into one single entity and make it whole, has made the American people place it upon the nations altar and sing hosannas in praise of its sacrosanct value.

But unlike nations which had paid in blood to find the Holy Grail of Democracy and having found it, treasured, cherished and guarded it, and were even prepared to die for it, thrice blessed Lanka received its fourth blessing on a platter, even as she received her independence in 1948  a departing gift from the British left on a silver tray, silk wrapped with a polite note to the then local political elite to make the best of it.

If Indias greatest religious gift to Lanka was Buddhism, then the greatest political present the departing British left behind as a souvenir when it said its last farewell and took sail to England, was Democracy. History will judge whether this nation had used it wisely or squandered it rashly.

How the people of Lanka has used both gifts, one an altruistic gift from a benevolent emperor of a neighboring country to enhance religious and moral values amongst the natives; the other a parting gift from a departing conqueror to make a slavish race break free from its feudal bondage and rise free to walk the land as free men, endowed with dignity on par with the rest of enlightened humanity, fortunate enough to be bestowed with the knowledge that all men are created equal: that Democracy levels all in its air like death does in the dust.

But whilst 2,300 years of Buddhism have sunk deep into the Sinhala sub conscience that to a great extent the noble philosophy, though attendant with a plethora of rituals, still influences the thoughts and guides the conduct of the majority of the masses, alas, the same cannot be said of the British gift of democracy.

Once, perhaps 70 years ago when the nation dropped out of its bassinet where it has been cradled for over 400 years by foreign domination, the toy the British left behind in 1948 for the new toddler to play with may have seemed fascinating, especially for the elders in the natives nursery who had sucked the British teat and drunk deep its milk and thus knew how to handle the plaything with care.

But down these last seventy years, it seems that Parliament, where Democracy is enshrined and resides incarnate, has somewhat lost its sheen of pristine virtue due to the invocations made at its altar by the privileged few allowed to worship therein, petitions made solely to better themselves and not the general welfare of the Lankan public, implorations made to seek more and more  both in terms of power and money  to better their own lot and feather their own nests to the almost total exclusion of the nations public.

And the fear is whether the shocked and horrified reigning deity had fled the shrine in disgust; and whether, perhaps, the nation pays its respects and offers its flowers to a nonexistent God. Though those who hold the keys to this Oracle of Lankas Diyawanna make us believe in its omnipresence and exploit its omnipotence to achieve their own vile mercenary ends.

Consider a short list of how the sovereignty of Parliament has been used to further the power and the fortunes of politicians who dwelled in its chambers or exerted gripping control over it  all done, of course, for the nations good, for the public weal  as they will tell us.

In 1972, after winning a record two thirds majority two years before, the SLFP-LSSP coalition government headed by Mrs. Bandaranaike and led by the leftist Dr. N. M. Perera used the awesome power the nations electorate had bestowed upon them, to promulgate a new constitution the people had never asked for. It cut the last string of the umbilical cord which had bound Ceylon to Britain, turned the colonial name to Sri Lanka  the resplendent isle  and severed the right of the citizens of the new named land from having access to Englands Privy Council and hold it as the final court of Appeal.

It cracked down on the freedom of free speech and nationalised the Wijewardena family owned Lake House group of newspapers by using its majority in Parliament to pass the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Special Provisions) Law No. 28 of 1973. It used the Emergency Regulations to seal, in 1974, the Davasa group of newspapers owned by the Gunasena family  for which act its founder Sepala Gunasena was awarded the Commonwealths Astor Award for defense of press freedom in Sri Lanka  and used Parliament every month  as the law demanded  to ratify the state of emergency; and used the same emergency powers to extend their five-year term of office by a further two years.

Were these done, was Parliament power used to better the lot of the Lankan citizen or to sate the insatiable private megalomania of politicians?

In 1977, after the public had booted out the coalition in no uncertain terms muttering under their breath good riddance of bad rubbish, UNPs J. R. Jayewardene blew in from the cold with a massive five sixth majority in Parliament. He immediately proceeded to use his power in the House to radically change the supremacy of Parliament by throwing to the dustbin the previous regimes constitution and, in its stead, promulgated a new one which proclaimed him as Executive President.

Perhaps it had been the need of the hour for a nation whose romance with democracy was still to bloom to lifelong matrimony, whose flirtation with democracy had proved dismal and whose hopes had sunk to the doldrums. After seven years of a winter of discontent under SLFP-LSSP rule, they awaited the sunshine JR promised he would bring with the new constitution.

With hindsight it can be safely said that it is JRs constitution that pulled the nation from the brink. It laid the very legal basis for Lanka to come of age as a modern state. Whilst it permitted JR to avoid a presidential election in 1982 by using its provisions of a referendum to decide on the matter, neither JR nor his constitution can be blamed if the public of this country chose to vote for the lamp and not for the pot and thus enable JR to rule as president. Plus it has served successive presidents and governments very well.

Whilst enjoying all the powers of the executive presidency, it has served as a convenient scapegoat upon which to heap all the blame for their own failures. And called for its slaughter as the panacea for the nations malady

In 2010, Mahinda Rajapaksa used his two third majority in Parliament  gained not from the electorate but with the help of jumping MPs who needed no ladders to cross over the fence  for the explicit purpose of perpetuating his reign as president for all time not only in the fervent belief in his own immortality but in the ardent trust that, having won the terrorist war  as he said  singlehanded, the Sinhalese held him as king and worshipped him as demi god and would always vote for him.

In the run up to the 2015 presidential election, the then joint oppositions common candidate Maithripala Sirisena also vowed before the nation in 2014 to abolish the constitution within 100 days but when he gained the presidency on the 9th of January 2015, he found his own party divided with some in the Rajapaksa nest, flying to and fro from one nest to the other.

But it is to his credit that he managed to rally all forces and use Parliament to pass the 19th Amendment to the constitution with more than a two thirds majority; and, in the manner Sri Sangabo of the Jatakas cut off his head and handed it over to a passing stranger merely because he asked for it, voluntarily chose to emasculate his presidential powers purely because he believed the Lankan public wanted it.

But the sanctity of Parliaments temple where the sovereignty of the people lie enshrined has not only been used  with the singular exception of Sirisena  to enhance and consolidate the powers of successive presidents. It has also been abused to vulgarly increase the perks and privileges of its own members whilst callously taxing the commoners wallet.

And, if the Rajapaksa Government was guilty of doing so to keep the members happy and supportive of their regime at the expense of the taxpayer, so is the present Maithripala-Ranil regime guilty of the same offence. These last two and a half years, whilst the masses have been burdened by the escalating cost of living with no corresponding rise in pay, members of the present parliament have embarked upon an unprecedented earning spree. They have used their privileged position in Parliament to vote for themselves duty free cars which can be sold overnight to earn for themselves a neat cool 30 million bucks, granted themselves a hundred thousand bucks monthly allowance to spend as they wish, an increased allowance for fuel and mobile calls and many more too numerous to mention. One thing can be said to their credit: When it came to serving themselves with their own spoon, they havent stinted, but have used the parliamentary spoon as a trowel.

They have gained all this and more whilst appealing to the public to tighten their belts and practise austerity since the nations international debt of over 9000 billion demands the masses to live a Spartan existence. They have gained all this and more only because the people of this country had sent them to occupy the privileged seats of Parliament from which they had risen from both sides of the chamber to serve their plates full, go for seconds, top it up with dessert and still have room to hold audacity in their bellies to ask for more.

They are what they are today because of Parliament. The sad part is that they attend in full force when the canteen is open and shun it like the plague when the puffed pastries, cream tarts and the rich scones are not on offer for the day

Is it too much for the people to expect them to show an iota of gratitude to the House of the peoples representatives, the Parliament which has spoiled them with so much hospitality, to show up at the seventieth anniversary of its founding? Apparently yes, it seems.

This Tuesday whilst the nation celebrated the seventieth anniversary of the Sri Lankan Parliament  said to be the oldest in South Asia  one third of its members opted to give the birthday bash a convenient miss. Their conspicuous absence was not to make some silent political statement or to signal their protest over some bee in their parliamentary bonnet. It was purely indifference, apathy, a callous disregard for the edifice that embodies the peoples sovereignty. There was nothing to be gained financially, perhaps, that day, no chance to vote for another pay rise in their favour and so they stayed away.

On October 3rd Tuesday, the President of the nation was present as the chief guest on this celebratory occasion. Above in the Speakers gallery were the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the Parliaments of SAARC nations invited by the Lankan Government as honoured guests to witness Lanka celebrate seventy years of her Parliaments existence. Also present were members of the diplomatic corp.

On the floor of the House the Prime Minister of the nation Ranil Wicremesinghe touchingly spoke in the House, extolling the value of the Lankan Parliament and said: Today we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of this assembly. We have not only safeguarded 70 years of democracy but also set a record. We have a parliamentary tradition that goes back 116 years.

But wonder what the distinguished SAARC guests and the diplomatic corps, invited to witness democracy in action in Lanka and a brimming Parliament packed to the full on such an historic occasion, thought of the great parliamentary tradition that goes back 116 years that the PM spoke of, when they saw from their lofty perch the chamber below lay naked and bare with one third of its seats unoccupied by its members.

Those seventy odd members who did not turn up to grace the occasion had kept away on that Worlds Temperance Day not for any political reason but purely because they had nothing personal to gain from attending it: in the self same manner of those given to drink who did not turn up at their regular water holes on October 3rd, Worlds Temperance Day, because they knew the shutters were down and no drink would be available on the table.

Next time Parliament celebrates another milestone of its existence, the Prime Minister would be well advised to add a PS to the invitation to the MPs of the House: That after the ceremonies are over and the cake is cut and the candles blown with best wishes for the nation, a vote will be taken to increase the allowances to be given to every MP. That way, at last, he can ensure a full house.

Commiserations, Mr. President: Korean Kim nuked your Nobel Peace Prize hopes

If there was one man in the world who deserved to win the Nobel Peace Prize  next to Americas Trump of course  it would undoubtedly have been Sri Lankas Sirisena. For the first time in the history of the Nobel Peace Awards a Sri Lankan President was nominated and short listed to win the prestigious prize which also carries with it a cash reward of approximately a million dollars for services rendered to world peace.

The Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO) nominated President Sirisena and had shortlisted him to win this years coveted Nobel Peace Prize. For the last fifteen years, based on their independent assessments, this organization offers their personal assessment of persons or organisations that deserve to be shortlisted for the award. In their citation they said:

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has initiated a comprehensive set of reconciliatory initiatives to heal the wounds of the civil war which culminated in a military onslaught by the state military on the Tamil Tigers in 2009. Sirisenas insistence on inclusive reconciliation, therefore, stands out as an example to be followed, especially in a situation where support of the International Criminal Court and other transitional justice mechanisms is deteriorating. In early 2017, the Sri Lankan Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanism released its final report. This goes hand in hand with a range of other efforts, including a consultative process of constitutional reforms. Resistance from the political opposition is real, and so are the prospects for failure. The President himself is susceptible to criticism, having held position in the former government that overran the LTTE. A Nobel Peace Prize to President Sirisena would fit a tradition of honouring pragmatic leaders who show political courage and it would draw attention to reconciliation as a key to sustainable peace. Take a bow Mr. President for being the one and only lucky Lankan Head of State to be so nominated and so honoured. You have done Lanka proud, just by being shortlisted. But, as they say theres many a slip between the cup and the lip. And when the Nobel Committee decided on Friday and announced that this years Nobel peace Prize would go to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) it barely came as any surprise. With Trump and Kim engaged in a nuclear duel and with the existence of the world at stake, it was obvious that world interest  American interests  would soar above all else; and that the efforts a Lankan President made in trying to reconcile 15 million Sinhalese with 2 or 4 million Tamils in an island less than 25,000 square miles in size would pale into insignificance. As the Nobel Committee that awards the Nobel Peace Prize, funded by the fortune its founder Alfred Nobel earned as the inventor of dynamite, would put it nothing personal but even a small NGO advocating nuclear disarmament must take precedence especially when American interests are at stake.

Commiserations Mr. President. It seems that one of the long range missiles that Kim Jong-un aimed to fly over Japan and land near Guam off the American coast had gone out of control and veered its way to blast at your doorstep and blow your Nobel Peace prize hopes
Mangala did what others should have done View(s):

What do Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and our yahapalanaya leaders have in common? A wall of silence that is what it is! When Myanmars military turned its guns on a community that has long been considered outcasts and denied any semblance of nationhood and went on a burning spree hand in glove with Buddhist hardliners, tens of thousands of Rohingyas fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.

It is well known now that a major humanitarian crisis had developed on our doorstep. While the world was crying out for help as it did when thousands of fleeing refugees from North Africa were dying to reach safety on European shores, Aung San Suu Kyi, that angel of peace and compassion, remained silent for days over the plight of the people to whom she had promised reconciliation.

For days nothing was heard from Myanmars civilian leader who the west had embraced for decades as the one who had the popular support to turn Myanmar around and establish democratic governance. Eventually when she did speak there was no condemnation of the perpetrators of what the world was beginning to identify as brutal ethnic cleansing. Nor were there any words of compassion, sympathy and hope for the victims who were pouring into Bangladesh with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

While this tragic drama was unfolding to the Northeast of us, a sub plot was being played out in the outskirts of Colombo. Some 30-odd Rohingya asylum seekers, mainly women and children, accommodated in a safe-house by the UNHCR since April this year suddenly came under attack by a mob led by Buddhist monks (one presumes so as they were in saffron robes) who breached the gates and threatened the inmates with violence.

They had finally to be moved to the Boossa detention centre for their safety. Was our yahapalanaya government that is quick to preach ahimsa, metta and karuna moved to utter a few words of sympathy for the victims and prevail on the forces of law and order to act promptly? The silence of the government was deafening.

One must surely be thankful for Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera who swiftly stepped into the breach. It was not Minister Samaraweeras call  the Media Minister has no real role in this  yet he did what others should have done.

In a video statement he said I condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack against the Rohingya refugees who were under the care of the UNHRC in Mt. Lavinia by a group of thugs in robes. In fact, I condemn these actions not only as the Minister in charge of Media but also condemn as a Buddhist, a Buddhist who is very proud of the fact that Buddhism is a religion of non-violence and compassion.

He said the group of refugees, 30 of them from Myanmar, were rescued at sea by the Sri Lankan Navy in April this year and they were under the care of the UNHRC waiting to be resettled elsewhere in the US or Canada.

In fact this is not the first time Sri Lanka has given temporarily shelter to such refugees. Way back in March 2008, the Navy rescued survivors of a boat after they were found adrift in the high seas. They were kept here until 2012 the year they were resettled in the US, he said.

The minister said in a separate incident in 2013, the navy rescued two boat loads of Rohingya survivors from a shipwreck in the Eastern coast of Sri Lanka.

Thirty two of these refugees were kept under the care of the UNHRC until they were settled in the US and Canada, he said.

Samaraweera, as a long time foreign minister knew the importance of reacting promptly before the indifference of the Sri Lanka Government and its seeming refusal to condemn the threats and violence against an innocent group of people awaiting settlement reached the international media already alerted to what was happening in our neighbourhood.

While Samaraweera must deserve our thanks for acting where others failed to recognise the importance of a quick condemnation before the spotlight turned on Sri Lankas indifference to the pitiful plight of a group of innocent people, he is still not the government.

Mangala Samaraweera is but an individual minister even though through years of experience in the international arena he took it upon himself to condemn the rowdy conduct of a group of thugs, particularly so when these asylum seekers were under the care and protection of a UN agency.

Sometime after Mangala Samaraweeras unmitigated condemnation Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne also added his voice to condemn the attack by a hardline Sinhala group and some Buddhist monks: This is not what the Buddha taught. We have to show compassion to these refugees. These monks who carried out the attacks are actually not monks, but animals.

What sticks in the craw is the absence of word of condemnation for this unprovoked attacked from President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Surely it is the leaders of the government  its president or prime minister- who should have been the first to do so.

These 31 Rohingyas, mainly women and children, are not terrorists as the mob of civilians and monks tried to portray. They are victims of a regime in Myanmar that presents a civilian face but is in reality a military junta that has not fully abdicated its role as the overlords of a country that refuses to lift its military jackboot.

During the three and a half years I spent in Bangkok I had close contacts with diplomats, journalists and Burmese people who painted a different picture from the one usually displayed by some western nations and their political and diplomatic representatives keen to provide Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar a clean bill of health.

If Suu Kyi is trying to protect her flanks by not uttering a word of condemnation against the extremist Buddhist monks such as Ashin Wirathu who are armed with weapons of hate instead of the Dhammapada, and the military, one might see a similar enactment by the yahapalanaya leaders who take refuge in the Buddha, dhamma and the sangha but actually hover behind the soiled saffron robes of the discredited thugs and others in military uniform.

Did Sri Lanka and the world have to wait for a cabinet meeting to hear the governments condemnation of the thugs and hoodlums who attacked the UNHCR safe house and utter a word of compassion for the victims when our leaders are ever ready to rush in with tokens of sorrow when terrorists attack European cities.

Some might well say that our leaders are ready to grovel in the dust, as it were, to ingratiate themselves to western politicians but cannot find the time to utter a few words of apology to victims of mob rule in the country they lead.

The way the GMOA treats our leaders even threatening to strike without warning shows the abject disregard in which they hold this government.

It is not just the GMOA that acts this way. Last Sunday I wrote about the shenanigans going on in our national carrier called SriLankan Airlines. A few days later the news broke that its chairman Ajith Dias had proposed that his CEO Suren Ratwatte be given a bonus of Rs.10 million.

Heaven only knows what prompted this though the chairman has tried to make a puerile case to justify it which has set others laughing like hyenas. Does this chairman have nothing called shame to even propose granting such a sum as a bonus payment when the airline is on its last legs? Is he and his CEO so dumb that they cannot fathom the criticisms that have been following them like their own shadows at the way they manage the airline.

When such largesse is offered from within is it any wonder that Suren Ratwatte was suggesting that the airlines board of directors be allowed to run it without any intervention from higher up?

Just the other day the chairman of COPE Sunil Handunneti said that there were 190 employees of SriLankan who were earning rupees one million or more a month and top officials earning Rs.4 million.

However battered and bruised they are by the public, SriLankans managers will continue on the merry way until the airline drops its fuselage on the heads of the yahapalanaya leaders. Such is the lackadaisical attitude of our leaders to a failing enterprise though they try to hoodwink the public by promising stern action such as reconstituting the board of directors.

President Sirisena and his prime minister are probably too busy studying the world map to see what countries they have not travelled to yet and probably making plans to do so. No wonder they have not much time for running the country.

So saffron-robed persons and civilian extremist thugs can do what they want and airline bosses can share the loot without a care in the world. Our leaders who said they would only serve one term are now preparing for a second. Why worry about those who call themselves Rohingyas. There are those in coloured robes to take care of them, no.
One more hurdle next week to clear path for local council elections in 2018 View(s):

Election Commission Chairman gives extensive interview explaining why elections were delayed; wards being carved out, three lists from each party

Deshapriya says peoples will needs to be expressed freely and fairly in scheduled elections; quips that no one knows when polls will be held in Sri Lanka

By Our Political Editor

State machinery has begun to grind slowly but surely for local government elections in January next year but a Provincial Council poll is shrouded by more uncertainty over new procedural and legal issues.

Blueprints are ready with the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government to ensure nominations next month for polls in the third week of January next year. There are 335 local bodies  271 Pradeshiya Sabhas, 41 Urban Councils and 23 Municipal Councils. A formal announcement will come in the form of a Gazette notification to be issued by the Minister. Blueprints are already being prepared by the Ministry and the likely poll dates are either January 20 or 27 next year.

Of course, that is after the Government clears one more hurdle. That would be the string of amendments it will move on Monday (October 9) in Parliament. These are at the second reading of The Municipal Councils (Amendment) Bill, The Urban Councils (Amendment) Bill and The Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment) Bill. That will empower the Minister to publish a new gazette notification, said Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya.

For example, he said the Minister has to announce that the Colombo Municipal Council should elect 66 members through First Past the Post (FPP) and 44 through Proportional Representation. It will bring down the number of members in the CMC to 110 from 113. Yet, the earlier number of members of the CMC, which now stands dissolved, is 53. Similarly, Deshapriya said, in the Ambalangoda Urban Council it would be 12 members elected via FPP and eight through PR. Previously, he noted, the Minister had to only give the limits of a local government body and the number to be elected in a gazette notification. The numbers in each body would vary, he pointed out.

The Election Commission hopes that by the coming Tuesday Speaker Karu Jayasuriya will sign the declaration that the three amended statutes are duly passed. Deshapriya said, We will have to certify that it is the Electoral Register for 2017 on which the local polls will be held. Such a certification will take place on October 12 on a ward by ward basis. There are 4,000 such wards, he said. We need another week to ten days to issue notice. That is likely on October 20.

Earlier, the Election Commission had planned to formally announce elections to three Provincial Councils (PCs) on October 2. This is for PCs for Sabaragamuwa (term ended on September 26), North Central (term ended on September 30) and Eastern (term ended on October 1). However, the Provincial Council Elections (Amendment) Act was taken up in Parliament a fortnight back calling a halt to all its plans and arrangements.

The new law, Deshapriya said, has changed the entire system. The 70: 30 ratio for elections (FPP and PR) was changed to 60:40. Female representation of 25%, which in terms of the original bill was through a separate list, was brought into the PR list. The new system incorporated in the law that was passed is 100 per cent Proportional Representation. Winners in the wards will be elected but the rest will come from the list. The Commission has to ensure that 25 percent of the female members are included. Earlier, the winners at a PC election were picked through a Preference Vote (or a manape). There are no more losers. We will distribute the seats via the PR system, Deshapriya said.

Deshapriya declared that everyone was asking why he announced that Provincial Council elections would be held in January next year. He said he made the remarks on the basis that there were only three days when a PC poll was possible in December. That too were Saturdays. They were December 2, 9 and 16. We could not have had it on December 2 because the day before that was Milad-un-Nabi, Prophet Muhammeds birthday. December 3 was a Poya Day. GCE (OL) examination has been scheduled to begin on December 16. Thus, we cannot use the schools as polling stations. Therefore, the only date available was December 9. Those are the reasons. The requirement was that we had to decide on PC elections 70 to 75 days from end of October. After the GCE (OL) examination it was not only the Christmas holidays. It is mandatory that Government sector accounts would have to be completed before the end of December. We cannot therefore deploy state officers for election duties during that period. Hence, the dates available January next year were suitable but other reasons prevented it, added Deshapriya.

The passage of the Provincial Councils Election (Amendment) Bill has generated a controversy. Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva is among those who have filed fundamental rights petition before the Supreme Court. Silva told the Sunday Times yesterday, I am challenging an executive or administrative action. What he was alluding to was that he was not pitting the judiciary against the legislature by challenging a legislative action. Fundamental Rights action can be determined by the Supreme Court only on executive or administrative actions. He blamed Speaker Karu Jayasuriya for declaring that the law as duly approved in Parliament. Responding to the remarks, Jayasuriya said, it is up to the Supreme Court to adjudicate over the claims. I am not required to offer explanations. See box story for remarks by the former Chief Justice.

The Elections Commission Chief emphasised: According to our Constitution, franchise is the most important thing. You cannot deny franchise. Sovereignty belongs to the people. I have often told the public that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1947 contains 30 articles. Twenty one of them exhort the fact that the foundation of any country must be the peoples will. The peoples will must be expressed freely and fairly in scheduled elections,

He said Sri Lanka had signed that Protocol in 1955. However, he declared that the Election Commission cannot break the law. We cannot protest about it or burn tyres on the streets. We can only educate the public that we are in no way responsible for any postponement of elections.

Chairman Deshapriya spoke to the Sunday Times from his third floor office at Rajagiriya. A past pupil of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda, Deshapriya guffawed when I asked him about the blue collarless T-shirt he wore. Perhaps due to the mild chill in weather caused by a heavy downfall of rain, he wore it. It noticeably sported the Royal College emblem with the Latin words Disce Aut Discede (Learn or Depart). His wealth of knowledge over political parties and past elections flowed interspersed with anecdotes. At one point, he noted that the laws are made by lawmakers. They are defined by the Supreme Court. We cannot cut the Gordian knot, he said in his husky voice. The Gordian knot is a legend associated with Alexander the Great. It is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem (disentangling an impossible knot) solved easily by finding a loophole or thinking creatively. In another instance, he drew an analogy borrowed from a colleague in the Commission. He said in order to protect his poultry, the owner chose to place his dog outside it. It helped protect the poultry but the owner soon discovered that his entire house had been robbed.

Deshapriya said that no one is able to discern an election schedule in Sri Lanka anymore. This was the result of a metamorphosis the Local Government Ordinance of 1946 went through. In 1991, 1997, 2001 and 2011 LG (Local Government) elections were conducted at regular intervals. However, in 1969 the schedule was interrupted. There were no elections due to the State of Emergency that prevailed. The then Government (the UNP was in office) postponed the elections. It introduced the District Development Council elections to replace the Urban Council, Town Council and the Village Council. We even had by-elections. The last such one was the Suduwella seat in the Colombo Municipal Council in March 1971. This was how Sirisena Cooray entered politics. The Government then introduced the PR system for the entire country. However, this was sans preference votes.

In 1981, District Development Council elections were held under the Proportional Representation System. There were some unfortunate incidents in the North. The election to Jaffna DDC was one of the worst. In 1987 the then Government introduced preference votes or the manape system. We were ready for elections thereafter but the disturbances after the signing of the Indo-Lanka Accord prevented them. They were put off.

It was the Karu Jayasuriya-Dinesh Gunawardena Parliamentary Select Committee that recommended a mix of first-past-the post and PR system of polls. The latter was to make provision to include some of the losers. This received legal effect through Act No 22 in 2012. This law conferred wide powers on the Minister in charge of the subject of local government. The system had undergone a remarkable change. Using the powers vested, the Minister began to extend the terms of local bodies. Ahead of elections, the Minister is required to publish a gazette giving the limits of the local body and the number of members to be elected. There were technical defects in the law. We had to point these out.

When lawmakers changed laws, they sometimes omitted existing provisions or did not make enabling provisions in the same or another related statute. Nevertheless, there are such other errors still existent. Between 2012 and 2013 we wrote letters to the Secretary to the Ministry of Local Government. We said that in order to conduct local body elections, Deshapriya pointed out, we needed certain technical defects to be changed through amending legislation or through a gazette notification by the Election Commission. One such error, for example, is the legal definition of an Authorised Agent. The provision had been omitted. In effect, that meant that the General Secretary of a recognised political party or a group of independents could not nominate any other on their behalf. Hence, the General Secretary had to execute a humanly impossible task  be present at the same time at all centres that were to receive nominations. He had only two and half days  the period set out for nominations  to do so.

Deshapriya pointed out that some are of the view that these could be corrected by a gazette notification issued by the Election Commission.

The fact that Parliament is meeting on a Monday to clear these Bills is proof enough the Government has its sights on the local government elections. Thereafter, the Speaker will have to certify that the three Bills were duly passed by Parliament. It is only then that the Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister will issue a Gazette notification. Expectations are that the Minister will Gazette them later this month. It would be mandatory for the Election Commission to conduct the elections within 75 days. January 20 next year is being spoken in Government circles as the possible date for local government elections with nominations in the latter part of November this year. Earlier, the Election Commission had opined informally that January 13 was the ideal date. However, it has turned out to be unsuitable on account of Thai Pongal when Hindus celebrate their harvest festival.

No one in this universe knows when exactly any election could be held in Sri Lanka, quipped Deshapriya, The Election Commission, he said, is of the opinion that the local government elections are unusually late. He recounted the recent causes for the delay: In amending the 2012 local government law, there is a clause which says the Minister can appoint another review committee when the Delimitation Committee Report is forwarded. Therefore, in November 2015, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister (Faiszer Musthapha) appointed a Committee headed by Ashoka Peiris with four representatives from the political parties (United National Party, United Peoples Freedom Alliance, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi).

This Committee and the Local Government Minister had an All-Party Conference in December 2015 and declared that their report would be out in three months. They said elections can be held in April 2016. In April the Elections Commission was appointed and as the Chairman of the Commission, I expressed doubts and said more time would be taken. I said if everything is completed the elections can be held in 75 days. The Ashoka Peiris Committee report was made available only in February 2017. Minister Musthpha had gazetted it on February 17, 2017. The review is over and the people questioned as why elections cannot be held. We needed the boundaries, technical defaults needed to be corrected and also we needed the number of members to be elected.

While these processes were on in 2016, the Government introduced a new Act to increase women representation. According to this Act, there must be a minimum of 25 percent female members in the Council. They must be brought in from a separate list. The earlier system was for people to contest from a ward and when they win and another number is selected from the losers list.

This means there would be three nominations lists, one to contest (from wards), one to be selected from the losers and another one for female members. In Colombo (MC) there would have been 66 from votes, 19 from losers list and 28 females  altogether 113. Earlier the council had only 53 members. The 28 females are compulsory. Therefore, you can understand why the Commission cannot call for elections  because we do not know the exact number. The Minister must gazette it.

We started writing to the minister earlier about the technical faults. They started working only in 2015. Minister Musthapha gazetted the number of members in April 2017. He put the effective date as July 1, 2017.

But in July he submitted a draft Bill to Parliament to clear the technical faults. But as we had the wards and the numbers, our plan was to announce the elections in the first week of July. But the minister issued another gazette on June 30, 2017 and postponed the effective date as October 2. 2017. Therefore we could not go ahead with the plan to conduct elections,

Political parties joining the election fray are busy. The SLFPs pro-Sirisena members will contest under the UPFA banner. On Thursday, President Sirisena continued his one-on-one dialogue with SLFP parliamentarians. Discussions, like at their Tamarind Hill meeting in Galle last week, are centring on electoral matters including the upcoming polls. The other main contender, the UNP, is busy picking candidates. The third formidable player, the Joint Opposition is yet to formulate its common alliance and field candidates as a joint entity. There, the JO leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, who for all purposes now heads the Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) will wield considerable clout in picking candidates. Sri Lankans will have to wait at least till January next year for a readout of the political barometer  whether the coalition now ruling them is as popular as it was when elected. That in essence will be the outcome of the local council poll.

Citizen Silva to challenge way PC laws were passed

I am appearing before the Supreme Court as a citizen of Sri Lanka and thus exercising my Constitutional right, former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said yesterday.He pointed out that Article 126 of the Constitution lays down, that the Supreme Court shall have the sole and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any question relating to the infringement or imminent infringement by executive or administrative action of any fundamental right or language right declared and recognised by Chapter III or Chapter IV. He was commenting on the fundamental rights application he has filed before the Supreme Court challenging the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act No 17 of 2017. His petition is three fold: (1) that the Attorney Generals opinion on the amendments to the Bill was ultra vires and void. (2) He, as the petitioner, is seeking a declaration that the Speakers certification that the Bill was duly passed by Parliament is ultra vires and void; and (3) a direction to the Election Commission to proceed immediately to hold elections to Provincial Councils on the basis of the existing law. Sarath Silva told the Sunday Times; We are a democracy. The essence of such a democracy is periodic elections. It is through the use of the franchise of the people that a President, Parliament, Local Government and Provincial Council institutions are elected. It is the same franchise that is used. Local Government is very close to the heart of the people. There are Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas. One person who understood this concept extremely well was the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa. He knew they were institutions elected by the people. He was quite conscious that there should be continuity. That was why he made provision for the conduct of elections to these local government bodies six months before their terms expired. That way he ensured there was no disruption of the work carried out and development programmes, among other matters, were on schedule. Since August 2015, however, they (the present Government) resorted to various ruses to put off elections. We now see some of the ill effects of such action.

Garbage from the City of Colombo, which came under the purview of the Colombo Municipal Council, was dumped in Kolonnawa, an area which came under another local government body. The sky high pile of rubbish collapsed in April last year, when the nation was observing national holidays. Nearly 30 people died. This is a clear case of the absence of democracy at the grassroots level. The terms of three Provincial Councils have ended. They (the administrations) have been brought under Governors rule. The Government did not wish to have elections. It introduced the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. It is well known that the objective was to put off elections to the three Councils whose terms had expired. The Supreme Court held that the 20A cannot be passed without a two thirds vote and a referendum of the people. When their plans went awry, they (the Government) used the Provincial Council Elections (Amendment) Bill which was specifically intended to provide for 30% of the members to be elected to Provincial Councils were women. After the formal first reading, at the second one the provisions remained. However, when it came to the third reading or the Committee Stage, they introduced 21 pages full of amendments. The original provisions of the Bill were altogether replaced by the Minister and an entirely new Bill was moved. This is a dangerous precedent. For example, if they want to abolish Provincial Councils they could follow such an insidious procedure.

Other parties too will go to Supreme Court. Urgent steps are necessary in the public interest. That is why I am moving in. Democracy is a collective right. Since all cannot go to Court, one must go. We have nothing to do with Parliament. Let them do what they want. We are saying that the Speaker is at fault. What the Attorney General expressed was only an opinion. Only the Supreme Court, as the countrys Constitutional Court can determine the constitutional validity of a Bill. How can the Speaker say that the Bill was duly passed? He is the custodian of the House.

My fundamental rights application is in respect of an executive or administrative action.
SriLankan pilots warn again of safety issue on Colombo-Delhi night flights View(s):

SriLankan Airlines Pilots have warned the countrys civil aviation chief that a late night flight to New Delhi with a return next morning could cause them fatigue and endanger flight safety.

Though within prescriptive limits, the flight pattern as a roundtrip is technically called, they have said would not be acceptable without a layover (an overnight stay) or re-schedule of flight hours. This is because of the growing number of Air Ground Safety Reports (AGSR) filed by pilots. A total of 19 such reports had been filed over fatigue after 27 flight patterns.

The pilots concerns are contained in a letter Captain Ruwan Vithanage, President of the Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka (AAPGSL), sent last week to H.M.C. Nimalasiri, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka seeking his intervention in a matter of importance to flight safety.

The Guild has said that for the past four months, SriLankan Airlines has been operating from Colombo to New Delhi flight UL 197 and UL 198 (return). The reporting time for pilots has been 23.35 (or 11.35 pm.) and a return to Colombo at 0845 (or 8.45 a.m.)

When the pattern was first proposed by SriLankan Management, according to Captain Vithanage, the timing was similar to pilots flying the Colombo-Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok sectors which had in the past numerous fatigue reports in the form of AGSRs. As a result, he has pointed out, all those flights had layovers (or overnight stays) introduced.

In the Colombo-Delhi sector, Captain Vithanage points out that At the companys request, the FSAG (Flight Safety Advisory Group) agreed to try out this flight pattern with an additional crew member provided for fatigue mitigation but not rest. This meant a three-person crew at the cockpit instead of the pilot and the co-pilot.

Captain Vithanage added However, at the last FSAG meeting held on 4th September 2017, the safety team informed the group that 19 AGSRs reporting fatigue had been filed on the first 27 patterns. Therefore the committee unanimously agreed that the only realistic courses of action were either a significantly different time of departure, or the introduction of a layover.

Captain Vithanage has lamented that we have not been informed by the company that either of these mitigation measures are being adopted and the flight continues as before. He has warned that We believe that this ignoring of a unanimous decision taken by the FSAG is a grave violation of the Airlines Safety Management System and added that we feel it is our duty to bring this matter to your notice, as we would also be complicit in a safety violation if we remained silent in the face of an unprecedented number of AGSRs.

In a separate letter to Captain Suren Ratwatte, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SriLankan Airlines, Captain Vithanage has also said among other matters that: The Safety Department, following the guidelines required by the CAASL on our Safety Management System (SMS), has noted through stipulated analysis methods that this pattern, coupled with the current timings, is unacceptable as it is a violation of the guidelines.

Therefore, as of 4th September 2017, the Airline is in direct violation of not immediately addressing a highlighted matter of flight safety, as required by the SMS, mandated by the CAASL (Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka).

In a second letter, the AAPGSL has told SriLankan CEO, We appreciate your acceptance to submit by the end of October 2017 a request to the board of directors for a layover to be commenced by the 1st of December 2017.

Public servants keen to know polls date

With local council elections round the corner, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya is being clogged with telephone calls.

Most are not from political party representatives but Government officials with one query  around when would the elections be held?

The reason: Almost all of them said they were to travel abroad and wanted to ensure it was not during election time.

Hakeem in row over provincial demarcations

Smaller political parties are keeping a close watch on how an official Committee would demarcate electoral boundaries, now a pre-requisite for future Provincial Council elections.

That was perhaps the reason why the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem came out with a proposal at last Tuesdays weekly ministerial meeting. He wanted a three-member committee to monitor the demarcation.

They were discussing the appointment of a five-member Delimitation Committee in accordance with the recently passed controversial Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act. The names of five members were approved and gazetted last Wednesday. They are K. Thavalingam, Prof. S.H. Hisbullah, Dr Amita Dias Bandaranaike, P.M. Siriwardena and Sangaran Vijayasunthiran.

Minister Hakeem sought the appointment of a three-member Committee comprising a representative each from the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities to monitor the work of the Delimitation Committee. He even had the name of a Muslim representative he wished to be included.

The move was to draw and angry response from his political rival Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. The latter charged that his ministerial colleague was always trying to obstruct business with diversions like this. A heated exchange ensued. Joining in the argument and backing up the position taken by Bathiudeen was Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha.

When the arguments heated up, Musthapha urged President Sirisenas intervention. The President said that the matter should be resolved amicably through discussion.

Mr. Hakeem said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe could then appoint the three member Committee. It drew in a comment from Minister Kabir Hashim. He declared that as General Secretary of the UNP, he would be able to nominate the UNP representative to such a Committee.

The matter ended inconclusively.

Govt. stops leasing of vehicles from private companies

Ministers at their weekly session on Tuesday decided to immediately call off the practice of leasing vehicles from private companies for use by ministries.

It came after the acting Science, Technology and Research Minister Lakshman Seneviratne raised issue over the matter. He said that a decision to lease these vehicles had been made a year ago by the Ministry of Finance. He took part in the ministerial meeting in the absence of Minister Susil Premajayantha who is abroad.

He said that the Ministry had wanted such leases to be obtained from only two hand-picked companies. He said they had not been selected through a competitive process and has made vast amounts of money.

Though it was claimed then that the leasing of such vehicles obviated repair and maintenance costs, Mr. Seneviratne pointed out that new vehicles always came with a warranty period. Even servicing those vehicles was free of charge for a limited period. Mr. Senevirate said it was a waste of money to lease them. President Sirisena, who concurred with the views expressed, directed the Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera to put a stop to the practice immediately.

Mangala to attend World Bank meeting

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera takes time off from preparatory work on his first budget on November 9 to leave today for Washington DC to attend the autumn meeting of the World Bank.

He is the Governor representing Sri Lanka at this annual event which will begin on October 10 and continue till 14.

7 passengers, 9 crew in Gan flight

Here is one more reason why SriLankan Airlines, the countrys national carrier is running at a loss.

A recent flight from Colombo to Gan, the southernmost atoll in Maldives, had a compliment of seven passengers. However, there was a nine member crew.

The ratio was over one crew member for every passenger and a surplus of two.
An Extra-Ordinary feat By Tarini Pilapitiya The Mirror Magazine speaks to the minds behind Extra-Ordinary  a comic that will be published in English, Sinhala and Tamil View(s): View(s):

Following on from last weeks feature of Sachi Ediriweeras Lionborn graphic novel, this week the Mirror Magazine shines the spotlight on the ingenious comic book artists and writers Thilani Samarasinha and Nimesh Niyomal- the minds behind the Extra Ordinary comic.

A unique aspect of the comic Extra-Ordinary is that it will be published in English, Sinhala and Tamil. The concept behind the comics tri-lingual publishing is very simple, Thilani explains We have a rich tradition of comics in Sinhala and Tamil from way back in the 70s and 80s. Sri Lanka is one of the most literate countries in Asia and you only need to look at the ocean of people who descend on the annual book fair at BMICH to know that kids and adults in this country love to read.

Thilani, a founding members of the Geek Club of Sri Lanka (GCSL) and principal organizer of Lanka Comic Con is a Lawyer by day and Geek by night. Recently, the Lanka Comic Con Trust was awarded a grant by the US State Department to initiate a nonprofit comic book press in Sri Lanka. Thilani, the brains behind the initiative envisioned to create a sustainable comic book industry which can offer creators print and translation services at affordable price points.

Her love for comics goes way back to when she was 9-10 years as she flipped through her fathers comic War Picture Library (A British 64 page Pocket Library published from 1958 to 1984 by Amalgamated Press/Fleetway (now owned by IPC Magazines).

Thilani says that shes always been a writer albeit not a very disciplined one which is why she says comics are her perfect fit. [Comics] allow you to tell a story succinctly and I love the challenge that telling a story in this form presents, however she confesses My drawing skills would embarrass a three year old so I dont do any illustrations!

Enter freelance digital and comic book artist Nimesh Niyomal, the artist who collaborates with Thilani (the writer) for the launch of their first comic produced by the Lanka Comic Con Press.

Whilst Thilani is taking full reign for the writing portion of the comic Nimesh has been given total artistic control where layouts, paneling and colour are concerned. The shy artist Nimesh shares his desire to get into comics with local content, mythology and history of Sri Lanka.

Extra Ordinary- according to Thilani was a mere idea for a while floating around, she adds Ive always wanted to do a contemporary Sri Lankan comic, but not a superhero one. However, a comic based on local culture, history and mythology she says was the thinking. The story line of Extra-Ordinary is just as the name describes it. Its easy to do big things if you have a super power like magic (Dr Strange) or bazillions of dollars (Like Tony Stark). But how would ordinary people step into the situations superheroes face  if they didnt have those powers. If they were just, literally- extraordinarily ordinary?

Adding to this Thilani confesses people fascinate me so I write about people Her thought provoking story explores the facets of Ordinary people who are called upon to undertake things that are far from the mundane and how they react to those situations. Inspired by a vast collection of comic books which celebrate the strength to be found in friendship and diversity among people of very different backgrounds. And being a Sri Lankan thats a message that resonates very strongly with me.

Enriched with diversity Extra- Ordinary may resonate in the hearts and minds of readers. As this is the first issue, the writer doesnt wish to give too much away.

Thilani is hoping to run Extra Ordinary into about 20 issues and is currently working on her next comic. To other aspiring comic book artists and writers Thilanis advice is simple Write what you love and what you believe in not what you think other people would want to read She adds Dont be afraid to be original or different. The best comics, are fun and enjoyable but they are also thought provoking and moving and inspiring.

For all those aspiring creators who wish to launch their own work contact the Lanka Comic Con press via email at lankacomiccon@gmail.com
Lankan youth turn online math tutors for UK students By Oshani Alwis In the forefront of expanding virtual learning, Third Space Global opens its new regional headquarters in Colombo View(s): View(s):

Would you believe that students in the UK are being taught mathematics by tutors in Sri Lanka? Yes indeed! Third Space Global which provides the ideal platform to online tutors from Sri Lanka to teach UK students is a Sri Lankan operated British owned company, approved by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI). The parent company, Third Space Learning, the largest provider of one-to-one Math tuition in the UK, is in the process of building the worlds first global teaching network of trained and qualified online tutors supported by the latest technology.

Third Space Global expanding the idea of the virtual learning across frontiers, opened its new regional headquarters at Orion City, Colombo 9, last month.

With the vision of building an internationally recognised centre of excellence in online maths teaching and pupil development, the company is providing mathematics lessons to primary students in the UK by recruiting young Sri Lankans who are willing to take up a career in education and have a passion for the subject to produce effective teaching hours online. Founded in 2015 with 20 tutors, Third Space Global has trained over 200 tutors within the last two years. The young tutors receive 90 hours of training under the guidance of an internationally trained team before they deliver their first lesson.

CEO Roshan Nilaweera was born in the UK and worked as a Math and ICT teacher there, before migrating to Sri Lanka to set up the main regional office of Third Space Global to create employment and training opportunities for young Sri Lankans whilst helping to contribute to Sri Lankas economic development. I have always been passionate about education, technology and about helping people to make progress. In the next 18- 24 months we hope to expand our service, to double up the staff, and open new offices around the country, Roshan said at the opening ceremony.

The company provides greater flexibility for young Sri Lankans who are studying allowing them to earn an income while working to improve their job prospects.

Tom Hooper, founder and CEO of Third Space Learning (UK) explained the importance of the virtual learning systems to global education development.

Third Space Global is also keen to support education in Sri Lanka through its innovative CSR (Corporate social responsibility) programmes. From July 31 to September 8, a free eLearning Hub programme was conducted by the company for young learners to improve their English, Math and ICT skills in an independent learning environment. Unlike a school or a tuition centre, the children are free to manage their own learning schedules while developing autonomy and problem solving skills.

The company also looks forward to launch free teaching and learning workshops next summer to support teacher training in the country and plans to be partnered with other potential companies who are interested in this regard.

Find Third Space Global at: http:/thirdspaceglobal.com/

Third Space Global

3rd Floor, Bellatrix Building, Orion City,

752/5, Dr. Danister De Silva Mawatha,

Colombo 09.
Discredited Aussie firm paid Rs. 1.4 billion by former regime By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s):

SMEC Internationalthe Australian consultancy firm debarred by the World Bank last week over inappropriate payments for projects in Bangladesh and Sri Lankareceived more than Rs 1.4 billion for an expressway feasibility study which has still not been approved by the Road Development Authority (RDA).

Not only was the paid sum nearly Rs 450mn over the original fee, SMEC claimed an additional Rs 113.4 million as a second cost variation that the RDA is yet to meet. If disbursed, the total contract price would rise to Rs 1.519 billion. Even now, the SMEC study for the Northern Expressway is the most expensive feasibility study ever carried out for a road construction project.

Despite the towering fee, the SMEC study was found unsuitable for acceptance by the RDA. For instance, projected traffic volumes were deemed incorrect. A host of other questions were also raised by the planning division on the draft final report. Some were answered; others are yet to be addressed.

A feasibility study is an analysis and evaluation of a proposed project to determine if it is technically feasible, is feasible within the estimated cost and will be profitable. It is an imperative in expensive projects.

The contract for the Northern Expressway (which later became the Central Expressway) feasibility study was awarded to SMEC in 2013 without tender for Rs 958 million. The company had previously carried out the feasibility study for the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway. It was not possible to determine whether the contract fee was fair as open competitive bidding was rejected.

SMEC subcontracted to a local company called Ocyana Consultants (Pvt) Ltd. The period within which the study was to be completed was initially eight months from the starting datethat is, May 2013.

By November that year, SMEC claimed its first cost variation of Rs 450 million which was paid in January 2014. The additional fee was attributed to changes made to the original work scope and approved by the Cabinet. This brought the total amount paid to the company to Rs 1.4 billion. The Cabinet also allowed the scheduled date of completion to be extended to March 2014. After submitting its final bill, a second variation was claimedagain due to scope change to the original contract. This amount of Rs 113.4 million was solicited by SMEC in March 2015 saying the RDA project management unit had wanted the company to carry out a redesign of the trace to satisfy M/s China Merchants Groups proposal.

At the time, Chinese funding was only under consideration for the Northern Expressway. SMEC also said it had been directed to update the hydrological report in the feasibility report using accurate topographical maps.

With the change in administration, however, all cost variationsa popular method of inflating prices to make allowance for corruptionfor road sector projects came under scrutiny. According to RDA sources, the second claim is yet to be paid.

Both the terms of reference and the SMEC report were challenged in detail by RDAs planning division director, who also said it did not display any of the fundamental characteristics of a feasibility study. It did not contain reference to previous feasibility studies done between 1990 and 2013. Traffic surveys were found to be inadequate. No consideration had been given to the ongoing development of the railway line (increased se of train services would negatively impact future road usage).

Input data for traffic forecasts were not clear; the correlation between GDP growth and traffic growth over the planning period was not given; and there were questions over costs published in the report. Several other queries were raised.

Last week, the World Bank announced a Negotiated Resolution Agreement (NRA) that debarred SMEC International for 12 months, as well as four of its controlled subsidiaries based in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, for periods varying from six to 30 months for misconduct in the South Asia region.

The NRA follows a World Bank investigation which revealed misrepresentations to meet bidding requirements under World Bank-financed projects in Sri Lanka and India, a statement said. The investigation also found evidence indicating inappropriate payments made in relation to World Bank-financed projects in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

SMEC has committed to make any necessary enhancements to its group-wide corporate integrity compliance programme to ensure that it is consistent with the World Banks Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
Hi-tech number plates to keep tabs on vehicles By Damith Wickremasekara View(s): View(s):

A Radio Frequency Identification system to be introduced to new number plates will help police to keep close tabs on vehicle movements.

The new number plates will be introduced next year, Motor Traffic Commissioner General Jagath Chandrasiri told the Sunday Times.

The vehicles with the new number plates could be tracked by the nearest tower to be installed soon. These towers will be similar to the mobile phone towers that help track the location of mobile phones.

Motor Traffic Commissioner Thushara F. Suraweera said the new system would be first introduced to new vehicles when registered and thereafter to other vehicles gradually. He said the identification system could be made use of by the police in the event forged number plates were used and would also be useful in cracking down on crimes where vehicles were involved.

Police Traffic Director Indika Hapugala said that system would enable authorities to monitor online the movement of vehicles.

This would be similar to monitoring through CCTV cameras and initially the towers would be installed in Colombo, he said.

In the event of an accident or crime the vehicle could be followed through the towers enabling easy detection of the vehicle, he added.
Sri Lanka imposes tough economic sanctions on nuclear North Korea View(s):

The Government this week issued regulations imposing sanctions on the Democratic Peoples republic of North Korea (DPRK or North Korea) in keeping with United Nations Security Council Resolutions dealing with the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

The regulations were issued by Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana on Friday.

The sanctions are in keeping with Sri Lankas obligation imposed upon member states of the United Nations to apply sanction measures in relation to North Korea until the country suspends all activities related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes which constitute a threat to international peace and security.

Even though Sri Lanka and North Korea have had diplomatic links since 1970, both countries do not maintain resident missions.

Under the terms of the regulations, the Foreign Minister will appoint a competent authority in consultation with the Defence Minister to ensure that the sanctions are imposed.

The regulations prohibit Sri Lankans here and abroad from providing or receiving assets, financial services, technical training, advice, services or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, production, possession, acquisition maintenance, stockpiling, storage, transportation, transfer or use of any items related to the nuclear programme to any person in North Korea.

They also prohibit providing of bunkering services, supplies, servicing, leasing or chartering of vessels or crew services of vessels to North Korea.

North Korean financial institutions will not be allowed to open new branches, subsidiaries or representative offices in Sri Lanka. The competent authority appointed to ensure the regulations are implemented will have the authority to recommend to the Government the expulsion of North Korean diplomats;

its government representatives, other North Korean nationals acting in a governmental or representative office capacity; foreign nationals who are working on behalf or at the direction of North Korea and other connected to North Korea.

The competent authority will also exercise enhanced vigilance over North Korean diplomatic personnel here so as to prevent such individuals from contributing to or generating revenue to North Koreas prohibited programmes or activities, or to the evasion of sanctions. It could also freeze immediately the funds, other financial assets and economic resources in Sri Lanka, if these are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by a person or entity blacklisted by the United Nations Security Council.

The competent authority will also have the power to freeze funds, other financial assets and economic resources in Sri Lanka of entities of the Government of North Korea and the Korean Workers Party if it is determined to be associated with the prohibited activities.

In addition to these regulations, the Government also issued other regulations cited as the United Nations (Sanctions relating to Proliferation of Nuclear, Chemical or Biological Weapons) Regulations of 2017.

These regulations are part of the domestic controls that UN member states have to impose to prevent the proliferation of these weapons and means of delivery, including by establishing appropriate controls over related materials.

The regulations prohibits the manufacture, acquiring possession, development, transport, transfer or uses nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery within Sri Lanka.

Those who, for the peaceful purposes, deal with nuclear chemical and biological weapon related materials are required to comply with and maintain the minimum accounting, and securing measures in production, use, storage and transport and minimum physical protection measures in accordance with the relevant written law.

Those who engage in export, transit, transshipment or re-export nuclear chemical and biological weapon related materials within Sri Lanka for peaceful purposes will be required to comply with the relevant written law.

Those who commit offences under these regulations are liable to face imprisonment of up to 25 years or a fine not exceeding five million rupees or both upon conviction by the High Court.
A taste of tapas By Kaveesha Fernando Chef Carlos brings the flavours of his native Spain to Colombo View(s): View(s):

The Colombo Supper Club in partnership with Jetwing Colombo Seven hosted Spanish chef Carlos Montobbio this week. The Colombo Supper Club is the brainchild of former lawyer Naserah Tyebally, a Singaporean living in Sri Lanka. Naserah hopes to bring chefs from across the globe to the island to serve their signature dishes here. Chef Carlos who works in Singapore was glad to share his culinary influences with Sri Lankans through his food.

It was through his mothers cooking that he learned to appreciate food. She didnt teach me much but she did teach me to appreciate food. We would never eat processed food, it was always food made from scratch; it may not have been the most expensive food but it was always fresh food, he explains.

Chef Carlos himself started cooking for friends and family who liked his food, but it wasnt until he joined culinary school that he decided that he wanted to make it a career. I knew that I didnt like to study and didnt want a desk job so I thought I would try this out. It wasnt until I started that I decided that this was what I wanted to do, he says. Initially he faced opposition. People would say that I would smell like fish and onions and it was something I tried to hide whenI met new people because the career isnt as glamorous as it is now, he explains. However, he always knew that this was the career for him. I always tell people that if youre not absolutely certain that this is what you want to do then you should not do it. You cannot do this if youre only here for the money or the fame, he states firmly.

After culinary school at Hofmann in Barcelona, he worked in Spain at five Michelin star resturants before moving to Singapore. In Spain he has worked under many famous chefs including the Roca brothers from Celler de Can Roca and Chef Hilario Arbelaitz from Zuberoa.In 2013 he joined Antidote at Fairmont hotel before starting in 2015 as Head Chef at Singapores Esquina -an open kitchen tapas bar which can serve around 60 guests.

In Spanish cuisine, tapas are appetizers, served hot or cold depending on their ingredients. In recent times ordering many tapas to form a full meal has become common. For Chef Carlos, the idea of tapas is simple. Tapas is two main things  its tasty food and it has to be something with strong flavour and thats why it has to be eaten in small quantities,he explains.

Chef Carlos is happy that the Jetwing Colombo 7 kitchen is visible to the guests. Even if the chef comes out and talks to the guests, its still strange because the chef is out of his kitchen, and the dining room isnt somewhere hes comfortable. Here, the guests can see the chef while he prepares the food and he can see them and their reaction to the food which is great, he says. For me, food is the greatest pleasure in the world, its better than sex or alcohol and I want my guests to feel the same way, he adds.

After just two days in Sri Lanka, he is now back in Singapore. He has worked at many pop up restaurants all over the world and feels that his experience at each one has helped him finetune his skills. His hope is that all his guests at Jetwing Colombo 7 shared his passion and appreciation of food  a passion which made him fly 4000 kilometres to serve them his Spanish tapas.
In an unsung office a new dictionary is in the making By Randima Attygalle Under the leadership of its first woman Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Rohini Paranavitana, the Sinhala-Sinhala Etymological Dictionary and Sinhala-English Dictionary is being compiled and revised at the Sinhala Dictionary Office which marks its 90th year View(s): View(s):

Ever wondered what goes on within the colonial building of the Sinhala Dictionary Office on Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, opposite the Colombo National Museum? Once the auditorium of the adjacent Archaeology Department, this arched and pillared structure reflecting a flavour of an era gone by, lends space to the painstaking task of compiling and revising the Sinhala-Sinhala Etymological Dictionary and Sinhala-English Dictionary. The office which comes under the Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for the only state-supported dictionary in the country.

The journey of the Sinhala Dictionary Office which marks its 90th year is an eventful one, shifting its quarters from several places to its present shelter in 1971. This largely unsung office made double history this year with the appointment of its first woman Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Rohini Paranavitana. One-time Head of the Sinhala Department, University of Colombo, Prof. Paranavitana brings with her a wealth of experience. She succeeded Prof. Ananda Abeysiriwardena.

When all my bright counterparts chose to do Science at Visakha Vidyalaya, I became the exception opting for the Arts stream, smiles the scholar who rose from a junior lecturer of Sinhala at Peradeniya to head the Department at the Colombo University. Her love for all things Oriental, drove her to read Sinhala, Sanskrit and Pali for her degree at Peradeniya. In an era where liberal arts were scoffed at, young Rohinis family, particularly her mother fuelled her passion. Well known historian Prof. K.D. Paranavitana also encouraged her literary pursuits.

Carrying forward the legacy of her illustrious predecessors such as Sir D.B. Jayatilaka, Prof. M.D. Ratnasuriya and Julius de Lanerolle, Dr. B.F. Wijeratne, Prof. D.E. Hettiarachchi, Prof. D.J. Wijayaratne, Dr. P.B. Sannasgala, Prof. Wimal Balagalle and Prof. Vinnie Vitharana, Prof. Paranavitana is ambitious to make this historically and culturally significant compilation a household item and digitally accessible. The effort behind a dictionary is colossal. Thousands of books and historical sources are perused to compile this one-stop-shop of a compilation. Each word is lent an index card which elucidates its meaning, etymologies and grammatical constructions. The exercise is supported by an editorial team together with an advisory board of religious, ethnic and cultural diversity.

What sets this dictionary apart from other dictionaries is its effort to elucidate the meanings of words, their etymologies and understanding the grammatical constructions. It is also not bound by any individual scholarly genre, explains Prof. Paranavitana. The dictionary mirrors the history of words and the jargon to which each word belongs- for instance, whether a word belongs to medical/clinical or any other jargon. A dictionary of this nature also revives certain words and phrases that make this usable in a contemporary context, says its Chief Editor.

The attempts to compile dictionaries are not new to the Sinhala language, explains Prof. Paranavitana who cites compilations in the glossary style such as that of Dampiya atuwa geta padaya , in which Pali words were rendered Sinhala meanings. Several dictionaries written in alphabetical order by scholars such as Attaragama Rajaguru Bandara, Veragama Punchi Bandara and Ven. Boruggamuve Revata Thera are found in the history of lexicographical works. However, they are not comprehensive and complete dictionaries.

The idea of a dictionary to facilitate better administration over the colonized, was also mooted by the colonial masters, dating back to the Portuguese rule. In 2005 when I visited the Geographical Society in Portugal, I found a Sinhala-Portuguese hand-written dictionary in which the word thimble is offered the Sinhala meanings of didal (which is more in tune with Portuguese flavour) and mudu hiruwa, recollects Prof. Paranavitana with a smile. The foundation for a modern and a scientific compilation, however, was laid by the British scholars such as Rev. Benjamin Clough, Rev. Charles Carter and John Callaway, she says.

With the inauguration of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1845 the study of Sinhala language and literature was revived. Scholars- both local and foreign, lobbied for a comprehensive Sinhala Dictionary. Following a series of committees, reports and recommendations, it was only in 1927 that the project took wings under the auspice of the eminent linguist Prof. Wilhelm Geiger who was appointed Consultant and Director of the Editorial Board. The exercise was further given muscle by Sir D.B. Jayatilaka as its first Editor-in-Chief. It was only in 1992 the Sinhala-Sinhala Etymological Dictionary with its 13687 pages was completed. The job of a dictionary compiling team, however, never ends as new words are added from time to time. The revised editions incorporate such changes and to date five revised volumes have been published.

The Sinhala Dictionary has traversed diverse eras from that of the typewriter, the computer and to the digital era. A concise Sinhala dictionary is also in the pipeline for wider usage, especially in schools, offices and homes. The original Sinhala Dictionary has its practical limitations for everyday use, hence a concise dictionary of the same is urgently felt, says the Editor who is ambitious in taking it to the public domain, especially schools. The Sinhala- English Dictionary which is being prepared has completed 27 volumes so far and a Tri- lingual Dictionary of Sinhala  English  Tamil is also being prepared. Enabling an online version is also a need of the hour, for which ground work is being done, says Prof. Paranavitana.
So far, so good By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Challenger, the unmanned ocean glider, continues its mission after Mirissa stop View(s): View(s):

Sleek and elegant, with nary a scratch on its smooth yellow surface, it was the cynosure of all eyes at a simple welcoming ceremony on Monday, far away from where it was recovered.

The oohs and aahs of admiration and jostling around to pose for photographs standing by it or with hands on it, were for Challenger, the unmanned electric ocean glider.

The raison detre for the ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Colombo amidst a distinguished gathering was a first in the world  the longest journey of an unmanned submarine gliding through the ocean  7,570km so far, to be exact, over 330 days. Challengers mission is to gather data and map the mysteries of the Indian Ocean which would help in forecasting the weather.

The most poignant photograph, however, was Prof. Charitha Pattiaratchi and his mother, Chandralatha, looking at the glider in all tenderness. For, Challenger is the baby of Prof. Pattiaratchi who is leader of the Australian National Facility for Ocean Gliders and Professor of Coastal Oceanography at the Oceans Institute of the University of Western Australia whose team joined forces with Prof. Scott Glenn from Rutgers University in New Jersey, United States of America and his team to deploy the glider.

This was after it had revealed the secrets buried within it in tubings  tiny flags of the countries involved in this major scientific expedition and Letters of Intent  generating the mysterious aura of messages in bottles flung up on the seashore.

Recovery of this remotely-controlled seven-foot mini-submarine, however, was at Mirissa in the south on September 30, braving choppy seas and severe sea-sickness in a whale-watching boat, 40km from the coast, after which it was carefully transported to Colombo by vehicle.

It was very windy and there were more waves than we liked, says Prof. Glenn, commending the Sri Lankan boat crew for being excellent as also the person who got into the waters to recover Challenger by roping it in.

The saga of Challenger is not over, for it was due to be put to sea, once again at Mirissa yesterday for another lap of its outward journey from the western port of Fremantle in Australia on November 4, last year, with the stopover in Mirissa, Sri Lanka and on to South Africa (Reunion Island close to Madagascar) and then back to Australia, circumnavigating the Indian Ocean over a three-year period.

Of the first lap, Prof. Pattiaratchi says that it all depended on the current, for when I wanted it to go somewhere, it went somewhere else.

Laughingly he recalls how for almost a year, there would be a phone hook-up every Friday, with his wife not being very happy about it. Now, as the Challenger sets off on its next leg, he is bent on changing the Friday to a different day to keep the weekend free for family.

Challenger also has the cleanest world record, smiles Prof. Pattiaratchi, recognized as one of the worlds leading coastal physical oceanographers who is at the forefront of predicting weather events such as storms and storm surges and collaborating in the development and transfer of early-warning systems to countries which lack them, in major efforts to save lives. No flora or fauna could cling onto it because the oceans surface temperature was 300C and at the bottom of the ocean it was 40C which was not very conducive for them.

Adds Prof. Glenn from Rutgers Universitys Center for Ocean Observing Leadership that they have gathered lots of data, transmitted by Challenger every time it surfaced which has enabled them to do ocean forecasting and modelling. Thereafter, the data are stored in the national archives for scientific use in the different countries as well as for students.

The students have constantly been able to be part of ocean research through the Challenger mission and it is a big change for them. Whatever jobs they take up once leaving university, they will forever remember the exciting times of Challenger, he says.

The biggest challenge for Challenger, meanwhile, was when it came across fresh water in the ocean due to the monsoon rains etc, especially in the Bay of Bengal. The data are fantastic, of course, but the worry was that the valuable glider would get stuck below the surface due to the different density of the freshwater and we would lose it, he says.

To meet this challenge, for the first time the team had a propeller at the end to give the glider that extra boost when encountering freshwater. We are so amazed  it worked. The propeller stayed closed most of the time but when the glider encountered freshwater and needed that extra-little push, it opened out and began spinning, giving that boost, a beaming Prof. Glenn points out.

While Australian High Commissioner Bryce Hutchesson was thrilled over the ambitious undertaking of the Challenger mission, American Embassys Management Officer Michael Cragun, representing the US Ambassador said it was an exciting day to see the flags emerge from the glider.

It was also exciting to see innovation and an elegant solution through an impressive piece of innovation. It was interesting for science which is allowing for measures to safeguard lives and property, he added.
Whale of a task By Randima Attygalle The blue whale skeleton moves to the new Osteology Gallery at the Colombo Museum while the Geology and Plant Science Galleries get a facelift View(s): View(s):

Remember visiting the Colombo National Museum as children and being awestruck by the gigantic skeleton of the blue whale? The whale synonymous with the Colombo Museum has now shifted to the new Osteology Gallery of the Natural History Museum, which will be open to the public from tomorrow. This new addition to the Natural History Museum, coming under the Colombo National Museum, will also become home to nearly 30 exhibits of mammal, bird and reptile skeletons.

Parallel to the opening of the Osteology Gallery, the upgraded Geology and Plant Science Galleries of the Natural History Museum will also be open to the public.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Director, Department of National Museums, Sanuja Kasthuriarachchi says, that the addition of an Osteology Gallery is a means of benchmarking our museum with internationally renowned museums. All world renowned museums claim an Osteology Gallery dedicated to skeletons and bony structures of animals and our new gallery is in recognition of this. The Osteology Gallery fills the long-felt lacuna for a single gallery to which the specimens, previously exhibited at the Natural History Museum will be transferred.

The iconic blue whale of the Colombo National Museum which led a solitary existence for a century and more in its East Wing, will now enjoy the company of the Greater flamingo, Sri Lankan monitor, Bridled tern, Green turtle, Ring-tailed civet, Sri Lankan giant squirrel, Long finned Eel and many more in a habitat of their own. And guess what? It can engage in mammoth talk with none other than Heiyanthuduwa Raja!

Shifting the blue whale skeleton of 61 vertebrae and 13 ribs from its former shelter in the East Wing to its new home has indeed been a mammoth task for the museum authorities. The Museum Chief applauds her team of taxidermists for a job well done. Transporting the blue whale skeleton had to be done with extreme care and our team of conservationists worked tirelessly to assemble and further conserve it which took almost a year as it required minute attention, notes Ms. Kasthuriarachchi.

Throwing light on the journey of the blue whales skeleton to the Colombo Museum, Assistant Director of Zoology, Department of National Museums, Lankani Somarathna says the 65 ft long whale had been washed ashore in Ambalangoda in September 1894. According to the administrative reports, the skeleton has been installed here in 1910, she says. As the Administrative Report of 1894 furnished by the Colombo National Museum affirms: In September, a large whale was washed ashore in Ambalangoda. The taxidermist was immediately dispatched to the spot to secure the skeleton. This work was of great difficulty and not without danger; in consequence of the roughness of the sea and the numerous sharks which swarmed around the carcass. It does the taxidermist great credit that he should have secured the skeleton complete. The re-installation of the skeleton which weighs several tons had been a laborious task says Ms. Somarathna who credits her team including Dr. Manori Gunathilaka, Assistant Director of Entomology and Taxidermist, Chamalka Kothalawala

The skeleton has been further conserved and is now supported by G1 pipes replacing iron bars, explains Ms. Kothalawala. This

prevents the specimen being exposed to the rust gathered on iron bars, she notes. Conserving the skin of an animal is a challenging task as Ms. Kothalawala, the first woman taxidermist to serve the Department of National Museums and so far the only woman to hold the position in South East Asia explains. The preservation process of the skin of a dead animal should begin within 12 hours from the time of its death as the animal skin decays rapidly. The work becomes even more demanding in case of large creatures such as whales and elephants.

Another highlight of the new Osteology Gallery is the skeleton exhibited of Heiyanthuduwa Raja who had the distinction of carrying the casket bearing the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Kandy Esala Perahera for 11 years. Rajas 2.3 m long pair of tusks is considered to be one of the longest pairs of tusks found in the country as Ms. Kothalawala points out and it took the taxidermist and her team nearly a year to obtain the skeleton.

Believed to have been born in 1924 in Hambantota, Raja was caught in the wild from Kattakaduwana jungle in Hambantota District on March 8, 1945. The majestic tusker later came to be known as Heiyanthuduwa Raja. When Raja passed away on November 6, 2002 at the age of 78, Rajas owner, Henry Gunasekera, donated its skeleton to the Colombo Natural History Museum where it has been on display since 2013. From tomorrow, Raja will stand in regal splendour in the new Osteology Gallery.

Replete with the audio effects of the four-legged and feathery friends who would greet a visitor, the new gallery is to educate a visitor on the co-relation between a skeleton of an animal and its habitat. Adding colour to the skeletal friends are the stuffed leopard, crocodile and hippo.

For budding young zoologists and other interested visitors, it will be a journey of learning of our natural heritage.
Ultimate cold case: Who betrayed Anne Frank? By Stephanie van den Berg, Anthony Deutsch View(s): View(s):

AMSTERDAM (Reuters)  A former FBI agent is heading up a cold case team more than 70 years after Nazi occupation police stormed the secret Amsterdam canal house annex where Anne Frank was hiding and sent her to her death in a concentration camp.

Suspicions that someone betrayed the Frank family are not new, but the latest attempt will seek out new connections in the case of the Jewish girl whose diary has captivated millions of readers worldwide.

Retired agent Vincent Pankoke said he had high hopes of solving one of the biggest World War Two mysteries in the Netherlands with the help of Big Data and modern policing techniques.

This is the ultimate cold case, Pankoke, who is heading a 20-member team working out of Amsterdam, told Reuters in an interview. Seventy three years after the arrest, forget forensic evidence, most of the people who could give witness statements are no longer alive.

A master database will be compiled with lists of Nazi collaborators, informants, historic documents, police records and prior research that could provide new leads.

We are going to load every piece of data we can find from the time period, he said. There is so much information that is out there that has never been looked at.

Combing through archives has already yielded material not previously linked with the Anne Frank case, including a list of Nazi collaborators in Amsterdam found in the U.S. national archives, he said.

The Cold Case Diary is not aimed at seeking prosecution. It is intended to be completed by August 4, 2019, to mark 75 years since Anne Franks arrest.

We are doing it because we feel the case must be solved, said Thijs Bayens, a Dutch filmmaker, who helped launch the project, which has been self-funded with experts donating time.

Crowd funding

The team, which is relying on crowd funding and is estimated to need up to $5 million to complete its work, has appealed to the public to come forward with information that may shed new light on the arrest.

Anne was discovered on August 4, 1944 after two years in hiding. Miep Gies, one of the familys helpers in hiding, kept Annes diary safe until it was published by Annes father, Otto, in 1947, two years after Anne died in the Bergen Belsen camp at age 15. It has been translated into 60 languages.

The nicest part is being able to write down all my thoughts and feelings; otherwise, Id absolutely suffocate, she wrote in March, 1944.

The Anne Frank Foundation, which maintains the Franks Amsterdam house for visitors, is assisting Pankokes team.

We shared our investigation on the arrest, said spokeswoman Annemarie Bekker. It looks good and we are curious about their results.

Respected historians who have published prior research on the subject, including those from the Dutch World War Two research centre NIOD, will work as consultants on the project.

They have agreed to help us and share everything without conditions just to try and solve this mystery: Was it a betrayal? Was it an accident? What happened?, Pankoke said.

Amsterdam-based data company Xomnia has developed algorithms that Pankoke said may reveal new links and connections based on the wealth of information that a human in their lifetime might not be able to review.

Police investigations in 1948 and 1963 too narrowly focused on one individual, warehouse manager Willem van Maaren, without examining alternative scenarios.

In its 2016 study, the Anne Frank Foundation concluded that it was possible that the family had not been betrayed at all, but discovered by accident during a raid by German intelligence officials.

Despite decades of research, betrayal as a point of departure has delivered nothing conclusive, Ronald Leopold, executive director of the Anne Frank House, said.

We are pleased that Cold Case Diary is also carrying out research into the arrest and following new leads, and we are interested to see the results.
US call for arms ban to Myanmar faces UNSC hurdle View(s):

UNITED NATIONS  When US Ambassador Nikki Haley called for a virtual arms embargo against the repressive and much-maligned military regime in Myanmar, she took a passing shot at two of her fellow veto-wielding, permanent members of the Security Council  namely China and Russia  who are primary arms suppliers to the increasingly politically-isolated nation.

And any country that is currently providing weapons to the Burmese military should suspend these activities until sufficient accountability measures are in place, she demanded, during last weeks debate in the UN Security Council.

The US, which has consistently refused to recognise the countrys name-change (from Burma to Myanmar), said the world has endured images from Burma we should never have to see even as that government stands accused of ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

Myanmars military clout and its political arrogance depend largely on the staggering array of Russian and Chinese weapons at its command. And any resolution imposing economic or military sanctions on Myanmar is likely to be vetoed either by China or Russia  or both.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), between 2010 and 2016, China reached agreements to transfer a variety of weapons to Myanmar, including anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missile systems, frigates, and tanks.

During the same time period, Russia reached agreements to sell fighter aircraft, combat helicopters, light helicopters, and surface-to-air missiles.

Meanwhile, Israels longest running newspaper, Haaretz, has accused Israel of arming war criminals. In an editorial early September, the newspaper said the violence directed at Myanmars Rohingya minority by the countrys regime has intensified, including burning of their villagesinformation that has been confirmed by satellite images.

But none of this has led to a change in the policy of the Israeli Defence Ministry, which is refusing to halt weapons sales to the regime in Myanmar.

In a September 18 editorial titled Squeeze Myanmars Military, the New York Times condemned Myanmar militarys vicious crackdown against the Muslim Rohingya minority in Rakhine State.

Given Myanmars progress towards democracy, former US President Barack Obama lifted longstanding US sanctions against Myanmar last year despite warning by human rights groups that easing the pressure was premature.

The Times called on the US Senate to restore sanctions against Myanmars military rulers unless the carnage stops.

Additionally, a global coalition of some 88 civil society organisations (CSOs) is calling on the Security Council to seriously consider an arms embargo against the military and targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for crimes and serious abuses.

All concerned UN member states should also consider bilateral, multilateral, and regional actions they can take to place added pressure on the Myanmar government, the coalition said. In particular, we call on all states to immediately suspend military assistance and cooperation with Myanmar, said the coalition in a statement released September 28.

The coalition includes Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Refugee International, Burma Campaign UK, the National Council of Churches and Minority Rights Group International.

Myanmars huge arsenal includes MiG-29 fighter planes, Antonov An-148 transport planes, Mi-35 attack helicopters and T-55 and T-72 battle tanks (all from Russia) and Chengdu F-7/FT-7 Airguard and Nanchang A-5M fighters and ground attack aircraft, Aung Zeya Class and Jianghu II class frigates, Offshore Patrol Ships, HQ-2 surface-to-air missiles, 122mm and 130mm artillery, battlefield rocket launchers and other munitions (all from China).

The military regime appears battle-ready for any possible confrontation with neighbouring Bangladesh, which has demanded that Myanmar take back the nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees driven out of the country  and seeking shelter in Bangladesh.

Daniel Darling, Senior Military Markets Analyst, Europe and Asia/Pacific Rim at Forecast International Inc, a US-based company providing defence market intelligence, forecasting, and research, told IPS that besides China and Russia, other key arms suppliers include North Korea and Pakistan.

Of particular note, he pointed out, is that Myanmar has reportedly ordered 16 Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder multirole fighters, of which initial deliveries are expected to begin later this year.

Asked about US relations with Myanmar, Darling said the US has not provided Myanmar with any weaponry or reinstituted access to the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program for the nation despite a longstanding US embargo being lifted by the Obama administration.

The US Congress, he said, continues to maintain a block on any financial assistance and/or professional military education to the Tatmadaw, (the official name of the armed forces of Myanmar)

He said the Tatmadaw military budget for 2016 was estimated at about $2.33 billion, whilst the 2017 earmark is placed at $2.14 billion.

The defence budget for Myanmar is, in general, quite inscrutable and all figures involve top-line budgetary governmental requests which likely do not include supplemental areas of funding for which the military has exclusive access, he added.

With an automatic allocation of one-third of the seats in the lower house granted to the military, all budgeting naturally must pass through Tatmadaw review and thus receive its support.

Of particular note, the Tatmadaw has, through the Special Funds Law, the power to grant itself additional  even unlimited  funds without announcing its actions to Parliament beforehand or seeking the legislatures approval, Darling said.

Whether this continues to hold up, or be amended in some form, over the course of the National League for Democracys governance remains to be seen, but for now it appears Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto ruler, is unwilling to deviate from the delicate dance she and her party must perform in order to prevent Tatmadaw from sweeping aside her government and re-imposing purely martial control, he said.

Dr. Natalie J. Goldring, a Senior Fellow with the Security Studies Program in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, told IPS that Ambassador Haley, in her statement, cited the Myanmar militarys human rights abuses against the Rohingya. News accounts make it clear that Ambassador Haleys concerns are well founded, she added.

The first response Ambassador Haley proposed in her statement was that the Burmese military must respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. She went on to argue that any country that is currently providing weapons to the Burmese military should suspend these activities until sufficient accountability measures are in place.

On the surface, its surprising that the Trump administration is calling for an embargo on weapons to Myanmar. Restraint in weapons transfers hasnt exactly been a feature of the administrations actions thus far, said Dr. Goldring, who also represents the Acronym Institute at the United Nations on conventional weapons and arms trade issues.

In fact, the Administration is reportedly engaged in a review of US arms transfer policy designed to increase promotion of US arms transfers. Its apparently much easier for the US government to argue for an arms embargo to a country thats not one of its customers, Dr. Goldring said.

She said the same arguments in favour of an arms embargo on Myanmar also apply to arms transfers to other countries.

For example, Human Rights Watch and others have documented systematic Saudi violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Yemen.

By Ambassador Haleys standard, the US government should be halting arms transfers to Saudi Arabia until sufficient accountability measures are in place.

(Courtesy: Inter Press Service News Agency)

(The writer can be contacted at thalifdeen@aol.com)
UPDATED 12PM: A police spokesperson says there were two people in the vehicle when it crashed into the wire median barrier on State Highway 2 this morning.

However, there have been no serious injuries reported.

There were delays in both directions following the crash, as northbound traffic heading into Bethlehem was reduced to one lane.

EARLIER:

A car has crashed into the wire rope barrier on State Highway 2, near Bethlehem.

A caller to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline says one lane of the highway, between Waihi and Moffat roads, is blocked.

Emergency services are at the scene.

Motorists are being warned to drive with care and expect slight delays as emergency services deal with the crash scene.
The Bay of Plenty Steamers continued the winning run Saturday afternoon surging home to a 36-28 bonus point win over Otago.

Otago started strongly and were the first to cross the line through fullback Fletcher Smith.

Playing an expansive game Otago was looking dangerous.

Some smart footwork from Chase Tiatia set up openside flanker Hugh Blake to finish.

Soon after Mike Delany took the Steamers into the lead with a successful penalty kick, taking the score to 8-7.

Terrence Hepetema burst over the line for the Bay of Plenty Steamers second try of the afternoon after collecting a tidy offload from Tiatia.

After been ruled out early following a try saving tackle from Liam Polwart, Otagos Jona Nareki was rewarded in the 25th minute.

With Smith adding a penalty goal Otago went to the break leading 15-13.

With penalties swinging both ways for either team the lead bounced back and forth.

However, its the Steamers who held a one-point lead heading into the final 20 minutes thanks to the boot of Delany.

Otago neared the line but failed to execute. Bay of Plenty then responded with two tries in five minutes, Webber swooping on a kick after Delany found Otago short at the back before Tiatia capped an impressive display, beating three players on his way to the tryline.

Leading 29-21 with ten minutes remaining Otago struck back through replacement fullback Matt Faddes, cutting the lead to one point, however replacement halfback Luke Campbell for the Steamers scored the late match winner by the posts.

Bay of Plenty 36 (Hugh Blake, Terrence Foketi, Joe Webber, Chase Tiatia, Luke Campbell tries; Mike Delany con, 3 pen)

Otago 28 (Fletcher Smith, Jona Nareki, Matt Faddes tries; Smith con, pen; Josh Ioane con, 2 pen)

HT: 15-13 Otago
Police can now release the names of the two people killed in a crash north of Te Kuiti yesterday afternoon.

They were Gaylene Bell, 34, and her daughter Chanelle King, 17.

Police extend their deepest sympathies to their family and friends, says police.

The Serious Crash Unit investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

On Saturday, Hamilton man Jordan Bruce Young also died after his BMW collided with a Linfox truck and trailer unit on the Waikato Expressway at Tamahere.
In todays weather forecast we are expecting cloudy periods and a few showers.

There will also be westerlies developing in the afternoon.

Its a two-clothing layer day today with a high of 18 and an overnight low of 13 degrees.

High tide is at 10.50am and low tide is at 5.10pm.

Sea temperature is 15 degrees.

Theres an average sea swell of about 0.4m and sunset tonight is at 7.23pm.

If youre going fishing today the best fish bite time is between 4 and 6pm.

This day in NZ history in 1975 the Waitangi Tribunal was created. Matiu Rata set up the tribunal while Minister of Maori Affairs.

The Tribunal was created to report on and suggest settlements for contemporary Maori claims to the government, and to ensure that future legislation was consistent with the treaty.

The Tribunal has made a major contribution to remedying some of the more unsettling aspects of New Zealands colonial legacy.

Our quote for today is from George B. Bradt who said "Leadership is about inspiring and enabling others to do their absolute best together to realize a meaningful and rewarding shared purpose."

To find out whats happening please check out our Whats On page.

Have a great day!
We spoke with Lawrie Kearns, Director of Private Wealth, Harneys Fiduciary, BVI, to learn more about the company, and also to find out how they coped with the ravages of Hurricane Irma that swept across the BVI in early September.

Harneys is the oldest and largest law firm in the British Virgin Islands, he began by telling us. We also have offices elsewhere in the world, in 12 other locations.

"We focus on BVI, Cayman and Cyprus law, and we have offices in Asia - Hong Kong, Singapore and also Sao Paulo, Montevideo, in London as well. So really were an international business."

Inevitably, conversation soon turned to Hurricane Irma. So how did the terrible storm impact on Harneys?

It affected us significantly, he said. It took a big hit, a lot of damage to infrastructure. Its been a difficult few weeks, but theres a lot of resourceful people on the ground there and the good news is that it gets better day by day.

"A combination of the BVI government, the UK government, and humanitarian agencies really pulling together, so the one positive  if you can take a positive  from whats been a very difficult time, is the way people have come together, pulled together. That sort of team effort has been quite amazing to see really.

Harneys as a law firm are very collegiate, with a big emphasis on teamwork, and seeing that in the community has been, as I said, the one positive from it. And weve got a number of offices so weve been able to share the burden.

You can watch the full video interview with Lawrie Kearns above this article.
Governor Terry McAuliffe awarded $6 million in School Security Equipment Grants to protect students and teachers in 104 school divisions and three regional educational programs. The grants will pay for video monitoring systems, metal detectors, classroom locks, electronic-access controls, visitor-identification systems, direct communications links between schools and law enforcement agencies, and other security upgrades in 545 schools and other instructional facilities.

"School safety is imperative to providing an environment where students can learn, grow and thrive, said Governor McAuliffe. These grants will provide our school administrators with the resources they need to keep their students and teachers safe so they can concentrate on providing a world class education and preparing for success in the new Virginia economy.

The School Security Equipment Grants program was established by the 2013 General Assembly in the aftermath of the December 14, 2012, mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

The criteria for making the awards  developed by the Virginia Department of Education and the state Department of Criminal Justice Services  gives priority to schools most in need of modern security equipment, schools with relatively high numbers of offenses, schools with equipment needs identified by a school security audit, and schools in divisions least able to afford security upgrades.

This fifth round of awards brings the total number of school security projects receiving state funding through the program to 2,327.

These grants will allow for safety enhancements and systems that will help schools meet the basic expectation that public schools are safe environments where all students can focus on learning, Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples said.

The divisions and regional educational programs awarded the security upgrade are as follows:

Buchanan County  $28,805 forCouncil High, Hurley Elementary/Middle, Hurley High, Riverview Elementary/Middle and Twin Valley High

Russell County  $73,814 forBelfast Elk Garden Elementary, Castlewood Elementary, Castlewood High, Copper Creek Elementary, Honaker Elementary, Honaker High, Lebanon Elementary, Lebanon High, Lebanon Primary, Russell County Vocational and Swords Creek Elementary

Tazewell County  $99,624 forAbb's Valley-Boissevain Elementary, Dudley Primary, Raven Elementary and Springville Elementary

School divisions and regional educational programs were invited in June to apply for the 2017 grants. The largest grant a school division may receive under the program is $100,000. A local match of 25 percent is required of most divisions.
Smyth County Schools and the town of Chilhowie will benefit from grants coming their way from Richmond.

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced this week that the town of Chilhowie will receive $60,000 through the Community Business Launch awards and Smyth County Schools will receive $80,000 in a School Security Equipment grant.

The business launch funds help local governments and nonprofit organizations train entrepreneurs and conduct business plan competitions particularly in downtown commercial districts.

For Chilhowie, the grant was sought by the Smyth County Chamber of Commerce for its Small Business Boot Camp program, which offers assistance to entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the county. This grant will focus on Chilhowie.

Sarah Gillespie, executive director of the chamber, has led four boot camps and is in the process of planning the fifth for early next year. She will present more information about the new grant at the Chilhowie Town Council meeting on Thursday, Oct. 12.

Downtown revitalization and bolstering entrepreneurship are important pieces of building the new Virginia economy," said Governor McAuliffe. The Community Business Launch competitions provide a valuable step in preparing entrepreneurs to successfully fill vacant spaces and create exciting downtown districts, ensuring that Virginia is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. I look forward to seeing how the localities selected use the funding to develop and grow a small business ecosystem in their communities.

Downtown Wytheville was also a grant recipient of $60,000.

The $80,000 for Smyth County Schools will help provide security upgrades at Chilhowie Elementary, Chilhowie Middle, Marion Middle, Northwood Middle and Rich Valley Elementary. Grants across the commonwealth are helping schools provide such security measures as video monitoring systems, metal detectors, classroom locks, electronic-access controls, visitor-identification systems, and direct communications links between schools and law enforcement agencies.

"School safety is imperative to providing an environment where students can learn, grow and thrive, said McAuliffe. These grants will provide our school administrators with the resources they need to keep their students and teachers safe so they can concentrate on providing a world class education and preparing for success in the new Virginia economy.

The School Security Equipment Grants program was established by the 2013 General Assembly in the aftermath of the Dec.14, 2012, mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.
McDonald's is admitting it botched its own Szechuan Sauce giveaway over the weekend, and promising to make it up to fans.

Fortune reports the fast food chain faced heavy backlash after a one-day-only promotion at select restaurants Saturday with extremely limited supplies of its discontinued "Mulan McNugget sauce." First released in 1998 to promote Disney's animated film "Mulan," interest was revived by references on the Adult Swim cartoon series "Rick and Morty."

Long lines of customers were reported at McDonald's restaurants around the country; some said locations had only 20 packets to give away, while many had none.

Got there an hour early for Szechuan sauce. Left because McDonalds was only sent 30 packets. Sending bad vibes to McDonalds Corporate smh cant complete my serie arc now #szechuansauce pic.twitter.com/MTuAOSqwfG  Amber Cocchiola (@frenchhornist) October 7, 2017

According to Cleveland.com, only two stores in northeast Ohio had Szechuan Sauce, but dozens still showed up at non-participating McDonald's. A location in Akron reportedly had just 18 sauce packets and 29 postcards, but didn't tell the 150 people in line -- some of whom had waited more than an hour -- until they ran out.

Police were also called to a McDonald's in Florida when customers reportedly refused to leave after being told there was no sauce left.

Cops are at Wellington McDonalds where tons of angry people lined up for hrs for Rick and Morty Szechuan sauce only to learn they had none pic.twitter.com/3T272osid4  Lulu Ramadan (@luluramadan) October 7, 2017

The fast food chain issued an apology Sunday, admitting the "super-limited batch, though well-intentioned, clearly wasn't near enough to meet that demand."

In a statement, McDonald's promised it would bring back "a lot more" sauce this winter to more locations "so that any fan who's willing to do whatever it takes for Szechuan Sauce will only have to ask for it at a nearby McDonald's."

McDonald's says additional details about its next Szechuan Sauce giveway will be announced soon.

The sauce was previously only available for a limited time in a cross-promotion with "Mulan," which Disney is reportedly developing as a live-action movie reboot. Millenials were recently reminded of its existence when "Rick and Morty" character Rick claimed his sole motivation for time travel adventures has been to track down the condiment, calling it his "one-armed man."

According to the Washington Post, McDonald's may have used the Szechaun Sauce stunt to help promote its new chicken fingers, dubbed Buttermilk Crispy Tenders. They come in boxes with holders for two dipping sauces, with nine to choose from, such as Spicy Buffalo sauce and Signature Sauce.
Deirdre Rogers-Howell died Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, nearly a week after she was badly beaten in the city of Oswego.

OSWEGO, N.Y. -- An Oswego woman badly beaten last weekend has died, her family said Sunday night.

Deirdre Rogers-Howell, 55, was found unresponsive the morning of Oct. 1 in a home on East Fourth Street in the city of Oswego, according to her daughter Kalyn Rupracht, 20, of Fulton.

Rupracht said her mother was at the East Fourth Street home for a party, but she was told different accounts of how the attack happened. She and other family members said they still have many unanswered questions.

Oswego police say they were called to 128 E. Fourth St. at 10:07 a.m. Oct. 1 for a report of an unresponsive 55-year-old woman.

By 12:30 p.m. the same day, police had charged 37-year-old Jason A. Golas, a homeless man from Oswego, with second-degree assault, a felony.

Oswego police say Golas struck the victim multiple times, causing serious, life-threatening injuries, according to a news release.

Police did not identify the victim, nor would they confirm Sunday night that she had died.

Rogers-Howell's family, however, said she died Friday -- several days after the attack.

"He beat her to literally an inch of her life," said Rogers-Howell's stepdaughter Danielle Howell, 25, of Oswego.

Rogers-Howell was beaten the night before in a bedroom, while approximately five people were in the East Fourth Street home, Howell said.

A police report shows the victim was taken to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse last Sunday and put on life support.

Rogers-Howell was taken off life support Tuesday and then transferred to the James Square nursing home, where she died around 1:30 p.m. Friday, her stepdaughter said.

Golas was arraigned Monday in Oswego City Court and sent to the Oswego County Correctional Facility, where he remains without bail. A jail employee confirmed Sunday night that Golas is still facing the felony assault charge, but then paused and added -- "for now."

Golas is scheduled to return at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 17 in Oswego City Court, according to police.

Howell said her family had been told the assault charge likely would be upgraded at that return court date if her stepmother died before then. Howell also said her family has many unanswered questions about what happened last weekend that led to her stepmother's death.

"We don't have any idea how he (Golas) knew her (Rogers-Howell)," she said. "None of us know who he is. We've heard multiple stories (about what happened)... but nobody knows if she suffered."

Doctors told Rogers-Howell's family that "if someone had found her sooner, she would have had a better chance (at survival)," Howell said.

Rogers-Howell was separated from her husband, but Howell said she believed her stepmother wanted to work things out with her father.

About five people were in the home last weekend, including Rogers-Howell's roommate and the roommate's significant other, according to Howell. Rogers-Howell was in a bedroom at the home, and witnesses told her family they saw Golas leave the bedroom the night of Sept. 30, Howell said.

"Nobody heard anything," she said.

It wasn't until someone checked on Rogers-Howell the next morning that they found her and called police, Howell said.

Rogers-Howell grew up in Mexico and eventually worked as a pharmacist at Oswego Hospital, according to her stepdaughter.

On her way to work several years ago, Rogers-Howell hit black ice and crashed. She suffered bleeding in her brain and a stroke, followed by several smaller strokes and memory loss, Howell said. She was put on disability, and could no longer work or drive, Howell said.

Howell said she is sickened that someone would beat her stepmother.

"I may not have been close to her, but she did not deserve that," Howell said. "She was way to kind of a person for anybody to be like that to her. I want justice for her."

Oswego police are asking the public to call them with any information about the attack at (315) 342-8120.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - An independent blood bank in Buffalo hopes to expand into Central New York by undercutting prices charged by the American Red Cross.

Unyts, formerly known as Upstate Transplant Services, estimates it has saved Western New York hospitals $10 million since it established a community blood bank in 2007.

"We think we can do the same thing in Central New York," said Mark Simon, president and CEO of the nonprofit.

Syracuse hospitals spend about $7 million annually on blood used primarily in surgery, said Ron Lagoe of the Hospital Executive Council, a Syracuse hospital planning agency.

"Hospitals these days are always looking at costs," he said.

Unyts, a nonprofit, is also an organ, tissue and eye procurement organization. It owns and operates the Central New York Eye and Tissue Bank at 517 E. Washington St., in downtown Syracuse.

Because Unyts already has a presence in Syracuse, adding a blood bank here would be the next logical step, Simon said.

"None of it can happen without the buy-in of the health care community in the region," Simon said. "It's very hard to start a blood bank from scratch."

Patty Corvaia of the Red Cross said the creation of another blood bank in Central New York would not affect her organization's ability to supply blood products to hospitals or change its blood prices.

Syracuse is part of the Red Cross New York-Penn region, which includes the entire state and Northwestern Pennsylvania. The Red Cross has to collect about 1,000 donations daily for patients throughout that region, Corvaia said.

The Red Cross blood program is separate from disaster relief services provided by local Red Cross chapters.

The Red Cross says blood prices it charges hospitals only reflect costs associated with the recruitment and screening of potential donors, the collection of blood by trained staff, the processing and testing of each unit of blood, and the labeling, storage and distribution of blood components.

Unyts contacted Syracuse hospitals several months ago. The hospitals are in the early stages of exchanging information with Unyts, Lagoe said.

The Syracuse hospitals are waiting to learn from Unyts how much blood it can supply and the price, Lagoe said.

Syracuse hospitals considered starting their own blood bank in 2005 to get relief from rising prices charged by the Red Cross. The hospitals hired a consultant who estimated they could save $2 million a year by establishing their own blood bank.

But the Syracuse hospitals shelved the plan after the Red Cross agreed to freeze blood prices.

About 25,000 people donate blood annually to Unyts in Western New York. Unyts distributes about 32,000 units of blood annually. It is the primary supplier of Kaleida Health, Erie County Medical Center, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Eastern Niagara Hospital and Wyoming County Health System.

Unyts partners with other independent blood banks around the country who provide blood when its supply runs short.

Independent blood banks like Unyts provide about 50 percent of the blood in the U.S. The Red Cross supplies about 40 percent. The remainder is collected by hospital blood banks.

Western New York hospital officials sit on the Unyts blood bank advisory board and have a say on setting prices, Simon said.

Unyts gradually grew its donor base in the Buffalo area by starting out with a few small hospitals, then expanding to larger hospital systems, he said.

Contact James T. Mulder anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2245
Lisa Winkle, a nurse at Upstate University Health Care Center in Syracuse, puts a bandage on the arm of Dariyon Paris, 4, of Syracuse, after giving him three vaccinations required for school in this file photo.

Ellen M. Blalock

A small number of Central New York schools are way below state average when it comes to the number of students who are getting required vaccinations against diseases like mumps, measles, chicken pox and whooping cough.

Parents can apply for exemptions from the immunization requirement for medical or religious reasons.

The statewide student immunization rate has averaged 97 percent for the past five years.

Health experts says a 95 percent immunization rate is necessary to stop disease from spreading. The vast majority of area schools have immunization rate of at least 95 percent or higher.

Here are Central New York schools that had immunization rates below 90 percent during the 2015-2016 school year. The schools are ranked one to 19, with one having the lowest rates.

The school immunization rate data is reported by schools to the state Health Department. The department presents the data by percentage and does not report enrollment for each school to eliminate confidentiality issues for schools with small numbers of students.

Enrollment data in the slideshow is from the state Education Department, National Center for Education Statistics and ElementarySchools.org.

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Amish children walk to school in Cortland County in this file photo.

Michelle Gabel

No. 1 Jennings Creek Amish school, Marathon

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 0 percent

Religious exemptions: 100 percent

Enrollment: 29

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Dennis Nett

No. 2 Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God School, Warners

Immunization rate: 43.3 percent

Religious exemptions: 56.1 percent

Enrollment: 162

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Victory Christian Academy is part of Reigning Miracles Ministries in Cortland.

Reigning Miracles Minstries

No. 3 Victory Christian Academy, Cortland

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 47.1 percent

Religious exemptions: 41.18 percent

Enrollment: 17

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Frontenac School

No. 4 Frontenac Seventh-day Adventist School, Union Springs

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 50 percent

Religious exemptions: 12.5 percent

Enrollment: 16

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Ithaca Waldorf School

No. 5 Ithaca Waldorf School, Ithaca

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 53.10 percent

Religious exemptions: 28.57 percent

Enrollment: 80

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New Life Christian School

No. 6 New Life Christian School, Hamilton

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 62.7 percent

Religious exemptions: 19.4 percent

Enrollment: 77

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Providence Christian School students pack boxes with gifts for needy children in this file photo.

John Berry

No. 7 Providence Christian School, Pulaski

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 65 percent

Religious exemptions: 10 percent

Enrollment: 20 (2011-2012 school year)

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Dexterville SDA Church School

No. 8 Dexterville Seventh-day Adventist School, Fulton

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 75 percent

Religious exemptions: 25 percent

Enrollment: 4

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Creative Environment Day School

No. 8 Creative Environment Day School, Fayetteville

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 75 percent

Religious exemptions: 25 percent

Enrollment: 41

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Peachtown Elementary

No. 9 Peachtown Elementary, Aurora

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 76.2 percent

Religious exemptions: 23.81

Enrollment: 24

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The New School

No. 10 The New School, DeWitt

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 80.80 percent

Religious exemptions: 19.23 percent

Enrollment: 31

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Conquest students play soccer during recess in this file photo.

Peter Chen

No. 11 Conquest Parochial School, Port Byron

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 83.3 percent

Religious exemptions: 14.58 percent

Enrollment: 23

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Lehman Alternative Community School

No. 12 Lehman Alternative Community School, Ithaca

Type of school: public

Immunization rate: 84.10 percent

Religious exemptions: 15.89 percent

Enrollment: 302

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Fall Creek Elementary

No. 13 Fall Creek Elementary, Ithaca

Type of school: public

Immunization rate: 85.10

Religious exemptions: 11.16

Enrollment: 234

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Oswego Community Christian School

No. 14 Oswego Community Christian School

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 85.40 percent

Religious exemptions: 10.98 percent

Enrollment: 108

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Village of Cayuga

No. 15 Cayuga Mennonite School, Cayuga

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 86.10

Religious exemptions: 8.3 percent

Enrollment: 23

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New Roots Charter School

New Roots Charter School

No. 16 New Roots Charter School, Ithaca

Type of school: charter

Immunization rate: 86.20

Religious exemptions: 13.04

Enrollment: 135

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Montessori School of Syracuse

No. 17 Montessori School of Syracuse

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 87.20 percent

Religious exemptions: 2.13 percent

Enrollment: 144

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Baldwinsville Christian Academy

No. 18 Baldwinsville Christian Academy

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 87.6

Religious exemptions: 11.24

Enrollment: 178

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Parkview Junior Academy

No. 19 Parkview Junior Academy, Syracuse

Type of school: private

Immunization rate: 89.1

Religious exemptions: 10.9

Enrollment: 54

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Thinkstock

Learn more about NY student immunization rates

A complete list of student immunization rates for every school in the state can be found here.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse Republican candidate for mayor Laura Lavine said she won't take more than a $30,000 salary if elected.

The proposal mirrors a deal Lavine made as superintendent of LaFayette schools.

Lavine, 61, took over as superintendent a few years after retiring as a school administrator. Because she was collecting a pension, state rules capped her income at $30,000.

At the time, superintendents in New York state made an average salary of $167,000.

Lavine could have sought a waiver to make more as superintendent, but instead, she cut a deal with the school board: She took just $30,000 a year in exchange for lifetime health insurance for her and her husband.

"That's the bold and creative thinking that we need in that building over there," Lavine said in a recent interview, gesturing toward City Hall.

Lavine, who has proposed mayoral control of the city school district, said bold, outside-the-box thinking is also needed to turn around Syracuse's struggling schools.

LaFayette officials estimated the deal saved the district $135,000 a year. It made Lavine the lowest-paid superintendent in the state.

The Syracuse mayor makes $115,000 a year, but Lavine said she would seek only $30,000.

She said she believes state rules might force her to accept the full salary, but she would donate all but $30,000 to the Syracuse City School District Educational Foundation or "something related to supporting the city schools."

Lavine said she hasn't shared the idea widely, but has discussed it with anyone who asks.

She said she views it as part of her commitment to focusing on improving city schools as mayor, and one way she can bring her experience as a superintendent to the role.

Lavine served as LaFayette superintendent from July 2014 to June 2017.

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers federal courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud said he wrestles with serving in a homeland security advisory role under the Trump administration.

Syverud, who has voiced support for President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (or DACA) program, was among eight college leaders tapped to advise the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Syverud was appointed to the advisory board under Obama, in October 2016. He continues to serve in the role, but said at a meeting Wednesday he would resign if he felt his obligations to SU were compromised.

Trump announced in September his administration would phase out DACA, the program that protects hundreds of thousands of young people, including some SU students, brought into the U.S. illegally.

Trump has called on Congress to enact legislation to protect the immigrants, often called "Dreamers."

Syverud said Wednesday he did not expect a solution to be reached before March, when federal officials have indicated deportations could begin.

Of the limbo in which students locally, and 800,000 DACA recipients overall, could be placed, Syverud said, "This is a catastrophe."

He said the current administration's policies toward regard to immigration, including but also beyond DACA, have given him a lot to think about, especially as the leader of an institution that regularly recruits students, faculty and researchers from beyond the U.S.

Syverud said he is constantly evaluating these "ethical dilemmas" during a Q-and-A with the University Senate last week.

He said the advisory board has met only once so far since Trump was inaugurated. Beyond immigration, it was also set up to provide guidance on issues of research, safety and security.

At the sole meeting this year, Syverud said, then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, now Trump's chief of staff, sought advice from the college presidents. It was a "productive meeting," Syverud said.

"Whether on a daily basis I can continue in this dual role is something I wrestle with," he said. "As you can probably imagine I wrestle with issues like association with policy that I disagree with. I wrestle with who would be appointed to replace me and what positions that person would take."

Syverud said that for now, he views his role as an "obligation of citizenship."

"But I certainly can envision the circumstances where my role as chancellor here would not be compatible with serving and longer, and when those come, I will resign."

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers federal courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992
Richard Spencer, who in August led white nationalists and white supremacists in a torchlight march across the University of Virginia campus that touched off a weekend of deadly clashes, returned Saturday night to Charlottesville.

Spencer, a white nationalist, posted video on social media of followers carrying torches to the statue of Robert E. Lee, which the city has sought to remove.

The march coincided with the university's celebration of its bicentennial.

"It was a planned flash mob," Spencer said in an interview Saturday night. "It was a great success. We've been planning this for a long time."

"We wanted to prove that we came in peace in May, we came in peace in August, and we come again in peace," he said.

Their message, he said, is that, "Our identity matters. We are not going to stand by and allow people to tear down these symbols of our history and our people - and we're going to do this again."

Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer sent a tweet denouncing the march: "Another despicable visit by neo-Nazi cowards. You're not welcome here! Go home! Meantime we're looking at all our legal options. Stay tuned."

Wes Gobar, the leader of the U-Va. Black Student Alliance, who was trying to finish a paper for class when he learned of the rally, said it was difficult balancing studies while bracing for the next burst of hatred that might seize Charlottesville. On Saturday, some members of his group knelt in protest during the National Anthem and the school's "Good Old Song."

Spencer, a U-Va. graduate, said he was unaware that the school was marking its bicentennial. They have been planning this "for a long time."

WVIR-TV reported that Spencer and his group arrived at Emancipation Park about 7:45 p.m., and departed 15 minutes later.

The video Spencer posted show him and his crowd chanting, "You will not replace us"

They promised to keep returning to Charlottesville, which they argued had become symbolic of their right to speak and also had come to symbolize the tearing down of symbols of the nation's history.

"You will not erase us."

"We are about our heritage. Not just us Virginians. Not just as Southerners. But as white people . . . we'll take a stand.

"You'll have to get used to us.

"We're going to come back again and again and again."

Then they began singing about Dixie.

Officials with the Charlottesville police department did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday night.

Spokesmen for the University of Virginia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The August march at U-Va. - with people chanting "Jews will not replace us!" - touched off violence between demonstrators and counterprotesters the next day. A man drove into a crowd, killing one woman and injuring others, and two police officers who were monitoring the protests died when their helicopter crashed.

In the days that followed, several public universities denied Spencer a platform.

Last week, the University of Florida reluctantly agreed it would allow Spencer to speak later this month, saying it had no choice because as a state institution, it must all expression of all viewpoints.

The university, in Gainesville, Florida, is charging the National Policy Institute, which Spencer leads, $10,000 to rent a campus facility and to provide security inside the university's performing arts center.
Dad cleared of killing daughter, 2, after son, 7, confessesTHE ASSOCIATED PRESSFirst posted: Thursday, October 05, 2017 11:19 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, October 05, 2017 11:24 PM EDTFORT WORTH, Texas  A capital murder charge against a North Texas man in the 2015 death of his 2-year-old daughter has been dismissed after prosecutors learned her older brother admitted causing the death.Anthony Michael Sanders was accused of smothering Ellie Mae Sanders at their home in the Fort Worth suburb of Watauga. Investigators believed Sanders held his hand over her mouth out of anger for her interrupting his computer games.Jailed since April 2016, Sanders denied responsibility. He said he found his daughter not breathing after his son, then 5, reported she wouldnt wake up.The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports prosecutors recently learned the boy, now 7, had told his mother that he had hit his sister with a pillow and the pillow was too heavy to remove from the girls head.Father's murder charges dropped after son, 7, admits to killing sisterPostmedia NetworkFirst posted: Sunday, October 08, 2017 08:02 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, October 08, 2017 08:06 PM EDTA murder charge has been dropped against a Texas man accused of killing his two-year-old daughter after his young son confessed to the act.Watauga, Texas resident Anthony Michael Sanders has been cleared of a capital murder charge involving the death of his daughter, Ellie, 2, after prosecutors learned that the girl's older brother rolled a pillow onto her face and smothered her to death in December 2015.He was unable to move the pillow. He said that the pillow was a rectangle and was heavy. It had something zipped inside which made the pillow heavy, according to court documents, as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Sanders was arrested in April 2016. Investigators believed the man held his hand over his girl's mouth to suffocate her in a fit of rage.They believed Sanders was upset because Ellie had disrupted a computer game session.Sanders had denied killing his daughter, telling cops he found his lifeless daughter after his wife, Cassie Wright, returned home.The accused was set for trial on Sept. 11. However two days later the charge was dropped and Sanders was released from jail.The Star-Telegram reported Wright called prosecutor Dale Smith and told him that her now seven-year-old son confessed to killing Ellie.Wright reportedly told Smith her son had hit Ellie with a pillow and that the object was too heavy to get off the toddler.Cassie Wright said that this was the first time (her son) had told her anything like this, court documents stated. She does not believe (her son) and does not think that what he is telling her makes sense.Wright said she only learned of her son's actions recently. When asked why he never told anyone else, the boy told the prosecutor he was afraid that he would get in trouble.the pillow was too heavy? was an anvil in the pillow?
I was sitting along a canal in Amsterdam a few weeks ago when a message slid into my DMs  sitting at the top of my Hermes inbox was an email from my Director of Studies, detailing the workload of the coming term.

From feeling that all was at peace with the world  a feeling inevitably evoked by the piping hot churros in my hand and the unhurried, comfortable thriving of the city around me  I was suddenly overwhelmed by flashbacks of first-year anxiety.

Three months away from Cambridge had dimmed most memories of academic and social stress alike, of frantic essay-writing until six am, and of rushing to supervisions trying to recall what I had even written during said six am essay sessions. Surviving first year had felt like an achievement to me, enough to warrant shelving away thoughts of the upcoming academic year in my mind so as to enjoy lazy summer days instead. But now, with phrases like start of term DoS meetings and important information about Michaelmas teaching arrangements lurking in my inbox, I was suffused again with the same feelings of unpreparedness and inadequacy.

Watching new first years roam my college, as curious and unfamiliar as I had been myself a year ago, made me acutely aware of how uncertain I myself still feel. It seemed incomprehensible that there could already be new students even as I felt that first year could not be over yet.

Being a second year feels like I should be armed with greater knowledge and confidence this time around, but the nearer the start of term looms, the more I remember there is still a long way to go. The paths through our colleges and the walks to our lecture sites may have become familiar to us, but Cambridge life is still, in many ways, as shiny and unknown as it was when we started out as apprehensive freshers. How many new people will we meet this year, and what more will we come to learn in the next few terms? What challenges will the year bring to us, and how changed will we emerge at the end of it? The term "returning student" might not have the same novel connotations as "fresher", but the start of second year can be as much of a new beginning as the start of first was.

A summer of leisurely wading through the reading list will probably make the forthcoming academic pace a bit of a shock, but there is so much more here too that will keep us going through all of it. As I mournfully consoled myself with my churros, memories of poring over old texts and consecutive essay crises began to be replaced by those of incredible friends and warm comfort. The latter moments had characterised my first year at Cambridge just as much as, and perhaps even more than, the workload and course had themselves.

Freshers are often given advice on starting university at their own pace, of looking after themselves even as they navigate a new landscape and find a place within it. This advice does not become any less true or valuable for the rest of us returning to university. This is both a familiar return and an exciting new start, so embrace the apprehension, uncertainty, exhilaration and anticipation all at once.

A friend recently said that although they had resolved to become more organised and hardworking this year, they were also sure they would fail to keep to these resolutions  perhaps there really is nothing wrong with this after all.

And even as I write this in my half-unpacked room back in college, the sun is setting over the lawns and trees outside my window, and the sky is steeped in shades of blue and pink (made all the more romantic by Spotifys Your Favourite Coffeehouse playlist)  if this doesnt feel like a promising beginning, then I dont know what does.
A coalition of academics and activists, including Noam Chomsky and National Union of Students President Shakira Martin, are calling on Cambridge to divest from fossil fuels, increasing the pressure on the University to divest from fossil fuels.

A signed submission, co-written by the National Union of Students and student campaigning group People & Planet, urges the University to fully divest its 6.3 billion endowment from the sector.

The submission criticises the industry for misleading the public on climate science, and draws attention to human rights abuses by fossil fuel companies. It also argues that the industrys business plans run counter to the Paris Agreement, and consequently highlights a reputational risk if Cambridge chooses to maintain its investments with companies such as ExxonMobil and BP.

Master of Magdalene and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams welcomed the contribution, and commented: This is a further welcome contribution to an increasingly urgent argument; our University needs to continue to think hard about how it can take an appropriately leading role in effecting the change we need in our attitude to fossil fuels.'

A working group on divestment was set up after Regent House passed a motion this year in favour of divestment. CUSU Council also voted in favour in November 2015. Current CUSU President Daisy Eyre is among the signatories to the submission.

The University has faced sustained pressure from campaign group Cambridge Zero Carbon Society, since it launched its divestment campaign two years ago. Over 2000 students signed their petition in its first year, while there have also been several marches for divestment.

A spokesperson for Cambridge Zero Carbon Society said: The Universitys own Governing Body has voted for divestment. Its working group should be exploring how to implement that, not prevaricating over a question students and academics have long since answered. This submission is yet another sign that Cambridge needs to get with the times, and divest from fossil fuels. There is no evidence for threats to the Universitys research interests, while both the moral and financial cases are overwhelmingly in support of divestment.

Angus Satow, Press Officer for Zero Carbon, added: History is heading in one direction, away from fossil fuels and towards renewables. It is Cambridges choice whether it embraces the future or sticks with a dirty past. Cambridge University says it exists for the benefit of society. But this submission outlines how fossil fuel companies have been complicit in serious human rights abuses and how they have profited from misleading the public on climate science. After a summer of climate chaos, Cambridge has a choice: will it be part of the problem, or part of the solution?

More information about Cambridge Zero Carbon Society can be found via its website or Twitter.

The full submission can be found here.
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Protesters take to the streets across Russia on Putin's 65th birthday

In a challenge to President Vladimir Putin on his 65th birthday, protesters rallied across Russia on Saturday, heeding opposition leader Alexei Navalny's call to pressure authorities into letting him enter the presidential race.Police allowed demonstrators in Moscow to rally near the Kremlin in an apparent desire to avoid marring Putin's birthday with a crackdown. A bigger rally in St. Petersburg, Putin's hometown, was disbanded by police after protesters blocked traffic and attempted to break through police cordons.The rallies came as Navalny himself is serving a 20-day jail term for calling for an earlier unsanctioned protest.In Moscow, several hundred protesters, most of them students, gathered on downtown Pushkinskaya Square, waving Russian flags and chanting "Russia will be free!" and "Let Navalny run!" Police warned them that the rally wasn't sanctioned and urged them to disperse, but let the protest continue for hours without trying to break it up.Mostly teenage protesters later walked down Moscow's Tverskaya Street toward the Kremlin, shouting "Putin, go away!" and "Future without Putin!"Police lines blocked them from approaching Red Square and they turned back. Several hours later, some made a new attempt to march on the Kremlin, shouting "Putin thief!" and briefly attempted to block traffic."We battle for Russia to be free from Putinism. Because the power we have now is feudal, we have no freedom of speech, no freedom of choice," said protester Stepan Fesov.The authorities' decision to refrain from breaking up the Moscow protest contrasted with a more forceful response to previous Moscow rallies called by Navalny, when police detained more than 1,000 demonstrators.Police also didn't intervene at first with a bigger unsanctioned rally in St. Petersburg, where nearly 2,000 gathered at Marsovo Pole park and then marched across the city chanting "Russia without Putin!" and "Putin, retire!"Shortly after, police broke up the demonstration, detaining nearly 40 after some tried to break through police lines. Police said those detained were released and will face fines for blocking traffic.One detainee, Marina Bukina, said she was injured when a police officer hit her in the head with a club.After the St. Petersburg march was disbanded, several hundred protesters continued rallying for hours at the downtown Vosstaniya Square as police stood by without intervening."Putin has been in charge since I was born," said Dmitry Samokhin, an 18-year-old protester in St. Petersburg. "The country is mired in stagnation and I want to see changes."Navalny's headquarters called for protests in 80 cities. Most were not sanctioned by authorities, but police largely refrained from dispersing the rallies that drew from a few dozen to a few hundred people. The Siberian city of Yakutsk saw a tough police response, with a few dozen demonstrators reportedly detained.Navalny has declared his intention to run for president in the March 2018 election, even though a criminal conviction that he calls politically motivated bars him from running. The 41-year-old anti-corruption crusader has organized waves of protests this year, raising the pressure on the Kremlin.Putin hasn't yet announced whether he would seek re-election, but he's widely expected to run. With his current approval ratings topping 80 per cent, he is set to easily win another six-year term in a race against torpid veterans of past election campaigns, like Communist Party chief Gennady Zyuganov.Navalny argues that the high level of support for Putin comes from the lack of real political competition and urged supporters to help him get registered."(Putin's) 86 per cent approval rating exists in a political vacuum," he said. "It's like asking a person who has been fed rutabaga his entire life how eatable they find it and the rating will be quite high. Listen, there are other things that are better than rutabaga."The sarcastic analogy demonstrated Navalny's stinging style, which has helped him win broad support among the young.Navalny has worked to expand his reach with videos exposing official corruption and YouTube live broadcasts. His documentary about Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's alleged ill-gotten wealth has been viewed nearly 25 million times since its release in March, helping galvanize protests.Following Navalny's call, tens of thousands took to the streets in dozens of cities and towns across Russia in March and June in the biggest show of defiance since the 2011-2012 anti-government protests.Unlike those past rallies, which were driven by anti-corruption slogans, Navalny this time focused on rallying support for his own presidential bid  a reason some gave for the smaller protest in Moscow."Some people dislike Putin and the government, but that doesn't mean they are willing to unequivocally back Navalny," political analyst Valery Solovei said on Dozhd television.
Populations of lamprey have significantly declined in various lakes at the Great Lakes basin but have continued their destruction in Lakes Superior and Erie. As such, authorities are engaging in aggressive efforts to minimize the lake vampire's trail of destruction.

Invasive Sea Lampreys At Lakes Erie And Superior

On Oct. 5, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission announced that the populations of sea lampreys at Lakes Michigan, Ontario, and Huron remain at near-historic lows. However, the same cannot be said for Lakes Erie and Superior, as the invasive species continue to thrive and destroy other fish species.

According to the report, it's possible that the sea lamprey population could be rebounding from the harsh winters of 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015 and that warmer waters as well as the availability of prey may have contributed as well.

Constant Battle At The Great Lakes

Sea lamprey proliferation is considered as one of the worst human-caused disasters at the Great Lakes. They are invasive creatures that reproduce well in the lakes' waters and destroy the other species of fish. In fact, of the 180 non-native species in the Great Lakes, the sea lampreys are the only ones that are controlled basin-wide with a pest control program at an ecosystem scale.

The invasive creatures native to the Atlantic Ocean entered Lake Ontario in the mid-1800s and made their way to the upper lakes by 1921. By 1939, sea lampreys have already invaded the basin with the help of shipping canals.

What lampreys do to other fish in the lake during their parasitic stage warranted them the nickname "lake vampire," as they attach themselves to the other fish via tooth-filled suction cup mouths and create a hole through the fish's scales with their razor sharp tongues.

Sea Lamprey Control

Before aggressive population control efforts were engaged in the Great Lakes region, lampreys killed about 103 million pounds of fish annually. With the control efforts in place, the number has dwindled down to 10 million pounds per year.

To control the sea lamprey population, authorities utilize barriers, traps, alarm cues, and even lampricides. By using these methods together, authorities are able to control the population by dealing with the creatures from different fronts, whether they are in the larvae, juvenile, or adult stage.

So far, the efforts to control the sea lamprey population in the Great Lakes have been proving successful, as Great Lakes fisheries bring in over $7 billion each year and provide over 75,000 jobs to people in the region.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Soil leaks up carbon when it warms up but a new research suggests that the soil may release more carbon than previously believed as temperatures increase. This can potentially create a dangerous feedback loop that may aggravate global warming.

Nearly 3 Decades Of Soil Data

While most of the studies on climate change are conducted at atmospheric levels, the findings of a new study are based on 26 years' worth of observations in a Massachusetts hardwood forest, where scientists artificially heated certain sections of the soil and measured the amount of carbon released.

Study researcher Jerry Melillo, from the Marine Biological Laboratory, and colleagues studied three different types of forest plot. In one set of plot, they installed heating cables in the soil and heated them so the soil would be about 10 degrees warmer than the air around it. Heaters were also installed in the second set of plot but these were not turned on and the third set of plot was left untouched.

Carbon From Soil

Analysis revealed that rising temperatures may cause a two-stage cycle characterized by the carbon output increasing for several years and then leveling off, which can be explained by soil microbes adjusting to the warmer condition.

In the study, carbon released from heated soil rose dramatically in the first decade but the effect disappeared. After about seven years, the researchers observed another increase in carbon from the heated plots after readjustment.

"Our results support projections of a long-term, self-reinforcing carbon feedback from mid-latitude forests to the climate system as the world warms," the researchers wrote in their study.

Scientists are concerned that warmer soil may cause a warmer atmosphere that in turn may heat up the ground and perpetuate increase in temperatures.

Planet-Warming Greenhouse Gas

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas largely blamed for climate change. Global efforts to combat climate change are in fact, focused on reducing the amount of carbon released to the atmosphere.

Every year, the world pumps about 10 billion metric tons of this planet-warming gas into the atmosphere mainly through the burning of fossil fuels. The world's soil is believed to contain about 3,500 billion metric tons of carbon.

"If a significant amount of that soil carbon is added to the atmosphere due to microbial activity in warmer soils, that will accelerate the global warming process," Melillo said. "Once this self-reinforcing feedback begins, there is no easy way to turn it off. There is no switch to flip."

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google has recently introduced the new Pixel Launcher on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, but the thing is, it's more or less exclusive to two phones.

Now, developer Chris Lacy wants to spread some of the software's good stuff to other Android phones with Action Launcher, particularly the two-style dock search box.

Pixel 2 Bits Come To Other Android Phones

To get a better idea of what's in store, the Pixel Launcher repositioned the iconic Google search box from the top to the bottom.

In short, that's what users will get via Action Launcher version 29.0, which has just rolled out. More than that, users can also customize the dock search bar with the Quickbar editor. That means they can change the shape, background color, and the layout with shortcuts.

"With today's v29.0 update, Action Launcher gains the ability to use the Pixel 2-style dock search box. Even better, not only do you get to use this feature today, on your device, but with Action Launcher's Quickbar editor, you can customize the color, shape and shortcuts of the search box as you see fit, allowing you to make this search box yours," Lacy says in a blog post.

The fun doesn't stop there either. Action Launcher version 29.0 is also introducing the option to use "G" style Google logos and change up the corner radius of the search box for that round look.

Action Launcher version 29.0 is already available in the Play Store.

Other Pixel 2 News

To the disappointment of many, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL came without a headphone jack, but Google has a good explanation for it.

Despite that, there are a lot of reasons to go for the new phone by Google.

First and foremost, outfit DxOMark gave it a record-breaking score of 98 in its camera tests. In other words, the Pixel 2 is number 1 in ranking when it comes to mobile photography.

Other than that, it features Google Lens, which allows users to just point their Pixel 2 at something they don't know and get an answer of what it is. That's thanks to the power of AI.

If those aren't that compelling, then the core specs and features are worth noting. Under the hood, it packs a Snapdragon 835, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB or 128 GB of internal storage, and USB-C 3.1. While the Pixel 2 has a 2,700 mAh battery, the Pixel 2 XL boasts a 3,520 mAh pack.

From the get-go, it runs on Android 8.0 Oreo, and it features an always-on display.

On top of all those, Pixel 2 owners will also get timely updates since it's a Google phone, after all.

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Canadian man pleads guilty to terrorism in plot targeting NYC landmarks

Conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.

Conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries.

Conspiring to bomb a place of public use and public transport.

Conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.

Attempted provision and provision of material support and resources to terrorists.

Conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, i.e., ISIS.

Attempted provision and provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, i.e., ISIS.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12, 2017.

A 19-year-old Mississauga, Ont., man is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to terrorism offences in a 2016 plot to detonate bombs in New York City.The charges against Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy were made public Friday when the U.S. Attorney's Office (Southern District of New York) revealed the details of the plan that allegedly included detonating bombs in Times Square and in the New York subway system, as well as shootings at various concert venues.According to the unsealed information, El Bahnasawy purchased bomb-making materials and helped secure a cabin within driving distance of the city for the purpose of building explosive devices.Two others, Talha Haroon, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen living in Pakistan, and Russell Salic, a 37-year-old Philippine citizen, were also charged in connection with the alleged plot. The two were arrested outside of the U.S. and the hope, according to the release, is that they will be extradited to the U.S. for prosecution.In an interview with CBC News, El Bahnasawy's lawyer Sabrina Shroff stressed his young age and called him "vulnerable.""It's a very difficult situation undoubtedly  not just for him but also for his entire family," Shroff said.El Bahnasawy, who has been in custody since his arrest by the FBI in May 2016, pleaded guilty on Oct. 13, 2016. He is the only one of the three to have pleaded guilty so far.According to the allegations, El Bahnasawy and Haroon plotted to carry out the attacks in support of ISIS during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.In preparing for the attacks, the two communicated electronically with an undercover FBI agent posing as an ISIS supporter.In the course of their communication, they allegedly declared their allegiance to ISIS and expressed their intent to carry out attacks resembling the recent Paris and Brussels attacks."These Americans need an attack," El Bahnasawy allegedly stated to the officer, saying he aspired "to create the next 9/11."El Bahnasawy allegedly told the undercover officer that he was in contact with an ISIS affiliate about attack plans officially sanctioned by a branch of ISIS active in Pakistan, and introduced Haroon to the agent.In May 2016, El Bahnasawy, while in Canada, purchased an "array of bomb-making materials," including 18 kilograms of hydrogen peroxide, a key ingredient in making improvised explosive devices. Batteries, thermometers, aluminum foil and Christmas lights were also purchased.That same month, El Bahnasawy informed the agent that he had been in communication with Salic, known to him as "Abu Khalid" and "the doctor," about acquiring more funding for the attacks. El Bahnasawy provided the man's contact information to the agent to facilitate the transfer.On May 11, $423 US was sent from the Philippines to help fund the plan, the U.S. Justice Department says.Meanwhile, El Bahnasawy shipped the bomb-making materials to the United States and allegedly told the agent he wanted to practice shooting at the cabin, which would need refrigeration for the purpose of making explosives.On May 12, the undercover agent sent Salic a photo of the hydrogen peroxide purchased by El Bahnasawy. It's alleged the man expressed to the agent that he would pray for the success of the attack.On May 20, Haroon deemed Times Square the "perfect spot" for the attack, the release alleges. In the course of his communications with the agent, the man allegedly discussed attacking as early as Memorial Day (May 30, 2016), saying, "that's a day that will change history."El Bahnasawy travelled to the New York City area on May 21, 2016, in preparation for staging and ultimately carrying out the attacks, allegedly with Haroon.U.S. law enforcement monitored the trip in co-ordination with Canadian law enforcement and El Bahnasawy was arrested that night in Cranford, N.J. The two others were subsequently arrested  one in Pakistan and the other in the Philippines.El Bahnasawy pleaded guilty last October to seven charges, including:Asked if El Bahnasawy will appeal, Shroff would not confirm but did say, "In every terrorism case in which the United States plays some role, there's always a concern about the length an undercover [agent] will go."In a statement to CBC News Friday, the RCMP said that at no time was the safety or security of the public at risk during the investigation."Abdulrahman El-Bahnasawy is a Canadian citizen who was part of an international plot to commit terrorist attacks in the United States and the charges are a direct result of his involvement and role," the statement said.
Britain 'draws up battle plan for war with North Korea'

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid......

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

...hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

9 October 2017The TelegraphBritain is reportedly preparing for the possibility of war breaking out with North Korea as concerns rise that another provocative missile test could trigger a military response by the US.North Korea is being closely watched amid fears it could launch another long-range missile test on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the founding of its ruling party. Bellicose rhetoric from Donald Trump has heightened tension in the region in recent months, prompting British officials to draw up military plans for a response to a break out of hostilities, it was reported.Among the plans disclosed by the Daily Mail is the deployment of the navy's newest aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth , before it has undergone flight trials."We have plenty of ships to send the Type-45 destroyers, the Type-23 frigates. Britains new aircraft carrier could be pressed into service early if things turn south," a senior Whitehall source told the newspaper.HMS Queen Elizabeth, which arrived at its home in Portsmouth in August after extensive sea trials , is not due to enter service until 2020.The possible move to deploy it ahead of schedule drew comparisons with the start of the Falklands War."In the Falklands we had to react to an event and HMS Illustrious was accelerated to respond," a Navy source told the Mail."This was a reaction to protect British territory, however. In this case [North Korea], the UK would be part of a united global coalition. We would see what support we could give."The US president hinted on Saturday at taking military action against Kim Jong-un's regime, saying "only one thing will work" in dealing with the country.The president has previously said the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies from Pyongyang's nuclear threats.Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, said last week that the UK should increase its military spending in the face of growing threats from states such as North Korea.Last month, Sir Michael told the BBC that Britain was at risk from Pyongyang's long-range nuclear missile programme The US is fully entitled to defend its own territory, to defend its bases and to look after its people, but this involves us, London is closer to North Korea and its missiles than Los Angeles," he said.
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An audit issued Monday criticized how the state Department of Education monitors charter schools.

The report was issued by Louisiana Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera.

Auditors found that the departments monitoring process weighted critical and noncritical violations equally.

"Equally weighting all violations does not reflect the severity of critical violations and may result in schools with critical violations receiving the same score as schools with non-critical violations," the report said.

Violations include cases where schools inappropriately denied students enrollment by telling parents there was a lack of seating; suspension of a student with disabilities for 24 days, 14 days more than is permissible, and manipulation of minutes required for special education services.

In its response, education officials largely agreed with the criticism but disputed other parts of the review.

The report said the agency failed to ensure the required number of at-risk students were enrolled in charter schools.

The result is that, for two types of charters, 19 percent of schools failed to have the necessary number of at-risk students for the 2015-16 school year.

The report said state law and charter contracts require that a certain number of charter school students be classified as at-risk.

At-risk students include those who qualify for free and reduced lunches, those with exceptionalities and students who are the mother or father of a child.

Education officials said they disagreed with the auditor's premise that state law requires preference for at-risk students.

Charter schools are public schools run by non-governmental boards.

Louisiana has 145 charters used by about 80,000 students.

About 53,000 students attend the 98 charter schools covered in Purpera's review, and the schools are authorized by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The audit said the department's oversight is especially important because charter school operators enjoy more autonomy than traditional public schools in exchange for performance accountability.

In other areas, Purpera's report said the department did not specify how to address violations in charter schools.

The agency's procedures failed to spell out that schools should receive a "notice of concern" letter when problems were found and a "return to good standing" when faults were corrected.

The department also needs to better inform parents how to make complaints, according to the audit.

Of 494 complaints aimed at schools, only 11 percent came from parents.

The report said that suggests parents do not know where to file a complaint.

Department officials disputed Purpera's recommendation that state officials make unannounced visits to charter schools.

They said the state already does so but believe the visits have limited value.

"Most of the major problems uncovered at schools have actually been revealed during announced visits, routine monitoring activities and off-site data reviews," according to the department's written response to the audit.
HAZARD, Ky.  A coalition of left-leaning states and environmental groups are vowing to fight President Donald Trump's administration's move to kill an Obama-era effort to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Speaking Monday in the coal-mining state of Kentucky, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt said he would be issuing a new set of rules overriding the Clean Power Plan, the centerpiece of Obama's drive to curb global climate change.

"The war on coal is over," Pruitt declared, adding that no federal agency should ever use its authority to "declare war on any sector of our economy."

It was not immediately clear if Pruitt would seek to issue a new rule without congressional approval, which Republicans had criticized the administration of former President Barack Obama for doing. Pruitt's rule wouldn't become final for months, and is then highly likely to face a raft of legal challenges.

A number of Louisiana Republicans have been sharply critical of the Clean Power Plan, decrying it as potentially job-killing executive overreach by the former president. Louisiana joined 26 other states in a lawsuit challenging the Clean Power Plan.

Both the state's U.S. senators, Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, have previously spoken against the rule. The top-ranking Louisianan in the U.S. House of Representatives, Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, welcomed Pruitt's announcement on Monday with a shot at Obama.

"Just like so many of the Obama administration's radical regulations, the Clean Power Plan rule was a Washington power grab that killed jobs and imposed higher costs on American families," Scalise said in a statement. "I applaud the Trump administration's decision to reverse this misguided rule so hard-working families get some financial relief and American energy producers once again have the ability to grow and create more jobs, and so we can put our nation on the path to energy dominance while providing affordable energy prices for all Americans."

But it's impact on Louisiana, where oil and gas production loom large, isn't clear. The Clean Power Plan chiefly hit the coal industry, targeting coal-fired power plants.

Very little coal is mined in Louisiana and the state relies much more heavily on natural gas  which releases significantly less carbon when burned than coal  to generate electricity.

The exception are local electric co-operatives in Louisiana, which mainly serve rural areas and rely on coal for a majority of their power production. Randy Pierce, the CEO of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives, declined to comment on Pruitt's announcement Monday, saying his group is waiting to see the details of how EPA intends to roll back the plan.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was among those who said they will sue.

"The Trump administration's persistent and indefensible denial of climate change  and their continued assault on actions essential to stemming its increasing devastation  is reprehensible, and I will use every available legal tool to fight their dangerous agenda," said Schneiderman, a Democrat.

For Pruitt, getting rid of the Clean Power Plan will mark the culmination of a long fight he began as the elected attorney general of Oklahoma. Pruitt was among about two dozen attorney generals who sued to stop Obama's 2014 push to limit carbon emissions, stymieing the limits from ever taking effect.

Closely aligned with the oil and gas industry in his home state, Pruitt rejects the consensus of scientists that man-made emissions from burning fossil fuels are the primary driver of global climate change.

Trump, who appointed Pruitt and shares his skepticism of established climate science, promised to kill the Clean Power Plan during the 2016 campaign as part of his broader pledge to revive the nation's struggling coal mines.

In his order Tuesday, Pruitt is expected to declare that the Obama-era rule exceeded federal law by setting emissions standards that power plants could not reasonably meet.

Pruitt appeared at an event with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at Whayne Supply in Hazard, Kentucky, a company that sells coal mining supplies. The store's owners have been forced to lay off about 60 percent of its workers in recent years.

While cheering the demise of the Clean Power Plan as a way to stop the bleeding, McConnell conceded most of those lost jobs are never coming back.

"A lot of damage has been done," said McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. "This doesn't immediately bring everything back, but we think it stops further decline of coal fired plants in the United States and that means there will still be some market here."

Obama's plan was designed to cut U.S. carbon dioxide emissions to 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The rule dictated specific emission targets for states based on power-plant emissions and gave officials broad latitude to decide how to achieve reductions.

The Supreme Court put the plan on hold last year following legal challenges by industry and coal-friendly states, including the suit joined by Louisiana. Even so, the plan helped drive a recent wave of retirements of coal-fired plants, which are also being squeezed by low cost natural gas and renewable power. In the absence of stricter federal regulations curbing greenhouse gas emissions, many states have issued their own mandates promoting energy conservation.

The withdrawal of the Clean Power Plan is the latest in a series of moves by Trump and Pruitt to dismantle Obama's legacy on fighting climate change, including the delay or roll back of rules limiting levels of toxic pollution in smokestack emissions and wastewater discharges from coal-burning power plants.

On Thursday, Trump nominated former coal-industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to serve as Pruitt's top deputy at EPA  one of several recent political appointees at the agency with direct ties to the fossil fuel interests.

The president announced earlier this year that he will pull the United States out of the landmark Paris climate agreement. Nearly 200 countries have committed to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

"This president has tremendous courage," Pruitt said Monday. "He put America first and said to the rest of the world we are going to say no and exit the Paris Accord. That was the right thing to do."

Despite the rhetoric about saving coal, government statistics show that coal mines currently employ only about 52,000 workers nationally  a modest 4-percent uptick since Trump became president. Those numbers are dwarfed by the jobs created by building such clean power infrastructure as wind turbines and solar arrays.

Environmental groups and public health advocates quickly derided Pruitt's decision as short sighted.

"Trump is not just ignoring the deadly cost of pollution, he's ignoring the clean energy deployment that is rapidly creating jobs across the country," said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club.

The Advocate's Bryn Stole contributed reporting to this story.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  Federal investigators returned to search the home of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock on Sunday, while the officers who raided his hotel room door the night of the shooting gave a harrowing account of a barricaded door they had to bust through and the booby-traps they feared they'd find.

The search of Paddock's three-bedroom house on a cul-de-sac in a retirement community in Mesquite, Nevada, was for "re-documenting and rechecking," said local police Chief Troy Tanner, who accompanied FBI agents as they served the search warrant.

"I don't think they are after anything specific," Tanner told The Associated Press. "They're going through everything and photographing everything again."

Can't see video below? Click here.

The home was first searched Monday by Las Vegas police, who said they found 19 guns and several pounds of potentially explosive materials at the house that Paddock bought in early 2015.

The search came exactly a week after Paddock opened fire on a country music crowd, killing 58 and injuring nearly 500.

Before shooting, Las Vegas gunman rented rooms overlooking other music festivals LAS VEGAS (AP)  In the days and months before he mowed down concertgoers from his high-rise

Meanwhile, the makeshift SWAT team of police officers who made it to Paddock's door at the Mandalay Bay hotel casino 12 minutes after the first shots were fired described how they got there and the "gun store" they found inside in an appearance on the CBS television program "60 Minutes" on Sunday night.

One of them said he hurried from police headquarters to the Mandalay Bay in cowboy boots and ditched them before ascending to the 32nd floor in search of the gunman.

"I just threw them in the casino," Detective Matthew Donaldson said. "That was slowing' me down. I was faster barefoot, and I was gonna be more effective barefoot."

The officers said they heard reports of gunmen on both the 29th and 32nd floor, so "we're thinking multiple shooters at this point," Sgt. Joshua Bitsko said.

They zeroed in on the 32nd floor after Paddock unleashed about 200 rounds at a security guard outside his door.

When they got to the stairwell door on that floor near Paddock's room, they found he had taken special measures to slow them down.

"He had screwed shut the door  with a piece of metal and some screws," Bitsko said. "Cause he knew we'd be coming out that door to gain entry into his door. So he tried to barricade it as best he could."

But another officer had a pry bar and was able to easily pop it open, Bitsko said.

Authorities would later reveal that Paddock had surveillance cameras rigged inside and outside his room. But the officers didn't know that at the time.

"There's a room service cart with wires going on it underneath the door," Officer Dave Newton said. "There was something black on top of the cart. So initially I'm, you know, I'm thinking, 'This is a booby-trap. It's, it's going to explode.' "

Bitsko and Newton are K9 officers who had been training dogs when they got the call about Mandalay Bay. They said they were at a disadvantage approaching because "cause he knew we were coming and we were going to have to come through," Newton said. "We didn't know where he was going to be in that room."

Bitsko said it was "like a deadly game of hide and seek," and thought " 'Man, I wish I had my dog with me,' because, you know, it's nice to have him lead a team."

It turned out Paddock had already shot and killed himself when they finally entered.

Inside, Newton said he found "so many guns. So many magazines. Stacks and stacks of magazines everywhere. Just in suitcases all neatly stacked against pillars, around the room, all stacked up, rifles placed all throughout. All kinds of monitors and electrical equipment he had in there. It just looked like almost a gun store."

Also Sunday, authorities began returning the baby strollers, shoes, phones, backpacks and purses that have been strewn for days across the huge crime scene that a week ago was home to 22,000 country music fans at the Route 91 Harvest festival.

Federal agents have spent the week collecting evidence amid the thousands of items that were abandoned in panic, some of them stained with blood.

"Whatever was dropped when people started running, those items we're collecting and we're going to provide back," Paul Flood, unit chief in the FBI's victim services division said at a news conference.

The items have been catalogued with detailed descriptions, and some have been cleaned of things including blood. They are now being returned to people at the Las Vegas Convention Center, starting with a few sections of the concert scene and expanding to others at a time to be announced later.

At 10:05 p.m., the Las Vegas Strip's bright lights dimmed for about 10 minutes to mark the passing of exactly a week since the attack.

Most casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard darkened their marquees briefly Sunday.

Officials say more than 50 properties around town also took part in the memorial.

Las Vegas hotel and gambling magnate Steve Wynn, who owns casinos that Paddock gambled in but not the Mandalay Bay, said Sunday that his hotels have undertaken special security measures in recent years to identify potentially dangerous guests. Those measures include using magnetometers to detect significant amounts of metal and training housekeeping staff to report suspicious actions like a do-not-disturb sign remaining on a door for extended periods.

"If a room goes on 'do not disturb' for more than 12 hours, we investigate," Wynn, whose hotels include Wynn Las Vegas and Encore told "Fox News Sunday" in an interview. "We don't allow guns in this building unless they're being carried by our employees, and there's a lot of them. But if anybody's got a gun and we find them continually, we eject them from the hotel."

Wynn said a scenario like Paddock's "would have triggered a whole bunch of alarms here. And we would have, on behalf of the guests, of course, investigated for safety, and it would have been a provocative situation."

Wynn said that under a counterterrorism plan put in place in 2015, "We profile or inspect or examine everybody that enters the building."

Late Sunday night, when exactly a week has passed since the shooting, casino marquees and other lights on the Las Vegas Strip will go dark for about 10 minutes to pay tribute to the victims who spent that much time under fire.

___

Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo in Las Vegas and Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
New Orleans police released an image of the alleged suspect taken from a nearby surveillance camera after an attack in the French Quarter on Sept. 14, 2017. Police have called the incident an attempted armed robbery.
We're expecting a top of 23 degrees today after an overnight low of 4 degrees. There will be light winds this evening, ahead of a warm 27 degrees tomorrow.

Good morning, Canberra, and welcome to your Tuesday morning.

After months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Kelly Gierke is determined to get her life back to normal.

The Crace mother was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma just three months after giving birth to her second child.

While her husband prepares to be deployed to the Middle East, Ms Gierke is preparing to walk in the Leukaemia Foundation Light the Night walk at the Kingston Foreshore on Friday.

Daniella White has the story.
A man is on the way to Canberra Hospital after two cars collided in Weston about 6.30am on Tuesday.

An ESA spokesman confirmed the man, who is in his 60s, suffered head injuries during the crash on Hindmarsh Drive near Brierly Street but was in a stable condition.

Police remained on the scene, where the eastbound lane of Hindmarsh Drive was briefly closed.



As of 8am, an ACT Policing spokeswoman said traffic was moving again, but slowly.

Commuters are advised to avoid the area if possible.
Shareholders have accused the Commonwealth Bank and a host of senior executives, including chief Ian Narev and former chairman David Turner, of misleading the market in regards to investigations relating to the bank's alleged breaches of money laundering and terrorism financing laws.

CBA shareholders on Monday filed a class action claim against the bank in the Federal Court over the share price rout that occurred following revelations the bank was subject to civil action by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (Austrac).

Austrac launched legal action against CBA on August 3, accusing the bank of more than 50,000 breaches of money laundering and terrorism financing laws. The vast majority of the allegations relate to the bank not telling authorities about cash deposits of more than $10,000 at its ATMs.

CBA did not disclose the action to the market until August 4.
The number of state government jobs transferred overseas has exceeded its own targets, raising concerns about the Berejiklian government's commitment to protecting local jobs.

The NSW government last year said 70 per cent of jobs contracted to IT companies Infosys and Unisys would remain onshore and 30 per cent would be moved offshore.

NSW Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello. Credit:SMH

However, the state government has now admitted that 67 per cent of jobs have remained in NSW and 33 per cent have been transferred offshore.

NSW Labor's finance spokesman Clayton Barr said Premier Gladys Berejiklian needed to rein in the number of jobs the government is creating in other countries and other states "and start doing something to secure those jobs right here in NSW".
US academic Richard Thaler, who helped popularise the idea of "nudging" people towards doing what was best for them, won the 2017 Nobel economics prize for his work on how human nature affects supposedly rational markets.

Influential in the field of behavioural economics, his research showed how traits such as lack of self-control and fear of losing what you already have prompt decisions that may not have the best outcome in the longer term.

As one of the founders of behavioral economics, Richard Thaler as helped change the way economists look at the world. Credit:AP

"I think the most important impact (of my research) is the recognition that economic agents are human and economic models have to incorporate that," Thaler, a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, said in a call broadcast at the Nobel news conference.

Asked at a separate news conference in Chicago if it was difficult to get traditional, data-oriented economists to embrace his ideas, Thaler said it was "impossible...economists don't do a lot of embracing actually."
The High Court will begin hearing the cases of seven federal parliamentarians who are citizens of other nations on Tuesday. If it was only a matter of applying the letter of the law, their fates would be clear. This is because section 44 of the Constitution states that a person cannot sit in Parliament if they are a "subject or a citizen  of a foreign power".

However, constitutional questions are rarely so simple. The text of section 44 is 116 years old and operates according to the meaning assigned by the High Court. The judges start with the words of the section, but will also consider its context, history and the meaning given in earlier cases.

The most important precedent is the 1992 decision in Sykes v Cleary. The High Court considered the eligibility of Bill Kardamitsis and John Delacretaz, who were born in Greece and Switzerland respectively. Both had gone through an Australian naturalisation ceremony "renouncing all other allegiance". They believed they were entitled to stand for Parliament.

The court took a strict line. It held that the Australian ceremony did not satisfy section 44 because it failed to renounce citizenship under the laws of Greece and Switzerland. But, the court did craft an exception. It said that a dual national can remain in Parliament if they take "reasonable steps" to renounce their foreign citizenship. Being ignorant of any problem under section 44, neither Kardamitsis nor Delacretaz did so, and were disqualified.
Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? Will you buy the cow if there's a milk substitute on the market? Is buying even a good idea or will a lease do? And what does the cow think about all of this?

Happily for those who prefer not to equate women with farmyard animals, that particular metaphor has largely fallen out of use. But the questions underlying it endure. Mark Regnerus, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin, sets out to address them in his alarmingly titled new book, Cheap Sex: The Transformation of Men, Marriage, and Monogamy.

Why, when women have gained so much power, are we so often at impasse in our romantic relationships?

The "cheap sex" of the book's title refers to the way that sexual acts have become radically less costly over the past half century, in economic and social terms. Widespread contraception makes sex less risky, and online dating makes it more accessible.

But such radical change is rarely without consequence. To measure it in the realm of our relationships, Regnerus relies on the concept of sexual economics, in which mating is seen as a marketplace. In this view, women are gatekeepers to a limited, highly desired product: sex. In exchange for access to this product, men proffer commitment, fidelity and resources.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, an organisation founded in Melbourne in 2007, has given the Australian government an unanticipated opportunity to revisit its positions on nuclear disarmament, ANZUS and the way forward over North Korea. It did this by being named the recipient of this year's Nobel peace prize on Friday.

Modelled on the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, ICAN was established with the sole goal of getting nuclear weapons banned. As well as sending delegates to the UN and parliaments around the world, it shared the stories of the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the victims of nuclear testing with a global audience.



ICAN's award highlights the mixed messages Australia has sent on nuclear disarmament in recent times. The Turnbull government is, on the one hand, adamant Kim Jong-un should relinquish his nuclear ambitions in the interests of world peace. It has, on the other, refused to have anything to do with the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons facilitated by ICAN. This prohibits the development, manufacture or acquisition of nuclear weapons and bans any threat to use such devices.

The treaty has now been signed by 122 countries since it was adopted in New York on July 7. Neither Australia nor any of the world's nuclear-armed states took part in the talks. Australia's refusal to participate was widely attributed to a reluctance to do anything that might embarrass the United States.
4. "Contrary to the breathless assertions that climate change is behind every weather event, in Australia the floods are not bigger, the bushfires are not worse, the droughts are not deeper or longer, and the cyclones are not more severe than they were in the 1800s. Sometimes, they do more damage but that's because there's more to destroy, not because their intensity has increased. More than 100 years of photography at Manly Beach in my electorate does not suggest that sea levels have risen despite frequent reports from climate alarmists that this is imminent."

5. "In what might be described as Ridley's paradox, after the distinguished British commentator: at least so far, it's climate change policy that's doing harm; climate change itself is probably doing good; or at least, more good than harm."

6. "There's the evidence that higher concentrations of carbon dioxide (which is a plant food after all) are actually greening the planet and helping to lift agricultural yields. In most countries, far more people die in cold snaps than in heat waves, so a gradual lift in global temperatures, especially if it's accompanied by more prosperity and more capacity to adapt to change, might even be beneficial."

7. "There's a veneer of rational calculation to emissions reduction but underneath it's about 'doing the right thing'. Environmentalism has managed to combine a post-socialist instinct for big government with a post-Christian nostalgia for making sacrifices in a good cause. Primitive people once killed goats to appease the volcano gods. We're more sophisticated now but are still sacrificing our industries and our living standards to the climate gods to little more effect."

8. "Unsurprisingly, the recipients of climate change subsidies and climate change research grants think action is very urgent indeed. As for the general public, of course saving the planet counts  until the bills come in and then the humbug detector is switched on."
It's been a shocker flu season that started early, peaked at record levels and has a long tail we've yet to see the end of.

As public health and infectious disease experts devise strategies to guard against a repeat season of similar proportions, some flu sufferers may be wondering why they got away with a few sick days and sore throats when others were killed by the viral infections.

More than 180,000 flu cases were confirmed nationally by the end of September. That is 2 times the number of cases over the same period in 2016, though the comparison may be overblown due to the rise in rapid flu testing this year.

Between January 1 and September 15, 288 influenza-related deaths were reported to NSW Health or logged with the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages. It is likely to be an underestimate. Only a small fraction of all flu cases are laboratory-confirmed and there are delays in updating the register.
The City of Sydney has claimed trailblazer status when it comes to gender pay equity, after a recent review found more women employees were in higher paying jobs across the organisation.

Over the last financial year, the City had an overall gender pay gap of -6.8 per cent, indicating women occupied senior and well-paying roles throughout the organisation.

Lord mayor Clover Moore said she was proud of the results from the council's review into gender pay equity across the organisation, but said there was still more work to do to achieve pay equality. Credit:Daniel Munoz

But when male and female employees at the same salary level were compared, there was a gender pay gap of 2.8 per cent in favour of men.

Lord mayor Clover Moore said the City still had room for improvement but added it was "committed to leading by example".
The Queensland government has labelled Brisbane petrol prices "highway robbery" after the consumer watchdog revealed drivers in the city pay $50 million more a year to fill their cars than motorists in other capitals.

An Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report released on Monday revealed Brisbane drivers were paying an average of 3.3 cents a litre more for petrol than motorists in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

A report found Brisbane drivers were paying too much for petrol compared with drivers in other states.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims said it confirmed Brisbane drivers were paying too much for petrol and some local fuel retailers were "enjoying high profit margins at their expense".

Brisbane petrol retailers' net profits were 55 per cent higher compared with their interstate counterparts during 2015-16 financial year.
Opponents of voluntary euthanasia have seized on Jeanette Hall's story as a cautionary tale but it also raises the question: how long does a terminally ill patient really have left? Under Victoria's proposed assisted dying laws, to be debated next week, adults will be eligible for a lethal pill if their condition is expected to cause death "within no longer than 12 months". This 12-month maximum is double Oregon's requirement. But some argue that an accurate prognosis is extremely difficult to make, adding to their view that assisted dying should not be permitted under any circumstance.

For instance, one study published in 2014 for the National Centre for Biotechnology Information analysed the estimated survival of 150 cancer patients, and the predictions made by physicians. Almost half of the estimates were off by more than six months and about one in six by more than 12 months. Another US medical study on heart failure published last year found that fewer than half of physicians accurately estimated survival rates. "It's a common question that patients ask: 'how long have I got?' But I have real reservations about any doctor who tries to answer that in anything other than generalities," says Melbourne physician Stephen Parnis, a former vice-president of the Australian Medical Association and a vocal critic of the the government's bill. "Twelve months just opens up the ability to be even more inaccurate. You could be denying these people a number of years of very good quality of life."

Others, like neurosurgeon Brian Owler, who headed the government's assisted dying expert panel, take a different view. "There are cases where people have been assessed by one doctor, and then another doctor says: well, actually no," he says. "But that is an example of the system working." The fact that there is a time frame contained in Victoria's bill at all has been the subject of much internal debate. Last year, when parliament's End-of-Life Choices committee recommend that Victoria legalise assisted dying, its report did not set a specific life expectancy.

The Age understands this was one of the most difficult issues that the committee grappled with. In the end, their report simply stated that a patient should be in the "final weeks or months" of their life. Owler and his ministerial advisory group believed this prerequisite was too vague. After discussing several options, the panel decided 12 months was the most appropriate period. It would not only include people with terminal cancer, but patients with other conditions, such as motor neurone disease or chronic heart failure.

"It was very important to recognise that people had different disease trajectories in the course of their illness," says Owler, who is also a former president of the AMA. It's the kind of sentiment that has been overwhelmingly supported by the MND Association of Victoria, which lobbied hard for motor neurone disease sufferers, whose average life expectancy is around 27 months, to be included. To supporters of the Victorian proposal, that is essentially what this debate is about: the right to choose. Some might not go through with it in the end and others not might use their lethal drugs for months: the latest Oregon data shows that 133 patients died under the law last year, and the duration between their request for medication and their assisted death ranged from 15 to 539 days. In other words, many of those patients outlived the 6-month prognosis time frame enshrined in the law. As for Jeanette Hall (who declined to be interviewed) she, too, exercised her right to choose  and outlived her initial diagnosis.
Any move to boost gas production in Victoria by drilling onshore threatens to undermine Australia's commitment to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, energy experts warn.

Political pressure is growing for Victoria to cut short its moratorium on onshore gas exploration, after Opposition Leader Matthew Guy joined Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in blaming the ban for soaring power prices.

The state Coalition promised on Monday to open up Victorian farmland to gas extraction before the end of the decade, reversing a ban it brought in more than three years ago in order to allay community fears about fracking.

One Melbourne-based gas drilling company is already eyeing off reserves in Gippsland and the Otways, should the Matthew Guy-led opposition take power and lift the ban.
"Do you want to do an audio check for your microphone?" says a robotic voice from a computer speaker, propped on a tray table in front of Geoff Woodrow. Geoff uses a computer operated by his eyes to speak for him in a polite, automated British accent.

Ten years ago, Geoff, 62, was diagnosed with a rare, slow-progressing form of motor neurone disease (MND). His condition means he could be one of the first Victorians to access a voluntary assisted death if it becomes law.

"MND has robbed me of my independence," says Geoff, who requires full-time care to eat, bathe, toilet and move.

But one of his most significant losses  the ability to speak  has been helped by rapid advances in technology.
Melbourne Zoo's adored elephant Bong Su has died following ongoing arthritis and degenerative joint disease after 40 years delighting the public.

The Asian bull elephant's condition greatly deteriorated in recent months, leaving him in an "unacceptable level of pain", with vets having no other option but to put him down.

Asian elephant Bong Su in 2005. Credit:John Woudstra

Zoo director Kevin Tanner said when the quality of the animal's life is no longer acceptable, it's often the right time to say goodbye.

"Euthanasia is a last resort, only taken to end or prevent an animal's suffering", he said.
The wife of a missing Melbourne academic says she is "totally scared" by his unexplained disappearance and fears he may have become lost while walking in bushland in Melbourne's north-east.

A large-scale search is under way to find Professor John Forster who has not been seen since the weekend.

Professor Forster was last seen at his house in James Cook Drive in Diamond Creek in Melbourne's northeast about 10am on Saturday.

Police found Professor Forster's green Subaru Forester station wagon at the car park at Sugarloaf Reservoir in Christmas Hills, about 20 kilometres from his home, on 11pm that day.
CLEAR LAKE | Casey's General Stores is currently in the process of finalizing a deal to buy the iconic Clear Lake Barrel Drive-In property.

James Pistillo, vice president and treasurer for Casey's, told the Globe Gazette that a price has been agreed upon, but some legal details are still being negotiated.

"We have it under contact, but it's still subject to final regulations," Pistillo said.

Pistillo declined to state the price Casey's offered, but added the deal could be abandoned if both parties don't reach final legal agreements.

Dick Hayes, the real estate agent for the property, declined to comment Monday, citing he could not speak about "pending transactions."

Currently, Iowa Realty has listed the property at $398,000. Seth Thackery, former owner/operator of the Barrel, could not be reached for comment by email Monday morning.

Although the drive-in has closed, its giant chicken and barrel have found a new home just under 75 miles to the north.

Troy Bendt, owner of Barney's Drive-in in Waseca, Minnesota, said he first visited the Barrel Drive-In ten years ago. When he recently heard from a friend that it was closing, he contacted Thackery about the barrel and chicken.

Bendt said the two items were sold on Bid 2 Buy, an online auction site. He bought the chicken for a little over $3,000, and the barrel for somewhere between $400-500.

Numerous other items from the restaurant were sold on the site, under the page "'The Barrel' restaurant liquidation.' Winning bids listed for the chicken and barrel are lower because they don't include taxes and fees, and the winning bid doesn't have to be public, Bendt said.

When Bendt and friends arranged to pick up the chicken and barrel last month, people driving by were curious, he said.

"We had 50 people stop by, asking, 'Where is the chicken going?'" Bendt said.

Bendt, who has owned Barney's Drive-In for the past 11 yearswhich coincidentally, sits just south of Clear Lake in Minnesotasaid he hopes to have the chicken and barrel up by next year. Currently, he has a giant cheeseburger model, Adirondack chair, and other quirky items on display.

"I'm working on getting the main frame [for the barrel]," Bendt said of displaying the iconic item. "I heard [Casey's] might have bought the place, and I don't see why a gas station would want it."
Have you ever loved an appliance so much that you couldn't bear to part with it?

The Sadler family feels that way about their Philips Comfort toaster. It's slim and it cooks four pieces at once, evenly on both sides.

Please help us: Konika Sadler, centre, and her son Krishan, left, watch electrician James Enright, a volunteer at the Melbourne Repair Cafe in Yarraville, fix their 15-year-old toaster. Credit:Scott McNaughton

Konika Sadler bought it 15 years ago in Bangalore, India, soon after marrying her Australian husband, Peter.

In 2003 the devoted couple brought the toaster with them when they moved to Melbourne, and thousands of happy breakfasts ensued.
With its sandy shores, deep water and shade-giving red gums, Lake Meran in Victoria's sunbaked Loddon-Mallee is a treasured swimming and fishing spot for those who know about it.

But last summer's biblically proportioned haul of fish was not the kind of experience any of the lake's visitors had in mind.

There has been a series of 'black water' events in the Murray-Darling in recent years. Credit:Peter Braig

Tens of thousands of dead fish washed up on the lake's grassy beaches one January weekend  mostly loathed European carp but also redfin, native Murray cod and yellowbelly.

It forced a huge community clean-up in the intense mid-summer heat and the stench of rotting fish put paid to holiday activities for several days, locals say.
CLEAR LAKE - A Council Bluffs man is charged with theft for writing a bad check to a Clear Lake dealership and stealing a vehicle in August.

Kirk Randall Fairchild, 47, is charges with felony first degree theft, over $10,000.

According to court documents, Fairchild allegedly wrote a personal check to Billion Auto for $55,999.75 to purchase a 2017 Ford Explorer on Aug. 31.

Bank statements show the defendant had a negative balance in his checking account from July 2017, through September 20, 2017, the criminal complaint said.

The check was returned to the dealership with the bank account noted as frozen as of July 5. The account was frozen after the bank learned Fairchild had written two checks totaling $119,426, court record said.

The defendant was contacted by the bank and the defendant told the bank he was receiving a large settlement, the criminal complaint said.

On Sept. 12, the account was frozen again due to excessive returned check fees.

According to court records, 2017 bank records show Fairchild has never had sufficient funds in his account to write a check in the amount of $55,999.75.

As of 10/3/17 at 10:03 am, the vehicle has not been recovered or returned, the criminal complaint said.

Fairchild was arrested in Pottawattamie County then booked in Cerro Gordo County Jail Monday. He is held for $5,000 cash only bond. No court date has been set.
The Clear Lake Police Department is investigating 10 reports of vandalism this weekend.

The incidents occurred between Friday and Monday. Nine out of the ten incidents were graffiti and appear to have been completed by the same person or persons, police said in a release.

Officials say the graffiti marks have similar elements such as language, style, drawing and message.

The damage was done using a permanent-type marker or spray paint. No threats were made. The other report of vandalism was physical damage to an exterior door that appears unrelated, police said.

Of the nine graffiti incidents, the damage was:

On exterior doors and walls to three businesses.

Inside three public restrooms maintained by the City of Clear Lake.

the common area in an apartment building.

On the exterior of one vehicle.

Police are still assessing costs for repairing the damage.

Preliminary estimates total over $3,000, which classifies it as a felony second degree criminal mischief, police said. The charge could change as costs or repairs become final.

Those with information regarding these incidents, or those who want to report newly discovered damage, contact the Clear Lake Police Department at 641-357-2186.
Tullamore DEW reveals XO Caribbean Rum Cask

William Grant & Sons released Tullamore DEW XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish. Starting with the original triple distilled Irish whiskey, this edition has been finished in barrels previously used to age Demerara rum.

Tullamore DEW XO Carribbean Rum Cask Finish has been inspired by the brands new global advertising platform, The Beauty of Blend. As one of the only brands to insist on a triple blend of all three types of Irish whiskey, the campaign aims to challenge preconceptions about how whiskey is made, as well as championing the ways in which cultural diversity and social inclusion can inspire creativity and new experiences.

While the earliest records of whiskey making are found in Ireland, what is less well known is that the Irish also played a role in the early development of rum in the Caribbean. In the 16th and 17th centuries more than fifty thousand Irish emigrants arrived in the West Indies, where it is believed their experience of whiskey distilling became blended with local expertise, playing an instrumental role in the inception and growth of the Caribbean rum business.

Reflecting this history, the product packaging is inspired by antique Caribbean trade maps, passport stamps and travel journals. The Tullamore DEW XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish pack is designed to stand out among whiskeys and emphasize the blending of Irish heart with Caribbean soul.

John Quinn, global brand ambassador for Tullamore DEW, says: At our Tullamore Distillery, we are constantly experimenting with our whiskey making. Tullamore DEW XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish was just one of many trials inspired by our work on the Beauty of Blend, but immediately stood out to our whiskey makers as being something truly special.

He continues: Many styles of Caribbean rum were tested, but carefully selected first fill XO Caribbean rum casks, previously used to age Demerara rum, imparted distinctive sweet tropical fruit and warm spice flavours to our original blend. The combination of Irish heart and Caribbean soul balance beautifully.

Bottled at an ABV of 43%, Tullamore DEW XO Rum Cask Finish is a triple distilled, triple blend, triple wood matured, Demerara rum cask finished whiskey, available to purchase in select outlets around the world from an RRP of US$29.99.

9 October 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor
Oldest Loch Lomond single malt released

Loch Lomond Distillery is celebrating the release of its oldest single malt whisky.

Limited to 60 decanters worldwide, the Loch Lomond 50 Years Old celebrates generations of dedication and craftsmanship and marks the pinnacle of the Loch Lomond Whiskies collection.

Loch Lomond 50 Years Old is bottled at 46.2% ABV and has been maturing, first in American oak hogshead and then in European oak hogshead for half a century at Loch Lomond Distillery in Alexandria.

The distinctive nature of the Loch Lomond 50 Years Old is testament to the innovative distillation techniques, suggests John Peterson, production director at Loch Lomond Distillery: Our straight neck pot stills were unique in 1966 when they were first installed, and they are still unique to this day, providing us with greater control over the quality and flavour profile of the spirit.

Master blender, Michael Henry says: The expectations are high when you are working with a whisky as special and scarce as this and it came with great responsibility, but selecting and perfecting this single malt was a true honour. Our stills are synonymous with the fruity notes they give to the whisky. The Loch Lomond 50 Yeas Old has been granted the time to truly concentrate that character, resulting in a rich, tropical fruit flavour.

Each hand-blown crystal decanter encasing the Loch Lomond 50 Year Old is presented in a bespoke chest created by architects of objects, Method Studio in Scotland. The husband and wife team, Callum Robinson and Marisa Giannasi drew inspiration from the drama, romance and kinetic energy of Loch Lomond itself to create The Tempest Chest.

Hand-shaped in solid oak, leather lined and indigo-dyed until almost black in colour, the tactile, sculpted surface of each individually numbered chest is suggestive of water at twilight, with only a solid brass key visible from the exterior. Inside, the bottle of Loch Lomond 50 Year Old rests upon sculpted oak waves, alongside not an ordinary whisky miniature, but a solid turned brass vial, lined in glass and reminiscent of the straight neck pot still.

Callum Robinson, creative director at Method Studio, says: There are few distilleries named after a body of water as opposed to a place, and we drew great inspiration from Scotlands most romantic, dramatic and historic loch. The Loch Lomond 50 Years Old is borne out of a truly mystical place of wood, fire, water and metal and our aim was to harness this energetic, elemental group of ingredients to create something unique, and worthy of its heritage.

Each chest is designed to capture, in a three dimensional object, the mood and movement of moonlight dancing on tempestuous water. This is mirrored in the language of the hand-blown decanter and its beautifully faceted hand-cut base, perfectly binding the two together. It was a privilege to create a vessel to house something so precious.

Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Group, says: For 50 years the Loch Lomond Distillery has been one of Scotlands best kept secrets. With the launch of the 50 Year Old single malt, we are putting Loch Lomond firmly on the Scotch whisky map and we are proud to become one of a very select few distilleries in the world which have released a 50 year old whisky.

The Loch Lomond 50 Year Old limited edition is priced at 12,000 and will be available to buy in the UK at specialists including The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Royal Mile Whiskies and Master of Malt from December 2017. It will also be on offer in global markets, including Singapore, Taiwan, China, Japan and travel retail.

9 October 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor
Two Texas A&M students were arrested over the weekend in separate incidents after university police said they were found with GPS-equipped "bait bikes."

University police said the first incident unfolded at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday when one of the bikes was removed from its location at the Park West Apartment complex on George Bush Drive. Authorities said officers quickly tracked the bike to a nearby area, where a 20-year-old man was riding it.

According to police, the man had the smell of alcohol on his breath and told officers he had purchased the bike for $10. After confirming the bike's serial number, officers said they arrested the man within 10 minutes.

Police said the second bike was removed from outside the Interdisciplinary Life Science Building just before 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Within five minutes, officers said they located an 18-year-old man riding the bike near Reed Arena on Olsen Boulevard. He told officers the bike was his, but police said the serial number matched the missing bike.

Both men were released from the Brazos County Jail on $3,000 bail Sunday after being held on Class B misdemeanor theft charges. The 20-year-old had an additional Class C misdemeanor charge of public intoxication, which added an additional $1,000 to his bail amount, bringing the total to $4,000.

If convicted, the men could face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
You have a character that goes through the scrutiny of being sexualised , and then an audience that does the same thing.
After serving 17 years as Franklin Countys first director of finance, Vincent Copenhaver, 59, will be retiring this month.

At this point in my career and time, I believe its time for a change, Copenhaver said.

His retirement will be effective Oct. 13.

Copenhaver leave the county to become financial officer in Roanoke for Crandall & Katts, attorneys at law.

Prior to paving the way for Franklin Countys next finance director, Copenhaver spent 14 years in Roanoke Countys finance department.

He has spent more than 33 years in public service, including three years stationed in Germany as an Army field artillery captain.

During his time as director, the county earned the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in financial reporting for 17 consecutive years. The county also received the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 15 straight years. Both are national awards.

Its not just me doing this, Copenhaver said. I cant take credit for everything. This is all a team effort.

In 2006, the county received its first bond rating, and the rating has increased over the years, Copenhaver said.

I have been blessed to have worked with an excellent group of individuals in the finance department, he said. Their dedication and hard work is unsurpassed. Ill certainly miss the people that I work with, they are my work family.

Copenhaver is married to J&J Fashions owner, formerly Sheila Hunt, and they have one daughter. He is also a 1980 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute.

He will go on to pursue opportunities in the private sector and will consider doing some local government consulting work in the finance and budget areas, Copenhaver said.

This has been a wonderful career opportunity for me, he added. I hope Ive paved a good road.

Brian Carter, the assistant director of finance, will replace Copenhaver.
MASON CITY | A Mason City Schools employee sent an email to a police officer to communicate a student's threat to shoot students at John Adams Middle School, delaying investigation of the incident because the officer didn't work until the next day.

A judge Friday morning ordered a 13-year-old male to further detention and ordered an evaluation. The judge also rejected a motion to close to the hearing to the public due to the nature of the threats.

Capt. Mike McKelvey told the Globe Gazette that a school employee attempted to notify police about the Monday incident via email. The police recipient of that email  no school official spoke to law enforcement Monday  did not see the email until arriving to work Tuesday, according to McKelvey. Earlier Friday, police said the threat and report were both Wednesday.

The nature of the threat was confirmed by Mason City Schools Superintendent Dave Versteeg but school officials were adamant law enforcement was involved.

Versteeg told the Globe Gazette the message was discovered Monday and officials reported the incident to the police that day, via the school liaison officer.

School administrators, he said, assessed the situation and were heavily involved in the investigation.

There was never any safety concern," Versteeg said. "The student was not deemed to be a threat" but the incident did warrant police involvement.

It didnt raise to the level that students were threatened," Versteeg said. "The administration feels that students were 100 percent safe.

It was a poor choice on the students part.

Lt. Frank Stearns said police continue to work with school officials.

We worked with the school system immediately, Stearns said. There was never any real credible threat at that time.

This is not the first time the child has made a threat to shoot classmates. The student has been suspended from school, according to Versteeg.

Late Friday morning, the district posted a message on Facebook, noting "the district has not received any kind of threat to any building or any persons in the district today."

The post reiterated priorities for the safety of students and staff members.

"We know that parents and families are feeling scared and concerned and anxious about the safety of their loved ones," the post read. "We apologize for any confusion in regards to the timing of the reporting of this incident."

The student

The child faces a first-degree harassment charge after threatening a shooting at John Adams Middle School.

According to documents obtained by the Globe Gazette and confirmed by the Mason City Police Department, a 13-year-old made a written threat on a desk at the school that he would shoot people before the end of this month.

According to Iowa Code, a detention hearing must be held within 24 hours of the child being detained, excluding weekends and holidays.

At a detention review hearing Friday morning at the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse, Judge DeDra Schroeder ordered continued detention for the child and that he be held for a 30-day evaluation.

Prosecutors made the recommendation given the nature of the allegations, as well as concern for the community.

The child's parents agreed with the order.

The judge also denied a request by the child's attorney, Parker Thirnbeck, to close Friday's hearing to media members and the public. He said that with everything going on this week considering the allegations, it would be in the childs best interest to keep it private. However, the judge ruled the nature of the threats involved in the case warranted public access.

The next hearing in the case was scheduled for Oct. 12.

Communication

On the heels of increased occurrence of schcool threats in North Iowa, Mason City officials emailed parents and guardians of students late Wednesday afternoon. The letter was also posted on the school district's website.

Versteeg said the actual threat was not related to the email.

"The incident was in no way connected to the statement issued on Wednesday, Versteeg said. That statement was related to what we were hearing in the news. At no time were students at school in danger.

The letter did not state that there was a threat made in Mason City.

That was repeated in the Facebook post Friday morning: "This incident at the middle school was in no way connected with the statement the district issued on Wednesday in response to the threats school districts in the area and across the state and nation received this week."

It also noted that "the school district has not been made aware of any additional threats since the issuance of its statement on Wednesday."

Versteeg, the superintendent, told parents in the emailed letter Wednesday that there may be an additional uniform presence throughout the district.

District administration is working with the Mason City Police Department, Versteeg said in the email. MCPD will determine if a threat is credible.

Versteeg added that the district would take appropriate actions, if necessary.

The school district and law enforcement will not tolerate threats or hoaxes related to student safety, the letter continued . All threats will be investigated and could result in consequences, including charges being filed.

We will keep you informed if we receive any threats; and if threats are not found to be credible, we plan to have school as scheduled."
Measuring a third of an inch long, the tiny green invaders leave trails of destruction in their wake, and they are here.

Invasive beetles native to northeast Asia have arrived in Franklin County  bad news for ash trees and those who love them.

Fittingly called emerald ash borers, or EAB, the pernicious insects feast on ash trees, known for their oval-shaped leaves. More than 40 million ash trees in 28 states have fallen prey to the bugs since 2002.

The damage caused by the EAB is almost always 100 percent fatal to the trees, said Eric Day, head of the insect identification lab at Virginia Tech.

Ash trees make up roughly 2 percent of Virginia forests, which cover nearly 16 million acres.

Female borers lay eggs in ash tree barks and larvae tunnel underneath, causing girdling of the trunk and branches and killing the tree. New shoots on the trunk and branches are telltale signs of an infestation, but 

By the time this is seen, said Techs Chris Brown, an agent with the Virginia Cooperative Extensions Franklin County office, it is too late to do anything to save the tree.

Scientists suspect emerald ash borers arrived in the United States in 2002 on solid wood-packing material hauled from Asia on cargo ships or aircraft. The bugs first were found in Old Dominions Fairfax County a year later.

We had some treatment to the ash trees there, Day said, but by 2008, the EAB were back in Fairfax.

Borers have killed ash trees in 25 Virginia counties. This year, Franklin County joined the ranks of the damage.

Life cycles for the insects are one to two years. Adult beetles emerge in May or June. They live three to six weeks and feed on foliage by eating along leaf edges. Females lay 50 to 100 eggs in bark crevices. After the eggs hatch a week later, the larvae begin tunneling into the cambium layer.

Over the cycle of summer into fall, the larvae work before entering the pupa stage to emerge the following spring.

By then, the ash trees fate is almost certainly sealed.

You can treat the root system with a systemic insecticide as a drench base in the spring of the year if the tree has yet to be infested, Day said. It is a matter of timing.

But because of timing, he said, we are treating the EAB with a 100 percent kill rate on forest ash trees.

When dead ash trees are cut down, their killers often are carried away in the firewood, offering the chance to begin a new invasion.

The cooperative extension advises that infested firewood be destroyed rather than preserved and hauled away for later use. Biologic warfare in the form of parasitoid wasps also has been effective in destroying adult ash borers.

You can contact us if you think you have an infestation, Brown said.

A fact sheet is available at the extensions service office.
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Social media can be great for showing love for one's child, but it can also expose parents to undeserved criticism.

On Instagram, Hollywood actress and mom Olivia Wilde recently shared a picture of herself kissing her son, a sweet gesture which quickly turned controversial.

"We don't kiss on the mouth a child," wrote one commenter. "The kid think 'mum kiss me like she kiss dad' it's not normal."

"Ehhhhh gonna give the kid lip aids," wrote another, presumably referring to herpes.

NOT A CURE: CDC warns parents not to give children antibiotics to treat common cold, flu

Now Playing: Actress Olivia Wilde just got mom-shamed. According to the Huffington Post, the mother of two posted a picture on Instagram on October 3. She was kissing her 3-year-old son, Otis, on the lips, while he was taking a bath. Her caption read, Finding hope in this love Although the post racked up over 112 thousand likes, it also brought the haters out. The Huff Post says that one person commented, "Kissing your kid like your husband. Its not good for him. Video: Wochit

It wasn't long before the disapproving voices were drowned out by people showing support for Wilde.

"Your son is beautiful, your relationship is beautiful," wrote one commenter. "Please do not let anything rob you of that. Fight like a mama bear forever, for him.

Among child psychologists, the jury is still out and little evidence exists for, or against, the smooch, but with so many parents continuing the tradition, its hard to believe any evil will come from it.

See other celebrities who have been mom-shamed above.
Hollywood has a special knack for making people feel far from perfect and actresses are no exception. Here are 12 gorgeous women who have been told they were either too fat or too old to play a certain role.

Read original story 12 Actresses Absurdly Accused of Being Too Old or Too Fat, From Chloe Grace Moretz to Jennifer Lawrence (Photos) At TheWrap
Many Democratic office holders were quick to repudiate disgraced Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein following a bombshell report detailing decades of alleged sexual harassment.

But former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- all of whom have longstanding ties to Weinstein, a major Democratic Party fundraiser -- have not publicly addressed the accusations.

Representatives for the Clintons have not responded to comment for this story, and Obama's office declined to comment.

The recent report in The New York Times cataloged accusations of sexual harassment against the filmmaker that spanned three decades. Three days after the report, Weinstein was fired by the company he co-founded.

Longtime Hillary Clinton aides have been confused by the former secretary of state's silence on the issue, questioning -- in private -- why she has not weighed in at all.

Weinstein has long been a Clinton donor with ties to the political family. Weinstein was one of many from Hollywood who donated to Bill Clinton's legal defense fund in the 1990s, a Washington Post report from the time stated. More recently, the Clintons rented a home next to Weinstein in the Hamptons in 2015, and Weinstein served as a connector between Hollywood stars and Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign.

Weinstein raised about $1.5 million from 1990-2016, according to data from the campaign finance-tracking Center for Responsive Politics, and was a bundler for Clinton's 2016 effort, including at a star-studded fundraiser for Clinton in June 2016 at Weinstein's Manhattan home.

Clinton personally headlined multiple fundraisers Weinstein was involved in organizing during the campaign.

CRP's OpenSecrets website shows Weinstein was a bundler for Obama as well, and the Hollywood giant visited the White House on several occasions during Obama's tenure. At a White House event for student films in 2013, first lady Michelle Obama credited Weinstein for making the event happen and praised him as a wonderful person and a good friend.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, who has been outspoken on the issue of sexual assault, also has not appeared to make any public statements about Weinstein since the report came out, and the Biden Foundation did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.

Several Democrats announced their intention to return donations received from Weinstein or donate them to charity in the wake of the Times report. But as a bundler, much of his work for campaigns was gathering up donations from others into large sums -- making potentially returning Weinstein's donations more complicated for politicians like Clinton and Obama.

Calls for response

An editorial from The New York Times on Friday implored the Clintons and Obama to disavow Weinstein, calling on Democrats to make sure his status as a major party donor would not prevent anyone from speaking out.

Some Republicans have seized on the Weinstein report and his ties to the Democratic Party.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Monday that Clinton's "silence is deafening."

"I applaud the Democrats who are giving back that money," McDaniel said. "All of us should be speaking out against a sexual predator like Harvey Weinstein."

McDaniel pushed back, however, on any comparison of Weinstein and President Donald Trump, whom multiple women have accused of harassment and was infamously recorded by Access Hollywood saying he could grab women by their genitals.

"It's not even comparable," McDaniel said, citing the reported settlements Weinstein had come to with women who had accused him, saying Trump "didn't have eight settlements."

After the Access Hollywood tape came out, Trump dismissed his comments as "locker room talk."

Many Democrats have also called on their colleagues to repudiate Weinstein.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said in a CNN interview on Sunday that Democrats should give any money they received from Weinstein back.

"I mean this is a pretty bad guy who did some really awful things," Murphy said.

Since her electoral defeat last November, Hillary Clinton has been outspoken on a range of issues, and during her presidential campaign she went after Trump for allegations of sexual assault.

Bill Clinton has been plagued by allegations of sexual harassment and assault throughout his own political career.

In December 2015, Hillary Clinton was asked about some of the accusations and her own assertions that victims who allege assault should be believed. In the context of allegations against her husband, Clinton said, "I would say that everyone should be believed at first until they are disbelieved based on evidence."

Obama has largely shied away from the public eye since leaving office, apart from delivering a few speeches and issuing statements in response to Trump administration moves on areas like climate change and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

CNN's Oliver Darcy contributed to this report.
SHELTON  The hundreds of people who attended a re-election campaign fundraiser for Gov. Pete Ricketts were asked Sunday afternoon to not only to continue to donate their money  but also their time  to help Ricketts get elected to a second term.

The fundraiser was held at the Dale and Peg Gangwish farm just northeast of Shelton.

The pleas not only came from Ricketts, but from fellow Republican governors Eric Greitens of Missouri, Matt Bevin of Kentucky and Scott Walker of Wisconsin.

Walker also had a brief campaign for the Republican nomination for president, announcing his candidacy in July 2015 and ending his campaign in September 2016, in part because of low poll numbers compared to the other GOP candidates, including Donald Trump.

During their speeches, the four governors talked about GOP successes at the state level, all saying low-tax, pro-business polices that lessen government regulation is why the United States has 34 Republican governors currently serving in office.

Ricketts told people in the crowd that their efforts are vital to his re-election. Then our job is to deliver on those conservative values that have made this such a great state, he said.

He noted during his first campaign, he promised voters to use his executive experience to run government more like a business and thats what weve done. We set our vision for the state of Nebraska and that vision was to grow Nebraska. And by that I mean create more and better-paying jobs to keep our kids and grandkids here.

Ricketts said he also wants those good-paying jobs to attract people from around the U.S., and even from around the world, to come and make Nebraska their home. To do that, our mission is to create those opportunities through more effective, more efficient and more customer-focused state government.

Ricketts said his administration has reduced the growth of government by 90 percent, a statement which drew cheers and applause from the audience. Because the state has controlled its spending, it has been able to accomplish things like increase the property tax credit relief fund by more than 45 percent, Ricketts said. That is dollar-for-dollar tax relief from the state to all property owners in the state.

Ricketts said during this past session, there was a proposal for the most comprehensive tax bill to come out of the Legislatures Revenue Committee in decades. It would have provided both property tax and income tax relief. While that bill got stalled in the first round of debate, we are not giving up. My commitment to you is to work on tax relief every year that I am governor.

And thats so you can keep more of your hard-earned money, because we as conservative Republicans believe that you know better how to spend your money than the government knows how to spend your money.

He said Forbes ranks Nebraska as the best state in the country for regulatory environment for business and the third best state overall to do business. The private sector creates jobs; its not government that creates jobs, Ricketts said.

A the same time, he said, state government is making investments such as the $450 million Transportation Innovation Act to speed up expressway construction and bridge repair. His administration also is looking to expand foreign markets for Nebraska farm exports and to get Japanese companies to invest in Nebraska.

I and my fellow Republican governors are here for one very clear mission and that is to re-elect Pete Ricketts as the governor of the great state of Nebraska, said Greitens, beginning his address.

Pete Ricketts remembers every single day he is here to fight for Nebraska families, Greitens said. He said that reason the United States has 34 Republican governors is that strong, conservative reforms work. They make a difference.

Although Ricketts is fighting for Nebraska families, he cant get there on his own, Greitens said. For him to get there, we need everybody here today to go out and share this message with your friends, share this message with your family. Make sure that when the time comes, youve got bumper stickers on, youve got yard signs out, youre out on social media, youre investing in this campaign, because that is what it is going to take. Its going to take all of you standing up for strong, conservative values right here in the state of Nebraska.

Bevin said Nebraska is blessed to have somebody of Ricketts caliber serving as governor.

How blessed we are to be Americans, he continued. How blessed we are to have it so good, we can afford to be apathetic, we can afford to take it for granted. That is the greatest threat we have in America  bar none that is the greatest threat we have.

Bevin asked everyone to use their cell phone  the most powerful tool that exists  to take a picture of themselves with Ricketts and then post it on social media. Every one of you is an influencer. The collective power of what you all can do with this is so much more powerful than any news network, any editorial board. He said if everyone on their social media page endorses Ricketts, it will be a slam dunk for him to get re-elected.

Walker said the nations founders did not want the federal government to hold the keys to power, but intended that power to go back to the states and, more fundamentally, to the people and thats why were here to support Pete Ricketts, because he understands those principles, he lives those principles. Hes done a great job here in Nebraska and with your help, hes going to deserve four more years being your great governor.

Walker said he is preaching to the choir by talking to a Republican audience, but he said his job is to get the choir to sing, which means talking to friends and neighbors to ensure Ricketts re-election. He said nothing can be taken for granted, with Ricketts facing opposition not only from Democrats, but possibly by a third-party candidate as well. Dont let me down, keep (singing) all the way through next November, Walker said.
Eagles rally, then get sloppy in 4th quarter as undefeated hopes end

Several observations from the Eagles' Monday night game against the Washington Commanders.
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Linkedin Donny Syofyan (The Jakarta Post) Victoria  Mon, October 9, 2017 08:59 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23aa6d1 4 Art & Culture writer,Indonesian-writer,#essay,Tere-Liye Free

I was a little surprised when a prolific Indonesian writer, Tere Liye, announced a few weeks ago that he had requested the countrys two major publishing houses, Gramedia Pustaka Utama and Republika, to stop reprinting his novels to protest the high taxes he has to pay. This protest is basically owing to a higher tax imposed by the Indonesian government to authors compared to other professionals.

Despite the controversy surrounding his decision to cut ties with the publishers, Teres concern should not be simply seen as opposing the tax treatment injustice for authors and the ignorance of the current administration about the subject.

Deep in the writing jungle, his protest justifies what I consider the curse that most writers must accept, like it or not. It is called a curse not because of the black magic an author has, but rather because it is a necessity that befriends many novelists, columnists or poets, leaving them no choice but to face it.

An author is cursed to be solitary. An author lives a solitary life because of his or her need for strong privacy and individualism. It is not to say that good writers must go to a solitary place where the environment is quiet, or that they need to distance themselves from society. Absolutely not. Becoming solitary signifies the authors dire need for personal space and time when it comes to writing. Ernest Hemingway once said, Writing, at its best, is a lonely life.

Since writing is an independent act, intense alone time is a matter of routine for many authors. Things get complicated as long hours of writing alone are not compatible with better public recognition and appreciation. That is why many authors often find themselves frustrated in the face of poor immediate

results in the form of financial gain. Teres choice to halt reprinting of his books to protest high tax is another face of an authors vexation with poor public recognition, which is the government.

It is often time for an author to withdraw him or herself into a solitary way of making creativity. Anne Rice once said that she brings a small recorder with her in case an idea for a book or character enters her mind at a time she is not near a keyboard.

Before the invention of the PC, Margaret Mitchell wrote her creative sparks for the epic Gone With The Wind

characters and settings on scraps of paper and even napkins. AA Navis, a noted author from West Sumatra, always took a piece of paper everywhere, even to the toilet, in order to pursue expensive ideas.

Writing is also cursed to be the highest intellectual activity, which means you need to have a survival mode and strong energy to be a committed author. Compared to other intellectual activities  reading and discussion  writing is the most difficult one.

Reading makes us understand, discussion gets our understanding deeper and writing sharpens what we discuss. Those who read a lot but do not write are like a warehouse, keeping valuable things that are not used by others. On the contrary, writing after intense reading and active discussion is pretty much the same as a manufacturer, producing things beneficial to society, which is the reader.

Representing the hardest intellectual activity, writing is not a piece of cake. This is particularly true as good writing will greatly contribute to improving the countrys literacy. In March 2016, a study conducted by Central

Connecticut State University (CCSU) entitled Worlds Most Literate Nations placed Indonesia as the 60th most literate nation out of 61 nations on the list, above only Botswana, and below fellow ASEAN member Thailand.

If writing was easy, this nations literacy rate may not be as low as the survey suggested. If it was easy, Facebook pages would be filled with light but interesting and quality writing, not bad words. Writing an op-ed article, for instance, helps a writer to reach millions of people, sway hearts, change minds and perhaps even remold public policy. In the process, the author may also acquire recognition for him/herself and his/her institution.

Low literacy, to a serious degree, has a detrimental effect on writing books. In Indonesia, writing textbooks is not a profit-making business. Publishers and bookstores earn a lot of money, while authors rarely break even.

It is not surprising that many potential authors are reluctant to write and tend to pin the blame on publishers for taking an unfair percentage of the book sales. On the contrary, publishers tend to blame the poor reading culture of the society which, in turn, bodes ill for the marketing of books.

On the one side, Teres case has something to do with justice and royalty for the author. However, on the other side, this is the tip of the iceberg that represents the weak intellectual tradition for most of our society.

***

The writer, a lecturer in literary studies at Andalas University, is pursuing a Ph.D at Deakin University, Australia.
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Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 16:38 1862 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23c6bbd 1 Art & Culture Komunitas-Salihara,Pablo-Paramo,Literature-and-Ideas-Festival,LIFEs-2017,jakarta,Latin-America,exhibition,Literature,#literature Free

Originally published in 1955, Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo is one of the most popular pieces of classic Mexican literature. It narrates the story of Juan Preciado, who is asked by his deceased mother to search for his father in her hometown in Comala, which turns out to have become a ghost town.

The novel is brought to life at "Xalisco Performative Exhibition: Juan Preciado," the result of collaboration between Ines Somellera, a Mexican artistic platform director for art projects at Empu Sendok Arts Station (ESAS), and Hanafi, an Indonesian artist.

Set in a round venue, visitors can expect to observe how Hanafi views Pedro P'ramo. (JP /Ni Nyoman Wira)

The exhibition, which runs until Oct. 28 at the Salihara Gallery in South Jakarta, is part of Komunitas Salihara's (Salihara Community) Literature & Ideas Festival 2017 (LIFEs) that focuses on Latin America with "Viva! Reborn!" as its theme.

Set in a round venue, visitors can expect to observe how Hanafi views Pedro Paramo. Upon stepping into the gallery, visitors are suggested to begin from the left side where they can view seven tainted shirts that represent shirts worn by Preciado during his search for his father. Other interesting objects include a white bed frame, a mural and random quotes from the book.

Read also: Star authors en vogue at Frankfurt book fair

Some of the shirts exhibited at 'Xalisco Performative Exhibition: Juan Preciado'. (JP /Ni Nyoman Wira)

Hanafi told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that he worked on the objects by seeing the book instead of reading it. And I wasnt the one who saw it; my fingers did. They moved by themselves  I let them not judge whether it was right or not  it just happened in an instant, Hanafi said, adding that the creation process took two to three months. [] I didnt proceed toward Juan Rulfos poetic elements; I [just] wanted to connect the story.

Meanwhile, Somellera said the exhibition was a way to celebrate writer Juan Rulfo. I think its very important to have this opportunity to introduce [Rulfo] to those who dont know him, Somellera added.

Indonesian artist Hanafi explains the displays at "Xalisco Performative Exhibition: Juan Preciado." (JP /Ni Nyoman Wira)

Additionally, the festival also features workshops, forums, performances and other programs. Among the performers at the event are Berto Tukan, Dewi Candraningrum, Carmen Boullosa, F. Aziz Manna, Nirwan Dewanto, Pablo Jofre and Victor Heringer.

Held for 21 days, LIFEs 2017 is said to be the new format of Komunitas Saliharas Literary Biennale. The festival director Ayu Utami said they wanted to expand the scope to not only celebrate literature but also ideas in general. Moreover, compared to previous events where the main themes were more focused on ideas, this time they tried to focus on one literary identity.

[This festival] aims to assist readers to explore the world of literature [] so when they meet the writers, they will be able to ask sharper questions, said Ayu, adding that there were many reasons why Latin America was selected, such as its comparable history and experiences to Indonesia with colonialism, the Cold War, military regimes and democracy and environmental issues. (kes)
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Linkedin Sebastian Partogi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 09:11 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23ab315 4 Books nirwan-dewanto,Indonesian-writer,#books,Indonesian-literature Free

Indonesian writer Nirwan Derwanto talks about his works in visual arts, art criticism and poetry.

Nirwan, mostly known for his poetry, has launched a series of works in the world of both literature and visual arts.

From Sept. 2 to 11 last year, Nirwan organized an exhibition at the Dia.Lo.Gue artspace in Kemang, South Jakarta, in conjunction with the launch of his book, Satu Setengah Mata-Mata (One-and-a-Half Spies, OAK Publishing, 2016), a collection of essays on visual arts.

He then presented an exhibition called Ecriture from May 19 to June 19 this year in YATS colony, Yogyakarta, in conjunction with the launch of his long-form prose poem book called Buku Merah (Red Book, OAK Publishing, 2017).

Both showcase the authors artworks in forms of graffiti, quasi-calligraphy, handwriting archives and many more.

Nirwan, who exhibited his artworks for the first time, said the decision was spontaneous.

I walked inside Dia.Lo.Gue last year. I saw these transparent tables as well as its walls, with their empty gaps. I began to think that I could install my hanging scrolls on these empty walls, while exhibiting some archives on the tables, Nirwan told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.

Nirwan was able to create most of the works exhibited in both shows in the past three years thanks to a sudden spurt of inspiration upon observing several exhibitions overseas and a number of handwritten notes on collected works within the last three decades.

One of them was an exhibition called Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy showcased in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, featuring Chinese paintings, including some calligraphy that originated as far back as 500 years ago.

Books by Nirwan Dewanto (Nirwan Dewanto/File)

Nirwan, who was born in 1961 in East Java and studied geology at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in the 1980s, said that he got exposed to the artwork created by Indonesian painters like Tisna Sanjaya and Dede Eri Supria during his days as a college student.

I went to their studios to observe their creative process, which added to my artistic sensibility, in addition to tons of books on visual-art history and theories that I had read at the time, he said.

Then he started to write art reviews and critical essays for Kompas daily newspaper and Tempo weekly magazine in the early 1990s, while helping his friends write their program books and exhibition catalogs. These pieces are anthologized in Satu Setengah Mata-Mata and Senjakala Kebudayaan(Cultures Twilight; 1994, republished in 2017 by OAK Publishing).

This endeavor to study visual arts runs parallel with Nirwans poetic explorations.

According to Nirwan, when he was in junior high school, his parents started to buy him books by Indonesias literary giants  in prose and poetry  but also translations of world literary works that were published by Pustaka Jaya at that time. Around the same time, he started to write his own poetry as well, inspired by those books.

He seemed to find it hard to answer when the Post asked him a couple times to name some writers who acted as notable inspirations for him.

A person who writes poetry cant be separated from the poets that have come before him, who are writing in the same language. Strong poets are able to invent their own language style and yet they are interconnected. We know Amir Hamzah inspired Chairil Anwar, who then inspired Sapardi Djoko Damono, who then inspired Joko Pinurbo, he said.

Nirwan, who received the Khatulistiwa literary prize for poetry in 2008 and 2010 for Jantung Lebah Ratu (Queen Bees Heart) and Buli-Buli Lima Kaki (The five-footed jug), said the ability to create ones own distinctive writing style was the trickiest process that any literary writer had to go through.

Although poetry and essay might look like two very different writing forms, he said that great poets were the ones who could express their thoughts in an articulate manner through essays.

The author said that his poems were often described as complicated by readers, but he himself said that the core of his poetry was his process in capturing an image, whose visual form he could bend according to his own desire.

Some of his poems, like Pih and Belaka (Only) are parodies of those that have been written by Sapardi Djoko Damono, while some others reinterpret fable stories and even fast-moving consumer goods advertisements. He has also reinterpreted Amir Hamzahs poems.

Im an antiromantic who, instead of exploring my own emotions and feelings through poetry, decides to be detached from an object, to let it speak for itself, Nirwan said.
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Linkedin A. Kurniawan Ulung (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 08:44 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23a873d 4 Art & Culture poet,poetry,politics,wiji-thukul Free

Freedom of expression is something worthwhile that we have to keep.

Prolific writer and poet Sitor Situmorang, who died in 2004, was arrested in 1967 and imprisoned without trial for eight years at Salemba penitentiary in Jakarta during Soehartos authoritarian New Order regime for his eyebrow-raising works, such as his essay called Sastra Revolusioner [Revolutionary Literature] in 1965.

Poet Widji Thukul, who was a vocal anti-Soeharto poet and raised his voice through poems such as Bunga dan Tembok [Flower and Wall], has been missing since 1998, the same year the dictator stepped down after ruling for 32 years.

The fate of those poets proves that a poem is not just a bunch of words. Poems have the power to shift our political consciousness, make strong statements and trigger a movement.

Poems can shake the world.

In a recent talk, four young writers  Aan Mansyur, Rosyda Amalia, Marius Hulpe from Germany and Hariz Fadhilah from Brunei Darussalam  shared their views on politics in literary works.

Writing is a political action, said Aan, who stepped into spotlight after drama flick Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? 2 [Whats Up with Cinta? 2] featured poems from his poetry collection book, Tidak Ada New York Hari Ini [There is No New York Today].

Because of the book, many people labeled the 35-year-old as a hopelessly romantic writer. However, he is not offended by it.

He said he understood if Tidak Ada New York Hari Ini was deemed to be a love poem, which tells of someone who misses his or her lover somewhere far away. However, many people have yet to realize that the poem has a political message.

Aan explained that he chose the words New York to encourage his readers to imagine how it feels if New York, which many see as the center of the world, no longer holds that title, something that he defines as political.

I want to show a strong relation of what people deem the First World and Third World, he said.

This year, Aan republished his 2009 poetry collection book, Cinta yang Marah[Angry Love], to remind his readers, especially young people, about the New Orders fall in 1998.

In Cinta yang Marah and Tidak Ada New York Hari Ini, he said, he did not explicitly talk about politics as a strategy to get the attention of young people, who can be easily lulled by love stories.

When director Mira Lesmana asked me to collaborate for AADC, I told her that I did not want to write poems for the movie. I wanted to write a book that would be read by many young people who previously did not read poems, he said.

For him, a writer must participate in raising political awareness especially in a country where people are oppressed and do not have freedom of speech.

Rosyda agreed with Aan. She herself became interested in observing political phenomenon after reading Baju Bulan: Seuntai Puisi Pilihan [Moon Shirt: Selected Poem] by Joko Pinurbo.

Among other issues, corruption has interested the budding writer the most.

Writing poetry is a good way to talk about political and social issues in society, said the 21-year-old Gadjah Mada University student, who recently published Belajar Keagungan Tuhan dari Alam [Learning Gods Majesty from Nature].

Meanwhile, Hulpe, who has published his poems, essays and prose in newspapers and magazines since 2002, said that in Germany, where freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution, writers did not always talk about politics. Their inspiration could come from non-political things, which actually have a political

impact.

As for Hariz, the freedom of speech enjoyed by his colleagues in Indonesia and Germany remains a luxury.

Hariz, who joined the ASEAN-Japan Residency program in Jakarta, admitted that he was jealous because in Brunei Darussalam people could not speak freely.

I dont have a chance to raise my voice in my country, but Indonesia accepts the criticism, he said. Society in Brunei is quiet about corruption and [there is a] lack of freedom of speech.

Author Faisal Tehrani has seen six of his books banned by the Malaysian government, which also does not allow freedom of expression.

His 2012 novel, Perempuan Nan Bercinta [The Beloved Lady], was the first to be banned in 2014 for allegedly ridiculing the hadith on discrimination against women. A year later, Sebongkah Batu di Kuala Berang [A Stone in Kuala Berang], Karbala, Tiga Kali Seminggu [Three Times a Week] and Ingin Jadi Nasrallah [Want to be Nasrallah] were also banned for allegedly promoting Shia Islam.

In Indonesia, although the constitution has provided for freedom of expression for nearly 20 years, many young people still turn a blind eye to politics, said Aan, who manages a small self-owned library Katakerja, where people come to meet or discuss various topics.

I know exactly how difficult it is to attract senior high school and university students to think about politics or to read poems about it, he said.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 16:36 1862 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23c6a93 4 Business conventional-taxis,online-transportation,efficiency,Budi-Karya-Sumadi Free

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has called on conventional taxi operators to be more efficient to compete with ride-hailing applications that have become more popular.

The key is efficiency, said Budki, commenting on the layoff of 400 employees by PT Express Transindo Utama, an operator of Taksi Express, the second largest conventional taxi service in Indonesia after Blue Bird as reported by kompas.com.

Benny Setiawan, CEO of PT Express Transindo Utama or the Express Group, said the company plans to sell its assets to help raise Rp 2.5 billion (US$185,130) to pay off its debt. The companys revenue sharply declined to Rp 158.73 billion up to June this year, compared to Rp 374.06 billion during the same period last year.

Read also: Despite protests, it's business as usual for ride-hailing app drivers in Batam

Budi admitted that the financial problems faced by Taksi Express and conventional taxi operators were partly caused by the emergence of online taxis, but he said that conventional taxi operators had to adjust by utilizing technology.

However, conventional taxi operators and drivers criticized the transportation ministry for failing to create fair competition between conventional and online taxis.

The Supreme Court revoked 14 articles of the Transportation Ministry Regulation No. 26/ 2017 on the operation of non-route public transportation because the court considered it ran contrary to Law No. 20/2008 on micro, small and medium enterprises and Law No. 22/2009 on traffic and road transportation.

Budi said the ministry was now revising the regulation, promising to accommodate the interests of all stakeholders. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 18:53 1862 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23cf21e 1 City Depok,fire,Cinere-Bellevue Free

Residents of Cinere Bellevue apartment in Depok, West Java, which was hit by fire last week, have been given Rp 150,000 (US$11) per day to fulfill their daily needs by the apartment management, while they temporarily stay at hotels.

So far we are compensated with Rp 150,000 per day for buying clothes and meals, a resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told kompas.com on Monday.

We dont have any more clothes, except the ones we wore at the time of the fire, said another resident.

The residents of the 20-story apartment complex, which is also integrated with a shopping mall, have been staying in nearby hotels for the past five days.

Despite the fire being extinguished, the residents have not been permitted to return to their apartments as the police are still carrying out an investigation.

Depok Fire and Rescue Agency earlier said that the fire was caused by a short circuit in a generator.

It deployed eight fire appliances and one rescue car to the incident.

No casualties were reported in the fire. (fac)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9 2017

Police in South Jakarta said on Sunday that a man suspected of attacking a parking attendant at Gandaria City shopping mall was not a member of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Chief of Kebayoran Lama precinct Comr. Kurniawan Ismail said the individual, identified as Anwari, was in fact the spouse of a doctor who worked at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital.

The official TNI car is used by his wife and since she is employed by the Army hospital, he can use the car as well, Kurniawan said as quoted by kompas.com.

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Linkedin Fachrul Sidiq and Sylvia Octaviani Tambunan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9 2017

Jakarta is lagging behind other provinces in Java for measles-rubella (MR) vaccination coverage as some schools have resisted the nationwide program over concerns about the halal status of the vaccines.

As of last week, the vaccination only reached 2.2 million children in the capital, or 92.6 percent of the children targeted in the program, placing it behind East Java, Central Java and West Java.

About 200,000 children aged 7 to 15 years old are yet to be vaccinated.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 11:01 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23b5afa 1 City lobsters,lobster-seeds,smuggling,soekarno-hatta-airport,angkasa-pura Free

Aviation Security (Avsec) officers at Soekarno Hatta International Airport on Saturday foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 30,000 ornate rock lobster seeds.

Our security personnel found as many as 32,820 lobster seeds in a suitcase when it was checked through an X-ray machine," said Angkasa Pura II general manager M Suriawan Wakan in a written statement.

Two passengers, identified as DA and PA, reportedly packed the lobster seeds in plastic bags and put them in the suitcase. They both departed to Batam from Adi Sucipto Airport, Yogyakarta, on national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia flight number GA 210.

The passengers were arrested when they were about to check in for a connecting flight to Batam at Soekarno Hatta Airport," Suriawan said.

It is estimated the lobster seeds were worth Rp 6.4 billion (US$473,408).

The passengers and the evidence were handed over to the Soekarno Hatta Customs Service and Fish Quarantine office for a follow up investigation before being taken to the National Polices Criminal Investigation Department.

Several lobster seed smuggling attempts have been foiled throughout the year, including an attempt to smuggle 208,756 lobster seeds inside eight suitcases to Singapore in June, amounting to potential states loses of Rp 31.3 billion.

In July, an attempt to smuggle 13,600 lobster seeds, packed in 68 plastic bags and hidden inside a suitcase, from Batam was foiled at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. (dis/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 13:47 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23bb800 1 City Cikarang,Bekasi,commuter,commuter-line,commuter-trains,KAI Free

Residents living in Cikarang and Bekasi, West Java, have enthusiastically welcomed the newly-launched commuter line route, which connects the industrial area of Cikarang, West Java, with several destinations across Jakarta.

The enthusiasm was reflected in the number of passengers, 23,000, that flocked to four new stations along the new route during the first day of operations.

State-run commuter line operator Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) said in a press statement received by The Jakarta Post on Monday that the Cikarang station accommodated 8,000 passengers during the first day of the operation of the new route on Sunday, followed by East Bekasi, Tambun, and Cibitung stations with 5,000 passengers each.

KCI expected the number would increase on Monday as workers would begin to use the new service.

To anticipate the increasing number of passengers, KCI has equipped the new stations with electronic gates and ticket vending machines. The company has also provided medical facilities in East Bekasi and Cikarang stations.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi inaugurated the new Cikarang-Jakarta route at a ceremony held at East Bekasi Station on Saturday.

Budi said the opening of the new route would make it easier for Cikarang residents to travel to Jakarta. (rdi/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 14:09 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23c0bd8 1 City Jakarta-police,CrystalMeth,crystal-methamphetamine,CrystalMethamphetamine,drugs,drug-smugglers,drug-smuggling Free

The Jakarta Police have thwarted an attempt to smuggle 17 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine hidden inside Chinese tea products, kompas.com reported on Sunday. The drug syndicate attempted to cover the crime by fronting as a pharmaceutical business.

Jakarta Police narcotics director Sr. Comr. Suwondo Nainggolan said five members of the syndicate had been arrested in separate locations, starting with the Oct. 4 arrest of Safrizal, alias Rizal, alias RZ, the owner of a drugstore on Jl. Walang Timur in Koja, North Jakarta.

"From the suspect RZ, we seized 3 kilograms of crystal meth inside three packages of Chinese tea products branded Guanyingwang," Suwondo said in Jakarta, as quoted by kompas.com on Sunday.

From their investigation into RZ, the police obtained information that the crystal meth was sent from Pangandaran, West Java. Two days later on Oct. 6, the police raided two locations in Pangandaran and arrested four people, with 17 kg of crystal meth seized as evidence.

Suwondo said 15 kg of the drug was hidden inside tea products, while the other 2 kg were packed in 33 small plastic containers. The concealed drugs were kept in a house in Sindangasih village of Banjarsari district, Pangandaran.

"The drugs were ready to be distributed," Suwondo noted.

He added that during the arrests, police also confiscated three cars suspected of being purchased using money made from drug trafficking. (yon/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 18:39 1862 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23ce8a0 1 Business suspicious-transfer,standard-chartered,directorate-general-of-taxation,PPATK,OJK Free

A politician who is close to the military is reportedly behind the suspicious transfer of US$1.4 billion, which is being investigated by regulators in Europe and Asia.

Tribunnews.com reported that the activity of the politician, who was identified as frequently appearing before the public, was reported by Standard Chartered to the authorities after he conducted unusually frequent transfers in late 2015.

Director General of Taxation Ken Dwijugiastradi said his office had identified the name of the politician, but declined to disclose it.

Bloomberg first reported that regulators in Europe and Asia were investigating Standard Chartered over the role that staff may have played in transferring $1.4 billion of private client assets from Guernsey to Singapore before new tax transparency rules were introduced in 2015.

They (regulators in Europe and Asia) have reported it to us, Ken said.

Similarly, Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) deputy chairman Dian Ediana Rae said that her institution had monitored the suspicious transfer by an Indonesian from Standard Chartered several months ago.

The result had been reported to the Directorate General of Taxation because we suspect that it was a case of tax fraud, Dian said, adding that the tax office will decide whether a crime was committed in the activities. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 12:29 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23b7eba 1 City drugstore,drugs,PD-Pasar-Jaya,Pramuka-Market Free

The president director of Jakarta-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya, Arief Nasrudin, said the agency could not define as illegal the drugstores currently operating at East Jakarta's Pramuka Market.

He said the drugstores were owned individually by the community and were apotek rakyat.

As long as we have not received an official letter from the Jakarta administration, the drugstores cannot be defined as illegal, he said in Jakarta, as quoted by kompas.com on Saturday. He confirmed that PD Pasar Jaya was still allowing such apotek rakyat to continue operating at Pramuka Market.

Arief added that the market operator had ordered the market's vendors to maintain security in the area to prevented the drugstores from selling hard drugs and expired medicines.

However, the government has actually revoked apotek rakyat businesses through Health Ministry Regulation No. 53/2016.

The secretary-general of the Pramuka Market drug sellers' association, Yoyon, had admitted previously that according to current regulations, the drugstores were illegal.

But what can we do? We have to keep the drugstores open to support our families, he said on Thursday.

Pramuka Market was closed from Sept. 25 to Sept. 29 after the Jakarta administration requested vendors there to change their business licenses from apotek rakyat to a regular drugstore. (ecn/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 13:57 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23bbb8e 1 National Central-Java,fishermen,fishing,sea-offerings,KIARA,Jepara Free

The Peoples Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA), together with the Forum of Central Java Fishermen (FJNT) and the Association of Indonesias Fisherwomen (PPNI), on Sunday held a sea offering ritual, or sedekah laut, at Bandungharjo village in Jepara, Central Java.

The ritual is an annual ceremony held by locals living around Javas northern coastal areas who depend on the sea for their livelihoods. This years ritual, themed Taking care of the sea to take care of life, brought together more than 150 fishermen.

The sea offering is a ritual to remind us of the importance of the balance of nature. As many as 10,666 villages in this coastal area depend on fish as a source of food. Unfortunately, coastal communities are struggling to cope with the continuous decline of their fishing spaces, KIARA secretary general Susan Herawati said in a statement on Monday.

KIARA has identified at least nine challenges faced by Central Java fishermen caused by policies issued by the government that have failed to protect and empower them.

As an example, Herawati said the land reclamation in the Tapak coastal area in Semarang, Central Java, had made it more difficult for the locals to catch fish. The construction of coal-fired power plants (PLTU) in Batang, Jepara, and Cilacap has added to the list of problems.

All such challenges in the end have marginalized the locals, she emphasized. (msa/ebf)
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 15:45 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23c3a57 1 Politics setya-novanto,setya,KPK,graft,house-of-representatives,Golkar,GolkarParty,e-ID,corruption Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed that House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto skipped a summons to testify as a witness at Monday's e-ID hearing because he had a medical checkup that day.

Prosecutors have received a letter from the witness informing them about the checkup, KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said on Monday.

According to information circulating among journalists, Setya had a medical checkup scheduled for noon on Monday at Premier Hospital in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, as a follow-up to a heart surgery he reportedly underwent three weeks ago.

(Read also: Setya fails to appear as witness at Monday's hearing)

Following the surgery at the hospital, the Golkar politician was admitted to intensive care for observation before he was discharged last week.

It is the first time the former suspect has cited medical reasons to explain his failure to fulfill a summons to testify as a witness in a hearing related to the e-ID graft case, which has reportedly caused Rp 2.3 trillion (US$170 million) in state losses.

Setya was admitted to Jatinegara Premier Hospital on Sept. 18, when he was to appear at a KPK questioning as a suspect in the case.

A House-appointed physician to monitor the health of its lawmakers claimed at the time that Setya was being treated for multiple health issues, including heart and kidney problems, as well as vertigo.

The general public, however, doubted that the House Speaker actually suffered from health problems, and believed that he had checked into the hospital only to buy time until a decision was reached in the South Jakarta District Court pretrial hearing on his suspect status.

A subsequently released photograph of Setya connected to medical equipment drew widespread criticism and was widely ridiculed through satirical memes on social media. (ebf)
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 07:26 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23a4367 2 Politics TNI,Indonesian-Military,TNI-anniversary,military,PPATK Free

Two days after holding a high-profile party for its 72nd anniversary, the Indonesian Military (TNI) is back in the spotlight, this time over a report that individuals linked to the institution have carried out a money transfer of around US$1.4 billion through multiple accounts managed by United Kingdom-based bank Standard Chartered.

Bloomberg first reported that regulators in Europe and Asia were investigating Standard Chartered over the role staff may have played in transferring $1.4 billion of private bank client assets from Guernsey to Singapore before new tax transparency rules were introduced in 2015.

The assets  held in its Guernsey trust unit for mainly Indonesian clients, some of whom had links to the military  were moved in late-2015 before the Channel Island adopted the Common Reporting Standard, a global framework for the exchange of tax data, at the start of 2016, the people said. Standard Chartered shuttered its operations on the island last year.

The New York Times quoted a person with knowledge of the investigation who said that the links to the TNI also raised flags.

Contacted on Sunday, the Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Centre (PPATK) said that it was investigating the report.

We are communicating with relevant agencies in our investigation into the case, PPATK chairman Kiagus Ahmad Badaruddin told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Kiagus also said the PPATK already had details of individuals involved in the reported transactions and that the agency had gotten a hold of records of the transactions in question.

[Well have to see] if, for example, the amount being transfered was also reflected in their tax forms. The Directorate General of Taxation can surely track them down, Kiagus said.

Kiagus said the funds could have been saved overseas to avoid taxes, an activity that could be categorized as money laundering.

He also added that the ongoing investigations could also look into possibilities that the funds could be the result of corrupt activities.

Bloombergs sources in Guernsey highlighted that there were disparities between the earnings of some customers and the balances in their accounts, with clients, in the most egregious cases, having a stated annual income of tens of thousands of dollars yet held tens of millions in their accounts.

Employees of the trust in Guernsey and relationship bankers in Singapore flagged the $1.4 billion of asset transfers, when they were first proposed in 2015, noting a sudden flurry of requests in what was previously a static series of accounts, people familiar with the timeline said. The transfers were approved by Standard Chartereds financial crime compliance team after a review, the employees said.

Those with links to the military were considered politically exposed persons and should have been subject to a higher level of scrutiny, one Guernsey employee said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

Yustinus Prastowo, executive director of the Center of Indonesia Taxation Analysis (CITA), said it was possible the funds in question were dirty money attained from corruption, given the huge amount of money kept in the account.

Yustinus suspected that the discrepancy between the amount of funds in the account and the stated annual income of their owners could be an indication that it was an effort to avoid money generated from corruption being traced by law enforcement agencies.

Normally, there are three reasons for funds being stashed in tax havens; government officials hiding money from corruption, businesspeople avoiding taxes and drug dealers keeping their money safe, Yustinus said.

Even if the funds came from legal sources, transferring to overseas accounts could indicate their owners tried to dodge tax, Yustinus said.

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Wuryanto did not return multiple phone calls made by The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Standard Chartered Indonesia External Communications and Public Affairs head Mita Sampaguita Lamiran also declined to comment.
BAINBRIDGE, Ga. and PURCHASE, N.Y., Oct. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Industry leaders at Danimer Scientific, biopolymer manufacturer, and global food and beverage company PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) are together leading a discussion about how successful sustainable partnerships can impact our future at the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy (EFIB) 2017. EFIB is Europes industry biotechnology conference, including seminars and workshops by global corporations, held Oct. 9-11 in Brussels, Belgium.



Specifically, Stephen E. Croskrey, CEO of Danimer Scientific and Brad Rodgers, R&D Director for Discovery & Sustainability at PepsiCo, will share their commercialization success story at the conference, stemming from the agreement to implement Danimers biodegradable film resins in PepsiCos global product packaging.

The companies agreement builds on a long-standing relationship including the development of bio-based compostable packaging for PepsiCos snack brands and will facilitate the expansion of Danimer Scientifics Nodax PHA plant. Danimer Scientifics Nodax PHA received the first-ever OK Marine Biodegradable certification from Vincotte International, validating that the biopolymer safely biodegrades in salt water environments, leaving no toxins behind. All of Danimer Scientifics biopolymers, including Nodax PHA, are FDA approved for food contact.

EFIB is an optimal platform for sharing our companies insight and journey towards providing a better future for our planet, while also inspiring attendees to invest in environmentally friendly alternatives, including packaging and energy, for their businesses, said Croskrey.

The next step in our collaboration with Danimer Scientific is being able to share the strides weve made to implement biodegradable solutions for our food and beverage packaging. In addition to discussing our solution, we look forward to learning from other attending companies to continue finding ways to continue to reduce our carbon footprint, said Rodgers.

Danimer Scientific and PepsiCo are presenting at EFIB on Oct. 11 at 2:40 p.m. For more information about the conference and for a full schedule of events, visit www.efibforum.com/.

About Danimer Scientific

Danimer Scientific is a recognized world leader in the development of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and a specialist in the customization of biopolymer formulations that combine PHA, PLA and other biopolymers through a proprietary reactive extrusion process. Supported by a world-class group of dedicated, highly skilled team members, Danimer Scientific offers a comprehensive selection of biopolymers that support the companys core values of utilizing sustainable and renewable bioplastics to improve peoples lives at work and home. Danimer Scientific and its subsidiaries currently own more than 125 patents across nearly 20 countries. Danimer Scientific is headquartered in Bainbridge, Ga. For more information, visit DanimerScientific.com.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated approximately $63 billion in net revenue in 2016, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCos product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose  our fundamental belief that the success of our company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us. We believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world is what enables PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

PepsiCo Cautionary Statement

Statements in this communication that are forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, operating plans and projections about future events and trends. Terminology such as aim, anticipate, believe, drive, estimate, expect, expressed confidence, forecast, future, goal, guidance, intend, may, objective, outlook, plan, position, potential, project, seek, should, strategy, target, will or similar statements or variations of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in such forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: changes in demand for PepsiCos products, as a result of changes in consumer preferences or otherwise; changes in the legal and regulatory environment; imposition of new or increased taxes aimed at PepsiCos products; imposition of labeling or warning requirements on PepsiCos products; changes in laws related to packaging and disposal of PepsiCos products; PepsiCos ability to compete effectively; and unstable political conditions, civil unrest or other developments and risks in the markets where PepsiCos products are made, manufactured, distributed or sold.

For additional information on these and other factors that could cause PepsiCos actual results to materially differ from those set forth herein, please see PepsiCos filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. PepsiCo undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact:

Jerry Kidd

jkidd@kidd.com
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Linkedin Stuart Williams (AFP) Istanbul, Turkey  Mon, October 9, 2017 08:45 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23a90fb 2 World US,Turkey,Visa,Istanbul,diplomatic-tension,diplomatic-spat Free

The United States and Turkey on Sunday scaled back visa issuing services in each other's countries in a deepening diplomatic row sparked by the arrest of a Turkish staffer at the American mission in Istanbul.

The American embassy in Ankara said that "recent events" forced the US government to reassess Turkey's "commitment" to the security of US mission services and personnel in the country.

In order to minimise the number of visitors while the assessment is carried out, "effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all US diplomatic facilities in Turkey," it said.

Non-immigrant visas are issued to all those travelling to the United States for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study. Immigrant visa services are only for those seeking to live in the US permanently.

Turkey responded by suspending "all visa services" for Americans in the US, saying the measures also apply to visas issued online and at the border.

In an apparent attempt to mock the US announcement, the Turkish embassy in Washington issued two statements that were almost word-for-word copies of that from the American embassy in Ankara.

-- 'Deeply disturbed' --

The statements said concerns over US commitment to the security of Turkish diplomatic facilities and personnel necessitated the restrictions, but the fact that they only apply to Americans and also include visas issued at the border and online indicate the move is punitive rather than security-based.

The first statement from the Turkish embassy said the restrictions apply to "visas in passports" while the second replaced that wording with "sticker visas". It was unclear if that meant that visas already stamped in passports would not be accepted.

Beyond its mention of "recent events", the American embassy statement made no explicit mention of the arrest by Turkish authorities of a local Turkish staffer working at the US consulate in Istanbul.

The employee was remanded in custody by an Istanbul court late Wednesday on accusations of links to the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for last year's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The staffer has been formally charged with espionage and seeking to overthrow the Turkish government.

The US embassy on Thursday said it was "deeply disturbed" over the arrest and rejected the allegations against the employee as "wholly without merit".

It also condemned leaks in the local press which it said came from Turkish government sources that were "seemingly aimed at trying the employee in the media rather than a court of law".

But Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has defended the arrest, saying "there must be serious evidence" and pointing to a phone call made from the Istanbul consulate to a key suspect on the night of the coup.

-- 'Scandalous decision' --

For Soner Cagaptay, Director of the Turkish Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in Washington DC, the situation signifies the unfolding of an historic crisis in US-Turkey relations.

"The idea is that this step would convince the Turkish elites to persuade Erdogan to stop harassing US citizens in Turkey -- I think Erdogan will do the opposite and escalate," he told AFP.

The pro-government Yeni Safak daily described it as "a scandalous decision from the United States".

Turkish officials had expressed hope of a new page in Ankara-Washington relations under President Donald Trump.

Turkey has pressed Washington for the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Gulen, who denies any link to the coup bid -- but the lack of movement on the issue has further strained ties.

Meanwhile, members of Erdogan's security detail were indicted by US authorities after clashes with protesters during an official visit this year, infuriating the Turkish president.

American pastor Andrew Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir, has been held by Turkish authorities since October 2016 on charges of being a member of Gulen's group.

Erdogan suggested last month that Turkey could release him in exchange for Gulen but Washington showed little interest in the proposal. (**)
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 16:04 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23c4cc0 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Joey-Alexander Free

Following news of the upcoming concerts of jazz prodigy Joey Alexander in Indonesia, the event's promoter Teguh Trianung of IA ITB 80 said the concert on Nov. 11 would be by invitation only and the one held on Nov. 12 would be open to the public.

The gala show is Joeys wish to perform in front of ambassadors and important guests. Several ministers are also expected to come, Teguh said.

The first concert is slated to be held at Balairung Soesilo Soedarman on Nov. 11 and the other performance will be at ICE BSD in Tangerang on Nov. 12.

Joey will perform alongside his fellow band mates who will also be joining him on his tour to Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong prior to performing in Indonesia.

Read also: Colosseum to open up highest level, the view of the lowly plebs

Up to 3,000 tickets reportedly were ready to be sold for the ICE BSD concert. The ticket prices will be divided into several categories such as for student and other classifications.

Teguh hoped that Joey can become a positive inspiration for other Indonesian youths.

His upcoming visit to Indonesia this November is part of a move to promote his album Countdown, which features three original and seven cover songs.

The cover songs include Countdown" by John Coltrane, "Criss Cross" by Thelonious Monk, "For Wee Folks" by Wynton Marsalis, "Chelsea Bridge" by Billy Strayhorn, "Freedom Jazz Dance" by Eddie Harris, "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin and "Maiden Voyage" by Herbie Hancock. Meanwhile the original songs are City Lights, which was debuted at last years Grammys; Sunday Waltz; and Soul Dreamer.

Last July, Visit Indonesia Tourism Officer (VITO) in Paris together with the Tourism Ministry gave their support for Joeys performance at the Festival All Stars concert in New Morning, Paris. (kes)
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Mon, October 9, 2017 14:06 1863 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a23bbd9d 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,atambua,Tourism-Ministry Free

After the successful concerts of Slank, Cokelat and Jamrud in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), the tourism ministry, together with Kefa Music Community (KAMY) hold three more concerts in Atambua.

The first concert was held in Haumeni Ana on October 5, then in Napan on October 7 and the last one will be in Wini on October 16.

These concerts have certainly solidified Atambuas image as a Cross-Border Concert City.

The concert in Napan had concertgoers start coming in as early as 09:00 a.m. They came from different parts of the region as well as from Timor Leste via Wini Border Post (PLBN) that can be reached in 30 minutes using a vehicle.

Read also: What to discover in West Java cultural village Ciptagelar

Our appreciation is for the tourism ministry who continues to work hard to make Atambua as a Cross-Border Concert City. Economically speaking, this event also provides income for the locals and moves the economic cycle, told North Central Timor tourism department secretary, Yohanes.

A performance of Tebe dance, a traditional dance from NTT, opened the show. And then Brothers Band came to the stage, followed by the performance of Timor Band.

Meanwhile, tourism ministry's head of man-made tourism promotion Ni Putu G. Gayatri talked about several strategies that will be done to improve cross-border tourism such opening direct routes to several popular tourist destinations, regulation simplification in every border post especially the ones in NTT that deal with tourists from Timor Leste.

There are three entrance gates here such as PLBN Motaain, Motamasin and Wini, said Putu.

The ministry has also created a lineup of events that will be held in Atambua every month until December. (asw)
Leading up to election day on Nov. 7, City Council member Margaret Chin is taking a more assertive approach in fending off opponents for her District 1 seat.

In the past week, her campaign sent a letter to New York City District Attorney Cy Vance, asking him to look into alleged voter fraud by Chinatown activist Steven Wong, an outspoken supporter of Christopher Marte, Chins main nemesis. The Chin campaign cited evidence that Wong and an associate, Poo Leon, illegally listed a Mott Street address on absentee voter forms. The address allegedly corresponds  not to a legitimate residence  but to the office of the Hotel Chinese Association, an organization Wong leads.

The complaint, and the Chin campaigns decision to distribute the letter to reporters, is an indication that the two-term Council member has decided to go on the offensive. In last months Democratic Primary, she edged out Marte by just 222 votes. The results were not certified by the Board of Elections until two weeks after the election, when absentee and provisional ballots were counted. The close race surprised political insiders and prompted Marte to run against Chin in the general election (on the Independence Party line). During the primary campaign, Council member Chin mostly ignored a constant stream of attacks from her opponents. Many of Chins supporters have been urging a more aggressive stance in the general election campaign.

Wong is a well know figure in Chinatown. He was a leading operative in Chins 2009 campaign, but turned on her four years later, supporting candidate Jenifer Rajkumar. At a candidate debate we attended in the weeks leading up to this years primary, Wong was heckling Chin from the audience. You may have seen (or heard) him in the days before the primary tooling around in this tricked out truck, which was blaring pro-Christopher Marte messages on a loudspeaker.

A few days ago, we heard from Jake Dilemani, a political strategist with Mercury Public Affairs, which is advising Margaret Chin. He wanted to make sure we saw the complaint sent to the district attorney, as well as a press release that accused the Marte campaign of harassing and intimidating elderly Chinese voters (we previously reported details of these allegations here).

We asked Dilemani what led the Chin campaign to level the voter intimidation charge. Several observers, said Dilemani, saw Marte volunteers misleading voters about where they were supposed to vote. They were also found to be generally menacing toward these voters, he said, and Council member Chin was told directly by seniors that they had been harassed. He added, A longtime Democratic District Leader from Chinatown has told us her volunteers, as well as Chin campaign volunteers, experienced various incidents of intimidation on Primary day, including Martes campaign staff screaming in front of poll sites, scaring off potential voters.

Margaret Chin has always had her detractors in Chinatown, some of them going back decades to her time as a housing organizer. Wong is among a group of local activists who aligned against Chin this year, possibly hurting the Council member on her home political turf. Dilemani said of the former Chin loyalist, Steven Wong does not represent a group of Chinatown activists  he represents himself and practices petty, personal politics.

Wong did not respond to an email and phone call from The Lo-Down.

In an interview, Christopher Marte called the intimidation accusations from the Chin campaign false. We did not do any of the things theyre saying, asserted Marte. People know we are respectful of every candidate, and that we were out there in the streets every day encouraging everyone to come out and vote. In a statement, he said, Our campaign staff and volunteers, which included Chinese seniors, did not intimidate or harass any voters. They are people who care about their community, and we are grateful for their hard work on this local campaign.

In the Nov. 7 general election, Chin will face Marte and Republican Bryan Jung, as well as Aaron Foldenauer, whos running on the Liberal Party Line. Foldenauer also filed a complaint with the DA, claiming the deceptive registration of voters at P.O. Boxes fraudulent addresses in Margaret Chins stronghold (in Chinatown).

Dilemani scoffed at Foldenauers claims, saying, Republican Aaron Foldenauers entire campaign has consisted of baseless attacks. With zero support from the community, and zero chance of winning, its no surprise that he is now resorting to thinly veiled racist attacks against Chinese voters. Aaron Foldenauer and his fabrications have no place in public office, but he may want to try a career in creative writing.

Foldenauer was registered as a Republican until last year.

UPDATE 8:49 p.m. Steven Wong returned our phone call this evening. In an interview, Wong conceded that he used a Chinatown office address on his absentee voter form, rather than his residential address. Wong lives uptown and is not a registered voter in District 1. Wong told us he has been using the Chinatown address, 98 Mott St., since 2009. Wong said he began listing the Chinatown address eight years ago at the urging of someone in Margaret Chins campaign, and has been using it ever since in multiple elections. He declined to say who allegedly told him to use the District 1 address on his voter forms.

We talked about his reasons for opposing Chin after strongly backing her eight years ago. Wong said there have been claims from the Chin team that he turned on the Council member because she refused to give him a staff job after winning the 2009 election. Wong called these claims ridiculous, saying theres no way he could have supported his family on a City Council staff salary. Wong said he switched his allegiance to other candidates because he believes Chin did not deliver for the community. Wong cited the continued closure of Park Row following 9/11, saying that Chin simply didnt fight hard enough on an issue of critical importance to the Chinatown small business community. Wong said he was excited to help elect a Chinese American to represent Chinatown, but became disenchanted over time with Chins advocacy for the neighborhood.

Wong said the Marte campaign did not harass or intimidate any voters in Chinatown. If anything, he claimed, Margaret Chin operatives at Confucius Plaza violated election rules by campaigning too close to poll sites.

UPDATE 10/10 As we reported last night, Steven Wong said someone in the 2009 Chin campaign told him to list the Mott Street address on his voter form. Today Chin campaign spokesperson Jake Dilemani responded, saying, It is unequivocally false that someone from the 2009 Chin campaign told him to register fraudulently. A separate statement from the campaign added, (Christopher) Marte must either disavow Wong and Leons support given these disturbing allegations, or he must explain why he stands with them in solidarity despite evidence linking them to blatant voter fraud.
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Paris, October 9th, 2017 : The 2017 "Large & MidCap Event", created and organized by CF&B Communication, experienced its largest edition ever.

Over 390 business leaders from Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,...., representing companies ranging from micro caps to 13bn large caps, took part in the Event.

12% more European investors joined this year, from all over Europe, 4.437 meetings were organized over two days.

Specifically, we would like to thank Euronext and EnterNext, our historical partners and Prime Sponsors of the Event.

We wish to thank our Partners: Degroof Petercam, Gilbert Dupont, Invest Securities, Midcap Partners, CFO Sim Investment Bank, KT&Partners, as well as all our sponsors and media partners who, through their presence, have supported these asset classes.

Among the Events organized by CF&B Communication in 2017, the 1st Madrid edition on 14th November, the 9th edition of the Geneva "MidCap Event" on 28 & 29th November.



For further information, please contact Caroline Bader c.bader@cfbcom.fr
In celebration of Guillermo del Toros 53rd birthday today, we take a look back at one of his most highly acclaimed films, Pans Labyrinth.

While most people have probably heard of it, not so many English people have seen it, due to an unfortunate habit we have of dismissing subtitled films. Heres everything you need to know about Guillermo del Toros fairy tale for adults.

On the surface, the story seems simple: a young girl named Ofelia finds a secret fantasy world in which she has to complete three tasks to become a princess. There is, however, a much darker meaning behind it all. There is a parallel between the fantasy world and the real horror that Ofelia is going through; her mother is unwell and pregnant with the child of a ruthless dictator.

While its possible to enjoy the film without delving into the symbolism, you need to understand Spains recent history to be able to wholly appreciate what del Toro has accomplished. The film is set in the fascist Spain of 1944, soon after the Civil War ended, during the brutal Franco regime. Ofelias stepfather, Vidal, is the embodiment of this regime; he kills innocent people and his merciless towards both his wife and stepdaughter, only caring about his unborn son so he can be his heir.

Due to its inherent connection to Spain, Del Toro decided to keep the movie in Spanish, even though he has previously done productions in English. The director, despite being Mexican, has a personal connection to the Civil War. Many refugees fled to Mexico and del Toro listened to their stories firsthand, becoming incredibly close to a certain man - Emilio Garcia Rivera - who he sees as a fatherly figure. He insists that the war is not just black and white, but much more complex, and he brings this idea into the film.

Pans Labyrinth is also a good film for Halloween. Whilst some would argue that it isn't a horror film, there are multiple scary scenes filled with both literal and metaphorical monsters. We see a human evil in Vidal, but the creatures in the fantasy world also have an ambiguous moral standing and are frankly quite disturbing to look at. The Pale Man is enough to give any self-respecting horror fan a few nightmares, especially upon its release 11 years ago. Del Toro takes the cliche ideas of Disney fairy tales - magical creatures, a chosen princess, forbidden fruit (literally) - and subverts them. There is an ongoing sense of unease in both the real and fantasy worlds.

The special effects and makeup are breathtaking - in fact the film won Oscars for Cinematography, Art Direction and Makeup. American actor Doug Jones plays both the Fawn and the Pale Man, the two most intricate creatures. Del Toro has worked with him before in Hellboy, and chose him due to his unusual ability to bring life to inhuman forms while in heavy costume and makeup (as well as Abe Sapien in Hellboy, hes also played aliens in Star Trek: Discovery and Falling Skies, amongst many other monsters). He did learn his Spanish lines, but was dubbed for the movie.

Given the fantasy world depicted on the poster, at first people brought their children to see the film, thinking it was just another cute animation. However, this is definitely not a kids movie and they even ended up having to put a warning out to parents. Theres a fair bit of gore, but the horror comes more from the storyline itself.

Whether you watch it simply for the beautiful cinematography, or for the deeper philosophical meaning, its a film that should not be passed up. Its on Netflix, so go watch it now!
Indie filmmaker duo the Safdie brothers have really stepped up to the next level with electric thriller Good Time. Robert Pattinson stars as Connie Nikas, a criminal on a desperate path to break his mentally ill brother Nick (Benny Safdie) out of the infamous Rikers Island after a heist gone wrong.

Benny Safdie is mesmerising, and Pattinson is by turns tender and ruthless in his desperation. The film masterfully sets up each of the characters positions and motivations with hardly any exposition at all, throwing the audience into the world of the Nikas brothers with a refreshing lack of patronisation.

Connie is immediately established as a morally grey protagonist, but remains a sympathetic figure throughout the film, even as his actions become more and more condemning. The introspective, emotional opening to the film quickly ramps up into a high octane pace that hardly ever gives audiences a second to relax.

Were kept on the edge of our seats through the heist and Nicholas subsequent arrest, and throughout Connies increasingly desperate attempts to raise the money needed to bail him out. First he turns to his oblivious, needy girlfriend Corey, brilliantly played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, and then resorts to more drastic measures.

His plan unexpectedly unites him with a fellow criminal Ray (Buddy Duress), and streetwise teenager Crystal (Taliah Webster), who get caught up in Connies mission. Ray presents a foil to Connie  someone whose ends are far less noble than Connies, despite their means being so similar. Crystal is a sort of victim of Connies mania, though not in the way one might imagine.

The series of events that occur in 24 hours might, in the hands of different filmmakers, come across as wacky and almost comedic, yet the sheer intensity of the fluorescent lighting and the screeching soundtrack keep the audience fully immersed in the seriousness.

Scenes that could be silly  hunting around a theme park haunted house for stashed drugs in the dark, sneaking an unconscious patient past police guards out of a hospital  are in fact some of the most edge-of-your-seat, heart-racing moments of drama screened at this festival.

Benny Safdie does an incredible job portraying the tortured, loyal Nick. The opening scenes between him and his brother are the emotional core around which the entire film revolves, and his performance leaves nothing to be desired.

Pattinson is captivating as the sly con-man who can talk his way through most situations, or beat his way through if he cant. The characters mutability is key  he plays up to the sympathies of whoever he is trying to convince to help him  yet the audience never loses sight of who he is, and further, are taken in by his plight.

This film will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, and rather than providing a neatly constructed narrative, the Safdie brothers will take you on a journey full of twists and turns that feel much more like real life than a movie. A must-see!

Good Time is screening as part of the 2017 BFI London Film Festival this October. Further details including ticket information can be found here.
Natalia Ponce de Leon was 33 when a man she barely knew knocked on her front door in Bogota, Colombia. When she opened it, Jonathan Vega threw a litre of sulphuric acid over her face and body, leaving her with terrible, life-changing burns.

Video footage of Vega committing this violent crime was captured on nearby CCTV and soon spread across Colombia.

Instead of shrinking from public attention in the aftermath of the attack, Natalia decided to use the publicity for good.

The public outcry at the attack ensured Natalia was given the best of care, something not all victims of acid attacks have access to.

It came to my heart that I had to do something, because I was receiving everything but the rest of the survivors received nothing, Natalia told the Press Association.

Three years and multiple surgeries on, and Natalia is a high profile victims rights activist in Colombia, with a law bearing her name. This law singles out acid attacks as a specific crime and increases the maximum prison term for those who attack others with acid to 50 years.

Natalia Ponce de Leon is bringing justice to those whove suffered acid attacks like she did in 2014. #OYW2017 pic.twitter.com/PXsTmi7Mmj  One Young World (@OneYoungWorld) October 6, 2017

On Friday, she gave a speech about her fight for justice for acid attack victims to the One Young World Conference in her home city of Bogota. The conference gives a platform to those who have achieved extraordinary things in activism.

I was reborn from the ashes, and started a new life, Natalia said.

Natalias foundation , which bears the logo of a phoenix, last year launched a campaign to increase the penalties for this type of violent crime and for the government to fund more specialist burns units across the country. She used the iconic mask she wore to encourage skin recovery as a symbol for the campaign, which was named No More Masks.

The Natalia Ponce de Leon foundation now supports 40 women around the world who have been victims of acid attacks, providing mental health support, advice and a community of survivors for victims to access.

In Colombia and across Asia, women are disproportionately the victims of these type of attacks. Natalia says more needs to be done to change how women are seen in society to prevent these attacks happening to more people.

In Colombia, they use [acid attacks] to destroy women, she says. The guys thought is: If you are not going to be mine, I dont want to kill you, but I want to destroy your life, she said.

But women are not objects, we are human beings.

In the UK, however, which is experiencing an alarming rise in acid attacks (figures obtained by the BBC from 37 police forces show over 500 attacks in 2016-17), men are most often the victims.

In London, acid has been used in robberies.

Natalia has lived in London, and is deeply concerned about the rise of acid attacks in the city. She says that controlling the sale of these types of corrosive acid is paramount, and that penalties for these crimes need to be higher in the UK.

Important first aid advice from @NHSEngland on what to do in the event of an acid attack #ReportRemoveRinse pic.twitter.com/65W9FCEwVT  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 26, 2017

Most importantly, though, Natalia says people need to be aware of what to do if they or someone they know is attacked with acid.
After a melancholy few weeks, detailing the deaths of some much loved friends, this week provides some much needed excitement into the Queen's (and indeed our own) lives, kicking things off with an assassination attempt. They don't do things by halves in this series.This attempt was just one of the seven that would be made on Victoria's life throughout her lifetime, but the young Queen remains characteristically resilient and fearless in the face of violence, and remains perhaps the only member of court that does not fear for her life. This week, the royal party decide to retire to Scotland - a decision made partly down to the threat upon Victoria's safety, but also for the longing to escape court life and live a simple life in the "wilderness" - to whatever extent that that ideal can be acheived when you are the Queen of England. The episode creates an excellent atmosphere of hope and innocence, as the party drink in the clean air and peaceful serenity of the Scottish highlands, and once again we get to view Victoria as simply a young girl in love, rather than a monarch with the responsibility of the world on her shoulders.Goodwin provides that comedic relief which she weaves so excellently into the storyline once more, with Albert acquainting himself with yet another culture and a way of life so alien to his own. His hatred of the bagpipes as a "beastly instrument" was a particular highlight. The episode was bursting at the seams with a palpable sense of whimsical danger, which seized several characters within its grasp and reeled in astonished audiences. What initially seems to be an exciting excursion for a young woman and her husband in a solitary adventure where they can truly experience rural life and be alone - akin to Cathy and Heathcliff of Wuthering Heights - soon becomes an unsettling ordeal for the couple themselves and their court, as it becomes clear just how precious the monarchs are to their community in these troubling times. It was a joy to see the young couple enjoying the freedom that they so innocently believed would accompany royal life, as they experienced an alternate reality in which Victoria picked up some valuable skills to take home to the palace. The star-crossed lovers theme runs true with other members of the court - most notably with the dashing Drummond and Lord Alfred, who I am still predicting to be the next iconic power-couple, akin to Beyonce and Jay-Z - or even Victoria and Albert, if we want to stay on topic. We see some developments between Prince Ernest and the Duchess of Sutherland, which I will also be very surprised to see if no development occurs before the series finale. An exciting spark is also kindled in the case of Skerrett, even if she has other things on her mind. I particularly enjoyed the melodic accompaniment of this week's episode, with the genre experimentation of the iconic theme tune suiting the landscape and scenes excellently, and providing a remarkable addition to the central performances in creating that whimsical and eloquent atmosphere. A running theme throughout the episode seemed to be the idea that "nothing that makes you happy can ever be wrong", and although many obstacles were thrown in the way of this sentiment, I believe that this idea will continue to stay resonant within the various storylines of the series. Eloquent, dramatic and whimsically dangerous, this week's was the best episode yet. With only one more episode to go, the series two finale is surely set to be a cracker.
Washington, DC, Oct. 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cancer informatics and digital pathology workflow solution provider Inspirata, Inc. and Lab Information System (LIS) company SCC Soft Computer announced today that they have successfully developed a bi-directional interface between the SCC LIS and Inspiratas Digital Pathology Cockpit. The result is the first fully immersive environment where pathologists can comprehensively review patient cases, diagnose diseases, write diagnostic reports and submit those reports to the LIS.

The interface was built using Inspiratas HL7-compliant Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) that facilitates straightforward re-use of data between systems. It communicates through SCCs SoftPathDx module, which is the diagnostic pathology support system in the LIS.

Without this interface, pathologists must access patient history, case information and relevant diagnostic imaging reports from siloed systems, explains Inspirata Executive Vice President and Founder, Mark Lloyd, PhD, MSM. Essentially, a pathologist is like a detective; the more clues they can assemble about a patient, the more confident they can be in the diagnosis they must make from the tissue samples they are given to examine.

We see this interface as a major step in streamlining the diagnostic workflow, and were looking forward to demonstrating it to the pathologists attending CAP, continues Dr. Lloyd. Providing data feeds from separate information systems in a single immersive environment like our Digital Pathology Cockpit will enable pathologists to focus on diagnosing the patients disease rather than searching for and retrieving information from disparate diagnostic systems.

As the worlds largest LIS vendor, we are extremely pleased to add the distinction of being the first and only LIS vendor to partner with a company like Inspirata to enable seamless bi-direction data exchange between an LIS and a single-sign-on Digital Pathology Cockpit, says Gilbert Hakim, founder and CEO of SCC Soft Computer. This interface will accelerate pathologists decision making by eliminating the cumbersome process of logging into separate systems and, at the same time, retain the LIS as the system of record for the final diagnostic report.

According to Inspirata CEO Satish Sanan, This interface is an industry milestone because LIS vendors have traditionally maintained very closed systems, which actually hamper the diagnostic workflow. Thanks to SCCs willingness to partner with us on this initiative, hospitals and cancer centers using both of our systems will have a much more efficient and seamless workflow.

About SCC Soft Computer

The worlds largest LIS vendor, SCC Soft Computer is at the forefront of laboratory, genetics, outreach, and blood services information systems software development. Committed to supplying innovative technologies, SCC designs, develops, and delivers full suites of integrated laboratory and genetics information management system solutions for hospitals, large IDNs, and laboratories. Visit www.softcomputer.com for more information.

About Inspirata, Inc.

Inspirata, Inc. offers the most comprehensive cancer diagnostics workflow solution available for precision diagnosis today. The solution, which employs a unique solution-as-a-service business and delivery model, accelerates anatomic and molecular pathology workflows and facilitates whole slide imaging and image analytics, prognostic and predictive assays, remote consultations and tumor boards. This comprehensive solution includes an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) to help to solve interoperability issues and a Natural Language Processing Engine (NLP) for structuring data. Inspirata amalgamates this structured data into a central multi-institutional and multi-modal big data cancer repository for clinical, research and educational purposes. Its use will extend to physicians, patients, researchers and pharma among others. This comprehensive solution facilitates a modern precision diagnosis to build a strong foundation for precision medicine. For more information, please visit www.inspirata.com or contact info@inspirata.com.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/61d06437-0ef6-4ecb-8114-02f5c0aa95b4
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FORM 8.3

PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY

A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser: Tyrus Capital S.A.M. (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):

The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:

Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Paysafe Group plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:

For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 6 October 2017 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?

If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" N/A

If YES, specify which:

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

Class of relevant security:



0.01p ordinary



Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: (2) Cash-settled derivatives:



37,290,000 7.638 (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:



TOTAL: 37,290,000 7.638

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options)

Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:

3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security Purchase/sale



Number of securities Price per unit





(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. CFD Nature of dealing

e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit 0.01p ordinary CFD



Increasing a long position 1,550,000 GBP 5.825

(c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type

e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit





(d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security Nature of dealing

e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)





4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:

Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



none





(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:

(i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or

(ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:

If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



none





(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO





Date of disclosure: 9 October 2017 Contact name: Jonathan Beer Telephone number: +377 9999 5030

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
Estimados amigos,

Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia.

Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro.

Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras.

There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen.

You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.

No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca.

Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt.

Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las debiles tan solo deseos.

Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada.

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.

If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.
At least one person is in critical condition after a motorcyclist crashed into a pedestrian in a Brooklyn crosswalk on Saturday, authorities said.

According to the NYPD, the 48-year-old victim was found unconscious at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Fulton Street in East New York at 6:30 Sunday morning. He was quickly transported to Jamaica Hospital, along with the driver of the motorcycle, who is expected to survive, police said.

The FDNY, meanwhile, says that three people were transported from the scene to Jamaica Hospital, and that two of them are in critical condition. They could not offer any additional information about the third person, including whether they were a pedestrian or motorist.

The NYPD's Highway Collision Squad is investigating, and we'll update as more information becomes available.




Thousands of low-income New Yorkers, including frustrated public housing residents and members of the clergy, rallied outside of City Hall this afternoon to promote a new affordable housing plan they say will serve more poor New Yorkers than Mayor Bill de Blasio's controversial Housing New York initiative.

Reverend David Brawley, pastor of St. Paul Community Baptist Church in East New York, presented the plan to Mayor de Blasio last week at a town hall meeting there.

Conceived by East Brooklyn Congregations and the Metro Industrial Areas Foundation, the plan focuses on housing thousands of low-income seniors by building apartments on vacant NYCHA property and other vacant city lots. With 15,000 new senior apartments, organizers argue, elderly NYCHA residents could move into new homes, opening up more large NYCHA apartments for as many as 50,000 new residents.

The groups are also calling on City Hall to prioritize NYCHA's staggering $17.1 billion in unmet capital needs, and to criminally prosecute landlords who illegally evict tenants in gentrifying neighborhoods to maximize their profits.

"I'm sitting next to one of my friends here who has been living in Bushwick for 30 years, and living in her apartment for 15," said Blanche Romey, 77, a Bushwick resident since 1983 and an EBC member. "Now the landlord wants her out. She has nowhere to go. How would the mayor feel if his grandmother, his mother, was shut out? She's 82."

"Me and my husband, we bought our house in the '80s for $5,000," Romey added. "It was the only empty house on the block. Now we've cleaned up Bushwick, and now they [landlords] are trying to shut us out. Thank God I have a place to stay. What they need to do is give these NYCHA lots to the seniors so the people can afford a place to stay."

According to City Hall, de Blasio has created or preserved a combined 77,651 units of affordable housing since 2014, on track and within budget to reach the 2024 goal of 200,000 units. During the fiscal year ending in June, the city created more units for poor New Yorkers than it did in the two years previous.

But advocates have long argued that City Hall's benchmarks for affordability, recently deepened with an additional $2 billion investment set to kick in next year, represent too little too late. Before Mayor de Blasio's housing plan was implemented, the city was short 550,000 affordable apartments for families that make less than $42,000 per year. Meanwhile, NYC's population is booming. The supply and demand imbalance is obvious every time a new lottery for affordable housing opens. And thanks to loopholes in the existing rent laws, the Alliance for Tenant Power estimates that the city could lose 100,000 affordable units by 2019.

EBC's plan to fund NYCHA endorses a 2014 proposal to dedicate surplus Battery Park City revenue to NYCHAan estimated $400 million over a decade (Mayor de Blasio has maintained that the excess should go towards his larger affordable housing plan, not NYCHA specifically). The group also calls for a new, independent construction authority that would handle all capital repair work, taking the responsibility away from NYCHA.

The plan also includes a funding proposal for the 15,000 new senior units, estimated to cost $3.83 billion, subsidized with a mix of Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Housing Preservation and Development subsidies, and loans through the City Pension Fund.



The Pink Houses in East New York. (Christian Hansen / Gothamist)

City Hall already has a NYCHA infill plan in the works. NextGeneration Neighborhoods is intended to chop $4.6 billion off of NYCHA's $17.1 billion in unmet capital needsthrough private development, as well as increased rent collection, administrative staff cuts, and commercial leases on NYCHA property. Some developments will be entirely below market rate, while others will be half-and-half.

But advocates say NextGen is generating middle class housing while failing to adequately fund NYCHA repairs or create more space on NYCHA property for the working poor.

"It fails to address the improvements needed by making [NYCHA residents] live in disgusting conditions, and it does almost nothing to address the low-income families in New York making between $20,000 to $35,000 a year who need housing," EBC organizer Matthew Marienthal charged.

City Hall says it has met with the organizers of today's action, and are open to working with them further.

"The Mayor and agency commissioners have met with Metro IAF and made clear our interest in collaborating," mayoral spokeswoman Melissa Grace said. "We share the same mission."

Yet Mayor de Blasio has also pointed to funding constraints.

"Let's be honest about this...we're probably stuck right now through 2020 with effectively no new housing aid from Washington," the mayor told Gotham Gazette during a recent press conference. "And then the state really hasn't delivered on any of the programs they said they were going to create for us. So we're on our own, anxious to do more but I don't know where the resources would be for something really big at this point. We'll keep looking for them though."

"The bottom line is we're in a crisis and we need to do more," Marienthal said. "We don't pretend that our plan is the only plan, but we know what we are doing now isn't enough."

"De Blaiso needs to make that $17 billion [NYCHA deficit] a priority," he added. "And Ben Carson and Donald Trump aren't coming to save us."
The Delhi Assembly on Monday passed a resolution against the proposed Metro fare hike, with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleging that it was a conspiracy to boost the private transport companies in the capital.

The resolution moved on Wednesday last by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot urging the Union Urban Development Ministry to quickly and actively intervene was passed by a voice vote in the House.

Participating in the discussion on the resolution, Sisodia alleged that the proposed Metro fare hike was a well-planned conspiracy to compel commuters to quit the metro and hire private cabs for their daily travel.

The actual purpose of the hike in Metro is not to meet the financial gap in their operating finances, but it is a conspiracy so that the companies like Ola and Uber will be benefited, Sisodia said.

Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said if the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had utilised its property efficiently, there would not have been any dearth of funds to operate the metro, as is being claimed by the corporation.

The DMRC has so many properties at the prime locations in the city, which are left abandoned. They can easily utilise these properties to generate revenue, but instead, they are looting people in the name of fare hike, he said.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government and DMRC have been at loggerheads over the proposed Metro fare hike. On 29 September, Kejriwal had requested the Central government to put the metro fare hike on hold till the issue will be solved amicably. If the hike is effected, the fares will go up by a maximum of Rs 10.

Comparing the proposal of Union Ministry to pay Rs 3,000 for five years to avert Metro fare hike with the Lagaan from the British colonial era, Sisodia said after paying the regular taxes, the Centre now wants Delhiites to pay extra money for no apparent reason.

DMRC is not a soap company, instead it has been set up by peoples money. Its objective is not to mint money but to provide cheap transport service to people, he said.

Sisodia also vowed to make the Metro profitable and efficient if the DMRC is taken over by the state government.

Earlier, the Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said the AAP dispensation should pay the 100 per cent operational losses if they want to halt the proposed fare hike.

Charging the AAP for taking political mileage out of the issue, Gupta said that the government is not serious about the peoples concern.

There are five nominees of the Delhi government in the DMRC board. Why did they allow the board to increase fares of Metro, Gupta alleged.

However, rubbishing Guptas assertions, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said that despite the objection from the Delhi government, the DMRC decided to go ahead with its decision to increase the fare.

Gahlot said from 2006 to 2017, the Metro has earned only Rs 413 crore from the property development.

Had they (Metro) would use their property for commercial purposes to earn money, there would be no need to increase the hike, Gahlot said.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel has also written to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, urging him to withhold the hike.
The increased metro fares will be applicable from Tuesday as scheduled, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced on Monday.

This is the second fare hike this year as proposed by the Fare Fixation Committee which was formed last year. The increased charges were to be applied in two phases  the first hike was already done in May this year.

Barring the minimum fare of Rs 10 for the distance of 0-2 km  which will remain the same, commuters will have to pay Rs 5-10 extra for distance travelled further as per kilometer scheme set by the transporter.

While commuters pay Rs 15 for the distance traveled between 2-5 km, now they will have to pay Rs 20. The maximum fare has been increased to Rs 60 as compared to current Rs 50.

Smart card users will continue to get 10 per cent discount, so would those who happen to use metro during non-peak hours  between start of the metro service till 8 a.m., between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., and from 9 p.m. till the close of service.

The hike has been vociferously opposed by the Delhi government which accused the transporter of inefficiency and demanded that hike be withheld. The Delhi Assembly also passed a resolution on Monday seeking that the hike in fares be withheld.

In a letter sent to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal even proposed taking over the Delhi Metro promising an efficient management, provided the centre bears half of the expenses.

Puri, who had earlier said that the fare commitees recommendations were binding, responded to Kejriwal on Monday, saying his proposals were not possible under the existing guidelines and rules.
With just 24 hours left for the Gurdaspur bypoll, the Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday held road shows in the parliamentary constituency to woo voters and expressed confidence of winning bypoll with a historic margin. He claimed to win the Gurdaspur parliamentary with a margin of over 2 lakh votes.

Amarinder Singh claimed his government had not only implemented many of its poll promises, but had also set the ball rolling for bringing the beleaguered state economy back on track. Be it enhancement of pensions under social welfare schemes or our promise of providing jobs, every election promise that we made is in the process of implementation, he said. The CM said that his government was also working on a plan to implement its promise of providing smart phones to youth.

On the issue of crop loan waiver to farmers, the CM said that the state government had decided to waive off loans up to Rs two lakh for farmers with up to five acres of land and an outright relief of Rs two lakh each to other small and marginal farmers, irrespective of their loan amount. This will benefit 10.25 lakh of the 13 lakh farming families who borrowed loans, he said.

The CM said that all steps were being taken to provide timely payment to farmers against their paddy crop in the ongoing procurement season. He also said that despite the financial constraints, his government had sanctioned money for projects worth Rs 750 Crore in Gurdaspur and Pathankot and work had already started.

Meanwhile, Congress candidate for Gurdaspur bypoll, Sunil Jakhar claimed that former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Sucha Singh Langahs rape case had hurt hard-core Sikh sentiments and demoralised SAD party workers. He claimed that allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Swaran Salaria were too of a grave nature, but he would not like to comment on them. We are fighting the elections on a positive agenda. They would have to pay for what they have done, he said.
Both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo marched in the soggy New York City Columbus Day parade on Monday, celebrating their Italian heritage and appeasing Italian-American New Yorkers, while also acknowledging critics who say the holiday commemorates a violent colonial legacy. Neither politician endorsed a proposal to change the holiday to Indigenous Peoples' Day, and both criticized the national push to swiftly remove statues and monuments with racist baggage.

"It's not an either orit's both," Cuomo told reporters before the parade. "Of course we should honor the indigenous people. They were abused by many leaders."

Cuomo went on to compare the plight of indigenous peoples in America to that of Italian Americans.

"So celebrate the indigenous people, but that is also the story of Columbus Day," he said. "Because once you establish the celebration of the indigenous people, now the non-indigenous peoplewe're all immigrants. And Italians came. And Irish came and Jewish people came and Polish people came, and Puerto Rican people and God bless America. That's the New York story."

For months, some Italian New Yorkers, including several politicians, have criticized Mayor de Blasio's decision to review so-called "symbols of hate" across the city. They accuse the mayor of failing to defend the statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus Circle for political reasons.

"I'm very proud of my heritage, that's all I care about. I don't care about the critics," de Blasio told reporters on Monday. The mayor also called his commission "a way we move forward" and "the right thing to do."

However, de Blasio also assured the public that no monuments or statues will be removed in the near future.

"I want to emphasize, nothing is going to change in a short time," he said. "I think some of the critics, possibly for their own purposes, have tried to gin this up. No one's moving any statues, no one's changing anything in the short term."



(Ben Fractenberg / DNAInfo)

"I've said there are a lot of different solutions, including something as simple as putting additional historical markers out to tell other elements of the history," de Blasio added. "That should be a conversation people are not afraid of."

Asked about de Blasio's commission on Monday, Cuomo said, "I reject the negativity of a lot of the current day political tactics across the country."

Angelo Vivolo, head of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, praised Cuomo while jabbing at de Blasio.

"Andrew Cuomo, our great governor, has been a tremendous supporter of our community, his Italian heritage and culture, someone who stands up for us," he told the Daily News. "And we can't thank him enough for being a true patriot and doing what he believes in his heart is correct, unlike some other people who are marching in today's parade."

Meanwhile, anti-colonial activists, including NYC Stands with Standing Rock, Decolonize This Place, and the Black Youth Project 100, have taken a hard line, calling on Mayor de Blasio to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day. (They have also called on City Hall to remove a statue of Teddy Roosevelt outside of the American Museum of Natural History, which depicts the former president alongside "figures that appear to be Native and African stereotypes.")

"Many U.S. cities have chosen to do what is just and renamed Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples' Day. Why is New York not among them?" the groups said in a statement. "New York City sits on the territory of the Lenape, and over one hundred thousand Indigenous people live on this territory todaymore than any other city in the United States! Lets honor the rich legacy and achievements of Native Americans and discard the unsavory celebration of imperial conquest."

Reporting by Ben Fractenberg.
The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the AAP government to submit its response on a PIL seeking compliance of the Supreme Courts directives on fire safety and building stability norms observed by private and government schools in the national capital.

A notice was issued to the Delhi government and civic bodies by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar in this regard. The matter has been posted for further hearing on January 29 next year.

As alleged through the PIL, the Delhi government and its various agencies have no answer to the question about how many schools were complying with the safety norms-related directives. This is the reason why the court has been approached.

The Supreme Court had in 2009 issued directions to all the schools in India to have fire safety and stability certificates, but these were not being complied with it, as claimed through the public interest litigation (PIL).

Filed through counsel Rajesh Gogna, the PIL said the petitioner learnt about the lack of data with the authorities in this regard after he questioned them under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The petition claimed, School-going children are easy target of any mishap and it must be the duty of the respondents (authorities) to check and identify which schools in Delhi have no fire safety and building stability certificate and the respondents must derecognize those institutions till the time the safety norms are implemented.
Superstar Aamir Khan, known for producing and acting in some of the most commercially successful films like Dangal and Taare Zameen Par, says test screening is necessary as it helps him to understand various aspects.

Test screening is a very important process for me because it gives me a great deal of understanding on many aspects. When you make a film, you become so close to it and subjective, you lose your objectivity.

But during test screening when I share the rough cut with a group of people who are completely out of the film business, their feedback brings a different aspect, the actor told media here on Sunday.

He started this process from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988).

I think it is very important to understand how our cine, our communication is being received, and if there is any miscommunication, we can correct that before the film releases. So we invite random people, show them the film and take feedback, said Aamir.

The actor has shared his screen space with a lot of child actors in films like Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Dangal and Taare Zameen Par and now Secret Superstar.

I think the responsibility is more because you have to understand that you cannot make them overwork or for long working hours. Once the right casting is done, you know that the actor will deliver, whether a child or an adult you will get the moment right on-screen.

But filmmakers have to be little more sensitive towards the child. We have to keep short working hours, have to give them breaks in between so that they are not exhausted, he said when asked about his experience of working with children.

Aamirs upcoming home production Secret Superstar is releasing on October 19.
Actor Orlando Bloom says the rise to celebritydom is like entering a burning car.

(I meditate every day), it allows me to set my intention for the day. It helped me to cope with my sudden rise to celebritydom, a process a little bit like getting inside a burning car.

You see these victims all around you  15 minutes of fame, a YouTube sensation, whatever it may be, Bloom told Britains Okay! magazine, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

He added: They dont realise what it takes. What you want to do is learn how to suit up and get out of that burning car with grace, ease, and integrity.
The BJP on Monday hit back at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi after he targetted party chief Amit Shah over allegation related to his sons business and described it as the partys attempt to divert attention from their own scams and misdeeds.

Their recent aggression against Jay Shah are clearly off track. Jay Shahs business is perfectly legitimate and legal. TDS is paid, loans are repaid and company closed after losses. Does this reek of cronyism, Union Minister Smriti Irani said in a statement, a day after her ministerial colleague Piyush Goyal defended the junior Shah.

She said that instead of seeking answers on 80 crores of transactions that are within the purview of the law, it would be more prudent for the Congress to give an account for the more than 80 scams and the Rs, 1,80,000 crore that India has lost due to corruption and cronyism of successive Congress governments.

The Nehru-Gandhi family, which was pressuring banks to give loans to Vijay Mallya in return of airline upgrades is now questioning others, she said.

The Congress attempt to divert attention from their own scams and misdeeds will not work as the people of India have seen through them repeatedly and comprehensively rejected the Congress Sultanate of Corruption, she said.

Citing Congress internal fighting in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and several other places, Irani said that a party that cant manage its own house can hardly be expected to run an entire nation.

The BJP leader also criticied Gandhi for making mockery of development in Gujarat and accused it of prefering vote bank politics.

Rahul Gandhi is not only anti-progress but also mocks the idea of a developed and empowered India. He has clearly indicated that his party and him prefer the idea of vote bank politics. The manner in which he has made fun of the dreams and aspirations of the people of Gujarat will lead to a historic defeat for the Congress party in the December 2017 state elections, she said.

She added that Vikas is not something to be ridiculed but instead should be welcomed.

What Rahul Gandhi is doing in Gujarat is to insult the dreams and aspirations of 6.5 crore Gujaratis, she said.

Irani suggested Rahul Gandhi to devote time to Amethi, his Lok Sabha constituency, instead of engaging in political activity.

Amethi needs immediate attention and more development works. The people of Amethi are asking for Vikas even as the local MP goes around the nation mocking Vikas and insulting the poor of India, she said.

Earlier on the day, Rahul Gandhi launched a frontal attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of crony capitalism, and hit out at Amit Shah over allegations that his sons business fortunes soared after the NDA government came to power in New Delhi.
Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has sought to put the Kerala government on the mat, alleging that the state is not willing to reduce taxes on petroleum products to help lighten the burden on people.

Addressing a meeting after a public reception for the partys Jan Raksha Yatra (Peoples Protection March) here last night, he said, Frequent increase in prices of petroleum products is causing inconvenience to people. The central government decided to cut down its taxes and advised the states to do the same. But the Kerala government stuck to its stand that there was no question of reducing the taxes.

He further alleged that the CPI(M) that calls itself a party of the poor had no concern for them.

Taking on the Left parties for trying to ally with the Congress to fight the BJP, Pradhan asserted: The BJPs growth in Kerala cannot be stopped by anyone. Support for the party is growing.

He made a frontal attack, saying the leadership of the ruling party here will have to answer the political murders of BJP workers in the state.

BJPs Kerala unit president Kummanam Rajasekharan, who led the 15-day yatra, and other leaders also spoke.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a frontal attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of crony capitalism, and hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah over allegations that his sons business fortunes soared after the NDA government came to power in New Delhi.

Addressing enthusiastic crowds in Nadiad in central Gujarat, on the second phase of his partys Navsarjan Yatra in the poll-bound state, Gandhi took pot shots at the Modi government as the gathering cheered loudly.

When it comes to helping, they help only a handful of industrialists. For 10-12 years, Amit Shahs sons company had nothing, but started earning only after 2014. Ajeeb duniya hain (Its a strange world). He (Jay Shah) started with Rs 50,000, and in a year it jumped to Rs 80 crore. This is Start Up India, Make in India, he said, mocking the Prime Ministers pet schemes.

At his aggressive best, Gandhi went on an interactive mode while addressing the crowd. Complete my sentence, Na khaunga, Na khaney dunga. Kahan gaya chowkidar? Ye hain Gujarat ki sachchai (I will not indulge in corruption, nor let others indulge in corruption. Where is the gatekeeper? This is the reality of Gujarat), he said, as the cheering crowds repeated after him.

Gandhi was referring to Modi who has often said he is the chowkidar of the nation and will not allow any corruption.

Quoting from Modis earlier speeches, Gandhi said in a taunt: Chhappan ki chhaati hain. Mein akela rozgar dunga. Kisiko kuchh nahi karna padega (I have a 56-inch chest. I will alone provide employment. No one needs to do anything).

Every 24 hours, 30,000 unemployed youth come in the job market but only 450 get jobs. In China, everyday 50,000 youth get jobs. The biggest problem in this country is unemployment.

Modi should accept he has failed. He should say the promises I gave, I was not able to fulfil, and I have failed.

He said that former BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee acknowledged in Parliament that the Congress party had done developmental work, but Modi was constantly blaming it.

For 22 years, you are with the Congress party. I will not forget this, you will be respected. Iss mandir mein kisike Mann ki Baat nahi suni jaati, he said taking a pot shot at Modis monthly radio talk show Mann ki Baat.

Gandhi spoke to the crowds at the popular historic Santram Temple in Nadiad. It is a 250 year old temple highly revered by the people. A spirited Gandhi also gave a flying kiss to crowds and they applauded loudly. He was also seen taking pictures from his cell phone.

The Congress leader was greeted by enthusiastic crowds wherever he went in Central Gujarats Charotar region. The ruling BJP and Congress are evenly placed in this region.

The Congress lost two senior legislators, Shankersinh Vaghela and Ramsinh Parmar, during the run up to the August Rajya Sabha elections in this region.

Later, the Congress Vice President visited the home of Sardar Patel in Karamsad and garlanded his statue as well as one of Mahatma Gandhi. Sardar Patel, who was born at his maternal uncles home in Nadiad, belonged to Karamsad in the same region.

Addressing crowds there, Gandhi again attacked Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

Is it Start Up India, is it Make in India. Modi destroyed small traders, ordinary people, and from that fire rose a company, that of Amit Shahs son, he said, to loud cheers.

He was also interact with workers of the Amul dairy plant.

Gandhis latest visit comes a day after Prime Minister Modi ended his two-day trip to Gujarat, where he visited his hometown Vadnagar and launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush.
Whether Donna was the prettiest woman in our college nobody cared. She was certainly the most eye-catching. With her lithe body, long tresses and those incredible, sparkling eyes, she cut a broad swath through all the male hearts.

If she went to a party, we tripped over each other to get there; if she joined a seminar, we left everything to sign up, for the merest chance of a few minutes with her. So I felt lucky when a professor asked me to serve on a student council, and, at the first meeting, I found myself sitting next to Donna, named by another professor. She amazed us all. She was ingenious and came up with more ideas than we could deal with.

She was indefatigable too, ready for hours of free work to put those ideas to work. It took me longer to realize that her real strength was how she dealt with all the people she attracted so effortlessly.

She was not just pleasant and considerate; she paid meticulous heed to others and always found time to listen to them and be helpful. I enjoyed working with her, and for many years after college, kept in touch with her even as I worked overseas. She went to medical school, worked in a hospital as a pediatrician, married, became a widow hardly three years later, and, her last letter said, she was taking an assignment in Burkina Faso.

I made a few quick switches in my assignments abroad, and my letters to Donna were returned. We lost touch. An old college friend told me that she had become well known in her field and traveled to poor countries for experimental work on childrens diseases. She had, he said, created a foundation for the purpose and put her lifes saving in it. Thirty years later, I was on a short visit to Dominican Republic, and went to visit a friend in the local hospital.

I might have passed the nurses station if I had not heard a familiar mellifluous voice that had once meant a lot to me. I turned to look at the doctor: a silver haired woman in a white coat, the stethoscope round her neck and a file in her hand, and a set of memorable sparkling eyes. I held her hand as I looked at them, now radiant with recognition and joy. She was, as ever, truly a beauty.

(The writer is a Washington-based international development advisor and had worked with the World Bank. He can be reached [email protected])
The dramatic has happened in Pakistan a little over two months after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court in the case relating to his involvement in the Panama papers scandal (28 July). The former Prime Minister has been re-elected as president of his party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), after the countrys President, Mamnoon Hussain, ratified the Election Bill 2017 ~ as controversial as it is divisive.

Not least because under the Representation of Peoples Act 1976, a disqualified person cannot hold office in any party, still less helm the organisation. Theoretically, therefore, Sharifs disqualification ought to have blackballed his re-election. Far from it.

The controversial piece of legislation on a matter of tremendous constitutional importance was reportedly bulldozed in the National Assembly on the strength of the PML(N)s brute majority. And the presidential ratification, however suspect, has paved the way for Sharifs re-election.

No other candidate from the party contested the in-house contest and reports that he has returned from London to forestall party birds from flying over to the opposite camp can only be speculated upon. Post his ouster in the last week of July, the political narrative has distinctly been in favour of Sharif, his immediate family, and the PML(N).

The development, though it flies in the face of legislative certitudes, has shored up the image of the ruling party considerably and ahead of the general elections in 2018. Indeed, Sharifs return to Pakistan coupled with the partys mandate have strengthened the PML(N)s defences further still in the aftermath of the victory of Kulsoom Nawaz in the by-election to the National Assembly from Lahore ~ the partys bastion.

In his moment of personal triumph, Sharif has had himself reinstated as the official leader of the PMLN because neither he nor his party are willing to accept his disqualification from public office by the Supreme Court as politically legitimate.

The ruling partys attitude is deeply distressing and the Presidential assent has been greeted with stout condemnation by the Opposition, with the Awami Muslim League telling the party and government, You are risking the countrys democracy over one person. You have attacked the Supreme Court with a rocket launcher. You can start digging the grave of democracy with your majority.

Regretfully, certitudes of the democratic engagement were binned in course of the National Assembly debate and, sadly enough, at the presidential palace as well. The legislature is said to have rejected the amendment to the Bill presented by the Jamaat-e-Islami. In the net, the PML(N) has used its majority to serve its ends and that of its leaders governance be damned.

Sharif would have reaped a measure of goodwill had he exonerated himself in the accountability court before plunging into politics again. The Rawalpindi GHQ, which has stoutly denied its hand in the PMs ouster, must be bamboozled.

Pakistan being Pakistan, the legislature and the ruling party have scored over the judiciary.
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Bob Bamberg has been in the pet supply industry and writing about pets, livestock and wildlife for three decades. He can be reached at petsap@comcast.net.
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When Monarch started flying from the UK to Ovda airport, it single-handedly made holidaying in Israels Red Sea seaside resort of Eilat much easier.

With the demise of the airline, the route remains unmanned and the future of Eilats economy uncertain. Israels Ministry of Tourism has become proactive in promising airlines 45 per passenger if they replace Monarch Airlines flights to Eilat.

The Ministry said it would reimburse any airline that replaced the Monarch flight, adding that this would be limited to 75 rotations during the year.

Israel Government Tourist Office director Sharon Bershadsky said:

We were sorry to learn of Monarchs administration and our sympathies are with passengers who have travelled or are planning to travel to Israel with the airline. Eilats economy relies heavily on tourism from the UK, and we hope that flight operators will continue to help us showcase what a beautiful destination it is.

Airlines have been given until October 14 to put forward proposals.
Patnaik's close aides say that to understand him, one has to understand his empathy

By Pratul Sharma/Photos Sanjay Ahlawat
Superstar Aamir Khan, who is working with Amitabh Bachchan in the upcoming film Thugs of Hindostan, says watching the megastar on the big screen is "a fulfilling experience", and his superstardom can't be re-created.



Asked if working with Big B was surreal, Aamir, an admirer of the veteran actor, told media here on Sunday: "Watching Mr Bachchan on screen in a theatre His aura, action, every nuance of his acting was such a fulfilling experience in cinema."



Picking his favourite from Amitabh's filmography is a tough one for Aamir.



"I have many favourites like Natwarlal, Don and Namak Halaal, in fact, I remember after watching 'Namak Halaal' in the theatre, I called up Mansoor (Khan) and asked him to come with me to watch the film. We went to watch its next show again."



Talking about Big B's stardom, he said: "I think the superstardom of Amitabh Bachchan can't be re-created. It is so unique, the charisma he has.I mean imagine, there was a time when seven of his films were running in the theatre for months.



"Films like Don, Mukaddar ka Sikandar and Trishul in the same year! He used to date clash with his own film!"



As times are changing, and social media culture is playing an important role in building the public image of Bollywood film stars, Aamir says the definition of stardom has also changed.



"The fabric has changed. There was a time when access to a star was so limited, especially in the 1950s-60s era when there was no television, and fans used to wait for their stars to appear in cinema or a film's premiere. They used to wait outside houses.



"Then came television when the interview started and people got the access to see how they looked and talked when not acting.That apart, of course, there were magazines and newspaper interviews. Now everything has changed, and how," said Aamir.



Now movie stars, he feels, are more communicative, accessible to their fans and it's more interactive.



"It has changed from waiting outside the house to one click away.Everything about your favourite star is on the phone, and the phone is in your pocket. So you have the favourite star in your pocket," he said.



The actor is excited about the Diwali release of his film Secret Superstar, also featuring Zaira Wasim. It will hit the screens on October 19.
The trend of remakes in Bollywood may be on the rise, but actor Vidya Balan believes one should not tamper with an old classic.

There were reports that Vidya was offered to play Sridevi's role in a remake of Sadma.

"I would not do it (remake a film). I can't dare to make or do something again. I was offered Sadma remake and I said no to it.

"As I feel one should not touch a film like Sadma, why tamper with it? These are timeless films. One can reinterpret it but I am not one of those who would go for it," the actor told PTI on the sidelines of Jio MAMI Movie Mela event in Mumbai.

Vidya said Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Anand, Ramesh Sippy's Sholay, Mahesh Bhatt's Arth and Shekhar Kapur's Mr India were her favourite films during a conversation with film critics Anupama Chopra and Rajeev Masand.

The National Award-winning actor, meanwhile, is looking forward to her next film, Tumhari Sulu.

She plays a carefree housewife who turns into a late- night radio jockey.

The film was earlier slated to release on December 1 but the makers shifted the date to avoid a clash with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus, Padmavati. Tumhari Sulu will now release on November 24.

"I think everyone's dates have changed now, I have not kept a track. All I know is Padmavati is coming on December 1. We got a clear date so we jumped at it.

"I am never stressed about the release of the film. If similar kinds of films were releasing, then I would be worried, not otherwise."
The security forces achieved a major success on Monday by killing chief operations commander of Jaish-e-Muhammad and mastermind of recent fidayeen attacks Khalid alias Shahid Showkat in a brief encounter at Ladoora village in North Kashmirs Baramulla district.

Khalid was trapped after a specific input about his presence at Ladoora. A police statement said terrorist fired at a naka party which retaliated, injuring him. He, however, managed to escape from the spot and entered a house. The naka party immediately cordoned off the area and in the meantime, CRPF and Army joined the operation.

During the search operation, the terrorist fired at the search party and in the ensuing encounter, the security forces murdered him.

Khalid, a Pakistani resident, has been active in Kashmir since 2009 and was the mastermind behind the foiled Pathankote-type fidayeen attack on BSF 182 battalion camp near Srinagar International Airport and Air Force Station on October 3 in which three attackers were killed. An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of BSF was also killed in the 10-hour gunfight.

Police said Khalid had planned the fidayeen attack on District Police Lines Pulwama on August 26 in which eight security men four each from CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police were killed and six others injured. Three Jaish militants were also killed in the day-long encounter.

According to police, Khalid also involved in the attack on 46 Rashtriya Rifles Army Camp at Karabagh Baramulla in in 2016.

Khalid was constantly exploring opportunities to attack and kill the security forces and police personnel, '' the police statement said. ''He was motivating youth and poor boys to join his outfit for execution of grenade attacks for monetary benefits on behalf of Pakistan based JeM commanders.

Khalid, police said, was also involved in the recent attack on SPO Altaf Ahmad Khan at Hajin Handwara in which Khan and his six-year-old son were seriously injured.

The statement said he along with his associates were also involved in the killing of tower guard Eidul Amin Mir of Sopore, Fayaz Ahmad Rather, Suhail Ahmad Dar in Watergam Orchards.

A junior commissioned officer (JCO) of Army and another militant were also killed in two other militancy-related incidents in Kashmir.

The JCO was killed when militants attacked an Army patrol at the general area of Drang-Beerwa in Budgam district.

Subedar Raj Kumar sustained bullet injury during a late-night operation in Drang Village,'' said defence spokesman colonel Rajesh Kalia.'' He was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to hospital but unfortunately, he succumbed to the injury.''

A resident of Khanni in Himachal Pradesh, Kumar, 47, is survived by his wife Toshi Devi and two sons.

In another encounter, a militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Gatipora village in Shopian district.
At least 14 people, including a police circle inspector, were wounded in a crude bomb attack on a CPM march at Panoor on Sunday evening. The CPM workers alleged that a group of RSS men lobbed the explosives towards the crowd and rushed in with weapons.

The CPM Panoor area committee has called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Panoor municipality, Kunnothuparambu, Thrippangottur, Chokli, Mokeri and Pannyannur panchayats on Monday. Public transport and essential services have been exempted from the shutdown.

The CPM organised the march on Sunday to protest the vandalising of its office and campaign material put together as part of the partys area committee convention.

CPM Puthoor local committee member E.M. Ashokan suffered injuries in the face, neck and hands in the bomb attack. He has been admitted to the Thalassery cooperative hospital along with Kunnummal branch secretary P. Bhaskaran, Amboonteparambath Chandran, Kattilparambath Mohanan and K.P. Sudhakaran.

Four police personnel were also injured in the attack. Circle inspector M.K. Sajeev, sub inspector Prakash, CPOs Sreejith and Shibu were rushed to the Panoor taluk hospital. Sajeev returned to the spot after receiving first aid treatment to maintain law and order. Thalassery deputy superintendent of police Prince Abraham and other officers have also reached the area.

Kunnothuparambu panchayat member N. Anil Kumar and Puthoor local committee secretary Prajeesh Ponnath were also injured in the attack.

Meanwhile in neighboring Kaivelikkal, a BJP worker was targeted by CPM activists. Mammeripoyil Aravindan, an auto rickshaw driver, was waylaid near the church and attacked. He has been admitted to the Panoor health center. The Panoor police have registered a case.

RSS also attacked Kadambur's Rajiv Gandhi Cultural Center in which three people were injured including Mahila Congress leader P.V. Premavalli. A dawn to dusk hartal will be held on Monday in Kadambur panchayat.

The bomb attack comes on the day when Amit Shah lashed out at the CPM over the political violence in Kerala. He also alleged that the political killings in Kerala were being carried out on the "orders" of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday denied there were plans to drop 'Muslim' and 'Hindu' from the names of Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University.

"There is no such decision. Both universities have been there for almost a 100 years. It has been a century... and we have no intention to make any changes in the way they are," Javadekar told reporters.

His remarks come in the wake of a newspaper report that said that a government audit of central universities had suggested that the words Muslim' and Hindu' be dropped from the names of AMU and BHU.

Asked about reports that dubbed these universities as feudal, he said he had not seen the reports yet.

"I have not seen any report yet. But I am telling you in advance that we have no such intention (of changing their names)," Javadekar said.

He said the HRD Ministry had formed a committee to only look into the administrative, academic and research audits of certain universities.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) had directed for special audit in 10 central universities in the wake of complaints of financial, administrative and academic irregularities. The UGC order followed a MHRD directive on the matter.

"The mandate of the committee is restricted to only administrative, academic, and research audit. We will consider recommendations made in this regard only. If the committee has made any suggestions outside its purview, we will not take cognisance of anything then," he added.
When the world famous French architect Le Corbusier designed and built independent India's first planned cityChandigarhhe provided the widest road leading upto the capital complex that houses the Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat as well as the Vidhan Sabhas of the two states which share the city as their joint capital. Jan Marg was made as the widest not because it leads up to the capital complex, but was to provide ample room for people marching in protest to the place that represents power. According to Corbusier, protest was an integral part of democracy, and a city made to mark India's new found freedom and democracy cannot afford not having a road for protesters to march on.

Lutyens' Delhi has many wide roads leading up to Parliament, and the Sansad Marg, on which is located the Jantar Mantar, is one such. Those who want to draw the attention of Parliament to their issue, protest sitting there. Come rain, thunder or sunshine, they continue the protest either till their problem is addressed democratically, or sometimes, when fatigue gets the better of them. During those cold months when the Nirbhaya issue was hot, men and women, old and young, thronged the Jantar Mantar area, sometimes with candle lights, and some other times with placards and banners, and often, raising angry slogans in response to impassioned speeches by all manner of peoplewomen MPs, male ministers, theatre personalities, activists of different hues and student leaders. Those who are getting the benefit of OROPOne Rank One Pensiontoo should find the area to be haloed precincts. It was here that veterans of many battles fought for their pension in keeping with their rank, regardless of when they hung up their boots. Even now, some soldiers are there, wanting a bit of tweaking. Jantar Mantar also continues to be home to farmers from all over the country, notably Tamil Nadu, focussing on and demanding a solution for the agri distress they are facing.

Jantar Mantar, with a sundial among other structures, was meant to calculate astronomical tables. But the locationwith proximity to Parliament and Raisina Hill, as well as the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib ensured that protesters could be seen and heard by the powers that be, without having to worry about food and shelter. The gurdwara offered both, and in any case, people pitched shamianas on the pavement and slept on mattresses borrowed from the gurdwara, drank water from the tankers the NDMC sent. But the toilets was a serious issue. With no soch given to shauchalayas, the prestigious road in the heart of the capital, did indeed stink. And yes, there was a lot of litter on many days.

Possibly this led to the NGT directing the Delhi government to clear the Jantar Mantar of protesters, and direct them to the Ramlila Ground, citing environmental laws.

The protest now is over this NGT order. Many say the court could instead have directed the government to facilitate protest in the larger interest of democracy. Civil rights activist Anjali Bhardward told media that it was a question of where citizens can put forth their dissenting view point, protest and highlight wrong doings.

The Ramlila Ground is where Ravana, symbolising evil, is burnt on Dussehra. Though this may make it a symbolic suitor, at 3 km away from Jantar Mantar, it does not enjoy the vintage position that Jantar Mantar does. It cannot attract the government employees who pass by the Jantar Mantar regularly, and it does not lead to Parliament. Fine for speeches of the kind late Jayaprakash Narayan made before Emergency was clamped, or the Anna Hazare movement more recently, it is simply not the kind where people can grab eyeballs even without a huge gathering.
It's been nearly three weeks since Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, depriving most of the island of its electricity, cell service, infrastructure, and drinking water. And though the local government is finally able to deliver supplies to localities outside the main city of San Juan, residents say they're not getting water and other goods to people in need fast enough, prompting Puerto Rico's governor to proclaim there'll be "hell to pay" if distributors hold food and water hostage.

The Times reports that though water has been now been distributed to 60 percent of the island, some sections on the north side of the island are only at 20 percent. "I think that there are places where water is being withheld and food is being withheld," Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello said today. "We need to showcase it, we need to push it forward to the people."

He has mandated a full investigation into supply delivery. "If there is a place, a locality that is not delivering food to the people of Puerto Rico that need it, there's going to be some hell to pay," he said.

Puerto Rico has struggled to deliver supplies to those in need since Maria hit. Thanks to destroyed roads and gasoline shortages, ships and planes filled with donated goods sat idle in ports and the San Juan airport, and the cargo is just now making their way to residents. Some Puerto Ricans who live outside of San Juan say they haven't seen or heard from any local or federal officials since the storm.

"We have had zero help. Nobody has come here, and it is the same in many other places," Jesus Torres, who lives in the town of Morovis, told the Village Voice. A resident in the neighboring town of Orocovis whose home is falling apart told the website, "Only one person from the municipality came over, and gave us some fruit, water, and a few other things. But no one else has come around here."

The Trump administration has been praising itself for its response in Puerto Rico, with the President claiming on Twitter yesterday, "Nobody could have done what Ive done for Puerto Rico with so little appreciation." Still, critics have pointed out that it took the President weeks to visit the devastated island, and noted that during his brief visit he told Puerto Ricans they've "thrown our budget a little out of whack," used erroneous facts to compare Hurricane Maria with 2005's Hurricane Katrina, and threw paper towel rolls at residents during a photo op. Trump defended his conduct in an interview with Mike Huckabee this weekend, describing the towel toss ("They had these beautiful, soft towels. Very good towels," he said) and telling the conservative former governor of Arkansas, "I was having fun."
The strained relation between Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior NCP leader and former irrigation minister Sunil Tatkare came to the fore yet again when the former skipped the launch of a book on Tatkare. The chief minister was the chief guest at the event.

The book, titled Samagra, was released by former Union minister for agriculture and NCP president Sharad Pawar. Instead of Fadnavis, the event was attended by three BJP ministersChandrakant Patil, Girish Bapat and Jaikumar Rawal.

Fadnavis had campaigned hard against Tatkare and Ajit Pawar in his pre-election rallies. When he was in the opposition, Fadnavis had even demanded Tatkare's arrest.

Fadnavis was to release the book along with Sharad Pawar. However, RTI activist and whistleblower Anjali Damania had launched an attack on Fadnavis on social media. She reminded Fadnavis, through her tweets, that he had campaigned against Tatkare who led the irrigation department when an alleged irrigation scam took place in Maharashtra.

Throughout the day, there was uncertainty on Fadnavis's arrival. Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil is said to have told journalists that Fadnavis would attend the event as it was a book release event to mark completion of Tatkare's three decades in politics. He further said that the event was a cultural one and politics should not be brought into it.

Pawar, too, in his address, pointed out how Maharashtra's culture had never allowed political differences to turn into personal differences. He also said that the presence of leaders from almost all parties on the dais was proof of the same. In parliament I have seen that the AIADMK and DMK MPs do not talk to each other. Similar situation exists in other states, too. But Maharashtra has never seen it happen," said Pawar. The significance of these remarks was not lost on the audience as Fadnavis's office had accepted the invitation and his name had been printed on the invitation card.

Fadnavis was camping in Nanded the entire day where the BJP and the Congress are engaged in a bitter contest for the control of Nanded Municipal Corporation. The municipal body is currently controlled by state Congress president Ashok Chavan who belongs to Nanded.

Tatkare, in his thanksgiving speech, did not say a word about the chief minister. He merely said that he did not want to say anything about those who did not come for the function.

Another leader who skipped the event was Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. Apparently, Raut did not come as former Maharashtra chief minister and former Congress leader-turned-BJP ally Narayan Rane had confirmed his presence at the event. Rane was expelled from the Sena in 2005 for revolting against party patriarch Bal Thackeray and his son Uddhav.
Can thousands of people standing in lines to spell out Stop Adani actually scupper the Indian companys plans to develop a huge coal mine in the Australian outback?

Perhaps a more relevant question is whether the protesters are enough to make Australias federal and Queensland state politicians lose their nerve, and quietly withdraw support for what is the worlds largest new coal mine planned.

While Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls Liberal Party, which holds federal power, and the Labour Party, which rules Queensland state, have maintained their backing for Adani Enterprises Carmichael mine so far, both have also previously backed down on political issues over possible electoral losses.

Thousands of people opposed to the $4 billion, 25 million tonnes-a-year Carmichael mine turned out at various locations across Australia on Oct 7, attending events organised by an umbrella organisation of groups opposed to the development.

While the presence of protesters isnt enough itself to cause the federal and state governments to abandon Adani, there is an opinion poll showing a majority of Australians are against the mine. Also, media coverage has grown increasingly sceptical, if not hostile.

The state Australian Broadcasting Corp last week aired a programme alleging Adani engaged in bribery, corruption and environmentally damaging practices in India. The programme also reported that Adani has set up complex corporate structures in tax havens to minimise any potential tax payments in Australia.

Adani has dismissed the allegations and stated that the Carmichael project remains on track.

Adani Australias chief executive officer Jeyakumar Janakaraj, in an interview published on Oct 5 in Indias Economic Times, said Adanis corporate structure was above board and that work on the mine will start in a couple of weeks.

Janakaraj did acknowledge, however, that the company still has to secure Australian Dollar 4.2 billion ($3.3 billion) for the Carmichael mine and associated rail project, and that it intended to achieve this by March 2018.

MONEY, POLITICS

Part of the problem for Adani is that the company is seeking about AUD 900 million of this cash from Australias federal government to build the near 400 km (260 mile) rail line from the mine to a port on Queenslands coast.

Its this money that environmental activists are hoping to target by ramping up pressure on Prime Minister Turnbull, who holds power by a razor-thin majority in parliament.

If there is any realistic chance of seats in Queensland falling to the Labour Party, or even the Australian Greens, Turnbull will be tempted to reverse course on support for Adani.

Turnbulls government has so far sought to distance itself from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry in Queensland amid mounting public anger over high local natural gas prices and the idea that three export LNG plants in the state are to blame.

State governments, both Liberal and Labour, have also given into activists by banning or restricting natural gas exploration and production in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

That has the anti-Adani activists feeling they have the wind at their backs and their campaign against the Carmichael mine is gaining traction.

It doesnt seem to matter to the activists that many of the claims against the mine are exaggerated, as long as the public believes it is the tipping point for man-made climate change and the destruction of Australias iconic Great Barrier Reef.

Carmichaels 25 million tonnes of coal a year obviously wont help mitigate climate change, but its a spit in the bucket when viewed against Chinas annual consumption of around 3.5 billion tonnes and Indias demand of nearly 1 billion.

However, it seems that Adani is losing the public relations battle in Australia, and that increases the risk its political support will evaporate as well.

If the environmentalists do manage to halt Adani, the victory may well have implications beyond coal.

Any resource project could be targeted given environmentalists are generally opposed to any fossil fuel or mineral extraction, making it harder for Australia to expand or replenish the sector that is the nations major export earner.

Single-issue activists rarely consider the wider implications of their campaigns, but politicians are supposed to do just that. The potential costs of weak political decisions are mounting in Australia.

--Reuters






Tamara Nunez describes herself as a Marxist, feminist and social activist. The granddaughter of former senator and educationist Antonio Peredo and grandniece of guerrilla brothers Coco, Inti and Chato Peredo, is the torchbearer of the family tradition of rebelling. She was born a boy, Antonio, but was always attracted to girls clothes. He got married at 18, and became father to three children. At the age of 30, in 2012, he finally told his wife, Mary Elizabeth, about his true self and broke free. Antonio underwent sex reassignment surgery, and in the new identity he took the name Tamara, after the only woman guerrilla in Ches team.

THE WEEK met Tamara at her apartment in La Paz, with her dogs Stalin and Chikku playing around. Excerpts from an interview:



Do you think people have been misusing Ches image?



They are distorting the figure of Che. They use his image in peaceful marches. Che was a guerrilla, and believed in taking power by force, and then using that power to make social changes. His critics talk about his firing squads in Cuba, but my grandfather has told me that Che was a person of great tenderness. My grandfather was also supposed to join the guerrilla war, and had the weapons loaded in his car. My father, who was then only 14 years of age, took the car out for a drive and a policeman stopped him and found the weapons. My grandfather fled to Chile to escape arrest. This was before Che came to Bolivia in 1966. All the four Peredo brothers were members of the communist party.



Was your family persecuted because of its association with the communist party?



My grandfather was imprisoned four times. My father was jailed till 1982. He was involved in the hunger strike that led to the fall of the Hugo Banzer regime in 1978. History says four women and their children led the hunger strike which became a big movement, but you needed an organisation to launch the strike. At the time Coco and Inti were already dead and my grandfather and Chato were in prison. Only the low-level workers were outside and my father was one of them.



The sons of Coco [Roberto] and Inti [Peter] were in Cuba with their mothers. My father joined the revolutionaries after Banzers coup in 1973. We were persecuted by the ministry of interior in 2003, but it was nothing compared with what my grandparents or my father had to go through. My father lost eight of his teeth because they made him bite a coin and passed electricity through that. If you were associated with the revolutionaries, the military was bound to torture you, rape you, so my mother gave birth to me in total secrecy. She changed her name. My father was a wanted man and she was afraid that I would be kidnapped. The soldiers did that back then so that they could do a trade-off with the wanted men.



How did your friends react to your lineage?



At school and college, it was like, Wow, you are Antonios grandson. He was Evo Moraless vice presidential candidate in 2002 and his deputy twice after Evo came to power in 2006. He was a senator as well. My father was deputy minister for interior. My political career was in their shadows, and I was discouraged from entering higher offices saying it could be perceived that I was getting preferential treatment. My family did not make money from politics, but the government helped me pay my fathers bills. My grandfather died in a hospital in Cuba, and the government there took care of him and paid his funeral expenses as well.



Why did Ches revolution fail in Bolivia?



Several factors. First was the problem with the communist party, which refused to cooperate. Second, the CIA was not going to allow him to succeed twice, after what had happened in Cuba. Third, a revolutionary government came to power in Bolivia in 1952, and we had an agrarian revolution a year later. Unlike in Bolivia, the peasants and the workers could take risks in Cuba because they had nothing to lose. Here the peasants supported the military, and alerted it about the presence of foreigners in the area.



How relevant are Ches ideals today?



If we wake Karl Marx up now, he would probably end up committing suicide. If we do that to Antonio Gramsci, he would probably say, holy s**t! [Laughs.] I would not wake up Che to ask him if his ideals are relevant now. Yes, the ideals are alive, adequate for the times. Although Che spoke about globalisation, he would not have imagined the kind of globalisation we have today. Che was homophobic, so I dont know how he would have reacted to the fact that transwomen can be operated for free in Cuba today. Or, he might see me and say: She is not a revolutionary because, we as communists and socialists have been totally macho. They lived in their times, and thanks to them we are here, making our time.



I believe that the greatest legacy that Che left in my family is the search for the new man, which made us realise that we should never stop fighting for the needs of those who have less.





Che is now a hero in Bolivia.



It is the dominant power that makes its heroes in any country. Today, when the armed forces shout Homeland or death at parades, they are remembering Che. [Che ended his famous speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, in 1964, with the cry, Homeland or death.] Interestingly, while Che has become a hero, the person who was responsible for capturing him, and became a national hero because of that, has become an antihero because of his involvement with a terrorist cell eight years ago.



Can you explain the selection of your new name?



All the sons in my family are Antonios, And I was Antonio Ernesto, named after my grandfather and Che. That was a lot of historical weight, social weight. In my new gender relationship, I thought how I could preserve that essence. When I left my wife and children, I was reading a book on Tamara Bunke [Tania, the woman guerrilla]. I thought of calling myself Tania, but somehow it did not fit. So, I told myself: If Tania was Tamara, and Tamara was Che in a woman, she has to be a new woman who reinvented herself. She was of German origin, born in Argentina, could fight anywhere in the world, could get close to the Barrientos government and get unlimited access to the presidential house.
A Sudanese diplomat was briefly detained for grabbing a woman's breasts and buttocks in an East Village bar over the weekend, but was released after showing cops his U.N. credentials.

According to an NYPD spokesperson, Hassan Salih groped a 23-year-old woman while she was dancing at Bar None just before 2:30 a.m on Sunday. The woman complained to a bouncer, and police soon arrived at the scene. As cops began questioning the 36-year-old diplomat, he attempted to flee the scene, but was quickly chased down, handcuffed and brought to a nearby stationhouse, police said.

"He identified himself as a diplomat, we confirmed that he indeed was a diplomat, and he was released," the police spokesperson confirmed.

According to UN Watch, Salih was elected to represent Sudan on a committee that accredits and oversees human rights groups. He is listed as a "second secretary" on the Sudanese Mission to the UN's website.

As a result of the 1978 Diplomatic Relations Act, diplomats are legally immune from both criminal prosecution and lawsuits related to their activities on and off the job. The policy, which is intended to protect diplomats from unfair charges in hostile countries, came under fire in 2015, when the first secretary of Delhi's Saudi Embassy invoked the privilege after allegedly beating and raping two Nepali women.

A German UN attache also invoked immunity after allegedly punching his wife in the face last fall.

Earlier this year, a different Sudanese diplomat was arrested for allegedly rubbing his crotch on a woman on the subway. He initially faced charges of sexual assault and forceable touching, which were dropped after police confirmed his diplomat status.

The day after that incident, state Senator Daniel L. Squadron introduced legislation that would require law enforcement officials to notify federal and state agencies when those with diplomatic immunity violate the law. A similar bill was introduced in the City Council in 2014. Neither piece of legislation has received a hearing.
Sleepless nights: Lloyds boss Antonio Horta-Osorio with wife Ana

Lloyds's 5.5million-a-year chief Antonio Horta Osorio says he wants to use his experience of stress-related insomnia to help tackle the stigma of mental health.

Having steered Lloyds out of public ownership, Antonio's image rehabilitation since his dalliance with sexy bluestocking Wendy Piatt is going well isn't it?

Some suggest the copper-skinned smoothie, 53  who has taken British citizenship  might be in line for a Knighthood.

Let's hope his iffy handling of the HBOS Reading fraud, where bankers carried out a 245million loan fraud, hasn't scuppered his chances.

Former Scottish Nationalist MP George Kerevan wants to be the next Chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority when its 193,000-a-year incumbent, John Griffith-Jones, steps down in February.

Kerevan, 68, who sat on the Treasury Select Committee until he was booted from his East Lothian seat at the general election, claims the regulator is suffering a 'major crisis of public confidence'.

Surprisingly, for a proud Scotsman, he's offering to do the job for free.

Re: pay. Former HSBC director Rona Fairhead  now Baroness Fairhead, if you please  won't be paid for her new role as Trade Minister.

Still, best keep a close eye on her outgoing. While chief executive at the Financial Times, her office was so lavishly decorated colleagues referred to her as 'Rona Overhead'.

Brylcreemed hedge fund wally Anthony Scaramucci, 53, who lasted a grand total of ten days as Donald Trump's hapless White House communications chief, will address both the Oxford and Cambridge unions next week.

Says the Mooch: 'It's a huge honour to walk in the footsteps of Gandhi and Churchill.' Indeed so. And bazooka-breasted glamour model Katie Price, he might have added.

Tory peer Baroness Harding, 49, whose seven-year tenure of TalkTalk coincided with the theft of data from 156,000 customers, has been appointed chairman of watchdog NHS Improvement.

Her appointment was not well received by still furious TalkTalk customers on the Twittersphere yesterday. Rages one: 'We're all doomed!'
Two Scottish distilleries are to be brought back to life after Diageo pledged to invest 35million in them.

Brora and Port Ellen, which are known for producing some of the most highly sought after Scotch whiskies, are expected to be reopened by 2020 after they were closed in 1983.

The distilleries are among Diageo's smallest and will make around 800,000 litres of alcohol per year.

Cask filling and traditional warehousing will be included on both sites which will also have dedicated visitor centres.

Diageo's decision is in part a response to calls from whisky fans who have campaigned for years to reopen the 'lost' distilleries which have earned cult status.

The firm said it also reflects strong growth in the single malt whisky market and is an opportunity to create new generations of whisky lovers.

Diageo's head of whisky outreach, Dr Nick Morgan, said the chance to bring them back to life 'is as rare and special as the spirit for which the distilleries are famous.'
Aerospace workers across the North of England faced losing their jobs after defence giant BAE Systems today confirmed it will slash a total of nearly 2,000 roles.

In a drive to streamline its operations and focus more on technology, the defence giant has looked to cut back its military plane business, with 1,400 of the jobs axed across five sites - particularly Warton and Salmesbury in Lancashire where the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft assembly takes place.

The UKs biggest defence supplier has come under pressure as a long-expected Typhoon order from Saudi Arabia has yet to materialise.

The cost-cutting will mainly affect BAEs production of Typhoone fighters at sites like Warton in Lancashire, where it assembles the warplanes.

Production of the Hawk jet aircraft is ending in the next few years, affecting the Brough site, although Qatar could place a new order which would keep production going until 2010.

Around 400 redundancies are being planned at Brough.

Most of the military air job cuts will go in 2018 and 2019, with some planned for 2020 and BAE said its goal is to achieve as many voluntary redundancies as possible.

Around 375 job losses are planned for the maritime servicing and support business, with 340 in Portsmouth. BAE's cyber intelligence business will cut 150 jobs, split between sites in London, Guildford in Surrey, and overseas.

Jobs will also be at RAF bases in Marham, Norfolk, and Leeming in North Yorkshire.

The total number of proposed redundancies is 1,915.

Chief executive Charles Woodburn said: 'The organisational changes we are announcing today accelerate our evolution to a more streamlined, de-layered organisation, with a sharper competitive edge and a renewed focus on technology.

'These actions will further strengthen our company as we deliver our strategy in a changing environment.'

It is the first major move made by Mr Woodburn, 46, who took over from retiring Ian King, 61, this year.

The Typhoon jets are a joint project between the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy, with BAE making the front fuselage, fin and foreplanes, and assembling its orders in Warton.

BAE THE NUMBERS 510 Eurofighter Typhoons made by BAE and its partners since 2003

34,600 employed by BAE in the UK and 83,100 worldwide

2bn estimated value of Qatar deal to buy 24 Typhoons

Its key customer Saudi Arabia ordered 72 of the aircraft in 2007 and the final plane was delivered this year.

BAE wants to sell the Saudis a further 48 aircraft to keep production going without any gaps, but has yet to close a deal. In August, managers said they expected more sales of the Typhoon, but could not be certain of any timing and production would be under constant review.

Hopes were raised last month when Qatar signed a letter of intent to buy 24 of the jets, but that has yet to turn into a firm order. Last week analysts at banking group Berenberg cast doubt on the programme.

They said Qatar was motivated more by politics than operational need during boycotts from Saudi among other neighbours, and the Typhoon would not work well with the rest of its fleet.

They also noted Saudi had been buying arms from other sources than BAE recently.

The analysts predicted delivery rates could fall 50 per cent each year from 20 this year to eleven in 2018 and five in 2019, possibly denting BAEs revenue by 600million in 2020.

It comes after BAE cut 370 roles from Warton in 2015, and announced around 3,000 job cuts including 843 at Warton in 2011. Sources told Sky News the move was not related to Brexit.

However, last month France and Germany dealt a blow to BAE when they announced plans to develop a new fighter jet to replace the Eurofighter  seen by some as a snub to Britain.

At the time BAE highlighted its role developing a new fighter jet with Turkey.

Britain signed a 100million deal with Turkey in January under which BAE will work with Turkish Aerospace Industries to develop the TF-X Turkish fighter programme.
A small AIM-listed firm hung on to a massive share price gain today after its stock rocketed by nearly 500 per cent on a 130m-barrel oil find in the North Sea.

Jersey Oil and Gas has an 18 per cent stake in the Verbier venture off the coast of Scotland alongside Norwegian explorer Statoil.

Yesterday its shares rocketed 485.7 per cent from 56p to 328p and its market value leapt from 5.6million to 32.8million after the firms announced the find in the Moray Firth.

Oil find: Jersey Oil and Gas has an 18 per cent stake in the Verbier venture

Today the stock held on to those gains, as just before the end of the day's trading it sat at 327.5p, just 0.5p down on its opening price.

Jersey chief executive Andrew Benitz, 41, said: 'We are delighted by the positive outcome of the Verbier sidetrack.

'The well has achieved its objective with the results exceeding expectations.'

Statoil said the find suggested there could be significant remaining potential in the area.

North Sea production has been hit by falling oil prices and dwindling reserves, with about 36 jobs supported by the oil and gas sector lost every day last year.

The UK produced about 17billion of oil and gas last year, or about 60 per cent of the country's needs.

Jez Averty, senior vice president of exploration in Norway and the UK at Statoil, said the find is encouraging but it is unclear how much could be recovered and more work is needed.

Statoil also tested two other UK prospects during the summer, but said results for those were disappointing.

It comes as oil services firm Wood Group's 2.2billion takeover of rival Amec Foster Wheeler was finalised yesterday.

Aberdeen-based Wood Group wants to cut its exposure to the tough oil and gas market by adding Amec's nuclear, renewables and other divisions to its portfolio. It plans to strip about 145million of costs from the business.

Australian engineering company WorleyParsons is buying Amec's North Sea oil and gas division for 228million as part of the deal.

Competition officials said the sale would put to rest concerns over the impact on the North Sea market of Amec's takeover.
TI Fluid Systems wants to raise 380m selling 25% of the company to investors

A car parts maker has revived plans to join the stock market in London having abandoned an earlier flotation bid following the Brexit vote.

TI Fluid Systems, which makes fuel tanks and brakes, said it wants to raise around 380million selling 25 per cent of the company to investors  valuing it at just over 1.5billion.

The move is a major vote of confidence in the City  underling Londons enduring appeal even after the vote to leave the European Union.

The City is now preparing for a flurry of deals in the coming months  triggering a fees bonanza for bankers and other advisers.

Last week, 1.4billion Dutch finance firm TMF outlined plans to float in London and shift its headquarters from Amsterdam to the capital.

And Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska announced his intention to float energy company EN+ in London and Moscow, raising 1.1billion.

London Stock Exchange bosses are still hoping to bring in the biggest deal of all, Saudi state oil firm Aramco, which is valued at 1.6trillion.
Deutsche Boerse is stepping up its battle to snatch the lucrative euro clearing business

FRANKFURT FIGHT German business Deutsche Boerse is stepping up its battle to snatch lucrative euro clearing business away from its rival the London Stock Exchange.

Unlike the LSE, Deutsche pockets all the proceeds from its far smaller clearing business  but is now reportedly drawing up plans to share them out in an effort to grow.

LENDER LOAN Beleaguered doorstep lender Provident Financial has been forced to repay a 120million retail bond by borrowing from its banks.

The Provvy dipped into its 450million loan facility to pay off investors when the bond matured on Wednesday. The stock rose 6.8 per cent, or 58p, to 908p.

COURT BATTLE Retail giant Morrisons could face a potentially crippling liability payout, as thousands of staff sue the grocer for upset and distress caused by their personal details being published online, the High Court heard.

A total of 5,518 former and current employees are attempting to claim compensation, following the security breach in 2014 that saw payroll data of nearly 100,000 staff posted on the internet.

ADVERTISING WOE Revenues at Trinity Mirror slid amid a volatile advertising market.

Trinity, which is Britains biggest regional newspaper publisher, said like-for-like print advertising and circulation revenue had dropped by 16 per cent and 7 per cent respectively in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, publishing revenue was down by 9 per cent, although digital revenue grew by 4 per cent.

SHARE SEIZE US hedge funds are seeking to seize rent-to-own business Brighthouse from its private equity owners, sources claim.

The businesss debt pile is owned by bondholders including Wall Street firm Apollo.

They may seek to take over the company by swapping these debts for shares, which would wipe out owner Vision Capital.

FASHION SALES Encouraging customers to splash on full-price clothes helped sales at Matalan soar.

The retailer saw full price sales jump 19.6 per cent in the 13 weeks to August 26 while total revenue rose to 259.9million from 245.5million. Earnings increased to 22.7million from 15.4million.

GAS FIELD Meanwhile, Russias largest oil producer Rosneft has bought a 30 per cent stake in the Zohr gas field, the largest gas deposit in the Mediterranean, from Italys Eni for around 855million.
Fashion darling Ted Baker has stitched up another increase in profits as plans to create a global fashion business begin to pay off, the company is expected to say this week.

It has opened stores in dozens of countries from Australia to Azerbaijan and now makes a third of its revenue outside Europe.

Scott Ransley, an analyst at broker Stifel, said he expects the firm to say on Tuesday that profit in the six months to the end of July increased 13 per cent to 24.3million.

Fashion darling Ted Baker has stitched up another increase in profits as plans to create a global fashion business begin to pay off, the company is expected to say this week

Group sales rose 14 per cent to 296million, around 100million of which came from its own shops and concessions in other stores outside the UK and Europe, he forecasts.

The companys success has been driven by the eccentric chief executive Ray Kelvin, who is often described as the closest man to Ted.

Many familiar with the fashion firm say over the past 30 years the executive and the imaginary Ted Baker have become almost indistinguishable.

The company is worth 1.2billion after the shares fell by about a quarter in the past two years.

But Ransley said: Ted Baker has already proved its international growth credentials and is a unique premium brand that is less vulnerable to mainstream online competition.
In a little over three months' time, banks and building societies will start to provide access to your financial data in a bid to make it easier for you to manage your money.

Rules originating in Brussels, known as the Payment Services Directive II (PSD2), together with a British version referred to as Open Banking, hit in mid-January and will see the biggest banks and building societies across Europe forced to provide standard open access to all their customer data to regulated third parties.

Eventually this should mean that customers will be able to pull all of their financial accounts into one app through which they can easily switch to the best value deals on offer for savings, current accounts, loans, mortgages and even potentially energy bills.

Customers remain concerned and confused by the implications of open banking

But in spite of the many advantages, customers remain concerned and confused by the implications of open banking.

A recent survey of 2,000 people by consultancy firm Accenture suggested roughly seven in ten people do not want to share their personal financial data with third-party providers.

The good news is, if you don't want to, you don't have to.

But there are strong arguments for sharing your data if you do it safely.

We explain how this will really work, how to protect yourself and your money and what the real threats will be after open banking becomes a reality.

How will my data be shared?

Open banking will force banks and other providers to make a standard set of 'APIs' available to regulated third parties.

What is open banking? The UK Competition and Markets Authority is pushing through legislation to force UK banks and building societies to embrace open banking from 13 January 2018. This coincides with the European Payment Services Directive II (PSD2), another set of rules coming out of Brussels. Both are designed to force banks and building societies (and perhaps later insurance companies and investment houses) to provide better service by making it compulsory for them to open up their proprietary data and put it back in the hands of their customers. In theory, the rules should mean that over time we are able to open one app on our phones or log in to one platform online and see every financial account we have in one place. More than this, we should be able to transact within this app, purchasing from or switching between different providers.

API stands for application programming interface. This is basically a set of codes that allow different and separate technology platforms to talk to each other.

This means that, for example, American Express could 'talk' to Santander, meaning they'll be able to see whether you qualify for an Amex card based on your income and outgoings in your Santander current account.

In order to have access to these APIs, companies must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - so your data isn't available to just anyone. Data will also be encrypted and protected.

And, you'll have to give your permission to share it. If you don't want your provider to share your data with third parties, it will remain locked away in just the same way as it is currently.

How do I opt out?

In fact, you don't need to opt out. In order for any third party to have access to your data, you will have to opt IN.

The way you do this will be by using an app that allows you to drag in accounts from multiple providers.

Giving the app access to your account is the trigger for your data to be shared by the provider with the app you're using.

For example, say you are an HSBC customer using the HSBC beta app which is currently being piloted, if you download it only your HSBC accounts will initially be visible - just like in your existing mobile banking app.

The new HSBC app allows you to pull in your other accounts from other banks, but to do this, you have to log in using your online banking details from that bank.

By logging in to your Barclays current account through the HSBC app, you're consenting to Barclays sharing your data with HSBC.

Should I ever share login information?

This poses some serious security issues as it relies on you giving HSBC your login details to Barclays.

This is exactly what NatWest has just warned its customers NOT to do. It's likely that other banks will follow.

This is because if you share your personal login information, you're effectively giving up your right to protection.

If a fraudster took money from your NatWest account after you'd shared your login with HSBC, neither bank would take responsibility for reimbursing you.

Is there a safe way to take advantage of open banking?

Right now, that's a matter of opinion. But in the future, there will be safer ways than exist at the moment.

The security of sharing data relates to how apps gain your consent to access your data. There are a number of ways to do this.

The app can ask you to log in to your other accounts using your personal details and can then access the data held in those accounts through the API connection.

Or, they can use two factor authentication, which identifies users through a combination of two different components  for example, something you know (your password) with something you have (your mobile phone, or a Pinsentry/card reader device).

Giving third parties open access to your data sounds scary but in fact, under open banking, your data is no more or less safe than it is right now

The option recommended in the new rules is where you grant the app access to your account using a token, which can include access limitations.

This is known as OAuth - a techy term for access delegation that is used already by millions of internet users when they opt to log in to Instagram or Uber using their Facebook, Twitter or Google account.

When you login to Uber using Facebook, you are granting Facebook your permission to share data with Uber. This access is granted using a digital token.

With this method, it's also possible to set time limits or access limits.

So, for example, you could grant a mortgage app temporary access to your current accounts to allow it to do a real-time assessment of your income and expenditure so it can work out automatically what mortgage you can afford.

If the mortgage app was using OAuth you wouldn't need to give your current account password to them, keeping your money safe even if they got hacked.

You could also give them access for a limited time period - while the mortgage application is going through for example - after which the token you assigned expires and your data is locked back into your bank.

Your data remains yours and the institutions that hold it have a responsibility to protect it

If I want to opt in, how safe is my data?

Giving third parties open access to your data sounds scary but in fact, under open banking, your data is no more or less safe than it is right now.

All banks have to invest heavily in protecting their customers' data and allowing interchange between regulated providers doesn't automatically mean your data is any less safe.

Open banking does not mean a massive data dump of secure information to all and sundry through the cloud.

If you consent, shared data will be encrypted and accessible only by regulated and vetted firms.

However, all companies are open to being hacked - as the recent debacle with Equifax showed us.

Open banking won't increase this risk though. Your data remains yours, and the institutions that hold it have a responsibility to protect it.

What are the advantages of opting in to open banking?

The rules should mean that over time we are able to open one app on our phones or log in to one platform online and see every financial account we have in one place.

If you can see you're paying 20 per cent interest on your MBNA credit card balance and earning 1.2 per cent interest on your savings with NatWest for example, this app should theoretically alert you and prompt you to switch to better rates or pay off the debt using the savings.

Similarly, if you've slipped off a mortgage deal on to your lender's hefty standard variable rate and could save by remortgaging, the system ought to help you. It should be able to search all your available options from all providers, allow cross checking with your income and expenses by using your current account data and then provide you with the option to sign up to a new mortgage deal you're already approved for.

The initiative is designed to make it easier to manage our money with less effort and better returns through technology and automation.

Benedict Ireland, of customer experience and technology company Splendid Unlimited, explains: 'People dont necessarily want to "do" banking. They need to manage their finances but, for many, the less active management required the better.

'The greater automation open banking services will enable points to a future in which there will be less engagement between the customer and the bank providing that customers accounts or services.

'For now, our banking relationship is locked to our bank but this will change. Our banking experience is already digital and, like other digital experiences, is increasingly becoming owned by our mobile operating systems.

'We already trust Apple iOS and Googles Android with transaction data  just think Apple Pay, Android Pay and Google Wallet.

'Should Apple or Google release a financial app, whats to stop a migration similar to the migration away from Blackberry and Nokia, or Virgin Records and HMV?'

How can I opt in?

There are a number of other apps that already allow you to drag in information from your accounts with different providers, including Chip, Cleo, Moneybox, Money Dashboard, OnTrees and Plum.

Money Dashboard already allows you to see all your accounts in one place

These currently require you to log in through their apps to your various accounts using your password information. They then scrape your data from your account and display it in their app.

None of them allows you to transact in your other accounts through them as yet.

It's possible that some of them will start to. It's also likely that price comparison websites, banks and new companies will launch open banking apps next year.

Apple, Google, Facebook and Amazon are also well-placed to function as a platform through which you can view all of your financial information.

And how do I opt out?

As outlined above, to opt out of giving access to your data, simply don't use one of these apps or any other provider that asks for your account information and access.

If you don't use open banking your data and money will remain protected by the provider your account is with.
The rising cost of university education is prompting more young people to venture abroad. Studying in many European Union countries is free and in some cases living costs may also be cheaper.

Popular European destinations for students heading overseas include France, Spain and Germany, but America is still the favourite.

A period of studying abroad is mandatory for many courses, including modern languages. But those taking other subjects  including medicine, business and history  can also seize the opportunity to broaden their horizons.

The rising cost of university education is prompting more young people to venture abroad

Some will spend a semester or year overseas  often during the third year of their course  while others will go to a foreign university for their full degree.

According to the Unesco Institute for Statistics, 31,000 UK students were enrolled in programmes at institutions outside the UK in the academic year spanning 2015 and 2016.

Separate figures from Universities UK show that some 7 per cent of UK full-time undergraduates spend time studying, working or volunteering abroad as part of their degree.

There are potential benefits to studying abroad, such as increased self-confidence, improved communication skills and greater employability.

Michael Peak, senior education adviser at the British Council, says: 'Studies show that graduates with international experience fare better in the job market and tend to achieve better degree results.'

Students also get to learn languages, immerse themselves in other cultures and make friends from all over the world.

IF thinking about studying abroad, you need to find out whether your university offers an exchange programme  or whether you can join an organised programme, such as Erasmus+.

You also need to check if you can apply for a scholarship or funding to support you financially through your studies.

The Erasmus+ programme, managed by the Erasmus+ National Agency, is a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK.

It sends 15,000 UK higher education students to study and work abroad for between three and 12 months each year.

I SPENT A YEAR IN FRANCE - AND EVEN GOT A JOB AS A NANNY Budget: Elizabeth Maitland enjoyed her second year in France Elizabeth Maitland spent a year in France as part of her three-year history degree at Cardiff University. This was made affordable by taking part in the Erasmus+ scheme. The 22-year-old, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, went to university in Nantes from September 2015 until June 2016. As this was her second year, she kept her degree to three years. She says: 'Under the Erasmus+ scheme, I had my tuition fees capped at 15 per cent (around 1,350), and the fees were covered by my tuition loan. In addition, I received a maintenance grant as well as an Erasmus grant of around 300 a month.' Elizabeth had to complete a lot of paperwork  including opening a French bank account. She says: 'I needed a local account so my housing benefit  known as CAF  could be paid in. 'This money really helped as rather than paying 270 a month for my halls of residence, I only had to pay 150.' Elizabeth took a number of steps to keep down her living costs, such as buying a monthly travel card for the trams and buses, shopping at the local supermarket for food, and only going out once a week. She says: 'I was sensible with my budgeting and made extra money by working as a nanny for a French family. Indeed, I was able to make savings during my year in France.' Elizabeth took out a medical insurance policy offered by Cardiff University, and also an EHIC  a free European Health Insurance Card. She bought contents insurance for her belongings, costing around 50 for the year. She adds: 'During my time abroad, I met people from different backgrounds, experienced student life in France  and became a good French speaker. My confidence has dramatically improved.' Elizabeth graduated in July this year and is currently based in Colombia, South America, doing a one-year language assistant programme run by the British Council.

This scheme provides non-means tested grants of around 300 (268) to 400 per month, depending on the destination.

Unlike a student loan, these grants do not have to be repaid.

You also do not have to pay tuition fees in your host country.

If away for a full year you may benefit from a significant discount from your UK university. Visit erasmusplus. org.uk.

In addition, you may be able to get a grant from the Government to cover some of your travel expenses. Visit gov.uk/travel-grants-students-england.

While there are concerns about Erasmus+ post-Brexit, for now at least, things remain as they are.

Peak says: 'As the UK continues to be a full European Union member, successful applicants this year will be awarded funding for the duration of their project, so organisations and participants should continue to prepare for the application deadlines in 2017 as usual.'

That said, the future remains uncertain as Brexit could potentially restrict the movement of British students.

Peak adds: 'We cannot speculate on future scenarios following the UK's exit from the European Union, but the Government has said that UK participation in some programmes may continue, subject to negotiation.'

If you want to study abroad, but not in a European Union country, British Council programmes include Generation UK China and Generation UK India, Study USA and Study China.

Some receive financial support from the Government.

It is also worth checking out what scholarships are available  such as Commonwealth Scholarships, the Fulbright Awards for students studying in the US, and the Generation UK-China academic scholarship.

There are plenty of opportunities to do a postgraduate degree, such as a masters or PhD, overseas. Some postgraduate degrees automatically incorporate a work placement abroad.

UK postgraduate students can get support for certain international study opportunities, such as the Joint Master Degree (part of the Erasmus+ programme), and the Japanese MEXT Scholarship Programme.

For more information visit britishcouncil.org, studyabroad.com and topuniversities.com.

Deadlines for the Erasmus+ scheme and other Study Abroad opportunities will depend on where and when you are going.

TIPS TO SAVE WHILE STUDYING OVERSEAS CURRENCY If you need to transfer money abroad, do not turn to your bank as this could prove costly due to poor exchange rates and hidden fees. Try a currency specialist instead such as FairFX, Caxton FX and TransferWise. Fair FX's Ian Strafford-Taylor says: 'Set up a currency tracker to alert you to the best time to buy currency. Parents sending money to their children overseas should do the same.' CARDS A good option when studying abroad is to buy a prepaid card which can be pre-loaded with currency. This allows you to lock in exchange rates in advance to get the best value for money. Top picks include FairFX, Caxton FX, WeSwap, Revolut and Monzo. Andrew Hagger, of financial website Moneycomms, says: 'If you are set on taking a credit card, Halifax Clarity remains the number one choice, with no fees for purchases or cash transactions.' BANK ACCOUNT If you are abroad for only a short stint, it may be simpler to go on using a UK bank account, but make sure you have online banking so you can manage your money wherever you are. If you are away for a year or more, you may want to open a foreign bank account. BUDGETING Trying to budget in a foreign country may be tricky  especially with currency fluctuations and different living costs from the ones you are used to. But it is still worth creating a monthly budget to help you stay on track. INSURANCE Some universities offer a travel insurance policy as part of a year abroad package, which may include medical cover. If you are organising your own travel cover, sort this in advance. Kevin Pratt, of comparison website MoneySupermarket, says: 'Insurance is vital for medical expenses cover. This will pay for the cost of repatriation in the event of severe illness, injury or death. In addition, you need to check any policy covers you for all the activities you want to take part in, such as winter sports.' Also make sure you have sufficient cover for your belongings. CHEAP FLIGHTS Shop around for a good deal on your flights home, using websites such as Skyscanner, Kayak and Momondo.

Universities each set their own internal deadlines, but most require applications to be submitted between this autumn and next spring.

ONE of the best ways to keep down costs when studying abroad is by choosing an affordable des- tination.

The good news is that a number of European (and other international) universities still offer free or low-cost courses.

New findings from currency specialist FairFX reveal that the most affordable European countries to study in include Italy, Germany, Finland, Austria and Sweden. Further research by FairFX shows two of the best-value European universities to study in are in Italy.

Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, also in Pisa and in spectacular surroundings filled with statues and classical architecture. They not only provide free tuition but also cover living costs for the lucky few able to secure a place.

Experience: Sarah Cole will spend three years studying abroad

Ian Strafford-Taylor, of FairFX, says: 'Students considering completing a degree in a different country should think about living costs as well as tuition fees  and the impact of exchange rates on their expenses.'

Sarah Cole knows just how important financial planning is when studying abroad, having spent a year of her undergraduate degree in San Diego in the US.

The 22-year-old is now abroad again and has just started a two-year masters degree in Denmark.

Sarah, from King's Lynn, Norfolk, went to San Diego State University as part of the Study Abroad programme affiliated to the University of Hertfordshire.

This meant she did an extra year, extending her undergraduate degree in astrophysics from three to four years.

She says: 'I did not have to pay tuition fees, which made the year affordable. The experience boosted my CV as I got to meet new people, experience life and university in a different country and become more independent.'

Now that Sarah is studying for her masters in mathematical modelling and computation at the Technical University of Denmark, just north of Copenhagen, she gets no financial help or support from the UK.

She says: 'On the plus side there are no tuition fees for higher education for European students in Denmark.

'Student housing is also afford- able, and I live close to campus, so I do not have to spend much on transport.

'Nonetheless, supermarkets and other living costs are pretty expensive, so I am careful with spending as I need to make my savings last.'
MANZINI  Amid mourning their parents untimely death, a Khumalo familys focus was diverted to fighting an alleged opportunist Member of Parliament.

Sandleni Member of Parliament James Simelane was accused of taking advantage of a family from Mooihoek in the Shiselweni region. The family is said to have lost two members, their mother and father in a space of a day.

According to the deceaseds firstborn child, Mancoba Khumalo, Simelane, through the Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Service (SBIS), said the family was destitute and in need of assistance to help bury its two members, who died from undisclosed illnesses. Khumalo said the family had never engaged the MP requesting for his help in burying their parents. He said the family was surprised to learn from the SBIS evening news bulletin that they were unable to raise funds to bury their parents. He said what further shocked them was the fact that Simelane was the one who reportedly confirmed the news without even consulting them prior to the report.

The news report also revealed that the wife died on Friday while the husband died the following day when mourners had gone to convey their condolences to the family. Khumalo said this information was false as their mother passed away on Sunday evening, while their father died the following day in the evening. After the news broadcast, Khumalo said other family members and relatives were agitated and phone calls streamed in, where they (children) were questioned why they had gone to the media when their father was a well-off person with livestock and other sources of funds since he had recently retired. Furthermore, Khumalo said all four of his siblings were employed and able to take care of the funeral expenses. What surprised us the most is the fact that Simelane is not even our Member of Parliament and also that he never consulted with us before disseminating the information to the media, said Khumalo. Further, the dejected siblings said they entertained Simelane only as a pastor of the church their late mother attended.

When he came to see us on Tuesday, he asked what we needed and since everything was almost taken care of, we only requested that he assists us with more chairs because we expected more people to attend the funeral, he said.

Khumalo accused Simelane of taking advantage of their bereavement in advancing his political gains. He said when Simelane was confronted on the matter, he apologised and claimed he was contacted by a Shiselweni-based reporter from SBIS and that he directed the journalist to the family. He said SBIS was contacted to set the record straight and the news editor apologised. She apologised and said a statement would be run on air, said Khumalo.

However, Khumalo said the family wanted the retraction to be made in the news; the same platform that was used to disseminate the information. We wanted the correction to be made in the same platform that was used to communicate with the rest of the nation so that everyone would know the truth, he said. He added that should this not be done, legal action would be taken against Simelane and the broadcasting station.

When sought for comment, SBIS Director Martin Dlamini said he was not aware of the matter and therefore referred questions to the News Editor Ncamsile Matsebula. Matsebula said she could not comment on behalf of the company, as this was the prerogative of the director.
MBABANE  After 10 days of searching for their relative, who was involved in an accident at Makholokholo, a family found him dead in a forest at Mantsholo through the help of a Zion woman.

Celucolo Nkwanyana (27) from Motjane, who was a motor mechanic and owned a garage at Ngwenya, was found to have ended his own life by hanging himself in the forest. His body was found at around 9am yesterday. According to his brother Dumisani Dlamini, a Zion woman helped them find their brother after they consulted her on Saturday morning. Dlamini said the woman told them that Celucolo had run straight from the accident scene and did not change his direction anywhere. The Zion woman then informed the family that he was somewhere close to a construction site in a forest and they went there on the Saturday evening but their search was cut short as it was dark. We continued with the search yesterday and we eventually found the body.

The rope he had used to hang himself was short and we suspect he had tied it around the waist earlier. We had contacted several people following his disappearance and it seems the Zion woman knew what she was doing because we thought of a construction area in the direction she was talking about and we found him, Dlamini said. Nkwanyana did not have a wife or child, according to his brother. It had been suspected that Nkwanyana got scared after he was involved in the car accident as those who saw him said he ran towards the Nkoyoyo Palace direction. Dlamini said the family suspected that his brothers mind got disturbed as it was the first time he was involved in a car accident. A search last week ensued around the mountains at Makholokholo with the hope that they would find him alive and hiding. Information gathered was that when they began the search, his shoes and his personal items were found in a forest at Makholokholo.

The car accident Celucolo was involved in happened on September 23, 2017 and he was driving in the company of a passenger who was identified to be a soldier. They were returning from town with the soldier who had hired him to fix his vehicle. After the accident, the soldier was treated and discharged on the same day as he sustained minor injuries to his arms. People who were at the scene said Nkwanyana did not hang around after the accident and suspicions were that he thought the passenger had passed away. When traffic police arrived at the
MALINDZA  Death threats have reportedly forced the woman alleged to be at the centre of the brutal killing of Mlandvo Dlamini to go into hiding.

Simangele Ndzabandzaba (28) of Malindza, in the Lubombo Region, has left her parental homestead to stay with a relative around the Shiselweni region in fear for her life, her family said on Saturday. Ndzabandzaba is the wife to Zakhele Ndlela, the suspect who allegedly bludgeoned Dlamini (18), a pupil at Mhlatane High School, after he allegedly found him in a compromising position with his wife. Simangeles mother, who was only identified as Make Ndzabandzaba, said her daughter received death threats immediately after returning to her parental homestead. Bebasonga so sabona kutsi kuncono asuke lakhaya (They were threatening her so we decided that she should leave). She now stays with a relative, she said. She was not specific on who exactly was threatening her daughter and how the threats were issued.

Asked if Simangele could be contacted telephonically, she said her daughter was unreachable because she currently did not have a cellphone. She alleged that her daughters mobile phone was confiscated, allegedly by her husband, immediately after the gruesome incident. However, when one of her daughters two numbers was called by this reporter yesterday evening, it rang unanswered. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba said Simangele was free to open a case against those threatening her. Any death threats should be reported to the police so that we can investigate their origin, said Mamba. Initially, the family was reluctant to talk about the matter. Make Ndzabandzaba said only Simangele was in a better position to explain what exactly happened on the night of Mlandvos death.

She disputed some of the versions of the events that have been reported in the media, stating that they were far from the truth. It is only her (Simangele) and her husband who know what happened on that fateful day, and not the speculations that have been reported, she said. Another family member wondered why journalists were following Simangele as the matter had already been reported in the media. Bafunani bakaTimes? she shouted as this reporter explained that it was imperative that Simangele gives her side of the story or the family expresses its feelings on the matter. The matter is now being dealt with through the courts following Ndlelas arrest and his subsequent application for bail, which was granted by the High Court.

Mlandvo was brutally beaten to death, allegedly by Ndlela, with what has been described in court as a tap rode. Court papers say the 18-year-old pupil was battered all over the body and on the head and, as a result, suffered fatal injuries.

The suspect recently appeared at the Piggs Peak Magistrates Courts for a confession. He has since been released on E50 000 bail by the High Court, which ordered that he pays certain amount in cash and then provide surety for the balance.
Did you vote in the midterm elections as if your countrys existence depended on it?
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Retired Morrisville State College professor and American Italian Heritage Association President Philip DiNovo's heart beats plainly on his sleeve. He loves the association's Colonie museum, which hosts a Columbus Day open house Monday.

Yes, he knows the holiday is controversial because Columbus was a slave trader and brutal governor of Hispaniola.

"We should never whitewash history; slave trading is evil and unjustifiable," DiNovo said. "But I think it's important to have a Columbus Day to commemorate what he symbolized to America as a young country, and to Italian-American immigrants who suffered bigotry, violence and even lynchings for a century."

Although Albany once held a large Columbus Day parade  DiNovo fondly remembers serving as a grand marshal  the tradition dwindled, primarily due to expenses.

But some municipalities have reduced their celebration of Columbus even more: Last year, Brattleboro, Vt., opted to celebrate Indigenous People's Day instead; Ithaca made the same change just last month. In August, Los Angeles became the biggest U.S. city yet to make the shift. Austin, Texas, followed suit last week, joining San Francisco, Seattle and Denver.

DiNovo is sympathetic. But he notes the replacement holiday has its own dark side inasmuch as some indigenous people also "owned slaves, including African-American slaves."

Columbus Day became an official national holiday in 1934 after Italian-American politicians, including charismatic Republican New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia, lobbied his Democratic ally, President Franklin Roosevelt. Yet Roosevelt interned approximately 1,880 Italian immigrants in camps during World War II, in addition to thousands more who were detained, stripped of property, or placed under curfew.

Nineteenth-century Italian immigrants had fared worse, as many states classified them as nonwhites who were fated to suffer the same injustices as African-Americans. In 1891, a New Orleans mob dragged 11 Italians from jail and murdered them. Nine of the dead men had been acquitted of killing the local police chief, while two others were in jail on minor, unrelated charges.

For decades, many Americans seemed unable to link Italian immigrants to the cultural glory of Italian opera, poetry, art or cuisine.

"In those very dark decades, Columbus was the one Italian figure American schools respected, an explorer who made this country possible," DiNovo explained. "The District of Columbia carried the feminine version of his name. Towns named Columbia and Columbus honored him. He was a symbol that gave the Italian community hope they'd be respected one day as Americans."

University at Albany anthropology professor Walter Little is an expert on indigenous peoples of the Americas as well as popular culture. He said the holiday's history followed a strange trajectory.

Roosevelt's establishment of the holiday was "more about our honoring how Columbus was instrumental changing our world, putting it a new path that led to progress and democracy," Little said. "This is framed within the war against fascism in which the world was engulfed. There was a disconnect between the (brutal) Columbus historians studied and the idolized, mythic man."

Columbus made four Atlantic crossings in hopes of finding a better trade route to Asia, a remarkable achievement in an era when many sailors still feared malevolent sea creatures. But Columbus never found the direct water route he sought, so Little is puzzled about why the "can-do" American attitude grew from an explorer who never reached his goal.

Little advocates celebrating Indigenous American Day and, on a different date, an Italian-American Heritage Day. "Columbus's role in history, in my opinion, is that he set into motion an important discussion about humanity and human rights." Little said.

He noted that Spain eventually had an important debate about who is a human being in the 1550s, when the Spanish crown  which sponsored Columbus's explorations  agreed with scholars who argued indigenous people are humans.

DiNovo agrees that other Italian-Americans would be less problematic as holiday namesakes  such as astronaut Walter Schirra, whose service as the commander of Apollo 7 paved the way for the international space station.

But DiNovo is in favor of holidays that spark deep thought and discussion on crucial topics. American founders George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were also slave owners, which makes Presidents Day an appropriate time to talk about reconciling the light and dark sides of American history.

In New York, where 35,000 people are expected to march in Monday's Columbus Day parade, vandals last month doused the hands of a Christopher Columbus statue in blood-red paint and scrawled the words "hate will not be tolerated."

Activists calling for the city to change the parade's name also are expected to hold a demonstration. On Sunday, three demonstrators briefly interrupted a wreath-laying ceremony at the Columbus statue in Columbus Circle. The protesters, two dressed in fake chains and one wearing a hooded white sheet, spoke out before being escorted away. Police said one person was arrested.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's commission to study controversial statues, including the Columbus likeness, meets Tuesday.

DiNovo understands the emotions driving statue removal, but wonders if it misses the point: Americans, he believes, need to focus on current injustice more than historic symbols.

"The poverty and crime Native American people live in on reservations today is shocking and needs to be changed," DiNovo said. "Racism exists today. The question is, what action are we going to take to change that? It takes more than changing a holiday name."

The Associated Press contributed.

Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Utica had voted to replace the observance of Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples Day.
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ALBANY  Friday is the deadline to register to vote in this year's general election  and also to change a political party enrollment for those seeking to vote in a specific primary next year.

The cutoff marks the statutory registration deadline of 25 days before an election, and also is the final day an eligible voter can drop off, fill out online or postmark a voter registration application. Any mailed materials must be received at a board of elections by Oct. 18, when any voter address changes also must be received.

Under an executive order signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo this year, voters may register through any state agency as well.

Voter registration forms are available on the state Board of Elections website, and online registrations can be submitted through the the state Department Motor Vehicles' MyDMV online portal.

How to register Information on how and where to register to vote can be found at www.elections.ny.gov/votingregister.html. See More Collapse

Voters can verify their registration status online through the state Board of Elections website.

Friday's deadline also is the annual 25-day pre-general election deadline for currently registered voters to change their party enrollment status. After that day, voters registered with a certain party won't be able to vote in federal or state primaries for another party in 2018, regardless of whether they change their affiliation before those elections. New York has a closed primary system, meaning that, for example, only registered Democrats can vote in Democratic primaries.

In some areas of the state, primaries give a particular party's voters the chance to nominate their preferred candidate for the November election. But in many locales, where one party's enrollment far exceeds that of other parties, the primaries can serve as de facto general elections.

New York has the earliest party change deadline of any of the 11 states with closed primaries, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

As such, criticism of the party change deadline isn't new, though the April 2016 presidential primaries widespread complaints from voters who learned too late they were unable to vote in primaries. The state attorney general's office fielded more than 1,000 primary day complaints  far surpassing the typical volume  with a number coming from voters who were not registered to vote in the primary of their choice.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter.

The complaints led Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to introduce sweeping voting reform legislation that, among other actions, would move the party change deadline to 120 days before any primary, general or special election.

"Any primary" is particularly key here: Since 2012, primaries for federal office have been held in June, while local and state primaries still are scheduled for September  despite legislative attempts to consolidate those elections. Under the current voter registration laws, the annual deadline to switch parties is more than six months before federal primaries and nearly a year before state and local primaries.

Ultimately, Schneiderman's proposal was not brought up for a vote this year, just as similar legislative efforts have fallen flat.

mhamilton@timesunion.com  518-454-5449  @matt_hamilton10
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EDUCATION

SCHENECTADY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Sharon Clark joined as senior machine duplicating operator. Clark previously served as an early childhood paraprofessional in the Schenectady City School District.

David Clickner joined as assistant vice president of academic affairs. Clickner previously worked at Hudson Valley Community College.

Michael Hazard joined as a technical assistant in the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism. Hazard previously worked as an executive chef at Yaddo.

Maura Kastberg joined as an account clerk in the Student Business Office. Kastberg previously worked as an assistant manager in the IRA Department at Trustco Bank.

Sabrina McGinty was named assistant vice president of student affairs. McGinty previously served as assistant dean of academic affairs.

Margaret McLellan-Zabielski joined as an instructor in the Division of Math, Science, Technology and Health. McLellan-Zabielski previously served as an adjunct faculty member.

Magda Sfeir-Monroe joined as an instructor in the Division of Math, Science, Technology and Health. Sfeir-Monroe participated in the Development of Minority Faculty Teaching Nutrition internship program.

Sheri Nietfeld joined as an information processing specialist II, Student Affairs. Nietfeld previously worked in the Begley Library.

Ronald Ragucci joined as a technical specialist in the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism. Ragguci was previously an adjunct faculty member.

Patrick Ryan joined as vice president of administration. Ryan previously served as a research foundation operations manager at SUNY System Administration.

Jill Walsh joined as an informational processing specialist in the Registrar's Office. Walsh previously worked in Financial Aid, Student Services and Advisement.

Darnell Williams joined as a campus cleaner. Williams previously worked in custodial maintenance at MVP Healthcare.

HEALTH CARE

NEW YORK ONCOLOGY HEMATOLOGY

Nischala Ammannagari and Mohamad Younes joined as medical oncologists and hematologists. Ammannagari and Younes will see cancer and blood disorder patients at the Patroon Creek office in Albany.

Brianna Peek joined as an advanced practice provider. Peek sees patients in the Amsterdam office.

Shanna Lewis joined as an advanced practice provider. Lewis sees patients in the Albany Medical Center office.

SOUTHWESTERN VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER

Trevor Neal joined the Emergency Department and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Medical Group. Neal is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is eligible for certification by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

PROFESSIONS

BARTON & LOGUIDICE

William W. Pels joined the Marketing Department as a regional business development representative in the Albany office. Pels has more than 20 years of experience with client development and strategic market growth, providing engineering services and systems to the industrial, energy and institutional markets throughout the Northeast.

STOCKTON, BARKER & MEAD LLP

Nikki L. Baldwin joined as an associate attorney. Baldwin, who previously worked at Hiscock & Barclay LLP, will focus her practice on workers' compensation law.

LINIUM RECRUITING

Derrick Satterwhite joined as a senior talent acquisition manager. Satterwhite previously served as a senior talent acquisition partner at General Electric.

LEE AUDIO 'N SECURITY INC.

Robert Fredericks joined as an engineered salesman in the Clifton Park office. Fredericks has more than a decade of experience in fire and security alarm systems.

 Jennifer Patterson
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Colonie

Clutching a stack of resumes and a leather binder, Alisha Deen set out to find work at the Times Union Job Fair on Monday.

The stay-at-home mother of two has been looking for a part-time job for more than a year. Deen, who lives in Guilderland, holds bachelor's and master's degrees and has worked for several nonprofits.

Filling out applications online had yielded few leads. She visited four booths at the fair.

"Without connections at these companies, it's difficult. I keep not making the cut," she said. "I came to this fair because I was trying to think outside the box."

Deen was among several hundred people who attended the fair at the Albany Marriott Hotel on Wolf Road. The crowd milling around in dark suits and pencil skirts was a mix of all ages and backgrounds, united by their quest to secure a job.

Representatives from nearly 70 companies stood behind tables covered with brochures, water bottles and lanyards. They emphasized strong interpersonal skills, such as an employee's ability to get along with coworkers, and dedication to customer service.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., they answered questions and accepted resumes from dozens of prospective employees, hoping to emerge with one or two promising candidates.

"There's a lot of people that have an interest in serving," said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Curtis, recruiter for the New York Army National Guard. "If we get one to three people, it's a good day."

"We got one hire out of the last job fair we went to," said Michelle Prisco, human resources manager at Bellevue Builders Supply.

The Schenectady-based company, which sells building materials and offers design and installation services, is looking for an escort driver, a warehouse associate and kitchen and bathroom designers. Employees have to be available for Saturday shifts, which is off-putting for some applicants, Prisco said.

"The most important things are open-mindedness and customer service skills," she said.

Poestenkill resident Lizette Strait has applied for full-time positions in marketing and writing through LinkedIn, Monster and other career websites, but came to the job fair hoping to meet the people on the other side of the screen.

"Online, it's faceless, emotionless," Strait said. "Employers want to get to know the personality of the person looking, so this is more advantageous. It's like a meet-and-greet."

She stopped by five booths, talked to company representatives and dropped off her resume and business cards. She plans to keep hunting and filling out more applications.

"You have to look at everything," Strait said. "You just never know."

miszler@timesunion.com  518-454-5018  @madisoniszler
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Second Sight

Acorn TV

In this series of four two-part mysteries, Clive Owen ("The Knick," "Children of Men") stars as Detective Chief Inspector Ross Tanner, a hardworking cop who finds out that he has a rare disease that is causing him to go blind. Tanner's boss has no idea that the man he named to head the Specialist Elite Murder Unit is losing his sight, and Tanner struggles to keep his condition a secret while investigating complex crimes.

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Nickelodeon, 7 p.m.

Original film! Chris Grabenstein's bestselling book comes to life when Casey Simpson ("Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn") and Breanna Yde ("School of Rock") join Russell Roberts ("The Twilight Saga: New Moon") and newcomers A.J. Rivera and Klarke Pipkin to star as a group of children whose overnight stay in their town's new high-tech library turns into a daring, dangerous adventure.

The Big Bang Theory: "The Relaxation Integration"

CBS, 8 p.m.

In a new episode. Amy (Mayim Bialik) records stressed-out Sheldon (Jim Parsons) talking in his sleep and tries to convince him to be more easygoing.

Supergirl: "Girl of Steel"

The CW, 8 p.m.

Season premiere! Mon-El (Chris Wood) vanished into thin air, and "where he went and how he returns is one of the central mysteries at the start of this season," says executive producer Andrew Kreisberg. Kara (Melissa Benoist) deals with the loss of Mon-El by focusing all her energy on being Supergirl, and on the mysterious new threat against National City. Alex (Chyler Leigh) confesses a secret to Maggie (Floriana Lima).

The Voice: "Blind Auditions, Part 5"

NBC, 8 p.m.

The blind auditions continue, with Part 6 airing Tuesday night.

Valor

The CW, 9 p.m.

New series! Christina Ochoa and Matt Barr star as members of an elite unit of Army helicopter pilots who struggle in the aftermath of a top-secret mission that went awry. When they discover that a member of their team is still alive and being held captive by terrorists, the pair are determined to rescue their friend, but find themselves torn between duty, honor, desire and the secrets that they're hiding  which may save their comrade, or put them all in danger.

The Three Hikers

Starz, 9 p.m.

This new documentary tells the story of three Americans (Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal) who went hiking in northern Iraqi Kurdistan in July 2009 and were captured and held as political hostages by the Iranian government for more than two years. Set against the backdrop of the complex geopolitical stalemate between the United States and Iran, the documentary chronicles their time in prison while also telling the very personal story of three families and their unyielding efforts to get their loved ones home.

Me, Myself & I: "The Card"

CBS, 9:30 p.m.

Young Alex (Jack Dylan Grazer) gives away his most prized possession, an autographed Michael Jordan rookie card, in an attempt to impress Nori (Reylynn Caster). Ed Begley Jr. guest-stars in the new episode "The Card."

The Good Doctor: "Oliver"

ABC, 10 p.m.

Dr. Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) and Dr. Unger (Chuku Modu) discover their patient isn't being completely honest with them, which may cost him his chance for a life-saving surgery. Meanwhile, Dr. Browne (Antonia Thomas) must learn to communicate with Dr. Murphy (Freddie Highmore) as they race back to St. Bonaventure Hospital with a donated organ.

The Brave: "The Greater Good"

NBC, 10 p.m.

After receiving intel that a serious player in dealing international arms, Ranier Boothe (guest star Andrew Howard), will be visiting Caborca, Mexico, Patricia (Anne Heche) makes a controversial decision that could lead to a big breakthrough. With Dalton's (Mike Vogel) team on the ground, they must find a weak link in Boothe's men to carry out the mission.

The Halcyon: Episode 2

Ovation, 10 p.m.

The hotel suffers the aftershocks of change. Lady Hamilton (Olivia Williams) and Garland (Steven Mackintosh) go to war with each other, but Garland finds this may be the least of his troubles. Freddie (Jamie Blackley) must face up to his responsibilities while Emma (Hermione Corfield) and Betsey (Kara Tointon) hit the town.

POV: "The Islands and the Whales"

PBS, 10 p.m.

On the isolated Faroe Islands, the longtime whale-hunting practices of the Faroese are threatened by dangerously high mercury levels and anti-whaling activists. Their tale sounds a warning to the rest of the world.

Brought to you by the publishers of TV Guide.  TV Guide 2017
AVERILL PARK  As a U.S. Army recruit and student at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Colton Butterfield wasn't supposed to have a motorcycle. When the Army got wind that their ROTC member was riding on an uninsured bike, he was told to sell it.



He did. But on his last night of ownership, the 21-year-old from Averill Park took the bike for one more spin in Daytona Beach. At around 2 a.m. on South Atlantic Avenue, the university sophomore lost control and crashed. He died at the scene.



"We didn't even know he had a motorcycle," said Jay Butterfield, his father. "When we were called, his mother told the police he didn't have a one. Here's a kid doing everything he is supposed to be doing. He makes just one mistake. It's such a helpless feeling. It's horrific."



Crash scene investigators said that Colton was traveling at an "extremely high rate of speed." Police also said his helmet flew off during the crash, and that first responders were unable to resuscitate him.



Butterfield admits his son, a top contender in go-cart races and also a snowmobile and four-wheel enthusiast, liked speed.



"He had a tattoo on his bicep: It was the scientific formula for adrenaline," his father said. "He liked to go fast. He was a 21-year-old with a type A personality."



His father and many others will also remember the Averill Park native as a bright, driven, natural leader, a lover of animals and a young man who was striving for the top.



"He always wanted to serve his country," his father said. "He wanted to go to West Point. He did everything you need to do to get into West Point. He was selected for the American Legion's Boys State, he was Rensselaer County Student of the Year, he was class president all four years of high school. He was just waiting to be Congressionally appointed when he changed his mind."



Embry Riddle had awarded him a full ROTC scholarship. He was studying to be a Medivac pilot. At the same time, he worked full-time at Pep Boys and had pledged a fraternity.



"Colton had a completely full plate, but he took care of everybody," Butterfield said. "There are a lot of smart kids at Embry Riddle, but a lot of them didn't know things like how to change a tire. Kids would call Colton for help and he would be there to change a tire or give them advice on their cars. He was an amazing, caring person."

On Friday, Embry Riddle commemorated Colton's life with a memorial service. His parents were touched by the stories from friends who spoke about his kindness toward others and how he took such good care of his sugar glider, a small marsupial named Ziva, and his cat, Amelia Earhart.



At the same time, his parents were upset to learn that in Florida insurance is not necessary for motorcycles. Butterfield said if Colton had needed insurance, he probably wouldn't have been able to afford owning the bike.



"I'm working to change that," his father said.



The family is preparing for Colton's memorial service, which will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Westfall Station, Route 43 in Averill Park.



"He never gave us one ounce of trouble," his father said. "He was such a good person. We will never get over this. The world has lost out."
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ALBANY  Youll hear them before you see them.

Groups of teenagers and young men riding dirt bikes and the occasional all-terrain vehicle down city streets and sidewalks, weaving in and out of traffic and popping wheelies.

Across the river in Troy, police have recently been alerted to a group riding around the citys north end.

It's illegal to ride dirt bikes or ATVs on public roadways, but local police say they are reluctant to chase riders for fear any crash could be fatal for the pursued. Last summer, a 31-year-old Schoharie County man was killed after he was ejected from his dirt bike and struck the sheriff's car that had been chasing him.

Marshon Guthrie, 29, rides with a group in Albany. He grew up wanting a motocross bike and later became a mechanic, opening his own business in the city, Pure Powda. He says hes ridden motocross parks all over the East Coast and gone to larger street gatherings, called rideouts, in New York, Baltimore and other cities.

The videos that come out of these group rides are driving the growth in participation locally, he said: In the past year is the most Ive ever seen.

The reason riders choose dirt bikes over street-legal bikes is usually cost, Guthrie said.

He readily admits that riding dirt bikes in the streets is illegal, but said he and other experienced riders obey the rules of the road and make a point to not interfere with drivers.

Younger or newer riders dont always follow that code.

You have people going up a one-way (street), and thats a big problem  because now youre putting everyone in danger, he said.

The other problem is that there isnt a legal place in the city or nearby for them to ride, he said. For a while, they rode in Tivoli Park adjacent to Livingston Avenue, but the police pushed them out.

As far as he knows, there has never been any kind of push to find a safe space for the riders in the city.

"The only place to ride is the streets," Guthrie said.

Dirt-bike riders are an issue in other cities as well. Baltimore has seen groups with as many as 100 riders; the city's street-riding subculture was the subject of the 2013 documentary "12 O'Clock Boys." YouTube and other social media channels are full of videos with riders showing off and performing often heart-stopping tricks.

In Pleasantville, N.J., a group was recorded surrounding a patrol car and taunting an officer, according to a post on the departments Facebook page.

But because the riders have more maneuverability than patrol cars, its difficult for police to stop them, even if they wanted to.

Were not going to allow any officer to get into a pursuit like that, Troy Police Chief John Tedesco said. Especially because (local rideouts) are occurring a lot on the afternoon shift when there are a lot of people around.

The riders swerve through traffic and onto sidewalks before pulling off to bike paths or other areas of the city officers cant follow, Tedesco said.

Albany Councilman Ron Bailey said the issue has grown in recent years. He has seen the bikers riding all around the city at night, occasionally stopping traffic at intersections to let their whole group through. "Ten or more of them and no one is doing anything about it," he said.

From Bailey's experience, theyre not teenagers but usually men in their 20s. He expressed frustration that the citys police department wouldnt pursue them.

In the meantime, youre threatening the safety of everyone else by not trying to curtail reckless riding, he said.

Acting Albany Police Chief Bob Sears said his officers will pursue the bikers depending on the circumstances, but in most cases when police do stop the riders they are simply issued traffic tickets.

Sears said the department has focused on alternative methods of stopping the riders.

Troys police department is considering buying ATVs for future pursuits and to track where the riders are coming from, Tedesco said.

In downtown Albany, the riders usually appear between 8 and 10 p.m., said Dan Skomsky, a server at the Merry Monk on Pearl Street.

He says he hasnt called the police to complain, but has seen the bikers jump the curb and ride on the sidewalk where the restaurant has tables for customers.

Ten to 15 seconds, and then theyre gone, he said.
Meet "Wonderful Weirdos" at the University of Montana Paleontology Center this Wednesday during a celebration of National Fossil Day.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, the center invites people to the Charles H. Clapp Building to learn about fossils.

"Anyone who has interest in fossils or earth history should come by and visit us for National Fossil Day," said Kallie Moore, Paleontology Center collections manager in a statement. "The UMPC has been involved with National Fossil Day since it was established in 2010, and we love bringing the amazing field of paleontology to the community."

At the free event, activities include fossil identifications, tours of displays and research collections, and a chance to hear about research going on at the center. Started in 1898, the center has collected more than 50,000 vertebrate, invertebrate and plant specimens.

"The year's event will highlight 'Wonderful Weirdos' in the collection," said a news release from UM.

National Fossil Day is a project of the U.S. National Park Service. On its website, the park service asks, "Why do we study fossils?" and it poses an answer.

"Fossils help us understand life's past. Without fossils, we'd know nothing of the mighty dinosaurs, tiny three-toed horses, and thousands of other prehistoric forms that are long extinct. Fossils also provide clues to the interrelationships of all species."

The UM Paleontology Center asks participants to enter through the breezeway of the Clapp Building, on the southeast corner of campus. For more information, contact Moore at (406) 243-5406 or kallie.moore@mso.umt.edu or go to http://hs.umt.edu/paleo/fossil-day.php.
John Carl D'Annibale

WILTON  State and county police and investigators spent Sunday afternoon and evening at a home on suburban Cheyenne Court in Wilton, but as of 10 p.m. had offered no details about what brought them to the scene.

A State Police officer reached Sunday evening said the site was being overseen by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation; he was unable to release any more information.
Albany

Although frequently opposed, environmental and pro-development groups are backing a proposal on the November ballot calling for a constitutional amendment to create a land bank allowing right-of-way and other infrastructure improvements in the Adirondack Park.

There appears to be little opposition to the plan, even among groups that often oppose changes to the regions Forever Wild rules.

But thats no guarantee the proposal will pass when it goes before voters on Nov. 7. The ballot will also include proposals to allow a constitutional convention and another that would strip public officers and employees all or part of their pensions if convicted of certain felony offenses.

Some supporters of the Adirondack land bank plan fear voters will be swayed by the drumbeat of opposition to the more contentious proposal  to allow a constitutional convention  and simply vote no to all three measures.

Indeed, much of the focus this year from public sector and other unions has been vocal opposition to Proposal One, which would convene a constitutional convention.

There has been little opposition voiced about Proposal Three, which would allow up to 250 acres in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves to be used for road improvements, bike paths or power lines.

Due to strict constitutional protections against developing land within the borders of the forest preservers, amendments are needed for even minute projects such as municipal water wells.

The 250-acre land bank would do away with the requirement for those types of local projects to be on state ballots.

Most of these projects are tiny, said Matt Simpson, supervisor of the town of Horicon in Warren County and vice president of the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages.

Highway planners in Warren County, for example, want to replace a 115-year-old bridge, closed since 2009, that crosses the Schroon River near Warrensburg. They have identified a new location less than three miles away but need a 20-foot right-of-way on both sides before starting construction. Because the land is in the Forest Preserve, they need a constitutional amendment to build in the right of way areas.

Its a lot of effort and cost, Simpson said.

Proposal Three, if approved, would allow the right-of-way to come from the land bank.

The fear, however, is that people will cast a blanket no vote due to opposition to Proposal One.

The big concern is that the focus is on the constitutional convention and the other two wont get looked at and it will just be a no, no, no vote, Simpson said.

Hes even heard public employees in his town alluding to blanket no votes since they didnt understand there were actually three unrelated proposals on the November ballot. Their union, he said, has been telling members to vote against a constitutional convention because of fear it could lead to changes in the states strong public-sector pension protections.

The Vote No campaign has become generic, said Bill Farber, a past president of the Association of Towns and Villages.

Thats always a concern, added John Sheehan, spokesman for the Adirondack Council.

Like the Association of Towns and Villages, the council supports Proposal Three, as does The Nature Conservancy of New York, Protect the Adirondacks and other environmental groups.

But the environmentalists are also among a range of organizations opposing Proposal One.

They worry that a full-scale re-opening of the state constitution could allow Forever Wild protections to be degraded or voided.

Sheehan noted that voters over the last 30 years have approved six amendments allowing limited Adirondack changes including the construction of municipal water wells and an effort to clear up muddled land titles.

And voters havent shown a tendency to simply vote Yes or No on multiple amendments.

Were confident the public can pick and choose and differentiate between the two, Sheehan said.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU
On Wednesday October 4th hundreds of people visited Racket Hall to access more than 70 stands offering health and wellbeing advice.

The event, the first of its kind in the town, was organised by Age Friendly Roscrea.

Anne Keevey, who masterminded the day explains Age Friendly Roscrea consulted with the older people of Roscrea last year and they told us that they would like more information about health and wellbeing supports available in the County.

So we decided to hold a public event bringing a range of groups together offering information and products to older people. The stands on the day provided information about a wide range of areas including HSE services, hospice and bereavement support, dental care, security, leisure activities, advocacy for older people, nutrition and homecare.

Opportunities were available for people to have their blood pressure checked and to be screened for diabetes and macular degeneration. In addition to visiting the stands, free Tai Chi, Mindfulness and Massage taster sessions were on offer and attendees were treated to music by the Rosie Greys, accompanied by Anthony Bourke and friends, in the bar area after availing of lunchtime specials provided by Racket Hall.

The day was a really sociable occasion, with many people volunteering on the day, including Age Friendly Roscrea members and the PLC students studying at Colaiste Pobal.

There were opportunities to win hampers on the day and some of the lucky winners were as follows: Karen Simmons- Cosmetic Hamper Joan Bourkes Pharmacy; Joan Sheedy  Clarins Hamper sponsored by Maddens Pharmacy; Ingrid Condell- Bernies SuperValu Hamper; Donal Hogan and Josephine Egan- Hennessys Pharmacy Hampers; Lizzy Murphy  Stapletons Bakery Hamper; Nuala Corbett- Coffeys Pharmacy Hamper; Josie O Rourke- Frawleys Haven Pharmacy Hamper; Mary Mc Namara- Bank of Ireland Rugby tickets.

The Tipp FM roadcaster was in situ, and Fran offered fantastic coverage of the event all morning, speaking to many people attending and exhibiting on the day.

Two buses were parked outside offering information about cancer from the Marie Keating Foundation and dementia via the Alzheimers Society of Ireland.

Attendees were all provided with free bags to collate all the information and goodies provided by the stands.

An information guide to services for older people in Tipperary was launched on the day. This comprehensive guide was compiled by the HSE, Citizens Information Service, Tipperary County Council and an Garda Siochana. The Guide will be available in your Local Library, Primary Care Unit and Citizens Information Centre.

Age Friendly Roscrea would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported the day and give a special thanks to AFR volunteers and their families for their hard work behind the scenes to bring such a super event to the town.

Were all looking forward to next year!
The owner of the Tipperary Crystal brand has sued a giftware seller for allegedly passing off their trademarks on the packaging of items being offered for sale.

The proceedings have been brought by Allied Imports Ltd and its director Mr Robert Scanlan which is the owner of Tipperary Crystal which is known for its crystal, glassware, ceramics and jewellery brands.

They claim Kavanagh Giftware Ltd have been using Tipperary Crystal marks on the packaging of specific goods it is offering including mugs and cups.

In correspondence lawyers acting for Kavanagh Giftware reject claims it has infringed Allied Import's intellectual property rights.

Allied Imports and Mr Scanlan, represented by Jonathan Newman SC, say the infringing elements of their products are the use of a graphical representation in grey and white on the outside and the inside of the packaging of items being offered for sale by the defendant.

The plaintiffs claim the defendant is offering the allegedly infringing products for sale through its retail outlet in Enniscorthy Co Wexford, and online.

It is further alleged that the Kavanagh Giftware is engaged in the wholesale distribution of the infringing products to other retailers in Ireland.

They claim that the unauthorised use of the Tipperary Crystal mark is causing confusion with the public.

In their action Allied Imports Ltd and Mr Scanlan seek various orders against the defendant including injunctions restraining Kavanagh Giftware from infringing their trade marks and passing off the goods.

In addition the plaintiffs seek orders that all the goods allegedly infringing its trademarks are handed over and destroyed. They also seek damages from the defendant company.

The case was admitted to the fast track Commercial Court list on Monday by Mr Justice Brian McGovern.

There had been an objection in admitting the case to the fast track list by counsel for the defendant Mr James O'Dwyer SC.

However the Judge said it was a suitable case for the list. The matter will return before the court in February.
Max Kutz (left) and John Pysh (right) work at the Matson Lumber Yard in Pleasantville. The yard serves as a physical sign of the lumber industries revival, in Northwest PA.
[October 09, 2017] Bard Peripheral Vascular Named Arizona Bioscience Company of the Year

The Arizona Bioindustry Association (AZBio) will honor Bard Peripheral Vascular, a division of C. R. Bard, as the Arizona Bioscience Company of the Year the 2017 AZBio Awards. Arizona life science and business leaders as well as guests from across the country will be on hand to applaud the Bard Peripheral Vascular team for creating vascular innovations that improve the quality of patients' lives. The Arizona Bioscience Company of the Year Award recognizes the for-profit bioscience company whose Arizona-based operations did the most to transform the world during the last 12 months. Leading in Innovative Medical Devices and Patient Care "While healthcare has certainly been a major topic of conversation across the country in recent months, the political becomes personal when you or a loved one is affected," stated AZBio president and CEO Joan Koerber-Walker. "Bard Peripheral Vascular, a division of C. R. Bard, is a company in Tempe, Arizona, that understands the importance of quality patient care and remains focused on developing innovative medical devices to detect, treat, and help manage disease." Bard Peripheral Vascular specializes in the development of surgical and interventional devices for the treatment of diseases affecting the peripheral vascular system, which consists of veins and arteries in the arms, hands, legs, and feet. The peripheral arteries supply oxygenated blood to the body, and the peripheral veins lead deoxygenated blood from the capillaries in the extremities back to the heart. Additionally, Bard devices are used in the treatment of cancer, end stage renal disease (including diabetes and dialysis) and venous disease. Some Bard products, such as biopsy needles, are used to help detect disease, while others, such as catheters, angioplasty balloons and chemotherapy ports, are used to treat disease. In the last year alone, the company has launched over 11 new products designed to make life better for patients and the people who care for them. In fact, a patient is treated with a Bard Peripheral Vascular device approximately every 2 seconds. A History of Growth and Innovation Bard Peripheral Vascular was established in 1996, with the purchase of IMPRA, a local Arizona company, who launched the first commercially available ePTFE graft used for AV access. Today, Bard Peripheral Vascular is the largest and fastest-growing division within C. R. Bard with over a billion dollars in revenue. In Arizona, Bard Peripheral Vascular employs over 500 people and its labor force is growing at a rate of over 5% a year. Bard Peripheral Vascular products are used to treat over 18 million patients annually and hold the #1 or #2 leadership position in most of their product lines. Some of the company's recent technologies include a novel balloon-exandable covered stent developed to improve blood flow in the leg for patients with iliac occlusive disease; and a device designed to preserve vascular access for hemodialysis patients. The strong growth and portfolio of C. R. Bard, with the Bard Peripheral Vascular division leading the way, resulted in Becton Dickinson announcing the acquisition of C. R. Bard for $24 billion in April 2017, which is expected to close in fall 2017. After the acquisition, Becton Dickinson will be the third-largest medical device company in the world.



Commitment to Educating the Community and Giving Back Bard Peripheral Vascular and its employees believe in supporting and giving back to their community through volunteer work and charitable contributions. The Bard Peripheral Vascular team has worked with many great local charities including: Child Crisis Center/Arizona Adoption & Foster Care, the Ronald McDonald House of Phoenix, HopeKids Arizona, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, United Way, Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels, and the American Diabetes Association. Together, the team has raised or donated over $600,000 in the last three years to support our local community and charities.

Bard Peripheral Vascular also hosts internships and funds engineering research projects with Arizona State University and The University of Arizona. "Patients and caregivers around the world continue to benefit from the tireless work, innovation and dedication of the employees at Bard Peripheral Vascular," stated Russ Yelton, CEO of Pinnacle Transplant Technologies and Chairman of the Arizona Bioindustry Association Board of Directors. For its commitment to improving the lives of patients and for its contributions to making life better across our community, Bard Peripheral Vascular is the 2017 Arizona Bioscience Company of the Year. A ceremony honoring Bard Peripheral Vascular and the people who have designed and deliver its biomedical innovations will take place at the AZBio Awards on October 11, 2017 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The AZBio Awards ceremony celebrates Arizona's leading educators, innovators and companies. Each year, AZBio honors bioindustry leaders from across the state of Arizona who are illustrative of the depth, breadth and expertise of its bioscience industry. The AZBio Awards ceremony is held annually during Arizona Bioscience Week. AZBW 2017 was proclaimed by the Arizona Senate earlier this year. Multiple educational events focused on the value of life science innovation will take place from October 8, 2017 to October 14, 2017 including the BMES Annual Meeting in Phoenix. The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) is the world's leading society of professionals devoted to developing and using engineering and technology to advance human health and well-being. Attendees at BMES 2017 in Phoenix are expected to include nearly 4,000 professional scientists, engineers, researchers and students from academia and industry who are leaders in biomedical engineering. For registration and more information, go to www.azbioawards.com. For more information on Arizona Bioscience Week, visit www.AZBio.org/AzBW2017. About AZBio A key component in Arizona's life science ecosystem, the Arizona Bioindustry Association (AZBio) is the only statewide organization exclusively focused on Arizona's bioscience industry. AZBio membership includes patient advocacy organizations, life science innovators, educators, healthcare partners and leading business organizations. AZBio is the statewide affiliate of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and works in partnership with AdvaMed, MDMA, and PhRMA to advance innovation and to ensure that the value delivered from life-changing and life-saving innovation benefits people in Arizona and around the world. For more information visit www.AZBio.org and www.AZBio.TV. Photos available upon request. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005681/en/

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Aaron Levie, 31, is the co-founder and chief executive of Box, a cloud storage company for businesses. Since co-founding the company as a student at USC in 2005, he has helped grow Box from four co-founders to more than 1,600 employees spread across offices in Redwood City, Calif., San Francisco, Austin, Texas, New York City, Paris, London, Tokyo and Sydney.

The company counts Coca-Cola, General Electric and the U.S. Department of Justice among its customers, and some 65 percent of Fortune 500 companies use its services. Box went public in 2015 and currently has a market cap of around $2.5 billion.

Starting in Seattle: Levie grew up in Seattle, the youngest of three children. His mother was a speech-language pathologist; his father was a chemical engineer at a paper company. Levie initially had an interest in filmmaking, going as far as applying to film school at USC, but was rejected ("It turns out I was really bad at making films"). One of his other interests was problem-solving.

"I remember using the internet when I was 13 or 14, and it was like this canvas where you could solve problems, and if you solved them well, you could have a real impact on how the world works and communicates," he said. "It was a real eye opener."

Throughout middle school and high school, he and his close friends Dylan Smith, Sam Ghods and Jeff Queisser built websites, briefly launched a record label that was more like a CD-burning operation, and made a film in their senior year.

Though they ended up at different colleges, they kept up this entrepreneurial streak with no real end goal in mind, launching companies that would fizzle after a few months, then doing it over and over again.

Right tech, right time: While at USC studying with an undeclared major, Levie came up with the idea for Box. He was an intern at Paramount Pictures in late 2004 and, between seeing how cumbersome it was for the film studio to share large files, and how rapidly the cost of online storage was coming down, he saw an opportunity.

"To share files, people had to email files to themselves, use thumb drives, use an FTP, and it was way too complicated and inefficient," he said. "So we had an idea and launched it in early 2005: People would pay us $2.99 a month, we'd give them 1GB of storage, and they could upload their files to Box, and access them anywhere."

Between Levie, Smith, Ghods and Queisser, the four friends had skills in software engineering, product design, marketing and operations -- not enough to run a large company, but just enough to get Box off the ground.

The idea struck a chord, and hundreds of people signed up.

Dropping out: Running Box quickly became a full-time job. The team worked 16 hours a day, on top of their college coursework. Levie was answering customer support questions during his accounting classes. He had to make a call: He could focus on school, and let a business that had gained more traction than any of his past startups fizzle through neglect, or he could drop out and bet it all on Box.

"This felt like what a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity might feel like," Levie said. "We had hundreds of users paying us. It wasn't hundreds of thousands, but we decided to roll the dice. So Dylan and I dropped out, and we convinced Sam and Jeff to drop out too."

Down to Berkeley: Levie had thought of building the business in Seattle, but in 2005 Seattle wasn't yet the tech hub it is today, and funding was hard to come by.

"We were 19 or 20 at the time, and Seattle investors just didn't believe in the idea or the team," Levie said. "A lot of them were burned by the dot-com bubble, but we were also really on the young side. Dylan looked like he was 14 years old. We didn't look like a credible founding team."

Down in Silicon Valley, though, a young startup called Facebook had just set up shop in Palo Alto, and, despite being ground zero for the dot-com bust, the Valley still had a far more robust startup ecosystem than other parts of the country.

Levie and Smith drove a van to Berkeley, where Levie's uncle let them stay in a renovated garage that had a bunk bed, a pull-out mattress and a yoga mat. Ghods and Quiesser joined them months later.

Trust and pivots: The reason the co-founders were so willing to drop out of college for a nascent startup was because they trusted each other, Levie said.

"I don't recommend this to everyone, because the advice you hear is typically don't do anything business-related with friends or family because it'll blow up your friendship, but for some reason the foundation of our friendship and the trust was strong enough," he said. "These were my best friends, and we'd known each other since middle school. We had such a deep level of trust in each other, we knew we'd have each other's backs no matter what, and we could push on each other pretty hard and know it wasn't going to be taken personally."

So a few years into Box's expansion, when the company realized that it would have to focus on servicing businesses rather than individuals, Levie trusted his co-founders when they insisted that the company needed to pivot.

"I thought building an enterprise software company was going to be really boring, so I didn't get excited by it," Levie said. "I wanted to stay consumer. But I came to the conclusion that they were right, it wasn't growing fast enough."

The writing was also on the wall: In 2007, when Box was preparing to pivot, companies such as Google and Apple were ramping up their cloud storage services, which offered free online storage to consumers. Pivoting to businesses allowed Box to differentiate itself.

It's all about culture: After more than a decade running the company, Levie says the key to Box's success has always been its culture.

"You always see posters with platitudes like 'Culture eats strategy for breakfast,' but when your company scales, you realize that culture eats everything," he said. "It's more fundamental than any other aspect of the business."

Culture, Levie said, includes the way the company hires, who it hires, who it fires, how it rewards employees, and the way people interact with each other. When a culture is healthy, it will keep employees focused on the mission and help a company execute on their goals. "It's the base of the pyramid," he said.
[October 08, 2017] Great Big Story Celebrates the Spirit and Passion of the Lion City in Mini-Series, 'Travel Diaries'

HONG KONG, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In its new mini-series 'Travel Diaries', Great Big Story takes viewers on a cinematic tour of the Lion City. Much in sync with the country's latest brand unveiling, 'Singapore  Passion Made Possible', this mini-series will bring forth stories that express the Singaporean attitude of passion, determination and enterprise that constantly pursues possibilities and reinvention. Haw Par Villa : For the first story on 'Travel Dairies', Great Big Story meets with Mr. Teo Veoh Seng, the last remaining artisan at Haw Par Villa. Mr. Teo has worked at the theme park for the last 69 years, painting and maintaining more than 1,000 statues that depict scenes from Chinese folklore and mythology. Carrot Cake : Great Big Story gets a taste of local culture by visiting one of the most popular food stalls in the city. Operated by cousins Quek Bee Gek and Teo Kwee Lang, Bee Bee Carrot Cake sells chai tow kway  a sticky, savoury, wok-fried breakfast made of diced and seasoned radish cubes. The proprietors explain how they've kept their stall running for close to four decades, and how they've amassed a hungry and loyal fanbase that includes the likes of Olympic gold medallist, Joseph Schooling. Ethical Sea Farming Duo : The third story follows the lives and passion of two best friends and how they are keeping the sea farming tradition alive in modern times. Jing Kai and Bryan might just be 25 years old, but they have certainly chosen a road less travelled. Viewers can find this youthful duo running a fish kelong that focuses on farming sea food. Mos fishermen on kelongs are over 60 and speak in dialects and their trade is not being passed on to the next generation, which is why Jing Kai and Bryan stepped up to be the keepers of this unique tradition.



By capturing the colourful customs and characters of Singapore, 'Travel Diaries' aims to get viewers to go from the screen onto the streets to experience these great big stories for themselves. The series premieres on all major digital and social platforms on October 4. Since launching in 2015, Great Big Story has produced more than 1,400 original stories designed for multi-platform viewing and social media sharing. Catering to today's global generation of intellectually curious and connected consumers, our team travels to all corners of the world, seeking out stories that are untold, overlooked and flat-out amazing. Keeping in line with this mission, 'Travel Diaries' celebrates the artists, creators and culture-preservers who are keeping cherished traditions alive in the modern metropolis of Singapore.

The first story on 'Travel Diaries': In Singapore, 70 Years of Crafting a Unique Theme Park About CNN International Commercial CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) is the division of Turner International responsible for the business operations of CNN's properties outside of the United States. All the commercial activities for brands such as CNN International, CNN en Espanol, CNN Arabic, CNN Style, CNNMoney and Great Big Story are aligned within the division. This encompasses the marketing, advertising sales, sponsorship partnerships, commercial content development, content sales, brand licensing, distribution and out-of-home operations for the world's leading international news provider. CNNIC is a recognised industry leader in international advertising sales and its use of award-winning commercial content, produced through its Create unit and driven by its advanced data usage and digital capabilities, has resulted in strong and enduring partnerships with many of the world's most recognised brands. Its Content Sales and Licensing unit has relationships with more than 1000 affiliates ranging from licensing the CNN brand through to content supply contracts as well as offering consultancy services. CNNIC has offices across the world, with key hubs in London, Hong Kong and Miami. For more information visit http://commercial.cnn.com About Great Big Story Great Big Story is a global media company devoted to cinematic storytelling. Headquartered in New York, with bureaus in London and Stockholm, our studios create and distribute micro docs and short films, as well as series for digital, social, TV and theatrical release. Since launching in October 2015, our producers have traveled to more than 80 countries to discover the untold, the overlooked and the flat-out amazing. Our stories engage and inspire tens of millions daily. Great Big Story is available on more than a dozen platforms including Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, Apple News + Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and others, and has licensing deals with Comcast Watchable, MSN, Yahoo! and Pluto TV. Visit http://www.greatbigstory.com/ for more information. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171004/1958496-1 SOURCE Great Big Story, CNN International

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[October 08, 2017] CoreCommerce India - Affordable E-commerce Solution for Small and Medium Enterprises Based in India

VADODARA, India, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CoreCommerce India is introducing a suite of e-commerce tools targeted at small and medium enterprises in the country. The company's e-commerce platform is a do-it-yourself store builder that uses cutting-edge technology to make online business easy, secure and fun to work with. The product also features one-click translation to Hindi, Spanish and Portuguese. CoreCommerce India CEO, Viren Bhavsar, says, "I am excited about the potential for using technology to simplify the lives of common people and help the small and medium businesses expand their horizons beyond expectations. We want to help small- and medium-sized businesses solve common business problems in a few minutes." (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568973/CoreCommerce_India_Logo.jpg ) Today, the best way to grow a business is to take it online but many Indian businesses are not using the Web effectively. The MSME Annual Report 2015-16 reports that India has about 51 million small and medium enterprises. Only about 2% of those companies actively sell and market online which leave 98% of these SME enterprises not knocking on opportunities that have the potential for them to succeed. Going digtal could make a world of difference for those businesses. A professional online presence helps businesses sell more products and generate more leads. Many of those business owners probably think building and maintaining a web store is too complex and expensive to justify the investment. They think they need to hire designers, developers and technical support people. CoreCommerce takes away that headache from these business owners. It has built-in suite of software which enables these business owners to design and have their website function the way they want it to.



CoreCommerce India offers web design, marketing, and business support tools. It helps customers build online stores from pre-designed templates. Secure Cloud hosting on PCI-compliant servers is a standard as well which means one's financial and Intellectual property remains safe. CoreCommerce India's customers also enjoy the benefits of technical support and training in the form of webinars, tutorials from its award-winning customer support. These services make it easier for business owners to build and manage an online store. CoreCommerce also offers business support services that include third-party shipping, accounting, payment processing, and marketing support. The back-end includes all the reporting features a business owner needs to monitor sales and web traffic. CoreCommerce believes in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary campaigns - Digital India and Start-up India. Customers can choose from Basic, Advanced, Premier, and Enterprise packages. The Basic package offers numerous tools. Each of the other three packages comes with added benefits. All packages are reasonably priced, support multiple payment types, and produce mobile-friendly sites. These packages also eliminate the need to hire designers, developers, and technical support people. This fact dramatically reduces the cost of creating and managing an online store.

About CoreCommerce India CoreCommerce India, an e-commerce firm based in Vadodara, is a simple and fast e-commerce solution that enables companies and individuals to create and operate their own online store. It comes loaded with multiple features as well as security functions that are top-notch. It is a suitable platform for small businesses and individuals that are looking to set up new stores. Learn more about CoreCommerce India by visiting http://www.corecommerce.in or contact us by email at [email protected]. Media Contact:

Mohnish M Mehta

[email protected]

+91-7383838983





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[October 09, 2017] Ruijie Networks Made a Stunning Appearance at GITEX 2017, Perfectly Presenting Its Global Service Capability

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 37th GITEX Technology Week was held in Dubai from 8th to 12th October 2017. Ruijie, a leading ICT solution supplier in China, brought advanced products and technologies including routers, switches, wireless, etc., as well as solutions covering industries like telecom, government, education, finance, transportation, hospitality, commerce, etc. Ruijie's booth attracted the attention of major carriers and enterprise users worldwide. Some representatives from Middle East and Africa expressed intention of cooperation in solutions and projects. The Newton Series Stood out among Ruijie's Flagship Products As Ruijie's next-generation high-performance product, RG-N18000-X Switch Series adopts the CLOS orthogonal switching architecture and offers a maximum switching capacity of up to 172T per chassis. It is consdered one of the industry's leading core switches with the highest specifications. Its zero-backplane design is first adopted on the 100T switching platform which makes it the only device in the industry achieving a smooth and large-span upgrade from 50G to 400G.



Ruijie also displayed its enterprise-class WLAN products with the 4th generation X-Sense antenna. This technology is capable of dynamically generating 16.77 million directional signals to automatically identify the type, direction and movement of terminals, thus guaranteeing the best signal quality. Additionally, 802.11ac Wave 2 products and solutions equipped with cutting-edge technologies like MU-MIMO and Pre-ax, including RG-AP740-I, RG-AP520(W2), RG-AP630(IDA2), RG-AP130(W2) and i-Share+ AP, were also highlights of the exhibition. Ruijie Shows Its Global Service Capability by Expanding Its Overseas Market

Through this exhibition, Ruijie not only brought its advanced technologies to the Middle East, but also built the image of "professional and innovative scenario-oriented solution supplier". For Ruijie, this GITEX journey indeed played a significant role in its global reach. Ruijie has 5 R&D centers, 40 branches and 4000+ partners around the world, with service covering over 30 countries and regions, including Asia, America, Africa and Middle East. By gradually providing products and services to the global market, offering resources to overseas employees, clients and partners for technical training, establishing testing platforms for overseas products and solutions, and building experience centers for global customers, Ruijie is working with partners to continuously unleash the innovation power of Chinese enterprises to the global market. Contact:

William Zhang

+971503923876

[email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ruijie-networks-made-a-stunning-appearance-at-gitex-2017-perfectly-presenting-its-global-service-capability-300533006.html SOURCE Ruijie Networks

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[October 09, 2017] Analytics India Magazine Creates a New Buzz With its New Web Series 'The Dating Scientist'

BENGALURU, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- When one thinks about Data Science and Data Scientists, one sort of sees a whole series of news flashes about layoffs in the IT sector, artificial intelligence and self-driving cars in their heads. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161117/440618LOGO )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568995/Analytics_India_Magazine_The_Data_Scientist.jpg )

But despite all of that, in this era of Big Data, number crunching and analytical thinking, there is a definite and irrevocable place for one key human emotion in the modern workplace - the intuition. This is what the protagonist of Analytics India Magazine's upcoming web series 'The Dating Scientist', to be released on 9 October 2017, is set to tackle. Vishesh, the hero of the three-part web series is a corporate employee, with a thorough base in marketing. But his unique marketing brain is on the verge of becoming useless, thanks to the newly emerging field of Data Science. Such is the aura of data science among urban employees nowadays that each of them is thinking in his head - 'May be data science is the new buzz', and Vishesh is no exception. 'The Dating Scientist' explores this transition to the new era of data and its ffects on job profiles.



When Vishesh finds out that his organization is also going the tech way by hiring a new Data Scientist, the marketing pro is first antagonistic towards his colleague. Of course, his antagonism gives way to different emotions altogether when he realizes that his new Data Scientist colleague and roommate is a painfully shy girl named Manya. Bhasker Gupta, Founder and CEO, Analytics India Magazine, said, "Professionals often think of Data Scientists as these alien creatures who only exist to snatch their jobs away. With 'The Dating Scientist' we want to bust that perception and showcase that not only Data Scientists are becoming integral part of the work environment, but also that they are very much prone to the same challenges and stressful situations like everyone else."

In a series of hilarious twists, Vishesh, whose job is at stake, and Manya whose lack of social personal skills may cost her dearly, reach an impasse, where only a bet can save them both. Set in the city of Bengaluru, 'The Dating Scientist' has been directed by Hera Pheri Films, a venture by a group of young engineers from IIT Kanpur. Watch all the episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9Kc1zSa46OxzJqQEJa-qI55CtLZxFl2v About Analytics India Magazine Analytics India Magazine chronicles technological progress in the space of analytics, artificial intelligence, data science and big data by highlighting the innovations, players, and challenges shaping the future of India through promotion and discussion of ideas and thoughts by smart, ardent, action-oriented individuals who want to change the world.

Since 2012, Analytics India Magazine is dedicated to passionately championing and promoting the analytics ecosystem in India. They have been a pre-eminent source of news, information and analysis for the Indian analytics ecosystem, covering opinions, analysis, and insights on key breakthroughs and future trends in data-driven technologies as well as highlighting how they're being leveraged for future impact.

With a dedicated editorial staff and a network of more than 250 expert contributors, their stories are targeted at futurists, AI researchers, Data science entrepreneurs, analytics aficionados and technophiles. Visit http://analyticsindiamag.com/ for more information. Media Contact:

Bhasker Gupta

Analytics India Magazine Pvt Ltd

[email protected]

+91-9916006869





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[October 09, 2017] EV Group and SwissLitho to Develop Joint Nanoimprint Lithography Solution for 3D Optical Structures with Single-Nanometer Accuracy

ST. FLORIAN, Austria and ZURICH, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EV Group (EVG), a leading supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology and semiconductor markets, and SwissLitho AG, a manufacturer of novel nanolithography tools, today announced a joint solution to enable the production of 3D structures down to the single-nanometer scale. Initially demonstrated within the "Single Nanometer Manufacturing for Beyond CMOS Devices (SNM)" project funded by the Seventh Framework Program of the European Union, the joint solution involves SwissLitho's novel NanoFrazor thermal scanning probe lithography system to produce master templates with 3D structures for nanoimprint lithography (NIL), and EVG's HERCULES NIL system with SmartNIL technology to replicate those structures at high throughput. Target Applications

EVG and SwissLitho will initially target the joint solution for developing diffractive optical elements and other related optical components that support photonics, data communications, augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) and other applications, with the potential to expand into biotechnology, nanofluidics and other nanotechnology applications. As part of the joint solution, SwissLitho's NanoFrazor system will be used to create imprint masters. Compared to conventional approaches, including electron beam (e-beam) and grayscale lithography, the novel technology has the unique ability to print 3D structures with unsurpassed accuracy. EVG's HERCULES NIL system will then be used to create working templates for production use, cost-effectively and at high throughput, using the company's proprietary large-area nanoimprint SmartNIL technology. Dr. Thomas Glinsner, corporate technology director at EV Group, noted, "SwissLitho's NanoFrazor solution is highly complementary to EVG's SmartNIL technology. Together we can offer a complete NIL solution for photonics and other applications involving 3D structure patterning, providing significant opportunity for both companies to expand our customer base and market reach. Our NILPhotonics Competence Center will be the first point of contact for customers interested in this joint solution, where we will be able to offer feasibility studies, demonstrations and pilot-line production." A Closer Look at the Technologies

Thermal scanning probe lithography, the technology behind the NanoFrazor, was invented at IBM Research in Zurich and acquired by SwissLitho AG. This maskless, direct-write lithography approach involves spin-coating a unique, thermally sensitive resist onto the sample surface before patterning. A heated ultra-sharp tip is then used to decompose and evaporate the resist locally while simultaneously inspecting the written nanostructures. The resulting arbitrary resist pattern can then be transferred into almost any other material using lift-off, etching, plating, molding or other methodologies. "We developed our NanoFrazor line to provide a high-performance, affordable alternative and extension to costly e-beam lithography systems," said Dr. Felix Holzner, SwissLitho CEO. "The technology allows manufacturing of the master with many 'levels' in a single step. In particular, 3D structures with single nanometer accuracy can be produced more easily and with greater fidelity compared to traditional e-beam or grayscale lithography methods. We look forward to working with customers to combine our technology with EVG's successful SmartNIL process at their NILPhotonics Competence Center in Austria." The HERCULES NIL combines EVG's extensive expertise in NIL, resist processing and high-volume manufacturing solutions into a single integrated system that offers throughput of up to 40 wph for 200-mm wafers. The system's configurable, modular platform accommodates a variety of imprint materials and structure sizesgiving customers greater flexibility in addressing their manufacturing needs. In addition, its ability to fabricate multiple-use soft stamps helps extend the lifetime of master imprint templates. More information about EVG's HERCULES NIL UV-NIL track system can be found at: https://www.evgroup.com/en/products/lithography/nanoimprint_systems/uv_nil/hercules_nil/ More information about SwissLitho's NanoFrazor technology can be found at: https://swisslitho.com/nanofrazor-working-principle/ About SwissLitho

SwissLitho is an award-winning startup company founded in 2012 with the vision to revolutionize nanofabrication. The company develops, manufactures and markets a novel maskless nanolithography technique with high resolution and unique capabilities such as 3D patterning and in-situ metrology, which has the potential to replace and extend conventional patterning technologies like electron beam lithography. Customers use SwissLitho's unique NanoFrazor tools to fabricate novel electrical, optical, magnetic and biological nanodevices, which have previously not been possible to fabricate. Further information about the company and its products can be found at www.swisslitho.com. About EV Group (EVG)

EV Group (EVG) is a leading supplier of equipment and process solutions for the manufacture of semiconductors, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), compound semiconductors, power devices and nanotechnology devices. Key products include wafer bonding, thin-wafer processing, lithography/nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and metrology equipment, as well as photoresist coaters, cleaners and inspection systems. Founded in 1980, EV Group services and supports an elaborate network of global customers and partners all over the world. More information about EVG is available at www.EVGroup.com.







SwissLitho Contact:



Dr. Felix Holzner



CEO / Co-founder



Tel: +41 44 500 3801



E-mail: [email protected]









EV Group Contacts:



Clemens Schutte David Moreno

Director, Marketing and Communications Chief Strategy Officer

EV Group MCA, Inc.

Tel: +43 7712 5311 0 Tel: +1.650.968.8900, ext. 125

E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]



View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ev-group-and-swisslitho-to-develop-joint-nanoimprint-lithography-solution-for-3d-optical-structures-with-single-nanometer-accuracy-300532817.html SOURCE EV Group

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[October 09, 2017] Scry.info in Japan: a 6.5 trillion strategic cooperation in blockchain data

TOKYO, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 7, 2017, Beijing time, the SCRY.INFO Japanese community launched. The launching ceremony of the SCRY.INFO Japanese community received a warm welcome from Japanese blockchain professionals and community members. The ceremony also attracted a great number of well-established enterprises and colleges, including the biggest global rating company S&P Global, the biggest BPO company in Japan InfoDelivery, the world-leading provider of services and solutions for the wireless industry Brightstar, one of the US' biggest financing institutions Prudential Financial, the world-leading ICT integrated service provider Fujitsu, the most renowned enterprise in the international financial IT industry FITECH LABS, the worldwide-famous international logistics company Nissin Corporation, the Japanese credit information agency CCB as well as the University of Tokyo and Asian Institute of Technology. During this event, Japanese attendees with an appetite for blockchain showed strong interests in technological details and application practice presented by SCRY.INFO, and had in-depth discussions with the SCRY.INFO team on the spot. SCRY.INFO is the world's first blockchain quantifiable platform for data transactions, storage realizing, verification, sharing, analysis and transactions of real data in smart contracts. Blockchain is not a technology for the sole purpose of technology. In thetime of symbolization and information application, the goal of SCRY.INFO is to create value and gain a competitive edge for more business partners, based on the combination of big data and blockchain technology.



At the scene, Ray, co-founder of SCRY.INFO and Kurihara, the core developer of this community, shared the progress of research and development of SCRY.INFO and the practical plan for applying systematic smart contracts in business, respectively. They opened an in-depth discussion and conducted a model test in terms of grafting AI robot systems into the SCRY.INFO blockchain protocols. They projected that they together will release the blockchain commercial cooperation system integrated with artificial intelligence, in December. Present was also algorithm engineer from the University of Tokyo Dr. Wang Zhipeng and the founder of Sujitech, who represents a new generation of technical engineers. Suji promotes technical knowledge sharing. Co-founder of SCRY.INFO Ray and president of TLZS Corporation Sxrsing signed the contract on the spot. Thus, the Japanese SCRY.INFO community led by TLZS Corporation was officially set up. President Sxsing indicated that blockchain is a cutting-edge technology. The leap of computing is based on how computers are told to perform and built upon how to make computers perform in a way that every industry can benefit from. Blockchain answers a need in data application and is a technology that will bring with many foreseeable concrete economic benefits, for instance, improving effectiveness, lowering commercial operating cost and helping to build an intelligent credible society.

At present, Japan is paving the way for blockchain technology and its financial applications worldwide, thanks to the appreciation and huge support from the Japanese government and institutions. Blockchain technology will certainly enjoy enormous development in the years to come. We believe that more and more enterprises and institutions will connect to blockchain application systems in Japan. SCRY.INFO will also add more strength into our Japanese community and work together to promote the development of blockchain applications in Japan. Ray expressed that SCRY.INFO welcomes new and old friends in Japan, inside or outside this industry, and any enterprise, organization or individual who is interested in blockchain smart contracts to join our SCRY.INFO community. Together, we can build the SCRY.INFO ecological community, and embrace a future of in-depth commercial cooperation and contribute to the development of industrial blockchain technology application. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171009/1961280-1-a

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171009/1961280-1-b SOURCE Scry.info

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[October 09, 2017] Cook for a Cure

MISSION, Kan., Oct. 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Family Features) If you love to entertain and want to support a good cause, now you can do both at the same time.

Photo courtesy of Chris Scheuer of The Cafe Sucre Farine



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d1b1f57-ca13-4d84-9344-bb29e94845b1 Currently in its 16th year, Cook for the Cure is a program that gives those with a passion for cooking a way to support the fight against breast cancer. Through culinary-based fundraising, events, auctions and the sale of select products, the partnership between KitchenAid and Susan G. Komen for the Cure has raised more than $10.7 million for the cause. It adds another layer of purpose to one of lifes great pleasures, cooking and enjoying food with family and friends, said Beth Robinson, senior manager of brand experience for KitchenAid. The program continues to fuel passionate cooks with simple, creative ways to support a meaningful cause. You can make a difference by hosting a party that lets you Cook for the Cure by raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Here are some ideas to get you started: Organize a fundraising bake sale. Get the neighbors involved in baking, promoting and selling  its a great way to bring people together. Your contribution could be these Lemon Berry Cheesecake Bars.

Host a potluck brainstorming party. Invite people who share your passion for helping others to bring their favorite ish and think up creative ways to support the cause as a group. Vote on a project then let everyone pitch in to get started. Cooking good food, sharing time with friends and giving back to the community  thats a recipe for a truly great party.

Share on social media. Sharing baked goods with friends is a pleasure. Now you can make it even more meaningful by sharing to raise money for a good cause. From Oct. 1 through Oct. 31, for every cupcake image shared on Twitter or Instagram with the collective hashtags #10000cupcakes and #donate, KitchenAid will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen, up to a maximum donation of $10,000. In addition, KitchenAid will donate $250,000 or more to Susan G. Komen through the Cook for the Cure program to support the fight against breast cancer. Since 2001, they have donated more than $10.7 million to Komen through the initiative, sales of pink products, celebrity chef auctions and fundraisers hosted by supporters. Visit cookforthecure.kitchenaid.com/10000cupcakes to see the full terms and conditions and learn more about the 10,000 Cupcakes program.



Lemon Berry Cheesecake Bars

Recipe courtesy of Lindsay Conchar of Life, Love & Sugar on behalf of KitchenAid

Makes: 12-16 bars 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 5 tablespoons butter, melted 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon lemon zest 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream, divided fresh berries Line 9-inch square cake pan with parchment paper, bringing up over sides.

Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter, and stir until well combined. Press crumb mixture evenly into bottom of cake pan. Set aside. In bowl of stand mixer, beat cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest until smooth. In separate bowl, whip heavy whipping cream until it starts to thicken. Add remaining powdered sugar and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Gently fold half the whipped cream into cheesecake mixture and place remainder in refrigerator to use later. Spread cheesecake mixture evenly in cake pan. Refrigerate cheesecake at least 4 hours, or until firm. Use parchment paper on sides to lift bars out of pan then cut into squares. Use remaining whipped cream to top cheesecake bars then add fresh berries, as desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Michael French

[email protected]

1-888-824-3337

editors.familyfeatures.com About Family Features Editorial Syndicate

Established in 1974, Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for print and online publications. Our articles, photos, videos and web content solutions save you time, money and help create advertising opportunities. Registration is fast and free  with absolutely no obligation. Visit editors.familyfeatures.com for more information.

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United States Vitamin Ingredients Market 2017: Prospects, Trends Analysis, Market Size and Forecasts up to 2022 - Research and Markets

The "United States Vitamin Ingredients Market: Prospects, Trends Analysis, Market Size and Forecasts up to 2022" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The report on United States Vitamin Ingredients Market is a customer intelligence and competitive study of the United States market.

Moreover, the report provides deep insights on demand forecasts, market trends, and, micro and macro indicators in United States market. Also, factors that are driving are restraining the Vitamin Ingredients Market are highlighted in the study.

This is an in-depth business intelligence report based on qualitative and quantitative parameters of the market. Additionally, this report provides readers with market insights and detailed analysis of market egments to possible micro levels.







The companies featured in the United States, Vitamin Ingredients Market, include E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Amway, Archer Daniels Midland Company, AIE Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Bactolac Pharmaceutical, Inc..

Segments Covered:

The report on Vitamin Ingredients Market provides detailed analysis of segments in the market based on Product Type and Application.

Segmentation based on Product Type:

- Vitamin A

- Vitamin B

- Vitamin C

- Vitamin D

- Vitamin C

- Vitamin K

Segmentation based on Application:

- Pharmaceuticals

- Processed and Packaged Food and Beverage

- Cosmetics

- Animal Feed

- Others

Companies Mentioned

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company

Amway

Archer Daniels Midland Company

AIE Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Bactolac Pharmaceutical Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/chldjf/united_states

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005748/en/
[October 09, 2017] North America to Hold Major Revenue in Global Wireless Gas Detection Market, Finds Transparency Market Research

ALBANY, New York, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The drive for wireless gas detection system primarily stems from the need for a wireless infrastructure for real-time monitoring and detection of toxic or combustible gases throughout an industrial plant or facility. The rising demand for easily deployable gas detectors that allows for cost-effective installation in several end-use industries is a key factor driving the wireless gas detection market. The intensifying need for real-time awareness of hazardous chemical agents among military and security personnel world over is a crucial factor stoking the demand for portable wireless gas detection systems. The incorporation of ultra-low powered transmitters and advanced sensors in detection system has further made them less power intensive and more sensitive in operation. Combined with this, the advent of scalable solutions is a key factor bolstering their applications for monitoring of toxic gases in various industries such as oil and gas, chemical and petrochemicals, government and military. The global wireless gas detection market is estimated to grow from US$1,130.8 Mn in 2017 to US$1,771.4 Mn by the end of 2022. The market is forecast to rise at a CAGR of 9.4% during the period 2017-2022. Here is an in-depth insight into key factors driving the global wireless gas detection market: The growing demand for continuous monitoring of various combustible gases or toxic chemical agents for the purpose of industrial safety, military, and environment protection is a key factor boosting the wireless gas detection market. The intensifying need for real-time detection of various toxic gases, including carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, among equipment technicians, firefighters, and military and security personnel is bolstering the demand for wireless gas detection systems across the globe. Get PDF Sample for this Research Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=31475 Constant advancements in sensor technologies used in wireless gas detection systems has significantly improved their sensitivity and boosted their functionality. However, the difficulty in dsigning gas detection system to meet a constantly changing industrial safety standards is a key factor likely to impede the market to an extent. Nevertheless, the growing demand for flexible and cost-effective wireless frameworks for the detection of toxic gases in hazardous environments, notably in oil and gas drilling and exploration activities, is a key trend expected to accentuate the market during the forecast period.



Regionally, North America is set to be the dominant contributor of the global revenue. The North America market is expected to hold the major share vis-a-vis revenue in 2017 and is likely to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The regional market is projected to rise at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2017 to 2022. Others Wireless Gas Detection Product Segment to Witness Dominant Growth in Revenue, Annually

Based on product type, the global wireless gas detection market is segmented into oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and others. Of these, the others segment is projected to rise at a substantial pace, accounting for a revenue of US$ 24.4 Mn annually over the forecast period. This segment is currently valued at US$ 371.2 Mn, amounting to a share of 32.8% in the market in 2017, and is projected to reach US$ 493.1 Mn by 2022 end. The others segment under product type in wireless gas detection market is projected to rise at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period. Download Report TOC at - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/31475 Competitive Dynamics Several players are keen on launching versatile and multi-point gas detection solutions to meet the safety needs of various end-use industries, in order to gain a competitive edge over other players. Some of the leading players operating in the global wireless gas detection market are Honeywell International, Inc., Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Agilent Technologies, Inc., R.C. Systems Co. Inc., Sensidyne, LP, Airtest Technologies Inc., United Electric Controls, Crowcon Detection Instruments Ltd., Pem-Tech Inc., and Otis Instruments Inc. Popular Reports by Transparency Market Research: Inertial Measurement Unit Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/inertial-measurement-unit-market.html Body Sensor Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/body-sensor-market.html Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/industrial-internet-of-things-iiot-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact

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[October 09, 2017] Hawaiian-inspired poke meals are up 76% in offices across America

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Poke restaurants are all the rage these days, serving up bowls of the Hawaiian marinated raw fish dish, served over rice and topped with vegetables. Now offices across the United States have access to this wave of deliciousness with the help of leading corporate catering provider ZeroCater and their carefully curated restaurant partners, including Pokeworks. Click to Tweet: Offices across America ride the poke wave. @ZeroCater reports a 76% spike in poke deliveries. https://ctt.ec/bxGd3+ At the end of 2016, industry experts predicted poke would have a significant influence on the restaurant space in 2017 with menu additions and new concepts. Naturally, the office catering space wasn't far behind. In fact, since the start of 2017, ZeroCater has seen a 76 percent increase of poke meals delivered from poke meals delivered in 2016. One factor may be a focus on health in the workplace. Poke is full of flavor, low in calories and high in protein, with sushi-grade seafood boasting essential fatty acids, which are great for maintaining brain function, cardiovascular health and healthy cholesterol levels. With clients' increased interest in poke, ZroCater brought on five new poke vendors to accommodate demand, including Pokeworks in the San Francisco Bay and New York regions.



"We strive to keep our offerings fresh and exciting so that our clients and their employees enjoy their food programs to the fullest," said Arram Sabeti, CEO of ZeroCater. "As wellness becomes increasingly important in the workplace, especially among millennials, poke is a fresh, flavorful option loaded with veggies and omega-3s." One of the fastest-growing poke concepts, Pokeworks presents this delicious, Hawaiian-inspired cuisine in a healthy and inspiring way, and it is now exclusively available for corporate catering in the San Francisco Bay and New York regions through ZeroCater. The Pokeworks menu, which features the freshest raw sushi and poke as well as cooked shrimp, chicken and scallop options, has the capability to provide something for everyone. Offices can choose from "Signature Works" such as Hawaiian Classic, Sweet Ginger Chicken or Sweet Chili Tofu Poke. Catering to the millennials' desire for customization, the "Poke Your Way" option offers a build-your-own poke bar, where employees can choose from a bowl, burrito or salad with their choice of protein, mix-ins, flavors, toppings and crunchy items. With employers' continued focus on employee wellness, Pokeworks also offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Helping companies feed their employees since 2009, ZeroCater has grown and now caters to thousands of offices by offering a diverse selection of cuisines from more than 500 top-rated restaurant partners nationwide. As competition for top talent grows, companies are getting creative in their efforts to attract and retain employees by offering enticing benefits and perks such as delicious food programs that mirror the latest trends in restaurants and on supermarket shelves. With ZeroCater, companies are able to offer catered lunches from the city's best restaurants and next-level office snacks featuring a carefully curated collection of the latest artisanal snacks. ABOUT ZEROCATER

Founded in 2009, ZeroCater is a San Francisco-based startup with a mission to help companies build high-performing cultures through food so they can hire, retain and make top talent productive. Arram Sabeti founded ZeroCater after realizing firsthand the pain points of organizing office meals. ZeroCater makes office catering and snacks simple through dedicated account managers, top-notch vendors and technology that allows for a seamless process and in-depth insight. Currently, ZeroCater provides office catering and snack services in San Francisco; New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Austin and Los Angeles. Media Contact:

Megan Palmer

ZeroCater

415-432-8173

[email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawaiian-inspired-poke-meals-are-up-76-in-offices-across-america-300533212.html SOURCE ZeroCater

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DECATUR  More than 70 of the faithful gathered in Decatur Sunday afternoon to seek solace in prayer amid a recent tragic litany of both man-made death and natural destruction.

The Pray Together vigil was hosted on the lawn in front of the Civic Center, offering prayers encompassing everything from the Las Vegas mass shooting to the recent hurricanes that all but destroyed Puerto Rico.

My heart just aches for all those people, those who died in Las Vegas and Puerto Rico, just so much suffering, said Gayle Dees. Her husband, the Rev. Ken Dees, is pastor of Central United Methodist Church and has been fielding tough questions from his congregation.

'Where was God in all of this? What is the meaning of this?' recalled Ken Dees. He said the answers are as hard as the questions, but faith is not easy.

We have to live through it together and that starts here, inside the family of God, he said. We lift each other up.

First United Methodist Church pastor, the Rev. Miley Palmer, said man-made tragedies reflect the dark side of the free will God gave to mankind.

God wanted us to be his children, not puppets, Palmer said. And it's because of that free will that we sometimes make very bad decisions.

For those who might be tempted to think that's easy for a pastor to say on a beautiful fall afternoon in quiet Central Illinois, Palmer's words are undergirded by the iron faith that helped him survive terrible personal loss.

On the afternoon of Feb 14, 2008, his granddaughter, Ryanne Mace, was one of the five students murdered in a mass shooting on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The 19-year-old sophomore was studying counseling because, her grandfather said, she wanted to help others.

That tragedy didn't test the faith of my wife and myself; if anything it strengthened our faith because we had God to trust in, to look to for help, said the pastor.

Palmer helped lead Sunday's vigil in prayer and song, but also cited grim statistics describing the violence disfiguring the face of the nation: There are about 30,000 firearm-related deaths in America every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Land of the Free's civilian body count also exceeds its military losses in battle, Palmer said: Since the 1960s, more Americans have been shot dead on their own streets then have died in all the wars the country has fought since 1776. The CDC reports some 1.5 million gun-related deaths since 1968, while fewer than 1.4 million have died in wars and military conflicts, according to the Congressional Research Service and icasualties.org, which tracks casualties from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And yet, amid all this horror, Palmer said Christians must find it in their hearts to forgive those who commit murder. If you don't forgive, your anger and your bitterness and your grief becomes a kind of cancer that will eat you away, he warned.
[October 09, 2017] Xcloud: Seize the "Golden Key" to Smart Home Market

CHENGDU, China, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In an exclusive interivew, Li Cheng, the CEO of Xcloud, an emerging startup company based in the Chungdu Tianfu Software Park, explains how he developed his business with the smart router product. Chengdu Tianfu Software Park (the Park) is one of China's 11 national software industry bases, a national software export innovation base, and a national service outsourcing base urban demonstration park. Since officially beginning operations in 2005, the Park has attracted over 600 domestic and international tenants, including IBM, SAP, EMC, Philips, Maersk, Siemens, Ericsson, Dell, Wipro, DHL, PwC, NCS, Garmin, Huawei, Alibaba, Tencent, and Manulife Financial. Among these, 34 are Fortune Global 500 companies. The Park currently houses over 60,000 working staff. Meanwhile, the Park is operating China's renowned startup incubation platform, Tianfu Software Park. Lab, as well as the largest national public technology support platform in western China, one of the most important industrial platforms in Chengdu and western China in order to offer innovative startup services to the mobile Internet sector. In 2016, Xcloud was listed on National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ) or the "new third board" and the sales revenue of its smart router hit over 100 million yuan. Up to now, the sales volume of its major product "Newifi 3" has surpassed 100,000 units. Li Cheng, CEO of Xcloud, who made his fortune by hardware business, told our reporter that the DNA of Xcloud is in essence a software service company. This start-up focuses on private cloud and has shifted its atention to smart router market because it has seized the "golden key" to smart home market - "bandwidth sharing".



Bandwidth Sharing: A Router that Gives Red Envelopes Since 2013, mobile internet has witnessed rapid development and the demand of network access, therefore, has experienced exponential growth. Gee router, TP Link, Netcore and other players of domestic smart router manufacturers have expanded their business dramatically. However, Li Cheng discovered some unavoidable shortcomings for routers available on the market: slow speed to download videos, disturbance of video display and system halts. If a stable, high-speed and high-performance smart router could be developed, this product must be a desired device for people.

Xcloud has begun to develop routers since 2013 and has launched "newifi 1", "newifi mini" and "newifi 2". The advantages and core competitiveness of Xcloud's routers do not lie in the routers but their added value: accelerating the pace of displaying video, video pre-buffer and pre-downloading. This explains why "newifi 3" wins great popularity. As noted by Li Cheng, the smart router will serve as a foundation to realize bandwidth sharing, a mode similar with DIDI, by utilizing the Internet. He explained, by leveraging bandwidth sharing technology, namely, distributive CBN, bandwidth in idle can be collected and sold to video producers and live streaming providers; therefore, revenue can be generated through bandwidth sharing which can be returned to users. Users can receive envelopes ranging from a few dozen yuan to over a hundred yuan. Li Cheng mentioned: sharing economy, a type of cooperative consumption, will prevail in the future. We offer platform for pooling the power of the mass public and network sharing will be the first breakthrough for us. Unique Vision: The Internet Catches On Again Li Cheng's company applied to settle down in Tianfu Software Park in 2009 because of the various supportive policies for start-ups. In the process of entrepreneurship, Tianfu Software Park offered precise and practical supportive policies for Li Cheng's start-up so that he could feel reassured to develop his business in Chengdu. Xcloud encountered financing difficulty in November 2012. Tianfu Software Park took the initiative to ask for financing assistance from CDHT Investment and a total of two million yuan was raised, which facilitated the R&D efforts of Xcloud. Following the release of "newifi 3" in October 2016, it soon championed the sales of smart routers and Xcloud realized break-even point. After Xcloud was listed on NEEQ, its sales reached new levels for three consecutive years. In 2015, the overall sales revenue of Xcloud registered over 30 million yuan. In 2016, the number was doubled to over 50 million yuan. In 2017, Li Cheng estimated that the sales revenue could amount to 150 million yuan. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xcloud-seize-the-golden-key-to-smart-home-market-300532987.html SOURCE Chengdu Tianfu Software Park

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[October 09, 2017] Smart Toilet Seat Market - Drivers and Forecasts by Technavio

Technavio analysts forecast the global smart toilet seat market to grow at a CAGR of over 6% during the forecast period, according to their latest report. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005911/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global smart toilet seat market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global smart toilet seat market for 2017-2021. The report includes the market segmentation based on end-user (residential and commercial) and geography (APAC, the Americas, and EMEA). Rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes, changing consumer preference for elite products, and rising number of high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) in developed countries, such as the US, and countries in Europe are expected to influence the growth of the market. This is because these countries consider personal hygiene and lifestyle statement of prime importance. This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. Technavio analysts highlight the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the global smart toilet seat market: Rise in commercial construction sector

Growing urbanization and evolving lifestyles

Rising demand for water-saving technologies Looking for more information on this market? Request afree sample report



Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Rise in commercial construction sector

Smart toilet seats are the perfect blend of technology, culture, personal hygiene, and bathing habits. Countries in Asia, Middle East, and Europe are increasingly adopting smart toilet seats due to enhanced comfort and hygiene. Therefore, the growth in commercial buildings, such as restaurants, offices, and hotels, is expected to drive the demand for smart toilet seats globally. Anju Ajaykumar, a lead construction research analyst at Technavio, says, "A major manufacturer of smart toilet seats is TOTO, based in Japan. The company has expansion plans by creating brand awareness in other countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The company is enhancing its production system in Vietnam and Thailand, whereas it is increasing its brand value and awareness through product superiority in intermediate and luxury markets in countries in the Americas." Growing urbanization and evolving lifestyles Rapid urbanization and rising population are the key contributors for driving the demand for smart toilet seats. Urbanization is changing the lifestyle of people and leading to the increased demand for sophisticated and hygienic bathrooms. The growth of cities globally signifies the shift of people from rural to urban areas. "Changes in lifestyles due to rising disposable incomes have led to the growing preference for a luxurious and comfortable living. These changes in lifestyles will increase the demand for more residential buildings, offices, and other commercial buildings in urban cities to facilitate services for people. This will be a major demand driver for the global smart toilet seat market," adds Anju. Rising demand for water-saving technologies The need to conserve water and water resources is one of the primary goals of major smart toilet seat manufacturers. The growing population has increased the need for water sustainability. The construction of commercial buildings is on the rise, thereby increasing the consumption of water. Flush toilets are one of the largest water users in a building or home, accounting for nearly one-third of the total indoor water consumption. TOTO offers a wide range of products in one-piece, close coupled, wall hung, wall faced, and seat cover categories. TOTO offers a wide range of water saving smart toilets. For instance, the NEOREST XH1 has striking features, such as hybrid ecology system, water saving dual flush, tornado flushing for powerful flushing with less amount of water, integral washlet features with front and rear warm water washing, Ewater for cleaning the toilet, and automatic operation of lid open and close. Top vendors: Kohler (News - Alert)

LIXIL

Panasonic

TOTO Browse Related Reports: Global Concrete and Road Construction Equipment Market 2017-2021

Global Crushing Equipment Market 2017-2021

Global Boom Lifts Market 2017-2021 About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005911/en/

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[October 09, 2017] VCA Animal Hospitals Offers Free Boarding for Pets Affected by Northern California Wildfires

VCA Animal Hospitals announced that select VCA hospitals in Northern California are offering free boarding assistance for small animals, including dogs, cats, birds and pocket pets to families who are impacted due to the many wildfires burning in the area, including the Tubbs, Atlas, Cherokee, Lobo and McCourtney fires. "Our thoughts are with the many families who are being impacted by these wildfires," said Art Antin, Chief Operating Officer of VCA Animal Hospitals. "We are extending free boarding for family pets that have been displaced by these fires so families can feel confident their pets are safe and focus on their priorities during this critical time." Boarding assistance at participating Northern California VCA hospitals is based on space availability. Pets should be current on vaccinations, but in case they are not, VCA veterinarians will update vaccinations free of charge. VCA Hospitals will also offer a free health assessment exam for pets that have been evacuated or displaced because of the fires. Pet ownrs are encouraged to contact the American Red Cross or visit www.vcahospitals.com/main/directory or call 1-800-VCAPETS to check availability for boarding assistance.



About VCA VCA Animal Hospitals operates more than 800 small animal veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. The hospitals are staffed by more than 4,700 fully qualified, dedicated and compassionate veterinarians to give pets the very best in medical care, of which over 525 are board-certified specialists who are experts in areas such as Oncology, Cardiology, Emergency & Critical Care, and Surgery for animals. VCA Animal Hospitals provides a full range of general practice services to keep pets well and specialized treatments when pets are ill. For more information, please visit www.VCAhospitals.com or follow on Twitter (News - Alert) @vcapethealth and https://www.facebook.com/VCAAnimalHospitals/.

VCA is a leading provider of pet health care services in the country delivered through more than 800 small animal veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and Canada, a preeminent nationwide clinical laboratory system that services all 50 states and Canada (Antech Diagnostics), the leading animal diagnostic imaging company in the market (Sound), and Camp Bow Wow (CBW), the nation's Premier Doggy Day and Overnight Camp franchise, an Inc. 5000 company. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009006019/en/

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[October 09, 2017] 5 Reference Checking Myths That Derail Job Seeking Efforts

DETROIT, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- While the need for a good job reference should be a "given", many candidates take little time or effort to assure that their references are portraying them in the best possible light. Frequently, this oversight occurs because of incorrect assumptions about how references (and reference checking) work. How do employers conduct references? What are former employers allowed to say? Are references working for, or against the job seeker? Reference Checking Myth No. 1: Companies are not allowed to say anything negative about a former employee during a documented reference check. The Truth: While many companies may have policies that dictate only title, dates of employment and eligibility for rehire can be discussed, reference persons frequently violate those rules in providing bad references about former employees despite company policies. Think about the boss with whom you had philosophical differences...or the supervisor who sexually harassed you. Can that person be trusted to maintain a professional standard? In many cases the answer is no; approximately half of Allison & Taylor clients receive a bad reference, despite the fact that many companies have strict policies in place prohibiting negative references. Reference Checking Myth No. 2: Former employers direct all reference checks to their Human Resources departments, and those people won't say anything negative about me. The Truth: Most Human Resources professionals will follow proper protocol during reference checks. However, in addition to WHAT is said, reference checkers also evaluate HOW something is said. In other words, they listen to tone of voice and note the HR staffer's willingness to respond to their questions. Both are critical factors in reference checks - how will your employment be reflected in their responses? Reference Checking Myth No. 3: It's best to have my employment references listed on my resume and distribute them together. The Truth: Your references should be treated carefully and with respect; you don't need companies that may or may not have a real interest in hiing you pestering your employment references. Keep your references separate from your resume, and only provide them when requested. Better still, have a list of your references readily available (in the same format/font as your resume) to be given to a prospective employer. When offered (for example) at the conclusion of an interview  in a highly professional format  it can create a very proactive (and favorable) ending impression.



Reference Checking Myth No. 4: Once a company hires me, my job references really do not matter anymore.

The Truth: Not all companies finish background and/or reference checks before you are hired. Many employment agreements and contracts include a stipulation that says the employer can hire you with a 90-day probation period. During this time, they will not only evaluate your job performance but, in some instances, will do background and reference checks. During this time, if the results are unsatisfactory, they have the legal right to fire you. Reference Checking Myth No. 5: I sued my former company and according to job reference laws, they are now not allowed to say anything. The Truth: Job reference laws can be bypassed and may not entirely protect you. Under job reference laws your former employer may not be able to say anything definitive, but do not put it past them to carefully take a shot at you while still in accordance with the law. As an example, a former boss or an HR staffer may say "Hold on a minute while I get the legal file to see what I am allowed to say about Mr. Smith." Although not allowed to "divulge anything" as stated by job reference laws, they just indicated there were legal issues surrounding your employment. This implication can torpedo your job prospects. Many people discover the error of their assumptions the hard way - by losing out on the perfect job because of reference issues. Check your own references before you provide them to employers to ensure you can address potential problems before they cost you the job. For more information on reference checking, and what to do if a negative reference is impeding your chances for a new job, please visit www.AllisonTaylor.com. About AllisonTaylor Reference Checking Services AllisonTaylor and its principals have been in the business of checking references for corporations and individuals since 1984. We are highly acclaimed with employers, employees and the media alike. Compliments and mentions from influential publications and writers at The Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, Workplace Bullying Institute, ABC Newswire, Forbes, USA Today, Hcareers, Fortune and MyFox News provide insight into our services. AllisonTaylor is headquartered in Rochester, Mich. For further details on services and procedures please visit https://www.allisontaylor.com/. AllisonTaylor  Find us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter, Google+, our Blog! View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/5-reference-checking-myths-that-derail-job-seeking-efforts-300533499.html SOURCE AllisonTaylor

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MATTOON  Bullying got some push-back at a Sunday rally in the wake of the Mattoon High School shooting.

We are just ready for zero tolerance to be zero tolerance, said Tina Lee, a demonstration organizer.

Lee and Jessye Lawrence, another organizer, were inspired to set up the gathering, calling out what they said is a lack of support in schools and at home to combat bullying, especially after the Sept. 20 shooting at the high school.

They both saw it as an issue that is not given enough attention by adults who can make a difference. Lee said she was particularly disappointed in the school district's responses to the shooting.

(Mattoon School District) put out their response that they couldn't find that any of this (the shooting) was due to bullying, she said. I think it is important for the school district to know that we don't believe them at all.

Half of us here have students or kids that have been bullied in the school district.

As previously reported, some sources have indicated that bullying might have been the motivation for the shooting in the school's cafeteria. The shooter has been identified as a high school freshman. He is undergoing a court-ordered mental evaluation. His next court hearing is Nov. 17.

In a statement made Sept. 29, school administrators and local police leaders cautioned the public about assumptions or rumors, including bullying, that led to the shooting.

No one in an official capacity who is involved in the investigation has confirmed any motives or specific situations that led to the shooting.

School officials could not be reached because local schools had an extended weekend for Columbus Day.

The group of about 10 demonstrators stood near the entrance to the high school on Marshall Avenue carrying signs calling for bullying to stop.

Rachel Hill said she had her son, Trenton, in mind as she stood with the others. She said he has been bullied since the fourth grade. He is now in middle school.

Hill said the bullying from students and the apathy from teachers escalated when he got into middle school.

They would just nag on him about talking about it, she said.

Trenton is now in the Bridges Regional Safe School and Beacons Programs, where the first time he said school was fun, Hill said.

Hill said her sons experience was reason enough to demonstrate.

Many of those at the rally were parents or relatives of someone who was bullied. The group started waving signs as cars went by following a prayer from retired minister Joe Techau.
Guide Against The Flames

Fire Prevention Week kicks off in Mo. & Ks. KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On Saturday at the Kansas City fire department gave out smoke alarms at a local Sunfresh grocery store. They and other area departments regularly give out smoke detectors and will install them.

Lesson In Lower Expectations

Avila University is right: Colleges must cut tuition costs or face extinction Avila University said recently it will drop its tuition by about 33 percent, joining a growing list of colleges and universities reducing their sticker prices. The Avila price slash may mean less to some than to others. With scholarships and other discounts, many students are already paying the new reduced amount.

Eye In The Sky Half Century Mark

KCPD helicopter unit turns 50 years old KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Police Department is celebrating a big milestone. Its helicopter unit is turning 50 years old. The helipad was open to the public Saturday for the community to get a rare glimpse inside the police choppers we often see and hear circling in the sky.

Traffic Tragedy Today

Motorcyclist killed in crash on 169 Hwy and Briarcliff Pkwy KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- One person is dead after a crash on 169 Highway at Briarcliff Parkway Sunday afternoon. Police say two motorcyclists were traveling southbound on 169 Hwy. when one of the bikes clipped the back of a vehicle. The motorcyclist was thrown into the median and pronounced dead at the scene.

Cowtown International Outreach

Puerto Ricans in KC hold fundraiser for those affected by hurricane Puerto Ricans in Kansas City are helping those affected by the hurricane from afar by holding a fundraiser.

Angelicand even more Kansas City Sunday info . . .And this is thefor right now . . .
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Congressman Emanuel Cleaver is co-sponsoring legislation that would ban "bump stocks." They are legal attachments that can make a semi-automatic rifle fire off multiple rounds, similar to a military weapon. On Sunday, he told FOX 4 the proposed legislation is getting support from both sides of the aisle.
Voters choose 7 Transportation District representatives in favor of streetcar expansion Next year voters will be asked to approve sales and property taxes that would pay for the project.

A few thousand ballots in a gerrymandered district will decide on the progress of a controversial transit line that has been established by some of the worst corruption KCMO has seen since the days ofThat isn't just TKC talking butalong with the Missouri Auditor who has called for the overhaul of Transportation Development Districts Read more:
THE FIGHT TO TAKE AWAY GUNS WON'T MAKE KANSAS CITY ANY SAFER!!!

Amid the aftermath of the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. History, so-called progressives in Kansas City are arguing against the 2nd Amendment and hoping to capitalize on a horrific tragedy in order to push their agenda.In order to expose this ridiculous idea, we want to offer just a few quick counterpoints to their silly condemnation of gun rights.Take a look:1.- A couple of years ago Mayor Sly, The Jackson County Prosecutor and the former police Chief attempted to push stricter gun control in Kansas City and their effort were summarilyby the GOP dominated Missouri General Assembly.but the reality is that we live in aand Conservative politics govern a great deal of policy in KCMO.2. There's an important debate on policy from both left and right but in the meantime. The never-ending partisan blame game can offer their rhetoricalbut the murder count for the capital of the Midwest still pushes higher and higher.3. Americansgun control and thenabout it . . .We welcome other counterpoints from our readers but here's the reality . . .What's disappointing is that so many locals are looking for a quick fix to a problem with rising local homicide and violence that has been trending upward for years.You decide . . .
The Greek President made reference to the scope for an innovative approach such economic cooperation between the EU, the Eurasian Economic Union and China

Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos on Monday underlined Greece's leading role in promoting Europe's ties with Eurasia and China, as well as the margins for an innovative approach to economic cooperation between East and West. Pavlopoulos was speaking at the Hellenic-Eurasian Business Council Conference.

"Greece supports regional integration schemes in the wider Eurasian region, which can contribute to the peace, growth and prosperity of the peoples," he noted, adding that "it encourages and strengthens all efforts that promote a strategic link between the countries of Europe and Asia in key areas for the economy, such as energy, trade, transport, digital online collaboration, new technologies and tourism."

He also stressed that "Greece, a European country at the crossroads of three continents, has been open throughout history to the communication and the interconnection of different countries and cultures." Greece played a crucial role in efforts for economic cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the wider Eurasian region, as demonstrated by the fact that Greece, an EU member-state, encouraged further cooperation between the EU and China, Pavlopoulos said.

"Greece attaches great importance to China's One Belt, One Road initiative," Pavlopoulos said and added: "This idea is based both on ancient Chinese philosophy and the ancient silk road, which, on the one hand is characterised by a spirit of peace and mutually beneficial cooperation and, on the other hand, makes a substantial contribution to the development of infrastructure projects, promotion of trade, economic integration and closer relations between those peoples and the societies linked, either by land or sea, to the realisation of this idea."

The Greek President made reference to the scope for an innovative approach such economic cooperation between the EU, the Eurasian Economic Union and China, pointing out that the success of the project depends to a large extent on cultivating relations of trust between the parties, which will accelerate the progress of joint investment projects for the benefit of all involved.

Read more here

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Source: ANA-MPA
The European Central Banks Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) has asked Greek lenders to bring down their NPEs by 11.5 billion euros through liquidations (property auctions) by 2019

Foreclosures, which have been practically frozen for the last eight years in Greece, represent the credit systems Achilles heel. The impact from the paralysis of the auction system is already obvious in banks financial results on the reduction of nonperforming loans and threatens to undermine the target set for containing nonperforming exposures (NPEs).

The European Central Banks Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) has asked Greek lenders to bring down their NPEs by 11.5 billion euros through liquidations (property auctions) by 2019. Meeting this target requires foreclosures worth 5.5 billion euros per year while takings from auctions have been poor.

The foreclosures scheduled for this year only concern 5,600 properties, worth 1.1 billion euros. This is the smallest number of auctions in recent years, given that 2016 (when auctions were held for 4,800 properties) was practically wasted due to protracted strikes by Greeces lawyers and notaries. This years figures actually concern mostly auctions demanded by the state or private lenders, while banks have only instigated few auctions, chiefly concerning commercial or industrial properties.

For comparison purposes, one has to see the statistics from 2009, before Greece entered the bailout mechanism, when foreclosures numbered 52,000 and their value reached 4.2 billion euros. This means an 89 percent decrease since then.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Lemur12 License: CC-BY-SA

Source: ekathimerini.com
Dubais non-oil trade with Colombia reached $138 million in 2016, a 200 percent increase from 2012, said Hamad Buamim, president and CEO of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).



Speaking at the end of a visit by a high-level delegation of the DCCI to Colombia, he noted that there is still potential to boost Colombian exports of flowers, fruits, coffee, and cocoa to the emirate, reported Wam, the Emirates official news agency.



He also urged key stakeholders from the countrys public and private sectors to enhance their co-operation with the emirate.



The DCCIs delegation held a series of meetings in Bogota with Maria Lorena Gutierrez, Colombias Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, and senior representatives from the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, Agricultural Association of Colombia, ProColombia, Colombian Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Colombian National Infrastructure Agency, Colombian Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, National Infrastructure Agency, Colombian Association of Flower Exporters, and the Colombian Farmers Association.



Colombias Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism noted that the Colombian President plans to lead a high-level delegation to the UAE before the end of 2017, which she said would greatly contribute to advancing bilateral relations.



Majid Saif Al Ghurair, chairman of Dubai Chamber, explained that the organisation is keen to identify and explore new avenues of co-operation between Dubai-based businesses and their Colombian counterparts. He explained that the signing of agreements to facilitate investor protection and avoid double taxation would be of significant importance in strengthening bilateral ties.



He further highlighted tourism and air freight as two sectors where Dubai has developed strong expertise, which can benefit Colombian businesses. He called on Colombian firms to participate in Expo 2020 in Dubai and learn more about what they can gain from the mega event.



In addition, Al Ghurair invited Colombian government and business leaders to take part in the 2nd Global Business Forum on Latin America in Dubai. Organised by Dubai Chamber, the high-profile forum will take place in the first quarter of 2018. Its aim is to enhance economic co-operation between the emirate and the promising markets in Latin America.



The delegation visit to Colombia was part of Dubai Chambers second trade mission to Latin America, which also covered Panama and Costa Rica. Earlier this year, the Chamber led a delegation to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina and opened its first regional representative office in Sao Paulo.
A management team from Ithraa, Omans investment and export development agency will travel to Dusseldorf, Germany and Geneva, Switzerland this week to meet with top businesses operating in logistics, tourism, petrochemicals, manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries.



The high-profile delegation also includes management from HSBC Bank Oman, Duqm Special Economic Zone, ASAAS, Petroleum Development Oman and the Port of Duqm.



B2B meetings will be held in Dusseldorf October 12  14 while an Invest in Oman Forum is scheduled for Geneva, October 17  19 in collaboration with The Arab-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Ithraa has organized the European visit in close co-operation with HSBC management.



Were looking to capitalize on HSBC Bank Omans extensive German-Swiss business network, as well as existing investment ties in an effort to boost trade relations between Omani, German and Swiss companies, said Nasima Al Balushi, Ithraas director general of Export Development & Investment Promotion.



Our research clearly indicates that many German and Swiss companies are looking to enter the GCC market using Oman as their gateway. We will be focusing our efforts on attracting firms working in logistics, tourism, petrochemicals, manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries. Indeed, we are looking to deepen Oman-German-Swiss business partnership for the long-term, Al Balushi explained.



Throughout the 70 years we have been operating in the Sultanate, we have worked hand in hand with the Omani government in supporting the development of the country across a broad spectrum of industries. With our international connectivity and expertise, HSBC Bank Oman is well positioned to contribute towards supporting the foreign direct investment in Oman while working alongside Ithraa, said Andrew Long, CEO of HSBC Bank Oman.



Ithraas director general of Export Development & Investment Promotion concluded:



The sultanate is open for business and the Government is committed to supporting non-oil Omani export growth and encouraging inward investment. Significant opportunities exist for German-Swiss companies to set-up and grow in Oman. This is the message well be delivering loud and clear in Dusseldorf and Geneva, Al Balushi concluded.  TradeArabia News Service
CHAMPAIGN  The University of Illinois is preparing to launch its newest fundraising campaign with an event that one school official calls "one part Ted Talk and one part Cirque de Soleil."

Barry Benson is the vice chancellor for advancement for the Urbana-Champaign campus. He tells The News-Gazette that the Friday event in Champaign will highlight the university's achievement and impact, but also feature a Ferris wheel, performances and a talk with alumnus and NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins.

The campaign is expected to surpass the $2.43 billion Brilliant Futures campaign, which lasted eight years and ended in 2011.

Benson says each campus has its own fundraising goal. Urbana-Champaign's goal will be announced at Friday's event. The Springfield campus will announce its goal on Tuesday, and Chicago's goal will be made public Oct. 27.
Bahrain's Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry is set to complete the infrastructure design work for the $1-billion King Abdullah Medical City in October and the project will be put out for tendering by the end of this year.



Work is set to begin on July 30, 2018 and will last for 18 months, said a statement from the ministry.



The infrastructure works include the setting up of a 66 kV main power station, a sewage treatment plant, water collection tanks, storm water drainage networks and sewerage networks, in addition to irrigation networks, internal and external road networks, lighting, telecommunication networks and aesthetic works on the project location, it added.



Saud Consult of Saudi Arabia is the consultant for the King Abdulla Medical City Project which will be developed in two phases.



Phase One includes the construction of an academic medical centre, an administration building, staff accommodation, child care centre, parking lot and infrastructure works, while Phase Two comprises expansion works to the academic medical centre, scientific research laboratories, convention centre, medical hotel, rehabilitation centre hospital, staff accommodation, storage facilities and parking lot.



A financing contract worth BD16.5 million ($43.4 million) has been signed between Bahrain government and the Saudi Development Fund in this regard, stated Ahmed Al Khayyat, the works affairs undersecretary at the ministry.



He was speaking at a meeting with President of the Arabian Gulf University Dr Khalid Al Ohali and a delegation accompanying him from the university, in addition to a number of engineers from the Ministry.



Al Khayyat explained that the Works Ministry has been assigned with the implementation of the infrastructure works and facilities needed for the project, as per the BD16.5 million funding contract signed between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Saudi Development Fund.



The ministry has prepared the preliminary designs of the project and is working on completing the detailed designs, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Qatar's Public Works Authority (Ashghal) said work has started on more than 18 development projects worth over QR4 billion ($1.07 billion) in the Al Khor region of the country.



These include roads and infrastructure projects in 679 residential sub-divisions in Al Oqda, Haydan and Al Khor areas; the construction of Al Khor orbital Road to facilitate traffic between East, South and West of Al Khor, and the diversion of Al Thakhira and Al Khor Corniche roundabouts to be converted to signal-controlled intersections.



Ashghal is currently carrying out maintenance works and paving roads in North-West Al Khor area. This will be followed by commencement of maintenance works in South Al Khor, said Dr Saad bin Ahmed Al Muhannadi, the president of Ashghal, while chairing an important meeting.



The meeting dealt with Ashghal's integrated plan for the development of the infrastructure, roads and drainage network of Al Khor city and the public buildings projects in the city.



All these projects will be completed over the next five years, he added.-TradeArabia News Service


Huawei has launched its ICT Skill Competition 2017 in Bahrain across three universities in the Kingdom, in conjunction with local government partners, Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, EDB and Tamkeen.



The ICT Skill Competition is being held under the patronage of Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT).



Participating universities include the University of Bahrain, Bahrain polytechnic and Ahlia University. A recruitment roadshow will be conducted throughout all the universities, with around 200 students expected to participate. Registration for the competition will be open until October 20.



The competition goes through several stages, beginning with choosing and qualifying a national team, which will compete with 12 other teams from across the world for the first prize in Huaweis headquarters in Shenzhen, China in December.



Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed said, Human resource is the most important asset for Bahrain. This is a fantastic opportunity for Bahrains students to receive hands-on training and education in complex, cutting-edge ICT concepts from a global ICT leader like Huawei. Huaweis ICT Skill Competition enables the best young minds we have in Bahrain, giving them real-life experience outside of the classroom. This is something that will serve them well in the future, and will allow them to give back to Bahrain.



I am very proud of Huaweis contributions to Bahrains economic growth, as well as its admirable dedication to social responsibility in the development of the young minds who will doubtlessly serve as the kingdoms next generation of leaders, stated Qi Zhenhong, the Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain.



China and Bahrain have developed a close relationship typified by economic partnership, especially across the public and private sectors. Now both countries are in the period of digital transformation, lets cooperate together to achieve further development.



We at Huawei are more determined than ever to act on our commitment to nurturing the local ICT talent of its partners through knowledge transfer and education. The future lays in the hands of our youth, and here in Bahrain, the government and the people have made it clear that they want to develop their young talent into the ICT experts of tomorrow, said Paul Fengnan, CEO of Huawei Bahrain.



The final winners of the international competition at Huaweis Shenzhen Headquarters will be celebrated with a variety of certificates, trophies, and prizes, with the most outstanding team receiving $30,000 in cash. The next two teams will share second place, followed by three teams who will be awarded third place. The remaining seven will receive Excellence prizes, while six tutors and five academies will be recognized with Excellent Tutor and Best Academy accolades.



The competition tests competitors on their knowledge of cloud computing, switching, routing, and network security.  TradeArabia News Service
Siemens, a global technology powerhouse, said it has won a contract to supply four shunt reactors to the Oman Electricity Transmission Company for installation at its 400 kV substations in Izki and Ibri cities of the sultanate.

Shunt reactors are vital components of an efficient, long-distance high-voltage power transmission system. They are used as protection from voltage surges on long transmission lines between power plants and consumption areas.

The contract was awarded by leading Indian engineering and construction firm Larsen and Toubro (L&T) to help improve grid stability across the transmission lines between these cities.

The scope of work for Siemens includes delivery of four 400 kV, 100 MVAr oil-filled shunt reactors at the site, besides providing the manufacturing, design, engineering, testing and training services, said a statement from the German group.

Manufactured at Siemens transformer factory in Weiz, Austria, the reactors are scheduled for delivery in 2018, it stated.

Oman faces rising demand for electricity, driven by population growth and increased industrial activity led by the oil, gas and petrochemicals sector.

The Oman Electricity Transmission Company has an ambitious plan to strengthen the main electricity transmission lines across the sultanate to facilitate greater linkage between the countrys energy networks.

Siemens said its shunt reactors, featuring high efficiency and low life-cycle costs, wll help increase the energy efficiency of power transmission by improving power quality and reducing transmission costs.

Wolfgang Braun, the senior executive vice president of Siemens Energy Management in the Middle East, said: "We are delighted to provide our latest grid technologies to help meet Omans growing energy needs by strengthening the sultanates transmission infrastructure and improving power availability."

"Siemens advanced shunt reactors technology will help even out voltage and load variations to deliver reliable, uninterrupted and stable supply of electricity to homes and offices and other facilities in Oman," stated Braun.

According to him, Siemens has been operating in Oman since 1972 and today, the companys technology is responsible for generating more than 50 per cent of the countrys electricity capacity.

The company has also supplied a significant proportion of the countrys power transmission and distribution equipment to improve grid resiliency and responsiveness, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Philippines Department of Tourism (PDOT) launched Bring Home A Friend (BHAF) program, a campaign that encourages Filipinos to help promote Philippines as the next holiday destination to their foreign friends.



The program will run for six months starting from October 15, 2017 up to April 15, 2018.



We would like to close the year strongly for the tourism industry in terms of visitor arrivals and carry the momentum into the coming year, said DOT secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo.



Teo decided to revive the BHAF program implemented in 1994 by DOT under former Secretary Mina Gabor to encourage Filipinos to invite their foreign friends to come and visit the Philippines.



The Filipino sponsors, who either reside in the country or overseas, stand to win an array of prizes.



This shall be a thrilling experience for us Filipinos, who are known for our genuine hospitality and for celebrating Christmas for the longest time, said Teo.



Major prizes awaiting the sponsors include a condominium from Megaworld Corporation, a brand new Toyota Vios, and a PHP200,000 gift certificate at Duty-Free Philippines while their foreign guests can win round-trip international flight tickets and tour packages to Palawan, Cebu, and Davao.



To join, the sponsor must duly register via the Bring Home a Friend webpage accessible via DOTs website tourism.gov.ph. Registration may also be accomplished at BHAF booths soon to be set up at selected international airports in the Philippines.



The number of eligible entries will also depend on the points they earn corresponding to the guests country of origin: Asia and Oceania/Australia: 2; Africa, Middle East, Europe, and America: 3.



Conversely, the more foreign friends the sponsors invite, the more entries they can submit.



Based on the 2015 report of the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are 9.1 million overseas Filipinos. More than three million reside in the US while more than two million are based in the Middle East.



Other countries with large numbers of Filipinos are Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Italy, and Australia.



Employees of DOT and its attached agencies and their relatives to the third degree are not allowed to join BHAF.



In March 2016, Emirates Airlines increased flight frequencies to Manila and mounted new flights to Cebu and Clark, Pampanga, two destinations in the Philippines that are considered as top tourist draws for families and business people.



The Philippines has seen the consistent growth in tourist arrivals from the Middle East. In 2016, the Philippines received a total of 83,546 tourists from the region, growing by 9.69 per cent over 2015. Tourist arrivals from Saudi Arabia and UAE, the two largest markets out of the region for the Philippines, reached 50,884 and 16,881 respectively.



The PDOT aims to achieve 7 million tourists by the end of 2017 and proactively developing strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the Middle East to capture a sizeable percentage of its high-yield tourist market. - TradeArabia News service


The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Bahrain's Ministry of Civil Aviation Affairs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to regulate air transport services between the two countries.



The MoU comes in light of the Bahrain Ministry of Transportation and Communications' objective to upgrade all of its services, especially in the air transport sector with the close cooperation between the UAE and Bahrain.



Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director general of UAE GCAA expressed thanks and appreciation and notied the importance of the draft agreement.



Mohammed Thamer Al Kaabi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation Affairs, said: The draft agreement signed with the UAE represents a qualitative leap in the organisation and development of air transport services between the two countries, providing legal frameworks that meet the highest aviation security and safety requirements. The agreement creates opportunities for cooperation between the airlines of both countries to ensure the provision of distinct air transport services and alternative options for travel for all citizens and residents.



Furthermore, the UAE delegation thanked Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Communications, for his valued support for these negotiations. - TradeArabia News Service


Eze Software Launches 1/30 Hedge Fund Fee Handler

Eze Software, a provider of investment technology, has launched functionality to help hedge funds calculate and collect incentive fees within an increasingly popular 1 or 30 structure. Eze Investor Accounting is the first solution in the market to address the handling of these fees.

In recent years, investors have been looking for alternatives to the 2 and 20 fee structure that are better aligned with the need for consistent investment performance. The so-called 1/30 structure uses the Total Fee Limit Method to ensure that the investor retains 70% of the profit generated for their investment in a hedge fund, capping the total fees to the manager at no more than 30% of gross profits over a period of time. The model analyzes the management and performance fees for a time period versus a portfolios performance and limits the negative impact from fees on an investors alpha in underperforming years.

Eze Investor Accounting has automated this calculation and analysis, ensuring that managers can efficiently review the total fee inputs and results, and report consistent and accurate fees to their allocator clients. Using Eze Investor Accounting allows the managers back office to avoid manually calculating and tracking the 1/30 model, and rapidly respond to any investor queries regarding the fees.

This is a very difficult calculation to be able to track manually through Excel, said Bill Neuman, Managing Director, Product Management & Development. Because the fee structure requires tracking cumulative performance against benchmark over time, the market needs technology to manage continuous rebalancing. With this tool, we are responding to demand for the delivery of a clean capital balance with minimal processing.

The incentive fee structure, popularized by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and its consultant Albourne, has been generating interest among allocators. In addition to calculating the fee split between the investor and managers, Eze Investor Accounting gives users the ability to adjust the time period over which the fee analysis occurs and changes are calculated, include the calculations on capital reports, the ability to use estimates and close periods, and recall data on custom capital reports as needed.

For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:
FX Service will enable hotels to delight guests by attending to their requests ahead of their expectation. This app will also help hotels to improve guest experience and staff productivity.



(TRAVPR.COM) ASIA, AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST - October 9th, 2017 - IDS Next Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd, a globally leading hotel technology solutions provider, has announced the launch of a new product FX Service, a mobile based service quality improvement platform for hotels.

FX Service will enable hotels to delight guests by attending to their requests ahead of their expectation. This app will also help hotels to improve guest experience and staff productivity.

Hotels can create guest requests in a web-based application. Once a guest raises a request or compliant, staffs in the respective department get notified on their FX Service Android app, enabling them to act immediately.

In a typical environment, a staff gets instructed to deliver a specific item to the guest in his/her room. In this case, the staff would not have any idea about who requested it, when the request was registered and how soon the guest wants it. This leads to guest disappointment. But with FX Service, this will be a thing of past. The app shows the service request, room number from where it was requested, name of guest, time of request, and finally the time before which a request has to be completed, said Binu Mathews, Chief Executive Officer at IDS Next.

Hotel staff can start to work on a task, mark it as completed when its done. the app. They can even create and confirm service requests on behalf of guests.

In FX Service app, respective department managers will have complete visibility of the guest requests and complaints that are in various stages - New, In-progress and Completed. To make sure that the guests needs are taken care of, they can reassign or reopen a request. Most importantly, the app highlights requests that are overdue in terms of allocated time.

Using FX Service, hotels will be able to improve overall staff productivity with the help of data  top performing departments, top staffs, repeated overdue requests, etc. Also, hotels can delight guests by responding to requests ahead of their expectation.

FX Service app is available on Android app store.

Android app link: Download

About IDS Next Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd

IDS Next Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd is a globally leading Hotel Technology Solutions provider with decades of unmatched domain expertise. Being pioneers in Hotel ERP architecture, the companys forte lies in providing unparalleled technology solutions for hospitality properties across categories. With unrivalled domain expertise, its USP lies in creating solutions that help hotels increase revenues, optimize costs and above all provide enhanced guest experience.

IDS Next fully understands emerging markets, and its high growth needs. IDS Nexts offerings include integrated hotel management software, restaurant management software, mobile apps and mobile analytic solutions etc.

IDS Nexts software and technology solutions have earned the trust of over 4300 plus hotels in 40 countries spread across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Middle East and Oceania. A truly dedicated 24/7 technical support centre ensures 98% retention of customers and unmatched customer satisfaction.

Media Contact

Debi Prasad Sarangi

Corporate Communications

Phone: +91 9986496849

Mail: debiprasad.sarangi@idsnext.com

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This winter, make the festive season truly unforgettable by taking a magical Lapland break with family activity holiday specialist, Activities Abroad.



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - October 9th, 2017 - Capture the essence of the Christmas spirit in Finland with traditional experiences, action-packed activities and enchanting encounters with Father Christmas himself as the whole family is whisked away into a mystical winter wilderness and the land of snow.

Take the children on A Magical Search for Father Christmas in Kuusamo, Finnish Lapland, where there is a distinctly genuine and relaxed feel to this natural winter wonderland family adventure. The area around Kuusamo is known for its beauty and is characterised by fells, forests, lakes and rivers, all of which are laden with snow during the wintertime. Staying only a short walk away from the indoor pool and Angry Birds Activity Park, in a modern two-bedroom apartment complete with a wood-burning stove and private sauna, this is the ideal base for a Christmas family holiday. The trip offers a range of unforgettable bucket list activities including a husky sledding adventure and a reindeer-pulled sleigh ride, alongside other magical experiences.

Set off into the forest on a very important mission: the elves need help in providing the forest animals with their own Christmas dinner. Travel in a snowmobile-pulled sled into the forest and deliver seeds and nuts to the local birds and carrots for the rabbits, before sitting down to a traditional Lappish supper. The highlight of this magical trip will be the invitation to visit Mr and Mrs Claus at their beautiful lakeside home, where the whole family can spend time with the pair, baking, telling stories and being looked after by the wonderful elves.

This four-night break, departing 2, 9 and 16 December 2017, is priced from 1,695 per adult / 1,165 per child (4-11 years) and includes flights (Heathrow), transfers, four nights full-board accommodation, activities listed, cold weather clothing and expert guides.

Alternatively, visit Harriniva in Northern Lapland for a spectacular Countdown to Christmas, a trip that is brimming with seasonal delights and winter family fun. Situated in prime Aurora Borealis territory, decide to stay at either Harriniva Wilderness Hotel, or in the nearby Northern Lights Cabins, or alternatively, at Hotel Jeris in one of its winter cottages located beside frozen Lake Jerisjarvi. During the trip, visit a husky farm to meet the dogs and enjoy a 6 km safari, take a sleigh ride at a local reindeer farm, and try out traditional Finnish Christmas crafts such as baking festive cookies and making a Christmas stocking. The itinerary is action-packed, with the chance to experience a 20 km snowmobile safari into the frosted wilderness, join in with snow games, including trying snowshoeing, tobogganing and perhaps ice fishing, as well as mini-snowmobiles for children.

The magical trip culminates in a hugely memorable meeting with Father Christmas. Travelling through the forest by snowmobile-pulled sleigh, elves will light the way with their lanterns to Santas secret cabin. Once there, spend time with Father Christmas in a private meeting that is sure to bring joy to the entire family, both young and old.

This four-night break, departing 1, 4, 11 and 18 December 2017, is priced from 1,495 per adult / 1,185 per child (4-12 years) / 765 per child (2-3 years) and includes flights (London), transfers, four nights full-board accommodation, activities listed, cold weather clothing and expert guides.

To speak to a family Travel Expert for more information, or to book an authentic family holiday, contact Activities Abroad on 01670 789 991 / info@activitiesabroad.com (www.activitiesabroad.com).

ENDS/ 9 October 2017

Note to editors:

Part of The Artisan Travel Company, award-winning Activities Abroad specialises in family travel and experiences for all the family to enjoy together. It is a sister company to adult holiday experts Artisan Travel and Northern Lights specialists The Aurora Zone.

Press: For press enquiries, to arrange an interview with Managing Director, Ali McLean, or for photography, please contact Julia Farish, Kate Chapman or Sue Ockwell at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or email j.farish@travelpr.co.uk, k.chapman@travelpr.co.uk or s.ockwell@travelpr.co.uk.

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Chandigarh, October 9

A court here on Monday fixed October 11 as the date when arguments on framing of charges will commence in the stalking case involving Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala's son Vikas Barala.

The court dismissed as "infructuous" a plea filed by the defence lawyer seeking closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the Sector-26 police station where the first information report (FIR) in the case was registered.

"The court of judge Barjinder Pal Singh has fixed October 11 as the date when arguments on framing of charges in the case will start," said defence counsel Rabindra Pandit.

The court dismissed the defence lawyer's plea seeking details of mobile phone calls exchanged between the victim and her father on the day of the alleged incident.

Last month, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Rajnish Kumar Sharma had dismissed the bail plea of Vikas Barala, who had been booked on charges of stalking and attempting to abduct a 29-year-old woman in August.

The woman, daughter of a senior IAS officer, had accused Vikas Barala (23) and his friend Ashish Kumar (27) of stalking her.

The two men were arrested on the intervening night of August 4 and 5 following her complaint but were released on bail as they had been booked under bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act.

There was widespread outrage over the alleged incident.

The two were arrested again on August 9 after they joined the investigation and were charged with attempted abduction under sections 365 and 511 of the IPC.  PTI
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 9

Students of Swami Devi Dyal Group of Professional Institutes, Barwala, today damaged college property and burnt vehicles following the death of a student last night.

Nurjam Hawari (20), a second-year engineering diploma student, hailed from Nepal. He died after falling from the third floor of the boys hostel of the college.

Enraged students damaged college property, including the Chairmans office, burnt vehicles and damaged cars and ambulances. They alleged that they did not get immediate support from the college management.

Raipur Rani police station SHO Arvind Kamboj said they were probing whether the student committed suicide, lost balance or was pushed. The family had been informed and was expected to reach by tomorrow morning. The body had been kept at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Sector 6, here, he said.

Requesting anonymity, college students blamed the management for not providing timely help. A student said the ambulance was not in a working condition. Students pushed it in a bid to start it, but in vain. They took the victim to the hospital in some other vehicle of the college. However, as crucial time was lost, Nurjam died, he said.

After the incident, students set a motorcycle and a car on fire. They vandalised the windowpanes of a car and an ambulance. Air conditioners and computers of the college office were also damaged by the students. As soon as the news of the violence spread, police officials reached the spot and controlled the situation.

Students alleged that the management charged huge fee from the students, but there was nothing in the name of facilities on the campus.

Managements take Amit Jindal, Chairman, Swami Devi Dyal Group of Professional Institutes, refuted the allegations of the students and said the institute provided every possible help.

He claimed that the ambulance was in a working condition, but the students were so agitated that they started damaging property, including the ambulance.

He said they had provided all details related to the case to the police.

The police had seized the mobile of the student and were investigating the matter.

The victims family would reach by tomorrow morning and the postmortem would be conducted tomorrow, the chairman said.

Suicide? Probe under way

The victim, Nurjam Hawari (20), a second-year engineering diploma student, hailed from Nepal. He died after falling from the third floor of the boys hostel of the college. Raipur Rani police station SHO Arvind Kamboj said they were probing whether the student committed suicide, lost balance or was pushed.

Candlelight march

In the evening, students took out a candlelight march. They said Nurjam could not have committed suicide.
THE onset of winter makes the National Capital Region a fishbowl of toxic materials as atmospheric conditions conspire to contain, indeed trap, particulate matter from all kinds of polluting agents. During this period, there is not enough wind to disperse the smog and pollutants, and thus the particulate matter count rises several times over the acceptable level; it was 16 times last October. Indeed, a mix of several factors leads to this situation but a major contribution is from the spike caused by firecrackers burst to celebrate Diwali.

The Supreme Court has now reinstated its ban on the sale of firecrackers in New Delhi and the NCR till November 1 in order to observe the impact of a cracker-free festivity. On September 12, the court had temporarily lifted its earlier order and permitted the sale of firecrackers. The new order has the support of the Central Pollution Control Board, other environmental protection bodies and NGOs. However, there has been a strong backlash from social media, from individuals who interpret the order in a particular religious framework. Then there is the issue of enforcing the ban as was the case with Jallikattu. Bursting firecrackers has both environmental and health costs. There are always cases of people, particularly children, maimed while bursting crackers during Diwali. It is improper to view the ban through a prism of religious discrimination.

All communities and right-thinking individuals should join hands to find ways in which the traditional dependence on firecrackers during festivals is reduced and other modes of celebration, like diyas and sweets for Diwali, are promoted. Schools in the Capital, as also in many other cities such as Chandigarh, are to be commended for raising awareness among children, and by extension, their families. A perceptible change in attitudes has been noticed on the ground, and this has made a difference. It takes concerted effort to change attitudes, and sometimes an external nudge is necessary. The Supreme Court order, coupled with the obvious gains in air quality that it will result in, ought to be treated as an opportunity for facilitating change, and irrelevant political and parochial noise ignored.
Rohtak, October 9

Family members of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is undergoing 20 years rigorous imprisonment at the Sunaria jail in Rohtak district for raping two of his women disciples, came to meet him today.

Gurmeets mother Naseeb Kaur, son Jasmeet, daughter Amarpreet and son-in-law Shan-e-Meet arrived in a chauffeur-driven Innova here this afternoon.

The meeting lasted about an hour. The family members also handed over some eatables and other articles to the jailed dera head.

Heavy security arrangements were made in and around the jail premises. The meeting was arranged after the family members of other prisoners had left the jail premises owing to security concerns.  TNS
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 9

The Panchkula police have referred the case involving alleged castration of top two functionaries of Dera Sacha Sauda to the CBI.

The Panchkula police had arrested top dera functionaries Daan Singh and Rakesh Kumar. The former, legal head of the dera, had been associated with the sect since 1995. The latter, dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singhs private assistant, accompanied the sect head when he appeared before the court on August 25. During investigation, the police found missing the testicles of both of them.

The police were not sure whether their testicles had been removed surgically or they had some problem.

AS Chawla, Commissioner of Police, Panchkula, said a three-member board of doctors was set up at General Hospital, Sector 6, but the process would have taken minimum three or four days. With one accused Daan Singh in judicial custody and Rakesh Kumars police remand getting over tomorrow, the police asked the CBI to take over this case as the agency was already handling a similar case, Chawla said.

Earlier, the doctors waited till afternoon but the Panchkula police did not bring the accused for medical examination.

Ex-followers case similar

In a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July, 2012, former dera follower Hansraj Chauhan claimed that he and 400 others were lured into getting their testicles removed on the pretext of an opportunity to meet God. Following his plea, the CBI was ordered in 2014 to probe the matter.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9

Acting on the appeal filed by jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh against his conviction and the 20-year jail sentence in a rape case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday put the prosecutionthe Central Bureau of Investigationon notice.

As the case came up for hearing, Ram Rahims counsel told the Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sudhir Mittal that the Dera head had renounced the world and was not in a position to pay the Rs 30 lakh costs imposed by the trial court to be paid to the rape survivors.

Appearing for Ram Rahim, senior advocate SK Garg Narwana said the Dera properties had been attached and the Dera head was not in a position to pay the amount.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Taking up the matter, the Bench admitted the appeal filed against his conviction by Ram Rahim. Another appeal filed by the rape victims was also admitted by the High Court Bench.

The Bench asked Ram Rahim to deposit the compensation amount, awarded by the trial court to the victims, as FDR in a nationalised bank in the Panchkula courts name. The amount would be disbursed only after the court order.

The directions by the Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sudhir Mittal came on Ram Rahims appeal filed by counsel Vishal Garg Narwana. The Dera chief was seeking directions for setting aside the August 25 order vide which he was convicted of raping two dera followers and the subsequent order of August 28 sentencing him to 20 years.

Challenging the CBI special court verdict, Ram Rahim has submitted that the prosecutionthe CBI--had not conducted his potency test. Ram Rahim had claimed before the trial court that he was not virile since 1990, much before allegations of rape were levelled against him.

The prosecution did not get the medical examination of the accused-appellant done to prove that he was capable of performing sexually. The finding of the trial court that the plea about his incapacity after 1990 is not substantiated because of his two daughters is totally erroneous. The trial court has presumed that because he is father of two children, therefore his plea was not correct without ascertaining the age of his two children, especially when the plea of accused-appellant recorded under Section 313 is after a year, Ram Rahims counsel SK Garg Narwana has submitted before the High Court in the appeal.

Delay of more than six years in recording the statements of the women victims by the CBI after the incident was another ground taken by Ram Rahim in his plea.
BS Malik

Sonepat, October 9

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Sushil Garg today convicted Abdul Karim Tunda for his involvement in two bomb blasts in Sonepat in 1996. The quantum of punishment would be pronounced tomorrow.

Two bomb blasts took place on the evening of December 28,1996  the first at Baba Tarana Cinema near the local bus stand and the other outside Gulshan Mishthan Bhandar at Geeta Bhawan Chowk. There was no casualty, but around 15 persons were injured.

In the police investigation that followed, Tunda of Ghaziabad, Shakeel Ahmed of Pillakhuwa in Uttar Pradesh and Mohammad Amir Khan of Teliwara in Delhi were identified as the accused. Shakeel and Amir, arrested in 1998, were acquitted in 2002 for want of evidence.

Tunda was nabbed by the Delhi Police near the Nepal border in August 2013. During trial, Tunda had pleaded that he was in Pakistan at the time of the blasts. A total of 46 witnesses had appeared in court in connection with the case.

Tunda was brought from the Ghaziabad Central Jail today under tight security. Soon after the order of conviction, he was taken in custody by the Sonepat police and lodged in the local district jail.
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 9

Having been declared as the chief ministerial candidate by Rahul Gandhi, a buoyant Virbhadra Singh today said there was perfect coordination between the government and party organisation as he exhibited perfect bonhomie with Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, holding his hand all through at a function here today.

This is the first utterance by Virbhadra on party affairs after being declared as the CongressCM face. The government is doing its own job while the party organistaion is doing its duty. There is no question of any difference, he remarked.

Virbhadra proved this not just through his words but by his gestures as he had lunch with state Congress president Sukhu, whose removal he had been seeking for the last one year. He held on to Sukhus arm as he left Hotel Holiday Home in the presence of AICC secretary and co-incharge of Himachal affairs Ranjit Ranjan. It is not necessary that both of us should be seen hugging each other. The fact is that we are moving forward together, he said on a lighter note while referring to his and Sukhus relations.

An upbeat Virbhadra also dared the BJP to declare its CM candidate the way his party had done. The BJP must declare its CM face so that people of the state know who will be the CM if the party comes to power, he said. The BJP has so far desisted from projecting its CM face and there is complete uncertainty who will get the CMs chair if the party is voted to power.

Virbhadra said the Congress will shortly finalise its list of candidates and winnability will be the sole criterion. I can say this with certainty that the Congress is on Mission Repeat and the party will comfortably secure 45 seats, he said. He, however, added that barring Shimla (Urban) Assembly segment, he could contest the election from anywhere in the state.

Virbhadra had been seeking Sukhus removal so that his loyalist could take over the reins of the party. He had even gone to the extent of stating that he would neither contest the Assembly election, nor campaign for any party candidate. The Congress high command tried to placate him by projecting him as the CM candidate and that formula seems to have worked.
Bhanu P Lohumi

The tribal Assembly constituency of Kinnaur bordering Tibet is poised for a keen electoral battle between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.

While the two-time MLA and Deputy Speaker, Jagat Singh Negi, son of Gian Singh Negi, the first MLA from Kinnaur, is likely to be the Congress candidate, there is a tussle for the BJP ticket between former MLA Tejwant Singh Negi and Surat Singh Negi. The name of a retired IAS officer, Subhash Negi, is also doing the rounds.

Though the seat has never been a bastion of any party, the Congress won the seat five times while the BJP wrested the seat thrice. Thakur Sen Negi, a former IAS and ex-Speaker of Assembly, won this seat five times, three times as an Independent, one time each as Lok Raj Party and BJP candidate.

Being snow-bound in winters, this constituency traditionally used to go to the polls later, around May and June, after the government had already been formed. However, since 2007 the elections have been advanced to November and polling has been taking place simultaneously along with the remaining non-tribal segments.

Surat Singh Negi has launched a sustained campaign on social media and Tejwant Singh Negi is also in constant touch with the electorate. Subhash Negi is keeping his cards close to the chest.

With a large number of hydropower projects coming up in the district in government and private sectors, the tribal character of this constituency has been diluted and it has also undergone demographic changes with a significant increase in the number of non-tribals employed in the projects or engaged in other activities.

The voters are also agitated over certain key issues like improper implementation of Forests Rights Act (FRA) and inordinate delay in the grant of nautor lands to right holders. The Forest Department has imposed many conditions and riders, stalling the grant of land and even after repeated instructions issued by the government, people have to run from pillar to post to exercise their forest rights even for minor forest produce.

Further, due to the restrictions imposed on the grant of nautor lands to right holders, a large number of applications are pending and now the Chief Minister has directed the authorities concerned to expeditiously dispose of the cases.

President of the Himlok Jagriti Manch RS Negi, a retired IAS officer, fighting for the cause of tribals, said the social and environmental bodies had submitted a 26-point memorandum of demands to both the BJP and the Congress and were awaiting their response.

The orchardists are also unhappy with the imposition of GST and complained that apple trading had been hit as "cash transactions" were not permitted and the traders, who used to throng the district during October, have vanished from the scene.

Sitting MLA had taken up a large number of development works, but the prolonged agitation by Karcham-Wangtoo workers against the management had cast a shadow on the prospects of Jagat Singh Negi, while frequent landslides in the Urni area, which has become a perpetual bottleneck, is also agitating the people.

The battle is evenly poised and in case the BJP fails to field an "acceptable" candidate, Jagat Singh Negi would be a potential gainer. The BJP is depending on the legacy of Thakur Sen Negi and development works undertaken by the BJP governments from 1998-2003 and 2007-2012.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is crucial for the victory of the Congress candidate. Kinnaur being a part of the erstwhile princely state of Rampur, Virbhadra wields considerable influence over the voters, even though the mindset of people has changed considerably due to development and better connectivity.

This tribal constituency has the maximum number of officers in services like IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS and people are politically conscious and understand the national mood. The constituency carved out in 1962 comprises of the entire Kinnaur district with 660 census villages.
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 9

Three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in a gunbattle between militants and security forces in Shopian district of Kashmir on Monday.

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The three militants killed in the encounter have been identified as Zahid Mir, Asif and Irfan Abdullah, all residents of Shopian district.

All three were associated with Hizbul Mujahideen.

Security forces surrounded Gatipora village in Shopian in the afternoon following information about a group of militants hiding there.

"When the security forces closed on a house in which the militants were hiding, the militants opened fire at them, triggering a gunfight, a police official said.

The gunfight ended after three militants were killed, police added.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 9

A top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad was killed in a brief gunfight in north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Monday.

Sources said Pakistani militant commander of Jaish Khalid was injured after a covert team of the forces intercepted him at Ladoora, along the Baramulla-Handwara highway this afternoon, some 60 kms from Srinagar.

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After getting injured he tried to escape. He was, however, caught up inside a building. A joint operation was later launched and the militant commander was killed in a brief gunfight, sources said.

Khalid, police sources said, was the operation commander of the Jaish in north Kashmir.

Police had recently said that a group of Jaish militants was planning a fidayeen attack on security forces installations.

Since August, Jaish fidayeen carried out two fidayeen attacks on security forces camps in Kashmir and killed at least nine security men. Last week, three fidayeen stormed a BSF camp in Srinagar, located next to Srinagar Airport, which resulted in the killing of three militants and a BSF personnel.
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 9

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was killed, when a patrol party came under fire in central Kashmirs Budgam district on Sunday night.

A patrol party of Army came under fire in the general area of Drang, Budgam, some 40 km from Srinagar, and the fire was returned.

One soldier was martyred in the crossfire, Srinagar- based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said.

The soldier killed has been identified as Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Raj Kumar.
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 9

Authorities imposed restrictions in seven police station areas of Srinagar on Monday to prevent separatist-called protests against growing incidents of braid chopping in the Kashmir Valley.

According to the police, restrictions were imposed in the areas of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, MR Gunj, Safa Kadal, Maisuma and Kralkhud.

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Shops, public transport and educational institutes remained closed here and also in other major cities and towns of the Valley.

Private transport, however, moved normally at places where restrictions were not imposed.

Over a dozen incidents of braid chopping have been reported from different parts of the Valley during the last one month but nobody has been arrested.

With IANS inputs
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 9

The Baqirya Health Care and Research Centre, Kargil, the health wing of the Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust, today conducted a free-vaccination camp against hepatitis B in collaboration with the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), Kargil, at Imam Bargah, Kanoor, with an aim to completely immunise the uninfected population of the district against the disease in a phased manner.

The camp was inaugurated by Ashok K Grover, Chief Engineer and Hujatul Islam Shiekh Mohd Muqadas, Imam-e-Jummah, Kargil town, as the chief guest and guest of honour, respectively.

Grover briefed about the community services rendered by the NHPC under its CSR scheme. Lauding the services rendered by centre in the health sector, he promised help and cooperation of the NHPC in the implementation of various health-related programmes in future.
Bigg Boss 11 contestant Zubair Khan had already made it to viewers hate-list with his abusive language. On Sunday, after being lashed out by Salman for his behaviour, Zubair reportedly took a high dose of sleeping pills and was rushed to a hospital in Lonavala. He is now back in Mumbai and has filed an FIR against Salman Khan. According to sources, the reason for his ouster was the lack of public support for him, and also for giving wrong information about himself.

On the national television, Salman had lashed out at Zubair for faking his identity as Dawood Ibrahims relative. Zubair began explaining himself and addressed the superstar as Bhai Jaan, but Salman curtly told him not to do so. Zubair too may also find himself in legal trouble because the family of Dawood Ibrahim had threatened legal action against him for lying. They have announced that Zubair is not a part of their family and all his claims were lies.
New Delhi, October 9

The war between Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan is getting uglier by each passing day.

After the Kaabil' star opened up for the first time and came out with his side of the story, his friends and colleagues too came out in his support.

Farhan Akhtar drafted a long and detailed open letter as to why Hrithik is right, while Sonam Kapoor and Karan Johar were quick to support Farhan's thoughts.

....Also why she should bother about private investigations paid by Hrithik Roshan? @FarOutAkhtar pls reply to me.  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 9, 2017

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But Kangana's sister Rangoli Chandel seems to be in no mood to relax as she took to social media to address the stars, who have shown their support for Hrithik.

Dear @FarOutAkhtar your views could've been appreciated if you and your father were not so biased to Roshans.  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 8, 2017

In a series of tweets, she wrote, Dear @FarOutAkhtar your views could've been appreciated if you and your father were not so biased to Roshans." While addressing Karan and Sonam, she tweeted, Dear @karanjohar and @sonamakapoor nice to see how much a gaon wali non English speaking mountain girl has ruffled so many feathers.....Haha even if entire industry stands against her she will still survive because she is the chosen one.

Dea @FarOutAkhtar whr is d lettr frm d polic dat Kangna hs nt coperatd wid d polic invstigation? Hw cn u write dis misleadin n false lettr?  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 9, 2017

....Haha even if entire industry stands against her she will still survive because she is the chosen one !!  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 8, 2017

Dear @karanjohar and @sonamakapoor nice to see how much a gaon wali non English speaking mountain girl has ruffled so many feathers....  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) October 8, 2017

Yesterday, the Lucknow Central' star took to Facebook and explained the reason for writing this letter.

He wrote, The reason I felt the need to say this is that it is apparent that some people have already jumped to conclusions while some are deriving some sort of voyeuristic pleasure by encouraging the woman to carry on speaking. This is being done without a seconds pause to consider the effect her words will have on the person, his family or his children. As great as all of it may be for TRP, it's in terrible taste. Until such a time that the matter is brought to its logical conclusion by the authorities, we must avoid vilifying the man on the basis of unsubstantiated statements.

Kangana Ranaut has been silent on the matter ever since the release of 'Simran' and with new developments everyday it's either her lawyer or her sister Rangoli Chandel, who are replying. ANI
Ahmedabad, October 9

BJP chief Amit Shahs son Jay today filed a criminal defamation case in a metropolitan court here against news portal The Wire over a report claiming his firms turnover grew exponentially after the party came to power in 2014.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S K Gadhvi ordered a court inquiry into the matter under CrPC Section 202 (to inquire into the case to decide whether or not there is sufficient ground for proceeding).

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In his application, Shah prayed for, "criminal action against the respondents for defaming and tarnishing the reputation of the complainant through an article, which is scandalous, frivolous, misleading, derogatory, libelous and consisting of several defamatory statements.

The seven respondents in the case are the author of the article Rohini Singh, founding editors of the news portal Siddarth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia and M K Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the Foundation for Independent Journalism, the non-profit company that publishes The Wire.

The case has been filed under IPCs Sections 500 (defamation), 109 (abetment), 39 (voluntarily cause grievous hurt) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy).

The Wire, in its report said that a company owned by Jay Shah saw a huge rise in its turnover after the BJP came to power in 2014. However, Jay Shah had rejected the charge, insisting the story was "false, derogatory and defamatory".

The court was of the opinion that it will issue summonses to the respondents only after the initial inquiry establishes a case.

The next hearing for a court inquiry will be on October 11 when two witnesses from Jay Shah's side who had first informed him about the publication of the article are likely to depose.

Shah is yet to file a civil defamation suit against the respondents. He had earlier announced that he will also file Rs 100-crore civil defamation suit.

A political storm has erupted after the article titled 'Golden touch of Jay Amit shah' was published. The Congress has demanded an inquiry into the matter, while the BJP called the article defamatory.

Citing filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), a media report claims that the turnover of Jay Amit Shah-owned Temple Enterprise zoomed by around 16,000 times during 2015-16 from around Rs 80 crore in the previous year.

Training their guns at the Narendra Modi government by citing the news story's content, the Congress, the Left and the AAP yesterday demanded an investigation, with Congress leader Kapil Sibal alleging that it was a case of "crony capitalism".

Sibal, citing the RoC filings, also alleged that a firm Kusum Finserve LLP, in which Jay Amit Shah had 60 per cent stake, had got a contract in Madhya Pradesh in wind power sector despite the company being engaged in stock trading.  PTI
New Delhi, October 9

A video has surfaced showing a man, believed to be a Nigerian, tied to a pole and being beaten up with sticks by a group of men after he allegedly attempted to burgle their house in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar.

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A senior police official said the incident took place on September 24 and the man, who told the police that his name was Ahmed, was arrested. He was in jail.

The police said the men had earlier claimed that Ahmed had sustained injuries after he slipped while trying to make an escape.

#WATCH Nigerian national tied to a pole and beaten up by locals for alleged theft in Delhi's Malviya Nagar (24.09.2017) pic.twitter.com/3zWgbeqvN5  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

Krishna Kumar (54), a resident of Savitri Nagar, had claimed that the man broke into his house and tried to steal valuables from the almirah kept in his room, the police said.

On hearing noises, he woke up and tried to catch hold of Ahmed but he tried to flee using the stairs, they added.

However, he fell down, following which the police were informed and Ahmed was arrested, Kumar claimed.

The video invited angry reactions on twitter with users demanding stern action against those taking law into their hands.

I appeal to the Apex Court to take this suo motu and ensure punishment to the persons & big compensation to the Nigerian friend.  S.KRISHNASWAMY (@rettavayal) October 9, 2017

Shame. People are behaving like demons. If he has committed any crime ,law is there to punish him. Police should set an example so incidents like this dont happen in future.  rashmi singh (@rashmisingh1970) October 9, 2017

A video has surfaced in which Ahmed, who is tied to a pole, can be seen being thrashed by Kumar and some other with sticks.

A senior police officer said even though Ahmed had injuries, they were suspected to be because of the fall from the stairs but with the video surfacing now, they were probing the matter.

The officer said Ahmed had claimed that he belongs to Nigeria but did not furnish any documents that could help establish his identity.  PTI
Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, October 9

Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare is building a new team as part of an effort to re-launch his agitation for the appointment of an effective Lokpal.



According to sources close to Hazare, several non-government organisations and right-to-information activists from different parts of the country are in touch with the veteran Gandhian to chalk out a programme of protests, which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi early next year.

Hazare told reporters at his village in Ralegan Siddhi that he would launch the agitation in the last week of January 2018.

Apart from demanding an effective Lokpal, Hazare is demanding reforms in the electoral process and a pension scheme for farmers. Hazare's associates say he will begin a nationwide tour in the coming weeks to mobilise support for the proposed agitation.



Hazare, whose protests against the Manmohan Singh government in 2012, is seen to have helped fan the Narendra Modi wave, has turned a bitter critic of the Prime Minister.

He told reporters on Sunday that the Prime Minister did not keep his word of appointing a Lokpal during his three years in power. Instead, Hazare alleged, the Modi government actually weakened the anti-corruption law by amending provisions under which those covered by the Lokpal had to disclose the assets held by them as well as their family members.

Hazare also added that the letters he sent to Modi went unanswered.



The activist is also pushing for strengthening the provision for NOTA (none of the above) in elections. Should NOTA get the highest number of votes in any seat, fresh elections should be held all over again all the candidates should be barred from contesting, Hazare said.






Pathnamthitta (Kerala), October 9

Yedu Krishnan scripted history on Monday by becoming the first dalit priest in Kerala to assume duties at the sanctum sanctorum of the Manappuram Lord Shiva Temple at nearby Thiruvalla.

In a landmark step, 36 non-brahmins were recently recommended for appointment in various temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages at least 1,248 shrines in the state, including the famous Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala.

Son of P K Ravi and Leela, Krishnan (22) had undergone 10 years training in Tantra shastra. He is among six dalits out of the 36 non-Brahmins recommended for appointment as priests by the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board.

The young priest took blessings of his guru K K Aniruddhan Thantri and entered the shrine with present chief priest Gopakumar Namboodiri, chanting mantras, temple officials said.

Hailing from Koratty in Thrissur district, Krishnan is a final year postgraduate student in Sanskrit. He had begun performing pooja at the age of 15 at a local temple near his house.

Krishan's presence inside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine comes at a time when Kerala is set to observe the 81st anniversary of the historic Temple Entry proclamation on November 12.

The proclamation was a royal decree, which opened the temples in the erstwhile state of Travancore to the so-called lower caste Hindus in 1936.  PTI
Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9



European Union member and Baltic nation Lithuania on Monday underlined that sovereignty of all nations must be respected by China in its One Belt, One Road project.

Visiting Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said: All relations should be based on some principles, not just interests. We are ready for equal and measured relationship and economic relationship at the same time, but we have to follow certain rules, that is the condition.



Minister Linkevicius, who is on an official visit to India to celebrate 25th year of establishment of diplomatic relations, held formal talks with Sushma Swaraj on Monday. The minister gifted a copy of Sanskrit-Letiviu mala  a compilation of 108 Sanskrit words common in both languages to his Indian counterpart. The two sides signed an extradition treaty that has been under negotiation for two decades, and agreement on Air Services.

Linkevicius acknowledged the change in Europes outlook on counter terrorism with globally proscribed terrorists being named in a first in an India-EU document after the 14th summit meet. He said that the world is vulnerable today and Europeans themselves have faced many attacks, hence the documents, agreements or wordings are becoming more clear, less abstract, more focused.



The foreign minister advocated free-trade policy with lifting of protectionism and hoped the India-EU Free Trade agreement negotiation would see forward movement soon. His sentiments were also resonated earlier in the day by German envoy to India, Dr.Martin Ney. Speaking at a media exchange program the ambassador said, There is no decision to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement including investment protection, despite the possibility being at hand.
Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9

European Union member Lithuania today underlined that sovereignty of all nations must be respected by China in its One Belt, One Road project. Visiting Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told The Tribune, All relations should be based on some principles, not just interests. We are ready for equal and measured relationship and economic partnership at the same time, but we have to follow certain rulesthat is the condition, the minister said, sending a similar message to Russia in the region.

Linkevicius, who is on an official visit to India to celebrate the 25th year of establishment of diplomatic relations, held formal talks with Union Minister Sushma Swaraj. The minister gifted a copy of Sanskrit-Letiviu malaa compilation of 108 Sanskrit words common in both languages to his Indian counterpart. The two sides signed an extradition treaty, under negotiation for the past two decades, and an agreement on air services.

The minister acknowledged change in Europes outlook on counter-terrorism with globally proscribed terrorists being named in a first in an India-EU document after the 14th summit. He said the world is vulnerable today and Europeans themselves have faced many attacks, hence the documents, agreements or wordings are becoming more clear, less abstract, more focussed.

The foreign minister advocated free trade policy with lifting of protectionism and hoped the India-EU free trade agreement negotiation would see forward movement soon.

His sentiments were also resonated earlier in the day by German envoy to India, Dr Martin Ney. Speaking at a media exchange programme, the ambassador said, There is no decision to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement, including investment protection, despite the possibility being at hand.
Tribune News Service

Nadiad/New Delhi, Oct 9

The Congress today went all out to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on the issue of business dealings involving BJP chief Amit Shahs son and demanded a probe into the matter. The party said Amit Shah should resign as the BJP chief pending the investigation.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi led the attack against Modi asking whether the PM was a watchman or partner in the soaring fortunes of Amit Shahs son Jay Shah. Rahul attacked Shah at a poll rally in Gujarat asking how the business fortunes of Jay Shah soared to coincide with Modis rise at the Centre, starting 2014.

Beginning second phase of his campaign in Gujarat, Rahul sought answers from Modi and Shah on the surprising growth of business of Jay Shah after the Modi government came to power, and more pertinently after the demonetisation of high currency notes last year. Now we know who benefited from demonetisation, not you or me, but it was Jay Shah, he said.

Attacking the BJP, he said, BJP governments never ask you what you want, but decide things on your behalfwhether you like it or not. The Congress governments, on the other hand, always want to know from the people what they want and then decide. That is real development, he said.

The party mounted similar offensives across major towns cornering the PM-Shah combine on the issue.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 9

Umer Khalid, the chief operations commander of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), was today gunned down in a brief gunfight at Ladoora Baramulla, 60 km from Srinagar. Later in the evening during search operations in Gatipora, Shopian, three Hizbul militants holed up inside a house were shot dead.

Policemen in civvies today laid a naka near Ladoora village, located along the Baramulla-Handwara highway, following intelligence inputs that Khalid was in the area. Intercepted and challenged by the police, Khalid hurled a grenade and opened fire. The police retaliated. Injured, Khalid took refuge in a residential building. Subsequently, a joint operation was launched and the militant was neutralised in a brief gunfight, said a police officer. Sources claimed Khalid was not carrying any rifle.

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Khalid had been operating in the area for the past two or three years and was instrumental in arranging recruits for the terror outfit, the police said. He had recently carried out an attack on an SPO and his seven-year-old son at Handwara. An A++ category terrorist, he carried a cash reward of Rs 7 lakh on his head.

Reports had warned of Jaish planning more fidayeen attacks in Kashmir. The police believe Khalid had a role in the two recent attacks  one on the BSF battalion headquarters near the high-security Srinagar airport and the other on the District Police Lines at Pulwama. The attacks were carried out by Jaishs Afzal Guru Squad.

State police chief Shesh Paul Vaid called Khalids killing a big success for the forces. He said more than 160 militants had been killed this year so far.
Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 4

A month after the Dokalam standoff was resolved while questions still remain about presence of Chinese PLA troops in the area, Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar held parleys in Bhutan on Wednesday.

In the first high-level Indian official visit following the 73-day border face off, during which Thimphu had chosen to maintain a strategic silence after an initial statement, S Jaishankar called upon King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.

In his talks with his counterpart Dasho Sonam Tshong, Jaishankar focussed on all bilateral aspects, including implementation of ongoing projects under Bhutans XIth Five Year Plan assisted by New Delhi.

Trade and economic ties, hydropower cooperation, people to people contacts and preparations for celebrations of 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2018 underlined the discussions.

According to sources, regional security issues were discussed in details too. This even as media reports have emerged of increased Chinese troop build up on Dokalam, which highly placed Indian official sources are denying.

In a statement issued, the Ministry of External Affairs said, The unique relations between India and Bhutan are characterised by deep understanding and mutual trust. The visit of the foreign secretary was in keeping with tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries to strengthen and expand the unique ties.
Ahmedabad, October 9

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said the government has no intention to change the names of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

A UGC panel has recommended that words such as 'Hindu' and 'Muslim' be dropped from the Banaras Hindu University and the Aligarh Muslim University respectively as they not reflect their secular character.

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"AMU and BHU are very old institutions, and we do not intend to change their names. We formed a committee to look into the administrative, academic and research audits of universities.

"The committee studied various aspects and I have not seen what they have said, but there is neither such decision nor is there any such intention to change the names (of these universities)," the HRD minister told reporters here over the reports on the panel's recommendation.

The committee was formed to probe the alleged irregularities in 10 central universities and the recommendations have been made in the audit report of AMU.

Javadekar said while he is yet to look into the audit reports, the government will take cognisance of any such suggestion.

"The mandate of the committee is to look into the administrative, academic and research audits of universities.

We will not take cognisance of what they have recommended outside of this," he said.

According to the panel, the universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders.

Besides AMU and BHU, other universities that were audited by the panel included Allahabad University, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, Central University of Jharkhand, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Jammu, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha, University of Tripura and Hari Singh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh.

On the Congress seeking probe into allegations that a company owned by BJP chief Amit Shah's son saw a huge rise in its turnover after his party came to power in 2014, Javadekar said the opposition's demand was "laughable".

"They (Jay Amit Shah) are themselves going to the court, and will give all information to the court, so Congress' demand is laughable. Incurring losses in a business is not corruption," he said.

Javadekar said a committee headed by K Kasturirangan for new education policy is likely to submit its report by December.

The minister also participated in the BJP's Gujarat Gaurav Yatra and exuded confidence that the party will again form the government in the state.

"The issue of development that the BJP took up, is getting strong support from people. People are for development and for development they are with the BJP. Congress is agitated because it has been rejected for 22 years in Gujarat," he said.  PTI
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9

The Supreme Court on Monday banned the sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region till November 1. Firecrackers could be sold thereafter.

The SC modified its order on sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region. Diwali falls on October 19.

A Bench headed by Justice AK Sikri had on October 6 reserved its order on a plea seeking restoration of the apex courts last year order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.

The top court, through its November 11 order last year, had suspended all licences which permit sale of fireworks, wholesale and retail within the territory of NCR.

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Later, on September 12, the apex court had temporarily lifted its earlier order and permitted sale of firecrackers.

During the hearing on the plea seeking restoration of last years order, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had told the bench that they support the application.

Advocate Gopal Shankarnarayanan, appearing for petitioner Arjun Gopal, had contended before the court that ban on use of firecrackers should be restored as the NCR had witnessed a huge rise in air pollution during and after Diwali last year.

READ:

Firecracker ban hailed even as Delhis air turns very poor

He had said that rise in air pollution during last Diwali was because of several reasons, including the extensive use of firecrackers.

The counsel, appearing for the permanent licencees selling crackers, had opposed the plea and said the September 12 order temporarily lifting the ban, was well-reasoned and passed after hearing all the parties, including the CPCB.

He had argued that all aspects raised by the petitioner now were considered by the apex court while passing the order last month and though firecrackers impacted air quality, it was not the greatest cause of particulate matter (PM) 2.5.

The apex court had last month temporarily lifted its earlier order suspending licences for sale of firecrackers, saying a complete ban would be an extreme step and a graded approach was needed to curb pollution caused by them.

The Supreme Court, however, had said its order lifting the ban on sale of firecrackers might require a review after Diwali depending on the ambient air quality after the festival. With PTI
Tribune News Service

ahmedabad/New Delhi, Oct 9

Jay Shah, the businessman son of BJP national president Amit Shah, filed a criminal defamation case in a metropolitan court here this evening against writer, editor and five others of news portal The Wire for a report hinting at illegal favours from the Narendra Modi government for the exponential growth of his company since the NDA government came to power in Delhi in 2014.

The additional chief metropolitan magistrate SK Gadhavi ordered a court inquiry into the matter and directed Jay Shah to produce his witnesses in the court on Wednesday.

In his application, Jay prayed for criminal action against the respondents for defaming and tarnishing the reputation of the complainant through an article, which is scandalous, frivolous, misleading, derogatory, libelous and consisting of several defamatory statements. Among the seven against whom the case had been filed were the writer of the article, Rohini Singh, founding editors of the news portal Siddharth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia and MK Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the manager and publisher of the Foundation for Independent Journalism, the non-profit company that publishes The Wire.

Jay, however, is yet to file a Rs100-crore civil defamation suit as he had announced yesterday after the publication of the article.

With the Congress maintaining the onslaught against the BJP and its president, the saffron party launched Union minister Piyush Goyal to lead the counter for the second day in a row today.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta is expected to contest Jays case in the defamation case against the news portal. The BJP also defended this, saying a government lawyer can take permission and appear in a case between two private parties. Mehta had sought Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasads permission to appear for Jay and the approval was granted, said Goyal.

On the Congress attack that the government was in the know of the entire episode as the ASG was given permission even before the news appeared, Goyal said they were aware of the matter as the portal had sent Jay a questionnaire. We believe that he (Jay) has been wronged and he must get justice, he said

While the BJP is dismissing all charges against Jay as false, baseless, motivated and malicious, the fact is perceptions matter in politics. There were also speculations that Amit Shah was forced to cut short his Kerala visit because of this issue.

On why a Union minister was defending Jay, party leaders say photographs of BJP whos who (Amit Shah, PM Narendra Modi, Goyal) have been used as innuendo by the portal and the party was well within its rights to counter the malicious attempts. Goyal said, All loans taken by Jay were in accordance with law and commercial rates of interest.
Epic Systems is one of the employers at the center of a lawsuit about employee arbitration agreements. Oral arguments in the case took place on Monday before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Islamabad, October 9

The daughter and son-in-law of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif were on Monday granted bail by the countrys anti-graft court in the Panama Papers scandal as they appeared before it following their return from London.

Maryam Nawaz, 43, along with her spouse, former army captain Muhammad Safdar, returned to the country on Sunday night to appear in the Accountability Court. Safdar was arrested on his arrival as the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrant against him.

Both separately appeared in the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir here.

Sharif and his two sons were absent during the hearing as they are in London to attend to his wife Kulsoom, who is battling throat cancer.

Sharif had attended the previous two hearings but flew to London last week to see his ailing wife, who underwent a third surgery.

The court accepted the bail applications of Maryam and Safdar and postponed the hearing till October 13, according to court officials.

Sharifs lawyer Khawaja Harris asked the court to adjourn hearing for 15 days with commitment that Sharif would also appear. The court rejected the plea and announced that it would indict the accused during the next hearing.

The court also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharifs sons--Husain and Hasan--proclaimed offenders as they had failed to appear before it so far.

The court also decided to conduct separate trials of Husain and Hasan from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

Maryam, who is being groomed as Sharifs political successor, appeared in the court for the first time on Monday. She was ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 50,000 against a non-bailable arrest warrant against her.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lawyers asked the court to send Safdar to jail on judicial remand but the court granted him bail and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 for surety bonds.

The court also asked him to seek its permission before going abroad and rejected the NAB request to confiscate his passport.

Both Maryam and Safdar have been charged by the NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Sharif.

Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken in custody despite the fact that he had come back to face the case. Those who want to appear by free will are arrested from the airport, but we are not afraid of it, she said.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said the absconders are free and hold public meetings.

She also criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.

Questions will be asked if the cases which started with Panama ended with Iqama (job contract). The judges would have to answer it, she said referring to dismissal of Sharif for non-declaration of his salary from his sons company in the UAE.

Those who sent home representative of 20 crore people should also be brought to justice, she said.

During the hearing, Sharifs lawyer also presented an application to exempt him from appearing before the court on Monday. The court accepted the plea.

The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Husain, Hasan and Safdar last Monday after they failed to appear before it.

The cases were filed after the July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the peoples mandate and democracy. PTI
Lahore, October 9

Pakistani theatre actress Shamim was shot today dead by unidentified gunmen in Punjab province, a family member said.

The 29-year-old artist was killed early this morning outside her house in Shah town of Multan city, about 350km from Lahore.

Her brother, Saifur Rehman told police that someone had called his sister (Shamim) to come outside the house.

"When she came out of the main gate of her residence, unidentified men opened fire on her, killing her on the spot," he said.

He said his sister had recently received threats from someone for performing in theatres.

Shamim's family also suspect that her estranged husband might be involved in the murder.

Police has registered an FIR against unidentified persons and said it will probe the case from all angles.

Shamim was known as 'Shamo' and a very good dancer.

Last year, famous theatre actress Kismat Baig was killed by her estranged lover in Lahore. She was shot 11 times in her legs, stomach and hands. "Kismat now you will not be able to dance," one of the gunmen said after spraying bullets on her legs, her driver had told police.

A number of stage actresses - Nadra, Nagu, Yasmin, Naina, Nagina, Marvi, Karishma, Sangam and Arzo - of Lahore and Multan had been killed in the past, either by their estranged lovers or over enmity issue.

 PTI
Sarajevo, October 9

Naser Oric, the Bosnian Muslim commander who led the defence of Srebrenica during the 1992-95 war, was cleared of war crimes against Serbs on Monday, a ruling greeted by both celebration and condemnation in the divided state.

Bosnian Muslims, who largely see Oric as a hero, broke into applause as he and a fellow soldier left the courtroom free men. Cheering crowds massed around them outside. Families of Bosnian Serbs killed in the war, who see Oric and his troops as criminals, walked out of the hearing in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo in protest.

This is horrific, this is a scandal. Everybody expected that he will be punished. Is this a justice? I am speechless, said Radojka Filipovic from Bratunac, near Srebrenica. She said Orics forces killed at least six of her relatives.

Milorad Dodik, the president of Bosnias autonomous Serb Republic, called on Serb lawyers to withdraw from the shared national legal system. The justice minister of neighbouring Serbia, Nela Kuburovic, called the ruling shameful.

The case went to the heart of fractured Bosnia, haunted by ethnic divides and long-running grievances that have blocked its progress to joining the European Union and NATO. Bosnia was hit by a devastating war in the 1990s after the Bosnian Serbs, helped by Serbia, tried to carve out a separate statelet following the break up of Yugoslavia.

Bosnian Serbs have accused Oric and his men of killing about 3,000 of their people in the Srebrenica area during the conflict.

Bosnian Muslims, or Bosniaks, hailed his role in defending Srebrenica, where Bosnian Serb forces later killed more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys - widely seen as Europes worst atrocity since World War Two.  Reuters
Ankara, October 9

Turkey on Monday urged the United States to reverse a decision to halt the issuing of all regular visas at American consulates in the country, in a row that risks a major crisis.

Ankara hit back at the US move  sparked by the arrest of an Istanbul consulate staffer  with a similar halt by Turkey's missions in the US.

Analysts warned the dispute risked becoming the most serious row between the two NATO allies in decades.

The Turkish foreign ministry summoned the US embassy's deputy chief of mission on Monday, urging Washington to reverse its decision to suspend all non-immigrant visa services.

Ministry officials told the diplomat the move was creating "unnecessary escalation and victimisation", state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The US embassy in Ankara said on Sunday it would suspend issuing visas for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study, after the arrest last week.

Immigrant visa services are only for those seeking to live in the United States permanently.

The embassy said "recent events" forced the US government to reassess Turkey's "commitment" to the security of US mission services and personnel in the country.

Last week an Istanbul court remanded in custody the consulate employee over accusations of links to the group of US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen who Ankara blames for the 2016 failed coup.

He has been formally charged with espionage and seeking to overthrow the Turkish government, accusations the embassy rejected as "wholly without merit".

Ankara countered Washington's visa move with further restrictive measures, stopping services applying to visas in passports as well as e-visas and visas acquired at the border as well as those issued at diplomatic facilities in the US.

The Turkish embassy in Washington issued two almost word-for-word copies of the American statement in English and Turkish, in an apparent attempt to mock the American counterpart.

"It's definitely a historic low in ties, at least in recent memory," said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute, adding that the last such dispute of this magnitude was after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

"Neither side is willing to step back," he said.

Last week's developments also came after a Turkish employee at the US consulate in the southern city of Adana was arrested in March on charges of supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The Hurriyet daily said Turkish authorities issued an arrest warrant for a third US consulate staffer who is now hiding inside the consulate.

However in an interview with A Haber television Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul denied the claim, saying he was unaware of any new arrest warrant.

Turkish officials had expressed hope of a new page in Ankara-Washington relations under President Donald Trump and pressed Washington for the extradition of the Pennsylvania-based Gulen, who denies any link to the coup bid.

The lack of movement on the issue has further strained ties already fraying over Washington's support for a Syrian Kurdish militia Ankara deems to be a terror group.

Meanwhile, members of Erdogan's security detail were indicted by US authorities after clashes with protesters during an official visit this year, infuriating the Turkish president.

American pastor Andrew Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir, has been held by Turkish authorities since October 2016 on charges of being a member of Gulen's group.

Erdogan suggested last month that Turkey could release him in exchange for Gulen but Washington showed little interest in the proposal.

"It will be hard for relations to be restored any time soon to what they used to be," said Cagaptay.

Turkey's influential Industrialists' and Businessman's Association (TUSIAD) described the move by the US as "most unfortunate" saying it risked hurting citizens who had nothing to do with the row.

The tensions put pressure on the Turkish lira, which lost 2.3 per cent against the US dollar, recovering slightly after losing over six percent at one point.

The Borsa Istanbul 100 Index was down 3.05 per cent after it earlier dropped below 100,000 points for first time since June 21 before rising back up to 100,961.

The Turkish deputy central bank governor sought to reassure the markets today.

"There could be a temporary impact because of geopolitical concerns, we are watching closely," Murat Uysal said, quoted by NTV broadcaster.  AFP
Tulsa-based historian and voice actor Michael Wallis was gifted a medallion Sunday outside Circle Cinema to celebrate his 72nd birthday.

Like the Hollywood Walk of Fame stars, the Circle Cinema medallions are embedded in the sidewalk outside the historic movie theater to commemorate Oklahomans contributions to cinema.

With Sundays unveiling, Wallis, who voices Sheriff in the Disney and Pixar Cars films, joined the ranks of actor Brad Pitt, actress Reba McEntire and writer S.E. Hinton in the Walk of Fame.

The reveal was a surprise to Wallis, who arrived at Circle Cinema on Sunday to celebrate his birthday and see a screening of one of his films.

Wow. I am quite blown away, he said after the unveiling. Although I admit when I came out here, and I saw this black thing on the ground, I kind of thought something might be up.

Wallis noted his medallions placement next to Tony Randall, who grew up near the Tulsa neighborhood where Wallis and his wife, Suzanne, live now, and near his late friend, writer Billie Letts.

So, this is great company to be in. I really am very, very much honored, Wallis said.

Wallis is also known for his books Route 66: The Mother Road, Pretty Boy: The Life and Times of Charles Arthur Floyd and Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride.

paighten.harkins @tulsaworld.com

Twitter: @PaightenHarkins
By Michael Smith  Tulsa World

Producer Gale Anne Hurd is an icon who has gone from creating The Terminator in the 1980s to producing TVs most-watched series, The Walking Dead, and she recognizes another trailblazer when she sees one.

I think Wilma Mankiller was an icon that more people need to know about, Hurd told the Tulsa World in a recent interview about the revered former Cherokee Nation chief, who shes hoping people will discover through Mankiller, a new documentary shes produced.

People need to know what she accomplished by being an assertive leader, by looking out for the needs of her constituents, by being able to reach across the aisle. We all need to learn from her.

The story of the tribes first female chief is perfect subject matter for the Tulsa American Film Festival, where Mankiller will make its Oklahoma debut on Friday at Circle Cinema.

This third annual event, running Wednesday through Sunday, showcases new independent feature and short films with a nod toward Native American, Latino, Oklahoma-based and student filmmakers.

A schedule of events accompanies this story, and more information is available at tulsaamericanfilmfest.com.

The schedule includes several free events, films with regional ties like the Tulsa-filmed Rumble Fish this year, and educational panels like a discussion with Tricia Wood, a casting director (La La Land) whos also a member of the Cherokee and Seneca-Cayuga tribes.

And lastly, each night of the festival has after-parties with musical acts, spirited talk of the films and more.

Five-day highlights include narrative and documentary stories, shorts and features, film tributes to Will Sampson and Leon Russell, awards and an outdoor party.

Through cinema and fellowship, the festival hopes it can bring people together in a way that would have made the subject of Mankiller proud.

Wilma was brought in by a conservative (Ross Swimmer, the Cherokee chief before her), and she was a liberal, and they made great things happen, said Hurd. Greater things together than they could have done by themselves.

I absolutely feel that shes someone who helped to transform a nation.

Hurd produced alongside Mankillers daughters and her widower, Charlie Soap. Mankiller is directed by Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, who will attend Fridays event and speak about the film.
Three juries have been unable to come to a consensus on whether Shannon Kepler is guilty of murder in the 2014 slaying of his daughters boyfriend, putting the pressure on as jury selection in his fourth trial starts Monday.

The last time the case was heard, six people voted to convict the former Tulsa police officer, six voted against it. The longer the spotlight is on, the further away the state seems to have gotten from convincing those all-important 12 people: The first hung jury came in 11-1, the second 10-2.

I think the state should have conceded that no result was a result, defense attorney Richard OCarroll said Friday of the previous mistrials. (After) three hung juries, theyre gonna do everything within their power and maybe outside the power of the law to succeed in getting a conviction. Theyre frustrated.

Kepler, 57, is charged with fatally shooting 19-year-old Jeremey Lake on Aug. 5, 2014, outside the teenagers aunts home in the 200 block of North Maybelle Avenue. Lake had just begun a romantic relationship with Keplers estranged daughter, Lisa Kepler, which she reported on her Facebook page the afternoon of his death.

Adding a layer to the drama of the fourth trial, the defense has argued that another case could call into question whether Tulsa County District Court has the jurisdiction to try Kepler.

Tulsa County District Judge Sharon Holmes on Oct. 2 denied a motion to dismiss the case based on OCarrolls contention that Tulsa County District Court doesnt have jurisdiction because Kepler is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the site of the fatal shooting is within the Creek Reservation.

That matter became an issue in an unrelated case in August after the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver overturned the conviction of a Native American death-row inmate from Oklahoma, saying the killing for which he was convicted happened in Indian country and should have been tried in either federal or tribal court.

Holmes denied the related Kepler defense motion, saying there has been no mandate from the appeals court in that case  which is pending in the court system  so she would not dismiss any case based on that ruling.

It is just the latest in a myriad of motions the defense has put forth since Keplers arrest in 2014 that has kept Holmes schedule busy. OCarroll has argued about the way juries are selected, the mystery of a firearm allegedly found in a courthouse trashcan, even the judges presiding over the case  Holmes and the state have gotten through them all and kept this case moving.

But for all the efforts the attorneys and judge go through again and again on Keplers case, it is the discussion that happens behind closed doors that matters the most.

The third time Keplers case was tried, the jury considered a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter but deliberated only 2 hours before saying it was deadlocked at 6-6. The first jury deliberated almost 10 hours, and the second more than eight hours.

Twenty-seven people have deliberated and voted to convict, but the attorneys who are picking a fourth jury have to be thinking about those nine people who said not guilty.

Jury selection is everything. We put as much of our resources as possible into selecting, or rather deselecting the jurors, OCarroll said of the process that both sides use to weed out those they deem to have questionable ability to judge the case impartially.

Keplers case appears to be the first in Tulsa County to go before a jury four times. Nationally, only a handful of murder cases have been tried three or more times.

I dont know anybody who could have had the courage to face three different juries in a murder case, OCarroll said of Kepler, who has testified in his own defense at each trial. Hes got more courage than anyone I know. Im talking about (the jurors) sitting there and them having the power to put him in handcuffs for the rest of his life. He knows whats at stake.

Kevin Gray, assistant district attorney, said the multiple trials have been part of a search for a resolution to the case.

Its our sworn obligation as prosecutors in the state of Oklahoma to seek justice, whatever that justice might be. For any defendant or victim or victims family, they should hope for no less out of our office, Gray told the Tulsa World on Friday.

The reality is, some cases take a little bit longer to get resolved than others, and Mr. Keplers case is just falling on one end of the spectrum.
Oklahoma will continue its annual testing of public school students with the same vendor.

On Monday, it was announced that the Oklahoma State Department of Education has awarded Measured Progress a potential six-year contract for its testing program. According to state education officials, the amount awarded for 2017-18 is nearly $7.7 million, with the potential six-year total value of the contract at $46.9 million.

At its monthly meeting in July, the state board of education voted to approve a bidder selected by education administrators in a blind recommendation  without bidders identified  for a new contract worth tens of millions of dollars for English/language arts, math and science tests for public school students in grades three through eight.

Jeanene Barnett, deputy superintendent of assessment and accountability at the state Department of Education, said: We had a competitive bidding process for this contract, and Measured Progress presented the best solution to meet Oklahomas needs. Were very happy to be able to continue working with them on high-quality assessments that will support our goals for continually improving student learning in our state.

Measured Progress, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit company, took over the states testing contract in 2014. The new contract is a six-year deal with one-year renewals, designed to test students proficiency according to newly adopted state academic standards.

Our relationship with the Oklahoma education department has been one of respect and openness from the beginning, said Martin Borg, president and chief executive officer of Measured Progress. We share strong convictions about creating opportunities for students, and about improving teaching and learning through meaningful assessments.
NEW YORK (AP)  She may have been disinvited by Harvard and turned away from Canada, but Chelsea Manning earned applause, laughter and even some tears of empathy on Sunday from a friendly crowd at the annual New Yorker Festival.

Manning, a native of Crescent, Oklahoma, who was released in May after seven years in military prison, was by turns impassioned, defensive, humorous and occasionally tearful in a panel discussion with New Yorker writer Larissa MacFarquhar.

She became emotional when asked what she thought the best result had been from her leaking of hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks. "Look, I haven't had time to deal with these questions," she said. "All I've been doing is fighting for my life for the last seven years."

The 29-year-old transgender woman was known as Bradley Manning when she was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison. In his last days in office, President Barack Obama commuted the rest of her sentence.

Manning has made only a few appearances since her release. Last month, Harvard University reversed a decision to name her a visiting fellow after CIA director Mike Pompeo scrapped a planned appearance over the designation, calling Manning an "American traitor."

And Manning tweeted two weeks later that she'd been denied entry into Canada because of her U.S. criminal record.

While some see her as a traitor, others see her as a hero for exposing truths of war. One audience questioner cried as she mentioned the ordeal Manning had been through.

At times, Manning told MacFarquhar she was legally unable to get into certain details. And when asked how she would advise other aspiring leakers to proceed, she said simply that everyone needed to make their own decisions. But she responded forcefully when asked whether she'd been afraid that the release of her documents would hurt people by exposing the names of informants. She said the material included no such information.

"These aren't intelligence documents," she said. "It's historical data."

"There's nothing sensitive in there, there's no troop movements," she added. "It was a historical record of everything that had happened in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Manning spoke of her childhood in small-town Oklahoma  "a typical generic town in the middle of the country"  her turbulent family life, and a short time living homeless on the streets of Chicago.

She said she'd learned to program computers by age 8 or 9, and eventually joined the military because she thought "I could use my skills and make a difference." Once she got to Iraq, she said, she was overwhelmed by the death and destruction she saw.

On a 10-day leave back home in Washington, she said, she first tried to leak the documents to the Washington Post or The New York Times  simply because she had seen the movie "All the President's Men." Unwilling to trust email, she called the newspapers from public phones at various Starbucks locations.

But the newspapers were unable to establish encrypted communications channels, so she went to WikiLeaks, because, she said, "I was running out of time."

Manning spoke in detail of her time in prison, especially in solitary confinement. "Humans are a social creature," she said, fighting tears. "We need connections. We need to be with each other."

She said she got through much of the seven years by setting small, incremental goals, like getting "from breakfast to lunch to dinner to sleep." When the rules forbid her to exercise, she said, she started to dance, and her guards didn't stop her. So she thought, she said, "OK, that's how I'll exercise, like Zumba."

Manning has now become an activist  for LGBT rights, for transparency in government, and also against what she called an alarming level of surveillance in society. "I feel like prison has encroached into the outside world," she said. "You've got militarized forces walking around on American streets. It's quite frightening."

She also had a message for engineers and software designers: Pay attention to the potential uses of what you're designing, because it can be used for different purposes than intended.

Manning was asked by one tearful audience questioner whether her experience had made her "more cynical about fairness."

"I do have cynical moments," she said, tearing up again. "But then I get past them, you know? I turn to my friends, and I turn to my family ... and then they cheer me up."

Asked by another questioner what motivates her, Manning noted she'd been a DJ in the past. "I just set up my music equipment, and I've started making some tracks," she said.

"I'm a little out of date."
The red crosses on his helmet and on his arm band didnt grant Gene Day any magic immunity.

In a combat zone, he was just as vulnerable as any other soldier.

Maybe because we didnt carry guns, we thought we were safer as medics, said the World War II veteran and former combat medic. But we werent. We had no protection, just a helmet.

On Wednesday, Day  who has a Purple Heart for wounds he sustained during the war  will experience a different kind of vulnerability.

As part of his trip on the inaugural Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., he will be visiting the nations WWII memorial  something that previously would have been unimaginable for him.

For most of the past 70 years, Day didnt want to think or talk about the war.

Id seen enough, he said.

He only opened up about it to close family members a couple of years ago, sharing with tear-filled eyes memories that had long haunted him.

He did that, he said, because people had told him he should.

It was good advice. Not only was his family grateful to know his story at last, he felt better after talking.

Going to see the WWII memorial is something else he has been told he should do, Day said.

He will be in good company Wednesday.

Joining him for the inaugural flight are 75 other veterans from across the region  representing WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

Day will be the oldest making the trip.

First casualty

I dont know any time that I wasnt scared. Fear was part of life then, Day said recently, talking to the Tulsa World about his war experience.

It began for him in March 1943.

Two months shy of graduating from high school in his hometown of Joplin, Missouri, Day was drafted into the Army and assigned to become a medic with the 78th Infantry Division.

Landing in France in November 1944, he moved from there with his division into Belgium and Germany, where he would see his first combat in early December.

Day, a member of the 310th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, still remembers his first casualty  a soldier with a serious shell wound to his upper thigh.

He was one of our forward observers. My only thought was how I was going to save his life.

Day was able to remove the shrapnel.

Of whether the man was OK, Day said, He lived, lets put it that way.

Day learned quickly that a shell fragment was preferable to a bullet.

A bullet goes through and tears up too much, he said. Shrapnel left wounds we could patch up.

The demands of the job

Over the first three days, the casualties came in bunches.

We were litter bearers, really, Day said of his work as a medic. Our job was to treat a man and then get him back to the aid station the best way we could.

As a medic, he added, it wasnt unusual to work 48 hours without a break. You caught a few winks where you could and took benzedrine to stay awake.

Treating a soldier on the battlefield was tricky.

People dont understand what its like for (battle-wounded men)  the suffering they go through, Day said.

Morphine was a life-saver, he added.

One shot of morphine would calm a wounded man enough that he could be treated, Day said. Then, if needed, a second shot would knock him out.

Wounded in action

Enduring sub-zero temperatures and brutal winter conditions, Days regiment stood firm against the German counterattacks at the Battle of the Bulge, then in late January continued advancing into Germany, capturing enemy towns as it went.

Once, Day was briefly captured while in the field, but was released because he was a medic.

Thats one reason, he said, it never bothered him that he wasnt armed.

I knew they shot the ones with guns, he said.

About two weeks in, Day was able to exchange his jeep for a weasel.

It was a big improvement, he said. A tracked vehicle designed for the snowy conditions, a weasel could carry four wounded men at a time.

The incident that would result in Days Purple Heart happened while he was driving a weasel.

Riding alongside a fellow medic as they transported two wounded men, he never saw it coming, and wouldnt remember anything  just that he woke up hours later at an aid station.

A German shell, it turned out, had exploded in the air over their heads.

Day had a head injury. But he counted himself lucky.

Both the wounded men had been killed.

What happened to his comrade, he still doesnt know.

I never saw him again, Day said.

Still see their faces

Days wife, Grace, knows better than anyone how the war affected her husband.

His nightmares lasted for years, she said. It was hard.

Along with his wife  his main support for the past 71 years  family has been a key for Day.

The best part of his trip to D.C., he said, is that he will be accompanied by his grandson.

Devon Bally, a Coweta firefighter and paramedic, said he was inspired to become a paramedic because of his grandfather. He said he will be proud to stand alongside him at the memorial.

Day doesnt know what he will be thinking on Wednesday when he finally sees the WWII memorial.

No doubt, a few faces will appear in his mind.

I can still see them, he said.

We lost so many medics. That was the worst part of the war for him  losing so many buddies, Day said.

Thats why I didnt talk about it for years.
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Morning briefing: Foxconn growth could be staggering, but risks are real for Racine County, Wisconsin
Smoke rises on the Myanmar side of the border, as seen from Palangkhali in Bangladesh on 5 October 2017  four days before a fresh influx of refugees arrived via the nearby Anjumanpara border crossing.  UNHCR/Roger Arnold

The UN Refugee Agency is rushing relief supplies to the border areas amid reports that an estimated 10,000 Rohingya refugees crossed into Bangladesh on Monday.

This sudden influx follows the recent slowing arrivals. However, in recent days local people in the Anjumanpara area of south-eastern Bangladesh have reported hearing gunfire in Myanmar.

According to Bangladesh border guards, the influx through the Anjumanpara border crossing point started on Sunday night and had passed the 6,000 mark by Monday afternoon. Thousands more are said to be on their way.

Among those who made it across to Bangladesh, many said they fled from Buthidaung in Myanmars northern Rakhine state, walking for 12 to 14 days to reach the border.

Many of the new arrivals were taken by the authorities to the Kutupalong and Balukhali areas about 20 km away, where refugee camps and settlements already exist.

Several thousand new arrivals were also reported at other entry points south of Anjumanpara, including Shahporidwip.

UNHCR has loaded trucks with plastic sheets for immediate delivery once our teams verify their locations. The UN Refugee Agency has also asked partner agencies to pre-position food, water and other life-saving supplies for the new refugees, many of whom are exhausted from the long and treacherous journey.

In Shahporidwip near the southern tip of Bangladesh, UNHCR is already supporting the authorities at a transit centre for boat arrivals.

The series of drownings reported since late September underscore the importance of rescue operations for those fleeing by boat from Myanmar. In the most recent incident over the weekend more than a dozen refugees drowned, including children and women.

Since the violence started in northern Rakhine state in late August, nearly 520,000 refugees have sought safety in Bangladesh, joining an estimated 300,000 Rohingya refugees who have been hosted here since the 1990s.

The UN Refugee Agency is coordinating its response with the Bangladesh government and partners to enhance preparedness for potential influxes and pre-position relief supplies close to the reception areas.

For more information, please contact:
GENEVA, 29 September  The Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), LI Yong, has attended the first Conference of the Parties (COP1) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The Convention entered into force in August 2017 and aims to protect human health and the environment from man-made emissions and releases of mercury and its compounds. While in Geneva, Director General LI also attended a number of bilateral meetings with Ministers of the Environment and ambassadors from various countries.

During a high-level UN panel discussion on 28 September, Director General LI highlighted UNIDOs crucial role in the Convention and its implementation. We must achieve the objectives set forth by the Convention because many lives, including women, unborn children and infants, are depending on the success of actions that we will develop and implement, he said.

Li stated that UNIDO has been involved in mercury management for more than 20 years and is fully committed to working with the relevant UN agencies, financial institutions, the private sector and governments to phase out mercury from the global market.

Enhanced cooperation will contribute to maintain and improve the health of our ecosystem and the well-being of future generations. We all have the responsibility and now is the opportunity to act and provide the world with sustainable industrial development, including the protection of the environment, he added.

A high-level segment, opened by the President of Switzerland, Doris Leuthard, provided an interactive platform for delegates to demonstrate political leadership and raise awareness of and support for implementation of the Convention.

The Conference was attended by over 1,300 delegates, including 80 Ministers and heads of UN agencies and financial institutions. Issues discussed included reporting, effectiveness evaluation, the financial mechanism, arrangements for a permanent secretariat, compliance and guidance on contaminated sites.

During the Conference, the UNIDO delegation worked on current and future projects with various partners and explored options for future funding sources for UNIDOs Mercury Programme. UNIDO also organized a successful side event, "From earth to earth - taking mercury out of the global market."

The Convention bans new and phases out existing mercury mines, contains measures to control air emissions, and regulates the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining. It is the first new Multilateral Environmental Agreement to be signed and ratified for more than a decade.

For more information, please contact:

Jerome Stucki

Industrial Development Officer, UNIDO

Email

Gabriela Eigenmann

Industrial Development Expert, UNIDO

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(Main photo: UN Photo/Jean-Marc FerreCC/Flickr/BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Foxconn employees talk with a visitor before the announcement Oct. 4 of the Taiwanese company's chosen location, in southwest Mount Pleasant, for a $10 billion manufacturing campus. On display is a product using the company's liquid-crystal-display technology.
Bill Berkan keeps detailed records  which is probably a good thing when youre trying to force a big company to fix the damage its equipment caused to your home.

Last summer, a utility pole near Berkans Near West Side Madison home was replaced, leaving cable and AT&T wires to his home less securely attached than they had been, Berkan told SOS.

The result was that during a rain storm in July, the AT&T connection was pulled free from his house.

This shouldnt have been that big a deal, as Berkan said he hasnt been a customer of AT&T for more than 25 years. But in pulling away from the house, the AT&T hook-up also took with it a 5-by-5-foot chunk of his homes siding.

Berkan said he first contacted AT&T on Aug. 3 and was given a claim number and informed that a third-party claims adjuster, Sedgwick Claims Management Services, would be in touch.

It wasnt. So on Aug. 9, Berkan began making calls  more than 20 of them over the course of five weeks, to be exact, which he reported to SOS along with the times of day they were made and notes about what happened during some of them.

According to the notes, Sedgwick once said it didnt know of his claim and once said it was putting an urgent order on his claim. Oftentimes, its representatives didnt answer the phone or didnt return messages. (It did not respond to an email from SOS, either.)

Berkan said that on Aug. 15, his wife also contacted the office of AT&Ts CEO and spoke to a representative, with very frustrating results.

It was on this phone call that the AT&T representative threatened to charge us for the 25-plus years their line had been connected to our house, even though we were not customers, he said.

AT&T spokesman Jim Kimberly said: I am not aware of anyone with the company who would say something like that.

Armed with Berkans meticulous records, SOS first contacted AT&T on his behalf on Sept. 13, and on Sept. 14, Berkan said he heard from an AT&T official who told him to get in touch with Sedgwick  the company that is so unresponsive in this matter.

So SOS did some more poking around Tuesday and found signs that Berkan isnt the first to be dissatisfied with Sedgwicks work for AT&T. This information was shared with AT&T and on Wednesday night, Berkan emailed:

Good news! We received a phone call from Sedgwick ... that informed us that we will receive a check for the full cost of repairing our house siding within 10 business days. Those repairs cost $430, he said.

SOS will chalk this one up as a success once the check arrives.
October 9 2017

Aberdeen City Council has lent its support to the creation of a neighbourhood centre at Countesswells , the latest phase of a 3,000 home masterplan for a North East new town.Consolidating the granting of planning in princip0le for the development as a whole this specific phase of implementation will include 600 homes adjacent to a new primary school and will include a mix of shops, community facilities, office space and a public square.In a statement Countesswells project director Allan McGregor said: Throughout the north-east of Scotland, villages and towns, which have not only grown but prospered as places with their own identity, have been built around common spaces, from the iconic, historic archway at Fettercairn, to the market squares at Stonehaven and Ellon.The neighbourhood centre in Phase 1b is the back bone of the new settlement at Countesswells  its shops, indoor facilities and outdoor meeting spaces are there to be used for the benefit of the people who call the community home, and are proud to do so.Countesswells is to be phased in over the next 15 years.
(Oct. 9, 2017)  Students at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) can discover all the academic opportunities at Fall Into Your Major on Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the H-E-B University Center Ballroom (HUC 1.104). The event, hosted by The University Career Center, University College and Academic Advising, is free and open to all UTSA students.

Fall Into Your Major is an exploration fair that provides students with extensive information on selecting majors and career fields related to specific majors. Its a chance for students who have not declared a major or are questioning what they may have already selected to understand their options.

"Our undergraduate students, particularly our first-year students, benefit greatly from this opportunity to explore the various majors we offer by visiting with the respective department chairs, faculty, academic advisors, upperclassmen, and peer mentors," said Tammy Wyatt, UTSA associate vice provost for student success. "I firmly believe that this event, in combination with our other first-year programming, has helped students to declare an appropriate major by the conclusion of their first-year."

Roadrunners will be able to explore academic programs and career-related information, meet with academic advisors to learn more about different majors and degree programs offered at UTSA and speak with student leaders to get their perspective. Students will also learn about the requirements for their major and minor and the process to change or declare a major.

It is extremely beneficial to students to have an opportunity to have all of the professional staff and faculty in one room to talk with them and answer their questions, said Audrey Magnuson, director of the UTSA University Career Center. The synergy of the UTSA staff and faculty is a huge benefit to the student when making the very important choice of major.

The event will also feature door prizes, including five $100 textbook credits from the UTSA RowdyCampus store.
Tolluoglu, Hafner Receive Nursing Preceptor of the Year Awards from UW

Belit Tolluoglu and Mike Hafner are the recent recipients of the University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursings 2017 Preceptor of the Year Awards.

Preceptors, who are a key to the School of Nursings success, are nurses who mentor UW students in a variety of clinical settings. In an effort to recognize these nurses -- especially those who go above and beyond -- the School of Nursing presents an award annually to a Basic BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) and Bachelors Reach for Accelerated Nursing Degree (BRAND) preceptor. Students write the nominations for these awards.

Tolluoglu, who works as a nurse in the emergency room at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, received the Basic BSN Preceptor Award.

If nursing school built the foundation for my nursing career, Belit built the house. He shaped me from an inexperienced, naive student into a more knowledgeable, capable one, says Alaina Gillogly, a Basic BSN student at UW. He helped me become competent with nursing skills, assessments and time management. If there was an opportunity to learn, Belit did his best to provide it.

Most importantly, his love of nursing sparked in me passion for this career I had never before felt and, for that, I am forever indebted. Because of his diligent, patient instruction, I feel ready to start my career as a new nurse. Belit genuinely cared about my success as a student nurse and fully invested his time and energy into training me. I am so thankful I had him as my practicum preceptor.

Hafner, a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs, received the BRAND Preceptor Award.

Mike Hafner is one of the best educators Ive had. His love and enthusiasm for nursing is contagious, says BRAND student Abbie Hale. He challenged me to think critically, develop clinical skills and, most importantly, examine the big picture when it comes to patient care.

As a student nurse, clinical experiences are overwhelming, yet Mike has managed to push me out of my comfort zone while guiding me when I am unsure of myself. He goes over and beyond to find different methods and situations to foster learning, she adds. He encourages questions and the use of all information Ive learned to make solid, evidence-based clinical decisions and to deliver safe, effective patient care. A former BRAND student himself, Mike has shown me what excellent nursing care looks like in practice. I will look back and have him to thank for my nursing career.

Casey Joyner, another BRAND student, also had high praise for Hafner.

Mike was a phenomenal preceptor with a true passion to teach. He pushed me to become the best nurse I can be, Joyner says. He held me to a high standard and expected me to push myself, yet was very aware of my limits and hesitation, and was always there as support. When I had a question, he would challenge me to come to the answer by asking me pertinent questions.

When I found a patient interesting, we would dive into their diagnosis and pick it apart until I truly understood the pathophysiology and care plan for the patient, Joyner says. He would consistently quiz me on side effects and mechanism of action of medications, and what would need to be reassessed. I am grateful for such a clinical teacher as Mike, who is passionate about teaching students, ensuring they are ready and confident to provide care.
United Way Kickoff Today at UW; Gift Certificates in Some Mailers

The University of Wyomings 2017 United Way campaign will begin with a campus campaign kickoff from 11 a.m.-noon today in the Wyoming Unions Yellowstone Ballroom.

The entire campus community is invited to attend the event, which will feature refreshments and information about the United Way of Albany County -- and the 16 nonprofit agencies it supports. Representatives of those agencies will be on hand to provide information about the services they provide.

In addition, scheduled to speak are UW President Laurie Nichols and Paul Heimer, United Way of Albany County executive director. Dave Bagley, chemical engineering professor, and Frosty Selmer, deputy director of utilities management, are co-chairs of the 2017 UW campaign.

UW employees may donate to the United Way through payroll deduction or one-time contributions. They will receive donation information via campus mail. This year, gift certificates will be inserted in 10 of the mailers across campus as an incentive to open them and read about how to donate to the United Way.

For more information about the United Way of Albany County, go online to www.unitedwayalbanycounty.org/.
A Madison man was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday for being a felon in possession of a gun.

William Flowers, 26, was sentenced in federal court in Madison by U.S. District Judge William Conley. Flowers' sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.

He pleaded guilty to charges on July 25.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office news release, Flowers was arrested by Madison police on March 13, following an investigation into alleged heroin dealing in January and February.

When he was taken into custody, a loaded handgun was found in the waistband of his pants.

Conley considered Flowers drug dealing and "long history of acts of violence and dangerous behavior, which all present a danger to the public," as factors in his sentencing.

Flowers was charged in federal court in March with distributing oxycodone and heroin. He had been charged in Dane County Circuit Court for similar crimes, but the federal charges took precedence over the local charges, which were dismissed.
A man with a long gun threatened to shoot another man early Sunday morning during a fight outside a food cart, with the suspect found later and arrested by Madison police.

The fight was reported at about 1:40 a.m. Sunday in the 500 block of North Frances Street, police said.

A fight turned into a threat to shoot, police said.

"After a physical altercation, an involved party brandished a long gun and threatened another involved party with the gun," said Lt. Kelly Donahue.

Some injuries were reported from the fight but nobody was shot.

On Sunday evening, police found and arrested the suspect, who was armed with the gun. The suspect was taken to the Dane County Jail on a probation hold, and his name was not released.


The City of Henderson Fire and Police departments are teaming up to host the Henderson Community Safety Expo 2017. The event, held in conjunction with National Night Out, will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 14 at the Henderson Fire Training Center, located at 401 Parkson Rd. The event is free and open to the public.

The Henderson Community Safety Expo will feature more than 80 exhibitors showcasing products and services that promote personal safety, crime and fire prevention, emergency preparedness, risk reduction, injury prevention and health and wellness. Exhibitors include area law enforcement agencies, fire and rescue agencies, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations and businesses that deliver health and safety resources to the community.

This year marks the Henderson Fire Departments 75th anniversary and to celebrate this milestone, the department will give live demonstrations of fire suppression at 11:30 a.m., technical rope rescue at 12:30 p.m. and a condensed version of the Every 15 Minutes program at 2 p.m. Paramedics will also demonstrate hands-only CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator.

Henderson firefighters and police officers will be available to answer questions and demonstrate emergency response equipment, including a fire engine and ambulance rescue, S.W.A.T., patrol vehicles, traffic motorcycles and K-9 unit.

There will be free giveaways and activities for all ages, including bounce houses, crime solving games and junior firefighter challenges.
A Wisconsin World War II veteran earned recognition for his service Sunday after 71 years.

Elmer Henderson, a 94-year-old U.S. Army veteran, was surrounded by family and friends when he received the nine medals he earned during the war. A fire that destroyed a large portion of service records for WWII veterans left Hendersons family trying for about 20 years to get his medals, said his daughter, Sharon Berge.

Henderson simply said he felt humble about getting his medals.

At a ceremony in the rotunda of the State Capitol, four generations of Hendersons family came to support him, including three of his great-great-grandchildren.

Hes much more than a war hero. Hes a loyal friend, a mentor, an attentive listener and a man who has shown our family what it looks like to have unconditional love, Berge, who is also an Army veteran, said.

In July 1940, Henderson enlisted in the Army but was honorably discharged three months later, after it was discovered he was only 17.

But in 1944, Henderson was drafted. He joined Company D of the 21st Infantry Regiment in the 24th Division, where he rose to the rank of Tech Sergeant. During his tour of duty, he served in the Philippine islands of Mindanao and Luzon as well as in Japan.

Henderson was honorably discharged for a second time in 1946 after the war ended, and returned to Vernon County.

Based on his time in the military, he was eligible for seven medals: the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Henderson and his wife, Doris, who died in 2014, had 10 children together. The nine living siblings took part in honoring their father Sunday.

Kay Lewis, the oldest child, said he is a wonderful father and a great role model.

It chokes me up. Its just wonderful, because weve talked about this for years and years, she said. Im so glad that hes alive to see this.

Once in a blue moon

The Henderson family eventually moved to the Oregon area, where Elmer Henderson worked as a correctional officer until his retirement.

You run into an Elmer Henderson once in a blue moon, said state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton. The man is public service.

Aside from the medals, Henderson, who lives in McFarland now, received United States and Wisconsin flags that had flown over the Capitol during the previous week, a plaque from the state Senate and a pen made from a refashioned .50-caliber bullet.

Henderson isnt alone in having difficulty and delay in receiving his medals.

In 1973, a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis destroyed the files on approximately 80 percent of Army personnel discharged between 1912 and 1960. Many veterans, such as Henderson, did not wait around for their medals after returning from overseas, and the fire complicated the process for those seeking the recognition years later.

Sadly, there are so many of our service members who are still waiting for their thank you, Berge said.

With the help of family friend Tom Caldwell, who worked in public relations for the U.S. Air Force, Henderson was able to get the necessary forms that led to Sundays recognition ceremony.

Elmer represents a generation that is largely no longer with us, and we call that the Greatest Generation, said state Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona.
Nearly 520,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since late August, many by boat across the Naf river. (AFP/FRED DUFOUR)

Authorities in Bangladesh said the boat was carrying between 60 and 100 people when it overturned and sank late Sunday in rough seas.

More than half a million Rohingya Muslims have fled violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state for Bangladesh since late August. Many walk for days through thick jungle before making the perilous boat journey across the Naf river that divides the two countries.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) official Abdul Jalil told AFP on Monday they had recovered the bodies of 10 children, an elderly woman and a man after an all-night rescue operation.

Survivor Sayed Hossain wept as he watched the body of his two and a half-year-old son being taken away to the local cemetery for burial.

"We set off at around 6pm. We did not have any choice but to leave our village," he said, telling how the overloaded boat overturned when it hit a shoal and sank in rough water.

"They (security forces) have restricted our movements. Many are starving as we could not even go to shop or market to buy food," said the 30-year-old Rohingya farmhand, who lived in a village east of Myanmar's Buthidaung township.

Hossain's mother, his pregnant wife and two children were all still missing.

Border guard boats have rescued 13 Rohingya and the rest are missing, Jalil said, adding many may have swum to the Rakhine coast.

Area coast guard commander Alauddin Nayan said the boat capsized near the coastal village of Galachar with nearly 100 people on board, more than half of them children.

DANGEROUS JOURNEY

Around 150 Rohingya, many of them children, have drowned trying to reach Bangladesh in small and rickety fishing boats that coastguards say are woefully inadequate for the rough seas.

Late last month more than 60 refugees are feared to have died when the boat carrying them from Myanmar capsized in rough weather in the Bay of Bengal.

Villagers at Shah Porir Dwip where the boats mostly land told AFP the Rohingya were increasingly travelling at night to avoid strict border patrols in Bangladesh, making the journey even more dangerous.

Last week the guards destroyed at least 30 wooden fishing vessels amid increased concern they were being used to bring the popular methamphetamine drug known locally as Yaba into the country and using the refugee crisis as cover.

Gangs of boat owners, crew and fishermen have also been charging the fleeing Rohingya upwards of US$250 for the two-hour journey that normally costs no more than US$5.

Nearly 520,000 Rohingya Muslims have now entered Bangladesh since deadly Rohingya militant raids on Myanmar police posts on Aug 25 prompted a brutal military backlash.

The United Nations has said the army campaign could amount to "ethnic cleansing" while Myanmar military leaders have blamed the unrest on the Rohingya.

The government of Buddhist-majority Myanmar refuses to recognise the Rohingya as a distinct ethnic group and considers them illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

While the worst of the violence appears to have abated, insecurity, food shortages and tensions with Buddhist neighbours are still driving thousands of Rohingya to make the arduous journey to Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi authorities initially refused them entry but relented as the numbers became overwhelming, and have set aside land for a giant refugee camp near the border.
The temple festival is the biggest of its kind in Cam Pha, attracting crowds of visitors.

Cua Ong temple is known as the only place that worships the largest number of relatives of national hero General Tran Quoc Tuan, who defended the nation against northern invaders.

The temple is dedicated to Tran Quoc Tang, an outstanding general of the Tran dynasty and the third son of Tran Quoc Tuan along with the generals aids.

There are 34 intricately carved statues in the temple. Its architecture is unique and comprises of Lower, Middle, and Upper Temples.

Along the way from the Lower temple to the Upper temple, visitors can admire the beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay dotted with its numerous large and small islands. The landscape is rare and beautiful.

Bui Van Hung from Hanoi said, We visit the temple every year to pay gratitude to General Tran Quoc Tang who defended the countrys northern border. We come here to pray for peace and happiness for all Vietnamese people.

The Cua Ong Temple festival is held every even year and lasts for three days from the 2nd to 4th of the second lunar month with a number of ritual and festive activities.

Another festival is held on the third day of the eighth lunar month to commemorate the death of the General.

The festival features an opening ceremony and a palanquin procession from Cua Ong temple to a shrine in Trac Chan commune where the General was drifted in, and then back to the temple.

The procession represents a patrol of the General. The procession, a special rite of the Cua Ong Temple Festival, reflects the local peoples respect for General Tran Quoc Tang.

Headed by a dragon dancing team, the procession is accompanied by several troupes in colorful costumes carrying colorful flags, and beating drums. There is also an incense offering ceremony and recreation of the legend about the General.

Professor Hoang Giap of the Institute of Han-Nom Studies said, The festival is an event of local people who help safeguard Vietnams northeastern region. This is an occasion for people to meet and pay gratitude to generals who defended the nation.

The festival features folk games, human chess contests, blindfolded clay pot breaking, tug of war, Quan Ho duet folk singing, and boat racing. The boat racing by northeasterners represents their welcome for the Genies and prayer for peace and bumper catch.

Pham Van Kinh, Vice Chairman of the Cam Pha Municipal Peoples Committee, said the Cua Ong Temple Festival highlights the communitys establishment and development, educates moral, and aesthetic values, and inspires patriotism.

Mr. Kinh said, The Cua Ong Temple Festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. Cam Pha city has organized events to promote its cultural value. The festival will be expanded to attract more visitors.

Since it was restored 20 years ago, the festival has promoted Vietnams national heroic tradition, becoming a popular destination in the northeastern region.
What is your assessment of German businesses performance in Vietnam now and their future prospects?

For German companies, Vietnam is seen as a first-class investment destination. According to international assessments, the business prospects are bright and the willingness of Vietnam to welcome foreign investment remains very satisfactory.

In general, German companies in Vietnam intend to expand their activities, and this corresponds with the export initiatives of the German federal government to promote German business abroad, which include renewable energy, energy efficiency, healthcare, and special programmes for German small- and medium-sized enterprises.

World-famous German textile companies investing in Vietnam have presented their expansion intentions to the prime minister. They intend to expand their investments, creating highly qualified jobs, a transfer of technology, and state-of-the-art labour conditions.

However, I deplore that the lack of flexibility by the Vietnamese administration to meet the requirements of German companies remains an obstacle for these plans. I understand that in Vietnam, the art of doing business is different from European and world standards. But in accordance with the Party Central Committees resolution on the integration of Vietnam into the globalised world issued in October 2016, Vietnams administration has to understand that attracting foreign investment demands an adaptation to international standards.

It cannot be expected that the world will do business in the Vietnamese way, which is still far too often connected to personal relations including mutual financial and family dependencies. These are just other words for corruption in the modern definition of non-compliance.

The EU and Vietnam are conducting final procedures for the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) next summer. How important is the EVFTA to Germanys businesses and investors in Vietnam?

The EVFTA opens new opportunities for both Vietnam and Germany. Both governments have expressed their commitment to creating beneficial conditions in order to increase bilateral trade volume to $20 billion by 2020. The EVFTA will help tremendously to reach this objective. Reduction of duties will further enable the import of high-tech solutions, both in machinery and services.

For Vietnams exports to Germany and to the European Union as a whole, new opportunities will present themselves. These will pay off when Vietnamese companies accept that productivity has to be increased, particularly with a systematic reform of vocational training. In Germany and Europe we call it life-long learning.

On the other hand, the EVFTA urges Vietnam to speed up its modernisation, not only in the economic field. The implementation of the International Labour Organizations conventions is crucial. Free exchange of information, respecting new ideas  even if they are in a certain way revolutionary at first sight, and seem to be incompatible with the traditional way of doing business or regulating social affairs  and new forms of interaction between employers and employees are the litmus test for the functioning of the EVFTA.

What are the key challenges that German firms and investors are facing in Vietnam?

I may refer to the first question. The German Embassy is far too often asked by German companies to intervene at the political level due to lack of a working judiciary. Although Vietnam has a good set of legal provisions, the competency of the staff working in the administration, particularly on the provincial and local levels, is weak.

Decisions are often discretionary or made without profound knowledge of the legal rules, or both. Rules and procedures are changed fast, sometimes without taking into account existing rules which contradict the new ones. Pharmacy and agriculture are the most recent examples, the automotive sector another.
With its own comprehensive offerings and strong network of partners, Hong Co, a long-time Hitachi TrueNorth partner, will expand opportunities for Hitachi Vantara in Vietnam and provide presales, sales and post-sales support for Vietnamese partners and customers interested in Hitachi Vantara offerings.

The new distribution partnership reflects Hitachi Vantaras aggressive growth strategy in Vietnam, a very important market for Hitachi Vantara in Southeast Asia. The company will appeal to the growing demand for IT solutions across various industry sectors and across existing and new customer opportunities.

The demand ranges from small and medium businesses (SMBs) to multinational corporations (MNCs) in the south of Vietnam, and telecommunication and media companies in the north. With Hong Co as a distributor, the company look forward to as much as 200 per cent growth of its market share in Vietnam over the next two years.

Our partners  from distributors to systems integrators  are absolutely critical to the success of Hitachi Vantara in the future, so new partnerships, new capabilities and a mutual devotion to customer satisfaction are always welcome. And, as we look to address the growing market opportunity in Vietnam, we are pleased to expand our distribution capabilities with Hong Co. We believe they have the expertise, relationships and offerings to grow the business substantially in the region, said Joe Ong, vice president and general manager of Hitachi Vantara in ASEAN.

Hong Co, a Ho Chi Minh City-based company with a branch office in Hanoi, has been a Hitachi TrueNorth partner. Hong Cos portfolio of solutions spans a wide range of IT products and services coverinsg three key areas of expertise: information system safety and security; warranty and maintenance; and information infrastructure consultancy.

With more than 20 years of IT experience, Hong Co takes pride in its market knowledge and sensitivity, reflected in its five key business drivers including effective business and technology solutions; high-quality products and services; competitive pricing versus technology; win-win approach to partners; and devotion to customers satisfaction.

Updates on intraoperative MRI applications in neurosurgery Viet Duc Hospital's Centre for Neurosurgery, in collaboration with Hitachi and Japan-Vietnam Medical Instrument Company (JVC), have organised the workshop on Updating Intraoperative MRI applications in neurosurgery.

Hitachi Social Innovation Forum held in Vietnam for first time ever The first-ever Hitachi Social Innovation Forum was held in Vietnam on October 5, 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Dung Quat Shipyard is among the loss-making projects to be restructured. - VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung

According to the decision, the Government will not pump any additional budget capital in these projects and their handling would be market-based.

With regard to projects that cannot be turned around, the Government is determined to let them declare bankruptcy or be dissolved.

A key measure to handle such projects would be to sell stake to private investors.

Accordingly, all challenges faced by these projects must be resolved by 2020.

In addition, accountability would be determined to impose strict penalties.

The Government would review policies to develop markets for products manufactured under these projects, such as bio-fuel, fertilisers, steel and ships, as well as apply trade safeguard measures in line with Viet Nams international commitments.

Several tax regulations would be revised to promote local industrial production, while debts of these projects would be restructured to create conditions for them to borrow money from banks to revive their operation.

Regarding four fertiliser plants in Ninh Binh, Bac Giang, Hai Phong and Lao Cai, privatisation and divestment of State capital would be implemented after the projects recovered and moved towards efficient operation.

The project of bio-fuel plants in Quang Ngai and Binh Phuoc provinces was required to resume operations before the Viet Nam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) divests from them. PetroVietnam would also withdraw capital from the bio-fuel plant in Phu Tho Province.

Sale or bankruptcy

For Thai Nguyen Steel and Iron Plants expansion projects phase 2, State capital divestment and restructuring of the company would be prioritised. If this measure was not successful, the project could be put up for sale or investment would be sought from outside investors.

Dung Quat Shipyard would be put up for sale or declare bankruptcy if the first option failed.

Similarly, Dinh Vu Polyester Plant would be privatised or sold. If that failed, it would declare bankruptcy.

Phuong Nam Pulp Factory would speed up its debt restructuring and sale of assets and inventory.

Meanwhile, issues at the Quy Xa Mine and Lao Cai Steel and Iron Plant would be handled to enhance their efficiency.

The ministrys statistics revealed that these projects incurred total losses of over VND16 trillion (US$704.4 million) as of the end of 2016 on investment of VND63.6 trillion ($2.8 billion), with loans accounting for some 75 per cent.
Damaged vehicles on Exhibition Road near the Natural History Museum in London on Oct 7, 2017. (Photo: AFP/@StefanoSutter)

Damaged vehicles on Exhibition Road near the Natural History Museum in London on Oct 7, 2017. (Photo: AFP/@StefanoSutter)

The 47-year-old was held at the scene of Saturday's crash on suspicion of dangerous driving, and questioned overnight over what police said was a traffic incident with no link to terrorism.

"This morning, he was released under investigation while enquiries continue," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

Armed officers were deployed to the scene near the Natural History Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum after the incident, which sent crowds in the busy tourist spot running in panic.

The arrested man was one of nine people taken to hospital following the crash, and after receiving treatment was taken for questioning at a police station. Another two people were treated at the scene.

Detective constable Darren Case said: "Because of where this collision occurred and the number of pedestrians involved, I fully appreciate the concern and alarm this incident caused.

"Enquiries have established that this incident is not terrorist related and I'd like to thank those who came to assist the injured.

"Thankfully there are no serious injuries with the majority now discharged from hospital."

Security is high in Britain after five terror attacks since March - four in London and one in Manchester - which have claimed 35 lives.

Three of the attacks in London involved the use of a vehicle to run down pedestrians.
President Donald Trump has boasted about the 13,000 jobs hell create by bringing electronics giant Foxconn to Wisconsin.

The problem with the just-finalized deal is that Wisconsins taxpayers are paying for those jobs  and at a cost of $230,700 per job, its not such a great deal.

In the best-case scenario, the state wont break even for 25 years.

The $2.85 billion Foxconn deal, the largest subsidy ever given by a state to a business in U.S. history, is the latest example of Republican-sponsored corporate welfare. In the end, corporations such as Foxconn get richer, state and municipal budgets are stretched even thinner, and the profits end up being shipped overseas.

Foxconn already has a troubling track record when it comes to creating American jobs. Despite rosy promises from the Taiwanese corporation to build a $30 million factory in Harrisburg, Pa., and create 500 jobs, Foxconn backed out at the last minute.

Foxconn also has a long history of labor violations and worker exploitation  in 2010, the company strung nets under the roofs of factories and dormitories in its massive Longhua, China, complex to prevent workers assembling computers and phones for companies such as Apple, Dell and Sony from committing suicide.

At a campaign rally in 2016, Trump declared: Were going to get a lot of jobs. Were bringing our jobs back from China. Were bringing our jobs back from Mexico.

But under Trumps watch, workers continue to be laid off in staggering numbers. Over a quarter million workers were laid off in the first seven months of 2017. And the working class wage growth Trump promised hasnt materialized. Nationally, hourly wages have grown a meager 2.5 percent in 2017, barely matching growth from the previous year.

It doesnt have to be this way.

In a letter released recently on Capitol Hill, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and several Democratic senators called on Trump to use his executive powers to keep his campaign promises to workers.

We need to send a very loud and very clear message to corporate America: The era of outsourcing is over, the senators wrote. If you are serious about ending offshoring and helping the American worker, you will issue an executive order ending government contracts for companies that offshore American jobs.

Trump needs to use his executive powers to tell corporations that they cant do business with the federal government  and get rich off taxpayer money  unless they stop offshoring jobs and raise wages for the roughly 1.1 million workers employed by federal contractors.

More than half of the American companies that received the 50 largest federal contracts in 2016 routinely move jobs abroad in search of lower labor costs. Despite sharply criticizing that kind of business practice during the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump hasnt made any attempt to end it now that hes in office.

Im a worker who has spent my career helping build southeastern Wisconsin with my own two hands. But while people like me are working harder than ever, we have less and less to show for it.

We deserve better than corporate boondoggles such as Foxconn, and our governments leadership needs to stand on the side of workers.
Understanding Referenda and Self Determination in Europe

An international academic symposium on referenda and the right to self-determination will be opened by the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia at the Gibraltar Garrison Library on Thursday 12th October.

The event has been organised by Dr Jennifer Ballantine Perera of the Garrison Library together with the Office of the Deputy Chief Minister.

Currently in their fifth edition, the symposiums at the Garrison Library focus on issues that impact on Gibraltar and other territories within a European and global framework. The topic this year has certainly been driven by the 2017 commemoration of the 50th anniversary since Gibraltars 1967 sovereignty referendum and indeed, the 15th anniversary of the 2002 joint sovereignty ballot. In both these cases, the people of Gibraltar were called upon to make a decision on the sovereignty and status of Gibraltar. In 1967 they were given the choice of remaining British or becoming part of Spain, and the choice by 12138 votes to 44 was to remain British. In 2002, the people of Gibraltar were called upon to accept or reject the principle of sharing sovereignty over the Rock between the UK and Spain. The principle of shared sovereignty was overwhelmingly rejected.

Referenda has, however, been an important topic outside Gibraltar too for some years now. There was a vote in 2014 in Scotland. The Brexit Referendum took place in 2016. There has been talk of a second Scottish ballot and there are calls in the UK for another referendum on the details of the final agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Indeed, it is the case that the 2016 Brexit vote and the recent referendum in Catalonia have generated much debate on the approach, the mechanics and the almost infectious nature of referenda, which has in turn opened up the possibility for other European states to consider moving forward with referenda on their own place in the European Union.

As such the themes under discussion are very pertinent to the on-going debates taking place in Gibraltar, the United Kingdom and Europe. Their scope will include areas such as self-determination, cultural and national identity, borders and migrations; the mechanics of referenda and voting patterns; colonialism and post-colonialism as indeed, the historical contexts for a Federal State of Europe and the landscape for a post-Brexit Europe. These will be discussed through a series of sessions over two and a half days.

A panel of fifteen high-profile international and local speakers will put their views forward during the symposium, which will include academics from Cambridge, Kings College London, University of Greenland, Aalborg University, Trinity College Dublin, University of the Faroe Islands, Brussels, University of Edinburgh, University of Cadiz, University of Birmingham, University of Denmark, University of Catalonia and the University of Gibraltar.

The event will be formally opened by the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia on Thursday 12th at 9.30 am at the Gibraltar Garrison Library and closes on Saturday14th October at 1.00pm. It is open to the public and the entrance is free of charge.

Please contact Chris Tavares on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 200 77418 for further details.
Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images For NYFW: The Shows

Since the New York Times published its report on the many, many accusations of sexual harassment made against studio head Harvey Weinstein on Thursday, even more allegations of the producers impropriety have emerged. I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it, he said in a statement to the Times last week. Though Im trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go. The Weinstein Company, founded by Weinstein and his brother Bob in 2005, announced on Friday that they supported Harvey Weinsteins self-imposed indefinite leave of absence, leaving the door open for his return to TWC depending on Harveys therapeutic progress, the outcome of the Boards independent investigation, and Harveys own personal decisions. However, in light of new information about misconduct, the companys directors announced on Sunday afternoon that Weinstein has been fired from the studio. You can read the full statement from TWCs Board of Representatives below:

In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company - Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar - have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately.
Photo: Maria Jose Govea/Red Bull Content Pool

The evolution of St. Vincent over the last decade can best be described as a congealing. Most musicians careers undergo a coming-together, in which their artistic identities become more and more defined as they gain popularity and success with each record cycle. But the guitarist and songwriter born Annie Clark has paved this road for herself not just figuratively but also almost tangibly, from her classically minded, sweetly coy 2007 debut, Marry Me, and then through four more studio albums and corresponding tours (five if you count Love This Giant, her project with David Byrne). For fans of her work, its been like watching a muscle grow, from tender beginnings into a tensile, robust powerhouse, one its owner now wields with dangerous precision: With each record, St. Vincent has gained charisma and strength, not to mention pure volume and intensity (coincidentally at the same rate as her nonmusical profile has climbed, thanks to some involvement with the fashion world and a high-visibility relationship or two). Her last album, 2014s St. Vincent, saw her finally unfurling her freak flag entirely, revealing an electric iconoclast both willing and capable of wielding power of pop-star proportions. Its execution, both as a record and an elaborate live show, left one with the distinct feeling that St. Vincent was meant for much, much bigger things.

That trajectory was tested Saturday night at a preview performance of Masseduction, her unquestionably most confrontational, Plasticine album yet. As a part of the Red Bull Music Academy Festival in Los Angeles, the Fear the Future show was marketed as a one-off general-admission event on Paramount Studios back lot, at which St. Vincent would perform her entire new record, which she has described as an electronically powered meditation on power and seduction. Masseductions overtures up until then  its announcement, its video releases, its album art  had been quite literally plastic, a retina-searing visual feast bursting with neon and vinyl, featuring the flawless Clark, who has traded in her wild Einstein frizz for a sleek black bob, alongside a cast of similarly couture bodies, all shellacked with a touch of the grotesque, like mutant Warhols fed on ecstasy and Pop Rocks, or Yayoi Kusama on Xanax. With design assistance from Willo Perron  whose clientele includes Rihanna, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, and Jay-Z  and with the show coming just days after her Spotify fan-experience event, a large Masseduction-themed escape-room warehouse, expectations were unusually, if predictably, high. The promise of such heavy conceptual trappings  less than a week from its October 13 release, no less  usually foreshadowed a significant moment in an artists growth.

If fans filing onto the lot and into a faux intersection on Paramounts New York City set had come looking for the same sort of exhilarating, next-level experience they had experienced with the St. Vincent tour, however, they may have gone home disappointed. Things certainly seemed like they might get experiential at first: Fluorescent signs (advertising things like BEAUTY and COSMETICS) and soft lights in the windows of the brownstones that lined both streets seemed like they might be part of the act. But aside from the latter pulsing a bit, no such immersive component materialized. The 90-minute set, which commenced 45 minutes past its posted set time (like a proper stadium show, at least), was split into two acts: the first a chronological revue of her past albums, each slightly tweaked toward her current, more digital sound. Beginning on the left edge of the stage with the curtain open just enough to reveal her  dressed in a hot-pink bodysuit with water-wing puff sleeves and matching thigh-high vinyl boots  with her guitars (also neon) and mic stand, after each of ten songs, shed inch mechanically to the right, to another mic stand waiting, all in V formation, against simple Ed Sullivan curtains, as though literally (and dutifully) retracing her own career timeline.

Following an actual miniature intermission peppered with sound effects that can only be described as sci-fi purring, Clark reappeared. Now in a silver lame cocktail dress, she pivoted (a bit awkwardly) to present the promised second act: a top-to-bottom presentation of Masseduction. The songs themselves are beyond formidable; many, in particular Pills and Sugarboy, radiate mainstream pop appeal. Still, Clark played entirely solo, with accompaniment tracks, sans even the three-piece band she once toured with. The live video art accompanying her was mostly chopped-and-screwed clips of already-released videos, including New York and Los Ageless and her Carrie Brownstein collaboration; the flashing bits of 90s excess  leopard-print leotards, crimped ponytails, automatic shredders, a cake made to look like a landline phone  were Clarks only partners onstage, and at times, they threatened to overshadow her, rather than create an immersive experience around her. Its feasible that the show functioned as a dress rehearsal run-through for St. Vincents Fear the Future tour  it felt a bit like one. The crowd seemed confused, too; many lingered beneath the stage long after the PA began playing its shows over, go home playlist, in hopes that when Clark repeated the line Its not the end toward the end of closer Smoking Section, it hadnt been ironic.

Despite Clarks ever-pristine musicianship, her new performance featured little of the frenetic, eccentric energy that has propelled her star upward in recent years. (She even lay down on the stage for Act Is Strange Mercy.) Clark has spoken of the exhaustion brought about by touring, especially that of St. Vincent, and a song like Fear the Future might also shed light on any lingering hesitation. Yet everything St. Vincent has created up to this moment has not simply suggested that shes up for this new slog, with new material that stabs more savagely and energetically at our cultural reality than ever before, that thrashes wildly with the fears and sadnesses of existing in this moment; it has almost necessitated it. This live presentation, as is, will be far too prepackaged and static for the work its showcasing, which is undeniably positioning its creator for a rise to superstardom. All thats left is whether shes ready or willing to accept that ascent.
Ill say this as calmly as I can: I need the reunion, and I need it now. I cant get by on Brianna and Roger. Why are we going back to Boston? NEEDLESS DELAYS.

We first see Claire elbow-deep in someones body, surgery-ing away with her buddy Joe. Its like Greys Anatomy, but with crummier tools. Its definitely Seattle Grace next to the amputation she did in the 1800s, of course.

Brianna is at Harvard, not listening to her history professor as he drops some #realtalk about Paul Revere. Sometimes, he says, names are lost to history! Get it? Brianna, unfortunately, is failing out of college and she doesnt want to tell her extremely nice professor why.

Joe and Claire are sharing a drink in her office, and he knows that more went down in Scotland than shes saying. She gives him the bare-bones, no-time-travel version  a Scotsman! From her past! They went their separate ways!  but hes not really buying it.

Its their first Christmas without Frank, and Brianna is taking it hard. Me too, B! Luckily for her, Roger is pulling up in a yellow cab. (He cant quit her!) This is a long and expensive trip to make if no one knows youre coming, Roger, which Brianna DEFINITELY doesnt. She and Claire were in the middle of a fight about her dropping out of Harvard and moving out. Brianna isnt able to forget THE WHOLE UNBELIEVABLE THING, which I respect! If I learned my mom was a time-traveller, I wouldnt be doing problem sets and writing essays about Paul Revere, thats for sure.

Roger does come bearing good news: Hes found a 1765 article in which the author quotes something Claire said to him, as well as a poem by Robert Burns, who would have been six at the time. It HAS to be Jamie, under (ding ding ding) the name Alexander Malcolm. Claires face is going a million miles a minute. COME ON CLAIRE, RIP THAT DOOR TO THE PAST BACK OPEN. I totally get her hesitation to get her hopes up again, and Claire also doesnt want to leave Brianna. Take her with you, dumbass, I say. Shes failing anyway, and maybe she wants to meet her bio dad?

The next day, Claires desk is covered with human remains (bones, not gushy stuff) that an anthropologist sent over to determine a cause of death. Claire correctly deduces that the bones are that of a murder victim, which Joe finds puzzling. A white lady murder victim in the Caribbean. She decides to tell Joe that the anonymous Scot is Briannas real father, and thats the reason why shes struggling so much at the moment. Joe asks if she still loves him. (Duh.) Joe says hes watched Claire live a half-life for 16 years, and if theres a second chance, she should take it.

YES! JOE! SO SMART! DO IT! LISTEN TO YOUR BUDDY, HES A COOL DUDE!

Meanwhile, Brianna shows Roger around campus and theres a long boring interlude where they discuss architecture, which eventually gets around to being about whether or not history is a story, etc. etc. Franks lover Sandy is at the memorial ceremony, and its awkward. Sandy says Claire should have let him go, that he stayed for Brianna, and he should have been with Sandy because he was her true love. You should always be with the love of your life! (Sandy is being exceptionally rude, but shes right.) Claire comes clean to Brianna about who Sandy is, which is good. Brianna says Frank must have hated her for looking like Jamie, which we all know is horseshit because he was a great dad. They have a nice moment of mutual love and appreciation and communication.

Yes, Claire is digging out the article! TELL HER YOU CAN GO BACK, TELL HER TO COME WITH. Brianna immediately says, So you can go back! because shes not an IDIOT. She makes it clear she doesnt need Claire to stay for her sake. You can all go! Bring Roger! Bring Joe! Okay, probably not Joe. The past is even more racist than Harvard Medical School in the 1960s.

Claire says, What if hes forgotten me? and its very sweet and heartbreaking, but also nonsense because Jamie would NEVER. She decides to ask Joe if shes sexually attractive, which is  uncomfortable. Obviously, Claire is still gorgeous (a skinny white broad with too much hair and a great ass) and hes happy to tell her so. If I werent desperate for her to get back to Jamie, I would very much want her and Joe to hook up.

Brilliantly, Roger and Brianna gather up as many old coins as possible for Claire to take with her, as well as a history book, some scalpels, and assorted medical doo-dads. Brianna also gives her a beautiful necklace with her birthstone in it.

Theres a DEE-lightful sewing montage set to the Batman theme where Claire gets her Scotland apparel ready, at which point I upgraded my episode score to a full five stars. Shes patting at her non-existent wrinkles, and Im like, Claire. Stop. She also covers her greys!

Claire gives Brianna a resignation letter to give to Joe, and for Brianna herself, the deed to the house and all the bank account information, as well as the necklace of Scottish pearls that Jamie gave her on their wedding night. The scene where she says good-bye is WRENCHING. I cant believe I ever thought Brianna was a brat. This is all so romantic I could die.

(Note: At this point, there were only 14 minutes left in the episode. I was VERY concerned it would end with Claire stepping through the stones and NOT seeing Jamie. A week is a long time!)

As per my fears, we see Roger and Brianna reading A Christmas Carol together, but they are quickly allayed by the sight of Claire in Edinburgh, where a child IMMEDIATELY tells her how to find Jamie. My heart is pounding! POUNDING!

Shes going up the steps! Shes entering the shop! THE LITTLE DOORBELL CHIMES! WE HEAR HIS VOICE, I AM DYING, TAKE ME NOW JESUS!

SHE SAYS HIS NAME AND HE KNOWS ITS HER AND HE TURNS AROUND AT LIKE TWO MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE HE CANT BELIEVE IT AND THEN HE FLAT-OUT FAINTS.

Cue the credits. See you next week when I start breathing again.
This weeks episode mostly serves to establish two things: Russell will never change, and against all odds, Gamby would actually make a good principal. Neither fact is particularly surprising. Its become clearer and clearer that, for all that Vice Principals is an indictment of present-day American masculinity, Gamby is set to play out the storys hero arc. And to balance that out, the curtains been pulled back further and further on Lees sociopathic streak.

In his continuing efforts to bend North Jackson to his will, Lee has enlisted a group of trainers called Sweat Dogs to put the teachers through a series of physical exercises every day after school. Nobodys happy about it, particularly given the fact that Russell has made the teachers rework their curriculum plans. But working them hard is a part of his grand scheme: Hes going to break the teachers down and then rebuild them to his liking. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on where you stand), its a plan that immediately runs into a hitch. When Russells father passes away, hes forced to leave the school in Gambys hands for a day so that he can attend the funeral service.

This is the first time that weve really gotten any sense of Russells family. Christine (Susan Park) and Mi-cha (June Kyoto Lu) offer us some insight into his personal life, but his upbringing has been a mystery. As it turns out, hes avoided talking about it for good reason: His father was a military man, and showered affection on his sisters (Breeda Wool and Emily Johnson), who were tomboyish and tough in a way that we know Russell isnt. Even Russells mother (Nancy Linehan Charles) outright admits that his father never loved him as much, explaining that he didnt like the way Lee lied and cheated to try to get ahead of his sisters, even if it was as a direct result of the way they bullied him. Even as adults, they tease him mercilessly, pantsing him and leaving him half-naked in the garage where theyve stored all of their fathers belongings.

Back at school, Gamby isnt faring much better. As soon as Ms. Swift (Ashley Spillers) starts listing his responsibilities for the day, he waves her away, already overwhelmed by the sheer number of things he has to do. He stumbles through the morning announcements as well, though that humiliation is easy to watch in comparison to the way he almost immediately submits to the Sweat Dogs regime of terror. The Sweat Dogs, led by none other than Scott Caan, are a pack of alpha dogs that bark, and bark, and bark. In other words, theyre the kind of adult jocks that wannabe-cool-kid Gamby is immediately desperate to please.

In accordance, the teachers take their grievances over his head. Superintendent Haas (Brian Howe, chowing down on a stick of celery and a jar of peanut butter in one of the shows best throwaway gags) gets involved, demanding to know whats going on as this extra training isnt in the school budget. The ensuing argument between Russell and Gamby is yet another showcase of their fundamental differences: Russell tells Gamby to lie and tell Haas that the Sweat Dogs are working gratis, and takes it one step further by telling Gamby his unwillingness to bend the rules is why he cant hack it as principal.

Russell is only right insomuch as Gambys failures stem from a refusal to change. His slow redemption now is based in his realization of the fact. Robin Shandrells readmission was the first step on the path, and the second is Gambys stand against the Sweat Dogs. As he watches yet another after-school session in which the trainers berate the teachers for their shortcomings, he finally snaps and kicks them out. The accomplishments that he lists to defend the teachers are menial  third place in the state drama competition, raising money through a pottery fundraiser  but theyre telling as to where Gambys values lie. He cares about North Jackson and the teachers can see that. (Remember last season, when he tried to give up on sabotaging Belinda because he could see she was good for the school?)

Lee, however, is categorically incapable of change. Theres a single moment in which he seems to have seen the error of his ways, but the bait-and-switch ultimately affirms him as the villain of the series. He wrests the microphone away from his sisters at his fathers funeral after telling his wife that hes going to expose them as the bullies that they are, but ultimately delivers a heartfelt eulogy. Afterward, he tells his mother that hes changed and embraces his sisters, promising not to make any trouble about the belongings their father left behind. But the illusion of peace is short-lived. As Lee drives away from the house, its revealed that, just moments prior, hed taken out his anger by smashing up everything in the garage.

Vice Principals was built as one big story, but the further we get into season two, the more it feels like its two parts were built in parallel. Once again, the show seems like a three-person act snuck onto TV as a two-hander. Its just that this time the third side to the triangle isnt Belinda Brown  its Christine Russell (Susan Park).

Up until now, Lees wife has mostly been relegated to the background, but this season  and this episode in particular  has seen Christine take on more and more weight in the narrative. Shes shown herself to be aware of her husbands deviousness to a degree that nobody else is; she spends most of the episode trying to talk him down from lashing out because of his family frustrations, and its not the first time weve seen her soothe his temper. The biggest difference here is that shes connected to Russell personally instead of professionally, and serves as his moral anchor (as much as she can, anyway) as opposed to being the target of his unscrupulousness. Its a gambit that mirrors the way David Gordon Green has delved into the characters psyches instead of simply showcasing their behavior: The call is coming from inside the house.
You could call it a moment of truth, except that what actually came out of that moment was a realization of how little truth now matters.

This is back in 2010, after I recounted in this space an astonishing feat of World War I heroism  a small African-American soldier named Henry Johnson, wounded 21 times, single-handedly fighting off a company of Germans. In response, a guy named Ken shot off an angry email calling the story PC bull.

Judi, my assistant, sent Ken documentation. I wrote a follow-up column listing history books and contemporaneous news sources that verified the event. Ken was unmoved.

What struck me wasnt so much Kens ignorance. Rather, it was how impervious his ignorance was to corrective fact. That was when I first fully understood that we had entered a new era wherein facts  those things that once settled arguments conclusively  carried all the weight of goose down.

These days, you may prove your point to a fare-thee-well, use The New York Times, a study from Harvard, federal statistics, but the skeptical reader will still brush it all aside like a blurry Polaroid of Bigfoot.

So PolitiFact, Facebook, McClatchy and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University have their work cut out for them. You see, those institutions have launched projects to improve media credibility.

The fact-checkers at PolitiFact have been touring deep red areas like Mobile, Alabama, and Charleston, West Virginia, hosting forums to engage with Donald Trump voters who, by definition, distrust media fact-checking.

Meantime, the social media giant, the newspaper conglomerate  which owns my employer, The Miami Herald  and the J-school are partnering in the Facebook Journalism Project. Its aim, according to an ASU statement, is to help newsrooms work with their communities to develop innovations that increase transparency, engagement, mutual understanding and respect.

I wish them Godspeed. But both projects, I think, proceed from an assumption that truth is something all of us value. And Im not convinced all of us do.

Its not just Ken who makes me doubt. Its also Fox News and talk radio. Its Donald Trumps lies, his war on journalism and peoples tolerance for both. And its studies dating to the 1970s, when researchers at Stanford first documented a counterintuitive phenomenon. Namely, that people tend not to change their minds when facts prove them wrong. Instead, they double down on the false belief.

So we are fighting human nature here. Worse, it is human nature exacerbated by extreme partisanship, fear-mongering pundits, a lying president and a social media complex so vast and varied that even the most bizarre belief can find validation there.

Michelle Obama is a transvestite? Sure.

The military plans to conquer Texas? Okey-dokey.

Vaccines cause autism? Well, all righty, then.

Hillary Clinton is running a child molestation ring? OK. Out of a pizza joint? Why not?

Thats just a sampling of the crazy that has gained purchase in American minds. So while its fine to engage todays news consumers, I think our long-term salvation lies in their kids, in teaching them the lost art of critical thinking. That should be a priority in our schools. Because the status quo  facts-free ignorance  is unsustainable.

Yes, there is always room for improvement in how news media do their jobs. But it is important to understand that the disconnect media face does not stem from failure to report the facts.

Rather, it stems from some peoples failure to want them.
Several projects continue to take shape in downtown Waco, including renovation of the iconic Pioneer Savings & Loan building at North Ninth Street and Washington Avenue that has been vacant since 1991.

An Associated General Contractors newsletter says bids are being taken for the third phase of the project, which includes finish-out work.

The Waco-based Walker Partners engineering firm bought the building from local businessman Clifton Robinson last year. Company president George E. Jed Walker said he would relocate company headquarters from Austin Avenue to the refurbished two-story structure.

Jacob Bell, client manager for Walker Partners, which also has offices in Austin and Killeen, said Friday the company plans to move into the former Pioneer Savings location in spring of next year.

So far, weve gone through demolition and exterior work that we call the shell package. Now were on to finish-out, said Bell, adding a staff of 45 employees, including surveyors and engineers, will occupy the space.

Elsewhere, Pura Vida Day Spa has moved into the former Wild West Waco nightclub space at 115 Mary Ave., but owner Erin Kubala said Pura Vida will still make use of its former location at 708 Austin Ave.

The original plan was to move the entire operation there and just have one location, but I have decided to open a second, upscale spa at our old address, said Kubala in an email message. It will be a high-end day spa with a sauna, hot tub, cold plunge and private party area for larger groups and parties. We are calling it Pura Vida Elite.

Kubala said she has secured a building permit, and Kaiser Construction has begun remodeling the place on Austin Avenue.

We are hoping to be up and going by Nov. 1, she said. We are super excited and think it will be something fun and different, with great facilities for locals and out-of-town guests.

In an interview, Kubala said she does not believe one location will siphon guests away from the other. She said at the former Wild West site, guests often stop by during their lunch hour for a quick massage, whereas the Austin Avenue spot will provide the complete spa experience, including relaxing and spending 30 minutes in a hot tub.
More voices are joining the fight for fair voting districts, as the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments last week on Wisconsins gerrymandered maps.

The Wisconsin Counties Association, representing every corner of the state, overwhelmingly passed a resolution at its annual conference in Wisconsin Dells recently, urging the Legislature to adopt a nonpartisan process for drawing legislative and congressional districts, similar to Iowas proven model.

Iowa assigns a nonpartisan state agency to redraw its voting districts after each major census. In sharp contrast, Wisconsin and other states let top politicians shape districts to their partisan advantage, using voter data and computer formulas to calculate the most advantageous district lines.

A panel of federal judges ruled Wisconsins state Assembly maps unconstitutional in a case now before the nations highest court. Regardless of the U.S. Supreme Courts decision, expected by next summer, Wisconsin should adopt a neutral process that doesnt favor either political party.

Wisconsins current system puts the desires of politicians ahead of the electoral prerogative of the people, the Counties Association resolution states.

Redistricting to achieve partisan gains is improper, whether it is done by Republicans or Democrats.

A federal panel of judges last year ruled Wisconsins maps unconstitutional because they so heavily favored majority Republicans. In continuing to defend the rigged maps, top GOP lawmakers have wasted more than $2.1 million of taxpayer money on lawyers fees.

The state and congressional districts belong to the citizens of Wisconsin and not to any legislator, interest group or political party, the Counties Association resolution states.

The resolution is impressive and helpful. Moreover, its solution for fair maps following the 2020 census should be embraced by all citizens who favor good government. After all, the rigged maps protect many of the incumbents of both political parties, making them less accountable to voters of all stripes.

The counties endorsed a nonpartisan process that would prohibit the consideration of voting patterns, party information and incumbents residence information when maps are drawn.

Its not just Democratic strongholds such as Dane County that want reform. Lots of counties that have supported President Donald Trump and Gov. Scott Walker in recent elections voted for the resolution, too.

And in Washington, prominent Republicans such as former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, current Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona are speaking out against gerrymandering.

Closer to home, Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has pushed for a nonpartisan process. In his state, its Democratic lawmakers who have unfairly drawn the maps to help keep Democrats in power.

This vote by the Wisconsin Counties Association sends a powerful message, loud and clear, to the lawmakers in Madison that local officials and our constituents are sick and tired of the partisan hanky-panky, said Hans Breitenmoser, a Lincoln County Board member who promoted the resolution. We want fair maps and a transparent process.

Yes, we absolutely do.
Two former city of Valley Mills employees filed a lawsuit alleging the city administrator stole their deer feeders and then fired them for reporting it to law enforcement.

City Administrator William Linn was served Friday and the city has three weeks to file an answer before the lawsuit moves forward, said John Cullar, an attorney with Cullar & McLeod LLP, of Waco.

Cullar filed the lawsuit in 414th State District Court on behalf of William Chrisman and Darrin Troxell alleging wrongful retaliation under the Texas Whistleblower Act.

Linn on Monday said, Were not able to comment on that.

The duo was employed with the city from late 2015 through July 26, 2017, and were the only two employees in the public works department, Cullar said.

On July 25 or 26, Chrisman and Troxell reported the alleged incident to local law enforcement, according to the suit. Linn, who was aware of the report, terminated the two men July 26, according to the lawsuit.

Chrisman and Troxell had received permission to hunt on city-owned property and had each moved a deer feeder onto the property, Cullar said. Linn seized both deer feeders and would not return their property, Cullar said. The two appealed the terminations and exhausted all applicable grievances or appeal procedures, the suit alleges.

The deer feeders were returned after their terminations, Cullar said.

Once the city responds to the lawsuit, Cullar said, they will proceed with discovery.

The former employees seek to recover actual damages, attorneys fees, compensation for lost wages and benefits, taxable court costs and pre- and post-judgment interest from the city and monetary relief of more than $200,000 but no more than $1 million, the suit claims.
A Dallas judge has found probable cause exists to request a court of inquiry to determine if McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna or Waco Police Detective Manuel Chavez lied during an August 2016 hearing regarding the Twin Peaks shootout cases.

Based on an affidavit from Dallas attorney Clint Broden, 203rd State District Judge Teresa Hawthorne found there is probable cause that an offense was committed and to request a regional administrative judge to convene a court of inquiry, Broden said Monday in a release.

Brodens complaint stems from a hearing on Aug. 8, 2016, in which Reyna testified to what Broden calls extensive discussions he had with Chavez before Chavez signed the identical, fill-in-the-name Twin Peaks arrest warrant affidavits for 177 motorcyclists following the May 17, 2015, shootout at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco.

Chavez testified he never spoke to Reyna that night.

Chavez declined comment on the court of inquiry request Monday morning. Reyna did not return a phone message.

According to Broden, the first step in the procedures for a court of inquiry is for a district judge to find, based upon an affidavit submitted to the court, that there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed, which Hawthorne has done.

Next, Broden said, the presiding judge for the First Administrative Judicial District will appoint a different district judge to conduct the court of inquiry. That district judge will appoint a special prosecutor.

No hearing date had been set Monday morning.

If it appears from the court of inquiry that Mr. Reyna or Mr. Chavez committed perjury, the judge presiding over the court of inquiry will issue a warrant for the arrest of the offender, Broden said. The Texas Court of Inquiry procedure is not used often. However, its use is particularly appropriate where there is probable cause to believe a crime may have been committed by a public official that might otherwise not be investigated.

Broden and other attorneys have attempted to have Reyna disqualified based on the conflicting testimony at the hearing involving the cases of Matthew Clendennen and Ray Nelson, two bikers accused of participating in the deadly shootout, which left nine dead and dozens injured.

Brodens affidavit asks that a court of inquiry be commenced in order to determine if the offense of perjury and/or aggravated perjury was committed by Abelino Reyna or Manuel Chavez during their testimony in that hearing.

In my almost 30 years of law practice, I have never had to even consider requesting a court of inquiry. Nevertheless, perjury strikes at the core of our system of justice and, therefore, apparent contradictory statements under oath by public officials must be investigated, Broden said.

I am pleased that Judge Hawthorne recognized the need to hold public officials to the same standards as ordinary citizens. Her actions took courage and she is a true example of the type of exemplary judge who does not show favoritism nor bias and simply calls balls and strikes. I remind people that Messrs. Reyna and Chavez are presumed to be innocent and I look forward to the court of inquiry process investigating this case to a conclusion no matter what conclusion is ultimately reached, he said.

Perjury is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail. Aggravated Perjury is a third-degree felony and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

It is not going to surprise me if we see other courts of inquiry initiated regarding various aspects of the handling of the Twin Peaks cases by the district attorneys office, Broden said Monday, referring to a recent motion to disqualify Reynas office from prosecuting the cases because prosecutors released videos from a bikers cellphone through the discovery process that show him and his wife in a sexual encounter.
The 2018 Toyota Camry is lower, sleeker  better looking, in fact  than its predecessors, Warren Brown writes. (Toyota)

The Toyota Camry has been sold worldwide since 1982. It was introduced in the U.S. market in 1987, and it has been manufactured here since 1988 by Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown, Ky.

It has been one of the best-selling automobiles in the United States since the late 1980s, continues to be a top-seller today and, based on samples of 2018 Camry models recently driven in Northern Virginia, it promises to be one of the countrys best-selling cars for many years to come.

Why? It is the magic of diversity  a Japanese-sponsored car designed and engineered by Japanese and Americans, manufactured by Americans and Japanese who have shown over the decades they understand the American motoring soul better than most of their competitors. The 2018 Camry proves they havent lost their touch.

Toyota is to be congratulated for psychologically outmaneuvering its rivals, particularly those in Detroit.

When I was a young automotive journalist knocking on corporate doors in the Motor City, I was trying to figure out why General Motors, Ford and what once was Chrysler Corp. steadily were losing so much market share to Toyota, which is now the worlds largest automotive retailer.

It just didnt make sense to me. How could Detroit allow this to happen? In later years, seasoned by lots of U.S. and foreign travel, I began paying close attention to what I call the Toyota Camry Philosophy. It works like this and continues to be manifested in the 2018 Camry models:

Give people cars that work well all the time. Customers dont want to wonder if a car will start. They want to know that it will start and perform to expectations all the time.

Fit and finish is more than a marketing cliche. It is a product promise. If it is good, it is likely that the whole product is good.

Most car buyers dont care about prestige, which too often is a marketing term used to justify extravagant cost for over-the-top engineering and design. Look around any highway in any country. You wont find that many Lamborghinis. You will find Toyota Camrys almost everywhere.

The 2018 Camry cars are lower, sleeker  better looking, in fact  than their predecessors. Clearly, someone at Toyota has taken seriously the criticism that previous Camry styling was dull.

The new styling is not dull. It is attractive inside and out. But it is not stupid. It is not Toyota pretending to be something other than Toyota; nor is it the Camry puffing up its grille or price tag to be something other than a good, middle-income car that any gainfully employed person can enjoy and be proud of.

It is a front-wheel-drive car made available in five trim levels: L, LE, SE, XSE, and XLE. Hint: Get the popularly equipped SE trim with the Toyota Safety Sense package, which gives you blind-side monitoring, lane-departure warning and other capabilities.

You have a choice of two gasoline engines  a 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter, four-cylinder model and a 3.5-liter, 301-horsepower V-6. You get more oomph with the V-6, which also delivers 267 pound-feet of torque. You save more fuel with the four-cylinder engine (184 pound-feet of torque).

Both engines use regular-grade gasoline. A gasoline-electric hybrid model is available  a net 208 horsepower with about 52 miles per gallon on the highway. The four-cylinder engine will give you 30 mpg on the highway, and the V-6 will give you smoother going and more pep at about 26 mpg in highway driving.
The University of Sydney's first deputy vice-chancellor for Aboriginal services, Professor Shane Houston, is taking legal action over his dismissal from the position.

Senior academics have told Fairfax Media they were mystified about the reasons behind an email they received in which the university's vice-chancellor Michael Spence announced Professor Houston's sudden departure with "regret and disappointment" on August 24.

Shane Houston was the inaugural deputy vice-chancellor (Indigenous strategy and services) at the University of Sydney. Credit:Tamara Voninski

Fairfax Media has confirmed Professor Houston, who was the the University of Sydney's inaugural deputy vice-chancellor for Indigenous strategy and services, has made a general protections application to the Fair Work Commission in response to the termination of his employment.

A spokeswoman for the University of Sydney said it was aware of the case lodged in the Fair Work Commission "and vigorously denies any wrongdoing".
Like Port Arthur did to gun control, it so often takes a shocking event to spur government into action; deadly influenza is doing that to the health system. Influenza claims about 3000 Australian lives annually, mostly people over 65 years old. Compared with other infectious diseases, influenza-related deaths are much more common but usually don't make headlines  until recently  with spikes in the numbers of deaths of healthy young children and adults and of residents in aged-care facilities. The outbreak is not yet over.



For decades the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA warned that without strong control measures, deadly influenza outbreaks particularly in aged-care facilities were inevitable. Here in Australia, the Influenza Specialist Group has long pushed this position but its advocacy also went unheeded. Now sadly, in 2017, the inevitable occurred. Influenza hit hard resulting in the largest outbreak of laboratory-confirmed cases on record in Australia.

Tragically three children are among the 288 recorded deaths in NSW, but across the nation, aged-care facilities have been devastated. By early September, in Tasmanian facilities alone, 21 separate outbreaks were reported while at least 94 deaths were noted in Victorian facilities. Undoubtedly multiple deaths have occurred in a lot of other centres but have received far less attention, mostly flying under the radar, as a recent study in NSW suggested that less than 10 per cent of influenza outbreaks in aged-care centres were reported to public health authorities.



The Turnbull government has responded rapidly, announcing a push to mandate influenza vaccination among aged-care workers, a move strongly supported by peak groups, including National Seniors Australia and COTA Australia. And the case is compelling. But, logically, it should be extended to all health care and childcare workers too.

Vanika Idnani is one of three child flu deaths in 2017 reported by NSW Health.

Many people are unaware that influenza poses such a deadly threat to those over 65, for whom free flu vaccination is available. For most of us, flu is just an irritation. Life goes on, perhaps punctuated for a few days by mild symptoms brushed off as "a cold". Others soldier on to work. Usually, only a small number of healthy adults require hospitalisation. But here's the kicker  a large percentage of people infected with influenza have no symptoms at all (they are "asymptomatic"). Importantly asymptomatic people also pass influenza on to others. It's unintentional but the chance of doing so is high because being quite well they mingle with the community and co-workers. So next time you hear someone say, "I never get the flu" they probably do and are just unaware of it. Compounding the issue is the low uptake of the free influenza vaccine, with only 70 per cent of high-risk elderly Australians opting in.

For the over 65s, influenza paints a very different threat. With advancing age, immune function declines rendering especially the frail elderly more vulnerable to infectious diseases. They are less well-equipped to fight infection off and less responsive to immunisation.
Declining breeding rates of the shy albatross, Australia's only endemic species of the spectacular bird, have prompted conservationists to make an unusual intervention.

Found only on three islands off Tasmania, the bird  whose wingspan can stretch to 2.6 metres  has survived previous assaults by humans particularly during the 1800s when sealers and then feather collectors arrived.

Now, with signs climate change and other man-made threats are undermining survival rates, WWF-Australia has teamed with the federal and Tasmanian governments, CSIRO and the Tasmanian Albatross fund to start building artificial nests to give the shy albatross a helping hand.

"It's bold," Darren Grover, head of living ecosystems for WWF-Australia, said. "We've got too much to lose to do nothing."
The number of cyber attacks targeting mum and dads as well as businesses is booming, with Australians falling for online scams, email phishing, identity theft and credit card fraud in growing numbers.

And the federal Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security, Dan Tehan, has a simple message for Australians during Stay Safe Online week: "Password1 does not cut it", with 81 per cent of hack attacks a result of stolen or weak passwords.

As well as urging Australians to adopt stronger passwords with at least 16 characters, Mr Tehan will suggest four more steps to stay safe: manage privacy settings more carefully, update software, back up data and avoid scams in suspicious email messages.

The minister will launch the Australian Cyber Security Centre's 2017 Threat Report, which contains alarming new figures about the increase in cybercrime at the National Press Club on Tuesday.
The patient's vital signs are not good. Power prices are high, and emissions haemorrhaging. Reliability and security of supply are in doubt. We need a treatment plan, and fast.

Such was the diagnosis of the national electricity market on Monday by Australia's chief scientist Alan Finkel, the man whose blueprint to improve the system was supposed to take the politics out of energy policy. So, how's that working out?

A Clean Energy Target would help make sure that as ageing coal-fired power plants are retired, there is enough investment in renewables to replace them. Credit:Simon O'Dwyer

The answer is, pretty poorly. In his speech to the National Energy Summit on Monday, Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg gave the strongest hint yet that the prospect of any clean energy target was dead and buried, claiming the falling cost of renewable energy meant the subsidies were no longer necessary.

Cue the cycle of politicking and tail-chasing that has wasted more than a decade of Australian climate policy, frustrating the business community and leaving the public wondering: is any leader capable of stopping the bleeding?
After the session had finished, his gentle and reasonable approach helped me find the courage to approach him about the issue, and we talked. I made my points and he listened carefully. He made his points and, following his example, I also listened carefully. I don't think he entirely agreed with me and I did not entirely agree with him, but I enjoyed our conversation and I learnt a lot. We parted friends and I felt not only genuine admiration for the devoutly religious man I had just met, but gratitude that his grace had shattered my prejudice.

I am still not very good at approaching those I perceive as ideological and political opponents. I'd have lots of problems with a No voter or a gun enthusiast, for example, not that I meet too many of them  that's how far into my armed camp I have retreated, but I now think I should make more of an effort.

In the face of the appalling massacre in Las Vegas, for example, we can see the usual responses from both sides. There are those who shake their heads in disbelief (like me) at the inability of the US to legislate sensible gun controls, and who cry out in their grief, anger and frustration against the gun lobby. I have been guilty of it on social media myself in the last couple of days. But all that seems to do is make the gun enthusiasts dig deeper into their bunker and, worse, if gun sales are any guide, add to their arsenals.

Yet, as the initial shock fades, and I look around me at the entrenched and ever-widening ideological, religious and political divides in the world, it seems we have never needed to talk to our enemies more.

Newsome said of his experience at the Trump rally, "I feel like two sides that never listen to each other actually made progress today". The credit for that progress must go both to Tommy Gunn, who gave Newsome the chance to speak, and to Newsome himself who spoke with generosity and grace.
Sometimes, long-distance patients - often from the Northern Territory - are in their first trimester when they find out they are pregnant and can't get an appointment in Darwin. If they can't immediately find the funds to fly down and cover the cost of the abortion, overnight accommodation for themselves and the person with them, and sometimes childcare, their situations will escalate. Depending on how far into the pregnancy the woman is, one minor procedure can become two procedures that happen over two days, and at three times the price. "It drives my frustration with the system," Grozdich says. "You just think, Why is this happening? How could so many things have happened to bring this person to us, today?" Except for South Australia and the NT, abortions mostly take place in specialist clinics, set apart from public hospitals, and often run by large not-for-profits such as Marie Stopes International. Women can also access an over-the-phone service, through which supplies for a medical abortion are posted to you after a phone consultation - a practice the medical director of the Tabbot Foundation, which provides the service, says helps women avoid judgment from doctors and pharmacists. After all, getting an abortion is a crime in NSW, and women qualify only if their doctor believes that continuing with their pregnancy poses serious danger to their physical or mental health, or life. The first openly run abortion clinic in Australia was founded in 1972, in Melbourne, by doctor and campaigner Bertram Wainer. Two years earlier, he forced the Victorian government to hold an inquiry into abortion protection rackets run by the police, which focused public attention on the corruption and exploitation permeating underground practices. This was also a problem in NSW, where the first legal clinic opened in 1974. The following year, a rebate for abortions became available through Medibank, the forerunner of Medicare, and now roughly half the cost is covered for abortions at nine weeks' gestation or less. At Marie Stopes, which provides about one-third of abortions in Australia, the average out-of-pocket cost at this stage of pregnancy is $500, and prices rise after the first trimester: up to $3800 at 20 weeks. The Medicare rebate amount stays the same.

In a study of barriers to accessing abortion in NSW, Dr Frances Doran of Southern Cross University and Julie Hornibrook of James Cook University, who specialise in health research, distinguished between internalised stigma, which stems from secrecy, and external stigma, which is foisted on people by society. While keeping an abortion secret may be a way of avoiding external stigma, they write, this can lead to internalised stigma, and perpetuate a cycle of shame. Telling people about having an abortion can be unexpectedly revealing. As one woman told the researchers: "It was an eye-opener when everyone I had disclosed to had also told me they've had at least one, so why is it so difficult?" In May, the NSW Upper House voted down a Greens' bill put forward to decriminalise abortion, which required protest exclusion zones outside clinics, placed no upper time limit on when an abortion could be performed, and didn't mandate for it to be performed by a clinician. More than 100 law academics in NSW signed a letter in support of the bill, stating that abortion was a "health and welfare matter, not a criminal issue" and that women and doctors "should not face the risk of criminal prosecution" for it. Yet society's attitudes are shifting: the proportion of Australians who think women should be able to obtain an abortion, readily when they want one, has risen from 55 per cent to two-thirds over the past 20 years, while the minority who think it should be banned has reduced from 6 per cent to 4 per cent, according to the Australian Election Study. The procedure itself is common and, from a medical perspective, simple. It's been estimated that one in four women in Australia will have an abortion in their lifetime, according to figures from SA Health, the only jurisdiction that collects and publishes the data. Jill, from Queanbeyan, NSW, was a 24-year-old undergraduate of science and psychology when she had an abortion in 2014. (She didn't want her real name in this article to protect her family's privacy.) She has never regretted the decision, which allowed her to pursue the life she imagined for herself. Though she thought her boyfriend of five months was wonderful, it was too early to know if they wanted to spend their lives together. She was studying part-time, working full-time, lived with an alcoholic father and an imperious mother who fought constantly, and had no desire to raise a child.

The moment after her pregnancy test came back positive, Jill was searching online and calling clinics. "I actually thought that in Australia, there was no issue with getting an abortion, and it wasn't until I started Googling it that I was like, 'Oh, okay - there's not that many providers'." On Wikipedia, she saw that abortion laws varied significantly between states and territories. "I was like, What the hell? What's going on? I started to become a little bit worried and concerned: Am I actually going to be able to do this?" Her local clinic had told her that she would be questioned on the grounds she had for getting a termination, which made her feel like something was wrong. She drove to Canberra, instead, where abortion is decriminalised. She discovered that clinics had fast approaching close-down periods over Christmas, and that, if all went smoothly, she would be out-of-pocket by at least $400. On the drive to the clinic, she said to her partner, over and over: "Thank goodness we live so close."

If she hadn't been able to access a legal abortion, she says would have tried to induce a miscarriage some other way. "I would have tried some dangerous things." What she remembers most was the relief when it was over, and the sympathy of the nurses and doctor, who treated her like a person capable of sound judgment. She talks often about her experience, but she didn't tell her mum, who is fiercely religious. For years, it was easier not to bring it up - and when she did, her mother was silent. She clearly didn't want to talk about it, and Jill hasn't raised the subject with her again. It's a type of discomfort that Kitty Grozdich is used to. Family members make jokes about coat hangers, and friends call her "the arborist" because they don't want to say "abortion". She thinks her job garners less respect than other jobs. But she is proud of her work. She considers herself a "social advocate", and thinks that getting an abortion should be talked about in the same straightforward way one would talk about having wisdom teeth removed. Loading
Police have fined a man more than $600 after officers caught him speeding along one of WA's most notorious stretches of road while his wife breastfed their unrestrained child.

The incident happened on Indian Ocean Drive near Cervantes at about 2.30pm on Sunday.

Police fined the man $650. Credit:Marina Neil/Fairfax Media

Police, who posted details of the incident on their Twitter page, said the driver was an "overseas visitor" and that his wife was breastfeeding an 11-month-old baby at the time. The child was not properly restrained.

Police stopped the man for driving at 119 kilometres an hour in a 110 zone.
Five people involved in crashes on WA roads died over the weekend.

Acting Road Safety Commissioner Iain Cameron told 6PR's Morning Show it had been a "dreadful" period.

The man's death caps off a horror three days on WA roads.

"[It was] a terrible weekend... our thoughts are with those families and friends that are left behind, and those looking after those who are still fighting for their lives," he said.

"We've seen  and I don't know the details of the individual crashes  we've seen errors and mistakes. We know these things do happen, but it's just a terrible reminder when we get such a sequence of these happening in just a few days.
The WA Police Union has urged the state's new top cop to equip metropolitan officers with long-arm rifles to be able to deal with the possibility of a mass shooting such as the recent attack on concert goers in Las Vegas.

The WAPU has made a fresh submission to Police Commissioner Chris Dawson to equip Perth based cops with long arm guns, such as AR-15s.

The highly trained Tactical Response Group have ready access to long-arm rifles.

At the moment only country based cops and the highly trained Tactical Response Group have ready access to long-arm rifles.

A similar submission by the union was knocked back by the previous police commissioner Karl O'Callaghan.
By 12pm, the sightings had stopped. The state alleges between 11:40am, and 1.36pm that day, Mr Wark picked Hayley up in a Holden ute on the way home from the shops, murdered her and disposed of her body before setting off to Perth on his motorbike to meet with friends. Some time after 11.30am, a driver who pulled over on the Brand Highway because his car was overheating, claimed he heard a female scream in the distance. By 1.36pm, Mr Wark, who lived on North West Road, was at the Badgingarra roadhouse refuelling his motorbike and paying his account - an alibi the state claims he rushed to make. He had that morning been in Moora, around 55 kilometres away, completing his fortnightly grocery shopping.

Ms Burrows told the court Mr Wark's housemate returned to their property later the day Hayley disappeared to find his Holden ute, which Mr Wark had driven to the shops that day, was "unusually" parked inside the property's shed and had a broken indicator lever. Mr Wark had also left a note for his housemate asking the man to chop up some meat he had just purchased from the shop. "The indicator lever had been broken off and was lying on the floor, indicative, the state would say, of a struggle occurring," Ms Burrows said. "It is the state's case he was anxious to flee to Perth as quickly as he could... and create an alibi by paying an account on the way." Mr Wark was later that day involved in a minor traffic accident in Perth and hospitalised overnight.

When the search for Hayley began to gain heavy media coverage in the days following her disappearance, he rang police twice to let them know his whereabouts the day she went missing. He claimed he was at the shops at Moora, about half an hour's drive from where Hayley was last seen, until around 12pm and did not see her that day. He denies murdering Hayley. Two months later the state claims Mr Wark began falsely telling people in the small town he had terminal cancer and was moving to Queensland to be with his family to die. He sold his property and moved east the following year in early 2000.

In 2007, he raped a Queensland woman he picked up while she was hitchhiking. The woman was sexually assaulted several times inside Mr Wark's house before she escaped the next morning and ran to a neighbour for help. Ms Burrows said the state will use the rape conviction as propensity evidence Mr Wark was capable of picking up a hitchhiker and sexually assaulting them. The state will also rely on evidence Mr Wark asked the Queensland woman for her earring. "He had a tendency to keep a trophy, a trophy of his violent conduct towards women," Ms Burrows said.

In 2013, 14 years after Hayley's disappearance, forensic investigators reexamined the ute Mr Wark was driving the day Hayley disappeared. They found an earring inside a seat covering matching a sketch drawn by Hayley's friend of the earring she was wearing the day she vanished. The unique earring was cross shaped and had a blue stone in the centre. Its hook had been damaged. Hayley's friend drew the sketch on August 2, 1999, remembering the detail of the earring well as she had been with Hayley when she bought it days earlier. A piece of hair the state alleges belonged to Hayley was also found in the ute's passenger footwell.

A DNA sample from Hayley's lipstick, and her mother were used to determine the match. Mr Wark's defence lawyer planned however to dispute the validity of DNA evidence, saying the trial would ultimately come down to timing. "The state's case is entirely circumstantial... timing will be the key to this trial," he said. "Simple logic will dictate Mr Wark had no time to pick up Ms Dodd, murder her and dispose of her body. "On the defence's case, if the court accepts Mr Wark did not leave Moora until 12.20pm, then evidence of the hair and earring is irrelevant."
A man has died after driving into a tree on Monday afternoon near New Norcia, north of Perth.

The man had been travelling with a female passenger along Great Northern Highway just before 12pm when he lost control of the vehicle.

The RAC helicopter was called to assist. Credit:Mathew Hayes

The car left the road just before Old Plains Road intersection and crashed into a tree.

Both the driver and the passenger were trapped inside the vehicle and emergency services were called to the scene.
It's a little reported disaster, largely hidden from cameras by the ravages of internecine warfare.

Almost 800,000 people in Yemen have been affected in the world's deadliest outbreak of cholera, and the World Health Organisation expects that number to climb to one million by the end of the year.

Thousands of people have died from the acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water.

Almost half of the victims have been children, according to the UN Office of the Co-Ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.


Photo: DNAInfo

CHICAGO (CBS)  In the second act of vandalism in three days, a statue of Christopher Columbus was found defaced in the Little Italy neighborhood on Columbus Day.

Red paint was splattered on the statue in Arrigo Park, and the words mass murderer and decolonise [sic] were spray painted on the sidewalk next to it.

No one was in custody for Mondays vandalism.

More HERE
Over the course of the past year conservative writer Warner Todd Huston has been the repeated victim of vandals. Someone in his neighborhood has targeted him.

"At first I thought it was just random vandals as the attacks were penny-ante things, but now I am pretty sure it is being done by someone who knows I am a conservative writer and they are trying to intimidate me," wrote Huston.

It started early this year when a flag was pulled off his flag staff and left ripped in pieces and thrown on his lawn. Then in July, his U.S. Army flag was burned and "die dogs" was written on it. After that his garage was egged and the word "racist" was written on it.

However, the intimidation went into high gear this past week when his car was lit on fire.

More HERE
Since 2012, the Army has shrunk from 45 combat brigades to only 31. In February, Gen. Daniel B. Allyn informed the House Armed Services Committee that only a third of those brigades are considered combat ready and only three, count em, three, would be able to deploy immediately to a combat zone. []

Things arent much better for our air and sea forces. The Heritage Foundations Index of Military Strength assesses the Air Force as being 24 percent short of the 1,200 fighter jets it needs. As for keeping the aging aircraft it does have flying, it lacks 1,000 pilots and over 3,000 flight maintenance crew members. Only four of its 36 combat-coded squadrons are ready to execute all wartime missions.

The Navy has shriveled to 276 combat shipsthe smallest U.S. battle fleet since before World War I. And the readiness of the force continues to decline. In February, Adm. William Moran, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, testified before the House Armed Services Committee that the Navys overall readiness has reached its lowest level in many years.

His testimony was subsequently affirmed by a series of accidents that revealed a deplorable decline in basic seamanship. First, the USS Lake Champlain collided with a fishing vessel. Then the USS John S. McCain and the USS Fitzgerald hit cargo ships, costing 17 American sailors their lives.

All of these ships were part of the Navys Forward Deployed Naval Forces, considered our most proficient, well-trained, and experienced force because theyre operating all the time. But a report issued last month by the Government Accountability Office found that little to no dedicated training periods were built into the operational schedules. As a result, 37 percent of the warfare certifications for cruiser and destroyer crews based in Japanincluding certifications for seamanshiphad expired. [Fox News]
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Hedda Gabbler and her husband, Tesman, return to the bleak and barren landscape of an unfurnished apartment they cannot afford. After combining a honeymoon with six months of research that Tesman hopes will lead to a lucrative professorship, Hedda is already bored.

She seeks distraction where she has always sought distraction. In men. But things are different now. Hedda is fecund, fertile, ripe. Her husband's aunt Juliana (Christine Kavanagh) knows it, the manipulative Judge Brack (Adam Best) admires it but for Hedda (Lizzy Watts) it is a source of dissatisfaction.

Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, adapted by Patrick Marber, was performed at the National Theatre, directed by Ivo van Hove (A View from the Bridge) with set and lighting design by Jan Versweyveld. This National Theatre touring production has lost none of the fire and style of the original.

When it was first performed, in 1891, it was a shocking, provocative play. While it felt ahead of its time then, it feels scarily prescient today. While women have more control over their fertility now there is still a social pressure to conform, to follow tradition.

The joy of this production is the clarity of the characters; it's not just about Hedda. There is dependable, reliable Tesman (Abhin Galeya) who will do whatever it takes to please Hedda, a decision that brings her no pleasure at all. Judge Brack  often played with a brutish air  is, here, charming but manipulative. The fact that he is dangerous only heightens his appeal to Hedda.

Then we have Lovborg (Richard Pyros) and Mrs Elvsted (Annabel Bates), a woman who has left her husband to work and write with Lovborg  a productive partnership that has resulted in the birth of their 'child', a work of such maturity and skill that the professorship Hedda covets for Tesman will undoubtedly go to Lovborg. What's a girl to do? Especially a girl with a gun?

Hedda Gabler was never this much fun. Lizzy Watts gives her an energy and a willfulness that is hugely entertaining and makes her behaviour almost, almost forgivable. Together Marber, van Hove and their company have reinvigorated a classic and made it a play for today.

Hedda Gabler will tour the UK and Ireland to Edinburgh, Leicester, Salford, Norwich, Hull, Aberdeen, Northampton, Glasgow, Wolverhampton, Woking, Nottingham, Newcastle, York and Milton Keynes and Dublin.
CHARGED WITH THE KIDNAPP500NG AND MURDER OF MILLS RIVER RESIDENT TOMMY BRYSON

District Attorney Greg Newman was reported to be meeting today (Monday) with a judge in the case to pursue the death penalty for Phillip Michael Stroupe II.(Pictured)

Stroupe was arrested back n July and charged with the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Mills River resident Tommy Bryson. Brysons body was found in an Averys Creek cornfield after Stroupe had been apprehended by law enforcement officials in a high speed chase and while driving Mr. Brysons stolen truck in Yancey and McDowell Counties. A wides-spread manhunt had been going on, centered in the Mills River area, for Stroupe for five days prior to his apprehension.

Defendant Stroupes father, Phillip Stroupe, Sr., was also schduled to be in court. The elder Stroupe and others are charged with accessory after the fact of first degree murder.

Sroupe II is also facing a string of serious felony charges in Transylvania, Madison, Yancey, and McDowell Counties.

Mr. Bryson had left his Mills River home and was on his way to take a family member to the doctor when he was allegedly kidnapped by Stroupe II.

Stroupe, Sr. and others are charged with harboring Stroipe II while he was on the run. Judge Mark Powell on Monday refused to lower the elder Stroupe's bond. It remains at $500,000...and no trial date for him has been set.

District Attorney Greg Newman said early on in the case that he planned to seek the death penalty for Stroupe II.

i.
ORAFOL Europe GmbH has announced that ORAFOL Australia has wholly acquired Australian Graphic Supplies (AGS). Following recent acquisitions of all other ORAFOL state-based distributors, the AGS acquisition provides ORAFOL with a national distribution footprint that will allow the business to forge stronger, direct-supply and advanced technical support relationships with its customers.



The AGS (QLD) Graphic Innovations team will be relocated into ORAFOLs new 4,000sqm distribution centre in Ormeau, South of Brisbane. The business unit will operate alongside the companys Reflective Solutions division, which focuses on vehicle conspicuity, traffic control and

Orafol's QLD Ormeau national head office

personal safety materials. The AGS (NSW) team will continue to operate out of the Sydney distribution centre in Eastern Creek.

ORAFOL Australia distributes leading brands of wide-format equipment, inks, substrates and accessories alongside the full line of ORACAL, ORAMASK, ORATAPE, ORAJET & ORAGUARD self-adhesive films, fully supported by a national team of over 60 staff. Factory-direct pricing and a new ERP-integrated e-commerce platform will cement ORAFOLs position as a top-tier supplier to Australian sign makers and digital printers.

ORAFOL Europe have appointed Greg Nicholls and Anthony Kioussis, two industry veterans with a combined 44 years experience in the sign & graphics industry, to lead the integration of their Australian group of companies, as Managing Director and Marketing and Sales Director, respectively.

The ORAFOL Group is a leading manufacturer of graphic products, reflective materials and adhesive tapes. Headquartered in Oranienburg, Germany, ORAFOL has evolved into a global player with manufacturing and distribution units around the world. The focus on the Australian market is part of a consistent strategy aimed at dynamic growth, innovative products and a dedication to customer needs, which in turn has become the basis of ORAFOLs continued global success. We will continue to look for opportunities to increase our global presence either through acquisition or expansion. said Dr. Holger Loclair, Managing Director of ORAFOL Europe GmbH.

Orafol Australia

www.orafol.com
LA CROSSE, Wis.  Turns out, this kind of hoarding is a good thing.

The Gundersen Medical Foundations storage of more than 35,000 samples of diseased cells and DNA in its Cancer Biobank made it possible to confirm scientifically  for the first time  that a melanoma skin cancer can recur more than three decades after its first appearance.

The discovery, expected to be a boon for cancer research in general, improves the odds of finding a cure, said Dr. Paraic Kenny, director of the foundations Kabara Cancer Research Institute in the La Crosse Health Science Center at 1300 Badger St.

Its not quite Jurassic Park, Kenny acknowledged in an interview, but it highlights the ongoing need for patients to have their cancers monitored, even after being declared cancer-free for years.

Skin cancer is a major concern in the United States, with its sun-worshiping culture, and exposure to ultraviolet rays is the main culprit.

The average American has a 1 in 15 chance of developing skin cancers such as basal and squamous cell versions and a 1 in 62 chance of developing a melanoma, said Dr. Jerry Miller, who was a Gundersen dermatology physician when he came across this case.

Melanomas kill the most

Melanomas account for the vast majority of skin cancer deaths, Miller said, and patients with melanomas die at the rate of one every hour.

The breakthrough in this study, published in the September issue of the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, came in late 2015, after Miller called Kenny to discuss a patient Miller had treated for a melanoma in 1985 and developed another melanoma in nearly the same spot where he had removed the previous one.

Melanoma is a very aggressive form of cancer that usually recurs in the first few years, if it is going to, Kenny said.

The fact that this melanoma, after three decades of clean slates for the patient now in his 70s, was so close to the area where the first one was removed in 1985 raised the possibility of a repeat rather than a new lesion, he said. The only way to confirm that was to compare it with the original.

Thats no easy task and is impossible in many cases, Kenny and Miller wrote in their account of the patient, whose recent death was caused by the metastatic melanoma.

Ultra-late melanoma recurrence is infrequent, poorly understood and, in most cases, difficult to unambiguously distinguish from a new primary melanoma, wrote Kenny and Miller, who now practices at Forefront Dermatology in Fond du Lac, Wis.

Although anecdotal evidence and suspicion sometimes suggest a melanoma may be a recurrence, the only way to verify that is to compare news cells with cells from the original case  and those often are long gone.

Regulations of the College of American Pathologists and the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments mandate that hospitals retain pathology tissue samples for at least 10 years. Gundersen not only keeps them for two decades, but then it releases them to the foundations Cancer Biobank for perpetual storage  some preserved as slices on small paraffin slides and others stored in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of minus-177 degrees C.

Unlike a reality-TV hoarder, Gundersen makes the samples available to researchers from other institutions.

Gundersen secured a $104,000 genome sequencer last summer with part of a $1.5 million donation from Betty Kabara, who continues the support that she and her late husband, Jon, initiated in gratitude for life-saving treatments at the hospital.

Compared 85 sample with 2015s

The combination made it possible for Kenny and his researchers to locate the patients 1985 tissue sample in the Cancer Biobank, isolate his DNA from a blood sample and compare that to DNA from the 85 and 15 tumors.

We sequenced 25,000 genes in each of the samples, Kenny said. By comparing to the blood DNA sequences, we were able to identify the mutation in both of the cancer specimens. We were then able to compare the two cancer specimens to each other and identified over 100 shared mutations.

This proved the two specimens had a lineal relationship spanning 30 years, he said.

I was really excited to deploy the genome sequencer  and keen to try to push the envelope. The more we understand the biology of disease, the better we can determine care, said Kenny, who also occupies the institutes Dr. Jon and Betty Kabara Endowed Chair in Precision Oncology.

The science can be applied to other cancers and diseases and offer insights into treatment, he said.

Being able to determine how a familys genetics affect members predisposition to a disease and how one members genes respond to treatment can influence procedures used for all family members, he said.

It also can exclude the potential of a disease, relieving the terrible burden of uncertainty about whether members are prone to a particular illness, Kenny said.

Case is matter of serendipity

Miller, a 1980 graduate of Central High School, described the case as a matter of serendipity in being able to bridge the 30-year gap to connect the cancers.

In most cases, you wouldnt think they would recur 30 years later, but indeed it did, Miller said. Sometimes melanomas develop deep in the skin, but recurrences (over this long of a time frame) are rare, or it would be a second cancer.

Miller, a dermatologist for 24 years, said, Dr. Kennys research team is just top-notch. Their research is like stepping from one world into another.

As for his own involvement, Miller said, the experience had the added thrill of bringing me from the clinical side to research. Normally, a clinician isnt involved in research.

In this case, we needed to think of it as chronic.  In order to beat cancer, you have to treat the cause, Miller said, adding that the research should help decipher the reasons the disease develops.

Genome sequencers enable clinicians to target specific, minute areas for treatment instead, taking out guesswork that could lead to treatment of areas that are not infected, he said.

This contributes to mounds of data about cancer so someday we might be able to eliminate or control all, Miller said. This constitutes a new wave  for precision medicine and precision oncology.

Studying something rare helps find out more, he said.

We stood on the shoulders of clinicians and researchers to sift out the truth  not because Im a great clinician, he said. But because we were open-eyed and not biased and because of Dr. Kennys lab.
One person was injured when their vehicle hit a tree Saturday morning.

Carol Georgine Nowak, 56, of St. Paul, Minn. was traveling south on Hwy. 61 near the Homer Township around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, when her vehicle ran off the road in a curve and hit a tree.

Nowak was taken to Winona Health with non-life threatening injuries.

The Pickwick Fire Department and Winona County Sheriff's Department assisted the Minnesota State Patrol on the scene of the accident.
The parable of the frog being boiled alive  with the poor creature jumping out immediately if the water is red hot, but, if the heat is turned up slowly, not realizing its plight until its too late  may not be based on science (so dont try this on little Croaky). But in politics, sweat

ing officials are still doing the backstroke.

Americans are becoming used to abhorrent events and wondering if anything can be done to make things better. After every man-made or natural disaster, or every statement from a leader that crosses the line, we wonder if the water will ever be hot enough to get a rise out of those in charge. So we do the best we can.

Many look to small victories, while despairing of the big picture.

In Las Vegas this week, President Donald Trump praised the first responders, doctors and law enforcement, as he should. And every heart breaks over testimonials from survivors, alive due only to the sacrifice of friends and strangers.

Part of the reaction, of course, is because Americans default is optimism. Part of the countrys character is to look for the positive in the worst circumstances.

And so we saw, again, the search for heroes in the chaos. There were plenty, often ordinary citizens who risked their lives, acting as we hope we would.

But is that instinct becoming a sort of desperation, a realization that elected representatives are not about to take a stand on a host of issues, so we take solace in these poignant vignettes.

When our leaders seem to frame every event with an eye toward politics, is it any wonder that cynicism is the primary emotion their reactions evoke, and Americans act to protect themselves either by buying another firearm  though what could that have done to bring down a killer from above  or finding comfort in the fact that there are more good guys than bad ones?

The talking point after the Las Vegas shooting is that now is not the time to even whisper the words background check, banning high-capacity magazines or anything else that might hint of gun control, because it would be disrespectful. Though at a White House briefing, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders managed to slip in a political reference to gun violence in Chicago and the citys gun restrictions, a claim that has been disputed.

Despite all the protestations that this is not America, it actually is the country we know all too well, acts of kindness and bravery that are lovely but no protection against the next horror.

As Roll Calls Patricia Murphy wrote Tuesday, whether its to suit their constituents, to win their next elections or because they really believe restricting guns has no effect on gun violence, dont expect action, except perhaps moves to loosen gun laws. From the usual suspects, you heard the kind of argument you never do after other tragedies, a plane crash or terrorist bombing, when there are detailed dissections of what happened and policy prescriptions on how to prevent the next similar tragedy.

Instead the reaction was a throwback to a stated moratorium on hot-button issues such as climate change and zoning restrictions when floodwaters and hurricanes whip through cities in Texas and Florida. Somehow we never get around to those conversations, either.

America will move on from Las Vegas as they did after Sandy Hook, though parents, sisters, brothers and friends of the children and teachers murdered there cannot. A friend, relative of one of the exemplary Americans gunned down in a Charleston church in 2015, reminds me without saying a word that a loss like that is everlasting.

Las Vegas now will be known for gambling and tragedy, the same way that the Tucson I once lived in and loved will always mean sadness as well as desert beauty. The city will become shorthand, on a long list from Aurora and Columbine to Newtown and Orlando.

South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune had a puzzling solution. I think people are going to have to take steps in their own lives to take precautions, he said. To protect themselves. And in situations like that, you know, try to stay safe. As somebody said  get small.

Appropriate words for the incredible shrinking leadership from Washington.
Were holding down the fort.

The minute Nancy Burns said that, she realized shed made a play on words.

One of Wisconsins oldest historic sites, the Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters, is between executive directors at the moment.

But that didnt stop members of the Daughters of the American Revolution from traveling from all over Wisconsin to host Saturdays Apple Fest. And it didnt stop a trickle of tourists, from Wisconsin and beyond, from braving the intermittent rain to sample cider fresh from the hand-cranked press, and tour a building that dates back almost two centuries.

The Wisconsin Society Daughters of the American Revolution, of which Burns, of Green Lake, is state curator, owns the site, located on Highway 33 east of downtown Portage.

Saturday marked the last day of the sites season, which runs from May through October.

Even though the sun wasnt shining and many of the leaves on surrounding trees were still green, autumn was definitely in the air.

The air around the site was filled with the aroma of apples  about 200 pounds of them, many of which were sliced and fed into the cider press.

Karen Broman of Mequon and her daughter, Mariah Broman, said visitors could take home fresh cider once it had been filtered.

DAR members from all over Wisconsin were asked to bring apples, of any variety.

To make good apple cider, Karen Broman said, you have to have more than one variety of apple.

Thats why DAR members brought apples from various orchards all over Wisconsin.

See, I stole some from my brothers tree when he wasnt looking, said Kate Ullman of Antigo.

Three years ago, the DAR celebrated 75 years of owning, operating and maintaining the Surgeons Quarters  the only structure still standing from Fort Winnebago, a military installation that was active from 1828-1845.

The DAR acquired the site in 1939, and it took about 15 years for them to restore the structure to its use while Fort Winnebago was operating, first as a store for settlers, then as the home of medical officers and their families.

Now, Burns said, the DAR is planning a bicentennial celebration for next year.

Although the sign at the site says the Surgeons Quarters structure was built in 1824, the origin of the tamarack log structure that became the Surgeons Quarters actually goes back to 1819, when Francois LeRoi  who was of both French and American Indian descent  built the structure as his house. LeRoi operated a fur-trading business that also included portaging (carrying canoes) between the Wisconsin and Fox rivers. Thats why the earliest European settlers referred to the area as The Portage.

Since 2018 will mark the beginning of the sites 200th year since its utilization by people of European descent, Burns said, the DAR is planning a celebration next year.

Tim Burns, Nancys husband, said people came to the Apple Fest even in less-than-ideal weather largely because they see history as not just interesting, but vital.

To think that in the 1600s, Marquette and Joliet were here, he said, as he pointed northwest.

There are more people, he said, who realize the need to understand the roots of our country  to understand its values and traditions.
Kayla Ann Purves, 27, of Columbus, passed away Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, at UW Hospital in Madison, the result of an overdose.

Kayla was born to Kevin and Susan Purves on Aug. 3, 1990. Kayla grew up in Poynette and moved to Columbus in 2004 with her family. Kayla was a smart, funny, quick-witted person who wanted everyone to feel loved. She had a temper like no other and wasnt afraid to stand up for herself or her loved ones. She was a mother, daughter and sister that loved her family with all her heart. Kaylas smile and infectious laugh could get her out of most any trouble with her family, all while conrming how much she adored them all. Kayla has left so many great memories in our hearts and taught us to never end a conversation without saying I love you.

Kayla struggled with an addiction that consumed her. Despite her constant battle, Kayla continued to look forward to her future, not allowing this addiction to dene her. Just prior to her passing, Kayla had made arrangements to begin treatment and had shared her dream to return to school and help those who struggled as she did.

But Kaylas journey was cut short, another casualty of this horric addiction. Knowing we will never see our Kayla again or hear her laugh will leave a gaping hole in our hearts. But Kayla wasnt done showing the world how much love she had to share. Through her generous organ donation  that saved the lives of many  Kayla has comforted many other families and spared them the pain of losing a loved one. And to us, Kayla will be remembered for all the good she brought, especially in giving us one of her greatest treasures, her beautiful children.

Kayla is survived by her children, Maurice and Makaylah; her mother, Susan Purves, who loved her unconditionally; her sister, Juanita (Casey) Tomlinson; her brothers, Michael Bankers and Kevin Purves; and family friend Lisa Schauer, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

Kayla was preceded in death by her father, Kevin Purves; her maternal and paternal grandparents; and her aunt, Jodi Purves.

A memorial service for Kayla will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at Faith Lutheran Church in Columbus.

Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.

Loving Kayla was easy, but loving Kayla with her addiction was hard. For those of you supporting a loved one with an addiction, please know that it is OK to love them unconditionally. And it is important to make sure they know how much you love them every single day. And for those on the outside looking in, please remember to always be kind to one another, for you dont know everyones story and never know when their story may end.

Grasse Funeral Service of Pardeeville (www.grassefs.com) is serving the family.
Stark contrast: Britains Labour Party and South Africas ANC

Compare the state of two political parties which share a close past connection but which today face distinctly different futures.

Im referring to Britains Labour Party and South Africas African National Congress (ANC).

The British Labour Party has just held its most successful national conference for years. It projected an image of unity, confidence and enthusiasm constructed around its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who less than a year ago was widely portrayed as leading his party into the political wilderness.

Corbyn won the leadership by mobilising mass backing among an increased party membership (encouraged by internal party reforms). But he also alienated many of the partys MPs. Forced into a repeat leadership election after most of his shadow cabinet resigned, he had been overwhelmingly re-elected by the membership, yet still failed to convince the media he was electable.

In early May 2017, Labour was trounced in local government elections, losing a swathe of seats while the ruling Conservatives gained heavily. So when new Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap general election a few weeks later, seeking a personal mandate to pursue the countrys fateful Brexit negotiations, it was widely expected that Corbyn would drag Labour down to another miserable defeat.

Corbyn defied expectations. Rather than sweeping to a triumphant victory, May lost her partys majority and was forced into a humiliating deal with the Democratic Unionist Party. Labour lost the election, yet managed to project its unexpectedly improved performance as a victory.

Now it was the Tories in disarray. May hung on to her leadership only because those eyeing the top job feared that a new leadership contest would pull the party apart.

Labours success is widely ascribed to Corbyn. His election campaign was remarkably low key, almost old fashioned. Above all, he projected himself as a rarity in politics  a man of principle whose adherence to a socialist platform had been consistent throughout his career. His idealism appealed especially to younger voters, and Corbinistas won the war on social media.

Corbyn has yet to win back many of Labours traditional working class. But with the Tories increasingly led by the nose by their most right-wing elements, and their incompetence in negotiations with the EU threatening a disastrous Brexit, Corbyn has claimed convincingly that Labour occupies the critical centre-ground in British politics. And that the Thatcher revolution has run its course and that neo-Liberalism is dead.

In its place, Labour will lead a crusade against the vicious social inequalities that neo-liberalism has brought in its wake, promising a new social project For the Many, not for the Few. Labour is smelling power, and the making of a new social revolution.

In contrast, todays ANC seems to have much more in common with the Tories than with the revitalised Labour Party. Just like the Tories, it is brutally factionalised and is led by a discredited leader. It is bereft of new ideas and is manifestly failing in government. The South African economy has slumped; investor confidence has plummeted; key parastatals have been bankrupted and social services are failing. Worse, its president and its party cadres have converted the state into a feeding trough for private interests.

The ANC is openly divided and locked into an increasingly bitter battle for the party leadership, to be elected by delegates to the partys national conference in December.

ANC contenders

There are six or seven notional candidates for the top job. But the race for the leadership appears to be between Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa. Zweli Mkhize is now running close behind, threatening to overtake and win by a nose. The ANC likes to boast that its a forum for the battle of ideas. Yet this contest is almost totally bereft of ideas.

Dlamini-Zuma has claimed the banner of Radical Economic Transformation for her campaign. Her lacklustre performance, though, has failed to clothe it with any convincing content. Rather than promising a new world, her strong backing by President Jacob Zuma suggests the main purpose of her candidacy is to keep him out of jail and to maintain the state as a site of political largesse for those who have benefited from his rule.

Ramaphosa is projecting himself as the reform candidate : the man of common sense and experience who will cleanse the party of its corruption and set the economy back on track. Yet, for all his talk about corruption and his railing against state capture, he has exhibited a total aversion to any naming of names. The firebrand union leader of yesteryear has turned into a pussycat.

Some in the ANC claim he is constrained by his awkward position as Deputy President, and that were he to step out of line, Zuma would not hesitate to sack him. Others fear that he does not have the courage and determination to win the prize.

So up comes Zweli Mkhize on the outside track, being projected as the candidate who could straddle the Dlamini-Zuma and Ramaphosa divide and restore the ANC to unity. But at what cost? As with both other candidates, Mkhize would have to make major compromises with many powerful elements in the party to win, and his triumph would herald greater continuity than change.

The ANC a lost cause?

Former President Kgalema Motlanthe has suggested that the party must lose the national election due in 2019 if it wishes to regain its soul. Similarly, Makhosi Khoza recently resigned both as an MP and a member of the ANC declaring that the party has become alien and corrupt.

Such siren calls, issued from under its own roof, suggest that  given the right circumstances  the ANC is capable of self-correction. Yet the evidence for this is thin. South Africans were promised this after the partys dismal showing in the 2016 local government elections. All they have had is more of the same.

The problem for the ANC is that unlike the Labour Party, it lacks a credible prophet with moral appeal and related new ideas to lead it out of the wilderness. Despite its divisions, it may well creep home in 2019, or at least win enough seats to become the major party in a governing coalition.

However, the more its desperation in clinging to power, the more its inability to tackle the fundamental reforms needed to restore it to its former glory. A politics of patronage will remain at its core; principles will be sacrificed to personal ambitions and material gain; and the ANC will remain a party, not for the many, but the privileged few.

Roger Southall, Professor of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Trumps Africa policy is still incoherent, but key signals are emerging

Africas leaders have waited eight months for US President Donald Trumps administration to explain its Africa policy.

We arent there yet.

But in recent weeks Trump has indicated the level and extent of his interest. And, senior African affairs officials at the State and Defence Departments are at last attempting publicly to outline US goals and objectives toward Africa. This, apparently without much guidance from their president.

Trumps inaugural address to the UN General Assembly said little about Africa  barely one paragraph towards the end. One sentence praised African Union and UN-led peacekeeping missions for invaluable contributions in stabilising conflicts in Africa. A second praised America, which

continues to lead the world in humanitarian assistance, including famine prevention and relief in South Sudan, Somalia and northern Nigeria and Yemen.

The next day Trump hosted a luncheon for leaders of nine African countries Cote dIvoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and South Africa. Only his welcoming remarks have been published but they are nearly devoid of policy content or guidance. His opening gambit reminded me of a 19th century colonialist hoping to become rich, as he proclaimed:

Africa has tremendous business potential, I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich. I congratulate you, theyre spending a lot of money.Its really become a place they have to go, that they want to go.

Trump called on African companies to invest in the US. Then, shifting to security cooperation, he urged Africans to help defeat Islamist extremists and the threat from North Korea.

The American president proposed no new presidential initiatives for Africa. But, at least, he did not say those launched by predecessors were a waste of money and would be ended. Nor did he mention opposition to foreign assistance generally. He also did not mention his renunciation of the Paris Climate Accord and refusal to fund Green Climate Fund. Both are crucial for Africas adaptation to global warming.

Hints of a policy taking shape

A US-Africa Partnerships conference at the US Institute for Peace in Washington in mid-September provided additional clues to how this administration will conduct Africa policy.

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Tom Shannon, offered the first high level official statement on Africa. Shannon, a highly accomplished Foreign Service officer, emphasised policy continuity. But, he implicitly affirmed Trumps apparent desire for minimal engagement in Africa.

Shannon and Acting Assistant Secretary Donald Yamamoto at a later session, stressed the four main pillars that have framed Africa policy for many years, would remain. These are:

peace and security;

counterterrorism;

economic trade, investment and development; and,

democracy and good governance.

They endorsed previous presidential initiatives, including specific references to former US President Barack Obamas Feed the Future, Power Africa and the Young African Leaders Initiative. Their continuation, and at what levels, will depend on budget decisions. Trumps initial recommendations, endorsed by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, call for crippling cuts.

So far, the only new social development programme that Trump has endorsed is the World Banks global Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, championed by his daughter Ivanka. The US has donated USD$50 million toward its global start-up budget of USD$315 million. As Yamamoto noted at the September meeting, Africa could benefit from this initiative.

Surprise praise for China

Trump will be less likely to challenge US militarys commitments in Africa. With this in mind I paid close attention to the address by General Thomas Waldhauser, Commander of the US Africa Command (Africom) at the September 13 meeting. He set out Africoms current engagements in Libya and Somalia, where he said the mission was to support locally engineered political solutions.

Critics of Americas many previous failed interventions in these two countries and elsewhere, will rightly remain sceptical.

The second part of his address dealt more broadly with Africoms capacity building assistance, nationally and regionally. He said Africom only operates where

US and partner nation strategic objectives are compatible and aligned and, second, the operations are conducted primarily by partner nation forces with the US in a supporting role.

Africom, he said, conducts some 3,500 exercises, programs and engagements annually, with 5-to-6,000 US service members working on the continent every day.

Waldenhauser ended his address with a surprisingly specific and positive view on Chinas role in Africa. He praised Chinas assistance to building much needed infrastructure throughout Africa and for the rapid growth in China-Africa trade which exceeded USD$300 billion in 2016.

On security issues, he commended Chinese President Xi Jinpings pledge of USD$100 million to the AU and for supporting UN peacekeeping missions with 8,000 police officers. He then referred to the construction of Chinas first overseas military base, which is near the US base in Djibouti, as creating opportunities found nowhere else in the world, relating that:

China assigned the first soldiers to this base and expressed interest in conducting amphibious training between Chinese and US Marines. Across the continent, we have shared interests in African stability. We see many areas where we can cooperate with the Chinese military. For example, we both support UN peacekeeping missions and training with African defence forces. The fact that we have mutual interests in Africa means that we can and should cooperate.

To emphasise the importance of this comment he quoted Secretary of Defence James Mattis when he pointed out earlier this year:

Our two countries can and do cooperate for mutual benefit. And we will pledge to work closely with China where we share common cause.

Charting the future

But China-US security cooperation in Africa cant succeed without the inclusion of African governments as equal partners in this common cause.

Such win-win-win experiments in mutual confidence building would not only benefit Africans, but could also serve as positive examples for other regions and could improve US-China relations globally. In the absence of a coherent and compelling US  Africa policy, this at least is one positive development that merits our attention.

John J Stremlau, 2017 Bradlow Fellow at SA Institute of International Affairs,Visiting Professor of International Relations, University of the Witwatersrand. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
A University of Wolverhampton academic is working to improve the welfare of primates in captivity across Europe.

Dr Stefano Vaglio is researching training, environment enrichments and enclosure design to support the work of zoos which are breeding and caring for species endangered in the wild.

He hopes to influence policy and practice around primate welfare and has recently published a paper in the journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science on the benefits of Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) for ring-tailed lemurs.

His aim was to make situations where the animals may be temporarily isolated, such as moving enclosures, medical checks or changing zoos, easier and less stressful.

The PRT study focused on a group of 11 lemurs housed at Parco Natura Viva in Italy.

Lemurs were used as a case study because they are a common species in zoos and can be shy with humans while sociable with each other. As a social species, isolation can be stressful, so the training focused on keeping them calm and rewarding them while temporarily isolated.

In the wild, female lemurs are dominant and males are occasionally rejected from a group, meaning they have to re-socialise with new lemurs. In captivity, good practice is to mix social groups from time to time to mimic this and prevent aggressive behaviour.
Audience discusses 'Our Lady of Kibeho' with cast, collaborators

"Our Lady of Kibeho" William & Mary theatre's production of "Our Lady of Kibeho," set in pre-genocidal Rwanda, explored themes of faith, fear and doubt. A talkback event with actors, designers and other collaborators after Saturday night's performance allowed a further exchange of ideas. Photo by Geoff Wade

"Our Lady of Kibeho" William & Mary theatre's production of "Our Lady of Kibeho," set in pre-genocidal Rwanda, explored themes of faith, fear and doubt. A talkback event with actors, designers and other collaborators after Saturday night's performance allowed a further exchange of ideas. Photo by Geoff Wade

"Our Lady of Kibeho" William & Mary theatre's production of "Our Lady of Kibeho," set in pre-genocidal Rwanda, explored themes of faith, fear and doubt. A talkback event with actors, designers and other collaborators after Saturday night's performance allowed a further exchange of ideas. Photo by Geoff Wade

"Our Lady of Kibeho" William & Mary theatre's production of "Our Lady of Kibeho," set in pre-genocidal Rwanda, explored themes of faith, fear and doubt. A talkback event with actors, designers and other collaborators after Saturday night's performance allowed a further exchange of ideas. Photo by Geoff Wade Photo - of - Hide Caption

Themes of faith, race and gender were among those discussed as the cast, designers and other collaborators of William & Mary theatres Our Lady of Kibeho took audience questions following Saturday nights performance at Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall.

The play, written by Katori Hall and marking the W&M directorial debut of Assistant Professor of World Theatre Claire Pamment, is based on a true story. It was proposed by Artisia Green, associate professor of theatre and Africana studies and program director of Africana studies, and selected for its themes about the oppressive legacies of colonization and the perceived ownership of God as part of W&Ms 50th anniversary commemoration of its first African-American residential students, according to Pamment.

The plot takes place in 1981 pre-genocidal Rwanda and centers on an all-girls Catholic school where student Alphonsine claims to have seen the Virgin Mary. She is initially disbelieved, ostracized and scolded, but when classmate Anathalie also witnesses the visions, everyone involved starts to explore faith, fear and doubt. Three students eventually saw visions foretelling extreme violence in Africa prior to the ethnic bloodshed between the Hutu and Tutsi factions that took place in 1994.

Its an interesting parallel to look at the historical context of this show with regards to our 50th anniversary celebration that were having right now for the three African-American women who were the first African-Americans to live on this campus, in the basement of Jefferson  just thinking about the kind of struggles that they were having to face, the types of things that they probably had to overcome at the time in the 1960s, said Alana Canty-Samuel 18, who played the lead role of Alphonsine.

As the shows characters try to understand, trust and listen to one another, their individual issues, biases and stereotypes are examined. These encompass male-female, Hutu-Tutsi and student-authority figure relationships, including the girls adulation of male school leader Father Tuyishime, combativeness with top female school leader Sister Evangelique and their prevailing relationship with the Virgin Mary.

Its easy to relate to a character, a black girl, who isnt being listened to by the established power, said Arika Thames 19, who played one of the three visionary students, Anathalie.

I think we can all kind of see that in our lives today even, at this school, in this country.

Michael Alvarez 20 played the villainous role of Father Flavia, a racist Italian priest who is sent from the Vatican to investigate the girls visions, which he does not believe are authentic. Alvarez said he tried to focus on his characters love for the Vatican and the progress he makes, leaving the village of Kibeho still having prejudices but recognizing that he has them.

That was one way I was able to, not 100 percent sympathize with the character, but understand where hes coming from  not with the racist aspects of it, but why hes so driven in this, Alvarez said.

The main characters are set up as archetypes to illustrate the themes, with the script filling in the gaps where details are unknown, said Horace Smith, a Colonial Williamsburg interpreter who played both the Bishop of Kibeho and Anathalies father.

A lot of this deals with the idea of who gets to be the voice of God, Smith said. Can an orphan girl from Africa have a message from the heavens? Can the Pope in Rome have the last say on what the will of God is?

... Who can have the last word on what the creator of the universe has to say to us?

The story illustrates the very human aspect of who each character is and that they can still be spoken through, said Xavier Soto-Burgos 20, who played Father Tuyishime.

Theyre not perfect people, he said, as illustrated by Alphonsines portrayal as a struggling student with a crush on his character.

You dont have to be special to be chosen.
Professors book compares West African ways of knowing

Ways of knowing In his new book, William & Mary assistant professor of religious studies Oludamini Ogunnaike compares West African intellectual traditions Sufism and Ifa to one another, as well as to contemporary Western theories of knowledge. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

Unable to figure out how two worldviews fit together or didnt, Oludamini Ogunnaike decided to look a little more closely.

The result for the assistant professor of religious studies at William & Mary is Sufism and Ifa: Ways of Knowing in Two West African Intellectual Traditions. The book, which started out as his doctoral dissertation, will be published next year by Penn State University Press.

West African religions will be explored on campus Oct. 9-13, including the Oct. 11 COLL 300 lecture, when the Center for the Liberal Arts hosts Nigerian Ifa practitioner Ifarinwale Ogundiran as part of this falls COLL 300 curriculum themed IN/EXclusion. Ogunnaike is teaching a COLL 300 class on Yoruba religions this semester.

Emigrating from Nigeria to the U.S. as a child, Ogunnaike found himself between two very disparate worldviews and was always interested in the differences.

It was something I had to confront and think about because Ill be told one thing at home or see one thing in Nigeria, and then something completely different in school in the States, he said.

For example, Nigerians fervently believe that prayers, especially when spoken aloud, have an actual effect. Theres a widespread belief in things Americans would call magic, Ogunnaike said.

Everybody knows that if someone gets ahold of your hair or your toenails, they can do something to you, he said. But in the States, obviously, thats just nonsense  superstition; it doesnt make any sense.

Spending time in both worlds, Ogunnaike felt compelled to sort out if one set of beliefs was right or wrong, and what was behind them.

So this is really at the origin of the project that the book is looking at, which is specifically looking at the epistemologies, or theories of knowledge, of two West African intellectual traditions, he said.

He spent a total of approximately 18 months between 2008 and 2014 in Nigeria and Senegal interviewing masters and disciples of Ifa, an indigenous African religion, and Tijani Sufism, a mystical Islamic tradition, and observing the educational processes and rituals they performed. Ogunnaike asked them what they have come to know within their traditions, how they came to know it and how they verified this knowledge.

The book not only compares the two to one another, but compares them to contemporary Western theories of knowledge as well.

And thats significant because a lot of the studies that have looked at these African traditions have tended to view them more as superstitions or as not very intellectually sophisticated, or even not as intellectual or philosophical traditions, just as kind of religious things that people do, Ogunnaike said.

And so I was trying to change this up a little bit and try to ask these traditions philosophical questions, and then take their responses on the same level as the intellectual and philosophical traditions here.

Reading about it would be interesting not only for those with extensive knowledge of the topic, but for anyone curious about West African belief systems and ways of learning, he added. American and European societies tend to divide philosophical, scientific and religious approaches to knowledge, but there are many alternative ways of understanding the world.

The average American is much less aware of African traditions like this, Ogunnaike said. So for anyone whos interested in West African approaches to knowledge, ways of knowing, worldviews as a kind of alternative or different way of looking at thinking about the world, this would be a good book.

Offshoots of the project include a digital archive of Sufi poetry, a book of collected poems and a paper on Sufi music videos that are part of ongoing research for Ogunnaike. He plans to return to Nigeria and Senegal to do further work on them, and is currently looking for students with a working knowledge of Arabic to accompany him.

Ogunnaike emphasized his realization while researching the book that both Ifa and Tijani Sufism have a lot in common with the traditions of ancient Greco-Roman philosophers.

Ancient philosophers saw ones way of life as linked to being able to attain certain kinds of knowledge. But whereas philosophy became more of a purely mental academic notion in the West, the African traditions retained the old way of thinking about it.

Theres an existential and therefore an ethical component to knowledge and to acquiring knowledge in these traditions that I think is really fascinating and interesting, Ogunnaike said. And in studying these traditions, I think I actually understand Plato and ancient philosophers a lot more from my understanding of these traditions and vice versa.

If you know Plato, I think that it would be easier for you to understand these traditions. So its a really fascinating aspect of them, that in a lot of ways their approach to knowledge and learning is in some ways quite similar to those of ancient philosophy. So its not so much western versus non-western, in some ways, its more interesting and complicated than that.




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Olkiluoto 3 commercial operation rescheduled

09 October 2017

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Regular electricity production at Finland's Olkiluoto 3 is now expected to start in May 2019, the first-of-a-kind EPR unit's supplier consortium has told Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO). Regular production had previously been scheduled to begin at the end of 2018.

Olkiluoto 3 (left) is sited next to TVO's two operating Olkiluoto units (Image: TVO)



TVO said the plant's supplier had been preparing a schedule review for the project completion "for some time". Work has now reached a stage where the supplier can confirm the main milestones, the company said. The previous schedule was provided in September 2014.

The latest schedule sees grid connection taking place in December 2018 with the start of regular electricity production in May 2019. The unit's ramp-up program will see it produce 2-4 TWh of electricity, at varying power levels between those dates.

TVO's Olkiluoto 3 (OL3) project director Jouni Silvennoinen said the company was "very disappointed" by the additional delay.

"There is still substantial work to be accomplished in the OL3 EPR project and it is essential that all the necessary technical, human and financial resources are allocated to the project. The restructuring of the French nuclear industry must not compromise this," he said.

Cold functional tests began at Olkiluoto 3 in June, with hot functional tests scheduled for later this year. TVO said that although the testing program was progressing many important tests remain to be carried out.

"Our objective remains the prompt completion of the OL3 EPR project. TVO continues to be committed to supporting the turn-key plant supplier," Silvennoinen said.

The consortium of Areva GmbH, Areva NP SAS and Siemens AG began construction of Olkiluoto 3 in 2005 under a turnkey contract signed with TVO in late 2003. Completion of the 1600 MWe reactor was originally scheduled for 2009, but the project has suffered various delays and setbacks.

TVO in September filed an appeal against the European Commission's approval for the French government to inject 4.5 billion ($5.4 billion) into Areva as part of the group's restructuring. TVO claimed the plan does not provide sufficient guarantees that the Olkiluoto 3 EPR project will be completed. Bernard Fontana, CEO of French engineering company Areva NP subsequently said that the Commission's approval in January had been made on the understanding there would be no changes to the Olkiluoto 3 project.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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According to CBRE, new construction of self-storage facilities is on the rise, with approximately 900 facilities expected to be constructed in 2017 - a 50% increase on the 600 new projects constructed last year.Dallas is expected to see the most new construction this year, with an estimated 49 projects and 9.02 million square feet set to be delivered. Miami (21projects / 3.86 million sq. ft.); New York (16 projects / 2.92 million sq. ft.); Houston (16 projects / 2.87 million sq. ft.); and Atlanta (15 projects / 2.68 million sq. ft.) complete the top five metros for new construction in 2017.There are currently 474 self-storage projects under construction in the U.S. as of Q3 2017, representing about half of planned new developments. Historically, about one-third of planned facilities are constructed, but more recently there has been a significant increase in the number of planned projects and actual starts, with the planned/start ratio at the highest level in ten years.A natural refresh rate for the self-storage sector is 1% of total stock, with an average year having approximately 500 new starts. Since this refresh rate has only recently occurred, and there has been limited new construction since 2008, CBRE estimates that supply and demand metrics in the self-storage sector across the U.S. are generally at equilibrium in 2017."New construction is the hot topic in the self-storage sector. While some investors are concerned about the level of new construction, overall supply and demand metrics remain roughly in line," said R. Christian Sonne, executive vice president, Self-Storage Valuation Group, Valuation & Advisory Services, CBRE."Of the leading markets for new construction, Texas has been a state that has typically encouraged new development, New York has historically been under-served, while Miami has had pockets of significant demand, such as Coconut Grove. We are also seeing increased demand in those markets impacted by the recent and historic hurricanes. Self-storage provides comfort for those who need to move belongings that could potentially be in harm's way to a facility for safe keeping. In both Florida and Houston, this has meant increased demand at the same time supply has declined due to damage," added Mr. Sonne.Five metros changed market condition. Atlanta, Austin, Denver and Nashville were considered at equilibrium and will be over-supplied after new construction is complete. Sacramento moved from under-supplied to equilibrium after new construction is complete.Some metros were already over-supplied and added new construction. Dallas is 1.57 SF/person over-supplied and went to 2.81 SF/person oversupplied, while Oklahoma City went from 4.70 SF/person over-supplied to 5.40 SF/person oversupplied.Miami (20%); Nashville (17.7%); Dallas (16.3%); Austin (13.9%); and, Charlotte (12.3%) have the highest amount of new construction as a ratio of total supply.
Brymbo council houses latest to undergo extensive modernisation works

This article is old - Published: Monday, Oct 9th, 2017

Council houses in Brymbo are the latest properties in Wrexham to receive improvement work as part of a major modernisation project.

Properties on Offa Street are currently being re-roofed and homes at Bryn-Y-Ffynnon are receiving external improvements such as new fencing, footpaths and walls.

The work is part of Wrexham Councils extensive improvements project to ensure council owned homes achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. This is the new standard for the quality and condition of social housing, set by the Welsh Government, which all homes in Wales are required to meet by 2020.

Re-roofing work in Brymbo is being carried out by G Roberts Builders and the external improvements are being carried out by Gelli Civil Engineering.

Local Member for Brymbo, Cllr Paul Rogers, said, Im delighted to see that the latest stage of the housing modernisation programme has now reached Brymbo and that tenants here will soon be able to see the benefits of the improvements being carried out to their homes.

Kitchens and Bathrooms have already been replaced in council owned homes here and plenty of other external work has also been carried out in the area.

Its important that we ensure our tenants homes are fit for the future. Essential maintenance and improvement work such as reroofing, new paths and fences will help keep the properties in good condition and we will continue to work closely with the contractors to ensure tenants are happy with the completed work.

Wrexham Council is investing a total 56.4m on housing improvement work between 2017/18.

The investment includes a 7.5m Major Repairs Grant, which the Welsh Government awards to local authorities to support them achieving the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

Cllr David Griffiths, Wrexham Councils Lead Member for Housing, said: Weve come a long way now with our housing improvements programme and Im pleased to see we are on track to achieve the standard.

Thousands of council owned homes across the county borough have now received improvement work, including new kitchens, bathrooms, central heating systems and other internal and external work. Its improved the quality of life for many tenants and its made a visible difference to our communities.
From a starting field of 424 entries, just nine players remain in the WSOP Circuit Main Event at Horseshoe Southern Indiana.

Justin Boggs began Day 2 with the chip lead, and he finished in the same spot at the conclusion of an up-and-down day. Ten levels after the day started, Boggs bagged up 1,780,000 chips to set the pace for the final table. His once-massive lead has been whittled down to almost nothing, though. Scott Montgomery is right on Boggs' heels, and there are two more players who are also over the million-chip mark.

Here's the remaining lineup:

Seat 1: Michael Foley - 300,000 (10 bb)

Seat 2: George Lusby - 1,255,000 (42 bb)

Seat 3: Hamid Izadi - 725,000 (24 bb)

Seat 4: Jerry Robinson - 505,000 (13 bb)

Seat 5: Wendy Freedman - 1,225,000 (41 bb)

Seat 6: Justin Boggs - 1,780,000 (59 bb)

Seat 7: Chris Carey - 210,000 (7 bb)

Seat 8: Al Hencheck - 770,000 (26 bb)

Seat 9: Scott Montgomery - 1,730,000 (58 bb)

Five of the remaining players have won Circuit rings in the past, and Montgomery has a WSOP bracelet in addition to his fifth-place finish in the 2008 WSOP Main Event. Things won't be easy for Boggs, to put it plainly.

They weren't easy throughout Day 2 either, for that matter.

Boggs began the day with one of the biggest Level 15 stacks the WSOP Circuit has ever seen, turning his 20,000 starting chips into well over a half million during Day 1B. By the time the bubble arrived on Day 2, though, the field had begun to close in on Boggs.

Kurt Jewell was one of the first players to make a run at the top. The five-time ring winner from Kentucky took the lead just after the bubble burst thanks to a big encounter against a bluffing Neal Harding.

With 16 players left, though, Jewell and Wendy Freedman flipped for an enormous pot and the former's tournament life  Jewell with ace-king suited against pocket queens. Freedman turned a set and rivered a full house, eliminating Jewell and surging into the chip lead for the first time. She was in and out of the top spot for the rest of the night, ending in fourth place with nine remaining.

Speaking of Freedman, her Day 2 effort was a particularly remarkable one. She entered the day well above the chip average with 64 players remaining, but by the time the bubble approached, she was sitting behind a starting stack of just 20,000 chips once again. The victory is hollow unless you're short-stacked at least once, though, and Freedman proceeded to run it all the way up to more than 100 times that amount. She ended the day with 1.225 million, a bit of a slide but still good for fourth place at the moment.

Maurice Hawkins, the Circuit's all-time winningest player, was another who posed a challenge to Boggs' throne throughout the day. The Florida pro found himself contending for the chip lead for a long while as he chased a record-extending 11th victory on this tour. The after-dinner session did not go well, though, and Hawkins eventually bowed out in 14th place.

Montgomery was the one who got Hawkins, putting him in the mix of the chip leaders, too. That knockout pot sparked a bit of a heater for the Canadian, and he was responsible for two of the next three knockouts. By the time the final 10 players redrew for the last time, Montgomery had moved within striking distance of the top spot. He ended the day in second place, less than two big blinds in trail of the leader.

It's Boggs who carries the overnight hammer once again, though; his count gives him about 60 big blinds heading into the final day. A long, late-night grind has shortened the average stack significantly, however, and any one of the final nine could end up as the winner.

They'll reconvene to settle the score on Monday, playing for a ring and a top prize of $139,920. Blinds will be 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante when play resumes, putting the average stack just north of 30 big blinds.

Day 3 begins at 2 p.m.
Just a few days before parliamentary elections on 15 October, a scandal has shaken the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPO).

According to news magazine Profil and daily newspaper Die Presse, a special unit controlled by SPO policy adviser Tal Silberstein is responsible for two fake Facebook pages in a disinformation campaign against Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, the lead candidate of the conservative Austrian Peoples Party (OVP).

One page, We are for Sebastian Kurz, presented itself as a fan site for the OVP leader. Because of its racist and anti-Semitic tone, the originator was originally suspected of being part of the right-wing milieu. Posts demanded the immediate closure of the Austrian border at the Brenner Pass and attacked the SPO lead candidate with hateful comments. The other page, The Truth About Sebastian Kurz, attacked Kurz employing right-wing propaganda.

Silberstein is a flamboyant international figure. He also advises right-wing governments in Israel, Yulia Tymoshenko in Ukraine and politicians in Romania. According to Wikipedia, in the 2002 Bolivian election campaign, he advised the candidate Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada to start a dirty campaign against his opponent. Silberstein was arrested in Israel on 14 August, on the charge of bribing the president of Guinea.

Silberstein has been active with the SPO regularly for over 15 years. Among others, he has advised the partys long-standing mayor of Vienna Michael Haupl and former Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer. According to Profil, Kern and the SPO provided Silberstein with extensive powers and a budget of 500,000 euros for the current campaign, but claim not to have known anything about Silbersteins dirty campaign. Silberstein has acted without any mandate and without the knowledge of the federal executive director, the party said in a statement.

The SPO could not explain why the partys executive director and election head, Georg Niedermuhlbichler, announced his resignation immediately after news of the scandal broke. The party had officially parted ways with Silberstein after he had been arrested in Israel.

Regardless of who knew what in the SPO, the fact that it was using such a dubious political adviser casts a harsh light on the state of the party. Being already completely discredited by its right-wing policies and unable to offer voters a positive perspective, its election campaign is based on charlatans and manipulation.

The appointment of Kern as government and party leader already spoke volumes about the right-wing character of the SPO. The former railway boss set his goals as carrying through radical austerity measures, boosting the powers of the state and, above all, working together with the right-wing extremist Austrian Freedom Party (FPO).

For months, the SPO and the other parties have been seeking to outdo each other in whipping up anti-refugee sentiment and the call for more state powers. Both the Social Democrats and the Conservatives are in principle prepared to form a government with the far-right FPO. The FPOs chief, Heinz-Christian Strache, has pointed out in interviews that the OVP and SPO have adopted many policies for which his party was criticized earlier as being racist.

According to recent surveys published before the scandal broke, the SPO and the FPO were on a par with 20 percent, while the OVP lay clearly ahead. The media is already assuming that the election will prove devastating for the SPO. Kern no longer has a chance, said Wolfgang Bachmayer in the Kurier newspaper.

Among young people, the decline of the Social Democrats is even clearer. According to a survey conducted by Youth Trend Monitor, the OVP and the FPO reach 24 percent among 14- to 29-year-olds, and the SPO just 13 percent.

The current SPO-OVP grand coalition in Vienna is already implementing the FPOs programme. Recently, it drastically tightened up the asylum law, cut social benefits for migrants and adopted a so-called Burka ban. Representatives of the SPO right-wing, such as Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil, and the influential trade union wing, propound xenophobia and law-and-order policies, just like the FPO.

Kern himself calls for the countrys borders to be policed more stringently against refugees. He explicitly supported the closure of the Balkan route by right-wing governments in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. On the grounds that the SPO will not accept economic migrants, the SPO is supporting tougher action against refugees in the Mediterranean.

The bankruptcy of the SPO is symptomatic of the entire political establishment in Austria, which stands completely aloof from the population.

The Greens, who had already reached 12 percent in the 2013 elections, and whose candidate Alexander van der Bellen is federal president, are threatened with failing to clear the four percent hurdle for entry into parliament. The Green Youth Association left the party some time ago and joined with the Austrian Communist Party, a reactionary Stalinist remnant, as the KPO Plus". This alliance is mainly fishing for support from SPO bureaucrats who are disappointed and fear for their posts.

Former Green Peter Pilz may also enter parliament on his own slate. He left the Greens because, in his opinion, they did not move quickly enough to the right. Pilz, a former Pabloite, together with ex Greens, Social Democrats and business figures, opposes political Islam and false tolerance towards refugees.
A reporter from the World Socialist Web Site was physically assaulted by an enforcer for the Canadian autoworkers union, Unifor, at a rally last Friday afternoon, October 6, outside of the General Motors CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario. The assault took place at a solidarity march and rally for striking CAMI workers called by Unifor Local 88, which posted on its web site, Media, local politicians, public, Local 88 members All are invited.

WSWS reporter Shannon Jones, 62, was knocked to the ground by a man, wearing a Unifor Local 88 Ingersoll shirt and dark glasses, who refused to identify himself, but was photographed by Jones. The attack occurred after several Unifor thugs attempted to stop Jones and other WSWS reporters from reporting on the rally and speaking to CAMI workers about their three-week strike.

CAMI workers in contact with the WSWS later identified the assailant as Mario DiFelice, an alternative union rep on the CHASSIS/QC/FINAL/REPAIR/PILOT ASSEMBLY line for the C shift.

Unifor operativeswho also refused to identify themselvesordered the team to leave the rally and attempted to snatch and tear up copies of the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter and intimidate rank-and-file workers who wanted to speak to the WSWS.

This occurred as Unifor national President Jerry Dias, the leaders of the Canadian Labour Congress and Ontario Federation of Labour, and several speakers from the social democratic New Democratic Party prepared to speak. Since the beginning of the strike, Unifor Local 88 officials have refused to answer questions by WSWS reporters and instead have ordered picket captains to bar WSWS reporting teams from the picket lines and photograph them and their vehicles. At the same time, they have censored WSWS articles from their Facebook pages.

It is clear that Unifor officials were policing the rally and that the order had gone out to watch out for the WSWS reporting team, which was immediately surrounded within moments of arriving. When WSWS reporters attempted to assert their rights, and ask why they were being excluded from a rally open to the public, the threats escalated.

At this point, Jones took a picture of one of the Unifor thugs--later identified as DiFelice--aggressively confronting another WSWS reporter. A moment later he threw Jones to the ground and demanded that he delete the photographs.

A more serious assault was only prevented because Cathy Austin, a former president of Unifor Local 88 and a retired CAMI worker, witnessed the attack and stepped forward to defend the democratic rights of the WSWS reporters. Recognizing Austin, the thugs retreated in the direction of the speakers platform.

Austin said she was shocked by the behavior of the goons and offered to stay with the WSWS reporters to prevent further attacks as they continued to speak with CAMI workers. There is supposed to be labor democracy with respect and listening to different points of view. I am ashamed to see a brother pushed to the ground for handing out a flyer, Austin, a veteran of the five-week strike at CAMI in 1992, said.

Noting that she was familiar with the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, Austin said, We dont all agree but we need to talk to each other about how to fight back on a global level. These corporations are global and all workers need to respond with common, international solidarity. There is no call for you to be treated like that.

After the attack, several CAMI workers came up to the WSWS reporters to take copies of the newsletter, which has consistently covered their struggle since the strike began on September 17, providing a voice for rank-and-file workers and a political strategy to mobilize the working class throughout North America to win their strike.

A warning must be made: Unifor officials are not just trying to silence the WSWS but to gag rank-and-file workers and beat back their fight to win substantial improvements in their wages, benefits and working conditions. The methods used against the WSWS today will be employed against militant workers who refuse to accept yet another concessionary contract pushed by Unifor.

It is significant that Van Boekel urged team leaders in the factorythose paid higher wages to enforce production goals and punitive absentee policiesto reach out to their team members because We dont know what is going on behind closed doors. While Van Boekel framed this as supposed concern over the economic hardship workers are facing (while on a starvation ration of $250 a week in strike pay) the union leadership is well aware of growing rank-and-file opposition to its pro-corporate record and does not want it to be organized.

Last year, the 20,000 workers at GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler recorded the largest opposition to a union-backed contract since the Canadian auto union split from the United Auto Workers in 1986. The year before, Fiat Chrysler workers rebelled against the UAW and the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter became the center of rank-and-file opposition, prompting UAW executives to denounce outside agitators and workers for using social media.

While Unifor and the UAW are hostile to uniting autoworkers across the border to fight the auto giants, there is little doubt that they have communicated with each other about the danger of the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter giving a voice and political program to an increasingly restive workforce.

Although GM made profits of $9.43 billion (CAN $11.82 billion) last year, including record North American earnings for its Wall Street and Bay Street investors, Unifor officials insist that the CAMI strike is not about money and warned workers they cannot make demands that would price them out of jobs.

Unifor has made only one public demand: that GM make the CAMI plant its lead facility for the production of the companys hot-selling Equinox crossover vehicle. This would mean, in the event of the anticipated slowdown in North American vehicle sales, that workers at GMs plants in Mexico who make the Equinox would be the first to be laid off.

GM has refused to grant even this paper promise, insisting corporate management has the unilateral power to decide what it does with its assets.

At the rally, Unifor Local 88 Plant Chairman Mike Van Boekel claimed 90-95 percent of the outstanding issues in the contract negotiations with GM had been resolved while providing no details of what Unifor has already conceded. This is consistent with Unifors practice of keeping workers in the dark.

In a nod to management, however, Van Boekel said 1,000 CAMI workers were due to retire over the next three to four years. This will allow GM to realize substantial savings since it can replace higher paid workers with new hires making substandard wages and benefits under Unifors 10-year grow-in wage scheme and its sanctioning of part-time employment.

Far from advancing a strategy to unite Canadian, Mexican and US workers in a common struggle to defend the jobs and living standards of all workers against GM and other global auto giants, Unifor is promoting Canada-First economic nationalism and the absurd claim that Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the billionaire US President Trump will negotiate, in the words of Dias, a progressive North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that is for workers, not the corporations. Unifor is seeking stronger protectionist measures against Mexico to insure its base of dues-paying members, no matter how little they make and how brutally they are exploited.

The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter has urged CAMI workers to take the conduct of the struggle into their own hands by electing a rank-and-file strike committee to formulate their own demands and to mobilize the broadest support for their struggle throughout Canada, the US and Mexico. A component part of this is to demand an end to the thuggish attacks on the WSWS and to defend the right of workers to read and discuss what they choose.
In a critical turn of events in a Flint courtroom, testimony given by Harvey Hollins, an appointee of Governor Rick Snyder, contradicted Snyders repeated claims that he did not learn of a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires disease until January 12, 2016.

On October 6, in Genesee Countys 67th District Court, Hollins stated he told Snyder about the outbreak of Legionnaires disease in December 2015. The Flint water crisis began three and a half years ago when the citys water source was switched from the Detroit water system to the Flint River without adding corrosion controls, an act of negligence which allowed lead to leach from the pipes. Although health experts warned of the danger of Legionnaires disease and the possible link to the change in the citys water source as early as October 2014, their efforts to investigate the situation were blocked by high-placed officials in state and federal agencies.

The issue of whether Snyder lied under oath before a US congressional hearing in March 2016, is a significant development. The matter arose during a preliminary hearing concerning the first of 13 officials facing criminal charges over the Flint catastrophe. The hearings are being held to determine if there is probable cause for the matter to proceed to trial. Attorney-General Bill Schuette, who recently announced his candidacy for governor, has been trying to distance himself from the highly unpopular Snyder.

The first hearing, which began September 21, involves Nick Lyon, the highest-ranking state official charged to date. Lyon remains the director of the states Department of Health and Human Services. He is charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of Robert Skidmore, aged 85, on December 13, 2015, and misconduct in office for failure to alert the public about the deadly disease. Documents made available through FOIA show Lyon was aware of the outbreak as early as January 2015; he faces a possible 20 years in prison.

Harvey Hollins, was appointed by Snyder to head the Office of Urban Initiatives, and was later selected to be his point man for the states response to the Flint water crisis. He was called as a witness on the fourth day of the Lyons hearing to present evidence against Lyon to presumably show when Lyon knew about the outbreak of Legionnaires and to demonstrate Lyons failure to alert the public about the dangers. Hollins was aware of the Legionnaires outbreak in March 2015.

In the course of taking testimony from Hollins, Todd Flood, the special prosecutor played the video of Snyders testimony before a congressional oversight hearing in March 2016, showing Snyder testifying under oath that he first learned of the outbreak January 12, 2016 and called a press conference the next daywhen he appeared with Nick Lyon and Eden Wells. Hollins was reminded he was under oath and stated he told Snyder in December 2015 about the Legionnaires outbreak.

In a curious exchange, Lyons defense attorney objects twice to Floods line of questioning when he continues questioning Hollins: Clearly you had given the governor information about the outbreak of Legionnaires, at which point Lyons attorney objects leading, and when Flood continues, Lyons attorney objects again.

While it is not known what transpired in the two private conferences between Judge David Goggins and the lawyers, the hearing ended abruptly without explanation. It will not resume until November 1.

Before any trials even take place, the hearings will take months to wind through the court system. However, in just four days of hearings, the narrative of not knowing is unraveling, demonstrating that criminal activity took place within the state administration, right to the top level.

The majority of the cases brought by Schuette involve criminal activity surrounding Legionnaires. As horrific as is the cover-up of at least 87 cases of Legionnaires that resulted in 13 deaths, this leaves unresolved the impact of lead-laced water coursing through the bodies of nearly 100,000 residents for 18 months.

Less than six months after the water switch, the General Motors engine plant stopped using the Flint River after its parts became corroded. The recent study by researchers David Slusky and Daniel Grossman found fetal death rates increased by 58 percent and fertility rates decreased by 12 percent after the April 2014 change in the citys water source. The researchers study demonstrated that 250 babies were not born due to the lead-in-water crisis.

There was permanent damage to an estimated 9,000 Flint children. Ingesting lead by young children causes brain damage and behavioral disorders. Many Flint residents, both children and adults, have on-going health problems due to the contaminated water. To put it mildly, Flint remains a crime scene.

Lying under oath to a congressional body is a felony, a crime that could have serious legal implications for Snyder, including prison. Flint residents see Hollins testimony as proof of Snyders criminal role, and justifiably would like to see him behind bars.

The reaction, however, by leading Democratic Party officials was very muted. US Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), who led the grandstanding during the congressional hearings, issued a statement October 6 saying he is deeply concerned the governor may have misled the Oversight Committee and the people of Flint." He continued: "One thing that all members of this CommitteeDemocrats and Republicansagree on is that witnesses testifying before us must tell the truth.

US Rep. Dan Kildee, a Democrat from the Flint area, stated he wants a House committee to re-examine the governors Capitol Hill testimony from 2016 about the timeline.

Both Democrats and Republicans approved and allowed the switch to Flint River water and were responsible for monitoring water quality issues. The indifference and hostility of the political establishment towards the public is not a personal matter. On the contrary, it sums up the criminality of the entire corporate-controlled political establishment.
Lawyers for the family of Tane Chatfield, a 22-year-old Aboriginal man who died last month at the Tamworth Correctional Centre in New South Wales (NSW), aired allegations on Thursday which cast doubt on the assertions of prison and police authorities that his death was not suspicious.

Chatfield was found unresponsive in his prison cell on the morning of September 20. He did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead at hospital two days later.

Like many Aboriginal young men in jail, Chatfield, the father of a three-year-old girl, had not been convicted of any crime. He had been incarcerated on remand for two years. When he died, his lawyers were conducting a vigorous defence against robbery charges, to which he pled not guilty in the Armidale District Court.

Police and NSW Correctional Services officials declared last month that Chatfields death was a suicide. Chatfields family said he was not suicidal and launched a public campaign. His father and other relatives stated they believe Chatsfield was murdered.

Around 200 people participated in a protest outside Tamworth prison on September 22. The hashtag #JusticeForTane has been shared thousands of times on social media.

On Thursday, the lawyer for Chatfields family, Peter Kemp, and the young mans sister, Maria Chatfield, told SBS National Indigenous Television (NITV) of a number of suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

Chatfield was taken to hospital on the night of September 19, after allegedly suffering a seizure. According to his family, he appeared to have sustained major injuries.

Maria Chatfield told NITV: [He had] bruising on his hands, cuts on his knuckles, bruising on his wrists, bruising on his legs, lumps in his head, behind his ears, a gash in his lip, bruising on the inside of his lip, bruises on the arms, it looked like someone hit his nose  he had blood underneath his fingernails.

NITV reporters said they were shown photographs, taken by Chatfields family, which documented his injuries.

Chatfield was returned to jail the next morning. According to Kemp, prison authorities removed his cellmate shortly before Chatfield died. Officials allegedly claimed that this was the result of a court order but Kemp said it did not exist.

Chatfield was kept in the cell, while other inmates were let out into the jail yard. This would contravene requirements for Aboriginal inmates, and inmates returning from hospital, not to be left alone in a cell.

Kemp said another inmate told him Chatfield was heard screaming and swearing before he was reported by a sweeper (who discovered him unresponsive).

The lawyer also noted it took an ambulance 25 minutes to arrive at the scene, and the Police Investigation Unit, responsible for investigating deaths in custody, apparently had not interviewed any inmates.

NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin restated claims that the death was not suspicious, but refused to comment on the allegations made by Chatfields family.

The circumstances, however, point to criminal neglect at the very least, and raise the possibility of foul play. A series of tragic deaths in custody has underscored the brutal conditions in prisons across the country.

In August 2014, Ms. Dhu, a 22-year-old Western Australian Aboriginal woman, died in police custody after being imprisoned for unpaid fines. Dhu died of staphylococcal septicaemia and pneumonia, which spread widely throughout her body but is easily preventable with antibiotics. Officers repeatedly denied her medical treatment, saying she was faking her illness.

In July 2016, Rebecca Maher, 36, died in a police station cell in Maitland, NSW after being detained for alleged intoxication. Her family queried police claims.

In July this year, Eric Whittaker, 35, died of a brain haemorrhage at western Sydneys Parklea Prison, where he was held for alleged parole violations. According to his family, police and NSW Correctional Services gave conflicting accounts of a fall they claimed caused the injury.

Many other deaths have occurred since the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. The federal Labor government of Bob Hawke convened that inquiry after widespread opposition to a wave of 99 deaths in custody between 1980 and 1989. The royal commission was a whitewash. It did not result in a single prosecution of police or prison officers.

Ten Aboriginal deaths in custody were recorded in 1991, when the report was released, with the figure rising to 22 the following year. The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show another rise in indigenous deaths in custody, with 15 in 200809 and 21 in 20112012.

While there is undoubtedly racism directed against Aboriginal inmates, non-indigenous prisoners also suffer high rates of death in custody. Some 73 non-indigenous prisoners died in 2008, with figures showing a comparable proportion of deaths for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inmates.

In NSW, where Chatfield died, State Coroner data show a dramatic increase in total deaths in custody. Forty-three people died while being held by police, prison and immigration authorities in 2013, the highest figure recorded since 1997. An average of 37 detained individuals died annually in NSW from 2009 to 2013, up from 28 a year over the previous period.

In addition to acts of outright abuse and negligence, prisoners are subjected to overcrowded and unsafe conditions, and limited medical care for complex health problems, often associated with lifetimes of poverty and oppression.

Prison numbers across the country have skyrocketed. An average of more than 40,500 people were held in Australian prisons each day in the first half of 2017, up from around 26,000 ten years ago. Aborigines, who are among the most oppressed sections of the working class, have been particularly targeted. Rates of incarceration for indigenous women rose by over 58 percent between 2000 and 2010, and by more than 35 percent for Aboriginal men.

The increase is in part the result of punitive legislation, passed by state and federal governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike, aimed at boosting custodial sentences for theft and other crimes of poverty, including drug addiction, while imposing harsher bail laws.

The number of prisoners on remand, awaiting trial, has grown by 87 percent from 2012 to 2017. They now account for at least a third of the total prison population. Legal experts have noted that individuals denied bail for extended periods have had their fundamental legal rights, such as the presumption of innocence, effectively abrogated.

The soaring prison population and tragic incidents such as Chatsfields death are part of a broader build-up of the repressive state apparatus, which increasingly will be directed toward the suppression of growing opposition to social inequality and poverty in the working class.
Hundreds of thousands marched yesterday in a protest called in Barcelona by right-wing political forces, a week after the regional Catalan government held a referendum on secession and ahead of the potential unilateral declaration of independence by the secessionist forces on Tuesday.

After violently attempting to suppress last weekends independence referendum in Catalonia, the Madrid ruling elite is moving rapidly towards a crackdown and military rule in the region.

Under the slogan Enough, let's recover good sense! between 350,000 and 400,000 people marched in the streets of Barcelona. Many waved Spanish flags, Spains imperial flag, the European flag and also the senyeres (the Catalonian non-secessionist flag).

The demonstration was called by Societat Civil Catalana (Catalan Civil Society) and supported by right-wing organizations including the ruling Popular Party (PP) and Citizens, with the semi-official endorsement of the Socialist Party. Far-right groups also joined the protest including the Falange of 20th century fascist dictator Francisco Franco, the Platform for Catalonia, the Platform for a Civic Catalonia, Somatemps, VOX, and others.

Societat Civil Catalana aims to build an anti-secessionist alternative to the secessionist Catalan National Assembly, though it has only a few thousand members. Its links to the far-right are well known. In its founding congress in 2014, invited guests included Santiago Abascal (VOX), a delegation of Frances National Front, a delegation representing the Francisco Franco National Foundation, and the neo-Nazi Social Republican Movement, the sister party of Greeces Golden Dawn.

The main chants during the rally were [Catalan regional premier Carles] Puigdemont to prison, I am Spanish, Long live Spain, long live Catalonia, and long live the Civil Guards, and Dialogue? No. To prison. When the march passed the National Police headquarters in Via Laietana, protestors clapped and chanted you are not alone. At the same time, they chanted traitors against the regional Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra.

Besides the thousands of right-wing and far-right wing sympathizers, many of which travelled on trains, cars and hundreds of buses from around Spain organized by Societat Civil Catalana, and upper middle-class layers of the rich areas of Barcelona, the protests also attracted layers of the working class from Barcelonas red belt.

El Confidencial noted, today thousands of Catalans from the workers' belt of Barcelona, from Lleida and towns of Tarragona, as well as families from noble neighborhoods like Sarria have come. Public transport from working class areas such as Santa Coloma de Gramenet was full of people with flags.

One worker from Lleida told El Confidencial: It has been difficult for me to decide because I do not want it to appear that I come to defend [PP Prime Minister Mariano] Rajoy  But now I cannot stay at home, because they are going to proclaim independence on Tuesday.

The PPs presence in Barcelonas red belt is minimal, and the growth of the anti-secessionist citizens party in the past years in this area has been at the expense of the Socialist Party, whose austerity policies at the national level have seen its support plummet over the years since the world economic crisis of 2008. In the most recent elections, Podemos took control of this area.

There is broad opposition to far-right politics and fascism, in a country that suffered under Franco's brutal fascist dictatorship from 1939 to 1978. Reflecting widespread popular hostility to fascism, organizers asked demonstrators to not bring their pre-constitutional flags (i.e., Francoist flags). The leader of the right-wing Citizens party in Catalonia, Ines Arrimadas, sent a controversial tweet asking people not to show Fascist flags in front of the press.

However, there is also broad opposition to separatism in the region, with the last survey of the Catalan-funded Centre of Opinion Studies (CEO) showing that to the question "do you want Catalonia to become an independent State?," 49.4 percent of Catalans responded 'no', with those favoring secession representing 41.1 percent.

The same polling institute showed that only 32 percent of Catalans with a family income of less than 900 want independence. It is only in more middle-class layers earning more than 1,800 a monthwell over the regional average of 1,400 per monththat support for secessionism reaches above 40 percent. Among those earning over 4,000 a month, 54 percent want independence from Spain.

The fact that such numbers of people can be rallied to demonstrations led by the right and far-right is a testament to the bankruptcy of the Catalonian nationalists, who, having carried out austerity policies for years, are incapable of making any serious appeal to Spains working class to oppose Madrids brutal crackdown.

It also makes clear that the violent police repression in Catalonia was not required to block secession. Its main purpose was to create conditions for the violent suppression of the working class, in Catalonia and throughout Spain.

While there is a massive opposition towards the military crackdown being prepared by Madrid, backed by Citizens and the Socialist Party, there is not a single party calling on workers to mobilize in a common struggle in Spain and Catalonia against the crackdown that is being prepared.

The Catalan separatists are despised in broad sections of the working class for their austerity policies. Under their control, the region has seen cuts of 31 percent in healthcare spending and 26 percent in social expenditure from 2009 to 2015.

Last weeks referendum did not give them an overwhelming mandate for a unilateral declaration of independence on Tuesday. They declared that 90 percent of voters supported separation in the referendum; however, on 42 percent voter turnout, this only represents 2.26 million of 5.3 million registered voters. Those motivated to vote tended to favor independence.

The petty-bourgeois Candidatures of Popular Unity (CUP), with its tie-breaking 10 seats in the regional parliament, is calling on Puigdemont to declare independence immediately. One of its leaders, Eulalia Reguant, a CUP parliamentarian, called for proposals to seize territorial control of Catalonia, including its ports and airports.

Such a scenario is being planned by the ruling PP, which is preparing a military-police crackdown. On Saturday, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told El Pais, Spain will not divide, and national unity will be maintained. To do so, we will use all of the instruments that the legislation gives us. It falls to the government to take the decision and to do so at the right time.

Asked if he would apply article 155 to seize control of the regional government by Madrid, and the potential use of the army to suppress social opposition, he said: I am not ruling out anything that the law says.

Felipe Gonzalez, the former PSOE prime minister, who was in Berlin over the weekend to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Chancellor Willy Brandt's death, similarly came out in favor of applying Article 155 in press statements in Berlin.

The Catalan crisis is also exposing divisions inside the pseudo-left Podemos party. At the national level, it is still peddling illusions in the PSOE, appealing to general secretary Pedro Sanchez to stop backing the minority Popular Party government. Podemos main rallying call is dialogue between the Catalan separatists and the Rajoy government, something Rajoy has repeatedly rejected.

Podemos section in Catalonia has now come out in favor of the separatists. Its leader, Dante Fachin, told the Catalan daily naciodigital.cat that he would support the unilateral declaration of independence, stating, if Puigdemont calls for a [Catalan] Republic and a constituent process, we will get involved.

The International Committee of the Fourth International condemns last weekends crackdown on the Catalonian independence referendum and Madrids plans to keep the region within its borders through military occupation. At the same time, it opposes the politics of Catalan and Spanish nationalism from the left.

As it wrote in An independent class strategy for the Spanish and Catalan working class! workers throughout Spain must assert their class interests by intervening independently in this crisis. This means resolutely opposing the actions of Madrid and urging their class brothers and sisters in Catalonia to join with them in a common struggle against austerity and war and for a workers Spain within a Socialist United States of Europe.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Monday on Second Cup, Christine Souders talked with the organizers of a "Stop the Violence" event happening this week in the Capital City.

John McMillion and Alfred Williams from Royalty Marketing Group, hosting the event Tuesday, October 10th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m..

It's happening at Akbar Law Firm located at 619 Copeland Street.

The event is free and open to the public.

The event is a way to bring the community together to discuss ways to alleviate the violence in our communities.

Attorney Akbar and Commissioner Bill Proctor will be key note guest speakers.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Leon County residents will be able to drop off their solid waste items for free for one day.

The Leon County Government's Amnesty Day, designed to prevent illegal dumping, will be Saturday, October 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all Rural Waste Service Centers:

Solid Waste Facility, 7550 Apalachee Parkway

Woodville Rural Waste Site, 549 Henry Jones Road

Fort Braden Rural Waste Site, 2485 E. Joe Thomas Road

Miccosukee Rural Waste Site, 13051 Miccosukee Road

The Leon County Solid Waste Facility will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All Leon County citizens will be allowed to participate, with a valid ID verifying their county residence.

At the drop off event, citizens may bring bulky waste items such as appliances (refrigerators, stoves/ovens, washing machines, dryers, etc.), household garbage, paint, batteries, oil, antifreeze and tires.

Paint amounts larger than five gallons and tire amounts larger than four tires should be brought to the Solid Waste Facility.

If able, please bring a recyclable item or a non-perishable food item as a donation for participation. Any non-perishable food items brought to a Rural Waste Service Center on Amnesty Day will be donated to Americas Second Harvest of the Big Bend.

After Amnesty Day, citizens may visit the Leon County Rural Waste Service Centers during normal business hours  Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Solid Waste Facility is open Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Normal service charges will apply.

For more information, contact Tessa Schreiner, Leon County Office of Resource Stewardship at (850) 606-5000 / SchreinerT@LeonCountyFL.gov, or Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee doctor was arrested for driving under the influence with damage to the property of another after his car collided with a Volusia County Sheriff's Office vehicle.

Dr. Eric Michael Forsthoefel, 36, who practices emergency medicine in Tallahassee at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, was involved with the traffic crash Saturday in the area of South Monroe St. and Apalachee Parkway.

A probable cause affidavit says that on field sobriety exercises the doctor demonstrated difficulty in following directions to keep his head straight while following an object with his eyes, to walk and turn, and to stand on one leg.

"I am not drunk. I don't know why you are doing this," the court document, signed by a Tallahassee Police Department officer, quoted the doctor as saying.

The report says the doctor smelled of alcohol and had "glassy, watery and bloodshot" eyes.

He was given a notice of suspension for refusing to submit to a breath test and booked into the Leon County Jail.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, in response to an inquiry, issued this statement:

"Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare is aware of a traffic incident involving one of our providers. To protect the privacy of our colleagues, TMH does not provide specific information regarding human resources matters."

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Estelle Reel Meyer, the first woman to be elected statewide in Wyoming, settled in Toppenish after serving as the national superintendent of Indian Schools. (Photo from the Library of Congress)
PARIS - UNESCO's executive board is choosing a new leader to replace departing director Irina Bokova, whose tenure was marred by funding troubles and tension over its inclusion of the Palestinians as a member state.

Intense diplomatic wrangling has marked the race among seven candidates to become the next director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Arab countries have long wanted to lead the organization, though divisions over Palestinian membership have complicated their push.

Voting by UNESCO's executive board starts Monday and continues through the week.

Leading candidates include Qian Tang of China, former Egyptian government minister Moushira Khattab and Qatar's former Culture Minister Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari.

The US and Israel suspended UNESCO funding when its members voted to make Palestine a member state in 2011.
NATO's chief said Monday the alliance does not want a "new Cold War" with Russia, despite members' concerns about Russian military buildup close to NATOs' border.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke at the end of a four-day NATO parliamentary assembly in the Romanian capital. "We are concerned by .... (Russia's) lack of transparency when it comes to military exercises," he said.

He mentioned a Russian-Belarus operation in September involving thousands of troops, tanks and aircraft held in Belarus, on NATO's eastern edge. The drills include maneuvers designed to hunt down and destroy armed spies.

Still, Stoltenberg said: "Russia is our neighbor.... we don't want to isolate Russia; we don't want a new Cold War."

He said the 29-member alliance had increased jets patrols in the Black Sea in "response to Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine."
Israel's chief rabbis called on Jewish worshipers to dedicate Sukkot's Third Hakafah to prayers for the return of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, who were killed during the 2014 Operation Protective Edge and whose bodies are being held by Hamas in Gaza.

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Hakafot (Hakafah in singular) is a Jewish custom in which the worshipers walk or dance around the synagogue's reader's platform with the four species on each of the seven days of the holiday.

Ahead of Simchat Torah, in which the Torah scrolls are taken out of the Ark to encircle the readers platform and the entire synagogue, Chief Rabbis Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau called on worshipers to dedicate the Thid Hakafah to "our brothers whose location is unknown."





Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul

They also asked to "mention at the beginning of the Hakafah that we are praying and hoping for the quick return of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin and the other missing persons in Israel."

Alongside government efforts to return Hadar and Oron's bodies, the Goldin and Shaul families have launched a public campaign to raise awareness in Israel to the importance of bringing fallen IDF soldiers back to Israel for burial.

Hakafot in Gush Etzion (Photo: EPA)





Simcha Goldin, Hadar's father, thanked the chief rabbis for their initiative. "The Goldin family places great importance on the mitzvah of bringing a fallen soldier back to Israel for burial, as Moses had done true charity when bringing Yosef to be buried in Israel. King David also emphasized the importance of this mitzvah when he made sure King Saul was buried in the Land of Israel."
Some 30 representatives from activist groups for people with disabilities who oppose the recently-signed agreement on disability benefits visited President Reuven Rivlin's Open Sukkah on Monday and asked for his support.

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The protesting groups, who demand to raise disability pensions to equal minimum wage, urged Rivlin to meet with them.

At first, the president asked them to schedule another time for a meeting, explaining, "Today, I am welcoming all citizens of Israel to the sukkah." He eventually acquiesced and met with five representatives.

Rivlin meets with disabled protesters (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

"The State of Israel, the Israeli government and the prime minister understand completely that the social issuewith the lives of people with disabilities and their needs at its coreis at the heart and soul of the State of Israel," Rivlin said in a statement following the meeting. "I would like to once again emphasize: a society that does not take care of its weak members is not worthy of being called a society. I know we, as a society, do all we can to ensure people with disabilities will receive the proper assistance they need."

Rivlin told the activists he was willing to assist them, adding, "I've been dealing with this issue for 30 years now as a public servant. I think we've never been closer to reaching improvements on the matter."

Rivlin meets with disabled protesters (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

In recent months, different activism groups for the disabled have blocked major roads and junctions across the country, causing heavy congestion. About two weeks ago, the government signed an agreement with the Histadrut Labor Federation and representatives of some of the groups to raise disability benefits.

According to the agreement, to be enacted into law, disabled persons with a 100 percent disability rate will receive an increased NIS 4,000 pensions in four increments, starting January 2018 until January 2021. The total cost of this raise is estimated to be around NIS 4.2 billion a year.

Disabled protesters at the President's Residence (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

But some of the disabled groups, including one dubbed the Disabled Panthers and people disabled by polio, came out against the agreement.

Lavi Naor, a spokesperson for the Disabled Panthers group, said following the meeting: "We've explained the distress of people with disabilities to the president and asked him to intervene on the benefits issue. We came to tell him we've come together to make up a large group that is going to be influential. We're formulating an alternative agreement, and we will present it soon. The president told us he would support us and help us as much as possible and convey our message to the prime minister and the ministers."

Rivlin meets with representatives of the disabled protesters (Photo: Tomer Reichman)

Ofer Sofer, who leads the disabled activism group The A-Team, said that "The president gave us his word he would act on the matter. He said he would talk about it in the Knesset and with the ministers who come to meet with him, promising he'd keep raising the matter every week. We are continuing with our struggle and escalating it. He has given his blessing and support to our struggle. He also said he knows progress is being made, and we will see the results of it soon."

Yehuda Doron, the head of the group for people disabled by polio, added, "We came as several groups united into one. Our objective was to come and speak to the president, whom we know as a former Knesset speaker who was very supportive of all of our struggles ... What's happening right now is a disgrace. We will fight to the end so all people with disabilities would receive aid. We're continuing the struggle and we're not stopping."
ANKARA - Turkish officials are asking the United States to reverse its decision to suspend non-immigrant visa services for Turkish citizens, saying people from both countries are suffering from the move.

The US announced it was suspending visa services on Sunday following the arrest of a consulate employee last week that deepened tensions between the two NATO allies. The measure prompted Turkey to halt visa services in the US in a tit-for-tat response.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said Monday that US embassy's second-in-charge, Philip Kosnett, was called to the ministry, where officials conveyed "their expectations" for the United States to halt "the unnecessary escalation" of tensions and to reverse the decision that "victimizes" both Turkish and US citizens.
Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Environmental Protection Ze'ev Elkin said Monday he was "disappointed" that US President Donald Trump hasn't kept his campaign promise to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

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Trump has backed away from the campaign pledge on the embassy move as his Mideast envoy attempts to breathe life into peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, which last collapsed in 2014.

"There were very clear election promises, not to the State of Israel but to the American voter, of moving the embassy, and I very much regret the delay," Elkin told Army Radio.

Ze'ev Elkin (Photo: Yaron Brener)

"What prevents peace ... is the conduct of the Palestinian leadership that in a clear way chooses to continue to promote the atmosphere of hatred and terror against Israel," he said.

Netanyahu and Trump neet at the UNGA, in New York

Criticism of Trump is rare in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right wing coalition government, but this is the second time in a week Elkin has come out against the American president. Last week, he bemoaned Trump's Obama-era settlement policies

Trump is more sympathetic to settlements than his predecessor Barack Obama, who together with the international community considers them illegal and obstacles to Palestinian statehood.

Two decades of US-led peace plans have called for evacuating settlements to make room for a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Netanyahu's hard-line base opposes such a move, citing religious, security or nationalistic grounds.

Recently, Netanyahu approved the construction of over 3,800 homes in the West Bank, including in the Jewish settlement in Hebron and in isolated settlements. Elkin said he expects the government will greenlight construction next week.
Some 30,000 people participated in a Jerusalem rally Sunday, the culmination of the Women Wage Peace organization's " Journey to Peace " campaign, with former MK Shachiv Shnaan , who lost his son in the July Temple Mount attack , calling for an end to bloodshed on both sides.

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"Stop terrorism and stop the occupation. Let us live for the memory of both our fallen and our children that still remain," said Shnaan at the rally, which took place at the city's Independence Park.

Women Wage Peace's Jerusalem rally (Photo: AFP)

The Women Wage Peace movement was created following 2014's Operation Protective Edge. It boasts a membership of 24,000 Israeli and Palestinian women, who started a journey from Sderot and the western Negev two weeks ago.

Their journey took them through Dimona, the Arava, the towns and kibbutzim around Gaza, Ashkelon, Tel Aviv and Nazareth.

The march's goal was to encourage politicians across the political spectrum to work on settling the conflict. The organization's women offer no specific resolution, instead opting to promote widespread public support for a conclusion to the conflict through a settlement, while integrating women into the negotiations.

The women's march passing through the Dead Sea (Photo: Women Wage Peace)

"For the first time in Israel's history, a single movement has brought together women from every corner of the political spectrum to wage peace," said Dr. Marilyn Smadja, one of the group's founders.

"We came together despite our differences to demand a political settlement by a predetermined amount of time. We're not saying exactly which agreement is necessary, as long as it's agreed upon by all sides," she added.

Shnaan, who lost his son Kamil in the Temple Mount attack in which three terrorists gunned him and his colleague down and injured a third person, claimed to speak on behalf of both the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

The late Kamil Shnaan, killed in the Temple Mount attack

"We've suffered much, Israeli and Palestinian families have lost their loved ones and were left with wounds that cannot heal. I'm here to say: we choose life. We're allowed to say it loud: we are lovers of peace. On behalf of the enormous crowd gathered here as well as hundreds of thousands of the country's citizen, I implore (Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud) Abbas and (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu: enough is enough, sit down together, because we want peace," he cried.

"Hear the cry emanating from our hearts. We hear the voices of justice and truth. We want peace, and hope will spring from this place. Every day tears run down my wife's face I feel her loss. That's why I'm here," Shnaan declared.

Former MK Shnaan, who lost his son to terrorism, spoke at the rally (Photo: Amit Shabi)

You want one country from the Jordan River to the sea? You can't have it. And you can't throw Jews into the ocean either. Stop incitement, stop terrorism and stop one people's rule over another. We're destined to live together and live together we shall, two states for two peoples, with love. May our cries be heard in the gates of Ramallah and Jerusalem, that's all I wish for. Yes to peace," he concluded his heartfelt address.

Liora Hadar, a settler from Alei Zahav, spoke at the rally and recounted the women she'd met along the way.

"I got into the Women Wage Peace movement to meet Israeli women from all across the social and political spectrum, to sit down together and hammer out topics we don't usually get to discuss," she explained.

Women Wage Peace's Jerusalem rally (Photo: Amit Shabi)

"I also wanted, however, to meet Palestinian women and have a dialogue and an acquaintanceship with them. I believe change can come about if thousands of women decide together they simply won't live under the conflict anymore. I want to end the cycle of bloodshed, nothing to do with political Right or Left," she concluded.

Huda Ibn Akrov of Hebron also spoke at the rally. "As someone who's seen and been through difficult wars, as a Hebron resident and someone in contact with the people of Gaza, I'm here to tell you Gaza residents also believe in an end to hostilities and are crying out for peace," she said.

"Wars don't have any winners. We're neither Palestinian nor Israeli, but mothers who'll do everything for a better future for our children," she stated.

The world's largest dress, made by artist Adi Yekutieli (Photo: Women Wage Peace)

The world's largest dresseight stories tallwas unveiled for the marchers in the Dead Sea. The dress is 22 meters high with a perimeter of 60 meters.

The dress was part of a project called "Prohibited" intended to raise awareness to the problem of "agunot," the term given to women whose husbands refuse to divorce them. The dress symbolizes female empowerment and will later be displayed in different places, both in Israel and abroad.

Artist Adi Yekutieli was entrusted with the display's creation.

"The dress represents power, strength and mutual responsibility. It was made of metaphors and similes created by 500 women. It's an image leading the way before an ever growing congregation," he said.
British director Ken Loach donated the proceeds from the screenings of his latest film in Israel to the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

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The film, "I, Daniel Blake," was widely acclaimed and screened in front of audiences at packed theaters in Israel last spring. At the end of the week, the British branch of the boycott group published a statement revealing it had been the recipient of all proceeds from the film's screening in Israel donated by Loach.

"Ken Loach, thank you for the support and generosity, it gives us strength," the organization's members told the British director.

Ken Loach (Photo: GettyImages)

They did not specify the amount they received from him.

"I, Daniel Blake," came out last year and won the Golden Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival and the Best British Film award at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), as well as being nominated and named best film in many other prestigious festivals.

The film tells the story of Daniel Blake, a working-class man who was crushed under the weight of bureaucracy after suffering a heart attack and being denied benefits despite his inability to work, forming a unique friendship with a single mother in the process.

The film's director, Ken Loach, is considered to be one of the best directors working in Britain today. Alongside Roger Waters, Loach is also the most prominent supporter of BDS in Britain.

Loach has signed numerous letters calling for a boycott of Israel and has even approached artists such as Radiohead demanding that they cancel their planned performances in Israel in the past. His efforts however, were to know avail with the show going ahead at full volume

BDS

"Do not appear in a country where there is an apartheid regime," he repeatedly told various artists.

Loach was heavily criticized last summer after reports revealed that, although he called for a boycott on Israel, he himself was profiting from screening his films there.

Loach replied, through his producer Rebecca O'Brien, that the distribution company of "I, Daniel Blake," signed a distribution agreement with Israel "accidentally" and without his knowledge.

"We asked not to sell the film to Israel, but during the Cannes Festival, junior representatives from the production company quickly sold the film to Israel, forgetting that Ken had asked not to sell the film for screenings there," O'Brien told The Guardian.

As a result of the claimed error, the film was screened in Israel despite the fact that many viewers who watched it did not know that their money would now help BDS and its efforts to continue to defame Israel's name abroad.

Shani Films, which distributed the film in Israel, has yet to respond to the reports.
BARCELONA  Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy warned anew Monday that Spain will not be divided by a declaration of independence from Catalonia and said the government is ready to respond to any such attempt.

Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont plans to address the Catalan parliament on Tuesday evening to debate the current political situation. Separatist politicians say there will be a declaration of independence for the northeastern region of 7.5 million during that session, although some ruling coalition lawmakers say the move could be simply "symbolic."

Still, Rajoy was being as explicit as possible in warning that the national government in Madrid would not stand for such a declaration.

"Spain will not be divided and the national unity will be preserved. We will do everything that legislation allows us to ensure this," Rajoy told the German newspaper Die Welt. "We will prevent this independence from taking place."
BEIRUT  US-backed fighters in northern Syria are preparing for a final offensive on neighborhoods still held by the Islamic State group in the city of Raqqa, a spokesman for the group said Monday. A US official affirmed that the battle for Raqqa is now approaching its last phase.

Mustafa Bali of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said the battle is expected to last between seven to 10 days. The extremists still have hundreds of fighters in the city that they once declared as their de facto capital.

The Kurdish-led forces launched an offensive against IS in Raqqa in early June, under the cover of airstrikes by the US-led coalition. The Kurdish-led group has captured 80 percent of the city, leaving IS in control of parts of the Raqqa's center and north.

"The Syrian Democratic Forces are reinforcing positions ahead of the final attack on the city of Raqqa," Bali said by telephone on Monday, speaking from northern Syria.
Thousands of Israelis flooded President Reuven Rivlin's Open Sukkah throughout the day Monday in Jerusalem to celebrate the festival of Sukkot marked by Jews throughout the world.

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Some 6,000 people flocked from the around the country to the sukkah where President Rivlin welcomed his guests and wished them a happy new year, happy times for us and the entire people of Israel. Today, you are citizens of the state, both guests and hosts because this house belongs to you.

President Rivlin's Sukkah celebrations (: ")

X

Rivlin also told his jubilant guests: This year we highlight our connection, Jews of Israel, with Jews in the diaspora. We are all brothers and we are all responsible for one another, as a nation too. Israel is the only place that is defined as the state of the Jewish people, and it belongs to the entire Jewish nation.

President Rivlin (Photo: Mark Nayman/GPO)

(Photo: Mark Nayman/GPO)

He thanked the children of Israel for sending letters and drawings to the Presidents Residence, which he described as heartwarming.

(Photo: Mark Nayman/GPO)

However, not all was smiles after the president was forced to experience first-hand the phenomenon plaguing Israel of clowns unexpectedly creeping up on peoplealbeit in a less threatening and sinister mannerwhen a clown entertaining at the event suddenly approached Rivlin and invited him to press his red nose, to which the surprised president responded: What are you doing, buddy?

(Photo: Mark Nayman/GPO)

Earlier in the day, some 30 representatives from activist groups campaigning for people with disabilities who oppose the recently-signed agreement on disability benefits visited Rivlin's sukkah on Monday and asked for his support.
BUCHAREST, Romania  NATO doesn't want a "new Cold War" with Russia despite members' concerns about the Russian military buildup close to NATO's border, the alliance's secretary general said Monday.

Jens Stoltenberg was speaking at the end of a four-day NATO parliamentary assembly in the Romanian capital, Bucharest.

"We are concerned by .... (Russia's) lack of transparency when it comes to military exercises," he said.

He mentioned a Russian-Belarus operation in September involving thousands of troops, tanks and aircraft held in Belarus, on NATO's eastern edge. The drills included maneuvers designed to hunt down and destroy armed spies.

Still, Stoltenberg said: "Russia is our neighbor ... we don't want to isolate Russia. We don't want a new Cold War."
WASHINGTON  Political differences are hurting the US government's response to victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Monday. He did not identify which individual officials he blamed, but the mayor in San Juan has drawn the ire of President Donald Trump for her criticism about how quickly aid is reaching people on the island.

"The unity is not where I want it to be," FEMA Administrator Brock Long said. "When you cannot get elected officials at the local level come to a joint FEMA office because they disagree with the politics of the governor, it makes things difficult and the information fragmented."

Earlier Monday, Long said in television interviews that he had "filtered out" San Juan Mayor Carmen Cruz, Trump's most vocal critic about the hurricane response. Cruz's spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment; his phone rang unanswered and his voicemail was full.

Cruz complained Monday morning via Twitter that "San Juan legislators arrived to the Emergency Operations Center to discuss debris and flooding. The mayor was not invited."
Expert Advice with Kevin Turner. 09/10/2017

Real Estate Buyers Agents Assn of Australia President  Rich Harvey  reveals the associations predictions for the 2017 spring property market.

Listen to the Podcast now:-

Transcript:-

Good day, Rich.

Rich: Hi, Kevin. How are you?

Kevin: Wonderful, thank you. Spring, of course, a great time to be looking at property, and were just starting spring now. Lets have a look around Australia. What are you seeing in the Sydney market, Rich?

Rich: Yes, spring has sprung, and I think the weather is going to start warming up right around the nation. I also noticed that it starts to change peoples moods when spring hits. Theres a different psychology in the buyers mind and in the sellers mind. I think were going to see traditionally more activity in all of the markets, but it wont be the same around the country.

I think in Sydney, were going to see some better buying opportunities as stock levels will start to increase, but I do think were going to see a slight decrease in the auction clearance rates as more stock comes to market and we get back toward a more balanced market.

Kevin: Whats behind that prediction, Rich, that youre thinking the success rate at auction might drop a bit?

Rich: Number one, weve had a very boom style of market, and I think naturally as you get more properties coming to market, you generally have a lower auction clearance rate. During the boom times, we were high 80%s, almost up to 90%, which is just unbelievable. A more traditional long-term average for auction clearance rates is around the mid-60%s, so I think were going to get back to a more balanced market.

Thats not to say the prices are going to go backwards; I think the foot has come off the accelerator, and were going to just start to see a more moderate market returning in the coming year.

Kevin: Its a good point you make that its not necessarily that the market is going to come back; it just may be that sellers may have to adjust to a slower market. In other words, the growth is not going to be as great as what weve expected in the past.

Rich: Thats right, exactly. I think its important for buyers not to be afraid to negotiate in the current market, especially the middle and outer rings. Your premium areas and your inner west, North Shore, eastern suburbs, those prime markets are always traditionally tightly held, whether the market is up or down.

But in other markets where theres more volume or a higher turnover, theyre perhaps a little bit more volatile. You just have to do your research and get out there and find out what theyre really worth.

Kevin: I notice that in Melbourne, youre predicting that theres going to be some competition coming from down-sizers. Whats behind that, Rich?

Rich: Yes. Its not isolated to just Melbourne, but you do find that the down-sizer markets are going to start picking up. I think when the kids leave home and they want to empty their own nest so to speak, they want less maintenance.

And I think weve seen good equity increases in the Melbourne market. So, those owners there who are wanting to capitalize on that increased equity to move into something thats better located and lower maintenance, I think theyll start to make that move.

Kevin: A lot more units on the market in Melbourne, but were seeing a bit of a shortage in traditional three- and four-bedroom houses, Rich.

Rich: Yes, thats true. I also think that the northern and western suburbs are going to represent pretty good value. So, where you have apartments selling with little outdoor space, I think youre going to find that affordable market very attractive, and particularly the first-home buyer market where theyre removing stamp duties for properties under $600,000 and you have that sliding scale up to $750,000.

Thats going to really attract a lot of the first-home buyers back into that market, and I expect consistent pressure in the Melbourne market for that bracket.

Kevin: Yes, Melbourne has been the auction powerhouse of the country for many years. What do you see is happening in Melbourne this spring at auctions?

Rich: Sydney is past its peak, and Melbourne is pretty much at its peak, so I think Melbourne will follow a similar trajectory. But Melbourne is the auction capital. It always tends to have a greater number of properties sold at auction, so I dont see any reason for that to not continue in the spring selling season.

Kevin: And in Brisbane? I understand the inner and middle ring suburbs are remaining pretty popular, I understand.

Rich: Yes. You want to stay clear of off-the-plan apartments in that Brisbane market, thats for sure. I think theyre definitely over-cooked in there, and theres a lot of supply coming on. But good quality townhouses, good quality houses in those inner and middle rings are going to be in continual demand, and again, theres under-supply.

Again a similar theme with the down-sizers. They want to move there and they want a lower maintenance property, so I think thats going to be a continuing theme in the Brisbane market, too.

Kevin: Were hearing reports that theres been a major slowdown in building for units in Brisbane. How long is it going to take to catch up and absorb some of the supply thats already there, do you think?

Rich: It could be two years, it could be 24 months, maybe a fraction longer. It depends on a couple of things, Kevin. It depends on the rate of population growth and also just how the economy fares.

If job creation continues to go forward positively in Brisbane, then I think it will absorb that supply a bit quicker. However, if theres a decline in the resources sector or a deterioration in the economic conditions in the Brisbane market, then that will have a flow-on effect and slow that out.

So, we can make all the predictions we like, but the two key things are that population growth and employment opportunity thats really going to drive that absorption of supply.

Kevin: The higher end of the market in Brisbane seems to be fairing fairly well, though.

Rich: Yes, it does. Its always in high demand. If you look at those inner ring suburbs, St. Lucia and those areas close to the city on the river that have great views and great lifestyle appeal, theyll always continue to be highly sought after.

Kevin: We covered a story recently about Canberra and the Mr. Fluffy situation and how the necessary destruction of some of the houses because of asbestos is going to bring a lot more good stock onto the market. Tell me about Canberra. What are you seeing there?

Rich: Yes, Canberra has been an interesting one. It was badly affected by the cuts in the public service sector, but that has really settled down now and its going through a bit of renaissance. A lot of people are going Were not sure whether we should put our money into the bigger capitals, but Canberra is looking pretty stable. I think its going to be a busy time of year, particularly as people start to get settled for the new school year or staring employment in 2018.

A lot of investors are going there because theyre finding that the yields are quite reasonable, and theyre following some infrastructure trails there. I think its definitely a little bright spot on the map.

Kevin: Yes, I think its a market to watch, thats for sure. Lets move to Adelaide. A bit of uncertainty there with buyers.

Rich: Yes, Adelaide is a bit of a fragmented market. You have to be really careful where you buy in that Adelaide market. Adelaide has been what I call one of those slow burner markets. It ticks along with capital growth somewhere between 2% and 4%.

When its uncertain, you just have to be careful youre not over-paying. Some suburbs have shown some really good growth; other suburbs have shown pretty lackluster growth. So, thats something to watch for.

Another trend there is there have been a lot more property selling by auction in the more wealthy inner ring suburbs. Or instead of auction, theyll also do an offers over or a best offer buy a certain date. So, its really important that you get local representation in that market to buy a property.

Kevin: Perth is still a bit of a mixed market, isnt it?

Rich: Yes. Some of the valuers  like Herron Todd White  are saying that its pretty much at bottom of the market, but our representative there from REBAA is saying that theyre getting a lot more interest from interstate and international buyers who are wanting to buy at the very bottom of the cycle.

So, again, there are some markets there that are going to be struggling and other markets that will move forward. But they have a really hot upgrader market as well, because when prices are down, you can also then upgrade and do it quite effectively.

Obviously, you wont get as much for your place that youre selling, but equally on the other side, on the buyer side, youre going to do quite well getting some really nice properties in those good suburbs on the beach side like Cottesloe or the areas along the river.

Kevin: Rich Harvey is joining me from the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia.

Tasmania, some smart money went there. It was pretty smart, too, at the time, wasnt it?

Rich: Yes. Tassie is another bright spark, too. Its a shining star at the moment. Really strong yields. Our representative there, Rob Zubin, recons that market is going to probably continue for another 18 months. Again, a classic case of supply versus demand imbalance, and weve seen a bit of a spike in prices.

I guess the thing to watch for, again, is making sure the drivers are going to be there long-term, but Tassie is a very attractive state, great lifestyle, some great tourism opportunities there, and very natural environments. I think those are the things that are attracting buyers to that market, and I think it will do quite well.

Kevin: Still very affordable, too. I guess the bottom line here is that there are opportunities in all markets, Rich, arent there?

Rich: Thats right. As I always say, regardless of where youre at in the cycle, if you can identify what I call an arbitrage, where you can get in at the right price at the right time regardless of the cycle and hold it well, youre going to do well. You can do some smart things like adding value or renovating the property as well.

But theres no shortcut to due diligence, Kevin. It really is a matter of getting there on the ground or engaging someone to do that research for you.

Kevin: Rich Harvey from the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia. Thanks very much. A great overview there of the Australian market. Rich, thanks for your time.

Rich: My pleasure, Kevin. Any time.

Real Estate Talk  the only place where you hear all Australasias leading property experts.

Originally published as: https://realestatetalk.com.au/buyers-agent-spring-outlook-rich-harvey/

...................................................................................................................................................

Kevin Tuner worked in radio as General Manager of various east coast radio stations. He started in real estate in 1988 and was ranked in the Top 10 Salespeople in the state until he was appointed as State CEO 1992.

He operated a number of real estate offices as business owner and was General Manager of several real estate offices in Christchurch.

He now hosts a real estate show on Radio 4BC and a weekly podcast at www.realestatetalk.com.au. He is the host of a daily 7 to 10 minute podcast show for real estate professionals at www.reuncut.com.au.

To hear more podcasts by Kevin Turner, click here

Disclaimer: while due care is taken, the viewpoints expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Your Investment Property.
As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More
VILLANOVA, Pa.  Villanova University Professor of Biology Aaron Bauer, PhD, was part of an international team of scientists that completed the atlas of lifethe first global review and map of every vertebrate on Earth. Led by researchers at the University of Oxford and Tel Aviv University, the 39 scientists produced a catalogue and atlas of the worlds reptiles. By linking this atlas with existing maps for birds, mammals and amphibians, the team have found many new areas where conservation action is vital.

In order to best protect wildlife, its important to know where species live, so the right action can be taken and scarce funding allocated in the right places. With this in mind, the researchers produced detailed maps highlighting the whereabouts of all known land-living species of vertebrate on Earth. Maps showing the habitats of almost all birds, mammals and amphibians have been completed since 2006, but it was widely thought that many reptile species were too poorly known to be mapped.

In research featured in Nature Ecology & Evolution, scientists from more than 30 institutions worked in close collaboration to produce the new reptile atlas, which covers more than 10,000 species of snakes, lizards and turtles/tortoises. The data completes the world map of 31,000 species of humanitys closest relatives, including around 5,000 mammals, 10,000 birds and 6,000 frogs and salamanders.

Dr. Bauer, who serves as the Gerald M. Lemole Endowed Chair in Integrative Biology at Villanova, was one of several American contributors to the paper. His study of organisms, geckos, skinks and other lizards include many of those reptiles that add to the desert richness. Dr. Bauers decades of field work in the deserts of southern Africa, Asia and Australia have helped to reveal not only patterns of distribution, but to document the diversity of reptile species. Bauer has described more new species of reptile than any other living scientist, including more than seven percent of the more than 1,600 living geckos.

This research takes a global approach to understand the factors associated with the distribution of reptiles, said Dr. Bauer, who also serves as the Gerald M. Lemole Endowed Chair in Integrative Biology at Villanova University. Unlike other tetrapod vertebrates (mammals, birds and amphibians), for which distributions have been known for some time, reptiles have until now been left out of the picture of vertebrate spatial diversity.

Data for the other groups has been compiled, largely through the auspices of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which draws up the red lists of threatened and endangered species. With no concentrated effort from the IUCN for a comparable project on reptiles, the authors of this paper, representing experts on reptile faunas from around the world, took it upon themselves to develop distribution maps for the more than 10,000 living reptile species based on museum specimens, literature records and their own field experience.

The combined maps allowed the team to examine the broad patterns of reptile diversity across the earth. While other vertebrates mostly show their maximum diversity in the wet tropics, such as Amazonia and Southeast Asia, reptiles reveal a somewhat different pattern, with high diversity in deserts as well as in tropical forests.

This difference is driven by lizards, the most diverse group of reptiles, which have been especially evolutionarily successful in arid parts of the world, added Bauer. Thus, places like Australia, southern Africa, and parts of the Middle East show up as hotspots for these animals. This difference in diversity distribution has implications for conservation as it means that national parks and other protected areas selected to protect, for example, birds, may not be well-placed to conserve the diversity of reptiles.

The map revealed unexpected trends and regions of biodiversity fragility. They include the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, inland arid southern Africa, the Asian steppes, the central Australian deserts; the Brazilian caatinga scrubland, and the high southern Andes. The maps have also allowed conservationists to ask whether environmental efforts to date have been invested in the right way, and how they could be used most effectively.

The data collected by the group will also allow researchers to ask many other macroecological questions, such as Are there differences in the spatial distribution of live-bearing versus egg laying reptiles?; Do larger species have larger distributional ranges than smaller ones?; or, How have rates of evolutionary differentiation varied across the globe? Although reptiles are mostly inconspicuous in temperate areas, like Pennsylvania, their diversity and biomass is surprisingly high and they play important roles in maintaining terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are currently classifying the species featured in the map with a rating, from critically endangered to least concern. Once this work is complete, the interactive resource will be freely available for public access and use. Moving forward, its creation will allow a range of stakeholders, from countries, to conservation organizations, businesses and individuals, to understand the biodiversity in their surrounding environment, its importance and, crucially, what they can do to better protect it.
New Delhi: The verdict by the Supreme Court on Monday to ban firecrackers sale in Delhi-NCR til November 1 is most likely to hit livelihoods of lakhs of workers in the fireworks manufacturing hubs across India mainly Sivakasi. Responding to the verdict, traders' body CAIT urged the government to file a review petition before the apex court.

In a statement, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said conducting business of firecrackers is a legitimate activity protected under the Constitution of India giving 'Right to Work'.

"The Supreme Court has imposed ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR but there is no ban on bursting of crackers. Possibility of people buying crackers from other states and bursting them in Delhi-NCR cannot be ruled out. The distinction between Delhi traders and traders from the rest of India seems to be unjustified," CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said.

"Many traders dealing in crackers must have purchased their stocks for this Diwaliby now and the ban will put them in huge losses," he added.

The Supreme Court said its order of last November banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) would continue till October 31 - Diwali falls on October 19 -- in an effort to check pollution this festival of lights.

The traders' body asserted that bursting of crackers on Diwali symbolises happiness of people on the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya and welcoming Goddess Lakshmi since centuries, and is an integral part of Indian culture.

"Even today crackers are burst on any grand event like Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or any event to demonstrate happiness. It is noteworthy to mention that environment danger is not caused only by crackers but several other factors also contribute much and as such a thorough study is required and demand suitable steps," CAIT said.

Financial losses

The loss may be in tune of Rs 1,000 crore. Sivakasi has an annual estimated turnover of about Rs 7000 crore and employs more than 300,000 workers directly in the firecracker manufacturing factories.

Another 500,000 are engaged in related industries related to packaging, printing, paper rolling transportation and others.

On October 6, a bench of Justices AK Sikri, Abhay Manohar Sapre and Ashok Bhushan reserved its order on the plea seeking restoration of the top court's last year order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.

The Supreme Court on September 12, 2017 modified its November 2016 order suspending all licences for sale and retail of firecrackers within Delhi NCR.

Last year, entire Delhi-NCR was engulfed in a thick blanket of toxic fog, the morning after the Diwali.

Delhi's air quality index spike up to 42 times the safe limit.

With Agency Inputs
New Delhi: Ficci President Pankaj Patel will lead a business delegation to the US starting from Tuesday, accompanying the finance minister, to discuss ways to enhance trade and investment ties between the two countries, the industry body said on Monday.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is going to the US to attend the IMF-World Bank meeting this week.

Several engagements have been planned during this visit, including round-table with institutional investors and US India Strategic Partnership Forum in Boston, Ficci said in a statement.

"Senior management representatives from some of the largest funds in the US will be participating at this meeting and interact with the Finance Minister and members of the Ficci delegation," it added.

Ficci is organising an interactive session with the minister at the IMF Headquarters on October 12. It will be attended by senior officials representing institutional investors, financial institutions, investment banks and think tanks.

It said the visit is "critical to strengthen bilateral co-operation between businesses in the two countries".

The members of the delegation include Ficci Secretary General Sanjaya Baru, Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Rajan Bharti Mittal and Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Chairman, Sun International.
New Delhi: A doctor was allegedly beaten up by CISF staff posted at Shahdara Metro station in the national capital on Saturday.

The alleged incident happened after the doctor associated with Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) mistakenly put his bag on wrong counter during security check, following which a CISF staffer misbehaved with him.

When the doctor asked the CISF personnel not to be rude with him, another security person intervened and both of them forcibly took Beriwal to the security room, where he was beaten up with a lathi.

A case has been registered and Delhi Metro Rail Police are probing the claims of the LNJP doctor.

Meanwhile, CISF DG (Metro) has assured of fair investigation and said that strict action will be taken if his men are found guilty.

Bejriwal took to Facebook to narrate the incident. Here's his post:

The barbaric face of CISF I was forced to see today :

Today while for going to my duty, I entered Shahdara metro station at around 8.45am,by mistake I kept my bag on a wrong table to which the CISF person(Jitendra)said to me very rudely " tere liye alag se police wala bulau kya.. chal bag udhar rakh " . I asked very politely to not to speak in such manner to which he said "sitaare nhi dekhe hai kya mere" . When I said I am doctor, please behave properly, he said "tu hoga apne ghar me doctor.. mai nhi maanta.. ". He literally caught by shirt collar and dragged me to the remand room . 2-3 more person joined him and inside the room.

The first thing they did was start beating me with their Lathi without even saying a word. They kept beating me on my back, hips and face. Before i could even understand anything , one of them kicked my genitals. They slapped me so hard and turned my face red . They snatched away my mobile to avoid any evidence. All time they were abusing me and used all sorts of cuss words. I was continuously pleading to let me go . It was only after a while when they felt they had enjoyed enough that they left me. I was assaulted inside the room for more than 10-15mins continuously by 2-3 CISF persons.

I barely was able to walk and somehow managed came to emergency of my hospital. I have bruises all over my back , hips and face. You can see the medical report which says about all of my serious injuries.

Everything is recorded in CCTV footage of metro station , how they dragged me to the room, how i came out of the room all beaten up and injured. You can also see all these in photos how inhumanely they beat me for their fun.

Just because someone asks them politely to speak nicely , doesn't entitle them to beat me so grievously and cruelly. The CISF needs to understand they are here to protect public of real terror and not from a doctor who by mistake keeps bag on a wrong table.

-Dr. Lakshay Beriwal
New Delhi: US economist Richard Thaler on Monday won the Nobel Economics Prize for his pioneering work bridging the gap between economics and psychology. The Nobel laurete had openly supported demonetisation when Modi government announced it last November,

In a tweet on November 8, 2016, along with a news article link on demonetisation, Thaler had tweeted, This is a policy I have long supported. First step toward cashless and good start on reducing corruption.

Here is the original tweet

Soon after responding to comments that Rs 2,000 currency notes are to be introduced, Thaler tweeted, "really? Damn".

Thaler, a Professor of Economics and Behavorial Science at the University of Chicago, today won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.

Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan is currently serving as Distinguished Service Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School. Rajan, whose name was also doing the rounds for the Nobel Prize, recently stated that he was never in favour of demonetisation.

His tweets came from the Twitter handle '@R_Thaler', which is not officially verified but was tagged by the official feed of the Nobel Prize.

"BREAKING NEWS The 2017 Prize in Economic Sciences is awarded to Richard H Thaler @R_Thaler @UChicago @ChicagoBooth #NobelPrize," the official twitter feed of the Nobel Prize tweeted today.

On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as part of efforts to curb illicit fund flows and corruption.

Thaler is the Charles R Walgreen Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and Behavioral Science and Director of the Center for Decision Research, Booth School of Business, University of Chicago.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences today said Thaler has incorporated psychologically realistic assumptions into analyses of economic decision-making.

"By exploring the consequences of limited rationality, social preferences, and lack of self-control, he has shown how these human traits systematically affect individual decisions as well as market outcomes," it said in a release while announcing him as the winner of the Nobel prize.

With PTI inputs
Hyderabad: A union of bank employees on Monday asked the Centre to order an investigation into the top 100 NPA account holders.

The probe in these accounts should be carried out by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) or any other competent agency, the Bank Employees' Federation of India (BEFI) said.

The non-performing assets (NPAs) of the public sector banks have increased to about Rs 8 lakh crore, of which 89 per cent pertains to corporate accounts, the BEFI (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) said in a statement.

"We demand that Government of India institute a thorough investigation by the SFIO or any other agency into the affairs of top 100 NPA account holders, take all necessary steps to recover the bank dues, declare the names of corporate defaulters and save the public sector banks, taxpayers money and the Indian economy," the union said.

Most of the loans to corporates, which later became NPAs, were sanctioned by corporate offices and the boards of individual banks, it alleged.




New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday brainstormed with CEOs of top global and Indian companies, including BP of the UK, Russia's Rosneft, Saudi Aramco and Reliance Industries, on ways to revive investment in oil and gas exploration and production.

Modi met BP Plc Chief Executive Bob Dudley, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Royal Dutch Shell's Project and Technology Director Harry Brekelmens, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Naseer, Exxon Mobil President for Gas and Power Rob Franklin, RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Vedanta Resources head Anil Agarwal for over two hours to discuss the global oil and gas scenario.

The main theme of the meeting, sources said, was to seek investment in exploration and production, processing, transportation and distribution network in oil and gas.

The Niti Aayog made a short presentation on the status, the likely scenario of demand and supply by 2030 and current government policies.

This is the second meeting Prime Minister had with CEOs of oil majors.

His first meeting was in January 2016 where suggestions for reforming natural gas prices were made. More than a year later, the government allowed higher natural gas price for yet-to-be-produced fields in difficult areas like deep sea.

The government is looking at private investment to raise domestic oil and gas production, which has stagnated for the last few years while fuel demand has been rising by 5-6 per cent annually.

India is dependent on imports to meet its 80 percent of the demand and more than half of its natural gas requirements.

The prime minister in 2015 had set a target of reducing India's oil dependence by 10 percent to 67 percent (based on import dependence of 77 percent in 2014-15) by 2022.

Import dependence has only increased since then and the government is now looking for ways to raise domestic output.

OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting. Former oil secretaries Vivek Rae and Vijay Kelkar were also invited for the meeting.

Pradhan told the gathering that the liberalised India offers around USD 300 billion investment opportunity in the next 10 years in the oil and gas sector.

"We want investors, both domestic and global, who can bring in the best technology and capital," he said.

The government is devising policies to increase share of gas in the energy basket to 15 percent from 7 percent.

"We are planning a gas trading exchange and making sure there is open access to the gas grid. Global experience in this area would be useful," he stated.

According to Pradhan, in the last 40 months, the government has taken several policy initiatives in the energy sector in line with the prime minister's vision of energy access, efficiency, sustainability and security.

Also present at the meeting were ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Shashi Shanker, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Chairman Sanjiv Singh, GAIL India head B C Tripathi, Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) Chairman Mukesh Kumar Suran, Oil India Chairman Utpal Bora and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) Chairman D Rajkumar.
Ahmedabad: Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday denied there were plans to drop 'Muslim' and 'Hindu' from the names of Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University.

"There is no such decision. Both universities have been there for almost a 100 years. It has been a century... and we have no intention to make any changes in the way they are," Javadekar told reporters here.

His remarks come in the wake of a newspaper report that said that a government audit of central universities had suggested that the words Muslim' and Hindu' be dropped from the names of AMU and BHU.

Asked about reports that dubbed these universities as feudal or facing problem of inbreeding, he said he had not seen the reports yet.

"I have not seen any report yet. But I am telling you in advance that we have no such intention (of changing their names)," Javadekar said.

He said the HRD Ministry had formed a committee to only look into the administrative, academic and research audits of certain universities.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) had directed for special audit in 10 central universities in the wake of complaints of financial, administrative and academic irregularities. The UGC order followed a MHRD directive on the matter.

"The mandate of the committee is restricted to only administrative, academic, and research audit. We will consider recommendations made in this regard only. If the committee has made any suggestions outside its purview, we will not take cognisance of anything then," he added.
New Delhi: Decades after it was last seen in Chad, the critically endangered species of Black Rhinos may soon make an appearance again after an agreement was signed between South Africa and the central African country.

Environment ministers from the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding "which will allow for the translocation of six black rhino from South Africa to Chad," said a government statement yesterday.

The Black Rhino population is inching towards an early decline due to hunting and poaching. However, conservation efforts have seen black rhino numbers boost upwards after a long time. Even so, black rhinos remain critically endangered, with poaching for their horns posing a constant threat to their survival.

The last time a rhino was spotted in Chad was in 1972, according to official documents Chad submitted to South Africa.

The animals should be airlifted to Chad's Zakouma National Park "sometime next year. We are looking at around March, April or May" environmental affairs ministry spokesman Albi Modise told AFP.

Black rhinos are officially listed as critically endangered but are still native to the mainly eastern and southern African countries of Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

They have been re-introduced to several other southern African countries.

There are around 5,000 black rhino left in Africa with South Africa's population sitting at 1,893, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

South Africa is also home to around 20,000 white rhinos, about 80 percent of the worldwide population, but the country has suffered record poaching in recent years.

Poachers have killed more than 7,100 rhinos in Africa over the past decade for their horns.

The horn is highly prized in China and Vietnam where it is coveted as a traditional medicine and aphrodisiac.

South Africa's Environment Minister Edna Molewa and Chad counterpart Ahmat Mbodou Mahamat signed Sunday's deal in Pretoria.

(With PTI inputs)
Barcelona/Madrid: Catalonia's secessionist leader came under intense pressure on Monday to abandon plans to declare independence from Spain after hundreds of thousands of unionists took to the streets at the weekend to protest against the region breaking away.

Spain fears the Catalan parliament will vote for independence on Tuesday, when Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is due to address the assembly in the wake of a banned Oct. 1 referendum in which Catalan officials say people voted overwhelmingly for secession.

Under Catalonia`s referendum law, deemed unconstitutional by Madrid, a vote for independence on Tuesday would start a six-month process that would envisage divorce talks with Spain before regional elections and a final act of separation.

But the Spanish government, buoyed by Sunday's protests in Barcelona, the Catalan capital, made it clear on Monday it would respond immediately to any such vote.

"I`m calling on the sensible people in the Catalan government...don`t jump off the edge because you`ll take the people with you," Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said in an interview with COPE radio station.

"If there is a unilateral declaration of independence there will be decisions made to restore law and democracy."

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has not ruled out removing Catalonia`s government and calling new regional elections if it claims independence.

The stakes are high for Spain as it faces its biggest political crisis since it became a democracy four decades ago.

Losing Catalonia, which has its own language and culture, would deprive Spain of a fifth of its economic output and more than a quarter of exports. A stream of Catalonia-based firms and banks have moved their legal bases outside the region.

The crisis has also reopened old divisions in a nation where fascism is a living memory easily revived by strong displays of nationalism.

Among many moderate Spaniards, though, there is widespread opposition to a breakaway, including in Catalonia. Most of the region`s unionists boycotted the Oct. 1 referendum, which was banned by Madrid and marred by a violent police crackdown.

The European Union has also shown no interest in an independent Catalonia, despite an appeal by Puigdemont for Brussels to mediate in the crisis.

France, which borders Catalonia, said on Monday it would not recognise a unilateral independence declaration.

On Sunday, a crowd estimated by local police to number 350,000, took to the streets of the Catalan capital Barcelona, waving Spanish and Catalan flags and carrying banners saying "Catalonia is Spain" and "Together we are stronger".

The show of support for Madrid helped calm Spanish markets on Monday, along with comments on Friday from credit rating agencies Moody`s and DBRS that they expected Spain to remain united. Spanish borrowing costs fell to a one-week low and the main share index touched a week high.
Ahmedabad: Senior BJP leader and former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel wrote to party president Amit Shah on Monday saying that she does not want to contest the upcoming state Assembly elections.

In a letter, dated October 4, she cited her age - 75 - as the reason behind her decision, while urging that meritorious and winnable candidates be fielded.

Anandiben Patel writes to BJP Pres Amit Shah, stating that in place of her new people must be given a chance to contest 2017 Gujarat polls. pic.twitter.com/TB7doOG12A  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

She has represented Ghatlodiya constituency since 1998 and was part of the Gujarat Cabinet from 2002 to 2007 and then 2007 to 2014.

Anandiben was elevated as the Gujarat CM in 2014 when she had replaced Prime Minister Narendra Modi after BJPs victory in the Lok Sabha polls.

She was the first woman CM of the state.

Anandiben resigned in August 2016 in the wake of the Bharatiya Janata Party`s drubbing in the 2015 local self-government elections and the Patidar agitation.

Vijay Rupani was then made the CM.

She joined the BJP in 1987 and became a legislator in the late 1990s.

The BJP bagged 117 seats in 2007 and 116 seats in 2012 Assembly elections.
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday admitted an appeal by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh against his conviction for two rapes and a plea by his two female disciples for conversion of his 20-year sentence to life imprisonment.



The High Court, however, rejected Ram Rahim's plea regarding a fine of over Rs 30 lakh imposed on him by the CBI court, and directed him to deposit the amount in a fixed deposit in a bank. The amount will not be given to the rape victims till the matter is decided by the court.



Taking up both the appeals, the High Court issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which had probed the rape allegations against the Dera chief.



A Special Court in Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh, had on August 25 convicted the Dera chief for the rape of his two women disciples in 1999 and sentenced him to 10-year imprisonment each, which were to run consecutively.



In their petition in the High Court here, the two 'sadhvis' said the 10-year jail term handed over to the Dera chief for each rape was not enough and he should be sentenced to a life term.



The women pointed out that in rape cases where a person in a position of authority or power misuses that position to commit rape, he should be given the maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

They pointed out that a lesser punishment "will not achieve the ends of justice".



"Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh as the head of a religious organisation had committee a grave breach of trust and he was called 'Pita ji' (father)," the petition stated. "Abusing his position as a religious head, in whom the followers had blind faith, he committed rape on the victims," the petitioners added.



Under new law provisions introduced after the 2012 gang rape and murder of Nirbhaya in Delhi, a person in position of power and trust faces a maximum of life imprisonment for rape.



On the other hand, Ram Rahim challenged the CBI court's verdict to convict him for rape and handing him 20-year rigorous imprisonment last month in the High Court.



He is currently lodged at the District Jail at Sunaria near Rohtak in Haryana.



His conviction led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana, leaving 38 people dead and 264 injured. Isolated incidents of violence were also reported from Delhi and several other places in Punjab.



The CBI court in Panchkula is hearing two more cases against the sect chief -- murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh in July 2003 and murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati in October 2002.


Arakkonam: Anti-India forces, unable to stomach its growing economic might, want to damage the country and weaken its strategic position, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.

Terrorism is a "big threat" today but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up the issue strongly on the global stage, taking onboard most countries to address the issue, he said.

In his address after reviewing the passing out parade of the personnel of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) here, Singh said the day is not far when India would become an economic power.

"Today, India is counted among the emerging economies of the world. It is emerging as the fastest growing (large) economy in the world. I can say that India is one among the top 10 economies of the world today," he said.

The world has started "realising" the fact that the day is not far when by 2030 India will be among the top three economies of the world, he said.

The size of India's economy was approximately USD two trillion and it was likely to touch USD 5 trillion by 2030, he said.

"But anti-India forces basically don't like all these trends. They want to cause damage in those sensitive areas where its economic and strategic strength could be weakened," he added.

Terrorist organisations want to "inflict damage" on the country, he said, calling terrorism a "big threat" to many countries."

"Terrorism is a big threat...The 9/11 attacks in the US and the 26/11 incidents in India have shown that the impact of terror strikes can be felt for a long time," he said.

The Home Minister urged the CISF, tasked with guarding the country's vital strategic installations like airports and industrial units, to have "core competence" to tackle terrorism.

"So, CISF should undertake regular security audit of every installation and use new technologies to strengthen the security of such installations," he added.

He termed cyber attacks as the "new face" of terrorism.

Under this, efforts are made to target digital set-ups, he said.

"CCTV, wifi networks and computer networks are present in every office today. And these are on the radar of hackers and anti-national forces," Singh added.

Like the CRPF has specialised units such as Rapid Action Force (RAF), CISF should also develop a dedicated wing to deal with issues like cyber attacks, he said.

The Union Home Ministry has issued advisories to create such a mechanism to other police forces also, he added.

Stressing on women empowerment, he urged the CISF to become the "first" paramilitary force to achieve 33 per cent reservation for women in the force.

After becoming the home minster, he had asked all state governments and central armed police forces to implement the quota for women, Singh said.

Women are not inferior to men in any respect, he added.

The home ministry, he said, has decided to provide a uniform allowance of Rs 10,000 every year to jawans. This would do away with the issue of fitting which they faced when they were issued readymade uniforms.

He lauded the CISF for its contribution to national security and said, in some instances, companies of the central paramilitary force had been even sent to regions affected by naxalism.

Earlier, 1043 personnel including assistant commandants, sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors took out a parade, marking their formal induction into the force.

CISF Director General OP Singh said they were trained in the use of weapons, communication systems, tackling ambush and other aspects related to security.

The CISF personnel also demonstrated their skills and enacted situations, including those simulating counter-terror operations.
New Delhi: Army to hold commanders' conference on Monday in which top officials of the Indian Army will undertake a 360-degree review of the battle readiness of the force as well as examine the joint war doctrine of the three arms of Indias military in the bi-annual meet.

Top Army commanders will deliberate extensively on the Doklam standoff and security challenges along the borders with China and Pakistan at a six-day conference.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be the first to address the conference.

The Indian Army is divided in seven commands - Northern Command, Western Command, Central Command, Eastern Command, Southern Command, Southwestern Command and Training Command.

The commanders will carry out a review of the evolving security architecture in the region and ways to bolster the Army's operational preparedness to effectively deal with any possible challenge, official sources said.

They said the top commanders are also likely to analyse the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with a focus on bolstering counter-terror operations.

The 73-day Doklam which began on June 16 over Peoples' Liberation Army plans to build a road in area claimed by Bhutan, ended on August 28 following mutual agreement between India and China.

The conference is also expected to discuss implementation of the ambitious reform process in the Army which was unveiled on August 30.

The government had announced that major reforms will be carried out in the Army to enhance its combat capability which will include redeployment of nearly 57,000 officers and other ranks as well as ensuring better utilisation of resources.

Director General, Staff Duties Lt Gen Vijay Singh said discussions will also be held on office cadre related management issues, Special Selection Board for promotion to the rank of Lt General and nomination of officers for the National Defence College courses and Advanced Professional Program in Public Administration courses.
New Delhi: Indian peacekeepers under the UN mission in Congo have repulsed a major strike by around 30 members of a militia on their post in the troubled North Kivu province in which three attackers were killed and two Indian soldiers sustained injuries.

The attack on the peacekeepers' post was carried out on Friday in Lubero by the Mai Mai group which have recently been targeting Congolese Army positions, Army Spokesperson Col Aman Anand said here.

Giving details of the incident, he said around 30 militia men attacked the post in Lubero, which is about 300 km north of Goma.

It is the main town of North Kivu province where dozens of illegal armed groups control several villages.

"Indian peacekeepers repulsed the attack in which three of the attackers were killed and one was wounded," Col Anand said, adding two Indian peacekeepers were also injured in the attack.

Currently, India has a total of 2,664 military personnel deployed in Congo under the UN mission there.

"Friday's attack was a rare frontal assault on the UN forces deployed for protecting civilians in Congo," said the Army spokesperson.

Previously, an attack by rebels on an Indian post took place in 2010 in Kirumba in North Kivu province when three Indian soldiers were killed after the attackers were able to intrude the base, army sources said.

They said the Indian brigade currently conducts an average of 2,300 patrols per month in the troubled region, apart from ensuring protection of civilians.

They said another important task of the Indian peacekeepers is to provide assistance in undertaking targeted operations against Illegal Armed Groups (IAGs).

As per reports, President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down at the end of his constitutional mandate last December has fuelled unrest in the country's eastern provinces.

India has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.

The country has currently deployed more than 7,600 military and police personnel in UN peace operations in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia, the Middle East, South Sudan, Sudan and the Western Sahara.
New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed the BJP government for not creating enough jobs in the country. Admitting - in a way - that the Congress-led UPA government may not have done enough either, he said the period before the current government was still better than the present.

Speaking in Vadodara, Rahul said that while he admits even UPA government did not focus as much as required on small and medium businesses, the current dispensation is at an extreme. "Our (UPA) record was better than theirs (NDA) but even we were five on ten. The current government though is providing 450 jobs every 24 hours even though 30,000 youths enter job market daily," he said, adding that China was providing 50,000 jobs to its citizens each day. "If we do not provide 30,000 to 40,000 jobs daily to our young in the next five to 10 years, no one would be able to control the anger that will spread."

Rahul also took a jibe at the current leadership and said focus on long-term goals should be given priority. "A leader's job is to look five, ten years ahead and not implementing things forcibly that will make people cry." He then went on to train his guns on how innovation is being strangulated in the country. "Our system is of killing innovation. Bureaucracy kills it. Home Ministry kills it. You try to do something and 50 people pull you back."

The 47-year-old then went on to highlight the rising prices of fuel. "The petrol prices form the basis of inflation. During the UPA era, the crude oil rate soared as high as $140 per barrel. Now, the rate is $50 per barrel. Still, the price of petrol and diesel is not being reduced, he said.

India's economy - Asia's third largest - has cooled rapidly over five consecutive quarters as small and -medium-sized businesses across India report tumbling sales, undermining job creation and damaging sentiment in industries crucial to Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s political powerbase. A Reuters report recently quoted two senior finance ministry officials as saying that the government now is considering spending between 400 to 500 billion rupees ($7.7 billion) more this financial year than it had budgeted for.

The opposition though is leaving no stone unturned in keeping the pressure up on the government.
FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar: Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi, stars likely to play their last WC
New Delhi: The Supreme Court would pronounce on Monday its verdict on the issue whether firecrackers would be sold in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) during this Diwali season.

The bench of Justice AK Sikri, Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre and Justice Ashok Bhushan had on October 6 reserved its order on a plea seeking restoration of the apex court's last year order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.

Interestingly, the petitioner is a toddler in this case. Toddler Arjun Gopal in his PIL sought the restoration of November 2016 order as he urged the court to modify its September 12 order by which the ban on the sale and stocking of firecrackers was lifted by the top court.

The Supreme Court on September 12, 2017 modified its November 2016 order suspending all licences for sale and retail of firecrackers within Delhi NCR.

While passing its order, the apex court bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta had said a complete ban would be an "extreme step" and a graded approach was needed to curb pollution caused by them.

In a stern action to curb air pollution during the ongoing wedding season, the Supreme Court in November 2016 had suspended the licences of all firecracker sellers in Delhi and National Capital Region, virtually banning their sale and purchase.

Equating firecrackers with "burning of money", the apex court had said one should think that when humans are affected so much with these firecrackers, what effect would it have it on animals like dogs which have more sensitive ears than humans. It had also observed that as per reports, 30 percent children in Delhi were asthmatic and steps needed to be taken all fronts.
Islamabad: Rejecting any role for India in Afghanistan, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday warned that the Trump administration's desire to inject New Delhi in the war-torn country would be "detrimental".

US President Donald Trump in August unveiled his South Asia policy and vowed to boost strategic partnership with India in Afghanistan. Trump also sought an enhanced role for India to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

"We don't believe that injecting India into the Pakistan-US relationship will help resolve anything, especially in Afghanistan, where we don't see any role for India. India has a relationship with the US. That is between them and the US," Abbasi was quoted as saying by the Arab News.

In an interview to the Saudi newspaper, Abbasi said Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan via a solution that "is owned and led by the Afghans."

The prime minister warned that Washington's desire to include India in Afghanistan would be detrimental.

India has a strategic partnership with Afghanistan and is implementing projects worth USD 2 billion to help rebuild the country's infrastructure.

India has been supporting an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad-based and inclusive process of peace and reconciliation, and advocating the need for a sustained and long-term commitment to Afghanistan by the international community.

Abbasi said Pakistan wants an "equal relationship or partnership with the US, like every other nation."

Asserting that the days of Pakistan depending on the US to meet its military and other requirements are over, the prime minister said the world should recognise Pakistan's efforts in fighting the "world's war" on terror.

"If one source dries up, we have no option but to go to another source. It may cost more, it may consume more resources, but we have to fight that war, and that's what we emphasised to all the people that we met," he said.

Abbasi said Pakistan has major US weapons systems in its military, but it also possesses Chinese and European systems, and more recently it inducted Russian attack helicopters.
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has defended Jay Shah, the son of party chief Amit Shah, over an article published in a website. The ruling party has asserted that there's no wrongdoing on the part of Shah.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that the BJP was "confident" that there is no wrongdoing.

Taking on Congress over the issue, the BJP said that it has gone on the offensive, as Jay Amit Shah is filing a criminal and a Rs 100 crore civil defamation case in the matter.

"We are not avoiding the issue. On the contrary, we have gone on the offensive," he said.

He also hit out at the Congress for opposing the publication of Justice Dhingra report into the controversial land transactions of Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Meanwhile, several opposition parties sought a probe into the allegations.

Today, we ask a question to the Prime Minister, the pradhan sevak ... Now, what do you have to say about crony capitalism? Will you give direction to the CBI to probe the matter? Will you ask ED to arrest these people, Congress leader Kapil Sibal asked during a press conference.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "We finally found the only beneficiary of Demonetisation. It's not the RBI, the poor or the farmers. It's the Shah-in-Shah of Demo. Jai Amit (sic)."

Questioning the BJP, Rajya Sabha lawmaker Derek O`Brien and member of West Bengal's ruling party Trinamool Congress tweeted, "BJP ever so quick to use CBI/ED against other pol parties. Why not now when it comes to one of their own ;son of their party president."

Several left party leaders, including CPI's D Raja, demanded high-level SIT probes monitored by court.

CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury claimed that it was the latest in a series of cases of corruption under the Modi government.

"Today, we ask a question to the prime minister, the pradhan sevak.... Now, what do you have to say about crony capitalism? Will you give direction to the CBI to probe the matter? Will you ask the ED to arrest these people," Sibal asked at a press conference here.

The Aam Aadmi Party also demanded a criminal probe into the allegations.

With Agency inputs
NEW DELHI: If an actor wants to return his awards, he should not accept it in the first place, Union Minister Sadanand Gowda said on Sunday while referring to Prakash Raj's remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gowda further said that Raj is not a fool to return his five national awards.

The veteran actor hit the headlines after calling out PM Modi for following people celebrating journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder and expressed his desire to return the awards.

Gauri Lankesh's killers have not been caught yet. But what is more disappointing is people celebrating her murder over social media and spreading hatred. Some of these people who celebrated her (Gauri's) murder are followed by our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) on Twitter. We have a PM, who shuts his eyes to this, he had said.

What's said...n what's not said. For all out there .. thank you pic.twitter.com/zIT7rnkFxb  Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) October 2, 2017

Raj was chosen to receive a new award Dr Kota Shivaram Karanth Huttara Prashanth to recognise of his contribution to cinema. He was a close friend of senior journalist Lankesh who was shot dead in Bengaluru.
Beijing: Reacting to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to frontier post, Nathu La, China on Monday expressed readiness to jointly maintain peace along the border areas with India.

Beijing also said that Sitharaman visit was the 'best witness' to the UK-China treaty of 1890.

"The Sikkim sector of the China-India boundary has been delimited by the historical treaty of 1890, and the Nathula pass has been the best witness testifying to this fact", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing while reacting to a question on Sitharaman's visit.

"The Chinese side is willing to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity in the border areas with the Indian side on the basis of observing historical treaties and the relevant agreements and accords between the two sides", he said.

Beijing often referred to the 1890 Britain-China treaty during the Dokalam standoff stating that it has defined the Sikkim section of the boundary with Tibet, therefore the border in that area has been settled.

Nirmala Sitharaman visits India-China border:

When Sitharaman visited the India-China border on Saturday, she did not just review security there but also taught Chinese soldiers how to greet with a `namaste`.



The video clipping of the visit shows a Chinese soldier introducing one of them to the Minister, after which Sitharaman gave the traditional salutation of "namaste".

Acknowledged a row of Chinese soldiers from across the fence who were taking pictures on my reaching Nathu La. @DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/7cWImtmfLG  Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) October 7, 2017

The Defence Minister was on a tour to Sikkim after India-China stand-off and was also supposed to visit the stand-off area but could not due to bad weather.

On Sunday, she visited Tezpur as part of her maiden visit to the Eastern Command as Defence Minister.

Meanwhile, yesterday too, China had said that "the Sikkim section of the China-India border has been demarcated by the historical boundary".

"It is the best testimony to this fact. We urge the Indian side to face the facts, abide by the provisions of the historic boundary treaty and the relevant agreement of the parties, and work together with the Chinese side to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas," it had said in a written response to PTI, to a query about Sitharaman's visit.

Of the 3,488-km India-China border which stretches from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim.

The Dokalam standoff began on June 16 over the PLA's plans to build a road in the area claimed by Bhutan after which Indian troops intervened to stop the construction as it posed a security risk to the 'Chicken's Neck' - the narrow corridor connecting India with its northeastern states.

China, which earlier opened the Nathu La route for Indian pilgrims to visit Kailash and Manasarovar, closed it after the Dokalam standoff and is yet to reopen it.

(With PTI inputs)
Nordborg: Danish company Danfoss A/S is looking at the Indian automobile sector in a major way and is in talks with some automobile makers for providing its solutions for hybrid cars, said a top official.

The 5.3 billion euros turnover privately held company is a world leader in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) sector. The company`s business segments are classified under Power Solutions, Cooling, Drives and Heating.

"We are looking at anybody making hybrid cars. We have power module solutions that have 15 times more life than others," Kim Fausing, President and CEO told IANS.

While Danfoss is having talks with Indian companies, Fausing declined to reveal their names.

"We have proprietary technology. Already our solutions have been put in around 25 million cars in Europe. We are looking at hybrid and electric cars. We work with German auto makers and US OEMs (original equipment manufacturers)," Fausing added.

Danfoss has invested in a power module plant in the US at an outlay of around $100 million. The company is also mulling to invest in China, a major market for its products.

"We bring in innovation in energy efficient solutions. We focus on application of an equipment and build efficiency in that," he added.

Fausing said Danfoss has big focus in the American and Chinese auto sector.

The Danish company makes power modules for inverters and others and is part of its drives business.

Danfoss` power modules are used in farm machines with hydraulic motors, earthmoving equipment and others.

According to a Danfoss official, automobile sector is a related business for the company and is part of its drives business.

For instance, batteries of electric cars should be cooled quickly for fast charging and Danfoss has the solution as it is a major in the HVAC segment.

The Indian government is for electric mobility. Recently Energy Efficiency Services Ltd a joint venture company of undertaking coming under the Indian power ministry decided to buy 10,000 electric vehicles.

Fausing said Danfoss is also looking out for acquisitions in India in the technology space.

Speaking about Danfoss` operations in India, Fausing said India figures in the top eight-nine market for the company globally.

"For us India is important like China and the US. India can be top three markets for Danfoss after US and China," Fausing said.

Major customers for Danfoss in India are Blue Star, Mahindra and others.

On Danfoss global business, Fausing said the group logged 13 per cent growth of which nine per cent is organic and the balance four per cent is from acquisitions.

"There is a positive momentum and the dynamics of the market is picking up," he added.

He said the company has changed its old structure and now has new global executive programme with broader leadership team.

Danfoss is transforming its business with digital agenda.

Fausing said Danfoss is investing heavily in its information technology backbone to get data on real time basis, internet of things (IoT), big data, artificial intelligence.

Queried about the possible disruptive technologies that may take down Danfoss and others, Fausing said he does not foresee any threat that would make the company irrelevant.

He said the company is investing in technology and acquiring technology companies.
London: Unilever-owned personal care brand Dove has deleted a "three-second video clip" from its Facebook page, apologising for the racially insensitive ad by saying that the company "missed the mark in representing women of colour thoughtfully".

The advertisement showed a black woman wearing a brown shirt removing her top to reveal a white woman in a lighter top.

A third image then showed the white woman removing her shirt to show a woman of apparently Asian descent, nbcnews.com reported late on Sunday.

"An image we recently posted on Facebook missed the mark in representing women of colour thoughtfully. We deeply regret the offence it caused," Dove posted after removing the ad that stirred a controversy on social media.

"Dove is committed to representing the beauty of diversity. The feedback that has been shared is important to us and we`ll use it to guide us in the future," it added.

The ad triggered backlash from consumers.

"This is gross. You think people of colour can just wash away their melanin and become white? What were you going for, exactly? Your creative director should be fired," one Facebook user posted.

A screenshot of the advertisement was first shared by US makeup artist Naomi Leann Blake which later went viral.
San Francisco: Finnish company HMD Global has sold over one million Nokia-branded Android smartphones since its revival earlier this year.



The installation numbers of Nokia Mobile Support application on Google Play Store suggest that the installation numbers are over one million and less than five million.



"This certainly confirms that over a million Nokia Android smartphones are active in the market and this doesn`t include Nokia 6 from markets like China where Play Store is not officially accessible," a report in NokiaPowerUser said on Monday.



In an earlier interview, Pekka Rantala, CMO of HMD Global, had told Nokioteca that "the company has already sold millions of Nokia-branded Android smartphones".



Officially unveiled earlier this year, Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 have witnessed good initial traction in important markets such as India, the UK and other European markets.



HMD Global, which owns the rights to manufacture, market and sell Nokia-branded smartphones for 10 years also launched the flagship Nokia 8 smartphone with top-notch specifications and Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset.



The device has "Dual-Sight" video or "Bothie" feature that lets simultaneously livestream a selfie while also using its main camera, in a splitscreen visual, for both photos and videos.
Washington: Google has discovered that Russian operatives spent tens of thousands of dollars on ads on YouTube, Gmail, Google search and other products, The Washington Post reported on Monday.

The ads do not appear to be from the same Kremlin-affiliated entity that bought ads on Facebook Inc, which may indicate a broader Russian online disinformation effort, the paper reported. Google runs the world`s largest online advertising business and YouTube is the world`s largest online video site.

Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the story.

Google has downplayed the possibility of Russian influence on its platforms, but launched a probe into the matter, according to the Post. Both Twitter Inc and Facebook have said that Russia bought ads and had accounts on their platforms.

A source who was briefed on Google`s review but who did not work for the internet and search group said Google had uncovered less than $100,000 in ad spending that had potentially been linked to Russian actors.

Facebook, on the other hand, unearthed $100,000 in spending from just one Russia-affiliated entity, the Internet Research Agency, the source said.

Meanwhile, Congress has started multiple investigations into the Russian interference in the 2016 election, with lawmakers on both political sides saying Russia intended to sow discord in the United States, spread propaganda and sway the election to elect President Donald Trump.

Google officials are expected to testify publicly before both the House and Senate intelligence committees on Nov. 1 alongside Facebook and Twitter about Russian attempts to use their platforms to influence the election.
Jammu: Three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists were on Monday killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.

Identified as Abid, one of the terrorists was gunned down in Gatipora village, reported ANI.

As per reports, weapons have also been recovered from the area.

More terrorists are believed to be trapped and the encounter operation is underway.

#Visuals One Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist killed in encounter between security forces & terrorists; encounter underway (Visuals deferred) pic.twitter.com/Tj4xxK5wN6  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

Earlier in the day, a top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Khalid was also shot dead by security forces in J&K's Ladoora area.

Khalid's killing is a shot in the arm for the security forces as he was the operational head of the terrorist outfit in the Valley.

It is being said that the JeM commander had attacked a security convoy at 9 am on Monday, following which a gunbattle erupted.

Khalid reportedly died due to bullet injury which he suffered during exchange of firing between him and the security forces.

Few days ago, the top JeM terrorist had helped around 12 terrorists infiltrate into India.

On September 26, another top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Abdul Qayoom Najar was killed in an encounter near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector.

He was reportedly trying to sneak into the Valley to take charge of the outfit.

Najar was wanted for his alleged involvement in more than 50 killings, including that of policemen in Hygam area of Sopore, in the past 17 years.
Srinagar: Top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Khalid has been killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladoora area.

Khalid's killing is a shot in the arm for the security forces as he was the operational head of the terrorist outfit in the Valley.

It is being said that the JeM commander had attacked a security convoy at 9 am on Monday, following which a gunbattle erupted.

Khalid reportedly died due to bullet injury which he suffered during exchange of firing between him and the security forces.

Few days ago, the top JeM terrorist had helped around 12 terrorists infiltrate into India.

Earlier in the day, terrorists gunned down an Army officer in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam district.

Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Raj Kumar was killed in Drung village when security forces launched an operation shortly after Sunday midnight, police sources said.
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday set a 15-day deadline to city civic body to fill about 15,000 potholes across Bengaluru, battered by heavy rains during the monsoon season.



Facing flak over the worsening conditions of the city roads that claimed three lives in a week, a miffed Siddaramaiah pulled up officials of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) at a special meeting held after he inspected the accident spots.



"As the monsoon season has ended and rains are almost over, I have directed the BBMP to fill all the potholes in 15 days and asphalt the arterial roads by this month-end," he told reporters later.



Anguished over the death of a 47-year-old woman on Sunday when she fell from a scooter that skidded while her nephew was negotiating a gaping pothole and was run over by a lorry, the Chief Minister admitted that BBMP had no expertise or machinery to fill potholes during the rainy season.



"No one should die or be injured due to potholes anywhere. It's unfortunate that three persons, including two woman have lost their life owing to potholes and bad conditions of the roads in the city," he said.



An elderly couple were crushed to death on October 3 by an inter-state bus after they fell down from their scooter on a potholed-ridden flyover in the city market.



Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George, BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad and city Mayor Sampath Raj accompanied the Chief Minister for inspecting the battered roads and the deteriorating infrastructure across the city.



"Record rains this year have damaged several roads in the city, resulting in thousands of potholes and cracks on them. I have directed the mayor to make the city pothole-free and initiate measures to clean-up the city," reiterated Siddaramaiah.



"BBMP has handed over those roads where the metro project's second phase is being built across the city to the BMRCL for asphalting and maintaining them," he added.


New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday will continue the hearing on Kerala `love jihad` case.

Earlier in the week, the Kerala government had told the top court that the state police is effectively investigating the alleged `love jihad` case of the state and hence, there is no need for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe it.

In an affidavit, the state government informed the top court that the state police is competent enough to investigate such crimes.

The government had earlier said that it had no problem with the NIA probe.

Last month, a group of people had submitted a petition to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and demanded a probe into the alleged unlawful incarceration of Hadiya, the 24-year-old Vaikom native, who had converted to Islam after marriage.

Four months ago, the Kerala High Court had sent Hadiya with her parents K.M. Asokan and Ponnamma after annulling her marriage with Shafin Jahan.

The case is under consideration of the Apex Court now, which had ordered the NIA investigation into it.Hadiaya`s husband Shafin, on September 16, had filed a plea in the top court and requested to call off the NIA probe, alleging that the investigation agency `is not being fair.`
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said that his government will provide financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to widows who want to remarry.

Chouhan, while interacting with the people of the state through a program of Aakashwani `Dil Se`, discussed about various measure taken by the government for the up-liftment of the women in the state.

He also called on the people of the state to help the government to end practices like child marriage, dowry and others by providing equal opportunity to female child.

"Efforts are being made to empower women financially and socially. The state government will not even a stone unturned to make the life of the women of the state better," he said.

"We will provide assistance of Rs. 2 lakh to the widows who want to remarry," he added.

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said to promote health education among women, his government will provide sanitary napkins in the tribal area on half of its price.

He said that the government will provide relaxation to the female candidates willing to join the state police service.

"We will give relaxation in the entrance test to the women on their height, physical fitness and others. Husband, wife working in government sector will be transferred at same place," he said.

The Chief Minister asserted that for providing better nutrition to the mother and child, `Prime Minister Matru Vandana Yojana` will be implemented soon.With the increase in crime against women, the Chief Minister assured that they will introduce provision in the legislature to ensure that rapists are punished strictly.

"Soon the government will introduce strict law to ensure every rapist is severely punished. We will introduce rigorous imprisonment for the one accused of eve-teasing.

"Only buses with CCTV camera will be providing license to prevent such incidents," he said.

Chouhan assured that measures will be taken to ensure that daughters get hare in their parental property.

The Chief Minister said the government has taken responsibility to provide proper health education, empowerment, measures for self-employment and skill development to women."

Chouhan announced that upcoming October 12 will be celebrated as `Ladli Siksha Parv`.

"There are 26 lakh girls in the state, when they will turn 21, Rs. 31 crore will be transferred in their account in total," he said.

"October 12 will be celebrated as `Ladli Siksha Parv`, in which 65,000 thousand girls enrolled in class sixth will be given Rs 2000 each. Apart from this girls enrolled in class sixth and eighth will be provided free medical check-up," he added.

Terming child marriage as an injustice towards daughters, Chauhan discussed about `Lado programme` under which one lakh child marriages were stopped. He also urged girls to stand up against this ill-practice.
New Delhi: Horrifying visuals have surfaced, showing a Nigerian native being tied to a post and thrashed mercilessly by a mob in Delhi's Malviya Nagar.

The man was allegedly caught while he was trying to rob a house.

The incident took place over two weeks ago, after which, the man was put behind bars. According to reports, he was badly wounded and barely conscious when he was handed over to the police.

In the video, the Nigerian national can be seen with his feet tied to the lamp post, yelling and begging for mercy while his attackers beat him brutally with sticks.

A man can also be seen holding his feet and aiming hard on his soles with a stick.

Earlier, a Nigerian student was brutally beaten by a large mob inside Greater Noidas Ansal Plaza mall, following protests over the death of a Class 12 student of a residential colony there due to drug overdose.
Mumbai: Just when we thought Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshans ugly legal battle that began last year was over, the Queen star made explosive revelations about her alleged relationship with her Krissh 3 co-star, during interviews a few weeks back. The National Award winning actress also made explosive statements that irked Aditya Pancholi and his wife Zarina Wahab, while promoting her film Simran.

Aditya and his wife hit back by sending her a legal notice but Roshan chose to remain tight-lipped until October 5 when he issued a statement on Twitter.

The actor also gave a couple of interviews to narrate his side of the story.

According to India.com, Hrithik spoke about the entire episode to clear the air.

I did give her advice when she asked me for solicited advice on her choice of films. At that point, she was trying to learn English I told her about my speech issues, India.com quoted Hrithik as saying.

Even if there is one witness who has seen me and lady one on one, I knew it would go against me. I have phone records of the past seven years. I have only messaged her on her birthdays , festivals etc. There were no email exchanges between us. It had always been one sided. I have only one email account and the emails that have been sent were not from that one. Rangoli had sent me a mail once stating that Kangana has been communicating with a person who has been posing as you. My intention against the complaint with the Cyber Cell wasnt to attack. It was without the media getting to know for my own protection, he added.

Kanganas sister Rangoli too had slammed Hrithik by posting a screenshot of an email allegedly sent by him. Through a series of tweets, Rangoli narrated her sisters story.

Talking about Rangoli, Hrithik said, I havent responded to a single mail after Rangoli sent me horrific mails that mentioned rape and all. I decided not to be associated with this. I was a single man at that point, I could have let myself loose, but I didnt. After first 40-50 emails, i put those mails in spam. She can say something now, again the next year. When does it end. I want the harassment to stop.I have gone and spoken to my friends and colleagues for advice. But no one has ever heard about something like this.

I was told not to have a one on one meeting, because after that other accusations like I was beaten up or threatened also could have come up. In 2014, the mails were in the inbox. In 2015, people started talking about the passionate affair. In 2016, she made it into a fact by calling me a silly ex. At parties people sympathised with me. I can handle the fact that its unfair. I think our children should be taught that life is unfair.
New Delhi: The much-talked-about Kangana Ranaut - Hrithik Roshan controversy has taken the nation by storm lately. From social media to news debates, people are talking about the issue.

All thanks to recent interviews, some of the most hilarious brains on social media have given this discussion a funny twist. Mocking the claims reportedly made by Kangana, Twitterati are now posting pictures, also featuring Hrithik along with them, on the Internet and claiming that they were also in a relationship with him.

Believe it or not, it is actually happening! See for yourself:

Hrithik is the first n only Indian to have an affair with an alien. #HadAffairWithHrithik pic.twitter.com/DFDtilFzsC  Hrithik Roshan Fan (@iHrithiksSniper) October 7, 2017

I had 10 yrs of relationship with @iHrithik and I only have this picture to prove @Rangoli_A pic.twitter.com/JXJCg1VZ3L October 6, 2017

I was also in a relationship with #HrithikRoshan & this is not photoshop... pic.twitter.com/3g4sndyUga  bHaskaRjyoti (@Bhaskar15251) October 7, 2017

These two successful women too #HadAffairWithHrithik, so what if its photoshopped, it should still be considered as solid proof. pic.twitter.com/48XzwhAMiT  Ray (@BeingAntiHero) October 7, 2017

The Hrithik-Kangana controversy broke out last year when the Queen actress referred to one of her former boyfriends and 'silly-ex'. She said in an interview that she fails to understand "why exes do silly things to get your attention".

The actress lodged a legal complaint against Hrithik for 'misusing' the confidential emails and photographs of the time when they were together. Hrithik later filed a complaint with the cyber crime cell, claiming an imposter had been emailing Kangana from a bogus email ID, pretending to be him.
Karachi: A Pakistani theatre actress was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Multan on Monday.

According to local media reports, Shamim, better known as Shamo, was killed outside her house in Shah town of Multan city.

The 29-year-old's brother, Saifur Rehman told police that someone had called his sister to come outside the house. The unidentified men then opened fire on her, killing her on the spot.

He also said that Shamim had been receiving death threats from someone performing alongside her in theatres. He expressed suspicion that his sister might have been killed by her estranged husband.
New Delhi: The government is considering to withdraw the merchant discount rates (MDR) levied on e-tickets that could slash ticket prices for railway passengers.

MDR charges are applicable for those who book tickets online via IRCTC website.

The charges are levied by banks on customers for providing credit/debit card services. As indicated by railway minister, the government is in talks with banks to resolve the issue of MDR.

Earlier, railways used to charge a service charge, prior to demonetisation. As soon as the service charges were removed post demonetisation, digital transactions accelerated.

Ticket prices would automatically fall for passengers booking via IRCTC portal after MDR charges are eliminated.

Rail passengers will also continue to enjoy service charge exemption on tickets booked online till March 2018.

The government had waived service charges after demonetisation in November last year to encourage digital modes of booking.

The facility had been extended to June 30 and then September 30. Service charges on booking train tickets online through IRCTC ranges from Rs 20 to 40 per ticket.

In a September 29 missive to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the ticketing agency of the railways, the Railway Board directed that the benefits be extended till March next year.

Senior railway officials say that almost 33 percent of the IRCTC revenue comes from the service charge collected on online bookings. As per the revenue collection of the last financial year, about Rs 540 crore of IRCTC's revenue of over Rs 1,500 crore came from ticket bookings.

An amount of around Rs 184 crore has not been realised from passengers on account of service charge and service tax thereon on reserved tickets booked online from November 23, 2016 to February 28, 2017, according to railways data.
Biloxi (US): Hurricane Nate brought a burst of flooding and power outages to the US Gulf Coast before weakening rapidly, sparing the region the kind of catastrophic damage left by a series of hurricanes that hit the southern US and Caribbean in recent weeks.

Nate the first hurricane to make landfall in Mississippi since Katrina in 2005  quickly lost strength, with its winds diminishing to a tropical depression as it pushed northward into Alabama and toward Georgia with heavy rain.

It was a Category 1 hurricane when it came ashore outside Biloxi early yesterday, its second landfall after initially hitting southeastern Louisiana on Saturday evening.

The storm surge from the Mississippi Sound littered Biloxi's main beach front highway with debris and flooded a casino's lobby and parking structure overnight.

By dawn, however, Nate's receding floodwaters didn't reveal any obvious signs of widespread damage in the city where Hurricane Katrina had levelled thousands of beach front homes and businesses.

No storm-related deaths or injuries were immediately reported.

Mississippi Gov Phil Bryant praised state and local officials and coastal residents for working together to avoid loss of life.

Lee Smithson, director of the state emergency management agency, said damage from Nate was held down in part because of work done and lessons learned from Katrina.

"If that same storm would have hit us 15 years ago, the damage would have been extensive and we would have had loss of life." Smithson said of Nate. "But we have rebuilt the coast in the aftermath of Katrina higher and stronger."

Nate knocked out power to more than 100,000 residents in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida, but crews worked on repairs and it appeared many of the outages had been restored within 24 hours.

As of last evening, Alabama Power said it had electricity back to more than 64,000 customers and some 36,000 remained without power, while utilities and cooperatives in Mississippi said it had restored power to more than 21,000 customers.

In Louisiana, there were scattered outages during the storm, while Florida Gov. Rick Scott said 6,800 customers had lost power in his state.

Mississippi's Gulf Coast casinos got approval to reopen in midmorning after closing Saturday as the storm approached. Sean Stewart, checking on his father's sailboat at a Biloxi marina after daybreak, found another boat had sunk, its sail still fluttering in Nate's diminishing winds. Stewart was relieved to find his father's craft intact.

"I got lucky on this one," he said.

Before Nate sped past Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula late Friday and entered the Gulf of Mexico, it drenched Central America with rains that left at least 22 people dead. But Nate didn't approach the intensity of Harvey, Irma and Maria  powerful storms that left behind massive destruction during 2017's exceptionally busy hurricane season.

"We are thankful because this looked like it was going to be a freight train barrelling through the city," said Vincent Creel, a spokesman for the city of Biloxi.

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the four hurricanes that have struck the U.S. And its territories this year have "strained" resources, with roughly 85 per cent of the agency's forces deployed.

"We're still working massive issues in Harvey, Irma, as well as the issues in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and now this one," FEMA Administrator Brock Long told ABC's "This Week."

The federal government declared emergencies in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Nate initially made landfall Saturday evening in Louisiana, but fears that it would overwhelm the fragile pumping system in New Orleans proved to be unfounded. The storm passed to the east of New Orleans, and Mayor Mitch Landrieu lifted a curfew on the city known for its all-night partying.

"Hurricane Nate had the potential to wreak havoc on Louisiana, but thankfully, we were largely spared major damage," Gov John Bel Edwards said in a statement.

In Alabama, Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier said he woke up around 3 am yesterday to discover knee-deep water in his yard. Although some homes and cars on the island had flooded, Collier said he hadn't heard of anyone needing rescue.

"We didn't think it would be quite that bad," he said. "It kind of snuck up on us in the wee hours of the morning." At landfall in Mississippi, the fast-moving storm had maximum sustained winds near 85 mph (140 kph), the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Nate steadily weakened after its first landfall in a sparsely populated area of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.

At 5 pm EDT, the center of Nate was about 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Nashville, Tennessee. Nate was expected to bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to the Deep South, eastern Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians through Monday. The Ohio Valley, central Appalachians and Northeast could also get heavy rain before the storm exits Maine on Tuesday.
London: As tensions rise between the US and North Korea over the latter's nuclear programme, the UK is quietly readying its war machines in case of a war breaks out, a media report said on Monday.

The British armed forces are apparently preparing for a worst-case scenario and part of that plan is to deploy the UKs new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the region, the Metro News reported.

We have plenty of ships to send the Type-45 destroyers, the Type-23 frigates. Britains new aircraft carrier could be pressed into service early if things turn south, the report said quoting a military source.

The new aircraft carrier will be handed over to the Navy later this year before it undergoes sea trials.

Battle preparations have been made as neither Donald Trump nor Kim Jong-un show any desire to calm their war of words.

The British forces are mulling to use the same tactics it used during the Falklands crisis in Argentina when they sent the HMS Illustrious early.

Though HMS Queen Elizabeth was due to enter service by 2020, it will be commissioned in 2017, so it could technically be sent to war, the report said.

In the Falklands we had to react to an event and HMS Illustrious was accelerated to respond, it quoted a royal navy source as saying.
US President Donald Trump, it seems, badly wants to go war with North Korea. He tweeted about it again, this time decrying 25 years of US foreign policy in dealing with the perceived North Korean threat.

Trumps latest tweet in the ongoing ratcheting up of tensions and stakes in East Asia comes days after mixed messaging from his administration, which saw officials other than the President scramble to avoid violence on the Korean peninsula even as Trump himself seemed to pave the path to war.

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work! Trump tweeted early on Monday morning.

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2017

This is very similar to his tweets a day earlier.

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid......  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

...hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

Sticking to habit, Trump offered no information or corroborations to his statement. This has left it unclear who or what he was specifically referring to when he said giving billions of dollars.

Trumps comment comes less than a week after he undercut statements by Rex Tillerson, his own Secretary of State. Tillerson, in China, had said the US is attempting to find a diplomatic solution to the ongoing escalation of tensions with North Korea.

Trump stopped that in its tracks, again with a tweet.

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2017

...Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done! October 1, 2017

Tillerson is not the only top US official who has been caught saying basically the opposite of what Trump has been tweeting. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis too was clear when he said the problem on the Korean peninsula did not have a military solution. He had pointed out that any outbreak of violence would put the 25 million people of Seoul in danger of North Korean bombardment immediately.
Bucharest: NATO is set to launch a new multinational force in Romania on Monday to counter Russia along its eastern flank and to check a growing Russian presence in the Black Sea following the Kremlin`s 2014 seizure of Crimea.

Initially a small force relying on troops from 10 NATO countries including Italy, Canada as well as Romania, the land, air and sea deployments will complement about 900 U.S. troops already in place.

"Our purpose is peace, not war," Romanian President Klaus Iohannis told the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Bucharest. "We are not a threat for Russia. "But we need dialogue from a strong position of defence and discouragement."

Russia accuses NATO of trying to encircle it and threatening stability in Eastern Europe, which NATO denies. Around the Black Sea, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey are NATO members while Georgia and Ukraine aspire to join.

The NATO force aims to develop its allied presence in the Black Sea region, rich in oil and gas, without escalating tensions, as it seeks to counter Russia`s own plans to create what military analysts say is a "buffer zone".

The 2008 Russian operation to put troops in Georgia`s South Ossetia`s region, its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014 and its annexation of Crimea have raised the stakes, with all sides warning of a new, Cold-War style scenario.

Details of the new force size were unclear. Based inland at a base near the southern Romanian city of Craiova, the land component of the force involves a brigade-size multinational NATO force, typically some 3,000 to 4,000 troops, but the contribution of non-Romanian troops is modest.

Aside from Romania, Poland is the biggest troop contributor. Bulgaria, Italy and Portugal will train regularly with the force in Craiova, and Germany is also expected to contribute.

In additional to existing NATO Black Sea naval patrols, a maritime presence will include more allied visits to Romanian and Bulgarian ports, training and exercises.

NATO air forces will also be limited at first but Britain is deploying fighter planes to Romania. Canada is already patrolling Romanian air space along with national pilots. Italy is patrolling Bulgarian air space.

"It sends a signal of NATO`s resolve," said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who will visit the troops later on Monday, stressing that NATO also had a 40,000-strong response force in case of a conflict.

`WEST BERLIN` MODEL

Some Eastern Europeans want NATO`s new ballistic missile defence shield, which includes a site in Romania, to be part of NATO`s eastern posture vis-a-vis Russia.

"The Aegis Ashore system would add another level of deterrence," said Maciej Kowalski, an analyst at the Polish Casimir Pulaski Foundation, referring to the U.S.-built system.

NATO says the system is to intercept any Iranian rockets.

As in the Baltics and Poland, where the U.S.-led alliance has some 4,000 troops, NATO says the relatively light multinational model recalls allied support for West Berlin in the 1950s, when British, French and U.S. forces ensured the Soviet Union could not control all Berlin.

Under NATO`s founding treaty, an attack on one ally is an attack on all, meaning all 28 NATO nations would be required to respond in the case of any potential Russian aggression.

While months in planning, the establishment of the force comes as Russia winds down its biggest war games since 2013.

The Zapad, or West, games were a show of its latest weaponry and its ability to quickly mass soldiers on NATO`s borders.

The enhanced NATO presence in Romania and Bulgaria marks a diplomatic success for Bucharest, which gained greater persuasive power because it is set to reach a NATO goal of spending 2 percent of economic output on defence this year, a priority for U.S. President Donald Trump.

Romania pushed for bigger NATO naval presence on the Black Sea for over a year, but found its neighbour Bulgaria wary of provoking Russia. Turkey only supports limited NATO reinforcements, concerned about breaking international rules limiting the scale of patrols in the Black Sea.

Turkey has played down the extent of Russia`s militarization of Crimea, which NATO says involves a laying of surface-to-air missiles and communications jamming equipment.
Islamabad: The daughter and son-in-law of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif were on Monday granted bail by the country's anti-graft court in the Panama Papers scandal as they appeared before it following their return from London.

Maryam Nawaz, 43, along with her spouse, former army captain Muhammad Safdar, returned to the country late last night to appear in the Accountability Court. Safdar was arrested on his arrival as the court had issued non- bailable arrest warrant against him.

Both separately appeared in the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir here.

Sharif and his two sons were absent during the hearing as they are in London to attend his wife Kulsoom who is battling throat cancer.

Sharif had attended the previous two hearings but flew to London last week to see his ailing wife, who underwent a third surgery.

The court accepted the bail applications of Maryam and Safdar and postponed the hearing till October 13, according to court officials.

Sharif?s lawyer Khawaja Harris asked the court to adjourn the hearing for 15 days with a commitment that Sharif would also appear. The court rejected the plea announced that it will indict the accused during the next hearing.

The court also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharif?s sons -- Husain and Hasan -- proclaimed offender as they have failed to appear before it so far.

The court also decided to conduct separate trials of Husain and Hasan from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

Maryam, who is being groomed as Sharif's political successor, appeared in the court for the first time today.

She was ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 50,000 against a non-bailable arrest warrant against her.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lawyers asked the court to send Safdar to jail on judicial remand but the court granted him bail and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 for surety bonds.

The court also asked him to seek its permission before going abroad and rejected the NAB request to confiscate his passport.

Both Maryam and Safdar have been charged by the NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Sharif.

Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken into custody despite the fact that he had come back to face the case.

"Those who want to appear by free will are arrested from airport, but we are not afraid of it,? she said.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said that the "absconders are free and hold public meetings".

She also criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.

"Questions will be asked if the cases which started with Panama ended with Iqama (Job contract). The judges would have to answer it,? she said referring to dismissal of Sharif for non-declaration of his salary from his son?s company in the UAE.

"Those who sent home representative of 20 crore people should also be brought to justice," she said.

During the hearing, Sharif?s lawyer also presented an application to exempt his from appearing before the court today. The court accepted the plea.

The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Husain, Hasan and Safdar last Monday after they failed to appear before it.

The cases were filed after the July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling \Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the people's mandate and democracy.
London: Human-like sex dolls being developed with the help of the robotic technology may soon replace people's appetite for porn movies!

The sex robots are fast gaining grounds in the West and soon the porn stars may find themselves out of jobs, a media report has claimed.

Adult movie stars have expressed concerns that sex robots could ruin the porn industry as viewers turn away from their films towards saucy dolls.

Sex robots are going to be a game changer. And I think now is the time to start thinking about these things as this is going to be a technology that people will be embracing in, express.co.uk quoted adult actress Ela Darling as saying.

Right now we're at the stage where sex robots are being invented and the next step will be everybody has a sex robot, she added.

Darling, who has worked in the industry for a decade, said people may turn away from physical relationships as sex robots start to cater physical need.

"I do think at some point people will be having sex with sex robots instead of people, she said.

However, some others in the industry disagree with her, saying the sensual cyborgs will be nothing more than a trend.

"I don't see most individuals investing in sex robots as they are a newer option that is more on the fringe of society's sexuality," Blair Williams said.

"However sex robots may fuel the porn industry as a tool for arousal before us," Williams was quoted as saying.

The app, called "Shared Girlfriend, can be used by customers to customise the dolls they want before renting them out for a few nights.

Manufacturer Touch provides the sex dolls on rent and people can customize them with the help of the app "Shared Girlfriend, the report claimed.
Washington: US President Donald Trump has sent a 70-point enforcement plan to Congress proposing the stiffest reforms ever offered by an administration, including calls for a border wall with Mexico and a merit-based system of granting visas, the media reported.

The plans sent on Sunday also include call for more deportation agents, a crackdown on sanctuary cities and stricter limits to chain migration, all issues the White House said it needs to be part of any bill Congress passes to legalise illegal immigrant "Dreamers" currently protected by the deportation amnesty known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Nearly 800,000 undocumented young people currently benefits from DACA.

The plans also break serious new ground on the legal front, giving federal agents more leeway to deny illegal immigrants at the border, to arrest and hold them when they are spotted in the interior, and to deport them more speedily, reports The Washington Times.

The goal, the White House said, was to ensure major changes to border security, interior enforcement and the legal immigration system.

"Anything that is done addressing the status of DACA recipients needs to include these three reforms and solve these three problems," a senior White House official told The Times.

"If you don`t solve these problems then you`re not going to have a secure border, you`re not going to have a lawful immigration system and you`re not going to be able to protect American workers."

The plan includes a total of 27 different suggestions on border security, 39 improvements to interior enforcement and four major changes to the legal immigration system.

The White House said the plan was built from the ground up, with inputs from the Justice, State and Labour Departments and the three main immigration agencies at Homeland Security, each of whom was asked what tools they needed to finally get a handle on illegal immigration, The Washington Times reported.

Also on the list are proposals that have been included in past immigration bills that garnered bipartisan support such as cancelling the annual visa lottery that doles out 50,000 green cards at random, and requiring all businesses to use E-Verify, the government`s currently voluntary system for checking to make sure new hires are legally eligible to work.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS. The Czech Export Bank (CEB) plans to provide warranties to Skoda JS for the upgrade of Armenias Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, the Czech Radio reports.

The Czech Export Bank will provide warranties worth about one million USD for technological exports to the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. This order is a great achievement for the Czech energy field and the Czech Export Bank. This is the Banks first historical trade deal in the territory of Armenia, Karel Bures - Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the CEB, said.

SKODA JS will deliver a reactor management system to Metsamor that is similar to the systems installed in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. At the moment a similar system is being delivered to Hungary.
KAPAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Italian businessmen are opening a pizza factory in Kapan, which will have 30-100 employees, governor of Syunik Vahe Hakobyan told a press conference.

Italian businessman Nikola Di Mauro is behind the idea, who initially wanted to open the factory in Yerevan, but later decided in Kapan as result of discussions. All of the employees will be from Armenia, according to the governor. The production will be frozen pizzas.

This is a rather serious factory. The Italians have already rented the territory, we are working. Equipment was brought from Italy, he said, adding that the main volume of production will be exported to Russia.

They will start from 200,000 pieces a month and gradually reach half a million a month, 12 kinds of pizzas will be made, he said.

Total investments amounted 300,000 dollars.
JERMUK, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Jermuk is a special regulation area of urban development, therefore the ongoing projects in the town are under the direct coordination of the president, chairman of the urban development committee Narek Sargsyan said after touring Jermuk with the President.

Upon the presidents instruction we designed a development project for the town, which has received specific outline at this moment. We will try to complete the urban development construction of the central part of the town at the expense of private investments during three years. Private investors began to display great interest for Jermuk, he said.

A major project on constructing a thermal spa center from mineral waters is underway in Jermuk  worth 20 million dollars. Narek Sargsyan said the volume of total investments during the upcoming three years will exceed 30 million dollars in Jermuk.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. US President Donald Trump is leading the US towards a third World War, and his governing style is fit more for a reality show than for the White House, Senator Bob Corker (R) said, further fueling the bitter public row between the former allies, RT reports.

Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed serious doubts about Trumps ability to lead the country in the right direction in an interview with the New York Times on Sunday.

He concerns me. He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation, Corker said of Trump.

He went on to blame Trump, his fellow party member, for treating the job of running the country like a never-ending reality show, saying that by continually threatening other countries Trump is setting the US on the path to World War III.

Trump launched a scathing attack on Corker seemingly out of the blue. Trump called out Corker for a lack of leadership skills, and impeding his administrations policy with his tweets.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. With the support of the Development Foundation of Armenia (DFA), 5 jewelry companies received the export orders with value of 1.2 million AMD from the JUNWEX Moscow international Fair, the DFA told Armenpress.

During the exhibition, the Armenian companies concluded 5 export contracts mainly with the Russian wholesale buyers, and 16 more contracts are under negotiations that will substantially increase the total volume of the export contracts signed at the JUNWEX Moscow 2017. The Armenian jewelry pieces were also popular among the non-professional visitors of the fair: the jewelry worth 34 000 USD was purchased by the latter.

The Arab market is also a target for us, thus we are planning to attend the VOD Dubai International Jewelry Show with the joint pavilion. For that purpose, we have already met and held negotiations with the organizers of the Show on providing better conditions to our producers, noted the head of the Event Management team of the DFA Markus Azadian.

The DFA team has also organized a meeting with the head of the Armenian Jewelers Association (AJA) Gagik Gevorkyan who have expressed readiness to contribute the promotion of the Armenian jewelry products in international market.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. On October 8, minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Artsakh Masis Mayilian received members of the California State Legislature, press service of the ministry told Armenpress.

Welcoming the visit of the Californian MPs to Artsakh, the foreign minister stressed the importance of the resolution adopted jointly by the California State Assembly and State Senate in support of the independence of Artsakh, as well as expressed confidence that the international recognition of the Artsakh independence would become an important contribution to strengthening peace and security in the region.

Masis Mayilian noted that in recent years Artsakh and California have created solid basis for developing relations in different spheres, and it is time to put the cooperation on a practical track. In this context, the sides discussed the perspective areas for cooperation.

Touching upon the current situation in the process of peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, the foreign minister of Artsakh noted the need to create appropriate conditions for moving forward the peace process and to ensure its irreversibility.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai will visit Georgia on October 10, Georgias Channel 1 reports.

During the visit James Appathurai will take part in the defense and security conference in Batumi.

In addition, the Special Representative will also meet with Georgian President, Prime Minister and members of the government.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Being the leader of the political majority President Serzh Sargsyan will remain in the political arena and will be one of the most prominent political figures of the country, Vahram Baghdasaryan  head of the RPA faction, said in response to a question what will President Serzh Sargsyan do after April 2018, reports Armenpress.

Serzh Sargsyan is the President of Armenia until April of 2018, and we have not had any discussion what will happen after April, time will come, we will discuss and will inform you. When time comes, Serzh Sargsyan personally will talk about it, Baghdasaryan told reporters in the Parliament.

After the Constitutional reforms the parliamentary system of governance will come into force in Armenia starting from April of 2018.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Ambassador to Syria Arshak Poladyan visited Aleppo on October 4-7 during which he got acquainted with the damages caused to the city and the restoration works, the problems facing the Armenians of Aleppo, as well as discussed with the community leadership the opportunities to solve these problems. The Ambassador also met with Aleppo provincial authorities, the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress.

On October 4 Ambassador Poladyan visited the Armenian Consulate General in Aleppo during which the newly appointed Consul General Armen Sargsyan presented the main directions of the Consulates activity to the Ambassador. The opportunities to deepen the cooperation between the Armenian community and Aleppo provincial authorities were discussed.

On October 5 the Armenian Ambassador met with Aleppo Governor Hussein Diab during which the Governor introduced the material damages caused to the city during the military operations, as well as the current situation in the fields of economy, production, urban development, infrastructures and services. Hussein Diab also touched upon the implementation of certain reconstruction projects of the city and the ongoing works on this path. The sides discussed the prospects of Armenias participation in these projects, as well as boosting the bilateral cooperation.

The Aleppo Governor attached importance to the role of the Armenian community in the citys economic, cultural and public life, expressing confidence that the Armenians of Aleppo will have their contribution to the citys recovery and return to the peaceful life. The Governor highly appreciated Armenias balanced stance on the Syrian crisis.

On the same day Ambassador Poladyan met with the Armenian community representatives in the St. Mary Church which was attended by spiritual leaders, famous community figures.

In his remarks the Armenian Ambassador said from the very start of the Syrian crisis Armenias high-ranking leadership made a decision to maintain Armenian diplomatic representations in Syria and support Syrian-Armenians as much as possible. He added that Armenia will continue to keep in spotlight the issues of Armenians and will make all possible efforts to minimize their problems.

Primate of the Berio Armenian Diocese Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian handed over Service Order to the Armenian Ambassador as sign of gratitude to his long productive service.

Within the frames of the visit the Ambassador also visited Aleppos Armenian spiritual, cultural and education institutions.




YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Armenias President Serzh Sargsyan attended October 9 the special session of the Investigative Committees Board dedicated to the Day of Investigative Committee officer and the third anniversary of the committees establishment.

President of the Investigative Committee Aghvan Hovsepyan delivered opening remarks, presenting the ongoing improvement steps, achievements, issues and challenges.

During the event President Serzh Sargsyan awarded several officers with high state awards for efficient work and contribution to strengthening the rule of law.

The transcript of the Presidents speech is available in Armenian.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on October 9 held a meeting with Chairman of the Russian Association of Friendship and Cooperation with Armenia Viktor Krivopuskov, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

During the meeting Viktor Krivopuskov presented to the President the activity and upcoming programs of the organization chaired by him, in particular focusing on the upcoming works aimed at organizing Armenian Culture days in Russia.

The event will be held in the field of culture within the frames of the 2016-2018 cooperation program between Armenia and Russia. Viktor Krivopuskov informed that within the frames of the Armenian Culture days events will be held also in Russias regions.

President Sargsyan welcomed the Russian Associations activity aimed at deepening the Armenian-Russian ties and strengthening the friendship of the two peoples and wished success. He assured that Armenias state authorities will provide assistance to the Association for the implementation of the abovementioned initiatives.




YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the CSTO Yuri Khachaturov presented the scenario of the joint military exercises of the rapid response forces and the Armenian-Russian unified troops.

Khachaturov told a press conference that the Partnership 2017 drills are part of the Commonwealth 2017 exercises, which began earlier in Rostov on Don.

Recently we held the Search 2017 exercises in Armenia, with the participation of reconnaissance units, which are followed by the military exercises with the participation of the rapid response collective forces. According to the scenario of the military exercises, terrorists have entered the territory of a CSTO member state. We have already carried out intelligence works, and now well carry out planning, and on October 13  elimination of terrorists, Khachaturov said.

He added that another phase of the military exercises will be held in Kazakhstan, with the participation of CSTO peacekeeping units.

He stressed that the military exercises are carried out under the command of the Russian Southern Military District, because this enables to use equipment which only the Russian military possesses and only Russian servicemen can use it.

Khachaturov said different weapons will be used in the drills, but not the Iskander ballistic missile systems, since the practical use of the weapon system within Armenia will be difficult  taking into account the small territory of the country.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Germany can normalize relations with Turkey only after the release of German nationals who are arrested for political reasons, German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel said, reports TASS.

Its still a question whether it would be possible to normalize the relations in the upcoming meetings. However, the release of arrested citizens is a precondition, the German FM said.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Naira Zohrabyan  member of the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), called on the members of the Council of Europe to reveal the involvement of their lawmakers in the recent corruption scandals linked with the Assembly, reports Armenpress.

The Armenian MP also urged the representatives of Hungarian delegation at PACE to find out how Hungary sold murderer Ramil Safarov to Baku for 7.6 million USD.

Naira Zohrabyan delivered remarks at the PACE autumn plenary session touching upon the resignation of Pedro Agramunt and the recent corruption scandals involving European lawmakers and the need to disclose them.

Pedro Agramunt, known as Don Corruption, resigned on October 6 by the calls of his political doctors. I congratulate those PACE lawmakers who didnt allow the PACE name to be identified with corruption where someone can buy, sell, re-sell a lawmaker and force to serve his countrys authoritarian agenda. But whether putting an end on Pedro Agramunt is enough to clean up the corruption cobweb from the PACE face? It becomes clear that different European figures are involved in the famous corruption scandal who for years have received huge amount of money from the Danske Bank Estonia branch. I hope our colleagues of the Hungarian delegation will address a question to their countrys political leadership over the scandalous disclosure according to which Hungary has sold murderer Ramil Safarov for 7.6 million USD who killed Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan with an axe while he was sleeping. I think our Hungarian colleagues will be interested in how millions of dollars have been transferred to a bank account opened by Metastar Invest in the Hungarian MKB bank and how these bank accounts are linked with Hungarys political leadership. I would like to remind that the Metastar Invest is the company which regularly transferred money to former PACE Vice-President Luca Volonte who most probably at the moment tells to the Italian prosecution about his warm relationship with his totalitarian friend, Naira Zohrabyan said.

The Armenian lawmaker said during the PACE June session they have supported the creation of independent investigative body which impartially investigates all corruption cases linked with the Assemblys activity. There are numerous similar facts which have recently been the subject of international media. I join the statement of the President of Transparency International who said its just shocking to see how certain political figures are being sold in a respected structure like PACE and close their eyes on corruption and human rights violations. Recently the Seimas of Lithuania has appealed to the countrys financial crimes investigative body urging to investigative the possible involvement of Lithuanian figures in the corruption scandals linked with the PACE. I hope many CoE countries will follow Lithuanias example and I assure that many supporters of Don Pedro will have to ask for a political asylum from the country nourishing them.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. At the invitation of the First Vice President of Iran Eshaq Jahangiri Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan has arrived in Iran on an official visit. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia, following the official meeting ceremony at the Mehrabad airport in Tehran, the delegation led by Premier Karapetyan headed to Irans Royal Saadabad Palace where the meeting of Karen Karapetyan and Eshaq Jahangiri took place.

The Head of the Executive of Armenia thanked for the cordial reception and once again congratulated Eshaq Jahangiri on the re-appointment to the post of the First Vice President of Iran. The Armenian Premier highly assessed the close and friendly relations between Armenia and Iran that continue to develop in an atmosphere of mutual trust. I am full of hope that after our meeting we will give new breath to our cooperation and all the programs on our agenda. Referring to economic cooperation I have to note that its significantly inferior to the high level political dialogue between our countries. But I am more than convinced that we will be able to record new achievements in the economic field of our cooperation, Karen Karapetyan said.

First Vice President of Iran Eshaq Jahangiri thanked the Armenian Premier for accepting his invitation and visiting Iran and highly assessed the current level of the interstate relations. Eshaq Jahangiri highlighted the continuous development of economic relations in various spheres between the two neighboring and friendly countries and expressed conviction that PM Karapetyans official visit will foster further activation and expansion of economic cooperation.

The Armenian Premier and the First Vice President of Iran assessed the construction of Iran-Armenia 400kw third power transmission line one of the important projects of bilateral economic agenda that will give an opportunity to add the gas-electricity exchange volumes. The sides also highlighted the implementation of Meghri HPP project. The role of Syunik free trade zone and its cooperation with Iranian Aras free trade zone was assessed as of key importance for the development of Armenian-Iranian economic and trade relations. I am sure this free trade zone can be of interest for Iranian companies that would like to enter the EEU market or the European markets, since Armenia has been granted with GSP+ privileged trade regime, as well as for other companies that might have limitations for cooperation with Iran, Karen Karapetyan said.

Following the tete-a-tete conversation between Karen Karapetyan and Eshaq Jahangiri an expanded format meeting took place during which cooperation prospects in different spheres were discussed.

The development of international transport corridors, multimodal transport and the possible participation of the Iranian side in the construction of some parts of North-South road corridor were assessed as important spheres for cooperation between Armenia and Iran.

Trilateral energy cooperation between Armenia, Iran and Turkmenistan was touched upon. Active cooperation between the customs agencies of the two countries was also highlighted. Premier Karapetyan informed that the Government of Armenia has initiated a project of modernization of Armenia-Iran border check point.

Referring to the talks on Iran-EEU FTA, the Head of the Executive of Armenia hoped that the process will come to end in maximally short period of time and said that the Armenian side is ready to support.

The sides shared the opinion that its necessary to activate the works of Armenia-Iran intergovernmental commission and agreed that the regular 15th session should be held in the near future.

The Armenian premier and the Vice President of Iran referred to regional developments. In this context Karen Karapetyan thanked the Iranian side for its balanced position on Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Karen Karapetyan invited Eshaq Jahangiri to Armenia on an official visit which was accepted with pleasure.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Iran are located in the same cultural, civilization and geographical area, the relations of the two countries come from millennia back and are based on cultural similarities of the two peoples, ARMENPRESS reports Irans First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri announced during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan.

Our relations have always been based on stability and, Give God, will be continued in the same way. Our Armenian citizens living in different Iranian cities have warm ties with their compatriots in the Republic of Armenia, which is a good bridge for the development of the relations between the two states. We have good relations with our neighbors and serious measures have been taken to develop them, the Iranian Vice President said.

According to him Armenia has its special place in Irans foreign policy agenda. We have no limitations for the cooperation with Armenia in the political. Economic and cultural spheres and the visit of the honorable Prime Minister of Armenia can be of special importance for the development of those relations, Eshaq Jahangiri said, adding that during the personal conversation with the Armenian Premier and the expanded-format talks several issues were discussed that will foster the future development of the relations between the two states.

Since Armenia is a member to the Eurasian Economic Union and has good relations with the European Union, this platform can be positive for the development of interstate relations. Armenia can be one of the transport corridors from the Persian Sea to the Black Sea. In the sidelines of electricity-gas exchange program we are currently engaged in the construction of the 3rd high voltage transmission line, as well as the agreements reached today can foster the development of future cooperation. I think our private-sector representatives can take advantage of the opportunity. The existence of free trade zones in both countries can also foster the development of cooperation between the business circles, Irans Vice President said.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Head of the delegation of Cyprus Stella Kyriakides, defended by the Armenian delegation, received 129 votes in the second stage, while the representatives of Lithuania Emanuelis Zingeris received 69 votes, ARMENPRESS reports Head of the Armenian delegation to the PACE, Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Arpine Hovhannisyan posted on her Facebook page.

PACE President will be elected tomorrow for which relative majority of votes is required. The results of the election shows that a good atmosphere is being shaped at the PACE which should be turned into practice, Hovhannisyan wrote.

PACE President Pedro Agramunt resigned on October 6. He underlined that personal and health issues are the reason of his decision.
LOS ANGELESChannel 1 Releasing will showcase their Rascal and Boneyard brands at Erofame 2017 in Hannover, Germany.

Attendees can see all of the new offerings from each brand in booth 142 in Messe Hall 27.

Among the new products are the Skwert Lube Injector which is part of the award-winning Skwert line of products. The Injector quickly converts most lube bottles into a lube injector. The Skwert Lube Injector makes deep lubrication much easier. The 4-inch (10cm) interchangeable plastic injector comes with a small and large lube bottle cap. The injector has comfortable finger pump holds, that lets you inject the perfect amount of lubricant with no backflow. The injector also comes with a sanitary storage/travel cap. The hose attachment can be cut to fit multiple size bottles.

Another exciting product is the Brawn Pride from Rascal. It is a powerful and stunning beefy cock ring made of 100% soft touch silicone. The Brawn Pride is made for comfort and durability with a soft feel and non-roll design. Its thick girth gives the user a more powerful erection. The 3X stretch allows for one size to be used over cock, balls or both. The Brawn Pride features all six colors of the Pride flag rainbow. The rainbow is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) pride and LGBT social movements that has found wide use on thousands of products as a show of LGBT identity and solidarity.

eroFame runs Oct. 11-13. Stop by the booth to see all the new products or contact [email protected] to set up an appointment before the show.
FERNDALE, Mich.Nalpac has top-selling male products from Fleshlight back in stock and shipping.

Everyone at Nalpac, from management to the warehouse floor, is extremely happy to offer Fleshlight to our customers. We have everything in-stock and encourage customers to get a head start on their Holiday ordering said Glenn Leboeuf, Nalpac director of operations.

Nalpac is now stocking and shipping the full line of Fleshlight products available to distributors including the wildly popular Fleshlight Girls, Fleshlight Quickshot series, Fleshlight Ice series, and all of the must-have accessories like the Fleshlight Launchpad, Fleshlight Phone Strap and all care products to keep Fleshlight looking clean and new. In addition Nalpac is also stocking some of the most popular Fleshjack items including the Fleshjack Boys, Fleshjack Pink series, and Fleshjack Stamina Training Unit.

Nalpac has the newest products from Fleshlight; the Turbo Thrust and Turbo Ignition in copper which offers users the most realistic and satisfying alternative to oral sex. Uniquely designed with three points of initial insertion, the Turbo provides the mind-blowing sensations synonymous with getting a stellar blow job every time. The Turbo can stimulate just the tip or if the user prefers the tight, spine-tingling sensation of deep throating, the Turbo provides the tease and thrill to get to the finish line.

"We here at Fleshlight Wholesale are delighted to be working with Nalpac once again, said Tonja Hoyle of Fleshlight.

For more information on Nalpac, visit Nalpac.com and follow them through social media for daily updates on Twitter @NalpacWholesale, on Facebook.com/Nalpac and on Instagram @Nalpac.
LONDONRocks-Off reps are headed to Hannover, Germany, to debut new items at the eroFame show, including the new range Joycicles.

Joycicles boast10 powerful vibes and a spiral design that caresses the most intimate areas.

With its vibrant styles and finishes the Joycicles range also boasts till point display options giving the mid-range priced products that extra Rocks-Off touch and undeniable charm.

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Jefferson versus Hamilton

In Honor of the 230th Anniversary of the US Constitution, and also to help promote Brion McClanahan's latest book, HOW ALEXANDER HAMILTON SCREWED UP AMERICA, I wanted to post this important History Lesson -The history surrounding the first Bank Bill (to charter a national bank), proposed to President Washington by his Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton shows us exactly why the Federal Judiciary has become the greatest usurper of powers belonging to the States and to the People. It is an important lesson on constitutional interpretation.Why is it important that we pay close attention to constitutional interpretation? Because when the courts don't bother to consult the proper original documents and commentary as authority on the meaning and intent of the provisions of the Constitution, and/or when they make the decision to disregard that history and that critical information (any student of contract laws knows the strict laws of construction that guide a contract's interpretation), then any opinion in contradiction to that history and such commentary necessarily means that the judiciary has assumed power for the federal government that it was not intended to have. And where do those additional powers come from? From the original depositories of government power, the People and then the States.In 1788, the US Constitution was adopted by the requisite number of states and hence, the government it created would go into effect. Later that year, elections were held, George Washington was elected our first president (and men like James Madison elected to the first US Congress), and the following year, 1789, the Union's new government was assembled and inaugurated. One of the first decisions of the first Congress was to fund the debts that the individual states incurred in fighting the Revolutionary War. The question, of course, was how would it do that. Washington's Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, long holding true to a belief that a large, powerful national government of centralized functions is the proper form of government for the new Union (although he conceded to the federal form that the majority of delegates at the Philadelphia Convention voted for), urged that Congress should charter a National Bank, after the British model. He took his suggestion to Washington and agreeing with Hamilton, a Bank Bill was introduced in Congress. But powerful state and government leaders, including Thomas Jefferson, Washington's Secretary of State, James Madison, Congressman from Virginia, and several state leaders, particularly from Virginia, objected, characterizing such a bank as being "repugnant to the Constitution," and assuming powers not expressly delegated to Congress in Article I. Washington then asked both Hamilton and Jefferson to provide him with memoranda outlining their arguments regarding the creation of such a National Bank.Jefferson began by describing the Bank Bill's provisions, saying that he understood the underlying principle of the Constitution to be that "all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people." (here is quoted the Tenth Amendment, which at the time lay before the state legislatures for their ratification). Power to pass the bill had not been delegated to the United States, he insisted. It did not fall under the power to tax for the purpose of paying debts because the bill neither paid debts nor taxed. It did not fall under the power to borrow money because the bill neither borrowed nor ensured that there would be borrowing. It did not fall under the Commerce Clause for it did not regulate commerce. Jefferson understood 'regulating commerce' to mean "prescribing regulations for buying and selling," which the Bank Bill did not do. If it did that, he continued, the bill "would be void" due to its equal effects on internal and external commerce of the states. "For the power given to Congress by the Constitution," Jefferson continues, "does not extend to the internal regulation of the commerce of a State (that is to say of the commerce between citizen and citizen), which remain exclusively with its own legislature, but to its external commerce only; that is to say, its commerce with another State or with foreign nations or with the Indian tribes." No other enumerated power (Article I, Section 8) gave Congress ground for passing this bill either, he concluded.Besides the enumerated powers, the General Welfare Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause had also been invoked by the bill's proponents. Jefferson disposed of those clauses deftly as well. First, the General Welfare Clause said that Congress had power "to lay taxes for the purpose of providing for the General Welfare (emphasis Jefferson's). The reference to the general welfare, he insisted, was bound to the power to tax. It did not create a separate power "to do any act they please which might be for the good of the Union, which Jefferson thought the preceding and following enumerations of powers rendered entirely obvious. To read the General Welfare Clause any other way would make the enumerations "completely useless. It would reduce the whole instrument to a single phrase, that of instituting a Congress to do whatever would be good for the United States, and as they would be the sole judges of the good or evil, it would also be a power to do whatever evil they please."Jefferson, the skilled lawyer that he was, noted that one of the most basic rules of construction (contract law) cut strongly in favor of his argument. That rule states that "where a phrase will bear either of two meanings, to give it that which will allow some meaning to the other parts of the instrument, and not that which would render all the others useless." Besides that, the Philadelphia Convention had considered and expressly rejected a proposal to empower Congress to create corporations. The rejection, he noted, was based partly on the fact that with such a power, Congress would be able to create a bank.As for the Necessary and Proper Clause, Jefferson noted that it said that the Congress could "make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the enumerated powers. But they can all be carried into execution without a bank. A bank therefore is not necessary and consequently, not authorized by this phrase (emphasis Jefferson's)." The Bank Bill's proponents had argued for the great convenience of having a bank, which might aid in exercising powers enumerated in the Constitution, but Jefferson would have none of the idea that "necessary" could be twisted to mean "convenient."Jefferson concluded his memorandum with a brief statement on the president's veto power, which he called "the shield provided by the Constitution to protect against the invasions of the legislature: (1) The right of the Executive. (2) Of the Judiciary. (3) Of the States and State legislatures." To his mind, the Bank Bill presented "the case of a right remaining exclusively with the States" - that of chartering a corporation. Congress' attempt to take this right to itself violated the Constitution and Washington should veto the bill.Washington did not agree. Instead, perhaps on the basis of Hamilton's argument that Congress could adopt whatever kind of legislation it judged helpful in supervising the national economy, he signed the Bank Bill. [Gutzman, Thomas Jefferson - Revolutionary, pp. 40-42]When a subsequent Bank Bill was challenged by the state of Maryland, in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Chief Justice John Marshall would revisit the arguments submitted to President Washington and as expected, he would side with Hamilton. Hamilton's position, after all, would give the federal government a broad pen with which to write legislation, in contrast to the limits imposed on it by the very wording of the Constitution and the listing of the only powers that the States had delegated to the federal government. McCulloch was another in a series of cases written by Marshall usurping powers from other depositories and concentrating them in the federal government. The Supreme Court, a branch of the very federal government that it presides over, has consistently used its powers not to interpret the Constitution and offer opinions to other branches, but rather to secure a monopoly over the scope and intent of the government's powers.Marshall's opinion in McCulloch gave Congress power that the States intentionally tried to prevent; he read a meaning and intent in the Constitution, in Article I, that was expressly rejected by the States when they debated and then signed the document on September 17, 1787. Marshall's reading of Article I, in particular the "Necessary and Proper" Clause, gave Congress power "to which no practical limit can be assigned," as James Madison put it.With McCulloch, the Supreme Court committed a grave injustice to the system established by our founding fathers and our founding states. Marshall's opinion directly contradicted an essential element of the states' understating of the Constitution when they ratified it, and that understanding was that the Constitution created a federal government of express and limited powers so that the residuary of government power would remain reserved to the states and hence the sovereignty they long cherished would not be overly diminished by organizing into a Union.And the history of judicial activism continued and still does ....
Tom Campbell

When I first started covering politics there were three registered Democrats for every one registered Republican in North Carolina. The chairman of my county Republican Party jokingly said they could hold a county convention in a phone booth. The most competitive elections were always the Democratic primaries. Republicans struggled to find candidates, so whoever won the Democratic nomination was almost a sure bet to win the General Election. Times have changed.As of last week there were 6.8 million registered voters in North Carolina. Democrats have declined from about 75 percent to only 39 percent of registered voters today. Republicans now total 30.3 percent, but the major gains have taken place among unaffiliated registrations. They also number 30.3 percent, with a handful more registrations than Republicans.What happened? Both parties have their own spin, but it is clear that large numbers don't like either party. We can speculate that unaffiliated gains have occurred because Democrats ventured too far to the left while Republicans have swung too the right, but the facts are the facts.If current trends continue unaffiliated registrations might equal and perhaps exceed those of Democrats. We've heard pundits remind us that large numbers of unaffiliated voters still predictably vote for one or the other party. While true, we would postulate that's because voters don't have much choice.Political parties don't have the influence of yesteryear and are becoming almost irrelevant. With clearly identified platforms and almost machine-like precision, state and county party leaders previously raised money, held rallies and actively campaigned for their candidates. On Election Day they made sure the party faithful turned out to vote. Candidates don't enjoy nearly that level of party support today.Over the years state leaders have tinkered with election laws to allow or restrict early voting, change election rules, gerrymander legislative and congressional districts and recently restructure the state and local boards of elections. Not content with these changes they are now dabbling in judicial elections, by requiring judicial candidates be identified by their party affiliation and also attempting to rearrange the districts in which local judges and District Attorneys run. All these efforts have resulted in endless and costly legal suits.Let's be clear. Few, if any, of these changes were made with an eye toward giving voters more and better choices - they were solely intended to continue the two party system, while giving the most advantages to whichever party was in power.North Carolina has some of the most stringent ballot access rules in our nation, making it difficult, if not impossible, for candidates not affiliated with one of the two parties to run in and win elections. It is time for that to change. While we don't endorse ballots with exhaustive numbers of candidates, we do assert that the changing political climate dictates that voters have more choices than just the two parties.Lowering the ballot access thresholds would benefit us in many ways. It would level the playing field; voters would have more opportunities to choose their representatives instead of the other way around. We would see better candidates, compelled to run more issue-oriented campaigns instead of just vicious attack ads. The result could be less partisan and divisive government. Reforming restrictive ballot access laws is an idea whose time has come.
"Charter school boards, teachers, and administrators need to take the lead here. By far, they have the greatest incentive to explain to parents and their communities what a charter is and what it has to offer. Indeed, the sustainability of their enterprise depends on their ability to educate parents and their communities."

"State and local tax dollars are the primary funding sources for charter schools, which have open enrollment and cannot discriminate in admissions, associate with any religion or religious group, or charge tuition. Charter schools operate with freedom from many of the regulations that govern district schools, but charter schools are held accountable through the state assessment and accountability system."

A good percentage of North Carolinians think charter schools are private schools. SurveyUSA from earlier this week found just 37 percent of the people surveyed believe charter schools are public schools, which they are. But 44 percent don't, and 19 percent are not sure.That's quite a disconnect. But it isn't atypical, says Terry Stoops, vice president of Research and director of Education Studies at the John Locke Foundation It's another story when we talk about educating parents, who, says Stoops, are used to thinking about schools is dualistic terms, meaning public and private.The media is usually good about telling people charters are indeed public schools, says Stoops.Charter schools, according to the state Department of Public Instruction, are public schools of choice authorized by the State Board of Education and operated by independent nonprofit boards of directors.To be clear, charter schools get public money, albeit not as much as traditional public schools. State law prohibits charters from receiving state and local capital funding.Charter schools are growing exponentially, nevertheless.North Carolina has 173 charter schools with some 102,000 students.While the state legislature removed the cap on the number of charters schools that may operate in the state, a cap on student enrollment growth remains. The enrollment cap forces schools that could otherwise accommodate more students to limit the number of seats available, necessitating the lottery selection process.the Charlotte Observer wrote in January,Charter schools, to stay relevant and viable, largely depend on the schools' parents, who must ensure their children can get to and from school - most charters don't have buses - and fund the enterprise in myriad ways, including both with their time and their money. Raleigh Charter High School , for instance, is widely considered one of the best - if not the best - public high schools in North Carolina, and one of the top charter schools in the U.S.Yet getting in is no easy feat, regardless of a students' academic acumen or any connections their parents may have. For the 2017-18 school year, 1,252 students applied for admission to Raleigh Charter. Through a lottery, the school accepted 71 rising ninth-graders, as well as 79 rising ninth-grade siblings.Ponder, if you will, those numbers.It's a competitive process that begins with the lottery and continues in the classroom. Courses are challenging and rigorous, and students have at least a couple hours of homework each night. But students are there because, most honestly, their parents want them to be. The parents realize - as do most students after a time - that life consists of a series of challenges and obstacles, uneven parameters, and an incessant need to shift and to adapt.Though difficult at times, it's a necessary lesson in life, giving students a veritable jump toward college or other pursuits.Parents have a stack of reasons for choosing the schools their children attend, but many times they don't choose at all, an outcome that often presents itself in the form of frustrated, disengaged, distracted - and even unruly - students.On a personal level, our children - now high school freshmen - have attended either magnet or charter schools since kindergarten.Because we wanted them to.My wife and I often shook our heads in unison when, while talking about our children and their school, our friends would say,We all pay for public schools, we would say. If only more people realized they have a choice. If only more people really cared that they do.
Legislators voted to override two of Gov. Roy Cooper's vetoes Thursday. They addressed a key piece of a third vetoed bill through a local measure that avoids the governor's scrutiny.The N.C. General Assembly began the day's action with votes to reject Cooper's latest veto. With votes of 70-44 in the House and 30-9 in the Senate, lawmakers turned House Bill 56 into law . That measure provided funding for dealing with the GenX water controversy in the Cape Fear River. It also repealed a plastic-bag ban on the Outer Banks and addressed other environmental issues.More than 10 hours later, the House finalized the override of Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 16 . Originally dubbed the Business Regulatory Reform Act of 2017, the measure had attracted Cooper's attention because of his fears that it would roll back state measures to protect water quality. Senators rejected the governor's argument with a 31-15 vote. The House followed suit, 70-42, shortly after 10 p.m.Lawmakers have voted to override nine of Cooper's 12 vetoes during his first year in office. In state history, only Beverly Perdue vetoed more measures, 16, in a single year.Three other vetoed bills remain in the N.C. House. House Bill 576 addresses a controversial process of spraying landfill material into the air over landfill property. House Bill 511 deals with nonprofit groups that want to raise money through "casino night" events.The House could vote on those measures at any time before the end of the 2018 legislative session. Meanwhile, lawmakers addressed a key piece of the third remaining vetoed bill in another way. House Bill 205 would have allowed local governments across the state to avoid buying advertisements in local newspapers to meet requirements for legal notices.Rather than attempt to override Cooper's veto of the measure, lawmakers instead limited the idea to a single county - Guilford - and thus converted it into a local bill, Senate Bill 181 , which does not require the governor's approval. After the new measure squeaked through the House, 58-57, the Senate finalized the bill with a 30-16 vote.
The Democrat leadership has made constant, profound and incredible pronouncements that one's supportive vote for Republicans is tantamount to surrendering Democracy forever. Understanding their sincere thinking in their extreme position: How will you still vote on this election day?

Democrat; because the continuance of this Democracy from the existential threat of extreme Republicans is paramount.

Republican; the process of having a choice is the democratic method within what so called "Democracy" does exists.
By@amandaprestoAmbassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans - U.S. State Department staffer Sean Smith and Navy SEALs Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods - were murdered during a 13-hour terror attack on our consulate in Benghazi, Libya , that started on the night of September 11, 2012.On Monday, giving testimony in Washington against terrorist Ahmed Abu Khattala, who's accused of orchestrating the attack on the consulate, Diplomatic Security Special Agent Scott Wickland, the ambassador's bodyguard, revealed Stevens' harrowing last words:Stevens told Wickland.Independent Journal Review reports on Wickland's testimony:In his testimony, Wickland admitted he didn't know if he was going to survive the attack. He also described the heartbreaking moment he lost Stevens and U.S. State Department staffer Sean Smith.Wickland said he saw Stevens and Smith crawling behind him as they searched for a bedroom with a window to escape out of. When he exited the window, he was alone.Vomiting from the smoke and taking fire, Wickland climbed out of the room and pulled the ladder up.Wickland recalled.Two-time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was serving as secretary of state under President Barack Obama at the time of the attack, an attack she initially, and falsely, blamed on an anti-Islam YouTube video.According to an 800-page report released from the House Benghazi Committee, Clinton's State Department refused or ignored repeated requests for increased security on the compound, which they knew was undermanned.Moreover, it was determined that theDaily Wire's James Barrett reports:Then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ordered U.S. forces to be deployed to rescue our personnel in Benghazi. Though they were mobilized to a staging area in Italy and were ready to take action, not a single asset he ordered deployed ever left the ground. The damning reasons for this failure include political concerns about how the Libyan government wanted our military personnel dressed.During a two-hourwhich Clinton attended that took place while the 13-hour attack was underway, the State Department ate up valuable timeLarry O'Connor notes that anotherrevelation is that
HSI has logged many successful Street Dog Defender projects across Asia and other parts of the globe, such as Latin America, and we are now building partnerships with national governments as they abandon outdated and cruel methods of catching and culling dog populations, replacing them with humane, scientifically proven, and effective management solutions. Photo by Susan Roghair

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One of Humane Society Internationals most high-impact programs, Street Dog Defender, has the ambitious goal of improving the lives of 300 million street dogs around the world. These are animals who typically survive outside of homes or commercial locations and often live on the edge, without regular sources of food or water, let alone any meaningful prospect of veterinary care when they are ill or injured. Too often, their lives are harsh and shortened by food scarcity, debilitating disease, culling by government officials, or capture and killing by dog meat traders.

In the Philippines, there is a very large number of street dogs, more so than in other South Asian or African countries. There is also a high incidence of rabies, with 98 percent of human rabies cases stemming from dog bites. In the past, the governments way of dealing with the public health challenge was to conduct mass killings of street dogs, with the rationale of mitigating the threat.

Nine years ago, HSI aimed to turn around the circumstances for these animals by forging an innovative and humane path. Our program combines basic care, spay-or-neuter programs, rabies vaccinations, dog population surveys, community outreach, and data collection to prove the efficacy of these programs to local and national governments. Its been working. Remarkably so.

In September 2016 we started our first rabies eradication program in a district of Quezon City in the metropolitan Manila area, in partnership with the Quezon City veterinary department. Using a state-of-the-art mobile phone app that helps us track the vaccinations in real time, we have so far recorded 20,000 vaccinations in one division of the city alone (and 86,218 countrywide), and no rabies cases have been reported in the area since. Quezon City was once among the top three places in the Philippines for rabies cases; today, it has dropped to fourth place, and the rabies situation continues to improve, even as the dogs are getting healthier and leading better lives.

Impressed by our numbers, which greatly surpassed previous government dog population estimates, the Philippines Bureau of Animal Industries (BAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HSI for 2017 to replicate this model across the entire country to help with its national goal of eradicating rabies by 2020. Last month, the BAI recognized HSIs work with street dogs by giving the organization a highly competitive award.

Besides the Philippines, HSI has logged many successful Street Dog Defender projects across Asia and other parts of the globe, such as Latin America, and we are now building partnerships with national governments as they abandon outdated and cruel methods of catching and culling dog populations, replacing them with humane, scientifically proven, and effective management solutions. Currently, the HSI Asian street dog program is also working with national governments in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Our hands-on programs engage a wide variety of local partners. In the Philippines, these include not just local animal non-governmental organizations, municipalities, and federal authorities but also the Philippines Veterinary Medical Association, the Philippines Animal Hospital Association, local Rotary clubs, and volunteers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. By conducting population surveys and by gathering data that allow us to make detailed evaluations of program effectiveness, we are able to market the humane approach to authorities who demonstrate some initial skepticism. We will shortly sign an MoU with the government of Mauritius to launch a pilot dog management project in that country and we are engaged in similar outreach projects in Guam, Guyana, and Puerto Rico.

Thanks in considerable part to the countrys embrace of HSIs approach, the Philippines is now well positioned to eradicate rabies within the next 10 years. Officials have sufficient vaccine available and the logistic support to deliver it. HSI continues to conduct dog population surveys there, and we have conducted capacity-building programs and workshops on catching dogs with nets instead of metal loops, humane methods of euthanasia to replace gas chambers, and appropriate housing for dogs. Most importantly, we have spread high volume and minimally invasive spay-and-neuter techniques among veterinarians across the country. We have trained more than 250 local veterinarians in these techniques and empowered many of these veterinarians to lead spay/neuter work in the Philippines. Our trainees create networks of government veterinarians and private practitioners to provide communities with no-cost sterilizations.

There are now mobile clinics available in some local areas, while other places, like Cebu City, have a permanent animal clinic. Dr Alice Utlang from the Cebu City Veterinary Department signed an MoU with us to change dog management in Cebu City eight years ago. She opened the first dedicated Animal Birth Control Center in March 2009, and has since closed gas chambers for killing dogs, replaced wire nooses for dog-catching with humane nets, and launched an adoption program in the city pound.

As Dr. Utlang later reported: When we started to offer spay and neuter to our community we had 10 dogs lined up, [but] today we spay and neuter up to 200 dogs in a day. She is certain that spay and neuter has changed the way the city pound operates today because there are fewer dogs coming in, leaving more time for individual dogs to be adopted and enjoy a new lease on life.

Life does not have to be horrid and dark for street dogs, and we are showing a different way to deal with these feeling creatures and demonstrating that a strategic, responsible approach produces better outcomes for dogs and for all members of the community.
After Speaker Rebecca Kadaga ordered opposition party members evicted during a debate on lifting a presidential age limit, things got a little heated.

Via New Vision:

Chaos ensued when opposition MPs alleged that some NRM MPs had entered with guns in the House. The opposition MPs demanded to search state minister for water, Ronald Kibuule, who they accused of carrying a gun to the chambers. At this point, Makindye West MP Allan Sewanyana crossed the floor, stood before Kibuule and demanded: "You should be searched."

At this point, the Sargent at arms and his deputies were on standby guarding the mace. The mace in Parliament is the symbol of authority and without it neither House can meet or pass laws.

Amidst uproar, Kadaga pleaded with MPs for order in the House but in vain. "Order Order Order Honorable members," she shouted on top her voice. With her call for calm falling to deaf ears, she quietly held her chin and 'watched the movie' unfolding. It took about 20 minutes for sanity to be restored.
SprezzaBox, the monthly mens fashion delivery service, looks to keep subscribers armed with an ever-evolving selection of ties, pocket squares, watches, and other items to marry to any grownup outfit. Each SprezzaBox is said to be guaranteed to house over $100 in retail value and typically features a theme or concept to tie the products delivered together. Stylists hand-select items each month; recurring items will include their signature colorful socks, ties, sunglasses, pocket squares, grooming items, and more. Sprezza box subscriptions are available for a year or on a month-to-month basis.

What is SprezzaBox?

SprezzaBox is a monthly subscription box that offers fashion, clothing and grooming items for men. Typical items include ties, socks, pocket squares, and sunglasses.Subscribers can expect to receive around five items per month. While clothing items make up the bulk of every shipment, SprezzaBox includes additional throw-in items such as pens, cufflinks and other bits and bobs.

The stylists at SprezzaBox assemble each shipment around a theme, which seeks to inspire men to try something new within the realm of fashionable and luxe gift boxes. The accessories could be tied to a season or a function, such as brighter spring color schemes or professional environments. Each themed box is named, such as The Parker (the box I received): a professional business-centered collection or The Fulton: a box geared to lighter summer wear. In each case, the contents of a SprezzaBox cost between $100 and $200 in MSRP value -- regardless of the selection and arrangement of accessories.

Users can select a one-time payment of $28, or become a monthly member at $25 to receive a small discount on an annual subscription. Shipping is free within the continental U.S. and SprezzaBox ships to 28 other countries. If users select the monthly subscription, they can cancel at any time within their billing cycle to prevent further boxes from being delivered.

The SprezzaBox website also features a traditional shop front where previous collections are put on display, and you can order signature box items, such as socks, pocket squares, tie clips, and lapel pins.

Unboxing SprezzaBox

If you receive monthly subscription boxes, then the aesthetic of the SprezzaBox is going to be familiar to you; ts a heavy corrugated cardboard box with an open top lid. The contents of any SprezzaBox are always more about style than function, and the box holds true to that idea, with an exterior reminiscent of a popular male fabric. Think a container about the size of a shoebox adorned with a printed pattern of tweed or houndstooth. The inside contains the paper-wrapped contents, a card explaining the product selection and each items value, and coupon/discount offers. On the product detail card, Sprezza invites subscribers to share their experience on social media with #MySprezzaBox for a chance to win a free subscription.

The overall quality of the box is average, but it appears that SprezzaBox has made a conscious decision to reduce packing costs to provide subscribers with greater value. Each box is packed with five or six high-quality, brand name items that range from ties, socks, wallets, neckties, or pocket squares, to bracelets, sunglasses, and any other accessories men may desire to look and feel their best. The items are specifically selected by stylists and can be worn alone or together, to create a new look. The items, when combined, elude to a theme or a characterization men can aspire to in their daily lives.

After receiving my box, I can confidently say that the quality of what was delivered, and the overall service is strong. While there was nothing wrong with how the box was presented, I did feel the packaging and presentation wasnt as luxurious as some other boxes in the same price range, but there is no loss of overall value.

The Review

SprezzaBox offers a lot of upfront value for gentlemen seeking inspiration on how to better accessorize their outfits. From pocket squares to watch straps, SprezzaBox focuses on details that pull an outfit together. This is a great companion box to other subscriptions that offer mens clothing, or as a single subscription to dress up what you already own. Since SprezzaBox sells its own lines of mens accessories to retail buyers, their monthly subscription boxes include a mix of their product line and other high-quality brands products.

Each box features five or six (or sometimes more) coordinating items that loosely follow a theme, and that invite man to try a new pattern or color. I received the Parker Box, which had a timeless professional theme.

The boxs booty included:

Maestro Watch (valued at $105)

An Ivy Necktie (valued at $48)

Alara Pocket Square (valued at $24)

Sprezza Socks (valued at $12)

Classic Pen (valued at $10)

The Maestro Watch is the centerpiece of the set (at least according to its cost), a basic and clean design from Toronto-based timepiece companys Classico Collection. According to Sprezza, the Maestro is the most expensive item ever included in one of their gift boxes. With a sleek understated black leather strap and a minimalist watch face, this item will elevate the everyday wardrobe, but not overpower it.

This sets necktie choice came from Denmark-based brand, An Ivy. The micro foulard tie fabric is light and airy and the coloring light, but toothy -- well dyed into the material. The ties styling is thinner than the average tie design, nodding toward the contemporary preferences of slim fit, single-button suits and narrow ties to match. Much like the Maestro watch, this tie has a classic style that could be easily incorporated into most men's wardrobes for work or formal occasions.

The Alara Pocket Square is straightforward and traditional  a white cotton fabric tipped in warm harvest gold highlights. This square would match any suit and should hold up well following multiple folds. In addition, the square packaging features a handy visual guide on how to fold a pocket square.

Sprezza itself steps into the fray with a pair of socks from their product line. The fit is sheer and comfortable, and Sprezzas description insists the lightly colored blue and white-striped design invites the recipient to wear them with a suit or with shorts and sneakers to the gym.

The Classic Pen is a little throw-in bonus. Described by SprezzaBox as sleek, black luxe, its meant to look sharp enough to tuck into a suit pocket or a pull from a dress shirt. After all, a sophisticated man shouldnt sign his contracts with a Sharpie. The pen is meant as a little extra something, and thats exactly what it is -- non-essential, but a garnish. Other boxes might swap in a corkscrew or a pocket knife in the pens place.

From funky socks, embellished ties, and patterned pocket squares, its clear that SprezzaBox is excited about providing a modern take on classic mens fashion. They care about what is in each box and seek to pack as much as they possibly can for your twenty-something bucks. The entire set is of good quality and would reasonably sell for the very numbers Sprezza lists as MSRPs.

This is a great box for men who want to try something new and perhaps are unsure of where to start. Each item is hand-selected to be complementary, and enable men to try out accessories they may not currently own, or in some cases, have only heard of; younger men will enjoy learning about the fashion trends that are coming back into stores, along with accessories such as the lapel pin.

The contents of any SprezzaBox face the challenge of individual taste. If this was a Fruit of the Month Club, itd be safe to assume the receiver is a fan of everything from apples to oranges. But, if an individual fashion fan isnt enthusiastic about polka dots and just such a tie hitches a ride in a SprezzaBox, the monthly subscriber might be disappointed. Any man who buys into the month-to-month plan needs to prepare himself for the occasional swing and a miss by the SprezzaBox style selectors. However, if you enjoy being surprised and having items picked out for you, or you enjoy themed boxes, then SprezzaBox has a lot to offer.

Cost

SprezzaBox has simple and straightforward subscription offers; users can select a monthly and contract-free option for $28 per month, or an annual subscription with a small discount for $25 per month. The monthly contract-free choice is their most popular option, but the annual subscription offers the best value overall. SprezzaBox says that each box has a guaranteed monthly retail value of around $100.

Users can also order signature items directly from the website via the limited storefront, which includes socks, ties, tie clips, pocket squares, and so on.

How to Subscribe

To subscribe, simply visit their website at SprezzaBox.com, where you will be promoted with a button on the home screen to Get Started. This button takes users to a minimalistic page with two purchasing options; 12 months at $25 (best value) paid in full for $300, or $28 per month for a no-contract monthly subscription (most popular). Unlike some other boxes, everything you will get in a SprezzaBox is yours to keep.

Visitors can also select Gift from the main menu to set up a subscription for someone else; this will be active in a new online portal that offers three gifting options. The first is 12 months at $25 (best value) paid in full for $300, as with regular annual subscriptions. There is also a $28 per month no contract gift option for one-time purchases. The addition of a third plan is unique to gifting -- it retails for $26, and offers a 6-month plan with a small discount when it is paid upfront.

Interestingly, there are other packages available on the website as you delve deeper into the navigation via the footer. Users can also request a wedding themed box (ranging from $40-60 in total) for groomsmen. These boxes are smaller than subscription boxes and are designed to be a one-time gift with memorable and useful wedding-applicable accessories.

Managing Your Subscription

The SprezzaBox website operates more like a traditional shopfront, and users are directed to various pages to contact the company. There is no dedicated members area, and as such you will need to contact SprezzaBox directly to amend your payment information or to cancel.

Both the $25 12-month and $28 month-to-month subscriptions can be canceled by contacting Sprezza via phone or email.

If a year-long subscriber withdraws from the $300 plan, they will receive a refund for the remaining months.

There are no refunds for a specific SprezzaBox.

Gift subscriptions are available for both plans. Any gift subscription can be transferred from the giver to the recipient at any time.

Subscriptions can be paused for up to three months and then resumed for monthly delivery.

The items in a SprezzaBox cannot be exchanged or replaced due to styling or fit issues. If an item is damaged upon receipt, it can be exchanged for the same item.

Buyers cannot choose what themed box they wish to receive in a month. The style selectors choose the theme and the included items.

Subscribers can join a Loyalty Rewards Program, allowing for discounts on purchases based on length of subscription.

Is Sprezzabox Worth It? The Verdict: Yes

SprezzaBox might run the risk of getting lost in a sea of subscription boxes, but they are setting more than just a trend in their curated boxes; they are seeking to educate young men on classic mens fashion in a relatable and modern way. If a man can allow for a little stretch in his styling choices, this box should work well as a monthly, style-aware method of adding to one's accessory wardrobe. Yes, a given months styling might clash with any guys daily wear, but the services style selectors do a solid job keeping up with the seasons and changing trends. And, theres always a chance SprezzaBox will include something slick a man didnt know he needed.

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Fewer complaints are being filed against Montreal taxi drivers compared to last year, but the bulk of those complaints remain about customer service.

According to data obtained by Radio-Canada, 663 complaints were filed with Montreal's taxi bureau between January and the beginning of September.

That is a 17 per cent decrease from the same period last year, when there were more than 800 complaints. There were 485 complaints filed in 2015.

"I think the industry has generally taken control," said Andre Poisson, general manager of the taxi bureau. "It realized it needed to improve customer service and modernize."

As was the case last year, the majority of the 2017 grievances concerned a driver's behaviour. Only six per cent referred to messy or dirty cars.

The taxi bureau also used mystery shoppers to assess quality of service. They completed 600 rides last year. And while drivers received an average satisfaction score of 85 per cent, the weakest element of taxi service in Montreal was found to be the courtesy of drivers.

Over-worked, over-stressed drivers

A representative of the largest taxi company in Montreal, Taxelco, acknowledged there is a problem within the industry. Jean Vachon, Taxelco's communications director, blamed the incidents of poor service on overworked and overstressed drivers.

"There is a kind of exhaustion," Vachon said. "There are people who have been doing this job for 20 years, who have seen their working conditions deteriorate over the years, who are frustrated, embittered, tired.... It has an impact."

He added that it can be difficult to "keep a good smile," to always be courteous, to work 15 hours a day and to "bring home a small income."

Increased competition from ride-hailing service Uber and incessant roadwork in Montreal were also cited by industry officials as contributing factors to poor service.

"It's not easy to drive nowadays," said Poisson. "They are facing competition with Uber. They face a traffic that is dense. It is a difficult service."

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But Poisson also stressed that the 85 per cent satisfication score was a "very, very good result for the taxi industry."

Adapting to reality

The type of complaints filed at the taxi bureau include: the driver not being courteous with a customer, the driver talking on the phone and the driver not complying with the Highway Safety Code.

Montreal has in recent years implemented new rules governing the taxi industry in an effort to make it more competitive with Uber.

The province's taxi industry has been suffering significant decreases in revenue since Uber entered the market (though the ride-hailing service threatened last month to leave Quebec because of new regulations proposed by the government).

The training offered to taxi drivers must be adapted to the new realities of the market, Poisson said. The bureau will meet with drivers who received low scores on the mystery-shopper survey.

"Our goal is to meet those providers and show them their results so that they can see how they should work to improve," he said.
Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

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..Abu Yehuda..09 October '17..The other day I was reading an article by a South Korean writer, in which he expressed how unhappy his people were about being a battlefield for proxy wars. The Korean war from 1950-53 was a vicious conflict in which some 2.5 million civilians were killed, far more than even the highest estimates of military dead on both sides. It was a skirmish between the Soviet and American empires, but most of the dead and wounded were Korean. They died from starvation, from being caught in the crossfire, and from massacres carried out by both sides. Much of both North and South Korea was totally destroyed. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, changed hands four times. One can only imagine the conditions faced by its residents.The Vietnam war was probably the longest of the cold-war proxy wars, counting from the French defeat at Dienbienphu in 1954 to the final withdrawal of US forces in 1975. Although estimates vary widely, several million civilians were killed in this war as well. The fact that the numbers of casualties, military and civilian, are comparable with those of the 3-year Korean war illustrates the ferocity of the Korean conflict.The two sides arent morally equivalent. Although both sides committed atrocities and war crimes in Korea and Vietnam, I believe that the American narrative of defending at least the possibility of freedom in those places is more true than the Soviet one of opposing American imperialism and promoting self-determination of peoples.
Student Success

AccuCampus Retention Tool Extends Student Analytics

Physical presence indicates a level of student engagement. The more students turn up in class, keep their tutoring appointments and show up for advising sessions, the more likely they are to succeed in their academics. That's the idea behind AccuCampus, the flagship application for Engineerica, a Florida firm with several attendance tracking systems for education and business.

Recently, the company updated AccuCampus to add machine learning, a student analytics dashboard and a custom query engine.

The latest update has added artificial intelligence algorithms to assess student risk based on demographic data, academic information and behavior. The modeling is unique to each institution. Based on the student's risk level, existing functionality will kick into gear and notify the students to consider using resources on or off campus to increase their participation.

The calculated student risk score is also visible on the new student dashboard, which gives users (such as student advisors) information such as contact details, enrollment and recent tracking data.

A custom queries engine lets authorized staff access the data collected with AccuCampus directly for custom report generation. The program already includes built-in reports for the most commonly requested information.

The program already features a mobile app for Apple and Android devices, which helps steer students to campus services that can help them get up to speed in academic or other areas. When the student "zooms in" on a specific resource, the app lets them schedule an appointment or just walk in for help.

The mobile app can also be used for recording attendance. Earlier this year, the company introduced an upgrade to the its software that uses Bluetooth beacons for data collection regarding student presence. Small beacons equipped with Bluetooth capabilities are placed in physical locations. When students enter the location, the beacon connects with an app on their phone and marks them as present. The app can also pull up a basic questionnaire on the smartphone so students can answer questions prior to receiving service or the start of class.

Among current users of AccuCampus are Jacksonville University in Florida, which uses the software in its student support and tutoring centers and Seattle Central College, which uses the program in its tutoring center.
MONDAY, Oct. 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- As marriage ebbs and flows, so might the health of your heart, at least for men.

A new British study of married fathers found real -- if small -- effects on such cardiovascular risk factors as cholesterol levels, body weight and blood pressure that corresponded to improvement or deterioration in the men's marriages.

Those whose marriages seemed to be improving fared better, while the reverse was true for men in worsening marriages.

"An apparent link between marriage and health is a consistent finding across many studies, going back as far as 1912," said Dr. Ian Bennett-Britton. He's the study's lead author and a research fellow at the University of Bristol in England.

"What's not been clear is whether this is simply a reflection of healthier and wealthier people getting married or a true protective effect of the marriage itself," he added.

Marriage researcher Dr. Rahul Potluri, a cardiologist with Aston University in Birmingham, England, said that "the evidence so far suggests that married couples and perhaps happier couples are more inclined to look after each other, which may have a direct impact on cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease."

For the new study, Bennett-Britton and his colleagues surveyed 620 married fathers about their relationships, and then tracked the men for about 19 years.

"We found little change in cardiovascular risk factors for those whose relationships were consistently good or bad," Bennett-Britton said. "But we found a more consistent pattern for those whose relationships had either improved or deteriorated during the study period, with respective improvements and worsening in cardiovascular risk profile."

Compared with men in "consistently good" relationships, those whose relationships had improved had slightly lower levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the so-called "bad" type. They also had a slightly lower body mass index, a measurement of body fat based on height and weight, the findings showed.

"Weaker links were found with improved total cholesterol and improved blood pressure," Bennett-Britton said.

On the other hand, the investigators found that men in deteriorating relationships had slightly worse blood pressure than those in stable, good relationships. Their diastolic blood pressure, the bottom number in a reading, was, on average, about 3 points higher.

The researchers reached these numbers after adjusting their statistics to account for variable factors, such as wealth and age.

Though the possible individual impact of the findings may be small, Bennett-Britton said they could add up to quite a gain in the entire population.

Still, Potluri noted that the number of men in the study was low and their age was on the young side. The men averaged 36 years old when they first began to be tracked. "The long-term impact of these changes is difficult to ascertain," he said.

What impact, if any, marriage ups and downs might have on women was not studied.

For men, though, the possible link between the health of their marriage and the health of their heart could have various origins, the study authors suggested. And the study could not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

Patrick Markey, a psychology professor at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, said, "Stress is highly related to physical health, so bad marriages likely cause stress, which causes poor health."

Also, Markey added, "especially for men, romantic partners often contribute to our physical health more directly. For example, some research in our lab has found that wives often monitor their husband's eating and are more likely to encourage them to eat in a healthy manner. Similarly, wives also appear to be more likely to encourage their husbands to go to doctors, get flu shots and take medication."

Potluri said another possibility is that worsening health translates to a less happy marriage, and vice versa, but "certainly more evidence is required to address this."

One thing is clear, though, Markey said: "There is little doubt that people in healthy relationships are, on average, much more healthy than those who are single. Being in a happy relationship is likely good for you both psychologically and physically."

The study was published online Oct. 9 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

More information

Learn more about the effects of stress on your health from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health.
By PTI: Karachi, Oct 9 (PTI) Unidentified gunmen today opened fire on a vehicle, killing at least five members of a minority Shia Hazara family, in Pakistans Balochistan province, the latest bout of sectarian violence in the restive region.

The militants attacked the vehicle on Kasi road in Quetta, capital of the Balochistan province.

It was targeted killing incident against the Hazaras who are frequently attacked in the area by Taliban-linked militants, police said.

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"Five persons were killed and one was injured," they said.

The attackers were on motorbikes and fled after the incident, police said, adding that further investigations are underway.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Balochistan has witnessed violence against Hazaras for more than a decade and half by militants who consider them as heretics.

Chief Minister Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri condemned the incident and ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The Hazaras are party of Shia community who live in Balochistan and Afghanistan. They have been often targeted by the Sunni militants.

This is not the first time that the Hazaras has been targeted by extremist outfits in Balochistan. In the last few years hundreds of Hazaras have been killed in either suicide bomb attacks, planted bomb blasts or target killings.

Official reports say that there have been around 1200 incidents of violence against the Hazara community in the last 15 years.

In September, Four members of a minority Shia Hazara family were killed by unidentified gunmen, including a 12- year-old boy, in Pakistans Balochistan.

In July, gunmen killed 4 members of a Shia family in the Mastung area.

In October last year, gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Hazara men and women in Quetta. Four women were killed in that attack. PTI SH AMS

--- ENDS ---
MONDAY, Oct. 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Frequent sauna bathers might be boosting their heart health as they sweat, new research suggests.

Studying more than 1,600 middle-aged men in Finland, researchers found that those who took sauna baths four to seven times a week cut their risk of high blood pressure by nearly half, compared to once-a-week sauna bathers.

"Sauna bathing may decrease systemic blood pressure through different biological mechanisms," said study researcher Jari Laukkanen, a professor at the University of Eastern Finland, and colleagues.

In the sauna, your body temperature rises, widening the blood vessels. Over time, this appears to improve the function of the inside layer of blood vessels, the researchers explained. Sauna baths also remove fluid from the body through sweating, and relax the body and mind, the researchers added.

The research team used data from follow-up on the men over an average of 22 years. During that time, about 15 percent of the participants developed high blood pressure.

Compared with men who had a sauna only once a week, the risk of high blood pressure was 46 percent lower in those who had a sauna four to seven times a week.

Risk of high blood pressure was 24 percent lower in those who had a sauna two to three times a week, according to the study.

However, the research only found an association between better blood pressure and routine sauna use, not a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. The same researchers previously found that frequent saunas reduce the risk of heart-related death and death from all causes.

The study findings were published recently in the American Journal of Hypertension.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on preventing high blood pressure.
MONDAY, Oct. 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Though the majority of children with congenital heart disease survive into adulthood, they often struggle with a number of lifelong illnesses, researchers report.

The health issues may include neurodevelopment disorders such as autism, respiratory problems, and/or heart arrhythmias.

"We are great at fixing the plumbing, but not at fixing the patient," said study author Martina Brueckner, a professor of pediatrics and genetics at the Yale School of Medicine.

Brueckner and her team pointed out that congenital heart disease affects roughly 1 percent of newborns. About 90 percent will make it into adulthood.

But a new genetic analysis that involved nearly 2,900 congenital heart disease survivors and their family members revealed that being born with that specific condition appears to be associated with a higher risk for developing other major health problems.

Many genes already implicated in autism were also associated with congenital heart disease, and the scientists also found new genes that were linked to congenital heart disease in some patients.

But the study did not prove that heart defects at birth caused these other illnesses, it just showed an association.

Also, the analysis suggested that some respiratory ailments found in patients with congestive heart failure are linked to defects in cilia, the hairlike structures on the surface of cells that carry out many biological functions.

"It has been frustrating to see one patient recover nicely and another with the exact same heart defect struggle," Brueckner said in a Yale news release. "This type of study helps us understand why and is a step toward personalized treatment."

The findings could help with counseling for affected families regarding the risk for recurrence of congestive heart disease, the researchers said.

Brueckner and her colleagues reported their findings in the Oct. 9 issue of Nature Genetics.

More information

There's more on congenital heart disease at the American Heart Association.
MONDAY, Oct. 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Surgical patients who report having a penicillin allergy face a 50 percent higher risk for a post-op infection compared to patients who report no drug allergy, new research finds.

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital attributed the higher surgical-site infection rate to the use of alternative antibiotics.

Since many people erroneously believe they're allergic to penicillin, the findings suggest this common misconception may put some patients in harm's way.

"This study has direct clinical significance," said study lead author Dr. Kimberly Blumenthal, who is in the division of rheumatology, allergy and immunology.

"We already know that more than 95 percent of patients who believe they have penicillin allergy can actually tolerate the drug," she added.

The study results indicate that a preoperative penicillin evaluation could effectively reduce surgical site infections in these patients, Blumenthal said in a hospital news release.

Four in 10 hospital infections occur at surgical incision sites, the researchers noted. Such infections can sometimes lead to serious complications and even death.

The researchers analyzed the medical records of 8,400 patients who underwent surgery between 2010 and 2014 for issues such as hip or knee replacement, hysterectomy, colon surgery and heart bypass.

More than 900 had an allergy to penicillin noted in their medical records prior to surgery.

More than 200 patients ended up with some type of surgical site infection, the study team found. That included 2.6 percent with no known allergy to penicillin and 3.5 percent of patients who believed they were allergic to the drug and therefore didn't receive it.

Based on the findings, the study team said prospective surgical patients who believe they are allergic to penicillin should undergo a fresh allergy evaluation in advance of their operation.

The findings appear in the Oct. 9 online issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

More information

There's more on penicillin allergy at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
MONDAY, Oct. 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The Zika virus was less of a threat than feared for Olympic athletes at the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil. But other mosquito-borne infections struck a number of Americans, a new study reveals.

Of more than 450 Olympians and staffers who provided blood samples, 7 percent tested positive for West Nile virus, dengue fever or chikungunya, researchers found.

These other tropical diseases generally cause much milder symptoms than Zika, which has been linked to devastating birth defects. In rare cases, however, these less-feared infections can be disabling or fatal, the researchers said.

"We all had our Hollywood sunglasses on, and they blinded us to other possibilities," said Marc Couturier, a medical director at Utah's ARUP Laboratories who led the testing. "We can't forget that West Nile virus has been around for a while, and is still here."

About 1 in 5 people with West Nile complain of fever, aches and pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or longer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For this study, University of Utah researchers monitored Americans who attended the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, held at the peak of Brazil's Zika epidemic. When the travelers returned to the United States, 457 provided blood samples for testing.

None showed signs of Zika, but 32 had been infected with other mosquito-borne viruses. There were 27 cases of West Nile virus, three cases of chikungunya, and two of dengue.

"We were thrilled that there were no cases of Zika," said lead investigator Dr. Carrie Byington. "One of the reasons we think that post-travel diagnostics is really important is because multiple things can cause a similar picture and it's important to know what you had," Byington said in a university news release. She is now with the Texas A&M Health Science Center.

None of the Americans included in the study became seriously ill as a result of their trip to Rio. Survey responses showed those who developed symptoms quickly recovered.

However, the researchers voiced concern that as attention was focused on Zika, other known public health risks were overlooked.

The findings were presented Saturday at IDWeek, a national infectious disease conference, in San Diego.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides more on mosquito-borne diseases.
Executions are down but death penalty prosecutions are up over the last year of President Joko Widodo's administration.





Tomorrow, October 10, is World Day Against the Death Penalty, and human rights activists in Indonesia used the opportunity to highlight an alarming increase in death penalty prosecutions over the last year, a trend that runs counter to the narrative that President Joko Widodo is softening his stance on executions.





Under President Jokowi's administration, 14 people were executed in 2014, 4 were executed in 2016 and none have been executed so far this year. But in contrast to the downward trend in executions, the number of cases involving the death penalty has risen sharply over the last year.





From January-June 2016 there were 26 cases in which prosecutors demanded the death penalty and, out of those, judges in 17 of the cases sentenced the defendants to be executed. But from July 2016 to September 2017, there were 45 cases in which prosecutors asked for the death penalty and 33 in which judges handed out the sentence.





"Compared to 2016, the trend of death penalty demands and sentences, based on the number of cases, nearly doubled," said the director of the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR), Supriyadi Widodo, during a discussion in Jakarta on Sunday as quoted by CNN Indonesia.





Supriyadi said most of the death penalty cases involved drug trafficking, followed by murder cases. But he noted there was a new category of death penalty case, suspects accused of child sexual assault, a crime which became eligible for the death penalty under a new law passed by President Jokowi in 2016, which contributed to the increased numbers.





There are currently 134 people on Indonesia's execution waiting list and the attorney general has stated recently that they are still planning on carrying them all out eventually, although no dates have been mentioned.





ICJR asked that Indonesia declare a moratorium on the death penalty while the process in which criminals can be convicted and appeal the sentence be reviewed for violations of human rights. Supriyadi noted that one of the last people executed by the government, Humphrey Jefferson "Jeff" Ejike, had been denied the ability to exercise all of his appeal options before he was killed.





"Under conditions of uncertainty and doubt regarding executions, the government should immediately conduct a moratorium to avoid the great potential for human rights violations," he said.





Speaking at the same discussion, Ifdhal Kasim, an advisor on political, legal and human rights issues at the Presidential Staff Office, said it was unlikely the administration would declare a moratorium as the government believed that the death penalty was an effective deterrent to fight the so-called drug emergency facing the country.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde

coconuts.co, October 9, 2017
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  After almost 20 years of maintaining his innocence, a death row inmates request to re-examine DNA evidence from a murder scene went before a Marion County judge.





Shackled, dressed in a green prison jumpsuit and accompanied by three Oregon Department of Corrections officers, convicted murderer Jesse Lee Johnson was marched past a courtroom full of Oregon Innocence Project staff, law students and the family of the woman hes accused of killing on Friday.





During the two hour hearing, Steven Wax, legal director of the Oregon Innocence Project, and attorney Brittney Plesser argued that 38 pieces of crime scene evidence should be retested.





But Judge Channing Bennett wanted to know how testing the evidence would prove Johnson innocent.





Johnson, 56, was sentenced to death in 2004 for the murder of Harriet Lavern Sunny Thompson, 28.





The Oregon Innocence Project took on Johnsons case in 2016 and filed a motion requesting the DNA testing and retesting.



The original case





Thompsons landlord discovered her lifeless body on March 20, 1998, in her apartment on 12th Street SE, just south of Morningside Elementary School.





Authorities determined she died from multiple stab wounds. Her throat had been slashed, and her hands were covered in defensive wounds from trying to fight back.





Her couch was soaked in blood, and specks of blood dotted the apartments linoleum floor.





Investigators later learned Thompson, a nursing aide and mother of five, had slowly bled to death.





The deputy district attorney at the time, Darin Tweedt, described the aftermath of the brutal crime as being like the a scene from a slaughterhouse.





Johnson was later arrested and admitted to knowing Thompson, but denied killing her or ever going to her apartment.





Prosecutors were successful with their case





The case was a drawn-out affair, taking six years from Thompsons death to Johnsons conviction.





Jewelry provides a link





Tweedt said the residence was ransacked and stated the motive was robbery. He said Thompsons stolen jewelry was traded for drugs and some pieces were found at Johnsons girlfriends home.





One man said Johnson traded a silver, garnet-stone ring in exchange for methamphetamine.





The witness, a drug dealer, met with Johnson at under the Mission Street overpass shortly after the murder to trade the jewelry for drugs. He said Johnson told him he offed the (explicit) to get the jewelry.





Johnson also allegedly gave a pair of sun and moon earrings to a woman. The woman, uneasy about the gifted jewelry, turned the earrings over to police. Family members identified the ring and earrings as belonging to Thompson.





Several pieces of DNA evidence were recovered at Thompsons home. Some, including a cigarette butt, a bottle of liquor and a dollar bill, matched Johnsons DNA. Others did not.





Officers collected a bloody sweater, two bloody towels and a broken knife from Thompsons bathroom. A serrated steak knife was found in the toilet.





In the defenses closing statements, Johnsons attorneys told jurors that crime scene investigators failed to investigate evidence that pointed to another suspect.





There are more questions as we sit here six years later than there are answers in this case, said Noel Grefenson, Johnsons defense attorney.





Johnson maintained his innocence throughout the investigation. Before his 2004 trial, he declined the states plea offer for first-degree manslaughter and first-degree robbery.





Jurors took six hours over the course of two days to come to a unanimous verdict on March 18, 2004: Johnson was guilty of aggravated murder in Thompsons stabbing death.





He was sentenced to death.





Before signing Johnsons death warrant, Marion County Judge Jamese Rhoades said shed never seen a defendant with less hope for rehabilitation.





I dont think theres anybody in this courtroom that believes youre innocent, she said.





Although he declined to testify during the trial, Johnson stood and spoke during his sentencing hearing.





Im innocent of this crime, he said. I didnt kill Harriet.





Oregon Innocence Project requests new DNA tests for Salem man on death row





The Oregon Innocence Project has received more than 350 requests for reviews. It has reviewed more than 200 and decided to pursue only five. Johnsons murder conviction was the projects first DNA-based case.





Our investigation showed there is a wealth of physical evidence that either has not been tested or was tested using outdated technology, Wax told the Statesman Journal in November.





He said further testing of the evidence, including blood found at the scene and DNA recovered from the victim, could lead to Johnsons exoneration.





A memorandum filed on Johnsons behalf stated the following:





Johnson later admitted to stopping by Thompsons apartment, and the pieces of evidence were consistent with a social visit.





However, several key items recovered from the scene did not match Johnsons DNA.





A semen sample taken from a vaginal swab of the victim, a spot of blood by the bathroom sink, blood on the bathroom floor and hairs found on the victim were not a match to Johnson.





Argument made for DNA retesting





In 2016, at the request of Johnsons lawyers, one of the vaginal swabs taken from Thompson was submitted to the FBIs Combined DNA Index System, also known as CODIS. The search returned with one match  for a man not previously investigated as part of Thompsons murder.





A public records search revealed the man had a history of violence against women.





The motion requested the retesting  or first-time analysis on pieces werent initially tested  of the physical evidence with newer DNA technology by an independent crime lab. It also requests the DNA be submitted to CODIS for possible matches.





In the states response, prosecutors said Johnsons motion should be denied.





The response stated the following:





DNA testing would not exonerate Johnson. A witness placed Johnson near the crime scene the day of the murder. His possession of Thompsons jewelry proved that he had robbed her. Another witness recounted Johnsons confession of the crime.





The pieces of evidence recovered at the scene merely proved that Johnson was a liar, prosecutors said.





It provided the proverbial nail in the coffin that the defendant had been inside her residence despite his repeated denials to the contrary, they wrote.





Prosecutors also said the identity of the man whose DNA was found inside Thompson was inconsequential.





During the autopsy, the medical examiner found no evidence of sexual assault, and according to friends, Thompson was a crack cocaine user and engaged in prostitution.





When a Salem police detective interviewed the man whose semen was found, he denied knowing Thompson but admitted to frequenting prostitutes in 1998.





Prosecutors conceded that the man had a history of violence. However, they added, so did Johnson. His criminal record, which was used as evidence during his sentencing, included the armed robbery of two women, the assault of an inmate and the forcible anal sodomy of another inmate.





The jury knew the DNA found in Thompson did not match Johnson. They chose to convict him regardless.





Simply put, this is not a DNA case, prosecutor Katie Suver said.





The Johnsons guilt rested on the jewelry, on his confession and on his lies.





There are questions here, Wax said, adding that a mans life on death row was at stake.





Bennett said he was going to walk through both arguments and submit his decision in writing. No timeline was given for the decision.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE!





"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
On October 12th, 1492, three Spanish ships, under the leadership of Christopher Columbus, landed on an island in what is today the Bahamas. The anniversary of that event, observed annually in the United States as Columbus Day, initiated a vast, global exchange of foods, animals, plants, peoples and diseases that transformed the world, known today as the Columbian Exchange. For that reason, 1492 is considered by many historians to be the most significant year in modern world history.

World population has increased more than four times since 1492, doubling between 1650 and 1850. Although a number of contributing factors are responsible for such an enormous growth, clearly the most significant is an increased and improved food supply. The addition to the food supply of native American food plants such as maize, potato, tomato, peanuts, manioc, pineapple, peppers and cocoa beans was the most significant factor.

The potato became the most important food source for the poor in central and northern Europe. Maize and manioc, were introduced to Africa in the sixteenth century, and replaced traditional African crops as the continents most important staple food crops.

The introduction to China of New World food crops, in particular potatoes, corn and peanuts, resulted in a population boom between 1500 and 1650. By the eighteenth century, over one third of the world's population lived in China.

The Columbian Exchange was global, introducing new foods to every corner of the world. Before 1492, there were no oranges in Florida, no bananas in Ecuador, no paprika in Hungary. The exchange brought tomatoes to Italy, coffee to Colombia and Indonesia, pineapples to Hawaii, rubber trees to Africa, chili peppers to Thailand, China and India, and chocolate to Switzerland.

The landfall of three small ships on an island in the Bahamas brought about unprecedented change in the course of history. It shaped the future of human kind for centuries to come, not just because of the discovery of a new continent, but because it brought about regular contact between the earth's hemispheres, engendering trade, allowing for an exchange of ideas, and creating connections and encounters between cultures.

In 1492, the peoples of the world began to come together as a global society, and that is good for all peoples.
Madrids Gran Via will be closed off to private traffic starting next June, with partial closures beginning this Christmas. Thats according to city planning councilor Jose Manuel Calvo, who confirmed last week that the redesign of the street  known as the Spanish Broadway, thanks to its stores and theaters  will see traffic lanes reduced and sidewalks extended. The measure is part of Mayor Manuela Carmenas plan to combat the high levels of pollution in the city.

Initially, on Wednesday the council announced that the full closures would begin at Christmas, but City Hall later backtracked stating that only partial closures will begin during the holidays as construction work begins.

It would not make much sense to reopen Gran Via to traffic after the Christmas closures when construction starts a month later, said Calvo. What we will do is maintain that structure so that the companies that will do the work can begin to operate. The actual sidewalk expansion will not begin until early 2018 and private traffic will not be fully restricted until the summer. Further restrictions will be announced as the renovation progresses.

By 2020, the city expects to reduce pollution by 25%

The new configuration of Gran Via, from Plaza de Espana to its convergence with Alcala street, provides for two lanes in each direction, one for the traffic of authorized vehicles (residents and deliveries) and another for public transportation and bicycles. The remodeling of this street will become one of the Carmena administrations legacies. The modification of one of the capitals most emblematic streets will cost 5 million.

Gran Via will be a much friendlier, very green street with spaces to sit and enjoy and to give priority to pedestrians, said the councilor for sustainable urban development on Wednesday during an interview with the Onda Madrid radio station.

The new Gran Via is part of the the new residential priority area, which will also be launching in June 2018. The aim of the Carmena government is to turn the heart of the capital  where there are high nitrogen dioxide levels  into a low-emission area. By 2020, the city expects to reduce pollution by 25%.

With this closure, traffic will be reduced by 80%, from 50,000 to 10,000 vehicles a day. As for drivers, the councilman said, they will have to look for alternatives, because in no city in the developed world can cars cross the center.

Expanded sidewalks

The announcement last week prompted criticism from the opposition. Popular Party councilor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said that the restrictions will create considerable traffic jams and criticized the fact that the government had not consulted with residents and local businesses. The only thing they know how to do is to impose bans, he said. Spokeswoman for center-right party Ciudadanos, Begona Villacis, played down the impact of the measure, saying: This is not a big city project, much less, it is just a project to expand sidewalks, said Villacis.

Socialist Party (PSOE) spokesperson Purificacion Causapie stressed that if well implemented, the measure would be beneficial to reduce pollution. But she called on City Hall to adequately inform neighbors, businesses and professionals affected.

In no city in the developed world can cars cross the center of the city Councilor Jose Manuel Calvo

A spokesperson for the Chueca neighborhood association said that the municipal government had not informed them officially about when the work will be done. However, they defended the measure, but also had some concerns: The biggest worry we have is that Gran Via becomes a large terrace. This would mean turning Gran Via into a great big theme park, and it would affect the habitability of the area.

English version by Debora Almeida.
By PTI: (Eds: Repeating after minor edits)

Karachi, Oct 9 (PTI) Unidentified gunmen today opened fire on a vehicle, killing at least five members of a minority Shia Hazara family, in Pakistans Balochistan province, the latest bout of sectarian violence in the restive region.

The militants attacked the vehicle on Kasi road in Quetta, capital of the Balochistan province.

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It was a targeted killing incident against the Hazaras who are frequently attacked in the area by Taliban-linked militants, police said.

"Five persons were killed and one was injured," they said.

The attackers were on motorbikes and fled after the incident, police said, adding that further investigations are underway.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Balochistan has witnessed violence against Hazaras for more than a decade and half of them by militants who consider the members of the community as heretics.

Chief Minister Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri condemned the incident and ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The Hazaras are part of the Shia community who live in Balochistan and Afghanistan. They have been often targeted by the Sunni militants.

This is not the first time that the Hazaras have been targeted by extremist outfits in Balochistan. In the last few years, hundreds of Hazaras have been killed in either suicide bomb attacks, bomb blasts or target killings.

Official reports say that there have been around 1200 incidents of violence against the Hazara community in the last 15 years.

In September, Four members of a minority Shia Hazara family were killed by unidentified gunmen, including a 12- year-old boy, in Pakistans Balochistan.

In July, gunmen killed 4 members of a Shia family in the Mastung area, in Balochistan province.

In October last year, gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Hazara men and women in Quetta. Four women were killed in that attack. PTI SH AMS AKJ AMS

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On Saturday, September 23, a potentially violent confrontation was simmering in the main square of the Norwegian town of Kongsberg, 80 kilometers from Oslo. The extreme-right group Stop the Islamification of Norway (SIAN) and the Refugee Welcome to Kongsberg movement faced each other across the square, each with stalls peddling their distinct points of view.

Also on the scene were a number of journalists and a rather large group of policemen primed for trouble following the disturbances that took place in August, when an influx of refugees coincided with the countrys election campaigns.

With the help of loudspeakers and banners, members of SIAN aired their No to Islam, Yes to freedom point of view while the pro-refugee delegation responded with music and enjoyed the support of the crowd  particularly that of one elderly gentleman, carrying the mornings shopping, who stepped forward into no-mans-land to give the ultra-right group the finger.

I dont like these movements against refugees. That was obvious from what I did. And I would do it again Louis Eriksen

The defiant gesture was captured by photographer Irene Mjseng and subsequently went viral on social media sites. Photograph of the year? tweeted Norwegian writer Tom Egeland. I applaud Irene Mjseng for this wonderful photo.

It was a brave gesture, undoubtedly fueled by the elderly gentlemans past. Known today as Louis Eriksen, 76, he was, in fact, born Louis Villalonga in Marseille, the son of refugees from the Spanish Civil War. He arrived in Norway in 1948, thanks to Den Norske Spaniakomiteen, an association working with the anti-Franco movement in Spain. Once there, he was taken in by a couple in Oslo, and adopted their surname, Eriksen. In 1964, he came to the town of Kongsberg, where he found a job in the Hotel Grand and met the love of his life, Jorunn.

I dont like these movements against refugees. That was obvious from what I did. And I would do it again, he told EL PAIS, his eyes bright with emotion. They treat Muslims like third-class citizens but they are not. These people forget how the Norwegians moved to America to escape poverty. This is the same. Most of the refugees are poor. They are economic refugees.

The neo-Nazi movement in Norway is small but noticeable. The photo has hit where it hurts Photographer Irene Mjseng

Louis has become a digital icon as well as something of a spokesman for the pro-refugee movement. The current situation has no equivalent, he says. Previously, refugees were mainly European and there werent so many of them. Now they come from all over the world. And attitudes toward them have deteriorated. Im satisfied with what I did and I think its good that the image has spread on social media. I hope it will open peoples eyes and make them think a little more about whats going on around us.

Meanwhile, Mjseng, who took the photo, says: Its fascinating how a photograph can capture the essence of a situation. We never dreamed that the photo of the SIAN demonstration and Louiss gesture would reach so many people. The neo-Nazi movement in Norway is small but noticeable. The photo has hit where it hurts. A lot of people wanted to express their opposition to the anti-refugee movement but didnt dare. This photo offers hope because it shows a retired person standing up for what he believes in, without fear or regret.

English version by Heather Galloway.
Regional premier Carles Puigdemont will appear tomorrow in the Catalan parliament to report on the current political situation. Once the session is opened, anything is possible, including a unilateral declaration of independence if the order of the day is changed. All eyes are on Puigdemont, who has the last word in deciding how to apply the result of last Sundays illegal referendum on independence. The head of PDeCAT, an independence supporting party, Marta Pascal, told the BBC yesterday that the regional government is going to opt for a symbolic declaration of secession.

Catalan regional premier Carles Puigdemont. Manu Fernandez (AP)

The regional premier has always been pro-independence and few doubt his commitment to acting on the results of the referendum. On last nights 30 Minutes, on regional public TV channel TV-3, Puigdemont did not give details of his immediate plans after the referendum or whether he will declare independence in parliament on Tuesday. TV-3 broadcast a preview of the report that included this statement from the politician: A declaration of independence is provided for by the referendum law based on the results, so we will apply what the law allows. However, this phrase did not appear in the final program.

We have said yes to mediation, but the days pass and if the Spanish state does not respond positively, we will do what we have come to do Catalan regional premier Carles Puigdemont

The show closed with an appeal from Puigdemont to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to accept mediation. We have opened the door to mediation and we have said yes to as many options of mediation as we have been asked. But the days pass and if the Spanish state does not respond positively, we will do what we have come to do.

The protest yesterday in Barcelona in favor of a unified Spain put more pressure on the possible declaration of independence. The secessionist government looked on with respect as people who oppose succession mobilized  the scenes yesterday showed that the street is not just for the secessionists.

The secrecy of the regional government with regard to its plans for Tuesdays session in parliament were dealt a blow on Sunday after the head of the PDeCAT party, Marta Pascal, told a BBC reporter that the Catalan leader would opt for a symbolic declaration. Puigdemont would recognize the validity of the referendum results before the legislative body, but would not make a formal declaration of independence. He would then outline the road map that they will follow to achieve secession from Spain. Last night, party sources said they had asked for a rectification from the British media outlet for what they considered a misinterpretation of the conversation with Pascal.

Pressure for the declaration of independence not to be declared is coming from all sides. Former regional premier Artur Mas admitted on Friday in an interview with UK daily the Financial Times that Catalonia was not ready to be independent, as it lacked basic state structures and its own treasury.

If there is a declaration of independence, a series of Catalan companies would follow in moving their legal headquarters

The plan is not a simple one to implement and even within PDeCAT there are doubts about the timings. The regional government took a few days last week to try and reorganize their script, while advocating for international mediation to restore institutional normality between the central government and Catalonia. They are also dissatisfied with the response from Brussels regarding the Catalan conflict. The conviction is that everything is on the brink  We have never gone so far  but the utmost care must be taken with the next steps.

The secessionist attempts have clashed head-on with economic powers. A week ago, there were six Catalan companies in Spains benchmark Ibex 35 stock market index, and it is possible that today there will only be one left. Abertis, Colonial, and Cellnex will decide on Monday if they want to move their legal headquarters out of Catalonia, following the lead of Gas Natural, Caixabank, and Banco Sabadell.

The situation is so delicate that Puigdemont met with Juan Jose Brugera, the president of the Circulo de Economia, the business lobby that brings together big business and Catalan economists and academics. Brugera expressed concern about the situation and warned that if the premier went ahead with his plans for a declaration of independence a series of Catalan companies would follow in moving elsewhere.

Sources familiar with the meeting say Puigdemont was aware of the situation. This contrasts with statements from deputy premier, Oriol Junqueras, who last week denied that companies from Catalonia were going to move if there was a break with Spain.

English version by Debora Almeida.
These are the responsibility of the editor and convey the newspaper's view on current affairs-both domestic and international

An overhead view of the protest in Barcelona. MARTA PEREZ (EFE)

The argument most insistently used by Catalan separatists was dealt an unmitigated defeat on Sunday. The march in Barcelona evidenced the fallacy of the notion that there is one single people united behind their cause, and that this gives them the legitimacy to force a unilateral secession from Spain. Catalan society is a lot more diverse than nationalists have been relentlessly claiming for the last few years.

Nobody can deny the separatists ability to mobilize their own sympathizers, and nobody can deny that there is a significant section of Catalans who demand a different relationship with Spain. But starting this Sunday, nobody will be able to deny that there is a vast amount of Catalans who reject the call to break away from Spain.

For decades, Catalan nationalism has built up an ideological monopoly and smothered societys plurality

The secessionist forces had gone to lengths to get the streets to provide some legitimacy to the parliamentary masquerade they themselves orchestrated with the passing of their breakaway laws. And it was the streets that told them this Sunday that many people dont want anything to do with a process that entails destroying the Statute and the Constitution.

What was really new about Sunday is that a majority of people who had been silent until now finally spoke out. And they did so in several voices: they carried the Catalan, Spanish and European flags. There were even contradictory voices within the march, a fact that became evident when former European Parliament president Josep Borrell asked marchers to stop a chant asking for prison for Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont. On this matter, the Socialist politician told the crowd, it is the courts who must hand down a judgment, not the streets.

The remark could also be construed as a wake-up call about the most elemental rules of democracy. In democratic regimes, it is never the street that decides on a countrys course  contrary to what some populist movements would like. Democracies guarantee social diversity and the balance of power. For this reason, ever since the breakaway process openly embraced populism and the Catalan government awarded itself an alleged mandate by a united people to achieve independence, its legitimacy came into question.

The Catalan government has been forced to hear from the streets what it refused to hear inside its own parliament

Now, people have come out onto the streets to defend constitutional democracy, and politicians have a duty to listen. But the streets can never impose anything, save in those cases when an uprising may be justified because no democracy exists in the first place.

The Catalan government has been forced to hear from the streets what it refused to hear inside its own parliament: that there is no one single Catalan people that desires independence, and that Catalonia is in fact a diverse place. Now, authorities will have to provide an answer. Some people who remain trapped in their bubble have already dismissed the Sunday march because the PP was part of it, and because there were Spanish flags. That would be one erroneous interpretation of what Sunday really meant. Because in a democracy, in Catalonia, there is room for everybody.

For decades, Catalan nationalism has built up an ideological monopoly and smothered societys plurality. But on Sunday, this hegemony built on control over the streets, political institutions and civil society came crashing down. And separatism, which was already living outside the law, has now also lost its legitimacy.

English version by Susana Urra.
Catalan universities have joined the call for mediation, dialogue and conciliation by the Bar Association of Barcelona, an entity that seeks a return to normality after the illegal referendum on October 1 in Catalonia. All are asking for dialogue between political agents , but not all hold the same position on the process. On Friday, the University of Girona approved a manifesto of support for the regional government.

Various people carry a flag through the streets of Barcelona during the strikes. Claudio Alvarez

The seven public, three private and one mixed-model schools have all been implicated in last months events, including the student strikes called against repression and for the right to decide, the voting, the police intervention on October 1, and the general strike in the region two days later.

The organizations that have signed up to the Bar Associations initiative range from the University of Lleida, whose management team was pushed by the faculty staff to support the right to hold a referendum, to the University of Girona, which on Friday approved a manifesto supporting the regional government in the self-determination process and whose faculty called for the disassociation from organizations in which the Spanish monarchy participates, after King Felipe VIs televised speech on October 3.

The regional government has not clarified whether there will be a unilateral declaration of independence in the coming days. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy maintains that, before sitting down to speak, the Catalan regional premier must return to legality. So what kind of dialogue are the universities calling for?

This country has gone through much more complicated situations Joan Elias, the president of the University of Barcelona

Maybe they need to stop and talk. I will not say what they have to do, but when you negotiate, you have to give something up, said Joan Elias, the dean of the University of Barcelona (UB), the largest college in Catalonia with 63,000 students. This country has gone through much more complicated situations, such as the [attempted coup] on February 23, 1981, or the Transition [to democracy], where there was a table where they sat down to speak [...], says Elias.

The rest of universities adhered to the initiative after a meeting held last Thursday at UB. The text they have signed does not explicitly state the rejection of the unilateral declaration of independence. Universities are a reflection of Catalan society, and the latter is not in favor of the unilateral declaration, says the president of UB. The University of Girona has nevertheless aligned itself with the regional government while demanding dialogue and mediation.

UBs central courtyard is closed to the public these days to preserve the works and paintings it houses made by students during their sit-in protests in support of the referendum, demonstrations that were reproduced to a greater or lesser extent on other Catalan campuses. Some universities remained open during the strikes but asked their teachers to avoid scheduling exams for that day. The dean of the Pompeu Fabra University, Jaume Casals, announced that the school would close for the day due to the exceptional situation that Catalonia is going through.

The group of universities also backed the national strike and rejected police intervention during voting, the episodes of violence, and the unjustifiable actions in Catalonia exercised on October 1 by the Civil Guard and the National Police, according to the Polytechnic University of Catalonias statement.

English version by Debora Almeida.
Passengers board a Ryanair flight at London Stansted. Kevin Coombs (REUTERS)

Ryanair today canceled a total of 212 flights scheduled for Tuesday October 10 due to an air traffic controllers strike in France. Of the flights, half either leave or arrive at a Spanish airport. The airline, which has already announced thousands of cancellations until March of next year due to poor planning of its pilot vacations, says that the strike could see additional cancellations or delays.

We regret to advise customers that due to an air traffic control strike in France on Oct. 10, we have been forced to cancel the flights listed below, the company announced via its website, followed by the full list of the 212 canceled flights.

Ryanair already announced thousands of cancellations until March of next year due to poor planning of its pilot vacations

In the same press release, Ryanair states that its customers will be informed of the situation of their flights by email or phone. It also adds that unfortunately, further flight delays and cancellations are likely and customers are asked to please monitor this notice which will be updated throughout the day.

Of the 212 cancelled flights, at least 106 have their origin or destination at a Spanish airport. The most affected is Alicante, with 24 cancellations, followed by Barcelona El Prat and Palma, with 16. Madrids Barajas airport sees 12 cancellations, with 10 in Malaga and Murcia, and six in Ibiza, Valencia and Reus.

For the third time in less than a month, the Irish airline has had to sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to its passengers, although in this case it states that the problem is entirely outside of our control.

English version by Simon Hunter.
The PP's vice-secretary for communications, Pablo Casado. EFE

Spains central government on Monday issued a message of firmness just hours before Catalan lawmakers convene for a session that could theoretically end in a unilateral declaration of independence.

The Mariano Rajoy administration is promising a firm hand against secessionism, according to the Popular Party (PP)s vice-secretary for communications, Pablo Casado.

Rajoy and his team are hardening their tone ahead of a session in which Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont could declare independence, even if it ends up being a symbolic breakaway, as some sources in his Democratic Party of Catalonia (PDdeCat) are now suggesting.

Puigdemont and other politicians pushing for independence could potentially be prosecuted for the crimes of sedition and rebellion

History shows that Catalan declarations of independence have ended very badly, noted Casado, alluding to a declaration of Catalan statehood on October 6, 1934. At that time, the Spanish government arrested all members of the Catalan government and suspended home rule. Between 1936 and 1939, Spain went through a civil war, followed by four decades of dictatorship.

Fast-forwarding to today, the government has made it clear that it is keeping all options open to prevent secession in Catalonia, including a suspension of home rule using a constitutional provision that has never been invoked since the Constitution was signed in 1978.

We are going to prevent independence in Catalonia, said Casado, quoting Rajoy. We will take all necessary measures to prevent it. A separation of Catalonia is not going to happen. The government will do whatever it takes to ensure it.

Besides invoking Section 155 of the Constitution to suspend home rule, the government could apply the National Security Law, and try to get Congress to support the declaration of a state of emergency or siege.

Meanwhile, Puigdemont and other politicians pushing for independence could potentially be prosecuted for the crimes of sedition and rebellion.

Rajoy has told us he will do everything necessary, without giving up on any tool afforded by the Constitution and the Criminal Code, said Casado. There is no room for appeasement or for international mediation. We have no concessions to make and nothing to negotiate with coup-mongers.

The government could try to get Congress to support the declaration of a state of emergency or siege

Then Casado added: Whoever declares [independence] could end up just like the one who declared it 83 years ago.

Casado was comparing Catalan premier Puigdemont with Lluis Companys, who was jailed after declaring an independent Catalan state in 1934. Casado later told reporters that he was alluding merely to this episode  not to the fact that Companys was later executed by the Franco regime in 1940. He said that secessionists are the ones making calls to exercise physical violence against opponents of independence.

National Police

Meanwhile, in an unprecedented scene, the National and Catalan police forces are now sharing surveillance duties outside the Catalonia High Court (TSJC). Until now, this task had been the sole jurisdiction of the Mossos dEsquadra, but TSJC chief Jesus Barrientos has asked the National Police to head security efforts inside and outside the building.

The move comes after the Mossos failed to follow TSJC instructions to prevent the October 1 referendum, prompting critics to say that this agency is at the service of the pro-independence government in Catalonia. Barrientos said that this dual solution can more efficiently preserve constitutional legality.

The decision also follows a reading of the breakaway laws rammed through the regional parliament last month, and which contemplate the suppression of the TSJC and of its chief justice.

Meanwhile, the head of the Supreme Court and chair of the General Council of the Judiciary, Carlos Lesmes, has condemned the acts of harassment against members of the National Police and Civil Guard that have taken place and continue to take place in Catalonia.

English version by Susana Urra.
France, Russia, China and Germany all have expressed concern over the possible toughening of the United States position towards Iran and the 2015 nuclear deal.

France said on Monday it was concerned that designating the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, IRGC as a terrorist organization could increase tensions in the Middle East.

"In the context of regional instability, France is vigilant on any actions that could exacerbate the current crises," foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes Romatet-Espagne told a daily briefing, when asked if Paris backed putting the IRGC on a terrorism list.

Irans foreign ministry and the IRGC have warned Washington not take such a step and have threatened to give a strong response if the Trump administration moves against the Guards.

France appeared to call on parties to show restraint. "With this in mind, regional states have a specific role to play and must show restraint and a sense of responsibility," Romatet-Espagne said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was also quoted by ITAR/TASS as saying that if Washington withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, negative consequences will follow.

The White House signaled last week, that President Trump might de-certify the Iran nuclear deal, as the deadline for certification with Congress approaches this month.

Chinese foreign ministry on Monday expressed hope that the nuclear deal will stay in place and will play an important role in strengthening peace.

German foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel also expressed concern that signals coming from Washington suggest president Trump will reject the Iran nuclear deal.

British Prime Minister Theresa May, who supports the nuclear deal, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes it, agreed in a phone call on Monday that they need to be "clear-eyed" about the threat Iran poses to the Middle East.

"They agreed that ... the international community should continue working together to push back against Iran's destabilising regional activity," May's spokesman said in a statement.

In a further development, The UN atomic agency chief Yukiya Amano during a conference in Rome that Iran contnues to abide by the 2015 nuclear deal.

"I can state that the nuclear-related commitments undertaken by Iran under the (nuclear agreement) are being implemented," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Amano said.

Based on reporting by Reuters, ITAR/TASS, AFP
The former chairman of Bank Melli Iran, Mahmoud Reza Khavari, will be tried in absentia on November 21, reported the judiciarys official news website, Mizan.

The trial will take place at the Islamic Revolutionary Court, Mizan cited the chief of Tehrans justice department as saying on October 8.

Khavari was involved in Irans biggest embezzlement case of roughly $2.6 billion, a fraud involving the use of bogus documents to obtain credit from eight Iranian banks to purchase state-owned companies over a reported four-year period, reported the semi-official Mehr News Agency (MNA).

Khavari, became a Canadian citizen in 2005 and reportedly owned a home in Toronto, fled to Canada in 2011 to join his family. Despite Tehrans frequent official requests, Canada has refused to extradite him, citing the absence of a bilateral extradition treaty with Iran.

But immediately after his flight to Canada Khavari was not so sure what would happen to him. He reportedly gave his $3 million home to his daughter for the token price of two dollars.

Interpol had placed him on its red notice wanted list in February 2013 but removed his name in October 2016.

The chief of Iran's branch of Interpol said the removal of the information about Khavari from the Interpol public portal does not mean the red notice against him has been lifted.

The red notice is accessible and citable in Interpols main system to Interpol branches in all countries. The red notice has been only removed from the organizations public portal, and that only happens in the cases where the Interpol branch in the individuals country of residence has established a connection with the branch that issued the red notice, MNA quoted General Massoud Rezvani as saying.

In the case of Khavaris travel to other countries, the police department of the country is obliged to detain him based on the red notice being still active in their system and immediately inform the Interpol branch in Tehran, he said.

However, judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei admitted last month that Tehrans efforts for Khavaris extradition through Interpol had been unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Ejei had advised Khavari to voluntarily return to Tehran since he would benefit from defending his innocence in a court of law.

Khavari has yet to respond to Ejeis advice.

The fugitive banker was appointed as chairman of Bank Melli Iran during Mahmud Ahmadinejads second-term presidency in 2011.

Khavari is accused of embezzlement, fraud, taking bribes, and illegal acquisition of property.

The main convict in Khavaris legal case was Iranian businessman Mahafarid Amir Khosravi, once generally believed to be the richest man in the country.

Khosravi, also known as Amir Mansour Aria, was hanged for his part in the same 2011 embezzlement scandal.

The scandal involved using forged documents to fraudulently buy assets that included major state-owned companies around Iran.

Bank Melli, which Khavari led as its chairman of the board and managing director, was accused of facilitating fraudulent payments, the Toronto Star reported in October 2011.

In addition to being linked to the fraud scandal, Khavari's bank has been blacklisted for years by Canada, the United States, and the European Union, which allege that the bank used shell companies and other deceptive practices to finance terrorism and fund Iran's nuclear and missile programs, Canadas Globe and Mail reported in November 2011.

Khavari has also been embroiled in financial disputes and lawsuits in Canada. Apparently, he has real estate investments running into tens of millions of dollars.

According to the Globe and Mail, U.S. security analysts said Khavari was a trove of intelligence about illicit Iranian banking and had called on Canadian officials to question him.

Immediately after the scandal, Iran legally barred citizens with dual nationality from directing its banks.
Baku /Trend/ -

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said Pakistan and Azerbaijan traditionally enjoy close, cordial relations.

Talking to Ambassador of Azerbaijan Ali Alizada in Islamabad on October 9, the Prime Minister said these relations are marked by trust and understanding, according to Radio Pakistan.

The Prime Minister appreciated Azerbaijan's continued support Kashmir dispute and its invaluable role in the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

Abbasi reiterated Pakistan's principled position on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

The Prime Minister called for attaining the optimum level of economic cooperation between the two countries.

He said bilateral collaboration in different sectors between the two countries has been growing steadily.

Pakistan was among the first countries that recognized the independence of Azerbaijan in October 1991.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Pakistan amounted to $7.3 million in 2016, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee. Pakistan has already developed a 5-year trade plan on the increase of the export volume to Azerbaijan up to $500 million.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.9

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs - Political Director for the European External Action Service (EEAS) Jean-Christophe Belliard has arrived in Azerbaijan, Head of Political, Economics and Press and Information Section of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Denis Daniilidis told Trend.

During the visit, Belliard will hold meetings with Azerbaijani officials, he said.

Daniilidis noted that this is a familiarization visit with a focus on discussing preparations for the 5th Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit that will take place in Brussels on November 24.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the EU stood at $4.33 billion in January-August 2017 and $3.18 billion of this amount accounted for export to EU countries, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.

Currently, over 1,300 European companies operate in Azerbaijan.

To date, Azerbaijan has signed double taxation avoidance agreements with 23 EU countries and agreements on the promotion and protection of investments with 17 EU countries. Moreover, Azerbaijan has intergovernmental commissions with 13 countries and has signed strategic partnership agreements with seven EU countries.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Accused of theft, the barefoot man in the video can be seen tied to the pole and being beaten mercilessly with sticks and hurled abuses at.

By India Today Web Desk: A shocking video of brutal inhuman assault on an Nigerian man has surfaced again, this time from south Delhi's Malviya Nagar, retracing the infamous trails of national capital's tryst with racism.

Accused of theft, the barefoot man in the video can be seen tied to the pole and being beaten mercilessly with sticks and hurled abuses at.

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People surrounding the foreign national are apparently residents of the area, where the alleged theft took place.

After beating him to pulp, the residents called the police on him and reasoned his injuries on 'fall from stairs'.

NOT AGAIN

This incident has brought back the ghosts of past, when earlier this year, four Nigerians were thrashed in Greater Noida in connection to the death of a teen due to drug overdose.

In another harrowing episode, a Kenyan woman was pulled out of cab in Greater Noida and assaulted by three men in Greater Noida in May this year.

South Delhi is not new to such ghastly racist attacks, May 2016, a Congolese youth was killed after he got into an argument with some men over a cab ride.

Watch the video here: Delhi horror: Nigerian tied to pole, brutally thrashed on 'suspicion' of theft

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Details added (first version posted on 14:34)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

Trend:

Although Armenia had tried to break the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, it failed to achieve this, said Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev.

He made the remarks addressing a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to results of socio-economic development in nine months of 2017 and objectives for the future on October 9.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, President Aliyev said that Azerbaijans position remains unchanged and the countrys territorial integrity is not a matter of negotiations.

The President stressed that Azerbaijan will not allow the creation of a second Armenian state on its territory.

Noting that in nine months of 2017, Azerbaijan developed successfully and comprehensively, and the dynamic development was provided in all spheres, the head of state stressed that the countrys economic indicators are positive.

According to him, non-oil economy rose by 2.5 percent in nine months of 2017, which is the result of the policy pursued in recent years. President Aliyev noted that during the period, the non-oil industry rose by 3.1 percent, agriculture by 2.8 percent, foreign trade turnover by 7 percent.

Azerbaijans currency reserves totaled $42 billion in nine months of 2017, said the president.

We are thinking about long-term sustainable development, noted the head of state, adding that the countrys economic opportunities are one of the main conditions for its independence. The Azerbaijani president emphasized that the foreign currency reserves, which rose by $4.5 billion, are one of the successes of these nine months.

During this period, the process of creating new jobs was carried out successfully, and 226,000 new jobs were created in the nine months, said President Aliyev.

Noting that during this period Azerbaijan successfully implemented major infrastructure projects, including the construction of new roads, the projects on drinking water supply, gasification, electricity supply and melioration, the head of state said that the implementation of these measures gives momentum to the successful development of regions and the overall economic progress of the country.

New schools, medical facilities were built and overhauled during the past period of 2017, he said.

Solution of social problems of internally displaced persons and the issue of their provision with housing have also been considered from the beginning of the year, added the president.

Speaking about the restoration of the Jojug Marjanli village and the creation of social infrastructure there, President Aliyev called it a historic event and noted that in 2017, the IDPs will be provided with new apartments and this project will continue in 2018. More than 250,000 Azerbaijanis have been provided with new apartments until today, added the head of state.

President Aliyev noted that during the first nine months of 2017, Azerbaijan had great achievements in the field of sports, and the Islamic Solidarity Games were organized at a high level.

The country strengthened its positions on the international arena in this period, said the president and underlined that Azerbaijan is known in the world as a reliable partner. President Aliyev said that 14 foreign visits were made during this period, and heads of more than 10 states and governments visited Azerbaijan, and each visit was useful for the country.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

Trend:

Defense ministries of Azerbaijan and Belarus signed a plan of bilateral cooperation for 2018.

Azerbaijans Defense Ministry told Trend Oct. 9 that the document was signed following a meeting between Azerbaijani Defense Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, who is on a visit in Belarus, and his Belarusian counterpart Lieutenant General Andrei Ravkov.

During the two ministers meetings, held after an official welcoming ceremony, the sides noted the importance of developing bilateral relations, particularly, the cooperation in military, military-technical fields, and in military education.

Hasanov and Ravkov exchanged views on a wide range of international and regional security issues, organization of visits of military experts, as well as issues of mutual interest.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

Trend:

Armenia has once again disgraced itself and the resumption of negotiations is not a gesture for Azerbaijan, said Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev.

He made the remarks addressing a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to results of socio-economic development in nine months of 2017 and objectives for the future on October 9.

Azerbaijan voices its position directly for foreign partners, said the head of state.

President Aliyev noted that his speeches during official visits and international events reflect the policy of Azerbaijan, as well as the success achieved by the country and once again bring the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh problem to the attention of the world community.

Heads of more than 10 states and governments visited Azerbaijan, he noted adding that new visits are also expected until the end of 2017.

In other words, Azerbaijans international relations are multidimensional, added the president.

Our foreign policy ensures our national interests, said President Aliyev adding that Azerbaijan is a country with great respect and very positive reputation on the international arena.

The president emphasized that Azerbaijans position on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unchanged.

This position was announced openly from the highest tribunes of the world, said President Aliyev.

Nagorno-Karabakh is our historical and ancestral land; we must return and will return to this land. The territorial integrity of our country is not and will never be a topic of negotiations. We will never allow the creation of a second Armenian state in our lands, and the restoration of our territorial integrity is our primary duty, noted the Azerbaijani president.

As you know, there is no progress in negotiations recently. Armenia tried and thought that it will be able to break negotiations. In other words, by accusing us with various excuses, it tried not to resume the negotiations and had set several conditions to achieve this. Of course, I initially stated that no conditions will be accepted. They put themselves in a very foolish state when putting forward these conditions and they will be forced to abandon this policy. Life and reality once again show that as always, our analysis and our policy reflect the full reality, said President Aliyev.

He went on to say that today the negotiation process is being resumed without any conditions.

Armenia has once again disgraced itself before the world community and the resumption of negotiations is not a gesture for us, added the president.

Armenias hysterical statements, its appeals to other countries that are full of fear, are, in fact, an open confession that it is impossible for them to stand in front of us in the battle, said President Aliyev. He added that the April battles demonstrated this.

The situation on the line of contact shows that today Azerbaijan fully controls the line of contact, noted the head of state.

Of course, Armenia should be more interested in restoring negotiations, said President Aliyev adding that otherwise, Armenia will face bitter consequences.

Mediators involved in the issue try for the resumption of the negotiation process, and of course, Azerbaijan supports this, noted the head of state.

Therefore, I would like to reiterate that even though no realistic result has been achieved this year, Armenia has once again presented itself as a weak, dependent country to the world community, concluded the Azerbaijani president.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

A regional conference on cybercrime kicked off in Baku with the organizational support of Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office.

The event, being held at the initiative of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP), is attended by about 70 guests representing various bodies for combating cybercrime, as well as delegates from the regional states.

Addressing the conference, Azerbaijans Deputy Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev noted that cybercrime is one of the most dangerous crimes of our time.

Further during the conference, IAP Secretary General Han Moraal said it is necessary to establish strong international cooperation in order to fight cybercrime, which leads to huge social problems.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

Trend:

DanceAbility  Inclusive Dance workshops held in Baku for the first time were finalized with demonstration of the participants final performance.

Six days workshops and final performance was held at Yarat Contemporary Art Center with support of Rapid Solutions Company.

Accredited diplomatic representatives and artists also participated in the event. Founder and Artistic director of DanceAbility Azerbaijan Nigar Sultanova-Yidirim informed that among the participants there were professional and non-professional dancers, people with hearing impairment and physical disabilities, people with Down syndrome, students and actors.

She also stressed that the method has been applied for the first time in Azerbaijan and Eastern World.

The method helps all the participants, as well as people with different disabilities with integration into society and life by giving them freedom of expression.

Later, dance composition by 20 participants was demonstrated to audience. In Caucasus and Eastern World, new dance style was performed for the first time in Azerbaijan and received good reviews from the guests.

This dance methodology was founded by Alito Alessi and Karen Nelson in USA in 1987. Now, along with Azerbaijan, independent DanceAbility affiliate exists in Austria, Finland, Hong Kong, Mexico and Uruguay.

Photo: Yarat Contemporary Art Space
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Since early 2017, 155 criminal cases against 215 officials in Azerbaijan were sent to courts, Deputy Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev told reporters in Baku.

He noted that the number of complaints relating to the banking sector has increased.

Criminal investigations are underway against officials in the housing and construction sector as well as in banks and non-bank credit organizations, Aliyev said.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 9

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov summed up the national economy development and defined relevant tasks for the coming years during his speech at a meeting of the countrys Council of Elders Oct. 9, Turkmenistan State News Agency reported.

Our goal is to diversify economy, expand its export capabilities, he said, noting that Turkmenistan has started implementing programs to manufacture products for import substitution and increase the volume of export goods.

Good results have already been achieved in the programs implementation: the volume of imported goods has decreased, and export has grown, he added.

Speaking about the national program adopted in Turkmenistan in 2007 for the transformation of social conditions of the population of villages, settlements, cities of districts and district centers until 2020, the president noted that thousands of social facilities and engineering infrastructure objects were built and commissioned within its framework.

This is while dozens of major projects of international significance have been implemented within the framework of the program on social and economic development of Turkmenistan for 2012-2016, he said.

Taking into account the average volume of GDP per capita, Turkmenistan, according to its social and economic indicators, has crossed the threshold of becoming a high-income economy, he noted.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other authoritative international organizations confirm the successful implementation of monetary, fiscal, pricing and investment policies in Turkmenistan, the countrys president said.

According to the forecasts of the authoritative international financial institutions, high GDP growth, namely at 6.4 percent, is expected in Turkmenistan in 2017 and 2018, he added.

This serves as clear confirmation of the fact that, since 2007, Turkmenistan has implemented most of the Sustainable Development Goals proclaimed at the 70th Regular Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2015, he noted.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev talked on a number of important economic issues during the meeting with the countrys businessmen in the governmental residency on October 8, the press service of the Kyrgyz President said in a message.

Among the beneficial aspects of the current program of economic growth, Kyrgyz president stressed the important role of entrepreneurs in the development of the country's economy.

Entrepreneurs, farmers, representatives of small and medium businesses are those who feed the country. So it is essential to create all the necessary conditions for their successful work," Atambayev said.

The president added that significant efforts were made to create necessary conditions for better work of businessmen in the country. In particular, the implementation of a program to eliminate direct contacts of the tax service with entrepreneurs.

Large infrastructure projects in power engineering and road construction areas have been implemented in recent years. The work on provision of entrepreneurs with affordable loans and a new influx of financial resources is expected to be completed on a basis of previously reached agreements with foreign partners, said the president.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Azerbaijan-Belarus business forum will be held in Baku on Oct. 17, said the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) on its website Oct. 9.

The business forum will be organized with the support of Azerbaijans Economy Ministry.

More than 15 Belarusian companies specializing in various sectors of economy will take part in the event.

According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, the countrys trade turnover with Belarus amounted to $93.76 million in January-August 2017, of which $83.85 million accounted for the import of Belarusian products.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Gulgiz Muradova  Trend:

The Government of Azerbaijan will establish an Azerbaijan Expo-Trade Center in Moscow, Russia.

The Economy Ministry reported that the Center will locate within the All-Russian Exhibition Centre and contribute to further promotion of Azerbaijani goods.

Additionally, Azerbaijan seeks to open its second Trade House in Russias Arkhangelsk region.

Azerbaijan has already opened Azerbaijan Trade House in Belarus, and the work is underway to open similar Trade House in Ukraine.

Alcoholic products, natural juices, jams, cosmetics and other products of Azerbaijan are displayed in the Azerbaijan Trade House in Minsk, Belarus.

The country creates Trade Houses abroad to facilitate the export process, promote an export of competitive Azerbaijani production and to expand trade operations.
Footwear manufacturers and exporters in Agra are disheartened after the GST council's announcements to provide relief to small-scale industries did not include the footwear industry.

By Siraj Qureshi: The GST Council meeting held on 6th October gave relief to the jewellery industry as well as several small-scale industries, but the Agra footwear industry has been kept off this list despite several representations by the industry to the Finance Ministry.

Agra Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Chamber President Puran Dawar and ex-chairman Nazeer Ahmed told India Today that the footwear industry in Agra employs over 3.5 lakh people of the city, but the GST council ignored this industry's valid demands.

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Small-scale manufacturers of footwear have been disheartened as they were hoping that this time the GST council will definitely hear their pleas.

Puwar Dawar said that the GST refund provisions do give some relief but it is very disappointing that leather has still been kept in the 12 per cent slab instead of bringing it down to 5 percent.

Nazeer Ahmed said that the leather goods have also been kept in 28 per cent slab, which should have been kept at 12 per cent as demanded by the industry. He said that excessive taxation is killing the motive with which the GST had been brought into effect. He demanded to know if the government considered simple things, like shoes, a luxury item?

A National Chamber of Industries and Commerce member said that the footwear industry needs more rebates in view of the competitive atmosphere globally. If promoted properly, the footwear industry alone could generate millions of new jobs and also earn foreign exchange in the process.

Nazim Qureshi, owner of a small-scale domestic footwear factory demanded that footwear upto Rs. 500 should be kept tax free as this was the range in which the poor and underprivileged people bought shoes.

For shoes priced higher than this, the tax could be 5 percent, but not more, otherwise the demand for leather footwear will drop in the domestic market and it will, in turn, cause a loss of revenue to the government.

When India Today contacted the office bearers of Agra Vyapar Mandal for their reactions on the GST council's latest slew of rebates, they said that these rebates were more like 'Oont ke muh mein jeera'. Govind Agrawal, a member of the Vyapar Mandal said that the government has reduced GST on plastic, e-waste, rubber etc., whereas the real need of the common man was the reduction in GST on shoes, diesel engine parts, clothes etc.

Apart from this, medicines should also have been brought under minimum GST slab as the government itself claims to be on a mission of making a healthy India, but healthy India could hardly be possible if medicines were taxed so heavily.

They demanded that the luxury items should be taxed at a maximum of 18 per cent, while daily necessities should be brought under minimum taxation.

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Bhartiya Muslim Vikas Parishad Chairman Sami Aghai said that the 'backtracking' of the Modi government on the matter of GST is only due to the forthcoming elections in Gujarat and the Lok Sabha elections that will arrive in 2019.

"The intention with which these tax-rebates have been announced is malafide at best and the people should not be misled into thinking that PM Modi thinks about the welfare of the people. He's filling the government's coffers with tax money through arbitrarily raised taxes because he drained the same coffers due to his failed economic policies and bled the country's financial might dry through demonetisation. By announcing these rebates, Modi thinks that he will be successful in bringing back the supporters he has lost in the past couple of years, but this is not going to happen and Modi may be looking at a tough fight in Gujarat elections this year."

--- ENDS ---
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.9,

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

The National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support (NFES) under the Economy Ministry of Azerbaijan has begun accepting investment projects on priority development areas of the Absheron district.

Following the business forum, the NFES considered it expedient to start accepting proposals of entrepreneurs on financing start-ups, as well as investment projects to create a specialized "green market", a container manufacturing enterprise and a modern greenhouse farm.

Moreover, it is planned to accept proposals for planting new orchards of olives and almonds.

Entrepreneurs can apply to the Fund through authorized banks and non-bank lenders, in accordance with the rules for using the funds of the NFES. Small projects can be fully financed through concessional loans.

About 150 million manats ($88 million) will be issued for granting preferential loans to entrepreneurs in 2017.

During January-September 2017, 1,154 entrepreneurs received soft loans in the amount of 90.4 million manats ($53.18 million).

The main goal of the Fund, which was established in 1992, is to provide preferential loans from the state budget for small and medium business, in order to develop entrepreneurship in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Allocation of funds by NFES is aimed at the minimizing of the impact of global economic crisis to the national economy and mitigation of its dependence on the oil sector.

The official exchange rate on Oct.9 is 1.7002 AZN/USD.
Belfort, France, Oct. 9

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Frances Alstom rail transport company has introduced its first passenger locomotive Prima M4 for the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC in Belfort, France, Trends correspondent reported from the event.

Ten passenger locomotives Prima M4 (AZ4A) are manufactured at a plant in Belfort within the contract for delivery of locomotives signed with the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC in 2016.

Alstom is very pleased with the delivery of its first multifunctional Prima locomotive to Azerbaijan and becoming a part of ambitious projects to expand the communication routes between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, as well as between Russia and Iran, said Bernard Peille, Alstom managing director for Western and Central Asia Cluster.

This product, manufactured on technologically tailor-made basis, is the result of stable trust relations between the teams of Alstom and Azerbaijan Railways CJSC working on the project, he added.

The locomotives will be operated both in the East-West Transport Corridor and in the North-South Transport Corridor.

The supply of the locomotive will start within the next few days. It will be delivered to the Belgian Port of Antwerp, and from there it will be supplied to the Georgian Port of Poti by a cargo vessel across the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, and then it will arrive in Baku by rail in early December.

The AZ4A passenger locomotive was developed on the basis of Alstoms Prima modular platform, designed to provide operators with the most efficient solutions for passenger and freight transportations.

The Prima AZ4A locomotive is able to run at 160 km/h. It is characterized by reduced power consumption and maintenance costs.

The long intervals between maintenance activities and repairs of the Prima AZ4A locomotive further enhance the fleet management efficiency, delivering to the operator the best possible availability and reliability.

AZ4A is the Prima M4 locomotive, developed on the basis of the technical requirements of the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC and in accordance with interstate standards (GOST) and specifications.

The locomotive is equipped with a high technology traction system built according to Alstom technology. Due to its modular design, the locomotive requires minimal maintenance and is characterized by a high level of reliability and low life cycle cost.

With a length of railroads of about 3,000 kilometers, Azerbaijans railway system is an important link between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, as well as between Russia and Iran.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Huseyn Valiyev  Trend:

Talks with Lenovo on starting production of computers in the Mingachevir branch of Azerbaijans High Tech Park LLC have not been successful, a source in Azerbaijans IT market told Trend.

The talks were conducted by H-Tech, a resident company in the Mingachevir branch of the High Tech Park, according to the source.

The sides were unable to agree because of Lenovos pricing policy, which did not suit the local vendor, the source noted, adding the negotiations were terminated because of this.

H-Tech presently assembles Acer laptops.

Current benefits provided by the High Tech Park  exemption from customs and tax duties  and discounted prices for accessories allow the company supply the market with products at a competitive price.

The assembly of Acer laptops was started with help of a loan from Azerbaijans State Fund for Development of Information Technologies. A soft loan in the amount of 1.2 million manats was allocated by PASHA Bank, which acts as an authorized agent of the Fund.

(1.7002 AZN = $1 on Oct. 9)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.8

By Nigar Guliyeva  Trend:

The Council of the EU adopted a mandate on October 9 for the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to negotiate, on behalf of the EU and its member states, a comprehensive agreement with the Kyrgyz Republic.

The new agreement will build on the partnership and cooperation agreement in force since 1999. It will reflect the ambition of the EU and the Kyrgyz Republic to take forward their bilateral relations, according to the EU website.

The partnership between the EU and the Kyrgyz Republic is based on the Kyrgyz Republic's commitment to undertake reforms to strengthen democracy, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, and to promote sustainable economic development. The EU has supported the Kyrgyz Republic in these efforts through its long term development cooperation, including support to the reform of its electoral system.

The EU expects the upcoming presidential elections in the Kyrgyz Republic to be carried out in line with its international obligations and commitments in terms of holding credible, inclusive and transparent elections.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

The preparations for the presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan are in full swing.

At the invitation of the Kyrgyz authorities, whose Parliament has Partner for democracy status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), a 17-member PACE delegation, led by Doris Fiala (Switzerland, ALDE), will travel to the country from 13 to 16 October 2017, to observe the conduct of the presidential election, PACE said in a message.

It will work alongside observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the European Parliament and the OSCEs Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The delegation will meet the main Presidential candidates, the Chairperson of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda, as well as representatives of the international community, civil society and the media, before observing the ballot on 15 October.

Presidential election in Kyrgyzstan will be held on October 15.

Incumbent President Almazbek Atambayev is not allowed to run for the office, because the constitution sets a single six-year term for the head of state.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 9

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

A meeting of the Council of Elders of Turkmenistan has kicked off in the Akbugday district of the countrys Ahal region, said a source close to the events organization.

The council's meeting is convened annually and the council functions as an advisory body.

The Council of Elders' meeting is held in accordance with democratic principles and traditions of the Turkmen society, and also in order to use the rich life experience of elders in strengthening the unity of the people, in joint discussion and solution of urgent issues of state building, said the corresponding decree of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 9

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Turkmenistans President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov announced the decision to transform and rename the Council of Elders to Peoples Council, said the Turkmen government in a message Oct. 9.

A meeting of the Council of Elders of Turkmenistan was held in the Akbugday district of the countrys Ahal region on Oct. 9.

According to the Turkmen president, these changes will ensure greater involvement of Turkmen citizens in the countrys political life.

Until today, the Council meeting was held annually only to discuss issues of state scale.

It should be reminded that in the period from 1992 to 2008, the Peoples Council was the highest representative body of Turkmenistan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 8

By Fatih Karimov Trend:

Iran's Maroun Petrochemical Company (MPC) has signed two contracts with German Linde group to expand petrochemical production, Rahim Sharif-Mousavi, MPC's managing director, said.

MPC, which is located in the southern city of Mahshahr, Iran's second-largest center for petrochemical production, plans to expand its roster of petrochemical products, including ethylene, propylene and ethane.

The contracts include providing engineering services and licensing (technical know-how) by Linde for ethylene and propylene production projects, Sharif-Mousavi said, the Iranian oil ministry reported Oct. 8.

The deal aims to increase capacity of receiving ethane feed and to boost ethylene production capacity, he added.

Sharif-Mousavi further said that engineering studies for implementation of the two new projects are started with Linde cooperation, forecasting that once the projects are finalized the plants ethylene output will increase by 100,000 tons to 1.2 million tons per year.

Sharif-Mousavi noted that with implementation of the projects, the production of propylene will also increase by about 100,000 tons per year.

Founded in Germany in 1879, Linde is a multinational industrial gases and engineering company. It is the world's largest industrial gas company by market share and revenue.

The group has over 600 affiliated companies in more than 100 countries, with customers in the industrial, retail, trade, science, research and public sectors.

The German giant signed a $40 million last year to provide Kian Petrochemical Company with knowhow and licenses to manufacture a range of petrochemical products, namely olefin, butadiene, benzene and hydrodealkylation.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Fatih Karimov Trend:

Irans oil exports to Japan (including gas condensates) have decreased by 54.4 percent in August 2017 and reached 3.332 million barrels, the lowest since April.

The figure indicates a fall by 35.9 percent compared to the preceding month, Japans ministry of economy, trade and industry said.

The figure includes 513,487.6 barrels of condensates exported from Irans South Pars gas field.

Iran was Japans sixth oil supplier after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Russia, with a share of 3.3 percent in August 2017, meanwhile the country supplied 7.3 percent of the Asian countrys oil demand in August 2016 (7.3 million barrels).

Saudi Arabia exported 41.942 million barrels of oil to Japan in August (42.2 percent share of the countrys total crude oil imports.

Irans oil exports to Japan reached 83.94 million barrels in the fiscal year of 2016, which is a 38-percent increase, compared to the preceding year.

Iran supplied 7 percent of Japans oil demand in 2016.

Irans oil exports increased by 1 mb/d last year to 2.42 mb/d and the figure would increase to 2.5 mb/d in 2017 and 2.59 mb/d in 2018, IMF previously said in a report.

Irans crude oil and condensate exports amounted for 2.6 million barrels per day (mbpd) in September 2017, the countrys oil ministry said recently. The country exported 2.25 mbpd of oil to Asian and European markets in the mentioned period.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Fatih Karimov Trend:

Iran is working to block access to Waze, a GPS-based geographical navigation application due to its Israeli background.

Access to the app was temporary blocked earlier in March, but later the ban was removed later.

Now Abdolsamad Khorramabadi, secretary of the Iranian cyberspace watchdog, Committee for Determining Criminal Web Content, says that the committee has demanded the ICT ministry to block the app again.

A team is commissioned to take necessary measures in order to block Iranians access to Waze, Khorramabadi Said Oct. 9, according to Iranian media outlets

However blocking the app needs time, because Waze uses infrastructures that are time-consuming to stop, the official said, without any further explanation.

Earlier Irans semi-official Fars news agency reported that the Israeli background of Waze has raised concerns about the consequences of its usage in Iran.



Previously, Irans Judiciary ordered the local Android marketplace Cafe Bazaar to remove Waze from its website.



Waze, formerly FreeMap Israel was first developed and popularized by the Israeli company Waze Mobile.



Waze Mobile was founded in Israel by Ehud Shabtai, Amir Shinar and Uri Levine, funded by 2 Israeli venture capital firms, Magma and Vertex and an early-stage American venture capital firm Bluerun Ventures, and eventually acquired by Google in 2013.
Aligarh PRO, in response to UGC panel's recommendation that 'Hindu' and 'Muslim' should be dropped from AMU and BHU, said the names do not portray that these universities are not secular.

By India Today Web Desk: Responding to a University Grants Commission (UGC) panel's recommendation that the words Muslim and Hindu be dropped from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) respectively, the Aligarh-based minority institution today said the idea is contradictory since the varsity was "always secular".

"I have seen this report this morning. The term of reference of this committee is very important. The names Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University do not portray that these universities are not secular. This is a contradiction in itself since AMU has always been a secular university," Mohammad Asim Siddiqui of the AMU Public Relations Office said today.

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The UGC panel has said that words such as 'Hindu' and 'Muslim' in the names of the two universities do not reflect their secular character and should be dropped. A member of the panel, on the condition of anonymity, told news agency PTI that centrally-funded universities are secular institutions, but such words related to religion in their names do not reflect that character.

The two universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University, or be renamed after their founders, the panel member said. The panel was formed to probe the alleged irregularities in 10 central universities and the recommendations have been made in the audit report of AMU.

WHAT IS AMU MINORITY CHARACTER CASE?

Siddiqui said the students in these universities are enrolled on the basis of "merit and not their religion". He added that he will not respond to the UGC panel's recommendation since a case regarding the minority character of the AMU is already pending in court.

In an affidvait before the Supreme Court, the government has said that both the Aligarh Muslim University and Delhi-based Jamia Millia Islamia are not minority institutions. In AMU's case, the affidavit says it was set up by an act of Parliament, and not by Muslims, hence it cannot be called a minority institution.

The AMU has argued that it is a narrow reading of history, and that Article 30(1) of the Constitution gives all religious and linguistic minorities the right to set up and run educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities.

In 1981, Parliament passed an AMU Amendment Act, which had accepted that AMU was set up by Muslims. Later, in 2005, the Allahabad High Court ruled that the 1981 Act was ultra vires of the Constitution, and that AMU was not a minority institution.

The AMU appealed against the order and the Supreme Court too stayed the Allahabad High Court decision. On January 11, 2016, the BJP-led government at the Centre reversed its earlier stand and said that it was not a minority institution as it was set up by Parliament.

The Supreme Court verdict in this case is still pending.

--- ENDS ---
Tehran, Iran, October 8

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Nanotechnology is helping Iranian producers of paint to survive in a competitive market. The technology is helping not only to improve the quality of products, but also reduce production costs.

"In todays market, we have a fixed end price and also a production cost. All we can do is to manage to breathe in the space between these two limits," Ahmad Yazdani, deputy sales director at Marron Pooshehsh, a producer of industrial and protective paints, told Trend October 8.

Iranian factories have suffered a lot from outdated technology, which inevitably has caused production costs to skyrocket. International sanctions are often mentioned as the main cause for Iranian industries lagging behind foreign rivals in terms of technology.

"However, now we are conducting research and development studies to cut our production costs and create a wider breathing space," Yazdani said.

The Iranian government has been attaching high significance to nanotech as a future pillar of the countrys economic progress.

Saeid Sarkar, the head of Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC), said in 2016 that Irans scientific ranking had improved to 6th by exceeding Japan and following China, US, India, S Korea and Germany.

The official had noted that there were over 28,000 nanotechnology experts in the country.

Yazdani said that by improving their product procedures via nanotechnology, his company would be able to produce the same paint as before but with higher efficiency and quality.

"The same amount of paint that would cover an area 4 square meters when produced via conventional methods, would now cover 6 square meters," he noted, adding that nanotechnology would also provide for higher paint quality in terms of hue precision.

He said his company has already managed to export products to neighboring countries such as Iraq and Turkmenistan with a lot of positive feedback from the customers.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.6

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

In a move aimed at extending support for domestic producers, Iranian government over the past decades has imposed serious restrictions on importing goods and commodities.

The countrys automotive industry is an example of the efforts to boost the domestic production. Although the automotive industry is the second biggest sub-sector of the Iranian economy after oil, the figures and stats on car imports suggest that the local carmakers have failed to earn the nations trust.

On the other hand Irans leading carmakers have put a great deal of effort in exporting a part of their output to the global markets, having reached only limited success.

While Irans auto industry exports registered a fall by 32 percent in terms of value and 20 percent in terms of volume during the first five months of the current fiscal year, the Islamic Republic imported $1.4 billion worth of vehicles and chassis from China in Jan-Aug. 2017.

This is while Iranian carmakers manufactured over 496,800 units over the first five months of the current fiscal year (starting March 20), an increase of 20 percent year on year.

"Given the stated goal of reaching a production level of 3 million cars with a million exported by 2025, the fall in export figures suggests serious underlying issues in the industry that almost certainly will fall substantially short of its export targets and the quality upgrading that is needed to achieve export expansion in the next eight years," Mehrdad Emadi, an economic expert and consultant at the UK-based Betamatrix International Consultancy, earlier told Trend.

Some observers blame the government policies on supporting the domestic producers, suggesting that such policies have led the domestic manufacturers to produce expensive but sub-standard cars.

Over the past years, a group of Iranian consumers have joined a campaign to support domestic production through purchasing Iran-made goods but in the absence of a proper balance between quality and price the customers are very likely to walk away from the campaign.

In this situation, the countrys industrial policymakers apparently need to draw up new strategies to help the domestic producers to make high-standard goods at proper prices in order to reach the global markets.
Tehran, Iran, October 9

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

In response to the US move to designate the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, the Iranian foreign ministry has warned Washington that Tehrans response would be crushing.

The statement came a day after IRGC chief Mohammad Ali Jafari said if the US goes on with its decision, it would not be immune to Iranian missiles.

I hope the US will not make that grave and strategic mistake, but if they do, our response will be harsh and decisive. And the US needs to accept the consequences, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi told a weekly press conference in Tehran October 9.

The IRGC chief warned on Sunday that if Donald Trumps administration designates the Guards as a terrorist organization then the IRGC would consider treating the US troops like Islamic State terrorists.

The warning came after the White House said on Friday that President Donald Trump would announce the new US responses to Irans missile tests, what Washington calls Tehrans support for terrorism as part of his new Iran strategy. The strategy falls within the Countering Americas Adversaries through Sanctions Act which considers new sanctions against Iran.

Jafari said if the US enforces the new law, Iran would consider the move as an abrogation of the 2015 nuclear deal and would increase its deterrence, including its missile capability.

As weve announced in the past, if the US new law for sanctions is enforced, this country will have to move their regional bases outside the 2,000 km range of Irans missiles, the general stated.

We will use any silly behavior by the Trump administration as an opportunity to advance our defensive and missile programs, Jafari said during a meeting of the IRGC strategic council.
German Chancellor Angela Merkels Christian Democrats (CDU) reached a deal on migrant policy with her conservative Bavarian allies on Sunday, removing a major obstacle to pursuing talks on a coalition with other parties, Reuters reported.

In an apparent concession, Merkel agreed to put a number on how many people Germany would accept per year on humanitarian grounds, namely a net total of around 200,000 individuals.

The CDU and Christian Social Union (CSU) reached the migrant deal after about seven hours of talks and later adjourned their meeting. It was unclear whether they had agreed on other issues, such as Europe and pensions. Further details will be made available at a news conference on Monday.

Merkel won a fourth term as chancellor in a Sept. 24 election but was weakened by heavy losses to the far right.

She wants to build a coalition between her conservative bloc and two other parties, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens, which are far apart on issues from tax and energy to Europe.

First, however, she must get her own house in order and overcome some major differences between her CDU and the CSU, its sister party in Bavaria, a state that accounts for 15 percent of Germanys population.

The two parties have formed a parliamentary bloc together for decades, but have diverged over migrant policy since Merkel left the border open to a huge wave of migrants in 2015, most of whom entered the country through Bavaria.

The CSU has demanded a cap on refugees, but Merkel has resisted that, arguing it would breach Germanys constitution, which guarantees the right of asylum to anyone facing political persecution.

Under the face-saving compromise brokered on Sunday, Germany would accept a net of about 200,000 people a year on humanitarian grounds, including families of refugees already in Germany. Authorities will not turn people away at the border, however, and the parties avoided using the term upper limit that Merkel has consistently rejected.

We want to achieve a total number of people taken in for humanitarian reasons (refugees and asylum seekers, those entitled to subsidiary protection, family members, relocation and resettlement minus deportations and voluntary departures of future refugees) that does not exceed 200,000 people a year, states the agreement.
BAKU, Trend -

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe failed to elect a new President today.

None of the candidates for the post of PACE President having obtained an absolute majority of the representatives of the Assembly," Acting President Sir Roger Gale announced.

A second round of voting will be held this afternoon from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm, where an absolute majority of representatives of the Assembly will be required, a message on the PACE website reported.

Following the resignation of Pedro Agramunt as President of the Assembly, the proposed candidates are Stella Kyriakides (Cyprus, EPP/CD) and Emanuelis Zingeris (Lithuania, EPP/CD).
Ugandan rebels have attacked two military bases in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing two United Nations peacekeepers and injuring a dozen others, PressTV reported.

The UN mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, said the casualties occurred during two simultaneous attacks early on Monday, when soldiers were battling the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group along the main road leading from North Kivu province's Beni territory to the Uganda border.

The UN did not specify the nationality of the dead soldiers or the injured.

"This region has seen more than enough violence already," the mission chief, Maman Sidikou, said in a statement, adding that MONUSCO would strongly respond to threats by armed groups.

A Congolese army spokesman in the region, Mak Hazukay, also confirmed the report and later said the bases housed Tanzanian peacekeepers who formed part of an intervention brigade with a mandate to conduct offensive operations against the rebel group.

The assault came a day after the ADF militants killed at least 30 civilians by slitting their throats and took another 19 hostages near the city of Beni.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The first military operation of the Turkish Armed Forces in neighboring Iraq began more than 30 years ago  on May 25, 1983. Then, under the agreements reached between Ankara and Baghdad, the Turkish Armed Forces began operations against the militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Kurdish paramilitary units, Peshmerga, in northern Iraq.

In 1983, the Turkish Armed Forces for the first time entered the Iraqi territory on a stretch of five kilometers. The Turkish Armed Forces conducted about 55 military operations in northern Iraq from 1983 to 2011.

The Armed Forces of Turkey killed more than 800 PKK members in northern Iraq during the operation held on October 13, 1997: this is considered the biggest figure for the entire period of military operations conducted outside of Turkey.

Following the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey in 2016, the countrys Armed Forces, with the support of the Syrian opposition (Free Syrian Army), launched the Euphrates Shield operation against the IS militants and liberated the city of Jarabulus as well as the city of Al-Bab in northern Syria. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in late March that the operation had been successfully completed.

Starting from September 2017, a new military campaign has been actively developing in the northern Syrian city of Idlib, with participation of the Free Syrian Army. The operation is to be conducted in the north of Syria.

However, it should be noted that unlike the Euphrates Shield, the new operation will not be easy for Turkey. The main problem stems from the fact that less than 250,000 civilians live in the region where the Euphrates Shield operation was carried out, while in Idlib the number of civilians exceeds two million people.

It should be noted that the main purpose of all these operations has been the elimination of danger on Turkeys borders. At the same time it becomes clear that the new operation is extremely important not only for Turkey but also for Iraq itself and for neighboring Iran.

The fact is that currently, Idlib is under partial control of the Free Syrian Army as well as Jabhat al-Nusra and other radical armed groups.

At the same time, this city is important for the Kurdish terrorist organizations YPG and PYD that are armed by the US and do not hide their plans to take control of the city to create a "Kurdish state" in Syria.

In case Idlib falls under control of YPG and PYD, the Turkish-Syrian border, with the exception of Azaz city, will be under full control of Kurdish armed groups.

And this, in turn, will actually create conditions for establishment of a new "Kurdish state" in northern Syria, which certainly does not meet the interests of not only Turkey but also Iraq, which, after the recent referendum in the Kurdish autonomy, is on the verge of collapse.

The Kurdish territorial claims create a problem for Iran as well, which will sooner or later face ethnic separatism, the problem that external forces have been promoting in the region.

---

Rufiz Hafizoglu is the head of Trend Agencys Arabic news service, follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkeys Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gul today rejected US Ambassador John Basss request for a meeting, Turkish media outlets report.

Earlier, the US suspended issuance of visas to Turkish citizens due to the arrest of an employee of the US Consulate General in Istanbul.

Turkish authorities, commenting on the arrest of the Consulate Generals employee, noted that he had links with the movement of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of being involved in the 2016 military coup attempt in Turkey.

Turkey also suspended the issuance of visas to US citizens.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

Trend:

Turkeys Foreign Ministry today summoned Advisor to the US ambassador to Turkey Philip Kosnett, Turkish media outlets report.

Reportedly, Turkey expressed dissatisfaction regarding the suspension of visa issuance to Turkish citizens by the United States.

Earlier, the US suspended issuance of visas to Turkish citizens due to the arrest of an employee of the US Consulate General in Istanbul.

Turkish authorities, commenting on the arrest of the Consulate Generals employee, noted that he had links with the movement of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of being involved in the 2016 military coup attempt in Turkey.

Turkey also suspended the issuance of visas to US citizens.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

Trend:

Turkish Prosecutors Office sanctioned detention of another employee of the US Consulate General in Istanbul on suspicion of having links with the Fethullah Gulen movement, Turkish media outlets have reported.

Earlier, Turkish court arrested employee of the US Consulate General in Istanbul Metin Topuz for alleged links with the Gulen movement.

Topuz is accused of undermining the constitutional system, carrying out espionage activities and attempting to overthrow the Turkish government.

On July 15, 2016, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country as a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed.

More than 250 people were killed during the attempted coup.

Shortly after the prevention of the coup attempt, on July 20, the state of emergency was introduced in Turkey for a period of three months. After this, the state of emergency was twice extended for three months.
By India Today Web Desk: He makes people smile, laugh and cry with his heart-warming conversations on Kaun Banega Crorepati every night. Amitabh Bachchan has given a number of special memories to cherish to the fans and followers of the reality show. But recently an act on the sets of KBC 9 left Amitabh Bachchan emotional and teary-eyed.

Amitabh, who turns 75 on October 11, was surprised with a soul-stirring video created by the KBC 9 team that had students and professors of the Sherwood College, Nainital, where he had graduated from. In the backdrop of the college that was decorated by many life size posters of Bachchan, not only did they sing birthday songs but also praised and thanked him for giving them many special moments in his 17-year long stint in KBC!

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As Big B walked down the memory lane; the audience started signing birthday wishes for him. Guitarist Niladri Kumar also performed for the megastar.

The birthday special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati will air on Oct 11, 9:00PM.

--- ENDS ---
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday condemned the U.S. move to suspend non-immigrant visa operations at diplomatic facilities in Turkey, Anadolu reported.

The embassys decision to suspend all non-immigrant visa applications is upsetting, Erdogan said in a joint news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Porochenko in Ukraine's capital Kiev.

He added that Turkey's response had reciprocated the U.S. decision.

On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara announced it had suspended non-immigrant visa services at all diplomatic facilities in Turkey. In response, Turkey's Washington Embassy suspended non-immigrant visa services in the U.S. citing security concerns.

The decision came after Turkish national Metin Topuz, confirmed by the U.S. Istanbul Consulate as a local employee, was remanded in custody over terror charges by an Istanbul court last week.

Topuz is linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last years defeated coup in Turkey, according to a judicial source.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the attempted coup, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Topuz has been linked to a number of FETO suspects, including police commissioners and former prosecutor Zekeriya Oz, a fugitive accused of attempting to overthrow the government through the use of force, added the source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 9, 2017 - 11:21 | All, World

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Sunday he is planning to visit Japan by year-end to discuss with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a range of issues including North Korea's nuclear development.

"Japan is a very important partner of the U.N. I am looking forward to that visit and talking about everything," Guterres said in an interview with Kyodo News on the official U.N. aircraft. He is expected to underscore the need for a political solution to the North Korean issue.

North Korea has continued testing nuclear weapons and missiles despite U.N. sanctions.

Abe and Guterres will also likely discuss global warming, U.N. reforms and Sustainable Development Goals toward eradicating poverty and inequality.

The visit by the U.N. chief to Japan will be the first since Guterres assumed his post in January. The trip is expected for December when the Japanese government will host an international meeting on health and medical issues.

Abe met with Guterres last month at the U.N. headquarters in New York, expressing hope that Guterres will visit Japan at an early date.

In the interview, the secretary general also said he wants to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the future, while adding he has no plan so far to visit the Japanese cities devastated by U.S. atomic bombings in 1945.

"I am very happy to go back," said Guterres, who has previously visited the cities.
By PTI: Hyderabad, Oct 9 (PTI) A union of bank employees today asked the Centre to order an investigation into the top 100 NPA account holders.

The probe in these accounts should be carried out by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) or any other competent agency, the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) said.

The non-performing assets (NPAs) of the public sector banks have increased to about Rs 8 lakh crore, of which 89 per cent pertains to corporate accounts, the BEFI (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) said in a statement.

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"We demand that Government of India institute a thorough investigation by the SFIO or any other agency into the affairs of top 100 NPA account holders, take all necessary steps to recover the bank dues, declare the names of corporate defaulters and save the public sector banks, taxpayers money and the Indian economy," the union said.

Most of the loans to corporates, which later became NPAs, were sanctioned by corporate offices and the boards of individual banks, it alleged. PTI GDK RSY

--- ENDS ---
Relatively few civilizations are the original residents of the regions they inhabit -- the result of colonization and struggles over land and resources. The worlds indigenous peoples are either extinct, struggling to survive, or facing the more gradual effects of assimilation, urbanization, modernization, and other forces. The deliberate killing of indigenous societies, which has occurred many times over, continues to threaten millions of people around the world.

According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 370 million indigenous people, comprising about 5% of the worlds population. This figure, which only includes native groups recognized by UN member states, is just an estimate. In a recent study, the U.S. nonprofit Center for World Indigenous Studies identified more than 5,000 indigenous nations and communities comprising more than 1 billion people worldwide.

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The discrepancy could be partially due to the fact that Russia, China, and Burma have said they do not have any indigenous people -- a dubious claim. The long histories of colonialism these groups have experienced make their identification and any measurement an even greater challenge.

In other words, just as it is impossible to know how many native societies have been wiped out, it is impossible to know the degree to which the thousands of indigenous societies are at risk of extinction. While all native populations remain at risk, several factors help identify the most threatened indigenous populations. For example, the presence of natural resources, or really anything of value, is often the tell-tale sign that a population is at risk of displacement. Whether it is crude oil in Iraq, natural gas in Peru, a pipeline project in the United States, or diamonds in Botswana, in the eyes of governments and corporations, the value of natural resources almost always outweighs land rights of indigenous communities.

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24/7 Wall St. discussed the threats facing indigenous societies with experts, reviewed news reports, UNESCOs Atlas of the Worlds Languages in Danger, national economic data, and national regulations to identify examples of the worlds most threatened native groups.

A common perception is that indigenous societies are disappearing because they are unable to adapt to a new world. Rudolph Ryser, executive director of the Center for World Indigenous Studies wrote in an email to 24/7 Wall St., The perception of disappearing peoples is a product of state, educational and other corporate propaganda.

The indigenous societies at risk of imminent extinction are not disappearing, they are being intentionally destroyed. The problem occurs most frequently when abundant natural resources are at stake in areas with few regulations. Regulations regarding land ownership, development, mining restrictions, and so on serve to protect -- at least to some extent -- the rights of those living in that land -- indigenous or not.

In many cases, governments will choose to designate lands as uninhabited, paving the way for deforestation and development. In other cases, governments and private organizations will actively exploit, forcibly deport, and even murder these populations. In either case, this systemic eradication is a choice made by regional governments.

To identify 15 of the most threatened indigenous groups, 24/7 Wall St. discussed the threats facing indigenous societies with experts, reviewed news reports, examined data from UNESCOs Atlas of the Worlds Languages in Danger, national economic data, and national regulations to identify 15 regions where the original inhabitants face among the most serious threats. This list is a set of examples demonstrating threats common to many more indigenous societies. Some groups on this list are one tribe, while others represent multiple indigenous communities.

1. Aboriginal people

> Area: Australia

While the Aboriginal people of Australia tend to be identified as one group, there are actually over 500 different Aboriginal peoples, each with their own language and territory. For centuries, ever since the British colonized Australia, the original inhabitants were marginalized and worse -- their land was taken from them and their culture and language eradicated. In 1992, the Australian High Court declared the concept of terra nullius -- the claim that the land was empty before the British arrived -- to be invalid. This was over 90 years after the countrys independence.

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Estimating the endangerment of a language is one way to measure the level of threat against indigenous societies. UNESCO has identified 108 extinct or endangered languages belonging to societies native to Australia.

2. Bushmen

> Area: Botswana

In the middle of an unrelenting land unsuitable for crops lies Botswanas Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the ancestral home of the Tsila Bushmen. But when diamonds were discovered in the reserve in the early 1980s, government ministers warned the tribe that it was their time to leave. In three clearances in 1997, 2002, and 2005, virtually all Bushmen were forced out, their homes dismantled and water supply destroyed. The Bushmen won a historic victory when judges ruled that their eviction was unlawful and unconstitutional.

Ghaghoo, one of the mines discovered in Bushmen territory, was estimated to contain a diamond deposit of approximately $4 billion. It opened for excavation in 2014. As of 2016 diamonds made up more than 60% of Botswanas exports, accounting for approximately 25% of the countrys GDP.

3. Awa

> Area: Brazil

Victims of greed and industrialization, the Awa inhabit the dense Amazon forests in northeastern Brazil, which have all but disappeared. In fact, over 34% of at least one legally-protected Awa reservation has been destroyed by illegal logging in the last three decades -- an unusually fast pace of destruction.

But it was the discovery of the largest iron ore mine on the planet in Carajas, 370 miles west of the Awas forest that began to spell their destruction. Railways constructed in the 1980s brought trains to forests where previously uncontacted Awa lived. With little regard to the inhabitants, the colonizers hunted and settled on the territory. The spread of disease from newcomers cut through the Awa population, reducing one community to 25 people from 91 in four years. Although the government dispatched troops and federal agents to curb illegal logging in 2014, considered a major victory, logging continued. Only the rainy season provides the Awa some relief as it is difficult to log then.

4. Rohingya

> Area: Myanmar (Burma)

While the Rohingya refer to themselves as indigenous to Myanmar, they are not recognized as a distinct ethnic group by the government. The Rohingya have been denied citizenship status since the 1980s.

Over the years, this has resulted in numerous obstacles including in access to health care, the ability to travel, and many areas of employment. Recently, in response to a Rohingya militant group attack of 30 police posts, the government responded with military force, including reportedly burning villages and indiscriminately shooting people. While Bangladesh has been receiving fleeing Rohingya since at least the 1960s, more than 480,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in the past several months, with over 100,000 forced into concentration camps, according to Dr. Rudolph Ryser, the executive director of the Center for World Indigenous Studies.

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5. Pygmies

> Area: Central Africa

The Pygmy people are not one group but several distinct people such as the Twa, Aka, Baka, and Mbuti living in central Africa. Pygmies are believed to be the continents oldest population of humans. Because of their unusually small stature, but also because relatively little is known about them, the various tribes of Pygmies are frequently grouped into one category. A recent effort by researchers estimated as many as 920,000 Pygmies reside across countries in central Africa.

All of these indigenous societies face racism and land grabs due primarily to logging activity, much of which continues illegally due to weakly enforced regulations. In the Congo Basin, for example, hunter-gatherer communities living in the rainforest face hunting restrictions and land encroachment. According to tribal peoples advocacy organization Survival International, the Congo Basin tribes are accused of poaching when they are hunting or when they venture into protected areas they once called home. Further, park guards often treat them as thieves and worse, threaten and beat them and even evict them from their land.

6. Nukak

> Area: Colombia

The Nukak are one of at least 34 indigenous peoples in Colombia on the brink of extinction, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Caught in the middle of Colombias longstanding civil war, the Nukak and their ancestral land have been overrun by the fighting factions over the growth of coca, the plant used in the production of cocaine. As a result of encroachment from war and coca growth, many Nukak have been forced to flee their homes. In 1988, a group of Nukak stumbled into a nearby town and made first contact with the outside world. Unfortunately, over 50% of the Nukak subsequently died from flu and malaria, according to Survival International estimates. While the Nukak Reserve was expanded in 1997, the land is still overrun by war and coca harvesters. In fact, a 2016 United Nations report showed coca production in Nukak lands increased since 2013.

7. Tibetan people

Area: China

The Peoples Republic of China proclaimed in 2008 that there were no indigenous people in China, instead designating the various native groups across the country as national minorities. Of the numerous national minorities, the original inhabitants of Tibet have perhaps been persecuted the most. For Tibetans, Chinas Cultural Revolution in 1966 was a genocide. Of the hundreds of thousands of practicing Tibetan buddhist monks and nuns, nearly all were killed, jailed, or forced to go into hiding by the late 1970s. Most of the roughly 6,000 monasteries in the region had been destroyed, often at the hand of buddhists themselves, held at gunpoint by Chinese soldiers.

In general, Buddhists in Tibet and China continue to be persecuted, as festivals and public gatherings remain restricted, and religious settlements removed. The government evicted last year 5,000 monks and nuns from the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Chinas Sichuan province and demolished half of the compound.

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8. Jarawa

> Area: India

Although they are also victims of poaching and disease, what really threatens the Jarawa tribe is not the loss of land but the exploitation of their culture. In the Andaman Island of India, tourists can go on human safaris" through the Jarawa reservation, where the tribe people are photographed, taunted, and even made to dance for food. Indias Supreme Court ordered the highway that goes through the reservation to be shut down in 2002, but local administrators ignored the verdict.

Although receiving some support from the Indian government, influential government ministers have still called for the Jarawa to be assimilated.

9. Yazidi

> Area: Iraq

The Yazidi have resided primarily in the northwestern mountains of Iraq for hundreds of years, and over those centuries they have been persecuted often for their religious beliefs. The threat against the Yazidi has escalated to enslavement and genocide since 2014, when the Islamic State militant group, also known as ISIL or ISIS, moved into the region. The data on population loss within oppressed groups is limited at best, but that more than 5,000 of Yazidi were killed in August of 2014 is a known fact. It is estimated that thousands of Yazidi remain in captivity. While the Iraqi military took back control of the region this summer, hundreds of thousands of Yazidi continue to flee north into Kurdish territory.

As is generally the case, the deliberate destruction of Northern Iraqs Yazidi is tied to conflicts over natural resources. A significant portion of Iraqs oil comes from Kirkuk in the north, the countrys oldest oil field. The oil field is reported to be producing at half capacity due to ongoing instability in the region and conflict between governments and militant groups.

10. Ogiek

> Area: Kenya

After a nearly 10-year legal battle, the Ogiek won a landmark verdict -- Kenyas indigenous minority were awarded their right to Mau Forest, their ancestral home from which they had been forcibly evicted. It all started in the early 20th century, during Kenyas colonial period, when governmental powers tried to evict the Ogiek on the grounds that they were degrading the forest.

As it turned out, removing the Ogiek left the forest to be exploited by logging and tea plantations. The African Court on Human and Peoples Rights ruled that the Kenyan government had violated several human rights laws in its treatment of the Ogiek. But the tribe has not won everything it wanted, as mass deforestation over the years resulted in a significant loss of the Ogieks ancestral home.

11. Dukha

> Area: Mongolia

Mongolias economy has grown dramatically in recent decades, due largely to the exploitation of agricultural and mineral resources. According to the Energy Information Administration, Mongolia ranked 10th in the world in primary coal exports in 2014. And with extensive mining of some of the world's largest deposits of copper and gold -- precious minerals essential to electronics manufacturing -- Mongolias economy will likely continue to flourish.

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Such developments usually come at a heavy cost to a nations wilderness and its inhabitants. In the case of Mongolia, at stake are some of the worlds last remaining traditional nomadic peoples and natural environments. Notably, the Dukha, reindeer herders residing in the northern taiga of Mongolia since before the country was established, have a population of just 250 people. UNESCO has identified the language Dukha as among several severely endangered languages in the region.

12. Ayoreo

> Area: Paraguay

The Ayoreo are an isolated indigenous group in Paraguay, the country with the fastest deforestation rate in the world, according to a 2013 study by the University of Maryland. The research shows that every year, a quarter of a million hectares are lost in the Paraguayan Chaco alone. Unlike the lush Amazon, the Gran Chaco is a hot and arid territory that nomadic indigenous groups call home. Due to the mass deforestation and industrialization, the Ayoreos ancestral land is now owned by private landowners focusing on raising cattle and clearing timber. This is despite Paraguays government regulations that recognize indigenous rights to the land.

13. The Uncontacted Frontier

> Area: Peru

It was only a few weeks ago that 10 members of an uncontacted tribe in Peru were massacred while gathering eggs around a river by a group of Brazilian gold miners. The story broke when the gold miners themselves bragged about it at a local bar, brandishing a paddle that they said came from the tribe. According to the investigation, the murdered indigenous group came from the Javari Valley, home to the Uncontacted Frontier.

The Uncontacted Frontier is home to the highest concentration of secluded tribes in the world. However, the area is also resource rich, particularly with oil and gas. After establishing the Sierra del Divisor national park in Peru, the land was then opened for oil drilling, affecting the livelihood of all the uncontacted tribes. Still, just this year, Canadian oil company Pacific E&P, pulled out of oil exploration in the area, citing that it will only conduct its drilling with the highest sustainability and human rights guidelines.

14. Siberian Tribes

> Area: Siberia

The numerous tribes native to Siberia, the massive region that makes up more than three-quarters of Russia, have struggled to survive since at least the onset of Russias conquest of the area in the 1600s. Due to countless massacres, an unknown number of cultures were likely lost over the centuries of land struggles between colonial powers and indigenous societies. Siberias native population was more recently targeted during the rapid industrialization period under the Soviet Union, when policies such as compulsory boarding schools were implemented to deliberately destroy native cultures through assimilation. The remaining indigenous people now struggle primarily against energy companies. Russia is one of the worlds largest energy producers. Much of the material used in energy production -- crude oil, gas, timber, and minerals -- comes from Siberia.

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Estimating the endangerment of a language is one way to measure the level of threat against indigenous societies. UNESCO identified in Russia 45 extinct or critically endangered languages, most of which originate in Siberia.

15. Sioux

> Area: U.S.A

When Europeans arrived to America, they brought disease, warfare, and modern tools and weapons, all of which led to the decline of indigenous societies in the continent. Native populations in the United States are estimated to have reached their lowest point in 1900, with fewer than 250,000 people. Native American cultures have adapted and endured but continue to face serious problems. The Dakota Access pipeline dispute at the Sioux Standing Rock reservation last year is one example of the continued threats against indigenous societies in the United States. Despite the best efforts of protestors, the pipeline, which runs 1,100 miles across the Great Plains, connecting the Bakken oil formation in North Dakota to a refinery and second pipeline in Illinois, began running oil earlier in June this year.

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Liberal economists call Republican plans to abolish the estate tax a costly giveaway to the rich, cloaked in rhetoric about saving family farms. A bigger problem for Republicans: some conservative economists say the same thing about an even costlier tax break Congress wants to give some businesses, cloaked in rhetoric about mom-and-pop enterprises. That costlier tax break is the 25 percent top tax rate for so-called pass-through, unincorporated businesses. Its critics say the main beneficiaries would be well-to-do business owners, who would gain even larger tax advantages over corporate counterparts than they enjoy already. "There is no strong policy justification for the special pass-through rate in the GOP's plan," said Kyle Pomerleau, an analyst at the conservative Tax Foundation. Since pass-through earnings represent around one-third of all income for the top 1 percent of taxpayers, Pomerleau added, the provision tilts the plan's benefits toward the wealthy while favoring one kind of business over others. The tax reform framework released by the White House and Congress would cut the top rate paid by American corporations to 20 percent from the current 35 percent. But owners of unincorporated pass-through businesses file under the individual tax code, which would have a top rate of at least 35 percent.

So the plan calls for a special pass-through rate of 25 percent in the name of helping "small and family-owned businesses." The $770 billion cost of that provision, according to a Tax Policy Center analysis, represents nearly one-third of all tax cuts under the plan. Pass-through businesses already pay lower overall income tax rates than corporations, the profits of which are taxed a second time when distributed to shareholders as dividends. Pomerleau estimates the current GOP plan would widen that tax advantage to around 10 percent, from 7 percent currently. Greg Mankiw, former top economist to President George W. Bush, calls it logical to cut pass-through business rates at the same time corporate rates would drop by nearly half. But he worries about tax avoidance by ordinary salary earners that would turn themselves into independent contractors just to get the lower pass-through rate. After the 1986 tax reform dropped the top individual rate below the top corporate rate, many businesses unincorporated to take advantage. This time, Republican leaders say they'll draft rules preventing the wealthy from relabeling personal income as business income. Most of the tax break would go to high-income Americans in any case. Though most businesses are pass-throughs, 81 percent of business profits come in the 1 percent of firms with at least $10 million in receipts, according to the Brookings Institution. That includes pass-through businesses such as auto dealerships, hedge funds, law firms and fast food franchises. The Tax Policy Center says 88 percent of the benefit from a 25 percent pass-through rate would flow to the top 1 percent. "It seems like a stretch" to invoke mom-and-pop businesses for the pass-through rate, observed Alan Cole, until recently a Tax Foundation analyst. Its existence owes more to the lobbying clout of "traditional Republican constituencies," he added, noting that Rotary Clubs and chambers of commerce organize pass-through businesses in each congressional district. That makes the pass-through debate like the one over abolishing the estate tax. That 40 percent levy now applies only to estates of $5.5 million for an individual, or $11 million for a couple. Republican proponents of abolishing it say that would protect heirs to family farms and other small business. But of just 5,200 estates that will owe estate taxes in 2017, the Tax Policy Center says only about 50 represent small farms or businesses; the top 10 percent of earners pay 90 percent of all estate taxes paid. The $239 billion, 10-year cost of eliminating the estate tax, and who would reap the benefit, have prompted Republican as well as Democratic resistance. With the GOP needing to hold at least 50 of its 52 senators to pass tax reform, Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota says he wants to preserve the estate tax at some level. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has previously opposed repeal. Three times as expensive as eliminating the estate tax, the pass-through break could come under similar pressure as the Republicans adjust their plan in response to criticism. Said Pomerleau, "They may want to think about scaling back this new preference." WATCH: Buffett says it's a mistake for Trump to end the estate taxhere's how it could affect you



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Apple Inc AAPL has named Katherine Adams as its new general counsel and senior vice president of Legal and Global Security. She will replace Bruce Sewell who retires this year end.

As Apples legal chief, Adams will now spearhead the much publicized spat with chipmaker QUALCOMM Inc QCOM. Sewell handled litigation with both Samsung and Qualcomm since he took over as the legal chief in 2009.

The Apple-Qualcomm dispute started in January this year when Qualcomm was dragged to court by Apple in a $1 billion lawsuit related to licensing royalty payments. In the suit filed, Apple had accused Qualcomm of overcharging for chips and refusing to pay some $1 billion in rebates.

Apple Inc. Price

Apple Inc. Price | Apple Inc. Quote

Later on, Apple also asked its manufacturing partners  Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron and Compal Electronics  to stop paying Qualcomm and agreed to indemnify them if Qualcomm took them to court. Qualcomm has also launched a full-fledged counter offensive.

The dispute is unlikely to end in the near term. The next hearing in the case is expected to be next year.

Prior to her Apple appointment, Adams was with Honeywell International Inc where she joined in 2003.Before that she was associated with a partner at Sidley Austin LLP in New York. She was quoted saying, Apple has had a tremendous impact on the world and its an honor to join their team. Im excited to help Apple continue to grow and evolve around the world, protecting their ideas and IP, and defending our shared values.

Adams will report to CEO Tim Cook who was quoted saying, We are thrilled to welcome Kate to our team. Shes a seasoned leader with outstanding judgment and that has worked on a wide variety of legal cases globally. Throughout her career shes also been an advocate on many of the values we at Apple hold dear.

Zacks Rank and Share Price Movement

At present, Apple carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Notably, the company has outperformed the industry in the past year. Shares of Apple have surged 34.1% compared with the industrys 33.4% increase.

Story continues

Stocks to Consider

Top-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector include NVIDIA Corporation NVDA and Jabil Inc JBL. Both sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Long-term earnings growth rate for NVIDIA and Jabil is currently projected to be 10.3% and 12%, respectively.

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LONDON (Reuters) - Defence company BAE Systems will announce more than 1,000 job cuts this week, mainly affecting its Warton plant in Lancashire, northern England, where it assembles the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet, Sky News said on Monday. BAE Systems, which employs 34,600 people in Britain, has already slowed production of the jet while it awaits an expected major order from Saudi Arabia. Chief Executive Charles Woodburn, who recently took over from Ian King, said in August he was confident about future orders for the aircraft, which is a joint project between BAE, France's Airbus and Italy's Finmeccanica. The Typhoon has won fewer orders this year than the rival Rafale built by France's Dassault Aviation, although Qatar agreed to buy 24 Typhoons in September. BAE said in August that any new orders were unlikely to impact production delivery rates positively for at least 24 months, and production would be under constant review. "We obviously have to review our (Typhoon) production demand very carefully," Woodburn said in August. Sky News said BAE would also trim its workforce at other locations, with the total number of job losses coming in at "well over 1,000". The company told Sky News: "BAE Systems continually reviews its operations to make sure we are performing as effectively and efficiently as possible, delivering our commitments to existing customers and ensuring we are best placed to secure future business." "If and when there are any changes proposed we are committed to communicating with our employees and their representatives first." BAE was not immediately available for further comment. Shares in the group were down 0.2 percent at 611.8 pence at 0958 GMT. (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Kate Holton and Jane Merriman)
Chevron Corporation CVX recently clinched a deal to divest stakes in South Africa business to Switzerland-based diversified resource companyGlencore plc GLNCY. With the deal, Glencore will secure its first major refinery in the continent, in sync with its aim to expand through strategic acquisitions.

Last year, U.S. energy giant Chevron announced plans to unload 75% interests in South Africa assets as part of its three-year divestment goals announced in 2014. In October 2016, energy firms like Frances integrated oil and gas major TOTAL S.A. TOT, Glencore, Russian oil trader Gunvor Group Limited among others had put in bids to snap up stakes in Chevrons South Africa business.

In March, Chevron announced plans to divest the assets to Asias largest oil refiner, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation SNP, also known as Sinopec. However, the deal got stalled due to delays. Concurrently, Chevrons Black Economic Empowerment partners  who own 25% stake in the South African assets  reopened the sales process by exercising their pre-emption rights and Glencore was selected due to the better terms and conditions it offered.

Deal Highlights

Per the deal, Glencore will acquire 75% controlling stake in Chevrons South Africa and Botswana assets including a 100,000 barrel per day oil refinery in Cape Town, a lubricants plant in Durban and a network of around 820 gas stations. The remaining 25% interest will be owned by the consortium of Black Economic Empowerment shareholders. Last year, Chevron earned $138m as pre-tax profits from the South African business unit. Glencore will also remain part of Chevrons management team and workforce from its South African business unit.

The divestment deal is valued at $973 million and is subject to approval by regulatory authorities. The deal will be funded by Glencores cash reserves and is expected to get closed by mid 2018.

Deal Motive

The deal is well aligned with Chevrons $15 billion 2014 divestment program as the company is focusing on balancing its global portfolio with its long-term business priorities. It will help Chevron to slash costs and streamline business models.

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For Glencore  which already has extensive portfolio of assets in South Africa  the current acquisition is likely to strategically complement its existing assets and provide a lucrative downstream opportunity. The company set foot in Mexicos fuel retail market in August. If this deal gets finalized, it will help the company foray into South Africas downstream markets, which is large and growing with proper regulatory framework for import parity pricing. The deal will enable Glencore to increase its market share and revenues in the fuel retail market.

Glencore is currently focusing on accelerating its acreage and acquisitions lately, given that oil prices have rebounded from their historic lows and have started to stabilize. The improving commodity market has boosted the earnings of the company which is now undertaking share buy backs, strategic acquisitions and hiking dividends. Few days ago, the company boosted its holding in Peruvian miner Volcan for $530 million. Few months back, Glencore acquired coal mines in Australia for $1.1 billion from mining company Rio Tinto plc.

Zacks Rank

Chevron is one of the largest publicly traded oil and gas companies in the world, based on proved reserves. It is engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, refining and marketing of petroleum products, manufacturing of chemicals, and other energy-related businesses. Over a year, shares of Chevron have rallied 12.6% compared with roughly 4.7% gain recorded by the industry.

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Dear Silicon Valley,

You used to be the envy of the world. Over the last decade Ive seen countless cities try to become you, from the Silicon Savannah to the Silicon Bayou.

At last years Global Entrepreneurship Summit on Stanford's campus, hundreds of entrepreneurs from Mongolia to South Sudan came to listen to President Obama and Mark Zuckerberg and get a touch of your magic fairy dust. The American Dream -- anyone with an idea, a garage, and a good work ethic can build a great company -- might as well have been born in your backyard. I admire your innovation, openness, creativity, and all you stand for.

In case you havent noticed, though, youve changed from hero to villain. You're too expensive and exclusive for the rest of the world: The garages that gave us Hewlett-Packard and Google now cost millions of dollars. You've moved from icon to joke -- the show that bears your name is a cringe-worthy, true-to-life satire.

You're churning out companies that are raising hundreds of millions of dollars, and going bankrupt in literal satires of themselves: a $700 million blood-testing company that never had any actual results; a $120 million juicer with packets that can actually be squeezed by hand.

Now Fast Company is declaring the end of the publics love affair with the Silicon Valley ideal, and everyone from socialist Bernie Sanders to hard-right Steve Bannon is calling for your biggest companies to be heavily regulated, and your reputation is fast approaching that of Wall Street (which actually used to have a good reputation too).

Here are a few places that you went wrong -- and what you can do to fix it.

Courtesy of HBO and

Your ideas are only as good as the people in the room. And your door is shut to most people.

As evidenced by the major backlash over the recent launch of a company called Bodega -- where the founders and investors genuinely didnt understand why the name was problematic -- you dont always have the best handle on how your ideas will be received outside of the Silicon Valley bubble. Youve got major blind spots.

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Why might this be? Face the facts: when Silicon Valley investors are considering new ideas, you don't have very many different perspectives around the table. Over 90% of the decision-makers in the venture capital industry are white men.

You've known this is a problem for a while, but haven't done anything to fix it: less than 5% of the new ideas that get funding are founded by women, and less than 1% of venture funding goes to Latinos and African-Americans.

Youve concentrated capital in the hands of a few people (nearly all white guys) who have huge power to determine which people, places, and industries get funding. And your decision-makers are often (unintentionally) overlooking ideas that come from people who arent like them, which exacerbates gender, racial, and geographic divides in our country. Much worse, this financial privilege creates power dynamics that leads to too-frequent cases of investors sexually harassing founders or tone-deaf ideas like Bodega.

Image courtesy of Bryce Durbin

Your rainforest of innovation has turned into a factory farm.

Silicon Valley, perhaps your greatest achievement is that youve built a community where the little guy could build a great company to disrupt the establishment. Silicon Valley's innovation engine has been driven by the creation of iconic companies: HP, Intel, Apple, Google, Facebook, that took on bigger competitors.

But thats changing. In his famous book Zero to One, Peter Thiel writes, Competition is for losers. Be a monopoly. And that philosophy has come to prevailthe average venture capitalist would say that in a portfolio of 20, they are OK with 19 losers and one grand slam. Follow that to its logical conclusion: for every billionaire Peter Thiel, Silicon Valley, youre OK with 19 broke people. Its no wonder that inequality is at a 100-year high, entrepreneurial activity is at a 40-year low, and eight men control half the worlds wealth.

Over the past fifteen years, big has crushed little in Silicon Valley, to an increasing degree. The former giant-slayers like Apple and Google have become giants themselves, shutting out or buying up new entrants.

The worst of it: you're even controlling which ideas get out there - as we saw when Google chairman Eric Schmidt complained to the New America Foundation for criticizing the company's monopolistic practices. The entire team got fired.

In short, your present leaders are cannibalizing your future. If a startup is raising money today, one of the first questions they'll be asked is, "What's your exit strategy?" Specifically, that means, "Whom among Google, Facebook, and a few other companies will acquire you?" A few tech giants are dictating which problems founders want to work on, and how well solve them.

The result? You havent produced a new firm that has cracked the worlds top 200 since Facebooks founding in 2003.

And your insulation makes tomorrows problems harder to solve.

Your leaders are increasingly coming from a narrower group of universities, companies, and socioeconomic classes. Your companies are now solving my-world problems (food delivery, cold-pressed, on-demand juice versus the real-world problems you used to solve (getting affordable computers in the hands of everyone; inventing the Internet). Your solutions literally create the script for a satire show on HBO--and you dont see what a big problem it is.

And because of the first problem -- the lack of new ideas in the room -- you dont know how to solve this. Your best idea for social inequality: universal basic income, where the wealth of the billionaires will continue to grow, but dont worry, the rest of the serfs (who are otherwise unable to do any work!) will receive a daily stipend.

To you, in the words of one Silicon Valley investor, this seems like the only logical conclusion. To the average person, this seems like the height of arrogance. People are uncomfortable with universal basic income because youre essentially saying their labor isnt worth anything -- but you dont see it!

Image courtesy of Bryce Durbin

So, what can you do about it?

Maybe I was a little harsh on you when I said you didnt see any of this happening: weve seen the beginnings of conversations around diversity and inclusion, and mea culpas have recently been flying out of your board rooms as fast as rejection e-mails.

So now that youre paying attention: what can you do? Here are a few ideas:

1. Put as much attention into finding founders as you do deal flow. Your leaders talk a lot about investing in diverse companies; well, that wont be easy unless you invest in the infrastructure to find them. We spend billions of dollars to make sure that the best high school and college athletes have their shot at the pros; why dont we do the same for entrepreneurs? Instead of asking entrepreneurs for a warm introduction, build technology that actively encourages cold calls and outreach from founders-and can help them.

(Im particularly inspired by a firm, Backstage Capital, that intentionally invests in what founder Arlan Hamilton calls under-estimated founders; one of their metrics of success is the % of cold-emails that they fund.)

2. Create conditions for the little guy to thrive. Think about how you invest as well as what you invest in. Theres a real problem with equity investing as one-size-fits-all model in Silicon Valley; explore alternate models like revenue-sharing, that encourages companies to build for lasting success, not acquisition (more on that here). Or make sure that your unprecedented prosperity is actually shared among the employees. From New Belgium Brewing to Chobani, there are stories across the country of billion-dollar unicorns where employee ownership is shared broadly, helping janitors and factory workers create wealth alongside management.

3. Recognize that business and society are togethernot in separate worlds. Youre full of incredibly generous philanthropists. But the market value of just two companiesGoogle and Facebookis more than all the charitable foundations in the world. You need to help lead society in your day job, not just at fundraisers and thought leadership conferences. For all the lip service that Silicon Valley has given to changing the world, when ProPublica tried to buy targeted ads for Jew haters, Facebook didnt question whether this was good, or rightthey asked them how theyd like to pay for it.

You own the platforms that dominate consumer behavior, and the data that can determine peoples retirements, relationships, and decisionsyou need to ask is this the right thing to do? as often as you ask what is monetizable? How can you help small businesses and entrepreneurs thrive as much as they used to forty years ago? How can you help local journalists keep citizens informed and governments accountable? Youve connected society-how can you help us be more resilient and sustainable in the face of a dramatically shifting climate?

Im encouraged by some early steps. Facebook, for example, is launching a pilot to help local journalism (though Id go a hundred times further and enable success for all kinds of local businesses). PayPal has used its massive platform and data advantage to lend an incredible $2 billion to small businesses in the last two yearsmore than most banks. But thats just a tiny fraction of the talent and resources in the Valley.

Silicon Valley, theres still time to regain your image as a positive force in America and the world. Just dont wait until its too late.

Related:

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The biker was trying to avoid potholes when his aunt was crushed to death by a lorry in east Bengaluru's Nagawara area.

Woman was crushed to death as her nephew tried to avoid a pothole in Bengaluru's Nagawara area.

By Nolan Pinto: In yet another incident of pothole death in Bengaluru, a 47-year-old woman was crushed to death on Sunday when a truck hit the two-wheeler she was riding pillion in east Bengaluru's Nagawara area.

The deceased Radha Anjanappa was sitting behind her nephew Ravi Kumar when a lorry brushed against their scooter near Nayandahalli junction. Kumar was trying to avoid potholes and has escaped with minor injuries.

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According to the police, the duo was headed to Radha's parents' house in Ramanagara.

Police from Byatarayanapura traffic department told India Today that Ravi tried to avoid potholes and swerved right when a lorry brushed against the two-wheeler around 10.30 am. Kumar lost control of the scooter and crashed to his left and his aunt Radha to the right.

The lorry's front left wheel ran over Radha's neck and she died on the spot. Passersby caught the truck driver Totian Ramesh, a native of Tamil Nadu, and thrashed him before handing him over to the police.

Radha's body was taken to Victoria Hospital for postmortem after which it was handed over to her family members.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told India Today that strict action will be taken against those who have not done their duty in filling the potholes.

-With inputs from Rohini Swamy

ALSO WATCH | Killer potholes: Monsoon plays havoc on the streets of Mumbai and Delhi

--- ENDS ---
Donald Trump has continued his war of words with North Korea, tweeting that only one thing will work when it comes to dealing with the regime.

Mr Trump used his Twitter account to suggest that any agreements made by previously US governments had been violated before the ink was dry,

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid he wrote, adding: hasnt worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

The comments come just days after the US President told reporters and top military aides that they were in the calm before the storm, but refusing to be more specific about what that meant.

Mr Trump has been involved in an ongoing war of words with Kim Jong Uns regime, threatening to totally destroy North Korea if it needed to, in an address to the UN General Assembly.

MORE: Body parts of Swedish journalist Kim Wall found by divers after submarine disappearance

MORE: Donald Trump adopts Spanish accent to pronounce Puerto Rico

Mr Trump also previously referred to Kim Jong Un as Little Rocket Man, while the North Korean leader called him a mentally deranged person full of meglamania.

After the US Presidents latest tweets, North Korean state media reported that Kim Jong Un said his nuclear weapons were a powerful deterrent that guaranteed the states sovereignty.
Oil and natural gas driller Ensco plc ESV completed the acquisition of Atwood Oceanics, Inc.



On May 30, Ensco revealed plans to acquire Atwood in an all-stock deal worth $839 million. Per the agreement, Atwoods shareholders will obtain 1.60 shares of Ensco for each share of Atwoods common stock for a total value of $10.72 per share. The price is based on Enscos closing share price of $6.70 on May 26. This corresponds to a premium of about 33% to Atwoods closing price on the same date. On completion of the transaction, shareholders of Ensco and Atwood will own about 69% and 31%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of the former. No financing conditions are attached to this transaction.



The combined company will have a fleet of 63 rigs comprising ultra-deepwater drillships, versatile deep- and mid-water semisubmersibles and shallow-water jackups, along with a diverse customer base of 27 national oil companies, supermajors and independents.



Within the fleet of 26 floating rigs (semisubmersibles and drillships) are 21 ultra-deepwater drilling rigs that are capable of drilling in water depths of 7,500 or greater, with an average age of five years. Interestingly, the fleet is believed to be among the youngest and most capable in the industry. The jackup fleet is also estimated to be the largest in the world with 37 rigs, including 27 premium units. These jackups are all equipped with multiple advanced features as requested by clients for shallow-water drilling programs, such as increased leg length, expanded cantilever reach, greater hoisting capacity and offline handling capabilities.



Owing to the complementary nature of the companies products, Ensco will be able to provide a complete range of offshore drilling equipment for the production of oil and gas post merger completion.



Management expects this acquisition to drive Ensco's earnings and cash flow per share through cost synergies of approximately $45 million next year and $60 million in 2019. The combined entity will have a broader customer base, greater exposure to the deepwater drilling business and a wider array of products.



Enscos prospects look bright as the company has been able to clinch new orders despite commodity price volatility. This is clearly reflected in its substantial project backlog. Shares of the company have gained 12.7% compared with the industrys increase of 7.9% over the last three months.

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Zacks Rank & Key Picks



Currently, Ensco, headquartered in London, carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked players in the energy sector include First Solar Inc FSLR, Lonestar Resources US Inc LONE and Alliance Resources Partners LP AHGP. All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



First Solar designs, based in Tempe, AZ, manufactures and sells solar electric power modules using a proprietary thin-film semiconductor technology. The company delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 524.24% over the last four quarters.



Lonestar Resources is an oil and gas company, headquartered in Fort Worth. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 62.5% in the preceding quarter.



Alliance Resources Partners is a diversified producer and marketer of coal to major U.S. utilities and industrial users. The firm delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 29.76% over the last four quarters.



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Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.



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Scott Pruitt, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, answers a question during the Concordia Summit in Manhattan, New York, U.S., September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon - RC1A105CB430

President Donald Trump's administration plans to kill the centerpiece of President Barack Obama's climate-change action.

The Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Scott Pruitt, on Monday said he would sign a proposed rule Tuesday rescinding Obama's Clean Power Plan, established in 2015 to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions.

Pruitt spoke at an event with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in Hazard, Kentucky  coal country.

"Here's the president's message: The war on coal is over," Pruitt said. "Regulatory power should not be used by any regulatory body to pick winners and losers."

On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to bring back coal-mining jobs and dismantle Obama's environmental policy, declaring climate change a "hoax." Back in March, Trump signed an executive order ordering the EPA to review the Clean Power Plan.

Obama enacted the plan to cap pollution from power plants. It targeted power plants in 47 states (Hawaii, Alaska, and Vermont don't have power plants covered by the regulation and were exempt), aiming to cut their carbon emissions to 32% below 2005 levels by 2030.

The plan was supposed to be instrumental in helping the US reach its goals for the Paris climate agreement, which Obama signed with nearly every other country in 2015 but which Trump in June said he would pull the US out of.

On Monday, a link that formerly went to an EPA web page describing the Clean Power Plan redirected viewers to a page titled "Energy Independence."

"The EPA and no federal agency should ever use its authority to say to you we are going to declare war on any sector of our economy," Pruitt said Monday.

As administrator, Pruitt has refocused the EPA to get "back to basics," homing in on the agency's "core mission" of protecting the nation's air, land, and water. While attorney general for Oklahoma, Pruitt sued the EPA 14 times for what he described as "overreach."

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Documerica

Many of Obama's actions were remarkably complex, however, so it may take Trump a while to reverse them.

While coal jobs are unlikely to come back in droves with this or other actions the administration is taking, the move would make good on Trump's promise to rescind regulations that "unduly burden the development of domestic energy resources."

Democrats, environmentalists, and other protesters demonstrated outside the White House after Trump signed the executive order in March, declaring it would lead to runaway climate change, while many Republican members of Congress applauded the action for promoting energy independence. The same played out after Pruitt's comments on Monday.

The Natural Resources Defense Council threatened to sue the EPA if Pruitt were to rescind the plan. Democratic lawmakers decried the move.

Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware said he was "deeply disappointed" with Pruitt's decision. "The @EPA has a clear obligation to address carbon emissions & the Clean Power Plan was helping to achieve that goal," he tweeted, adding that the decision "undermines our commitment to fight climate change & embrace a clean energy future."

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia tweeted: "This would erode US leadership in tackling climate change & set us back years in hastening clean energy & job creation. Woefully misguided."

NOW WATCH: The Supreme Court will hear a landmark case on gerrymandering  heres how the political tactic changed the US forever





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BOJA vs. SBUX: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option?

North Korean tensions once again flared up after President Trump returned with his incendiary comments against the rouge nation. Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid hasnt worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators, Trump said in a pair of tweets.

And now only one thing will work! This sparked off the possibility of military intervention against North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un. In any case, several global leaders including Trump have long been vocal against North Koreas antagonistic activities.

Following North Koreas most powerful nuclear test on Sep 3, the 15-member Security Council voted on a U.S.-drafted resolution and slammed the nation with a new round of sanctions on Sep 18. Former North Korean partners Russia and China also supported the new oil imports limits.

The relation between Trump and North Korea soured so much that the latters foreign minister indicated in late September that a tweet by Trump was considered as a declaration of war on North Korea and that Pyongyang will not step behind to take counter actions, as per Reuters. If this was not enough, it is reported that North Korea has been fortifying defense on its east coast after U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers were flown to the Korean peninsula.

Pyongyang is also planning to test a long-range missile which is deemed to reach the west coast of the United States, a Russian lawmaker was quoted as saying, after a recent visit to North Korea.

Against this backdrop, below we highlight a few ETF strategies that investors might have to face if a war begins between North Korea and the United States.

Bet on Defense

The higher the tension between North Korea and the United States, the more gainful it will be for defense stocks and ETFs. Shares of Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are likely to benefit if North Korea tension escalates. So, play ETFs like PowerShares Aerospace & Defense ETF PPA and SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF XAR (read: North Korea Jitters: ETF Winners and Losers).

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Be Sure to See a Gold Rally

Gold is always viewed as a safe-haven asset. Such geopolitical risks are likely to spur safe-haven bids, which is why gold bullion may gain ahead. This makes SPDR Gold Shares GLD and iShares Gold Trust IAU good bets (read: 4 Strong Reasons to Buy Gold ETFs).

Get Ready for a Treasury Spike

U.S. Treasury yields, though on an uptrend on the Fed policy tightening speculation, may slip ahead on a safe-haven bid if any war takes place. This would benefit iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF TLT.

Drive for Defensive ETFs

If volatility levels crop up, investors can target defensive ETFs like QuantShares U.S. Market Neut Anti-Beta BTAL and AdvisorShares Ranger Equity Bear ETF HDGE (read: 4 ETF Ways to Hedge Against Volatility).

Japan Investing May Come Under Pressure

Japans government, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe fully supports Trump on the North Korea issue. Since two missile launches by North Korea were close to Japan, the countrys concerns are understandable. In September, a North Korean state agency threatened to sink Japan by using nuclear weapons. So, if violence intensifies ahead, Japan investing may feel some pressure.

Plus, if geo-political concerns rise, safe-haven currency yen should also gain traction. This would hurt Japan ETFs like iShares MSCI Japan ETF EWJ as most of underlying companies have greater foreign exposure and thus underperform in a rising yen environment.

South Korea: Another Likely Loser

South Korea is also under Kin Jong-uns rage. The South Korea government also ordered officials to get ready for likely new threats, such as biochemical attacks and electro-magnetic pulse. As per an article published on Bloomberg, a news research showed that a North Korea Nuclear attack on Tokyo and Seoul could kill 2.1 million people and injure 7.7 million. iShares MSCI South Korea Capped ETF EWY thus may be hurt if a battle ensues (read: Can South Korea ETFs Continue Their Rally?).

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In another major blow to embattled Weinstein Company co-founder Harvey Weinstein, a second key legal advisor has left his side. Lanny Davis no longer represents Weinstein, sources close to him tell Deadline.

Davis was part of the legal team Weinstein had assembled as he was preparing to face news reports painting long history of sexual harassment. Davis joins another attorney who was advising the mogul on the matter, Lisa Bloom, who announced her resignation on Twitter earlier this morning.

A longtime Democratic Party operative, Davis was a frequent advocate for Bill Clinton on cable news during the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the subsequent Impeachment effort against the 42nd President of the United States. Officially, Davis was a special counsel to Weinstein pal Clinton from 1996 to 1998. Last year, Davis co-founded the laws firm Davis Goldberg & Galper, Davis as well as the PR company, TridentDMG.

Weinstein initially vowed to sue The New York Times after the paper published a devastating story on Thursday, detailing a pattern of sexual harassment behavior. He has still been put on indefinite leave from TWC, with the company commissioning an independent investigation into the numerous allegations.

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Judi Dench

In the wake of a bombshell New York Times report that detailed decades of sexual harassment allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, a torrent of stories surrounding the man have come out.

And one of the strangest to make the rounds was about a time when Dame Judi Dench got a "tattoo" of Harvey Weinstein's name on her butt.

To be clear, the "tattoo" was fake, was part of a practical joke, and is long gone. But yes, it did actually happen.

The chatter started at the 2014 Britannia Awards, when Dench said that when she was younger, someone very famous told her she had no chance of making it in the film industry. That person told her her face wasn't "properly arranged." But decades later, she obviously proved them wrong, and she credited Weinstein for helping her career take off. Dench won the best supporting actress Oscar in 1999 for her work in "Shakespeare in Love," which was produced by Weinstein.

In the same speech, Dench said that she was so thankful to Weinstein, that she still has a tattoo of his name on her bum.

Later in 2014, Dench told The Hollywood Reporter the more detailed story about a fake tattoo she used to trick Weinstein:

"I once said to [Weinstein], 'I have your named tattooed on my bum.' He laughed and was well, quite embarrassed, actually. Its quite difficult to embarrass Harvey, but I did! And then, we went out to lunch, to the Four Seasons. Charlie Rose was there and I think my agent was there. Beforehand, I got my makeup lady to actually write Harveys name. [laughs] Then I brought it up at lunch and said, 'You know, I do have it on my bum' -- and then I actually got up and showed him! Ive never seen a man more embarrassed and Ive never let him forget it. [laughs] Perhaps I should have it done and really shock him!"

The "tattoo" apparently read: "JD loves HW."

There you have it.

As to the news of Weinstein's alleged history of sexual harassment, Dench, now 82, told The Sun:

"Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past twenty years, I was completely unaware of these offenses which are, of course, horrifying. I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and whole-hearted support to those who have spoken out."

Story continues

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Anandiben, in a letter written on October 4 said that her age was the main reason behind her decision.

By India Today Web Desk: Amid the exchange of barbs between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in Gujarat, former chief minister Anandiben Patel today told BJP chief Amit Shah that she is not keen to contest in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Anandiben, in a letter written on October 4 said that her age was the main reason behind her decision. In the same letter, she also urged that meritorious and winnable candidates be fielded.

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Patel who became the first woman chief minister of Gujarat in 2014, resigned in August 2016. She reportedly stepped down in the wake of BJP's defeat in 2015 local self-government elections and the Patidar agitation.

Patel joined BJP in 1987 and represents the Ghatlodia constituency. She became a legislator in the late 1990s.

With inputs from IANS

--- ENDS ---
Natalia Veselnitskaya

The Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya says she met with several well-connected Russians to discuss US sanctions legislation before traveling to New York in June 2016 for a meeting with top Trump campaign officials, an attorney told The Washington Post on Monday.

One of those well-connected Russians was President Donald Trump's former business partner Aras Agalarov, who Veselnitskaya said connected her with his son's music publicist, Rob Goldstone.

Veselnitskaya wrote to Goldstone on the morning of the meeting asking whether she could bring Rinat Akhmetshin, whom she described as a "trusted associate and lobbyist." Akhmetshin, she wrote, had been "working to advance these issues with several congressmen."

Agalarov's attorney, Scott Balber, shared that email with The Post and CNN because he thought it would prove Veselnitskaya had not offered the campaign damaging information about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in exchange for the meeting.

But it is not clear whether that was the only email exchanged between Veselnitsksya and Goldstone, who told Donald Trump Jr. in an email on June 3 that "the Crown prosecutor of Russia ... offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father."

The information, Goldstone added, "is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump."

The newly released emails also reveal a discrepancy between Veselnitskaya's and Akhmetshin's version of events. Akhmetshin, a Russian-American dual citizen who's a longtime DC lobbyist, initially said Veselnitskaya had asked him over lunch on June 9, roughly four hours before she was due at Trump Tower, to attend the meeting.

But Veselnitskaya emailed Goldstone at 9:24 a.m. asking whether Akhmetshin could attend. And she said Akhmetshin had already signed a nondisclosure agreement.

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Rinat Akhmetshin

Michael Tremonte, an attorney for Akhmetshin, said Akhmetshin was invited to the meeting over lunch.

"He has no recollection of signing a nondisclosure agreement in connection with the meeting and was not aware of the communications between Ms. Veselnitskaya and Mr. Goldstone," Tremonte told The Post.

Trump Jr. said in his initial statement about the meeting  which was also attended by Trump's campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner  that they "primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children."

That statement, released on July 8, 2017, turned out to be misleading. It did not mention both that Trump Jr. had been promised damaging information on Clinton in exchange for taking the meeting, and that Akhmetshin had attended, too.

One day later, Trump Jr. clarified that Veselnitskaya had "stated that she had information that individuals connected to Russia were funding the Democratic National Committee and supporting Mrs. Clinton."

"Her statements were vague, ambiguous, and made no sense," he said in that statement, adding: "It quickly became clear that she had no meaningful information."

Balber told CNN that Veselnitsksaya had been focused on launching "a legislative review of the Magnitsky Act" but did not explicitly deny that Veselnitsksya had offered information on Clinton. He also did not go into detail about who else Veselnitskaya met with before traveling to New York or what they discussed.

Balber did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The US passed the Magnitsky Act in 2012 to punish those suspected of being involved in the death of the Russian tax lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who is believed to have uncovered a $230 million tax-fraud scheme in 2008 that implicated high-level Kremlin officials and allies of President Vladimir Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (front) and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend a ceremony to receive credentials from foreign ambassadors at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia October 3, 2017. REUTERS/Pavel Golovkin/Pool

The scheme quickly snowballed into one of the biggest corruption scandals of Putin's tenure. In retaliation for the law, Russia altered its adoption policy to bar American families from adopting Russian children.

Veselnitskaya is the family lawyer for Denis Katsyv, the son of the senior Russian government official Pyotr Katsyv and owner of the Cyprus-incorporated real-estate company Prevezon. At the time of Veselnitskaya's meeting with Trump Jr., the US Department of Justice was investigating whether Prevezon laundered millions of dollars  allegedly stolen in the tax-fraud scheme that Magnitsky uncovered  into New York City real estate.

While it is possible that Veselnitskaya promised compromising information she did not have to get in the door with the Trump campaign, it is unlikely she would have attended the meeting empty-handed, said Bill Browder, the founder of the investment advisory firm Hermitage Capital who spearheaded the Magnitsky Act.

"Asking Donald Trump Jr. and the rest to withdraw the Magnitsky Act if Trump were elected was such a significant request that they would have come with various things to offer, and they would have thought carefully about what," Browder said earlier this year. "They wouldn't have come to this meeting empty-handed."

Read the email exchange:

veselnitskaya goldstone

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The U.S. Army has "got to be ready" to confront the North Korean threat if diplomatic efforts are unable to resolve the U.S. dispute with Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons, Defense Secretary James Mattis said Monday.

Addressing the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting, Mattis said: "What does the future hold? Neither you nor I can say. So there's one thing the U.S. Army can do.... You have got to be ready to ensure we have military options that our president can employ if needed."

Mattis stressed that the Trump administration's current approach to North Korea is a "diplomatically led, economic sanctionbuttressed effort," but expressed skepticism that the strategy will work.

"How many times have you seen the U.N. Security Council vote unanimously, now twice in a row, to impose stronger sanctions on North Korea?" Mattis asked. He added that the U.S. Army "must stand ready" and that the military will "always do its duty."

Mattis's remarks arguably contradict recent statements made by President Donald Trump on North Korea, including a tweet the president sent a few hours before the defense secretary spoke.

Trump has made it clear he does not believe diplomacy or dialogue will lead North Korea to adhere to the U.S. government's desires and relinquish its nuclear program.

"Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work," Trump tweeted.

Similarly, Trump sent tweets on Saturday claiming North Korea had been making "fools of U.S. negotiators" for years, adding that "only one thing will work" in terms of confronting Pyongyang. The messages seem to suggest that the president considers military action the most viable approach to handling North Korea.

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The U.S. has roughly 24,000 military personnel in South Korea, including 15,000 from the Army, according to the most recent government numbers. It has around 40,000 military personnel in Japan, roughly 2,600 of which are in the Army. American forces in both countries would likely be involved in a violent conflict with North Korea.

Without accounting for the use of nuclear weapons, it is estimated that as many as 1 million people would die from a conflict between the U.S. and North Korea.

The U.S. military ranks No. 1 in the world in terms of overall strength, while North Korea is ranked 23, according to the Global Firepower Index.

More than 1.1 million people serve in North Korea's armed forces, representing approximately 5 percent of its total population. The U.S. does not have complete intelligence on North Korea's military capabilities, but the country is believed to have up to 60 nuclear weapons.

The North Korean regime is also believed to have roughly 1,300 aircraft, 300 helicopters, 430 combatant vessels, 250 amphibious vessels, 70 submarines, 4,300 tanks, 2,500 armored vehicles and 5,500 multiple rocket launchers, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

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Ivana Trump

Ivana Trump, President Donald Trump's first wife and the mother of his three eldest children, said that while she talks to the president regularly, she doesn't often call the White House directly to avoid making first lady Melania Trump jealous.

She added that because she was the president's first wife, she is, in fact, the real first lady.

"I [dont] really want to call him there, because Melania is there," she said during a Sunday interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" in which she promoted her new book, "Raising Trump." "And I don't want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that, because I'm basically first Trump wife. OK? I'm first lady."

Melania's spokeswoman was critical of Ivana's comments, characterizing them in a statement on Monday as "attention seeking and self-serving noise."

"She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books," the spokesperson said of Melania. "There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex. Unfortunately only attention seeking and self-serving noise."

Ivana said that she would make an excellent first lady herself, but that she would be loathe to give up her "freedom" and "perfect life."

"Would I straighten up the White House in 14 days? Absolutely," she said. "Can I give the speech for 45 minutes without [a] teleprompter? Absolutely. Can I read a contract? Can I negotiate? Can I entertain? Absolutely. But I would not really like to be there. I like my freedom."

She added that she assumes Melania's life in the White House is "terrible."

"I think for her to be in Washington must be terrible," she said. "It's better her than me. I would hate Washington."

Ivana, a Czech-American businesswoman and former model, was married to the president from 1977 until the early 1990s, when the two split after the real-estate mogul's affair with Marla Maples became public. Ivana is apparently not on good terms with Maples, whom Trump went on to marry and whom Ivana exclusively refers to as a "showgirl."

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In an interview with CBS News that aired on Sunday, Ivana said she talks with the president weekly, advising him on his Twitter habits.

"He's still asking me for advice," she told CBS reporter Jim Axelrod. "He asks me about, 'Should I tweet, should I not tweet?'"

Ivana said she encourages the president to tweet. She added that the president offered her an ambassadorship to the Czech Republic, which she declined.

"Donald told me. He said, 'Ivana, if you want it, I give it to you,'" she said. "But I like my freedom. I like to do what I want to do, go wherever I want to go with whomever I want to go. And I can afford my lifestyle. OK, why would I go and say bye-bye to Miami in the winter, bye-bye to Saint-Tropez in the summer, and bye-bye to spring and fall in New York? I have a perfect life."

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PARIS (Reuters) - Nokia (NOKIA.HE) has reaffirmed its commitment to creating research and development jobs in France, the country's junior economy minister said on Monday, though the Finnish telecoms maker will still be able to cut hundreds of jobs in other areas.

When it bought French-American company Alcatel-Lucent at the beginning of 2016, Nokia made a commitment to hire 500 people in research and development and to maintain a workforce of 4,200 employees for two years.

Early last month it announced plans to scrap 600 jobs in central and support areas by end-2019 and trade unions and the French government have been looking into whether these cuts would be in breach of its earlier pledges.

"A very clear commitment has been made: no cuts from the 4,200 jobs ... and something else important, 2,500 jobs in R&D in total before the end of the 2018," Junior Economy Minister Benjamin Griveaux told reporters after meeting unions and Nokia France's president for over three hours.

Trade unionists said the process for implementing the planned 600 job cuts was to resume within 10 days.

Nokia will have created 330 of the 500 promised jobs in research and development by the end of this year, unionists added.

President Emmanuel Macron oversaw the deal as economy minister in 2015-2016 and gave his blessing in return for Nokia's commitment to creating the R&D jobs and maintaining 4,200-strong workforce until January 2018.

At the time he came under fire for allowing the acquisition of what was considered a "national champion".

(Reporting by Myriam Rivet; writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Crude oil prices start the week a touch higher

Investing.com - Crude oil prices started the week a shade higher on Monday, after tumbling at the end of last week, when oversupply worries brought an end to a recent rally.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures inched up 10 cents, or around 0.2%, to $49.39 a barrel by 3:05AM ET (0705GMT). It touched its lowest level since Sept. 13 at $49.10 in the last session.

WTI prices slumped about 5% last week to halt a four-week win streak, as concerns of overproduction resurfaced.

Trade volumes were expected to remain light on Monday, with many investors in the U.S. away for the Labor Day holiday. Trading in oil ends at 1:00PM ET (1700GMT), while U.S. stock markets are closed for trading all day.

Meanwhile, Brent crude futures, the benchmark for oil prices outside the U.S., tacked on 11 cents, or about 0.2%, to $55.73 a barrel. It had reached its lowest in nearly three weeks on Friday.

The global benchmark closed last week with a loss of approximately 3.5%, its first weekly decline in six weeks.

Prices remained supported as traders weighed the likelihood that OPEC-led production cuts will be extended through next year.

The original deal, struck nearly a year ago between OPEC and 10 other non-OPEC countries led by Russia, was to cut production by 1.8 million barrels a day for six months. The agreement was extended in May of this year for a period of nine months until March 2018 in a bid to reduce global oil inventories and support oil prices.

The cartel's next meeting is set for November 30 in Vienna.

In the week ahead, market participants will eye fresh weekly information on U.S. stockpiles of crude and refined products on Wednesday and Thursday to further weigh what the impact of recent storm activity was on supply and demand.

The reports come out one day later than usual due to the U.S. Columbus Day holiday on Monday.

Oil traders will also focus on monthly reports from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Counties and the International Energy Agency on Wednesday and Thursday respectively to assess global oil supply and demand levels.

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The data will give traders a better picture of whether a global rebalancing is taking place in the oil market.

The market is also waiting on President Donald Trumps decision on Thursday on whether or not to certify Irans compliance with the international nuclear deal. The Persian nation is an OPEC member and key Middle Eastern oil producer.

Elsewhere on Nymex, gasoline futures shed 0.6 cents, or 0.4%, to $1.550 a gallon, while heating oil slipped 0.5 cents, or 0.3%, to $1.738 a gallon.

Natural gas futures inched up 0.6 cents, or 0.2%, to $2.869 per million British thermal units.

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By Doina Chiacu

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello on Monday ordered an investigation into water distribution on the hurricane-battered island and warned there would be "hell to pay" for mishandling of supplies.

Rossello said drinking water supplies have been restored to nearly 60 percent of the island but some areas in the north remained at around 20 percent nearly three weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the U.S. territory.

The government was delivering food and water supplies to municipalities but people in some areas said they were not receiving them from local authorities.

Rossello told a news briefing in San Juan he ordered an investigation of water distribution after receiving complaints.

"If we are indeed getting ... several hundred thousand liters of water and several hundred thousand portions of food to the municipalities, yet some people in those municipalities are claiming that they're not seeing anything be delivered or they don't know where to find food, then it's important that we investigate why this is happening," he said.

The distribution of supplies including food, water and fuel has been a major challenge for the struggling government after Maria wiped out its power grid, flooded roads and crippled the communications system.

He said the government was trying to identify problems in the distribution pipeline and looking to ensure that local leaders deliver resources as soon as they arrive in a municipality.

The governor said National Guard troops and auditors were helping to determine what was occurring.

"If there is a place, a locality that is not delivering food to the people of Puerto Rico that need it, there's going to be some hell to pay," Rossello told CNN earlier Monday.

Three weeks after the storm hit, Puerto Rico still has a long road to recovery, having only 15 percent of electrical power restored and struggling to regain communication services. The White House has asked Congress for $29 billion in hurricane relief for Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida.

The federal government's waiver of the Jones Act for Puerto Rico will not be extended after it expires on Sunday night, a Department of Homeland Security official said on Monday. The act limits shipping between U.S. coasts to U.S. flagged vessels and can drive up the cost of goods.

(Additional reporting by Makini Brice and Stephanie Kelly)
By Pooja Shali: Living in a conflict zone signifies a constant battle with unanswered questions, emerging in the mind of its local resident. The threshold is often blurred between the personal and political in such circumstances.

In search of a similar personal exploration, a young filmmaker from Manipur has captured an innate gender-based tradition to make a larger political point through 'Bloody Phanek'.

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Tied to the waist like a sarong, falling neatly on the ankle is the phanek, a traditional formal loin cloth worn by many women, in the north-eastern state of Manipur, especially by the Meitei tribe.

Phanek is considered powerful, even sacred among the residents of Manipur with its traditional embroidery constituting historical references.

However, a common belief remains that if an agitated woman thrashes a man with phanek it would bring misfortune, even death to the man in question.

Picture courtesy: Facebook/ In pursuit of freedom

The film premiered recently in South Korea at the 9th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival 2017 and was shown to a private audience at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi, on October 8. A panel discussion followed among scholars specialising in art, aesthetics and gender studies.

The film took the viewer through region's political history and personal remembrances, in a attempt to form a relationship between the attire and a turbulent history.

The film's director Sonia Nepram said, "This project is personal to me. I feel proud and complete when I wear the Phanek but I realised it is also an article of gender bias. I was told early on as a teenager not to wash my phanek with clothes of male members in the family. I did not understand why. The film is recounting and revisiting those days and to find out how the phanek also became a symbol of protest."

Exploring gender-bias

Bloody Phanek begins with the filmmaker's photograph as a child sitting with her mother while a background voice reminisces the conversation, which eventually led her to make this film. The plot moves on to showcase the making of phanek by a local woman, the first step in its manufacturing process.

Within the literal reference of fabric preparation was also depicted a form of conflict about why only females yarn the garment. The weaver's replies immediately set in motion the gender play, which has existed since decades in Manipur.

"Men do not see the phanek weaving as respectful and consider it a woman's job," says the handloom artisan, simultaneously pulling the threads together at the wooden equipment. The weaving is an elaborate and time-consuming work of precision and takes days to finish.

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The flow of film is intensely personal as the director makes frequent appearances during interactions, suggesting her attempts to search answers for why the phanek is both divine and ominous. It tracks conflicting voices in the 500-year-old Ima Keithal (mother's market), a trading hub in Imphal, where phanek is sold to tourists and locals.

Nepram confronts young men, asking them why they continue to believe in 'do not touch the phanek' tradition. "We have been conditioned since birth", remarks a boy. The group hesitantly agree that the bias against phanek seems unfounded but reveal the fear that in case they are hit by the precious fabric, it which would cast bad luck.

The plot moves back and forth into historical contexts, using voices of a learned scholar, a fashion designer and a historian to explore origins and controversies surrounding the phanek.

Manipur has been acknowledged as a society supportive of women and yet has undertones of discrimination. The phanek is a weapon for Manipuri women, symbolising courage and yet retaining its feminine form.

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Also Read:A documentary that discusses India's tryst with independent music

Historically known as kanak phanik ( ''kanak'' meaning bridging gap and ''phanik'' meaning taking the form of female body), the name has modified since centuries and has also become a symbol of protest.

The film also encounters conservative voices that imposed wearing phanek among girls. In 2002, as an attempt to 'protect the identity of Manipur', the student union imposed a diktat that all schools and college-going girls will have to don the phanek--a take similar to other conservative leaders in India who use women to reaffirm notions of security as defence against conflict or merely to impose a norm against 'influence of western practices'.

Intermix of personal and political

The film has been demarcated into four sections.--a personal journey, the fight against gender bias, exploring Manipur's insecurity amidst conflict, and the protest symbol against oppressive forces.

Women wearing phanek protested against the British imperialists in 1904 and 1939, against injustice and unfair orders that is repeatedly mentioned through the film. The statues symbolising the fight have been built in Imphal, the capital city.

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Manipur has long been deemed a 'disturbed area' due to armed insurgency and has witnessed violence by insurgent groups and heavy deployment of security forces for over 30 years now. Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) was imposed in the state in 1980. The Act has been criticised by Human Rights activists for providing legal immunity in action to personnel in uniform. The apex court too had taken a strong stand, stating that the powers of AFSPA were being reportedly misused. The state eventually witnessed partial withdrawal of AFSPA from seven assembly constituencies and while still being active in many other areas.

Film concludes with Kangla Fort Protest

The film, which began on a deeply personal note, concludes with a strong political point. It reminds the viewer of the infamous protest on 15 July 2004, by 12 women, outside Kangla Fort in Imphal,the base for 17th Assam Rifles. The women went nude, throwing away their phanek, to protest against the brutal sexual assault and murder of Thangjam Manorama, allegedly by the men in uniform who had picked her up from her residence on suspicion. She was found dead the next day, with serious injuries and bullet marks on the body.

Heisnam Sabitri, a theatre person based in Imphal, refers to the courageous protest of women, reminiscing of a similar production she had directed earlier. 'Draupadi' was a play that showed a woman expressing anger in nude to a man in uniform who had raped her. The play had been watched and even faced outrage and threats by local residents for being overtly sexual. The message, however, was stronger. The women in state were angry and prepared to take on injustice, at the cost of tossing traditional modesty. An attire so sacred, even divine, was discarded to challenge violence against women.

The film is open-ended and may leave the viewer confused, specifically if not accustomed to Manipur's culture. It is unclear if the filmmaker found the answers she was looking for. Instead, it leaves one with more questions to introspect and explore the symbols attached to an attire. The film can be used as a lesson in gender studies.

However, what emerges from Bloody Phanek is how a simple loin cloth has become a symbol of feminine power to counter gender conflict and political apathy.

--- ENDS ---
bob corker

President Donald Trump on Sunday went after Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, who recently announced that he would retire and not run for reelection next year.

"Senator Bob Corker "begged" me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee," Trump wrote in a pair of tweets. "I said 'NO' and he dropped out (said he could not win without...my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said 'NO THANKS.' He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!"

He added in another follow-up tweet: "Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run!"

Corker hit back at President Donald Trump on Sunday, tweeting that it was a "shame the White House has become an adult day care center."

"Someone obviously missed their shift this morning," Corker added.

Corker has been increasingly critical of the president and the GOP's agenda in recent weeks.

He made headlines earlier this week when he sharply criticized Trump for undermining Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's efforts to establish diplomatic channels with North Korea amid heightening nuclear tensions. Corker said Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and White House chief of staff John Kelly are "those people that help separate our country from chaos."

And at a Senate Budget Committee hearing earlier, Corker was vocal about his concerns about the Republican tax plan that he worried could balloon the federal deficit.

"Unless it reduces deficits  let me say that one more time  unless it reduces deficits and does not add to deficits with reasonable and responsible growth models, and unless we can make it permanent, I don't have any interest in it," Corker said at the hearing.

Republicans hold a slim 52-vote majority in the Senate and can only afford to lose two votes to pass a tax overhaul, which is why Corker's vote is crucial.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump, whose presidential campaign was jolted a year ago by the release of a recording in which he boasted about groping women, said on Saturday he was not surprised by sexual harassment allegations against media mogul Harvey Weinstein. The Oscar-winning movie producer said he was taking a leave of absence from his company and seeking therapy after the New York Times reported he had reached eight previously undisclosed settlements with women who made allegations of sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact. "I've known Harvey Weinstein for a long time. I'm not at all surprised to see it," Trump told reporters at the White House. Trump faced resounding criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike after the release of a 2005 recording from NBC's "Access Hollywood" in which he talked in vulgar terms about grabbing women by the genitals and trying to have sex with an unidentified married woman. The recording was released a year ago. Asked about that by a reporter on Saturday, Trump said: "That's just locker room." As a candidate, Trump at one point brushed off the recording as "locker room banter" but also apologized for making the remarks. (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Writing by Jeff Mason; Editing by Paul Simao)
By Alwyn Scott WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department has notched up proposed trade duties on Bombardier Inc CSeries jets to nearly 300 percent, affirming Boeing Co's complaint that the Canadian company received illegal subsidies and dumped the planes at "absurdly low" prices. The decision underscored the defensive trade policy of U.S. President Donald Trump, and could effectively halt sales of Bombardier's innovative new plane to U.S. airlines by quadrupling the cost of the jets imported to the United States. The Commerce Department proposed a 79.82 percent antidumping duty on Friday, on top of a 219.63 percent duty for subsidies announced last week. The new duty follows a preliminary finding that Bombardier sold 75 CSeries jets below cost to Delta Air Lines Inc in 2016. The total was well above the 80 percent Boeing sought in its complaint. The proposed duties would not take effect unless affirmed by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) early next year. The duties are expected to heighten trade tensions between the United States, Canada and Britain, where CSeries wings are made. The United States, Canada and Mexico also are negotiating to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement. After the first duty was announced on Sept. 26, Canada and Britain threatened to avoid buying Boeing military equipment, saying duties on the CSeries would reduce U.S. sales and put thousands of Bombardier jobs in their countries at risk. "This is a disappointing statement but hardly surprising given last week's preliminary ruling sided with Boeing," a British government spokesman said on Saturday. "We continue to make all efforts alongside the Canadian government to get Boeing to the table to resolve the case." Bombardier shares were last up 0.5 percent to C$2.20. Some analysts said the muted response reflected a view that the penalties might not actually be applied. Boeing, the world's largest plane maker, hailed the decision and hinted at an alternative for Bombardier. "These duties are the consequence of a conscious decision by Bombardier to violate trade law and dump their CSeries aircraft to secure a sale," Chicago-based Boeing said in a statement. "Bombardier always has the option of coming into full compliance with trade laws," Boeing added. Canada's foreign ministry said Boeing was "manipulating the U.S. trade remedy system" to keep the CSeries out of the country. Canada is in "complete disagreement" with the decision and would keep raising concerns with the United States and Boeing, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. To win its case before the ITC, Boeing must prove it was harmed by Bombardier's sales, despite not using one of its own jets to compete for the Delta order. Bombardier said it was confident that the ITC would find Boeing was not harmed, calling the Commerce Department decision a case of "egregious overreach." Delta said the decision was preliminary and it was confident the ITC "will conclude that no U.S. manufacturer is at risk" from Bombardier's plane. Boeing has said the dispute was about "maintaining a level playing field" and was not an attack on Canada or Britain. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the decision affirmed Trump's "America First" policy. "We will ... do everything in our power to stand up for American companies and their workers," Ross said in a statement. But the industry is not so simple. More than half of the purchased content of each CSeries aircraft comes from U.S. suppliers, Bombardier has said. The plane supports an estimated 22,700 jobs and Bombardier's aerospace division spent $2.14 billion in the United States last year, according to the company and documents seen by Reuters. Boeing has said the CSeries would not exist without hundreds of millions of dollars in launch aid from the governments of Canada and Britain and a $2.5 billion equity infusion from the province of Quebec and its largest pension fund in 2015. (Additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa, Tim Ahmann in Washington, Allison Lampert in Montreal and Michael Holden in London; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Alexander Smith)
Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is on "indefinite leave" from the company he co-founded after a series of sexual harassment allegations, the Weinstein company announced Friday.

A day earlier, the New York Times reported that Weinstein had paid at least eight settlements to women over allegations regarding sexual harassment. The Weinstein Company has promised to investigate the claims.

"We strongly endorse Harvey Weinstein's already announced decision to take an indefinite leave of absence from the Company, commencing today," the board of directors at The Weinstein Company said in a statement.

"As Harvey has said, it is important for him to get the professional help for the problems he has acknowledged. Next steps will depend on Harvey's therapeutic process, the outcome of the board's independent investigation and Harvey's own personal decisions."

A source told the Associated Press that Weinstein would be suspended from the company, but the board's statements did not go that far.

10_07_Weinstein

Drew Angerer/Getty

In a statement signed by four board members including Weinstein's brother Bob, the company said the internal investigation was necessary. "We believe it is important to learn the full truth regarding the article's very serious accusations, in the interests of the Company, its shareholders and its employees," it said.

The allegations say Weinstein pestered female employees to give him massages, offered career advantages in exchange for accepting his sexual advances and other incidents of harassment over the span of thirty years.

The Times reported that he paid settlements to a young assistant in New York in 1990, an actress in 1997, an assistant in London in 1998, and an Italian model in 2015, among others.

Story continues

He said in a statement to the New York Times: I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. Though Im trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go.

The producer said he was going to see a therapist about his conduct and said he would "deal with this issue head on." He denies many of the allegations against him.

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On October 9, exactly 50 years ago, Che Guevara was killed by the US secret agents. But, eight years before he was killed, Che Guevara visited India and shared his experience in his report to Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

By Prabhash K Dutta: Had communist revolutionary Che Guevara lived on, he would have been 89 now but exactly 50 years ago, he was shot dead by the US secret agents with the help of the forces of Bolivia.

In the decades of 1950s and 1960s, Che Guevara was the most popular anti-American voice and a hugely followed communist leader.

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Che Guevara was born on June 14, 1928 in Argentina. He completed his course in medicine in Argentina. But, by the age of 27, he had become restless over widespread poverty and huge gap between the rich and poor.

Che Guevara got attracted towards Marxism and was convinced only an armed revolution could bring equality in the world. It was also the same time when Fidel Castro was engineering the Cuban socialist revolution.

By 1955, Che Guevara had married and started living in Mexico when he met Fidel Castro. Two soon formed a team. As an associate of Fidel Castro, Che Guevara was readily accepted by his Cuban followers of the communist revolutionary.

After Fidel Castro overthrew, in January 1959, the Fulgencio Batista regime in Cuba, Che Guevara was made the industry minister. Che Guevara traveled to India the same year.

CHE GUEVARA MEETS NEHRU

In June 1959, Fidel Castro sent Che Guevara on a diplomatic mission to the countries in Africa and Asia. Che Guevara arrived in India on June 30. Records show that he was received at the Palam Airport by Deputy Chief Protocol Officer DS Khosla, who accompanied him to the newly built Hotel Ashoka in Chanakyapuri.

The meeting with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru took place the next day. Nehru had invited Che Guevara over lunch. Reports suggest that besides Nehru, Indira Gandhi and her both sons - Rajiv and Sanjay - also attended the lunch.

Formal diplomatic talks took place for about an hour between the Che Guevara and Nehru. The two leaders agreed to opening of diplomatic missions in each other's countries. In his report to Fidel Castro, Che Guevara wrote, "Nehru received us with an amiable familiarity of a patriarchal grandfather."

Che Guevara also wrote that Nehru had "noble interest in the dedication and struggles of the Cuban people, commending our extraordinary valiance and showing unconditional sympathy towards our cause."

The next day, Che Guevara visited many places and met several leaders. He visited the Cottage Industries Emporium and the Okhla Industrial Area, where he saw lathe machines for the first time.

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He met the Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon, senior defence officers and also members of the Planning Commission. Che Guevara interacted with the scientists at the the Agricultural Research Institute and National Physical Laboratory, where he saw a metal detector for the first time.

Acknowledging that Nehru's words of advice were of immense significance, Che Guevara wrote in his report that his tour of India taught him that real development could be brought with economic progress and technical advancement. He also said that research in the fields of medicine, chemistry, physics and agriculture was an utmost necessity for technical and economic progress.

Che Guevara at the Indian Agriculture and Research Institute in Delhi. (Photo: Photo Division, Government of India)

CHE GUEVARA'S KRISHNA

During his India tour, Che Guevara also visited Kolkata, then Calcutta, where he made a mysterious revelation about Krishna. He wrote in his report to Fidel Castro that he met Krishna, whose views had deep impression on his thought process.

Che Guevara referred to Krishna as the person having solution to the danger posed by nuclear weapons to existence of the world. "We had an opportunity of meeting a wise person called Krishna, who seemed like a person far above our world of today," Che Guevara wrote in his report to his boss in Cuba.

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"He (Krishna) with his simplicity and humility, a characteristic of his people, talked to us for quite some time, stressing the need for using the entire resources and technical capacity of the world for peaceful use of the nuclear energy. He strongly condemned the absurd politics of those who dedicate themselves to storing hydrogen bombs in their international discussions," Che Guevara wrote about Krishna in his report.

On his return to Havana, the Cuban capital, after his visits to 17 countries, Che Guevara once again spoke of Krishna at a press conference.

Che Guevara said, "While talking with Krishna, the learned Indian, we became aware of the evils of the means of mass destruction and when we saw the frightful truth at Hiroshima we felt ashamed for having been glad at times when the atomic bomb was dropped on that city by the democratic powers during World War II."

The identity of Krishna, referred to by Che Guevara, has not been established till date despite several guess works.

--- ENDS ---
Thousands of protesters gathered in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, are demanding reforms in the restive northwestern tribal region.

Lawmakers, activists, and supporters of nearly half a dozen major political parties gathered in front of the Pakistani Parliament to demand the unification of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with the neighboring northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A majority of the residents of the two regions are ethnic Pashtuns but are governed under different legal regimes. While more than 30 million residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa enjoy all the citizenship rights and live under regular municipal laws, more than 5 million FATA residents still live under a century-old, colonial-era legal regime that often imposes collective punishments and denies most rights and civil liberties to FATA Pashtuns.

"The decision to merge FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been made by the people of FATA," Aimal Wali Khan, a senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), told the protesters.

Former lawmaker Akhunzada Chattan, a leader of the secular Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said millions have suffered in FATA for decades.

"There is havoc in FATA," he said.

Pakistani media reports said the countrys prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abassai, was set to hold a meeting with lawmakers from FATA late in the evening to discuss how to end the protest.

Lawmaker Shahjee Gul represents FATAs Khyber tribal district in the National Assembly or lower house of the Pakistani Parliament. Before leaving for the capital in the northwestern city of Peshawar, he was hopeful protests would prompt Islamabad to swiftly implement long-delayed reforms in the region.

Today, we are going to protest for improving the prospects for our future generations and to complete and strengthen Pakistan, he told Radio Mashaal. We are going to protest peacefully to pressure the government into issuing a presidential order to merge us [FATA] into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and extend the jurisdiction of [the provincial] high court and [federal] supreme court into FATA.

The protest is unique because the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and two major opposition parties -- PPP and Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) -- are also taking part. Other major political parties such as the moderate Pashtun ethno-nationalist ANP, Qawmi Watan Party, and Islamist Jammat-e Islami and Jamiat Ulam-e Islam Sami-ul-Haq faction are participating, as well.

The spirit is through the roof, said Nizamuddin Khan, a young activist from FATAs northernmost Bajaur tribal district. I have never seen political workers of so many parties supporting, cheering, and bucking each other up.

Earlier this year, a government-sponsored effort to reform the archaic governance regime in FATA stalled after two of PML-Ns coalition partners opposed it. The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, a hard-line nationalist faction popular in the Pashtun districts of southwestern Balochistan Province, and Islamist Jamiat Ulma-e Islam Fazal want Islamabad to hold a referendum in FATA before implementing measures to merge the region into the countrys administrative, political, and economic mainstream.

The delay threatened decades of efforts aimed at reforming FATA and particularly ending the century-old draconian Frontiers Crimes Regulations law, which violates most modern human rights provisions and even contradicts the Pakistani Constitution.

The reforms, publicly backed by Pakistans political spectrum and powerful security establishment, are part of Islamabads efforts to stabilize FATA. Opinion surveys have found that most FATA residents support the reforms. An estimated 50,000 FATA civilians have been killed and nearly 3 million displaced over more than a decade of insurgency.

Unrest in the region began after the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and allied militant groups established a foothold in the region after the demise of the hard-line Taliban regime in 2001. The Pakistani military claims to have carried out hundreds of raids and military operations to cleanse FATA of militants since 2002.

With reporting by Dawn.com and Geo News
Gunmen ambushed a vehicle carrying minority Shi'ite Muslims in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta on October 9, killing four of them and a passer-by, police say.

Two other passers-by were also wounded in the attack in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, according to local police chief, Hidayat Ullah.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Sunni extremists regularly target Shi'ites and have staged previous such attacks in Balochistan and elsewhere in Pakistan.

A suicide bomber on October 5 targeted a Shi'ite shrine packed with worshippers in the village of Jhal Masgi in Balochistan, killing 24 people, in an attack claimed by Pakistan's Islamic State affiliate.

Shi'ites are regarded as apostates by Sunni extremist groups, and are frequently targeted in deadly attacks.

Based on reporting by AP and dawn.com
NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PHI Group, Inc., (www.phiglobal.com) (OTCQB:PHIL), a company focused on mergers and acquisitions and investments in natural resources, energy, agriculture and special situations, announced today has that it has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to broaden the scope of cooperation with AQuarius Power, Inc. (AQuarius) http://aquarius-power.com, a Texas company, and provide land-based renewable wave energy to Eastern Europe and the European Region.



PHI and AQuarius will form a joint venture company which will have the exclusive right to sublicense, sell, build, own and/or operate the AQuarius wave energy systems in Eastern Europe and the European Region on an exclusive basis. PHI Group and AQuarius plan to build the first system in Romania in the coming months.

AQuarius Wave Energy System is a land-based wave energy system that uses a combination of gravity and buoyancy found within the interaction between air and water to produce power that can be used to generate electricity and / or produce potable water. AQuarius is a baseload zero carbon footprint that uses no consumables and can be installed virtually anywhere on the planet that is cost effective against any fossil fuel alternatives. The system, which can be built turn-key within 6 months of obtaining permits, has an operating life of over 60 years and is clean, scalable, reliable, and extremely flexible. Its operating cost is comparably low as hydroelectric systems.

Robert Schuster, Founder and CEO of AQuarius, stated, Along with the current renewable energy project in Yen Bai Province, Vietnam that we are working on together with PHI Group, we are delighted to broaden our scope of collaboration and bring this amazing technology to Romania and the European Region. We are confident that our affordable baseload wave energy will provide superior solutions to the global growing renewable energy needs.

Horace Horumba, President of PHI Group - Eastern Europe, said, "We are pleased to engage in such opportunity, whereby Romania is our stepping stone in the European Union. Along with incredible legislative and financial structured support from the European Union for renewable based technologies we firmly believe that we have carved a niche in a growing market."

Monica Ducu, CFO of PHI Group - Eastern Europe, said, "Introduction of Aquarius system in the European Union is an excellent opportunity as a whole, as it reflects the pioneer spirit of the European Union for renewable sustainable options. Romania is one of the first EU countries which has met the renewable energy commitments to the EU and furthermore, human resources capacity available locally will assure support towards forward-looking expansions throughout the European Union."

About PHI Group

PHI Group (www.phiglobal.com) primarily focuses on mergers and acquisitions and invests in select industries and special situations that may substantially enhance shareholder value. PHI Group also provides M&A and consulting services through its wholly owned subsidiary, PHI Capital Holdings, Inc. (www.phicapitalholdings.com)

About AQuarius

AQuarius Power Inc. http://aquarius-power.com, a Texas Corporation, was created for the purpose of developing and licensing certain revolutionary technologies with the potential to provide clean, baseload energy technologies.

Safe Harbor

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected on the basis of such forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Contact:

Henry Fahman

Chairman & CEO, PHI Group, Inc.

+1-702-475-5430

henry@phiglobal.com
broall wrote:

A fourteen-year study of finches on the Galapagos islands concluded that there is a definite relationship between climate and the population size of finch species that thrive at various times. During droughts, more members of large finch species survive because

their bills are large enough to crack large, hard seeds, giving them a food supply unavailable to smaller birds. In rainy years, fewer members of the large finch species survive because the additional moisture fosters the growth of plants that produce small seeds.

The larger finch varieties have to consume enormous numbers of small seeds to meet their energy demands, and some just cannot eat them fast enough.



Which one of the following must be assumed in order to justify the conclusion that climatic variations cause a major difference in survival rates of small and large finches?



(A) During drought conditions, the weather promotes the growth of plants that produce small, hard seeds.



(B) A lengthy period of rainy weather results in fewer large, hard seeds being produced.



(C) In rainy periods, the small finches gather enough food to grow much larger and heavier, but their ultimate size is limited by

their inability to eat small seeds fast.



(D) The Galapagos climate during this fourteen year period had about as much dry weather as it had wet weather.



(E) Small seeds do not have to be cracked open in order to be digested by any of the finch varieties.



Source: LSAT

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. - Henry Ford

The Moment You Think About Giving Up, Think Of The Reason Why You Held On So Long Signature Read More

The Argument(During droughts finches survive because they can crack large, hard seeds & during rain, there is more plants that produce small seeds)-->There is a correlation between climate and population (aka, more rain causes less finches)My ThoughtsThis argument is saying that, just because there is more of one plant's seeds during rain, the finches are less likely to survive. Ummmmm what? This argument is kind of like the following: Subway chicken sandwiches are necessary for human survival. During the summer, we all eat lots of Subway chicken sandwich and everything is awesome and plenty of people make it through the summer. However, during the winter, Subway sells turkey sandwiches. Therefore, more people die. The assumption in these arguments is something like "when the rain produces these small seeds, there are less large, hard seeds." The argument is assuming that more of one thing means less of the other.(A) Out of scope. All we need to know here is that during droughts there are enough hard seeds to go around for all the finches. It doesn't really matter what else there is because the finches are doing fine during droughts.(B) Correct. If more rain = less large hard seeds, then we can clearly see how this would be detrimental to the finch's survival. If we negate this and say that "rainy weather does NOT result in fewer large, hard, seeds" then this would mean that there doesn't seem to be as much of a relationship between climate and survival as people think(C) Out of scope. In the argument, we are talking about survival and not about size. This seems like a trap answer for someone that was running out of time and saw "population SIZE of finch species) and went with it.(D) Not necessary. We don't need to assume that there was as much of one kind of weather as the other. We are talking about what happens during those kinds of weather. It doesn't matter if that type of weather is any more or less frequent then the other type.(E) Out of scope. We don't care if the seeds have to or don't have to be cracked open. The seeds are important not because of their "crackability" but because of their type and how available they are to these finches. There does not seem to be any correlation between "crackability" and survival_________________
One product to protect all your devices, without slowing them down.

Sri Lankas Criminal Investigation Department, in collaboration with Taiwanese law enforcement, has apprehended two suspects in Colombo for allegedly aiding in the hacking of a bank in Taiwan that culminated in the theft of millions of dollars, writes AFP.

The two allegedly hacked the banks computer systems and were arrested after trying to withdraw money from their accounts. A third suspect is at large.

We are looking at some $1.3 million that had come into three accounts in Sri Lanka, said an official who requested to stay anonymous. We have taken two people into custody and we are looking for one more person.

According to Taiwan News, the victim is the Far Eastern International Bank, hacked after a hacker put a virus into the banks computer system and tried to remove less than US$500,000 (NT$15,000).

The Financial Regulatory Commission in Taipei confirmed that malware was used to breach the banks SWIFT system, but no other comments were made.

The Far Eastern International Bank reported suspicious transactions to the United States, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. Most of the stolen money was recovered, said Taiwanese police.

Through the planted malware, hackers conducted virtual transactions to move funds totaling nearly US$60 million from Far Eastern Bank customers accounts to some foreign destinations such as Sri Lanka, Cambodia and the United States, the bank said.
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Students performing stunts on moving buses and trains in Chennai has caused a major scare in the city. The students posted the video on social media with the caption "This is how we are, this is how we will be".

By Pramod Madhav: Horrific videos of alleged college students waving dangerous weapons on a moving train as a show of their might has gone viral. The videos show young men carrying sickles and swords and waving them at the passengers standing on the train platform.

Three set of videos shot recently on a moving train had gone viral on social media. It shows students wearing a college tag riding on the foot-board of a train waving sickles and sword like objects against the passengers standing on the footpath waiting to board the train, warning them to move back.

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No action has been taken after investigation. A link to a Facebook page was discovered which belonged to a person called Bharathiraja. He apparently posted three videos out of which two were edited. One of the video showed students of Pachaiyappa's College climbing over buses and performing stunts on trains.

The alleged student also posted a caption which said "This is how we are, this is how we will be".

Upon inquiring with Pachaiyappa's college students, they confirmed that the edited visuals of the students climbing a bus usually happens when they celebrate bus day and acted as though it was normal.

The antics of the students caused a major scare in the city. Authorities have not commented on the incident.

Watch the video below:

--- ENDS ---
The girl was playing outside her house when the accused lured her using chocolates.

By Saurabh Vaktania: A three-and-half-year old girl was saved in nick of time by Mumbai Police after a man kidnapped her with an intention of raping her on Sunday evening. In just few hours after the girl was kidnapped, the cops managed to track and returned her to her parents.

The accused is identified as Nitin Kamatkar, 28. He had admitted that he kidnapped the girl to take her into nearby bushes to rape her.

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The girl stays along with her parents and siblings at Antop Hill area. In the evening, her mother had gone to work while her father was at home. The girl was playing outside the house when accused offered chocolates and in the meanwhile took her away.

An hour later when the girl's mother returned the minor was missing. She immediately rushed to police station and registered a complaint of kidnapping.

A police officer said, "Many incidents have been filed in past in that area where several minor girls were kidnapped and raped into bushes nearby. We are very active and all our officials had left for patrolling. One of our team when found a person with small girl near the monorail station at Wadala. We asked the person who the girl is and he said that she is his daughter. We asked the person the name of the girl, where he fumbled and could not answer properly. We took the girl and the person to police station where the parents of the girl identified her. The accused Nitin was later arrested."

The accused also revealed that before taking her into bushes, he even molested the girl. However, the cops managed to save the girl in time and are finding if the accused having any criminal background.

A police officer said, "We have registered case under section 363 of IPC and stringent sections of POSCO Act. He was produced in the court and was remanded to police custody. Further investigations are on."

Also Watch : Honeypreet complained of chest pain during questioning after arrest

--- ENDS ---
In one of Irans largest embezzlement cases, involving roughly $2.6 billion, semi-official Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported that Khavari stands accused of a fraud that used bogus documents to obtain credit from eight Iranian banks. MNA reports that the money was used to purchase state-owned companies over a four-year period.

Other reports allege that Khavari became a Canadian citizen in 2005, owned a home in Toronto, and fled to Canada in 2011 to join his family. Although Tehran has officially requested his extradition, Canada has refused, citing the absence of a bilateral extradition treaty with Iran.

After his flight to Canada, Khavari reportedly gave his $3 million home to his daughter for the token price of two dollars.

Interpol placed him on its red notice wanted list in February 2013, but removed his name in October 2016. However, the chief of the Iranian branch of Interpol said the removal of information about Khavari does not mean the red notice against him has been lifted. The red notice is accessible and citable in Interpols main system to Interpol branches in all countries. The red notice has been only removed from the organizations public portal, and that only happens in the cases where the Interpol branch in the individuals country of residence has established a connection with the branch that issued the red notice, MNA quoted General Massoud Rezvani as saying.

He added, In the case of Khavaris travel to other countries, the police department of the country is obliged to detain him based on the red notice being still active in their system and immediately inform the Interpol branch in Tehran.

Judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei admitted that Tehrans efforts for Khavaris extradition through Interpol have been unsuccessful. Still, Ejei advised Khavari to voluntarily return to Tehran since he would benefit from defending his innocence in a court of law. Khavari has yet to respond to Ejeis advice.

Iranian Businessman Mahafarid Amir Khosravi, also known as Amir Mansour Aria, who was once generally believed to be the richest man in the country, was executed for his part in the same 2011 Iranian embezzlement scandal.

The Toronto Star reported in October 2011that Bank Melli, which Khavari led as its chairman of the board and managing director, was accused of facilitating fraudulent payments. Canadas Globe and Mail reported in November 2011, that in addition to being linked to the fraud scandal, the bank has been blacklisted for years by Canada, the United States, and the European Union, which allege that the bank used shell companies and other deceptive practices to finance terrorism and fund Irans nuclear and missile programs.

Khavari has allegedly also been embroiled in financial disputes and lawsuits in Canada. Since the scandal, Iran has legally barred citizens with dual nationality from directing its banks.
The president is also expected to address concerns over Irans ballistic missile advances, its involvement in Middle East states, and its support of terrorism.

In a late September meeting with his P5+1 counterparts and Irans top diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said,

Lifting the sanctions as required under the terms of the JCPOA has enabled Irans unacceptable behavior.

Prior to a Thursday evening meeting with senior military leaders at the White House, Trump told reporters The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence, bloodshed and chaos across the Middle East. He added, That is why we must put an end to Irans continued aggression and nuclear ambitions. They have not lived up to the spirit of their agreement.

Others on Capitol Hill advocate the new approach. At a speech in the Council on Foreign Relations last week, Senator Tom Cotton said, The president should decline to certify, not primarily on grounds related to Irans technical compliance, but rather based on the long catalog of the regimes crimes and perfidy against the United States, as well as the deals inherent weakness.

There are ongoing discussions of how to amend the JCPOAs restrictions, such as sunset clauses, Irans ballistic missile development and testing, and inspections that lack the necessary access into the regimes controversial military sites.

It is expected that Trump will decertify Iran, but he most likely not completely pull America out of the nuclear agreement. Trump seems set to place decisions regarding further sanctions on Iran on the US Congress.

The new US policy to be announced by Trump, is said to cover several issues, including blacklisting Irans notorious Revolutionary Guards, missile tests, support for terrorism, and perhaps, human rights violations at home, as well as cyberattacks.

Heshmat Alavi, in his article for Al Arabyia writes, The new mentality sought by Washington is to address all of Irans belligerence and not allow its nuclear program and the JCPOA devour all of the international communitys attention.

In a statement that must be disturbing to Iran, Trump called his meeting with top military officials last Thursday, the calm before the storm. No further details were provided by the US President nor the White House.

According state media, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said, Iran regards defensive missile programs as its absolute right and will definitely continue them within the framework of its defensive, conventional and specified plans and strategies.

Additionally, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani remarked at a recent Tehran University ceremony, In the nuclear negotiations and agreement we reached issues and benefits that are not reversible. No one can turn that back, not Mr. Trump or anyone else, according to state media.

However, Senator Cotton made it clear that, Congress and the President, working together, should lay out how the deal must change and, if it doesnt, the consequences Iran will face.
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Ltd, PG Collection Service Co. Ltd., PG Friendly Partners Co. Ltd., PGA Asian Retail Limited, PGA European Limited, PGI Co. Ltd, PGIM AC Co-Invest GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM AVP IV GP S.a r.l., PGIM Advisory Shanghai Co. Ltd., PGIM Agricultural Investments GP LLC, PGIM Australia Pty Ltd, PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Fund L.P., PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Partners LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Feeder VI LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Fund VI L.P., PGIM Custom Harvest LLC, PGIM DC Co-Invest GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM DC JV GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM DC Solutions LLC, PGIM European Financing Limited, PGIM European Services Limited, PGIM Financial Limited, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund II L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives GP LLC, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives II GP LLC, PGIM Foreign Investments Inc., PGIM Holding Company LLC, PGIM Holdings Limited, PGIM Hong Kong Ltd., PGIM INDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM INDIA TRUSTEES PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM IRELAND LIMITED, PGIM Inc., PGIM International Financing Inc., PGIM Investments Ireland Limited, PGIM Investments LLC, PGIM Japan Co. Ltd., PGIM Korea Inc., PGIM LTIF Berlin GP S.a r.l., PGIM LTIF Berlin MLP S.ar.l., PGIM LTIF GP S.a.r.l., PGIM Limited, PGIM Loan Originator Manager Limited, PGIM M Campus GP S.a r.l., PGIM Management Partner Limited, PGIM MetaProp Investor LP LLC, PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Overseas Investment Fund Management Shanghai Company Ltd, PGIM Private Capital Ireland Limited, PGIM Private Capital Limited, PGIM Private Placement Investors Inc., PGIM Private Placement Investors L.P., PGIM QUANTITATIVE SOLUTIONS LLC, PGIM REF EUROPE SCSp, PGIM REF Europe GP S.a r.l., PGIM REF Europe Member LLC, PGIM REF Intermediary Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate CD S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Capital VII GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest L.P., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest SCSp, PGIM Real Estate Co-Invest Holdings LLC, PGIM Real Estate Debt GmbH, PGIM Real Estate Finance Holding Company, PGIM Real Estate Finance LLC, PGIM Real Estate France SAS, PGIM Real Estate Germany AG, PGIM Real Estate Global Debt GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Global Master Fund GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles II S de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles S. de R.L. de C.V, PGIM Real Estate Italy S.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Japan Ltd., PGIM Real Estate Loan Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate Luxembourg S.A., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Management Luxembourg S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Mexico S.C., PGIM Real Estate S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate U.S. CORE Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate U.S. Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate UK Limited, PGIM Scots Limited, PGIM Securities Investment Trust Enterprise, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management (Feeder) I LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management Fund I L.P., PGIM Shanghai Company Ltd., PGIM Singapore Pte. Ltd., PGIM Strategic Financing LLC, PGIM Strategic Investments Inc., PGIM Taronga Investor GP LLC, PGIM U.S. Agriculture Fund LP, PGIM USPF VI Manager LLC, PGIM Wadhwani LLP, PGIM Warehouse Inc., PGLH of Delaware Inc., PIFM Holdco LLC, PIIC Limited, PIISC Holdings UK Limited, PIM KF Blocker V Holdings LLC, PIM USPF V Manager LLC, PLA Administradora Industrial SRL, PLA Administradora LLC, PLA Administradora S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional II S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional S.de R.L. de C.V., PLA Co-Investor LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager I LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager II LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Blue LP, PLA Retail Fund I Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LP, PLA Retail Fund II Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II U.S. Carry/Co-Invest LP, PLA Services Manager Mexico LLC, PLAI Limited, PMCF Holdings LLC, PMCF Properties LLC, PPPF General Partner LLP, PR GA SCP Apartments LLC, PRAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP LLP, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP SCOTS FEEDER LLP, PRECO Account IV LLC, PRECO Account Partnership IV LP, PRECO III GP LLP, PREFG Hanwha Manager LLC, PREI Acquisition I Inc., PREI Acquisition II Inc., PREI Acquisition LLC, PREI HYDG LLC, PREI International Inc., PRIAC Property Acquisitions LLC, PRICOA Management Partner Limited, PRISA Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Pooled Manager LLC, PRISA III Fund GP LLC, PRISA III Fund PIM LLC, PRREF Debt Fund Manager LLC, PRREF II Fund Manager LLC, PRU 3XSquare LLC, PRUCO LLC, PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL ENERGY PARTNERS MANAGEMENT (FEEDER) LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP MEMBER LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP REIT LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE 2 LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE LLC, PT PFI Mega Life Insurance, Passaic Fund LLC, Pine Tree GP, Pine Tree L.P., Platinum GP Limited, Platinum II L.P., Platinum L.P., Pramerica Business Consulting Shanghai Company Limited, Pramerica EVP CP LP, Pramerica Financial Asia Headquarters Pte. Ltd., Pramerica Financial Asia Limited, Pramerica Fixed Income Funds Management Limited, Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Pramerica Holdings Ltd, Pramerica Hong Kong Holdings Limited, Pramerica Insurance Agency China Company Ltd., Pramerica Luxembourg CP GP S.a.r.l., Pramerica PRECAP I GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP II GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP III GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP IV GP LLP, Pramerica Pan European Real Estate Scots LP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I GP Scots Feeder LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I Scotland Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital II Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital III Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Limited, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Scots Feeder LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V Netherlands GP LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital VI Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Scots CP GP LLP, Preco III Scotland Limited Partnership, Pru 101 Wood LLC, Pru Alpha Partners I LLC, Pru Fixed Income Emerging Markets Partners I LLC, PruVen Capital Partners Fund I L.P., Pruco Assignment Corporation, Pruco Life Insurance Company, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Pruco Securities LLC, Prudential 900 Aviation Boulevard LLC, Prudential Affordable Mortgage Company LLC, Prudential Agricultural Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors Inc., Prudential Annuities Holding Company Inc., Prudential Annuities Inc., Prudential Annuities Information Services & Technology Corporation, Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, Prudential Bank & Trust FSB, Prudential Capital Energy Opportunity Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners Management Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV L.P., Prudential Capital and Investment Services LLC, Prudential Chile II SpA, Prudential Chile SpA, Prudential Commercial Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Equity Group LLC, Prudential Financial Inc., Prudential Fixed Income Global Liquidity Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Fixed Income U.S. Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Funding LLC, Prudential General Services of Japan Y.K., Prudential Gibraltar Agency Co. Ltd. Prudential Gibraltar Agency Kabushiki Kaisha, Prudential Global Funding LLC, Prudential Holdings of Japan Inc., Prudential Huntoon Paige Associates LLC, Prudential IBH Holdco Inc., Prudential Impact Investments Mortgage Loans LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Debt LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Equity LLC, Prudential Insurance Agency LLC, Prudential International Insurance Holdings Ltd., Prudential International Insurance Service Company L.L.C., Prudential International Investments Advisers LLC, Prudential International Investments Company LLC, Prudential International Investments LLC, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, Prudential Japan Holdings LLC, Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 1 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 2 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Capital Asset Holding Company LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Funding LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC, Prudential Multifamily Mortgage LLC, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Prudential Newark Realty LLC, Prudential QOZ Investment Fund 1 LLC, Prudential Realty Securities Inc., Prudential Retirement Financial Services Holding LLC, Prudential Retirement Holdings LLC, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation, Prudential Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., Prudential Seguros S.A., Prudential Select Strategies LLC, Prudential Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Prudential Structured Settlement Company, Prudential Systems Japan Limited, Prudential Tax Services LLC, Prudential Term Reinsurance Company, Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., Prudential Trust Company, Prudential Universal Reinsurance Company, Prudential Workplace Solutions Group Services LLC, Prudential do Brasil Seguros de Vida S.A., Prudential do Brasil Vida em Grupo S.A., Prudential/TMW Real Estate Group LLC, Pruservicos Participacoes Ltda., QMA JP EM All Cap Equity Partners LLC, Quartzsite LLC, Residential Services Corporation of America LLC, Rio CP LP, Rock European Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock Global Real Estate LLC, Rock Kensington Limited, Rock Marty GP S.a r.l., Rock Oxford S.a r.l., Rock UK Real Estate II S.a.r.l., Rockstone Co. Ltd., Rosado Grande LLC, Ross Avenue Energy Fund Holdings LLC, Ross Avenue Minerals 2012 LLC, SCP Apartments LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERS VI GP LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FUND VI GP LLC, SHP IV Carried Interest LP, SHP V Carried Interest L.P., SMP Holdings Inc., SVIIT Holdings Inc., Sanei Collection Service Co. Ltd. Kabushiki Kaisha Sanei Shuuno Service, Senior Housing Partners V LLC, Senior Housing Partnership Fund V LLC, Sterling Private Placement Management LLP, Stetson Street Partners L.P., Strand Investments Limited, TBG Insurance Services Corporation, TENSATOR HOLDINGS LTD, TF Proveedora S.C., TMW ASPF I Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, TMW ASPF Management GmbH, TMW Management LLC, TMW Real Estate Group LLC, TMW Realty Advisors LLC, TMW USPF Verwaltungs GmbH, TRGOAG Company Inc., The Gibraltar Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Keynes Dynamic Beta Strategy US Fund GP LLC, The Prudential Assigned Settlement Services Corp., The Prudential Brazilian Capital Fund LP, The Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Prudential Home Mortgage Company Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, The Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd., The Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America Inc., The WMF Group, Thurloe Commercial Guernsey Limited, USPF V - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, USPF V Carry LLC, USPF V Co-Invest LLC, USPF V Investment LP, United States Property Fund VI GP S.a r.l., VIP Australia Holding Company LLC, VIP Australia Trustee Pty Ltd, Vailsburg Fund LLC, Vantage Casualty Insurance Company, Wabash Avenue Holdings V LLC, Wabash Avenue Partners V L.P., Wadhwani Capital Limited, Waveland Avenue Holdings I LLC, Waveland Avenue Partners I Ireland L.P., Waveland Avenue Partners I US L.P., Wellness Services Ecossistema De Bem Estar Ltda., Wellness Services SRL, Yamato Life, and Yavapai LLC.

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Snap Inc. is a social media company operating globally. The company was founded in September 2011 by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy. Originally known as Snapchat, the company changed its name to Snap in order to represent its offerings better as it grew over the years. The companys headquarters are in Santa Monica, California and it is a very tightly held company. The original founders, Evan Speigel and Bobby Murphy own a combined 45% of non-dilutable shares with ownership transferable to the other upon death. The two remain active in the company today serving on the board and acting as CEO (Speigel) and CTO (Murphy).

The company was formerly known as Snapchat, Inc. and changed its name to Snap Inc. in September 2016. Snap Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Over the years it has been courted by most of the big tech companies including Facebook and Google but has always opted to remain a standalone company. The business went public in 2017 and raised $30 billion on its opening day which is about 10 times the expected amount.

Today, Snap operates as a camera company internationally. The companys main revenue streams are Snapchat, a mobile app for cameras and communications, and Spectacles, a wearable augmented reality device. Snapchat is a camera app that allows users to take pictures and tell stories, the platform also permits ad sales which is an integral part of the revenue and earnings. The companys mission? To empower people to express themselves in todays digital world.

Spectacles is a hardware device that can connect with Snapchat to deliver pictures and video from a point-of-view perspective. The company has since made three upgrades to the original version and has a Next Generation model available too. The Next Generation of Spectacles are not intended for sale but will be made available to creators who wish to push the boundaries of video and digital communications.

In October 2022 the company reported it had more than 347milion daily active users with more than 250 million engaging with AR each day. The platform had more than 250,000 Lens creators (Lenses are AR experiences) with more than 2.5 million lenses created. There were more than 6 billion lens plays each day and more than 75% of 13-34-year-olds in 20 countries were users.
The following companies are subsidiares of Caterpillar: Advanced Tri-Gen Power Systems LLC, Anchor Coupling Inc., Asia Power Systems (Tianjin) Ltd., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd., Banco Caterpillar S.A., Berg Propulsion International Pte Ltd., Bucyrus, Bucyrus Australia Surface Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Holdings Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Limited, Bucyrus International (Chile) Limitada, Bucyrus International (Peru) S.A., Bucyrus Mining Australia Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Mining China LLC, Bucyrus UK Limited, Cat Rental Kyushu LLC, Caterpillar (Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar (China) Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Machinery Components Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (HK) Limited, Caterpillar (Huainan) Machinery Service Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Langfang) Mining Equipment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Luxembourg) Investment Co. S.a r.l., Caterpillar (NI) Limited, Caterpillar (Newberry) LLC, Caterpillar (Qingzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Logistics Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar (U.K.) Limited, Caterpillar (Wujiang) Ltd., Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Zhengzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar Acquisition Holding Corp., Caterpillar Americas C.V., Caterpillar Americas Co., Caterpillar Americas Funding Inc., Caterpillar Americas Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Asia Limited, Caterpillar Asia Pacific L.P., Caterpillar Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Asset Intelligence LLC, Caterpillar Belgium S.A., Caterpillar Brasil Comercio de Maquinas e Pecas Ltda., Caterpillar Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Brazil LLC, Caterpillar Castings Kiel GmbH, Caterpillar Centro de Formacion S.L., Caterpillar China Limited, Caterpillar Commercial Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Commercial LLC, Caterpillar Commercial Northern Europe Limited, Caterpillar Commercial S.A., Caterpillar Commercial S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Commercial Services S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Communications LLC, Caterpillar Corporativo Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Cote DIvoire, Caterpillar Credito S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., Caterpillar DC Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Digital Services & Solutions SARL, Caterpillar Distribution International LLC, Caterpillar Distribution Services Europe B.V.B.A., Caterpillar East Real Estate Holding Ltd., Caterpillar Emissions Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH, Caterpillar Energy Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions S.A., Caterpillar Energy System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Engine Systems Inc., Caterpillar Equipos Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Eurasia LLC, Caterpillar FS (QFC) LLC, Caterpillar Finance France S.A., Caterpillar Finance Kabushiki Kaisha, Caterpillar Financial Acquisition Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Aftermarket Solutions Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Australia Leasing Pty Limited, Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited, Caterpillar Financial Commercial Account Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Corporacion Financiera S.A. E.F.C., Caterpillar Financial Dealer Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Funding Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Caterpillar Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial New Zealand Limited, Caterpillar Financial Nordic Services AB, Caterpillar Financial Nova Scotia Corporation, Caterpillar Financial OOO, Caterpillar Financial Receivables Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Renting S.A., Caterpillar Financial SARL, Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services (Ireland) plc, Caterpillar Financial Services (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Argentina S.A., Caterpillar Financial Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Financial Services CR s.r.o., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Services GmbH, Caterpillar Financial Services India Private Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Leasing ULC, Caterpillar Financial Services Limited Les Services Financiers Caterpillar Limitee, Caterpillar Financial Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Caterpillar Financial Services Netherlands B.V., Caterpillar Financial Services Norway AS, Caterpillar Financial Services Philippines Inc., Caterpillar Financial Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, Caterpillar Financial UK Acquisition Funding Partners, Caterpillar Financial Ukraine LLC, Caterpillar Fluid Systems S.r.l., Caterpillar Fomento Comercial Ltda., Caterpillar Forest Products Inc., Caterpillar France S.A.S., Caterpillar GB L.L.C., Caterpillar Global Investments S.a r.l., Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Equipamentos De Mineracao do Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Expanded Products Pty Ltd, Caterpillar Global Mining Germany Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining HMS GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong AFC Manufacturing Holding Co. Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Global Mining SARL, Caterpillar Global Mining U.S. Parts LLC, Caterpillar Global Services LLC, Caterpillar Group Services S.A., Caterpillar Holding (France) S.A.S., Caterpillar Holding Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Holdings Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Hungary Components Manufacturing Ltd., Caterpillar Hydraulics Italia S.r.l., Caterpillar IPX LLC, Caterpillar IRB LLC, Caterpillar Impact Products Limited, Caterpillar India Private Limited, Caterpillar Industrial Inc., Caterpillar Industrias Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Industries (Pty) Ltd, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Insurance Company, Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., Caterpillar Insurance Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Finance Designated Activity Company, Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg I S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg II S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Product SARL, Caterpillar International Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Services del Peru S.A., Caterpillar Investment Limited, Caterpillar Investment One SARL, Caterpillar Investment Two SARL, Caterpillar Investments, Caterpillar Japan LLC, Caterpillar Latin America Services S.R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Panama S. de R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Servicios de Chile Limitada, Caterpillar Latin America Support Services S. DE R.L., Caterpillar Leasing (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar Leasing Chile S.A., Caterpillar Leasing GmbH (Leipzig), Caterpillar Leasing Operativo Limitada, Caterpillar Life Insurance Company, Caterpillar Logistics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Logistics (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Logistics Inc., Caterpillar Logistics ML Services France S.A.S., Caterpillar Logistics Services China Limited, Caterpillar Luxembourg Group S.ar.l., Caterpillar Luxembourg LLC, Caterpillar Luxembourg S.a r.l., Caterpillar Machinery Nantong Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence, Caterpillar Marine Power UK Limited, Caterpillar Marine Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Maroc SARL, Caterpillar Materiels Routiers SAS, Caterpillar Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Mining Canada ULC, Caterpillar Mining Chile Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Motoren (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, Caterpillar Motoren Henstedt-Ulzburg GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Rostock GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Verwaltungs-GmbH, Caterpillar Netherlands Holding B.V., Caterpillar North America C.V., Caterpillar Operator Training Ltd., Caterpillar Overseas Credit Corporation SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Investment Holding SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Limited, Caterpillar Overseas SARL, Caterpillar Panama Services S.A., Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Paving Products Xuzhou Ltd., Caterpillar Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (Bangladesh) Limited, Caterpillar Power Generation Systems L.L.C., Caterpillar Power Systems Inc., Caterpillar Power Ventures International Ltd., Caterpillar Precision Seals Korea, Caterpillar Prodotti Stradali S.r.l., Caterpillar Product Services Corporation, Caterpillar Propulsion AB, Caterpillar Propulsion International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Italy S.R.L., Caterpillar Propulsion Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar Propulsion Production AB, Caterpillar Propulsion Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Singapore Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar R&D Center (China) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe LLC, Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe Servicios S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Reman Powertrain Indiana LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Drivetrain LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Renting France S.A.S., Caterpillar Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar SARL, Caterpillar Services Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Servizi Italia Srl, Caterpillar Shrewsbury Limited, Caterpillar Skinningrove Limited, Caterpillar Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd., Caterpillar Special Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Switchgear Americas LLC, Caterpillar Switchgear Holding Inc., Caterpillar Tianjin Ltd., Caterpillar Torreon S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Tosno L.L.C., Caterpillar Transmissions France S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Holdings Ltd., Caterpillar Tunnelling Canada Corporation, Caterpillar Tunnelling Europe Limited, Caterpillar UK Employee Trust Limited, Caterpillar UK Engines Company Limited, Caterpillar UK Group Limited, Caterpillar UK Holdings Limited, Caterpillar Undercarriage (Xuzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Used Equipment Services Inc., Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Caterpillar Work Tools B.V., Caterpillar Work Tools Inc., Caterpillar World Trading Corporation, Caterpillar Xuzhou, Caterpillar of Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar of Canada Corporation, Caterpillar of Delaware Inc., Centre de Distribution de Wallonie SPRL, CleanAir Systems, Downer Freight Rail, ECM Railway Evolution Romania s.r.l., ECM S.p.A., EDC European Excavator Design Center GmbH, EMC Holding Corp., EMD International Holdings Inc., ERA Information & Entertainment (BVI) Limited, ERA Mining Machinery Limited, Electro-Motive Diesel Limited, Electro-Motive Locomotive Technologies LLC, Electro-Motive Technical Consulting Co. (Beijing) Ltd., Energy Services International Limited, Equipos de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Eurenov S.A.S., F. G. Wilson (Proprietary) Limited, F. Perkins Limited, FG Wilson (Engineering) Limited, GB Holdco (China) Inc., GFCM Comercial Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., GFCM Servicios S.A. de C.V., Gremada Industries - Assets, Hong Kong Siwei Holdings Limited, Inmobiliaria Conek S.A. de C.V., JCS Co., Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp., Leo Inc., Locomotive Demand Power Pty Ltd., Locomotoras Progress Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lovat, M2M Data Corporation, MGE Equipamentos & Servicos Ferroviarios, MWM, MWM Austria GmbH, MWM Benelux B.V., MWM Energy Australia Pty Ltd, MWM France S.A.S, MWM Real Estate GmbH, MaK Americas Inc., MaK Americas Inc. (Canada), Magnum Power Products LLC, Marble, Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH, Mec-Track S.r.l., Metalmark Financial Services Limited, Motoren Steffens GmbH, Nippon Caterpillar LLC, P. T. Solar Services Indonesia, PT Caterpillar Finance Indonesia, PT. Bucyrus Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia Batam, PT. 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By PTI: Raksha Yatra

New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) Union minister Kiren Rijiju today said the kind of political violence the Left allegedly indulged in "could not be tolerated" in a democracy and accused the CPI(M) of harbouring "anti-national" thoughts.

Rijiju was speaking at the Delhi leg of Jan Raksha Yatra, an ongoing campaign to highlight the "Lefts atrocities" in Kerala, which was also attended by Union minister V K Singh.

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In his address, Singh stressed on the need to make people aware about the Lefts alleged "politics of murders".

"The only answer to political killings in Kerala carried out by the Left is to make people aware. The Left attempts to intimidate people through such killings but we do not fear such tactics," Singh alleged.

Rijiju claimed had the Congress been at the Centre, Presidents rule would have been imposed in Kerala, but the the BJP was fighting the Left through "democratic means".

Scores of workers from the CPI(M) and the BJP/RSS have been killed in the coastal state in the recent years due to an intense turf war between the two sides and the fight has only escalated with a saffron overdrive to make inroads into traditional Left bastions.

"This is time for action. We will not let forces against our country to survive for long. The CPI(M) has anti-national thoughts. We are BJP workers and have survived difficult conditions," he said.

Later, speaking on the sidelines, he said in a democracy like India, violence cannot be tolerated and that the communists would not have their way any more.

After the leaders spoke, hundreds of BJP workers carried out a shav yatra (symbolic funeral procession) from central Delhis Mahadev Road to the CPI(M) office at Bhai Vir Singh Marg.

Police dispersed the protesters using water cannon.

Launching the Delhi leg of the campaign yesterday, BJP chief Amit Shah had alleged that the "politics of violence" was in the nature of communists and asserted that no amount of intimidation could stop the BJPs rise in the state.

Shah had started the Jan Raksha Yatra from Keralas Kannur district on October 3 as part of the BJPs efforts to expand its base in the Left citadel.

The campaign would conclude on October 17 at Thiruvananthapuram and would likely be attended by a number of senior BJP leaders. PTI SLB SBR AAR

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Genesee & Wyoming Inc. owns and leases freight railroads. It operates through three segments: North American Operations, Australian Operations, and U.K./European Operations. The company transports various commodities, including agricultural products, autos and auto parts, chemicals and plastics, coal and coke, food and kindred products, lumber and forest products, metallic ores, metals, minerals and stone, petroleum products, pulp and paper, waste, and other commodities. It owns or leases 122 freight railroads, including 105 short line railroads and 2 regional freight railroads located in the United States, 8 short line railroads located in Canada, 3 railroads located in Australia, 1 railroad located in the United Kingdom, 1 railroad in Poland and Germany, and 2 railroads in the Netherlands with a total of approximately 16,200 miles of track. The company also operates 6,200 additional miles of track that is owned or leased by others. In addition, it operates deep sea maritime containers and provides bulk haulage, including coal, aggregates, cement, and infrastructure services. Further, the company provides rail service at approximately 40 ports; rail-ferry service in North America, Australia, and Europe; and contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial customers. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Darien, Connecticut.
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(HealthDay) American parents who oppose childhood vaccines often take to Twitter to vent, share and seek reinforcement for the widely disproven notion that these shots can trigger autism, new research shows.

But the phenomenon is unevenly spread, the researchers noted, with states such as California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania leading the pack when it comes to the highest prevalence of Twitter-based vaccine-bashing.

The findings stem from the sifting of roughly 550,000 tweets posted between 2009 and 2015. All of the tweets contained at least one reference to both autism and vaccines, and about half were found to express anti-vaccine sentiments.

"Unfortunately, these results were not terribly unexpected," said study author Theodore Tomeny.

Why? Tomeny suggested "that sites primarily based on user-generated information, like Twitter, may be popular sounding boards for these types of issues because they are uncensored and there is little oversight of the information that is posted."

Tomeny is an assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

He and his colleagues, Christopher Vargo of the University of Colorado-Boulder and Sherine El-Toukhy of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, reported their findings in the October issue of Social Science and Medicine.

The research team said that groups that include the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Public Health Service and the Institute of Medicine Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention have all stressed that there's no validity to the theory that autism risk is linked to childhood immunizations.

What's more, the small (12 child) 1998 British study most often-cited as "evidence" of an autism-vaccine link was retracted in 2010 by its publisher The Lancet as an example of faulty science.

But given the controversy's persistence, the researchers decided to explore the frequency and nature of the Twitter-based anti-vaccine conversation.

From the larger pool of tweets, 550 were randomly selected for in-depth analysis. That included coding for content, point of view and geographical origin, as well as matching up posts with publicly available census data. The trending popularity of anti-vaccine Twitter postings was also assessed, based on the dating of about 108,000 tweets.

The researchers found that the inclination to use Twitter as a preferred social media platform for discrediting the safety of standard immunization protocols held more or less steady between 2009 and 2014, before spiking several times throughout 2015.

The timing of those spikes closely tracked a highly publicized measles outbreak in California that began in December 2014, the study authors noted. That outbreak was ultimately attributed to California's relatively active anti-vaccine community.

The analysis further revealed that anti-vaccine tweeting appears to be particularly strong in relatively wealthy regions (household incomes north of $200,000), urban areas and locales that are home to large populations of new moms. Posting was also more common among men between the ages of 40 and 44, as well as among men who had only a minimal amount of college education.

Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, expressed a measure of sympathy for anti-vaccine concerns, while acknowledging the grave threat such misinformation poses.

"We ask parents in this country to give vaccines to prevent 14 different diseases in the first years of life," Offit said. "That can mean 26 inoculations over time, and sometimes five shots at once, all to prevent diseases that most people don't see, and with vaccines that most people don't understand. That can be pretty hard for people to take or watch," he added.

"So it's understandable there would be some pushback and that social media would be an outlet, a pop-off valve and a complaint department for such concerns," according to Offit.

"Unfortunately, while public health people like myself can and do make the case for vaccine safety, it is only when we have an outbreak like the one in California that people really start to understand the value and importance of immunizations. Sadly, the virus itself is a much better educator than I am," Offit pointed out.

More information: Theodore Tomeny, Ph.D., assistant professor, department of psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; Chris Vargo, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Media, Communication and Information, University of Colorado-Boulder; Paul Offit, M.D., professor, pediatrics, and director, Vaccine Education Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; October 2017, Social Science and Medicine Theodore Tomeny, Ph.D., assistant professor, department of psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; Chris Vargo, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Media, Communication and Information, University of Colorado-Boulder; Paul Offit, M.D., professor, pediatrics, and director, Vaccine Education Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; October 2017, There's more on vaccine safety and autism at U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. Journal information: The Lancet , Social Science and Medicine

Copyright  2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Accused Ravi married Madhuri and brought her to Delhi with an alleged plan to get rid of her as soon as possible.

By Tanseem Haider: Delhi Police has arrested an accused who allegedly beat up his wife with bricks just two days after the wedding and fled the crime scene thinking she had died.

The arrest came nearly three months after the alleged incident took place. The woman, who was recovering from her injuries at a hospital, narrated the entire incident to the police following which they arrested Ravi Singh alias Tinku.

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The chilling incident took place in Bawana area of Delhi. Two days after his marriage with 22-year-old Madhuri, Ravi brought his wife to Bawana and took her to an under-construction site on the pretext of some work. Thereafter, he allegedly hit his wife on the head with bricks and sticks. Thinking that she was dead, Ravi fled the spot.

According to police, they received information on June 13 about an injured woman lying unconscious at an under-construction site. Police reached the spot and rushed the woman to a nearby hospital. Police sources said that the woman underwent treatment for the next two months and during that period remained unconscious.

Once she regained consciousness, she started remembering her ordeal and narrated the same to the police. After recording the woman's statement, the police arrested her husband Ravi. Accused Ravi later confessed to his crime and said that while he was in a relationship with the woman for nearly two years, he never wanted to marry her.

Under pressure from family, villagers and local police, Ravi married Madhuri and brought her to Delhi with an alleged plan to get rid of her as soon as possible. During questioning, Ravi said that after hitting her with bricks, he fled the spot thinking that she had died.

After police reached Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh to arrest Ravi, the latter realised that his wife was alive.

ALSO WATCH: 5 murdered in Delhi house while 40 family members were sleeping

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Violent partners exploit the relationship between owners and their companion animals. Credit: University of Queensland

Women in domestic violence relationships delay leaving due to concern their abusive partner might hurt or neglect their animals left at home.

A research team from The University of Queensland examined the impact domestic violence had on companion animals and how this affected the victim's decisions.

Dr Catherine Tiplady from the School of Veterinary Science said from the 13 participants in the study all reported their companion animals were abused or threatened by abusive male partners and they delayed leaving due to concerns their partner would hurt their animals.

"The types of physical animal abuse included kicking, hitting, and throwing, as well as 'forced intimacy' by forcing a cat to lay with the abusive male 'until she gave up'," Dr Tiplady said.

"One of the participants in the study said she delayed leaving for just over nine years, at which stage she elected to euthanise all three dogs because she couldn't take them with her, and to leave them with her partner would have led to them being harmed as punishment for her leaving."

Dr Deborah Walsh from UQ's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work said a consistent theme across animal abuse cases connected to domestic violence was the violent partner exploiting the close relationship between the woman and her companion animal in an attempt to gain power and control over her.

"In some cases animals act protectively toward the woman and pay the ultimate price for that act," Dr Walsh said.

"One of the most concerning results we found was some animals developed a generalised fear toward all men after they had been harmed.

"Most of the animals went on to have high levels of anxiety and fear-based behaviours long after the woman and the animals had left the violent partner."

The study highlighted the need for more education to be provided through domestic violence organisations about where they can go to seek help for their animals.

"Many women used animal fostering, however they found the duration was insufficient and expressed anxiety about the need to find safe, animal-friendly accommodation within the 28 fostering days available for women in refuge," Dr Walsh said.

"We also found very few women were willing to confide in veterinarians about the domestic violence and animal abuse.

"Veterinarians need to be educated on issues regarding animal guardianship during domestic violence to enhance their ability to provide knowledgeable and compassionate support when confronted with these cases in practice."

The team of researchers included Dr Walsh, Dr Tiplady and Professor Clive Phillips from UQ's Centre of Animal Welfare and Ethics.

The study was published in Society and Animals.

More information: C.M. Tiplady et al. "The Animals are All I Have," Society & Animals (2017). C.M. Tiplady et al. "The Animals are All I Have,"(2017). DOI: 10.1163/15685306-12341464
Window display in an African beauty salon in Paris (2014). Credit: Miguel Medina/AFP

Anyone passing through Paris' Chateau Rouge, a busy neighbourhood close to the Gare de Nord train station, will notice the numerous shops selling "African" cosmetics. Young men of the Congolese, Cameroonese or Malian communities regularly call to passers-by of all races and backgrounds, but especially black women, encouraging them to get their nails or hair done in a salon or to buy cosmetics. Products that promise fair skin are prominently promoted and displayed in the various shops.

By 2024 it is projected that profits from the sale of skin-bleaching creams will reach US$31.2 billion worldwide. In addition to Africa, Asia is one of the fastest-growing markets, with the potential to add US$5.7 billion in profit over the next four years. Europe is also a major market: Today there are between 1 and 5 million French citizens who indicate some degree of African descent. In 2007 there were 170,363 immigrants who left Africa to settle in France. Of that number, 38,530 were from Cameroon.

Why have bleaching products become so popular, not only in Asia and Africa but also in the heart of Paris? To better understand how this trend has survived and grown across the globe, we need to look at France's colonial history.

The colours of colonialism

The 1920s were the heyday of the French colonial empire. At that time France controlled more land in Africa than any other European country. During the colonisation process they imported their language, norms and traditions to Africa, where they imposed on local populations. While these were the most visible aspects of colonial occupation, others, while less explicit, were no less present.

Chateau Rouge, a "paradise" for African products.

Among the world's human population, the highest concentration of melanin  the pigment that gives human eyes, skin and hair its colour  is found in African dark skin. Under racist colonial regimes, light skin was a socio-economic, political and class marker, and this became an unsolicited choice of African peoples. Colonised populations sought to imitate the light skin of their colonisers in an effort to enhance their quality of life and improve their self-image. Among white Americans, the same tendency is shown in the popularity of archetypes such as "Breck girl". Her long hair, light eyes and alabaster skin were considered the standard of beauty for many years.

Prior to colonisation, the feminine ideal in Africa could be light or dark skinned. Afterward, light skin was elevated by the esteem associated with colonial power and which African subjects then internalised. This has led to a surge of interest in skin-bleaching creams and products in many former colonies, including Cameroon.

Bleaching in Cameroon

Between 1946 and 1960, French Cameroons was a French territory. In 1960 the country gained its independence, and the next year it joined its British counterpart to form the country of Cameroon.

The lingering effects of the French and British influence contributed to what became a thriving bleach-cream industry. According to the World Health Organisation, in Cameroon skin bleaching is "rife" despite its health risks. African countries such as Ghana have made some of these products illegal, but many remain popular.

Dencia before and after. Author provided

While the colonial era is long over, French companies continue to make a handsome profit from skin-bleaching products  the market is projected to reach US$19.8 billion by 2018. Clarins SA, a French company, has developed a popular product, Clarins White Plus, which it markets to both men and women. According to documentation, Clarins' experts claim that one of its ingredients, acerola extract, "is able to control the overproduction of melanin synthesis at its source".

Cameroon celebrities both promote and sell bleaching creams, sometimes under the label of "beauty creams". Pop star Reprudencia Sonkey, known by her stage name Dencia, has promoted her own line of bleaching creams, Whitenicious. The marketing materials include dramatic side-by-side pictures of Dencia as dark-skinned before and light-skinned after. Within a month sales approached 20,000 units.

Like Clarins, Dencia does not promote her product as a way to lighten skin but instead as a means to remove dark spots. Nevertheless, thousands of African women purchase Whitenicious specifically to lighten their skin, which brought much criticism of Dencia from the black community in the U.S. and the U.K.. Despite her claims to be providing a product that will enhance the beauty of dark-skinned African women, critics contend that she is promoting black self-hate.

Ending skin bleaching

The origins of negative perceptions of dark skin tones are conveyed by the Bible and sustained by culture. Light-skinned people are seen as being able to "pass" for something other than members of a stigmatised group. In France, light-skinned blacks have a different experience compared to their dark-skinned counterparts  studies suggest they are better educated, earn more and have higher-status jobs. In the post-colonial era, dark-skinned Africans have not been able to assimilate with the same ease as lighter-skinned groups, even in African countries. This has served as a strong motivation for dark-skinned blacks to use bleaching products.

Rhetoric on ending "race" discrimination, as future president Francois Hollande proposed in 2012, is not enough. To counter how people feel about their skin colour, France and other countries first need to take stronger actions and prohibit the sale of bleaching creams. This step has already been taken by several African countries, including Ghana. Second, education campaigns that address the health threats of such products must be put in place. Finally, popular culture itself is in need of some serious self-reflection.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Frequent college binge drinking markedly lowers the chances of landing a full-time job upon graduation, a new study suggests.

Examining alcohol consumption's effect on first-time employment, researchers found drinking heavily six times a month cut the chances a new graduate would find a job by 10 percent. And each episode of binge-drinking in a given month lowered those odds by 1.4 percent.

"The study is important because it definitively shows how drinking impacts employment," said study author Peter Bamberger. He's research director of Cornell University's Smithers Institute in Ithaca, N.Y.

"It's kind of a wake-up call to college students that their behavioral health has long-term implications," Bamberger added. "You can have fun in college, but within limits."

Bamberger is also a professor of organizational behavior at Tel Aviv University in Israel.

Binge drinking is defined slightly differently by gender. For women, it's consuming four or more alcoholic drinks within two hours; for men, it's five or more within two hours.

Prior research has established how often college students typically drink and some of the habit's effects. According to the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), nearly six in 10 college students aged 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month, and nearly two-thirds of them engaged in binge drinking in that time frame.

About one-quarter of college students have reported academic consequences tied to drinking, including lower grades and missed classes, the NIAAA says.

The new research was funded by the NIAAA and led by a Cornell consortium. It analyzed data from 827 people who graduated between 2014 and 2016 from four geographically diverse U.S. universities. The students were contacted via email toward the beginning of their final academic semester or quarter, and were screened for graduation status and plans to begin working upon graduation.

The participants (61 percent women) took surveys both before graduation and one month after, answering questions about academics, alcohol use and post-graduation full-time employment status, among other factors.

The findings also suggest that a student who binge drinks four times a month is 6 percent less likely to find a job upon graduation than a student with different drinking habits. Drinking in moderation didn't negatively affect graduates' job search results, according to the report.

"I think a simple awareness of the implications of binge drinking for the student can have a pretty significant effect," Bamberger said.

The study does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between college binge drinking and a lower chance of landing a job. Bamberger said the data also couldn't establish exactly why the correlation seems to exist.

But one "plausible explanation," he said, is that binge drinking adversely affects a graduating student's ability to execute the tasks required to find full-time employment. This may include sending out resumes in a timely manner, performing well on interviews and networking with others.

Delynne Wilcox and Beth DeRicco are co-chairs of the American College Health Association's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Coalition. They said they weren't surprised by the study's findings, which they feel could bolster efforts to tackle binge drinking among college students.

"It's still hard to make people understand, even though we have all this data, that the alcohol use that occurs deeply affects the relationships young people have, their grade-point averages and their academic success," DeRicco said.

"So a study like this really helps us," she added. "Having young people really understand that their odds of success change is an important leverage tool we have."

Wilcox said parents have an important role to play in warning their young-adult children about the potential consequences of alcohol use and abuse.

"Colleges are bound legally by federal regulations to make efforts to prevent binge drinking, and some do it better than others," Wilcox said. "The missing piece that I think is equally important is the parents' component. While parents tend to think they're finished with that once their children graduate from high school, the college needs the parents to still be engaged."

The study was published online recently in the Journal of Applied Psychology.

More information: Peter Bamberger, Ph.D., professor, organizational behavior, Tel Aviv University, and research director, Smithers Institute, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.; Delynne Wilcox, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Beth DeRicco, Ph.D., co-chairs, American College Health Association's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Coalition, Hanover, Md.; Aug. 24, 2017, Journal of Applied Psychology, online. Peter Bamberger, Ph.D., professor, organizational behavior, Tel Aviv University, and research director, Smithers Institute, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.; Delynne Wilcox, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Beth DeRicco, Ph.D., co-chairs, American College Health Association's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Coalition, Hanover, Md.; Aug. 24, 2017,, online. The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers additional facts on college drinking. Journal information: Journal of Applied Psychology

Copyright  2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
The Ebola virus, isolated in November 2014 from patient blood samples obtained in Mali. The virus was isolated on Vero cells in a BSL-4 suite at Rocky Mountain Laboratories. Credit: NIAID

Experts at St George's, University of London, have reported that an Ebola vaccine is safe for children as well as adults and produces an immune response.

The worst Ebola virus disease outbreak in history ended in 2016 after infecting 28,600 people and killing about 11,300 worldwide.

The outbreak led to urgent action by medical experts across the world to combat this devastating disease; including the setting up of trials of vaccines to stop the disease taking hold.

This global commitment to develop a vaccine against the disease suggested eight options, out of a starting pool of 15 candidates, should be evaluated in clinical trials worldwide by the end of 2015.

Professor Sanjeev Krishna, of St George's University of London's Institute for Infection and Immunity, said: "An unprecedented Ebola outbreak showed how it is possible for academics, non-governmental organisations, industry and funders to work effectively together very quickly in times of medical crisis. The results of the trial show how a vaccine could best be used to tackle this terrible disease effectively.

"We need a system of specialists, medical experts and organisers that maintains vigilance against outbreak diseases like Ebola.

"We should continue to improve ways to make, evaluate and deliver vaccines when they are needed, often in parts of the world lacking in infrastructure for diagnosing infections and providing treatments."

He explained that considering the persistent replication of the vaccine which is called rVSV-GP-ZEBOV in children and adolescents, further studies investigating lower doses in this population are warranted.

The vaccine contains a non-infectious portion of a gene from the Zaire Ebola virus. The St George's researchers worked with colleagues on a vaccine trial in Gabon.

In addition, lower vaccine doses should be considered when boosting individuals with pre-existing antibodies to Ebolavirus glycoprotein, a finding that has emerged after the vaccine was tested in a country that has experienced Ebolavirus outbreaks in the past.

The vaccine was one of two being examined as a 'candidate' option by the World Health Organisation to identify urgently a vaccine to combat the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa.

The clinical trial was led by colleagues at University of Tubingen in Germany, coordinated by Professor Peter Kremsner with their partner institute CERMEL in Lambarene, Gabon.

Professor Krishna was among a consortium of experts called VEBCON convened by the WHO in August 2014 in Geneva to discuss solutions and strategies for combatting the EVD crisis.

He acted as a scientific advisor to the new studies in Gabon, He is also affiliated with the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Tubingen and has carried out collaborative work for many years in Lambarene.

More information: "Safety and immunogenicity of rVSVG-ZEBOVGP Ebola vaccine in adults and children in Lambareanea, Gabon: A phase I randomised trial," PLOS Medicine (2017) Journal information: PLoS Medicine "Safety and immunogenicity of rVSVG-ZEBOVGP Ebola vaccine in adults and children in Lambareanea, Gabon: A phase I randomised trial,"(2017) doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002402
(HealthDay)Could ingesting undercooked poultry give you a urinary tract infection?

Maybe. Although exactly how it might happen isn't clear, say researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who investigated a possible foodborne source of these common infections.

Their interest was sparked by earlier Berkeley research suggesting a link between some drug-resistant UTI cases and a certain strain of E. coli bacteria.

E. coli are a type of bacteria that live in the intestines of humans and animals. Most of these bugs are harmless. But some types of E. coli cause infection. In the worst cases, E. coli infection can lead to kidney failure and even death.

Researchers used E. coli from meat products and urine samples from people with UTIs to look for a possible mechanism of transmission.

"When we compared the fingerprints of the E. coli from the poultry and the human UTI cases, we found there's an overlap of some genotypes," said study author Dr. Lee Riley, a professor of infectious disease at Berkeley's School of Public Health.

"We need to somehow explain why UTI cases have the same E. coli we find in poultry," said Riley.

His hypothesis? Some of the UTI patients are getting infection from meat.

UTIs cause pelvic pain or burning with urination, a frequent urge to urinate, possible fever and other symptoms. Women have shorter urethras than men, and they tend to experience UTIs more often, according to the American Urological Association.

Dr. Aaron Glatt is chairman of the department of medicine at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, N.Y. He wasn't involved in the study, but said the results are interesting. They show a link but don't prove cause and effect, however.

"It's certainly something that requires additional study," he added.

Researchers don't yet know how the infection might be transmitted from the meat to people. Both Glatt and Riley suspect that UTI patients are consuming poultry that either isn't fully cooked or they're not using appropriate guidelines for handling raw meat.

Riley and his team collected urine specimens from UTI patientsmostly womenat one health center in Northern California between September 2016 and May 2017. During the same time, they recovered E. coli from meat samples acquired through a federal meat surveillance program, also in Northern California.

Of 1,020 urine samples in the study, 21 percent had E. coli. The infection-causing bacteria was also found in 38 percent of 200 meat samples examined.

About a third (32 percent) of the chicken samples and 14 percent of turkey samples contained bacterial strains identical to those found in UTI patients.

"For some reason, poultry seems to be contaminated more than other meat samples," Riley said.

The bacteria found in poultry could account for a substantial proportion of UTI cases, Riley said. But since the study was based on findings in one region of California, he and his team were unable to extrapolate the findings nationwide.

Glatt advised people who are prone to recurrent UTIs to practice proper hand hygiene and safe food preparation. Wash cutting boards and knives used to slice raw meat. Avoid cross-contamination that may occur when using the same utensils to cut meat and chop veggies.

Any type of poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, according to FoodSafety.gov.

The researchers presented the findings Friday at ID Week 2017, the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the HIV Medicine Association and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.

Research presented at meetings is generally considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed publication.

More information: Lee Riley, M.D., professor, infectious disease, University of California Berkeley School of Public Health; Aaron Glatt, M.D., chairman, department of medicine, South Nassau Communities Hospital, Oceanside, N.Y.; Oct. 6, 2017, presentation, ID Week 2017, San Diego, Lee Riley, M.D., professor, infectious disease, University of California Berkeley School of Public Health; Aaron Glatt, M.D., chairman, department of medicine, South Nassau Communities Hospital, Oceanside, N.Y.; Oct. 6, 2017, presentation, ID Week 2017, San Diego, More Information The U.S. Department of Agriculture has more on preventing foodborne illness.

Copyright  2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: Medical University of Vienna

For many breast cancer patients, the complete or partial loss of their breasts after tumour removal is traumatising. "There is no need to worry because there are many methods of restoring breasts to ensure the integrity of the body and femininity. What is important is the early and precise planning of therapy and treatment at a special centre such as the MedUni Vienna and the Vienna General Hospital (AKH)," says Christine Radtke, Head of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the MedUni Vienna/ Vienna General Hospital, member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center of MedUni Vienna/ Vienna General Hospital and expert for breast reconstruction, on the occasion of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Every year, 5,000 women come down with breast cancer in Austria. Surgical removal of the tumour is still one of the most important components of a successful therapy, but often results in the loss of breast tissue or makes complete removal of the breast necessary. Radtke would like to encourage the women concerned, because as long as there is no other life-threatening concomitant disease, there are almost no limits today when it comes to reconstructing the breast completely or partially.

Radtke states: "A reconstruction which also provides excellent aesthetic results, is open to all women. An experienced plastic surgeon adapts the methods she uses for reconstruction to the individual body of her patient. This means that the significance of factors such as overweight or underweight is fading into the background. The only important thing is that the patient is motivated and that the planning of the therapy is carried out at an early stage and in an interdisciplinary manner, because it is of utmost importance for the functional and aesthetic result to coordinate the medical measures." A reconstruction of the breast only makes sense after radiotherapy or chemotherapy, if applicable, as both treatments can cause changes in the tissue that would require a new operation necessary.

Reconstruction only in a specialised centre

It is important for a good medical and aesthetic result to visit a special centre for the entire treatment, such as the Breast Health Centre of the Comprehensive Cancer Center of MedUni Vienna/ Vienna General Hospital (CCC-BGZ; Director: Michael Gnant). Breast cancer therapy in these centres is carried out on an interdisciplinary basis and the infrastructure is state-of-the-art. In addition, the treatment team has the best possible expertise due to the high number of cases and constant scientific discussions. Radtke says: "At the CCC, all the necessary disciplines are available, from oncology, radiotherapy and surgery to psycho-oncology and are able to work together in an interdisciplinary manner, which means significant time savings in treatment. Of course, we also benefit from the close proximity and short distances. Therefore, we can respond to the wishes of our patients, right from the start, and communicate to them what is possible and find out together the optimal solution for their situation."

Sharing knowledge

Radtke is not only an acknowledged expert in breast reconstruction: due to a breast cancer case in her immediate family, she also knows the side of the affected person well. It is therefore of particular concern to her to provide patients with the multitude of options for breast reconstruction and to take away their shyness in contacting an expert. In the best case, this can be done before the therapy begins, but also if they have already undergone reconstruction and problems arise. She says: "In most cases, we can help and provide better results and thus a better quality of life."
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The proportion of front-line nurses with bachelor's degrees in U.S. hospitals increased from 44 percent in 2004 to 57 percent in 2013, but will fall short of a national goal to reach 80 percent by 2020, finds a new study by NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing.

The study, published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, examines the educational trends of the country's largest health care workforce using data at the nursing-unit level from a national database.

To meet the United States' increasing and complex health care needs, such as the aging of the baby boomers and the expansion of health insurance coverage, nurses are playing a growing role in improving quality of care and patient outcomes.

"A competent nursing workforce is critical," said Chenjuan Ma, PhD, an assistant professor at NYU Meyers and the study's author. "One strategy for preparing this workforce is to advance nurse education, particularly by increasing the number of nurses with at least a bachelor's degree."

Growing evidence has demonstrated that more education for nurses is associated with better quality of care and patient outcomes. In fact, several studies have shown a link between a higher proportion of hospital nurses with a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) and lower patient mortality rates.

Based on this evidence, the Institute of Medicine recommended in its 2010 milestone report, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health," that 80 percent of nurses should have at least a BSN by 2020. This report drew nationwide attention and resulted in many initiatives to improve nursing education.

The current study examined the educational trends for front-line registered nurses to determine the growth in the number of nurses with BSN degrees. The researchers looked at data from 2004-2013 from the Registered Nurse Education Indicators, part of the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI). More than 2,000 hospitals nationwide submit nursing and patient outcomes to the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators.

Looking at 2,126 nursing units from 377 acute care hospitals in the United States, Ma and her colleagues found a 30-percent increase in the proportion of nurses holding at least a BSN, from 44 percent in 2004 to 57 percent in 2013.

While the growth began several years before the 2010 Institute of Medicine report, the increase accelerated from 2010 on. On average, the proportion of nurses with a bachelor's degree in a unit increased by 1.3 percent annually before 2010 and by 1.9 percent each year from 2010 on. The percentage of units having at least 80 percent of nurses with a bachelor's degree increased from 3 percent in 2009 to 7 percent in 2013.

Based on the current trends, the researchers projected the future growth in BSN nurses and concluded that it is unlikely that the goal of 80 percent of nurses having a bachelor's degree will be achieved by 2020. They expect that 64 percent of hospital-based nurses will have a bachelor's degree by 2020; the 80-percent goal will likely be reached in 2029. However, nurses on critical care units are projected to reach this 80 percent goal first, by 2025.

"The U.S. nursing workforce is undergoing an educational transformation in order to meet our increasing health care needs," said Ma. "To help accelerate this transformation, further advocacy, commitment, and investment are needed from all health care stakeholders in order to advance nursing education and in turn improve quality of care and patient outcomes."

Policy changes present one pathway for accelerating nursing education. For instance, policymakers could consider requiring all nurses to obtain bachelor's degrees for professional nursing practice regardless of their initial nursing degree. An example of this can be seen in New York, where NY State Senate Bill S6768 - also known as BS in 10 - would require nurses in the state to attain a bachelor's degree in nursing within 10 years of initial licensure.

Ma and her colleagues also suggest that hospital administrators invest in hiring nurses with bachelor's degrees and support those without bachelor's degrees in attaining them, including providing tuition benefits and flexibility in scheduling.
DMT-responsive receptors. Credit: D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR)

A Brazilian study, published in Scientific Reports on October 09, 2017, has identified changes in signaling pathways associated with neural plasticity, inflammation and neurodegeneration triggered by a compound from the family of dimethyltryptamine known as 5-MeO-DMT.

"We describe for the first time psychedelic-related changes in the molecular functioning of human neural tissue," says Stevens Rehen, study leader, Professor of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and Head of Research at D"Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR).

Recent studies have demonstrated that psychedelic substances such as LSD, MDMA and ayahuasca brew, which contains DMT, have possible anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects, but the lack of appropriate biological tools is a critical limitation for the identification of molecular pathways targeted by psychedelics in the brain. In order to study the effects of 5-MeO-DMT, Vanja Dakic (IDOR) and Juliana Minardi Nascimento (IDOR and University of Campinas) have administered a single dose of the psychedelic to 3-D cultures of neural cells that mimic a developing human brain.

By employing mass spectrometry-based proteomics to analyze such cerebral organoids, they discovered that 5-MeO-DMT altered the expression of nearly a thousand proteins. Then they mapped which proteins were impacted by the psychedelic substance and their role in the human brain. The researchers found that proteins important for synaptic formation and maintenance were upregulated. Among them were proteins related to cellular mechanisms of learning and memory, key components of brain function.

On the other hand, proteins involved in inflammation, degeneration and brain lesions were downregulated, suggesting a potential neuroprotective role for DMT. "Results suggest that classic psychedelics are powerful inducers of neuroplasticity, a tool of psychobiological transformation that we know very little about," says Sidarta Ribeiro, coauthor of the study.

Professor Draulio Araujo of UFRN says, ""The study suggests possible mechanisms by which these substances exert their antidepressant effects that we have been observing in our studies."

"Our study reinforces the hidden clinical potential of substances that are under legal restrictions, but which deserve attention of medical and scientific communities," Dr. Rehen says.

More information: Short term changes in the proteome of human cerebral organoids induced by 5-MeO-DMT. Scientific Reports (2017). Journal information: Scientific Reports Short term changes in the proteome of human cerebral organoids induced by 5-MeO-DMT.(2017). www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-12779-5

Provided by D'Or Institute for Research and Education
Experts say San Diego took all the right steps in addressing what is now one of the largest hepatitis A outbreaks the country has had in decades, but variables unique to the city's situation contributed to the outbreak.

At least 481 people have been infected and 17 have died of the infection since November in San Diego. Eight-eight other cases have been identified in Santa Cruz and Los Angeles counties, where hepatitis A outbreaks have been declared.

Officials throughout the state are now rushing to vaccinate homeless populations, which are considered the most at risk. Doctors say people who have already been infected could travel and unknowingly spread it elsewhere.

Dr. Janet Haas, president-elect of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, said the outbreak is unusual for the U.S. because the spread of the liver infection has been blamed on a lack of basic hygiene and sanitation, not contaminated food.

That means public health officials can't solely rely on previous containment methods.

"It's not like there's never been a hepatitis A outbreak before. ... We know what's worked in the past. Usually that contains it and the story ends," Haas said. "But sometimes it doesn't work, or circumstances are different and you have to ramp it up."

In San Diego, where nearly 85 percent of all confirmed cases are located, cleaning crews are hitting the streets, attacking them with high-pressure water mixed with bleach to sanitize any surfaces contaminated with feces, blood or other body fluids.

A private company was hired in September to deliver portable hand-washing stations in places where homeless residents tend to congregate.

Despite those efforts, the disease is spreading and many are asking what could have been done and what will effectively prevent future transmission.

According to Dr. Monique Foster of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's division of viral hepatitis, there is no national standard that outlines how every public agency should respond.

"You can't have a checklist that says 'do x, y and z,' because no outbreak is the same," Foster said. "The type of illness, the group of people it's affecting and how it's being spread are all factors that will impact how a government should respond and when the public should be notified."

For example, San Diego's problem looks similar to a hepatitis A outbreak in Michigan, where state health officials have confirmed at least 341 cases since August 2016. Of those, 268 people have been hospitalized and 14 died.

But Michigan and San Diego have different resources, Foster said. The underlying populations being affected are different and the laws in both areas are different.

"This is why the CDC assists. We connect them with people who have answers, but we don't come in and take over," Foster said. "The local governments and local health departments are the first in line because they know their needs better than we do."

The California Code of Regulations outlines reporting procedures for hepatitis A cases among a specific class of people, including day care workers, health care facilities and food handlers who are more likely to spread the liver disease to other people.

County health officials have been hesitant to release any additional information about where the cases are specifically concentrated, citing state and federal health privacy laws.

"This information is gathered from confidential medical interviews and documents," Eric McDonald, director of the county's epidemiology and immunization services branch, said after presenting with Foster at the infectious disease conference. "The public's need to know has to override the confidentiality of the infected individuals."

According to Dr. Oscar Alleyne, senior public health adviser to the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the Control of Communicable Diseases Manual is often referred to as the "bible" among health officials.

The American Public Health Association lists the book, which is now in its 20th edition, as a "must-have sourcebook on identifying and controlling infectious diseases."

Alleyne said it's the closest thing to a guidebook public officials have and has been an industry standard reference for more than 100 years.

According to the manual, prevention is key for hepatitis A, since the vaccine provides lifelong immunity. Data show since being added in 2006 to the recommended list of vaccinations for young children, the number of hepatitis A cases in the United States has decreased by 95 percent. Officials are instructed to control patients confirmed to have hepatitis A and quickly vaccinate those in immediate contact with infected individuals to increase the likelihood that the vaccine will be effective.

County epidemiologists identified the rash of hepatitis A cases in early March, and dated the infection to the previous November. From the outset, the priorities have been vaccination and education, in line with manual instructions.

It's easier said than done.

"The normal method for preventing other people from getting sick gets thrown out the door when the community it's infecting lives outside," Alleyne said. "You have to know where they went, who they came in contact with.... The likelihood of being able to capture everyone on that list is small."

In the event of an outbreak, public health officials should first determine how hepatitis is being spread, vaccinate the at-risk community and make special efforts to improve sanitary and hygienic practices to eliminate fecal contamination, the manual says.

By early summer the official focus shifted to sanitation - hand washing and street cleaning.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Engel, executive director of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, that might not be enough.

"I can tell you that washing the doorknobs is not going to do it," Engel said. "This is more about human behavior than anything else."

2017 The San Diego Union-Tribune

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Children with ADHD find it more difficult to focus and to complete their schoolwork. Credit: public domain image

Younger primary school children are more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than their older peers within the same school year, new research has shown.

The study, led by a child psychiatrist at The University of Nottingham with researchers at the University of Turku in Finland, suggests that adults involved in raising concerns over a child's behaviour - such as parents and teachers - may be misattributing signs of relative immaturity as symptoms of the disorder.

In their research, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, the experts suggest that greater flexibility in school starting dates should be offered for those children who may be less mature than their same school-year peers.

Kapil Sayal, Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at the University's School of Medicine and the Centre for ADHD and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Across the Lifespan at the Institute of Mental Health in Nottingham, was the lead author on the study.

He said: "The findings of this research have a range of implications for teachers, parents and clinicians. With an age variation of up to 12 months in the same class, teachers and parents may misattribute a child's immaturity. This might lead to younger children in the class being more likely to be referred for an assessment for ADHD.

"Parents and teachers as well as clinicians who are undertaking ADHD assessments should keep in mind the child's relative age. From an education perspective, there should be flexibility with an individualised approach to best meets the child's needs."

Evidence suggests that worldwide, the incidence of ADHD among school age children is, at around five per cent, fairly uniform. However, there are large differences internationally in the rates of clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Although this may partially reflect the availability of and access to services, the perceptions of parents and teachers also play an important role in recognising children who may be affected by ADHD, as information they provide is used as part of the clinical assessment.

The study centred on whether the so-called 'relative age effect' - the perceived differences in abilities and development between the youngest and oldest children in the same year group - could affect the incidence of diagnosis of ADHD.

Adults may be benchmarking the development and abilities of younger children against their older peers in the same year group and inadvertently misinterpreting immaturity for more serious problems.

Previous studies have suggested that this effect plays an important role in diagnosis in countries where higher numbers of children are diagnosed and treated for ADHD, leading to concerns that clinicians may be over-diagnosing the disorder.

The latest study aimed to look at whether the effect also plays a significant role in the diagnosis of children in countries where the prescribing rates for ADHD are relatively low.

It used nationwide population data from all children in Finland born between 1991 and 2004 who were diagnosed with ADHD from the age of seven years - school starting age - onwards. In Finland, children start school during the calendar year they turn 7 years of age, with the school year starting in mid-August. Therefore, the eldest in a school year are born in January (aged 7 years and 7 months) and the youngest in December (6 years and 7 months).

The results showed that younger children were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than their older same-year peers - boys by 26 per cent and girls by 31 per cent.

For children under the age of 10 years, this association got stronger over time - in the more recent years 2004-2011, children born in May to August were 37 per cent more likely to be diagnosed and those born in September to December 64 per cent, compared to the oldest children born in January to April

The study found that this 'relative age affect' could not be explained by other behavioural or developmental disorders which may also have been affecting the children with an ADHD diagnosis.

However, the experts warn, the study did have some important limitations - the data did not reveal whether any of the young children were held back a year for educational reasons and potentially misclassified as the oldest in their year group when in fact they were the youngest of their original peers.

The flexibility in school starting date could explain why the rate of ADHD in December-born children (the relatively youngest) were slightly lower than those for children born in October and November.

And while the records of publicly-funded specialised services which are free at the point of access will capture most children who have received a diagnosis of ADHD, it will miss those who were diagnosed in private practice.
By Sneha Agrawal: In the recently unearthed fake government job racket operating from Udyog Bhawan, the Delhi Police in the charge sheet revealed that the accused were using spoof websites that were being hosted from Bulgaria. The modus operandi involved putting the names of the job seekers on the fake sites - rrbresult. gov.com and sscresultgov.com - and duping them for money.

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The accused identified as Rakesh Kashyap and Salauddin took help from a person named Naushad - the third accused in the racket - who would edit these sites, put the names in the list and create a link which would be sent to the mobile phones of the targets. The accused have been booked under Information Technology Act and for cheating, criminal conspiracy, forgery.

The racket would run from the reception at gate number 12 of the Udyog Bhawan. They were caught after they cheated two cousins looking for the post of lower-division clerks. The candidates were made to go through an interview, medical test and then a written test. After every stage, they were asked for around `50,000.

The candidates would be sent out appointment letters too. The search for the accused began after a complaint was filed in August by one Sunil Kumar, who told police that he and his cousins were duped of money. They were asked for Rs 4 lakh each for the job. They said that the day they went to meet the accused, they felt suspicious and informed the police. The cops were shown the website where their names were listed. But when they tried to log in, the page was unavailable. "Suspecting foul, we asked them to return our money. We were yet to pay the whole amount. They refused and following that their phone numbers also became unreachable."

The information about these accused were given to stationed CISF officials, who were keeping an eye on the faces described by the victims.

The said duo were arrested after security staff at Udyog Bhawan informed the police about the fake job interviews going on near gate number 12. The racketeers have reportedly cheated more than 15 people to the tune of around `10 lakh in the last few months.

The police seized the mobile phones, on which the fake SSC link was shown to the complainant. Various forms for the government jobs were also recovered that were also filled up in the names of certain job aspirants. According to the police, Kashyap was running a fake placement agency, through which he offered government jobs and in turn duped people.

They added that he had fetched as much as Rs 10 lakh from the business. The police are now awaiting the forensic reports, which would be submitted in the court as a supplementary charge sheet.

--- ENDS ---
Two academics are calling for a shift in awareness on 'pretirees,' who face a fork in the road - leading to either healthy ageing or chronic disease threats.

Professor Julie Pasco and Professor Michael Berk, from Deakin University's Centre for Innovation in Mental, Physical and Clinical Treatment (IMPACT), based at Barwon Health, believe targeted health promotion interventions can help boost health outcomes for current and future pretirees as they enter their elderly years. It will improve their quality of life and reduce the financial toll on health, disability and social services budgets.

"Sixty-something-year-olds no longer withdraw from the workplace to enter into a quiet life and await muted oblivion. That notion of twilight time has given way to an emerging life stage and a rapidly growing demographic that should attract societal awareness  the pretirees," said Professor Pasco.

"What happens in the pretiree period powerfully influences the divergent paths of healthy or unhealthy ageing.

"Early intervention and prevention are important so they can cross into the 'elderly' band able to continue contributing to society in better health."

Population figures reveal that the number of Australians aged 65 years and over rose from under one million to 3.4 million in 50 years from 1964. Life expectancy has also climbed.

"We need to shine a light on this pretiree demographic, sandwiched between work and the retiree stage of life, because they're engaged with life and they're at that crucial stage where they should be focussed on maintaining their muscle mass and strength, their mobility and their cognition so they reach their elderly years in a healthy state," Professor Pasco said.

Professor Pasco and Professor Berk also believe it's time to recognise the rich life experience, economic potential and youthful mindset that people in their late 50s and 60s contribute to today's Australia.

Professor Pasco, who heads IMPACT's Epi-Centre for Healthy Ageing, said the growing pretiree demographic was largely overlooked when members of the Silent Generation filled its ranks. With Baby Boomers now taking over, today's pretirees are shaping as more active, financially secure and vocal than their predecessors.

"The early-elderly play an important societal role. They are often well educated, hold senior roles and wear a cloak of wisdom with content. Many are also caregivers and their economic contribution is substantial," Professor Pasco said.

"They're not so silent and they have a much younger attitude compared to previous generations in this age bracket. It's an exciting time of life for them."

Professor Pasco, who is researching the participation rates of older people in sporting events, also called for a societal change in attitude to pretirees embracing physical fitness.

"While 'middle aged men in Lycra' comments may be tongue in cheek, there's no reason why pretirees exercising should be unfashionable," she said.

"Steps to enhance healthy ageing should be perceived as the norm  it should be culturally acceptable, and indeed desirable, for early-elderly men and women to appear in public dressed for, engaging in, and enjoying physical activities that are widely perceived as a domain of the young.

"We need to ensure that pretirees actively participate in life rather than observe it from the sidelines. Let their place in society blossom, as everyone will benefit," Professor Pasco added.

"We should be supporting and applauding these people. Let's celebrate the youthful outlook of today's pretirees, because they are a vibrant sector of our community."
An independent Catalunya would already lose 1.2 billion euros of revenue



ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Former Catalan president reportedly says the time is not yet right for real independence

Following the decisions made by various large companies in Catalunya last week to re-register their head offices outside the region in order to dissociate themselves from the process of segregation from Spain on which the regional government appears to be insistent, there are expectations that more businesses will be following suit on Monday.

Among those expected to take steps to ensure that they will remain within the EU and the Eurozone are infrastructures giant Abertis, Cellnex and real estate company Colonial, potentially adding to a list which already includes CaixaBank, Gas Natural, Banco Sabadell, Naturhouse, Oryzon, Eurona, Banco Mediolanum, Arquia Banca, Agbar, Fundacion La Caixa and Dogi.

In the case of Colonial, one crucial factor may be that after Fitch downgraded Catalunyas credit rating to negative last Friday the agency also issued a warning that the value of office buildings in the city of Barcelona could fall sharply if independence is declared in the region, as Carles Puigdemont (the president of the Catalunya government insists it will).

Some of the businesses changing their registered address have explained that they are doing so in the hope that the move will be only temporary, and others, such have Grifols, have decided to stay in Catalunya, but even so the message to the separatists from the business community appears to be clear: in short, please stop!

Even Sr Puigdemont reportedly recognizes that the situation is becoming extremely serious, and the warnings are all around. On Monday national newspaper El Pais examines how the number of major banks registered in Catalunya has now fallen from eleven to zero in just eight years, while El Economista reports that the massive exodus of companies would result in an independent Republic of Catalunya receiving 1.2 billion euros less in revenue than it currently does.

And that figure, which related to 26 per cent of company tax paid to the Spanish national government, is calculated taking into account only the major concerns which have already announced that are changing their registered address.

At the same time credit ratings agency Fitch anticipates that it could downgrade Catalunyas status to caa1 if independence is declared, placing it at the same level as Belarus, Mongolia and Iraq. No offence to the three examples mentioned, but this will surely send shivers down the spine of any separatists with even a slight understanding of macro-economics.

Even more frightening is that Seat could relocate the car factory which is currently in Martorell, that construction giant FCC may pull out of Catalunya or that even some multi-national corporations will seek greater stability in an alternative location.

These are among the fears which reportedly led Artur Mas, Carles Puigdemonts predecessor as president of the Catalan government and perhaps the man who more than any other is responsible for the separatist movement having reached where it is today, to express the opinion in an interview with the Financial Times that Catalunya is not yet ready for real independence.

Sr Mas recognizes that there is important groundwork still to be done, such as establishing border control and defence, tax collection mechanisms and other vital projects, but since his alleged statement hit the headlines he has denied that those were his exact words. What he intended to say, he reports, was that Catalunya has won the right to be an independent country and that the decisions which must be made in the next few weeks are important ones.

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The silent majority of Spain makes itself heard



ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Hundreds of thousands march in Barcelona to show opposition to Catalan independence

It is not often that huge crowds march through the streets to demand something which they already have, but that is precisely what happened in Barcelona on Sunday when hundreds of thousands showed their support for a united Spain, including the region of Catalunya.

The number of people taking part is estimated at between 350,000 (according to the Guardia Urbana) and close to a million (the figure quoted by the organizers), but the exact figure is not important. What does matter is that for the first time a multitude similar to those which over the last few years have demonstrated their support for Catalan independence on various occasions took to the streets to advocate precisely the opposite, giving voice at last to the widely held opinion that for Catalunya to become separate from Spain would be beneficial for neither.

It took the dramatic events of the first week of October to bring about Sundays demonstration, with the threat of a unilateral declaration of independence by Carles Puigdemont, the president of the regional government of Catalunya, just two days away. Should he choose to go ahead with this course of action, Sr Puigdemont will now be fully aware (if he wasnt before) that he is acting against the wishes of a large sector of the population, and although it could be argued that many of those marching on Sunday were not actually residents of Catalunya it is almost certainly true that far more were.

The demonstration was called in favour of democracy, freedom and the rule of law, and was attended by official representatives of the PP and Ciudadanos parties as well as leading PSOE figures who joined in of their own accord. Speeches were given by Josep Borell, former speaker of the European parliament, and Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa, a Nobel Literature prize winner, who issued an impassioned warning that no separatist plot will destroy the unity of Spain.

Both speakers pleaded for a return to common sense, and commenting on the decisions announced last week by various large banks and other companies to leave Catalunya Sr Borrell lamented the fact that they had not given advance warning that this would be a consequence of independence. Had they done so, he implied, the process of secession would not have advanced as far as it has.

Throughout the day there were numerous gestures of support for the Policia Nacional and the Guardia Civil reinforcements whose presence has been resented by the separatists since they arrived prior to the partially successful referendum which was held on 1st October, and the march passed off without incidents as Spanish and Catalan flags were waved side by side as an indication that it is possible to be proud of both Catalunya and Spain at the same time.

All eyes will now be on Carles Puigdemont on Tuesday as the world awaits to see whether he continues in his insistence on following the route map which, according to a law which his government passed last month and which was immediately ruled illegal by the Spanish Consitutional Court, empowers him to declare independence on the grounds of the vote last Sunday.

Image: EFE (fully copyrighted)

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One of the most influential technological revolutions began with an unsuccessful offer.

In 1984, an acquaintance of Morris Changs sought help raising $50 million to set up a chipmaker, a request he rebuffed until the friend could come up with a written proposal. The man never returned. Chang later found out his friend had located a factory willing to do the work on his behalf, so only needed a fraction of the money.

That led me to this idea of a pure-play foundry, said Chang, who three years later would start Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to make chips designed by others. I was actually disappointed, but it also got me thinking.

That encounter planted the seed for TSMC, which went on to pioneer the made-to-order foundry model and transform the industry by ushering in a wave of newcomers. While giants from Intel Corp. to Fairchild Semiconductor shouldered the burden of chipmaking from top to bottom, TSMC made it possible for companies such as Qualcomm Inc., Broadcom Ltd. and Nvidia Corp. to focus on design and leave production to Chang.

The 86-year-old announced last week he would step down as chairman next year, handing the reins of his $190 billion-plus company to lieutenants Mark Liu and C.C. Wei. In an interview Friday, he discussed his legacy.

Since we established ourselves, fabless companies began to mushroom worldwide, he said. Most of the innovations in the semiconductor industry in the last 30 years came from those fabless companies. Thats probably my biggest pride, to have caused a lot of innovations in the industry.

Chang set up TSMC with help from the Taiwanese government and has spent the three decades since building it into the worlds largest bespoke chipmaker. Thats created a generation of industry leaders and lifted Taiwans economy in the process. But he may be stepping away just when hes needed most.

The industry is again anticipating one of those fundamental shifts that shake things up every few years: this time, its preparing for the advent of smarter and connected devices from cars and washing machines to augmented reality devices. Chinas global ascendancy also promises to disrupt a landscape dominated by ageing corporations.

The main chipmaker for Apple Inc.s iPhones hopes to ride that next wave of growth by preparing to spend more than $20 billion on a state-of-art plant. Thats the price for staying ahead of Intel and Samsung Electronics Co. in cutting-edge production.

Liu and Wei inherit a company that is about 30 times larger than local rival United Microelectronics Corp. and commands 59 percent of the $50 billion global foundry market.

But its a constant struggle to stay at the top of the food chain, especially with deep-pocketed rivals Intel and Samsung vying for business and Beijing urging local champions to invest aggressively in capacity. TSMC spends some $10 billion annually to safeguard its perch but that may have to rise to $11 billion, Chang said Friday.

The founder of Taiwans largest corporation is considered a national hero for placing the island of 23 million on the technology industrys map. Nvidias Taiwanese-born Chief Executive Officer, Jen-Hsun Huang, openly credits TSMC with empowering a generation of upstart chip designers.

Chang was born in 1931 in the coastal Chinese city of Ningbo. His earliest memories were of moving through a succession of cities as his family fled before the Japanese occupation and civil war between the Communists and Nationalists. He passed through Hong Kong before heading to Harvard and later the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study mechanical engineering.

In 1955, he found his first job right out of MIT at Sylvania Semiconductor, before jumping ship to Texas Instruments Inc. for what would become a 25-year stint, rising through the ranks and acquiring a Stanford PhD in electrical engineering before eventually becoming the head of its global semiconductor business. TI paid his tuition, a practice that instilled in a grateful Chang a respect for in-house talent that he would carry over to the company he founded in 1987.

Morris cherishes talent, he wouldnt be happy if some of his people joined other companies, said Richard Chang (not related), who followed Morris Chang from TI to TSMC but eventually helped to create Chinese rival Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.

Investors have so far expressed confidence in the new leaderships ability to sustain TSMCs upward trajectory. Its shares have surged 24 percent this year thanks to projected demand for new iPhones and other products. That helped make Chang a billionaire, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

TSMCs now racing to meet the future demand it anticipates, from computers and connected devices in the so-called Internet of Things, from cars to home appliances and voice-activated speakers.

Growing chipset demand from China spells another opportunity for TSMC: the country spent $227 billion importing integrated circuits in 2016, according to data from Chinese customs authorities, the fourth consecutive year that chip imports have exceeded $200 billion.

A new 12-inch wafer fabrication plant in Nanjing  a five-hour drive from the town of his birth  is almost ready for mass production. Its the first plant in China capable of using 16-nanometer process technology, according to TSMC. Most domestic companies are only capable of producing 40-nanometer processors, a thicker width that essentially means a slower chip.

As Chang heads towards retirement, TSMC will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Oct. 23 with a performance of Beethovens 9th Symphony in Taipei attended by tech-industry royalty, including Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, Nvidias Huang and Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf. Chang frequently mentions his love of the Germanic composers and Beethoven in particular at press conferences.

The first time I heard it live was with the New York Philharmonic and Leonard Bernstein, he said. Since then, Ive heard it live at least 20 times. Its simple grandeur is one reason I like it. A second reason I like it is its also joyful. An Ode to Joy!
YEREVAN.  Engineers at the National Instruments company subsidiary in Armenia have introduced a new algorithm for paying for solar energy electricity by way of crypto currency. The respective model was introduced at the 13th annual DigiTec Expo 2017 international technology exhibition in capital city Yerevan.

Aram Soghoyan, a specialist from this subsidiary, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that, theoretically, this system can be applied in business-consumer calculations.

The advantage of calculation with crypto-currency is that the database with such conditions is distributed among different users, and therefore it is difficult to crack, or break into such database.

The smart contract algorithms that are designed in Armenia have caused an interest in Russia, from where orders have already been placed for taking part in smart city projects.

Solar energy electricity payment contracts have been adapted as an option for the demonstration of this project.
Erdogan and Biden hold talks in Bali

Media: Macron asks Xi Jinping to 'pressure' Putin to return to negotiations

Zelenskyy states that only realistic model of POW exchange is all for all

Ameriabank Launches Google Pay and Google Wallet Support for Card Users in Armenia

Argentine President Fernandez feels ill at G20 summit

Ruben Vardanyan receives head of ICRC mission: We must ensure a peaceful childhood for children living in Artsakh

Newspaper: Armenian Prime Minister wants to hold referendum on constitutional amendments in spring

Ardshinbank showcases the Google Pay for Android fans in Armenia

Zelenskyy calls not to offer Ukraine compromise with territory and independence

Secretary of State: U.S. stands ready to continue support for Karabakh settlement

Google Pay is a new contactless payment option for Converse Bank customers

French Senate to consider resolution on sanctions against Azerbaijan

Zelenskyy addresses G20 leaders: It's time to stop Russia's war

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases

Another four-day parliamentary session begins in Yerevan

Gold declines in value

World oil prices go down

Plans to build 'death pyramid' in London that will hold millions of bodies

Armenian and Georgian Foreign Ministries hold consultations in Tbilisi

Azerbaijani and Iranian FMs hold phone conversation

Steve Jobs' sandals sold for more than $200,000

Armenian PM accuses Azerbaijani leader of terrorizing Armenian civilians

Azerbaijan shells Armenian positions on border again

OPEC downgrades its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2022

White House: Biden and Xi Jinping agree on Blinken's visit to China

CNN: CIA chief Burns meets with SVR director Naryshkin in Ankara

Turkish FM Cavusoglu thanks Ararat Mirzoyan for condolences

Putin signs decree allowing stateless persons to serve in Russian army

Airbus CEO: There is no question of them breaking off trade ties

Armen Grigoryan receives Igor Khovayev

Britain and France sign agreement on strengthening cooperation on illegal migration

US updates its sanctions list for Russia: Milur Electronics LLC, an Armenian company listed

Potatoes prices grow by 20%: expert claims agriculture collapse in Armenia

Peskov says Russian-American talks in Ankara initiated by Washington

Morgan Stanley: UK and euro zone economies are likely to face recession

Xi Jinping hopes for comprehensive dialogue between NATO, the EU and the US and Russia

Japan proposes to deploy Australian nuclear submarines

Biden calls talks with Xi Jinping at G20 summit frank

WB: Debt levels among low- and middle-income countries soared in 2021

Xi Jinping: China does not intend to challenge the U.S.

Scholz: Adopting a joint G20 summit statement is a tough task

Biden and Xi Jinping oppose use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Nikol Pashinyan receives Russian co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group

IMF head warns of risks for world economy because of rivalry between China and US

Irakli Garibashvili: Georgia is ready to promote in every possible way the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Red Wings airline launches direct flights from Makhachkala to Yerevan

Olaf Scholz: EU should expand its cooperation with Southeast Asian countries

Global Leadership Foundation will visit Armenia

Kurdistan Workers' Party denies its involvement in Istanbul terrorist attack

NATO Secretary General says they must not make mistake of underestimating Russia

IRGC resumes strikes on Iraqi Kurdistan

French and German central bank heads call for speeding up EU capital markets union

Control of U.S. House of Representatives depends on several tight races

Artsakh FM speaks with his Transnistria counterpart

Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus say they cannot accept migrants

Cavusoglu thanks Mirzoyan for condolences on terrorist attack in Istanbul

Xi Jinping and Joe Biden begin first face-to-face meeting in Bali

Zelenskyy arrives in Kherson

Armenian Defense Minister: After expiration of contract service 5 million drams will be provided to servicemen

Turkey refuses to accept U.S. condolences after terrorist attack in Istanbul

Defense Ministers of Georgia and Azerbaijan sign military cooperation plan for 2023

Russian Foreign Ministry denies reports about Lavrov's hospitalization in Bali

Yellen hopes Biden and Jinping meeting leads to engagement on macroeconomic issues

Russian Defense Ministry confirms violation of ceasefire in Artsakh by Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Artsakh MOD denies accusations of Azerbaijani MOD

Azerbaijani Defense Minister holds talks in Georgia

Armenian MOD denies another lie of Azerbaijani MOD

Germany warns its delegation about Egyptian spies at COP27

NSS of Armenia reveals channel of illegal migration

Azerbaijani State Security Service announces disclosure of 'Iranian spy network'

Politico: Indonesia, hosting G20, lobbies West to soften criticism of Russia in final communique

Ararat Mirzoyan expresses condolences to Mevlut Cavusoglu over Istanbul explosion

Iranian lawmakers sharply criticize Aliyev

Ambassador-at-Large: Azerbaijan's attacks on Armenia are a terrorist attack

Germany needs to diversify its business interests in Asia to reduce dependence on China

Head of U.S. Treasury Department says sanctions against Russia should remain in force even after war in Ukraine

Natasa Pirc Musar to become Slovenia's first woman president

IMF: World economic outlook even bleaker than predicted

Pashinyan: Azerbaijan calls Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh 'our citizens' and at the same time shoots at them

Turkish Interior Minister announces arrest of suspect in attack on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul

Alpine to make 3 electric crossovers

Number of injured in Istanbul blast rises to 81

Paul McCartney sells guitar for $77,000 to support Ukraine

Erdogan says preliminary findings after Istanbul bombing point to terrorist attack

Erdogan says number of victims of Istanbul bombing rises to six

Authorities forbid TV channels to broadcast from Istanbul bombing site

Istanbul blast: Governor reports 4 dead and 38 wounded

Media: Terrorist attack considered as one of versions of bombing in Istanbul

Blast in Istanbul: victims reported

Reuters: National Bank of Ukraine prepares banking system for power outages

Explosion hits pedestrian street in Istanbul

Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin calls for Turkey to be recognized as sponsor of terrorism

Bloomberg columnist says Japan may be preparing for war with China

Reuters: U.S. to demand EU colleagues to continue aid to Kyiv at G20

Washington Post: U.S. intelligence believes UAE tried to interfere in U.S. politics

Yeni Safak: Turkey increases sales of winter products, blankets in EU by almost third since beginning of year

Fox News: Trump has been silent on social media for over 24 hours amid Republican failures

Lebanon extradites to Iraq relative of Saddam Hussein

Financial Times: Kyiv plans to nationalize more private companies

U.S. Senate declares 'death' of Republican Party after congressional elections
Delhi Assembly passed a resolution against the Metro fare hike which is set to be enforced from Tuesday.

By India Today Web Desk: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has called an emergency board meeting tonight to discuss the fare hike issue. At the meeting, the DMRC board is likely to consider the Delhi government's proposal to review the proposed metro fare hike.

Before the board meeting, DMRC officials are meeting officials of the Urban Development ministry at Nirman Bhavan and trying to find a middle path on the Metro fare hike issue.

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Earlier in the day, the Delhi Assembly passed a resolution against the Metro fare hike which is set to be enforced from Tuesday. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that a hike in Metro fares will benefit cab aggregators such as Ola and Uber.

Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party has been protesting against the proposed Metro fare hike. The DMRC, on the other hand, has defended its decision and said that its input costs have gone up over the years and the fare hike is at par with Metro rails in other cities.

Last week, the Centre informed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that it cannot put on hold the proposed hike unless his government provides Rs 3,000 crore annually to DMRC as grant-in-aid for the next five years. Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri told Kejriwal that the Metro Act does not allow the Centre to put on hold the fare hike.

In response, Arvind Kejriwal said that the Delhi government was ready to pay Rs 1,500 crore a year, if the Centre was ready to fund the other half as the "Central government and the Delhi government are 50-50 owners of DMRC".

"As for your suggestion regarding a grant to DMRC for meeting the gap in their operating finances, my government is willing to bear half the grant if only a matching grant is provided by the Central government," the Delhi chief minister wrote to Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

In the Delhi Assembly today, transport minister Kailash Gahlot said that Delhi Metro was not made to be a world-class profitable venture but it'll be world class when people leave their vehicles and use it. Other members of the ruling AAP said that they will protest if Metro fares are hiked.

(With inputs from IANS)

ALSO WATCH: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal meets Kamal Haasan in Chennai

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN.  There is a good interaction between the exercises held on the territory of Armenia, CSTO Secretary General Yury Khachaturov told reporters at the opening ceremony of Interaction-2017 military drills.

These are serious, planned drills under the general title Combat Brotherhood 2017. It started in Rostov-on-Don and continued in Armenia. Now the second part of the exercises is taking place, Khachaturov said.

According to the scenario of the exercises, terrorists entered the territory of one of the CSTO states, and on October 13 they will be destroyed. The commander of the military drills is Russias South Military District, since only Russia obtains the weapons of destruction that are used during the exercises.

The troops will fulfill more than 10 tactical tasks. During the exercise, the participants will get the practice of taking into account the use of the most modern options, including reconnaissance fire and shock contours, as well as maneuvering in a combat situation, said commander of the exercises Aleksander Dvornikov.

He expressed the hope that joint actions will allow developing collective ways of fighting illegal armed groups.
YEREVAN.  President Serzh Sargsyan will be in office until April 2018, but no discussions have taken place as to what happens after that term.

Vahram Baghdasaryan, head of the National Assembly faction of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), on Monday noted the above-said at the traditional parliamentary briefings. He said this when asked whether the incumbent Presidentwho is also the RPA chairmancould be nominated for the office of the Prime Minister.

In Baghdasaryans words, however, when the time comes, this issue will be discussed.

Arm yourselves with patience, he added. We [Armenia] still have many problems, and we are still busy resolving them. The [respective] discussions will be open, and we will keep everyone informed [about them].
YEREVAN.  Armenian delegate to PACE Naira Zohrabyan called to clarify how Hungaria sold killer Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan for $7.6 million.

Speaking during the opening day of the Assemblys autumn session, Zohrabyan said former president Pedro Agramunts resignation was simply the first step to clean the Assembly from corruption network.

It turns out that many well-known European figures who have been receiving huge sums from the Estonian branch of the Danish bank Danske Bank for decades have been involved in a major corruption scandal. I hope our colleagues from the Hungarian delegation will send a question to the political leadership of their country regarding the scandalous disclosure saying Hungary has sold murderer Ramil Safarov, who axed Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in his sleep, for $ 7.6 million, Zohrabyan said.

The Hungarian colleagues should be interested in how millions of dollars were transferred from Metastar Invest to an account opened in the Hungarian MKB bank and how these accounts are associated with the Hungarian authorities, the Armenian delegate said.

Zohrabyan recalled that Metastar Invest is a company that made regular transfers to ex-Vice President of PACE, Luca Volonte, who is now probably telling the Italian Prosecutor General about the warm relations between him and his totalitarian friend.

The Lithuanian Seimas has recently appealed to the Lithuanian financial crimes investigation body to investigate the possible involvement of Lithuanian figures in the PACE corruption scandal. Zohrabyan expressed hope that other Council of Europe members will follow their lead.
The 2018 CIS summit will be held in Sochi on October 11 and will be chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin reported.

During the summit, the leaders will discuss key issues of cooperation within the Commonwealth, with particular attention on further increasing the efficiency of the organisation, its executive structures and sectoral agencies. A decision is expected to be adopted, passing the chairmanship from Russia to Tajikistan in 2018.

The leaders plan to sign a series of multilateral documents on expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as law-enforcement and military cooperation. They also plan to adopt a statement on promoting the institution of the family and traditional family values.

In the afternoon, Vladimir Putin will take part in the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

The agenda includes current topics related to cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), such as ratification by the member countries of the Treaty on the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union. Decisions are due to be made on implementing the digital agenda and on developing cooperation in space and geoinformation services. In addition, the priorities of EAEU international activities will be approved and several organisational issues will be considered. It will also be announced that Russia will take over the chairmanship in the EAEU in 2018.
I hate to associate fatness with bad but....what a hypocrite and no one asked for his opinion on a woman's body.



Bless Emma Thompson though.

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Lmao right. Him? Calling someone a fat pig?



Edited at 2017-10-09 03:04 pm (UTC)

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They excuse it by saying it's different for women, because we have to look all feminine and stuff for the male gaze. Yeah I know that's dumb but they believe it.

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Holy shit, I remember hearing Emma tell this story before, but idt she directly said that it was him. Should've known, though. What a bag of dicks.

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Emma didn't name names, either the producer or the actress she stood up for, but Hayley later said it was her.



This is the first time Harvey Wankstain is being outed as the piece of shit who said it though.

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I was just going to say, I thought I'd heard this story before, but didn't know the major players. Good on Emma on all counts, and dear god, someone please flood ONTD with random posts to get his mug off the front page, please.

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yeah I remember this story

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mte! the story had been told before, just without his name. so no one can doubt its legitimacy.

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yes @ this reveal! i'm sure people speculated who said the comment but to have it all out clearly like this nowharv's a complete p.o.s.

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Yeah, I remember this story, but idr her saying who said it.

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yup. I definitely knew the story but I didn't know it was him. disgusting.

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ughh

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This has been known for literally a decade, both Emma and Hayley have gone on the record about the incident but this is the first time the POS producer was named, and quelle surprise.



I wouldn't be surprised if he was one of the producers body-shaming Romola Garai on the set of Dirty Dancing Havana Nights, though she specifically mentioned a female producer telling her she was too fat.



He deserves to be a pariah tbh, I hope people piss on his grave.

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i remember the romola thing too. out all these mfs!

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She mentioned producers in plural when she first talked about it, and later talked about how a female producer told her her thighs were too fat. And ia, name and shame them all!





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And now Romola's just given an exclusive to the Guardian talking about this piece of shit 'personally approving' her for DDHN by interviewing her in his bathrobe in a hotel room. After she already had the part.



She's been very blunt over the years about how badly she was treated on that production but this.... jfc.

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Would this be around the time when all that 'stuff' about Hayley being difficult to work with suddenly came about?

(srs question)

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He spread rumours about Ashley Judd, no surprise if he decided to take out his rage over Emma standing up for Hayley by spreading rumours/blind items about Hayley. Because of course that's the kind of thing a power tripping abuser would do.



I'm glad Hayley went on to make a name for herself anyway though. Same with Romola noping out of Hollywood and back across the pond after the Dirty Dancing Havana Nights production (Miramax was involved) tried the old body-shaming on her.

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Exactly. It's easy to say someone should risk losing everything over a matter of principle but I'm not going to drag women who decided they wanted to eat/keep a roof over their heads.

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ita. i don't blame any of those women.

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i know i am late cause i couldn't bring myself to deal with this shit but THIS so hard. men can be accused of pretty much anything in most industries and still get work but a woman pisses one person off and gets branded "hard to work with" and her career can be basically over. i don't blame most of these women for not saying anything. they are constantly told they are replaceable and have to live up to inhuman standards of beauty and weight. most of them must have zero self esteem, not to mention the business is inherently abusive in that people have arbitrary control over you and you have no recourse. just so frustrating.



/end rant

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Emma Thompson coming through as Mom Friend.

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Omg rly? I dont know who Im more jealous of

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omg so jealous

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https://www.thecut.com/2008/02/emma_thompson_fights_miramaxs_1.html i remember this story! of course the exec wasn't named

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Oh wow, interesting. I didnt know this was previously reported too.

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yes, i knew this sounded familiar!



should've known it was him

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Oh shit, fuck him so hard he need to get the fuck off the planet immediately. SICK FUCK!!!



Emma Thompson is truly the queen <3 bless

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Wow, what a piece of shit.

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It makes me mad and sad that it took for this article (in 2017!) to come out for all these little anecdotes to get names attached. I'm glad he's finally getting his comeuppance, but goddamn it's been too long.

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so true. just like rose mcgowan's story. he's probably the subject of tons of those "blinds". which is sickening.

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it just goes to show you how powerful he was. it's sad af.

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i heard about this story but didnt know it was him. what a pos.

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i remember Emma telling this story multiple times (and Hayley talking about it as well)



it's so upsetting that this is only coming out now

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The one good thing to come out of this mess was Hayley and Emma's friendship. The pics of their recent vacation in Greece looked like they were having the best time together.

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The new fare hike will come in force from today.

By India Today Web Desk: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation board today met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and considered his proposal to defer the hike in metro recommended by the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC).

However, after the meeting the FFC decided that the fares will be hiked as decided earlier.

The new hike will come in force from today.

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In the meeting today, the board was informed that under section 37 of the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, recommendations of the FFC are binding on the metro rail authorities.

Subsequently, the board noted that it does not have the competence to consider/defer implementation of the recommendations of FFC.

Metro fare hike

Earlier today, the DMRC had called an emergency board meeting tonight to discuss the fare hike issue.

At the meeting, the DMRC board is likely to consider the Delhi government's proposal to review the proposed metro fare hike.

Before the board meeting, DMRC officials are meeting officials of the Urban Development ministry at Nirman Bhavan and trying to find a middle path on the Metro fare hike issue.

--- ENDS ---
omg, pieces of shit

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do you think they didn't know what Lombardo's purpose was, though? especially if they were asked to vouch for him bc the Times was writing an expose on him.

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But I think she makes it clear in her story that the reason why Damon and Crowe were vouching for Lombardo was due to Weinstein telling them to do so/knowing that if Lombardo went down, Weinstein would go down, and in turn their movies wouldn't do well: "After intense pressure from Weinstein, which included having Matt Damon and Russell Crowe call me directly to vouch for Lombardo and unknown discussions well above my head at the Times, the story was gutted."



It seems to me that by defending the role of Lombardo, Damon and Crowe were really defending Weinstein against the allegations from the Times.



The whole thing is actually pretty sneaky and calculated by Weinstein.







Edited at 2017-10-09 03:47 pm (UTC)

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Thank you for his, because I really wasn't going to read it tbh. Posts like this shouldn't be allowed.

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LMAO



op is out to end careers

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Wait so you really think Matt Damon and Russel Crowe called up this woman and told her Lombardo was a-ok, and she didn't bring up what she thought his real job was to get their assessment? Really girl? And like this is me giving them the benefit of the doubt, because there's 100% no reason to try to quash this story with their credibility unless they knew the alternative for his role she was going to present. They're not dumb, they know that if you're going to accuse someone in the public of not having a real job, you're also going to have to put into print why you think they're in a certain role.

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WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW. This shit is wild. Fuck men.

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Quelle Surprise

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Wow i already hated matt damn but this just makes loathe him fuck these two

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men are garbage

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i should be surprised but Im not.

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Holy fuck! Delete them. Unforgivable!!

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i wonder what they said to her that made her eventually cancel her story

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The article says that her original story was in large part exposing the man who was the head of Italian Miramax in 2003 as not having any knowledge or experience in film, and that his real job was to be in charge of finding Harvey women to have sex with. Damon and Crowe apparently called the reporter and backed up the Italian guy's legitimacy as a studio head.

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well it's possible the italian guy was legit AND harvey is a predator. if that's the case damon and crowe defended the italian's reputation and not harvey, unless of course they lied for harvey's sake. who knows.

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vomit @ that dude's job scope and it happens everywhere men are. gross gross gross.



Edited at 2017-10-09 03:11 pm (UTC)

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This is so fucking gross, men are such garbage

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oblig

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I felt so angry for her during this moment. Fuck Matt Demon!

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/end post

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Where is this from?

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These fuckers, it could have been outed 13 years ago? Ugh.

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Fucking hell. Men always gonna defend men.

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Crowe has always been trash and I've never liked Ben's Mr. Potato head looking friend.

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Channel 4 pulled sth similar with Keiran Yates (a British Indian writer) and her work with Muslim Drag Queens in London. The disrespect and thievery is real. I'll just read/watch the original work instead.

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I watched it yesterday. It was good, but I felt like, for being a documentary about Marsha, it focused too much on Sylvia Rivera. Sylvia should have her own documentary instead of just sharing this one with Marsha.

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Unless they mentioned that when my mom came into the room and started talking and distracting me, then they didn't address that. This is actually the first time I hear this about them not being at Stonewall.

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No the documentary pretty much treats their involvement in Stonewall as fact. I hadn't heard those theories though. I should read up more.

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i haven't watched either movie, but i would think the doc would actually talk about marsha's activism, which stonewall was a very small part of and which she herself states wasn't there at the very beginning

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It was Marsha who claimed that Sylvia wasn't there. Another Stonewall veteran, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, said that both Sylvia and Marsha weren't at the Stonewall Inn when the uprising happened. It's all very unclear.

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lol oop

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nnnnnnn omg

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omg lol

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LMAO

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lol good eye! they still don't get how caps work.

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smh i believe it

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It sounds like they both knew Marsha. Its not out of the question that they both finally got funding for their works now because of the new attention in drag queens and trans issues.

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http://lucisandry.tumblr.com/post/166159704421/dont-watch-the-marsha-p-johnson-documentary-on



people need to do their basic research and stop thinking every marginalized person is automatically trustworthy



(reina's film is also made up bs that doesn't even get marsha's birthday right, but anyway) reina was 10 when marsha died. david is the one who was marsha's friendpeople need to do their basic research and stop thinking every marginalized person is automatically trustworthy(reina's film is also made up bs that doesn't even get marsha's birthday right, but anyway)

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Edited to clarify; I realized I didn't make it clear that both filmmakers have stated that they knew her personally.

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i'd still need receipts for reina personally knowing marsha, because reina was a ten year old who was living in boston (according to wikipedia) when marsha died in new york



Edited at 2017-10-09 04:06 pm (UTC)

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If they are both making a documentary about someone's life, of course things are going to overlap, I wouldn't call that stealing.

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You can have multiple takes on a documentary so not sure what's the big deal. He even contacted them to make sure they were not overlapping which was a nice gesture.



Janet real quick to judge when she didn't even have the facts.

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So many trans murders happen daily without any coverage or investigation. Its why Shalimars death in Hollywood went unnoticed. Mostly everyone knows Eddie Murphy had her killed

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Wut

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Say whaaaaat? Why?

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miss me at this reach tbh

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I watched the documentary this weekend and thought it was well done, although very sad. It doesn't really definitively answer what happened to Martha, but it's a good documentary for anyone wanting to know more about her life or Sylvia Rivera.

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ripped off decades of my archival research that i experienced so much violence to get,



I'm curious to know what this means because it sounds like they had to go through a library level and fight off a sentient necronomicon boss.

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Violence is one of those words that has lost meaning. That and labor.

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"violence" in this case translates to "adversity" or "challenge". dismissive parents, unhelpful librarians and aggressive student loan officers basically committed "assault" against this dramatic-ass bitch

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The documentary was OK. Could have given more insight into Marsha as a person. I felt like I still didn't know more than surface level about her. And then they shed almost no light on her death. Maybe just because time passed and the police botched it but I felt like there would be no way to solve it which is sad.

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You know -- I really did like the documentary, but you're right now that I'm thinking about it in hindsight. Also the second half of the documentary seemed to focus more on Sylvia Rivera.. not that I mind, but both Sylvia and Martha are worthy of their own feature length documentaries. But I totally get the decision as to why they focused on both in one given the money/time available and given they were both close friends.



As for the death -- it does seem very mysterious to me, but you're right - I don't think we're ever going to know what really happened. Very sad.

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Janet Mock is a mess. I was done with her after she promoted sex work as empowering for trans youth, based on her experience. Its great that she had a positive experience, but she could get young, impressionable trans girls literally killed if they listen to her. Keeping both underaged and of-age trans women out of prostitution should be one of the main objectives of anyone who wants to prevent violence against trans women.

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This so much.

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Idk, IMO that was bad wording because if I remember correctly in that interview she said that the empowering part was not the sex work on itself but the experience of seeing other trans women trying to gain the money for transition in any way they could and for them that was sex work, also she said that some experiences were bad and some were good but overall she knows sex work is not the best or safest option for trans women and she talked about creating safe spaces for trans women to live and be protected and gain money without resorting to sex work, I'm going to search for the links because I read that interview a long ago lol.

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When did she do that?? I only read Redefining Realness, but in that she communicated pretty strongly how dangerous and exploitative it was.

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Those were the receipts I read and was talking about lol, thank you !

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She seriously created the word survival sex work to describe her desire for fast money, when she wasnt homeless and was already making money at other legitimate jobs. It all makes sex work sound like a great idea for trans youth who dont have the money to pay for their transition and want to find a community of people they can relate to.





Yet my economic hurdles were real and urgent, and I couldnt deny that witnessing the women of Merchant Street take their lives into their own hands, empowered me. Watching these women every weekend gathered in sisterhood and community, I learned firsthand about body autonomy, about resilience and agency, about learning to do for yourself in a world that is hostile about your existence.



These women taught me that nothing was wrong with me or my body and that if I wanted they would show me the way, and it was this underground railroad of resources created by low-income, marginalized women, that enabled me when I was 16 to jump in a car with my first regular and choose a pathway to my survival and liberation.

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Ivana Trump says she has Trump's direct White House number: 'I'm basically first Trump wife. OK? I'm first lady' https://t.co/II2Abt0HWt pic.twitter.com/pv72iCgRwr  Yahoo News (@YahooNews) October 9, 2017

- Ivana is promoting her new memoir coming out Tuesday, Raising Trump, and spoke out on life, family, etc.- On Melania and the White House: "I [don't] really want to call him there, because Melania is there. And I don't want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that, because I'm basically first Trump wife. OK? I'm first lady."- A spokesperson for Melania responded: "Mrs. Trump has made the White House a home for Barron and the President. She loves living in Washington, D.C., and is honored by her role as First Lady of the United States. She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books. There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex. Unfortunately only attention-seeking and self-serving noise."- More on Melania: "I think for her to be in Washington must be terrible. It's better her than me. I would hate Washington."- On Donald's tweets: "Sometimes I tell him to just, not to speak that much, and tweet are the tweets. I don't disagree with him because he has so much press against him, so if he says something his words are going to be twisted immediately. If he tweets, the whole world can really get his mind and what is his in mind, and he can tell it in his own words."- Ivana takes full credit for raising their three kids- On Donald's parenting: "It was only until they were about 18-years-old [that] he could communicate with them, because he could start to talk business with them. Before, he really didn't know what conversation to strike with the little kids."- Ivana says Ronald Reagan wanted Donald to run, but because of their dramatic divorce, it wouldn't have been a good time for him to run- On Donald's love for women: "I think that Donald supports the woman. He loves the woman. Always did. He definitely respected women."- Ivana thinks both Ivanka and Jared could be president one day- Donald didn't want his firstborn son to have his name, because he was afraid he could be "a loser"- Donald also wanted Ivanka's name to be "Tiffany"- Ivana ended up naming all of the kids: "So I said, 'This is going to be what it is. I carry my kid for nine months, and this is what's going to be."
this moron wants to run for prez doesnt he?

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This dude gonna run for presidency in 2020. He done went there now. Lawd.

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Better him or Oprah than Trump. If Trump runs again, the same morons that voted for him this time, will vote for him again



(and I mean that in terms of if we have to have a celeb run against Trump, sorry!)



Edited at 2017-10-10 01:17 am (UTC)

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It sounds like he is a member of F.A.G from Team America.

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i'm gonna need him to say something about harvey weinstein. if glenn close and meryl streep can put out statements, so can he. especially after all that bullshit about how he's proud to be out of touch.

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Apparently Kate Winslet also did which is laughable

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why? what did matt damon do?

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It will be great to invent a global system that everyone feel watched,







Anyway speak up about your Anyway speak up about your #Fauxgressive industry.

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It's an incredibly clumsy, unethical, foolish, ineffective, expensive system that he put into place.

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so you actually think he's planning on running?

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Even if he did, I doubt he would get far. The Republicans would dig up some shit on him that would cause a faux scandal and he would lose.

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i think his wife has too much to lose from that.. he might run for governor tho i could see that

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lol nah. you guys overstate the power republicans and downplaying the power of celebrities.

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if i were that rich the last thing i'd want to do would be become a politician. i don #t get it. buy an island somewhere and live the good life, for christ sake.

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This entire story is so wild, especially the part about how they wanted to get Angelina Jolie to take down Kony as a honeypot.

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Fucking what? OMG brb, going to the sources.

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God, celebrity aid work in Africa is such bullshit. It's pretty much always harmful instead of helpful.

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most of the time it's just a photo op anyway. they might as well go to a junk yard somewhere in los angeles, hire a few little black kid actors, dress them in rags and call the whole thing a sudanese refugee camp. get the actor there, shoot a few pictures and a little video of them looking concerned and you're done.

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It will be great to invent a global system that everyone feel watched, Ocampo says.

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tf? no, that's the farthest thing from great, you creep. how about we install a camera in your loo and see how you feel about being watched then.

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lol this smug fartsniffer

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Celebrities are so megalomaniac and it is insane how so many in government enable them.



Also, isn't he close to several war criminals in the US? The hypocrisy is insane (but not surprising, especially coming from the International Crime Court which has never prosecuted a Western political figure ever. Apparently the only war criminals are in Africa).



Edited at 2017-10-09 11:06 pm (UTC)

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(but not surprising, especially coming from the International Crime Court which has never prosecuted a Western political figure ever. Apparently the only war criminals are in Africa).



This this this! Saudi Arabia is bombing the fuck out of Yemen right now and the Western world is like "meh - lets sell them some more arms".

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didn't they prosecute milosevich and some other guy from that war? but ia with you, why isn't bush on trial? blair? there are a bunch of people in the west who should be made accountable for their crimes.

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Africa and Eastern Europe are where the war criminals are. The superpowers in the West -- the ones that invaded Iraq and Libya and completely destroyed both countries, making billions of dollars for their ruling class in the process -- have simply stumbled into war and will never be prosecuted. The ICC is a fucking joke.



Between this and the Weinstein scandal, the Hollywood untouchables are finally being exposed by the pieces of shit they truly are. (Highly doubt this will gain traction though. War crimes and the ICC are obviously a touchy subject for the US bipartisan media).

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On 2 April 2012, Ocampo sends an email to the star of Disneys Maleficent and Oscar-winner for Girl, Interrupted. The subject line is how to present a decision on Palestine? and attached are secret court documents.



On Tuesday, I will decide that the Office cannot investigate alleged crimes in Palestine, writes Ocampo. Palestinian officials understand and respect my decision. The Israelis are also OK. The question is how to present this to normal people.



Ocampo adds in an email to the American: Just in case, I am attaching the decision I will take. It is confidential.



What....!?!?!?



During his tenure at the ICC, the prosecutor failed to set up his own team to track the fugitives, yet he was committed to parallel private initiatives, which are subject to conflicts of interest.



To the staff of Invisible Children in February 2012, he suggests working with Angelina Jolie who, he claims, would love to be involved in chasing Kony.



Ocampo then makes a statement which is possibly ironic, although it is taken seriously by the NGO, and may even be sincere: [Jolie] has the idea to invite kony for dinner and then arrest him



WHAT!?!?!?!





This is a fascinating post OP! Thank you so much for sharing this.

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The Palestine paragraph is disgusting and fucking wild. Not surprised at the fact the ICC head main priority was being close buddies with Hollywood A-listers (and let's not even pretend he was a singular case in the political sphere).

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the whole thing is a trip from start to finish tbh

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This fucking world we live in.. I could almost feel my brain melting trying to read these articles.

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WAT

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Moreno Ocampo invited Penn to a UN security council meeting on Sudan. While making plans to meet in a New York hotel, Moreno Ocampo mentioned he was deciding whether to launch an investigation in the Palestinian territories. Penn replied: While you make the decision on Palestine, Im embroiled in a decision of weather [sic] or not to go to get a steam in the hotel spa. Which is to say . . . I am very flexible today and tonight.

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God, poor Romola. That description sounds like a nightmare :c

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how is his wife not like wtf and leave him? she just shrugs it off?

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She likes his money

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Ive seen others describe their relationship as a business arrangement. His connections got stars to wear marchesa. But now actresses are probably not gonna wanna wear marchesa so who knows.

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I doubt she really cares. It may be an open arrangement with both allowed to fuck around.

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cause she's fucking trash

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She doesn't give a Fuck. Duh

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A man who is that abusive and coercive in one area of his life is going to be that way in all areas, imo. He obviously does not value women. I suspect she has stayed for the same reason a lot of abused women stay.

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she might just turn the other cheek when it comes to his harassment. she might legit have no idea he does this shit, or she just .. doesn't give a shit. who knows.



Edited at 2017-10-09 11:32 pm (UTC)

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she's not with him for his looks or personality

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fuck any person in a position of power who knew he was serial victimizing women and didn't say anything.

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Disgusting.



Kind OT - Sometimes I wonder if Lanas song Cola is about Harvey Weinstein.

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Ive seen LDR mentioned multiple times in connection to this scandal. Does he also have power in the music industry? Why would Lana have anything to do with him?

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There were paparazzi pics of them having lunch in Paris in 2012. The meeting seemed professional tho because it was in an actual restaurant and Lana was with her manager and sister.



Lanas songs Big Eyes and I Can Fly were made for the movie Big Eyes produced by The Weinstein Company.



Edited at 2017-10-09 11:01 pm (UTC)

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literally never realized that she was saying the name "Harvey" in that song. I thought she was saying "honey", I think? but now listening to it, it's obviously Harvey.

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i know your wife and she wouldn't mind it is lol

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She's always said the song was about Barrie-James ONeill "I have a Scottish boyfriend, and thats just what he says!" http://www.nme.com/news/music/lana-del-rey-142-1263832

Please don't make me imagine Weinstein tasting Lana's pussy.She's always said the song was about Barrie-James ONeill

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ewww that just ruined the song for me

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I've followed Romola for years, since her early masterpiece theatre days and DDHN really fucked her up. Like really, completely changed the course of her career, really changed who she is and she's been open about all that. I'm glad she can finally name and shame Harvey Weinstein at least.

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why dirty dancing fucked her career?

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Producers on the movie told her she was fat and encouraged her to develop bulimia. After that she totally ignored Hollywood and strictly made films in the UK.

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She's stayed as far away from Hollywood as she can.

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I liked that movie. Oops.

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Likewise <3 All the Romola love here gives me happiness.



I love the film because of her and Diego Luna's clear undeniable chemistry, pls put them in another film together, but what they said to her, like just fuck all of Hollywood for thinking anyone Romola's size is FAT. JFC.

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romola is everything. i will never forgive the bbc for ending the hour

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yeah, it's so horrible how she was treated



thankfully she was strong enough not to fall into that trap and she got out.

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I can't believe I never knew this. and I love that movie. :(((



ugh I love her. I adored her in her other projects too but I've always noticed that she couldn't hit it big.

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What a disgusting sack of shit he is.

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he needs to be behind bars

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Yes. So true!!!!!

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She's great and I'm glad she can talk about it and name him openly now.

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I remember the feeling of seeing him opening the door in the dressing gown and thinking, Oh god, this is a casting couch. But I guess its now only as a much older woman that I understood what it meant. At the time I understood myself to be a commodity and that my value in the industry rested almost exclusively on the way I looked and I didnt really think of myself to be any more than that.



Garai said she had never thought to raise the incident until now because in the film industry people would be shocked I even thought it was an issue. Weinsteins alleged behaviour towards women has been described as an open secret, and something Garai affirmed, saying he was one of the most notorious culprits for this sort of behaviour in the film industry.

This made me so sad. Romola is amazing and I hate that she had to go through all this.



Edited at 2017-10-09 11:02 pm (UTC) :'(This made me so sad. Romola is amazing and I hate that she had to go through all this.

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But Meryl didn't know! It couldn't have been an open secret!

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Poor Romola. :( I'm glad she's able to speak out about it now.

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I've just come off watching Big Little Lies and I have this immense urge to shove abusive asshole men down a big black hole collectively with the help of all women and everyone ever abused.



Arrrgh.

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besides harvey and woody allen and roman, i wonder how many more producers are out there who are like harvey? like why do men think its ok to abuse there power like this

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Polanski and Woody aren't producers, they're directors.



Probably more than we want to admit, tbh :|

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90% of Hollywood are predators. Directors, film producers, casting directors, even actors luring young girls to sleep with them.

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Then there's the music industry

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:( Disgusting. I just read the company is already pushing to change their name too. Rose is right - they need to all resign.

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yes, i read that too. they're just gonna change the name and still be the same bunch of creeps.

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Im glad all these women are coming out. Fuck Kate Winslet tho. Sis you support Woody Allen and roman Polanski but you take issue with Harvey Weinstein.

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Kate Winslet's press tour for Wonder Wheel is going to be bad.

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Shes a contradicting piece of shit.

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they should blacklist woody allen already. it's completely ridiculous.

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im positive he did this to every actress that didn't have family in the industry or a powerful family like the maras

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Ashley Judd came from a showbiz family, and he did it to her.

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Season's eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this year's Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted!

The best bar food category may only be two years old, but it's already become one of the most hotly contested competitions in our contest. The Wicked Hop scored the win in its inaugural run, but the title will already move to its second champion in as many years, as the beloved Bay View sausage slinger The Vanguard captured the crown in 2017.

It wasn't an easy win for the tasty tubed meat meeting place; only 35 votes separated Vanguard from the silver medalist McBob's, and the final five  rounded out by editors' pick Swingin' Door Exchange, last year's champ Wicked Hop and Drink Wisconsinbly Pub  all finished within 100 votes of one another.

However, it's definitely a deserving winner, as the sausage restaurant serves up some mouthwatering meats in some crazy combos, including the Bunkhouse  a bacon-wrapped cheddarwurst topped with fried jalapenos, guacamole, cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce  and the Gypsy Mitch, a tasty tribute to the Gypsy Taco truck just down the street at Boone & Crockett.

No matter which sausage you select, though, The Vanguard offers a worthy way to satisfy your hunger and soak up some suds.

Runners up:

2. McBob's

3. Swingin' Door Exchange

4. The Wicked Hop

5. Drink Wisconsinbly Pub

OnMilwaukee editors' pick: Swingin' Door Exchange

Lori Fredrich's pick: Company Brewing



After losing its chef, Company Brewing went through a rough patch earlier this year, and the menu suffered a bit. But, I do believe the Riverwest brewery is back on track with a great menu of delicious fare thats beyond worthy of its bar environment. Take for instance the mushroom walnut pate, which is a great snack with one of the tap cocktails. It also has excellent smashed butter burgers (with imaginative weekly specials) and tasty beer-braised mussels and frites. Dont miss the malted pots de creme at the end of the meal.
Season's eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this year's Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted!

Sorry to call you out, moms and dads, but the fact is most of us grew up eating some really nasty food. Its not really our parents fault, though. I blame the 70s. And the 80s. And the 90s.

I asked my coworkers to share their childhood misery meals, which are below, but I will begin with mine. My mother is 100 percent Italian, and although a stereotype, she is, indeed, a very excellent cook. (Mangia!)

That said, she also dished up demented delicacies like boiled marrow bones (I think the butcher gives those away for dogs?), fried bologna slices (not gonna lie, kind of craving those right now) and all of the Helpers (tuna, cheeseburger, hamster). We also ate a lot of microwavable meals because the microwave was still a relatively new concept, and we marveled over the fact we could "make" a burger and fries in three minutes. Sure, the bun turned to cardboard once it cooled and the fries were limp, but you guys: THREE MINUTES!

Somehow, we survived without contracting rickets or other diseases caused by wonky nutrition.

Heres some of the icky eats my coworkers devoured as kids.

Sandwich spread. When I was in kindergarten / early elementary school, my dad was working his butt off to be a broke AF single father of two and we ate what we could afford, including sandwich spread, aka ham salad. Sandwich spread is basically a puree of minced ham, mayo, relish and whatever else you need to get rid of. The local Piggly Wiggly sold it CHEAP and it was in our lunch on the daily. I liked it then (I think after a while we actually started to ask for it), but I can't even look at it in the deli now. Much love to my dad for grinding it out all those years, but oof.  Nick Barth

Casseroles. My mom (and who am I kidding  my dad couldn't stop making them either) was the queen of casseroles. You name it, she made it. Tuna, chicken, hamburger, whatever. To me, casseroles were just a bunch of crap thrown together  not really all that impressive, Mom. Thankfully, I've grown up quite a bit and I love me some casserole now. Especially cheeseburger ones. This question also made me ask my mom what I did or didn't like and apparently I hated potatoes. WHO can hate potatoes? The biggest travesty in all of this is that it included potato chips. What!?! I guess I'm making up for the fact that I didn't eat them till I was 9 or 10 because I can't get enough of that starchy goodness now.  Carolynn Buser

Brussels sprouts. I think I speak for all kids everywhere when I say that, by far, the grossest thing I ate growing up was vegetables. Brussels sprouts, especially. Repulsive. I still don't understand their disgusting appeal. Who wants to eat something so green anyway?  Jimmy Carlton

Liver. I don't have too many "gross" food memories from childhood, since my mother was actually a fairly accomplished cook. However, there were definitely foods that my childhood palate didn't have the sophistication for. Take for instance one of my mother's favorite dishes, liver and onions. Although I can appreciate the subtleties of liver now, I absolutely did not appreciate my mother's version, which tasted dry and pasty and just plain horrible. I also had no love for her soups. Her chicken noodle was probably the worst of all of them. She made the noodles by hand (I have fond memories of seeing them hanging on the backs of our wooden kitchen chairs to dry), and they were delicious. But, the stock itself was never salty enough for my taste. My siblings and I always joked that it was just water with vegetables floating around in it. Sadly, it meant that we rejoiced on the rare occasions we were able to indulge in a can of Campbell's chicken noodle with its mushy noodles and umami-laden salt-ridden flavor. I also had a "thing" for cold hot dogs. Actually, I loved them.  Lori Fredrich

Tuna casserole. My mom would make a huge pot of tuna casserole with celery and peas. It doesn't sound inherently bad, but it needed something like more cream of mushroom soup to hold it together. Instead it was super bland. My siblings and I never wanted to eat it, so we would take as small a portion as possible, but this would come back to bite us. Inevitably the casserole would end up back into the refrigerator and over the next week and a half it would be trudged out and re-microwaved over and over. Every night the tuna and noodles got drier and drier and we crossed our fingers, hoping to beat the odds of hot spot / cold spot. I haven't eaten tuna casserole since I left for college.  Jason McDowell

Jambalaya. As a millennial who regularly  and happily!  dines on SpaghettiOs, cheap ramen and various bagged salty snacks, I'm admittedly a bad person for a question about sub-par food options. I grew up with fairly food-forward parents, so while I got to hear their stories about eating meals of liver and onions, and giblets, I myself never had to try to swallow any of those down.

I do have one story about food I THOUGHT was gross, however. When I was about 8 or 9, my mom decided to cook up jambalaya one night  and she was going all out. This wasn't some frozen bag or boxed dish; she was really trying to make jambalaya. So she spent most of a weekend, cooking and crafting and slicing and dicing and sweating over this massive pot of jambalaya ... which my sister and I then took one bite of and instantly declared it disgusting. Looking back, I realize my sister and I were, to put it generously, little a**holes. But at the time, it was full-on repulsion.

Considering my current dining options tend to be self-made overcooked spaghetti and string cheese, I can't believe I ever turned down a meal that good.  Matt Mueller

Sugar bread. Still deciding if this qualifies as gross or amazingly awesome. Wonder Bread and Mrs. Karls White Bread were the crap of bread brands many years ago. Mrs. Karls was local, and  for what its worth  involved in a merger that got a its fair share of federal scrutiny in 1995.

Anyway, my family loved both of these massively unhealthy breads. And, my sister and I used to pile sugar into the center of slices, roll em up and eat these treats we simply called sugar bread. My parents tried to stop it, and probably did often but we found plenty of time and ways to sneak sugar bread sessions into our weeks. Ah, childhood. Ah, kinda gross. Yet, kinda good.  Jeff Sherman

SpaghettiOs. With all due respect to the millennials (sorry, Matt) who will scoff at my dissing the kitschy coolness of SpaghettiOs, these mushy little pasta rings with the blandest, most textureless tomato sauce were perhaps the grossest food we ate as kids, though I'm not sure we knew it at the time (not counting the insane pure sugar candy  Pop Rocks, seriously?!  we ate as kids in the '70s). My grandmother lived with us until her death when I was almost 8 and I like to think her Italian roots helped shape the fact that we ate pretty good as kids, especially compared to how I saw other families eating. Though we always wanted TV dinners, we rarely got them and McDonald's was an occasional treat. And while my mom couldn't completely resist the food industrial complex's full-court press on boxed pre-fab foods (I do recall her shaking pork chops in a plastic bag), I vividly remember her at the stove and the oven every night actually cooking food, not simply opening boxes. (She did win some sort of "homemaker" award at South Division.) Maybe it says something that I didn't have access to a microwave until I moved out.  Bobby Tanzilo
Season's eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this year's Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted!

It looks the space at 750 N. Jefferson St. that last housed Blackthorn Pub will finally see new life after more than four years of vacancy.

Longtime Milwaukee bar owner and restaurateur Mike Eitel has signed a lease on the space with plans to open a new bar and restaurant.

According to paperwork filed with the City of Milwaukee, the space will get a refresh including new paint, fixtures and light renovation completed by Kubala Washatko Architects.

Eitel, who has over 20 years of experience and is current owner of Nomad World Pub (Milwaukee and Madison locations) as well as co-owner of Panga Bar & Grill in Oconomowoc, says that details about the concept are forthcoming, as he will be meeting with Alderman Bob Bauman about his current operational plans this week.

According to Eitel, additional details will be released later this week. Watch OnMilwaukee for details as they become available.
Seasons eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this years Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted!

In this series, well be hiking the burger trail to find the latest, greatest and most delicious burgers in Milwaukee. Click here for an explanation of the criteria used to rate each burger. Where have we been? Check out the complete catalog of burger reviews here.

Cafe Soeurette

111 N. Main St., West Bend

(262) 338-2233

cafesoeurette.com



Over the past two decades dining has seen a major shift in the use of locally made products. Its been a benefit to diners who can now enjoy fresh, seasonal produce and locally raised meats at a variety of area restaurants.

In the West Bend area, Chef Jodi Janisse-Kanzenbach was a trailblazer in the movement. When she opened her restaurant Cafe Soeurette in 2007, there were very few higher end eateries in the area, let alone farm-to-table restaurants. And Janisse-Kanzenbachs initial efforts required a great deal of education. But by and by, diners began to catch on to the idea that local meant fresh, and they began coming back again and again for Janisse Kanzenbach's deliciously eclectic fare (read more here).

Today the restaurant is abuzz, particularly on Monday evenings when Cafe Soeurette hosts a weekly burger night. Using little ordering cards, diners can fill in their options, from burger to bun and toppings, creating their own masterpieces.

As tempting as it was to create my own burger, I opted for the restaurants signature creation: The Overstuffed Wisconsinite Burger which features one-half pound of house-ground ribeye stuffed with cheddar brandy jalapeno cheese and topped with ale onions, bacon and spicy mayo ($15). Its served up with a generous helping of french fries.

Presentation: 10

The burger looks delicious right out of the gate. Mine came to the table hot and glistening with visibly crisp bacon and cheese cascading down the side of the burger. It was stabbed with a pickled-jalapeno-studded steak knife, contributing to the idea that this was one bad-ass burger.

Bread/bun: 8

The bun on the burger was plenty soft with a slight crust on the exterior. It was nicely toasted inside, offering nice texture and a bit of resistance against the juicy burger (which wasnt nearly as messy to eat as Id imagined it would be).

Burger: 9

Its hard to mistake the fresh meaty flavor of freshly ground beef, and this one was delicious. The hand-packed patty wasnt packed too tight, so it stayed nice and juicy. It was also well-seasoned with a nice char on the exterior. Truly, this burger would have been delicious on its own, so stuffing it with cheese was really a bit like gilding the lily.

Toppings: 9

Top a great burger with great toppings and everything is right with the world. And such was true of the Wisconsinite. The bacon was deliciously crisp and smokey and nearly melted in my mouth. Meanwhile the caramelized ale onions were sweet and yeasty. The mayo on the bun added a touch of flavor, but was probably the most subtle element when all was told.

Value: 8

As Ive expressed before, value doesnt necessarily mean "cheap" (although Ive had some great burgers on the trailthat blew me away with their affordability). What it does mean is that the quality of the burger and its ingredients are well-matched. In this case, youre getting what you pay for -- fresh beef, great bacon, a quality bun. Would I pay $15 for this burger again? Yes, yes I would.

Total: 44/50

After eating this one at Cafe Soeurette, I might just have to drive to West Bend for burgers more often.

Cafe Soeurette is open Monday through Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m.
US Senator Bob Corker also said Trump was behaving as though he was still on the Apprentice, the reality show he hosted for several years. Corker's remarks came in an interview with a leading American newspaper.

By Santosh Chaubey: Republican US Senator Bob Corker told a leading American daily on Sunday that the threats President Donald Trump has made to other nations could put the US "on the path to World War III."

Corker, an influential voice on US foreign policy, made this grim forecast in an interview with the New York Times (NYT). The newspaper called it "an extraordinary rebuke of a president of his own party."

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Donald Trump had earlier posted a series of tweets in which he claimed Corker had "begged" him to endorse his re-election bid in the US state of Tennessee (which he represents as a Senator), and that he left the race when the President refused.

He said Corker wanted to be Secretary of State, and accused the senator of being responsible for "the horrendous Iran Deal" - a 2015 agreement that limited Tehran's nuclear program, which Trump has now threatened to decertify.

Senator Bob Corker "begged" me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said "NO" and he dropped out (said he could not win without...- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

..my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said "NO THANKS." He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

"...Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run!" he wrote in the last tweet.

Bob Corker told NYT that Trump was behaving "like he's doing 'The Apprentice' or something," referring to a reality show that Trump hosted for many years.

"I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, it's a situation of trying to contain him," Corker told the newspaper.

The senator, who in the interview refuted the President's claims that he'd asked for his endorsement, also hit back on Twitter.

It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.- Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) October 8, 2017

Bob Corker heads the powerful US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He is a supporter-turned-critic of Donald Trump - especially of his handling of issues like the North Korean nuclear crisis, or the changes he's trying to make to the US tax regime.

WATCH | Trump urges UN member states to isolate Kim govt until it ceases its hostile behavior

--- ENDS ---

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Australia's biggest bank, the Commonwealth, vowed Monday to fight what could become the country's largest shareholder class action over alleged breaches of anti-money laundering laws. The open class action, filed by law firm Maurice Blackburn and litigation funder IMF Bentham in the Federal Court in Melbourne Monday, followed a civil case launched by Australia's financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC in August. AUSTRAC alleged the bank engaged in "serious and systemic non-compliance" of anti-money laundering laws involving thousands of transactions. The class action claims CBA neglected its disclosure obligations as a listed company, hurting shareholders who bought its stock. CBA has more than 800,000 shareholders, with millions more holding stock through pension funds, according to this year's annual report. In a brief statement, the bank -- Australia's largest firm by market capitalisation -- said it "intends to vigorously defend this claim". The case specifically names senior CBA executives -- including chief executive Ian Narev -- claiming they had "early knowledge of the AUSTRAC compliance issues which remained undisclosed until this year", Maurice Blackburn said. Narev has been one of the casualties in the fallout, with CBA announcing he would retire by the end of the 2018 financial year. The AUSTRAC case also prompted other Australian regulators to launch inquiries into the bank over its handling of the alleged breaches and its organisational culture. Shares in CBA, which have slipped since the AUSTRAC announcement, edged up by 0.45 percent to Aus$76.62 in mid-afternoon trade.
Carrie Fulton recently completed the first season of field work in a three-year study of an ancient marine site off the coast of Cyprus. Credit: Carrie Fulton

Many of us dream of spending the summer on the water, but for University of Toronto archaeologist Carrie Fulton, it's just another day on the job.

Fulton, an assistant professor of historical studies at U of T Mississauga, recently completed the first season of field work in a three-year study of an ancient marine site off the coast of Cyprus. Fulton and her five-member research team conducted daily dives in the Mediterranean Sea, searching for signs of ancient trade routes.

Fulton studies trade networks in the ancient world, focusing on the Mediterranean region from the late Bronze Age to the early Roman period between 300 BC and 300 CE. "I'm thinking about that transition in history and how movement of material objects reflects those transitions," says Fulton. "In particular, I'm curious about how we can look at cultural interactions by studying how objects were moved, and how cultural ideas were embedded and changed as objects moved across different regions."

Fulton's current research focuses on Maroni-Tsaroukkas, an area off the south-central Cypriot coastline where ships have anchored for hundreds of years. She studies the stone block anchors left behind by the ships, looking for clues about how trade networks operated and changed over time in the region.

"This area of the coastline was used from the late Bronze Age through to the Roman period," says Fulton (pictured left). "That represents interesting and challenging questions for us in underwater material. How do we determine the differentiation of use of these anchorages in different periods? These anchorages also interact with sites on land. What can that tell us about the types of goods being moved?"

In some ways, Fulton's survey sites resemble a typical archaeological site on land. Her team, which includes U of T graduate student Naomi Neufeld, uses strings and stakes to define the survey area, and keeps detailed photographic records of their finds. But they do it all in full scuba gear, toting dive slates and other underwater equipment to the sea floor.

The anchors  stone blocks with holes that would have been looped through with rope  lie on the seabed about 20 metres below the surface. "It's thought that they were thrown overboard, and retrieved, but some of these are massive," says Fulton. The blocks range in size from 20 centimetres to close to a metre in size, and weighing up to 160 kilograms. "It would have taken multiple people to move these, possibly using a winch," she says. "Ships would carry many of these to deploy as needed, [and they would have] to cut the line if it couldn't be retrieved."

The team typically dives for about three hours every day, beginning at 6:30 in the morning, and sometimes contending with half-meter waves created by the coastal winds. "We systematically survey the area by swimming back and forth, searching for pottery and other cultural material near the anchors that can give us clues into the frequency of use of the site or the types of materials being transported," says Fulton.

Because they leave their finds in situ, Fulton's team has been testing a camera system custom-designed for digital recording of the anchorage sites.

"The camera is enclosed in underwater housing and is attached to a microcomputer that records depth, position and allows us to take the photos from the camera and stitch them together into a 3-D rendering that we can manipulate," says Fulton. "That helps to preserve the underwater environment. Over several years, we can see changes in the visibility of the anchors and have a more comprehensive record of the anchorage."

"Most of what we are seeing belonged to transport vessels of some sort," says Fulton. "The other thing that we're finding are large architectural blocks that weigh up to one tonne. They are similar to a type of masonry used in the late Bronze Age for elite architecture. Would these have been going to some elite building, or was it part of an anchorage system, or evidence of Roman or modern looting of late Bronze Age sites? Next summer, we'll excavate around them and lift them up. I hope we'll find clues about what they were used for."
Facebook's chief security officer warned that the fake-news problem is more complicated and dangerous to solve than the public thinks.

Alex Stamos, who is handling the company's investigation into Russia's use of the social media platform during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, cautioned about hoping for technical solutions that he said could have unintended consequences of ideological bias.

It's very difficult to spot fake news and propaganda using just computer programs, Stamos said in a series of Twitter posts Saturday.

"Nobody of substance at the big companies thinks of algorithms as neutral," Stamos wrote, adding that the media is simplifying the matter. "Nobody is not aware of the risks."

The easy technical solutions would boil down to silencing topics that Facebook is aware are being spread by bots which should only be done "if you don't worry about becoming the Ministry of Truth" with machine learning systems "trained on your personal biases," he said.

Stamos's comments shed light on why Facebook added 1,000 people to review its advertising, rather than attempt an automated solution.

The company sent a note to advertisers telling them it would start to manually review ads targeted to people based on politics, religion, ethnicity or social issues. The company is trying to figure out how to monitor use of its system without censoring ideas, after the Russian government used fake accounts to spread political discord in the U.S. before the election.

"A lot of people aren't thinking hard about the world they are asking (the tech industry) to build," Stamos wrote. "When the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers."

Facebook has given more than 3,000 ads purchased by Russian entities to congressional investigators looking into Russian influence on the election. Twitter has said it gave the panels a roundup of advertisements by RT, formerly known as Russia Today, a TV network funded by the Russian government.

Officials of Facebook, Twitter and Google are set to testify to Congress Nov. 1.

2017 Bloomberg News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Conservation of dwindling fish stocks is being severely hampered by poor controls on global trade, according to research published today (Monday, October 9, 2017) in Scientific Reports.

The study carried out by the Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre at the University of Salford looked at global production and trade statistics of the popular 'snapper' fishes and uncovered wide inconsistencies in records meant that the officially reported snapper trade may be underestimated by more than 70%.

Major discrepancies were found between imports reported by the USA, the world's largest consumer of snapper, and exports declared by its chief suppliers  Mexico, Panama and Brazil.

New Zealand reports hefty snapper exports but the study suggests that the traded fish is actually silver seabream  local referred to as 'snapper', but belonging to a different fish family. Consequently, global snapper exports are inflated by almost 30%. The discrepancies, they suggest, are likely to happen for other valuable and exploited fish that do not have detailed trade codes, such as groupers, croakers and the orange roughy.

"Without the ability to accurately track fish species in trade, or to link provenance with consumption, vulnerable stocks of snapper and other fish may be overexploited instead of protected," said Stefano Mariani, professor of conservation genetics.

"Equally problematic is that rare species are being traded under the radar, with consumers being sold a different product to the name on the label, both in shops and restaurants.

"Worryingly, the current flaws in trade regulations even allow "bovine" as a label, allowing firms to illegally trade wildebeest, buffalos, bison, gazelles, springboks etc, unnoticed."

Part of the problem, the team concluded, is that the global trade classification system treats fish with a broad brush description, allowing heavily-exploited species to be lumped under generic trade codes.

"The snapper family comprises more than 100 species; highly variable in number, distribution, value and vulnerability to overfishing. Yet, these species largely lose their identities once they are hauled from the water and shipped to foreign destinations," said lead researcher, Dr Donna- Maree Cawthorn.

Cawthorn used "mirror statistics", comparing export and import statistics drawn from customs databases for every country trading in snappers, and cross-checking the data against official snapper trade reported to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

"The total global imports of a commodity should be equal to the global exports, whenever you spot mismatches, it means that there is some country that is not reporting either some import or some export, or both," she said, adding that unreported trade could potentially involve illegally-caught produce.

Snappers are one of the USA's most prized seafoods, with fresh fillets potentially fetching upward of $75 per kilo. The red snapper is currently at the centre of a battle between the Trump administration and conservationists who say recreational fishing is endangering the species.

More information: Donna-Maree Cawthorn et al. Global trade statistics lack granularity to inform traceability and management of diverse and high-value fishes, Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12301-x Journal information: Scientific Reports
Where are the benefits from all that hard work? Credit: Shutterstock

In 1930, the economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that technological change and productivity improvements would eventually lead to a 15-hour workweek. But, despite significant productivity gains over the past few decades, we still work 40 hours a week on average.

Keynes's reasoning was that by producing more with less (also known as being more productive), all of our needs would be met through less work, freeing up more time for leisure. But the data and research since Keynes's time suggest that companies have kept the benefits of productivity for themselves.

In his own time, Keynes witnessed the rise of automated factories, mass production and the greater use of electricity, steam and coal. He writes of a 40% increase in factory output in the United States from 1919 to 1925. This productivity increase allowed for a higher standard of living and radically transformed the working world. It was not a stretch for Keynes to predict future technologies would do the same thing once more.

A productivity explosion

According to one study, productivity in "office-based sectors" has increased by 84% since 1970, almost solely due to computing power. In other words, an office worker today can do in one hour what an office worker in 1970 took five hours to do. A full workday in 1970 can now be completed in 1.5 hours.

We are now twice as productive as Keynes imagined. The digital revolution has drastically increased the amount of work each individual worker can do.

Industries that benefited the most from new technology, including agriculture, had a 46% increase in productivity from 1993 to 2004 alone, at the height of the tech boom. Innovation in farming technology was the root cause of this "productivity boom."

In the legal industry, the idea of a "paperless" office dramatically increased productivity at the largest law firms from the late 1990s, when the internet came into play. Now, large law firms are investing in new technologies like cloud computing, document management systems and even rudimentary artificial intelligence. The latter could be particularly transformative, allowing firms to quickly analyse large documents and data sets.

Thanks to all of this technology, one report found that for "80% of matters" a recent law graduate is more productive than someone with ten years' experience at a law firm. In other words, technology is increasing productivity so fast that it is outpacing the productivity benefits of having actual work experience.

Stagnant work hours

Yet these significant productivity gains are not translating into fewer working hours. The reason for this is partly political and partly economic.

Instead of reducing working hours, productivity gains have been met by calls for greater productivity gains. Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten, for instance, are in agreement that "higher productivity  leads to more jobs and higher wages." Keynes, on the other hand, was arguing for an economy with fewer jobs, less working hours and, paradoxically, higher wages.

At an economic level, productivity gains have been absorbed into most companies' bottom line. While employee wage growth has stayed flat, CEO pay has risen dramatically over the years, stalling only recently. A report from the Economic Policy Institute found that CEO pay has increased by 937% since 1978, compared to a mere 10.2% increase in average wages. In other words, the benefits of productivity have gone straight to the top.

In many industries companies have used productivity improvements to get larger, increasing the amount of business they do. By the end of the tech boom of the 1990s, for instance, Australia had six of the world's 40 largest law firms. In accounting, the Big Four accounting firms have had record-breaking increases in revenue in the 2010s, while their employees are reportedly "worked to death."

Instead of discussing the benefits of increasing productivity even further, our politicians and business leaders need to start discussing the missed opportunities of our productivity boom. Like the missed opportunity of taxing the mining boom, Australia is missing out on a massive reduction in working hours due to us from the productivity boom of the 1990s and early 2000s.

As the spectre of AI and robotics looms ahead of us, and people again start talking about future techno utopias, we must deal with the economic realities of the past. Technology, far from freeing up our lives, has been used to keep us working the same amount of time, benefiting only the top of our society.

Properly conceived, new technology should give us greater leisure time than ever before. But, to do so, increases in productivity need to be directly tied to wage growth and working hours. Increases in productivity should be met either with increased wages, or a reduction in working hours at the same wage level. Failing this, the few will continue to benefit from the harder and harder work of the many.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Credit: Apple

As expected, Apple announced this year's updated iPhones on September 12, but the iPhone X gathered most of the headlines.

The iPhone X is Apple's latest salvo in the flagship phone wars with Google and Samsung.

I'll have plenty to say about the iPhone X when I actually get my hands on one in November.

Apple also introduced the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, built on the familiar iPhone design that started with the iPhone 6. Indeed, until the iPhone X was announced, Apple had not significantly changed the iPhone design in three years.

I was not surprised at all to see the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus introduced alongside the iPhone X, but I can't help but wonder why Apple stuck with the old design for one more year.

Actually this was supposed to be an 'S' year, as Apple has traditionally followed a new iPhone with an S model the following year. This is the first non-S year since the iPhone 3.

Not that I'm complaining.

Usually when I review a phone, it's sent by the manufacturer or a PR agency or from a wireless carrier, but in this case I'm reviewing the iPhone 8 Plus I purchased on release day.

People who read my reviews know I'm an iPhone user, but I also pay for my own phone, so I can't justify a new phone every year. The iPhone 8 Plus is replacing my trusty iPhone 6S, which was handed down to my wife.

Decisions ... decisions ...

I thought long and hard about which phone to buy.

Apple introduced the iPhone 8 and then made it obsolete about half an hour later.

The gadget reviewer in me wanted to have the latest and greatest, but the iPhone X starts at $999, and that's a price threshold I'm not ready to cross. Plus I'm not yet ready to give up my fingerprint authentication in favor of Face ID. I'll be happy to let others be the guinea pigs for that technology. I use Apple Pay almost every day, so I'm not keen on anything getting in the way of those easy transactions.

I was glad to see most of the technology inside the iPhone X is also inside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.

I have never owned a smartphone with a screen larger than the 4.7-inch screen on my iPhone 6S, and I'm really into photography, so I decided now was the time to go with the 5.5-inch screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.

So what's new?

The first thing you'll notice about the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus is the back of the phone, which is now made of glass. Previous years have seen the iPhone's back made of aluminum, but Apple decided to include wireless charging in the iPhone 8 and glass makes that possible.

Wireless charging is hardly new.

Samsung, LG and Motorola all make handsets that have wireless charging, but now that Apple has thrown in with the Qi standard for wireless charging, hopefully we'll see some fancy new chargers or public charging stations at coffee shops and hotels. Apple also introduced a wireless charging pad that can charge an iPhone, Apple watch and AirPods all at the same time, but it won't be available until next year.

For now, iPhone 8 owners will have to buy a Qi charger from another company.

I like Samsung's line of fast wireless chargers.

Right now, iPhones capable of wireless charging can only take advantage of 5 watts of charging power (not very speedy). Apple says 7.5 watt (faster) charging is coming with a software update.

Speaking of fast, this is the first iPhone with fast charging, but you won't get it with the charger and cable included in the box.

To fast charge the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X, you'll need a USB-C to Lightning cable and a USB charger that features Power Delivery. A quick check of Amazon shows several adapters from different companies that should be able to fast charge. You'll want to spend $20 for the official Apple cable. There are other brands, but early word is Apple's cable will provide the fastest charging.

With the faster charger and Apple cable you'll be able to charge the phone to 50 percent in just 30 minutes.

Faster processor

It was no secret Apple would be bumping the processor in the new iPhones. Every iPhone I can remember has had a better or faster processor than the previous model. This year it is called the A11 Bionic processor.

Apple started building its own processors five years ago, and they really have a speed advantage because they control the hardware and the software.

Apple has put the Bionic chip in both iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X. The term "bionic" really doesn't have a technical meaning - it just sounds cool.

Early speed testing shows the A11 Bionic is faster than some of the low end Macbook Pros and they're much faster than any other phone currently on the market.

The A11 has six cores - two high performance cores and four high efficiency cores. It also has the first Apple graphics processor. Every aspect of the iPhone 8's operation feels very snappy.

Camera improvements

The iPhone 8s main cameras have 12-megapixel sensors that are larger and faster than last year's iPhone 7. Optical image stabilization works on still pictures and videos.

The iPhone 8 Plus has dual cameras, one wide-angle (f/1.8) and one telephoto (f/2.8). They work together along with the new image sensor to form the best smartphone camera I've used.

Last year's Portrait mode now has more options to adjust an image's lighting to provide for several new effects.

The iPhone 8 has only the wide-angle camera.

Video capture of 4K resolution at 60 frames per second provides smooth and sharp playback, while slow motion video is captured at 1080p at 240 fps.

That new A11 Bionic proessor really helps all the camera features work quickly and flawlessly.

HDR mode used to be optional, but with the new iPhones, it's turned on by default and there is really no reason to turn it off. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It works to balance the shadows and highlights of a photo so that neither are being favored or ignored. The processor improvements mean those HDR pictures are processed seamlessly and in real time.

Other improvements

The iPhone 8 screen sizes are the same (4.7-inch and 5.5-inch), but this year the displays have a technology called True Tone that adjusts the brightness and color balance of the screen to provide better viewing in all lighting situations. Indeed, I turned on my iPhone 8 Plus in the middle of the night and was pleased to see a very readable screen that was dimmed so it didn't blast my eyes with very bright light.

The iPhone 8 models have stereo speakers. The speaker you put up to your ear can get loud enough along with the main speaker in the phone's bottom edge to hear some stereo separation. The sound is 25 percent louder with the new phones.

Pricing and availability

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are available in three colors - silver, gold and space gray - and with 64 or 256 gigabytes of storage. The iPhone 8 costs $699 and $849, while the 8 Plus costs $799 and $949.

Of course wireless carriers all offer payment plans of some sort. Check with your carrier for details.

Should you buy one?

So, let's say you're in the market for a new iPhone. Should it be the iPhone 8 or wait for the iPhone X?

It depends on a few things.

How much do you have to spend?

How long do you want to wait?

Is the lack of a home button and a larger screen with a smaller bezel important to you? How about having the latest technology?

Are you just wanting something rock solid and totally familiar? I guess I was.

Choosing the iPhone 8 Plus was easy for me, but when I put it in its case, nobody will ask me if it's a new iPhone because it looks just like my old one.

Apple was very careful to make sure the iPhone 8s have the exact same form factor as last year's models. All your iPhone 6 or iPhone 7 cases will fit.

I was very happy to choose the phone with the same processor as the iPhone X, along with the same cameras and wireless charging.

All I'm missing out on is the edge-to-edge screen and Face ID. I'm not sure those differences are worth several hundred more dollars.

If I owned an iPhone 7, I'd likely skip the iPhone 8, as I can't see it being that big of an upgrade.

Owners of iPhone 6S (like me) have a bit easier time making the choice. If your iPhone is more than two years old, you'll likely be happy with the iPhone 8.

I am, so far. I'm sure I'll have some buyer's remorse when I get an iPhone X in my hands, but I'll get over it.

****

Pros: Faster, great camera, wireless charging

Cons: Design is already obsolete

Bottom line: The iPhone 8 is the safe choice, and an easy choice for me.

(c)2017 The Dallas Morning News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Luwian Hieroglyphic inscription by the Great King of Mira, Kupanta-Kurunta, composed at about 1180 BC. Credit: Luwian Studies

An interdisciplinary team of Swiss and Dutch archaeologists today announced the rediscovery of a 29-meter-long Luwian hieroglyphic inscription that describes the events at the end of the Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean. One of the greatest puzzles of Mediterranean archeology can thus be plausibly solved.

The 35-cm tall limestone frieze was found back in 1878 in the village of Beykoy, approximately 34 kilometers north of Afyonkarahisar in modern Turkey. It bears the longest known hieroglyphic inscription from the Bronze Age. Soon after local peasants retrieved the stones from the ground, the French archeologist Georges Perrot was able to carefully copy the inscription. However, the villagers subsequently used the stones as building material for the foundation of their mosque.

From about 1950 onwards, Luwian hieroglyphs could be read. At the time, a Turkish/US-American team of experts was established to translate this and other inscriptions that during the 19th century had made their way into the collections of the Ottoman Empire. However, the publication was delayed again and again. Ultimately, around 1985, all the researchers involved in the project had died. Copies of these inscriptions resurfaced recently in the estate of the English prehistorian James Mellaart, who died in 2012. In June 2017, Mellaart's son Alan handed over this part of the legacy to the Swiss geoarcheologist Dr. Eberhard Zangger, president of the Luwian Studies foundation, to edit and publish the material in due course.

The academic publication of the inscription will appear in December 2017 in the Proceedings of the Dutch Archaeological and Historical Society  TALANTA. Among other things, Zangger and the Dutch linguist and expert in Luwian language and script, Dr. Fred Woudhuizen, will present a transcription, a translation, a detailed commentary, and the remarkable research history of the find.

The inscription and a summary of its contents also appear in a book by Eberhard Zangger that is being published in Germany today: Die Luwier und der Trojanische Krieg  Eine Forschungsgeschichte. According to Zangger, the inscription was commissioned by Kupanta-Kurunta, the Great King of Mira, a Late Bronze Age state in western Asia Minor. When Kupanta-Kurunta had reinforced his realm, just before 1190 BC, he ordered his armies to storm toward the east against the vassal states of the Hittites. After successful conquests on land, the united forces of western Asia Minor also formed a fleet and invaded a number of coastal cities (whose names are given) in the south and southeast of Asia Minor, as well as in Syria and Palestine. Four great princes commanded the naval forces, among them Muksus from the Troad, the region of ancient Troy. The Luwians from western Asia Minor advanced all the way to the borders of Egypt, and even built a fortress at Ashkelon in southern Palestine.

According to this inscription, the Luwians from western Asia Minor contributed decisively to the so-called Sea Peoples' invasions  and thus to the end of the Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean.

More information: For more information, see www.luwianstudies.org

Provided by Luwian Studies
Transmission electron microscopy image of Ostreococcus tauri strain RCC4221. Credit: Martin Hohmann-Marriott

Although they are invisible to the unaided eye, tiny green algae called Ostreococcus play a big role in how carbon, including carbon dioxide (CO2), cycle through our world. Researchers have sequenced and analyzed the complete set of genes (the genome) of 13 members of a natural Ostreococcus population. The analysis revealed that the O. tauri population is larger than anticipated. It's also diverse in terms of its genetics and appearance. The algae's natural resistance to ocean viruses influenced the algae's diversity.

Ostreococcus is a model species to study algae in marine environments. Though microscopic, these picoplankton use sunlight together with CO2 to create organic matter. The algae are significant primary producers (that is, they convert CO2 into biomass). Thus, the algae contribute to the global carbon cycle. This study offers insights into the genetic variability of various Ostreococcus strains. The results will help scientists see how environmental changes affect algae's ability to survive and thrive.

Picophytoplankton such as Ostreococcus are so small they are invisible to the naked eye. Despite their size, their global abundance means they are a widespread primary producer and form the bases of several marine food webs. In coastal areas, they account for as much as 80 percent of the available biomass. A decade ago, the Joint Genome Institute (JGI), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science user facility, sequenced one of the Ostreococcus strains. That genome, along with other genome sequences from three groups of the picophytoplankton Ostreococcus, revealed the tiny algae's diversity and adaptation to different ecological niches around the world.

Now, a team led by researchers at the Oceanological Observatory of Banyuls, France, and including scientists at the DOE JGI, has resequenced and analyzed 13 members of a natural population of Ostreococcus tauri from the northwest Mediterranean Sea. The analysis offers a complete picture on the surprisingly large population and correspondingly high genetic and phenotypic diversity within O. tauri species. The team identified two large candidate mating type loci, consistent with the pervasive evidence of recombination and thus sexual reproduction within the population. The work reported in Science Advances was enabled in part by the DOE JGI's Community Science Program. A deeper understanding of algal genomic diversity and potential will help scientists track carbon (and nitrogen) traffic through marine ecosystems as well as provide insights into the structure and operation of algal plant communities.

More information: Romain Blanc-Mathieu et al. Population genomics of picophytoplankton unveils novel chromosome hypervariability, Science Advances (2017). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700239 Journal information: Science Advances
What do you think of when you think of maths? If you're like most people, it's probably something like: numbers, equations, boredom, anxiety and pain.

Then there are the weird ones, like me, who call themselves mathematicians. When we think of maths, we think of shapes, colours, patterns, creativity, freedom, insight and the feeling of making deep connections.

Why is there such a huge gap between how mathematicians and the general population see and experience maths?

The myth of the maths gift

So many people give up on engaging with maths from a young age, deciding, "I am just not a maths person, I'm not good at maths."

There is a deeply entrenched view in our society that ability to learn and master mathematical understanding comes from an inborn gift rather than from hard work and perseverance.

When we hold this view from a young age, the maths classroom becomes a place where we are constantly being judged not good enough, a place of repeated failure and shame.

And with each failed test, with each time we're put on the spot to answer a question we're not prepared for, we think, "See, I'm really not a maths person. Get me out of here, I don't belong."

Then grows maths anxiety.

The work of academics like Carol Dweck and Jo Boaler of Stanford University suggests that the strongest predictor of achievement in maths is mindsetspecifically, whether you believe you can grow your maths ability or whether it is fixed.

Come again? You're saying I just have to believe I'm good at maths and then I can be?

Not quite.

You just have to believe you can be better and then you can. Working at maths over a long period of time with this belief, you will see significant improvement. Remember The Little Engine That Could? Belief and effort get you over the hill, in maths, just like everything else.

Students with a fixed mindset create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because they believe they have no ability at maths, when they encounter a problem or something they don't know, they give up easily.

Students with a growth mindset will try again and again and again, use different strategies and find help from different sources.

An analysis of achievement against mindset of the 2016 international maths test, PISA, showed a gap in achievement equivalent to a year and a half between students with a fixed mindset and students with a growth mindset.

A lack of connection

So OK, you say, if I change my belief around maths and "I think I can, I think I can", I can learn a lot more. But why would I want to? That still doesn't stop maths being boring and irrelevant, right?

Now here is perhaps a bigger problem.

I just asked my housemate what the second most read book in the world was.

When I told her it's Euclid's The Elements, she said, "How? I've never even heard of it!"

This is precisely the response I'd expect if I randomly asked someone on the street.

It's the initial treatise on the basics of geometry, with revolutionary facts like the shortest distance between two points is a straight line and parallel lines never meet.

The rigour of reasoning and proof was unmatched until the 19th centuryit is a masterpiece of reasoning and logical thought.

The world we now live in is literally built on the works like this and the works of Descartes, Pythagoras and Newton. (Hey, you know the guy who had an apple fall on his head? Turns out he also casually invented calculus in order to have a means to figure out the mass of the Earth.)

Professor Edward Frenkel makes the argument that mathematicians have done a bad job of promoting themselves. The masterpieces of art and literature and even science (think da Vinci, Shakespeare, Einstein) are very different. Even if we haven't seen them directly or read them, we know them as a fundamental part of our culture, and we know their beauty.

As mathematicians, we haven't shared this beauty of the masterpieces in a way that has allowed the general population to appreciate them.

But more of a travesty than this is the way traditional education has presented maths as a set of disconnected procedures: add these two numbers, multiply the base by the height, find x 

This bores me.

I taught maths as a high school teacher and had to teach like this. My students were bored too.

There are two big things missing: connection of ideas and connection to the real world.

To present maths in a way that isn't horribly boring, you actually only need one of these two (but both together is great as well).

I've been doing something different lately in my work with Scitech as a professional learning consultant: inquiry maths. I go into classes and bring coloured geometrical shapes, rods and fraction circles, and I set focused tasks of exploration.

Students play, seek out patterns, ask their own questions, discuss and debate their ideas.

I used to ask a class of 30 students who liked maths, and two students would put their hand up.

I've taken this approach into more than 60 classrooms and consistently seen a whole classroom engaged and excited about mathematical ideas.

People enjoy connecting ideas.

In an example of real-world maths, I recently set a task for a couple of hundred students to figure out how much area it would take to power the whole of WA in solar power. They worked in small groups, fully self-motivated to tackle the problem for an hour.

People enjoy tackling big problems that connect to the real world.

The good news

The things I've been doing are just small-scale examples of great movements in maths education and engagement happening around the world.

Youcubed.org provides courses for teachers, parents and students to rediscover the joy of mathematics. Tens of thousands of people have tried these.

Math for Love, in Seattle, is doing similar work creating an alternative curriculum around problem-solving and investigation. Try the Diffy Squares task for an experience of playful thought-provoking maths anyone can do.

Dan Meyer teaches maths using videos of real-world scenarios in his 3-Acts maths lessons.

The public profile of maths is lifting as well through the works of YouTube channels like Numberphile and Veritasium, websites like the popular comic xkcd and the growing profession of the maths communicator (check out Hannah Fry below or Vi Hart) and even the maths comedian (check out Matt Parker or Simon Pampena).

If you're one of those people who hated maths, just aren't "a maths person" or think it doesn't matter, I hope next time you think about maths you remember there's a whole world of beauty, connection and understanding to tap into if you can just make the effort.

Provided by Particle

This article first appeared on Particle, a science news website based at Scitech, Perth, Australia. Read the original article.
These maps show for the first time the complete distribution of global terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity on Earth. They comprise approximately 31,000 species of mammal, bird, amphibian and now reptiles. Credit: University of Oxford

An international team of scientists have completed the 'atlas of life' - the first global review and map of every vertebrate on Earth.

Led by researchers at the University of Oxford and Tel Aviv University, the 39 scientists have produced a catalogue and atlas of the world's reptiles. By linking this atlas with existing maps for birds, mammals and amphibians, the team have found many new areas where conservation action is vital.

In order to best protect wildlife, it's important to know where species live, so the right action can be taken and scarce funding allocated in the right places. With this in mind, an international group of researchers have produced detailed maps highlighting the whereabouts of all known land-living species of vertebrate on Earth.

Maps showing the habitats of almost all birds, mammals and amphibians have been completed since 2006, but it was widely thought that many reptile species were too poorly known to be mapped.

In research featured in Nature Ecology & Evolution, scientists from the University of Oxford School of Geography and Environment worked in close collaboration with colleagues from of Tel Aviv University and 30 other institutions to produce the new reptile atlas, which covers more than 10,000 species of snakes, lizards and turtles/tortoises. The data completes the world map of 31,000 species of humanity's closest relatives, including around 5000 mammals, 10,000 birds and 6000 frogs and salamanders.

The map has revealed unexpected trends and regions of biodiversity fragility. They include the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, inland arid southern Africa, the Asian steppes, the central Australian deserts; the Brazilian caatinga scrubland, and the high southern Andes.

These basic infographics show the regions of the world which have gone up the most in conservation importance now we know where all the snakes and lizards can be found. Credit: University of Oxford

Lead author Dr Uri Roll, now of the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, said: 'Lizards especially tend to have weird distributions and often like hot and dry places, so many of the newly identified conservation priority areas are in drylands and deserts. These don't tend to be priorities for birds or mammals, so we couldn't have guessed them in advance.'

Dr Richard Grenyer, Associate Professor in Biodiversity and Biogeography at Oxford University, said: 'On the one hand, finding vital areas in arid regions is a good thing because the land is fairly cheap. But deserts and drylands are also home to lots of other modern activities, such as major irrigation projects, huge new solar power developments, and sometimes widespread land degradation, war and conflict. This makes them very challenging environment for conservationists to work.'

The maps have also allowed conservationists to ask whether environmental efforts to date have been invested in the right way, and how they could be used most effectively.

Dr Grenyer added: 'Thanks to tools like our atlas, scientists can for the first time look at the terrestrial Earth in its entirety, and make informed decisions about how to use conservation funding. This is not to say that the work done to date has been inaccurate: based on our knowledge at the time, conservationists have often made some really good decisions. But now conservation has the data and tools required to bring planning up to the same level as the businesses and governments who might have an eye on land for other uses. Maybe we're actually a bit better, and we're doing it in the open.'

Professor Shai Meiri from Tel Aviv University, who first planned the project more than ten years ago, said: 'Mapping the distributions of all reptiles was considered too difficult to tackle. But thanks to a team of experts on the lizards and snakes of some of the most poorly known regions of the world we managed to achieve this, and hopefully contribute to the conservation of these often elusive vertebrates that suffer from persecution and prejudice'.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are currently classifying the species featured in the map with a rating, from "critically endangered" to "least concern". Once this work is complete, the interactive resource will be freely available for public access and use. Moving forward, its creation will allow a range of stakeholders, from countries, to conservation organisations, businesses and individuals, to understand the biodiversity in their surrounding environment, its importance and crucially, what they can do to better protect it.

More information: Uri Roll et al, The global distribution of tetrapods reveals a need for targeted reptile conservation, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0332-2 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution
By PTI: Nadiad (Guj), Oct 9 (PTI) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took a dig today at the BJP saying the doors of the Gujarat government were open only for a few industrialists.

He made the remarks after offering prayers at the famous Santram temple here, on the first day of a three-day tour of the poll-bound state.

"(Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji and the BJP talk big about religion, but the doors of the Gujarat government are just open for a few industrialists. They are not open for all, like the doors of this temple," the Congress leader said.

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Gujarat Congress spokesman Manish Doshi had earlier said that his party was "deliberately projected as anti-Hindu" by the BJP and the RSS.

He had said Gandhis visit to various temples during his tour was aimed at countering the "hardline Hindutva" campaign of the BJP and the RSS.

Gandhi today began the second leg of his poll campaign from central Gujarat.

During his first leg of the three-day Navsarjan Yatra in Saurashtra last month, he had visited five temples, including the Dwarkadeesh temple and the hill-top Chotila shrine.

At the Santram temple here, Gandhi interacted with the temple authorities and told a small gathering that the "tallest leader of the Congress", Mahatma Gandhi, had come to the shrine during the Dandi March in 1930.

"I came to know from the temple management that it does a lot of work in the field of education besides social service. Their doors are open for all whether the poor or the rich," the Congress vice president said.

"It should be so because it is our tradition and it is the tradition of our religion," he said.

The Congress leader is scheduled to visit some more temples in the state. PTI PJT PD NM GK SC

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Horned Larks from The Field Museum's collections, with gray birds from the turn of the century and cleaner birds from more recent years when there was less soot in the atmosphere. Credit: (c) Carl Fuldner and Shane DuBay, The University of Chicago and The Field Museum

Horned Larks are cute little songbirds with white bellies and yellow chinsat least, now they are. A hundred years ago, at the height of urban smoke pollution in the US, their pale feathers were stained dark gray by the soot in the atmosphere. A new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that the discoloration of birds in museum collections can be used to trace the amount of black carbon in the air over time and the effects of environmental policy upon pollution.

"The soot on these birds' feathers allowed us to trace the amount of black carbon in the air over time, and we found that the air at the turn of the century was even more polluted than scientists previously thought," says Shane DuBay, a graduate student at The Field Museum and the University of Chicago and one of the authors of the study. He and co-author Carl Fuldner, also a graduate student at UChicago, analyzed over a thousand birds collected over the last 135 years to determine and quantify the effects of soot in the air over cities in the Rust Belt.

"If you look at Chicago today, the skies are blue. But when you look at pictures of Beijing and Dehli, you get a sense for what US cities like Chicago and Pittsburgh were once like," says DuBay. "Using museum collections, we were able to reconstruct that history."

Ornithologists at The Field Museum have long known that bird specimens in the collection from the early 1900s were visibly darker than expected, and atmospheric soot was the suspect.

"When you touch these birds, you get traces of soot on your hands. We'd wear white gloves while handling them, and the gloves would come away stained, like when you get ink on your fingertips reading a newspaper," says DuBay. That's because the soot in the air clung to the birds' feathers like dust to a feather duster. "These birds were acting as air filters moving through the environment," adds DuBay.

Field Sparrows from The Field Museum's collections, with gray birds from the turn of the century and cleaner birds from more recent years when there was less soot in the atmosphere. Credit: (c) Carl Fuldner and Shane DuBay, The University of Chicago and The Field Museum

Birds were also ideal candidates for the study because they molt and grow a new set of feathers every year, meaning that the soot on them had only been accumulating for the past year when they were collected. And there was an apparent trend: old birds were dirtier, and new birds were cleaner.

To measure the changes in sootiness over the years, DuBay and Fuldner turned to a novel approach: photographing the birds and measuring the light reflected off of them. Fuldner, a photo historian who focuses on images of the environment, worked with DuBay to develop a method for analyzing the birds using photography. The birds photographed, numbering over a thousand, were all from five species that breed in the Manufacturing Belt and have lots of white feathers that showed off the soot.

The images, depicting the contrast between the soiled gray birds and the clean white ones, are dramatic. "The photographs give the project a visceral dimensionyou make a connection to the images," says Fuldner.

DuBay and Fuldner plotted the amount of light bouncing off the birds' feathers according to the year the birds were collected. To make sense of their findings, the pair of researchers then delved into the social history of urban air pollution.

"The changes in the birds reflect efforts, first at the city level but eventually growing into a national movement, to address the smoke problem," says Fuldner. "We are actually able to go back and see how effective certain policy approaches were."

"We were surprised by the precision we were able to achieve," says DuBay. "The soot on the birds closely tracks the use of coal over time. During the Great Depression, there's a sharp drop in black carbon on the birds because coal consumption droppedonce we saw that, it clicked." The amount of soot on the birds rebounded around World War II, when wartime manufacturing drove up coal use, and dropped off quickly after the war, around when people in the Rust Belt began heating their homes with natural gas piped in from the West rather than with coal.

Horned Larks from The Field Museum's collections, with gray bird from the turn of the century and cleaner bird from more recent years when there was less soot in the atmosphere. Credit: (c) Carl Fuldner and Shane DuBay, The University of Chicago and The Field Museum

"The fact that the more recent birds are cleaner doesn't mean we're in the clear," DuBay notes. "While the US releases far less black carbon into the atmosphere than we used to, we continue to pump less-conspicuous pollutants into our atmospherethose pollutants just aren't as visible as soot. Plus, many people around the world still experience soot-choked air in their cities."

Analysis of atmospheric black carbon might assist scientists studying climate change. "We know black carbon is a powerful agent of climate change, and at the turn of the century, black carbon levels were worse than previously thought," says DuBay. "I hope that these results will help climate and atmospheric scientists better understand the effects of black carbon on climate."

And for both DuBay and Fuldner, being able to apply their research beyond their respective fields of evolutionary biology and photographic history was both unexpected and rewarding.

"As a historian, one of the questions I always ask is, 'What is the point of this research to the way we live now?' In this case the answer quickly became clear," says Fuldner. "Filling in a blank space in the historical record of something as large as air pollution in American cities, and being able to share that with atmospheric scientists who study the effects of black carbon on the climate, is extraordinary."

"This study shows a tipping point when we moved away from burning dirty coal, and today, we're at a similar pivotal moment with fossil fuels," says DuBay. "In the middle of the 20th century, we made an investment in infrastructure and regulated fuel sourceshopefully, we can take that lesson and make a similar transition now to more sustainable, renewable energy sources that are more efficient and less harmful to our environment."

DuBay notes that in addition to the environmental implications of the project, their work also shows the importance of museum collections like those they used from The Field Museum in Chicago, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, and the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology in Ann Arbor. "I hope this study exposes collections as a valuable resource to address present day environmental concerns," says DuBay. "This paper shows the ways that natural history collections can be used, underlining the value in collections and in continuing to build collections, to help us improve our understanding of human impacts on the natural world."

More information: Shane G. DuBay el al., "Bird specimens track 135 years of atmospheric black carbon and environmental policy," PNAS (2017). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1710239114 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
U.S. and EU Retailers Agree on Common Approach to New Data Regulations

BRUSSELS, October 9, 2017  The National Retail Federation and EuroCommerce today announced an agreement to work together in developing a common approach on implementing new EU data protection regulations.

Todays successful discussions between U.S. and European retailers have resulted in an agreement to work together on a unified retail industry approach to implementation of the new EU regulations on protecting personal data, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. This cooperative effort will help retailers on both sides of the Atlantic prepare their businesses for implementation of the regulations with a retail-specific approach that continues the seamless operations and personalized shopping experiences our customers expect.

EuroCommerce Director-General Christian Verschueren welcomed the cooperation with NRF and the agreement.

We are delighted to have been able to cement our already close relationship with NRF with this agreement, Verschueren said. Consumers want confidence that their data is being treated with care and protected by those holding it. By working together, we are looking to ensure that we can implement the regulations in a way which serves all of our customers interests. We hope that our transatlantic cooperation can pave the way for a global approach that serves both the privacy concerns of citizens and the competitiveness of industry.

The General Data Protection Regulation, adopted by the European Parliament and Council in April 2016, sets out changes to almost every area of customer data processing. Once the GDPR comes into force in May 2018, retailers with storefronts, websites, mobile apps or other digital platforms serving customers will face new compliance standards, additional administrative burdens and liability for violations as well as more stringent enforcement penalties.

The agreement came during the first of two days of meetings in Brussels between NRF and EuroCommerce member companies, U.S. government and EU officials, European-based retailers and EuroCommerce on a range of issues impacting the retail industry. Topics included data portability, consumers right to erasure under the GDPR to have their data removed, gaining data subjects consent, profiling and dealing with data breaches. EuroCommerce and NRF held a similar meeting last year to address issues of common concern to retailers on both sides of the Atlantic.

NRF is the worlds largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nations largest private-sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs  42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nations economy. NRF.com

EuroCommerce is the principal European organization representing the retail and wholesale sector. It embraces national associations in 31 countries and 5.4 million companies, both leading multinational retailers such as Carrefour, Ikea, Metro and Tesco, and many small family operations. Retail and wholesale provide a link between producers and 500 million European consumers over a billion times a day. It generates one in seven jobs, providing a varied career for 29 million Europeans, many of them young people. It also supports millions of further jobs throughout the supply chain, from small local suppliers to international businesses. EuroCommerce is the recognized European social partner for the retail and wholesale sector. www.eurocommerce.eu

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By PTI: Kolkata, Oct 9 (PTI) Flights to and from the NSC Bose International Airport (NSCBIA) here were disrupted because of overnight rain accompanied by strong winds.

"While some domestic flights from the city to other destinations were cancelled due to inclement weather, some incoming flights were diverted to different airports after they failed to land here amid gusty wind," NSCBIA Director Atul Dikshit told PTI.

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He said details were still coming in about the cancellation and diversion of flights.

"We hope that operation of flights will become normal after the weather condition improves," he said."

National carrier Air India said five of its incoming flights could not land at the airport here because of gusty winds and were diverted to other destinations.

However, departure of all morning flights from here was normal till 8 am and there was no cancellation of flights by AI, a spokesman said.

While Delhi-Kolkata and Delhi-Mumbai flights were diverted to Delhi and Ranchi respectively, a flight from Port Blair was diverted to Agartala. A flight from Silchar to Kolkata had to land at Guwahati and a flight from Agartala to Kolkata had to go back to Agartala, the AI spokesperson said.

Only a flight from Hyderabad to Kolkata could land here this morning, he said.

Some private airlines cancelled their flights, airport sources said.

"Jet Aiways had to cancel some flights from Kolkata and five incoming flights had to be diverted to other destinations," the sources said. PTI SBN AKB MM BDS AAR

--- ENDS ---
As Amazon.com Inc. pushes into Southeast Asia with a new venture into Singapore, the online retailer is facing some tough hurdles. Shopping in air-conditioned malls is practically a national sport, and e-commerce rivals moved in long ago.

Delivery delays also marred Amazons debut in July, when on-the-ground operations began with Prime Now two-hour deliveries. Even when including orders placed on its main U.S. website, Amazon lags behind local web store Lazada and its parent, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

For the island countrys consumers, a store or a shopping center is usually just minutes away. In fact there are too many stores, with mall operators scaling back operations after years of over-expansion. While retailers blame a weaker economy and increased web shopping, the country of 5.6 million trails most of the developed world when it comes to e-commerce. Just 4.6 percent of Singapores retail sales took place online last year, compared with 15 percent in the U.K. and 10 percent in the U.S., according to Euromonitor International.

Orchard Road

Singapore is a very small city-state, so shopping is one of the favorite pastimes for all Singaporeans, said Chan Hock Fai, a fund manager at Amundi Asset Management. Because retailing is a more mature market in the country, compared with emerging retail and e-commerce markets, growth rates are harder to come by, he said.

At stake is a Southeast Asian e-commerce market thats projected to reach $88 billion by 2025, according to a report by Google and Temasek Holdings Pte. While Amazon is firmly established in Japan, the web retailer has mostly ceded China to Alibaba and JD.com Inc. India remains a top priority, with Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos committing $5 billion to expand and vanquish local rival Flipkart Online Services Pvt. Australia could soon be another new market for Amazon.

Weve launched Prime Now in 50 cities across nine countries and Singapore is our biggest launch ever, said Amanda Ip, a spokeswoman at Amazon Prime Now. We are grateful for the exciting response from customers.

Story continues

Jin-Yan Ang, 29, is an Amazon Prime shopper who decided to use the service when he wanted to buy a Go-Pro action camera two days before going on vacation. After that, he also ordered chilled wine for a party and other daily necessities. On the down side, Amazon Prime Now needs to improve the variety of offerings, said Ang, a procurement manager.

In terms of scale, Lazada dwarfs Amazon locally, offering more than 30 million products compared with tens of thousands via Prime Now. The Asian online retailer, originally founded by Rocket Internet SE in 2011, has more than 6.6 million unique visitors a month and has seen orders triple from 2016.

There is huge potential for the e-commerce industry in Singapore, said Alexis Lanternier, Lazada Singapores CEO. Online shopping in this market is certainly gaining traction here with 3 out of 5 people shopping online, and we believe this is the direction forward for the retail industry in Singapore.

Although Singapore-base online retailers are relatively new, consumers there have been shopping online for years, getting their merchandise shipped directly from the U.S., China and other places. Thats why Lazada-Alibabas web stores had 988,000 unique visitors in August, followed by 698,000 for Amazon and 432,000 for Giosis Ptes Qoo10, according to ComScore. Because the numbers dont account for mobile orders, Amazons Prime Now sales arent included and werent disclosed by the company.

While online shopping is really convenient, I prefer to buy things in-store. said Lisa Tan, 32, a small business owner. I like the experience  sights and even sounds  of shopping in stores. Its definitely more convenient in Singapore; everything is pretty much within reach. I only shop online for things I cant easily buy in Singapore and on sites like Taobao and Amazon.

Amazons decision to introduce Prime Now first in Singapore underscores the need to get merchandise into the hands of shoppers as soon as possible. Usually, the web retailer introduces the rapid-delivery service after a market matures, when its able to build up a fast logistics network. In its limited free trial, consumers in Singapore can get tens of thousands of items delivered to their door with free delivery on orders of more than S$40. Previously, Singaporeans were only able to order select items on Amazons website, with some products subject to costly international shipping fees.

Offline Push

For web retailers, the lure of opening a physical store to cater to Singaporean shoppers is proving hard to ignore. Vivre Activewear, an exercise clothing brand that was first launched online in April 2014, decided to open a store two years ago because customers prefer to see the real things, according to Kevin Chia, the apparel makers co-founder. Now, 80 percent of the brands total revenue is derived from store sales, he said.

You just need to be present for your shopper whenever she feels like shes ready to buy, said Ali Potia, who runs McKinsey & Co.s Asia Consumer Insights Center.

Lazada has already teamed up with Singapore real-estate operator CapitaLand Ltd., letting people shop online and pick up merchandise at a nearby mall. This closes the online-to-offline loop and gives customers the full shopping experience, Lanternier said.

Amazons $13.7 billion purchase of Whole Foods shows that its increasingly open to having a physical presence. In India, Amazon recently took at 5 percent stake in Shoppers Stop Ltd. with plans to open experience centers at the retailers stores for customers to try out products that are sold online.

The main reason that shoppers continue to shop in a physical store is due to the in-store experience  something irreplaceable by e-commerce, said Tan Yong Kee, managing director at AsiaMalls Sdn, which operates six shopping centers in Singapore.

 With assistance from Yoolim Lee.

To contact the reporters on this story:

Sterling Wong in Singapore at swong470@bloomberg.net;

Livia Yap in Singapore at lyap14@bloomberg.net;

Melissa Cheok in Singapore at mcheok2@bloomberg.net

The article, written by Sterling Wong, Livia Yap and Melissa Cheok, first appeared on Bloomberg

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People walk by at the transit area of Changi Airports Terminal Two in Singapore October 4, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su

An A*Star research fellow who sought the help of a colleague and the colleagues father to commit two goods and services tax (GST) offences was fined $7,000 on Monday (9 October).

Bai Jiaming, 31, a Chinese national, claimed a GST refund of $1,543.93 for a $23,600 Tiffany diamond ring bought by him through the help of Zhang Yaoqun, the 62-year-old father of his colleague Zhang Baicheng, 33. He was looking at some rings for the purpose of proposing to his girlfriend.

Bai also received a Prada bag, which was bought earlier by the younger Zhang, and the ring from the older Zhang after a GST refund of $1,791.87 had been claimed on the two items. As he was not a tourist, Bai did not qualify for the GST refund. Similarly, the older Zhang was not entitled to the same refund as he was not the buyer of the ring. Bai pleaded guilty to the two GST offences in the State Courts last Friday.

On 11 March 2017, Bai went with the Zhangs, who are also Chinese nationals, to Changi International Airport. Bai had bought a one-way air ticket to Jakarta while the Zhangs had return air tickets for Bangkok. The trio checked in and entered the airport transit area.

The older Zhang, who had the handbag and the ring with him, made the GST refund claim for the two items at the transit area in Terminal 3. After getting approval for the refund, which was to be credited to his sons credit card, the older Zhang passed the handbag and the ring to his son who then gave them to Bai.

Bai tried to leave the transit area with the handbag and the ring and was stopped by an officer from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore for suspected misuse of a boarding pass. Singapore Customs was notified of the incident and it revoked the approval for the refund on the same day.

An illustration of the GST tourist refund fraud involving three China nationals on 11 March 2017. Photo: Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)

According to the statement of facts, Bai and the Zhangs later colluded to give false information to Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore investigators. They falsely stated to the investigators that the younger Zhang was the buyer of the ring.

But Bai admitted that he had lied after he was shown a deposit slip, invoice and video footage taken from Tiffany that showed he was the buyer of the ring. Bai and the younger Zhang also colluded to create a false payment trail in the latters bank statement to show that Zhang was the buyer of the ring.

The Zhangs were charged on 28 July for their offences and their cases are still pending. Bai was liable to be fined up to $5,000 and in default of payment to face a maximum jail term of six months for each GST offence.
Bolivian President Evo Morales lauded Ernesto "Che" Guevara on Monday as he led commemorations 50 years to the day since the Cuban revolutionary leader was killed by CIA-trained Bolivian troops. "The best way to pay tribute to Che is to continue his struggle, an anti-imperialist struggle," the socialist Morales told an audience including Guevara's brothers and four children in the mountain town of Vallegrande in central Bolivia. The ceremony capped five days of special remembrance of the Argentine-born revolutionary in Bolivia, whose government ordered his execution on October 9, 1967, a day after he was wounded and captured in a firefight with a special CIA-trained unit of the Bolivian army. "El Che fought and died for the liberation of Bolivia and thinking of the liberation of the great homeland," said Morales, using the socialist term for Latin America. Morales defended himself against criticism for putting the spotlight on Che at the expense of the Bolivian army that fought Guevara and his rebels as he tried to export revolution to the South American country. Two members of his rebel unit who survived the gunbattle, Harry Villegas Tamayo, and Leonardo Tamayo Nunez, were among the invited guests. "Che was a revolutionary and the revolutionary is a man full of love who wants to build another society," Tamayo said, leaning on his cane. The Bolivian president pointed out that 26 of his 50-strong guerrilla force "were Bolivian brothers who fought alongside Che for the liberation of our country." And he reminded his audience that "our own soldiers were used and ordered to persecute the guerrillas, not just Che." "It is not treason to remember those who wanted to liberate the country. Treason against the country is to serve as a lackey for the American empire," he added. Morales, who as president is commander in chief of the armed forces, stressed however that "we do not blame the hands of the Bolivian soldiers who were obliged to follow orders, we blame the agents of the CIA and the generals who subordinated themselves to them." - Still relevant - Following his execution in the village of La Higuera, Che's body was taken the local market town of Vallegrande where his body was put on display by a jubilant military. Che and a handful of his fighters were buried in the mountains but the bodies were exhumed in 1997 and brought to Cuba, where his late revolutionary comrade Fidel Castro dedicated a mausoleum to him. Vallegrande meanwhile, hopes to profit from its own brand of Che tourism, and local authorities have opened a museum and visitors' center. However, only around 2,000 people turned out for the commemoration, far fewer than the expected 35,000. In Cuba on Sunday, an estimated 70,000 people thronged the streets for a ceremony at Guevara's mausoleum. The Bolivian president, one of the last of the leftist leaders in Latin America, along with Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, said Guevara's influence was still relevant and part of the future of the region. He also criticized the United States, adding that "the empire continues to strike at the countries that have policies contrary to their interests," citing crisis-wracked Venezuela. "Brother (Nicolas) Maduro is not alone," he said, alluding to the Venezuelan president whose administration has been rocked by an economic and political crisis. Two members of his rebel unit who survived the 1967 gunbattle, Harry Villegas Tamayo and Leonardo Tamayo Nunez, were among the invited guests. "Che was a revolutionary and the revolutionary is a man full of love who wants to build another society," Tamayo said, leaning on his cane. Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela sent official delegations to the ceremony.
By Abduljabbar Zeyad HODEIDAH, Yemen (Reuters) - One of the latest victims of the cholera epidemic that has killed more than 2,000 people in Yemen had yet to even take her first breath. Her mother Safaa Issa Kaheel, then nine months pregnant, was brought into a crowded clinic in the Western port city of Hodeidah by her husband, who had to borrow the travel fare from a neighbour. "My stomach started hurting more and more," said Kaheel, 37, a hydrating drip hooked into her arm. Once there, she was referred by nurse Hayam al-Shamaa for an ultrasound scan which showed her baby had died of dehydration -- one of 15 to perish in the womb due to cholera in September and October, according to doctors at the city's Thawra hospital. "I felt like death," Kaheel said, her voice strained. "Thank god I survived the (delivery), but my diarrhoea hasn't stopped." The Red Cross has warned that cholera, a diarrhoeal disease that has been eradicated in most developed countries, could infect a million people in Yemen by the end of the year. Two and a half years of war have sapped Yemen of the money and medical facilities it needs to battle the contagion, to which aid agencies and medics say the poor, the starving, the pregnant and the young are most vulnerable. The cholera ward is full of children -- some writhing in agony, others eerily still. The blanket over one boy too weak to move rises and falls with his shallow breathing. Save the Children said in August that children under 15 represent nearly half of new cases and a third of deaths, with malnourished children more than six times more likely to die of cholera than well-fed ones. Millions of Yemenis are struggling to find food and the baking desert plains around Hodeidah are hotspots both of hunger and sickness. Yemen's war pits the armed Houthi movement against the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition that has launched thousands of air strikes to restore him to power. At least 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict. The country's health sector has been badly battered while a struggle over the central bank has left public sector salaries for doctors and sanitation workers unpaid. Soumaya Beltifa, spokesperson for the Red Cross in Sanaa, warned that a lack of funds and health personnel were blunting efforts to eradicate the disease, making it unlikely Yemen would be healthy again soon. "The cholera epidemic has become a norm, leading to complacency in dealing with the disease, not only by civilians but also from the various (aid) organizations," she warned. (Writing by Noah Browning and Tarek Fahmy; Editing by William Maclean and Catherine Evans)
By Fiston Mahamba GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Militants attacked two military bases in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, killing two U.N. peacekeepers and injuring several others, the U.N. mission and the army said. The mission, known as MONUSCO, said it had deployed attack helicopters in response to the raid, and the army said it was battling militants along the main road leading from North Kivu province's Beni territory to the Uganda border. The fighting, which began this weekend, is a fresh outbreak of violence for a region plagued by ethnic tensions and massacres that killed more than 800 people between 2014-2016. Gunmen believed to belong to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan Islamist group active near the border, attacked a U.N. peacekeeping base in the village of Mamundioma, over 30 km (20 miles) northeast of Beni, MONUSCO said in a statement. "This region has seen more than enough violence already," mission chief Maman Sidikou said. "I reiterate to all these armed groups who continue to threaten and kill civilians, MONUSCO will respond, and it will respond strongly." Army spokesman Mak Hazukay said the attacks were carried out simultaneously and hit a U.N. base housing Tanzanian peacekeepers who formed part of an intervention brigade which has a mandate to conduct offensive operations against militants. Hazukay said later that U.N. helicopters were shelling rebel positions inside Virunga National Park as Congolese troops fought to recover a stretch of road from the rebels. ADF is believed by authorities to have ambushed and killed many civilians nearby this weekend after a lull in attacks against civilians near Beni this year. Omar Kavota, who leads an organisation that monitors violence in North Kivu, said ADF fighters killed at least three civilians on Saturday by slitting their throats and took another 19 hostages. MONUSCO said that according to initial reports, up to 20 civilians were killed. Congolese authorities have blamed the ADF for nearly all the massacres between 2014-2016. However, independent and U.N. experts say several armed groups as well as national army commanders have been involved. (Additional reporting by Aaron Ross and Patient Ligodi; Writing by Emma Farge; Editing by Alison Williams)
Future Sounds Asia is bringing Dutch electro house heavyweight Tiesto back in Malaysia for an unforgettable intimate show dubbed "Live Your Music presents Tiesto"!



As one of dance music scene's highest grossing stars, Tiesto is one of the most exciting and sought after performers on the live circuit, earning himself a well-deserved reputation for his ground-breaking and genre-defying live DJ sets.



Regarded by many as the "Godfather of EDM", Tiesto has played at numerous festivals and outdoor shows to audiences numbered in the hundreds of thousands.



The 48-year-old last came to Malaysia in 2013, now he is ready to present his new infectious beats to Malaysians once again at KL Live on 8 December 2017.



The event will see KL Live transformed into a-one-night-only superclub that will take its design and production inspiration from some of the world's top venues.



"To see a star like Tiesto in a venue the size of KL Live is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of the fans who support our shows. It's the kind of experience you could normally only have in the world's superclubs," comments Ben Law, Managing Director of Future Sound Asia.



"For one night, we're inviting our fans to live their music with an incredible highroller superclub experience where they can enjoy this amazing DJ and performer in an entirely new way," he added.

Before the main star takes the stage, the show will present some local flavours during the night with an all-star cast of Live Your Music insiders including Goldfish & Blink, Bate, Jhin, Hypeembeats and Hulkas to warm-up the stage.



Tickets for the event will be on sale from 10 October onwards at boxtix.asia, going at RM168 (Phase 1), RM188 (Phase 2), RM218 (Phase 3), and RM258 (VIP).
BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev on Monday cancelled a planned visit to Russia this week, citing a threat of violent riots in the run-up to and during the central Asian state's presidential election due on Oct. 15. Atambayev had been due to attend a meeting of presidents of former Soviet republics in Russia on Oct.11-12, his office said in a statement. Kyrgyzstan's state security service last month detained a lawmaker who backs opposition presidential candidate Omurbek Babanov and accused the member of parliament of plotting riots and a violent coup. "Taking into account the uncovered facts of mass riots involving criminals being planned for election day by certain politicians, and with such politicians receiving financial support from abroad, the president has decided to cancel his working visit in order to personally ensure order and security in the country," Atambayev's office said in a statement. Atambayev did not name the country he says is supporting his opponents, but last month his government accused neighbouring Kazakhstan of backing Babanov and thus meddling in Kyrgyzstan's domestic affairs. Kazakhstan, which is much larger and more prosperous than Kyrgyzstan, has denied those accusations. Atambayev, who has pulled Kyrgyzstan into Russia's orbit during his six years in power, is preparing to step down as the constitution bars him from seeking a second term at the helm of the mostly Muslim nation of six million people. Atambayev's Social Democratic party, which currently heads a coalition government, is backing his ally, former prime minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov, in the presidential race. (Reporting by Olga Dzyubenko; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Eurozone finance ministers deluged German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble with farewell gifts on Monday as the man who inspired Europe's austerity answer to the debt crisis attended his last meeting with them. Schaeuble received a blue and gold EU flag autographed by each of his 18 colleagues, as well as a bundle of one-hundred euro notes especially made with a picture of his face, given by Slovakia. "Nothing will be quite the same," Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, whose country suffered through three Schaeuble-inspired bailouts, wrote on the flag with a big grey marker. France meanwhile handed over a 2004 bottle of Bordeaux Grand Cru from the finance ministry's special wine reserve in Paris. "I imagine it will be very emotional for him and for us because he has had a very special position among us. He's a really fantastic guy," said Pierre Moscovici, the EU's Economic Affairs Commissioner, and former French finance minister. Over eight years of financial turmoil in Europe, Schaeuble imposed Germany's tough-love solutions for countries hit by crisis, most famously Greece. One of Germany's most popular politicians, Schaeuble steps down to become speaker of the new parliament following German elections that saw big gains by far right nationalists. "It's not easy, but after eight years, that's enough. It's a good moment to move on to another task," said Schaeuble, 75, as he arrived for a regular meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Luxembourg. "Over eight years, we succeeded in a difficult period," he said, adding that the eurozone was now "in a good position economically." Though his austerity cures reviled many Europeans, ministers hailed Schaeubles leadership, humour and passion for Europe. "He will be missed (for) his experience, his wisdom, his sternness sometimes, but also personally as a friend," said Eurogroup head and Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem. "He's been a great colleague to all of us, given us advice, sometimes asked, sometimes unasked, (but) always welcome," he added
The Philippines apologised to China on Monday, days after embarrassingly using the logo of rival Taiwan at an official defence ministry ceremony to accept a Chinese donation of rifles and ammunition. A banner with the logos of the Philippine and Taiwanese defence ministries hung above the stage Thursday as Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua sat together to witness the weapons turnover. "Military assistance gratis from the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China," read the banner, with the wrong logo apparently not attracting attention at the time. "The Department of National Defence committed a grievous but purely unintentional mistake of using a different logo on a banner to represent the Ministry of Defence of the People's Republic of China," said a Philippine defence ministry statement. "We have issued an official apology to the government and the people of the People's Republic of China," it said, adding that Philippine defence authorities and the military "strictly adhere" to Manila's "One China Policy". The Philippines has no diplomatic ties with self-ruling Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province. The Chinese embassy could not be reached for comment. The Philippines, a military ally of the United States for decades, is trying under President Rodrigo Duterte to build warmer relations with China. The weapons from China were the second batch to be delivered to the Philippines this year to help Duterte fight Islamist militants who have been occupying parts of the southern city of Marawi since May. The two neighbours had long been at loggerheads over disputed islands and waters in the South China Sea, though Duterte has sought to play down the issue as he seeks more trade and investment from Beijing.
The universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders, the panel today suggested.

By India Today Web Desk: A University Grants Commission (UGC) panel today recommended that words like- 'Hindu' and 'Muslim' in the name of universities- Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University should be dropped for they do not reflect their secular character.

The panel was formed at the behest of the HRD ministry, to probe the alleged financial, administrative and academic irregularities in 10 central universities. The recommendations have been made in the audit report of AMU.

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"Centrally funded universities are secular institutions but such words related to religion in their names do not reflect that character", a panel member said on the condition of anonymity.

The universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders, the panel member added. "The committee suggested that AMU could also be named after its founder, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan," he said.

In an earlier report, the panel also stated that 'inbreeding' at Aligarh Muslim University was affecting the diversity in the campus. The report read that former students of the university were being appointed as professors- thereby severing the admission process.

Besides AMU and BHU, other universities that were audited by the panel include: Pondicherry University, Allahabad University, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, Central University of Jharkhand, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Jammu, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha, University of Tripura and Hari Singh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh.

With inputs from PTI

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Former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock (left) and Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam crossed swords online over the reserved presidential election. Yahoo News Singapore file photo

In a response to Law Minister K Shanmugams post accusing him of engaging in elaborate charades, former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock said on Sunday (8 Oct) that his question as to why the Prime Minister stayed silent during the adjournment motion on the Elected Presidency remains unanswered.

On Saturday (7 Oct), Tan had commented on Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugams statements during a parliamentary session last week, saying that Shanmugam made an apparent contradiction about whether the government would make public the Attorney-Generals Chambers advice on the timing of the reserved election.

Citing a Channel NewsAsia report from 2016 that quoted Shanmugam as saying Once we get the advice, we will send it out, Tan noted that the minister had told the House last Tuesday (3 Oct) that, as a general rule, the government does not publish legal opinions that it gets.

Tan said that the report appears to have words opposite to what the Minister mentioned, and asked if the minister would explain to Singaporeans his apparent contradiction.

Shanmugam responded on Sunday by accusing Tan of splicing and rearranging his remarks. The minister also said he was referring to making the governments position public, and not making the AGCs advice public.

In a Facebook post written two hours after Shanmugams rebuttal, Tan reiterated his question about why the prime minister did not speak during Sylvia Lims adjournment motion. Shanmugam had said that adjournment motions have strict time limits, and that he spoke on behalf of the government as Law Minister during Lims motion.

Tan said in his latest post, But I never asked about parliamentary procedure. I simply asked why the PM stayed silent. PM could have spoken during those 10 minutes since his statement was being challenged.

Tan said he would let readers decide whether the minister answered adequately, and whether Tan had unfairly misquoted him. Shanmugam had said that Tan should not engage in elaborate charades even if he may be bitter.

Story continues

Tan added, On my part, I can assure the Minister that I am still cheerful. But I think the Minister, who said Im happy to be confronted with anything else I might have said didnt sound so happy when he saw my questions.

Other Singapore stories:
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam speaking at at the valedictory reference for retiring Judge of Appeal Chao Hick Tin on 27 September, 2017. PHOTO: Dhany Osman/Yahoo News Singapore

Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam has accused former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock of engaging in elaborate charades over the ministers recent remarks on the reserved presidential election.

Dr Tan may be bitter. But that is no excuse for engaging in these elaborate charades, said the minister in a Facebook post on Sunday evening (8 October).

Shanmugam was responding to Tans comments on Saturday, when the latter pointed out an apparent contradiction in the ministers parliamentary remarks earlier this week.

Speaking during an adjournment motion on the reserved presidential election, Aljunied Member of Parliament Sylvia Lim had challenged the government to publish the Attorney-Generals Chambers (AGC) advice on the timing of the reserved election. In response, Shanmugam had said that the government does not generally publish legal opinions that it is given.

Tan then pointed out the apparent contradiction, noting that Shanmugam had said in a Channel NewsAsia report on 15 September, 2016, Once we get the advice, we will send it out.

But the minister, who is also an MP for Nee Soon, claimed that Tan had spliced my remarks, rearranged them, and put them together in a way to suggest something which I did not say.

The full context of Shanmugams response

Shanmugam noted that he was responding to the question: When would the circuit-breaker to hold a reserved election after a racial group has not been represented in Presidential office after five continuous terms come into effect?

In publishing his full response to the query, the minister said that he had stressed that it was a policy decision for the government to make.

He added, Clearly, I was referring to making the Governments position (and not the AGCs advice) public. The question was when the circuit breaker will come into effect. My answer was that we would make our position clear after we had sorted out some points; and at the latest, we will make our position clear by the time the Bill gets to Parliament.

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Shanmugam also responded to Tans question as to why he had responded to Lim, given that she had questioned earlier statements from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean or Minister in the Prime Ministers Office Chan Chung Sing

Surely as a former parliamentarian he knows that adjournment motions have strict time limits. The MP moving the adjournment motion has up to 20 minutes; and someone else has all of 10 minutes to respond. Thats it. As Law Minister, I responded on behalf of the Government, said Shanmugam.

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Youve opened a coffee shop, restaurant, retail boutique or other local business.

Now convince local customers to try what you have to offer. Next word of mouth takes over. First, though convince those visitors to venture into your establishment.

Certainly establishing a powerful web presence for your business helps.

So do you focus on building the perfect website?

Facebook Event Focuses on Local Marketing

Rev Ciancio of Yext shares this stat:

On average, potential customers are about three times more likely to choose a business from search just from a listing on a site like Google My Business, Facebook, or Yelp  without ever visiting the businesss actual website.

Ciancio plans to share more insights with Ramon Ray, host of Hot Seat on Small Business Trend and Small Business Trends CEO and founder Anita Campbell. Listen to the discussion in an upcoming Facebook Live event. Called One BIG Secret to Local Marketing  with Rev Ciancio of Yext, it happens October 18, 1  1:30 PM EST.

Among topics Ciancio will tackle are the biggest changes in local marketing in recent years. Also what local marketing techniques might actually be a big waste of time and money? Finally what are some things small business owners get consistently wrong?

Join us as we put Rev Ciancio of Yext on the hot seat for a discussion on local listings and marketing for local businesses. Rev is plain spoken and a former business owner himself. He shares many practical pointers local marketing. Get to know Rev by joining us for this fast-paced, relaxed and informative live session. Bring your questions!

More Details:

Who: Rev Ciancio of Yext, Ramon Ray, host of Hot Seat on Small Business Trends, Anita Campbell, CEO and founder Small Business Trends

What: One BIG Secret to Local Marketing  with Rev Ciancio of Yext

Where: Small Business Trends Facebook Page

When: October 18, 1  1:30 PM EDT
Buying a franchise business system can be a savvy financial strategy because you get to use an established brand and its products. According to statistics from the ADP National Employment report, franchise system businesses continue to attract a reliable stream of employees and customers.

The same customers who visit a certain franchise in Texas are apt to visit another in Pennsylvania, or wherever their travels take them. With adaptations for geography, most franchises look and operate the same.

You can buy a franchise for as little as $20,000, but how do you choose the right franchise? Read on.

What Is a Franchise?

In basic terms, a franchise system is an established business. The franchise has an established design and mode of operation. For your investment, you get to capitalize on that familiar look and operation customers already know and trust.

You can do your due diligence researching franchises in the US and internationally (theres an International Franchise Association).

READ MORE: See our Franchise Guide

Pros and Cons of Buying a Franchise Business

As a prospective franchise business owner, you have to decide whether or not this type of business structure is for you. Here are some pros and cons to consider as important factors.

Pros:

You will own your own business, which comes with the business tools to ease you into operations.

Your new business opportunity already has brand recognition, which will include a reliable customer base with repeat business.

It may be easier to get franchise financing, especially when compared to getting financing for a start-up business. Popular franchises will have more financing options.

Instead of buying land and getting the proper permits, you can buy an existing franchise that an owner is selling.

Franchises home companies include both initial training and ongoing training to help guarantee success in the franchising industry.

Operating expenses are known because they are in line with the cost experienced by other franchisees.

READ MORE: 3 Free Resources To Use After You Choose A Franchise

Cons:

A franchised business comes with its established guidelines and rules for how it is to be operated. There is little room for personal creativity when youre running a particular franchise.

You have little control over some of the ongoing costs involved, such as inventory restocking and advertising. Those requirements will be spelled out in the contract prospective franchisees will review.

Your choice of the franchise to buy may be limited due to how much capital you can provide upfront. Youll need to provide a minimum of 3 years of financial statements and most likely obtain a small business loan.

You have strict guidelines for hiring and firing of employees. In other words, there may be a candidate you really like but the applicant doesnt meet company standards, such as for education.

Steps to Buying a Franchise

As a potential franchisee, youve already read about some steps that may be involved in purchasing such small businesses.

Here are some things to research and do as you consider delving into a franchise opportunity.

1. Research franchise opportunities in your chosen area.

2. Request the Franchise Disclosure Document.

3. Find an attorney experienced in franchise law and franchise ownership, and review the disclosure document with the attorney.

4. Get an accurate assessment of your qualifications. For example, most franchise agreements require that the purchaser have a certain amount of net worth. Of course, that varies according to the price of the franchise and the terms of the franchise agreement. In most cases, you must have ready capital for the initial fee, and a certain level of net personal worth.

5. Make a comparison chart of the cost to buy, which will include a flat fee, plus a payment for the loan amount.

6. Many franchise agreements include a royalty fee, which is a fixed percentage of gross sales. That royalty fee can range from 4 to 9%.

7. Network with other franchise owners of the same business  or businesses  that you are considering. Ask them questions, such as the quality of the training they received and the responsiveness of the home company in answering questions or resolving problems.

8. In addition to visiting a franchise and talking with an owner or two, consider a visit to the franchise headquarters/home office.

9. Location, location, location. If you already own a commercial site, is it suitable for the franchise? Will you be able to obtain a suitable commercial site? Is it in an area where there may be too much competition?

READ MORE: The Myth of the Hottest Franchise

What Franchise Fees and Other Costs Are Involved With Buying a Franchise?

As part of your due diligence, develop a chart where youll compare start-up costs, such as the franchise fee, cost of inventory, cost of hiring employees, etc.

Note the percentage of the royalty fee, start-up cost, and royalty fees. Its important to weigh not only the start-up cost but also the operating costs.

Remember that loan interest rates may be fixed or variable for your new venture. For some smaller franchises, such as mobile or home-based franchises, you should be able to obtain a fixed-rate loan.

See Also: Best Gifts for Writers in 2022

Research commercial loans. The Small Business Administration is a great place to start. The Small Business Administration offers several choices for loans and can also direct you to SBA-approved lenders.

READ MORE: 11 Important Factors to Consider Before You Buy a Franchise

Is a Franchise a Good Investment?

Yes. In fact, many franchisees dont stop with just one. You arent limited to how many franchises you can own. After your initial investment, you should receive a steady income from regular customers who trust the brand.

They visit your company because they know what to expect.

Is Owning a Franchise Profitable for Owners?

Yes! Thats why owning a franchise is a top choice for many people who are owning businesses for the first time. Of course, the average annual income varies according to the size and type of the franchise. In other words, a mobile food cart may not generate numbers that compare to a full-course, sit-down restaurant, or a 200-room hotel. But with the smallest franchises, you may be able to get started with just a few thousand dollars.

So, lets talk about averages. In franchise businesses, the average owner earns (net) between $75,000 and $100,000 per year. For the larger top earning ones, an owner may earn $200,000 a year or more.
German firms in Slovakia use various ways to fill vacant positions.

Exports of machinery and transport equipment, including cars, make up two thirds of Slovakia's June Exports. (Source: TASR)

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What was once described as Slovakias big advantage has gradually turned into a serious issue for foreign investors to overcome.

The overall problem is the lack of qualified labour, which both our countries have to deal with, German Ambassador to Slovakia Joachim Bleicker told The Slovak Spectator.

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At the turn of the millennium, Slovakia benefited from its qualified and cheap labour force, particularly in technically-oriented sectors. This attracted many foreign investors, particularly from the automotive industry, who established their plants here. The situation, however, has changed over the years and now the companies are competing for qualified workers, a recent survey carried out by the German-Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SNOPK) suggests.

This problem has also been confirmed by the German companies established in Slovakia addressed by The Slovak Spectator.

Though it is hard to find people qualified for certain positions, they have several ways of tackling the problem. Apart from qualifying the existing or potential workforce, the companies can also utilise automation, digitalisation and modernisation of production, Bleicker opines.

Fiercer competition

The lack of skilled labour in Slovakia results in competition for the best job applicants, Guido Glania, managing director of SNOPK, told The Slovak Spectator.

One of the biggest employers in Slovakia, the German carmaker Volkswagen, plans to hire 1,000 new staffers by the end of this year. The company admits it is becoming more difficult to find new people, regardless of their qualification.

Our priority is to hire people from Slovakia, the carmakers spokesperson Lucia Kovarovic Makayova told The Slovak Spectator. If there are not enough people in the country, they are ready to search for workers abroad.

The Michalovce-based BHS Drives and Pumps also confirms the lack of employees working on the development of electronics and drives. The situation is problematic also due to the situation in eastern Slovakia, where the younger generation often seeks jobs in the west, says Jan Schumera, companys general manager.

However, we are still looking for new people across Slovakia, by addressing them either at job fairs, universities, or events organised by labour offices, he told The Slovak Spectator.

In addition, the company employs temporary employees hired by the agency, who could later be offered to become regular employees.

Companies offer benefits

German companies in Slovakia enhance their attractiveness and invest in employer branding. They make working conditions, like flexible working times, wage surcharges, corporate transportation services, and catering benefits, more attractive. They support trainings and the continuing education of employees, while also developing corporate pension plans, said Glania.

This helps them to gain popularity, he added. The companies thus send a signal that they care about their employees and their local environments.

Boge Elastmettal Slovakia in Trnava, which employs more than 800 people, wants to stay an attractive employer in the city and its surrounding. It offers its employees a package featuring fair and performance-related pay, as well as various other services. Apart from the 13th and 14th monthly salary, they also receive a performance-related bonus, said Jurgen Bolt, managing director of Boge Elastmettal Slovakia.

Other services include the provision of a free-of-charge shuttle bus for employees from home to work and back again, preventive medical-check-ups, as well as various subsidies. In addition, employees gain contributions granted toward retirement pensions.

Even when it comes to taking a leave, we take care of our staff by, for example, providing holiday apartments at a reduced price, Bolt told The Slovak Spectator.

Volkswagen Slovakia attracts its employees by offering them the highest average salaries in the sector. The employees also receive a starting bonus, 13th and 14th salary, and a bonus for economic performance. Moreover, employees are offered a wide social programme, Kovarovic Makayova said.

The carmaker also supports commuting. Those travelling less than 150 kilometres can use the contractual transport with a subsidy at 70 percent. If the employees live more than 150 kilometres away, they are offered subsidised accommodation.

More than 9,000 employees currently use this benefit, Kovarovic Makayova added.

German automotive supplier Brose, which has plants in Lozorno and Prievidza, launched an HR marketing campaign at the end of 2016, targeting particularly experienced specialists, engineers, and indirect employees, according to its authorised representative, Axel Mallener.

Training ones own staffers

Slovakia used to benefit from dual education in the past as well. This system, however, gradually deteriorated. Vocational schools now often fail to meet the requirements of employers and since they were not modernised, their equipment is far below the standards amongst companies, Glania said, as reported by the TASR newswire.

To change the current state, Slovakia announced its return to dual education, based on the examples set by Germany and Austria.

Several German companies have welcomed the possibility to train their own future staffers. BHS Drives and Pumps, for example, started in 2009, when the dual education system was only being discussed.

This turned out to be a very far-sighted step as we have trained workers at our disposal at the end of their studies, Schumera confirmed.

All of the pupils have a guaranteed job after graduating, with the possibility of further career growth. They now have 47 pupils in the dual education programme, two of whom are preparing for work in other firms.

When it comes to preparing future employees, also Brose is cooperating with the local schools. As of September 2017, its plant in Prievidza is training more than 30 pupils in mechatronics and industrial mechanics.

This cooperation offers young people the opportunity to learn with the latest technologies and receive remuneration from the first year of their studies, Mallener told The Slovak Spectator. Well-trained and committed employees have international development perspectives in our family business.

Moreover, the company cooperates with the universities to get in touch with the young talents for both its plants in Bratislava and Prievidza, he added.

Volkswagen Slovakia is another company preparing qualified experts able to operate automation technologies, robots and other state-of-the-art technologies. Its Dual Academy educates pupils in altogether five specialisations. In total 170 pupils are currently preparing for Volkswagen in the first and second grade. Moreover, there are another 100 people who are re-qualified.

In addition, the carmaker has recently joined forces with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, opening a pilot project of dual bachelor studies in automotive industry.

Its aim is to educate our own experts for the future, Kovarovic Makayova said.

Though Boge Elastmetall Slovakia is not yet fully involved in the dual education system, it is cooperating closely with schools and universities.

Several students have already written their master thesis at our company, Bolt said, adding they also support universities with sponsorships.

Automation is also a way

An increasing number of companies also consider the use of robots in certain positions. In most professions, there is a visible shift to higher qualifications, not only because of the lack of staffers, but also due to the will to achieve higher labour productivity and better quality, Glania opines.

The operation of robots is geographically much more flexible than the use of low-skilled workers, he added.

Also the companies addressed by The Slovak Spectator confirm that they do consider the concepts of Industry 4.0 and respective automation and production optimisation. They agree that automation will help them reduce costs, stabilise certain processes and make the production more effective.

Automation does not mean for us a decrease in the number of employees, it means the ease of work and better use of human resources, Schumera said.

Also Bolt does not expect automation will fundamentally change the labour market situation in the west of Slovakia.

The use of robots will change the structure of jobs, however. It will result in the creation of new occupations and higher demands on qualified labour force, Kovarovic Makayova stressed.

While in the past we were looking for welders, today we need mechanicians who can operate the robots used for various welding techniques, she added.

The use of Industry 4.0 and respective technologies is thus becoming an everyday reality in companies.

A modernised education system and enhanced cooperation between companies, universities and the state are very much needed to keep Slovakia an attractive place for doing business, said Glania.
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When Marian Kotleba enters the class room of the Grammar School in Banska Bystrica the pupils are not nervous or under stress. They sit behind their computers and look forward to an interesting IT course. Maybe this time they can again play video games or surf the internet.

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Kotleba was not spreading his extremist views at school. As a young 27-year-old teacher he had good relationships with the children, according to Peter Mukera Jr., who was his pupil at the time and now works as an attorney.

He was able to create great relationships particularly with boys who liked IT, Mukera told The Slovak Spectator.

This is how Marian Kotlebas classes looked for four years until 2005. Then his colleagues and pupils learned about his second identity.

Marian Kotleba (Source: Sme)

Democracy with social classes is better than parliamentary democracy. The state is being led by experts who are chosen by the nation, Kotleba yelled one Sunday evening in Zvolen back in 2005.

Around 50 people wearing dark blue uniforms resembling the fascist Hlinka guards of Slovak war-time state were listening to him.

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Read also: Regional elections will be a power test for the far right in Slovakia Read more

Eight years later in December 2013 Kotleba enters the office of the Banska Bystrica self-governing region (BBSK) with a big smile. Known for his racist statements Kotleba wished all present people a blessed white Christmas during his inauguration. His supporters laughed.

Two unknown men were protecting the entrance to the BBSK parliament hall and deciding who could go in there and who couldnt. They did not tell people who they were, why were they doing this or who ordered them to. People were surprised and did not know what to do.

One member of this security duo was Peter Krupa. Three years later he was elected to parliament with Kotleba and has been investigated since the first day of his term because he brought a gun into the parliament building.

From school to the streets

Kotleba joined the ranks of the extremist Slovak Togetherness (Slovenska Pospolitost) civic organisation in 2003 and became its leader within few months. Then he tried to change this marginal group of people into a political party.
What are the prospects of extremists around Kotleba in the upcoming vote?

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When Marian Kotleba won the regional governor election in Banska Bystrica, people who had been observing the Slovak extremists scene called it the first step for his party into big politics.

Sure enough, two and a half years later, 14 people from the far-right Peoples Party - Our Slovakia (LSNS), including Kotleba himself, assumed their MP posts. The party then scored more than 8 percent in the national election, leaving most observers of the Slovak political scene astonished, since few of them had expected the party known for its anti-Semitic and racist views to make it that far. Currently, the polls show support for LSNS oscillating around 10 percent at the national level.

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In the eight regions of Slovakia, the party has candidates who may have a good result in two: Banska Bystrica and Nitra. In all the regions, the LSNS is going to try and fill as many seats in the regional councils as possible.

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Read also: How IT teacher brought extremists to parliament Read more

That is one of the reasons why the upcoming regional elections are considered the political event of 2017 in Slovakia. The polls are scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 4, and foreigners with a permanent residence in Slovakia are also eligible to vote. Will the regional polls confirm the power of the extreme right?

A potential failure in the Banska Bystrica Region may lead to a weakening of Marian Kotlebas position within the party, which is also why he hesitated with his candidacy for so long, expert on extremism Tomas Nociar told The Slovak Spectator.

All eyes on Banska Bystrica

Kotleba was in fact one of the last candidates to announce he would run for re-election, just before the deadline for submitting candidacies in early September. Kotleba was elected to the post in November 2013 with over 70,000 votes (compared to the 26,000 that he received in the first election round two weeks before). He beat the incumbent Vladimir Manka, a prominent Smer politician.

His victory marked the first time in Slovakias post-1989 history that a far-right extremist was directly elected to a high political office.

Despite the growing examples of misconduct from Kotlebas office, published polls have suggested that he still appeals to a significant number of voters. The interviews the Slovak media have presented in recent months from various parts of the region, demonstrate that the attitude in the region has not turned against Kotleba.

What we know about LSNS voters suggests that they do not perceive the activities of Marian Kotleba as regional governor critically and they are rather inclined to perceive the information about his possible failures as a campaign by the establishment, sociologist Michal Vasecka from Masaryk University in Brno told The Slovak Spectator.
The knife attack by a Slovak citizen of Indian origin on a local man and a Ukrainian sparked unjustified hatred towards immigrants; it was also fanned by some media.

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A Slovak citizen of Indian origin, aged 37, attacked a man of the same age from Bratislava and seriously injured another man, a Ukrainian national (aged 33), following a verbal conflict. The incident occurred near the German Embassy in the downtown capital early on October 7.

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The injured Bratislava inhabitant, Branislav Balucha, later died from the injuries, the Sme daily wrote.

There was no terrorist motive behind the attack, Bratislava Regional Police directorate spokesperson Lucia Mihalikova said for the daily. Instead, it seemed to have resulted from a brawl between two groups raving abount 2:15 in the morning, on Hviezdoslavovo Square close to the German Embassy. Currently, the bereaved have created an improvised tombstone for Balucha on the site, where people brought wreaths and candles.

Street cameras helped police to quickly determine the suspect and detain him. On October 8 they stated that he was detained and charged with murder.

The court will decide on custody for the attacker. If found guilty, he may receive a 15- to 20-year prison sentence.

No immigrant involved, media were wrong

Since the charged man has a Slovak citizenship it means he must have lived here at least eight years before the incident. And he must have been clean in terms of criminal records or criminal prosecution, at least concerning deliberate crimes.

The first news about the fatal incident on tabloid media summoned hateful reactions towards migrants since websites stated that the attacker was a foreigner with dark skin. However, the police stressed on October 8 in the official report that it was not a case of terrorism like what occurred in western Europe during the migration crisis.

In past years, the share of foreigners involved in violent crimes in Slovakia has not essentially changed, according to Sme.
In the race for the Banska Bystrica regional governor, Stanislav Micev resigned and encouraged his voters to support the strongest candidate, Jan Lunter, against Marian Kotleba. Here are his main reasons for doing so.

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Head of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) Museum, Micev, appealed to his voters on October 6 to support the strongest democratic candidate, businessman Lunter, in order to oust fascism, corruption and cronyism, the Slovak media wrote. In May the democratic candidates in the Banska Bystrica Region agreed that they will step down in favour of the strongest one in order to beat the incumbent governor, the extreme rights Marian Kotleba, who heads the LSNS party.

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In an interview for the Sme daily, Micev explained his reasons for giving up the candidacy: he notes that the decision is clear and in line with his previous plans and promises. I give to Lunter not just a single mandate  my own, Micev told Sme, but rather four in fact, since three other candidates have given their votes for my benefit.

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His stance has been direct from the very beginning and the situation might have been even clearer had Lunter joined the memorandum of Banska Bystrica candidates, the director of the SNP Museum said, adding that he and the three other candidates have a total of 18 percent of votes, now going to the businessman with the biggest number of votes.

Part of the agreement was also candidate Martin Klus of the opposition SaS party who, however, resigned his candidacy already on October 3. It may have been a bit of marketing, but I do not blame him, Micev noted. He received instructions from the parties which nominated him to announce his resignation sooner [than the rest of democratic candidates].

Outlook in the upcoming election

The principle of negotiating with several candidates fulfilled its goal. i.e. not just Micev giving his own mandate to the strongest candidate but also joining the forces of other candidates with fewer votes and all of them supporting the polls leader in order to beat the incumbent governor running again. However, the head of the museum is not convinced that the plan will succeed, because it seems that Kotleba is acquiring support across all social classes.

The upcoming election on November 4 is not only about the Banska Bystrica Region but rather about the future political direction of Slovakia, Micev summed up for the daily.

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The actor further spoke about how Kangana has no messages or photographs to prove that she was in a relationship with Hrithik, not even a picture of their 'engagement' in Paris.

By Mail Today Bureau: For quite a while now, Hrithik Roshan has been making headlines due to allegations made by Kangana Ranaut against him. While on Thursday, he broke his silence by penning an open letter on social media where he denied the relationship, some actors could be seen silently taking sides by 'liking' the post. However, Farhan is the first one to speak out openly on the matter, siding by his Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara co-star.

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In an open letter posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, Farhan wrote, "Although it is true that in most cases it is a woman that has been wronged, there is a difference between 'most' and 'all'... However few and rare they may be, there have been cases where men have been stalked, harassed and falsely accused."

Talking about the emails sent from Kangana's account to Hrithik, he wrote, "The way this episode has played out with sections of our media is worrisome... Apparently, he has over a thousand emails from her official email account which are intimate and sexual in their content. She claims not to have written them but alleges that he hacked her account and mailed himself. If they were in a seven-year-long mutually agreeable relationship, why would he need to do that?"

The actor further spoke about how Kangana has no messages or photographs to prove that she was in a relationship with Hrithik, not even a picture of their 'engagement' in Paris.

Questioning the authenticity of her accusations, he urged, "It is apparent that some people... are deriving some sort of voyeuristic pleasure by encouraging the woman to carry on speaking... Until such a time that the matter is brought to its logical conclusion by the authorities, we must avoid vilifying the man on the basis of unsubstantiated statements... Let's not discriminate."

ALSO WATCH: Kangana accuses Hrithik of circulating her intimate photos

--- ENDS ---
The intimate absurd etude of the studio based in the Theatre Institute was part of the pilot year of the Rehearsal for Truth festival in New York City.

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The Rehearsal for Truth festival, organised by the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation in the Bohemian National Hall in New York, presented central-European theatre productions focusing on politically engaged and social issues, as well as on civic society.

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The festival took place between September 27 and October 1, and it presented stagings from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Visiting Experts (Source: Courtesy of Theatre Institute)

One of the pieces performed was the Experts Visiting / Nasteva Expertov, a play by legendary Czech dramatist and writer Egon Bondy. It is a production by Studio 12 of the Slovak Theatre Institute in Bratislava, where it is also played  and in September, it was performed with English subtitles.

The work of the Czech dissident writer has been directed by Ingrid Timkova, played by Robert Roth, Daniel Fischer, Lukas Pelc and Marta Matova, with stage design and costumes by Ema Teren, and light design by Jozef Miklos. Visiting Experts was played on September 30 and after the performance, dozens of the audience discussed pressing matters like autocratic rule, tyrants, undemocratic practices and pretending with the theatre-makers. The general consul of Slovakia in New York, Ladislava Begec, also, took part.
The following companies are subsidiares of Lithia Motors: 797 Valley Street LLC, Albany CJD Fiat, Baierl Auto Group, Baierl Auto Parts LLC, Baierl Automotive Corporation, Baierl Chevrolet Inc., Baierl Holding LLC, Broadway Ford, Buhler Ford Inc, Cadillac of Portland Lloyd Center LLC, Camp Automotive Inc., Carbone Auto Body LLC, Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat of Morgantown, Cranberry Automotive Inc., Crater Lake Ford Lincoln, Crater Lake Mazda, DCH (Oxnard) Inc., DCH Auto Group, DCH Bloomfield LLC, DCH CA LLC, DCH Calabasas-A LLC, DCH California Investments LLC, DCH California Motors Inc., DCH DMS NJ LLC, DCH Del Norte Inc., DCH Essex Inc., DCH Financial NJ LLC, DCH Freehold - V LLC, DCH Freehold LLC, DCH Holdings LLC, DCH Investments Inc. (New Jersey), DCH Investments Inc. (New York), DCH Korean Imports LLC, DCH Mamaroneck LLC, DCH Mission Valley LLC, DCH Monmouth LLC, DCH Montclair LLC, DCH Motors LLC, DCH NY Motors LLC, DCH Nanuet LLC, DCH North America Inc., DCH Oxnard 1521 Imports Inc., DCH Riverside-S Inc., DCH Simi Valley Inc., DCH Support Services LLC, DCH TL Holdings LLC, DCH TL NY Holdings LLC, DCH Temecula Imports LLC, DCH Temecula Motors LLC, DCH Thousand Oaks-F Inc., DCH Torrance Imports Inc., Dah Chong Hong CA Trading LLC, Dah Chong Hong Trading Corporation, Daron Motors LLC, Day Auto Group, Downtown LA, Driveway Motors LLC, Elizabeth Collision LLC, Florida SS LLC, Ford Lincoln of Morgantown, Freehold Nissan LLC, Fuse Auto Sales LLC, Hamilton Honda, Hazleton Honda, Hutchins Eugene Nissan Inc., Hutchins Imported Motors Inc., Jaguar Landrover Mission Viejo, LA Motors Holding LLC, LAD Advertising Inc., LAD Carson-N LLC, LAD Mission Viejo-JLR Inc., LAD Mobu Inc., LAD-AU LLC, LAD-MB LLC, LAD-N LLC, LAD-P LLC, LAD-T LLC, LAD-V LLC, LBMP LLC, LFKF LLC, LGPAC Inc., LLL Sales Co LLC, LMBB LLC, LMBP LLC, LMOP LLC, LSTAR LLC, Lithia AcDM Inc., Lithia Aircraft Inc., Lithia Anchorage-C LLC, Lithia Anchorage-H LLC, Lithia Armory Garage LLC, Lithia Auction & Recon LLC, Lithia Auto Services Inc., Lithia Automotive Inc., Lithia BA Holding Inc., Lithia BNM Inc. (nonoperating), Lithia Baierl-S LLC, Lithia Bryan Texas Inc., Lithia Buffalo-A LLC, Lithia CCTF Inc., Lithia CDH Inc., Lithia CIMR Inc., Lithia CJDO Inc., Lithia CJDSA Inc., Lithia CJDSF Inc., Lithia CM Inc., Lithia CO Inc., Lithia CSA Inc., Lithia Community Development Company Inc., Lithia Crater Lake-F Inc., Lithia Crater Lake-M Inc., Lithia DE Inc., Lithia DM Inc., Lithia DMID Inc., Lithia Des Moines-VW LLC, Lithia Dodge of Tri-Cities Inc., Lithia Eatontown-F LLC, Lithia FLCC LLC, Lithia FMF Inc., Lithia Financial Corporation (previously Lithia Leasing Inc. and Lithia Credit Inc.), Lithia Florida Holding Inc., Lithia Ford of Boise Inc., Lithia Fresno Inc., Lithia HDM Inc., Lithia HGF Inc., Lithia HMID Inc., Lithia HPI Inc. (nonoperating), Lithia Hamilton-H LLC, Lithia Hazleton-H LLC, Lithia Idaho Falls-F Inc., Lithia Imports of Anchorage Inc., Lithia JEF Inc., Lithia Klamath Inc., Lithia Klamath-T Inc., Lithia LBGGF Inc., Lithia LHGF Inc., Lithia LSGF Inc., Lithia MBDM Inc., Lithia MMF Inc., Lithia MTLM Inc., Lithia McMurray-C LLC, Lithia Medford HON Inc., Lithia Middletown-L LLC, Lithia Monroeville-A LLC, Lithia Monroeville-C LLC, Lithia Monroeville-F LLC, Lithia Monroeville-V LLC, Lithia Moon-S LLC, Lithia Moon-V LLC, Lithia Morgantown-CJD LLC, Lithia Morgantown-F LLC, Lithia Morgantown-S LLC, Lithia Motors Support Services Inc., Lithia NA Inc., Lithia NC Inc., Lithia ND Acquisition Corp. #1, Lithia ND Acquisition Corp. #3, Lithia ND Acquisition Corp. #4, Lithia NDM Inc., Lithia NF Inc., Lithia NSA Inc., Lithia Northeast Real Estate LLC, Lithia Orchard Park-H LLC, Lithia Paramus-M LLC, Lithia Pittsburgh-S LLC, Lithia Ramsey-B LLC, Lithia Ramsey-L LLC, Lithia Ramsey-M LLC, Lithia Ramsey-T LLC, Lithia Real Estate Inc., Lithia Reno Sub-HYUN Inc., Lithia Reno-CJ LLC, Lithia Reno-VW LLC, Lithia Rose-FT Inc., Lithia SOC Inc., Lithia SSP LLC, Lithia Salmir Inc., Lithia Sea P Inc., Lithia Seaside Inc., Lithia Spokane-B LLC, Lithia Spokane-S LLC, Lithia TA Inc., Lithia TO Inc., Lithia TR Inc., Lithia Uniontown-C LLC, Lithia VAuDM Inc., Lithia VF Inc., Lithia Wexford-H LLC, Lithia of Abilene Inc., Lithia of Anchorage Inc., Lithia of Bend #1 LLC, Lithia of Bend #2 LLC, Lithia of Bennington - 1 LLC, Lithia of Bennington - 2 LLC, Lithia of Bennington - 3 LLC, Lithia of Bennington - 4 LLC, Lithia of Billings II LLC, Lithia of Billings Inc., Lithia of Casper LLC, Lithia of Clear Lake LLC, Lithia of Concord I Inc., Lithia of Concord II Inc., Lithia of Corpus Christi Inc., Lithia of Des Moines Inc., Lithia of Eureka Inc., Lithia of Fairbanks Inc., Lithia of Great Falls Inc., Lithia of Helena Inc., Lithia of Honolulu-A Inc., Lithia of Honolulu-BGMCC LLC, Lithia of Honolulu-F LLC, Lithia of Honolulu-V LLC, Lithia of Killeen LLC, Lithia of Lodi Inc., Lithia of Maui-H LLC, Lithia of Missoula II LLC, Lithia of Missoula III Inc., Lithia of Missoula Inc., Lithia of Pocatello Inc., Lithia of Portland I LLC, Lithia of Portland LLC, Lithia of Robstown LLC, Lithia of Roseburg Inc., Lithia of Santa Rosa Inc., Lithia of Seattle Inc., Lithia of South Central AK Inc., Lithia of Spokane II Inc., Lithia of Spokane Inc., Lithia of Stockton Inc., Lithia of Stockton-V Inc., Lithia of TF Inc., Lithia of Troy LLC, Lithia of Utica - 1 LLC, Lithia of Utica - 2 LLC, Lithia of Utica - 3 LLC, Lithia of Utica - 4 LLC, Lithia of Walnut Creek Inc., Lithia of Wasilla LLC, Lithia of Yorkville - 1 LLC, Lithia of Yorkville - 2 LLC, Lithia of Yorkville - 3 LLC, Lithia of Yorkville - 4 LLC, Lithia of Yorkville - 5 LLC, Medford Insurance LLC, Milford DCH Inc., Northland Ford Inc., PA Real Estate LLC, PA Support Services LLC, Paramus Collision LLC, Paramus World Motors LLC, Personalized Marketing LLC, Prestige Auto Group, RFA Holdings LLC, Ray Laks Acura, Ray Laks Honda, Sacramento-L Inc., Salem-B LLC, Salem-H LLC, Salem-V LLC, Sharlene Realty LLC, Shift Portland LLC, Southern Cascades Finance Corporation, Subaru of Morgantown, Tampa-H LLC, Tustin Motors Inc., Wesley Chapel-H LLC, Wesley Chapel-T LLC, Zelienople Real Estate I L.P., and Zelienople Real Estate L.L.C..

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The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 13125882 Canada Inc., 211 E. Russell Road LLC, 4458664 Canada Inc., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES ASIA PTE. LTD., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES BORROWER S.C.A., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES LLC, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES MIDDLE EAST FZE, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES SERVICES LIMITED, ASTRUM IT GmbH, Accudyne Industries Acquisition S.A r.l, Accudyne Industries Canada Inc., Accudyne Industries S.A r.l., Air Dimensions, Air Dimensions Inc., Albin Pump SAS, BOC Edwards Global Low pressure Air business, CISA S.p.A., Cameron-Centrifugal Compression, Comercial Ingersoll-Rand (Chile) Limitada, Comingersoll-Comercio E Industria De Equipamentos S.A., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Dosatron International SAS, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Proprietary Limited, FlexEnergy Holdings LLC, Frigoblock Grosskopf Gmbh, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First (UK) Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings II Inc., GD Global Holdings Inc., GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., GPS Industries, Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp (Canada), Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Limited, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica SL, Gardner Denver Inc., Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver International Inc., Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Investments Inc., Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan Ltd., Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte. Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia s.r.o., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH (f/k/a ILMVAC GmbH), Gardner Denver Thomas Inc., Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. Inc., ITO Emniyet, Ingersoll Rand Cyprus Investments Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Finance LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Investments LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Ventures LLC, Ingersoll Rand Hong Kong Investments Limited, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Ingersoll Rand Investments (SG) Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Investments B.V., Ingersoll Rand Schweiz Investments Gmbh, Ingersoll Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (China) Investment Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Guilin) Tools Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Hong Kong) Holding Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Ab, Ingersoll-Rand Air Solutions Hibon Sarl, Ingersoll-Rand Beteiligungs Und Grundstucksverwaltungs Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Colombia S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (Uk), Ingersoll-Rand Company South Africa (Pty) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Cz S.R.O., Ingersoll-Rand De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Equipements De Production S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Ireland Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International (India) Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Italia S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Italiana Manufacturing S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Korea Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Korea Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments II S.A R.I., Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Industrial Company S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Machinery (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Malaysia Co. Sdn. Bhd., Ingersoll-Rand S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Services And Trading Limited Liability Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Superay Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technical And Services S.A.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Technologies And Services Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Tool Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Trading Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Vietnam Company Limited, Instrum Rand JSC, Interflex Datensysteme, Ir Canada Holdings Ulc, Ir Canada Sales & Service Ulc, Ir France Sas, Kryptonite corp, Lawrence Factor Inc., LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MILTON ROY (HONG KONG) LIMITED, MILTON ROY (UK) LIMITED, MILTON ROY EUROPA B.V., MILTON ROY EUROPE SAS, MILTON ROY INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., MILTON ROY LLC, MILTON ROY US PURCHASER INC., MP Pumps Inc., Maximum AG Technologies Inc., Maximus Solutions, Mb Air Systems Limited, Nash Elmo, Officina Meccaniche Industriali Srl, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Plurifilter D.O.O., Pt Ingersoll-Rand Indonesia, Robuschi, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface.

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Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its advice centers, RBC insurance stores, and mobile advisors; digital, mobile, and social platforms; independent brokers; and travel partners. Its Investor & Treasury Services segment provides asset servicing, custody, payments, and treasury services to financial and other investors; and fund and investment administration, shareholder, private capital, performance measurement and compliance monitoring, distribution, transaction banking, cash and liquidity management, foreign exchange, and global securities finance services. The company's Capital Markets segment offers corporate and investment banking, as well as equity and debt origination, distribution, advisory services, sale, and trading services for corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, private equity firms, and governments. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
Sixteen children including ten infants have died in Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College over the past 24 hours. The children were brought to the hospital in critical condition, officials say.

BRD Medical College was in news in August when around 63 children died within a span of one week. | Photo: Reuters

By India Today Web Desk: Sixteen children, out of which ten were infants, died at the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College in UP's Gorakhpur, the IANS reported.

Ten out of the sixteen children were admitted in the NICU, while the other six were admitted in the ICU.

According to reports, 20 patients -- including six from Deoria, two from Kushinagar, four each from Gorakhpur and Maharajganj, and one patient each from Basti and Balrampur -- afflicted with encephalitis have been admitted to the hospital in the last 24 hours.

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According to IANS, around a dozen patients of encephalitis were being treated at the BRD college.

After this incident, the count of dead in BRD Medical College has gone up to 310. Officials told IANS that around 1,470 patients, mostly with cases of encephalitis, have been admitted in BRD Medical College this year.

In August this year, BRD Medical College was in news when around 63 children died within a span of one week due to unavailability of oxygen. FIR against nine people including the owner of the oxygen supplying company was lodged.

Doctors told IANS that the latest deaths did not occur due to lack of oxygen, treatment or anything else but the fact that they were brought to the hospital in a very critical condition.

(With inputs from IANS)

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9 OCTOBER

YEREVAN.  As reported earlier, Hollywood legend John Malkovich has arrived in Armenias capital city of Yerevan, early Monday morning.

He was met at Zvartnots International Airport by Sergey Smbatyan, conductor of the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia.

And now, Malkovich is holding a press conference.

On Wednesday starting at 7pm, the Hollywood star will perform at Aram Khachaturian Grand Concert Hall together with the aforesaid orchestra, and within the framework of the opening ceremony of 5th Khachaturian International Festival.

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A 17-year-old Pakistani boy, named Muhammad Shaheer Niazi, has stunned the international community of Physics with his pilot research paper published in the esteemed research journal Royal Science. He garnered praise for his visual representation of a phenomenon called electric honeycomb which could help engineers develop advanced technologies for printing, heating or biomedicine. The New York Times reported that the talented teen is one of the first Pakistanis to take part in the International Young Physicists tournament that took place in Russia.

The young scientist Niazi developed a photographic evidence of charged ions that created the honeycomb. According to the NYT, an electronic honeycomb is something that occurs when certain kinds of electrically charged particles travel between a pointy electrode and a flat one but bump into a puddle of oil along the way and its what happens as natural forces work to keep an electric charge moving in an interrupted circuit.

Niazi told that his idol or mentor is Sir Isaac Newton and he admired him throughout his experimentation and academic career so far. And he was happy regarding the fact that he surpassed Isaac Newtons achievement of publishing the first research paper at the age of 17 on the same journal, as his age was just 16 when his research paper got accepted.

Shaheer Niazi is a student of Lahore College of Arts and Sciences (LACAS), Johar Town, A-Level Campus. His father is a pilot and mother is a housewife. HE said that after he returned from Russia, his mother encouraged him to write a research paper and send it to international journals of Physics.

Niazi is confident of exploring the electric honeycomb concept further and said that one day he would bring another Nobel Prize for his country. Alberto, T. Perez Izquierdo, a physicist at the University of Seville in Spain, said that the result produced by the young Pakistani scientist regarding the electric honeycomb is quite outstanding. Scientist and founder of Pak Science Club Abdul Rauf congratulated Shaheer on his achievement.
Gripper grasping test. P stands for the gauge pressure. (a-i) The gripper is placed above the object, here an apple mass of 95.6 g. (a-ii) The device approaches the object. (a-iii) Applying pressure conforms the adaptation of the fingers. (a-iv) The actuated force of the gripper makes it possible to picked up the object. The gripper demonstrated handling of other objects: (b) a boiled egg (47.7 g), (c) an orange (104.8 g), (e) A LEGO brick (25.7 g), and (f) A bottle of chewing gums (153.1 g). Credit: arXiv:1703.01423 [cs.RO]

(Tech Xplore)Edible what? Swiss researchers from Switzerland's Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) have come up with a fully edible soft pneumatic actuator. So what is the takeaway?

Factory workers using assembly tools and then eating them for lunch? Kids' toys?

Not at all. It could function inside the body, for nutrition or healing purposes.

Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, said, "What's been missing so far has been the thing that makes a robot distinct from a computing system, and that's an edible actuator that would allow an ingestible robot to actually do something useful once you've swallowed it."

The authors themselves pointed out a "(still missing) availability of edible actuators" and these, they wrote, "could pave the way to fully edible robots."

The authors can imagine components of such robots could be mixed with "nutrient or pharmaceutical components for digestion and metabolization."

Ackerman had further details. "The actuator is made from a mix of gelatin, glycerin, and water that's poured into a mold. The overall design is a standard one for pneumatic actuators (and the performance is similar); the structure causes it to bend when inflated and straighten out again when pressure is reduced."

The actuator is 90 mm in length, 20 mm in width, and 17 mm in thickness.

As per the researchers' abstract on arXiv, the actuator exhibits "a bending angle of 170.3 {deg} and a blocked force of 0.34 N at applied pressure of 25 kPa."

Two actuators were integrated to form a gripper and the "researchers conducted a gripper grasping test, adjusting the actuated force to allow the gripper to handle objects of different sizes and shapes," said Ackerman.

IEEE Spectrum posted a video earlier this month that showed the gelatin-based gripper in action picking up an apple.

Aric Jenkins, Fortune, said "researchers are closing in on the creation of an ingestible robot that can perform a variety of functions from within the human body."

Meanwhile, James Vincent in The Verge took a look at their efforts and made note that they actually had thoughts about a number of ways this could be used.

Vincent wrote that the researchers "imagine digestible bots being put to a number of usesfrom exploring our bodies (before being disposed of by our guts) to 'food transportation where the robot does not require additional payload because the robot is the food.' (Our emphasis.)"

The scientists worked with "entirely edible gelatin and glycerin materials," said Mike Murphy in Quartz. "Everything, from the gripping fingers, through to the sensors, batteries, and transistors, is digestible."

The team's paper is titled "Soft Pneumatic Gelatin Actuator for Edible Robotics," by Jun Shintake, Harshal Sonar, Egor Piskarev, Jamie Paik, and Dario Floreano from EPFL, and IEEE Spectrum said it was presented at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2017.

Ackerman said they presented a prototype there of the actuator made of gelatin"biodegradable, biocompatible, and environmentally sustainable."

The Laboratory of Intelligent Systems said, "Soft robots can continuously change their shape, withstand strong mechanical forces, and passively adapt to their environment. The 'softness' makes these robots safer and potentially more robust and versatile than their counterparts made of bolts and metal. Examples include soft grippers that manipulate complex shapes without complex software."

Murphy in Quartz said, "it does promise a future where we could swallow smaller bots that could repair us from the inside."

Actually, TechCrunch had a look at the team's research interests on this back in March. Brian Heater reported.

"The creation of the actuators is part of the team's ongoing research into soft robotics, a sub-field of robotics inspired by nature that make for components that better comply with their environment. Notable applications for the technology include robotic grippers capable of conforming to a wide variety of different shapes."

More information: Soft Pneumatic Gelatin Actuator for Edible Robotics, arXiv:1703.01423 [cs.RO] Soft Pneumatic Gelatin Actuator for Edible Robotics, arXiv:1703.01423 [cs.RO] arxiv.org/abs/1703.01423 Abstract

We present a fully edible pneumatic actuator based on gelatin-glycerol composite. The actuator is monolithic, fabricated via a molding process, and measures 90 mm in length, 20 mm in width, and 17 mm in thickness. Thanks to the composite mechanical characteristics similar to those of silicone elastomers, the actuator exhibits a bending angle of 170.3 {deg} and a blocked force of 0.34 N at the applied pressure of 25 kPa. These values are comparable to elastomer based pneumatic actuators. As a validation example, two actuators are integrated to form a gripper capable of handling various objects, highlighting the high performance and applicability of the edible actuator. These edible actuators, combined with other recent edible materials and electronics, could lay the foundation for a new type of edible robots.

 2017 Tech Xplore
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* New (KOSDAQ: 160550.KQ - news) listings have struggled as investors wary of risk

* Aiming (Frankfurt: AIM.F - news) to establish 1 million ounce mine

* Malian government seen as investment-friendly

By Barbara Lewis

LONDON, Oct (Shenzhen: 000069.SZ - news) 9 (Reuters) - West African-focused Cora Gold Limited on Monday lists on London's AIM market for small companies to raise 3.45 million pounds ($4.5 million) to fund exploration at its flagship Sanankoro project in Mali.

The company, whose shares start trading at 0700 GMT, is the latest in a string of junior miners to launch on the London market this year as the sector slowly recovers from the commodity price crash of 2015-16.

CEO Jon Forster said Cora Gold would stand out as an African small-cap exploration and development company.

"We will occupy a niche in the London market," he said in an interview. "There are very few peer comparisons, very few junior explorers and this is the sector that has the greatest chance of making multiples for investors."

It also offers some of the highest risk and junior miners have struggled to attract investment this year even as the major companies have rallied, led by Glencore (Frankfurt: 8GC.F - news) , which has embarked on a series of deals as it moves from recovery to growth.

Forster said Cora Gold was still relatively low-risk as historic exploration work has established the presence of gold and his team has a track record of finding resources.

His aim over the next 9 months is to demonstrate the value of a 14 kilometre stretch of gold territory.

"We believe we have very good potential to increase the scale of the discovery to 1 million ounces of in-situ gold and create a standalone mine," he said.

Other miners that have listed in London this year are Rainbow Rare Earths, active in Burundi, Jangada Mines , which is exploring for gold and platinum in Brazil, Phoenix Global Mining, developing a U.S. copper mine, Russian gold miner Polyus, , and Altus Strategies, which describes itself as a "project generator".

Story continues

With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) the exception of Polyus, listed on the main market, new small-cap listings have tended to struggle.

One issue is concerns about political risk as the sector disputes South Africa's proposed mining law and Tanzania's president has introduced a series of measures to increase greatly the nation's share of profits from mining.

Forster said he was confident the Malian government would remain friendly.

"Mali is very pragmatic. It understands the advantage of having a thriving mining sector," he said.

($1 = 0.7656 pounds) (Editing by Louise Heavens)
Rahul Gandhi criticised BJP saying that the Gujarat government has not done anything for its people in the last 22 years.

By Mayuresh Ganapatye: It seems that the opposition is not leaving any stone unturned in its endeavor to corner the NDA-led government.Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, who is currently in Gujarat on a three-day trip, today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

At a rally in Kheda District, Rahul asked why the prime minister was mum on the dramatic rise in turnover in a firm owned by Shah's son.

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While addressing a gathering in Kheda, Rahul said that the Gujarat government has not done anything for its people in the last 22 years.

"They snatched your land without your consent and without giving proper compensation to you. These lands are with handful of industrialists who run this government," said Rahul.

Even before the poll dates were formally announced, the Congress and the BJP have indulged in a very aggressive campaigning.

Two days ago PM Modi was in Gujarat and today Rahul Gandhi started another phase of his three-day Gujarat Tour, focusing on Central Gujarat.

A large number of people turned up to see the Congress vice president in Petlad, Kheda district. A large number of people turned up to see the Congress vice president in Petlad, Kheda district.

During his three-day tour, Rahul will be interacting with farmers, students and workers at different locations.

Congress feels that it is a good chance for them to increase their seats in the upcoming Gujarat polls.

However, in recent victory of Congress stalwart Ahmed Patel in prestigious Rajya Sabha elections has boost the morale of the Congress party.

Also Watch : Amit Shah in Kerala: BJP president flags off Jan Raksha Yatra from Kannur

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By Robert-Jan Bartunek LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Spain's finance minister on Monday blamed the Catalan government for companies moving their headquarters out of the region, while his euro zone colleagues played down the impact of the Spanish crisis on the shared currency. In recent weeks, a stream of Catalonia-based firms and banks have moved their legal bases outside the regionas a crisis over a Catalonian push for independence from Spain deepened. Caixabank , Spain's number 3 bank, and Banco Sabadell , the number 5, have both moved their head offices out of Catalonia last week following an independence referendum that the Madrid government attempted to block. "The exit of many companies from Catalonia is the consequence of the irrational and radical policies implemented and pursued by the (regional) government," minister Luis de Guindos said as he arrived for a meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Luxembourg. Losing Catalonia would have a significant impact on Spain, as the region makes up a fifth of the country's economic output and more than a quarter of its exports. Some fear it will impact on the euro zone economy, which is slowly recovering from a recession at the start of the decade. Nevertheless, most euro zone ministers declined to get drawn into a discussion on the situation in Catalonia, with Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem describing it as a "domestic issue". "I hope that those prevail in Spain, who understand that, as the Spanish Prime Minister has said, law and constitution are the basis on which we operate," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said. European Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici, asked about the economic impact of the Catalan debate, said the Spanish constitutional order must be respected. "This situation cannot be solved by violence, we have to find a solution through dialogue, this is also true when you consider the economic oint of view," he said. Spain also sought to reassure international investors concerned about the political situation in the country. "The message is crystal clear: Catalonian independence is not going to happen," De Guindos said. (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
By Philip Wen BEIJING (Reuters) - China has denied responsibility for alleged cyber attacks in the United States appearing to target exiled tycoon Guo Wengui, who has levelled corruption allegations against senior Communist Party officials and applied for political asylum. The Ministry of Public Security said in a statement provided to Reuters on Sunday an investigation had found "no evidence" of Chinese government involvement in the alleged cyber attacks. The law enforcement agency said China had also provided the U.S. government with evidence that Guo, who has applied for political asylum in the United States, fabricated documents used to support his claims. It said China would make an official request for U.S. authorities to investigate the matter. "The falsified official documents and the false information he fabricated are sensational and outrageous," the ministry said in a rare English-language statement. Guo denied the documents were forged and said the Ministry of Public Security's statement should not be believed. The Washington-based Hudson Institute think tank was scheduled to host Guo last Wednesday in a rare public appearance, but cancelled the event the day before without explanation. The event would have coincided with the visit of an official Chinese delegation to the U.S. capital for a high-level law enforcement and cyber security dialogue between the two countries. The Hudson Institute said it had detected a Shanghai-based attack aimed at shutting down access to its website several days earlier. POLITICAL ASYLUM The suspected attack was raised by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions during a meeting with China's Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun on Wednesday, a Department of Justice spokesman told Reuters on Sunday. China had "pledged to cooperate", the spokesman said. However, the New York-based Guo Wengui said: "Just because the Ministry of Public Security said China didn't do it doesn't make it true." "Why did the U.S. raise it in their meeting?" he told Reuters. Guo Wengui applied for U.S. political asylum in September, but said this week the law firm representing him, Clark Hill PLC, had backed out after being targeted by Chinese hackers. Clark Hill lawyer Thomas Ragland, who lodged the asylum claim, confirmed he was no longer representing Guo Wengui, without elaborating. Guo Wengui held a news conference at the National Press Club on Thursday, after his Hudson event was called off, where he produced what he claimed were "top secret" official documents showing China had sent secret agents into the United States. China's Ministry of Public Security said the documents shown by him were "clumsily forged" and "full of obvious mistakes". Guo Wengui has made wide-ranging corruption allegations against senior Communist Party leaders through a daily stream of Twitter and YouTube posts since the start of the year, which he says are aimed at disrupting a key five-yearly Communist Party congress that begins next week. The Chinese government has been seeking to discredit Guo Wengui, who is the subject of an Interpol red notice issued at Beijing's request, as a criminal suspect who should not be trusted. (Reporting by Philip Wen in BEIJING; Additional reporting by Makini Brice and Sarah Lynch in WASHINGTON and Gui Qing Koh in NEW YORK; Editing by Michael Perry and Paul Tait)
By Clement Uwiringiyimana KIGALI (Reuters) - A critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame cannot plan her defence on charges of insurrection and forgery because prosecutors have denied access to her case file, her lawyer said on Monday. Diane Shima Rwigara, a 35-year-old accountant, is the latest in a series of political opponents of Kagame to face criminal charges. She is accused of faking the registration papers she filed to stand against Kagame in an August election. She was barred from running and he won with 98.8 percent of the vote. Rwigara accuses Kagame of stifling dissent and has criticised the Rwandan Patriotic Front's (RPF) tight grip on the country since it fought its way to power to end a genocide in 1994. On Monday, her lawyer Buhuru Pierre Celestin told the court in the capital Kigali he should have been handed the full charge sheet before the hearing resumed. "They (defendants) should not be here without their file," Buhuru said. "This raises my worry that the court is hearing the case without all elements of the case." Buhuru's comments came days after Rwigara told the court she had been forced to appear without her lawyer because authorities had not told him about the hearing in time. The defendants were first taken from their home in Kigali on Aug. 30 on tax evasion allegations related to the family's tobacco company. "I request that we should have the case file. I and my children should have access to the case file so that we should plan our defence," Adeline, the politician's mother, said during Monday's session. Both women and Rwigara's sister have been charged. The three defendants have said the accusations are politically motivated. Prosecutors said they would not disclose details of the charges as an investigation was still taking place. "We cannot hand it out for the secrecy of its content," Michel Nshimiyimana told the court. Kagame is praised for restoring stability in Rwanda and for rapid economic progress. Rights groups say he has muzzled independent media and suppressed opponents, several of whom have been killed. The government dismisses the accusations as false. Rwanda last month also charged another opposition official and eight others with forming an armed group and seeking to overthrow the government. "The current move by RPF to jail people because they want to ... run for the presidency is a gift. They won't finish us all," Bernard Ntaganda, an opposition politician who was once jailed for four years, told journalists outside the court. "The message is clear: it is democracy or death." (Writing by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)
By Robert-Jan Bartunek LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers bade farewell on Monday to Germany's Wolfgang Schaeuble, the controversial champion of budget discipline during the euro zone crisis, who is stepping down after eight years in office. Schaeuble, 75, will become the president of the German parliament. He is likely to be replaced by a member of the country's liberal FDP party and who is expected to maintain the strict German line on euro zone fiscal policy. As finance minister of Europe's biggest economy, Schaeuble was instrumental in shaping the euro zone's response to the crisis, building new institutions and approving bailouts for Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus. In 2015, he was a central figure in the Greek crisis, resisting calls for greater leniency on debt made by Greece's leftist government headed by Alexis Tsipras and his outspoken finance minister Yanis Varoufakis. Southern European countries have criticised Schaeuble for his insistence on tax hikes and spending cuts at a time of deep recession, as well as his opposition to debt relief. Leaders elsewhere largely backed Schaeuble's policies, as the euro zone struggled to regain credibility in the face of high deficits and no clear tool to address them. "I think we will miss him because of his wisdom, also politically, and the fact that, though this is often not acknowledged, he was always looking for a compromise," said Belgian finance minister Johan Van Overtveldt. Slovak Finance Minister Peter Kazimir handed Schaeuble a 100 euro note emblazoned with the German minister's face instead of the usual bridges and archways. Ministers also put their autographs on a large European flag as a farewell present. Speaking in German, French finance minister Bruno Le Maire, thanked his "friend" for "playing an important role in the development of the euro zone". In his usual abrupt style, Schaeuble dismissed reporters' questions about his legacy at the Eurogroup, but said he believed his policies had helped keep the currency going when markets had their doubts. "We have succeeded in eight years of crisis to keep the euro stable against many expectations. So for me it's quite a good ending," Schaeuble said. (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; Editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Catherine Evans)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that talks with Saudi Arabia over Moscow supplying Riyadh with advanced S-400 air defence missile systems had gone well so far despite talk of a possible U.S.-Saudi arms deal. Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Saudi Arabia's King Salman for talks at the Kremlin last week during which Saudi Arabia said it had signed a memorandum of understanding on the purchase of the S-400s. A day later, the Pentagon said the U.S. State Department had approved the possible sale of a THAAD anti-missile defence system to Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of $15 billion (11.42 billion pounds). When asked whether a possible U.S. deal with Riyadh might affect the Russian arrangement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on a conference call with reporters, said talks had been progressing well. "We can speak only for ourselves," said Peskov. "(But)contacts to implement this contract have been very positive and have had very good preliminary results." Maria Vorobyova, an official at a Russian government agency dealing with military and technical cooperation, was cited earlier on Monday as saying that a firm agreement had been reached with Saudi Arabia on the S-400s. "An agreement has been reached with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to deliver the S-400 air defence system, anti-tank Kornet-EM rocket systems, TOS-1A (multiple rocket launcher) systems, AGS-30 automated grenade launchers, and Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles," the RIA news agency cited her as saying. Russia also signed a contract last week for Saudi to produce the AK-103 rifles under licence along with ammunition. Saudi Arabia is a longstanding U.S. ally in the Middle East and its arms deals with Moscow have caused disquiet in Washington. When asked about fears that Saudi Arabia could use the S-400 system against Iran, a Russian ally, Peskov said Moscow's decision to offer the missiles to Riyadh was not aimed at any third party. "Military technical cooperation between Moscow and Riyadh is absolutely self-contained and does not target third countries in this region or other regions of the world," said Peskov. "Therefore we are confident that this cooperation should not be a worry for anyone." (Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
By Lisa Barrington BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's parliament approved contentious taxes needed to finance a public sector pay rise on Monday and Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri warned the alternative was a collapse of the Lebanese pound in six months. "Without taxes it would have been better in popular terms, but six months later the lira would have collapsed," Hariri said after the parliament session. "If we carried out the (public sector salary law) without revenues it would be a disaster for the country." Lebanon has a debt-to-GDP ratio of 148 percent, one of the highest in the world, and recorded a fiscal deficit of $4.9 billion last year. Parliament approved a $917 million rise in public sector salaries and a series of tax increases to fund it in July. Despite objections from business and some political groups, President Michel Aoun ratified the laws in late August and people have since begun receiving increased salaries. But in September the constitutional council annulled the tax law after a political party brought a legal challenge and the council referred it back to parliament for amendments. A Lebanese official told Reuters the taxes approved on Monday remained "mostly as they were before being challenged in the Constitutional Council and do not contain any substantive amendments". A key argument of those opposing increased taxes is that the Lebanese government offers little in return. The country's infrastructure has been awaiting repair since the 15-year civil war ended in 1990 - roads are clogged with cars, beaches are littered with waste, internet links are slow or patchy and cuts to power and water supplies are frequent. ANOTHER CHALLENGE? Sami Gemeyal, leader of the Christian Kataeb party which filed an appeal against the earlier version of the law, said it would do all it could to challenge it again. "We will study it and see if it is possible to contest the law at the constitutional council," said Gemeyal. Kataeb is the only major political party not part of Lebanon's coalition government. Lebanon expects to hold a general election next year and the public sector pay rises have proved a popular move. But the business community has warned higher taxes could damage Lebanon's fragile economy, which has been battered by conflict in neighbouring Syria. Growth fell from 8-9 percent to below 2 percent after war began in 2011. Business leaders say Lebanon instead needs better tax collection, a credible economic plan and a budget to be passed for the first time since 2005. CONTENTIOUS The banking sector, the cornerstone of Lebanon's economy, objected strongly to the law. The changes raised corporation tax to 17 percent from 15 percent and also applies taxes on bank transactions in a way bankers say amounts to double taxation. The effective tax rate on banks currently stands at around 15 percent, but would rise to around 50 percent if the proposed tax changes are enacted, Freddie Baz, Group Strategy Director of Bank Audi and board member of the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) lobby group, told Reuters. The laws have provoked a number of street protests, with people asking for pay rises and also protesting hikes which raised value-added tax (VAT) by 1 percentage point to 11 percent. The head of Lebanon's General Labour Union Beshara al-Asmar said before the vote on Monday there would be a "complete strike" which would ground the country to a halt if positive results were not achieved. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington, Laila Bassam and Ellen Francis; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
By India Today Web Desk: If Kangana Ranaut is to be believed, she and Hrithik Roshan had a steamy affair during the making of Krrish 3, while he was still married to Sussanne Khan. Not too long after the release of the film, Hrithik and Sussanne announced their decision to separate, which led many to speculate if Kangana was the reason behind their split.

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But in a recent interview, Hrithik has rubbished the rumours that infidelity on his part drove a wedge between him and Sussanne. "Absolutely not. Sussanne has been very very vocal about this. She has been very vocal. And I feel like laughing at people. When people get divorced, it is not always because of infidelity by the man. That is just such a small-minded assumption," the Kaabil actor said.

It came as a shock to many when Hrithik and Sussanne announced that they were going their separate ways after 13 years of being married. The actor said that cheating was not the only reason that people grow apart, "I am just trying to say that there are many reasons why people would like to live separate lives. Infidelity is just one of them. So the general assumption was, 'Ah he is the superstar, he must have done something wrong. She must have caught him.' That is not the case. We are great friends. It is between us. The reason that we decided to live separately may have been an inspiring reason, how do you know?"

On the work front, Hrithik is all set to make his debut in the biopic genre with Vikas Bahl's Super 30, which is based on the life of Patna-based mathematician Anand Kumar.

ALSO WATCH: Hrithik and Sussanne finally split

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By Robin Emmott CRAIOVA, Romania (Reuters) - NATO launched a new multinational force in Romania on Monday to counter Russia along its eastern flank and to check a growing Russian presence in the Black Sea following the Kremlin's 2014 seizure of Crimea. The force will initially be built around a Romanian brigade of up to 4,000 soldiers, supported by troops from nine other NATO countries, and complementing a separate deployment of 900 U.S. troops who are already in place. The plans are to include additional air and sea assets to give the force greater capabilities. "Our purpose is peace, not war," Romanian President Klaus Iohannis told the NATO Parliamentary Assembly of alliance lawmakers, which is meeting this year in Bucharest. "We are not a threat for Russia. But we need dialogue from a strong position of defence and discouragement," he said, before flying to the Craiova military base in south-eastern Romania. At the base, as military bands played, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stood alongside Iohannis, addressed some of the troops in green face paint and inspected vehicles and weapons. "We are sending a very clear message: NATO is here, NATO is strong and NATO is united," Stoltenberg told assembled Polish, Romanian, Spanish and Portuguese soldiers. Russia accuses NATO of trying to encircle it and threatening stability in Eastern Europe, which NATO denies. Around the Black Sea, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey are NATO members while Georgia and Ukraine aspire to join. The NATO force aims to develop its presence in the Black Sea region, rich in oil and gas, without escalating tensions as it seeks to counter Russia's own plans to create what military analysts say is a "buffer zone". The 2008 Russian operation to put troops in Georgia's South Ossetia region, its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014 and its annexation of Crimea have raised the stakes, with all sides warning of a new, Cold-War style scenario. Apart from Romania, Poland is the biggest troop contributor. Bulgaria, Italy and Portugal will train regularly with the force in Craiova, and Germany is also expected to contribute. In additional to existing NATO Black Sea naval patrols, a maritime presence will include more allied visits to Romanian and Bulgarian ports, training and exercises. Britain is deploying fighter planes to Romania. Canada is already helping to patrol Romanian air space, and Italian planes are helping patrol over Bulgaria. 'WEST BERLIN' MODEL Some Eastern Europeans want NATO's new ballistic missile defence shield, which includes a site in Romania, to be part of NATO's eastern posture vis-a-vis Russia. "The Aegis Ashore system would add another level of deterrence," said Maciej Kowalski, an analyst at the Polish Casimir Pulaski Foundation, referring to the U.S.-built system. NATO says the system is to intercept any Iranian rockets. As in the Baltics and Poland, where the U.S.-led alliance has some 4,000 troops, NATO says the relatively light multinational model recalls allied support for West Berlin in the 1950s, when the presence of British, French and U.S. forces ensured the Soviet Union could not control all of Berlin. Under NATO's founding treaty, an attack on one ally is an attack on all, meaning all 28 NATO nations would be required to respond in the case of any potential Russian aggression. While months in planning, the establishment of the force comes as Russia winds down its biggest war games since 2013. The Zapad, or West, games showed off Moscow's latest weaponry and its ability to quickly mass forces on NATO's borders. The enhanced NATO presence in Romania and Bulgaria marks a diplomatic success for Bucharest, which gained greater persuasive power because it is set to reach a NATO goal of spending 2 percent of economic output on defence this year, a priority for U.S. President Donald Trump. Romania pushed for bigger NATO naval presence on the Black Sea for more than a year, but found its neighbour Bulgaria wary of provoking Russia. Turkey supports only limited NATO reinforcements, concerned about breaking international rules limiting the scale of patrols in the Black Sea. Turkey has played down the extent of Russia's militarisation of Crimea, which NATO says involves deploying surface-to-air missiles and communications jamming equipment. (Reporting by Robin Emmott Additional reporting by Luiza Ilie and Radu-Sorin Marinas; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt, Angus MacSwan and Peter Graff)
President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Donald Trump once again indicated that diplomacy with North Korea has failed after a Republican senator accused him of leading the US on the path to World War Three.

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didnt work! the president tweeted on Monday.

It comes after senator Bob Corker accused Trump of acting like hes doing The Apprentice or something following the presidents bellicose speech at the United Nations in which he threatened to destroy North Korea.

Last week, Trump said that any agreements made by previously US governments with the rogue state had been violated before the ink was dry.

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid he wrote.

He added: hasnt worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2017

Bob Corker gave us the Iran Deal, & that's about it. We need HealthCare, we need Tax Cuts/Reform, we need people that can get the job done!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

Corker said that Trump concerns him.

He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation, the senator, who announced his retirement last month, said.

I know he has hurt, in several instances. Hes hurt us as it relates to negotiations that were underway by tweeting things out, Corker told the New York Times.

Story continues

A lot of people think that there is some kind of good cop, bad cop act underway [between Trump and Rex Tillerson], but thats just not true.

Characteristically, Trump attacked Corker on Twitter, saying he is responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!

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Trump continues war of words with North Korea: Only one thing will work

Senator Bob Corker begged me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said NO and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said NO THANKS. he tweeted.

He added: Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didnt have the guts to run!

At the United Nations, Trump referred to Kim Jong-un as rocket man and threatened to totally destroy North Korea.

The scourge of our planet today are a small group of rogue regimes. If the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph, he said.

Today, a White House aide said there is no misunderstanding what Trump means when he says only one thing will work.

Budget director Mick Mulvaney said that the president is clearly telegraphing, and this should not be news to anybody, that military options are on the table They absolutely are.

Republican senator Ron Johnson said there is no viable military option. It would be horrific.

In September, North Korea tested its most powerful nuclear weapon to date, with a 6.3-magnitude earthquake registered at its Punggye-ri testing site.
By Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's honeymoon period may be over, but his deadly anti-drugs campaign will not wane, his office said on Monday, after a fall in ratings that his opponents said showed public disillusionment with his rule. Duterte has enjoyed strong opinion poll numbers since winning the presidency in last year's elections but heavy scrutiny of his war on drugs, which has killed thousands of Filipinos, appears to have impacted his ratings. Trust and satisfaction in Duterte fell to the lowest of his presidency in the third quarter of this year, a survey showed on Sunday, although sentiment about his leadership remained positive overall. "The honeymoon period of the president is usually for a year, so this is expected," Duterte's communications secretary, Martin Andanar, said in a radio interview, adding it should motivate the government to deliver on its overall objectives. The Social Weather Stations survey was conducted between September 23-27, two days after thousands of Filipinos rallied to denounce Duterte's drugs war and his authoritarian leadership style. The high death toll has stoked international alarm, although domestic polls have shown Filipinos are largely supportive of his tough measures to fight crime and drugs. Police say they have killed 3,900 drug suspects during their anti-narcotics operations and deny executions have taken place, as human rights groups have alleged. But the campaign has been under the microscope of late, due largely to the high-profile killing by police of a 17-year-old student on Aug. 16, which led to a senate probe. A murder investigation is under way. Police said he was a drug suspect killed because he opened fire on them while resisting arrest, but security camera footage showed him in police custody. His family insists he was executed. Staunch critics of Duterte were quick to take advantage of a survey slump they said reflected public discontent and scepticism about his drugs war. "It's very encouraging to know that the Filipino people are beginning to see the light," said Senator Antonio Trillanes, a fierce opponent who has recently accused Duterte of concealing assets when he was Davao City mayor. "They are now seeing Duterte for who he really is: a lying, rude, amoral, corrupt and oppressive former mayor who is totally incompetent about governance at the national level." Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella also said the honeymoon was over, but Duterte was not motivated by popularity ratings and was "bent on making sure that he addresses the three campaign themes which is crime, corruption and illegal drugs". Duterte's office frequently cites polls, including SWS, as a sign of his public support. Peace and order are also one of the cornerstones of the 72-year-old leader's economic agenda, which aims to lift the country's growth to 7-8 percent during his six-year term. Senator Risa Hontiveros said the ratings dip showed Duterte's "authoritarian style of governance is losing its appeal and support". "The writing on the wall is simple and clear: President Duterte cannot govern based on fear, lies and killings," Hontiveros said in a statement. (Editing by Martin Petty)
MAPUTO (Reuters) - Gun battles last week between police and attackers in a remote northern Mozambican port killed 16 people, including two police officers, local media reported. The attacks in the Indian Ocean port of Mocimboa da Praia, near the border with Tanzania and offshore gas fields, took place last Thursday and police have since regained control of the town, the official AIM news agency said. The motive for the attacks were not clear and the government has not blamed the opposition group Renamo, against which it fought a civil war for almost two decades that ended in 1992. Fighting has periodically erupted since but a ceasefire has been in place since earlier this year. "We need to know who they are, what their motives are, and where they came from," Celmira da Silva, the governor of the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, told Radio Mozambique. Local media have reported that the attack was carried out by Islamists but the government has not confirmed this. Mozambique has not been a focal point of Islamist militant activity. Mozambique police were expected to hold a press briefing in the capital Maputo on Tuesday about the attacks. (Reporting by Manuel Mucari; Writing by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
A South Korean Hyunmoo II ballistic missile is fired last month

South Korea has developed a type of graphite bomb aimed at paralysing North Koreas power grid should Kim Jong-un provoke nuclear war.

The Yonhap news agency in Seoul reports that the blackout bomb short-circuits electricity grids by spreading chemically treated carbon graphite filaments.

The type of bomb was first used against Iraq in the first Gulf War, and then by Nato against Serbia in 1999, where it knocked out between 75 and 80 per cent of power.

According to reports, the weapons have been developed by South Koreas Agency for Defence Development as part of the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike program.

All technologies for the development of a graphite bomb led by the ADD have been secured, a military official said.

It is at the stage where we can build the bombs at any time.

Last month, South Korea carried out a simulated attack on North Koreas nuclear test site, following joint military drills with the US in late August.

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

At the same time Seoul approved the deployment of a US anti-missile system.

News of the blackout bomb comes as Donald Trump continued his war of words with North Korea, tweeting that only one thing will work when it comes to the regime.

On Twitter, the US president said that any agreements made by previously US governments had been violated before the ink was dry.

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid he wrote.

Story continues

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Trump continues war of words with North Korea: Only one thing will work

He added: hasnt worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!

The comments come just days after the US President told reporters and top military aides that they were in the calm before the storm.

Last month, James Mattis, the US defence secretary, warned any threat to the United States or its territories, including Guam or allies, will be met with a massive military response.

At the United Nations, Trump referred to Kim Jong-un as rocket man and threatened to totally destroy North Korea.

The scourge of our planet today are a small group of rogue regimes. If the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph, he said.

In September, North Korea tested its most powerful nuclear weapon to date, with a 6.3-magnitude earthquake registered at its Punggye-ri testing site.
According to UN bodies, as of today 5,20,000 Rohingyas crossed the border since 25 August; nearly 40,000 of them arrived in last 10 days.

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: The State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Shahriar Alam today said that the general secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of India Ram Madhav has assured that India will cooperate with Bangladesh in handling the Rohingya refugee crisis.

He said this while talking to journalists after a meeting with BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Monday.

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The state minister said that, the BJP general secretary appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for providing shelter to the Rohingya who fled Myanmar government's persecution.

"It is an internal problem of Myanmar. World community believes that solution to Rohingya crisis lies with Myanmar. Similarly, India wants that Myanmar acts towards resolving the Rohingya crisis," said Madhav.

Bangladesh is dealing with an unprecedented influx of Rohingya refugees. According to UN bodies, as of today 5,20,000 Rohingyas crossed the border since 25 August; nearly 40,000 of them arrived in last 10 days. Besides, International and local observers believe that 100,000 more people may be waiting to cross the border from Myanmar.

'BJP-AL TIES TO BE STRENGTHENED'

Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Mahbub-Ul Alam Hanif said relations between the Bangladesh Awami League and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of India will be strengthened further.

He said this after a delegation of Awami League meeting with BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav in a city hotel. Awami League is the ruling party of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the president of the party.

During the meeting, they discussed different issues of common interest between Bangladesh and India.

Hanif said, Bangladesh has friendly relations with India since a long time. "We have discussed ways to strengthen the friendly relations between the two parties," he added.

"It is urgent to maintain political stability for both Bangladesh and India to foster development activities. Similarly, we that the two parties should work together for the development of the two countries," AL leader Hanif added.

AL Presidium member Lt Col (retd) Faruq Khan, Joint general secretary Dr Dipu Moni, Organizing Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Cultural Affairs Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, International Affairs Secretary Shammi Ahmed, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, among others, were also present at the meeting.

Also Watch : RSS chief Bhagwat on Rohingya: Humanitarian view at cost of one's security is not good

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LILONGWE (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Monday it has pulled staff out of two districts in southern Malawi where a vampire scare has triggered mob violence in which at least five people have been killed. Belief in witchcraft is widespread in rural Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries, where many aid agencies and NGOs work. A spate of vigilante violence linked to a vampire rumours also erupted in Malawi in 2002. "These districts have severely been affected by the ongoing stories of blood sucking and possible existence of vampires," the UN Department on Safety and Security (UNDSS) said in a security report on the Phalombe and Mulanje districts that was seen by Reuters. The Acting UN Resident Coordinator, Florence Rolle, said in an emailed response to questions that based on the report that "some UN staff have relocated while others are still in the districts depending on locations of their operations". "UNDSS is continuing to monitor the situation closely to ensure all affected UN staff are back in the field as soon as possible," Rolle said. Rolle did not say how many workers had been relocated. The UNDSS report said at least five people had been killed in the area since mid-September by lynch mobs accusing them of vampirism. It said mobs searching for vampires have been mounting road blocks in the district, raising security concerns. Malawian President Peter Mutharika said the reports were "distressing and agonizing". "This development has been of grave concern to the President and the entire Government," his office said in a statement. The UNDSS report said the vampirism rumours appear to have originated in neighbouring Mozambique, although it was not clear what had sparked them. It recommended the "temporary suspension of U.N. activities in the area until the situation is normalized". It said some NGOs had pulled personnel from the districts and temporarily suspended their programmes but did not name the organisations. (Reporting by Mabvuto Banda; Writing by Ed Stoddard; Editing by James Macharia and Catherine Evans)
From Harpers Bazaar UK

Donald Trump unleashed a handful of tweets on Saturday morning - a fairly routine practice at this point - in which he called for "equal time" from late-night hosts.

Late Night host are dealing with the Democrats for their very "unfunny" & repetitive material, always anti-Trump! Should we get Equal Time? - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

More and more people are suggesting that Republicans (and me) should be given Equal Time on T.V. when you look at the one-sided coverage? - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

Late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers have become cultural touch points by aggressively taking on the Trump administration and congressional Republicans in their monologues. On the strength of his commentary, Colbert has surged in the ratings, overtaking Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon - who's pulled punches compared with his peers - in overall viewers.

But the president seems to be confusing the notion of equal time with the Fairness Doctrine, which was repealed during the Reagan Administration. It required TV and radio broadcasters to present opposing viewpoints (though not necessarily with equal time). According to The Washington Post:

This meant that programmes on politics were required to include opposing opinions on the topic under discussion. Broadcasters had an active duty to determine the spectrum of views on a given issue and include those people best suited to representing those views in their programming.

The Post also notes that under the Fairness Doctrine broadcasters had to let people know if they were under personal attack in a programme and give them a chance to respond. In 1987, President Reagan signed an executive order revoking the doctrine, leading to an explosion of partisan TV and radio programmes.

Story continues

An amazing tweet considering it was a GOP administration (Reagan) that repealed Fairness Doctrine, ushering in rightwing talk radio and Fox https://t.co/JqpiTJoXZD - Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) October 7, 2017

"It's hard to overstate the importance of the Fairness Doctrine to conservative commentators - its demise in 1987 ... is credited with the creation of modern-day talk-radio, because broadcasters no longer had to offer competing views on the same broadcasts," Politico wrote in 2011. (The rule remained on the books until 2011, when the Federal Communications Commission finally removed it.)

This is not the same as the equal time rule, which remains in effect. It requires broadcasters to give political candidates equal time. Trump's appearance on Saturday Night Live in 2015, for instance, triggered the equal time rule and NBC agreed to give his Republican opponents time on 18 affiliates during primetime, according to Variety.

Late Night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers have responded to the president via Twitter.

Excellent point Mr. President! You should quit that boring job - I'll let you have my show ALL to yourself #MAGA - Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) October 7, 2017

We'd love to have you! Studio located at 15 Penguin Avenue, Antarctica. https://t.co/2MyQTYwecZ - Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) October 7, 2017

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Enbridge Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company. The company operates through five segments: Liquids Pipelines, Gas Transmission and Midstream, Gas Distribution and Storage, Renewable Power Generation, and Energy Services. The Liquids Pipelines segment operates pipelines and related terminals to transport various grades of crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons in Canada and the United States. The Gas Transmission and Midstream segment invests in natural gas pipelines, and gathering and processing facilities in Canada and the United States. The Gas Distribution and Storage segment is involved in natural gas utility operations serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Ontario, as well as natural gas distribution and energy transportation activities in Quebec. The Renewable Power Generation segment operates power generating assets, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and waste heat recovery facilities; and transmission assets in North America and Europe. The Energy Services segment provides energy marketing services to refiners, producers, and other customers; and physical commodity marketing and logistical services in Canada and the United States. The company was formerly known as IPL Energy Inc. and changed its name to Enbridge Inc. in October 1998. Enbridge Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
By Santosh Chaubey: An Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) survey has found that the prevailing anti-China sentiment in the country can result in 40-45 per cent decline in the sale of Chinese products this Diwali when compared to their sale last year.

A quick survey by ASSOCHAM-Social Development Foundation (ASDF) has said that be it decorative items like lights, gift items, lamps, Ganesha and Laxmi idols, rangolis, wall hangings crackers or even the electronic products like mobile phones, the decline is visible across all the sectors.

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The ASSOCHAM survey that was conducted across multiple cities, i.e., Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mumbai, found that people were preferring Indian goods over Chinese products and were demanding Indian lights and earthen diyas and shopkeepers were stacking products this festive season accordingly.

According to the ASSOCHAM release, the share of Chinese products during Diwali festivities last year was estimated to be 30 per cent or around Rs 6500 crore and Rs 4500 crore of it came from only Diwali related items like toys, fancy lights, gift items, plastic ware, decorative goods etc.

The ASSOCHAM paper also found that the demand of electronic items like LCDs, mobile phones and others items made in China has also declined by 15-20%.

India-China relations are going through a rough patch especially after the 73-day long Doklam standoff, the border row between the countries in the Doklam region of the Sikkim sector that saw an abrupt end in the last week of August. Though India claims a status quo has been maintained in the region ever since then, there are conflicting reports emerging in the media that China is again scaling up its operations in the disputed border territory.

Also, some reports in August had claimed that the Doklam standoff had adversely affected business of Oppo and Vivo in India, two major mobile manufactures from China. A report in the Economic Times had said that 400 expat Chinese workers were being sent back after the sale of smartphones of these companies fell sharply in July and August months owing to the 'anti-Beijing sentiment'.

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What's next for SD Gov. Kristi Noem as she heads into her second term?

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October 2017 marks the third year that Albuquerque-based window and door manufacturer Glass-Rite is participating in Manufacturing Day, a nationwide celebration of manufacturing and its impact on local economies.

People want to see the manufacturing facility, so we walk them through it and try to have all the equipment operating  our automated glass cutter, frame welder  its what people are interested in, said Steve Hoberg, vice president of sales and public relations for the company that employs about 30 workers.

Glass-Rite will open its doors to the public and student groups for tours on Oct. 25. We also have groups of students from CNM once or twice a year as well, he said, which can spur interest in future employment.

Creating interest in manufacturing careers is one of the core goals of Manufacturing Day. Many events are geared to students in an effort to excite young people about engineering, design and production careers.

Events are organized by New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nonprofit organization that offers manufacturers training and expertise in efficient production and administrative practices that allow them to maximize their competitive edge. This years events include workshops, roundtable discussions and manufacturing facility tours that allow the public to see designs turned into products and products repurposed into other products.

Hoberg said the tours are more than just a feel-good activity for the manufacturer. They have provided the company with an important way to stay connected to current customers, add potential new clients and contracts, and open the door to prospective employees.

About 60 to 70 percent of Glass-Rites business comes from residential projects, and the rest comes from the multifamily sector. Glass-Rite uses Manufacturing Day tours to demonstrate its fabrication processes to multifamily property managers and housing directors from the states pueblos. Weve gotten some pretty good contracts out of it, Hoberg said.

Glass-Rite was formed in 1984. Hoberg and his brother, Bill, purchased the company in 1987. We had a couple of trucks and a few saws at that time, making windows even back then, said Hoberg. Bill took over full ownership in 2011, allowing Hoberg to focus on business development.

Local referrals are an important source of business for the company. We have competition from companies that are much larger and more national than us, that advertise extremely heavily, said Hoberg. We dont have the national advertising allowance that these other companies do, so we have to work hard and make sure our referrals are solid, and its a lot of word of mouth as time goes on, he said. The company has also tapped into the New Mexico True marketing program, recently completing its certification.

Hoberg said that while the state is facing challenges that affect the economy, its not all doom and gloom.

From a manufacturing standpoint, New Mexico is a good place to locate. The labor pool is pretty good. From what I can understand, theres a huge desire for people to work with local companies  thats been beneficial to us.

The tour of Glass-Rites 20,000-square-foot window and door manufacturing facility is one of about 50 events taking place in New Mexico in October. All public tours are free and can be found at http://newmexicomep.org/mfgday. The site links visitors to a corresponding Eventbrite page where pre-registration is requested.

To learn more about Glass-Rite, visit http://glass-rite.com/.

Finance New Mexico connects individuals and businesses with skills and funding resources for their business or idea. To learn more, go to www.FinanceNewMexico.org.
University of New Mexico junior Kyle Guin is immersed from head to toe in the new Innovate ABQ high-tech research and development hub taking shape in the heart of Albuquerque.

Guin, 21, just launched his first commercial app through the Apple App Store, allowing users to instantaneously turn photos of things like course schedules, events or business cards into immediately accessible files logged into note, calendar or contact programs on mobile devices. He built the app through his new startup, Pencil-In, which is now housed at Innovate ABQs new Lobo Rainforest building, a six-story facility that opened in August at the old seven-acre First Baptist Church property at Broadway and Central Downtown.

Guin is enrolled in UNM Innovation Academy courses at the Rainforest building and lives in one of the 155 student apartments on the upper floors. And he was just appointed as a new Lobo Rainforest Ambassador to educate more UNM students about Innovate ABQ, get them involved and help brand the Downtown site as Albuquerques go-to place for innovation and entrepreneurship.

This is now definitely the best business working space in Albuquerque, Guin said. It offers so many opportunities to tap into resources and surround yourself with people who have done amazing things. Its unreal.

With the opening of the Rainforest Building, plus last weeks inauguration of Central New Mexico Community Colleges Fuse Makerspace next door, the Innovate ABQ site has finally made the transition from a big idea into a real-life center of activity.

UNM, the city and other public and private partners have been working for four years to build Innovate ABQ as ground zero for a new innovation corridor in central Albuquerque where the states research labs and universities can work directly with entrepreneurs, investors and marketing professionals to collaborate on commercializing new technologies, building startup companies and encouraging entrepreneurship as an engine for economic growth.

At the heart of it are students like Guin, who Innovate ABQ enthusiasts see as the linchpin for building a flourishing high-tech economy.

Its not just a plan on a piece of paper anymore, said Innovation Academy Executive Director Rob DelCampo. The reality is unfolding before our eyes.

The entire 30,000-square-foot ground floor of the Rainforest building is now filled with tenants, including UNMs Science and Technology Corp., Sandia National Laboratories, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Innovation Academy and about half a dozen startup companies.

The buildings newest tenant, global engineering defense contractor General Atomics, is moving into the facilitys one-remaining office space this month.

General Atomics fills everything up on the first floor, said Lisa Kuuttila, UNMs chief economic development officer and STC president and CEO. About 100 students are also now living in the upstairs apartments.

The co-location of all those programs in one place already is generating interaction and collaboration, Kuuttila said. And that, in turn, is leading to collisions among people that can spur new, innovative ideas and projects.

What we hoped for is starting to happen, with random collisions among people as they run into each other in the hallways and open workspaces, Kuuttila said.

One such collision occurred in late August, when participants in a New Mexico Biotechnology Association meeting happened upon an Innovation Academy event being held to introduce visiting entrepreneurs to students seeking internships. Some of the biotech executives ended up hiring students, Kuuttila said.

The labs and UNM are now working together on technology transfer and entrepreneurial programs. STC is providing direct training in technology commercialization strategies for staff at AFRL, which occupies a 1,700-square-foot space next to the STCs suite of offices. Its also introducing AFRL to investors and entrepreneurs.

Its the first time that AFRL has joined a community-based, multi-tenant facility, said Matthew Fetrow, director of AFRLs technology engagement office.

The synergy is fantastic, Fetrow said. Its unique for us to be imbedded together with other agencies directly in the citys economic hub.

For both AFRL and Sandia, the Rainforest allows lab personnel to step out from behind the fence to interact with the community. Thats important for investors and entrepreneurs to gain more access to lab technologies, and for Sandia and AFRL scientists and engineers to get directly involved in marketing government innovation.

In November, well start office hours for Sandia groups to schedule time here with people in the community, said Jackie Kerby Moore, Sandia manager for technology and economic development. This brings us out from behind the fence and into a place where people can just walk in without a badge.

Sandia is establishing collaborative relationships with organizations in and around the Innovate ABQ site, including the ABQid business accelerator, now housed at CNMs FUSE Makerspace at the old Noon Day Ministries building next to the Rainforest facility.

Access to the makerspace, meanwhile, is enticing lab scientists and engineers to try product prototyping at Innovate ABQ, Fetrow said.

A planned renovation of the existing First Baptist Church sanctuary on the southeast corner of the Innovate ABQ site could generate more entrepreneurial activity. Goodman Realty will begin design work this fall and launch the first phase of reconstruction in early 2018 to turn that building into a high-tech, multi-use facility for startups and entrepreneurial programs.

At the center of everything are students.

Last week, STC and the Academy launched its first 10-week cohort of student innovators that they selected to participate in the National Science Foundations Innovation Corps program. The NSF awarded a $444,000 grant in August to UNM to turn the Rainforest building into an iCorps site. That allows the university to award $3,400 grants to 20 different student teams this semester and next to bring new lab and university technologies to market.

And in January, the Academy will launch a new, eight-week Tech Navigator Challenge in which student teams will design business plans to commercialize university and lab technologies, culminating in a pitch competition for $25,000.

Academy students say the programs, facilities and resources are motivating them into action through hands-on, real-life instruction that makes entrepreneurship a critical part of their careers.

I dont want to just code the rest of my life. I want to make products to market and sell, said computer science senior Nathan Banks. For everyone here, this is not just about hitting the books, getting your degree and getting out. Its about innovation and new ideas.

Rainforest ambassador Guin said Innovate ABQ has opened a new outlook on life.

I believe all education should shift this way, Guin said. Everything here is so connected to what I want to do in real life. Its helping kids develop a whole new mind-set.
The beginning of the school year is a time to focus our communitys attention on the importance of school attendance. Whether youre a parent, a teacher, a business owner or a concerned community member, we all have a role to play in supporting students academic success through good attendance habits.

At Mission: Graduate, we are working in partnership with local school districts and other community organizations to improve high school and college graduation rates. Helping more students graduate from high school is a complex challenge, because the underlying causes of low graduation rates are so multifaceted.

But theres good news. Research consistently shows that one of the best predictors of high school graduation is simply showing up to school. In other words, if we can improve attendance rates, we can and will make substantial progress toward solving the graduation challenge.

Unfortunately, national research from Attendance Works and the Everyone Graduates Center demonstrates that we have a chronic absence problem across our nation, with over 20 percent of schools experiencing high rates of chronic absenteeism and the highest rates in schools with large numbers of low-income students. Chronic absence is a measure of attendance defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year for any reason. That translates to missing 18 days over the course of the school year, or as few as two days a month, on average.

To address this challenge, Mission: Graduate has partnered with New Mexico PBS and local school districts, including Albuquerque Public Schools, to get the word out that Every Day Matters. It makes no difference if an absence is excused or unexcused; missing as few as two days a month means falling behind in school. We want every parent and every student to know this important message and to understand that there are academic consequences to not attending school regularly.

While raising awareness among students and families is a key solution, schools also have an important role to play in addressing this challenge. Recently Mission: Graduate and NMPBS brought together more than 240 people, representing 40 schools and five school districts, for an all-day conference aimed at helping schools dig deep into their chronic-absence data in order to develop their own school-based attendance success plans.

Conference participants will be going back to their schools to implement their best ideas for decreasing chronic absenteeism, starting with the formation of school-based attendance teams. Each team will use data to identify the root causes of the problem and to develop highly targeted solutions based on what the data are telling them. Its important that schools have a mix of preventative schoolwide strategies in place, as well as more targeted support for the students with the highest rates of chronic absenteeism.

I am encouraged by the energy and commitment that our principals, teachers and school staff continue to bring to this complex challenge. They recognize the critical importance of good attendance habits, and they are organizing themselves to tackle the chronic absence problem in our community head on.

But they cant do it alone. Across the nation, every school that is making progress in reducing chronic absence rates is doing so in partnership with the broader community. In order to do better at getting our children to school, we need every parent, service provider, business and community-based organization to think about the ways in which they can partner with our local schools.

Parents can show children that they value good attendance by scheduling appointments and vacations outside of school hours, helping them prepare for school by laying out clothes and packing backpacks the night before, and establishing bedtime and morning routines. Having a transportation backup plan and keeping in touch with teachers are good habits to develop and continue throughout their school career.

Businesses can help their teenage employees to keep reasonable working hours that allow them to get to school on time and ready to learn. They can encourage employees who are parents to support the good attendance habits of their children.

Individual community members can mentor students either formally or informally by promoting awareness on the importance of attending school every day.

We all know a child, either in our families or in our community, that we care about. In our own way, lets take the time to help them understand the importance of going to school.

We can all play a role. What role will you play?

Mission: Graduate is an initiative of the United Way of Central New Mexico committed to a goal of 60,000 new graduates with college degrees and certificates in central New Mexico by the year 2020. #60Kby2020 #EveryDayMatters
The mortal remains of the martyrs who died in the helicopter crash in Arunachal Pradesh were sent in cardboard packaging, here's why.

By India Today Web Desk: An India Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopter crashed on October 6, 2017 in Arunachal Pradesh's Chuna area killing all seven people on board.

Out of all the people who were onboard, five were from IAF and two were from the Indian Army. All of them died after their helicopter crashed around 12 kilometers from India-China border and around 100 kilometers from Tawang near the Yangstse sector early in the morning.

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The bodies of the martyrs were soon sent back and were sent covered in parachute and cardboard boxes.

The reason why bodies were sent in that condition was because all the bodies were charred and needed to be moved quickly.

But, after the pictures of the 'temporary' caskets were shared online by a few, many were angered to see the 'ill-treatment' of the martyrs.

Lt Gen H S Panag, on his Twitter account, shared the image of the caskets evoking a rage among many. Many slammed the Indian Army and Defence Ministry for their resources without verifying what had really happened. As we know, it has become a trend on the social media to pass judgements based on inadequate information and leads to misplaced rage.

Seven young men stepped out into the sunshine yesterday, to serve their motherland. India. This is how they came home. pic.twitter.com/OEKKcyWj0p- Lt Gen H S Panag(R) (@rwac48) October 8, 2017

This is how people reacted to the situation:

This is how we treat our martyrs! Shameful https://t.co/052Y6DjIbB- KunA?l Majumder (@kunalmajumder) October 9, 2017

Arunachal Pradesh chopper crash: Martyrs bodies wrapped in cardboard boxes #VerySed ?? pic.twitter.com/jAgwrBCjao- ZAKIR KHAN (@dzakirkhan) October 9, 2017

Shameful. This is how we treat the bodies of our soldiers. What kind of nationalists are we? https://t.co/l8VTkCt9uU- Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) October 8, 2017

The nation which can't respect it's soldiers can't live with pride- HUSNA SHAIKH (@husnaziauddin) October 8, 2017

But what people did not know was that the photo wasn't only of the martyrs. The photo shared online was taken at the 1st base where the bodies were received initially.

Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI - Indian Army) tweeted about the matter to clear the misunderstandings.

Here is what the tweets said

Mortal remains of heptr accident in HAA on 6 Oct 17 recovered, sent wrapped in local resources is an aberration. pic.twitter.com/NDvEvBo87F- ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 8, 2017

Fallen soldiers always given full military honour. Carriage of mortal remains in body bags, wooden boxes,coffins will be ensured. pic.twitter.com/XSom29pWoF- ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 8, 2017

This is how they finally came home. The initial recovery was difficult. You of all people should know the remote locations @rwac48 pic.twitter.com/WZgyOJrLzc- Nitin A. Gokhale (@nitingokhale) October 8, 2017

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In mountain areas, this process is considered quite normal by the Indian Army as most of the army bases are located in remote places.

Even in the most commercial hilly areas, it is tough to get all the resources even when there is a dire need because of connectivity issues. This also shows how our Army sustains in the remote areas across the nation.

The team which received the charred bodies had to package them as soon as possible to avoid further damage. The bodies were packed in cargo and parachute packaging was used to be sent to the first site for preparation and casket.

The bodies had to be covered because no family would want to see their loved ones in that condition. Even though body bags are necessary, the Army had to shift them in make-shift caskets because that was the need of the hour.

The issue was later cleared by the Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman as well when she received a briefing regarding this issue.

ARMY'S RESPONSE

Here's the official statement released by the army on the matter:

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"In a very sad accident on 6 October 2017, one MI-17V5 crashed near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. The accident occurred in high altitude area while the helicopter was undertaking maintenance sortie. The post is not connected by any road.

Immediately seeing the accident, all soldiers of the post commenced the recovery effort in the treacherous terrain. As the helicopter had caught fire, the recovery was difficult. On 6 October, the mortal remains of the crew and the soldiers who died in the helicopter crash were collected from the wreckage and were promptly moved to the nearest helipad.

Due to constraints in high altitude area, helicopter cannot carry full load. Mortal remains were wrapped in available local resources instead of improvised body bags or coffins. This was an aberration.

Mortal remains arrived at Guwahati Base Hospital by 2P.M. on 6 October and thereafter post-mortems and other formalities commenced.

Immediately after the post-mortem, all the mortal remains were placed in the wooden coffins with full military honours. Consequent to paying of tributes as per full military honours, mortal remains of all the personnel have been sent to respective next of kin.

Carriage of mortal remains, wrapped in local resources as in this case, is an aberration. Body bags, wooden boxes will be ensured.

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Armed Forces always ensure full military honour to the fallen comrades."

--- ENDS ---
Adam Greenhood, founder of Albuquerque startup AdWallet, is always smiling. And he has a lot to smile about.

AdWallet was created four months ago, and it is already attracted the attention of local investors, Google and nearly 20,000 users around New Mexico.

Greenhood is a California boy who moved to Albuquerque for a job and fell in love with New Mexico. He says he has no intention of leaving.

But Greenhoods smile goes deeper than that. He was born with a cleft palate, which required years of surgeries and braces to repair. His smile is earned.

Greenhood has a background in advertising. Over the last year, he has been taken with a notion that he feels could be a million-dollar idea: pay people to watch ads.

AdWallet allows companies to upload commercials and get a guaranteed viewership from users. Users are paid 50 cents to watch an ad and then answer a question afterward.

AdWallet, to Greenhood, is a win for advertisers and a win for consumers.

So you were born with a cleft palate?

I was. I have a cleft palate, which is pretty rare.

What I have is bilateral cleft lip and palate, which is about one in 5,000 kids have that.

Luckily, I was born into a family of dentists and plastic surgeons and orthodontists. So literally, the humans I needed to repair my face were all part of my family.

But whats interesting is that when I was born, the story goes, the doctor told my mom, Hey, you know, hell never be able to talk clearly; hell be pretty shy. Just ready yourself for someone who is not going to be very outgoing or want to talk. And (then talking) became my profession.

At what age did they repair your palate?

Well, you are born with it, and its actually a fairly easy plastic surgery.

But if you are born with it outside of the United States, youll die from it because you cant eat. Its basically your whole palate has a hole in it.

And so when I was born, I had four surgeries within two years. The first one, you have about three months after you are born. And its about 200 stitches to basically restructure your lip in the hopes that you can eat and speak.

And I had braces for 12 years after that. My daughter has braces now, and shes had them for three months, and she has to have them for two years. And Im like, I had them for 12 years. I dont want to hear anything about  your brace issues. (laughs)

What was USC film school like?

It was great. I didnt have a class before 2 p.m. They were all three hours long, because you had to watch a movie in a theater. It was amazing.

The film school had three different sections: There was critical studies, then you had the production school, and then there were 24 of us that were screenwriters.

So it was kind of funny. We were all interested in writing movies, and we had to take a couple of classes where it was like, This is a camera and this is how it works, but we were writers. We almost didnt know which way to aim the camera.

What did you do after college?

So, when I graduated I worked for a really large agency in Los Angeles called TBWAChiatDay. And they are a global creative agency. Their biggest claim to fame is Apple. They are the agency that really launched Apple for the last 20 years.

So the clients I worked on initially were Apple and Taco Bell and PlayStation and Nissan.

I worked there for two years.

Why did you leave?

I sent my portfolio out all over the country. I was 24, and I just wanted to see something else outside of LA.

There was an agency at the time (in Albuquerque) called Rick Johnson and Co., and they were kind of the main agency here.

They were looking for a junior copywriter, and so they flew me out and put me up in Santa Fe. And I didnt know anything about Albuquerque or New Mexico. I could barely find it on a map. I mean, I was 24. I was just excited that someone was going to fly me somewhere.

I went up to Santa Fe and loved it and then visited with the agency and said, You know what? Im 24, Ill move to New Mexico. So I stayed at Rick Johnson for five years and eventually became their creative director.

Then about 11 years ago, Del Esparza, who had a small agency at the time, was looking for a new creative director. And we met and he made me an offer I couldnt refuse.

And I enjoyed my 11 years at Esparza. I got to do some of the best work of my life and had a great relationship with Del. I still have a great relationship with Del. And really got to shape how that agency looked and felt.

What brought you around to AdWallet?

Frankly, over the last few years, advertising has been changing, to the point where I started to lose confidence that people were actually watching ads.

And so, one night I actually was talking to myself in my home office about how do I get someone to pay attention to an ad. Then my wife, God bless her heart, down the hall, through two doors, all she heard was, Who are you going to pay for their attention?

Thats when I had a moment of clarity. Why wouldnt I pay someone for their attention? Attention is a very valuable commodity these days. It should be actually valued.

What do you do for fun?

Golf, mountain biking, (hiking), camping.

I am an avid reader of almost everything. I love writing. I love reading. When I go to buy a bunch of magazines, I think people joke because its all over the map. Like I find the most ridiculous different subjects.

Whats your favorite movie?

Oh yeah, thats easy. So this is sort of funny. My favorite movie is Rocky. The original, award-winning screenplay by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky.

And the reason is its the only movie that comes on that I would find as a kid, and even now, I always stop when its on. And its the only movie that makes me get off the couch and start swinging at the air.

Even though there are many close seconds, Rocky is my favorite movie.

The Basics: Adam Greenhood, 41, is the founder and CEO of AdWallet. He was born in San Francisco, Calif.

Education: Greenhood attended high school in San Francisco and University of Southern California film school for college.

Family: Greenhoods wife, Hannah, is an architect, and his daughter, Ahava, attends Desert Ridge Middle School. His parents live in Albuquerque; he has one sister, who is a dentist in San Francisco.

Did you know?

 He finished in the top 50 contestants on the second season of The Apprentice. He says he made it to the second-to-last round. Twelve contenders appear on the show.

 Greenhood talks to himself. He says its embarrassing but assured the Journal that he is not crazy.

 Greenhood, who was born with a cleft palate, intends to work in close partnership with Operation Smile, a nonprofit that fixes cleft palates in Third World nations, once AdWallet goes national next year.
NEW YORK  Harvey, Irma and Maria have taught small-business owners that disaster planning is more than just evacuating and trying to mitigate physical damage  its also about the what ifs.

Many realized they hadnt done the right kind of preparation, including buying flood insurance. Some say they want to have their own generators. But even those with carefully made plans ran into situations their plans didnt account for.

Michael Mohl, owner of a Senior Helpers home-care business in Palm Beach, Fla., thought he had a thorough strategy in place before Hurricane Irma hit. It included plans to meet the specific care needs of each client, a list of hurricane shelters and alternate routes for staffers, reminders to fill their gas tanks, and Mohl having supplies and extra cash on hand.

But we didnt plan on cellphone towers going down, Mohl says. Without them, he couldnt communicate with employees. He now plans to buy two-way radios like the ones emergency responders use.

Heres what some other owners learned:

OWNER: Lexi Montgomery, Darling Web Design, Miami Beach, Fla.

HER STORY: Irma was the first hurricane that Montgomery, who is originally from Missouri, experienced. She and her husband drove out of Miami Beach with their two dogs as the storm approached Florida and headed to Tampa, where she expected to run her business from a hotel. Several staffers were staying in Tampa as well. When the storm changed course and it appeared Tampa would take a direct hit, Montgomery and her husband fled to Atlanta, a drive that took 14 hours instead of the normal six to seven because the roads were packed.

Atlanta isnt usually a hurricane target but turned out to be in Irmas path. Montgomerys hotel was left without power and wi-fi. She struggled to stay in touch with U.S. and overseas clients using the internet at cafes, and wasnt able to return home for 11 days. When she did, there was no power or air conditioning and her office had developed mold from the humidity.

WHAT SHE LEARNED: Montgomery, who lost revenue because her company fell behind, realized she needs a portable generator to be sure she can keep working. And shes going to stock up on supplies like heavy-duty flashlights, canned food, extra dog medication and heavy boots. She also believes she left Miami Beach too late, and didnt seek safety far enough away.

As soon as I hear theres a storm, Im leaving. And if its a sudden thing and I cant leave, I would have a portable generator, she says. Shes even considering renting an apartment on the West Coast for the entire hurricane season next year.

OWNER: Rachel Charlupski, The Babysitting Co., based in Miami

HER STORY: Charlupskis company has branches in several cities, but Florida is a key market with many clients being visitors to the state. She had more than 500 cancellations starting the week before Irma hit, and lost thousands of dollars in revenue since clients werent charged. Moreover, she has paid the baby sitters who committed to appointments that were canceled.

WHAT SHE LEARNED: Charlupski had accepted appointments through Thursday, Sept. 7, when the storm wasnt expected to hit until the weekend. Next time what we would do differently is not take on additional reservations when the weather conditions are bad, Charlupski says.

Shes also considering instituting a cancellation policy, explaining to clients that theyll be charged if they cancel after a sitter has been lined up. But safety will be her first consideration.

We would never penalize reservations when it is not safe for a sitter to work, she says.

OWNER: Jonathan Marsh, Home Helpers, in Bradenton, Fla.

HIS STORY: Marsh had a plan to ensure that the companys elderly and sick clients and its employees would be safe. The office windows were boarded up and the electronic and paper business records were secured. Administrative staff members were to meet at the office after the storm to arrange for caregivers to visit clients who had not evacuated.

But Irma was a larger and more violent storm than any Marsh had been through, and took out the power, internet and cellphone service. That made it impossible to contact caregivers and arrange for all the client visits.

WHAT HE LEARNED: Like others, Marsh plans to get a backup generator  That is my biggest concern, he says. But hes also changing post-storm procedures to deal with the possibility that communication will be difficult or impossible. After the next big storm, all staffers including caregivers are to meet at the office to arrange for client care.

Marsh is also thinking about the possibility that caregivers wont be able to travel to the office, or a backup location like his home, in addition to being out of touch. In that case, theyll be empowered to assist clients in their area after the storm, regardless of any communication problems with the office, he says.

OWNER: Michael Motylinski, wedding planner and officiant, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

HIS STORY: Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused extensive damage to the Virgin Islands. Dozens of couples, worried that their dream Caribbean beach weddings wouldnt happen, tried to get in touch with Motylinski and his partner, but phone and internet service was down. About 40 couples canceled, including some whose weddings werent scheduled until next summer. By all appearances well be back on track by then, Motylinski says.

WHAT HE LEARNED: Before the next storm, Motylinski and his partner will be in touch with clients to try to quell their anxiety. Then either Motylinski or his partner will leave St. Thomas and go to a location where clients can reach them. Hes also planning to include in future contracts a provision that he can move the weddings if necessary to a resort on St. Croix, 40 miles away, as long as St. Croix hasnt been hard hit.

If an event were to occur in St. Thomas again, we would be set up and ready for business within two to three days at our new location, Motylinski says.
Another horrific mass shooting has occurred in the United States. On the night of Oct. 1 in Las Vegas, a 64-year-old white man named Stephen Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on more than 20,000 people attending a country music festival below. The death count at the time of this writing stands at 59, including the gunman, with nearly 500 injured. The immediate response must be: How do we prevent another massacre? But that is exactly the debate the Trump administration wants to avoid.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded to the shooting from the podium of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room  named in memory of President Ronald Reagans press secretary, who was shot and paralyzed during a 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan.

Huckabee Sanders said, Theres a time and place for a political debate.

Yes, that time is now.

As renowned public intellectual and author Naomi Klein tweeted: Dont talk about guns after a massacre. Or climate change after storms. Or austerity after firetrap buildings burn. Talk when no one listens. While it is too late for the 58 murder victims in Las Vegas, looking at a country where mass shootings were effectively ended over 20 years ago is instructive  the historically gun-loving country of Australia.

On April 28, 1996, Martin Bryant took his AR-15 assault rifle into the southern Tasmanian tourist village of Port Arthur and proceeded to kill 35 men, women and children, injuring 23 more.

Its important to remember that before Port Arthur, we (in Australia) had had a series of mass shootings, about one a year, Rebecca Peters told us on the Democracy Now! news hour. Each time, there was a lot of discussion, noise, grief, prayers, anger, thoughts about what to do. But our politicians were sort of frozen, afraid to take action to reform the gun laws, even though there was plenty of expert advice.

Peters led the movement in Australia to change the gun laws. She now works as an arms control advocate with the International Action Network on Small Arms. When Port Arthur occurred, the number of victims was so large, and also the fact that it was in a tourist location  actually, not dissimilar from whats happened in Las Vegas  so people from all over the country were directly affected. And we had this new conservative government. The prime minister just said: This is it. Were done. Weve been talking about this for years. Its time to take action.'

Within two weeks, the 1996 National Firearms Agreement was announced, completely banning semi-automatic weapons, pump-action rifles and shotguns. It included a compulsory buy-back program that removed 650,000 guns from private hands. Since that time, there has not been a mass shooting in Australia.

Many are quick to point out that the Australian solution couldnt work in the U.S., not only because there are already over 300 million guns in circulation, but because the U.S. Constitution, as currently interpreted, protects the right to own guns.

But lets have the debate. Lets open the airwaves and the halls of Congress, the classrooms and the town squares, to a vigorous debate about gun violence and how to stop it. Disgraced former Fox News host and accused serial sexual harasser Bill OReilly wrote in a blog just hours after the Las Vegas massacre, This is the price of freedom.

Stephen Paddock, the gun-rights advocates would argue, had the right to amass his lethal arsenal of, at last count, 42 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition  all purchased, it seems, legally and with full background checks. But the 59 peaceful concertgoers he murdered in a blaze of automatic gunfire had every right to live, to enjoy their constitutionally protected rights. For these victims, the gun protectors offer thoughts and prayers.

But there are those who do change their minds. Caleb Keeter, a guitarist in the Josh Abbott Band, which played at the Las Vegas concert shortly before the massacre, wrote the following day: Ive been a proponent of the 2nd amendment my entire life. Until the events of last night. I cannot express how wrong I was.  A small group (or one man) laid waste to a city with dedicated, fearless police officers desperately trying to help, because of access to an insane amount of fire power.

Columbine, the Aurora theater, Sandy Hook Elementary, Orlandos Pulse nightclub and now Las Vegas: The list of massacre sites will continue to grow until we have the debate and enact sensible gun control. And when we have that debate, lets remember the Port Arthur massacre as well.
It is unconscionable that the New Mexico Medical Board would re-license a physician assistant who surrendered his credentials after admitting he tried to have sexual activity with a 13-year-old in another state.

And it is reprehensible that the board would then cloak that irresponsible decision with a no comment and a finger pointed at the prior administration.

Because when New Mexicans take themselves or their children to a medical professional like James Beverly, 47, who is licensed by the state of New Mexico, they arent thinking about which politician is in charge in Santa Fe. And they certainly should not have to wonder if that licensed professional has been sentenced for criminal activity (three years probation for a 2004 conviction), had his license pulled/surrendered it for said activity (in Utah and New Mexico, respectively), and fought to get it back (only New Mexico relented).

Beverly has most recently been licensed as a physician assistant in New Mexico since 2009, despite his history.

He had voluntarily surrendered his license when the state found out about his 2004 Utah conviction, but he got the conviction overturned because of a change in the law since the arrest. He then sought to have his license reinstated.

Utah wasnt buying what he was selling, though, and denied his request in 2009, writing that the overturned conviction did not negate his admission he attempted to have sexual activity with a 13-year-old, which violates moral turpitude and ethical standards.

Your attempts to mislead the Division and minimize the gravity of this behavior leads the Division to believe that issuing you a license would put the public at risk, the denial letter states.

In New Mexico, the state medical board just handed him his license back.

And now Beverly is charged with criminal sexual contact concerning the abuse of a child between March and August. Last month deputies arrested him at his family practice office in Cedar Crest after he was accused of the repeated sexual abuse of a young relative. His attorney says the allegations are not true and, We look forward to demonstrating that in court.

New Mexicos Medical Board should have demonstrated our priority is protecting the health and safety of New Mexicans, as its spokeswoman said, by digging into how Beverly got his license back. Instead, Amanda Quintana said she could not comment because Beverly was licensed under a previous administration.

It is cold comfort that the board has now moved to suspend his license, and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement as their investigation moves forward. Because if you dont know how New Mexico got here, how someone that another state medical board said had a lack of good moral character and was a risk to public health got a license here, theres no way to prevent it from happening again.

Or to know how many other cases like it exist.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

A video showing a Bernalillo County sheriffs deputy pointing a gun at a motorcyclist doing a wheelie on Tramway on Saturday afternoon has led to social media outrage and demands for an investigation.

Motorcyclists who were on a group ride Saturday during the encounter give a different version of events than the one provided by the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office late Saturday.

At that time, the department said the deputy, a passenger in a patrol car, pointed the gun because he was in fear of an immediate and impending battery as he was surrounded by the bikers flashing gang signs.

The initial statement said that around 3 p.m., deputies were responding to reports that dozens of bikers were blocking traffic, driving aggressively and racing on Paseo del Norte near Coors. Deputies said they found the group on Tramway and attempted a traffic stop, but the group refused to stop and continued to drive reckless. They said the group then surrounded the patrol car and began directing what deputies know to be gang related signs. Thats when the deputy pulled his gun.

But on Sunday, motorcyclists who had been on the Saturday ride said they were not intentionally blocking traffic, threatening others or throwing gang signs. They characterize their group as a biker community that enjoys stunting.

While one man acknowledged that a wheelie might merit a traffic citation, he argued that it was nothing worth drawing a gun on somebody for.

The motorcyclists said their group of between 50 and 100 was touring around the city at or near the speed limit. If they were blocking traffic, they said, it was only because there were so many vehicles.

It was a ride. It was a big group of bikes cruising, one man said.

They said riders did not intentionally surround the patrol car, but the deputys car pulled onto Tramway from a gas station parking lot into the middle of their massive group.

And while deputies say the bikers flashed gang signs at them, the motorcyclists said during interviews Sunday that they gave deputies the finger only after the gun was pointed.

We flipped him off, we did, one woman who was part of the ride said Sunday. Each and every single one of us flipped him off.

Video footage of the encounter spread widely across social media over the weekend.

Group members said the 24-second video was taken on a cellphone by a biker in an attempt to capture the wheelie stunt, but it also recorded the deputy pointing the gun as the patrol car was moving.

The video shows two motorcyclists  one in each lane  doing wheelies and riding next to one another as a BCSO unit approaches from behind with no emergency lights on. Several more motorcycles are shown in the far background.

As one biker moves ahead, the deputies pull up beside the second. As the second bike speeds up, the video shows the deputy in the passenger seat with his arm sticking out of the window and his gun pointed at the biker, who is wearing a helmet and a pink T-shirt.

The footage spread on several motorcycle-related Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages and by Sunday night had received tens of thousands of views from around the country.

The New Mexico Motorcyclists Rights Organization released a statement Saturday condemning the deputies actions and calling for an investigation by an outside agency.

BCSO declined multiple Journal requests for an interview. The department released an updated statement Sunday afternoon.

Spokeswoman Felicia Maggard wrote that the department received an overwhelming number of responses and messages from our community. Much of that feedback was received on the BCSO Facebook page, where commenters derided the department and doctored up images from the video with phrases mocking the deputies involved.

While she did not speak about Saturdays incident specifically, she said in general a wheelie could be considered careless driving, and in some cases it could rise to the level of reckless driving.

Please rest assured, Sheriff Manuel Gonzales and BCSO staff will continue to protect the rights of all citizens of Bernalillo County, her statement said.

Gonzales declined to answer questions Sunday, but he issued an emailed statement.

I have not had an opportunity to properly review the information, video and photographs involved in this incident. I am aware of the overwhelming response from our community regarding the actions of the deputies involved. I can assure you a thorough investigation will be conducted. , he said.

Capt. Craig Sevier said a limited number of BCSO patrol vehicles are equipped with dashboard cameras, but he said he did not believe the car in the video is one of them.
Albuquerque mayoral candidate Tim Kellers showing in Tuesdays election was noted by The Washington Post last week.

Keller, the state auditor, prevailed as the top vote-getter in the mayors race, but it wasnt enough to avoid a runoff with the second-place finisher, City Councilor Dan Lewis.

The Post reported in a piece on its website that three candidates backed by the progressive network built by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., either won their races or advanced to the next round in elections in Birmingham, Ala., Los Angeles and Albuquerque.

The group, Our Revolution, issued a statement last week congratulating Keller and noting that Our Revolution New Mexico supported Keller by volunteering on his campaign and speaking to voters.

Tim is the only candidate for mayor who reached the threshold of small donations to qualify for a publicly funded campaign, the organization said in a news release. That achievement demonstrates Tims broad support with Albuquerques working families and means that hell be accountable to the people, not big business, when hes elected mayor.

Our Revolution endorsed Keller in August.

Our Revolution will reclaim democracy for the working people of our country by harnessing the transformative energy of the political revolution,' the group says on its website. Through supporting a new generation of progressive leaders, empowering millions to fight for progressive change and elevating the political consciousness, Our Revolution will transform American politics to make our political and economic systems once again responsive to the needs of working families.

Runoff schedule: City Clerk Natalie Howard has rolled out the calendar for the upcoming runoff election.

Besides the mayoral runoff, voters in District 5 will elect a city councilor on Nov. 14. That race is between Robert Aragon and Cynthia Borrego.

Key dates to remember:

 The deadline to register to vote in the runoff is 5 p.m. Oct. 17. Among the places you can register are the Bernalillo County Clerks Office and online through the New Mexico Secretary of States website.

 Early voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays from Oct. 25 to Nov. 10.

As publicly financed candidates, Keller and Borrego will get an infusion of cash from the city for their campaigns. Keller will receive 33 cents for every registered voter in Albuquerque, while Borrego will get 33 cents for every registered voter in her district.

Martin Salazar: msalazar@abqjournal.com
NEW YORK  Is it time to say arrivederci to Christopher Columbus?

A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has gained momentum in some parts of the U.S., with Los Angeles in August becoming the biggest city yet to decide to stop honoring the Italian explorer and instead recognize victims of colonialism.

Austin, Texas, followed suit Thursday. It joined cities including San Francisco, Seattle and Denver, which had previously booted Columbus in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day.

But the gesture to recognize indigenous people rather than the man who opened the Americas to European domination also has prompted howls of outrage from some Italian-Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too.

We had a very difficult time in this country for well over a hundred years, said Basil Russo, president of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America. Columbus Day is a day that weve chosen to celebrate who we are. And were entitled to do that just as they are entitled to celebrate who they are.

Its not about taking anything away from Italian-Americans, said Cliff Matias, cultural director of the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, which hosted a Re-Thinking Columbus Day event Sunday and Monday in New York.

The conversation is Columbus, he said. If theyre going to celebrate Columbus, we need to celebrate the fact that we survived Columbus.

The debate over Columbus historical legacy is an old one, but it became emotionally charged after a similar debate in the South over monuments to Confederate generals flared into deadly violence in August at a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In Akron, Ohio, a September vote over whether to dump Columbus opened a racial rift on the city council that was so heated conflict mediators were brought in to sooth tensions.

In New York, where 35,000 people marched in Mondays Columbus Day parade, vandals last month doused the hands of a Christopher Columbus statue in blood-red paint and scrawled the words hate will not be tolerated. Activists calling for the city to change the parades name also are expected to hold a demonstration.

On Sunday, three demonstrators briefly interrupted a wreath-laying ceremony at the Columbus statue in Columbus Circle. Two dressed in fake chains. One wore a hooded white sheet. Police said one person was arrested.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, appointed a committee to evaluate whether monuments to certain historical figures should be removed, prompting a backlash from fellow Italian-Americans who vowed to defend the Columbus statue, which has stood over Columbus Circle for more than a century. But the mayor still marched in Mondays parade.

You can debate the historical figure of Christopher Columbus, but you cant debate the contribution of Italian-Americans to this country, de Blasio said at the start of the march.

Many Italians who migrated to the U.S. initially had a rough time. In 1891, 11 Italians were lynched in New Orleans by a mob that held them responsible for the death of a police official.

At the end of the 1800s, Italians began to link themselves more with Columbus. Italian-American businessman and newspaper owner Generoso Pope was among those who worked to get Columbus Day recognized as a federal holiday in 1937.

It was one of the things that would allow them to become Americans symbolically, said Fred Gardaphe, a professor of Italian-American studies at Queens College.

Indigenous Peoples Day began to gel as an idea before the 500th anniversary of Columbus first voyage to the Americas.

South Dakota began celebrating Native American Day on the second Monday of October in 1990. Berkeley, California, got rid of Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day in 1992.

Many places that have adopted Indigenous Peoples Day since then, including Alaska, have sizable Native American populations.

A few cities have compromised. Salt Lake City officials declared they would keep Columbus Day but celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on the same day.

In Akron, a city with few Native Americans and a large Italian-American community, an attempt to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day on Sept. 11 split the all-Democrat city council along racial lines. Five black members voted to rename the holiday, and eight white members voted against it, following a debate that devolved into shouting.

The first voyage of Columbus to the Americas initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It would lead to the kidnapping, deaths and slavery of tens of millions of African people, said Councilman Russel Neal, who is black.

But Councilman Jeff Fusco, who is Italian-American, said, Its a celebration of Italian heritage. Its very similar to other days throughout the year that we celebrate for many other cultures.

States and municipalities arent legally bound to recognize federal holidays, though most do. Columbus Day is already one of the most inconsistently celebrated. Places that choose to replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day may give their own workers or schoolchildren a day off, teach in schools about Native Americans instead of Columbus, issue proclamations or mark it in other ways.

There is no question that Columbus arrival in the New World under the sponsorship of Spain was bad for the indigenous people of Hispaniola, the island he colonized that is now split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Many of the native people of the island were forced into servitude. Multitudes died of disease. Spain repopulated the workforce with African slaves.

Columbus is celebrated in Latin America, too. A massive monument to the explorer, the Columbus Lighthouse, opened in 1992 in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico commemorates Discovery Day on Nov. 19, marking the day Columbus landed there.

Ralph Arellanes, chairman of the activist group Hispano Round Table of New Mexico, said that as a Hispanic he supports Columbus Day.

It was the marriage of two peoples creating a new people, in a new land, he said.

Though Columbus wasnt a saint, he said, he believes Anglo-Americans like President Andrew Jackson should be held more responsible than the Spanish for the hardships Native Americans faced.

Arellanes also said he doesnt understand why Italians claim Columbus for themselves when Columbus was sailing for Spain.

___

Dake Kang reported from Akron, Ohio. Hajela is a member of the APs race and ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dhajela and for more of her work, search for her name at https://apnews.com .
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  Two 13-year-old boys are under arrest for allegedly plotting to kill people at their middle school in Colorado Springs.

Police said Monday the boys were arrested following an investigation that began Wednesday when officers responded to suspicious circumstances at Sabin Middle School.

Police spokesman Lt. Howard Black said investigators learned the students had established a kill list and were messaging each other discussing how to carry out their threats made against staff, students and property. He said guns were recovered as part of searches done during the investigation but didnt disclose details.

Police believe the two boys are the only ones involved in the alleged plot.

______

This story has been corrected to reflect that police believe the two boys are the only ones involved in the alleged plot.
By PTI: also dies

Srinagar, Oct 9 (PTI) In a double breakthrough, security forces killed three top Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including its chief recruiter Zahid, in an encounter in Shopian and a top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir today, police said.

An Army jawan also died in a brief encounter with militants in the Budgam district of the state.

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Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Ladoora area of Baramulla district following information about the presence of militants, an official said.

The operation turned into a gunbattle when a search party was fired upon, he added. In the retaliatory action, one militant - identified as Khalid alias Shahid Showkat of the JeM - was killed, he said.

The slain militant was the mastermind of fidayeen (suicide) attacks on the BSF camp near the Srinagar Airport earlier this month and on the district police lines in Pulwama last month, a police spokesman said.

"He was also involved in a fidayeen attack on 46 RR Army Camp at Khajabagh, Baramulla in 2016," he said.

Khalid was constantly exploring the opportunities to attack security forces and establishments, the spokesman said adding that the slain militant would incite young boys to join his outfit to carry out grenade attacks on behalf of Pakistan-based commanders for monetary benefits.

"He was involved in the recent attack on an SPO named Altaf Ahmad Khan at Hajin Handwara in which the SPO along with his son were seriously injured. He was also involved in the killing of tower guard Eidul Amin Mir at Behrampora, Sopore," the spokesman said.

The JeM militant was involved in three other killings as well, he added.

Meanwhile, three Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in a separate gunbattle with the security forces in the Keller area of Shopian district in south Kashmir, police said.

Those killed included Zahid, the chief recruiter of the Hizbul Mujahideen in the Kashmir Valley, an official said. The other two have been identified as Irfan and Ashif, he said.

In another encounter in the Budgam district, a soldier was killed. A JCO was killed in a brief encounter with terrorists in the Khag area of Budgam today, an Army official said. The slain soldier was identified as Subedar Raj Kumar. PTI SKL/MIJ ADS

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FM Tadka, one of the most preferred FM stations in the state of Rajasthan, is all set to launch a unique campaign  Ye Diwali Deepak Wali in the upcoming festive season. The primary objective of the campaign is to create a buzz among people to help promote the local potters. In the last few years, Chinese lights have been profoundly preferred by people over locally made 'Deepaks'. It will be rolled-out as a CSR campaign during the festive season of Diwali to give out a social message and promote 'Make in India' initiative.



The campaign will be launched in two ways. First one will be a fun and engaging way wherein people with the name 'Deepak' will be asked to send their entries and random participants will be given surprise gifts by FM Tadka. The second one is an even more interesting and worth appreciating activity  'Tum Mujhe lights do, Main Tumhe Deepak Dunga' - in which people will be given 100 deepaks in return of their last years decorative lights to FM Tadka. Along with Deepaks, people will also be given cotton batties, oil to light and a funnel to pour oil into these deepaks.



The new initiative carries a mission statement of - Iss baar jab ghar ghar lightein nahi deepak jalenge tab saaraa shehar bolega, This Diwali Sounds Good. Iss baar Diwali par lightein nahi deepak jalaaiye kyonki 'Yeh Diwali Deepak Wali.'



So, this festive season, be a part of Tadka's fun and exciting social initiative and promote 'Make in India' with locally made Deepaks instead of imported lights.
PNB MetLife, one of Indias leading life insurance companies, today announced the appointment of Ashish Kumar Srivastava as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, responsible for leading all aspects of the business in the country. An industry veteran of nearly 25 years, Mr Srivastava comes with extensive experience in multiple disciplines, including Strategy, Human Resources, Project management and operations, Infrastructure, Administration and Communications.

Chris Townsend, Chairman of the Board, PNB MetLife, said, Ashish is a seasoned and well-respected leader who is an excellent choice to lead our team at PNB MetLife. The Board and shareholders remain confident in the performance and potential of the company and believe that the combination of PNB's extensive network and MetLife's global strategy ensure that we are well-positioned to capture the opportunities in this fast-growing market.

Commenting on his appointment, Ashish Kumar Srivastava said, I am delighted to have been entrusted with this responsibility and excited to take our business to greater heights. We are confident we will build on and consolidate our strengths in the market while continuing to innovate and tap new opportunities for growth.

Ashish joined PNB MetLife in 2013 as the Head of Human Resources before subsequently moving to Dubai in 2015 to take charge of Human Resources for the MetLife Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. Prior to joining PNB MetLife, Ashish served as Director on the board of HSBC Canara Oriental Life Insurance Company.
Regulatory News:

Total (Paris:FP) (LSE:TTA) (NYSE:TOT) and the National Office of Petroleum of Guinea (ONAP) signed a Technical Evaluation Agreement to study deep and ultra deep offshore areas located off the coast of Guinea Conakry, covering approximately 55,000 square kilometers.

By taking this position on a new under-explored area, Total pursues its exploration strategy targeting deep offshore prospective basins, declared Kevin McLachlan, Senior Vice President Exploration for Exploration & Production at Total. Therefore, Total has the opportunity to evaluate a very large area, located in an extension of the prolific Mauritania/Senegal basin where we already are. This will allow us to capitalize on our know-how and experience acquired in West Africa.

According to the terms of this agreement, Total will have a year to assess the potential of the basin on the basis of existing data. At the end of this period, the Group will select three licenses to start an exploration program. As part of the agreement, Total will also train ONAP staff to develop their technical skills in exploration and production.

Total in Guinea

Total is the first distributor of petroleum products in Guinea. Active in the country in Marketing & Services activities through its Total Guinee affiliate, the Group owns a retail network of 150 service stations, and a 47% stake in SGP (entity managing the country stocks). Total Guinee is also present in aviation activities operated through the SOMCAG depot (with a 66% share).

About Total

Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, a major player in low-carbon energies. Our 98,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.

* * * * *

Cautionary note

This press release, from which no legal consequences may be drawn, is for information purposes only. The entities in which TOTAL S.A. directly or indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. TOTAL S.A. has no liability for their acts or omissions. In this document, the terms Total and Total Group are sometimes used for convenience where general references are made to TOTAL S.A. and/or its subsidiaries. Likewise, the words we, us and our may also be used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them.

This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TOTAL S.A. nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005414/en/

Total

Media Relations: +33 1 47 44 46 99

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Adoption of Mobile Across Diverse Region Driving Innovative New Services, Generating Employment and Connecting the Unconnected

The GSMA today published a new report, titled The Mobile Economy: Middle East and North Africa 2017, highlighting that operators in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region1 will be amongst the first in the world to launch commercial 5G networks. The new study, which was published at the GSMA Mobile 360 Series  MENA conference in Dubai, forecasts that there will be more than 50 million 5G connections across the MENA region by 2025, with 5G networks covering approximately 30 per cent of the regions population by that point. The report also highlights how mobile broadband (3G/4G) networks account for about half of total mobile connections in the MENA region today and are forecast to increase to 70 per cent of the total by the end of the decade2.

With rising mobile broadband adoption, growing subscriber numbers and increasing smartphone use, mobile is having an incredible impact across this diverse region, ushering in an era of innovative tech startups and new mobile services, as well as helping to connect the unconnected, said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA. At the same time, we urge operators to continue investment in 4G networks to ensure future growth and encourage governments to set policies that promote technological, social and economic progress to create a society where all citizens can benefit from mobile technology.

Fast 5G Adoption

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states3 will be amongst the first in the world to launch commercial 5G networks. High 4G adoption rates and government support is helping leading operators to challenge both North American and Asian operators in driving 5G development. Both Etisalat and Ooredoo are already undertaking live 5G trials on speed, equipment, latency and beam steering, with commercial launches expected in 2020. The early launches are expected to be based on 3GPP Release 15 and be deployed in dense urban areas as mobile operators look to offer increased performance and supplement existing mobile broadband capacity. Further enhancements will be made with 3GPP Release 16, including the development of massive IoT and critical communication services.

Smartphone Adoption, Subscriber And Revenue Growth

There were 365 million unique subscribers4 across the region at the end of 2016, accounting for 63 per cent of the population, which is expected to rise to 399 million or 65 per cent by 2020. However, subscriber growth continues to trail the global average due to the diversity of the region, with the more advanced markets approaching saturation and the less developed markets facing the challenge of growing penetration. As a result, subscriber penetration will reach only 65 per cent by 2020, below the global average of 72 per cent. Smartphone adoption is expected to increase to an estimated 463 million by 2020, representing growth of 167 million from the end of 2016.

A Diverse Regional Landscape

The report highlights that there are significant variations in mobile market maturity between the different countries across the region. In the GCC States, 76 per cent of the population are mobile subscribers, with three of these markets (Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE) having a subscriber penetration rate of 90 per cent or above, placing them among the most penetrated mobile countries in the world. By contrast, North Africa5 has an average subscriber penetration rate of 67 per cent, and across the Other Arab States6, penetration stands at 46 per cent, including three markets where less than a third of the population subscribe to mobile services (Comoros, Djibouti and Somalia).

Mobile Contributing To Employment and Economic Growth

In 2016, the mobile industry contributed more than $165 billion to the regional economy, or 4.2 per cent of GDP. This is expected to increase to almost $200 billion (4.3 per cent of GDP) as countries in the region benefit from improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by increased take-up of mobile services. The mobile ecosystem also supported more than 1 million jobs in 2016. This includes workers directly employed in the ecosystem and jobs that are indirectly supported by the economic activity generated by the sector. MENAs mobile industry also makes a substantial contribution to the funding of the public sector with $20 billion raised in 2016 through taxation.

Mobile Driving Engagement and Innovation Across Region

The study highlights that, due to the huge rise in smartphone adoption across the region, a wide array of mobile services are being consumed, such as video, social media, e-commerce and financial services. In a number of markets across the region, mobile has become the platform of choice for creating new digital solutions, such as smart city services, which are helping to address challenges around urbanisation, pollution and resource management. Mobile operators in the region are also collaborating with tech startups to help build innovative and sustainable mobile services as well as deliver socioeconomic impact.

Mobile Addressing Social Challenges

The report also highlights how mobile is playing a key role in tackling various social and economic challenges as outlined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty, education and employment amongst others. Mobile internet penetration has doubled across the region over the last six years, reaching just under 40 per cent of the population or 228 million subscribers by mid-2017. However, there remains a digital divide remains in many parts of MENA, where there are still 350 million people without access to the mobile internet and challenges such as infrastructure, affordability, consumer readiness and the availability of locally relevant content. If these are properly addressed, an additional 67 million people will be able to gain access to the mobile internet by the end of the decade, bringing the total to just under 300 million, or 48 per cent of the population. The report also highlights that mobile is helping to provide financial services for the unbanked, with 24 live services in 9 countries as of December 2016.

To access the full report and related infographics please visit: https://www.gsma.com/mobileeconomy/mena/

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

1. The 25 markets classed as Middle East and North Africa are Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE and Yemen.

2. Total mobile connections (active SIM cards, excluding M2M) in MENA stood at 639 million in 2016, forecast to rise to 712 million by 2020.

3. GCC States: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE

4. Total Mobile subscribers was 360 million in 2016 forecast to rise to 399 million by 2020 (65% penetration rate) and a CAGR: 2.6%

5. North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

6. Other Arab States: Comoros, Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai, Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171008005007/en/

For the GSMA

Asad Abbasi

+971 52 861 4230

AAbbasi@webershandwick.com

or

GSMA Press Office

mobile360pressoffice@gsma.com
Plug and Play Supply Chain Opens Applications for its Second Batch

Plug and Play Supply Chain, the world's largest Supply Chain and Logistics Technology Platform, is opening applications to startups from different growth stages for its Innovation program, giving them the chance to secure a spot in the second cohort. Since its launch in March, Plug and Play Supply Chain has partnered with over a dozen of the largest Logistics and Manufacturing corporations, including Maersk, Ericsson, Union Pacific Railroad, Panasonic, Prologis, Ryder, BASF, DHL, Kansas City Southern, and Swiss Post.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005210/en/

"Being a part of the Plug and Play Supply Chain and Logistics Innovation Platform gave us a tremendous amount of exposure to Industrial and Logistics companies and VCs across the world," says Raed ElMurib, CEO of Shoof Technologies. "Through the program, we were able to develop many strong relationships and partnerships, which will be crucial as we grow and expand."

Startups accepted into the 12-week program will get access to a number of Manufacturing and Logistics companies, including all of the program's partners for potential pilots and investments. They will also receive office space at Plug and Play's Silicon Valley headquarters, expert mentor curricula, expedited business development, exposure to corporate partners from other Plug and Play's global programs, and a chance to pitch in front of Silicon Valley's biggest investors at the Summer EXPO.

With the commencement of the first Supply Chain batch, Plug and Play has begun actively sourcing for the next cohort of high quality startups. The first cohort of companies covered an expansive market from Artificial Intelligence solutions for Procurement to Robotics, ranging from early stage to growth companies. These startups have had the opportunity to meet with some of the largest corporations and investors in the world who are actively seeking partnership and investment opportunities with startups.

"With the high interest that we have received from industry leaders and their eagerness to innovate, we plan to not only replicate the success of the first cohort, but to improve on our service offerings. We will continue to facilitate the growth for the entrepreneurs that are targeting to innovate, disrupt, and transform industries even more," says Farzin Shadpour, Vice President and Managing Director of Plug and Play Supply Chain.

With over 700 portfolio companies and more than 200 corporate partners, Plug and Play is a leader in startup success. Plug and Play has created focused innovation platforms in the areas of Brand & Retail, Health & Wellness, FinTech & Security, Internet of Things, Mobility, Media & Mobile, New Materials & Packaging, and Travel & Hospitality. With the launch of the Supply Chain Platform earlier this year, the program aims to bring together everyone who can add value to the startup ecosystem and facilitate innovation in the industry.

For the first cohort Plug and Play reviewed close to a thousand applications from diverse backgrounds. The applicants came from more than 30 countries including: United States, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Germany, France, Austria, Russia, China, Czech Republic, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Israel, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. They represented more than 50 of the worlds top universities including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, University of Cambridge, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, National University of Singapore (NUS), University of California, Berkeley (UCB), University of Oxford, Tsinghua University, Harvard University, University of Cambridge, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Michigan, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Northwestern University, Cornell University, Columbia University, Purdue University, Technical University of Munich, Technical University of Berlin, and Johns Hopkins University. Their solutions were geared toward many industries including: Maritime shipping, Rail Freight, Air-Cargo, Trucking, Parcel Delivery, Automobile Manufacturing, Aerospace, Food, Retail, Energy, Materials, Bio-tech, Medical Device, and Pharmaceutical industries. We are striving for the second cohort to be more diverse than the first one in terms of all metrics including Solution Offering, Technology, Country of Origin, and Target Industry, says Farzin Shadpour. Startups of all stages are encouraged to apply: http://bit.ly/startup-apply

About Plug and Play Tech Center

Plug and Play Tech Center is a global innovation platform. We connect startups to corporations and invest in over 200 companies every year. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in 10 countries and 20 cities providing necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley. With over 6,000 startups and 200 official corporate partners in our network, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Plug and Play provides active investments with 180 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and more than 365 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over $5 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club, PayPal, SoundHound, and Zoosk. For more information, visit: http://plugandplaytechcenter.com/supply-chain/

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171009005210/en/

Plug and Play Tech Center

Allison Romero, 408-524-1457

allison@PnPTC.com
We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain.
On Oct. 4 morning, the Belgian Defense Ministry Steven Vandeput, during a Chamber's Defense Committee meeting, gave an update on the ACCap program progress. He confirmed that only two of the five contenders presented a correct bid on Sept. 7: Lockheed Martin and its F-35 Lightning II, and the British company BAE Systems with its Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet.

On Sept. 6, Vandeput received a three-page letter from the French Armed Forces Ministry Florence Parly proposing a strategic partnership around the Rafale fighter jet. But according the Belgian MoD, following up on this proposal "would expose Belgium to criticism and prosecution" because it does not fit within the framework of the RfGP provided by the Belgian government.



But as always in Belgium, things are not as simple.



On Friday, the Belgian restricted Ministerial Council - the Kern -, decided to maintain the Rafale in the race and to ask for new legal analyzes on the French proposal.

"We are going to examine the legal remarks and check all the contact that could be made with each of the partners, including France. This is a sufficiently important area for the Belgian strategy to let te government discuss about it and still have contacts with the different partners, including the French partner," said the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders.



The ACCap program "concerns the European defense policy, it is worthwile to look at what it is actually proposed, but [each proposition] must meet the [RfGP] conditions. If the legal obstacles are too important, we will remain within the framework of the procedure," Reynders warned however.
A lot has happened over the last few weeks and months and with October now here the flagship smartphone landscape has changed quite considerable with new arrivals from some of the biggest players in the Android world, including Samsung, LG, and most recently, Google. So if you are after a new smartphone this month then the choice now on offer is about as good as it will ever get during 2017 and with that in mind  here are our top 10 Android smartphone picks for October, 2017.

10. Essential PH-1

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In spite of the Essential Phone (aka the Essential PH-1) being a 10th spot smartphone pick this month, this is a device that only recently made it to market. So for those looking for a very new device, then this is one to consider, and especially for those looking for something a little bit different to the rest of the pack. As the Essential Phone does make use of a rather unique design and offers buyers design traits they are unlikely to find on other smartphones. Above all else, one of the most notable features is that the Essential Phone not only offers a bezel-less display, but one which is about as bezel-less as a display can currently get. Making this a device that does place the lack of bezels at the heart of its design.

Although when it comes to the rest of the core specs and in spite of its flagship price, the Essential Phone does not offer quite as much as what you will find with other 2017 flagship smartphones. That said, this is a device that does come equipped with a 5.71-inch display along with a 2560 x 1312 resolution, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, and a dual rear camera setup consisting of two 13-megapixel cameras. Additional features include an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, a 3,040 mAh battery, USB Type-C connectivity, and Android 7.0 (Nougat).

9. Moto Z2 Force

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The Moto Z2 Force is still the current and major flagship release from Motorola, although those looking for a more affordable option may want to consider the newly-announced Android One version of the Moto X4. When it comes to the Moto Z2 Force though, this is a device that is designed to offer incredible value for money due to the Moto Z2 lines ability to be used along with Moto Mods  modules that can be attached to the device to offer access to additional functionality. Which does mean the Moto Z2 Force offers something that most other devices on this list do not  which is saying something in 2017 when most flagship smartphones offer the same features, albeit sometimes with a different name.

Moto Mod compatibility aside and the Moto Z2 Force is built to be a durable phone as it does comes equipped with the companys ShatterShield technology. In addition, this is a device that features a 5.5-inch display along with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, and a dual rear camera setup consisting of two 12-megapixel cameras. Additional features on offer include a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, a 2,730 mAh battery, and Android 7.1.1 (Nougat).

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8. OnePlus 5

Ever since its release the OnePlus 5 has proven itself to be every part the flagship smartphone while also being one which looks to significantly undercut the cost associated with other flagship options. So while this is the most expensive smartphone to ever come from the House of OnePlus, it is also the richest in terms of specs and features, and is one which still manages to retain a very competitive price, by flagship standards. Of course the one downside here is that you will not get quite the number of OTT features offered with some of the other devices on this list, although what you will get is a solid device that performs well and one which comes with a popular version of Android, OxygenOS.

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As for the specs, the OnePlus 5 features a 5.5-inch display along with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, as well as the option to choose between a 6GB RAM (with 64GB storage) model and an 8GB RAM (with 128GB storage) model. Both versions do come powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, and both also include a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 16-megapixel RGB sensor along with a 20-megapixel telephoto sensor. Which is all in addition to a 16-megapixel front-facing camera, a 3,300 mAh battery, USB Type-C connectivity, and Android 7.1.1 (Nougat).

7. HTC U11

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By all accounts the HTC U11 is a very new device as it was only announced back in May of this year. However since then there has been a number of other devices that have come through and pushed the U11 further out of the limelight. That said, this is still one of the best phones on the market and also one of the most unique with arguably its most unique feature (although less unique now thanks to the arrival of the Pixel 2) being its squeezable smartphone nature. As users are able to squeeze the sides of the device to initiate a command thanks to the U11s inclusion of Edge Sense technology. This has proven to be an interesting add-on and one which makes it much easier and quicker to activate some of the most commonly used features on a smartphone.

Edge Sense aside, the HTC U11 is also a fairly spec-packed phone as it is one which comes loaded with a 5.5-inch display along with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC. This is in addition to also coming equipped with a 12-megapixel rear camera, a 16-megapixel front-facing camera, a 3,000 mAh battery, USB Type-C connectivity, and Android 7.1 (Nougat).

6. Google Pixel / Pixel XL

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The Google Pixel and Pixel XL broke new ground for Google as these were the first devices the company released as part of its made by Google brand. Times have changed though and in spite of being debut smartphones from Google, they have now been succeeded by their successors, the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. However, when it comes to the best smartphones you can currently buy, the Google Pixel and XL still remain competitive enough and are likely to see a number of price drops over the coming weeks, making them both even more appealing options for those looking for a new smartphone this month.

Of the two, the Pixel XL is positioned as the more premium device as not only does it come with a larger display with a greater resolution, but it also comes packed with a greater battery capacity as well. However when those aspects are taken out of the equation what is left is largely two identical devices with both models featuring the same design and software tweaks. As well as both coming loaded with 4GB RAM, 32GB storage at a minimum, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC, a 12.3-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, USB Type-C connectivity, and Android 7.0 (Nougat). Adding to their value  both phones are already capable of being instantly updated to the latest version of Android, 8.0 (Oreo).

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5. LG G6

For those looking for a smaller smartphone which still boasts a big display, the LG G6 is a great option to consider. In spite of the display on this device coming in at 5.7-inches, this is a phone that is designed to be easily used in a one-handed mode as and when needed. This is largely due to the body on this phone being smaller than usual (compared to phones with a similar-sized display) and in no small part thanks to the inclusion of an 18:9 aspect ratio. So while this is a more compact phone than some of the others on the list, it is also a more than capable and powerful smartphone. As the LG G6 also features a QHD+ resolution, 4GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC.

Additional features on offer include a dual rear camera setup which is made up of two 13-megapixel cameras, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, a 3,300 mAh battery, and Android 7.0 (Nougat). Best of all though is the price as in spite of this being a current and major flagship device it has been the subject of a number of price drops recently and can currently be picked up for under $500  which makes this a bargain purchase at the moment.

4. Samsung Galaxy S8 & S8 Plus

In spite of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus being 2017 smartphones it is already starting to feel as though it has been a long time since they were first announced. Something which is now representative in their position on this list. Both come packed with many of the features you would expect from a 2017 smartphone, as well as a design that is more suited to those looking for a smaller and thinner form factor. So for example, if the Galaxy Note 8 is too large for your needs, either the Galaxy S8 Plus or the standard S8 will likely be far more accommodating. And especially if you take into consideration the price, as while these were very high-priced items at launch, they are more often than not now available at deal prices.

In terms of their differences, these mainly come down to the display size with the Galaxy S8 featuring a 5.8-inch display and the Galaxy S8 Plus a 6.2-inch display, and their battery capacity with the Galaxy S8 equipped with a with a 3,000 mAh battery and the Galaxy S8 Plus with a 3,500 mAh battery. Otherwise, buyers of either model can expect the inclusion of an Infinity Display with a QHD+ resolution, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC (in the US), a 12-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, an iris scanner, support for Samsungs various OTT services (such as Pay and Bixby), and Android 7.0 (Nougat).

3. LG V30

The LG V30 is one of the devices that has really taken its time in becoming available as it has only just recently hit stores in spite of being announced back on August 31, 2017. So for those that have been waiting for the latest phone from LG to become available, it now is, and along with a few promos. For example, in addition to a free Daydream headset Verizon is also offering a $200 Visa prepaid card with the purchase of the V30. However, that deal is only valid for this month as it is due to end on November 5, 2017.

As for the actual phone, the LG V30 is the sum of a number of 2017 trending design points and features. For instance, not only does this phone come loaded with a 6-inch display that adopts a 18:9 aspect ratio, but this is also a phone that comes loaded with a dual rear camera setup. One that has been receiving much praise of late and one which consists of a 16-megapixel primary camera, backed up by a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera. The rest of the features are not too bad either with the LG V30 packing 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC. As well as a quad DAC, microSD card support, a 3,300 mAh battery, and Android 7.1 (Nougat) pre-installed.

2. Samsung Galaxy Note 8

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is arguable one of the best phones you can buy, and for some will be the best phone on the market. So in spite of it now dropping down to second position this month, this is certainly a phone that you should be considering. After all, the Galaxy Note 8 not only packs in the design points, but also the specs and features, making this one of the richest phones now available and one that in spite of its high cost, does offer a considerable amount of value for the money. Which is all before even taking into account the Galaxy Note 8s main selling point  its compatibility and optimization for use with a stylus  the S Pen.

Besides its note-taking abilities, the Galaxy Note 8 is also the first device from Samsung to come sporting dual rear cameras and has already received much praise for the quality of the images captured. If all that was not enough then this is another device that makes use of a taller and slimmer display thanks to its employment of an 18:9 aspect ratio. Speaking of which, and as a result of the display design, the display is fairly spacious coming in at 6.3-inches. Other than that you can also expect the Galaxy Note 8 to come loaded with 6GB RAM, 64GB storage at a minimum, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC (in the US), a 3,300 mAh battery, fast charging support, wireless charging support, Android 7.1.1 (Nougat), and more.

1. Google Pixel 2 /Pixel 2 XL

The Google Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL have just been announced, are now available to pre-order, and have already topped this list. To be fair, it is the Pixel 2 XL that makes the number 1 spot as that already seems to be the better phone. However, the Pixel 2 XL does come with a 6-inch display and for those that find that size a little too big, the Pixel 2 with it 5-inch display might be more fitting. Besides the display size (and resolution) there is also a difference in aspect ratio with the Pixel 2 XL making use of an 18:9 aspect ratio compared to the Pixel 2s more traditional 16:9 ratio. The last notably difference is in the battery capacity as the Pixel 2 XL is loaded with a 3,520 mAh battery compared to the 2,700 mAh capacity battery on offer with the standard Pixel 2.

Otherwise, much of the rest of what is on offer is the same as both phones feature 4GB RAM, 64GB storage at a minimum, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, a 12.2-megapixel rear camera, 8-megapixel front-facing camera, and Android 8.0 (Oreo) pre-installed. Of course there is also a number of OTT tweaks on offer with these phones, and most notably the likes of Google Lens and Active Edge. The latter of which (like the HTC U11) allows the user to squeeze the sides of the phone to initiate a command  taking a selfie for example. In either case, and regardless of which Pixel 2 model you opt for, you can be assured of having one of the smoothest and most up to date Android experiences available.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today fired a salvo at PM Narendra Modi after an alleged expose on Jay Shah's company's jumbo leap in turnovers since Modi became the Prime Minister.

By India Today Web Desk: In his first reaction on the massive controversy over the growth in business of Jay Shah, son of BJP president Amit Shah, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a dig on Twitter and asked him to speak on the matter.

"Modi ji, Jay Shah 'zaada' kha gaya. Aap chaukidaar thhe ya bhaagidaar? Kuchh to boliye (Modi ji, Jay Shah devoured a lot. Were you standing guard or a party to it? Say something)," Rahul tweeted today.

????, ? - '?' ? ?|? ???? ? ??? ??? ? ??- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 9, 2017

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The Congress as well as a number of other Opposition parties have sought an investigation into allegations by The Wire news website that the turnover of a company linked to Jay Shah increased 16,000 times after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014.

On Sunday afternoon, Congress leader Kapil Sibal had said at a press conference that information obtained from the Registrar of Companies had revealed that Temple Enterprises Pvt Ltd, a company in which Jay Shah was a Director and which had a turnover of just Rs 50,000 in 2014-15, suddenly saw a spike of 16,000 times in its turnover in a year.

"We are only saying that pradhan sevak (a reference to Prime Minister Modi) should probe because this is excellent example of crony capitalism," Sibal said.

Shah has refuted the news portal story, calling it "false and derogatory" and has threatened to sue The Wire for Rs 100 crore.

"Since the website has proceeded in making an absolutely false imputation in a highly slanted article thereby damaging my reputation, I have decided to prosecute the Author, Editor/(s) and the Owner/(s) of the aforesaid news website for criminal defamation and sue them for an amount of Rs 100 crores," a press statement issued hours after The Wire story was released on Sunday said.

Senior BJP leaders, including Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh also held press conferences to defend their president's son.

Singh today slammed the Congress for its "self goal" in the controversy by invoking allegations of similar favours doled out to Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra during the ten years of the UPA government.

Accusing The Wire of "supari journalism", Singh said the story has deliberately tweaked the turnover of Jay Shah's company to make its point. He also said the company was shut before demonetisation in October last year.

--- ENDS ---
The Galaxy Note 9 will have an optical fingerprint sensor embedded into its display panel, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted earlier this month, suggesting that Samsung may finally be able to commercialize the emerging biometric authentication technology by next summer. The South Korean original equipment manufacturer reportedly still hasnt decided on the supplier that would provide it with the components necessary for implementing an on-screen fingerprint recognition scanner into a smartphone, with recent reports indicating that the company is still considering three major firms.

The technology itself supposedly relies on an OLED panel not just to protect the sensor while simultaneously allowing its usage but also by supporting it by serving as a light source. Being able to light up the sensor with the screen of the device and not having to implement an additional lighting solution would allow Samsung to deliver a system thats power-efficient and doesnt degrade the battery performance of existing (Android) flagships. Samsung Group-owned Samsung LSI supposedly already shipped some sample components for an in-screen fingerprint sensor to Samsung Electronics, as did Korean firm BeyondEyes, Kuos recent note claims. Either of the two could be awarded a new supply contract following Samsungs testing period and the tech giants long-term partner Egis may also be commissioned for additional components, with the firm already having a vast experience in manufacturing fingerprint sensors for Samsung.

The Seoul-based electronics manufacturer has reportedly been trying to commercialize optical fingerprint sensors for years now and originally hoped to implement them into the Galaxy S8 lineup. Having missed that opportunity, the company was also said to be exploring a similar solution for the Galaxy Note 8 but the rate of its technological advancements wasnt able to match its 2017 ambitions. According to recent reports, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus will still debut with traditional fingerprint readers situated on their rear plates as Samsung still has to overcome certain development obstacles before being able to embed such sensors into mobile displays in a reliable manner. In the long term, Samsung is hoping to deliver a solution similar to Apples Face ID which is soon set to debut on the iPhone X, Kuo believes, adding that Apple also unsuccessfully tried to equip its next-generation iOS flagship with an on-screen fingerprint sensor.
Google announced that it will open two pop-up stores expected to retail the newest Made by Google products, including the Pixel 2 Android smartphones. One of the stores will be located at 110 Fifth Avenue, New York City, while another one will be opened at 8552 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Both outlets will open on October 19th and will operate daily from 10 AM to 8 PM local time. It is not yet clear how long will the stores stay open, although it is possible that they operate throughout the holiday season. Google did not provide additional information about its upcoming pop-up retail units as of this writing.

Some of the items that will be displayed in the stores will include the products unveiled by the search giant at its Made by Google event which took place on October 4th. The company latest offerings include the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, a premium Chromebook marketed as the Pixelbook, and a compatible Pixelbook Pen stylus. The Pixel Buds, on the other hand, are the first Bluetooth headphones from the Mountain View-based tech firm, boasting the ability to translate 40 languages by relying on the Google Assistant and Google Translate working in conjunction. Two additional voice assistant devices were also revealed by the tech firm in the form of the Google Home Mini and Google Home Max, the latter of which ships with many robust capabilities like Smart Sound. Smart Sound uses artificial intelligence to adjust the audio output based on its current environment in an effort to fill any room with rich audio. Other two devices recently launched by Google include an AI-powered miniature camera called the Google Clips and the updated version of the Daydream View virtual reality headset which ships with a new type of fabric and is compatible with the companys growing VR platform.

Google has lately been heavily promoting its offerings as it tries to assert itself as a major consumer-oriented hardware manufacturer. For example, the search giant is giving away Google Home Minis in pop-up donut shops its opening in select locations across the United States and Canada and may debut more similar initiatives going forward.
The Phone app that is found on most stock Android smartphones (due to the fact that most other manufacturers use their own app for the dialer), is updated regularly by Google in the Play Store, and v13 just came out a few days ago. Some users are already getting the update on their devices and noticing a new feature, which brings video calling straight to the dialer app. This is something that other apps have had for a little bit, and Verizon has it in its own dialer app on its smartphones. But Google has now brought Duo video calling straight to the Dialer, making it easy to get that video call started.

This brings some pretty small changes to the Phone app on your Android smartphone. But some of the changes youll see is the new option to start a video call while you are on a call. There is also now a video call icon next to contacts that Duo installed on their smartphone (remember its available for both Android and iOS), and finally, there is also a small card at the top of the screen when viewing recents, telling you about the Duo integration with the Phone app on your smartphone. So there arent many big changes with this functionality, and its not even necessary for everyone to use it. However if you do, youll want to download Duo  which if you have a stock Android device, its already pre-installed.

Remember, that while video calling is a nice feature to have, it is going to cost you quite a bit of data. As youd expect, video calling use quite a bit more data than a simple voice call over LTE or WiFi using VoLTE or VoIP technology. So if you dont have an unlimited plan, youll want to be careful with using this feature. Additionally, if you or the person you are calling, is in an area with somewhat spotty internet bandwidth, the stream will look like its in SD or lower resolution instead of HD, and thats simply due to the bandwidth that is available. If you dont already have the latest version of the Phone app, you can get it from the Google Play Store.
Reports about the upcoming Sprint and T-Mobile merger have been coming fast and furious as of late. Late last week it was reported that a deal would be official before the end of the month and could be announced with the carriers quarterly earnings. Now, it appears that some of the details of the deal are starting to surface, and it appears that the deal would not include a breakup fee. A breakup fee is a fee that one party (usually the one buying the other) would have to pay to the other party if the deal doesnt go through for some reason. AT&T had to pay a rather hefty breakup fee to T-Mobile back in 2011 when that deal went south, and even had to give T-Mobile a big chunk of spectrum.

The lack of a breakup fee means that both sides could urge regulators to approve the deal, without it helping one side over another. This merger, even if T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, Sprint and SoftBank, are able to agree to terms, still needs to go to regulators for approval. AT&T did not get approval to buy T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom back in 2011. And in 2013 when SoftBank was looking to buy T-Mobile and merge it with Sprint, regulators told them that they would not approve such a deal. However, now under a new administration, the feeling is that regulation will be scaled back a bit, something that President Trump campaigned on, and has already been doing in other areas. Thus, the two carriers are trying to hatch a deal again.

If the acquisition does go through, the combined company is still said to be run by T-Mobiles current CEO, John Legere. Deutsche Telekom would also have a majority stake in the company, which is a bit of a surprise, after Deutsche Telekom wanted out of the US entirely, just a few years ago. SoftBank wants a large enough stake to where Masayoshi Son is able to call some of the shots, but that seems unlikely if Deutsche Telekom is majority owner of the new combined company. Of course, all of this should be made official in the next few weeks if the recent reports are indeed correct.
This week, Google expanded the Google Home family at its fall hardware event. Announcing two new Home speakers that accent the already available Google Home. Theres the Google Home Mini which is a smaller and cheaper smart speaker, and then the Home Max, which is said to be about 20X as powerful as the Google Home, making it a good choice for audiophiles. But with the lineup ranging from $49 to $399, which one is the best choice for you?

Google Home Mini

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The Google Home Mini is going to be the most popular of the three, simply due to its price tag. It comes in at $49, and is available in three colors. The Google Home Mini, despite being smaller, does still output some great sound. Google is using 40mm drivers inside the Home Mini, so its going to offer some great sound without getting distorted as you raise the volume. It also is pretty small, so you can sit it on a table in your living room or even at your desk without it taking up much room.

Google developed the Home Mini as a way to get more people into the Google Assistant world. It is also its answer to the Echo Dot from Amazon, which has been a top seller for Amazon. The Google Home Mini does everything that the regular Google Home does, but it allows you to have the Google Assistant in all of your rooms, instead of needing to carry your phone with you everywhere. Its going to be a good choice for a lot of people that want to use Google Assistant for smart home control.

Google Home

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Google Home is the OG, so to speak, even though its only a year old. Google didnt release a new Google Home this year, but it didnt need too. Since the original is still a great smart speaker to pick up  and most of the changes can be done via software updates to the Google Home app. The Google Home has a slightly better speaker than the Google Home Mini, and some may prefer the design over the Google Home Mini. It actually looks a bit like an air freshener, which isnt really a bad thing, as users are able to go ahead and hide this on a bookshelf in their home somewhere.

The Google Home already has the Google Assistant inside, and well, its going to work exactly the same as the Google Assistant inside the Google Home Mini (and the Home Max). However, the Google Home is going to be a good one to pick up and put in the living room, or wherever you spend the majority of your time, with the Google Home Mini being placed in other rooms throughout your home. With the Google Home, however, you can actually swap out the bases and change up the look a bit  which is something you cant do with the Home Mini or Home Max. So if thats worth something to you, then the Google Home is going to be a good choice to pick up.

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Google Home Max

Before we jump into the Google Home Max, it isnt going to be available until December but you can join the waitlist on the Google Store  which will have Google email you once its available. The Google Home Max is quite a bit more expensive than the Google Home, coming in at $399. So as you can expect, its a far better speaker. Google claims that it is around 20X more powerful than the Google Home, which is going to make it great for a large room, or even a large office. Aside from more power, Google has also included Smart Sound on the Google Home Max. Which will change up the soundstage based on your surroundings. This is done with machine learning, so that the music coming out of the Home Max will always sound as good as possible.

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Now as far as Google Assistant goes, itll work exactly the same as on the other Google Home models. So you can play music from around 35 different music streaming services as well as stream over Bluetooth. Google Assistant also has the ability to tell you what song is listening, and control your smart home products. So with the Google Home Max, you can ask Google Assistant to turn off the lights in the living room, or the bedroom, etc. Those that are audiophiles, the Google Home Max is going to be the choice for you, since it does have better subwoofers and tweeters inside.

Wrap Up

The differences of the three Google Home products, essentially fall into three categories. Theres price, design, and audio quality. Now those that love their music and always looking for something thats louder, the Google Home Max is going to be the best choice. Those that dont care to much about music, itll be down to the Google Home and Home Mini. And for the majority of those, itll be the Google Home Mini, due to the price tag. All three have the exact same features with Google Assistant, so if you are looking to pick one up to use Google Assistant, you really cant go wrong with any of them.
The case was filed in Ahmedabad in the court of Additional chief metropolitan magistrate SK Gadhvi, who has ordered an inquiry into the allegations.

By India Today Web Desk: Amit Shah's son Jay Amit Shah today filed a Rs 100 crore criminal defamation suit against seven people over the reported growth in his firm's turnover published by the news website, The Wire, on Sunday.

The case was filed in Ahmedabad in the court of Additional chief metropolitan magistrate SK Gadhvi, who has ordered an inquiry into the allegations. The next hearing will be held on Wednesday.

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WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

1. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will represent Jay Amit Shah in the criminal defamation case he has filed against The Wire over its story that claimed his company's turnover saw a huge rise after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014.

2. Union Minister Piyush Goyal said Mehta had sought Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's permission to appear for Jay and the approval was granted. Goyal insisted that the purpose of the story was to defame the BJP and its government by making derogatory and defamatory imputations.

3. Asked about the Congress' attack on the BJP over the claim that the government was in the know of the entire episode as the ASG was given permission even before the story appeared, Goyal said they were aware of the matter as the news portal had sent Jay a questionnaire.

4. "We believe that he (Jay) has been wronged and he must get justice. There is no harm if the best of lawyers appear for him. An ASG can appear in a matter between two private parties after taking permission," Goyal told reporters.

5. Jay Amit Shah has filed the criminal defamation case against seven people including the report's author Rohini Singh, and Siddharth Varadarajan and Sidharth Bhatia, both founding editors of the news portal.

Copy of the complaint.

6. The Congress has demanded the resignation of BJP president Amit Shah over the allegedly "suspicious transactions and dealings" of his son Jay Shah's firms for the sake of an impartial inquiry.

7. "We are not levelling any allegations. We are just demanding a fair inquiry into the matter. And for the sake of fair and impartial inquiry, Amit Shah must resign as the BJP president as well as from the Rajya Sabha," Congress leader Anand Sharma said.

8. "When LK Advani's name came up in the Jain hawala diaries, he resigned as party chief as well as from the Lok Sabha. Bangaru Laxman, who was caught on camera taking cash, also resigned. More recently, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also resigned as BJP chief in connection with Purti scam," Sharma said.

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9. In retort, Uttar Pradesh Health Minister and state government spokesman Siddharth Nath Singh attacked the Congress and The Wire, accusing the latter of "supari journalism".

10. Picking on Rahul Gandhi, Singh said, "This child is refusing to grow up" after the Congress vice-president called Shah's son the biggest beneficiary of demonetisation. "This leader fails to come out of his diaper as he does not even pay attention to the fact that the company that he is referring to had in fact closed before the announcement of demonetisation," Singh said.

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Style By Significant Other: Justin Annacone and Maureen Sheen

Here's What Happens When A Guy Lets His Beauty Editor Girlfriend Dress Him

Welcome to Style By Significant Other, where were giving partners the power to completely choose their significant other's clothes for one week  and the results will always be interesting. From guys who dont know the first thing about fashion to pairs with totally different styles, expect the unexpected with these couples. And, get a little inspiration in the process.

Justin Annacone  a seasoned CPA (and pro pasta sauce maker) working at The Siegfried Group LLP in New York City  admits he can be a bit predictable when it comes to his style, but thats where his girlfriend comes in. Maureen Sheen  the senior beauty editor of American Salon magazine  comes from a beauty and style background, styling editorial photo shoots and reporting on trends straight from backstage at New York Fashion Week. So what happens when a fashion-lover gets to play dress up with her boyfriend?

Justins Initial Thoughts

How would you describe your style? Efficient but effective; neat and clean. Ill kick it up a notch for the right occasion.

Efficient but effective; neat and clean. Ill kick it up a notch for the right occasion. Is there anything you want to change about your style? Maybe Id like to be less predictable at times, but when I find pieces or brands that really work for me, its hard to not keep going back to them.

Maybe Id like to be less predictable at times, but when I find pieces or brands that really work for me, its hard to not keep going back to them. Whats one item of clothing you wear that drives your girlfriend crazy? My Phillies T-shirt. I wore it during our 2008 World Series win and I cant let it go.

My Phillies T-shirt. I wore it during our 2008 World Series win and I cant let it go. What do you wear too much? Navy blue anything.

Navy blue anything. What should you wear more often? I dont know.

I dont know. Is there a clothing item you absolutely dont want to have to wear this week? I dont want to wear skinny jeans.

Maureens Initial Thoughts

What do you like your boyfriend to wear? I love seeing Justin suited up  he looks so handsome and sexy; very Don Draper. Looking sharp and classic never goes out of style.

I love seeing Justin suited up  he looks so handsome and sexy; very Don Draper. Looking sharp and classic never goes out of style. How would you describe his style? Justin has a great sense of style. Hes very conscious of his proportions, and knows what does and doesnt work for him. Id call it classic with a modern twist.

Justin has a great sense of style. Hes very conscious of his proportions, and knows what does and doesnt work for him. Id call it classic with a modern twist. What would you change about his style? There isnt much to change because hes on it without being overly trend focused. His work wear is on point  its very sharp and clean. But it would be fun to see him embrace trends like athleisure or the white sneaker trend in his off-duty look. His default is usually jeans and loafers.

There isnt much to change because hes on it without being overly trend focused. His work wear is on point  its very sharp and clean. But it would be fun to see him embrace trends like athleisure or the white sneaker trend in his off-duty look. His default is usually jeans and loafers. What item of clothing would you get rid of if you could? Its not a deal-breaker, but if I had to say something, it would be the giant oversized brown t-shirt he wears when he goes to South Jersey to help his parents on their farm. I know its not practical to wear a white tee when youre working the farm  Im just not a fan of brown shirts. Camel, taupe, and tan are all good, but its a hard no for me on brown.

Its not a deal-breaker, but if I had to say something, it would be the giant oversized brown t-shirt he wears when he goes to South Jersey to help his parents on their farm. I know its not practical to wear a white tee when youre working the farm  Im just not a fan of brown shirts. Camel, taupe, and tan are all good, but its a hard no for me on brown. What does he wear too much  or not enough? Banana Republic. But its because their pieces fit him so well. And not enough of? Leather and suede. I think he would look amazing in a distressed chocolate brown leather jacket. Very James Dean.

Heres what happened when Maureen chose Justins clothes for a week.

 Day 1 

The Details: Topman blazer, Todd Snyder tee, Banana Republic denim, Shinola belt, Adidas shoes

Maureens Thoughts: Justin and I are total foodies. So for date nights, hell make plans for a splurge-worthy meal at places like Carbone, Babbo, or Quality Meats. And while theyre fine-dining establishments, theyre not the stuffy, jacket-and-tie-required sort, so something like this fitted blazer and dark denim look works. Its stylish and laidback at the same time and feels very David Beckham to me. When in doubt, ask what would Becks do?

Justins Thoughts: I was slightly skeptical about the blazer, jeans, and sneaker look, as this was a first for me. But I guess it works!

Would He Wear It Again?: Eventually. But Im still warming up to the all-white sneaker trend.a

RELATED: Keep Your Sneakers Looking Brand New With These Genius Hacks

 Day 2 

The Details: Ted Baker shirt, Banana Republic chino, Cole Haan shoes, Warby Parker sunglasses, Seiko watch, Ted Baker bag

Maureens Thoughts: Casual Fridays usually mean trading in the suit and tie for jeans and an oversized button-down in corporate. But I felt colored chinos and a fitted button-down was a more put-together business casual option that would keep him from looking like every other drone in the office. Plus, the blue on blue brings out his eyes.

Justins Thoughts: I loved it. Its one of my favorite shirts.

Would He Wear It Again?: Yes  every day if I could.

 Day 3 

The Details: Banana Republic shirt, Club Monaco chino, Adidas shoes, Seiko watch

Maureens Thoughts: aIm calling this his #SaturdaysAreForTheBoys look. Its clean and smart, but casual and lived-in. The white Adidas Stan Smiths really pull this look together. Its perfect for knocking back a few with the guys or hanging with them in the park.

Justins Thoughts: Relaxed and confident. I hate the idea of overthinking my look and this simple style is right up my alley.

Would He Wear It Again?: For sure. I might just have to get my first pair of white sneakers.

 Day 4 

The Details: Club Monaco bomber, Banana Republic striped tee, Club Monaco sweatpants

Maureens Thoughts: For Sunday brunch, I wanted him to feel comfy but still rack up the style points. This was my chance to inject a little athleisure into his look with the bomber and slim-fit joggers.

Justins Thoughts: Like my girlfriend dressed me

Would He Wear It Again?: I havent jumped on the jogger bandwagon, and I dont intend to anytime soon. The bomber was cool though.

RELATED: Sweatpants Aren't Just For The Gym - Here Are The Best All-Around Joggers

 Day 5 

The Details: Calvin Klein suit, Charles Tyrwhitt shirt, Charles Tyrwhitt tie, BOSS Hugo Boss belt, Cole Haan shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses

Maureens Thoughts: Justins suit game is 1000. This is his typical work aesthetic. I tried to punch it up with the blue floral-print tie to play off the navy in his suit and his baby blues. He looks so boss.

Justins Thoughts: Im always happy to attempt my best Matt Bomer (White Collar) look. He will forever be my suited-up inspiration. I dont quite have the hair, but I hope hed approve.

Would He Wear It Again?: Not even a question.

 The Takeaway 

Justin: Athleisure is not for me.

Maureen: Men really are creatures of habit. Justin has his style formula down and doesn't really stray from it. Why fix it if it isn't broke, right? It took a little whining to get him in the joggers.
Deakin University has appointed a top commercial law expert as the new dean of its law school. Jenni Lightowlers takes on the role, after serving as interim dean since May.Lightowlers is a founding partner of the boutique technology law firm Francis Abourizk Lightowlers. The university said she is considered to be one of Australias leading advisors to Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) as well as to research, innovation and commercialisation entities and universities in both Australia and the South Pacific.We now have a strong, stable and well-balanced executive team in place to continue to consolidate the upward trajectory of the school, said executive dean Mike Ewing. The school has also named criminal law expert Marilyn Mcmahon deputy dean.The law school recently ranked among the top 100 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (AWRU), and among the top 150 in the QS World Rankings.Lightowlers has long been involved with the university  she was appointed to Deakin Council in 2004, and served as deputy chancellor from 2009 to 2015. Last year, she was made a vice chancellor's distinguished fellow and conferred an honorary doctorate for her services to the University and for her support of research and commercialisation in Australia.She provides legal advice to various Australian Stock Exchange-listed firms in relation to technology and advises clients on a wide range of issues across the health, biotech, IT, defence export controls, mining, corporate governance, government and education sectors, the university said.
By PTI: Ranchi, Oct 9 (PTI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said the government favours a long-standing business and cultural relationship with Czech Republic.

Das said this after inaugurating the Jharkhand Pavilion at the International Engineering Fair at Brno in Czech Republic, an official release said here.

The pavilion was jointly inaugurated by Das and Union Minister of State for Industry and Commerce C R Choudhary, the release said.

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The Union minister also appreciated Jharkhand for its development works, it said.

Foreign investors and political leaders visited the pavilion and the investors have evinced interest to invest in India, especially in Jharkhand, the release added.

The chief minister said everyone is welcome in the progress of Jharkhand, the release quoting him said.

Czech Republic has been a partner country in Momentum Jharkhand and the bilateral relations will continue in future as well, the release said. PTI PVR SBN

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In a recent interview with Autoblog , the head honcho of Aston Martin confessed that hes got three of Ferrari's key guys. For what purpose, you might ask? To make Andy Palmers vision come true, giving Aston Martin a competitor for the segment-leading 488 GTB. It's a big compliment to Ferrari. That's the defining car in its segment, and it's really, really good, Andy noted.Theres still not a definitive timeline on when to expect the production-ready models debut, but previous reports peg it in 2020 at the earliest and 2021 at the latest. A mid-engine supercar with supersport credentials, the yet-unnamed newcomer will employ technical know-how from the mind-boggling Valkyrie.When asked about the current state of development, Andy Palmer came clean about eight quarter-scale clay models. There's one in particular that I'm leaning toward. We've got it pushed out; it's gone to a second studio in Milton Keynes. Want to know what Formula 1 outfit is based in Milton Keynes? That would be Red Bull Racing , whose chief technical officer helps Aston Martin with the design and the aerodynamic trickery of the Valkyrie hypercar.Its no wonder, then, that Aston Martin is extremely serious about delivering a superior supercar than the Ferrari 488 GTB, although its only natural to expect a replacement for the 488 by 2020. Slotted between the next-gen Vanquish and Valkyrie , the mystery supercar is likely to wow its segment.One of the three Ferrari employees snatched by Aston Martin hasnt been formally announced, but the other two are confirmed to be Max Szwaj and Joerg Ross. Szwaj is the former head of innovation and body structures at the Prancing Horse, while Ross used to carry the title of head of advanced engines.
He says the LIDAR has two major drawbacks, with the first being its price. Still, ever since self-driving technology caught speed, the rates have been going down constantly with chances of reaching perfectly affordable levels in just a few years.The second one is the sensor's inability to see in bad weather, with heavy rain and snow turning it into one big and expensive (see the paragraph above) useless blob on top of the car. The LIDAR has excellent resolution and can map the surroundings with millimetric precision, but only when the atmospheric conditions allow it.Even so, all the other companies involved in the development of autonomous technology - and there's a lot of them - are betting on LIDAR . In fact, Henrik Fisker tweeted last week that he was installing five of these sensors on his upcoming EMotion electric sedan, saying that was the "minimum number for Level 5 autonomy." While the amount may vary from one company to the other, they all seem to agree on its necessity.Except for Tesla . Speaking to the Australian media , Scott Miller, GM's director of autonomous vehicle integration, used pretty harsh words to describe Musk's stance. He said the South African entrepreneur was "full of crap" about his claims to reach full self-driving capabilities using only cameras and radars.To think you can see everything you need for a level five autonomous [car] with cameras and radar, I dont know how you do that, he said. The level of technology and knowing what it takes to do the mission, to say you can be a full level five with just cameras and radars is not physically possible. I think you need the right sensors and right computing package to do it. [..] you should have redundancy."If you think about it, it's not sensors that Mr. Miller isn't trusting, but the AI interpreting the information they gather. Humans have been driving using just their eyes for over a century, and despite the many crashes, we seem to be doing a pretty good job. The cameras on a Tesla provide a 360-degree view, meaning nothing is escaping its sight.The question is whether the company can build a smart-enough AI to interpret this enormous amount of information the right way and in due time. Processing power shouldn't be a problem, but teaching the software how to read every possible situation might be.With billions of miles of data already under its belt, Tesla is certainly sitting on a small treasure, but its probably jealous competition still doesn't believe it can do it. Could you do it with less and be less robust? Probably. But could you do it with whats in a current Tesla Model S? I dont think so, Scott Miller concludes.
Danish officials have found parts from an Air France A380 engine that fell on the Greenland icecap on Sept. 30 following an uncontained failure. Investigators used information from the planes flight data recorder to narrow down the search area and a helicopter was sent to look for remnants of the main fan and front cowling, which separated from the engine on a flight from Paris to Los Angeles. The Air Greenland helicopter crew found debris in a wasteland covered in ice last Thursday and began picking up the pieces on Saturday.

They will be used as part of a complex investigation being led by Frances Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis into the engine failure, which forced the A380 to divert to Happy Valley/Goose Bay Airport on the remote northeastern tip of Canada. The 521 passengers and crew on board made it to Los Angeles the next day on two aircraft. While the French government is leading the investigation, Danish and Canadian officials are also involved as are airline staff, Airbus representatives and people from Engine Alliance, the manufacturer of the engine.
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the shortening of the runway at Santa Monica Airport the day before the work was to begin. As the National Business Aviation Association convenes in Las Vegas for its annual convention, the last-ditch order prevents the removal of 1,500 feet of the SMO runway, which effectively bars all but the smallest business jets from using it. Work was to start Monday morning (Oct 9, 2017). NBAA and other aviation groups have spent millions of dollars over the last three decades trying to preserve SMO as a viable business airport.

The order is significant because it could lead to a injunction against ripping up the runway. The injunction is expected to be heard in about two weeks. At issue was the private deal between the FAA and the City of Santa Monica that led to the feds allowing the city to reclaim the airport property in stages until its federal obligations expire in 2028. The court ruled that it was likely the petitioners would win their case in a trial and the restraining order was issued to ensure the damage wasnt done before they got the chance to argue the case in court.

The full order is here: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/santamonicaairport/pages/275/attachments/original/1507507378/TRO-Granted.pdf?1507507378
Its been stormy in Europe this week and that, of course, has sent planespotters to runways all over the continent looking for gear-punishing landings and they found a couple. The bounce on the 747 landing at Schiphol in Amsterdam is cringeworthy while the A380 arrival at Frankfurt reminds us the wind demands respect, no matter how big and powerful the airframe. There but for the grace.
With eight aircraft already in final assembly, Bombardier showed off a cabin mock-up and test article for its new long-range business jet, the Global 7000, at the NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas on Monday. The test article is the fourth aircraft in the test fleet and is dubbed The Architect for its intended purpose of proving interior systems. The 7000 is unique for having four individual living spaces, including a kitchen and full-sized crew suite. Theres basically no aircraft like this on the market today, said Michel Quellette, Bombardiers senior VP for the Global 7000 and 8000 program.

The new aircraft continues to undergo final testing and recently completed cold and heat soak testing. The 7000 has a 7400-NM range and a top cruise speed of 0.92 Mach. According to Quellette, that gives the aircraft sufficient range to fly from New York to Dubai or Los Angeles to Shanghai. The eight airframes currently in final assembly are expected to enter during the second half of 2018, the company said.

In addition to the Global 7000 announcement, Bombardier said it has also sold Learjet 75 aircraft to London-based Zenith Aviation. That adds to two Learjet 75s already in the Zenith fleet. The new aircraft will be based in the UK.
Its not easy being me. No sooner do I get my pants unsnagged from one electric airplane idea than another one comes along literally days later. Hows a guy supposed to keep up?

Mark this date on your calendar: 2022. That seems to be when the promised magic of electric airplanes will come together and, were assured, youll be able to fly to a small airport in an Uber multi-rotor then board an electric hybrid airliner to be whisked off to an airport 500 miles away. Thence to your downtown destination via another Uber air taxi. What a wondrous new world awaits.

The airliner part was announced last week by yet another Silicon Valley-style startup called Zunum Aero. Zunum has in mind a 12-passenger regional airliner with hybrid electric propulsion. The fact that Zunum is backed by venture capital from Boeing and JetBlue lends it a certain credibility. But Zunum is still a startup with no airframe experience, no aircraft propulsion development history and probably utterly no clue of what it takes to certify such systems. Im sure there are people inside Boeing rolling their eyes, not at the concept, but at the nave timeline.

And the performance claims. Zunums whiteboard conclusion is that it can build an airplane roughly the size of a PC-12 powered by a pair of electrically driven ducted fans. Zunum aims to tap into the lucrative short-haul market with an airplane whose operating costs are three to five times lower than the equivalent hydrocarbon-powered aircraft. Oh, and its also faster than the PC-12, with a target airspeed of 295 knots on a range of 700-plus miles. Zunum thinks it can develop and certify such a thing for under $200 million. In a gesture of uncommon generosity, The Seattle Times called the companys business plan sketchy. Perhaps the best Zunum can wish for is to develop impressive technology and then be bought by Cessna or Daher or Pilatus.

Business plan aside, the idea itself is not necessarily daft. The Zunum aircraft will be a serial hybrid, meaning it has a combination of batteries and a hydrocarbon-fueled generator. Zunum hasnt gotten to the details yet, but presumably the airplane would employ whats become a popular flight cycle concept for hybrids. Batteries for takeoff and climb phase and a small, efficient hydrocarbon engine running a generator to recharge the batteries and sustain cruise flight, where less power is needed.

This is exactly the design Pipistrel developed for the HYPSTAIR hybrid and what Airbus sees for its longer-term E-Thrust project. The HYPSTAIR has powered up, but it hasnt flown. Its marketability remains murky. Partnered with Rolls-Royce, Airbus plans a similar concept for its E-Thrust project. E-Thrust is intended to yield a regional airliner suitable for up 1000-mile stage lengths. But theres an important distinction between E-Thrust and Zunums proposal. Airbus envisions introduction in the 2050 time frame, by which time technologies it plans to use will be mature and, more important, battery capacity will be vastly greater than it is now.

Electric airplane enthusiasts argue that even at current battery energy densities at perhaps 250 wh/kg, designs like the Zunum and what Uber proposes are feasible. Im not convinced of this and I dont know many people who are. If it were true, Pipistrels Alpha Electro would have better endurance and thus better marketability than it has now. It will get there eventually, Im sure, but its not there yet. By 2050, its possible that entirely new battery technologies will push energy density above 2000 wh/kg. Even at half that, electric aircraft will be attractive enough to enter a transitional phase for some applications, such as training and personal flight.

And speaking of personal flight, you may have missed the fact that even Airbus has pulled back its electric aircraft program. It had planned a pair of electric aircraft, a two-seat trainer (E-fan 2.0) and a four-set hybrid drive personal aircraft for the U.S. market, the E-fan 4.0. When it was announced in 2015, the latter was planned for introduction before 2020, a timeline no less aggressive than Zunums. At the time, Airbus wasnt so much interested in getting into light aircraft GA as it was using the E-fan project as certification ice breaker for more ambitious project, namely the E-Thrust. This made perfect sense.

I think it pulled back for two reasons: The incoming CEO wasnt smitten with electric airplanes and there was little evidence of a business case within the proposed timeline. But Airbus isnt giving up on future electric aircraft projects simply because it cant afford to not have a foot in whats coming.

Judging the developmental pace and impact of future aircraft is a fools errand at best. As some point, a transitional or disruptive technology will come along because progress is not static. Allow yourself the pleasure of magical thinking and you could see how electric airplanes with low operating costs could open up small GA airports to commercial service. Since anything new will have to have the hooks for autonomous flight, perhaps we can discern the foggy outlines of a new aviation technology.

On the other hand, increasingly, I view these electric airplane programs with a how-gullible-do-you-think-I-am reaction. This is driven mainly by unrealistic timelines and overpromising on potential performance. But what hell, this is aviation, right? Would-be purveyors of new aircraft always do that and we wouldnt respect them if they didnt. Well, not really. Im a believer in electric aircraft. I think its a good idea thats inevitable and will be driven by economics, efficiency, climate change regulation and noise considerations. The fact that the U.S. has pulled out of the Paris accord matters not a bit. The rest of the world has already decided and will move forward with lower emission technologies. Boeing knows this and so does Airbus.

It just wont move very fast because of the limitations of things like the laws of physics, market uptake and the glacial advance of regulation. Zunum can plug all the happy numbers it wants into a sunny-side spreadsheet and thats not going to change. Nor, in my view, will the much-touted revision of Part 23 help much. I give Zunum a two in 10 chance of pulling this off by 2022 and an eight in 10 chance of tanking. As Otto Lilienthal was reported to have said, sacrifices must be made. Not to worry, though. Someone will do it. Eventually.
Its been called absurd by Bombardier and the Canadian government and aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia agrees that the 300 percent import duties proposed against CSeries airliners by the U.S. Commerce Department are unprecedented. He also told AVwebs Russ Niles the crushing penalties may actually help Bombardier.

Duration: 10:01 File Size: 7 MB download here /wp-content/uploads/podcast/aboulafiacseries.mp3
9 October 2017 10:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 132 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on October 9.

Armenians were using large-caliber machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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Bindu, mother of Kerala woman Nimisha alias Fatima, who was feared to have been forcefully converted to Islam and taken to Iran to join ISIS, now seeks an NIA probe in phenomenon of 'love jihad' in Kerala.

By P S Gopikrishnan Unnithan: In a recent development in the Hadiya - Akhila case which is under consideration of the Supreme Court, the mother of a suspected Islamic State (ISIS) absconder has filed an application to implead her in the case.

Bindu Sampath is the mother of Nimisha, who after converting to Islam, changed her name to Fathima and soon after, went missing. Bindu wants the Supreme Court to direct the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to investigate forced conversion cases in the country .

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She is also seeking an extensive investigation into the phenomenon of alleged 'love jihad' in Kerala.Love jihad is a term used by right-wing Hindu groups to describe inter-faith marriages which they say is an Islamist conspiracy to convert Hindu women through marriage or coercion.

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR Bindu alleges that Hadiya-Akhila case in which the Hindu girl Akhila Ashokan converted to Islam and married a Muslim guy Shefin Jahan is a case of indoctrination of to fight for jihad. Bindu's daughter Nimisha alias Fathima also married a Muslim guy after conversion and later went to Iran under the pretext of moving to Sri Lanka for business. She and her husband are believed to be among the 24 people who have reportedly joined ISIS from India. Chief Justice of India Deepak Mishra allowed Binda's advocate to file the application in Hadiya-Akhila case in which the apex court has already ordered an NIA probe. Earlier, the Kerala government had filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court, mentioning that there was no need of an NIA probe. The investigation conducted by the local police and state crime branch was satisfactory, the affidavit read. Last week, the Supreme Court said that it will examine whether a High Court can annul a marriage while hearing a plea by the parents of a girl who had married a boy from a different religion. The bench also wondered whether the 24-year-old woman could be forced to live in her father's custody. The apex court said that it will examine the issues in the course of the hearing of an application by Jahan seeking the recall of an earlier order by which the court had entrusted the investigation into the entire matter to the NIA. Hadiya's marriage to Jahan was annulled by the Kerala High Court following a petition from her parents. The apex court then intervened and asked the NIA to probe the marriage after doubts were raised as this was a case of "love jihad". Jahan has in turn pleaded with the Supreme Court to cancel the NIA probe. According to sources, Hadiya, who was known as Akhila before conversion, is holed up at her house near Kottayam, forcibly by her parents. Given the BJP's aggressive plans to be popular in Kerala, politics over the alleged 'love jihad' cases - a term coined by the RSS - will continue in the southern state.

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9 October 2017 18:13 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The deplorable current state of the Armenian economy has many causes, and the widespread corruption is one of the main reasons for that. The government pretends that it fights corruption in the country, but the situation is not improving.

The Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan has recently held a working meeting, which discussed the issues of international cooperation in the fight against corruption and implementation of Armenia-undertaken commitments.

Thus, Europe is vigilantly monitoring the situation in Armenia and demands from the Armenian authorities to deploy uncompromising struggle with corruption in the country. Armenian experts note that this is right, because this scourge has deep roots in the country.

However, it is well-known that nobody in the Armenian government is able to fight corruption in the country. Therefore, the Armenians are still skeptical about the authorities that for many years throw dust in the peoples eyes. No one believes in Armenia that the fight against the problem will yield any tangible results.

The fact of destructive corruption in Armenia was repeatedly pointed out by foreign representatives in the country. Some months ago, the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills noted that if Armenia does not manage to solve the problem, it will affect the relations between the two countries in specific areas  for example, in investments.

Meanwhile, few people dare to invest in the corrupt Armenian economy. Even the richest foreign businessmen from affluent countries hesitate to invest their money in a country known for extreme corruption and many other drawbacks. The 2015 report of the Transparency International Anti-corruption Center showed that Armenia is one of the most corrupt countries of the world.

Despite the European Union Delegation to Yerevan contributing 1.5 million towards two anti-corruption projects in the 2011-2014 period, the doleful situation has shown no signs of change.

Today, instead of starting a serious fight against the problem, the authorities continue to make unrealistic promises for poor Armenian population. This suggests that the ruling regime does not want to stop corruption, as it has long ago turned into the government's main feeding source.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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9 October 2017 14:28 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Tea, an aromatic beverage loved by many nations, is also a part of the Azerbaijani culture. This drink is appreciated almost in all countries, since it quenches thirst, helps in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and, as scientists say, it is much better than water compensates the fluid in the body and contains antioxidants.

For the first time, small tea plantations yielded crops at the end of the 19th century in the South Caucasus region of Azerbaijan, but the development of local tea growing started only in 1932.

The necessity of growing tea in the humid regions on the coast of Azerbaijans Caspian Sea coast was first raised in the 1880s and 1890s; the Lankaran-Astara region attracted attention and was assessed positively in terms of tea-growing, thanks to its favorable humid subtropical climate.



In Azerbaijan tea is mainly grown in the Lankaran-Astara region. This is an area of some 5,330 sq. km. and includes Astara, Lankaran, Masalli, Lerik, Yardimli and Jalilabad regions. Tea is grown in the first four of these regions.

About 91 percent of tea production in Azerbaijan falls to the share of Lankaran. For the further development of this industry, a draft law "State Program for the Development of Tea Industry in Azerbaijan in 2017-2026" is being developed.

Moreover, the state provides entrepreneurs with concessional loans for the development of tea growing. So, entrepreneurs, working in this industry, as a whole were granted a soft loan in the amount of 10.7 million manats ($6.33 million).

Astarachay LLC was established in 2010. Raw materials used for the production of dry tea are harvested only from the plantations of the Astara and Lankaran regions. The factory, the territory of which is 5 hectares, installed the latest equipment imported from abroad. The processing capacity of the factory is 10 tons of green tea per day.

Azerbaijan has become the largest tea producer among the CIS countries. This applies not only to black tea varieties, but also to green ones. But the markets of foreign countries are still to be won by Azerbaijani tea, while it is popular only at home, despite its original taste.

Azerbaijan is taking steps to promote its aromatic and high quality tea abroad and one of such examples is the increase of the number of checkpoints in the sale of Azerbaijani tea in Ukraine.

Currently, there are 24 sales points in Ukraine for the sale of Azerbaijani tea, Azertac reported.

The majority of the sales points are located in Kiev and Kharkov cities. In Kiev, There are 15 points in Kiev and 4-in Kharkov. The number of the sales points will be increased in the near future.

Azerbaijan is considered one of the main trade partners of Ukraine among the CIS countries with the trade turnover between amounted to $334.18 million in 2016, $44.4 million of which accounted for the export from Ukraine.

Main goods imported from Ukraine to Azerbaijan remains as mainly metallurgy products, machine building products, agro-industrial products, and chemical industry products. While main goods exported from Azerbaijan to Ukraine are generally products of fuel energy industry, chemical industry products, and agro-industrial products.

The country plans to open its second Trade House in Ukraine, while the first was opened in Belarusian capital Minsk this May.

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9 October 2017 11:35 (UTC+04:00)

Supporting the students and youth from the first day of its establishment and regularly conducting social projects for young people, Azercell Telecom LLC successfully continues its activities in this regard. Thus, Barama Center continues various projects for students, also outstanding students studying at the universities of Azerbaijan are receiving additional support under the Bursary Program conducted by the company every year. Azercell is also actively cooperating with the leading universities, which also contributes to improvement of technical base of these institutions.

The company also continues its active participation at education and career fairs in the country. This time, Azercell joined Education and Career Fair organized by Caspian Event Organizers on October 6-8. The event was held at Baku Expo Center and brought together over 10,000 visitors. Azercell stand was welcomed by the participants with great interest. The visitors were informed about work principles of the company and criteria preferred in recruitment process. The stand also provided information about opportunities for students and graduates, as well as programs and projects aimed for the development of young fellows. Azercell representatives held information sessions for graduates wishing to get employed at Azercell, answered their questions and gave career advices.

It should be noted that Azercell's stand had the largest score of visitors thus being granted with the special certificate by the exhibition organizers for the most attended stand.

For more information, please contact [email protected]



The leader of the mobile communication industry of Azerbaijan and the biggest investor in the non-oil sector Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996. With 48% share of Azerbaijans mobile market Azercells network covers 80% of the territory and 99,8% of population of the country. Currently, 4,5 million subscribers choose Azercell services. Azercell has pioneered an important number of innovations in Azerbaijan, including GSM technology, advance payment system, 24/7 Customer Care, online customer services, GPRS/EDGE, M2M, MobilBank, one-stop- shop service offices Azercell Express, mobile e-service ASAN signature, etc. Azercell deployed first 4G  LTE services in Azerbaijan in 2012. According to the results of mobile network quality surveys of Global Wireless Solutions company and international systems specialized in wireless coverage mapping such as Opensignal and Testmy.net, Azercells network demonstrated the best results among the mobile operators of Azerbaijan.

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9 October 2017 13:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Azerbaijan needs to create single standards for mortgaged property evaluation.

The standards currently used in Azerbaijan are based on old international analogues, adopted back in 2003, Hamid Mammadjanov, a consultant with International Finance Corporation (IFC), told Trend.

"International standards have changed many times, and the latest amendments were made in 2017," Mammadjanov said. "Therefore, we offer Azerbaijan a project on creating new evaluation standards."

He added that creation of single standards understood by all market participants will enable to avoid disagreements as well as minimize risks for market participants.

Banks sell through actions properties confiscated for non-payment. It happens only after the court has decided in their favor that the bank may issue a confiscation for the auction.

Earlier, expert Samir Aliyev noted that auction centers receive a certain percentage of the sale of real estate.

Ideally, real estate offered for auction should be sold at a high price. There is also a clash between the interests of the bank and the client. The bank is interested in the soonest sale of real estate and getting money, while the client wants to sell, for example, an apartment more expensive, so that after paying the bank, he has money left in his hands. After the sale of the apartment, the money already paid by the client to the bank is deducted from the proceeds. Also the costs of legal proceedings, interest to auction centers are deducted from the clients money, the expert said.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries.

Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the worlds largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions.

Azerbaijan became a member of IFC in 1995. As of December 31, 2016, IFC has invested $473 million, of which $73 million was mobilized from other lenders, financing 56 long-term projects across a range of sectors, including financial services, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors.

In addition, IFC has supported around $80 million in trade through its trade finance program and provided $250 million for Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC). IFC has also implemented a range of advisory projects aimed at encouraging private sector growth.

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9 October 2017 17:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Baku will host the Azerbaijani-Belarusian business forum on October 17.

More than 15 Belarusian companies specializing in various spheres of the economy will take part in the business forum, which will be organized by the Economy Ministry, according to Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO).

Cooperation of Belarus and Azerbaijan in the economic sphere has been developing dynamically over the past decade. The main priorities of this cooperation are production cooperation, joint projects in the fields of science and technology, as well as investment cooperation.

Belarus exports to Azerbaijan mechanical production, woodworking, tires, foodstuff, medicine, household appliances, dishes and other goods. Azerbaijans exports to Belarus mainly consist of products made of aluminum, products of petrochemical, engineering and agriculture.

Azerbaijans first ever Trade House was opened in the Belarusian capital Minsk, on May 26.

Trade House in Minsk has signed deals with a number of major Belarusian trade companies to organize sale of Azerbaijani products in the country.

As of August, the Trade House has contributed to export of 84 tons of fruit and vegetable products, including 8,000 bottles of olive oil, 2,700 bottles of pomegranate juice and more than 1,200 boxes of tea, to Belarus.

Moreover, Azerbaijan and Belarus plan to supply tractors to Turkey.

The Minsk Tractor Works (MTW) OJSC signed a new contract with Ganja Automobile Plant in Azerbaijan on September 22 for supply of tractors to Azerbaijan along with an additional protocol on jointly entering the Turkish market.

In December 2016, MTW OJSC and Ganja Automobile Plant signed a contract on joint production of machinery in Ganja and delivery of machine and tractor sets to Azerbaijan in 2016-2017.

It is planned to deliver additional 460 Belarusian machines, including 60 cotton pickers, to Azerbaijan by the end of 2017.

Earlier, Belarusian Minister of Health Valery Malashko stressed that Azerbaijan and Belarus are interested in expanding relations in the pharmaceutical area and establishing a joint venture.

The sides signed a contract on supply of medicines from Belarus to Azerbaijan (in the amount of $7 billion) during the 23rd Azerbaijan International Healthcare Exhibition, BIHE-2017 at Baku Expo Center on September 28

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and amounted to $93.76 million in January-August 2017, $83.85 million of which fell on import from Belarus, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.

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9 October 2017 16:53 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

The Government of Azerbaijan will establish an Azerbaijan Expo-Trade Center in Moscow, Russia.

The Center will locate within the All-Russian Exhibition Centre and contribute to further promotion of Azerbaijani goods, the Economy Ministry reported.

Azerbaijan is one of the main economic partners of Russia among the CIS countries. Interregional cooperation plays an important role in the development of Russian-Azerbaijani trade and economic relations and the increase in trade turnover.

At present, enterprises of 71 regions of the Russian Federation cooperate directly with Azerbaijan. Fifteen regions of Russia have relevant agreements with Azerbaijan on trade and economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation.

Azerbaijani business center will be built in the Astrakhan region soon. The Center will promote Azerbaijani products in the Russian market. The interested Russian companies will have opportunity of concluding long-term contracts with specific suppliers from Azerbaijan. Thus, the construction of the center will contribute to the effective development of trade and economic relations between business entities of both countries.

A national shopping center of Azerbaijan, Baku Plaza, is planned to be opened in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Baku Plaza will provide a number of services. Ateliers, repairs and tailoring, dry cleaning, beauty salon and grocery stores will operate at the Center.

Moreover, Azerbaijan seeks to open its second Trade House in Russias Arkhangelsk region.

Azerbaijan has already opened Trade House in Belarus, and the work is underway to open similar Trade House in Ukraine.

The country creates Trade Houses abroad to facilitate the export process, promote an export of competitive Azerbaijani production and to expand trade operations.

The trade turnover with Russia amounted to $951.32 million in January-June 2017, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.

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9 October 2017 12:04 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The 3rd Baku International Architecture Award ceremony was held in Gabala on October 5.

More than 150 artists from 27 countries participated in the competition, Trend Life reported.

The awarding ceremony brought together prominent public figures, representatives of culture and science, famous architects and artists.

Addressing the event, First Deputy Minister Vagif Aliyev spoke about the history of Azerbaijani architecture and glorious traditions of the architectural school.

The Baku International Architecture Award is an open, biennial award organized by the Culture and Tourism Ministry and the Union of Architects of Azerbaijan (UAA) with the support of the International Union of Architects.

The jury included Vassilis Sgoutas (chair) - former UIA President (Greece), Michel Barmaki - former UIA Secretary General ( Lebanon), Hayder Ali- UIA Region V Vice-President (Suda), Frederic Rago-member of  Council (France), Elbay Gasimzada-Chairman of the board UAA.

The main objective of the competition is to discover new ideas for: development and implementation of urban planning and architectural designs, more meaningful design for buildings and structures, search for composition, volumetric and spatial solutions; implementation of practical ideas to achieve the maximum diversity.

Azerbaijan at the competition was represented by 53 architects. Nine of them were awarded with cash prizes.

Winners were awarded in eight categories, including "best implemented project in the architecture of public buildings", "best implemented project in the architecture of residential buildings", "best implemented interiors", "best non-realized project", "best implemented project in the field of landscape architecture", "best implemented project in the field of rehabilitation and reconstruction of buildings", "best publication in the field of architecture" and "best work in the field of architecture journalism and criticism (online and print)".

The first place winners earned 4000 manats. Second winners got 2500 manats, while the third place winners received 1500 manats.

Nargiz Agayeva, Rizvan Bayramov, Magsud Mammadov, Jahid Alizadeh, Sevda Novruzadeh (Azerbaijan), Elizabeth Abalo Diaz and Gonzalo Alonso Nunez (Spain), Jamilo Rodriguez Rebelo and Susanna Alexandra Martins (Portugal), Eleni Moskovakou (Greece), Lustin Popescu (Romania) and others were recognized as the best architects in various nominations.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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9 October 2017 12:19 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The Fourth Azerbaijan Youth Film Festival organized with support of U.S. Embassy, Desperado music school and Azerbaijan Alumni Association was held at CinemaPlus Azerbaijan cinema theaters on October 1-3.

Being titled Tell your story this years festival screened the films made by Azerbaijani, American and European filmmakers.

The first day of the festival was held in the cinema CinemaPlus Gnclik Mall with a buffet and live music of the group Ahmedowsky Trio.

The festivals director Mike Rayburn, representative of the U.S. Embassy Ferghani Aliyev, director Samir Kerimoglu and special guest Pablo Mohave,told about the festival, aimed at developing cinematography in the country, establishing bridges between the countries, exchanging experience with foreign specialists.

Mike Rayburn, festivals director said Azerbaijani young filmmakers are very talented and expressed the confidence that in the future they will succeed at international festivals along with American directors.

Filmmaker Pablo Mohave, participant of Cannes Film Festival said that current development of information technologies allows to make high quality film with mobile phone.

Afterwards, short films dedicated to refugees and IDPs were screened.

On the second day of the festival, about 40 short films of young directors and participants from Azerbaijan, as well as Georgian filmmakers were shown at the CinemaPlus Azrbaycan Cinema.

Tamta Gabrichidze answered questions from the audience and shared his experience. Pablo Mohave made a presentation on the use of virtual reality in documentary films.

The films of the winners were demonstrated on the last day of the festival at the CinemaPlus Gnclik Mall. All participants of the festival were awarded certificates, and prize-winners received valuable gifts. Deputy Director General of the CinemaPlus Cinema Network and Cinemazadeh Director Jafar Akhundzadeh congratulated the participants of the festival and noted the importance of the project for the Azerbaijani youth.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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9 October 2017 17:30 (UTC+04:00)

FRANCHITHINK, the International Restaurant Franchising Forum, will be held for the first time in Parkovy, the best congress centre in Kyiv on 30 November 2017.

Representatives of Ukrainian and global restaurant franchising chains as well as investors (owners), franchisees, suppliers and other experts of the restaurant market will meet in one place. The total number of guests will be 1,500 people from the USA, Great Britain, Western, Eastern Europe, Asia and CIS countries.

FRANCHITHINK Forum is made of three main elements CREATE, THINK, BUY.

CREATE  operating business owners of which are actively developing and selling their franchise.

THINK  professionals of the industry who are ready to share knowledge and their successful experience.

BUY  investors interested in finding new partners and gaining income.

The main stage of the forum is for up to 800 people. Here you will get to know cases and stories of success of foreign speakers. The experts who have already confirmed their participation include Benjamin Simon, the Vice President of the large chain of fast food restaurants Carls Jr (it unites more than 3,500 restaurants in the USA, Ecuador, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, Belarus and Russia) and Fedor Ovchinnikov, the founder and co-owner of Dodo Pizza, the international chain including more than 200 pizza restaurants in nine countries; Deniz Kosan, founder of Walter's Coffee Roastery, which after just couple of month after the opening became internet famous and went viral on major news outlets; Mario C. Bauer, Chief Executive Officer of Vapiano Franchising International GmbH, Member of the Management Board at Vapiano SE (together with the team he is responsible for almost 200 restaurants in more than 30 countries around the world).

The educational zone also includes CREATE area with practical speeches, and THINK areas for professionals of the restaurant franchising market.

30 restaurant franchises will have a brand stand on the territory of EXPO. And presentations of world-famous franchises will be in the BUY zone. Among them:

- Little Caesars  the third biggest pizza chain in the US (represented in 23 countries of the world);

- "Dodo Pizza"  international restaurant chain, which specializes in pizza delivery (220 pizzerias across 9 countries);

- Wayback Burgers  international network of fast food restaurants. (138 restaurants in the US and other countries);

- Coffee Planet  coffee shop chain in the Middle East and other countries (21 coffee shops in UAE,

Qatar, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia);

- Lizarran  world-famous Spanish restaurant chain, which was founded in 1988 and specializes in Basque cuisine (200 restaurants across 8 countries: Spain, Russia, USA, France, China, Andorra and Portugal);

- Pizza Celentano  a pizza chain (149 pizzerias in Ukraine and Moldova);

- Salateira  Ukrainian fast-healthy restaurant chain that specializes in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine (11 restaurants in Ukraine, Belarus, UAE, and Spain);

- FreshLine  a recognized brand in Ukraine with a unique technology of personal sandwich making (53 restaurants in Ukraine and Belarus);

- "Maysternya Karameli"  unique sweets shop, where the caramel is prepared in front of the visitors (17 sweets shops in Ukraine, The Czech Republic, Spain, Israel and Azerbaijan);

- "Mafia"  Ukrainian family-style restaurant chain (34 restaurants in Ukraine and Moldova);

- "Khinkalnya" restaurant chain that specialized in Georgian cuisine (39 restaurants in Ukraine, Poland, and Belarus);

- Lviv Croissants  a national bakery chain in Ukraine (48 bakeries across Ukraine).

FRANCHITHINK Forum is organised by Hoteliero Hoteliers and Restaurateurs Club founded in 2009. The Club's mission and task is to support and promote development of the hospitality industry by all means. For this purpose, the company holds BAROMETER International Bar Show, Creative Chefs Summit (an international summit for chefs and restaurateurs), National SALT Restaurant Awards and International Hospitality Awards.
9 October 2017 13:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Armenia has always tried to disrupt the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani MP Bakhtiyar Sadigov said.

He was commenting on the recent meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev with the delegation of the Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union, where the head of state raised the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and brought to the attention of the meeting participants the reasons of the lack of a solution to the conflict to this day.

On the eve of the meetings of foreign ministers and presidents, Armenia committed various provocations and tried to derail the negotiation process, Sadikhov said in an interview with Trend. Because of such actions of Armenians and because of their efforts to maintain the status quo, the negotiations on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group still have not produced practical results.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Sadikhov noted that Armenia does not comply with the resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council in 1993, which demand for immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories.

Therefore, the international community must exert pressure on Armenia to ensure the implementation of these resolutions, and the European Union must have its say in this issue as well, the MP said.

He further stressed that double standards of international organizations also play a role in this case.

How is it that in other matters decisions and resolutions of international organizations are immediately executed, but the UN resolutions on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have not been fulfilled for 24 years? Sadikhov stressed.

The MP also added that the existence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict threatens regional security and stability.

The OSCE Minsk Group must exert more pressure on the occupying regime of Armenia to ensure compliance with international law, Sadikhov said.

He further noted that the Azerbaijani army is always ready to liberate Azerbaijani lands from occupation: Of course, the Azerbaijani army will have its say if necessary.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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By Anusha Soni: The Supreme Court today adjourned the hearing in the Kerala Love Jihad case till October 30 following heated arguments between the lawyers of the two sides.

Counsel for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Maninder Singh (the Additional Solicitor General) and Hadiya's husband Shefin Jahan's lawyer Dushyant Dave had a heated exchange in the Supreme Court when the matter came up for hearing today.

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Dushyant Dave told the court that the NIA was being used for political purposes in the case. "The NIA has no business in this case," Dave told the Supreme Court. The Kerala government had made the same submission before the Supreme Court last week.

Dave went to claim that "Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP president Amit Shah were using this case for a political propaganda." Dave further said, "This case is about liberty of a woman and it should not be politicised."

This led to exchange of heated arguments between Dave and Singh, who objected to BJP leaders' names being dragged in the case.

The Supreme Court, too, took strong objection to the statements of the counsel for Shefin Jahan. The Supreme Court bench said, "We take strong objection to the names of politicians being mentioned in the court. We will decide the case merely on legal points."

The bench further said that it would not allow "political speeches" to be made in the court. The Supreme Court reiterated that it will decide the matter purely on the question of law.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had on August 16 directed the NIA to probe whether there was a wider pattern of alleged 'love jihad' in the case in which the Hindu woman converted to Islam and later married Shefin Jahan, a Kerala Muslim man.

The Kerala High Court had, in May this year, annulled the marriage sending the woman to her parents' custody. Shefin Jahan, then, approached the Supreme Court challenging the high court judgment.

Jahan claimed in his plea that Hadiya had converted several months before their marriage, which was finalised through a matrimonial site.

Hadiya's father KM Ashokan had last year approached the Kerala High Court seeking his daughter's custody saying that she faced the danger of being trafficked to ISIS controlled areas including in Syria.

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9 October 2017 10:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

News Blaze published an article by American journalist and publicist Nurit Gringer entitled " Azerbaijan: A Kaleidoscope of Development and Growth  Part I".

The article says that Azerbaijan is constantly mapping its future and they like to share it with the world: "It is important for a 25-year-old country to work along a guideline of improvement and development and Azerbaijan is facing an ongoing phase of growth".

"Azerbaijan has black gold, it has rich oil fields. That is given but the rest of the economy must be developed and grow", Gringer notes. Then the author tells about the factors that affect the growth of the economy, the projects implemented by the leadership of the country and positively affecting its development.

Nurit Gringer also tells readers about Armenia's occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh. The author notes that material damage from the occupation of 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan is estimated at 815 billion US dollars.

Touching upon the topic of the Khojaly genocide, the author of the article reminded that 19 US states had already recognized it. "That is not enough to put effective pressure on Armenia", said in the article.

The American journalist completes the article with memories of her trip to Azerbaijan: "During my entire visit in Azerbaijan, I noticed what sucks much energy out of the countrys leadership is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The impression I get is that it is a heavy stone around the neck of Azerbaijan and no matter what has been tried, there is no solution in sight yet. Azerbaijan wants to solve the conflict and get its land back peacefully. Armenia is obstinate and belligerent and is an unfriendly neighbor", the author underlined.

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9 October 2017 10:26 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The Washington Post has published a response letter by the member of the Azerbaijani Embassy in the United States, Inci Sadigova, to biased articles of the newspaper, the embassy told Trend.

The recently published editorial and articles refer to emotional yet uncorroborated assumptions, while nobody has offered credible evidence to dispute the assertion of Azerbaijani and Georgian officials, said Sadigova.

"What is beyond doubt is that undermining the Azerbaijan-Georgia partnership, the most strategic and, perhaps, most important alliance in the post-Soviet era, serves neither Azerbaijans nor Georgias interests  nor, in fact, the United States," reads the response letter.

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9 October 2017 11:07 (UTC+04:00)

Georgia's President Georgi Margvelashvili met with a delegation of the GUAM foreign ministers, which included Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister of Moldova Andrei Galbur, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin.

The meeting was also attended by Georgian Foreign Minister Mikhail Janelidze, Azertac reported.

Georgian president stressed the necessity of taking significant steps to ensure the format, which is inherently unique and implies cooperation between strategic partners, is even more developed and strongly represented in the international arena.

The conversation also focused on the security issues in the region, sectoral cooperation and concrete plans for cooperation in the future.

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9 October 2017 14:39 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Although Armenia had tried to break the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, it failed to achieve this, said Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev.

He made the remarks addressing a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to results of socio-economic development in nine months of 2017 and objectives for the future on October 9.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, President Aliyev said that Azerbaijans position remains unchanged and the countrys territorial integrity is not a matter of negotiations.

The President stressed that Azerbaijan will not allow the creation of a second Armenian state on its territory.

Noting that in nine months of 2017, Azerbaijan developed successfully and comprehensively, and the dynamic development was provided in all spheres, the head of state stressed that the countrys economic indicators are positive.

According to him, non-oil economy rose by 2.5 percent in nine months of 2017, which is the result of the policy pursued in recent years. President Aliyev noted that during the period, the non-oil industry rose by 3.1 percent, agriculture by 2.8 percent, foreign trade turnover by 7 percent.

Azerbaijans currency reserves totaled $42 billion in nine months of 2017, said the president.

We are thinking about long-term sustainable development, noted the head of state, adding that the countrys economic opportunities are one of the main conditions for its independence. The Azerbaijani president emphasized that the foreign currency reserves, which rose by $4.5 billion, are one of the successes of these nine months.

During this period, the process of creating new jobs was carried out successfully, and 226,000 new jobs were created in the nine months, said President Aliyev.

Noting that during this period Azerbaijan successfully implemented major infrastructure projects, including the construction of new roads, the projects on drinking water supply, gasification, electricity supply and melioration, the head of state said that the implementation of these measures gives momentum to the successful development of regions and the overall economic progress of the country.

New schools, medical facilities were built and overhauled during the past period of 2017, he said.

Solution of social problems of internally displaced persons and the issue of their provision with housing have also been considered from the beginning of the year, added the president.

Speaking about the restoration of the Jojug Marjanli village and the creation of social infrastructure there, President Aliyev called it a historic event and noted that in 2017, the IDPs will be provided with new apartments and this project will continue in 2018. More than 250,000 Azerbaijanis have been provided with new apartments until today, added the head of state.

President Aliyev noted that during the first nine months of 2017, Azerbaijan had great achievements in the field of sports, and the Islamic Solidarity Games were organized at a high level.

The country strengthened its positions on the international arena in this period, said the president and underlined that Azerbaijan is known in the world as a reliable partner. President Aliyev said that 14 foreign visits were made during this period, and heads of more than 10 states and governments visited Azerbaijan, and each visit was useful for the country.

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9 October 2017 17:06 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

A regional conference on cybercrime kicked off in Baku with the organizational support of Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office.

Addressing the conference, Azerbaijans Deputy Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev noted that cybercrime is one of the most dangerous crimes of our time, adding that Azerbaijan has been conducted a serious fight against cybercrime and other dangerous crimes - terrorism, extremism, etc.

Further during the conference, the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) Secretary General Han Moraal said it is necessary to establish strong international cooperation in order to fight cybercrime, which leads to huge social problems.

The event, being held at the initiative of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP), was attended by about 70 guests representing various bodies for combating cybercrime, as well as delegates from the regional states.

The event will last until October 11.

Cybercrime - illegal actions that are carried out by people who use information technology for criminal purposes. Among the main types of cybercrime are the spread of malicious programs, the cracking of passwords, the theft of credit card numbers and other bank details, and the dissemination of illegal information (libel, pornographic material) via Internet.

Crimes in the field of information technology are very often international, that is, criminals operate in one state, and their victims are in another state. Therefore, international cooperation is of special importance for combating such crimes.

The Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime was signed on November 23, 2001 in Budapest. It is open for signature by both member states of the Council of Europe and non-member states that participated in its development.

Each party of the convention is obliged to create the necessary legal conditions for the provision of the following rights and obligations to the competent authorities for combating cybercrime: the seizure of a computer system, its parts or carriers; production and confiscation of copies of computer data; ensuring the integrity and safety of stored computer data relevant to the case; the destruction or blocking of computer data located in a computer system.

The Convention also requires the creation of the necessary legal conditions for the obligation of Internet providers to collect and capture or intercept the necessary information with the help of available technical means, and also to facilitate law enforcement agencies.

Azerbaijan has joined the European Convention on Cybercrime since 2010 and fully complies with its requirements.

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9 October 2017 18:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has discussed the prospects of cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan in the military-technical sphere as he met with Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov on October 9.

The meeting was held within Hasanov's official visit to Belarus at the invitation of the Belarusian Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Andrei Ravkov, which he started on October 8.

At the meeting, Lukashenko noted that Belarus intends to develop military-technical cooperation with Azerbaijan and this cooperation does not contradict international obligations.

I do not want to justify to anybody what character our cooperation has. I just want to say one thing that our relations are in no way to violate any international treaty, not a single resolution of the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole, the Belarusian President said.

He further added that Belarus and Azerbaijan have the right to determine those areas of cooperation that correspond to the spirit of the times and the requests of the states.

The President also underlined the fraternal relations between the peoples of the two countries.

We treat Azerbaijanis with great respect. And, most importantly, I remember well that in difficult times your President always put a shoulder to the Belarusian state, Lukashenko said.

We all remember it very well and we are ready  if we can do something for Azerbaijan  to do it so that your people live in safety, the state would develop, and Azerbaijan and its people would be prosperous, so that the populations incomes would grow and that the Azerbaijanis would be even richer. We will pursue only these noble goals, the Belarusian President noted.

Lukashenko also added that he hopes to meet with President Ilham Aliyev in the near future.

Zakir Hasanov, in turn, noted that people in Azerbaijan also love Belarus and respect it.

We have very close relations in all areas. You are absolutely right that we have something to learn from each other, the minister added.

Hasanov further noted that there are good projects and cooperation in the military-technical field.

All this does not contradict international laws. I declare with full responsibility that the equipment we received through military-technical cooperation is of high quality and it has been successfully applied in the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the defense minister noted. This gives us an opportunity to continue and even expand cooperation, we are determined to do this.

A day earlier, Zakir Hasanov visited the defense industry enterprise and the firing range of Belarus. The Azerbaijani delegation got acquainted with military equipment and other military products manufactured by Belarusian defense industry, and inquired about armament and military equipment capable to increase the military power of the Azerbaijani Army.

The army building process is of particular importance for Azerbaijan, as twenty percent of the country's territory is under Armenian occupation and the country is in a state of war with Armenia.

In general, the Azerbaijani Army, which is considered the most modern army in the Caucasus, consists of Air Force and Air Defense Forces, the Navy, and the Land Forces. The skills and combat readiness of the Army are growing year by year, as the countrys Armed Forces regularly conduct military exercises. The Azerbaijani Army is supplied with modern weapons and technical equipment for maintaining a high level of combat capability.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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9 October 2017 13:58 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

World oil prices rise on Monday, as investors are confident that Saudi Arabia will continue to pursue a course to reduce oil production, especially against the backdrop of the IPO of state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco, scheduled for 2018.

Initial public offering (IPO) or stock market launch is a type of public offering in which shares of a company usually are sold to institutional investors that in turn, sell to the general public, on a securities exchange, for the first time. Through this process, a privately held company transforms into a public company.

Global benchmark Brent jumped by 0.14 percent to $55.7 per barrel, while WTI (West Texas Intermediate) rose by 0.18 percent to $49.38 per barrel, RIA Novosti reported.

Based on the results of the Russian-Saudi investment forum held on October 5 in Moscow, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak stressed that the positions of Russia and Saudi Arabia on the OPEC + deal are similar: the agreements will be prolonged if the oil market is not balanced.

Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid A. Al-Falih previously also confirmed plans to conduct an IPO of the shares of the national oil giant Saudi Aramco in the second half of 2018.

During the IPO, the company plans to attract about $100 billion by selling about 5 percent of the shares. However, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser told reporters on October 5 that a decision on the volume of the IPO will be made depending on market conditions.

Meanwhile, OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo told reporters at the India Energy Forum organized by CERAWeek in New Delhi, that the oil-producing states succeeded in restoring the balance of supply and demand in the oil market adding that OPEC + countries will need to take extraordinary measures to maintain a sustainable market recovery.

Barkindo said consultations were underway for the extension of the OPEC-led pact beyond March 2018 and that more oil producing nations may join the supply pact, possibly at the next meeting of OPEC in Vienna on November 30.

He also said that Nigeria and Libya, who are exempted from the pact, are making progress towards full recovery of production, after which they could join the OPEC-led agreement.

Besides, Barkindo in an exclusive interview with Trend stressed that Azerbaijan, the participation of which is defined at 35,000 barrels per day, has been extremely supportive of the oil output cut deal of OPEC and participating non-OPEC countries,

President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro, in turn, proposed to hold a new summit of OPEC + to discuss the formula for the price of oil.

"We had honest and good conversation. I made my proposal for the new formulas for pricing, which has already begun the debate, and I envisage a summit of heads of state and government very soon, at the end of this year or beginning of 2018, a summit in a place to be agreed upon by OPEC and non-OPEC countries," he said.

Moreover, oil companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico are restoring the work of the platforms closed at the end of last week ahead of Hurricane Nate.

Traders said that Nates impact had been lower than that of hurricanes hitting the region in the past month.

Market participants also continue to win back data on the dynamics of the number of drilling rigs in the U.S. The American oil and gas service company Baker Hughes, a GE Company (BHGE) reported that for the week ended on October 6, the number of installations fell by four, or by 0.4 percent to 936 units.

In annual terms, the number of drilling rigs increased by 412 units, or by 1.8 times. The number of oil drilling rigs for the week decreased by two, or by 0.3 percent to 748 units, gas production also by two, or by 1.06 percent, to 187 units.

In late 2016 OPEC member countries and non-OPEC parties, such as Azerbaijan and Russia agreed to remove 1.8 million barrels a day from global oil production.

The parties decided to extend the production adjustments for a further period of nine months, in May 2017.

The next meeting of the technical committee on monitoring the implementation of the agreement on the oil production cut of OPEC+ will be held on October 20 in Vienna.

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9 October 2017 13:32 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

U.S. President Donald Trump, a widely-known critic of the JCPOA, accused Iran of financially supporting North Korea, which develops its nuclear missiles, saying that it violates the provisions of the nuclear deal.

"I believe they [Iranians] are funding North Korea. I believe theyre trading with North Korea. I believe theyre doing things with North Korea that are totally inappropriate," Trump said in an interview with American politician and commentator Mike Huckabee for TBN.

Trump reiterated his dissatisfaction with the Iran nuclear deal, accusing Tehran of destabilizing the situation in the Middle East.

In the interview, he promised to give more information about the Iran deal later but quite soon  in a few days or a week. He also called Iran a bad player and said that he will deal with it accordingly.

U.S. President Donald Trump intends to announce the cancellation of the nuclear deal with Iran next week,

The Washington Post newspaper previously announced that Trump intends to cancel the nuclear deal as a deadline for recertifying Irans compliance is drawing closer.

It is believed that Trump would not recommend the Congress to re-impose sanctions in order to reach a compromise with many congressional leaders who stand for keeping the deal at least with some changes.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated that neither Trump nor "ten other Trumps" will be able to nullify the benefits that Tehran receives from the nuclear deal.

The Iran nuclear deal was negotiated in July 2015 between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany. By ratifying the plan, Iran agreed to scale down its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

At the same time, the U.S. retains sanctions against Iran on the missile program, human rights and on suspicion that Tehran sponsors terrorism.

Currently, Washington insists on inspections of Iran's military facilities by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) under the JCPOA. However, Tehran rejects such inspections.

The presidential administration was previously instructed to review its policy on Iran, not only looking at Tehran's compliance with the nuclear deal but also its behavior in the region.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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9 October 2017 12:55 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan continues to take consistent steps aimed at developing its textile industry.

Another modern textile factory worth a total of $92 million will be built in Uzbekistan till late 2018, podrobno.uz reported.

The project was initiated by the joint venture Namangan Sharbati, the National Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs and Uzbekengilsanoat.

The factory will annually produce 10,000 tons of polyester fiber, 10,000 tons of polyester yarn, 20 million running meters of mixed fabrics, and 7,000 tons of blended linen.

The project is financed through Namangan Sharbati joint ventures equity worth $30 million and the Uzbek Reconstruction and Development Funds loan worth $62 million.

The head of state provided a number of privileges and preferences to the Namangan Sharbati JV in the framework of the implemented project.

The factory will be exempt from paying corporate income tax, value added tax and mandatory contributions to the Republican Road Fund under the Uzbek Finance Ministry, till January 1, 2022.

It is also exempted from customs payments for imported equipment, components, raw materials, materials and chemicals used for the manufacturing products based on chemical raw materials that are not manufactured in the country.

One of the policy priorities of Uzbekistan, the worlds sixth-largest cotton producer, is further development of its textile industry. Uzbekistan takes consistent steps to increase the volume of cotton fiber processing.

Uzbekistan intends to implement 132 investment projects in the textile industry, half of which will be financed through foreign investments and loans, by the end of 2019. The total cost of projects will amount to nearly $2.2 billion.

In particular, it is planned to create 112 modern, high-tech industrial factories, expand, modernize and technologically upgrade 20 operating capacities. All this will increase the export potential of the industry up to $2.5 billion a year and create more than 25,000 jobs.

In the period 2010-2014, the textile industry of Uzbekistan received and spent foreign investments worth $785 million while 147 new textile enterprises with participation of investors from Germany, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, the U.S., Turkey and other countries were commissioned. Export potential of these enterprises amounted to $670 millions.

Currently, Uzbekistan continues to attract foreign investments for construction of textile enterprises in Uzbekistan. In late August, another Polish company Polcotton agreed to invest about $60 million in the construction of the textile complex in Uzbekistan. The future factory is expected to have a capacity of 10,000 tons of finished products per year and to generate as many as 1,200 new jobs.

Previously, Uzbekistan and Russia agreed to further expand cooperation in textile industry which is a strategic centerpiece of the Uzbek economy. Particularly, they intend to create a "green corridor" for the supply of textile products.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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9 October 2017 14:13 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Turkey may close the Incirlik military base for the U.S. Air Force as diplomatic rift between two countries escalates further, Turkish media outlets reported on October 9.

The Incirlik Air Base is one of the main bases of the United States and the NATO alliance in the region. Aircrafts of the countries of the international coalition led by the United States, which participates in air operations against ISIS, are based here.

The reason for this move is that the U.S. previously suspended the issuance of visas to Turkish citizens.

Recent events had forced the U.S. government to reassess Turkeys commitment to the security of American mission services and personnel in the country, the U.S. embassy in Ankara said in a statement.

This decision followed the October 4 arrest of a Turkish national who works at the U.S. consulate in Istanbul for alleged involvement in the July 2016 coup attempt aimed to overthrow the Turkish president. The U.S. embassy stated earlier that it was deeply disturbed over the arrest and rejected the allegations against the employee as wholly without merit.

Following this, the Turkish Embassy in the U.S. also announced that processing non-immigrant visa applications have been suspended. Non-immigrant visas are issued to the people who travel for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study.

Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in New York, where Trump praised Erdogan as a friend despite tensions in two countries relations over a number of issues.

This latest incident aggravated the already tense relationship between Washington and Ankara. The two countries have clashed over the U.S. support for Kurdish rebels in Syria as well as Turkish demands that the United States extradite Fethullah Gulen, a cleric whom Ankara blames for a military coup attempt of last July.

In addition, Ankaras rapprochement with Russia and purchase of S-400 missiles become the subject of criticism by the U.S.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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Akhila of Kottayam district of Kerala joined a homeopathy course at Salem in Tamil Nadu in 2010. In 2016, her father approached the Kerala High Court alleging her daughter had been brainwashed and was likely to be trafficked to countries like Syria. The NIA is investigating the matter and the Supreme Court is hearing the case.

By India Today Web Desk: The term Love Jihad has gained currency in politics over the past couple of years. It apparently originated in Kerala and travelled to Uttar Pradesh. Election after election, Love Jihad became an issue that was debated in public and now also in courts.

Some news reports in 2009 from Kerala and Karnataka used the term Romeo Jihad. Such reports came up in response to Christian groups alleging that women from their community were being targeted for conversion and marriage by Muslims. They alleged that this was an organised activity.

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In one instance, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council claimed in 2009 that around 4,500 Christian women were 'victims' of conversion in this manner. Soon, Hindu groups followed it up with their version of claim saying that around 30,000 women had been converted in Karnataka alone.

None of the claims could be verified by authorities. In 2009, the Kerala High Court asked the police to investigate the matter. A few weeks later, the Kerala and Karnataka police refuted the claims made by the Christian and Hindu groups separately.

But, the investigation established Love Jihad as a theory. In this background came up the story of Akhila Ashokan alias Hadiya of Kerala.

WHO IS AKHILA/HADIYA?

Twenty-four-year-old Akhila is the eye of storm that surrounds the Love Jihad debate. She was born to KM Ashokan, a retired Armyman and Ponnamma of TV Puram in Kerala's Kottayam district. According to reports, Akhila's mother Ponnamma is a devout Hindu while her father is a sworn atheist.

After completing her schooling at Kottayam, Akhila joined the Sivaraj Homeopathy Medical College and Research Institute (a private educational institution) in Salem, Tamil Nadu. According to the police and NIA reports, there were 25 students in the course that Akhila was enrolled in. Five of them were from Kerala. They became good friends, soon.

Among these girls was Jaseena, whose name cropped in the complaints of KM Ashokan and also police and NIA reports. Six months after Akhila joined the homeopathy course, Jaseena's sister Faseena took admission in the college in a separate course.

The all six girls shifted together in a rented flat and moved out of the college hostel. The investigation reports say that after moving together in a flat Akhila came closer to Jaseena and gravitated towards Islam. Jaseena is believed to have helped her take an Islamic identity.

It is here that Akhila's father comes in the picture with his claims that his daughter had been brainwashed by an organised group having links with terror outfits including ISIS.

FROM AKHILA TO HADIYA

Akhila, somehow, came in contact with a Muslim couple, Sherin Shahan and Fasal Mustafa based in Ernakulam district of Kerala. According to some reports, Akhila came in their contact through social media.

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In August 2015, Akhila travelled to Ernakulam and recited Shahadath Kalima - ritual performed at conversion to Islam. She took Aasiya as her name. Investigation reports have said that she returned home in December. Few days later, Akhila's parents came to know about her new religious identity.

Akhila had refused to participate in a ritual following the death of her grandfather saying that Islam did not sanction this leaving her parents in anguish. On January 2, Akhila left her home telling her parents that she would be going to Salem but she rather reached at the doors of Jaseena telling her that she wanted to enroll in a course of Islamic studies.

Jaseena and her father Aboobacker took her to the Therbiyathul Islam Sabha (TIS) in Kozhikode in Kerala. The TIS enrolled her only as external student as she was not accompanied by her parents or guardian. Akhila gave her name at TIS as Adhiya.

According to NIA investigation, Akhila came in contact with the Markazul Hidaya Sathya Sarani, an Islamic charitable institution in Malappuram district of Kerala. The Sathya Sarani put her in contact with a woman, Sainba, whose role in the entire episode has come under the scanner. While Akhila was in contact with Sainba, she signed an affidavit as Hadiya.

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Sainba is said to be the president of the National Women's Front, the women's wing of the Popular Front of India (PFI). Akhila's father Ashokan has claimed in his complaint that Sathya Sarani was an illegal Islamic conversion centre run by Popular Front of India. The PFI was allegedly founded by the members of SIMI after it was banned by the Centre.

ASHOKAN MOVES COURT

On January 4, last year, that is, two days after leaving home on the pretext of going to Salem, Akhila signed an affidavit and sent a letter her parents saying that she converted to Islam on her free will.

On January 7, Ashokan moved the Kerala High Court with his writ petition saying that his daughter was missing. Ashokan alleged that Hadiya was 'misled and misguided' by Jaseena, Faseena and their father Aboobacker.

Acting on his complaint, Kerala police arrested Aboobacker and launched a probe into the matter. When, on the high court's direction, Hadiya appeared in the Malappuram court, she was accompanied by Sainba. She told the court that her conversion was voluntary.

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On January 25 last year, the Kerala High Court dismissed the writ petition filed by her father holding that religious conversion was voluntary.

THE LOVE JIHAD, TERROR ANGLE

KM Ashokan moved the Kerala High Court again in August last year seeking protection for his daughter. Ashokan told the court that his daughter Hadiya was likely to be trafficked to Syria as part of a greater conspiracy hatched by groups having links with terror outfits.

The high court asked police to present Hadiya before it. But, police returned with a "missing" report saying that police failed to locate Hadiya, who appeared before the court two weeks later.

On August 25 last year, the Kerala High Court sent Hadiya to SNV Sadanam (hostel for working women) in Ernakulam while directing the police to probe the antecedents of Markazul Hidaya Sathya Sarani and Sainba, with whom Hadiya was now living.

A couple of weeks later in September, Hadiya submitted another affidavit in the Kerala High Court. She claimed that she converted to Islam in 2013. The NIA investigation, however, showed that she recited Shahadath Kalima in 2015.

ANOTHER TWIST IN TALE

Appearing before the Kerala High Court on December 21 last year, Hadiya said that she had married Shefin Jahan on December 19 and sought permission to live with him. But, the high court refused to give permission till police brought all facts before it.

Later, police told the court that Shefin Jahan worked as a manager with a firm in Muscat since January 2015. Shefin Jahan is a graduate in Islamic Studies. Ashokan alleged that Shefin Jahan is part of the network for trafficking women from Kerala to countries like Syria.

Hadiya's claims in her affidavit to the high court could not be matched with the findings of police investigation. Hadiya claimed that she got in touch with Shefin Jahan through a matrimonial website, waytonikah.com.

But, according to police investigation, Hadiya and Shefin Jahan had not viewed each other's profile on the matrimonial website until December 31 last year - 12 days after she filed her affidavit in the High Court.

On the basis of police investigation report, the Kerala High Court, on May 22 this year, annulled the marriage of Shefin Jahan and Hadiya and put her in the custody of her parents. This judgment was challenged in the Supreme Court by Shefin Jahan.

The Supreme Court ordered an NIA probe into the matter to ascertain if there was any terror angle in the conversion of Hadiya and her marriage to Shefin Jahan. Kerala government has submitted in the Supreme Court that the case does not warrant an NIA probe.

Secondly, the Supreme Court raised a question if the Kerala High Court had the jurisdiction to declare marriage of a Muslim man with a girl, who had embraced Islam.

--- ENDS ---
9 October 2017 17:54 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Russia will host the next meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states scheduled for November 30 - December 1.

This was stated by the special representative of the Russian President for the SCO affairs, Ambassador at Large of the Foreign Ministry Bakhtiyor Khakimov, TASS reported.

The agenda of the forthcoming meeting includes the development of trade and economic cooperation, taking into account the tendencies prevailing in the world economy and the promotion of humanitarian ties within the SCO framework as well as the organization's budget approval for 2018.

Iran's accession to the SCO remains on the agenda, Khakimov noted. He recalled that one of the charters principles is the openness of the SCO.

"The first step in expanding the membership of the SCO has already been done. Of course, this process will continue. The admission of India and Pakistan does not mean that the doors to the organization have been closed," the diplomat added.

The process of incorporating India and Pakistan into the work of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is underway as some technical issues need to be tackled, according to Khakimov.

The diplomat recalled that New Delhi and Islamabad had joined all the SCO basic documents when the process of their accession to the organization was in progress.

"The package of documents they had to join consisted of approximately 30 various agreements beginning with the charter," he explained.

At the same time, Khakimov noted that India and Pakistan should also join the documents that are temporarily used by the SCO.

"Thats why the process will be delayed for some time, but, on the other hand, no one prevents India and Pakistan from joining practical work," he stressed.

The procedure for admission and granting the status of a SCO member state to India and Pakistan was completed at the organizations summit in Astana in June.

The SCO, established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, conducts multilateral cooperation between the member states on national security, military, economy and culture.

The SCO members now are China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and newly accepted India and Pakistan.

In addition to the eight member states, the SCO has four observer nations  Mongolia, Iran, Afghanistan and Belarus  and six dialogue partners, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Iran applied for membership in 2008. The barriers for its accession to the SCO were removed with the lifting of the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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9 October 2017 16:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

The next NATO summit, which will be held in Brussels in 2018, will discuss NATOs relations with Russia, cooperation with the European Union and modernization of the alliance.

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Bucharest, RIA Novosti reported.

"We have begun preparations for the next NATO summit in Brussels next year at our new headquarters. We will continue to work on the basis of the decisions taken at the summits in Wales and Warsaw, modernizing our collective defense and helping to bring stability and security to neighboring countries in the south and east," he said.

Stoltenberg also mentioned that relations with Russia and our cooperation with the EU and the continuation of the modernization of the alliance will be important topics for discussion.

In early September, the official meeting between the chairman of the NATO Military Committee Petr Pavel and Russias Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces General Valery Gerasimov took place in Azerbaijans capital.

This face to face meeting demonstrated a clear mutual interest to maintain the military communication, in line with NATOs policy of transparency and ongoing dialogue at the political level with senior Russian leadership.

During this meeting, Pavel and Gerasimov agreed to continue using the military lines of communication in the future.

Some experts believe that this was a first step in trying to reconnect NATO and Russia in some kind of meaningful dialogue.

In 2014, NATO decided to suspend practical cooperation with Russia, while maintaining a political dialogue at the level of ambassadors and above.

Russia has repeatedly stated that it was not Moscow that suspended agreements with NATO and that's why the alliance should take steps to reanimate the interaction.

---

Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
9 October 2017 16:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan Airways office in Tajikistan announced the reduction of the ticket price for a flight from Dushanbe to Tashkent by 200 somoni (more than $20).

Now, the flight to the Uzbek capital costs 1,034 somoni ($118), Tajik media reported.

When this spring the first scheduled Dushanbe-Tashkent flight took place, many citizens complained about the high price of tickets.

Uzbek Ambassador to Tajikistan Shokhasym Shoislamov said at the time that ordinary citizens of two neighboring countries should take advantage of the flight, and entrepreneurs can get anywhere with their capabilities.

The decision to reduce prices was taken a month ago. Every week on Tuesdays, the airline carries up to 50-60 passengers from Dushanbe to Tashkent. The capacity of the aircraft is 150 people. Some of the passengers fly to Tashkent by transit, and then to the other countries. These passengers do not need to obtain an Uzbek visa and they have the right to stay in the Tashkent airport for up to 24 hours. Visa regime currently operates between the two Central Asian countries.

Uzbekistan Airlines performed the first flight en route Tashkent - Dushanbe - Tashkent on April 11.

Flights between the two countries were terminated in the autumn of 1992, and Uzbekistan introduced a visa regime for travel to Tajikistan in 2000.

The air traffic was interrupted with the beginning of civil war in Tajikistan, there were virtually no commercial, economic and political ties. The relations began to restore in 2016.

In autumn 2016, a protocol on cooperation was signed between the civil aviation authorities of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the air transport sector.

Uzbekistan Airways performed the first charter flight to Dushanbe in November 2016.

Uzbekistan Airways is a monopoly air carrier in Uzbekistan, wholly owned by the state. The aircraft fleet of the Uzbek airline currently has 31 aircraft of western production, including thirteen Boeing passenger aircraft, thirteen airbuses (three A-310 and ten A-320-200), three medium-haul RJ-85s and two cargo planes Boeing-767-300BCF.

The Uzbek airline operates flights to over 20 cities in Europe, America, the Middle East, Asia, 22 cities of the CIS countries and 11 destinations on local airlines.

---

Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Despite physician pushback to adopting relative value unit-based compensation at some academic medical centers  like Charleston-based Medical University of South Carolina  an AMC in Florida found with time, their faculty was more satisfied and more productive under a compensation plan linked to productivity.

University of Florida Health, based in Jacksonville and Gainesville, implemented a new compensation plan using RVUs in 2013, according to a case study published in Academic Medicine. The health system elected a committee of junior and senior faculty and division chiefs to develop a self-funded, fair compensation plan that would incentivize productivity and professionalism in clinical work, research and education.

The previous payment structure at University of Florida Health was based on a faculty member's historical assignments and tenure. "This led to highly productive junior faculty subsidizing less productive but more senior faculty, which resulted in dissatisfaction with and distrust of leadership," according to the study in Academic Medicine.

Three years after implementation, the health system surveyed faculty and found 61 percent were more satisfied with the new compensation structure than the previous structure. Researchers found the health system paid 250 percent more in incentives to physicians, and publications per faculty increased 15 percent from 2012 to 2015. They also found grant submissions, external funding and teaching hours increased, although these increases were determined to be not statistically significant. The health system recorded no change in recruitment, retention or promotion rates.

University of Florida Health now plans to incorporate quality metrics into its compensation structure, according to the report.

Read more here.

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Hospitals and health systems are increasingly focusing on consumers as they make up a larger portion of organizations' payer mix and are a crucial revenue source.

This includes Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System, a nonprofit clinically integrated network with more than 250 care delivery sites.

The system sees patients as key stakeholders who seek tools for a simple and convenient electronic bill pay experience. Therefore, it has aggressively worked to meet those demands.

"We think it starts at primary care and we think in terms of digital and telephonic that people, consumers, patients come in all walks and sizes," said David Bradshaw, executive vice president and chief strategy and information officer for Memorial Hermann, during a workshop Sept. 22 at the Becker's Hospital Review 3rd Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle conference in Chicago.

"Some want [a] convenient clinic in grocery store, some virtually over phone, some will be happy to call nurse triage line. So ... we have to be in all three of those modalities. And healthcare is different than selling books. It's still a physical business, so we're trying to meld the physical and digital together."

Memorial Hermann is achieving this through Everyday Well, a personalized web app co-developed by the system and Cerner. The Everyday Well site allows patients to schedule appointments, check lab results, contact their physician and pay their bill, among other features. Within Everyday Well is the "Pay My Bill" tool powered by Simplee, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based provider of healthcare payment software. Pay My Bill offers interactive bills as well as access to benefit and previous payment information. With interactive bills, patients can further look at bill details online.

"So what we're trying to do is ... deliver to consumers a tool they can interact with," said Mr. Bradshaw.

He cited a confusing and dysfunctional healthcare billing process as the primary reasoning behind Memorial Hermann's efforts. Most consumers (87 percent) said they receive statements via mail, and 76 percent of consumers said they are confused by their medical bills, according to a report from InstaMed.

So "I think we've got to take this very confusing [and] dysfunctional process and try to streamline it and make it easy, and we've been doing that with Simplee now for about three years," Mr. Bradshaw said.

He noted these efforts are especially important as deductibles rise.

"We see patients showing up with $3,000 [to] $5,000 deductibles. They have no real means of paying $5,000, so we are all becoming in the consumer retail business. That's where we got so much growth [in patient payment] we need to continue to drive forward," Mr. Bradshaw added.

He also noted various studies showing a correlation between patient billing satisfaction and satisfaction with a healthcare organization's brand. For instance, a Connance study found 82 percent of patients who were satisfied with the billing process would recommend the hospital to a friend. In contrast, only 15 percent of patients who were less than satisfied with the billing process said they would recommend the hospital.

Additionally, Mr. Bradshaw noted the importance of payment plans. More than half of patients (57 percent) said it's "important" or "very important" their healthcare provider offer no-interest payment extension options, according to the HealthFirst Financial Patient Survey. But the survey found only 8 percent of patients received zero- or low-interest financing from a healthcare provider.

Given these trends, Mr. Bradshaw said Pay My Bill has been extremely valuable because it offers detailed interactive statements with a design that helps patients better understand their bills and works across multiple technology mediums such as cellphones, desktop computers and tablets.

Memorial Hermann's efforts have paid off. Memorial Hermann reported a 52 percent increase in digital self-service collection, a 19 percent decrease in cost per payment and a 15 percent increase in total collected between 2014 and 2016.

"So we are migrating our patients from writing us checks and sending it in the mail, where we have humans and have to open those, code them and put them in the bank and all that, to an online experience where all that kind of happens electronically," said Mr. Bradshaw.

As far as the future, Memorial Hermann hopes to consolidate the family bill, where families can see charges for individual family members on one statement. The system also hopes to give patients the ability to pay balances from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, which is also on the Simplee platform, at the same time they pay balances from Memorial Hermann.

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The following healthcare mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and general transactions took place or were announced during the past week.

1. Baptist Memorial among frontrunners to purchase, lease OCH Regional

The Oktibbeha County board of supervisors revealed Oct. 5 Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care and Tupelo-based North Mississippi Health Services are among the frontrunners to purchase or lease Starkville, Miss.-based OCH Regional Medical Center.

2. UChicago, Northwestern and U of Illinois-Chicago partner to study emergency care

University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the University of Illinois at Chicago will team up to conduct clinical trials to improve outcomes for patients with life-threatening emergencies.

3. KeyBanc Capital closes acquisition of Cain Brothers

Cleveland-based KeyBanc Capital Markets completed its acquisition of New York City-based investment banking and public finance firm Cain Brothers & Co. Oct. 2.

4. California State University, Dignity Health-Northridge to partner

California State University, Northridge named Dignity Health-Northridge (Calif.) Hospital Medical Center the university's first-ever "Community Health Partner of the CSUN Matadors" Oct. 4. The partnership will go into effect immediately.

5. Mayo Clinic, Oxford sign transatlantic partnership for medical research

Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, the University of Oxford (U.K.) and the Oxford (U.K.) University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust signed a trans-Atlantic agreement Oct. 3 to advance medical research and patient care.

6. Rush signs agreement to acquire Chicago hospital

Chicago-based Rush signed a nonbinding letter of intent to acquire Evergreen Park, Ill.-based Little Company of Mary Hospital Oct. 4.

7. Northwell Health acquires Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Associates

New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health acquired Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Associates, the largest private orthopedic practice in Long Island, N.Y.

8. Adventist Health buys $14.5M plot to connect subsidiary systems in Florida

Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Adventist Health System purchased 103 acres in Florida's Polk County to extend and connect its Orlando and Tampa Bay, Fla.-based health systems.

9. Georgia hospital gets new management

Milledgeville, Ga.-based Oconee Regional Medical Center is now officially managed and owned by Macon, Ga.-based Navicent Health.

10. LifePoint divests Georgia hospital to Piedmont Healthcare

Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint Health sold 138-bed Rockdale Medical Center in Conyers, Ga., to Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare.

11. Penn State Health completes integration of 100-member Pennsylvania physician group

Penn State Health, the parent company of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center, integrated approximately 100 physicians and other healthcare providers belonging to Lancaster, Pa.-based Physicians' Alliance into the health system Oct. 2.

12. Mon Health completes acquisition of Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital

Mon Health, a two-hospital system in Morgantown, W.Va., finalized its acquisition of Weston, W.Va.-based Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Oct. 2.

13. Baptist Health South Florida, Bethesda Health finalize merger to form 10-hospital system

Miami-based Baptist Health South Florida completed its merger with Boynton Beach, Fla.-based Bethesda Health Oct. 1 after two and a half years of negotiations.

14. Kindred partially completes sale of SNF business for $108M

Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred Healthcare closed on the sale of a portion of its skilled nursing facility business to BM Eagle Holdings for $108 million Oct. 2.

15. CHS divests Texas hospital to HCA subsidiary

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems completed its divestiture of 103-bed Weatherford (Texas) Regional Medical Center and its associated assets to Irving, Texas-based Medical City Healthcare Oct. 1.

16. Global Medical REIT closes on $40.65M acquisition of Seton Healthcare, Kindred joint venture

Global Medical REIT, a Bethesda, Md.-based company engaged in the acquisition and leasing of healthcare facilities, closed on a $40.65 million deal to purchase Austin, Texas-based Central Texas Rehabilitation Hospital Sept. 25.

17. Bergen Regional rebrands under new management

Nonprofit Paramus, N.J.-based Care Plus Bergen assumed management of Bergen Regional Medical Center, also in Paramus, Oct. 1. Bergen Regional also rebranded as New Bridge Medical Center.

18. Lakeland Regional Health, Orlando Health affiliate

Lakeland (Fla.) Regional Health affiliated with Orlando (Fla.) Health Oct. 1 to establish an integrated healthcare system.

19. Steward Health Care becomes private hospital operator of 36 hospitals following Iasis acquisition

Boston-based Steward Health Care completed its acquisition of Iasis Healthcare, an 18-hospital system in Franklin, Tenn., Sept. 29.

20. Quorum Health sells 2 Pennsylvania hospitals

Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health, the 32-hospital spinoff of Community Health Systems, sold two Pennsylvania hospitals to Williamsport, Pa.-based UPMC Susquehanna.

21. CHS completes divestiture of 5 Pennsylvania hospitals

Community Health Systems finalized its divestiture of five Pennsylvania hospitals to West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health  formerly Reading Health System  Oct. 1.
Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health has reached an affiliation agreement with Marysville, Calif.-based Rideout Health.

Adventist serves communities in California, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii while Rideout operates acute care hospitals and clinics and in California's Yuba and Sutter counties. Final regulatory approval for the affiliation deal is expected by early 2018.

"We are excited to welcome Rideout Health to the extended Adventist Health family," said Adventist Health CEO Scott Reiner. "We are confident that this affiliation will have a positive impact on patients and the broader Yuba City and Marysville community; we intend to grow the market with a focus on whole-person care and access to expanded healthcare options."

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A man fatally shot himself inside the emergency department at North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka on Saturday, according to Corinth Today.

The 64-year-old man walked into the hospital's ED and shot himself in the head with a handgun around 2 p.m. The death has been ruled a suicide.

The motive for the shooting is unclear but the matter is under police investigation, according to the report.

"An unfortunate incident took place at North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka on Oct. 7. We are thankful that no harm came to our staff, patients or visitors. The deceased was not one of our patients or employees. We extend our condolences to the family," Marsha Tapscott, a spokeswoman for North Mississippi Medical Center, told Becker's Hospital Review.

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A handwritten bomb threat at Columbus-based OhioHealth Grant Medical Center temporarily postponed surgeries and diverted emergency room patients Monday morning, according to WSYX.

Columbus police are investigating the threat, which was found at 8 a.m.

Officers swept the entire hospital twice and found nothing related to the threat. Police will conduct a third sweep out of "an abundance of caution," a spokesperson for OhioHealth told 10TV.

Services at the hospital will soon return to normal.
Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare Corp. sued Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield over allegations the insurer changed its emergency care reimbursement policies after the two failed to reach a provider agreement last week, according to a Connecticut Law Tribune report.

Hartford HealthCare Corp., which represents six hospitals, filed the lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Connecticut. The lawsuit alleges Wallingford, Conn.-based Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is violating state and federal law by refusing to pay the hospitals directly for emergency care.



Instead, Anthem is paying patients directly for emergency care, and the patients then have to turn around and pay Hartford HealthCare, according to the allegations. The plaintiff argued its patients "will have the burden of collecting those checks, cashing them and making arrangements to pay Hartford HealthCare themselves. This process is time-consuming and fraught with risk of lost checks, mispayments and other issues." The lawsuit seeks an injunction compelling Anthem to pay the hospitals directly, the report states.



Hartford HealthCare claimed the policy change is Anthem's retaliation for stalled negotiations between the two parties over reimbursement rates. Last week, the hospitals and Anthem failed to negotiate a new provider agreement before a Sept. 30 deadline, resulting in tens of thousands of Anthem members losing in-network access to Hartford HealthCare's facilities.



Anthem did not immediately respond to Becker's Hospital Review's request for comment. Roy Breitenbach, an attorney with Garfunkel Wild in Stamford, Conn., which is representing Hartford HealthCare, did not respond to Connecticut Law Tribune's request for comment.



This article will be updated if more information becomes available.
Modi alleged that in order to acquire benami properties for his family, Lalu did not spare even his own partymen.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi took a jibe at RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, alleging that he was the Robert Vadra of Bihar. Lalu, along with his former Deputy Chief Minister son Tejaswi Yadav, is not only facing several charges of corruption and acquiring benami properties in Delhi and Patna but have been also questioned rigorously by the CBI last week.

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Speaking to press in Darbhanga on Sunday, Sushil Modi said, the manner in which Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra is facing grave charges of acquiring benami properties in Haryana and Rajasthan, similar was the case with Lalu too.

"Lalu is Robert Vadra of Bihar. He has left several fraudsters behind through his act. Right now only Lalu along with his son are facing corruption charges but very soon the entire family will be in the jail", said Modi.

Modi alleged that in order to acquire benami properties for his family, Lalu did not spare even his own partymen. He said that in return for making senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui a minister, Lalu registered his several properties worth crores in Patna in the name of his wife Rabri Devi for just Rs 37000.

"Lalu did not spare even Abdul Bari Siddiqui. Lalu acquired land belonging to Siddiqui registered in his wife's name for just Rs. 37000", said the deputy chief minister.

Commenting on the CBI questioning Lalu and Tejaswi in the railway tenders scam, last week, Sushil Modi said that the RJD supremo was trying to mislead the investigating agency by putting the entire onus of the scam on railway officials, when he was the Railway Minister between 2005 and 2009.

WATCH | Investigations show substantial evidence against Lalu Yadav in IRCTC hotel scam

--- ENDS ---
As part of the BGSU 2017 Common Reading experience, the University will welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Clarence Page, syndicated columnist and senior member of the Chicago Tribune editorial board, as the Common Reading Scholar-in-Residence. Page will participate in a number of events and give a public presentation at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, followed by a question-and-answer time.

Like J.D. Vance, author of this years common read Hillbilly Elegy, Page grew up in Middletown, Ohio, where Hillbilly Elegy is set but a generation earlier, attended Middletown High School and went on to a successful writing career.

In his Oct. 26 presentation, Page will address issues of culture and identity in the United States and share his perspective on topics raised in Hillbilly Elegy.

Also during his visit, in a session designed especially for faculty and graduate students, Page will participate in a faculty panel discussion on Migrations and Cultural Populations from 3-4:15 Oct. 26 in 207 Union. Moderated by Dr. Ray Swisher, sociology, panelists include Drs. Melissa Miller, political science; Andrew Schocket, American culture studies; and Larry Smith, humanities and English, BGSU Firelands.

Two other events will expand the focus on Appalachian culture chronicled in Hillbilly Elegy. Phil Jamison, scholar of Appalachian dance, will present a lecture about African American influences on dance in Appalachia at 6 p.m. Oct. 17 in 1007 Business Administration Building, and Dr. Michael Ann Williams, chair of the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky University, will speak about Appalachian Cultural Landscapes at 6 p.m. Nov. 2, also in 1007 Business.



Vance will be on campus Nov. 29 to discuss his New York Times best-seller, Hillbilly Elegy.




First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain.





Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that.





And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details.





If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb.

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This patent describes and claims amoxicillin trihydrate having a low free water content and processes for the manufacture thereof.

DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals Netherlands B.V. filed a lawsuit against CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd., Inner Mongolia Changsheng Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., and CSPC Zhangnuo Pharmaceutical (Shijiazhuang) Company Ltd. ("CSPC") for patent infringement in the District Court of The Hague, Afdeling Handel (commercial division), Netherlands, for patent infringement of the Dutch part of European Patent Number 1,610,766 B1.

This patent, which is owned by DSP, describes and claims amoxicillin trihydrate having a low free water content and processes for the manufacture thereof. By its complaint, DSP seeks compensation for damages and a permanent injunction to prevent the infringing manufacture, use, importation and sale of CSPCs amoxicillin active pharmaceutical ingredient, and/or any drug product that utilizes the active pharmaceutical, in the Netherlands.

DSP has a world class intellectual property (IP) portfolio relating to our innovative, sustainable, and environmental friendly amoxicillin technology, said Karl Rotthier, CEO at DSP. After having previously filed patent litigation against Sinopharm Weiqida Pharmaceutical for patent infringement in India and the Netherlands in January 2017, DSP will continue to rigorously enforce its IP assets worldwide against any additional potential infringers as it continues to invest in its innovative R&D programs directed to enzymatic, sustainable antimicrobials and statins.
It will provide greater focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunization coverage

In order to accelerate progress towards the goal of full immunization coverage Prime Minister recently launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush.

It will provide greater focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunization coverage. The Prime Minister distributed e-tablets to health workers to mark the launch of ImTeCHO which is an innovative mobile phone application to improve performance of ASHAs. He also launched some development works.



Addressing the gathering, he said that coming back to one's home town and receiving such a warm welcome is special. Whatever I am today is due to the values I have learnt on this soil, among you all in Vadnagar.

Speaking at the function, J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, said that "unwavering support of the Prime Minister has always been a source of great inspiration. He added that improving the health status of the children of the country is amongst the top priorities of the Government. Shri Nadda informed that the four phases of Mission Indradhanush have reached to more than 2.53 crore children and 68 lakh pregnant women with life-saving vaccines including 5.21 lakh children & 1.27 lakh pregnant women in Gujarat."

"Through this mission, we have accelerated our progress towards our target of 90% full immunization coverage, he stated. Earlier the increase in full immunization coverage was 1% per year which has increased to 6.7% per year through the first two phases of Mission Indradhanush, he added.



With a sharpened focus on high priority districts and urban areas, under IMI, four consecutive immunization rounds will be conducted for 7 days in 173 districts -- 121 districts and 17 cities in 16 states and 52 districts in 8 north eastern states -- every month between October 2017 and January 2018.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush will cover low performing areas in the selected districts and urban areas. These areas have been selected through triangulation of data available under national surveys, Health Management Information System data and World Health Organization concurrent monitoring data. Special attention will be given to unserved/low coverage pockets in sub-centre and urban slums with migratory population. The focus is also on the urban settlements and cities identified under National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).



IMI will have inter-ministerial and inter-departmental coordination, action-based review mechanism and intensified monitoring and accountability framework for effective implementation of targeted rapid interventions to improve the routine immunization coverage. IMI is supported by 11 other ministries and departments, such as Ministry of Women and Child Development, Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Youth Affairs among others. The convergence of ground level workers of various departments like ASHA, ANMs, Anganwadi workers, Zila preraks under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), self-help groups will be ensured for better coordination and effective implementation of the programme.



He also visited GMERS Medical College, Vadnagar, and unveiled a plaque to mark its dedication and also interacted briefly with students.

The Prime Minister expressed happiness that he had got to inaugurate projects related to the health sector, particularly Intensified Mission Indradhanush. He mentioned how the Government had brought down the prices of stents, and said that the Government is working constantly to make healthcare affordable for the poor.



Mentioning his interaction with students from the medical college, the Prime Minister said that as a society, we require more doctors who can serve the people.
Inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the field of Science & Technology was concluded in 1995

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Environment, Forests & Climate Change recently attended the celebrations of the collaboration in science and technology in Durban.

The event was co-hosted by the departments of Science and Technology of South Africa and India. Naledi Pandor, South African Minister for S&T along with Dr. Vardhan released a booklet highlighting the two decades of fruitful cooperation in science and technology spanning across the knowledge chain which has resulted into a robust networking of the best researchers and academic institutions.

Inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the field of Science & Technology was concluded in 1995. Since then the S&T cooperation has progressively evolved as an important pillar in the India-South Africa strategic partnership based on mutual trust, warmth and friendship.



Areas like Astronomy & Astrophysics, Agriculture Sciences, Green Chemistry, Indigenous Knowledge System and Health Sciences has been the focus so far.

A multi-institutional project on HIV Vaccine Research Collaboration has been also initiated this year which is aimed to develop preventive HIV vaccine and will also lead to the identification of biomarkers and development of novel techniques for diagnosis and management of tuberculosis.

Dr. Harshvardhan remarked that this is a unique project, where two countries will use science for addressing the health care needs of people of both countries, in the area of HIV and TB.



Another hallmark of the vibrant collaboration was the launch of a new program on Grass Root Innovation aimed towards sharing of open source technologies and IPR protection of traditional knowledge systems. This program is designed for co-development of products through value addition, validation through product deployment and market ready technology transfer with a focus on affordability.

Both India and S. Africa have a rich pool of traditional knowledge which can be leveraged by providing the scientific knowledge base required for technology development for societal benefit. This cooperation on grass root innovation will provide scientific and technological solutions for addressing the unmet needs of the common man. The novel initiative has been aptly named as Gandhi-Mandela Program on Grass Root Innovation. National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad will implement this program on the Indian side, Harshvardhan added.


Is AMR Modern-day FRANKENSTEINS MONSTER?

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) continues to pose a significant public health problem in terms of mortality and economic loss. The rising AMR is a matter of huge concern that needs to be tactfully handled and health authorities of several countries, including India, have formulated action plans for its containment. Significant efforts by the government, an active involvement of startups and diagnostic players is a good start. The question remains, whether this will be enough.

For Feedback, please email us at: communications@mmactiv.com
Exposing Breasts In Public Can Get Women In Trouble Here Life oi-Syeda Farah

There are so many things that can get one into trouble and if you are not aware of the laws around the world, you can land up in deep trouble!

One of the weirdest laws around the world is the law for women to NOT EXPOSE their breasts in public! You can be fined or imprisoned for displaying your assets in public, in these countries.

Different countries have different laws for women who expose their assets in these countries out in the open. You can actually be prosecuted if you display your breasts in these countries.

So, continue reading to know which are the countries where you can even be jailed for exposing your breasts!

Mexico Mexico is a city which is well known for its beautiful and independent women. It has given us some of the most beautiful women like Salma Hayek; but it does not mean that the place is cool with obscenity here! Ireland Ireland is one of the fast-developing countries. But one could land in serious trouble if they display their breasts in public here. According to the law, a woman can even be fined 634.87 for exposing her breasts and to add on, she can also face six months in prison! Turkey Turkish women are said to be fined if they show their breasts in public. That's not the only law in this country, the Deputy Prime Minister of the country had also proposed that there should be a law banning Turkish women from laughing in public! pulse Why Are These Chinese Mothers Selling Their Breast Milk? Brazil Though this is one of the coolest countries, here the law is very strict for obscenity. One can face six months to one year behind bars for any kind of obscenity, as it is not tolerated. Russia This country's law has left many furious, as it is alright for the country's leader to pose topless for homoerotic holiday snaps, but when any other woman of the country does the same, then she is said to be liable for 50 fine! So, what do you think of these laws? Do share your thoughts on the same in the comment section below.

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 11:31 [IST]
Real-life Stories: When A Woman Crashed Her Own Funeral! Life oi-Syeda Farah

This is a true story that happened back in 2015 and we bet this can be made into a movie script, as it's quite thrilling!

Can you imagine if your partner pays goons money to eliminate you from this world and pretend to mourn over your death, as he has some other plans?

You May Also Like To Read: Real-life Stories: Woman Who Was Kidnapped & Raped On Her Wedding Day

Well, this is a true story of a woman named Noela Rukundo, who has spent 11 years of living as a refugee in Australia, a mother of eight returned to her hometown in east Africa to attend a family member's funeral.

She got kidnapped while she was staying in a hotel and got a shock of her life when she realised that her husband had paid the kidnappers money to get her killed!

Find out how she confronted him over her own funeral ceremony!

Images Source: Reddit.com

She Was Attending Her Mums Funeral. Noela Rukundo was staying at a hotel when she had arrived to be at her mum's funeral. This was when her (ex) husband - Kalala -- plotted to get rid of her by getting her kidnapped and killed. Kalala Was All Keen About His Plan He asked his wife to step out of the hotel to get fresh air, while he spoke to her over the phone. She did and suddenly noticed a weird-looking man approach her and he asked her not to scream and walk along. What Did You Do To This Man? The kidnappers took her to an isolated place and asked her. "What did you do to this man? Why has this man asked us to kill you?" While she was completely clueless about the man they spoke about, she got a shock when she realised it was her own husband's plan. It's Your HUSBAND! "It's your HUSBAND", shouted one of the kidnappers, to which she did not believe and called them liars. They told her that her husband Kalala had set this up. They even dialled his number on loud and she heard him say, "Kill her." The Kidnappers However Released Her She was released by the kidnappers, as they told her that they do not kill women or children. In the mean time, they fooled her husband and extracted more money from him and Kalala ended up paying more money for her murder. Noela Revealed Her Kidnappers Message To The World While the kidnappers did not kill her and instead let her go, they advised her to pass on the message to the world, "Tell other women to leave their violent husbands." He Was Told She Is Dead The kidnappers told him that she was dead and it took no time for her husband to start her funeral process. Their families gathered to see her for the last time and she returned to her own funeral! He Was Shocked! Kalala got a shock of his life when he saw her alive, next to him! He exclaimed, "Is it my eyes? Is it a ghost?!" He went ahead and even touched her shoulder to make sure he wasn't seeing things and jumped back in dismay. He even apologised to her for doing wrong. She Confronted Him She confronted him as to why he wanted to kill her and he did not reveal to her about what the actual reason was. He was later sentenced to 9 years of prison for doing so. Wish to read more such stories? Then, do share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 10:42 [IST]
Here's Why Ferrari Employees Are Not Allowed To Buy Ferrari Cars Pulse oi-Lekhaka

Buying a normal car is not a big deal, right? What about purchasing a Ferrari? Getting your hands on Ferrari cars may take several months, years and a lot of money in your bank account.

Ferrari is one among those dream cars every car enthusiast would want to own in their garage. One of the biggest perks of working with an auto manufacturer is you can enjoy some employee discount.

Being an employee of an auto manufacturer can be really profitable, unless you are working in a Ferrari company.

According to the facts, it is said that Ferrari has forbidden its employees from purchasing Ferrari cars. Yes, you heard it right!

Ferrari has banned its employees from buying brand new super-luxurious Ferrari cars from the factory line. It is argued that this is one of the worst rules introduced by Ferrari. When asked about the reason behind this abnormal ban on the employees, you'll be surely impressed.

In an interview, one of the top officials of Ferrari has revealed that they don't allow any employee to purchase Ferrari cars. The only employees who can get their hands on brand new Ferrari cars are the company's Formula 1 drivers.

According to the reports, it is said that Ferrari has just two Formula 1 drivers. Hey, they are made to pay the full amount and do not enjoy any employee discount.

The Idea Behind This Ban

The philosophy behind this ban by Ferrari is their long waiting list of clients. Yes, the Chief Officer of Ferrari has said that they produce limited cars in a year and they have a long list of clients waiting for the cars to get delivered.

The company believes it's not nice to deliver the cars first to their employees, as the clients are the kings of the market. A client always comes first!

"The philosophy is that with such limited production and clients waiting so long to get their car, it's not nice if the car is delivered to employees. It is clients first," he said.

Hey, that's not all! In order to get your hands on Ferrari cars, you'll need to win the heart of the company. The company will decide if they want to give you the car or not. It is said that the company drops a mail to people who have money in their account but don't deserve a Ferrari car.

Now coming to the second part, the company drops a mail to the first 200 clients to whom they would like to offer a Ferrari car. They mention about their upcoming supercars and also ask the clients to book the keys of the car as soon as possible.

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 12:57 [IST]
By PTI: India

Colombo, Oct 9 (PTI) Sri Lankas Opposition alliance led by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa?s son today opposed the proposed lease of an airport to an Indian company, warning the government not to allow the country become a "pawn" in international power politics.

An Indian company had made a bid to develop the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), which was built by the Rajapaksa government under massive borrowings from China.

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MRIA built at a cost of USD 209 million has been dubbed the worlds emptiest international airport due to the fewest number of flights operating from it.

The proposed leasing comes in the wake of a similar deal to hand over an adjoining sea port at Hambantota to a Chinese company for 99 years.

"We tell the government not to allow Sri Lanka become a pawn in international power politics," Namal Rajapaksa said addressing Parliament on a Zero-Hour motion by the Joint Opposition (JO) to oppose selling of state assets.

The deal to run the Mattala airport as a joint venture with India is yet to be finalised.

Namal said while the government had opted for an Indian firm on the MRIA, the Hambantota sea port within close proximity to MRIA had been given to China.

Dullas Alahapperuma, the JO leader who moved the resolution said that the government decision on the MRIA would lead to serious national security and defence implications.

Alahapperuma claimed that Indian company GMR is to be handed over the MRIA for USD 205 million on a 99 year lease.

"We demand that government stop this deal," Alahapperuma said.

Namal was also quizzed by police today to answer questions related to Fridays anti-government demonstration at Hambantota. Some 28 JO supporters were arrested for defying a court order which prevented demonstrations in the area.

Rajapaksa charged that police had been visiting homes in the area in the night to target protestors.

The police had fired tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators who tried to enter the Indian Consulate at Hambantota last week to protest the proposed deal with India. The JO said they stand opposed to the present government?s programme of selling state assets. PTI Corr NSA

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By PTI: India

Colombo, Oct 9 (PTI) Sri Lankas Opposition alliance led by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa?s son today opposed the proposed lease of an airport to an Indian company, warning the government not to allow the country become a "pawn" in international power politics.

An Indian company had made a bid to develop the MattalaRajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), which was built by the Rajapaksa government under massive borrowings from China.

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MRIA built at a cost of USD 209 million has been dubbed the worlds emptiest international airport due to the fewest number of flights operating from it.

The proposed leasing comes in the wake of a similar deal to hand over an adjoining sea port at Hambantota to a Chinese company for 99 years.

"We tell the government not to allow Sri Lanka become a pawn in international power politics," Namal Rajapaksa said addressing Parliament on a Zero-Hour motion by the Joint Opposition (JO) to oppose selling of state assets.

The deal to run the Mattala airport as a joint venture with India is yet to be finalised.

Namal said while the government had opted for an Indian firm on the MRIA, the Hambantota sea port within close proximity to MRIA had been given to China.

Dullas Alahapperuma, the JO leader who moved the resolution said that the government decision on the MRIA would lead to serious national security and defence implications.

Alahapperuma claimed that Indian company GMR is to be handed over the MRIA for USD 205 million on a 99 year lease.

"We demand that government stop this deal," Alahapperuma said.

Namal was also quizzed by police today to answer questions related to Fridays anti-government demonstration at Hambantota. Some 28 JO supporters were arrested for defying a court order which prevented demonstrations in the area.

Rajapaksa charged that police had been visiting homes in the area in the night to target protestors.

The police had fired tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators who tried to enter the Indian Consulate at Hambantota last week to protest the proposed deal with India. The JO said they stand opposed to the present government?s programme of selling state assets. PTI Corr NSA TRK

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Something magical happened to the pay packet of Trevor Croker, the new chief executive of poker machine maker, Aristocrat Leisure, when he crossed the Pacific Ocean as part of his relocation from Sydney to the US.

His total potential remuneration as CEO has effectively doubled from $2.7 million to $US4.4 million ($5.66 million), according to announcement from the company on Monday. That's what you call a first class flight.

Aristocrat CEO Trevor Croker (left) with former chief Jamie Odell . Credit:Christopher Pearce

Aristocrat said "adjustments" have been made to Croker's pay as of October 1, reflecting the completion of his relocation to the US and "transfer to the company's US payroll, together with the results of recent remuneration benchmarking for several US based senior executive positions".

The upgrade includes his salary being increased by 28 per cent thanks to his $1.1 million fixed pay now being paid in US dollars not Aussie.
The NSW government will move to weaken laws protecting Sydney's water catchment to circumvent a court's ruling that threatened fuel supplies to the state's newest coal-fired power station.

Opponents of the move called the plan "reckless" and an "offence to the rule of law".

The government on Monday said it would introduce new laws aimed at side-stepping a decision by the Court of Appeal in August that found the licence for the extension of the Springvale coal mine was invalid because its operations harmed the quality of Sydney's drinking water.

The Court of Appeal sent the matter back to the Land and Environment Court for the parties to reach a resolution to allow the mine near Lithgow to continue operating.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) Online eyewear firm Lenskart today said it has roped in Bollywood star Katrina Kaif as its first ever brand ambassador.

Katrina will be the face of Lenskart for the next two years and would feature in the brands new campaign, Lenskart said in a statement.

Commenting on the development, Lenskart.com founder and CEO Peyush Bansal said: "We were looking for someone who naturally fits the Lenskart brand proposition of addictive playfulness".

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Founded in 2010, Lenskart is present in over 350 stores across more than 80 cities in India.

It has been funded by venture capitalists like, IDG Ventures and Ronnie Screwvala-led Unilazer Ventures, TPG Growth and TR Capital, IFC and Premji Invest.

"Lenskart is a brand loved by Indian youth and this is a conscious effort to connect with the fashion savvy Indians," Kaif said. PTI PRJ SBT

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The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), an organisation founded in Melbourne in 2007, has given the Australian Government an unanticipated opportunity to revisit its positions on nuclear disarmament, ANZUS and the way forward over North Korea.

It did this by being named the recipient of this year's Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

Modelled on the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, ICAN was established with the sole goal of banning nuclear weapons.

In addition to sending delegates to the UN and parliaments across the world, it shared the stories of the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the victims of nuclear testing with a global audience.
Controversial Sydney businessman Savas Guven has been charged with 20 counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and involvement in a criminal organisation as part of a money-laundering investigation.

Mr Guven, also known as Savas Yucel, was arrested in Mosman on Tuesday morning as part of Strikeforce Millstream, an investigation by the organised crime squad into the large-scale supply of prohibited drugs.

The 38-year-old was arrested as part of a vehicle stop at Mosman at 6.30am.

He was charged at North Sydney Police Station. Police will oppose bail. The laundering charge amounts to $3.5 million.
A Gold Coast man who engaged in sexually explicit internet conversations with dozens of users he believed were underage girls has avoided jail.

Ashley Brian Foster, 25, pleaded guilty to 44 counts of grooming a child under 16 and two counts of grooming a child under 12, at Southport District Court on Monday.

Foster was given a four-year jail sentence for the two counts of grooming a child under 12 but that term was wholly suspended for five years.

He was also granted immediate parole on a three-year jail sentence for the 44 other grooming charges.

The court heard police had seized Foster's phone during an investigation into drug charges against him in 2014, leading to the location of dozens of child exploitation images.
A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering his former de facto partner, who was repeatedly stabbed in the chest with a knife.

Aaron Joseph Stewart died shortly after he was allegedly attacked with a knife by Thomas Lysgaard at a Spring Hill house on April 4, 2015.

Police respond to an alleged stabbing in Spring Hill on April 4, 2015. Credit:Jorge Branco

Mr Lysgaard pleaded not guilty to murder on the first day of his trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court.

Crown prosecutor Dzenita Balic said in her opening submission on Monday Lysgaard called triple-zero after he and Mr Stewart had an argument.
A Norwegian man cried for his ex-boyfriend to "come back to me" after he allegedly stabbed him to death with a kitchen knife, a court has heard.

Thomas Lysgaard, 39, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Aaron Joseph Stewart at their Spring Hill home on April 4, 2015.

Police respond to an alleged stabbing in Spring Hill on April 4, 2015. Credit:Jorge Branco

On Monday, the Brisbane Supreme Court heard Mr Lysgaard and Mr Stewart still lived together even though they broke up in late 2014.

The jury heard Mr Lysgaard had consumed at least a bottle of wine that night and is believed to have had a blood alcohol level as high as 0.2 at the time of the killing.
A pet dog was caught in metal trap while she was being walked along a track in Brisbane's south.

A man was walking his neighbour's cavalier King Charles spaniel mid-afternoon last week along a well-known track on Greendale Way in Carindale, near a large block of land where children often played.

The trap that injured a dog in Carindale on September 25. Credit:Queensland Police Service

The pair were heading up the track towards a water tank when the dog became caught in the trap and injured her paw, requiring a trip to the veterinarian.

Police said they believed other traps could have been left in the area and urged people who walked in the area to be vigilant.
The search continues for a teenage girl who never returned home from school last week, but police have found a Logan woman who disappeared after going for a walk.

Police said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon that 18-year-old Alana Edwards had been found safe and well.

Alana Edwards has been found safe and well. Credit:Queensland Police Service

However, the appeal for help to find a teenage girl who went missing after being dropped off at a Park Ridge school remained ongoing.

Anyone with information about the missing girl's whereabouts has been urged to contact Policelink on 13 14 44 or through the online form.
Passers-by have come to the rescue of a woman after she was grabbed from behind and sexually assaulted by a man in north Queensland on Saturday.

The victim was walking along Marks Street, in Townsville suburb Hermit Park, about 9.30pm when she was attacked.

Members of the public came to her assistance and the man fled. He has been described as dark in complexion with a short build.

Investigations were continuing.

Anyone with information can contact Policelink on 13 14 44 or use the online form.
Police have arrested a man accused of burning down his mother's house and then allegedly stabbing two strangers in a St Kilda restaurant on the weekend.

Damen Stephens was arrested in Cheltenham on Chesterville Rd about 10.20am on Monday morning and is assisting police.

He will be questioned in relation to an alleged stabbing attack on unsuspecting patrons eating in a Fitzroy Street venue on Saturday.

A 44-year-old Essendon North man and 29-year-old St Kilda man sustained non-life threatening wounds in the incident.
Rahul Gandhi is likely to be announced as the Congress president after Diwali, succeeding mother Sonia Gandhi.

By India Today Web Desk: With rumours of Rahul Gandhi taking over as Congress president soon doing the rounds, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that "only two people can be Congress president, mother or son".

"Rahul (Gandhi) already said that he is ready to contest election," Mani Shankar Aiyar was quoted by news agency ANI on Sunday. "To contest election, people are required. If there is no one and there is only one candidate, how will you conduct election in the first place," the senior Congress leader asked.

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Rahul Gandhi is likely to be announced as the Congress president by October 31, taking the mantle from mother Sonia Gandhi who steered the party for 19 years.

Sources in the Congress have said that the party will announce its presidential election, if required, between October 15 and October 20. The election will be held if more than one nomination is received for the Congress president's post.

Congress MP Sachin Pilot had recently hinted at the possibility of Rahul Gandhi taking over as Congress president after Diwali. Pilot said that the "general sentiment" in the party is that Rahul Gandhi should lead from the front and "take over as the party president".

In an interview to PTI, Sachin Pilot said, "Organisational elections of the Congress are underway and the new president could take over shortly after Diwali. It is something that has been in the pipeline for the a long time."

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla recently said that the Congress has unanimously decided to elevate Rahul Gandhi as its president as it needs a leader in place of Sonia Gandhi who faces health issues.

"There are various types of leaders. Some leaders are made, some leaders are imposed. Rahul Gandhi is not a willing politician but the party needs a strong, good leadership," he said, adding that with concerns over Sonia Gandhi's health, the party wants Rahul Gandhi as its leader.

ALSO WATCH: Ready or not, here I come: How a chair is giving Rahul Gandhi sleepless nights

--- ENDS ---
Victoria would lose an extra 6 out of every dollar of GST revenue collected in the state, Queensland would lose 13 and NSW would lose 1 under fresh proposals to change how the Goods and Services Tax is carved up between the states.

They equate to a loss of $972 million for Victoria, $1.6 billion for Queensland and $110 million for NSW.

The calculations, in an appendix to the Productivity Commission's newly released draft report on GST distribution, assume that the changes are introduced immediately in order to lift Western Australia's share of its GST takings up from 34 per cent to 87 per cent. If, as the Commission proposes, they were applied later when Western Australia's share has recovered further, the impact would be less severe.

The estimates supplied to Treasurer Scott Morrison have Victoria's GST payout falling from 93 of every dollar collected to 87. Queensland's share would slide from $1.19 to $1.06, the NSW share from 88 to 87, South Australia's share from $1.44 to $1.32, Tasmania's share from $1.80 to $1.62, the ACT's share from $1.19 to $1.07, and the Northern Territory's share from $4.66 to $4.55.
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Cops are investigating a rash of racist letters with swastikas inside that were mailed out to law firms in Sheepshead Bay, kosher bakeries in Borough Park, and other businesses throughout the city since Sept. 29.

One targeted law firm on Voorhies Avenue received the offensive missive on the eve of one of the most holy Jewish holidays  Yom Kippur  making the hate crime even more disturbing, said a partner at the firm.

I think the timing was calculated to add more strife and grief  shock value, said the attorney, who asked to remain anonymous because of the nature of the threat. I feel disgusted by it  I understand people harbor hatred, but to go through the trouble of licking an envelope, and placing a stamp, and writing the address, and sending it in the mail, the act is

grotesque and disgusting.

The bigots sent out the letters, which target black, gay, and Jewish people, to at least seven businesses throughout the city from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2, according to police.

They invoke President Trumps campaign slogan, Make America Great Again, and they all also include the Nazi slogan Juden Raus, which means Jews out, and state that Negroes and f must burn in hell, according to photos of the letter shared online.

A second Coney Island Avenue law firm received the same letter, police said  but unfortunately, there may be more who just havent come forward yet, according to the attorney at the Voorhies Avenue legal office, who said the frightening message is a first for him and his company.

I was surprised that this would happen in a city like New York, where there is such a wide diversity of people, he said. I was quite taken aback by this. We dont know if there are others. Were being vigilant.

And in light of horrific events unfolding across the country, every threatening act must be taken seriously, said the local pol.

After what happened in Las Vegas, it is important we take every perceived threat extremely seriously. The swastika represents hate, anti-Semitism, and oppression, said Councilman Chaim Deutsch (DSheepshead Bay). It is despicable that someone would target Jewish businesses with a symbol of the Holocaust, particularly in a community where so many survivors still live. We cannot and will not tolerate hatred directed at any race, religion, ethnicity, or individual.

The police departments Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating.

Reach reporter Julianne Cuba at (718) 2604577 or by e-mail at jcuba @cngl ocal.com . Follow her on Twitter @julcuba.
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It was a starry night in Brooklyn Bridge Park!

Celebrities flocked to the waterfront green space for its fifth-annual black-tie ball on Thursday, including the dashing actor Jon Hamm, who hosted the festivities. The man of Mad Men fame hails from St. Louis and doesnt even live in Brooklyn, but one park honcho had nothing but praise for the star nonetheless.

It was fun and exciting to have him as our guest host, said Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy chief Nancy Webster. He was very lovely, down to earth, and very funny  just a really sweet guy.

The conservancy, which stages the gala to raise money for park programming and events, snagged Hamm for the ceremony through the husband of a board member, who went to high school with the actor.

Eight hundred people attended a swanky dinner at Pier 2 as part of the affair and 250 revelers bought tickets to the after-party, raising more than $1.35 million for the meadow, Webster said.

Green-space officials honored developer Douglas Durst of the Durst Organization for his environmental work as well as Hank Gutman, a park board member who helped oversee the lawns construction.

And Hamm wasnt the only big name to walk the red carpet at the event. Other notable guests included Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys  the stars of televisions sexy spy drama The Americans, who live in Brooklyn Heights and frequent the park  and actress Michelle Monaghan.

Songstress and Cobble-Hill resident Norah Jones performed to close out the epic evening, ending it on a high note, according to Webster.

She really brought down the house, she said.
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This refuges neighbors are playing the toking victim.

Park Slope Womens Shelter residents are luring drug dealers to the neighborhood by smoking weed on the stoops of homes near the facility, charged locals who complained of the alleged habit at a Wednesday community meeting.

We have shelter residents who are smoking marijuana and theyre sitting on our stoops. That provides a population of buyers and were going to have a whole new population of sellers, said 16th-Street resident Barbara Barran. This is a very, very deep concern of ours.

Barran, along with fellow 16th-Street denizens Nelly Isaacson and Laura Ide, organized the gathering of elected officials, cops, shelter workers, and a few dozen neighbors at Eighth Avenues Bishop Boardman Apartments, where they discussed the womens supposed reefer use and other behavioral problems.

Residents of the shelter at 1402 Eighth Ave. between 14th and 15th streets, which serves women battling addiction and mental illness, turned 16th Street between Eighth Avenue and Prospect Park West into their own personal drug den about six months ago, according to Barran, who claimed their brazen pot smoking led to other bad behavior.

Women started stopping into the exercise place on my block asking to use the bathroom, asking for money, urinating in the street, and panhandling in the neighborhood, the local said.

The recent antics followed years of peaceful coexistence between community and shelter residents, but theres no mistaking one group for the other because the latter do tend to stick out, Barran said.

Representatives from Camba  the social-services provider that has operated the shelter inside the Park Slope Armory since 1996  said theyve expanded security patrols on the affected block, but that guards havent noticed any illicit activity while on their routines. The absence of visible proof led the facilitys honchos to question the locals anecdotal reports, which did not include any hard evidence, according to a Camba rep who spoke at the meeting.

I have not heard any reports of our staff finding residents in the community smoking pot, said Claire Harding-Keefe, Cambas senior vice president. I would question whether or not its our clients.

And other locals in attendance slammed their neighbors who set up the event for being heartless, claiming the organizers spoke of shelter residents as though they were criminals when making their accusations.

Were trying to rehabilitate these people, get them into permanent housing, and I think the whole tone of this conversation needs to be a little bit more sympathetic, said Park Slope resident Richard Bruce.

All parties resolved to communicate more openly by the end of the gathering, and locals received a phone number for the shelters director, whom they were encouraged to report future bad behavior to with the promise that security would be sent pronto in order to document and resolve any incident, according to the Camba rep.

The main point was to let us know in as real time as possible, so that we can go out and see if it is our clients, Harding-Keefe said.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) A train on the Delhi Metros Red Line came to an halt today while approaching the Kashmere Gate station after a portion of an overhead wire snapped, an official said.

Passengers, including a woman who fell unconscious, had to be evacuated from the Rithala-bound train. However, services did not see much impact as the incident occurred in the early hours, a DMRC spokesperson said.

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The wire snapped while the train was entering the Kashmere Gate interchange station from the Shastri Park end, the spokesperson said.

The passengers were evacuated by a CISF quick-reaction team and a 30-year-old woman who had fallen unconscious was taken to a hospital, a senior Central Industrial Security Force official said.

"Due to the breaking of the catenary wire of the OHE around 6.40 am between the Shastri Park and Kashmere Gate sections of Line 1, the pantograph of a train got entangled into it.

"To de-entangle the pantograph, the train had to be vacated as per procedure. Since it took place in the early hours on a Sunday, not many passengers were there and services did not see much impact," the spokesperson said. PTI NES SBR ANB

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Pakistan export revenue declines 15% in 2MFY17

09 October 2017

The Pakistan cement industry export revenue during the first two months of current financial year (July-Aug 2017) recorded a fall of 14.86 per cent and 13.9 per cent in terms of value in dollar and quantity, respectively on YoY basis , while mixed trends were also observed on a MoM basis, says data released by Federal Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan Government.



The country exported 871,434t of cement and earned export revenue of US$44.92m in July-August 2017 compared to 1Mt at US$52.77m in corresponding months of 2016.



However, in August 2017 alone, the country exported 442,945t of cement at US$22.41m compared with 428,489t at US$22.51m in July 2017. This translates export up by 3.37 per cent in terms of quantity, but value in dollar contracted by 0.48 per cent on MoM basis.



Similarly, if compared with data of August 2016 (574,419t at US$30.04m). This explains export fell by 22.89 per cent and 25.40 per cent in terms of quantity and value in dollar, respectively on YoY basis.



According to All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), export of cement to Afghanistan recorded a growth of over 15 per cent to 658,488t, but export to India and rest of the world have recorded fall in export.



A spokesman of APCMA expressed dismay at the continued decline in exports particularly from southern part of the country that is nearer to the seaport. He said the robust construction activities within the country are supporting the cement sector, but it still is sitting on some idle capacity that could be exported through government initiatives such as shared transport costs.



"The cement production capacities are likely to increase in near future and the industry would require export base to operate at optimum capacity," he added. In the past, the government had a scheme of 'freight subsidy' to facilitate the cement exporters from reaching the seaport to export the cement.

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21 Christians slain by ISIS to be declared martyrs by coptic church

The deaths of 21 Christians to ISIS will not be in vain as they will be declared martyrs by the Coptic Orthodox Church, the equivalent of canonisation in the Catholic Church.

In a statement, Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church affirmed that the martyrdom of the 21 will be commemorated every 8th Amshir of the Coptic Calendar, the feast day of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

In one of the latest acts of terror committed by the Islamic State, the militants uploaded a video entitled, "A Message Signed in Blood to the Nation of the Cross," in which they showed the beheading of the 21 Christian men on a beach.

Despite their impending death, the Christian men could be heard continuously chanting the words "Lord Jesus Christ", while some even screamed the name of Yeshua in their final moments.

While the intention of ISIS was to sow fear among those who do not share their beliefs, the courage of the Christians has inspired many to further profess their faith.

"The name of Jesus was the last word on their lips. And like the early church martyrs, they entrusted themselves to the one who would receive them soon after. That name, whispered in the last moments, was like the seal of their martyrdom," Catholic Bishop Antonios Aziz Mina of Giza said, following Pope Francis's message denouncing the killings.

Beshir Kamel, whose brothers Bishoy and Samuel were among the martyrs slain by the group, said that his siblings' martyrdom serves as a "badge of honour to Christianity."

"ISIS gave us more than we asked when they didn't edit out the part where they declared their faith and called upon Jesus Christ. ISIS helped us strengthen our faith," he said in an interview with SAT-7 Arabic.
Anglican Diocese of Sydney donates $1 million to 'no' campaign in same-sex marriage poll

The Anglican Diocese of Sydney has donated $1 million to fund the campaign against same-sex marriage in Australia.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies, confirmed on Monday his heavily conservative diocese, the largest in the country, had backed the 'no' campaign in Australia's forthcoming postal survey on gay marriage.

'The stakes are high and the cost is high,' he told a meeting of all the churches in Sydney on Monday. 'Yet the cause is just and it is a consequence of our discipleship to uphold the gift of marriage as God has designed it  a creation ordinance for all people.'

He added he would 'make no apology' for urging Australians to vote 'no' in the poll, which was commissioned by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to advise parliament but is not legally binding.

'I consider the consequences of removing gender from the marriage construct will have irreparable consequences for our society, for our freedom of speech, our freedom of conscience and freedom of religion,' he told the synod. 'It is disingenuous to think otherwise.'

He added: 'We find ourselves being moved in a more libertarian direction under the influence of those who want to abandon the mores of the past.

'These permissive forces who espouse the virtue of tolerance are seeking to impose restrictions upon those who wish to maintain the values on which our nation has been founded,' he said according to The Australian.

'This has become nowhere more apparent than in the current debate surrounding the postal survey on same-sex marriage.'

Moving on to discuss abortion and assisted suicide, Dr Davies said he had written to the area's parliamentarians on behalf of all the churches to oppose any attempts at liberalisation.

But the Anglican Church of Australia is split on the issue with the newly elected first female Anglican Archbishop, Kay Goldsworthy, strongly hinting that she personally backs same-sex marriage. She said she has an 'inclusive' approach to the issue but respects the wider position of the Church.

Both sides in Australia's increasingly toxic debate over gay marriage claim to have been outspent by their opponents.

Executive director of the Equality Campaign, Tiernan Brady, said the donation was evidence that 'opponents of equality have radically outspent the Yes side'.

He told The Australian: 'But what they have in buckets of cash, we make up with in hundreds of thousands of Australians making the case for a fairer, more just and inclusive society.'

However despite repeated claims from the Yes side they were being outspent, it emerged last month Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce also personally donated $1 million to the campaign in support of same sex marriage.
The Baptist hero who survived prison for the 'damnable doctrine' of infant baptism

Benjamin Keach (1640-1704) was a great English Baptist hero, who on this day in 1664 was tried by Lord Chief Justice Hyde for his heretical opinions.

Keach had written a book of instruction for children. Though it's now lost, his Baptist beliefs  particularly that infant baptism was wrong and that only those who could answer for themselves should be baptised  drew Hyde's ire. In those tense and dangerous days after the Civil War and the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, the state control of religion was regarded as vital, and Baptists and others who stood outside the Church of England were regarded as enemies of the state.

When Keach tried to defend himself, Hyde said: 'You shall not preach here, nor give the reasons of your damnable doctrine, to seduce and infect his majesty's subjects. These are not things for such as you are to meddle with, and to pretend to write books of divinity...'

Keach was sentenced to two weeks in prison  and prisons in those days were very dangerous places, where sickness was rife because of poor condition  and to stand in the pillory, a post with a crossbar securing the head and hands for two successive Saturdays. It was the custom for the rowdy onlookers to pelt pilloried prisoners with filth and rotten vegetables, and even with stones, and death or serious injury wasn't uncommon.

Keach, however, seems to have escaped this because of the respect in which he was held. While he stood there his book was burned by the public hangman in front of him, and he was also fined 20 (about 3,800 in today's money).

One account says: 'On the pillory at Aylesbury Mr Keach defended himself and the truth with great boldness. The jailer frequently interrupted him. and finally the sheriff himself threatened to have him gagged. The people, contrary to custom, had no words of mockery for the good, persecuted minister, and no offensive missile was hurled at him. An Episcopal minister who ventured to assail Mr Keach in the pillory was immediately reproached by the people with the ungodliness of his own life, and his voice was drowned in laughter.'

Keach was a brave disciple, like many of those early Nonconformists, who had his fair share of trials and tribulations. He was threatened with death when a troop of mounted soldiers were about to trample his bound body, but an officer intervened and he was spared. He and his family were attacked by robbers on on their way to London, where he was to found the church of which CH Spurgeon was to become minister; they arrived in the city with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the London Baptists had to take up collections for them.

Perhaps his most long-lasting contribution to Baptist life, however, was that he introduced congregational hymn-singing, against the objections of many even in his own church. Previously hymn-singing was regarded as unscriptural, with congregations only singing psalms, if that. However, in 1691 Keach published The Breach Repaired in God's Worship, or, Singing of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, Proved to be an Holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ with an Answer to All Objections. The title may not be particularly snappy, but Keach's arguments won the day. He wrote about 300 himself, though none are commonly sung today.
Bishop George Bell review to criticise Church's handling  reports

Bishop George Bell's reputation could be restored after an official review in the Church's handling of abuse allegations is expected to be critical of how the CofE handled the case.

The wartime Bishop of Chichester, a celebrated Anglican figure who was given the equivalent of a Saints' Day, was accused of historic abuse in 2015.

A Church inquiry two years ago found 'on the balance of probabilities' he had abused a child in the late 1940s and 1950s. The Church awarded his alleged victim, known only as 'Carol', compensation of 15,000 after experts said they had 'no reason to doubt' the claims.

The case is hotly debated both within the Church and across the wider establishment with Bell's accusers saying the compensation is long overdue. But a George Bell support group was launched last year to argue his positive reputation and legacy is being tarnished by unsubstantiated claims.

A recent debate on historical child sex abuse in the House of Lords reflected the growing concerns among leading establishment figures about the George Bell case.

An official review, led by a senior lawyer Lord Carlisle, was handed to the Archbishop of Canterbury last week and is not expected to be published until November.

It is expected to be critical of the Church's initial investigation, although it does not rule on the bishop's guilt or innocence, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Blade Runner 2049 asks: Are we all going to Hell?

There aren't many darker visions of the future than the one offered by Blade Runner. Aside from those movies that imagined we'd have completely obliterated ourselves by now, Ridley Scott's 1982 classic provides one of cinema's most nightmarish perspectives on the 21st century. Its iconic opening images, of a Los Angeles dominated by neon, darkness and fire, all underlined by that unsettling Vangelis soundtrack, are a bleak contrast to the world we know and love. And that was only meant to be 2019.

Roll forward 30 years (or 35 in real life), and if anything the world has got even bleaker. Denis Villeneuve's long-awaited sequel may differ from its predecessor by being mainly set in the murky light of the Californian day, but darkness is hiding around every corner. The environment is shot, population is out of control, capitalism is creaking... Blade Runner 2049 wants to suggest that we're only a few years away from a future that's hardly worth living in at all.

Ryan Gosling plays LAPD Agent 'K', a new-model replicant (or human-looking android) who is tasked with hunting down rogue early models of his own kind. It's the same job held three decades earlier by Harrison Ford's Deckard, a character who looms in the background until finally making a reappearance later on in the film (but don't believe the poster, this is no buddy movie). K's life is simple, procedural and depressing: by day he hunts and kills, by night he talks with his only friend  a holographic companion named Joi (Ana de Armas). Then, when a chance discovery launches him on an investigation which draws him into the world of genius capitalist Niander Wallace (Jared Leto), it becomes apparent that his life will never be simple again.

The film is packed with complex themes. One writer has already made the link between the film's oppressed legion of android servants and the biblical Exodus story, with K cast as a potential Moses figure. While they lack a 'soul' (which, K is told at one point, is the difference between humans and replicants), the robot characters tend to act with more kindness, more empathy and almost without anger, violence or malice, and we find ourselves rooting for them even against humankind. They are much more like a 'people of God' than the masters who oppress them. Yet they are seen as dispensable  proved in one harrowing scene where Wallace hatches and then dispatches a female replicant as if to make that point  even though they are sentient and, as proved by a moving subplot involving K and Joi, capable of love. By the end of the film, the question of what it is that makes us human is entirely unresolved.

There are lots of other ideas in there too. One dark moment, where a character instructs a deadly drone to rain death on an underclass while having her nails done, is a vivid illustration of where the film thinks our value system is headed. Meanwhile, environmentalists and nuclear disarmament campaigners alike will point to the film and ask: is that really what we want to become? In a strange way the first film's dark future felt distant and unlikely back in 1982, but in 2017, as Artificial Intelligence continues to make strides and the Doomsday clock moves closer to midnight, this one feels darkly tangible, like much more of a warning.

The original Blade Runner is one of my all-time favourite films, and so the prospect of a sequel always felt like a mixed blessing. Here's the extraordinary, trend-bucking news however: Blade Runner 2049 is an astonishing piece of work. Gosling is superb in the lead role with a complex, sympathetic and heart-breaking performance, and Ford does a good job of reimagining an iconic character 30 years on. Make no mistake though, the real star of the show is its visionary Canadian director.

Villeneuve has captured the spirit and feel of Scott's original yet brilliantly taken the story and its universe off in bold new directions. His Blade Runner looks utterly stunning  no surprise to fans of the director's previous movies  and includes some of the most visually-arresting images in sci-fi history. The sheer imagination behind the look and feel of the film is a wonder to behold and a masterclass in attention to detail. That's backed by Hans Zimmer's Vangelis-referencing (but not too much) soundtrack, which again evokes a dystopian nightmare, occasionally punctuated with the strangely-comforting tones of Frank Sinatra. It looks and sounds like no other film, and the wonder of it is that Villeneuve and his crew manage to make an utterly broken world beautiful.

This is a story set in an apparently Godless universe, and it's one that's almost  but not quite  bereft of hope. That glimmer remains in the possibility of rebellion, liberation and redemption... but not for humanity. And perhaps the whole film, like the dystopian genre as a whole, offers a loud warning not to let this story unfold in reality. After watching it, you're thankful to be able to step outside into a world where trees, birds and relatively clean air still exist. At this point, the Blade Runner universe is still a nightmare that we can wake up from.

Early figures suggest that Blade Runner 2049 is going to underperform at the cinema, and that would be  in film terms at least  a tragedy. Yes it's long (at 163 minutes) and Villeneuve refuses to be rushed, but it's a rare spectacle that deserves to be seen on the largest available screen, and one that will leave you asking big questions long after the credits roll.

Martin Saunders is a Contributing Editor for Christian Today and the Deputy CEO of Youthscape. Follow him on Twitter @martinsaunders.
By PTI: Washington, Oct 9 (PTI) Having greater tree cover around watersheds may protect children in rural areas from diarrhoea - the second leading cause of death for infants under the age of five, a global study on 300,000 children has found.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communicators, is the first to quantify the connection between watershed quality and individual health outcomes of children at the global scale.

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Diarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of five. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 361,000 children die of diarrhoeal disease every year because of poor access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.

Researchers, including those from University of Vermont (UVM) in the US, found that a 30 per cent increase in upstream tree cover in rural watersheds would have a comparable effect to improved water sanitation, such as the addition of indoor plumbing or toilets.

"This suggests that protecting watersheds, in the right circumstances, can double as a public health investment. This shows, very clearly, how natural infrastructure can directly support human health and welfare," said Brendan Fisher of UVM.

The research is the first to use a massive new database that will enable "big data" approaches to study links between human health and the environment, globally.

The database features 30 years of USAID demographic and health surveys, with 150 variables for 500,000 households, including spatial data on the environment.

"We are not saying trees are more important than toilets and indoor plumbing. But these findings clearly show that forests and other natural systems can complement traditional water sanitation systems, and help compensate for a lack of infrastructure," said Diego Herrera, postdoctoral researcher at UVM.

Looking at all of these diverse households in all these different countries, we find the healthier your watershed upstream, the less likely your kids are to get this potentially fatal disease, researchers said. PTI APA MHN SAR MHN

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Church of England's equality law exemptions allow for 'abuse, homophobia and sexism' says bishop

A sitting bishop has called for the Church of England to be stripped of its exemptions under the Equalities Act to stamp out 'deep structures of abuse, homophobia and sexism'.

Under the 2010 legislation the established Church has special rights to overrule equality laws meaning when it appoints people to new roles it can discriminate on the basis of sex, marital history, gender identity, sexuality and faith if they conflict with 'strongly held religious convictions'. A 2013 document approved by senior bishops permitted church officials to insist clergy were 'not a transsexual and were not married to a divorcee whose ex-spouse was still alive.

But the Bishop of Buckingham says these rules also allow for a culture of abuse, homophobia and sexism.

Rt Rev Alan Wilson has called for these special privileges to be removed and priests be allowed to conduct same-sex weddings if they wish.

'If the church were far more observant of the Equality Act, then deep structures of abuse, homophobia and sexism would not be embedded in the church in the way they are,' he told the Times.

When asked if the Act should be altered he said: 'Yes. The Equality Act is used as an accountability standard in modern Britain. It describes how we understand public accountability in every institution except the Church. That does seem quite extraordinary.'

Quoting Romans 13's instruction 'let everyone be subject to the governing authorities', he also called for an overhaul of the CofE's safeguarding approach. Despite 'good intentions' the Church was still failing survivors, he said.

'I think the Church needs to rethink the whole safeguarding thing,' he said, adding the standard response was 'hide behind the sofa and call the lawyers'.

It comes after abuse survivors staged a protest outside a meeting of Anglican leaders from around the world last week calling for a 'tangible' change in the Church's response.

The Bishop at Lambeth, Tim Thornton, told the victims: 'We have done lots of things wrong in the past and I am sure there are still things going on today. We are trying our best and I think we can show evidence of things we are putting in place.

'But yes we have still got lessons to learn and we want to carry on learning from and listening to you.'
Conservative Anglican leader breaks ranks: 'We are not walking together'

A conservative Anglican leader has broken rank to launch an attack on fellow Church heads around the world, saying: 'You have to either be a relativist, pluralist or there's no place for you' in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Greg Venables, Archbishop of the South America, was among 34 heads of Anglican provinces around the world to attend a meeting in Canterbury last week. But in comments released by the traditionalist grouping GAFCON, of which he is a part, Venables offered a different reflection from that given by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other officials.

At the end of the week-long gathering, a communique from the meeting described it as a 'gift from God' and restates the leaders would 'walk together' despite deep differences over issues such as same-sex marriage.

Justin Welby declared 'business as usual' and said primates had 'arrived feeling beleaguered and left feeling uplifted' as the talks mainly focused on issues other than sexuality which, he said, 'has not been the case for 20 years'.

The Archbishop of Hong Kong, Paul Kwong, who has attended the previous five meetings, said it was the best he had ever been to not because everyone agreed but because everyone was committed to walking together.

But Venables, who left half way through the week, denied this and said 'we aren't walking together because the situation has not been dealt with'.

In comments released on Monday he said: 'What was identified clearly in the meeting is that some aren't walking together, some are walking together but at a distance, and some are walking together.'

In a critique of the 80 million-strong worldwide Anglican Communion Venables said it had 'lost touch with the plain truth as revealed in Scripture, and that's a tragedy, but we've gotta keep on being there proclaiming it and speaking it. Not walking away, but not pretending either that we are walking together with people who are ignoring the plain truth of Scripture, even though they might appear to be orthodox.'

His comments differed markedly from those of the Archbishop of Kenya, Jackson Ole Sapit, who is also a member of the GAFCON primates' council. He called on his fellow conservatives 'constructively engage' in an interview with Christian Today earlier in the week.

'There are a whole range of areas that the Church is doing beautifully in and it can do even more when it is strong, when it is united because you can have a stronger voice than when we are disintegrated.'

He added: 'We can influence society, we can be able to able to influence decisions, even internationally, when we are together.

'But divided we shall be weak.'

During the meeting the primates agreed to issue 'consequences' to the Scottish Episcopal Church for their decision to permit clerics who want to marry gay couples to do so. The de facto sanctions mean Scottish delegates cannot vote on key decision making within the Anglican structures nor represent the wider Anglican Communion.

But Venables went on to criticise the lack of 'Church discipline' and appeared to call for a more stringent and hierarchical system to punish provinces.

Unlike the Catholic Church there is no one head of the Anglican Church with each province independent and the Archbishop of Canterbury considered 'first among equals' with the other leaders.

'Maybe the Anglican way doesn't have a way of doing this,' said Venables calling for stricter discipline. 'Maybe that is what we just have to accept. The problem is part of the role of Church leadership is discipline. If we cannot exercise discipline when people wander away from the truth, then the Church cannot function as the Church, and that's where the wheels have dropped off.'

He went on: 'Certainly there is a need for leadership to exercise discipline. And we haven't found it.'

He added: 'One of the messages from the Primates Meeting was it's "business as usual." Things haven't changed. This is how it's going to be, and that saddens me deeply.'
Coptic bishop claims Egyptian authorities are behind Christian persecution

An Egyptian Coptic bishop has said that local authorities are behind the persecution and harrassment of Christiansin his diocese of Minya, the home province of the 21 Christians murdered by Islamic State in Libya.

In an interview for Arabic satellite TV station AlKarma TV by Dr Mona Roman, reported by Coptic Solidarity, Bishop Agathon instanced a meeting between Copts and government officials about the possibility of building a church, during which one of the officials contacted the Muslim leaders of the village instructing them to send people to protest against the plans.

He also said that state security forces were complicit in attacks on Christians. There are currently 21 Christian boys and girls from Minya alone who have been abducted, the youngest of whom had just started elementary school. Bishop Agathon said that whenever these attacks occur, Copts prepare documents, including photos and other verification, pointing to the culprits. These then are placed into the hands of top officials to ensure they are not "lost" or "misplaced" by underlings. The bishop said he had put documentation into the hands of the Director of Intelligence himself. "Absolutely nothing was done," he said.

He also referred to the difficulties Christians faced in repairing or improving churches with toilet facilities. Attempts to renovate a dilapidated church in Gala' led to rioting last month.

Bishop Agathon said: "We as Copts are human beings. And envy takes us when we see our Muslim brothers build mosques where they will, how they will, at any place and at any time. And the state helps them! But as for us, we cannot build anything and that which is already open is being closed... We, the Copts, are citizens with rights; and we see Muslims get whatever they want, while we are always prevented."

Bishop Agathon spoke of the feelings of despondency experienced by Egypt's Christians and the sense that no matter which official they talk to, "nothing will change". If anything, the plight of Egypt's Christians has gone "from bad to worse," the bishop said. "We hear beautiful words but no solution," he added.
'Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson warns 'faithless' America is on the brink of 'collapse'

The reality show "Duck Dynasty" might have already wrapped up, but that does not mean its patriarch Phil Robertson is done spreading the message of God.

Robertson rallied for Judge Roy Moore in Alabama recently, according to Breitbart News, and during the event, he raved about Moore's Christian faith. "Roy Moore's a godly man," Robertson said, "or I wouldn't be here."

Back in the 1990s, the conservative judge decided to hang the Ten Commandments plaque on the wall of his office. Robertson approved of this act, and so did many others since Moore won the race for Chief Justice of Alabama's Supreme Court in 2000.

However, Moore was ousted after he adamantly refused to remove a 5,280-pound granite Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of the state judicial building. Robertson is proud that Moore stood up to his faith, and he lamented that other Americans are not the same.

"When you look on our streets in America, you see people running around with signs on top of their head, all puffed up ... won't even acknowledge the flag of the United States of America  the national anthem! You say what in the world's going on? They're senseless! Faithless!" he said.

"Remember, as soon as you get God out of your psyche, He's giving you a list after list ... of what people do," Robertson added, quoting Romans. "They not only do these things, but they approve of those who practice them."

Robertson issued a dire warning for people who continue to turn their backs on God and condone abortion. "When a nation slaughters its offspring  one million a year  they always collapse those nations do  you can't do that!" he said.

The former reality star has four sons with his wife Kay - Alan, Jase, Willie and Jep. With their Christian upbringing, Robertson is proud that his sons have grown up to be respectable members of society and dedicated fathers and husbands to their own families.

"They were raised up around biblical instruction. That mixed with discipline  the discipline code, I call it," he told The Christian Post. "They just had a lifestyle of seeing their parents do good things. I think maybe me loving their mother and me loving my neighbors around me had a profound impact on them. And what came out of that was four sons who are all married to their original wives."
Gal Gadot news: 'Wonder Woman' actress kisses Kate McKinnon in 'SNL' skit

Gal Gadot makes the internet swoon once again, as the "Wonder Woman" star kisses comedy actress Kate McKinnon in a "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) skit about the superhero.

The 32-year old "Wonder Woman" star reprised her role as Diana a.k.a. Wonder Woman in the "SNL" skit, where McKinnon and Aidy Bryant's characters, both lesbians, stumble upon Diana's Mediterranean island of Themyscira. Bryant and McKinnon's characters were hoping to find lesbians on the island populated by a clan of women warriors, only to be disappointed since none of the Amazons were.

Diana then decided that she wanted to try kissing one of the two lesbian characters to see if she would feel something. McKinnon's character volunteers and the two locked lips, for a considerably prolonged moment, only for Diana to proclaim afterward that she did not feel anything despite the passionate kiss. Discouraged, McKinnon and Bryant's characters leave the island of Themyscira.

Gadot even voiced out her excitement at being the host of last Saturday's "SNL" saying "I grew up in Israel, and this is so exciting for me, because tonight's show is being broadcast live in Israel for the very first time!" She then added: "Hi, Imma! Hi, Abba!" and afterward speaking in Hebrew in what was supposed as a dedication for the rest of her friends and family.

Gadot has become increasingly popular in Hollywood due to her role in "Wonder Woman," where several directors and even Hollywood stars praised her method of bringing the character to life. The movie was also hailed as empowering, and Gadot was honored for her acting chemistry with co-star Chris Pine who played Steve Trevor in the film.

In the previous "SNL" episode last Saturday, Gadot was also praised for delivering a superb hosting performance.
Mass grave with 21 Coptic Christians' beheaded bodies found in Libya

A mass grave with the bodies of 21 Coptic Christians beheaded in Libya has been found, according to the country's interior ministry.

A former ISIS captive revealed the location near the one-time Islamic State bastion of Sirte, 280 miles east of Tripoli.

'The heads are separated from the bodies clad in orange jumpsuits, hands bound behind the back with plastic wire,' the ministry's unit for fighting organised crime in the city of Misurata, according to Agence France Presse.

The Coptic Christians were captured in separate incidents throughout December 2014 and January 2015 before releasing a video of their execution on a beach on February 15, 2015.

The iconic image of the 21 men in orange jumpsuits on a beach caused shockwaves around the world but Bishop Angaelos, general bishop of the UK Coptic Church, told Christian Today a year after the killings that forgiveness and strength had trumped the video's attempt to instil fear and hatred.

He said: 'The same tool used to try and magnify violence and division actually became a platform for everyone to see the strength of their faith.'

He added: 'From own community I haven't heard a single message of vengeance or anger used.

'An even stronger and more inconceivable message of forgiveness came from their families and communities,' said Angaelos in a statement to commemorate the anniversary.

'They rejected the temptation to become bitter, angry and vengeful, and inspired the world with their gracious and courageous sentiment. Speaking proudly of the resilience of their fathers, brothers, and sons, who had captured the attention of the whole world, they also uttered their forgiveness for those who had so brutally and needlessly taken their lives, and who sought to rob them of their dignity.'
Mother Of Two Christian Men Beheaded By ISIS Is Proud Her Sons Didn't Deny Their Faith In Final Moments: 'I Gave My Two Sons To Jesus'

People still can't forget what happened last February 15, 2015, when members of the Islamic State released a chilling video showing the beheading of 21 migrant workers they kidnapped from Sirte, Libya.

These Coptic Christians came from different villages in Egypt, and refused to give up their faith in God just to evade death. Two of the victims' mother recently told Egyptian Anglican Archbishop Mouneer Anis that she is extremely proud of her sons' heroic acts and she thanks God they did not renounce Him in their final moments.

"I gave my two sons to Jesus," she reportedly told Anis, according to Virtue Online. "I thank my God that my two sons did not denounce Jesus; it is an honour and privilege that they died faithful."

Anis lauded the bravery of the Christian men as they were facing death, instead affirming their faith with the words "Oh, Lord Jesus" as the radical jihadists were cutting their throats.

"They were ordinary labourers with no theological education, but they were not going to denounce Jesus," he said.

The Islamic State earlier said that they kidnapped these 21 men in order to "avenge the [alleged] kidnapping of Muslim women by the Egyptian Coptic Church." After the video of their gruesome murder was shown, a message flashed on the screen: "The filthy blood is just some of what awaits you, in revenge for Camelia and her sisters."

The group was referencing Camelia Shehata, a Coptic Egyptian woman and wife of a Coptic priest who Islamists believed had actually converted to Islam and was being held against her will by the Coptic Church. However, Shehata denied their claims.

The killer in the video then said, "We will conquer Rome, by Allah's permission," as he pointed his knife towards the sea.
Robert Grosseteste: The medieval bishop who (nearly) invented the Big Bang Theory

Robert Grosseteste (1175-1253) is remembered today by the Church of England. As Bishop of Lincoln he was a fiery reformer. He stood up for the privileges of the Church against the state, like the martyred Thomas Becket, but he was also dedicated to the spiritual care of his flock. He stood against the practice of settling Church incomes on state officials, because he believed the money should go to supporting priests who would care for their parishes instead.

But it's as a scientist and philosopher that Grosseteste is remembered today. He lived at the time the works of the Greek philosopher Aristotle were becoming known in the Christian West. Aristotle's work had a huge effect on the Western Church as theologians were forced to grapple with new ideas, and Grosseteste learned from and wrote about Aristotle's scientific theories.

As a scientist, Grosseteste was far ahead of his time. He was particularly interested in optics, the study of light and how we perceive it, and his work on rainbows is still providing insights today. In an age when scholars tended to deduce from what they assumed to be true rather than actually testing it, he introduced the idea of the controlled experiment. He speculated on the development of both telescopes and microscopes long before they were invented, and even came up with a version of the Big Bang Theory of the origin of the universe centuries before anyone else. The universe began, he said, with an explosion of light and a crystallisation of matter to form stars and planets.

In today's world, where science and religion are often assumed to be in conflict, Robert Grosseteste reminds us that they aren't.
Russian Orthodox extremists arrested for violent campaign against forthcoming film about Tsar Nicholas II

Orthodox extremists have been arrested in Russia for arson attacks and death threats as part of their campaign against 'Matilda', a forthcoming film about the affair between a ballerina and Tsar Nicholas II, considered a martyr by the Orthodox church.

Alexander Kalinin, the leader of the hardline Orthodox Christian group, which calls itself 'Christian State - Holy Rus' was one of those arrested. Kalinin and others are suspected of committing arson on several cinemas as well as offices and studios used by to the film's director, Alexei Uchitel.

In one incident, a car filled with gas cannisters was driven into the entrance of a cinema in Yekaterinburg, the town in which the Tsar and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks, causing it to catch fire.

The Interior Ministry spokesperson, Irina Volk, explained to Russia's Interfax news agency yesterday: 'We've opened a criminal case on charges of coercion. Attempts have been made to force managers of a commercial screening organisation to refuse to show this film under threats of violence against the audience and damage and harm to cinema owners'.

These threats have not been without effect. After 'Christian State-Holy Rus' penned an open letter in which they warned of civil war, and declared that its members were ready to sacrifice their lives 'for the true Orthodox Christian faith', Russia's largest cinema chain, Cinema Park and Formula Kino, said they decided earlier this month to not screen the film in 28 cities to 'protect cinema-goers from risk'.

Although Russia's Culture Ministry approved the film in July, Natalya Poklonskaya, a State Duma MP linked to President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party, has also demanded the film be banned for its offensiveness to Orthodox Christians.

The film is based on the memoirs of the Polish-Russian Matilda Krzesinska (1872-1971), who had an affair with the Tsar before marrying his cousin, Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich Romanov. Some Orthodox Christians feel that the film will besmirch the memory of Nicholas II, who was declared a saint, or passion-bearer, by the Moscow Patriarchate in 2000.

The year of the film's release is also significant as 2017 marks the centenary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution which dismantled the Tsarist regime, ultimately leading to the execution of the Tsar and his family. For Russian Orthodox leaders, this year will also be commemorated as the beginning of the church's Soviet-era persecution.
Scott Eastwood joins race to play Wolverine

Scott Eastwood wants to don Adamantium claws. After Hugh Jackman played Wolverine one last time in "Logan," Eastwood wants to try out playing the iconic Marvel character.

In an interview with ComicBook after the "Pacific Rim Uprising" panel at the New York Comic Con 2017, Eastwood was asked about which superhero he would like to portray.

"Weapon X. I mean Logan! You gotta give it Wolverine! Wolverine, all day," the actor answered.

The son of legendary Hollywood and Western icon Clint Eastwood nabbed the role of Lieutenant GQ Edwards in DC's "Suicide Squad." The character helped the team on their mission. The actor also appeared in "The Longest Ride" with Britt Robertson and made appearances in films like "The Fate of the Furious," "Snowden," "Fury" and "Texas Chainsaw 3D."

A lot of fans have Eastwood on their list to portray Wolverine if the franchise will get a different actor to play the role, partly because he inherited his father's good looks. Clint Eastwood appeared in "Dirty Harry" and in cowboy films like "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," "A Fistful of Dollars" and "Unforgiven." The legendary Hollywood icon has developed a reputation as one of industry's greatest tough guys.

Though the younger Eastwood would love to play Wolverine in a future film, everything is still up in the air, specifically if an opportunity will ever come around.

Simon Kinberg, one of the producers of the "X-Men" franchise, revealed that Jackman will help them find the next actor to play Wolverine, though the storyline or version for the character hasn't been discussed yet. He also said that they are currently focusing on exploring other "X-Men" Universe characters and not recasting the old characters.

Jackman has reiterated that the "Wolverine" franchise will continue with a new actor. Twentieth Century Fox, which currently has the rights to "X-Men" storylines and characters, has a full slate of upcoming movies so it may be quite a while before Wolverine makes a comeback.
After the clip of a Nigerian student being thrashed for allegedly committing theft went viral, police have arrested one and identified four others in the case.

By Ilma Hasan: Delhi police have arrested one person in connection with the brutal assault on a Nigerian student, Ahmed in Malviya Nagar.

After the clip of a Nigerian student being thrashed for allegedly committing theft went viral, police have arrested one and identified four others in the case.

The incident took place on September 24. Locals alleged that Ahmed was trying to steal from someone's home when he was caught.

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The man later fell down the stairs following which he was nabbed by locals and beaten up. The video clip shows Ahmed tied to a pole and his feet were tied as well. He was flogged and beaten with sticks by several goons.

Delhi police had however arrested him and sent him to judicial custody for theft. However, no action was taken against attackers till today.

DCP south, Ishwar Singh said, "He didn't say in the medical examination that public thrashed him, didn't tell anyone about how he got injured".

He further added, "We got to know about this today after the video clip. No one has right to beat him even if there were allegations. A case has been registered"

"Even if the Nigerian national was stealing, beating him is not justified; identified one man from the video and arrested him, looking for others," added DCP South.

The DCP has also ruled out any possibility of racial attack, talking to media persons he clarified that the Nigerian national was beaten up on suspicion of theft.

--- ENDS ---
The controversial diplomatic mission of the Russian Orthodox Church's 'foreign minister'

The so-called 'foreign minister' of the Russian Orthodox Church's Moscow Patriarchate is on the move.

Last week, he gave a notable and bold speech in London organised by the Russian Embassy, before travelling to Rome to meet with Pope Francis, who raised the thorny issues of Ukraine and religious freedom in Russia, and, more ceremonially, Francis' predecessor Pope Benedict XVI.

What's he up to, and what do his various pronouncements mean for relations between Russia and the West?

First, the London speech.

Addressing a mix of diplomats, politicians, entrepreneurs and religious figures, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev) claimed that Christianity is dying out in Europe and being replaced with 'the monopoly of the secular idea'.

He said: '[The] monopoly of the secular idea has affirmed itself in contemporary Europe. Its manifestation is the discrimination of religious vision in the social sphere.'

Here, the Metropolitan is likely referring to the social liberalism on sexuality and life issues that he sees as prevalent in the West. The social conservatism of the Russian Orthodox Church has been a pressure point when it comes to ecumenical relations, and the Orthodox Church is known frequently to view the social liberalism of Western churches as part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

He added: 'Other peoples will live in Europe in the future, with other faiths, other cultures, and other paradigms of values.' The cause, Hilarion said, was liberalism, or 'the realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields of civil, economic, political, social and cultural life'.

Hilarion appealed for this to be countered by unity among the Churches. 'In the current conditions of oppression by power groups that propose ideas incompatible with the traditional views of Christian morality, it is indispensable to unite Church efforts to counter these processes, to act together in the field of information and legal support, and in the propagation of common Christian values at all levels,' he said.

'Christians in Europe must strive to defend their values on which the continent has been built for centuries, and listen to the lamentations and sufferings of Christians from all over the globe.'

Dr James Rodgers, the leader of International Journalism Studies at City, University of London and a former BBC Moscow correspondent, sets out the crucial context. 'For the whole of its post-Soviet history, Russia has been seeking to fill the ideological void left by the collapse of Communism. An important element of that has been emphasising a uniquely Russian identity. The Orthodox Church has been an indispensable part of that,' Rodgers tells Christian Today.

The respected academic, who was in Moscow 1991-93 for Reuters TV, and from 1998-2000 and 2006-2009 for the BBC, adds: 'In consequence, opinion polls have consistently suggested that the vast majority of the Russian population identify themselves as Orthodox Christian  even if church attendance, with the exception of major religious holidays, remains relatively low. The Church preaches a message of socially conservative values. This translates on the international stage to Russia portraying itself as the guardian of what it sees as traditional Christian beliefs in the face of growing secularism, and Metropolitan Hilarion's remarks can be seen as part of that.'

Linked to his concerns over the decline of Christianity in Europe, the Metropolitan also seems preoccupied with immigration.

He cited among challenges 'changing the ethical and religious landscape of Europe' the migration crisis seen as the most serious since the end of World War II and caused by 'military conflicts and economic problems in the Middle East'.

The Russian prelate cited the official data of the Frontex agency, according to which 1.8 million migrants arrived in the EU alone; according to the UN, the number of migrants in European countries increased from 49.3 million in 2000 to 76.1 million in 2015.

He also referred to figures showing that 1.3 per cent of the adult population (66 million people) are planning to move definitively from their country mainly towards to the most affluent European nations.

Though he doesn't mention it explicitly, the Metropolitan is surely talking here talking about Muslims.

On this area at least, according to the Catholic blogger Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith, he is correct.

'The truth is that Hilarion is right: if we admit large numbers of migrants from North Africa and the Middle East, then the character of Europe will change,' Lucie-Smith wrote on the Catholic Herald website. 'The only question is how will it change, and whether this change will be a good or a bad thing... Metropolitan Hilarion's speech is certainly interesting, and in many ways challenging. On many topics, he hits the nail on the head, but in practical terms, where do we go from here? An honest discussion about Ukraine would be a good place to start.'

Such a discussion, albeit a brief one, took place between Pope Francis and the Metropolitan last Tuesday, when the two men met so that, officially, the latter could thank the Pope for the recent loan of the relics of the 4th century Saint Nicholas of Myra, which were taken from the southern Italian city of Bari to Moscow and St Petersburg and drew huge crowds of Orthodox pilgrims during the two month loan period.

According to Vatican Radio, they discussed 'ongoing tensions in Ukraine', though no details were given, as well as joint efforts to support Christians in the Middle East and religious freedom in Russia. On the latter point, many are concerned at what appears to be a major crackdown in Russia on a host of religious freedoms, with new laws restricting any kind of sharing of the faith anywhere except official churches. The 2016 Yarovaya Law extends the legal restrictions against extremism to include evangelism by minority faiths.

Yet on religious freedom, Metropolitan Hilarion reportedly said that the concerns of some journalists 'in my view, are ungrounded'. He added that Jehovah's Witnesses have been prohibited from activities recently, since they are considered 'not as a Christian Church, but as a sect'.

The Metropolitan also exchanged gifts with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

According to Pravmir, Metropolitan Hilarion told him about the construction of new churches and monasteries, the establishment of theological faculties in secular universities, and the Church's publishing and educational activities.

There is no doubt that Metropolitan Hilarion has been on a diplomatic mission in recent days.

One man who recently had a one-to-one with Metropolitan Hilarion is Nicholas Cobb, the chairman of the Westminster-Russia Forum.

'Having met the Metropolitan I was impressed by his vision for interfaith dialogue to overcome socio-political factors,' Cobb tells Christian Today.

In ecumenical circles, he is known as sometimes being a thorn in the side of closer ties. Yet some of the Metropolitan's message, to London and to the Popes, is undeniably accurate.

'When mentioning the decline in Christian membership here in Western Europe and the rise of Orthodoxy in the East he is absolutely right...The overriding impression I took from meeting him was the need for interfaith dialogue to promote areas of mutual interest.

'From combating social ills to fostering relations between those of Europe and Russia, it is clear that cooperation between the faiths is a key tool to deal with socio-political issues.'

In the end, As Rodgers says, the Russian Orthodox Church is an important part of Russia seeking to assert its identity under President Vladimir Putin, who appears to be forging ever closer ties to the Church.

And, doubtless, the Metropolitan Hilarion is in turn an important part of that attempted boost. He is one to watch.
Where is kidnapped Pastor Raymond Koh?

At the end of last week, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia announced it would be holding a public inquiry into the disappearance of two pastors, Raymond Koh and Joshua Hilmy, Hilmy's wife Ruth Sitepu and social activist Amri Che Mat.

The disappearances have cast a shadow over Malaysian civil society. No one has been held to account, and there are fears the kidnappings mark a new level of violent intolerance in the Muslim-majority country. So what has happened to the three Christians and one Muslim  and why?

Amri Che Mat is described as a 'social activist' and a Shia Muslim in a state where Sunni Islam is dominant. He was accused of spreading Shia teachings, though his wife has denied it. He was last seen in November 2016.

The Hilmys also went missing in November. Joshua Hilmy is a former Muslim.

Pastor Koh was abducted on February 13, taken from his car, which was never recovered, by a group of men. Extraordinarily, the attack was captured on video and shows seven vehicles and at least 15 men involved in the action. The incident lasts for only 40 seconds, but subsequent footage appears to show an uninvolved car being warned off and directed away from the scene.

One man is in custody in connection with Koh's kidnapping, accused of approaching his family for a ransom. It is unclear, however, whether he had anything to do with the abduction. In June, police said they had found an unexpected link during an operation against a smuggling syndicate  photographs of Koh's house and his two vehicles were found at the home of a suspect killed during a shootout, according to the Malay Mail Online.

Meanwhile, a group comprising 48 civil society organisations, Citizen Action Group On Enforced Disappearance (CAGED) has been formed to put pressure on the government over the disappearance cases. Its spokesmen have been warned by police after accusing them of complicity in the kidnappings. Thomas Fann told the Guardian: 'We say that there is a high probability there have been enforced disappearances, which means that the state may be directly or indirectly involved.

'We have a reason to believe that there is a relationship because they are all faith-based workers.'

The police have denied the charge.

Malaysia is about 60 per cent Muslim, with Buddhists at 19 per cent and Christians at nine per cent. While freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution, in some parts of the country there is opposition to non-Christian religions and a rise in Islamism. A bitter court struggle has taken place over the right of Christians to use the word 'Allah' for God, with Islamists arguing it should be for Muslims only; while a 'Muslims only' laundrette in Johor state was condemned by the authorities for promoting extremism.

While there is no evidence Koh and the others were abducted for religious reasons, there's no evidence they weren't either  and it's the absence of any rationale that fuels worry among Christians. More than seven months after Koh's abduction, there is still no news  and for the others it's even longer. If a public inquiry can shed any light at all on what's happened, grieving families will welcome it.
In keeping with the norms of contemporary culture, movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, announced, after allegations of sexual predation against him surfaced in the New York Times, that he would enter therapy. He would deal with his bad behavior, he said, by finding a way to channel my anger, perhaps through a movie that would force the resignation of President Trumpan outcome that he would celebrate in a party at the same place I had my bar mitzvah. But board members of the Weinstein Company decided that they couldnt afford to give him such an opportunityon Sunday, they fired him from the firm he founded.

Its unfortunate that the Times story came out just after the Jewish High Holiday of Yom Kippurfor that, rather than a new bar mitzvah celebration, offers Weinstein a much better path toward contrition. One wonders whether Weinstein went to synagogue on that recent High Holy Day. If he did, hed have had the chance to confess, with astounding specificity, to the sins with which hes been chargedand been given a path to take for redeeming himself.

Consider the prayer known as Al Heit, in which Jews confess the multitude of ways that we may have sinned against God. The recitation of 44 types of sin has direct relevance to the Weinstein case. It includes, for example, the sin of sexual immoralitysex being understood as a means either to holiness or debasement. It includes the sins not only of forbidden trysts but also of insincere confession, a category that fits Weinsteins habit of expressing respect for women in public while pressuring them to watch him take showers in private. It includes the commission of deeds degrading to our parentsthe category pertinent to his habit of invoking his mother as proof of the sincerity of his pledge to help women through funding a program at the University of Southern California. And it includes the sins we committed before you by exercising powerevil inclination, clever cynicism (really), denial and false promises (think here of preferred movie roles that failed to materialize)and the sins of business, which include interest and extortion. The list goes onas do the applications to Weinsteins behavior.

Weinsteins religion also offers a guide to what to do next: demonstrate his penitence by apologizing personally to those whom he wronged. A group confession to Godwhich is what occurs on Yom Kippuris not enough. Repentance and repair require us to humble ourselves before those whom weve harmed. Weinstein doing just that before Ashley Juddperhaps with cameras rollingwould be a start. But no insincere confession will do.

Im not sure what it costs to be a member of synagogues in Beverly Hillsand High Holiday tickets are always extrabut Im confident that the cost will be less than the price of therapy. The Yom Kippur approach, sincerely applied, might even workif not to restore Weinsteins reputation, then at least to provide piece of mind for those over whom he wielded power. For Harvey Weinstein, next Yom Kippur cant come soon enough.

Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images
A new place-based giving movement sweeping across London is mobilising communities to take action on their doorsteps and strengthen their boroughs through donating and volunteering. The model has potential to revolutionise local giving in urban centres across the UK and even further afield.

The movement offers many lessons for community fundraising and has already raised millions of pounds for several of the capitals boroughs. It is predicated on two truths: firstly, that in many cities all over the world, wealth and poverty sit cheek by jowl; and secondly, that everyone  whether poor or rich  can give.
Expansion of the charity retail sector has ground to a halt, according to the Charity Shops Survey 2017, published for the 26th year by Charity Finance in association with Fundraising Magazine. The survey received 76 responses from charities operating 6,722 shops, with a combined income of more than 863m. The figures cover charities most recent financial years, which for most respondents was the 12 months leading to March 2017.

For the first time in 14 years, this years survey shows a flatlining in the number of charity shops in the UK. Despite a tough few years for the sector, it had continued to expand each year, until now. For the moment at least, this rise has come to an end, with financial indicators suggesting another difficult year for charity retail.
Our weekly summary of the latest movers in the charity sector.

Chief executive

Cancer Research UK has announced that its chief executive, Sir Harpal Kumar, is planning to step down from the charity in the spring of 2018, after more than 10 years in the role.

Kumar, who has worked for the charity for more than 15 years in total, was awarded a knighthood in the 2016 New Years Honours for his work with the charity. Read the full story here.

St John Ambulance has appointed Depaul UK boss Martin Houghton-Brown as its next chief executive. Houghton-Brown, who has spent the past five years as chief executive of youth homelessness charity Depaul UK, will also head up the parent charity, The Priory of England & The Islands of the Order of St John.

He will take up the post in January, succeeding former chief executive Sue Killen, who left in August after 10 years at the charity. There is currently a period of transition under the leadership of temporary chief executive David Springthorpe. Read the full story here.

StepChange Debt Charity has appointed Phil Andrew as its new chief executive. He will take up the post on 20 November, taking over from Mike OConnor. Andrews most recent role was as chief executive of Working Links, which provides services for disadvantaged and socially-excluded groups.

Social Investment Business has appointed Nick Temple, currently deputy chief executive at Social Enterprise UK, as its new chief executive. Temple, who has been deputy chief executive at SEUK for six years, will take up his new role in January. He previously worked with the British Council and charity UnLtd, and before that was director of policy and communications at the School for Social Entrepreneurs. Read the full story here.

Non-executives

The British Red Cross has announced that Professor Geeta Nargund and Lewis Iwu will join the organisation as trustees to the board from 1 January 2018.

Nargund is the founder and medical director of create fertility and a director of the Walking Egg Foundation, a charity based in Belgium for global access to fertility care. She is also a senior consultant gynaecologist and lead consultant for reproductive medicine at St Georges Hospital, London.

Iwu is director of strategic communications firm Finsbury. Iwu has a background in campaigns, coalition building, public policy and the role of business in society. Lewis was formerly the founding director of the Fair Education Alliance, an advocacy coalition of over 90 charities and corporates seeking to change the education system.

Fitness charity Active Cheshire announced Paul Hancock at its new chair. Hancock has served the fire service as chief officer for the past eight years and led public service transformation at a local and national level.

The organisation continues to attract high calibre trustees and recently welcomed Martin Pearson, managing director of nuclear fuel firm Urenco and Dr Dan Bunstone, chair of Warrington clinical commissioning group, to the team.
Over the weekend, what happened to Harvey Weinstein had all the elements of a great movie: a dramatic and surprising reveal, several plot twists, interesting story lines, and the fall of a powerful person at the center of it all.

On Friday, the New York Times published its investigation into Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, detailing decades of rampant sexual harassment. By Sunday night, he had lost his adviser Lisa Bloom, one-third of his all-male board had resigned, and he was fired by a group that included his brother Bob Weinstein after another board member had left.

Lauren Sivan also told the Huffington Post about an incident she had with Weinstein a decade ago, while she was a local television anchor in New York. It involved isolation in a restaurants kitchen area with no other staff around, Weinstein exposing himself to Sivan, and masturbation.

TRENDING: What my 18 months as Jared Kushners first editor taught me about the Trump family

Media columnist Jim Rutenberg called out Weinsteins media enablers in his column on Friday, and the role of the sky-high pile of positive press clippings in building his Hollywood empire. He quoted former media columnist David Carrs 2001 New York magazine profile of Weinstein, of whom he was an astute observer: As the keeper of star-making machinery, Weinstein has re-engineered the media process so that he lives beyond its downsides.

But Sharon Waxman, a former Times reporter and founder of The Wrap, says in a story published yesterday she had investigated a similar story about Weinstein in 2004, even traveling to Italy and London for interviews. Waxman says the story never ran after interference from Weinstein himself, as well as Matt Damon and Russell Crowe. The final story in the Times had no references to the allegations of sexual coercion or the evenings organized with Russian escorts.

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ICYMI: Former gossip columnist says theres one fact about his past relationship with Trump thats tough to admit

CNNs Brian Stelter drew a direct line between what happened with Weinstein to the investigations into Bill Cosby, Roger Ailes, Bill OReilly and Donald Trump involving sexual assault. This is about how all men of all political leanings treat women in 2017  especially men in power, says the host of Reliable Sources. The story is also about the power and balance that remains at many media companies and at many other kinds of companies.

Below, more on what happened with Weinstein over the weekend:

Tough words from Mom : Before Bloom quit, her mother and famed womens rights attorney, Gloria Allred, publicly rebuked her daughters choice to advise Weinstein, saying in a statement,  I would have declined , because I do not represent individuals accused of sex harassment. Bloom responded by telling Variety , I would never take a case where either my lawyer mother or my lawyer daughter is opposing counsel. Thats another area where we differ. I believe in family before business.

Womens whisper networks exist for a reason : Anne Helen Petersen explains how so many women knew about Harvey for so long and why it wasnt a surprise to many when the Timess story finally came out.

Hes always been notorious: Vulture collected 17 on-the-record stories about Weinsteins outrageous behavior, including calling a columnist at the Los Angeles Times directly drubbing his companys Oscar campaign: Youre a piece of shit, your column is a piece of shit, no one cares what you write, they throw the newspaper away and wrap fish in it.

Other notable stories:

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Karen K. Ho is a freelance business, culture and media reporter, based in New York. She is also a former Delacorte Fellow at CJR. Follow her on Twitter @karenkho.
President Donald Trump proposed ending federal flood insurance for new homes in areas most at risk of flooding, a change that could curtail new construction in vast parts of Florida, Louisiana and along the Eastern Seaboard.

Trumps plan would radically overhaul the program created in 1968 to help protect homeowners who live along coasts or near rivers. The idea, sent by the White House to Congress, created an unlikely set of responses: Home builders warned it could stifle the economy while climate activists, who have battled Trump, called the idea smart.

On Wednesday Mick Mulvaney, the director of White House Office of Management and Budget, sent a letter to Congress calling for changes to the taxpayer-subsidized National Flood Insurance Program, which is $25 billion in debt thanks to ever-worsening storms. Mulvaneys proposals included preventing homes built in flood plains after 2020 from obtaining insurance under the program. Those homes could instead seek private coverage, which is often prohibitively expensive  if its available at all.

The National Association of Home Builders said it strongly opposed the idea, arguing it would harm local communities and impair economic growth.

It would simply prevent home builders from being able to provide safe and affordable housing, the associations chairman, Granger MacDonald, said in a statement. Why does OMB needlessly propose to penalize new construction?

The federal government provides flood insurance to those at risk through a program thats drawn criticism for subsidizing construction of homes vulnerable to damage or destruction. The White House plan would continue the insurance for existing homes within the 100-year flood plain, but discontinue it for any new homes in those zones. The proposal requires action by Congress, which have struggled to make radical changes to the program.

In addition to curtailing the coverage, the plan would give authority to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cut-off coverage for properties that flood repeatedly.

Lawmakers face a deadline of Dec. 8 to reauthorize the program, and, as part of an emergency aid package for Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas, Trump asked Congress to write off $16 billion the program owes the U.S. Treasury.

Congress considered a similar proposal earlier this year, but the provision never made it into legislation, according to Rob Moore, a policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Its really hard to read the tea leaves on this, Moore said.

Still, environmental groups say this is a rare policy idea in which they are in agreement with Trump.

This sends a signal to developers and builders, and people living in flood-risk areas, said Laura Lightbody, director for the Flood-Prepared Communities project at the Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington. We want less people in harms way, and less development in these coastal areas and riverine areas.

Lightbody said the change could have another benefit: making it easier for local officials to restrict development along the coast. Tighter rules on flood insurance gives them political cover to make those decisions, she said.

Elizabeth Thompson, a spokeswoman for the national home builders group, said building a private flood insurance market will take time.

Many lenders do not consider private insurance as equivalent or better than the NFIPs coverage and therefore do not accept it, she said in an email. There are bills in the House and Senate to ease those requirements; however, it may take years for a private market to develop.

In Florida, the change would absolutely reduce the number of houses built along the states coasts and rivers, said Rusty Payton, chief executive of the Florida Home Builders Association.

It would be a huge deal in Florida, Payton said in a phone interview. Right now there is not a viable private market for flood insurance.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
The Texas congressional delegation asked Thursday for $19 billion to help the Lone Star State recover from Harvey, with both Republicans and Democrats teaming up behind a request to repair water projects and help homeowners and communities rebuild from the storm.

The bipartisan request comes on top of President Donald Trumps Wednesday request for $29 billion for in hurricane aid, pairing $13 billion for emergency hurricane response with a $16 billion cash infusion for the financially troubled federal flood insurance program. It was delivered in a letter to the House and Senate appropriations committees.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the House will vote on Trumps request next week. Its unclear whether the powerful Texans will succeed in getting some or all of the additional money. Texas Republicans voted almost unanimously against legislation in 2013 that delivered comparable help to New York and New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy.

The Texas request combines $10 billion for repairs to Army Corps of Engineers projects, dredge navigation channels, and complete existing projects. Another $7 billion is requested for community development block grants that would help rebuild communities and individuals without flood insurance repair or replace their homes, among other purposes. They said that Texas alone will require $40 billion in such grants.

Repairs to transportation infrastructure and disaster loans for small businesses make up the rest of the request.

In light of the unprecedented damage from Hurricane Harvey and the historically epochal flooding of Houston, Beaumont and surrounding regions, we all recognize that the funding already appropriated is a small fraction of the federal resources needed to help rebuild Texas and reinvigorate the American economy, the delegation letter said.

Congress last month approved a $15 billion first installment for hurricane relief.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A Northern California judge fined the Bay Area Rapid Transit agency $220,000 on Friday for the deaths of two workers accidentally hit by a commuter train.

Laurence Daniels, 66, and Christopher Sheppard, 58, were killed in 2013 while inspecting a track east of San Francisco. They were inspecting the track as the agency was scrambling to restore limited service with managers serving as drivers amid a workers strike.

The train that struck the two workers was operated by a trainee with no direct supervision in the cab, the judge found. The driver slammed on the emergency brake and tried to hit the button to sound the trains horns but instead pressed a button that controls the doors.

The transit agency was using a safety procedure called simple approval, in which track inspectors were responsible for their own safety and determined they could clear the track within 15 seconds of an approaching train.

BART has since eliminated that policy. BART trains are now required to stop if a worker is within six feet of the track. BART has also said it has improved communications between drivers, track inspectors and the control center.

The two workers had their backs to the train when struck in violation of agency safety rules. One member of inspection crews is always supposed to be watching for trains.

The California Public Utilities Commission sought the fine and three years of probation after determining the transit agencys safety rules and procedure were inadequate. BART will have to pay an additional $440,000 if it violates terms of its probation, which include tightening its safety rules and submitting more detailed safety reports.

These are serious and egregious violations, particularly in view of the fact that they were violations committed by BARTs top level veteran managers, reflecting BARTs organizational and management culture and attitudes, the administrative law judges decision reads.

BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said the transit agency is still deciding whether to appeal. We put into place safeguards to minimize human error and brought on additional safety-related positions, Trost said.

BART has paid the family of Daniels $300,000 to settle a wrongful death lawsuit. Its unknown if Sheppards family has filed a lawsuit.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) There has been "no decision" on resumption of negotiations on the India-EU free trade agreement (FTA), despite the "possibility at hand", Germanys envoy Martin Ney said today.

He also rued EU leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi not taking a decision on it at the recent India-EU Summit.

Launched in June 2007, negotiations for the proposed India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) have witnessed many hurdles due to major differences on crucial issues like intellectual property rights, and duty cut in automobile and spirits.

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"There is no decision to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement, including investment protection, despite the possibility at hand.

"There was no such decision taken at the last EU-India Summit in March 2016. And the EU leaders and PM Modi, did neither take such a decision during the summit (this year) two days ago," Ney said.

He was addressing a gathering at the Indo-German Media Dialogue, jointly organised by the DW Akademie and the German Embassy here, at its premises.

The 14th India-EU Summit was held in New Delhi on October 6, during which the two sides had held extensive deliberations on bilateral, regional and international issues, including the Rohingya crisis and volatile situation in the Korean peninsula.

However, there was no major headway on the much-delayed free trade pact at Modis meeting with the European Council President Donald Franciszek Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

The German envoy, in his speech also pitched for further strengthening the Indo-EU cooperation.

India and the EU have been strategic partners since 2004. The 13th India-EU Summit was held in Brussels on March 30 last year during Modis visit.

The last years summit meeting had also failed to make any headway on the resumption of long stalled negotiations for a free trade agreement.

Senior journalists from leading media houses of both India and Germany participated in the three sessions held on themes such as globalisation and renationalism; impact of the recently-held elections in Germany; and fake news. PTI KND ANB

--- ENDS ---
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters outside the White House prior to his departure aboard Marine One on October 7, 2017.

The tax reform framework released by the White House and Congress would cut the top rate paid by American corporations to 20 percent from the current 35 percent. But owners of unincorporated pass-through businesses file under the individual tax code, which would have a top rate of at least 35 percent.

"There is no strong policy justification for the special pass-through rate in the GOP's plan," said Kyle Pomerleau, an analyst at the conservative Tax Foundation. Since pass-through earnings represent around one-third of all income for the top 1 percent of taxpayers, Pomerleau added, the provision tilts the plan's benefits toward the wealthy while favoring one kind of business over others.

That costlier tax break is the 25 percent top tax rate for so-called pass-through, unincorporated businesses. Its critics say the main beneficiaries would be well-to-do business owners, who would gain even larger tax advantages over corporate counterparts than they enjoy already.

Liberal economists call Republican plans to abolish the estate tax a costly giveaway to the rich, cloaked in rhetoric about saving family farms. A bigger problem for Republicans: some conservative economists say the same thing about an even costlier tax break Congress wants to give some businesses, cloaked in rhetoric about mom-and-pop enterprises.

So the plan calls for a special pass-through rate of 25 percent in the name of helping "small and family-owned businesses." The $770 billion cost of that provision, according to a Tax Policy Center analysis, represents nearly one-third of all tax cuts under the plan.

Pass-through businesses already pay lower overall income tax rates than corporations, the profits of which are taxed a second time when distributed to shareholders as dividends. Pomerleau estimates the current GOP plan would widen that tax advantage to around 10 percent, from 7 percent currently.

Greg Mankiw, former top economist to President George W. Bush, calls it logical to cut pass-through business rates at the same time corporate rates would drop by nearly half. But he worries about tax avoidance by ordinary salary earners that would turn themselves into independent contractors just to get the lower pass-through rate.

After the 1986 tax reform dropped the top individual rate below the top corporate rate, many businesses unincorporated to take advantage. This time, Republican leaders say they'll draft rules preventing the wealthy from relabeling personal income as business income.

Most of the tax break would go to high-income Americans in any case. Though most businesses are pass-throughs, 81 percent of business profits come in the 1 percent of firms with at least $10 million in receipts, according to the Brookings Institution.

That includes pass-through businesses such as auto dealerships, hedge funds, law firms and fast food franchises. The Tax Policy Center says 88 percent of the benefit from a 25 percent pass-through rate would flow to the top 1 percent.

"It seems like a stretch" to invoke mom-and-pop businesses for the pass-through rate, observed Alan Cole, until recently a Tax Foundation analyst. Its existence owes more to the lobbying clout of "traditional Republican constituencies," he added, noting that Rotary Clubs and chambers of commerce organize pass-through businesses in each congressional district.

That makes the pass-through debate like the one over abolishing the estate tax. That 40 percent levy now applies only to estates of $5.5 million for an individual, or $11 million for a couple.

Republican proponents of abolishing it say that would protect heirs to family farms and other small business. But of just 5,200 estates that will owe estate taxes in 2017, the Tax Policy Center says only about 50 represent small farms or businesses; the top 10 percent of earners pay 90 percent of all estate taxes paid.

The $239 billion, 10-year cost of eliminating the estate tax, and who would reap the benefit, have prompted Republican as well as Democratic resistance. With the GOP needing to hold at least 50 of its 52 senators to pass tax reform, Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota says he wants to preserve the estate tax at some level. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has previously opposed repeal.

Three times as expensive as eliminating the estate tax, the pass-through break could come under similar pressure as the Republicans adjust their plan in response to criticism.

Said Pomerleau, "They may want to think about scaling back this new preference."
Prime Minister Theresa May leaves Downing Street on her way to attending Prime Minister's Questions in the Houses of Parliament on June 28, 2017 in London, England.

Prime Minister Theresa May, weakened by a disastrous party conference, will give British lawmakers a bullish prognosis for negotiations over exit from the European Union on Monday, but tell them that it is up to Brussels to make the next move.

May has seen her authority erode since calling and then bungling an election in June, which cost her Conservatives their majority in parliament.

At her party's conference last week, her final speech was marred by a coughing fit and letters falling off the slogan on the set behind her. A former chairman of the party announced that a group of Conservative lawmakers was trying to topple her.

Meanwhile, she has so far failed to persuade Brussels to start talks on Britain's future relationship with the EU, six months after setting a two-year clock ticking on Britain's exit from the bloc.

May will tell lawmakers on Monday that she was offering Europe a "new, deep and special partnership" with Britain, her office said.

The next move would have to be taken by the other EU member states, but she expects them to accept her offer: "The ball is in their court. But I am optimistic we will receive a positive response."

Britain had aimed to start talks on its future ties with the European Union after a summit in Brussels later this month. But the head of the European Commission said last month that a "miracle" was needed in order to make sufficient progress to push the talks beyond the initial terms of the divorce.

Brussels says it will not discuss its future relationship with Britain until London agrees to pay its outstanding dues, resolves the fate of EU citizens living in Britain and works out a plan for the future UK-EU land border in Ireland.

May aimed to push the talks forward with a speech last month in which she asked for a transition period of about two years, which would see Britain remain inside the EU customs union and single market until its future arrangements could be worked out.

But days before her speech, her Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson wrote a long newspaper article setting out his own plans for Brexit, which many of May's allies saw as a move to undermine her authority within the party.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier said 10 days ago that a "new dynamic" had been created by her speech, but there was still not enough progress to move to the next phase of talks on a transitional period or a future trade deal.
Harvey Weinstein has been fired by The Weinstein Company after sexual harassment claims leveled against the producer of numerous Oscar-winning movies.

"In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company  Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar  have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately," the Weinstein Company Board said in a statement.

A spokesperson for company declined to provide details on Weinstein's firing.

The New York Times reported Thursday that Harvey Weinstein has over the years reached at least eight legal settlements with women over alleged harassment.

Weinstein on Thursday issued a lengthy statement that acknowledged causing "a lot of pain." He also asked for "a second chance." But he and his lawyers have criticized the Times' report in statements and interviews.

Members of the board have already discussed changing the corporate name, TheWrap reported, citing a source with knowledge of the matter.

Weinstein and his family have given more than $1.4 million in political contributions since the 1992 election cycle, nearly all of it to Democratic lawmakers, candidates and their allies, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Congressional Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have begun giving charities thousands of dollars in donations they had received from Weinstein.

The biggest beneficiary of funds from Weinstein and his family was the Democratic National Committee, which received about $800,000 in several of its accounts, according to the center. Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said the party plans to give more than $30,000 to Emily's List, Emerge America and Higher Heights.

Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said the party plans to give more than $30,000 to Emily's List, Emerge America and Higher Heights.

Rutgers University says it will not return a $100,000 donation from movie mogul Harvey Weinstein for a position named after women's rights advocate Gloria Steinem. The university said Friday that Weinstein's donation was one of more than 425 that has been used to Gloria Steinem Chair in Media, Culture, and Feminist Studies at the school. The school says it can think of "no better use" of the donation than to apply it to the position and its work.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
McDonald's over the weekend brought back a rare condiment from the 1990s, but the promotion ended in protests and sky-high secondary markets.

The fast food chain's latest stunt was bringing back its "Szechuan" sauce for a day, but restaurants across the United States quickly ran out of supply. The condiment  first created as part of a 1998 promotion for Disney film "Mulan"  became a topic of breathless discussion online after featuring in an episode of popular animated science fiction comedy "Rick and Morty" earlier this year.

In the episode, one of the protagonists  a dimension-hopping scientist with a god complex  retraces his own memories so as to re-experience the dipping sauce. In July, the show's co-creator, Justin Roiland, tweeted that McDonald's had sent him an entire bottle of the condiment.

Justin Roiland tweet

Jumping on the sauce's sudden popularity among the show's fans, McDonald's announced it was bringing back the dipping sauce in extremely limited quantities on Saturday, Oct. 7, across participating outlets in the United States.

McDonald's: Oh...did-did you guys want this? Szechuan Sauce ... on a poster & maybe your taste buds: only on 10/7. Full deets at buttermilkcrispytenders.com

But on Saturday, it appeared McDonald's had underestimated just how popular the dipping sauce had become. As outlets quickly ran out of supply, many were not pleased. In some cases, cops were called to deal with irate customers.

One Twitter user posted a video of an angry crowd chanting "We want sauce."

Tweet: Angry crowd chants "We want sauce" as police force them back. 1000+ people camped out to get #szechuansauce but McDonalds had 70 sauces....

Others criticized McDonald's for its extremely limited supply.

Tweet: They ran out of Szechuan sauce already #giveusthesauce @McDonalds @adultswim #RickandMorty

At least one user claimed to have driven from Canada  only to find disappointment.

Tweet: @McDonalds drove 4 hours at 6am from Canada for that #szechuansauce - no sauce, wouldn't even give us a poster :( #iwantmymcnuggetsauce

Some disappointed fans searched online sites like eBay where the condiment was selling for exorbitant sums. An offer for three sealed packs of the sauce sold for $848.88 ($282.96 each), while a single packet was bidding for $995. Most listings for the condiment were above $100.

McDonald's eventually addressed the horde of irate customers on Twitter.

The company acknowledged its "super-limited batch" was not enough to meet the demand, and promised to "make this right." McDonald's said the Szechuan sauce will come back to its restaurants in winter and it will be more widely available than Saturday's promotion.

McDonald's: You spoke. We've listened. Lots more #SzechuanSauce and locations. Details soon. And that's the wayyy the news goes!
In a stinging rebuke of Donald Trump, Republican Senator Bob Corker charged in an interview on Sunday that the United States president was treating his job like a "reality show," and that his rashness could set the country "on the path to World War III," The New York Times reported.

Trump acts "like he's doing 'The Apprentice' or something," Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reportedly told the Times. The senator added he was concerned by the president's behavior, the outlet said.

Corker's support will be crucial for Trump to pass tax reform, which is the president's best and perhaps last hope for reaching a legislative landmark this year, according to the NYT.

The senator's remarks followed a caustic exchange on Twitter on Sunday in which Trump lambasted the senator for "the horrendous Iran Deal" and claimed, among other things, that Corker had "begged" him for an endorsement on a re-election.

Tweet: Senator Bob Corker "begged" me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said "NO" and he dropped out (said he could not win without...

Tweet: ..my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said "NO THANKS." He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!

Tweet: ...Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run!

Corker responded by blasting the White House, saying it had "become an adult day care center."

Tweet: It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.

For more on Corker's interview with The New York Times, see the outlet's full report.
By PTI: Ahmedabad, Oct 9 (PTI) Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar today said the government has no intention to change the names of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

A UGC panel has recommended that words such as Hindu and Muslim be dropped from the Banaras Hindu University and the Aligarh Muslim University respectively as they not reflect their secular character.

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"AMU and BHU are very old institutions, and we do not intend to change their names. We formed a committee to look into the administrative, academic and research audits of universities.

"The committee studied various aspects and I have not seen what they have said, but there is neither such decision nor is there any such intention to change the names (of these universities)," the HRD minister told reporters here over the reports on the panels recommendation.

The committee was formed to probe the alleged irregularities in 10 central universities and the recommendations have been made in the audit report of AMU.

Javadekar said that while he is yet to look into the audit reports, the government will take cognisance of any such suggestion.

"The mandate of the committee is to look into the administrative, academic and research audits of universities. We will not take cognisance of what they have recommended outside of this," he said.

According to the panel, the universities can be simply called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders.

Besides AMU and BHU, other universities that were audited by the panel included Allahabad University, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, Central University of Jharkhand, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Jammu, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha, University of Tripura and Hari Singh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh.

On the Congress seeking probe into allegations that a company owned by BJP chief Amit Shahs son saw a huge rise in its turnover after his party came to power in 2014, Javadekar said the oppositions demand was "laughable".

"They (Jay Amit Shah) are themselves going to the court, and will give all information to the court, so Congress demand is laughable. Incurring losses in a business is not corruption," he said.

Javadekar said a committee headed by K Kasturirangan for new education policy is likely to submit its report by December.

The minister also participated in the BJPs Gujarat Gaurav Yatra and exuded confidence that the party will again form the government in the state.

"The issue of development that the BJP took up, is getting strong support from people. People are for development and for development they are with the BJP. Congress is agitated because it has been rejected for 22 years in Gujarat," he said. PTI KA PD GJS NP ZMN

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Regulators in Abu Dhabi are beginning to regulate initial coin offerings (ICOs)  the rapidly growing way that cryptocurrency start-ups are raising money  but have warned of the "many risks" involved.

ICOs are a way for start-ups to raise money by issuing a new cryptocoin, while users pay them in bitcoin or ethereum. It's similar to crowdfunding but with digital money. This year, start-ups have raised $2.4 billion from ICOs, according to data website Coindschedule.com.

On Monday, Abu Dhabi's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), released guidelines on ICOs and virtual currencies for the first time.

It said that if an ICO has the characteristics of a security, such as giving a person ownership of shares in a company, then the FSRA will regulate it, similar to a company issuing new stock.

"The ICO market is incredibly diverse in terms of quality, there are some ICOs which constitute high risk," Christopher Kiew-Smith, head of fintech strategy at the FSRA, told CNBC in a phone interview. "The disclosures are not there, there are no financial statements, those are extremely high risk for those seeking returns.

"But we are aware of and are working with some firms that want to use ICO tech to fund in a transparent fashion. We have asked firms to bring them within the regulatory framework."

Under the guidelines, companies wishing to execute an ICO must approach the FSRA to see whether it will fall under the body's regulation. Companies will also have to publish a prospectus, just like a firm would for an initial public offering (IPO) on the stock market. Any market intermediaries, or secondary market operators dealing with ICOs must be approved by the FSRA.

There are, however, some ICOs that will remain unregulated. If a token issued as part of an ICO does not constitute an "offer of securities" it will remain unregulated. In such instances, the regulator said investors should exercise "extreme caution" before committing money.

"The risk of fraud and loss of capital is therefore significantly higher. This is particularly likely to be the case where a token issuer promises extremely high investment returns that are disproportionately high relative to those generally available in the market," the FSRA's guidelines state.
Amazon is taking meetings about launching programs to bring more advertisers to its video platforms and make it a stronger competitor against YouTube .

The company has had multiple meetings where it suggested it would be launching more advertiser-friendly initiatives. Several people said Amazon suggested it would be more open to giving advertisers more data on what viewers were watching and what they were doing online. Another potential program would pair companies with vetted video producers to create sponsored content, one buyer said. Since the production is technically an advertisement, Amazon would get some of the deal money.

Amazon has also met with several technology companies regarding how to prevent inappropriate content from appearing next to ads, an issue called content adjacency, several people with knowledge of the meetings told CNBC. The industrywide issue was put in the spotlight when several ads on YouTube and on other Google-owned platforms were seen running next to neo-Nazi and jihadist content in March.

CNBC spoke to five sources with knowledge of the talks, including people from major advertising companies and media companies. These sources requested anonymity because these were private meetings with Amazon about potential projects, and they were not authorized to discuss them publicly.

Digital video advertising is booming, with U.S. video ad spending reaching $13.23 billion this year according to eMarketer. One of the largest recipients of revenue is YouTube, which will garner 21.7 percent of U.S. video ad revenue this year, according to eMarketer's estimates. However advertisers have been hungry for more places to put video in order to increase competition, especially with a company that could have the scale and reach of YouTube.

Amazon had 310 million monthly active customers when it last reported numbers during Q1 of 2016. Though it pales in comparison to YouTube's 1.5 billion monthly active users, if Amazon could tell advertisers what its customers like to watch online and pair that with their shopping habits, one source noted this could be a "game changer; the big thing to watch for disrupting the overall ecosystem."

Currently Amazon allows anyone to upload videos through a program called Amazon Video Direct (AVD), The videos are then available to buy or rent, stream through Amazon Prime or to watch for free with ads. It also owns Twitch, a video platform where users can livestream content and save previous sessions to be watched on-demand.

Although AVD's current ad-supported program is comparable to YouTube's offering, advertisers aren't bullish on it yet. Media buyers said it doesn't give out as much information about ad performance (including return on investment) compared to YouTube and doesn't allow third parties to audit how well the ads are doing, with one media buyer calling it a "black box." It's also pricier than YouTube. For these reasons, many companies still think of YouTube as the de facto video platform to advertise on. But if Amazon could give advertisers more data about consumers and allow its information to paired with analytics from outside sources, it could make it a gigantic force.

Amazon declined comment.
Ken Rogoff, Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Economics at Harvard University.

The price of bitcoin will "collapse" as cryptocurrencies face continued regulatory pressure from governments, Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff said Monday.

"My best guess is that in the long run, the technology will thrive, but that the price of bitcoin will collapse," Rogoff said in an article for The Guardian and Project Syndicate.

Bitcoin has rallied 365 percent since the start of the year, and today hit a one-month high of $4,638.07.

The digital currency and its counterparts operate on encrypted distributed ledgers called blockchains. Transactions are anonymous, and are not managed by a central authority, in the way that fiat currencies are by central banks.

Rogoff argued that increased efforts from governments to rein in virtual currencies could eventually contribute to a decline in speculative interest in the digital asset.

"The long history of currency tells us that what the private sector innovates, the state eventually regulates and appropriates," he said.

"I have no idea where bitcoin's price will go over the next couple years, but there is no reason to expect virtual currency to avoid a similar fate."

Last month, China stepped up pressure on cryptocurrencies, with a ban on initial coin offerings (ICOs) and the closure of domestic bitcoin exchanges.

By contrast, Japan has offered a more welcoming environment. In September, it recognized 11 firms as registered cryptocurrency exchange operators, a decision reflective of a move earlier this year to grant bitcoin legal tender status.

The digital currency has been faced with a number of critics, including JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, who called it a "fraud", and Bridgewater Associates' Ray Dalio, who called it a "bubble".
TCL Communications launched the full touchscreen BlackBerry Motion smartphone, aimed at the Middle East market, on Sunday.

Last year, Chinese firm TCL signed a brand licensing deal with BlackBerry to use the company's name for new smartphones, while the Canadian firm focused on software.

This is the second phone to come out of that deal. The BlackBerry Motion runs Google's Android operating system, has a 5.5-inch full high definition display and fingerprint sensor. It also comes loaded with all of BlackBerry's security apps.

But the phone doesn't have the classic BlackBerry keyboard. TCL said that it also has a huge battery that will offer over 32 hours of mixed use. It will also have space for two SIM cards.

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The BlackBerry Motion is available for pre-order in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, but TCL did not reveal a price or if it will become available in other markets.

TWEET

Focusing on the Middle East market could help TCL grow. While it has proved a difficult region for smartphone makers this year, it is expected to grow 9 percent in 2018, according to market research firm IDC.

Earlier this year, TCL unveiled the BlackBerry KEYone, an Android smartphone that has a keyboard.
The Trump campaign's digital director credits Facebook in helping to fuel the president's surprising win last November.

In an interview with CBS News' "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday, Brad Parscale said Facebook "was the method" for President Donald Trump's stunning rise to the White House. Parscale, who spearheaded the small Trump campaign team's digital and fundraising efforts, contended that the team took advantage of Facebook in a way Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign did not.

"Facebook now lets you get to places and places possibly that you would never go with TV ads," Parscale, web director at San Antonio-based marketing and design firm Giles Parscale, told CBS. "Now, I can find, you know, 15 people in the Florida Panhandle that I would never buy a TV commercial for. And, we took opportunities that I think the other side didn't."

He pointed to the Trump campaign having Facebook employees "embedded inside our offices" to explain how to use the platform to target voters. Parscale wanted Trump-supporting Facebook employees to offer guidance, and the company already had divisions "set up" by political affiliation, he said.

Parscale said he "heard" Clinton's campaign got the same offer but did not accept it.

In a statement, Facebook said it offered the campaigns "identical support" and had teams assigned to both Trump and Clinton. "Everyone had access to the same tools," the company said, adding that it did not let campaigns "hand pick" employees or assign its workers full time to Trump or Clinton.

"Both campaigns approached things differently and used different amounts of support," Facebook said.

CNBC could not immediately reach former Clinton campaign officials for comment.

Parscale also says the Trump campaign's focus on infrastructure policy gave it an advantage. As a candidate, Trump repeatedly pledged to pass a spending package to rebuild American roads, bridges and airports.

"It was voters in the Rust Belt that cared about their roads being rebuilt, their highways, their bridges. They felt like the world was crumbling. So I started making ads that would show the bridge crumbling," Parscale said. "You know, that's microtargeting them. Because I can find the 1,500 people in one town that care about infrastructure. Now, that might be a voter that normally votes Democrat." He says his company got paid $94 million for its work on the campaign.

Parscale, as part of the Trump campaign's push to target voters, has also faced questions about possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. U.S. intelligence services have said the Kremlin orchestrated a campaign to influence the election, partly fueled by politically charged ads on Facebook.

Parscale told CBS he "would not want a foreign entity to meddle in our election." He called it a "farce" to say that he, personally, had any role in cooperating with the Kremlin.

Read the CBS interview here.
Thousands of demonstrators g Antonio Masiello/Getty Images

The potential constitutional crisis facing Madrid has not gone away and could reach a decisive point this week, despite a mass protest in favor of a united Spain on Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Catalonia Sunday to call for unity, voicing their opposition to last week's non-binding and referendum on independence on October 1 that was declared illegal by the Spanish government and constitutional court. Police in Barcelona estimated that 350,000 people had attended the march while Societat Civil Catalana, an anti-independence group that organized the protest, put the number of demonstrators at 930,000. Waving both Spanish and Catalan flags, demonstrators on Sunday praised the actions taken by the Spanish government to prevent the symbolic referendum vote, and criticized local politicians who have encouraged secession from Spain.

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Responding to the latest pro-unionist march in Catalonia, Raul Romeva, the region's foreign affairs minister, told CNBC on Sunday that there had been a larger pro-independence response from the Catalan people and that needed to be addressed by Madrid. "For six to seven years in a row we have seen millions of people on the street. I'm not talking about governing, I'm talking about society. We have seen millions of people on the street demanding to approach, politically, that issue. I think that the people deserves, they have earned the right to be listened (to)," he said. "Obviously from that perspective we have been trying to have that dialogue to engage with the Spanish government, unfortunately we are alone at the table. So in order to have a negotiation or dialogue you need a counterpart and so far we are alone at the table and you need two to tango," he added.

Puigdemont to address regional parliament

Sunday's protest centered in the regional capital Barcelona and will likely put more pressure on the regional government to drop its claims to independence. The vote saw 90 percent of the 2.28 million people who voted choose independence. Voter turnout was low at 43 percent, however, although the regional government said 770,000 potential voters were not able to vote following the Spanish police's crackdown on voters and polling stations. Spanish Health Minister Dolors Montserrat, who originates from Catalonia, delivered a brief statement at the rally on Sunday: "Today is a very important day for all the Catalans and today we are going to put a stop to the independence, and we will  And we want to build for the Catalans and with all the rest of the Spanish people, this grand nation and this great democracy all together." The government in Madrid has urged its counterpart in Barcelona to resist declaring independence although Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has rejected calls for mediation to resolve the impasse with the Catalan government.

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Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has said he will address the regional parliament on Tuesday evening and it's still uncertain whether he will go ahead with declaring independence  as he stated last week  particularly after a strong show of support in favor of unity with Spain. Rajoy said Madrid could use its constitutional powers to suspend Catalonia's autonomy and prevent it from declaring independence. In an interview with the El Pais newspaper published on Sunday, the Spanish leader suggested he could trigger article 155 of the constitution, which would allow him to dismiss the regional government and call fresh local elections. He said he would not "rule out anything that is within the law."

Firms to relocate

Amid the uncertainty, a number of Spanish companies headquartered in Catalonia, including banks Sabadell and Caixabank , have opted to relocate due to fears over secession. Meanwhile, Spanish energy company Gas Natural and water firm Agbar have announced moves to Madrid. The decisions to relocate likely dealt a blow for the Catalan government and comes after ratings agency Moody's said in a report Friday that Catalan independence would have "broad negative, albeit highly uncertain, credit implications for a wide range of bond issuers in Spain and the region."

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An anti-separatist demonstrator in support of the Spanish National Police and Civil Guard gestures while wearing a Spanish national flag during a protest near a Civil Guard barrack in Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain, on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy convenes his cabinet on Friday as the financial and politic Angel Garcia | Bloomberg | Getty Images

With Catalan separatists contemplating whether to declare independence for the autonomous region, experts have detailed how the national government could react as tensions in the region rise.



The illegal October 1 referendum recorded 90 percent of Catalans voting in favor of independence, yet under half of the population voted, according to the Catalonia government. Meanwhile, Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy denounced that a referendum had even occurred. Here, CNBC outlines the options that the Spanish government could take if Catalonia declares independence:

Enacting Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution

Invoking article 155, which has never been used before, would allow the Spanish central government in Madrid to take away Catalonia's autonomy, either partially or totally.



The article can be enacted if an autonomous community did not follow the laws under the Constitution or acted "in a manner that gravely attacked the general interest of Spain."

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It would take a few days for this process to occur, as Rajoy would have to formally notify Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and the Catalan government, and then put it up for a vote in the Senate if Puigdemont were to reject the notification. As Rajoy's party represents a majority in the Senate, the article would most likely pass. Once enacted, the entire Catalan parliament, made up of 135 members, would be dissolved and new regional elections would have to occur within the next two months, explained Marina Diaz Cristobal, a professor of history and political science in Barcelona. Members of the current parliament could run again if they were not involved in illegal activities, she added. "The risks of taking this road would be exacerbating the (pro-independence) movement," said Cristobal. Also, there is nothing preventing Catalonians from simply electing another extreme pro-separatist as president.

Martial law or state of emergency

The Spanish government could use the military to take direct control of the Catalan region. This option would be "very unlikely", said Cristobal, especially in the wake of the police violence towards Catalan citizens that occurred last week, which prompted a general strike on Tuesday.

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If the Spanish government were to declare a state of emergency, it could perform actions that it normally could not under the Constitution in order to regain control over the Catalonia region. Similar to martial law, the government would most likely have to bring in the national police to enforce the decision.

Negotiations

Rajoy has been clear that he will not discuss the illegal referendum, which seems to put negotiations with the Catalan government off the table.



The two leaders could accept the mediation of a third party so a new relationship between Catalonia and Spain could be established, said Cristobal, possibly through a constitutional change. Puigdemont has turned to the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, for help, pleading for "international mediation" last week. However, the EU is standing behind Rajoy and calling the situation an internal conflict.

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Luis de Guindos, the Spanish economy minister, poured cold water on the possibility of Catalonia gaining independence and said citizens don't need to worry about having their deposits in Catalan banks.

"It's very clear the independence of Catalonia is not going to take place," he told CNBC Monday.

"It's illegal, irrational, detrimental to the Catalan economy. We have seen the decisions taken by a lot of corporations."

His words come after a selection of high profile Spanish companies voiced concerns about recent tensions with some opting to move their headquarters out of the region. De Guindos said these announcements sent a very clear message to the politicians of the regional government of Catalonia.

He added that despite the uncertainty created by the Catalonia crisis, Spain will keep growing.
The European Union isn't looking to make an example of the United Kingdom for its decision to leave the EU  it is just a "very difficult" situation, former European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet told CNBC on Monday.

On Monday, Prime Minister Theresa May said she expected any deal with the EU to be struck close to the end of the two-year negotiating period. Only then would Britain know the costs or benefits, she said.

Trichet said it was explained very clearly by those in the "remain camp" that leaving the EU would be "catastrophic" for the U.K.

"I don't think there is any  will to punish Britain. It's only taking the consequence of the fact that the UK that entered in Europe in order to be part of the single market has decided to get out of the single market. That's a simple as that and, of course, the consequences are very bad," he said in an interview with "Closing Bell."

He also doesn't think the future of the European Union will be called into question.

"I'm very, very convinced that resilience of the European project is much, much stronger than is very often analyzed or forecasted," he said.

Meanwhile, in Spain a separatist movement has caused instability. Catalonia's leader said the region will declare independence from Spain "in a matter of days." However, Luis de Guindos, the Spanish economy minister, told CNBC on Monday, "It's very clear the independence of Catalonia is not going to take place."

Trichet is convinced the separatist movement in Spain will fail, but called it a "very difficult challenge."

"It is so clearly in the interest of the Catalonian economy as well as the economy of Spain for the province to remain united with Spain," he said.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) The Supreme Court today ruled out setting up of a separate Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged revelation of offshore accounts of Indians in Panama papers leak, saying the multi-agency group set up by the government was already looking into the matter.

A bench, comprising Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit, said a multi-agency group (MAG), consisting officers of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), was like an SIT itself.

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"This multi agency group is already like an SIT. What is the need to form a separate SIT," the bench asked.

Additional Solicitor General P S Narasimha, appearing for the Centre, said the issue of probe into the offshore accounts of Indians was "not ordinary" and "very complicated" and the MAG constituted by the government was already looking into it.

He said the MAG was already investigating the matter and has started to submit its detailed reports as well.

Narasimha said that seven reports have already been filed in the apex court and a separate SIT on blackmoney issue was already there. He said the MAG was probing this matter in its entirety and progress in investigation was being made.

Opposing the plea seeking the setting up of an SIT to probe the alleged offshore accounts of Indians as revealed in Panama paper leaks, he said there was no need for it.

Advocate M L Sharma, the petitioner in the case, told the court that an SIT should be formed to have a fair probe in these matters as there was alleged violation of provisions of the RBI rules as well as the Foreign Exchange Management Act.

He claimed that despite seven reports having been filed in sealed cover in the apex court, no FIR has been lodged by the government in these cases.

The bench, which disposed of the plea, said that probe into these matters would continue.

The apex court had in April this year asked the Centre whether a SIT should be constituted to probe the matter.

It had on March 7 asked the Centre to place before it in a sealed cover all the six reports of MAG, prepared till then.

The Centre had sought dismissal of the PIL, saying MAG has already been set up to ensure "speedy and coordinated" probe against Indians whose names have figured in the Panama papers.

It had said that the reports have already been submitted by the MAG to the apex court-appointed SIT on black money, led by Justice (Retd) M B Shah, as well as to the court itself.

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The Centre had last year informed the court that Rs 8,186 crore, illegally kept in offshore banks by Indians, has been brought under the tax ambit despite constraints like non- sharing of information by Swiss authorities.

Seeking dismissal of the PIL, it had said the SIT on black money has been kept informed on a regular basis about the development made in the probe.

Sharma in his PIL had sought a court-monitored independent probe into the Panama papers leak which contained an unprecedented amount of information, including more than 11 million documents covering 2,10,000 companies in 21 offshore jurisdictions.

The petition had alleged that Panama papers included the names of nearly 500 Indians, including celebrities and industrialists, who have allegedly parked funds in offshore accounts in transactions brokered by the law firm. PTI ABA PKS SJK RKS ARC

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ESPN anchor Jemele Hill was suspended for two weeks after violating ESPN's social media guidelines, according to the company.

"Jemele Hill has been suspended for two weeks for a second violation of our social media guidelines," ESPN said in a statement. "She previously acknowledged letting her colleagues and company down with an impulsive tweet. In the aftermath, all employees were reminded of how individual tweets may reflect negatively on ESPN and that such actions would have consequences. Hence this decision."

ESPN told CNBC Hill was suspended not because of a single tweet but because of series of tweets that "brought the company into a conversation it didn't belong in."

In several tweets on Monday, Hill said a "more powerful statement" against Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was to boycott watching the team and buying its merchandise, as well as boycotting its advertisers. The tweet was in response to Jones' statements that any player who "disrespects the flag" by kneeling during the national anthem would not be allowed to play. Hill added on Twitter she was not advocating an NFL boycott, but pointing out an "unfair burden" for players on teams with anthem protest rules.

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A source with knowledge of the situation told CNBC the suspension was in accordance with the company's social media guidelines, which Hill violated when she called on her followers to boycott the Cowboys' sponsors. Some of those advertisers also are ESPN clients.

Hill had previously called President Donald Trump a "bigot" and "a white supremacist who has surrounded himself with other white supremacists" on Twitter. Trump demanded an apology for the "untruth" on Twitter, but ESPN decided not to suspend her at the time because of the context of the tweet, according to CEO Bob Iger. Hill apologized to ESPN at the time for painting them in an "unfair light."

 Additional reporting by Julia Boorstin.
In a lucid, bracing and much-discussed essay for Oprah.com called "The New Midlife Crisis," author Ada Calhoun sums up the reason why so many members of Generation X  especially women  feel stressed out and stretched thin: money.

"By some estimates, we carry more debt than any other age group (about $37,000 more than the national consumer debt average). We're some of the best-educated women in history, and yet we're downwardly mobile; about two-thirds of us have less wealth than our parents did at the same age," she writes.

And individuals aren't to blame. "This isn't because we spent too much on Pearl Jam CDs," writes Calhoun. Prices have gone up for everything that matters, while wages haven't followed suit.

"The cost of a home has increased by more than 80 percent from 1970 to 2000, the last year for which data is available. (Between 2000 and 2005 and since 2013, home prices have outpaced salary growth.) In the late '70s annual tuition for a four-year college was less than $11,000 in today's dollars, now it's three times that."

In consequence, she points out, "40-somethings haven't saved nearly enough for retirement. More than half of unmarried Gen Xers have less than $50,000 saved."
The chairman of Germany's Free democratic party FDP Christian Lindner faces photographers and cameramen as he arrives for a press conference on Sepbember 25, 2017, in Berlin one day after general elections. The pro-business and liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) scored a 10.7- percent comeback after crashing out of parliament four years ago. JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images

With the departure of Wolfgang Schaeuble as the German finance chief following the federal election last month, political analysts and economists are busy profiling the possible next head of the country's finance ministry. Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) won the largest share of the vote in a federal election last month, " On Monday, Merkel told a joint news conference with the CSU's leader that the parties would begin coalition talks with the FDP and Greens next Wednesday. She added that on Friday October 20, the first round of "exploratory talks with all partners" would begin, Reuters reported. The new person will not only dictate the economic direction of Europe's largest economy but will have a large influence over the euro zone itself. Here, CNBC highlights the prime candidates for the role and what impact they could have.

Christian Lindner leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP)

As the leader of the FDP, which is expected to become the coalition partner of Merkel's CDU-CSU and Greens coalition, Lindner has been tipped as a likely candidate to take the finance ministry. The 38-year-old is largely the "face" of the FDP and has political weight because of his high profile. He is known for his pro-business but anti-euro zone integration stance, meaning any tenure of the finance ministry could see the department continue to resist more plans  from Macron and supported by Merkel  for closer economic union in the euro zone. Carsten Nickel, managing director of Teneo Intelligence, told CNBC that Lindner might prefer to lead the FDP in parliament rather than taking a cabinet post under the aegis of Merkel. "There is speculation that Lindner could stay out of it altogether, preferring a stronger profile outside of the government," Nickel said, adding: "The FDP's election campaign focused on personality too, particularly on Lindner but whether that is enough to lead the finance ministry and become the de-facto leader of the Eurogroup (the group of euro zone finance ministers) I'm not sure."

Alexander Graf Lambsdorff

Another possible contender for the role is Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, who is vice-president of the European Parliament and a member of the FDP too. The 50-year-old is seen as part of a political dynasty  his uncle was economy minister in the late 1970s and early 1980s  and Lambsdorff himself has served as a member of the Bundestag and European Parliament, thus knows Brussels' corridors of power well. Nickel believes that Lambsdorff would be a "very good choice" for finance minister. "Although Lambsdorff has had no experience in government, you could say you need someone in the finance ministry who knows Brussels and its institutions and speaks several languages," Nickel said, adding, "He has the relevant contacts and could act as a bridge between Europe and the liberal base in Germany."

Wolfgang Kubicki

Another strong contender for the finance minister post is Wolfgang Kubicki who, at 65, is also a long-standing member of Germany's political establishment. As the vice-chairman of the FDP, he is also only second in command to Lindner at the top of the party. Nickel noted that Kubicki's strongest card is that he has experience of government at a regional level. "It's normal in Germany for ministers to have usually served at a regional level and Kubicki is a bit older, he's a seasoned experienced politician."

Other contenders?

While the FDP's party members are seen as the likeliest contenders for the finance ministry role, it's not impossible that the CDU could keep the position for one of its own, according to Nickel. "An outlier (candidacy) is that you strike some sort of deal and the job is left with the CDU, and that's something I still wouldn't rule out," Nickel said. An CDU-originated candidate could come in the form of Ursula von der Leyen, the only female contender currently. Von der Leyen is no stranger to ministerial positions as the incumbent minister of defense (the first woman in German history to hold that office). She has also held other ministerial posts in recent years. Another name that has been mentioned is the European Investment Bank's (EIB) President Werner Hoyer. However, he told reporters at the end of September that he was "extremely happy" at the EIB and was "looking forward to another six years at the bank," Reuters reported. "Not least given his experience at the EIB, a Ministry of Finance under Werner Hoyer in particular might be expected to take forward in a constructive way some of the elements of euro area reform proposed by (French President Emmanuel) Macron, including selected budgetary initiatives," Chris Scicluna, executive director and head of economic research at Daiwa Capital Markets, told CNBC on Monday.

Why this is happening and why it matters

It's traditional in Germany for the junior coalition partner  in this case, likely to be the FDP  to choose a government ministry it wants to lead. The FDP are known as advocating free market policies, privatization and civil liberties and are seen as right of center, with a pro-business ethos as a central tenet of its manifesto. The finance ministry is seen as the most likely department to be chosen. As such,  a respected figure in Germany and keen promoter of pro-European values but also austerity and fiscal discipline within the euro zone  has been widely seen as preemptive of the FDP's taking-over of the ministry For his part, Schaeuble will take his many years of experience in office to become president of the Bundestag, Germany's parliament. In the meantime, Peter Altmaier, chief of staff of the German Chancellery, a trusted right-hand man of , is heading up the finance ministry. Whoever takes the role as next finance minister of Germany matters not only in the country itself  Germany is the largest euro zone economy and is seen as the motor of the single currency area  but beyond. Schaeuble was keenly pro-European but he had voiced misgivings about proposals by Macron, in favor of more economic integration in the bloc, namely with a euro zone finance minister and euro zone budget. So whether the next German finance minister adopts that view  which could ultimately prove a large obstacle to Macron's plans  will be watched with interest.

Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble (CDU) arrives for the weekly German federal Cabinet meeting on February 1, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. Adam Berry | Getty Images

Schaeuble's legacy
Unstable loans and escalating levels of global debt could plunge the world into another financial crisis, departing German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told the Financial Times in an interview published Sunday.

"Economists all over the world are concerned about the increased risks arising from the accumulation of more and more liquidity and the growth of public and private debt ... I myself am concerned about this, too," he said.

Schaeuble, who is poised to become speaker of the Bundestag in Germany's new government, warned that "new bubbles" could soon emerge after central banks pumped trillions of dollars into financial markets.
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Even amid the latest salvo in the Twitter wars between President Donald Trump and Congress, Wall Street is optimistic that the fighting factions can find their way to tax reform. Goldman Sachs is currently assigning a 65 percent chance that the multiple sides in the tax debate can come to some kind of agreement in 2018. If so, that would push the stock market higher, with the hitting 2,610, or roughly 2.5 percent from Monday's opening level, according to the firm's analysis. related investing news Goldman Sachs expects inflation to 'fall significantly' in 2023 That's not a lot of impact, though it could be argued that much of the 2017 rally, which has pushed the index up nearly 14 percent, has been pricing in tax reform. David Kostin, Goldman's chief investment strategist, said tax reform's progress will outweigh a muted earnings season to push stocks higher.

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Goldman has an otherwise muted forecast for the market. The firm expects the S&P 500 to close 2017 at 2,400, which would represent a 6.3 percent slide from the current level. But Goldman is not the only firm looking for a deal. Nomura economist Lewis Alexander said he expects tax cuts to pass "in early 2018." However, that will probably be part of a less ambitious measure than the sweeping reform that Trump and congressional Republicans had promised. "We remain pessimistic that serious reform will be passed and that Republicans will be able to raise enough revenue to permanently cover the costs of significantly lowering the corporate tax rate," Alexander said in a note. "Substantial tax reform, which includes closing loopholes and creating winners and losers, has not occurred since 1986." The current proposal has resistance on both sides. The provision to cut corporate taxes and lower the rate for top-tier earners and remove the estate tax has Democrats angered that it's a giveaway to the rich. Republicans, meantime, rue that cutting taxes without closing loopholes will balloon the $693 billion budget deficit and the $20.4 trillion national debt.

President Donald Trump speaks to the media prior to departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, September 27, 2017, as he travels to Indiana to unveil his tax reform plan. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images

Sen. Bob Corker, in particular, has indicated that he will oppose any bill that increases the deficit. The Tennessee Republican and Trump engaged in a very public Twitter battle over the weekend. Corker has said he will not run for re-election in 2018. To be sure, given the tense political climate, there's some pessimism that a tax deal will get done. Greg Valliere, chief global strategist at Horizon Investments, pointed to an interview budget director Mick Mulvaney gave with NBC News' "Meet the Press" this week indicating that the administration would be willing to take on higher deficits if it meant stronger growth. "This Keynesian dogma, coming from a former hard-line deficit hawk, has bewildered many Republicans like Corker, while supply-side Republicans are dismayed that abolition of the estate tax looks less likely," Valliere wrote in his daily note. "There's no margin for error on a tax bill, as Republicans waver and Democrats reject any compromise." For now, Valliere said, "bipartisanship is dead," and that will make it all the more difficult for Trump to push his tax plan through. WATCH: Opposing factions in the tax wars debate whether cuts bring growth.

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CEO is well aware that being one of the world's biggest companies makes it a take-down target.

"You always think there is someone in the Valley, working on something in a garage  something that will be better," Sundar Pichai said in a rare interview published by The Guardian over the weekend.

The Guardian asked Pichai how it feels to be in charge of Google.

"History shows that the opposite of what people were worrying about is typically true. Go back 10 years and look at the largest market cap companies: the bigger you are, the more you may be at a disadvantage," he told The Guardian. "As a big company, you are constantly trying to foolproof yourself against being big, because you see the advantage of being small, nimble and entrepreneurial. Pretty much every great thing gets started by a small team."

Google has changed quite a bit since the two-man operation of Larry Page and Sergey Brin in the Stanford dorms. Investors have pushed the prices of tech stocks ever higher, boosting the market value of Facebook and Google above giants like Exxon Mobil and JPMorgan Chase over the past 10 years. Google's dominance in search advertising has not come without its scrutiny, especially in Europe, where regulators penalized the company with a record fine.

Despite Google's high profile, Pichai has stayed out of the spotlight in the two years he has led Google, at least relative to some of the other powerful personalities in the technology sector. The Guardian's profile reveals some interesting tidbits about Pichai's outlook, including that:

He still buys print newspapers.

His proposal of the Chrome browser was not well-received at the time.

He thinks he was a very different kind of leader at Android than founder Andy Rubin.

For more on Pichai, see the full profile in The Guardian.
Hundreds of government employees file in and out of the U.S. agency for auto safety in Washington every working day, investigating potentially dangerous vehicles and managing a $900 million annual budget. But an administrator is not among them  nobody has been nominated to the top job since President Donald Trump took office. Also missing from the roughly 550 people on the payroll of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, are a permanent chief counsel, director for government affairs, chief financial officer, and enforcement chief. While a deputy administrator was appointed last week, slow progress in bringing in senior politically appointed officials has nearly frozen key decision-making at the agency, according to five former NHTSA officials, consumer groups, lawmakers and some business leaders. They said that without leadership in place NHTSA has either pushed back or failed to act on rules setting new standards for improving how buses fare in rollover crashes, a system to remind passengers in rear seats to wear seat belts, and new tire standards. Eight months into Trump's presidency, senior positions in many government agencies across Washington remain vacant, including roles at the State Department, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and throughout the Transportation Department that oversees NHTSA. Some of the vacancies are the result of Trump's efforts to slim down the federal bureaucracy. Others are simply waiting to be filled. The White House blames Democrats for dragging out the confirmation process for its nominees, and says vetting picks has been more complicated than usual because many come from the business world rather than government. While many companies applaud Trump's moves to roll back federal bureaucracy, some also complain that delays in bringing aboard political appointees is hindering government decisions that could impact business. The frustration extends to some U.S. diplomats, private-sector lawyers and others who regularly deal with government agencies, according to interviews.

'In a stall'

In September, the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association urged Trump in a letter to accelerate his efforts to nominate a NHTSA administrator so the agency can comply with a 2015 road safety law passed by Congress. The law ordered NHTSA to write regulations setting minimum tire standards for fuel efficiency and traction in wet conditions and create an online database for consumers to check for tire recalls. U.S. manufacturers and consumer groups support the regulations, drawn up in response to vehicle deaths linked to faulty tires, because they will raise standards and make the U.S. market less accessible to poorly made versions. "We don't want the U.S. to be kind of the dumping group for the really low technology because there isn't a standard to meet," said Dan Zielinski, the association's senior vice president. Two former NHTSA leaders and consumer groups say the agency is also moving slowly on other regulatory issues, such as improving side impact standards. "This agency is in a stall ... They are not going to do very much without political leadership," said Joan Claybrook, a former NHTSA administrator under President Jimmy Carter and a prominent consumer advocate. NHTSA said in a statement Friday that safety is its top priority. The agency is "committed to meeting all obligations as required" by the 2015 law. NHTSA has an ongoing review of all regulatory actions as part of an administration-wide effort. A White House spokeswoman declined to comment on NHTSA but said "capable and professional staff" are filling essential positions throughout the government on an acting basis until confirmations go through. Leadership shortages extend beyond the NHTSA. The White House had by Oct. 4 nominated 387 political appointees for civilian positions in the executive branch and 160 have been confirmed by the U.S. Senate, according to the non-partisan Partnership for Public Service. Both numbers were well below those in the first eight months under at least the last four presidents. In the same period of Barack Obama's presidency, 497 candidates were nominated and 337 confirmed. One senior administration official said it aims to have all top positions - those at the level of assistant secretary and above - nominated by year's end. Still, some political appointee jobs are expected to stay empty, the White House spokeswoman said. "The federal government has grown unrestrained for decades because politicians have been too afraid to 'drain the swamp'," she said. Follow Trump's impact on energy, environment, healthcare, immigration and the economy at The Trump Effect www.reuters.com/trump-effect

'Behind the curve'
Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at the 2017 Stephan Weiss Apple Awards on June 7, 2017 in New York City.

Britons who supported Brexit in last year's referendum on European Union (EU) membership "voted against modern Britain," Hillary Clinton said in an interview published Sunday.

The former U.S. secretary of state told The Sunday Times: "They voted against modern Britain and the EU, believing that somehow this would be good for their small village. It made no sense The same thing played out in my race, but I didn't think we were so vulnerable. But it turned out we were wrong  in part because the Russians played a much bigger role."

American intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin initially wanted to harm former Democrat presidential nominee Clinton's chances of becoming commander-in-chief, before later explicitly aiding Donald Trump's campaign. Russia has repeatedly denied any meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.

Clinton, who was defeated by Trump in November's general election, told The Times that in hindsight Brexit "should have been a bigger alarm" for her own campaign.

Click here to read more at The Sunday Times.
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Families of college-bound students can now file key financial aid forms. It takes some legwork to make sure you're ready. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2018-19 academic year has been available as of Oct. 1. Colleges, as well as federal and state governments and other groups, use FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based financial aid. (Oct. 1 was also the start day to file the CSS Profile, which is required by nearly 400 colleges and scholarship programs for their own aid programs, according to the College Board.) FAFSA-filing rates have ticked up in recent years as families look for strategies to reduce the rising costs of college, said Rick Castellano, a spokesman for student loan company Sallie Mae. "Those cost-saving measures include completing the FAFSA," he said. In Sallie Mae's 2017 "How America Pays for College" report, 86 percent of families said they had filed the FAFSA, the highest rate in the survey's 10-year history. A decade ago, 74 percent said they had filed it. (For this year's survey, Sallie Mae polled 800 parents of undergraduate college students ages 18 to 24, as well as 800 undergraduate students ages 18 to 24.)

When you submit your FAFSA documents, you want them to be as complete and accurate and thorough as possible. Matt Chancey certified financial planner

Experts say it's typically (but not always) a good idea to apply for financial aid as early as possible. "I always ask clients, when does everybody go out to dinner? Friday night, because they just got paid," said certified financial planner T. Eric Reich, president of Reich Asset Management in Marmora, New Jersey. "Don't think that colleges won't be more generous on the front end, too." State and college deadlines to apply for aid vary, but many distribute funds on a first-come, first-served basis. A 2015 Edvisors.com study found that students who file the FAFSA in the first three months have received more than double the grant money. Even if you think you won't qualify for need-based aid, it's still worth filing the FAFSA, Castellano said. You'll need it to apply for federal student loans and to be eligible for many colleges' merit-based aid. It's also possible you're wrong about your aid eligibility. Students who don't file the FAFSA forgo an average $9,741.05 in aid for that academic year, according to a study published in Research in Higher Education earlier this year. A new study from NerdWallet estimated that the high school class of 2017 left $2.3 billion in aid unclaimed, from not filing the FAFSA. "You might get a nice surprise," Castellano said.

First-time FAFSA filers can expect to spend 55 minutes on the form, according to Edvisors.com, but that doesn't include time spent in preparation. Here's how to get ready:

1) Wrap up your taxes

The 2018-19 FAFSA uses income data from your 2016 tax return  the one filed this year. If you're among those taxpayers taking full advantage of the six-month filing extension (with a deadline of Oct. 16, or Jan. 31, 2018, for recent hurricane victims), wrap up your return before turning to the FAFSA, said Matt Chancey, a certified financial planner based in Orlando, Florida. It's better to have hard numbers than estimates. "When you submit your FAFSA documents, you want them to be as complete and accurate and thorough as possible," he said. "If your tax returns aren't all buttoned up, that's going to be hard."

2) Prime your assets

Asset values are reported at the time you file the FAFSA, and there are still a few last-minute changes you can make that could boost your student's chances at aid. One of the easiest: reducing cash balances you'd have to report by paying down debt or prepaying bills, Reich said. "Pay it down and get rid of that cash," Reich said. Other FAFSA prep strategies require more advance planning; consult a financial advisor and accountant before making any big changes. The right strategies can also vary by where your student is applying, Reich said  the CSS Profile factors in some assets and income differently than the FAFSA.

SShepard | E+ | Getty Images

3) Gather your paperwork
According to a study by the New American Economy, immigrants or their children founded more than 40 percent of the companies on the Fortune 500 list in 2010. In fact, seven of the 10 most valuable brands in the world come from American companies founded by immigrants or their children, including Apple, Google, AT&T, GE, IBM and McDonald's. The group also found that immigrants started 28 percent of all new businesses in the United States in 2011, despite accounting for less than 13 percent of the population, and that they're more than twice as likely to start a business as a native-born American.

The ultimate risk takers

Tutoring franchise CEO Hao Lam from Vietnam and brothers Edi and Etrit Demaj from Kosovo  who launched a number of high-tech real estate enterprises in the Detroit area  did more than just risk their careers to get where they are; they risked their lives.

Brothers Etrit (left) and Edi Demaj escaped wartorn Kosovo in the 90s to come to America. Etrit was 16 and Edi 20 when they started their first business, fixing, flipping and renting homes. Source: Joe Sidote

Lam and the Demaj brothers are as passionate about what immigrants have to offer America as they are about living in this country, and they think repealing DACA is a huge step backward, even though they all three immigrated here legally and are American citizens. "It would be a big loss to the country if President Trump were to stop the program," says Lam, 49, the founder and CEO of the Best in Class Education Center franchise, a Seattle-based chain of 50 learning centers in 10 states that employ about 300 people. "Immigrants and refugees here work hard, create jobs. We are so grateful to live in this wonderful country. If we were to deport 700,000 people, it will be very devastating for the economy and to a lot of wonderful families here."

Many immigrants start businesses whether it's high-tech companies like Elon Musk or Main Street businesses so they're wonderful sources of entrepreneurship. James Richards Director of product, TriNet

For Edi and Etrit, who were educated at Oakland University in suburban Detroit, the concerns are both micro and macro. "We have friends that moved to the U.S. when they were one or two years old that are now fearing that they're going to be deported  they're more American than we are," says Edi, 31, who is the co-founder and COO of Rocket Fiber, an ultrafast Detroit internet service provider that has generated 70 jobs since its launch two years ago. "This is all they know." Adds Etrit, 28, who was COO of Detroit-based smart building technology company Hepta Systems before leaving recently to co-found Kodelabs, a software development and real estate technology start-up, with Edi: "From an economic standpoint, immigrants only make this country better, because different minds think differently, and that's what makes this country amazing. When you put a bunch of different people around a table, greatness happens." Hao Lam is a good example of immigrants making this country better. It took Lam 13 tries before he successfully escaped Vietnam as a 20-year-old in 1988, avoiding death on a couple of occasions, he says. During the weeklong trip aboard a crowded boat to a Philippine refugee camp, he survived on three capfuls of water a day. "It wasn't enough to wet your lips," he recalls. "Luckily, the fourth or fifth day, there was a big rain and we squeezed the water out of our wet clothes."

Hao Lam is the founder and CEO of the Best in Class Education Center franchise. Source: Ellis Kao
This year's Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences has been awarded to Richard H. Thaler, a US-born professor, for his contributions to behavioural economics.

By India Today Web Desk: The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2017, informally called the Nobel Prize in Economics, has been announced.

And no, Raghuram Rajan has not won the Nobel Prize, despite a private analytics firm predicting that the former Reserve Bank of India governor is among those likely to win the award.

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The Economics Nobel, which technically is not a Nobel award, has instead been awarded to Richard H. Thaler, a US-born 72-year-old professor, "for his contributions to behavioural economics".

I will try to spend it as irrationally as possible!?? Richard Thaler on whether or not he will act 'humanly' in spending the prize money.- The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2017

In a press release, the The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awards the Economics prize, said "by exploring the consequences of limited rationality, social preferences, and lack of self-control, [Thaller has] shown how these human traits systematically affect individual decisions as well as market outcomes."

Lack of self-control: Odysseus & the Sirens is about tension between the long-term, planning self & the short-term, pleasure-focused self pic.twitter.com/NRCzwDdld7- The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2017

Richard Thaler's contributions have built a bridge between the economic and psychological analyses of individual decision-making, the statement says. "His empirical findings and theoretical insights have been instrumental in creating the new and rapidly expanding field of behavioural economics, which has had a profound impact on many areas of economic research and policy."

Social preferences: Unexpected rain increases demand for umbrellas, but a company exploiting the situation will be unpopular and boycotted. pic.twitter.com/XJd0MKuh4H- The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2017

Over the weekend, Indian media was abuzz with the findings of Clarivate Analytics, a research firm, that had named Rajan among those likely to win a Nobel Prize in Economics. However, it must be noted that the Clarivate's prediction aren't time bound.

Limited rationality: Richard H. Thaler developed the theory of mental accounting, explaining how people simplify financial decisions pic.twitter.com/e364VO1BEp- The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2017

That is, if Rajan were to win a Nobel in Economics in the upcoming years, Clarivate would still say that it's prediction had come true. The firm's listing of Rajan among likely Economics Nobel winners simply means that the former RBI boss' work is of Nobel caliber.

It is also difficult to know if Rajan was even in the running for this year's economics prize as the Nobel committee does not release information about the candidate shortlist for 50 years after the prize has been announced.

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Notably, economics is not among the fields for which Alfred Nobel established a prize in his will. However, the Swedish National Bank's Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, is informally considered a Nobel Prize and is a prestigious award in the field of economics.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promoted his younger sister to a top political post, according to state media, prompting an air of intrigue about the new Kim in Pyongyang. Faced with international sanctions and the potential threat of armed confrontation with the U.S., the dictator consolidated his political power at a key meeting of the country's ruling party over the weekend. On Saturday, the isolated regime's leader  who was nicknamed "Little Rocket Man" by President Donald Trump  announced several personnel changes at a meeting of the Central Committee of the governing Workers' Party, the KCNA news agency reported. The decision to appoint Kim Yo Jong  Kim Jong Un's sister  as a member of the regime's Political Bureau stirred the most curiosity.

Who is Kim Yo Jong?

Kim Yo Jong was rarely seen in public before 2010, when she was pictured in attendance at a party conference. Her appointment as deputy director of the party's Propaganda and Agitation Department in 2014 significantly boosted her national profile.

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, attends an opening ceremony of a newly-constructed residential complex in Pyongyang, on April 13, 2017. Damir Sagolj | Reuters

Believed to be in her late 20s, Kim Yo Jong has frequently accompanied her brother on various "field guidance trips" as well as to other political events. She has operated in several political roles in the one-party state, and her latest promotion appears to have been made in order to strengthen the position of Kim Jong Un's family within the regime's leadership. Liker her brother, Kim Yo Jong studied in Switzerland, reportedly attending the International School of Berne. She is then believed to have studied computer science at Kim Il Sung University in North Korea. Kim Yo Jong and Kim Jong Un both have the same mother  Ko Yang Hui, a former dancer born in Japan who was a partner of Kim Jong Il, who died in 2011. The regime's founder, Kim Il Sung, was Kim Jong Il's father. The U.S. Treasury Department blacklisted Kim Yo Jong in January, alongside six other North Korean individuals, for supporting human rights abuses as well as other censorship activities in the isolated state.

What about Kim Jong Un's half-brother and uncle?

This file photo dated 04 May 2001 shows a man believed to be Kim Jong-Nam, son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, being escorted by an immigration officer as he gets off a bus to board a All Nippon Airways plane headed to China, at Narita airport near Tokyo. Toshifumi Kitamura | AFP | Getty Images

In recent years, some immediate family members who might have been deemed threatening to the regime have been killed. Kim Jong Un's half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, who had publicly spoken out against the family's dynastic control, was assassinated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia in February, while the ruler's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, was executed in 2013. The communist Workers' Party is North Korea's primary political faction and has been in power since the state's creation in 1948. Correction: This story was revised to correct that Kim Jong Nam was assassinated in February. CNBC's Nyshka Chandran contributed to this report.

WATCH: Trump at UN: 'Rocket Man' Kim Jong Un 'is on a suicide mission'
Microsoft and General Electric (GE) have entered into a 15-year power purchase agreement in Ireland, it was announced Monday.

The deal means that the tech giant will purchase all the wind energy produced at GE's new, 37 megawatt (MW) Tullahennel wind farm in County Kerry.

Each turbine at the site will have a battery integrated into it to help generate "valuable data" relating to energy storage, GE said. This will allow technicians to test how the batteries can be utilized to "capture and store" excess energy and send it back to the grid as and when required.

"This partnership with Microsoft expands GE's considerable presence and investment in Ireland, where we already employ over 1,500 people and, in particular, in the renewable energy sector," Andres Isaza, GE Renewable Energy's chief commercial officer, said in a statement.

Wind is now "one of the most competitive sources of electricity on the market today," Isaza added.

The announcement comes a week after Belgian offshore wind farm developer Parkwind said it would become a strategic partner in the Oriel Wind Farm in the northwest Irish Sea. The proposed 55-turbine project is set to be located 22 kilometers off the coast of Dundalk.

With a capacity of 330 MW, it will be able to supply green energy to 250,000 Irish homes, according to Oriel Windfarm Limited.
Microsoft executive Joe Belfiore presents at the Build developers conference in San Francisco in 2014.

Microsoft is no longer developing new hardware or features for Windows 10 Mobile, the smartphone version of its flagship operating system, effectively killing off its presence in the handset market.

In a series of Tweets, Joe Belfiore, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Windows, said the U.S. technology giant will continue to release bug fixes and security updates, but not any new hardware.

Belfiore said Microsoft has tried "very hard" to incentivize app developers, even by paying them, but admitted the volume of users on Windows 10 Mobile is too low.

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Microsoft has struggled in the mobile market over the past few years. It acquired Nokia's mobile business in 2013, a move that has since been seen as a failure. In 2015, it took a $7.6 billion write-down on its Nokia business and axed thousands of jobs.

Google's Android operating system and Apple's iOS dominate the smartphone market. Windows Mobile had a 0.3 percent global market share at the end of 2016, according to Gartner.

Belfiore admitted that he no longer users a Windows phone. Microsoft founder Bill Gates recently said that he had switched to Android.

Microsoft's recent strategy in the mobile space has focused around bringing its software products to Android and iOS. It recently brought its Edge web browser to iOS and Belfiore said an Android version is in the works.

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The firm is, of course, not completely out of hardware. It makes the Surface range of PCs, tablets, and laptops, and the XBox games console.
This year's winner of the Nobel Prize for economics is also an advisor to investment funds with stellar track records.

Behavioral economist Richard Thaler is principal at Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, which helps advise a $5.8 billion Undiscovered Managers Behavioral Value Fund. It has almost doubled the 's gains since the beginning of the bull market.

Class A shares of the fund (UBVAX) are up 512 percent from the beginning of the market's climb on March 9, 2009, through Friday's close. The S&P 500 has risen 277 percent to records over that time.

Thaler told CNBC PRO in a June 2016 interview how his work in behavioral economics helps him identify beaten-down companies that show signals of turnaround.

"One of the signals we use is insider buying, especially if the CFO all of a sudden doubles his holdings, we give that firm a hard look," he said.

Undiscovered Managers Behavioral Value A indexed to S&P 500 at March 9, 2009

Source: FactSet

The fund focuses on small-cap stocks, with financials having the largest weighting at 25 percent at the end of August.

New Jersey-based bank Investors Bancorp and Tennessee-based financial services company First Horizon National are the two largest holdings in the fund, followed by real estate investment trust Colony NorthStar , aircraft parts distributor KLX and chemicals company Celanese , according to the website of the fund distributor, JPMorgan Chase.

The fund's six-fold climb since the beginning of the bull market also outstrips the 340 percent gain of the small-cap Russell 2000 index.

That said, UBVAX is fairly pricey to own, with net fees of 1.44 percent. The fund has also climbed only about 8 percent this year, falling short of the Russell's 11.5 percent gain and the S&P's nearly 14 percent rise.

But another Thaler fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund (FTHSX) , has outperformed those two benchmark indexes with gains of 14.7 percent this year.

The asset management firm's other talent includes 2002 Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman. The author of "Thinking, Fast and Slow" is director emeritus at Fuller & Thaler.

Thaler told CNBC last year he didn't own individual stocks because he preferred to trust a good portfolio manager.

"I think the biggest mistake people make is overconfidence. They think they're better investors than they are. My number one advice would be, keep track. If you think you're a hot shot investor, really try to compute what your rate of return is. ... We know that a majority of active managers fail to meet their benchmarks after they've paid their fees," he said. "The one stock you absolutely should not own is the company you work for."
Sen. Bob Corker can spar with Donald Trump on issues and still support the president's plan for a major tax cut, anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist told CNBC on Monday.

Trump blamed the Tennessee Republican on Sunday for the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran, and suggested that Corker actively pursued a re-election endorsement from Trump and a top ranking Cabinet post.

In response, Corker blasted the White House, tweeting that it had become an "adult day care center" and saying that someone "missed their shift."

"Corker's a grown up. He can have a fight with the president," said Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform. "He has already done the negotiating that he's focused on to try, in his view, limit the size of the tax cut."

"He's a serious guy in terms of wanting economic growth," Norquist added in an interview on "Squawk Box."

The war of words came as the GOP faced the daunting task of tax reform. Corker has stated he cannot support tax legislation that adds to the annual federal deficit.

Jared Bernstein, former chief economist and economic policy advisor to Vice President Joe Biden, told "Squawk Box" that Trump's tax reform plan doesn't close enough loopholes and skews more benefits to the wealthy.

Bernstein also argued against the president's claim that tax cuts will result in economic growth. "There is no correlation between tax cuts and economic growth," he argued.

Trump has predicted his policies, including tax reform, would spur growth of 3 percent.
Faced with international sanctions and the potential threat of armed confrontation with the U.S. , North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un consolidated power over the weekend by elevating his younger sister to a top political post.

On Saturday, Kim used a meeting of the ruling party's key policy-making body, known as the Central Committee, to comment on ongoing tensions with Washington and announce several personnel changes, the KCNA news agency reported. The communist Workers' Party is North Korea's primary political faction and has been in power ever since the state's creation in 1948.

KCNA, Pyongyang's official mouthpiece, said in an English report that Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of North Korea's ruler, was named as one of four elected alternate members of the politburo. Other promotions included Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol, two key figures behind the country's weapons program.

Kim Yo Jong and her brother are now the only millennials in the influential body; she is believed to have replaced her aunt, Kim Kyong Hui, who was a key decision maker during Kim Jong Il's administration, Reuters said. Kim Jong Il is the father of Kim Jong Un and Kim Yo Jong.

Saturday's appointment was a move by the current leader to ensure that his inner circle is full of trusted people, said Harry Kazanis, director of defense studies at the Center For the National Interest, an American think tank.
Pence's statement appears to magnify the White House's public spat with Corker , the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman who is not seeking re-election next year. After Corker said some of Trump's Cabinet members separated the country from "chaos," the president this weekend claimed Corker "begged" him for his endorsement before deciding not to run when Trump denied the request. The senator's office has disputed that account.

He said "no amount of criticism at home can diminish those results."

Corker has questioned the threats and policy pronouncements the president makes on Twitter. He told The New York Times that most of his GOP colleagues agree with him.

"Look, except for a few people, the vast majority of our caucus understands what we're dealing with here," he told the newspaper, adding, "of course they understand the volatility that we're dealing with and the tremendous amount of work that it takes by people around him to keep him in the middle of the road."

In tweets, Trump has repeatedly hinted at using military force on North Korea if it threatens the U.S. or its allies. Earlier this month, he also said he told Secretary of State Rex Tillerson he is "wasting his time" negotiating with Pyongyang about ending its nuclear and missile programs.

Trump has also used the social media platform to make pronouncements on the Iran nuclear deal, which he will decide this week whether to decertify.

In his statement, Pence contended that the White House's efforts to defeat the terror group ISIS, put economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea and get NATO allies to pay more for defense show the success of Trump's foreign policy.
The comments come amid heightened tensions with North Korea, which has indicated it plans to conduct more ballistic missile tests. The hermit regime also has threatened to conduct a nuclear weapons test over the Pacific.

"It is right now a diplomatically led, economic-sanction buttressed effort to try to turn North Korea off this path," said Mattis. "What does the future hold? Neither you nor I can say, so there's one thing the U.S. Army can do, and that is you've got to be ready to ensure that we have military options that our president can employ, if needed."

Speaking to the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) convention in Washington, Mattis said efforts continue by the administration to get a peaceful solution to the problem of having a nuclear-armed North Korea. He said, "North Korean provocations [are] threatening regional and even global peace."

Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday told the U.S. Army "to be ready" should military action be ordered by President Donald Trump against North Korea .

The retired four-star Marine Corps general also spoke about how past mistakes made during battles are "a reminder that we've got to be brilliant in the basics of blocking and tackling. Right now what we want to do is be so ready and be very much aware that we fight the way we come that everybody in the world wants to deal with Secretary [of State Rex] Tillerson and the Department of State, not the Department of Defense and the United States Army."

Mattis also was critical of Iran without mentioning it by name.

"One state sponsor of terror in the Mideast cannot hide behind its nation-state status while in effect it is actually a destabilizing revolutionary regime," he said.



"The international situation is the most complex and demanding that I have seen in all my years of service  and that's over four decades," Mattis said.

However, the Defense secretary didn't specifically talk about the Iran nuclear deal, although in remarks last week to Congress said the U.S. should stay in the international agreement. Trump, who has been sharply critical of the deal, faces a looming Oct. 15 deadline on whether to certify Iran's compliance with the agreement.

At the same time, Mattis was critical of Congress for not doing enough to invest in the readiness of the military and he called on U.S. lawmakers to get rid of automatic spending cuts under budget caps and the so-called sequestration process.

"I am among the majority in this country that believes our nation can afford survival," Mattis said. "And I want the Congress back in the driver's seat of budget decisions, not in the spectator's seat of automatic cuts."

Added Mattis, "We have the time right now to prepare for war as the best way to prevent war," he said. "But should conflict break out, to get money later will not be good enough because we won't have the time at that point."

Meantime, Mattis on Monday also called for open communications with Silicon Valley and American industry to help the U.S. military get its hands on more technologically advanced equipment and capabilities. He said America's military advantage is being "eroded" as other major superpowers adopted new advances more rapidly.

"I want no longer this gulf between us to deny us the very advances that American industry is out there and executing for themselves in the private sector," said Mattis. "The advances in weaponry that are out there right now."

Mattis added, "I've lived out in Silicon Valley for the three years that I was retired. I've seen what American industry is capable of, from Silicon Valley to Michigan, from Boston to Texas. And we've got to open the communication with them much more robustly."

Elsewhere, Mattis said reforms were underway at the Pentagon to "move faster in research in engineering." He also said acquisition reforms were in the works.

Congressionally mandated legislation passed last year will result in the splitting up of the job of undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics (AT&L) into two positions: one on the technology wing and a second on the acquisitions wing.

The Defense secretary also applauded the Army's new modernization strategy "to move us more rapidly and organize to move more rapidly."

The Army modernization plan includes acquisition reform and is expected to be formally announced this week at the AUSA convention. That said, some details of the Army plan already are known based on a memo sent last week to the general staff and from acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley.

The memo, which was obtained by CNBC, said the military's "recent focus on fighting wars of insurgency and terrorism allowed our adversaries to make improvements on their modernization efforts and erode our advantages enjoyed since World War II."



The Army had no comment on the memo.

Mandy Smithberger, a defense expert and director at the nonpartisan watchdog Project On Government Oversight (POGO), said to some degree that the "memo is based on a false premise that technology is going to be the deciding factor. Tactics and strategy and how weapons are used is really where the thinking needs to begin."

Smithberger believes the memo is essentially the Army's "justification for a larger budget. This is the kind of rhetoric we heard around the Future Combat Systems where the Army ended up wasting $19 billion and fielding really nothing."

The Future Combat Systems was an earlier modernization program to replace heavy armor with more networked weapon systems consisting of lighter armored vehicles, weaponized robots and other advanced tech on the battlefield. It was formally ended in 2009 but information was still learned from the program that some experts see as beneficial today.

The Army memo stated the need to streamline work "to overcome the bureaucratic inertia and stove-piping found in the Army's current construct. It will directly incorporate requirements from the warfighter into the acquisitions process and allow us to prototype concepts. It will enable disruption  the messy, chaotic work that is the hallmark of truly innovative organizations."

According to the document, the Army "must turn ideas into action through continued experimenting and prototyping, improving acquisition business process, pursuing appropriate/off-the-shelf options, and improving training."

Indeed, some members of Congress also have pushed for the Pentagon to use more commercial off-the-shelf products as a way to cut costs in the military.



Some consumer electronics already have found their way into the U.S. military. For example, Microsoft's Xbox 360 game controllers have been used to operate Navy submarine periscopes. Also, other branches of the armed forces have used similar off-the-shelf devices to control robot movements.

POGO agrees with the use of off-the-shelf options "as long as it's something that is truly commercial," said Smithberger. However, she said there are "a number of instances where the military has purchased things claiming that it's commercial off the shelf but there's so many modifications made that it really isn't commercial  and costs get totally out of control."
A man surveys a house that was washed away by heavy surf during the passing of Hurricane Maria in Manati, Puerto Rico on October 6, 2017.

Hurricane Maria's devastation may have set back Puerto Rico's economy so much that it will now take more than a decade to recover, a prominent economist on the island said.

Puerto Rico's gross national product (GNP) could take 12 to 13 years to regain its pre-recession level, Jose Joaquin Villamil, president of Estudios Tecnicos, a business and economic consulting firm based in San Juan, told local newspaper El Nuevo Dia. Earlier this year he predicted the island's economy would continue to shrink for another eight to 10 years.

Puerto Rico's economic recession began in the spring of 2006.

Villamil also told the newspaper: "It is going to take Puerto Rico a long time to recover from this."

Maria, a Category 4 storm, left most of Puerto Rico's 3.4 million residents without electricity and water and destroyed the homes of thousands. It also took out much of the island's telecommunications infrastructure.

The island's Treasury secretary, Raul Maldonado, spoke with CNBC at the end of last week and said Puerto Rico's situation could get worse without Congress' help.

"The hurricane just drained us," Maldonado said. "The government can't get revenue" because of the infrastructure damages.

"If we don't get the help we need, this will be a national disaster," Maldonado added. "We're not looking for a handout; we're just looking for some help to get back on our feet."

Gov. Ricardo Rossello sent a letter to Congressional leaders on Saturday, asking for $4.6 billion in aid.

In the letter, he said: "We are grateful for the federal emergency assistance that has been provided so far. However, absent extraordinary measures to address the halt in the economic activity in Puerto Rico, the humanitarian crisis will deepen, and the unmet basic needs of the American citizens of Puerto Rico will become even greater."

TWEET: Letter sent to Majority and Minority leaders asking for more access to federal funding and programs for Puerto Rico's recovery efforts.

Puerto Rico was already struggling before Maria hit, as it faced a more than $70 billion debt. The island has also been dealing with a sharp decline in population; experts fear the drop could steepen after the hurricane further exasperated its financial woes.

"You have to bring people back to Puerto Rico," said Larry McDonald, head of U.S. macro strategies at ACG Analytics. "You can't just watch the ice cube melt."

The storm, coupled with the island's economic problems, have also raised uncertainty for Puerto Rico's bondholders.

Puerto Rico's general obligation bonds plummeted last week after President Donald Trump said the debt would have to be wiped out.

"Puerto Rico bondholder recovery prospects have likely been reduced due to the devastation of the storm. Federal assistance will help in the near term, but further population declines are likely to hinder long-term economic growth," said Chad Farrington, head of municipal bond credit research at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, in a post.

Read El Nuevo Dia's full report here.
By PTI: (Eds: With additional quotes from Army)

New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Two days after seven military personnel were killed in a helicopter crash in Tawang, purported images of their bodies wrapped in plastic sacks and tied up in cardboard surfaced today, trigerring an outrage.

This prompted the Army to come out with a statement saying the wrapping of the bodies with local resources was an "aberration" and that the fallen soldiers are always given full military honour.

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"Seven young men stepped out into the sunshine yesterday to serve their motherland, India. This is how they came home," tweeted former Northern Army commander Lt Gen (Retd) HS Panag, along with the images of the bodies.

Reacting to the issue, the Army said in a statement that the carriage of the mortal remains in body bags, wooden boxes and coffins will be ensured.

"Fallen soldiers (are) always given full military honour. Carriage of mortal remains in body bags, wooden boxes, coffins will be ensured," it said.

A statement issued by the Army later said due to constraints of the carriage effort in high-altitude area, helicopters cannot carry full load. "Mortal remains were wrapped in available local resources instead of improvised body bags or coffins. This was an aberration."

It said immediately after the post-mortem at the Guwahati base hospital, the mortal remains were placed in the wooden coffins with full military honours.

"Consequent to paying of tributes as per full military honours, mortal remains of all the personnel have been sent to respective next of kin," the statement said.

The photographs were taken when the bodies were in Guwahati, as per an official.

Lt Gen (Retd) Panag said proper military body bags must be used to transport bodies from forward locations until ceremonial coffins were available.

Several people on twitter also expressed their anguish after the images surfaced.

Five IAF personnel, including two pilots, and two armymen were killed when the Mi-17 V5 chopper crashed on Friday morning in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. PTI MPB NAB ARC

--- ENDS ---
So much for President Donald Trump's honeymoon with Democrats.

On Sunday night, Democratic congressional leaders slammed the president's terms for a deal to protect hundreds of thousands of young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

Trump on Sunday called for funding for a border wall and a crackdown on unaccompanied minors entering the United States as part of an agreement to protect so-called Dreamers. In its principles sent to congressional leaders, the White House also requested thousands of new immigration agents, judges and lawyers.

The top Democrats in the Senate and House criticized those terms, saying they strayed from the outlines of a deal they discussed with Trump last month. Democrats had said Trump would not insist on border wall funding in an agreement to shield roughly 800,000 young immigrants from deportation.

"The Administration can't be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in a statement.
Solar companies are banding together to help restore electricity to parts of storm-ravaged Puerto Rico as 90 percent of the island's 3.5 million residents remain without power.

Solar supplies such as roofing, generators and lighting equipment worth about $2 million are expected to arrive in the territory in the coming weeks.

Most of that aid is coming from a national solar industry group, which is sending a plane to Puerto Rico with $1.2 million in supplies donated by its members. The Solar Energy Industries Association is "putting together people that have product with people that have money," the group's president, Abigail Ross Hopper, told CNBC.

More aid is coming from a new group called Light Up Puerto Rico that was formed in the days after Hurricane Maria tore through the island. Light Up Puerto Rico will send about $700,000 in supplies by Oct. 15, the group said. Light Up Puerto Rico is led by two Puerto Ricans, Jorge and Carilu Alvarado, whose local connections will allow the group to distribute aid efficiently, according to Jarem Hallows, who is working with the organization.

Hopper said solar will be particularly useful in Puerto Rico because it can begin powering homes and businesses before the territory is able to rebuild its electric grid, a project that could take months. In the meantime, solar generators can serve as a stop gap that won't require costly diesel.

"Everything is needed down there, but we are trying to help out in a unique way," said Brad Creer, president of New Star Solar.

Creer is working with Light Up Puerto Rico and Tifie Humanitarian, a nonprofit, to provide solar equipment for rural areas of the island, such as Aguas Buenas, Salinas, Naranjito, Aguadilla, Las Marias and Mayaguez.

The effort to bring solar supplies to Puerto Rico is bringing together companies that are traditional competitors, such as Vivint Solar and Sunrun . While in normal times the two companies compete for market share, the crisis in Puerto Rico created an opportunity for the two national solar providers to cooperate.

For instance, after Sunrun pledged more than 8,000 pounds of solar products but did not have the capacity to bring the materials to Puerto Rico securely, Vivint volunteered to get the shipment into San Juan, according to emails between Light Up Puerto Rico members and the companies, provided by Hallows. A spokesperson for Sunrun said that none of the details have been finalized, and the company is now working with another nonprofit, not Vivint.

"That's what's great to see: They're getting together; we are putting all our competition aside to do this," Creer said.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a solar entrepreneur better known for his work on electric vehicles and spacecraft, has also jumped into the fray, posting a message to his Twitter account Oct. 5 saying it would be feasible for Tesla to rebuild Puerto Rico's electric grid.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello responded on the platform by saying that Puerto Rico could be Tesla's "flagship project." At a press conference the next day, Rossello said he was "very serious" about considering new, innovative technology.



Rossello Tweet

Tesla has built electric systems on other islands such as Kauai and American Samoa, though those projects were built for far smaller populations than Puerto Rico. Last November, Tesla purchased solar company SolarCity for $2 billion. Musk later unveiled a new solar rooftop project the entrepreneur said would make solar roofs that are comparable in cost to nonsolar roofs.

In addition to being a humanitarian project, the work that solar companies are doing in Puerto Rico could serve as a case study for further projects. Hopper said the destruction of Puerto Rico's electric grid means there is an opportunity to reimagine what an electric grid can look like.

"The devastation of the grid there means we can rebuild the way people actually use electricity as opposed to what we've always done," she said.

Lynn Jurich, the CEO of Sunrun, said in a statement that the company would work to build "a more resilient, reliable distributed energy infrastructure."

"Rooftop solar paired with batteries is a scale-able, cost-effective option and capable of strengthening electric grids worldwide, especially in remote island regions," Jurich said.

An increase in the amount of renewable energy produced in Puerto Rico could theoretically reduce the amount Puerto Ricans pay for electricity by a dramatic amount. Three-quarters of the energy consumed in Puerto Rico is produced by petroleum products, according to government data, and all of that petroleum is imported. The only state whose residents pay more for electricity is Hawaii, which has set a goal for its utilities of 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.

Nonetheless, building out a full-scale solar infrastructure would be expensive. One clean-energy think tank cited by Bloomberg put the tally at $250 million for 90 megawatts of solar across several Caribbean islands  about 1 percent of the energy that would be needed to power all of Puerto Rico's 1.2 million households.
Balancing the demands of work and personal life is no easy feat, but choosing a job, or home state, that empowers you building and growing a family can be a huge help. According to data compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), of 41 countries examined, only the U.S. does not mandate paid leave for new parents. While eligible employees are protected under the Family and Medical Leave Act, which offers 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a year for employees to take care of a newborn child or family member, the cities and states listed here have developed their own policies.

Michael Jung | iStock | Getty Images

Washington

In July, Washington became the latest state to implement paid family leave when Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill that will allow eligible employees to take paid time off to care for a newborn child, adoption of a child, or the illness of the worker or worker's family member, according to The Seattle Times. The bill, which has been referred to as one of the most generous paid family leave laws in the country, will go into effect in 2020. Paid leave offered: Eligible employees are offered a standard 12 weeks off, in addition to 16 weeks off if a combination of family emergencies occur, and up to 18 weeks off if a serious health condition is experienced during a pregnancy.

In 2016, Washington, D.C. passed a bill granting private-sector employees paid time off to care for a newborn child, adopted child, family member or personal illness, while earning 90 percent of their salary, reports Forbes. The bill, which is funded by a 0.62 percent payroll tax increase on employers, is applicable to any worker who is employed in D.C., even if they don't live within city limits. Paid leave offered: Eligible employees are offered eight weeks of paid time off to care for a newborn or adopted child, six weeks to care for a sick family member, and two weeks to care for a personal illness.

Getty Images

New York

In 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the New York State Family Leave Program into law, and expressed why he personally feels paid family leave is a right all workers should have. "Life is such a precious gift, and I have kicked myself every day that I didn't spend more time with my father at that end period," The Huffington Post reports Cuomo saying during a 2016 State of the State address. "I'm lucky; I could've taken off work, I could've cut days in half, I could've spent more time with him. It was my mistake, and a mistake I blame myself for every day." New York's paid family leave, which applies to full-time and part-time private employees, will go into effect January 1, 2018 and will be phased in over four years, according to ny.gov. Paid leave offered: In the program's first year, eligible employees can take a max of eight weeks of paid time off while earning 50 percent of their weekly wage. In the second and third year, employees can take 10 weeks of paid time off while earning 55 percent and 60 percent of their wage, respectively. In the fourth and subsequent years employees can take 12 weeks off while earning 67 percent of their weekly wage.

Rhode Island

In 2014, Rhode Island became the third state to implement paid family leave with their Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program (TCI), which allows Rhode Island employees to receive partial wage replacement benefits to take care of a newborn child, newly adopted child or a sick family member, while also protecting a worker's job security. "It's about time we did this. We need laws that recognize the way we work and live has changed," The Washington Post reports Rhode Island Senator Gayle Goldin saying. "Internationally, we stick out like a sore thumb." Paid leave offered: Eligible employees are offered up to four weeks of partial wage replacement to care for a newborn child or sick family member.

Jon Feingersh | Blend Images | Getty Images

New Jersey

In 2009, New Jersey became the second state to pass a paid family leave bill, according to NJ.com. The bill, which is funded by employee payroll deductions of about 50 cents per week, allows workers to receive two-thirds of their weekly wage during their paid time off. Paid leave offered: Eligible employees can currently take up to six weeks of paid leave to care for a newborn child or sick family member. However, lawmakers are pushing to expand the policy to allow employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave, while earning 90 percent of their weekly pay.

California
Multinationals headquartered in Catalonia have started weighing up whether the region will declare independence from the rest of Spain and the consequences that this would entail.

Key Ibex companies including Caixabank have already announced plans to relocate their head office, while many others from all business sectors are considering doing the same.

CNBC takes a look at which firms are leaving, or are likely to leave, Catalonia.

Banco Sabadell

The bank's board announced Thursday that it's moving its headquarters to Alicante "to protect the interests" of its customers, shareholders and employers. The relocation will not involve any transfer of employees.

Caixabank

The biggest bank in Catalonia and third-largest in the country said Friday that it will move its headquarters to Valencia  to avoid the risk of finding itself illegally headquartered outside the euro zone should Catalonia become independent.

Inmobiliaria Colonial

Real estate firm Inmobiliaria Colonial agreed Monday to relocate of its head offices outside of Catalonia.

Abertis

The infrastructure company decided Monday to move its head offices outside of Catalonia

Cellnex

The Spanish telecoms firm Cellnex also approved Monday to move from Barcelona to Madrid.
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The Trump administration on Tuesday will begin the process of dismantling President Barack Obama's signature policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, according to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt. "Tomorrow in Washington D.C., I'll be signing a proposed rule to withdraw the so-called Clean Power Plan of the past administration and thus begin the effort to withdraw that rule," Pruitt said in a speech Monday in Hazard, Kentucky. Several news agencies reported last week that the EPA would soon propose repealing the rule and seek comments from stakeholders about a replacement regulation. The plan signals that the EPA has opted against tinkering with the existing rule  which was never seen as a likely course of action  or scrapping it altogether, a decision that would have almost certainly drawn lawsuits.

Pruitt claims 'the war on coal is over.' But the so-called 'war on coal' is less a regulatory action than a function of markets Thad Lightfoot Dorsey & Whitney partner

It also marks the next chapter for a policy that has become a lightning rod in the debate over the government's role in slowing climate change. The rule has been in limbo since the Supreme Court put it on hold in February 2016, after 27 states and other opponents filed suit. The rule itself required states to devise plans to reduce planet-warming emissions by 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. President Donald Trump ordered the EPA to rewrite the rule in March. Pruitt has long argued that the Obama administration acted beyond the scope of the law that empowers the agency to regulate emissions. He claims the Clean Power Plan would force states to invest in natural gas-fired and renewable power plants and shutter facilities that generate power from coal and nuclear material. "When you think about what that rule meant, that rule really was about picking winners and losers," Pruitt said Monday. "Regulatory power should not be used by any regulatory body to pick winners and losers." Pruitt, who took part in the lawsuit as Oklahoma's attorney general, insists the rule should be limited to solutions that can be applied within the "fence line" of power plants. In other words, he argues the EPA only has the authority to require power producers to reduce emissions by making adjustments on-site at power plants. That could include fitting smokestacks with equipment that captures emissions.

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The Trump administration will put forward this argument to allege the Clean Power Plan violates the law, Bloomberg News reported. "The Clean Power Plan departed from this practice by instead setting carbon dioxide emission guidelines for existing power plants that can only realistically be effected [sic] by measures that cannot be employed to, for, or at a particular source," Bloomberg quoted from the unreleased documents. Politico, The New York Times and The Washington Post also reported aspects of the plan, citing unreleased documents. The EPA declined CNBC's request to comment on the reports. Some experts say weakening the Clean Power Plan will not change the fortunes of the coal industry, which has lost significant share of U.S. power generation to cheap, abundant U.S. natural gas. "Pruitt claims 'the war on coal is over.' But the so-called 'war on coal' is less a regulatory action than a function of markets," said Thad Lightfoot, who previously worked as a trial attorney with the U.S. Justice Department's environment division and a legislative aide to Democratic former House Speaker Thomas Foley. "Even with the Clean Power Plan under a Supreme Court stay and the subject of litigation, utilities  particularly large investor-owned utilities  are retiring older, inefficient coal-fired plants because they are too costly to retrofit," added Lightfoot, now a partner at law firm Dorsey & Whitney. The documents do not explicitly indicate that the EPA will replace the Clean Power Plan. The EPA is required to regulate carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases following a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that the gases qualify as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. The EPA found in 2009 that the gases pose a threat to public health. Trump, Pruitt and Energy Secretary Rick Perry deny the consensus among climate scientists that carbon dioxide emissions from human activity are the primary cause of global warming. Following Pruitt's statement, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman vowed to sue the administration. "By seeking to repeal the Clean Power Plan  especially without any credible plan to replacing it  the Trump administration's campaign of climate change denial continues, once again putting industry special interests ahead of New Yorkers' and all Americans' safety, health, and the environment," he said in a statement. Environmental groups were already threatening legal action and protests prior to Pruitt's comments on Monday. "Trump can't reverse our clean energy and climate progress with the stroke of a pen, and we'll fight him and Scott Pruitt in the courts, in the streets, and at the state and local level across America to protect the health of every community," Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said in a statement on Friday.

WATCH: EPA superfund sites hit during Hurricane Harvey
"The result is discrimination. The rules allow employers and schools to exclude just one type of service, and that service is used only by women."

The new regulations downplay the importance of birth control as a women's health service. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine recommended that birth control be included as one of ten women's preventive services that all new health-insurance plans must cover without cost-sharing. Birth control was included on the list of preventive services because it is a health service used by women that can improve health and prevent poor health outcomes. Birth control allows women to plan their pregnancies which includes healthy spacing between pregnancies. Spacing pregnancies improves the health of women and babies. Planning pregnancies allow women to partake of important prenatal care that can improve the health of their pregnancy. There are also women who take birth control because they are unable to carry a pregnancy to term and the birth control effectively prevents further miscarriages. Some women have medical conditions that would put their health at risk if they become pregnant. In addition, many women use birth control to treat medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or severe cramps. Oral birth control also lowers the risk of ovarian cancer.

Instead of highlighting these important health benefits, the preamble of the rules questions the medical benefits of access to birth control. Most strikingly, there is a statement that requiring coverage of the birth could "affect risky sexual behavior in a negative way" in young women and teenagers covered by the plans. Research shows this is simply not true. By placing this statement into a discussion of the medical benefits of birth control, the administration is undermining the importance of birth control as a health service and instead redirecting attention to sexual activity. It is basically equating birth control with sex rather than with health care.

The result is discrimination. The rules allow employers and schools to exclude just one type of service, and that service is used only by women. A vaccine denier cannot exclude coverage for vaccines in her employee's health plan because she thinks vaccines are immoral (nor should she). A college cannot exclude substance use treatment from the student health plan because the administration believes the underlying use of alcohol or drugs is immoral (nor should they). Allowing a moral objection also opens the door for all kinds of discriminatory intentions couched in language of morality. Our nondiscrimination laws exist in large part to protect people against moral beliefs.

There have already been two states and four organizations announcing legal challenges will be filed against the new birth control exemptions. There is a good chance the courts will find these regulations overstepped federal law, both in the administrative process and in allowing sex discrimination. But just the issuing of the regulations is damaging to women because our government has placed women's health needs secondary to others' moral beliefs.

Birth control is a vital health service for women. Instead of helping women access health care, the administration is downplaying the importance of women's health and allowing companies and schools to withhold access to care because of their own moral judgments. In the end, women will be discriminated against and lose access to affordable birth control.

Commentary by Dania Palanker, an assistant research professor at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Follow her on Twitter @DaniaPalanker.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
By PTI: By M Zulqernain

Lahore, Oct 9 (PTI) Pakistani theatre actress Shamim was shot today dead by unidentified gunmen in Punjab province, a family member said.

The 29-year-old artist was killed early this morning outside her house in Shah town of Multan city, about 350km from Lahore.

Her brother, Saifur Rehman told police that someone had called his sister (Shamim) to come outside the house.

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"When she came out of the main gate of her residence, unidentified men opened fire on her, killing her on the spot," he said.

He said his sister had recently received threats from someone for performing in theatres.

Shamims family also suspect that her estranged husband might be involved in the murder.

Police has registered an FIR against unidentified persons and said it will probe the case from all angles.

Shamim was known as Shamo and a very good dancer.

Last year, famous theatre actress Kismat Baig was killed by her estranged lover in Lahore. She was shot 11 times in her legs, stomach and hands. "Kismat now you will not be able to dance," one of the gunmen said after spraying bullets on her legs, her driver had told police.

A number of stage actresses - Nadra, Nagu, Yasmin, Naina, Nagina, Marvi, Karishma, Sangam and Arzo - of Lahore and Multan had been killed in the past, either by their estranged lovers or over enmity issue. PTI MZ SMJ AKJ SMJ

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Steve Wynn suggests that Stephen Paddock would never have been able to have carried out his massacre had he tried to do so at the Las Vegas Wynn hotel.

The casino mogul said security staff at Wynn Resorts is "guarding the doors" against terrorists and would-be perpetrators of violence.

"We don't allow guns in this building unless they're being carried by our employees, and there's a lot of them," Wynn told Fox News on Sunday. "But if anybody's got a gun, and we find them continually, we eject them from the hotel."

Paddock checked into a room on the 32nd floor at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Sept. 28 and opened fire on thousands of people at a country music concert three days later, killing 58 and wounding nearly 500 before killing himself.

Authorities said he had posted a "do not disturb" sign on his door, enabling him to set up his room as a sniper's nest with more than 20 weapons and surveillance cameras.

Wynn said the policy at his Las Vegas hotel is to check rooms with the sign after 12 hours.

Authorities still don't know why Paddock went on his rampage.

"This is a man who behaved rationally, privately, a little introverted, liked to play video poker," Wynn said. "But he was a rational man."

Wynn Resorts invested millions in 2015 to upgrade security, the CEO said.

"We had to cover every exit and every aspect of the building to see if we could identify and pre-empt any kind of terroristic or violent action," Wynn said. "It is never perfect, of course, but what you can do, to use local vernacular  you can change the odds."

Read the full story from Fox News.
At the heart of Hong Kong's success lies its high degree of autonomy, which is guaranteed under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and enshrined in the city's constitutional document, the Basic Law. Characteristics such as Hong Kong's internationally compatible financial and legal systems and deep-rooted free-market culture are expected to filter through to the wider Bay Area.

With the introduction in 2004 of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), and subsequent enhancements to this free trade pact, Hong Kong already enjoys highly liberalised trade in goods and services with the Mainland. Two-way flows of goods, services and investment will only increase as the Bay Area evolves.

What's more, the Bay Area is also a strategic player in the wider Belt and Road Initiative, which aspires to strengthen infrastructure links and enhance trade, financial and cultural connectivity along Belt and Road routes stretching from Asia to Europe via the Middle East and Africa.

Of course, an undertaking of this scale involves a lot of investment and expertise, which again plays to Hong Kong's strengths.

In terms of physical connectivity, soon-to-be-completed projects include the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. As the name suggests, this mega-bridge will connect Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao, opening up new markets in the western Pearl River Delta region. Once operational, the bridge will reduce the travelling time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong International Airport to 45 minutes, down from a four-hour road trip at the moment.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
To the surprise of few, if any, a Microsoft executive has confirmed the inevitable: The Windows Phone is effectively dead.

While the company will continue to support existing iterations, Joe Belfiore, Microsoft's corporate vice president for Windows, spelled out in a series of tweets why it has no plans to release new versions of phone hardware or the Windows Mobile OS.

When asked by a user whether it is "time to leave Windows Mobile platform," Belfiore tweeted back, "Depends who you are. Many companies still deploy to their employees and we will support them!"

Twitter

Belfiore went on to state that Microsoft will continue to service Windows 10 Mobile with bug fixes and software patches, but "building new features/hw aren't the focus." He even disclosed he had personally chosen to switch platforms for the "app/hw diversity."

"We will support those users too," Belfiore wrote. "Choose what's best 4 u."

Another user noted that when Windows Mobile users switch to iOS or Android, there'll be no more need for Microsoft.

Twitter

Belfiore explained that "a huge, huge majority of our Windows/Office (and Xbox) users are mixed-ecosystem, and that most users have a different phone and PC platform.

Windows Mobile's demise, Belfiore said, came about largely from its lack of an application ecosystem  even as the company worked to encourage app developers and even wrote its own software. Even so, the volume remained too low for most companies to invest in.

[ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page. ]

It wasn't that the technology itself was bad, but when competing in a marketplace dominated by Android and iOS, there was little chance of standing out, according to Jack Gold, principal analyst at J. Gold Associates.

Twitter

"If you're an application developer, do you develop for the 3% market share or the 35% market share?" Gold said. "It's basic math."

Along with too few vendors supporting Windows Mobile, Microsoft also made some financial and technology missteps along the way. For example, there was its $7.2 billion acquisition of Nokia, which Gold said was already dead in the marketplace.

In the end, however, Microsoft doesn't need a handset operating system when revenue is far more likely to come from online mobile services such Office 365 and, increasingly, Bing and Cortana.

"And, now they're putting the Edge browser on iOS and Android, which will help be more closely aligned with those platforms," Gold said, referring to last Thursday's announcement of Edge for rival mobile devices. "If you're a business user..., you live in Office. You want to make sure you're phone works well with Office; that's where the money is, and I think Microsoft realizes that."
The investigation into allegations of child sex abuse by Edward Heath has been a vexed affair from the outset.

Operation Conifer began with a publicity stunt  even Mike Veale, Wiltshires chief constable, is reported to have privately accepted that it was a mistake to begin with a press conference on camera outside Heaths former home in Salisbury. As a result, the investigation began under a cloud, appearing at best to be marred by poor judgement and at worst to be based on a preconception of guilt.

As time went by, the police did not offer much reassurance to quell those concerns. Paul Goodman wrote, a few weeks after the ill-fated launch, about the allegation that Heaths abuse was carried out in concert with Harvey Proctor  a suggestion that jarred with the basic fact that the two men loathed one another. By the start of this year there were leaks to the Mail on Sunday, apparently from inside the investigation, that Veale believed the claims against the former Prime Minister were 120 per cent genuine. Shortly after, the Sunday Times revealed that the witnesses Wiltshire Police had interviewed included a convicted hoaxer, a Twitter fantasist, and a sex offender.

At the same time, other investigations linked to Operation Conifer also got into trouble. The allegations against Proctor ended up being dropped, after Operation Midland collapsed. Nick, the source of the extraordinary claims about Heath and Proctor, whose testimony was pre-emptively described by an investigating officer as credible and true, has turned out to be a fantasist. He is now being sued by Proctor and faces charges of perverting the course of justice. Exaro, the website which interviewed Nick and reported at great length about claims of paedophile conspiracies, has closed. Lord Bramall, another victim of untrue claims by the same man, received a belated public apology from the Metropolitan Police.

Its small wonder, then, that Veales investigation came to feel embattled. Last week, the Wiltshire force published its report, which had originally been planned for June. It made some eye-catching claims  not least that, had he been alive, Heath would have been interviewed under caution over seven alleged offences, of the 42 allegations reported to them.

Thats a remarkable thing to choose to announce in this way. As Ken MacDonald, former Director of Public Prosecutions, put it: This gives entirely bogus credibility to their investigation without meaning anything in forensic terms. The bar for interview is low, in most investigations as low as the police want it to be and in the case of a dead man, virtually non- existent. They are covering their backs at the expense of a dead man. The force also said that no inference of guilt can be drawn from the decision to interview under caution, but they are surely not so naive as to be unaware of how their announcement would be read and reported.

A day later, the Daily Telegraph revealed something even more troubling: the most serious allegation among those which Wiltshire claimed would merit an interview under caution, the alleged rape of an 11-year-old boy, had already been investigated and dropped by the Metropolitan Police two years earlier, something the Wiltshire report neglected to mention. The allegation was made by a convicted child abuser, who has reportedly been described as a serial liar.

The decision to investigate such serious claims, against Heath or anyone else, is not in question. We should be a society where nobody is treated as above the law, no matter their position in life. But the way in which Wiltshire Police have conducted themselves in public is shameful and deeply troubling. From that first press conference outside Heaths home, through the problems with witnesses, through the convenient leak of Veales 120 per cent certainty that the allegations were true, right up to the inclusion of an allegation which had already been investigated and found wanting in the final report, the conduct of Operation Conifer has shed no light on past crimes, while harming the reputations of various people and undermining the standing of the police as reasonable arbiters.

Apparently having learned nothing from his forces mistakes, Chief Constable Veale chose to fire a parting shot in a Mail on Sunday interview yesterday. The article itself is oddly fawning (His features, as fair and fresh as a cider apple, writes Simon Walters), but the implication in his words is extremely serious. Powerful people are out to get him, he suggests, and the Establishment is still under suspicion of organised involvement in abuse. There is no hint of realisation that criticisms of the way in which his force has behaved might be reasonable and merited  only what amounts to a suggestion that those with concerns must be motivated by some form of wickedness, seeking either to protect the powerful or to unjustly condemn victims.

As readers might imagine, given my politics, I am not a Heath fan. Indeed, when I was growing up his name was practically a swear-word in our house. His time in office was disastrous, his ensuing sulk was pathetic, and his political legacy is still troubling his country and his party today. But if we are a nation in which power and fame do not elevate a person above the law, then we should also be one in which power and fame ado not exempt a person from the protections of justice and due process.

There are many victims of abuse out there who have been ignored. There are many abusers out there who have gone unpunished. From what weve seen in other cases, there are some authorities which have chosen to protect abusers rather than aid victims. But the approach taken in this case has served to correct none of those failings, and has served justice to none of those who need and deserve it. The Conifer affair leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. If Heath had not been Heath, would the police have behaved in this way? And, once their findings had proved so threadbare, would they have continued to publicly attack those who criticise their behaviour? The answer seems all too clear.
Four years ago, the TaxPayers Alliance reported that in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories.

Since then, the figures have varied, and some Conservative members or supporters have been selected to fill important posts.

Nonetheless, it remains the case that, since it took office in 2010, our Party has punched beneath its weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply dont apply in the same number as Labour supporters.

To help remedy this, every fortnight we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives might be aware of the opportunities presented.

         

British Business Bank  Non-Executive Director

Having grown and enjoyed significant success over the last three years, the British Business Bank (BBB) seeks to build on this momentum with the appointment of a new Independent Non-Executive Director. Independently managed but government owned, BBBs remit is to ensure that the finance markets best serve the needs of SMEs (small and medium enterprises). By increasing the finance options open to this sector it ensures a more dynamic market.

Time: 20 days per annum.

Remuneration: 25,000 per annum plus reasonable expenses.

Closes: 13 October

         

Commission for Countering Extremism  Lead Commissioner

The Lead Commissioner will be an independent voice on countering extremism and promoting British values. Where issues of integration arise, the Commissioner will engage with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and will have the opportunity to discuss findings that may benefit the wider integration agenda. S/he will work with a diverse group of commissioners with expertise across the public sector, law enforcement, online industry, civil society, faith, and equality and integration issues, among others. The Lead Commissioner will have a prominent public profile, presenting the Commissions recommendations in public and holding the Government, public sector and partners to account for delivering on their commitments.

Time: Up to 3 days per week.

Remuneration: 140,000 per annum, pro rata, plus expenses.

Closes: 15 October

         

Westminster Foundation for Democracy  Independent Governor

Established in 1992 to support the newly emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), is a leading UK organisation supporting the development of political parties and democratic institutions around the world. WFD designs, develops and implements long-term political party and parliamentary strengthening programmes globally. It works with and through all the Westminster-based political parties, both on a sister party and cross-party basis and has projects and programmes in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Time: Four board meetings a year plus 8-10 additional meetings.

Remuneration: Unpaid, reasonable travel costs.

Closes: 22 October

         

Seafish Industry Authority  Non-Executive Chair

The Chair will lead the Board, set the overall strategic operational direction of Seafish, ensuring good governance to allow Seafish to carry out its work efficiently, effectively and economically, holding the Executive to account. The non-executive Chair of the Seafish will be independent of the sea fish and sea food industry and have no financial or commercial interests that affect them in their role on the Board.

Time: 30 days per annum.

Remuneration: 18,000 per annum.

Closes: 23 October

         

Rural Payments Agency  Chair of the Audit, Risk, and Assurance Committee

Established in 1992 to support the newly emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), is a leading UK organisation supporting the development of political parties and democratic institutions around the world. WFD designs, develops and implements long-term political party and parliamentary strengthening programmes globally. It works with and through all the Westminster-based political parties, both on a sister party and cross-party basis and has projects and programmes in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Time: 30 days per annum.

Remuneration: 500 per diem plus travel and subsistence.

Closes: 24 October

         

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council  Executive Chair

We are seeking an inspirational individual with international standing and a proven track record to lead the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) as its Executive Chair, once it becomes one of the nine Councils of UK Research and Innovation in April 2018. As part of UK Research and Innovations Executive Committee, the Executive Chair will have a critical role within UK Research and Innovation and in championing and increasing the impact of biotechnological and biological research. The BBSRCs Executive Chair may also be responsible for leading and delivering one or more cross cutting areas for UK Research and Innovation, on behalf of all the Councils.

Time: Five days per week.

Remuneration: Will be discussed with individual candidates.

Closes: 12 November

         

Industrial Injuries Advisory Council  Chair

The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) is a scientific, advisory, Non-Departmental Public Body. It is a statutory body established under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946, which came into effect on 4 July 1948. IIACs role is to provide independent advice to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on: matters relating to industrial injuries benefit or its administration that he has referred to the Council; any other matter relating to such benefit or its administration (principally the prescription of diseases within the scheme); and any regulations he proposes to make relating to industrial injuries benefit or its administration.

Time: 60 days per annum.

Remuneration: 15,000 per annum.

Closes: 12 November
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) Pepsico India Chairman and CEO D Shivakumar has resigned from the company after serving for nearly four years and will join Aditya Birla Group as the head of strategy and business development.

Shivakumar has been replaced by Ahmed El Sheikh, Senior Vice President and General Manager for PepsiCo Egypt and Jordan, PepsiCo India said in a statement.

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"Shiv has been with PepsiCo for the past four years and has been instrumental in leading the transformation journey for the company," Pepsico CEO Asia, Middle East and North Africa (AMENA) Sector Sanjeev Chadha said.

Shivakumar, who is expected to join Aditya Birla Group in three months time, will report to the Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla.

"He is joining as the Group head of Strategy and Business Development," Aditya Birla Group director (human resources) and chief executive officer, Carbon Black Business, Santrupt B Misra told PTI.

Shivakumar will join the company in "three months or so", Misra said.

Shivakumars replacement at PepsiCo, Ahmed, will assume his role on November 1, while the former will stay till December 31 as part of the transition process.

Ahmed, who held leadership roles in both foods and beverages businesses, led the Egypt business in his last stint.

"I have every confidence that Ahmed, together with our winning India leadership team, will prove to be a very powerful combination for the future success of PepsiCo India," Chadha said. PTI PRJ KRH MKJ

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Thomson Cruises will rebrand itself into Marella Cruises, a refreshed brand for the UK market.

Marella is said to mean shining sea in Celtic.

Helen Caron, Distribution and Cruise Director said: This is an incredibly exciting time for our business. Were really proud to offer an experience that guests can, and want to, come back to again and again and moving forward as Marella weve got brand new, modern additions to our fleet and more destinations, choice and experiences than ever before which really reflects our spirit of exploration and discovery within the new brand.

The Mein Schiff 1, which was set to transfer to Thomson as the TUI Explorer next year, will now be named the Marella Explorer.

Other ships will get similar name changes, as the TUI Discovery 1 and 2 will become the Marella Discovery 1 and Marella Discovery 2.

And the big news is a deployment change for the 2018 winter: the company will offer an Asia program sailing from Bangkok aboard the Marella Discovery.

For the first time in the companys history, two ships will be based in Barbados for winter 2018. Marella Explorer will sail its first ever winter season from the Bajan paradise and will be joined by Marella Celebration, operating established itineraries,

Sister company Thomson will also be rebranding later this month, moving to one aligned, global brand as TUI.
In an industry steaming of buzzwords, GDPR ticks every box. Acronym? Check. Experts galore? Check. Filling marketing banner at trade shows? Definitely check. Behind the noise, hype, and misunderstanding is a substantial piece of legislation that will change how organizations operating in Europe approach data protection.

Set to come into full effect on May 25, 2018, GDPR marks a significant update on the existing 1995 EU directive (95/46/c). It also harmonizes data protection across 28 EU member states, replacing the need for national legislation. The headlines are naturally around data breach fines of up to 20 million (or 4 percent of gross annual turnover), as well as mandatory security notifications, new rules around user consent, a clearer definition around what could be personal data (such as IP addresses, for example), and greater rights for people to access  or request deletion of  the information companies hold on them.

As such, GDPR transcends IT and spreads into areas like sales and marketing, but this complex legislation carries numerous misconceptions. For example, its often believed consent must always be explicit, that the 4 percent fine is for all data breaches (it isnt), and that its mandatory to appoint a data protection officer (the DPO role is largely reserved for those processing special categories of data). The ambiguity over data processors and controllers  not aided by the controversial Google Spain court case of 2015  has also caused headaches, especially around data stored in the cloud.

This confusion has had consequences: A recent study from WatchGuard revealed that one in three global organizations werent sure if they needed to comply with GDPR, while similar studies have indicated that numerous U.S. firms think the regulation wouldnt affect them (it does if processing EU personal data). At a conference in July, one speaker revealed that four FTSE 100 companies had yet to start moving toward GDPR compliance  a sign perhaps that fear is stopping progress.

A common reality though is that GDPR isnt really far removed from existing data protection regulations  its just that organizations werent overly prepared with them either. The big shock everyone has with GDPR is that they weren't operating in compliance with current data protection legislation, says Christian Toon, CISO at legal firm Pinsent Masons. A lot of businesses are now holding back full implementation for compliance because it's hard to determine what compliance looks like, and are putting faith in a clear plan of action will be enough to deter the regulator.

The big shock everyone has with GDPR is that they weren't operating in compliance with current data protection legislation.  Christian Toon

Jon Baines, a data protection officer at a UK transport company and chair of the National Association of DP & FOI Officers (NADPO), agrees that GDPR isnt such a departure from the past. GDPR marks an evolution in data protection law, not a revolution, he says. Most of the core principles around fairness, transparency, purpose-limitation, data-minimization, and security are largely unchanged from those in the 1995 Directive.

Yet Baines notes that GDPR does introduces some pivotal changes to enable people better to control their personal data while introducing modernized and unified rules across the EU to enable a digital single market. So, data subjects are given rights to make it easier to access their own data, a right to data portability (to transfer their data between service providers), a clearer "right to be forgotten" (meaning that data must be deleted on request if there are no legitimate grounds for retaining it), plus a right to be informed if your personal data have been subject to a serious breach.

Businesses are now subject to general rules which apply across the EU consistently, and which require the adoption of a risk-based approach to the processing of personal data, Baines adds. Rules on accountability and transparency are strengthened, and they will have to embrace concepts such as data protection by design and default. They will also face the potential of significantly increased fines for serious contraventions of the data protection law.

GDPR readiness: Where business are today

So where are businesses today with the GDPR? At the RANT conference in London, a straw poll of CISOs and privacy experts revealed that almost all in the room didnt classify themselves as ready, but Baines says it depends what 'prepared' really looks like. The regulation, after all, stipulates companies must provide a reasonable level of protection. If we mean in a position broadly to be able to comply with people's rights under GDPR and in a position to resist regulatory and legal challenges, the number is going to be much higher [than reported].

Some, though, are well underway on the way to compliance, with Toon saying Pinsent is tackling the regulation head on. Like many, we've taken a risk-based approach for the implementation of controls; we're identifying where our data is, how it's protected, and ensuring our supply chain has agreed to new terms.

Elsewhere, Gilbert Verdian, CISO at payments company Vocalink, reveals how his company has approached the EU regulations, even if he admits that the firms personal identifiable information (PII) is limited to staff info in HR systems. We established a cross-departmental team to understand the scope of the new legislation, assess the processes and controls we have in place, and identify any gaps we had, before then addressing them. We then implemented a mechanism to automate the identification and searching of data stores across our systems and tied it to data classification technology that tags data based on its confidentiality. This is linked to data loss prevention controls that only allow certain data types to travel between networks.

Verdian says Vocalink jointly developed the firms strategy for GDPR among the legal, operations, and security teams, analyzing their environment against the EU regulations and drawing up a roadmap to quickly address any gaps.

Other organizations have approached the regulation proactively. In a recent interview with advertising publication The Drum, UK-based Lloyds Banking Group revealed how GDPR had enabled it to look at digital marketing in a new way  putting the customer at the center  while the CIO of telco O2 spoke of how GDPR was an opportunity to get our customers trust. In a more drastic measure, UK public house chain Weatherspoons deleted its entire customer email database, reportedly in a bid to adhere to the new EU regulation.

For all the fearmongering, GDPR can bring some positives to business, such as improved data management and customer loyalty. Better information management is one clear benefit, but the principle of privacy by design can deliver products and services that, cannily marketed, could be very commercially successful, says Baines.

...the principle of privacy by design can deliver products and services that, cannily marketed, could be very commercially successful.  Jon Baines

The reality is, though, that they are not the norm. Most organizations are falling behind, only now appointing DPOs and steering committees, and fighting for boardroom buy-in. Others are progressing slowly with information audits and generally developing company-wide awareness. At RANT, Ticketmasters head of information security Nick Green called for firms to appoint GDPR warriors, but many still dont know who these people should be.

Perhaps the fear is getting in the way, and in particular concerns around the data breach fines and the right to be forgotten, which has already been a logistical nightmare for behemoths like Google. Both Toon and Verdian say that companies should not worry too much about the fines, especially as most data protection authorities  like the ICO  rarely have the resources or inclination to hand out mega fines. We have seldom seen the full extent of the penalty, says Verdian.

What companies should be concerned about is the power to impose other penalties beyond fines on the organization. Such things as contacting every single customer over the last few years to notify them, or remedying each victim individually by imposing additional requirements or controls (for example, providing credit scoring monitoring for every single customer).

Theres the risk of additional penalties if you dont meet any of these within the timeline given. Such penalties can cause a huge administrative burden and even cost the organization more than the fine, he says, further highlighting that such tasks take staff away from doing duties that drive business performance and innovation.

Toon is similarly unconcerned by a 72-hour mandatory security window, perhaps a surprise given most organizations have breaches unrecognized in networks for months at a time. Under GDPR, the "destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure of, or access to" people's data must be reported to a country's regulator within the given timeframe. Mandatory notification in 72 hours is clearly achievable. This isn't about a full diagnostic and report into what happened. This is the cursory notification to the regulator that something is afoot. Share what you know; your plan for further investigation and triage along with and anticipated timeline.

Other experts have chimed into this effect, too. Burberrys recently departed head of information security, John Meakin, suggested that speaking to the regulator is key for transparency and avoiding costly fines.

How do companies accelerate their GDPR initiatives?

Baines recommends that organizations work closely with the DPO and their teams. If they dont have a DPO, CISOs and CIOs should be lobbying their board hard to introduce one on the basis that data protection isn't and shouldn't be, the sole responsibility of an information security lead.

Toon recommends organizations get some validated and authentic advice, and entrust a person or group of people to manage all aspects of GDPR, from delivering company-wide training to ensuring the supply chain is up-to-date (contract updates are recommended). At the heart of it, he says, is good data management. Work out what personal data you have. Where it is? How did you get it? Get rid of it if you dont need it, he says, and adding a DPO could be considered good practice.

Verdian agrees that organizations must understand the type of data, its location, and how it is being used. This should then be compared versus regulation requirements. You have to maintain this level of compliance throughout your organization. Embedding privacy-compliant thinking into projects and programs, using tools like a privacy impact assessment, to understand the risk of each activity.

More on GDPR
A Malaysian bank robber who used social engineering as his primary weapon in a string of thefts was recently arrested at his home in Batu Berendam, Malacca, three weeks after successfully walking away with $142,000 (RM600,000) by pretending to be a fire extinguisher maintenance man.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, walked into a bank in Damansara Heights (a suburb located in western Kuala Lumpur) on September 8 posing as a fire extinguisher maintenance technician.

Carrying a backpack, dressed casually in a T-shirt, shorts, and slippers, he walked into the bank with a single document that was supposedly a floor plan for the building.

According to local reports and CCTV footage, the suspect displayed the paper to a bank manager and requested permission to do an inspection. When he failed to produce any sort of identification, the manager refused him access and went to lunch.

While the manager was away, the suspected remained behind and pretended to check extinguishers while staff assisted customers completely unaware of his presence. Eventually, he managed to get close to the safe room, and waited for the head cashier access the area.

Using a magnet on the door's lock, which prevented it from shutting fully, he waited until the coast was clear before entering. Once inside the secure area, he filled his backpack with cash and walked away. He approached a security guard an explained that he was leaving to fetch additional staff to assist with the inspection.

All told, he was inside the bank for less than 20-minutes and walked away with RM600,000, or $142,000 USD. When the bank manager returned about 90-minutes later, he questioned staff about the whereabouts of the alleged extinguisher technician. With his suspicions raised after being informed that the technician had left the property, the manager checked the safe room and discovered the theft.

During their investigation, police learned the same suspect attempted a similar robbery by posing as an air conditioning technician who was called out for repair work. That attempt failed.

Additional investigation by local media uncovered another theft, albeit minor in comparison (a set of headphones), after the suspect posed as a plumber conducting pipework repairs.

Once police went public with details surrounding the case, they were flooded with reports of similar scams and thefts.

According to police, the suspect in their case had approached a number of retail stores and offices around the area, posing as a computer repair technician, plumber, HVAC repair technician, or building maintenance. While the bank robbery was his largest heist, he had previously stolen cellphones, case, and laptop computers.

Some of the tips led law enforcement to his location, where he was later identified and arrested. He was taken back to Kuala Lumpur earlier this month and awaits trial.

This particular case is one of the rare times when such crimes are mentioned in the media.

However, pretext itself is more common than you'd imagine. In 2015, CSO interviewed Jayson Street, a well-known hacker who uses Social Engineering in all of his physical assessments.

At the time, we profiled Street's engagement at a bank where he simply walked around and plugged-in USB drives on various systems (he posed as a technician who was there to check USB ports).

If he were an actual criminal, the bank would have been fully compromised in less than 120 seconds. When asked why he was able to do what he did, Street said that humans don't want to think about negative things happening to them, as it goes against human nature to do so.

"If I can give them a reasonable explanation, besides the negative thing that sounds bad, they will believe the positive. They will go out of their way to believe the positive aspect, because otherwise they would have to think something bad was happening to them, and that's not something that humans like to acknowledge," Street remarked at the time.

The lesson from Street's engagement (for anyone, not just bank employees) is to question anything that looks or feels out of place.

"Stranger danger isn't just for kids. We should never lose that. Stranger danger in your secured area is just as relevant if you're a child on a playground, or an employee in your workspace. If you don't know who this person is, find out who they are," he added.
Pa. Dems could flip the House of Reps. Here's what that might mean
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By PTI: Chandigarh, Oct 9 (PTI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice to the CBI while admitting separate pleas filed by the Dera Sacha Sauda chief challenging his 20 -year sentence in rape case and that of the two victims seeking life imprisonment for Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

As the case came up for hearing today, a division bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sudhir Mittal also directed Ram Rahims counsel to deposit Rs 30 lakh as fine, which was imposed by the special CBI court on Ram Rahim, with a bank within two months.

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"The revision petition filed by rape victims for enhancing the sentence to life imprisonment for Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been admitted," victims counsel Navkiran Singh here today.

The counsel for Dera sect chief S K Garg Narwana also said, "the court has also admitted our appeal (challenging the conviction)."

Both the pleas will now be heard together.

Narwana said, "The high court has also directed us to deposit fine with a bank in the shape of FDR through the court within two months. If our appeal is finalised in our favour, then we will get back money with interest."

The jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 25, challenging the order of the special CBI Court of Panchkula which had sentenced him to 20-year-imprisonment for raping two disciples.

The order was challenged on several grounds including delay of more than six years in recording the statements of the victims by the CBI.

Two rape victims had also moved the High court on October 4, seeking life imprisonment for the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.

"In this case, the Dera sect chief was considered as Pita Ji (father) by his followers. Victims were under emotional and physical custody of Dera chief and he broke their trust and misused his position as a religious and spiritual leader. Therefore, we sought life imprisonment instead of 20-year-sentence," counsel Navkiran Singh said.

Ram Rahim was convicted by the special CBI court on August 25, following which violence and arson had erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa districts which left 41 people dead and left scores injured.

Ram Rahim is currently lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak district.

In April 2002, an anonymous letter was written to the then Chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, complaining about alleged sexual exploitation of woman followers at Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa.

Then in May 2002, the High Court directed Sirsa district and sessions judge to probe the allegations in the letter. In September 2002, the high court had handed over the matter to the CBI after the district court indicated possibility of sexual exploitation. PTI CHS SUN VSD DV

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PLDT Inc. provides telecommunications and digital services in the Philippines. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Fixed Line, and Others. The company offers cellular mobile, Internet broadband distribution, operations support, software development, and satellite information and messaging services; and sells Wi-Fi access equipment. It also provides fixed line telecommunications services; business infrastructure and solutions; intelligent data processing and implementation, and data analytics insight generation services; and information and communications infrastructure for Internet-based services, e-commerce, customer relationship management, and information technology (IT) related services. In addition, the company offers managed IT outsourcing, Internet-based purchasing, IT consulting and professional, bills printing and other related value-added, and air transportation services; distributes Filipino channels and content services; and provides full-services customer rewards and loyalty programs. Further, it engages in the sale of mobile handsets, broadband data routers, tablets, and accessories, as well as provides domestic leased lines and alternative messaging solutions, such as over-the-top services, social media, and messenger application. As of December 31, 2021, it had 71,221,952 mobile broadband subscribers; 3,619,372 fixed line subscribers; and 2.8 million broadband subscribers. The company was formerly known as Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and changed its name to PLDT Inc. in July 2016. PLDT Inc. was incorporated in 1928 and is headquartered in Makati City, the Philippines.
Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. operates as a savings and loan holding company for Flagstar Bank, FSB that provides commercial and consumer banking services to consumer, commercial, and government customers in the United States. It operates in three segments: Community Banking, Mortgage Originations, and Mortgage Servicing. The Community Banking segment offers various products, such as checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, consumer and commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, home builder finance loans, and warehouse lines of credit. It also provides other financial services, including consumer and corporate card services, customized treasury management solutions, merchant services, and capital markets services, such as loan syndications, and investment and insurance products and services. This segment serves consumer, business, and mortgage lending customers through its branch banking, business and commercial banking, government banking, and warehouse lending. The Mortgage Originations segment originates, acquires, and sells one-to-four family residential mortgage loans through mortgage branches, call centers, the Internet, and third-party counterparties. The Mortgage Servicing segment offers services and subservices mortgage and other consumer loans; and services loans for its loans held-for-investment and loans held-for-sale portfolios, as well as noninterest-bearing escrow services. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 158 full service banking branches; and mortgages through a wholesale network of brokers and correspondents in 50 states, as well as 83 retail locations and 3 call centers in 28 states. Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Troy, Michigan.
The following companies are subsidiares of Nokia Oyj: AO Nokia Solutions and Networks, ATG Germany GmbH, Aircom International, Alcatel - Lucent, Alcatel Centroamerica S.A., Alcatel IP Networks Limited, Alcatel Lucent, Alcatel Lucent Middle East North Africa DMCC, Alcatel Lucent Teletas Telekomunikasyon A.S., Alcatel SEL Unterstutzungs GmbH, Alcatel Submarine Networks, Alcatel Submarine Networks Brazil Ltda., Alcatel Submarine Networks Denmark ApS, Alcatel Submarine Networks Hong Kong Limited, Alcatel Submarine Networks Marine, Alcatel Submarine Networks Norway AS, Alcatel Submarine Networks UK Ltd, Alcatel Submarine Networks USA Inc., Alcatel de Venezuela C.A., Alcatel-Lucent Angola Limitada, Alcatel-Lucent Benin SA, Alcatel-Lucent Centro Caribbean Holding Limited, Alcatel-Lucent East Africa Limited, Alcatel-Lucent India Limited, Alcatel-Lucent International, Alcatel-Lucent International Holdings Inc., Alcatel-Lucent Managed Solutions India Private Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Nigeria Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Pakistan Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Participations, Alcatel-Lucent Participations Chine, Alcatel-Lucent Portugal S.A., Alcatel-Lucent RT International B.V., Alcatel-Lucent Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., Alcatel-Lucent Services International B.V., Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell Information Products Co. Ltd., Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks (Cabo Verde) Lda, Alcatel-Lucent Trade International AG, Alcatel-Lucent UK Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Ukraine SC, Alcatel-Lucent Vietnam Limited, Amber Networks Inc., Antelec, Apertio Ltd., Avvenu, Bell Laboratories Inc., C-Dot Alcatel-Lucent Research Centre Private Limited, Camilec, Comptel, Comptel Communications EOOD, Comptel Communications Holdings Limited, Comptel Communications India Private Limited, Comptel Communications Limited, Comptel Communications Oy, Comptel Communications Sdn Bhd, Comptel Oy, Comptel Palvelut Philippines Inc., DeepField, Diamond Lane Communications, Digiskin UK, DiscoveryCom Inc., Dopplr, ETA Devices Inc., Eizel Technologies, Elenion Technologies, Elenion Technologies LLC, Enpocket, Epistrophe Limited, Europe*Star Limited, Evolium, F5 Networks Inc., Hunan Huanuo Technology Co. Ltd., IRIS Service Delivery UK Ltd, IRIS Telecommunication Austria GmbH, IRIS Telecommunication France, IRIS Telecommunication GmbH, IRIS Telecommunication Poland sp. z o.o., IRIS Telekomunikasyon Muhendislik Hizmetleri A.S., InTalk Corporation, Intellisync Corporation, Intellisync LLC, Ipsilon Networks Inc., LCC International's U.S., LLC "Nokia Solutions and Networks Ukraine", Loudeye Corp., Lucent Technologies GRL LLC, Lucent Technologies Investment Co. Ltd., Lucent Technologies Nanjing Telecommunications Co. Ltd., Lucent Technologies Networks (Thailand) Limited, Lucent Technologies Nicaragua S.A., Lucent Technologies Philippines Inc., Lucent Technologies Qingdao Telecommunications Enterprises Co. Ltd., Lucent Technologies Qingdao Telecommunications Systems Ltd., MRAC Inc., Matra Nortel Communications, Mesaplexx Limited, MetaCarta Inc., Metrowerks Corporation, Mformation Software Technologies India Pvt Ltd, Motally, NE-Products Oy, NGI Industrial (NGI), Nakina Systems, Nassau Metals Corporation, Navteq, Network Alchemy Inc., Nokatus Insurance Company Designated Activity Company (DAC), Nokia (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Nokia (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Nokia Apps Distribution LLC, Nokia Arabia Limited  100.0, Nokia Asset Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Nokia Bell NV, Nokia Canada Inc., Nokia Costa Rica S.A., Nokia Denmark A/S, Nokia Display Technics GmbH i.L., Nokia Dominican Republic S.A.S., Nokia Egypt S.A.E., Nokia El Salvador S.A. de C.V., Nokia Electronics Bochum GmbH i.L., Nokia Federal Solutions LLC, Nokia Hong Kong Limited, Nokia India Private Limited, Nokia Innovations Japan G.K., Nokia Innovations Oy, Nokia Innovations US LLC, Nokia Investment Management Corporation, Nokia Investments Oy, Nokia Ireland Limited, Nokia Jamaica Limited, Nokia Kunststofftechnik GmbH i.L., Nokia Networks (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., Nokia Networks S.R.L., Nokia New Zealand Limited, Nokia Operations de Guatemala S.A., Nokia Operations de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Nokia Paraguay S.A., Nokia Puerto Rico Inc., Nokia Services Pty Limited, Nokia Services and Networks Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Nokia Shanghai Bell (Hong Kong) Limited, Nokia Shanghai Bell Co. Ltd., Nokia Shanghai Bell Lao Sole Co. Ltd., Nokia Shanghai Bell Philippines Inc., Nokia Shanghai Bell Software Co. Ltd., Nokia Siemens Networks Afghanistan LLC, Nokia Siemens Networks Algerie SARL, Nokia Slovakia A.S., Nokia Solutions Networks Iletisim A.S., Nokia Solutions and Networks (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks (Suzhou) Supply Chain Service Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks AB, Nokia Solutions and Networks Argentina S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Asset Management Oy, Nokia Solutions and Networks Australia Pty Ltd, Nokia Solutions and Networks B.V., Nokia Solutions and Networks Baku LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Bangladesh Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Bolivia S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Branch Operations Oy, Nokia Solutions and Networks CCC, Nokia Solutions and Networks CJSC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Chile Ltda., Nokia Solutions and Networks Colombia Ltda., Nokia Solutions and Networks Czech Republic s.r.o., Nokia Solutions and Networks EOOD, Nokia Solutions and Networks Ecuador S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Ethernet Services Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG, Nokia Solutions and Networks Hellas Single Member S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Holding Osterreich GmbH, Nokia Solutions and Networks Honduras S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks India Private Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks International Holding GmbH, Nokia Solutions and Networks Investment (China) Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Israel Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Italia S.p.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Japan G.K., Nokia Solutions and Networks Kazakhstan LLP, Nokia Solutions and Networks Kft., Nokia Solutions and Networks Korea Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Kuwait Company W.L.L, Nokia Solutions and Networks LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Lanka (Private) Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks MEA FZ-LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Management GmbH, Nokia Solutions and Networks Morocco SARL, Nokia Solutions and Networks Myanmar Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Nederland B.V., Nokia Solutions and Networks Nicaragua S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Nigeria Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Norge AS, Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy, Nokia Solutions and Networks OU, Nokia Solutions and Networks Pakistan (Private) Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Peru S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Philippines Inc., Nokia Solutions and Networks Portugal S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks S.R.L., Nokia Solutions and Networks S.p.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks SIA, Nokia Solutions and Networks Schweiz AG, Nokia Solutions and Networks Serbia d.o.o. Beograd, Nokia Solutions and Networks Singapore Pte. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks South Africa Pty. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Sp. z.o.o, Nokia Solutions and Networks System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Taiwan Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Tanzania Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Tashkent LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Technical Services Vietnam Company Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks TraffiCOM Kft., Nokia Solutions and Networks Tunisia SA, Nokia Solutions and Networks UK Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Venezuela C.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks d.o.o., Nokia Solutions and Networks d.o.o. Banja Luka, Nokia Solutions and Networks d.o.o. Sarajevo, Nokia Solutions and Networks do Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda., Nokia Solutions and Networks telekomunikacijske resitve d.o.o., Nokia Solutions and Networks Osterreich GmbH, Nokia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Nokia Spain S.A., Nokia Technologies (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Nokia Technologies (UK) Limited, Nokia Technologies Oy, Nokia Technology Center Philippines Inc., Nokia Technology GmbH, Nokia Teknologia Oy, Nokia Training Center Russian Federation, Nokia Transformation Engineering & Consulting Services Spain S.L.U., Nokia UK Limited, Nokia US Holdings Inc., Nokia Unterstutzungsgesellschaft GmbH, Nokia Uruguay S.A., Nokia West and Central Africa SA, Nokia of America Corporation, Novarra Inc., OOO Nokia Solutions and Networks, OOO RTK  Network Technologies, OZ Communications, OZ Communications HK Limited, P.T. Lucent Technologies Network Systems Indonesia, PT Nokia Solutions and Networks Indonesia, Pishahang Communications Networks Development Company (Private Joint Stock), Plazes, Plum, R.F.S. (UK) Limited, RFS Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, RFS Holding GmbH, RFS India Telecom Private Limited, RFS Italia SRL, RFS Radio Frequency Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., RFS Radio Frequency Systems (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Radio Frequency Systems (Africa) Pty Ltd, Radio Frequency Systems (S) Pte Ltd, Radio Frequency Systems France, Radio Frequency Systems GmbH, Radio Frequency Systems Inc., Radio Frequency Systems Pty Limited, Radio Frequency Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Ramp Networks Inc., Redback Networks Inc., Rooftop Communications Corporation, SAC AE Design Group Inc., SAC Wireless, SAC Wireless LLC, SAC Wireless of CA Inc., SRA Computer C.V., STC, Sega.com Inc., Smarterphone, Societe de Telecommunication Camerounaise  Sotelcam, Space Time Insight, Symbian Limited, Symbian Ltd, Tahoe Networks, Taiwan International Standard Electronics Limited, Technophone Ltd, Telekol Group, Trolltech (Qt Development Frameworks), Twango, UAB Nokia Solutions and Networks, Unium, User Interface Design, Vertu Holdings Oy, Vienna Systems Corporation, Western Electric Company Incorporated, Western Electric International Incorporated, Withings, Zyzyx Inc., bit-side GmbH, cellity AG, earthmine, and gate5 AG.

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Ensign Energy Services Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides oilfield services to the crude oil and natural gas industries in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers shallow, intermediate, and deep well drilling, as well as specialized drilling services, including horizontal, underbalanced, horizontal re-entry, and slant drilling for steam assisted gravity drainage applications; and equipment and services. It also provides coring and oil sands drilling services to the mining, and oil and natural gas industries; directional drilling and related services for conventional and horizontal drilling applications; shallow to deep well services, such as completions, abandonments, production workovers, and bottom hole pump changes for oil and natural gas producers; and interactive pressure drilling services with self-contained systems comprising nitrogen generation and compression equipment, and surface control systems. In addition, the company rents drill strings, loaders, tanks, pumps, rig mattings, blow-out preventers, waste bins, and wastewater treatment equipment for the drilling and completions segments of the oilfield industry. Further, the company offers transportation services. As of December 31, 2021, it operated a fleet of 262 land drilling rigs, 21 specialty coring rigs, and 100 well servicing rigs. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
This was the second time in less than a month that the Mumbai International Airport had to shut the main runway.

By Press Trust of India: A pothole created by heavy rainfall on one of the taxiways at the Mumbai airport delayed flight operations for the second time in less than a month.

According to sources, the heavy rainfall had led to a pothole on the taxiway, forcing airport authorities to shut down the main runway, resulting in delays in flight operations yesterday.

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This was the second time in less than a month that the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), a GVK-led joint venture airport company, had to close the main runway.

The main runway was closed for operations for nearly 24 hours after a SpiceJet aircraft overshot the runway following heavy rainfall and got stuck in the mud on September 20.

Yesterday, the runway remained shut for over three hours. The flight operations were shifted to the capacity-constrained secondary runway - 14/32.

"As a result, both arrivals and departures were affected with the incoming flights reporting an average delay of two hours, while departures getting delayed by almost an hour till the afternoon," a source said.

However, a spokesperson of the MIAL said the runway closure resulted in a delay of "half-an-hour".

Confirming the pothole on a taxiway, the spokesperson said the main runway was shut for operations at 6 am and the services were resumed at 10 am after the problem was fixed.

"Runway 009/27 was not available from 6 am due to a pothole between the N1 and N3 runways. Due to the repair work on the taxiway, the secondary runway was put into operations," the spokesperson added.

The traffic at the main runway was finally restored at 10 am.

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Stepan Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells specialty and intermediate chemicals to other manufacturers for use in various end products. It operates through three segments: Surfactants, Polymers, and Specialty Products. The Surfactants segment offers surfactants that are used as principal ingredients in consumer and industrial cleaning products, including detergents for washing clothes, dishes, carpets, and floors and walls, as well as shampoos and body washes; and other applications, such as fabric softeners, germicidal quaternary compounds, disinfectants, and lubricating ingredients. Its surfactants are also used in various applications, including emulsifiers for spreading agricultural products; and industrial applications comprising latex systems, plastics, and composites. The Polymers segment provides polyurethane polyols that are used in the manufacture of rigid foam for thermal insulation in the construction industry, as well as a base raw material for coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers (CASE); polyester resins, including liquid and powdered products, which are used in CASE applications; and phthalic anhydride that is used in unsaturated polyester resins, alkyd resins, and plasticizers for applications in construction materials, as well as components of automotive, boating, and other consumer products. The Specialty Products segment offers flavors, emulsifiers, and solubilizers for use in food, flavoring, nutritional supplement, and pharmaceutical applications. It serves in the United States, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, and internationally. Stepan Company was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.
ITT Inc. manufactures and sells engineered critical components and customized technology solutions for the transportation, industrial, and energy markets worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Motion Technologies, Industrial Process, and Connect & Control Technologies. The Motion Technologies segment manufactures brake pads, shims, shock absorbers, and energy absorption components; and sealing technologies primarily for the transportation industry, including passenger cars, trucks, light- and heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles, buses, and trains. The Industrial Process segment designs and manufactures industrial pumps, valves, and plant optimization and remote monitoring systems and services; and centrifugal and twin screw positive displacement pumps, as well as aftermarket solutions, such as replacement parts and services. It serves various customers in industries, such as chemical, energy, mining, and other industrial process markets. The Connect & Control Technologies segment designs and manufactures a range of engineered connectors and specialized control components for critical applications supporting various markets, including aerospace and defense, industrial, transportation, medical, and energy. This segment's connector product portfolio includes electrical connectors, such as circular, rectangular, radio frequency, fiber optic, D-sub miniature, micro-miniature, and cable assemblies, as well as control products consist of actuators, valves, and pumps and switches for flow control applications; rate controls, seat recline locks, and elastomer isolators for aircraft interiors; elastomeric bearings for rotorcraft vibration isolation; heaters, hoses, and composite ducting for environmental control systems; and advanced composites for engine applications. ITT Inc. was incorporated in 1920 and is headquartered in White Plains, New York.
CA, Inc., doing business as CA technologies, develops, markets, delivers, and licenses software products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Mainframe Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, and Services. The Mainframe Solutions segment offers solutions for the IBM z Systems platform, which runs various mission critical business applications. Its mainframe solutions enable customers enhance economics by increasing throughput and lowering cost per transaction; increasing business agility through DevOps tooling and processes; increasing reliability and availability of operations through machine intelligence and automation solutions; and protecting enterprise data with security and compliance. The Enterprise Solutions segment provides a range of software planning, development, and management tools for mobile, cloud, and distributed computing environments. It primarily provides customers secure application development, infrastructure management, automation, and identity-centric security solutions. The Services segment offers various services, such as consulting, implementation, application management, education, and support services to commercial and government customers for implementation and adoption of its software solutions. The company serves banks, insurance companies, other financial services providers, government agencies, information technology service providers, telecommunication providers, transportation companies, manufacturers, technology companies, retailers, educational organizations, and health care institutions. It sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through various partner channels comprising resellers, service providers, system integrators, managed service providers, and technology partners. The company was formerly known as Computer Associates International, Inc. and changed its name to CA, Inc. in 2006. CA, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
American Midstream Partners, LP provides midstream infrastructure that links the producers of natural gas, crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), condensate, and specialty chemicals to various intermediate and end-use markets in the United States and Mexico. Its Gas Gathering and Processing Services segment offers services to producers of natural gas and crude oil, including transporting raw natural gas and crude oil from various receipt points through gathering systems, treating the raw natural gas, processing raw natural gas to separate the NGLs from the natural gas, fractionating NGLs, and selling or delivering pipeline-quality natural gas and NGLs. The company's Liquid Pipelines and Services segment transports, purchases, and sells crude oil. Its Natural Gas Transportation Services segment transports and delivers natural gas from producing wells, receipt points, or pipeline interconnects for shippers, local distribution companies, and utilities, as well as industrial, commercial, and power generation customers. The company's Offshore Pipelines and Services segment gathers and transports natural gas from receipt points to other pipeline interconnects, onshore facilities, and other delivery points. Its Terminalling Services segment provides petroleum products, distillates, chemicals, and agricultural products storage services at its marine terminals for commodity brokers, refiners, and chemical manufacturers. As of May 10, 2018, the company owned approximately 5,100 miles of interstate and intrastate pipelines; gas processing plants and fractionation facilities; an offshore semisubmersible floating production system with nameplate processing capacity of 90 thousand barrels per day of crude oil and 220 million cubic feet per day of natural gas; and terminal sites with approximately 6.7 million barrels of storage capacity. American Midstream GP, LLC serves as the general partner of the company. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Allergan plc, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical, and regenerative medicine products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: US Specialized Therapeutics, US General Medicine, and International. It offers a portfolio of products in various therapeutic areas, including medical aesthetics and dermatology, eye care, neuroscience, urology, gastrointestinal, women's health, and anti-infective therapeutic products. The company also offers breast implants and tissue expanders; and RM-131 (relamorelin), a peptide ghrelin agonist for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. In addition, it develops medical and cosmetic treatments; therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and other liver diseases; inhibitor for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders; atopic dermatitis drug candidate; peri-ocular rings for extended drug delivery and reducing elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients; and treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Further, the company develops RST-001, a novel gene therapy for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa; small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; topical medicines for fat reduction; and delivery system and botulinum toxin-based prescription products. It has collaboration, option, and license agreement with Lyndra, Inc.; and strategic alliance and option agreement with Editas Medicine, Inc. Allergan plc also has licensing agreements with Assembly Biosciences, Inc.; MedImmune; and Heptares Therapeutics, Ltd. The company was formerly known as Actavis plc and changed its name to Allergan plc in June 2015. Allergan plc was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
PeeCee looks fabulous even while walking her dog. Because, it's PeeCee.

By India Today Web Desk: It's not very rare to find Priyanka Chopra dressed to the T. In fact, ever since the actress has gone to foreign shores, she's been giving us #OutfitGoals like no one else--be it a lesson in how to wear leather right or rocking a traditional Indian saree like no one's business.

Of late, the actress was spotted on the streets of New York city, walking her dog, Diana, looking fab as always.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/afashionistasdiaries

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PeeCee wore a long denim dress with a small zipper running down the front--giving the denim dress that edge it so needed. She wore a polo-neck, full-sleeved t-shirt under this dress--something that can easily be replaced with a polo-neck sweater for the winter.

The one thing we did not like about the outfit, however, was her footwear, which we thought was rather mismatched with the denim dress. It did not make any sense for her to wear cream-coloured, floral, ankle-length boots with a blue-on-blue combination.

From the pink lipper to the round, vintage sunglasses--Priyanka Chopra got every other detail just right.

Taking cues for winter-dressing already, are we?

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Ally Financial Inc., a digital financial-services company, provides various digital financial products and services to consumer, commercial, and corporate customers primarily in the United States and Canada. It operates through four segments: Automotive Finance Operations, Insurance Operations, Mortgage Finance Operations, and Corporate Finance Operations. The Automotive Finance Operations segment offers automotive financing services, including providing retail installment sales contracts, loans and operating leases, term loans to dealers, financing dealer floorplans and other lines of credit to dealers, warehouse lines to automotive retailers, and fleet financing. It also provides financing services to companies and municipalities for the purchase or lease of vehicles, and vehicle-remarketing services. The Insurance Operations segment offers consumer finance protection and insurance products through the automotive dealer channel, and commercial insurance products directly to dealers. This segment provides vehicle service and maintenance contract, and guaranteed asset protection products; and underwrites commercial insurance coverages, which primarily insure dealers' vehicle inventory. The Mortgage Finance Operations segment manages consumer mortgage loan portfolio that includes bulk purchases of jumbo and low-to-moderate income mortgage loans originated by third parties, as well as direct-to-consumer mortgage offerings. The Corporate Finance Operations segment provides senior secured leveraged cash flow and asset-based loans to middle market companies; leveraged loans; and commercial real estate product to serve companies in the healthcare industry. The company also offers commercial banking products and services. In addition, it provides securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company was formerly known as GMAC Inc. and changed its name to Ally Financial Inc. in May 2010. Ally Financial Inc. was founded in 1919 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.
The following companies are subsidiares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.: 2235158 Alberta Limited, A.J. Amer Agency, AHC Digital LLC, AIX Limited, AJG Coal LLC, AJG Financial Services LLC, AJG Meadows LLC, AJG North America ULC, AJG RCF LLC, AJGRMS of Louisiana LLC, ARM RE Ltda., AVIATION INSURANCE SERVICES, AVRECO, Ace IRM Insurance Broking Group, Acumus Holdings Limited, Acumus Interco Limited, Acumus Ltd, Adams & Associates International, Adaptive Marketing LLC, Adco General Corporation, Advanced Benefit Advisors, Aequus Trade Credit, Affinity Marketing Group, Ahrold Fay Rosenberg, Aires Consulting Group, Alesco Risk Management Services Limited, Alize Limited, Allied Claims Administration Inc., Alternative Market Specialists, Altman & Cronin Benefit Consultants, American Freedom Carriers Inc., American Security Services Corp., American Wholesalers Underwriting Ltd, Andrew-Anthony Insurance Agency, Anthony Hodges Consulting Limited, Antrobus Investments Limited, AquaSurance, Argentis, Argentis Financial Group Limited, Argentis Financial Management Limited, Argus Benefits, Armstrong/Robitaille/Riegle, Artex (SAC) Limited, Artex Cedar Hill, Artex Corporate Services (Malta) Limited, Artex Corporate Services Limited, Artex Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Holdings (Malta) Limited, Artex Insurance (Guernsey) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance (Tennessee) PCCIC Inc., Artex Insurance Brokers (Malta) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance ICC Limited, Artex Intermediaries Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Cayman) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Guernsey) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (International) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Malta) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (UK) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions Inc., Arthur J Gallagher (Norway) Holdings AS, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AUS) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Illinois), Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher (Aus) Pty Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Bermuda) Holding Partnership, Arthur J. Gallagher (Life Solutions) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (U.S.) LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Asesoria S.A.C., Arthur J. Gallagher Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd., Arthur J. Gallagher Brokerage & Risk Management Services LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Broking (NZ) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Financial Services Professionals Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Group Quebec ULC, Arthur J. Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Latin America LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Management (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Real Estate Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services (Hawaii) Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services of Utah Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher School Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Service Company LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Services (UK) Ltd, Ashmore & Associates Insurance Agency, Atlantic Risk Management Corp., Atrex Insurance (Cayman) SPC Limited, Avantek Pty Ltd, Axe Insurance PCC Limited, BIS Insurance Services, Baker - Tillys employment benefits solutions, Ballard Benefit Works, Bankers Financial Benefits, Barmore Insurance Agency, Behnke & Co. Inc., Bellisle Pty Ltd, Belmont Associates Consultants, Belmont Insurance Holdings Limited, Belmont International, Belmont International Limited, Benefit Development Group, Benefit Management Group, BenefitLink Resource Group, Benefits Planning & Insurance Agency, Benefits Unlimited, Bennett & Shade Co., Bergvall Marine, Bergvall Marine A.S., Besselman & Little Agency, Big Savings Insurance Agency Inc., Blenheim Park Ltd, Blenheim Park Services Limited, Blue Holdings Pty Ltd, Blue Horizon Insurance Services, Blue Water Benefits, BluePeak Advisors, Blueleaf Consulting Pty Ltd., Bluewater Incorporated Cell Insurance Company, Bollinger Inc., Bollinger Insurance Services Inc., Bowen Miclette Britt & Merry of Arkansas Inc., Brendis & Brendis, Brim AB, Broker Benefit Services, Brokerage Professionals, Brown Hobbs & McMurray Insurance, Bultman/Bell Associates Inc., Burkwald & Associates, Burns-Fazzi Brock & Associates, Bushong Insurance Associates, C&B Consulting Group, CGM Gallagher Insruance Brokers (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, CJM Solutions Inc., CMA Solutions LLC, Cairnstone Financial, California Insurance Center, Capital Bauer Insurance Agency, Capitol Benefits Group, Capsicum CRLA LLP, Capsicum Re Brasil Participacoes Ltda, Capsicum Re Latin America Corretora De Resseguros Ltda, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Bermuda Limited, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Miami Inc., Carefree Marketing Inc., Carpenter Cammack & Associates, Cashan & Co., Castle Insurance Associates, Centennial Insurance Agency, Charity First Insurance Services Inc., Charles Allen Agency, Charter Lakes Insurance Agency, Chris Schroeder Insurance, Christie-Phoenix, Cintran Claims Canada Limited, Classic Insurance Services, Cleaveland Insurance Group, Cohen & Lord Insurance Brokers, Cohn Financial Group, Coleman Group Holdings Limited, Coleman Holdings Limited, College and University Scholastic Excess Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Commercial Insurance Brokers, Complete Benefit Alliance, Complete Financial Balance, Complete Financial Balance Pty Ltd, Consolidated Casualty Specialties LLC, Construction Risk Solutions, Contego Underwriting Limited, Contego Underwriting Ltd, Continental Excess & Surplus, Convergence Risk Services Ltd, Copper Mountain Assurance Inc., Cornwall & Stevens Co., Corporate Benefit Advisors, Corporate Life Consultants, Countrywide Accident Assistance Limited, Coverdell & Company Inc., Coverdell Canada Corporation, Cowles and Connell, Craig M. Ferguson & Co., Crist Elliott Machette Insurance Services, Crombie Lockwood (NZ) Limited, Davis-Poston & Associates, Denman Consulting Services, Detlefs Johnson & Partners, DiBrina Group, Dickinson & Associates, Discount Development Services L.L.C., Discovery Benefit Solutions, Dodson-Bateman & Co., Donald P. Pipino Co. Ltd., E. S. Susanin Inc., EHE Holdings LLC, EHS Holdings Limited, Elantis Premium Funding (NZ) Limited, Elantis Premium Funding Limited, Elite Benefits Insurance Marketing Services, Employee Benefits Analysis Corp., Employee Benefits of The Carolinas, Encore Insurance & Bonding, Everett James, Evolution Risk Services Limited, Evolution Technology Services Limited, Evolution Underwriting Group, Evolution Underwriting Group Limited, Evolution Underwriting Limited, Excel Insurance Services, FYI Direct Canada Corporation, FYI Direct LLC, Farallone Pacific Insurance Services, Fenchurch Faris Limited, Fidelity Benefits & Insurance Services, Financial Profiles Inc., Finergy Solutions Pty Ltd, First Agency, First Iowa Insurance Agency, First Premium Inc., First Premium Insurance Group, Fish & Schulkamp, Fishermans Insurance Services, Foley Healthcare Limited, Fortress Financial Solutions Pty Ltd, Fortress Insurance LLC, Foundation Strategies, Fox Lawson & Associates, Franklin-Case Agency LLC, Fraser MacAndrew Ryan Limited, Friary Intermediate Limited, Fuller & O'Brien, G.S. Chapman & Associates Insurance Brokers, G.S. Levine Insurance Services, GBS (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd, GBS Administrators Inc., GBS Insurance and Financial Services Inc., GBS Retirement Services Inc., GBS Specialty Markets LLC, GGB Finance 1 Limited, GGB Finance 2 Limited, GGB Finance 3 Limited, GGB Finance 4 Limited, GPL Assurance, GPL Assurance Inc., Gabor Insurance Services, Gale Smith & Co. Inc., Gallagher (Bermuda) Insurance Solutions Ltd., Gallagher - Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, Gallagher Bassett Aires Inc., Gallagher Bassett Canada Inc., Gallagher Bassett Insurance Services Ltd., Gallagher Bassett International Ltd., Gallagher Bassett NZ Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Inc. , Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Workers Compensation Victoria Pty Ltd., Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services (Holdings) Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services Management Company Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Pty Ltd, Gallagher Benefits Consulting Limited, Gallagher Bomford Couch Wilson, Gallagher Burgess, Gallagher Canada Acquisition Corporation, Gallagher Caribbean Group Limited, Gallagher Clean Energy LLC, Gallagher Communications Limited, Gallagher Community Clinic RPG LLC, Gallagher Consulting Ltda, Gallagher Corporate Services LLC, Gallagher Coyle, Gallagher CyberRisk, Gallagher Energy Risk Services Inc., Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC, Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Bermuda Company Limited, Gallagher Holdings Four (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Three (UK) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (Barbados) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Kitts & Nevis) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Lucia) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Vincent) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers Jamaica Limited, Gallagher International Cash Management s.r.l., Gallagher International Holdings (US) Inc., Gallagher Investment Advisors LLC, Gallagher Inwest Group, Gallagher Koster, Gallagher Lambert Group, Gallagher Madison Risk & Insurance Services, Gallagher Mauritius Holdings, Gallagher Mississippi Brokerage LLC, Gallagher RE Colombia Ltda Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Gallagher Risk & Reward Limited, Gallagher Risk Group LLC, Gallagher Risk Placements Pty Ltd, Gallagher SKS, Gallagher Service Center LLP, Gallagher-Tarantino, Galtney Group, Game Day Insurance Inc., Gardner & White Corp., Gardner Marine Agency, Garza Long Group, Gatehouse Consulting Limited, Gault Armstrong Kemble Pty Ltd, Gault Armstrong SARL, Giles Group, Giles Holdings Limited, Giles Insurance Brokers, Gillis Ellis & Baker Inc., Goodman Insurance Agency, Grandy Pratt Co., Greenseed Alternative Mangaers Platform Ltd, Grossman & Associates, Group Benefits of Arkansas, Group Insurance Associates, Gruppo Marcucci, HLG Holdings Limited, HMG-PCMS Limited, HPF Investments LLC, HR Owen Insurance Services Limited, Hagan Newkirk Financial Services, Hagedorn & Company, Hardman & Howell Benefits, Harlequin Insurance PCC Limited, Hartstein Associates Inc., Healthcare Professionals Purchasing Group LLC, Healthcare Risk Solutions, Heath Lambert Group Ltd., Heath Lambert Limited, Heath Lambert Overseas Limited, Heiser Insurance Agency, Henderson Phillips Fine Arts Insurance, Herbruck Alder & Co., Heritage Insurance Brokers (CI) Limited, Hesse & Partner AG, Hesse Consulting, Hexagon ICC Limited, Hexagon Insurance PCC Limited, Hill Chesson & Woody, Hogan Insurance Services, Home & Travel Limited, Honour Point Limited, Horseshoe Corporate Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services USA Inc., Horseshoe ILS Services UK Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Advisors US LLC, Horseshoe Insurance Advisory Ltd., Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings US Inc., Horseshoe Management (Gibraltar) Limited, Horseshoe Management (Ireland) Ltd, Horseshoe Management Ltd., Horseshoe PCC Limited, Horseshoe Re Limited, Horseshoe Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Services (Pty) Ltd, Horton Insurance Agency, Housing Authorities Services Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Human Resource Management Systems, I-Protect Underwriting Pty Ltd, IBIS Advisors, IBS Reinsurance Singapore Pte Ltd, ILS Fund Services Ltd., ISG International, ITI Solutions, Igloo Insurance PCC Limited, Independent Benefit Services, Independent Fiduciary Services, Ink Underwriting Agencies Limited, InsSync Group Pty Ltd, Inspire Underwriting Limited, Instrat Insurance Brokers, Instrat Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Instrat Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Insurance Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Insurance Associates Inc., Insurance Dialogue Limited, Insurance Dialogue Ltd., Insurance Plans Agency, Insurance Plus Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Insurance Point, Insurance Risk Managers of Missouri Inc., Insure My Villa Limited, Insure Pty Ltd, Integrated Healthcare Strategies, InterNational Insurance Group, InterPacific Underwriting Agencies, Intermountain Financial Benefits, Interstate Insurance Underwriters, JPGAC LLC, James F. Reda & Associates, James R. Weir Insurance Agency, Jenkins and Associates, Joe E. Martin Inc., John P. Woods Co. Inc., Jones Brown, Jones Brown Group Inc., Jones Brown Insurance Solutions Inc., Joseph Distel, Joseph James & Associates Insurance Agency, Just Landlords Insurance Services Ltd, KDC Associates, KRW Insurance Agency, Kahl Insurance Services, Kaler Carney Liffler & Co. Inc., Kane Group - Insurance Management Operations, Kelly Financial, Kent Kent & Tingle and RBS, Keyser Benefits Corp., Kingspark Enterprises Pty Ltd, L&R Benefits, LSG Insurance Partners, Learn About Money Limited, Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers, Leystone Insurance & Financial, Life Plans Unlimited, Lincoln Financial Management, Longfellow Financial, Lucas Fettes Limited, Lucas Fettes and Partners Limited, Lutgert Insurance, MA Underwriting Pty Ltd, MDM Insurance Associates, MG Advanced Coal Technologies-1 LLC, MGA Insurance Services, MRS Holdings Ltd., Madison Scott & Associates, Managed Healthcare Solutions, Mannequin Insurance PCC Limited, Marchetti Robertson & Brickell Insurance, Marine Insurance Service, Martin Gordon & Jones Inc., McDowall Associates Human Resource Consultants, McIntyre Risk Management, McLean Insurance Agency, McNeary, McPherson Benefits Group, McRory & Co., Mecacem Insurance SPC Ltd, MedInsights Inc., Melton Insurance Associates, Memberworks Canada LLC, Merit Insurance, Metcom Excess, Metzler Bros. Insurance, Meyers-Reynolds & Associates, Mid America Group, Midwest Surety Services, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers Limited, Mike Henry Insurance Funding Limited, Miller Buettner & Parrott, Miller-Harrison Insurance Services, Milne Alexander Pty Ltd, Minvielle & Chastanet Insurance Brokers, Monument Insurance (NZ) Limited, Monument Llc, Monument Premium Funding Limited, Mortgage Insurance Agency, Murphy Consultants, Mutual Insurance Services, NationAir Aviation Insurance, National Administration Co., National Ethics Association, National Transportation Adjusters, Nelson/Monarch Insurance Services, Nicoud Insurance Services, NiiS/Apex Group Holdings, Nonprofit Insurance Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Noraxis Capital Corp, Nordic Forsakring & Riskhantering AB, North Alabama Insurance, Nourse Insurance Brokers, O'Gorman & Young, OAMPS (UK) Limited, OAMPS Gault Armstrong Pty Ltd, OAMPS Limited, OAMPS Special Risks Ltd, Offshore Market Placements Limited, Optimum Talent, Orb Financial Services, Orb Financial Services Limited, Osprey Insurance Brokers Limited, Oval Group, Oval Healthcare Limited, Oval Insurance Broking Limited, Oval Limited, Oval Management Services Limited, Oxygen Insurance Managers, P2 Group, PEN Insurance Management Advisors Ltd, PT IBS Insurance Broking Service, Pacific Insurance Agency, Palmer Atlantic Insurance, Palmer Atlantic Insurance Ltd, Palmer Atlantic Risk Services Ltd., Park Row Associates, Parkstar Enterprises Pty Ltd, Parmia Pty Ltd, PartnerSource, Pastel Holding (NZ) Company, Pastel Holdings Pty Limited, Pastel Purchaser (NZ) Limited, Pastel Purchaser Pty Limited, Pavey Group Holdings (UK) Limited, Pavey Group Holdings Limited, Pavey Group Limited, Pearson Dunn Insurance Inc., Pen Underwriting Canada Limited, Pen Underwriting Group Pty. Ltd., Pen Underwriting Limited, Pen Underwriting Pty Ltd, Persing Dyckman & Toynbee Inc., Personal Advice Services Pty Ltd, Petty Burton Associates, Pointer Insurance Agency, Portmore Insurance Brokers (Wilshire) Limited, Portmore Insurance Brokers Limited, Potter-Holden & Co., Powell Insurance Agency, Premier Insurance Services Inc., Premier Risk Services, Premium Finance Corporation, Preston-Patterson, ProSource Financial, Professional Agents Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Professional Claims Managers, Proinova AB, Proinova Agency AB, Pronto California Agency LLC, Pronto California General Agency LLC, Pronto Florida Claims LLC, Pronto Florida General Agency LLC, Pronto Franchise LLC, Pronto General Agency Ltd, Pronto General Agency Management LLC, Pronto Holdco Inc., Pronto Holding California LLC, Pronto Holding Florida LLC, Pronto Insurance Agency of Laredo Inc., Pronto Premium Finance LLC, Property & Commercial Ltd., Property Insurance Initatives Limited, Property and Commercial Limited, Protected Insurance Company, Protection Plan Association Inc., Protek Group Limited, Providium Consulting Group, Ptarmigan Underwriting Agency Limited, Ptarmigan Underwriting UK Limited, Purple Bridge Claims Management Limited, Purple Bridge Finance Limited, Purple Bridge Group Limited, Purple Bridge Investments Limited, Purple Bridge Online Services Limited, Purple Bridge Publishing Limited, Quantum Underwriting Solutions Limited, Quillco 226 Limited, Quillco 227 Limited, R. L. Youngdahl & Associates, R.G. Speno Inc., R.W. Scobie, RA Rossborough (Guernsey) Ltd., RA Rossborough (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, REGENCY Group inc., RGA Referencing Limited, RGA Underwriting Limited, RIL Administrators (Guernsey) Ltd., RJ Dutton Inc., RSM Insurance Services Limited, Reassurance Holdings Inc., Rebholz Insurance Agency, Reid Manson Ltd., Reimbursement Services, Rentguard Limited, Reward Management Limited, Reynolds & Rodar Insurance Group, Riley & Associates, Rio 587 Limited, Rio 588 Limited, Risk & Reward Group, Risk Management Partners Limited, Risk Placement Services Inc., Risk Planners, Risk Services (NW) Limited, Risk Services (NW) Ltd., Risk Solutions Group Limited, Robert A. Schneider Agency, Robert Keith & Associates, Roberts & Roberts Insurance Service, Robinson-Adams Insurance, Rossborough Healthcare International Ltd, Rossborough Insurance (IOM) Ltd., Rossborough Insurance Services Ltd. (Jersey), S. A. Freerks & Associates, SEG Insurance Ltd, SGB-NIA Insurance Brokers, SHILLING Ltd, SKANCO International, SMERI AB, SRS Underwriting Pty Ltd, Secure Enterprises Pty Ltd, Securitas Re, Sellers Group, Sentinel Indemnity LLC, Septagon Insurance PCC Limited, Shuford Insurance Agency, Sigma II Insurance Agency, Sinclair Billard and Weld Limited, Sobieski & Bradley, Solid Benefit Guidance, Spanjers Insurance Agency, Spataro Insurance Agency, Specialised Broking Associates, Specialty Risk, Stackhouse Poland, Stackhouse Poland Bidco Limited, Stackhouse Poland Group Limited, Stackhouse Poland Holdings Limited, Stackhouse Poland Midco Limited, Stackouse Poland Limited, Stanton Group, Stark Johnson & Stinson Inc., Steel Agency, Strata Solicitors Ltd, Strategic Health Plans Corp., Strathearn Insurance Brokers, Strathearn Insurance Brokers (Qld) Trading Trust, Strathern Insurance Group Pty Ltd, Strathern Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Strathern Unit Trust, Strong Financial Resources, Summit Insurance Group, Sunday and Associates, Sunderland Insurance Services, Super Advice Corporate Services Pty Ltd, Taylor Benefits, Texas Insurance Agency, Texas Insurance Managers, The BeneTex Group, The Buchholz Planning, The Chapman Group, The Commonwealth Consulting Group, The Daniels Group Inc., The EHE Group LLC, The EHE Insurance Agency LLC, The Eagle Insurance Agency LLC, The Eriksen Group, The Forker Company, The Gleason Agency, The Great Lakes Agency, The HR Group, The Hawk Agency, The Human Capital Group, The Lance Group, The Levitt/Kristan Co., The MW Bagnall Company, The Old Greenwich Consulting Group, The Parks Johnson Agency, The Plus Companies Inc., The Presidio Group, The Producers Choice, The Rains Group, The Splinter Group, The Titan Group, The Treiber Group, The Woodsmall Companies Inc., Title & Covenant Brokers Ltd., Title Investments Limited, Tom Sherwin Insurance Agency, Total Reward Group, Total Rewards Group (Holdings) Limited, Towle Agency, Transwestern, Tri-State General Insurance Agency, Triad Insurance Agency, Triad USA, Tribeca Strategic Advisors, Trinder & Norwood, Trip Mate, Trissel Graham & Toole, Tropp & Co., Tudor Risk Services, Tyloma Holdings Limited, Uni-Care Inc., Unison Inc., Universico Group, Unoccupied Direct Limited, V2V Holdings LLC, VEBA Service Group, Vasek Insurance Services Limited, Velo ACU LLC, Velo Holdings Inc., Verbag AG., Vertrue LLC, Victory Insurance Agency, Vincent L. Braband Insurance, Vital Benefits, Voluntary Benefits Solutions, W. E. Kingsley Co. Inc., WM. W. George & Associates, Walker Taylor Agency, Welling Associates, Wesfarmers Insurance - Insurance Brokerage Operations, Western Benefit Solutions, White & Company Insurance, Whitehaven Insurance Group, William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, William H. Connolly & Co., Williams Insurance Agency Inc., Williams-Manny Insurance Group, Winn & Company Insurance Brokers, Wischmeyer Benefit Partners, Woodbrook Underwriting Agencies, Woods & Grooms, WorkCare Northwest, Worksite Communications, Y. S. Liedman & Associates, YOA Capsicum Reinsurance Broker Limited, Zenor Limited, Zuber Insurance Agency, and e3 Financial.

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Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, small and medium enterprises, and corporate customers in Brazil and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Commercial Banking and Global Wholesale Banking. It offers deposits and other bank funding instruments; debit and credit cards; digital prepaid solutions; payment platform; loyalty programs; employee benefit vouchers; payroll loans; digital lending and online debt renegotiation services; mortgages; home equity financing products; consumer credit; and local loans, commercial and trade finance, guarantees, structured loans, and cash management and funding solutions, as well as on-lending transfer services. It also provides funding and financial advisory services related to projects, origination and distribution of fixed-income securities in the debt capital markets, financing of acquisitions and syndicated loans, other structured financing arrangements, and subordinated debt and energy efficiency transactions; advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, and equity capital markets transactions; and stock brokerage and advisory, equity, and equity research services. In addition, the company structures and offers foreign exchange, derivative, and investment products for institutional investors, and corporate and retail customers; and provides market making services. Further, it offers instant payment services; range of products and services focused on the agribusiness sector; microfinance services; and online automotive listing and digital car insurance solutions, as well as digital trading platform. Additionally, it provides its financial services and products to its customers through multichannel distribution network comprising branches, mini-branches, ATMs, call centers, Internet banking, and mobile banking. Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A. was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The farmers of Nindar, Rajasthan are protesting by burying themselves waist-deep in ground. But this did not stop their wives from celebrating Karwa Chauth with them.

By India Today Web Desk: After the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) acquired land of Nindar farmers, the land owners, decided to protest against the government authority in a unique way. The protest which started on October 2, 2017, saw the farmers burying themselves in the ground waist-deep to stop the authorities from acquiring their land.

Yesterday was Karwa Chauth, a custom that's followed in north India and west India, but the protesters did not budge.

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Wives of the farmers decided to break their Karwa Chauth fast there at the protest site. These women gathered at the protest site and celebrated the festival with full vigour even though their husbands were buried in the ground. The women saw the moon through sieves, a Karwa Chauth ritual and did the pooja.

Here's how the unique Karwa Chauth was celebrated by the Nindar farmers:

The farmers of Nindar were slapped with a notice to vacate their lands by the JDA. The JDA wants to claim 1350 square meters of land from the farmers and claim that it was pre-decided in 2010 itself. But the farmers feel that JDA wants to acquire the land and sell it further on higher rates to those eyeing to build residential colonies.

The officials from JDA came to visit the farmers for a discussion but as JDA commissioner Vaibhav Gulleriya left for Singapore, the discussion wasn't successful.

The farmers are protesting because the government initiated the evacuation process without providing compensation to the farmers.

The farmers do not want to sell off their entire land and want to keep a small portion to themselves. This is something the government disagrees with.

The farmers are sitting on hunger strike buried waist-deep in the ground and are waiting for the JDA to provide relief to them.

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BlackRock, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. It also provides global risk management and advisory services. The firm manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios. It also launches and manages open-end and closed-end mutual funds, offshore funds, unit trusts, and alternative investment vehicles including structured funds. The firm launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and real estate mutual funds. It also launches equity, fixed income, balanced, currency, commodity, and multi-asset exchange traded funds. The firm also launches and manages hedge funds. It invests in the public equity, fixed income, real estate, currency, commodity, and alternative markets across the globe. The firm primarily invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, SMID-cap, large-cap, and multi-cap companies. It also invests in dividend-paying equity securities. The firm invests in investment grade municipal securities, government securities including securities issued or guaranteed by a government or a government agency or instrumentality, corporate bonds, and asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. It employs fundamental and quantitative analysis with a focus on bottom-up and top-down approach to make its investments. The firm employs liquidity, asset allocation, balanced, real estate, and alternative strategies to make its investments. In real estate sector, it seeks to invest in Poland and Germany. The firm benchmarks the performance of its portfolios against various S&P, Russell, Barclays, MSCI, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch indices. BlackRock, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in New York City with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts; London, United Kingdom; Gurgaon, India; Hong Kong; Greenwich, Connecticut; Princeton, New Jersey; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, District of Columbia; Toronto, Canada; Wilmington, Delaware; and San Francisco, California.
By India Today Web Desk: Superstar Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar-starrer 2.0 is arguably the most anticipated Indian film ever. Following the blockbuster success of Enthiran, Rajinikanth is reuniting with Shankar for the sequel, which appears to be an ambitious effort.

On Saturday, filmmaker Shankar released a new making video from the film, which piqued our curiosity quotient. The video showed some candid moments from the sets of the film. While 2.0 is currently in its post-production stage, an interesting news about the audio launch has cropped up.

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According to a report in Indian Express, 2.0 audio launch will take place in Dubai on October 27. The report further states the makers have spent a lavish amount of Rs 15 crore for the grand audio launch and several eminent personalities are expected to grace the event.

In a statement, Raju Mahalingam, creative head of Lyca Productions, said that the long-awaited 2.0 teaser will be out in November, followed by the trailer in December.

Made on a whopping budget of Rs 400 crore, 2.0 is touted as the costliest Asian film ever. Directed by Shankar, the film stars Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey and Adil Hussain in important roles. 2.0 is the first Indian film to be shot in 3D technology.

Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman is in charge of the music department.

ALSO WATCH: All about 2.0 on In Da Club

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Citizens Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank, National Association that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. The Consumer Banking segment offers deposit products, mortgage and home equity lending products, credit cards, business loans, wealth management, and investment services; and auto, education, and point-of-sale finance loans, as well as digital deposit products. This segment serves its customers through telephone service centers, as well as through its online and mobile platforms. The Commercial Banking segment provides various financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, and interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as syndicated loans, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and debt and equity capital markets services. This segment serves government banking, not-for-profit, healthcare, technology, professionals, oil and gas, asset finance, franchise finance, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, private equity, and sponsor finance industries. It operates approximately 1,200 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia; 114 retail and commercial non-branch offices in national markets; and approximately 3,300 automated teller machines. The company was formerly known as RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and changed its name to Citizens Financial Group, Inc. in April 2014. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1828 and is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.
Ranbir Kapoor was all praise for Ranveer Singh at a film festival in Mumbai.

By India Today Web Desk: Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh have constantly been pitted against each other - from their Deepika Padukone connection (Ranbir is her ex-boyfriend, she is currently in a steady relationship with Ranveer) to who is the next big star. But if you thought that the two couldn't see eye-to-eye, you couldn't be more mistaken.

At a film festival in Mumbai, Ranbir Kapoor surprised everyone when he said that Ranveer Singh was his favourite actor, Filmfare reports.

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The two actors had earlier made an appearance together on a chat show, where Ranbir revealed, "We are not best friends... But I love his work and love him as a person."

In fact, Ranbir even hoped that Ranveer and Deepika "make awesome babies together".

On the work front, Ranbir is currently busy shooting for Rajkumar Hirani's Sanjay Dutt biopic, while Ranveer is awaiting the release of Padmavati, in which he plays the antagonist, Alauddin Khilji.

ALSO WATCH: Anushka Sharma on Ranveer and Ranbir, being Lady Sultan and more

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The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Transocean: 15375 Memorial Corporation, Agon Shipping Inc., Aguas Profundas Limitada, AngoSantaFe - Prestacao de Servicos Petroliferos Limitada, Angola Deepwater Drilling Company (Offshore Services) Ltd, Arcade Drilling AS, Asie Sonat Offshore Sdn. Bhd., Barents Rigco Limited, Blegra Asset Management Limited, Blegra Financing Limited, Caledonia Offshore Drilling Services Limited, Challenger Minerals Inc., Covent Garden - Servicos e Marketing Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Deepwater Drilling (Transocean Ghana) Limited, Deepwater Drilling North Africa LLC - Free Zone, Deepwater Pacific 1 Inc., Deepwater Supply Inc., Drillship Alonissos Owners Inc., Drillship Hydra Owners Inc., Drillship Kithira Owners Inc., Drillship Kythnos Owners Inc., Drillship Paros Owners Inc., Drillship Skiathos Owners Inc., Drillship Skopelos Owners Inc., Drillship Skyros Owners Inc., Eastern Med Consultants Inc., Entities Holdings Inc., GSF Leasing Services GmbH, Global Marine Inc., Global Offshore Drilling Limited, GlobalSantaFe (Labuan) Inc., GlobalSantaFe B.V., GlobalSantaFe C.R. Luigs Limited, GlobalSantaFe Denmark Holdings ApS, GlobalSantaFe Drilling (N.A.) N.V., GlobalSantaFe Drilling Company, GlobalSantaFe Drilling Company (North Sea) Limited, GlobalSantaFe Drilling Company (Overseas) Limited, GlobalSantaFe Drilling Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., GlobalSantaFe Drilling Operations Inc., GlobalSantaFe Drilling Services (North Sea) Limited, GlobalSantaFe Drilling Trinidad LLC, GlobalSantaFe Drilling Venezuela C.A., GlobalSantaFe Financial Services (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., GlobalSantaFe Group Financing Limited Liability Company, GlobalSantaFe Holding Company (North Sea) Limited, GlobalSantaFe Hungary Services Limited Liability Company, GlobalSantaFe International Drilling Corporation, GlobalSantaFe International Drilling Inc., GlobalSantaFe International Services Inc., GlobalSantaFe Nederland B.V., GlobalSantaFe Offshore Services Inc., GlobalSantaFe Operations (Mexico) LLC, GlobalSantaFe Saudi Arabia Ltd., GlobalSantaFe Services (BVI) Inc., GlobalSantaFe Services Netherlands B.V., GlobalSantaFe Servicios de Venezuela C.A., GlobalSantaFe South America LLC, GlobalSantaFe Tampico S. de R.L. de C.V., GlobalSantaFe Techserv (North Sea) Limited, GlobalSantaFe U.S. Holdings Inc., Indigo Drilling Limited, Inteliwell JV GP Limited, Inteliwell JV LP, Kalambo Operations Inc., OCR Falklands Drilling Inc., OR Norge Operations Inc., Ocean Rig, Ocean Rig 1 Inc, Ocean Rig 2 Inc., Ocean Rig Canada Inc., Ocean Rig Cuanza Operations Inc., Ocean Rig Cubango Operations Inc., Ocean Rig Deepwater Drilling Limited, Ocean Rig Investments Inc., Ocean Rig Management Inc., Ocean Rig Operations Inc., Ocean Rig UDW Inc., Ocean Rig UDW LLC, Offshore Ghana Transocean Limited, Offshore Rig Operations AS, Olympia Rig Angola Holding S.A., Olympia Rig Angola Limitada, Orion Holdings (Cayman) Limited, Orion RigCo (Cayman) Limited, P.T. Santa Fe Supraco Indonesia, PT. Transocean Indonesia, Platform Capital N.V., Platform Financial N.V., Primelead Limited, R&B Falcon (A) Pty Ltd, R&B Falcon (Caledonia) Limited, R&B Falcon (M) Sdn. Bhd., R&B Falcon (U.K.) Limited, R&B Falcon B.V., R&B Falcon Deepwater (UK) Limited, R&B Falcon Drilling Co. LLC, R&B Falcon Exploration Co. LLC, R&B Falcon International Energy Services B.V., RBF Rig Corporation LLC, Ranger Insurance Limited, Reading & Bates Coal Co. LLC, SDS Offshore Limited, Safemal Drilling Sdn. Bhd., Santa Fe Braun Inc., Santa Fe Construction Company, Santa Fe Drilling Company of Venezuela C.A., Saudi Drilling Company Limited, Sedco Forex International Inc., Services Petroliers Transocean, Servicios Petroleros Santa Fe S.A., Ship Investment Ocean Holdings Inc., Songa Offshore Delta Limited, Songa Offshore Drilling Limited, Songa Offshore Enabler Limited, Songa Offshore Encourage Limited, Songa Offshore Endurance Limited, Songa Offshore Equinox Limited, Songa Offshore Equipment Rental Limited, Songa Offshore Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Songa Offshore Management Limited, Songa Offshore Pte. Ltd., Songa Offshore Rig 2 AS, Songa Offshore Rig 3 AS, Songa Offshore SE, Songa Offshore SE, Songa Offshore Saturn Limited, Songa Offshore T & P Cyprus Limited, Songa Saturn Chartering Pte. Ltd., Spitsbergen Rigco Limited, Sub-Saharan Drilling Inc., T. I. International Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., TILAM Holdings Limited, TRM Holdings Limited, TSSA - Servicos de Apoio Lda., Transocean Africa Drilling Limited, Transocean Asia Services Sdn Bhd, Transocean Asset Holdings 1 Limited, Transocean Asset Holdings 2 Limited, Transocean Asset Holdings 3 Limited, Transocean Atlas Limited, Transocean Barents ASA, Transocean Brasil Ltda., Transocean Britannia Limited, Transocean Canada Drilling Services Ltd., Transocean Conqueror Limited, Transocean Conqueror Opco LLC, Transocean Corporate Services Limited, Transocean Cyprus Capital Management Public Limited, Transocean Cyprus Drilling Operations Public Limited, Transocean Deepwater Drilling Services Limited, Transocean Deepwater Holdings Limited, Transocean Deepwater Inc., Transocean Deepwater Mauritius, Transocean Deepwater Nautilus Limited, Transocean Deepwater Seafarer Services Limited, Transocean Discoverer 534 LLC, Transocean Drilling Enterprises S.a.r.l., Transocean Drilling Israel Ltd., Transocean Drilling Limited, Transocean Drilling Namibia Inc., Transocean Drilling Offshore S.a.r.l., Transocean Drilling Sdn. Bhd., Transocean Drilling Services (India) Private Limited, Transocean Drilling U.K. Limited, Transocean Eastern Pte. Ltd., Transocean Employee Support Fund, Transocean Enabler Limited, Transocean Enabler Rigco Limited, Transocean Encourage Limited, Transocean Encourage Rigco Limited, Transocean Endurance Limited, Transocean Endurance Rigco Limited, Transocean Entities Holdings GmbH, Transocean Equinox Limited, Transocean Equinox Rigco Limited, Transocean Finance Limited, Transocean Financing (Cayman) Limited, Transocean Financing GmbH, Transocean Guardian Limited, Transocean Holdings 1 Limited, Transocean Holdings 2 Limited, Transocean Holdings 3 Limited, Transocean Holdings LLC, Transocean Hungary Holdings LLC, Transocean Hungary Investments LLC, Transocean Hungary Ventures LLC, Transocean Inc., Transocean Innovation Labs Ltd., Transocean International Holdings Limited, Transocean International Resources Limited, Transocean Investimentos Ltda., Transocean Investments Holdings LLC, Transocean Investments S.a.r.l., Transocean Ltd., Transocean Management Services GmbH, Transocean Minerals Holdings Limited, Transocean Nautilus Limited, Transocean North Sea Limited, Transocean Norway Operations AS, Transocean Offshore (North Sea) Ltd., Transocean Offshore Canada Services Ltd., Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc., Transocean Offshore Deepwater Holdings Limited, Transocean Offshore Drilling Limited, Transocean Offshore Gulf of Guinea II Limited, Transocean Offshore Gulf of Guinea VI Limited, Transocean Offshore Gulf of Guinea VII Limited, Transocean Offshore Gulf of Guinea XII Limited, Transocean Offshore Gulf of Guinea XIII Limited, Transocean Offshore Holdings Limited, Transocean Offshore International Limited, Transocean Offshore International Ventures Limited, Transocean Offshore Limited, Transocean Offshore PR Limited, Transocean Offshore USA Inc., Transocean Onshore Support Services Limited, Transocean Orion Limited, Transocean Phoenix 2 Limited, Transocean Phoenix 2 Opco LLC, Transocean Pontus Limited, Transocean Pontus Opco Inc., Transocean Poseidon Limited, Transocean Poseidon Opco Inc., Transocean Proteus Limited, Transocean Proteus Opco LLC, Transocean Quantum Holdings Limited, Transocean Quantum Management Limited, Transocean Quantum Rig Holdings Limited, Transocean Quantum Sentry Holdings Limited, Transocean Rig 140 Limited, Transocean Rig Management Limited, Transocean SPSF Holdings Limited, Transocean Sedco Forex Ventures Limited, Transocean Sentry Limited, Transocean Services (India) Private Limited, Transocean Services AS, Transocean Services UK Limited, Transocean Skyros Limited, Transocean Spitsbergen ASA, Transocean Sub Asset Holdings 1 Limited, Transocean Sub Asset Holdings 2 Limited, Transocean Sub Asset Holdings 3 Limited, Transocean Support Services Limited, Transocean Support Services Nigeria Limited, Transocean Support Services Private Limited, Transocean Technical Services Egypt LLC, Transocean U.S. Holdings LLC, Transocean UK Limited, Transocean Voyager 1 Limited, Transocean Voyager 2 Limited, Transocean West Africa Holdings Limited, Transocean Worldwide Inc., Triton Asset Leasing GmbH, Triton Capital I GmbH, Triton Capital II GmbH, Triton Capital Mexico GmbH, Triton Conqueror GmbH, Triton Corcovado LLC, Triton Financing LLC, Triton Gemini GmbH, Triton Holdings Limited, Triton Hungary Asset Management LLC, Triton Hungary Investments 1 Limited Liability Company, Triton Industries Inc., Triton KG2 GmbH, Triton Management Services LLC, Triton Mykonos LLC, Triton Nautilus Asset Leasing GmbH, Triton Nautilus Asset Management LLC, Triton Offshore Leasing Services Limited, Triton Pacific Limited, Triton Poseidon GmbH, Triton Voyager Asset Leasing GmbH, and Wilrig Offshore (UK) Limited.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Quest Diagnostics: AmeriPath, AmeriPath Cincinnati Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Cleveland Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Consolidated Labs Inc. (FL), AmeriPath Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Hospital Services Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Indianapolis PC (IN), AmeriPath Kentucky Inc. (KY), AmeriPath Lubbock 5.01(A) Corporation (TX), AmeriPath New York LLC (DE), AmeriPath Texas Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Tucson Inc. (AZ), American Medical Laboratories, American Medical Laboratories Incorporated (DE), Associated Clinical Laboratories L.P. (PA), Associated Clinical Laboratories of Pennsylvania L.L.C. (PA), Athena Diagnostics, Athena Diagnostics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics, Blueprint Genetics FZ-LLC (UAE), Blueprint Genetics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics Oy (Finland), California Laboratory Associates, Cape Cod Healthcare - Business, Celera, ClearPoint Diagnostic, Clearpoint Diagnostic Laboratories LLC (TX), Cleveland HeartLab, Cleveland HeartLab Inc. (DE), Clinical Laboratory Partners, Colorado Pathology Consultants P.C. (CO), ConVerge Diagnostic Services, Consolidated DermPath Inc. (DE), DFW 5.01(a) Corporation (TX), DGXWMT JV LLC (DE), Dermatopathology of Wisconsin S.C. (WI), Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma LLC (OK), Diagnostic Pathology Services Inc. (OK), Diagnostic Reference Services Inc. (MD), ExamOne Canada Inc. (New Brunswick), ExamOne LLC (DE), ExamOne World Wide Inc. (PA), ExamOne World Wide of NJ Inc. (NJ), Focus Diagnostics, HemoCue, Hoffman M.D. Associated Pathologists Chartered (NV), Institute for Dermatopathology Inc. (PA), Isabella Street Urban Renewal LLC (NJ), Kailash B. Sharma M.D. Inc. (GA), Kilpatrick Pathology P.A. (NC), LabOne, LabOne LLC (MO), LabOne of Ohio Inc. (DE), Laboratorio de Analisis Biomedicos S.A. (Mexico), Lancet Labs, MACL, Med Fusion LLC (TX), Med fusion, MedPlus, Mid America Clinical Laboratories LLC (IN), Nomad Massachusetts Inc. (MA), Nuclear Medicine and Pathology Associates (GA), Ocmulgee Medical Pathology Association Inc. (GA), Pathology Building Partnership (MD) (gen. ptnrshp.), PeaceHealth Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories PLLC (WA), Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC (DE), Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (China), Quest Diagnostics Brasil Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Domestic Holder LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics HTAS India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Incorporated (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (MD), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NV), Quest Diagnostics India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Infectious Disease Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics International Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics International LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Investments LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Ireland Limited (Ireland), Quest Diagnostics LLC (CT), Quest Diagnostics LLC (IL), Quest Diagnostics LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Massachusetts LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Mexico Holding Company Trust (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Mexico S de RL de CV (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (CA), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute Inc. (VA), Quest Diagnostics Receivables Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Subsidiary Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics TB LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Terracotta LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Venture LLC (PA), Quest Diagnostics Ventures LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics do Brasil Ltda. (Brazil), Quest Diagnostics of Pennsylvania Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics of Puerto Rico Inc. (PR), Quest HealthConnect LLC (CA), ReproSource, Reprosource Fertility Diagnostics Inc. (MA), Solstas Lab Partners, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC (AZ), Specialty Laboratories Inc. (CA), Summit Health, UMass Memorial Medical Center - Anatomic Pathology Outreach Laboratory Business, Unilab Corporation, and Unilab Corporation (DE).

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General Mills, Inc. manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. It also supplies branded and unbranded food products to the North American foodservice and commercial baking industries; and manufactures and markets pet food products, including dog and cat food. The company markets its products under the Annie's, Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Blue Buffalo, Blue Basics, Blue Freedom, Bugles, Cascadian Farm, Cheerios, Chex, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Cookie Crisp, EPIC, Fiber One, Food Should Taste Good, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Gardetto's, Go-Gurt, Gold Medal, Golden Grahams, Haagen-Dazs, Helpers, Jus-Rol, Kitano, Kix, Larabar, Latina, Liberte, Lucky Charms, Muir Glen, Nature Valley, Oatmeal Crisp, Old El Paso, Oui, Pillsbury, Progresso, Raisin Nut Bran, Total, Totino's, Trix, Wanchai Ferry, Wheaties, Wilderness, Yoki, and Yoplait trademarks. It sells its products directly, as well as through broker and distribution arrangements to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, e-commerce retailers, commercial and noncommercial foodservice distributors and operators, restaurants, convenience stores, and pet specialty stores, as well as drug, dollar, and discount chains. The company operates 466 leased and 392 franchise ice cream parlors. General Mills, Inc. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said revival of 25 GW stranded gas-based capacity can push consumption of the fuel and transform the nation into a gas-based economy. "We taking country towards a gas-based economy. Power industry is one of the important industry. If we revive 25,000 MW stranded gas-based capacity and bring them under competitive price mechanism then our gas consumption will definitely increase," Pradhan told reporters on the sidelines of the India Energy Forum by CERAWeek here.

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The minister said, "In world, the gas constitutes 24 per of energy basket. In Gujarat it is 26 per cent. We want to replicate this success story (in other states). Power industry is primary growth and driving point (for gas-based economy)."

The government had brought in a Rs 7,500-crore Power System Development Fund scheme for revival of distressed gas- based capacities of over 24 GW for two years till March 31, 2017. The scheme was not continued further. The minister also lauded the efforts of the Goods and Services Tax Council which gave some tax relief to oil exploration and production sector. "Constant reforms in markets is the only strategy. We have done a lot of reforms in the country which attracted many big energy players in the country after three years of continuous efforts." About Saudi Aramaco, which opened its India office today, the minister said that there is joint venture of three companies with Saudi Aramaco and they will work more closely in future. Pradhan also said that Saudi Aramco has "categorically specified" that their investment would increase in India. "They has assured the (oil) procurement will increase due to oil manufacturing industry which would create more jobs and improve standards."

Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modis deliberation with energy sector stakeholders, he said, "The prime minister started a practice since last year. Domestic as well as firms from outside countries which have stake in India are called for discussion to apprise them about our country and listen to their view on energy business in India."

"The prime minister has taken our relationship from a buyer seller to strategic ties. He has said that beside vertical growth, India is also doing horizontal growth. More capacity and technology is welcomed. But energy should reach commoners home." Earlier addressing the conference, the oil minister said that India will remain one of the fastest growing energy markets in the world in the coming two decades. "Both on account of increasing access and better life styles, there will be growth in per capita energy consumption. We will be an influential buyer in the global energy market."

The minister said the India wants to know about what is happening to the OPEC cut agreements, trends in production from big non-OPEC producers such as Russia, shale gas output in the US etc as these situations would have impact on oil prices and subsequently on fiscal deficit and economy. He further said, "World is at the crossroad of a major transition...move towards Electric Vehicle (EV). There is a sense of credence about this ? the only debate is probably the timing..This would decide if gas would act as an interim fuel or not." PTI KKS MR

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Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. engages in designing, building, overhauling, and repairing military ships in the United States. It operates through three segments: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Newport News Shipbuilding, and Technical Solutions. The company is involved in the design and construction of non-nuclear ships comprising amphibious assault ships; expeditionary warfare ships; surface combatants; and national security cutters for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. It also provides nuclear-powered ships, such as aircraft carriers and submarines, as well as refueling and overhaul, and inactivation services of ships. In addition, the company offers naval nuclear support services, including fleet services comprising design, construction, maintenance, and disposal activities for in-service the U.S. Navy nuclear ships; and maintenance services on nuclear reactor prototypes. Further, it provides life-cycle sustainment services to the U.S. Navy fleet and other maritime customers; high-end information technology and mission-based solutions for Department of Defense (DoD), intelligence, and federal civilian customers; nuclear management and operations and environmental management services for the Department of Energy, DoD, state and local governments, and private sector companies; defense and federal solutions; and unmanned systems. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Newport News, Virginia.
Richard Thaler, the American economist who won the Nobel Prize today, had good things to say about the note ban. But he seemed less enthusiastic about the Rs 2,000 note.

By Santosh Chaubey: Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his stunned compatriots last November that two high denomination bills would no longer be legal tender, Richard Thaler, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics today, said it was "a good start on reducing corruption."

This is a policy I have long supported. First step toward cashless and good start on reducing corruption. https://t.co/KFBLIJSrLr- Richard H Thaler (@R_Thaler) November 8, 2016

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Thaler's Twitter account isn't verified. But it does have a link to his page on the website of Chicago's Booth School of Business.

And when the official announcement of the 2017 Prize in Economic Sciences was made on Twitter, the account @R_Thaler was tagged.

Now, while Richard Thaler appeared to favour the idea of demonetisation, his two-word reponse to being told that Rs 2,000 notes were being introduced was far less enthusiastic:

One of Richard Thaler's colleagues at the Booth School of Business is none other than former RBI chief Raghuram Rajan, who recently indicated that he would have resigned had the demonetisation been thrust upon him.

In an interview with India Today's Rajdeep Sardesai, Rajan spoke extensively about the note ban. You can watch that conversation right here. Start listening at 13:36.

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Argan, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations management, maintenance, project development, technical, and consulting services to the power generation and renewable energy markets. The company operates through Power Industry Services, Industrial Fabrication and Field Services, and Telecommunications Infrastructure Services segments. The Power Industry Services segment offers engineering, procurement, and construction contracting services to the owners of alternative energy facilities, such as biomass plants, wind farms, and solar fields; and design, construction, project management, start-up, and operation services for projects with approximately 15 gigawatts of power-generating capacity. This segment serves independent power project owners, public utilities, power plant equipment suppliers, and energy plant construction companies. The Industrial Fabrication and Field Services segment provides industrial field, and pipe and vessel fabrication services for forest products, industrial gas, fertilizer, and mining companies in southeast region of the United States. The Telecommunications Infrastructure Services segment offers trenchless directional boring and excavation for underground communication and power networks, as well as aerial cabling services; and installs buried cable, high and low voltage electric lines, and private area outdoor lighting systems. It also provides structured cabling, terminations, and connectivity that offers the physical transport for high-speed data, voice, video, and security networks. This segment serves state and local government agencies, regional communications service providers, electric utilities, and other commercial customers, as well as federal government facilities comprising cleared facilities in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Argan, Inc. was incorporated in 1961 and is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.
The following companies are subsidiares of Pfizer: AH Robins LLC, AHP Holdings B.V., AHP Manufacturing B.V., Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alacer, Alpharma Holdings LLC, Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alpharma Specialty Pharma LLC, Alpharma USHP LLC, American Food Industries LLC, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Angiosyn, Array BioPharma, Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, BIND Therapeutics Inc., BINESA 2002 S.L., Bamboo Therapeutics, Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Baxter International - Marketed Vaccines, BioRexis, Bioren, Bioren LLC, Blue Whale Re Ltd., C.E. Commercial Holdings C.V., C.E. Commercial Investments C.V., C.P. Pharmaceuticals International C.V., CICL Corporation, COC I Corporation, Catapult Genetics, Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Continental Pharma Inc., Covx, Covx Technologies Ireland Limited, Cyanamid Inter-American Corporation, Cyanamid de Argentina S.A., Cyanamid de Colombia S.A., Distribuidora Mercantil Centro Americana S.A., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., Esperion LUV Development Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farminova Produtos Farmaceuticos de Inovacao Lda., Farmogene Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Ferrosan A/S, Ferrosan International A/S, Ferrosan S.R.L., FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Foldrx Pharmaceuticals, Fort Dodge Manufatura Ltda., G. D. Searle & Co. Limited, G. D. Searle International Capital LLC, G. D. Searle LLC, GI Europe Inc., GI Japan Inc., GenTrac Inc., Genetics Institute LLC, Greenstone LLC, Haptogen Limited, Hospira, Hospira (China) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Hospira Adelaide Pty Ltd, Hospira Aseptic Services Limited, Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Hospira Benelux BVBA, Hospira Chile Limitada, Hospira Deutschland GmbH, Hospira Enterprises B.V., Hospira France SAS, Hospira Healthcare B.V., Hospira Healthcare Corporation, Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited, Hospira Holdings (S.A.) Pty Ltd, Hospira Inc., Hospira Invicta S.A., Hospira Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, Hospira Ireland Sales Limited, Hospira Japan G.K., Hospira Limited, Hospira Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hospira NZ Limited, Hospira Nordic AB, Hospira Philippines Inc., Hospira Portugal LDA, Hospira Produtos Hospitalares Ltda., Hospira Pte. Ltd., Hospira Pty Limited, Hospira Puerto Rico LLC, Hospira Singapore Pte Ltd, Hospira UK Limited, Hospira Worldwide LLC, Hospira Zagreb d.o.o., ICAgen, Idun Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Santa Agape S.A., InnoPharma, InnoPharma Inc., International Affiliated Corporation LLC, JMI-Daniels Pharmaceuticals Inc., John Wyeth & Brother Limited, Kiinteisto oy Espoon Pellavaniementie 14, King Pharmaceuticals Holdings LLC, King Pharmaceuticals LLC, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development LLC, Korea Pharma Holding Company Limited, Laboratoires Pfizer S.A., Laboratorios Parke Davis S.L., Laboratorios Pfizer Ltda., Laboratorios Wyeth LLC, Laboratorios Wyeth S.A., Laboratorios Pfizer Lda., MTG Divestitures LLC, Mayne Pharma IP Holdings (Euro) Pty Ltd, Medivation, Medivation Field Solutions LLC, Medivation LLC, Medivation Neurology LLC, Medivation Prostate Therapeutics LLC, Medivation Services LLC, Medivation Technologies LLC, Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., Meridian Medical Technologies Limited, Monarch Pharmaceuticals LLC, Neusentis Limited, NextWave Pharmaceuticals, NextWave Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, P-D Co. LLC, PAH USA IN8 LLC, PF Americas Holding C.V., PF Asia Manufacturing B.V., PF PR Holdings C.V., PF PRISM C.V., PF PRISM Holdings S.a.r.l., PF Prism S.a.r.l., PFE Holdings G.K., PFE PHAC Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Pfizer Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Wyeth Holdings LLC, PFE Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) LLC, PHILCO Holdings S.a r.l., PHIVCO Corp., PHIVCO Holdco S.a r.l., PHIVCO Luxembourg S.a r.l., PN Mexico LLC, PT. Pfizer Parke Davis, Parke Davis & Company LLC, Parke Davis Limited, Parke Davis Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Parke-Davis Manufacturing Corp., Parkedale Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peak Enterprises LLC, Pfizer, Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Wuhan) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer AB, Pfizer AG, Pfizer AS, Pfizer Africa & Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Veterinarian Products & Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer Anti-Infectives AB, Pfizer ApS, Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Pfizer Atlantic Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Australia Holdings B.V., Pfizer Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pfizer Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., Pfizer Australia Pty Limited, Pfizer B.V., Pfizer BH D.o.o., Pfizer Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer Biofarmaceutica Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Pfizer Biologics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Pfizer Biologics Ireland Holdings Limited, Pfizer Biotech Corporation, Pfizer Bolivia S.A., Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer CentreSource Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Chile S.A., Pfizer Cia. Ltda., Pfizer Colombia Spinco I LLC, Pfizer Commercial Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Commercial Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Commercial TRAE Trading Kft., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare AB, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare GmbH, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Ltd., Pfizer Consumer Manufacturing Italy S.r.l., Pfizer Corporation, Pfizer Corporation Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H., Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Pfizer Croatia d.o.o., Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Development LP, Pfizer Development Services (UK) Limited, Pfizer Domestic Ventures Limited, Pfizer Dominicana S.R.L, Pfizer ESP Pty Ltd, Pfizer East India B.V., Pfizer Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer Egypt S.A.E., Pfizer Enterprise Holdings B.V., Pfizer Enterprises LLC, Pfizer Enterprises SARL, Pfizer Europe Finance B.V., Pfizer Export B.V., Pfizer Export Company, Pfizer Export Holding Company B.V, Pfizer Finance Share Service (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Financial Services N.V./S.A., Pfizer France International Investments, Pfizer Free Zone Panama S. de R.L., Pfizer GEP S.L., Pfizer Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer Global Supply Japan Inc., Pfizer Global Trading, Pfizer Group Luxembourg Sarl, Pfizer Gulf FZ-LLC, Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation, Pfizer HK Service Company Limited, Pfizer Health AB, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Pfizer Hellas A.E., Pfizer Himalaya Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Holding France, Pfizer Holding Ventures, Pfizer Holdings Corporation, Pfizer Holdings Europe Unlimited Company, Pfizer Holdings G.K., Pfizer Holdings International Corporation, Pfizer Holdings International Luxembourg (PHIL) Sarl, Pfizer Holdings North America SARL, Pfizer Hungary Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Innovations AB, Pfizer Innovations LLC, Pfizer Innovative Supply Point International BVBA, Pfizer International LLC, Pfizer International Markets Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer International Operations, Pfizer International S. de R.L., Pfizer International Trading (Shanghai) Limited, Pfizer Investment Capital Unlimited Company, Pfizer Investment Co. Ltd., Pfizer Investment Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Ireland Investments Limited, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 1 LLC, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 2 LLC, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Ireland Ventures Unlimited Company, Pfizer Italia S.r.l., Pfizer Italy Group Holding S.r.l., Pfizer Japan Inc., Pfizer LLC, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Limited, Pfizer Laboratories Limited, Pfizer Laboratories PFE (Pty) Ltd, Pfizer Leasing Ireland Limited, Pfizer Leasing UK Limited, Pfizer Limitada, Pfizer Limited, Pfizer Luxco Holdings SARL, Pfizer Luxembourg Global Holdings S.a r.l., Pfizer Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer MAP Holding Inc., Pfizer Manufacturing Austria G.m.b.H., Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizer Manufacturing Holdings LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Manufacturing LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Services, Pfizer Medical Technology Group (Belgium) N.V., Pfizer Medicamentos Genericos e Participacoes Ltda., Pfizer Mexico Luxco SARL, Pfizer Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pfizer Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Animal Health and Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Pfizer Norge AS, Pfizer North American Holdings Inc., Pfizer OTC B.V., Pfizer Overseas LLC, Pfizer Oy, Pfizer PFE ApS, Pfizer PFE AsiaPac Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Pty Ltd, Pfizer PFE B.V., Pfizer PFE Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Belgium SPRL, Pfizer PFE Brazil Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE CIA. Ltda., Pfizer PFE Chile Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Colombia Holding Corp., Pfizer PFE Colombia S.A.S, Pfizer PFE Commercial Holdings LLC, Pfizer PFE Croatia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer PFE Finland Oy, Pfizer PFE France, Pfizer PFE Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Ireland Pharmaceuticals Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco 2 S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Pfizer PFE Limited, Pfizer PFE Luxembourg S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Mexico Holding 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE Netherlands Holding 1 C.V., Pfizer PFE New Zealand, Pfizer PFE New Zealand Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Norway Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE PILSA Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Peru Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Peru S.R.L., Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer PFE Private Limited, Pfizer PFE S.R.L, Pfizer PFE Service Company Holding Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer PFE Singapore Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pfizer PFE Spain B.V., Pfizer PFE Spain Holding S.L., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding 2 S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH, Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 2 B.V., Pfizer PFE UK Holding 4 LP, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 1 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 2 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 4 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 5 LLC, Pfizer PFE spol. s r.o., Pfizer PFE Ilaclar Anonim Sirketi, Pfizer Pakistan Limited, Pfizer Parke Davis (Thailand) Ltd., Pfizer Parke Davis Inc., Pfizer Parke Davis Sdn. Bhd., Pfizer Pharm Algerie, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Pharma PFE GmbH, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Liability Company (a/k/a Pfizer Kft. or Pfizer LLC), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Global B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer Pigments Inc., Pfizer Polska Sp. z.o.o., Pfizer Private Limited, Pfizer Production LLC, Pfizer Products Inc., Pfizer Products India Private Limited, Pfizer Research (NC) Inc., Pfizer Romania SRL, Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A. (Belgium), Pfizer S.A. de C.V., Pfizer S.A.S., Pfizer S.G.P.S. Lda., Pfizer S.L., Pfizer S.R.L., Pfizer SRB d.o.o., Pfizer Saidal Manufacturing, Pfizer Sante Familiale, Pfizer Saudi Limited, Pfizer Seiyaku K.K., Pfizer Service Company BVBA, Pfizer Service Company Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Services 1, Pfizer Services LLC, Pfizer Shared Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Shareholdings Intermediate SARL, Pfizer Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Spain Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Specialties Limited, Pfizer Strategic Investment Holdings LLC, Pfizer Sweden Partnership KB, Pfizer TRAE Holdings Kft., Pfizer Trading Polska sp.z.o.o., Pfizer Transactions Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Transactions LLC, Pfizer Transactions Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer Transport LLC, Pfizer Ukraine LLC, Pfizer Vaccines LLC, Pfizer Venezuela S.A., Pfizer Venture Investments LLC, Pfizer Ventures LLC, Pfizer Worldwide Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Zona Franca S.A., Pfizer spol. s r.o., Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn S.A. de C.V., Pharmacia Brasil Ltda., Pharmacia Hepar LLC, Pharmacia Holding AB, Pharmacia Inter-American LLC, Pharmacia International B.V., Pharmacia LLC, Pharmacia Limited, Pharmacia Nostrum S.A., Pharmacia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PowderJect Research Limited, PowderMed, Purepac Pharmaceutical Holdings LLC, Redvax, Renrall LLC, Rinat Neuroscience, Rinat Neuroscience Corp., Roerig Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Roerig S.A., Sao Cristovao Participacoes Ltda., Searle Laboratorios Lda., Serenex, Servicios P&U S. de R.L. de C.V., Shiley LLC, Sinergis Farma-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Site Realty Inc., Solinor LLC, Sugen LLC, Tabor LLC, The Pfizer Incubator LLC, Therachon, Thiakis Limited, Treerly Health Co. Ltd, US Oral Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Upjohn Laboratorios Lda., Vesteralens Naturprodukter A/S, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AB, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AS, Vesteralens Naturprodukter OY, Vicuron Holdings LLC, Vinci Farma S.A., W-L LLC, Warner Lambert, Warner Lambert Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Warner Lambert del Uruguay S.A., Warner-Lambert (Thailand) Limited, Warner-Lambert Company AG, Warner-Lambert Company LLC, Warner-Lambert Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Warner-Lambert S.A., Whitehall International Inc., Whitehall Laboratories Inc., Wyeth (Thailand) Ltd., Wyeth AB, Wyeth Australia Pty. Limited, Wyeth Ayerst Inc., Wyeth Ayerst S.a r.l., Wyeth Biopharma, Wyeth Canada ULC, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare LLC, Wyeth Europa Limited, Wyeth Farma S.A., Wyeth Holdings LLC, Wyeth Industria Farmaceutica Ltda., Wyeth KFT., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Lederle S.r.l., Wyeth Lederle Vaccines S.A., Wyeth Pakistan Limited, Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wyeth Puerto Rico Inc., Wyeth S.A.S, Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation, Wyeth Whitehall Export GmbH, Wyeth Whitehall SARL, Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) Limited, Wyeth-Ayerst International LLC, and Wyeth-Ayerst Promotions Limited.

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The Economics prize was instituted several decades after the very first Nobel was awarded. Read on to find out why the award Richard Thaler won today really isn't a Nobel prize.

Richard Thaler, winner of the 2017 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (Photo:@NobelPrize/Twitter)

By Ganesh Radha-Udayakumar: The American economist Richard Thaler today joined Amartya Sen, John Nash, Daniel Kahneman, and Milton Friedman on the list of 79 men and women whose contributions to economics have been recognized by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

The Economics prize is among the most coveted honours in the field of economic sciences. It's a gold medal and a handsome sum of money (Around Rs 72,513,375 lakh this year). Its winner delivers a Nobel lecture, just like all the other laureates.

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However, it isn't really a Nobel prize.

The third will of Alfred Nobel, which says his wealth should be "annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who...shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind," only mentions the fields of physiology (or medicine), literature, physics, and chemistry.

It also establishes the Peace Prize, for the "person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

So why is there an 'Nobel Prize' in Economics?

Members of the Academy gather before the voting for this years Prize in Economic Sciences, this is exciting! #NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/u5YwqZ7JzE- Vetenskapsakademien (@vetenskapsakad) October 9, 2017

While the very first Nobel Prize was given away in 1901, the first Economics prize was awarded only in 1969, to Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen.

The prize has a rather long name: The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Sveriges Riksbank simply means the central bank of Sweden, the organisation which in 1968, its tercentenary year, made a donation to the Nobel Foundation.

It's interesting to note that in 2001, four members of Alfred Nobel's family wrote in a Swedish newspaper that the Economics prize "degrades and cheapens" the other ones, according to a report by Alternet.

In fact, the great-great-nephew of Alfred Nobel, Peter Nobel, told the news agency Agence France Presse in 2005 that "there is nothing to indicate" that the great Swedish inventor would have wanted the Economics Prize, TheLocal.se reported.

"The Economics Prize has nestled itself in and is awarded as if it were a Nobel Prize. But it's a PR coup by economists to improve their reputation," the report quotes him as saying.

WATCH | Nobel committee chairman Per Stromberg explains why Richard Thaler was awarded the Nobel Prize this year.

Richard Thalers findings have paved the way for a new field in economics?? - Per Strmberg on the impact of the 2017 Laureates research. pic.twitter.com/VXOC5wiSRN- The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2017

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The following companies are subsidiares of NRG Energy: 3279405 Nova Scotia Company, 3283764 Nova Scotia Company, 7549709 Canada Inc., 7644868 Canada Inc., 7711565 Canada Inc., AC Solar Holdings LLC, Ace Energy Inc., Agua Caliente Borrower 1 LLC, Agua Caliente Solar Holdings LLC, Agua Caliente Solar LLC, Allied Home Warranty GP LLC, Allied Warranty LLC, Arthur Kill Gas Turbines LLC, Arthur Kill Power LLC, Astoria Gas Turbine Power LLC, Bayou Cove Peaking Power LLC, Beheer-en Beleggingsmaatschappij Plogema B.V., Berrians I Gas Turbine Power LLC, BidURenergy Inc., Big Cajun I Peaking Power LLC, Bluewater Wind Delaware LLC, Bluewater Wind Maryland LLC, Bluewater Wind New Jersey Energy LLC, Boquillas Wind LLC, Cabrillo Power I LLC, Cabrillo Power II LLC, Camino Energy LLC, Carbon Management Solutions LLC, Carlsbad Energy Center LLC, Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC, Chester Energy LLC, Chickahominy River Energy Corp., Cirro Energy Services Inc., Cirro Group Inc., Citizens Power Holdings One LLC, Commonwealth Atlantic Power LLC, Connecticut Jet Power LLC, Cottonwood Development LLC, Cottonwood Energy Company LP, Cottonwood Generating Partners I LLC, Cottonwood Generating Partners II LLC, Cottonwood Generating Partners III LLC, Cottonwood Technology Partners LP, Delaware Power Development LLC, Devon Power LLC, Doga Enerji Uretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Doga Isi Satis Hizmetleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Doga Isletme ve Bakim Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Dunkirk Gas Corporation, Dunkirk Power LLC, EHI Development Fund LLC, EME Eastern Holdings LLC, EVgo Services LLC, Eastern Sierra Energy Company LLC, Ecokap Power LLC, El Segundo Energy Center II LLC, El Segundo Power II LLC, El Segundo Power LLC, Elkhorn Ridge Wind II LLC, Energy Alternatives Wholesale LLC, Energy Choice Solutions LLC, Energy Curtailment Specialists, Energy Plus Holdings LLC, Energy Plus Natural Gas LLC, Energy Protection Insurance Company, Everything Energy LLC, Forward Home Security LLC, GCP Funding Company LLC, GenOn Energy, Geostellar Inc., Gladstone Power Station Joint Venture, Goal Zero, Goal Zero Europe GmbH, Goal Zero LLC, Granite II Holding LLC, Granite Power Partners II L.P., Green Mountain Energy, Green Mountain Energy Company, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, Gregory Partners LLC, Gregory Power Partners LLC, Hanover Energy Company, Huntley IGCC LLC, Huntley Power LLC, Independence Energy Alliance LLC, Independence Energy Group LLC, Independence Energy Natural Gas LLC, Indian River Operations Inc., Indian River Power LLC, Intellastar LLC, Ivanpah Master Holdings LLC, Ivanpah Project I Holdings LLC, Ivanpah Project II Holdings LLC, Ivanpah Project III Holdings LLC, James River Power LLC, Kaufman Cogen LP, LSP-Nelson Energy LLC, Long Beach Generation LLC, Long Beach Peakers LLC, Long Beach Power LLC, Louisiana Generating LLC, MEC Esenyurt B.V., MEC San Pascual B.V., Maplekey UK Finance Limited, Maplekey UK Limited, Meriden Gas Turbines LLC, Middletown Power LLC, Midway-Sunset Cogeneration Company, Midwest Finance Company LLC, Midwest Generation EME LLC, Midwest Generation Holdings I LLC, Midwest Generation Holdings II LLC, Midwest Generation LLC, Midwest Generation Procurement Services LLC, Midwest Peaker Holdings LLC, Mission Bingham Lake Wind LLC, Mission Del Cielo LLC, Mission Energy Construction Services LLC, Mission Energy Holdings International LLC, Mission Energy Wales LLC, Mission Funding Zeta LLC, Mission Midway-Sunset Holdings LLC, Mission Midwest Coal LLC, Mission Minnesota Wind LLC, Mission Watson Holdings LLC, Mission Wind Boquillas LLC, Mission Wind New Mexico II LLC, Mission Wind Owaissa LLC, Mission Wind Pinnacle LLC, Mission del Sol LLC, Montville IGCC LLC, Montville Power LLC, NEO Chester-Gen LLC, NEO Corporation, NRG Acquisition Holdings Inc., NRG Advisory Services LLC, NRG Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Alexandria LLC, NRG Arroyo Nogales LLC, NRG Arthur Kill Operations Inc., NRG Asia-Pacific Ltd., NRG Astoria Gas Turbine Operations Inc., NRG Astoria Power LLC, NRG Audrain Generating LLC, NRG Audrain Holding LLC, NRG Bayou Cove LLC, NRG Berrians East Development LLC, NRG Bluewater Holdings LLC, NRG Bluewater Wind Massachusetts LLC, NRG Bourbonnais Equipment LLC, NRG Bourbonnais LLC, NRG Brazoria Energy LLC, NRG Business Services LLC, NRG CTA Holdings LLC, NRG Cabrillo Power Operations Inc., NRG Cadillac Inc., NRG Cadillac Operations Inc., NRG California Peaker Operations LLC, NRG Capital II LLC, NRG Carbon 360 LLC, NRG Cedar Bayou Development Company LLC, NRG Chalk Point CT LLC, NRG CleanTech Investments LLC, NRG Coal Development Company LLC, NRG ComLease LLC, NRG Common Stock Finance I LLC, NRG Common Stock Finance II LLC, NRG Connected Home LLC, NRG Connecticut Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Connecticut Peaking Development LLC, NRG Construction LLC, NRG Cottonwood Tenant LLC, NRG Curtailment Solutions Canada Inc., NRG Curtailment Solutions Inc., NRG DG Development LLC, NRG Development Company Inc., NRG Devon Operations Inc., NRG Dispatch Services LLC, NRG Distributed Energy Resources Holdings LLC, NRG Distributed Generation PR LLC, NRG Dunkirk Operations Inc., NRG ECOKAP Holdings LLC, NRG ESA Joint Development LLC, NRG El Segundo Operations Inc., NRG Energy Center Eagles LLC, NRG Energy Center Oxnard LLC, NRG Energy Fuel LLC, NRG Energy Fuel Services LLC, NRG Energy Gas & Wind Holdings Inc., NRG Energy Holdings II Inc., NRG Energy Holdings Inc., NRG Energy Inc., NRG Energy Labor Services LLC, NRG Energy Petroleum LLC, NRG Energy Services Group LLC, NRG Energy Services International Inc., NRG Energy Services LLC, NRG Equipment Company LLC, NRG Fuel Cell CA1 LLC, NRG Fuel Resources LLC, NRG Fuel Transportation LLC, NRG GTL Holdings LLC, NRG Gas Development Company LLC, NRG Generation Holdings Inc., NRG Gladstone Operating Services Pty Ltd, NRG Granite Acquisition LLC, NRG Greenco LLC, NRG HQ DG LLC, NRG Holding Leasing Vehicle 7 LLC, NRG Home & Business Solutions LLC, NRG Home Services LLC, NRG Home Solutions LLC, NRG Home Solutions Product LLC, NRG Homer City Services LLC, NRG Huntley Operations Inc., NRG Identity Protect LLC, NRG Ilion LP LLC, NRG Ilion Limited Partnership, NRG Independence Solar LLC, NRG International LLC, NRG Kaufman LLC, NRG Latin America Inc., NRG Lease Co LLC, NRG Lease Development LLC, NRG Limestone 3 LLC, NRG Maintenance Services LLC, NRG Mesquite LLC, NRG Mextrans Inc., NRG MidAtlantic Affiliate Services Inc., NRG MidCon Development LLC, NRG Middletown Operations Inc., NRG Middletown Repowering LLC, NRG Midwest Holdings LLC, NRG Midwest II LLC, NRG Montville Operations Inc., NRG NE Development LLC, NRG Nelson Turbines LLC, NRG New Roads Holdings LLC, NRG NewGen LLC, NRG North Central Operations Inc., NRG Northeast Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Norwalk Harbor Operations Inc., NRG Ohio Pipeline Company LLC, NRG Operating Services Inc., NRG Oswego Harbor Power Operations Inc., NRG Oxbow Holdings LLC, NRG PacGen Inc., NRG Peaker Finance Company LLC, NRG Portable Power LLC, NRG Potrero Development LLC, NRG Power Marketing LLC, NRG Procurement Company LLC, NRG Project Company LLC, NRG Reliability Solutions LLC, NRG Renter's Protection LLC, NRG Repowering Holdings LLC, NRG Residential Solar Solutions LLC, NRG Residential Solar Solutions Leasing II LLC, NRG Retail LLC, NRG Retail Northeast LLC, NRG Rockford Acquisition LLC, NRG Rockford Equipment II LLC, NRG Rockford Equipment LLC, NRG Saguaro Operations Inc., NRG Security LLC, NRG Services Corporation, NRG Sherbino LLC, NRG SimplySmart Solutions LLC, NRG Solar Arrowhead LLC, NRG Solar CVSR Holdings 2 LLC, NRG Solar Dandan LLC, NRG Solar Guam LLC, NRG Solar Ivanpah LLC, NRG Solar Ring LLC, NRG Solar SC Stadium LLC, NRG Solar Sunrise LLC, NRG South Central Affiliate Services Inc., NRG South Central Generating LLC, NRG South Central Operations Inc., NRG South Texas LP, NRG Sterlington Power LLC, NRG Storage Fabrication & Delivery LLC, NRG Storage on Demand NY LLC, NRG SunCap Leasing I LLC, NRG Telogia Power LLC, NRG Texas C&I Supply LLC, NRG Texas Gregory LLC, NRG Texas Holding Inc., NRG Texas LLC, NRG Texas Power LLC, NRG Texas Retail LLC, NRG Trading Advisors LLC, NRG Transmission Holdings LLC, NRG ULC Parent Inc., NRG Victoria I Pty Ltd, NRG Warranty Services LLC, NRG West Coast LLC, NRG Western Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Wind Development Company LLC, NRG Wind Force LLC, NRG Wind LLC, NRG dGen Advisory Services LLC, NRGenerating German Holdings GmbH, NRGenerating International B.V., NRGenerating Luxembourg (No. 1) S.a.r.l., NRGenerating Luxembourg (No. 2) S.a.r.l., New Genco GP LLC, New Jersey Power Development LLC, Norwalk Power LLC, O'Brien Cogeneration Inc. II, ONSITE Energy Inc., One Block Off The Grid Inc., Oswego Harbor Power LLC, Pacific Generation Company, Petra Nova CCS I LLC, Petra Nova Holdings LLC, Petra Nova LLC, Petra Nova Parish Holdings LLC, Petra Nova Power I LLC, Pure Energies Group, Pure Energies Group ULC, Pure Energies Installation Inc., Pure Energies Solar Services Inc., Pure Group Inc., RDI Consulting LLC, RERH Holdings LLC, Reliant Charitable Foundation, Reliant Energy, Reliant Energy Northeast LLC, Reliant Energy Power Supply LLC, Reliant Energy Retail Holdings LLC, Reliant Energy Retail Services LLC, Restoration Design LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar Holdings LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric of NY LLC, Saguaro Power Company a Limited Partnership, Saguaro Power LLC, San Gabriel Energy LLC, San Joaquin Energy LLC, San Juan Energy LLC, San Pascual Cogeneration Company International B.V., Sherbino I Wind Farm LLC, Solar Partners I LLC, Solar Partners II LLC, Solar Partners VIII LLC, Solar Power Partners, Solar Pure Energies ULC, Somerset Operations Inc., Somerset Power LLC, South Texas Wind LLC, Station A LLC, Sunrise Power Company LLC, Sunshine State Power (No. 2) B.V., Sunshine State Power B.V., TCV Pipeline LLC, Tacoma Energy Recovery Company, Taloga Wind II LLC, Texas Coastal Ventures LLC, Texas Genco GP LLC, Texas Genco Holdings, Texas Genco Holdings Inc., Texas Genco LP LLC, Texas Genco Services LP, US Retailers LLC, Valle Del Sol Energy LLC, Vienna Operations Inc., Vienna Power LLC, WCP (Generation) Holdings LLC, Watson Cogeneration Company, West Coast Power LLC, XOOM Alberta Holdings LLC, XOOM British Columbia Holdings LLC, XOOM Energy BC ULC, XOOM Energy California LLC, XOOM Energy Canada ULC, XOOM Energy Connecticut LLC, XOOM Energy Delaware LLC, XOOM Energy Georgia LLC, XOOM Energy Global Holdings LLC, XOOM Energy Illinois LLC, XOOM Energy Indiana LLC, XOOM Energy Kentucky LLC, XOOM Energy LLC, XOOM Energy Maine LLC, XOOM Energy Maryland LLC, XOOM Energy Massachusetts LLC, XOOM Energy Michigan LLC, XOOM Energy New Hampshire LLC, XOOM Energy New Jersey LLC, XOOM Energy New York LLC, XOOM Energy ONT ULC, XOOM Energy Ohio LLC, XOOM Energy Pennsylvania LLC, XOOM Energy Rhode Island LLC, XOOM Energy Texas LLC, XOOM Energy Virginia LLC, XOOM Energy Washington D.C. LLC, XOOM Ontario Holdings LLC, XOOM Solar LLC, and eV2g LLC.

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By PTI: Patna, Oct 9 (PTI) Infighting within the Bihar Congress came to the fore here today when the members of rival factions reportedly came to blows at a meeting convened by the Pradesh Congress Committee that also passed a unanimous resolution declaring Rahul Gandhi as the next AICC president.

The incident prompted the party leadership to order an inquiry into the fracas amid demands for the expulsion of former state unit chief Ashok Chaudhary who leads one of the feuding groups.

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Angry scenes were witnessed at the Sadaqat Ashram, the partys state headquarters, where a meeting of newly-elected district and block-level office bearers was held.

The meeting was attended, among others, by the acting BPCC president Kaukab Quadri, the Congress legislature party leader in Bihar Sadanand Singh and former Union ministers Shakeel Ahmed and Akhilesh Prasad Singh.

Meanwhile, at the meeting held here today, the BPCC also unanimously passed resolutions requesting the high command to appoint a full-fledged state unit chief and to declare Rahul Gandhi as the next All India Congress Committee president.

Scores of party workers were seen emerging out of the state headquarters with their clothes torn and faces and limbs bruised, in an obvious indication of the unruly scenes witnessed at the meeting.

Taking a serious note of the "entry of unwarranted elements", Quadri announced setting up of "a five-member team to inquire into todays incidents" even as his predecessor Chaudhary, who has been sulking ever since his recent removal from the post, boycotted the meeting along with his supporters.

Chaudhary, believed to be close to Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, has been questioning the holding of a meeting of the office-bearers claiming that the list of the district and block-level representatives was yet to be released by the party.

Quadri, however, has been maintaining that he was acting as per the directions of the party high command.

Chaudhary, on his part, also charged that the partys national general secretary in-charge of Bihar C P Joshi had facilitated the entry of "hoodlums" and "outsiders" in the state Congress.

However, Chaudhary was flayed by the members of the rival faction as its leaders like AICC member Raj Kumar Rajan, former state minister Arjun Mandal and former BPCC general secretary Nagendra Kumar Vikal issued a strongly-worded statement demanding his "expulsion from the party".

They also alleged that at todays meeting, Chaudharys supporters had raised slogans "in praise of Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi" and accused former state unit chief Chaudhary of having "used foul language against the party high command and Rahul Gandhi".

They also demanded that an FIR be lodged against Chaudhary and his supporters for allegedly indulging in violence at todays meeting.

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The state Congress has been facing a crisis since the fall of the "Mahagathbandhan" government, in which the party was a junior partner.

Chaudhary, who was a powerful minister in the Nitish Kumar Cabinet, has often been accused by the rival faction - considered more comfortable with Lalu Prasads RJD - of trying to engineer a split which may benefit Kumar. PTI AR NAC JM KJ SC KJ

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Standard Motor Products, Inc. manufactures and distributes replacement parts that are used in the maintenance, repair, and service of vehicles in the automotive aftermarket industry with a complementary focus on specialized original equipment parts for manufacturers across agriculture, heavy duty, and construction equipment industries. The company's Engine Management segment provides electronic ignition control modules, camshaft and crankshaft position sensors, ignition wires and coils, switches and relays, exhaust gas recirculation valves, pressure and temperature sensors, variable valve timing components, mass airflow and fuel pressure sensors, electronic throttle bodies, and diesel injectors and pumps; and anti-lock brake, vehicle speed, tire pressure monitoring, and park assist sensors. This segment offers its products under the Standard, Blue Streak, BWD, Intermotor, OEM, SMP Blue Streak Canada, GP Sorensen, Locksmart, Standard Motorcycle, and Blue Streak Race Wires brands. Its Temperature Control segment provides components for the temperature control systems, engine cooling systems, power window accessories, and windshield washer systems of motor vehicles under the Four Seasons, ACI, Hayden, Factory Air, and Maxair brands. Its products include air conditioning compressors and repair kits, clutch assemblies, blower and radiator fan motors, filter dryers, evaporators, accumulators, actuators, hose assemblies, thermal expansion devices, heater valves, heater cores, A/C service tools and chemicals, fan assemblies, fan clutches, oil coolers, window lift motors, window regulators and assemblies, and windshield washer pumps. The company serves primarily automotive aftermarket retailers, warehouse distributors, original equipment manufacturers, and original equipment service part operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Mexico, and other Latin American countries. The company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Long Island City, New York.
Salman Khan confirmed the news on Twitter and welcomed brother-in-law Aayush Sharma to the world of films.

By India Today Web Desk: For a while now, rumours about Salman Khan's brother-in law, Aayush Sharma's Bollywood debut have been doing the rounds. Salman recently confirmed this, and said that Aayush would enter the showbiz industry via his production house, Salman Khan Films. The film will be a love story and is based in Gujarat, and will be directed by debutant Abhiraj Minawala.

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On Twitter, Salman welcomed Aayush to the world of films. He wrote, "Congrats @aaysharma Now is the time for a lot of mehnat aur lagan. Wish you all success God Bless #AayushSharma."

Congrats @aaysharma Now is the time for a lot of mehnat aur lagan. Wish you all success God Bless #AayushSharma- Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) October 9, 2017

Arpita Khan, Aayush's wife and Salman's sister, expressed her happiness as well. "I'm so happy and excited for you! I know you will make us all proud. Love you lots Aayush Sharma!" she tweeted.

Im so happy and excited for you !! I know you will make us all proud. Love you lots @aaysharma! #AayushSharma pic.twitter.com/gKkc8mEz0p- Arpita Khan Sharma (@khanarpita) October 9, 2017

Aayush was flooded with congratulatory messages from the Bollywood fraternity.

Filmmaker and producer Karan Johar also extended his best wishes to Aayush on social media and wrote: "The super talented and charming @aaysharma to be launched by @BeingSalmanKhan ....SOLID film! SUPER start! Welcome to the movies, my friend!"

The super talented and charming @aaysharma to be launched by @BeingSalmanKhan ....SOLID film! SUPER start! Welcome to the movies my friend! pic.twitter.com/ADkWl4grwM- Karan Johar (@karanjohar) October 9, 2017

Actor Varun Dhawan tweeted, "Finally!!! Wishing you all the love and luck my gym partner. Go kill it #AayushSharma I'm betting on you @aaysharma."

Finally!!! Wishing you all the love and luck my gym partner. Go kill it #AayushSharma I'm betting on you???? @aaysharma- Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) October 9, 2017

Born to Congress minister Anil Sharma in Himachal Pradesh, Aayush is the grandson of Sukhram Sharma, who was a former union communications minister in INC government. Ayush is married to Salman's sister Arpita. The two have a child together, Ahil.

ALSO WATCH | Happy Birthday Salman Khan: A look at Bhaijaan's controversial life

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The following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC.

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Intrepid Potash, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the extraction and production of the potash in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Potash, Trio, and Oilfield Solutions. The Potash segment offers muriate of potash or potassium chloride for use as a fertilizer input in the agricultural market; as a component in drilling and fracturing fluids for oil and gas wells, as well as an input to other industrial processes in the industrial market; and as a nutrient supplement in the animal feed market. The Trio segment provides Trio, a specialty fertilizer that delivers potassium, sulfate, and magnesium in a single particle. The Oilfield Solutions segment sells water for use in the oil and gas services industry; and offers potassium chloride real-time mixing services on location for hydraulic fracturing operations and trucking services. The company also offers salt for use in animal feeds, industrial applications, pool salts, and treatment of roads and walkways for ice melting or to manage road conditions; magnesium chloride for use in the deicing and dedusting of roads; brines for well development and completion activities in the oil and gas industry; and metal recovery salt, a combination of potash and salt to enhance the recovery of aluminum in the aluminum recycling processing facilities. Intrepid Potash, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is based in Denver, Colorado.
CoreLogic, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides property information, insight, analytics, and data-enabled solutions in North America, Western Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Property Intelligence & Risk Management Solutions (PIRM) and Underwriting & Workflow Solutions (UWS). The PIRM segment combines property information, mortgage information, and consumer information to deliver housing market and property-level insights, predictive analytics, and risk management capabilities. It also offers proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with decision-making and compliance tools in the real estate and insurance industries. This segment primarily serves commercial banks, mortgage lenders and brokers, investment banks, fixed-income investors, real estate agents, MLS companies, property and casualty insurance companies, title insurance companies, government agencies, and government-sponsored enterprises. The UWS segment combines property, mortgage, and consumer information to provide comprehensive mortgage origination and monitoring solutions, including underwriting-related solutions, and data-enabled valuations and appraisals. This segment also provides proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with vetting and onboarding prospects, and meeting compliance regulations, as well as understanding, evaluating, monitoring property values. It primarily serves mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, credit unions, commercial banks, fixed-income investors, government agencies, and property and casualty insurance companies. The company was formerly known as The First American Corporation and changed its name to CoreLogic, Inc. in June 2010. CoreLogic, Inc. was incorporated in 1894 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.
By PTI: Mumbai, Oct 9 (PTI) Microfinance lender Satin Creditcare Network has raised Rs 150 crore from investors including DSP BlackRock, Birla Mutual Fund and UTI Mutual Fund, among others through a qualified institutions placement.

"We plan to grow our microfinance book especially in our new areas of operations, and also diversify our book by providing financing to MSMEs and to the affordable housing segment," its chairman HP Singh said.

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The MFI plans to grow its loan book to Rs 5,500 crore by March from the present Rs 4,500 crore.

The issue opened on October 4 and closed on 7 though which it issued up to 49. Lakh equity shares to QIBs at an issue price of Rs 305 per share. Exim Bank gives $110 m buyers credit to Mauritania

Mumbai: The Exim Bank has extended a buyers credit line of USD 110 million to Mauritania government for financing of a power transmission project.

The fund given under the national export insurance account will be used for financing of design, supply and assembly of 225/90 kV transmission lines from Nouakchott to Nouadhibou in the African country, to be executed by Kalpataru Power Transmission, Exim Bank said in statement. Xrbia to launch 50,000 affordable homes in Q4

Mumbai: Xrbia Developers will launch 50,000 affordable homes acrosss the Mumbai region and Pune in the March quarter.

In the Mumbai reigion the company will launch projects in Thane, Kandivali, Mira Road and Karjat while those in Pune will come at Balewadi, Dhanori and Market Yard, the company said.

The apartments will be priced at Rs 50 lakh for 1BHKs and 80 lakh for 2BHKs. The 1BHKs will have a carpet area of 180-230 sqft and 2BHKs will be of 305 sqft and will be completed in 60 months. Bjaja to sell motor polcies at IndianOil pumps now

Mumbai: Indian Oil Corporation and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance have entered into a strategic tie up for distribution of general insurance products.

The insurer will sell its retail products like motor, personal accident and health insurance policies through IOCs over 14,000 fuel stations across nine major states.

"We are confident that this partnership will help us take insurance solutions to some of the remotest corners of our country through these fuel stations," Manohar Bhat, chief business head for motor insuracne at Bajaj Alliance General said. PTI HV PSK KD BEN NSK

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The following companies are subsidiares of Sonic Automotive: AM GA LLC, AM Realty GA LLC, AnTrev LLC, Arngar Inc., Autobahn Inc., Avalon Ford Inc., Car Cash of North Carolina Inc., Cornerstone Acceptance Corporation, ECHOPARK: AM GA LLC, ECHOPARK: AM Realty GA LLC, ECHOPARK: EP Realty NC LLC, ECHOPARK: EP Realty SC LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark AZ LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark CA LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark Driver Education LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark FL LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark NC LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark Realty TX LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark SC LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark TX LLC, ECHOPARK: Echopark Automotive Inc., ECHOPARK: SAI DS LLC, ECHOPARK: SAI DS Realty TX LLC, ECHOPARK: SAI Vehicle Subscription Inc., ECHOPARK: TT Denver LLC, ECHOPARK: TTRE CO 1 LLC, FAA Beverly Hills Inc., FAA Capitol N Inc., FAA Concord H Inc., FAA Concord T Inc., FAA Dublin N Inc., FAA Dublin VWD Inc., FAA Holding Corp., FAA Las Vegas H Inc., FAA Poway H Inc., FAA Poway T Inc., FAA San Bruno Inc., FAA Santa Monica V Inc., FAA Serramonte H Inc., FAA Serramonte Inc., FAA Serramonte L Inc., FAA Stevens Creek Inc., FAA Torrance CPJ Inc., FirstAmerica Automotive Inc., Fort Mill Ford Inc., Franciscan Motors Inc., Frontier Oldsmobile-Cadillac Inc., Kramer Motors Incorporated, L Dealership Group Inc., Marcus David Corporation, Massey Cadillac Inc. (TN-MI), Mountain States Motors Co. Inc., North Point Imports LLC, Ontario L LLC, Philpott Motors Ltd., SAI AL HC1 Inc., SAI AL HC2 Inc., SAI Ann Arbor Imports LLC, SAI Atlanta B LLC, SAI Broken Arrow C LLC, SAI Calabasas A LLC, SAI Chamblee V LLC, SAI Charlotte M LLC, SAI Chattanooga N LLC, SAI Clearwater T LLC, SAI Cleveland N LLC, SAI Columbus Motors LLC, SAI Columbus T LLC, SAI Columbus VWK LLC, SAI Conroe N LLC, SAI Denver B Inc., SAI Denver C Inc., SAI Denver M Inc., SAI FL HC1 Inc., SAI FL HC2 Inc., SAI FL HC3 Inc., SAI FL HC4 Inc., SAI FL HC7 Inc., SAI Fairfax B LLC, SAI Fort Myers B LLC, SAI Fort Myers H LLC, SAI Fort Myers M LLC, SAI Fort Myers VW LLC, SAI GA HC1 LLC, SAI Irondale Imports LLC, SAI Irondale L LLC, SAI Long Beach B Inc., SAI MD HC1 Inc., SAI McKinney M LLC, SAI Monrovia B Inc., SAI Montgomery B LLC, SAI Montgomery BCH LLC, SAI Montgomery CH LLC, SAI Nashville CSH LLC, SAI Nashville H LLC, SAI Nashville M LLC, SAI Nashville Motors LLC, SAI OK HC1 Inc., SAI Oklahoma City C LLC, SAI Oklahoma City H LLC, SAI Oklahoma City T LLC, SAI Orlando CS LLC, SAI Peachtree LLC, SAI Pensacola A LLC, SAI Philpott T LLC, SAI Riverside C LLC, SAI Roaring Fork LR Inc., SAI Rockville Imports LLC, SAI Rockville L LLC, SAI S. Atlanta JLR LLC, SAI SIC Inc., SAI Santa Clara K Inc., SAI Stone Mountain T LLC, SAI TN HC1 LLC, SAI TN HC2 LLC, SAI TN HC3 LLC, SAI Tulsa N LLC, SAI Tulsa T LLC, SAI Tysons Corner H LLC, SAI Tysons Corner I LLC, SAI VA HC1 Inc., SAI VS GA LLC, SAI VS TX LLC, SAI Vehicle Subscription Inc., SAI West Houston B LLC, SRE Alabama  2 LLC, SRE Alabama  5 LLC, SRE Alabama  6 LLC, SRE California 10 LBB LLC, SRE California 11 PH LLC, SRE California  1 LLC, SRE California  2 LLC, SRE California  3 LLC, SRE California  4 LLC, SRE California  5 LLC, SRE California  6 LLC, SRE California  7 SCB LLC, SRE California  8 SCH LLC, SRE California  9 BHB LLC, SRE Colorado  1 LLC, SRE Colorado  2 LLC, SRE Colorado  3 LLC, SRE Colorado  4 RF LLC, SRE Colorado  5 CC LLC, SRE Florida  1 LLC, SRE Florida  2 LLC, SRE Georgia 4 LLC, SRE Georgia 5 LLC, SRE Georgia 6 LLC, SRE Holding LLC, SRE Maryland  1 LLC, SRE Nevada  2 LLC, SRE North Carolina  2 LLC, SRE North Carolina  3 LLC, SRE Ohio 1 LLC, SRE Ohio 2 LLC, SRE Oklahoma  1 LLC, SRE Oklahoma  2 LLC, SRE Oklahoma  5 LLC, SRE South Carolina  2 LLC, SRE South Carolina  3 LLC, SRE South Carolina  4 LLC, SRE Tennessee 6 LLC, SRE Tennessee 7 LLC, SRE Tennessee  1 LLC, SRE Tennessee  2 LLC, SRE Tennessee  3 LLC, SRE Tennessee  4 LLC, SRE Tennessee  5 LLC, SRE Texas 10 LLC, SRE Texas 11 LLC, SRE Texas 12 LLC, SRE Texas 13 LLC, SRE Texas 14 LLC, SRE Texas 15 LLC, SRE Texas 16 LLC, SRE Texas 9 LLC, SRE Texas  1 LP, SRE Texas  2 LP, SRE Texas  3 LP, SRE Texas  4 LP, SRE Texas  5 LP, SRE Texas  6 LP, SRE Texas  7 LP, SRE Texas  8 LP, SRE Virginia - 1 LLC, SRE Virginia  2 LLC, SRM Assurance Ltd., Santa Clara Imported Cars Inc., Sonic 2185 Chapman Rd. Chattanooga LLC, Sonic Advantage PA LP, Sonic Automotive - 1720 Mason Ave. DB LLC, Sonic Automotive 2424 Laurens Rd. Greenville Inc., Sonic Automotive 2752 Laurens Rd. Greenville Inc., Sonic Automotive Aviation LLC, Sonic Automotive F&I LLC, Sonic Automotive Support LLC, Sonic Automotive West LLC, Sonic Automotive of Chattanooga LLC, Sonic Automotive of Nashville LLC, Sonic Automotive of Nevada Inc., Sonic Automotive of Texas LP, Sonic Automotive  1495 Automall Drive Columbus Inc., Sonic Automotive  1720 Mason Ave. DB Inc., Sonic Automotive  2490 South Lee Highway LLC, Sonic Automotive  3401 N. Main TX LP, Sonic Automotive  4701 I-10 East TX LP, Sonic Automotive  6008 N. Dale Mabry FL Inc., Sonic Automotive  9103 E. Independence NC LLC, Sonic Calabasas M Inc., Sonic Development LLC, Sonic Divisional Operations LLC, Sonic FFC 1 Inc., Sonic FFC 2 Inc., Sonic FFC 3 Inc., Sonic Fremont Inc., Sonic Houston JLR LP, Sonic Houston LR LP, Sonic Momentum B LP, Sonic Momentum JVP LP, Sonic Momentum VWA LP, Sonic Resources Inc., Sonic Santa Monica M Inc., Sonic Santa Monica S Inc., Sonic Walnut Creek M Inc., Sonic Wilshire Cadillac Inc., Sonic eStore Inc., Sonic of Texas Inc., Sonic  Buena Park H Inc., Sonic  Cadillac D LP, Sonic  Calabasas A Inc., Sonic  Calabasas V Inc., Sonic  Camp Ford LP, Sonic  Capitol Cadillac Inc., Sonic  Capitol Imports Inc., Sonic  Carrollton V LP, Sonic  Carson F Inc., Sonic  Carson LM Inc., Sonic  Clear Lake N LP, Sonic  Clear Lake Volkswagen LP, Sonic  Denver T Inc., Sonic  Downey Cadillac Inc., Sonic  Fort Mill Chrysler Jeep Inc., Sonic  Fort Mill Dodge Inc., Sonic  Fort Worth T LP, Sonic  Frank Parra Autoplex LP, Sonic  Harbor City H Inc., Sonic  Houston V LP, Sonic  Integrity Dodge LV LLC, Sonic  Jersey Village Volkswagen LP, Sonic  LS Chevrolet LP, Sonic  LS LLC, Sonic  Lake Norman Chrysler Jeep LLC, Sonic  Las Vegas C West LLC, Sonic  Lloyd Nissan Inc., Sonic  Lloyd Pontiac  Cadillac Inc., Sonic  Lone Tree Cadillac Inc., Sonic  Lute Riley LP, Sonic  Massey Cadillac LP, Sonic  Massey Chevrolet Inc., Sonic  Mesquite Hyundai LP, Sonic  Newsome Chevrolet World Inc., Sonic  Newsome of Florence Inc., Sonic  North Charleston Dodge Inc., Sonic  North Charleston Inc., Sonic  Plymouth Cadillac Inc., Sonic  Richardson F LP, Sonic  Sanford Cadillac Inc., Sonic  Shottenkirk Inc., Sonic  Stevens Creek B Inc., Sonic  Volvo LV LLC, Sonic  West Covina T Inc., Sonic  Williams Cadillac Inc., Stevens Creek Cadillac Inc., The Sonic Automotive Family Emergency Fund (SAFE), Town and Country Ford Incorporated, and Windward Inc..

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The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V..

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SunTrust Banks, Inc. operates as the holding company for SunTrust Bank that provides various financial services for consumers, businesses, corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit entities in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer and Wholesale. The Consumer segment provides deposits and payments; home equity and personal credit lines; auto, student, and other lending products; credit cards; discount/online and full-service brokerage products; professional investment advisory products and services; and trust services, as well as family office solutions. This segment also offers residential mortgage products in the secondary market. The Wholesale segment provides capital markets solutions, including advisory, capital raising, and financial risk management; asset-based financing solutions, such as securitizations, asset-based lending, equipment financing, and structured real estate arrangements; cash management services and auto dealer financing solutions; investment banking solutions; and credit and deposit, fee-based product offering, multi-family agency lending, advisory, commercial mortgage brokerage, and tailored financing and equity investment solutions. This segment also offers treasury and payment solutions, such as operating various electronic and paper payment types, which comprise card, wire transfer, automated clearing house, check, and cash; and provides services clients to manage their accounts online. The company offers its products and services through a network of traditional and in-store branches, automated teller machines, Internet, mobile, and telephone banking channels. As of December 31, 2018, it operated 1,218 full-service banking offices located in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. SunTrust Banks, Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Knoll, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, markets, and sells commercial and residential furniture, accessories, and coverings for the workplace and residential markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Office and Lifestyle segments. It provides systems furniture, including integrated panels or table desks, work surfaces and storage units, power and data systems, and lighting products; office seating products comprising various work chairs; and files and storage products, such as lateral files, mobile pedestals and other storage units, bookcases, and overhead cabinets. The company also offers adjustable tables, as well as meeting, conference, training, dining, and stand-alone and table desks; conference furniture product platforms; height desks, tables, and ergonomic seating and accessories principally for individual home offices and small businesses; technology support accessories, desktop organizational tools, and lighting and storage products; seating and lounge furniture, as well as side, cafA, and dining chairs; conference, training, dining, and occasional tables; and lighting, rugs, textiles, fabrics, felt, leather, upholstery, drapery, and related architectural products. It serves Fortune 1000 companies, governmental agencies, and other medium-to-large sized organizations in various industries, including financial, legal, technology, entertainment, accounting, education, healthcare, and hospitality through its direct sales force and showrooms, distribution partners, and independent dealers and retailers, as well as online. The company was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in East Greenville, Pennsylvania.
GTT Communications, Inc. provides cloud networking services to multinational enterprises, carriers, and government customers in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers wide area networking, such as software-defined wide area networking, multiprotocol label switching, and virtual private LAN service; high bandwidth-Internet connectivity and IP transit, as well as broadband and wireless Internet access services; managed equipment and security services; and unified communication services consisting of session initiation protocol trunking, cloud unified communication service, and traditional analog voice. It also provides transport services, such as Ethernet services that enable to design network equipment; and video transport services to support broadcast quality transmission of live events, sports entertainment, and news to media and entertainment industry. In addition, the company offers infrastructure services enabling transport of high volume data between data centers, enterprise office locations, and media hubs; wavelength services to deliver scalable high-performance optical connectivity; colocation, turnkey, duct, and dark fiber services; advanced solutions, including security, hybrid cloud, database, and application management Its IP network consists of approximately 600 points of presence. GTT Communications, Inc. markets its products and services through a network of direct sales force and indirect sales channels. The company was formerly known as Global Telecom & Technology, Inc. and changed its name to GTT Communications, Inc. in January 2014. GTT Communications, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.
The following companies are subsidiares of Dominion Energy: 96WI 8me LLC, Align RNG Arizona LLC, Align RNG Arizona-Snowflake LLC, Align RNG California LLC, Align RNG California-Corcoran LLC, Align RNG Grady Road LLC, Align RNG LLC, Align RNG Magnolia LLC, Align RNG North Carolina LLC, Align RNG North Carolina-Bowdens LLC, Align RNG Utah LLC, Align RNG Utah-Milford LLC, Align RNG Utah-Minersville LLC, Align RNG Virginia LLC, Align RNG Virginia-Waverly LLC, Alpaca Holdings LLC, Angus Holdings LLC, Aster Holdings LLC, Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, BOE Holdings Inc., Bantam Holdings LLC, Bellflower Holdings LLC, Birdseye Holdings LLC, Birdseye Projects LLC, Birdseye Renewable Energy LLC, Blackville Solar Farm LLC, Blue Ocean Energy Marine LLC, BrightSuite Home LLC, BrightSuite Home Solar Inc., BrightSuite Inc., BrightSuite Solar CT Inc., BrightSuite Solar Development LLC, BrightSuite Solar SC Inc., BrightSuite Solar VA Inc., Brown Swiss Holdings II LLC, Buckingham Solar I LLC, CEA Americus LLC, CEA CO-Fort Morgan LLC, CEA Clovis LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Colorado LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Georgia LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Idaho LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Kansas LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Nevada LLC, CEA Dairy RNG New Mexico LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Texas LLC, CEA Greely LLC, CEA Mason LLC, CEA TX-Dimmitt LLC, CNG Coal Company, CNG Power Services Corporation, Canola Holdings LLC, Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation, Charolais Holdings LLC, Chester White Holdings LLC, Chicory Holdings LLC, Clean Energy Asset USA LLC, Clean Energy Enterprises Inc., Clipperton Holdings LLC, Collard Holdings LLC, Consolidated Natural Gas Company, Correctional Solar LLC, Cotswold Holdings LLC, Cove Point LNG Limited, Currant Holdings LLC, DE 700 Canal Place LLC, DE Arlington Solar LLC, DE Fluvanna Solar LLC, DE Hanover Solar LLC, DE Henrico Solar LLC, DE King William Solar LLC, DE Louisa Solar LLC, DE Newport News Solar LLC, DE Powhatan Solar LLC, DE Virginia Beach Solar LLC, DECP Holdings Inc., DEO Alternative Fuel LLC, Dairy RNG Holdings LLC, Denmark Solar LLC, Devon Holdings LLC, Dexter Holdings LLC, Dill Holdings LLC, Dillon RE Holdings LLC, Dominion ACP Holding Inc., Dominion Alternative Energy Holdings Inc., Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Dominion Capital Inc., Dominion Cogen WV Inc., Dominion Energy Birdseye Holdings Inc., Dominion Energy Fuel Services Inc., Dominion Energy Gas Distribution LLC, Dominion Energy Generation Marketing Inc., Dominion Energy Inc., Dominion Energy Kewaunee Inc., Dominion Energy Marketplace LLC, Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut Inc., Dominion Energy Payroll Company Inc., Dominion Energy Questar Corporation, Dominion Energy RNG Holdings II Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings Inc., Dominion Energy Services Inc., Dominion Energy Solar CA LLC, Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., Dominion Energy Southeast Services Inc., Dominion Energy Technical Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies II Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies Inc., Dominion Energy Terminal Company Inc., Dominion Energy Wexpro Services Company, Dominion Equipment III Inc., Dominion Equipment Inc., Dominion Fairless Hills Inc., Dominion Fowler Ridge Wind LLC, Dominion Gas Projects Company LLC, Dominion Generation Inc., Dominion Greenbrier Inc., Dominion High Voltage Holdings Inc., Dominion High Voltage MidAtlantic Inc., Dominion Investments Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline Holdings Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline LLC, Dominion MLP Holding Company III Inc., Dominion Mt. Storm Wind LLC, Dominion Nuclear Projects Inc., Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production Inc., Dominion Person Inc., Dominion Privatization Florida LLC, Dominion Privatization Georgia LLC, Dominion Privatization Holdings Inc., Dominion Privatization Kentucky LLC, Dominion Privatization Maryland LLC, Dominion Privatization Pennsylvania LLC, Dominion Privatization South Carolina LLC, Dominion Privatization Texas LLC, Dominion Privatization Virginia LLC, Dominion Products and Services Inc., Dominion Projects Services Inc., Dominion Resources Capital Trust III, Dominion Retail Gas Holdings Inc., Dominion Solar Holdings IV LLC, Dominion Solar Projects C Inc., Dominion Solar Projects D Inc., Dominion Solar Projects III Inc., Dominion Solar Projects IV Inc., Dominion Solar Projects V Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VI Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VII Inc., Dominion Solar Services Inc., Dominion State Line LLC, Dominion Utility Privatization LLC, Dominion Voltage Inc., Dominion Wholesale Inc., Dominion Wind Development LLC, Dominion Wind Projects Inc., Dorset Holdings LLC, ESCT-SA-Suffield LLC, Eagle Holdco Solar LLC, Eagle Solar LLC, Eastern Shore Solar LLC, Endive Holdings LLC, Energize Holdings III LLC, Flax Holdings LLC, Fremont Farm LLC, Gideon Solar LLC, Ginger Holdings LLC, Greenbrier Marketing Company LLC, Greenbrier Pipeline Company LLC, Greensville County Solar Project LLC, Guernsey Holdings LLC, Hardin Solar Energy LLC, Hecate Energy Cherrydale LLC, Hecate Energy Clarke County LLC, Hemlock Holdings LLC, Hereford Holdings LLC, Hodges Solar LLC, Hope Gas Inc., Hosta Holdings LLC, Innovative Solar 37 LLC, Joanna Solar LLC, Kale Holdings LLC, Leek Holdings LLC, Leghorn Holdings LLC, Lentil Holdings LLC, Leyland Holdings LLC, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas, Millet Holdings LLC, Moffett Solar 1 LLC, Moorings Farm 2 LLC, Mustang Solar LLC, Mustard Holdings LLC, Okra Holdings LLC, PSNC Blue Ridge Corporation, PSNC Cardinal Pipeline Company, Phone House, Pikeville Farm LLC, Power Path Holdings I LLC, Power Path Holdings II LLC, Power Path Holdings III LLC, Prairie Fork Wind Farm LLC, Public Service Company of North Carolina Incorporated, Quail Holdings LLC, Questar Corporation, Questar Gas Company, Questar InfoComm Inc., Ridgeland Solar Farm I LLC, Rutabaga Holdings LLC, SCANA, SCANA Corporate Security Services Inc., SCANA Corporation, SRFI LLC, Safflower Holdings LLC, Scott-II Solar LLC, Seabrook Solar LLC, Sedge Holdings LLC, Shallot Holdings LLC, Siler Solar LLC, Silkie Holdings LLC, Simmental Holdings LLC, Sol Madison Solar LLC, Sorghum Holdings LLC, South Carolina Fuel Company Inc., South Carolina Generating Company Inc., Southampton Solar LLC, Strawberry Holdings LLC, Sumac Holdings LLC, Summit Farms Solar LLC, Sussex Drive Solar Project LLC, TWE Myrtle Solar Project LLC, The East Ohio Gas Company, Trask East Solar LLC, Tredegar Solar Fund I LLC, Tredegar Solar LLC, VP Property Inc., Virginia Electric And Power Company, Virginia Power Fuel Corporation, Virginia Power Nuclear Services Company, Virginia Power Services Energy Corp. Inc., Virginia Power Services LLC, Virginia Solar 2017 Projects LLC, Wakefield Solar LLC, Watercress Holdings LLC, Wexpro Company, Wexpro Development Company, Wexpro II Company, Wilkinson Solar LLC, Yemassee Solar LLC, and Yorkshire Holdings LLC.

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Shabana Azmi said that she had upma for breakfast today but Twitter had a few lessons in identifying food for her.

By India Today Web Desk: Who thought the humble poha could cause an outrage on Twitter someday? But given the volatile place that that micro-blogging platform is, anything is possible. Today, it was veteran actor Shabana Azmi's turn to be trolled on Twitter.

So Azmi tweeted a photo of her breakfast from faraway Florence, Italy. She praised the cook for ruffling up the delicious upma and said that it was made to her demand... except, there was no upma in the photo. It was poha.

Upma cooked by Ketki for breakfast in Florence!Thats what u expect was the demand of the gujju ladies im with.No sirree it was mine Love it?? pic.twitter.com/ISicmbt4Ue- Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) October 9, 2017

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For the uninitiated, upma is made with semolina, while poha has beaten rice as its basic ingredient.

This mistake left people on Twitter laughing their lungs out.

And that was not enough.

Some people asked Shabana to turn Gordon Ramsay and give them her honest feedback on food that they had cooked. So while someone asked her how the 'modaks' were, accompanied by a photo of momos; another Twitter user wanted her opinion on 'gulab jamun' with a photo of plain rice.

ma'am please Rate this modak, maine banaya hai .. pic.twitter.com/2ZWzA5nRH2- Now+win (@Brahmeme) October 9, 2017

Madam ji ye samose mene banaye haiKha ke btana kaise hai? pic.twitter.com/ExoeZfoiPd- AMIT (@AMIT_GUJJU) October 9, 2017

Very nice ma'am but my favorite is Dhokla pic.twitter.com/RuxMVhQAs5- Gautam Trivedi (@Gotham3) October 9, 2017

Mam pls rate chicken tikka masala made by me. pic.twitter.com/VsTyQBdlPS- Smoking Skills (@SmokingSkills_) October 9, 2017

hi ma'am, this is khakra from maharashtra, my all time favourite. pic.twitter.com/GvzVkh3sxd- ?? (@CrazyThakare) October 9, 2017

Masala dosaTo be very Precise!!! pic.twitter.com/XKZI3mT7Kj- dr neeraj kumar (@molarcannine) October 9, 2017

Ye lo madam Idly ?????? pic.twitter.com/AW3JAUlAJC- Sadhu Maharaj (@SadhuMaharaj16) October 9, 2017

Need your opinion on these Puris I made. ??? pic.twitter.com/Yc7i6O63N3- ??hargav (@ThatIndianGuy) October 9, 2017

I made this Doughnuts. How do they look ? pic.twitter.com/85jJ6Hv40m- ? of Saggy (@AuntyNational) October 9, 2017

Since you are in Italy, you must try the Pizza there pic.twitter.com/EzfpXFgImS- Capt Obvious (@DesolateCranium) October 9, 2017

And then, someone finally had some mercy and decided to tweet a photo of the real thing.

Ye Twitterpur hai madam lit fest festival nahi, People here don't entertain Ignorance. Asli upma hai enjoy karo. pic.twitter.com/T8m91qyfnI- Sumit Mishra (@_SumitMishra) October 9, 2017

ALSO WATCH: Shabana and Javed unveil Life of Meena Kumari

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: (Eds: Correcting headline)

By Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Oct 9 (PTI) The daughter and son-in-law of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif were today granted bail by the countrys anti-graft court in the Panama Papers scandal as they appeared before it following their return from London.

Maryam Nawaz, 43, along with her spouse, former army captain Muhammad Safdar, returned to the country late last night to appear in the Accountability Court. Safdar was arrested on his arrival as the the court had issued non- bailable arrest warrant against him.

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Both separately appeared in the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir here.

Sharif and his two sons were absent during the hearing as they are in London to attend his wife Kulsoom who is battling throat cancer.

Sharif had attended the previous two hearings but flew to London last week to see his ailing wife, who underwent a third surgery.

The court accepted the bail applications of Maryam and Safdar and postponed the hearing till October 13, according to court officials.

Sharifs lawyer Khawaja Harris asked the court to adjourn hearing for 15 days with commitment that Sharif would also appear. The court rejected the plea announced that it will indict the accused during the next hearing.

The court also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharifs sons -- Husain and Hasan -- proclaimed offender as they have failed to appear before it so far.

The court also decided to conduct separate trials of Husain and Hasan from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

Maryam, who is being groomed as Sharifs political successor, appeared in the court for the first time today.

She was ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 50,000 against a non-bailable arrest warrant against her.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lawyers asked the court to send Safdar to jail on judicial remand but the court granted him bail and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 for surety bonds.

The court also asked him to seek its permission before going abroad and rejected the NAB request to confiscate his passport.

Both Maryam and Safdar have been charged by the NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Sharif.

Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken into custody despite the fact that he had come back to face the case.

"Those who want to appear by free will are arrested from airport, but we are not afraid of it,? she said.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said that the "absconders are free and hold public meetings".

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She also criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.

"Questions will be asked if the cases which started with Panama ended with Iqama (Job contract). The judges would have to answer it,? she said referring to dismissal of Sharif for non-declaration of his salary from his son?s company in the UAE.

"Those who sent home representative of 20 crore people should also be brought to justice," she said.

During the hearing, Sharif?s lawyer also presented an application to exempt him from appearing before the court today. The court accepted the plea.

The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Husain, Hasan and Safdar last Monday after they failed to appear before it.

The cases were filed after the July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling /Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the peoples mandate and democracy. PTI SH NSA AKJ NSA

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: (Eds: Incorporating Safdars arrest story)

By Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Oct 9 (PTI) The daughter and son-in-law of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif were today granted bail by the countrys anti-graft court in the Panama Papers scandal as they appeared before it following their return from London.

Maryam Nawaz, 43, along with her spouse, former army captain Muhammad Safdar, returned to the country late last night to appear in the Accountability Court. Safdar was arrested on his arrival as the the court had issued non- bailable arrest warrant against him.

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Both separately appeared in the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir here.

Sharif and his two sons were absent during the hearing as they are in London to attend his wife Kulsoom who is battling throat cancer.

Sharif had attended the previous two hearings but flew to London last week to see his ailing wife, who underwent a third surgery.

The court accepted the bail applications of Maryam and Safdar and postponed the hearing till October 13, according to court officials.

Sharif?s lawyer Khawaja Harris asked the court to adjourn hearing for 15 days with commitment that Sharif would also appear. The court rejected the plea announced that it will indict the accused during the next hearing.

The court also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharif?s sons -- Husain and Hasan -- proclaimed offender as they have failed to appear before it so far.

The court also decided to conduct separate trials of Husain and Hasan from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law.

Maryam, who is being groomed as Sharifs political successor, appeared in the court for the first time today.

She was ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 50,000 against a non-bailable arrest warrant against her.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lawyers asked the court to send Safdar to jail on judicial remand but the court granted him bail and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 for surety bonds.

The court also asked him to seek its permission before going abroad and rejected the NAB request to confiscate his passport.

Both Maryam and Safdar have been charged by the NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Sharif.

Maryam criticised the arrest of her husband and said he was taken into custody despite the fact that he had come back to face the case.

"Those who want to appear by free will are arrested from airport, but we are not afraid of it,? she said.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who has refused to appear in several cases, Maryam said that the "absconders are free and hold public meetings".

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She also criticised the judges for disqualifying her father in the Panama Papers case.

"Questions will be asked if the cases which started with Panama ended with Iqama (Job contract). The judges would have to answer it,? she said referring to dismissal of Sharif for non-declaration of his salary from his son?s company in the UAE.

"Those who sent home representative of 20 crore people should also be brought to justice," she said.

During the hearing, Sharif?s lawyer also presented an application to exempt his from appearing before the court today. The court accepted the plea.

The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Husain, Hasan and Safdar last Monday after they failed to appear before it.

The cases were filed after the July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the ruling /Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the peoples mandate and democracy. PTI SH NSA AKJ NSA

--- ENDS ---
Mohammaed Wali Ali Mohammed came to India in 2014 on a student VISA. Arrested earlier this year for selling Marijuana, Mohammed was out on bail since August.

By Ashish Pandey: Hyderabad Police has arrested a Somalian National for committing house burglary in the city.

The accused foreign national identified Mohammed Wali Ali Mohammed recently entered into the a house in Tolichowki area and committed a theft of net cash of Rs. 33,00,000 (Thirty Three Lakhs), one Dell Laptop and two Samsung tablets.

After receiving the complaint from the victims police started investigating the case. The accused was tracked down with the help of CCTV footage. Mohammed Wali Ali Mohammed (27) is a student of BBA final year in Nizam college.

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The accused came to India in 2014 on student VISA and has confessed his crime. He confessed that he needed the money for alcohol and buying marijuana. He said that the amount he received from his mother in Somalia was not enough to meet the extra expenses.

The accused was earlier arrested by Prohibition and Excise Department for selling drugs and was sent to jail. He was released on bail in August this year. He then resorted to theft and burglary to procure the money.

The Hyderabad police had arrested him in August after 10 kgs of marijuana from his possession. A case was registered under the Narcotics Act and he was sent to judicial custody, but later released on bail in August.

He also said that he needed money to pay the legal process of getting his passport back.

Investigation has revealed that Mohammad spent the money he stole lavishly by organising parties with friends. He also bought a Royal Enfield motor cycle, recently launched I-Phone 8 mobile and branded clothes with the money.

Police has recovered over 27 Lakh from him and has sent accused Mohammad to jail.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: landlady

Hyderabad, Oct 9 (PTI) An MLC of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi was today booked after he allegedly assaulted an NRI woman and tried to hit her with a footwear as she asked him to vacate her flat in Nampally area, police said.

In a video which has gone viral, MLC Farooq Hussian is reportedly seen threatening the woman.

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A case was registered against the member of legislative assembly under relevant sections of IPC based on a complaint by the 53-year-old NRI woman, Nampally police station inspector R Sanjay Kumar told PTI.

The woman said that she came all the way from New York to Hyderabad yesterday to regain the possession of her property.

However, the MLC has denied the allegations against him.

Hussain had joined the TRS last year after quitting the Congress.

The incident took place this morning when the woman went to the apartment and confronted Hussain about the delay in vacating her flat.

She claimed that despite repeated reminders, the politician had "refused" to vacate the apartment.

"I had given my apartment on rent to MLC Farooq Hussain. He was not vacating the flat for the past two years, and whenever I used to call him from the US, he used to say that I can never vacate him from the flat," the woman told reporters, adding that she waited for two years hoping that Hussain would walk out of her property.

"After meeting him along with my brother today, I told him that I wanted the apartment back and that was why I came to Hyderabad. But, Hussain said he had already spoken to my brother seeking more time to vacate. I told him I was the owner of the flat and I cannot give him more time, and asked him to vacate the flat," the woman said.

In the video, Hussain purportedly asked her to do whatever she could to get him vacated.

"Wherever you want to go you can go," he is heard saying.

When the woman told him that she will approach the media as well as Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (over the matter), Hussain said, "Wherever you want to go...you go and get it vacated..."

The woman claimed that during their exchange of words, Hussain took out a footwear and tried to hit her and used abusive language against her.

"As he was getting wild, we immediately left the place and approached the police," she said.

The woman further accused the MLC of threatening her and her brother that he would send them to jail.

"There was no agreement (with regard to the premises with him)...In fact for the past six months he did not pay the rent. I just want my apartment back," she said.

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The police said the matter was being investigated.

Meanwhile, the politician said he had taken the apartment on rent from Mohd Samad.

"I never knew that she was the owner of the house. I am the one in the video, but I did not use abusive language. I just asked her to get the papers that I signed when I took the apartment on rent," Hussain clarified. PTI VVK GDK NSK SRY

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The actress participated in the Pink Ribbon Walk with breast cancer survivors and activists.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Actress Tamannaah Bhatia on Sunday participated in a walk organised here for breast cancer awareness.

The actress along with Dharini, who fought breast cancer affecting both breasts at a young age of 24, flagged off the run in which about 3,000 people from various walks of life participated.

The ninth edition of the 2K Pink Ribbon Walk was organised by Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation (UBF) and KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases with the slogan 'Does your heart beat for early detection of breast cancer'.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/tamannaahspeaks

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Breast cancer 'conquerors' and their families in addition to large number of students from old city participated in the run, expressing solidarity with the Pink Ribbon campaign.

Also Read: After losing her mother to breast cancer, this survivor beat the odds herself

The walk was aimed at creating awareness about importance of early detection of breast cancer, salute survivors, and spread the message of hope, courage and survival in the fight against the disease.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/f.a.tography Picture courtesy: Instagram/f.a.tography

KIMS chairman B. Krishnaiah, KIMS MD and CEO B. Bhaskar Rao, UBF CEO and KIMS-Ushalakshmi director P. Raghu Ram, UBF founder chairperson Ushalakshmi, and other eminent citizens participated in the walk.

UBF and KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases, which completed 10 years, has undertaken many unique initiatives to empower people about importance of early detection of breast cancer.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/tamannaahspeaks

In India, over 150,000 women are newly diagnosed with breast cancer every year; a staggering number that has overtaken cervical cancer to become the most common cancer affecting women.

Also Read: Can you get breast cancer? Here are 4 things you should know about the disease

Contrary to the western world where breast cancer is common after the age of 50 years, the highest incidence of breast cancer in India is between the ages of 40 and 50 years, said Raghu Ram.

Picture courtesy: Instagram/southcelebrities

More than 70, 000 women succumb to breast cancer every year - a woman dies of breast cancer every 10 minutes in India. Ram said that more than 60 per cent of breast cancers in India present in the advanced stages and hence death rate from breast cancer is also very high.

Lack of awareness and absence of an organized national breast cancer screening programme are the main reasons accounting for late presentation.

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Etisalat Misr has signed a four-year contract with Ericsson to modernise and expand its core network and business support systems.

The partnership will play an important role in further developing the services offered by Etisalat Misr, one of Ericssons largest customers for business support systems, and will help the operator capitalise on the growth in 4G and pave the way for 5G and Internet of Things.

The project will be a significant milestone for Etisalat Misr, allowing shorter time to market, commercial innovation, and improved user experience. It will also have a positive impact on the capital and operational expenditure. The subscribers will be able to enjoy highly flexible and personalised offerings, including cross-bundling and add-on services. They will also have access to shared data plans and family offerings, which will provide them with a single bill and a consolidated spending view.

Furthermore, the 4G technology will enable efficient means of communication and opportunities for global collaboration and innovation. For example, the project will accelerate the introduction of IMS Voice over LTE, Voice over WiFi, Service Aware Policy Control and Unified Communications.

Hazem Metwally, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Misr, said that the project would double the capacity of our business support systems, which will allow us to provide more innovation to our customers, resulting in more traffic passing through our network.

Amr Fathy, IT Vice President, Etisalat Misr, said: As we work towards a smart future, we continue to innovate in ways that will empower our valued customers to meet all of their personal and business goals. Introducing Egypt to 4G and 5G is the future of technology and we look forward to being at the forefront of this introduction.

Rafiah Ibrahim, Head of Ericsson Region Middle East and Africa, says: This agreement will enable Etisalat Misr to respond very quickly and in a flexible way with new offers to the ever increasing needs of their subscribers. The current massive diversity of applications, services and bundles, that both consumers and business customers wish to use on their multiple devices, requires more flexible provisioning and real-time charging based on advanced systems and solutions, such as our state-of-the-art Business Support System.
HMD Global, the new home of Nokia may have sold over one million smartphones globally. The Finnish company announced Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 for global markets at MWC and sales started only in June.

HMD Global, the company behind the revival of Nokia-branded smartphones may have sold over a million handsets since its debut early this year. The company CMO Pekka Rantala revealed in an interview that the company has sold over a million units of its Nokia-branded smartphones but didn't share exact sales numbers. He also admitted that the demand has been strong for Nokia smartphones but it is yet to attain large-scale supply.

Now there is further evidence to the fact that HMD Global would have sold over million smartphones. Rantala's claim is now being backed by installation numbers of Nokia Mobile Support app on Google Play Store. The Play Store indicates the installation numbers to be anywhere between 1 million and 5 million. The numbers definitely show that HMD Global has seen an unprecedented demand for its Nokia smartphones.

To recall, HMD Global announced its first comeback device - Nokia 6 - in January exclusively for the Chinese market. The company then announced Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 for global markets at Mobile World Congress in February. The three smartphones went on sale only in June and were delayed until August in some markets. As Nokiapoweruser remarks, the installation numbers on Play Store doesn't include sales of Nokia 6 in China where it doesn't include the Play Store.

The Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 have seen good response among consumers and the premium mid-range Nokia 6 received over 1 million registration on Amazon India ahead of its first sale. The reviews of the new smartphones have been fairly positive and HMD has been responsive when it comes to software update. The company announced its flagship Nokia 8 last month and has started retailing globally. HMD Global has announced five feature phones and four smartphones till date. While these numbers suggest a good response for Nokia, we'll have to wait for official sales numbers from HMD Global to know how many devices the company has shipped till date.
MLC Farooq Hussain abused and tried hitting an NRI woman who rented him a house to live. Hussain also bragged about his connections with the ruling party and the CM after misbehaving with the woman.

By Ashish Pandey: In a disgraceful incident, the member of legislative council (MLC) Farooq Hussain from ruling Telangana Rahstra Samithi (TRS) abused an NRI woman and even tried to hit her with a sandal.

The incident took place at a residential society of Nampaly area of the city. The victim who approached the police said that Hussain used vulgar language and even tried attacking her when she asked him to vacate the apartment owned by her.

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50-year-old US citizen Antul Wasay who lives in New York has a flat in Lakdi Ka Pool area of the city from past six years.

Farooq Hussain was living in the apartment by paying only Rs 10,000 as rent. But, recently, he stopped paying that amount and also forced the land lady to come to the city in order to settle the matter.

"We were asking him to vacate the apartment from past two years but he was delaying it by asking for more time from past six months. He even stopped paying the rent so we came to meet him, but he started threatening us showing his connections with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and the ruling party. He abused me and even tried hitting me with his sandal."

The victim along with brother approached to Nampally police has lodged a complaint against MLC Hussain. The accused MLC was not available for any comment.

Farooq Hussain started his political career in mid 70s and spent his political time largely working with the Congress party. After bifurcation of the state, he joined Telangana Rashtra Samithi in presence of its president and CM of Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Hussain is booked under 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 IPC (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC by Nampally Police.

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is meant for those who want a no compromise Android phone, and don't mind what it costs them. It's a no brainer for Note lovers and makes a lot of sense for others as well.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 detailed review

Update: The score for this phone was 84 at launch. This has been changed to 82 after new flagships were launched. Read on to find out more.





Smartphone firms dont surprise me anymore, and very few actually impress. When Samsung took the stage this year, it impressed us all, albeit playing safe after last years shenanigans. The Galaxy Note has always been Samsungs prized product. Its a category Samsung created, and the Galaxy Note 8 is poised to spoil Apples tri-phone party. For the most part, this is an S8 Plus with the S-Pen, but then again, in many ways it isnt. I switched from the Galaxy S8 Plus to the Note 8 for this review, so I have a pretty good idea of how this phone differs. Well begin with the obvious.

Camera: A Samsung camera out and out, but better...

Its no surprise that Samsung chose the telephoto+wide angle offering for the Note 8, but OIS on both rear cameras does make this enticing. On paper, that allows the Note 8 better low light photos even on its tele lens, something other cameras do lack. If youve been a Samsung user so far, you would know that the company has made considerable progress with its low light algorithms, and all this put together makes the Galaxy Note 8 an exciting proposition indeed. Lets discuss this part by part.

Shooting regular photos

The Galaxy Note 8 has all the signature elements of a Samsung camera. It shoots bright low light photos, vibrant colours and produces soft details often. But, the Note 8 is markedly different too, since it does all this with greater detail and better colour definition. Dynamic range is excellent, but the Note 8 excels at reproducing the slight bluishness in the night sky or the difference between the light blue sky and soft white clouds during the day. In a way, the Note 8 proves that the second sensor is what Samsungs cameras were missing so far. Noise levels are reduced and though the algorithms bring some softness in details, these are the best photos a Samsung phone has ever taken for me.

100% crop of photo above

Shot by Galaxy Note 8 in indoor incandescent lighting

100% crop of the photo above

Shot by Galaxy Note 8 in indoor incandescent lighting

Shot by Galaxy Note 8 on a sunny day

I have to enlarge photos to give you my analysis of the camera, and see them on a pre-calibrated display, but many of the Note 8s faults, like the pleasant but noticeable oversaturation of colours and soft details, will never affect a regular user who clicks and shares photos, all from his phone.

Low Light photos

Everything I wrote above is true for low light shooting as well, but I had to add a separate section to talk about the live focus mode.

Its easy to expect dual-OIS to make low light photos better, but the tele lens is simply not suited for this. I have taken some disastrous low light bokehs of my friends, which Im not allowed to share in public. Samsung calls its bokeh mode live focus and like many others, it disables this mode if light conditions arent suitable. That means you wont be able to shoot bokehs on a dimly lit street. To be fair, no smartphone camera can really do this at the moment any way.

Night shot taken using Galaxy Note 8

That aside, you get excellent low light photos when shooting with the primary camera. Frames are brighter than every other phone on the market, colours are vibrant, but details are slightly soft. The Note 8 is particularly good at dealing with lights in the frame, a striking difference against other Samsung phones. While most cameras create a sort of blur over such lights, including the Galaxy S8 Plus, the Note 8 is better at defining the warm glow of a halogen bulb. Its not that no flagship phone can do this, but its an improvement for Samsung nevertheless.

Background blurs/bokeh

Everyone and their mother is busy telling you that their smartphone can take DSLR quality photos when they cant. What phones like the Note 8 can do though is create an above average blur (by phone standards) that makes for a great profile photo on Facebook. On the Galaxy Note 8, this is achieved using the Live Focus mode that takes these depth enabled images. The second camera comes into play, and while OIS should compensate for hand shakes to some extent, I found that my hand really doesnt shake a lot when taking bokehs. You, of course, may not agree with the same.

While background blur is created with the help of software as well, the Galaxy Note 8 does well in producing a pleasant looking blur. The subject stands out, but Id warn you against expecting the same level of details as the primary camera. In fact, images are even softer with this one and it's almost useless in low light. The vast difference between the primary and secondary camera is indeed disappointing here.

Zoom

Ive never really been a big fan of 2x zoom on smartphones, even if it is done through optics. Sure, optical zoom gives you better photos than digital zoom, but that just covers the theory bit of it. In practical terms, Ive never really been able to find instances where 2x optical zoom gets me as close to a subject as I want. Have you?

On the Galaxy Note 8, optical zooming is seamless. Samsung has the 1x-2x button on the viewfinder, and the cameras interchange without any lags or hitches. Its also a decently detailed photo, though as my colleague pointed out in an optical zoom comparison recently, its not the optimum quality this phone is capable of. Like the iPhone, the Galaxy Note 8 allows you to run up to 10x zoom, but anything beyond 2x is done digitally and its not really useful.

Original

2x zoom

100% crop of 2x zoomed photo

All this is true for any optically zooming camera on a smartphone, so the Note 8 must not be singled out. Samsung does use better sensors, so the phone can give you better photos than lower end devices (Duh!). If you do need 2x optical zoom for something, this wont disappoint.

Dependability

The primary concern for smartphone cameras is dependability. Can I take shot after shot with this phone without worrying about a blurry photo, or misjudged scenes? Well, thats one area the Note 8 has covered impressively. If you know a little bit about how to frame photos, the Galaxy Note 8 can take some truly beautiful photos. If youre just the point-and-shoot type, the Note 8 will still not disappoint. The only drawback is that in the few instances where the phone takes a second longer to focus/judge the scene, youll press the shutter button and the camera wont respond the first time. It doesnt happen very often, and is usually limited to low light conditions only.

Another aspect of dependability is in shooting videos. This will matter to a select few, but the Note 8 uses optical image stabilisation, which I suspect is mixed with some EIS as well, to produce smooth flowing video. The example below is shot using the Galaxy Note 8 from a moving car and you can not tell that my ride was bumpier than usual. Video stabilisation on the Note 8 has a striking resemblance to the Pixel from last year.

Video shot using Galaxy Note 8 from a moving car. There were some bumps on the way, but the Note 8 doesn't care

The Note 8 also shoots in Auto HDR mode, unless you turn it off from settings. Samsung has taken a page out of Googles playbook here, and it all works splendidly.

How is the Galaxy Note 8s camera then?

The Galaxy Note 8 has what you could call a complete camera. It shoots great photos consistently, and produces impressive bokehs as far as smartphones are concerned. Had it not been for softer details, the Note 8 would have been the perfect camera for a smartphone. Its a stunner in its own right. The only real flaw in this camera is that the difference in quality between the primary and secondary cameras is a tad too great in my opinion. If you use the primary camera often, the occassional secondary camera shot would disappoint you.

To understand the difference between the Note 8's camera against the S8 Plus, read this comparison.

Click the album for full sized image samples clicked by the Galaxy Note 8

S-Pen: Still accurate, but more enthusiast friendly...

The other differentiating feature of the Note 8 is its S-Pen. Samsungs little stylus isnt meant for everyone, but Note lovers will discuss at length why the S-Pen is such an important tool. Samsung says the S-Pen has improved this time and can support more points of pressure, but thats barely discernible. More importantly, the company has added some features to the S-Pen this time, that can be considered more enthusiast friendly, than business-like.

Handwritten GIFs

Apple lets you send handwritten or drawn photos on the iMessage, and Samsung now has Live Messages. Samsungs version is more useful, simply because it creates GIFs, that can be shared on any platform supporting GIFs. The S-Pen also makes it much simpler to draw things, or write note, which was just too cumbersome to do with my finger, on the iPhone.

For live message, you pull out the S-Pen and click the Live Message option from the pens menu on screen. A small box takes up half the screen after this and you can start drawing/writing. You can also change the type, width and colour of the pen youre typing with.

GIFs from videos

Adding to the list of things that are simpler with the S-Pen is making videos with it. Samsungs Smart Select option now provides an Animation feature, that lets you cut out GIFs from any video playing on the phone. You draw a frame using the S-Pen, then hit record on the part you want as a GIF. It takes some getting used to, but not really enough to complain. Heres a particularly creepy GIF I created of my colleague Shrey Pacheco.

via GIPHY

Translate

Most people depend on Google for their translation requirements, but Samsung is betting S-Pen users will find that easier with the pen. After tapping the translate button on the pens menu, you can simply hover the pen over a word on the screen to translate it into a desired language. It works with almost all text that is on the phones screen, although I did have trouble translating text in photos sometimes.

I can see how this feature can be useful, but I would have wished an easier shortcut. For example, Samsung could allow you to double press the button on the S-Pen to turn this feature on.

Taking notes

Taking notes works like it always did. You pull out the S-Pen and choose the Notes option. But, on the Note 8, you can also start writing on the Always On display and Samsung allows over 100 pages of notes on this. You can also write down a grocery list on the Always On display, or something else you want to be reminded of, which can then be pinned to the Always On display. So, every time you look at your phone, the reminder will be right there in front of you. The only hitch here is that the pinned reminder becomes an icon on the Always On display as you start getting other notifications, which somewhat breaks the functionality.

Build and Design: As premium as it gets...

My colleague dropped the Note 8 by mistake, from about three feet and it didnt break...

While that sounds impressive for a phone made completely out of glass, Id still warn you against rough use. Samsung has used tough glass on the Note 8 and youll probably get away with the simpler drops, or if you can break the fall somehow. But drop it directly on concrete or asphalt and the Note 8 will break. The Note 8 needs care, because glass can break. Thats true for any phone with a glass body today, including the upcoming iPhones. So, while I cant say the Note 8 is a sturdy smartphone, I will say that its impeccably designed and well built. It has a metallic frame, which Samsung polished to make the entire phone feel like its made of glass. The frame has the same finish as the Jet Black iPhone last year.

The company struck gold with its curved display a few years ago, and has been milking it since. The Note 8 has a sharper and more block-like design than the S8+, which feels more ergonomic to me. I met at least two people who disagreed though. The Note 8 is also substantially heavy, which is probably why it feels more ergonomic than the S8. I think Samsung chose to make this device more rectangular so as to accent the screen. The Note 8s display is only 0.1 inch larger than the S8 Plus, but it somehow feels a lot bigger.

I personally prefer the black variant of the Note 8, but you may not feel the same. The Note 8s rear camera module remains black both colours, and I prefer the all black model to the black on gold combination of the other variant.

For those unaware of the Note series, the S-Pen is on the bottom. You push it inwards and it pops out, ready for use. The speaker grille, USB Type-C port, headphone jack and a noise cancellation mic are at the bottom. The power button rests on the right, where your thumb usually would be (if youre right handed) and the Bixby button unfortunately is placed parallel to this on the left. You will obviously need to shift your grip with this device, and though this is the most ergonomic a Note device has ever been, ergonomics arent part of the buyer or the sellers concerns here.

From a design purview, Im truly fond of the Note 8. Its literally the most premium feeling phone you can buy right now, and I personally do think its the most beautiful phone too. Yes, surpassing even the Galaxy S8. Samsung couldn't change the fingerprint sensor placement for the Note, but having used the S8 Plus for a while, I've realised that I could actually get used to it.

Display: Bright, curved, warm and great

Samsungs Infinity Display makes an appearance on the Note 8, and its as great as it was on the Galaxy S8. You get extremely deep black thanks to the OLED panel, while overall contrast levels are great too. Colour tones are warmer than natural, but I know many who would prefer this to an iPhones more true to source tones. It basically comes down to what you personally like, but if were talking overall quality, the Note 8s display is indeed the best there is today, alongside the Galaxy S8 series.

The Note 8s maximum resolution is 2960x1440 pixels, but its set to 1080p by default, perhaps to save battery life. If you want the absolute best it can do, push the resolution up from the Display Settings, but I would actually recommend keeping it at FHD, because it makes little difference in viewing content (unless you do watch 2K/HDR content) and saves battery life.

Performance: Fast, smooth, but Android

Note: Since new phones have been launched since the Note 8, we have revised its performance scores retrospectively. As a result, the device's overall score has also been reduced from 84 to 82.

For a while now, the problem with Samsungs flagship phones has been that they run Android software. The company has tweaked Touchwiz to make it smoother, lighter and better looking, but as a rule of thumb, Android phones do slow down with time. I was using the Galaxy S8 Plus for four months before switching to the Note 8, and that phone is noticeably slower than it was out of the box.

When you first use the Note 8, its amongst the fastest phones on the market today. It has oodles of RAM and one of the fastest processors there is today. It breaks benchmark scores of course, but in the past week, Ive seen no lags or stutters on it. Rather, they werent any greater than what you would already expect from an Android phone. It shifts from one WiFi network to the other in a blink, and once youve paired with a Bluetooth device, you wont even notice subsequent connections. I usually connect my PC to my homes Bluetooth speaker. If the Note 8s Bluetooth is turned on, it connects to the speaker almost immediately after I turn my PC off, or shut Bluetooth.

As far as Android phones go, this is certainly amongst the fastest there is. Games run without lags or stutters, and signal connectivity is top notch.

Battery: Not a workhorse, but meets industry standards

Continuing to play it safe, Samsung put a slightly smaller battery on the Note 8, than that on the Galaxy S8 Plus. The phone carries a 3300 mAh battery this time, and while its battery life isnt exemplary, it beat my expectations. I had to charge the Note 8 once every night. With 100% battery at 9am, the phone would creep into the battery red zone at around 8-8.30pm every day. Thats just over a work days worth of battery life.

To give you a better perspective, my day included about twenty minutes of streaming video to you guys on Facebook Live, at least an hour playing Sim City Build It, 15 odd phone calls, and far too many messages on WhatsApp, along with regular browsing on social media.

The PC Mark Work 2.0 battery test lasts for 9 hours and 58 minutes.

Bottomline: The best Note ever

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is not just the best Note device ever, it is also amongst the best smartphone to buy today. Its a no brainer for Note lovers and its also a no brainer for flagship buyers. Unlike the US, the Note 8s pricing in India is pretty much within the flagship standards, which means when price is no bar, this is indeed the smartphone to buy.

How it compares

Many, including myself, would question the wisdom in buying a phone worth nearly 70k, but the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is perhaps the only phone thats ever made me want to own it. Its premium to the core and the S-Pen is available only on this device. The fact, though is that the OnePlus 5 (review) still does feel faster than this phone, though the camera on this phone is indeed much better, especially in low light conditions.

Also, while Im sure flagship buyers dont consider price as much, buying the 64GB variant of the Galaxy S8 Plus will actually save you a pretty penny, if you dont care about the S-Pen a lot. The Galaxy Note 8 does have a better camera, but the price difference may easily justify the compromise for you.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a phone for those who want a no compromise Android phone, with all the bells and whistles a flagship should come with.
Global airline trade association the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Monday that recently collated industry performance statistics for 2016 showed that throughout its system, airlines carried 3.8bn passengers on 242m scheduled services throughout the year, a 7% year-on-year increase over 2015.

IATA said that as 1.3bn travellers chose Asia-Pacific based carriers, it was again the region which carried the largest number of passengers in its regional rankings.

Europe came in second with a 26% market share, and then North America with 24%, Latin America with 7%, the Middle East with 5%, and Africa coming in last with just 2% of travellers choosing to fly with airlines based in the region.

The top five airlines ranked by total scheduled passengers carried (US domestic and international) were:

Southwest Airlines (151.8m)

American Airlines (144.2m)

Delta Air Lines (143.3m)

China Southern Airlines (114.5m)

Ryanair (112m)

US citizens were the most prevalent travellers in the world throughout the year as some 810m individuals travelled on US passports in 2016, making up 21% of all passengers within IATA's network.

Domestically, US citizens were also the most prevalent travellers at 29.9%, followed by China (19.0%), India (5.2%), Indonesia (4.4%) and Japan (3.5%).

New model airlines, ones with business models based on lower fares, made up 28.3% of all air travel in 2016, up from the 27.1% they had carried in 2015, with network carriers accounting for 69.5% of total passenger numbers and leisure carriers comprising 3% of traffic.

In terms of cargo carriers, Fed Ex was the strongest with 7.1m total freight tonnes, with United Parcel Service (UPS), Emirates, Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific Airways rounding out the top five.
A top Catalan official says the regional government is willing to talk to the central government, blaming Madrid for the impasse, even as other officials in Barcelona hint at pursuing a more drawn out declaration of independence, lasting perhaps weeks or months.

"We need two to tango, we need the other side to be at the table," Catalonia's foreign affairs chief, Raul Romeva, told Bloomberg TV in an interview.

"What causes uncertainty is the incapability of the political central state - or the Spanish state - to provide a political solution," Romeva added.

Also according to Romeva, the impact of the political uncertainty in Catalonia would also be felt in the rest of Spain and in Europe.

His remarks, following mass pro-Spanish and pro-dialogue demonstrations in Barcelona at the weekend, were taken by some observers to be an olive branch.

Spanish stocks had kicked off the week with gains, extending the bounce that began the week before, on hopes that the Catalan nationalist parties might back down, given what appeared to be divisions among them.

As of 1205 BST, the country's top flight index, the Ibex 35, was ahead by 0.58% to 10,244.40.

In clearer terms, on Sunday a member of PdeCat, one of the parties in the ruling coalition government in Barcelona, Marta Pascal, told the BBC the nationalists would stop short of issuing a unilateral declaration of independence on Tuesday.

Instead, Catalan president Carles Puigdemont would make a "symbolic statement" and speak of embarking on a path leading towards independence.

However, in remarks to broadcaster Onda Vasca, another PdeCat politician, Ramon Tremosa, said Puigdemont would issue a declaration of independence but suspend it during a time while the regional government tries to find international backing for its push if Madrid does not allow a legal referendum, following the precedent of Slovenia in the 90s.

"This is not a 'bluff', the 'process' has reached its endgame."
Republican senator Bob Corker has said US President Donald Trumps recklessness could lead the world to a major conflict.

Corker, a former ally of Trump and key figure within the GOP, made the claim in the latest incident in a running spat between himself and the former reality television star.

The chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in an interview with The New York Times that Trumps behaviour "concerns" him, and said the President was acting "like he's doing the Apprentice".

He added that if Trump were to continue his presidency acting in the same way, it would put the US "on the path to World War III".

Corkers comments arrived after he had tweeted on Sunday that the White House had become an "adult day care center".

"It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning," he tweeted.

SOCIAL MEDIA SPAT

Trump and Corker have been trading insults in recent days via the social media site, with the real estate mogul saying the senator would not run for election without his endorsement, and added he was responsible for negotiating the Iran nuclear deal.

The deal was referred to as "an embarrassment" by Trump, who has been intensely critical of the agreement.

"Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run!" Trump tweeted.

The President has had a fractious relationship with senior figures within the Republican party, encountering opposition to legislation introduced into Congress, most notably on healthcare reforms.
Turkey and the United States have mutually suspended visa services between the two countries after a row between the two consular departments.

A US consulate worker at the embassy in Ankara was arrested last week after being accused of having connections with Fethullah Gulen, the cleric blamed for leading a failed coup against Recep Tayyip Erdogans government.

Turks will effectively be stopped from travelling to the US indefinitely while the services are suspended.

In a statement from the White House, the US said it had been forced to reassess Turkeys "commitment" to guaranteeing the security of US personnel in the country.

Erdogans government responded with a similar statement, after having previously charged the embassy employee with espionage.

"In order to minimise the number of the visitors to our diplomatic and consular missions in the US while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all visa services regarding the US citizens at our diplomatic and consular missions in the US," the Turkish statement said.

The Turkish lira was negatively affected by the suspensions, seeing its steepest decline since last summers attempted coup.

"Traders responded aggressively to the news, sending the Lira more than 6% lower against the U.S. currency - its steepest decline since 15 July 2016, when Turkey witnessed the bloodiest coup attempt in its political history," said FXTM chief market strategist Hussein Sayed.

As of 1318 BST, the US dollar was jumping 3.02% to 3.7238 versus the Turkish lira.
European equity markets have started the morning moving slightly higher, with Spanish stocks extending the bounce seen at the end of the previous week amid slight hopes of a political solution to the current impasse between regional authorities in Catalonia and the central government.

As of 0819 BST, the benchmark Stoxx 600 was ahead by 0.38% or 1.47 points at 390.94, alongside gains of 0.33% or 17.74 points to 5,377.64 for the Cac-40 and a rise of 0.30% or 38.87 points to 12,994.81 in the German Dax.

Spain's Ibex 35 on the other hand was up by 0.92% or 93.80 points to 10,275.10.

At the weekend, almost 1.0m people (350,000 according to local authorities) marched through Barcelona in defence of Spanish unity. That was followed on Monday morning by a call from Catalan foreign affairs spokesman, Raul Romeva, for dialogue.

"We need two to tango, we need the other side to be at the table", Romeva told Bloomberg News in an interview. His remarks came on the heels of Catalan president Carles Puigdemont saying, the day before, that he was still planning to push ahead with a declaration of independence.

Nevertheless, some observers saw Romeva's remarks as hint of an olive branch to Madrid.

Commenting on the situation in Catalonia, analysts at Barclays Research said Saturday's demonstrations in Barcelona made a unilateral declaration of independence "marginally less likely".

In any case, whether or not Puigdemont were to renounce making a unilateral declaration of independence or opted instead to go ahead, leading Madrid to suspend some of the region's autonomy, snap regional elections in Catalonia were now the most likely scenario, Barclays said.

Meanwhile, in all things Brexit, the 5th round of negotiations between the European Union and the UK was set to kick-off on Monday, with the EU's lead trade negotiator, Michel Barnier, due to make a determination regarding whether "sufficient progress" has been made before the 19 October EU summit.

Industrial production in Germany jumped by 2.6% month-on-month in August, led by a 4.8% rise in output of capital goods, according to the Ministry of Finance, dwarfing forecasts for an increase of 0.8%.

Speaking to Handelsblatt, Credit Agricole boss Philippe Brassac said the lender would be interested in Commerzbank if it were put on the auction block.

France's Accor has offered 920m (701m) for Mantra Group as it seeks to merge the two largest hotel owners Down Under.

According to La Stampa, Spain's stockmarket regulator was set to authorise Italian rival Atlantia's takeover of Abertis.
Top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant Khalid was killed today in Baramulla's Ladoora area after a brief gun-battle with security forces.

By Ashraf Wani: Security forces in the Valley today gunned down a top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative in Baramulla's Ladoora area in south Kashmir after a brief gun-battle.

The militant identified as Khalid was the JeM operational head in Kashmir, and one of the most-wanted names in the cops hit-list.

Acting on intelligence inputs, the security forces today cordoned off an area they believed Khalid was hiding in and neutralised the terror agent after a brief gun-battle.

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Khalid is learnt to have fled from the spot and entered a residential area, from where he then ran and hid in a cowshed- where he was reportedly gunned down.

A Pakistan national, Khalid was categorised as an A++ militant.

More details awaited.

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ZEIST  The International Apparel Federation (IAF) has assured the Bangladeshi government that it will extend its support for the countrys sustainable Ready Made Garment (RMG) sector. IAF President Han Bekke says he assured the Bangladesh ambassador to the Netherlands during their meeting last week.
By Tim Radford

Mass marine extinction may be inevitable. If humans go on burning fossil fuels under the notorious business as usual scenario, then by 2100 they will have added so much carbon to the worlds oceans that a sixth mass extinction of marine species will follow, inexorably.

And even if the 197 nations that agreed in Paris in 2015 to take steps to limit global warming in fact do so, then by 2100 humans will have added 300 billion tons of carbon to the seas. And a U.S. scientist has calculated that the critical threshold for mass extinction stands at 310 billion tons.

So in either case, the world will be condemned to, or at imminent risk of, a great dying of the kind that characterized the end of the geological period called the Permian, in which 95 percent of marine species vanished, or the Cretaceous era that witnessed the last of the dinosaurs.

Daniel Rothman, a geophysicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, reported in the journal Science Advances that he worked through hundreds of scientific studies to identify 31 occasions of significant change in 542 million years in the planets carbon cyclein which plants draw down carbon from the atmosphere and cycle it through the animal community and back into the atmosphere.

Happening now

For each event, including the five great mass extinctions in the geological record, he estimated the record of carbon preserved in the rocks, to find a predictable threshold at which catastrophe might be an outcome. Four of the five great extinction events lay beyond this threshold. He then considered the timescales of such extinction events to arrive at his modern-day danger zone figure of 310 billion tons.

And by 2100, unconstrained fossil fuel combustion may have tipped the planet into unknown territory, he said.

This is not saying that disaster occurs the next day. Its saying that, if left unchecked, the carbon cycle would move into a realm which would no longer be stable, and would behave in a way that would be difficult to predict. In the geologic past, this type of behavior is associated with mass extinction.

In effect, Rothman has used a mathematical technique to predict an event many biologists believe is already happening. Pollution, the clearing of the wilderness and the disruption of habitat have already placed many species at risk. Global warming as a consequence of the combustion of fossil fuels will, they have repeatedly said, make a bad situation worse.

Researchers have already begun to record local extinctionsthe disappearance of once-familiar creatures from local landscapesand climate change that will follow global warming could heighten the hazard for animals and plants already under stress.

And Rothmans warning came hard on the heels of several studies that indicate the dangerous impact of climate change.

Scientists from the University of Washington in Seattle warned that as the worlds waters warm, fish will have to migrate to survive, and those that cannotthe ones in lakes and river systemscould be at risk.

They reported in the journal Nature Climate Change that they looked at available physiological data and climate predictions to see how 3,000 species in oceans and rivers would respond to warmer waters and to judge what the breaking point temperatures for any species would be.

Many losers

Nowhere on Earth are fish spared from having to cope with climate change, said senior author Julian Olden, professor of aquatic and fishery sciences. Fish have unique challengesthey either have to make rapid movements to track their temperature requirements, or they will be forced to adapt quickly.

But other creatures in the most extreme environments are affected, too. British Antarctic Survey scientists reported in Nature Climate Change that they used computer models to test a warming scenario for 900 species of marine invertebrates that live in the south polar seas.

Even a small warming of 0.4C will cause unique local animals to change their distribution, and although some will fare well, overall there will be more losers than winners.

While a few species might thrive at least during the early decades of warming, the future for a whole range of invertebrates from starfish to corals is bleak, and theres nowhere to swim to, nowhere to hide when youre sitting on the bottom of the worlds coldest and most southerly ocean and its getting warmer by the decade, said Huw Griffiths, the Survey scientist who led the research.

Africa in jeopardy

As if to hammer home the message, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has just issued its latest warnings on imminent extinction. This international body has now rated 25,062 species as in danger of extinction out of a list of more than 87,000.

The latest list includes five of the six species of ash tree native to North America, some of them threatened by an invasive beetle infestation, helped by global warming, and five species of African antelope.

Our activities as humans are pushing species to the brink so fast that its impossible for conservationists to assess the declines in real time, says Inger Andersen, director general of the IUCN.

Even those species that we thought were abundant and safesuch as antelopes in Africa or ash trees in the U.S.now face an imminent threat of extinction.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Climate News Network.
By PTI: Dhaka, Oct 9 (PTI) Top leaders of Bangladeshs largest Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami were arrested today for allegedly planning to create "political anarchy" in the country, media reports said.

Police have arrested Jamaat-e-Islami chief Maqbul Ahmed, Secretary General Shafiqur Rahman and several other top leaders of the party, bdnews reported.

Police raided a house where the Jamaat leaders met to discuss a plan to "create political anarchy", Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Nazmul Alam was quoted as saying by the report.

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He said landlord Nawsher Ali was also among nine arrested during the raid. The others include former minister Mia Golam Parwar, Chittagong Jamaat chief Shahjahan, Secretary General Nazrul Islam, and Chittagong South unit chief Zafar Sadique.

Mujibur Rahman, a leader of Jamaat-e-Islami condemned the arrest, saying it was "part of a plan to leave the party leaderless after the murder of its top brass in the name of war crimes trial".

He claimed his party was "systematic, democratic and legal" and that the leaders met informally. PTI UZM

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Ellwood City-area homes for sale rise in price to $139,000

In Lawrence County, homes for sale had a median price of $86 per square foot, while Pennsylvania's was $169
Attacq welcomes Cummins - a global leader in the design, manufacturing, distribution and servicing of power generation  to its Allandale building; reaffirming Waterfall City as a leading corporate consolidation destination in Gauteng.

Cummins will be relocating its Africa Middle East Headquarters; looking to solidify its position as Africas preferred energy and power partner.

Our relocation to Waterfall City makes strategic sense, as it places us at the heart of Gautengs most dynamic and strategically located business hub. said Thierry Pimi, MD of Cummins Southern Africa.

As we see the nature of the workplace changing to a more collaborative vision, more and more businesses are choosing to consolidate their corporate premises and bring their various departments under one roof, says Attacq Chief Executive Officer Morne Wilken. This not only encourages greater efficiency and cost savings but also facilitates better cross-functional understanding and improved productivity across teams.

The Allandale building, a four storey building comprising four office levels and three basement parking floors, officially opened in 2016; developed in line with Waterfalls sustainability approach and principles. Waterfall Citys central location in relation to Pretoria, Johannesburg, East and West of JHB and Gauteng as well as its proximity to major highways, transport nodes, and the Gautrain Station makes it an ideal location for businesses looking for safe working premises and an appealing working environment.
October 9, 2017--BRONX, NY--Scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have discovered the first compound that directly makes cancer cells commit suicide while sparing healthy cells. The new treatment approach, described in today's issue of Cancer Cell, was directed against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells but may also have potential for attacking other types of cancers.

"We're hopeful that the targeted compounds we're developing will prove more effective than current anti-cancer therapies by directly causing cancer cells to self-destruct," says Evripidis Gavathiotis, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and of medicine and senior author of the study. "Ideally, our compounds would be combined with other treatments to kill cancer cells faster and more efficiently--and with fewer adverse effects, which are an all-too-common problem with standard chemotherapies."

AML accounts for nearly one-third of all new leukemia cases and kills more than 10,000 Americans each year. The survival rate for patients has remained at about 30 percent for several decades, so better treatments are urgently needed.

The newly discovered compound combats cancer by triggering apoptosis--an important process that rids the body of unwanted or malfunctioning cells. Apoptosis trims excess tissue during embryonic development, for example, and some chemotherapy drugs indirectly induce apoptosis by damaging DNA in cancer cells.

Apoptosis occurs when BAX--the "executioner protein" in cells--is activated by "pro-apoptotic" proteins in the cell. Once activated, BAX molecules home in on and punch lethal holes in mitochondria, the parts of cells that produce energy. But all too often, cancer cells manage to prevent BAX from killing them. They ensure their survival by producing copious amounts of "anti-apoptotic" proteins that suppress BAX and the proteins that activate it.

"Our novel compound revives suppressed BAX molecules in cancer cells by binding with high affinity to BAX's activation site," says Dr. Gavathiotis. "BAX can then swing into action, killing cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unscathed."

Dr. Gavathiotis was the lead author of a 2008 paper in Nature that first described the structure and shape of BAX's activation site. He has since looked for small molecules that can activate BAX strongly enough to overcome cancer cells' resistance to apoptosis. His team initially used computers to screen more than one million compounds to reveal those with BAX-binding potential. The most promising 500 compounds--many of them newly synthesized by Dr. Gavathiotis' team--were then evaluated in the laboratory.

"A compound dubbed BTSA1 (short for BAX Trigger Site Activator 1) proved to be the most potent BAX activator, causing rapid and extensive apoptosis when added to several different human AML cell lines," says lead author Denis Reyna, M.S., a doctoral student in Dr. Gavathiotis' lab. The researchers next tested BTSA1 in blood samples from patients with high-risk AML. Strikingly, BTSA1 induced apoptosis in the patients' AML cells but did not affect patients' healthy blood-forming stem cells.

Finally, the researchers generated animal models of AML by grafting human AML cells into mice. BTSA1 was given to half the AML mice while the other half served as controls. On average, the BTSA1-treated mice survived significantly longer (55 days) than the control mice (40 days), with 43 percent of BTSA1-treated AML mice alive after 60 days and showing no signs of AML.

Importantly, the mice treated with BTSA1 showed no evidence of toxicity. "BTSA1 activates BAX and causes apoptosis in AML cells while sparing healthy cells and tissues--probably because the cancer cells are primed for apoptosis," says Dr. Gavathiotis. He notes that his study found that AML cells from patients contained significantly higher BAX levels compared with normal blood cells from healthy people. "With more BAX available in AML cells," he explained, "even low BTSA1 doses will trigger enough BAX activation to cause apoptotic death, while sparing healthy cells that contain low levels of BAX or none at all."

Plans call for Dr. Gavathiotis and his team to see whether BTSA1 will show similar effectiveness when tested on animal models of other types of cancer.

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The paper, "Direct activation of BAX by BTSA1 overcomes apoptosis resistance in acute myeloid leukemia," was published October 9 in Cancer Cell. In addition to Dr. Gavathiotis and Mr. Reyna, other Einstein researchers involved in the study were Thomas P. Garner, Ph.D., Andrea Lopez, M.S., Felix Kopp, Ph.D., Gaurav S. Choudhary, Ph.D., Ashwin Sridharan, M.D., Swathi-Rao Narayanagari, M.S., Kelly Mitchell, M.S., Baoxia Dong, Ph.D., Boris A. Bartholdy, Ph.D., Amit Verma, MB.B.S., and Ulrich Steidl, M.D., Ph.D.

Funding for this research was provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (R01CA178394), and awards from the Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research, the Gabrielle's Angels Foundation for Cancer Research, and the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance. Partial support was also provided by the Albert Einstein Cancer Center, which is funded by the NCI (P30CA013330).

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nations premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2015-2016 academic year, Einstein is home to 731 M.D. students, 193 Ph.D. students, 106 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 278 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,900 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2015, Einstein received $148 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Through its extensive affiliation network involving Montefiore, Jacobi Medical CenterEinsteins founding hospital, and three other hospital systems in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island, Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and view us on YouTube.
DURHAM, N.C. -- Researchers at Duke University have turned bacteria into the builders of useful devices by programming them with a synthetic gene circuit.

As a bacterial colony grows into the shape of a hemisphere, the gene circuit triggers the production of a type of protein to distribute within the colony that can recruit inorganic materials. When supplied with gold nanoparticles by researchers, the system forms a golden shell around the bacterial colony, the size and shape of which can be controlled by altering the growth environment.

The result is a device that can be used as a pressure sensor, proving that the process can create working devices.

While other experiments have successfully grown materials using bacterial processes, they have relied entirely on externally controlling where the bacteria grow and have been limited to two dimensions. In the new study, researchers at Duke demonstrate the production of a composite structure by programming the cells themselves and controlling their access to nutrients, but still leaving the bacteria free to grow in three dimensions.

The study appears online on October 9 in Nature Biotechnology.

"This technology allows us to grow a functional device from a single cell," said Lingchong You, the Paul Ruffin Scarborough Associate Professor of Engineering at Duke. "Fundamentally, it is no different from programming a cell to grow an entire tree."

Nature is full of examples of life combining organic and inorganic compounds to make better materials. Mollusks grow shells consisting of calcium carbonate interlaced with a small amount of organic components, resulting in a microstructure three times tougher than calcium carbonate alone. Our own bones are a mix of organic collagen and inorganic minerals made up of various salts.

Harnessing such construction abilities in bacteria would have many advantages over current manufacturing processes. In nature, biological fabrication uses raw materials and energy very efficiently. In this synthetic system, for example, tweaking growth instructions to create different shapes and patterns could theoretically be much cheaper and faster than casting the new dies or molds needed for traditional manufacturing.

"Nature is a master of fabricating structured materials consisting of living and non-living components," said You. "But it is extraordinarily difficult to program nature to create self-organized patterns. This work, however, is a proof-of-principle that it is not impossible."

The genetic circuit is like a biological package of instructions that researchers embed into a bacterium's DNA. The directions first tell the bacteria to produce a protein called T7 RNA polymerase (T7RNAP), which then activates its own expression in a positive feedback loop. It also produces a small molecule called AHL that can diffuse into the environment like a messenger.

As the cells multiply and grow outward, the concentration of the small messenger molecule hits a critical concentration threshold, triggering the production of two more proteins called T7 lysozyme and curli. The former inhibits the production of T7RNAP while the latter acts as sort of biological Velcro that can latch onto inorganic compounds.

The dynamic interaction of these feedback loops causes the bacterial colony to grow in a dome-shaped pattern until it runs out of food. It also causes the bacteria on the outside of the dome to produce the biological Velcro, which grabs onto gold nanoparticles supplied by the researchers, forming a shell about the size of your average freckle.

The researchers were able to alter the size and shape of the dome by controlling the properties of the porous membrane it grows on. For example, changing the size of the pores or how much the membrane repels water affects how many nutrients are passed to the cells, altering their growth pattern.

"We're demonstrating one way of fabricating a 3-D structure based entirely on the principal of self-organization," said Stefan Zauscher, the Sternberg Family Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science at Duke. "That 3-D structure is then used as a scaffold to generate a device with well-defined physical properties. This approach is inspired by nature, and because nature doesn't do this on its own, we've manipulated nature to do it for us."

To show how their system could be used to manufacture working devices, the researchers used these hybrid organic/inorganic structures as pressure sensors. Identical arrays of domes were grown on two substrate surfaces. The two substrates were then sandwiched together so that each dome was positioned directly across from its counterpart on the other substrate.

Each dome was then connected to an LED light bulb through copper wiring. When pressure was applied to the sandwich, the domes pressed into one another, causing a deformation resulting in an increase in its conductivity. This, in turn, caused the corresponding LED light bulbs to brighten a certain amount depending on the amount of pressure being applied.

"In this experiment we're primarily focused on the pressure sensors, but the number of directions this could be taken in is vast," said Will (Yangxiaolu) Cao, a postdoctoral associate in You's laboratory and first author of the paper. "We could use biologically responsive materials to create living circuits. Or if we could keep the bacteria alive, you could imagine making materials that could heal themselves and respond to environmental changes."

"Another aspect we're interested in pursuing is how to generate much more complex patterns," said You. "Bacteria can create complex branching patterns, we just don't know how to make them do that ourselves -- yet."

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This study was supported by the Office of Naval Research (N00014-12-1-0631), the National Science Foundation, the Army Research Office (W911NF-14-1-0490), the National Institutes of Health (1R01-GM098642, R01-GM096190, K99CA207872-01), the Swiss National Science Foundation (P300P2_154583), and a David and Lucile Packard Fellowship.

"Programmed Assembly of Pressure Sensors Using Pattern-Forming Bacteria." Yangxiaolu Cao, Yaying Feng, Marc D. Ryser, Kui Zhu, Gregory Herschlag, Changyong Cao, Katherine Marusak, Stefan Zauscher, Lingchong You. Nature Biotechnology, 2017. DOI: 10.1038/nbt.3978
Pursuing sustainable irrigation without significant irrigation efficiency gains could negatively impact environmental and development goals in many areas of the world, a new study has found.

Over-extraction of groundwater for crop irrigation is one of the main causes of groundwater depletion in regions including Mexico, North East China, northern Africa, the Middle East, and the Midwest, south and west US.

The research, from Purdue University and the University of New Hampshire, examined how water use at a local level is shaped by large-scale effects such as changing population, affluence, climate, and technology. It is published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters. Lead author Dr Jing Liu, from Purdue University, said: "Our findings show that pursuing sustainable irrigation - targeting future water security - cannot be done in isolation. It is important to consider its interaction with other sustainable development goals.

"In fact, without significant simultaneous improvements in the productivity of irrigation water, it could cause a rise in food prices and additional cropland expansion. Our modelling shows that this in turn would lead to a further 800 thousand undernourished people, and an additional 0.87 gigatons of carbon emissions."

In water-focused economic models, ignoring geophysical variations within an economy can give misleading projections of local water demand and supply.

To overcome this, the researchers used a gridded global model of crops, land use, and carbon emissions, known as SIMPLE-G. They combined this with the global Water Balance Model to investigate the implications of pursuing sustainable irrigation in terms of food security and land use change.

Dr Liu said: "Our results suggest that, to achieve United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), what is needed are policies that simultaneously address the socio-economic and ecological elements of the problem.

"It's also crucial to distinguish between sustainable irrigation and the overall conservation of the irrigated land. To ensure food security, irrigation should be encouraged wherever and whenever it is environmentally sustainable, so the key is to improve the spatial and temporal allocation of water used for irrigation."

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Using fruit flies, Johns Hopkins researchers have figured out why a particular inherited human heart condition that is almost always due to genetic mutations causes the heart to enlarge, thicken and fail. They found that one such mutation interferes with heart muscle's ability to relax after contracting, and prevents the heart from fully filling with blood and pumping it out.

More specifically, the researchers say, the molecular machinery of the cells' "skeleton," designed to shorten muscle, is more prone to locking in place and remaining partially contracted.

Because the mutation is in a protein conserved throughout evolutionary history, the researchers say, the findings, reported online Sept. 12 in Cell Reports, could help guide approaches to treating human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, marked by a thickening of the human heart's lower chambers, which are comprised of heart muscle tissue, occurs in an estimated one in 500 men and women, often without symptoms. It can lead to an irregular heartbeat, heart pumping failure and sudden death in people under 35.

The particular mutation the researchers used to genetically engineer the fruit flies for their study is known in humans as ACTC A295S. ACTC is a protein called alpha-cardiac actin that helps form contractile elements of the heart muscle cells' cytoskeleton. The mutation or alteration substitutes the 295th amino acid in the protein's backbone -- an alanine -- for a serine, and was discovered in 1999 in 13 family members with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by scientists in Denmark. More than 1,500 mutations in nine genes have been identified as causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

"The protein affected by this particular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutation is extremely well-conserved across the animal kingdom, and the region where the mutation is located is 100 percent identical in a thousand different animal sequences, meaning that it is highly likely that the mutation will have the same effect on human muscle tissue as it does in fruit flies," says Anthony Cammarato, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Because this protein is so essential to muscle function, and in higher organisms there are additional versions of it to compensate for the mutant form in animal cells, scientists have struggled to duplicate the precise disease alteration in a model organism to show how the mutation causes disease, until now."

To see how the fly version of ACTC A295S works on heart muscle, the researchers used genetic tools to either turn on an extra normal copy or the mutant form of the actin protein in the fruit fly heart.

The fruit fly heart is a single tube of tissue that fills with hemolymph, or "fly blood," after relaxing, and then pumps it along. The researchers videoed the hearts pumping and then compared the hearts with the normal and the mutant actin. They noticed that the hearts with the mutant actin were shorter in diameter or skinnier than the hearts with the normal copy of actin. In one-week-old flies, the pumping capacity was about 85 nanoliters per minute in the flies with mutant actin in the hearts compared to 125 nanoliters per minute in the hearts with the normal actin.

To find out why the hearts with the mutant form of actin were shorter in diameter than the ones with normal actin, the investigators soaked the hearts in a chemical that sucks up all the calcium from the heart, which normally causes hearts to completely relax and the diameter to expand.

Both healthy and mutant hearts increased in diameter by about 2.5 percent, but the mutant hearts were still shorter than normal. Next, the researchers added the drug blebbistatin to the calcium-removing chemical and soaked the hearts. Chains of actin form filaments in cells, and a second set of filaments composed of the protein myosin grab onto actin and pull the muscle filaments over one another so they overlap, shortening the cell and causing muscle contraction. Blebbistatin prevents myosin from binding to the actin and contracting the muscle cells. After treatment with blebbistatin, the hearts with the normal actin relaxed another 2 percent, but the hearts with the mutant actin relaxed another 8 percent.

"The myosin doesn't completely release from the actin in the hearts expressing the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutation, which prevents the heart from entirely relaxing or fully filling," says Cammarato.

In another set of experiments, the researchers took advantage of the fact that the muscles that power flight are larger than the flies' hearts, making it easier to study muscle mutations and their biomechanical effects. In fruit flies that were bred to lack actin in their flight muscles, the researchers added back a normal copy of actin or a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutation version into the fly's genome. They then looked at the flight muscles in both sets of flies. In the flies with the normal copy of actin the flight muscles looked normal, but in the flies with the mutant actin the muscles looked shredded, which the researchers say was from excessive force in the muscles because they couldn't properly relax.

In muscle tissue, the protein tropomyosin lies along the actin filaments and prevents myosin from attaching and contracting the muscle. Tropomyosin is the "gatekeeper" of activating muscle contraction. Once an electrical signal comes through, calcium is released into the cell and tropomyosin moves out of the way, allowing myosin to temporarily bind to the actin filaments and contract the muscle.

To figure out why myosin doesn't seem to completely release from the actin filaments in the flight and heart muscles of flies with the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutation, the researchers used computer simulations to investigate the molecular changes behind the overly contracted muscles.

The researchers calculated the energy of the electrostatic interaction between tropomyosin and normal actin compared to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy actin. They found that tropomyosin has a 60 percent smaller area to move over the actin filaments when interacting with the mutant actin compared to the normal actin, and that tropomyosin's position on the mutant actin has likely moved away from a location that prevents myosin from binding.

"We think that this altered positioning and restricted motion of tropomyosin prevents it from properly bumping myosin off the actin filaments when it's time for the muscle to relax, which is what is keeping the muscles contracted, and in humans may ultimately trigger disease" says Cammarato.

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To view the video that accompanies this release please click here.

Additional authors on the study include Meera Viswanathan, William Schmidt, Karuna Agarwal, Jian Gao and Joseph Katz of Johns Hopkins; and Michael Rynkiewicz and William Lehman from Boston University.

The study was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (CBET-148203), the Office of Naval Research (N000141512404) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (T32 HL007227-38, R37 HL036153, R56 HL124091, R01 HL124091).
As more breast cancer patients are choosing to remove both breasts, researchers examine the impact this aggressive surgery has on their employment

ANN ARBOR, Michigan -- Women who pursue a more aggressive surgery for early stage breast cancer have nearly eight times the odds of reporting substantial employment disruptions, according to a new study from University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers.

The study, published in Cancer, surveyed 1,006 women who were treated for early stage breast cancer and were employed at the time of their diagnosis. Use of chemotherapy, race and differences in employment support - including paid sick leave and flexible working schedules - all had an impact on whether women lost more than a month of work or stopped working entirely after treatment.

But the most striking statistic in the study results came from the 19 percent of women who had bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction, a procedure that offers little to no benefit for women at low risk for developing a second cancer.

The women in the study who opted for a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction had 7.8 times the odds of missing more than a month of work or stopping work altogether, compared to women who opted for a lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

"It really stood out, especially because bilateral mastectomy has not been demonstrated to improve survival, and clearly has a negative impact on employment," says lead study author Reshma Jagsi, M.D., professor and deputy chair of radiation oncology at Michigan Medicine. "It's not clear that this association between surgical treatment aggressiveness and employment experience is something that is making its way into the discussions that physicians have with patients about the full range of risks and benefits of their treatment decisions."

Prior studies that examined the impact of cancer treatment decisions on employment showed that patients who received chemotherapy were most likely to experience longer disruptions in or loss of employment, but changes in breast cancer management in recent years have shifted recommendations away from chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer.

"But as we've had success reducing overtreatment with chemotherapy, we're now seeing a paradoxical increase in what may be overtreatment with surgery," says Jagsi. "We're seeing more and more women choosing a much more aggressive surgical treatment that isn't clinically mandatory and doesn't improve survival, often for peace of mind."

Jagsi says that clinicians need to learn to communicate with patients in a way that supports their autonomy, but also use data to communicate that there may be unexpected downsides to the treatment they are considering.

"So when a woman walks into a consultation saying 'I really want to remove both of my breasts,' the role of the physician is to say 'I hear you, I will support you, we will do what you ultimately decide to do,'" says Jagsi. "But they also need to make sure the patient is aware of all the options available to her, and the relative risks and benefits."

With the growing use of mastectomy, fueled by celebrity disclosures and growing patient interest, further research is necessary to monitor whether the short-term employment consequences seen in this study will translate into longer term impacts on these women's employment and well-being, say the study authors.

"We also need to develop formal training modules for physicians and surgeons who are treating people with cancer to understand how to begin conversations about employment effects and incorporate those into our routine discussions," says Jagsi. "It doesn't mean that every woman who learns of these study findings is going to choose not to have a bilateral mastectomy, but it is important to make sure that those who do choose that treatment course are fully informed."

###

Additional authors: Paul Abrahamse, Kamaria L. Lee, Lauren P. Wallner, Nancy K. Janz, Ann S. Hamilton, Kevin C. Ward, Monica Morrow, Allison W. Kurian, Christopher R. Friese, Sarah T. Hawley,and Steven J. Katz.

Funding: The research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award P01 CA163233.

Disclosure: None

Reference: CANCER; Published Online: October 9, 2017 (DOI: 10.1002/cncr.30959).

Resources:

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, http://www.mcancer.org

Michigan Medicine Cancer AnswerLine, 800-865-1125

Michigan Health Lab, http://www.MichiganHealthLab.org
COLUMBUS, Ohio - For the first time, researchers have evidence of exactly what dads are doing while moms are taking care of housework or tending to their child.

The results will be disappointing for those who expected more gender equity in modern society.

The study found that three months after the birth of their first child, on days when couples were not working, men were most often relaxing while women did housework or child care.

In contrast, when men were taking care of the kids or working around the house, their partners were most often doing the same thing.

One telling statistic: Women spent 46 to 49 minutes relaxing while men did child care or housework on their day off. But men spent about twice that amount of time in leisure - about 101 minutes - while their partners did some kind of work.

"It's frustrating. Household tasks and child care are still not being shared equally, even among couples who we expected would have more egalitarian views of how to share parenting duties," said Claire Kamp Dush, lead author of the study and associate professor of human sciences at The Ohio State University.

Kamp Dush conducted the study, published online in the journal Sex Roles, with Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, a professor of human sciences at Ohio State, and Jill Yavorsky, who received her Ph.D. at Ohio State and is now an assistant professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

The research included 52 couples who participated in the New Parents Project, an Ohio State study of mostly highly educated, white, dual-earner couples from the Columbus area who were having their first child.

"It is a small sample. It is not the definitive answer, and is mostly relevant to similar couples. But we need to look into this further and understand how dual-earner couples are sharing housework and child care," Kamp Dush said.

One reason for the small sample is the difficulty of doing this kind of study, Kamp Dush said. The researchers are not aware of any other study in which both members of a couple completed detailed time diaries of what they were doing on the same days and at the same times.

The researchers asked the couples to complete their own time diaries for a workday and a non-workday during the third trimester of the woman's pregnancy and about three months after the baby's birth.

On workdays after the baby was born, the amount of time women and men spent doing housework and child care was more equal than on non-workdays, although women still did slightly more work, the results showed.

But men made up for it on non-workdays, when the amount of time they spent in leisure activities actually doubled - from 47 to 101 minutes - between when their partner was pregnant and three months after the birth.

"On workdays, parents are more evenly splitting housework and childcare. It's very much 'all hands on deck' but when there is more time available on the weekend and parents are not so pressed to get everything done, then we see the emergence of gendered patterns and inequality where women do a lot more housework and childcare while he leisures," Yavorsky said.

On their days off, men were relaxing 46 percent of the time while their partners did child care. In contrast, women were engaged in leisure only 16 percent of the time when their partners were taking care of their child.

Results were similar for housework, where fathers took 35 percent of the time off while their partner did tasks like cleaning. Women took 19 percent of the time off when men did housework.

Kamp Dush said these highly educated couples where both parents have jobs would be the ones you would expect to have worked out equitable arrangements for sharing housework and child care.

"I was expecting to see a lot more minutes where the couple was doing some kind of housework or child care together. I suspect the situation may be even less equitable for women who don't have all the advantages of the couples in our sample," she said.

There are steps both men and women can take to help even out the inequities found in this study, Kamp Dush said.

Men need to get in there and take care of their child and house, particularly on the weekends, she said. In some cases, moms may need to step back and let fathers do housework and child care tasks without hovering to make sure they meet her standards.

"Couples need to be having conversations, ideally before their baby is born, about how they are going to divide household tasks to make sure they are equitable," she said.

"At the time we studied them, these couples were setting up routines that may last several years as the kids grow. Couples need to be having these conversations from the first few months."

###

This study was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Contact: Claire Kamp Dush, 614-247-2126; Kamp-dush.1@osu.edu

Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu
Cancer researchers have long hailed p53, a tumor-suppressor protein, for its ability to keep unruly cells from forming tumors. But for such a highly studied protein, p53 has hidden its tactics well.

Now, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have tapped into what makes p53 tick, delineating a clear pathway that shows how the protein mediates anti-tumor activity in pancreatic cancer. The team's research also revealed something unexpected: A particular mutation in the p53 gene amplified the protein's tumor-fighting capabilities, creating a "super tumor suppressor."

The protein functions a bit like a puppet master in the genome, guiding the activation or suppression of many cancer-relevant genes in the body. "But if you simply ask how cells with and without p53 are different, you'll see that there are at least 1,000 genes whose expression is affected by p53 status," said Laura Attardi, PhD, professor of radiation oncology and of genetics. "So, getting to the bottom of which of those many genes are critical to tumor suppression is not a trivial question."

A paper describing the work will be published online Oct. 9 in Cancer Cell. Attardi is the senior author. Research associate Stephano Mello, PhD, is the lead author.

Mutated for the better

Attardi began sorting out the puzzle by testing the effect of several individual p53 mutations in mice that were predisposed to pancreatic cancer. Any change in p53 activity typically points to trouble: Too little leaves the body susceptible to tumor growth, whereas too much can cause problems in development. But surprisingly, one of the p53 mutants actually kept the mice tumor-free longer, suggesting it was a super version of p53.

"What's incredible about this mutant is that it hit a sweet spot," Attardi said. "Embryos can make it through development without any obvious effects, and then adult mice show greatly enhanced resistance to tumor growth."

Mice that harbored the favorable mutation, which occurred in a transcriptional activation domain called TAD2, displayed longer, pancreatic cancer-free survival than mice with normal copies of the p53 gene. Attardi's study showed that, at 400 days old, nearly 40 percent of the mice with normal p53 function had succumbed to pancreatic cancer, whereas none of the mice with the mutant form showed signs of tumor formation.

"It's not to say that mice with the mutated version of p53 would never get cancer, but this experiment suggests that this particular mutant is really potent in limiting tumor development," Attardi said.

It turned out that the mutant hyperactivates p53, causing a subset of its downstream targets to get a surge of activity, too. But with more than 100 target genes sent into overdrive, it was critical for Attardi's team to narrow down which genes directly affected tumor suppression. Genomic data and past studies in human cancers pointed the team to the gene Ptpn14. More importantly, Ptpn14 is a known regulator of Yap, a protein that, when unchecked, turns on cancer-promoting genes in the body.

The axis of tumor super-suppression

Attardi's findings allowed her to define a pathway, or "axis," consisting of three proteins that contribute to p53-mediated tumor suppression, and it works in a linear fashion. In the chain of command, p53 ranks highest and activates Ptpn14; Ptpn14 then suppresses Yap to keep cells from turning cancerous.

In collaboration with co-author Christina Curtis, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and of genetics, and postdoctoral scholar Jose Seoane, PhD, Attardi used human cancer genomic data to extend the paradigm further, showing that when p53 is mutated in human cancer, Yap activity increases, allowing tumors to develop.

Attardi said the axis actually suggests that p53 and Ptpn14 deficiency can promote the same consequence of Yap activation.

"I think this p53-Ptpn14-Yap axis is a central mechanism," Attardi said. "P53 affects a lot of tumor-suppression processes, so if it influences a central protein like Yap, which also controls a lot of cancer processes, it can have widespread effects on cell behavior."

Attardi added that she would be hesitant to say that this is the one and only mechanism. "It would be too simplistic to think that this is absolutely the only pathway that's involved in p53-mediated suppression of pancreatic cancer, so I suspect that there will be other contributions as well."

The team's findings could inform a new type of therapeutic, mimicking the p53 super-mutant to upregulate tumor suppression. It could also inform those who are developing therapeutic Yap inhibitors.

"Clearly, Yap is a very potent oncogene," Attardi said. "And our study suggests that perhaps the focus should be on developing Yap inhibitors for tumors where p53 is gone -- maybe it's more critical in those cancers."

Now, Attardi and her team are continuing to investigate whether their newly uncovered p53 mechanism holds true for a wide range of cancers, not just pancreatic.

"We want to know if this is a tissue-specific pathway and if this really is relevant for different tumor types," Attardi said. "So we're turning to experimental models to test that."

###

Other Stanford co-authors of the study are postdoctoral scholars Liz Valente, PhD, Nitin Raj, PhD, and Jonghyeob Lee, PhD; graduate student Brittany Flowers; life sciences researcher Jacob McClendon; research associate Kathryn Bieging-Rolett, PhD; resident Margaret Kozak, MD, Daniel Chang, MD, professor of radiation oncology; Teri Longacre, MD, professor of pathology; Albert Koong, MD, PhD, professor of radiation oncology; Seung Kim, MD, PhD, professor of developmental biology and of medicine; and Hannes Vogel, MD, professor of pathology.

Researchers at the University of Toronto and Johns Hopkins University also contributed to the work.

The research was supported by the Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and by the National Institutes of Health (grants R21CA169673, R01CA140875 and R35CA197591).

Stanford's departments of Radiation Oncology and of Genetics also supported the work.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med.stanford.edu/school.html. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visit http://med.stanford.edu.

Print media contact:

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kristac@stanford.edu

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Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar in a public address recently said that he wants to enact a law of his choice- that if parents do not send their kids to school then they should be sent to jail and starved.

By Press Trust of India: Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has warned that parents who fail to send their wards to schools will be locked up in police stations without food and water.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, the Divyangjan empowerment minister is reportedly seen addressing a party gathering and speaking vociferously against those who failed to send their kids to schools.

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The term divyangjan is used to refer to physically challenged persons.

"I am going to enact a law of my choice. If wards of poor do not got to school, their parents will be forced to sit in police stations for five days. They will neither be given food nor water," Rajbhar said at Rasda area here yesterday.

"If you (parents) do not send them (children) to school, you will be picked up by police..Till now your leader, your son, your brother was trying to make you understand. If you do not pay heed, I will continue to make you understand for six months more," he said.

Drawing parallels from mythology, the minister said like Lord Rama had to take up arms to build a bridge to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from Ravana after his pleas to the ocean to pave way for him went in vain, "stern steps were required against the parents unwilling to send their kids to schools".

"I am even ready for capital punishment for this," Rajbhar added.

As the video stoked a controversy, the minister today stood firm on his statement.

"I stick to my statement. What wrong am I saying if I am threatening to send them to jail? Why are they not sending children to schools when the government is providing all facilities for education," he asked.

On asked whether he had talked to the chief minister regarding the matter, Rajbhar answered in the negative.

UP Min OP Rajbhar says parents who don't send their wards to schools will be forced to sit in police stations without food & water for 5days pic.twitter.com/IgA05ydkJn- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 9, 2017

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NEW YORK -- Scientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute have contributed to solving a paradox of perception, literally upending models of how the brain constructs interpretations of the outside world. When observing a scene, the brain first processes details -- spots, lines and simple shapes -- and uses that information to build internal representations of more complex objects, like cars and people. But when recalling that information, the brain remembers those larger concepts first to then reconstruct the details -- representing a reverse order of processing. The research, which involved people and employed mathematical modeling, could shed light on phenomena ranging from eyewitness testimony to stereotyping to autism.

This study was published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"The order by which the brain reacts to, or encodes, information about the outside world is very well understood," said Ning Qian, PhD, a neuroscientist and a principal investigator at Columbia's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. "Encoding always goes from simple things to the more complex. But recalling, or decoding, that information is trickier to understand, in large part because there was no method -- aside from mathematical modeling -- to relate the activity of brain cells to a person's perceptual judgment."

Without any direct evidence, researchers have long assumed that decoding follows the same hierarchy as encoding: you start from the ground up, building up from the details. The main contribution of this work with Misha Tsodyks, PhD, the paper's co-senior author who performed this work while at Columbia and is at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, "is to show that this standard notion is wrong," Dr. Qian said. "Decoding actually goes backward, from high levels to low."

As an analogy of this reversed decoding, Dr. Qian cites last year's presidential election as an example.

"As you observed the things one candidate said and did over time, you may have formed a categorical negative or positive impression of that person. From that moment forward, the way in which you recalled the candidate's words and actions are colored by that overall impression," said Dr. Qian. "Our findings revealed that higher-level categorical decisions -- 'this candidate is trustworthy' -- tend to be stable. But lower-level memories -- 'this candidate said this or that' -- are not as reliable. Consequently, high-level decoding constrains low-level decoding."

To explore this decoding hierarchy, Drs. Qian and Tsodyks and their team conducted an experiment that was simple in design in order to have a clear interpretation of the results. They asked 12 people to perform a series of similar tasks. In the first, they viewed a line angled at 50 degrees on a computer screen for half a second. Once it disappeared, the participants repositioned two dots on the screen to match what they remembered to be the angle of the line. They then repeated this task 50 more times. In a second task, the researchers changed the angle of the line to 53 degrees. And in a third task, the participants were shown both lines at the same time, and then had to orient pairs of dots to match each angle.

Previously held models of decoding predicted that in the two-line task, people would first decode the individual angle of each line (a lower-level feature) and the use that information to decode the two lines' relationship (a higher-level feature).

"Memories of exact angles are usually imprecise, which we confirmed during the first set of one-line tasks. So, in the two-line task, traditional models predicted that the angle of the 50-degree line would frequently be reported as greater than the angle of the 53-degree line," said Dr. Qian.

But that is not what happened. Traditional models also failed to explain several other aspects of the data, which revealed bi-directional interactions between the way participants recalled the angle of the two lines. The brain appeared to encode one line, then the other, and finally encode their relative orientation. But during decoding, when participants were asked to report the individual angle of each line, their brains used that the lines' relationship -- which angle is greater-- to estimate the two individual angles.

"This was striking evidence of participants employing this reverse decoding method," said Dr. Qian.

The authors argue that reverse decoding makes sense, because context is more important than details. Looking at a face, you want to assess quickly if someone is frowning, and only later, if need be, estimate the exact angles of the eyebrows. "Even your daily experience shows that perception seems to go from high to low levels," Dr. Qian added.

To lend further support, the authors then constructed a mathematical model of what they think happens in the brain. They used something called Bayesian inference, a statistical method of estimating probability based on prior assumptions. Unlike typical Bayesian models, however, this new model used the higher-level features as the prior information for decoding lower-level features. Going back to the visual line task, they developed an equation to estimate individual lines' angles based on the lines' relationship. The model's predictions fit the behavioral data well.

In the future, the researchers plan to extend their work beyond these simple tasks of perception and into studies of long-term memory, which could have broad implications -- from how we assess a presidential candidate, to if a witness is offering reliable testimony.

"The work will help to explain the brain's underlying cognitive processes that we employ every day," said Dr. Qian. "It might also help to explain complex disorders of cognition, such as autism, where people tend to overly focus on details while missing important context."

###

This paper is titled: "Visual perception as retrospective Bayesian decoding from high- to low-level features." Additional contributors include Stephanie Ding and Christopher J. Cueva.

This research was partially supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-15-1-0439), the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, and European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme under Grant Agreement No. 720270.

The authors report no financial or other conflicts of interest.

Columbia University's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute brings together an extraordinary group of world-class scientists and scholars to pursue the most urgent and exciting challenge of our time: understanding the brain and mind. A deeper understanding of the brain promises to transform human health and society. From effective treatments for disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, depression and autism to advances in fields as fundamental as computer science, economics, law, the arts and social policy, the potential for humanity is staggering. To learn more, visit: zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu.
The pound to euro exchange rate is rallying at the start of this weeks session as markets shrug off concerns over a rift in the Conservative party.

Pound (GBP) Rallies as Currency Shakes off Leadership Concerns

After suffering at the tail end of last weeks session amid concerns that Theresa May could face a potential leadership challenge, Sterling sentiment has rebounded this morning as markets were calmed by comments from the PM over the weekend.

Addressing speculation that rebel MPs were plotting a leadership coup against her in an interview with the Sunday Times May suggested that she is pretty resilient and that she would not hide from a challenge.

The PM also moved to quash speculation that she was planning a cabinet reshuffle, with many observers previously suggesting that the PM may have been planning to oust the more troublesome members of the cabinet, with Boris Johnson seen as a likely candidate for removal after he undermined May by outlining his own plans for Brexit.

Connor Campbell, financial analyst at Spreadex, said, Predictably the weekends papers were full of reports of party infighting, with one group urging Theresa May to say goodbye to Boris Johnson, and another, more Brexity cabal attacking the pro-EU Chancellor Phillip Hammond. However, sterling seems to have steeled itself somewhat over the weekend, calming the value-eroding jitters that plagued last Thursday and Friday. Perhaps the fact that nothing more dramatic happened  no resignations or comments from Johnson etc  has eased some of the currencys fears.

While this is unlikely to be the end of speculation over the Prime Ministers future for now investors appear confident that she can weather whatever her critics bring to the table.

Upbeat German Production Figures Fail to Boost Euro (EUR)

Meanwhile the Euro has failed to repel the Pounds advances this morning despite a better than expected performances from Germanys latest industrial production figures.

According to data published by Destatis German output rocketed from -0.1% to 2.6% in August, sailing past forecasts of a more modest rise to 0.7% and reaching its fastest pace of growth in over 6 years.

A jump in output from Car Manufacturers appeared to be the main driver in the recent surge in production, thanks in part to holidays in many parts of the country haven fallen a little earlier this year.

The rise in output also reflects the increased foreign demand for German goods, with data released on Friday also reported a larger than expected rise in industrial orders in August.

However despite the upbeat data it appeared to not be enough to overcome the rally in Sterling sentiment over the weekend.

GBP/EUR Forecast: Fifth Round of Brexit Talks to Bring Break Through?

Looking ahead a relatively quiet week of UK data will likely place a lot of focus on the fifth round of Brexit talks taking place this week.

This will be the final round of talks before EU leaders meet to decide whether talks have progressed enough to move the next stage of negotiations, with the GBP EUR exchange rates fortunes likely be driven by the tone of talks.

While analysts are cautiously optimistic over the possibility of the two sides reaching an agreement over how the UK will interact with the European Court of Justice, they remain extremely pessimistic that any progress will be made on Britains divorce bill, likely leading talks to stall once again.

Meanwhile the pairing may see some movement while the talks are underway on Tuesday as the UK and German both release their latest Trade Balance figures, with forecasts that Germanys trade surplus with have widen in August likely to offset expectations that the UKs trade deficit will have narrowed slightly over the same period.
The British pound has rallied from lows this week, with the GBP/USD exchange rate rebounding from the 1.30 support region on Monday. Short-term studies are still "positive" according to analysts at Lloyds on Tuesday morning.

Pound (GBP) exchange rates freefall

The British Pound had an awful time last week, falling some 3%, Cable has looked terrible since climbing above 1.35.

While a good amount of this weakness has been caused by Dollar strength, there is no doubt that the Pound has endured a torrid run.

Rising 0.54% to almost regain the 0.9000 handle on Friday, EUR/GBP has been on a breakneck correction with 6 straight days of gains after hitting lows just below 0.88 a couple of weeks ago.

When you consider that the Euro has suffered a couple of notable blows to sentiment recently in the form of the German election result, which saw Angela Merkel get her smallest ever winning margin and the emergence of the far right AFD party, as well as the ongoing independence crisis in Catalonia, it is remarkable how much the common currency has held up.

For now, it can largely be explained away as neither of these factors should have a systemic impact on the EUR, but they are nonetheless potential tail risks amid a generally benign outlook for the common currency.

Weak data and weak leadership hurt Sterling

As the weekend papers continue to revel in Theresa Mays shortcomings this week, the political pressure is clearly mounting on the beleaguered Prime Minister.

With a little more time to get over the delivery of the speech with all its incredible failings, it seems things might not have been much better if there had been no coughing or interruptions.

Many have criticised the content itself as lacking and May as the ultimate flip-flopper as she appeared to try and piggyback labour's courting of the younger generation and her recent concessions to the EU.

FX analysts at Morgan Stanley outlined the Conservative conference as key evidence of political uncertainty, which has served to strengthen their conviction shorting the GBP

Many Reasons to Sell We stay bearish on GBP for various reasons. Political uncertainty remains high as media commentators suggest the Tory Party Conference failed to unify the party, leaving the leadership question unanswered. The economy is also expected to underperform as consumer spending slows as households consolidate their weak balance sheets and Brexit uncertainty may weigh on business investment.

With positioning in the GBP turning net long, right as the news has gotten decidedly negative the crash in the Pound seen over the last couple of weeks is hardly surprising.

With rate expectations fairly stable, as markets anticipate a hike in November it appears not even the BoE will be able to bail Cable out next month.
Monday, October 9, 2017

At least nine credit unions have been hit with class-action lawsuits over the accessibility of their websites, according to court documents, reports the Credit Union Times, which added that the complaints, all of which were filed in District Courts in Virginia by the same two law firms on behalf of the same plaintiff, claimed the credit unions  ABNB Federal Credit Union, Arlington Community Federal Credit Union, Blue Eagle Credit Union, Cadmus Credit Union, Henrico Federal Credit Union, Member One Federal Credit Union, NRL Federal Credit Union, Pentagon Federal Credit Union and Virginia Credit Union  operated websites that were inaccessible to visually-impaired users.

Among other things, the complaints alleged the credit unions failed to embed code that allows screen readers to vocalize descriptions of graphics on their websites. As a result, visually-impaired users could not determine whats on the sites, browse the sites, look for locations, learn about amenities or determine which branch to visit, they said. The complaints claimed the credit unions sites contained links with no readable text, had redundant links that created repetition for screen readers and were missing form labels.

The complaint against Arlington Community, for example, claimed that the credit unions website contained access barriers that deterred visits to the credit unions physical locations.

Due to the inaccessibility of arlingtoncu.org, blind and otherwise visually impaired customers who use screen readers cannot effectively browse for ACFCUs locations, amenities and services online, it said. If arlingtoncu.org were accessible, the plaintiff could independently investigate services and amenities, and find the location to visit via ACFCUs website as sighted individuals can and do.

The credit unions failed to fix the accessibility barriers after being notified of the alleged discrimination, according to the plaintiff.
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The Welsh government has awarded 1.5m to support the Welsh red meat industry after Brexit.

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths announced she is providing the large pot of money over the next three years for Hybu Cig Cymru  Meat Promotion Wales (HCC).

The government is wanting to deliver an Enhanced Export Development Programme to support the red meat industry in Wales.

With the impending departure of the UK from the European Union and the uncertainty over the terms of access to key markets post-2019, the Welsh red meat industry faces significant challenges.

Most of the challenges lie in prioritising the maintenance of existing export markets and the development of new ones.

Welsh farmers have previously urged the government for guaranteed 'unfettered access' to EU markets after Brexit.

'Significant challenges'

Ms Griffiths said the funding for HCC is a direct response to these "significant" challenges.

HCC indicate that only 5% of lamb produced in Wales is consumed in Wales, with up to 40% being exported outside the UK.

It is estimated that over 90% of these exports are traded within the European Union single market, and worth over 200m per year.

She said: The Welsh red meat industry is heavily reliant on global export markets to achieve premium prices. Strong overseas demand uplifts farm gate prices and helps to balance supply and demand thus securing greater returns for the supply chain. This demonstrates the significance of export markets for the Welsh red meat industry.

This 1.5m funding is a direct response to the significant challenge the industry faces with the uncertainty of future trading arrangements post-Brexit.

We clearly need to continue to strengthen and future-proof our industry and it is vital that HCC continue to support the industry to maintain key markets in Europe, as well as look further afield.

I am confident that this investment and the support to be delivered by HCC will help the industry to meet the challenges and opportunities over the next few years.
Six in ten workers in agriculture are not enrolled in a pension according to the TUC which has revealed the UKs pension blackspots.

The TUC says many are missing out on a decent retirement because they earned less than 10,000 last year  the level of earnings at which employers must enrol someone into a workplace pension.

Despite the success of pension auto-enrolment, nearly 9 million UK workers are still unable to save into a pension scheme.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing ranks the top of the industries with the lowest level of pension cove. 65% of employees (93,000) do not have a pension.

The TUC also found evidence of a pension lottery among those saving into a workplace pension.

TUC General Secretary Frances OGrady said: Auto-enrolment has been a great success. But its not a case of job done.

Millions remain at risk of poverty in retirement because they are saving nothing, or very little, in a pension scheme.

We urgently need the government to help more low-paid workers join schemes. And ministers must set out a plan for increasing contributions from employers.

'Alarming gap'

NFU Mutual has said there is an 'alarming gap' in retirement savings for the self-employed, which includes many farmers.

The Cridland review, a Government review looking at the State Pension released this year, also said that people aged 30 and under face working until the age of 70 before they can draw a state pension.

Separate recommendations published at the same time by former CBI boss John Cridland could also mean people currently in their 40s see the age they start receiving the pay-out pushed back a year.

The Cridland review calls for the state pension age to rise from 67 to 68 between 2037 and 2039, seven years earlier than currently planned.

Experts said if the recommendations were taken up it would see nearly six million people currently under 45 face the date they receive their state pension pushed back a year.

Ministers will decide in May whether to go ahead with the proposals from both reports.

'Frightening to see'

Sean McCann, chartered financial planner at NFU Mutual, said that it is 'frightening' to see that 35 per cent of self-employed people who are approaching retirement age have no private pension.

He said: This group will include many in farming and agricultural work. Anyone in their 40s and 50s without retirement savings needs to take action immediately as relying on the State Pension to come to the rescue is wishful thinking.

The clear calls for change in the latest report may result in a smaller State Pension which will be delayed until many working people are at least 69, perhaps even older. The State Pension should not be relied on as a main source of income in old age.
The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) is drawing up a list of approved pesticides following the recent fipronil scandal.

BEIC chief executive Mark Williams told FarmingUK that the list of approved pesticides would be part of the new Lion code, which is currently under review.

Anyone producing eggs under the Lion label would only be able to use pesticides from the approved list.

The move by BEIC comes after hens in the Netherlands were found to have been treated for red mite with a mixture that included fipronil - a chemical that is banned from use on animals in the human food chain.

Millions of hens have been culled, millions of eggs have been destroyed, eggs and prepared foods recalled and two people have been arrested following a criminal investigation in the Netherlands.

In the United Kingdom, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said that some 700,000 potentially contaminated eggs had been imported from Europe.

A number of prepared food lines were removed from supermarket shelves but no evidence has been found of fipronil being used on British layer farms.

'No evidence'

Although UK egg producers appear to be in the clear, Mark Williams said that Lion had decided to create an approved list following the scandal on the continent.

"We have got a lot of producers who are looking more closely now at what they have been using, although we have found no evidence of fipronil," said Mr Williams.

"We have had producers asking, so we are working towards producing a list of approved pesticides. HSE (the Health and Safety Executive) controls all that but we will be creating a list of pesticides that can be used under the Lion code. We already have one for disinfectant."

Egg producers in the Netherlands are facing financial ruin as a result of a threat by supermarkets and food companies to pursue them for damages and lost profits arising from the fipronil scandal.

Farmers' representatives in the Netherlands say that producers' losses are already more than 60 million and they are continuing to grow.

Some 144 farms remain under restriction, unable to market their eggs, in the Netherlands. Restrictions are still in place on 30 farms in Belgium, 10 in Italy and seven in Germany.

'Unlikely risk'

The FSA has said that 85 per cent of the eggs eaten in the UK are produced in the UK and has moved to reassure consumers that there is unlikely to be any risk to public health.

It says the eggs used in the prepared foods that have been withdrawn from sale in the UK were probably produced on the affected Dutch farms before those farms were shut down. UK eggs have been tested for fipronil and all results so far have been clear.

FSA chairman Heather Hancock said: Our advice remains clear - theres no need to change how you buy or consume eggs.

We are responding very quickly to any new information, to ensure that any products left that contain egg from the affected farms is withdrawn immediately. We're doing this because fipronil is not authorised for use in food producing animals, not because we are concerned about any risk to health.

Professor Alan Boobis, chairman of the independent Committee on Toxicity said: Even at the highest level found, consumption of one or two meals containing these eggs in a day would not pose a danger.

It is very unlikely that anyone in the UK would have been exposed to anything close to this, and there is no reason for consumers to be concerned.

Buy British

Egg industry leaders in the UK have repeated their calls for retailers, food processors and foodservice companies to buy British eggs to avoid any risk.

Ian Jones, chairman of British Lion Egg Processors, said: "Consumers clearly want retailers, caterers and food manufacturers to use good quality British ingredients that are produced to high standards of food safety, but in some prepared foods this is not the case."

At the annual conference of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), Amanda Cryer of the British Egg Information Service (BEIS) said that fipronil crisis was an opportunity for the UK egg industry to press the cases for domestic egg product.

"I think it's opened a lot of people's eyes to the hidden egg in some of those products that were on sale containing eggs from Holland and that does give us a really good opportunity to push that message home, which we have been trying to do but egg in product is disguised a bit more than buying shell egg. It is easy for people to country of origin issue but that is now very high up the agenda."

'Stringent standards'

BFREPA chief executive Robert Gooch has also called for both retailers and manufacturers to buy British eggs produced under quality codes like Lion and Laid in Britain.

"British egg producers follow stringent production standards to ensure that what they produce is perfectly safe and nutritious for consumers to eat," he said.

"Consumers want safe, traceable food and we have ready-made schemes which delivers that in the form of the British Lion Code and Lain in Britain."

Egg imports have been connected with a series of food and health scares over recent years.
A group of farmers are the stars of a new NFU recipe book that features the best of British produce.

'Countryside Kitchen: Farm, Food, Fork' includes 77 recipes that use only British seasonal ingredients cultivated by British farmers.

It also highlights the importance of provenance and supporting farming and agriculture in the UK and encourages readers to use seasonal, local ingredients.

Also included are the stories of the farmers and growers behind the raw ingredients with the aim of providing members of the public with the knowledge of where their food comes from and how it is grown or raised.

A foreword by Countryfile presenter and farmer Adam Henson is included. He acknowledges the dedication and hard work of British farmers and urges readers to reconnect with the British seasons.

NFU President, Meurig Raymond, said of the launch: British farmers produce some of the most delicious and diverse food in the world while adhering to Red Tractor standards. This is to ensure the very best in traceability, environmental protection, food safety and hygiene and animal welfare standards.

The British public more than ever want to know the story of where their food comes from; how its grown and raised, where its been.

The NFUs Countryside Kitchen recipe book helps people to reconnect with their food and gives them an insight into the lives of the people who work so hard to put food on our tables.

By cooking with seasonal British produce the public are supporting British farmers who are the backbone of our rural communities and stewards of our beautiful countryside.
The Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) has written to Defra to challenge its stance on post-movement testing rules.

The challenge surrounds the movement of cattle from the Low TB Area of Wales into the Low Risk Area of England.

Despite Welsh Government negotiations on the issue, the Defra post-movement testing requirement will remain for farmers moving cattle across the border from Wales.

FUW has said it holds "significant concerns" regarding the implications of maintaining the status quo and the "detrimental impact" that this policy will pose to Welsh farmers.

The incidence of TB in Wales varies significantly across regions.

Bovine TB statistics from both Defra and the Welsh Government demonstrate that the Low TB Area of Wales has TB levels which are comparable to, or better than, those provided in the English Low Risk Area.

Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer said: By continuing the post-movement testing requirement, Defra has continued to perpetrate misconceptions about the Welsh annual testing regime and has inadvertently classed all Welsh parishes as high risk areas.

Defras refusal to negotiate with the Welsh Government on this issue is incredibly frustrating given that cattle coming into Wales from the English Low Risk Area are not required to have either a pre-movement test or a post-movement test.

Given the level of TB in the Low TB Area of Wales, and the lack of any relationship between TB risk and the Welsh annual testing regime, the FUW has written to Defra to ask for clarity on the decision making process which led to the continuation of the current cross border post-movement testing requirement.
Hexham Auction Market Company have been ordered to pay over 12,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to 16 offences relating to livestock movement rules.

The business was fined 10,000 and ordered to pay 2,065 in costs when they appeared before Newcastle Magistrates.

Northumberland Trading Standards Animal Health Inspectors found the company had not only breached livestock standstill rules when moving cattle into and out of fields and lairage sheds they own, but had failed to record cattle movements and provided false information to the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS).

In January and February this year, Animal Health Inspectors checked cattle in the lairage shed at Anick, Hexham. Ear tags were read and animal history was reviewed on the Cattle Tracing System (CTS), the national cattle database.

It was found that many groups of cattle had been recorded as being on different holdings owned by the mart - meaning the Anick lairage shed would remain free of the six day standstill rule.

Stopping disease

A six day standstill on livestock was put in place following the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001, to help prevent the spread of disease.

When an animal moves onto a livestock holding, all of the animals on that holding are placed on a six day standstill, meaning that nothing can leave the holding for six full days, except for animals that are going direct to slaughter.

David Sayer, Business Compliance and Public Safety Manager for Northumberland County Council, said: The six day standstill is there for the benefit of the whole farming industry and our job is to ensure it is adhered to. Hexham Mart have broken the Disease Control Order and it was entirely appropriate that they were prosecuted.

These controls came in after the outbreak in 2001 which had a huge negative effect on farming and tourism businesses in the county.

Accurate record keeping is the cornerstone to stopping the spread of disease, should there be another outbreak, and it is essential that everyone involved in keeping, selling and moving animals keeps accurate and up to date records.
Ineffective planning policies and budget cuts have been blamed for the lack of rural economic growth.

According to speakers at the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants (BIAC) conference on Thursday (5 October), there are a number of challenges in rural development.

However, the conference heard that with the right modifications to planning practice, the sector could really drive forward.

I do believe the Government is genuine in its intention to support the countryside, said Steve Ingram, president of the Planning Officers Society.

However, Im not sure the tools it is using are the right ones.

Affordable housing is the biggest issue, with house prices now 7.6 times the average wage in rural areas, against 6.5 in urban areas.

Although the Government introduced permitted development rights to make it easier for landowners to convert redundant farm buildings into residential or commercial use, the process has been labelled as restrictive, meaning few developments are going ahead.

Planning barriers

Planning barriers put people off investment, explained Ross Murray, president of the Country, Land and Business Association (CLA).

Four-fifths of landowners want to invest more in rural development, but poor understanding of rural needs among planning departments is a real concern.

Too often planning is a triumph of process over outcome, Mr Murray said.

Communication between landowners, planning officers, and tenants is the key to successful development, added George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA).

Setting out a strategy and working together to achieve mutual goals will lead to a "vibrant" and "productive" countryside, benefiting all parties, Mr Dunn explained.

Financial pressure

However, the greatest threat to positive change is the financial pressure facing local planning authorities, according to Paul Jackson, head of planning at Test Valley Borough Council.

From 2019 local planning authorities will not receive any government funding, so will have to finance themselves.

That impacts on the service we can provide  you cant do this job without people, Mr Jackson said.

Development

Fortunately, there are some improvements in the pipeline. Following the recent Rural Planning Review, the Government is focusing on implementing new guidance to facilitate appropriate development.

Planning fees will increase by 20% by the end of 2017, ring-fenced for planning departments, explained Steve Quartermain, chief planner at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

New guidance will benefit development of farm shops, polytunnels and reservoirs, while a review of permitted development rights should make it easier for conversion of farm buildings, he added.

Mike Greetham, chief executive of BIAC said: We are very active in government lobbying and have to ensure that our members remain at the cutting edge of industry developments.

The nation needs more housing and economic growth: Farmers are in an ideal situation to provide this and we are working to help them deliver it.
Yorkshire could move a step closer to grabbing more regional powers as MPs prepare to discuss the issue this week.

Yorkshire could get a powerful elected mayor like London and Greater Manchester under plans for a regional devolution.

Efforts to previously achieve devolution for Yorkshire, which has an annual GDP of 110bn-a-year, have been stalled by political conflicts.

A cabinet made up of council leaders would oversee the region under the hypothetical split - with full control of an annual budget of 100m.

A debate will also be held in the House of Commons this week, which has been tabled by Labour MP John Grogan.

The Yorkshire economy is larger than eleven EU states: Hungary, Slovakia, tax haven Luxembourg, Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta.

Sensitive areas

In terms of agriculture, the biggest contributors to the value of Yorkshire's 2.2bn farming output are pigs for meat (257 million), wheat (253 million), poultry (227 million) and milk (200 million), together account for 43% of the total output.

Predominant farm types in the Yorkshire and the Humber region in 2015 were cereals (33% of farmed area) and grazing livestock (30% of farmed area).

Yorkshire includes sensitive upland areas, most notably in the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors - areas of national protections.

Indeed, the farming industry in the Dales has been described as a critical industry by local farm leaders.

Yorkshire will soon become one of the best places in Europe for pig research, thanks to significant investment from the University of Leeds and the government.
Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has called for a new UN Convention on food and farming in order to "save the planet".

The call comes as CIWF launches a new report  called 'Towards a flourishing food system'  which details how global food systems could be reformed in order to "secure food for future generations".

Chief executive Philip Lymbery said: We need a total rethink of our food and farming systems, before its too late. Intensive livestock systems are at the heart of so many problems affecting health, food security, biodiversity, the environment and animal welfare.

Unless we have a UN Convention to specifically tackle the wide-ranging impacts of food and farming, the targets on climate change wont be achieved and our world will continue to be ravaged by our broken food systems.

CIWF believes that a UN Convention on food and farming is needed with objectives relating to factors such as livelihood and food security. The organisation believes these can be "properly integrated" so that one objective is not achieved at the expense of another.

Without global agreements that have an holistic approach, our wildlife will be pushed to extinction, our landscapes will be bulldozed, our precious natural resources will be used up and our health will suffer, said Mr Lymbery.

Theres already enough food for our growing population, the trouble is that we feed much of it in the form of cereals to factory farmed animals to produce meat, which makes no sense.

Delegates attended the Extinction and Wildlife Conference in London last week. It was billed as "the first ever to examine how current livestock production is driving two-thirds of wildlife loss worldwide, using up the worlds precious natural resources, polluting our waterways, creating ocean dead zones where nothing can live, creating the perfect breeding ground for superbugs and contributing to antibiotic resistance in humans."
UK-Australia trade deal 'gave away far too much', Eustice admits
We Love Them!

Rana captioned the photo writing, "What fun we had in between all the madness..every day of filming this epic was memorable!! Miss being in the great kingdom of Mahishmati!!"

Meanwhile, Prabhas Says He Can't Face Many People

"I am still shy when I go to interviews. I want a lot of people to come and watch my film but I can't face (that many) people," Prabhas told IANS in a candid interview in Hyderabad.

Prabhas Doesn't Know How To Handle Stardom

"After being in the industry for 13-14 years now, I still don't know how to handle stardom. My fans feel bad that their hero doesn't come out so much. I'm better than before, and trying to improve," he added.

Did You Know Who Insisted Prabhas To Be An Actor?

"My uncle is an actor, my dad is a producer, so they asked me if I was interested, and I was like 'How can someone act in front of so many people with lights and emote'. I used to feel shy... My parents asked me once or twice (about the decision to be an actor) and I said that it is impossible."

Prabhas Wanted To Do Business

"I had thought I will do some business because I am lazy and I can't do jobs. I had thought that maybe I will go into hotel business because our family loves food. And north Indian food is very famous in Hyderabad."

So What Changed His Mind?

"This is what I remember, (though I) actually don't know what happened inside my mind. One day I was watching my uncle's film directed by Bapu. I imagined myself in my uncle's character... Then I think it slowly started somewhere."

Saaho's Director Is Prabhas' Old Friend

Prabhas, who started his career with Telugu film "Eeshwar" in 2002, says he faced a hard time making his family believe about his newfound acting ambition.

"One day, I told my friend that I want to act, and he didn't believe me... He believed me after at least 10 days. And now he is the producer of 'Saaho'."

Prabhas Owes A Big Time To Rajamouli

Prabhas' role as Amarendra Baahubali and Mahendra Baahubali from the "Baahubali" universe changed the whole game for him, and made him popular both in India and around the world.

Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli put together a story about the battle for control of an ancient kingdom between two brothers in two parts -- with dance, music, emotion and drama.

Does Prabhas Fears Failure Post Baahubali 2?

After Baahubali becoming a phenomenon, Prabhas admits that fear of failure with upcoming projects looms large.

"Fear of failure is definitely there for every film. It was present for 'Baahubali'; then, after the first part, it was there for the second part. Now, there are so many expectations and audience wants to see something else... Fear is there, but what we can do is believe in something and try to make it."
Dileep, the 'janapriyanayakan' of Mollywood is back after spending a long 85 days in the jail. As per the latest reports, Dileep has finally resumed the shooting for his highly ambitious project, Kammara Sambhavam.

According to the close sources, Dileep has already begun shooting for the movie, which marks the directorial debut of ad film-maker Rathish Ambat. The shooting of Kammara Sambhavam has been progressing at Vengara, Malappuram district.

If the reports are to be believed, Dileep and team will soon travel to Chennai, to shoot the rest of the portions of Kammara Sambhavam. The actor was arrested in connection with the actress abduction case, while shooting for the movie in Malayattoor forest.

The shooting of Kammara Sambhavam, which has been made with a whopping budget of 20 Crores, was abruptly stopped after Dileep's arrest. It was even rumoured that the makers have decided to drop the project, as the actor's bail plea was rejected multiple times.

Kammara Sambhavam, which is said to be a period drama, features popular actor Siddharth Narayan in a pivotal role. Actor-writer Murali Gopy has penned the script for the movie, which is produced by Gokulam Gopalan, under the banner Sree Gokulam Movies.
Columbia, SC (29201)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 57F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Rural businesses in Scotland are fighting back against proposals to remove all forms of drying as an eligible heat use under the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.

The UK government is considering whether the drying of wood, crops, animal bedding, animal feed and waste should continue to attract support as part of efforts to ensure the scheme offers good value for money.

It has expressed concern the RHI might be supporting drying practices that would not be taking place to the same extent or, in some cases, at all without support.

See also: Woodchip demand may rise as subsidy cuts loom

This move follows what has been dubbed the cash for ash scandal in Northern Ireland, where it emerged some of the schemes participants were getting more in subsidies than the cost of the fuel they were using.

But Scottish Land & Estates has warned removing all forms of drying as an eligible heat use could have a profound effect on businesses that have been encouraged to diversify.

Actions of a minority

Gavin Mowat, policy officer at Scottish Land & Estates, said the UK government was rightly responding to concerns about the misuse of the RHI, but it was important rural businesses were not disadvantaged by the actions of a minority. The RHI scheme is designed specifically to offset the use of fossil fuels, he said.

The RHI scheme is designed specifically to offset the use of fossil fuels, he said.

The process of drying is a major consumer of fossil fuels in value adding and processing agricultural and forestry products, especially in Scotland with its relatively wet climate.

We are concerned without an appropriate level of support, investment in renewable drying will stop and businesses will opt to remain using fossil fuels, thus undermining the drive towards lowering carbon emissions.

Mr Mowat said the UK government needed to do more to ensure RHI applications were legitimate and fair rather than simply curtailing the scheme as it stands.

As such, Scottish Land & Estates would support the introduction of a proportionate test to ensure any RHI applications for the purposes of drying were legitimate.

Buildings

The organisation has also flagged that proposals to limit the proportion of heat provided to a domestic building, supported by non-domestic RHI, were counterproductive.

Many older buildings, including visitor attractions that were not built to current energy efficiency standards, have adopted biomass systems for heating properties, said Mr Mowat.

The proposal that RHI support available to these buildings is capped would not be prudent in terms of achieving reductions in carbon emissions.

We have seen many examples where large properties produce significant energy savings to the benefit of everyone including one example where 25,000 litres of oil per year has been saved on heating one property.
Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie Lite is now available outside Malaysia News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie Lites major highlight is its front camera. /

After being reportedly launched in the Malaysian market, the Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie Lite appears to be all set to go official in the Filipino market. In fact, Asus had already teased the launch of a selfie-centric smartphone in the Philippines on October 4.

Now, the Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie Lite has been spotted on the official website of the company in the Philippines. The pricing on the listing is $156 (approx. Rs. 10,300). Going by its name, the USP of the Zenfone 4 Selfie Lite is its 13MP front camera with a 140-degree lens for panorama shots and LED flash. The selfie camera also has the Asus SelfieMaster technology that will add real-time beautification effects on both the selfie photos and videos.

The selfie camera also has the portrait mode that will create depth of field effect. It comes with a Beauty Mode with varying adjustments such as softening, brightening, skin toning, cheek thinning and eyes enhancements.

OnePlus' latest Diwali video is as appealing as its flagship smartphone

When it comes to the design, the Zenfone 4 Selfie Lite boasts of a metal body in four color variants - Sunlight Gold, Rose Pink, Mint Green and Deepsea Black.

In terms of other specs, the Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie Lite comes fitted with a 5.5-inch IPS display with a 2.5D curved glass. Under its hood, the smartphone makes use of a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC paired with Adreno 308 graphics unit and 3GB RAM. The listing does not reveal the internal storage space but the same is said to be expanded up to 2TB using a microSD card.

The rear camera on the Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie is a 13MP unit with PDAF, 3-axis EIS, and LED flash. The camera has features such as Portrait Mode, Beauty Mode, Super Resolution and GIF Animation. The smartphone runs on Android 7.0 Nougat topped with the company's ZenUI 4.0. The other goodies on board are 4G LTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, dual SIM support, a fingerprint sensor at the front, and a 3000mAh battery.

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Google to focus more on offline sales of Pixel 2 in India News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Google is all set to follow a different approach in India.

While it is common for many smartphone manufacturers to reveal to exact number of units of their flagship models those were sold, Google chose to remain silent. The company did not announce the exact number of sales of the first generation Pixel smartphones.

A few months back, one of the market researches pointed out that close to 2 million units of the Pixel smartphones were sold. With the launch of the second generation models, we are sure that Google might aim to take this figure higher. While there is no confirmation regarding the same from Google's end in the other countries, it looks the company will be doing it at least in the Indian market. We say so as Google is planning to take a different approach when it comes to India.

OnePlus' latest Diwali video is as appealing as its flagship smartphone

According to a report by Gadgets 360, Mario Queiroz, the VP of Hardware Product Management, and Rick Osterloh, the Senior Vice President of Google Hardware have revealed that the new Pixel smartphones will be sold via both online and offline channels. But they will focus more on the offline sales.

The offline availability is very important and should not be overlooked by the smartphone vendors in developed countries. Xiaomi that was exclusive to the online stores recently learned this and has started opening Mi Home stores in India. The idea behind offline sales is that people who spend their money on a smartphone purchase would want to experience the same before the purchase.

We have no clues on how Google will handle this situation but we cannot expect the company to open standalone Google shops. The company is likely to open modular shops in the already existing retail stores as well as malls.

It is known that the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be available for pre-order in India starting from October 26 and that the sale will debut on November 1 and November 15. When it comes to online availability, these phones will be exclusive to Flipkart. The Pixel 2 will be priced at Rs. 61,000 and Rs. 70,000 for the 64GB and 128GB models. The Pixel 2 XL will be priced at Rs. 73,000 and Rs. 82,000 for the 64GB and 128GB models.

Best Mobiles in India

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Millions of Nokia Android smartphones sold shows Nokia Mobile Support app News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu HMD has managed to sell millions of Nokia Android smartphones.

HMD Global has released four Nokia smartphones - Nokia 6, Nokia 8, Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 since the debut of this year. In addition to these, the company is also focused on launching two more models - the Nokia 2 and Nokia 9 by the end of this year.

We already know that the Nokia Android phones are well received among the buyers due to the brand name and the reasonable price points. However, there is no confirmation on how successful the company has been when it comes to the retail sales. Though the same has not been announced officially by HMD, the company will be aware of how competitive it has been in the market.

Of course, the sales of the Nokia Android smartphones cannot be compared to those of Samsung and Apple. But which company would not wish to compete with these big players in the smartphone arena?

OnePlus' latest Diwali video is as appealing as its flagship smartphone

As per a Nokioteca report in September, HMD's Chief Marketing Officer, Pekka Rantal, gave an idea of the sales that have happened so far. It was said that they are really happy about the sales as they have been selling millions of Nokia Android smartphones and tens of millions of the feature phones.

This figure is further confirmed by a NokiaPowerUser report that points out that the Nokia Mobile Support app that is available in the Google Play Store shows between 1 million and 5 million downloads. This gives an idea of the overall download numbers of app tipping that millions of Nokia Android smartphones have been sold till date.

Given that the Nokia smartphones are among the market first to get the Android Oreo update, this sales figure should not be coming in as a huge surprise. The company is all set to roll out the Oreo update to its flagship Nokia 8 smartphone by the end of October. The other Nokia smartphones will also get this recent Android update by the end of this year.

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Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 7, 2017  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 26 strikes consisting of 40 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes consisting of 24 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed a defensive fighting position, a heavy machine gun and a vehicle.

-- Near Raqqa, 17 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed a command-and-control node, seven fighting positions, two vehicles, two communication infrastructures and a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device; damaged two fighting positions, two communication infrastructures and two ISIS supply routes; and suppressed a fighting position.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of 16 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Qaim, a strike destroyed a vehicle-borne IED.

-- Near Bashir, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a weapons cache.

-- Near Huwija, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a road block.

-- Near Taji, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

-- Near Rawa, two strikes engaged two improvised bridges and destroyed an ISIS building.

Additional Oct. 5 Strikes

Officials also provided details today of 11 strikes consisting of 11 engagements conducted Oct. 5 in Syria for which the information was previously unavailable:

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, a strike engaged a fighting position.

-- Near Raqqa, 10 strikes disrupted three ISIS supply routes, damaged five fighting positions, destroyed a fighting position, and suppressed a fighting position and an ISIS tactical unit.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said.

The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted.

Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect.

For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said.

The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.

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USNS Comfort Responds to Second Hospital Generator Failure in Puerto Rico

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS171007-03

Release Date: 10/7/2017 10:41:00 AM

By Lt. j.g. Samuel Boyle

CARIBBEAN SEA (NNS) -- The Mercy-class Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), underway near the coast of the Arecibo-Manati region of Puerto Rico, received four critical patients from Hospital Menonita in Caguas, Puerto Rico, after its generator failed, Oct. 6.

"We are a mobile platform that can respond to the greatest area of need or act as a strut to help the Puerto Rican health system," said Capt. Kevin Buckley, commanding officer of the medical treatment facility onboard Comfort. "We are engaged and determined to relieve human suffering."

The hospital ship was able to respond by coordinating with U.S. Health and Human Services and the Puerto Rico Department of Health, who engaged in a Medical Summit onboard Comfort immediately upon the ship's arrival in Puerto Rico.

"The formation of a Medical Operations Center within the Joint Forces Land Component Commander (JFLCC) Joint Operations Center was determined as a critical need during the planning sessions," said Capt. Kevin Robinson, mission commander aboard Comfort. "Today, this streamlined the flow of ordering Comfort to respond to a critical need to relieve pressure on the Puerto Rican medical community."

Patients were medevaced by the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) and USNS Comfort's detachments of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, the "Sea Knights".

"The teamwork of Puerto Rico Department of Health, U.S. Health and Human Services, the JFLCC, USS Wasp, and Comfort led to the successful medevac of four critically-ill patients for further medical treatment. The ship's crew, the medical treatment facility and the liaison officers from Puerto Rico Department of Health and U.S. Health and Human Services exemplified the spirit of Americans in times of crises. I couldn't be more proud of the opportunity to work with these individuals," Robinson said.

Comfort, with the assistance of Army Black Hawk helicopters, had medevaced critical patients from Ryder Memorial Hospital in Humacao, Puerto Rico two days prior, after its generator also failed.

Comfort has treated 75 patients ranging from six months to 89 years in age and performed numerous procedures such as gastrostomy tube placement, colectomies, sacral-decubitus ulcer debridement, as well as treated for wounds, hernias and pneumonia.

Comfort is part of the whole-of-government response effort and is assisting FEMA, the lead federal agency, in helping those affected by Hurricane Maria.

Comfort is a seagoing medical treatment facility that currently has more than 800 personnel embarked for the Puerto Rico mission including Navy medical and support staff assembled from 22 commands, as well as over 70 civil service mariners.

The hospital ship has one of the largest trauma facilities in the United States and is equipped with four X-ray machines, one CT scan unit, a dental suite, an optometry lens laboratory, physical therapy center, pharmacy, angiography suite, and two oxygen-producing plants.

Comfort's primary mission is to provide an afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facility to the U.S. military that is flexible, capable, and uniquely adaptable to support expeditionary warfare. Comfort's secondary mission is to provide full hospital services to support U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide.

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Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Departs for Deployment

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS171007-02

Release Date: 10/7/2017 9:32:00 AM

From Commander, Carrier Strike Group 9 Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) departed San Diego for a regularly scheduled deployment, Oct. 6.

Theodore Roosevelt, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, will join USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Sampson (DDG 102) and USS Preble (DDG 88) for a routine deployment. The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group deployment is an example of the U.S. Navy's routine presence in waters around the globe, displaying commitment to stability, regional cooperation and economic prosperity for all nations.

"The U.S. Navy carrier strike group is the most versatile, capable force at sea," said Rear Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, CSG 9. "After nearly a year of training and integration exercises, the entire team is ready as a warfighting force and ready to carry out the nation's tasking."

Theodore Roosevelt will embark the aviation squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 17, including the Lemoore, California-based "Stingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113, the "Mighty Shrikes" of VFA 94, the "Redcocks" of VFA 22; the Beaufort, South Carolina-based "Checkerboards" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312; the Whidbey Island, Washington-based "Cougars" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139; the Point Mugu-based

"Sun Kings" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116; the San Diego-based "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30, the "Indians" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, and the "Battlecats" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73. Theodore Roosevelt will also embark the staff of Destroyer Squadron 23.

The strike group will deploy with approximately 7,500 Sailors and Marines and will focus on maritime security operation and theater security cooperation efforts in both U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of operation.

"It is a privilege and joy to lead this magnificent crew out on deployment," said Capt. Carlos Sardiello, Theodore Roosevelt's commanding officer. "We are grateful for the steadfast assistance provided by those responsible for manning, training and equipping this ship and air wing team, as well as the support and sacrifice of our families and friends in San Diego and beyond."

This is the first deployment for Theodore Roosevelt departing from its homeport of San Diego after completing an unprecedented three-carrier hull swap and around-the-world deployment in 2015.

The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is part of U.S. 3rd Fleet, which leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. U.S. 3rd Fleet constantly coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the entire Pacific theater of operations.

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Taliban Leader Calls on Supporters to Stop Fighting Against Daesh - Reports

Sputnik News

18:40 07.10.2017

The Taliban leader has called on the group's supporters to stop fighting Daesh.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The leader of the Taliban movement (terrorist group banned in Russia) in Afghanistan, Hibatullah Akhundzada, urged his supporters to stop fighting Daesh militants, local media reported Saturday.

Akhundzada addressed his supporters about 10 days ago during a meeting of the Taliban leadership in one of the districts of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, the 1TV News broadcaster reported, citing an official in country's security forces.

Members of the Quetta Shura (the Taliban leadership council, based in the Pakistani city of Quetta), and representatives of the movement from various parts of Afghanistan, reportedly also took part in the meeting. Akhundzada advocated an end to the confrontation with the Daesh citing "common goals."

In the past, there were clashes between the Taliban and Daesh. In the end of April, media reported the deaths of more than 90 militants from both sides during a clash between the two militant groups. Around that time, Daesh militants killed one of Taliban leaders in the city of Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan.

Afghanistan has long been suffering from unstable political, social and security situation due to the simmering militant insurgency. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces are currently conducting joint offensive operations to combat terrorism across the country.

 Sputnik

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Concern Grows That Closing Taliban Office in Qatar Could Undermine Peace Talks

By Noor Zahid October 07, 2017

The Afghan government reportedly has sought the closure of the Afghan Taliban office in Qatar, citing the inefficiency of the office as a reason behind its request to the U.S. and Qatari officials.

There has been no official confirmation of such a request being initiated by the Afghan government. But a senior official with knowledge of discussions between senior Afghan officials and their American counterparts, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told VOA the Afghan government did discuss plans to close the Qatar office when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was in New York for the U.N. General Assembly last month.

The Afghan official added that the Qatar office has contributed "little to the peace process with the Afghan Taliban."

Faizullah Kakar, the Afghan ambassador to Qatar, told VOA that although his government has not officially informed him of any formal discussion or decision about the Taliban office, Kabul might be evaluating the effectiveness of the Doha office and its fate.

"The Taliban office was set up to secure peace talks, but it has done little to help facilitate negotiations," Kakar said. "The [Afghan] government is discussing the issue with the U.S. and Qatar to decide whether the office should remain open."

Meanwhile, Qatar has indicated it would accept any decision made by the U.S. and Afghan governments about the future of the office.

The Taliban office was opened in 2013 with support from the U.S., Afghan and Qatari governments to provide a venue for peace talks with the Taliban to help end the conflict in the country.

The office has failed to achieve that and instead has become a travel facilitator for Taliban leaders.

"There are arguments that the office gives the three dozen Taliban representatives unfounded legitimacy, and allows them to hold secret talks with Pakistan, China, Russia and Iran," Matthew P. Dearing, an assistant professor at Washington-based National Defense University, told VOA.

"It is not clear that moving the office to Kabul will end these bilateral discussions unless Ghani intends to prevent Taliban representatives from traveling abroad," Dearing added.

U.S. stance

Senior U.S. officials said Washington was mulling the fate of the office.

"I think the decision will be made shortly," U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, adding that one of the issues was to make sure the right people representing the Taliban are in the office.

"He [Secretary of State Rex Tillerson] is looking to make certain we have the right people, so it's just not an office in existence  an office that we can actually deal with," Mattis added.

The Afghan government has for years left open the door of peace talks to the Taliban and has established a peace council to establish ties with the insurgents. The Taliban repeatedly has rejected talks with Kabul, however, and instead has continued its bloody insurgency.

Ghani recently said there was a window of opportunity for the Taliban to follow in the footsteps of the Hezb-i-Islami party led by Gulbuddin Hematyar, who recently joined the peace process.

Ghani warned that the offer will expire at some point.

"We are offering a chance for peace, but this is not an open-ended offer," Ghani said following a truck bomb attack in Kabul in May that killed more than 150 people and injured hundreds more.

Concerns

Some Western diplomats and analysts have voiced concerns about the prospects of closing the Taliban office, maintaining that such a move could undermine the prospects of a political settlement in Afghanistan.

Closing the office "would foreclose on the possibility of a negotiated settlement, the only realistic and honorable way to end America's longest war," Jarrett Blanc, a former U.S. deputy special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said in a recently published op-ed in Defense One, and news and analysis website focused on U.S. defense and national security issues.

Pierre Mayaudon, European Union ambassador to Afghanistan, said the office has served a purpose.

"The office in Qatar is a way of communication. It's a tool. It's not by itself, I think, an objective," Mayaudon told VOA.

The Taliban has warned that closing the office would end the chance for a peaceful settlement to the Afghan war.

Kabul-based Taliban expert Waheed Muzhda argued that the closure would strengthen the position of warmongers within the Taliban leadership ranks.

"If the office were closed, it would weaken those Taliban leaders who support a political solution to the war in Afghanistan," Muzhda said.

Dearing, of the National Defense University, agreed.

"There are too many reasons why an office closure is a bad idea," Dearing told VOA. "Unless Ghani calls this a 'move' rather than a 'closure' and offers a new home for the exiled Taliban in Kabul, then hard-liners will be empowered and have proof the U.S. and Afghan governments do not seek a political settlement."

Afghan Ambassador Kakar said that while the Taliban's representatives in Qatar support a political settlement, real talks happen in other places, such as Pakistan.

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Many More Refugees Flee CAR Violence to Cameroon

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka October 07, 2017

U.N. aid agencies are struggling to meet the needs of refugees in eastern Cameroon as multitudes flee the renewed violence in neighboring Central African Republic. The population of the Gado refugee camp has exploded from just 1,000 refugees in January to 25,000 today.

Scores of children are being attended to by medical staff at the Gado refugee camp on Cameroon's eastern border with the C.A.R. At least a hundred children fleeing with their parents have been received by humanitarian workers this week.

22-year-old Magloire Zema, who arrived at Gado last week, says she is happy her 6-month-old son has recovered his health.

She says he was neither eating nor had access to clean drinkable water, but today the situation is better because he can drink milk and eat a bit of their traditional meals.

Health worker Gerimie Dicia says Magloire is lucky her son has recovered. He says many children who arrive at Gado die from hunger, malnutrition, or wounds inflicted on them by fighters while they are escaping from C.A.R.

He says malnutrition and hunger are becoming public health problems for children from Central African Republic arriving in the camp. He says many of them under the age of 5 end up dying. He says when the children are brought to them at the early stages of malnourishment, they are treated for three or four days, and then are referred to their community workers for psychological and health follow up care.

Religious and ethnic unrest erupted in C.A.R. after Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian country in 2013 and left the nation divided.

Three years of violence has killed thousands and led more than 300 000 to run for safety in neighboring Cameroon.

Allegra Baiocchi, resident coordinator of the U.N. system in Cameroon, says despite the increasing number of refugees and shortage of humanitarian assistance, many refugees have continued to flee to Cameroon as the crisis escalates.

"We have heard stories of unstoppable violence. People who have lost their husbands, their children, their parents on their way here," said Baiocchi. "Their first message was, 'please give us something to do, please allow us to become more self-reliant and independent,' but unfortunately there was just not enough funding. Our response is underfunded. Overall, the humanitarian response in Cameroon is 40 percent funded. When it comes to refugees, that figure goes down to 20 percent. There is not much we can do with 20 percent of the funding."

Najat Rochdi, the humanitarian coordinator of the United Nations office for humanitarian affairs in C.A.R. says she is launching an appeal to humanitarian agencies, the international community and persons of goodwill to help the suffering multitudes in C.A.R. and neighboring countries.

She says this year the needs of the refugees have increased to $498 million. She says the refugees have come to Cameroon to meet donor agencies who relocated because of the carnage.

The United Nations raised less than half of the money it asked for in its last appeal, yet the number of C.A.R. refugees and internally displaced persons has increased from 2.2 million at the beginning of this year to 2.4 million currently.

Last week, Cameroon reported it had sealed its border with C.A.R. after violence had escalated.

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In Catalonia, large group of demonstrators oppose independence

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 01:17PM

Hundreds of thousands of people have led a protest march in Barcelona, the capital of Spain's semi-autonomous Catalonia region, against a campaign for independence of the region from the mainland.

Around 350,000 people took part in the rally in central Barcelona on Sunday, municipal police said. Organizers, however, put the turnout at 930,000 to 950,000.

"Catalonia is Spain" and "Together we are stronger" could be read on banners carried by protesters, who waved Spanish and Catalan flags.

On Monday, Catalonia's parliament is set to declare independence from Madrid based on the results of a controversial referendum last week, which was held amid unprecedented tension on the streets of Catalonia. The constitutional court in Madrid has ruled that the Monday parliament session must be suspended. Madrid says the entire independence campaign, including the referendum itself, was illegal.

Spain's central government has also issued repeated warnings that declaring independence would have dire consequences for the region and the secessionist authorities.

Those who marched to oppose independence in Barcelona on Sunday said they wanted to remain part of Spain.

"We are facing a tremendous unknown. We will see what happens this week, but we have to speak out very loudly so they know what we want," said a 72-year-old demonstrator, adding, "We feel both Catalan and Spanish."

The anti-independence group, the Catalan Civil Society, organized the march under the slogan, "Let's recover our senses." The group's main aim has been declared to mobilize a "silent majority" of citizens in Catalonia who oppose independence.

Some 2.3 million people cast their ballots in the October 1 referendum, representing only 43 percent of Catalonia's 5.3 million eligible voters. The regional government says a yes vote by 90 percent of those who voted is enough to declare independence regardless of the turnout.

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US drone strike leaves five dead in central Yemen

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 01:16PM

At least five people have lost their lives after a US unmanned aerial vehicle carried out a strike in the central Yemeni province of Ma'rib.

Yemeni security sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said on Sunday that the drone strike hit a car carrying five people, suspected to be al-Qaeda members, in the Saoud district of the province, located 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of the capital, Sana'a.

The al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has taken advantage of the chaos and breakdown of security in Yemen to tighten its grip on the southern and southeastern parts of the Arab country.

The US carries out drone attacks in Yemen and several other Islamic countries, claiming to be targeting al-Qaeda elements. However, local sources say civilians have been the main victims of the attacks.

The drone strikes in Yemen continue alongside the Saudi military aggression against the impoverished conflict-ridden country.

Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015 in an attempt to crush the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement and reinstate former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is a staunch ally of the Riyadh regime.

More than 12,000 people have been killed since the onset of the campaign more than two and a half years ago. Much of the Arabian Peninsula country's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and factories, has been reduced to rubble due to the war.

The Saudi war has also triggered a deadly cholera epidemic across Yemen.

According to data provided by the World Health Organization and Yemen's Health Ministry, the country's cholera outbreak, the worst on record in terms of its rapid spread, has infected 612,703 people and killed 2,048 since it began in April, with some districts still reporting sharp rises in new cases.

The United Nations also says the Saudi war has left some 17 million Yemenis hungry, nearly seven million facing famine, and about 16 million almost without access to potable water or sanitation.

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Israel, UAE engaged in secret arms deals: Report

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 07:59AM

A newly-released report says Israeli and Emirati businessmen have secretly brokered arms deals between the two sides.

The Hebrew-language Maariv daily reported that Israeli businessman Metai Kokhafi had hired a private plane to fly his colleagues and generals to the UAE capital to discuss the terms of the weapons agreements.

The Israeli delegation's visit to Abu Dhabi was an essential part of the arms sales, according to the report. Among the generals who were reported to have visited Abu Dhabi was the former commander of the Israeli air force, Eitan Ben Eliyahu.

The report, citing former intelligence and strategic affairs correspondent for the Haaretz newspaper Yossi Melman, said Kokhavi had "embarrassed Israel" after he boasted during a meeting in Singapore that he and his team were mediating arms deals with the UAE.

The Maariv report said Melman had criticized Tel Aviv for remaining silent on arms dealings and cooperation with Arab states, saying it would be beneficial for Israel if the evolving relationship was more overt.

Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the "breakthrough" in ties with Arab countries, claiming "many levels of cooperation" existed that could not yet be exposed to the public.

Citing unnamed Arab and American sources, the British daily The Sunday Times reported in June that Saudi Arabia and the Israeli regime were in clandestine talks to establish official economic relations for the first time.

Israeli media said last month Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah had called for an end to the Arab boycott of Israel, days after the Israeli premier said relations with the Arab world were better than any other time.

Unnamed officials later told the Middle East Eye news portal that Israel was on the path to normalizing diplomatic ties with Bahrain, with an announcement even possible in the relatively near future.

According to Maariv, Melman had said the reason behind censorship which was to "ensure no lives of officials are put in danger" was redundant, hinting that normalizing relations with Arab states should be made public.

Melman had drawn parallels between Tel Aviv's quiet relationship with Abu Dhabi and Israel's open diplomatic ties with Egypt, the paper added.

The journalist also believed that Israeli media should be more open about close ties with Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's regime in Egypt, where the Israeli Military Censor has refused to cover intelligence cooperation between Cairo and Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi have no diplomatic ties and the UAE does not recognize Israel but the two sides have increased backchannel cooperation in recent years.

In November 2015, Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that Tel Aviv would "soon" open a "permanent mission" in Abu Dhabi meant to operate as part of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) based in the Emirati city.

Most recently in June 2017, an Intercept report released a number of hacked emails belonging to the UAE ambassador to the US showing that Yousef Al-Otaiba had been collaborating with a pro-Israel think tank, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).

The correspondence between Otaiba and the FDD covered a range of topics related to Iran.

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Nigeria to try 2,300 Boko Haram militants

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 07:21AM

Nigeria is going to try more than 2,300 suspected members of the Takfiri Boko Haram militant group in unprecedented mass trials behind closed doors.

The defendants, whose trials are to begin on Monday, have all been picked up and held in detention since the start of Boko Haram militancy eight years ago.

To date, just 13 people have been put on trial and only nine convicted for their links to the Takfiri group, according to official figures.

The most high-profile current case is that of Khalid Al-Barnawi, a leader of Boko Haram offshoot Ansaru, who is charged with the abduction and murder of 10 foreign nationals.

Nigeria's Justice Ministry announced the start of the trials at the end of last month, saying four judges had been assigned and that defendants would have legal representation.

Some 1,670 detainees at a military base in Kainji, in the central state of Niger, will be tried first and will be followed by 651 others held at the Giwa barracks in the capital of the northeastern state of Borno State, Maiduguri.

The trials are seen as a positive step, as many of the detainees had been held in custody for years, without access to a lawyer or ever having appeared before a judge. Amnesty International said in a June 2015 report that more than 20,000 people had been arbitrarily arrested as part of the fight against Boko Haram.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected in 2015, has promised to look into repeated accusations of human rights violations, including by high-ranking officers.

At least two commissions of inquiry have been established but the army announced in June this year that no action would be taken against top brass accused by Amnesty.

Amnesty believes the mass trials of Boko Haram suspects were the result of international pressure on the Nigerian government.

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Madrid won't rule out blocking Catalonia independence: Spanish PM

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 12:44AM

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said that Madrid would not rule out suspending Catalonia's autonomous status if its leaders declare independence.

"I don't rule out absolutely anything that is within the law ... Ideally, it shouldn't be necessary to implement extreme solutions but for that not to happen things would have to be changed," Said Rajoy during a newspaper interview on Saturday.

The remarks were made as Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and officials in the regional parliament have vowed to push ahead with a plan to declare independence from Spain despite Madrid's opposition to the vote, which manifested itself in unprecedented police violence on the day of the controversial vote last week.

"I hope that the Catalonia that makes pacts, is moderate and for many years contributed to Spain's economic growth and improvement in welfare and wealth returns. It can't be in the hands of extremists, the radicals and the (far-left secessionist party) CUP," added Rajoy.

"I would like the threat of an independence declaration to be withdrawn as quickly as possible," he added.

Meanwhile, people in at least 50 cities across Spain held demonstrations in support of the country's unity.

Last Sunday, the Spanish government went out of its way to avert the referendum, raiding venues and confiscating ballot boxes and papers, arresting officials, and even installing police forces at sites where polling stations managed to get set up to physically remove voters. Security forces used batons and rubber bullets to disperse crowds of voters, wounding nearly 900 people.

Despite the crackdown, some 2.26 million of Catalonia's 5.3 million registered voters managed to cast their ballots, according to figures released by the regional government, which said the turnout had been some 43 percent. Ninety percent of the participants voted in favor of secession from Spain, the regional government said.

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Spanish Prime Minister Vows to Prevent Catalan Independence

Sputnik News

05:34 08.10.2017(updated 12:58 08.10.2017)

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has announced that the Spanish government will prevent the unilateral declaration of independence by the country's northeastern autonomous from becoming a reality.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Spanish government will prevent the situation, where a unilateral declaration of independence by the country's northeastern autonomous region of Catalonia would have any outcome, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said.

On October 1, Catalonia held the independence referendum, which is not recognized by the Spanish authorities. The official results of the vote show that 90.18 percent, or more than 2.28 million voters, favored secession of Catalonia from Spain, with turnout exceeding 43 percent.

"The government will resist the situation, when any declaration of [Catalonia's] independence would have any results," Rajoy said in an interview with El Pais newspaper published on Saturday.

The Spanish official added that the Catalan movement aimed at obtaining more autonomy for the region should be peaceful and be conducted "within the framework of treaties."

"Spain will be Spain and will continue to be it for a long time," the prime minister added.

Rajoy said that the government would protect the country's unity and sovereignty and would take all necessary steps trying to make as less harm as possible to achieve these goals.

"I would like [Catalan authorities] to abandon the idea of a unilateral declaration of independence as soon as possible or many issues will be more complicated in the future. If they abandon [the idea] they will avoid the worst case scenario The imitation of a referendum had a negative impact on everyone. We can see the economic outcome in the tourist sphere, as well as for businesspeople," the head of the Spanish government said.

He added that there was no such government in the world that would be engaged in a dialogue about the country's unity against the backdrop of threats to this unity.

"It is impossible to build anything under the threat of blackmail It is absolutely inappropriate that they [the Catalan authorities] strive for the declaration of independence to come into effect on the next day or that it would be a postponed declaration of independence," the prime minister said.

The Catalan parliament is expected to hold a session on Tuesday, during which it might launch the process of Catalonia's secession from Spain.

 Sputnik

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Catalonians Rally in Barcelona to Protest Push for Secession From Spain

By VOA News October 08, 2017

Catalonians are rallying in Barcelona to protest the Catalan government's push for secession from Spain.

Police say 350,000 demonstrators attended, while organizers say more than 900,000 people joined in. The march was peaceful and no major incidents were reported.

"We have perhaps been silent too long," one protester told the French news agency on Sunday.

Last week, Catalonians voted overwhelmingly for independence. In that poll, deemed illegal by Madrid, 90 percent voted to break with Spain, but the turnout was well under half of the electorate.

Opinion polls have consistently suggested more Catalans favor remaining in Spain than declaring independence.

Organizers say the slogan for Sunday's rally is "Enough, let's recover good sense."

Protesters gathered at Barcelona's Urquinaona square are singing "Viva Espana."

Catalonian leaders, now faced with tough decisions on how to proceed, are calling for dialogue with Spain's national government.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says he will not rule out using constitutional powers to take away Catalonia's autonomous status, if the region declares independence.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais published Sunday, Rajoy said that he will consider employing any measure "allowed by the law'' to stop the region's separatists.

On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered at rallies in Barcelona, Madrid and other Spanish cities to demand dialogue to end the dispute.

Secessionist anger in Catalonia has intensified following the violence last Sunday when Spain's national police and Civil Guard fired rubber bullets, roughed up Catalans and raided polling stations as part of an effort to disrupt the plebiscite. Catalan authorities say almost 900 people were hurt in the crackdown.

With the crisis deepening, and no sign of an end to political instability, some Catalan businesses have announced they are relocating their headquarters to other parts of Spain to avoid the possibility of getting knocked out of the European Union common market by a Catalonian secession.

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US Lawmakers Eye Tougher Sanctions Against Hezbollah

By Mehdi Jedinia October 08, 2017

Members of the U.S. Congress are seeking new tools to stop the flow of cash to the militant group Hezbollah in hopes of reducing its ability to recruit, raise funds and carry out propaganda.

"We have got to double down on the money that's coming in from Iran and coming in from Syria," said Representative Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and one of the originators of a bipartisan bill to levy new sanctions on the group.

The bill is co-sponsored by Representative Eliot Engel, the most senior Democrat on the foreign affairs committee. Speaking at a recent event on the bill, Engel said this legislation updates U.S. sanctions passed against Hezbollah two years ago.

"I'm a firm believer that we need to do everything we can to isolate Hezbollah  as recruiters, financiers, weapons traffickers and propagandists  and that's why I'm pleased to be the lead Democratic sponsor of Chairman Royce's bill," Engel said.

"This legislation updates the Hezbollah sanctions that we passed two years ago to push back against Hezbollah's financial patrons, including Iran."

Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based Shi'ite militant group and has enjoyed backing from Iran since its creation in 1982. It has played a major role in the Syrian civil war in support of President Bashar al-Assad, building up its supply of missiles and expanding its influence within the region.

For US, a terrorist organization

The United States has declared Hezbollah a terrorist organization, making it illegal under U.S. law to provide support or resources to the group.

Some analysts say existing sanctions against Hezbollah have failed to seriously reduce its sources of funding.

"Despite the ongoing U.S. sanctions on this organization, Hezbollah's financial activities remained intact, and its revenues have reached to almost a billion dollar annually," said Yaya J. Fanusie of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, organizer of the event where Royce and Engel spoke.

Fanusie said Tehran is by far the main source of funding for Hezbollah. "Iran remains Hezbollah's primary source of financial support and is the [source for almost 80 percent] of it," he said.

Royce said the proposed legislation would close a number of loopholes allowing funding to reach Hezbollah. "It gives us additional leverage."

Engel also accuses Russia of helping Hezbollah and said he hopes his legislation will target its enablers.

"Russian coordination with Hezbollah has increased with their support of Hezbollah on the Syrian battlefield," he said.

"And this legislation also targets Hezbollah's fund-raising, recruitment and propaganda activities, as well as those states that are providing weapons, financial, and material support to Hezbollah. Now is the time to choke off Hezbollah's assets, and that's why we must pass this legislation into law."

The bill recommends sanctions against foreign states that support Hezbollah.

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Army rolls out latest version of iconic Abrams Main Battle Tank

By Ms. Ashley Givens (ASA (ALT)) October 9, 2017

LIMA, Ohio -- On Wednesday, Oct. 4, members of the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center workforce celebrated the delivery of the next iteration of the iconic Abrams Main Battle Tank as the Army accepted the first of six M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version 3 initial production vehicles.

Production for the M1A2 SEPv3 is being conducted at JSMC in Lima, Ohio and at the Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Alabama.

"This version is the most modernized configuration of the Abrams tank, having improved force protection and system survivability enhancements and increased lethality over the M1A1 and previous M1A2 variants," said Lt. Col. Justin Shell, the Army's product manager for Abrams. "The Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tank will be the foundation for future incremental system upgrades and can host any mature technology the Army deems operationally relevant."

"The Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 is the first in a series of new or significantly improved vehicles that we will be delivering to the Army's ABCTs," said Maj. Gen. David Bassett, program executive officer for Ground Combat Systems. "It is a great step forward in reliability, sustainability, protection, and on-board power which positions the Abrams tank and our ABCTs for the future. Even in a fiscal environment that has greatly hampered our ability to move towards entirely new vehicles, the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 shows we can still deliver meaningful and operationally relevant improvements."

The SEPv3 will replace the M1A2 SEPv2 which has been in production since 2005. In 2011, the Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems was directed by the Army to execute Engineering Change Proposals to restore lost capability and allow the capacity for the insertion of new technologies.

The M1A2 SEPv3 improvements include:

- Joint Tactical Radio System: Integration of the Government Furnished Equipment Joint Tactical Radio System Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Fit radio to support the need to establish network readiness and maintain battle command and communications interoperability with future Brigade Combat Teams.

- Power Generation and Distribution: Aspects include Improved Amperage Alternator, Slip Ring, Enhanced Hull Power Distribution Unit/Common Remote Switching Modules, and the Battery Monitoring System. These technologies address the power demand growth potential and the need for dissemination of critical information.

- Line Replaceable Unit/Line Replaceable Modules Redesign: Migration of current force Abrams platforms to a two-level maintenance scheme can be initiated through the implementation of Line Replaceable Module technology.

Counter Remote Control Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare V3: Counter Remote Control Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare/Duke V3 is the latest version from PM CREW.

Ammunition Data Link: The ADL is required to program the M829A4 Advanced Kinetic Energy and Advanced Multi-Purpose rounds.

Auxiliary Power Unit: The under armor APU provides capability to operate on-board systems with a reduced probability of detection during silent watch operations.

Armor Upgrades: The Abrams Tank will continue to advance its ballistic protection to counter the latest threats and maintain battlefield superiority.

"These vehicles are not just about assuring our allies, or deterring or coercing potential adversaries," added Bassett. "They are about compelling our enemies and winning the multi-domain battle."

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In face of North Korean threats, Fort Greely stands ready on frontline

By Sean Kimmons, Army News Service October 9, 2017

FORT GREELY, Alaska -- A small, remote Alaskan post bordered by mountains and moose herds, Fort Greely is America's major line of defense against long-range enemy rockets.

Inside its heavily-guarded Missile Defense Complex, rows of ground-based interceptor missiles that are tucked away in underground silos and radars dot the landscape. Within minutes, the missiles can blast off into space to collide with and destroy warheads speeding toward U.S. soil.

Using data from sea, land and space-based sensors, Soldiers of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion can spot a rocket launch from anywhere in the world. If an attack occurs, the 100th Missile Defense Brigade in Colorado Springs, Colorado, would then relay permission for the battalion to fire.

A number of recent rocket launches have originated from North Korea, which has threatened it could strike the U.S. with an intercontinental ballistic missile -- a powerful rocket capable of hitting a target with a nuclear weapon.

Despite the new threats, Lt. Col. Orlando Ortega, the battalion commander, said his well-trained Alaskan National Guard unit operates in a constant state of readiness.

"We've always been ready," he said. "Nothing really has changed from what we did a year ago. We were ready then and we're ready now."

Still, North Korea has kept the Soldiers busy.

Since late 2011, when Kim Jong-un took over after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, the country has conducted four nuclear tests. The most recent was a miniaturized hydrogen bomb last month, which is believed to be the biggest test yet.

Earlier this year, Gen. Vincent Brooks, who leads all U.S. forces in South Korea, said Kim Jong-un has launched more than 120 missiles. That's twice as many missiles as his father and grandfather, Kim Il-sung, fired altogether in 40 years.

"Any launch that goes on, [Defense Department] sensors are able to pick it up and take it as a possible threat," Ortega said. "We will go through our procedures to ensure where it is going and if we have to defend the United States."

AT THE READY

The battalion has missile defense crew members who work 12-hour shifts around the clock so they can immediately react if a foreign country launches a rocket.

A five-person crew will staff a fire control node at all times. There, Soldiers have several computers, monitors and communication equipment to stay informed or relay any new developments. It's also where Soldiers can launch an interceptor missile to defeat an enemy rocket, if approved to do so.

By the end of the year, the U.S. military is expected to add eight more interceptors to its arsenal for a total of 44. The vast majority -- 40 -- will be based at Fort Greely and the rest at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

At Greely, crews train constantly to fight off complacency during their long shifts, in case they have to fire one or more of the missiles. Such training can include practicing real-life scenarios or learning complex software systems. Those skills are then tested by internal and external evaluations.

"If we're not at the top of our game, we are our harshest critics," said Maj. Bernard Smith, director of the Alpha crew. "We will do everything we can to get to the top of our game and maintain that level of proficiency at all times."

Team building is also paramount for Soldiers because of the consequences of failing to work as a crew. While confined together in a one-room node, the bond among crew members can grow strong.

With a diverse team of skilled Soldiers from Alaska to Puerto Rico, Smith said his crew is supportive and will often teach each other new things during shifts.

"I'm not very stressed when I come into work because I trust my crew -- we are a family," Smith, 50, said. "If there are any issues or problems they know we can come together as a crew, as a family, and accomplish anything."

ARCTIC LIVING

One of the major's crew members, Capt. Gilberto Ortiz, described the battalion -- made up of Soldiers on Active Guard Reserve status -- as a brotherhood.

About eight years ago, Ortiz left the warm climate of Puerto Rico for the arctic cold to protect the complex from intruders as a military police officer. When he heard of the missile defense crews, he decided to switch careers.

"It was something new [to me], something I didn't know about," said Ortiz, 32, who is now the crew's battle analyst. "I was like, 'OK, I'll do it. I'm up for the challenge.'"

Before coming on board, his first challenge when he arrived at Fort Greely was battling the weather, which can drop down to 60 below in the winter.

He learned how to wear layers, he said, and eventually acclimatized to the cold. He even earned the "Arctic" uniform tab after he graduated from the nearby Northern Warfare Training Center, which tests the cold-weather skills of Soldiers.

"The longer you stay here, the more you feel you are at home," said Ortiz, who lives with his wife and two children at Fort Greely. "[My] true home is thousands of miles away, but for me this is my second home."

When she landed her assignment, Sgt. Bethany Hendren was eager to leave Missouri and head up north.

"I fell in love with Alaska before I got here, because I love to travel and go to new places," Hendren, 29, said.

Similar to Ortiz, the sergeant was originally an MP and chose to change career fields while at Fort Greely. She now works as the crew's communications operator, where she monitors and reports all radio traffic on the ground-based fire control system.

While off-duty, she has another mission to help serve fellow Soldiers as the local president of the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program.

Being isolated in Alaska -- which only has a few hours of sunlight during the winter -- can sometimes impact a person's well-being. So, Herndon reaches out to Soldiers and invites them to events, where they can be more active and social.

"It is an austere environment and the winter months can be quite demanding at times," she said, "but I offer different programs and events for Soldiers to be involved in and to get out there and see Alaska."

'BULLET WITH A BULLET'

Fort Greely's infrastructure was made to be resilient, too. The post is self-sustaining with its own water supply and power plant, so operations won't be affected if electricity is cut to surrounding areas.

Security measures and sophisticated sensors can pick up any movement around the complex. Even when a moose or another animal triggers a sensor, MPs will always check it out.

"We take anything that comes in as a possible intrusion," Ortega said, "and we will have eyes on it physically and with cameras to ensure that it is not someone trying to come on."

All of these precautions go into being able to complete an incredibly difficult mission, where even the slightest miscalculation can result in failure.

Once an interceptor is launched, it releases a kill vehicle that travels roughly 15,000 mph in space and is maneuvered to collide with an enemy warhead.

"It is extremely hard to hit a bullet with a bullet," Ortega said.

The Missile Defense Agency tests interceptors out of Vandenberg AFB. While there have been past successful hits on targets in space, several interceptors can be fired at the same time, if necessary, to ensure an enemy warhead is shot down.

"We have confidence in the missiles and the capability," Ortega said, "but we will ensure with 100 percent confidence that it is destroyed."

That's a promise the entire battalion must keep, since over 320 million Americans depend on it.

As the lowest ranking member of her crew, Herndon -- just like the other Soldiers -- has embraced the huge responsibility of defeating a warhead if the time comes.

"We don't want L.A. or Seattle or any other part of our country to be attacked. It's as simple as that," she said.

"Of course we have our offense ready to go as well, but we're the only defense out there that can actually stop and prevent it from coming into our country," she added. "We're the shield."

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Secretary General meets with Romanian President and Prime Minister, visits NATO troops

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

09 Oct. 2017

During a visit to Romania, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today (Monday 9th October) met with the President of Romania, Klaus Werner Iohannis, and Prime Minister Mihai Tudose.

Following the Secretary General's meeting with President Iohannis, at which the two discussed how NATO is responding to the challenges NATO faces, Mr. Stoltenberg thanked Romania for its many contributions to the Alliance  including its continuing support for NATO's missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, and its hosting of a new multinational brigade. He also praised the Romanian government's announcement that it will meet the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence this year; Romania is "leading by example", he said, "helping to give the Alliance the capabilities we need, and ensuring fairer-burden-sharing".

The Secretary General also met with Prime Minister Mihai Tudose. Speaking alongside the Prime Minister at a joint press conference, Mr Stoltenberg acknowledged the "steadfast contributions" Romania makes to NATO on issues as diverse as cyber-defence and ballistic missile defence. He also restated his congratulations to Romania for its announcement on defence spending, saying that the decision "will strengthen the defences of Romania" and "strengthen NATO".

Following his meetings in Bucharest, the Secretary General travelled with President Iohannis to visit troops serving in the new multinational brigade based at Craiova as part of NATO's tailored Forward presence in the South-east of the Alliance. The unit, which includes troops from Romania and Poland, is helping to coordinate Allied training and exercises in the region. Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain are also providing staff to the brigade headquarters.

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Nutrition crisis deepening in Mali's conflict-affected areas: UNICEF

Iran Press TV

Mon Oct 9, 2017 05:59PM

The United Nations children's agency (UNICEF) has warned that the lives of tens of thousands of children in Mali are being threatened by acute malnutrition as violence and instability fuel a deepening nutrition crisis in the West African country.

In a report published on Monday, the agency said that an estimated 165,000 children were expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition across Mali in 2018, up from a total of 142,000 registered this year.

The rate of acute malnutrition among under-five children in the conflict-ridden areas of Timbuktu and Gao has reached "critical" levels and above 15 percent on the World Health Organization's classification scale, while the national rate also remains very high, according to the UNICEF report.

New government data also revealed that at least a tenth of children across Mali were suffering from global acute malnutrition.

"Behind these figures are the lives of the most vulnerable and forgotten girls and boys in Mali," said UNICEF Representative Lucia Elmi in a press release.

"We must provide life-saving treatment and ensure each and every one of these children can fully recover. At the same time, we need to invest in the critical first 1,000 days of the lives of children to reduce the risk of acute malnutrition from occurring in the first place," she added.

Children who suffer from the severe form of acute malnutrition have grave muscle wasting, very low weight for their height, and are nine times more likely to die in case of disease - such as diarrhea or malaria - due to a weakened immune system.

UNICEF also expressed alarm over the violence in northern Mali that has so far displaced tens of thousands of people, disrupted health services, hindered access to water and sanitation and left even more children at risk.

"Efforts need to be intensified to build the resilience of families through improved food security, prevention and treatment of severe acute malnutrition, access to water and sanitation," said Noel Zagre, a nutrition advisor with UNICEF.

In 2012, militant groups linked to al-Qaeda exploited an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel uprising and took control of key cities in Mali's north.

While the militants were largely ousted by a French-led military operation, attacks have continued on UN peacekeepers (MINUSMA) and French forces, civilians, and the Malian army.

Former rebels still control the northern city of Kidal, and fighting between groups previously loyal to the Tuareg rebellion and pro-government militia is common, in violation of a ceasefire.

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Indian Peacekeepers in Congo Foil Major Attack by Rebels

Sputnik News

16:33 09.10.2017(updated 16:55 09.10.2017)

Indian Army officials have said that the armed Mai Mai attacked the Indian Army's Lubero post, but the forces successfully thwarted the rebel attack.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik)  Indian troops deployed in war-ravaged Congo under the United Nations banner came under a rare frontal attack by militants on Friday. The Indian Army has confirmed that two rebels were killed in the retaliatory action.

"Since the beginning of 2017, the rebels have regularly attacked Army positions in North and South Kivu. On October 6, the Indian battalion had strongly repelled one such attack. During the operation, two rebels were gunned down and two others were injured. Two Indian soldiers also suffered minor injuries," a defense official said.

It is said that more than 30 armed rebels had targeted the Indian troops at Lubero.

"At around 02:00 GMT, a group of armed men, probably Mai-Mai, attacked the MONUSCO (UN mission in the DRC) position near central Lubero," General Bernard Commins, Deputy Chief of the UN troops in the restive country, further added.

Last month, Indian troops had extricated 22 children including six girls from Nyabiondo who were kidnapped by rebels to use them as child soldiers. The Indian troops had also foiled an attempt by the rebels to displace an entire village involving more than 200 families in the Miriki area.

Presently, more than 2,600 Indian troops are deployed as peacekeepers under the UN flag in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They conduct 2,300 patrols per month to ensure the protection of civilians.

 Sputnik

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Deadly Attacks Prompt ICRC to 'Drastically' Cut Afghan Operations

By Ayaz Gul October 09, 2017

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has decided to "drastically" reduce its presence and relief operations in war-torn Afghanistan, citing a series of recent attacks that have killed seven of its staff, including a foreigner.

"This is a difficult moment for the ICRC and the staff. After 30 years of continuous presence in the country, we are reducing our presence and operations," said Monica Zanarelli, the aid group's county head, on Monday.

"But let's be very clear, we are not leaving Afghanistan," she explained to reporters in Kabul.

There have been security incidents over the past 30 years undermining relief activities, said Zanarelli, but three direct attacks in northern Afghanistan since last December have particularly affected the ICRC on the whole.

They included last month's attack on the biggest rehabilitation center in the country located in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, in which a 38-year-old Spanish physiotherapist, Lorena Enebral, was shot and killed by a patient inside the orthopedic facility.

"This last incident has really hit us in our heart in a place that has always been considered as the safest place for everyone in Afghanistan treating the most vulnerable people for decades and being hit directly by a long-term patient has been really a shock not only for us in Afghanistan but for the whole organization across the world," she said.

The ICRC's office in the northern volatile provinces of Faryab and Kunduz will be closed by end of the year while the main office in Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of Balkh province, will be "seriously downsized," explained the country head.

Among other latest security incidents that prompted the ICRC to scale back its Afghan operations was the abduction of an ICRC staff member in Kunduz in December 2016 who was released four weeks later.

The incident was followed by the killing of six staff and the abduction of two others after militants attacked an ICRC relief mission passing through the northern Jawzjan province.

The abductees were released in early September, just days before the Spanish physiotherapist was gunned down in Mazar-i-Sharif.

These incidents left the organization with "no other choice but to drastically reduce" its relief activities in the country, said Zanarelli. She said the ICRC is still not clear about reasons for these attacks and refused to speculate on who could be behind them.

The Taliban has denied involvement in any of the attacks on ICRC. Some local media reports said militants linked to the Islamic State were behind some of them.

Currently, ICRC has 1,800 staff in Afghanistan, including 120 foreigners, she said.

U.N.-led relief groups say millions of war-hit and poverty-stricken Afghans are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance across Afghanistan and the intensified conflict continues to uproot tens of thousands of families.

While Afghan security forces are struggling to contain the Taliban insurgency in most of the country's 34 provinces, IS loyalists have also stepped up attacks in Afghanistan.

U.N. officials say conflict related Afghan civilian casualties have already hit new highs this year.

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Report: Russian Operatives Bought Google Ads to Sway US Election

By Ken Bredemeier October 09, 2017

Russian operatives bought tens of thousands of dollars of advertising on the giant internet search engine Google last year in an attempt to help real estate mogul Donald Trump win the U.S. presidency, according to a new report from The Washington Post.

People familiar with an investigation by Google told the newspaper the global technology company found that the Russian agents aimed to spread disinformation about the 2016 election across several Google platforms, including its YouTube video site, Google search and its DoubleClick ad program.

The discovery by Google, according to the newspaper, appears to show that the ads were not from the same Kremlin-affiliated group that bought election-themed material on the popular social media Facebook site.

There has been no immediate comment on the report by Google or U.S. officials.

The reported revelation about a Russian link to Google operations comes as numerous congressional committees are in the midst of months of investigations about Russian meddling in the election, a campaign the U.S. intelligence community has concluded was directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to undermine U.S. democracy and help Trump defeat his Democratic challenger, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In addition, Robert Mueller, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is conducting a criminal probe, including whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian operatives during the election season and whether Trump obstructed justice by firing another former FBI chief, James Comey, when he was heading the agency's Russia investigation before Mueller took over.

Trump has denied any campaign collusion with Russia, but told a television interviewer he was thinking of "this Russia thing" when he decided to oust Comey in May. A day after dismissing Comey, Trump boasted to two Russian officials at a White House meeting that he had fired him and called Comey "crazy, a real nut job."

Trump told the Russian officials, "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off."

But a few days later, Mueller, over Trump's objections, was named to handle the independent criminal investigation of the Russian meddling in the election.

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China Ramping Up Aid to Philippines as Both Pursue Deeper Relationship

By Ralph Jennings October 09, 2017

China is stepping up aid to the Philippines, including a proposal to seek oil together offshore and a gift of arms to help Manila fight a Muslim rebel insurgency, indicating that both sides want an extra-firm friendship despite an unsettled maritime dispute.

Three firms, including China's state-owned offshore oil driller CNOOC are awaiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's signature to explore for fuel reserves under a 7,120-square-kilometer tract of water off the Philippine west coast.

Last week the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on its website China had donated 3,000 assault rifles, with 3 million rounds of ammunition, to help the military fight the ISIS-sympathetic Maute Group rebels in a war-torn southern city.

The transactions, alongside infrastructure aid from China, indicate that both countries want as much from each other as the other can accommodate. They made peace only in 2016 after four years of squabbling over maritime sovereignty.

China pursues an oil exploration partnership

Officials in China "would want as much they can get," said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Philippine advocacy organization Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.

"I would say the Filipinos are very nationalist in their position, particularly with regards to the South China Sea, but then the friendship I think is well received here."

Beijing is chasing stronger alliances around Southeast Asia to ease hostility over its claims to nearly the whole South China Sea. A world arbitration court said in mid-2016 China lacked a legal basis to assert those rights.

The Chinese claim overlaps the exclusive economic zones of four Southeast Asian states including the Philippines. Those countries chafe at China's passage of ships and buildup of artificial islands for military infrastructure.

Chinese aid

China is offering aid and investment to rival claimants Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, as well as to the Philippines. But President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila welcomes China with special enthusiasm as part of his shift away from dependence on the United States.

Chinese success in exchanging aid for political tolerance anywhere in the Asia hinges on the other side's interest, said Song Seng Wun, Southeast Asia-specialized economist with the private banking unit of CIMB in Singapore.

"It is always a case of the other side (being) more welcoming," Song said. "On the case of the Philippines, obviously you have a president, and he really wants to do it, so you're talking about playing the Chinese off the Americans."

US / Philippines

The United States has been an ally of the Philippines since its colonization of the Southeast Asian country ended in 1946. China opposes the U.S. military presence near the disputed sea, however, while Duterte resents Washington's criticism of his deadly anti-drug campaign.

But Duterte swung back toward the United States last week with a pitch for more economic partnerships.

China may have donated the rifles, the second installment of its kind, to offset U.S. aid, analysts say.

The United States does joint naval patrols with the Philippines and since 2002 it has placed 50 to 100 special forces on the southern island Mindanao to help control violent rebels such as the Maute Group.

China becoming more popular

Filipinos' positive sentiment toward China has risen 17 percentage points since 2014, the Pew Research Center said last month. Positive sentiment toward the United States fell from 92 to 78 percent over the past two years, it found.

China pledged $24 billion in aid after Duterte visited Beijing in October. Three months later China and the Philippines agreed to $3.7 billion in Chinese investment covering 30 projects.

China competes as well with Japan for aid and investment in a $167 billion, five-year Philippine effort to modernize infrastructure. Japan, a U.S. ally that has its own political disputes with Beijing, is vying with China for alliances around much of developing Asia.

"If you look at the (official development aid), you're seeing more from the Japanese than the Chinese," said Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist with Banco de Oro UniBank in Metro Manila.

Philippines still wary

Filipinos want China's aid, an outgrowth of the $11.2 trillion Chinese economy, as long as it comes without political strings such as conceding disputed tracts of sea, scholars in Manila say.

Prior Chinese efforts at joint maritime oil exploration with Southeast Asian states have failed before because of questions about who would own any discoveries.

China's CNOOC owns 51 percent of the Calamian oil field being considered for joint exploration now, while Philippine National Oil Company has 28 percent. Jadestone Energy of Singapore has another stake.

China and the Philippines have discussed offshore oil cooperation since late last year.

"Everyone's waiting at the sidelines," Ravelas said. "It's really the devil is in the details. Basically, what would be the revenue share? What will China bring to the table?"

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Puerto Rico Governor Updates Pence on Recovery Efforts

By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2017  Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said today he briefed Vice President Mike Pence yesterday on the recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and underscored the need for urgent, ongoing support following the devastation from Hurricane Maria.

In a news conference today in San Juan, Rossello noted -- as Pence said yesterday during a visit to the island -- that President Donald J. Trump's administration is committed to the immediate and long-term needs of Puerto Rico.

"The vice president has a deep understanding that although a lot of the efforts are going on, there is still a lot to be done here in Puerto Rico," Rossello said.

The governor commended Pence for visiting the island. "We're grateful for his leadership, for his faith in the efforts that we are doing and of course his continued support for the people of Puerto Rico," he said.

The governor said he will reiterate to a congressional delegation visiting Puerto Rico today the need for urgent action, due to the magnitude of the challenges.

Working with Partners

Puerto Rico officials continue to work closely with the Defense Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as with Emergency Management Assistance Compact partners, he noted.

"We have 12,300 DoD personnel here in Puerto Rico, more than 600 FEMA and more than 2,000 EMACs from 25 states in Puerto Rico serving through the emergency," he said, adding that the hospital ship USNS Comfort is serving around Puerto Rico with a capacity of about 1,000 patients.

DoD is working to establish hospital capabilities that will be built in the next weeks in Humacao and Aguadilla, the governor said. Those facilities will benefit not only those areas, but also the island as a whole, he pointed out.

The governor said 56 percent of the island has access to drinking water, with more than 700,000 clients with service. However, he added, the percentage is less than 50 in the island's northern and northwestern areas.

"So our focus will be on those areas both on generators and on getting bottled water and [water stations] to those sites," he said.

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Distributing Food, Water Remains Top Priority, Puerto Rico Governor Says

By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2017  The distribution of food and water remains the top priority in Puerto Rico following the devastation from Hurricane Maria, Gov. Ricardo Rossello said today at a news conference in San Juan.

Puerto Rico officials continue to work closely with the Defense Department, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and with state partners through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, he said.

"We have over 12,000 -- almost 13,000 --- DoD personnel in Puerto Rico, over 4,000 Puerto Rico National Guard and EMACs together," he said. "There's an expectation of 3,000 more to come to Puerto Rico in the next couple of weeks as well."

Puerto Rico Guard Delivering Essentials

The Puerto Rico National Guard will deploy to the municipalities to help distribute food more effectively, he said, noting complaints of food not being properly delivered.

"Water and food delivery keeps being a top priority, making sure the people of Puerto Rico have the elements important to survive through this crisis," he said.

Other priorities include restoring energy through generators or the power grid, as well as hospital sustainment and repair and maintenance of generators.

USNS Comfort Mission in Aguadilla

The hospital ship USNS Comfort is deployed today on a mission to Aguadilla, the governor said.

"I remind you that it has the capacity of having about 1,000 patients and 250 beds," he added.

USNS Comfort has more than 800 personnel embarked for the mission, including Navy medical and support staff assembled from 22 commands, as well as more than 70 civil service mariners, Navy Medicine East officials said. Navy Medicine East is one of two regional commands that manage the Navy's worldwide health care system.

Help With Prescriptions from HHS

Thanks to an effort with the Department of Health and Human Services, the governor said, the island will now have the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program to help 500,000 residents who do not have access to health care.

The governor said he stressed the urgent needs of the island to a visiting congressional delegation yesterday, calling for an immediate relief package for at least $4.6 billion and then a longer-term recovery package.

Website Provides Status Updates

In addition, he said, people can visit http://www.status.pr for status updates regarding the recovery efforts. An icon in the home page's top-right corner allows the user to see the site in either English or Spanish.

As of this morning, the website reported 78 percent of the island's 1,100 gas stations are open, 77 percent of the 456 supermarkets are open, and 66 assisted hospitals are operational.

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EU 'Ready To Welcome' Lukashenka To Upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit

Rikard Jozwiak October 09, 2017

BRUSSELS -- EU sources say the bloc is ready to welcome Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to its Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit next month.

Sources close to the matter told RFE/RL on October 9 that Belarus was invited to participate in the November 24 summit in Brussels "without restrictions" -- just like the five other EaP members: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The invitations for the event were sent to EaP countries on October 6.

Ahead of the previous four EaP summits, the EU made it clear that Lukashenka, who has ruled Belarus for 21 years and been called the "last dictator of Europe," was not welcome.

Minsk was represented by Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makey at the last such summit, held in Riga in 2015.

The EU launched the Eastern Partnership in 2009 to promote economic integration and European values in the six Eastern European and Caucasus countries.

Lukashenka, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, won a fifth term in 2015 in an election that was judged by Western monitors to be neither free nor fair.

The EU introduced restrictive measures against the country in 2004 in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, a businessman, and a journalist.

The European Council adopted further sanctions in the wake of the crackdown that followed the previous presidential election in December 2010.

But in February 2016, the EU lifted most sanctions against the country -- asset freezes and visa bans on 170 Belarusians, including Lukashenka and senior officials, and restrictive measures against 14 companies -- "in response to the release of all Belarusian political prisoners on August 22 and in the context of improving EU-Belarus relations."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-eu -ready-to-welcome-lukashenka-eastern- partnership/28782982.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US alarmed by China's increasing global military role: Report

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 7, 2017 10:54AM

China's inauguration of its first military base abroad in Djibouti has raised concerns among US intelligence officials that Beijing's growing military presence around the world could spark a conflict of interests among the two sides, a report says.

"China has the fastest-modernizing military in the world next to the United States," New York-based Bloomberg News quoted US intelligence officials as saying on condition of anonymity on Friday.

That will establish "new areas of intersection -- and potentially conflicting -- security interests between China and the United States and other countries abroad," added the officials.

They said China's base in Djibouti is "probably the first of many" Beijing intends to build across the globe, which could bring its interests into conflict with that of Washington.

China's first overseas military facility was inaugurated on August 1 after being under construction for more than a year. China's military presence in Djibouti will continue until 2026, with a contingent of up to 10,000 soldiers. Beijing held military exercises at the facility for the first time last month.

Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, is strategically located in the entrance from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and lies at the gateway to the busy Suez Canal. It provides a port to neighboring landlocked Ethiopia. The United States, France, Japan, and several other countries already have a military presence in Djibouti.

"Chinese leaders see the US-led world order, most notably the US alliance network and promotion of US values worldwide, as constraining China's rise and are attempting to reshape the world order to better suit Chinese preferences and growing clout," the intelligence officials further emphasized.

According to the report, the Djibouti base of the People's Liberation Army would back up the military's naval escort, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions across Africa and western Asia as well as military drills and emergency evacuation.

The report further said, as part of China's expanding military and economic clout, Beijing is hardening its position regarding territorial claims in the South China Sea, Taiwan and in promoting its "One Belt, One Road" trade initiative.

It then cites the intelligence officials as saying that where Chinese interests are in conflict with those of Washington, Beijing is "actively seeking to undermine US influence."

The report also points to strong opposition to transfer of US technology to China by Stephen Bannon -- ultra-right media figure and recent chief strategist to US President Donald Trump  who described it as "the single biggest economic and business issue of our time" and further insisted that "if we don't get our situation sorted with China, we'll be destroyed economically."

The report also cites US intelligence authorities as suggesting that Beijing is aware of the "threat" such perception poses to its ambitions, adding, "Beijing is trying to downplay concerns that this state-led technology acquisition drive creates an unlevel playing field, forces technology transfer to China, limits foreign companies' access to the Chinese market, and is a threat to US and other countries' economic strength."

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Analyst Raises Scenario of China's Takeover of North Korea, Others Have Doubts

By Natalie Liu October 07, 2017

A longtime editor of a magazine that specializes in global power politics recently put forth a scenario where China would stage a takeover of North Korea, giving Washington and the rest of the world a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula.

Bill Emmott, the former editor-in-chief of The Economist magazine, said such a move by China would not only gain Beijing a solid foothold on the Korean Peninsula, but also the opportunity to strengthen its own geopolitical position, enhance its global power status, perhaps even the ability to claim the reputation of a peacemaker.

That is the "least bad military option" vis a vis North Korea, Emmott said, in that it would avoid subjecting U.S. allies in Asia, including South Korea and Japan, to North Korea's retaliation that could potentially devastate large parts of South Korea.

China's takeover of North Korea, as Emmott sees it, would put North Korea "where the country's post-Korean War history suggests it belongs: under a Chinese nuclear umbrella, benefiting from a credible security guarantee."

He also said he sees incentives for North Koreans to go along with the plan: "Whereas a nuclear exchange with the U.S. would mean devastation, submission to China would promise survival, and presumably a degree of continued autonomy."

Emmott said this strategy could win over a majority of North Korea's military, "except those closest to Kim."

Biggest winner: China

The biggest winner from such a takeover, however, would be China, he said.

"Not only control of what happens on the Korean Peninsula, where it presumably would be able to establish military bases, but also regional gratitude for having prevented a catastrophic war," Emmott said.

In addition, a successful military campaign would bring China "huge reserves of soft power," such as the ability to influence future events in the region and worldwide, he said.

Washington's desire to ensure that North Korea does not possess nuclear weapons presents China, which many argue is America's foremost geopolitical rival, the best opportunity to achieve greater strategic and power parity with the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region, while removing, in Emmott's words, "a source of instability that threatens both Washington and Beijing."

Emmott acknowledges that "any military intervention, Chinese or otherwise, would carry huge risks."

Some scholars put the question bluntly: How does China take over North Korea without being nuked itself?

Problems with the scenario

Emmott posits his thesis of a Chinese takeover of North Korea on the latter's desire for "some sort of credible security guarantee in exchange for curtailing its nuclear program" while not risking total destruction.

Others suggest China's neighbor to the east might value independence more than a security guarantee, especially from neighbors along its border.

Evans J.R. Revere, a senior foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank, told VOA: "I cannot imagine North Korea ever acceding to the notion of Chinese dominance, particularly of the form that the author describes.

"Say what you will about North Korea, the essence of its approach to the world is its fervent, fanatical nationalism and its race-based belief in the superiority of its system," said Revere, a former State Department official who has traveled to North Korea over a half-dozen times.

While China and North Korea have been described as allies who at least at one time enjoyed "lips and teeth" relations, meaning one of interdependence, Revere points out that anti-Chinese sentiment in North Korea "runs deep."

"North Korea's hypernationalism has been deeply ingrained in the society and political culture at all levels, so it would be hard to imagine any significant group of people in the country who would be receptive" to the notion of domination by the Chinese, or any other country, he said.

Suspicion and resentment of outside influence by key neighbors such as China and Russia are not a new phenomenon, Revere added. He pointed to Kim Jong Un's grandfather, the country's founder.

"Kim Il Sung purged the pro-Soviet and pro-Chinese Koreans during the mid-1950s," he said, adding that declassified material from the archives of the former Soviet Union "also point to significant debates, rivalry, and even political warfare between the North Koreans and the Chinese during the Korean War."

North Korea's contingency plan

Geoff Wilson, a retired U.S. naval intelligence officer and China specialist, said he "seriously doubts that Kim, the leader of the most paranoid country on earth, does not have a military contingency plan to deal with a Chinese attack."

In addition, Wilson told VOA that one cannot conceive of a Chinese takeover of North Korea without a huge number of casualties, "unless the Chinese have a North Korean traitor in hand who can stay Korean defenses while the PLA [the Chinese People's Liberation Army] rolls down the peninsula."

Meanwhile, Revere, the former State Department official, also pointed to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's purge and eventual execution of his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, in 2013, and the alleged state assassination of his half-brother, Jim Jong Nam, earlier this year. The deaths of both men, who were known for their close connections to Beijing, were seen as demonstrations of the North Korean government's absolute intolerance of any potential Trojan Horse.

Concern for the spread of illiberalism

The downside of this idea being carried out is the loss of status by the United States, as well as freedoms, in Asia, Emmott told VOA.

The Fate of the West: The Battle to Save the World's Most Successful Political Idea, published earlier this year and written by Emmott, is among a rising number of books and articles expressing concerns of the rise of illiberalism in the world.

China's enlarged footprint, so long as China remains a communist regime, remains a serious source of concern for democratic societies, as well as for those in and outside of China working to change the country.

China's enlarged footprint, so long as China remains a communist regime, remains a serious source of concern for democratic societies, as well as for those in and outside of China working to change the country.

Curious remark

In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday hosted a gathering of top military leaders and their spouses at the White House, describing the event as "the calm before the storm." When reporters asked the president to elaborate on "the storm," he simply said: "you'll find out."

Trump was asked several times Friday to clarify the remark or acknowledge if it was in regards to North Korea, but he simply stuck with his "you'll find out."

Asked by VOA where the storm was headed, some U.S. analysts, who requested anonymity, said they think Trump was referring to North Korea.

Trump's former adviser, Steve Bannon, had said in an interview before he left his White House position that because of South Korea's proximity to North Korea, a military option for Washington doesn't exist.

"Until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that 10 million people in Seoul don't die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don't know what you're talking about, there's no military solution here," Bannon said. "They got us."

While current U.S. officials have consistently not ruled out a military option against North Korea, Washington is also exploring diplomatic solutions.

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Trump says "only one thing will work" with DPRK

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:28, October 08, 2017

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that "only one thing will work" with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after past talks with Pyongyang had yielded no results.

"Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea (DPRK) for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid," Trump tweeted.

"...Hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of US negotiators," Trump wrote. "Sorry, but only one thing will work!"

Trump did not make clear to what he was referring to in his tweets.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders later confirmed to media that all options are still on the table and she had nothing further to add at this time.

Tensions ran high on the Korean Peninsula as the DPRK conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sept. 3.

In response, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a new resolution tightening sanctions against Pyongyang. Later, the DPRK tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile which flew over Japan.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson revealed during a visit to China in late September that the United States has direct channels of communication with the DPRK.

"We have lines of communications to Pyongyang. We're not in a dark situation or a blackout. We have a couple of direct channels to Pyongyang. We can talk to them ... We've made it clear that we hope to resolve this through talks," Tillerson said.

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Trump rejects diplomacy with N Korea, hints at military action

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 02:46AM

US President Donald Trump has rejected diplomatic means for dealing with North Korea's escalating missile and nuclear weapon testing, suggesting that a military response is the only option against Pyongyang.

"Sorry, but only one thing will work," Trump wrote in a Saturday tweet after insisting that US authorities have negotiated and signed agreements with Pyongyang in the past quarter of a century to no avail.

"Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of US negotiators," Trump wrote in an earlier tweet.

Trump's latest tweet outburst regarding the North Korea issue raises fears of potential US military action against the nuclear-armed nation, echoing his last Sunday's remarks when he insisted that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was "wasting his time" attempting to negotiate with Pyongyang.

The hawkish president further stated that his administration would "do what has to be done" in response to actions by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, whom he has mocked as "Little Rocket Man."

Trump also threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea in an address before the United Nations annual General Assembly meeting last month, prompting Pyongyang's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho to threaten to test a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean.

Ri further reacted to Trump's threat by referring to him as a barking dog, saying, "If he was thinking he could scare us with the sound of a dog barking, that's really a dog dream."

Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have intensified in recent months, while relations between Trump and Tillerson have also gained fresh interest recently amid contrasting remarks on the US approach to North Korea.

Tillerson held a hastily-scheduled press conference on Wednesday to push back on reports that he considered resigning over the summer. Trump later expressed confidence in his top diplomat.

The development came as Trump criticized Tillerson on Saturday, telling reporters that he sometimes wished his secretary of state would "be a little tougher."

"We have a very good relationship," Trump added. "We disagree on a couple of things; sometimes I'd like him to be a little bit tougher other than that we have a very good relationship."

Trump's remarks came after reports that he and Tillerson have a tense relationship. NBC News reported last week that Tillerson called Trump a "moron" and considered leaving the administration.

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Trump Says 'Only One Thing Will Work' In Dealing With North Korea

October 08, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump says "only one thing will work" in dealing with North Korea, but he did not make clear what that would be.

"Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid," Trump said in a tweet on October 7.

"Hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!"

Trump has previously said the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies against the rogue nation's nuclear threats.

Pyongyang has repeatedly conducted nuclear and ballistic-missile tests in defiance of United Nations resolutions and in the face of global condemnation.

The president has engaged in a war of words and exchanged threats with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

On October 5, after meeting at the White House with top military commanders, Trump told reporters: "You guys know what this represents? Maybe it's the calm before the storm."

Asked what he meant, Trump said only: "You'll find out."

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week said the United States was in direct communication with North Korea over the dispute. Trump, in reaction, told him in a Twitter statement that he was "wasting his time."

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-north-korea-only-one -thing-will-work/28780268.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Sweet Nepotism: Kim Jong Un Promotes Younger Sister to DPRK Inner Circle

Sputnik News

22:02 08.10.2017(updated 01:15 09.10.2017)

DPRK head Kim Jong Un has promoted his younger sister Kim Yo Jong to a position of political authority within the country's ruling party.

In a further consolidation of political control, Pyongyang leader Kim's promotion of his closest family member occurred during a Saturday meeting of the ruling Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) Workers' Party, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), cited by Bloomberg.

Alongside the family promotion, Kim's announcement again called attention to the increasing isolation of the northern country, following tighter economic sanctions at the hands of the US and the United Nations in the wake of continuing nuclear weapon detonations and ballistic missile test launches by Pyongyang.

"The present situation is stern and we are faced with ordeals," Kim said during the meeting, adding that DPRK weapons testing will continue in the light of "US imperialists' nuclear blackmail," according to the KCNA statement.

In being promoted to a position as an alternate member of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee, Kim Yo Jong, 30, will sit on a board led by her elder brother that acts as the party's central decision-making entity.

Formerly a vice director in Pyongyang's propaganda branch, Kim's sister is prominent enough to have been sanctioned in January by the US Department of the Treasury, alongside six other DPRK cabinet members, for what the Fed describes as "human rights abuses and censorship activities."

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and his younger sister Kim Yo Jong share the same mother, Ko Yong Hui, a consort to former North Korean leader Kim Jong il.

Kim sister is thought to have the same level of influence as the current DPRK leader's wife, Ri Sol Ju.

According to South Korea's University of North Korean Studies professor Yang Moo-Jin, "Kim Jong Un is extending his father and grandfather's practice of empowering family members," cited by Bloomberg.

Kim Yo Jong has "been recognized for the work she's done in the past year to idolize Kim Jong Un," added Yang.

 Sputnik

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Kim Jong-un Says North Korean Nukes 'Protecting Sovereignty' Amid US 'Threats'

Sputnik News

14:17 08.10.2017(updated 18:38 08.10.2017)

Amid US President Donald Trump's promises to "do what needs to be done" with regard to North Korea as "only one thing will work" hinting at a possible military action against Pyongyang, Kim Jong-un has praised the country's nuclear weapons as a means of "safeguarding peace" on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that the country needs nuclear weapons to "protect destiny and sovereignty from the long-standing nuclear threats of the US imperialists."

He praised Pyongyang's nuclear weapons saying they help North Korea "safeguard peace" on the Korean Peninsula and in others parts of northeast Asia.

Addressing the Second Plenary Session of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on Saturday, Kim said as cited by the KCNA that Washington is attempting to strip North Korea of its sovereignty by "fabricating a series of 'sanctions resolutions" in the UN Security Council [] with their followers.

He also said that despite UNSC sanctions against Pyongyang over ballistic and nuclear missiles' launches, the North Korean economy has shown growth.

The newly released Kim statement comes after US President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Saturday, saying that "only one thing will work" with regard to Pyongyang as "talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid hasn't worked."

Trump's remark comes after he said US State Secretary Rex Tillerson is "wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man," adding that "we'll do what has to be done."

In ratcheting up the warlike rhetoric, Trump previously vowed that the US will "totally destroy" the DPRK if required as a means to protect itself and its allies from the threat of a nuclear attack.

Meanwhile, earlier this week a Russian lawmaker, who has just returned from North Korea, claimed that Pyongyang is ready to test a missile capable of reaching the US western coast. The Pentagon responded by telling Sputnik that it is "closely" watching North Korea.

The North Korean nuclear and missile test issue has been aggravated in recent months as Pyongyang has held several rounds of missile launches and nuclear tests. The most recent one was conducted on September 15, when North Korea launched a ballistic missile, which flew over Japan before falling into the northern Pacific some 20 minutes after the launch.

On September 11, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted its toughest resolution yet against North Korea over its latest nuclear test and repeated missile launches. The move prompted harsh criticism from Pyongyang which subsequently vowed to use any means possible to retaliate against the United States.

 Sputnik

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S Korea, US Allegedly Increase Surveillance of N Korea

Sputnik News

09:03 08.10.2017(updated 11:29 08.10.2017)

South Korea and the United States are on alert after a Russian lawmaker's warning about Pyongyang's ballistic missile test-firing and are maintaining heightened reconnaissance using U-2S, RC-800 and RF-16 planes.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  South Korea and the United States have increased surveillance of North Korea amid expectations that Pyongyang might test-fire a ballistic missile, local media reported Sunday citing a military source.

"Some movements have been continuously detected from the North's missile facilities and bases. We are maintaining the heightened reconnaissance and preparedness posture," the source was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency.

The official reportedly specified that enhanced surveillance operations involved the use of U-2S ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft, RC-800 and RF-16 reconnaissance planes, the E-737 airborne early warning and control aircraft and P-3C maritime patrol aircraft.

The news comes amid Russian lawmaker Anton Morozov's warning on Friday that Pyongyang was preparing to test-fire a ballistic missile that could hit the western coast of the United States. The lawmaker was among three Russian parliamentarians who traveled to Pyongyang on October 2-6 to discuss the peaceful settlement of the current crisis on the Korean peninsula.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula has become aggravated due to Pyongyang's missile launches and nuclear tests, conducted in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. In the most recent case on September 15, North Korea launched a ballistic missile, which flew over Japan before falling into the northern Pacific some 20 minutes after the launch.

In addition to worsening situation on the peninsula, Pyongyang has been trading threats with the United States. On September 26, US President Donald Trump said Washington was fully prepared to take a "military option" against North Korea that would be "devastating." In response, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened the United States with a harsh response.

 Sputnik

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DPRK Condemns US War on Terror as Pretext for World Building

Sputnik News

01:03 08.10.2017(updated 09:48 08.10.2017)

Pyongyang has accused Washington of using its ongoing War on Terror to manipulate governments and other entities around the world.

Alongside a foiled attempt on the life of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in April, the People's Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) claims that actions by Washington continue to destabilize global organizations and governments, calling the US "the main reason international terrorism is not yet annihilated," cited by Newsweek.

An article published Friday by Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) asserted that the DPRK representative to the 72nd United Nations General Assembly explained his country's "principled stand" regarding how counterterrorism is defined by the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, a working group in which North Korea was involved in creating.

The KCNA article stipulated that "the main reason international terrorism is not yet annihilated," is ongoing  and increasing  global military and diplomatic meddling by the Pentagon and Washington.

Pyongyang's UN representative also documented a failed plot to kill Kim and overthrow the government in Pyongyang.

"In May this year, a group of heinous terrorists who infiltrated into our country on the orders of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the US and the South Korean puppet Intelligence Service with the purpose of carrying out a state-sponsored terrorism against our supreme headquarters using biological and chemical substance were caught and exposed," asserted KCNA.

"This palpably shows the true nature of the US as the main culprit behind terrorism," the article observed.

DPRK representatives have also claimed that Washington contributes to global instability through its intended use of biochemical weapons to target specific leaders noted to be unfriendly to the US.

"The US has fully revealed its criminal scenario to make no scruple of using biochemical weapons" to take down the current leadership structure in Pyongyang, according to KCNA. The DPRK has also long accused Washington of husbanding a "Plan Jupiter," in the form of a biochemical attack to kill Kim and his cabinet.

The claims of a Plan Jupiter have not been substantiated, although the often contentious debate about US international meddling in politics and intelligence shows no signs of going away.

The Friday KCNA report claimed that Washington "changes its colors" similar to a "chameleon" in attempts to justify government overthrow, particularly in the Middle East.

KCNA further opined that Washington interchangeably used counterterrorism and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction as a means to defend ongoing military occupations and invasions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya, cited by Newsweek.

 Sputnik

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North Korea's Kim Calls Nuclear Weapons Program a 'Treasured Sword'

By Ken Bredemeier October 08, 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is defiantly calling his country's nuclear weapons program a "treasured sword" to protect it against aggression, even as U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe continue to pressure his regime.

Pyongyang's state media reported that Kim on Saturday told the powerful Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party the nuclear weapons were a "powerful deterrent" guaranteeing the country's sovereignty against what he described as "protracted nuclear threats of the U.S. imperialists."

But he acknowledged that North Korea's standoff with the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries over its nuclear weapons development was a "complicated international situation."

Kim vowed to continue developing the country's economy as it advanced North Korea's weapons program in the face of stiffened United Nations sanctions aimed at curbing Pyongyang's export income. He said North Korea faces "ordeals" under a "stern" situation, but claimed its economy has grown.

Kim tightened his family's firm grip on the government, promoting his sister, Kim Yo Jong, to be an alternate member of the politburo, the top decision-making body over which Kim Jong Un presides.

Kim's support for North Korea's nuclear weapons program came as Trump said Saturday that "only one thing will work" in dealing with North Korea after previous U.S. administrations had negotiated with Pyongyang without results.

"Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid," Trump said in a Twitter comment. "Hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!"

It was not clear exactly what Trump meant, but seemed to suggest that he was referring to military action. Trump has engaged in weeks of taunts with Kim, saying the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies if Pyongyang attacks. North Korea has conducted numerous missile and nuclear tests.

Abe, at the outset of campaigning for Japan's October 22 national election, said Sunday he would impose "all possible pressure" on North Korea over its missile and weapons development. Pyongyang has launched some missile tests over Japan.

"We need to create a situation in which North Korea wants talks as it will change policy," Abe said at a political debate. "We will protect our country under stable politics."

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Pentagon Chief Says US Army Must Ensure Having Military Options Over N Korea

Sputnik News

18:12 09.10.2017(updated 19:39 09.10.2017)

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has shed light on the Pentagon's stance on the North Korean issue amid controversial remarks made by President Donald Trump, saying that "only one thing will work" with regard to Pyongyang.

When asked about the Pentagon's North Korea strategy, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis said at an annual meeting with the military that despite Washington sticking to the "diplomatically-led economic sanctions buttressed effort" to convince Pyongyang to "turn off this [nuclear program] path," the US Army should be "ready to ensure that we have military options that our president can employ if needed."

"[North] Korea is in all of our minds, and you know there is a reason," Mattis said, adding, "What does the future hold? Neither you nor I can say."

He emphasized that currently, Washington resorts to diplomacy, adding that the UN Security Council twice in a row voted unanimously in favor of imposing stronger sanctions on Pyongyang over its ballistic and nuclear missile launches.

"The international community has spoken, but that means the US Army must stand ready," Mattis said.

Mattis' statement comes after last week US President Donald Trump's tweets suggested that Washington might be considering a military option regarding North Korea. Most recently, the US president said that "only one thing will work" with regard to Pyongyang as "talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid hasn't worked."

Earlier, he said that US State Secretary Rex Tillerson is "wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man," adding that "we'll do what has to be done."

Meanwhile, earlier this week a Russian lawmaker, who has just returned from North Korea, claimed that Pyongyang is ready to test a missile capable of reaching the US western coast. The Pentagon responded by telling Sputnik that it is "closely" watching North Korea.

The North Korean nuclear and missile test issue has been aggravated in recent months as Pyongyang has held several rounds of missile launches and nuclear tests. The most recent one was conducted on September 15, when North Korea launched a ballistic missile, which flew over Japan before falling into the northern Pacific some 20 minutes after the launch.

On September 11, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted its toughest resolution yet against North Korea over its latest nuclear test and repeated missile launches. The move prompted harsh criticism from Pyongyang which subsequently vowed to use any means possible to retaliate against the United States.

 Sputnik

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Trump: US Policy on North Korea Has Failed for 25 Years

By Ken Bredemeier October 09, 2017

President Donald Trump said Monday that U.S. attempts to deal with North Korea have failed for more than two decades.

"Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!" Trump said in a Twitter comment.

Trump's new remarks were his latest hint that he could upend long-standing U.S. policy aimed at containing North Korea's nuclear weapons development, short of confrontation.

Trump wrote Saturday that past U.S. presidents talked to North Korea with "agreements made and massive amounts of money paid ... hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!"

It was not clear exactly what Trump meant by "one thing." However, the comments may suggest that he was referring to military action as he said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is "wasting his time" trying to talk to the North.

Trump has engaged in weeks of taunts with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies if Pyongyang attacks. North Korea has conducted numerous missile and nuclear tests, including launching rockets over Japan.

'Treasured sword'

Pyongyang's state media quoted Kim as telling the powerful Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party over the weekend that North Korea's nuclear weapons program is a "treasured sword" to protect it against aggression. Kim said the nuclear warheads were a "powerful deterrent" guaranteeing the country's sovereignty against what he described as "protracted nuclear threats of the U.S. imperialists."

But he acknowledged that North Korea's standoff with the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries over its nuclear weapons development was a "complicated international situation."

The Kremlin says Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned U.S. Secretary Tilllerson in a telephone call Monday against what it says is U.S. increase of tensions in Korea.

A ministry statement says Lavrov "stressed the unacceptability of an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula which the American military preparations are leading to."

The ministry says Lavrov believes diplomacy is the only option.

Barbed exchange

Trump's threats drew the ire Sunday of one key U.S. lawmaker, Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who engaged in an exchange of barbed Twitter comments with the president.

Corker told The New York Times that he sees Trump as treating his role as the U.S. leader like a reality television show with threats toward other countries that could put the United States "on the path to World War Three."

"I don't think he appreciates that when the president of the United States speaks and says the things that he does, the impact that it has around the world, especially in the region that he's addressing," Corker said.

Trump, in an earlier tweet, said Corker, who has announced his retirement, effective in early 2019, did not have the "guts" to run for re-election in 2018 for a third six-year term in the Senate.

Corker quickly responded, "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning," he said on Twitter.

VOA's Kenneth Schwartz contributed to this report.

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US addicted to imposing sanctions but Iran is immunized: Foreign minister Zarif

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 7, 2017 07:10PM

Amid US President Donald Trump's threats to pull out of the historic nuclear deal signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries more than two years ago, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the United States is addicted to imposing sanctions but after four decades of such bans Iran is invulnerable.

"The United States has had a policy of imposing sanctions on Iran for the past 40 years. Basically, they have immunized us to US sanctions," Zarif said in an interview with Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera released on Saturday.

"But from a global perspective, it seems that the United States is addicted to sanctions," he added in response to a question about speculations on a possible decision by Trump and the US Congress to impose sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

"They believe that sanctions do work. In fact, I think they [American officials] should have learnt by now that sanctions don't work," he pointed out.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council  the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China  plus Germany signed the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

During his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 19, Trump described the JCPOA as "the worst and most one-sided transaction Washington has ever entered into," a characterization he often used during his presidential campaign.

The US Republican president faces an October 15 deadline for certifying that Iran is complying with the deal. Such certification is needed by US law every 90 days in order for Congress to continue to withhold nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.

The Trump administration has twice so far certified Iran's compliance with the deal, but reports say he will most likely refuse to do that for a third time, leaving the Republican-controlled Congress to decide in 60 days whether to re-impose anti-Iran sanctions waived under the deal. That would let Congress effectively decide whether to kill the deal.

While the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has on multiple occasions confirmed Iran's compliance with its commitments under the nuclear deal, the Trump administration itself has not been able to point to a single area in which Iran is in breach of the terms of the agreement.

Also in his interview, the Iranian foreign minister criticized the US president for his threats to walk away from the JCPOA and said such remarks would fail to "help peace and security in the region" and would harm Washington's long-term interests.

"The nuclear deal is the result of 10 years of posturing and two years of negotiations. Unfortunately, this administration is going back to posturing," Zarif said.

"I think it is an ill-informed statement, because certainly, any deal would not be a perfect deal for all sides; it has to be less than perfect so all sides can live with it," he added in reference to Trump's remarks that the deal in not a good one for the United States.

The top Iranian diplomat warned that the international community could never trust the US again if it violated the deal.

He also emphasized that any US violation of the JCPOA would result in Iran's partial or complete withdrawal from the agreement, saying Tehran would be undeterred by threats of sanctions.

A European official said on Thursday that the European Union would not follow the United States if Washington decided to trample on its obligations under the multilateral nuclear deal with Iran.

"We will not follow the United States in reneging on our international obligations with this deal," said the official. "Not the E-3, nor the rest of the 28" members of the EU, he added, referring to France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, the three European parties to the deal with Iran.

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Iran says will not allow any intrusion into defensive affairs, vows to boost capabilities

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 7, 2017 04:29PM

Iran says it will allow no one to intrude into its defensive affairs, vowing to boost its capabilities in the sector.

"We will continue our country's defensive capabilities and policies in full strength and will never allow others' intrusion into this sector," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said in an interview with IRIB on Saturday.

He added that Iran would not accept to hold talks about its "non-negotiable" defensive and missile programs, stressing the importance of maintaining the country's military prowess considering the ongoing complicated situation in the region.

"Our policies are not against any country. Our military policies are completely for defensive objectives and are not and will not be in contradiction to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231," Qassemi pointed out.

Iran has repeatedly announced that its missile program is not against Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between the Islamic Republic and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015.

Under the agreement, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related bans imposed against Tehran.

Under the resolution, Iran is "called upon" not to undertake any activity related to missiles "designed to be capable of" delivering nuclear weapons. Iran says it is not involved in any such missile work and has no such warheads.

The Iranian spokesperson further emphasized that the Islamic Republic pursued "very clear policies" on its missile and defensive activities which he said would continue like the past.

Qassemi's comments came a day after he firmly rejected a Reuters report quoting unnamed Iranian and Western officials as saying that Iran had signaled to the six world powers with which it signed the JCPOA that it was open to talks about its ballistic missile arsenal.

"Iran regards defensive missile programs as its absolute right and will definitely continue them within the framework of its defensive, conventional and specified plans and strategies," he said.

He added that Iran "has repeatedly in diplomatic meetings with foreign officials" emphasized that its "defensive missile program is not negotiable" and that Tehran "does not regard it as inconsistent with [UN Security Council] Resolution 2231."

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Iranian FM Explains Why Missile Tests Aim Not Related to Nuclear Weapons

Sputnik News

19:16 07.10.2017

The Iranian foreign minister explained why the country's missile tests are not related to nuclear weapons, thus, don't violate the 2015 Iran nuclear deal amid speculations concerning alleged US leadership's plans to withdraw from the agreement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Tehran launches missile tests in order to improve its ballistic missiles' accuracy, which is not required for nuclear weapons, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Saturday.

"We proceed with testing them [missiles] as we want to improve their accuracy. If a missile is designed for nuclear weapons, it does not need accuracy," Zarif said in an interview with the Newsweek magazine.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal, was signed in July 2015 by Iran and the P5+1 group of nations comprised of the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany after years of diplomatic work.

Tehran has conducted several tests of ballistic missiles following the signing of the JCPOA. Most recently, on September 23 Iran launched a ballistic missile, dubbed Khorramshahr, with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles).

Iran's ballistic missile program has triggered the discontent and concerns of other states, in particular, the United States due to its possible links to the Iranian nuclear program. Despite the attempts by Washington to include the provisions concerning the ballistic missiles in the JCPOA, the proposal was not supported by other signatories.

Donald Trump called the JCPOA, negotiated under President Barack Obama's watch "an embarrassment" to the United States during his speech to the UN General Assembly and has repeatedly criticized it during his presidential and election campaign.

Earlier this week, The Washington Post suggested that US President Donald Trump is likely to declare Iran noncompliant next week. Earlier in the day, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani lashed out at Trump over the nuclear deal, saying "Nobody can roll them back, neither Trump, nor 10 other Trumps."

 Sputnik

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Iran Strikes Back at Trump Amid 'Calm Before the Storm' Speculations

Sputnik News

18:21 07.10.2017(updated 01:12 08.10.2017)

The Iranian leader has defended the nuclear deal, saying that Donald Trump cannot change the fact that the agreement is "irreversible." Interestingly, the comment came several days after his "calm before the storm" remark, which prompted media speculations suggesting that the US president aims to pull out of the deal.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that US President Donald Trump cannot undermine the nuclear deal reached in 2015.

"We have achieved benefits that are irreversible. Nobody can roll them back, neither Trump, nor 10 other Trumps," Rouhani said on Saturday.

"The nuclear deal was our moral victory, we proved to the world that we were honest and the ill-wishers were liars. This is irreversible and it will go down in history," Rouhani said, adding that if Washington exits the nuclear agreement, "the entire world will condemn America."

The statement comes just several days after Trump's controversial remark during a dinner for military commanders attended by reporters. Trump puzzled the White House media pool on Thursday evening, referring to the time during which he posed for a photo with the country's military leaders as "the calm before the storm."

"You guys know what this represents?" he suddenly asked journalists during the photo opportunity at the White House. "Maybe it's the calm before the storm."

The US president refused to explain what he meant when asked by journalists whether he meant Iran or the fight against Daesh, instead saying, "You will find out." The White House also declined to shed light on Trump's remark on Friday.

"As we've said many times before, I know the president has, as I have from this podium on quite a few occasions, we're never going to say in advance what the president's going to do. And as he said last night in addition to those comments, you'll have to wait and see," press secretary Sarah Sanders said.

Before the dinner, the US leader discussed Iran and North Korea with Pentagon representatives and other officials. He again accused Tehran of failing to "live up to the spirit" of the 2015 nuclear deal after local publications claimed mid-October was the deadline for the US withdrawal from the pact. The statement prompted media speculations, saying that the US is going to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal with The Washington Post reporting citing anonymous officials that Trump is most likely going to declare Iran noncompliant.

Trump's statement also prompted a storm on Twitter with social media users speculating what's behind the US president's comment, condemnation and jokes.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal, was signed in July 2015 by Iran and the P5+1 group of nations comprised of the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany after years of diplomatic work.

Donald Trump called the JCPOA, negotiated under President Barack Obama's watch "an embarrassment" to the United States during his speech to the UN General Assembly and has repeatedly criticized it during his presidential and election campaign.

 Sputnik

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Iran Rules Out Negotiations on Its Ballistic Missile Program

Sputnik News

05:39 07.10.2017(updated 11:33 07.10.2017)

Iranian Foreign Ministry said that its defense ballistic missile program is not negotiable and doesn't contradict the nuclear deal.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Bahram Qassemi denied on Friday media reports about Iran's readiness to discuss its ballistic missile program.

Earlier in the day, the Reuters news agency reported, citing Iranian and Western officials, that Iran was ready to discuss its ballistic missile program with six international mediators, which are signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iranian nuclear deal.

"Iran has stressed during all diplomatic meetings with foreign officials that the defense ballistic missile program is not negotiable and does not contradict the 2231 UN Security Council's resolution," Qassemi said.

2231 UNSC resolution adopted in 2015 is basically endorsing the the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (commonly referred to as Iran Nuclear Deal), signed earlier in the year by Iran, the European Union and the so-called P5+1 group of nations after years of diplomatic work, which gradually lifted nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Tehran in exchange for assurances that its nuclear program would remain peaceful.

Iran's ballistic missile program has triggered the discontent and concerns of other states, in particular, the United States due to its possible links to the Iranian nuclear program. Despite the attempts by Washington to include the provisions, concerning the ballistic missiles, in the JCPOA, the proposal was not supported by other signatories.

Earlier, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani vowed to defy Western pressure and boost the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile capabilities. "Whether you like it or not, we are going to strengthen our military capabilities, which are necessary for deterrence," the president said.

 Sputnik

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Judiciary confirms conviction of ex-member of Iran nuclear team

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Oct 8, IRNA -- Judiciary spokesman confirmed conviction of a former member of Iran's nuclear team for links to two foreign intelligence services.

'Abdolrasul Dori Esfahani has been sentenced to five years in jail and his case will be reviewed by an appeals court,' Judiciary's Deputy Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei said on Sunday.

He noted that Dorri Esfahani holds both Iran and Canada citizenships.

The news of Dorri Esfahani's arrest was first announced on August 2016. He was released on bail after the arrest.

Iran and Group 5+1 (the US, the UK, Russia, China and France plus Germany) reached a nuclear deal in Vienna in 2015. According to the deal, Iran accepted additional limitations on its peaceful nuclear program in exchange for removal of its sanctions.

Translator: Hamdollah Emadi Heydari

Editor: Hamid Shamlou

9191**2050

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Iran will give response fitting Trump's stance on JCPOA: Zarif

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 01:44PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Islamic Republic will give a "response fitting" any stance adopted by US President Donald Trump on the landmark nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries more than two years ago.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran pursues its policies in the region irrespective of the blabber of others," Zarif told reporters on Sunday.

"After Mr. Trump declares his views, which it is almost clear what he wants to say [on Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal], the Islamic Republic of Iran will give a fitting response at an appropriate time," he added in response to a question about the US president's plan to announce his position on the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and Iran's compliance with it this week.

The Iranian foreign minister made the remarks after The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Trump was planning to announce that he would "decertify" the international nuclear agreement.

The US president plans to declare that the nuclear deal is not in the national interest of the United States and kick the issue to a reluctant Congress, the report added, citing people familiar with the White House strategy.

In an interview with Qatar-based broadcaster, Al Jazeera, released on Saturday, Zarif said the United States was addicted to imposing sanctions, but after four decades of such bans Iran has become invulnerable.

"The United States has had a policy of imposing sanctions on Iran for the past 40 years. Basically, they have immunized us to US sanctions. But from a global perspective, it seems that the United States is addicted to sanctions," he added.

Elsewhere in his Sunday remarks, Zarif also said that the Middle East had long been "suffering" as a result of the wrong policies of the US, emphasizing that Iran was the pillar of stability and the fight against Takfiri terrorists.

He added that the US president and his allies sought to boost arms sales to the region and had pursued certain policies to achieve this objective, but their strategies had been detrimental to the United States itself as well as the Middle East.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council  the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China  plus Germany signed the nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

During his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 19, Trump described the JCPOA as "the worst and most one-sided transaction Washington has ever entered into," a characterization he often used during his presidential campaign.

The US Republican president faces an October 15 deadline for certifying that Iran is complying with the deal. Such certification is needed by US law every 90 days in order for Congress to continue to withhold nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.

The Trump administration has twice so far certified Iran's compliance with the deal, but reports say he will most likely refuse to do this for a third time, leaving the Republican-controlled Congress to decide in 60 days whether to re-impose anti-Iran sanctions waived under the deal. That would let Congress effectively decide whether to kill the deal.

While the International Atomic Energy Agency has on multiple occasions confirmed Iran's compliance with its commitments under the nuclear deal, the Trump administration itself has not been able to point to a single area in which Iran has been in breach of the terms of the agreement.

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Iran's IRGC to treat US troops like Daesh if blacklisted

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 09:27AM

The chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran will treat US troops like Daesh terrorists who will have to move their military bases farther from Iran's borders if Washington blacklists his force.

Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari's warning on Sunday came after reports that US President Donald Trump is expected to announce new measures against Iran, including the prospect of additional targeted sanctions and the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

"As we have announced in the past, if America's new law for sanctions is enforced, this country will have to move its regional bases outside the 2,000 km radius of the Iranian missiles' range," the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying.

By the new law, Gen. Jafari was referring to the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) that Trump signed into law on August 2 after it passed a Senate vote.

Jafari said Iran "deems the implementation of CAATSA equal to America's unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA," which will allow the country to exponentially enhance its missile capabilities.

The JCPOA stands for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - the nuclear accord which Tehran reached with the US and other countries in 2015 to limit its nuclear program in exchange for lifting of sanctions.

Trump is expected to announce soon that he will "decertify" the deal in a step that potentially could cause the accord to unravel.

"We will use the opportunity of the stupid behavior of the Trump government to achieve a leap in defense, missile and regional programs," Gen. Jafari said.

A senior US administration official, cited by the Financial Times, said on Friday that Trump would not seek the reimposition of broad sanctions that would risk collapsing the accord but was expected to announce new measures.

Those measures will include additional targeted sanctions, the blacklisting of the IRGC and the adoption of a tougher stance on what Washington calls Iranian proxies in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, the official was quoted as saying.

Jafari said, "If the scattered news about the stupidity of the US government regarding the IRGC as a terrorist group is correct, the Guards will also consider the American military all over the world, especially the Middle East, as equal to Daesh."

Senior US officials have been cited as saying that the Trump administration intended to employ a strategy that would "address the totality of Iran's malign behavior" in the region, meaning Iran's support for the Syrian and Iraqi governments and resistance groups opposed to the US and its allies pushing for influence in the Middle East.

Jafari said, "If the ultimate goal of the Americans in raising such issues is to negotiate with Iran about the region, they have chosen a completely wrong path."

New US sanctions, he said, will eliminate the chance of any engagement forever.

"These sanctions will cap the JCPOA experience for us, and the experience is that dialog for America is a tool for pressure and hostility rather than interaction or problem-solving," Jafari added.

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Iranian Judiciary Confirms Nuclear Negotiator Imprisoned On Spying Charges

RFE/RL's Radio Farda October 08, 2017

Iran's judiciary has confirmed that a dual-national member of the Iranian team that negotiated a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of espionage.

A spokesman for the judiciary said on October 8 that Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani was "among some who were accused of spying and providing information for foreigners and had links with two espionage services."

The spokesman, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie, did not identify Dorri Esfahani's second nationality, but Iranian media have said that he has Iranian and Canadian citizenship.

Ejeie also said the verdict was "final" and that Esfahani "also has a financial corruption case for which a bail has been issued but no indictment has been issued yet."

The semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported on October 4 that a member of Iran's team of nuclear negotiators was jailed for five years for spying, without naming Esfahani or detailing the charges.

A spokesman for the Canadian government said without elaborating that officials were "aware of media reports that a dual national has been sentenced in Iran."

News outlets in August 2016 reported the detention of Esfahani, who was involved in banking-related aspects of the negotiations on the July 2015 deal that put restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

The reports said he had been arrested on suspicion of "selling the country's economic details to foreigners."

He was later granted bail, which is rare in Iran for those accused of serious crimes, and denied the allegations.

Iran does not recognize dual citizenship, which means dual citizens cannot receive diplomatic protections, such as consular visits.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-nuclear-negotiator -imprisoned-on-spying-charges -esfahani/28780805.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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IRGC Chief Suggests Missile Strike If U.S. Bolsters Iran Sanctions

RFE/RL October 08, 2017

The head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has suggested that U.S. military forces in the Middle East could be in danger of an Iranian missile attack if Washington imposes new sanctions against Tehran.

Jafari's comments on October 8 follow several media reports saying that U.S. President Donald Trump intends to announce plans to decertify the 2015 nuclear deal that global powers forged with Iran in 2015 -- declaring it not in U.S. interests. The move would give the Republican-controlled Congress 60 days to decide whether to reinstate sanctions on Tehran that were suspended under the agreement.

Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari as saying that "if new sanctions go into effect," the United States should "move its regional bases to a 2,000-kilometer radius" from Iran, adding that 2,000 kilometers is "the range of Iranian missiles."

The U.S. military currently has bases less than 800 kilometers from Iran's borders in countries neighboring Iran.

Jafari also said that if the United States designates the IRGC as a terrorist group, the IRGC would consider the U.S. Army a terrorist group.

The IRGC, Iran's most powerful internal and external security force, is known for its tough talk, but it doesn't outline the country's official position.

The United States has designated the IRGC's external branch -- the Quds Force -- and a number of individuals and entities associated with the organization as terrorist, but not the IRGC as a whole.

In an interview taped earlier this week and aired on October 7 on Trinity Broadcasting Network, Trump declined to specify his intentions in regard to the nuclear accord with Iran, but he said he is "very unhappy with the dealI'm very unhappy with their attitude."

"The spirit of the deal, certainly, is not thereThey are literally causing trouble, predominantly in the Middle East," he added.

Trump's latest comments are in line with what he said during an October 5 meeting with military leaders at the White House, 10 days before a deadline to decide whether to certify that Iran is in compliance with the deal, which he has sharply criticized.

Iranian President Hassan Rohani has warned of unspecified consequences if the United States leaves the accord, under which Tehran agreed to curtail its nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions.

Other signatories to the accord are Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany.

The United States and other Western governments fear that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran says its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes, including power generation.

The Trump administration has twice certified that Iran is complying with its obligations under the nuclear accord, but it also frequently charged that Tehran breaks the "spirit" of the deal, including by continuing to test-launch ballistic missiles and rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Washington has imposed several rounds of sanctions over the missile and rocket launches.

With reporting by AP, IRNA, AFP, AP, and TBN

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc- missile-strike-united-states- sanctions/28780709.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran Revolutionary Guards Vow to Designate US Army as Equivalent to Daesh

Sputnik News

11:04 08.10.2017(updated 17:55 08.10.2017)

The chief of the Iran Revolutionary Guards has reportedly vowed to equate the US Army with Daesh if the US puts them on the terror group list.

Mohammad Ali Jafari also stated that the United States was wrong about the pressure it put on Iran while negotiating on regional issues, Iran's Tasnim news agency cited the Guards' commander on Sunday.

Ali Jafari warned the United States against imposing new sanctions against Iran and withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reminding of the possible consequences.

On Thursday, the Washington Post newspaper reported that US President Donald Trump intended to "decertify" nuclear deal with Iran next week. According to the newspaper, Trump is expected to deliver a speech on October 12, when he opens the door to modifying the agreement as part of a tougher approach toward Iran. Under the terms of the current nuclear agreement, Trump has time until October 15 to certify Iran's compliance.

Speaking at a meeting of the IRGC on Sunday, Jafari said that the possible introduction of new anti-Iranian sanctions would mean the US withdrawal from the JCPOA and that Washington would then have to relocate its regional bases out of the reach of Iran's missiles, which have a range of 2,000 kilometers (about 1,240 miles), the Tasnim news agency reported.

The opportunity for further cooperation between the two countries would disappear forever in case the sanctions are introduced, Jafari stressed.

On Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that neither Trump nor "tens of other Trumps" were able to take back the benefits that Tehran received from the JCPOA.

At the end of July 2017 the US imposed new sanctions on Tehran targeting its ballistic missile program. Iran responded to the US' unilateral move by increasing the funding of the program.

After Trump's first ever speech at the UN General Assembly which contained accusations and harsh rhetoric toward Iran, Tehran unveiled the Khorramshahr ballistic missile during a military parade dedicated to the annual Sacred Defense Week. For the sake of detente, Iran has long tried not to take any measures that could disturb the opposite side, and expected the lifting of all financial and economic sanctions in return.

On September 21, following a ministerial meeting at the UN on the Iran nuclear agreement US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson admitted that reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) show that Tehran is acting in compliance with the nuclear accord.

 Sputnik

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Iran Warns US of Possible Missile Attack If It Imposes New Sanctions

By Ken Bredemeier October 08, 2017

The chief of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards is warning regional U.S. military bases in the Mideast would be at risk of an Iranian missile attack if Washington imposes new sanctions against Tehran.

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to declare in the coming days that Iran is not in compliance with the 2015 international agreement to curb its nuclear weapons agreement, but then give Congress 60 days to decide whether to renew economic sanctions against Tehran.

But Iranian state media quoted Guards' commander Mohammad Ali Jafari as warning Sunday if new sanctions are imposed, the United States would have to "move their regional bases outside the 2,000 kilometer range of Iran's missiles."

U.S. military bases are located in Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, and Afghanistan, all within 500 kilometers of Iran's borders.

Jafari rejected negotiations with the United States over regional issues and said if the U.S. designates the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group, then Tehran would also consider the U.S. military as terrorists.

"If the news is correct about the stupidity of the American government in considering the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group, then the Revolutionary Guards will consider the American army to be like Islamic State all around the world, particularly in the Middle East," said Jafari.

He said new U.S. sanctions would end "any chance for engagement forever" between Washington and Tehran.

Trump, as he huddled last week with his military leaders, said Iran has "not lived up to the spirit of the agreement" curtailing Iran's nuclear program that Tehran reached with the United States, France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia in exchange for easing crippling economic sanctions.

"The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence and chaos across the Middle East," said Trump. "That is why we must put an end to Iran's continued aggression and nuclear ambitions."

During his 2016 run for the White House, Trump vowed to pull out from the Iran deal. But he now appears to be set to take a more nuanced stance, refusing to certify again, as he has twice already, that Iran is in compliance with the pact, and then toss the complex issue of compliance to Congress to decide whether to renew sanctions.

The United Nations nuclear monitors say Iran is in compliance with the nuclear agreement and the five other nations in the two-year-old international agreement have shown no indication they want to renegotiate it.

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Trump administration under false assumptions on Iran deal: UN ambassador

Iran Press TV

Mon Oct 9, 2017 02:27AM

Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo says if the US wishes to remain credible in future multilateral negotiations, it cannot attempt to scuttle the JCPOA.

"If the United States wants to remain credible in future multilateral negotiations, it cannot go against the international consensus and attempt to scuttle past diplomacy whether as political retaliation against a previous administration, or as part of a constant reassessment of American national interests," said Khoshroo in an OP-ED published in The New York Times on Sunday.

The deal, known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was struck in July 2015 and began being implemented in January the next year. Apart from Iran and the US, the other parties to the agreement are France, Russia, Germany, China, and the UK.

US President Donald Trump has long despised the deal in part because he perceived it as a legacy of Democratic former President Barack Obama. Since taking office a year after the deal took effect, the Trump administration has twice certified Iranian compliance under the specific American law that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is now reportedly planning to amend.

Those two certifications have been offered only half-heartedly, and indications are that a third one  due shortly in mid-October  may not be forthcoming.

He also noted that these certifications are not required by the deal itself, which stipulates the International Atomic Energy Agency is responsible for verifying Tehran's compliance.

"The United States Congress introduced the idea of the White House certification in 2015. In short, it is a domestic American issue, though one that could potentially affect implementation of American commitments under the nuclear deal," he stressed.

Khoshroo also noted that Trump is under several false assumptions cornering the JCPOA, the first being that it is a bilateral agreement between the US and Iran. "It is, instead, a United Nations Security Council resolution this explains why the deal continues to have wide support from the other Security Council members."

Khoshroo went on to argue that the second false assumption is aimed at dictating Tehran's policies concerning matters not related to its nuclear program. "This has never been the case. It was always clear that the path to reaching a nuclear deal meant setting aside other geopolitical concerns. Anyone involved in the years of talks that led to the JCPOA can attest to this," he added.

Iran's UN representative added that Trump's third false assumption is the presence of a "sunset clause" in JCPOA, which pertains to Iran being free of inspections or limits on its nuclear program after decade. "While it's true that some provisions regarding restrictions will expire, crucial aspects of inspections will not," wrote Khoshroo.

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Iraqi Hashd al-Sha'abi forces uncover 10 mass graves near Hawijah

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 7, 2017 02:11PM

Iraqi pro-government fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units have found nearly a dozen mass graves containing bodies of security forces and civilians, who are believed to have been executed by Daesh Takfiri terrorists, on the outskirts of the recently-liberated town of Hawijah in Kirkuk province.

The media bureau of the volunteer forces, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, announced in a statement on Saturday that the grisly discovery was made during a sweep in the southwest of Hawijah, located 45 kilometers west of Kirkuk, Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network reported.

The statement added that there were women and children among the victims, noting that Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters were coordinating with competent teams in order to identify the victims.

Hashd al-Sha'abi forces find Daesh prison in Hawijah

Meanwhile, Hashd al-Sha'abi forces have discovered a detention facility in Hawijah, used by Daesh terrorists to incarcerate people and subject the detainees to various forms of torture.

The commander of Hawijah liberation operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, also said on Saturday that soldiers from the Federal Police Force, the Interior Ministry's elite rapid response forces and pro-government fighters had managed to wrest control over 150 villages and hamlets in Hawijah district. They killed 385 Daesh Takfiris, including five snipers, and arrested six others during the operation.

He added that Iraqi government forces and their allies had also dismantled 95 car bombs as well as 422 explosive devices, defused five explosive belts and destroyed five bomb-making plants.

Yarallah went on to say that the forces also recovered a considerable amount of munitions, and destroyed 25 militant fortifications, 10 arms depots, 15 booby-trapped houses and ten tunnels.

The high-ranking Iraqi military official noted that 240 displaced people were evacuated from the conflict zones, and five militant communications centers were also destroyed.

On October 5, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Iraqi armed forces had liberated Hawijah, driving Daesh Takfiris out of their last bastion in Kirkuk province.

"I announce the liberation of the town of Hawijah," Abadi said, adding, "Only the outskirts remain to be recaptured."

Abadi described the latest gain as a "victory not just of Iraq but of the whole world."

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Iraq to prosecute 100 European Daesh members

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 08:41AM

Iraq is to prosecute at least 100 European Daesh terrorists, most of whom face the death penalty, says Belgium's ambassador to the country.

The envoy Jawad al-Chlaihawi made the remarks to Belgium's RTBF broadcaster on Sunday.

Among those detained are Belgians and Russians, as well as terrorists from Chechnya, and Central Asia, he said.

Reports say some of the European Takfiris hail from France and Germany, while many are from former Soviet countries and Turkey.

Extremists from those countries, as well as from elsewhere across Europe, notably Britain, joined the Takfiri terror group in droves in 2014, when Daesh launched its campaign of bloodshed and destruction against Iraq and Syria.

At the time, many European leaders ignored repeated warnings that hardened militants could return home one day and carry out attacks.

In March 2016, Brussels' airport and metro came under Daesh attacks, which killed 32 people.

Daesh attacked locations in and around Paris in November 2015, killing 130 people. An official at the French president's office said in late September that about 700 French nationals, among them 500 children, were living in the Daesh-controlled areas of Iraq and Syria.

Last December, a Daesh terrorist drove a truck into a crowded market in Berlin, killing at least 12 people. In July, Iraqi officials said 26 foreigners, including four German women, had been arrested in the northern city of Mosul.

The Belgian ambassador said Iraq was holding around 1,400 family members of suspected Daesh members, including children, near Mosul, which was liberated from Daesh earlier in the year.

"We are holding the Daesh families under tight security measures and waiting for government orders on how to deal with them," Iraqi Army Colonel Ahmed al-Taie told Reuters.

"We treat them well. They are families of tough criminals who killed innocents in cold blood, but when we interrogated them we discovered that almost all of them were misled by a vicious Daesh propaganda."

Chlaihawi told the broadcaster that Iraq was working with European governments to determine what should happen to them, but some did not want to receive them.

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Erbil, Baghdad Agree on Lifting Anti-Kurdish Sanctions

Sputnik News

04:08 08.10.2017(updated 12:57 08.10.2017)

The Kurdish Regional Government and Baghdad have agreed to de-escalate the tensions over the recent Kurdish autonomy independence referendum and engage in a dialogue.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani and Iraqi Vice Presidents Osama Nujaify and Ayad Allawi agreed to de-escalate the tensions over the recent Kurdish autonomy independence referendum, local media reported.

The parties decided Saturday to engage in a dialogue and hold meetings between Iraqi political parties in the near future, the Kurdistan 24 broadcaster reported, citing Fuad Hussein, the Chief of Staff to the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

Hussein added that three politicians had also agreed on "lifting all sanctions on the Kurdistan Region."

On September 25, more than 90 percent of voters taking part in the referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan backed the region's independence from Baghdad. Iraqi authorities declared the referendum illegal, and stressed that they would not engage in negotiations with the local authorities following the announcement of the vote's results, while the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority suspended all international flights to and from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports.

 Sputnik

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KDP Media: Kurd Leader Barzani, Iraqi Speaker Meet

By VOA News October 08, 2017

Iraqi parliament speaker Salim al-Jabouri has met with Kurdish president Masoud Barzani, two weeks after Kurds in Iraq voted in a symbolic referendum for independence, Kurdish media reported.

Citing a statement from Barzani's office, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) affiliated Rudaw network reported the two leaders spoke Sunday of the need to protect security and stability, avoiding further tension between the two governments.

The September 24 referendum for Kurdish Independence from Iraq, deemed illegal by Baghdad, passed with an approval nearing 93 percent, and a voter turnout of 72 percent.

But Baghdad continues to extend threats against the Kurdish Regional Government, and many people say even if threats are not carried out, they have already raised tensions, which could spiral into ethnic conflict.

The meeting between the two leaders also comes less than a week after the death of former Iraqi president and Iraqi Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani, who spent his political career attempting to bridge divides between feuding factions in Iraq, as well as pushing for Kurdish independence.

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UN warns Bangladesh Rohingya camp plan runs risk of disease spread

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 7, 2017 02:50PM

A top UN official says building a mega refugee camp for Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh would run the risk of health and security woes.

Robert Watkins, the UN resident coordinator in Dhaka, said on Saturday that housing more than 800,000 refugees in a single camp, as planned by Bangladesh for refugees fleeing violence from neighboring Myanmar, would heighten the risk of deadly diseases spreading quickly.

"It is much easier to manage people, manage the health situation and security situation if there are a number of different camps rather than one concentrated camp," Watkins said, adding, "There are stronger possibilities, if there are any infectious diseases that spread, that will spread very quickly."

More than half a million Rohingya Muslims have arrived in Bangladesh since August, when violence was renewed against their community in the state of Rakhine. The UN has branded the exodus as historic and a result of Myanmar's deliberate policy of "ethnic cleansing."

Watkins said there would be a huge risk of fire spreading easily across a big camp of refugees, adding that Bangladesh should instead look for new sites to build more camps. He added that 331,000 Rohingya Muslims had already built makeshift shelters in the area where the construction of the proposed camp would be carried out.

Bangladesh plans to build the camp on 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) of land next to a refugee camp at Kutupalong near the border town of Cox's Bazar.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says the proposed camp will be the world's largest and much more extensive than Bidi Bidi in Uganda and Dadaab in Kenya, both of them home to around 300,000 refugees.

The IOM, a UN agency, has accepted Dhaka's request to coordinate the work of aid agencies working on the camp site. It will also help build shelters at the new camp. Joel Millman, an IOM spokesman, said on Friday that the huge job would be carried out through thorough planning.

"700,000 is a big camp... we and our partners will have our work cut out for us," said Millman, adding that UN agencies "wouldn't be undertaking this if we didn't think it was feasible."

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Pakistani Tribesmen Call For Legal, Constitutional Reforms

RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal October 09, 2017

Hundreds of people from Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have rallied in the capital, Islamabad, calling on the federal government to implement legal and constitutional reforms in the northwestern region.

A group of FATA legislators led the October 9 rally in which participants called for the abolishment of a century-old legal code known as the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) that is still governing FATA.

They also demanded the merger of FATA with the adjacent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

Shahabuddin Khan, a tribal lawmaker from the Bajaur district, said they would continue pressuring the government until the FCR was abolished and the tribal areas were fully incorporated into the rest of Pakistan.

At the start of a two-day demonstration earlier this month, legislators from FATA set up a protest camp in front of parliament in Islamabad.

The Islamabad government has approved plans to bring FATA under current federal law rather than governing the region by the FCR, which was established under British rule. The legal code includes the practice of collective punishment, allowing government authorities to hold entire clans responsible for the crimes of individuals.

Key reforms would also include extending the jurisdiction of Pakistan's national courts, incorporating tribal law enforcement into the national security forces, and establishing parliamentary representation for the tribal areas.

However, differences among political parties and parliament deputies over the future constitutional status of FATA have blocked the process.

Some want FATA to be a separate province while others want the region to be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The seven tribal districts in FATA -- Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Mohmand, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, and Orakzai -- are home to some 5 million people, mainly ethnic Pashtuns.

The region, located along Pakistan's northwestern border with Afghanistan, has long been a stronghold for Taliban militants and other extremist groups.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan- tribes-demand-legal-constitutional- reforms/28782991.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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U.S. Ambassador To Russia Cites Ukraine As Key To Improving Ties

RFE/RL October 08, 2017

The new U.S. ambassador to Russia says restoring Ukrainian sovereignty over all its territory will be a key issue in his dealings with Moscow as he begins his tenure amid a period of high tensions between the two world powers.

Speaking in Salt Lake City, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman on October 7 said he wants to improve relations with Russia, but he insisted the first step would be for Moscow to return Ukrainian control to territory within its internationally recognized borders.

"This is an issue not only with the United States, but with Europe, Canada, and virtually every other developed country," said Huntsman, who was visiting his home state for a ceremonial swearing-in event.

Moscow seized the Crimean Peninsula from Kyiv's control and has supported separatists in eastern Ukraine in war that has killed more than 10,000 people since 2014.

The United States, other Western countries, and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine, just one of many global issues separating the two countries.

Huntsman, who presented his credentials to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on October 3, told the Salt Lake City crowd that he wants to work with Moscow to solve the crisis over North Korea's banned nuclear and ballistic-missile programs.

He called Pyongyang a threat to Russia and the rest of the world, not just to the United States.

"Acting together, we think the United States and Russia could force the North Korean regime to the negotiating table to find a diplomatic solution," he said.

Huntsman's comments came a week after President Donald Trump said in an October 1 Twitter statement that negotiating with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs was a "waste of time."

Huntsman also spoke of possible cooperation with Russia in the effort to defeat the Islamic State (IS) militant group and in efforts to end the six-year civil war in Syria, where Washington and Moscow back opposing sides.

The severe tension in bilateral ties also stems from a January report by the U.S. intelligence community that determined Putin ordered an "influence campaign" targeting the 2016 presidential election in the United States.

At a confirmation hearing before a Senate panel on September 19, Huntsman said there is "no question -- underline, no question -- that the Russian government interfered in the U.S. election last year. And Moscow continues to meddle in the democratic processes of our friends and allies."

Huntsman served as U.S. ambassador to Singapore under President George H.W. Bush and as ambassador to China under President Barack Obama.

He briefly ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and KSL.com

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-huntsman -united-states-russia-ukraine -korea-syria/28780201.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Putin Decrees Foreigners In Russian Army Can Fight In Wars Abroad

RFE/RL October 09, 2017

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that allows foreign citizens serving in the Russian Army on a contractual basis to take part in Russian military operations abroad.

The decree on amendments to the Russian law on military service was published on October 9.

According to the amendments, foreign nationals serving in the Russian Armed Forces as contractors can be sent "to participate in Russian peacekeeping and counterterrorist operations abroad."

Putin signed a law in 2003 allowing foreign citizens to serve on a contractual basis as soldiers, sailors, and sergeants, but not officers.

Russia has been conducting military operations backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in the war in the Middle Eastern country since September 2015.

The Russian Defense Ministry has not said whether foreign nationals serving in the Russian Army were ever sent to Syria.

The Russian military contains both contract soldiers and conscripts.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-foreigners army-fight-abroad/28782155.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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U.S. approves possible 15-bln-USD sale of THAAD missiles to Saudi Arabia

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:04, October 07, 2017

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department has approved on Friday a possible 15-billion-U.S. dollar sale of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems to Saudi Arabia, according to a statement released by the Pentagon.

The Middle East country has requested to purchase 44 THAAD launchers, 360 missiles, 16 fire control station and 7 radars, said the statement.

The sale was part of the 110-billion-USD package of defense equipment and services initially announced during U.S. President Donald Trump's May trip to Saudi Arabia, said an official from the U.S. State Department on condition of anonymity.

"This potential sale will substantially increase Saudi Arabia's capability to defend itself against the growing ballistic missile threat in the region," said the statement from the Pentagon.

Congress has been notified about the possible sale and has 30 days to review the deal.

THAAD missile systems are deployed to defend against ballistic missile attacks.

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Russia-Saudi Cooperation Limited Despite Big Energy, Military Deals

By Daniel Schearf October 07, 2017

Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz's groundbreaking visit to Russia this week saw billions of dollars signed in investment deals in energy and defense that will deepen ties between Moscow and Riyadh, despite their confrontational past.

But analysts say self-interests and Middle East alliances will hamper the forming of a deeper partnership.

During this first trip to Russia by a Saudi king, the two sides agreed on billions of dollars in projects involving space exploration, nuclear energy and oil, including a $1 billion fund on energy cooperation and a $1 billion fund on high-tech investment.

Even the king's 1,500-strong entourage, which Bloomberg said booked two luxury hotels just off Moscow's Red Square for the four-day visit, gave a small boost to Russia's economy.

Seeking new partners

Despite the U.S. being its major arms supplier, Riyadh also signed deals on manufacture of Kalashnikov arms and a surprise purchase of Russian weapons systems, such as the advanced S-400 missile defense system.

While the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a harder line on Iran, uncertainty in America's Middle East policy has encouraged Riyadh to forge new partnerships, analysts say.

"Saudi Arabia is looking for allies in its non-easy relations with Iran, while Russia is confronting sanctions and is interested in serious partners," said Mikhail Subbotin of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of the World Economy and International Relations. "The sanctions made it look for new allies and activate relations with long-standing partners."

Sunni-led Riyadh wants Moscow to help rein in Shiite-led Tehran's influence in the Middle East.

Meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday at the Kremlin, King Salman said security and stability in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East is the most eagerly sought after and essential prerequisite for achieving security and stability in the world.

"This requires that Iran abandon attempts to interfere in the domestic affairs of the states in the region and stop the activity that destabilizes the region," he said.

Questionable influence over Iran

But it is not clear that Russia has much influence over Iran or any desire to pressure Tehran.

Russia also deals with Iran on oil and last year began delivering less-advanced S-300 missiles to Tehran.

In Syria, Riyadh is on the opposing side to Moscow and Tehran in regards to Damascus. Russia is allied with Iran against militants fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, including some backed by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

"In Syria, these two countries have much in common in their fighting against terrorism, but Saudi Arabia is part of a large coalition while Russia supports Assad," the Russian Academy's Subbotin said.

Observers noted the Saudi king in his public remarks on Syria to Putin did not mention seeking Assad's removal from power, an indication that Riyadh's long-standing position of regime change is no longer its main objective.

"As concerns the Syrian crisis, we are committed to pushing for its resolution in line with the Geneva I decisions and U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254, to finding a political solution that would guarantee security, stability, and Syria's unity and territorial integrity," King Salman said.

Russia's military intervention in Syria succeeded in turning the tide of defeat away from Assad, analysts say, and demonstrated Moscow's return to the world stage as a major player in the Middle East.

Crude relations

The plunging price of oil has also led to closer relations between the world's two biggest oil producers. Mutual concerns of maintaining a stable price on crude, the biggest contributor to both their economies, produced an agreement to limit output.

"We are striving to continue the positive cooperation between our states to achieve stability in the global oil market, which will facilitate global economic growth," King Salman said Thursday at the Kremlin.

But Russia does not always hold such agreements, as it is guided by its own interests, said Mikhail Krutikhin, an analyst and partner in the Rusenergy consulting company.

"There is a certain formalized agreement dealing with a reduction of oil volume between OPEC [Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries] countries and Russia, as well as some other countries," Krutikhin said. "Here is a following issue: Russia does not implement its obligations. It increased oil exports, thus not helping to keep the prices at a high level but obstructing that."

Cheating on agreed oil output caps has dogged OPEC since its founding, because those who break any such deals, whether members or not, stand to benefit more than those who stand by it.

"Russia is guided by its own interests," Subbotin said. "Sometimes it de facto joined the coalition with OPEC and supported a policy aimed at reducing oil production; sometimes OPEC was reducing the extraction but Russia was increasing it.

"At the current stage, the interests of Russia and those of Saudi Arabia have coincided," he added.

VOA's Danila Galperovich contributed to this report.

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President Erdogan says Turkey helps militant group's offensive in Idlib

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 7, 2017 03:32PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country's army forces are supporting a full-scale military operation, which has just begun by the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA), aimed at liberating militant-held areas in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

The Turkish president made the remarks at the 26th semi-annual consultation and assessment meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey's western city of Afyonkarahisar on Saturday, describing the operation as being "serious."

"Today a landmark operation is underway in Idlib, and this will continue. We will never allow a terror corridor along our Syrian border," Erdogan said.

Idlib and swaths of land in Syria's northern and northwestern regions are largely held by the Takfiri Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist outfit, spearheaded by a former al-Qaeda affiliate that changed its name last year from the Nusra Front to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.

"We have to help our brothers who arrived in Idlib after fleeing Aleppo. We won't let them down. The necessary step was taken and it is ongoing. We will never allow the formation of a terror corridor along our border with Syria," Erdogan said, adding that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) were currently supporting the FSA from within Turkey's borders, while the Russian air force was providing air support to the operation "protecting outside the borders (of the Idlib region)."

The Turkish president said the major offensive was the follow-up of the so-called Euphrates Shield Operation in northern Syria, which was launched in August last year without granting any permission from Damascus, in a declared objective of clearing Turkey's southern border of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.

The new operation in Idlib will pave the way for establishing a planned "de-escalation" zone in the province, where Erdogan has said Turkey would deploy troops, but the HTS terrorists have pledged to keep fighting.

Back in May, the fourth round of the intra-Syrian talks, held in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, resulted in an agreement on creating four de-escalation zones across Syria, with Russia, Iran, and Turkey serving as guarantor states.

Three of the safe zones have been created to date in Syria's central province of Homs, in the Eastern Ghouta area of the southern Rif Dimashq province, and a southwestern militant-controlled stretch along the border with Jordan. They have sharply reduced fighting in the conflict zones.

The newly launched operation is regarded as a strong push for establishing the fourth zone, to be set up in Idlib. Last month, Moscow, Tehran, and Ankara agreed on the details of the safe zone in the volatile province, which borders Turkey.

Idlib province has been the destination of many militant groups who were relocated under deals with Damascus in the past year. Terrorist alliances, however, are still operating in the province, controlling a considerable part of land.

On September 12, the Russian military announced that the Syrian government had managed to liberate 85 percent of the country from the grips of terrorist groups, some two years after Moscow began a counterterrorism campaign in Syria at the official request of Damascus.

The Arab country has been fighting different foreign-sponsored militant and terrorist groups since March 2011. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimated in August last year that more than 400,000 people had been killed in the crisis until then.

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180 terrorists killed in fresh Russian airstrikes in Syria

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 7, 2017 09:42AM

Russia says its counter-terrorism airstrikes in Syria have killed a total of 180 militants  among them dozens of foreign mercenaries  over the past 24 hours.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement on Saturday that an air raid near the city of Abu Kamal in the eastern Dayr al-Zawr Province had targeted a Daesh outpost, leaving some 40 militants from Tajikistan and Iraq dead and destroying 7 vehicles with machine guns mounted on them.

A separate strike close to the city of Mayadin, also situated in Dayr al-Zawr, killed up to 80 terrorists, including nine from the Northern Caucasus, and demolished 18 vehicles and three ammunition depots, he said.

Another Russian aerial attack south of Dayr al-Zawr killed "a group of over 60 foreign mercenaries originating from CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries, Tunisia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt," he added.

Russia has been conducting air raids against Daesh and other terrorist groups inside Syria at the Damascus government's request since September 2015.

"After additional reconnaissance and confirmation of the objectives by the Russian command in Syria, we planned an operation to destroy Daesh command posts, manpower, and armored vehicles of in this area by the missile and airstrikes," Konashenkov said.

He further warned that a "large numbers of foreign mercenaries" were infiltrating into the Syrian territory from the Iraqi border.

Russia, he said, had obtained information that "influential Daesh field commanders, natives of the North Caucasus: Abu Omar al-Shishani, Alyauddin Al-Shishani and Salahuddin al-Shishani" were among the fatalities of the latest strikes.

On Wednesday, Konashenkov said a Russian air raid had critically injured one of the leaders of the so-called Tahrir al-Sham militant group and killed a dozen of his field commanders as well as around 50 of his bodyguards.

Abu Mohamad al-Golani was targeted in an intelligence-led special operation while he was meeting his commanders, he said.

Golani was the head of the Nusra Front terrorist group before it merged with other militant outfits to form the so-called Tahrir al-Sham in January 2017. He is now said to have fallen into a coma.

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Turkish President Announces 'Serious Operation' In Northern Syria

October 07, 2017

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on October 7 an operation to retake Idlib, a province under rebel control in northern Syria, amid a reported military buildup on the border between the two countries.

Turkey boosted its military presence along its border with Syria after agreeing with Russia and Iran to work towards a cease-fire in the region.

"We are taking new steps to ensure security in Idlib. Today, a very serious operation is ongoing in Idlib and this will continue," Erdogan said in a televised speech in the western city of Afyon.

Responding to journalists' questions after the televised speech, Erdogan said Turkish soldiers were not yet in Idlib and the military was backing Free Syrian Army forces from within Turkey's borders.

The operation is part of a de-escalation deal agreed between Turkey, Iran, and Russia, and will involve Syrian rebel groups crossing into Idlib supported by Turkish soldiers from inside Turkey.

Most of Idlib is controlled by hard-line militants, including an Al-Qaeda linked group, currently the most powerful faction in the province and formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkish-president- announces-serious-operation-norther -syria/28779500.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Forces Destroy Daesh Command Post in Syria, Killing About 80 Terrorists

Sputnik News

09:38 07.10.2017(updated 15:00 07.10.2017)

Russia's Defense Ministry has reported the elimination of Daesh command position in the Al Mayadin district, about 80 militants killed.

The ministry added that there were nine people from the North Caucasus among the terrorists killed.

"To the south of Deir ez-Zor in the valley of the Euphrates river a group of over 60 foreign mercenaries originating from CIS countries, Tunisia and the Arab Republic of Egypt were killed in an airstrike. A total of 12 trucks with heavy weapons were also destroyed," Konashenkov said.

The Russian Defense ministry also stressed that important Daesh commanders, hiding for a long time in Iraq were also killed during the strikes.

"According to information received via several channels and confirmed "on the ground", influential Daesh field commanders, natives of the North Caucasus: Abu Omar al-Shishani, Alyauddin Al-Shishani and Salahuddin al-Shishani, who were hiding in Iraq for a long time, were destroyed," Konashenkov said.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov stated that within the last 24 hours, Russian Aerospace forces in Syria were focused on destroying Daesh reinforcements with a large number of foreign mercenaries arriving from Iraq to the region of Abu Kamal along the Syrian-Iraqi border.

"After additional reconnaissance and confirmation of the objectives by the Russian command in Syria, we planned an operation to destroy Daesh command posts, manpower and armored vehicles of in this area by the missile and airstrikes In the area of the city of Al Mayadin, we destroyed a terrorist command post and up to 80 militants, including 9 natives from the North Caucasus. In the same place, we destroyed 18 off-road vehicles with large-caliber weapons and three ammunition depots," Konashenkov said.

According to Konashenkov, Russian military intelligence in Syria within a week revealed areas of their concentration and command posts near the city of Abu Kamal, as well as routes to the city of Al Mayadin and further to the southern outskirts of the left-bank part of the city of Deir ez-Zor.

The day before, Russian Foreign Ministry official stated that Moscow was standing ready for full-scale cooperation on taking down terrorism, as it was in the interests of not only Russia, but the whole world. However, he added that such cooperation has not been established so far.

Several days before the Russian Defense Ministry announced that a Russian airstrike in Syria's the Idlib left al-Nusra Front leader in coma and eliminated 49 other terrorists. The operation came as the Russian foreign minister said that Moscow would support armed groups fighting against al-Nusra Front in the war-torn country.

 Sputnik

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Turkish army's reconnaissance team crosses into Syria as part of Idlib offensive

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 04:07PM

A small army reconnaissance team from Turkey has reportedly crossed the border into Syria's northwestern province of Idlib ahead of a planned deployment of the Ankara-backed so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA)'s forces in the largely militant-held region.

A top FSA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, announced the news on Sunday, a day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a major military operation conducted by the armed opposition group and supported by the Turkish army had just begun to liberate the militant-held areas of Idlib from the Takfiri Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist outfit.

The HTS terrorist group is spearheaded by an al-Qaeda affiliate known as the Nusra Front, which changed its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham last year, and has already captured much of Idlib while holding swathes of land in Syria's northern regions.

Meanwhile, reports said that the Turkish army, using howitzers fixed on the border, shelled positions held by the HTS earlier in the day to pave the way for the FSA forces to advance into the volatile province. According to a member of the FSA group, the Turkish shelling came after the HTS militants fired a missile across the border.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Turkish shells fell in the vicinity of a camp designated for displaced people along the border, spreading panic but causing no casualties.

The new operation in Idlib will pave the way for establishing a planned "de-escalation" zone in the province, where Erdogan has said Turkey would deploy troops, though the HTS terrorists have pledged to keep fighting.

Erdogan on Sunday said that Turkey was implementing a deal agreed with Russia and Iran to curb violence in Idlib in cooperation with the FSA, adding, "Our efforts in Idlib are going on in cooperation with the Free Syria Army without problems at the moment."

Back in May, the fourth round of the intra-Syrian talks, held in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, resulted in an agreement on creating four de-escalation zones across Syria, with Russia, Iran, and Turkey serving as guarantor states.

Three of the safe zones have been created to date in Syria's central province of Homs, in the Eastern Ghouta area of the southern province of Rif Dimashq, and in a southwestern militant-controlled stretch along the border with Jordan. They have sharply reduced fighting in the conflict zones.

The newly launched operation is regarded as a strong push for establishing the fourth zone to be set up in Idlib. Last month, Moscow, Tehran, and Ankara agreed on the details of the safe zone in the volatile province, which borders Turkey.

The Turkish president said on Saturday that the major offensive was a follow-up to the Euphrates Shield Operation in northern Syria, which was launched in August last year without permission of Damascus. It aimed to clear Turkey's southern border of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Sunday said that Ankara was cooperating with Moscow in the ongoing offensive in the province, adding, "We will provide security in Idlib."

Idlib province has been the destination of many militant groups who were relocated under deals with Damascus last year. Terrorist alliances, however, are still operating in the province, controlling a considerable part of its territory.

Last month, the Russian military announced that the Syrian government had managed to liberate 85 percent of the country from the grips of terrorist groups, some two years after Moscow began a counter-terrorism campaign in Syria at the official request of Damascus.

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Syrian Army encircles Daesh terrorists in Mayadin

Iran Press TV

Sun Oct 8, 2017 11:19AM

Syria's Army and its allies have encircled the Takfiri terror group of Daesh in the city of al-Mayadin in the country's northeastern Dayr al-Zawr Province.

The Takfiri group maintains pockets in the province, and is said to be fighting a losing battle to retain the provincial capital of the same name, which is its last major stronghold in the Arab country.

"Units of our armed forces with the allied forces continue their advance on a number of fronts and axes in Dayr al-Zawr and its countryside...and encircle Daesh terrorists in the city of al-Mayadin," a military source told Reuters.

The Army and its allies reached Dayr al-Zawr in September after a months-long offensive across the country's central desert area.

Separately, Syria's War Media released a video on Monday showing the Army advancing against terrorist positions in the sprawling central Homs Province, while Syrian jets were carrying out umbrella operations overhead.

Turkey, HTS firefight

Also on Sunday, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said Turkish forces had exchanged fire with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Takfiri group on the border with Syria's Idlib Province.

The HTS is dominated by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which has renamed itself from al-Nusra Front -- the al-Qaeda's Syria offshoot.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday that militants supported by his country would be leading a military campaign against the HTS in the northwestern province.

Speaking of the pending operation, a commander with the militants said, "The aim of the operation is to implement the Astana agreement by setting up Turkish observation posts similar to those of Russia."

"This cannot be achieved without confronting the Nusra Front," said Fares al-Bayoush in an exchange of text messages with The Associated Press, noting, "The aim is to finish Nusra Front."

Turkey, who sides with the militants, and Russia and Iran, who back the Syrian government, have been mediating talks between Damascus and Syria's political and armed opposition in the Kazakh capital of Astana since early 2017.

The talks have led to establishment of four de-escalation zones in the Arab country towards curtailing violence.

The fourth zone is located in Idlib, with its perimeter marked out only on paper.

The aim of the Turkish operation on Sunday still remains unclear, with the country's officials not indicating whether it is part of their preparation for de-escalation activities.

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Turkey 'Working With Russia' Amid Idlib Operation - Prime Minister

Sputnik News

13:40 08.10.2017(updated 16:06 08.10.2017)

The Turkish prime minister has commented on coordinating actions with Moscow in the wake of the Turkish President's announcement of his country's launching a military operation in Syria's Idlib, currently under the control of the al-Nusra Front terrorist group.

ANKARA (Sputnik)  Ankara is coordinating its actions in the Syrian province of Idlib with Moscow in order to ensure security in the region, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Sunday.

"We will ensure security in Idlib, and we are working with Russia on this issue," Yildirim said, as quoted by the NTV broadcaster.

On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to deploy the country's soldiers to Syria's Idlib, where the Free Syrian Army rebel fighters backed by Ankara have launched an operation.

He also said that Russia has agreed to provide air support to the operation, however, there has been no official comment by the Russian Defense Ministry yet supporting the claim. Nevertheless, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier this week that Russia is ready to support armed groups fighting al-Nusra Front in Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone.

Currently, Idlib is mostly controlled by Tahrir al-Sham, a militant group led by al-Nusra Front terrorist group (banned in Russia), al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate. The group is not party to the agreement on setting up a de-escalation zone in Idlib agreed upon during the Syrian peace talks in Astana brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

 Sputnik

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Syrian Operation: Russia 'Turns the Tide of War', Expands Its Role in Mideast

Sputnik News

12:15 08.10.2017(updated 20:26 08.10.2017)

It has been two years since Russia launched its military campaign in Syria, which initially faced skepticism and criticism in the West. Over this period of time, Moscow has not only significantly contributed to fighting terrorism and stabilizing the situation Syria, but also proved its political role in the Middle East, a geopolitical analyst said.

"After two years of Russia's military operations in Syria, it is now clear that its results have been successful both in military and political terms. Russia has turned the tide of the conflict. Russia is now playing a key role in the Syrian settlement and its influence in the Middle East is beyond any doubt," Giampiero Venturi, Italian geopolitical analyst with the website Difesa Online, told Sputnik Italy.

Moscow has been conducting an anti-terrorist operation in Syria since September 30, 2015. Unlike the operation by the US-led international coalition, the Russian efforts in Syria are fully legitimate since the campaign was launched at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

According to Venturi, the situation in Syria underscores the importance of global efforts against terrorism, especially against Daesh. Russia's involvement has changed the political and military situation in Syria, but it also sheds light on the geopolitical balance in the Middle East, a region that has been the "victim of Western political mistakes" for the last two decades.

"In 2013, [former US President Barack] Obama said, Assad's 'days are numbered.' Four years have passed and Assad is still in power and his influence on the situation in Syria is greater than several years ago. In fact, he's winning the war and he owes that to Russia's involvement," the analyst said.

He also underscored that the Russian operation in Syria is an example of an effective counterterrorism campaign that has "real results."

"Russia proved that it is possible to fight terrorism with military force. What is needed is an international alliance of countries, that would have a clear understanding of their goals," Venturi pointed out.

Commenting on possible future developments in the region, the Italian expert suggested that Russia is likely to play the role of mediator in the new political and military environment.

"Iran will return to the international arena in the future, but Israel is not ready to accept Tehran's expanding role in Syria and the Middle East as a whole. Russia is the only country that can talk to Iran and at the same time give security guarantees to Iran. In the long run, Russia will be a mediator in the Middle East," he concluded.

 Sputnik

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Syrian Army Encircles Daesh in Eastern Syria's Al Mayadin

Sputnik News

09:27 08.10.2017(updated 17:28 08.10.2017)

The Syrian armed forces and its allies reportedly encircled Daesh militants in the city of Al Mayadin in Eastern Syria.

The operation of Syrian army aimed at encircling Daesh militants in Syria's south-eastern city of Al Mayadin is underway, a source known with the situation on the ground told Sputnik on Sunday.

"The assault troops (of Syrian army) are clearing areas in the western outskirts of Al Mayadin," the source said.

The day before, Russia's Defense Ministry had reported the elimination of Daesh command position in the Al Mayadin district, saying that about 80 militants were killed during the raid, including important Daesh commanders.

Earlier on Friday, Syrian government forces and their allies have completed a military operation against Daesh in the eastern part of Syria's Homs province, liberating 1,800 square kilometers (694.9 square miles) of territory.

The city of Al Mayadin is the major Daesh stronghold in the neighboring province of Deir ez-Zor. Terrorists have used this hub to accumulate weapons and manpower to launch attacks on the cities of Palmyra and Deir ez-Zor.

Syrian forces have been on the offensive in the area around the city of Deir ez-Zor. Most militants have been pushed back several miles east and across the Euphrates. Daesh militants then started fleeing for Al Mayadin and further toward the northern outskirts of Deir ez-Zor.

 Sputnik

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Pentagon Calls Syrian General's Claims on US Arms Supplies to Daesh 'Ridiculous'

Sputnik News

21:20 09.10.2017(updated 21:21 09.10.2017)

A Syrian general accused the US of supplying weapons to terrorists. The Pentagon has commented on the claim.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  A Pentagon representative told Sputnik on Monday that the claims made by a Syrian general about alleged US deliveries of arms to terrorists, in particular Daesh and al-Nusra Front terrorist groups in Syria, were untrue.

"These statements are absolutely ridiculous and untrue. They represent a Russian and [Syrian government] regime propaganda campaign to discredit the U.S. and our successful coalition fight against ISIS [Daesh] in Syria. US forces in Syrian territory operate under authorities to combat terrorism, and they will continue to advise and assist partner forces as long as ISIS remains either a conventional or insurgent threat," the representative said.

Earlier in the day, Syrian Gen. Ali Al Ali, chief of the main operational directorate of the Syrian army, said that the United States was supplying terrorists, not the Syrian opposition, with weapons, and the arms "eventually  fell into the hands of militants of the Islamic State [Daesh] and Jabhat al-Nusra [al-Nusra Front]."

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov, responsible for counter-terrorism coordination has also stated that despite steps taken by the UN, Daesh and other terror groups keep receiving weapons, ammunition, military equipment, political cover, "using counter-terror issues to achieve cynical political and geopolitical objectives." US Department of Defense spokesperson Adrian Rankine-Galloway told Sputnik that suggestions of the US-led coalition allegedly cooperating with Daesh terrorist group were baseless and unhelpful.

 Sputnik

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Turkish President Announces Start of Military Operation in Syria

By Dorian Jones October 07, 2017

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the start of Turkish military operation into Syria's Idlib province.

"There is a serious operation in Idlib at the moment, and this will continue," Erdogan announced in a speech Saturday to his party members.

The military offensive is aimed at ending the jihadist control of the Idlib area. Much of Idlib is controlled by the jihadist Tahrir al-Sham alliance, which is made up of large elements of a former al-Qaida affiliate that changed its name last year from the al-Nusra Front.

"We have to help our brothers who arrived in Idlib after fleeing Aleppo. The necessary step was taken, and it is ongoing," Erdogan said. "The FSA [Free Syrian Army] is currently carrying out the operation, and our soldiers are not there."

According to some local reports, FSA forces have started entering Idlib and already have engaged in fighting with the jihadists.

Bolstering forces

The Turkish military has been bolstering its forces for weeks along the Idlib border. Local media reports said parts of the Turkish-built frontier wall had been removed ahead of an expected military operation, which could start as early as Saturday night.

Erdogan said the current operation was receiving air support from Russia.

Ankara, along with Moscow and Tehran, agreed in Astana to create a de-escalation zone in Idlib. Tahrir al-Sham is strongly opposed to the move, vowing to continue its fight against the Syrian regime.

Even though Ankara is a strong supporter of the Syrian opposition, it increasingly is cooperating in Syria with Tehran and Moscow, which both back the Syrian regime. Erdogan has met with his Iranian and Russian counterparts during the past 10 days to discuss the Syrian civil war.

The Astana agreement to create a de-escalation zone in Idlib could help to avert a major threat to Turkey, former Turkish Ambassador Unal Cevikoz, who now heads the Ankara Policy Center, said.

Cevikoz said Ankara fears that if the Syrian regime moves against the rebels in Idlib, as it did in Aleppo, Turkey could face a humanitarian crisis.

"If that kind of tragedy like Aleppo happens in Idlib, there would certainly be a new flow of refugees, and all these people in the Idlib area would find refuge in Turkey. ... Their only exit is toward Turkey," said Cevikoz.

Humanitarian crisis

Currently, Turkey is hosting about 3 million refugees from Iraq and Syria. Security experts warn Turkey would face not only a humanitarian crisis but also a security threat, with many jihadists based in Idlib.

With Ankara being one of the main backers of the Syrian rebels, its role is seen as crucial by Moscow and Tehran in helping to create a de-escalation zone. According to local reports, Turkey's military forces and rebels will focus on securing Idlib, while the hinterland will be under Russian and Iranian control.

Last year, Turkish forces backing FSA elements entered Syria with Moscow's tacit support to remove Islamic State forces and Kurdish forces from its border. A large Turkish military presence remains in Syria, despite Ankara's declaring an end to Operation Euphrates Shield.

Observers warn of the risk of mission creep in the current military undertaking.

Idlib borders Afrin, a region under control by a Syrian Kurdish militia of the YPG. Ankara considers the militia to be terrorists linked to the Kurdish insurgent PKK group, which has been fighting the Turkish state for three decades.

"We will never allow the formation of a terror corridor along our border with Syria," Erdogan said Saturday  a reference that observers suggested was aimed at both jihadists and the YPG.

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Turkey may find other partners if Russia reluctant to share S-400 technology: Cavusoglu

Iran Press TV

Mon Oct 9, 2017 07:05PM

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Ankara may cancel its deal with Russia on acquiring the Russian S-400 missile systems and seek a deal with other partners if Moscow is reluctant to share the technology of its most advanced air defense system with the Anatolian country.

Turkey's top diplomat made the remarks in an interview with the Turkish newspaper Aksam, the transcript of which was published on Monday, adding that Ankara had earlier reached an agreement in principle with Moscow for joint production of the air defense system.

"We have agreed in principle on joint production in the medium and long term. If Russians do not agree, we will sign an agreement with another country. But we have not received any negative replies [from Moscow] regarding this issue," Cavusoglu said.

Cavusoglu's comments came almost a month after Ankara and Moscow reached an agreement on the delivery of the S-400 systems to Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later said that Ankara had already made its first payment for the air defense systems.

Under the deal, Russia would send two S-400 systems to Turkey within the next year and then help the country domestically produce two more batteries. The deal is said to be worth around $2.5 billion.

Later in the day and in a press conference in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, was asked about Cavusoglu's comments regarding the transfer of S-400 systems' technology to Turkey. He said, "Contacts and negotiations at an expert level in the context of this deal are ongoing. This is all I can say for now."

S-400, whose full name is the Triumf Mobile Multiple Anti-Aircraft Missile System (AAMS), is an advanced Russian missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy planes, drones, or missiles as far as 402 kilometers away. It has previously been sold only to China and India.

Turkey, being a NATO member state with the second-largest army in the military alliance, drew an outpouring of criticism from the US and other members of the bloc, which criticized Ankara for drifting toward Moscow.

"They went crazy because we made the S-400 agreement. What were we supposed to do, wait for you?" said Erdogan on September 13, a day after he inked the deal with the Russians.

Before gravitating towards Russia, the Turkish military reportedly walked out of a $3.4 billion contract for a similar Chinese system. The withdrawal took place under purported pressure from Washington

Ankara's ties with its Western allies in NATO have been strained over a range of issues. The Turkish leader has been critical of Washington for supporting Kurdish groups in Syria that he says are responsible for terror attacks inside Turkey.

Erdogan has also slammed American officials for rejecting his requests to hand over Fethullah Gulen, a powerful opposition figure living in the US, who is blamed by Ankara for masterminding last year's mid-July failed coup.

Turkey is striving to boost its air defense, particularly after Washington decided in 2015 to withdraw its Patriot surface-to-air missile system from Turkey's border with Syria, a move that weakened Turkey's air defense.

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Almost 150 go on trial over Turkey coup bridge killings

Iran Press TV

Mon Oct 9, 2017 03:03PM

Turkey has put on trial almost 150 former members of the military over clashes on an Istanbul bridge that led to the deaths of dozens of people, including a key aide of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during last year's abortive coup.

A total of 143 suspects, including 30 officers, attended a hearing at Istanbul's 25th Criminal Court on Monday over the bloody fighting that erupted between Erdogan's supporters and renegade soldiers on the bridge across Bosphorus Strait on the night of the coup on July 15, 2016.

Thirty-four civilians and seven coup plotters were killed on Bosphorus Bridge. Among the fatalities were Erdogan's campaign manager Erol Olcak and his 16-year-old son Abdullah, who were killed when soldiers opened fire on protesters.

The bridge was later renamed by the Turkish government as July 15 Martyrs' Bridge.

According to the 1,052-page indictment, the suspects are accused of crimes ranging from murder to attempting to overthrow the Turkish government and parliament. Each could face 37 aggravated life sentences if convicted.

The Monday trial is one of several legal processes seeking to bring to justice those believed to have played a role in the coup bid, which left 249 people dead, not including the putschists.

Last week, a court in southwestern Turkey sentenced 34 people to life in prison for attempting to assassinate Erdogan during the failed coup.

Turkey witnessed a coup attempt when a faction of the Turkish military declared that the government of President Erdogan was no more in charge of the country. However, over the course of two days, the putsch was suppressed.

The Turkish government accuses the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of having orchestrated the attempted coup. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally turned arch-foe, has denied the allegation.

Turkey has called on the US to extradite Gulen, but the demand has not been taken heed of.

Turkey, which remains in a state of emergency since the coup, has been engaged in suppressing the media and opposition groups suspected to have played a role in the failed coup.

In a post-coup crackdown, Turkey has suspended or dismissed more than 150,000 judges, policemen, teachers, and civil servants and has arrested nearly 50,000 others.

Many rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have denounced Ankara's heavy clampdown on perceived putschists.

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U.S., Turkey In Tit-For-Tat Suspension Of Visas Services Over Arrest Of Employee

RFE/RL October 09, 2017

The United States and Turkey are mutually restricting visa services after a U.S. Consulate employee of Turkish nationality was arrested in Istanbul on espionage charges.

The diplomatic tit-for-tat between the two longtime allies began on October 8, when Washington's Embassy in Ankara said the United States was suspending all nonimmigrant visa services in Turkey following the arrest of the employee.

The statement said recent events had forced it to "reassess the commitment of the Government of Turkey to the security of U.S. Mission facilities and personnel."

It added that the suspension of nonimmigrant visas was "effective immediately." Immigrant visas are for those seeking to live in the United States permanently.

Turkey responded late in the day, announcing it had "suspended all nonimmigrant visa service" at Turkish diplomatic facilities in the United States.

However, a later Turkish statement appeared to go further, saying that "effective immediately, we have suspended all visa services" regarding U.S. citizens at "our diplomatic and consular missions," leaving some uncertainty as to the measures being taken and where they would apply.

The latest dispute arose after Turkish media reported that a local employee working at the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul was remanded in custody by a court on October 4 on accusations of links to the group of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says orchestrated last year's failed coup against the government.

Ankara has pressed Washington for Gulen's extradition. The cleric has denied any link to the July 2016 coup attempt.

The arrested man, identified as Metin Topuz, has been formally charged with espionage and seeking to overthrow the Turkish government, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

On October 5, the U.S. Embassy said the United States was "deeply disturbed" over the arrest, adding, "We believe these allegations to be wholly without merit."

Despite being NATO allies, tension between the two countries have risen over the fate of Gulen and because of the U.S. military's support for Kurdish YPG fighters in Syria in that country's six-year civil war.

Ankara considers the YPG to be an extension of the banned PKK, which has waged an insurgency for three decades in southeast Turkey.

Turkey and the United States are also battling over moves by U.S. prosecutors to charge 15 members of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's security detail following a brawl in Washington on May 16.

The 15 Turkish security officers were among 19 people that U.S. prosecutors said were indicted by a grand jury in connection with the fight that broke out between protesters and Erdogan's detail outside the Turkish ambassador's residence.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has protested what it called "biased" charges by the U.S. prosecutors.

The United States, along with many other Western nations, has also been highly critical of Turkey's crackdown on dissent since the 2016 coup against the Erdogan's government.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-turkey-embassy- visa-dispute/28781560.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Turkey's General Staff Announces Start of Military Operation in Syria's Idlib

Sputnik News

12:05 09.10.2017(updated 14:41 09.10.2017)

Two days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish military will help Free Syrian Army rebels in the newly-launched anti-terror offensive, Turkey has announced the official start of the operation in Syria's Idlib currently controlled by al-Nusra Front terrorists.

The Turkish General Staff has announced the start of the operation in Syria's Idlib, adding that reconnaissance activities are underway, posts for control of the ceasefire are being established.

"According to the agreements reached in Astana on the creation of a de-escalation zone in Idlib, the Turkish Armed Forces as one of the countries-guarantors [of the ceasefire in Syria] started a reconnaissance operation to establish posts for the monitoring of the ceasefire on October 8," the Turkish General Staff said in a statement obtained by Sputnik.

Later in the day, the Daily Sabah reported that Turkish military units have already crossed the border into Syria's Idlib province. The operation is said to enhance ceasefire regime, end violence and clashes, deliver humanitarian aid to those in need and ensure favorable conditions for the peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflict.

The deployement comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Ankara plans to deploy the country's soldiers to Syria's Idlib, where the Free Syrian Army rebel fighters backed by Ankara have launched an operation. A day later, Erdogan said that "if we didn't take our measures, bombs would fall on our cities."

Currently, Idlib is mostly controlled by Tahrir al-Sham, a militant group led by al-Nusra Front terrorist group (banned in Russia), al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate. The group is not party to the agreement on setting up a de-escalation zone in Idlib agreed upon during the Syrian peace talks in Astana

Commenting on the Idlib operation on Sunday, the Turkish prime minister, Binali Yildirim, in his turn, said that Ankara's actions in Idlib are coordinated with Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry hasn't yet commented on Turkey's plans for an operation in Idlib, however, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier this week that Russia is ready to support armed groups fighting al-Nusra Front in Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone.

The Idlib operation is the second Turkish military operation on the Syrian soil. From August 2016 until March 2017, the Euphrates Shield campaign by the Turkish army conducted also with the FSA rebel fighters was conducted aiming to clear the Syrian border town of Jarablus and the surrounding area from Daesh terrorist group.

 Sputnik

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Tensions Rise Between Ankara and Washington

By Dorian Jones October 09, 2017

Turkish-U.S. tensions continue to escalate, with Ankara imposing a suspension on the issuance of visas for most American citizens in retaliation to a similar move by Washington. The tit for tat dispute hit Turkey's financial markets, as fears grow over long-term fall out.

"Its unheard of, even at the worst times between the two countries no such thing happened [like this] before, in that sense its looks very serious," warned political scientist Cengiz Aktar.

The dispute erupted with last week's arrest on terrorism charges of Metin Topuz, a local employee at the U.S. Istanbul consulate. Turkish prosecutors' accuse Topuz of being linked to followers of the U.S. based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who they blame for last year's failed coup.

Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. deputy chief of mission, and according to local media reports demanded " immediate relief" on Washington's restriction on issuing of visas.

Umit Yalcin, Turkish Foreign Ministry undersecretary, reportedly spoke by phone with U.S. Ambassador John Bass.

The ruling AK Party has stepped up its war of words against Bass, "Get out Bass, leave us" declared AK Party deputy head, Hamza Dag. Bass is due to leave Turkey for a post in Afghanistan.

Tensions could be set to escalate further with the Istanbul Prosecutors Office announcing a new arrest warrant has been issued for another local employed at the U.S. Istanbul consulate, and that the wanted man's wife and son have been detained.

"This crisis has just entered yet another new level in the ever increasing tensions between Ankara and Washington," says political scientist Aktar. "Turkey is demanding many things from the American administration. This crisis is a sum of all these outstanding issues."

Political considerations

Ankara is increasingly voicing frustration over Washington's failure to extradite Gulen, whose followers are blamed for last year's coup. But Washington insists the extradition is a matter for the courts. Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, views such explanations as an excuse, claiming Turkey has sent many wanted people back to the United States.

The dispute is resurrecting suspicions widely voiced in the pro-government media that Washington was involved in last year's coup, a charge it strongly denies.

Washington's suspicions are growing that the detention of local staff could be politically driven.

Eleven U.S. citizens have been held in connection with last year's failed coup, including pastor Andrew Brunson, who on Monday saw his first year anniversary in jail without being charged.

Erdogan last month appeared to directly link Brunson's detention to the Gulen case, "'Give us the pastor back,' they [Washington] say. You have one pastor [Gulen] as well. Give him to us," Erdogan said in a speech on September 28 at the presidential palace.

Until now, simmering bilateral tensions between the NATO allies had been largely kept out of the public domain.

"I think now we are as close as we have ever been," U.S. President Donald Trump said last month of relations with Turkey, while meeting Erdogan. "He's [Erdogan] running a very difficult part of the world. Frankly, he's getting high marks," Trump added.

Allies intertwined

But the eruption of U.S.-Turkish tensions into the public domain, shocked the Turkey's financial markets. Both the lira and stock markets recorded heavy falls.

"The visa decision of the United States against Turkey is a very unfortunate development," wrote the Turkish Business and Industry Association (TUSIAD), which represents Turkey's largest companies, "This crisis should be eased to foster mutual trust and constructive dialogue by not giving any room to hit the bilateral ties in the first place. Then, the disagreements need to be resolved in the fastest possible time."

With Turkey bordering Iran, Iraq and Syria, as well as hosting the largest U.S. military airbase in the region, Incirlik, analysts suggests it will be in the interest of both sides to calm tensions. "Turkey and America are so intertwined strategically that it's very difficult to separate at the moment," notes political columnist Semih Idiz of Al Monitor website.

But the long term consequences of the present tensions could be far reaching, "I think America is very seriously reviewing its partnership in the region. Structurally the dice are thrown, [but] the American administration, Republicans and Democrats do not consider Turkey as a reliable partner," says political scientist Aktar. "But the dilemma for Washington is not to push Turkey into the lap of Moscow."

Ultimately, observers predict the real winner of the current spat will be Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been working hard to pry Turkey apart from its NATO partners.

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Erdogan Pledges Support For Ukraine's Territorial Integrity During Kyiv Visit

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service October 09, 2017

During a visit to Kyiv, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his country will continue to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"We neither did, nor will recognize" the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia, Erdogan said on October 9 at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko.

Erdogan also said that Ankara will continue to follow the situation of Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatars, and thanked Ukraine for defending their rights.

Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014, sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegal by dozens of countries, and backs separatists in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

Rights groups and Western governments have also denounced what they called a persistent campaign of oppression targeting Crimean Tatars and other citizens who opposed Moscow's takeover.

"Today we agreed to continue to fight for the protection of the rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens in Crimea in the framework of all international mechanisms," Poroshenko wrote on Twitter.

The Ukrainian president told the press conference that his three-hour talks with Erdogan gave "grounds for optimism about the development of bilateral cooperation in all spheres."

Erdogan said that the two sides agreed on the goal of raising the volume of bilateral trade from $3.8 billion to $10 billion a year "as quickly as possible."

The two presidents were scheduled to chair a session of the Turkey-Ukraine High-Level Strategic Council in Kyiv on October 9.

Erdogan's press service has said that the Turkish president will also meet with the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, Andriy Parubiy, and Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman.

A number of bilateral documents will be signed during Erdogan's one-day official visit, including on protecting investments and avoiding double taxation, according to Poroshenko's press secretary, Svyatoslav Tseholko.

Talking to Poroshenko last month at the UN General Assembly in New York, Erdogan reiterated that Ankara supported Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Turkish president has also sought to maintain warm ties with Russia and cooperates with Moscow on establishing "de-escalation zones" in Syria. Moscow and Ankara support different sides in Syria's civil war.

Refat Chubarov, chairman of the Crimea Tatars' self-governing body, the Mejlis, told RFE/RL on October 9 that one of the reasons why Ankara had not joined the European Union in imposing sanctions against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine is that European leaders have been dragging their feet over Turkey's bid to join the bloc.

"Turkey is against Russia's activities [in Crimea].... However, to my mind, the issue is linked to the fact that for decades Turkey has been trying to join the European Union as a full-fledged member. But the EU has always found reasons to reject the bid. And now Turkey is reacting to that," Chubarov said.

With reporting by AP and Interfax

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine- turkey-erdogan-visit-poroshenko -meeting/28782936.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Haiti - Social : Funeral of Pierrot Denize, moving funeral oration





Saturday in Florida at the Kraeer Funeral Home https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22317-haiti-news-zapping.html Michel-Ange Gedeon, the Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), at the head of a delegation composed of : Me. Eucher Luc Joseph, Mario Andresol, Godson Orelus, Fritz Jean, Maxime Jean Miguelite, Gaspard Hyppolite, Yves Stark (Tioupa) and Marc Justin, attended the funeral of former PNH Director General Pierrot Denize, who died on 1 October 2017 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22280-haiti-social-death-of-pierre-denize-former-director-general-of-the-pnh.html



In this sad circumstance, Michel-Ange Gedeon delivered a last message to the deceased.



Speech by the Director General of the PNH :

"My dear Pierrot,



You will always be among us, the PNH will weep for a long time. There are high facts of the police institution that one can not relive without evoking your memories, without mentioning your name. If it is allowed up there, you will want to salute those who have preceded us, those who have donated their blood and their lives to make the PNH what it is today.



Tell them that the fight is still tough, the country remains difficult, but you have planted well, the PNH is in progression mode, we have more arms, we will have more and our determination remains intact. Tell them also that we will continue your work. Tell them finally that the PNH will survive.



Leonardo da Vinci said 'As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death'



Go in peace, big brother, you have filled your day.



May the earth be light to you !"



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22317-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22280-haiti-social-death-of-pierre-denize-former-director-general-of-the-pnh.html



HL/ S/ HaitiLibre


















Volleyball playoffs: Hubs, Blazers will play for state titles

North Hagerstown got past Magruder in four sets in the 3A semifinals, and Clear Spring swept Forest Park in the 1A semifinals. Finals are Wednesday.
'Exactly what I expected from Indiana': IU gets marquee win over Vols

IU was more composed, outrebounded, outhustled, outworked and, 'out-toughed' the favored Volunteers on the road, leading almost the entire game.
The Rwandan hotel investment market has improved strongly over the last 8 years, according to the African Hotel Report 2017 by Hotel Partners Africa, that will be releasedtomorrow at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Kigali. For the first time Rwanda has entered the "top ten" of most valuable countries in Africa for hotels. In addition, with average growth in hotel values of 8.8% over the last 8 years, Rwanda experienced the sixth highest growth on the continent over that period.

"That values have increased in 2017 despite the large influx of new supply in the last two years is testament to the confidence that investors have in the stability of the government and the overall investment climate" said David Harper, the report's author.

Rwanda is held out by many as a beacon across Africa for property investment. With an Ease of Doing Business rating of 67 (out of 189) and Property Rights Protection rating ranked at 28 (out of 145) investors have found the climate conducive to property deals. The Government's concentration on providing infrastructure, reducing 'red tape' and stamping out corruption has all enabled foreign investors to feel confident in the country's future. 4 new branded hotels with 544 rooms are planned for Kigali.

"This report shows that the hotel industry in Africa is still a very good investment, despite the cyclical nature of the property market. However, good advice is vital to help ensure you make the most of this very promising investment opportunity and avoid some of the potential pitfalls that can ensnare the less experienced hotel investor"

About Hotel Partners Africa

Hotel Partners Africa is a collaboration between a highly proactive team of specialists who have created a one-stop shop to advise and serve clients in the hospitality sector throughout sub-Saharan Africa. We have built long-standing relationships with branded hotel chains, developers, fund managers and property owners. In the complex world of hotel development and management, HPA will guide a client through the processes and requirements for satisfying funders, managing risk, overseeing cost efficient and fit-for-purpose construction, contract negotiation with operators, asset management, valuation, sales and acquisitions.

About the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF)

AHIF is the premier hotel investment conference in Africa, attracting many prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies and their advisers. It is organised by Bench Events (www.benchevents.com), who has a long track record of delivering multiple premium hotel investment conferences and forums across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Bench Events' mission is enabling prosperity by facilitating growth, networking, and thought leadership in the hospitality industry worldwide.

About The Bench

The Benchhas established a legacy for delivering world-leading investment forums and conferences in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The key principle behind these platforms has remained "dealmaking'. Transforming the way business connect, Bench has developed a reputation for creating innovative and high-impact meeting spaces for the industry.

For over two decades - government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel & tourism associations, the world's most influential hospitality brands, hotel owners & investors, renowned restaurant groups, airlines & aviation authorities, destination developers, asset managers, financial groups and consultants  have been participating in The Bench's events for their respective objectives. These include AHIC, AHIF, GRIF, FHS, AHF, IDEEA, AviaDev and RENEW where industry players showcase their brands, position themselves as thought leaders or innovators, and connect with the right opportunities and knowledge.

Learn more on thebench.com

About MEED

Launched on International Women's Day 1957, the Middle East Economic Digest, MEED, is a well-known and trusted brand used by governments and businesses operating in the region.

Encompassing a business intelligence service, digital media, publications and events MEED provides exclusive daily news, data and analysis. We are responsible for keeping our audiences of subscribers, registered users and event attendees informed, helping to facilitate decision making and connections.

Our marketing solutions team provides clients with access to our audiences. We partner with local and international companies who need to reach our high-value communities. In consultation with our clients we utilise tried and tested methods to target and engage decision makers to announce and explain, lead and grow and to contact and convert business leaders into customers.

MEED is wholly owned by data and intelligence company GlobalData Plc which means that our marketing solutions clients are also able to access a network of over 13m digital users per month across 18 different sectors.

Learn more on meed.com

Future Hospitality Summit (FHS)

Date: 19-21 September 2022

Location: Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

Sponsors

Host Sponsor: Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts

Platinum Sponsors: Accor, Dur Hospitality, Hilton, Marjan, Millennium Hotels & Resorts and Radisson Hotel Group

Emerald Sponsors: Emaar Hospitality Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, NEOM, Rotana, Royal Commission for AlUla, SMIT Morocco and Taiba Investments.

Gold Sponsors: Aleph Hospitality, CBRE, Colliers, Compass Project Consulting, Dentons, ELAF Group, ENVI Lodges, GG&Grace International, Hospitality Management Holding, HVS, The Indian Hotels Company, Insignia, Interior360, Ishraq Hospitality, IT Hospitality Group, Knight Frank, Louvre Hotels Group, LXA, Mapal Group, Minor Hotels, OBMI, PwC Middle East, QUO, SSH, STR, Valor Hospitality Partners and Voltere by egis.

Silver Sponsors: Deutsche Hospitality and Katch.

Supporters: The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA), Sustainable Hospitality Challenge, and Women in Hospitality (WiH).

David Harper

The Bench
Nigerian hotels are the most valuable hotels on the African mainland, according to the African Hotel Report 2017 that will be released at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Kigalitomorrow.

Despite the economic problems experienced by the market in recent years that have seen values fall by 16.4% in the last two years, average values are the third highest in all of Africa, behind only the Seychelles and Mauritius, according to David Harper of Hotels Partners Africa, the report's author.

Nigeria is the most significant hotel market in west Africa, with almost 6,100 branded bedrooms across 41 hotels, with 21 brands (and 14 hotel companies) represented in 9 cities. With a population of almost 192m, growing at an estimated 2.6% per annum and with the largest economy on the continent, it is unsurprising that more hotel projects (61) and more branded bedrooms (10,313) are proposed here than in any other country on the continent.

"This report shows that the hotel industry in Africa is still a very good investment, despite the cyclical nature of the property market. However, good advice is vital to help ensure you make the most of this very promising investment opportunity and avoid some of the potential pitfalls that can ensnare the less experienced hotel investor".

About Hotel Partners Africa

Hotel Partners Africa is a collaboration between a highly proactive team of specialists who have created a one-stop shop to advise and serve clients in the hospitality sector throughout sub-Saharan Africa. We have built long-standing relationships with branded hotel chains, developers, fund managers and property owners. In the complex world of hotel development and management, HPA will guide a client through the processes and requirements for satisfying funders, managing risk, overseeing cost efficient and fit-for-purpose construction, contract negotiation with operators, asset management, valuation, sales and acquisitions.

About the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF)

AHIF is the premier hotel investment conference in Africa, attracting many prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies and their advisers. It is organised by Bench Events (www.benchevents.com), who has a long track record of delivering multiple premium hotel investment conferences and forums across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Bench Events' mission is enabling prosperity by facilitating growth, networking, and thought leadership in the hospitality industry worldwide.

About The Bench

The Benchhas established a legacy for delivering world-leading investment forums and conferences in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The key principle behind these platforms has remained "dealmaking'. Transforming the way business connect, Bench has developed a reputation for creating innovative and high-impact meeting spaces for the industry.

For over two decades - government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel & tourism associations, the world's most influential hospitality brands, hotel owners & investors, renowned restaurant groups, airlines & aviation authorities, destination developers, asset managers, financial groups and consultants  have been participating in The Bench's events for their respective objectives. These include AHIC, AHIF, GRIF, FHS, AHF, IDEEA, AviaDev and RENEW where industry players showcase their brands, position themselves as thought leaders or innovators, and connect with the right opportunities and knowledge.

Learn more on thebench.com

About MEED

Launched on International Women's Day 1957, the Middle East Economic Digest, MEED, is a well-known and trusted brand used by governments and businesses operating in the region.

Encompassing a business intelligence service, digital media, publications and events MEED provides exclusive daily news, data and analysis. We are responsible for keeping our audiences of subscribers, registered users and event attendees informed, helping to facilitate decision making and connections.

Our marketing solutions team provides clients with access to our audiences. We partner with local and international companies who need to reach our high-value communities. In consultation with our clients we utilise tried and tested methods to target and engage decision makers to announce and explain, lead and grow and to contact and convert business leaders into customers.

MEED is wholly owned by data and intelligence company GlobalData Plc which means that our marketing solutions clients are also able to access a network of over 13m digital users per month across 18 different sectors.

Learn more on meed.com

Future Hospitality Summit (FHS)

Date: 19-21 September 2022

Location: Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

Sponsors

Host Sponsor: Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts

Platinum Sponsors: Accor, Dur Hospitality, Hilton, Marjan, Millennium Hotels & Resorts and Radisson Hotel Group

Emerald Sponsors: Emaar Hospitality Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, NEOM, Rotana, Royal Commission for AlUla, SMIT Morocco and Taiba Investments.

Gold Sponsors: Aleph Hospitality, CBRE, Colliers, Compass Project Consulting, Dentons, ELAF Group, ENVI Lodges, GG&Grace International, Hospitality Management Holding, HVS, The Indian Hotels Company, Insignia, Interior360, Ishraq Hospitality, IT Hospitality Group, Knight Frank, Louvre Hotels Group, LXA, Mapal Group, Minor Hotels, OBMI, PwC Middle East, QUO, SSH, STR, Valor Hospitality Partners and Voltere by egis.

Silver Sponsors: Deutsche Hospitality and Katch.

Supporters: The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA), Sustainable Hospitality Challenge, and Women in Hospitality (WiH).

David Harper

The Bench
In 2016, China registered a 13 per cent increase in outbound trips  city trips and Sun&Beach holidays are becoming more and more important  trips to Europe declined  ITB Berlin and IPK International analyse outbound travel behaviour of the Chinese

In 2016, while international travel grew by about four per cent, China registered a growth rate of 13 per cent, further consolidating its position as one of the world's most important source markets for international travel. Thus, China exceeded the Asian/Pacific average outbound growth rate, which was at nearly nine per cent in 2016. These are the results of a special analysis by the World Travel Monitor, conducted by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin.

Decline in trips to Europe in 2016

In 2016, the Chinese went on 51.2 million international trips with overnights, not including trips to Macau and Hong Kong. Compared to the previous year, that amounts to an additional six million trips and an increase of 13 per cent. China also strengthened its position as the world's fourth-largest source market behind Germany, the USA and the UK, while further distancing fifth-placed France. Around three out of four outbound trips from China are to destinations within Asia/Pacific, with the Top-5 destinations being within the region, such as South Korea and Thailand. The USA is China's sixth most popular destination, to which some 2.8 million trips have been made in 2016. The most preferred European destinations are Germany, Spain, France, Switzerland and Austria. However, following seven years of consecutive growth, Chinese trips to Europe declined by four per cent in 2016 compared to the previous year, resulting in a total of 16 per cent of all Chinese outbound trips going to Europe. Nevertheless, first trends for 2017 indicate a positive development again regarding Chinese trips to Europe.

City trips and Sun&Beach holidays are gaining ground

Holidays are the reason for over 80 per cent of Chinese outbound trips. Above all, holiday trips only (without visiting friends or relatives) have a significantly higher share among Chinese travellers (72 per cent) compared to the global average of 57 per cent. For some years, the most popular type of holiday has been round trips, whereas city trips as well as Sun&Beach holidays have been catching up recently. Even though the share of business trips in 2016 was rather small (15 per cent), the number grew by 22 per cent compared to 2015, while holiday trips increased by 11 per cent. Moreover, the average length of stay abroad was nearly 6 nights, which represents a slight increase compared to the previous year, while spending per night remained at the same level.

Around 75 per cent of Chinese outbound travellers chose to stay in hotels. Four and five star hotels were the preferred categories, accounting for 52 per cent of accommodation on all trips. Thus, also regarding the accommodation choice, the Chinese differ widely from the global average, which in respect to luxury hotels stands at only 39 per cent. For the Chinese, planes are the preferred means of transportation, making up for over 80 per cent. This figure is also significantly higher than the global average of around 60 per cent.

When it comes to information sources used prior going on an outbound trip, 88 per cent of Chinese travellers use the internet, which is only slightly higher than the worldwide average of 81 per cent. However, while worldwide, around one in three travellers seek for information through a travel agency, Chinese exhibit a much higher share of nearly 70 per cent. This also applies to travel agency bookings. Globally, around 30 per cent book their outbound trip through a travel agency, while almost 50 per cent of Chinese do so.

The World Travel Monitor Forum is an exclusive industry gathering which discusses the latest travel trends and forecasts of tourism development, taking place on the 9th and 10th of November 2017 in Pisa, Italy. A summary of the Forum's main findings will be published in the ITB World Travel Trends Report (for last year's edition click http://www.itb-berlin.de/media/itb/itb_dl_all/itb_presse_all/World_Travel_Trends_Report_2016_2017.pdf).

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2023 will take place for trade visitors only from Tuesday, 7 to Thursday, 9 March. Since 1966, ITB Berlin has been the World's Leading Travel Trade Show. As in previous years, the internationally renowned ITB Berlin Convention will take place live parallel with the exhibition on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, with selected sessions live-streamed on itb.com. In 2022 it took place as a virtual event on the brand's website itb.com and registered 60,700 attendees from 125 countries who took part in more than 100 sessions featuring 223 speakers. Taking place on one day, the Digital Business Day gave 2,500 attendees from 96 countries an opportunity to exchange views and do business virtually from anywhere in the world. International attendance was high, with 78 per cent of buyers and providers taking part from abroad. A total of 20,000 business contacts were made, resulting in 14,000 leads and 3,200 business meetings being arranged. As a virtual industry platform, the Digital Business Day augmented the ITB brand family and rounded off the trade show concept. In 2022, under the heading 'TRVLX by ITB', ITB Berlin is planning a series of B2B networking events in European markets  the kick-off event took place in May in Georgia. Before the pandemic at ITB 2019, around 10,000 exhibitors from 181 countries displayed their products and services to some 160,000 visitors, including 113,500 trade visitors.

Emanuel Hoger

Press Spokesman and Press and Public Relations Director, Corporate Communication - Messe Berlin Group

+49 30 3038-2270

Messe Berlin GmbH
When Kendrick Lamar released his DAMN. album back in April of this year, the effort went on to surpass already high expectations, debuting at the top No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 200 chart and pushing the equivalent of 603,000 units in its first week. From then on, the momentum hasnt slowed up for K. Dot. So much so that Kendrick is now entering his 25th week within the top 10 on the Hot 200 chart, sitting there for a little under half the year.

In accomplishing such a feat, he finds himself in the company of chart-toppers such as Ed Sheeran, Drake, and Katy Perry with Sheerans  being the only other project to reach past the 25 week mark. Comparatively, DAMN. spent 21 weeks in the top five while Sheerans effort only accomplished this for nine weeks.

According to earlier reports from Billboard, DAMN. has been the best performing full-length effort of the year, and in the off-chance that Taylor Swifts forthcoming Reputation album doesnt resonate as well with her fan base, its likely that Kung Fu Kenny will nab the title once and for all as the year begins to near its close.

Last month, new reports revealed that DAMN. Was responsible for fiveof the years 50 most streamed songs, giving Kendrick the highest tally in that respect so far.

Week Rank Figure

April 20 No. 1 603,000

April 27 No. 1 239,000

May 4 No. 1 173,000

May 11 No. 3 134,000

May 18 No. 3 117,000

May 25 No. 2 98,000

June 1 No. 2 84,000

June 8 No. 2 73,000

June 15 No. 2 69,000

June 22 No. 3 70,000

June 29 No. 3 59,000

July 6 No. 3 56,000

July 13 No. 3 54,000

July 20 No. 2 56,000

July 27 No. 5 48,000

Aug. 3 No. 2 47,000

Aug. 10 No. 1 47,000

Aug. 17 No. 2 43,000

Aug. 24 No. 3 41,000

Aug. 31 No. 5 45,000

Sept. 7 No. 4 40,000

Sept. 14 No. 8 35,000

Sept. 21 No. 4 34,000

Sept. 28 No. 8 34,000

Oct. 5 No. 9 34,000

Earlier last week (October 1st), Kendrick revealed dates for the European leg of his DAMN. Tour lalongside James Blake. Set to kick off in February of next year, King Kendrick will travel across 14 different dates in cities that onclude London, Paris, and Berlin.

Check out the schedule in full below.

2/7  Dublin

2/9  Birmingham

2/10  Manchester

2/11  Glasgow

2/12  London

2/13  London

2/15  Frankfurt

2/22  Cologne

2/23  Amsterdamn

2/25  Paris

2/27  Antwerp

3/1  Copenhagen

3/2  Oslo

3/3  Stockholm

3/5  Berlin

Kendrick
We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector
New Delhi, Oct 9 (IBNS): ICICI Bank, a private sector bank, on Monday committed a financial assistance of Rs. 10 crore to the Indian Armed Forces.

The contribution, payable in two equal tranches this year and next year, will be utilised towards welfare activities and betterment of the families of ex-servicemen who have lost their lives guarding the nation. Chanda Kochhar, MD & CEO, ICICI Bank on Monday handed over a cheque worth Rs. 5 crore to the Honourable Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman at a function in the Raksha Mantralaya.



Speaking on the occasion, Chanda Kochhar, MD & CEO, ICICI Bank, said, Our Indian Armed Forces bravely guard our borders and protect us. Many of these men have valiantly fought and made the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives for our country. While no amount of assistance is enough to fill the loss for the families, this gesture is our humble endeavor to contribute towards their betterment."

She said: "Through the various skilling initiatives which have been undertaken by ICICI Bank in the past, we have seen that the maximum impact on an individuals life can be made by equipping him or her with skills and knowledge which enables him or her to participate in the economic opportunities in the country. Our assistance will aid the young children and widows of the soldiers to get an education thereby enabling them to gain knowledge, get a job and earn a sustainable livelihood. This is our small contribution to these daughters of the nation and our thoughts and best wishes will always remain with the families.



This fund will be used for two programmes to support the daughters of the armed forces.

The first will be towards the post-graduation education of the widows of ex-servicemen and also to support education for their wards.

The second scheme will be to provide financial assistance towards marriages of the daughters of the ex-servicemen.

This donation is aligned to ICICI Banks commitment towards nation building through various initiatives that promote inclusive and sustainable growth.

The Kendriya Sainik Board, an apex body of the Government of India, which formulates policies for resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependents, will undertake the administration of the programme. This body will be responsible for the allocation of funds, identification of the recipients and overall functioning of the programme.

ICICI Bank has a legacy of partnering India in its economic growth and development. Promoting inclusive growth has been a priority area for the bank from both social and business perspectives. ICICI Bank has been focused on promoting education and employment enhancing vocation skills especially among women thereby empowering them to lead better economically independent lives.
New Delhi, Oct 9 (IBNS): Be it decorative items like lights, gift items, lamps and wall hangings or other product, the sale of Chinese products may decline by 40-45% this Diwali as compared to last year which was about 30% as per the market report from various states, a quick survey by ASSOCHAM-Social Development Foundation (ASDF).

The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India survey said, there seems to be a decline of about 40-45 per cent in consumption of Chinese products on this Diwali in comparison to last year. Chinese items that are most sought fancy lights, lampshades, Ganesha and Laxmi idols, rangolis and crackers etc. As per the findings, this Diwali, people are preferring Indian products over Chinese goods.



There has been a 40-45% impact on goods like decorative lights which records huge sales during Diwali, whereas a slight impact has also been seen on China-made electronic goods like mobile phones etc. As per the paper, the demand of electronic items like LCDs, mobile phones and others items made in China has also declined by 15-20%, said Mr D S Rawat, Secretary General ASSOCHAM releasing the ASSOCHAM paper.



According to the shopkeepers, most of the customers are demanding Indian lights. People are not interested in purchasing Chinese products while showing interest in local products including earthen diyas.



There was a huge demand for made in China fancy lights in the market but it is also decreasing. Also, the quality of Chinese products is also questionable with no shopkeeper giving any sort of guarantee on Chinese items once sold. Fire crackers made at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu are preferred in comparison to Chinese crackers, adds the paper.



ASSOCHAM interacted with wholesalers, retailers, traders in cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mumbai to estimate the demand for Chinese products across India.



According to an estimate, the value of Chinese goods sold in 2016 during Diwali was around Rs 6,500 crore. Out of the total, over Rs 4,000 crore was Diwali-related items such as toys, fancy lights, gift items, plastic ware, decorative goods etc.



This Diwali, the sale of Chinese products may decline by 40-45 per cent on this Diwali as compared to last year which was about 30% as per the market report from various states, reveals the chamber.



India is a big market for Chinese products and over the years import of toys, furniture, building hardware, crackers, lighting and electric fittings, furnishing fabric, office stationary, electronic appliances, consumer electronics, kitchen equipment & appliances, gift items, watches etc from China has increased to a great extent in India.
Kolkata, Oct 9 (IBNS): In line with its vision to secure Digital India, leading cyber security solutions brand, Quick Heal, has launched aKhushiyon Ki Securitya campaign with the objective of encouraging consumers to gift a security software to their loved ones, ensuring safety and security of their digital journey.

Through this campaign, Quick Heal will spread the message Is Baar Kuch Alag Gift Deke Dekho which aims at creating awareness around cybersecurity and empower consumers to send festive greetings to their families and friends in the form of a security software.

According to the Quarterly Threat Report by Quick Heal Security Labs, over 2.3 million ransomware infections surfaced on Windows in Q2 2017.

In such a scenario where digital threats are rising, it is important to have a robust security solution in place to ensure safety and security of your devices. Keeping this in mind, Quick Heal has launched Khushiyon Ki Security which will help in creating awareness around digital security while empowering consumers with a unique gifting option.

With this unique campaign, Quick Heal is offering bouquet of products like Quick Heal Total Security, Quick Heal AV Pro, Quick Heal Internet Essentials and Quick Heal Internet Security. With every purchase, Quick Heal is offering a free mobile security solution to the buyer.

The products will be available across Quick Heals over 20,000 strong channel partner network across the country, on its website and e-commerce platforms.

Commenting on the special announcement, Vijay Mhaskar, Chief Operating Officer, Quick Heal Technologies Limited said, At Quick Heal Technologies, we believe in providing best in class experience to our consumers. As the use of Internet becomes part of our daily lives, we feel theres lot more to be done to make the masses aware on the importance of digital security. During the festive season, people often convey their blessings and greetings to their loved ones in the form of gifts. Khushiyon Ki Security is a unique campaign which will add to the festive fervor and give consumers an opportunity to send greetings to their loved ones in the form of a security software.
Birmingham, Oct 9 (IBNS): Engineering students across India have the opportunity to sign up for the University of Birminghamas new online training that will help them improve their technical English language skills a free-of-charge.

The Universitys Electrical Engineering: Sensing, Powering and Controlling course aims to support students for whom English is a second language in mastering many of the key terms and concepts in Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering.

Birminghams new MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) is based on real first-year modules at the University. Students can sign up for the free course at www.futurelearn.com/courses/electrical-engineering/1.

The MOOC is aimed at direct entry students planning to attend Birmingham to study in the discipline of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, but the content is helpful to any student planning to start in the first year of any engineering discipline.

The three-week course runs from Nov 13 and has been developed by the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. It is led by Dr Tim Jackson, Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering.

Dr Jackson said: This is a great opportunity for students whose first language is not English to brush up their language skills and get to grips with the key terms and concepts associated with engineering.

The course will be delivered in English to help students to gradually develop their language skills. Students can learn online at their own pace, and there are opportunities to discuss their work online with fellow students and lecturers, said he.

Topics covered will include:

 Overview of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering

 Transducers and their purpose

 Electronic systems in context

 Solar power / batteries in space

 The Space Weather research group

 Electrical circuits

 Analogue and digital electrical engineering

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

 Investigate what is meant by electronic, electrical and systems engineering.

 Develop their skills in analysing and designing circuits and systems.

 Improve their confidence in communicating engineering ideas using English technical vocabulary.

 Assess how different electronic and electrical engineering systems are used in specific contexts.
Gandhinagar, Oct 9 (IBNS): The Gujarat High Court on Monday commuted the death sentence of 11 convicted people in Godhra train burning incident, which occurred fifteen years ago, to rigorious life imprisonment, media reports said.

The train burning incident in Gujarat, in 2002, fanned communal violence across the state, killing at least 1000 people.

The High Court has rejected the plea of acquittal by the convicts.
New Delhi, Oct 9 (IBNS): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah's son Jay Shah, has slapped a 100-crore defamation case on a website, which alleged him of financial irregularities, media reports said.

Issuing a statement, Jay has earlier denied the allegations published on The Wire which claimed that junior Shah's company recorded a 16,000 times increase in turnover in just one year.

Jay Shah's company has allegedly recorded a turnover of Rs 80.5 crore in 2015-16.

Denying the claims made by the website, Jay said: "The article makes false, derogatory and defamatory imputation against me by creating in the minds of right-thinking people an impression that my business owes its 'success' to my father Shri Amitbhai Shah's political position... My businesses are fully legitimate and conducted in a lawful manner on commercial lines, which is reflected in my tax records, and are through banking transactions."

The BJP, on Sunday, defended its president's son as the development has already started a political battle between the ruling saffron party and the Congress.

Defending Jay, railway minister and the BJP leader, Piyush Goyal, said: "We reject any allegation sought to be made against Shri Amit Shah's son Jay Shah."

He said: "We believe in legitimate and honest transactions. We don't take umbrage in falsehood as the Congress is known to do."

Congress leader Kapil Sibal attacked the BJP over the issue and was quoted as saying in a press conference: "How can a company with no stock, no inventory, no assets, has a turnover of 80 crores? Isnt it surprising? And suddenly after a change in the government."

The Congress leader demanded prime minister Narendra Modi's initiation of an investigation into the matter.
New Delhi, Oct 9 (IBNS): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's involvement in corruption, which was alleged by a website.



Attacking the prime minister, Gandhi tweeted: "Modi, Jai Shah-ate ' exceeds '.Were you the Watchmen or the partner? You should say something."

aaaaaa, aa aaa- 'aaaa' aa aaa|

aa asaaaaaa aa aa aaaaaaa? aaa aa aaaaa  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 9, 2017

An article on The Wire, titled 'The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah', which was published on October 8, claimed that junior Shah's company recorded a 16,000 times increase in turnover in just one year.

Jay Shah's company has allegedly recorded a turnover of Rs 80.5 crore in 2015-16.

However, issuing a statement, Jay has denied all such allegations.

Denying the claims made by the website, Jay said: "The article makes false, derogatory and defamatory imputation against me by creating in the minds of right-thinking people an impression that my business owes its 'success' to my father Shri Amitbhai Shah's political position... My businesses are fully legitimate and conducted in a lawful manner on commercial lines, which is reflected in my tax records, and are through banking transactions."

Jay Shah has also slapped a 100-crore defamation case on the website over aspersions of corruption.

The BJP, on Sunday, defended its president's son as the development has already started a political battle between the ruling saffron party and the Congress.

Defending Jay, railway minister and the BJP leader, Piyush Goyal, said: "We reject any allegation sought to be made against Shri Amit Shah's son Jay Shah."

He said: "We believe in legitimate and honest transactions. We don't take umbrage in falsehood as the Congress is known to do."

Congress leader Kapil Sibal attacked the BJP over the issue and was quoted as saying in a press conference: "How can a company with no stock, no inventory, no assets, has a turnover of 80 crores? Isnt it surprising? And suddenly after a change in the government."

The Congress leader demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiation of an investigation into the matter.
New Delhi, Oct 9 (IBNS):Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday paid tribute to late leader Sardar Patel.

Gandhi paid tributes to the leader at his birthplace in Nadiad.

"Paid my tributes to Sardar Patel ji at his birthplace in Nadiad," the official Twitter handle of Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's involvement in corruption, which was alleged by a website.

Attacking the prime minister, Gandhi tweeted: "Modi, Jai Shah-ate ' exceeds '.Were you the Watchmen or the partner? You should say something."

An article on The Wire, titled 'The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah', which was published on October 8, claimed that junior Shah's company recorded a 16,000 times increase in turnover in just one year.

Jay Shah's company has allegedly recorded a turnover of Rs 80.5 crore in 2015-16.

However, issuing a statement, Jay has denied all such allegations.

Denying the claims made by the website, Jay said: "The article makes false, derogatory and defamatory imputation against me by creating in the minds of right-thinking people an impression that my business owes its 'success' to my father Shri Amitbhai Shah's political position... My businesses are fully legitimate and conducted in a lawful manner on commercial lines, which is reflected in my tax records, and are through banking transactions."

Jay Shah has also slapped a 100-crore defamation case on the website over aspersions of corruption.

The BJP, on Sunday, defended its president's son as the development has already started a political battle between the ruling saffron party and the Congress.

Defending Jay, railway minister and the BJP leader, Piyush Goyal, said: "We reject any allegation sought to be made against Shri Amit Shah's son Jay Shah."

He said: "We believe in legitimate and honest transactions. We don't take umbrage in falsehood as the Congress is known to do."

Congress leader Kapil Sibal attacked the BJP over the issue and was quoted as saying in a press conference: "How can a company with no stock, no inventory, no assets, has a turnover of 80 crores? Isnt it surprising? And suddenly after a change in the government."

The Congress leader demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiation of an investigation into the matter.

Image: Office of RG Twitter handle


Kolkata, Oct 9 (IBNS): Former West Bengal minister Madan Mitra appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday afternoon for interrogation in connection with Narada sting operation, officials said.

According to reports, after being summoned, former cabinet minister Madan Mitra, along with his counsel, reached ED office at CGO Complex in Kolkata's Salt Lake area at around 12 pm.

ED sources said that its officials are currently quizzing Madan Mitra and recording his statement.

Earlier, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) interrogated Madan Mitra in connection with the same case and visited his flat at Dakshineswar near Kolkata, where Narada News's ex-CEO Mathew Samuel allegedly handed over money to the former TMC lawmaker, to reconstruct the money transaction episode.

Meanwhile, a six-member team of CBI on Monday visited the offices of the MPs of Haldia and Tamluk Lok Sabha constituencies in East Medinipur district of West Bengal for reconstruction in connection with their ongoing probe into Narada sting operation, according to sources.

Since Mar 14 last year, news portal- Narada News- released several sting operation footage, where TMC's leaders, ministers, MPs and MLAs were allegedly seen accepting bribes.

From the beginning, TMC leadership had claimed that the sting footage was doctored and a conspiracy of the opposition parties.

After getting direction from the Calcutta High Court and Supreme Court, the CBI has started a probe into the case.

On Apr 17, the investigation agency registered an FIR in connection with the case under several non-bailable sections against 12 influential leaders, cabinet ministers, MLAs and MPs of TMC and one senior IPS officer, who were seen allegedly taking bribes in the sting footage, reports said.

Besides CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has registered a money laundering case in the Narada sting and currently investigating the case.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
New Delhi, Oct 9 (IBNS): IN Ships Tir, Sujata, Sudarshini, Shardul and ICGS Sarathi are visiting Penang, Malaysia from 08 to 12 Oct 17.

The visit is aimed to expose the trainees to the conduct of IN warship in foreign waters, port familiarisation and foster bridges of friendship between the two countries.

The ships belong to the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy functioning under the Southern Naval Command, headquartered at Kochi and comprises six indigenously built ships, namely, Indian Naval Ships Tir, Sujata, Shardul, Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi and two Sail Training Ships, viz, INS Sudarshini and INS Tarangini.

The Southern Naval Command (SNC) is the Training Command of the Indian Navy which is headed by Vice Admiral AR Karve, AVSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command.

Executive Branch trainee officers, after completing ab-initio training at the Indian Naval Academy, including the successful completion of B Tech degree course, join the First Training Squadron for intensive Practical Sea Training of 24 weeks designed to enable them get their Sea Legs.

The Sea Trainees are taught seamanship, basic navigation, ship handling, boat work, engineering aspects besides exposure to the rigours of life at sea. The curriculum also includes sail training onboard the Sail Training Ship, where the trainees are exposed to the elements and get to grips with the art of sailing and rope work.

On successful completion of this phase, the trainees are appointed to various ships of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for the Afloat Training Phase and Seamanship Board. At the First Training Squadron, the IN also trains officers from friendly foreign countries.

The Indian Navy has imparted training to international trainees for more than four decades, and approximately 13,500 personnel from over 40 countries have been trained. Presently four officers from Malaysia are undergoing various Ab-initio to advanced courses at SNC. The Command has gained the reputation of being the finest training destination by maintaining a focussed approach to provide high quality training and by constant adaptation to evolving tactics and technologies.

The Training Squadron is helmed by Captain DJ Revar, Senior Officer First Training Squadron, who is also Commanding Officer INS Tir. He has under him, a team of highly motivated officers and sailors to assist him in conduct of the sea training.

Image: Wikimedia Commons
Patna, Oct 9 (TheBiharPost/IBNS): Union minister of state for health and family welfare Ashwini Kumar Choube on Monday kicked up a major controversy when he said the Biharis were unnecessarily flocking to AIIMS in New Delhi for treating even a small disease.

Chouble, a senior BJP leader, represents Buxur seat in the Lok Sabha.

He was inducted into the Narendra Modi cabinet only last month.

People of Bihar have been flocking to AIIMS Delhi for even small disease. This has put pressure there and I have directed the doctors to send such patients back home, Choube was quoted as saying by the local media today.

He made these remarks while launching a campaign for vaccination of children in Patna on Sunday.

The RJD reacted strongly over the issue and demanded sacking of the minister from the cabinet. The Congress party also reacted bitterly.

thebiharpost.com
New York, Oct 9(Just Earth News): Having seen first-hand the destruction wrought by the recent hurricanes in the Caribbean, United Nations Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres on Saturday called for the full mobilization of the international community to support the people of the affected areas, while stressing the need to accelerate climate action.

I have just witnessed a level of devastation that I have never seen in my life, Guterres told a press conference following a visit to storm-battered Barbuda.

I have been in areas torn by conflict. In my own country, I have seen earthquakes, I've seen storms [] I have never seen such a high-level of devastation like the one that I witnessed in Barbuda, he stated.

This must make us think seriously, added Guterres, who arrived on Sunday for a two-day visit to Antigua, Barbuda and Dominica to survey the damage and to assess what more the UN can do to help people recover from the back-to-back, category 5 hurricanes that struck the region recently.

I have just witnessed a level of devastation that I have never seen in my life

The Secretary-General cited a clear link between the level of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, including CO2, the temperature of the water and the intensity of the rainstorms and of the different hurricanes in the region and in other parts of the world.

Hurricane Irma, which struck the region in early September, had winds of 300 km per hour for 39 hours  the longest such period ever recorded.

So the link between climate change and the devastation we are witnessing is clear, and there is a collective responsibility of the international community to stop this suicidal development, stated Guterres.

And for that, it is essential that the Paris Agreement on climate change is fully endorsed and respected but also to recognize that the commitments made in Paris are not enough, he said.

r. Guterres also stressed the need to mobilize resources, including through innovative financial mechanisms, so that people can rebuild their lives, noting that middle-income countries such as Antigua and Barbuda cannot do it alone.

This is an obligation of the international community, because they are suffering the effects of climate change but they have not contributed to it.

In Barbuda, the Secretary-General walked through Codrington town and met with some of the returnees. The island's 1,600 residents were evacuated to Antigua before Hurricane Irma struck last month. In Antigua, many of the displaced are staying in shelters, while others with family and friends. Some residents have been traveling back to Barbuda to check on their homes and lands.

Since the disasters struck, the UN and partners have delivered relief by both air and the sea, reaching thousands across the region with food, water purification tablets, water storage tanks, tents, school kits, mosquito nets and cash assistance. They also launched a $113.9 million appeal to cover humanitarian needs for the immediate period ahead. The UN family is also supporting those staying in the shelters.

Guterres had a chance to meet with some of the displaced during a visit to the National Technical Training Center in Antigua, which is currently sheltering 112 people, and even got a lesson from some of the younger residents in 'warri'  a game that was brought over to the region from Africa and is played with 48 seeds on a rectangular board with 12 receptacles or 'houses.'

The most immediate need they have right now is privacy, Samantha Burnette, who manages the shelter at the Training Centre, told UN News. Most of them are complaining that they have been bunking with a lot of people. So they don't have the space they need.

Most of the residents have made up their mind to stay out the year in Antigua. Some of them are saying there's nothing in Barbuda to go back to right now, said Burnette. They don't mind going back but after it has been rebuilt. Some of them are willing to go back as it is now. But the majority are here and they don't want to move and go nowhere. If they do go over, it's just for the day and they come back.

Despite the difficulties they have gone through, the residents have adjusted well to their new situation, Burnette said. I really feel they have adjusted themselves well. You can see they are smiling a little more now.

UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Image: Wallpaper

Cox's Bazar, Oct 9 (IBNS): At least 11 Rohingya refugees have died after a boat carrying them capsized near the Bangladeshi coast on Monday morning, local Dhaka Tribune reported.

The incident took place near Shahporir Dwip under Teknaf upazila of Coxs Bazar district.

The bodies were recovered from the nearby Naf river.

According to a Border Guard Bangladesh official, the boat capsized on Sunday night near the rivers Gholar Char point.

Lieutenant Colonel SM Ariful Islam was quoted by the daily as saying, "The BGB members rescued eight Rohingya after the trawler capsized around 10pm but seven others are still missing."

The official added that the boat was carrying at least 28 people when it overturned.





Image: Wallpaper
Achin, Nangarhar, Oct 9 (IBNS): At least four Islamic State militants have been killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, local Khaama Press reported.

The raids were conducted by the Afghanistan army on Saturday in the province's Achin district.

Several weapons and explosives were also destroyed during the strike.

The provincial government said that no civilian and security personnel were injured or killed during the raid.




Image: www.YouTube.com

Kabul, Oct 9 (IBNS): Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has slammed the US government, saying that it aids the so-called Islamic State or ISIS.

In an recent interview with Russia Today, Karzai said that he has "more than suspicions", when asked if the US was helping the terrorist organisation.

However, he added that the alleged reports regarding the same are yet to be confirmed.

Karzai said that the IS militants received aid, which was being delivered to them by "non-military colour helicopters".

He also took a jab at US' security and questioned the growth of terrorist organisations in Afghanistan, despite the presence of the former's soldiers.


Quetta, Oct 9 (IBNS): At least five people were killed as gunmen targeted a vehicle in Pakistan's Quetta area on Monday, media reports said.

The attack on the vehicle by unknown men left one person injured.

The vehicle was reportedly carrying members of the Hazara community.

As per Geo News report: "According to police officials, the deceased include the vehicle's driver and a passerby as well  both not Hazara."

The vehicle was going to Sabzi Mandi from Mariabad when the attack occurred.

The gunmen escaped unhurt after carrying out the attack, which appears to be an act of targeted killing, police officials told Geo News.

The injured person was shifted to hospital for treatment.

The police have reached the spot of the attack.

An investigation is currently going on.


Islamabad, Oct 9 (IBNS): Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said the days of his country's dependency on the US over its military and other requirements are over.

If one source dries up, we have no option but to go to another source. It may cost more, it may consume more resources, but we have to fight that war, and thats what we emphasized to all the people that we met, Abbasi told Arab News.

Any sanctions or restraints put on our systems only degrades our efforts to fight terror, and it affects the whole equation in this region, he said.

We have major US weapons systems in our military, but weve also diversified. We have Chinese and European systems. Recently, for the first time we inducted Russian attack helicopters," the Pakistani leader said.

The Pakistani Prime Minister told Arab News the world should recognize Pakistans efforts in fighting the worlds war on terror.

Image: Wikimedia Commons


Mississauga, Oct 9 (IBNS): A Syrian family has become homeless after a fire struck a house and burnt completely in Mississauga on Saturday, media reports.said.

According to the report, the fire had struck in the house at 2 a.m. on Saturday.

Khaled Alawad, who was living in the house with his wife and three children, dialed 911 to seek help as the fire swept the entire house on Saturday midnight.

Describing the situation, Alawad told the Star: "I saw a light coming from the backyard, and I saw a big fire. I picked up my children and family and brought them outside and yelled, please help, help, fire!"

The firefighters, who came immediately to the spot, took complete five hours to extinguish the fire, which destroyed the house by then.

Though no family members received any injury, two of the firefighters sustained minor ones, who were taken to a hospital.

The police, who didn't find any evidence in the whole incident, is continuing the investigation.

The family, who has been left homeless, is presently residing at a friend's house.

"Weve gone two days without sleeping ... were very tired, Alawad said.

You will find bad people and good people everywhere," he added. "I thank God that my family is safe.

The Burnhamthorpe Community Centre, following the fire break out, was opened for the family to access the washroom and serve as a rehab location.

Alawad has created a GoFundMePage with an aim to collect at least $20,000, stating that he is new to Canada and needs help.

In an email interaction with the Star, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all residents who are now rebuilding their lives as a result of this devastating fire.'



(Reporting by Souvik Ghosh)
Nashville axes Columbus Day, will observe Indigenous Peoples Day instead

By Albert BenderPeople's World

NASHVILLEOn Thursday, October 5, Nashville, the capital city of Tennessee, took the momentous step of recognizing the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day . The decision by city council follows an October 1 proclamation signed by Mayor Megan Barry declaring the same.

The mayors far-reaching proclamation states that the City of Nashville has a responsibility to oppose the systematic racism towards Indigenous people in the United States, which perpetuates high rates of poverty and income inequality, exacerbating disproportionate health, education, and social crises. It further reads, in part, that the actions and policies of European colonizers of the Americas destroyed much of the cultures and the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.

The proclamation also states that it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Government commemorate Indigenous Peoples Day in Nashville in recognition of Indigenous peoples as native to these lands, and the suffering they faced following European conquest of their land.

The Metro Council resolution was sponsored by Councilman Brett Withers and co-sponsored by Council members Fabian Bedne, Nancy VanReece, Mina Johnson, and Scott Davis. The measure passed 26-5, with seven abstentions.

The initial movement for the local recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day was started by a student activist, Justin Jones, of Fisk University in Nashville. Jones contacted certain members of Metro Council who took the first steps. He began efforts on the initiative over a year ago.

Two weeks before the vote, several dozen protesters gathered outside of the Metro Courthouse on September 19, for the biweekly meeting of the Nashville City Council. The purpose was to have a dress rehearsal of the demonstration that was being planned for the Oct. 3 council meeting. Demonstrators called for a change of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.

Today we reflect upon the historic and ongoing struggles of Indigenous Peoples while celebrating their culture and value to our society. pic.twitter.com/0yQJL9nT6x  Megan Barry (@MayorMeganBarry) October 9, 2017

Among the protest signs were slogans including Our country was stolen, but we are still here, and No Columbus Day! Indigenous Peoples Day, Yes! One protester said the purpose of the early demonstration was to give the council members a couple of weeks to think about things.

When the council voted on October 3, there were in fact more protesters present than at the prior demonstration two weeks earlier. In fact, it was one of the largest ever protests, on Native issues, for the city. The demonstration started with a traditional Native American prayer by Lou White Eagle, a Cheyenne spiritual leader.

With the passing of the Indigenous Peoples Day Resolution, this was a de facto recognition and honoring of Native people over the sullied memory of Christopher Columbus, seen as a purveyor of genocide and slavery. This was in fact a pointed refusal to recognize Columbus Day and constituted a historic victory for Indigenous people.

Nashville is the first large city in the South and the first state capital in the South to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day. It joins the rapidly growing ranks of over 26 other cities across the nation, including Berkeley, Denver, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Phoenix, Seattle, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Bangor, Maine, to name a few.

A celebration is planned by the local Native community on October 9 to properly observe this first Indigenous Peoples Day in Nashville. All of the city will be invited to attend.

This is a history-making step forward for the city of Nashville. Moreover, it is a triumph for all the people of Nashville in that citizens of all races and backgrounds were involved in the demonstrations for recognition of this historic recognition.

Note: This article originally appeared on People's World . It is published under a Creative Commons license

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Notes from Indian Country

Sending the Governor back to schoolBy Tim Giago (Nanwica Kciji  Stands Up for Them)

I continue to be appalled at the apparent ignorance of South Dakota's Gov. Dennis Daugaard when it comes to the thousands of Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota living within the borders of the state he governs.

A couple of weeks ago the governor wrote a column about the annual Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park and mentioned in passing that there used to be millions of buffalo roaming the plains and suddenly they just diminished in numbers.

The fact that the United States Government put a hefty bounty on the heads of the buffalo in order to kill them off as rapidly as possible so that the Native Americans dependent upon them for food, shelter, clothing and tools, would starve to death never entered the governors mind. The fact that his own government paid out millions of dollars to ensure the extermination of the vast buffalo herds in order to kill of a race of people, or better yet to starve them into submission was apparently never taught in the schools Daugaard attended.

The governor wasnt content with this bit of buffoonery so the next column he wrote was titled, Native American Day cause for celebration and then he went on to further display his apparent ignorance, this time on contemporary Indian history.

According to Daugaard Native American Day came about at the urging of Gov. George Mickelson as part of the Year of Reconciliation. And how did the Year of Reconciliation come about? After I wrote an editorial challenging Gov. Mickelson to proclaim a Year of Reconciliation. And why did I do this?

As I told the hundreds of Native Americans gathered at Memorial Park following the Native American Day Parade on Saturday: Because 1990 was the 100th Anniversary of the Massacre at Wounded Knee and South Dakota had to do something really powerful to honor those 300 men, women and children slaughtered there on December 29, 1890.

Somehow how this all happened loses something in translation to the governor and the South Dakota mainstream media. First off it took a forward thinking and courageous governor to accept my challenge and to act on it. It also took a courageous South Dakota State Legislator to introduce the bill and to vote yes on it.

But none of it would have happened if a Native American editor and a Native American newspaper had not wanted to do something to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Wounded Knee and pushed the governor to adopt the idea.

Daugaard mentions in his column that Gov. Mickelson and OST President Harold Salway were at the Crazy Horse Memorial to accept plaques, but fails to mention that I was also there so that Mickelson and I together could announce the Year of Reconciliation and Native American Day. I still have the plaque to prove it.

When Gov. Mickelson and I discussed when and where we should hold the announcement I recommended it be held at Crazy Horse Memorial because I believed that Ruth Ziolkowski would be more than happy to host it. And she was a gracious host that day.

Let me just add that Gov. Daugaard was not at Crazy Horse Memorial that day so his retelling of what happened there that day is visibly lacking in candor and accuracy.

I have a copy of Gov. Mickelsons book talking about how he and I collaborated on the Year of Reconciliation and Native American Day and I would be happy to send it to Gov. Daugaard to further educate him on the topic.

In the meantime Gov. Daugaard if you are going to continue to write columns about the Native Americans of South Dakota please educate yourself on the topic.

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Arts Life is Migration

Renowned Arakanese painter Than Kyaw Htay marks the 20th anniversary of his arrival in Yangon with a solo exhibition centered on migrants.

The holiday of Thadingyut took place last week. All of a sudden, Yangon, the commercial hub of Myanmar, seemed deserted.

To search for new opportunities is one of the reasons for migration. In the case of Myanmar, Yangon is often home to those opportunities. It is the place where people from all over the country come to look for educational and occupational prospects.

So, as internal migrants went back to their home towns during Thadingyut holidays, Yangon was eerily quiet.

This movement of people is something Than Kyaw Htay has depicted in his ongoing art exhibition in Yangon. It is the theme of his solo Silent Movesthe outcome of his artistic inspiration which he derived from migrants who have left their native lands for new opportunities.

Than Kyaw Htay himself is a migrant. This art exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of his migration from his native Rakhine to Yangon.

There are many people like me who have to leave their native villages or towns for other places for their livelihoods. So, I remembered the lives of migrants and organized this exhibition, said Than Kyaw Htay.

Born in 1978 in Rakhine States Sittwe, the ethnic Arakanese artist studied at the State School of Fine Art (Yangon) in 1997. He made his name with a series of Mrauk-U and Bagan scenes in 2004.

He has organized eight solo shows and participated in dozens of group art exhibitions at home and abroad including Thailand and France.

In his Silent Moves series, large crowds of people are movingsome carrying bundles of clothes on their heads and some pulling their children.

The artist elicits the internal pain of the migrants in minimal brushstrokes. Viewers are left uneasy with their unanswered questions. Who are these people? Where are they leaving from and where are they headed for? And, most disturbingly, why are the people leaving? said artist Aung Min.

I wonder if it may be the symbolic future of Rakhine people, he added.

There will be a total of 20 paintings priced between US$2,000 and 2,500 at the exhibition, which will be held until October 15 at River Gallery on Yangons 38th Street.

Life is a migration and it is part of Samsara, said Than Kyaw Htay, referring to the Buddhist belief in the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Dateline Dateline Irrawaddy: Violence in Rakhine

The Irrawaddy

Kyaw Zwa Moe: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! There is no doubt that the violence in Rakhine State is more serious than we first thought. Last month, terrorist group ARSA [Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army] released a statement and declared one months ceasefire. The one month will be over on the 9th of this month. Well discuss if ARSA is likely to resume their terrorist attacks at that time or try to take political advantage of the sheer number of displaced persons, and if the international community is merely engaged in controversy over the terminology of Bengali or Rohingya or whether [the international community] is supporting the Rohingya ethnicity concept and their claims on territory. We will also discuss the impact of the historical legacy on the Rakhine issue and what our reporter Ko Moe Myint, who went to Rakhine State together with foreign diplomats recently, saw on the ground. Our reporter Ko Moe Myint, and U Maung Maung Soe, who has been continuously analyzing and commentating on the Rakhine, issue will join me to discuss this. Im Irrawaddy English editor Kyaw Zwa Moe.

The Rakhine issue has seemingly become more complicated, rather than shaping up in black and white. U Maung Maung Soe, you have recently come back from Rakhine. What did you see and hear on the ground? ARSAs ceasefire will expire on the 9th of this month. Will they resume attacks or do they have plans to make political strikes?

Maung Maung Soe: After the attacks on Aug. 25, Bengali villages were damaged and burnt, and there were reports of people fleeing. Around 400,000 refugees reportedly fled to Bangladesh. And ARSA said they would cease fire for one month. But even after attacks have ceased, Bengali villagers are still fleeing [to Bangladesh] till today. Some accuse that they flee because of the threats of nearby ethnic Arakanese villagers. Some reports from the ground claim that Mawlawi [Islamic scholars] who have links with ARSA are intimidating Bengali villagers to leave [for Bangladesh] by the 9th of this month. Arakanese people are the minority in Buthidaung and Maungdaw. Most of the Arakanese villages have only 40 to 50 households. Only a few Arakanese villages have more than 100 households.

KZM: Muslims are the majority there.

MMS: There are many Bengali Muslim villages with 500 to 1,000 households. Their population is around 250,000 in Buthidaung alone. And ethnic Arakanese population is around 40,000. The Bengali population is even bigger in Maungdaw. There are around 500,000 Bengalis while there are only around 30,000 ethnic [Arakanese] people. So, it is impossible that the minority threatens the majority. So my view is that ARSA is trying to gather all the Bengalis in the region at the Bangladeshi border. According to reports on the ground, normally rice cultivation starts in May in Maungdaw as the monsoon comes early in Rakhine State. But this year, [self-identifying Rohingya] didnt grow rice [in May]. They only grew sparsely in July. So, this suggests that they had already known there would be clashes ahead. They also know that there will automatically be organizations which would provide foods for Bengalis when they get into Bangladesh. So, my view is they are trying to gather massive crowds of Bengalis at the border in order to launch a political strike. It seems that they have no intention to come back immediately even if the government says it would accept them back according to the 1993 criteria [agreed with the Bangladesh government]. They are gathering to launch a political attack and press demands for their political ambitions. Perhaps they know there will be countries which would back them, and feed the Bengalis who fled. So they have made preparations to fight politically. About the armed attacks, they may launch attacks if their families are not left [in Rakhine State]. We should be on the alert for armed attacks, but we cant predict the possibility of a large-scale attack.

KZM: Ko Moe Myint, what is your assessment of what Ko Maung Maung Soe said? U Maung Maung Soe, you deny the allegations of foreign news agencies that Arakanese and other ethnic people have threatened them. We also heard reports that ARSA have been calling on them to leave Rakhine State. Ko Moe Myint, what have you heard during your trip to Maungdaw with foreign diplomats?

Moe Myint: It is difficult to make an overall assessment of the issue on the ground. The situation is different from segment to segment and place to place. In Rathedaung, Arakanese people outnumber Muslims and there are fewer Muslim villagesbut not small, there is a population of around 3,000 villagers. There were cases in which Arakanese people picked a fight or quarrel with Muslim villagers if they encountered them while they went fishing outside their villages. But it was not that whole Arakanese villages went to Muslim villages and threatened them. There might have been quarreling and swearing during encounters. And this news was spread by word of mouth and exaggerated during the process, and later rumors emerged that whole Arakanese villages threatened [self-identifying Rohingya].

KZM: It can be said that there has been disharmony and hostility between two societies on the ground for a long time. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said in her speech that there is no harmony, but only deep hostility between two sides. And about the armed attacks, we cant predict exactly. Former US Ambassador to Myanmar Derek Mitchellhe has an understanding of Myanmarhas recently said that the issue is not merely about the controversy over the terminology of Rohingya or Bengali. Beyond the terminology, (Many people here believe) Rohingya have an agenda to demand ethnicityto add Rohingya as the 136th ethnic group in Myanmar which currently has 135 ethnic groups. And if they get ethnicity, they would demand territorya Rohingya State or Muslim Statelike Rakhine State. Derek was telling the international community that it is a very complicated issue. He implied that Myanmar citizens and ethnic Arakanese people have serious concern for thisa separatist agenda by other means. What is your assessment, U Maung Maung Soe?

MMS: The international communitys perception of the Rakhine issue is influenced by democracy and human rights. But to view this issue only from the points of view of democracy and human rights is not enough. We also need to view this from the historical aspect so as to get correct understanding of it. French historian Jacques Leider has said that Myanmar-Bangladesh border divides two groups of societies, languages and culture. The other side is Indo-Aryan group and this side is Tibeto-Burman group, divided by the border line. Even after the British had colonized India, it treated the area from [Bangladeshs] Chittagong and Coxs Bazar to [Myanmars] Nat River, which is the border today, as a deserted area. There was no human habitation there then.

The culture, language, and faith of this side are different from those of the other side. Talking of the problem of so-called Rohingya people, we need to take a look back into history. Relations started in the 15th Century when Arakanese King Minbagyi invaded 12 regions in Chittagong and Bengal. Arakanese overpowered and invaded them. In the 16th Century, Mughal re-captured those areas. This is the first relation.

When the Arakanese king occupied those areas in the 15th Century, they brought around 4,000 prisoners of war. Today, they are called Myaydu Muslim. Though they are Muslim followers, they speak Myanmar language and dress like Myanmar people now. They are a minority and not problematic.

Then, Kaman came into Myanmar in the 16th Century. They belonged to Persian tribes. They fled the power struggle for the throne between Mughal kings and took shelter in Rakhine State. Today, they are recognized as Kaman. Kaman means archers. Their population size is not problematic to Rakhine State. Kaman people speak Arakanese language and dress like Arakanese people. But in 1825, the British occupied Rakhine State, and the Suez Canal was opened after 1860. Then, the British needed laborers to transport rice in bulk.

KZM: So, they needed laborers?

MMS: So, they brought in cheap laborers from Chittagong of the Indian subcontinent. Initially, they came into Myanmar in cultivation season, then went back and came again in harvest, then went back.

The British built a railroad between Buthidaung and Maungdaw. They brought in laborers by train, by ship. As time went by, those people settled there. According to 1930 statistics of the British, 40,000 people came into Rakhine State, and the number was 20,000 in 1934. Their population had increased gradually. The British brought them not only into Rakhine, but also down to Yangon, Hanthawaddy District which is today Bago Region, Kungyangon and so on. As a result, anti-Muslim riot broke out in Yangon in 1938. An investigation into the riot was launched and led by economist James Baxter. The investigation report stated that the number of laborers who were brought into Myanmar from India subcontinent had increased yearly, and clashes between racially and culturally different peoples had increased and needed to stop. But no action could be taken to stop it as World War II broke out in 1942.

KZM: So, it is fair to say it is one of the legacies of the British.

MMS: This is a colonial legacy. To summarize the points Ive made, they are not native people. Arakanese people have the same view, which is factually correct according to history. They are in fact immigrants brought in by the British. They were brought not only into Rakhine State, but also to Yangon and Mandalay. Their population is estimated to be around two to three million. They were given citizenship according to citizenship law. But local Muslim people are not problematic because they take themselves as Myanmar citizens, and live through thick and thin with Myanmar. They claim themselves to be Myanmar Muslims. They dont demand a separate ethnicity or ethnic rights. They are not problematic.

But [Bengalis] have demanded ethnicity. At Alel Than Kyaw Conference in June 1951, Bengalis called themselves Arakan Muslim. There was not the term Rohingya at all then. So, we can conclude that Rohingya is a term that was made up later. There are also calls for establishment of a safety zone now. Taking a look back at history, the Alel Than Kyaw Conference in June 1951 made a lot of demands including equality between Arakanese and Muslim people, designation of a Muslim state, appointment of Muslim ministers in the Rakhine State government, 50-50 sharing of all of interests of Rakhine State between Arakanese and Muslim people, and teaching of Urdu language at government schools, and not teaching other languages without Muslims approval. Now, they are making similar demands made at 1951 Alel Than Kyaw Conference.

We can give immigrants citizenship depending on the length of time they have lived in the country. We can give them democratic and human rights. But if they ask for ethnicity and ethnic rights, it is difficult to accept. It is highly unlikely. So, this problem is the root-cause of entire problem, and we must handle this carefully.

KZM: Ko Moe Myint, you went to Maungdaw and other places together with around 60 diplomats on Oct. 2. What did you see on the ground? It was the government-guided trip. Were diplomats satisfied with the trip or did they make complaints?

MM: We went to Kha Mauk Seik by helicopter. And we saw a few housesnot entire villageon fire at a Muslim village around one mile from Kha Mauk Seik. I asked Hindu and Arakanese people from nearby villages and they said no one was living there, and no security guard was guarding there. And police only occasionally pass through that village during their patrols. Why such a place was on fire while diplomats were visiting the area? So, it is questionable why such a place was on fire, diplomats pointed out.

To keep the balance, the government took the diplomats to Muslim villages, Arakanese villages as well as harmonious communities as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi [suggested]places like Nga Khu Ya villag where Muslim, Hindus and Arakanese people live together. Diplomats met Hindus and Muslims as well. And most of the people on the ground have concerns because of the news that they would be fiercely attacked if they failed to leave by the 9th of this month. According to the accounts of Hindus, ARSA leader Ata Ullah has sent video message to all of his followers. And villagers also received phone threats. Hindu villagers talked about these to diplomats as well as journalists. Diplomats were divided into three groups in the trip, and I was in the group of EU and UN diplomats. Villagers are not educated and most of them only have primary school-level education. The questions asked to such people by EU and UN diplomats were even more detailed than a police investigation. So, villagers were not able to answer some questions. When diplomats arrived back from their respective trips and gathered at a gathering point in Sittwe, they were shaking headsbecause of the things they saw on the ground and from helicopter, there were many burnt grounds and they took pictures of them from helicopter.

KZM: The situation was very bad.

MM: Yes. They were talking to each other, shaking their heads. The government took diplomats to Rakhine State to witness the situation on the ground, and said that there is nothing covered up on the ground. But with this first trip, the government was only able to show the situation, but could not properly explain the real causes of the problem.

KZM: Because it happened more than one month ago.

MM: The EU and the UN have released statements as you might have read, and diplomats have focused on a [UN] fact-finding mission. The government said we could talk freely to villagers during the trip, but villagers, for example Muslim villagers, gave different accounts to the government and us. Their statements were different. UN reps do not have trust in the governments guided tour. They think it was difficult to grasp reality.

KZM: The international community has made the same voice about the Rakhine issue, mainly focusing on human rights and helping victims on humanitarian grounds. But there are slightly different views on this between the US, UK and other countries. U Maung Maung Soe, you said the issue is the legacy of the British colonial rule. Weve seen that the UK governments stance is different from others. What is your assessment?

MMS: For the moment, the British government, Parliament and Oxford University are being childish. Very childish. I think they are one-sided and hardly fair. Simply childish. They should take a look back at the Afghanistan problem. Who instigated Taliban to fight with Russia? Who provided them with weapons? It was the United States of America. Everyone knows this. They provided weapons for Afghan people, saying they were being oppressed. But, what happened as a result? This is the very reason Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorist organizations have grown. Then, United States of America had to fight in Afghanistan. So, it was like they have to use an axe because they failed to use a needle in time. When we look at a problem, we should not be one-sided. Only when we have a balanced view, we will be able to solve the problem. What I would like to suggest to the persons from western countries is that you should take lessons from Afghanistan. Only then this problem could be solved correctly. Otherwise, we will have to face a very big problem.

KZM: Thank you for your assessment.

The story was updated to clarify the former US Ambassador to Myanmars comments on what the majority of Myanmar people think about the terminology and Rakhine issue.
Burma Myanmar Army Rejects ARSA on Final Ceasefire Day

Defense minister Lt-Gen Sein Win. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAW  The Myanmar Army rejected a one-month unilateral ceasefire announced by a Muslim militant group in Rakhine State that comes to an end on Monday.

Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the militant group behind a series of attacks on 30 police stations in northern Rakhine, issued the truce on Sept. 10 to enable humanitarian actors to assess and respond to the humanitarian crisis in the state.

ARSA also urged the military to lay down its weapons after army clearance operations caused a mass exodus of self-identifying Rohingya, who have sought shelter in Bangladesh. More than 500,000 have fled although reports suggest the number is still rising.

The government deemed ARSA a terrorist outfit soon after the groups Aug. 25 offensive. Government spokesperson Zaw Htay tweeted on the announcement of ARSAs ceasefire that we have no policy to negotiate with terroristsa sentiment echoed by defense minister Lt-Gen Sein Win in Naypyitaw on Monday.

No government negotiates with terrorist groups. We dismiss them (ARSA), he told media, adding that Myanmar did not recognize the ceasefire.

Asked about the current security situation in Rakhine, he said the army and home affairs ministry are collaborating to ensure rule of law and regional stability.

But given the nature of the area, it is very large. So there may be destruction if they [ARSA] want to carry out attacks, he said.

ARSA on Oct. 6 tweeted a statement saying the ceasefire will end at midnight on Oct. 9. The statement accused the military of blocking humanitarian access to Rakhine and added that ARSA is open to further ceasefires.

The self-identifying Rohingya Muslims who have fled northern Rakhine to Bangladesh since Aug. 25 have brought tales of rape, murder, and arson during Myanmar Army security operations the UNs human rights body has labeled a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar has denied it is pursuing ethnic cleansing in the state and, according to Reuters, Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed on Monday to form a working group to commence plans for the repatriation of refugees.
Burma West Edges Towards Punishing Myanmar Army Leaders over Rakhine Crisis-Sources

Self-identifying Rohingya refugees who arrived from Myanmar by boat, walk on a bamboo bridge of Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf, Bangladesh. / Mohammad Ponir Hossain / Reuters

YANGON/WASHINGTON, United States  The European Union and the United States are considering targeted sanctions against Myanmar military leaders over an offensive that has driven more than 500,000 self-identifying Rohingya Muslims out of the country, officials familiar with the discussions say.

Interviews with more than a dozen diplomats and government officials based in Washington, Yangon and Europe revealed that punitive measures aimed specifically at top generals were among a range of options being discussed in response to the crisis.

Nothing has yet been decided and Washington and Brussels may decide to hold off for now, the sources said. There are also discussions about increasing aid for violence-riven Rakhine state.

The active discussion of sanctionsnot even on the table a month agoshows how the dramatic exodus of self-identifying Rohingya Muslims from Myanmars northwest is putting pressure on Western policymakers to take action.

While much of the outcry overseas has focused on Nobel laureate and Myanmars national leader Aung San Suu Kyi, few Western diplomats see an alternative to her leadership. Suu Kyi does not control the military, which still wields considerable power under Myanmars army-written constitution.

The EU Foreign Ministers Council will discuss Myanmar on Oct. 16, although officials do not expect any move on sanctions that soon. Danish minister for development cooperation, Ulla Tornaes, told Reuters that Copenhagen had been working to get the crisis on the agenda, with the wish to put further pressure on the military.

Two Washington-based U.S. officials with knowledge of the Trump administrations Myanmar deliberations said targeted sanctions against commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and several other generals, as well as leaders of ethnic Rakhine Buddhist militias accused of torching self-identifying Rohingya villages, were under consideration.

Such sanctionsif decided onwould likely entail U.S. asset freezes, bans on travel to the United States, prohibitions against Americans doing business with them and other unspecified penalties. Washington was moving cautiously as it consulted with governments in Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia, the U.S. officials said.

A senior Yangon-based European diplomat also said Western countries were coordinating their response to the crisis and were in agreement that it was the military, and specifically the commander-in-chief, who needed to be targeted in any punitive action.

Any punishment was likely to be symbolic at first to allow room for further talks, Yangon-based diplomats said, giving the example of formally banning the army chief, who over the past year visited Brussels, Berlin and Vienna, from further travel to Europe.

Western diplomats admit their leverage is limited: compared with China, whose ties with Myanmar have warmed since Suu Kyi took office 18 months ago, U.S. and European investment and military engagement with the country are small.

They are also wary of action that could hurt the wider economy or destabilize already tense ties between Suu Kyi and the army.

Pressure Building

The United Nations is pressing for increased humanitarian access to other parts of Rakhine, where hundreds of thousands of self-identifying Rohingya remain. How Myanmar responds to calls for increased aid, the investigation of alleged atrocities or repatriation of refugees would be a key consideration in deciding what action to take, U.S. and EU diplomats in Myanmar said.

We can pile political pressure, look into financing we have in Myanmar. We have humanitarian aid, as well as development aid  the European Commission wont invest in the development of Myanmar if the conditions, including security, are not there, said a Brussels-based EU diplomat who follows Myanmar.

There is also the arms trade embargo and we discuss regularly whether we should reward the reforms in Myanmar and look at gradual easing of that, or the opposite.

EU economic sanctions on Myanmar were lifted after the army stepped back from direct rule of the country in 2012, beginning the democratic transition that brought Suu Kyi to power last year, but an arms embargo in force since the 1990s remains. The United States removed most sanctions on Myanmar last autumn. It too has kept an arms embargo in place.

One Washington-based U.S. official said that, while there was no firm deadline, Washington hoped to have a plan of action on Myanmar in place by the time President Donald Trump travels to Asia for a series of summits in the first half of November.

The administration wanted to send a strong message to Myanmars military, but was concerned that too drastic action could allow China to expand its growing diplomatic and economic influence in the country, the official said.

There is little support in the administration for the re-imposition of broader economic sanctions, the official added.

The White House declined comment on internal deliberations on the self-identifying Rohingya crisis.

STRAINED RELATIONS

In another sign of pressure building on Myanmar, New York-based diplomats said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the U.N. General Assembly was pushing for a human rights resolution on the country.

Last year the EU announced that for the first time in 15 years it would not introduce a resolution at the General Assemblys Third Committee, which focuses on human rights, condemning Myanmars recordrewarding it for progress.

The European bloc could revive the resolution in the current session, taking on board the OIC draft and broadening it out beyond the self-identifying Rohingya crisis, one diplomat in New York said.

Diplomats said some members of the U.N. Security Council were exploring whether the 15-member body could agree a formal statement, or even a resolution, calling for an end to the violence, full access for aid and the safe return of refugees.

However, Myanmar has said it was negotiating with China and Russia, which have veto powers in the Security Council, to protect it from any possible action. China and Russia have both expressed support for the Myanmar government.

Myanmars relations with the U.N. have grown increasingly testy since the discovery of World Food Programme-branded biscuits at a suspected militant camp in July prompted the government to accuse the U.N. agency of supporting the insurgents, forcing it to shut down its operations in Rakhine.

Myanmar is stalling on accepting a plan by the U.N. to upgrade the U.N. country head to the more powerful rank of Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) when its current top official, who is due to be rotated, is replaced.

Thaung Tun, Suu Kyis National Security Advisor, told Reuters that the U.N. must treat us equally.

Well be fine with anybody if all member states have an ASG assigned. Not just us, he said.
With 470,000 Aussies employed in franchises, Intuit's "global Franchise Program" seeks to help Australian small businesses succeed" while helping Intuit "become the market leader in the next five years".

Intuit is launching its global Franchise Program in Australia "to help franchise businesses get set up for success and to bolster growth of the nations local small business sector".

The Franchise Program was launched in 2008, and since that time, Intuit's program has grown to "partner with 500 franchise brands that have more than 90,000 franchisees globally who use QuickBooks as their accounting software."

Thus, Intuit is bringing these global learnings and its franchise expertise to help Australian small businesses succeed, especially given there are currently 470,000 Australians employed in business format franchises.

So, we're told by Intuit that, after a strong fiscal 2017 which saw the company grow 89% and surpass 100,000 subscribers, "the Franchise Program will help further expand the companys presence in Australia and reach its goal of becoming market leader in the next five years".

What is growth in the Australian franchise sector like?

Intuit reports that Australia has more franchising outlets per capita (PDF link) than any country in the world and three times more franchising outlets per capita than the US.

We're also told that Australias franchise sector is "large and mature", and contributes 9% of Australias GDP with sales turnover for the sector estimated at $146 billion.

Yet, despite this growth, it turns out that "many franchisors still operate inefficiently by using desktop software and working with different software platforms to their franchisees".

Thus, with Intuits 10 years experience of working with franchisees globally, the company says it will share its expertise "to help franchisors standardise their franchisees businesses by using QuickBooks, and also to ensure they have the accounting tools needed to be successful".

Naturally, the company proudly boasts that "by using cloud accounting software like QuickBooks, franchisors will be able to identify where and when franchisees may need support before significant business problems arise".

So, what does Intuit's vice-president and country manager for Australia, Nicolette Maury, have to say?

Sharing an Australian perspective Maury said: "I am delighted to announce that Intuit will launch the Franchise Program in Australia to ensure local customers are set up for success. Were the third market to introduce the Program.

With a 10-year track record in working with more than 500 franchises globally, Intuit is leveraging its international resources and innovation to help Australias 2.7 million small businesses and 79,000 franchises prosper.

Many franchisors are still using traditional accounting software to manage their franchisees, or software platforms incompatible with their franchisees. We know this results in hours of wasted time and inefficient compliance management.

The program was launched in Canada late last year where, to date, more than 40 new franchisors have become Intuit Franchise Program partners. We hope to see similar results in Australia in the coming months, Maury added.

Here's Maury's comment on Intuit's global perspective:

We have more than 500 franchise brands around the world that use QuickBooks as their accounting software. As a result, these franchisors are witnessing greater adoption by and retention of their franchisees.

We know franchisors in the US are thrilled to be partnering with Intuits Franchise Program. By providing dedicated support from account managers who have deep industry knowledge, franchisors are able to get their franchisees up to speed quickly, enabling them to provide the correct financial information back to the franchisors.

Franchisors in the US are standardising their franchisees business on QuickBooks to ensure they all have the accounting tools required to be successful.

We share the same vision for the franchise sector in Australia because while the industry is growing, there is plenty of room for improvement especially around efficiencies and the way franchisors and franchisees engage with one another and share vital financial information.

We aim to improve efficiencies in this sector, making life easier for franchisors and, in the process, help franchise owners set up the right foundations for long-term success and educate them about technology to help them prosper."
Monday, October 09, 2017 Lewis Vs. Keller: A Done Deal Or Can Lewis Find A Way? Plus: First Candidate Debate Set And How Much Did Each Mayoral Vote Cost?



A robo call poll conducted the night after last Tuesday's city election that dialed only landlines of likely voters--no cellphones--showed Dem Tim Keller already at the threshold of victory in the November 14 ABQ mayoral run-off election against Republican Lewis. Keller garnered 49 percent to Lewis's 36 percent. Only 10 percent were undecided.



The



The poll indicates trouble for Lewis on the key issue that got him into the run-off. Forty-seven percent of the voters said Keller would be the best candidate to deal with the city's crime wave compared to Lewis' 35 percent. That follows a month of TV and other media from Lewis vowing he would be the toughest candidate on crime and would hold judges accountable. Keller also attacked the crime problem but not as directly as Lewis.



Lewis is saying Keller is weak on crime but the poll indicates he has a long way to go to convince the voting public. (The complete poll is



Keller, currently the state auditor, scored a similar advantage over Lewis, an eight year ABQ city councilor, when likely voters were asked which candidate could best handle the city's economic challenges, with 49 percent picking Keller and 35 percent choosing Lewis.



The survey included 47 percent Democrats, 39% Republicans and 13% independents which is about in line with recent turnout for city elections.



The poll was badly timed for Lewis. Keller's big 39 percent first place finish in the initial election was the headline grabber and dominated the night. Lewis finished far back at 23 percent to take second place.



Lewis' hope for pulling off the upset now appears to depend on Keller making a big mistake, either on his own or forced by an aggressive Lewis campaign. Otherwise, there isn't much of a path for a Republican to beat a Democrat in a one-on-one race in a city that has grown increasingly blue in recent years.



Maybe lower voter turnout could help Lewis since Republicans are more avid voters than Dems. Campaign consultants expect turnout in the Nov. 14 run-off to drop significantly from the 97,000 who cast ballots in the first round last Tuesday. How much lower? That's tricky. No one saw the nearly 100,000 turnout--the highest since the 2001 city election--so forecasting the exact drop off is an art not a science. If it was 20 percent less that would take us to about 78,000 voters.



KELLER VS. LEWIS



The two contenders will debate at Temple Albert next Sunday morning:



Congregation Albert Brotherhoods Mayoral Debate will be Sunday, Oct. 15 at 3800 Louisiana Blvd. NE. . . The candidates will kick off their debate at 11:00 A.M. The cost of the pre-debate brunch is $14 while the 11:00 am debate is free and open to the public. For those not attending the brunch, the doors will open to the public for the debate at 10:45.



Temple Albert has been hosting political debates for over 50 years. This one will be broadcast at 5 p.m. on KANW 89.1 FM and kanw.com.



As the front-runner, Keller is in a position to pick and choose which forums he will appear at with Lewis. He's expected to do most of them but not all. For example, Keller declined to appear with Lewis on a radio program hosted by a hard-right conservative on the opening morning of the Balloon Fiesta.



PER VOTE COST



One of our Alligators comes with a run down on the amount of money spent per vote by the 8 mayoral candidates:



If we calculate the average amount of money spent per vote starting with the lowest, Gus Pedrotty was at the top with a mere $2.68 per vote. Keller came in second with $9.98. Michelle Garcia Holmes was a close third with $11.94. Ricardo Chaves, not only came in last in total votes, but he also spent the most per vote at a whopping $601.20.



Vote, Total Money, Average Cost Per Vote



Pedrotty--6,638--$17,784--$2.68

Keller--38,156--$380,791--$9.98

Garcia Holmes--3,748--$44,756--$11.94

Lewis--22,238--$556,534--$25.03

Wheeler-Deichsel--490--$13,054--$26.64

Johnson--9,342--$342,359--$36.65

Colon--15,884--$828,240--$52.14

Chaves--475--$285,568--$601.20



LASHING LEWIS



We blogged Thursday that Keller did not mimic Lewis and open fire on his opponent in the immediate aftermath of the election, but that doesn't mean Lewis isn't taking hits. The independent committee that is helping Keller--ABQ Forward Together--is already nuking Lewis in its fund-raising appeals:



And just who is Republican Dan Lewis? Well, he's as far right as they come: he was an early endorser of Donald Trump and as a City Councilor. . . he's anti-choice, anti-worker and anti-immigrant. Lewis is endorsed by extremist religious leaders who praise him for refusing to embrace a "homosexual agenda." We could go on. But what's clear is that Lewis will take no responsibility for the past eight years he's been an Albuquerque City Councilor where Albuquerque's job market has tanked and crime is out of control.



That pretty much sums up the attack you will be hearing on Lewis in the coming weeks. Take note of the social issues mentioned there as Keller supporters work to prevent Lewis from making the election solely a referendum on crime.



THE BOTTOM LINES



Joe Monahan Reader Jim Belshaw writes of our coverage of the city election on this blog and on KANW-FM radio:



You did some yeoman work. Well done. You are in fact the go-to guy for NM politics. Ain't nobody else can make that claim.



Thanks for that, Jim, and for your copy edits.



We started our 15th year on the blog this month and are the longest running political website in the state. That's a lot of digits pecked out about La Politica.



Our goal for our 15th year is simple: Keep being #1 by keeping you informed and entertained about all aspects of politics in our Land of Enchantment.



This is the home of New Mexico politics.







Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.



( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2017 E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Dan Lewis is getting an early glimpse at the steep hill he has to climb. Will he find the stamina to scale it or is the ABQ mayoral race already a done deal?A robo call poll conducted the night after last Tuesday's city election that dialed only landlines of likely voters--no cellphones--showed Dem Tim Keller already at the threshold of victory in the November 14 ABQ mayoral run-off election against Republican Lewis. Keller garnered 49 percent to Lewis's 36 percent. Only 10 percent were undecided.The survey , conducted by the PR firm Carroll Strategies for KOB-TV, may actually be more friendly toward Lewis than a poll that included cellphones and that would presumably contact younger and more moderate and liberal voters.The poll indicates trouble for Lewis on the key issue that got him into the run-off. Forty-seven percent of the voters said Keller would be the best candidate to deal with the city's crime wave compared to Lewis' 35 percent. That follows a month of TV and other media from Lewis vowing he would be the toughest candidate on crime and would hold judges accountable. Keller also attacked the crime problem but not as directly as Lewis.Lewis is saying Keller is weak on crime but the poll indicates he has a long way to go to convince the voting public. (The complete poll is here .)Keller, currently the state auditor, scored a similar advantage over Lewis, an eight year ABQ city councilor, when likely voters were asked which candidate could best handle the city's economic challenges, with 49 percent picking Keller and 35 percent choosing Lewis.The survey included 47 percent Democrats, 39% Republicans and 13% independents which is about in line with recent turnout for city elections.The poll was badly timed for Lewis. Keller's big 39 percent first place finish in the initial election was the headline grabber and dominated the night. Lewis finished far back at 23 percent to take second place.Lewis' hope for pulling off the upset now appears to depend on Keller making a big mistake, either on his own or forced by an aggressive Lewis campaign. Otherwise, there isn't much of a path for a Republican to beat a Democrat in a one-on-one race in a city that has grown increasingly blue in recent years.Maybe lower voter turnout could help Lewis since Republicans are more avid voters than Dems. Campaign consultants expect turnout in the Nov. 14 run-off to drop significantly from the 97,000 who cast ballots in the first round last Tuesday. How much lower? That's tricky. No one saw the nearly 100,000 turnout--the highest since the 2001 city election--so forecasting the exact drop off is an art not a science. If it was 20 percent less that would take us to about 78,000 voters.The two contenders will debate at Temple Albert next Sunday morning:Temple Albert has been hosting political debates for over 50 years. This one will be broadcast at 5 p.m. on KANW 89.1 FM and kanw.com.As the front-runner, Keller is in a position to pick and choose which forums he will appear at with Lewis. He's expected to do most of them but not all. For example, Keller declined to appear with Lewis on a radio program hosted by a hard-right conservative on the opening morning of the Balloon Fiesta.One of our Alligators comes with a run down on the amount of money spent per vote by the 8 mayoral candidates:We blogged Thursday that Keller did not mimic Lewis and open fire on his opponent in the immediate aftermath of the election, but that doesn't mean Lewis isn't taking hits. The independent committee that is helping Keller--ABQ Forward Together--is already nuking Lewis in its fund-raising appeals:That pretty much sums up the attack you will be hearing on Lewis in the coming weeks. Take note of the social issues mentioned there as Keller supporters work to prevent Lewis from making the election solely a referendum on crime.Reader Jim Belshaw writes of our coverage of the city election on this blog and on KANW-FM radio:Thanks for that, Jim, and for your copy edits.We started our 15th year on the blog this month and are the longest running political website in the state. That's a lot of digits pecked out about La Politica.Our goal for our 15th year is simple: Keep being #1 by keeping you informed and entertained about all aspects of politics in our Land of Enchantment.This is the home of New Mexico politics. Links HOME

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Mother of software-based Dragons now breathing new life into disability sector is Nuance, whose newly released Dragon Accessibility software has gained the approval of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

NDIS. It is the Australian Governments "National Disability Insurance Scheme" which "provides support for Australians with a disability, their families and carers. The scheme aims to support a better life for those with a significant and permanent disability".

Nuance says its registration as an NDIS supplier "provides Dragon with greater and direct visibility among individuals with disability".

Derek Austin, Dragon business manager, Asia Pacific, Nuance, said: "Nuance has long been committed to helping those with disability improve their quality of life through the use of assistive technology.

"The NDIS approval of Dragon reaffirms our continued commitment to providing assistive technology and allows us to leverage our existing work in this field to increase awareness of the benefits of the solution among people with disability."

For those needing a brief refresher course, Nuances Dragon is "a voice recognition software that allows individuals with dyslexia, dyspraxia, low vision, multiple sclerosis, and mobility or dexterity impediments turn thoughts into written words simply by speaking".

Thus, Dragon converts spoken words into text to help users write.

Because of this, it lets individuals "focus on the content of their documents rather than on typing and spelling. For instance, dyslexic individuals face writing, spelling and typing challenges. Dragon removes the frustration of having to type and spell because it only requires them to speak for words to appear on the screen".

The software "also assists those who cannot use their hands because it is a hands-free solution. Whether people are suffering from carpal tunnel, arthritis, wrist tendonitis or other mobility issues, Dragon lets them create reports, correspondence, and spreadsheets through voice and without the need to use a keyboard or a mouse".

All this means that Dragons powerful voice recognition capability also lets those with an injury or a disability easily command a computer. Just by speaking, they can create and send emails, surf the Web, and control popular desktop and Web applications.

Of course, people with disabilities have been using various types of software to assist them to use technology for years, with even the button-free glass surface of modern smartphones able to be used by people without sight, thanks to the incredible efforts of smartphone and tablet makers, but when it comes to your physical PC or Mac, Dragon has been one of the most popular ways to talk and see text being typed.

So, as part of its continued commitment to the sector, Nuance has announced a special and dedicated Dragon solution for PCs and Macs called "Dragon Accessibility."

Austin added: "We are really pleased to be able to offer a tailored and high quality communication solution such as Dragon Accessibility because we know that Dragon can make a difference to the lives of people with disability."

If you quality for access via the NDIS, Nuance says Dragon Accessibility "will be available from October through Nuances Dragon Partners and Accessibility Specialists".

Nuance is also taking part in a number of conferences throughout Australia during October, including the NDS South Australia Conference 2017 on 19 October, to highlight the benefits of Dragon.

"Ideally, the NDIS will bring greater diversity and competition to the sector, but most importantly, it will let people with disability exercise choice and control over the tools they wish to use to support their needs and hopefully, improve their lives," said Austin.

So, there you go. Speak, and ye shall find your words flown by Dragon right onto your screen, as well as being able to control your computer, open programs and do more, simply by speaking, with this capability available to every Dragon user, with or without a disability.
Facebook's chief security officer Alex Stamos has taken to the digital airwaves (read Twitter) to try and counter the assumption that the social media giant is sitting on its hands when it comes to preventing the spread of fake news on its channels.

But perhaps he should have sat down and composed a more sober response in a long-form essay, rather than write what appear to be a series of disjointed tweets  they aren't even numbered in the way people normally do when they tweet something that crosses over into multiple stanzas.

Facebook has been under pressure ever since it was found that numerous posts on its website had been works of fiction that spread canards about the Democrats in the run-up to last year's presidential election. Worse has followed with the discovery of US$100,000 worth of advertising that has been said to have Russian links.

And in an atmosphere where anything to do with Russia is seen as the devil's handiwork, Stamos, as the man who is seen as the one barring the way to evil forces that attempt to disturb Mark Zuckerberg's peace of mind, appears to have got more than a little rattled.

Have a lookfor yourself, dear reader.

Stamos claims that he (and all other techies presumably, including the equally incompetent members of the Silicon Valley tribe over at Google) are aware of the shortcomings of machine-learning and artificial intelligence in discerning what is, and what is not, fake news.

Pity that he found out only after Facebook accumulated two billion users.

Google was similarly out in action recently, blaming its algorithms  created by itself, but now held somewhat at hands-length like a disreputable third-cousin  when it placed links from the notorious 4chan forum among the top news links about the Las Vegas shooting.

Here's one of the many gems from Stamos: "A lot of people aren't thinking hard about the world they are asking SV to build. When the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers."

Presumably, he means software vendors by that acronym. Or maybe it's Silicon Valley. I'm not sure who asked any vendor to fashion the world we live in; the vendors do it because they want to make money, lots of it. Snap out of it Alex, nobody vested you with this or any other task.

Stamos has been particularly critical of journalists. "If your piece assumes that a problem hasn't been addressed because everybody at these companies is a nerd, you are incorrect," runs another tweet.

My assumption, dear Alex, is that problems are not addressed because it would cost money and reduce your profits. You build up an audience in the billions that you are incapable of handling, refuse to admit the reality that you are a media company, and then attempt to ladle out blame when you are caught with your pants down.

Here's another of the tweets: "My suggestion for journalists is to try to talk to people who have actually had to solve these problems and live with the consequences."

Sure, Alex, but what is the point of asking any questions when you tech overlords avoid talking in plain lingo and stick to bizspeak to say a lot, and, at the same time, say nothing?

Stamos reminds me of a man who jumps out of a plane, looks for his parachute on the way down, and then starts blaming the airline/pilot/stewards when he cannot find it. Facebook has taken on a task that is beyond its level of competence  look up that phrase in The Peter Principle, dear Alex  and is now looking to cover its arse.

This has happened numerous times before in Silicon Valley so one should take Stamos's rant with a pinch  nay a tonne  of salt. And just refuse to give him even the time of day.
Global enterprise software provider Epicor has appointed former president of OpenText, Stephen Murphy, to the role of chief executive to replace retiring president and chief executive Joe Cowan.

Murphy, who joins Epicor charged with the task of growing the business, has had a career spanning more than 20 years in the technology sector, including sales and operations leadership positions at Oracle, Sun Microsystems, and Manugistics.

He also worked in manufacturing and distribution, leading global logistics and supply chain strategy and major enterprise resource planning implementations with Accenture and Procter & Gamble.

Murphy holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from University of California, Davis.

Over the past four years, we have built a strong executive management team with a mix of proven industry leaders from inside and outside of the organisation, said Cowan.

Im proud of our accomplishments enhancing the customer experience, delivering high-quality solutions that empower our customers around the world to grow business, and the many milestones achieved on our cloud transformation journey. I am confident that the board, the team and Stephen will continue to drive Epicor to new heights.

Murphy said Epicor is poised for greatness  with a strong global team of more than 3700 employees all focused on the customer experience and delivering innovative products, services and support that enable businesses to grow with ease. Together, we have an amazing opportunity ahead to build on our customer-centric culture of growth and take the company to the next level of success."
The South Australian Government and the states space and defence leaders are set to meet the heads of the South Korean and Japan space agencies following the federal governments announcement it will establish a national space agency.

The government is leading a mission to South Korea and Japan to discuss to discuss business opportunities which might arise with South Australias own decision to set up the SA Space Industry Centre (SASIC) and will meet the heads of space organisations, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Led by Investment and Trade and Defence and Space Industries Minister Martin HamiltonSmith, this weeks South Australian mission will focus on the areas of agribusiness, education, health industries, aged care and advanced manufacturing sectors.

HamiltonSmith says that creating new partnerships with key Japanese and South Korean space players will be high on the agenda.

The mission will also include a tour of the National Space Organisation and its cyber centre, in Taiwan, aimed at further developing collaboration opportunities in space and cyber.
Deploying an SD-WAN solution can be tricky for organisations looking for a solution that can accommodate both legacy and newer infrastructure.

At the Harley Davidson branch in Las Vegas, multiple operations such as sales, service, parts, rentals and retail are carried out.

Jeremy Jami, Las Vegas Harley-Davidson IT head, needed to find a way to centralise the connection at the location into one data centre.

"I got complaints about slow bandwidth all the time, and we had a lot of challenges with different stores and connections, speed and reliability between them."

Jami says it could have been done with multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) but it would have taken a lot more budget to get there. His team went on a search for a more viable solution and stumbled on SD-WAN, and in that they found Silver Peak.

Silver Peak is a leader in broadband and hybrid WAN solutions, serving more than 2,000 customers around the world.

Silver Peak's SD-WAN solution helps businesses to lower costs, gain agility and maintain a competitive edge by delivering a reliable experience when connecting users to applications using any combination of transport.

It offers a fully integrated solution that combines high-performance SD-WAN, WAN optimisation, routing and a stateful firewall to turn WAN into a business advantage.

Jami found Silver Peak's Unity Orchestrator solution to be the right fit for what his organisation needed. The Orchestrator gives visibility into both legacy and cloud applications and gives admin the ability to centrally assign business intent policies.

Some of the other key features include single-screen administration, granular real-time monitoring and historical reporting, and bandwidth cost savings reports.

"They have zero-touch provisioning, we set up Orchestrator, they plug in the boxes, and it works," Jami says.

Zero-touch provisioning is a plug-and-play deployment model that enables Unity EdgeConnect to be deployed at a branch office in seconds, automatically connecting with other Silver Peak instances in the data centre, other branches, or in cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) with the likes of Amazon, Microsoft Azure and VMware's vCloud Air.

"We're one of the top dealerships in Harley Davidson, and we have Silver Peak boxes at each of them and are using DSL lines in getting probably 30 to 40 times the performance out of them," Jami says.

Another feature that was important for him in making his decision was the business intent policies. Silver Peak enables network managers to define business intent overlays - logical or virtual WAN overlays that reflect application quality of service requirements relevant to the business.

EdgeConnect maps applications to the appropriate business intent overlay which enables the SD-WAN to optimise routing decisions - automatically. EdgeConnect continuously monitors bonded tunnels and physical WAN links, factoring real-time data about delay, jitter and packet loss to make intelligent routing decisions.

A Silver Peak SD-WAN solution learns and adapts to optimise and dynamically change paths if necessary based on actual performance with no application disruption.

"With the concept of business intent overlays, I can throw more bandwidth at different departments if it's needed for certain applications," explains Jami. "Bottom lines is I haven't had these slow Internet discussions in a while."

He added: "We'll see probably $150,000 savings, we'll get to the point where all of our legacy connections for managing the connections of those MPLS lines will go away," he says. "My day is pretty chill right now seeing that my SD-WAN is flawless - I just sit on bikes all day."

See the Harley Davidson video here.
Communications Alliance and Communications Compliance today pay tribute to the much-loved and respected industry leader Deirdre Mason, who passed away on 8 October after a long battle with illness.

For the past five years, Deirdre Mason was chair of Communications Compliance  the company set up by industry to monitor and assist the efforts of service providers to comply with the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code.

Much more than that, the Communications Alliance notes that "Deirdre was a trailblazer in the Australian telecommunications scene".

"Deirdre was director of Corporate Affairs at Telecom, as it then was, then Telstra for nine years from December 1990 to December 1999. She was the first woman appointed to the Telstra executive team, first as director of Corporate Marketing and then director of Corporate Affairs.

"Deirdre was a tireless promoter of womens rights and welfare in the corporate sector and the community more generally.

"She held numerous other senior roles across a storied career, including Chief Executive of the Committee for Sydney and Deputy Chair of the Premiers Council for Women."

Stanton said: I was lucky enough to work closely with Deirdre during and after the merger of OTC and Telecom Australia, to form Telstra  this the beginning of a professional collaboration and personal friendship over the past 25 years,

Deirdre was crazy-smart but wise and compassionate with it  a gifted communicator with an acute sense of the need for business to understand its impact on the lives of individuals and to make that impact a positive one.

She is being sadly missed by many today. Our thoughts are with her wife, Jenni and family members.

The Board of Communications Compliance has expressed great sadness at Deirdres passing and highlighted her contribution to the telecommunications and wider community.

Communications Alliance chair Michael Lee said:

I have fond memories of working with Deirdre and Frank Blount on the introduction of competition during my time as Minister for Communications and the Arts.

More recently as a fellow director of Communications Compliance I have seen first-hand her determination to serve and her compassion for others despite her own serious health challenges."

Communications Compliance executive director Visu Thangavelu said:

"Deirdre was fiercely intelligent and had the ability to immediately identify and address the key issues at play.

Her appointment as chair of Communications Compliance in 2012 gave a fledgling concept credibility and her commitment to her role and to the board never wavered, despite her ongoing battle with illness.

She was also compassionate, passionate about community issues such as equality, and possessed a razor-sharp wit that endeared her to all who knew her. Michael Lee, Victoria Rubensohn and I will always feel privileged to have had the opportunity to both personally know and work with Deirdre.

She was a long-time servant of the Australian telecommunications community and the community at large and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with Jenni and other family members at this very sad time."
Yangan and Emu Vale residents will receive "dedicated wide area mobile reception" with the site to be "co-funded by Optus, Queensland and federal governments".

Optus has announced the townships of Yangan and Emu Vale, east of Warwick in Queenslands Southern Downs, will receive mobile reception following the switch-on of a new tower in the area, as part of the federal governments Mobile Black Spot Program.

"Additional investment is also locked in for the Southern Downs and Western Queensland."

We're told the site signals wide area mobile and data reception for Yangan and Emu Vale and "forms part of a greater network investment program being undertaken by Optus with the federal and state governments to deliver coverage in 21 locations across regional Queensland".

Andrew Sheridan, Optus vice-president of Regulatory and Public Affairs, said: Todays tower switch on is great news for the residents of Yangan, Emu Vale and surrounding properties.

"We are pleased to be a part of the federal governments Mobile Black Spot Program and to be able to deliver crucial telecommunications infrastructure to regional and remote areas across Australia.

Optus said its facility is "co-located on the existing NBN Co tower on Careys Road".

Sheridan continued: Optus remains committed to co- and individual investment across a range of townships and locations in regional Australia that helps us provide coverage and reach in areas that we otherwise may not have been able to.

The governments lead in this crucial program combined with specific regional investment by Optus is certainly being met with a welcome response by rural and remote communities."

Optus reports having invested "$9.5 million to deliver 20 new mobile sites across Warwick, the Darling Downs and Toowoomba over the last 12 months. Over 120 new mobile phone towers have been switched on in regional Australia over the past two years".

Sheridan added: Optus is committed to delivering competition and choice for the bush."

Separately, Optus notes its confirmation of "additional blackspot sites earmarked to come online soon in central Queensland, including three satellite small cells in the Carnarvon Gorge National Park".

Satellite cells provide a cost-effective and flexible alternative to a traditional mobile tower, using satellite connectivity and backhaul to deliver mobile coverage to a concentrated local area

Regional Communications Minister Senator Fiona Nash said: The Coalition understands the importance of mobile coverage for business, tourism, agriculture and keeping in touch with family and friends.

The Mobile Black Spot Program will deliver better mobile coverage to people in rural, regional and remote Australia, and Im delighted that Optus has been able to hit the ground running in its delivery of these improvements.

When government invests in regional communities, it gives those communities confidence.

The best results are always achieved working in partnership and thats what weve done  with state and territory governments, local councils, community organisations, local businesses and the major telcos, Nash said.
To Belong or not to Belong may well be the question on many people's list, especially those who love value-laden pre-paid style services, now that Belong has launched two tempting offerings.

iTWire covered the launch of Belong's two new value-driven plans from last week in an article dubbed "Belong's two new mobile plans with lots of data seek customer belonging."

Now comes new research from Roy Morgan which "shows an estimated 170,000 Australians 14+ already use the Belong fixed broadband service".

We're told these customers are "a natural first target for the new mobile phone service  deeper analysis of these customers shows 33% currently have their mobile phone service with Vodafone,"

The research explains that in Belong's "first four years", its broadband service "has clearly signed up a disproportionate number of Vodafone mobile customers (33%). Vodafones share of the wider mobile market is only 17%".

In contrast, the research unveils that "only 25% of Belongs broadband customers have a Telstra mobile phone contract compared to Telstras wider mobile market share of 43%".

Mobile Service Provider of Belong fixed broadband customers

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source, March to August 2017, sample =212 Australians aged 14+ with a Belong broadband service. Numbers sum to over 100% due to some customers having multiple mobile phones.

In the graph, we can see "Optus share of 24% of Belong fixed broadband customers is in line with its overall mobile market share of 25% while smaller players including Amaysim are also slightly over-represented amongst Belong broadband customers (4%) when compared to their wider mobile market share (3%)."

Michele Levine, chief executive of Roy Morgan Research, said:

"The expansion of low-cost Telstra brand Belong into mobile phone service provision this week adds an extra layer of competition to the mobile service provider market following Belongs initial launch four years ago into the fixed broadband market as a low cost alternative to the established providers.

Roy Morgan deep profiling of the estimated 170,000 Belong fixed broadband customers show they are switchers and particularly to get a better deal at cheaper rates.

"Belong customers have a far higher incidence of switching mobile service provider over the last 12 months and also a far higher likelihood of switching mobile service providers over the next 12 months than the average Australian mobile user.

Belong fixed broadband customers are over twice as likely to choose their internet service provider based on cheaper rates than the overall broadband market.

Belongs mobile service plans are designed to appeal to cost conscious consumers by offering unlimited data banking in which any unused data from their 5GB or 15GB month-to-month data plans can be rolled over into the following month and data gifting which allows Belong customers to give their unused data to other Belong mobile users.

Data banking is an innovative customer retention strategy for Belong  why change plans when youve accumulated a substantial degree of unused data while data gifting is a classic example of attempting to exploit network effects to grow their customer base.

These findings suggest rival mobile service provider Vodafone  which has a disproportionately high share of Belong fixed broadband customers and also has a customer base who are drawn to cheaper rates, has the most to worry about from Belongs new mobile service.

The mobile market just got more competitive
With the adoption of IoT technologies having "more than doubled" since Vodafone launched its first Barometer in 2013, IoT is creating new services, transforming businesses and more.

Vodafone repots the Internet of Things, or IoT, has "come a long way" since the company published its first IoT Barometer back in 2013, with "the number of organisations deploying IoT 'at scale'  meaning 50,000+ devices and more) has doubled over the past 12 months".

Today, Vodafone reports organisations are "using IoT to create completely new services and transform their businesses."

Indeed, we're told that "two-thirds of companies that have adopted IoT say that its already mission-critical. And nearly all of them have already seen a return on their investment".

On top of that, the company reports "those returns can be significant  where organisations reported an increase in revenue from adopting IoT, it averaged 19%. Where they reported a reduction in costs, the average was 16%".

Vodafone says: "Thats why theyre investing more in IoT and doing more of it. As noted above, the proportion of adopters that have embraced IoT on a massive scale  more than 50,000 connected devices has doubled since 2016. And the majority of adopters say theyre spending more on IoT than 12 months ago."

A handful of Asia Pacific stats from the report follow.

Global progress in IoT adoption:

The report notes that in 2013, "IoT adoption in the Americas was 14%. Now its 27%. Adoption in Europe has increased from 11% to 26% in the same time frame. But its the Asia-Pacific region that has seen the biggest uplift. In 2013, adoption was 12%, its now ahead of the pack at 36%."

IoT is increasing market competitiveness in Asia-Pacific:

We're told that "a benefit of IoT often cited by organisations in Asia-Pacific is increased competitiveness in the market. Over half (53%) of Asia-Pacific companies said theyre seeing this, compared with around a third in the Americas (35%) and Europe (33%)".

Asia-Pacific is the most confident about security:

IoT adopters in Asia-Pacific have the greatest confidence in security: 83% say they have adequate skills to manage IoT security, some way ahead of Europe (70%) and the Americas (65%). That could be because more of them say theyre taking steps to address security concerns:

Over half (56%) are recruiting IoT security specialists, compared with 49% in the Americas and 37% in Europe.

Fifty-nine percent are working with specialist security providers (41% in Europe; 40% in the Americas).

And theyre maintaining a focus on security: 48% of organisations in Asia-Pacific scan for vulnerabilities after launch, compared with 39% in the Americas and 34% in Europe.

In addition, the company says: "84% of businesses, both large and small, stated their adoption and use of IoT had grown  with an impressive 95% of adopters and users achieving tangible benefits from their deployments."

So, Vodafone asks: "Whats holding you back?"

The IoT Barometer 2017/18 (feely downloadable after registration) is "based on data from an independent study conducted by Circle Research, which surveyed 1278 enterprise and public sector executives across eight industries in 13 countries. It charts changing attitudes, business drivers and shows, almost without exception, that those investing more in IoT are seeing the biggest gains".

The report explores:

How adoption has grown since 2013 and what the IoT landscape looks like today.

Why organisations are adopting IoT and the benefits theyre experiencing  from reduced costs to business transformation.

What adopters are doing to push ahead and why they see security as an enabler of IoT.

Whats happening in key industries.

What adopters expect from IoT in five years time.

The report also includes "exclusive commentary from Analysys Mason, a global consultancy and research firm specialising in telecoms, media and technology for more than 30 years. The report also includes excerpts from interviews with IoT adopters from different industries and regions".

Wherever you are on your IoT journey, Vodafone promises its Barometer "provides insights that can help you take the next step".

You can download your free copy of the report here. On my Mac, Safari didn't seem to like downloading the report. On Chrome, the report didn't download when I selected "Australia" as the download location, so I chose Belgium at random, and finally, the report downloaded. So, if you don't have success, try different settings as I did, and you will hopefully enjoy similar download success.
32nd RISI North American Conference program combines supply and demand-side perspectives

Boston, October 9, 2017 (Press Release)  North Americas forest products markets face surprising challenges, from new US duties on Canadian lumber to uncertainty in China. Despite the noise of near-term disruptions, however, there are broader lessons to be drawn from underlying trends in fiber supply, trade policy, end-use markets, and more. RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry, supports this discovery process with its 32nd annual North American Conference. From October 16-18, 2017, in Boston, MA, industry-leading analysts, economists, and executives will address key issues around three distinct but related themes:

Day 1, Wood Products

Panel Discussion: Impact of the Ongoing Softwood Lumber Dispute

Will Construction Jump or Slump in 2018?

North American Particleboard & MDF Markets: Will Supply Issues Persist?

Day 2, CEO, the Economy, and Uncertainty Ahead

The Global Economy

CEO Panel Discussion: A Roundtable Discussion with the Region's Leading Executives

Outlook on North American Housing Market: Will the Rise in Shelter Demand Finally Lead to Increased Shelter Production?

Day 3, Trade, Technology, and the New Tomorrow

The U.S. Paper Industry in an Evolving Trade Agenda

E-Commerce: A Game-Changer or Non-Event for Corrugated Boxes?

A Willingness to Engage the Future Workforce: How, and Can You Commit?

For more program information about the North American Conference, click here.





Presenters include representatives from major manufacturers, trade associations, academia, the financial sector, and RISI economists and experts in timber, wood products, packaging, tissue, and the pulp and paper markets. Attendees can network with these industry leaders during lunches, breaks, and special cocktail hours.

About RISI (www.risi.com)

RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. The company works with clients in the pulp and paper, packaging, wood products, timber, biomass, tissue and nonwovens industries to help them make better decisions.

Headquartered in Boston, MA, RISI operates additional offices throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.

##########################

For Press Enquiries, please contact:

Kimberly Rizzitano

Events Marketing Manager

O: +781-734-8996

E: krizzitano@risi.com
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Mohammed Nuruzzaman | (Informed Comment) |  

President Trump is set to decertify the Iran nuclear deal, as reported by the global news media. That such a decision was coming was hardly a surprise. During the presidential election campaign he launched a jihad against the deal and repeatedly threatened to walk away from it. As recently as on September 19, in his maiden speech before the UN General Assembly, he characterized the deal as an embarrassment to the United States and told the annual UN gathering that the deal was the worst and most one-sided transaction the US has ever entered into. The fate of the deal was thus sealed.

The big questions are: Why, and at what costs, is the American president moving at a fast speed to tear up the deal? Will Iran, as reactions to Trumps violation of the deal, resume uranium enrichment activities to quickly achieve the nuclear breakout time?

The Iran deal, concluded in July 2015, successfully mitigated the decade-old tense nuclear standoff between the two adversaries; it also helped avert a possible war between them. The repudiation of the deal by Trump means a return to the gloomy past, a return to hostilities and tensions, with little guarantee for a no-war situation, pure and simple. And Trump has chosen this option personally against the advice of the adults in the room and against opposition from the US Congress. Defense Secretary James Mattis, before a recent hearing of the Senate armed services committee, said honoring the deal was in US national interests and that Iran was in total compliance with the deal. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Advisor HR McMaster, notable Iran hawks, are also in favor of upholding the deal.

Iran is not in any material breach of the deal, as the International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEA) has confidently certified several times. Trump nevertheless levels the charge that Tehran is violating the spirit of the agreement, a charge that can be proved in no conceivable way. So the focus is on the spirit, not the actual provisions, terms and conditions contained in the deal. And the intention is clear here.

Why was the deal signed?

Iran and the P5+1 group of states (US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany) arduously negotiated the deal for over two years not to throw it out under the bus. Concluding the deal was in the interests of all parties involved, though it was bitterly criticized, if not condemned, by Americas two regional allies  Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The previous Obama administration negotiated and signed the deal to initiate a shift from confrontation to cooperation with Iran, while indirectly recognizing Iran as a powerful actor in the Middle East region. The Iranians signed onto the deal to ensure their reintegration into the global economy, so long held off by the EU and US-led sanctions regime. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the face of stiff opposition by the hardliners, consented to the deal being dictated by Irans national interests. He saw the removal of the sanctions as a way to unleash Irans economic potential but the Americans developed the false impressions that sanctions brought the Iranians down to their knees and forced them to come to the negotiating table.

Why Trump kills the deal?

At the same time, the deal was more a marriage of convenience, less a modus operandi to hammer out solutions to the longstanding conflicts between the two rivals. The deep divergences in Tehran  Washington bilateral relations originate from their contradictory strategic interests in the region. Irans efforts to achieve regional supremacy, at least in the Persian Gulf sub-region, and Americas counter-efforts to hamstring Iran, often in collaboration with Israel and Saudi Arabia, have only created more gaping holes in their hostile relations.

Irans recent rise, especially its expanding sphere of influence in Iraq and Syria, has gone a long way to curtail US influence. Russias direct military intervention in Syria and the quick melting of the US, Saudi and Turkey-backed rebel groups have also substantially undercut US dominance. But it is Irans expanding regional influence that worries the US most, as it perceives that the deal allows Iran to thrive economically and use it as a tool to flex its muscle across the region. The recent defeat of US-trained and paid anti-Assad rebel fighters in Syria and the reluctant withdrawal from al-Tanf, a small strategic town situated at a triangular area on western Iraq, eastern Syria and southern Jordan was a humiliating defeat for the Trump administration. Iran and Russia-backed Syrian army and Hezbollah fighters are controlling al-Tanf now.

Trumps personal decision to scuttle the deal to ensure a return to hostility with Iran has been largely influenced by a group of neoconservative thinkers. They are Americans but Jewish, they care more about Israels interests than Americas and are misusing Americas power to fight wars and destroy the Middle East region. This was the argument of a recent article Americas Jews are Driving Americas Wars by Philip Giraldi. A former CIA and US Army Intelligence official, Giraldi points out that generals in the Trump administration, Israel and Saudi Arabia (obsessed with Iranian domination) are looking to start a war with Iran. The war engine is run by nobody else but the American Jews. He presents a list of mostly Republican Party-affiliated American Jewish warmongers, including David Frum, Max Boot, Bill Kristol, Bret Stephens, Mark Dubowitz, Michael Leeden, Daniel Pipes, Elliot Abrams, John Podhoretz, Meyrav Wurmser, and Kimberly Kagan, among others. They are the same neoconservative forces who enthusiastically supported George W. Bushs illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003 and set the Middle East on a permanent road to violence, killing and destructions. President Trump is now playing to their tune.

Israel and Saudi Arabia opposed the Iran deal not because they are scared of nuclear arms in Iranian hands; rather, they fear a nuclear-armed Irans security autonomy to create internal disturbances in their domestic affairs or encourage hostile groups (the Houthis in Yemen or the Hezbollah in Lebanon) to attack them in the future. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu favors a strong US military presence and a highly adversarial Iran  US relations to create more breathing space for hostile actions against regional parties and change Israels domestic political equations to suit his political interests.

Deal violation comes with costs

US violation of the Iran deal is a unilateral act on the part of Trump. Iran remains on the diplomatic and political safe side as it remains committed to the deal both in letters and spirit. Tehran also commands the support and sympathy of the whole world while exposing the extremist neoconservative face of the US. Officially, the US has only Israel  the usurper of Palestinian rights on its side. The European powers are out to salvage the deal and are likely to remain committed to it even after US withdrawal. They are also talking of retaliatory legislations in case the US re-imposes sanctions on Iran and destabilize Iran  EU relations. China and Russia have voiced their strong support for the deal in the face of threats from the Trump regime.

What is clearly at stake is Americas diplomatic credibility, its acceptability to other nations. To the dismay of many nations, Trump has already given up the Paris climate accord and removed the US from Trans-Pacific Partnership. He is also withdrawing from the nuclear deal at a time when the US is caught in heightened tensions over the North Korean nuclear program. Secretary Tillerson is reportedly trying to make a breakthrough with North Korea, through direct contact, to avoid escalating threats of military confrontation. But no opposing state, forget North Korea, will be interested in negotiations with a deal breaker.

Options for Iran

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, exasperated by Trumps anti-deal posture and bullying tactics, has threatened to respond to any wrong move by the US on the nuclear deal. He strongly warned the US: The Americans should know  there will be no retreat by the Islamic Republic. Admittedly, Irans best interests lie in avoiding a complete collapse of the deal. America is tearing up the deal but the European powers, China and Russia are honoring their commitments to it and the whole world stands behind Iran. This is a big moral, political and diplomatic victory Iran has ever won in its post-1979 history.

Leaving the deal, realistically speaking, is not a good option for Iran as long as the great powers back it. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in late September that This deal belongs to the international community, not just the US. The EU is Irans largest trading partner and Tehran should uphold the deal as long as the EU sticks to it. In case the EU abandons the deal under tough US pressures or on other grounds, Irans ultimate option may be a return to the nuclear program to quickly achieve a nuclear breakout. The deal with the US is failing to pay and to avoid possible US invasion Tehrans ultimate option is going down the road to developing the ultimate deterrent  nuclear weapons. A North Korean model  meeting threats of US attacks through nuclear capability and intercontinental ballistic missiles remains the best choice for Iran. Threats can be met with counter-threats; no soothing word can dissuade the aggressors.

Mohammed Nuruzzaman is Associate Professor of International Relations at the Gulf University for Science and Technology in Kuwait.



Related video added by Juan Cole:

CGTN: Iranian president says Trump cannot undermine nuclear deal
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

The US and Turkey have ceased processing non-immigrant visas for one anothers citizens. Thats right. If youre an American and were planning to visit Istanbul this fall, unpack your bags.

In a world of abnormal goings-on, this one is really weird.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has used the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, as a pretext for moving his country away from democracy and toward an illiberal authoritarianism. He has closed universities and newspapers, jailed journalists, dissidents and academics, and fired 150,000 people from government jobs. The Turkish government maintains that the coup was led by military officers from the Hizmet movement of Fethullah Gulen, a rightwing religious leader who fled Turkey in the late 1990s and lives in Pennsylvania. Only a fraction of those persons targeted, however, have been Gulencis (200,000 people did not act as coup plotters).

Members of the Turkish cabinet have openly charged Barack Obama with having been behind the coup, which is ridiculous. A billionaire crony of Erdogan attempted to buy influence with Trump by hiring the security firm of Michael Flynn, Trumps first National Security Adviser. Flynn allegedly thought seriously about kidnapping the elderly Gulen and rendering him back to Turkey for trial. As it happened, Flynn was fired for not disclosing the extent of his foreign emoluments.

Since Flynns departure, US relations with Turkey have plummeted. Ankara abhors the US strategy of depending on the Syrian Kurds to defeat ISIL in Raqqa, fearing that armed and trained Kurds will turn separatist and make trouble over the border in Turkey. Erdogans bodyguards have beaten protesters on US soil whenever he has come to the US, viewing all of them as Gulenist terrorists, and the bodyguards were indicted, causing Erdogan to squawk.

But then a couple of weeks ago, Turkey arrested a US embassy employ of Turkish origin on grounds of being a Gulenist and hence a terrorist.

You cant go around arresting embassy employees; international law frowns on that sort of thing.

So the US cut off all Turks from coming to the US except on immigration visas. Trips for tourism or business are no longer possible. Then Turkey reciprocated.

All this hurts Turkey economically in a way it does not hurt the US. Some 13 percent of Turkeys GDP comes from tourism, which has taken severe hits the last couple of years. American tourists are a small percentage of the total traveling to Turkey, but American businessmen have lots of investments in the country. Erdogan boasted of having attracted $20 billion in foreign investment in his first decade in power as prime minister.

One of those investors who can no longer go off to inspect his property in Istanbul is Donald J Trump.

Turkey and the United States have been allies since the beginning of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union in the late 1940s. Turkey was a recipient of Marshall Plan rebuilding funds and was brought into NATO. Turkish troops fought alongside American ones in the Korean War and the Afghanistan War. Turkeys Incirlik Air Base has been a key asset for US air power in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Neoconservatives of the early 2000s even counted Britain and Turkey, both allies of the US and of Israel, as the only two permanent friends the United States has.

Now the US-Turkey special relationship is in shambles.

As far as I can tell, the main blame for the deterioration of relations between the US and Turkey lies with the paranoid style of Erdogan and his officials.

It may also be, however, that Trump has cut such a bizarre figure that neither Turkey nor anyone else is afraid of the full might of the US at all any mor

-

Related video:

Euronews: Turkey and United States mutually scale back visa services for security reasons
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By Gail Ukockis | (Informed Comment) |  

In 2004, Trump was on Howard Sterns radio show to talk about his family. After admitting that he had had mixed feelings when he heard about his second wifes pregnancy, Trump told Stern that he was sure that his current wife was on the pill so there would be no surprises. Stern asked, Would you push her down the stairs if it happened? Trumps response was chilling: he kept on talking as if Stern had not jokingly suggested that he commit a violent assault on his wife.

When I read this story a few days ago, I had only sighed and moved on to the next story. Last weeks grim news about Trumps attack on the birth control mandate, though, prompted me to consider Sterns joke in a different way. The Trump administration has just announced that any employers (not just churches and religious agencies) had the right to refuse birth control coverage based on religious or moral grounds. Countless women might now have to pay out-of-pocket for their birth control, which can be a significant financial burden for one-third of women. The new policy of allowing employers to make arbitrary decisions about a womans health care options is not about freedom of religion but the freedom to limit necessary health care to employees.

Push her down the stairs. This phrase exemplifies the cruel and crude attitude toward women when misogynists are in power. According to the angry men who rant on the manosphere, women are bitches if they do not sleep with you. If they so sleep around, though, then they are sluts. Birth control pills are slut pills and women who expect a man to wear a condom are terrible..

Although Sterns joke was metaphorical, then, it illustrates one key point of gender-based oppression: hostility to birth control. This is related to reproductive coercion. In some intimate partner violence situations, the male abuser sabotages the birth control method (e.g., interfering with the pills). He may also intimidate his partner into not using protection. Unfortunately, though, a pregnancy may actually trigger more violence because of jealousy of the unborn child. Though the centuries, how many miscarriages have been caused by the punches and kicks of an abusive male?

Whenever an abuser forces his partner to get pregnant or end a pregnancy, reproductive coercion has occurred on the individual level. Of course, reproductive coercion also occurs on the political level. Trumps new decision to end the birth control mandate may be the result of a petulant effort to undo Obamas accomplishments and/or a conscious effort to please the Far Right. On a deeper level, though, it could also be related to his well-documented aversion to womens biology: his disgust at a lawyer who requested a meeting break to pump breast milk, his shocked reaction to the idea of Hillary Clinton using the bathroom during a debate break, and his infamous comment about Megyn Kellys purported bleeding. In this context, I am not surprised that birth control is seen by men like Trump as a womens issue that should be hidden from public view.

Trump is not alone in his hostility to the idea of womens reproductive healththe House has just passed a twenty-week abortion ban as if this procedure was not a vital part of health care. These forced-birthers are determined to make a woman continue a pregnancy even if the fetus is not viable. Like those who believe in the junk science claim that hormonal birth control induces abortions, the Congresspersons who voted for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act refuse to listen to medical experts who can prove that fetuses at this stage do not feel pain.

Reproductive coercion has nothing to do with being pro life, as demonstrated by Congress not authorizing the CHIP program for the nine million children who need health insurance. Instead, this type of coercion has everything to do with punishing women for being women. Since almost every American woman has taken some form of birth control in her life, this male hostility to contraception access is simply male hostility toward women.

Pushing her down the stairs, then, is a grotesque (but accurate) interpretation of the recent policy changes. Fortunately, modern society regards birth control as necessary for public health as clean water. First we have to get over the shock of the governments recent deviations from the norm of promoting womens health. Then we must again challenge the assumptions that promote reproductive coercion. As one protest sign reads, I cant believe that Im protesting this crap again.

Gail Ukockis, PhD, MSW, MA, is an educator and social worker with an eclectic background that includes graduate studies in history. For eleven years, Dr. Ukockis taught a womens issues course at Ohio Dominican University, which served as the foundation for this textbook. Her research interests also include HIV/AIDS, cultural competence, and human trafficking. She is author of Womens Issues for a New Generation: A Social Work Perspective (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016).

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

Al Jazeera English: Trump administration rolls back Obama-era birth control measure
> > > Absence of the term Refugee in Indian Law

Absence of the term Refugee in Indian Law Monday 9 October 2017 Reading time: (Number of words: )
U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base on October 7, 2017 in Maryland.

Trump is traveling to North Carolina. Earlier he said "only one thing" will work to solve the North Korean nuclear impasse. / AFP-Yonhap



U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that "only one thing" will work to solve the North Korean nuclear impasse, apparently referring to military action.

Trump did not state what the "one thing" was, but he voiced strong objection to negotiations with the communist regime.

"Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid... hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators," he claimed in a pair of tweets. "Sorry, but only one thing will work!"

Tensions have run high over North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, with Trump threatening to "totally destroy" the nation if necessary.

Pyongyang conducted its sixth nuclear test in September and recently launched a series of ballistic missiles, including two over Japan.
Nature & Weather, Local News, National & World News, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: October 09 2017

A.G. Schneiderman Leads Coalition Of States And Localities That Intervened To Defend The CPP.

New York, NY - October 9, 2017 - New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman released the following statement today following EPA Administrator Scott Pruitts announcement that the Trump Administration will repeal the Clean Power Plan:

By seeking to repeal the Clean Power Plan  especially without any credible commitment to replacing it  the Trump Administrations campaign of climate change denial continues, once again putting industry special interests ahead of New Yorkers and all Americans safety, health, and the environment.

I am proud to lead the coalition of states and localities defending the Clean Power Plan in federal court. If and when the Trump Administration finalizes this repeal, I will sue to protect New Yorkers and put a stop to the Trump Administrations irresponsible and illegal efforts to turn back the clock on public health.

Fuel-burning power plants are one of our nations largest sources of climate change pollution, and common-sense science  and the law  dictate that EPA take action to cut these emissions. In fact, states like New York have demonstrated that greenhouse gases from power plants can be reduced dramatically, while holding the line on utility bills, maintaining grid reliability, and adding billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to our economies.

The Trump Administrations persistent and indefensible denial of climate change  and their continued assault on actions essential to stemming its increasing devastation  is reprehensible, and I will use every available legal tool to fight their dangerous agenda.

Background

The Clean Power Plan is the culmination of a decade-long effort by New York and partnering states and cities to require mandatory cuts in the emissions of climate change pollution from fossil fuel burning power plants under the Clean Air Act. Eleven years ago, New York and other states sued EPA in the D.C. Circuit after the agency failed to establish emission standards for carbon dioxide from fossil-fueled power plants. That lawsuit resulted in a settlement, finalized in 2011, in which EPA committed to undertake rulemaking to address carbon dioxide from power plants.

In November 2015, a coalition of 25 states, cities and counties, led by New York Attorney General Schneiderman, intervened in defense of the Clean Power Plan against legal challenge in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Clean Power Plan, along with the companion rule applicable to new, modified, and reconstructed power plants, will control emissions by setting limits on the amount of climate change pollution that power plants can emit. The rule for existing plants is expected to eliminate as much climate change pollution as is emitted by more than 160 million cars a year  or 70% of the nations passenger cars.

The Clean Power Plan, which was adopted through a multi-year stakeholder process, is founded on three solid pillars:

a mandatory duty under law to regulate carbon pollution from existing power plants;

overwhelming scientific proof of the need to take prompt action to reduce power plant emissions of climate change pollution; and

compelling evidence that power plants can cost-effectively cut these emissions while maintaining electricity reliability.

Mandatory duty to limit carbon pollution from power plants. The Supreme Court has repeatedly confirmed EPAs authority to address carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act, beginning with its decision ten years ago in Massachusetts v. EPA. Subsequently, EPA found based on an extensive scientific record that greenhouse gases, principally carbon dioxide, endanger public health and welfare. EPAs decision was upheld in by the D.C. Circuit in 2012, and EPA Administrator Pruitt acknowledged in his confirmation hearing that the endangerment finding needs to be enforced and respected.

The Clean Power Plan, which establishes guidelines for states to limit carbon pollution from existing power plants, and the companion rule setting standards for new power plants, address one of the largest sources of carbon pollution in the U.S. Those two rules are firmly grounded in another Supreme Court case, American Electric Power v. Connecticut. There, the Court held that New York and other states could not use federal common law public nuisance to address power plant carbon pollution because section 111 of the Clean Air Actthe section of the law EPA relied in the Clean Power Plan and new plant rulespeaks directly to those emissions.

Compelling scientific evidence on the need to act now. The scientific evidence is compelling that climate change is harming our communities now and that prompt and substantial emission reductions are necessary to avert catastrophic impacts. In its 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare, EPA cited more intense, frequent, and long-lasting heat waves; worse smog in cities; longer and more severe droughts; more intense storms such as hurricanes and floods; the spread of disease; and a dramatic rise in sea levels.

When it finalized the Clean Power Plan in 2015, EPA emphasized that additional scientific studies bolstered the endangerment finding, citing increased risk of premature death (especially in children and the elderly) during extreme heat events and from infectious and waterborne diseases, as well as threats to coastal communities and infrastructure from storms and rising sea levels. We have witnessed this firsthand in our communities. For example, New York has experienced dramatic increases in the frequency and intensity of storms, including a record deluge in Long Island in August 2014. Recent destruction fromHurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria is likewise consistent with scientists projections of an increased frequency and damage from extreme storm events. And in South Florida, even before Hurricane Irma struck, flooding exacerbated by rising seas had become commonplace, harming homes, roads, bridges, drinking water, and sewage systems. Like 2014 and 2015, 2016 was the warmest year on record. In a report issued last year, the National Academies of Science stated that if emissions of greenhouse gases continue unabated, future changes will substantially exceed those that have occurred thus far.

Well-established track record of emission reductions. The rulemaking record for the Clean Power Plan conclusively shows that power plants can substantially cut carbon pollution and do so cost effectively. As power companies supporting the Plan in the litigation explained, the best system of emission reduction chosen by EPAincreasing efficiency and shifting from dirtier to cleaner power generationis already routinely used in the industry.
Local News, Crime, Community, Charity & Cause

By Long Island News & PR Published: October 09 2017

Marine Bureau Officers heard a call over radio reporting a man clinging to the rocks at the Greens Ledge Light, officials say.

SCPD officers rescued a Huntington man who was stranded in the Long Island Sound after his kayak capsized.

Suffolk County, NY - October 9, 2017 - Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers rescued a Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers rescued a Huntington man who was stranded in the Long Island Sound for approximately 17 hours after his kayak capsized.

Michael Diaz went fishing in a kayak in the Long Island Sound off of Lloyd Harbor Village Park on the morning of October 7. After Diaz failed to return home, he was reported missing by his roommate on Sunday, October 8, 2017 at approximately 11:53 a.m.

Officers from the Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau and the Nassau County Police Department Aviation Bureau and Marine Bureau, members of the United States Coast Guard and multiple volunteer fire departments conducted a search of the Long Island Sound. During the search, Marine Bureau Officers Matthew Funaro, Brian Flatley and Peter Bogachunas, aboard Marine Delta, heard a call over the VHF radio reporting a man clinging to the rocks at the Greens Ledge Light, approximately one mile off Norwalk, Connecticut.

Marine Delta responded to the reported location and located Diaz, who was wearing a lifejacket, laying on a platform at the edge of the rocks around the lighthouse. After officers pulled Diaz aboard, Bayville Fire Company Paramedic Mario Orlassino boarded Marine Delta from a fire department boat to assist officers in administering aid to Diaz during the transport to shore.

Diaz, 56, of Huntington, who told officers his kayak capsized at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, was transported by Marine Delta to the Norwalk Cove Marina and then transported to Norwalk Hospital for treatment of hypothermia.
by Tanya Gazdik , October 9, 2017

Mercedes-Benz vehicles will join the Justice League alongside Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash as they race to save the planet from an alien assault of catastrophic proportions.

The automaker is partnering with the highly anticipated Warner Bros. Pictures superheroes movie, which hits theaters Nov. 17.

Mercedes new E-Class Cabriolet, the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo with its new interior developed for this film, and the G-Class 4x42 are featured in the epic action adventure.

The automaker will set up a substantial marketing campaign around the film's theatrical release, including a 30-second TV spot, print, online and OOH advertising. Activations on social media will also launch and -- for the first time -- six exclusive digital comic stories for Mercedes-Benz' Instagram channels, developed in cooperation with DC's Custom Creative Studio.

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The TV commercial launched Oct. 6 in the U.S., Europe and China. The first digital comic will release on Oct. 20 on Instagram, with all other stories following in quick succession.

The movie is the perfect partner to highlight the automakers current vehicles as well as communicate the fascination with the brand, says Jens Thiemer, vice president marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars.

"The E-Class Cabriolet is a natural fit for Wonder Woman," Thiemer says in a release. And who other than Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, would be more inclined to drive a car like the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo?

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet premieres on the silver screen as the vehicle driven by Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman. An additional automotive highlight in the film is the appearance of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo as Bruce Wayne's vehicle of choice when he drops in on Barry Allen, aka The Flash, to recruit him into the League.

Although it initially revealed the car to the public in 2013, the Mercedes-Benz design team has developed a fully fleshed-out interior with illuminated elements, racing seats and a virtual dashboard section for the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo for Justice League production purposes. Filming required the whole vehicle to be enlarged by 110% compared to its predecessor, in order to accommodate seating the film's impressive 6-foot, 3-inch tall Bruce Wayne while maintaining its sleek-looking low roofline.

The Mercedes-Benz Justice League marketing campaign kicks off on with the TVC "Hard To Resist. The spot features all main vehicles appearing in the film and explains why Mercedes-Benz vehicles are "Hard to resist" even if you're actually a super hero.

The automotive star of the campaign motif for print, online and OOH is the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet, as it makes an appearance surrounded by members of DC's iconic League. In addition, there is another, quite different campaign motif, named "Symbols," showing an even stronger connection between these Super Heroes and Mercedes-Benz, with a surprising take on the brand's star.

A leading element of the marketing campaign promoting the movie and its hero vehicles is a series of digital comic stories that have been created in close co-operation with DC's Custom Creative Studio, which will be released exclusively on Mercedes-Benz' Instagram channels. These stories focus on the private lives of the Justie Leagues characters' alter egos, and present a fresh take on how a cool vehicle can sometimes save the day  even for the world's most powerful heroes.

An extensive "Making of" video provides an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the film shoot, highlighting the main Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, October 9, 2017

Thats right, weapon of mass destruction. Hear me out.

If theres anything 9/11 taught us, its that the most insidious weapons are the ones we hand freely to our enemies. Al Qaeda ingeniously figured out how to turn our own friendly skies against us.

Now Russian operatives have figured out how to turn our marketplace into a WMD against us.

The destruction hasnt been as immediate as watching American jets crumble Americas buildings from the outside in. Thats because this type of WMD works slowly, sowing instability that crumbles us from within.

Russia used -- and continues to use -- our digital media marketplace as a weapon in what the intel community calls hybrid warfare.

It works by leveraging active measures -- in this case, the programmatic media-buying marketplace -- to cost-effectively spread disinformation, confusion and conflict that literally destroy us from within.

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Counterintelligence experts have known Russians were doing this for years.

Listen to the testimony of Clinton Watts, a former FBI agent who was part of a team that began investigating how Al Qaeda and ISIS were using digital media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Google to recruit. Along the way, he testified, U.S. intelligence discovered Russias active media-buying measures.

We all sort of understood something was going on, but it happened in a blur -- James Comeys testimony about Russia hacking the election, the spread of fake news," etc. -- and our attention was quickly diverted to other parts of the news cycle, including the Access Hollywood tapes, Hillarys emails, the fall and subsequent rise of Donald Trump.

We wouldnt be talking about this now if it werent for Robert Muellers investigation into Facebooks role, the social networks own begrudging admission, and the Senate Intelligence Committees revelations about just how cost-efficient Russias active measures have been.

Operatives directed by Russias Internet Research Agency spent $100,000 to serve 3,000 ads to 10 million Americans at a $10 CPM, which was magnified by hundreds of fake Facebook pages and profiles linked to the IRA.

This morning, The Washington Post broke a story revealing Russia has also spent tens of thousands of dollars on placing ads to spread disinformation across Googles many products, including YouTube, search, Gmail, and across the DoubleClick ad network.

To me the big revelation isnt that Russian strategists have done that, but how they figured out how to cost-effectively turn our own marketplace into a WMD against us -- and that so far, there's little we could have done about it.

If Vladimir Putin is using Facebook or Google or Twitter to, in effect, destroy our democracy, the American people should know about it, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) said this morning on MSNBCs Morning Joe.

Blumenthal said he was among the senators leading a measure that would require Facebook -- and presumably others -- to disclose when Russians are paying for this -- coming to you straight from Vladimir Putin as part of a campaign to sow discord, to undermine our democracy.

That seems right to me, especially given what an influential platform Facebook has become for Americans accessing news, fake or otherwise. And Facebook has acknowledged as much in the past few weeks.

But its not just Facebook. Or even just Google and Twitter. We need to get a better handle on how Russian active measures are using our marketplace against us in ways we may not normally look at.

I was struck during MediaPosts Marketing: Politics conference in January when Revolution Messagings Jenn Kauffman said her team knew Trump would win because they were tracking voter sentiment on less well-lit digital communities like 4chan and Reddit.

While overlooked by mainstream media, Congress and federal investigators, Reddit is particularly influential in political messaging, Kauffman said. In fact, thats where her team got the Feel The Bern tagline for Bernie Sanders Presidential campaign. She said her team could predict the outcome of the general election by monitoring pro-Trump sentiment on sub-Reddits of anonymized users who spoke more accurately about their voting intent than most national polling indicated.

If you went on Reddit, you could see there was so much vitriol against the establishment, she recalled.

The Senate measure wouldnt stop that, because sub-Reddits aren't advertising, but it would at least create some transparency about the role paid persuasion is playing in the programmatic media-buying marketplace. And thats a step in the right direction.

It would be even better if our industry was more self-regulated. If Facebook didn't get dragged, kicking and screaming, to federal investigators to create transparency -- along with Google, Twitter and the rest of the programmatic marketplace.

Until we get a firm basis on fact and fiction in our own country were going to have a big problem, Watts said during his Senate testimony on March 30. I can tell you right now -- today -- grey outlets that are Soviet-pushing accounts tweet at President Trump during high volumes when they know hes online and they push conspiracy theories. If he is to click on one of those or cite one of those, it just proves Putin correct: That [they] can use this as a lever against the Americans.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, October 9, 2017

1-800 Contacts and other retailers harmed consumers by agreeing to limit their search advertising campaigns, a group of contact lens purchasers argue in new court papers.

"Advertising is an important part of the business of any commercial firm, and it is essential to effective distribution ... for contact lens retailers," the purchasers argue in papers filed last week with U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell in the Central District of Utah. "By suppressing one of the primary ways in which they compete, defendants purposefully made it more difficult to communicate their goods and services to consumers."

The consumers are asking Campbell to reject the retailers' request to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit centered on search ads. The lawsuit dates to last year, when a group of consumers alleged that 1-800 Contacts and other sellers -- including Vision Direct, Walgreen, National Vision and Luxottica -- violated antitrust laws by entering into agreements that prevented companies other than 1-800 Contacts from using its name to trigger search ads.

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National Vision recently agreed to settle the complaint by paying $7 million and agreeing to provide material to the consumers' lawyers.

The civil lawsuit by consumers came soon after the Federal Trade Commission accused 1-800 Contacts of illegally preventing rivals from using the term "1-800 Contacts" to trigger search ads. The FTC contends that 1-800 Contacts' tactics amounted to a violation of antitrust laws and an unfair business.

The companies entered into the agreements after 1-800 Contacts either sued or threatened to sue competitors for alleged trademark infringement, according to the FTC. 1-800 Contacts allegedly targeted at least 15 competitors between 2004 and 2013. Of those, Lens.com fought the lawsuit, which resulted in a decision that was largely in Lens.com's favor.

The agency argues that the agreements to restrict keyword advertising harmed search engines by distorting their ad auctions and reducing the quality of the search results. The FTC also says the agreements resulted in higher prices for consumers, arguing that 1-800 Contacts charges more than online rivals, but that consumers stop searching and order from 1-800 Contacts if it is the only advertiser in the search results.

The FTC action is still pending before an administrative law judge.

1-800 Contacts and the contact lens sellers argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed for several reasons, including that most of the settlement agreements occurred before August of 2012, putting them beyond the four-year statute of limitations for antitrust violations. The online seller added that even if the settlement agreements are treated as ongoing, the consumers could only obtain monetary damages for activity occurring in the last four years.

1-800 Contacts also argues that the consumers did not present facts to show how the settlement agreements led to price increases.

The lens purchasers ask Campbell to reject those arguments. "Consumers rely on advertising to find out what they can buy, from whom, and on what terms. But because advertising restrictions limit the flow of information to consumers, they increase consumer search costs by preventing consumers from obtaining important information," they argue.

They add that consumers will either "spend more time and money" by searching for cheaper alternatives or will simply stop searching when they don't believe the benefit outweighs the costs of research. "Either way, they pay more," the purchasers argue.

The purchasers also are asking Campbell to rule that their action is timely, arguing that they didn't know about the alleged antitrust violations until the FTC brought charges in 2016.

The civil lawsuit by consumers came soon after the Federal Trade Commission accused 1-800 Contacts of illegally preventing rivals from using the term "1-800 Contacts" to trigger search ads. The FTC contends that 1-800 Contacts' tactics amounted to a violation of antitrust laws and an unfair business.

1-800Contacts' general counsel Cindy Williams previously said the suits against the company "have no merit whatsoever."
Breaking from the typical tech-world decorum, Facebook Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos is calling out the media for oversimplifying the companys fake news problem.

I am seeing a ton of [media] coverage of our recent issues driven by stereotypes of our employees and attacks against fantasy, straw man tech cos, Stamos wrote in a tweet storm, over the weekend.

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Stamos takes particular issue with the common misperception that his colleagues at Facebook and other platforms think algorithms are neutral. Nobody of substance at the big [tech] companies thinks of algorithms as neutral, Stamos writes. Nobody is not aware of the risks.

Stamos also says reporters have been too willing to believe celebrated academics who have made wild claims of how easy it is to spot fake news and propaganda.

Instead, Stamos suggests that reporters, columnists, and other critics talk to people who have actually had to solve these problems."

Stamos attack shows the level of frustration inside Facebook, as the company faces a tsunami of criticism for its failure to prevent the spread of false and biased information, along with messages of pure hate.

In response to a report by ProPublica, Facebook recently said it unintentionally let advertisers target users based on keyword combinations, like Jew hater and How to burn jews.

While accepting some blame for carelessly catering to anti-Semites, Facebook took issue with ProPublicas report for attributing the hateful ad categories to an algorithm. Rather, the categories in question were self-reported, based on how users filled out their profiles, according to Facebook.

The company said users filling out their profiles may have added descriptions like Jew hater, which then appeared to advertisers as potential categories.

Separately, Facebook recently admitted that Russian agents used its network to distribute disinformation to roughly 10 million U.S. users in order to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Adding to the pressure, Bloomberg reported that Facebook spent years fighting government efforts to assess the companys potential impact on elections.

Foreign nations are pushing Facebook to clean up its platform, too. In addition to Twitter and other U.S. tech companies, EU regulators recently said Facebook had six months to curb hate speech and terrorist-related content on their platforms. In response, Facebook recently announced plans to hire 1,000 more human reviewers to monitor its ad system.

In addition, the tech titan said it would begin forcing Pages to disclose the source of funding behind political ads.

Facebook is also working with Congressional investigators and special counsel Robert Mueller, as part of their probes of Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Over the next year, Facebook plans to increase its investment in security and election integrity by adding more than 250 people across related teams, CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently said.

Just last week, Facebook also started testing a feature designed to give users more context on articles they see in their News Feeds. The new feature will give people the tools to make an informed decision about which stories to read, share and trust, a company spokeswoman said.

For contextual information, Facebook is relying on a range of sources, from publishers Wikipedia entries to trending and related articles on its own network.

As recently as last week, however, it was clear that Facebook had yet to fix its fake-news problem, as it helped circulate misinformation about the massacre in Las Vegas.

By all appearances, Facebook is prepping the media and government officials for news of additional breaches. Were still looking for abuse and bad actors on our platform, Elliot Schrage, vice president of policy and communications at the social giant, said in recent blog post.
by Ray Schultz , October 9, 2017

A Texas judge has ordered the blocking of all emails sent to county offices from Yahoo accounts, at least for the near future, because of a spike in spam over the last several weeks.

Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudts office is urging citizens to please use another email account or call the department you are trying to contact and they will assist you.

The county IT staff is concerned about the spam influx and the magnitude of the 2013 Yahoo data breach.

For last month and a half, our spam has just elevated to concerning levels, says Derold Miller, director of information technology for Gregg County. Yahoo is a common domain, and very easy to spoof to get through most firewalls.

Gregg Country, which is located between Dallas and Shreveport, Louisiana, was burned in a widely publicized security breach in 2010, Miller continues. Hackers conducted a transaction that cost the county $220,000.

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Miller adds that the county firewalls have been hit with 101,000 pieces of spam, containing 644 pieces of malware, over the past two months. None got through, but it was enough to make us concerned. It is not clear how many came via Yahoo.

The no-Yahoo order includes the Gregg Country courthouse, Justice of the Peace and tax office, Miller says.

Judge Stout made the recommendation based on advice from IT. The county wants to give people the time to change passwords and security questions. It has also warned consumers about the dangers of spam emails.

This process is expected to take a few weeks and will allow the inbound flow of Yahoo account emails back into the network once they are assured that the threat level has reached minimal status, says the statement from Stoudts office.

Last week, Yahoo announced that all of its accounts totaling three billion were affected in the 2013 data breach, not one billion as previously believed.
Scientists have developed a small molecule that directly triggers suicide in cancer cells without harming healthy cells. Share on Pinterest It is now possible to induce cancer cell suicide without damaging healthy cells. In the journal Cancer Cell, researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY, explain how they tested the molecule, called BAX Trigger Site Activator 1 (BTSA1), on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. They note that BTSA1 promptly induces a type of cell suicide called apoptosis in AML cell lines and patient samples. Apoptosis is an essential process through which the body rids itself of malfunctioning or unwanted cells. For example, as the embryo grows, apoptosis helps to trim excess tissue. Some chemotherapy drugs activate apoptosis indirectly when they damage DNA in cancer cells.

Need for new anti-cancer therapies There is an urgent need for more effective treatments for AML, which is a type of leukemia that kills more than 10,000 people in the United States every year, and whose 5-year survival rate has remained at around 30 percent for decades. While the study deals specifically with AML, the team believes that the approach might work for other types of cancer. Were hopeful that the targeted compounds were developing will prove more effective than current anti-cancer therapies by directly causing cancer cells to self-destruct, explains senior author Evripidis Gavathiotis, an associate professor of biochemistry and of medicine. Prof. Gavathiotis was on the team that, in 2008, first described the structure and shape of the target that the new molecule seeks out.

Executioner protein The new molecules target is a site on an executioner protein in cells called BAX. When activated, BAX proteins flock to the cells power plants, or mitochondria, and punch holes in their membranes, effectively killing the cells. However, in many cases, cancer cells can evade this effect and survive because they make lots of anti-apoptotic proteins that inhibit BAX and the molecules that activate it. Since that initial discovery of the BAX site, Prof. Gavathiotis and colleagues have been searching for compounds that trigger the executioner protein in a way that overcomes the ability of cancer cells to resist apoptosis. Using computers, they have screened more than a million compounds to find some that might potentially bind to the BAX site. This effort yielded around 500 promising candidates  many of which the researchers had synthesized themselves. The team evaluated the candidates and found that BTSA1 was the most powerful activator of BAX. It led to rapid and extensive apoptosis when added to several different human AML cell lines, says lead author Denis Reyna, a doctoral student in Prof. Gavathiotis group. When they tested BTSA1 in blood samples from patients with high-risk AML, they found that it triggered apoptosis in the AML cells without harming healthy blood-generating stem cells.
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Grammy-winning rapper Nelly was arrested near Seattle early on Saturday after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her on a tour bus, police said.

The woman dialed 911 to report the sexual assault had occurred when the bus was parked at a shopping center in Auburn, which is less than 20 miles (32 km) south of Seattle, local police said in a statement.

Nelly, best-known for the hit songs Ride Wit Me, Hot in Herre and Dilemma, performed at an amphitheater in Auburn on Friday night as part of a tour with country pop group Florida Georgia Line.

Patrol officers investigated the woman's report, and Nelly was arrested before dawn, Auburn police said in the statement.

He was booked into the South Correctional Entity Regional Jail in Des Moines, Washington, on suspicion of sexual assault.

Auburn police had no further details to release, the statement said.

Nelly's representatives did not immediately return emails seeking comment.

Nelly is the victim of a completely fabricated allegation, an unnamed representative for him said in a statement to People magazine.

Nelly, who was born Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. and grew up in the St. Louis area, made his debut in 2000 with the album Country Grammar, which sold more than 10 million copies, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.


09.10.2017 LISTEN

Following the successful release of his fifth studio album Highest which dominated iTunes album charts around the world, Sarkodie has announced that he will be embarking on a UK nationwide 'Highest' tour in November.

He will be on the tour trail with some special guests including Big Narstie, Jayso, Moelogo, Bobii Lewis and Suli Breaks.

The nationwide tour, presented by Sarkcess Music and Dice Recordings, in collaboration with Live Nation, Golden Voice and Echo Location, will see the legendary Ghanaian rap star headline the O2 Institute in Birmingham on November 23.

From there, he will be in London to headline the O2 Forum Kentish Town Concert on November 24, and rounding up the tour in Manchester, for Academy 2 show on November 25.

Sarkodie, who released six music videos on the same day he launched his Highest album, in an unprecedented move that was first of its kind for any African artist, is already gearing up to release his next music video from the Highest album.

This will include early fan-favourite 'Far Away' featuring Mavin Records' very own Korede Bello. You can watch the behind-the-scenes footage from the upcoming visuals here .

Tickets for Sarkodie's 'Highest' UK tour are now available via Ticketmaster here .

Sarkodie's Highest album is out now via Sarkcess Music and Dice Recordings, purchase it here .

Watch Behind-The-Scenes footage from Sarkodie and Korede Bello's 'Far Away' video shoot:

'Highest' Album Out Now Via Sarkcess Music & Dice Recordings

Stream + Download 'Highest' Album Here: Http://Radi.Al/Sarkodiehighest
The time was 9 pm and on both the first and ground floors of the Perez Dome, attendees at this years Adom Praiz were on their feet shimmying.

The elderly were no longer old and the young were ever energetic. They danced with grace to the sound made by guitar, bass, drum, accordion and a grooved wooden instrument.

Dancing was my therapy for the night, an attendee whose handkerchief had proven incapable of mopping the sweat on his face said.

It was an awesome encounter.



Joe Mettles single Bo nI ni featuring Luigi MacLean drifted into the heavens but not without the rendition of the over 14,000 voices at the venue.

Many people would have begged for five minutes' rest after 30 minutes jogging but there was no rest at the Perez Dome last Friday.

Hours of performances by Joyce Blessing, Celestine Donkor, Francis Agyei, Denzel Prempeh and Nigerias Steve Crown could have been enough to seal the day as the best night ever.

But Adom Praiz offered more.

The 2016 VGMA Artiste of the Year resuscitated bodies of dozen attendees that had ran out of energy after the previous performances.

Joe Mettle recharged their spirits and soon Bo nI ni was not just a song extolling the attributes of God. Bo nI ni became the staircase that led attendees into the throne room of God for a blissful encounter.

I felt light and could jump, a woman who gave her name as Serwaa said.

The over 14,000 attendees that thronged the venue ground for the event did not give in to the whims of their bodies. They stood, hoisting their handkerchiefs above their heads as though Jesus was re-entering Jerusalem.

It is only the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ that could trigger the audience reaction witnessed at Adom Praiz.

Once, it would have been hard to find a louder place in the country than the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) during the Ghana Music Awards.

The Multimedia Choir



But when Adom Praiz emerged, the narrative changed. And Perez Dome surged forward.

Inside the mega auditorium conversations with partners were kept brief. The only conversation that was held was the one with the Chief Architect of the universe.

Miracles happened at the then Word Miracle Church International now Perez Chapel International.

With as low as 50 attendees were each given a laissez-passer into the heart of miracles and the amity between themselves and God ever strengthened.

The praises and worship were never enough after the event as attendees continued to sing on their way home. It was musical.

The event was Adom Praiz but a Bo nI ni moment with a Bo nI ni God. Nigerias gospel musician Preye Odede could not help but taste the worship of God in Twi.

Nigerian gospel musician, Preye Odede

I wished it didnt end, a lady in her early 20s told a friend whose countenance betrayed her body. She equally would have wished the event did not end.

But it ended and attendees filed out of the auditorium with light hearts replete with Gods majesty. They shed off their burden and their lives will never be the same.

There is no event in the country that can rival the Bo nI ni praise witnessed at the Adom Praiz 2017.
ANGORA  Authorities say a Wyoming man has been killed in a collision between his vehicle and a semitrailer in western Nebraska.

The crash was reported a little after 7:30 p.m. Saturday, just north of Angora on U.S. 385. The Nebraska State Patrol says 22-year-old Braxton Fuller was headed north when his vehicle struck the southbound semi. Fuller was pronounced dead at the scene. He lived in Casper, Wyoming.
Former Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, Jack Straw is among a tall list of speakers to address the 2017 World Tourism Forum, Africa Summit.

The summit will be held at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra on Tuesday, October 10.

Speakers billed to speak at the summit are Catherine Afeku, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture; Mr Bulut Bargci, President of the Executive Board, World Tourism Forum; Mr Yoofi Grant, CEO, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre; Mr Akwasi Agyeman, CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority; and Mr Kwadwo Antwi, CEO, Ghana Tourism Development Company.

Other speakers include Darren Dunn, Vice President of Travel and Tourism Adara; Willem Isbrucker, Senior Product Owner Booking.com; Saurabh Chawla, Chief Development Officer, Louvre Hotel Group; and Imad Barrakad, Chairman and CEO, Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development.

The rest are Mohamed Awadalla, CEO Time Hotel, LLC; Henk Meyknecht, Coo Middle East and Africa Kempinski Hotels; Jerome Touze, COO, Wany.com; and Bugra Berberoglu, Group President and CEO, River Rock Hotel and Resorts.

Topics to be discussed include Destination Marketing in Africa, Heading to the Limitless Era- E- Tourism, Tourism Investment in Africa and Regional Differences in Hotel Marketing and Management.

The World Tourism Forum is a global event held in different parts of the World to further boost global tourism. The Secretariat is located in Instabul, Turkey.

In the past, it has been held in Turkey (Global meeting), Dubai and Russia. Ghana is the first African Country to host the event this year.

The Africa Summit is being held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
09.10.2017 LISTEN

Mista G Yakubu finally drops the highly anticipated single that his fans have been yearning for.

Na Gane (I understand) is a beautiful Hausa blended song that talks about God's love, greatness, blessings and the redemption of mankind through Christ Jesus.

Its a certified groovy song that will get you dancing as you unconsciously sing along even when you don't understand the Hausa words..

Download and Enjoy

http://wp.me/a7pG7G-HD
Every profession has a code of conduct by which they operate. It is a set of expectations, standards, and norms. To put it plainly, its the morals and ethics of the profession. Believe it or not the Bible gives Christian women business owners a code of conduct, too! Today were going to dive into it!

All throughout our time in school, one of the first books we received as students, on the first day of school, was the Student Code of Conduct. It was a booklet that outlined the expectations of student behavior in the school, classroom, and school-sponsored events (like sports, debate team, field trips, etc.).

It also went into detail the possible repercussions for not adhering to the student code of conduct. It was heavily detailed and LONG! One thing is for sure, no stone of expected student conduct was overlooked. There were no excuses for misbehavior or breaking the student code of conduct.

What if I told you the Bible gives every business owner a code of conduct? It outlines your expected behavior for running your business, as a Christian and member of the Kingdom of God.

Here it is:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Even though this outlines a type of code of conduct, I also like to think of it as character-building principles. Walking in this level of conduct, daily, will certainly build your character. Being successful in your character far outweighs being successful in your business, any day!

(Wouldnt you agree?)

We know 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 gives us three basic principles for conducting ourselves, as Christians. Lets see how we can apply these basics of Christian code of conduct to our calling as Christian women business owners.

#1  Rejoice Always

This sounds relatively simple. To rejoice.

It means to feel or show great delight.

You know, Ive found its super easy to rejoice when you have a waiting list of clients, steady stream of income, and a flow to your business that seems just heavenly. However what happens if this isnt the casecan you still rejoice?

Rejoice when youre just starting out and you have no clue what youre doing.

Rejoice when you have no clients.

Rejoice when sales are dismal, at best.

Rejoice when your marketing efforts dont bring in heavenly results.

Rejoicing can be hard when times are hard. So what does rejoice always look like, especially during the hard times in business?

It looks exactly the same, during the great times in business. Your focus is on God and his sovereignty in your business and life  regardless your current circumstances. In this, I truly believe God gives you a glimpse of your future glory and triumph, in business.

Rejoicing is not just walking in joy, but its also expressing it. You are to exclaim your great delight and exuberance for your current circumstances. This actually allows your focus to shift from you to God. By doing so, your strength will be renewed, faith refreshed, and trust in God reassured.

#2  Pray Without Ceasing

Prayer is key to walking in total victory, in Jesus Christ! To put it plainly, prayer is a two-way conversation with God.

We talk. He listens.

He talks. We listen.

In that conversation, we make requests, give thanks, petition the heart of God, and we are to even listen for Gods response. So when we are given this Christian code of conduct as a business owner, we are essentially being told to talk to God without ceasing.

Here are some ways you can pray (or talk to God) about your business:

 Pray for clients you will enjoy working with

 Pray for your business associates growth and success

 Pray for revenue and the wisdom to handle the increase

 Pray for your spouse and children to be on board with your business

 Pray for witty ideas, creative solutions, and unique, effective strategies

#3  Give Thanks In All Circumstances

This code of conduct relates very much with code of conduct #1  to rejoice always, simply because it is something you should do regardless of your circumstances. And just like rejoicing, it requires you to take your focus off of yourself and keep it on God.

I know it can be hard to give thanks when your business money is funny, clients are either scarce or trippin, or you are at the crossroads of a major decision. Give thanks anyways.

Thank God when your money is acting funny.

Thank God when clients are scarce and trippin.

Thank God when youre at the crossroads of a major decision.

Heres why! This gives God a chance to not only proven himself to you, but for you to be able to see his Glory and grace manifested in your business. Im sure you know that when God shows up, he shows out! Your business will never be the same!

Rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all circumstances are not only codes of conduct Christians should walk in, they are principles that all Christian business women should be keen on cultivating daily. If you get nothing else out of walking in your calling as a business woman, its this  God is using your business to develop Godly character in you. Long after your business fades or is passed down to your children, your Godly character will remain. This has eternal value. Its worth cultivating.

What are some other codes of conduct you believe Christian business women should cultivate? Id love to hear your thoughts! Chime in!
09.10.2017 LISTEN

As Recruiters, my associates and I get involved in Employee Attraction and Recruitment (Talent Acquisition), which almost all companies we work with, take it very seriously. As HR & OD Consultants, we see that a lot of organizations have not put in place a strategy for Talent Retention or even thought about it.

Just because you offer a great starting salary and benefits package and you consider your organization a great place to be, it does not imply - by any means- that your newly acquired high caliber- employees are to stay with you forever. Actually, when is the last time that you had an employee- survey 3 or 4 months after their onboarding? How do you know that they have not lost or they are not about to lose their motivation?

Always offer fair and better compensation

It should be a no-brainer that when people look for a new job, they look for a better salary. And with internet getting daily more and more populated with date, they can now google the average pay for different professions in various industries.

But salary has to grow over time for employees not to start looking for a new job. Make sure that you have a clear mechanism for employee development and also well-defined pay- scales for all roles in your organization.

Also please make sure that compensation is fair and same for identical roles. Employees will speak to their peers or other employees to compare and contrast their pay; the result is that they will leverage that information in a salary negotiation either with your organization or with their next employer. The choice is yours.

Offer a flexible salary & benefits package.

This is not a new or radical idea. And sure it might may your accountant or payroll specialist work a little bit harder. But allow the employees to choose what to do with their money. If someone is making for example 10.000 cedis and they want to receive only 4.000 as salary, 2.000 for car lease and fule, 3.000 for private pension contribution and 1.000 for private health insurance or something else, offer them such options.

Basically, enable them to be in charge of their salary and benefits package. You only legally need to administrate the various payments. That simple.

And if there are tax-friendly ways to reduce their tax withholdings by offering part of their 4.000 cedis in this example as lunch money or transport or clothing allowance or whatever else, please do work with them and do that.

Have a Reward Mechanism in Place.

Kindly allow me to -please- refer you to my article on http://thebftonline.com/features/blogs/25618/rewarding-your-employees-a-modern-introduction.html

Set Great KPIs and stop MicroManaging.

One of the greatest issues in Talent Retention is that KPIs are not set up properly. The main reason for that is that unfortunately we historically never think of training any manager at any level on the basic or Business Process Management and on how- to set up KPIs for any Business Process. An additional obstacle to that is mediocre or inexperienced HR employees who cannot guide the organization's managers on setting up and using KPIs, nor can they set up an organizational KPI Framework.

Remember:

KPIs should be set for Individuals, their Teams, and their Divisions/ Departments/ Business Units. And unless you have a good monitoring mechanism in place, the best KPIs or KPI Framework, will be just a paper exercise.

Every manager should focus on the deliverables of each employee and their team contribution (teams as organizational units have deliverables) and not on micromanaging the employee. Why do you care if an employee is at their desk or sitting somewhere by the cafeteria or the reception as long as their work is done? (assuming that they are not in a customer facing or Helpdesk function). Does it make any difference if they take 1 or 2 hrs lunch if they overdeliver on their set and mutually agreed on KPIs? Do you have to 'correct their behavior' when they come 20-30 minutes late in the morning but they consistently stay 2-3 hrs working unpaid overtime every day?

MicroManagement is usually the sign of a Manager who has no clue or ability on how to measure and increase employee productivity. And maybe it has worked during the industrial revolution, but in 2017 if you think that our Millenials generation is more productive when they are confined for 8-9 hours in a set desk, then you might be out of touch with reality and enabling a generation gap.

Don't kill Employee- motivation by MicroManagement.

Respect Work-Life Balance.

Sure, we all have our smartphones, tablets and similar devices and we can get work emails 24 x7. But just because you sent an email at 8 pm, don't expect a response by 8:05 pm, even if you are the CEO of the largest company in Ghana. That kind of behavior reflects only disrespect about your employees' personal life which obviously entails personal commitments and obligations. Respect their weekends too.

And there are times where there is one peak after the other and people have to work overtime; unusually with no extra or minimal compensation. But there are also moments that work can be slow for a variety of reasons. It's ok then to show your appreciation to your employees' commitment by sending them home a bit early - i.e. enable them and encourage them to maintain a Work-Life Balance.

Work-Work Balance.

That might sound a bit strange, but it actually it is not and it can become a powerful employee engagement and productivity motivational tool.

You tell an employee to do some task and how you want them to do it, and they propose what they think to be a better way, or they have a new idea that they want to try out.

Offer them that possibility by giving them 2 hrs 'play/ try it' time, if they finish the work you planned for them for 8 hrs in 6 hrs for example. Obviously, their deliverables for those 6 hrs of over-productivity should not be of subpar quality.

Try it. You might be amazed by the results - both you and your employee(s)!

MOOC- up your Employees

I see organizations offering expanded salary and employee benefits in their Talent Retention efforts, but somehow few African organizations offer additional training opportunities (or at least, it's not the norm yet).

Enriching your employees with new relevant education/ learning opportunities and tools is definitely one of the best ways to boost Talent Retention.

In 2017, the pragmatic value of a company-sponsored Masters or MBA might be questionable for most instances. But in 2017, there is a good selection of high-quality affordable MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) even 'taught'/ offered by the most prestigious Universities worldwide.

So, why don't you proactively encourage your employees to attend some of them and allow them to use the corporate internet 1-2 hrs daily after work so they can successfully attend the relevant MOOCs?

Keep in mind that these employees are learning on their own personal time; so think of offering them a temporary internet credit to continue their learning during the weekend and pay for certified MOOCs if possible.

You can also use MOOCs as part of your Employee Rewards Program. I.e. if a software engineer outperforms, let him/her -as a special treat- take a MOOC in Organizational Design or even in HR or Marketing; allow people to learn and understand every function and business process in your organization.

Strive for well- rounded employees - our Millenials do want to understand how your organization works and how they can add value to it.

MOOCs can help your organization companies not only just with Employee Retention, but also with possibly developing your next generation of Leaders.

Increase Employee Engagement

That should be obvious. Google it or allow me the time to write a future article on it please.

Encourage Bottom-Up Communication.

Encourage open transparent communication between employees and from employees to Managers.

Set up a modern Internal Communications Framework.

(again, kindly allow me to refer you to my article on http://thebftonline.com/features/blogs/26024/high-impact-communication-in-the-workplace.html)

Promote Career Lattices not just Career Ladders

Whether one is a Millennial or a Generation X employee, people will sail for new opportunities if they perceive that are unable to advance in their organization.

The notion of Career Ladders cannot stand on its own any longer. Career Ladders might provide vertical career growth but not an 'integrated holistic' employee growth. They are also limited by existing 'tenured' senior employees and any available opportunities if any. That always creates a growth- bottleneck for all Talent and forces all high-potential employees to leave for lack of growth opportunities.

Putting Career Lattices in place, allows your organization to continually reposition/ re-recruit your employees and even (re)develop them for new roles . This is again not a radical idea - for example, it has been the standard in Japanese organizations for several of decades.

Our Millenials love and embrace the Career Lattice Frameworks, because it enables them to have an exploratory phase of their career instead of been directly 'locked' into some sort of a vertical Career Ladder. On the practical point of you, such a practice allows an organization to reduce any niche skills- gap challenges they might face during recruitment.

Case studies- although relatively few, show that Career Lattices create a better quality of Talent in your organization while increasing its retention. For example: Cisco and Future Workplace, found out that this careermobility helps increase engagement, productivity, and teamwork. FYI: MasterCard and Intel post available projects and encourage all types of employees to contribute (another old 'PMI' concept).

In Conclusion

Unfortunately, a lot of organizations tend to over-emphasize hiring and under-emphasize development of all both new and existing employees, leading to retention issues and creating a constant endless loop of new employee-recruiting.

Organizations are now paying more attention to:

improving their employee experience,

their ongoing interactions with their office environment, customers, supervisors, and peers

and anything else that influence employees behaviors, interactions, well-being and satisfaction at work.

FYI: GE, LOreal, Cisco and other companies are now starting to have managers with titles such as Director of Employee Experience, 'Head of Employee Retention', etc.

Just remember that:

any Talent Retention activity starts with a plan , and

, and Talent Retention is just one part/ phase of the Employee / Talent Management Lifecycle.

Good Luck and Thank you,

Irene

About the Author: Irene Gloria Addison is the owner of HIREghana [Human Intelligence Recruitment], a Leader Ghanaian Recruitment Agency and also a HRM & Organizational Development Consultancy, based in Accra.

Irene welcomes your feedback/ comments/ remarks/ suggestions via your email message to Press [at ] HIREgh.com. HIREghana can be reached at +233 50 228 5155 or +233 266 555 907

Our website is http://www.hiregh.com

 2017 Irene Gloria Addison and  2017 Human Intelligence Recruitment
In the aftermath of the Atomic Junction explosion, some officials appear hesitant to outrightly condemn the apparently haphazard siting of gas and petrol stations.

The massive explosion at a gas station near Atomic Junction, which has so far claimed seven lives, sparked protests and rekindled the fears of residents regarding the siting of fuel stations in densely populated residential and commercial areas.

Already, some Ghanaians have hit the streets in protest, and more than 3,000 Ghanaians have signed an online petition to demand that government takes action against fuel stations sited close to homes across the country.

About eight different gas explosions have claimed nearly 30 lives since 2014.

But responding to a question on the matter from the media on Sunday at the scene of the explosion, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, was more concerned about stringent safety measures and regular checks, as well as sanctions.

Maybe safety measures [need to be focused on], beginning from home because I believe that more people die in their kitchens than die from such accidents [explosions] because we don't adhere to certain simple basic measures. You have to examine your gas stove, see whether it is working

Make sure the cylinders are working when you are going to buy the gas and that the valves are not leaking and make these are safety measures that we will have to address from the home to where we buy the gas from, the Minister added.

Prof. Frimpong Boateng, however said he was trying to avoid any knee-jerk declarations, saying his ministry is drawing up policies to address these explosions, and when the policy is in place, we can come out with something that is concrete.

The Fire Service's Director of Public Relations, Billy Anaglatey, also downplayed the concerns some Ghanaians have over the siting of these gas and fuel stations.

Prince Billy Anaglatey

He rather attributed the lapses that have led to the loss of lives to lax safety measures and indiscipline.

personally, it's not about the location of the gas filling station. It is all about indiscipline on the part of the drivers and their mates, and the attendants at the gas filling station, the Fire Services PRO opined.

If you look at all these explosions that we had at gas filling stations, they were all out of indiscipline because they were as a result of offloading the gas. Before you offload the gas, there are various rules and regulations and safety measures that you are supposed to adhere to.

For him, addressing the safety aspect of the distribution of gas is more of a priority than the location of these stations.

failure to adhere to some of these safety measures definitely will result in some of these unfortunate situations we are having on our hands. Whether the filling station is located in the bush or somewhere, I think if we are not disciplined, we will continue to have fires on them, Mr. Anaglatey stated.

Meanwhile, the Government is expected to hold a crunch cabinet meeting over Saturday's gas explosion that occurred at Atomic Junction in Accra.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), also already has plans in place to introduce a Cylinder Recirculation Module which seeks to ensure the safe distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in the country.
Many survivors of Saturday nights gas explosion at Atomic Junction in Accra, said after the first of two huge explosions shot into the sky, they were running helter-skelter thinking the world is coming to an end.

Samuel Yeboah, a teacher, who is one of the injured victims in the explosion, said although they heard the loud noise of the explosion, they thought the world has come to an end.

You could even see a pin on the ground at the time although it was in the night so I thought the world has come to an end, he said in an interview with Graphic Online.

According to him, his lives a stone throw away from the accident scene so when the fire started wafting in the skies, he thought that his house will certainly catch fire, hence, his decision to run away.

He said there was no particular direction one could run to as the firestorms brightened every direction they were running to.

I was confused at a point because everywhere was brightened by the fireI didnt know where the fire was coming fromI was just running and running, he said.

I fell down more than four times and hit my toes against stones many timesI thought I will die. In fact, I didnt know how I got to Ajiriganno from Madina on foot, he added.

According to him, some of the injured persons were knocked down by moving vehicles.

It was a chaotic moment, people were running away and the vehicles too were trying to run to safety, he explained.

He thanked God for saving his life during the gas explosion.

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline
09.10.2017 LISTEN

Winneba High Court Judge Needs In-service Training in Case Adjudicating and UEW Council Chair and UEW Ag. VC Need Not to Be Holier Than Thou

A member of the UEW council from 2009 to 2016 wrote an article that I think if someone can alert the Winneba High Court Judge, Justice George Atto Mills-Gravesto read, it will help him in adjudicating especially, procurement cases. After all, Justice George Atto Mills-Graves needs in-service training. Also, the same article can help the UEW council Chairman, Prof. Abaka and UEW Ag. VC., Prof. BLACK CASSOCK man Afful-Broni an insight of how the university is governedand stop their evil deeds.Please, let me veer off small. Those who are pushing this innocently ignorant Bawah to be writing chaffs should rather advise him to write academic papers. Your attacks on an innocent Prof is only the beginning of your destruction. Even the Holy Qur'an you say you believe in teaches and adores humility. I am a proud alumnus. Check the academic records of the man you attack and compare with your priest friend you are blindly following. No serious academic pays attention to your write-ups except your likes. Your current article titled The Albatross Hanging Around Victor K. Owusus Neck should have been The Bawahtross Hanging Around My Neck. Are judges infallible? On some occasions, Justice George Atto Mills-Graves has had to vacate some shambolic rulings. If you like, go and verify from him if he has never vacated his own ruling? When the Winneba High Court Judge, Justice George Atto Mills-Graves asked a lawyer at the court to go and learn, was that a contempt? Moron Bawah, you should have been dragged to court by now for declaring that Prof.Avoke and Dr.Ackorlie are thieves when no court has pronounced them guilty. What follows is entirely from a past UEW council member.

CONCERNS ON PROCUREMENTS, THE NORTH CAMPUS ROAD AND OTHER RELATED ISSUES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA (UEW)

BY A MEMBER OF THE UEW COUNCIL, 2009-2016.

i. As I indicated in my first write up, I was a member of the UEW Council from 2009 to 2016. Our Chairman was Dr. Emmanuel Kenneth Andoh. I have put together these further observations on the UEW issues from official records available to me and they are the facts. In this write, which is likely to be my final write up on the issue, I outlined the facts on the procurements in question, the North Campus Road and other related issues. Its important for Ghanaians to know what the real issues are so they can help fight for justice and fairness.

ii. My first observation is that many people do not even know the real issues in Court. Surprisingly most of them say the issues are: financial malfeasant, financial irregularities, contracts awarded to companies belonging to the VC and FO, etc. I also heard the Council Chairmans speeches during the recent congregations. He talked about corruption on all the campuses of the UEW, abuse of public funds, etc.

iii. I then got the actual writ by the applicant, Supi Kofi Kwayera and noticed that the real issues in court are different. The real issues are in four main categories:

1. Tenure of Council and all decisions taken during the expired tenure

2. Procurement irregularities

3. MOU with Ghana Highways Authority for the North campus Road and

4. Social responsibilities of UEW in Winneba

iiii. I also saw a supplementary affidavit from the applicant, Supi Kofi Kwayera, saying that he had seen all the procurement approval documents after a diligent search. His only problem with the procurements, according to the supplementary affidavit, was with those who signed the contract. He claimed those who signed the contracts were appointed by an expired Council.

v. So, there are only three outstanding issues at the Court currently:

1. Tenure of Council and all decisions taken during the expired tenure

2. MOU with Ghana Highways Authority for the North campus Road and

3. Social responsibilities of UEW in Winneba

vi. When I questioned those alleging financial malfeasant, corruption, abuse of public funds and award of contracts to companies owned by VC and FO for specifics, I was shown a list of honorarium for interest income. How can the receipt of an allowance or an incentive scheme or an honorarium approved the Governing Council be termed financial malfeasant and abuse of public funds? Going through my files, I saw that Council approved a 3% of interest on investments as honorarium for staff that are involved. These was part of over ten other incentive schemes approved in December 2012 (Finance Committee) and January 2013 (Council) as part of the 2013 Budget. On those same days Council also approved incentives such as 15% of students medical examinations fees to be paid to staff involved in the medical examination, 5% of the sales values of admission forms and souvenir as well as 5% of the fees for students ID Cards and students handbook as well as 15% sandwich honorarium for payments to staff involved. All these incentive schemes were aimed at boosting internally generated funds (IGF). The records after the approval of these 10 or so incentives clearly showed that IGF had increased. There had been substantial increase in the Universitys IGF leading to substantial increase in the Universitys liquid assets from just about GHS30m at the end of 2012 to over GHS100m at the end of 2016. Major infrastructure developments were completed fully paid for during that period also.

vii. My files also tell me that, at the time of the approval of these incentive schemes including the 3% interest income in December 2012/January 2013, the current Chairman of Council, Prof E.N. Abaka was the Pro Vice-Chancellor and was part of the Council that approved all these rates. The last person I expect to criticize should be Prof Abaka or any member of the then Council. If you now have a change of mind, say so but admit that you were part of those who approved it especially when you didnt speak against it at the time.

viii. Coincidentally, the day that these incentive schemes were approved was also the day an approval was given to pay Principal Officers, College Principals and selected Management members, an end of service benefit after they serve their terms. Prof Abaka, after serving his term as a Pro VC, requested for this benefit and was paid (I was told). Lets not pick and choose.

ix. I was told the Prof Awuah Council in December 2016, increased the rate for the interest income honorarium from 3% to 5% (about 67% increase). I was also told that the same Prof Awuah Council equally approved 80% increase in all Council and Council Sub-Committee allowances. Prof.Afful-Broni was part of the Prof Awuah Council that approved the 67% increase in interest income honorarium and the 80% increase in Council allowances. The 80% Council allowances are those that all current Council members are being paid. Why will anyone have problem with 67% increase and see nothing wrong with 80% increase?

x. Another sad development at UEW came from those who are sympathetic towards the VC. They sadly accused the current Pro Vice-Chancellor, Rev Fr. Prof Anthony Afful-Broni of receiving payment for his foreign travel for himself and his spouse. I dont understand those who think Rev Fr. Prof Anthony Afful-Broni should not collect this payment. I remember the Council approved this benefit in 2010 as part of efforts to reduce the number of annual leave days that Principal Officers and College Principals are entitled to. Per their Conditions of Service, Principal Officers and College Principals are to take 62 days in each year as leave. Council reduced the leave days to 31 (50%) and put in a benefit scheme of taking one foreign paid leave every 2 years for the VC (with the spouse and 1 adult child) and every 3 years for all others (with the spouse). Again, the current VC was the sitting Pro VC in 2010 when we approved this. I expect Prof Avoke to tell his supporters that Rev Fr. Prof Anthony Afful-Broni as a Pro VC in his second term is fully entitled to one foreign leave with his spouse. When Council was approving this, Prof Avoke who was on Council at the time, didnt make any suggestion to take care of those who have no spouses or children. I dont think he or his supporters can now make exceptions for such situations. The fact that Rev Fr. Prof Anthony Afful-Broni has no spouse doesnt mean he doesnt have friends or relatives to enjoy his holidays with. It is his entitlement and he must take it in full. Let him decide who to travel with. Even those who are married, cant they decide to travel with people other than their spouses? Please lets get serious.

xi. Please in Ghana, everybody takes whatever is duly approved for him/her (with all due respect, even the President does). Lets not criticize anybody who has taken or received what the Board/ Council duly approved for him/her and refer to them as corrupt or engage in abuse of public funds. Who in Ghana doesnt take benefits and incentives that have been duly approved for him/her by the relevant authority? If you have any problems with these payments, blame the approving authority, which is the Council. All of us approved it at some point in time. Prof Abaka, Prof Avoke and Prof Afful-Broni inclusive. Until, the benefits or incentives are abolished, all those who are entitled to them must be allowed to take them and it cannot be termed corruption or financial malfeasant or abuse of public funds. The new Council has every right and power to modify those schemes and benefits but they must first look at the results and consequences very carefully.

xii. If you withdraw any of the IGF enhancing schemes, expect some fall in IGF. In fishing, you require small fish (on the hooks) to catch big fish. Secondly, if you withdraw foreign travel benefits, expect all Principal Officers and College Principals to take 62 days of leave instead of the current 31. The choice is yours, Prof. Council Chairman. Kindly weigh the merits and demerits very carefully and please let these issues be discussed as a Council. With all due respect, Prof Chairman, Council is not the same as the Chairman of Council. Let the decisions be made by the Council and not the Chairman. Most Council members are not happy about these trends. Again, Chairman of Council doesnt communicate Council decisions. Please allow the Council to take the decision and then allow the secretary to Council to communicate it. I saw some letters signed by the Chairman to the University Lawyers, the VC, the FO, etc. Its not the best.

xiii. The most dangerous is the Ag. VC and the Deputy Finance Officer writing to withdraw Council approved payroll related benefits of the VC and FO. Were these Council decisions? If they were Council decisions, why did the Secretary to Council not communicate them? My checks indicate that most Council members are not aware of these developments. Some are very sad.

xiiii. On the ownership of the companies that won the contracts, the Registrar Generals Department is there for all to verify the ownership of all companies in Ghana. As at the time of tendering for these contracts in March 2016, the VC was in office for less than one year and the FO was in office for about 3 years so how can they form companies that will be at least 5 years old to qualify to tender. The minimum requirement to tender for the contracts, I was told, was five years of existence backed with 5 years audited financial statements.

xv. I was told the four companies that won the contracts are:

1. Paabadu Ltd, 2. C-Deck Ltd, 3. Sparkxx Ltd and 4. Proteus Ltd

xvi. Going through the Development Committee Reports to Council, I saw the following facts:

1. Paabadu won and executed some construction works at the Central Campus around 2011;

2. C-Deck had also won and executed some construction works at the Kumasi Campus around 2010 and

3. Sparkxx equally won and constructed the current 3-storey GUSSS Hostel (close to SSNIT Hostels at the North Campus) in 2010.

4. I did not see any previous work of Proteus in UEW from the records available to me.

xvii. My findings are that from 2010 (about 7 years ago) three out of the four companies that won the contracts were working for UEW as registered companies in Ghana. Seven years ago, when these companies were working for UEW, neither the current VC nor the current FO was in their positions. So how can these companies be for them? These companies were winning contracts long before the current VC and FO got their positions.

xviii. Maybe it is Proteus Ltd that the VC and FO had formed and awarded the contracts to. But even that, people should not say all the four companies.

xix. Let me say that, when it comes to procurements in the University, Council has a limited role. Procurements are regulated by the Public Procurement Acts and these Acts have laid down structures in place for dealing with all aspects of the procurement process. The role of Council is to approve the annual budgets for submission to the Minister of Finance through NCTE /Minister of Education for final approval by Parliament. Council thereafter receives reports from the University Tender Committee on all procurements out of the Budgets and from the Finance Committee on the Budgets implementations. All procurements are done from the approved budgets by Council and Parliament because all procurement plans are linked to the budgets. The GUSSS is and an independent pension and provident fund that approves its own budget under the control of Vice-Chancellors, Ghana, (VCG).

xx. Council doesnt approve procurement contracts for award. Approvals of procurement contracts are done by the structures in the Public Procurement Acts. For public universities, the structures were four in the main Act, Act 663 (i. Head of Entity; ii. Entity Tender Committee; iii. Ministerial/Regional Tender Review Board and iv. Central Tender Review Board). They are however three, under the new Amendment Act, Act 914(i. Head of Entity; ii. Entity Tender Committee; and iii. Central Tender Review Board). These bodies are responsible for the approval of all procurement contracts depending on the amounts involved.

xxi. Because of the amounts involved in all the contracts in question, they were all approved by the Central Tender Review Board at the Ministry of Finance in Accra. It must be noted that the Central Tender Review Board, is the highest and final procurement approving body under the laws of Ghana.

xxii. The Public Procurement Authority (PPA), the regulator of all public procurements in Ghana was also duly involved in all the procurements in question.

xxiii. Its therefore very wrong to say that and expired Council approved procurement contracts. Councils do not approve procurement contracts in Ghana. The approval authorities are in the Law: i. Head of Entity; ii. Entity Tender Committee; iii. Central Tender Review Board and iv. the PPA.

xxiiii. Councils approve only Budgets, subject to final approval by the Parliament of Ghana. These approved budgets by Council/Parliament are used for procurement. Council doesnt approve procurement contracts or award contracts. Council is only periodically informed of approved procurement contracts and performance of the budgets.

xxv. When these legal bodies approve procurement contracts for award, they will instruct the head of institution, to sign contract with the approved company.

xxvi. When the relevant approving authorities approve contract awards and instruct the head of institution, to sign contract, he/she must comply and sign the said contract. How can the head of institution be guilty merely because he/she complied with an instruction from a lawful approving authority? Unless, the procedures leading to the approval were wrong.

xxvii. I have also carefully read the interlocutory injunction orders of the Winneba High Court. I have very high respect for the Judiciary so I will say that the Judge might have been carried away by the emotions of the applicants lawyer. I believe after the Judge studies the submissions more carefully his decisions will be completely different from those in the injunction orders.

xxviii. The Judge focused mainly on the contents of the Presidents 2013 letter to the then Councils of Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education to stay in office until new Councils were put in place. The Judge specifically focused this sentence in the Presidents 2013 letter: His Excellency further directs that in the spirit of the Transition Act, the Boards and Councils should not take decisions involving policy issues, sign any major documents or engage in any significant financial transactions without clearance from the Office of the President.

xxix. In his injunction orders the Judge concluded as follows:

1. That the contracts in question are significant financial transactions.

2. That a caretaker Council can only appoint officers in a caretaker position only.

3. That there was no clearance from the Office of the President before these contracts were awarded.

4. That the contracts were awarded during the validity period of the Presidents letter.

5. That the Presidents letter and in particular the restrictions in the letter were directed at the VC.

6. That significant contracts were awarded using restricted tendering, which is also known as sole sourcing.

7. That 6 pickup vehicles were bought for GHS800,000.00 and North Campus Road constructed for GHS8Million.

8. That the VC has been going against the Presidents directive for clearance since March 2013.

xxx. My comments on each of the Judges conclusions are as follows:

1. That the contracts in question are significant financial transactions. I perfectly agree with him. The contracts prices are between GHS10million and GHS47million. These are indeed significant financial transactions.

2. That a caretaker Council can only appoint officers in a caretaker position only. I disagree. All the Councils that the Presidents letter was addressed to were to perform full functions of Council subject only to the restrictions stated in the said letter.

3. That there was no clearance from the Office of the President before these contracts were awarded. I completely disagree with the Judge. The UEW Budget, which formed the basis for the procurement plans and the award of these contracts was part of the National Budget or the Appropriation Bill passed by Parliament and assented by the President himself to become the Appropriation Act or what we call the National Budget. The UEW Budget is part of the National Budget in Ghana, which was passed by Parliament and signed by the President to become a law for implementation. If the Parliament approved the UEW Budget and the President assented it for implementation, does anyone need clearance from the Office of the President again to implement these budgets? The President has already signed the National Budget, which includes the UEW Budget. Clearly the Presidents letter cannot be referring to financial transactions already approved in the Budget that he has already signed.

4. That the contracts were awarded during the validity period of the Presidents letter. I again disagree. The letter was addressed to the Dr E.K Andoh, Justice Date-Bah, PV Obeng/Dr Saarah Council and all other similar Councils, which expired in January 2013. The letter was addressed to the Dr Andoh Council and similar ones to stay on after January 2013 as caretaker Councils until new Councils are put in place. This new Council for UEW was finally put in place in June 2016 at UEW and chaired Prof Awuah. All the contracts in question were awarded during the tenure of the Prof Awuah Council. Prof Awuah Council came to office in June 2016 and all these contracts in question were awarded in November and December 2016. Clearly, the contracts were not awarded during the validity period of the Presidents 2013 letter. So why do you place injunction the VC and FO for not complying with a letter which was not valid at the time of their action? The Prof Awuah Council, whose tenure the contracts were awarded didnt have any clearance requirement in their appointment letter. The Prof Awuah Council had the right just like the current Council to engage in any financial transaction without any clearance. The clearance from the Office of the President applied to only the Dr Andoh Council after January 2013 when it was in a caretaker position. That clause or restriction doesnt apply to the Awuah Council, it doesnt apply to the current Prof Abaka Council and indeed it didnt apply to the Dr Andoh Council before January 2013. It only applies to the Dr Andoh Council after January 2013.

5. That the Presidents letter and in particular the restrictions in the letter were directed at the VC. Please I disagree. The letter was addressed to the Council not the VC. Please lets all read again: His Excellency further directs that in the spirit of the Transition Act, the Boards and Councils should not take decisions involving policy issues, sign any major documents or engage in any significant financial transactions without clearance from the Office of the President. So why punish the VC and FO for the perceived wrong doings of the Dr Andoh Council? Why not all the members of that Council?

6. That the contracts were awarded using restricted tendering, which is also known as sole sourcing. This is not only very wrong but also unpardonable. How can the Judge say that restricted tendering in which between 3 and 6 companies were invited to tender is single sourcing? Restricted tendering is covered under S.38-39 of Act 663, while single sourcing is covered under S40-41 of Act 663. My Lord, Judge please under single sourcing or sole sourcing only one company is invited to quote while under restricted tendering a minimum or 3 and a maximum of 6 companies are invited to tender. These two methods of procurement are not and cannot be the same please.

7. That 8 pickup vehicles were bought for GHS800,000.00 and North Campus Road constructed for GHS8Million. This is very sad. At least the Judge should have called for the payment details and the cheques. I was told the value of the pickup vehicles and the actual amounts paid was $36,500.00 for one Toyota Hilux Double-Cabin Pick-up vehicle (about GHS124,000.00/vehicle at the time). This price is less than the market price for the vehicle in question. Lets go to the showrooms of the vehicle dealers. The North Campus Road was about GHS4.6million. So why should a Judge place an injunction on people based on wrong and unverified amounts.

8. That the VC has been going against the Presidents directive for clearance since March 2013. Please the current VC came to office in October 2015. He signed only contracts whose budgets were contained in the Budgets approved by Parliament and signed by the President. The contracts were all signed during the tenure of the Prof Awuah Council and the Central Tender Review Board approved all the contracts. How can this be an offence? The FO only witnessed for the VC: Signed by . in the presence of.. How can saying that I was present when the VC signed become an offence for the FO?

xxxi. I dont want to comment on the North Campus Road or the MOU between UEW and Ghana Highway Authority. This MoU was signed in 2012 by the then VC, Prof Asabere at the time that Prof Abaka, the current Council Chairman was the Pro VC. It was used to construct the North Campus Road in 2015 when Prof Afful-Broni was still the Pro VC. The Project was completed and commissioned on 29th September 2015 by Prof Asabere and assisted by Prof Afful-Broni and others. The plaque for the commissioning of the North Campus Gate and Dual-Carriage Road is there for all to go and look at. Prof Afful-Broni, I was told, approved most of the payment vouchers for the North Campus Road Works. Why should Prof Avoke be punished for this when the project was even commissioned 3 clear days before he took office?

xxxii. On social responsibilities of public sector institutions like UEW, I have no comments. I think we should all just listen to the current Hon. Majority Leader in Parliament, on the GNPC sponsorship to GFA. The Majority Leader made a very strong, logical and valid argument in my opinion.

xxxiii. I noticed that in enforcing the Court orders, Order Number 4 was not enforced. Order Number 4 restrained and requested all other officers appointed by the defunct Council to equally step aside just like the VC and FO. Enforcing Order Number 4 will mean Officers like the Librarian; Kumasi Principal should have also stepped aside. Why was this order of the Court not enforced? Why do we still have the Librarian and Kumasi Principal at post? Or the target is only the VC and FO?

xxxiiii. I also noticed that there is a systematic effort to expand the application of the Court orders. The Court said, UEW should not make payments to contractor until the case is determined. The Ag. VC has expanded it to mean all contractors should stop work. What are the GUSSS members doing? Do you know the implication of this on your pensions? GUSSS members, the Ag. VC has destroyed your pension. Again the Court says VC and FO are restrained from running the affairs of the University. The Ag. VC has expanded it to mean the withdrawal of all the benefits of the VC and FO, including payroll benefits. I am surprised the VC and FO are just sitting down and accepting these.

xxxv. These are the facts and I want all Ghanaians to know and provide some answers. Lets circulate this very widely to save UEW. Lets save tertiary education in Ghana and lets be on the side of fairness and justice. Lets save Ghana.

xxxvi. I am done. Let Ghana win at the end of everything. We are considering publishing these facts fully with full names after consulting our Chairman, Dr Andoh.

May this document help those who are blindly supporting this man to destroy the university sit and rethink for a minute, if what is currently happening in UEW is of help to the university on any way.

A VERY WORRIED FORMER MEMBER OF THE UEW COUNCIL, 2009-2016.
The Managing Director of Square Mule Homes, Akomea Agyei has called on the government to critically address Ghanas land acquisition and documentation system to ease the burden associated with the provision of decent accommodation.

According to him, the inconvenience of meeting up with land disputes after heavy investments will continue to drive potential developers away.

He made the call during the opening of its first housing units at Katamanso, Adentan-Amanfrom on the Adentan-Dodowa road 15 minutes drive from the Adentan barrier in the Greater Accra region.

The Johanna Court is made up three and four bedroom semi-detached homes with enviable amenities, tight security for convenient living.

Ghana is estimated to have a deficit of over 1.7 million housing units. This has been attributed to the inadequate supply of homes each year due to the high cost of producing housing units.

But Mr. Akomea Agyei explained that the payment of compensations coupled with huge taxes in building materials is affecting the real estate industry.

Mr. Akomea Agyei

He indicated that the high costs of properties have priced out the majority of prospective homeowners and compounded the housing challenge.

As an immediate measure, Mr. Akomea Agyei called for tax incentives on building materials to prevent threatened companies from exiting the market.

Mr. Akomea Agyei said their aim is to give a true meaning to affordable housing.

Jahanna Court is situated in a quiet and serene environment from the noisy and busy streets of Accra for residents to enjoy a convenient lifestyle with interesting state of the art facilities. Discover contemporary living in an environment where comfort, elegance, security and community are the order of the day, he added.

Mr. Akomea Agyei said there is a huge housing deficit in the country and government alone cannot address it, but rather would have to partner the private sector developers so that they can meet the target.

The Square Mile Homes MD attributed the expensive cost of houses in the country to the high taxes on building materials.

He indicated that, estate developers are committed to providing affordable housing if the right environment is created to prevent them from incurring huge debts.

Mr. Akomea Agyei, therefore, appealed to the government to swiftly intervene to rescue the housing sector from collapse.

He indicated that many companies are exiting the market due to the huge taxes on materials they import into the country.
If Victor K. Owusu had bothered to abreast himself with some of the issues that he dishonestly commented on, he would have realised that, Jones Appiah Kubi, the current head of Radio Windy Bay, appointed by the Ag. VC, is the most qualified among the current staff of UEW to occupy that position. He is a professional journalist and holds an MA and MPhil in Media and Communications Studies. It is interesting to note that, Jones Appiah Kubi's allowance was cut by the FO with the excuse that he did no work.

At a meeting held to restore his allowance, where the Ag. VC, the outgone Registrar, Deputy Registrar (Human Resources) and the Deputy Finance Officer were in attendance, a decision was reached to restore his allowances. To cap it all, his restored allowance is below the allowance of a Coordinator. His allowance is therefore nowhere near the allowance of a head of department. All parties were invited to the meeting, including Wisdom K. Ayekple for purposes of transparency.

It is true that the Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area, Nenyi Ghartey VII, (if Victor K. Owusu could not properly cite a Paramount Chief's name, then what else can he get right?) and member of the UEW governing council, used a UEW Mercedes Benz car on two occasions to Kumasi. This was in respect of congregations he attended in his capacity as a council member at the Kumasi and Mampong campuses.

This is the same Chief that the VC and FO went and respectfully removed their footwear and knelt before to plead with him to intervene in the ongoing UEW legal 'web' to have the matter settled out of court. Why should Victor K. Owusu's paymasters go and kneel before Nenyi Ghartey VII, if he is of no significance when it comes to matters in respect of UEW?

The Paramount Chief deserves to be chauffeured around in a newer UEW official car than that old rickety car that was dumped at the transport pool years ago by the outgone Registrar. This particular car is over 10 years old and basically used for running errands. The Paramount Chief deserves a much newer car.

Honourable Council Chairman, there is no longer a 5% honorarium payable to so-called officials directly involved in the income generation of UEW, so buying the Paramount Chief a new car, will not have a negative impact on the income generation of UEW.

When previous councils paid for air tickets for council members, this below standard Professor throwing his emptiness around as Victor K. Owusu, saw nothing wrong with it.

Shifting up gears, the council Chairman organised meetings in succession when he assumed the Chairmanship of UEW governing council to forestall a looming lawsuit against UEW by a disgruntled contractor, arising out of the underhand dealings of the very people Victor K. Owusu claims to be innocent.

Basic and simple checks at the Finance Secretariat and Development Office will confirm this feat chalked by the current council Chairman, Prof. Abakah.

This inept and disgusting Professor, aka Victor K. Owusu, is rather disingenuous to describe anyone else in this world as engaging in tribalism or nepotism.

About 80% of all senior members employed during the reign of the VC are perceived to come from one ethnic group.

Furthermore, when this character Victor K. Owusu took over as Principal of one of UEW satellite campuses, he ordered the transfer of all staff not aligned to his political party that apparently dispensed with his services arising from his glaring incompetence.

In addition, the faceless Victor K. Owusu's use of UEW resources to further his private gain is an open secret. On journeys up north, he fuels up his pick up vehicle tank at public expense and fills up extra containers, which are then loaded onto the bucket of the pick up as back up fuel for the journey to and from the north. His wife allegedly adopts the same dishonest tactic.

His attempt to circumvent Procurement procedures to favour his cronies regarding suppliers to the satellite campus in question was fiercely resisted by the staff, whom he threatened with dismissal for their insistence on the due process, being adhered to.

Carting his brother's guinea fowls at the expense of UEW from the north down south for sale at UEW campuses is a well-documented fact. His brother sells those guinea fowls at the entrances of UEW campuses, creating inconveniences and health-related hazards.

Victor K. Owusu's use of UEW's resources to further the course of his Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) up north, is another feather in his corruption cup.

The appointment of the UEW legal representative (Mr Peter R. Zwennes) as a member of the Ghana Immigration Board, is not by the NPP government. His membership of the Immigration Board emanates from his profession as a lawyer. Mr Peter Zwennes is a nominee of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), on the Ghana Immigration Board.

Another of Victor K. Owusu's malicious and utter falsehoods laid bare.

The least said about the selective citation of Prof. George Oduro's speech at the UTAG congress at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), where Prof. George Oduro is the Pro VC, the better. Per this singular catastrophic statement, it is not surprising that Victor K. Owusu was confined to the political dustbin.

Prof. Oduro was at some point in the past, Chairman of the Takoradi Polytechnic Council, now Technical University, when the NDC was in power. Any discerning individual wouldn't have made such a fatal error of judgment by quoting Prof. Oduro lamely. Those who care to know, are aware of Prof. Oduro's political colours, so his speech, to some extent, was a confirmation of his political affiliation.

With regards to those whose illegal appointments were revoked by the Ag. VC, the 'victims' can head to court and seek redress on the grounds of 'wrongful termination of appointment' if they have any common sense.

Reasonable, discerning and rational human beings, who have followed the recent developments at UEW, would have realised that Victor K. Owusu and his cohorts, who erroneously believe that a lawsuit against a public university constitutes an attack on academic freedom, see everyone, including myself, who are above board to succumb to such disgraceful idea, as persons to rain senseless insults on. Such insults are more than welcome.

My pleasure!

The President of the Republic of Ghana, the High Court Judge, Winneba, the Minister of Education, the Minister of State in-charge of Tertiary Education, the Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area, the Member of Parliament for Effutu, the Chairman of the UEW governing council, the Ag. VC of UEW, etc., have all been insulted.

I will advise such ignoramuses to take a short trip to Ghana Telecom University College, and talk to the President of the University College who was relieved of his duties earlier this week. His experience will take these 'instruments of ridicule' out of their current delusional state, back to reality.

When the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), are done with their investigations into the 'daylight robbery' at UEW, Victor K. Owusu and his financiers, will run away and leave their sandals behind.

If my previous service in the UK Armed Forces is against the laws of Ghana, what stops the irresponsible and facade Victor K. Owusu from taking me to court?

If the 10% kickbacks taken from some contractors, plus the attempted bribery of a contractor whose documents were falsely procured to win a contract, and the illegal 2% increment of the honorarium on income generated paid to staff "directly involved in the income generation", does not bother on criminality to secure a conviction against the embattled UEW officials, then what else?

Alhassan Salifu Bawah

(son of a peasant farmer)
J Initiative, a child and family focused organization in Ghana is urging government to include the provision of sanitary towels in the list of items under the free senior school policy to ensure that girls do not miss out on the policy.

According to the organization, the onset of menstruation, which is natural and physiological, could become a barrier to the adolescent girls education because of abdominal cramps, loss of concentration in class and the possible fear of staining their uniform with blood.

The organization believes that, a proper menstrual hygiene management in place will positively influence attendance and performance in school without compromising on access, equity and quality education.

The statement released by the organization notes with utmost concern that governments flagship policy, the free senior high school program, that seeks to remove cost barriers to education and ensure that no child is left behind has woefully failed to include the provision of sanitary pads into the list of things that the government will be catering for under the program.

It avers, The truth is that not all girls benefiting from the free senior high school program can afford sanitary pads to properly manage their menstruation. Studies have shown that 95% of girls in Ghana do not attend school during menstruation mainly because of the lack of sanitary facilities in schools.

Some girls also stay away from school for the total days of menstruation for fear of stigmatization, insufficient sanitary materials and or soiled uniform. This can impact negatively on the program as poor menstrual hygiene management can result in absenteeism, poor performance, hamper gender parity in education and the overall achievement of the free senior high school program.

Below is the full statement.

Education remains, undisputedly, the primary medium of empowering, harnessing capacity for personal and national development and at the same time a tool for poverty reduction. The 1992 constitution has made it a legal provision that all children of Ghana will enjoy free education and we can say successive governments have done their bit to ensure that the journey towards free education is achieved. Access, equity and quality is core to free education.

Ghana joined the rest of her UN counterparts to adopt the new development goals otherwise known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the quest to accelerate development. Ghana as middle income economy like other countries in the continent have chalked some level of success in goals 8, 4, 2 and 1 of the erstwhile Millennium Development Goals but fail woefully to achieve 5 and 7 but has been said to have made progressive efforts to achieve 6 and 3. With the adoption of the SDGs, the country is hopeful of achieving previously failed targets while making strides to achieving the new targets of the SDGs before 2030 and sustaining them afterwards.

The president recently inaugurated the inter-ministerial committee to facilitate the implementation of the SDGs. For the purpose of this conversation, out of the 17 goals, only four will be considered for the purposes of this discussion thus: SDG 3, 4, 5 and 6. These four goals generally concern women and young girls. When women and young girls are at the center of a conversation regarding Water, sanitation and health (WASH), there is no way any well-meaning Ghanaian could ignore menstruation.

Menstruation is an important and virtually normal part of the female human life, and humanity exists because of this. Menstruation refers to the shedding of the uterine lining on a regular basis among the reproductive-aged females during the monthly menstrual cycles. A study conducted in Bangladesh by HER Project estimated that a woman will menstruate between 2,000 to 3,000 days in her lifetime and would have used 10, 500 sanitary pads from menarche to menopause. The onset of menstruation, which is natural and physiological, could become a barrier to the adolescent girls education because of abdominal cramps, loss of concentration in class and the possible fear of staining their uniform with blood. Therefore, with proper menstrual hygiene management in place, it will positively influence attendance and performance in school without compromising on access, equity and quality education.

The high price of sanitary products and the impact on girls' education is not just a problem in Ghana. According to a 2014 campaign, girls are also missing school in countries like India, Nepal, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone for the same reason. Reports have it that the government of Kenya since 2011 has been setting aside funds to buy and distribute the commodity to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. The new legal provision currently in place in that country requires government to provide the towels to every school-going girl who has reached puberty. So in another developing country, provision of these towels has been made obligatory rather than optional.

It is sad to note that, the free senior high school program that seeks to remove cost barriers to education and ensure that no child is left behind has woefully failed to include the provision of sanitary pads into the list of things that the government will be catering for under the program. The truth is that not all girls benefiting from the free senior high school program can afford sanitary pads to properly manage their menstruation. Studies have shown that 95% of girls in Ghana do not attend school during menstruation mainly because of the lack of sanitary facilities in schools. Some girls also stay away from school for the total days of menstruation for fear of stigmatization, insufficient sanitary materials and or soiled uniform. This can impact negatively on the program as poor menstrual hygiene management can result in absenteeism, poor performance, hamper gender parity in education and the overall achievement of the free senior high school program.

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) can significantly influence the achievement of the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals 3 (ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all ages). Goal 4 (ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all), goal 5 (achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), and goal 6 (ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all).

Considering that women population in the country is fast increasing and they will dominate in various sectors of national development, it will be a step in the right direction to include strategies such as provision of sanitary facilities and pads in a pro-poor intervention such as the provision of sanitary materials for girls on the programme. The availability of these materials will go a long way to build girls confidence and guarantee their retention in schools for effective learning.

This Agenda is an investment in our future  the future of our youth and that of our children. We are obliged to leave them with an enduring legacy of a richer, more stable, more secure and more peaceful world. Prez Akuffo Addo (.2017).

The Happy School Girl Project (HSGP) is J Initiatives girls education focused programme aimed at retaining girls in schools.
Accra, Oct. 4, GNA - The Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies has developed a three-year Business Regulation strategy (BRS) aimed at modernising the legal and regulatory systems.

This is to promote faster growth, job creation and economic prosperity.

Mr Carlos Ahenkorah, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, who announced this on Wednesday, said the strategy was designed to be systemic and permanent in its effects by changing how the government designs and implements business regulations in the future.

'Within the broader national economic reform agenda, the BRS aims to eliminate constraints to economic development, deepen and broaden current reform efforts in order to establish a national regulatory environment that sustainably reduces red-tape and barriers and better promote private sector activity and job creation,' he said.

The Deputy Minister was delivering the keynote address at the 77th National Exporters' Forum in Accra on the theme: 'Supporting the Non-Traditional Export Sector for Economic Transformation.'

The Exporters' Forum is a common platform for the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) to enable exporters and trade officials to discuss and find solutions to challenges along the value chain of the export business.

Mr Ahenkorah said the NTEs comprised a considerable number of products and there was the need to develop a broader export base using the country's comparative strength in agri-business, minerals, service, oil and other areas.

He said it was about time measures were implemented to move the NTEs forward and lauded the initiatives GEPA was adopting to increase export earnings and reinvigorate the sector.

He urged exporters to register and renew their exporter businesses with GEPA through the Ghana's Trade Hub Single Window Platform to help in the formulation of programmes to support exporters.

Mr Ahenkorah urged the exporters to position themselves to be able to take advantage of the continental free trade area in Africa, likely to come into force in 2018.

Ms Gifty Kekeli Klenam, Chief Executive Officer, GEPA, said non-traditional exports hold the key to Ghana's export diversification drive.

She said Ghana's inability to achieve that could be attributed partly to reactive and fragmented exports that were insufficiently funded.

Ms Klenam said despite Ghana's subscription to regional and multilateral trade agreements, the non-existence of its own policy document on export promotion strategy partly explains why Ghana could not take full advantage of these agreements.

It is in this direction and furtherance to the strategic objective of the National Export Strategy that, GEPA had set its strategic objective of increasing the contribution of non-traditional exports from the current $2.4 billion to $10 billion.

To achieve this, she said, GEPA had developed and launched a comprehensive four-year work plan towards the development of identified key priority products notable amongst which were pineapple, cashew, shea and yam with comprehensive sectorial intervention programmes, and implementable action plans aimed at achieving the strategic target of $10 billion.

She said the plan formed part of GEPAs initiatives in response to increasing the dwindling supply base of exportable products, through the development of new and improved seedlings for planting to improve the competitiveness of Ghanaian products in both local and international markets.

She said the implementation of the work plans would enable GEPA achieve a significant increase in the share of NTEs in total exports as a major step towards structural transformation of the export sector for spearheading growth and diversification of the Ghanaian economy.

'Strengthen and resource export development related institutions and networks of business development service providers, policies and programmes for providing well-focused and enhanced support services to enable export businesses to flourish.

'To drive this initiative, GEPA has budgeted an amount of 4.2 million to implement the activities of this project,' she said.

GNA
Accra, Oct. 5, GNA - Professor Solomon Fiifi Ofori-Acquah, Dean of the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences (SBAHS), has led a 32-member team to secure a U54 Center grant of US$5.5 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA.

The team consisting of investigators from nine African Universities and Research Institutes, and the University of Pittsburgh, USA developed one of the winning proposals for the Human, Hereditary and Health in Africa (H3Africa) NIH Center grants.

A statement from the University of Ghana said the Office of Research Innovation and Development (ORID), the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) and the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Translational and International Hematology facilitated the preparation of the application.

The proposed SickleGenAfrica: Sickle Cell Disease Genomics Network of Africa will conduct three inter-related research projects in sickle cell disease patients in Ghana (Accra, Kumasi), Cameroon (Yaounde), Nigeria (Abuja, Lagos and Kano) and Tanzania (Dar es Salaam).

Professor Ofori-Acquah, and a prominent sickle cell disease scholar, will provide overall oversight of the research, training and scientific cores of the network.

He is also Lead Investigator of the primary genomics research project; a genome-wide association study of hemolysis modifying factors and their role and mechanism in acute organ damage in sickle cell disease patients.

Professor Julie Makani of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania and Professor Awandare, Director of WACCBIP will lead the second research project focused on the genomics of severe malaria complications in sickle cell disease.

Professor Mahmoud Sani, Bayero University, Nigeria leads the third research project focused on the genomics of cardiovascular phenotypes in sickle cell disease.

Other University of Ghana faculty contributing to the network includes Drs. Edeghonghon Olayemi (Department of Hematology, SBAHS), Catherine Segbefia (Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Dentistry), Anita Ghansah (Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research) and Phyllis Addo (Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, now with School of Veterinary Medicine).

Four scientific cores including a transgenic sickle cell mouse colony to be set up at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, which will be the first of its kind in Africa, will provide crosscutting support to the three genomics research projects.

Other scientific cores include a biorepository core in Abuja, Nigeria, and a bio-informatics core in Pittsburgh, USA, working closely with a bio-informatics node in the Kumasi Collaborative Center for Medical Research, and H3ABionet in Cape Town, South Africa to process and manage the human genomics data generated by the network.

Clinical collaborative sites in Ghana include the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics, Korle Bu, Department of Child Health, Korle Bu, and the Kumasi Sickle Cell Center at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

The network will be formally launched early next year.

GNA
Bolgatanga, Oct. 05, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, has assured the Chiefs and People of the Upper East Region of the Government's commitment to revamping the defunct Tomato and Meat factories in the area.

The President gave the assurance when the Upper East Regional Minister , Mr Rockson Ayine Bukari, and the Vice President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs , Naba Baba Salifu Lemyaarum, jointly made the appeal to him, during his two-day visit to the Region, to thank the people for endorsing him as the President of Ghana.

The tour was also to interact with them to know their concerns and elicit their feedback on his policies and programmes.

The petitioners told the President that the two factories were the major assets in the Region so revamping them would not only create jobs, but also help create wealth and reduce migration from the area to urban centres.

The President stated that the Minister of Trade and Industry , Mr Alan Kyerematen, was working hard to revamp the two factories, while the Government was also working at rehabilitating the Vea Irrigation Dam to boost irrigated-farming and enhance the supply of potable water to the Bolgatanga Municipality and the Bongo District .

The President thanked the Regional House of Chiefs and the Regional Minister for appreciating the Free Senior High School Policy and other flagships programmes, saying; although there were some teething problems with the implementation, the Government was doing everything possible to rectify them.

He said he would ensure that all uncompleted school projects in the Region were completed to absorb more Senior High School students as requested by the Regional House of Chiefs.

'The Free Senior High School has come to stay, those who thought it was a political gimmick have been proved wrong and we shall continue to roll out the policy to ensure that our children meet the current global standards in this 21st Century, particularly, in the area of ICT,' the President stated.

He said the Government had also intervened to save the National Health Insurance Scheme, which was on the verge of collapse as the Scheme owed 1.2 billion Ghana cedis; part of which had been settled.

On Agriculture, the President stated that in his short period in office, about 200,000 farmers had been supported with subsidised fertiliser and other farm inputs under the flagship programme of Planting for Food and Jobs.

'In addition, farmers are now having access to Agriculture Extension Officers to educate them on good farming practices to help ensure food security,' he stated.

'It is my hope that by the end of the tenure of my office, two and half million farmers in Ghana would have been supported to help feed the nation to stop the importation of food from other countries.'

He, however, called on the Chiefs and communities to support the Government to arrest those few selfish people who were trying to thwart the efforts, by smuggling the subsidised fertilisers to the neigbouring countries for sale.

He said plans were also far advanced to ensure that 660 communities in the Upper East Region benefited from the Rural Electrification Project and reiterated the Government's commitment to the redevelopment of the railway industry.

GNA

By Samuel Akapule, GNA
09.10.2017 LISTEN

As GMH begins its eighth year of providing essential medical aid to rural Ghanaian communities, its anything but business as usual.

This year is really going to put us to the test, said GMH Founder and Executive Director, Kelly Hadfield. The organization is undergoing a paradigm shift, from a local to a global mindset. She is referring to the NGO setting its sights on a future that includes nationwide and worldwide expansion.

Its not just about our programs anymore, although were extremely proud of their success. We have created a system to incubate other aid initiatives, grow them from grassroots to a gold standard level, and then facilitate their expansion and replication. We can help the next generation of NGOs develop their programs for a maximum impact.

Hadfield and her colleagues at GMH are hoping that their three-phase model for creating gold standard aid programs will catch on with other non-profits and function as a blueprint for aspiring humanitarians. Only 21 years old herself when Hadfield started GMH, her path to operating a gold standard aid program was forged through years of research and a lot of learning experiences.

There are so many people who, despite the best intentions, really have no idea where to begin when it comes to how to design and implement an effective intervention. Our Gold Standard Project Incubator is the formula for success that I wish I had when I was first starting out.

The GMH Gold Standard Project Incubator involves three phases:

Phase I: Pilot and refine the project in the Upper Regions of Ghana through research, monitoring, and evaluation conducted in collaboration with community stakeholders, to create a gold standard project with maximum impact.

Phase II: Expand the project across Ghana to establish its impact and applicability across a larger geographic scale. Further, refine the project design to adapt to specific local needs.

Phase III: Package the project such that it can be easily replicated and introduced to parallel environments in other countries of need through existing local non-profit organizations or GMH affiliates.

From a personal project run out of her parents garage to a multinational charitable organization with activities on 4 continents, Hadfield teases: Ghana Medical Help is only the beginning. Global Medical Help isnt far on the horizon.

As it was for Hadfields renowned uncle Col. Chris Hadfield  long-time GMH supporter, astronaut and former Commander of the International Space Station  it looks like not even the skys the limit to what this remarkable young woman and her organization can accomplish.

To support GMH, you can donate online by visiting www.ghanamedicalhelp.com/help/donate
09.10.2017 LISTEN

Importers in Ashanti region are calling on the government to establish a business center for foreigners instead of banning them from doing retail businesses in the country.

According to them, it will generate income for the country and end the seeming rift between Ghanaian Traders and foreigners.

The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) has urged the government to urgently enforce the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) law which bars foreigners from engaging in retail businesses in markets.

The GIPC Act, 2013 (Act 865) states among others that: A person who is not a citizen or an enterprise which is not wholly owned by a citizen shall not invest or participate in (a) the sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading or hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place.

GUTA, at a press conference in Kumasi last Tuesday, stated that the illegal activities of such foreign traders, especially Nigerians at the Suame Magazine in particular, were killing local businesses and had serious security implications.

Speaking to Otec FMs Kwaku Anane Junior, Trustee of the Ashanti regional branch of Importers Association Mr. Festus Yeboah said he disagrees with GUTA on calls to ban foreigners from doing retail business in Ghana.

According to him, the solution is to establish a business center for these foreigners, citing South Africa where there is a convenient place reserved for people from different countries to Trade at a cost higher than that of citizens.

The cost of rent for the these people is higher than that of citizens and for that matter if the government is going to establish a market for foreigners and impose a higher cost of rent and other taxes on them the country is going to generate more revenue.

He stated that if the government prevents foreigners from doing business in the country Ghanaians will suffer because most of our products are imported from foreign countries.

If we are allowed to do business in China, South Africa and other countries why are we telling them to stop doing a certain type of business, so far as we have not given them a particular market to operate they should be allowed to operate, he said.

He believes Ghanaians cannot survive if foreigners are stopped from doing business whiles we import their goods into the country because the country does not produce a lot.

Mr. Festus Yeboah who is against GUTAs call for the ban on foreigners doing retailing claims some Ghanaians have also established businesses in other countries and could be treated badly and unfairly, should government decide to place a ban on these foreigners doing retailing.
Kinshasa (AFP) - Rebels from a Ugandan-dominated group on Monday attacked a UN military base in DR Congo's unstable east, killing one peacekeeper and injuring 12 others, the UN mission said.

The attack took place in Beni where UN soldiers have been battling the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which is dominated by hardline Ugandan Muslims, a spokesman for the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo said.

Congolese troops had clashed with the rebels in the area on Sunday. The day before, the ADF attacked around 10 motorbike taxis in the locality.

"The Mamundioma base was attacked at 5:30 am (0330 GMT)," the UN mission known by its French acronym MONUSCO said, adding that UN ground and air forces had been deployed in the area.

The UN did not specify the nationality of the dead soldier or the injured.

Rich in precious minerals, the east of DRC has been unstable for 20 years.

Several dozen local and foreign armed groups stand accused of serious rights abuses against civilians, such as rape, killings and abductions.

The ADF has been accused by Kinshasa and the UN mission of killing more than 700 people in the Beni region since October 2014.
Adama (Ethiopia) (AFP) - She was not one of them, but Saada Youssef had lived alongside the Somali people of eastern Ethiopia for years. Then came the day local officials told her to leave or die.

"Even on the truck, people were throwing stones at us," Saada said, recalling her escape in a vehicle sent to rescue people of Oromo ethnicity living in the Somali region where tit-for-tat ethnic violence killed hundreds last month.

Saada found refuge in a collection of abandoned buildings in Adama, a city far from her home in the eastern town of Wachale, one of several areas in Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regions that have seen fighting between two of the country's largest ethnic groups.

The bloody clashes threaten to upset the delicate ethnic balance of Africa's second most populous country, where the all-powerful ruling party last year declared a state of emergency to end months of sometimes deadly anti-government protests spearheaded by the Oromos.

The unrest raises questions about the future of Ethiopia's "ethnic federalism" system of governance, which is supposed to offer a degree of self-determination to the country's diverse peoples but which critics say is often overruled by the federal government.

A permanent rupture?

What triggered September's violence is unclear, but its results are not.

A government spokesman said hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks and a local official in the eastern city of Harar said that more than 67,800 Oromos alone have fled, not to mention the Somalis who have moved in the opposite direction.

Map of Ethiopia locating the regions in which the Oromo and Somali people live. Recent clashes between the two ethinic groups have left hundreds dead, says the government.

Survivors of the ethnic fighting blamed the government for not doing more to stop the bloodshed. They are worried it might lead to a permanent rift between the country's Somali and Oromo communities.

"This could be ethnic cleansing," said Molu Wario, an Oromo who fled fighting in Moyale in the south along the border of the Somali and Oromia regions, after a land dispute turned ugly.

"It has led to hostility, and the relationship between us will never be the same as before," he said.

The logic of ethnic federalism sees different communities running their own affairs, so Somalis are in charge of the Somali region while Oromos run Oromia, but communities mix in all nine of Ethiopia's regions and squabbles over land and resources are common, though not always so violent.

This time, Somali and Oromo leaders alike allege atrocities committed by the other to justify their attacks.

Somalis point to a clash in Awaday, a town in Oromia, where they claim Oromos killed 18 Somali traders who were selling khat, a leafy plant that is a mild stimulant when chewed and is hugely popular in Ethiopia.

They also claim Oromos burned eight children to death in a district along the shared regional border and murdered patients in a hospital.

The claims could not be independently verified, though a diplomat in the capital Addis Ababa said the Oromia region's police force took part in the clashes.

Whatever the truth of the allegations, the retribution they have spurred is real.

'I have nothing left'

Fleeing Oromos say the Somalis who chased them away from their homes with knives and guns cited the attack in Awaday.

Abdel Jabbar Ahmed, who escaped from Wachale, said he was told: "The Oromos killed 20 Somalis in Awaday, so we are going to take all the Oromos inside Somali region out."

Other dispossessed Oromos said their Somali friends and neighbours sheltered them when violence broke out, but that the regional security force -- known as the Liyu police and repeatedly criticised by rights groups -- was responsible for the worst of the excesses.

People protest against Ethiopian government during Irreecha, the annual Oromo festival which celebrates the end of the rainy season

Ayub Abdullah, an Oromo day labourer who lived for 15 years in the Somali regional capital Jigjiga, said he was confronted by a mob at work, who demanded to know his ethnicity.

Then, four Liyu police attacked him and throttled him with a rope. Afterwards Ayub fled to a camp for displaced Oromos on the outskirts of Harar, a walled city near the border between the two regions.

"I work with lots of different people, but it was only Oromos who were being targeted," he said.

The military now guards major roads along the flashpoint border areas, gradually restoring calm to restive areas such as Jigjiga and Moyale.

But among the displaced, there's little talk of return.

"I saved all I had for 20 years and I lost it at once. Why would I go back there?" Saada said. "I have nothing left there."
Some angry youth of Wassa Akropong in the Wassa Amenfi East District of the Western Region, have set up checkpoints on the Wassa Akropong High street in search of Chinese nationals following the killing of a Ghanaian last Friday.

There had been chaotic scenes since last Friday after a 30-year-old Ghanaian, Nana Boah, a lotto operator, was shot by a Chinese national after a dispute over services rendered by another resident, who is a plumber.

The youth are demanding prosecution of the Chinese national who carried out the dastardly act, as the police have made four arrests so far.

But the arrests have done little to appease the irate youth who are bent on ensuring that Wassa Akropong is rid of all Chinese, even after the intervention of the Paramount Chief of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, Tetrete Okuamoah Sekyim II on Saturday.

It was thought that some calm was returning to the town and police had relocated about 48 Chinese nationals to safety.

However, by Sunday, the youth had set up checkpoints with revenge on their minds, as they lamented the seeming neo-colonization by Chinese leading to the area also adopting the name Wassa Shanghai.

There is already a sense of resentment for Chinese because of their involvement in illegal mining, especially in the Western Region.

Chinese illegal miners at Tarkwa after their arrest

One of the youths who spoke to Citi News said: The problem is that our brother has been killed. We don't understand. We see it as a modernization of slave trade. We are in our own country, but we are still under the slave trade. The Chinese have modernized the slave trade.

They come from their country and come and kill our brother over here, and the military and the police are still protecting the Chinese which is very bad and we don't understand.

He questioned further why the security personnel were preventing them from also taking revenge following the death on Friday, said they want to ensure that all Chinese nationals are driven out of the area.

People are keeping the Chinese in their houses, they are protecting them and we don't want that. We want all the Chinese away from Akropong. That is all that we want. We don't want any Chinese in Akropong again. We are fed up with them. They should go to their home country.

The story so far

Initial reports had suggested that the gun was accidentally fired by the Chinese killing the Ghanaian, during an altercation between two Chinese nationals at a Casino.

Eyewitnesses told Citi News that the incident was triggered when a plumber who was hired by some Chinese nationals to undertake some services called on the deceased, as a witness, after the Chinese refused to pay the GHc150 he charged.

During the confrontation, a gun brought out by one of the Chinese was seized by the two Ghanaians but a second gun was reportedly fired by the Chinese, killing the witness, Nana Boamah instantly.

The incident angered the youth of the town who burnt and vandalized properties belonging to the Chinese nationals.

14 cars burnt, Chinese business demolished

So far, about 14 cars belonging to the Chinese, as well as some of their shops, have been burnt by the irate youth .
09.10.2017 LISTEN

In a bid to appreciate its customers and employees whose efforts could not be left unnoticed, Jumia Ghana has awarded its three most outstanding Customer Service Representatives and is offering customers up to 70% discounts in their SUPERHERO DEALS campaign this year.

Whats even more amazing is that, customers stand the chance of winning GHS50 vouchers which can be used to shop on Jumia.com.gh if they visit their Facebook page and accept the event invite.

Customer Service Week according to CSweek.com, is an international celebration of the importance of customer service and of the people who serve and support customers on a daily basis. It became a nationally recognized event after the U.S. Congress declared it in 1992; hence its full celebration in every first week in October.

It was an exciting time as the M.D for Jumia Ghana Mr. Ore Odusanya, congratulated the award winners, Mr Emmanuel Lartey for being the Most Promising Intern, Miss Veronica Akofa Dokli, the Extra Mile Junkie and Mr. Isaac Afenu for being the Values Superstar.

This years Customer Service Week started from 2nd to 6th October with Jumia Ghana seizing the opportunity to celebrate its gallant men and women who strive daily to deliver the best of customer experience to its noble clientele.

As such, the entire customer service team at Jumia Ghana, through a well monitored voting process nominated distinguished members of the team into carefully selected award categories. These categories included; The Most Promising Intern, The Extra Mile Junkie and The Values Superstar.

After free and fair balloting, it was said that Mr. Emmanuel Lartey demonstrated his passion for excellence in every task assigned to him. Helping his fellow interns to become more effective, makes him stand out as the most outstanding new addition to the Jumia team.

The female winner, Veronica Akofa Dokli was much admired as she was considered to be the type that looks at a problem and sees numerous solution. An optimist who sees the glass half full and not half empty. Her colleagues say she goes the extra mile to get her job done and performs tasks far beyond her job descriptions. Adding that, Miss Akofa has a superb sense of ownership and she sees to the complete resolution of all issues assigned to her.

Mr. Isaac Afenu- the Values Superstar pulled through as the fastest rising star in the customer service business. He is tremendously appreciated by his immediate team as well as the larger Jumia team as being a team lead as he always rises to the occasion. The Panelists said, Mr. Afenu is a living embodiment of Jumias values, an epitome of teamwork and the best interpersonal relationship exhibited across ventures and departments.

In a summary speech said by the winners of the Customer service week, they are honored to be part of this steadfast Customer Service team of Jumia and are really appreciative to Jumia Ghana for their cooperation and zeal to making this years CSW a success. Everybody is a winner they added.
Story at a Glance

Recently, I wrote an article on erectile dysfunction and the Hibiscus plant. In a reply post on Facebook One Medical Doctor in Nigeria asked a question between Watermelon and Hibiscus Tea which is more effective for Erectile Dysfunction.. Below is his unedited comment on my facebook wall from Nigeria

Thanks for the evidence based explanation. Exploring natural and safe alternatives in face of increasing disease of public health importance cannot be discarded. Firstly, nitric oxide pathway is an important mechanisms that cannot be overlooked. Secondly, fruits like watermelon can also boost nitric oxide level because of is richness in citrulline which is a precursor to arginine and arginine is an important amino acid for endogenous synthesis of nitric oxide... .If I may ask, does watermelon consumption has a better efficacy in treating erectile dysfunction of arterial disease than hibiscus tea consumption. Thanks once again Dr Obu.

The fact

Watermelon contains an amino acid called citrulline that can be helpful in defeating erectile dysfunction.

More precisely, citrulline is also converted into another amino acid called arginine, which is more directly responsible for improving erectile function. In this current article; I will provide you with review on erectile dysfunction and watermelon and draw the final dagger between watermelon and Hibiscus tea based on evidence based research from my previous findings on the hibiscus tea.

So could watermelon also be good for my sex life? Obviously, you may be happy if you are among the men experiencing or those concerned to strengthen their manhood. Whether youre unable to achieve and maintain an erection occasionally, frequently, or all the time, the emotional anguish can be life-altering. For men in a committed relationship, impotence can put a great deal of stress and strain on a couple, while men who are living a different lifestyle may feel reluctant to initiate sexual relations with anyone because they are afraid they wont be able to perform. For men who are looking for ways to manage or overcome this sexual challenge, there are a wide range of options. Some men turn to oral drugs (e.g., Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Staxyn, Stendra) while others consider penis pumps, injectable medications, nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, counseling, suppositories, or a combination of these approaches.

Believe it or not, some foods can be helpful in facing the challenge of erectile dysfunction, and watermelon happens to be one of them. Whats so special about watermelon? Says the Prostate.Net website.

Research on Watermelon and Erectile Dysfunction

watermelon

Watermelon contains high amounts of L-citrulline. This is a nonessential amino acid. Once its taken up by your nitric oxide system, it then promotes blood vessel dilation. As a result, your blood pressure decreases. Blood flow also improves.

L-citrulline may help stimulate enzymes called cGMPs. They play a direct role in blood flow. The thought is that more L-citrulline consumption could help improve ED. Unscientific accounts of L-citrulline are numerous on the internet, especially by supplement manufacturers.

In terms of scientific data, a few studies have looked at the role of L-citrulline in ED. One study published in Urology found that 24 men who took supplements over the course of a month noted improvements in mild ED symptoms. Another study looked at the effect of watermelon extract on male rats sexual activity and found an increase in activity. More long-term research needs to be conducted to explore the efficacy and overall safety of L-citrulline.

Citrulline has the ability to relax the blood vessels, which in turn improves blood flow. For men who suffer with erectile dysfunction, impaired blood flow to and within the penis is a critical factor, and so it makes sense that a substance likes citrulline could help with erectile dysfunction.

Mechanism of Citrulline

Lets see how citrulline influences sexual activity. In reality, its not the citrulline itself that may act to improve erectile dysfunction, but another amino acid called arginine. When you consume the supplement citrulline or a food that contains citrulline, the body converts it into arginine. Arginine is a precursor (something that comes before or promotes) nitric oxide, a substance that plays a critical role in relaxing blood vessels so blood flow improves and, obviously , a better chance an erection will occur.

But theres a drawback with arginine: if you take an arginine supplement, much of its benefit is lost because it is metabolized in the body. Therefore, taking citrulline as a supplement or perhaps even in the form of watermelon could boost arginine levels and thus help with erectile dysfunction.

According to Bhimu Patil, PhD, director of the Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center at Texas A&M University in College Station, a four-ounce serving of watermelon contains about 150 milligrams of citrulline, as noted in a WebMD report. But how much watermelon does a man need to eat before he can experience an improvement in erectile function?

How Much Watermelon Men Need to Take

For now, no one knows. However, a study in Italy and published in Urology may provide a clue. The authors of the study reported that an oral supplement of citrulline was shown to be effective in improving erection hardness in men who suffered with mild erectile dysfunction, which ranks a 3 on the hardness score. A total of 24 men (average age, 56.5 years) with mild erectile dysfunction were enrolled in the study and received placebo for one month and then citrulline (1.5 grams per day) for one month.

When the men took the citrulline, their hardness score improved from a 3 to a 4 (normal erectile function) in 12 (50%) of the men but in only 2 (8.3%) when they took the placebo. All the men who improved from a score of 3 to 4 said they were very satisfied.

mathematically: if 4 ounces of watermelon contains 150 mg of citrulline and the men in the study experienced improvement with erectile function when they took 1.5 grams of citrulline, theoretically, men would need to eat ten times as much watermelon to get 1.5 grams of citrulline, or a 40-ounce serving of the fruit.

What about men consuming watermelon juice? Any positive effect on arginine levels? Well, a study from the US Department of Agriculture addressed this question and published the results in Nutrition in 2007. Volunteers drank either 0, 780 grams, or 1,560 grams of watermelon juice every day for three weeks in a crossover study, and drank no watermelon juice for 2 to 4 weeks in between the testing periods. The two watermelon juice doses provided 1 and 2 grams of citrulline daily, respectively.

When the volunteers consumed the watermelon juice, their arginine concentrations rose 12% after three weeks at the low dose and 22% at the high dose. Results of this study showed that consuming citrulline can raise arginine levels.

Eat Watermelon or Take Citrulline?

So in a nutshell based on the findings eating watermelon help if you have erectile dysfunction? So If you like watermelontheres a possibility eating enough of it could improve erectile function. However, a better alternative might be to take a supplement that contains citrulline.

Other sources of L-citrulline

Youd need to eat about 3 1/2 cups of diced watermelon per day to match the L-citrulline levels found in supplements. Orange and yellow varieties of watermelon may have slightly higher levels, which mean you can eat less to reap the same citrulline levels of traditional red watermelon. L-citrulline is also naturally present in some other foods. These include garlic, fish, and legumes.

Benefits vs. risks of watermelon

Men with mild to moderate ED might benefit from taking L-citrulline via watermelon or through supplements. When eating whole watermelon, you can reap the nutritional benefits outside of L-citrulline. Watermelon is a high source of vitamins A and C as well as fiber and potassium.

Antioxidants are good for your overall health and longevity but in moderate amounts. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, high levels of antioxidants can actually be harmful. Another consideration is that supplemental forms of antioxidants arent a good replacement for those consumed through fresh foods. This is because supplement-based antioxidants arent processed by the body the same way.

The actual fruit isnt likely to cause any risks. However, if you have pollen allergies, you need to take caution. It may not work for all men as we are unique being with individual biochemistries. Natural Treatments do not work for all men and sometimes results could delay so you need to exercise patience to achieve the full result if it is delaying. Natural remedies are not magic bullet  medications like orthodox medicines.

Some people who have grass pollen allergies experience allergic reactions to raw fruits and veggies. This is called oral allergy syndrome (OAS). OAS usually causes mild symptoms, such as skin rash. Rarely, it can cause more severe reactions like breathing difficulties. Use extra caution during grass allergy season to prevent possible reactions. If you have asthma, ask your doctor about taking supplements before trying them.

L-citrulline can interact with prescription medications for:

ED

high blood pressure (hypertension)

Cardiovascular disease

Neurological disorders

General Outlook between Watermelon and Hibiscus Tea for ED

Hibiscus tea

Watermelon can be one natural way to safely reduce ED. Eating watermelon alone likely wont solve the issue long-term, though. This is because ED is often a symptom of another underlying condition, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension et al. Youll need to see your doctor to help manage any health issues you might be experiencing. Resolving these will likely improve ED. At the same time, eating moderate amounts of watermelon cant hurt. L-citrulline supplements may not be as effective for ED. They also havent been studied as extensively as Hibiscus and besides hibiscus is the best tea for Mens Health. It also has kidney protection, very effective for managing other contributing factors for ED such as hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol et al. so using hibiscus for your ED could be helping treats all the other underlying causes of ED for better quality of life. But remember both also are good for prostate health and even hibiscus tea beats green tea for antioxidant properties according to research. Using Hibiscus tea for ED is like using one stone to kill two birds. Always look for organic or my version of bionergized hibiscus tea which is more efficacious than the normal hibiscus tea. You can reach out to me on bioenergized hibiscus tea

Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu is a research Professor of Prostate Cancer and Holistic Medicine at Da Vinci College of Holistic Medicine, Larnaca city, Cyprus and President of Men's Health Foundation Ghana. He has done extensive research on Holistic Urology, Bioenergetics Medicine for Natural Medicine formulation and Naturopathic Medicine. He is a registered Holistic Medical Practitioner in Ghana who has specialized extensively in Naturopathic Urology and most sought after practitioner in the field of Mens Health and Natural Medicine. He was recently named as Ghanas 40under40 2017 achievers for his crusade against Mens Health. He was also conferred the Nigeria Legend Award for his contributions towards prostate cancer in Nigeria by the Optimum Health foundation in Nigeria.

He provides evidence based holistic medicine devoid of subjectivity. Dr. Nyarkotey is very objectives in his medical practice. He is the National President of Alternative Medical Association of Ghana(AMAG)You can reach him on 0541234556 for appointment booking for all your health issues both face to face and online

Ref
When President Trump said a few days ago that now isn't the time for a debate about gun control, presumably he meant that we should respect a decent interval of time for mourning after the Las Vegas shooting before launching into a political discussion that historically has led nowhere.

If that's how he felt, it would have been easy enough (and sane) to say. But he didn't.

More likely, Trump doesn't want any distraction from (a) his brilliant PR idea to toss paper-towel rolls to thirsty, hurricane-sogged Puerto Ricans (cake to follow); (b) his photo op Thursday evening with leaders of the armed forces and their spouses during which he teased the "fake news" media he had summoned that the dinner gathering with military brass could be "the calm before the storm."

"What storm, Mr. President?" an intrepid reporter queried.

"You'll find out."

Whoa. Mr. Mystery Man has our attention now. Oh, so clever. Are we going to war? Will it be with the Islamic State? North Korea? Iran? Just you wait, fake newsies, just you wait.

Or perhaps he wants to keep the spotlight on (c) his request that the Senate Intelligence Committee investigate the media, without which his military charade would have merely been the world's widest-angle selfie.

No, actually, his absurd (unconstitutional) request was, likely, a smokescreen itself, as was the paper-towel toss, one hopes (surely no one's mind is that inert), and the photo op. Trump has mastered the Art of Distraction, lately to keep our eyes off the firefight within the White House and the ever-obvious fact this administration is staring at an eclipse without glasses and this president couldn't lead a starving dog to a tenderloin buffet.

The revolving door at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is like Saks' at Christmastime. Latest to the lineup is Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. Others have included FBI Director James Comey, chief strategist Steve Bannon, chief of staff Reince Priebus, press secretary Sean Spicer, and national security adviser Mike Flynn, to name a few.

Next up, most likely, is Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, not only because the president routinely undermines and contradicts the nation's top diplomat but because Tillerson clearly holds Trump in contempt. Most important, Tillerson recently told the truth.

Trump reportedly was furious upon returning from his "diplomatic coup" in Puerto Rico, which he seemed to have thought was a Spanish colony, only to see the face of his secretary of state on all his favorite TV channels.

According to NBC News, Tillerson had said the president is a "moron," which caused most sentient humans to shrug and roll their eyes as if to say, "No, really?" But this slight likely bothered Trump less than the fact that Tillerson's face, and not his, was on all the cable shows.

Trump's fan base, of course, was unfazed by Tillerson's reported insult, knowing that this term could not possibly apply to a president who recently had scolded Puerto Ricans for messing up the U.S. budget and implied that they were a shiftless lot who "want everything to be done for them." No siree. That person would be a genius.

As Americans gnaw their nails wondering which war this way comes -- or when Tillerson will be replaced -- Trump is focused on decertifying the nuclear deal with Iran, continuing to taunt North Korea's Kim Jong Un and trying to convince the rest of the world that he's got everything under control.

Thus, the very last thing Trump needs right now is a political shootout over guns.

Now's not the time, he says. Apparently, however, many if not most Americans -- about 90 percent of whom would support expanding background checks -- beg to differ. If not now, when?

The pessimist notes that if the murder of 20 6- and 7-year-olds at Sandy Hook Elementary School resulted in no sensible restrictions to gun ownership, then the slaughter of 58 country music fans isn't likely to, either.

But wait, we have a headline: Even the National Rifle Association has called for regulating (not banning or confiscating) "bump stocks" -- the attachment used by the Las Vegas shooter to essentially convert a semi-automatic into an automatic weapon, the better to kill the most. And Republicans are expressing a willingness to consider restrictions.

You'd think by the reactions -- this is really, really huge editorialists have clamored -- that the NRA decided to support banning from private ownership all semi-automatic weapons, which were created solely for the purpose of killing human beings. But, no. Like Coco Chanel, who always removed one bauble before leaving home, the NRA is offering to eliminate one accessory from a warehouse of gaudy, bloodletting fashions.

Talk about distractions. Or was this the artifice of a deal?
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has said it had identified some safety lapses at the MANSCO gas filling station  the station that exploded last Saturday  and had in a letter prompted them to take measures in rectifying same.

Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Hassan Tampuli, who made the revelation on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, said the letter was given to MANSCO through the Oil Marketing Company (OMC) that supplied it with LPG, Hills Oil.

In the case of this particular station, we did the monitoring and inspection in April 2017, so it was part of Greater Accra inspection and monitoring exercise. We wrote to them a letter which was sent to them on 10th of July. What the letter said was that, we've done monitoring and inspection of your station and we come to the realization that they fell short of a number of things and we catalogued them. One of the things we said was that, their forecourt was too busy of activities which includes taxi rank, food vendors among others. So we thought that, that was unsafe so they should put in place the necessary safety measures, Mr. Tampuli told Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show.

Mr. Tampuli said his outfit also wrote a letter to six other filling stations that had questionable safety measures.

Reading excerpts of the letter sent across, the NPA boss said: the exercise revealed that 7 of the LPG filling gas stations at Adjei Kojo, Tema community 9, Ada Bedeku, Kobekrom, Ada Kasei, Atomic Junction and Oyibi did not fully satisfy the standards of operation prescribed by AuthorityYou are required to address the identified shortcomings by close of business Monday, 4th September 2017, and notify the authority for an inspection of the seven LPG plants.

He also said three demands were made to MANSCO.

First of all, we said there was too much activity on the forecourt especially around the cylinder filling and auto gas area. Secondly, more safety signs should be provided at the facility and thirdly, customers should be prevented from assessing the filling area, a separate waiting area must be provided, he said.

7 die in Atomic junction gas explosion

About seven people perished, and 132 sustained varied degrees of injury when the MANSCO gas station exploded .

The incident has however ignited pressure on supervisory state bodies to put the various filling stations in country under constant check to forestall such explosions in future.
About 20 vehicles were burnt to ashes by the deadly gas explosion that caught residents of Atomic Junction, near Madina in Accra, pants down.

The fire spread to an adjacent fuel station a few minutes later, resulting in a second explosion.

The two blasts sent a giant fireball high into the night sky, turning it into what looked like a bright daylight.

Students of the University of Ghana and Legon PRESEC also were said to have fled their campuses and hostels for their lives.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) quickly sent about six fire tenders to the scene and about 200 police officers were also sent there to maintain law and order.

Seven people have been confirmed dead following the incident that occurred at a gas filling station last Saturday.

Two of the deceased persons were reportedly knocked down by a speeding vehicle during the melee, as residents were fleeing for safety, some of them naked.

Over 132 other persons were injured as a result of the inferno, out of which 64 have been treated and discharged and 68 injured persons, including a fire officer at the Police Hospital, are still receiving treatment.

Two others are in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit of the 37 Military Hospital.

Major Richard Okyere Mintah, the Administrative Officer at the 37 Military Hospital, called for resources and help from institutions, individuals and philanthropists to enable the health facility to offer adequate care to the victims.

He said burnt cases take a long time to heal and therefore, it had become a burden and an expensive venture to the hospital, hence the need for the support.

The victims are receiving treatment at the 37 Military, Ridge, Legon and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals.

Major Richard Okyere Mintah said the 37 Military Hospital had two patients in the intensive care unit, two in Allied Ward, five treated and discharged, 28 stable but with trauma and three deaths.

Dr Emmanuel Srofenyoh, Acting Medical Director at the Ridge Hospital, said the facility had so far received 23 victims with three deaths, adding that most of them were on oxygen.

Vida Nyiddah, the Administrative Manager, Legon Hospital, said they received 47 casualties yesterday but many had been discharged.

The authorities at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital said only one patient had been referred there at the time, according to GNA report.

Gas Explosions

The latest gas explosion brings to eight the number of gas explosions recorded within the last three years across the country.

The deadliest was recorded on June 3, 2015 in Accra when 159 people, who were seeking shelter at the GOIL Filling Station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, died in an explosion after a heavy downpour had caused massive floods.

President Nana Akufo-Addo is 'devastated' about the current incident.

The president, who is currently in the Northern Region, expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured ones speedy recovery.

In a tweet on social media platform  Twitter  the president added, Government is resolved, now more than ever to ensure such an incident does not occur again.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings also tweeted, Another sad day for city dwelling on account of the congestion, irresponsibility and dangers weve brought to city life. My deep sympathies to all those affected. Time to implement effective preventive measures. Life is too precious.

Stealing

In the midst of the chaos, where many people were running for their lives, others saw the perfect opportunity to make some gains.

A young man, who is still looking for the whereabouts of his car, said he came out of the car and run for his life as the fire was approaching him.

He could, however, not find his car when he returned and suspected it had been stolen.

The police have also arrested some people who attempted to take advantage of the situation to rob others.
Baffour Nyantakyi Tutu Boateng, Krontihene of the New Juaben Traditional Council in the Eastern Region, has described internationally acclaimed Ghanaian evangelist, Dr Lawrence Tetteh and Bishop Yaw Adu as false prophets who are only interested in causing fear and panic to dupe people.

The two men claimed in the media that the Nsukwao River, which turned red Saturday in Koforidua, the regional capital, was a sign of the anger of God towards the traditional council and faceless operatives of the National Security to stop a mega crusade dubbed, 'Koforidua for Christ.'

Residents of Koforidua on Saturday morning woke up to discover a complete change in the colour of the river that runs through parts of the town, causing fear and panic among them.

The Nsukwa River changed from its original colourless nature to a blood-like colour, making the residents think that the Biblical days of water changing into blood in Egypt had visited the town.

Residents, who were shocked by the news, trooped to the river in their numbers to catch a glimpse of what had happened, reading different superstitious meanings into it.

Rev. Tetteh's Intervention

The panicky incident, which caused a lot of tension, pushed Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, who was having a crusade in the town with Bishop Yaw Adu  founder of House of Prayer Ministries  and some church members, to quickly rush to the scene to offer prayers. They attributed the change in colour to the wrath of God that had visited the people of Koforidua because of their sins.

Earlier, the turnout for the crusade was reportedly low due to the challenges the church faced in holding the event.

Dr. Lawrence Tetteh said, We cast every demon; we say Koforidua shall be peaceful. There will not be bloodshed; there will not be anything evil; the people of Koforidua will be blessed.

He added, As we see this thing in the river, the river is looking like blood. Whatever it is and wherever it comes from, we bless it in Jesus' name, Amen!

Bishop Yaw Adu, who was interpreting the words of Dr Tetteh, also said God had turned the water into blood because the traditional authorities placed a ban on crusades in the town as a result of the Akwantukese festival, which would be celebrated by the people of Koforidua.

Chiefs Fight Back

In a furious reaction, the Krontihene of New Juaben, Baffuor Tutu Boateng Nyantakyi, at an emergency press briefing, described the claims by the pastors as deceptive and baseless.

Baffour Tutu said the incident had nothing to do with miracles but rather a criminal offence and that the traditional council wanted the police to arrest the suspect.

According to the angry sub-chief, a tie-and-dye manufacturer based in Tema (name not known yet) has a factory at Koforidua-Zongo Sentiments, behind the stream which links to the Weija Dam in Accra.

Baffour Nyantakyi said based on eyewitnesses' accounts at the scene, some ladies scrubbed the factory premises and poured the red dyeing powder into the river at about 4:00 am on Saturday, thereby polluting it.

I have personally gone round and realised this is not blood. The Nsukwa River has not turned into blood; it is just colour from somebody doing his tie-and-dye, he stated.

He emphasised further, It has nothing to do with the Akwantukesie that we are going to celebrate. It has nothing to do with human blood; it has nothing to do with goat blood.

The chief said his outfit has summoned the factory owner to appear before the Traditional Council to answer questions on why he polluted the water.

He added that the police had been invited to investigate the matter for the person who polluted the river to be arrested and prosecuted because the river joins the Densu and this will cause pollution to other river bodies which serve as sources of potable water.

Police Report

Chief Inspector Ebenezer Sekyi told the media that a tie-and-dye powder was poured into the river by a manufacturer which they have been able to gather from the factory, adding that they were still looking into the matter and would take the appropriate action in due course.

Demonstration

Meanwhile, a clear demonstration by a native of the area on how the water was polluted  which was captured on video currently trending on social media  shows that the water body was polluted by the red dyeing substance and nothing superstitious.

NADMO

However, the Regional NADMO acting director, Mr Kodua, in a statement, has condemned the absurd behaviour of the suspected persons currently at large and called on the police to help find them.

From Daniel Bampoe, Koforidua

From Daniel Bampoe, Koforidua
The Member of Parliament for Manhyia North Hon Collins Owusu Amankwah has reiterated the need for better road infrastructure in Kumasi township especially, and the Ashanti region as a whole.

He said successive governments have not been fair with Kumasi when it comes to road network, noting that the road network in Kumasi is very appalling, and this must not continue.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Buokrom Police station which he funded, the MP said people of Kumasi and for that matter Manhyia North deserve their fair share of the national cake and they would do everything possible to get it.

Now let us sound this loud enough for the Ministry the Roads and Highways to hear that we deserve better roads in Manhyia North, we deserve better roads in Kumasi. They must include us in their budget because we are also Ghanaians. He stated passionately amidst a rapturous response from his constituents.

The Buokrom estate where he commissioned the Police station is the second biggest estate in West Africa, coming after Dansoman estate. But it has arguably the poorest road network in the Ashanti regional capital which makes live in the neighborhood quit unpleasant.

Hon Owusu Amankwah who has been making this appeal from the very day he assumed office of the Member of Parliament is yet to be heard, and his constituents, given what he says is their fair share of one of the most important cakes of the nation.

Apart from making the call at the gathering, the legislator noted that he had taken the advantage of his relationship with the Minister for Zongos and Inner City Development Alhaji Abubakar Saddique to also make the development of Moshie Zongo also a priority.

Moshie Zongo is also the single largest zongo community in the Ashanti region but lack several infrastructure including roads. But the MP assured his constituents of some great advancement in terms of development by the end of the first term of the president.

In his own capacity, he pointed, he had on several occasions graded some of the roads in the constituency and chippings spread on, but noted it could always not last any longer than the asphalt the Ministry of Roads and Highways would do.

He assured his constituents that his main vision as Member of Parliament for the area is to secure a prosperous constituency; enhance education, Health and infrastructural development which is going on smoothly.

I want to say with all humility that my vision to secure a prosperous constituency is in progress as you all know there are so many things we have done in areas of education, Health and infrastructural development which has benefited a huge number of the people here," he stressed.
The University of Ghana (UG) School of Law has clinched victory at the 26th edition of the African Human Rights Moot Court competition, which was held between September 18 and 23, 2017 at the University of Mauritius.

The moot competition was the largest annual gathering of law students and faculty across Africa to moot over a hypothetical case.

It is an innovation of the Centre for Human Rights based at the Faculty of Law, the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

The aim of the competition is to provide law students the platform to develop their advocacy skills and to deepen their knowledge on issues regarding human rights; as well as to network and learn from other students across the continent.

This year, the issue focused on the right to development, right to a satisfactory environment, foreign direct investment, indigenous rights and freedom of expression.

The UG team, which has again proven itself to Africa and the world as a force to reckon with when it comes to mooting was made up of Kobby Afari Yeboah and Sarah Gyimah as mooters and Yaa Boatemaa Ohene-Bonsu as team researcher.

The UG team mooted jointly with the team from American University in Cairo and University of Felix Houphout-Boigny Cocody, Cote d'Ivoire as Respondents in the final against the Applicants from the University of Malawi, Rhodes University (South Africa) and Universidade Jean Piaget de Angola.

In addition to winning the final, at the preliminary level, Team UG was adjudged the second best team in the anglophone category at the preliminary rounds which gave them automatic qualification to the final.

The team was also ranked fourth best in the written essays (memorials) as well as winning the second and sixth best oralist awards, picked by Kobby Afari Yeboah and Sarah Gyimah, respectively.

The team was led by their faculty advisor and human rights lecturer, Dr. Kwadzo Appiagyei-Atua, who has taken the School of Law to four finals out of seven competitions and won three of these finals - in 2008, 2009 and this year - for the University of Ghana.

He was ably supported by Kissi Agyebeng, a fellow lecturer at the School of Law who accompanied the team as well as alumni of the competition, including Dennis Armah, Kay Amoah, Kobiri-Woode and Benedicta Akita.

The School of Law, University of Ghana is also proud to have been selected as host for next year's competition which will be held during the first week of August 2018.
09.10.2017 LISTEN

Telecom giants MTN has organised a soiree in Kumasi to celebrate what they call their loyal customers.

Apart from the numerous customers invited for the soiree, merchants, agents and customers of the various MTN sub companies were also invited.

Customer Relations Executive of MTN-Ghana, Mrs Jemima Kotei-Walsh noted that their customers are dear to them hence the soiree to celebrate them.

She said it is a deliberate plan by the MTN to reward customers who show faith and loyalty to the brand.

"We dont only celebrate them but such moments are cherished because it also brings officials of the Network to our customers in this part of the country". She pointed.

According to her, such such informal and relaxed gatherings will go a long way to sustain the partnership the company has with its cherished customers across the country.

Mrs. Kotei-Walsh revealed plans by MTN to invest funds into getting a seamless network.

In her view, phone calls, mobile money and other essential services the company renders to its numerous customers are being worked on to ensure that the challenges facing it now would reduce drastically.

Some fortunate patrons at the soiree took home the newest brands of the companys phones and accessories, as well as special prizes which they termed early bird prize.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and two other institutions have been sued over the siting of a filling station at Tesano in Accra.

The plaintiff, 87-year-old woman said her life has been exposed to danger by the presence of an Allied Oil filling station near her home.

She said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to know the danger she will be exposed to, when the fuel station was constructed.

Lawyer for the plaintiff, Nana Akwasi Awuah said her client was ignored and her safety disregarded by the appropriate regulatory authorities that gave Allied Oil the permit.

Weve taken all these institutions including the Ghana National Fire Service to court [in order] to look at the laws and regulations governing the construction of fuel stations in this country, she told Joy News Daniel Dadzie.

Related Article: 'Huge' fire explosion at Madina

The suit was filed at an Accra High Court 72 hours after a huge gas explosion at Atomic Junction in Accra left seven people dead, with 134 others injured.

Investigations into the cause of Saturday inferno are underway.

The tragedy has stoked debate in the country about the siting of filling stations near human settlements.

Related Article: NPA sets up National Licensing Committee to regulate filling stations

The NPA has directed no filling stations has to be built about 100 or 200 meters away from a residence.

But Mr Awuah said the Allied Oil filling station is just a few meters away from his clients house.

His client is accusing the regulatory authorities of not following laid down procedure in the granting of permits.
Bishop Herman Senior High School (BIHECO), a Catholic all boys second cycle institution located in Kpando in Volta Region, commemorates their 65th anniversary from 29th October to 4th of November 2017.

Bishop Herman College as it is known, is home to about 1,500 students spread across seven houses pursuing Science, General Arts, Business and Visual Arts programmes.

The College also has a teaching staff population of about 60 and 45 non-teaching staff.

Noted for their excellence in academia, Bishop Herman stand as the best performing school in the Volta Region according WAEC rankings and their passion for science led them to win the maiden edition of the National Robotics Competition and two subsequent competitions.

The school has also produced a number of prominent Ghanaians ranging from Bishop Emeritus of Ho, Francis Lodonu, veteran movie star Gavivina Tamakloe, Hip-pop artiste Ayigbe Edem, former Chief Executive of COCOBOD Tony Fofie, businessman and public enemy Alfred Woyome who is the center the infamous GHE52 million judgement debt case.

The celebration which climaxes on November 4, is expected to be graced by many, including past students and dignitaries from the Ghana Education Service.
One of the major barriers to accessing quality health care being it either maternal or infant health care or any health issue is the use of the English Language by Health Professionals as a medium of communication in many of the countrys health institutions to administer health care to patients.

It is a known fact that majority of the Ghanaians populace particularly those livingin the rural settings are illiterate and therefore mostly find it difficult to understand the English Language let alone to communicate the language. This makes it difficult for such people to access health care in the health facilities which are man by health professionals who could not also speak the local dialects of the communities they are providing health care to.

For instances it would be very difficult to propagate , create and deepened the awareness and understanding on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding , post-natal and ante-natal services to rural settings in order to reduce maternal and new born deaths , using the English Language as a medium of communication.

One of the major tool that could be used to confront this challenge is the application of Visual Communication . Visual Communication have the greatest potentials in breaking the Language barriers since the images also known as mural when adopted could be easily understood by patients who could not speak or understand the English Language.

The cliche, that a picture tells a thousand words is very authentic. There is real value in using images to promote scientific content. Images help us learn, images grab attention, images explain tough concepts, and inspire.

Again , research had shown that Human beings are very visual creatures. A large percentage of the human brain dedicates itself to visual processing . Human beings love for images lies with their cognition and ability to pay attention. Images are able to grab human beings attentioneasily and they are immediately drawn to them.

Research had also proven that Human beings process images at an alarming speed than words. When Human beings see a picture, they are able to analyze it within a very short snippet of time, knowing the meaning and scenario within it immediately. Research further indicatesthat the human brain is able to recognize a familiar object within 100 milliseconds .

Images also have the potential to get an emotional response from your audience. This is necessary when one wants the work he or she is promoting to have an impact on users. For instance bright colors capture our attention because our brains are wired to react to them. Our vision senses are by far our most active of the senses.

Perhaps it is in recognition of the importance of Visual Communication in communicating health messages that informed the decision of UNICEF- Ghana to collaboration with the Ghana Health Service in partnering with Rural Initiatives for Self- Empowerment-Ghana (RISE-Ghana) to use the medium of paintings as known mural to communicate the benefits of post-natal and ante-natal services to communities in the Kassena-Nankana West District.

The project is part of UNICEF- Ghana and the Ghana Health Service Mother Baby Friendly Health Facility Initiative (MBFHI) Project aimed at communicating the health benefits of post-natal and ante-natal services, increase uptake of optimal breastfeeding as well as promote the support of power structures to increase demand for the services towards a reduction of maternal and neo-natal deaths.

Whilst one of the wall paintings or murals is constructed at the Sirigu market, the other one is located at the China health centre, all in the Kassena- Nankana West District.

Briefing the media after a tour embarked by RISE-Ghana, locally based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO ), to communities to ascertain the impact the murals were having on maternal and infant health in the area, Mr Awal Ahmed Kariama, the Executive Director of RISE-Ghana, said in spite of the various efforts to increase demand for ante-natal and post natal services, patronage continues to be very low in some parts of the country hence, hence the need for innovative approaches to reach them.

He said UNICEF Ghana, the Ghana Health Services and other Civil Society Organizations (CSO) have been using various strategies such asinformation, Education and Communication (IEC) materials , pregnancy schools, durbars and community fora to create awareness and deepen understanding on the importance of post-natal and ante-natal services in reducing maternal and new born deaths.

He said the new innovations and non-conventional approaches such as the Visual Communication have been successful and expressed the hopefully that it would sustain the progress chalked by UNICEF Ghana, the Ghana Health Services and other CSOs by getting people in communities to participate in dealing with the concern.

Mrs AyamahAkwara, a trader at the Sirigu market where one of the wall painting is displayed, said it did not only attract customers to her business but had also opened up discussions around breastfeeding and other health concerns with men who traditionally would not discuss such topics in public.

Mr Barnabas Aduko, the Assemblyman for Sirigu Central electoral area, commenting on the mural, said apart from it being an effective method of communicating important health issues and relaying messages that would encourage women to seek health care during pregnancy, it was also able to break the barriers of communication as the images depict the health needs of women and children.

We in consultation with women, husbands and community leaders who shape decision-making in communities designed and placed the two murals in the most visible and unconventional spaces like markets and health centres. These are generating meaningful dialogue and increasing the visibility of the benefits and barriers to optimal breastfeeding, ante-natal care and post natal care services among market goers who traditionally will not have seen such important messages, the Assemblyman said.

In conclusion from the above analysis one can see the power of Visual Communication in communicating health messages particularly on maternal and infant health, exclusive breastfeeding and complementing feeding among others. It should be put on record that imagesare vital part of science communication, and should not be cast out in favour of long blocks of text. In order to break down the often complex messages of science, one needs the help of Visuals and this exactly UNICEF-Ghana incollaboration with the GHS is partnering with RISE-Ghana to achieve. What is needed more is for UNICEF-Ghana and the GHS to partner with RISE-Ghana and other CSOs to scale up the Visual Communication components in more communities and health centres across the rest of the region. This would help fast-track the effective implementation of theMother Baby Friendly Health Facility Initiative (MBFHI) Project aimed at communicating the health benefits of post-natal and ante-natal services, increase uptake of optimal breastfeeding as well as promote the support of power structures to increase demand for the services towards a reduction of maternal and neo-natal deaths.
African Court President Justice Ore

09.10.2017 LISTEN

Accra, Oct. 9, CDA Consult  The United Republic of Tanzania has won a landmark case in which Mr Christopher Jonas, a national was sentenced to 30 year custodial sentence at the Ukonga Prison in Dar-es-Salaam and 12 strokes of the cane filed.

The Applicant filed a case against the Government of Tanzania alleging that he had been charged and wrongfully convicted for armed robbery; that the Trial Magistrate and the Appeal Court judges grossly erred in law and fact for having taken into account the key testimony of Prosecution Witness PW1, Habibu Saidi Shomari.

The Applicant also alleged that the 30 year sentence pronounced against him by the Trial Magistrate was not in force at the time the robbery was committed (1 October 2002).

He alleged that Sections 285 and 286 of the Penal Code of Tanzania provide a maximum punishment of 15 years imprisonment; that the 30 year prison sentence came into force only in 2004 sequel to decree No. 269 of 2004, as amended and which became Section 287 A of the Penal Code.

The Applicant further alleged that he was denied the right to information; he did not have the benefit of Counsel or legal assistance throughout his trial; and that for all these reasons, the Respondent State violated Section 13 (b) (c) of the 1977 Constitution of Tanzania as well as Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7(1) (c) and 7(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

The African Court in its September 28 ruling obtained by the CDA Consult in Accra indicated that the court unanimously ruled that the Respondent has not violated Article 7(1) of the Charter in terms of the Applicants allegations that he was charged and convicted on the basis of a deposition which does not corroborate the particulars on the charge sheet and that the 30 year prison sentence was not in force at the time the offence was committed.

The African Continental Court also holds that the Respondent violated Article 7 (1) (c) of the Charter in terms of the Applicants allegation that he did not have the benefit of free legal assistance, and that, consequently, the Respondent also violated Article 1 of the Charter.

The African Court also dismissed the Applicants prayer for the Court to directly order his release from prison without prejudice to the Respondent applying such measure proprio motu.

The African Court however reserves its ruling on the Applicants prayer on other forms of reparation measures; requests the Applicant to submit to the Court his Brief on other forms of Reparations within 30 days of receipt of this Judgment.

The African Court also requests the Respondent to submit to the Court its Response on Reparations within 30 days of receipt of the Applicant's Brief.

Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult, Accra) hereby presents the full report below: AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS IN THE MATTER OF APPLICATION No. 011/2015 CHRISTOPHER JONAS Verses UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA JUDGMENT 28 SEPTEMBER 2017.

The African Court composed of: Sylvain ORE, President, Ben KIOKO, Vice-President; Gerard NIYUNGEKO, El Hadji GUISSE, Rafaa BEN ACHOUR, Solomy B. BOSSA, Angelo V. MATUSSE, Ntyam O. MENGUE, Marie-Therese MUKAMULISA, Tujilane R. CHIZUMILA and Chafika BENSAOULA: Judges; and Robert ENO, Registrar.

In the Matter of: Christopher Jonas, represented by Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) v. United Republic of Tanzania, represented by:

i) Ambassador Baraka H. LUVANDA, Director, Legal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs East Africa, Regional and and International Cooperation

ii) Ms. Sarah MWAIPOPO, Director, Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, Attorney Generals Chambers

iii) Ms. Nkasori SARAKIKYA, Assistant Director, Human Rights, Principal State Attorney, Attorney Generals Chambers

iv) Mr. Mark MULWAMBO, Principal State Attorney, Attorney Generals Chambers

v) Ms. Sylvia MATIKU, Principal State Attorney, Attorney Generals Chambers

vi) Ms. Blandina KASAGAMA, Legal Officer Ministry of Foreign Affairs East Africa, Regional and and International Cooperation

After deliberation,

renders the following Judgment:

I. THE PARTIES

1. The Applicant, Mr Christopher Jonas, is a national of the United Republic of Tanzania, currently serving a thirty year custodial sentence at the Ukonga Prison in Dar-es-Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.

2. The Application is filed against the United Republic of Tanzania (hereinafter referred to as the Respondent), which became party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Charter) on 9 March, 1984, and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol) on 10 February, 2006. It also deposited the declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol, accepting the jurisdiction of the Court to receive cases from individuals and Non-Governmental Organizations on 29 March, 2010. The Respondent has also ratified and acceded to other regional and international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Covenant) on 11 July, 1976.

II. SUBJECT OF THE APPLICATION

3. The instant Application concerns Criminal Case No. 429 of 2002 before the District Court of Morogoro; before the High Court of Tanzania under reference Criminal Case No. 6 of 2005; and before the Court of Appeal of Tanzania sitting at Dar-es-Salaam, under reference Criminal Case No. 38 of 2006, in which the Applicant was found guilty and sentenced to thirty (30) years imprisonment for armed robbery, an offence punishable under Sections 285 and 286 of the Criminal Code, Chapter 16 of the Laws of Tanzania.

A) The Facts

4. The Applicant and one Erasto Samson were jointly charged with stealing money and various items of value from one Habibu Saidi on 1 October, 2002, using violence and injuring the victim in the face with a machete.

5. On 13 February, 2004, the Morogoro District Court rendered its Judgment finding the Applicant and Erasto Samson guilty of the offence as charged. They were both sentenced to thirty (30) years imprisonment and twelve (12) strokes of the cane, Erasto Samson having been tried in absentia.

6. On 26 February, 2004, the Applicant filed an Appeal before the High Court of Tanzania in Dar-es-Salaam but that Appeal was dismissed on 12 September, 2005.

7. On 21 September, 2005, the Applicant filed an Appeal before the Court of Appeal of Tanzania in Dar-es-Salaam. On 27 March, 2009, the Appeal was similarly dismissed as regards the 30-year prison sentence. However, the Court of Appeal amended the sentence, setting aside the corporal punishment of twelve (12) strokes of the cane.

B) Alleged violations

8. The Applicant alleges:

(i). That he had been charged and wrongly convicted for armed robbery with thirty (30) year custodial sentence; that the Trial Magistrate and the Appeal Court judges grossly erred in law and fact for having taken into account the key testimony of Prosecution Witness PW1, Habibu Saidi Shomari, which evidence does not corroborate the particulars on the charge sheet, especially the list of the items allegedly stolen, their respective values and the estimated total amount;

(ii). That the thirty (30) year sentence pronounced against him by the Trial Magistrate was not in force at the time the robbery was committed (1 October 2002); that Sections 285 and 286 of the Penal Code provide a maximum punishment of fifteen(15) years imprisonment; that the thirty (30) year prison sentence came into force only in 2004 sequel to decree No. 269 of 2004, as amended and which became Section 287 A of the Penal Code;

(iii) That he was denied the right to information;

(iv) That he did not have the benefit of Counsel or legal assistance throughout his trial; and

(v) That for all these reasons, the Respondent State violated Section 13 (b) (c) of the 1977 Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania as well as Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7(1) (c) and 7(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

III. PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT

9. The Application was received at the Registry on 11 May, 2015.

10. By a letter dated 9 June, 2015, the Registry, pursuant to Rule 35 (2) and (3) of the Rules of Court (hereinafter referred to as the Rules), transmitted the Application to the Respondent, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and, through her, to other States Parties to the Protocol.

11. On 15 July, 2015, the Respondent transmitted to the Registry the names and addresses of its representatives; and on 11 August, 2015, submitted its Response to the Application.

12. On 17 August, 2015, the Registry transmitted the Respondents Response to the Applicant.

13. On the Courts directive to seek legal assistance for the Applicant, the Registry, on 6 January, 2016, wrote to the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), to enquire whether the latter would consider providing legal assistance to the Applicant.

14. By a letter dated 20 January, 2016, PALU agreed to provide assistance to the Applicant; and on 30 March, 2016, requested an extension of the time for submission of its Reply to the Respondents Response.

15. On 29 April, 2016, the Court granted PALU the extension requested, and the Parties were accordingly notified by a notice of the same date.

16. On 14 June, 2016, PALU filed the Reply to the Respondents Response which was transmitted to the Respondent for information on the same date.

17. At its 42nd Ordinary Session held from 5 to 16 September, 2016, the Court, pursuant to Rule 59 (1) of the Rules decided to close the written proceedings and to proceed with deliberations.

IV. PRAYERS OF THE PARTIES

18. In the Application, the Court is requested to:

(i) uphold all the rights flouted and violated by the Respondent State;

(ii) rehabilitate the Applicant with respect to all his rights;

(iii) order reparations for all the damages he suffered.

19. In his Reply to the Respondents Response, the Applicant prays the Court to:

(i) find that the Respondent has violated his right to full equality before the law and his right to equal protection of the law as enshrined in Article 3 of the Charter;

(ii) find that the Respondent has violated his right to a fair trial as enshrined in Article 7 of the Charter;

(iii) set aside the guilty verdict and the punishment imposed on him and, consequently order his release from prison;

(iv) issue an order for reparation;

(v) order such other measures or remedies as this Honourable Court may deem appropriate.

20. In its Response to the Application, the Respondent prays the Court, with respect to its jurisdiction and the admissibility of the Application, to:

(i) Rule that the Application has not evoked (sic) the jurisdiction of the Court and should consequently be dismissed;

(ii) Rule that the Application has not met the admissibility requirements stipulated under Rule 40 (5) and (6) of the Rules of Court and consequently dismiss it;

(iii) Rule that the Court has no jurisdiction to issue an order compelling the Respondent State to release the Applicant from detention.

21. On the merits of the case, the Respondent prays the Court to:

(i) Rule that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has not violated Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.1 c) and 7.2 of the Charter;

(ii) Rule that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania did not breach Article 13.6 b) and c) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania;

(iii) Rule that the conviction and sentence imposed on the Applicant by the Trial Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal of Tanzania were proper and not excessive;

(iv) Rule that the thirty (30) year prison sentence for the offence of armed robbery is lawful;

(v) Rule that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania did not discriminate against the Applicant;

(vi) Declare that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania should not pay reparations to the Applicant;

(vii) Dismiss the Application in its entirety for lack of merit.

V. PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS RAISED BY THE RESPONDENT

22. In its Response to the Application, the Respondent raised preliminary objections on both the jurisdiction of the Court and the admissibility of the Application.

A. ON THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT

23. In accordance with Rule 39 (1) of the Rules, the Court shall conduct preliminary examination of its jurisdiction

i) Objection with respect to the material jurisdiction of the Court

24. The Respondent argues that the Applicant prays the Court to sit as an appellate court or a supreme court whereas it is not within its power.

25. According to the Respondent, Article 3 of the Protocol does not provide this Court with the jurisdiction to adjudicate over matters raised by the Applicant before the national courts, revise the Judgments of these courts, evaluate the evidence and come to a conclusion

26. The Respondent maintains that the Court of Appeal of Tanzania, in its Judgment in Criminal Appeal Case No. 38/2006, examined all the allegations raised by the Applicant and that this Court (African Court) should respect the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Tanzania.

27. The Applicant for his part refutes this assertion. Citing this Courts jurisprudence in Alex Thomas and Joseph Peter Chacha against the United Republic of Tanzania, the Applicant contends that this Court has jurisdiction as long as there are allegations of violation of human rights.

28. The Court reiterates its position that it is not an appeal court with respect to the decisions rendered by the national courts . However, as it underscored in its Judgment in Alex Thomas v. United Republic of Tanzania, and Mohamed Abubakari v. United Republic of Tanzania, this does not preclude it from ascertaining whether the procedures before national courts are in accordance with the international standards set out in the Charter or other applicable human rights instruments .

29. Be that as it may, the Applicant alleges violation of the rights guaranteed by the Charter.

30. The Court therefore dismisses the objection raised by the Respondent in this regard, and holds that it has material jurisdiction.

ii) Other aspects of jurisdiction

31. The Court notes that its personal, temporal and territorial jurisdiction has not been contested by the Respondent, and nothing in the file indicates that the Court does not have jurisdiction. The Court therefore, holds that:

(i) it has jurisdiction ratione personae given that the Respondent is a party to the Protocol and has deposited the declaration required under Article 34 (6) thereof, which enables individuals to institute cases directly before it, in terms of Article 5(3) of the Protocol.

(ii) it has jurisdiction ratione temporis in terms of the fact that the alleged violations are continuous in nature since the Applicant remains convicted on the basis of what he considers as irregularities ;

(iii) it has jurisdiction rationae loci given that the facts of the matter occurred on the territory of a State Party to the Protocol, that is, the Respondent.

32. From the foregoing, the Court concludes that it has jurisdiction and is therefore competent to hear the instant case.

B. ON THE ADMISSIBILITY OF THE APPLICATION

33. In terms of Article 6 (2) of the Protocol, the Court shall rule on the admissibility of cases taking into account the provisions of Article 56 of the Charter.

34. Pursuant to Rule 39 of the Rules, the Court shall conduct preliminary examination of the admissibility of the Application in accordance with Articles 50 and 56 of the Charter and Rule 40 of the Rules.

35. Rule 40 of the Rules which essentially reproduces the content of Article 56 of the Charter, provides that:

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 56 of the Charter to which Article 6(2) of the Protocol refers, applications to the Court shall comply with the following conditions:

1. Disclose the identity of the Applicant notwithstanding the latters request for anonymity;

2. Comply with the Constitutive Act of the Union and the Charter;

3. Not contain any disparaging or insulting language;

4. Not based exclusively on news disseminated through the mass media;

5. Be filed after exhausting local remedies, if any, unless it is obvious that this procedure is unduly prolonged;

6. Be filed within a reasonable time from the date local remedies were exhausted or from the date set by the Court as being the commencement of the time limit within which it shall be seized with the Matter;

7. Not raise any Matter or issues previously settled by the parties in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the provisions of the Charter or of any legal instrument of the African Union.

36. Whereas some of the aforementioned conditions are not in contention between the Parties, the Respondent raised objections with respect to the exhaustion of local remedies and the time frame for seizure of the Court.

i) Conditions that are in contention between the Parties

a) Objection to admissibility on grounds of failure to exhaust local remedies

37. The Respondent, relying on the jurisprudence of the Commission , contends that it is premature for the Applicant to bring the instant case before an international body given that he still has internal remedies at his disposal.

38. According to the Respondent, the Applicant first of all has the possibility of filing a constitutional petition before the High Court of Tanzania to obtain relief for the alleged violation of his rights, under the Basic Rights and Duties Enforcement Act Chapter 3 as amended in 2002 (Basic Rights and Duties Enforcement Act [Chapter 3 Revised Edition 2002]).

39. The Respondent maintains that after the Court of Appeal decision, the Applicant also had the possibility of requesting that same court to review its Judgment under Rule 66 of its Rules.

40. The Respondent, in conclusion, submits that since the Applicant has not exercised the aforesaid remedies available at national level, the Application does not meet the requirements set out in Rule 40 (5) of the Rules and must therefore be dismissed.

41. The Applicant maintains that he has exhausted all the local remedies in filing an appeal against the Judgment of the High Court of Tanzania before the Court of Appeal of Tanzania which is the highest court in the country. He adds that since the Court of Appeal has made a ruling on his appeal, it would not be reasonable to require him to file a new application in respect of his right to a fair trial before the High Court which is a court lower than the Court of Appeal.

42. He further contends that the constitutional petition and the review remedy mentioned by the Respondent are extraordinary remedies which he was under no obligation to exhaust before filing the Application before this Court.

43. The Court notes that the Applicant appealed against his conviction before the Court of Appeal of Tanzania which is the highest judicial body in the country, and that Court upheld the Judgments of the Morogoro District Court and the High Court of Tanzania.

44. Concerning the constitutional petition and review, the Court has concluded from other matters filed against the Respondent that these are, in the Tanzanian legal system, extraordinary remedies which Applicants are not obliged to exhaust before filing their Applications in this Court .

45. The Court therefore rejects the Respondents objection to the admissibility of the Application for failure to exhaust local remedies.

b) Objection to admissibility based on non-compliance with a reasonable time in filing the Application before the Court

46. The Respondent argues that the Applicant has not filed his Application within reasonable time. While recognising that Rule 40 (6) of the Rules of Court does not prescribe a specific time frame for the submission of cases, the Respondent argues that going by the decisions of regional bodies similar to this Court, a period of six (6) months would be a reasonable time limit within which the Applicant should have filed the Application. It maintains that such was the position of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in Michael Majuru v. Zimbabwe, and therefore avers that the period of four (4) years and 10 months in which the Applicant filed the Application is much more than the six (6) months regarded as reasonable time.

47. The Applicant refutes the Respondents assertion, indicating firstly that the Application was filed on 11 May 2015, and not on 28 January 2015. He argues further that the Courts jurisprudence shows that the assessment of the reasonable time for the filing of applications is made on a case-by-case basis; that such was the Courts position in Alex Thomas v. United Republic of Tanzania, in which the Court took into account the special situation in which the Applicant found himself, namely, that he was illiterate, indigent, incarcerated and without legal assistance, and decided that the timeframe within which the Applicant filed the Application was reasonable.

48. The Court notes that Article 56 (6) of the Charter does not set a deadline within which applications should be filed.

49. Rule 40 (6) of the Rules which reproduces the substance of Article 56(6) of the Charter, only speaks of a reasonable time from the date local remedies are exhausted or from the date set by the Court as being the commencement of the time limit within which it shall be seized with the Matter.

50. The Court notes that the local remedies were exhausted on 27 March 2009, being the date on which the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment. It however also notes that as at that date, the Respondent had not deposited the declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the Court to receive cases from individuals as per Article 34 (6) of the Protocol. The Court therefore holds that it would not be reasonable to regard the time frame for seizure of the Court as running from the date prior to the deposit of the said declaration, that is, 29 March 2010.

51. Since the Application was filed on 11 May 2015, the Applicant thus seized the Court in five (5) years, one (1) month and twelve (12) days. The question here is whether this time frame can be regarded as reasonable within the meaning of Article 56 (6) of the Charter.

52. The Court has established in its previous Judgments that the reasonableness of the period for seizure of the Court depends on the particular circumstances of each case and must be determined on a case-by-case basis .

53. In Mohammed Abubakari v. United Republic of Tanzania, this Court held that the fact that the Applicant was incarcerated, is indigent, did not have the benefit of free assistance of a lawyer throughout the proceedings at national level, his being an illiterate and his being unaware of the existence of the Court due to its relatively recent establishment - are all circumstances that can work in favour of some measure of flexibility in determining the reasonableness of the time frame for seizure of the Court .

54. Given that the Applicant in the instant case is in a situation similar to that described above, the Court finds that the period of five (5) years, one ( 1) month and twelve (12) days, in which it was seized is a reasonable period within the meaning of Article 56 (6) of the Charter. It therefore dismisses the objection to the admissibility of the Application on the grounds of non-compliance with a reasonable period for filing the Application before the Court.

ii) Conditions that are not in contention between the Parties

55. The Court notes that the issue of compliance with sub rules 40(1), (2), (3), (4), and (7) of the Rules is not in contention between the parties, and nothing in the file indicates that they have not been complied with. The Court therefore holds that the admissibility requirements under those provisions have been met.

56. In light of the foregoing, the Court finds that the instant Application fulfils all the admissibility requirements under Article 56 of the Charter and Rule 40 of the Rules, and accordingly declares the same admissible.

VI. THE MERITS

57. The Applicant alleges that the Respondent violated Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (1) (c) and 7 (2) of the Charter. The Court however notes that the Applicant made submissions only in regard to the violation of the right to fair trial.

58. In the circumstances, only the allegations substantiated by the Applicant, namely, the allegations regarding violation of Article 7 of the Charter, will be examined by the Court.

A) The allegation that the Applicant was charged and convicted on the basis of a deposition which does not corroborate the particulars on the charge sheet

59. In the Application, it is contended that the trial magistrate and the Appellate Judges grossly erred in law and in fact for having taken into account the core statement of Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1), which statement does not corroborate the particulars on the charge sheet, especially the list of the items alleged to have been stolen, their respective value and the total estimated amount.

60. The Respondent refutes this allegation, contending that following an evaluation of the evidence presented, the trial magistrate found that the theft actually took place; that probative testimonies had established that the Applicant was indeed the person who participated in the theft, and that it was on the strength of this evidence that the Applicant was convicted.

61. It further states that the Court of Appeal clearly indicated that the guilty verdict against the Applicant was not grounded on the doctrine of recent possession, but that he was convicted because he was found, red-handed, along with other people, robbing the complainant; that in the circumstances, it does not matter whether or not the testimony of the Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1) corroborated the content of the charge sheet as there was direct credible evidence which the Judge duly took into account.

62. The Respondent, in conclusion, submits that this allegation is baseless and must consequently be dismissed.

63. The relevant section of Article 7 (1) (c) of the Charter provides that: Every individual shall have the right to have his cause heard...

64. This Article may be interpreted in light of the provisions of Article 14 (1) of the Covenant which provides that: All persons shall be equal before the courts and tribunals. In the determination of any criminal charge against him, or of his rights and obligations in a suit at law, everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law. (italics added)

65. It is evident from the above two provisions, read together, that everyone has the right to a fair trial.

66. The records of proceedings at national level show that the Applicant was caught red-handed committing armed robbery. The Court also notes that the national courts heard the Applicant as well as three eye witnesses, in addition to the victim; and that all declared having seen the Applicant in the act of committing the offence.

67. It is also evident from the judgement of the Court of Appeal that it examined all the pleadings by the Applicant before upholding the decision rendered by the lower courts.

68. The Court recalls that its role in regard to evaluation of the evidence on which the conviction by the national judge was grounded is limited to determining whether, generally, the manner in which the latter evaluated such evidence is in conformity with the relevant provisions of applicable international human rights instruments.

69. In view of the foregoing, the Court finds that the evidence of the national courts has been evaluated in conformity with the requirements of fair trial within the meaning of Article 7 of the Charter.

70. The Court thus dismisses the Applicants allegation that he had been charged and convicted on the basis of a single deposition which does not corroborate the particulars on the charge sheet, and holds that there was no violation of Article 7 (1) (c) of the Charter in this regard.

B) The allegation that during the proceedings the Applicant was not afforded legal assistance

71. In the Application, it is alleged that the Respondent violated the Applicants right to be represented by Counsel.

72. The Respondent argues that the Applicant has not raised this issue before the national courts. It submits that it has gone through the records of the court procedure as well as the two appeal procedures, and no where did the Applicant solicit legal assistance and was denied such assistance by the certification authority.

73. The Respondent further maintains that the Applicant nonetheless has legal means to solicit legal assistance in accordance with Article 3 of the law on legal assistance (Criminal Procedure), [Chapter 21 Revised Edition 2002]; that he could have also sought such assistance during the procedure before the Court of Appeal under Rule 31(1), Part II of the 2009 Tanzania Court of Appeal Rules, but he had not availed himself of the said remedies.

74. The Applicant explains that at no time during the procedure was he informed of the possibility of obtaining free legal assistance as prescribed by law; that the Respondent had the positive obligation to notify the Applicant, suo motu, of the existence of such right ; that this obligation is even primordial where the individual concerned is a lay person and an indigent detainee facing a serious charge; that this is also the position of this Court in Alex Thomas and Mohamed Abubakari v. United Republic of Tanzania, and that these precedents should equally apply in the instant case.

75. According to Article 7 (1) (c) of the Charter, Every individual shall have the right to have his cause heard. This right comprises:

a)

b)

c) the right to defence, including the right to be defended by counsel of his choice....

76. Article 14(3) (d) of the Covenant on its part provides that In the determination of any criminal charge against him, everyone shall be entitled to the following minimum guarantees, in full equality:

a)

b)

c)

d) To be tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing; to be informed, if he does not have legal assistance, of this right; and to have legal assistance assigned to him, in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by him in any such case if he does not have sufficient means to pay for it

77. In its Judgment in Mohamed Abubakari vs United Republic of Tanzania, this Court held that an indigent individual under prosecution for a criminal offence has the special right to free legal assistance where the offence is serious and punishment prescribed by law severe".

78. In the instant case, the Applicant being in the same situation as described above, the Court holds that the Respondent should have offered him, proprio motu and free of charge, the services of a lawyer throughout the judicial procedure. Having failed to do so, the Respondent violated Article 7 (1) (c) of the Charter.

C) The allegation that the thirty (30) year prison sentence was not in force at the time the robbery occurred

79. In the Application, it is argued that the thirty (30) year custodial sentence imposed on the Applicant by the national courts was not in force at the time the alleged robbery with violence was committed; that Sections 285 and 286 of the Penal Code prescribed a maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years; that the thirty (30) year prison sentence came into force only in 2004, following decree No. 269 of 2004, as amended, which became Section 287 A of the Penal Code.

80. The Applicant therefore submits, from the foregoing, that the national courts violated Articles 13(b) (c) of the 1997 Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania as well as Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7(1) (c) and 7(2) of the Charter.

81. The Respondent refutes the Applicants allegations in their entirety. It contends that in Criminal Case No. 424/2002, the Applicant had been accused of armed robbery which is contrary to Sections 285 and 286 of the Penal Code, Chapter 16 of the Laws of Tanzania; that at the time of conviction and determination of the punishment, the Minimum Sentence Act of 1972 was in force; that, that Act was amended in 1994 by the Miscellaneous Amendment Act No. 6/1994; that the new law abrogated the 20 year imprisonment and introduced an obligatory minimum punishment of thirty (30) years.

82. The Respondent further indicates that it is not the first time the question of armed robbery offence, contrary to Sections 285 and 286 of the Penal Code Chapter 16, has emerged, as well as the punishment commensurate with this offence before 2004; that the Court of Appeal of Tanzania has made a ruling on this issue in the Matter of William R. Gerison v. The Republic, in Appeal Case No. 69/2004.

83. The Respondent submits in conclusion that the Applicants allegations are without relevance and are baseless given that he was accused of armed robbery in 2002, whereas the minimum punishment had been amended eight (8) years earlier.

84. In his Reply, the Applicant states that he no longer intends to adduce arguments on the legality of the punishment imposed on him and that the Court may therefore consider this issue as no longer in contention between the Parties.

85. The Court notes that the Applicant abandoned this allegation. For its part, the Court has already found that thirty (30) years has been, in the United Republic of Tanzania, the minimum punishment applicable to the offense of armed robbery since 1994 . Consequently, it holds that the Respondent has not violated any provision of the Charter in sentencing the Applicant to this term of imprisonment.

D) The allegation that the Respondent violated Article 1 of the Charter

86. In the Application, it is alleged in general terms that the Respondent violated Article 1 of the Charter. The Respondent did not make any submission on this allegation.

87. Article 1 of the Charter provides that: The Member States of the Organisation of African Unity, parties to the present Charter shall recognize the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined in the Charter and shall undertake to adopt legislative or other measures to give effect to them.

88. The Court has found that the Respondent violated Article 7(1) (c) of the Charter for failing to avail the Applicant with free legal assistance. It therefore reiterates its decision in Alex Thomas v. the United Republic of Tanzania. In that Matter, the Court noted that when the Court finds that any of the rights, duties and freedoms set out in the Charter are curtailed, violated or not being achieved, this necessarily means that the obligation set out under Article 1 of the Charter has not been complied with and has been violated.

89. Having established that the Applicant was denied his right to free legal assistance, in violation of Article 7(1) (c) of the Charter, the Court finds that the Respondent consequently violated its obligation under Article 1 of the Charter.

VII. ON REPARATIONS

90. In the Application, the Court is requested to: (i) restore the Applicants rights, (ii) annul the guilty verdict and the punishment imposed on him, (iii) order his release from detention, and (iv) order that reparations be made for all the human rights violations established.

91. In its Response, the Respondent prays the Court to dismiss the Application in its entirety for being groundless, and therefore rule that the Applicant is not entitled to reparations.

92. Article 27(1) of the Protocol provides that if the Court finds that there has been violation of a human or peoples rights it shall make appropriate orders to remedy the violation, including the payment of fair compensation or reparation.

93. In this respect, Rule 63 of the Rules provides that the Court shall rule on the request for the reparation by the same decision establishing the violation of a human and peoples rights, or if the circumstances so require, by a separate decision.

94. As regards the Applicants prayer to be set free, the Court has established that such a measure could be directly ordered by the Court only in exceptional and compelling circumstances . In the instant case, the Applicant has not provided proof of such circumstances. Consequently, the Court dismisses the prayer.

95. The Court however notes that such finding does not preclude the Respondent from considering such measure on its own.

96. On the request to annul the conviction and sentence against the Applicant, the Court notes that it does not have the power to annul Decisions rendered by national courts. It therefore dismisses that request.

97. The Court finally notes that none of the parties made submissions on the other forms of reparations. It will therefore make a ruling on this question at a later stage of the procedure after having heard the parties.

VIII. COSTS

98. In terms of Rule 30 of the Rules unless otherwise decided by the Court, each party shall bear its own costs.

99. Having considered the circumstances of this matter, the Court decides that each party should bear its own costs

100. For these reasons:

THE COURT

Unanimously:

i) Dismisses the objection to the jurisdiction of the Court raised by the Respondent;

ii) Declares that it has jurisdiction to hear the instant Application;

iii) Dismisses the objection on the admissibility of the Application raised by the Respondent;

iv) Declares the Application admissible

v) Holds that the Respondent has not violated Article 7(1) of the Charter in terms of the Applicants allegations that he was charged and convicted on the basis of a deposition which does not corroborate the particulars on the charge sheet and that the 30 year prison sentence was not in force at the time the offence was committed;

vi) Holds that the Respondent violated Article 7 (1) (c) of the Charter in terms of the Applicants allegation that he did not have the benefit of free legal assistance, and that, consequently, the Respondent also violated Article 1 of the Charter;

vii) Dismisses the Applicants prayer for the Court to directly order his release from prison without prejudice to the Respondent applying such measure proprio motu;

viii) Dismisses the Applicants prayer for the Court to set aside his conviction and sentence without prejudice to the Respondent applying such measure proprio motu.

ix) Reserves its ruling on the Applicants prayer on other forms of reparation measures;

x) Requests the Applicant to submit to the Court his Brief on other forms of Reparations within thirty days of receipt of this Judgment; also requests the Respondent to submit to the Court its Response on Reparations within thirty days of receipt of the Applicant's Brief;

xi) Rules that each Party shall bear its own costs.

Signed: Sylvain ORE, President; Ben KIOKO, Vice-President; Gerard NIYUNGEKO, Judge; El Hadji GUISSE, Judge; Rafaa BEN ACHOUR, Judge; Solomy B. BOSSA, Judge; and Angelo V. MATUSSE, Judge.

The rest were: Ntyam O. MENGUE, Judge; Marie Therese MUKAMULISA, Judge; Tujilane R. CHIZUMILA, Judge; Chafika BENSAOULA, Judge; and Dr Robert ENO, Registrar.

Done at Arusha, this 28th day of the month of September, in the year Two Thousand and Seventeen.
You could call it a moment of truth, except that what actually came out of that moment was a realization of how little truth now matters.

This is back in 2010, after I recounted in this space an astonishing feat of World War I heroism -- a small African-American soldier named Henry Johnson, wounded 21 times, single-handedly fighting off a company of Germans. In response, a guy named Ken shot off an angry email calling the story "PC bull."

Judi, my assistant, sent Ken documentation. I wrote a follow-up column listing history books and contemporaneous news sources that verified the event. Ken was unmoved.

What struck me wasn't so much Ken's ignorance. Rather, it was how impervious his ignorance was to corrective fact. That was when I first fully understood that we had entered a new era wherein facts -- those things that once settled arguments conclusively -- carried all the weight of goose down.

These days, you may prove your point to a fare-thee-well, use The New York Times, a study from Harvard, federal statistics, but the skeptical reader will still brush it all aside like a blurry Polaroid of Bigfoot.

So PolitiFact, Facebook, McClatchy and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University have their work cut out for them. You see, those institutions have launched projects to improve media credibility.

The fact-checkers at PolitiFact have been touring deep-red areas like Mobile, Alabama, and Charleston, West Virginia, hosting forums to engage with Donald Trump voters who, by definition, distrust media fact-checking.

Meantime, the social media giant, the newspaper conglomerate -- which owns my employer, The Miami Herald -- and the J-school are partnering in the Facebook Journalism Project. Its aim, according to an ASU statement, is to "help newsrooms work with their communities to develop innovations that increase transparency, engagement, mutual understanding and respect."

I wish them Godspeed. But both projects, I think, proceed from an assumption that truth is something all of us value. And I'm not convinced all of us do.

It's not just Ken who makes me doubt. It's also Fox "News" and talk radio. It's Donald Trump's lies, his war on journalism and people's tolerance for both. And it's studies dating to the 1970s, when researchers at Stanford first documented a counterintuitive phenomenon. Namely, that people tend not to change their minds when facts prove them wrong. Instead, they double down on the false belief.

So we are fighting human nature here. Worse, it is human nature exacerbated by extreme partisanship, fear-mongering pundits, a lying president and a social media complex so vast and varied that even the most bizarre belief can find validation there.

Michelle Obama is a transvestite? Sure.

The military plans to conquer Texas? Okey-dokey.

Vaccines cause autism? Well, all righty, then.

Hillary Clinton is running a child molestation ring? OK. Out of a pizza joint? Why not?

That's just a sampling of the crazy that has gained purchase in American minds. So while it's fine to engage today's news consumers, I think our long-term salvation lies in their kids, in teaching them the lost art of critical thinking. That should be a priority in our schools. Because the status quo -- facts-free ignorance -- is unsustainable.

Yes, there is always room for improvement in how news media do their jobs. But it is important to understand that the disconnect media face does not stem from failure to report the facts.

Rather, it stems from some people's failure to want them.
Employees of Airtel Ghana, the Smartphone network, hit the streets of Accra in a series of market visits, otherwise known as market storms, to promote and educate customers as well as retailers on two new and innovative products  Airtel Sika Kokoo, offering customers 1GB of data at the unbeatable cost of 5GHc and FREE whatsapp.

Management and staff met with people on the streets and business centres of Abossey Okai, Maamobi, Nima, Kokomlemle, Nungua, Cirlcle, Newtown to mention a few, to offer first hand education on the products. Airtels employees took advantage of the opportunity to connect with customers and to take their feedback to drive improvements.

The market storm was a one week event which got the various Departments in Airtel involved by competing amongst themselves.

The storms coincided with a series of service clinics held by Airtel Premier- the telecom industrys pioneer in providing bespoke telecom and lifestyle solutions to high value customers- to educate its high value customers in Achimota, Teshie and Madina on the latest addition to Airtels bouquet of products and services customers.

Customers who visited any of the three locations were rewarded with Airtel branded souvenirs for their loyalty to the brand.

Commenting on the market storm, Airtels Marketing Director, Rosy Fynn said The revamped Sika Kokoo and FREE whatsapp offers are timely products for customers who do not want to be left out in the fast growing and ever evolving social media world, as it gives customers the opportunity to browse longer for less. Whats more important for us at Airtel however, is the fact that through this week long storm, we had the opportunity to listen to customers and based on their feedback, continue to improve on our products and services to give them the world class telecom experience they deserve.

Airtels Sika Kokoo offer, allows customers to enjoy 1GB of data for only 5GHc by dialing *125# and selecting Sika Kokoo from the menu. Customers who have been inactive on the network for thirty days also have the opportunity to enjoy the most used social media platform  whatsapp. There is no activation required to enjoy this offer however.

Frank Djan, Head of Customer Experience said, Our customers now look forward to these service clinics because apart from the fact that we get the chance to get closer to them, we always come bearing gifts. This is the convenience and personalized service that Airtel Premier promises our high value customers. What was unique about these clinics was that we were in three locations on the same day, ensuring that none of our Premier customers is left out.

Airtel Premiers service clinics which are a quarterly event, are now held on a monthly basis to cater to that group of customers who for one reason or the other are unable to visit Airtel shops, but want to experience face to face interactions to get their issues resolved or questions answered.

About Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 17 countries across Asia and Africa. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the company ranks amongst the top 3 mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers. In India, the company's product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services, mobile commerce, fixed line services, high speed home broadband, DTH, enterprise services including national & international long distance services to carriers. In the rest of the geographies, it offers 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services and mobile commerce. Bharti Airtel had over 372 million customers across its operations at the end of March 2017. To know more please visit, www.airtel.com

About Airtel in Africa

Airtel is driven by the vision of providing affordable and innovative mobile services to all. Airtel has 17 operations in Africa: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Airtel International is a Bharti Airtel company. For more information, please visit www.airtel.com, or like the Airtel Ghana Facebook page via www.facebook.com/airtelgh or follow us on Twitter via the handle @airtelghana.
Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B)

09.10.2017 LISTEN

The entire leadership and members of Ashanti Regional NPP gleefully congratulate Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B) on his call to BAR.

As a group, we are proud of your modest achievements which includes your academic prowess at the University. This tacitly chronicles the hard work and many sacrifices geared towards this feat.

Again you proved us right when you emerged as one of those to be called to the BAR when you passed the law school examinations in flying colours. This could not have being on a silver platter but a culmination of hard work. Indeed, You displayed class and brilliance.

Today we join your family, political associate, friends and well wishers in congratulating you for this worthy academic feat. You are indeed an adroit and inspiration to your generation.

As you journey into the murky waters of politics, we pray that this feat will be an added advantage to your political career since you have gain the brainpower to argue better on behalf of the youth in a constitutionally mandated court and not court of public opinion.

Congratulations on this wonderful achievement, Lawyer! The horizon leans forward, offering you space in our young democratic system which intertwines with judicial and legal framework.

An ASSERT you are, EXCELLENCE you should strive for.

Bernard Antwi Bosiako

Chairman,

Ashanti Regional NPP

O8/10/17
Photos of three Chinese women allegedly stuck in a South Korean airport, because their passports no longer match their faces following plastic surgery, have been doing the rounds on Chinese social media.

South Korean plastic surgery clinics are renowned as some of the best in the world, so its no surprise that women from other Asian countries, like China and Japan, regularly fly to South Korea to get work done on their faces.

The problem is that few of them stop at nose jobs, face lifts and Botox injections. Instead, they completely remodel their faces, making it difficult for airport personnel to identify them from their passport photo.

When we first covered the topic of South Korean plastic surgery tourism and the difficulties posed by these extreme transformations, we mentioned that many clinics were offering plastic surgery certificates to overseas clients, to help them convince immigration officers that they are who they say they are. These certificates include the patients passport number, the duration of stay, the name and location of the hospital and the hospitals official seal.

Travelers passing through airport customs with these plastic surgery certificates are usually identified by whatever facial features were left unchanged by plastic surgeons, and while the person-to-passport verification takes a lot longer, people are usually allowed through. Unfortunately, for three Chinese women trying to return from South Korea, the certificates didnt help much.

Example of extreme plastic surgery in South Korea

The problem with facial plastic surgery is that the body needs some time to recover from the procedure, something that three ladies who had spent their recent Golden Week holiday getting their faces enhanced did not take into consideration. They showed up at the airport with their faces extremely swollen and wrapped in bandages, and it was virtually impossible for immigration officers to identify them by their passport photos.

A photo of the three women waiting in the airport with passports in hand has been doing the rounds on social media, and sparking numerous humorous comments from users.

With faces so swollen, even your own mother wouldnt be able to recognise you, one person wrote.

Forgive me, I dont mean to laugh but their faces are really so swollen, another said.

So the next time you fly to another country to get plastic surgery done to your face, you might want to wait a few days before trying to go through airport security.
Societe Generale (SG) Bank has intimated that it will introduce mobile money services in the coming weeks to augment its operations in Ghana.

Managing Director of the Bank, Sionle Yeo, made this known in Accra during an event organized to celebrate the banks most loyal customers.

The mobile money platform is a good thing and we, at SG Bank, would love to leverage on this innovation to improve the lives of our clients and customers, he said.

The event, which formed part of the banks activities to mark the customer service week, brought together customers who had been with the bank for two to four decades.

Ghanas banking landscape has in recent weeks seen growing divergence through traditional banking to the mobile money sector largely controlled by telecommunications companies due to the large number of people, who opt for mobile money services.

One unique feature of the mobile money service is the ease and convenience with which customers are able to transact their financial activities from anywhere they find themselves, a sharp contrast to traditional banking where customers normally have to walk to banking halls to queue for their financial transactions.

Mr Yeo noted that the introduction of the mobile money service was necessitated by the fact that only 30 percent of Ghanaians have bank accounts but almost all Ghanaians have mobile phones.

He also noted that this would provide a chance for most of the transactional and economic sectors of Ghana to be formalized.

The mobile money platform provides an avenue for the government to achieve a more formalized economy, since almost all Ghanaians own mobile phones. It gives an opportunity for almost all transactions to be traceable, which is good for the government and the country as a whole, he noted.

The bank also promised to roll out premier banking for its affluent clients and an app for electronic transactions.

By Melvin Tarlue & Akpene Darko-Cobbina
The Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba, has hinted of plans to create a kayayei (head porters') module to help solve the rural-urban migration.

The module would train and give startup capital to beneficiaries. The module is in collaboration with the MASLOC and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).

According to her, when rolled out, the module is expected to train thousands of youth to equip them with vocational skills.

Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba revealed that GH114 million had been released to pay caterers of the school feeding programme for the last quarter.

Addressing issues of the school feeding programme, the minister said President Akufo-Addo had given a directive to increase the number of caterers for the programme in the Mamprugu East area by 30 per cent.

Ms Otiko Djaba indicated that the current total coverage of LEAP is to be increased from 4,151 households with an addition of 500 in East Mamprugu.

The gender minister therefore called on all to rally behind the president to see the fulfillment of his promises as he is bent on making Ghana a better place.

She made this known when the president paid a courtesy call on the overlord of the Mamprugu Area, Nayiri, at Nalerigu.

FROM Eric Kombat, Nalerigu
Abuja (AFP) - Nigeria's state-run oil firm on Monday hit back at claims of corruption from a senior government minister that have put President Muhammadu Buhari's war on graft in the spotlight.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said the allegations made by junior oil minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu were "baseless and due process has been followed".

Kachikwu, a former ExxonMobil executive to whom Buhari handed the day-to-day running of the oil and gas sector, made the claims in a letter to the president that was leaked last week.

In it, he said five NNPC contacts with a total value of $25 billion "were never reviewed or discussed with the board" -- and he had "many more" examples of questionable practices.

NNPC group general manager Ndu Ughamadu said "a review or discussion with the minister of state (Kachikwu) or the NNPC board on contractual matters" was not required.

The row has once again mired the NNPC in controversy, just as the government is trying to overhaul its reputation as a company with murky finances.

But Kachikwu's letter -- dated August 30 -- runs the risk of threatening Buhari's anti-corruption campaign, as there have so far been no official inquiry or sanctions.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said last week that a proper investigation from Buhari would be a "sign of impartiality in the war against corruption".

"He should do this to correct the open impression Nigerians have about his so-called anti-corruption war that it's just a tool of persecution of perceived enemies," it added.

Buhari has been repeatedly accused of mounting a political witch-hunt as most of those arrested so far on corruption charges are from the PDP.

The president appointed Maikanti Kachalla Baru as NNPC group managing director last year.

Oil industry figures have seen Kachikwu's letter as a clear broadside against Baru, an NNPC insider who like Buhari is from northern Nigeria.

Buhari has also been accused of running a government along regional lines.

In his letter, Kachikwu -- a southerner -- complained he had not been able to meet Buhari to discuss the matter.
Rome (AFP) - A sudden rise in hunger across the globe will require a new emphasis on developing rural economies, the United Nations said on Monday.

After steadily declining for a decade, 2016 saw an increase in hunger, with 815 million people, or 11 percent of the world's population, chronically undernourished.

That represents an increase of 38 million on the previous year, the UN said, due in part to climate change aggravating severe weather and conflicts.

But a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said stimulating growth in rural areas could be key to fighting the trend and reaching the goal set by the international community of eliminating hunger and poverty by 2030.

"There could be no clearer wake-up call," the FAO said in the annual State of Food and Agriculture report.

"With the majority of the world's poor and hungry living in these areas, achieving the 2030 development agenda will hinge on unlocking that oft-neglected potential," the report said.

The affected countries are mainly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where small-scale farmers who produce 80 percent of the food supply are in danger of being "left behind", the report said.

"Investments to improve their productivity are urgently needed," the report said, emphasising that farming needs to be connected with small- and medium-sized cities.
The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners is imploring the government to include them its anti-illegal mining task force, Operation Vanguard.

The General Secretary of the Association, Godwin Armah explained that their members know the schemes of illegal miners and where they operate, hence their involvement will be of great benefit to the taskforce.

He made the comments after a meeting with the Lands Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu on Thursday, October 5, 2017. Top on the agenda of the meeting was a dialogue on a roadmap that will lead to the lifting of the ban on all forms of small-scale mining.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Armah pledged the associations support to government's fight against illegal mining adding that they will in three days present a plan and budget to the lands minister.

He said: the miners are very familiar with their terrain and can, therefore, fish out the illegal miner. We will automatically kick them out as we've been doing but our absence now is giving them that leeway to be working. Note that Operation Vanguard is not working in the night; they are always working during the daytime because of security reasons and also there are remote areas that these guys are operating. We know these areas very well known and can, therefore, apprehend them and hand them over to the Operation Vanguard.

Mr. Armah added that: Operation Vanguard team rotates the military men, every month. So once you're able to acquaint yourself with the terrain before you know it, one month is up and you need to be rotated. This is one of the disadvantages. Also, they are visible, once they are coming you see 'Operation Vanguard' on their vehicles with their tags. So those dredgers what they do is they allow people to sit by the roadside as informants for them so once they see Vanguard heading towards their direction they call them and before they get there and then before they get there those people would have bolted. This is a huge challenge so it is really making it difficult for Vanguard to operate. We are already on the field so once we identify them; we will quickly call the taskforce to arrest them, or we will arrest them. 

We are not saying Vanguard is not doing their work but we need to do a lot to re-strategize and also collaborate with the players so that we can be able to bring the sanity that we want within the industry. We were prepared to support, from day one. We made it clear that illegal mining also affects our operation. If you don't have clean water to do your recovery you end up losing because you don't get proper recoveries, so those are the reasons why we will continue to support the government. We will continue to support government till the fight on illegal mining is at its barest minimum.

Operation Vanguard

Speaking on a task from the Lands Minister for them to prepare a budget for their involvement, Mr. Armah said the budget will be presented within two days.

He added, its something that we have been doing, we have gone through the operations and we know how much it will cost so it's just a matter of getting it within two or three days. When we go we fund both the local securities there. Normally we go with the district assembly, we have NADMO as part, immigration, and the police and also I think the Fire Service. Anytime we go we are in the company of these groups so if Government wants to fund it I think when we sit we can be able to look at those things but we can give them the budget within three days. It depends on the location and the terrain. You know some of the terrain you have to walk about two or three hours before you get in. You need to get an extra hand to carry some of the machines and equipment that they are using so then you need to employ a lot of people to do that. Every terrain and its budget.

On the average, by the time we finished with taskforce operations both Eastern, looking at the Brim River and Dunkwa, We spent a little over One Million Ghana Cedis on the operations and it all came from the members. Now, going to them again to get money will be difficult because you are sitting at home and then the association says let's get money to go and chase illegal miners. It will not be possible so I think the government will support that.



By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana
A member of the Presidential Press Corps has been identified as one of the seven persons who died on Saturday following the Atomic Junction gas explosion in Accra.

Mohammed Ashley, a cameraman, who was capturing the scenes of the accident, has been confirmed as the person who reportedly fell to his death from the flyover at Atomic junction.

Reports indicate that, the deceased, who lived close to the area, rushed to the scene with his camera upon hearing the explosive sounds.

While recording, he reportedly jumped off the footbridge because he panicked and suffered an excruciating death.

Relatives of the late reporter and and management of Kencity, operators of NET 2 TV and Oman FM, officially informed President Nana Akufo-Addo of the demise of their beloved on Monday.

President Akufo Addo pledged to take up the cost of the funeral and other expenses Ashley's family will incur.

Mohammed Ashley, a Muslim, is expected to be buried tomorrow [Tuesday].

The late Ashley was a reporter (Camera Man) at Net 2, an Accra-based television station.

Chief Executive Officer of Ken City, Stella Agyapong eulogized the late reporter.

Mohammed being a camera man took the other direction when everyone was running in the opposite direction so he could get footage. We went to the morgue to see him and he was severely burnt,  she lamented.

A total of seven people perished, whereas 132 others sustained various degrees of injury. Six of the dead are yet to be identified.



By: Marie-Franz Fordjoe/citifmonline.com/Ghana
COLUMBUS, OHIO: The Asanteman Council of North America (ACONA) celebrated the 2017 Asante Day in Columbus, Ohio last month.

It was hosted by the Asanteman Association of Columbus, Ohio. The Asante Day is an annual event organized by ACONA, the umbrella organization that coordinates the activities of the various Asanteman associations in North America which comprises the United States and Canada. The events consisted of two main parts: A Grand Durbar on the first day and A Fundraising Dinner Dance on the second day.

Pastor Nicholas Asare, the Patron of the Asanteman Association of Columbus, Ohio gave the open prayers for the Grand Durbar. In his prayer, he made a very humble request for Gods grace and blessings for the occasion. Nana Essah Mensah of Houston, a former ACONA Public Relations Officer and Nana Yaw Marfo of Chicago, the current ACONA Public Relations Officer were the M.C.s for the occasion.

Nananom and their association members really showed their dancing and traditional skills especially during the procession. An observer, after watching the Chiefs and Queens of the various associations as they displayed their traditional dancing skills, remarked  WOW A real show of culture at its excellence.

Isaac Osei Tutu, the General Secretary of the Host Association and also the ACONA Recording Secretary delivered the welcome address at the Durbar. He thanked Nananom from Manyia, special invited Guests, Nananom and Executives of ACONA and the Audience for coming. He cited that for many have travelled long distances served to remind everyone just how important the occasion was. He then highlighted on ACONAs commitment to actively raising the quality of life for the people living in the Ashanti region in Ghana, regardless of ethnic origin, creed or circumstance to achieve their full potentials. He pointed that ACONAs task is to make it possible and the mission is to provide assistance. The theme for the events was: Building a foundation for the next Generation through Education and Healthcare. He also captured the opportunity to thank the founders of ACONA, past and current leaders for their initiative. He then assured them of the continuity of their goal by saying the goal today, is as pertinent as it was then.Nana Baffuor Sencherey of Houston, Texas and Dr. Jacob Boaheng, a Professor at Monroe College, New York chaired the events. Dr. Boaheng commended ACONA for their determination and expressed his commitment to support the mission. In his speech, he cited an example of foreign volunteers willing to help Ghana and therefore encouraged members to fully corporate with the leadership as they move forward with their mission.

Nana Barimah Osei Kwadwo II, Otumfuo Mamensenhene and the late Oheneba Osei Pipim, all of Manhyia were also present to grace the occasion. They took turns in commending the Council for all what they have done for Ghana, especially Ashanti Region .They both expressed their concerns about the divisions within some of the associations that was not good for ACONA and Asanteman as a whole. They then emphatically stressed on the need for all Asantis to stay united so the Council would be stronger and do better to help their brothers and sisters back home. Among other traditional Chiefs present were Nana Agyeebi, former Atwimamanhene, Nana Antwi Gyeabour, Kenyasi Adontenhene and Nana Ampong, Otumfuo Bosompra. The event was very colorful and well attended.

On the second day, The Council had a Town Hall meeting immediately after breakfast. The meeting began with a very powerful prayer by Pastor Nicholas Asare, the Patron of the Asanteman Association of Columbus, Ohio. It was during the meeting that Dr. Entsuah, a Cincinnati based Architect and a former Professor at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana gave a very professional and detailed presentation of the Project Plan i.e., The Nursing School Project at Wadie Adwumakase near Mamponteng in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Members had the opportunity to ask him many questions about the project.

The Fundraising Dinner Dance in the evening of the second day was the climax of the occasion. Professor Samuel Agyeman Duah, the ACONA Executive Secretary delivered the welcome address. He first thanked everybody for coming and then commended the Asanteman Association of Columbus for their hardworking in hosting the Asante Day. In his address, he pleaded with all members to corporate with their leaders, especially the Chiefs, Queens and the Executives in their respective associations which will then transcend to the Council at large. He also seized the opportunity to thank Nananom from Manhyia, other guests from far and near for coming to share and celebrate the occasion with them.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Agyenim Boateng, former Assistant Attorney General of the State of Kentucky then took the stage He reminded the audience about the four cardinal principles upon which ACONA was founded: 1. The unification of Asantes and Asante decedents in diaspora 2. The education of the children of Asantes about the cultural and historical values of Asantes 3 Showcasing the Asante history and culture in diaspora 4. Raising of funds and resources to assist in the economic development of Asanteman in particular and Ghana in general . The speaker, continues, Throughout the years ACONA has provided funds and other resources in pursuance of some of the objectives. Among these were the funding of the Manhyia Palace Museum during the silver jubilee anniversary of Otumfuo Opoku Ware installation to the Golden Stool; the provision of hospital equipment to hospital in Tepa and Okomfo Anokye Hospital in Kumasi and other places in the Region; and also a pivotal role it played in provision of funds to Otumfuo Educational Funds.

In recent years most of the Chiefs or heads of the various affiliated Asanteman Associations seem to have forgotten the raison detre or the mission statement of ACONA thereby undermining the integrity ,loyalty and foundation of the organization. In spite of the apparent division within the ranks, majority of the membership (about nineout of fourteen ) have remained committed and supportive of the organizations goal and objectives. To wit: the recent funding of an ICT project at Old Tafo in Kumasi and the overwhelming support of the proposed Nursing Training College at Wadie Ajumakase in Assante Region is a testament to the unflinching support and loyalty the membership have for the future of ACONA Dr Agyenim Boateng exhorted the membership to remain steadfast and be magnanimous in encouraging dialog between the splinter group and the organization . For unity lie in strength and the power to achieve some of the vison of Otumfuo Opoku Ware and the dreams of the founding fathers for the Asantes and their children as well as descendants in diaspora. He concluded.

Mr. Anthony Christian of Columbus Ohio, a special guest expressed their sincere appreciation to the Asanteman Association of Columbus for the opportunity offered him and his wife Joyce, to celebrate such an important event with them. He then commended the entire membership for their good work done.

Dr. Kofi Agyapong of Washington DC, a special guest, in his speech cited many examples to show how unique the Asante culture is and encouraged members to portray the culture boldly and to keep to their traditional values wherever they might find themselves.

Nana Antwi Gyeabour of Chicago, Kenyasi Adontenhene and the late Oheneba Osei Pipim of Manhyia, led the fundraising very successfully to raise thousands of dollars through donations and pledges in aid of the project. In fact they exhibited very great experience. A short interview with Nana Kwabena Agyarkwa of Denver, the Assistant Executive Secretary of ACONA and Nana Adu Opoku, Asantefuohene of Cincinnati and also the ACONA President, and some members immediately after the event, evidenced that the celebration was started with lots of enthusiasm and ended with great joy.

Listed below are members that participated in the Asante Day Celebration:

The Asanteman Association of Toronto, Canada. The Asanteman Association of Chicago and Midwest. The Asanteman Association of Southern California. The Asante Kroye Kuo of Greater Houston, Texas. The Asanteman Association of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio. The Asanteman Association of the Carolinas Charlotte, North Carolina. The Asanteman Association of Columbus, Ohio. The Asanteman Association of Worcester, Massachusetts. The Asante Unity Association, Washington Metro Area.

Nananom of ACONA in conjunction with the Secretariat, headed by Professor Samuel Kwaku Agyeman Duah would like to express their utmost appreciation to the general public and the members for making this occasion a memorable one. Thank you and may God bless you all.

ASANTE KOTOKO TEASE DAA !! ACONA BOHO PIM !!
The Member of Parliament [MP] for Nkwanta South Constituency in the Volta Region has presented an ambulance to the Brewaniase Health Centre to improve health care delivery.

The Presentation which is in fulfilment of a 2016 campaign promise made to the people of Ntruboman area coincided with a ceremony in Brewaniase to climax a Thank You Tour of the constituency.

Gracing the occasion were delegations of chiefs and elders from the Challa and Akyode traditional areas as well as Moslem leaders.

Addressing the chiefs and people, Geoffery Kini [Dr.] said Nkwanta District being the largest in terms of land size and the third largest in terms of population in the region but deprived, there was the need to source for resources to boost health care delivery.

He said the decision to station the ambulance in Brewaniase is strategic and to augment the services of the one being operated by the State in conveying emergency and referral cases in and out of the District hospital.

Geoffery Kini [Dr] charged the 15-member committee with oversight responsibility over the ambulance to ensure effective management of the vehicle, urging the public to be interested as well in its care.

The MP also warned persons behind prank calls to desist from such actions as offenders caught would not be spared.

According to him, he has a lot of projects including water and sanitation, school structures, roads among others to deliver in ensuring development of the area.

Enumerating other achievements in seven months in office, Geoffery Kini [Dr] said he has liaised with Telecommunication Company, MTN to provide communication mast and for network improvement in communities such as Bontibor, Kue, Ofosu, Tutukpene, Kabiti, Nyanbong and Ashiabre, explaining that the Ashiabre one has been completed and commissioned.

The MP said through his assistance, 27 girls drawn from various parts of the District are currently undergoing hairdressing apprenticeship, adding: two [2] young men have also been enlisted into Ghana Armed Forces.

On her part, Si. Georgina Quayeson, Administrator of the Nkwanta St Joseph Hospital said aside the successes of child and maternal mortality there is room for improvement, partly blaming the challenge on delay in reaching health facilities.

She implored men especially husbands to always be there for their wives and to ensure that when an ailment occur, the women arrived at facilities early enough and for a prompt attention.

On his part, the Omanhene for the Ntrubo traditional area, Nana Kowura Tedibo Odamba II said Hon Kinis example is worth emulating by others.

He urged children of school going age especially in his area to have the likes of Hon Kini as role models for a better future.

In a related development, 46 individuals comprising 41 females and 5 males who have undergone various skills training in hand bags, purse, sandals, jewelry making under the collaboration between the offices of the Member of Parliament [MP] and African Youth Development and Training Centre [Ho] received certificates of completion and graduation.

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Queen Jane's school over the weekend held a colourful ceremony to mark twenty-five years of the school's its existence.

The school which is located at Nungua in the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipality in the Greater Accra Region is one of the best private schools in the vicinity.

Addressing teeming parents and pupils, the proprietor of the school Mr Awuah Gyimah narrated the success story of the school.

He said a school that started with six children can now boast of nearly thousand pupils.

I and my wife co-founded this school on 29th September 1992 with only six children in our living room. Through thick and thin, the school has progressed over the years from the lower nursery to JHS three. Currently, we have a student population of over seven-hundred students, he added.

He also craved the indulgence of parents to support the development of their children, and assured parents of the schools commitment towards the welfare of the pupils.

On his part, the headmaster of the school, Alhaj A.B. Adams said the teachers will continue to offer their best to ensure the sterling performance of the school in the Basic School Certificate Examination (BECE).

He, however, called on the parent to ensure prompt payment of their fees and other commitment to facilitate efficiency.

Speaking on the theme for the celebration: Education a Shared Responsibility, an astute educationist, Kate Banaman advocated for proper dialogue between parents and school authorities as a common platform for addressing child welfare issues.

AWARDS

A number of pupils who distinguished themselves were also awarded at the ceremony.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has promised to personally bear the cost of the burial of Mohammed Ashley, a member of the presidential press corps, who perished in last Saturdays gas explosion at Atomic junction in Accra.

The president disclosed this when relatives of the late cameraman and management of Kencity, owners of Net 2 TV and Oman FM, paid the president a visit at the Flagstaff House, to formally inform him of the demise of Ashley.

The late cameraman, Mohammed Ashley

Reports indicate that, the deceased, who lived close to the area, rushed to the scene with his camera upon hearing the explosive sounds.

While recording, he reportedly jumped off the footbridge because he panicked and suffered an excruciating death.

According to the CEO of Kencity, Stella Agyapong, a visit to the morgue, showed that the late reporter sustained severe injuries to his head and burns from the explosion.

Chief Executive Officer of Ken City, Stella Agyapong eulogized the late reporter.

Mohammed being a camera man took the other direction when everyone was running in the opposite direction so he could get footage. We went to the morgue to see him and he was severely burnt,  she lamented.

A total of seven people perished, whereas 132 others sustained various degrees of injury. Six of the dead are yet to be identified.

Mohammed Ashley, a muslim, is expected to be buried tomorrow [Tuesday].

Mohammed is not married and has no kids. He is the second of seven children.
Mr. Anthony Kwaku Amoah, the Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO), of Ghana Education Service (GES), has urged parents to intensify their collaboration with the government and the GES in the provision of good-quality education to the pupils and youth of the country.

Speaking recently at the 5th anniversary celebrations of Anquist College Complex, which was under the theme, Changing communities through education: the role of stakeholders, Mr. Anthony Amoah said it was absurd for any community to wait for the president of the country to cut a sod before they thought of how to construct a toilet facility for children to use in school.

All of us are stakeholders. Parents, families, the community (including traditional authorities), the church, organisations and the government have a stake in our schools and in our communities. We ought to revive our communal and self-help spirit in all things. Why do we have to wait for the president to come down to cut the sod for the construction of a toilet facility in our own school?

Where are the PTAs, SMCs, boards of governors, old student groups, community development unions and the kind people that are among us? Another fact is that the task of providing good-quality education and development is about partnership. All of us must appreciate this position and try to honour it all the time for our common good, he said.

TorgbuiNyamekorGlakpeh V, the paramount chief of the Ave-Dakpa Traditional Area, who chaired the function, called for total collaboration between stakeholders and the government in providing education, adding, We have the Free SHS programme now. All of us must support it for it to succeed. Let us ensure that every child goes to school to study well.

Mr. Prince Takpah, the care-taker of the school, appealed to the government for the supply of computers and textbooks in order to improve education in the school.

In another development, Mr. Anthony Amoah donated some 50 boxes of chalk to Ave-Metsrikasa D/A Basic School in the Akatsi North District where he told a gathering of pupils and teachers to devise innovative ways of improving teaching and learning in the school.

As pupils study hard, teachers get motivated to do more research on the things that they teach and the school will continue to perform well. Let us all engage ourselves on the things that we can do together to improve the quality of teaching and learning in this school of ours, he said.
Tunis (AFP) - A brother and sister of Ahmed Hanachi, who stabbed two young women to death in the French city of Marseille this month, have been detained in Tunisia, authorities said Monday.

The two were detained on Friday and have been questioned by anti-terror investigators, prosecution spokesman Sofiene Sliti said.

"They appeared before an investigating judge... who decided to transfer the case to the national guard" in Aouina, northeastern Tunis, he said.

A source close to the family named the siblings as Moez and Amina Hanachi, who both live in Tunisia.

Their brother Ahmed Hanachi, 29, attacked two women at Marseille's Saint-Charles train station on October 1 before being shot dead by troops.

He had lived for several years in Aprilia, south of Rome, where he married an Italian woman.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for Hanachi's attack, but French investigators have not yet found evidence linking it to the jihadist organisation.

Another of Hanachi's brothers, Anis, was arrested on Saturday night in Italy after French authorities issued an international arrest warrant.

French investigators, who suspect Anis of complicity in his brother's attack, said he had "fought, waged jihad in Syrian-Iraqi territory, with military experience", Lamberto Giannini, head of Italy's counterterrorism team, said on Monday.

Ahmed, the second-youngest of five siblings, was not known to attend any mosque, but was known to the police for drug and alcohol problems.

His family said two of his brothers, Anis and Anouar, were living illegally in Europe.

Two Tunisian security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Ahmed and Anouar were suspected of being "extremists".

But their father Noureddine told AFP he struggled to believe Ahmed had been radicalised but that his son "may have been under the influence of drugs" when he carried out the attack.

He said he had heard no news from his sons in Europe for two months.
Rabat (AFP) - Engineers in Morocco are preparing to test the Arab world's first high-speed railway this week with trains reaching 320 kilometres (200 miles) per hour, the country's rail office said Monday.

One train reached 275 kph (170 mph) on Monday along a stretch of track between the northern cities of Kenitra and Tangier, the ONCF said.

"This is already the fastest train on the African continent," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who was in Morocco to sign a loan deal between the ONCF and the French Development Agency.

He said the railway was "emblematic of the Franco-Moroccan bilateral relationship".

The 350-kilometre (215-mile) link between Casablanca and Tangiers via the capital Rabat will slash journey times between the North African country's economic hubs by almost two thirds, to just over two hours.

Morocco's TGV, which gets its name from the French abbreviation for high-speed trains, is set to enter service in summer 2018.

The project is 50 percent financed by France with loans of around $2.4 billion (2 billion euros).

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (R) and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in Rabat on October 9, 2017

It is set to go around 15 percent over budget, according to figures released on Monday.

But ONCF head Rabii Lakhlii said the project had cost "less than 9 million euros per kilometre, compared to a European standard of 20 million euros per kilometre".

The route, made more complex by hilly terrain and strong winds, required the building of several viaducts including one some 3.5 kilometres long.

The ONCF expects the line to attract six million travellers within its first three years.

Lakhlii said tickets would cost about 30 percent more than those for the current rail link.

Moroccan leaders have heralded the project as a key step in modernising the country's infrastructure.

But opponents have criticised it, saying the money could have been better spent in a country where many live in poverty.

They also argue that it unfairly favoured French companies.
GhElection Promises would like to call on Government to fulfil a campaign promise government made in the 2016 New Patriotic Party Manifesto. In Chapter 6, page 79 of the 2016 New Patriotic Party Manifesto, government as part of measures to reduce road fatalities and injuries promised, "reviewing location and lay-bys of fuel stations".

Taking into consideration the recent gas explosion at Atomic junction and the over 5 gas explosions that have happened in the country in the past three years, it is imperative that Government fulfils the promise it made to Ghanaians.

Reviewing the location of fuel stations is the way to go in an era where fuel stations are springing up like beer bars. Failure of government to review the location of fuel stations in Ghana puts the life of Ghanaians at risk.

We will also like to draw government's attention to six filling stations that have been declared unsafe by the National Petroleum Authority. According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Hassan Tampuli, the LPG filling gas stations at Adjei Kojo, Tema community 9, Ada Bedeku, Kobekrom, Ada Kasei, and Oyibi are not safe.

GhElection Promises is a civic initiative aimed at matching the promises of the Government against its performance. Visit Website http://www.ghelectionpromises.com,

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ghelectionpromises/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/GHElectPromises to participate in this exciting exercise of tracking promises of the current government.

Signed

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Ghelection Promises
Popular Yoruba actor, Korede Wealth Obasan, is now a proud father as he has just welcomed his son with his pretty woman.

The actor welcomed the bundle of Joy on Sunday, 8th of September, as mother and child are said to be doing fine in the hospital.

The actor who could not hold back the joy shared the good news thanking God for seeing him and his family through the whole journey which had its ups and down. All I have to say is THANK YOU LORD. #fatherhood #kinging #son #iamaproudfather 
Its happening

Excuse me while I gloat just a little bit in an I told you so, moment.

But this is what I wrote back in August. A lifetime ago in the world of cryptocurrencies. And at a time when bitcoin was a full 24% cheaper than it is today.

There are numerous plans to make it easier for investors to buy into the crypto asset class without the technical hassles you currently have to endure. At last count, there were 20 funds and ETF products looking to launch later this year. When the big banks start offering cryptocurrencies in their portfolios, you can be sure we are in the fourth or fifth stage.

My contention in this article was that we are about to go through a third wave of cryptocurrency buying in the next 612 months.

This would be in part driven by the big banks starting to offer products that made it easier for retail investors to invest in the, sometimes confusing, cryptocurrency sector.

According to reports last week, this is starting to play out.

Predicably, its the big names that are moving first

Investment banks move in

According to Bloomberg the investment banks are gearing up to get into the sector.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein tweeted on Tuesday that his firm is examining cryptocurrency assets.

Other global investment banks are looking into facilitating trades of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, according to industry consultants.

Morgan Stanley chief, James Gorman, stated that it was more than just a fad.

OK, hes not screaming it from the rooftops like I am maybe. But for a conservative captain of finance, its a big statement about the legitimacy of cryptos.

And it directly contradicts JP Morgan head, Jamie Dimons its a fraud claims from a few weeks ago.

So, why the recent bullishness?

The first reason is mundane self-interest.

The simple fact is hedge funds and wealthy clients are demanding access. And these are not the kind of customers you want to suggest go somewhere else.

It therefore makes sense for investment banks to have products that cater to these desires. Lest the competition lures clients over with theirs.

The second reason is more interesting.

Some cryptocurrencies are actually starting to create blockchains Wall Street can get behind.

Its due to an exciting breakthrough in mathematics called zero-knowledge proofs. As reported by Bloomberg:

Zero-knowledge proofs are one of the biggest inventions in the last two decades in cryptography, said Emin Gun Sirer, an associate professor of computer science at Cornell University. It will allow a slew of applications we cant even imagine right now.

An industry group called the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance  whose members include JPMorgan Chase & Co., Credit Suisse Group AG and BP Plc  is trying to leverage zero-knowledge proofs for the financial industry with its distributed ledger, known as Quorum.

In a nutshell, they combine the benefits of blockchain systems with crucial privacy protocols.

Essential features for a secretive investment bank.

In addition to these bank brand names, 55+ crypto focussed hedge funds have sprung up in the last few months.

Another source of funds for an impending crypto boom?

We will see

Stage three boom in cryptocurrencies soon

I dont expect youll see the NAB [ASX:NAB] or ANZ [ASX:ANZ] opening a crypto fund anytime soon.

And in my opinion thats good for you, if you invest right now.

Because by the time these retail banks recognise the new asset class that is cryptocurrencies, the big gains will be long gone.

I think the next 12 months will see what I call a stage three boom.

This is what comes before more normal returns usually happen  or a big crash!

I could be wrong, of course.

The big banks will fight back. Theyll attempt to separate the power of blockchains from the need for an accompanying cryptocurrency. A way to maintain their middleman advantage.

I predict such efforts will fail.

Just as the internet beat the intranet back in the 90s.

Open sourced, decentralised and free systems are win in 99% of technology battles.

And whether you invest in cryptos or not, the future they are helping to create is going to affect you in some way regardless.

Good investing,

Ryan Dinse,

Editor, Money Morning

PS: Cryptocurrencies represent the most exciting and potentially lucrative investment you will ever see. A genuine attempt to change the underlying nature of finance, investment and commerce. Its something you need to start learning about now. Click here to find out more.
RACINE  Racine County Sheriffs deputies arrested an Illinois man after his boat was towed to shore by the Coast Guard on Sunday night.

David A. Kives, 51, of South Elgin, Ill., has been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing an officer. He gave officers two incorrect identities, after which it was discovered that he had outstanding Illinois warrants and a marijuana pipe in his possession.

According to the criminal complaint:

Deputies arrived on the scene as Kives boat was being towed into Reef Point Marina by the Coast Guard. Kives said he didnt have his ID on him, and identified himself to the Coast Guard as Dave A. Aives, also saying his date of birth was August 1968, which was incorrect.

After a records check brought back nothing, Kives then gave his correct name, but again gave an incorrect birthdate. Shortly after the Coast Guard completed its inspection, the Racine County Communications Center advised that they had identified Kives, and that he had active warrants out of Illinois.

After deputies handcuffed Kives, they found a marijuana pipe in his pocket. Also in his pocket was his Illinois ID card.

Kives had a $200 signature bond set at his initial appearance Monday. Hell next be in court for a pre-trial conference on Nov. 2.
'The big truck is still on ...
President Donald Trump View Photos

In his weekly radio address, President Donald Trump offered thoughts on those impacted by last weekends mass shooting in Las Vegas.

Trump was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

My fellow Americans,

On Wednesday, I traveled to Las Vegas to visit with the victims of the horrific shooting, speak with their families, and thank the brave citizens, first responders and medical personnel who saved so many lives. We struggle to grasp the evil that occurred on Sunday evening when a murderer shot into a crowd of more than 20,000 people. Men, women, and children were gathered to enjoy a concert. They never imagined it would become the worst day of their lives.

But in the wake of such shock and horror, it was a matter of seconds before the goodness of the human spirit broke through. When the shooting began, a mother laid on top of her daughter to shield her from gunfire. A husband died to protect his beloved wife. Strangers rescued strangers, police officers and first responders rushed into danger.

When the worst of humanity strikes, the best of humanity responds.

The men and women who risked their lives to save their fellow citizens give proof to the words of this Scripture: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Americans defied death and hatred with love and courage.

This week our nation remembers all the wonderful people we have lost and all of the grace they brought into our lives and our communities. Among the fallen were young students full of limitless potential, law enforcement personnel, a nurse, teachers dedicated to our childrens future, and many others. They were mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. They were husbands and wives, and sons and daughters. They will be dearly missed, and they will never be forgotten.

To all those who lost a loved one, we cannot imagine your pain, or erase your sorrow. Our hearts grieve for you. We stand with you now, and every day after. And we pray that God may carry you through the anguish and sorrow.

We can never fill the void of those who perished, but we pledge to honor them by living as they would have wished  with lives full of purpose, with hearts full of love, and with hope for a better tomorrow.

May God comfort the broken-hearted. And may God bless the United States of America. Thank you.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Moji Olaiya, a beautiful Nigerian actress welcomed her newborn baby in Canada. Lets find out more about Moji Olaiya new baby and the horrific consequences she had to face after the delivery of her second child.

Moji Olaiya, the daughter of musician Victor Olaiya, began her successful acting career very early. Most of the movies she played a role in were filmed in the Yoruba language. Her most famous role was in the movie, No Pain No Gain.

In 2003, she received an award for the Best New Actress and after that, she began getting a lot of good movie offers from producers. But what about her personal life and kids? How happy was she with her family?

READ ALSO: Is Kylie Jenner pregnant?

Personal life and new baby

Olaiya got married to Bayo Okesola in 2007 they divorced soon after. The actress said the problem with her second marriage had to do with her daughter:  () So truth is, I left the marriage because of my daughter, because the man I was in love with didnt accept her.

The third time around, Olaiya fell in love and got married to Alhaji Yomi Odutola, an Abuja-based self-acclaimed oil and gas millionaire. Moji Olaiya husband lived in Toronto and therefore their second baby was delivered in Canada.

Moji Olaiya had to go through Cesarean Session to deliver her new baby girl

It is known that the baby girl was born in March 2017. The actress suffered from premature labour but after medical intervention, mother and baby were doing fine. Although Olaiya had to go through Cesarean Section to deliver the baby, she was glad to welcome another child into the world.

After the baby daughter was born, Moji stayed in Canada for further medical support both for herself and the baby. In the pictures of Moji Olaiya and her little princess they both looked so happy. Nobody would have expected the tragedy that occurred.

A couple days after the delivery of Moji Olaiya's precious little girl

Unfortunately, Olaiya died from cardiac arrest in Canada, on the 17th of May, 2017. She barely had time to spend with her newborn but we'd like to think Olaiya will watch over her baby from a better world.

READ ALSO: Eucharia Anunobi son dead

Source: Legit.ng
- Nigerian soldiers have allegedly invaded the home of Nnamdi Kanu again

- The soldiers, according to reports left with personal belongings of the IPOB leader

The Nigerian army on Sunday, October 8, reportedly stormed the home of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi kanu.

According to several reports, including a claim by a former minister of aviation, Fani-Kayode, the army carted away some personal belongings of the IPOB leader.

A Facebook user, Prince Kanu Meme, claimed that the soldiers went away with clothes, generators and furniture in their trucks.

Photo from a CCTV footage of the army allegedly invading Kanu's home. Photo credit: Prince Kanu Meme

READ ALSO: Anambra election: IPOB declares sit at home boycott on November 18

The army trucks allegedly parked outside Kanu's house. Photo credit: Francis Rosevelt

He wrote: "UPDATE...!!! The Nigerian soldiers are currently moving away every property in the compound of Mazi Nnamdi kanu, including mattresses clothes, generators, televisions into their trucks!!!

Share this now!!!"

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

Another Facebook user, King Eze, shared a video, which he claimed is a CCTV footage of the alleged invasion that occurred this afternoon.

Below is the footage shared by Eze:

Yet, another Facebook user, Francis Rosevelt shared another video of the alleged invasion.

Below is Rosevelt video:

Inside Nnamdi Kanu's rooms after operation Python Dance II - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
- The desk officer of Operation Python Dance in Abia state has denied claims that the army carted away properties from Nnamdi Kanu's house

- The officer said the army went to the house along with the police

- He said a man with weapon was arrested in Kanu's compound by security men

The desk officer of the Operation Python Dance in Abia state has denied claims that the army carted away properties and personal item of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The officer, however, confirmed the report that the army indeed visited the IPOB leader's home on Sunday, October 8, along with some police officers.

Recall that Legit.ng reported that the army was in Kanu's house on Sunday, with members of the IPOB claiming that the army went away with Kanu's belongings.

READ ALSO: Senators' monthly allowances should be reduced from N15million to N1.5million - Oyebola

Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu, claimed that the items taken away from the IPOB leader's house include clothes, generating set and furniture.

Pictures of the Nigerian army trucks outside Nnamdi Kanu's compound. Photo credit: King Eze

Emmanuel said: The international community should prevail on the Nigeria Army to stop raiding our home again. We have been telling the Army to produce my bother whose whereabouts has remained unknown since after the September 14 military invasion of our compound."

The Operation Python Dance's desk officer, while reacting to Emmanuel's claim, however denied that the officers looted the IPOB leader's compound.

The officer said: The things removed may be technical items. He added that somebody was arrested with weapon in the compound.

It is yet uncertain who the man arrested in Kanu's compound is as the officer directed further enquiries from the press to the police.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

The Nation reports that the spokesman of the the police in Abia state, Geoffrey Ogbonna, is yet to react to the report or give the police side of the story.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the IPOB has insisted that forthcoming governorship polls in Anambra will not hold.

The group ordered its members and other freedom fighters in the area to stay at home on voting day November 18.

Emma Powerful, IPOB's publicity secretary, said the voting was a test case for IPOB and its allies in Biafra territory, adding that boycotting would send a statement to the international community about the seriousness of the agitation for Biafra.

Nnamdi Kanu and Biafra agitation... the journey so far! - on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit.ng
- Former president Goodluck Jonathan has allegedly met with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over 2019 presidential election in which the former vice president is interested in contesting

- The two leaders allegedly met to discuss the possibility of Atiku returning to the PDP

- Jonathan was said to have advised Atiku to consider returning to the PDP early enough to avoid being caught by certain provisions of the partys constitution

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria's former vice president allegedly met former president Goodluck Jonathan to consider offers made to him by a section of the leadership of the opposition party to return.

There are reports that some PDP chieftains are making efforts to bring Atiku back to the partys fold but that he gave them conditions which include being given automatic ticket to contest the 2019 presidential election.

Atiku was said to have met Jonathan for the purpose of looking into these conditions, especially, that of automatic ticket.

BREAKING: Gunmen kill 10 in Rivers

Jonathan was said to have advised Atiku to consider returning to the PDP early enough to avoid being caught by certain provisions of the partys constitution, which stipulate a period of time a member has to spend in the party before he could be eligible to contest for a political office, ThisDay reports..

Atiku was advised to return early to enable him to fulfil the eligibility condition in the partys constitution and also have ample time to integrate his political structure into the PDPs, a source privy to the meeting said.

Atiku was said to have told that he stood a better chance to realise his ambition in the PDP than the APC.

The source said: He was told to note a recent comment by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, stating that as the incumbent, President Buhari had a right of first refusal even when the decision would have to be his.

That has been buoyed by Kaduna state Governor Nasir el-Rufai who had practically launched Buharis re-election campaign.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Atiku Abubakar reacted to some of the promises that President Muhammadu Buhari made during his campaign.

Abubakar said Buhari was elected based on his promises to fight corruption and bring about the needed change.

2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to Buhari - on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit.ng
- Aisha, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari has criticised the management of Aso Rock Clinic

- She accused the clinic of redundancy and inefficiency despite having a budget of N3 billion

- The wife of the president also accused the clinic of lacking basic tools like syringe

Aisha Buhari, wife of Nigeria's president has called for the probe of Aso Rock clinic over what she described as the inefficiency of the management of the clinic.

The first lady made this disclosure on Monday, October 9, while speaking at a stakeholders meeting on Reproductive, Maternal, Nutrition, Child Advocacy and Health and Nutrition, RMNCAH+N, at the State House, Abuja.

The president's wife said she recently fell ill and was advised to travel to London for treatment, but she refused.

READ ALSO: Nigerian army confirms fresh raid on Nnamdi Kanu's house

She said she called to clinic to find out about their X-ray machine but to her surprise, she was told that the machine was faulty.

I called the Aso clinic to find out if they have an X-Ray machine, they said its not working. In the end I had to go to a hospital owned and operated by foreigners 100 per cent

There is a budget for the hospital and if you go there now, you will see a number of constructions going on but they dont have a single syringe there. What is the purpose of the buildings if there are no equipment there to work with?

You can imagine what happens across the states to governors wives if this will happen to me in Abuja, she said.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app

Legit.ng had reported that Zahra Buhari had took to her Instagram page to criticise the Jalal Arabi, permanent secretary of the State House clinic for his inability to provide even Paracetamol tablets to the clinic despite a budget of N3 billion for the provision of drug to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that the Aso Rock Clinic management said it was short of funds for major projects and purchases and would demand the commercialisation of the clinics operations for efficiency.

Are Nigerians truly tired of President Buhari? - on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit.ng
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reacted to the alleged protest by some of its men in Kaduna state following reports of non-payment of salaries.

The police denied owing any of its men salary as claimed in earlier reports noting that all officers across ranks and in the 36 states are paid as at when due.

It is not correct and misleading that police personnel protested anywhere in the country because of non-payment of salary as reported in some media today 9th October, 2017 or at any other time, a statement by the public relations officer of the force, Jimoh Moshood, in Abuja, said.

READ ALSO: President Buhari calls for calm on issue between Kachikwu, Baru

The statement obtained by Legit.ng further explained that few policemen who went on inquiry to the Mechanized Salary Section (MSS) in the Kaduna state command over complaint of under-payment, omission of their names on the payroll as a result of the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) handled by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, were immediately attended to.

According to the police, these officers were addressed by the officer in charge of the MSS in the early hours of Thursday, October 9 that their problems have been taken up by the force headquarters with the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

And they left for their duty posts. No policeman protested and none went on rampage as reported in the media in Kaduna State or anywhere else in the country.

However, some challenges such as under-payment, omission of names on payroll, Non-payment and over-payment of some police personnel experienced in the eight state commands that have been enrolled on the platform of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) in the payment of August and September, 2017 salary have been taken up with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation and its being promptly addressed.

Members of the public are hereby enjoined not to panic but go about their lawful duties and other responsibilities without fear or apprehension.

No policeman protested in Kaduna state or any other state of the country because of non-payment of salary.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app

While the Nigeria Police Force is assuring the media of continuous supports and cooperation, they are implored to always verify facts before publishing in order not to cause panic, tension and misinformation in the minds of the public.

The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined organization and will not allow any situation to degenerate into disturbance of Public Peace and breakdown of law and order anywhere in the country, the statement said.

Legit.ng earlier quoted Premium Times as reporting that that some police personnel carried out a protest due to non-payment of their salaries in Kaduna state.

According to the report, the protesters have not been paid their August and September, 2017 salaries.

If any police officer misbehaves with you, call any of these numbers - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- President Muhammadu Buhari met with three governors from the north on Monday, October 9

- The meeting held separately inside the Aso Rock Presidential Villa

- Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto revealed that issues concerning oil exploration and security in the region were discussed

Details of the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and some governors from the northern part of Nigeria have been revealed.

Buhari met with three governors from the north concerning issues relating to possible oil exploration in the region as well as security among others.

READ ALSO: Former chief of army staff Victor Malu is dead

The governors who attended the meeting which held at the Presidential Villa include Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa.

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting with Buhari, Tambuwal said he briefed the president about the recent visit of governors to the southeastern part of Nigeria.

I came to see our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, and we had discussion on quite a number of issues. Of specific mention is the issue of the general well-being of the country, security situation of the country.

I am sure you are aware that recently we were in the South East as governors from the North.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app

We went to interact with our brothers in the South East and South South and particularly people of the North residing there. So there was a need for a feedback, Tambuwal said adding that issues of possible oil exploration were also discussed.

In 2016, Legit.ng reported that a British firm was appointed by the 19 northern state governments to carry out the exploration activities for oil and gas.

This move is coming two weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari gave the order to the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) to commence the exploration of oil in the north.

2019 Presidency: Fayose versus Buhari, who will you vote for? - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Two police officers and one naval personnel have been paraded for kidnapping and armed robbery

- The three officers were paraded after their arrest in Kogi state

- Police commissioner Ali Janga said the police officers have been sacked and would face trial soon

The commissioner of police in Kogi state, Ali Janga, has paraded two serving officers of the force as well as one personnel of the Nigerian Navy for alleged kidnapping and armed robbery.

Reports confirmed that the suspects were among others paraded by Janga, who gave the names of the police officers as Corporals Isiaka Suleman and Ibrahim James. The naval personnel was identified as Bature Habila.

READ ALSO: Soldiers allegedly spotted in Nnamdi Kanu's house again

He said the policemen had been dismissed and would be charged to court with the fourteen other suspects after investigation is concluded.

The commissioner said the suspects were arrested within the two weeks that he resumed duty in the state.

The Nation reports that Isiaka Suleman, one of the arrested policemen, confessed saying he was contacted for the job by one Francis Alfa, who is currently hospitalized.

I was serving with Zone 8 (Lokoja) Headquarters when I was moved to the Foward Operation Base (FOB) station in Tafawa Balewa LG in Bauchi when Francis contacted me.

When you are caught and arrested, you will be charged to court; I know the consequence, he said.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app

The police reportedly recovered four AK-47 rifles, three pump action riffles, assorted rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle and charms from the suspects.

Legit.ng earlier reported how the Nigeria Police Force has paraded 11 suspects described as vicious kidnappers, who until their arrest, held sway along the now very dangerous Abuja-Kaduna highway.

Some of the suspects were also arrested along the Gwari-Funtua, Birnin Gwari-Kaduna and Kaduna-Kano highways.

Evans the kidnapper lands in Kirikiri prison after first appearance in court - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
Alcoholic son regrets after killing mother for Rs 50

A man has murdered his own mother in a fit of a rage at Mohartole of Bihmeshwor Municipality-8 in Dolakha district.
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As the Tory party descends into open warfare, Theresa May is attempting to pull off a bizarre face saving exercise. In a speech scheduled for 3:30 PM today, the Prime Minister will attempt to shift blame in advance of the widely anticipated refusal of the EU to approve having Brexit negotiations start to address trade-related matters. In Brexit-speak, that phase is referred to as the future relationship.

Why is it so important to May to try to get control of media spin? Aside from the fact that shes been unable to tamp down infighting (more on that shortly), this week Brexit negotiations resume, with the EU to decide formally whether enough progress has been made for them to move on the future relationship. Recall that this was an ambitious timetable given the complexity of the issues already at hand, assuming something resembling actual negotiations were actually happening. Press reports suggest that the only topic on which meaningful headway has been made is on the legal transition issues, such as the role ECJ decisions will play post Brexit.

Mays speechwriters have grabbed onto a fetching cliche, which many of the press barons have dutifully picked up: that the ball is (supposedly) in the EUs court.

The reality, as anyone who has dimly paid attention knows, is that the Tories have lost the ball and are too busy squabbling even to go looking for it.

The intensified bickering, and the continued lack of agreement as to what sort of Brexit even the Tories want, gives vivid confirmation to a major EU complaint: they have no one to negotiate with.

Worse, Mays team is flogging a new canard: that the Brits are making realistic plans for Brexit. This is laughable, but even worse, the Government may actually believe this new garbage barge they are trying to foist on the soon-to-be-suffering public (save the top rich and technocrats, who will find a way to save their hides and maybe even prosper). From the Financial Times:

In the meantime, Dominic Raab, a minister at the Department of Justice, claimed that the UK was making more extensive plans than previously understood to prepare for the possibility it might leave the EU in March 2019 without agreement on a future relationship. Such an outcome could require the country to set up customs posts, air traffic control systems and other new, independent institutions far more quickly than if a deal is reached for an orderly transition.

A full year ago, we caught the significance of how the UK looked to be in trouble regarding an overdue, major upgrade of its Customs system. It would be daunting to get the project done in 2019 even in a no-Brexit scenario, and getting the needed coding done for vastly increased border requirements is an impossible task. Nothing has changed since then to ameliorate the situation. Indeed, a full nine months after we flagged the issue, the National Audit Office was making the same warnings. From our October 2016 post:

The UKs present system for handling non-EU-related trade is almost 25 years old and was set for replacement. The new system, called CDS for Customs Declaration System, to be ready by 2018 and to have the capacity to handle 100 million transactions,. At double the current level of 50 million, that would have seemed to be ample headroom. Reading between the lines of the Financial Time story, there seems to be some doubt as to whether the original spec could have been pulled off in time. But now with Brexit, the project suddenly has a major spec change: it has to handle 350 million transactions. And what the story does not mention, but seems likely to be the case, is that there are tons of other spec changes that have yet to be identified and documented related to EU and UK tariffs on specific goods. And if the system tracks things like port of embarkation and disembarkation, more data fields need to be added for all the EU ports and air cargo locations. And of course, the Euro currency data field needs to go in too. In addition, since the negotiations will be in progress, the levels, and potentially even some of the categories are likely to be in flux. Given that olives are a very important export good for the EU, how will olives be treated versus olive oil versus products made from olives, like olive paste? Will green olives be treated differently than ripe ones? How all this sorts out affects the coding. Recall that Lambert broke the story of the Obamacare exchange systems disaster by noticing that spec changes were being made six months prior to launch (the reality turned out to be even worse, changes were being made weeks before the start date). He recognized how disastrous that was for a systems rollout. And these were modifications to what was presumably an otherwise largely settled development plan. If my surmise about how many things will be up for grabs in a Brexit negotiation (start with will they try to negotiate a WTO and an EU deal in parallel, since theres no assurance the UK will get timely approval from either set of counterparties), its hard to see how any meaningful coding on the EU system can get rolling.

And this is only one of a myriad of hard Brexit tasks the UK needs to be able to manage, and looks utterly incapable of pulling off.1

At least there was some good gallows humor in the Financial Times comment section, such as:

jfkfc May to Europe: better start negotiating, or well ship you more jobs. Dress Sense In this movie the EU is the cop sent to talk the U.K. jumper down from the roof.

While British readers can fill in more details, the short version of the leadership catfight is that after May got shellacked in her misguided snap election, Treasury Secretary Phillip Hammond, who is a proponent of a soft Brexit, was on his way to steering the direction of the Brexit talks.

Even though the snap election results were widely seen as a repudiation of the hard Brexit camp, that wing of the Tories has refused to cede ground. Boris Johnson continues to issue leadership challenges to May and she is too damaged to put them completely to rest. And now the hard Brexiters are having a go at Hammond. From the Guardian:

Philip Hammonds Treasury has come under fire from a leading Conservative leave campaigner, who said that the gloomy outlook and Brexit in name only approach of the department risked scuppering the UKs EU exit. Bernard Jenkins highly critical intervention came while other Tory MPs urged Theresa May to sack the chancellor, as those on the right of the party flexed their muscles following days of criticism of Boris Johnson and speculation about an autumn cabinet reshuffle.

Even wilder, as May has allegedly quietly threatening to depose Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary, Johnson is saying he wont go. The run at Hammond, even though the Guardian later effectively reports in the story quoted above, that the attack on Hammond is more backbencher kvetching than a serious threat, is clearly timed to make Johnsons threat look serious. First from the Independent, Boris Johnson will just say no if Theresa May tries to sack him:

The Foreign Secretary will apparently just refuse any attempts by the Prime Minister to demote him, who indicated that he could be moved into another Cabinet role in a reshuffle. Allies of Mr Johnson have warned that doing so would undermine Brexit and destabilise the Government Ms May has been adamant that she will not hide from a challenge when dealing with the former Mayor of London, according to the Sunday Times. The remarks led to one Tory minister saying there was a stench of death coming from Downing Street and that Ms May lacks the authority to demote Mr Johnson.

While it is not unreasonable to point out that Cabinet changes would be yet another political fracas and would divert attention from Brexit, I gasped out loud when May appointed Johnson as Foreign Secretary. That in and of itself was clearly a poke in the EUs eye. It is hard to see how the UK can negotiate, as opposed to posture, with Johnson in his current post.

For what it is worth, New Statesman argues that May can indeed demote or oust Johnson, but he might become even more of a thorn in her side:

A change of nuisance, David Lloyd George once quipped, is as good as a vacation. Theresa May might be inclined to agree. The collapse of Grant Shapps plot to remove her has strengthened her hand as she contemplates a reshuffle. The thing about sacking Johnson is that it only makes sense if the PM plans to use it to inject a note of sense into the Brexit talks, perhaps by reminding the frothier members of her parliamentary party that removing oneself from a four-decade membership of a trade bloc is difficult regardless of whether or not Treasury mandarins break into a rendition of Everything is Awesome every morning at 8am sharp. Or if, instead of pledging money to prepare for no deal, concede that no deal is a fantasy that cant be achieved. That, as the Times reports, she is instead planning to tell the EU27 that the ball is in their court shows that regardless of whom she sacks, come the crunch, the PM will always side with the loudest voices in her party  that is to say, she will always opt for a Brexit as hard and as damaging as possible.

And while May has looked like a dead woman walking since her snap election backfire, its hard to see the party lining up between Johnson or any of the other leadership contenders. So as much as I thought shed be gone quickly, her coalition with the DUP, as tenuous a hold on power as it represents, has enabled her to stay in place, in large measure due to the lack of any viable successor. At this rate, predictions that shell be gone by Christmas may prove to be premature.

As Richard Smith put it, the issue isnt that May is a dead woman walking, it is that the Tories are a dead party walking. Ironically, May is the least crippled leadership candidate they have. So she may hang on until the coalition with the DUP cracks up.

The other possible force that may change the game board is businesses showing they are serious about moving operations. However, its surprising that they havent already applied more pressure to the leaders of both major parties, as well as doing a better job of getting press coverage. So it may not be until first or second quarter 2018, when more and more production shifts and job relocation are announced, that enough reality penetrates the Brexit bubble to shift the political dynamic. That is an awfully long way away.

Having said all of this, Bloomberg had an optimistic tidbit:

Even as government infighting risks disconcerting EU negotiators, there are signs May might be able to deliver some progress: EU diplomats say leaders may be forced to give ground to the U.K. before the end of the year to prevent splits opening up between the other 27 governments.

Unfortunately for the UK, this may mean less than it appears to. The UK has very few allies in the EU, with the biggest begin Poland. EU rules require unanimous approval of a Brexit.

An immediate jogjam is over the refusal of the UK to discuss the so-called Brexit tab, which is actually a settlement of outstanding obligations. The EU has floated its highest estimates, presumably to condition the UK to see something much lower as a deal. And the EU has already come up with a framework, which presumably is also open for discussion, as to the firmness of the UKs various treaty obligations. So the negotiations would presumably start with the framework and then the items with the framework, which would largely determine the total figure. Note that quite a few are expected to be conditional on future events. Then the two sides would wrangle over how much over time the UK could stretch the non-conditional amounts due.

Recall that as of the end of last week, the Financial Times reported, based on a debate following a presentation by the EUs negotiator Michel Barnier to the 27 EU ambassadors last week, that Germany, with some unnamed countries backing it, as well as France, were not budging on the UK settling its departure bill before talking trade.

As we pointed out, when Germany and France agree on anything, the rest of the EU falls into line. Moreover, even with Merkel damaged at the polls, German industry is backing her tough stand on Brexit. So Merkel has no domestic incentives to give way. Smaller countries could be muscled into line, but not Germany. Admittedly, Article 50 does not require unanimity but a qualified majority. But a few countries objecting isnt enough to impact the negotiations.

So even if there is some grumbling in the EU ranks, Id need more evidence than this outlier Bloomberg report, which contradicts the results coming out of a major policy debate, to think that the EU will do more than make conciliatory gestures that make only a marginal difference in substance, like this crumb described by the pink paper:

As a gesture to recognise progress, the EU is considering starting an internal scoping exercise on a transition deal, where the EU27 would prepare for talks with the UK at a later stage. While an advance of sorts, this falls well short of Londons hopes that talks would begin after the summit in October.

Another major stumbling block is what to do over the Irish border, where there does not appear to be any clever solution. So again, its hard to see meaningful concessions coming from the EU in the absence of any UK progress by as soon as year end.

I really wish there was a way to envision less than disastrous scenarios for the UK. But Im at a loss to come up with any, and the threadbare PR coming from Government leaders only confirms how bad bad might wind up being.

___

1 And I will still claim that tariffs are the easy bit. The hard bit (and your customs IT system needs to deal with that, and a lot of complexity comes from that) is the NTBs. I keep saying Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) over and over  but it really is important, and even a number of Brexiters (the ones not blinded by power, history, or whatever) even reconigsed it and were saying as easly as Feb this year WTO is not an option (even assuming can opener  i.e. full and proper WTO membership on day one).

The country of origin rules are massively complex, and what Yves describe (tarrifs based on that) is one potential. What happens is that the tarifs are based on the last substantial value add. So if you import chinese stuff, and just package it and sell to EU, the tariffs will be the same as if it come straight from China.

On the other hand, if you incorporate a part into a whole that is substantially more valuable (and how do you decided that is part of the fun) than the other parts, the tariffs are now based on the country where that last ad-valorem happened.

There are other rules, but Im not going to turn this into a specialist post (especially since I havent read the WTO rules in full yet)  but you get the idea.

Now though, it get even more complicated. On the top of being able to determine whether or not a tariffs applies, any goods imported must meet the standards of the importing country. And EU has lots of them (even if it DOES NOT have a standard for how curved bananas shoud be, as the british press told us).

This can be fundamentally met only in two ways. Either via MRA (where you recongise each others standards setting bodies, standards, rules and regulations etc.. Remember  this is not just a snapshot in time, but also takes into account that the bodies/standards etc. evolve with time, so extra layer of complexity there).

Or, that you take a sample from each shippment, and test it. Of course, the owner of the samples (importer) pays the cost of the testing, and it also pays the cost of storing the freight while its being tested. So it costs the importer time and money.

TBH, I cant see how could you possibly trade something complex like cars or plane parts (where safety is involved) w/o an MRA.

And your customs IT system has to support all of that!

Oh, but you say well, lets set tariffs to zero for everything!. Well, that may sort out your customs IT problems  around the tariffs. Unless you want to throw out of the window all YOUR standards, that means you still need to establish the compliance. And I can assure you that if you do throw out all your standards, getting an MRA with somoene else is going to be a nightmare.

So your exporters rather get going on implementing the MRA-less trading processes right now, and hope to get there in time. A friend of mine runs a small caliber ammo manufacturer (very highly policed stuff), and based on what I heard, I doubt he would be able to get their processes and systems in place in two years, and thats knowing what needs to be done and how.
This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 1239 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year and our current goal, burnout prevention.

Lambert here: An Occupy Atlanta activist in 2011 becomes Mayor of Atlanta in 2017. Those on the left may, I think, be forgiven for being encouraged by the results in this post, despite the general hysteria, the gaslighting, and the incredibly noisy news flow. And do note the interesting result from ranked choice voting.

By Valerie Vande Panne, an AlterNet writing fellow who contributes to Columbia Journalism Review and Reuters news service, among other outlets. She is the former editor-in-chief of Detroits alt-weekly, the Metro Times, and the former news editor of High Times magazine. She is the founder of Blackbird Literacy, an organization providing books to residents and literacy programs in Detroit. Originally published at Alternet.

This year might not be a big election year, but since all politics is local, progressives are shaking up the establishment in elections nationwide.

Down south in Alabama, Randall Woodfin was elected mayor of Birmingham last week, unseating incumbent William Bell. Woodfin had backed Hillary in the 2016 primary, but received the Bernie Sanders-backed Our Revolutions endorsement. Birminghams incumbent mayor was projected to win easily, with polls showing him in the lead as recently as August.

Up in Minneapolis, where the mayoral election will happen November 7, Our Revolution-backed candidate Ray Dehn won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party convention (DFL, the states Democrats), while incumbent mayor Betsy Hodges received less than a quarter of the votes. Rather than vote to give Dehn the endorsement, Hodges and other Dems voted to adjourn the meeting. It was backroom finagling that according to witnesses at MinnPost played into Dehns message  that hes the outsider taking on a party establishment frightened by the incursion of new activists.

Out West in New Mexico, Brian Colon, state Democratic Party chair, lost spectacularly in a run-off election for mayor of Albuquerque, despite out-raising his Our Revolution-backed opponent Tim Keller, with over $800,000 in his campaign coffer. The final run-off election will be on November 14.

And in Atlanta, Georgia, Vincent Fort is making a strong bid for mayor, on a platform of civil rights and reducing inequalityin the most unequal major city in the country. That election will be on November 7.

So what is going on? Why are these progressive candidates winning?

It could be a perfect mix of a population tired of out-of-touch politicians and readyeven desperateto try something new.

In Minneapolis, incumbent Hodges, despite having a plethora of standard party endorsements, including the SEIU, Senator Al Franken and David Wheeler, president of the Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation, isnt doing too well, and her campaign seems to be a prime example of what the voters are fed up with: Wheelers endorsement reads like typical Democrat Party backslapping: I supported her first campaign Four years later she supported my election to the Board of Estimate and Taxation

In the wake of Justine Damonds death at the hands of Minneapolis police, Hodges went to Los Angeles to fundraise. (The hoity-toity event included a kombucha tasting with Garrison Keillor.) Despite the effort, shes falling short with over $75,000 in debt and nearly $25,000 in unpaid vendor bills. In April, her campaign manager and organizing director both resigned. In September, six of her campaign staffers also jumped ship, including her director of communications.

Unlike Hodges, challenger Dehn is not the kind of politician you meet every day: In the wake of Damondsand Philando Castile and Jamar Clarksdeaths by police shooting, the Minneapolis mayoral candidate is calling for a disarming and de-militarization of the Minneapolis police force. He also supports the elimination of systematic inequities and the generation of community wealth.

I dont believe all cops should carry guns all the time, he told us over coffee near the Mall of America. One, its not necessary In no way should an unarmed person be shot. We have people in our community who wont call the cops because they are afraid, afraid for themselves, and afraid for the person committing the crime.

In Atlanta, Fort, also backed by Our Revolution, has a long history of fighting the establishment. As a member of Occupy Atlanta, he was arrested in 2011 when term limited-out mayor Kasim Reed shut the camp down. As a state senator, he passed a law that may have protected Georgia from the fallout of the mortgage crisis, were it not gutted by Republicans. When it was, his activism won settlements for local homeowners. Affordable housing and the decriminalization of marijuana are two of his top issues, along with a living wage, expanded public transit, investing in the arts, and police accountability.

In Albuquerque, Keller champions investing in local economy, especially small businesses. He also says he has a long history of fighting subsidized sprawl and insists on engaging the community. Like Woodfin, he doesnt seem all that radical, just different, with an ear for his constituents, and with the backing of Our Revolution.

That backing is proving to be key. In Woodfins Birmingham race, Our Revolution mobilized with the Working Families Party to coordinate massive get-out-the-vote efforts. Together, their volunteers contacted tens of thousands of voters by voice and text message.

Yet of these candidates, Dehn and Fort seem to hit the ball closer to the working-class home, resonating across racial lines: I believe that when people in the community do well, and the small businesses do well, it lifts the whole community, and those people stay in the community as it does better, Dehn says. Their personal wealth, he explains, rises with the community. It keeps them in their homes, and prevents displacement and gentrification.

If Dehn seems like an unusual candidate, thats because he is. A former felon who received a full pardon and became a state representative, one of the first things he did in office was get a bill passed that removed the question on criminal record from employment applications. Every morning when I shave, I see a white man who has privilege, who can do many things because Im white, he tells us. The people I left behind in prison Thats why I run for office.

When it comes to politics, Dehn is candid about his style, saying hes not a fan of negotiating to the middle. I think its a lazy way of negotiating. When you understand what the other side is doing, he says, It empowers you to get more in the end.

While New Mexico is swimming in complaints and negative campaign ads, and Reed is outspoken against Fort, Dehn isnt talking about Hodges, or the other contenders for the position. Im not an attack kind of guy, he says. You win with dignity by talking about your campaign.

Minnesotas ranked choice ballots seems to make this strategy more palatable, as candidates dont want to leave any voter with a bad taste in their mouth.

What all these candidates have in commonalong with many more nationwide, besides Our Revolution approvalappears be a strong belief in representing their constituencies.

That might mean different things in different places, but for the establishment, it means the two dominant parties may need to make some sincere changes, and fast. But given the apparent success of the underdogs this seasonand the dramatic loss politics as usual cost in 2016would that really be a bad thing?
(Natural News) Residents of New York City have been both confused and awestruck lately at the sight of large, mysterious metal towers that are popping up all over the city.

According to CBS2s Dave Carlin, even those on the MTA board in charge of the towers are unable to explain why the towers are being erected or whats inside of them. All that we know thus far is that the towers are part of a project that will cost roughly $100 million, and 18 of them will be set up near tunnels and bridges.

Adding to the mystery is the fact that when Carlin asked a question regarding the towers to MTAs Cedrick Fulton late last month, Fulton simply replied, I said no comment.

Even though half of the money set aside for the mysterious project has already been spent and some of the towers are already up, some MTA board members, such as New York City Transportation Commissioner Polly Trotternberg, say that they dont have much information about the towers at all. A lot of the board members felt they didnt have all the details they would have wanted, myself included, she explained.

Residents of New York City are just as clueless. Im going to guess that its not just decoration, said Alyssa Renkas of the Upper West Side.

Its a bit mind-boggling that the MTA is approving $100 million for what appears to us to be big, decorative pylons, explained John Kaehny, the leader of the watchdog group Reinvent Albany. What were asking for is transparency from the MTA.

Even MTA Chairman Joe Lhota refused to disclose any significant information. When CBS2s Dave Carlin informed Lhota that some of his own board members didnt know the specifics of the project and pressed him for details, Lhota replied, Im not at liberty to discuss that. He went on to say, The base of these new pieces that are going up include whatever fiber optics are necessary for those Homeland Security items. In other words, the towers could be some kind of anti-terror technology, but that still has yet to be confirmed.

If the towers really were meant to prevent acts of terrorism, it certainly wouldnt be the first time that New York City has taken such precautionary measures. Earlier this year, the city launched a set of initiatives designed to collect information regarding where youve been, where youre going, and who youre with. An NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission proposal, for instance, attempted to force Uber, Lyft and black car drivers to report passenger drop-off locations.

In addition, the official website for New York State stated that At each crossing, and at structurally sensitive points on bridges and tunnels, advanced cameras and sensors will be installed to read license plates and test emerging facial recognition software and equipment. Could this be what the mysterious towers are? Are officials now in the process of putting up advanced cameras and sensors that will have the ability to identify faces and read license plates? It certainly seems that way, but we still dont know for sure.

Of course, whenever anti-terror technology is being considered, the question that needs to be asked is as follows: Does the technology and the surveillance methods being used comply with the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution? Indeed, the usurpation of privacy rights is something that is becoming a very real problem in America today as technology continues to advance, and if we are not careful, we will lose the Fourth Amendment altogether. If the towers being put up in New York City are meant to keep the people safe, then that is something that should be commended, so long as the MTA is in full compliance with the Constitution.

Sources include:

NewYork.CBSlocal.com

CNBC.com
(Natural News) In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, school boards across Florida are focused on assuring parents and children that their infrastructures are safe. Superintendents have stated that most schools suffered only minor to moderate damage, despite many buildings still having no power. Parents have been told that schools will reopen their doors once Florida Power & Light (FPL) issues a power-restoration timeline  but there has been no word on when that will be. All the same, parents of children studying in Broward County should take special care in where they are sending their kids.

This year marks the fourteenth year after a grand jury ordered Broward County to gain the upper hand of the mold that has been consuming its school buildings. Even so, the district has been seeing little to no change. Air quality reports and complaints filed by multiple school boards since 2003 revealed that in around 4,000 work orders made to fix leaky roofs, a third took three months to fix, with 100 cases taking at least a year to even be looked at. Moreover, 25 of the orders for mold or mildew were still unresolved months to years after they were filed.

Confronted with these findings, school board officials say that these numbers are misleading. Multiple work orders could be submitted for the same problem and these records are not tracked in any central system. It is possible, they argue, that a redundancy could have occurred.

All the same, more than 700 teachers, cafeteria workers, and janitors in Broward County schools have complained for more than two years of the substandard conditions of the districts buildings. The condition has gotten so bad that the Broward County Teachers Union has expressed its intent to bring in outside experts to inspect their classrooms.

Broward County represents one of our countrys largest public school systems and teachers are concerned about the negative effects mold may have, or is having, on their wards. These professionals claim that they have filed complaints about mushrooms and spores growing in their classrooms since 2015  only to fall on deaf ears.

Written explicitly in their petition is that the mold is causing headaches, rashes, asthma complications, sinus issues, and itchiness among employees and children.

Molds like wet, damp places. We breathe in the fungi everyday but continuous exposure to the mold spores can lead to an assortment of adverse effects. The most common health effects from mold contamination include allergic rhinitis, asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Those with a compromised immune system may also develop more serious respiratory conditions. (Related: Household Mold may Promote Asthma and Colds.)

If youve got people that are off work all summer long and theyre feeling better and theyre breathing better and they get back to school and theyre feeling sick, thats got to be a sign of something, Anna Fusco, President of the Broward Teachers Union told the Daily Mail.

She added: I have schools telling me theyve got mushrooms growing out of air vents, spores in students desk, spores on musical instruments, spores coming out of the cracks in the floor, on furniture, on walls, in the halls.

And Broward County may not be the only one suffering from this problem. Schools in Miami-Dade have also complained of a worrying mold problem. Dwayne Turner, a security guard at the Thomas Jefferson Middle School in North Miami-Dade told the Miami Herald that he has had congested breathing for more than two years because of mold contamination. Scores of other employees have also reported health problems associated with mold. And while their incidence reports were properly filed and taken note of, school administration refused to do anything.

Broward Schools spokeswoman Tracy Clark issued a written statement in response. She says that the district is committed to providing safe and healthy learning environments for students and employees. She urges any staff member to immediately notify their school board or on-site maintenance team of their concerns.

Read more stories like this on Research.news.

Sources include:

MiamiHerald.com 1

MiamiHerald.com 2

DailyMail.co.uk

Sun-Sentinel.com

OSHA.gov
(Natural News) Americans continue to mourn the dozens of people who were killed and hundreds wounded by a crazed lunatic in Las Vegas on Sunday, and as is usually the case when guns are involved in a mass murder incident, the usual suspects are once more calling for gun bans.

Nowhere but America do horrific large-scale mass shootings happen with this degree of regularity, said U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. Last nights massacre may go down as the deadliest in our nations history, but already this year there have been more mass shootings than days in the year.

This must stop, he continued. It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so afraid of the gun industry that they pretend there arent public policy responses to this epidemic. There are, and the thoughts and prayers of politicians are cruelly hollow if they are paired with continued legislative indifference. Its time for Congress to get off its ass and do something.

Of course, to Democrats, the only appropriate public policy response is to ban something  unwanted speech, guns, Trump supporters, and now, most likely, country music festivals in Vegas.

But isnt it curious that in the face of a real epidemic that has killed more people than guns ever could  the opioid epidemic  none of these would-be authoritarians are calling for any bans on Big Pharma. (Related: Democrats waste NO time politicizing Las Vegas shooting in quest to ban ALL guns.)

As reported by Natural News founder/editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger:

According to federal statistics, opioid prescription drugs killed 33,091 Americans in 2015 alone. Estimates put those numbers above 36,000 deaths for 2017.

The death toll at the Las Vegas Mandalay massacre was 59 (so far). Though a horrifying tragedy, opioid drugs alone are killing 560 times more people each year than died in the Vegas tragedy.

This means that opioid drugs alone are causing the near-equivalent of two Las Vegas massacres PER DAY in terms of the number killed.

Thats obscene. Its criminal. But there are currently no calls at all to ban this highly dangerous, highly lethal class of drugs. Could it be because Big Pharma is such a big contributor to political campaigns?

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks industry donations to political parties and candidates, Big Pharma contributed nearly $60 million in 2016 alone. In the 2014 election cycle, the figure was nearly $30 million, and in 2012  a presidential year  donations were nearly $50 million. So in just three election cycles, Big Pharma contributed somewhere in the neighborhood of $140 million to political action committees, individual politicians and other political organizations. Its no wonder everyone on Capitol Hill is going soft on opioids.

In recent days, as reported by The National Sentinel, the Trump administration made some progress in curbing over-prescribing of opioids, which has been a major contributor to the epidemic. A presidential panel, the Commission on Combatting Drug Addition and Opioid Crisis headed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, detailed new partnerships with researchers across academia, government, prescribers and patients to curb by half the amount of time needed to make available prescriptions that are not addictive.

Over-prescribing can lead to excess pills falling into the wrong hands, said PhRMA CEO Stephen J. Ubl. He added, given the scope of this crisis, we believe its the right thing to do, adding that it is candidly an unprecedented step for the industry.

His company will begin backing limits on opioid supplies to seven days rather than the traditional 30-day prescription cycle. And while thats a good first step, it certainly isnt a ban.

And no politician is calling for one, either, despite a mounting death toll that is so large it is overwhelming local medical examiners.

J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

TheNationalSentinel.com

NaturalNews.com

Vox.com
(Natural News) A new study finds that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) can be an option for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Researchers at Kings College London examined data from seven clinical tests of more than 500 children and teenagers, and data from three other clinical tests of at least 200 children and teenagers. They used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines in their meta-analysis study. Furthermore, they used established scientific literature databases to indicate suitable studies for inclusion.

We provide strong evidence supporting a role for n-3 PUFAs deficiency in ADHD, and for advocating n-3 PUFAs supplementation as a clinically relevant information in this group, especially if guided by a biomarker-based personalization approach, researchers wrote in the paper published in Neuropsychopharmacology.

From the seven clinical tests, they discovered that omega-3 fatty acids improved the clinical symptoms of ADHD, such as inattention and hyperactivity, according to reports made by the parents of the observed children. In addition, the study revealed that the reduction in hyperactivity was only seen when the study participants had 500 milligrams per day or more of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

On the other hand, the three clinical tests showed that omega-3s boosted the cognitive performance of children and teens with ADHD. The researchers noted that omega-3s were linked with enhancements in select measures of cognitive performance.

N-3 PUFAs are crucial for optimal neurotransmitter function, the researchers noted. For example, incorporation more EPA and DHA [docosahexaenoic acid] in the cell membrane can increase cholesterol efflux, modulate lipid raft clustering and disruption, and affect the function of the dopamine transporter (DAT), which in turn may affect attention and executive function by regulating synaptic dopamine levels.

Harry Rice, the vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs for the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), commented on the research. Rice has been lukewarm on the beneficial effects of increased EPA/DHA intake in children with ADHD

Results from this meta-analysis put me a little closer to believing, Rice said. Minimally, given the low side effect profile of omega-3s versus the drugs of choice to treat ADHD, I would highly recommend first increasing intake of EPA/DHA. This is particularly true if a child doesnt eat at least two servings of fatty fish a week or doesnt take an omega-3 supplement on a regular basis.

The researchers also found that children and teenagers with ADHD had lower levels of EPA, DHA, and total omega-3s.

ADHD is a disorder in the brain characterized by two types of behavioral problems  inattention and hyperactivity and impulsiveness. According to data from the National Survey of Childrens Health from 2003 to 2011, 8.8 percent or 5.1 million children and young adults from ages 4 to 17 were diagnosed with ADHD in the United States.

More on Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3s, also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids, are fatty acids that are important for human health. Since the body does not produce omega-3 fatty acids, they are obtained through food such as nut oils, different kinds of fish which include salmon, tuna, and halibut, and other seafood which include algae and krill. Moreover, omega-3 fatty acids are essential in the functioning, growth, and development of the brain. They are also helpful in lessening the risk of heart disease. (Related: Omega-3 DHA fat dampens brain inflammation to lower stroke risk, improves cognitive function.)

Read more news like this at Mind.news.

Sources include:

NutraIngredients-USA.com

NIMH.nih.gov

CHADD.org

UMM.edu
A U.S. government report recently identified four recommendations to help FDA improve how it handles inspections of domestic food facilities, drawing support from a powerful trade group representing the food and beverage industry.

FDA should do more to ensure that the food supply is safe by taking swift and effective action to ensure the prompt correction of problems identified at domestic food facilities," noted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

The September 2017 report wasnt entirely critical of FDA. It noted, for example, that the agency is on track to meet its obligations to inspect food facilities within certain timeframes under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the sweeping law aimed to prevent foodborne illness.

The report, however, identified several areas where FDA could be doing better. For example, in calculating the number of inspections it needs to conduct to meet requirements under FSMA, FDA counts facilities that it attempted to inspect and may be out of business.

Specifically, more than one-quarter of the high-risk and non-high-risk facilities that FDA counted toward meeting the inspection mandates for the initial cycles were out of business or not in operation at the time of the unannounced inspection," noted OIG, which examined FDA data from 2011 through 2015 and explained FDA officials observed resources might be better spent on other activities besides the attempted inspections.

OIG also found FDA did not always conduct a timely follow-up inspection of food facilities with significant regulatory violations, or follow up at all. And while FDAs objective is to issue all warning letters within four months of the end of an inspection or the return of a positive test sample, from 2011 to 2015 FDA sent nearly half of all warning letters after the expected timeframe, the report divulged.

OIG highlighted examples of companies with significant regulatory violations, including a tofu manufacturing facility in Washington where the government identified live birds and insects in production areas, mishandling of fresh tofu and evidence of dead and live rodents in the packaging room.

If FDA does not ensure that significant inspection violations are corrected in a timely manner, it is unable to guarantee that these facilities are not producing and distributing food that is harmful to the public," OIG declared.

The report recommended FDA:

(1) improve how it handles attempted inspections to ensure better use of resources;

(2) take appropriate action against all facilities with significant inspection violations;

(3) improve the timeliness of its actions so that facilities do not continue to operate under harmful conditions; and

(4) conduct timely follow-up inspections to ensure that significant inspection violations are corrected.

FDA concurred with all four recommendations.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), a trade association representing Americas food and beverage companies, expressed support for OIGs recommendations.

Ensuring the safety of our productsand maintaining the confidence of consumersis the single most important goal of our industry," Brian Kennedy, a spokesman for the trade group, said in an emailed statement. GMA is supportive of efforts by policy makers to address the four recommendations outlined in the OIG report on FDA inspections. GMA has always been a strong and vocal advocate for providing FDA with the necessary funding to oversee the safety of our food supply."

FDA also concurred with all four recommendations. FDA agrees that there are challenges in its conduct of FDA inspections," Lisa Rovin, FDAs Deputy Associate Commissioner for Public Health Strategy and Analysis, wrote in a letter to HHS Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson. FDA takes its public health mission very seriously and is committed to improvements in its performance of domestic inspections."

Bill Marler, an attorney in Seattle who represents victims of foodborne illness, was concerned with FDAs lack of timely follow-up inspections of companies with significant regulatory violations.

You dont get good results without some oversight," Marler said in a phone interview.

OIG noted FDA rarely took advantage of its new powers under FSMA to achieve compliance and more effectively respond to problems. From 2011 to 2015, for example, the agency did not initiate any mandatory recalls in response to significant violations identified during inspections.

But the agency isnt necessarily to blame. Because FDA has new authority, companies have been declaring voluntarily recalls for smaller outbreaks, said Jaydee Hanson, senior policy analyst with the non-profit Center for Food Safety. He added there are fewer recalls today than the number of recalls that led to FSMA and were linked to sicknesses and death.

Hanson observed, however, that the overall harm stemming from foodborne illness remains the same.

But were still having roughly the same number of people getting sick and dying," he said in a phone interview. Were still having serious problems with Salmonella. Were still having serious problems with E. coli, and were having an explosion of problems with listeria."

Hanson is less interested in the number of FDA inspections and recalls than seeing a decline in the number of Americans falling ill from foodborne illness.

We should not be still having 3,000 people a year dying from foodborne illness," he proclaimed. Thats the bottom line that has to be reduced."
Farsighted preschoolers and kindergartners have a harder time paying attention and that could put them at risk of slipping behind in school, a new study suggests.

An estimated 4 to 14 percent of preschoolers have moderate farsightedness, or hyperopia, but it often goes undetected in younger children. When moderate farsightedness is found, glasses aren't always recommended because there's disagreement about whether vision correction is appropriate for these children.

But an increasing body of evidence is showing that moderately farsighted 4- and 5-year-olds are at risk of struggling with the building blocks of learning, said Marjean Taylor Kulp, professor of optometry at The Ohio State University.

"We knew from our previous work that preschool and kindergarten children with uncorrected farsightedness have decreased early literacy, and this new study shows that there are even more deficits in these children early on," she said.

In the new study, which appears this month in the journal Optometry and Vision Science, Kulp and her collaborators tested children with and without farsightedness to evaluate their attention, visual perception and the ability to integrate visual perception and motor skills.

Tests for visual attention (the ability to zero in on some visual stimuli and ignore others) included looking at a picture, such as a butterfly, and finding the matching pictures in an array of images.

Overall, the children who were moderately farsighted based on results of eye exams performed at the start of the study were significantly more likely to have poorer scores on the attention-related tests.

While some children were able to focus their eyes and adjust for their farsightedness, others who were not able to do this and struggled to see close-up had lower scores on tests of visual attention, visual perception and visual-motor integration (eye-hand coordination or copying skills).

The study included 244 children with moderate farsightedness and 248 children with normal vision. Most were enrolled in a preschool Head Start programs in Pennsylvania, Ohio or Massachusetts. The researchers accounted for differences in age, sex, parental education status and race.

The Vision In Preschoolers  Hyperopia In Preschoolers study group's previous research found that children with uncorrected farsightedness lose ground on reading skills before they start first grade.

Though this study didn't look specifically at the link between attention and learning, previous research has established that difficulties with attention can stand in the way of greater success in the classroom.

The researchers have applied for funding to do a follow-up study to determine the effect of glasses to correct farsightedness on these deficits. Until that work is complete, it remains unclear whether prescribing glasses to children in this age group will help with the setbacks the researchers have discovered, Kulp said.

In the meantime, Kulp said it's important to recognize that moderate farsightedness has the potential to create hurdles to learning and literacy.

"It's important for us to identify these children and especially identify those who are having learning difficulties because of their vision," she said.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded more than $2 million to a research team at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) to facilitate a Zika vaccine trial in Brazil.

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness associated with the rainy season in Brazil. The world became widely aware of the virus and its methods of transmission in 2016 when an epidemic spread rapidly throughout South and Central America and cases were reported by travelers returning from this region to the United States. Since the outbreak, new Zika outbreaks have even been reported in Asia.

The research team led by David Diemert, MD, associate professor of microbiology, immunology, and tropical medicine at SMHS and Jeffrey Bethony, PhD, professor of microbiology, immunology, and tropical medicine at SMHS, is partnering with the Hospital das Clinicas and the Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz in Belo Horizonte, Brazil to enroll 100 subjects into the clinical trial. In total, the trial will include 2,400 subjects across sites in Central and South America, Puerto Rico, and the southern United States. During the study, transmission of the virus will be monitored and additional volunteers may be signed up at sites with higher rates of infection.

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"We are going into what is expected to be the transmission season in Brazil," explained Diemert. "That's one of the reasons we are heading into this trial now. The people in these areas will be vaccinated before we would start to see cases of Zika."

Over the course of the trial, researchers will focus on evaluating the safety and tolerability of the vaccine, as well as the efficacy of the vaccine compared to placebo. The vaccine being tested by the GW team was developed by the NIH.

The vaccine is a DNA vaccine, a vaccine that aims to elicit a strong antibody response using a microbe's genetic material. The DNA vaccine can be given to pregnant women. In contrast, a vaccine containing a live virus could pose a risk to the fetus if administered during pregnancy.

"The main concern about Zika virus infection is Congenital Zika Syndrome," Bethony said. "Some people will get Zika and are asymptomatic. However, infection in a woman who is expecting could put the child at risk for microcephaly."

Subjects who receive the injections will then be followed for a two-year period.

Following the trial, if the vaccine is determined successful, the populations in these endemic areas will see the potential for better prevention against infection with the Zika virus.

Source: https://smhs.gwu.edu/news/gw-research-team-brings-zika-virus-vaccine-clinical-trial-brazil-site
Bibeksheel Sajha announces candidates from six places in Kathmandu

Bibeksheel Sajha Party has finalised its candidates for six constituencies of Kathmandu1 , 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9.
Recent clinical trials have shown that 90 percent of early stage breast cancer patients over age 70 do not benefit from radiation after breast-conserving surgery. And yet, use of radiation in this context has dropped only minimally.

A new University of Michigan study examines why.

"In the last 30 to 40 years, we've learned the value of doing less," says study author Dean Shumway, M.D., assistant professor of radiation oncology at Michigan Medicine. "In breast cancer, we've gone from radical mastectomy with removal of the breast and pectoralis muscle, to a modified radical mastectomy with removal of the breast, to breast conservation and radiation without negatively affecting outcomes."

Researchers, he says, have begun to identify whether patients who undergo lumpectomy can avoid radiation without compromising outcomes.

Two recent prospective clinical trials observed a favorable outcome among older women with stage 1, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, even with omission of radiotherapy.

"These studies showed that whether or not older women with small tumors receive radiation, they live the same amount of time," says Shumway. "Radiation does not appear to prolong survival. Even though it does significantly decrease the chance of the tumor coming back, after 10 years it was only a 10 percent recurrence rate without radiation. With radiation, it would reduce the recurrence rate to about 2 percent."

Put another way, he notes, 90 percent of these patients would not benefit from radiation and would do well with a lumpectomy alone, as long as they are compliant with endocrine therapy for five years.

Have these findings changed the way physicians treat this subset of patients?

Not much.

"There was some change, mainly in the oldest and sickest patients, but 60 percent of patients older than age 80 still receive radiation," says Shumway. "My goal with this study was to investigate how physicians view the option of omitting radiotherapy, with the goal of understanding more about why practice patterns haven't changed.

"Until now, no one had asked them."

Split opinions in practice, perception

U-M researchers mailed a survey to 879 surgeons and 713 radiation oncologists who regularly treat breast cancer. The survey questions evaluated physician attitudes, knowledge, communication and recommendations regarding the omission of radiation therapy in older women with early stage breast cancer.

In his large national sample, published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, researchers found that 40 percent of surgeons and 20 percent of radiation oncologists were uncomfortable with omitting radiation after lumpectomy.

A sizable minority in both specialties erroneously associated radiotherapy in this scenario with improvement in survival for early stage patients. They also overestimated the risk of local recurrence if radiation is omitted.

Additionally, clinicians who overestimated the benefits of radiotherapy were more likely to consider radiotherapy omission to be an unreasonable option.

To better assess attitudes, the survey proposed specific patient scenarios. In one scenario, physicians were asked if they would recommend radiation to an unhealthy 81-year-old woman who was a borderline surgical candidate.

One-third said they would -; a margin that surprised the research team.

"The finding that we didn't expect was that surgeons are generally more uncomfortable with the idea of omitting radiation than radiation oncologists are," says Shumway. "It's viewed as a departure from the standard of care."

The pressure of patient expectations

A majority of surveyed physicians reported that patients want the most aggressive treatment, even if the benefit is small, and that it takes more effort to tell patients that they do not need radiation than it does to recommend it.

"It's important to recognize that this is a controversial area," says Shumway. "You can't say that offering radiation to older women is wrong. It really is a patient-driven decision, and it depends on the patient's own values and preferences, in addition to her risk of recurrence and overall health."

As the point of first contact for breast cancer patients, surgeons have a tremendous influence on how patients choose treatment options.

Which is why Shumway thinks they could play a crucial role in counseling older women about options for less aggressive therapy.

"The population is aging, and this is going to be an issue that affects more women," says Shumway. "There is increasing attention given to considerations that are unique to older patients -; and in this case, their vulnerability for overtreatment."

Shumway's future work will focus on developing interventions to help patients make fully informed decisions and understand the concept of competing causes of mortality.

"We're searching for innovative ways of helping patients make fully informed, high-quality decisions that are consistent with their own values and preferences," says Shumway. "Our study provides a detailed view into the physician perspective on how the decision is made to omit radiotherapy. We hope this insight will be useful in improving delivery of individualized care for older women with early stage breast cancer."
Paul Melquist of St. Paul, Minn., has a message for the people who wrote the Affordable Care Act: "Quit wrecking my health care."

Teri Goodrich, of Raleigh, N.C., has the same complaint. "We're getting slammed. We didn't budget for this," she said.

Millions of people have gained health insurance because of the federal health law. Millions more have seen their existing coverage improved.

But one small slice of the population  including Melquist and Goodrich  are unquestionably worse off. They are healthy people who buy their own coverage but earn too much to qualify for help paying their premiums. And the premium hikes that are being announced as enrollment looms for next year  in some states, increases topping 50 percent  will make their situations more miserable.

Exactly how big is this group? According to Mark Farrah Associates, a health care analysis firm, as of 2017 there were 17.6 million people in the individual market, 5.4 million of whom bought policies outside the health exchanges, where premium help is not available. Combine that with the percentage of people who bought insurance on the exchanges but earned too much (more than four times the federal poverty level, or about $48,000 for an individual) to get premium subsidies, and the estimate is 7.5 million, or 43 percent of the total individual market purchasers, according to insurance industry consultant Robert Laszewski.

And who are these people?

"They're early retirees," said Laszewski. "They're people working part time who have substantial outside income. They're people who are self-employed of any age, people who are small employers."

Melquist is one of those early retirees. He and his wife are both 59. He worked in the defense industry and retired at the end of 2016.

He said he always planned to retire at age 55, but ended up working longer in part because he knew health insurance costs were rising. When he did retire and sought to purchase coverage for himself and his wife, "I was shocked to find out how bad it actually was."

For a bronze-level plan with a health savings account, Melquist said, "we pay $15,000 a year" in premiums "and the first $6,550 [for health care expenses] for each of us comes out of our pocket. So basically you could be looking at $30,000 out-of-pocket before anything gets covered."

Insurance is important, Melquist said, particularly if a catastrophic health issue were to hit either of them. In the meantime, he can still pay the bills. But he's frustrated. "I'm not eating dog food, but I'm also not able to do stuff for my grandchildren," he said, like help with college costs. "It's not that my life is falling apart, but the [Affordable Care Act] has ruined a lot of things I'd like to have done."

The good news, if there is any, for Melquist is that premiums in Minnesota are going up by only small amounts for 2018, and in some cases going down, due to a reinsurance program passed by the state legislature that will help cover the costs for some of the state's sickest patients in the individual market. That helps keep premiums from spiking even more.

But that won't be the case in Raleigh, where Goodrich and her husband, John Kistle, work as private consultants in the energy industry.

Goodrich, 59, and Kistle, 57, bought insurance through the ACA exchange in their state for three years. When premiums reached $1,600 per month with deductibles of $7,500 each, however, "it was just unbelievable. We decided just not to get insurance," Goodrich said.

Eventually, they bought short-term plans that cover only catastrophic illness or injury. That insurance is not considered adequate under the ACA, so the couple could be liable for a tax penalty as well.

Goodrich, who volunteers to help people with their taxes in her spare time, said she has run the numbers and thinks that insurance is so expensive where she lives that the couple will be exempt from the penalty. That's because the cheapest insurance would cost the couple more than 8.16 percent of their income. Under the health law's provisions, the penalty does not apply above that because insurance is considered unaffordable.

"We try to be good citizens and do the right thing," she said. "Next year, we're trying to figure out how to make less than $64,000 so we can get subsidies." That amount is equal to 400 percent of the federal poverty line for two people, the cutoff for premium assistance because Congress assumed those who earned more could afford to buy affordable coverage.

Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown University who specializes in health insurance, agreed that this is a population "that faced big hikes" in premiums when the health law took effect.

But, she said, in many cases people in the individual market were previously paying artificially low premiums. Some of those old policies had substandard coverage. For others, however, the higher prices are the result of one of the fundamental changes enacted by the health law. "These are folks who were benefiting from a system that was affordable solely because insurers were able to keep sick people out," Corlette said, adding that they are now being asked "to pay more of the true cost of health care."

This is a population that is also more likely to vote Republican, said Laszewski, "which is one of the grand ironies now."

Republicans in Congress and President Donald Trump have not been able to "repeal and replace" the health law. But some of their efforts are undermining it  primarily the administration's threat to stop paying billions of dollars to insurers in subsidies help some lower-income people pay their out-of-pocket costs. The uncertainty surrounding those subsidies has led insurers to boost premiums next year by an estimated 20 percent. Those who get premium help from the government won't have to pay more. But those who are paying the full freight will.

Also driving up premiums for next year, said Corlette, are the administration's threats not to enforce the individual requirement for insurance and its decision to cancel most advertising and outreach for the year's open-enrollment period that begins Nov. 1. Both of those provisions bring more healthy people into the insurance pool to help spread costs.

"One could argue that the 2014 premium increases were painful, but it was about getting us to a system that was more fundamentally fair and just," Corlette said. "Now, it's completely unnecessary price increases for unsubsidized folks that could so easily be avoided by a rational political system."
Dr. Olga Meave didn't mind the dry, 105-degree heat that scorched this Central Valley city on a recent afternoon.

The sweltering summer days remind her of home in Sonora, Mexico. So do the people of the Valley  especially the Latino first-generation immigrants present here in large numbers, toiling in the fields or piloting big rigs laden with fruits and vegetables.

Meave's sense of familiarity with the region and its residents drew her to an ambitious program in Bakersfield whose goal is to train and retain doctors in medically underserved areas.

She is now in her third and final year of the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program, operated by Clinica Sierra Vista, a chain of more than 30 clinics, mostly in the Central Valley. Meave, 34, graduated from medical school in Mexico and has pursued additional education and training in the U.S.

She plans to practice in Bakersfield after she completes her residency next year.

"The goal is for [doctors in training] to come for three years and stay for 20," said Carol Stewart, director of the program.

Rio Bravo is one of eight teaching health centers in California and 57 nationwide that were created by the Affordable Care Act in 2010 to serve areas with large unmet medical needs.

This academic year, there are 732 residents in teaching health centers across 24 states.

Unlike the Affordable Care Act itself, these teaching centers enjoy bipartisan support among federal lawmakers, who say such hubs will alleviate the primary care doctor shortage. But long-term funding is still in question. Last week, Congress agreed to temporarily finance the teaching health centers through the end of the year while debating whether to extend funding beyond that. President Donald Trump later signed the temporary extension.

A residency is a stage of graduate medical training that's required after medical school and before doctors can set up their own practices. Most family practice residencies last three years.

Traditional residency programs are generally based at large, urban hospitals in areas where there are typically a sufficient number of doctors to go around.

The first teaching health centers began training residents in 2011. They operate primarily out of clinics in rural communities and other areas where primary care physicians are in short supply.

The ideal ratio of primary care physicians to patients is about 1 for every 2,000, Stewart said. The ratio in east Bakersfield "is more like 1 to 6,000, so we have a lot of catching up to do."

Though teaching health centers remain relatively new, experts say they're already succeeding: Their residents generally stay in the regions where they trained, putting down roots in communities with a big demand for health care.

In June, the Rio Bravo program graduated its first class of six doctors. Two joined the staff at a Clinica Sierra Vista clinic in east Bakersfield. The other four are practicing in clinics serving low-income communities in Sacramento, Riverside and Los Angeles counties.

Stewart estimates that the six recent graduates together saw nearly 10,000 patients during their three years of training.

"That's a significant contribution," she said.

Though not all teaching health centers have affiliations with medical schools,

the Rio Bravo program has an academic partnership with the UCLA medical school, which helps develop its curriculum, Stewart said. It also coordinates with a local hospital, Kern Medical, where residents complete rotations in different specialties related to family medicine.

A 2015 survey by the American Association of Teaching Health Centers found that 82 percent of their graduates stay in primary care and 55 percent remain in underserved communities. By contrast, about a quarter of graduates from traditional residency programs remain in primary care and work in underserved areas, according to the same survey.

Many graduates of teaching health centers have an incentive to stay in these areas because they may qualify for other programs that offer perks, such as help with paying off medical school loans.

The centers take their patient populations into consideration when selecting applicants. For instance, Rio Bravo aims to train culturally sensitive doctors, given the large local immigrant population, Stewart said.

It looks for applicants with ties to the Valley or who come from the cultures  and speak the languages  that are familiar to patients they will serve.

Meave doesn't have a personal connection to the Valley, but she worked with low-income patients in Mexico. She has found that the population in the Valley, and its needs, aren't much different from those in her home country.

At Clinica Sierra Vista, she sees patients who haven't been to a doctor in decades. "They've never had a physical exam, never had their eyes checked.  They just deal with their aches and pains," she said. "I think they feel happy that I can understand them and excited that someone from the same background is providing them care."

Teaching health centers are financed by federal grants administered by the Health Resources & Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Congress determines the amount and duration of the funding. The current allocation, an extension of the two-year funding that expired Sept. 30, runs through the end of the year.

In July, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) introduced legislation that would fund the program for an additional three years at about $157,000 a year per student  a total of $116.5 million annually.

The amount proposed would be a 65 percent increase from the current funding of $95,000 a year per resident.

Lawmakers are likely to begin debating the funding measure this week, and it is still subject to change.

"I'm glad we moved forward with a short-term extension of the  program, but we also must advance a long-term solution to provide certainty for our teaching health centers, their residents, and their patients," McMorris Rodgers said in a prepared statement. "Without a sustainable funding level  the program will unravel."

Should that happen, California's teaching health centers could draw from a pot of money administered by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to pay for the remainder of the current residents' training.

Programs in other states may not have the same safety net.

"If [federal funding] went away, our residency program would have to close," said Dr. Darrick Nelson, director of the teaching health center at Hidalgo Medical Services in Lordsburg, N.M.

Lordsburg, with a population of roughly 2,500, is a "small railroad town," Nelson said, and like many rural towns desperately needs versatile primary care doctors.

"What you're getting is three doctors for the price of one," he said. "You get someone who can do pediatrics, someone who can do obstetrical care and someone who can do internal medicine."

In California's Central Valley, there is no medical school, and new doctors often avoid the area in favor of richer urban centers, where they can make more money.

Earlier this year, lawmakers earmarked $465 million from the state's new tobacco tax to boost payments for some Medi-Cal providers, which could help make poor areas like the Central Valley more attractive to doctors.

At Clinica Sierra Vista's location in east Bakersfield, where Meave's residency is based, 75 percent of patients are covered by Medi-Cal  the state's version of the federal Medicaid program for low-income residents  and 15 percent are uninsured, Stewart said. Asthma, diabetes and other chronic conditions are major health problems.

Veronica Ayon, a former farmworker, is one of Meave's patients. Like her doctor, she is a native of Sonora.

Ayon, 48, was treated for cervical cancer in 2010 and last year underwent surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor. She feels comfortable with Meave because of their similar backgrounds and language, she said.

"She is very special to me," Ayon said, speaking in Spanish inside her home in the town of Shafter, about 20 miles north of Bakersfield. "She explains things at a level I can understand."

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation.
The US military replaced its Humvees in Afghanistan and Iraq, with heavier, better armored vehicles because of the threat from roadside bombs. But that approach may not work In a high-tech conflict, argues manufacturer AM General. You might want to go back to the Humvee. Why? Because its simpler. There are no electronic engine controls, no electronic braking, no circuitry that a sophisticated enemy could hack with malware, scramble with directed microwaves, or fry with the electromagnetic pulse from an atomic bomb or other source.

Two years after losing the contract for the next-gen, high-tech Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), AM General is doubling down on the Humvee and making a virtue of its simplicity. Sure, the company has upgraded the vehicle since its introduction back in 1984 with more powerful engines, tougher transmissions, and stronger frames. That increased the maximum weight of a fully-loaded Humvee from 9,000 lbs to 14,000 lbs now, dramatically increasing capacity for cargo, weapons, and armor  even as reliability has increased four-fold.

AM Generals Keep It Simple, Stupid strategy seems to be working. Last August, the Army awarded the company a $1.6 billion contract to buy Humvees for Afghanistan. This September, the Army awarded a $2.2 billion contract for Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Jordan, Slovenia, Bahrain, Columbia, Bosnia and Kenya, of which $550 million is already on order. The US Army has even restarted buying new Humvees for its own use, mainly in the National Guard, as well as overhauling and upgrading the more than 100,000 Humvees already in service.
Rand Corp analysis  Although armed conflict between the United States and China is not likely, the possibility is real enough to require prudent policies and effective deterrent measures. In the past six years, the range and capabilities of Chinese air and sea defenses have continued to grow, making U.S. forward basing more vulnerable and the direct defense of U.S. interests in the East Asia region potentially more costly. Neither the United States nor China is likely to employ nuclear weapons, but even an initially localized conflict could quickly spread into the economic, cyber, and space realms, doing considerable damage to both sides. One means of improving the prospects for direct defense and reducing the risk of escalation is for the United States to continue to enable the capabilities and buttress the resolve of Chinas neighbors. And a parallel effort should be made to draw China into cooperative security endeavors, not only to avoid the appearance of an anti-China coalition but also to obtain greater contributions to international security from the worlds second strongest power.

Rand Recommendations

* The United States should focus on deescalating localized clashes in East Asia.

* The United States should move sooner rather than later  before its power position in the region diminishes further  to constructively engage China across a range of potential flash points, such as conflicting maritime claims in the South China Sea, cross-Strait relations, issues on the Korean Peninsula.

* The United States should maintain a dense network of diplomatic relationships with China while strengthening channels for crisis communications, including regular leader-to-leader, military-to-military contacts.

By 2030, Chinas gross domestic product (GDP) could exceed that of the United States. If it chose, China could therefore become a more capable opponent than either the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany at their peak. Yet China has shown no interest in matching U.S. military expenditures, achieving a comparable global reach, or assuming substantial defense commitments beyond its immediate periphery. Such intentions might change, but if they do, the United States would probably receive considerable warning, given the lead times needed to develop such capabilities.

Rand reviews possible conflict areas

* Korea

Rand list Korea first because it is the most likely locus of conflict in Asia, although not necessarily of a Sino-American conflict. Under most scenarios, China is unlikely to intervene in defense of North Korea, its increasingly estranged ally, but China might well become involved in pursuit of its own interests. a North Korean collapse could emanate from a failed economy; a contested power transition after the death of Kim Jong-un, who is young but seeming to be in poor health; or defeat in a war with South Korea. In any such scenario, the situation in North Korea would likely be chaotic. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of civilians would migrate toward North Koreas borders in search of food and safety from clashes between rival armed groups. Collapse of central control would also jeopardize the security of the norths weapons of mass destruction and missile assets. China could send sizable forces across the Yalu River to sort out refugee flows on the Korean side of its border. The immediate operational concerns for United States Forces Korea and Combined Forces Command, and perhaps also for China, would be to secure ballistic missile launch and weapons of mass destruction sites.

Nextbigfuture does not believe China and the USA will have any accidental or intentional conflict over North Korea. There could be a war involving Korea but it will be a North Korea versus South Korea-USA conflict.

* South China Sea

Rand notes Chinas buildup of capability and islands in the South China Sea and its aggressive regional claims.

Nextbigfuture does not believe the USA will fight China over South China Sea claims. The US can bolster South East Asian militaries but China will end up getting the bulk of the South China Sea.

* Taiwan

Nextbigfuture also does not believe that the USA will actually fight over Taiwan. China would mess things up by trying to forcefully repress Taiwan. China has to work long term to improve its economy and provide and prove non-repressive treatment of Hong Kong and Taiwan to win Taiwan over.

* India

Nextbigfuture believes that China will be more powerful than India for the next few decades. There will be no major China-India conflict.

* Japan

* Cyber

* Economic war

Nextbigfuture believes there will be economic disagreements and competition. Any full scale trade war will be temporary.

Rand now rates rate conflict originating in the South China Sea as more likely than one over Taiwan.

Nextbigfuture recommendations

The US needs focus on improving technology, education and economy. The US needs to reduce military expenditures and commitments. In the modern world there are no gains to be had from major power military conflict.
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Business fraternity condemns Gauchans murder

Private business fraternity has strongly condemned the murder of Sharad Kumar Gauchan, Chairman of Federation of Contractors' Associations of Nepal (FCAN), who was shot dead in a broad daylight in Shantinagar, Kathmandu on Monday.
Dr KCs health deteriorates on 5th day of hunger strike

Dr Govinda KC has been given oxygen support after his health condition started deteriorating on the fifth day of his 13th hunger strike on Monday.
Govt rolls back decision to transfer caan director general

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has rolled back its decision to transfer Sanjiv Gautam, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan),
Manang jeep accident: Injured passengers airlifted to Kathmandu (Update)

The injured passengers of a jeep accident at Nasong Rural Municipality in Manang on Sunday evening have been airlifted to Kathmandu for further medical treatment.
KMG awards Kantipur Swarnapur winner Rijal with 1kg gold

Kantipur Media Group (KMG) on Monday handed over 1kg gold to winner Kamala Rijal, 50, under the Kantipur Swarnapur Subscription scheme.
Ivor Prickett spent months on assignment for The New York Times in Mosul, Iraq, documenting the battle to recapture the city from Islamic State militants and the aftermath. See more of his reports from a city in ruin here.

 This is the other arm. Was she wearing a black abaya? Daoud Salem Mahmoud shouted as he lifted the bone from the rubble and held it out to the small group looking on. A piece of cloth still clung to the sinews. This one is a black abaya.

Mr. Mahmoud and a small band of men had picked carefully through the remains of a demolished city street of Mosul, digging through personal belongings and the crumbled walls of family homes.

The work was slow and laborious. They were searching for the dead.

Two months after the ferocious, nine-month battle to liberate Mosul from Islamic State militants, much of the city lay in ruins. Government forces supported by coalition planes had carried out repeated strikes, and the militants had fiercely defended their positions. Thousands may have died in the fighting, many lying uncounted beneath the rubble.

Iraqi Civil Defense workers searching for the bodies of a family killed in airstrikes in June.

Civil Defense workers digging out the bodies of two people killed in their home during an airstrike.

Carrying a body out of a home.

Now that the fight has moved on, the city has turned its attention to recovering those bodies to return them to their families. That task has fallen to the citys Civil Defense workers, mostly trained as firefighters and rescue workers.

They are focused on the devastated Old City district, where Islamic State fighters made their last stand. The workers move cautiously to avoid leftover bombs and unexploded suicide belts. In August, one of their officers was killed and three crew members were wounded when they disturbed explosives.

It took most of the day for a rotating crew of more than 10 men using an excavator to retrieve just two bodies. The men have months of work ahead of them.

This day, the crew worked slowly and methodically as Sondus Mazaal, her husband and her elderly aunt Nadhira Aziz waited anxiously for any signs of their relatives or their personal belongings.

Mrs. Aziz, the homeowner, sat in a plastic chair 15 feet from the excavator. At times she was engulfed in dust whipped up as the driver dumped mounds of stone and parts of her house beside her, but she refused to move.

She directed the driver and shouted at the men on the ground to retrieve books and bags that she saw poking out of the debris. By the end of the day she was surrounded by a pile of tattered belongings that she wanted to bring with her. When the men said they were unable to bring all of the belongings with them she almost refused to leave.

Nadhira Aziz watched as Iraqi Civil Defense workers dug out the bodies of her sister and niece from her house in the Old City where they were killed by an airstrike in June.

There are still dangers.

A week earlier, the men said, someone shot at them and immediately fled. It was hard to fathom how an ISIS fighter might still be alive months after the battle had ended, and in an area that was largely razed, but the men were on high alert.

The sprawling ancient quarter is now largely sealed off from residents who used to live there, but soon after the crew arrived on this recent morning, some of the group began shouting.

They had come across a young man hiding in a partially collapsed building. He had managed to survive in an area cut off from the rest of the city months after the fight had ended. He denied being an ISIS fighter. But he was found with a mobile phone, some money and four automatic rifle magazines.

A man suspected of being an Islamic State militant was found hiding in the rubble.

Nadhira Aziz directed a recovery crew to the locations of the buried bodies of her sister and niece.

An Iraqi Civil Defense worker who had been digging for the bodies of two civilians throwing an unexploded suicide belt into the Tigris.

The men handed him over to the federal police unit stationed nearby and continued their work.

They havent been paid in months, but see this as their duty to the community, said Rabia Ibrahim Hassan, who is leading the recovery efforts. We will continue until we have finished our work here, Mr. Hassan said.

Earlier in the day, Mrs. Mazaal had confirmed that the arm bone belonged to her sister. Now, after hours of digging, the crew found her mother in what was once a basement.

Iraqi Civil Defense workers recovered the body of Sondus Mazaals mother, who was killed by an airstrike in Mosuls Old City in June.

Much of the room was still intact, a shelving unit standing along one wall. Her body was almost fully intact, but heavily decomposed after months buried under debris.

Three men worked delicately, digging by hand to remove the mortar and twisted metal around her body. They wanted to remove her body as carefully as possible.

It took most of the day for a rotating crew of more than ten men using an excavator to retrieve just these two bodies. The men have months of work ahead of them.

There was no time to grieve as the men carried the three bodies through the destroyed streets over piles of masonry, past uncleared improvised explosives.

They are also being asked to retrieve those who were hastily buried during the months of fighting before their families fled.

Five members of Fouad Mohammed Sadis family died during one week in June. As the push to retake the Old City was in full swing, his wife, his 10-year-old daughter and his brothers wife were killed when their house was hit by what he believed was a heavy artillery strike aimed at targeting ISIS militants in the area.

They told us to stay at home and then they bombed us, Mr. Sadi said.

Mr. Sadi and his brother survived and early the next morning, under continued shelling, buried the bodies before they fled. Mr. Sadi has one remaining daughter and they now live with relatives on the east side of Mosul.

He returned with the Civil Defense to the spot where he had buried his family to exhume their bodies from the shallow grave on the outskirts of the Old City and give them a proper burial.

Leyla Hasan Said sat beside the bodies of five of her relatives and others belonging to another family after workers recovered their remains.

Iraqi Civil Defense workers and Mr. Sadis relatives carried the bodies of his wife, daughter and sister-in-law through his heavily destroyed neighborhood in the Old City.

Mr. Sadi wept as helped to lower the bodies of his wife, daughter and two brothers into the ground.

Under Mr. Sadis direction, the team of ten men dug into the rocky ground. It didnt take them long to hit the wooden panels Mr. Sadi had used to crudely cover the bodies. The men removed the remains and placed them in white body bags, as Mr. Sadi leaned in to try and identify his family. There was no time to grieve as the men carried the three bodies through the destroyed streets over piles of masonry, past uncleared improvised explosives.

Mr. Sadis two brothers were killed that same week in June, when their home was brought down by an airstrike aimed at targeting ISIS militants in the area. On the same day he dug up the bodies of his wife and daughter, he watched as the Civil Defense workers recovered the remains of his two brothers from what was left of their house.

Before the sunset, Mr. Sadi buried them in four graves, side-by-side in a cemetery in western Mosul.

He never broke down, but he wept quietly throughout the day as he kept himself busy directing the workers.

As he placed the bodies of his wife and daughter into the ground, he dropped his head and stood inside the grave for a moment. It seemed like he might never come out of the hole.

But he still had to bury his brothers.
MCOCA and UAPA: How the application of both are important in terror cases

Why cases against alleged Lashkar man, Abdul Karim Tunda are falling like 9 pins

Exaggeration, sensationalism: Delhi police does it once again

Abdul Karim Tunda held guilty in 1996 Sonipat blast case, sentencing tomorrow

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Terrorist Abdul Karim Tunda has been pronounced guilty in 1996 Sonipat bomb blast case by Sonipat Court. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on Tuesday.

Twin blasts had rocked Sonipats on December 28, 1996, injuring around a dozen people.

A close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and top LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, an "expert bomb maker", Tunda is accused of masterminding over 40 cases of bomb blasts in Mumbai, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Hyderabad and Surat.

After allegedly masterminding 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, in 1994, he fled to Bangladesh where he taught making bombs to jihadi elements and in 1998, he acted as 'mentor' to give training to younger generation of Lashkar operatives in terror camps in Pakistan.

In 1994, Tunda's name surfaced in Chattisgarh Express bomb blast near Ghaziabad railway station that claimed 19 lives.

In 1997, after returning to India, he was involved in a bomb blast that took place near Punjabi Bagh in west Delhi in a Blueline bus that killed at least four people and injured around 24 people.

In 2001, after attack on Parliament, India demanded Tunda's extradition from Pakistan. Tunda's name was on number 15 in a dossier of "most wanted terrorists" that India handed over to Pakistan after 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

He is also believed to be guiding the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which later turned into Indian Mujahideen. Besides that, he was planning to 'recruit' Rohingyas from Myanmar to target Buddhists there.

He had also tried to carry out serial explosions in the national capital Delhi, just before the Commonwealth Games in 2010, but the plan was foiled as his accomplices were arrested.

70-year-old Tunda is one of the prized catch by the Delhi police in the war against terror , who took shelter in various countries after fleeing India 20 years back. He also had a major hand in spreading Laskhar-e-Taiba's network outside Jammu and Kashmir.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 15:39 [IST]
Litmus test

Since the surprise announcement of the three-party leftist electoral alliance, there are concerns in certain quarters over the fate of the upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections.
JEE Main 2023 exam dates to be out soon: Check details

African national tied to pole, beaten with sticks in Delhi

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

A shocking video of brutal attack on a Nigerian man accused of theft and drugs being beaten up by a mob after tying him up to a pole in Delhi's Malviya Nagar emerged on Monday.

The incident took place on September 24 in Malviya Nagar in south Delhi. After being beaten brutally, the man was jailed.

In the video, a Nigerian whose name and nationality are yet to be identified, could be seen being tied to a street light post and thrashed with sticks and iron rods by the mob.

#WATCH Nigerian national tied to a pole and beaten up by locals for alleged theft in Delhi's Malviya Nagar (24.09.2017) pic.twitter.com/3zWgbeqvN5  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

The man is seen with feet tied to a post, begging for mercy as locals keep hitting him with sticks.

A case has been filed by a local resident after the incident reportedly claimed that the man was involved in a theft.

Last year, a Congolese national was killed in the national capital, triggering a massive outrage.

OneIndia News (with agency inputs)
Who will win Amethi? BJP, Cong relying on 'borrowed' players; SP banking on OBC support

Major accident averted as light aircraft crash-lands near Amethi in UP

In UP's Amethi, one injured after falling off train

After Rahul Gandhi, BJP heavyweights to visit Amethi

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani are set to visit Amethi, three days after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi went there.

Union Minister of Textiles and Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani is scheduled to arrive on Monday, while BJP chief Amit Shah will visit on October 10, a statement issued by the district administration said.

Both the leaders are likely to announce a number of schemes at Amethi, which also happens to be Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituency.

Irani will lay the foundation stones of an FM radio station, two Krishi Vigya Kendras and a dam at Pipri village.

She will then visit a unit of the Steel Authority of India in Jagdishpur, an industrial area in Amethi.

Amethi, which has traditionally been a Congress bastion, had in 2014 Lok Sabha elections witnessed a high-pitched electoral battle between Gandhi and Irani.

Though Irani lost to the Congress scion, she managed to reduce his victory margin from around 3.70 lakh in 2009 to 1.07 lakh in 2014.

In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, the BJP won six of the 10 Assembly seats falling under the parliamentary constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli. Four of them were in Amethi.

Party sources said the upcoming visit of the senior BJP leaders was aimed at sending a clear message that the current regime believed in all-round development of the state and was not meting out any "step-motherly treatment" to the areas where the BJP had failed to make a mark.

The Congress vice president had during his visit here on October 5 accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of re-inaugurating the projects launched by the previous UPA regime in the district.

He had also mounted a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and asked him to address unemployment problem and farmers issues, and dared him to allow the Congress to resolve the problems in six months.

OneIndia News (with agency inputs)

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 12:03 [IST]
All India truckers strike against GST begins

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A 36 hour nation wide strike starting today has begun. Truck owners and operators are protesting against the disruptive policies under Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demanded the inclusion of diesel in the new indirect tax's ambit.

Supplies of commodities including food are likely to be affected due to the proposed token strike. The post GST scenario has critically impaired the transport trade. The leadership of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and other transport associations have proclaimed the two day token nationwide strike starting from 8 a.m. of October 9 (Monday) to 8 p.m. of October 10. We also support this," Calcutta Goods Transport Association (CGTA) President Prabhat Kumar Mittal told reporters.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 8:00 [IST]
Arunachal BJP MP urges govt for release of youth taken away by China's PLA in 2015

Arunachal chopper crash: Soldiers bodies in cardboard boxes, Army calls it aberration

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

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There was an outrage after bodies of the soldiers killed in the Arunachal Pradesh chopper crash were sent in cardboard boxes. Images of the same surfaced on the social media, but the Army countered it by saying that it was an aberration.

"Seven young men stepped out into the sunshine yesterday to serve their motherland, India. This is how they came home," tweeted former Northern Army commander Lt Gen (Retd) HS Panag, along with the images of the bodies.

This prompted the Army to come out with a tweet saying the wrapping of the bodies with local resources was an "aberration" and that the fallen soldiers are always given full military honour.

Reacting to the issue, the Army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information tweeted that the carriage of the mortal remains in body bags, wooden boxes and coffins will be ensured.

"Fallen soldiers (are) always given full military honour. Carriage of mortal remains in body bags, wooden boxes, coffins will be ensured," it said.

The photographs were taken when the bodies were in Guwahati, as per an official. Lt Gen (Retd) Panag said proper military body bags must be used to transport bodies from forward locations until ceremonial coffins were available. Several people on twitter also expressed their anguish after the images surfaced.

Five IAF personnel, including two pilots, and two armymen were killed when the Mi-17 V5 chopper crashed on Friday morning in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 7:06 [IST]
'Kantara' box office: Even as Bollywood's Akshays and Ajays struggle, this one hits Rs 75-crore mark

Bengaluru potholes: Woman pillion rider killed; BBMP sets 10 day deadline to fill up

India

oi-Madhuri

Bengaluru roads are plagued by potholes, a 47-year-old woman became the latest victim, who was killed due to a dangerous crater at the Nayandahalli junction in Bengaluru.

The deceased has been identified as Radha Anjanappa, a resident of Bengaluru's Shyampura near Arabic College.

Radha, pillion rider came under the wheels of a truck when her nephew Ravi Kumar who was riding the vehicle lost control while negotiating a bad stretch at Nayandahalli junction and crashed to his left, and his aunt Radha to the right. The lorry's left front wheel ran over Radha's neck. She died instantly. Radha and Kumar were also wearing helmets.

The duo was headed to Radha's parents' house in Ramanagara, about 60km from Bengaluru. However, Byatarayanapura traffic police have arrested truck driver Ramesh and seized the vehicle.

Radha's body was later shifted to Victoria Hospital for postmortem and handed over to her family members. According to the Shiva Kumar, DCP (traffic west) said,''The accident stretch is in a bad state, damaged further by Namma Metro construction. The condition of the road might have been one of the main reasons for the accident.''

Mayor N Sampath Raj, who visited the spot, said,''There is no passing the buck. We'll pay Rs 5 lakh relief to the woman's family."

The accident comes just four days after the tragic death of Sagai Mary and Antony Joseph who fell from their two-wheeler and got run over by a bus on Sirsi Circle flyover.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike said that it was hopeful the 16,000 potholes that dot the city's roads will be filled up in 10 days.

OneIndia News
Setting up of Haj Committees: State to inform SC in two weeks

Centre drafts proposal to abolish Haj subsidy

India

oi-PTI

Ministry of minority affairs committee has recommended reducing embarkation points for Haj pilgrimage from 21 to nine.

Abolishing subsidy for Haj pilgrims and allowing women devotees above 45 to travel in a group of at least four without a male are some of the key highlights of a proposed Haj policy drafted by a committee appointed by the Centre, sources said.

The proposed Haj Policy 2018-22, by a panel headed by former secretary Afzal Amanullah, also recommends bringing down the number of embarkation points (EPs) from which pilgrims can take flights to Saudi Arabia from the present 21 to nine.

The draft was submitted to Union minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

"The 2018 Haj pilgrimage will be in line with the new Haj policy. It is a better policy, looking at the facilities proposed. It will be a transparent, people-friendly policy. It will ensure safety and security of pilgrims," Naqvi said.

The policy has been drafted in light of a 2012 Supreme Court order asking the Centre to abolish the Haj subsidy gradually by 2022, sources in the ministry said.

"The highlight of the policy is abolishing the subsidy. Besides, it proposes another major reform of allowing women aged above 45 to undertake journey without male Mehram in a group of four," a ministry source said.

Till now, women devotees could not travel without a male Mehram. The term Mehram refers to a male a woman cannot marry at anytime in her life (i.e. father, brother or son etc)

Women aged below 45, however, will have to be accompanied by male Mehrams, according to the policy.

It proposes to increase the quota for Mehrams from 200 to 500.

The cut in funds meant for subsidy will be used for educational empowerment and welfare of Muslims, a source in the ministry said.

The policy suggests sending pilgrims by ship, relatively less expensive than flights. The policy says the Saudi government will be consulted regarding Haj travel by ship and thereafter floating an EOI (expression of interest) to gauge the market for such travel.

According to the policy, the nine EPs will be Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Cochin. It also proposes to build suitable Haj houses at these EPs "to which states and districts will be tagged properly".

"EPs are being reduced keeping in mind ship journeys. It proposes inviting global expressions of interest from vessel owners having a capacity of 4,000 plus passengers... Even if 10 such trips are made to Saudi Arabia, 40,000 to 50,000 pilgrims can easily be ferried," the source added.

The proposed policy aims at rationalising distribution of the Haj quota between the Haj Committee of India and private tour operators in the ratio of 70:30 for the next five years. It also stresses on breaking the cartel of contractors with a transparent bidding process.

India has an annual Haj quota of 1.70 lakh devotees.

The policy also proposes to ensure the stay of all Indian Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia within Mina.

PTI
The joy of our lives: Sushma Swaraj's husband warm birthday wishes for late leader

Remembering Sushma Swaraj on her death anniversary: Facts about Iron Lady of India

Check out how Sushma Swaraj celebrated Karva Chauth

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Oct 9: On Sunday, Hindu wives in various parts of the country, especially in northern and central India, were on fast as a part of Karva Chauth to pray for their husbands' long lives.

Like a typical 'loving' wife Union minister Sushma Swaraj too observed fast and did all the relevant rituals associated with Karva Chauth.

We must say India's external affairs minister, known for her prompt rescue operations for anyone stranded in foreign shores, was looking gorgeous in a red sari and gold jewellery.

Here you can watch a video tweeted by ANI to know how Swaraj observed Karva Chauth:

In her Karva Chauth celebrations, the Union minister was joined by several of her relatives and friends at her residence in the national capital.

India's external affairs minister is married to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and senior Supreme Court advocate Swaraj Kaushal. They have been married since 1975 and have a daughter together.

There has been a lot of debate over the Hindu ritual of observing fast for husbands by wives where the latter don't even drink water till the evening moon is sighted.

While liberal women detest Karva Chauth as regressive and anti-women, others say it's the wish of married women to observe the festival or not and nobody forces anybody to take part in the festivities.

In many cases, a lot of husbands to show solidarity to their wives remain without food and water throughout the day during Karva Chauth.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 10:08 [IST]
Only those from political families can eye a CMs post in Congress: Amit Shah

Uniform Civil Code in Himachal if BJP comes to power: Amit Shah

Congress questions BJP over Amit Shah's integrity

India

oi-PTI

Coming down heaving on Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys "unsolicited advice" that it should select its leaders on calibre, Congress on Monday asked if the BJP had chosen Amit Shah as chief for his "integrity and humane values".

Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an explanation on reports that the Universities Grants Commission (UGC) panel had suggested removing the words "Muslim" from Aligarh Muslim University and "Hindu" from Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

"The finance minister gave unsolicited advice to the Indian National Congress... We have never prescribed to the BJP who they have chosen in the past, and also in the present, as their president.

"But my query would be: was Shri Amit Shah chosen by the BJP as party president for his image, intellect, integrity and humane values?" Sharma asked.

Referring to the UGCs reported suggestion on AMU and BHU to ensure their secular nature, he told reporters that both universities had made important contributions.

"If this kind of recommendation is coming in, it shows the thinking of the people associated with the government. Hence, the prime minister should explain to the people of Varanasi, and also apprise Parliament," Sharma said.

The prime minister represents Varanasi constituency in the Lok Sabha.

Ahead of his US visit, Jaitley had yesterday said the Congress party was unlikely to substantially expand unless it "selects its leaders based on calibre and potential" and goes back to its original centrist position.

Jaitleys remarks, via video conference to the Berkeley India Conference, came less than a month after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had addressed students there.

In response to a question, Gandhi had said dynastic politics was a "problem" in India, but maintained that a large number of people in his party did not have a dynastic background.

PTI
CPI(M) has a problem with the Congress Bharat Jodo Yatra: Heres why

CPI(M) capable of giving suitable answer to saffron outfits: Sitharam Yechury

India

oi-PTI

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday slammed the RSS-BJP, saying the Left party was capable of giving a suitable answer to the saffron outfits, if not stop political violence.

The CPI(M) on Monday held a march till the BJP headquarters here to protest against the alleged saffron terror in Kerala and to counter the ongoing protest marches of the BJP against the alleged violence by the Left.

"We will not keep quite. We warn the BJP that if they do not stop violence then we will answer back. We will not bow down," Yechury said.

The march was led by Mr. Yechury, who was joined by former party general secretary Prakash Karat and other Polit Bureau members.

Addressing party cadres in front of the BJP headquarters, Yechury alleged that while the BJP was campaigning in Delhi against the "Left violence" in Kerala, it were continuing violence against the Left cadres.

Yechury referred to Sunday's incident in which RSS workers allegedly threw bombs at Left cadres in Kannur.

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 17:52 [IST]
JEE Main 2023 exam dates to be out soon: Check details

Delhi Metro fares to be hiked from today

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Amid strong opposition by the Delhi Government against hiking the prices of Delhi Metro, it has been decided that that fares will be hiked from October 10.

The decision was taken after a meeting of Delhi Metro Fare Fixation Committee on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, the Delhi Assembly passed the government resolution to oppose the proposed Metro fare hike, moved by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, with a voice vote.

The leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta, on Monday, claimed that rules stipulate that the state government must bear the full operational loses of the Metro Rail.

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"The Delhi government must provide an annual grant-in-aid of about Rs 3,000 crore if it wants the fare hike in Delhi Metro to put on hold," he said.

He alleged that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was "misleading" people when he says that the Centre and the Delhi government are equal partners in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), implying that both must bear equal operational loses.

The demand of Rs 3,000 crore from the Delhi government, in case of withdrawing the fare hike, scheduled to come into effect from October 10 (Today), was raised by the Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri.

OneIndia News
Local bodies to get share of taxes, royalty from mid-July

Newly formed local bodies will have to wait until the next fiscal year to get their share of revenue generated from value added tax and excise duty, and royalty generated from use of natural resources.
Delhi Police rules out racial angle in Nigerian man's thrashing

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

The Delhi Police on Monday said that thrashing of a Nigerian man in the national capital's Malviya Nagar area was not a 'racial' attack. Delhi's DCP (South) Ishwar Singh said that the foreign national was assaulted on suspicion of a theft, adding that a person has been arrested in connection with the incident so far.

In a video that surfaced earlier, a person of Nigerian nationality could be seen being tied to a street light post and thrashed with sticks and iron rods by a mob.

"Incident is of 24 September, when we arrested Nigerian national he didn't tell us he was beaten up. When the video surfaced got to know what happened. He was beaten up because of theft suspicion there is no racial basis," Singh told the media on Monday.

The DCP further said that beating up a person is not justified even if he was involved in stealing. He said that one person has been arrested after being identified from the video.

[African national tied to pole, beaten with sticks in Delhi]

The man could be seen with his feet tied to a post, begging for mercy as locals keep hitting him with sticks. A case has been filed by a local resident after the incident, reportedly claiming that the man was involved in a theft.

Last year, a Congolese national was killed in the national capital, triggering a massive outrage.

OneIndia News
Fire-fighting ops completed on Butcher Island:Mumbai Port

India

pti-PTI

Mumbai, October 9: Three days after the blaze broke out in a high-speed diesel tank on Butcher Island, the fire-fighting operation was "completed successfully" on Monday morning.

The island, officially known as Jawahar Dweep, houses a marine oil terminal of the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT). "Operation at Jawahar Dweep island is completed successfully," said Sanjay Bhatia, MbPT chairman.

Multiple agencies such as the MbPT, oil major BPCL (which owns the tank that caught fire), ONGC, state planning agency CIDCO and fire services of Maharashtra government carried out a joint operation to contain the fire, he said. Prima facie a lightning strike on Friday evening -- when Mumbai and surrounding areas received thundershowers -- triggered the fire, Bhatia said.

It will take another few hours for smouldering inside the tank to stop, he said.

Regular operations on the island will resume only after a thorough inspection of pipelines and other infrastructure, he said.

Mumbai fire brigade chief P S Rahangdale, who supervised the operation on behalf of the Mumbai fire brigade, said, "At present controlled-burning and extinguishing operation is in process. Very little high-speed diesel is left in the tank."

Tank number 13 of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) which caught fire had collapsed inwards a little, BPCL executive director Manohar Rao had said yesterday. BPCL has eight tanks on Butcher Island. The fire was limited to only one tank. No casualty was reported during the mishap. Rao had said the incident will not cause shortage of high-speed diesel in the market.

Before being transported to nearby refineries through underwater pipelines, crude oil and other commodities are offloaded at the Jawahar Dweep anchorage and stored in tanks.

PTI
If Cong is elected in HP, decision on 1 lakh govt jobs, pension scheme in 1st cabinet meet: Rahul

I accept Congress' mistakes: Rahul Gandhi

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Emphasising that the employment generation was the need of the hour, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that "excuses will not work" and the problem of unemployment will spiral out of control in a few years.

Speaking in Gujarat, he said the Congress government did better on job creation front, adding that he would still rate Congress regime "5 out of 10".

"Ye BJP extreme karti hai,Cong ko bhi jis tarah karna tha nahi kia. Humari galti maanta hoon (BJP does things in extreme. Congress also did not perform the way it should have. I accept our mistakes)," he said.

Ye BJP extreme karti hai,Cong ko bhi jis tarah karna tha nahi kia. Humari galti maanta hoon: RG on not strengthening small&medium businesses pic.twitter.com/qDUed38Ys7  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

Rahul said around 30,000 youths enter the job market every day in India and the government is able to generate only 450 jobs. He compared it with China and said they create around 50,000 jobs in a day.

"Excuses won't work, if in 5-10 years India doesn't employ 30,000-40,000 daily then no one will be able to control the anger that will spread," he added.

"Our record was better than their's, but even our record was 5 on 10," he said.

My family has GandhiJi's values. Felt bad when I saw body of my father's killer Prabhakaran.Told it to Priyanka,she said she felt bad too-RG pic.twitter.com/BPChHbK7WG  ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2017

He also said that the BJP has "opened his eyes" by criticising him, adding that many lessons were learned from 2014 elections defeat.

"BJP ne meri bahut madad ki ,2014 polls jo hum haare usse faaydemand cheez nahi ho sakti. Meri pitai kar-kar ke unhone meri aankhen khol di (BJP has helped me. Loss in 2014 Lok Sabha election was beneficial. By criticising me, they opened my eyes)

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 22:31 [IST]
IB steps in to probe Dawoods brother Iqbal Kaskar

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Intelligence Bureau has stepped in and is keeping a close tab on the probe against Iqbal Kaskar, brother of Dawood Ibrahim. The IB has taken a copy of the FIR which names Dawood Ibrahim in the extortion case.

The stepping in by the IB will help the Thane police probe the case further. Since the main accused Dawood and his brother Anees are out of the country, the IB would be in a better position to source information on them.

The Enforcement Directorate too has stepped in and is probing the financial transactions. The ED is probing if and how Kaskar laundered extorted money outside India as well as the alleged funding of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik by the Dawood gang. It is already investigating Naik in a separate PMLA case.

So far Kaskar has revealed the fact that he was in touch with his brother Anees and Dawood's wife Mehzabeen, who would act as a mediator between the two brothers. During his joint questioning by the IB and Thane police, Kaskar mentioned Mehzabeen's visit to Dubai last year.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 7:11 [IST]
ICICI Bank commits Rs 10 cr for welfare of armed forces

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, October 9: ICICI Bank Managing Director and CEO Chanda Kochhar said ICICI Bank committed a financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to the Indian Armed Forces.

The fund will be utilised towards welfare activities and betterment of the families of ex-servicemen who have lost their lives guarding the nation, ICICI, country's largest private sector lender said in a statement.

The contribution would be made in two equal tranches by the bank as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. A cheque worth Rs 5 crore was handed over to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here today as part of the initiative.

"While no amount of assistance is enough to fill the loss for the families, this gesture is our humble endeavour to contribute towards their betterment. Our assistance will aid the young children and widows of the soldiers to get an education thereby enabling them to gain knowledge, get a job and earn a sustainable livelihood," she said.

This fund will be used for two programmes. The first will be towards the post-graduation education of the widows of the soldiers and also support education for their wards. The second scheme will be to provide financial assistance for marriages of the daughters of ex-servicemen.

The Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) will undertake the administration of the programme. KSB is an apex body that formulates policies for resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependents.

PTI
FM Nirmala Sitharaman hints at possibility of Centre considering restoration of state status to J&K

In J&K, 14,000 dropouts find their way back to schools

One Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir

PMs dream of development in J&K is becoming a reality: Puri

J&K: 3 Hizbul terrorists gunned down by security forces in Shopian

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were gunned down by the security forces in Gatipora village of Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Monday, said reports.

Combing operations are currently underway.

Four terrorists were suspected to be holed up in Gatipora. One of the slain terrorists has been identified as one Abid.

Earlier today, in a major operation, the security forces gunned down top Jaish-e-Mohammad commander Khalid in an encounter at Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir.

On October 2, the Indian Army foiled infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir's Tangdhar area by killing two terrorists.

Kashmir has witnessed an increase in anti-insurgency operations after a rise in militant attacks following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July last year. More than 140 militants have reportedly been killed in the valley this year after security forces drew up a hit-list of top militant commanders.

OneIndia News
J&K: Top Jaish terrorist Khalid killed by Indian Army

India

oi-Madhuri

In a major operation, the security forces have gunned down top Jaish-e-Mohammad commander Khalid. The encounter took place at Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to media reports, top Jesh-e-Mohhammad operational chief Khalid is believed to be trapped in a School after hit by a bullet and failed attempt to attack an army convoy.

Khalid has been active since 2016 and is among the top five terror commanders, has been identified as the mastermind behind the BSF camp attack in Srinagar.

Khalid was leading a ring of 12 terrorists, 10 Pakistanis and 2 locals, who were targeting high-valued security establishments.

His name had cropped up for the first time in October 2016, when the Army busted a JeM module in Baramulla that was responsible for an attack on an army convoy in which two Army men and one cop were killed.

OneIndia News
MLA killing: NIA arrests Jharkhand cop for providing information to naxalites

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The National Investigation Agency has arrested a police official in connection with the killing of MLA Ramesh Munda. Sheshnath Singh, an ASI is accused of providing naxalites information about the movement of the MLA from Jharkhand which led to the killing.

Investigations have revealed that ASI Sheshnath Singh provided prior information about the movement of Munda to Naxals, who then attacked and killed him, an NIA spokesperson said here. Singh has been sent to policy custody till October 15, he said.

The NIA teams are also conducting searches at four locations in Ranchi today in connection with the case, the spokesperson said. Munda, who was a Janata Dal (U) MLA, was killed allegedly by Naxalites when he was delivering a speech at a function in Bundu in his assembly constituency Tamar on July 9, 2008. His two bodyguards were also killed in the attack.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 6:56 [IST]
NSUI activists protest against proposed fare hike; stop a metro train in Delhi

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, October 9: A group of NSUI activists protesting against the proposed fare hike which is scheduled to come into effect tomorrow stopped a metro train in its tracks on the Yellow Line on Monday.

The incident took place at the Vishwavidyalaya station of the busy corridor, connecting north Delhi to Gurgaon, around 12 pm. It briefly disrupted metro services on Line 2.

"NSUI Delhi president Akshay along with two other activists stopped the metro due to the unjustified fare hike. We demand that the proposed hike be rolled back and students be provided subsidised passes," an NSUI spokesperson said.

The Delhi government has been opposing the fare hike with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal even offering to take over the operations of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The Centre, however, told the Delhi government it would need to pay Rs 3,000 crore annually for five years if it wanted to stop the metro fare hike. If the hike is effected, the fares will go up by a maximum of Rs 10.

The existing fare structure is: up to 2 kms -- Rs 10, 2-5 kms -- Rs 15, 5-12 kms -- Rs 20, 12-21 kms -- Rs 30, 21-32 kms -- Rs 40 and for journeys beyond 32 kms -- Rs 50. From October 10, for a distance of up to two kilometres, the fare will remain Rs 10, but for a distance between two and five kilometres, it will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20.

Proposed changes:

From October 10, for a distance of up to two kilometres, the fare will remain Rs 10, but for a distance between two and five kilometres, it will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20. For the subsequent slabs, it will go up by Rs 10 each, which means the maximum fare will be Rs 60.

PTI
Kerala govt intends to replace Governor as Chancellor of universities through ordinance

DGP Kerala orders FIR against The Kerala Story after TN journalist forwards complaint to CM

President Kovind launches Rs 100 crore clean water initiative in Kerala

India

oi-PTI

Kollam (Ker), October 9: Mata Amritanandamayi Math's Rs 100 crore clean water initiative for rural India was launched by President Ram Nath Kovind at the math headquarters in the coastal hamlet of Vallikkavu near Kollam.

Kovind, who is on his maiden visit to the southern state after assuming office, inaugurated the 'Jivamritam' filtration system, envisaged to provide clean drinking water to 10 million villagers across the nation.

The programme was organised as part of the 64th birthday celebrations of spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, popularly known as 'Amma' among her devotees.

Launching the initiative in the presence of Amritanandamayi Devi, Kovind said the greatest service to the divine is service to fellow human beings.

Recalling his visit to Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre and the five battalions of the regiment in the border town of Leh, Kovind said, "Bravery of our soldiers on the one hand and the compassion, love and wisdom of our spiritual leaders on the other are the two thick pillars on which we rest our hopes."

Referring to spiritual leaders and social reformers of Kerala like Adi Sankaracharya, Sree Narayana Guru and Ayyankali, the President said the state was one of the leading spiritual homes in our country.

The greatest service was to help the poor and downtrodden and enable them achieve their true potential, he said.

This included capacity building in the areas of health and education and ensuring that they get equal opportunities, Kovind said.

"Amma has worked precisely in these areas," he said.

Kerala Governor Justice (Retired) P Sathasivam, state minister for tourism and devaswom Kadakampally Surendran, K C Venugopal, MP, and R Ramachandran, MLA, were also present at the function.

According to the Math authorities, the initial phase of the 'Jivamritam' project, aimed to install specially designed filtration systems for clean drinking water in 5,000 villages across the country, was being completely funded by it.

Earlier, the President received by Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on his arrival at the Air Force Technical area of the airport at Thiruvananthapuram.

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 10:23 [IST]
Relatives, builders obstruct Maitighar-Tinkune road to protest FCAN Chairman Gauchans murder

Construction entrepreneurs and relatives of Federation of Contractors' Associations of Nepal (FCAN), Sharad Kumar Gauchan, have obstructed the Maitighar-Tinkune road in protest against the murder of Gauchan.
HC admits Ram Rahims plea against rape conviction

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Gurmeet Ram Rahim has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging his conviction in a rape case. Ram Rahim was awarded a 20 year jail term in two rape cases by the special CBI court. His plea has been admitted by the High Court.

We pleaded with the court to take a lenient view in awarding the sentence as the rape cases were old adding that the Dera chief has also worked for the women's cause, the Dera chief's lawyer SK Garg said. "We urged the court that a lenient view should be taken as the case was 18 years old and there was no other case during the period and appealed to award minimum sentence considering his works towards society" Garg said.

The counsel while seeking maximum punishment said 45 other victims are there who have not been able to come forward. They were raped for three years CBI special court judgement sentencing him to 20 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs 30 lakh fine in two rape cases, his lawyer said on Monday.

OneIndia News
Deprivation point to be brought back for PhD students in JNU

JNU Admissions 2022: PG First merit list to be released today; how to check

Scuffle between two groups of students in JNU; 2 injured

Rs 10 lakh reward for information on missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Central Bureau of Investigation has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information on JNU student Najeeb Ahmed.

The agency had taken over the case on June 2 this year following a Delhi High Court order on a petition that Delhi Police's investigation into the missing case was not in the right direction.

" Any person who may give information of the present whereabouts of Najeeb Ahmed, will be given a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh. The name and identity of the informant will be kept secret," a CBI notice said.

Those who have information can approach the CBI office in CGO complex on Delhi's Lodhi Road or telephone 011-24368641/38/37 as well as 09650394796/91.

Najeeb (27) was a MSc Biotechnology student and was staying in Mahi hostel on JNU campus. He went missing after he entered into a scuffle with three suspected ABVP members on the night of October 14, 2016.

His missing had triggered protests by students unions, his parents and others demanding the action against suspected ABVP members for abducting Najeeb.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 9:24 [IST]
Will Sasikala return to AIADMK: Certainly suggests this audio clip

Sasikala visits Jayalalithaa's memorial in Marina beach; first since release from prison

Jayalalithaa death probe: TN cabinet to decide on enquiry against Sasikala and others

Sasikalas husband gets new liver, kidney, recovering well: Hospital

India

pti-PTI

M Natarajan, 74 year old husband of jailed AIADMK leader VK Sasikala, is recovering well after undergoing a liver and kidney transplant some days back, the hospital where he is admitted said.

Sasikala, out of a Bengaluru jail on a five-day parole, visited her husband for the third day on Monday and was apprised of his clinical condition.

Natarajan, is "recovering well" following liver and kidney transplantation, the hospital said, adding he is now in the Liver Intensive Care Unit and requires close observation.

"His transplanted liver and kidney are functioning well," Dr K Ilankumaran, Director, Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Gleneagles Global Health City, said in a release.

His lung congestion is getting better, but still requires intermittent ventilatory support through tracheostomy. He is "fully awake and communicating", Dr Ilankumaran said, adding, "His family has been fully apprised of his present clinical condition."

Sasikala has been lodged in the Parapana Agrahara central jail since February this year after the Supreme Court upheld her conviction by a special court in a disproportionate assets case.

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 21:41 [IST]
SC adjourns Love Jihad case to October 30

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear the Love Jihad case in which a Hindu woman was allegedly forced to convert to Islam to marry a Muslim man on October 30.

CJI Dipak Misra reiterated that prima-facie he felt that the girl's father cannot be given her custody.

Hinting that the girl will be summoned soon, the bench said: "in a habeus corpus petition we will not abdicate our responsibility to interview the girl"

The NIA counsel highlighted multiple times in court that there are certain provisions of law that which give parents rights overgrown children. The NIA counsel also claimed that the girls are "hypnotised," to which Shafin Jahan's counsel Dushyant Dave yelled in court, "This is politics."

This led to exchange of heated arguments and evoked a sharp reaction from the CJI, who chided them for their behaviour.

On Saturday, the Kerala government had questioned the Supreme Court-mandated NIA probe into the marriage of a Hindu woman with a Muslim man after she converted to Islam.

Submitting its affidavit in the Supreme Court, the state home department has pointed out that during the two-month long "thorough" investigation by the Kerala Police, no such incriminating material was found that called for an intervention by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

During a hearing on this case on Tuesday, the Supreme Court had observed that "prima facie", the high court could not have nullified the marriage of a Hindu woman with a Muslim man after her conversion.

The court also remarked that a father cannot have control over a 25-year-old woman and that such a claim can't be made in respect of a major.

The case

Hadiya, 24 who was staying with her friends at Malappuram in Kerala married Shafin Jahan on December 19 2016. Both were introduced to each other through a Muslim matrimonial website in August 2016. Two days after their wedding, Hadiya was asked to appear before the court in a habeas corpus petition filed by her parents. Her parents approached the High Court alleging forceful conversion.

In August, her husband Jahan moved the Supreme Court against the High Court's decision to annul the marriage.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 17:19 [IST]
SFIO submits findings of wrongdoings by Kingfisher Airlines

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The role of bank executives, directors and government officials has come under the scanner for alleged violations at the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines as multi-agency probes against fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya gather steam, regulatory and banking sources said.

With the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) submitting a detailed report on the misdoings at Kingfisher Airlines , which went belly up in 2012, the government, regulators and banks are set to initiate strict actions to zero in on the guilty.

Sources said the probe agency has red-flagged a slew of violations of companies law by Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines and officials, including serious corporate governance lapses.

The role of independent directors and whether they failed in discharging their duties during their tenure at the airline has come to the fore, they added.

Besides, sources said the role of bank executives in extending loans without requisite due diligence to the airline as well as the possibility of some government officials conniving with Mallya are being looked into in detail.

Indian authorities have been working on ways to bring back Mallya, wanted for Kingfisher Airlines' default on loans worth nearly Rs 9,000 crore and some other matters, back from the UK, where he has been based for a long time.

Sources said all banks where the SFIO has found lapses with respect to loans extended to the defunct airline are under the scanner.

"The company's balance sheet was never strong and its credit rating was lower than what was required for sanctioning loans. Still, the banks went ahead and sanctioned them by deviating from the loan procedures," one of the sources said.

The investigators have also found that banks considered only one valuer's report for the valuation of Kingfisher brand and based on that loans were given to the carrier, according to sources.

Regulations require that at least two different valuation reports should be considered before deciding on giving loans on the basis of brand.

Corporate affairs ministry officials were not available for comments on the SFIO report while queries sent to Mallya did not elicit any immediate response.

Sources said agencies have also asked for certain details from banks who have exposure to Kingfisher Airlines as authorities tighten the noose around Mallya.

The 61-year-old flamboyant businessman was arrested in London earlier this month in a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate, before being released on bail by Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Mallya, already out on bail on an extradition warrant executed by the Metropolitan Police earlier this year, was released on the same bail conditions+ as before to appear for his trial on December 4.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 6:38 [IST]
Prashant Kishor claims Nitish Kumar in touch with BJP says don't be surprised if he joins hands with it again

Sharad Yadav's national council meeting illegal: JD(U)

India

oi-PTI

Patna, October 9: A national council meeting held by rebel party leader Sharad Yadav was "illegal" as he did not have the right to convene it in view of a recent Election Commission decision, said Nitish Kumar-led faction of JD(U).

Party leader in Rajya Sabha and national general secretary R C P Singh said he had come to know about the meeting in Delhi yesterday through newspapers.

"Sharad Yadav cannot convene or hold a meeting of the party's national council as the Election Commission has dismissed twice his plea for the allotment of party name and symbol to his faction," Singh told reporters here.

The poll panel had recently refused to consider his plea on the grounds that it lacked supporting documents such as affidavits, he added.

The party also questioned Yadav's claim that 500 members of the national council had attended the meeting.

"Sharad Yadav has claimed that 500 members of the national council participated in yesterday's meeting but the fact remains otherwise," Singh said.

The list of the members of the national council which Yadav was referring to was a fake one, Singh said.

"The list ... expired in 2015 with the election of a new president. Besides, Yadav does not have any support in the party's legislative wing," he said.

The term of the previous national council had expired in 2015 with the election of Nitish Kumar as the new president at the party's Rajgir session in November 2016, he said.

Stating that the EC had rejected Yadav's plea for allotment of the party name and symbol to his faction twice on September 12 and September 27, 2017, the senior JD(U) leader asked how Yadav could claim to have the support of 500 members of the national council, when its current strength was 194.

Giving the break-up of the 194 members of the council, Singh said 103 members were from Bihar, followed by 35 from Kerala, 31 from Jharkhand, 23 from Jammu and Kashmir and 2 from Dadar and Nagar Haveli.

Stating that the EC recognises the majority in the national council and legislative wing while deciding the claim of a particular person staking a claim to a party name and symbol, Singh dared Yadav to tell the people and the EC how many of the 194 national council members supported him.

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 17:59 [IST]
Accession Day: Valley lights up on this day when J&K became part of India

The importance of killing Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Khalid

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The killing of Khalid, the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist in the Valley has come as a major relief for the security agencies in the Kashmir Valley. With 6 Jaish terrorists on the run, the Intelligence Bureau had warned that they were planning a major strike masterminded by Khalid.

Khalid was instrumental in plotting the attacks on the District Police Lines at Pulwama and BSF camp in Srinagar recently. In the month of August, over 10 Jaish terrorists had infiltrated into the Valley from Pakistan. They were divided into batches to carry out separate attacks.

Intelligence Bureau officials say that these persons were being handled by Khalid in the Valley. He was the go-in-between man and was the main person for the Jaish in the Valley.

He has been active in Kashmir since 2015, his dossier suggests. He had launched operations in the South of Kashmir, but since the past six months moved towards the northern part of the state.

With the terrorist groups suffering huge casualties in South Kashmir as a result of Operation Clean Up launched by the Indian Army, they had started focusing more on the northern side of the state.

Security forces say that Khalid was was intercepted at Ladoora along the Baramulla-Handwara highway around 60 kilometres from Srinagar. He was initially injured in the gun fight, but was finally gunned down. Intelligence Bureau officials say that they Khalid has an accomplice who goes by the alias Ahmed and he is next on the target of the security forces.

Top five terrorists in Kashmir:

Zakir Musa: He features first on the list. He had broken away from the Hizbul Mujahideen Mujahideen and formed an outfit affiliated to the al-Qaeda. The IB says that he is trying to breed a new ideology into Kashmir.

Riyaz Naikoo: He is part of the Hizbul Mujahideen. He is the district commander of the outfit and is based in Pulwama. A resident of Tokun in Awantipore, he was recruited into the outfit in December 2012.

Saddam Paddar: He is the district commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen at Shopian. A resident of Shrimal in Shopian, he was recruited into the outfit on September 25 2015. He was part of the Burhan Wani group.

Zeenat-ul-Islam: The dreaded Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist, he has been classified Grade A++. Going by the alias Alkama, he is a resident of Sugan Zanipura in Shopian. He was recruited on November 17 2015.

OneIndia News
Violence is in the DNA of RSS, says Brinda Karat

India

oi-Shreya

By Shreya

The CPI(M) on October 9 held a demonstration in front of the BJP office in New Delhi led by politburo member Brinda Karat, to protest against the BJP atrocities and violence against CPI(M) cadres and supporters in Kerala.

Coming down heavily on the RSS and BJP, Brinda Karat said, "The BJP stands for Bhartiya Jhoot Party and not Bhartiya Janata Party and the rally held by BJP President Amit Shah in Kerala is Hinsa Raksha Yatra and not Jan Rasksha Yatra,"

CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechury and Prakash Karat also took on the BJP. Yechury said, "This 'lal-jhanda' will continue to fight against such violence. Every time there is any act of violence we will fight and protest."

Prakash Karat said, "On day of the announcement of Kerala assembly election results, the RSS threw bombs and killed a CPI(M) activist in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's constituency. Last evening, RSS workers threw bombs at a CPI(M) procession in Kannur.

"Five of our activists have been seriously injured, and four police personnel were also injured. The RSS blaming the CPI(M) of violence is like the thief blaming the police," he added.

Brinda Karat said that violence is in the DNA of RSS, she said, "RSS create violence and divisions wherever the RSS is, it's is in their DNA. The communists, the Left, are being targeted by the RSS because we are in the way of the toxic agenda of the RSS. So we are here on the streets to tell the people the truth."

"Amit Shah inaugurated the Jana Raksha Yatra in Kerala on 3 October. Then he announced that on 5 October, he himself would do the padayatra in Pinarayi village of Kannur district because that region is the place of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan," said Prakash Karat.

"But on 5 October, Amit Shah-ji disappeared from the yatra, because in those two days when the yatra passed through Kannur district, it became clear that the people of Kannur and Kerala had rejected the yatra."

The demonstration was presided over by CPI(M) Delhi State Secretary KM Tiwari.

OneIndia News
No decision to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants in Delhi: MHA

What about undocumented Indians living abroad: Manish Tewari on BJP's Rohingya threat to nation comment

India's stand on Rohingyas gracious so far but housing them would be risky

The Rohingya influx continues as Tripura police nets seven of them

12 Rohingyas die as boat capsizes in Naf river near Bangladesh

International

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

At least 12 dead, scores missing as a boat carrying Rohingyas capsized at the mouth of Naf River dividing Bangladesh and Myanmar. The boat was carrying about 100 people.

The vessel capsized near Galachar ( the coastal village in Bangladesh) with nearly 100 people. We recovered two dead bodies. Two people were rescued alive," area Coast Guard commander Alauddin Nayan told AFP.

Nayan said some 40 people in the boat were adult Rohingya Muslims fleeing their villages in Rakhine for Bangladesh.

Last month, 19 people drowned when a boat carrying Rohingya families capsized off Bangladesh. More than 100 Rohingya were on board the vessel when it capsized in rough seas close to Patuwartek, some 8km off Inani Beach in Cox's Bazar District.

Nearly 520,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh in the last six weeks after the Myanmar military launched a crackdown after attacks by Rohingya militants.

(With agency inputs)

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 8:30 [IST]
No decision to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants in Delhi: MHA

What about undocumented Indians living abroad: Manish Tewari on BJP's Rohingya threat to nation comment

India's stand on Rohingyas gracious so far but housing them would be risky

The Rohingya influx continues as Tripura police nets seven of them

Are Bangladesh and Myanmar heading towards a war over Rohingya crisis?

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Dhaka, Oct 9: The Bangladesh government has clarified its position that soon Myanmar had to take back the Rohingya refugees, who have fled their homeland after Myanmar's military unleashed violence and persecution against them.

The humanitarian crisis where scores of Rohingyas are currently taking shelter in Bangladesh after they fled Myanmar is fast testing the "patience" of the Sheikh Hasina government.

Bangladesh Prime Minister recently accused neighbouring Myanmar of provoking a "war" amid the Rohingya refugee crisis and said her government avoided the conflict by "exercising restraint".

She also said her government would continue to support nearly one million Rohingya Muslims who have fled the Buddhist-majority country to escape violence.

Hasina said that at one stage after the forced exodus of Rohingyas the Myanmar "pretended like they wanted a war."

"The army, border guards and police were put on the alert, and I asked them not to act on any provocation without my order," Hasina said at Dhaka airport on her return from New York after attending the Uinted Nations (UN) General Assembly session.

The UN has described the violence in Myanmar as "ethnic cleansing."

Around 515,000 Rohingya Muslims have arrived in Bangladesh over the last five weeks after militant attacks on police check-posts in the Buddhist majority country sparked violent reprisals.

The latest influx of refugees began on August 25 when Myanmar's military launched a crackdown in the northern Rakhine state over alleged terrorist attacks on its police outposts.

There are now more than 800,000 refugees living in Bangladesh near its border with Myanmar.

Rohingya, a Muslim minority, do not qualify for Myanmar citizenship even though many have lived there for generations while its army insists they are interlopers from across the border in Bangladesh.

Hasina said various quarters also wanted to create a situation to divert things in different direction but "we are very much cautious about that".

Hasina said Bangladesh took an appropriate stance to draw international community's attention to the Rohingya crisis which also compelled Myanmar to open talks on the issue.

She said for natural and humanitarian reasons Bangladesh offered the Rohingyas the shelter as they were exposed to "brutal atrocities" with their women, children and elderly people being the worst victims.

"If needed, we will eat one meal once a day and share the rest with these distressed people," she said. Bangladesh last month said Myanmar drones and choppers violated its airspace repeatedly and installed landmines on its borders to prevent return of Rohingyas.

Dhaka also summoned several times the Myanmar ambassador to Bangladesh to protest the "provocation", warning that these "provocative acts" might lead to "unwarranted consequences".

Media reports suggested that Bangladesh had mobilised its air force and the navy in southeastern region bordering Myanmar. Officials, however, termed these moves as routine.

Facing international pressure, Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi last week sent a senior representative to Dhaka for talks.

The two sides agreed on forming a joint working group to oversee the repatriation process. Hasina thanked the Myanmar government for their revised gesture in opening up talks.

Meanwhile, the UN in its latest report stated that at least 2,000 Rohingyas on a daily basis are coming to Bangladesh from Myanmar to take shelter in the country.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 6:07 [IST]
China using two new surveillance campaigns to target Uyghurs: Report

New COVID-19 rules for Indians going to China announced

China says ready to maintain peace at border areas with India

International

pti-PTI

A day after Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visit to Nathu La, the frontier post, the China on Monday expressed readiness to jointly maintain peace along the border areas.

Sitharaman had a brief conversation with Chinese soldiers during her maiden visit to the Nathu La border post in Sikkim on Sunday and was even seen teaching them how to say 'Namaste'.

"The Sikkim sector of the China-India boundary has been delimited by the historical treaty of 1890, and the Nathula pass has been the best witness testifying to this fact", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing while reacting to a question on Sitharaman's visit.

"The Chinese side is willing to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity in the border areas with the Indian side on the basis of observing historical treaties and the relevant agreements and accords between the two sides", Hua said.

Beijing often referred to the 1890 Britain-China treaty during the Dokalam standoff stating that it has defined the Sikkim section of the boundary with Tibet, therefore the border in that area has been settled.

Sitharaman's interaction with the People's Liberation Army troops at Nathu La with Namaste diplomacy also appears to have struck a chord as Chinese commentators said it sent a "goodwill signal" to mend the bilateral ties following the Dokalam standoff.

State-run English news channel CGTN carried snippets of her video with a caption "Indian defence minister greets Chinese border soldiers".

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post headlined its story saying that "India's defence minister builds bridges with Chinese troops".

"The minister experienced an unexpected wave of goodwill from Chinese soldiers when she visited troops stationed on the frontier between the countries", the Post report said.

Her interaction with the troops of the PLA also sparked positive response among the Chinese netizens on popular social media websites.

"The greeting sent a goodwill signal towards mending bilateral ties and putting relations back on track toward normality", Qian Feng, an expert at the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies, told the state-run Global Times which carried a separate story on Sitharaman's Sikkim visit with a caption "Indian Minister waves at PLA".

The Indian government should show more determination for improving ties as Prime Minister Narendra Modi "enjoys advantages towards achieving that goal", it quoted Qian a saying.

Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim. The two sides so far held 19 rounds of talks at the level of Special Representatives to resolve the dispute.

Meanwhile, the state-run tabloid Global Times which routinely attacks India also carried an editorial saying that "India must overcome security paranoia".

Referring to Sitharaman's visit to Sikkim, it said "a newly constructed airport that she inspected during the visit, the nearest to China's border, will be put into use in November", it said and went on to desribe it as an "aggressive gesture."

But it noted that she had friendly interactions with Chinese soldiers in Nathu La. Video released by the Indian Defence Ministry shows that she acknowledged the soldiers with a traditional namaste greeting", it said.

At the same time, it said, "Some Indian nationalists over-estimate India's strength and rights, assuming New Delhi can bark orders across the border at Beijing".

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 18:04 [IST]
Face facts China tells India post Nirmala Sitharamans Nathu La visit

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

China referred to the 1890 UK-China treaty which it claims demarcated the Sikkim sector of the China-India border as it urged New Delhi to abide by its provisions, a day after Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made her maiden visit to the Nathu La post.

Reacting to Sitharaman's visit to the area, the Chinese foreign ministry on Sunday said "the Sikkim section of the China-India border has been demarcated by the historical boundary".

"It is the best testimony to this fact. We urge the Indian side to face the facts, abide by the provisions of the historic boundary treaty and the relevant agreement of the parties, and work together with the Chinese side to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas," it said in a written response to PTI, to a query about Sitharaman's visit.

The ministry did not directly name the 1890 Britain-China treaty which Beijing often referred to during the Doklam stand-off+ stating that it has defined the Sikkim section of the boundary with Tibet, therefore the border in that area has been settled.

Sitharaman on Saturday visited the Nathu La area on the China-India border and interacted with Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police officials.

Nathu La is the last post separating the border between the Sikkim on the Indian side and Tibet on the Chinese side. Sitharaman's trip was the first high level visit to the area after the 73-day standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam in the Sikkim sector of the border which ended on August 28 following a mutual agreement between India and China.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 6:47 [IST]
Slip of Tongue in Pak Parliament: Speaker pronounces Nawaz Sharif's name instead of Shehbaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif likely to return to Pakistan next month: Imran Khan

Maryam Nawaz gets her passport back after 3 years; meets father Nawaz Sharif in London

Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law Mohammad Safdar arrested on return to Pakistan

International

pti-PTI

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law Muhammad Safdar has been arrested from Benazir International Airport by a special six-member NAB team.

A team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) took former army captain Muhammad Safdar into custody minutes after his arrival from London at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport along with his wife Maryam Nawaz.

Safdar has been nominated by NAB in one of three corruption cases filed on September 8 against Pakistan's former premier Sharif, his daughter Maraym, sons Husain and Hasan and his son-in-law Safdar.

The couple had arrived to appear before an anti-graft tribunal in connection with the NAB reference pertaining to London properties owned by the Sharif family.

Safdar was later presented before a court in Islamabad, NAB officials said. Maryam, who was not detained, separately appeared in the same court for the first time.

However, Sharif and his two sons were absent as they are in London where 67-year-old Sharif's wife is battling throat cancer.

Sharif attended the previous two hearings but went to London last week to see his ailing wife.

The court held brief hearing and took a break before announcing the hearing will resume shortly. During the brief hearing, Maryam was given copies of the case documents.

Sharif's lawyer also presented an application to exempt him from appearance today as he was with his wife in London.

The trial judge had earlier issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Safdar and Sharif's two sons for failing to appear in court in the last hearing held on October 2.

The court, however, repeated the bailable warrants for Sharif's daughter.

"We are going back and will appear before the court and go through the wheels of justice. We respect the rule of law and the Constitution," local media quoted Maryam as saying.

Asked whether her brothers would return to Pakistan to face the NAB references against them, she said, "Hassan and Hussain would themselves tell you about their decision".

Safdar told Geo News that the couple had decided to return to Pakistan on the advice of their lawyers.

Sharif had to step down as prime minister and president of the ruling PML-N party after he was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers scandal.

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 12:16 [IST]
National Postal Week: Interesting facts about India Post that everyone should know

Universal Postal Union's member countries celebrate World Post Day today

International

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Every year World Post Day is celebrated on 9 October. The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union's (UPU) creation in 1874 which was established in the year 1874 in Bern, Switzerland.

Purpose of World Post Day

The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post's role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.

As a result, the Universal Postal Union's member countries are encouraged to organize their own national activities to celebrate the event, including everything from the introduction or promotion of new postal products and services, to the organization of open days at post offices, mail centres and postal museums.

The UPU helps facilitate awareness with its World Post Day by designing and distributing posters for display across the globe. In 2016, the UPU launched a new poster for the 2016-2018 period.

Despite the World Post Day not guided by a particular theme, the UPU's latest poster design embodies the UPU's three strategic pillars: innovation, integration and inclusion.

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Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2017, 8:56 [IST]
Taking into account the development of economic, political and military situations in the world, there is an urgent need to form a new organization -- International Economic Tribunal to protect the Baltic States from their own governments. The matter is poor economic behavior of the authorities leads these nations to an economic crisis. The more so, economic mistakes become economic crimes against people worth even more expensive than political blunders.

Today the authorities concentrate all their efforts on political issues and do not pay attention to the economic ones. Possibly in some cases it works, but it is absolutely unacceptable to sacrifice the economy on the altar of politics.

Making negative statements concerning Russia, the Baltic States set Moscow against themselves and force it to respond. Especially these states irritate Russia by making unproven warlike statements for the sake of a "common line" of the EU or NATO on the issues. But a s John Steinbeck said "all war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal."

After major information campaigns in the Baltic States aimed to discredit the Zapad 2017 military exercise, Russia tries to find the most vulnerable places to hurt the Baltic States. It is absolutely evident, that such a sphere is the economy. For a long time Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have been tightened to Russia and even remain dependent on it. Instead of finding points of contact (as Germany does) the Baltic leaders make their best to worsen the situation.

The trouble is Russia responds not only with words but with real actions. The last example is Moscow's decision to develop the capacity and infrastructure at its own ports in order to re-direct export cargo away from the ports of the Baltic states. Latvian Ambassador to Russia Maris Riekstins said in an interview with LETA that he sees "a strong political element" in such decisions. He noted his doubt of the decision being economically substantiated. There is nothing to be surprised. Our politicians can't separate politics and economy. That is the problem.

Even Ukraine which has a lot of serious claims against Russia continues to trade with it. The leading EU nation Germany makes only pragmatic steps in its relationship with Russia, which has huge potential, own natural resources and has ambitions. The Baltic States have only ambitions. Authorities should admit that the advantage is not on their side. It does not mean that Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia may not have their own positions on the international agenda. Of course they may, and even might! But politicians first of all should not only "win a war, but organize peace" and the everyday life of ordinary people. It means they should care about the future of the country and restrain their ambitions in order not do no harm to their nations.
"It's not about the kids" - Monica Garcia

When the LAUSD School Board handed control of Locke High School to Green Dot Public [sic] Schools in 2007, the school ranked "among the lowest-performing schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District and in the state." At that time, Green Dot's Steve Barr said that if this public school was given to his unelected charter organization they would "work together [with parents and teachers] and make Locke a great school." He further promised that "people around the country are going to come to Watts and see what a great urban turnaround school looks like."

Ten years later nobody is calling on Green Dot to provide their key to success. In both 2015 and 2016, the California Charter School Association (CCSA) gave the school a Statewide Rank of one out of ten. The LAUSD Charter School Division ranks its Student Achievement and Educational Performance as "Developing", or a two on a four-point scale. When compared to Resident and Similar Schools Medians, "Locke reclassified [English Learners] at a lower rate", had "low graduation rates" during the past three years, and "has a high disproportionality suspension rate for African Americans and Students with Disabilities."

In providing the reasons for their failures, one of the principals for the schools states that "the truth of it is, [the students] are coming from poverty. They are coming from a community where the average income is about $17,000 for a family." He continues: "We have a lot of students that come from foster care, that are returning from camp. We have students that come from single-parent households, from neighborhoods with high crime. They are coming from the housing projects...and we have a really high transiency rate." However, these conditions did not suddenly develop in the last ten years; they were not an adequate excuse for the failures of the LAUSD and they should not be one for Green Dot. On its webpage, Green Dot says that it "is proving it can achieve better student outcomes with the same student population". Not in the case of Locke.

Even worse, the CSD's report shows that Green Dot is headed in the wrong direction. Despite new Board Member Kelly Gonez' assertion that "there is a story of progress here", the CSD's Student Achievement and Education Performance score was lowered from the one it achieved in 2015-16. "In 2016-2017, the reclassification rate [of English learners] for the charter school showed a 5.1% drop from the prior year". The graduation rate went from 61.6% in 2014-15 to 55.9% in 2015-16. Their ninth-grade principal may think that they "are moving the needle in the right direction", but the data does not back her up.

One reason for these declining results may be the school's reduced financial solvency. In its report, the CSD reduced Locke's Fiscal Operations score from "Developing" to "Unsatisfactory" and noted its "fiscal condition is weak and has been downward trending since the 2013-2014 fiscal year." It also noted that the 2016-2017 unaudited financial statements "indicate negative net assets of ($6,350,490) and a net loss of ($1,346,946)." Even though Green Dot is operating the school at "a net deficit", the issue of the school's financial status was not discussed by any of the Board Members during the lengthy discussion at their meeting discussing a renewal of the charter.

Green Dot also does not seem committed to serving all students within the former school district boundaries. For example, 0% of its students are identified as Gifted and Talented (GATE). The school is singularly focused on college preparation and a critic of the original charter noted that "vocational education...was barely mentioned, if at all, in the [original] petition."[1] And while Green Dot claims that there "has been a 90% reduction in suspensions since the ninth grade academy was created", the suspension event rate for students with disabilities was at 9% in 2016-17. Yet, the solutions proposed by the school did not include behavioral support or any other program focused on those with special needs.



Dr. George McKenna 3rd

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____________________________________________

Carl Petersen is a parent and special education advocate, elected member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council and was a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race. He was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action and Dr. Diane Ravitch called him a "strong supporter of public schools." His past blogs can be found at www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com.

[1] Ralph E. Shaffer, Dismantling our Public Schools: Locke, Stock and Barrel


Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

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After a lull of five weeks in the China-India border dispute in Sikkim region, China reiterated Sunday (Oct. 8) that "the Sikkim section of the China- India border has been demarcated by the historical boundary."

The Chinese reaction came in to the Saturday's (Oct 7) visit of the Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the Nathu La post at the Sikkim border.

Indian Defense Minister Sitharaman Saturday visited the Nathu La area on the Sino-Indian border and interacted with Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police officials.

China Sunday referred to the 1890 British-China treaty which demarcated the Sikkim sector of the Sino-Indian border. China urged India to abide by its provisions.

"It is the best testimony to this fact. We urge the Indian side to face the facts, abide by the provisions of the historic boundary treaty and the relevant agreement of the parties, and work together with the Chinese side to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas," it said in a written response to Press Trust of India, to a query about Sitharaman's visit.

The ministry did not directly name the 1890 British-China treaty which Beijing often referred to during the Dokalam standoff stating that it has defined the Sikkim section of the boundary with Tibet, therefore the border in that area has been settled.

Nathu La is the last post separating the border between the Sikkim on the Indian side and Tibet on the Chinese side. Sitharaman's trip was the first high level visit to the area after the 73-day standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at Dokalam in the Sikkim sector of the border which ended on August 28 following a mutual agreement between India and China.

Of the 3,488-km India-China border which stretches from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim. The two sides have so far held 19 rounds of Special Representatives' talks to resolve the dispute.

The Dokalam standoff began on June 16 over the PLA's plans to build a road in the area claimed by Bhutan after which Indian troops intervened to stop the construction as it posed a security risk to the 'Chicken's Neck' - the narrow corridor connecting India with its northeastern states.

China, which earlier opened the Nathu La route for Indian pilgrims to visit Kailash and Manasarovar, closed it after the Dokalam standoff and is yet to reopen it.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry had expressed apprehension over the statement of Indian Air Marshal Chief B S Dhanoa.

The IAF chief, while addressing the media earlier in the week, said the forces are prepared for a "two-front war", referring to the joint challenge posed by allies Pakistan and China on the western and north-eastern front respectively.

"We hope that relevant people of the Indian military will see the historical trend and say more conducive to the development of China-India relations," Beijing said.

Nearly a month after the disengagement at Doklam, Indian reports said the Chinese road patrolling team has returned to the disputed region. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, when asked about its troops patrolling in the conflicted area, said, "There is no ambiguity over the fact that Doklam is part of China. Our forces are not trespassing into the territories of our neighbor, but only patrolling the region which is under our jurisdiction."

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It is clear that many sensible voices in the Republican Party like Bob Corker are starting to emerge. Could it be that they are laying the case, not for a Trump impeachment but an outright removal via the 25th Amendment?

This is not the first time we've explored this.

Much of these articles were early speculations from pundits. But now respected and serious politicians are starting to chime in. Bob Coker and many other prominent Republicans have been sounding the alarm. And Corker's most recent Twitter feud with Trump show the fear of bucking Trump is growing. It seems they are trying to lay the groundwork to use the 25th Amendment Section 4.

RawStory reported on a CNN segment that makes the point.

The New York Times interview quotes Corker saying that he doesn't know why Trump continues to tweet out things that aren't true. "You know he does it, everyone knows he does it, but he does it," Corker said. CNN host Michael Smerconish explained that his training as an attorney leads him to believe that's a comment about the president's ability to do his job effectively. "The lawyer in me hears something different. I'm thinking of the 25th Amendment, Section 4, which speaks to a president who is unable to discharge the powers of duties of his office," Smerconish said. "Let's just reflect on some of the word choices that senator made. Post-Charlottesville, he was questioning the stability of the president. Now he's using the word 'reckless, chaos.' Now he is saying 'he concerns me.' I think he's planting seeds for questioning the fitness, the mental fitness of the president pursuant to the 25th Amendment to continue with his responsibilities."

We are in new territory with our constitutional democracy.


Trump

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What Trump is doing is making North Korea's regime stronger. They publish what Trump says and all he does is fuel the fire. If Trump wants a war, he should think of the tens of millions that will die if he decides that the situation so grave that he must kill tens of millions of human beings, he really must sit down and think about.

I spent 20 years in the military and I was stationed in Korea and I know the people and I speak the language. The Korean people are the most gracious and friendly people that I have ever met. I liked them so much that every other year I would go back and spend another year with them. If Donald Trump want to solve the problem of North Korea' then maybe he should get on Air Force One and go meet them.

To be honest, I was glad when Donald Trump was elected because I didn't want Hillary Clinton's in the White House. I didn't know Donald Trump was, but I sure as hell knew what Clinton would doas president. I didn't vote for him either. I don't think it would be any better if Clinton was in the White House.

Not only is he threatening North Korea, but now he's belligerent towards Iran. It's not enough for him to have problems with North Korea, now he wants to back out of the treaty we signed with a multitude of nations with Iran.

If anyone hoped that things would get better if Trump was elected, they can see now that they were dead wrong, things are only getting worse. If Trump packs out of the treaty we signed with Iran and seven other nations, what is indicating is that the word of the United States can't be trusted.

This is fine for the military-industrial complex. Trouble in Iran is an effective way for all the arms manufacturers and banks that lend money to all these people that make the weapons and the people who make all the money that goes into all the stable rattling, these are the same people that believe that this gravy train they are on will never end.

Therefore, I put this conversation with Jesse Ventura and Dennis Kucinich into my article. They hit the nail right on the head when they talk about what a racket war is.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3n5w1xYmV8A

I'm writing this article because I want this president to understand exactly what he's doing. I'm a little younger than he is by one year, but I have knowledge that he doesn't have. I know the military, I know the Korean people, and I understand the situation better than he does and better than the people around him do. Nothing in this world will be solved by war. The only thing that people will remembere Donald Trump for is that he allowed millions of people to die on his watch.

The thing that scares me the most is that Donald Trump believes that everything he does is right. He should know by now with all his failures, that he is not right most of the time. If he believes that he will be a greater man by killing millions of people, he should really sit down and think about it.

I'm going to end this article by proposing that Donald Trump should be impeached because of his mental illness. He is an egotistical megalomaniac with sociopathic tendencies. Having him in the White House is like having Charles Manson run a daycare center. If we could've removed Hitler from power before he started World War II the world would have been much better off. If we can remove Trump from office before he starts World War III that is something that we can do to stop World .

Republicans and Democrats must come to their senses and understand that this man is a clear and present danger to the security of the United States. There is no doubt in my military mind that this man doesn't understand the implications of his rhetoric. Trump needs to be the center of attention and wants the world to hang on his every word because this is the type of person he is. The People that have more sense, and am I'm talking about the people in Congress, must understand that this person in the White House needs to go. This isn't about politics this is about what must be done.

As for the people in the United States, every American should sit down and send an email or write a letter to their Congressman and Senators and demand that this man be impeached due to mental illness. This is probably the most important thing that we can do.

(Article changed on October 9, 2017 at 13:35)
Thus far I'm underwhelmed by the candidates seeking to join Charlottesville's City Council this year, as well as, of course, by the current members. In the wake of the fascist rallies, the electoral system does not seem to be responding particularly well.

I don't go in for the usual moronic popularity contest wherein we're supposed to figure out which candidate we'd most like to be friends with. Instead, I try to approximate direct democracy by figuring out which candidate will do the things I would do if I were in their position and engaged with every issue they will have the chance to deal with.

This idiosyncratic approach requires a bit of guesswork or a great deal of education. That is to say, I either have to take the time to determine the best position on every issue, including things I know next-to-nothing about. Or I have to give some extra weight to the few issues I know something about, find out the candidates' plans on those matters, and extrapolate from there.

With U.S. presidents this is easy. They put up websites laying out lots of positions, some of which I know a lot about. And those positions are so hideous I could never vote for them (not the candidates most people have heard of anyway).

With Congressional candidates it's a little trickier, because, even though they spend on foreign policy over half of the money that they choose to spend, their websites usually discuss only domestic policies, as if wars, peace, sanctions, treaties, diplomacy, and all questions international just don't exist.

With Charlottesville City Council, it's often possible to actually ask the candidates what they plan to do about particular things, so that even if their websites leave you scratching your head, you can find out some kind of position. Having asked each of them a few questions, here's my run down. I cannot, on this basis tell you whom to vote for. I'm not sure I'll bother voting.

Nikuyah Walker has the most substantive, informative website. That's saying very little. Her positions are vague and general. But they are good ones. She favors an (unspecified) living wage. She favors hiring people who've been through the "justice" system. She favors better environmental policies of some kind. She wants to create affordable housing (somehow) and stop catering to the very wealthy (somehow). Under the heading of "Transparency," she says that she wants to create citizen groups to oversee the effectiveness of city agencies. That sounds encouraging and democratic. More discouraging is that Walker was the hardest person to get any answers to my questions from. I sent her the same three questions I sent the other candidates. I emailed her repeatedly over five days. On the sixth day I asked if she could respond that day, and she finally replied, but only to say that no, she wouldn't have time. Yet she might have given something of an answer in no more seconds than it took her to reply that she wouldn't. This doesn't strike me as the absolute apex of transparency.

Amy Laufer has the second most useful website. On it she proposes some actual concrete things, including free tuition for college: "If a student graduates from CHS with a GPA of 2.5 or better, and the student's family resides in the city and earns the local median income ($63,000/year) or less, the city will pay the graduating student's tuition to attend a certificate program or an associate degree program at Piedmont Virginia Community College." On the environment, she wants to ban plastic bags, but only from city events. On affordable housing, Laufer is more vague. She did, however, reply to my questions.

Kenneth Wayne Jackson tells us very little on his website about what he would do if elected. But he did reply to my questions.

Heather Hill also tells us next to nothing about what exactly she would do -- but she tells us next to nothing at much greater length. She did, however, reply to my questions.

John Edward Hall and Paul Long seem to be candidates without websites, and therefore without obvious means of contacting them. If someone would please point me toward their websites and/or email addresses I'd be most grateful.

Banning Weapons for Rallies in Charlottesville

The first question I asked was whether the candidates would support banning weapons for rallies in Charlottesville. Here's an expert legal opinion that doing so (as is often done all over the U.S.) is legal. Not only does this seem obvious, but it was published prominently in the only daily newspaper in Charlottesville. The same paper has reported on Richmond, Virginia, actually doing this. Meanwhile, the current City Council apparently wants to ban rallies rather than weapons -- an idea that is not just dumb but also a clear violation of the First Amendment, unless the idea is to ban rallies by those threatening violence, in which case wouldn't you also ban weapons at rallies to cover those cases in which groups do not make open threats?

Amy Laufer replied: "I have heard that there are ways to do this with the permitting process and I would be interested in pursuing such angles. I believe what we witnessed on 8/12 showed an extreme example of open carry and it was frightening and not something we would want to see again in our streets. I would like to make sure that we do everything we can to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Kenneth Wayne Jackson replied: "There are laws on the books which allows government to not allow weapons on local, state or federal areas; the city well aware of this chose not to enforce this, even when they knew weapons were going to be at these rallies. I would have used this law."

Heather Hill replied: "I would absolutely support pursuing legislation or local ordinances to ban weapons for rallies in Charlottesville. I have also been interested to learn more about the efforts underway through a lawsuit seeking the court to order groups operating like private militias or military organizations not to return to Charlottesville or anywhere else in Virginia and engage in paramilitary activity."

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More than 60 UML candidates recommended unanimously

The district committees of CPN-UML, which has emerged as the largest political force in the local level elections, have unanimously recommended more than 60 candidates including most of the top rung leaders, for the upcoming federal and provincial elections.
From Smirking Chimp

By Marjorie Cohn and *Jonathan Moore



Planes spraying Agent Orange

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Watching the Ken Burns-Lynn Novick 18-hour series, "The Vietnam War," is an emotional experience. Whether you served in the U.S. military during the war or marched in the streets to end it, you cannot remain untouched by this documentary. The battle scenes are powerful, the stories of U.S. veterans and Vietnamese soldiers who fought on both sides of the war are compelling.

The toll in human terms caused by the war is staggering. Nearly 58,000 Americans and 2-3 million Vietnamese, many of them civilians, were killed in the war. Untold numbers were wounded. Many U.S. veterans of the war suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. More U.S. Vietnam War vets have died by suicide than died in the war. However, those numbers do not begin to tell the complete story of the war.

The U.S. Engages in Chemical Warfare

In one of its most serious omissions, the series gives short shrift to the destruction wreaked by the U.S. military's spraying of deadly chemical herbicides containing the poison dioxin over much of Vietnam, the most common of which was Agent Orange. This is one of the most tragic legacies of the war. Yet, aside from a few brief mentions, the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, both Vietnamese and American, are not portrayed in the series. More importantly, the ongoing harm created by this chemical warfare program is never mentioned.

Agent Orange/dioxin was an herbicidal chemical weapon manufactured by U.S. chemical companies like Dow and Monsanto and sprayed by the U.S. military from 1961 to 1971. Dioxin is one of the most toxic chemicals known to humankind.

Approximately 3 million Vietnamese and thousands of U.S. and allied soldiers were exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin.

The U.S. government was aware that the use of poison as a weapon of war was forbidden by international law well before it authorized its use in Vietnam. In fact, the U.S. government suppressed a 1965 report, called the Bionetics study, that showed dioxin caused many birth defects in experimental animals. It was not until the results of that study were leaked that the use of Agent Orange/dioxin was stopped.

Horrific Birth Defects

Those exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin often have children and grandchildren born with serious illnesses and disabilities. There is a virtual unanimity of opinion within the international scientific community that exposure to Agent Orange/dioxin caused some forms of cancers, reproductive abnormalities, immune and endocrine deficiencies, and nervous system damage. Second- and third-generation victims continue to be born in Vietnam, as well as to U.S. veterans and Vietnamese-Americans in the United States. For many of them and their progeny, the suffering continues.

Mai Giang Vu was exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the Army of South Vietnam. He carried barrels of chemicals to spray in the jungle. His sons were unable to walk or function normally. Their limbs gradually "curled up," and they could only crawl. By age 18, they were bedridden. One died at age 23, the other at age 25.

Nga Tran, a French-Vietnamese woman who worked in Vietnam as a war correspondent, was there when the U.S. military began spraying chemical defoliants. A big cloud of the agent enveloped her. Shortly after her daughter was born, the child's skin began shedding. She could not bear to have physical contact with anyone. The child never grew. She remained 6.6 pounds -- her birth weight -- until her death at the age of 17 months. Tran's second daughter suffers from alpha thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder rarely seen in Asia. Tran saw a woman who gave birth to a "ball" with no human form. Many children are born without brains; others make inhuman sounds. There are victims who have never stood up. They creep and barely lift their heads.

Rosemarie Hohn Mizo is the widow of George Mizo, who fought for the U.S. Army in Vietnam. After he refused to serve a third tour, Mizo was court-martialed, spent 2.5 years in prison and received a dishonorable discharge. Before his death from Agent Orange-related illnesses, Mizo helped found the Friendship Village where Vietnamese victims live in a supportive environment.

Dr. Jeanne Stellman, who wrote the seminal Agent Orange article in Nature, said, "This is the largest unstudied [unnatural] environmental disaster in the world."

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From Robert Reich Blog

Donald Trump weighed in on the scandal engulfing movie mogul and Democratic funder Harvey Weinstein, accused by multiple women of sexual harassment (Weinstein has been fired from his company). "I've know Harvey Weinstein a long time. I'm not at all surprised to see it," Trump said.

Trump was subsequently asked by CNN's Elizabeth's Landers how Weinstein's conduct differed from the conduct Trump bragged about on the "Access Hollywood" tape, where he said "when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab 'em by the p*ssy. You can do anything." Trump responded that the tape was just "locker-room talk."

Rubbish. It wasn't just "locker-room talk." At least 15 women have publicly accused Trump of sexual harassment and assault, and People Magazine Natasha Stoynoff has six independent witnesses to back up her allegation that Trump "pushed her against a wall, shoved his tongue in her mouth, and told her they were going to have an affair."

Trump is actively assaulting women in other ways. The Trump administration's Education Department has moved to make it harder for women at universities to prove sexual harassment. Trump's Health and Human Services Department has made it harder for women to get contraceptives. Trump has nominated 32 men and just one woman to become U.S. Attorneys. Trump's 2018 budget calls for a 93 percent cut in funding for federal programs that aid survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Trump and Weinstein are both sexual harassers and predators. But Trump is also president of the United States. That makes him even more dangerous to women.
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"One of the primary means of human communication, internal and external, is storytelling. Here, in Bottom-Up, Rob Kall is challenging humanity to tell itself a new story, one designed to free us from hierarchicalism to a more egalitarian, interconnected web of meaning."



Steven Barnes, television writer (Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Stargate) and author of LION'S BLOOD"
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Years of Russia hysteria and North Korea fearmongering led by the US mainstream media and NATO propaganda have built support for war among Americans, making them ready to "fight and die" in overseas lands, author and journalist Max Blumenthal told RT.

A recent study by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs has pointed at a shift in the collective thinking and feeling of Americans, when it comes how they view global conflict.

The study was conducted over the last two years leading up to the elections in 2016 and found that Americans seem to have found a new appetite for war.

Blumenthal, who co-hosts the "Moderate Rebels" podcast focused on US interventions and is the Senior Editor of AlterNet's Grayzone Project, spoke to RT America's Manila Chan about these developments.

RT: What do you make of this Chicago Council study?

Max Blumenthal: The Washington Post in a commentary framed these numbers as kind of the failure of Donald Trump's America First policy. And I think Trump has done a pretty horrible job selling his policy. There was a non-interventionist component that he campaigned on, which proved pretty popular, particularly in places like the Rust Belt.

However, I really think that if you look at these numbers, you should look at the internals, and look at when the poll was taken, and when the numbers started to shift. They started to shift when the election campaign began. They reflect a concerted campaign by the mainstream media and by the national security state, which has unprecedented access and control over mainstream media -- particularly CNN and MSNBC -- to bring the American public's views in line with the elites' [views] of our interventionist bipartisan foreign policy consensus in Washington. Two years of non-stop red-baiting, Russia hysteria, and fear mongering over North Korea have done the trick, particularly among Democrats.

RT: Speaking of the mainstream media, why do liberals tend to support interventionist policies at higher rates than even Republicans? It's unusual, isn't it?

MB: Yes, it is unusual. We should just talk about some of the numbers first. From 2015 to this summer we saw a 20 percent surge in the number of Americans who would support sending troops to defend South Korea. We also see, for the first time in history, a majority of Americans willing to send US troops to fight and die for Latvia against Russia, and that is a reflection of their support for NATO.

Liberals disproportionately support these militaristic policies, which seem to suggest support for a hot war with Russia, and even hot war with China. It would be disastrous if they took place. So why didn't that take place? Because of the partisan war against Trump, who has been portrayed as an enemy of NATO -- even though he is now as supportive of NATO as ever; as someone who is a Manchurian candidate of Russia, who is controlled by Putin's nine-dimensional chess and has colluded with Russia. So, Democrats tend to see Russia in a negative light, and they support interventionist policies.

But if you also look at CNN and MSNBC versus Fox News, which is the de-facto channel of the Republican Party and Trump, you see non-stop contributors from the national security state -- like James Clapper, Michael Hayden, the former CIA director -- pushing these kinds of militaristic policies. So, these are the channels that Democrats watch. Their media, including the Washington Post and the New York Times, has really stepped up the fearmongering and militarism.

So, you see a total reversal from the Bush period, the Bush era -- when Democrats were staunchly against the Iraq war, because it was Bush's war. And now you see the people that are against guns that are against mass shooting -- favoring pointing guns and committing mass shootings abroad.

RT: How do you view the posture of the American people on defending eastern European countries like Lithuania and Latvia, who are members of NATO?

MB: In 2014, Victoria Nuland, Assistant Secretary of State, wife of the neo-conservative Robert Kagan, said that Americans were ready to fight and die for Latvia. That wasn't true at the time. Now it is. These attitudes have been manufactured.

They've been partly manufactured by NATO propaganda. We heard at lot -- especially on CNN from figures like Jake Tapper, "Deep State Jake," who almost every show is pushing regime change in one of the non-compliant states. We heard a lot about the Zapad [West] military exercises, thinking Romania, where Russia was said to have amassed 100,000 troops on NATO borders -- even "Democracy Now!" reported that.

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See original here

By Karen Wehrstein

This morning the New York Times quotes Republican Senator Bob Corker saying that Trump's insane shooting-off-at-the-mouth on foreign policy could start WWIII, that Trump needs constant babysitting by staff to contain him, and that almost every Republican senator knows damn well how volatile and dangerous he is. (Emphases mine):

"In an extraordinary rebuke of a president of his own party, Mr. Corker said he was alarmed about a president who acts 'like he's doing 'The Apprentice' or something.' "'He concerns me,' Mr. Corker added. 'He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation.' [...] "Mr. Trump poses such an acute risk, the senator said, that a coterie of senior administration officials must protect him from his own instincts. 'I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, it's a situation of trying to contain him,' Mr. Corker said in a telephone interview."

There's a run-down of his current feud with Trump and some quotes about Trump sabotaging Rex Tillerson's efforts at diplomacy (no, it is not a carefully-thought-out good-cop/bad-cop strategy). Then:

"All but inviting his colleagues to join him in speaking out about the president, Mr. Corker said his concerns about Mr. Trump were shared by nearly every Senate Republican. "'Look, except for a few people, the vast majority of our caucus understands what we're dealing with here,' he said, adding that 'of course they understand the volatility that we're dealing with and the tremendous amount of work that it takes by people around him to keep him in the middle of the road.'"

For Trump to run the country, Corker notes, other people have to run Trump:

"'As long as there are people like that around him who are able to talk him down when he gets spun up, you know, calm him down and continue to work with him before a decision gets made, I think we'll be fine,' he said."

Meaning, of course, that if Trump fires them all for having the temerity to calm him down, we're screwed.

My knee-jerk reaction to the whole story was "WTF ARE YOU CRAVEN BASTARDS DOING CONTINUING TO EXPOSE YOUR NATION AND THE WORLD TO SUCH DANGER, WHEN YOU COULD IMPEACH?"

But then I thought -- and my glasses may be a little rosy here, but -- perhaps this is the beginning.

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March for Racial Justice

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Reprinted from popularresistance.org By Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese

Last weekend, tens of thousands of people marched in Washington, DC in the combined March for Racial Justice and March for Black Women. Native Americans joined black and brown people to lead the march.

At the march, Rev. Graylan Hagler said, "White Supremacy has been given aid and comfort by a so-called president and so-called administration, and so-called leaders of that ideology are comforted and feel that they are back as a centerpiece of American political life."

From coast to coast, it is true that white supremacists are active and are being more visible than they have in decades. This weekend, Richard Spencer held another torch rally in Charlottesville. In Houston, fascists attacked a left-wing book fair, and the book fair organizers had to take action to protect attendees while police did not respond. Similar events happened in Portland, OR, San Diego, New York and Washington, DC.

Not all events are successful. In San Francisco, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU Local 10) members and allies prevented a right-wing racist and violent group from holding a rally, thwarting the group at every attempt. And sometimes, white supremacists have to go to great lengths to hide their gatherings. David Lewis reports on how he infiltrated a secret convention in Seattle and saw how fascism is growing in Seattle the liberal city of the Northwest.

White supremacy is not new, and it manifests itself in many ways, not only in overt white supremacists, but also culturally and systemically. With the rise of open white supremacy, there are discussions about and controversy over how to respond.



March for Racial Justice

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Is there room for racism in civilized debates?

This issue is particularly pertinent for us right now because a local Baltimore League of Women Voters chapter is holding a series of panel discussions on immigration to which they invited speakers from anti-immigrant white supremacist groups that are listed as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The initial panel was protested by the local Green Party and others after The League refused to dis-invite the speaker and he was prevented from completing his presentation. He left the event.

This sparked discussion in our community and raised many questions: Was this an infringement on his right to free speech? Is this starting a slippery slope to shutting down people's right to free speech? Should he have been allowed to speak and then challenged during the question and answer period? What is hate speech and should it be prohibited?

We speak about this topic as two white European-Americans who were raised in middle class households that condemned discrimination and bigotry. We have experienced white privilege throughout our lives. We are engaged in ongoing education about white supremacy and how we end it. Our thoughts are:

First, it should be clear that in a legal sense, individuals do not violate another individual's right to free speech. The right to free speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment, which prevents the government, not individuals, from infringing on a person's right to free speech. As long as the government protects the First Amendment, there is no slippery slope. Whether the government does protect free speech at present is a whole other conversation.

Second, when it comes to what private organizations do, this is another matter entirely. Organizations and institutions do not have a requirement to include those who espouse hate. They are not required to give a platform to or legitimize white supremacist views. In fact, one could argue that it is anti-social to do so. Professor Matt Pratt Guterl, from Brown University, explains it well in "How American's Faith in Civilized Debate is Fueling White Supremacy." when he writes about a debate between WEB DuBois and racist Lothrop Stoddard in 1920"s describing it as based on "the bizarre premise that there are two sides equally deserving our attention." No, the white supremacist view should not be given legitimacy.

The essential idea is that the question of whether or not racism and white supremacy should exist has been answered. We have already agreed that we have equal human rights, even though we have not yet achieved them. Guterl writes that "Institutions should remember, though, that they exist to foster new ideas and better understandings" and that "mindfulness, civility, and respect are more closely aligned with oft-celebrated concepts like diversity and inclusion."

Guterl writes about a public debate between W.E.B. Du Bois and a racist, Lothrop Stoddard. He concludes, "We should hear this story and think, with horror, of the obscene false equivalency at the heart of this confrontation -- the bizarre premise that there are two sides equally deserving our attention. We should think it a travesty that a man of Du Bois's erudition and intellect should have to prove that his race deserved to survive."

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Assault Rifle

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In the wake of the recent mass killing in Las Vegas, carried out by weapons the private ownership of which is protected (according to some) by the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution, there is now a large public debate about whether such weapons should be banned or their ownership more tightly restricted. The argument for banning or more strictly controlling these weapons is, of course, that they can kill a lot of people very quickly so why in the world would any sane society want them to be available for some deranged person who could use them to kill lots of innocent people? A related argument is that guns of all kinds are dangerous objects that sometimes accidentally kill innocent people, for reasons such as the gun going off unexpectedly or a child gaining access to it, and this risk, some say, outweighs the value of a good guy with a gun being nearby to stop a bad guy with a gun in a home invasion, a rape, a mass killing or some similar criminal situation.

This article is about whether it is a good idea or a bad idea for the present-day American working class to be armed. This article is not about whether eight-year-old children or mentally unstable or psychopathic people should be armed; even ardent defenders of the right to bear arms would agree they should not be. Nor is this article about whether criminal gangs should be armed (about which see more below [1]).

The "guns are dangerous" argument versus the "a good guy with a gun protects against a bad buy with a gun" argument can be argued either way with statistics and anecdotes, and there are good people on both sides of the issue. But the Founding Fathers thought the importance of the 2nd Amendment had nothing to do with protection against criminals; they saw the right to bear arms as the only way for ordinary people to defend themselves against an oppressive government.

The fact that our United States government is indeed oppressive, and that the police departments are an instrument of oppression that uses armed violence or the credible threat of armed violence routinely , cannot be denied and is discussed here in the case of the Boston Police Department (known as one of the least oppressive and least racially biased in the country) and here regarding United States police departments generally. Whatever the merits--pro or con--of the Founding Fathers' arguments about the right to bear arms being important to protect against tyrannical government, one thing is for sure: tyrannical government is as much a legitimate concern today as it was back then.

This list of quotations from many of the Founding Fathers makes their reason for defending the right to bear arms--to defend against tyrannical government--very clear. Ben Franklin put it this way: "Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who didn't." Thomas Jefferson said, "What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms." (True, the Founding Fathers were worried about the tyranny of King George III, not the tyranny they themselves practiced against slaves and poor farmers; when subsistence farmers revolted in 1786 against the tyranny of the rich in Shays's Rebellion, George Washington organized a private army led by the rich to attack them, and Sam Adams called for them all to be hung!)

Even if guns are too dangerous and the prevalence of bad guy criminals too low to justify making guns omnipresent, the Founding Fathers' argument would nonetheless tip the scales in favor of the right to bear arms--if that argument still made sense in the 21st century. But does it still make sense?

The Founding Fathers lived at a time when the arms of even the state's best-equipped military forces were not substantially different from the arms that private individuals could obtain. Today it is very different. Handguns and semi-automatic rifles are no match for the 82nd Airborne Division's weapons of tanks and missiles etc. If the Founding Fathers' argument has been rendered moot by the modern state's military might, then the right to bear arms is much harder to defend against those worried about fatal gun accidents and deranged mass killers with semi-automatic rifles.

Despite the tremendous power of the U.S. military in contrast to even the famous "well regulated militias" of the 2nd Amendment, however, the words of Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson cannot be dismissed; in fact they are arguably more relevant today than ever. The reason for this is not that guns and semi-automatic rifles can defeat the 82nd Airborne Division. The reason is that, as I discuss below, the right to bear arms will help Americans persuade members of the 82nd Airborne Division (and the rest of the Armed Forces) to join them in removing our 21st century tyrants from power.

The United States is essentially a dictatorship of the rich. A ruling plutocracy of billionaires and their obedient corporate managers and politicians call the shots. They are making our society increasingly unequal and undemocratic. They are stripping us of the liberties that we once took for granted, such as habeas corpus (the right to have a court examine the lawfulness of one's detention, won in the year 1679, and abolished in the United States by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013). This dictatorship of the rich has pushed economic inequality to obscene levels, has left more and more Americans unemployed or working at jobs that pay too little, has driven homes into foreclosure, deprived families of adequate medical care, saddled young people with huge student loans, caused environmental disasters like BP in the Gulf, and sent loved ones to kill or be killed in wars based on lies. The future holds misery for the many and privilege for the few. These and other problems are part of a system in which money is power and most people don't have any. The powerful men and women who run our world were not elected and cannot be unelected. They can only be removed from power by revolution, a revolution to break the power of the ruling elite and create a society run by and for the people: a true democracy.

But where do privately owned guns fit into the scenario of a revolution? Can privately owned guns defeat the 82nd Airborne Division? No. But who's to say that the 82nd Airborne Division (or at least a substantial part of it) won't disobey orders to attack their neighbors and friends and relatives in a broad, popular mass movement with the revolutionary aim of creating a genuine democracy and removing the plutocracy from its undeserved and illegitimate power? Who's to say these soldiers and sailors and marines will not use their ferocious weapons to defend that movement against those who would attack it? Who's to say, in other words, that the vast majority of Americans cannot gain the support of enough members of the armed forces to prevail against those who would continue to fight to keep the plutocracy in power? There is no reason why this cannot happen. What it requires is building a mass revolutionary movement that makes its aims for a more equal and democratic society widely known, a revolutionary movement that members of the armed forces will see is both morally right and also determined enough to be worth supporting despite the personal risk in doing so, the risk that if they refuse orders to attack the revolutionary movement and the plutocracy remains in power they will be severely punished.

How will members of the armed forces know that the revolutionary movement is so determined to win that it makes sense to refuse orders to attack it and instead to defend it? One indication that the revolutionary movement is determined is if it uses arms in self-defense when it makes sense to do so. Which raises the question, does it ever make sense to do so, given the overpowering force of the 82nd Airborne Division? The answer is yes, sometimes it does. The reason is that violence always occurs in a political context in which each side in the conflict must, in deciding whether or not to use violence, consider the political consequences--will it increase or weaken the support one has from the broader public.

The ruling class knows that when working class people in a particular location have a lot of public support in that region (even if people elsewhere don't support them), then it might be politically counter-productive to employ the full violence of the U.S. military to defeat these people when they're fighting for some limited non- revolutionary demand, even if they have resorted to violence themselves. If the wider public saw the National Guard, for example, ordered to attack armed working class people fighting for what most people believed was a just cause, the result could be even greater public support for the people attacked by the National Guard, decreased support for the government, and--most dangerous of all for the ruling class--increased numbers deciding that a revolution is necessary. The political cost of ordering the U.S. military to attack Americans is often so great that the ruling class decides not to do it and instead to let an armed working class struggle win, at least in the short term.

This is why working people in the United States have often in the past been able to use violence in self-defense advantageously. Labor strikes sometimes involved workers using arms or other forms of violence. In 1921 in West Virginia coal workers on strike defended against cops and goons with an armed rebellion in what is known as the Battle of Blair Mountain. During the General Strike in San Francisco of 1936, dockworkers used threats and physical violence to deter scabs. On August 2, 1946 veterans, after their nonviolent efforts failed, used their weapons to successfully remove corrupt politicians from office in McMinn County, Tennessee, in what is known as the Battle of Athens. The anti-Vietnam War movement included American GIs fragging (killing by grenade) gung-ho officers who ordered them to risk their lives attacking the Viet Cong. The Civil Rights Movement against Jim Crow laws and racist police harassment involved Martin Luther King, Jr. seeking a gunpermit to carry a gun for self-protection (the permit was denied) and using armed guards to protect himself from racist thugs, and it involved armed stand offs between blacks and racist cops as when the Black Panthers stood their ground with rifles against the police of Oakland, California.

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From WSWS

Donald Trump continued his campaign of incendiary statements over the weekend, threatening to launch a war with North Korea that could unleash a nuclear catastrophe.

On Saturday afternoon, the US president tweeted that past administrations "have been talking to North Korea for 25 years." This "hasn't worked," he wrote, adding: "Sorry, but only one thing will work!" Asked later to elaborate on what he meant, Trump replied, "You'll figure that out pretty soon."

These threats came three weeks after Trump's tirade at the United Nations General Assembly September 19, when he declared that the US was "ready, willing, and able" to "totally destroy" North Korea, a country of 25 million people. Four days later, Trump threatened to assassinate the North Korean leader. If the North Korean foreign minister's speech at the UN "echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man [Kim Jong-Un]," Trump wrote, "they won't be around much longer!"

On Thursday, Trump organized a White House dinner with US military leaders, which had all the hallmarks of a meeting of a war cabinet. During a photo op before the dinner, Trump, surrounded by generals in military uniform, likened the moment to "the calm before the storm." Asked what storm he was talking about, Trump would only say, "You'll find out soon."

To the extent that Trump's words are interpreted as a genuine expression of the policy and plans of the United States government, the inescapable conclusion is that the world stands on the brink of the most devastating military conflict since the outbreak of World War II. Were language and reality in correct political alignment, the present situation would be described officially as an "Imminent danger of war."

Republican Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, embroiled in a political conflict with Trump, warned that the president's reckless threats were leading the United States "on the path to World War III." But despite Corker's statement on Sunday, there is, within the ruling elite and its media, a staggering disconnect between consciousness and reality. The public declarations emanating from the White House are being reported by the media as if they will have no consequences. The thinking seems to be that Trump doesn't mean what he says. The consequences of a war would prove to be so catastrophic that Trump is simply bluffing.

But what if he isn't? What if the North Korean government takes the threats of the American president, as it must, seriously? With Trump having publicly declared that he will destroy North Korea and that the doomsday hour is fast approaching, how will the Pyongyang government interpret American military actions near the borders of its country? With only minutes to make a decision, will the regime view the approach of a US bomber toward North Korean airspace as the beginning of a full-scale attack? Will it conclude that it has no choice but to assume the worst and initiate a military strike against South Korea? Will it fire missiles, as it has threatened, in the direction of Japan, Guam, Australia, or even the United States?

From a purely legal standpoint, North Korea can claim, in light of Trump's threats, that such action on its part would be an act of self-defense, a legitimate response to an imminent military threat.

Aside from the calculations of Pyongyang, one must assume that the regimes in Beijing and Moscow are also looking at the unfolding developments with increasing alarm. While the American media, as is its wont, responds complacently and thoughtlessly to Trump's threats, the Chinese regime cannot avoid viewing them with deadly seriousness. Trump is, after all, the commander in chief of the American military. He has the power -- which Congress has shown no interest in challenging -- to order military actions.

A US attack on North Korea would pose an overwhelming threat to China. As in 1950, a war against North Korea would -- even if it did not rapidly escalate into a nuclear exchange -- lead inexorably to an American incursion across the 38th Parallel. The last time the US military crossed the border into North Korea, the Chinese responded with a massive military counterattack. There is no reason to believe that the present-day regime in Beijing would remain passive in the face of a new US invasion of North Korea. It would view an American invasion as an unacceptable violation of a geopolitical arrangement on the Korean peninsula that has been in existence for nearly 65 years.

Beijing's reaction would be influenced by the already tense conditions that exist in the Asia-Pacific region. For years, the US has been systematically building up its military forces in the South China Sea under the "Pivot to Asia" initiated by the Obama administration. The purpose has been to militarily encircle China, which dominant sections of the ruling class consider the major competitor to US interests. Over the weekend, China's main regional competitor, Japan, declared that it fully backed Trump's threats against North Korea.

Thus, the outbreak of war between North Korea and the United States would inevitably involve China, which, in turn, would draw all of Asia, as well as Australia, into the bloody maelstrom. Nor would it be possible for Europe and Latin America, which have their own interests in Asia, to stand aside.

Little has appeared in the American media about the consequences of war with North Korea. An article in Newsweek in April concluded that a war would leave one million people dead, assuming that it did not involve the use of nuclear weapons or any other outside powers. In a comment in the Los Angeles Times last month, retired Air Force Brigadier General Rob Givens calculated that 20,000 South Koreans would die every day in a war on the peninsula, even without the use of nuclear weapons.

If the war were to develop into a nuclear exchange -- as the Trump administration has threatened -- the consequences would be catastrophic. In addition to the millions or tens of millions killed outright, climate experts warned in August that even a regional nuclear war would cool the planet by up to 10 degrees Celsius, potentially sparking a global nuclear winter that would wipe out agricultural production.

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NC weighs Cabinet reshuffle option

In response to the coalition partner CPN (Maoist Centre) siding with the opposition CPN-UML in the form of an electoral alliance, the prime ministers party Nepali Congress is mulling over inducting the Kamal Thapa-led Rastriya Prajatantra Party to the Cabinet.
Global Automotive Energy Harvesting and Regeneration Market 2017 By Manufactures - Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental AG, Delphi Automotive PLC, Denso Corporation

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Set-Top Box (STB) Market 2017 Global Analysis, Key Updation, Review, Opportunities, Demand and Forecast to 2022

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This report studies Set-Top Box (STB) in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa, focuses on the top 5 Set-Top Box (STB) Players in each region, with sales, price, revenue and market share for top 5 manufacturer, coveringRequest a Sample Report @PaceTechnicolorArrisEchostarCiscoHumaxNetgemAppleSagemcomRokuMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales, revenue, market share of top 5 players in these regions, from 2012 to 2017 (forecast), likeNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Korea)Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia etc.South America (Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina)Middle East and Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Saudi Arabia)Split by Product Types, with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type, can be divided intoCableSatelliteDTTIPOTTSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Set-Top Box (STB) in each application, can be divided intoResidential UseCommercial UseAccess Complete Report @Table of Contents2017 Top 5 Set-Top Box (STB) Manufacturers/Players in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa1 Set-Top Box (STB) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Set-Top Box (STB)1.2 Set-Top Box (STB) Segment by Types1.2.1 Global Sales Market Share of Set-Top Box (STB) by Types in 20151.2.2 Cable1.2.3 Satellite1.2.4 DTT1.2.5 IP1.2.6 OTT1.3 Set-Top Box (STB) Segment by Applications1.3.1 Set-Top Box (STB) Consumption Market Share by Applications in 20151.3.2 Residential Use1.3.3 Commercial Use1.4 Set-Top Box (STB) Market by Regions1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Asia-Pacific Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 South America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Middle East and Africa Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Set-Top Box (STB) (2012-2022)2 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue (value) and Market Share by Players2.1 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share in 2015 and 2016 by Players2.2 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Revenue and Market Share by Players in 2015 and 20162.3 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Average Price by Players in 2015 and 20162.4 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types by Players2.5 Set-Top Box (STB) Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Set-Top Box (STB) Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Set-Top Box (STB) Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Players2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue (Value) by Regions, Type and Application (2012-2017)3.1 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)3.1.1 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)3.1.2 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)3.2 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Price by Type (2012-2017)3.2.1 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3.2.2 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3.2.3 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Price by Type (2012-2017)3.3 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)3.4 Global Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 North America Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue and Price4.1 North America Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20164.1.1 North America Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share in 2015 and 20164.1.2 North America Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20164.2 North America Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Price by Type (2012-2017)4.2.1 North America Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.2.2 North America Set-Top Box (STB) Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.2.3 North America Set-Top Box (STB) Price by Type (2012-2017)4.3 North America Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)4.4 North America Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Country (US, Canada and Mexico) (2012-2017)4.5 North America Set-Top Box (STB) Import & Export (2012-2017)5 Europe Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue and Price5.1 Europe Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20165.1.1 Europe Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share in 2015 and 20165.1.2 Europe Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20165.2 Europe Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Price by Type (2012-2017)5.2.1 Europe Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2.2 Europe Set-Top Box (STB) Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2.3 Europe Set-Top Box (STB) Price by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Europe Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)5.4 Europe Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia) (2012-2017)5.5 Europe Set-Top Box (STB) Import & Export (2012-2017)6 Asia-Pacific Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue and Price6.1 Asia-Pacific Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20166.1.1 Asia-Pacific Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share in 2015 and 20166.1.2 Asia-Pacific Top 5 Players Set-Top Box (STB) Revenue and Market Share in 2015 and 20166.2 Asia-Pacific Set-Top Box (STB) Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Price by Type (2012-2017)6.2.1 Asia-Pacific Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)6.2.2 Asia-Pacific Set-Top Box (STB) Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)6.2.3 Asia-Pacific Set-Top Box (STB) Price by Type (2012-2017)6.3 Asia-Pacific Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.4 Asia-Pacific Set-Top Box (STB) Sales and Market Share by Country (China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Korea) (2012-2017)6.5 Asia-Pacific Set-Top Box (STB) Import & Export (2012-2017)ContinuedPurchase Report @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global IoT Fleet Management Market 2017 By Manufactures - IBM Corporation, Intel Corporation, Oracle Corporation

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This IoT Fleet Management report comprehends outline in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia. It focuses on top most manufacturers in global market, with production, price, and revenue and market share for each manufacturer.Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key. It splits into Product type and product application.Global IoT Fleet Management Market Research Report 2017 tracks the important market events including product launches, technological developments, mergers & acquisitions, and the innovative business strategies opted by key market players.Get Free Sample Report @Along with strategically analyzing the key micro markets, the report also focuses on industry-specific drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges in IoT Fleet Management market. It also focuses on the key drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges.The definition of the market which helps in understanding the background of the market about what majorly the IoT Fleet Management market deals with. The market is divided in a broad way to examine the market in a better way.The sub-segments of IoT Fleet Management market are also included for better analysis of the market. The contribution made by each segment and sub-segment is included coupled with the popularity of the segments.Access Full Report With TOC @In the next part, the factors that are contributing to the development of the market are included. The present and the future trends of IoT Fleet Management market are condensed so that the market players can make smart decisions in order to maintain the competitive edge.Results gained from analytical tools such as investment feasibility analysis and investment return analysis reveal market attractiveness, while SWOT analysis of the major players reveals winning market strategies and the most recent hierarchy in the IoT Fleet Management market.If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry. Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:blog:
Credit Insurance 2017 North America Market Size, Status, Analysis and Forecast 2022

Credit Insurance Market

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North America Credit Insurance MarketDescriptionWiseGuyReports.Com adds North America Credit Insurance Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 Research To Its Database.Trade credit insurance or credit insurance is an insurance policy and a risk management product offered by private insurance companies and governmental export credit agencies to business entities wishing to protect their accounts receivable from loss due to credit risks such as protracted default, insolvency or bankruptcy. Credit insurance product is a type of property and casualty insurance.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Credit Insurance in North America Market, especially in United States, Canada and Mexico. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Get sample Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversEuler HermesAtradiusCofaceZurichCredendo GroupQBE InsuranceCesceMarket Segment by Countries, coveringUnited StatesCanadaMexicoMarket Segment by Type, coversType 1Type 2Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoDomestic TradeExport TradeReport Details @Table of Contents -Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 Credit Insurance Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Type 11.2.2 Type 21.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Domestic Trade1.3.2 Export Trade1.4 Market Analysis by Countries1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Mexico Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Canada Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Euler Hermes2.1.1 Profile2.1.2 Credit Insurance Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Euler Hermes Credit Insurance Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.1.4 Business Overview2.1.5 Euler Hermes News2.2 Atradius2.2.1 Profile2.2.2 Credit Insurance Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Atradius Credit Insurance Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2.4 Business Overview2.2.5 Atradius News2.3 Coface2.3.1 Profile2.3.2 Credit Insurance Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Coface Credit Insurance Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3.4 Business Overview2.3.5 Coface News2.4 Zurich2.4.1 Profile2.4.2 Credit Insurance Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Zurich Credit Insurance Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4.4 Business Overview2.4.5 Zurich News2.5 Credendo Group2.5.1 Profile2.5.2 Credit Insurance Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Credendo Group Credit Insurance Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5.4 Business Overview2.5.5 Credendo Group News2.6 QBE Insurance2.6.1 Profile2.6.2 Credit Insurance Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 QBE Insurance Credit Insurance Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6.4 Business Overview2.6.5 QBE Insurance News2.7 Cesce2.7.1 Profile2.7.2 Credit Insurance Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Cesce Credit Insurance Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7.4 Business Overview2.7.5 Cesce News..CONTINUEDAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industry research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)
Market Growth of Intelligent And Cognitive Radios to Remain Sluggish through 2012 - 2018

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Intelligent and cognitive radios are radio sets that can automatically latch on to the best available wireless channels and utilize them to broadcast and receive signals with no loss in information. This dynamic spectrum management process helps improve the quality of the entire network with which the cognitive radio is linked. The need for improved spectrum access to enhance communication all over the world is leading to growth of the global intelligent and cognitive radios market.A sample of this report is available upon request @The report segments the market for cognitive radios based on application, components, and the regional distribution of the global market. The forecast for each segment is provided for the forecast period, taking into account the potential impact of the markets growth drivers and restraints on the growth prospects of each individual segment. Growth drivers and restraints acting upon the intelligent and cognitive market are elaborated upon in detail, with data presented in the form of an impact analysis.The global intelligent and cognitive markets competitive landscape is given special attention in the report, with the Porters five forces analysis employed to describe the competitive dynamics in the report. Thus, the competitive rivalry in the intelligent and cognitive market is judged comparatively, as is the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, and the threat of new entrants and substitute products to the established market.Overview of the global intelligent and cognitive radios marketThe global intelligent and cognitive radios market is segmented on the basis of the various components used in intelligent and cognitive radio systems, the various applications of intelligent and cognitive radios, and the regional segments of the global market.By component, the intelligent and cognitive radio market is segmented into network control and management, antennas, RF electronics, and wireless cognitive radio systems.By application, the report looks into the utilization of intelligent and cognitive radios in the public sector, wireless network operators, and other end users such as the military sector. All three areas are projected to have steady demand for intelligent and cognitive radios in the near future, since it represents a necessary step of technological updation.Growing incorporation of intelligent and cognitive radios in the public sector and the armed forces is driving the market in North America. The U.S., having one of the most sophisticated and affluent urban societies in the world, in addition to the worlds largest and most advanced military, is a major market for intelligent and cognitive radios. The high utility of intelligent and cognitive radios in military communication and public safety broadcasts is responsible for the high demand for the same.Notwithstanding the high initial installation cost of intelligent and cognitive radios, the lower operational costs brought about by the efficiency of cognitive radio systems are expected to help the market in the long run. The ability of intelligent and cognitive radios to switch between available networks and make full use of the available bandwidth also enhances the interoperability of radio communications on a global scale, which is another major driver for the global intelligent and cognitive radios market.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Companies mentioned in the research reportThe report profiles major companies operating in the global intelligent and cognitive radios market, such as Cisco, Motorola, RadioScape, Spectrum Signal Processing, AeroStream, Altera, and Sundance.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact Us-U.S. OFFICE:State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207
Market Assessment: Global Microbial Growth Media Market 2017-2021 - BD, bioMrieux, Merck Millipore, Thermo Fisher Scientific

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Growth media is of great importance for microbiological tests; it helps obtain pure cultures, grow and count microbial cells, and cultivate and select microorganisms. High-quality growth media is important to achieve accurate and reproducible results of microbiological tests. The microbial growth medium encourages the growth of microorganisms. Microbial growth media contains nutrients, growth promoting factors, energy sources, buffer salts, minerals, metals, and gelling agents. It has been used by microbiologists since the nineteenth century. Although, due to increased use of rapid methods and technology, pharmaceutical quality control laboratories and food and beverage industry still rely on microbial growth media.The global microbial growth media market to grow at a CAGR of 6.36% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global microbial growth media market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the sales of microbial growth media.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAClick to get sample PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global Microbial Growth Media Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- BD- bioMrieux- Merck Millipore- Thermo Fisher ScientificOther prominent vendors- Bio-Rad Laboratories- Eiken Chemical- HiMedia Laboratories- Neogen- ScharlabMarket driver- High demand for improved antibiotics- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- High cost of specific media components- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Increase trend of Biomimetic- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry:Key questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Mobile Data Traffic Market Expected to Rise Steadily throughout 2012 - 2018

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With the growth in the market penetration of smart phones, the number of mobile phone users is likely to increase. The popularity of social media is also expected to increase and 14 more applications will see growth in the mobile data traffic market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Mobile traffic data was estimated at 3.9 trillion megabytes in 2011 and it is expected to reach 39.9 trillion megabytes in 2016, whereas mobile data revenue was estimated at USD 326.1 billion in 2011 and is expected to reach USD 628.1 billion in 2016. Moreover, mobile traffic is expected to grow tenfold in the coming five years, but the revenue generated from mobile traffic is expected to have twofold growth.There are several services driving the mobile traffic growth, which includes video streaming, social networking and applications. Currently, the top players rely on advertising in order to generate revenue from these services. Mobile data consumption is expected to grow because the consumers give priority to services such as playing games, listening to music, watching videos, browsing web pages and sending messages. Among these, the top services in demand will be web browsing and video streaming.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the major players in this sector are AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Inc., Google, Inc., Mobixell Networks, Apple, Inc., China Telecom Corporation Limited, MobiTV, Inc., O2 UK, PacketVideo Corporation, Qualcomm Incorporated, Sprint, T-MobileUSA, QuickPlay Media, RealNetworks, Inc., NTT DoCoMo Inc, Vodafone Group Plc, and Yahoo! Inc.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact Us-U.S. OFFICE:State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207
Specialty Fuel Additives Market to Represent a Value of US$7.02 billion By the End of 2019

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A recent study by Transparency Market Research (TMR) forecasts that the global specialty fuel additives market will grow at a healthy CAGR of 6% from 2013 to 2019. TMR, a market intelligence firm based in the United States, in its report states that this market will report a market value worth US$7.02 billion by 2019. The report is titled Specialty Fuel Additives Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019.Browse Complete Report @Growing at a CAGR of 6% between the years 2013 and 2019, the global specialty fuel additives market is expected to reach US$7.02 billion in 2019 from US$4.69 billion in 2012. As per this market research report, the global specialty fuel additives market is primarily driven by greater environmental concerns with respect to the consumption of oxygenates, and technological advancements. Metal deactivators, corrosion inhibitors, antiknock agents, deposit controls agents, antioxidants, and others are included within the category of specialty fuel additives. In order to produce better fuels for end-use industries, and commercial purposes, several companies have been developing hybrid blends and compounds.Request and Download Sample Report @This TMR report explains that global specialty fuel additives market is segmented on the basis of products, application scope, and geography. Based on the type of products, the global specialty fuel additives market is classified into cold flow improvers, deposit control additives, corrosion inhibitors, lubricity improvers, cetane improvers, antioxidants, and others. It is expected that the fastest growing application segment in the global specialty fuel additives market in the forthcoming years will be cold flow improvers. Aviation turbine fuel, gasoline, diesel, and others are the different application areas in the overall specialty fuel additives market. In 2012, the second largest application segment in this market was diesel. Furthermore, by 2019, the global specialty fuel additives market will be dominated by the diesel segment.View and Download TOC of Specialty Fuel Additives Market Research Report @According to the report, regionally, the global specialty fuel additives market is categorized into Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. High demand for cetane improvers is fueled by greater diesel consumption in the Asia Pacific and Europe. The specialty fuel additives market in North America is mainly driven by ban on MTBE in the United States. Rising demand for biofuels in the U.S. and Europe is expected to fuel the market for cold flow improvers in the overall specialty fuel additives market.The overall specialty fuel additives market is characterized by average concentration. In 2012, this market was led by four main companies namely Infenium, NewMarket, BASF, and Innospec which accounted for 45% of the entire market share. The other prominent players operating in the global specialty fuel additives market are TOTAL Additives and Special Fuels, Rheochemie Gmbh, NALCO Champion (Ecolab), Lubrizol Ltd., Innospec Ltd., Infineum UK Ltd. GE Water & Process Technologies, Evonik Industries AG, Angus Chemical Company, Dorf Ketal B.V., and Chemtura Corporation.Buy Full Specialty Fuel Additives Market Research Report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Analysis of Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Market in Global Industry: Future Trend and Demand

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Market Research Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.The market research publication about offers a select once-over of the variables that are probably going to have an enduring or here and now have an impact on the development of the Cardiac Care Medical Equipment market amid the figure time frame. The report impeccably investigates components that are probably going to have a jolt or deferred impact on the Cardiac Care Medical Equipment market in the short or long run. The development direction of the market has additionally been minutely examined with uncommon consideration on the drivers, restrictions, and prospects display in the Cardiac Care Medical Equipment market for the players and financial specialists to look on to. A few aspects, for example, inflow of crude materials and outpouring of final results, imports and fares, arrangements and controls of governments, execution of the market in the worldwide and territorial level, items circulated and sold, and industrialized limit of the mechanical unit have additionally been accentuated upon in the investigation.Know more with Free Sample Copy @List of Tables and FiguresTable Global Market Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Revenue (M USD) Comparison by Regions 2012-20229Figure North America Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)10Figure Asia-Pacific Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)11Figure Europe Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)12Figure South America Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)13Figure Middle East and Africa Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)14Figure Global Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Revenue (M USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)15Figure Global Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Sales (K Unit) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)16Table Global Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Revenue (M USD) by Manufacturers (2016-2017)17Table Global Cardiac Care Medical Equipment Revenue Share (%) by Manufacturers (2016-2017)17About usQYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.Contact usBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Nepal committed to implement BRI

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that Nepal is committed to implement the Belt and Road Initiative of China and work further with the northern neighbour.
Succinic Acid Market to Exhibit a Healthy Growth of 19.4% CAGR Between 2012 - 2018

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A new report has been published by Transparency Market Research, titled Succinic Acid Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2012 - 2018. TMR, a market intelligence company based in the U.S., states in its report that the value of the global succinic acid market was estimated at US$240.3 million in 2011 and is expected to be growing at a remarkable CAGR of 19.4% between 2012 and 2018. The succinic acid market is predicted to be worth US$836.2 million by 2018.Browse Complete Report @The TMR report states that maleic anhydride, which is derived from petroleum, is the conventional feedstock material utilized in the manufacture of succinic acid. As a result, the cost of conventionally derived succinic acid is vulnerable to any fluctuations in the price of petroleum. The expanding demand in applications such as polyurethane, 1,4-butanediol, plasticizers, coatings, resins, and dyes and inks has raised demand from the global succinic acid market. In 2011, coatings, resins, dyes, and inks as a whole dominated the market and accounted for 20.8% of the overall consumption of succinic acid worldwide.Request and Download Sample Report @The study states that rise in infrastructure and construction development activities is predicted to boost the demand for coating, resin, and polyurethanes, which in turn is likely to aid the growth of the global succinic acid market.The pharmaceutical industry was the second largest application of succinic acid in the global perspective and held a 13.0% share in overall consumption in 2012. In 2011, polyurethane was the third largest application of succinic acid, with a share of more than 12% in overall consumption, and is predicted to expand at a CAGR of 28.0% between 2012 and 2018.The price of raw materials has been a primary concern for succinic acid manufacturers. Additionally, increasing environmental concern amongst end users has resulted in rising demand for green products.View and Download TOC of Succinic Acid Market Research Report @To counter these restraints, succinic acid manufacturers are progressively shifting towards commercialization and development of biobased succinic acid. Numerous companies are investing heavily in the production and advancement of biobased succinic acid. Commercialization and development of biobased succinic acid is anticipated to open up fresh avenues for industry players in the coming years. However, strict environmental regulations are predicted to impede demand for petroleum-derived succinic acid in the forthcoming years.As per this TMR research report, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Europe accounted for the biggest share of the global succinic acid market in 2011, holding 33% of the market. The second biggest market for succinic acid, with a 29.6% share in the global market in 2011, was Asia Pacific. It is projected to be the most swiftly growing market for succinic acid, due to rising demand from India, China, and Japan. North America held 29.2% of the total market in 2011 owing largely to rising demand for coatings, resins, inks, and dyes.Major manufacturers of succinic acid profiled in the report include Reverdia, BioAmber, DSM, BASF, Myriant Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemicals, Anqing Hexing Chemical Co. Ltd, Purac Biochem, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd, and Showa Denko K.K.Buy Full Succinic Acid Market Research Report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Chromatography Systems Market is Projected to Record at 5.2% CAGR during 2013-2019

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Transparency Market Research states in its latest report that technological advancement and increase in R&D efforts have driven the global market for chromatography systems. The report, titled Chromatography Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013-2019, states that at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2013 to 2019, the chromatography systems market is projected to grow from US$6,982.3 million in 2012 to US$10,364.2 million in 2019.The research report segments the global chromatography systems market on the basis of type, end user, and geography.By type, the chromatography systems market can be categorized into liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and others. Liquid chromatography is sub-segmented into low pressure liquid chromatography (LPLC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC). The others category comprises supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), affinity chromatography (AC), ion exchange chromatography (IEC), and column chromatography.The segment of HPLC held the largest share of the liquid chromatography market in 2012. HPLC is widely used in applications concerning petrochemical, life science, and biopharmaceutical industries. This, combined with advancement in technology is likely to push the HPLC segment to over US$3 billion by 2019. UHPLC, on the other hand, is projected to be the fastest growing sub-segment in the liquid chromatography market, registering a CAGR of more than 7% in the forecast period.View and Download TOC of Chromatography Systems Market Research Report@Chromatography systems find application in agriculture and food industries, hospitals and research laboratories, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Apart from this, chromatography systems are also used in environmental agencies, cosmetic industries, and nutraceutical companies. The growing demand for chromatography systems for protein purification and surge in research and development activities has propelled the chromatography systems market in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries. The value of this segment was pegged at over US$2 billion in 2012.Geographically, North America dominated the global chromatography systems market in 2012, accounting for a share of more than 35% in the overall market. The persistent efforts of organizations such as The Chromatographic Society (ChromSoc) and the Chinese American Chromatography Association are forecast to boost the chromatography systems market in the region over the next few years.Request and Download Sample Report@Europe held a 30% share in the global market in 2012 thanks to the introduction of new technologies by local players. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is likely to be the fastest developing chromatography systems market by 2019.The chromatography systems market, by nature, is immensely fragmented with no single company enjoying the lead. There are, however, numerous prominent players operating in the chromatography systems market. These include Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Waters Corporation, Regis Technologies, Inc., Jasco, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Illumina, Inc., PerkinElmer, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., KONIK-TECH KONIXBERT HI-TECH S.A., GE Healthcare, Siemens AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Shimadzu Corporation, Affymetrix, Inc., and Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. Vendors have been focusing on developing innovative and cost-effective chromatography systems in order to increase their customer base and to gain a larger share of the global market.Buy Full Chromatography Systems Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Location of Things Market 2017 Key Players - Google, HERE, Qualcomm Technologies, Intel Corporation

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This Location of Things report comprehends outline in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia. It focuses on top most manufacturers in global market, with production, price, and revenue and market share for each manufacturer.Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key. It splits into Product type and product application.Global Location of Things Market Research Report 2017 tracks the important market events including product launches, technological developments, mergers & acquisitions, and the innovative business strategies opted by key market players.Get Free Sample Report @Along with strategically analyzing the key micro markets, the report also focuses on industry-specific drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges in Location of Things market. It also focuses on the key drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges.The definition of the market which helps in understanding the background of the market about what majorly the Location of Things market deals with. The market is divided in a broad way to examine the market in a better way.The sub-segments of Location of Things market are also included for better analysis of the market. The contribution made by each segment and sub-segment is included coupled with the popularity of the segments.Access Full Report With TOC @In the next part, the factors that are contributing to the development of the market are included. The present and the future trends of Location of Things market are condensed so that the market players can make smart decisions in order to maintain the competitive edge.Results gained from analytical tools such as investment feasibility analysis and investment return analysis reveal market attractiveness, while SWOT analysis of the major players reveals winning market strategies and the most recent hierarchy in the Location of Things market.If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry. Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:blog:
Fresh Cream Market Application, Competitive Analysis, share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 -2022

Fresh Cream

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Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD) , market share and growth rate of Fresh Cream in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) , coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Fresh Cream market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingLactalis GroupNestleFonterraDanoneDean FoodsSodiaal...On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoWhipping CreamMargarineOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales) , market share and growth rate of Fresh Cream for each application, includingFoodBeveragesIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.For more information about this report atTable of Content1 Fresh Cream Market Overview2 Global Fresh Cream Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Fresh Cream Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)Request a sample copy at4 Global Fresh Cream Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Fresh Cream Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 United States Fresh Cream Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 EU Fresh Cream Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Fresh Cream Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Fresh Cream Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 South Korea Fresh Cream Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India Fresh Cream Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Fresh Cream Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Fresh Cream Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Fresh Cream Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Fresh Cream Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Fresh Cream Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Fresh Cream Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Fresh Cream Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Fresh Cream Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesDiscount on report purchase at7 Global Fresh Cream Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Fresh Cream Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9.1 Fresh Cream Hardware Industrial Chain Analysis9.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing9.3 Raw Materials Sources of Fresh Cream Hardware Major Manufacturers in 20159.4 Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis11.1 Technology Progress/Risk11.1.1 Substitutes Threat11.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry11.2 Consumer Needs/Customer Preference Change11.3 Economic/Political Environmental Change12 Global Fresh Cream Market Forecast (2017)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 Appendix14.1 Methodology/Research Approach14.1.1 Research Programs/Design14.1.2 Market Size Estimation14.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation14.2 Data Source14.2.1 Secondary Sources14.2.2 Primary Sources14.3DisclaimerPurchase Complete Report atReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.Contact Us:533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.com
Cell Separation Technologies Market is Projected to Record at 9.7% CAGR during 2013-2019

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The report segments the global cell separation technologies market on the basis of technology, application, and geography.Based on the technology employed, the market is segmented into gradient centrifugation and surface-marker based separation. The latter is further segmented into magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS).MACS represented the dominant technology segment, accounting for a sizeable 42.5% of the market (by technology) in 2012. The coming years will see the market share of FACS rise substantially thanks to the technology being increasingly used for research focusing on solutions with high-purity yields.The escalating demand for cell therapy resulting from a rise in the incidence of various chronic diseases will spur growth in the global cell separation technologies market, says Transparency Market Research in a latest study.According to the report, titled, Cell Separation Technologies Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019, the market will exhibit at a 9.7% CAGR between 2013 and 2019 as it rises from its 2012 valuation of US$1.7 bn to US$3.3 bn by 2019.Governments the world over have spotted the immense revenue-generation capabilities of inviting investments in the biotechnology sector, prompting the expansion of this industry. Such initiatives will also prove conducive to the growth and development of the global cell separation technologies market, predicts TMR.View and Download TOC of Cell Separation Technologies Market Research Report@Rapid progress is also being observed in cell separation techniques, making the entire process faster and more efficient. This factor will play a pivotal role in the overall growth of the global cell separation technologies market, too. The growing patient pool worldwide only underscores the need for such technologies.A key opportunity that TMR analysts identify in the market is the need for high-purity-yield solutions that shorten turnaround time and simplify the cell separation process while keeping costs in check. Companies developing products keeping this unmet demand at the centre will be able to monetize this opportunity, says a senior TMR analyst.Likewise, the market, by application, is divided into: cancer research, stem cell research, immunology, and neuroscience research. Of these, cell separation technologies in stem cell research formed the largest segment in 2012 because of the intense focus on the use of stem cells to treat a variety of conditions and diseases.Request and Download Sample Report@On the basis of geography, the following regional markets have been studied in the report on the cell separation technologies market: Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report states that in 2012, North America was the largest regional market for cell separation technologies thanks chiefly to well-developed infrastructure supporting the market here.Moreover, generous funding for R&D related to cell separation technologies and the United States being a first mover in adopting new technologies have all shaped the dominant ranking of the cell separation technologies market in North America.The companies profiled in the report include: Life Technologies Corporation, BD Biosciences, Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Merck Millipore, Terumo BCT, Inc., pluriSelect GmbH, and STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.Buy Full Cell Separation Technologies Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Flooring Market to Observe Strong Development | 2024

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According to a research report released by Transparency Market Research, the global flooring market is likely to continue showing a fragmented competitive landscape, primarily owing to the large number of active players in the market. The key companies in this market  Shaw Industries Group Inc., Mohawk Industries Inc., Boral Ltd., Tarkett Group, and Armstrong World Industries Inc.  are showing a high probability of utilizing more aggressive expansion strategies than smaller players to improve their vertical integration.View Full Report:According to the TMR research report, the global flooring market was valued at US$247.56 bn in 2016. The analysts working on the report have predicted it to register a healthy CAGR of 6.40% between 2017 and 2025. The global flooring market is therefore expected to be evaluated at US$429.25 bn by the end of 2025. Currently, tiles are showing a higher demand than other product types the market.Residential Sector Demand for Floorings Set to RiseWith the global flooring market segmented into commercial, industrial, and residential sectors, there has been a staggering rise in the demand promoted by the residential sector, especially for tiles. Its demand is expected to remain on an incremental plane over the coming years, a factor primarily attributed to the booming construction industry, especially in terms of residential projects, states a TMR analyst. Emerging economies such as China, Brazil, and India, are showing a high rate in construction activities, whereas countries from North America and Europe are showing an increase in re-modelling activities.Request to view Sample Report:Geographically speaking, Asia Pacific dominated the global flooring market in 2016, with a share of over 42% in the markets value. The swiftly expanding construction industry in APAC is the primary factor driving this regional market, powered by a high economic growth rate. Asia Pacific is likely to continue playing a leading role in the global flooring market over the given forecast period. China is likely to surface as the leading domestic market for flooring components in Asia Pacific in the years to come.Request to download and view full ToC -Rising Urbanization and Industrialization to Influence Demand for Flooring ProductsWith the growing disposable income and expenditure of consumers on better quality products as well as aesthetically appealing ones, the booming rate of urbanization has created a significant momentum for the demand for tiles and other flooring across the world. The swift rise in urbanization as well as industrialization has created a considerable increase in the rate of construction activities, consequently increasing the scope of growth for the global flooring market, adds the analyst. The rapid infrastructural developments in developed economies has increased the demand for flooring products remarkably, boosting the overall market.Players Advised to Watch for Fluctuations in Raw Material CostsIn the reports given forecast period, the expansion in the building and construction industry in emerging regions is expected to continue being a key propellant for the global flooring market. However, the players in the market, both regional and globally prominent ones, need to be careful of the volatile nature of raw material prices, as this is considered to be a key restraint acting on the market for the foreseeable future. Raw materials required for flooring are largely derived from crude oil byproducts as well as multiple other sources, each of which is getting strained in terms of demand from their immense number of end users.Global Flooring Market Report is available at US$ 5795 -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Cubic Boron Nitrates Market Progresses for Huge Profits | 2024

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The nature of the global cubic boron nitrates market is highly consolidated, states Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a research report. The leading three companies collectively held a share of over 48% in the market in 2015. It has been projected that the scenario will be almost the constant in the years ahead. The leading players such as Saint-Gobain, Showa Denko K.K., and 3M are expected to display backward integration towards the hexahedron boron nitrates market. As a result of this the competitive landscape of the market is expected to be comparatively moderate. At present, the key strategy that has been adopted by the leading market players is product advancement for developing their business and keeping pace with the changing scenario along with increasing their consumer base.View Full Report:According to a TMR analyst, The global market for cubic boron nitrates is anticipated to rise at a 7.10% CAGR from 2016 to 2024. In 2015, the market was worth US$531.3 mn and is expected to rise to a valuation of US$978.9 mn by 2024.Inserts to Remain in Demand StronglyPowder, mesh, wheels, and inserts are the principle items accessible in the worldwide market for cubic boron nitrates. Amongst these, the demand for inserts is greater than others and is expected to remain so in the following couple of years. The expanding use of supplements in the metal preparing industry, inferable from the rising necessity of procedures, for instance, cutting, crushing, and completing for items in the aerospace, medical, and the automotive segments is relied upon to support the demand for inserts over the world sooner rather than later. Because of the expanding usage of inserts in cutting and granulating applications, the demand for wheels is probably going to decrease discernibly throughout the following couple of years.Request to view Sample Report:Region-wise, Asia Pacific dominated the global cubic boron nitrates with a share of 35% in the same year. Researchers anticipate that this territorial market will stay driving throughout the forecast period, because of the presence of a substantial number of market players and the broad interest for cubic boron nitrates in different Asian economies, Japan, India, and China.Proliferating Awareness to Accelerate Demand of Cubic Boron NitratesThe expanding mindfulness with respect to the advantages of cubic boron nitrates over other hard materials utilized for different modern procedures, for instance, cutting, pounding, boring, and exhausting, is having the extreme effect on the development of the worldwide market for cubic boron nitrates. Precious stone is said to be the hardest material used for these procedures however it additionally has different mechanical impediments, which gives a cubic boron nitrates an edge over it, considering decidedly the interest for the previous over the world.Request to download and view full ToC -Right now, the market looks flourishing and brimming with circumstances. Be that as it may, the high cost related with the creation procedures may stop this market from developing consistently in the years ahead.Global Cubic Boron Nitrates Market Report is available at US$ 5795 -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Medical Air Compressor Market Professional Survey and Share Analysis Report 2017

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Reports on Global Medical Air Compressor Market With the valuation from the year 2017 to 2022Global Medical Air Compressor market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingAtlas CopcoPowerexSullairKobelcoOricareHitachi Industrial Equipment SystemsBambi Air CompressorJUN-AIR (IDEX)FPS Air CompressorsWerther InternationalEKOMSuzhou Junwei Medical EquipmentQuincyAmicoTri-Tech MedicalPrecision MedicalDolphin I.P.A GmbHGardner DenverRIX IndustriesFS-ElliottOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoLab Air SystemsLab Vacuum SystemsOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Medical Air Compressor for each application, includingOilless Multiple Scroll Medical SystemsPlants Packaged SystemsHospitalsOtherGET A SAMPLE REPORT @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Medical Air Compressor in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCHECK DISCOUNT FOR THIS REPORT @Table of Contents1 Medical Air Compressor Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Medical Air Compressor1.2 Medical Air Compressor Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Medical Air Compressor Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Medical Air Compressor Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Lab Air Systems1.2.4 Lab Vacuum SystemsVIEW FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS AND REPORT DESCRIPTION @Reports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Sintering Market to Witness Exponential Growth | 2024

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Prominent enterprises with global presence such as Sumitomo Corporation, GKN plc., Hoganas A.B., and AMES are domiciled in Europe. This has rendered the Europe sintering market highly competitive. These players together held 20% of the market in 2015, which is indicative of its fragmented vendor landscape. A majority of the leading players in the Europe sintering market have established brand identities. This is a key factor determining their success amidst end users, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study.View Full Report:As competition is forecast to get fiercer with time, leading players are focusing on consolidation through strategies collaborations. Besides this, several companies are boosting their plant capacities as they strive for increased profitability. A majority of the key players are supported by a network of well-established suppliers and distribution network. This has an inevitable positive impact on their sales outlook. Despite such strong presence of established players, the market exhibits lucrative prospects for the entry of new players. Factors such as easy access to raw materials and rising applications of sintering have eased entry of new players. In the near future, the competition prevailing in the sintering market in thus expected to get fiercer.Request to view Sample Report:TMR has projected the Europe sintering market to reach US$11.09 bn by the end of 2024. At the start of 2015, the market was valued at US$8.35 bn. If these figures hold true, the Europe sintering market will exhibit a CAGR of 3.2% between 2016 and 2024. By material, the pure iron segment has reported dominance in the market. In 2015, the segment held over 35.7% in the Europe sintering market. Through the course of the forecast period, the segment is expected to retain its dominance. Among countries, Germany held the leading market share of 24.4% in 2015.Application across Diverse Industries to Aid GrowthThe sintering market in Europe is primarily gaining from the increasing demand for sinter-based structural auto parts. These auto parts are more durable, light-weight, and affordable compared to their conventional counterparts. Besides this, the usage of sinter-based components has significantly increased in engines, shafts, chassis, bearings, and different types of valves. Considering the increasing applications, the demand for sinter-based products is steadily spurring in Europe.Request to download and view full ToC -Moreover, sintering helps in the manufacturing of superior quality components with peculiar shapes. While at initial phase, the automotive industry accounted for the most demand witnessed in the market, of late industries such as aerospace, construction, and mechanical engineering have realized their use. In the next few years, the market players can therefore expect moderately rising opportunities especially on account of the rising application of sinter-based components across diverse industries.Time Consuming Manufacturing Process Could Hamper GrowthSintering is a time-consuming process, which is a key restraint to its increased uptake. In addition, inadequate availability of systemic techniques to validate the inner-strength of sintered components, make optimizing manufacturing process highly tedious. This could have a negative impact on the overall market. Enactment of stringent regulations to curb harmful emissions has created bottlenecks, thus leading the market towards unwieldy growth trajectory.Global Sintering Market Report is available at US$ 5795 -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Watchcase market Potential Growth, Share, Demand by Regions, Types and Analysis of Key Players- Research Forecasts to 2022

Watchcase market

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The Global and Chinese Watchcase market report provides key statistics on the market status of the Watchcase Manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the Watchcase Industry. In Watchcase Market report, there is a section for competition landscape of the global Watchcase Industry. This competition landscape shows a view of the key Players operating in the global Watchcase Market along with their Profile and Contact information.Get PDF Sample of Report @Through the statistical analysis, the Watchcase Market report depicts the global and Chinese total market of Watchcase Industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and import/export. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis.Major Manufacturers analysed in Watchcase Market Research report:To provide information on competitive landscape, this report includes detailed profiles of Watchcase industry key players. For each company profiles Contains product details, capacity, price, cost, gross consumption and revenue is provided for better understanding. Moreover, the Watchcase industry development trends and marketing channels are analysed.Watchcase market research analysis includes following and related to industry:Trends in Watchcase Manufacturing TechnologyWatchcase Market Key Manufacturers Capacity Share ListWatchcase Industry Manufacturers Capacity ShareGlobal Watchcase Market Key Manufacturers Production ListWatchcase Industry Key Manufacturers Production Share ListGlobal Watchcase Market Manufacturers Production ShareWatchcase Industry Key Players Production Value ListWatchcase Market Production Value and Growth RateWatchcase Market Key Manufacturers Production Value Share ListWatchcase Industry Manufacturers Production Value ShareGlobal Watchcase Market Capacity Production Cost Profit and Gross Margin ListInquire for further detailed information about Watchcase Market Report @Watchcase Market Opportunities:With a purpose of enlightening new entrants about the possibilities in this market, this report investigates new project feasibility. A thorough Watchcase Market analysis & investment analysis is provided in the report which forecasts imminent opportunities for the Watchcase Market players. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2012-2022 Global and Chinese Watchcase Market covering all important parameters.About Us:Reports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact Us:Office C & D - 4th Floor,Siddhi Towers,Above Rupee Bank,Kondhwa Road,Pune 411048,Maharashtra,IndiaIndia: +91 2069535353Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
NOC chief reinstated

In a major turn of events, the Supreme Court on Sunday reinstated Gopal Bahadur Khadka, who has been charged of embezzling over Rs800 million in land purchase deals, to the post of managing director of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).
Advanced Materials Market: Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Forecasts

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Latest industry research report on: Advanced Materials Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsGlobal Advanced Materials Market: OverviewAdvanced Materials generally have superior properties than conventional materials available. They can outperform conventional materials, in terms of their applications. They are materials that are novel or have undergone modifications in existing materials to gain superior performance with respect to one or more characteristics that are essential for the applications under consideration.Complete Report Details @Global Advanced Materials Market: Drivers and TrendsAs climate change statistics are continuously rising, there's growing pressure from all areas  consumers, businesses, and governments  to search for more eco-friendly manufacturing techniques. This acts as another opportunity for advanced materials market because of always advancing technologies that are used for production of advanced materials. North America and Europe are major regions for the global advanced materials market, with them currently being and projected to remain comparatively mature markets.The market is anticipated to undergo constant changes due to emerging technologies in various segments, as any advancement carried out on existing products results in the inclusion of the modified product in the existing market. Limited number of players operate in the advanced materials market. Their share of R&D expenditure is expected to reflect on the overall investment in R&D for advanced materials.Request For Sample Report @Global Advanced Materials Market: ScopeThe report estimates and forecasts the advanced materials market on the global and regional levels. The study provides forecast between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (million tons / kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Bn / US$ Mn) with 2015 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage.Global Advanced Materials Market: Research MethodologyThe study includes drivers and restraints for the advanced materials market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the advanced materials market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. Furthermore, the report analyzes substitute analysis of advanced materials and global average price trend analysis.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @The report includes Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the advanced materials market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users and regions have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for advanced materials between 2016 and 2024.Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to, company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report.In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.Global Advanced Materials Market: SegmentationThe study provides a comprehensive view of the advanced materials market by dividing it into product, application and geography segments. The products have been segmented into ceramics, glasses, polymers, composites and metals & alloys (M&A). The applications are segmented into medical devices, automotive, aerospace, electricals & electronics (E&E), industrial, power and others. These segments have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends.Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast consumption of advanced materials in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Market segmentation includes demand for consumption in all the regions individually.Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:The report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include 3M Advanced Materials, Morgan Advanced Materials plc, Huntsman Corporation, Hexcel Corporation, Hanwa Group, Materion Corporation and Others. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).The global advanced materials market has been segmented as follows:Advanced Materials Market  Product AnalysisCeramicsGlassesPolymersCompositesMetals & AlloysAdvanced Materials Market  Application AnalysisMedical devicesAutomotiveAerospaceElectricals & ElectronicsIndustrialPowerOthersAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Green Cement Market Size, Share | MarketResearchReports.biz

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Latest industry research report on: Global Green Cement Market | Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsGlobal Green Cement Market: OverviewGreen cement is a cementitious material that can be manufactured by using industrial waste such as power plant wastes, recycled concrete, mining and quarrying wastes, burnt clay, and slag. Green cement is primarily used in residential, non-residential, industrial and infrastructure sector. Green cement can reduce carbon footprint by 40-50%. It also offers superior thermal and fire resistance properties. Further it also provides excellent resistance to alkali attack during climate and weather changes.Complete Report Details @The report estimates and forecasts the green cement market on the global, regional, and country levels. The study provides forecast between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Bn) with 2015 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the product segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the green cement market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the green cement market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. Furthermore, the report analyzes global average price trend analysis of green cement.Request For Sample Report @Global Green Cement Market: Research MethodologyThe report includes Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the green cement market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein application and countries have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for green cement between 2016 and 2024.Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.Global Green Cement Market: SegmentationThe study provides a comprehensive view of the green cement market by dividing it into product type, application and geography. The green cement market has been segmented into fly ash, slag, geopolymer and others. Application segments have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends, and the market has been estimated in terms of volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Bn) between 2016 and 2024.Global Green Cement Market: Regional OutlookRegional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for activated alumina in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Additionally, the report comprises country-level analysis in terms of volume and revenue for end-user segments. Key countries such as the U.S., Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, India, China, South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil have been included in the study. Market segmentation includes demand for individual end-users in all the regions and countries.Companies Mentioned in this Research Report are:The report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V., HeidelbergCement AG, LafargeHolcim., Taiheiyo Cement Corporation, Votorantim cimentos S.A., China National Building Material Company Limited (CNBM), Taiwan Cement Corporation, and Ecocem Ireland Ltd. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).The global green cement market has been segmented as follows:Green cement Market  Product Type AnalysisFly ash basedSlag basedGeopolymerOthersGreen cement Market  Application Type AnalysisResidentialNon-residentialIndustrialInfrastructureAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Vacuum Insulation Panel Market Segments, Drivers, and Forecast 2017  2022

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The Vacuum Insulation Panel Market report firstly introduced the Vacuum Insulation Panel basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the worlds main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc.A vacuum insulated panel (VIP) is a form of thermal insulation consisting of a nearly gas-tight enclosure surrounding a rigid core, from which the air has been evacuated. It is used in building construction to provide better insulation performance than conventional insulation materials.The report covers forecast and analysis for the vacuum insulation panel market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2012-2016 along with a forecast from 2017 to 2022 based on both volumes and revenue. The study includes drivers and restraints for the vacuum insulation panel market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the vacuum insulation panel market on a global level.The report has been prepared based on the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of information about the global vacuum insulation panel market collected from specialized sources. The competitive landscape section of the report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of key industry players. Company overview, financial overview, product portfolio, new project launched, recent development analysis are the parameters included in the profile.Buy the complete Vacuum Insulation Panel report with Comprehensive table of contents @The study provides a decisive view on the vacuum insulation panel market by segmenting the market based on applications. All the application segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2017 to 2022.Key Product Types Silica FiberglassKey Applications Construction Logistics Cooling & FreezingKey Regions North America Europe Asia PacificKey Vendors va-Q-tec Evonik Porextherm Dammstoffe Etex Group Kingspan Group Dow Corning Sealed Air ThermoCor Panasonic Hitachi LG Hausys OCI Company Fujian Super Tech Yinxing New Material Suzhou Weiaipu Creek SanyouKey Questions Answered in this Report What will the market size be in 2022? What are the key factors driving the global vacuum insulation panel market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key players in the vacuum insulation panel market? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key players?Inquire for discount for this report @Partial list of Tables Of Content for this report include:Part 1. Exclusive SummaryPart 2. MethodologyPart 3. IntroductionPart 4. Competitive LandscapePart 5. Market DynamicsPart 6. Segmentation by TypePart 7. Segmentation by ApplicationPart 8. North AmericaPart 9. EuropePart 10. Asia-PacificPart 11. Vacuum Insulation Panel Market ForecastPart 12. Company ProfilesPart 13. Industry ActivityPart 14. AppendixAbout Us:eMarketOrg.com aims to provide businesses and organizations market intelligence products and services that help in making smart, instant and crucial decisions. Our database offers access to insights from industry leaders, experts and influencers on global and regional sectors, market trends, user behaviour, for companies as well as products. With data and information from reputable and trusted private and public sources, our clients are never short of statistics and analysis that are up to date.Contact Details:Ronald Aldensales@emarketorg.cominfo@emarketorg.comeMarketOrg.com aims to provide businesses and organizations market intelligence products and services that help in making smart, instant and crucial decisions. Our database offers access to insights from industry leaders, experts and influencers on global and regional sectors, market trends, user behaviour, for companies as well as products. With data and information from reputable and trusted private and public sources, our clients are never short of statistics and analysis that are up to date.Starting with market research reports, eMarketOrg.com plans to add conferences, knowledge products, which can be periodically subscribed to, and more to its range of business offerings. Spread across the globe, our network of partners, in collaboration with our service specialists, ensure that our clients receive the right product, service and/or solution that meet their requirements in convenient timelines and within comfortable budgets that neither go underutilized nor dig a big hole into their monthly, quarterly and/or yearly spends.Get in touch with us to experience a new one-stop market intelligence and business service.F/3, 4A Bharat Pushpa Apt.,Subhash Nagar, Shukrawar Peth,Pune  411002
Research Report and Overview on Modular Instruments Market, 2016 - 2024

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Modular instruments are devices that are utilized for the configuration of automated test and measurement (T&M) equipment. T&M equipment is used for the development, design, maintenance, verification, and repair of various electronic and mechanical products. The modular instruments market is segmented by product type, by end user, and by geography. Based on product type, the market is segmented into PXI platform, VXI platform, and AXIe platform. Among these product types, the PXI platform segment accounted for the maximum share of the global modular instruments market in terms of revenue in 2015 and is expected to retain its market dominance in the coming years. The PXI platform is based on peripheral component interconnect (PCI) that minimizes the cost of modular instruments and also enhances their performance. Regular software upgrades and easy availability will boost the demand for modular instruments based on the PXI platform from various end user industries, especially the defense and military sector. The market is also segmented on the basis of end user into aerospace and defense, semiconductor and electronics, and telecommunication. Semiconductor and electronics industry dominated the global modular instruments market in 2015 and this trend is expected to continue throughout the next few years. The electronics industry uses modular instruments in various processes such as photonics production, submicron and nano-precision technology, mechanical and electrical engineering, and nanotechnology. Demand for modular instruments has increased due to rising R&D investments in the electronics industry, and various technological innovations.Request Report Brochure @The global modular instruments market is segregated geographically into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America. Asia Pacific was the leading market in 2015 and this region is projected to retain its dominance over the forecast period. Asia Pacific accounted for major market share due to increasing demand for modular instruments from emerging countries such as Japan, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. Among these countries, China has emerged as one of the major manufacturers of modular instruments, and is becoming a highly lucrative market for availability of low cost modular instruments in the world. Furthermore, the modular instruments market is likely to be majorly dominated by technologically advanced nations in the coming years.The modular instruments marketis highly competitive with the presence of a large number of well established local, regional, and international players who provide test and measurement equipment, though they appear to be fragmented. Rapidly growing number of vendors creates intense competition in this market. Competition in the market will intensify further with the emergence of more players.Most of the modular instruments manufacturing companies in the domestic and regional market have started to manufacture application specific products for different end users and are posing a strong challenge to international modular instruments vendors. Over time, local and regional vendors will find it increasingly difficult to compete with the international vendors based on parameters such as product quality, product reliability and durability, product price, and technological innovations. An increase in mergers and acquisitions, and technological innovations will further intensify the level of competition among existing market players. Moreover, international vendors are expected to acquire domestic players to strengthen their market presence in the coming years.Visit For TOC@Some of the key players in the modular instruments market are Cobham, Rohde & Schwarz, Keysight Technologies and National Instruments among others. The other prominent vendors in the market are Anritsu, EXFO, Aplab Limited, Ixia, Fastech Telecommunications, Qmax Test Equipments, TEKTRONIX, JDS Uniphase, Premier Measurement Solutions, SPX, Scientech Technologies, and Yokogawa Electric.About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others.Contact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Medicated Personal Care Products Market Current Trends, Business Opportunities, Challenges & Global Industry Analysis by 2027

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Market Research Future published a research report on Global Medicated Personal Care Products Market Research Report - Forecast to 2027  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2027.Global Medicated personal care products Market Information by Types (Antiperspirant, Deodorant, Oral Care, Hand Sanitizers, natural personal care product, others) By Beauty care (oils, shampoos, moisturizers, gels, oils, soaps, others) - Forecast to 2027Market Synopsis of Medicated personal care products Market:Market Scenario: Medicated personal care products was founded a few decades ago, this market for medicated personal care products is driven by growing awareness towards a health life and the urge of creating a commanding personality, the change in lifestyle is also playing a major role in the growth of the market.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players for Medicated personal care products Market: Personal Care (US) TWASA (India) KPH Cosmos Pvt. Ltd (India) Edana Johnson & Johnson (US) LOreal (Paris) DCC Health and Beauty Solutions LTD (UK)Study Objectives of Medicated personal care products Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Medicated personal care products Market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To Analyze the Global Medicated personal care products Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia, and RoW. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective. To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by type, by beauty care and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Medicated personal care products Market.Browse Full Report Details @Segments:Global Medicated personal care products market has been segmented on the basis of types which consist of Antiperspirant, Deodorant, Oral Care, Body Powders, Hand Sanitizers, Feminine Care and others. On the basis of beauty which includes oils, shampoos, moisturizers, gels, oils, soaps and others.AmericasNorth AmericaUSCanadaLatin AmericaEuropeWestern EuropeGermanyFranceItalySpainU.KRest of Western EuropeEastern EuropeAsia PacificAsiaChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaRest of AsiaPacificThe Middle East & AfricaThe report for Global Medicated personal care products market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regions.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Medicated Personal Care Products Market Research Report - Forecast to 2027 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Practice Analytics Market Trends, Statistics, Segments, Graphs Growth Factors Forecast to 2027

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Market Research Future published a research report on Global Practice Analytics Market Research Report - Forecast To 2027  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2027.Global Practice Analytics Market Information by Module types (Clinical Module, Front Office Module, and Business Module) by applications (Practice Analytics, standard reports, Graphical user interface design, SQL Database and others) - Forecast to 2027Market Synopsis of Practice Analytics Market:Market Scenario:Practice analytics is the capability to evaluate and examine the state of a practice in a business, it is also a tool need to support and produce a business. Practice Analytics is an easy-to-use report writing and business intellect tool that can be utilized by directors, managers, providers and support staff. Analyzing detail and summarizing data, produce ad-hoc reports and presentation graphics, and generate data files for exports to other applications are the basic uses of Practice analytics.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players for Practice Analytics Market: Practice Analytics (US) Greenway Health (US) Medisys (US) Cardinal Health (US) Mckesson (US) DigiChart (US) Meditab (US) UROGPO (US) Global Health Management Services (US)Study Objectives of Practice Analytic Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Practice Analytics Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To Analyze the Global Practice Analytics Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia, and RoW To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by type, by beauty care and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Practice Analytics MarketBrowse Full Report Details@Segments:Global Practice Analytics market has been segmented on the basis of applications which consist of Practice Analytics, standard reports, practice Analytics ad-hoc reports, Graphical user interface (GUI) design, SQL Database and others. On the basis of Module types which includes Clinical Module, Front Office Module, and Business ModuleThe report for Global Practice Analytics market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regionsContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Practice Analytics Market Research Report - Forecast To 2027 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Anthopogon Oil Market Size, Analysis, and Forecast Report 2016 - 2024

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Anthopogon is an aromatic medicinal herb whose stems and leaves are broadly use in Tibetian herbalism. Its botanical name is Rhododendron anthopogon whereas commonly known as sonpati. Anthopogon is sweet, bitter and strigent to taste and release heat. Though it is found in North American and European region but is native to the Himalaya ranging from East Asia to Western China. It blossoms at the hillsides of Bhutan to mid Nepal, harvested in wild and is known for its medicinal and cosmetic beneficiaries. All parts of this shrub is vital to use; flowers and leaves are used as a tea to cure digestive system. Its Oil is extracted by steam distillation of aerial part of anthopogon shrub which is further used in perfumery, cosmetics, soaps, bath oils, shampoos, creams and many others usage. More than 80% of anthopogon oil is exported to Europe and North America. The global anthopogon oil market is anticipated to expand with an impressive CAGR over the forecast period.Global Anthopogon Oil Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe rising demand of aromatherapy coupled with growing applications for fragrance and flavors in food and beverages, medicinal usage and personal care is encountered as the major factors that drive the market of anthopogon oil. Unlike most conventional drugs and medicines, naturally extracted oil, anthopogon carry no detrimental side effects therefore consumers reliability increases towards natural product, increasing demand for natural care product line and pleasant scented fragrances in cosmetic, spa, perfumes and relaxation application rises demand and expectations worldwide. Rapid industrial growth and increasing disposable income of consumers are also fueling the market of anthopogon oil worldwide.Request Report Brochure @Although demand and necessity of anthopogon oil in the essential oil market can be seen broadly, but the major factor which hamper the market particularly for anthopogon oil is the rising concern of shortage in resource cultivation, as an excessive amount of plant material is required to prepare single ounce of oil. Similarly, many other challenges such as expensive production process, high capital investment and government certification for trading the herbs are some factors that hinder the market growth.Global Anthopogon Oil Market: SegmentationThe global anthopogon oil market is segmented by its applications and distribution channels.Based on end use industry the anthopogon oil market is segmented into:Pharmaceutical & MedicalFood and BeveragePersonal Care and CosmeticsOthersGlobal Anthopogon Oil Market: Regional OutlookBased on the geographies, anthopogon oil market is segmented into seven regions - North America anthopogon oil market, Latin America anthopogon oil market, Eastern Europe anthopogeon oil market, Western Europe anthopogeon oil market, Asia Pacific excluding Japan anthopogon oil market, Japan anthopogon oil market and the Middle East & Africa anthopogon oil market. Owing to rising awareness and growing demand for medicines, natural cosmetics and beauty products among youth and vast geriatric population of countries such as France, Germany, UK, Spain and Italy made Eastern and Western Europe dominating region in the market of anthopogon oil. High disposable income, governmental subsidies and tax benefits encourage production and application of anthopogon oil accelerates its market in North America region. Asia Pacific excluding Japan is an emerging region because of the rapid industrial and disposable income growth in the developing countries such as India, Chian, Vietnam and Thailand, this growth is fueling the market of anthopogon oil including other essential oil.Visit For TOC@Global Anthopogon Oil Market: Key PlayersSome of the market players accounting on anthopogon oil market includes Sydney Essential Oils, Farotti Essenze, Biolandes, The Lebermuth Company, HRF, doTerra, Essential Oils, Young Living Essential Oils, , Sydella Laboratoire, Moksha Lifestyle Products, Falcon and Ungerer Limited among othersAbout Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others.Contact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Plastic Pipe Industry Report 2017 : Wefatherm, Hydro-Plast, Zhongcai, Aquatherm

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Plastic Pipe Industry Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The global Plastic Pipe market is a highly dynamic market, witnessing constant changes at a frequent pace. Focusing on these frequent changes, this research study offer a detailed analysis of the performance of this market during the period from 2017 to 2022. In this market study, research analysts have identified the attractiveness of this market with the help of competent analytical tools, such as investment return analysis market feasibility analysis. The future potential of the worldwide market for Plastic Pipe has also been estimated by them in this research study on the basis of results achieved from these analyses. These assessments also help in the expansion of the global market for Plastic Pipe by providing a clear picture of the impacts of various vital strategies implemented by leading vendors of Plastic Pipe for further their businesses over the next few years.Further, the research report has examined the competitive landscape of the global market for Plastic Pipe by studying the profiles of the leading market participants thoroughly. It has also classified the market into various segments on the basis of a number of major market factors. The industry chain and the government policies and regulations that influence the demand for Plastic Pipe have also been studied at length in this report.In conclusion, the report has studied the worldwide market for Plastic Pipe on the basis of the availability of products. The production volume, products pricing, and the profit generated in the overall market are the main factors, based on which, researchers have determine the performance of this market. The production chain and the sales dynamics have also been assessed in this research report. The main intent of this research report is to present a clear picture of the global market for Plastic Pipe to participants and help them in making profitable strategies to attain a competitive edge over their rivals.Fill the form to get free sample on this market @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview1.1 Definition and Specifications of Plastic Pipe1.1.1 Definition of Plastic Pipe1.1.2 Specifications of Plastic Pipe1.2 Classification of Plastic Pipe1.3 Applications of Plastic Pipe1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Plastic Pipe1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Plastic Pipe2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Plastic Pipe2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Plastic Pipe2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Plastic Pipe2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Plastic Pipe2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Plastic Pipe2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Plastic Pipe2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Plastic Pipe2.7 Global Price, Cost and Gross of Plastic Pipe 2010-20173 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Plastic Pipe3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Key Manufacturers in 20143.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Key Plastic Pipe Manufacturers in 20143.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Plastic Pipe Key Manufacturers in 20143.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Plastic Pipe Key Manufacturers in 20147 Key Manufacturers Analysis of Plastic Pipe Industry7.1 AKAN International Group7.1.1 Company Profile7.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications7.1.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue7.1.4 Contact Information7.2 Wefatherm7.2.1 Company Profile7.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications7.2.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue7.2.4 Contact Information7.3 Hydro-Plast7.3.1 Company Profile7.3.2 Product Picture and Specification7.3.3 Capacity Production Price Cost Revenue7.3.4 Contact InformationBrowse Market Research Report @Figure Picture of Plastic PipeTable Specifications of Plastic PipeTable Classification of Plastic PipeFigure Global Production Market Share of Plastic Pipe by Type in 2017Figure 2014 Global Plastic Pipe Major Applications Sales ShareTable Global Major Regions Plastic Pipe Development StatusTable Capacity (K Meter) and Commercial Production Date of Global Plastic Pipe Key Manufacturers in 2014Table Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Key Plastic Pipe Manufacturers in 2014About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Market Research Report 2017 : Ashland, Nanhang Industrial

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The global market for Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) has been observing a continual changes in the pattern of the demand for Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). This research study attempts to understand the frequent changes in the consumer behavior and their impact on the Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) market across the world. It delivers an exhaustive analysis of the worldwide Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) market and proves to be a source of valuable information for all the active market players across the value chain, helping them in capitalizing the opportunities as well as planning out crucial business strategies.The research report also assists the companies functioning in the global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) market in understanding the existing market trends and, hence, influencing their businesses consequently. It further analyzes the past and the current performance of this market and makes future projections on the basis of these assessments. It also evaluates this market from the perspective of the existing market chain, using the data about the import and export and the sales dynamics of the products available in this market across the world.Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingAshlandBASFBoai Nky PharmaceuticalsNanhang IndustrialZhangzhou Huafu ChemicalHangzhou Motto Science & Technology Co. LtdShanghai Yuking Water Soluble Material Tech Co., LtdShanghai Qifuqing Material Technology Co., Ltd.Huangshan Bonsun PharmaceuticalsFrom explaining the global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) market to describing various segments, categorized on the basis of various criteria, the research study covers each and every aspect of this market. The geographical segmentation of the worldwide Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) market has also been discussed at length in this research study. Further, in this report, the global market has been examined on the basis of an analysis carried out using the production chain, production capacity, and the revenue generated by each of the leading players functional in this market. The data regarding availability of products, their types, pricing, volume of production, and the revenue generated, have also been utilized in the analysis of this market in this report.For more information on this report, fill the form for free sample @Table of Contents1 Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)1.2 Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.3 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Segment by Application1.4 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Market by Region (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (2012-2022)2 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Market Competitive Situation and Trends3 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7 Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Ashland7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.3 Ashland Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 BASF7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.3 BASF Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Boai Nky Pharmaceuticals7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.3 Boai Nky Pharmaceuticals Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewRead Comprehensive Overview of Report @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)Figure Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Production (K MT) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Consumption (K MT) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Capacity, Production (K MT) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Major Players Product Capacity (K MT) (2012-2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Life Science & Analytical Instruments Market Key Players: Becton, Dickinson and Company (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific (U.S.), Agilent Technologies (U.S.)

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Key Players for Global Life Science and analytical Instrumentation Market: Becton Dickinson and Company (U.S.) Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.) Agilent Technologies Inc. (U.S.) F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland) Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.) Bruker Corporation (U.S.) Danaher Corporation (U.S) PerkinElmer Inc. (U.S.) Shimadzu Corporation (Japan) Waters Corporation (U.S.) Charles River Laboratories International Inc. (U.S.) Avance Biosciences (US) Paragon Bioservices, Inc (US) Avista Pharma Solutions(US) Dynalabs (US) Merck KGaA (Germany)Request a Sample Report @Market Scenario of Life Science Analytical Instrument Market:Life science instrument are used in for the different application like diagnosis, research and testing. Life science instruments are used in all the sectors of healthcare and life sciences. Increasing clinical research, increasing spending on instrumentation used for the various research in chemistry. All the testing which are carried out in clinical laboratories and analytical chemistry are not possible without different life science instruments. Due to increasing number of research companies, increasing number of biotechnological, biomedical, testing laboratories has increases the market of life science and analytical instruments globally. Life science instruments are used in identification of safety of food sample as well as analysis of DNA for discovery of new drugs.Global life science and analytical instrument market in 2016 was $ 36.5 billion. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5 % during 2017-2023 and reach to $ 56.7 billion till end of 2023.Study Objectives Global Insomnia Market Research Report Complete Analysis of the parent market. Detail Overview of various driver and restrains of the market. Detailed segmentation and sub segmentation of the market on the basis of type of instruments, application and End User. Present, Past and Projected size of the market from standpoints of value and volume. Detail overview of Key players and their current market share and strategy. SWOT analysis of major segments of the market.Browse Report @Market Segments:Global Life Science and analytical Instrumentation Market has been segmentedon the basis of type of instruments they are Centrifuges (Laboratory centrifuges, Analytical ultracentrifuges, Gas centrifuges and Other), Chromatography (Thin-layer Chromatography (TLC), Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography, HPTLC and Other), Electrophoresis (Conventional Electrophoresis [One Dimensional and two dimensional) and Capillary Electrophoresis), Flow Cytometry, Microscopy (Scanning electron microscope, Transmission electron microscope and Other), Cell Counting instruments (Hemocytometers and Other), PCR, Spectroscopy (Mass Spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, Atomic spectroscopy and Other), Western Blotting, Other (Sterilization instruments, Incubators, Colorimeters, Freezers, Laboratories balances, other).On the basis of End user they are segmented into Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, Agriculture and Food Industry, Research and Clinical Testing Laboratories and Other.On the basis of application they are segmented as Research Applications, Diagnostic Applications and Other ApplicationsRegional AnalysisThe global life science and analytical instrumentation market is segmented into- North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa. Due to huge development in drug discovery research, increase in number of research studies, development of industrial sector and many more are responsible for making North America market as a dominating market. North America is followed by Europe. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest growth rate for the life science and analytical instrumentation market. Increasing clinical research and increasing government support has help this market to grow at impressive rate. Beside this increasing number of testing laboratories and agricultural industries has increased the market in this region.Table of contents:1 Introduction2 Research Methodology3 Market Dynamics4 Market Factor Analysis5. Global life science and analytical instrumentation market, by types of instruments6. Global life science and analytical instrumentation market, by end user7. Global life science and analytical instrumentation market, by application8. Global life science and analytical instrumentation market, by region9. Competitive landscape10 Company ProfileMake an Enquiry for this Report @The report for Global Life Science and analytical Instrumentation Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance.The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key playEEers in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regions.At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for , regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Political stability will be the top election agenda of the left alliance

The recent electoral alliance between the CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre) and Naya Shakti Party Nepal had been a largely unforeseen and certainly unprecedented move by the leftist forces of Nepal. Cornered,
Molasses Market Expected to Expand at a Steady CAGR through 2016 - 2024

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Global Molasses Market: OverviewMolasses is a by-product of refining sugarcane or sugar beets, and is a heavy viscous dark brown liquid consisting mainly of sucrose, water, reducing sugars (glucose and fructose) ashes and other organic compounds. Basically, molasses contains a portion of sugar that could not crystalized into white sugar. Their quality of molasses varies directly on quantity of sugar, method of extraction and age the plant. Molasses finds wide application in various industries such as baking, food manufacturing, animal and poultry feed and pharmaceuticals. Moreover, it is also used as prime product for the manufacturing of yeast for fermentation process. The global molasses market consists primarily of prominent players in the sugar industry, with most of them concentrated specifically in Brazil, India and Thailand. The Global Molasses Market is expected to expand with an impressive CAGR over the forecast period.Global Molasses Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe prime factor fuelling revenues in the global molasses market is the increasing demand from industrial and food and beverage applications. Increasing production of food grade alcohol, particularly due to rising preference for the same from Middle Easter and European countries is a prominent factor driving demand for molasses. Furthermore, increasing demand for cleaner fuel is significantly driving the rising demand for molasses used for production of bio-ethanol. In recent years, paints, varnish and cosmetic industry is also showing high inclination towards molasses produced ethanol. The rapidly growing pharmaceutical industry is also inherently driving increasing demand for molasses. Increasing demand for molasses based ethanol for blending purpose in refines, amid bullish oil and gas downstream sector is another factor fuelling demand for molasses globally. Apart from these, Governments of various developing countries also offer subsidized loans for sugar companies to set up ethanol production unit, thus pushing more players to increase their focus on molasses production.Request Report Brochure @Global Molasses Market: SegmentationOn the basis of type, Global Molasses Market is segmented into:-Cane MolassesSugar Beet MolassesOthersOn the basis of end use, Global Molasses Market is segmented into:-Food and BeveragesAlcoholicNon-AlcoholicChemical and IndustrialFermentationFertilizersAgglomerationBioenergyBio remediationHorticultureOthersVisit For TOC@Global Molasses Market: Region wise OutlookThe global Molasses Market is divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Asia Pacific Exc. Japan not just account for a prominent share of molasses production but also accounts for a significant demand for molasses, particularly for the industrial applications. Increasing demand from China and South East Asian countries is primarily attracting demand for molasses in the region. Western Europe and North America also accounts for a decent share of global consumption of molasses, followed by Middle East and African region, where the product is mostly used for Food applications. Latin America is also expected to be a prominent consumer of molasses, and a major of share of demand in the region is anticipated to be satisfied by Brazil bases manufacturers. Japan accounts for a slightly lower share of direct molasses consumption, however the region is anticipated to show a slight increase in growth rate for the demand for molasses over the forecast period.Global Molasses Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the global Molasses Market includes:Crosby Molasses Co. Ltd.Spreckels Sugar CompanyAfrinol LimitedCora Texas Manufacturing Co.KK Birla Group of Sugar CompaniesChemelil Sugar CompanyImperial Sugar CompanyZook Molasses CoBalampur Chini Mills Ltd.Bajaj Hindusthan LimitedAbout Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others.Contact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
US, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare BPO Market Challenges, Emerging Companies & Forecast 2021

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare BPO Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.The in-depth report on the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare BPO market presents a detailed assessment of key trends and opportunities influencing the growth of the Healthcare BPO market. The market landscape is shaped by a variety of regional and United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia factors, with some to gain prominence in the coming years. The comprehensive study provides a holistic account of these factors, supporting the findings from the inputs of a wide spectrum of primary and credible secondary sources. The changes in regulatory policies in various regions and the emergence of various types of risk are highlighted in the report. In the face of these risks, the reactionary measures taken by key players are elaborated and their impact on the strategic landscape analyzed. The analysis also evaluates various concern of prominent industry bodies related with the evolving competitive landscape.Employing various industry renowned tools, including SWOT analysis and Porters Five Forces analysis, the report offers a granular analysis of the threat and competition across regional and worldwide Healthcare BPO market. The threats faced by established players and emerging opportunities for new entrants are analyzed in the study. The report offers an incisive analysis of major mergers and acquisitions, partnership and cooperative agreements, and recent collaborations expected to disrupt the market place in the coming years.This report studies the global Healthcare BPO market, analyzes and researches the Healthcare BPO development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeQuintilesHCLCognizantCovanceAccentureInventivCatalentParexelLonzaBoehringer IngelheimCharles RiversSutherlandPremierBPOMarket participants looking for clear signals of imminent investment pockets in the Healthcare BPO market will find the study a treasure trove. The incisive analysis offered in the study also weighs in on factors that may lead key segments to gain or lose share over the forecast period. Business executives, CEOs, COOs, and CXOs can peruse through the report to gain a balanced opinion on the factors that can cause segments to boom or lose sheen in the foreseeable future. The analysis can be used by them as a robust template for devising impactful strategies for their expansion and growth.Order a copy of Free Sample Report @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Healthcare BPO1.1 Healthcare BPO Market Overview1.1.1 Healthcare BPO Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Healthcare BPO Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.3 Healthcare BPO Market by Type1.4 Healthcare BPO Market by End Users/Application2 Global Healthcare BPO Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Healthcare BPO Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Quintiles3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Healthcare BPO Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 HCL3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Healthcare BPO Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Cognizant3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Healthcare BPO Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments4 Global Healthcare BPO Market Size by Type and Application (2011-2016)4.1 Global Healthcare BPO Market Size by Type (2011-2016)4.2 Global Healthcare BPO Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.3 Potential Application of Healthcare BPO in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Healthcare BPOComplete report with detailed table of content is available at:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Healthcare BPO Product ScopeFigure Global Healthcare BPO Market Size (2011-2016)Table Global Healthcare BPO Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Healthcare BPO Market Share by Regions in 2015Figure United States Healthcare BPO Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Healthcare BPO Market Share by Type in 2015Figure Healthcare BPO Market Size (Value) and Growth Rate (2011-2016)Figure Healthcare Provider BPO Market Size (Value) and Growth Rate (2011-2016)Figure Healthcare Pharmaceutical BPO Market Size (Value) and Growth Rate (2011-2016)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Brain Monitoring Market 2023 Top Key Players - Nihon Kohden Corporation, Electrical Geodesics, Siemens Healthineers, Advanced Brain Monitoring

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Market Research Future adds new report of Global Brain Monitoring Market Research Report- Forecast To 2022 it contains Company information, geographical data and Table of ContentCompetitive Analysis:Key players profiled in the report are Philips Healthcare (Netherlands), Medtronic plc (Ireland), Natus Medical Inc. (U.S.), Nihon Kohden Corporation (Japan), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), GE Healthcare (U.K.), Compumedics Ltd. (Australia), Electrical Geodesics Incorporated (U.S.), CAS Medical Systems, Inc. (U.S.), and Advanced Brain Monitoring (U.S.).Get a Sample Report @Market Segments:The global Brain monitoring is segmented on the basis of type of devices, procedures, modality and end users. On the basis of Devices used the market is segmented into intracranial pressure monitor, Magnetoencephalography (MEG), Electroencephalograph (EEG), Cerebral oximeters, and Transcranial doppler On the basis of Procedures, the market is segmented into invasive and non- invasive. Further on the basis of modality, market is segmented into portable EEG devices and fixed EEG devices On the basis of End Users, the market is segmented into hospitals, diagnostics centerMarket Highlight:Brain monitoring is characterized as the way toward contemplating and detailing the cerebrum working. Different EEG gadgets are utilized for the procedure. Because of expanding instances of despondency, neurological scatters and other mind issue with expanding mindfulness and mechanical progressions the cerebrum observing business sector is relied upon to develop at a higher rate.EEG is broadly used to distinguish epilepsy, rest issue, mind passing, and encephalopathy. Intracranial weight screens are utilized to record the activity of mind of patients experiencing extreme horrible cerebrum damage. The most generally utilized strategy to quantify intracranial weight is by bringing a catheter into the head. EEG is generally utilized as a part of healing centers, labs, facilities and in home settings.Intended Audience Global Brain Monitoring device manufacturers & suppliers Contract research organizations (CROs) Research and development (R&D) companies Government research laboratories Independent research laboratories Government and independent regulatory authorities Market research and consulting service providers Academic institutes and universitiesTable of Content1. Introduction2. Research Methodology3. Market Dynamics4. Market Factor Analysis5. Global Brain Monitoring Market, By Devices6. Global Brain Monitoring, By Procedures7. Global Brain Monitoring, By Modality8. Global Brain Monitoring, By End Users9. Global Brain Monitoring, By Region10. Competitive Landscape11. Company ProfileBrowse Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Zika Vaccines Market - Global Industry Insights and Opportunity Analysis 2025

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Zika vaccines are developed for immunization & prevention against diseases caused by Zika virus. This virus belongs to genus Flavivirus and is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The virus can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, sexual contact or from infected pregnant women to the fetus. Diagnosis of this infection is confirmed by detecting viral DNA through PCR. However, only 1 in 4 people with zika infection are prone to develop symptoms. In November 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that zika infection no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) as major cases of zika virus were asymptomatic.In April 2015, a major ongoing outbreak of Zika virus was registered in Brazil, which later affected the population in South and Central America. This outbreak caused mild illness (fever, rashes, joint pains, conjunctivitis, nausea, and muscle pain), though the recent outbreaks showed severe complications such as microcephaly, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and various congenital neurological abnormalities in infants who were born to infected mothers. The link between zika virus and microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome was identified and reported in 2015 in Brazil.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 70 new zika virus infection cases were reported in the U.S. in 2015, which increased to 41,181 cases in 2016. Lack of reporting is a major factor for lower incidence rate in 2015. Increase in awareness can result in more diagnosis and reporting thus generating growth of the global zika vaccines market.Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology found that the extract of San Francisco plant (Codiaeum variegatum) found in Australia, can kill the zika virus. This extract can arrest the virus and stop it from replicating without causing any damage to the host cells.Request a sample copy of this report:Zika Vaccines Market Taxonomy:There are different types of vaccines that provide protection against Zika virus:-DNA-based vaccines-Inactivated vaccines-Live-attenuated vaccines-mRNA vaccines-Genetically engineered vaccinesGlobal market by application:-Therapeutic Vaccines-Preventive VaccinesGlobal market by end user:-Hospitals-ClinicsContinuous increase in human clinical trials and rise in number of zika cases will drive the growth of Zika vaccines marketAs of March 2016, 67 companies and research institutions were working on various kinds of R&D projects and clinical trials aided to develop effective vaccines against zika virus. The FDA approved the first human clinical trial for GLS5700 in June 2016, a zika vaccine being developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals. Further in 2017, a grant was approved for phase 2 clinical trials for a DNA vaccine conducted by NIAIDs Vaccine Research Center (VRC).Increasing awareness among the population would aid in controlling the incidence rate of zika infection. The WHO implemented a global framework for creating public awareness through its Zika Strategic Response Framework and Joint Plan in February 2016. This plan outlines all the points to be taken care of at the time of infections. In June 2016, WHO Regional Office for Europe developed a training curriculum to increase awareness by the publication of Zika Risk Assessment for European Region.High investment costs required for R&D and the development of effective zika virus vaccines serves as a restraining factor for the global zika vaccines market.While major of the Zika virus cases occur in tropical regions such as Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Colombia and Suriname, there are higher chances of mosquito infections in tropical areas of the U.S. like Texas and Florida. According to Pan American Health Organization, around 1,246 suspected and confirmed cases were reported between epidemiological week (EW) 10 and EW 14 of 2016 in the sub region which involves Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador.Click here to know more about this report:Competitive LandscapeSome key players operating in the zika vaccines market are Cerus Corporation, Biken Inc, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Bharat Biotech International Pvt. Ltd, GeneOne Life Science, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Immunovaccine Inc., NewLink Genetics Corp. and Sanofi S.A. The companies launched various R&D measures and clinical trials to attain immunogenicity against zika virus. In February 2016, Sanofi S.A launched a vaccine research and development project, with the introduction of Dengvaxia (Dengue vaccine) that will aid the company understand the Zika virus and develop an effective vaccine against it. Likewise, Inovio Pharmaceuticals initiated a clinical study of zika vaccine (GLS-5700) in Puerto Rico in August 2016. This trial may provide a potential push to Inovios vaccine if positive results are reported as there was a rapid progression of zika outbreak in Puerto Rico at that time. This could benefit the trial in assessing true efficacy and safety of the vaccine. Rapid progression in clinical trials and approval would augment the zika vaccines market growth.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Welding Consumables Market is projected to Reflect 5.7% CAGR throughout 2017-2027

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The extensive use of arc welding and oxy-fuel welding processes in the manufacturing of automobiles and machinery has generated considerable demand for flux and filler metals as welding consumables. As a result, the global market for welding consumables is expected to witness significant growth in 2017, reaching a market value of US$ 14,091.9 Mn at a y-o-y growth rate of 5.3% over 2016. Furthermore, the global demand for welding consumables will also be influenced by the rising trend of automating welding processes in the automobile and construction industries.In the latest report by FMI on the global welding consumables market titled Welding Consumables Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012  2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017  2027, the forecast has been revised until 2027. Previously the market in 2016 was estimated to be valued at US$ 11,835.8 Mn and in the current release the estimated numbers have been revised to US$ 13,368.0 Mn for 2016 with a 10 year (2017-2027) CAGR of 5.7%. This growth is owing to macro-economic factors such as growth of the construction industry, GDP, urbanisation, shipbuilding industry, industrial production and automobile production growth. Consumables utilised in arc welding, oxy-fuel welding, laser-beam welding and others are included in the target market. Consequently, the market size has been revised for the entire forecast period.Browse Complete Report @The lack of skilled labour for fabrication welding processes is expected to trigger the need for welding automation technology and generate mounting demand for welding consumables. The growth of the global welding consumables market is also expected to be driven by rapid industrialisation, the surging real estate sector and the growing number of end-use welding applications. On the contrary, stagnant adoption levels of advanced welding technologies in developing countries is anticipated to curb the overall growth of the global welding consumables market.Based on the type of welding consumables, the stick electrode segment will continue its dominance in terms of the global market share and account for over 38.6% by the end of 2027. However, the segment is expected to contend with stiff competition from flux-cored wires and solid wires due to their cost-effectiveness.Request and Download Sample Report @Based on the welding techniques, the arc welding segment will continue to dominate the global market and account for US$ 15,276.4 Mn in revenue by 2027 end. On the other hand, the booming automotive industry and the growing production of multipart machineries will incite the use of resistance welding and oxy-fuel welding in 2016 and beyond.By application, the use of welding consumables is expected to elevate in the building & construction industry and the automotive & transportation sector. Also, the soaring consumption of welding consumables in marine applications is anticipated to create additional growth opportunities in the global welding consumables market.View and Download TOC of Welding Consumables Market Research Report @In 2016, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) was the most lucrative region for the growth of the global welding consumables market and is likely to hold more than 32% of the global market share. The booming real estate sector in APEJ countries such as China and India will drive the demand for welding consumables in the construction industries. North America and Latin America are also expected to favour the growth of the welding consumables market, owing to the rising adoption of advanced welding technologies in manufacturing industries.The increasing need for automating the welding process has influenced the business expansion of major welding consumables manufacturers. The Lincoln Electric Company, Hyundai Welding Co., Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, Colfax Corporation, Air Liquide, voestalpine AG, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Ador Welding Limited, Kobe Steel Limited, Praxair Inc., among others, represent the key players of the global market for welding consumables.Long-term Outlook: In terms of market value, the global welding consumables market is forecasted to register a 5.7% CAGR and generate absolute $ opportunity of US$ 10,387.0 Mn during the forecast period 2017-2027. APEJ region will continue to be the most lucrative region, expanding at a CAGR of 6.9% over the forecast period.Buy Full Welding Consumables Market Research Report @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems Market  Global Industry Insights and Opportunity Analysis 2025

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The systems that are used to maintain digital health record of the patient are called electronic health record (EHR) systems. This systems supports the systematic storage of information such as health progress notes, diagnoses, vital signs, medications, allergies, lab data and past medical history. The electronic storage of the system helps the ecofriendly storage of the information with minimum risk of losing it along with less manual work and other facilities such as easy access to the required information.The EHR systems helps to access and track health records conveniently and also allows for easy sharing of patient information with other healthcare professionals, in order to take clinical decisions during the treatment. Furthermore, the system also helps to get connect with different locations and healthcare departments to collect patient data; for instance, from clinical laboratory, other hospitals, in schools for maintaining students health record, different companies that keeps the health record of their employees, pharmacies, and emergency facilities. For effective use and to avoid reimbursement loss from any treatment some EHR system providers follow some methods to guide the patient and clinician during the course of treatment.As per the data published by Practice Fusion Blog, Inc. (It is the top most cloud based EHR platform in U.S.), it is expected that, by the end of 2017 around 90% physicians will use EHR systems in the U.S. Also, 67% out of all providers of EHR systems have reported that there is 1% growth in the adoption of EHR systems between September 2016 and March 2017. The highest adoption rate of EHR systems is observed in internal medicines departments, pediatrics departments followed by nephrology, family practice and urology department.Request a sample copy of this report:Electronic health record (EHR) systems market taxonomy:Global Market by Product Type-Client Server-based EHR Systems-Web/Cloud-based EHR SystemsGlobal Market by End User-Hospitals-Ambulatory Care CentersGlobal Market by Geography-North America-Europe-APAC-Latin America-Middle East-AfricaTechnological advancements, highly beneficial applications and raised demand of EHR systems lead the growth for Electronic health record (EHR) systems market towards positive direction in the near futureThe continuous improvements in healthcare sector and supportive government initiatives create a highly conducive environment for growth of the global electronic health record (EHR) systems market. For instance, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide incentive payments to eligible professionals (EPs) and hospitals who adopt, implement, upgrade, or demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology. The top contributor region in this market is North America, followed by Europe, as this regions has high adoption rate and developed healthcare network and facilities. The increasing development and digitalization in emerging economies are expected to show the high growth rate in electronic health record (EHR) systems industry in the near future. Also, high growth rate is expected from China as, this country is known for the production of low cost electronic devices. Based on end user the hospitals, as the hospitals generate large amount of data on a daily basis and the use of EHR system reduces their work pressure and save time required to keep health record, therefore the EHR systems became an integral part of hospitals in recent years. Also, the rising demand for Web/Cloud-based EHR systems from small healthcare facilities will result in growth of this segment of electronic health record (EHR) systems market in near the future.Low affordability of EHR systems due to their high cost and maintenance and service expenses are some factors restraining the growth of electronic health record (EHR) systems market. The manufacturers are continuously working to reduce the cost of these systems to increase the market penetration in emerging economies.Click here to know more about this report:Some of the major players in the electronic health record (EHR) systems market are Cerner Corporation, athenahealth, Inc, Meditech, Allscripts, Epic Systems Corporation, Quality Systems Inc, McKesson Corporation and GE Healthcare. Other emerging players in this market are Healthcare Management Systems, eClinicalWorks, Healthland and CureMD Research & Development. Also, the earliest acquisition in this market is Cerner Corporation acquired Siemens Health Services in February 2015. This acquisition will drive the innovation and development in healthcare IT segment.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
US, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Social Business Intelligence Market Forecast 2021 & Industry Chain Overview

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Social Business Intelligence Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Social Business Intelligence has been compiled after conducting extensive primary and secondary research through seasoned hands. Primary research has covered a bulk of the efforts taken to prepare the report, including key discussions with several important opinion leaders and industry experts and significant data collected with the help of thorough interviews conducted. Secondary research, on the other hand, has covered studies of the most vital national and global databases, analyst presentations, investor presentations, press releases, annual reports, and company websites. With such in-depth research performed using cutting-edge techniques, interested parties have been anticipated to gain a comprehensive and definite understanding of the market.Researchers authoring the publication have provided near-accurate estimations of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Social Business Intelligence, along with those of key segmentations, for the forecast timeframe under discussion. The revenue generated by each segment, the potential of different markets within the global market, and various macro and micro environment factors have been presented in the publication. In terms of geography, the researchers have studied the adoption rate, awareness, and industry trends taking shape or about to show face in the key regions of the market. Market opportunities prevailing in different segments have also been identified and assessed by the researchers.Besides profiling leading players in the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Social Business Intelligence, the report has evaluated their various chief attributes and provided information pertaining to recent developments, business strategies, product portfolio, financial overview, and company overview. Buyers of the report have also be informed about the percentage shares of different companies deduced using market share analysis.Enter your information below to receive a free sample copy of this report @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Social Business Intelligence1.1 Social Business Intelligence Market Overview1.1.1 Social Business Intelligence Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Social Business Intelligence Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.3 Social Business Intelligence Market by End Users/Application2 Global Social Business Intelligence Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Social Business Intelligence Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Company One3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Social Business Intelligence Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Company Two3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Social Business Intelligence Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Company Three3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Social Business Intelligence Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments4 Global Social Business Intelligence Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.1 Global Social Business Intelligence Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.2 Potential Application of Social Business Intelligence in Future4.3 Top Consumer/End Users of Social Business Intelligence11 Market Forecast by Regions and Application (2016-2021)11.1 Global Social Business Intelligence Market Size (Value) by Regions (2016-2021)11.2 Global Social Business Intelligence Market Size (Value) by Application (2016-2021)11.3 The Market Drivers in FutureGet more information from Research Report Press Release:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Social Business Intelligence Product ScopeFigure Global Social Business Intelligence Market Size (2011-2016)Table Global Social Business Intelligence Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Social Business Intelligence Market Share by Regions in 2015Figure United States Social Business Intelligence Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure EU Social Business Intelligence Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Japan Social Business Intelligence Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure China Social Business Intelligence Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure India Social Business Intelligence Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Breast Lesion Localization Methods Market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 11.0%

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The Global Breast Lesion Localization Methods Market was valued at US$ 323.43 million in 2015 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 11.0% during the forecast period (20162024), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Increasing number of patients suffering from breast cancer globally is projected to support growth of the breast lesion localization methods market over the forecast period.Growing development of advanced imaging systems and its use globally are favoring increase in number of surgeries for non-palpable invasive and pre-invasive lesions, as surgeons are now more confident about effective diagnosis and detection of precise location of the tumor. This in turn is projected to support the growth in breast lesion localization methods market over the forecast period. Furthermore, such screening techniques have led to early detection in breast cancer conditions and thus, allow for more effective treatment of the disorder. Advanced imaging systems allow for precise localization of the occult lesion clinically and help prevent any loss to other tissues around the affected mass. These also allow performing breast conserving surgery for better cosmetic outcome. These factors make such systems a preferred choice among users and thus, would fuel the growth of breast lesion localization methods market over the forecast period.Government regulations and current guidelines implemented in order to maintain womens health and also to minimize the prevalence of breast cancer, creates a highly conducive environment for breast lesion localization methods market growth in the near future. According to Centers for Disease Control, in 2000, the authority itself funded the National Breast and Cervical Early Detection Program in all states such as the District of Columbia, along with six U.S. territories, and 12 American Indian/Alaska native organizationsRequest For Sample Copy:Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer worldwide with an estimated ratio of indirect to direct cost approximately amounting to 3:1. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an adult woman (18 -29 years age group) in the U.S. spends US$ 19,435 more on medical care per year than one without breast cancer. Increasing incidence of breast cancer would further augment market growth. New cost-effective methods have been introduced that are expected to support growth in adoption rate for breast lesion localization method in the near futureFor instance, according to Xconomy, Inc., in 2017, Elucent Medical, a newly formed organization, raised around US$ 7.0 Mn for development of breast cancer medical devices and to enrich its product portfolio. Industry players are constantly working towards enhancing their product portfolio in order to sustain in the market. This further accelerates growth of the breast lesion localization methods market. Also, increase in healthcare expenditure by local governments has backed up the growth in healthcare infrastructure, primarily in emerging economies on the backdrop of low manufacturing cost and regulations. Also, many regional companies have emerged in India and ASEAN, owing to changing economic profile and favorable government initiatives such as Make in India campaign by the Indian government.Major market players are laying emphasis on product development, upgrading existing devices, and inorganic growth through various strategic mergers and acquisitions. For instance, in 2016, AbbVie  a global biopharmaceutical company  acquired Stemcentrx, which has four novel compounds under clinical trials for solid tumor indications that further includes triple negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancerKey take aways of the market:The global breast lesion localization methods market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 11.0% during the forecast period (20162024). Technological advancements in screening methods are favoring demand for non-palpable invasive surgeries that is expected to favor the market for breast lesion localization methods over the forecast period.The wire guided localization segment was estimated to be the largest in 2015 and is expected to retain its dominance in the market throughout the forecast period in terms of value closely followed by radio guided occult lesion localization. Rise in prevalence for breast cancer globally is projected to support the growth for the market in the near future.In terms of end user segment, the hospitals end user segment is expected to expand at a significant CAGR of 12.1% during the forecast period, owing to more advanced in terms of infrastructural installations of medical systemsThe global breast lesion localization methods market is characterized by strategic research and development and advancements in the methods for localization under various medical devices.Some of the major players in the global breast lesion localization methods market are Cook Medical Inc., Argon Medical Devices, Inc, C. R. Bard, Inc., SOMATEX Medical Technologies GmbH, Tsunami S.r.l, Sterylab Medical and Biopsybell Srl.Get Discount On This Report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
US, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Status, SWOT analysis & Forecast 2021

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.The market research reports on the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare RCM Outsourcing market puts special focus on the various segments of this market with all the significant statistics. The main motive of this report is to present its readers with relevant and useful information on the Healthcare RCM Outsourcing market for the opportunities present in the market. The report covers various aspects pertaining to the growth of the overall market along with growth of various segments. The research study offers a detailed outline of the Healthcare RCM Outsourcing market comprising with explanation of the prime trends, which are more likely to influence the growth of the market in the coming future. The factors have been well researched and has used both primary and secondary sources to present reliable data.This report sheds light upon the industrial and production chains of the Healthcare RCM Outsourcing market. This helps in generating statistics and accurate data on multiple factors such as revenue earned, volume sold, production capacity, and production and distribution structure. Most reliable analytical tools have been employed for data gathering, to help players understand the positive and negative impacts of several factors on the structure of the Healthcare RCM Outsourcing market in the coming years.This report studies the global Healthcare RCM Outsourcing market, analyzes and researches the Healthcare RCM Outsourcing development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeConifer Health SolutionsEmdeon Business ServicesMedAssetsParallon Business SolutionsThe SSI GroupAdremiaAlleviantAvadynehealthCardon OutreachFirstSource Solutions Ltd.Health Systems Management Network Inc.Medirevv Inc.Precyse Solutions LLCFurthermore, this study provides overall examination of the key regions lucrative to the growth of the Healthcare RCM Outsourcing market. For every specified region, this study provides the historical data of the market growth and allows vendors to draw conclusions, which can ensure their success in the coming years. Profiles of various players operating in the Healthcare RCM Outsourcing market to give readers the perception of these players on this market.Fill the form to get free sample on this market @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Healthcare RCM Outsourcing1.1 Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Overview1.1.1 Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.3 Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market by End Users/Application2 Global Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Conifer Health Solutions3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Emdeon Business Services3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 MedAssets3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments4 Global Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.1 Global Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.2 Potential Application of Healthcare RCM Outsourcing in Future4.3 Top Consumer/End Users of Healthcare RCM OutsourcingBrowse Press Release of this Research Report:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Product ScopeFigure Global Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size (2011-2016)Table Global Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Global Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Share by Regions in 2015Figure United States Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure EU Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure Japan Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure China Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)Figure India Healthcare RCM Outsourcing Market Size and Growth Rate by Regions (2011-2016)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Poultry Feed additives Sales Market Report 2017 Key Manufacturers : Evonik, Adisseo, Nutreco

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Poultry Feed additives Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The report provides a breakdown of the segments of the Poultry Feed additives market to let the readers understand the opportunities and pitfalls present in this market. The Poultry Feed additives market can be segmented for various categories such as geographical regions, products, applications, end-use industries, and raw materials. Various trends that could affect the growth of the market Poultry Feed additives in either in positive or negative manner have been included in this report. With complete analysis of the various statistics players and stockholders can gain knowledge on the working of segments of this market and capitalize accordingly for fulfilling their motives. The motive behind segmenting the Poultry Feed additives market into several categories is to allow readers gain an in-depth analysis of the market and acquire clear outline of the market.This report also includes the regional factors affecting the Poultry Feed additives market. The key regions of the market are the Middle East and Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Asia Pacific. Market values for these regions over the forecast period, along with the projected growth are presented. As various regional trends may affect this market, these trends are included along with their extent of influence on the Poultry Feed additives market.Global Poultry Feed additives market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Poultry Feed additives sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingEvonikDuPontDSMAdisseoBASFADMNutrecoNovusintCharoen Pokphand GroupCargillSumitomo ChemicalKemin IndustriesBiominCompetitive landscape of the Poultry Feed additives market is analyzed, where profiles for various prominent players are included. The product portfolio, services provided, revenues generated, manufacturing centers of these players are individually evaluated. As these players are leading in the market, their strategies for staying competitive in the market are analyzed. Opportunities present for new players and the hurdles they may face are elaborated.Fill the form to get free sample @Table of Contents1 Poultry Feed additives Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Poultry Feed additives1.2 Classification of Poultry Feed additives by Product Category1.2.1 Global Poultry Feed additives Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Poultry Feed additives Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.3 Global Poultry Feed additives Market by Application/End Users1.4 Global Poultry Feed additives Market by Region1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Poultry Feed additives (2012-2022)2 Global Poultry Feed additives Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Poultry Feed additives Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Poultry Feed additives Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Poultry Feed additives Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Poultry Feed additives (Volume and Value) by Type2.3 Global Poultry Feed additives (Volume and Value) by Region2.4 Global Poultry Feed additives (Volume) by Application3 United States Poultry Feed additives (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Poultry Feed additives Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Poultry Feed additives Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Poultry Feed additives Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Poultry Feed additives Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States Poultry Feed additives Sales Volume and Market Share by Players3.3 United States Poultry Feed additives Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Poultry Feed additives Sales Volume and Market Share by Application9 Global Poultry Feed additives Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data9.1 Evonik9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 Poultry Feed additives Product Category, Application and Specification9.1.3 Evonik Poultry Feed additives Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 DuPont9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 Poultry Feed additives Product Category, Application and Specification9.2.3 DuPont Poultry Feed additives Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 DSM9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 Poultry Feed additives Product Category, Application and Specification9.3.3 DSM Poultry Feed additives Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewBrowse Market Research Report @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of Poultry Feed additivesFigure Global Poultry Feed additives Sales Volume Comparison (K Units) by Type (2012-2022)Figure Global Poultry Feed additives Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global Poultry Feed additives Sales Comparison (K Units) by Application (2012-2022)Figure Global Sales Market Share of Poultry Feed additives by Application in 2016Figure Global Poultry Feed additives Market Size (Million USD) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure Global Poultry Feed additives Sales Volume (K Units) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Poultry Feed additives Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Secretary Bairagi meets Bangladeshi foreign minister

Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, who is currently in Bangladesh, met Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali in Dhaka on Sunday.
Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market to Surge beyond US$ 1.4 Billion by 2025

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The Global Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market was valued at US$ 754.9 million in 2015 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period (20172025), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Technological developments like the innovative portable monitoring device, rising incidences of unhealthy lifestyle related disorders and the enhancing healthcare infrastructure are expected to be major factors driving growth of the global remote patient monitoring devices market over the foreseeable future.According to the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine 2017, around 30 million people suffer from sleep deprivation and sleep disorders, also known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can even cause serious health consequences by increasing the risk of diabetes, hypertension and heart attack if not diagnosed or treated. The collaboration of Telenor Connexion and French eHealth provider, SRETT, in 2014, provides a connected solution for remote monitoring of patients affected by sleep apnea. SRETT has developed a universal solution T4P for all types of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. The T4P is the only solution adapted to fit all CPAP devices on the market. The connected T4P collects and analyzes data from the CPAP remotely and in real-time, thereby reducing travel time and hospital visits. The patient data is uploaded automatically to healthcare professionals facilitating personalized and ongoing monitoring of patients condition.According to the World Health Organization 2017, one third of ischemic heart disease is attributed to high cholesterol. The raised cholesterol is estimated to cause 2.6 million deaths (4.5% of total) and 29.7 million disability adjusted life years. The remote patient monitoring device provides easy-to-use and portable system with correct assessment of the cholesterol levels.Request a Sample Copy of the Business Report @Cardiac arrhythmia is a condition characterized by the hearts failure to beat slower or faster than normal. According to the World Health Organization 2013, 33.5 million people or 0.5% of the global population is estimated to have Atrial fibrillation, a major condition leading to cardiac arrhythmia. The remote patient monitoring devices provide real-time remote continuous cardiac arrhythmias detection and monitoring platform, allowing easy diagnostics facilitating early clinical intervention of cardiac arrhythmia among high-risk patients. The innovative devices allows the patients to lead a normal life while being remotely monitored in real-time by ambulatory ECG sensor. For instance, Nihon Kohden introduced the Bedside Monitor, BSM-3500 in 2016, which is designed to meet the needs of ambulatory surgical centers and specialty centers. The device offers advanced patient care which includes real-time mini trends for early detection of vital sign variability during outpatient procedures and is also designed to integrate with electronic medical records systems.Key takeaways of the Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market:The global remote patient monitoring devices market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period (20172025) as there exists a huge demanding market especially in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa.The cardiac monitors dominates the market in the product segment, as these portable devices continually monitor electrical activity of the cardiovascular system while performing daily activities.The cardiac arrhythmia dominates the market in the application segment, as the cardiac monitors available for monitoring cardiac arrhythmia are easily usable and largely available in medical healthcare facilities and home care settingsHospitals and home care settings are the major end users of remote patient monitoring devices market, as these devices offer reliability and accuracy with periodic measurements of physiological parameters like heart activity, blood pressure, body temperature, pulse rate and other clinical conditions.Some of the major players involved in global remote patient monitoring devices market are Abbott Laboratories, GE Healthcare, Omron Healthcare, Medtronic, Nihon Kohden, Smiths Medical, Philips Healthcare, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. And Kokinklijke Philips N.V. and St. Jude Medical.To know the latest trends and insights prevalent in the remote patient monitoring devices market, click the link below:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
High Strength Steel Market Volume Forecast and Value Chain Analysis 2016 - 2024

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Steel is critical, as there is no other material with same unique combination of strength, formability (malleability and ductility) and versatility. Steel plays critical role in virtually every phase of our lives. The rails, roads, vehicles that make up our transportation chain use steel. High strength steel provides strong framework and connections in the building constructions. They are used to deliver food and water supply and also industrial product deliveries. It is a basic component that generates and transmits energy.Request a sample copy of this report:High strength steel is primarily used for structural applications (structural steels) as well as in automobile industry. It is difficult to attain complex shapes, a requirement in these industries, using mild steel. Thus, high strength steel is used for complex shapes that are met along with durable and robust design parameters. It can be developed even with or without addition of microalloying elements such as Va, Ni, Co, Mb, and Ti.Market Dynamics and TrendsHigh strength steel and its alloys are expected inevitably to gain demand in the future and their markets to increase exponentially. Steel is the only commercial product in usable metals which meets higher environmental standards. High strength steel can be endlessly recycled without loss in its strength, durability, or any of its other distinctive properties. Today and in the future, high strength steel is expected to succeed in meeting challenges of climate change, population growth, water distribution, product carriages and energy by reducing carbon footprint.Major drivers of high strength steel are its significant high rate of consumption in automotive and construction industries, meeting stringent environmental standards. However, it has its limitation with its restraining factors such as its high cost of production, low safety factor in its preparation, and high technological constraints.New generation high strength steel is likely to provide necessary requirements and trend of the future demands of implementing durable and light weight designs plus the volumes.Market SegmentationCOR-TEN weathering steels, with its high corrosion resistance, are used extensively in automobile, construction, and heavy equipment manufacturing industries.It is used in heavy construction especially structures and bridges based on its high rolling and continuous product line. It has low carbon content, formability and easily hardened steels used in transportation and automotive industry to a high extent. It is an intrinsic part used in manufacturing alloy steel such as niobium, vanadium, and titanium used in power generation and nuclear reactors.The high strength steel market can be divided into sectors such as building and infrastructure, automobile industry, transportation industry, energy, food and water, and tools and machineries. It can be further classified into electro-galvanized steel, hot-dip galvanized steel, and hot-dip galv-annealed steel.Based on manufacturing Process the application lies preparation of High end Automobile body structures, reinforcement and brackets where high strength is required for optimum part performance,Region-wise OutlookAsia-Pacific is the market leader in terms of high strength steel consumption and production, followed by Europe. Majority of the Asia Pacific regions are developing and there is a high requirement of high strength steel. Developed countries such as the U.S. in North America and other parts in Europe are rather saturated markets for high strength steel.Key PlayersKey players globally operating in the market are Arcelor-Mittal, China Steel Corporation, Hyundai Steel Company, Tata Steel, and Gerdau S. A.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Visit For TOC @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Street Sweeper Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 FAYAT GROUP, Exprolink, Elgin, FULONGMA, Bucher (Johnston), ZOOMLION, Boschung, TYMCO, FAUN, Dulevo and Others

Street Sweeper Market

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Global Street Sweeper market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Alfred Krcher, FAUN, Dulevo, Tennant, Boschung, TYMCO, Global Sweeper, AEROSUN, Henan Senyuan, Bucher (Johnston), ZOOMLION, Hako, Elgin, FULONGMA, Aebi Schmidt, FAYAT GROUP, Exprolink, Alamo Group and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.A street sweeper or street cleaner may refer to a persons occupation, or a machine that cleans streets. A street sweeper cleans the streets, usually in an urban area. Street sweepers have been employed in cities since sanitation and waste removal became a priority. A street-sweeping person would use a broom and shovel to clean off litter, animal waste and filth that accumulated on streets. Later, water hoses were used to wash the streets.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Street Sweeper Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Bucher (Johnston)ZOOMLIONHakoElginFULONGMAAebi SchmidtFAYAT GROUPExprolinkAlamo GroupAlfred KrcherFAUNDulevoTennantBoschungTYMCOGlobal SweeperAEROSUNHenan SenyuanOthersGlobal Street Sweeper Market: Key Product TypeCompact SweeperTruck Mounted SweeperOthersGlobal Street Sweeper Market: Key Application TypeUrban RoadHighwayAirportOthersGlobal Street Sweeper Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Street Sweeper Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Street Sweeper Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Street Sweeper Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Street Sweeper Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Compact Sweeper1.2.2 Truck Mounted Sweeper1.2.3 Others1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Urban Road1.3.2 Highway1.3.3 Airport1.3.4 Others........................Continue (Global Street Sweeper Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
PVC Paste Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 CNSG Anhui Hong Sifang, Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical, Yidong Dongxing, Tianye Group, Vinnolit, Solvay, Mexichem, Kaneka and Others

PVC Paste Market

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Global PVC Paste market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Thai Plastic and Chemicals, Saudi Basic Industries, Shenyang Chemical, Tianjin Bohai Chemical, CNSG Anhui Hong Sifang, Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical, Yidong Dongxing, Tianye Group, Vinnolit, Solvay, Mexichem, Hanwha, KEM ONE, Formosa Plastics Corp, LG Chemical, INEOS, Kaneka and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Paste PVC resin refers to the PVC resin which is used in paste form. This kind of liquid material is easy to configure and control while with a stable performance, so it is widely used in leather, vinyl toys, soft trademarks, wallpaper, paint, foam plastics production.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global PVC Paste Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:VinnolitSolvayMexichemHanwhaKEM ONEFormosa Plastics CorpLG ChemicalINEOSKanekaThai Plastic and ChemicalsSaudi Basic IndustriesShenyang ChemicalTianjin Bohai ChemicalCNSG Anhui Hong SifangShanghai Chlor-Alkali ChemicalYidong DongxingTianye GroupOthersGlobal PVC Paste Market: Key Product TypeSuspension Method ProductEmulsion Method ProductOthersGlobal PVC Paste Market: Key Application TypePlastic FloorArtificial LeatherPaint and CoatingsWallpaperAutomotive SealingToys & GloveOthersGlobal PVC Paste Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global PVC Paste Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global PVC Paste Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global PVC Paste Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 Suspension Method Product1.2.1.2 Emulsion Method Product1.2.2 by Application........................Continue (Global PVC Paste Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Stairlift Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Bruno, Otolift, Stannah, ThyssenKrupp, SUGIYASU, Fengning, Handicare, Platinum and Others

Stairlift Market

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Global Stairlift market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Platinum, MEDITEK, Savaria, SUGIYASU, Fengning, Jiujiu Yanyang, ACORN, Handicare, Stannah, ThyssenKrupp, Bruno, Otolift, Harmar and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.A stairlift is a mechanical device for lifting people up and down stairs. For sufficiently wide stairs, a rail is mounted to the treads of the stairs. A chair or lifting platform is attached to the rail. A person on the chair or platform is lifted as the chair moves along the rail.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Stairlift Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ACORNHandicareStannahThyssenKruppBrunoOtoliftHarmarPlatinumMEDITEKSavariaSUGIYASUFengningJiujiu YanyangOthersGlobal Stairlift Market: Key Product TypeStraight StairliftCurved StairliftOthersGlobal Stairlift Market: Key Application TypeResidenceMedicare AreaPublic PlaceOthersGlobal Stairlift Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Stairlift Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Stairlift Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Stairlift Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 Straight Stairlift1.2.1.2 Curved Stairlift1.2.2 by Application1.2.2.1 Residence1.2.2.2 Medicare Area1.2.2.3 Public Place1.2.2.4 Others........................Continue (Global Stairlift Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Astaxanthin Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Cyanotech, Fuji, Supreme Biotechnologies, Biogenic, Parry Nutraceuticals, Jingzhou Natural Astaxanthin, JX Nippon Oil& Energy and Others

Astaxanthin Market

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Global Astaxanthin market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Algatechnologies, Parry Nutraceuticals, Jingzhou Natural Astaxanthin, JX Nippon Oil& Energy, Supreme Biotechnologies, Biogenic, Zhejiang NHU, DSM, BASF, Cyanotech, Fuji, BGG, Yunnan Alphy Biotech and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring dark red carotenoid found in nature primarily in aquatic animals such as salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish, and crustaceans. Astaxanthin is more than just a red pigment, it is one of the most powerful lipophilic antioxidants yet discovered. It has the unique capacity to quench free radicals and reactive species of oxygen and to inhibit lipid peroxidation. Studies have shown natural astaxanthin to be over 500 times stronger than vitamin E and much more potent than other carotenoids such as lutein, lycopene and carotene. Moreover, Astaxanthin a xanthophyll carotenoid, is a nutrient with a unique molecule structure, it does not convert to vitamin a (retinol) and has no prooxidant activity.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Astaxanthin Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:DSMBASFCyanotechFujiBGGYunnan Alphy BiotechAlgatechnologiesParry NutraceuticalsJingzhou Natural AstaxanthinJX Nippon Oil& EnergySupreme BiotechnologiesBiogenicZhejiang NHUOthersGlobal Astaxanthin Market: Key Product TypeNatural AstaxanthinSynthetic AstaxanthinOthersGlobal Astaxanthin Market: Key Application TypeNutraceuticalsCosmeticsFood & beveragesFeedOthersGlobal Astaxanthin Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Astaxanthin Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Astaxanthin Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Astaxanthin Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Astaxanthin Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Natural Astaxanthin1.2.2 Synthetic Astaxanthin1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Nutraceuticals1.3.2 Cosmetics1.3.3 Food & beverages1.3.4 Feed1.3.5 Others........................Continue (Global Astaxanthin Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Softgel Capsules Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Soft Gel Technologies, Patheon, IVC, EuroCaps, Capsugel, Shineway, Donghai Pharm, Sirio Pharma, Baihe Biotech and Others

Softgel Capsules Market

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Global Softgel Capsules market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Soft Gel Technologies, Amway, Sirio Pharma, Baihe Biotech, Ziguang Group, Shineway, Donghai Pharm, By-Health, Catalent, Aenova, NBTY, Procaps, Patheon, IVC, EuroCaps, Captek, Strides Arcolab, Capsugel and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Softgel Capsules are a type of capsules with a solid outer shell and inner surrounding a liquid or semi-solid (inner fill) active ingredient that can be incorporated into the outer shell, the inner fill, or both.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Softgel Capsules Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:CatalentAenovaNBTYProcapsPatheonIVCEuroCapsCaptekStrides ArcolabCapsugelSoft Gel TechnologiesAmwaySirio PharmaBaihe BiotechZiguang GroupShinewayDonghai PharmBy-HealthOthersGlobal Softgel Capsules Market: Key Product TypeGelatin typeNon-animal typeOthersGlobal Softgel Capsules Market: Key Application TypeHealth SupplementsOthersGlobal Softgel Capsules Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Softgel Capsules Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Softgel Capsules Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Softgel Capsules Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 Upstream1.2.2 Downstream1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 Gelatin type1.2.1.2 Non-animal type1.2.2 by Application1.2.2.1 Health Supplements1.2.2.2 Others........................Continue (Global Softgel Capsules Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Pharmaceutical Grade Silica Gel Market Analysis, Trends and Competitors Upto - 2025

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https://www.globalmarketestimates.com/pharmaceutical-grade-silica-gel-market-analysis-forecasts-2025/

Industry Insights:The pharmaceutical grade silica gel market accounted for USD 43 million in 2016. It is anticipated to experience a significant growth over the forecast period due to increasing demand from key application segments, such as desiccants, adsorbent among others. The overall expansion of pharmaceutical industry is likely to be the major factor for this growth.Desiccants are used in the processing of drug formulation. The excess of moisture may hamper the effectiveness of the drug. Due to a prominent growth in specialty medicines, biotech companies are experiencing increased investments, which in turn is likely to benefit global pharmaceutical grade silica gel market.Producers are planning to improve their operating efficiencies, which is expected to increase the demand for pharmaceutical grade silica gel. One of key factor while determining the quality of a drug has been packaging, which is ensured by the usage of desiccants canisters.The excellent absorption capacity of silica gel at high humidity has proved to be a major factor for its use in desiccant sachets. The increase in the price of sodium silicate prices due to increasing transportation and energy costs are likely to impact specialty silica market negatively. Abundant availability of sulphuric acid in developing economies of Asia Pacific and North America is likely to foster product demand over the forecast period.Request for the pharmaceutical grade silica gel market report at:Application Insights:On the basis of application, the industry has been segmented into desiccant, drug carrier, adsorbent, glidant and others. The drug carrier application segment is further divided into scarcely soluble drugs and liquid drugs. Silica gel is used in protecting antibiotic formulations from water vapour & moisture. It is also used to extend the shelf life and storage stability, thereby leading to an increase in demand for silica gel.Pharma grade silica gel is widely used in the desiccant application segment attributing to its characteristics of exhibiting a lower vapour pressure when compared to the outside environment. It is one of the most extensively used applications and is anticipated to dominate the market over the forecast period.Check the table of content of the pharmaceutical grade silica gel market report at:Regional Insights:Asia Pacific accounted for more than 45% of the global volume share in 2016. The market is estimated to grow rapidly over the forecast period owing to increased demand from the pharmaceutical sector. Growing market penetration of pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients in the specialty medicines and biotech companies has evolved in propelling growth over the past few years. Rising disposable income and enhanced medical infrastructure is likely to stimulate the growth of the overall pharmaceutical sector in Asia Pacific, especially in countries such as China and India.End Use Landscape:The end-use landscape includes a list of current and prospective consumers prevailing across the regions. This section provides company addresses, contact details, products, and regional presence of companies who are purchasing or are likely to purchase products from pharmaceuticals grade silica gel market. The major consumers of the product are Bumrungrad International Hospital, Palomar Medical Centre, and Johns Hopkins HospitalCompetitive Insights:The major players in the market include Evonik Industries, W. R. Grace & Co. Conn., Solvay S.A., The Dow Chemical Company, Clariant International Ltd and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company among others. Several organizations are concentrating on new product launch as well as capacity expansions in order to increase their business presence.Pharma companies such as GlaxoSmithKline are investing a lot to increase their share in India. In 2016, the sales of drugs were the second largest globally and it accounted for more than USD 117 billion. Such factors are expected to have a positive impact on pharma grade silica gel market.Buy the pharmaceutical grade silica gel market report at:Were constantly identifying and analysing high growth markets and revenue pockets. In consultation with various industry experts, our team of highly-skilled industry analysts study these markets through sophisticated tools and fail-safe, industry-approved methodologies. We generally triangulate our market numbers through a combination of top-down and bottom-up approachesName: Global Market Estimates Research & Business ConsultantsAddress: A-9, Silver Croft CHSL, Mumbai:400064, IndiaContact No,: +91 9146632316Email Address: sales@globalmarketestimates.com
Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Market Research Report 2017 : NEC, Panasonic, Honda

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Graphene-Based Supercapacitors in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanGlobal Graphene-Based Supercapacitors market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingNECPanasonicHondaHitachiMaxellSAFTNESE...On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoElectrical Double Layer CapacitorsFaraday Quasi CapacitorsHybrid CapacitorsOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Graphene-Based Supercapacitors for each application, includingWind/Solar PowerTrafficIndustrial EquipmentConsumer ElectronicsOtherIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Request for the Free Report Sample:Table of Contents1 Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Graphene-Based Supercapacitors1.2 Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.3 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Segment by Application1.4 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Market by Region (2012-2022)2 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type3 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 United States Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 EU Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7 Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 NEC7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.3 NEC Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Panasonic7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.3 Panasonic Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Honda7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.3 Honda Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewGet more information from Research Report Press Release:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Graphene-Based SupercapacitorsFigure Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Consumption (K Units) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Capacity, Production (K Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Graphene-Based Supercapacitors Major Players Product Capacity (K Units) (2012-2017)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Germany Digital Wound Measurement Devices Market Outlook to 2024

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ReportsWeb.com published Germany Digital Wound Measurement Devices Market Outlook to 2024 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months.Original Content:Publisher's new report, Germany Digital Wound Measurement Devices Market Outlook to 2024, provides key market data on the Germany Digital Wound Measurement Devices market. The report provides value, in millions of US dollars, volume (in units) and and average prices (USD) for Digital Wound Measurement Devices.The report also provides company shares and distribution shares data for each of these market segments, and global corporate-level profiles of the key market participants. Based on the availability of data for the particular market and country, information related to pipeline products, news and deals is available in the report.For more information about this report:Report Scope-Market size and company share data for Digital Wound Measurement Devices.-Annualized market revenues (USD million) and volume (units) data for each of the market segments. Data is provided from 2010 to 2017 and forecast to 2024.-2016 company shares and distribution shares data for each of the market segments.-Global corporate-level profiles of key companies operating within the Germany Digital Wound Measurement Devices market.-Key players covered include ARANZ Medical Ltd, eKare Inc and Wound Zoom Inc.Request Sample Copy atReasons to buy-Develop business strategies by identifying the key market segments poised for strong growth in the future.-Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.-Design competition strategies by identifying who-stands-where in the market.-Develop investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.-What are the key distribution channels and what's the most preferred mode of product distribution -Identify, understand and capitalize.Table of ContentsTable of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 31.2 List of Figures 32 Introduction 42.1 What Is This Report About-42.2 Digital Wound Measurement Market Segmentation 42.3 Definitions of Markets Covered in the Report 43 Digital Wound Measurement Devices Market, Germany 53.1 Digital Wound Measurement Devices Market, Germany, Revenue ($m), 2010-2017 53.2 Digital Wound Measurement Devices Market, Germany, Revenue ($m), 2017-2024 63.3 Digital Wound Measurement Devices Market, Germany, Volume (Units), 2010-2017 7Inquire before Buying atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
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Italy Pressure Relief Devices Market Outlook to 2024

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ReportsWeb.com published Italy Pressure Relief Devices Market Outlook to 2024 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months.Original Content:Publisher's new report, Italy Pressure Relief Devices Market Outlook to 2024, provides key market data on the Italy Pressure Relief Devices market. The report provides value, in millions of US dollars, volume (in units) and average prices (USD) within market segments -Specialty Beds, Mattresses and Mattress Overlays.The report also provides company shares and distribution shares data for each of these market segments, and global corporate-level profiles of the key market participants. Based on the availability of data for the particular market and country, information related to pipeline products, news and deals is available in the report.For more information about this report:Report Scope-Market size and company share data for Pressure Relief Devices market segments -Specialty Beds, Mattresses and Mattress Overlays.-Annualized market revenues (USD million) and volume (units) data for each of the market segments. Data is provided from 2010 to 2017 and forecast to 2024.-2017 company shares and distribution shares data for each of the market segments.-Global corporate-level profiles of key companies operating within the Italy Pressure Relief Devices market.-Key players covered include Hill-Rom Holdings Inc, ArjoHuntleigh AB and Invacare Corporation.Request Sample Copy atReasons to buy-Develop business strategies by identifying the key market segments poised for strong growth in the future.-Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.-Design competition strategies by identifying who-stands-where in the market.-Develop investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.-What are the key distribution channels and what's the most preferred mode of product distribution -Identify, understand and capitalize.Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 22 Introduction 42.1 What Is This Report About-42.2 Pressure Relief Devices Market Segmentation 42.3 Definitions of Markets Covered in the Report 53 Pressure Relief Devices Market, Italy 63.1 Pressure Relief Devices Market, Italy, Revenue ($m), 2010-2017 63.2 Pressure Relief Devices Market, Italy, Revenue ($m), 2017-2024 83.2.1 Mattress Overlays Market, Italy, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2010-2017 103.2.2 Mattresses Market, Italy, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2010-2017 123.2.3 Mattress Overlays Market, Italy, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2017-2024 143.2.4 Mattresses Market, Italy, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2017-2024 16Inquire before Buying atReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests-Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment 2017

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ReportsWeb.com published Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests-Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment 2017 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months.Original Content:Publisher's Medical Devices sector report, "Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests-Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment, 2017" provides an overview of Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests currently in pipeline stage.The report provides comprehensive information on the pipeline products with comparative analysis of the products at various stages of development. The report reviews major players involved in the pipeline product development. It also provides information about clinical trials in progress, which includes trial phase, trial status, trial start and end dates, and, the number of trials for the key Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests pipeline products.For more information about this report:Report Scope-Extensive coverage of the Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests under development-The report reviews details of major pipeline products which includes, product description, licensing and collaboration details and other developmental activities-The report reviews the major players involved in the development of Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests and list all their pipeline projects-The coverage of pipeline products based on various stages of development ranging from Early Development to Approved / Issued stage-The report provides key clinical trial data of ongoing trials specific to pipeline products-Recent developments in the segment / industryRequest Sample Copy atReasons to buy-Develop business strategies by identifying the key market segments poised for strong growth in the future.-Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.-Design competition strategies by identifying who-stands-where in the market.-Develop investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.-What are the key distribution channels and what's the most preferred mode of product distribution -Identify, understand and capitalize.Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 22 Introduction 213 Products under Development 223.1 Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests-Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 223.2 Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests-Pipeline Products by Territory 233.3 Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests-Pipeline Products by Regulatory Path 243.4 Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests-Pipeline Products by Estimated Approval Date 253.5 Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests-Ongoing Clinical Trials 264 Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests-Pipeline Products under Development by Companies 274.1 Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests Companies-Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 274.2 Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests-Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 325 Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests Companies and Product Overview 37Inquire before Buying atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Behavioral Rehabilitation 2017 Global Market Size,Status,Analysis and Forecast to 2022

Behavioral Rehabilitation 2017

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Behavioral Rehabilitation 2017 Global Market Size,Status,Analysis and Forecast to 2022.This report, with focus on top players in the global and Japan, studies the Behavioral Rehabilitation market's development status and future trend in the global and Japan. It splits Behavioral Rehabilitation market by type and by applications to fully and deeply research and reveal market profile and prospect.The major players includeAcadia Healthcare(US)Universal Health Services, Inc.(US)Magellan Health, Inc.(US)Psychiatric Solutions, Inc.(US)CRC Health(US)Aurora Behavioral Health System(US)Behavioral Health Group(US)Haven Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.(US)Springstone, Inc.(US)American Addiction Centers, Inc.(US)Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comGeographically, this report splits the Global market into the following regions:Asia PacificJapanTokyoYokohamaOsakaNagoyaOthersChinaKoreaIndiaOthersEuropeFranceGermanyUnited KingdomOn the basis of product, the Behavioral Rehabilitation market is primarily split intoBy Healthcare SettingsInpatientResidentialOutpatientKey ApplicationsAnxiety DisordersMood DisordersSubstance Abuse DisordersPersonality DisordersAttention Deficit DisordersAsk Query @Table Of Contents  Major Key Points2017-2022 Global and Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Market Analysis Report1 Behavioral Rehabilitation Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Behavioral Rehabilitation1.2 Global and Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Market by Applications/End Users1.2.1 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.1 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Market Share by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.2 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales Growth Rate (%) by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities1.2.2 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.3 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales by Application (2012-2017)1.2.3.1 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Market Share by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.3.2 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales Growth Rate (%) by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.3.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities1.2.4 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.5 Anxiety Disorders1.2.6 Mood Disorders1.2.7 Substance Abuse Disorders1.2.8 Personality Disorders1.2.9 Attention Deficit Disorders1.3 Global and Japan Market Size (Sales and Revenue) of Behavioral Rehabilitation (2012-2017)1.3.1 Japan Market Size (Sales and Revenue) of Behavioral Rehabilitation (2012-2017)1.3.1.1 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)1.3.1.2 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.3.2 Global Market Size (Sales and Revenue) of Behavioral Rehabilitation (2012-2017)1.3.2.1 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)1.3.2.2 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4 Global and Japan Classification of Behavioral Rehabilitation by Healthcare Settings1.4.1 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Market Share by Healthcare Settings (2012-2017)1.4.2 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Market Share by Healthcare Settings (2012-2017)1.4.3 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Healthcare Settings (2012-2017)1.4.4 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Healthcare Settings (2012-2017)1.4.5 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Price (USD/Pcs) by Healthcare Settings (2012-2017)1.4.6 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Price (USD/Pcs) by Healthcare Settings (2012-2017)1.4.7 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales Growth Rate (%) by Healthcare Settings (2012-2017)1.4.8 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales Growth Rate (%) by Healthcare Settings (2012-2017)1.4.9 Inpatient1.4.10 Residential1.4.11 Outpatient1.5 Global and Japan Classification of Behavioral Rehabilitation by1.5.1 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Market Share by (2012-2017)1.5.2 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs) and Market Share by (2012-2017)1.5.3 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by (2012-2017)1.5.4 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by (2012-2017)1.5.5 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Price (USD/Pcs) by (2012-2017)1.5.6 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Price (USD/Pcs) by (2012-2017)1.5.7 Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales Growth Rate (%) by (2012-2017)1.5.8 Global Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales Growth Rate (%) by (2012-2017)1.5.91.5.10.4 Global and Japan Behavioral Rehabilitation Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data4.1 Acadia Healthcare(US)4.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.1.2 Behavioral Rehabilitation Product Category, Application and Specification4.1.2.1 Product A4.1.2.2 Product B4.1.3 Acadia Healthcare(US) Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Pcs) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.2 Universal Health Services, Inc.(US)4.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.2.2 Behavioral Rehabilitation Product Category, Application and Specification4.2.2.1 Product A4.2.2.2 Product B4.2.3 Universal Health Services, Inc.(US) Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Pcs) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.3 Magellan Health, Inc.(US)4.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.3.2 Behavioral Rehabilitation Product Category, Application and Specification4.3.2.1 Product A4.3.2.2 Product B4.3.3 Magellan Health, Inc.(US) Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Pcs) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.4 Psychiatric Solutions, Inc.(US)4.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.4.2 Behavioral Rehabilitation Product Category, Application and Specification4.4.2.1 Product A4.4.2.2 Product B4.4.3 Psychiatric Solutions, Inc.(US) Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Pcs) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.5 CRC Health(US)4.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.5.2 Behavioral Rehabilitation Product Category, Application and Specification4.5.2.1 Product A4.5.2.2 Product B4.5.3 CRC Health(US) Behavioral Rehabilitation Sales (Pcs), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Pcs) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.5.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinue.Buy 1-User PDF@currency=one_user-USD&report_id=2358211For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market Segmentation, Application, Trends, Opportunity & Forecast 2017 to 2022

Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market Segmentation, Application, Trends, Opportunity & Forecast 2017 to 2022.This report, with focus on top players in the global and Japan, studies the Healthcare Satellite Connectivity market's development status and future trend in the global and Japan. It splits Healthcare Satellite Connectivity market by type and by applications to fully and deeply research and reveal market profile and prospect.The major players includeGlobalstar(US)Expedition Communications(US)X2nSat(US)AT&T Intellectual Property(US)SES S.A.(LU)Hughes(US)Inmarsat plc.(UK)Intelsat(LU)Thuraya(SA)Orbcomm(US)Ligado Networks(US)EchoStar(US)Dish Network(US)Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comGeographically, this report splits the Global market into the following regions:Asia PacificJapanTokyoYokohamaOsakaNagoyaOthersChinaKoreaIndiaOthersEuropeFranceGermanyUnited KingdomItalyRussiaOthersNorth AmericaUnited StatesOn the basis of product, the Healthcare Satellite Connectivity market is primarily split intoBy Medical DeviceWearable External DevicesImplanted Medical DevicesStationary Medical DevicesBy System & SoftwareRemote Device ManagementNetwork Bandwidth ManagementData AnalyticsApplication SecurityNetwork SecurityBy ServicesSystem Integration ServicesConsulting, Training & EducationSupport & Maintenance ServicesKey ApplicationsClinical Research OrganizationHospitals & ClinicsResearch & Diagnostic LaboratoriesOthersAsk Query @Table Of Contents  Major Key Points2017-2022 Global and Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market Analysis Report1 Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Healthcare Satellite Connectivity1.2 Global and Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Market by Applications/End Users1.2.1 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.1 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Market Share by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.2 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales Growth Rate (%) by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities1.2.2 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.3 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales by Application (2012-2017)1.2.3.1 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Market Share by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.3.2 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales Growth Rate (%) by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.3.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities1.2.4 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.5 Clinical Research Organization1.2.6 Hospitals & Clinics1.2.7 Research & Diagnostic Laboratories1.2.8 Others1.3 Global and Japan Market Size (Sales and Revenue) of Healthcare Satellite Connectivity (2012-2017)1.3.1 Japan Market Size (Sales and Revenue) of Healthcare Satellite Connectivity (2012-2017)1.3.1.1 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)1.3.1.2 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.3.2 Global Market Size (Sales and Revenue) of Healthcare Satellite Connectivity (2012-2017)1.3.2.1 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Growth Rate (%) (2012-2017)1.3.2.2 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4 Global and Japan Classification of Healthcare Satellite Connectivity by Medical Device1.4.1 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Market Share by Medical Device (2012-2017)1.4.2 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Market Share by Medical Device (2012-2017)1.4.3 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Medical Device (2012-2017)1.4.4 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Medical Device (2012-2017)1.4.5 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Price (K USD/Unit) by Medical Device (2012-2017)1.4.6 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Price (K USD/Unit) by Medical Device (2012-2017)1.4.7 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales Growth Rate (%) by Medical Device (2012-2017)1.4.8 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales Growth Rate (%) by Medical Device (2012-2017)1.4.9 Wearable External Devices1.4.10 Implanted Medical Devices1.4.11 Stationary Medical Devices1.5 Global and Japan Classification of Healthcare Satellite Connectivity by System & Software1.5.1 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Market Share by System & Software (2012-2017)1.5.2 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units) and Market Share by System & Software (2012-2017)1.5.3 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by System & Software (2012-2017)1.5.4 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by System & Software (2012-2017)1.5.5 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Price (K USD/Unit) by System & Software (2012-2017)1.5.6 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Price (K USD/Unit) by System & Software (2012-2017)1.5.7 Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales Growth Rate (%) by System & Software (2012-2017)1.5.8 Global Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales Growth Rate (%) by System & Software (2012-2017)1.5.9 Remote Device Management1.5.10 Network Bandwidth Management.4 Global and Japan Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data4.1 Globalstar(US)4.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.1.2 Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Product Category, Application and Specification4.1.2.1 Product A4.1.2.2 Product B4.1.3 Globalstar(US) Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (K USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.2 Expedition Communications(US)4.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.2.2 Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Product Category, Application and Specification4.2.2.1 Product A4.2.2.2 Product B4.2.3 Expedition Communications(US) Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (K USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.3 X2nSat(US)4.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.3.2 Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Product Category, Application and Specification4.3.2.1 Product A4.3.2.2 Product B4.3.3 X2nSat(US) Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (K USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.4 AT&T Intellectual Property(US)4.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.4.2 Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Product Category, Application and Specification4.4.2.1 Product A4.4.2.2 Product B4.4.3 AT&T Intellectual Property(US) Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (K USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.5 SES S.A.(LU)4.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.5.2 Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Product Category, Application and Specification4.5.2.1 Product A4.5.2.2 Product B4.5.3 SES S.A.(LU) Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (K USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.6 Hughes(US)4.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.6.2 Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Product Category, Application and Specification4.6.2.1 Product A4.6.2.2 Product B4.6.3 Hughes(US) Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (K USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.7 Inmarsat plc.(UK)4.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.7.2 Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Product Category, Application and Specification4.7.2.1 Product A4.7.2.2 Product B4.7.3 Inmarsat plc.(UK) Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (K USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview4.8 Intelsat(LU)4.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors4.8.2 Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Product Category, Application and Specification4.8.2.1 Product A4.8.2.2 Product B4.8.3 Intelsat(LU) Healthcare Satellite Connectivity Sales (Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (K USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2012-2017)4.8.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinue.Buy 1-User PDF@currency=one_user-USD&report_id=2375977For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Dental Carpule Market US $ 20 Million To Demonstrate A Vigorous Growth of CAGR 4.9% By 2023

Market Research Future

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The Worldwide Dental Carpule Market report explores the key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. Carpule is a type of ampule or cartridge containing liquid medicine to be inserted using a syringe. It has a puncturable cap and one end and a sliding plug on the other end. In dental profession, dental cartridges are known as carpules.Get Sample Copy @Carpule is a registered trade name for dental cartridge prepared by Cook-Waite Laboratories which was introduced in 1920. These are either made of glass or plastics. Recently, most of the local anesthesia manufacturers have started manufacturing plastic cartridges. They have a number of disadvantages over glass cartridges such as force required to be applied to the plunger of the syringe, leakage of solution during injection and the plunger does do glide down the plastic cartridge as it does in the glass cartridge. Prefilled dental carpule consists of four parts namely cylindrical glass tube, stopper (plunger), aluminum cap and diaphragm. The colour of cartridge band differs according to the solution filled in it.Globally DENTAL CARPULE MARKET are been driven by need of safe administration of injectable drugs to the patients having dental problems thus improving the quality of care provide.The global market of dental carpules is expected to reach US$ 20 million in 2023 from US$ 11 million in 2016 with a CAGR of approximately 4.9%.Dental Carpule Market Key Players: GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Gilead, Sanofi Genzyme, Merck, Roche, Pfizer and Novartis.Regional Analysis of Dental Carpule Market: Globally North America is the largest market for Dental Carpule. Europe generates highest revenue in dental caruple market. This is due to increase in demand and awareness for dental cosmetics and dental health in this region. North America is the largest market for Dental Carpule which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.1% and is expected to reach at US$ 9.2 million. Demand for dental caruples is increasing North America because patients have recognized the importance of safe administration of anesthetics required for any dental procedure. Demand for dental caruples is increasing in North America because patients have recognized the importance of safe administration of injectable drugs required for any dental procedure.Get Discount @Product innovation and technological advancement are responsible for increase in demand of cartridges. Rapid development of dental industries in North America is also another contributing factor for the growth of this market. Europe is the second-largest market for Dental Carpule. Dental procedure are affordable in European countries as compared to other regions. The Europe market for Dental Carpule is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.7 % and is expected to reach at US$ 3.1 million by the end of the forecasted period. Whereas Asia pacific is expected to be a growing market for Dental Carpule market. India, China and Japan have contributed for the growth of this market in Asia-Pacific.Global Dental Carpule market has been segmented on the basis of material consisting of glass, plastic metal and others, on the basis of end users which consists of Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Home care and others and by regions consisting of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa.Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Cannabis Market Report 2016: Growth Predictions, Demand & Supply till 2021

Cannabis Market, Cannabis, Cannabis Size, Cannabis Segmentation, Cannabis, Best Cannabis

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Cannabis Market Research ReportNorth America Cannabis Market Information, by Derivatives (Marijuana/Flowers, Industrial Hemp, Other Concentrates/Products), by application type (Applications of Marijuana, Applications of Hemp) - Forecast from 2016 to 2021Objective Study of Cannabis Market:To provide detailed analysis of the cannabis market along with historic data from 2011 and forecast for the next 5 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the North America cannabis marketTo provide insights into the factors affecting global market growth.To analyze the cannabis market on the basis of factors such as price analysis, supply chain analysis, and Porters five force analysis.To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and prospective by 2021To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by derivatives, applications of cannabis.To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketTo track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the North America Cannabis marketRequest a Sample Report @Market ScenarioThe report on North America cannabis market focuses primarily on the major markets in the region such as the U.S. Canada and Mexico. The market size of cannabis stood over USD 3.5 billion in 2015. It is expected to expand at a CAGR over 33% over the period of 2016 to 2021.Key PlayersSome of the major players in North America Cannabis Market include:Canadian Cannabis CorporationPlandai BiotechnologyTweed MarijuanaAffinor GrowersCannabis SativaCannavestCanna BrandsOmnicanna Health Solutions1 INTRODUCTION1.1 Definition1.2 Scope Of The Study1.2.1 Research Objectives1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitation1.3 Research Structure2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Market Size Estimation2.5 Forecast Model3 NORTH AMERICA CANNABIS INDUSTRY: MARKET OVERVIEW3.1 Market Definition: Cannabis Market3.2 Demand & Supply Analysis4 NORTH AMERICA CANNABIS INDUSTRY: MARKET DYNAMICS4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Mega Trends4.5 Supply Chain Analysis5 NORTH AMERICA CANNABIS MARKET: REGULATORY FRAMEWORK6 NORTH AMERICA CANNABIS INDUSTRY: PORTERS FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS6.1 Threat Of New Entrants6.2 Threat Of Substitutes6.3 Bargaining Power Of Buyers6.4 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers6.5 Degree Of CompetitionKey Findings:Among the derivatives marijuana accounts for the largest market share. The revenue of this segment stood more than USD 2.5 billion in 2015.The U.S. being the largest market in the region accounted for over 95% of the market size of the North America cannabis market.Rapid growth of cannabis and its applications in medicinal purposes has driven the growth in this market.SegmentsNorth America Cannabis Market can be segmented as follows:Segmentation by Derivatives: Marijuana/Flowers And Industrial Hemp, Other Concentrates/Products which include keif, hash, hash oil etc.Segmentation by Applications type: on the basis of applications the market is segmented asApplications of marijuanaMedicinal applicationsRecreational applicationsOthersApplications of hemp.Food and baby careClothing and textileOthersRegional Analysis of Cannabis Market:Cannabis market in North America was over USD 3.5 billion in 2015. This industry was mainly operating in the black market; however, with developments in the medical applications of the derivatives such as marijuana and hemp this market experienced significant growth over the past few years. Presently, the cannabis market is not a bare collaboration of the growers or producers of marijuana and hemp; it is rather a conglomerate of science and technology. The U.S. being the largest market in the region was valued over USD 3 billion and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR over 30% between 2016 and 2021.Regional CoverageNorth AmericaUSRest of North AmericaThe report for Cannabis Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives a clear picture of the current market scenario which includes historic and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancements, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides detailed information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Browse Complete report @The report for Cannabis Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives a clear picture of the current market scenario which includes historic and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancements, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides detailed information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Office No. 524/528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar
Microarray Market Business Trends That Will Drive Success In 2027

Microarray Market

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The North America Microarray Market is growing with the rapid pace; mainly due the burgeoning Healthcare Sector. According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, The North America Microarray Market is booming and expected to gain prominence over the forecast period.Microarray Market Information, by type (Protein microarray, tissue microarray, cellular microarray), Tissue microarray by product (paraffin tissue sections (FFPE), frozen tissue sections), by application (immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization) - Forecast to 2027North America the market for Microarray is increasing rapidly. A microarray is a multiplex lab-on-a-chip. It is a 2D array on a solid substrate, usually a glass slide or silicon thin-film cell, that assays large amounts of biological material using high-throughput screening miniaturized, multiplexed and parallel processing and detection methods. Globally the microarray market is dominated by DNA microarrays. The protein microarray is currently the fastest growing market. The use of peptide and carbohydrate microarrays is expanding. Tissue and cell microarrays are in their infancy stage and are developing slowly because of many complications in the process development. North American market for Microarray is expected to grow at the rate of about 4.0% from 2016 to 2027.Some of the key players in this market are: ABCAM, ASTERAND BIOSCIENCE, IHC WORLD LLC, NOVUS BIOLOGICALS LLC (ACQUIRED BY BIO-TECHNE), ORIGENE TECHNOLOGIES INC, PANTOMICS, INC, PROTEIN BIOTECHNOLOGIES INC, US BIOMAX, INC., US BIOUPTON INT, VITROVIVO BIOTECH, LLC and others.Request a Sample Report @North America Microarray market has been segmented on the basis of types which comprises of protein microarray, tissue microarray, and cellular microarray. On the basis of product, North America Tissue microarray market is segmented into paraffin tissue sections (FFPE), frozen tissue sections, and others. On the basis of applications, tissue microarray market is segmented into immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization, and others.Key FindingThe North America microarray market is expected to reach $1,635.4 billion by 2027.Paraffin tissue sections (FFPE) hold the largest share of 54.6% of the North America Tissue Microarray market.U.S. holds the largest market share of North America Tissue Microarray market and is anticipated to reach $364.2 million by the end of 2027.Immunohistochemistry segment holds the largest market share of 47.5% in 2015.Regional Analysis of Microarray Market:In North America, U.S. is the largest market for Tissue Microarray. Canada is the second-largest market and is expected to be fastest growing market for Tissue Microarray in North America.Study objectives of Microarray Market:To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Microarray marketTo provide insights about factors affecting the market growthTo analyze the tattoo removal market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc.To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospectiveTo provide country level analysis of the market for segments by type, by industry and its sub-segments.To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketTo track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the North America microarray market.TABLE OF CONTENTS1 INTRODUCTION2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY3 MARKET DYNAMICS4 NORTH AMERICA MICROARRAY MARKET, BY TYPE5 NORTH AMERICA TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET, BY PRODUCT6 NORTH AMERICA TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET, BY APPLICATIONS7 NORTH AMERICA TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET, BY COUNTRY8 COMPANY PROFILEAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.comMRFR has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.Our Research Analysts are eager to share their knowledge and assist you in refining market research parameters, choosing right market studies, and evaluating both the market scope and the research methodologies of varied segments.We bridge the gap between our clients and their clients by identifying and decoding just the target group, while generating leads with the highest accuracy.Years of research into diverse fields of work has ingrained within us, a proficiency so distinguished that our industry-specific specialists identify with your business ideas and feel the pulse of your challenges and opportunities. This enables us for providing assistance, through our consulting and strategic consulting services, in informed managerial decision making. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industries, WantStats Research and Media often conducts industrial visits for its research analysts. Relevant inputs from various established market participants, help our clients make significant contribution in respective markets are a huge motivation for all of us to endlessly furnish quality. We depend greatly on profound insights into complex realms of our study.Pune, India
World Tissue Microarray Market is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of 10.88% by 2023

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Market Research Future has a cooked research report on the global tissue microarray market. The global tissue microarray market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.88% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Tissue Microarray Market Information: By Procedure (Immunohistochemistry, Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization), By Technology (DNA Microarray, Next-Generation Sequencing), By Application (Oncology, Gene Expression Profiling, and others), and By End User (Pharmaceutical And Biotechnological Companies) - Global Forecast till 2023Tissue microarrays market are paraffin blocks that are created by separating cylindrical tissue cores from different paraffin donor blocks and re-embedding these into a microarray at defined array coordinates. With the help of tissue microarray up to 1000 tissue samples can be arrayed into a single paraffin piece. It allows simultaneous analysis of molecules present in DNA, mRNA, and protein under identical and standardized conditions on a single glass slide. This adaptable strategy in which data analysis is automated, facilitates retrospective and prospective human tissue studies.Increasing application of tissue microarray in drug discovery and oncology, automated analysis of results, and influence of technology are some of the major factors that fosters the growth of the global tissue microarray market. Moreover, wide applications of tissue microarray in pathology is another factor, which is impelling the growth of tissue microarray market.The global tissue microarray market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.88% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 188 market data tables and figures spread over 182 pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on tissue microarray market research reportGlobal forecast till 2023.Get a sample copy of this report atMajor Players in the tissue microarray MarketSome of the key players in the global market are Agilent Technologies, Illumina, Inc., Protein Biotechnologies Inc., Asterand Bioscience, Pantomics Inc., Applied Microarrays, Arrayit, Phalanx Biotech, Qiagen, Takara Bio, Perkin Elmer, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, and general electric and others.The global tissue microarray market consists of four regions: the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.The Americas is the leading market across the globe on account of constantly increasing cancer patient population, increasing number of cases in children, and increasing government support for research in healthcare domain and it is likely to flourish the Americas market over the review period.Europe holds the second position in the market due to development in healthcare domain. During the last 30 years, in Europe biotechnology industry has developed gradually. Even though in Germany federal support programs started very early to target biotechnology, the innovative performance of this sector has been lagging behind that of the US, where the federal support was less direct earlier. Advances in technology in the healthcare sector have minimized human effort and increased the quality of patient care services, which will boost the market growth.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market owing to the concentration of emerging player and focus of established market leaders in this region. Moreover, the rising incidence of cancer in Asia Pacific has prompted suppliers and manufacturers to expand their market reach and to enter emerging markets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), life-threatening or chronic diseases such as stroke, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, kidney diseases were the leading cause of death in 2014.On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa owns the minimum market share of the tissue microarray market due to less development in healthcare services such as new and advanced diagnosis & treatment methods in healthcare domain.SegmentationThe global tissue microarray market is segmented on the basis of procedure, technology, application, and end user.On the basis procedure, it is segmented into immunohistochemistry, fluorescent in-situ hybridization, and frozen tissue array.On the basis of technology, it is segmented into DNA microarray, polymerase chain reaction, next-generation sequencing, northern blotting, and western blotting.On the basis of application, it is segmented in to oncology, gene expression profiling, SNP detection, double-stranded B-DNA microarrays, and comparative genomic hybridization, and sequencing bioinformatics.On the basis of end user, it is segmented into pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies, research organization, and others.Complete Report Available atTissue microarray (TMA) is a recipient paraffin block that comprises thousands of separate tissue centers assembled in array fashion to allow multiplex histological analysis. These TMAs allow a quick, cost-effective, high through-put examination of thousands of molecular markers at nucleic acids or protein level. TMA is the latest advancement in the field of pathology. Different sorts of tumors at different phases of disease progression can also be studied at a single stage, in identical conditions in less labor-intensive and cost-effective ways.The market for tissue microarray treatment is growing extensively. It is a practical and efficient tool for high-throughput molecular analysis of tissues that help to identify new diagnostic and prognostic markers. It also targets human cancers and has a range of potential applications in basic research, prognostic oncology, and drug discovery. The growing need for targeted treatments for various chronic diseases such as cancer, genetic diseases, and others has boosted the growth of the marketIncreasing application in drug discovery is one of the major factors driving the market growth. During drug research and development, the risk of product failure is high. Moreover, advancement in molecular methods have massively simplified the discovery of potential molecular targets for gene-specific therapy. Application in drug discovery has generated a massive demand for such supposed targets and to meet such demand human tissue analysis is needed. Nevertheless, the need for analysis of large numbers of well-characterized human tissues constitutes a major role in the drug discovery and development. Earlier, tissue analysis used to be done in slide-by-slide manner, which was time consuming, expensive, and difficult to operate.Inquire for more informationLIST OF TABLESTABLE 1 MERGER AND ACQUISITION LANDSCAPE 35TABLE 2 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET, BY PROCEDURE, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 37TABLE 3 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 38TABLE 4 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR FLUORESCENT IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 39TABLE 5 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR FROZEN TISSUE ARRAY, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 40TABLE 6 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET, BY TECHNOLOGY, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 41TABLE 7 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR DNA MICROARRAY, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 43TABLE 8 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR), BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 44TABLE 9 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 45TABLE 10 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR NORTHERN BLOTTING, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 46TABLE 11 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR WESTERN BLOTTING, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 47TABLE 12 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET, BY APPLICATION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 48TABLE 13 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR ONCOLOGY, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 49TABLE 14 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 50TABLE 15 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR SNP DETECTION, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 51TABLE 16 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR DOUBLE-STRANDED B-DNA MICROARRAYS, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 52TABLE 17 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR COMPARATIVE GENOMIC HYBRIDIZATION, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 53TABLE 18 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR SEQUENCING BIOINFORMATICS , BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 54TABLE 19 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET, BY END USER, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 55TABLE 20 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL COMPANIES, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 56TABLE 21 GLOBAL TISSUE MICROARRAY MARKET FOR RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, BY REGION, 2014-2023 (USD MILLION) 57About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact usMarket Research FutureMaharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@Marketresearchfuture.Com
Americas Safety Lancet Global Market 2017: Key Players  Accriva Diagnostics, Becton, Dickinson And Company, Dynarex, Owen Mumford Ltd., Smiths Medical and More

Safety Lancet Market

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Executive SummaryMarket Research Future published new report, titled Safety Lancet Market -Research Report: Americas Forecast till 2021.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Market Synopsis of Americas Capsule endoscopy MarketAmericas Safety Lancet Market Forecast to 2021 The report firstly introduced Safety Lancet including classification, application and industry chain overview; Then we deeply analyzed Americas growth forecast indicators by the as well as the regional market conditions that including the product price, profit, utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc.In the end, the report introduced medical suction device market SWOT analysis, PEST analysis, market share analysis and competitive landscape, company profiles by analyzing the major players. It is a depth research study on Safety Lancet. We are thankful for the support and assistance from Safety Lancet. industry chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.GET FULL REPORT @Table of Contents1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope Of The Study1.2.1 Research Objectives1.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations1.3 Market Structure2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model3 Report Excerpt4 Forecast Indicators4.1 Introduction4.2 Growth Drivers4.3 Growth Barriers4.4 Growth Opportunities4.5 Macroecnomical Indicators5 Market Analysis6 Americas Safety Lancet Market, By Usage6.1 Introduction6.2 Lancets For Pediatric6.3 Lancets For Adults7 Americas Safety Lancet Market, By Gauge7.1 Introduction7.2 17/18g7.3 21g7.4 23g7.5 25g7.6 28g7.7 30g7.8 Others8 Americas Safety Lancet Market, By Penetration Depth8.1 Introduction8.2 0.8 Mm To 1.0 Mm8.3 1.1 Mm To 1.5 Mm8.4 1.6 Mm To 2.0 Mm8.5 2.1 Mm To 2.5 Mm8.6 2.5 Mm To 3.0 Mm8.7 Others9 Geographical Exploration9.1 Introduction9.2 North America9.2.1 U.S.9.2.2 Canada9.3 Latin America9.3.1 Brazil9.3.2 Columbia9.3.3 Argentina9.3.4 Rest Of Latam9.4 Mexico10 Competitive Analysis10.1 Introduction10.2 Market Share10.3 Competitive/Strategic Scenario11 Company Profiles11.1 Introduction11.2 Accriva Diagnostics11.3 Becton, Dickinson And Company11.4 Dynarex11.5 Americas Medical Market Corporation (Gmmc)11.6 Htl-Strefa, Inc11.7 Jsb Healthcare11.8 Kabe Labortechnik11.9 Med Trust11.1 Medical Plastic Devices Inc.11.12 Medicore11.13 Medipurpose Private Limited11.14 Medline Industries, Inc.11.15 Ningbo Medsun Medical Co., Ltd.11.16 Nipro Diagnostics, Inc.11.17 Owen Mumford Ltd.11.18 Prima Lab Sa11.19 Smiths Medical11.20 Xuzhou Kejian Hi-Tech Co.,Ltd.12 Appendix12.1 Discussion Blue Print12.2 Industry Expert Quotes12.3 Bibliography...CONTINUEDAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com
Letters to the Editor: Election deniers and threats to democracy

Also: Really think about the future of short-term rental policy
FCAN Chairman Gauchan shot dead in Kathmandu

Two unknown assailants shot and killed construction businessman Sharad Kumar Gauchan near Om Shanti Chowk at Shantinagar in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu on Monday afternoon.
Emily Sablehaus in Nelson, B.C.

The Baron dropping into Rossland, B.C.

Sarah Sturm in Rossland, B.C.

After you climb 6000 feet and race your ass off, beer is a recovery drink.

Dylan Stucki in Rossland, B.C.

Sarah Rawley looks forward to returning for her third Trans BC to race, write, and keep fresh updates rolling out daily.

When she's not organizing mind-bending logistics, Rose is shredding trails and jumping into a stage or two in her own events.

Mark your calendar for October 13  the sold-out phenomena of BC Singletrack Society events is about to strike again for the Trans BC Enduro, July 9-14, 2018. Registration opens next Friday at 9 a.m. PST at www.transbcenduro.com If you own every KOM/QOM on your local trails, find yourself daydreaming about loam and steep chutes, and run a minimum 1000g tire front and rear, then youll find yourself in good company for six days of premier enduro racing in British Columbia.The all-inclusive event is the only enduro stage race in the world that includes full hotel accommodations instead of camping. At CAN $2380 (USD $1900) plus TAX, this remains the cheapest enduro stage race but sparing no expense at all.Whats included? Seven nights of accommodations, three meals per day, airport transfers, daily shuttles/transport, event jersey, and most importantly, unlimited beer!The Trans BC Enduro is run by BC Singletrack Society, a non-profit organization, that diverts revenue directly into trail building and maintenance. Over the past four years, founder and race director Megan Rose has donated over $60,000 to the local trails and mountain bike clubs in conjunction with her events. Every person who registers for the Trans BC becomes a member of the society and in turn is a trail steward for the trails they race on.Moving forward BC Singletrack Society is looking to double their donations to the local mountain bike clubs from what we have over the past few years, Rose said. We understand the importance of supporting those that build and maintain the trails in each local community. This will bring our total to over $16,000+ in funds that the society will be giving back to the trail maintenance and trail projects in the communities we use for 2018.The event is heading back to its roots in Nelson and Rossland, B.C. where Rose has been scouring Interior B.C. for years to weave together a cocktail of full throttle trails. She continually refines her collection of classic descents, secret gems, and new additions. The most recent scout trip this fall unveiled trails to revamp or reopen in a useable condition for the race and the local community.Megan is notorious for always having something up her sleeve for the racers, said Nate Corrigan, the multi-tool for the Trans BC Enduro. Dont be surprised if a heli is involved in getting to the top of a peak next year.With only one move on the schedule (as opposed to three), there will be more time to socialize, drink beer, and get your bike ready for the next day. Bike mechanics, massage therapists, and physios will also be on-site to provide additional services to make all racers feel like pampered pros.The Yeti Trans NZ presented by Shimano slotted for February 25  March 1 sold out in a matter of hours. New Zealand is becoming a part of every mountain bikers bucket list, Rose said. The kiwi vibe and relaxed chilled atmosphere of shell be alright mate attitude is all a part of the experience.Like the Trans BC Enduro, the Yeti Tranz NZ donates over $6000 to local mountain bike clubs and land management.A special thanks to Kazoom Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism , and Trail Airport . For more information email megan@ridingbc.com or visit www.transbcenduro.com ABOUT MEGAN ROSE  Megan has been riding and racing bikes all over the world for 13 years and organizing bike events for the past nine years. She splits her time between British Columbia, Canada and New Zealand, running Trans BC 6 Day Enduro, and running the Trans NZ 5 Day Enduro race. Over the past five years, Megan has personally raced in over 40 enduro races, timed over 60 days worth of enduro races, and organized 30+ enduro races. Megan and her team look forward to bringing you the best of the best from all of these perspectives.
Enduro rider and Current Irish Champion, Kelan Grant took a comfortable win, cruising to victory having done the hard work early on in the climb from the opening field to the top of the main downhill.

Everyone wants to get off the line first, I picked my lines carefully and made it through the carnage in one piece. I stayed focused, ripping down the mountain and cruised on from there. It was insane!  Irish Champion, Kelan Grant

Kelan Grant from Omagh was King of the Mountain at the weekend after capturing his first win at the Red Bull Foxhunt 2017 in Rostrevor, Co Down.Tricky riding conditions and a greasy track made for one of the most memorable mass start downhill races in Europe as a pack of 450 red-backed riders (the hounds) tore down Slieve Martin in the Mourne Mountains in a bid to outrun three foxes - two-time Downhill World Champion Gee Atherton, current World Champion Loic Bruni and last years winner, Colin Ross.Keelan, aged 24 from Omagh, Co Tyrone, was first past the post after a three-and-a-half-mile hair-raising sprint down windswept moorland and treacherous forest trail. Riders from Australia, Poland, France, Denmark and Spain joined a record pack of Irish and British male and female riders. Second place this year went once again to James MacFerran from Newcastle and Conor Bate from Maghera scooped third position.A bugle signalled an 8-second start for the three foxes to descend down after the pack on an adrenaline-powered course combining sections of existing track with additional mountain and multi-terrain sections culminating in a sprint to the finishing line in Kilbroney Park. Hundreds of spectators cheered the hounds on as they crossed over the finish line. Red Bull Foxhunt started in Ireland in 2011 and this year will be held in several countries throughout the world including Wales and Denmark. Last held in Rostrevor in 2016, first place went to Colin Ross.
Sunday Briefing: Viktor Blom Wins PokerStars Sunday Grand PLO

October 09, 2017 Matthew Pitt Editor

Viktor Isildur1 Blom may be better known for his high stakes cash game exploits, but the Swedish sensation continued to prove that he knows his way around a poker tournament by taking down one of the toughest tournaments found online.

Blom was one of 149 entrants in the $1,050 Sunday Grand PLO tournament at PokerStars on Oct. 8, a six-max event that saw $149,000 paid out to the top 19 finishers. Greeces MITS 304 was the unfortunate bubble boy and his exit cleared the way for the likes of Jason jakoon1985 Koon, Joao IneedMassari Simao, Alex Ahhh Is It? Lindoff and Brian brianm15 England to make it into the money, the latter falling in seventh place to narrowly miss out on a final table spot.

Brazils Yuri theNERDguy Martins was the first casualty of the official final table and he was followed to the rail by Canadas ruthless848, Russias Vladimir vovtroy Troyanovskiy and then Macao-based Australian Martin nizmo jiz Kozlov.

Heads-up saw YOUYOU777 of Lebanon take on Blom and it was the hyper-aggressive Swede who eventually emerged victorious to get his hands on the $30,199 first place prize, resigning his final opponent to the $22,542 runner-up prize.

$1,050 Sunday Grand PLO Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Viktor Isi8ldur1 Blom Sweden $30,199 2 YOUYOU777 Lebanon $22,524 3 Martin nizmo jiz Kozlov Macao $16,826 4 Vladimir vovtroy Troyanovskiy Russia $12,559 5 ruthless848 Canada $9,375 6 Yuri theNERDguy Martins Brazil $6,998

The biggest online poker tournament cash of the weekend went to Finlands Kesjan courtesy of him taking down the $215 Sunday Million. The Finn outlasted 5,831 opponents to secure a $157,485 payout while his heads-up opponent, enigma2018, banked $110,514 for finishing second.

Some of the other notable victories at PokerStars this weekend included:

Tournament Winner Prize $700 Super-Sized Sunday Laurynas LaurisL91 Levinskas $66,801* $215 Sunday Warm-Up SENSIMIL1 $43,357 $1,050 Sunday Grand NLHE Brian brianm15 England $43,234 $215 Sunday Supersonic soufian-070 $34,597 $215 Bounty Builder Diego Mr.Bittar Bittar $28,392* $109 Bounty Builder gronnegronn $25,106* $109 Sunday Cooldown Bjorn kleath Kleathersson $21,033 Big $215 BuddyAces2 $17,963 Hot $215 RhoNin9 $16,909 Hot $109 Daniel ShippityShip Nielson $16,309 $109 Sunday Kickoff misi814 $14,446 Hot $162 KNLv $14,412 Big $109 Rodrigo Terao90 Terao $12,485 $109 Sunday Wrap-Up brianjk $7,466 $109 Bubble Rush ProBelgian $7,363 Hot $162 allin62760 $6,945 $109 Sunday Starter Durrden $5,860 Big $162 Alexander Schildy1984 Debus $4,959

*Includes bounty payouts

Over to 888poker where Irelands callylally walked away with the $26,819 first place prize in the $100,000 Baby Whale. The tournament attracted 293 players who all paid $320 to create a $138,600 prize pool. The United Kingdom had four players at the final table, including the UK-based German star Dominik 888Dominik Nitsche who finished fifth for $7,900.

This victory comes almost exactly a month after "callylally" reached the final table of the $100,000 Mega Deep. On that occasion, the Irish grinder busted in fifth place for a $5,880 score.

Check out these other 888poker victories from Oct. 8:

Tournament Winner Prize $100,000 Mega Deep Streusalz $19,731 $60,000 Sunday Challenge SkallePer58 $12,361 $40,000 Turbo Mega Deep Ti0373 $8,700 $30,000 Sunday Crocodile NEONTIGER $6,450 $20,000 Sunday Lightning 6-Max Matas SeRG3nT Cimbolas $6,168 $20,000 Sunday Tornado MechaREcorta $4,600

Over at partypoker, the $215 Title Fight, which recently saw its guarantee doubled to $500,000, missed the guarantee by almost $55,000, and Dimitri Gringenkov Gringenkov took full advantage of the added cash. Gringenkov, who hails from Brazil, usually plays mid-stakes tournaments but took a shot at the Title Fight and what a decision that was. After almost 13 hours of play, Gringenkov got his hands on the $83,500 first place prize, with Alien_Army collecting $58,850 for his runner-up finish.

$215 Title Fight Final Table Results

Place Player Prize* 1 Dimitri Gringenkov Gringenkov $83,500 2 Alien_Army $58,850 3 barrm111 $38,000 4 josef_shvejk $25,250 5 Rez-P12 $17,725 6 P0L4R1C3 $12,200 7 Stuey987 $8,380 8 k23Temujin $5,375

Some of the other big wins at partypoker included:

Tournament Winner Prize $100K Gtd Super High Roller Stikeeez $51,725 $150K Gtd High Roller RingelStink $34,190 $150K Gtd Main Event Derek Dumpster $31,452 $100K Gtd High Roller madridgalaxy $29,877 $100K Gtd Title Fight Warm Up mateee $29,452 $50K Gtd Weigh-In needplacebo1 $11,088 $40K Gtd Drago BogdanCapitan $8,972 $30K Gtd Title Fight II Ractigons7 $8,188 $30K Gtd Main Event II josef_Shvejk $6,248 $25K Gtd Clubber MommyTosier $4,715

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The 2017 PMU.fr WPT DeepStacks Marrakech MAD 13,200 (1,200) Main Event has crowned a champion in the biggest field of the tournament series outside of American soil. Ultimately, a field of 433 entries created a prize pool of MAD 4,949,600 (approximately 445,177) and it was Smain Mamouni who emerged victorious well after midnight local time.

Mamouni started the day in the top spot before experiencing a roller coaster day and the Frenchman defeated Pablo Redrado in heads-up. While the Spaniard started the duel for the title and first-place payout of MAD 1,000,000 first-place payout and WPT DeepStacks trophy with a slight lead, it only took Mamouni half an hour to not only turn things around but accumulate all chips.

Speaking after his victory, Mamouni said he was feeling very proud of his play today.

"I didn't make a lot of mistakes today. I lost a big pot with pocket Kings against pocket Aces, but I was not afraid of coming back in the tournament.

"I have a lot of experience, so when I was very short stacked I wasn't afraid.

Mamouni said that the atmosphere surrounding the Casino de Marrakech really added to his deep run.

"When you play in Marrakech there's a lot of fun, it's not like other tournaments where nobody is talking with eachother. In Marrakech it's something better, something good. I've played maybe 5-10 WPT tournaments, and obviously this was a really good one."

Place Winner Country Prize (in MAD) Prize (in USD) 1 Smain Mamouni France 1,000,000 105,000 2 Pablo Redrado Spain 700,000 73,500 3 Daniel C Spain 450,000 47,250 4 Anas Belatik France 320,000 33,600 5 Anthony Cruz France 245,000 25,725 6 Julien Lemonnier France 200,000 21,000 7 Louis Linard France 163,000 17,115 8 Damien Lhommeau France 132,000 13,860

Action of the Final Day

With several short stacks among the 16 finalists, it was just a matter of time for the action to kick off and Fernando Pons, who started the day at the bottom of the counts, would be the first to join the rail. The 2016 November Niner moved in from under the gun with king-nine off suit and Daniel C from Spain snap-called out of the big blind with pocket kings. "I am dead, he has kings," Pons immediately said to his rail and he indeed had no shot at winning the hand anymore after the turn already.

Next to fall wa Jean-Jacques Chantalat over on the main feature table. He put his hopes on king-eight and shoved the river of a king-high board only to see Pablo Redrado snap-call with pocket kings to reveal a turned full house. Argentina's Pedro Cairat was left short with very few big blinds and managed to double up once before his three-bet shove with ace-jack came at the wrong time. Redrado quickly called with ace-king suited and there was no help on a queen-high board.

By the time the first break of the day had come, there were just 10 players remaining as another three players bowed out in quick succession. Ludovic Moryousef, who finished 9th in the MAD 20,000 High Roller a few days ago, had to settle for 13th place this time. Moryousef got it in ahead with ace-four against the king-queen of Anthony Cruz, but a queen on the flop spelled the end for Moryousef. Marek Grabsi lost a flip with pocket fives versus ace-nine and Spanish casino regular Javier "Tsunamy" failed to get there with ace-five suited against the ace-king of Anas Belatik.

Cedric D flopped trips sixes in a three-way hand with six-seven off suit and got it in after the river, while Daniel C called with seven-eight suited for a turned straight to reduce the field to the last nine hopefuls and set up the following unofficial final table.

Seat Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Pablo R Spain 2,550,000 85 2 Louis Linard France 1,695,000 57 3 Damien Lhommeau France 260,000 9 4 Daniel C Spain 2,125,000 71 5 Elizabeth Tedder United States 495,000 17 6 Anthony Cruz France 1,385,000 46 7 Smain Mamouni France 1,570,000 52 8 Anas Belatik France 2,495,000 83 9 Julien Lemonnier France 415,000 14

Elizabeth Tedder, last woman standing, started well into the final table and immediately boosted her stack. However, the American who made the trip over to sunny Morocco from Oregon, would become the first casualty of the final table. Tedder's shove with ace-eight on the button was called by Anthony Cruz in the small blind with pocket queens and there was just one eight on the board, failing to improve Tedder.

A mere ten minutes later it was game over for former PMU.fr Team Pro and current online qualifier for this event, Damien Lhommeau. The Frenchman was all in and at risk with the jack-ten suited and picked up a call by Daniel C before Anas Belatik three-bet to isolate succcessfully. Belatik turned over pocket queens and a queen-ten high flop wioth two spades provided a big sweat for both players. A spead indeed appeared there on the river, but the five also paired the board to eliminate Lhommeau in 8th place.

After coming into the Day 2nd in chips, Louis Linard had to settle for 7th place, the same position he also held in the MAD 20,000 High Roller a few days ago. After halving his stack he just called with ace-ten against a raise by Anas Belatik. Linard check-called a continuation bet and turned a pair of tens before check-calling the shove with second pair. Belatik turned over king-ten for top two pair and jumped into the lead.

The second PMU.fr online qualifier, Julien Lemonnier, had to settle for 6th place after. As far shortest stack he got it in with pocket sevens and Smain Mamouni called with ace-jack to find a jack on the flop. More than two hours passed without elimination before Anthony Cruz then lost a flip with queen-jack versus pocket nines. Daniel C flopped middle set and turned a full house to eliminate the Frenchman.

Down to four players there were two players from Spain and France left. Smain Mamouni shot to the top of the leader board before a failed bluff attempt with king-queen high cost him almost all of his chips. With some fortune, Mamouni got back up and doubled twice, one of which was against Anas Belatik. All of a sudden he found pocket kings and was again reduced to dust as Pablo Redrado picked up pocket aces for a massive double.

Anas Belatik then bowed out in 4th place. Second in chips at the time, Belatik limp-shoved with ace-queen and Pablo Redrado called for half of his stack with pocket fives. The first card on the flop was a five, followed by two aces, two blanks later the Spanish rail was able to celebrate.

Smain Mamouni was the short stack with three players remaining and doubled through Daniel C, leaving the Spaniard with just three big blinds. One double up later Daniel C jammed with king-seven once more and this time Pablo Redrado's ace-eight dealt the final blow. While Redrado entered heads-up with a slight lead, he lost two massive pots against Smain Mamouni - two pair versus superior two pair and a turned second pair with sercond nut flush draw versus flopped flush - and was down one to four in chips. In the final hand Redrado limp-shoved the ace-eight suited and Mamouni called with queen-jack suited, also of diamonds. A queen on the turn improved the Frenchman and his rail stormed to the feature table to celebrate.

Mamouni receives not only a cool Million Moroccan Dirhams for his efforts, but also a 2,000 package for the upcoming WPT DeepStacks Final in Berlin in January. The tournament has a buy-in of 1,500 and features a guaranteed prize pool of 500,000, furthermore the first televised WPT Main Event in Europe in five years will be part of the schedule also.

The WPT DeepStacks series heads to the Holland Casino in Valkenberg next in just a few days from now, from October 12th to 15th 2017. This marks the end of the PokerNews live reporting here from the beautiful Casino de Marrakech and a busy time at the World Series of Poker Circuit and World Series of Poker Europe at the King's Casino in Rozvadov lies ahead.
Ablation Devices Market

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The Global Ablation Devices Market was valued at US$ 3,330.0 million in 2016 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period (20172025), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Growing popularity of minimally invasive surgical procedures is expected to be the major factor driving growth of the global ablation devices market over the foreseeable future.Arrhythmia is a common type of cardiovascular disorder that affects a large population worldwide. states that atrial fibrillation is a growing serious health disorder that had affected 33.5 million people worldwide, which accounts 0.5% of total population share, in 2013. With the help of ablation devices, a large number of people suffering from these alarming diseases are now able to receive proper treatments.Request for sample copy of Ablation Devices Market: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/464 Ablation devices are also used for the treatment of tumorigenic diseases such as cancer and several other serious diseases including neurological and small brain tumors. These devices are experiencing significant demand in the current healthcare scenario due to their efficacy and ease of use. Ablation offers numerous advantages over conventional surgery, in terms of increased safety, decreased scarring, and faster recovery. According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 5.8 million reconstructive minimally invasive surgeries were performed in 2013.According to a research article published in the Heart Rhythm Journal in 2014, catheter ablation is suggested to be a safe, beneficial, and effective technique in maintaining sinus rhythm. Also, the catheter ablation possess lower mortality and stroke risks in adult patients as compared to the regular surgical procedures. Catheter ablation devices play a major role not only serving the geriatric patients but also younger patients, who can resume their everyday chores within a very less span of time after the surgery, as ablation takes minimal recovery duration. Moreover, number of types and techniques through which ablation is performed, also provide a wide array of choices to the patients and healthcare practitioners to choose a suitable type. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Atrial Fibrillation in 2015, states that cryoablation technique is better suited to treat atrio-ventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT) than radiofrequency ablation, as chances of permanent AV block are very less in cryoablation than that in radiofrequency. Doctors from Seattle Childrens suggest laser ablation for the treatment of epilepsy and brain tumors even in young children, as old as 2 years, due to the safety and precision offered by it. Thus, the demand for ablation devices is expected to witness dramatic growth in the near future, creating lucrative opportunities for the market players to grab more sales with the introduction of cost-efficient and innovative devices.Get Discount on this report : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/464 Key Takeaways of the Ablation Devices Market:The global ablation devices market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period (20162025), as there exists a huge potential market, especially in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and AfricaRobust developments in surgical procedures and adoption of minimally invasive surgical procedures are expected to drive the global ablation devices market.Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmia, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, AV node cancer as well as Brain Tumors, and Pancreatic & Kidney tumors are the major therapeutic applications, where various types of ablation can be performed and remain as potential application areas in the global ablation devices market.Some of the major players involved in the global ablation devices market includes, Arthrex, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic Plc, Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Inc., Halyard Health, Abbott Laboratories, EDAP TMS S.A., AtriCure, Inc., and Smith & Nephew.
Autoclave Equipment Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-09 09:29:51

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Sterilization devices are of a significant value as they ensure the absolute destruction and elimination of all forms of microbes. Autoclave is a majorly used sterilization device as it uses high temperature steam to sterilize a variety of solids and liquids. It is an effective, non-toxic and inexpensive method. The benefits offered were soon apparent and eventually it became an invaluable and integral part of every hospital and private clinic. Autoclaves are built to operate at high temperature range of 121-1450C, which enables steam to infiltrate materials and effectively decontaminate it. Autoclaves provide a number of display features for cycle documentation. These displays work in tandem with one another to specify how temperatures change based on treatment times. Autoclave equipment provides a benefit of exhaust fan features that function to dry decontaminated materials and evaporate moisture. These benefits of autoclaves are likely to drive the global autoclave market during the forecast period. Research and development laboratories, pharmaceuticals & healthcare, tattooing & body piercing, veterinary science, rubber vulcanization in chemical industry are some of the common application areas.Request For Sample Copy@Low capital Investment, high returns leads to the growth of Autoclave Equipment Market: One of the prominent factor driving the autoclave equipment market is the increase in the number of surgeries and endoscopic procedures. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in U.S. as of 2015 states that 46.5 million surgeries and 5 million endoscopies are performed every year which require sterilization of the devices post-surgery. The Autoclave Equipment Market has witnessed growth over the years as it require low capital investment for installation, and is more efficient than other sterilizing equipment. The World Health Organization states that 7 out of 100 hospitalized patients acquire hospital acquired infection at any given time and one third of the ICU patients acquire hospital acquired infections (HAIs) due to the presence of a non-sterile environment in 2011. The Journal of the Royal Society Interface stated that more than 44 million cases of infectious diseases were reported globally between 1980- 2013. The global rise in the number of hospital-acquired infections and diseases, huge surge in surgical procedures has resulted in stringent safety regulations, leading to an increase in the demand for sterilization equipment in healthcare facilities. Positive Pressure Displacement Autoclaves equipment is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period Autoclave equipment market is segmented on the basis of function, product type and sterilization technique: On the basis of their functions, Positive Pressure Displacement Autoclaves (PPDA),Negative Pressure Displacement Autoclaves (NPDA),Downward Displacement Autoclaves (DDA),Triple Vacuum Autoclaves (TVA) On the basis of product type, Table Top,Vertical,Horizontal,Floor Standing,High pressure On the basis of sterilization technique, Dry Heat,Steam Heated Chemical Vapor Chemical,Radiation,Glass bead Sterilizers On the basis of end user, Hospitals,Clinical Laboratories,Drug Manufacturing facilities,Others Technological advancement in autoclave equipment could be a dominating trend in near future: With the advancement in technology, the improvised version of autoclaves introduced in the markets are smarter and flexible to function with minimum human input. They reduce functioning complexities and allow accurate monitoring. The autoclaves can be easily synced with the devices and instruments. This improved connectivity enables easy monitoring of equipment. Regional Segmentation and Statistics based on the growth of global steam autoclave market: Regional segmentation of the autoclave equipment market by Coherent market Insights comprises North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Slowest market growth was observed in Europe due to the economic instabilities in certain countries. The growth of the chemical sector in Eastern Europe is a major source of demand of autoclaves. According to the World Health Organization, 180,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in Nigeria in 2015, which has led to the emergence of largest and most promising markets in Nigeria. The boost in South African autoclave market is due to 78% increase in research laboratories. The demand for autoclaves over the next five years is due to the increase in the number of medical and healthcare facilities in other West African countries. Adoption of various sterilization technique to develop autoclave equipment by Danaher can boost the company revenue The leading players of autoclave equipment market industry include Danaher, PerkinElmer, Tecan Group and Thermo Fisher. Other prominent vendors in the autoclave equipment market are: Siemens Healthcare, Abbott Diagnostics, Agilent Technologies, Aurora Biomed, Becton,bioMerieux, Biotek Instruments, Eppendorf, Brooks Automation, CernerHamilton Storage Technologies, LabVantage Solutions, Labware, Olympus, Qiagen.Ask For the Discount@About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.
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Increasing digitization is propelling deployment of Electronic Medical Records across the global healthcare sector.

Electronic Medical Records Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-09 13:13:33

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The Global Electronic Medical Records Market was valued at US$ 21,444.4 million in 2015 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period (20162024),as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.Increasing digitization is propelling deployment of EMR across the global healthcare sector.Healthcare delivery is expected to undergo a drastic transformation through integration of information technology and healthcare services. The market is presenting new growth avenues for healthcare companies as well as major IT companies such as Apple and Microsoft. These companies are working in close coordination with healthcare service providers, understanding the various nitty-gritties of processes and problems and accordingly developing integrated solutions. Besides, emergence of health monitoring devices and applications and rising awareness among the populace about the ease of use and various benefits of such services led to increases demand for digital solutions to track health parameters and securely access personal medical records. Moreover, the advent of on-cloud EMR solutions further provides significant growth traction for the electronic medical records market.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/196 There are plethora of electronic medical record solutions available in the market, which makes the market highly competitive diverse scale of operations and unique requirements of users. However, the market provides highly lucrative growth opportunities, given the increasing inclination of various governments towards encouraging deployment of EMR in hospitals and private clinics. For instance, the Dubai government, has installed EMR system, Salama, across the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) network of health facilities. The government will be rolling out its MER system across the DHA network in three phases through 2017.Furthermore, facilities already using EMR systems are upgrading to improve healthcare delivery. Catholic Health Services (CHS) and University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) achieved Stage 6 recognition (almost fully automated/paperless medical records) by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics on their Outpatient EMR adoption model of HIMSS Analytics. Deployment of new EMR systems and upgrading of systems would be significantly contributing towards growth of the global electronic medical records market.At the same time, industry experts opine to have a defined legal framework for EMRs to avoid unnecessary legal issues. Emerging economies such as India, Brazil, Turkey, China, and Indonesia need to devise a framework for the use of EMR systems in their respective countries. In India, there are no defined legal framework in place to govern EMR and EHR systems, with preexisting IT laws applied to these systems. Cyber Laws, Indian Information Technology Act laws and compliances concerning health and medical industry are various governing laws posing a major challenge to smooth operations of present EMR systems. Healthcare facilities in India, using EMR systems, are facing challenges in complying with these laws and thus, are at risk of being faced with legal issues. Having a proper legal framework is essential in the growth path of electronic medical records market.Get Discount For First Time Buyers@ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/196 Key takeaways of the market:The global electronic medical records market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period (20162024) as there exists a huge demand especially in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa marketsCloud-based solutions are expected to fuel the global electronic medical records market growth exponentially during the forecast period. Chain of hospitals and diagnostic laboratories who can afford cloud-based EMR systems find it very beneficial for their patients.Hospitals are the major end users of EMR systems as these organizations deal with a huge patient database and have high demand among their patients to access their medical recordsThe demand for EMR is growing in ambulatory/outpatient services, which is expected to fuel the growth of this market in near futureHigh healthcare spending and rapid digitization has supported the North America and European regions to dominate this market. However, increasing funding in emerging regions driving better healthcare infrastructure would drive substantial demand in Asia Pacific and Latin America during the forecast period.Some of the major players involved in global electronic medical records market include Cerner Corporation, Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc., McKesson Corporation, Quadramed Corporation, Medical Information Technology Inc., Sage Software Healthcare Inc., Greenway Health, LLC, NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC, Epic Systems Corporation, and GE Healthcare.
Global Digital Radiography Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-09 15:54:49

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The Global Digital Radiography Market was valued at US$ 7,538.8 million in 2015 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period (20162024), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Increase in demand for high quality imaging in the healthcare sector is projected to favor the market for digital radiography market in the near future.The healthcare sector has witnessed advancements under clinical practices such as introduction of novel digital detector technologies and radiographic techniques. There are various technical factors that are responsible for adoption of new radiography techniques. Differences between the older analogical technique and digital technique do not stop at just high image quality associated with the latter, but also the lower exposure time and strength of the X-ray on the patient. Digital radiography allows for over- exposure that produces better quality images. The steady growth in global economy and the rise in healthcare awareness are propelling the medical devices industry to achieve significant growth in terms of revenue, which in turn is projected to support the digital radiography market over the forecast period. Also, various new acquisitions and investments along with novel product launches are expected to favor growth of the digital x-ray market in the near future. In 2015, Konica Minolta  a primary imaging solution company  introduced a new radiography solution named AeroDR XE  this is expected to provide a lower weight version to deliver Primary Imaging at the point-of-care.Request For Sample Copy:Due to significant shifts in the delivery of care, reimbursement scenario and health system management and other healthcare organizations strategies are expected to favor growth of the digital radiography market. The digital radiography technique is now extending into non-clinical areas of non-destructive testing. However, there are few factors such as requirement of skilled and trained radiologists for operating novel techniques and the change in work patterns of the machine that can hinder market growth over the forecast period. Although, the global market has been struck by the moderate economic meltdown, the market for medical devices is experiencing constant growth. Furthermore, primary factors such as modernization and technical advancements are projected to favor growth of the digital radiography market over the forecast period.The market for digital radiography is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period. Since digital radiography plays an important role in providing vital imaging services in the healthcare sector, varying with different requirement of variations in the type of patient site. The rise in number of road accidents and casualties are favoring growth in demand for digital x-rays in the radiography market. Also, the need for specific treatment and rise in awareness among the population regarding various healthcare techniques are propelling demand for better quality results, which in turn is expected to favor the radiography market in the near future. Furthermore, the rise in population of elderly population around the globe is expected to positively favor the digital radiography market, as they are more prone to injuries and are highly susceptible to skeletal disorders. According to National Institute on Aging, in 2016, around 8.5% of the population was above the age of 65, which creates a highly conducive environment for growth of the digital x-ray market.Key takeaways of the market:The global digital radiography market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period (20162024). The modest growth rate of the market is attributed to steadily growing adoption of digital radiography systems.Adoption of digital radiography systems is expected to be more rapid in the emerging nations such as India, China, Brazil, Israel, and IndonesiaConvenience in imaging would be a major driving factor for mobile digital radiography systems with rapid adoption projected in emerging nationsRequirement of skilled labor would be prevailing throughout the forecast period which indirectly impacts the adoption of new digital radiography systems and the growth of global digital radiography marketThe global digital radiography market is characterized by strategic research and development and advancement in the products in the imaging market with portability options and strategic collaborations of the various organizations in the radiography market.Some of the major players are 3DX-RAY, ANRITSU INFIVIS, Bosello High Technology, COMET, GE Healthcare, Mettler-Toledo International, Nikon, North Star Imaging, VJ Technologies, Fujifilm Holdings, Philips Healthcare, Shimadzu Corporation, Toshiba Medical System Corporation, Carestream Health.Get Discount On This Report;About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com
Global Erectile Dysfunction Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-09 15:46:38

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The U.S. FDA lays emphasis on regulatory clearance of companion diagnostics, in its recent draft guidance in 2016, before approving any oncology product that requires and in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) companion diagnostic device for tis safe and effective use. Therefore, drug developers and diagnostic test manufacturers need to work in close collaborations in order to avoid any regulatory bottlenecks. AstraZeneca plc struck a deal with Abbott Laboratories, Inc. in 2015 to develop a companion diagnostic test for tralokinumab, used for treating severe asthma. If successful, this would be the first companion diagnostic test developed for asthma. Moreover, AstraZeneca expects half of its drug launches to include companion diagnostic by 2020. This is a major factor implying the importance of companion diagnostics in treating chronic diseases.The Global Companion Diagnostics (CDx) Market was valued at US$ 1,614.5 million in 2015 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 12.0% during the forecast period (20162024), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.Development of multiple biomarkers and targeted drug therapy is boosting research and development collaboration among the industry players. This is expected to improve the time to market for companion diagnostic (CDx) test products.Request a sample copy of this report@Agilent technologies, Inc. announced the extended use of its CE approved Dako PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx in January 2017, in determining PD-L1 expression status in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This device helps determine the expression level of PD-L1 in both untreated and previously treated metastatic NSCLC patients with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), a first-line treatment drug for metastatic NSCLC. With this approval, patients with metastatic NSCLC and in the second-line or later treatment settings can also be identified for treatment with KEYTRUDA.Simultaneous development of a companion diagnostic test and the drug candidate has its own set of pros and cons that act as a trade-off for pharmaceutical companies. Developing companion diagnostic risks holding up of effective drug therapies, and making major investments on companion diagnostics early is a perceived risk, as many drug candidates fail to make it to the market. However, personalized medicine is the emerging therapeutic approach for cancer and other chronic therapies. Thus, developing a companion diagnostic for faster FDA approval makes it imperative for researchers to invest in the development of CDx tests.Invivoscribe Technologies Inc., has companion diagnostics development deal with Novartis AG and Astellas Pharma Inc. Invivoscribe Technologies Inc. has developed a companion diagnostic test for FLT3, a biomarker for the stratification and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This CDx is under the U.S. FDA review for its use with PKC412 (midostaurin) an investigational drug for adults with newly-diagnosed AML and who are FLT3 mutation-positive. If granted approval the LeukoStrat CDx FLT3 Mutation Assay would be the first CDx for AML.Approval of the drug and CDx test at the same time is difficult. However, the endeavor to develop effective targeted therapies at low cost and faster time to market would encourage more drug developers to conduct clinical trials with diagnostics as part of the inclusion/exclusion criteria.Key take aways of the global companion diagnostics market:The global companion diagnostics market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12% during the forecast period (20162024). Improved clinical outcomes, reduced total research cost and faster time to market are some of the major factors driving collaborations and CDx development globallyThe breast cancer application in the global companion diagnostics market was estimated to be the largest in 2015 and is expected to dominate the companion diagnostics market throughout the forecast period in terms of value. This is owing to high number of approved brands with CDx tests, driving adoption of these products in treatment of breast cancer.In terms of technology, the gene sequencing method segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.6% during the forecast period. Growth of the segment is mainly attributed to increasing focus on identification of genetic mutations that can help in precise identification of the treatment approach for cancer therapies.The global companion diagnostics market is characterized by strategic research and development collaborations among the drug and diagnostic test developers. According to the Wildwood Ventures Ltd., the number of global deal in companion diagnostics market has increased from 13 in 2007 to 66 in 2013.Some of the major players in the global companion diagnostics market include Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Danaher Corporation, GE Healthcare, Qiagen N.V., Roche Diagnostics, Biomerieux, Myriad Genetics, Inc., bioMerieux SA, and Siemens Healthcare.Get Discount On this Report@About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com
Preclinical In-vivo Imaging Market by Modality (optical imaging, nuclear imaging, micro-MRI, micro-CT, micro-ultrasound, photoacoustic, and magnetic particle imaging systems), by Reagent (optical imaging reagents, nuclear imaging reagents, MRI contrast agents, ultrasound contrast agents, and CT contrast agents), and by Region - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (20162021)

Market Data Forecast

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-09 08:20:37

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The Global Preclinical in-vivo imaging market has been estimated at USD 745 Million in 2016 and is projected to reach USD 1004.05 Million by 2021, at a CAGR of 6.15% during the forecast period from 2016 to 2021. Preclinical imaging is the visualization of living animals for research purposes, such as drug development. Imaging modalities are very crucial for researchers in observing changes, either at the organ, tissue, cell, or molecular level, responding to physiological or environmental changes. Imaging modalities that are non-invasive and in-vivo is important to study animal models longitudinally. Techniques such as high-frequency micro-ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are usually used for anatomical imaging, while optical imaging (fluorescence and bioluminescence), positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are usually used for molecular visualizations. Pre-clinical in-vivo imaging industry has experienced myriad technological advancements, changes in market due to industry consolidation, and change in government funding and support for research studies across the global over the past decade.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Global Preclinical In-vivo Imaging Market to 2021 @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/global-preclinical-in-vivo-imaging-market-582/ Globally, factors such as technological advancements in molecular imaging modalities, growing acceptance of preclinical imaging as a legitimate drug development tool, are fueling the demand of preclinical imaging systems and reagents. Declining NIH budgets for medical science research studies and high implementation cost of sophisticated preclinical imaging systems are restricting the growth of the global preclinical imaging market.Global market for Preclinical In-vivo Imaging is segmented based on Modality and Reagents. Based on modality, the global preclinical imaging market is divided into seven major segments, namely, optical imaging, nuclear imaging, micro-MRI, micro-CT, micro-ultrasound, photoacoustic, and magnetic particle imaging systems. The preclinical optical imaging systems market includes bioluminescence/fluorescence imaging systems, standalone fluorescence imaging systems, optical + X-ray/optical + CT imaging systems. The preclinical nuclear imaging systems market comprises micro-PET systems (standalone PET, PET/CT, and PET/MRI), micro-SPECT systems (standalone SPECT, SPECT/CT, and SPECT/MRI), and tri-modality (PET/SPECT/CT) imaging systems. Bases on the reagents, the global preclinical imaging market is divided into five segments, namely, optical imaging reagents, nuclear imaging reagents, MRI contrast agents, ultrasound contrast agents, and CT contrast agents. The optical imaging reagents market is further sub-segmented as bioluminescent and fluorescent imaging reagents. Likewise, the nuclear imaging reagents market is divided as preclinical PET tracers and SPECT probes.Free sample of the report is available @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/global-preclinical-in-vivo-imaging-market-582/request-sample Global Preclinical In-vivo Imaging Market Geographical Analysis North America Europe Asia-Pacific Latin America Middle East & AfricaNorth America holds the largest share of the global preclinical imaging market, followed by Europe. Factors including rising R&D activities by big pharma and biotech companies in developing nations and increased government funding for development of pharmaceutical industry are stimulating the growth of the preclinical imaging market in the Asia-Pacific region.Global Preclinical In-vivo Imaging Market Leaders' Analysis Aspect Imaging Biospace Lab S.A. Bruker Corporation LI-COR Biosciences Mediso Ltd. MILabs B.V. MR Solutions Ltd PerkinElmer TriFoil Imaging FUJIFILM VisualSonics, Inc.Inquire before buying @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/global-preclinical-in-vivo-imaging-market-582/inquire About Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.Contact:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail:abhishek@ marketdataforecast.com Visit MarketDataForecast Blog @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/blog/ View latest Press Releases of MDF @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/press-releases
Latin America OTC Orthopedic Braces Market By Product, By Indication And By Region-Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, And Forecasts 2016 to 2021

Latin America OTC Orthopedic Braces Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-09 08:20:10

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The Latin America OTC Orthopedic Braces Market is estimated to be growing from 84 million in 2016 at a CAGR of 4.3%, to reach USD 103 million by 2021. The market is showing high growth potential in the mentioned period and is also expected to grow I the future years with the recent developments in medical sector.Browse more details @ http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-otc-orthopedic-braces-market-3261/ Orthopedic braces are the medical aids which support the joints of human body. The braces are used on the knee, hip, ankle, back, neck, elbow, fingers, and wrist. Orthopedic braces check the position of limbs and trigger a particular movement in the human body. Also, the braces make up for muscles which have less strength and also correct the structural faults. Orthopedic braces assist in the detection of cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and to treat the symptoms of stroke. Braces are also used for getting more support to the joints and avoid injuries. Athletes specifically wear braces for shock absorbance and to avoid injuries.The growing population, increasing awareness about orthopaedic braces, developing research and technology in the medical sector, growing amount of bone-degenerative disorders and stabilizing economy are the factors that drive the growth of the Latin America OTC Orthopedic Braces market. However, patients preferring alternative treatment methods, uncertainty of reimbursement, below expectations efficiency of orthopedic braces and no offerings of customization for OTC orthopedic braces are the major restraining factors for Latin America OTC orthopedic brace market.The Latin America OTC Orthopedic Braces market is broadly categorized on the basis of Product into Lower Extremity Braces, Knee Braces, Foot & Ankle Braces, Upper Extremity Braces, Shoulder Braces, Elbow Braces, Wrist Braces, Back & Hip Braces and Other Braces. Based on Indication, the market is segmented into Prophylactic, Injury, Osteoarthritis (OA) and Other Indications. The prophylactic braces segment is expected to hold the largest share of the Latin America OTC orthopedic braces market in 2016 owing to increased participation in sports, studies proving the efficacy of prophylactic braces in decreasing the injuries, and increased awareness.Download Free Sample Report @ http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-otc-orthopedic-braces-market-3261/request-sample On the basis of region the Latin America market is segmented into Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. This region has many countries which are emerging economies and are undergoing a lot of development in the medical sector. Thus, the growth potential for this market is substantial during the forecast period.Some of the major competitors dominating the market are DJO Finance LLC, DeRoyal Industries Inc., Breg, Inc., Bauerfeind AG, BSN Medical, Otto Bock HealthCare, Medi GmbH & Co. KG, Thuasne Group, and 3M Company.Market Segmentation :1) Product2) IndicationInquire before buying @ http://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-otc-orthopedic-braces-market-3261/inquire Scope of the Report: Regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms of technology, component, and type along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic, economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysis for analysing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies An executive summary, abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise analysis and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketAbout us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, they cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. From all-encompassing umbrella markets to extremely specific niche markets covering all the major regions across the globe as part of the research scope, their research services offer one of a kind specialties with competitive pricing options.For more information, kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com Contact us:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail:abhishek@ marketdataforecast.com Visit Market Data Forecast Blog @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/blog/ View latest Press Releases of MDF @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/press-releases
Medical Suction Devices Market by Type, Application, Portability and by Region - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (20162021)

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-09 09:25:17

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Market Data Forecast, Inc.2nd Floor, Lakeview Plaza, Kavuri Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500033, India.+1-888-702-9626 (U.S. TOLL FREE) Contact@marketdataforecast.comSales Manager888-702-9626

The North America Medical Suction Devices market size was approximately USD 294 million in 2016. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.8% to reach USD 354.27 million by 2021. It captures 40% of the global market share making it the largest market worldwide.Doctors often require the use of suction in many surgeries. It is used for many purposes like to clear the airway of saliva, blood, vomit or other secretions for a patient to be able to breathe. Pulmonary aspiration which is very often the cause of various lung infections is also prevented by suctioning. In pulmonary hygiene, suction is utilized for preventing growth of infectious microorganisms, removing fluids from the airways and to facilitate breathing.Growing demand for compact and portable devices, paradigm shift to home healthcare from traditional healthcare settings, increasing adoption of home care are the primary drivers of growth of this market. Secondary factors include reliability, ease of use, high durability & robustness of the suction devices. This helps healthcare providers and patients to use suction devices without any assistance. Furthermore, falling prices of suction devices, augmenting geriatric population (with the rising aging population the demand for emergency care rises, which further increases the demand for handheld devices which provide instant relief to patients), growing incidences of chronic respiratory diseases, and increase in the number of surgical procedures (which have increased the utilization of suction devices that are specifically utilized during surgeries) are other factors contributing to boost market growth. Moreover, emerging markets have opened an array of opportunities for companies in the medical suction devices market.View Full Report @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-medical-suction-devices-market-3172/ In spite of that, limited reimbursement policies and the highly commoditized market are expected to inhibit the growth of this market to a certain extent during the aforementioned forecast period.The North America Medical Suction Devices market can be categorized into four categories: by Portability, by Type, by application and by end user. On the basis of portability, Medical Suction Devices market is classified into Handheld Suction Devices and Wall-Mounted Suction Devices. The non-portable category is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the aforementioned forecast period because of the rising number of surgical procedures and the high price of the devices. If we go by type, Medical Suction Devices market is segmented into Ac-Powered Devices, Battery-Powered Devices, Dual-Powered Devices and Manually Operated Devices. The electrically powered vacuum systems category commanded the largest market share in 2016. It is because of the widespread awareness and rising adoption of these devices in surgical settings. Further, on the basis of application the market can be categorized into Airway Clearing, Surgical Applications and Research and Diagnostics. Last but not the least, on the basis of end user the market is segmented into Hospitals and Clinics, Home Care, Prehospital and Other End Users.Get Free Sample Report @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-medical-suction-devices-market-3172/request-sample By geography, the North America Medical Suction Devices market has been categorized into US and Canada. It is largest market in terms of market share. US is the leading player in this region. Presence of well-established healthcare infrastructure, existence of the leading market players, and the easily attainable approval for the class I devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are the factors attributable to the observable trend mentioned above.Scope of the report: Global, regional and country-level analysis and forecasts of the study market; providing Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untapped Segment-level analysis in terms of technology, component, and type along with market size forecasts and estimations to detect key areas of industry growth in detail Identification of key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges (DROC) in the market and their impact on shifting market dynamics Study of the effect of exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the global market; which includes broadly demographic, economics, and political, among other macro-environmental factors presented in an extensive PESTLE Analysis Study the micro environment factors that determine the overall profitability of an Industry, using Porters five forces analysis for analysing the level of competition and business strategy development A comprehensive list of key market players along with their product portfolio, current strategic interests, key financial information, legal issues, SWOT analysis and analyst overview to study and sustain the market environment Competitive landscape analysis listing out the mergers, acquisitions, collaborations in the field along with new product launches, comparative financial studies and recent developments in the market by the major companies An executive summary, abridging the entire report in such a way that decision-making personnel can rapidly become acquainted with background information, concise analysis and main conclusions Expertly devised analyst overview along with Investment opportunities to provide both individuals and organizations a strong financial foothold in the marketInquire before buying@ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-medical-suction-devices-market-3172/inquire Major companies in the Medical Suction Devices market are Allied Healthcare Products Inc. (U.S.), ATMOS MedizinTechnik GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Drive Medical (U.S.), INTEGRA Biosciences (Switzerland), Medela Holding AG (Switzerland), Medicop (Slovenia), Precision Medical, Inc. (U.S.), SSCOR, Inc. (U.S.), ZOLL Medical Corporation (U.S.), Weinmann Gerate fur Medizin GmbH + Co. KG (Germany), Laerdal Medical (Norway), MG Electric Ltd (Colchester), Labconco Corporation (U.S.), Welch Vacuum (U.S.), Amsino International Inc. (U.S.) and Olympus Corporation (Japan).About Market Data Forecast:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, they cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. From all-encompassing umbrella markets to extremely specific niche markets covering all the major regions across the globe as part of the research scope, their research services offer one of a kind specialities with competitive pricing options. For more information, kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com
SSF-N, RJP-N claim big chunk of seats to share

The alliance of the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal and the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal has demanded 57 out of the 165 federal parliamentary positions, making seat-sharing difficult in the six-party democratic alliance spearheaded by the Nepali Congress.
Tunnel boring machine to be installed within a month

The first ever tunnel boring machine (TBM) to be used in a construction project in Nepal will be installed within a month. The TBM will be used to dig the tunnel of the the Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project.
Achyut Wagle holds PhD in economics and is currently a professor at the Kathmandu University School of Management. He is an econo-political analyst, writing for The Kathmandu Post for many years.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




NEW JAPAN'S ROCKY ROMERO AUCTIONING OFF RING WORN GEAR TO ASSIST IN PUERTO RICO DISASTER RELIEF

The following was issued to PWInsider.com this afternoon:

New Japan Pro Wrestling's Rocky Romero has created an auction to raise money for UNIDOS por Puerto Rico Disaster relief.

This costume was worn by Rocky during the final Roppongi Vice vs Young Bucks IWGP Jr. Tag Title match at the G1 Special USA Event July 2 2017. Rocky is donating 100% of the proceeds from this auction to UNIDOS Por Puerto Rico Disaster Relief Fund to support Puerto Rico. Rocky will also sign each item and personalize it however you like. He'll also send you a video message over Twitter or direct to your email. Items included: Pants, Belt, Kneepads, Kickpads and shoes

Direct link to auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/272877688922

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
As the Islamic State's territory continues to be squeezed, most notably in the Iraqi city of Mosul, primary revenue-generating streams are drying upincluding oil and gas extortion, taxation of the local populations it once controlled, and money earned from phosphate and cement plants. This will likely force the group to seek new, opportunistic revenue streams to exploit, including drug trafficking, to raise money.

One major consequence of the Arab Spring, the anti-government uprising that spread across the Middle East more than six years ago, and the geopolitical tumult that followed has been that new smuggling and trafficking routes and networks throughout the Middle East and North Africa have emerged, with criminal groups and terrorist organizations taking advantage of continued instability in key geographic hubs throughout the Mediterranean region.

Islamic State, or ISIS, fighters are cognizant of the benefits this instability affords. In Rumiyah, an online magazine the organization uses for propaganda and recruitment, ISIS stressed in May that conflict zones such as Ukraine and Syria provide ample opportunities for connections to underground criminal networks.

In September, the New York Times reported on a new drug trafficking route the Italian navy discovered that stretched from Sicily to Libya. The new route is thought to be a response to increased surveillance along the Spanish coastline and an opportunity provided by the implosion of Libya, where drugs can now be moved to Egypt and the Middle East before entering Europe through the Balkans.

An investigation conducted by Italy, other European countries and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration revealed that, at least for a time, drugs were being taken through Islamic State-controlled territory in Libya and were likely being taxed by the group, which carried out similar procedures in Iraq and Syria. Other reports have detailed a transactional relationship between ISIS militants in Libya and long-standing Italian criminal organizations, including the Calabrian Ndrangheta, which is working with the Neapolitan Camorra. There was also a report that a shipment containing 26 million tablets of the synthetic opiate Tramadol was intercepted last summer by Greek authorities. Originating in India and destined for Libya, it was bound for entities associated with the Islamic State.

An ISIS-linked group operating in North Africa, Jund al-Khilafa, has allegedly profited from providing armed protection to cocaine traffickers in North Africa, while the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that ISIS has been profiting from the trafficking of cannabis, moving it from Iraq through Syria and Turkey into Europe.

ISIS militants are not just in the business of profiting from drugs, but appear to be taking them, too.

And ISIS militants are not just in the business of profiting from drugs, but appear to be taking them, too. Many reports have suggested that terrorists are widely using captagon, nicknamed jihad pills, an amphetamine that suppresses feelings of pain, induces euphoria and allows fighters to remain awake for lengthy battles.

The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, a non-governmental organization dedicated to studying organized crime, estimates that the captagon market could be worth approximately $1.39 billion. Criminal gangs from Syria and Bulgaria and other terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, are thought to be involved with the production and sale of captagon throughout the Middle East, which could potentially bring them into contact with ISIS militants as fighters flee the collapsing caliphate.

The predecessor of ISIS, al-Qaeda in Iraq, was led by criminal-turned-jihadi Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose background included street gangs and prison time for sexual assault. Indeed, ISIS seems to attract many jihadists with a similar profile. Salah Abdesalam, the terrorist who was the main link between the Paris November 2015 attacks and the Brussels March 2016 bombings, was known for his penchant for drinking, smoking, and gambling, rather than his piety. Abdesalam frequented a bar in the gritty Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels for drug dealing and other illicit activity.

Involvement in crime, especially drug trafficking, can lead to prison, which, in some cases, serves as an incubator for religious radicalization and violent extremism. As criminals become radicalized, this potentially increases involvement in the plotting and execution of terrorist attacks.

A 2012 European Parliament report, Europe's Crime-Terror Nexus: Links Between Terrorist and Organised Crime Groups in the European Union, pointed out ( PDF ) the pervasiveness of jihadi attacks linked to criminality, including drug trafficking. A background in the criminal underworld left behind for militant Islam can play into the appeal of what has been called jihadi cool, which blends traditional notions of honor and virility, but also a strong undercurrent of oppositional, postmodern cool, journalist Simon Cottee wrote in The Atlantic.

The modus operandi ISIS has developed for funding foreign fighter travel and for financing external operations to conduct attacks in the West works particularly well with a local criminal funding model. This model fits into how ISIS conceives of extra-territorial contributions on a tactical level.

The religious stance of ISIS offers a redemptive narrative for petty criminals to carry out terrorist attacks.

Terrorist organizations other than ISIS may have less of an affinity for this model, especially those that place a high value on political coherence and central control, with funds being central to the management of more disparate elements. But for ISIS, this model works extremely well. First, ISIS has less concern than other groups about what happens outside of the caliphate. Second, the religious stance of ISIS offers a redemptive narrative for petty criminals to carry out terrorist attacks.

Many ISIS recruits, particularly those from Europe, have relied on drug trafficking as a means of generating revenue at a low level in what Swedish terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp has called micro-financing the Caliphate. Proceeds garnered from peddling narcotics affords jihadis in Europe the financial flexibility to travel back and forth to Syria as well as to save the money to help procure the resources necessary for planning a terrorist attack (such as weapons, vehicles, and cell phones).

Deepening involvement in the drug trade could also provide ISIS militants with much-needed financing to flee Iraq and Syria and pay for their return trips home. And as the caliphate collapses, captagon-fueled fighters could reinforce new fronts in the global jihad, from Western Europe to Southeast Asia.

Colin P. Clarke is a political scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and an associate fellow at the International Centre for Counter Terrorism-The Hague.

This commentary originally appeared on Fortune on July 24, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Apart from content giants such as Globo, the Brazilian production industry is showing its strength with over 40 production houses attending MIPCOM 2017.





Gathered under the Brazilian Content Pavilion, 41 small and medium-sized production companies will be at the event in Cannes from 16-19 October.According to Brazilian Content, its the largest representation of the countrys content industry at MIPCOM in recent years, and eight companies will be attending the event for the first time: Animaking, Capelini Filmes, Plateau Filmes, Pushstart, Raven, Red Studio e UP!.Even though it has been a difficult year for the industry in Brazil, the production market is expected to grow, said Rachel do Valle, executive manager, Brazilian Content . Our previous experience at MIPCOM has shown that many deals are closed following at initial lead at Cannes.Among other companies attending the event under the Brazilian Content Pavilion will be Boutique, which produces 3% for Netflix , LUVA, which was awarded at MIPJunior last year and TV Pinguim, which is currently co-producing Ping & Pong with Canadas Kondolole Films.
In what will be the channels first international drama acquisition, BBC4 will broadcast the French drama Missions in the UK.





The ten-part series will air on BBC4 in 2018 and tells the story of Swiss billionaire William Meyer and his eight-strong crew who, just one day away from reaching Mars, find they have been overtaken by an American rival mission and they will no longer be the first to land on the planet.After a chaotic landing on Mars, the team discover a survivor. But he is not from the American mission. Hes a Russian named Vladimir Komarov, who reportedly died on a mission to space in 1967.The series was created by Henri Debeurme, Julien Lacombe and Ami Cohen. Giorgia Sinicorni and Christophe Vandevelde star as a married couple on the mission, while Helene Vivies stars as mission psychiatrist Jeanne Renoir. Commenting to The Radio Times magazine , BBC4 channel editor Cassian Harrison said: After travelling the globe with our international dramas, its exciting to now head off into space to a planet as yet unexplored. Missions is a tense, taught drama at its finest and its a real honour to be showing it on BBC Four.BBC head of programme acquisition Sue Deeks added: Set against a stunning backdrop of outer space, Missions is very much a human story about a team of remarkable people brought together on the adventure of a lifetime. When things dont go to plan, a truly original and suspenseful story unfolds.
International distribution and media agency Quintus Media has secured several deals in a number of territories for its high-end factual documentaries from producers Maximus Film and Exploration Production.





Founded in 2011, the Berlin-based boutique media agencys two-core business activities focus on the international distribution, co-production and financing of high-end documentaries and docu-series and the exploitation of video content in the worldwide digital landscape.On behalf of Maximus, US based Alliant Content has acquired the 6x60 series Behind Bars: The Worlds Toughest Prisons. The series takes viewers to the worlds most notorious prisons revealing what it really means to be part of this world from various angles. The series claims to be a never-before-seen insight, which exists within the realms of law and justice but with its own definitions of right and wrong.Also for Maximus , Swedish educational broadcasting company UR has picked up the 5x60 Maximus series Constructions  The Worlds Most Spectacular Bridges and through a deal brokered by Canadian distribution company Fox Incendo. The series has also been sold to Explora for French speaking Canada. In addition, the Maximus 6x60pop science series Evil Knows makes its way to True Explore, Thailand.For multi-award winning Canadian producer Exploration Production, Quintus Media has enabled German broadcaster WeltN24 to pick up Mighty Planes Series Three and Mighty Cruise Ships Series Two.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on October 9 that it will "drastically" reduce its operations in Afghanistan following the killing of seven of its staff in attacks this year.

The ICRC has been operating for more than 30 years in Afghanistan, where it has its fourth-largest humanitarian program.

The Red Cross announcement highlights the deteriorating security situation for aid groups operating in the war-wracked country.

"Exposure to risk has become our greatest challenge and concern," Monica Zanarelli, head of the ICRC in Afghanistan, told the media in Kabul.

"We have no choice but to drastically reduce our presence in Afghanistan," she said.

Zanarelli added that the decision would particularly affect operations in the north, where facilities in Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz would be either shut down or downsized.

The ICRC was not "leaving" Afghanistan, but it was necessary to review the organization's presence to prevent more losses, Zanarelli said.

The Red Cross had already warned of the threat to its operations following a series of attacks over the past year.



According to U.S. military estimates, the Afghan government controls no more than 60 percent of the country, with the rest either controlled or contested by the Taliban and other insurgent groups.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP


BRUSSELS -- EU sources say that for the first time, the bloc is ready to welcome Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to its Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit next month.

Sources close to the matter told RFE/RL on October 9 that Belarus was invited to participate in the November 24 summit in Brussels "without restrictions" -- just like the five other EaP members: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The invitations for the event were sent to EaP countries on October 6, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Ahead of the previous four EaP summits, the EU made it clear that Lukashenka, who has ruled Belarus for 23 years and been called the "last dictator of Europe," was not welcome.

Minsk was represented by Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makei at the last Eastern Partnership summit, held in Riga in 2015.

The EU launched the Eastern Partnership in 2009 to promote economic integration and European values in the six Eastern European and South Caucasus countries.

Lukashenka, who has been president since 1994, won a fifth term in a 2015 election that was judged by Western monitors to be neither free nor fair.

The EU introduced restrictive measures against the country in 2004 in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, a businessman, and a journalist.

The European Council adopted further sanctions in the wake of the crackdown that followed the previous presidential election in December 2010.

But in February 2016, the EU lifted most sanctions against the country -- asset freezes and visa bans on 170 Belarusians, including Lukashenka and senior officials, and restrictive measures against 14 companies.

It said the sanctions were lifted "in response to the release of all Belarusian political prisoners on [August 22, 2016] and in the context of improving EU-Belarus relations."
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A court in Sarajevo on October 9 found former commander Naser Oric not guilty of war crimes during Bosnia's conflict of the 1990s. Oric and a fellow Bosnian Muslim fighter were acquitted of charges of killing three ethnic Serb prisoners of war. (RFE/RL's Balkan Service)
The leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) meet this week in Sochi as latent tension between Russia and Belarus lingers in the aftermath of the Zapad military exercises.

On this week's Power Vertical Briefing, we look ahead to what to expect at the CIS summit.

Joining me is RFE/RL's News Editor Steve Gutterman.

Also on The Briefing, Steve and I discuss why Vladimir Putin has sacked so many governors lately.

Enjoy...

NOTE: The Power Vertical Briefing is a short look ahead to the stories expected to make news in Russia in the coming week. It is hosted by Brian Whitmore, author of The Power Vertical blog, and appears on Mondays.
BRUSSELS -- European Union member states have given the European Commission and its foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini a mandate to negotiate a new political deal between the EU and Kyrgyzstan.

The new accord would replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that has underpinned political relations between the bloc and Bishkek since 1999.

A statement announcing the decision on October 9 said that the Brussels-Bishkek "partnership" is based on Kyrgyzstan's "commitment to undertake reforms to strengthen democracy, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, and to promote sustainable economic development.

The move comes a week before an October 15 presidential election in Kyrgyzstan.

The EU expects the vote to be carried out in line with [Kyrgyzstan's] international obligations and commitments in terms of holding credible, inclusive and transparent elections.

The talks are due to start shortly after the vote, EU diplomats who are not authorized to speak about the issue publicly have told RFE/RL.

Critics of Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term, accuse him of using his power to back the ruling party candidate.

The new agreement is expected to be similar to the one neighboring Kazakhstan signed with the EU in 2016.

The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) that the EU and Astana negotiated for over three years was the first new political agreement the EU concluded with a Central Asian country.

It reinforced political cooperation in 29 policy areas, including justice, the rule of law, energy, education, and research.

With reporting by RFE/RL Brussels Correspondent Rikard Jozwiak


An Iranian teenager sneaks up behind a cleric in the capital, Tehran, and knocks his turban off his head before dashing off.

The incident, uploaded on social media, is part of a new tactic employed by anti-government demonstrators in Iran.

Nationwide antiestablishment protests have raged across the Islamic republic since the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died on September 16 shortly after she was arrested for allegedly violating the hijab law on women's dress.

As the authorities have waged a deadly crackdown on the rallies, some demonstrators have turned to new tactics to sustain the monthslong protests, including tipping off Islamic clerics' turbans in the streets.

Many Iranians associate members of the clergy with Iran's Islamist regime, which many blame for the repression and corruption in the country.

While some Iranians have praised the "turban throwing" as an act of resistance, others have expressed concern that low-level clerics who are not affiliated with the state could become the victims of harassment and violence.

Lawmaker Mohammad Taghi Naqd Ali on November 10 called the new trend "the devil's conspiracy" and warned that young protesters tossing clerics' turbans were "playing with the lion's tail."

State media reported the arrests of two people in recent days who were accused of knocking off clerics' turbans.

London-based human rights lawyer Shadi Sadr said the tactic was a "brave and revolutionary act." Sadr, the co-founder of the rights group Justice for Iran, told RFE/RL that protesters were "humiliating" clerics without resorting to violence. "They're [targeting] the clergy's turban as a symbol of the crimes and corruption of the past 43 years as well as the privileges clerics have enjoyed," she said.

"There is no violence in it, and it also includes youthful mischief, which highlights the spirit of the revolution," Sadr added, referring to the monthslong protests that have posed the biggest threat to the establishment in years.

But Ahmad Zeidabadi, a Tehran-based journalist and former political prisoner, said that some of the clerics targeted in the streets "may be critics or even victims of [state] policies."

"This phenomenon...mainly targets clerics who do not hold any government positions," he said on Twitter, adding that senior clerics in powerful positions rarely appear in public and are often protected by security guards if they do.

Reformist cleric Hojatoleslam Ahmad Heidari, who was jailed in the past for his support for the opposition Green Movement, warned that the new trend could taint the "beautiful face of [the] protest movement against oppression and injustice."

"You're right to be angry at those wearing turbans," Heidari wrote on the news site Esafnews.com. But he added that "those who have a hand in power and are your target" are out of reach. He said many of the clerics targeted were "young and elderly" clerics who are not sitting in "ivory towers."

Attacks on clerics, particularly those who attempt to enforce Islamic codes in public, had been on rise in Iran even before the protests erupted, forcing many clerics to appear in public without their robes and turbans.

Last week, a cleric was reportedly hospitalized after being wounded in Karaj, near Tehran, amid antiestablishment protests in the city. The hard-line Fars news agency claimed that protesters attacked the cleric with knives.

Hassan Fereshtian, a Paris-based Iranian cleric and researcher, said the turban-throwing trend was the result of the "suppressed anger of the past four decades."

"If it aims at eliminating the clergy, we could be facing the start of violence," he warned in comments to RFE/RL's Radio Farda. "In fact, the clergy should be eliminated from the centers of power. But they shouldn't be eliminated from society."

Fereshtian, a student of the late dissident Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, expressed hope that Iran will reach a point "where secular people can live peacefully next to the clergy and unveiled women next to those who choose to wear the hijab."

In the past year, regime supporters have knocked off the turbans of clerics who had criticized the establishment, including former Interior Minister Abdollah Nuri and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karrubi, who has been under house arrest since 2011 for disputing the 2009 reelection of former President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
The president of Kosovo has accused the international community of failing to keep the promises made to the country in exchange for setting up a Netherlands-based war crimes tribunal.

Hashim Thaci said on October 9 that he agreed to lead "an unfair historical process for Kosovo despite opposition from the public, political, and civil opinion to this court, in order to protect the strategic partnership with U.S., EU, and NATO."

International officials promised to fast-track Kosovo for European Union and UNESCO membership, as well as visa liberalization and the establishment of a Kosovo military if officials in Pristina established the institution, which was inaugurated in The Hague last year.

"Kosovo has kept its word. The international community has not," he said.

The court, which has yet to process any cases, comprises 19 international judges from European Union member countries, the United States, and Canada, with jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other crimes committed under Kosovo law that are alleged to have taken place between 1998-2000.

An estimated 10,800 Kosovar Albanians and some 2,200 Serbs were either killed or disappeared in the war.

Kosovo in 2008 declared independence from Serbia and has since been recognized by more than 110 countries worldwide, although not by Serbia or Russia.

The court has had "maximal and bilateral cooperation with Serbia" but "minimal, symbolic, and unilateral" cooperation with Kosovo, Thaci said.

"Authorities in Belgrade claim they know who is to be charged and what the charges will be for Kosovo Albanians," Thaci said, adding that "the Serbs fully believe they are correctly informed no Serb will be charged."

Thaci deplored that the court was not going to consider any of the "400 massacres" or any of the more than 20,000 alleged rape cases of Albanian women by members of the Serbian forces.

With reporting by AFP and AP
BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has canceled a trip to Russia for a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit this week, citing what he said were fears of violent unrest during Kyrgyzstan's October 15 presidential election.

Atambaev's press service said on October 9 that the Kyrgyz delegation to the CIS summit in Sochi will be led by Prime Minister Sapar Isakov, as Atambaev had chosen to remain in Bishkek.

"Considering the evidence that...certain politicians are planning mass riots on election day, involving criminal elements, and also the financial support of these candidates from abroad, the president has decided to cancel his working visit in order to personally ensure order and security in the country," Atambaev's office said.

The announcement comes two days after Atambaev publicly accused neighboring Kazakhstan of meddling in the presidential campaign and of openly supporting one of the candidates, Omurbek Babanov. In the same remarks, Atambaev criticized long-ruling Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev for holding power for decades.

Nazarbaev is expected to attend the summit of the CIS, a loose grouping of 10 former Soviet republics.



Atambaev is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term.

He has faced criticism from opponents for openly backing the candidate from the ruling Social Democratic Party, his former Prime Minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov.

In September, Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security arrested a lawmaker who backs Babanov -- who is also a former prime minister -- and accused him of plotting riots and a violent coup.

With reporting by Reuters
The son-in-law of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been arrested by Pakistani anticorruption authorities in connection with corruption cases pending against him.

Cabinet minister Talal Chaudhry said that Muhammad Safdar was arrested at Islamabad airport early on October 9 upon his arrival from London.

The arrest came hours before Safdar and his wife Maryam Nawaz were to appear before an anticorruption tribunal. She was not detained and later reached the court.

Sharif himself was expected to be indicted over corruption allegations on October 9, after the anticorruption court on October 2 deferred his indictment by a week.

Sharif, his daughter, his son-in-law, and his two sons face corruption allegations after a probe into documents leaked from a Panama law firm indicated that Sharif and some of his family members had undisclosed assets abroad.

Sharif was disqualified from office in July. He denies any wrongdoing.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and business-standard.com


Hundreds of people from Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have rallied in the capital, Islamabad, calling on the federal government to implement legal and constitutional reforms in the northwestern region.

A group of FATA legislators led the October 9 rally in which participants called for the abolishment of a century-old legal code known as the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) that is still governing FATA.

They also demanded the merger of FATA with the adjacent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

Shahabuddin Khan, a tribal lawmaker from the Bajaur district, said they would continue pressuring the government until the FCR was abolished and the tribal areas were fully incorporated into the rest of Pakistan.

At the start of a two-day demonstration earlier this month, legislators from FATA set up a protest camp in front of parliament in Islamabad.

The Islamabad government has approved plans to bring FATA under current federal law rather than governing the region by the FCR, which was established under British rule. The legal code includes the practice of collective punishment, allowing government authorities to hold entire clans responsible for the crimes of individuals.

Key reforms would also include extending the jurisdiction of Pakistan's national courts, incorporating tribal law enforcement into the national security forces, and establishing parliamentary representation for the tribal areas.

However, differences among political parties and parliament deputies over the future constitutional status of FATA have blocked the process.

Some want FATA to be a separate province while others want the region to be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The seven tribal districts in FATA -- Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Mohmand, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, and Orakzai -- are home to some 5 million people, mainly ethnic Pashtuns.

The region, located along Pakistan's northwestern border with Afghanistan, has long been a stronghold for Taliban militants and other extremist groups.

With reporting by AFP
An international beef sizzled over the weekend after social media grilled a fake Russian report about a New York restaurant honoring President Vladimir Putins 65th birthday with a special hamburger.

Russian state media served up a story on October 7, Putin's birthday, claiming that Lucy's Cantina Royale in New York City had created a special five-patty burger weighing in at 1,952 grams to commemorate the year the president was born.

WATCH: RUPTLY's original report

The report, which quoted a waitress at the restaurant named Tamara, was produced by RUPTLY, a company owned by the Kremlin-backed television station RT, and broadcast on state-run Rossia-24 television.

TASS news agency published the story and also reported that a pizzeria in Washington, D.C., had created a Hot Like Putin pizza that included red peppers, meat, onions, and pickles.

State-owned Channel One also ran the story and noted that not only foreign leaders but "ordinary citizens around the world were going to "extremely original" lengths to celebrate Putin's birthday.

That's when Aleksei Kovalyov, whose website The Noodle Remover investigates the veracity of propaganda, thought "something didn't smell right.

None of the restaurant's social-media accounts showed any mention of the special, so Kovalyov called the restaurant, which is located near the Manhattan transit hub of Penn Station, to ask about the burger and was told "it has nothing to do with us.

Kovalyov then found a picture of the waitress on various casting agency websites and identified her as an aspiring actress named Tamara Ilizarova.

After receiving conflicting reports and phone conversations on whether the burger did, indeed, exist, restaurant owner Sean Ryan finally e-mailed Kovalyov with a definitive answer.

"Lucy's Cantina Royale was the subject of a hoax involving Vladimir Putin's birthday, according to the e-mail from Ryan, published on Kovalyov's website.

"Our restaurant has never celebrated Vladimir Putin's birthday in any way, shape, or form and has never offered a Putin Burger. Lucy's completely disavows the statements made in the video, which are false. The employees responsible for this hoax have been suspended pending an investigation.

Ryan also confirmed that a restaurant employee named Ted Bryan, who was quoted in the report, did not exist.

Efforts by RFE/RL to call the restaurant on October 9 were unsuccessful.

A copy of the video report on RUPTLY's YouTube channel was taken down on October 9.

"This story was deleted, because on further examination it turned out that it did not meet the editorial standards of RUPTLY. The actions, which became the central part of this report, were the personal initiative of individual employees, and not the restaurant itself, which, unfortunately, affected the accuracy of this video. We express our gratitude to our audience, which drew the attention of the agency to the inaccuracies in this story," RUPTLY said in a statement on October 9.


Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that allows foreign citizens serving in the Russian Army on a contractual basis to take part in Russian military operations abroad.

The decree on amendments to the Russian law on military service was published on October 9.

According to the amendments, foreign nationals serving in the Russian Armed Forces as contractors can be sent "to participate in Russian peacekeeping and counterterrorist operations abroad."

Putin signed a law in 2003 allowing foreign citizens to serve on a contractual basis as soldiers, sailors, and sergeants, but not officers.

Russia has been conducting military operations backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in the war in the Middle Eastern country since September 2015.

The Russian Defense Ministry has not said whether foreign nationals serving in the Russian Army were ever sent to Syria.

The Russian military contains both contract soldiers and conscripts.
The Washington Post is reporting that Google has for the first time uncovered evidence that Russian operatives used the Internet giant's platforms in an effort to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

"Russian agents" spent tens of thousands of dollars on advertisements on YouTube, Gmail, Google search, and other products in an attempt to spread disinformation, the newspaper reported on October 9, citing anonymous sources it said were familiar with the company's investigation.

The ads did not seem to originate from Internet Research, a Russian company that bought ads on Facebook, indicating a possibly broader Russian online disinformation campaign, the paper reported. Both Facebook and the other social-media giant, Twitter, have said that Russian entities bought ads and had accounts on their platforms.

Google, owned by Alphabet Inc., runs the world's largest online advertising business and YouTube is the world's largest online video site.

In a statement, Google said it has a "set of strict ads policies, including limits on political ads targeting, and prohibitions on targeting based on race and religion."

"We are taking a deeper look to investigate attempts to abuse our systems, working with researchers and other companies, and will provide assistance to ongoing inquiries," the statement continued.

The U.S. Congress has opened multiple investigations to determine the level of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Google representatives are due to testify publicly before both the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 1, along with Facebook and Twitter, about alleged Russian attempts to use their platforms to influence the election.

Facebook has said it recently shared some 3,000 Russian-bought ads with congressional investigators that were purchased by operatives associated with Internet Research, which media reports have described as a "troll farm" with links to the Russian state.

With reporting by Reuters
NATO does not want "a new Cold War" with Russia, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at the end of a four-day parliamentary assembly of the alliance.

"We are concerned by...[Russia's] lack of transparency when it comes to military exercises," Stoltenberg said on October 9 in the Romanian capital, Bucharest.

He mentioned the Zapad exercise that Russia held with Belarus in September, which brought thousands of troops close to NATO's eastern members and caused concerns about Moscow's intentions given its military interference in Ukraine.

At the same time, Stoltenberg said: "Russia is our neighbor.... We don't want to isolate Russia; we don't want a new Cold War."

He said the 29-member alliance has stepped up jet patrols over the Black Sea in "response to Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine."

Romanian and Bulgarian pilots have conducted air exercises in the Black Sea in recent months, designed to reassure NATO members after Russia's interference.

Russia occupied and seized control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and backs separatists in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine.



At the end of the parliamentary session in Bucharest, NATO also announced the launch of a new multinational force in Romania, its latest move to protect its eastern flank and to check a growing Russian presence in the Black Sea.

Initially, a small force composed mostly of troops from 10 NATO states including Italy and Canada as well as host Romania, the land, air, and sea deployments are expected to complement some 900 U.S. troops already in place separately throughout the country.

"Our purpose is peace, not war," Romanian President Klaus Iohannis told the session.

"We are not a threat for Russia, but we need a long-term NATO strategy; we need dialogue from a strong position of defense and discouragement," he said.

With reporting by Reuters and AP


MOSCOW -- Colleagues, friends, and relatives of Boris Nemtsov have honored the slain Russian opposition politician on what would be his 58th birthday, vowing to continue pressing for justice.

Activists of the opposition groups Solidarnost and Parnas visited Nemtsov's grave at a Moscow cemetery on October 9 and then joined a larger crowd on the bridge near the Kremlin where he was shot dead at close range on February 27, 2015.

Parnas co-Chairman Mikhail Kasyanov, who was President Vladimir Putin's first prime minister but later joined Nemtsov in opposing the Kremlin, expressed hope that international institutions will be involved in investigations of his killing.

But he said that in the current circumstances, with severe tensions straining Russia's relationship with the West, cooperation between Russian law enforcement and international investigators was impossible.

A Moscow court convicted five men from Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya guilty of Nemtsov's murder and sentenced them to prison in July, but relatives and associates believe his killing was ordered at a higher level.

The Russian authorities "have not even searched for the organizers of the crime and those who ordered it," Nemtsov's daughter, Zhanna Nemtsova, told RFE/RL in an interview in Berlin, where a two-day forum on Nemtsov is being held on October 9-10.

Nemtsova said that "the murder will never be forgotten and we will constantly be raising the issue until it is fully investigated."

She also said it was wrong for the Russian authorities to classify the crime as the murder of a private individual, contending that her father was a public figure who was assassinated.

Nemtsova said that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will hold hearings on her father's killing on October 11.

In Moscow, dozens of activists the gathered at a makeshift memorial on the bridge where Nemtsov was shot.

Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister and regional governor and a longtime critic of Putin, was a lawmaker in the Yaroslavl Oblast and co-chairman of Parnas at the time of his killing.

His slaying drew international condemnation and underscored the dangers faced by Russians who oppose the Kremlin.

As with previous killings -- including the fatal shooting of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya in 2006 -- government critics have voiced suspicion that the culprits will never face justice because an honest investigation could lead to figures who are close to Moscow-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov or to Putin and his inner circle.

Nemtsov's birthday comes two days after thousands of Russians protested against the government on Putin's 65th birthday, at demonstrations called for by jailed opposition politician and Putin critic Aleksei Navalny. Navalny and Nemtsov were among the leaders of large antigovernment protests in 2011-12.
Friends and colleagues of slain Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov gathered at the site of his killing in Moscow on what would have been his 58th birthday on October 9. Supporters released 58 white balloons in honor of the politician, who was shot on a bridge near the Kremlin on February 27, 2015. Nemtsov served as a lawmaker and a deputy prime minister, and was a longtime critic of President Vladimir Putin. Five Chechens were convicted of the killing in July, but many of Nemtsov's associates believe the assassination was ordered at a higher level and that those responsible have not yet been prosecuted. (RFE/RL's Russian Service)
7 Cristina: "I have people from Catalonia and Andalusia in my family. I am not for separation from Spain. I did not want to go to the referendum. But the Spanish government behaved in such a way that it was turning into a dictatorship. So I went and voted for independence. But it was a protest vote."
Farangis, a 22-year-old actress and dancer from Dushanbe, was horrified to see images of herself being billed online as a "Tajik hooker."

She had clicked onto the obscure Instagram account after a friend recognized her among the photos of nude or seminude women. They appeared carefully selected to give the impression that all were of the same person.

Farangis, who asked RFE/RL's Tajik Service not to use her full name, says her photos had been taken from social media and reposted alongside images of a naked woman with a similar build.

Tajik police confirm Farangiss account and say they have launched an investigation.

The Interior Ministry says "more than 10 women" have complained of being similarly targeted, and some have reportedly paid off blackmailers in an effort to have their images removed.

A self-described independent career woman, Farangis fears for her reputation in conservative Tajik society. Already, she says, some people refuse to believe that she didn't post the photos herself.

She also appealed to other young women whose images and details she found alongside her own, albeit with little success.

"One of the [other] victims refused to come with me to the police to file a complaint, telling me that I looked suspicious," Farangis says, referring to her European-style clothing and hairstyle. Others dont complain in order to avoid drawing attention to the photos.

Abdurahmon Sharifov, a lawyer for Tajikistans Human Rights Center in the capital, says that many families try to settle such problems in private, believing that complaining about it to authorities might simply exacerbate the problem publicly.

Many of the photos appeared on Instagram accounts along with the victims real names and, in some cases, correct phone numbers.

Sharifov urges victims not to give in to blackmail and instead to report similar incidents to law enforcement agencies.

Police say that some of the victims were befriended online before being persuaded to provide private photos, while others simply discovered that their selfies and other images had been taken from social media outlets like Facebook or VK (formerly VKontakte), the leading Russian-language social network.

Many of the photos appeared on Instagram accounts along with the victims real names and, in some cases, correct phone numbers.

Some of the offending accounts -- including one with thousands of followers and hundreds of posts -- have been deleted, apparently after they were reported by the victims and authorities.

The authorities have not publicly identified any suspects, but Interior Ministry spokesman Umarjon Emomali says most of them are Tajik citizens.
ON MY MIND

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is widely viewed as an ineffectual organization and its summits tend to be dull affairs. Except when they aren't

As we discuss on this week's Power Vertical Briefing, the optics at this week's CIS summit in Sochi will be worth watching for a number of reasons.

For example, how will Vladimir Putin and Alyaksandr Lukashenka relate to each other? Will they even meet one-on-one? And if they don't, what would that signify?

As I noted on The Daily Vertical last week, the recent Zapad 2017 military exercises highlighted latent and persistent tensions between Minsk and Moscow that are becoming increasingly manifest.

A scheduled bilateral meeting between Putin and Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbaev also merits watching as Astana is emerging as a potential counterweight to Moscow in the CIS.

Likewise, Putin is scheduled to meet with Moldova's pro-Russia president Igor Dodon, who is locked in an ongoing struggle with that country's pro-Western government.

So be sure to tune in to this week's Briefing for a discussion of all these issues.

IN THE NEWS

Russian authorities say they have released all demonstrators who were detained for taking part in unauthorized rallies across Russia that coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putins birthday on October 7.

The October 7 rallies attracted thousands of supporters of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, who had urged Russians to take part in the demonstrations.

Russian authorities say about 3,000 people were evacuated from a shopping center on the outskirts of the capital, Moscow, after a fire broke out in the basement.

Jon Huntsman, the new U.S. ambassador to Russia, says restoring Ukrainian sovereignty over all its territory will be a key issue in his dealings with Moscow as he begins his tenure amid a period of high tensions between the two world powers.

Kurt Volker, the U.S. special envoy for efforts to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, met with Kremlin aide Vladislav Surkov on October 7 in Serbia's capital, Belgrade.

The U.S. State Department has called on Russia to find and prosecute those who ordered the 2006 murder of prominent Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to pay a one-day official visit to Ukraine on October 9.

LATEST POWER VERTICAL PODCAST

In case you missed it, the latest Power Vertical Podcast, The Lame-Duck Blues, looks at Putinism as Vladimir Putin turns 65.

NEW POWER VERTICAL BRIEFING

On this week's Power Vertical Briefing, we look ahead to the CIS Summit this week in Sochi, which takes place amid lingering tension between Russia and Belarus in the aftermath of the Zapad-2017 military exercises.

WHAT I'M READING

Navalny's Protests

In his column for Republic.ru, opposition journalist Oleg Kashin looks at why the turnout for protests organized by Aleksei Navalny this past weekend did not match the numbers achieved at demonstrations in March.

The Ghosts Of 1917

Charles Robertson, global chief economist at Renaissance Capital, has an op-ed in The Moscow Times on why the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 is still influencing the Russian economy today.

The Baltic Disinformation Front

Deutsche Welle has a piece looking at how the Baltic states are battling Russian disinformation.

Book Review: Masha Gessen's The Future Is History

In The Washington Post, Susan Glasser reviews Masha Gessen's new book The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia.

Democracy Protection

In an op-ed in The Washington Post, former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves argues for a "global league" to protect democracy from cyberthreats.

The Future Of The Eastern Partnership

The Economist has a leader looking at the future of the European Union's Eastern Partnership on the eve of next month's summit.
23 Afghan child vendors carry goods on donkeys on the outskirt of Kabul. Every day, from the morning until evening, they search garbage for useful items and sell them to make between $3 and $4. (epa-EFE/Jawad Jalali)
U.S. President Donald Trump and the powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee publicly traded insults on social media ahead of a key decision on the 2015 deal between global powers and Iran on Tehran's nuclear program.

In a sharply worded exchange, Trump blamed Senator Bob Corker (Republican-Tennessee) for the deal with Iran, which Trump has repeatedly criticized, while Corker said the president could be leading the nation to "World War III."

The confrontation between the two Republicans came amid signs that Trump might decline this week to certify the Iran deal, a move that would add to tension between the United States and Tehran and cause concern among other signatories to the deal.

Corker announced in September that he is retiring from Congress after his current term expires next year, saying he wanted to be free from the political pressures that come with reelection campaigns as he decides how to vote on upcoming legislation.

In a tweet, Trump alleged that Corker had "begged" for his endorsement for reelection and then decided not to run after Trump refused to back him.

Corker "also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said "NO THANKS."' He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal! Trump said in a second tweet.

The 2015 agreement between Iran and six world powers -- the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia -- put limits on Iran's nuclear program in return for the easing of economic sanctions.

Trump has repeatedly denounced the landmark deal, which was signed under President Barack Obama, and told the UN General Assembly last month that it is "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."

Trump faces an October 15 deadline to certify that Iran is in compliance with the accord.

If he decided to "decertify" the deal, Corker -- as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- would play a key role in determining whether U.S. sanctions lifted under the accord would be reinstated.

During the U.S. political debate over the nuclear deal, which was opposed by Republican lawmakers, Corker co-wrote the measure requiring congressional approval for the deal and required the president to certify that Iran was complying every 90 days.



In the past, Corker has said he considers the deal flawed, but he has expressed opposition to scrapping the agreement altogether.

In its latest report on the deal, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on August 31 said that Iran remains in compliance with the terms of the agreement.

Corker was formerly close to Trump. He advised him on national security during the 2016 presidential campaign and was considered as a potential vice presidential running mate or as secretary of state.

In response to Trump's tweets, Corker on October 8 wrote: "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning."

Since announcing his plans to retire from the Senate, Croker has stepped up his criticism of Trump.

In an interview published October 8 with The New York Times, Corker said Trump was treating his office like a reality show, with reckless threats to other countries that could set the nation on the path to World War III.

He concerns me. He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation, Corker added.

Asked last week about reported tensions between Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Corker described Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly as "those people that help separate our country from chaos."

Corker previously said, "The president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence, that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, The New York Times, and AP
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has told world leaders that the time to end Russia's war in Ukraine is "now" and called for the extension of a grain-export deal due to expire shortly, as heavy fighting continues in the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

"I am convinced that now is the time when the Russian destructive war must and can be stopped," Zelenskiy said in a video address to the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Bali, Indonesia, on November 15.

"It will save thousands of lives," he said.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine would not allow Russian troops to regroup after their withdrawal from the southern strategic city of Kherson, and said there would be more fighting until Ukraine reclaims control of all of its occupied territory.

The liberation of Kherson over the weekend was one of Ukraine's biggest successes in nearly nine months since the start of the Russian invasion.

Zelenskiy urged Moscow to withdraw all its forces from Ukraine and reaffirm Ukraine's territorial integrity, warning that Kyiv would not compromise its sovereignty, territory, or independence. He also called for all Ukrainian prisoners to be released.

Zelenskiy outlined several approaches to achieve peace, including ensuring nuclear and food safety, the ending of hostilities, and a prevention of escalation.

He blasted "the crazy threats of nuclear weapons that Russian officials resort to," referring to rhetoric employed repeatedly by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskiy thanked the "G19," pointedly excluding Russia, for making clear that "there cannot be any excuses for nuclear blackmail."

Putin has shunned the gathering and sent Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Bali in his place.



A deal struck in July between the United Nations and Russia that allows the export of Ukrainian grains and other food products from ports blocked by Russian warships is due to expire on November 19.

Zelenskiy said the deal, which according to the UN has allowed the export of 10 million tons of grain and other food, should be extended indefinitely.

"I believe our export grain initiative deserves an indefinite extension -- no matter when the war ends," Zelensky said.

"The right to food is a fundamental right of every person in the world," he said, proposing to expand the deal to more Ukrainian ports.



Zelenskiy accused Moscow of an "attempt to turn the cold into a weapon" by launching waves of air strikes against key infrastructure ahead of the coming winter.

He also spoke in favor of a U.S.-led push for a price cap on Russian oil exports "so that energy resources are no longer used as weapons."



The Ukrainian military reported early on November 15 that its forces repelled waves of Russian attacks on positions in the Donetsk region, including Bakhmut and Belohoryivka, and on Novoselivske in Luhansk.

According to Ukraine's General Staff, the Russian military is accommodating recently arrived reinforcements in abandoned private houses in Luhansk.

The General Staff had previously said that in Luhansk, occupying Russian forces plan to carry out a complete evacuation of the civilian population from three settlements.

The Russian Army is also trying to hold captured territories and continues to equip defensive lines on the left bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region, the military said.

In the parts of Kherson region recaptured by the Ukrainian Army over the past week, Russia has destroyed "all critical infrastructure," Zelenskiy said in his regular nightly address on November 14.

Zelenskiy said there is no electricity, no communication, and no television in Kherson, saying the withdrawing Russian troops destroyed everything intentionally.

Earlier on November 14, Ukrainian national energy company Ukrenerho said Russia had destroyed key energy infrastructure supplying the entire right bank of the Kherson region and a significant part of the Mykolayiv region.

"Most of the liberated Kherson region has been without electricity since November 6," Ukrenerho chief Volodymyr Kudrytskiy said. "We are doing our best to supply people with electricity as soon as possible."



Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhniy said he spoke with U.S. General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on November 14 and told him that the Ukrainian military will not accept any negotiations, agreements, or compromise decisions regarding the end of the war.

"I assured that we will fight as long as we have the strength. Our goal is to liberate all Ukrainian land from Russian occupation," Zaluzhniy said on Facebook. "There is only one condition for the negotiations: Russia must leave all captured territories."



The White House announced separately that CIA Director Bill Burns met in Ankara, Turkey, with Russian intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin, the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

Burns underscored the consequences if Russia were to deploy a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, according to a White House spokesperson.

The Kremlin confirmed a U.S.-Russia meeting had taken place in Ankara but declined to give details.

Russian officials have alarmed Western governments by raising the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons after suffering massive setbacks in Ukraine.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and BBC
KYIV -- During a visit to Kyiv, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country will continue to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"We neither did, nor will we recognize" the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia, Erdogan said on October 9 at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko.

Erdogan also said that Ankara will continue to follow the situation of Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatars and thanked Ukraine for defending their rights.

Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014, sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegal by dozens of countries, and backs separatists in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

Rights groups and Western governments have also denounced what they called a persistent campaign of oppression targeting Crimean Tatars and other citizens who opposed Moscow's takeover.

"Today we agreed to continue to fight for the protection of the rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens in Crimea in the framework of all international mechanisms," Poroshenko wrote on Twitter.

The Ukrainian president told the press conference that his three-hour talks with Erdogan gave "grounds for optimism about the development of bilateral cooperation in all spheres."

Erdogan said that the two sides agreed on the goal of raising the volume of bilateral trade from $3.8 billion to $10 billion a year "as quickly as possible."

Deals signed during the visit included agreements on the protection of investments and the avoidance of double taxation, as well as a plan for the development of Ukrainian-Turkish relations through 2019.

Talking to Poroshenko last month at the UN General Assembly in New York, Erdogan reiterated that Ankara supported Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Turkish president has also sought to maintain warm ties with Russia and cooperates with Moscow on establishing "de-escalation zones" in Syria. Moscow and Ankara support different sides in Syria's civil war.

Refat Chubarov, chairman of the Crimea Tatars' self-governing body, the Mejlis, told RFE/RL on October 9 that he believes one of the reasons why Ankara has not joined the European Union in imposing sanctions against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine is that European leaders have been dragging their feet over Turkey's bid to join the bloc.

"Turkey is against Russia's activities [in Crimea].... However, to my mind, the issue is linked to the fact that for decades Turkey has been trying to join the European Union as a full-fledged member. But the EU has always found reasons to reject the bid. And now Turkey is reacting to that," Chubarov said.

With reporting by AP and Interfax
Shortly after being subjected to a harsh, obscenity-filled scolding over a disappointing cotton harvest, Asilbek Yusupov returned to his office in a remote region in eastern Uzbekistan and collapsed.



Bleeding profusely from his nose and mouth while suffering a stroke, Yusupov fell into a coma on October 3 and died two days later.



Yusupov, the head of the Ulugnor district in Uzbekistan's Andijon region, had been berated during a local cotton-harvest meeting that included a conference call with regional head Shuhrat Abdurakhmanov due to a lackluster haul of Uzbekistan's "white gold."



"During the call, [Abdurakhmanov] was very insulting to Yusupov," a farmer who attended the meeting and requested anonymity out of fear of retribution told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service.



He said the Andijon chief used several derogatory words and impolite terms in his tongue-lashing of Yusupov, who was 57 years old and had three children.



The farmer added that "everyone in Andijon is saying that Abdurakhmanov's [comments] led to Yusupov's death." He said the Andijon chief told district heads that they "should work 25 hours [per day] instead of 24."



When contacted by RFE/RL and asked about Yusupov, Abdurakhmanov said he was in a meeting and could not speak. He did not respond to text messages sent to him.



Yusupov, who became the head of the Ulugnor region in February, was called a "diligent and hard-working" man by a colleague who attended his funeral on October 6.



On July 10, machine and tractor plant head Muzaffar Chorshanbiyev died of a heart attack the same day he was publicly berated for his firm's poor performance by Nishon district head Asror Djuraev.



Uzbekistan is the fifth-largest cotton-producing country in the world and cotton makes up one-quarter of the Uzbek GDP.

Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Pete Baumgartner based on reporting by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service
A prominent Uzbek opposition activist and human rights advocate, Agzam Turgunov, has been released several months early after nine years in prison.

Turgonov, who was released on October 7, is one of several people whom activists consider political prisoners to have been freed since President Shavkat Mirziyoev took office after longtime autocrat Islam Karimov's death in 2016.

Now 66, the opposition Erk (Freedom) party member and chairman of unregistered human rights group Mazlum (Oppressed) was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2008 on extortion charges supporters contended were unfounded and politically motivated.

Tashkent-based right activist Abdurahmon Tashanov posted a video taken minutes after Turgunov's release.

Independent journalist Solijon Abdurahmonov was released on October 4 after more than nine years in prison, and human rights activist Agzam Farmonov was released on October 3 after more than 10 years in prison.

Human Rights Watch said in mid-August that five political prisoners had been freed since Mirziyoev, the longtime prime minister under Karimov, became acting president after Karimov's deaths was announced in September 2016. Mirziyoev was subsequently elected in a tightly-controlled vote in the Central Asian country of about 30 million in December.

Another U.S.-based human rights advocacy group, Freedom House, said in an August 28 report that Mirziyoev had taken some steps to open up the nation. It said the international community "should acknowledge positive changes in the country but continue nudging the government toward a full-scale reform to ensure a prosperous, secure, and pluralistic Uzbekistan."
The competition is the first of its kind on a global scale, with participation from many countries including Russia, the United States, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Mexico and India . It was organized by The Only One Foundation ( Fundacja Jedyna Taka). Competitors were chosen either in national rounds or by non-governmental organizations. What was considered important in competition was well explained by contest co-founder and jury president Katarzyna Wojtaszek-Ginalska It is not the looks that matter the mostwe have focused especially on the personality of the girls, their everyday activities, their involvement, social life, plans.



The winners

The contestants spent eight days in the Polish capital participating in rehearsals, photo shoots, conferences and visits.The aim of the project is above all changing image and attitude for the woman on wheelchair. ()The other our purpose is to show that beautiful women on wheelchair, they do live in different countries all over the world. We remind you that wheelchair is not a constraint impossible to bestride, it is just something additional to your personality. Every singe woman on wheelchair has got her right to be whoever she wants and to feel beautiful, the organizers wrote on the official website. Their goal: The Only One Foundation  we change the image and the attitufde for the disabled  all around the world. 
Straight shot up U.S. 31 to I-94 finally open in Berrien County

Last few miles had been unfinished since 2004 because of a lack of money to pay for it.
SYDNEY  NASA plans tokeep an experimental expandable module attached to the International Space Station beyond its original two-year lifetime, the agency announced Oct. 2.

In a procurement filing, NASA said it was planning to issue a sole-source contract to Bigelow Aerospace in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 for engineering and other services related to extended use of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM). The planned contract, whose value was not disclosed, will cover three years with two additional one-year options.

BEAM was launched to the ISS in April 2016 and, a month and a half later, attached to the station and expanded to its full size. NASA planned to keep BEAM at the station for two years in order to perform engineering tests about the suitability of such expandable, or inflatable, modules for future use on the station or other missions. At the end of the two-year period, NASA planned to jettison BEAM and allow it to destructively reenter the atmosphere. [An Inflatable Space Room: BEAM in Pictures]

Bigelow Aerospace's BEAM expandable module will enhance the living area of the International Space Station. See how the BEAM module works in our full infographic (Image credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com contributor)

The agency expects to use BEAM to store more than 100 Cargo Transfer Bags, a standard unit of cargo storage on the station that measures about half a cubic meter. That will free up the equivalent of about four payload racks in other modules of the station for research. NASA will also continue to study the module's effectiveness for radiation and debris shielding.

There are no plans, though, to use BEAM as a habitation module. Astronauts do regularly enter the module  13 times since its installation on the station in 2016  to take readings and collect samples.

The new contract with overlap with the existing contract for BEAM's original two-year mission. "At the end of the new contract, the agency may consider further life extension or could again consider jettisoning BEAM from the station," NASA said in a statement about its long-term plans for BEAM.

BEAM is a prototype of larger expandable modules under development by North Las Vegas, Nevada-based Bigelow Aerospace. Company officials have previously said they plan to have their first two B330 modules  so named because each has a volume of 330 cubic meters when expanded  ready for launch in 2020.

While Bigelow's long-term plans call for the development of commercial space stations using those modules, a B330 could be added to the ISS, possibly to the same docking port currently occupied by BEAM. NASA has proposed that port to commercial module developers, although it has not yet released a plan for allocating that port to companies.

Other companies that have expressed an interest in developing a commercial module for the ISS include Axiom Space and Ixion, a joint effort of NanoRacks, Space Systems Loral and United Launch Alliance.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
The private spaceflight company SpaceX successfully launched 10 communications satellites into low-Earth orbit today (Oct. 9) and landed the spent Falcon 9 first-stage rocket booster on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 8:37 a.m. EDT (1237 GMT/5:37 a.m. EDT), carrying 10 satellites for Iridium Communications, as part of the company's Iridium Next constellation. The first stage of the two-stage Falcon 9 landed on SpaceX's drone ship "Just Read the Instructions" in the Pacific about 7.5 minutes after the launch.

"Looks like we've got a good orbit," said John Insprucker, SpaceX's Falcon 9 principal integration engineer, just after the launch during live webcast commentary.

The Iridium Next satellites were deployed 57 minutes after liftoff, with the entire process taking about 15 minutes, according to a SpaceX flight plan.

"We're 10 for 10!" Insprucker said. "A clean sweep of Iridium Next satellite deployment in the desired final orbit."

The Iridium Next constellation will eventually consist of 66 primary satellites and nine on-orbit backup satellites. This is the third of eight scheduled SpaceX launches for the Iridium Next constellation, which brings the total number of satellites now in orbit up to 30.

Today was the first flight of this particular Falcon 9 first-stage booster, a company representative told Space.com. SpaceX has successfully flown Falcon 9 boosters that were previously used, and plans to use a pre-flown booster to launch another communications satellite into orbit on Wednesday (Oct. 11), from NASA's Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Today's mission also marked SpaceX's 14th launch this year and the 17th successful landing of a Falcon 9 first stage. SpaceX has been reusing Falcon 9 first stages and is pursuing fully reusable rockets in an effort to lower the cost of spaceflight.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket first stage stands atop the drone ship "Just Read The Instructions" in the Pacific Ocean after successfully launching 10 Iridium Next satellites into orbit from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on Oct. 9, 2017. (Image credit: SpaceX)

Iridium Communications announced earlier this week that it had begun testing and validating its Iridium Certus service, which will utilize the Iridium Next satellites to provide a "truly global broadband service" to its users, according to a statement from the company. The 66 satellites will spread out around the planet to provide service to remote regions of the globe, the company has said.

At an industry conference last spring, Iridium representatives discussed the ways that the satellite constellation could be used to better keep track of airplanes, particularly over open ocean where ground-based tracking systems are unavailable. The commercial service is expected to be available in the "early second quarter" of 2018, according to the statement.

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
When University of Virginia senior Steven Stetzler met former NASA astronauts Al Worden and Catherine "Cady" Coleman, the computer science and physics major said it was "a very surreal experience." Astronauts had always seemed to exist in a different reality from his own, yet here they were, in the flesh, he said.

Stetzler met the NASA astronauts last month in Washington, D.C., after winning a scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Part of the foundation's goal is to counteract that surreal feeling that Stetzler described and encourage talented young people to consider careers in human spaceflight as something they could seriously do.

"They were very adamant about the idea that you could be an astronaut if you want to be an astronaut," Stetzler said of the people he met during his trip to Washington. [How To Become An Astronaut]

Steven Stetzler, a 2017 Astronaut Scholarship Foundation scholarship winner, poses for a photo with former NASA astronauts Al Worden and Catherine "Cady" Coleman. (Image credit: Steven Stetzler)

In July, the foundation announced its 2017 scholars  45 college students who are each awarded $10,000 scholarships. The foundation also sponsored the trip to Washington, which included tours of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (guided by NASA astronauts, along with museum staff), as well as opportunities to meet representatives from the foundation's corporate partners.

Stetzler said he hasn't decided which subfield of physics he wants to focus on, but is particularly interested in both astrophysics and high-energy physics, because those areas are pushing certain frontiers in computer science.

"I'm interested in the computational challenges of how do we make our data analysis as robust and as fast as possible and how do we make our observation instruments as technologically advanced as possible," he told Space.com.

The trip, he said, helped him narrow down some of the career options he has in front of him.

"It'd be really nice to work at NASA and contribute to what they're doing," he said. "I realized if I found myself in a position where I was working closely with space exploration, I would be happy."

The 2017 class of Astronaut Scholarship Foundation awardees takes a tour of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum led by former NASA astronauts Scott "Scooter" Altman and Kay Hire. (Image credit: Astronaut Scholarship Foundation)

Foundation founders

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was created in 1984 by the six surviving members of the "Mercury 7," NASA's very first astronaut class  Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton  as well as Betty Grissom, widow of the seventh member, Virgil "Gus" Grissom.

"The original Mercury astronauts felt that, somehow, there should be a way for them to use their joint credibility to encourage youngsters to get involved in scientific or engineering pursuits," Shepard, who was the first American in space, said in a promotional video on the foundation's website.

Since its creation, the foundation has given more than $4 million in scholarships to over 400 students, according to its website. Today, its mission is "to aid the United States in retaining its world leadership in technology and innovation by supporting the very best and brightest scholars in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while commemorating the legacy of America's pioneering astronauts."

Part of that assistance is, of course, monetary. Stetzler, who said he is a low-income student, added that the $10,000 scholarship will relieve part of the student loan burden that he'll carry after graduation.

"Getting the money is really important to me, and it's important not to downplay that fact," he said. "[The money] does grant you an incredible amount of freedom to live the way you want to and to not stress while you're in college.  It lets me act more freely and be less stressed at school."

Stetzler said the second biggest benefit of winning the scholarship was meeting and networking with the other winners.

"You get to talk to them and hear about their field of science and what they like about it. And you get to get different perspectives outside of what you're studying in college," Stetzler said. "Gaining that perspective was really important.  So I get to meet all these really cool people and shape my future with them in mind.

"I guess [the trip] also made me realize that  the science community is really an invigorating place to be," he said. "I don't want to leave science after this, after I've met all these cool people that I can be involved with for the rest of my life."

College students hear from scientists and engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, as part of a trip organized by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (Image credit: Astronaut Scholarship Foundation)

This year, the scholarship winners were paired with career mentors from some of the foundations corporate partners, including the private defense contractor Engility, which has worked for NASA on a range of contracts. Engility also contributes to the scholarships and set up the tour the students took of NASA Goddard, which Stetzler said was definitely one of the funnest parts of the trip. The students also met representatives from some of the foundation's 20 other corporate partners.

Those interactions, Stetzler said, showed him some areas of industry where he thinks he could tackle the kinds of problems he finds interesting, even if it means leaving physics research in favor of more computer-sciencebased career. But he said he still wants to apply to a physics Ph.D. program soon  he just isn't quite sure where or in what subject.

The trip did help him make one specific decision about his future career path.

"I don't think I could be an astronaut," he said. After meeting real astronauts, he realized that "a lot of these people have been very passionate about being an astronaut their entire life. And they've been training and working hard on the path to being an astronaut. And I realize that that's not really where I want to be."

He laughed and said this might not be the outcome that the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was hoping for.

But later, when asked what advice he would give to other students considering applying for the scholarship, he said, "They're not looking for people who [are] going to be astronauts specifically, or even aerospace engineers. They're looking for people who are going to be leaders in science and technology. If you're really passionate about whatever subfield of science you're in and making an impact there, you should go ahead and apply, because they'll recognize that."

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
The sun's outer atmosphere, called the corona, is much hotter than its surface  and a new study investigates why.

The upper reaches of the sun's atmosphere are thousands of times hotter than its surface, and a new study offers a possible reason for that intense heat: countless explosions from the sun, each too small for scientists to detect.

The "surface" of the sun  the photosphere, or visible part of the sun  is about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius). Strangely, even though it is farther away from the sun's core, the uppermost part of the sun's atmosphere  known as the corona  is much hotter, regularly reaching about 1.8 million to 3.6 million degrees F (1 million to 2 million degrees C) and sometimes reaching up to 72 million degrees F (40 million degrees C), according to NASA.

This mystery of why the sun's corona is so much hotter than its photosphere "is known as the coronal heating problem," study lead author Shin-nosuke Ishikawa, a solar physicist at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, told Space.com. [The Sun Revealed: Photos of the Million-Degree Solar Corona]

One possible explanation for this mystery involves tiny solar flares dubbed "nanoflares" that are too small for current scientific instruments to see given the blinding interference from the rest of the sun, the researchers said.

"We think nanoflares range from a billion to a million times smaller than a regular solar flare," Ishikawa said. That still means a nanoflare typically explodes with about as much energy as 10^19 joules, Ishikawa said, which is equivalent to about 10 billion tons of TNT.

Although nanoflares are fainter and less energetic than regular flares, they would, in theory, happen far more often. This could potentially inject an extraordinary amount of heat into the solar atmosphere, explaining why the corona is so hot, the researchers said.

To investigate the mystery of the sun's corona, Ishikawa's team analyzed X-ray data of solar activity taken by the Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager (FOXSI-2) sounding rocket. "Our instruments for X-ray detection from the sun were about 100 times more sensitive than past instruments," Ishikawa said.

The researchers discovered very energetic X-rays, a signature of solar plasma heated to more than 18 million degrees F (10 million degrees C), over a region of the sun that had no visible flares. They suggested that this superheated plasma could be generated only by nanoflares.

Next summer, the researchers plan to launch a sounding rocket loaded with upgraded scientific instruments "to detect much more faint X-ray sources," Ishikawa said. They are also working on a satellite that could detect nanoflares, he added. The hope is that such research could help scientists begin to estimate "how many nanoflares there actually are, and how much energy they actually have," Ishikawa said.

The scientists detailed their findings (opens in new tab) online today (Oct. 9) in the journal Nature Astronomy.

Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Johannesburg (South Africa), Oct 8, 2017 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary- General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, arrived Sunday morning in Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend as guest of honour the opening of the 5th Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament, to be held on Monday, under the theme "Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments with the youth.

The President of the Republic was received upon his arrival at Oliver Tambo International Airport by the President of the Pan-African Parliament, Roger Nkodo Dang, Vice President of the PAP, Ms Soueilma Beirouk, Saharawi ambassador to South Africa, Bachir Sgayer.

The President of the Republic will deliver a speech at the opening of the 5th PAP session, in addition to a press conference on the latest developments of the issue of Western Sahara.

He will also hold meetings and discussions with African leaders on the role of the African Union and the United Nations in implementing the requirements of international legitimacy to guarantee the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. (SPS)

062/SPS/TRA
B AE Systems is poised to axe at least 1000 jobs in a further sign that the UKs manufacturing sector is heading for a dangerous slowdown.

Britains biggest defence contractor is expected to say that most of the jobs will go at the Warton plant near Preston, Lancashire.

Sky News today reported that there would be well over 1000 jobs going from a UK workforce of around 35,000.

Sources told Sky that Brexit was not a factor in the BAE move.

Today, figures from business advisory firm BDO showed a steep fall in manufacturing order book expectations. Hopes that manufacturing, 10% of the economy, would be boosted by the falling pound have yet to be fully realised.

Peter Hemington, a partner at BDO, said: UK manufacturers seem not to have benefited much from the expected boost to their competitiveness. And there has to be a suspicion that fears of the damage that could be done by a poorly negotiated Brexit are beginning to weigh heavily upon our makers.

The BDO figures follow those from September, which showed that manufacturing output decelerated and cost pressures intensified.

The Purchasing Managers Index for the month came in at 55.9, well above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction but down from 56.7 previously and below the 56.4 reading City of London analysts had pencilled in.

The BAE job cuts are thought to be related to a slowdown in demand for the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft.

BAE did not immediately comment, but an announcement is thought likely this week.
E ver wanted to be James Bond? Try giving Sara Fazlali a call. For the right price  and its a lot  she can open up a world of impossible glamour: espionage and weapons training, fast cars and kidnaps, washed down with a game of poker and the perfect Martini. Welcome to Secret Me, the spy school set up by the 34-year-old Londoner six years ago, with her friend and former SAS soldier Adam B.

She and her gang of ex-special forces veterans (all versed in killing you in at least 20 different ways) are in the business of turning the spotlight on the super-rich and showing them exactly how they react under pressure.

Her select customers, mainly from the US and Hong Kong, find her by word of mouth; they pay well into five figures to be whisked off by Fazlali and her team to castles in the country or even, for 250,000, week-long events on luxury yachts.

As somebody with two black belts who delights in turning the screw on her clients, its unsurprising that shes had a few hairy moments herself. Shes a bit reluctant to talk about her past, but spent a lot of time as a UN adviser and election observer in Africa in her twenties, which brought her into contact with the military types who work for her now.

Fazlalis not been kidnapped but shes been around when shots have been fired.

The chief of a village in the Sudan wanted to marry her before her colleagues talked him out of it, saying you can have her, shes trouble. And most alarmingly, I remember being kissed at gunpoint by an ex-resistance officer who was just really high on drugs and drunk, before he was swept away by his superior officer.

Handling that kind of stuff is what shes trying to teach others. A lot of life is reading situations, knowing when and how to react. The starting point is that youve got to not freeze, because most people freeze. In war zones, she adds, you learn to be completely honest with yourself. Besides running Secret Me, shes also doing a PhD in war studies.

The idea came from a dream about an incredibly feminine but kick-ass woman, Audrey Hepburn but with multiple black belts who could do everything: read people, defend herself, but still be feminine. The dream stayed with me, and I thought why cant more people be like that? When she pitched the idea to Adam B, he was 100% in from the very first moment.

Fazlali, who also used to run a think-tank-cum-private members club Arete, threw in a few contacts from her little black book and she was ready to go. She and Adam own 91% of the company, with the remainder held by private investors.

The sales pitch is that her events are about leadership. A typical trip will be a helicopter ride out to a castle, followed by self-defence in the first session and then situational awareness, learning how to own and dominate your space and using your voice.

Then its dinner followed by poker, spotting tells and examining body language. The next day might be surveillance training followed by pistols and sometimes seduction: not picking people up, but how to tell when someones talking to you whether theyre actually interested or faking it. Then they might throw a surprise hostage situation into the mix to spice things up.

Do any of the customers crack? Weve never had a blubbery mess, but weve made people very uncomfortable. Thats when the instructors come in and theyre fantastic, they know when to push people. For example, we had a father and son from a phenomenally wealthy background, and theyd never been manhandled. There was always a line of security around them.

Shes in the business of pushing people up towards edges but never totally over the top so they break down, because that creates the negativity in the mind.

Fazlali has plans to grow the business but she needs Secret Me to retain its cachet: I can get it very big but I also want it very exclusive. After all, its no fun if everybody can be 007.
A stampede of workers hit by the collapse of Monarch Airlines is seeking help from the solicitors who helped BHS staff win compensation after the retailer went bust.

Law firm JWK Solicitors said it had been contacted by some employees days after KPMG was appointed administrators for Monarch Airlines and Monarch Travel Group last week.

On the same day the accountancy giant confirmed that 1858 employees were made redundant.

Carl Moran, head of employment law at JWK, said since then the number of people seeking help has risen substantially.

He told the Standard: We have been flooded with enquiries, and now estimate we will be representing at least 100 former employees that want to independently seek tribunal action outside of union representation. We expect that number to rise.

They are seeking compensation for the companys failure to deal with the redundancies properly.

This year JWK helped a group of former BHS workers win up to 1 million in compensation over the way they were made redundant when the High Street chain collapsed.

Monarch administrators are understood to still be working on plans to sell valuable take-off and landing slots at British airports.
S ome of Ryanairs biggest shareholders are privately backing chief executive Michael OLeary to ride out the pilotgate storm and blamed unions for fuelling the crisis.

The controversial boss has come under fire after cancelling more than 20,000 flights due to a cock-up in organising its pilots holiday plan.

This led to the departure of operations chief Michael Hickey and put its industrial relations in the spotlight.

However, one top 10 investor said shareholders were rock solid in their support for OLeary, who is Ryanairs third-biggest shareholder with 760 million (682 million) worth of stock.

The investor said: He has my full trust. The company is very robust and its the best in the space. It makes the headlines and there are a lot of people smelling blood but nothing has changed. Unions from other airlines want to take them down and they are using the latest events to try and do it again.

Another top 20 investor said OLeary would be around for the next 10 years. Its a manageable, one-off hit. People are going to keep coming back to Ryanair because theyre cheap, they added.

The Irish independent reported yesterday that some Ryanair pilots were plotting to form an unofficial union in opposition to OLeary, who has previously said hell would freeze over before unions would be permitted.

Last week he offered pilots better terms and pay in a bid to head off growing anger from unions.
T he Irish parliament has seen clashes between Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, calling for recognition of Catalonian independence, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who says the referendum was unconstitutional and in any case shows a minority backing secession.

Each man was appealing to different sides of Irish as well as Spanish experience. As the Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont plays hardball with Madrid, he might consider the dangers of pushing for secession in a divided society, and its precedent in Ireland.

Next year will be the centenary of the 1918 general election, when Sinn Fein won a large majority (outside Ulster) and took it as a mandate for declaring a virtual republic. But most of its seats masked the existence of many moderate nationalists, not to mention Unionists, whose preferences were unrepresented in the new secessionist assembly, Dail Eireann. They remained outside the new radical consensus and unrepresented in the Anglo-Irish treaty negotiations of 1921. A partitioned island and a subsequent civil war between two wings of Sinn Fein became the new reality.

Catalonias approach to nationalism, unlike that of the Basques, has hitherto been expressed peaceably, often through culture and language. The referendum just held, and the central governments inept response to it, has moved things into a different sphere  if Senor Puigdemont declares independence it will challenge not only Madrid but many Catalonians who prefer the semi-autonomous status the province enjoys.

In a comprehensive legal plebiscite, the separatists would surely have lost but events since the referendum have let them capture the narrative. Unlike Sinn Fein in 1918, there is not apparently an underground army waiting to back full-blown secession. But it is still a dangerous moment.

Another lesson concerns the possible contribution from abroad. After 1918, many in Sinn Fein anticipated not armed violence but involvement in the peace talks at Versailles, where the rights of small nations were to be discussed. Given British imperial influence, this was a non-starter. But if a face-saving way of involving Sinn Fein had been embraced, an alternative to armed conflict might have been viable.

The relevance of outside arbitration applies to recent Irish history too. For much of the Northern Irish struggle the Republic tried to involve outside arbiters (the UN, then the EU) while the British and the Unionists resisted. But a negotiation involving all sides was only possible when outsiders such as Bill Clinton and Senator George Mitchell were drawn in. The Spanish government might take note.

Roy Foster is Emeritus Professor of Irish History at Oxford and Professor of Irish History and Literature at Queen Mary London. His most recent book is Vivid Faces: the revolutionary generation in Ireland, 1890-1923 (Penguin).


W hen the news broke that a car had ploughed into a crowd of pedestrians outside the Natural History Museum at the weekend, almost anybody with children under 10 will, fleetingly, have entertained the same thought: it could have been us.

Another idle thought that I dare say we have all entertained  a wish, while immobile in the giant snaking queue for the dinosaur museum some drizzly half-term Saturday, that a car would mount the pavement and put us all out of our misery  will have been shelved.

Everyone made a guess at what had happened. Some  take a bow, Katie Hopkins  shared their guesses as fact. Car, pedestrian injuries, high-profile venue, panicking crowds, immediate police presence, swirling rumours well, you had to wonder, didnt you?

That is a condition of the collective mental weather. That is terrorism doing its real work. In a 2011 essay Martin Amis quoted Eric Hobsbawms view that terrorism is a new kind of urban pollution, and elaborated: The pollutant is an insidious and chronic disquiet. The disquiet  that pollution  makes all thoughts turn reflexively to terrorism rather than traffic; to IS rather than RTA.

But road traffic accident it turned out to have been. And it highlights something less ideological than practical, less apocalyptic than administrative. London is in two minds about how it arranges its traffic system  how it sees its urban spaces.

The area around the Natural History and Science museums on Exhibition Road is a pioneering instance of the mixed-use urban area  an experiment with letting motorised traffic share space with pedestrians and bicycles in airy boulevards. Contrast the area around Westminster, where steel bollards physically separate pedestrian areas from the traffic, cyclists are trammelled into kerb-protected corridors and traffic lights everywhere regulate movement.

These represent opposing views of the vision for London, and  implicitly  opposing views of Londons citizenry. One is the notion that, left to intermingle unsupervised, people will on the whole prove considerate, competent, self-organising and sociable. The other is that every fool must be separated from every other fool for his or her protection: that, given a chance, homicidal loons will mount the pavement and idiot pedestrians spill into the road; that roadways are a Hobbesian war of all against all, and that only compulsion restrains our bestial natures.

Exhibition Road is your basic pantisocratic utopia applied to traffic; Westminster your more authoritarian approach

Essentially, Exhibition Road is your basic pantisocratic utopia applied to traffic; Westminster your conservative authoritarian way of seeing things. Freedom to on the one hand; freedom from, on the other.

Me, I haver back and forth between these two contrasting views of the social order  my position on the subject mostly depending on how recently Ive spent time in the few hundred yards around Camden Town Tube station. But this is a divide that goes through Londons soul: optimism versus pessimism; the acceptance that accidents will happen as against the fear that what happens wont be an accident.

We make the decisions area to area, of course, road by road. But the calculus is never straightforward. Every time you decide people cant be trusted you change the extent to which they can be. It affects the atmosphere. It changes the weather.

Flattery will get you everywhere

The more I read of Luis Moreno Ocampo  former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court  the more I like the cut of his maverick Argentinian jib. Documents published yesterday reveal that not only did he head an organisation with the solemn duty of bringing the worlds worst war criminals to justice, he also thought outside the box with that work. He cooked up a plan to get Angelina Jolie to lure murderous Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony into a honey trap, and asked George Clooney to spy on Colonel Gaddafi for him.

His work with Jolie was especially subtle. Knowing Hollywood stars love flattery, he didnt hesitate to lay it on; heedless of the risk of sounding like a star-struck old sex-case. He compared her film to Shakespeare  you are a genius a love story showing the war horrors. xx Luis.  and claimed to have seen it four times. He consulted her on PR matters. And when he left his job he wrote: Dear Angie, I hope you are well. I miss you. That one, poignantly, went unanswered.

I think of my own unrealised dream of persuading Winona Ryder to open this years centenary celebrations for the East Finchley Allotments, and tears spring unbidden to my eye. I should be more like Luis. We all should. Better to have loved and lost

* Last week I was at the Henley Festival to interview the writer Penny Junor on stage about her new biography of the Duchess of Cornwall. Full disclosure: Miss Junor is my mum. Still, since her habitual subject is the royal family, a hereditary interviewer seemed somehow apt to the occasion. Our conversation touched on the detail that Charless first dalliance with Camilla in the early 1970s took place (perhaps with a hint of tit-for-tat) while her then boyfriend Andrew Parker Bowles was having a fling with Princess Anne.

That had all been in the book, out since June. Yet our conversation turned into a news story the next day; even in the very newspaper that filleted the book for serialisation when it came out. All this bears out my cherished theory: if you really want to keep something secret, publish it in a book.
T heresa May will address Parliament today and is expected to warn EU leaders that she wont be making further concessions until they start talking about what Britain most wants from Brexit negotiations  a trade deal  and not just what the EU wants: a continued flow of British pounds into Brussels coffers.

In the unforgiving House of Commons, her message will have to compete with taunts from the Labour benches, and dont be surprised if she faces one or two ribbit-ribbit teases. The frog that invaded her throat in such spectacular style is hardly the Prime Ministers greatest problem. And if it reappears, fight it with deep gulps of water, Mrs May  not the delicate sips you deployed last week. But the frog in the prime ministerial throat is a small matter compared with the snail running the Treasury.

Its not the disloyal Foreign Secretary who deserves a P45, of the kind handed to Mrs May by the party conference prankster last week, but her Chancellor. Philip Hammond may have found a throat lozenge for his next-door neighbour but he (and theres a lot of competition from his ministerial colleagues) most typifies the sucking of teeth and cannot-doism that, on front after front, keeps bringing Mays government to a spluttering, croaking halt.

And Im not thinking particularly of Britains still inadequately defined approach to Brexit negotiations, where Hammond and the Treasury have been suffocating influences  forever seeing danger in every possibility and never opportunity. Im largely thinking of the big reset that so many Britons, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, had hoped might emerge from voting Leave in the referendum.

His deadening influence on government policy was most evident in last weeks much-trailed announcement on council house-building. The drum roll in the tabloid press got many of us excited but, when the rabbit was pulled from the hat, it amounted to just 5,000 more homes a year. Are you serious, Mr Hammond? There are 230,000 families on council-house waiting lists in London alone, and 1.2 million nationwide. Many of them will be dead if they wait for the Government to proceed at Mr Hammonds pace.

And its not just house-building that is dying beneath the Chancellors funereal fingers. If the South needs more homes, and I simplify here, the North needs better roads and railways. Our nations finances are now strong enough for much more capital investment but the man whom Mrs May had planned to sack if the election had gone to plan is the roadblock to the kind of investment that both our economic competitiveness and national unity require.

Philip Hammond's Conservative Party Conference speech in 60 seconds

Mrs May is wrong to have concluded shes too weak to move against Mr Hammond. Hes the key reason why shes weak. Chancellors should be the power supply for governments. Geoffrey Howe gave Mrs Thatcher the abolition of exchange rates and radically lower income taxes. Nigel Lawson, her next Chancellor, designed deregulation of the City and simplification of the tax system. Independence of the Bank of England, announced by Gordon Brown, gave Tony Blair and his government stability. The Treasury in the Cameron goverment gave David Cameron much lower corporation tax, the Northern Powerhouse and more sensible energy policies. But what has this Chancellor given his Prime Minister? A national insurance reform that produced one of the fastest reverse ferrets of recent times and, er, um, Mr Hammond has also provided ah yes! That lozenge.

Some free marketeers will undoubtedly welcome the shaking of the Hammond head at the various Cabinet sub-committees at which Mrs Mays former chiefs of staff presented ideas for greater state intervention that were more Corbynite than Conservative. I also sympathise (but because of the housing emergency dont agree) with those who think Britains high level of social housing, when compared with other European nations, should not become higher again. But for a friend of the free market hes not doing much freeing up of markets either. Whether its the banking, energy or technology sectors, our economy is much less competitive than it should be.

Liberalisation, privatisation and deregulation havent become unpopular recently. They were unpopular in Mrs Thatchers time, too. Her great insight was that while, on occasions, a speech defending economic liberalism was necessary, the capitalist system  depending as it does on people pursuing their own self-interest (socialists would say selfishness), was never likely to be loved. But voters do love the inventions, jobs and tax revenues that are the social by-products of entrepreneurial individuals who get up each morning with the aim of becoming wealthier.

We are only a third of the way through year one of this five-year Parliament, so theres still time for Mrs May to find policies and a chancellor who can unleash the economys animal spirits and end my talk of frogs, snails and rabbits. And thats the key question. Will she? Will she use a reshuffle to promote more radical thinkers to frontline positions? Im thinking of the likes of Suella Fernandes, Nusrat Ghani, Neil OBrien, Dominic Raab, Tom Tugendhat and, without question, Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Appointing more ministers with a track record of creating wealth to design wealth-creating policies should be Mays priority rather than, frustratingly, continued and highly misplaced indulgence of the medias obsession with Boris Johnson. Although the nations chief diplomat tries the loyalty of even his staunchest supporters with undiplomatic remarks, his recent encouragements to remember why 17,410,742 voted for Brexit should be heeded, not suppressed.

The record number of voters for any cause or party in our history wanted change (as well as more money for the NHS and control of immigration, which Hammond and May are dragging their feet in delivering). Change, not stability as you foolishly emphasised in the election, Mrs May. Either you deliver change or voters will turn to the man wholl sit opposite you in the Commons today with his lengthening grin. Tick-tock, tick-tock

Tim Montgomerie is the editor of the website UnHerd.com.


U s Brits hold the curry dear in our foodie affections, but we are also creatures of habit  so before you order a chicken tikka masala tonight for the 27th time this year, think outside the box a bit.

The nation first fell in love with the curry in its Indian form, and while hoovering up a vindaloo on a Friday night is still an infinitely pleasurable pastime, the globetrotting history of the dish means there are versions to be found in London from all around the world.

From sour Thai yellow curries to warming mutton versions from the Caribbean islands, Japanese kare raisu to vegan and vegetarian options, these are the best spots in the capital to find a proper curry.

Where to get an Indian, Sri Lankan or Pakistani curry

It is the cuisine that first ignited British tastebuds with a fiery passion for spice, and after years of being the nations guilty pleasure, Indian cooking is now a fine dining favourite.

The Sethi family knows what makes a good Indian restaurant. Siblings Jyotin, Karam and Sunaina (JKS Restaurants) are proprietors of a number of the capitals best curry spots and Trishna has held a Michelin star since 2013. Celebrating the coastal cuisine of southwest India, a must-try here is the meen manga curry made with hake. Similarly, one-starred Gymkhana in Mayfair offers an upmarket take on the vindaloo by using pork cheek meat, as well as a rogan josh made with lamb shank. Hoppers, one of the groups most popular offerings, provides a Sri Lankan take on curry, with crab and black pork karis ready to be mopped up with their signature hopper pancakes.

Elsewhere, at Jamavar and Bombay Bustle chef Surender Mohan is concocting innovative Indian small plates. Former Jamavar chef Rohit Ghai now has new digs in Chelsea: Kutir offers venison steeped in a silky green peppercorn sauce, as well as an unexpected dish for high-end Indian restaurants these days: a chicken tikka masala. Brave the queues for Dishoom and youll be rewarded with a chicken ruby  sumptuous but still overshadowed by the excellent black daal.

Veeraswamy is the UKs very first Indian restaurant, opening its doors more than 90 years ago. It finally earned a Michelin star in 2016, having raised its game in the face of a remarkable influx of competition.

Over in east London  and a stones throw from curry boulevard Brick Lane  is Gunpowder. Chef Nirmal Saves cooking was recognised with a Bib Gourmand in 2018, which the restaurant has maintained since. The egg curry masala is the one to try here, with all dishes embracing a home-cooked feel. On the cheaper end, Whitechapels well-loved Pakistani eatery Lahore Kebab House in continues to be a legend among curry houses.

For more tips, check out our round-up of the best Indian restaurants in London.

Where to get a Caribbean curry ( Chiron Cole)

While both parts of the world were under European colonial rule, the Indian curry made its way to the West Indies, where it met its match in the form of the suitably mind-blowing Scotch Bonnet chilli pepper. Rum Kitchen slow braises its mutton for a heartwarming curry that comes with roti and rice and peas, while Dalston favourite Rudies wraps its goat curry in a split pea roti and serves it with Rude Sexy Sauce. Island Social Clubs 24-hour marinated mutton curry and spiced-up Colombo de Poulet are almost a match for its superlative bussup shot roti, while Fish, Wings and Tingss coconut curry prawns are a sunshine-soaked, lighter alternative.

For more island-style curries, check out our round-up of the best Caribbean restaurants in London.

Where to get a Thai curry

Fans of the fragrant flavours of Thailand have been in for a treat in recent years with an influx of new openings aiming to expand our horizons beyond the Thai green staple. Spitalfieldss Som Saa sprightly menu includes a massaman curry with Cornish duck leg and quince, as well as a gaeng gung sap  a southern style curry with minced prawns and aubergine.

Soho spot Kiln was named the best restaurant in the country at the 2018 National Restaurant awards, and is continuing to enliven tastebuds with a sour turmeric curry with turbot and a jungle curry made with grey mullet. Over in Highbury, Seb Holmess Farang offers a braised Yorkshire beef shin red curry with apple aubergine or a minced tiger prawn yellow curry with samphire and brown crab.

Where to get a South East Asian curry

King's Cross' Roti King is a cheap eats legend. An authentic Malaysian favourite, its curry dhall costs just 5 and is served with two pieces of excellent roti. You can also get the same dish at its sibling spot Gopals Corner in Market Halls Victoria, but itll cost you a couple of quid more. Over in London Bridge, Champoor Champoors menu boasts a selection of fragrant Malay curries covering meat, fish, vegan and vegetarian - not to mention its an incredibly Instagrammable spot, so dont forget to snap. Filipino food is having a real moment in London right now  to try it out street food style, track down My Million Pound Menu winners BBQ Dreamz and tuck into lavishly garnished curries of sweet and sour chicken adobo and grilled aubergine satay.

Where to get a Japanese curry

Courtesy of CoCo Ichibanya

Japanese cuisine isnt all clean eating. If youre in the mood to shun the sashimi, a Japanese curry  most frequently enjoyed with panko-breadcrumbed and deep fried chicken katsu  is soul-warming comfort food. The end of 2018 saw Japanese chain Curry House Coco Ichibanya open its first UK outlet in the West End  specialising in curry, its sauce comes in a variety of heats, with unexpected toppings including scrambled egg and frankfurters.

Cocoro now boasts three locations including a Highgate deli, all of which serve up lashings of the national favourite. Japanese cuisine doesnt tend to lend itself too well to herbivores, but vegetarians are well served at Islingtons Tanakatsu with the option of topping their curry with a pumpkin croquette accompaniment. Mini-chain Japanese Canteen serves its pocket-friendly curries either with chicken katsu or a mix of tofu and vegetables.

Where to get a vegetarian or vegan curry

Most London curry hotspots now offer meat-free options on their menus, but real treats can be found in restaurants that take vegetarian and vegan food seriously. Finsbury Park favourite Jai Krishna offers an all-vegetarian menu, with highlights including a tastebud tingling chilli paneer. Sagar is another meat-free spot with multiple curries ready to take on its acclaimed  and frankly massive  dosas, with dishes including brinjal bhajee and a cashew-packed kurma. Soho favourite Kricket also has a way with vegetables: its hazelnut and puffed rice-sprinkled butternut squash makhani is just as much a treat for meat-eaters.

For full list of meat-free recommendations, check out our round-up of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in London.
J eremy Pang is the owner of the Asian cookery school, School of Wok, which he founded in 2009, and the author of a new cookbook, Hong Kong Diner (published by Quadrille, 15). Born in Darlington, he grew up in London living with his two sisters as their parents spent most of their time in Hong Kong where Pangs father worked as a pharmaceutical engineer and bio-technology consultant. Here he shares some of his earliest food memories.

It was school lunch boxes that convinced Jeremy Pang that food could be fun.

Aged 10, when the family moved to Singapore, Pang admits he found eating a bit of a chore because I wanted to go and play football with my mates. But there, where there were so many cultures - I think we had about 52 different races in our school - it felt exciting. Everyone ate all these different things.

Each morning before school, Pangs mother would cook fried rice or noodles and put them in what he calls thermos tiffin-style carriers, so that the food would still be warm at lunchtime:

At the time I had a lot of friends who were Korean or Japanese or from Hong Kong or China, and all their parents would be doing the same thing for their childrens lunchboxes. So instead of swapping sandwiches and packs of crisps, wed do swapsies of fried rice for bulgogi, and things like that. And thats how I grew up from there really.

In spite of the fact that Pang studied biochemical engineering at university, and his father never worked in food, food was instilled in the family with a mixture of influences from each side.

His grandparents and uncle both owned food businesses in London, while the family on his mothers side were professional dim sum Chinese bakers, including his Uncle Ken who made amazing pineapple baked buns. And Dad was also a very good cook himself.

Looking back he feels he had quite a different upbringing as his dads work was based out in Hong Kong and China, so he was often abroad, and I pretty much lived with my two sisters from the age of 13 onwards, so we had to fend for ourselves, and we picked up cooking very, very quickly.

Whenever they came back, though, or if I spent time with my dad, hed say: I wont teach you anything, you just have to taste it, and wed always play this game at dinner where we had to guess the ingredients that went into his cooking. I guess thats what built my palate and my understanding of food without really having ever been taught so much, as it were.

Whenever Pangs dad came to London, he would always invite friends or business associates round at the last minute and my mum would have to do all of the prep, and dad would come in and do the showy stuff at the end.

In Chinese cooking, as you know, theres a lot of fine chopping and dicing and really getting everything and cut to exactly the same size and lengths. So mum did all the hard work, the bulk basic cooking that fed the family, and he did the end bits - the more flare-y stuff. As his mum and brothers were all wok chefs, I think they instilled that love of really fierce quick wok cooking in him.

No matter the occasion, there would always be a big sharing banquet of food that everyone dug into, the etiquette being that there wasnt one - it was just everyone dive in, never cross your chopsticks as thats bad luck, and just go for it.

The food that featured during Pangs early years was mostly home-style Cantonese dishes, which was where an intriguing appreciation for frankfurters began: when their parents were away, he and his sisters would invite friends back home after high school where wed do these slightly illegal beer munchies sessions, and cook up fried rice with chopped-up frankfurters at 1am. It was so good in fact I still think that is one of the best things in the world.

Good Food Guide 2018: Top 50 UK restaurants - the top 10 in pictures 1 /16 Good Food Guide 2018: Top 50 UK restaurants - the top 10 in pictures #1 Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Cornwall #1 Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Cornwall The view of Port Isaac from the restaurant #2 L'Enclume, Cumbria #3 Pollen Street Social, London #3 Pollen Street Social, London #4 Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottinghamshire #5 The Fat Duck, Berkshire #6 Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London #7 Hedone, London #8 Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Tayside #9 Claude Bosi at Bibendum, London Adrian Lourie #10 Casamia, Bristol

Other dishes, many of which can be found in his new book Hong Kong Diner, included easy things that his mother did every day, that she could marinade and whack in the oven.

Clay pot and slower braised dishes were his fathers preferred things to cook: so wed have those lovely slow dishes like salted ham hock, a westernised version of the pork hock from Hong Kong, and then always a quick stir fry with lots of veg those were the foods we grew up eating, all simple but very hearty.

After university Pang formally trained in French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu school, yet it was cooking Asian food that felt like a sixth sense to me, and what truly informed the way he cooks and teaches now at The School of Wok. Partly, he says, this was because it made me want to convince people how easy it can be.

Here in the UK, Chinese food was seen as a like a kind of comfort food, which is why it has made it so much easier to sell.

But the thing is, I say youve had this food for so many decades, but no-ones really shown you how to cook it in the right way, or in the home-style way. And now with my book, Hong Kong Diner, its almost bringing that comfort food out, and some of the more adventurous stuff that people maybe dont associate with Cantonese cuisine here in the UK.

When he started the school, nearly every demonstration included fried rice, sweet and sour pork, and crispy chilli beef, because thats what people recognised as Cantonese food. But theres a stereotype of Chinese and Cantonese cuisine that its all the same. What people dont realise is that Canton is a region too, and all of Chinese cooking is regional!

Today Pang believes there arent as many preconceptions, and people - mostly real foodies - are, I believe, interested in all sorts of things, so long as it tastes fantastic, and it looks interesting and everyone is ordering it. So I think [people here] and in all the more Western countries are better [at following that] these days. [Now] people want to learn more about the cuisine and culture, which has so many hidden secrets to it.
T he scene is a tastefully decorated modern kitchen in Stoke Newington. The former Absolute Radio host, Geoff Lloyd, is scurrying about making coffees.

Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour Party from 2010-15, is munching a miso and white-chocolate cookie from the excellent cafe across the road, contemplating the legalisation of cannabis in American states. Gosh! Were really behind, arent we?

Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, is meanwhile discussing plans for her birthday at the weekend. She shares the day with John Lennon, PJ Harvey and David Cameron. Every year my husband sends me a birthday card with David Cameron on it to piss me off. Fortunately, theyre getting harder to find, ha ha! Some men from Thames Water keep coming through to do something with the drains. Its a bright, clear day.

The Stoke Newington area has long been a hotbed of revolutionary activity: it was the home of the 18th-century feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and the anarchist Stoke Newington Eight. And now it is where Lloyd and Miliband  Call me Geoff! Call me Ed!  record their podcast, Reasons to Be Cheerful. In case you havent downloaded it yet, well, you havent had the pleasure of hearing Ed Miliband making horse- porn gags while laying the groundwork for a future socialist utopia.

Each week, he and Lloyd discuss a big political idea  universal basic income, say, or how to deal with the tech monopolies  in an upbeat style that wont be too unsettling for fans of Lloyds drivetime output. They welcome special guests  this week, Jess Phillips and comedian Sara Pascoe  and also spend quite a lot of time talking about Geoffs fancy Japanese toilet. Let me just tell listeners, it is a spectacular toilet! gushes Miliband in the first episode. It looks like a normal toilet, but then it has these electronic devices, sort of next door to the toilet.

And if going from Leader of the Opposition to podcast co-host might seem like a downward trajectory, well you underestimate the intensity of Miliband and Lloyds bromance and their command of the podcast form. You see, Ive been secretly in love with Geoff ever since he interviewed me on Absolute Radio during the 2015 election, Miliband explains in the kitchen.

I think it was the Independent that said: Is this the interview that will change everything for Ed Miliband? says Lloyd. It didnt, deadpans Miliband.

Best podcasts for your commute - in pictures 1 /20 Best podcasts for your commute - in pictures What will you listen to on your walk to work Friday? Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Tiny Desk Concerts This series of live concerts hosted by NPR Music brings some of the biggest names to perform in a tiny office, at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. Listening (or watching, if you prefer the video version) feels intimate and personal, almost as if youre there yourself, spending a chilled-out afternoon with Tegan and Sarah or Adele. iTunes The Bright Sessions This award-winning podcast is a sci-fi audio drama about people in therapy who have supernatural abilities. The art form of radio drama can often be pushed aside for the ever-popular narrative shows, but this cast of talented voice actors and captivating story threads will keep you hooked. iTunes Modern Love Based on the popular New York Times series of reader-submitted essays about love, this podcasts goes deep into the readings by adding commentary from notable personalities, updates by the essayists themselves. Hosts Meghna Chakrabarti and Modern Love editor Daniel Jones give listeners an introspective view into one of the worlds most joyful yet complex and confusing phenomenon -- being in love. iTunes Reply All For a show about the internet, this podcasts teaches listeners so much more. Its about stolen cell phones, rainbow dogs, time travel and everything in between. Hosts PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman have an unbeatable dynamic, explaining quirky internet stories in ways that feel more like a conversation over coffee than a lesson in tech. iTunes Kitchen Sisters Presents From Peabody award winning Kitchen Sisters Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva comes a powerhouse production that brings audio to life, integrating in lost recordings, hidden worlds and stories of real people. The episodes are a treat for the ear, telling deeply layered stories interlaced with pleasing music and tasteful field noise. iTunes Worst Idea of All Time Two guys who pick a terrible film and watch it every week for a year. What could go wrong? Guy Montgomery and Tim Batt, two New Zealand comedians, started the show by watching Grown Ups 2 once a week, every week for a year. Then they watched Sex and The City 2 52 times. Now they are watching We Are Your Friends. A funny show or the public deterioration of two grown men? Well let you decide. iTunes Love + Radio Nick van der Kolks Love and Radio doesnt try to teach, preach or instill. It just tells stories in the most primal form, introducing real characters and scenarios that feel just that -- real. Nothing is as it seems, and the complicated plots of the show keeps you on your toes in a peaceful way, not a true crime way. Truly a delight. iTunes My Dad Wrote a Porno When your 60-year-old father has written erotic books, what choice do you have but to read them aloud for thousands of listeners? Tune in to hear Jamie Morton and friends James Cooper and BBC Radio 1s Alice Levine read a new chapter every Monday. No guarantees that you wont laugh out loud in public. iTunes The High Low A follow up to the freshly retired PanDolly Podcast, Pandora Sykes and Dolly Aldertons High Low mixes the trivial and the political into a tight, quick 45 minutes - literally, the two talk so fast. The female duo echoes the American trend (Think: Two Dope Queens, Call Your Girlfriend), but acknowledges their posh privilege in a refreshingly transparent manner. A chat show thats mindful, not mindless? The perfect background for your commute. The High Low Desert Island Discs Its the classic game played on long car rides since the beginning of time -- what would you take with you on a desert island? This BBC4 programme was created by Roy Plomley in 1942, and is now hosted by Kirsty Young, who asks guests to choose the eight records they would take with them to a desert island. You can listen to every castaway from 1942 to the present, from David Beckham to Liberaci. iTunes Adam Buxton Podcast Get an inside look at the actor/director/comedians life with this podcast, which is really more like a casual chat. There are silly rambles and even some singing, but youd be surprised at much youll learn about Buxtons life and the lives of his boisterous guests. iTunes The Moth Stories told on the Moth Radio Hour are true, remembered live (without notes) and expose the rawest bits of the human condition. Moth storytellers in a roomful of strangers, telling stories that are heartwarming, terrifying and exhilarating. These stories are personal -- anyone with a tale can volunteer. For the stories behind the stories, this podcast re-airs all episodes of the show, plus additional pieces from their archives. iTunes My Favorite Murder True crime podcasts are all the rage (Serial, S-Town, and the like), but MFM is a different kind of thrill. Each episode is hosted by die-hard crime story fans Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, who tell each other their favorite tales of murder. Friends and fans call in to report hometown crime stories too so, as the website says: Check your anxiety at the door. iTunes Kermode and Mayos Film Review The historic duo have been presenting radio programmes together for ages, but this podcast is one to note. Its a simple format: one hour of Mayo discussing the weeks top films, a conversation or two with an actor or director, and then one hour of Kemode ranting about the weeks film releases. Kemode is totally unleashed, launching unplanned assaults in the Kermodean rants he is so famously known for. The BBC Radio 5 programme is the channels flagship movie podcast. iTunes

But the interview, broadcast during that ill-starred campaign (the bacon sandwich, the Ed stone, etc) did at least show Miliband wasnt the Marxist robot hed been made out to be by the Right-wing media. Responding to Lloyds questions about Eighties computer games and the like, Miliband became the person associates often said he was: geeky, sure, but funny, warm and excellent at translating complicated policy into everyday language. So when Lloyd was pondering a podcast for disheartened progressives earlier this year, he thought of Miliband. Brexit was on the horizon, the general election didnt seem like anything in the realms of the positive And I wanted things to be upbeat about.

As it happened, Miliband had been toying with taking ideas such as universal basic income to a wider audience ever since hed stepped down as Labour leader. While the mass youth support enjoyed by his successor, Jeremy Corbyn, makes his own Milifandom seem rather meek, Miliband has won fresh admirers for his Twitter zings (telling Piers Morgan to pipe down rarely fails). He proved a capable stand-in for Jeremy Vine on Radio 2.

I thought there was a way of exploring serious ideas without being too po-faced about it, he says. My fundamental reasons for thinking it was a good idea: one, is that many people felt disheartened. But second is that the Left has been strong on diagnosis  the country is unequal, unfair, etc  but what are the big answers? And now that space has opened up, partly because of the last election and Jeremy Corbyn doing so much better than anyone expected. There is now a prospect of a progressive government  not at all certain  which means theres always more of a thirst for ideas.

Its fun going beyond what policy units are saying and look at TED talks or pop economics books, says Lloyd.

Think-tanks have a role. But they present ideas in a very particular way: long policy documents, lots of detail and numbers I hope this gives people access to these ideas without forcing them to read a 100-page document. And also, its fun!

We head up to the attic studio, where Miliband and Lloyd record episode three, hunched under the eaves amid Lloyds voluminous collection of Beatles memorabilia. The theme this week is that stubbornly persistent gender pay gap. But were here to focus on solutions! Miliband interviews Victoria A Budson, a lawyer from Massachusetts who has led a cross-party initiative that makes it illegal for employers to ask what your previous salary was when you apply for a job. The idea is that women and minorities wont be forced to carry their low pay from job to job. Then Jess Philips  chair of the Womens Parliamentary Labour Party  talks forcefully about the issue in a British context. Winning power is the beginning, middle and end of this, she concludes. Wow, youre good! says Miliband.

Miliband appears to relish the day-to-day business of broadcasting, performing the cues himself, often letting Lloyd take the lead on policy questions. The pair have an easy rapport. At one point, Lloyd tells a rather sad story about a school trip and Miliband seems genuinely upset. And when listening to all suggestions, from legalistic policy to redressing corporate excess to replacing all cars with balloon cars, both have an amazing ability to be really enthusiastic (Thats an amazing idea!) and then come up with a real-world parallel (Well, theyre beginning to do something like this in Paris...)

Ed Miliband and his co-host Geoff Lloyd

During one break, Lloyd marvels at how rarely anyone saw this Miliband when he was Labour leader. The way that you are when youre allowed to be yourself is very different from when youre, say, being interviewed by Jeremy Paxman. Youre never given the breathing space.

I dont know Its hard to fathom the reason for it, says Miliband. I think some of it is self-imposed. Some people in those positions are better at shedding those constraints than I was. Some of it just comes with the position. Youre the leader of the Labour Party in a pretty hostile media environment where every word gets picked over and parsed, so it tends to make you more constrained.

Adrian Lourie

He has a degree of sympathy for Theresa Mays recent conference trauma. I had a number of things happen to me, but the letters falling off? Gordon Brown once had a pigeon fly into the hall when he was doing his party speech. The people who worked for him were incredibly worried the pigeon would do its droppings on him while the speech was going on.

It shows that when the momentum isnt with you its almost impossible to change it. Dominant narrative is so overwhelming in politics. The smallest gaffe when the momentum is against you is a disaster. But when it is with you, everyone just ignores it.

I think this is why politicians do reality TV, says Lloyd. They get it into their heads: If only people could see the REAL me, theyd love me!

Are you saying this is my version of reality TV? If this is my Strictly Come Dancing, what does that make you? Bantz!

The podcast format seems a much more conducive medium. Its a bit like the bicycle of the social-media landscape. Its not quite as whizzy or new as Snapchat or Facebook Live. But it seems like a much more wholesome way of navigating an information landscape dominated by flame wars and fake news. That was part of the thinking, says Lloyd. If I wake up for a wee in the middle of the night, Ill check Twitter. I think it has helped make me deeply depressed about the state of the world. Hes also frustrated at the false balance you often find when debates are staged in the traditional media. Katie Hopkins, who has these extreme views, will be put on to balance things out, but she makes the debate completely unbalanced.

And the best podcasts feed a hunger for ideas. Miliband was buoyed by the vibrancy he encountered at the recent Labour Party conference. There was an event called the World Transformed, which was set up by Momentum, and people from across the political spectrum have had to tip their hat to it. Its vibrant, with interesting discussions and ideas. Thats why its such an interesting political moment. Post-1945, the mid-Seventies, and now  these represent ideological moments when the world tilts a bit. Thats what the Tories were grappling with at their conference. Do you defend free markets, or do you reform them? Its the same issue that Labour had in the mid-Seventies and its the same issue the Tories had after 1945. How do you interact with this new ideological term?

Does he consider himself a centrist? No, I dont. I think people sense the world needs to be different. They want big change. And the question is, can you channel that into what I would call progressive purposes. I think this is the opportunity thats been created since the election. Jeremy Corbyn has opened up a lot of space. And I see it as my responsibility to help to build on that platform with ideas.
A Border Force guard was among 12 people arrested as police swooped on a gang suspected of smuggling millions of pounds worth of guns and Class A drugs into Britain through the Channel Tunnel.

The 36-year-old officer based at the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone was arrested by French police near Calais in a joint operation with the Met and the National Crime Agency.

Three other UK nationals were held in France as police seized bags containing 11 firearms, including pistols and revolvers, along with ammunition and silencers.

French officers also recovered about 34 kilos of cocaine and seven kilos of heroin with an estimated street value of up to 5 million.

Drugs: French officers recovered about 34 kilos of cocaine and seven kilos of heroin with an estimated street value of up to 5 million / National Crime Agency

The police operation had targeted a suspected organised crime group. The border guard is suspected of using his position to avoid checks to help get weapons and drugs into the UK.

Among the guns seized was a CZ 75 pistol, a handgun used by the army in the Czech Republic.

The Border Force officer was arrested with the three other British nationals at a location near Calais on Friday after a surveillance operation by French officers.

Shortly after, eight men were arrested by detectives from Scotland Yards Organised Crime Command at different locations in Kent.

The police operation had targeted a suspected organised crime group / National Crime Agency

Six were due to appear at Barkingside magistrates court today charged with conspiracy to import firearms and Class A drugs. Two men were freed under investigation.

Officers from the National Crime Agencys Anti-Corruption Unit have also carried out searches at two locations in Folkestone and Dover.

The units head, Dave Hucker, said today: Our investigation is ongoing, both in the UK and in France.

The four Britons held near Calais were still being questioned by French police today. Earlier this year the NCA warned that more weapons were being smuggled into the UK from mainland Europe and there has been a rise in shootings.

In July, 79 handguns were found in engine blocks being taken by van through the Channel Tunnel. It was the largest haul of handguns ever seized by British police.
A murder probe has been launched after a man was beaten to death in alleyway in west London.

The victim, a 30-year-old Polish man, was found collapsed in the alleyway in Hounslow in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene in Central House, near to Lampton Road and Montague Road, shortly before 3am.

Scotland Yard said the man was found suffering from serious head injuries after being assaulted. He died at the scene.

Police are hunting for a man and a woman who were seen leaving the alleyway in opposite directions shortly before emergency services arrived.

The victim had been drinking in the Yates pub in Bath Road before he was attacked and was seen with the man and woman on the street outside the venue at 2.45am before they all walked into the alleyway, police said.

A Met Police spokesman said: While police are satisfied that the victim is a Polish national, they are still in the process of identifying his next of kin. Formal identification awaits and a post-mortem examination will be held in due course.

Detective Inspector Will Reynolds, from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC) who is leading the investigation, said: "I would urge this man and woman to come forward to police as soon as possible - they are likely to be able to give us information that could prove vital in helping us piece together the chain of events that led up to this tragic event.

I would also particularly like to appeal to the local Polish community in west London to contact us if they think they can shed light on the victim or his friends or associates.

He added: The alleyway leads to a car park area of a block of flats which is currently under construction and being refurbished, so it therefore looks like a bit of a building site at the moment."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 0208 721 4005 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111


T he Las Vegas Strip switched off its bright lights to honour those killed in last week's mass shooting.

Hotels and casinos along the famous row of bars, casinos and hotels went dark on Sunday as hundreds of mourners turned out to attend a candlelit vigil one week on from the horrific massacre.

Exterior lights were turned off for 11 minutes between 10.05 to 10.16pm - the exact time and duration of the gunfire on October 1.

Approximately 22,000 people were attending the third day of the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas when Stephen Paddock opened fire from his hotel room.

Las Vegas Shooting - In pictures 1 /14 Las Vegas Shooting - In pictures People run for cover at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival Getty Images Concertgoers carry a person away Getty Images Police officers telling people to take cover near the scene AP Broken windows seen on a high floor in the Mandalay Bay hotel facing the scene of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA Concertgoers scramble for shelter Getty Images Festival-goers run while ducking for cover Getty Images A police officer takes cover behind a patrol vehicle AP A couple comfort each other Getty Images Las Vegas police stand guard along the streets outside the festival grounds of the Route 91 Harvest Getty Images Concertgoers fleeing Getty The crowd at the festival Getty Images Concertgoers fleeing Getty Images A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP Police and rescue personnel gather at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard Getty Images

Paddock killed 58 people and injured a further 527 before allegedly committing suicide, making this the worst mass shooting ever seen in the US.

The Red Cross has set up a family assistance centre in Las Vegas to support survivors.

Bill Fortune, a Red Cross spokesman, said: "A week into this, a lot of people have been numb. Some of those emotional crises are just showing up today, where people can't get out of bed. People have called saying they can't be in crowds."

In Paris, the lights of the Eiffel Tower were also turned off as a mark of solidarity.

Police have yet to establish Paddock's motive and the investigation is ongoing.
A n office worker bit off part of a woman's ear in a road rage attack after being told off for driving while on her mobile phone, a court heard.

Chloe Hammond, 27, allegedly lunged at Julie Holloway before clamping her teeth around her right ear during a spat on the Embankment in front of a crowd of people.

She is accused of flying into a rage when Ms Holloway, 56, tapped on the window of her Audi TT to complain about her driving.

Ms Holloway, who was heading to Embankment Pier for a boat party, said she did not realise what had happened until someone picked up part of her ear from the pavement.

She told Southwark crown court the spat started when she pointed out Ms Hammond, who had been beeping her horn, was on her phone.

The victim had to undergo reconstructive surgery after the incident / Central News

The incident, just after 2pm outside the Walkabout bar, was captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage, which shows Hammond rushing angrily at Ms Holloway.

"She pulled both sides of my hair and just lunged into my ear", said Ms Holloway.

"I had my head down, I didn't move and I felt a bite on my ear. I couldn't get her off me because she had lunged on to my ear."

Fighting back tears, Ms Holloway told the jury: "At the time I didn't grasp what had actually happened.

"I didn't know my ear had gone missing until someone picked it up off the floor. It was quite disturbing to see it.

"I still didn't realise that was my ear."

Ms Holloway, giving evidence from behind a screen, said she has undergone reconstructive surgery on her ear since the incident, on March 19, but it has not been totally successful.

"I was in such shock that another human being could bite someone's ear off", she added.

"She shouted at me about me smashing her window, but I hadn't smashed her window - she was just screaming at me.

It is said Hammond called her a "ugly bitch" during the clash.

Hammond, who is listed online as an office worker for Essex-based haulage firm Total UK Transportation, was questioned two days after the alleged attack after voluntarily going to a police station.

The court heard Hammond, from Rayleigh, Essex, has pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding but denies the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The trial continues.
A serial fraudster who was caught trying to flee the country after phoning an investigating police officer to threaten him and his family has been jailed.

Jonathan Richman, 52, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to a total of two years in prison at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday after fleecing travel companies and holidaymakers for years.

He pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering offences totalling more than 80,000.

Between 2011 and 2015, Richman posed as a travel agent under the name Jamie Malcolm dealing in last-minute holidays at low prices.

But without his clients' knowledge, Richman paid for the holidays using fraudulent credit card details, as they paid money into bank accounts he controlled.

Police discovered bank cards for money laundering accounts and a passport.

Travel companies were left thousands of pounds out of pocket when credit card companies later spotted the fraudulent payments and recovered the money.

And in some cases, where the fraud was spotted quickly, Richman's customers had their holidays cancelled, and were left unable to get their money back from him.

The Met launched an investigation in September 2013 when two people returning from a holiday in Thailand were arrested by officers at Heathrow Airport.

It quickly became apparent they were victims of Richman's fraud, police said.

A breakthrough in finding out Richmans true identity or whereabouts came in October 2014 when Richman called the Heathrow CID office and made threats against one of the investigating officers and his family, telling him to leave [him] alone.

Detectives traced the mobile phone numbers used to make the calls, and were then able to link the numbers to Richman. He was arrested in February 2015 in Brighton.

In total, officers identified around 16 victims - including companies or people - who had fallen foul of Richman's scams.

Richman caught on CCTV buying a phone top-up card.

He was convicted of fraud and malicious communications offences in March 2015 and sentenced to a total of four years' in prison.

After Richman was released on licence from prison in August 2016, he breached his licence and was on the run from police. He was eventually arrested at Gatwick Airport on August 28, trying to board a flight to Morocco.

He was charged on August 29 with the additional offences, and pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court on September 27 to three counts of fraud, money laundering and the possession of fraudulent documents and articles for use in fraud.

Detective Sergeant Dave Bullamore, from the Met's Aviation Policing Command, said: "Richman was carrying out these frauds effectively as a full time occupation.

"He went to great lengths to try and conceal his true identity, right from renting a flat under a false name to setting up fake bank accounts.

"But his arrogance proved to be his downfall when he called the detectives to threaten and warn them off from investigating him.

"We were finally able to match his face to his true identity and arrest him, and despite his attempts to go on the run and evade justice, he is now facing further time behind bars."
I t's the wedding venue where Paul McCartney hoped all you need is love and Liam Gallagher showed he wasnt looking back in anger.

Old Marylebone Town Hall, which has staged more celebrity nuptials than anywhere else in the UK, is set to reopen after a four-year hiatus.

The Grade II listed building will resume hosting marriages, civil partnerships and baby-naming ceremonies in January after a 60 million refurbishment and expansion.

Sir Paul married Linda Eastman at the town hall in 1969 and chose the same venue for his marriage to third wife Nancy Shevell in 2011, while Ringo Starr married second wife Barbara Bach at the venue in 1981.

Sean Bean married Georgina Sutcliffe in 2008. (Cavan Pawson ) / Cavan Pawson

Gallagher married Patsy Kensit there in 1997 and returned in 2008 to wed Nicole Appleton.

Other weddings at the venue include Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas, Sean Bean and Georgina Sutcliffe, Claudia Winkleman and Kris Thykier, and Cilla Black and Bobby Willis.

The Old Marylebone Town Hall.

Westminsters chief registrar, Alison Cathcart, who has been in the job for 26 years and presided over Sir Pauls marriage to Ms Shevell, said more than 200 couples had already enquired about tying the knot at the building.

Weve been at Mayfair Library for four years and while that has its charms it is not the same as one of the most famous and popular wedding venues in the country, she said.

The town hall and registry office.

On a Saturday in the summer we used to do 14 weddings a day, now with bigger rooms and longer opening hours we expect to be doing even more. The seven new reception rooms are named after different parts of the borough: Westminster, Knightsbridge, Paddington, Marylebone, Soho, Pimlico and Mayfair.

In 2012 Westminster council signed a 35-year lease with London Business School, which has built a new campus on the site and restored the 1920 town hall designed by Sir Edwin Cooper.

The wedding venue has been popular with stars for decades.

The council has spent 800,000 refurbishing the reception rooms, which can be hired from 360 and include wine fridges and drink facilities so guests can stay after the ceremony.

Ms Cathcart admitted to being starstruck at times by the guests but said only two people had ever got special treatment: Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The registrar went to Kensington Palace to issue their birth certificates rather than getting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to come to the town hall.

Ms Cathcart said: I think for the third baby it will only be fair to give someone else the chance to go to the palace.
T he director of the Victoria and Albert Museum today said action was needed to protect visitors outside the attraction after a car crash left 11 people injured and sparked fears of a terror attack.

Tristram Hunt said the incident highlighted the confusing and dangerous situation on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, which is shared by both pedestrians and traffic.

The former Labour MP, who took the helm at the V&A in February, told the Standard: The safety and security of our visitors, staff and volunteers is paramount, and the current arrangements are confusing, dangerous and unsatisfactory.

Saturdays incident has made it clear that we need a solution, and we will be working together with our neighbouring organisations, residents and the council to address this.

Empty tables in a restaurant near the Natural History Museum in South Kensington / EPA

Armed police swarmed Exhibition Road after a black Toyota Prius mounted the pavement and ploughed into pedestrians outside the museum at about 2.20pm on Saturday.

The driver of the car, reported to be a minicab, was pinned down by passers-by before being arrested. Scotland Yard has since confirmed it is treating the crash as a road traffic collision and not terror-related.

Police and ambulance vehicles inside a police cordon after a serious incident in South Kensington / Darryl Hannah

Nine people were taken to hospital mostly with minor leg and head injuries, London Ambulance Service said.

Some 11 million people a year use Exhibition Road, which also runs past cultural attractions including the Science Museum and the Natural History museum.

A 30 million scheme to transform the boulevard into a kerb-free shared space was completed in 2012 after three years of construction work.

Despite winning plaudits from architecture critics, the scheme has faced criticism from safety campaigners who believe the layout is dangerous for pedestrians.

Incident: Police outside the Natural History Museum in South Kensington / @damohack

A 2015 report commissioned by former Paralympic swimmer Lord Holmes of Richmond, who is blind, described such shared spaces as frightening and intimidating.

In June Mr Hunt revealed his desire to ban cars completely from Exhibition Road in an attempt to pedestrianise Albertopolis, a 19th century nickname for the area inspired by Queen Victorias husband Prince Albert.

Mr Hunt today said everything should be on the table to make the area safer, including banning traffic entirely or limiting access to certain times of the day.

He added: We believe that reviving the original vision for Albertopolis as an open, civic space and shared cultural quarter will greatly improve the experience for all visitors to one of the worlds great cultural destinations.

Most people agree the current template isnt working. Weve been in contact with the borough. They understand its an issue.

We think the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea should work with us, the museums and the community to find a way forward.

A Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesperson, said: "A great deal of work has been carried out to protect people who visit Exhibition Road since we introduced safety measures in 2011.

"During that time the safety scheme, which we developed and delivered in partnership with the Mayor of London, TfL and Westminster Council, has cut collisions in Exhibition Road dramatically.

"The removal of street clutter, such as conventional traffic signals, barriers, 20mph speed limit, plus signs and road markings, have encouraged motorists to slow down when they enter the road and engage with their surroundings  which has made this joint safety initiative a great success."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Merton Traffic Garage on 020 8543 5157, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 47-year-old man was released yesterday under investigation after being arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.
A new flagship court to tackle cyber crime and fraud in the Londons financial sector is to open in the City of London.

The state-of-the-art building in Fleet Street will house 18 courtrooms and mainly focus on economic crime, as well as containing brand new civil, mayoral, county and magistrates courts.

The centre will replace all of the Citys current court services except from the Old Bailey.

Justice minister Dominic Raab said it will be a terrific advert for post-Brexit Britain.

The City of London Corporation said the court will help cement the Citys position as a preeminent legal cluster and the leading global financial centre.

Funding options are set to be explored early next year.

More than nine per cent of the Square Miles workforce - around 44,000 jobs - is employed in legal services. One in eight legal sector workers are based in the City.

The modern court will also house a replacement magistrate's and county court, as well as focusing on cyber and economic crime. (Shutterstock ) / Shutterstock

Financial services firms currently make up 17 per cent of the total demand for legal services in the UK.

Catherine McGuinness, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation, said:

Our legal system has been an example to the rest of the world, said Catherine McGuinness, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation.

Playing host to some of the worlds leading regulators, financial services and tech firms, the City is a natural choice to house this modern judicial centre.

This proposal will make sure London continues to set the highest legal standards domestically and internationally.

Justice minister Dominic Raab said: This new flagship court will build on UK legal services unique comparative advantage, by leading the drive to tackle fraud and crack down on cyber-crime.

By reinforcing the Citys world-leading reputation as the number one place to do business and resolve disputes, its a terrific advert for post-Brexit Britain.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service said the new centre will be equipped with 21st century technology and is part of a six-year project to digitise many of its services.


A City worker has slammed Donald Trumps travel ban as totally unnecessary discrimination after being refused entry to the US to film in Hollywood.

Syrian-born Lara Khalaf, 39, who has held an EU passport for 23 years, applied for a visa to take part in a documentary on inspirational international women.

The leadership coach was the only woman from the Arab world invited for the programme, being made this week for American public broadcaster PBS  and the only person denied entry to the country.

She has held a Spanish passport since she was 14, but said the US embassy had put her application on hold indefinitely because she could not confirm what passport was used to travel from Syria to Madrid at that time.

Lara Khalaf, 39, has held an EU passport for 23 years.

Ms Khalaf, of Lewisham, said: I have lived in London for 13 years. I worked in banking and now work with finance clients and all these have strict protocols, so my record is impeccable. I have been to the US before. I even went to New York after the Syrian war had started in 2011. When I had my interview with the embassy, a month before I was due to travel, I kept thinking, why am I being treated like this? When I was told it was because I was Syrian it made me feel heavy with sadness.

A temporary travel ban on citizens from several majority-Muslim countries, including Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, is in place in the US. It has faced protests and legal challenges and was initially declared unconstitutional, but a version of the original ban was partly reinstated in July.

To apply for entry Ms Khalaf answered extensive questions and presented a letter of invitation from the California-based production company. I presented 30 pages of further evidence, she said. I have never ever felt prejudiced against before and I will not let this make me feel that way. I phoned up many times and emailed, including my MP, who has been wonderful. Ive used social media and tagged the embassy to try and make people realise the effect of the travel ban is real.

Lewisham East MP Heidi Alexander wrote to the embassy on behalf of Ms Khalaf, but was told on October 2 that her constituents documents to prove how she travelled from Aleppo to Madrid in 1994 were under further review. Darla Boone, executive producer at Boone Media Productions, which is making the film about the Phenomenal Global Womens event, said: I sent a note [for Ms Khalaf to give to the embassy] explaining we were inviting her.

She added in a message to Ms Khalaf: It saddens me to know the travel ban has had an impact on your freedom.

A US embassy spokesman said: For privacy considerations we never comment on individual visa cases.
T heresa May's warning to European Union chiefs that the ball is in your court was thrown back in her face today.

In a hard-hitting response, the European Commission declared the ball is entirely in the UK court and stood firm against Brexit concessions.

The Prime Minister was using the ball analogy in a Commons statement this afternoon to signal that Britain had given enough ground. She claims it is the EUs turn to soften its stance in negotiations.

But Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas turned her words against her, saying: This is not exactly a ball game.

"There is a clear sequencing to these talks, and there has been so far no solution found on step one, which is the divorce proceedings, so the ball is entirely in the UK court for the rest to happen.

EU leaders are concerned about Tory turmoil over Brexit. In her statement to MPs, Mrs May will announce two white papers covering how trade and customs will be handled after Brexit.

The Prime Minister is pressing the EU to move talks on from the first phase  haggling over a divorce bill, EU citizens rights and the Northern Ireland border  to phase two, including full-blooded talks about future trading relations.

No 10 officials played down the significance of the white papers, saying they would provide the skeleton for future legislation to enact post-Brexit procedures. Details of future trade and customs policies are a matter for the negotiations with the EU  unless these break down without a deal.

The fifth round of talks takes place this week and next week a summit of the 27 other EU leaders will decide if enough progress has been made to move onto trade issues. As reported by the Standard last week, expectations of a breakthrough are low on both sides.

However, EU leaders are torn over what signal to send, with some agonising that Mrs May has little room to make more concessions at a time her leadership is under threat and a dangerous reshuffle is looming. An EU diplomat said: On the one hand, we want to hail progress but we also want to be cautious not to overdo it.

Negotiating time has been pared down to a little under two days this week, with Brexit Secretary David Davis not due to make an appearance until the talks wind up on Thursday.

The impact of Brexit was made clear today when figures revealed that debit card spending by Britons abroad slumped by more than 900 million in the summer. It was more evidence of Britons ditching foreign holidays after the Brexit vote sent the pounds value tumbling.

Figures from banking body UK Finance showed expenditure on UK debit cards overseas fell nearly 13 per cent in August, down from 3.6 billion in the same month last year to 3.15 billion. This followed a fall in July of 466 million to 3.16 billion, compared with 3.63 billion 12 months ago.

Publishing the latest overseas figures in its August debit card report, UK Finance said: This decrease, in part, highlights the growing consumer preference to holiday in the UK as sterlings purchasing power abroad has weakened considerably since the Brexit vote.

The figures were for debit cards only, with many holidaymakers making more use of credit cards. Senior Conservative MP Bob Neill said: This is part of the reality of Brexit hitting home and affecting ordinary peoples lives.
A New York restaurant has hit back after a Kremlin-backed news agency claimed it made a special birthday burger in honour of Vladimir Putin.

Russian state TV reported this weekend that Lucy's Cantina Royale concocted a five-decker Putinburger to celebrate the Russian president's 65th birthday, marked on October 7th.

The giant, "juicy" sandwich was served with spicy fries, claimed news reports which also carried images of the burger that appeared to have been taken in the restaurant.

Government-owned news agency Tass also reported that "restaurant manager Ted Bryan" said Mr Putin was the only state leader whose birthday is celebrated in this way.

The news report read: "Bryan stated that Putin has significant influence. 'So the burger must be big,' he added."

State-backed agency Ruptly quoted a waitress at Lucy's Cantina Royale who said the sandwich weighed 1,952 grams in a nod to Putin's birth year, 1952.

But Russian journalist Alexey Kovalev smelled a rat when he studied pictures in the news reports and saw that special advertising flyers for the burger were placed on only one table in the restaurant.

He phone the eatery, which said the Putinburger was fake news. "The restaurant was very surprised," Mr Kovalev wrote in a blog post.

Sean Ryan, spokesman for Lucy's Cantina Royale, wrote in an email published to Kovalev's website: "Lucy's Cantina Royale was the subject of a hoax involving Vladimir Putin's birthday.

Our restaurant has never celebrated Vladimir Putins birthday in any way, shape or form and has never offered a Putin burger."

The comments were confirmed to the Guardian.

He added that it appeared a waitress working at the restaurant had claimed to be shooting for a student project in the restaurant recently, and was now under investigation.

Lucy's Cantina Royale was contacted for comment
D enmark is set to ban burkas in public places after a cross-party majority of lawmakers overwhelmingly backed proposals to forbid face coverings.

The proposed law would see the Scandinavian country join Austria, France and Belgium, which all have similar laws.

It will target full-face coverings, including Islamic veils such as the niqab or burka.

Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, of Denmark's liberal party that leads a centre-right governing coalition, said the law was not aimed at any particular religion.

It also did not amount to a ban of scarves, turbans or kippa, the traditional Jewish skull cap, he said.

"This is not a ban on religious clothing, this is a ban on masking," said Mr Ellemann-Jensen on Friday after a meeting in Parliament.

A large majority of MPs, including the opposition Social Democrats - Denmark's largest party - said it would vote for such a law, popularly known as the "Burka Ban."

There will come a masking ban in Denmark. Thats how it is, said Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen on Facebook.

His party, the Liberal Alliance, had previously opposed such a law but has recently joined other coalition parties the Conservatives and Liberals in backing it.

The move is mostly seen as directed at the dress worn by some ultra-conservative Muslim women. Very few Muslim women in Denmark wear full-face veils, according to researchers.

No date for a formal vote was announced.
T he first investment summit held in Africa to pioneer private-sector deals to help protect the worlds most precious wildernesses has been hailed as a great success by the Ugandan government.

The Giants Club Conservation and Tourism Investment Forum, hosted by Ugandas president Yoweri Museveni, attracted major global investors focused on responsible tourism.

At the event they heard details about a series of new land concessions in the countrys network of conservation areas, some of which are being made available for the first time in 30 years.

The government also announced a raft of investment incentives, including allowing charter aircraft to fly directly into the parks from neighbouring counties for the first time, and the waiving of a range of government levies.

Talks: Rosa Malongo, of the UN development programme, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, the UNs Erik Solheim and Ugandan tourism minister Ephraim Kamuntu

Mr Museveni said Uganda is one of the best places in the world to visit: Uganda really is unique. The lowest part is 650 metres above sea level. The highest point is 5,000 metres, where there is snow. The terrain between the two is where we have all these wonderful things happening.

Among those attending the event on Friday was Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev, patron of the Giants Club conservation initiative, which organised the event in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and the African Wildlife Foundation.

Only by getting the private sector to invest in these areas can the revenue be generated to pay for the work required and to create the jobs for local communities that will ensure they want to protect the wildlife too, Mr Lebedev said.

He was accompanied by his father, Alexander Lebedev. Evening Standard editor George Osborne was among the high-profile names, including UN Environment head Erik Solheim, who addressed delegates.

Those attending also included leading safari lodge operators Wilderness Safaris, Great Plains Conservation, Singita and Asilia Africa.

Ephraim Kamuntu, minister of tourism, wildlife and antiquities, hailed the event as a great success and said a new chapter had been opened in Ugandas conservation and tourism efforts.

Among the incentives announced by the government were discounts on hotel bed night levies, waivers on fees charged to land at wilderness airfields, and extensive support to market new tourism enterprises.

The announcement that visitors would no longer have to clear immigration at the countrys international airport means visitors can do so directly on arrival in four of Ugandas conservation areas.

Patrick Fitzgibbon, the senior vice-president for development for Europe and Africa at Hilton, hailed it as a very clever move.

The more attractive and streamlined Uganda can make the immigration process, the easier its going to be to grow tourism, said Mr Fitzgibbon, who was among the delegates.

The Giants Club is an initiative of non-governmental organisation Space for Giants. Its founding members were the presidents of Uganda, Kenya, Gabon and Botswana and it works to unite political leaders with enlightened businesses, conservationists and philanthropists in order to protect Africas remaining wildernesses.
N orth Korea's Kim Jong Un has promoted his younger sister, an Eric Clapton fan blacklisted by US authorities, to a top policy-making role as he sought to consolidate his centre of power.

"Princess" Kim Yo Jong, 28, has risen swiftly through the ranks to be named on Sunday as an alternate member of the politburo within the ruling Workers' Party of Korea - the opaque, all-powerful party organ where top state affairs are decided.

The move, announced by the North's official media, was widely seen as a signal that the isolated state's dictator is strengthening his position by drawing his most important people closer to the centre of power.

It makes her only the second woman in patriarchal North Korea to join the exclusive club after Kim Kyong Hui, who held powerful roles when her brother Kim Jong Il ruled the country.

"Since she is a female, Kim Jong Un likely does not see her as a threat and a challenge to his leadership," said Moon Hong-sik, research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy.

"As the saying goes, blood is thicker than water. Kim Jong Un thinks Kim Yo Jong can be trusted."

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, attends a ceremony in Pyongyang in April / REUTERS

Unlike her aunt, who was promoted to the politburo in 2012 after serving more than three decades in the party, Kim Yo Jong has risen to power at an unprecedented pace.

Kim Kyong Hui has not been seen since her husband, Jang Song Thaek, once regarded as the No. 2 leader in Pyongyang, was executed in 2013.

South Korea's spy agency believes she is now in a secluded place near Pyongyang undergoing a treatment for an unidentified disease, according to an August briefing to parliament.

Jang and his wife are not the only relatives to fall from Kim Jong Un's favour.

Kim Jong Un's estranged half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, was killed with a toxic nerve agent at a Malaysian airport in February. Two women are on trial for the murder, which South Korean and US officials believe Kim Jong Un's regime was behind.

Kim Jong Nam, who lived in exile in Macau, had criticized his family's dynastic rule and his brother had issued a standing order for his execution, according to some South Korean lawmakers.

Apart from her age, little is known about Kim Yo Jong. She was publicly identified for the first time in February 2011 when a South Korean TV station caught her at a Eric Clapton concert in Singapore with her other brother, Kim Jong Chol.

The three, who all reportedly went to school in Switzerland, are full blood siblings, born to Kim Jong Il's fourth partner, Ko Yong Hui.

Additional reporting by Reuters
S pain faces a major escalation in its worst political crisis for decades as the country braces for a possible declaration of independence by the Catalan government.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched in favour of unity on the streets of Barcelona on Sunday, giving a voice to the silent majority of Catalans who oppose independence.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy insisted Spain would not be divided in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt on Monday, but many fear the regions government is about to unilaterally declare independence after an illegal referendum found 90 per cent of Catalans in favour of secession.

Carles Puigdemont, the president of Catalonias government, is set to appear in the provinces regional parliament on Tuesday when he is expected to make a major statement on the next steps.

Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, left, with Spain's PM Mariano Rajoy / REUTERS

In an interview with TV programme 30 Minuts (30 Minutes), the premier said he was willing to make a dramatic unilateral declaration that would threaten to tear about centuries-long unity in Spain.

He said Madrid had made no effort at mediation and insisted: If the state doesnt respond positively, we will do what we came to do.

Spains central government has repeatedly claimed the unity of the country is not up for debate and refuses to enter into talks over secession.

In a newspaper interview published on Monday, Mr Rajoy said: Spain will not be divided and national unity will be preserved. We'll do everything that legislation allows to ensure that."

Central government has the power to suspend autonomous powers in the region and Mr Rajoy has refused to rule out such a move, which is likely to spark an angry reaction from pro-independence supporters.

Police estimated around 350,000 people turned out for Sundays major demonstration against Catalan independence.

350,000 stage anti-independence rally in Barcelona 1 /16 350,000 stage anti-independence rally in Barcelona Protesters listen to Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa during a demonstration called by "Societat Civil Catalans" (Catalan Civil Society) to support the unity of Spain AFP/Getty Images Protesters hold a giant Spanish flag during a huge demonstration AFP/Getty Images A man holds a placard reading "We want Catalonia in Spain" AFP/Getty Images Protesters hold Spanish and Catalan flags during a demonstration called by "Societat Civil Catalana" AFP/Getty Images Up to 350,000 attended the rally, according to Barcelona police AFP/Getty Images Protesters cheer a Spanish policeman AFP/Getty Images A man shakes hands with a Spanish policeman during the demonstration AFP/Getty Images Speakers at the pro-unity rally in Barcelona AFP/Getty Images Protesters wrapped in Spanish flags and carrying umbrellas AFP/Getty Images Activists unfold a giant Spanish flag AFP/Getty Images Protesters wave Spanish flags from a balcony AFP/Getty Images It is the largest of several rallies held over the weekend AFP/Getty Images

Protesters waving Spanish and Catalan flags flooded the streets of Barcelona  the scene of dramatic clashes between riot police and voters last Sunday  in an effort to represent what they call the silent majority.

Demonstrators carried banners with messages including Catalonia is Spain" and "Together we are stronger".

On Monday, two more Catalonia-based companies were set to hold board meetings on whether to shift headquarters out of the region amid the political turmoil.

Spains third biggest lender Caixabank was last week among several major companies to decide to move its offices away from Barcelona to Madrid.

Catalonia, one of Spains wealthiest regions with its own culture and language, held a referendum on October 1 in which an overwhelming majority backed independence although less than half of voters turned out.

But the poll, which Spains top court had ruled unconstitutional, was marred by violence as national police tried to disrupt voting and were pictured clashing with members of the public.
B rooklyn Beckham and Chloe Moretz look like they are very much back together after posting pictures of themselves gulping down pints on a romantic outing in Dublin.

The young couple, who broke up last year, appear to have rekindled their romance  and they want their fans to know.

Beckham, 18, posted a picture of the pair sipping Guinness at Leinster's match against Munster at the Aviva Stadium.

He captioned the Instagram shot: Dublin. You were amazing.

Moretz, 20, sent fans into a frenzy when she later shared a video of Beckham planting a kiss on her cheek.

Beckham flew in to Dublin from New York to visit the Kick Ass actress where she has been shooting her new film, The Widow.

It comes weeks after they first sparked speculation that they had reunited when Beckham shared a black and white picture of the pair watching a film together at home.

He captioned the shot: These nights are my favourite. Missing my girl.

Moretz confirmed the couple were dating last year during an appearance on US chat show The Talk where she told viewers that they had decided to be open about their status.

We've been on and off together for a couple of years now, and we just kind of made it official, she said.

We were always running from people taking pictures of us. And we were like, you know what? It's affecting our relationship.

They made their first public appearance together at the premiere of Moretzs film Bad Neighbours 2, but split weeks later.
H arvey Weinstein has been dismissed from the Weinstein Company with immediate effect "in light of new information about misconduct", the board of directors has announced.

The Hollywood studio had launched an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment concerning the Academy Award-winning producer, who is one of its founders.

A statement from the Weinstein Company Board of Representatives said: "In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company - Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar - have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately."

Harvey Weinstein, who was co-chairman of the studio, had previously announced he was taking leave of absence after claims were made by women with whom he had worked.

Those involved include Kiss The Girls star Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan, who appeared in films including Scream, according to a piece published by the New York Times.

The producer issued an apology, saying he appreciated the way he had behaved with colleagues in the past "has caused a lot of pain" and that he realised he "needed to be a better person".

"I came of age in the 60s and 70s, when all the rules about behaviour and workplaces were different. That was the culture then," the 65-year-old said.

"I have since learned it's not an excuse, in the office - or out of it. To anyone."

Ashley Judd was among actresses said to have made claims of sexual harassment against Weinstein / Getty

His lawyer Lisa Bloom announced on Saturday that she had resigned following the allegations.

In a statement last week Mr Weinstein said he would be taking time away from work and would begin therapy.

"I came of age in the 60's and 70's, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then.

"I have since learned it's not an excuse, in the office - or out of it. To anyone.

"I realized some time ago that I needed to be a better person and my interactions with the people I work with have changed.

"I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it.

"Though I'm trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go. That is my commitment. My journey now will be to learn about myself and conquer my demons."

The money and the power behind some of the biggest Hollywood films of the past 25 years, Weinstein and brother Bob founded Miramax in 1979, building it into a major Hollywood player before selling it to Disney in 1993.

They continued to work for the firm until 2005 when they quit to set up the Weinstein Company, which spawned hits including The King's Speech, Django Unchained and Silver Linings Playbook.
D olly Parton is the latest celebrity to sign up to CBeebies show, Bedtime Stories, following in the footsteps of actor Tom Hardy and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme.

The 9 to 5 singer will read the story Dog Loves Books by childrens author and illustrator Louise Yates.

Parton said it was an honour to be asked to participate in the programme.

She said: It's an honour to be reading for CBeebies Bedtime Stories as encouraging children to develop a love of books from an early age is very important to me.

Tom Hardy on CBeebies

I hope my songs and stories inspire the CBeebies audience in the UK. Thank you for having me!"

The story is the first of two Parton will read for the programme, the second title is yet to be announced.

The country music star is particularly invested in childrens literacy as she runs her own reading initiative called Imagination Library.

She is the latest in a long list of high profile names to feature on the BBC childrens series.

Around the World in TV Shows 1 /6 Around the World in TV Shows p22 edition 15.03.17 p22 edition 15.03.17 Walter Presents p22 edition 15.03.17 p22 edition 15.03.17 p22 edition 15.03.17

Hardy previously appeared on the show to read Fleabag by Helen Stephens and You Must Bring a Hat by Simon Philip.

The actor even paid tribute to his dog Woody, who died in June, as the pet had accompanied him on the show on several occasions.

Other celebrities who have taken part in the series include actor Damian Lewis, astronaut Tim Peake and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain.

Dolly Partons first Bedtime Stories episode will air Wednesday, October 25 on CBeebies.
V iewers have called for Louis Theroux to be knighted following the first instalment of his new documentary series, Dark States.

Fans described the BBC Two show, which saw the filmmaker investigate the impact of opiate dependency in Huntington, West Virginia, as brilliant and extraordinary.

Some viewers enjoyed the episode so much that they called for Theroux to receive the Queens highest honour.

Hows Louis Theroux not been knighted yet? asked one, while another fan posted: Louis Theroux time, how hasnt he been knighted yet?.

For many viewers there was one moment in particular that stood out in the programme, a scene which showed Theroux sniffing heroin off a womans palm.

One Twitter user wrote: Louis Theroux sniffing heroin off a womans palm is all I needed for my Sunday night.

Another commented: Oh happy days! Louis Theroux is back. And hes straight in sniffing heroin off a strangers palm. #DarkStates

Others enjoyed the documentary-maker's awkwardly polite personality, with one viewer tweeting: Louis Theroux just apologising to a heroin addict for delaying his fix. Most polite guy on television.

The series sees Theroux head to three different US cities to learn more about crime epidemics in the areas. As well as heroin addiction, upcoming episodes will see him get to grips with gun crime in Milwaukee and sex trafficking in Houston.

The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 1 /13 The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 Doctor Who The classic sci-fi show got a new lease of life with new companion Bill Potts BBC Line of Duty The BBC's acclaimed crime drama moved up to BBC One with more twists than ever before World Productions / BBC / Aidan Monaghan Broadchurch Chris Chibnall's mystery drama came to a close with a compelling final series ITV The Moorside Sheridan Smith puts in a stellar performance as she returns to TV in the BBC's Shannon Matthews drama Stuart Wood/ITV/BBC Apple Tree Yard Emily Watson starred in the BBC's gripping psychological thriller BBC/Kudos/Nick Briggs Fortitude, Series 2 Sky Atlantic's original Nordic noir-inspired chiller is back for more bloody mysteries Sky Atlantic Sherlock, Series 4 Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman return as Holmes and Watson in the BBC's mega hit PA Taboo Tom Hardy's dark thriller is unlike any period drama you've seen before FX Networks No Offence, Series 2 Paul Abbott's comedy-drama continues to walk a tonal tightrope with total ease Channel 4/Ian Derry The Voice A move to ITV has given singing contest The Voice a new lease of life ITV

Louis Theroux: Dark States continues with Trafficking Sex on Sunday, October 15 at 9pm on BBC Two.
P iers Morgan got so wound up during a debate on veganism on Good Morning Britain that he fluffed his lines and read out his autocue instructions.

Morgan was wrapping up a segment about vegan and vegetarian alternatives to chicken on the ITV breakfast show, when he read out time check on the autocue instead of giving viewers one.

He said: Quorn fake chicken, its disgusting. Enjoy your lunch! Ok, time check, heres a chance to win 300,000 cash"

At which point co-host Susanna Reid, who appeared delighted at his mistake, interjected: When it says time check, youre supposed to say the time. Its 7:49. Heres your chance to win 300,000 cash in our biggest competition of the year.

Sharing a laugh: Reid tried to stop Morgan making any further mistakes / ITV

Meanwhile Morgan tried to recover, saying: Oh yeah, sorry, yeah sorry. Time check 7:49.

Reid then proceeded to try and put her hand over Morgan's mouth to stop him making any more errors.

The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 1 /13 The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 Doctor Who The classic sci-fi show got a new lease of life with new companion Bill Potts BBC Line of Duty The BBC's acclaimed crime drama moved up to BBC One with more twists than ever before World Productions / BBC / Aidan Monaghan Broadchurch Chris Chibnall's mystery drama came to a close with a compelling final series ITV The Moorside Sheridan Smith puts in a stellar performance as she returns to TV in the BBC's Shannon Matthews drama Stuart Wood/ITV/BBC Apple Tree Yard Emily Watson starred in the BBC's gripping psychological thriller BBC/Kudos/Nick Briggs Fortitude, Series 2 Sky Atlantic's original Nordic noir-inspired chiller is back for more bloody mysteries Sky Atlantic Sherlock, Series 4 Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman return as Holmes and Watson in the BBC's mega hit PA Taboo Tom Hardy's dark thriller is unlike any period drama you've seen before FX Networks No Offence, Series 2 Paul Abbott's comedy-drama continues to walk a tonal tightrope with total ease Channel 4/Ian Derry The Voice A move to ITV has given singing contest The Voice a new lease of life ITV

Elsewhere in the programme Morgan branded Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas a piece of work, for her criticism of his colleague Charlotte Hawkins, who is a contestant in this years series.

He told Hawkins: Shes a piece of work Shirley, isnt she? She doesnt like you. She likes the good-looking guys but doesnt like the pretty girls.

You looked fine to me, so today were going to go to war with Shirley.

Morgan was referring to the awkward spat Hawkins professional dance partner Brendan Cole shared with Ballas, after she called him out for rise and fall in their Tango performance.

Good Morning Britain continues weekdays at 6am on ITV.
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The rebels are falling apart. Russia, Iran, Turkey and the Assads have used their de-escalation zones into slaughterhouses by resuming attacks on pro-rebel civilians and any rebels they can catch. ISIL is rapidly losing it personnel and territory because of constant attacks by just about everyone (Turks, Kurds, Assad and his Iranian and Russian allies as well as the Americans and sundry other minor players). As ISIL is being put down everyone is thinking about the next phase of the civil war. The winners want to get rewarded for their service. The Syrian Kurds want autonomy in the northeast (mainly Hasakah province) and protection of Turkish efforts to keep the Syrian Kurds away from the Turkish border. Thats going to be a problem. There are more problems in the north, such as the FSA (Free Syrian Army). This group was a major player early on because it was largely secular and popular with Western nations. But most Syrian rebels preferred more radical groups like al Qaeda and eventually ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). FSA continued to exist and eventually found a patron in Turkey, which apparently plans to turn over control of the Syrian side of the border to FSA, if the Assads and Syrian Kurds can be taken care of.

FSA has long received assistance from the U.S. and Jordan as well but has apparently decided to stick with Turkey as their new sponsor and has refused recent American requests hat FSA work with the SDF in the continuing battles for control of Deir Ezzor province, which is the southern neighbor of SDF controlled Hasakah province.

There are still FSA forces operating out of Jordanian bases and these have to be more careful because the Turks cant help them much. The Syrian Kurds and SDF want to make peace with Turkey but this is increasingly difficult. Diplomatic relations between Turkey and the United States keep getting worse because of American support for local Kurds and refusing to extradite back to Turkey those who Turkey believes were responsible for an alleged coup in 2016. The Turks can provide the Americans with no convincing evidence (which is essential to get someone extradited). Then again the U.S. has been making and breaking promises to the local Kurds for over a century now. But the Kurds have few choices because reliable foreign backers have always been in short supply. The Syrian Kurds have been discussing a post-war deal with the Assads and seem to think they will have a better chance with that than trying to negotiate with the Turks. At the moment the Turks are going after the remaining Kurdish controlled areas in Idlib province near the Mediterranean coast. Apparently the Turks will only tolerate the Syrian Kurds if they stay in Hasakah province on the Iraq border. The Syrian Kurds (the SDF and its American air and special operations support) have been responsible for taking the ISIL capital (Raqqa) without any help from the Assads, Russia or anyone else.

Turkish relations with Europe are better, mainly because Turkey hosts over three million Syrian refugees and has been keeping the deal it made with Europe to prevent those refugees from heading for Europe via Turkey. In return the Europeans pay Turkey billions of dollars a year.

Then there is the Iranian situation. Iran wants to turn Syrian into a protectorate where Iran will establish military bases and organize a Shia militia similar to Hezbollah in Lebanon. No one besides Iran is particularly fond of this plan, even current Iranian allies Turkey and Russia. The Iraq government, despite, being controlled by Iraqi Shia Arabs, does not want to submit to any form of Iranian control and Israel has made it clear it will fight rather than allow Iran to set up shop in Syria.

Israel Will Not Be Moved

Israel remains openly hostile to a permanent Iranian presence in Syria. Turkey quietly agrees and Russia is seeking opportunities for itself but seems to dislike the Iranian long range plan. Israel is quite blunt about describing Iran as replacing ISIL as the new threat to just about everyone. Russia sometimes supports that openly and Israel keeps trying to improve relations with the unstable Turkish Islamic government. Meanwhile Iran keeps moving in.

Iran and Russia have both signed deals with the Assads to establish military (mainly naval) bases in Syria. Iran and Russia are doing this for different reasons. Russia has always wanted a secure Mediterranean naval base. Iran wants bases in Syria because Iran has openly called for the destruction of Israel since the 1980s and is now seeking leadership of the Islamic world and control of Mecca and Medina.

It is possible for Russia and Israel to continue working together, as they have done since Israel was created in the late 1940s. Even during the communist period (that ended in 1991 along with the Soviet Union) Russia often worked closely with Israel while also courting Arab states that wanted Israel to disappear. Russia continues this policy of maintaining multiple alliance with Turkey and Iran while also remaining on good terms with Israel and the Arab oil states in the region. Give the Russians credit, they are getting away with it.

And then there are the Sunni Arab states, who want the Assads gone and are more open in opposing Iranian plans for post-war Syria. As part of this the Arab Gulf states are moving closer to an open alliance with Israel. That includes diplomatic relations and dropping the decades of Arab sponsored boycott against Israel. A major reason for these changes is the need to prevent Iran from establishing a land route from Iran to Lebanon and military installations in post-war Syria. Israel has made it clear that it will, and can, make sure that does not happen. Turkey and Russia recognize that Israel is not only the stronger military power here but also has the most at stake. For decades Iran has called for the destruction of Israel and that does not sit well with Turkey and Russia because both nations have had clashes with aggressive Iranian ambitions over the past few centuries and see the current Iranian strategy as eventually taking down Turkey (for being Sunni and an ancient rival) and Russia (for not being Moslem and defeating Iranian attempts to expand in the 19th and 20th centuries). But at the same time Russia and Turkey will play Israel and Iran off against each other to do what is best for Russia or Turkey.

Although Iran backed Hezbollah in Lebanon is increasingly active in the media about how soon its next war with Israel will happen, the reality is somewhat different. Israeli wargames and monitoring of attitudes in Lebanon (among Hezbollah supporters and the majority of Lebanese who are hostile or neutral) indicates that another Hezbollah war now would be unlikely. At the moment Hezbollah military power is crippled by losses in Syria and the continued deployment of about a third of their available forces there. In addition a significant number of veteran personnel are working in Iraq and Yemen supporting local pro-Iran Shia militias. More Hezbollah personnel will be heading back to Gaza now that Hamas has resumed its alliance with Iran.

But in the long term (the 2020s) Iran is building something that threatens Israel in a big way. By establishing military bases in Syria and organizing a branch of Hezbollah in Syria Iran has legal justification for stationing Iranian troops in Syria. Unless Israel interferes Iran could rebuild the Syrian military, especially the Syrian ballistic missile stockpile. Iran would have time (and money) to deal with the financial problems that are crippling Hezbollah and Hamas. Thus by the mid-2020s Iran would be in a much stronger position for attacking Israel. That would include the new Israeli natural gas fields off the coast near the Lebanese border.

The UN has told Israel that UNIFIL (the 12,000 UN peacekeeper force on the Israeli border) will now be more assertive on dealing with violations on the Lebanese or Syrian side of the border. Even the UN has to acknowledge that Iranian plans for Syria, and the use of Hezbollah in Syria, is a threat to peace. Yet the UN still refuses to declare Hezbollah an international terrorist organization, despite the fact that Hezbollah has been caught carrying out terrorist operations in several foreign countries and openly calls for the destruction of Israel. The U.S. and a number of other nations have declared Hezbollah a terrorist organization but the UN refuses to do so. The UNIFIL force has been in place since 1978 and was expanded after the 2006 war. It will probably expand again after any peace deal in Syria. The question will the new UN resolve to make UNIFIL do its job be sustained.

Russia continues having problems with Israel over where Iranian forces can go in Syria. Russia is enforcing the no-fly aspect of the de-escalation and ceasefire zones that are being set up in parts of Syria that rebels have lost control of. This includes parts of the Israeli border (the Golan Heights) and Hezbollah leaders cant help themselves and boast to the media that Hezbollah has thousands of troops on the Golan Heights border and more are moving in daily. This issue becomes a news item every few weeks because thats how often Russian and Israeli officials meet to discuss mutual concerns about what is going on in Syria and to ensure that Russian and Israeli forces avoid firing on each other. Israeli air attacks still take place in these ceasefire zones but less frequently than outside these zones. The main problem is that Israel detects Hezbollah and Iranian forces using the ceasefire zones, has compiled evidence and is pressuring Russia to stop supporting these ceasefire zones. Israel has said it will attack any Iranian forces (especially Hezbollah) that get within 40-80 kilometers of the Israeli border. Currently Russia says it will only agree to five kilometers and implies that Russian warplanes and air defense systems will side with Iran if there is a problem. That has not been the case so far as long as Israel restricts its airstrikes to some limited list of items Israel and Russia have informally agreed on. This is not working for Israel because five kilometers is close enough for Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militias to fire mortar shells and portable rockets into Israel.

Since July Russia and the United States have agreed with Israeli concerns about Iran setting up bases in Syria and Lebanon. This is another way of saying Russia and the U.S. will not try to block Israeli attacks against Iranian forces getting too close to the Israeli border or Iranian efforts to establish new facilities in Syria and Lebanon. Russia does not want to put this to the test and understand that Israel has more at stake here than anyone else. In other words, nothing has changed and Iran has been officially reminded that they are on their own when they threaten Israel.

Russia and the Syrian government realize that Iran intends to control a post-war Syria and attempt to turn it into a Shia majority nation (via forced conversions and expulsions of stubborn Sunnis). That would make the Assads totally dependent on and subservient to Iran, something that most Assad supporters are not in favor of. But defying Iran does not appear to be a practical option because the most effective troops the Assads have are the 20,000 or so Iranian supplied Shia mercenaries. Israel is also aware, as are Russians, Turks, the Assads and nearly all Syrians, that Iranian efforts to take control of Syria are unwelcome. Since Iran is currently run by a religious dictatorship any opposition in Syria must be overcome because Iran is on a Mission From God and not to be interfered with. The Iranians, as far as everyone but Iran is concerned, are simply replacing one brand of Islamic fanaticism with another as ISIL power is extinguished in Syria.

October 8, 2017: In the east (Deir Ezzor province) ISIL counterattacked the Assad forces that had entered Mayadin city two days earlier and the government troops retreated to about six kilometers outside the city to await reinforcements while Russian warplanes bomb ISIL troops in the area. Iran fired ballistic missiles at Mayadin in June and Russia may fire more cruise missiles at the city as well.

Mayadin is on the Euphrates River, between Deir Ezzor city (the provincial capital) and the Iraq border. Peacetime population is about 45,000 but since ISIL took control in 2013 many natives have fled and been replaced by ISIL members, refugees and foreigners. ISIL is believed to have moved its headquarters from Raqqa to Mayadin over the last few months, in part because Mayadin was about 44 kilometers from Deir Ezzor city and closer to the Iraq border, where thousands of ISIL fighters and families were fleeing the recent defeats in Mosul. Tal Afar and Hawija. ISIL no longer controls any cities or large towns in Iraq. In addition Iraqi forces are clearing ISIL forces from the Iraq side of the Iraq-Syria border. This makes it possible for Iran to establish their Iran-Lebanon highway even though U.S. backed forces block use of the most direct route via the Tanf crossing near the Jordan border. ISIL has ordered its remaining forces to concentrate in the Euphrates River Valley on the Syrian side of the border.

ISIL had told its supporters in Iraq to head for Raqqa via the Euphrates River valley and Mayadin became a destination. At this point was largely occupied by the Kurdish SDF forces. There are only a few hundred ISIL gunmen left in Raqqa and they are confined to a small portion of the city. SDF commanders expect this last ISIL remnant to be gone with within a few days. At that point the SDF has to decide what to do about the next obstacle, the Syrian Army around Mayadin.

Mayadin and Deir Ezzor city became a major goal for the approaching Assad forces. Syrian forces had been fighting their way towards Deir Ezzor city for months and Mayadin was an intermediate target. ISIL had controlled Deir Ezzor province since 2014 and retaking the province has the main goal of the Assad forces in eastern Syria for over a year.

In Raqqa SDF forces announced they were starting their final operation to wipe out the last ISIL fighters in the city and that this should over by mid-October.

In the north (Idlib province) Turkish engineers removed portions of the new border wall so several thousand Turkish troops and their vehicles could quickly enter Syria to assist the Turkey backed FSA rebels to attack the last Islamic terrorist (Tahir al Sham/al Nusra) strongholds in the province. The Islamic terrorist rebels have been growing weaker from constant defeats and retreats but not so weak that they could not get some men to the site of the new border crossing and open fire on the Turks working on that. In response Turkish troops opened fire with machine-guns and mortars and the hostile rebels withdrew. The Turkish troops are expected to enter Syria eventually but the Turkish government appears eager to delay that as long as possible or even avoid sending in reinforcements at all.

At the same time the Turks could be seen building watchtowers along the 911 kilometers long wall along the Syrian border.

October 7, 2017: Turkey announced that it had begun a major military effort to clear Idlib province, which borders Turkey, of all terror groups, especially PKK, YPG (both Kurdish groups), ISIL, al Nusra and so on. The Turkish advance would be led by Syrian FSA rebels.

October 6, 2017: There has been a lot more activity in the east (the Euphrates River Valley) recently as Assad forces moved to capture the nearby city of Mayadin and actually got troops inside the city today. ISIL forces in the area responded aggressively to this.

Elsewhere in the east (Deir Ezzor province) an American airstrike hit a convoy of Syrian government forces (and Iran backed Shia mercenaries) who had moved too close to the U.S. controlled Tanf border crossing. This airstrike killed seven and wounded sixteen and occurred two days after these forces came closer than 55 kilometers to Tanf. The Americans had an arrangement with Russia that if anyone came closer than 55 kilometers the U.S. would first call the Russians (on a special hotline) to warn them that the Americans would attack the intruders. Apparently the Russians could not get the Iran-backed forces to retreat and the U.S. struck. Airstrikes like this have occurred since late May despite repeated warning to the Russians to persuade their allies (the Assads and Iran) to remove forces from the area. The first airstrike (May 20) was carried out because a convoy had entered a de-confliction zone the U.S. and Russia had agreed would be controlled by U.S. backed rebels who operate out of training bases in Jordan and the Tanf base near the Iraq border. The Iranian mercenaries (Hezbollah and Shia from other nations) militia did not try to advance again for a while.

In response to the American air strike the Russians accused the U.S. of allowing ISIL and other Islamic terrorists to take shelter in the Tanf no-go zone and from there make attacks outside that zone. No evidence of this has been presented but the Russians have to say something that wont offend their Iranian ally.

Tanf is the Syrian side of the main border crossing for the Baghdad-Damascus highway. This is the Syrian Homs province and American special operations forces, working with Iraqi Sunni tribal militias, have occupied the Tanf area since mid-2016. ISIL forces were still in the area and the American presence provided information on targets for air strikes. The air attacks were mainly against ISIL targets, who were much hated by the local Sunni tribes. But since early 2017 ISIL has been replaced by the Shia threat. Iran backed Iraqi Shia militias have been kept way from the Iraq side of the border by American pressure on the Iraqi government. So Iran has used its Assad, Hezbollah and Shia mercenaries to try and force the Americans out of Tanf and Syria in general. The U.S. wants to keep Iran backed forces away from the Iraq-Syria border to prevent Iran from established a road link from Iran through Syria and into Lebanon. The Tanf crossing is also near the Jordan border. The U.S. is not interfering with Assad efforts to take control of Homs and Deir Ezzor provinces, which contain most of the Iraq-Syria border. To the north is Kurdish controlled Hasakah province which borders Iraq and Turkey and has been quiet lately. That may change if Turkey, Iran and the Assads can agree on how and when to take back control.

October 5, 2017: September was the bloodiest month so far this year with about 3,000 killed. A third of the dead were civilians and most of the rest were ISIL. As bad as that was for ISIL and other Islamic terrorist rebels they apparently took heavier losses from desertion. Total deaths for the Syrian civil war are nearly 400,000 over six years of fighting. Thats nearly two percent of the 2011 population. Meanwhile about 20 percent of the population has fled the country. Most want to return home but the Assads will resist that because most of those who fled the country were Sunni. Syria has long been run by the non-Sunni minorities so the fewer Sunnis the better. The same for Iraq and Lebanon. Turkey does not like Arabs in general and Jordan has kept most Syrians out and would prefer those it has to leave when the war is over.

October 4, 2017: In central Syria (eastern Hama province) the Assad government claimed it had defeated the last ISIL fighters in that area and now controlled the entire province. Thats not entirely true because there are still a few towns and villages held by non-ISIL rebels but as a practical matter the government controls Hama for the first time since 2013. Located south of Aleppo and astride several main roads (to Damascus and to the coast) Hama has been the scene of constant fighting since 2012. In part thats because neighboring Latakia province is a major center of government support as a result of being largely Alawites (Shia) and where the Assad clan comes from. Latakia contains the Syrian coastline on the Mediterranean. The last two months of heavy fighting in eastern Hama province left over a thousand dead, most of them rebels, most of them Islamic terrorists from ISIL or al Qaeda affiliated groups.

October 3, 2017: In the north (Idlib province, west of Aleppo and bordering Turkey) a Russian airstrike badly wounded Abu Mohammad al Jolani, a senior leader of a rebel faction allied with al Qaeda. Jolani was meeting with his subordinates and the air strike killed or injured twelve of them as well as about fifty bodyguards. Jolani apparently had an arm blown off and was in critical condition. Jolani was one of the founders and senior leaders of al Nusra. This group evolved into a larger coalition (Tahir al Sham) which is now leading the rebel effort to hold onto some of Idlib province while trying to keep the rebels from fighting each other. With Jolani out of action (temporarily or permanently) the rebel resistance becomes much weaker. Already some rebel groups have accused Tahir al Sham of making a deal to give most of Idlib province to Turkey and the Assads in return for certain favors. Such deals are being offered by the government and some rebel factions have been willing to talk.

Since March 2017 Tahir al Sham has been fighting to gain control over all of Idlib province from pro-government factions. Tahir al Sham managed to push Ahrar al Sham and their pro-Turkish allies out of Idlib city and much of the surrounding area. Idlib province is one area that was still largely controlled by rebels until recently but the rebels are mostly Islamic terrorist groups and that means they have a hard time determining who is in charge. There is a lot of dissention among Islamic terrorist rebels because of the recent defeats and most of these groups have lost more than half their strength in 2017 from combat losses, desertions and a lack of new recruits.

In early 2017 Ahrar al Sham tried to convince the Turks and the Americans that their battle was with the Syrian government, not other rebels. Al Qaeda pretends to do that but has not been convincing. In Syria the main al Qaeda presence is now Tahir al Sham, which is still the largest rebel coalition and composed mainly of Islamic terrorist groups. In January it expanded to include four new member groups and adopted a new name; Tahir al Sham. This was the second name change since July 2016 when the Al Nusra rebel coalition renounced any connection with al Qaeda, adopted a new name (Jabhat Fatah al Sham) and declared it was now simply a Syrian rebel group which, like most Syrian rebel organizations, was full of devout Moslems who really wanted to become recognized by the United States as cooperative (and not to be bombed). But the Americans still considered al Nusra an ally of ISIL or, at the very least, still friendly with al Qaeda. Some al Qaeda leaders have admitted publicly that the al Nusra split was temporary. Until early 2016 al Nusra was allied with ISIL but that alliance was always temporary because ISIL wanted to eventually absorb al Nusra. The two groups put that battle off to deal with the Assad government first. Even before mid-2016 al Nusra tried to distance itself from ISIL and began openly fighting ISIL in places like Aleppo. As recently as late 2016 more than half the Sunni Islamic terrorist rebels belonged to groups hostile to ISIL and most of these are controlled or allied with the al Qaeda affiliated al Nusra/Jabhat Fatah rebels.

Elsewhere in central Syria ISIL claims it executed one of the two Russian soldiers it captured in September. The problem is that Russians say the two men are not exactly soldiers. One of them has been identified as Grigory Tsurkanov. He is an active member of a very pro-Russian government Cossack military veterans group. Apparently the two captives belong to one of the several military contractor firms Russia employs to provide experienced military personnel in Syria to supplement active duty Russian troops. It is an open secret that the 38 Russian military personnel killed in Syria since 2015 does not include contractor personnel and if contractor casualties were counted the number of Russian dead in Syria would be 50-100. In late September Russia revealed that a Russian general had been killed while advising Assad forces in Deir Ezzor province. Before coming to Syria that general had commanded Russian troops on the Ukraine border (and apparently inside eastern Ukraine as well).

October 2, 2017: In central Syria (Homs province) someone used an air launched missile to kill seven or more Hezbollah fighters recently and Hezbollah is trying to blame it on the Americans. But the U.S. insists, with some credibility, that it wasnt them and they have video of all UAV strikes and other records confirming where U.S. aircraft were. So do the Russians. Besides missiles leave behind lots of identifiable components after they detonate and Hezbollah has no fresh Hellfire (or other U.S. missile) fragments to offer. What is apparently happening here is there was a friendly fire airstrike on Hezbollah forces recently and that usually means Russian or Syrian aircraft. There have been a few of these since 2015 and Hezbollah does not like the bad publicity, mainly because about 1,500 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Syria since 2012 and even more disabled by wounds. These losses have been very bad for Hezbollah popular support in Lebanon and trying to pin it on the Americans was apparently worth a try.

September 30, 2017: Turkey threatened Israel for its alleged support of Kurdish independence. This comes after the September 25th referendum in autonomous Kurdish northern Iraq where 92 percent of the voters approved of efforts to establish a Kurdish state. This vote was largely to get some publicity for the Kurds and it did. The outcome was no surprise and neither was the outrage from the nations (Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria) where the regions 40 million Kurds live. These nations will go to war to prevent a Kurdish state. Meanwhile Turkey and Iran used the Kurdish threat as an excuse to appear on good terms and make some more security and trade deals. Turkish trust in Iran is another illusion as is the Russian alliance with Iran.

September 29, 2017: Satellite photos confirm that Russia has brought in a second S-400 air defense battery. These SAM (surface to air missile) units are guarding Russian bases near the coast but because of the coastal mountains the radars cannot detect low flying aircraft or UAVs (like American cruise missiles) on the other side of the mountains. There appear to have been some other shortcomings with the Russian air defense systems deployed to Syria.

September 28, 2017: In Damascus two suicide bombers attacked a police station killing themselves and ten civilians and police. Such attacks are rare now, but they still occur and will continue to do so for some time (over a year at least).

September 26, 2017: Iran announced it was going to finance a billion dollar oil refinery in Syria. Enough oil is produced there to keep such a facility going (to produce vehicle fuel and other refined products like heating oil and kerosene.) Earlier in 2017 Russia and Iran agreed to rehabilitate Syrian oil and gas production facilities.

September 25, 2017: Turkey has extended for another year the presence of small Turkish bases and military forces in northern Iraq and northwestern Syria. These are there to help deal with Islamic terrorism and Kurdish separatists (PKK in Iraq, YPG in Syria). In both cases these Turkish bases have been mainly used to fight ISIL over the last year.

September 24, 2017: In the east (Deir Ezzor province) Russian airstrikes have hit SDF forces again. American troops often accompany SDF troops (as advisors and to call in air strikes) and because of that the U.S. has advised the Russians to leave SDF forces alone.

September 23, 2017: In west central Syria (Homs province) another Israeli Arab was killed while fighting for ISIL. At least fifty Israeli Arabs are known to have joined ISIL and most appear to have died in Syria or otherwise disappeared from view (or at least contact with their families back in Israel).

September 22, 2017: Israel was blamed for a night airstrike that destroyed weapons storage sites near the airport. Israel declined to comment and rarely does except to admit that it does regularly make these attacks to prevent advanced tech weapons from getting to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

September 19, 2017: In the south a large (apparently Iranian) UAV was spotted close to the Israeli border and was shot down by the Israelis using a Patriot missile. The wreckage was apparently in Syria because the UAV was brought down in Syrian air space just before it would have crossed the border into Israel. Since the Iranians control much of the Syrian side of the border there was no comment from them.

September 18, 2017: Russia has been accused of deliberately launching airstrikes on civilian targets. This comes after several hospitals in rebel held areas were hit. Russia contends that the rebels often base fighters, headquarters and military supplies in hospitals.

September 15, 2017: Russia, Turkey and Iran announced the creation of more de-escalation zones in Syria. The zones now include areas outside Damascus as well as parts of Homs, Latakia, Idlib and Hama provinces, outside Aleppo and along the Israeli border. But the fighting in these areas (except for Latakia) increased as the government forces sought to assert control and the rebels, especially the ISIL and al Qaeda affiliated groups not only resisted but often launched counterattacks.
ONvocals OV headset is more advanced than most, with an ability to summon Amazons Alexa being its strongest feature. Music reproduction, on the hand, is easily its weakest.

It might take you a while to memorize the functions of the six butttons on the ONvocals neckband.

But the OVs profusion of buttonsseven in allpresent a steep learning curve. Admittedly impatient, I found this frustrating in my early time with the device. I grew accustomed to them with time, but not with some of the OVs other idiosyncrasies. More on those later.

Not that you need to own an Echo smart speaker to use the ONvocal (OV). Like Logitechs car-based ZeroTouch , once paired with your smartphone, this headset will summon Amazons digital assistant from anywhere, provided you have an Internet connection. Dont care about Alexa? Touch a different button, and you can query Google Assistant from your Android phone, or Siri from your iPhone.

ONvocal is a tempting Bluetooth headset for Amazon Echo addicts like me. I sometimes need to stop myself from instinctively summoning Alexa while Im out and about.

Like some other headsets that have a proliferation of electronicsBoses noise-cancelling QuietControl 30, for instancethe OV have wired earbuds attached to a neckband. In case you were wondering, the OV doesnt perform noise cancellation.

There are three buttons on the left side of the neckband, three on the right, and one on the right earbud, from which the mic stalk emerges. The rubberized buttons take a bit of finger pressure to activate, but most of them respond quickly. Thats not true of the button that summons Alexa. That one, at the back of the left neckband, is also used to power the headset on and off, so dont hold it down too long. Push and release it, and youll need to wait 2.5 to 3 seconds before youll hear the beep that indicates Alexa is waiting for your command. Unlike with an Echo device, you dont have to utter Alexa ahead of your request.

If youre listening to music when you press the button, the music will pause and then automatically resume after youve told Alexa what you need (it will also resume within a few seconds if you dont say anything). The same thing happens if you summon Google Assistant (I dont have an iPhone, so I didnt try the headset with Siri).

ONvocal I found it hard to avoid touching the button on the right-hand earbud when pushing it back in my ear (do that on a call and youll hang up).

Pressing some of the other buttons results in even more helpful audio cuesa female voice informing you that the headsets state has changed. Pressing the first button on the left-hand neckband, for example, activates an ambient/chat mode that pipes sound from the mic into the headphones. This makes it easier to be more aware of your surroundings or to hear someone speaking to you in person. The middle button turns voice mode on and off. With this setting, you can hear you own voice through the ear buds, so you dont yell when youre speaking out loud.

Disappointingly, however, neither ambient nor voice mode pause or turn the volume down if youre listening to music. Youll need to press either the first button on the right-hand neckband to pause the music, or press the button behind that one multiple times to lower the volume.

Phone call and music quality

As with many higher-end Bluetooth headphones, the OV support the aptX codec to deliver better-than-average audio quality over Bluetooth. Id be even more impressed if they supported aptX HD, but that would probably drive the cost even higher than the already steep $299. Voice quality was very good during the calls I made with the OV and a Samsung Galaxy S6 Active, and the people on the other end of the call said my voice came through crisp and clear.

ONvocal The connection to your phone is wireless, but wires tether the earbuds to the neckband.

Despite its use of balanced armature drivers, the OVs musical performance wasnt quite as impressive, with most of the deficiency coming in the bass department. Listening to John Hiatt and the Goners Almost Fed Up With the Blues, from Beneath This Gruff Exterior (which Id ripped from CD and encoded in FLAC), Hiatts vocals and Sonnny Landreths slide-guitar work came through fine, but Bobby Keys excellent work on the baritone sax just faded into the background. This headset wouldnt be my first choice for music listening.

ONvocal The ONvocal app lets you choose between five EQ presets.

ONvocal developed an app for this headset whose primary function is to let you switch you between five EQ settings: Phone Calls, Chat, Aware, Karaoke, and Music Bubble. You can customize each of these to your preferences, but its highly impractical to pull up an app before or during a phone call. As for Karaoke? Pfft.

I fiddled with the app a bit when I first started using the OV, but didnt pay much attention to it after that. The thing is, the app must be running to use the OVs Alexa connectivity. I did find it useful for one thing: It reports the headsets battery level. ONVocal claims the battery should last eight hours with continuous calls and music, which seems about right. You can extend the battery life by plugging in the provided cable, which automatically turns off Bluetooth.

Wearing the OV

A neckband is a necessary evil if you want a headset that does more than just play music and enable phone conversationsthe extra electronics need to go somewhere. I found the OVs to be comfortable enough to wear with both collared shirts and T-shirts. It was easy to forget it was there when I didnt need to manipulate its buttons, provided I was relatively stationary.
Brazil's vice-president-elect and coordinator of the transition team of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government, Geraldo Alckmin, asked Jair Bolsonaro's government for access to complete... | Read More
Hyundai IONIQ Car Sharing in Amsterdam - The Fully Electric Car Sharing Fleet +VIDEO

AMSTERDAM - October 9, 2017: Many large cities are looking for concepts to reduce traffic and emissions. The increasing popularity of Car Sharing offers one way to success. In addition there is the promotion of electric mobility in order to minimize the number of conventionally driven vehicles. Hyundai is now presenting a new car sharing project in Amsterdam, based on a fleet of Hyundai IONIQ electric cars.

Why the Dutch city was chosen for this and what makes the IONIQ electric the right vehicle is shown in this video report from Amsterdam:

IONIQ Plug-in Hybrid offers up to 39 miles of pure electric driving with a total range of 680 miles. It combines a 105 PS 1.6-liter Atkinson cycle petrol engine and a 61 PS high-efficiency electric motor, driven through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The combined system output is 141 PS. Ultra-low CO2 emissions of just 26g/km means it attracts zero-rate VED in the first year and offers a low BIK rate of just 9% for 2017/18.

The new model is available in Premium and Premium SE specification. The former offers a high level of standard equipment, including: 16 alloy wheels, Bluetooth, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, Smart Cruise Control and an 8-inch integrated satellite navigation unit. Unique to the IONIQ Plug-in Hybrid variant, the navigation system features state-of-the-art ECO-DAS technology. ECO-DAS has predictive energy management that optimises the battery charge and discharge, as well as a coasting guide for the driver, instructing them when to lift off the throttle to use less fuel.

Further highlights of Premium specification include: heated front seats and steering wheel, LED headlights and rear combination lamps, wireless smartphone charging, and a Rear Parking Assist System with Rear View Camera. Standard safety features include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) and individual Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

For drivers seeking even greater comfort and convenience, IONIQ Plug-in Hybrid Premium SE trim starts from 26,795 including PICG. The step up adds leather seat facings, front seat ventilation, rear seat heating and an electrically-adjustable drivers seat with memory function. Premium SE also includes alloy pedals, rain-sensing wipers, Blind Spot Detection and Front Park Assist.

The IONIQ Plug-in Hybrid is available in Polar White as standard, or with a choice of six metallic colors; Phantom Black, Platinum Silver, Iron Grey, Demitasse Brown, Marina Blue and Phoenix Orange. The lava stone interior trim features blue accents throughout the cabin and control surfaces.
Police tape lines the driveway in front of the house in the Sun City Mesquite community where Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock lived in Mesquite, Nev., on Oct. 2, 2017.

Authorities Search Home of Vegas Shooter, Question Brother for 2nd Time

Investigators combed through the home of Las Vegas killer Stephen Paddock a second time on Sunday, Oct. 8 and met his brother for a second round of questioning as they continue to hunt for the motive for the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Officers with the Mesquite Police Department re-searched the three-bedroom house in Mesquite, Nevada, for re-documenting and rechecking, police Chief Troy Tanner told the Associated Press.

I dont think they are after anything specific, Tanner said. Theyre going through everything and photographing everything again.

Federal investigators found 19 firearms in the home during the first search on Monday, Oct. 2.

FBI agents also met with Paddocks brother Eric Paddock for another round of questions after he arrived in Las Vegas to pick up the killers remains, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Eric Paddock said he answered questions for about four hours during a session with FBI, a Las Vegas police detective, and a psychologist.

Im trying to get them to understand Steves mindset, Paddock told the Review-Journal. I dont want them to chase bad leads.

Lights Dimmed to Honor Victims

On Sunday, the marquee lights along the Las Vegas Strip dimmed for 11 minutes from 10:05 p.m. until 10:16 p.m., the exact time and duration of the gunfire one week ago.

Some of the hotels and casinos on the Strip dimmed their lights and displayed a message that read: When Things Get Dark Las Vegas Shines.

Investigators still lack a clear reason as to why Paddock, 64, unleashed a torrent of gunfire into a crowd of 22,000 at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. The suspect shot himself to death before police stormed his 32nd-floor suite in the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort, high above the concert venue.

Fifty-eight people died and nearly 500 were injured.

Concertgoers Claim Personal Items

The FBI on Sunday started returning thousands of purses, phones, and other property left behind by concertgoers in Las Vegas as the Red Cross stepped up efforts to reach those traumatized by the Oct. 1 massacre.

The process of returning items left behind by those who fled in the chaos could take weeks, authorities said.

So many phones, backpacks, lawn chairs, and other items were left behind that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has divided the huge crime scene into four quadrants, releasing items from only one of them at a time, starting on Sunday, FBI Victims Services chief Paul Flood said.

Before release, the items had to be cleaned of blood and other substances, as well as categorized, Flood said. Property from just one quadrant of the scene filled seven delivery-sized trucks, he said, and required the attention of dozens of investigators.

Authorities began returning vehicles left at the concert grounds to their owners last week.

Unlike so many other perpetrators of deadly mass shootings before him, Paddock left behind no suicide note, no manifesto, no recordings, and no messages on social media pointing to his intent, according to police.

Paddock used a device known as a bump stock to make 12 of his rifles operate more like automatic weapons, which are outlawed in the United States.

Teams of counselors fanned out across the city, attending church services and gathering at a family assistance center set up at the Las Vegas Convention Center as the Red Cross set out to find those in need of comfort. Spiritual and legal advisers were also available.

Were past the response portion of this horrible incident, Clark County Emergency Manager John Steinbeck said at a news conference. Were moving into the recovery now.

A week into this, a lot of people have been numb, said Red Cross spokesman Bill Fortune, who flew in from Colorado to help with the recovery effort. Some of those emotional crises are just showing up today, where people cant get out of bed. People have called saying they cant be in crowds.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD.tv
Wildcat and Merlin helicopters fly above the 65,000-tonne British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as tug boats manoeuver it into Portsmouth Harbour in Portsmouth, southern England on Aug. 16, 2017. (Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)

British Military Preparing for North Korea Conflict

The British military has quietly been drawing up plans to handle a potential conflict with North Korea, as the Communist regime ratcheted up the threat of war with missile tests and heightened anti-U.S. rhetoric in recent months and weeks.

The Ministry of Defence has officially not commented on plans for a military response, but sources have revealed that officials have been instructed to draw up plans, according to the Daily Mail.

The contingency plans include bringing the Navys newest aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth into service over two years ahead of schedule, cutting short tests so that it can join U.S. warships in the region.

The 65,000-ton carrier has a 700-strong crew and would be accompanied by various other ships and aircraft.

We have plenty of ships to send the Type-45 destroyers, the Type-23 frigates. Britains new aircraft carrier could be pressed into service early if things turn south, a senior Whitehall source told the Mail.

Prime Minister Theresa May has previously refused to rule out British involvement in a potential conflict when she visited Japan on Aug. 30, after tensions had already been escalated by North Korean missile tests in the region. The Prime Minister also refused to rule out the possibility of Britain engaging in cyber-warfare against the regime.

North Korea has picked out the United Kingdom as a potential U.S. ally as it has cranked up the ant-U.S. rhetoric in recent months.

We solemnly warn not only the US and [the] puppet group but also satellites, including [the] UK and Australia, which are taking advantage of the present war manoeuvres against the North, that they would face a miserable end if they join in the exercises, state media KCNA reported on Aug. 25.

A report by the Royal United Services Institute published on Sept. 29 said that Britain must prepare for the possibility that war could break out between the United States and North Korea.

This report is not saying that war is likely. But the probability of war is an uncomfortably real prospect, Professor Malcolm Chalmers, who authored the report, told the Telegraph.

The Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon has already warned that Britain was potentially at risk from North Koreas long-range missile programme.

Sir Michael told the BBC, The US is fully entitled to defend its own territory, to defend its bases and to look after its people, but this involves us, London is closer to North Korea and its missiles than Los Angeles.

Speaking on Sept. 10, he warned that although North Korean missiles could not hit the U.K. yet, it could only be a matter of time.

The range is getting longer and longer and we have to get this programme halted because the dangers now of miscalculation, of some accident triggering a response are extremely great, he said.

If the HMS Queen Elizabeth is drafted into action, it wouldnt be the first time that a ship has been called into service early.

In the Falklands we had to react to an event and HMS Illustrious was accelerated to respond, a Navy source said, according to the Mail. This was a reaction to protect British territory, however. In this case [North Korea], the UK would be part of a united global coalition. We would see what support we could give.
Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles on June 20, 2017. An outbreak of hepatitis A among the homeless and illicit drug users in California has claimed 17 lives and infected hundreds. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

California Grapples With Hepatitis A Outbreak

California is still grappling with a growing incidence of hepatitis A, particularly among the homeless, including a major outbreak in San Diego and smaller outbreaks in Santa Cruz and Los Angeles counties.

In San Diego County, public health workers are taking to the streets to vaccinate the population of homeless people, who can be hard to find and to inform.

They are hoping to stem the second-worst outbreak of the disease in 20 years. But unlike the previous major outbreak in Pennsylvania in 2003, which was traced back to contaminated green onions, there is no single, clear source.

Efforts to combat the spread of the disease include cleaning streets with bleach and water to clear away fecal and other contaminated matter, as well as providing washing stations. A lack of bathrooms among homeless populations makes disease prevention difficult.

The latest figures from San Diego County health department peg the number of infected at 481, with 17 dead and 337 hospitalized. That figure is expected to grow.

Last week brought 20 more cases and 22 more hospitalizations, but the number of dead has held steady at 17 for two weeks.

Santa Cruz County, which usually sees one or two cases of hepatitis A a year, has seen 73 since April 2017. There, as in San Diego, it is largely limited to the homeless population.

The investigation is ongoing and challenging because of the long incubation period of the disease (15 to 50 days) and the difficulty experienced to contact many individuals sickened with the illness who are homeless and/or illicit drug users, the countys health department says on its website.

The source of the outbreak remains undetermined, it adds.

Los Angeles County declared a hepatitis A outbreak on Sept. 19 and has seen 12 cases and nine hospitalizations but no deaths as of Oct. 2.

San Francisco has had no cases among the homeless, but is looking to prevent a similar outbreak among that population, and has issued an advisory to clinicians asking them to vaccinate their patients who are homeless or using illicit drugs.

It also asks them to suspect acute hepatitis A when such patients report symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever.

People who provide services or interact often with homeless people have also been asked to get vaccinated. Several such people have been infected since the outbreak.

Outbreaks of the virus can be prolonged, Dr. Monique Foster, a medical epidemiologist with the Division of Viral Hepatitis at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters last week.

Even with the right prevention efforts, the outbreak could continue.

Its not unusual for them to last quite some timeusually over a year, one to two years, she said.
Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Sen. Marco Rubio, speaking at the release of the Commission's annual report in Washington on Oct. 5, 2017. (Wei Wu/NTD)

Commission Seeks to Shine Spotlight on Deteriorating Human Rights in China

Congressional-Executive Commission on China releases its annual report on human rights and the rule of law in China

WASHINGTONThe news about human rights in China is not good, according to the just-released annual report by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC).

The CECC is tasked with monitoring human rights and the development of the rule of law in China, which it does through an annual report, but also through hearings, roundtables, and special projects.

At over 300 pages, this years report is comprehensive and detailed, covering human rights under 12 separate categories, ranging from freedom of expression to the environment, and the rule of law under four more categories. The report also has separate chapters on Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong and Macau.

In an event in the Capitol on Oct. 5 announcing the new report, co-chairman Rep. Christopher Smith said the report is an indictment of the Chinese regime. In just about every area one looks at, there has been deterioration, Smith said.

Yet, the Chinese people have not been quiescent even as repression has intensified.

Chairman Sen. Marco Rubio said, As the Chinese government suppresses authentic religious expression, the number of religious adherents multiplies; as the government censors the internet, circumvention tools proliferate; as they brutally repress rights lawyers, their loved ones open up a new line of struggle.

The CECC identifies four themes that run throughout the annual report: the continued use of law as an instrument of repression; the ongoing criminalization of Chinas human rights lawyers; the intensification of restrictions on religion; the increasing uncertainty of the principle of one country/two systems in the administration of Hong Kong.

Watchdog

The CECC was created in 2000 by the act that granted permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to China. Prior to that, each renewal of normal trade relations with China occasioned a passionate debate about human rights.

The CECC gives Congress an institution that continues the watchdog role performed by those annual debates.

The granting of PNTR, followed by Chinas accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, have proven to be a windfall for China, but not for human rights in that country.

As Rubio noted, China has benefited immensely from the international rules-based order in driving its growth and lifting millions out of poverty, but the political reform many believed would accompany Chinas economic transformation and accession to the World Trade Organization has failed to materialize.

Raising Awareness

The CECC does not just monitor human rights and the rule of law in China, it seeks to promote human rights, by using its ability to spotlight specific developments.

Thus, while China sentenced the three most prominent student leaders of Hong Kongs pro-democracy Umbrella movementJoshua Wong, Nathan Long, and Alex Chowto six to eight months in prison, the CECC is nominating these three and the entire Umbrella movement for a Nobel Peace Prize, and inviting members of Congress to join the nomination.

In April, the CECC announced the Free Chinas Heroes initiative, which highlights the cases of political and religious prisoners believed to be detained or imprisoned in China. The initiative has a database of over 1,400 cases, which can be used by politicians or the general public who wish to champion the case of an individual.

The CECC dedicated its 2017 report to Nobel Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, who died in July after the Chinese regime refused to allow him to travel to receive treatment for liver cancer.

Rubio described the CECCs strategy of using the annual report to raise awareness in the case of forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China.

One of the points of putting together a commission report is to make that information [about organ harvesting] available, Rubio said. And hopefully use that to heighten awareness of it here and in international forums, in government and outside of government.

A National Strategy

One of the reports recommendations calls for the United States to develop a national strategy regarding human rights in China.

In the cover letter for the copy of the report delivered to President Donald Trump, Rubio and Smith say, Principled U.S. leadership is needed to develop a long-term policy approach that challenges China to abide by its international commitments, adhere to universal standards, and embrace the rule of law.

They say the report urges the Administration to develop an action plan that will  prepare all agencies to pursue measurable, results-orientated human rights and rule of law outcomes.

A freer and more democratic China is a critical U.S. interest and this goal should be pursued in tandem with other U.S. diplomatic, economic, political, and security priorities, say Rubio and Smith.

Those suffering from human rights abuses in China are also asking Trump for help.

Attending the release of the report were family members of human rights lawyers and activists in China. They did so, Smith said, at risk to themselves and their family members in China.

They came to give witness to the fates of those who have spoken out for human rights in China.

Jin Bianling, the wife of Chinese human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong, spoke after the event of how she and Jiangs other family members are very worried about the torture he has been subjected to in prison.

She said the human rights lawyers who have been arrested in China are innocent. Jin called upon Trump, when he visits China in November, to speak about human rights and ask that the human rights lawyers be freed.
A young Falun Gong practitioner at a parade calling for an end to China's persecution, in Washington, D.C. on July 20, 2017. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Concerned Citizens Around the World Call for End to Organ Harvesting in China

Millions have signed petition asking UN to help end the practice of forced organ harvesting

As more evidence mounts about the state-sanctioned practice of organ harvesting in China, the public is calling for light to be shed.

Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH), an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the phenomenon, recently announced that in the past year, it has garnered 245,000 signatures from people around the world calling on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to help end the practice in China, where adherents of the Falun Gong spiritual practice are the primary victims of organ harvesting.

The petition was launched more than five years ago. It has since gathered more than 2.7 million signatures from more than 50 countries and five continents, according to DAFOHs executive director, Dr. Torsten Trey.

From Oct. 1 of last year, the largest number of signatures collected came from Europe, at more than 151,000, including the United Kingdom, Ukraine, France, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Romania, and more.

More than 32,000 signatures were gathered in Latin America, while the United States garnered 6,079 signatures. 2,320 Australians signed the petition as well. Online, more than 22,000 people submitted their name to the petition.

Trey said the petition sends a strong message to the U.N. This petition emerges like a platform to connect all the voices of concern that have been unheard for years, he said via an email interview.

Trey further urged the U.N. to pay serious attention to this atrocity. The U.N. has organized inspections and investigations in other regions of the world, with even less concern or less amount of evidence, but with regard to China, the U.N. falls short of looking into this issue.

In recent years, independent research and The Epoch Times own reportage has revealed how the transplant industry in China skyrocketed after Jiang launched a nationwide persecution of Falun Gong, with many adherents arrested and sentenced to prison.

The petition asked the U.N. commissioner to call on China to end the practice of forced organ harvesting, investigate individuals carrying out forced organ harvesting, and end the brutal persecution of Falun Gong, which is the root cause for the forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional self-improvement practice based on the core principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Its benefits to physical and mental health led to its popularity, with more than 70 million adherents in 1999, according to a state survey. Practitioners say their numbers reached more than 100 million.

The Chinese regime perceived Falun Gongs presence as a threat to its authoritarian rule and began a campaign to eradicate the practice in 1999. Since then, millions of people who practice Falun Gong have been subject to wrongful imprisonment, brainwashing sessions, and torture, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

Many Falun Gong practitioners report being given physical examinations and blood tests while in custody, a procedure that would screen them for compatibility for organ transplant surgery. According to researchers, Falun Gong practitioners are the largest source of organs.

A recent report published by researchers David Matas, David Kilgour, and Ethan Gutmann estimated that China is performing 60,000 to 100,000 transplants per year.

A Peabody-award-winning documentary, Bloody Harvest, explains that the organ removal is done while the victims heart is still beating, resulting in the victim dying from the subsequent loss of blood and trauma. This method allows the organ to remain in its optimum state for transplantation surgery.

Governments around the world have begun raising concerns about Chinas organ transplant system. In 2016, the United States House of Representatives unanimously passed Resolution 343 condemning Chinas organ harvesting practices.

The European Parliament also passed a declaration, calling on Europes political leaders to help put a stop to it.

This April, Viennas provincial parliament became the first European capital to censure the Chinese regime for its organ harvesting crimes.
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis (L) and Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, arrive to brief the media at the Pentagon in Washington on April 11, 2017. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas)

Gen. Mattis Says US Military Should Be Ready Amid North Korea Tensions

Defense Secretary Gen. James Mattis said the U.S. military should be ready in response to tensions with North Korea.

Tensions with North Korea reached a high point after the regime threatened the United States with nuclear weapons and conducted a new underground nuclear test last month.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army on Monday, Mattis said that the issue of North Korea is currently a diplomatic and economic one.

It is right now a diplomatically led, economic-sanction-buttressed effort to try to turn North Korea off this path, Mattis said in response to a question from the audience on what the U.S. military can do to prevent the likelihood of an armed conflict with the North.

However, Mattis stressed the importance of the U.S. military being ready for such a conflict if it arises.

Theres one thing that the U.S. army can do, and that is youve got to be ready to ensure that we have military options that our President can employ if needed, Mattis said.

What does the future hold? Neither you nor I can say, he said. Mattis urged soldiers to read T. R. Fehrenbacks book on the Korean War. In the book, named This Kind of War, Fehrenback provides analysis and lessons learned from the war.

Mattis pointed to the U.N. Security Councils unanimous approval of new sanctions on North Korea last month. The vote, which came in response to North Koreas sixth underground nuclear test, resulted in sanctions prohibiting all sales of gas to the North, and limitations on the amount of oil that can be sent.

The international community has spoken, but that means the U.S. army must stand ready. And so if youre ready, thats your duty at this point in time. And I know the army will always do its duty, Mattis said.

Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump tweeted that policies of previous U.S. administrations on North Korea have failed.

Despite nearly 25 years of talks with North Korea, it has been able to develop nuclear bombs and the missiles needed to deliver them. Last week, North Korean officials presented a visiting Russian delegation with calculations showing that its missiles can now reach the U.S. mainland.

Trump has vowed to protect America against such a threat and has called for a denuclearized North Korea.

Last week the president said that there is only one option when it comes to North Korea.

Asked what the president meant by the statement on NBCs Meet The Press, Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, said it referred to the fact that military options are on the table.

What the president is clearly telegraphing, and this should not be news to anybody, is that military options are on the table with North Korea. They absolutely are, Mulvaney said

Mattis has previously said that while the United States does not seek to attack North Korea, it has options for the total annihilation of the communist state, and that he had briefed the president on all military options available to him.

South Korea said on Monday that its military as well as the U.S. military have been closely monitoring North Korea for a potential new ballistic missile launch.

Military officials said no such launch has been detected yet.
Girl Goes Missing After Father Sends Her Outside for Not Finishing Milk

A Texas girl who was sent outside by her father as punishment for not drinking her milk is still missingtwo days later, police said.

The Richardson Police Department said Saturday that the 3-year-old girl, Sherin Mathews, was seen last by her father in the familys backyard in Sunningdale at 3 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

The girl is developmentally disabled with limited communication skills. She was told by her father, Wesley Matthews, to stand near a tree next to their home for not finishing her milk.

He returned 15 minutes to check on the child but she was missing, the Houston Chronicle reported.

He didnt call to report the child missing for five hours, Sgt. Kevin Perlich told the Houston Chronicle.

According to a Facebook post by the police department, the girl is still missing.

Matthews, 37, was arrested and charged with abandoning and endangering a child. He was released Saturday after posting $250,000 bond.

Matthews 4-year-old was placed in foster care, the Dallas News reported.

Why was the last sighting at 3 oclock and the parents not call us until after 8 a.m., thats the question we want answered as well, Perlich was quoted as saying by the NBC 5. As far as why she was out there, how long she was out there, thats the questions we have for the parents.

Jose Cherian and others from Emmanuel Bible Chapel helped search a field, adding Matthews and his wife are good parents.

The parents are also loving, they loved Sherin very much, he said. They take care of her very much.

Police said in a statement about the girl:

We are currently looking for a 3-year-old child. Sherin Mathews was last seen by her father outside the familys backyard in the 900 blk. of Sunningdale. She is approximately 36 tall and weighs about 22 pounds. She suffers from developmental issues and has limited verbal communication skills. She was last seen wearing a pink top, black pajama bottoms and pink flip-flops. If anyone has any information on her whereabouts, they are asked to contact us at 972-744-4800.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards fire test missiles during the first phase of military maneuvers in the central desert outside the holy city of Qom, 02 November 2006. (AFP/Getty Images)

Iran Threatens Crushing Response If US Designates Guards a Terrorist Group

Iran promised on Monday to give a crushing response if the United States designated its elite Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group.

The pledge came a week before President Donald Trump announces final decision on how he wants to contain Tehran. He is expected on Oct 15 to decertify the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal.

Trump is also expected to designate Irans most powerful security force, the Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, as he rolls out a broader U.S. strategy on Iran.

We are hopeful that the United States does not make this strategic mistake, foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA at a news conference.

If they do, Irans reaction would be firm, decisive and crushing and the United States should bear all its consequences, he added.

Individuals and entities associated with the IRGC are already on the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations, but the organization as a whole is not.

IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari warned that additional sanctions would end the chances for future dialogue with the United States and that the Americans would have to move their regional bases outside the 2,000 km (1,250 mile) range of IRGCs missiles.

The foreign ministry spokesman Qasemi also denied U.S. accusations that Iran had cooperated with North Korea.

In an interview that was aired on Saturday night, Trump accused Iran of funding North Korea and doing things with North Korea that are totally inappropriate.

Qasemi called the accusations baseless.

Israel and some specific countries are raising these accusations to create Iranophobia.

Malign Activities

In his first speech to the U.N. General Assembly in September Trump called Iran a corrupt dictatorship, and the nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama an embarrassment.

The deal saw Iran agree to curbs on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of international sanctions that had damaged its economy.

The Kremlin said on Monday that any U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal would have negative consequences.

British Prime Minister Theresa May, who supports the nuclear deal, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes it, agreed in a phone call on Monday that they need to be clear-eyed about the threat Iran poses to the Middle East.

They agreed that  the international community should continue working together to push back against Irans destabilizing regional activity, Mays spokesman said in a statement.

Washington still maintains its own more limited sanctions on Iran over its missile program and over accusations Tehran supports terrorism.

The Trump administration is seeking to put more pressure on the IRGC, especially over recent ballistic missile tests and what Washington has called its malign activities across the Middle East.

U.S. sanctions on the IRGC could affect conflicts in Iraq and Syria, where Tehran and Washington both support warring parties that oppose the ISIS terrorist group.

The U.S. government imposed sanctions in July on 18 entities and people for supporting the IRGC in developing drones and military equipment. In August, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act which imposed new sanctions on Iran for its ballistic missiles program.

The act, signed by Trump, also imposed sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear weapons development and on Russia for its alleged efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election.
Its Columbus Day Today, and His Statue Is Covered in Los Angeles

A statue of Christopher Columbus was covered Monday, Oct. 9.

The statue, located in Los Angeles Grand Park, is located near the entrance of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse off Hill Street. A white cover now shrouds the statue, CBS LA reported.

The display is now surrounded by a chain-link fence, which was set up for the monument.

Officials in Los Angeles did not say whether they would cover the statue. Some statues of Columbus in New York and other cities have been damaged.

Columbus Statue Covered On LAs First Indigenous Peoples Day  CBS Los Angeles https://t.co/OWrPSiU7bF  maitri (@clarissamehler) October 9, 2017

The Los Angeles City Council voted in August to rename Columbus Day, which is a federal holiday, to Indigenous Peoples Day. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors also voted earlier this month to expunge references to Columbus Day as a county holiday, saying that Oct. 12 is Italian American Heritage Day and creating the new Indigenous Peoples Day.

Indigenous Peoples Day in Los Angeles County will fall on the second Monday in October, starting no later than 2019, the CBS report points out.

Some Italian Americans say that eliminating Columbus Day is culturally insensitive. Columbus was born in Italy in 1451, but he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean to North American under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain.

We had a very difficult time in this country for well over a hundred years, said Basil Russo, president of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Columbus Day is a day that weve chosen to celebrate who we are. And were entitled to do that just as they are entitled to celebrate who they are.

Meanwhile, Ruben Diaz Jr., the current President of the Borough of the Bronx in New York City, wrote an opinion piece for the New York Post, saying that people shouldnt mess with Christopher Columbus.

This statue should not be removed, he said of the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle in Manhattan. The statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus Circle was not built to herald the explorers subjugation of native people, he wrote.

NYPD beefs up presence around city's Christopher Columbus statue hours before parade https://t.co/j2phmfSijY #ColumbusDay pic.twitter.com/IA0LLx5sO0  New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) October 9, 2017

The Columbus Circle statue was erected in 1892 following a massive fundraising campaign by the nations Italian-American community in recognition of the 400th anniversary of Columbus landing in the Americas, he wrote.

He added that the statues of the explorer represents much more than the explorer. It represents the spirit of the Italian-Americans that have done so much to shape this city and this nation  from giants like Fiorello La Guardia and Joe DiMaggio and Mother Cabrini, to the laborers who built so much of this great city.
Russian soldiers stand guard near a S-400 missile defense system at a military exhibition in Zhukovsky outside Moscow, on August 13, 2014. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images)

Kremlin Says S-400 Missile Talks with Saudi Arabia on Track

MOSCOWThe Kremlin said on Monday that talks with Saudi Arabia over Moscow supplying Riyadh with advanced S-400 air defense missile systems had gone well so far despite talk of a possible U.S.-Saudi arms deal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Saudi Arabias King Salman for talks at the Kremlin last week during which Saudi Arabia said it had signed a memorandum of understanding on the purchase of the S-400s.

A day later, the Pentagon said the U.S. State Department had approved the possible sale of a THAAD anti-missile defense system to Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of $15 billion.

When asked whether a possible U.S. deal with Riyadh might affect the Russian arrangement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on a conference call with reporters, said talks had been progressing well.

We can speak only for ourselves, said Peskov. (But)contacts to implement this contract have been very positive and have had very good preliminary results.

Maria Vorobyova, an official at a Russian government agency dealing with military and technical cooperation, was cited earlier on Monday as saying that a firm agreement had been reached withSaudi Arabia on the S-400s.

An agreement has been reached with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to deliver the S-400 air defense system, anti-tank Kornet-EM rocket systems, TOS-1A (multiple rocket launcher) systems, AGS-30 automated grenade launchers, and Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles, the RIA news agency cited her as saying.

Russia also signed a contract last week for Saudi to produce the AK-103 rifles under license along with ammunition. Saudi Arabia is a longstanding U.S. ally in the Middle East and its arms deals with Moscow have caused disquiet in Washington.

When asked about fears that Saudi Arabia could use the S-400 system against Iran, a Russian ally, Peskov said Moscows decision to offer the missiles to Riyadh was not aimed at any third party.

Military technical cooperation between Moscow and Riyadh is absolutely self-contained and does not target third countries in this region or other regions of the world, said Peskov.

Therefore we are confident that this cooperation should not be a worry for anyone.

By Dmitry Solovyov
More Details Revealed on Vegas Gunmans Father

More details have been revealed on the father of Stephen Paddock, the gunman who shot and killed 58 people in Las Vegas in early October.

Benjamin Hoskins Paddock was a fugitive bank robber who was on the FBIs top ten most wanted list until 1977.

But it has also been revealed that he was a self-ordained minister who married couples in Las Vegas and had plans to open a church there. Investigators are looking into every aspect of Paddocks family life, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Like his son, Benjamin Paddock was described as an avid gambler. An FBI poster had described him as a psychopath who should be treated as armed and very dangerous.

He was found one year after he was removed from the most wanted list in 1978 in Oregon. He had been running a bingo parlor, it has been reported.

He tried to exploit a loophole in Oregon by starting a church, allowing him to pocket some of the money from bingo. He was caught in 1987 and charged with running an illegal gambling operation. Two years later, he tried to start another church in Vegas, the Review-Journal reported.

A 1971 Tuscon Daily News story on Benjamin "Chromedome" Paddock, father of Joseph Paddock, who was on FBI Most Wanted List. pic.twitter.com/tABwQXOFYa  Gregory Korte (@gregorykorte) October 2, 2017

Stephen Paddocks Dad Benjamin Paddock pic.twitter.com/Iz9GCiKvSE  ????? (@__0HOUR1_) October 8, 2017

He wanted [to set the church up] in Nevada because he liked to go there and gamble, Bernie Sue Warthen, a friend of Benjamin Paddock, was quoted by MailOnline as saying. Warthen said he invited her to the city in the late 1980s so they could start the Holy Life Congregation, which never materialized.

Officials still cant figure out a motive for Stephen Paddocks attack.

Associate criminology professor at the University of Nebraska, Joseph Schwartz, cautioned against drawing conclusions about Stephen Paddock based on his family or his antisocial behavior.

Its human nature to try to speculate and try to understand something so terrible, Schwartz told the Review-Journal. In reality, [mistreating someone] is not a precursor to collecting multiple semi-automatic weapons and shooting at people from a hotel window.

If he had a high predisposition for criminal and violent behavior, we likely would have seen that earlier in his life, Schwartz said.

According to Reuters, a complete picture of his finances is still being assembled by investigators who are trying to understand what drove an apparently wealthy retiree to haul 23 guns up to a hotel suite before commencing one of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history.

He was kind of a scruffy dude, said Jim Hearn, a broker who recalled showing Paddock around the complex of small, middle-class apartments in early 2004. Didnt look like he had two nickels to rub together, but he had a few million bucks in an exchange account, which was clearly real, and he did his due diligence and closed the deal.

Reuters contributed to this report
FILE PHOTO: Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, attends an opening ceremony of a newly constructed residential complex in Ryomyong street in Pyongyang, North Korea April 13, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

North Korea: Princess Now One of States Top Policy Makers

SEOULNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un is trying to shore up his power and position by promoting his 28-year-old sister to the countrys top decision-making bod.

Kim Yo Jong was named as an alternate member of the politburo within the ruling Workers Party of Koreathe opaque, all-powerful party organ where top state affairs are decided, the Norths official media said on Sunday.

It makes her only the second woman in patriarchal North Korea to join the exclusive club after Kim Kyong Hui, who held powerful roles when her brother Kim Jong Il ruled the country.

Since she is a female, Kim Jong Un likely does not see her as a threat and a challenge to his leadership, said Moon Hong-sik, research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. As the saying goes blood is thicker than water, Kim Jong Un thinks Kim Yo Jong can be trusted.

Unlike her aunt, who was promoted to the politburo in 2012 after serving more than three decades in the party, Kim Yo Jong has risen to power at an unprecedented pace.

Kim Kyong Hui has not been seen since her husband, Jang Song Thaek, once regarded as the No.2 leader in Pyongyang, was executed in 2013. South Koreas spy agency believes she is now in a secluded place near Pyongyang undergoing a treatment for an unidentified disease, according to an August briefing to parliament.

Jang and his wife are not the only relatives to fall from Kim Jong Uns favor.

Kim Jong Uns estranged half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, was killed with a toxic nerve agent at a Malaysian airport in February. Two women are on trial for the murder, which South Korean and U.S. officials believe Kim Jong Uns regime was behind.

Kim Jong Nam, who lived in exile in Macau, had criticized his familys dynastic rule and his brother had issued a standing order for his execution, according to some South Korean lawmakers.

In a Ponytail and Black Suits

The smartly dressed Kim Yo Jong, her hair usually pulled back in a ponytail and mostly seen in black suits and black-heeled shoes, made her first debut on state media in December 2011, seen standing tearfully next to Kim Jong Un at the funeral of their father.

Since then, Kim has made several appearances with her brother, giggling at concerts, riding a white horse, smiling as she receives flowers on his behalf at state functions.

Having previously only occasionally appeared in the background, the young heiress has moved to the front and center of media photos more recently, assisting her brother at numerous high-profile state events.

At a massive military parade in April to mark the 105th birth anniversary of founding father Kim Il Sung, she was seen rushing out from behind pillars to bring paperwork to her brother as he prepared to give an address.

The same month, she stood alongside him during the unveiling ceremony of a construction project in Pyongyang.

In March 2016, she accompanied Kim Jong Un to a field guidance for nuclear scientists, where he claimed successful miniaturisation of nuclear warheads.

Kim Yo Jongs official inclusion in the 30-strong exclusive club of North Koreas chief policy makers means her role within the regime will be expanded further, Cheong Seong-chang, senior fellow at the Sejong Institute south of Seoul.

Behind the Veil

Apart from her age, little is known about Kim Yo Jong. She was publicly identified for the first time in February 2011 when a South Korean TV station caught her at a Eric Clapton concert in Singapore with her other brother, Kim Jong Chol.

The three, who all reportedly went to school in Switzerland, are full blood siblings, born to Kim Jong Ils fourth partner, Ko Yong Hui.

Kim Jong Chol, the oldest of Kim Jong Ils sons, does not involve himself in politics, leading a quiet life in Pyongyang where he plays guitar in a band, according to Thae Yong Ho, North Koreas former deputy ambassador in London who defected to the South.

In 2014, Kim Yo Jong was made vice director of the Workers Partys Propaganda and Agitation Department, which handles ideological messaging through the media, arts and culture.

The position led the U.S. Treasury Department to blacklist her along with six other North Korean officials in January for severe human rights abuses and censorship that concealed the regimes inhumane and oppressive behavior.

Last year, South Koreas former spy chief said Kim Yo Jong was seen abusing power, punishing propaganda department executives for minor mistakes.

In a North Korean state media photo in January 2015, she was spotted wearing a ring on her fourth finger during a visit to a child care center.

South Korean intelligence officials say Kim might have wed a schoolmate from the prestigious Kim Il Sung University, but there has been no confirmation of whether she is indeed married or to whom.

By Hyonhee Shin & Soyoung Kim
Police Charge Drunk Driver in Crash That Killed Mom and 4 Children

A mother and her four children were killed in a car crash in Salem, Oregon, on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 8, KGW reported.

A Buick Century, driven by Lisette Medrano-Perez, 25, collided with a Landrover driven by Favian R. Garcia, 27, at 4:30 p.m. according to Oregon State Police.

Medrano-Perez of Molalla, Oregon, and her four children, boys aged 6 and 8, and girls aged 2 and 4, were all pronounced dead at the scene. One of the children was not the womans by birth, but she was the legal guardian and filed paperwork to adopt the child next week, KATU reported.

Multiple people dead in two-vehicle crash near Salem. https://t.co/0w4yuigxbd pic.twitter.com/aHzfU1YkRP  FOX 12 Oregon KPTV (@fox12oregon) October 9, 2017

The two cars collided head-on when both drivers were negotiating a corner of Highway 99E and Nevada Street NE.

Police say that Garcia was intoxicated at the time of the crash and charged him with five manslaughter counts, driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, and driving while suspended.

After taking Garcia to a local hospital for minor injuries, police booked him into a Marion County Jail.

Multi-fatality crash has closed Highway 99E north of Salem @Salem_Statesman pic.twitter.com/4AKeINBAIS  Jonathan Bach (@jonathanmbach) October 9, 2017

He has outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court for a DUI citation and for interfering with emergency calls from earlier in the year.

According to court records, he was arrested in August and granted a conditional release.

Garcia also received a DUII in 2011 and was arrested in 2013 for interfering with a probation officer and committing third-degree escape.

A Gervais man is facing manslaughter charges for a five-fatality crash that occurred yesterday north of Salem. https://t.co/vMutzO9EPS  Woodburn Independent (@WBIndependent) October 9, 2017

Police are investigating the exact cause of the crash. The road was closed as officers collected evidence.

The father of one of the first responders wrote about his experience on Facebook.

My son was a responder, Bob Johnson wrote. Sadly, retrieved and transported all of them to his funeral home. Most emotional call he has ever had to make. Went home and tightly hugged his wife and his 7 children.

A total of five crashes occurred in Oregon over the weekend, killing nine people, KXL reported.

Two vehicles crashed in Gresham on Sunday, killing a bicyclist. A man from Molalla, the same town as the mother in the crash, was killed in a crash on Highway 211 on Saturday. Another crash on Saturday killed a man from Dallas near Lincoln City. An 18-year-old was killed in a crash on Highway 58 at the intersection with Rattlesnake Road.

Police are asking witnesses who have not been questioned to contact (800) 452-7888.

From NTD.tv
South Korea Military Closely Monitoring for New North Korea Missile Launch

South Korean and U.S. military officials have been closely monitoring North Korea following a threat by the regime to conduct a new ballistic missile test.

Analysts believed such a test could take place on Tuesdaywhich could be Monday in the U.S. due to the time differencemarking the founding of North Koreas communist Workers Party.

South Koreas military has been in a high state of monitoring and readiness alongside the U.S. military, South Korean media reported.

We have yet to detect any signs of immediate provocations from North Korea, a South Korean military source told South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

We are maintaining an upgraded monitoring effort to guard against any developments, the source said.

South Korean warships including the nations first Aegis destroyer, Sejongdaewang (L), in this file photo. (KOREA POOL/AFP/Getty Images)

A U-2S high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft has been deployed by the U.S. Air Force to monitor potential military movements by the North.

A South Korean Aegis destroyer has also been deployed. The warship is equipped with a SPY-1D radar that can detect a missile launch within a range of 200 miles.

The threat of an imminent missile launch came after Russian lawmakers who visited North Korea last week said they were told by officials a new test launch was being prepared. The Russian delegation said they were also presented with calculations showing the missile would be able to reach the U.S. mainland.

Also, a top CIA official for the Korean Peninsula, said that the United States was expecting some new provocation from Kim on Oct. 10.

I told my own staff October 10 is the Korean Workers Party founding day, thats Tuesday in North Korea, but thats Monday, Columbus Day holiday in the U.S., so stand by your phones, Yong Suk Lee, deputy assistant director of the CIAs Korea Mission Center, told students and reporters at George Washington University.

Since coming to power in 2011 Kim Jong Un has sped up the countrys nuclear weapons program, conducting as many as 85 missile tests according to the U.S. State Department.

President Donald Trump on Monday tweeted that policies under previous U.S. administrations have failed to contain the North Korean nuclear threat.

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didnt work!, Trump wrote on Twiter.

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2017

Trump has vowed to protect the U.S. against North Koreas nuclear aggression, saying that only denuclearization is an option for the Norths regime. He has also been fiercely critical of talks with the North, pointing to the fact that 25 years of negotiations were unable to stop the North from developing its nuclear weapons.
President Donald Trump at the White House on Sept. 24. Trump said that "only one thing works" when it comes to North Korea. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Trump Telegraphing North Korea Military Options Are on the Table, Says Cabinet Official

A day after President Donald Trump tweeted that only one thing will work when it comes to dealing with North Korea, a cabinet official said the president was referring to military action.

When asked about the presidents tweet on NBCs Meet The Press on Oct. 8, Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, said that military options are on the table.

What the president is clearly telegraphing, and this should not be news to anybody, is that military options are on the table with North Korea. They absolutely are, Mulvaney said.

President Trump, in a series of tweets the day before, criticized the failure of 25 years of U.S. policies to deal with the North Korean nuclear threat.

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid  hasnt worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!, Trump wrote on Twitter.

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

Trumps tweets came a day after Russian lawmakers said they were told during a visit to North Korea that the regime was planning another ballistic missile test, one capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

Since coming to office, Trump has taken a hard-line stance on North Korea, making clear early that military options were a possibility, while simultaneously pressuring the Norths closest ally, China, to take action.

After months of diplomatic efforts, the president succeeded last month in having China agree to impose stricter sanctions on North Korea. China also took the unprecedented step of informing all banks to stop providing financial services to the North, as well as telling North Korean firms they have to shut down.

Experts have pointed to the devastating effects that a military conflict with North Korea would have.

An analysis by the 38 North, a project of the US-Korea Institute at John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, estimates that the North Korean regime has the ability to create as many as 2.1 million fatalities and 7.7 million injuries using nuclear weapons.

Secretary of Defense James Mattis said a military conflict with the North would be a catastrophic war.

A conflict in North Korea, John, would be probably the worst kind of fighting in most peoples lifetimes, Mattis told CBS News on May 28.

Why do I say this? The North Korean regime has hundreds of artillery cannons and rocket launchers within range of one of the most densely populated cities on earth, which is the capital of South Korea, Mattis said.

North Korea is estimated to have over 14,000 pieces of artillery and rocket launchers in its possession, many of which are strategically located in bunkers in the mountains on the border with South Korea.

With South Koreas capital located just 35 miles from the border, the North could wreak devastation on the city, which has a population of over 25 million in its metropolitan area.

However, President Trump has said that a nuclear-armed North Korea is an unacceptable security risk to the United States and its allies. North Korea has already threatened to use nuclear weapons against the U.S. mainland.

Military and intelligence officials have said that the North still faces some technical obstacles in reaching the U.S. mainland, but believe its only a matter of time before those are resolved.

Frankly, I think we should assume today that North Korea has that capability and has the will to use that capability, said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. about the Norths ability to reach the United States with a nuclear weapon, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Sept. 26.

President Trump has vowed to protect America against such a threat.

I can tell you one thingyou are protected  Nobody is going to mess with our people, nobody is going to play games, nobody is going to put our people in that kind of danger, Trump said at a rally in Huntsville, Alabama, on Sept. 23.

On Monday, the President reiterated his viewpoint that talks with the regime will not lead to denuclearization.

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didnt work!, Trump wrote on Twiter.

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2017

Efforts by previous administrations have indeed not been able to stop North Koreas nuclear weapons program. The North broke an agreement it had reached with the United States under then-President Bill Clinton. Under the deal the regime received aid as well as two light-water nuclear reactors for abandoning its nuclear weapons program.

In 2006, under then-president George W. Bush, the regime conducted its first underground nuclear test. It has conducted five more such tests since then, the most recent one in early September.

Dictator Kim Jong Un has significantly sped up the nuclear weapons program, which was started by his grandfather Kim Il Sung. The State Department estimates Kim has conducted 85 ballistic missile tests since coming to power.
US Military Delivers Goods Directly in Puerto Rico as Local Government Falls Short

The U.S. government is taking over the reins of relief efforts in Puerto Rico, after the local government has failed to properly deliver to the people in need the food, water, medicine, and other supplies arriving at the territorys ports following the devastation of Hurricane Maria. On Oct. 8, troops began handing out the supplies directly.

This was a shift, the Miami Herald reported, from previous methods where relief supplies were delivered to 10 regional staging areas in Puerto Rico, and the local mayors were largely responsible for arranging pick-up and distribution. It noted the militarizing of the relief efforts was done as some of the local mayors stumble on the job.

The problem made headlines when San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz Soto began accusing the Trump administration of not delivering relief to the island. It was soon reported, however, that the goods were being delivered, but were sitting in the port that Cruz was in charge of.

CNBC reported on Sept. 28 that 9,500 cargo containers of medicine, food, and other goods were stuck at the port of San Juan. Rumors began to swirl locally that truck drivers were on strike, or that government corruption was preventing the goods from reaching the people.

President Donald Trump stated on Twitter on Sept. 30, Results of recovery efforts will speak much louder than complaints by San Juan Mayor. Doing everything we can to help great people of PR!

Results of recovery efforts will speak much louder than complaints by San Juan Mayor. Doing everything we can to help great people of PR!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017

My Administration will continue to work around the clock with Governor @RicardoRossello & his team. Great progress being made! #PRStrong?? pic.twitter.com/1aL9YrwTvC  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2017

Trump visited Puerto Rico on Oct. 3, and spoke with Gov. Ricardo Rossellowho has praised Trumps responseand other local leaders to evaluate the situation. Trump said the roads were cleared and communications were starting to come back, but we need their truck drivers to start driving trucks.

We need truck drivers, we need the police, he said. We have tremendous amounts of supplies there, we need to distribute it locally and the best ones to do that are local people, we need local help.

Trump noted that while locals were helping, a lot of them lost their homes and when you lose a home its not easy to say hey Im going to start delivering water.

Now, however, the Trump administration has extended its efforts to also include the direct distribution of supplies in key areas.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said during an Oct. 8 press conference in San Juan that the U.S. Department of Defense had sent close to 13,000 personnel to help in Puerto Rico, and 4,000 members of the Puerto Rico National Guard and Emergency Management Assistance Compact are helping.

Theres an expectation of 3,000 more to come to Puerto Rico in the next couple of weeks as well, he said, adding that Water and food delivery keeps being a top priority, making sure the people of Puerto Rico have the elements important to survive through this crisis.

Besides delivering goods, other priorities for the DOD are restoring energy through generators or through the power grid, and to help get all hospitals running again at full capacity. As of Oct. 8, 66 hospitals were operational, while 78 percent of the islands gas stations and 77 percent of its supermarkets were open.

Trump posted a video of the relief efforts on Twitter on Oct. 8, and stated Nobody could have done what Ive done for #PuertoRico with so little appreciation. So much work!

Nobody could have done what Ive done for #PuertoRico with so little appreciation. So much work! pic.twitter.com/k2jAkIpfjI  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017
Report: Vegas Gunman Could Have Had Undiagnosed Mental Disorder

Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock may have had a severe mental illness that was likely undiagnosed, some law enforcement officials told ABC News over the weekend.

Officials have had an exceptionally difficult time piecing together a motive for the mass shooting that took place last Sunday and left 58 people dead and almost 500 people injured at an outdoor country music concert.

ABC reported that hundreds of people have been interviewed over the past week, and law enforcement officials think that while Paddock might have been financially successful, he had real difficulty interacting with people.

Paddock, 64, has been described as aloof, disconnected, and a man who had difficulty maintaining relationships with people.

The retired millionaire was known for gambling in casinos for hours at a time. A source told ABC that he may have been exhibiting many antisocial traits that are typical of past mass shooters.

Behavioral scientists and FBI profilers have spent hours examining witness interviews to figure out the motive.

From September to October 2016, he bought about 30 gunsnamely riflesand officials are attempting to shed light on that period of his life.

As CBS News reported, citing law enforcement, a note that was found in his Mandalay Bay hotel room contained hand-written calculations about where he needed to aim to maximize his accuracy.

I could see on it he had written the distance, the elevation he was on, the drop of what his bullet was gonna be for the crowd, Officer David Newton from the Las Vegas Police Departments K-9 unit said. So he had that written down and figured out so he would know where to shoot to hit his targets from there.

He also described what it was like to enter Paddocks room after police blew it open with an explosive charge, setting off smoke detectors.

Very eerie. Yeah, the dust from the explosive breach. And then you have the flashing lights, Newton told CBS. And that looked straight, like, out of a movie, you know?
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, with a rescued elephant called Ran Ran in Xishuangbanna, China, on March 4, 2015. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Victory for Prince William as the UK Announces Ban on Ivory Trade

Almost all ivory trade could be banned by the UK government in a bid to combat elephant poaching.

Conservationists have warned that the legal ivory market is a cover for selling poached elephant tusks, and many have warned that elephants could become extinct within decades in some African countries if the rates of poaching continue.

Its a victory for Prince William, who has long campaigned against the ivory trade.

On Thursday, Oct. 5, the Duke sent a message to the Tusk conservation awards in Cape Town, South Africa.

I worry a great deal that our generation is not meeting our moral obligation to leave this planet in better shape than we inherited it. Our children and grandchildren will not thank us if we fail in our duty to reverse the decline in so many species, he said.

Under current rules, carved ivory items made before 1947 can be sold in the UK, while raw ivory is banned. The new ban would cover all ivory items no matter when they were produced.

There are four exemptions proposed to the total ban: musical instruments; items only containing a small amount of ivory; items of significant historic, artistic, or cultural value; and sales between museums.

The proposed UK ban on ivory is subject to a 12-week public consultation that closes on Dec. 29.

The need for radical and robust action to protect one of the worlds most iconic and treasured species is beyond dispute, said Environment Secretary Michael Gove in a statement announcing the plans.

Tusk says at least 20,000 elephants are slaughtered every year due to the demand for their tusks, while other organizations put the number at closer to 30,000 a year.

The decline in the elephant population fuelled by poaching for ivory shames our generation, said Gove.Ivory should never be seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbolso we want to ban its sale.

John Stephenson, chief executive of UK-based NGO Stop Ivory, welcomed the move.

By starting the process to bring in a total ban on ivory sales in the UK, the government continues to work with the African countries leading the Elephant Protection Initiative to secure a meaningful future for elephants across Africa, he said.

But Noelle McElhatton, editor at the Antiques Trade Gazette, was not so sure.

She told the BBC that those involved in the trade abhor poaching, but said that a ban on trade in items made before 1947 will not save a single living elephant.

We feel strongly that an outright ban would be an overreaction and would be very detrimental to the honest and legitimate trade of pre-1947 ivory, she said.
1. Yes. The ordinance goes against state law and is not in the best interest of the cities.

2. Yes. At the very least, it should be amended to give police officers some discretion.

3. No. Voters approved the ordinance by large majorities; the councils cant ignore that fact.

4. No. The petition process has to be given a chance to work. Leave the ordinance alone.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say how the cities should move forward regarding the ordinance.

Vote

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LIDCOMBE, AUSTRALIAThree decades before Oprah Winfrey ignited a fashion firestorm by promoting the fleecy footwear known as Uggs, a surfer named Corky Carroll packed a pair of something very similar for what would turn out to be a fateful journey.

Carroll, a famous surfer in the 1960s and 70s, discovered the boots while hitting the waves in Australia, where locals used them to keep their feet warm on cold days at the beach. Carroll brought a pair back with him to California, he said, then asked a friend to send him a hundred to sell on consignment after other surfers began admiring them.

I have always loved them, very comfortable and warm, Carroll, who still owns a pair, said in an email from his home in Mexico. Also easy to get on and off.

Carrolls account is now part of a court dispute that is raising hackles in Australia over footwear that has sometimes been derided as unflattering and just plain ugly. Though Australian by pedigree, the Uggs brand name in the United States is owned by a company based in California  and that firm is suing an Australian shoemaker for using it.

Australians  up to and including Malcolm Turnbull, the prime minister  say Uggs should simply be uggs. In a letter dated in July, Turnbull said he had asked the Australian Embassy in Washington to get information from the U.S. government about the dispute and to reiterate Australias view that ugg is a generic term.

The argument may be tough to make in the United States, legal experts say. While uggs may be generic in Australia, Uggs are not in the United States.

Trademark law tends to be very parochial when it comes to this sort of thing, Barton Beebe, a professor of intellectual property law at New York University, said in an email. It only cares about the perception of the relevant consumer population, and in the U.S., the relevant population was not likely and probably still isnt likely influenced by Australian English.

Uggs  the generic kind  might seem like an odd place for Australia to plant its cultural flag. But it comes as some in Australia fume about people outside the country appropriating Australian names and ideas. Winfrey, Kate Moss and Sarah Jessica Parker may have helped make the footwear famous around the world, but many Australians want to call Uggs their own.

If the French can protect Champagne, the Portuguese Port, the Spanish Sherry and the Greeks Feta, Nick Xenophon, an Australian senator, said in a recent statement, alluding to the brand protections that some famous names enjoy, then surely Australia can protect the word Ugg.  (Xenophon on Friday said he would resign as a senator.)

Uggs came and went from public view in the United States since they were trademarked there, but they won a big boost from Winfrey, the talk-show host, who came out as a fan in the early 2000s. Their roots are more humble. According to Australian trademark officials, they appeared as early as the 1970s in phone directory ads as ug, ugg, ugh boots, among many other variations.

In Australian slang, ughs are sheepskin booties, designed by surfers in the 1960s to coddle feet weary after shooting the curl,  The New York Times said in 1994.

The brands U.S. owner, the Deckers Outdoor Corp., argues that in the 1990s, it bought the U.S. registered name from an Australian entrepreneur, Brian Smith, fair and square. Australians violate the companys intellectual property rights, it said, when they sell Ugg-like footwear in the United States.

Last year, it sued an Australian shoemaker owned by Eddie Oygur in a Chicago federal court, saying he sold ersatz Uggs in the United States. Oygur sold about $2,000 (U.S.) worth of lowercase ugg boots in the United States over a five-year period, his lawyer said, and believed he had every right to.

I want to let the American people know what corporate bullies they are and what theyre trying to do  deplete my resources, ruin my business and the whole ugg boot industry, Oygur said in his factory in Lidcombe, a Sydney suburb.

Oygur, 56, plans to take his argument to the court of American public opinion. On Sunday, he said, he plans to join Xenophon to drive a herd of sheep to Deckers headquarters, in Goleta, Calif.

Uggs is not the only Australian name to spur protective feelings  and, potentially, limit the international expansion of Australian companies.

Bondi Wash, a Sydney company that makes natural baby lotions, soaps and dog rinses, groused that it was denied a U.S. trademark because of a similar name held by Abercrombie & Fitch. Bondi, a long crescent of white sand in Sydney, is one of Australias most famous beaches.

They didnt really care that Bondi was actually quite a well-known place in Australia and theyd awarded it to a big U.S. company, said Belinda Everingham, founder of Bondi Wash, referring to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Uluru, the name of an immense rock formation in central Australia, is trademarked in the United States by a California carpet company. Kakadu, the name of a national park, is claimed by a number of U.S. companies.

Certain words really belong in the public domain, said Matthew Rimmer, an intellectual property and innovation professor at Queensland University of Technologys law school. Theres a certain Australian pride in the ugg boot, and a belief that it is a common article of clothing in Australia and resentment over it being claimed by a United States trademark holder.

Oygurs company, Australian Leather, hopes to undercut Deckers argument by saying Uggs were once uggs in the United States too, before they were improperly registered as a trademark. To bolster its argument, it tapped Carroll and another famous surfer, John Arnold, who said he exported large volumes of ugg boots to the United States beginning in the late 1960s.

My honest opinion is that the term Ugg boot is not something that should be owned as it is a description, said Carroll, who said he believed the name first came from Australian surfers who thought they were ugly.

A boot that was ugly, he said. That is different from a brand name.

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If you or anyone in your family has been diagnosed with breast, ovarian, prostate or pancreatic cancer, I encourage you to get a simple saliva test to determine whether youre at higher risk for these diseases.

A mutation in genes, called BRCA-1 and BRCA-2, has been linked to these four cancers. You may remember when the actress Angelina Jolie announced shed had a mastectomy. Jolies mother died of ovarian cancer  a major red flag for BRCA  so she wisely got herself tested, and found she had the mutation. Taking preventative measures could very well have saved her life.

As a genetic researcher, I know how scary it can be to undergo this kind of testing. Many people dont want to live their lives in fear; if theyre at higher risk of cancer, theyd rather not know. But if theres breast, ovarian, prostate or pancreatic cancer in your family, you likely already live with the fear of getting these diseases.

The stakes are high. Unfortunately, if youre BRCA positive, your lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 80 per cent; for ovarian cancer, its 40 per cent  and often the disease is not found in the early stages  and for prostate cancer, the risk is 35 to 40 per cent. A BRCA diagnosis also increases the lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer from about 1.6 per cent (in the general population) to about seven per cent.

In all of these cancers, even pancreatic, there are measures you can take to help prevent the disease, or catch it as early as possible. Increasingly, a BRCA diagnosis is being used to customize cancer treatments, especially in pancreatic cancer, where certain types of chemotherapy can be effective in shrinking the tumours of BRCA-positive patients. Similarly, women with breast cancer who have a BRCA mutation would benefit more from a mastectomy (removal of the breast) than a lumpectomy (removing only the cancerous tissue). Thats because these women have a much higher chance of recurrence and of developing a new breast cancer than those who dont carry the mutation.

And research shows that after about a year, the stress of a BRCA diagnosis goes away. Many patients even feel empowered by the experience, and by the action plan that results from it.

At Womens College Hospital (WCH), where a lot of our current knowledge about managing BRCA was developed, were encouraging all Canadians to get tested for BRCA through an initiative called The Screen Project. Testing technology has become much cheaper in recent years, and weve convinced a U.S.-based genetics testing company to offer less expensive rates to our participants. Canadians pay $165 U.S. and receive a simple saliva collection kit by mail. If you have the BRCA mutation, a WCH genetic counsellor will meet with you to discuss an action plan. Participants who cant afford the fee may be eligible for free testing.

In the first 200 Canadians who enrolled in the study, we found six BRCA carriers. Half of them would have qualified for the health-care system covered testing due to family history, but they preferred not to wait (there can be long waits under OHIP because of the shortage of genetic counselling, which always goes with the tests). The other three people would not have qualified for testing under the health system because there was no indication that they were at risk for the BRCA mutation. And yet they had it.

Even if you dont have a family history of the four cancers, you might consider BRCA testing since there is still a chance to carry a mutation without a family history, especially in small size families. In the Caucasian population, it is estimated that one in 200 people carry the mutation. But among the Ashkenazi (Jews of European background), theres a carrier for every 40 people.

To know or not to know  this is going to be an increasingly complex question as scientists develop more ways to peer into our genes and predict our medical future. In considering this question, I always ask whether the information is actionable right here and now. In the case of BRCA, its clear that we can use a positive finding to better prevent and treat four types of cancer  two of them very common, and at least two of them quite deadly. I think the benefits to knowing are substantial  and in some cases, life-saving.

Dr. Mohammad R. Akbari is an assistant professor in Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Institute of Medical Sciences at U of Ts Faculty of Medicine. He is also a Scientist at the Womens College Research Institute. Doctors Notes is a weekly column by members of the U of T Faculty of Medicine. Email doctorsnotes@thestar.ca.

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Denise Lane searches her mind for fond memories of her son, but she has trouble retrieving them. No Christmases, no birthdays. Its hard to remember the good times.

Instead, her mind turns again and again to the memory of her son at their home one morning in April. He was slouched over on the side of his bed, one leg tucked under the other, his head dropped down on his chest.

Even here, her memory is spotty: screaming for her daughter, hugging her 23-year-old boy, feeling his cold skin. She remembers trying to lay him down to perform CPR, but she couldnt get him flat. She remembers kicking as officers pulled her away. She remembers demanding to see her son one last time as he lay in a body bag in her kitchen.

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Shawn Kelly Jr. died of a fentanyl overdose that morning in Innisfil, Ont., about an hours drive north of Toronto.

South Simcoe police began investigating immediately. Within a few days they arrested one man for trafficking. A few weeks later they arrested another for the same offence.

In late August they lowered the boom, laying manslaughter charges against the pair for Kellys death.

Lane recalls feeling happy when she learned of the development.

My son didnt deserve to die, he didnt deserve for these people to sell him this s__ and for me to wake up in the morning to find him dead, she says. Shawny may have held a gun to his own head, but the people that sold it to him are the ones that pulled the trigger.

Several forces and prosecutors across the country are now laying manslaughter charges against those who allegedly supplied fentanyl to people who overdosed and died.

For South Simcoe police, laying such charges is partly about sending a message to dealers of the powerful opioid.

Were trying to show that when we have the information, were going to pursue the people providing this because its causing death in our communities, says Det. Sgt. Brad Reynolds, who oversaw the investigation into Kellys death.

Once tests came back from the coroner saying Kelly died of a fentanyl overdose, prosecutors suggested police lay the manslaughter charges, he says.

The case is still in its early stages. A lawyer for one of the accused said his client maintains his innocence, while a lawyer for the other accused noted that the details of the case are allegations at this point.

Reynolds says evidence will show Kelly asked specifically for fentanyl that was allegedly provided by the two accused. It wasnt a case of another drug, like cocaine, being tainted by fentanyl, he notes.

We think its a fairly well known fact that the ingestion of fentanyl can cause death. They are supplying something they know could cause death to the person purchasing it, Reynolds says. Thats where manslaughter comes in.

Multiple Ontario forces have reached out to discuss similar cases since South Simcoe police laid the charges, Reynolds says.

In some ways, the approach is a fresh take on an old tactic.

Manslaughter charges against drug dealers came to prominence in the early 1980s when actor John Belushi died in California of a drug overdose. Canadian Cathy Smith was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in a plea deal after being prosecuted for second-degree murder. She injected Belushi with speedballs  heroin and cocaine  and it was the heroin that killed him.

Experts say the tactic to charge drug suppliers with manslaughter is not a stretch legally.

In 1993, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld a manslaughter conviction against Marc Creighton who provided and injected cocaine into a womans arm with her consent. She began convulsing, went into cardiac arrest and choked to death on her own vomit.

The law is clear that you do incur a liability for death resulting from your distribution of a drug, says Alan Young, a York University law professor. Thats because the mental state fault requirement for manslaughter is very low  the objective foreseeability of bodily harm, not even death.

Kent Roach, a law professor at the University of Toronto agreed.

Given that its pretty notorious what fentanyl does to people, it seems to me like a logical progression, he says.

Several police forces are trying the tactic.

Ontario Provincial Police have laid two charges against alleged fentanyl traffickers and are investigating three others. A spokesperson says the force anticipates more such charges as fentanyl deaths rise.

In Edmonton, police have laid manslaughter charges against two alleged fentanyl suppliers in two separate cases in the past year.

When a person knowingly distributes a drug that is so lethal, and it results in a persons death, all efforts will be exhausted to identify and hold that person accountable, says spokeswoman Noreen Remtulla.

Early in September, Brantford, Ont., police charged a 34-year-old man with manslaughter after alleging he sold powdered fentanyl and cocaine to a 46-year-old man who died of an overdose. In late September, RCMP charged a 32-year-old man with manslaughter after a man died by an overdose of carfentanil, an opioid that is 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

But theres a different approach in Vancouver, a city mired in a fentanyl crisis, where police havent laid any manslaughter charges against alleged fentanyl dealers.

This is a complex issue that our investigators have considered at length, says Const. Jason Doucette, noting that officers investigate every sudden death in the city and go where the evidence leads them.

I believe charges and convictions in this area are fairly rare, and are usually only successful when a unique set of circumstances and evidence exist for that particular case.

At least 2,816 Canadians died from opioid-related causes in 2016 and the countrys chief public health officer predicts that number will surpass 3,000 this year.

Back in Innisfil, Kellys mother says her son  himself a father of two  told his parents last March that he was addicted to oxycodone. But he didnt want to kill himself, she says.

He was going to work the next day, he had two little boys to live for. He was on the right path, she said. My son turned to the wrong people and hes no longer here.

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VANCOUVERFormer B.C. cabinet minister and well-known Vancouver radio broadcaster Rafe Mair has died at the age of 85.

A longtime colleague of Mairs said that hell be remembered as a hard-hitting interviewer who was tough but fair.

Shiral Tobin, who produced his show on CKNW, said Mairs doctor confirmed his death at around 6 a.m. Monday morning.

Tobin said Mairs health had been declining for a number of years, but that he had continued to write articles and appear as a radio panellist until recently.

She said Mair fought for Indigenous rights, feminism and the environment in his later years. He even gave up his pastime of fly-fishing over his growing concern for the welfare of animals.

Mairs show on CKNW ran for almost two decades, and was known as one of the most popular radio programs in the province.

He was one of the best broadcasters in B.C. history, Tobin said. He used his radio talk show as a bully pulpit on behalf of the people of British Columbia.

Mairs political career began in 1975, after years of practising law, when he served as a MLA for Kamloops as a member of the B.C. Social Credit Party.

He also served as a cabinet minister in a variety of positions during Premier Bill Bennetts time in office.

Former premier Bill Vander Zalm, who served as an MLA and cabinet minister in the legislature alongside Mair, said he was a strong and effective politician who no one could go up against without expecting a lively debate.

I will remember Rafe, and Im sure everyone will remember, he was a very determined fellow. He made up his mind about what he wanted to do and how it was to be done and no one could really stop him from doing it his way, Vander Zalm said.

In the debates and the arguments and the discussions that were held both in cabinet chamber or the legislature he certainly made his views known very effectively. As a lawyer that came relatively easy for him.

Mairs career as a broadcaster began when he was 49 years old. Tobin said Mair turned to journalism because he felt he could have a greater impact by holding power to account.

He saw it as a gateway to power for the public, she said. He knew he had more influence, he could give a voice to the issues in British Columbia from the radio station.

Tobin, who is now director of programming and journalism at CBC in Vancouver, said although he had strong opinions and was tough on his guests, Mair was wonderful to work with and great mentor.

Mair was a recipient of multiple journalism awards, including the Michener Award for courageous journalism in 1995, and the B.C. Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Performer of the Year award in 1993.

He is survived by his wife Wendy Conway, five children and stepchildren, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

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A plastic and bamboo tent city has emerged overnight in a space roughly the size of the neighbourhood of Jane and Finchtwo to three families, of at least five members each, occupying one tent. There is no open space; just people.

Welcome to Coxs Bazaar, a fishing port at the southernmost tip of Bangladesh, now home to one of the largest exodus of refugees ever witnessed by aid workers in the region  60 to 80 per cent of whom are women and children from the Rohingya minority in neighbouring Burma.

Theyve been forced to flee after the Burmese military launched indiscriminate attacks against the Rohingya communities on Aug. 25  a crackdown thats been decried by the United Nations as ethnic cleansing.

To get to Coxs Bazaar, women have trekked for hundreds of kilometres from their burned-down villages in Burma, barefoot, for days, while pregnant or accompanied with small kids. Theyve come with no food or supplies  just the clothes on their back and memories of vanished villages and the corpses of their husbands and fathers.

Ive never seen such human desperation, said Fred Witteveen, the national director of World Vision Bangladesh, who was back in Toronto for the Thanksgiving weekend. We live in a blessed city, he said, But there, no matter how much we respond, there is still a gap.

People are living just to survive, said Witteveen. We need a very holistic approach so we can contribute much more.

Witteveen and World Vision are among a handful of aid agencies increasingly concerned for the immensity of relief efforts needed, for physical well-being, as well as mental and psychological needs. Refugees needs are still under-diagnosed, he said.

Silke Buhr, senior spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) agrees. The morning of Sept. 27, she stumbled met a woman, Zoreena, and premature baby in a community tent in one of the old refugee camps in the area.

Zoreena and her pregnant daughter had been walking 11 days when they finally reached the river that serves as the border between Burma and Bangladesh. There, in no-mans land, a short distance from the refugee camp they were heading to, Zoreenas daughter gave birth to her grandson.

His mother, extremely weak from labour, was taken to a local clinic upon their arrival. Zoreena asked other young mothers in the shelter to nurse the tiny baby boy until his mother gets better.

Hes a perfect symbol really, says Buhr, a senior spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme (WFP), her voice emotional from telling the story. These are stateless people, they dont have Myanmar citizenship to begin with, they havent gotten Bangladeshi citizenship now. I dont know where hes from.

In a shelter near Zoreenas, another young mother, Rohina, is unable to nurse her 20-days old baby, relying instead on the powdered milk provided by World Vision representatives.

Rohina doesnt have enough food to produce enough milk for her baby. In her grief she is also tortured thinking about her husbands death: the military killed him in front of her, before they ordered her to flee.

The window to help these women and children is getting very small, said Himaloy Joseph Mree, the communications officer for World Vision, speaking from Bangladesh. The longer their needs are not met adequately, the greater the risks of fatal outbreaks will be something like well never have seen.

On Oct. 4, Canadas Minister of International Development, Marie-Claude Bibeau announced in a tweet that Canada would contribute an additional $3 million in humanitarian assistance to assist the refugees in Burma and Bangladesh.

The extra assistance would specifically target the needs of women and children, she said, to ensure that women are provided with maternal, sexual and reproductive health services, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence receive the help they need.

But, at the moment, aid agencies are focused on life-saving assistance, making sure children like Zoreenas grandson get the nutrition they need as soon as possible.

In the span of one month, more than half a million people from the Burmese Rohingya community have migrated to Bangladesh, This group joins almost 300,000 refugees already in place from earlier displacements from the 1990s.

If a child doesnt receive adequate nutrition the first 1000 days of their lives, it will impair their cognitive and physical development. You cant ever make that up again, said Buhr.

To date, the UN WFP has registered over 460,000 refugees in their rice distribution program  and Save the Children has assessed that at least 14,000 cases of malnutrition have been reported amongst children alone  but theyve never dealt with a crisis like this.

These aid agencies are fearful for an epidemic because of such extreme levels of malnutrition and poor health conditions. According to CAREs assessment, about 6,000 people are sharing three toilets, the queues to which are close to two hours long.

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Of the three historic milestones that Jagmeet Singh represents  the first non-white, first South Asian and first Sikh to become leader of a national party  it is his faith, to which he so visibly and proudly belongs, that is of the utmost symbolic and substantive significance.

A century after facing raw racism on their arrival in British Columbia, Sikhs have emerged a bigger political force than any other visible minority group. Theirs has been a long and arduous journey that, at long last, constitutes a great Canadian story.

In electing Singh as leader, the New Democratic Party atones for the sins of its precursor, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, which demonized the Sikhs from India  often mislabeled as Hindus  landing on the west coast in the early 1900s. CCF leader J.S. Woodsworth proclaimed that they were decidedly grotesque and sadly out of place in Canada.

Echoing him was the labour movement, the other founding pillar of the future NDP. In 1907, the Vancouver Trades and Labour Council passed a motion of emphatic protest against the Hindoo laborers. The Trades and Labour Council of Canada urged exclusion of races that cannot be assimilated.

Reflecting prevailing prejudices, the Vancouver press portrayed the new arrivals as a danger to chaste white women.

The B.C. legislature in 1907 disenfranchised all natives of India not of Anglo-Saxon parents, and barred them from logging on Crown lands as well as entering the legal and medical professions.

Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier wrote: The situation with regard to the Hindoos is serious ... and, to speak frankly, I see no solution for it except quietly checking the exodus from India. His labour minister and future prime minister, Mackenzie King, said, the Hindu is not suited to the climate of this country.

In 1908, Ottawa enacted the infamous continuous journey law. Those from India would have to travel non-stop to Canada. Except that no shipping line offered direct passage. Which was the point. Other rules disallowed those not speaking a European language, and barred the re-entry of those who had gone home to visit wives and family.

By 1911, the mostly Sikh Indian population in Canada was reduced by half to 2,342.

The first real challenge to these racist policies came from an unexpected quarter. On May 23, 1914, Komagata Maru, a Japanese freighter chartered by Gurdit Singh, an enterprising Sikh from Malaya, anchored in Vancouvers Burrard Inlet. It carried 376 citizens of the British Raj, 340 of them Sikhs.

Hindu invaders now in the city harbour on Komagata Maru, screamed a Vancouver newspaper.

The passengers were not allowed to disembark for two months. Prime Minister Robert Borden had the ship escorted out to the Pacific Ocean.

It was not until 72 years later, in May last year, that Ottawa issued a formal apology. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons: No words can fully erase the suffering of the Komagata Maru victims. Today, we apologize and commit to doing better. Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp, featuring the ship and Gurdit Singh. This year, Stratford Festival mounted a new adaptation of the 1976 Sharon Pollock play, The Komagata Maru Incident. Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives mounted an exhibition in Brampton, where Punjabi is now the second-most spoken language and which Jagmeet Singh has represented in the Ontario Legislature since 2011.

Contemporary influx of Sikhs to Canada began in the 1970s, along with other groups from Asia under liberalized immigration.

That was the time when Sikhs in India were agitating for a separate homeland, Khalistan, the land of the pure. From a relatively peaceful, political protest movement it evolved into a militant campaign, with its leader and armed followers taking refuge in the Golden Temple, the Sikhs holiest shrine, in Amritsar, in 1982. In 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian army in.

A reported 1,500 were killed in that military operation. In retaliation, Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards as she came out of her residence in Delhi. That triggered retaliatory attacks on Sikhs in Delhi and elsewhere, killing an estimated 3,000.

In 1985, an Air India flight out of Toronto was blown up by an on-board bomb, off the coast of Ireland, killing 329 people  the worst terrorist incident in Canadian history. Suspicion fell on a group of West Coast Sikhs, but only one, Inderjit Singh Reyat, was convicted (and paroled last year). All the facts were never established due to a prolonged, botched RCMP investigation and despite two federal inquiries.

All this has remained a sore point with India  and also many Canadian Hindus. Both tend to see Sikh critics of India as radical Khalistanis.

In 1987, on a foggy July morning, 174 Sikhs were found standing on a highway in Shelburne County, N.S. They had been let off near the shore by a boat. One asked where he could find a taxi to Toronto. Eventually, they were accepted as refugees, as were thousands of other Sikhs.

In Canada, Sikhs continued battling numerous challenges to their right to wear the turban and kirpan, the ceremonial dagger. In 1989, more than 90,000 Canadians signed a petition opposing turbans in the RCMP. The Reform Party, led by Preston Manning, fully backed that campaign. It was not until 1990 that Baltej Singh Dhillon became the first turbaned Mountie.

Buffeted by overseas and domestic developments, Sikhs started organizing the community. They were soon contesting federal and provincial nominations with vigour. That prompted right-wing media and pundits to repeatedly raise the spectre of ethnic politics, with nary a mention of why it has always been laudable for other Canadians to recruit friends, fellow farmers, bankers or any other like-minded group for a political cause but not for the Sikhs.

The 1993 federal election turned out to be a mini-milestone  Sikhs had more seats in the Commons than the Conservatives, three to two.

Gurbax Singh Malhi of Malton became the first turbaned Sikh member of Parliament  in fact, the first in the Western world. During question period in the Commons, he was seated in camera range right behind Jean Chretien his blazing red turban announcing the emerging new Canada.

Non-turbaned Sikhs also gained national prominence  among them, Herbance Singh (Herb) Dhaliwal, a federal minister, and Ujjal Singh Dosanjh, NDP premier of B.C. who later became a Liberal and was named to the federal cabinet.

Sikh success in Canadian politics and the public sphere since has been remarkable.

Their annual community event, the Khalsa Day is celebrated in every major city. It has become de rigueur for political leaders from the Prime Minister on down to be present. Politicians of all parties routinely visit gurdwaras, Sikh temples, where they take off their shoes, cover their heads as per custom and sit on the floor in separate mens and womens sections, and later volunteer at the langar, the dining hall where people take turns serving free food to one and all.

Today, of the 41 elected South Asian members of Parliament and the provincial legislatures, 30 are Sikhs. And last year, Sabi Marwah, the first turbaned Sikh vice-chairman and chief operating officer of the Bank of Nova Scotia, was appointed to the Senate.

When Justin Trudeau named four Sikhs to his cabinet  Navdeep Bains, Bardish Chagger, Harjit Sajjan and Amarjeet Sohi  the prime minister boasted that he had more Sikh ministers than the federal cabinet in India.

That ill-advised remark rankled New Delhi, which has also kept a wary eye on several Canadian Sikhs, including Jagmeet Singh. He has been a vocal critic of Indias handling of the 1984 Sikh killings. He has said that the euphemism riots is a misnomer for what happened. These were not riots between the two (communities  Hindus and Sikhs). It was a state-sponsored massacre.

In 2014, he was denied a visa to India, with Indian spokesmen accusing him of fomenting contempt against India. He responded that India continues to use visa denial as a form of silencing its critics.

In April this year, he voted for a motion passed at the Ontario Legislature describing the 1984 killings as genocide.

Singhs rise to the leadership of the NDP clearly changes the Canadian political calculus.

Sikhs used to vote overwhelmingly for the Liberals. The Conservatives have made inroads in recent years. The NDP less so, partly because Sikhs tend to be socially conservative, as seen in their objections to the changes in sex education curriculum in Ontario schools, something that Singh initially opposed.

But with his new national status, therell be much interest in the NDP among the Sikhs, in a big way, especially in Brampton and Mississauga, and out west in Surrey and Delta in B.C., and in Edmonton, says Harinder Takhar, MPP for Mississauga-Erindale.

Takhar ran for the leadership of provincial Liberal party in 2013, losing to Kathleen Wynne. To delegates at that convention, he made a poignant personal observation: one of his greatest regrets was to have cut his hair and beard in the 1970s to get a job  I ended up losing a part of myself.

He sees the rise of Jagmeet Singh, the unapologetic observant Sikh, as a great leap forward in multicultural Canada.

In an interview, Takhar said that Singhs ascendance has serious ramifications for all parties at both the federal and provincial level  beyond the voting patterns in the Sikh community, now estimated at 750,000 across Canada.

His greater impact would be on policy, given his social justice agenda.

Singh, a frequent victim of racial profiling  he says he has been pulled over 11 times by police  has long campaigned against carding.

In the post-9/11 period, he has felt the lash of being mistaken as a Muslim. He has been firm in defending the right of Muslim women to wear the hijab and the niqab, even if the latter stance has rankled some Quebecers. Lately, he has tried to finesse the issue by saying that he respects Quebecs jurisdiction but that he thinks the courts would overturn a ban on the niqab, anyway.

His bigger hope is to convince Quebecers to consider whats in his head, not whats on it.

It remains to be seen whether hed be allowed to enter the Quebec National Assembly with his turban and dagger. And whether India would deny him entry to the land of his parents and his peoples birth.

Jagmeet Singhs success closes some chapters of Canadas checkered history in dealing with diversity. And it opens several others, with national and international implications.

Alok Mukherjee, former chair of the Toronto Police Services Board, and Haroon Siddiqui, former columnist and editorial page editor emeritus of the Toronto Star, are distinguished visiting professors at Ryerson University.

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TOKYOKim Jong Un has taken another key step to consolidate his familys control over North Korea, elevating his younger sister to the powerful political bureau of the ruling Workers Party and moving her closer to the centre of the leadership.

Kim announced that his 30-year-old sister, Kim Yo Jong, had been promoted during a weekend of festivities celebrating the Kim familys grip on the totalitarian state and amid expectations of a new salvo of missiles.

The North Korean regime will on Tuesday celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party, through which the Kim family controls the country.

A top Korea analyst at the CIA last week said that the U.S. government should be ready for another North Korean provocation this week  not least because the Oct. 10 anniversary overlaps with Columbus Day in the United States, given the 12-hour, 30-minute time difference between Pyongyang and Washington. This would provide North Korea with the opportunity to both celebrate an important day on its calendar and interfere with an American holiday weekend.

Stand by your phones, Yong Suk Lee, deputy assistant director of the CIAs Korea Mission Center, said he had told his staff. He was speaking at a conference in Washington last week.

However, there were expectations that North Korea would do something incendiary on the same date last year, when the day passed without a bang.

U.S. President Donald Trump sent his own warning signal Saturday, saying in a tweet that years of diplomatic negotiations and agreements with North Korea had come to nothing and that only one thing will work. He did not say what that one thing was.

But in Pyongyang on Saturday, Kim was telling his officials that North Koreas nuclear weapons were a powerful deterrent and that the Workers Party of Korea would victoriously conclude the standoff with the U.S.

North Koreas nuclear weapons are necessary for defending the destiny and sovereignty of the country from the protracted nuclear threats of the U.S. imperialists, Kim, who is chairperson of the party among many other titles, told the partys central committee at a meeting, according to state media reports published Sunday.

A weekend of celebrations included a parade celebrating 20 years since Kim Jong Il, the current leaders father, was elected general secretary of the Workers Party. Kim Jong Un also visited the mausoleum where his father and grandfather, eternal president Kim Il Sung, lie in state.

These events would seem like standard behaviour in North Koreas personality cult if it werent for the appointment of Kim Yo Jong as an alternate member of the main political branch of the Workers Party.

The Rodong Sinmun, the party newspaper, showed photos of those who had been promoted at the meeting: eight men in their 60s or older, and Kim Yo Jong, the only woman and the only person not approaching pensionable age. She is thought to have been born in 1987.

She is taking the place of their aunt, Kim Jong Ils sister Kim Kyong Hui, who has not been seen in public since Kim Jong Un had her husband, Jang Song Thaek, executed in 2013. Intelligence analysts believe she is still alive but very sick and no longer involved in the leadership.

Analysts saw the sisters elevation as the latest sign that Kim Jong Un is trying to boost her standing in the regime. The Kim family claims its legitimacy through the Paektu bloodline  the idea that their family has been destined, by a sacred Korean mountain, to lead the country.

Kim Jong Un, who is 33, has played up the bloodline angle as he has sought to cement his claim to be his fathers rightful successor. But it is not clear who would succeed Kim Jong Un if he were to die suddenly.

He is thought to have two or three children, at least one of whom is a boy, but they are all younger than 6 years old. Michael Madden, an expert on the Kim family who runs the North Korea Leadership Watch blog, thinks that Kim Jong Un might be positioning his sister as the next heir to the family dynasty.

Kim Yo Jong was involved in ensuring the succession process from her father to her brother and has taken on increasingly prominent roles over the past few years. In 2014, she was made deputy director of the Workers Party Propaganda and Agitation Department  a position that led the Treasury Department to sanction her by name in January for her role in censoring information in North Korea.

The role is not just symbolic. She was seen working during a big parade in Pyongyang in April, rushing out from behind pillars to bring paperwork to her brother. She also appeared on stage with him during the opening of a landmark construction project in the capital, Ryomyong Street, where she was dressed in a functional black suit and appeared to be co-ordinating photographers and other logistics.

Kim Yo Jong is very influential, said Lim Jae-Cheon, a Kim family expert at Korea University in Seoul. She is doing her job in the propaganda department, but I dont think shes involved in other areas.

Lim does not think she is seen as a potential successor in highly Confucian  hierarchical and male-dominated  North Korea. She cant be leader. Shes a female, he said.

As with many other figures in North Koreas opaque leadership, little else is known about Kim Yo Jong. Some South Korean and Japanese newspapers have reported that shes married to a senior finance official and that they have at least one child. Another report has it that she fell in love with a bodyguard. And another says shes single and childless.

Regardless, she is clearly close to her brother. The two, together with oldest brother Kim Jong Chul, are full-blood siblings, the children of Kim Jong Il and his second wife, Ko Yong Hui. They all went to school in Switzerland in the 1990s.

Among the other personnel changes this weekend, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho  the man who called Trump mentally deranged when he visited New York for the U.N. General Assembly last month and threatened to detonate a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific  was promoted from being an alternate to a full member of the Politburo.

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BERLINGermanys conservative parties said Monday they have agreed on a law limiting the number of migrants allowed to enter the country every year  though the government and parliament will have the power to change the figure in the future.

Chancellor Angela Merkels party and its sister party in Bavaria, the Christian Social Union, say they want to limit the annual number of migrants to 200,000. However, that number can be increased or lowered by both the government and parliament in reaction to any future refugee crises.

The migrant issue had been one of the biggest stumbling blocks between the two parties as they head into coalition talks next week with the pro-business FDP and the Greens to form a new government following last months national election.

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Im happy that we found a compromise, Merkel told reporters in Berlin after negotiations that lasted deep into the night. Its important, that the basic right to asylum, that every application will be processed, will be maintained.

The face-saving compromise was much needed after Merkel and the CSUs leader, Horst Seehofer, wrangled over a migrant cap for almost two years. Merkel has repeatedly refused to agree to an annual cap for migrants, while the CSU had demanded a limit.

We finally have a conclusive system of rules for migration, Seehofer said.

While the CSU can now present an actual number to its party base, Merkel can point to the fact that the number is flexible and can be changed any time in reaction to incoming asylum seekers.

Germany took in more than 1 million migrants between 2015 and 2016, but the numbers have drastically gone down since the Balkans route was blocked in early 2016. Between January and August of this year, fewer than 124,000 people applied for asylum in Germany. A deal with Turkey has also kept large numbers of people from crossing the Mediterranean to Europes shores.

The compromise also includes plans to build large centres where asylum-seekers must stay until their requests have been processed. Asylum-seekers are currently distributed around the country while awaiting the decision on their applications.

It also seeks to add new immigration laws allowing for special migration of skilled workers and speed up the return of rejected asylum-seekers. Other plans include adding Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia to the list of so-called safe countries, which would make it near impossible for citizens from those countries to get asylum in Germany.

The migrant issue is likely to also play a big role in upcoming coalition negotiations as the Greens have been vehemently opposed to eroding asylum rights.

Compared with many other European countries, Germany has generous asylum laws. They are enshrined in the German constitution in reaction to the Third Reich, when many people fleeing the Nazis survived only because they were able to get asylum in other countries.

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LAS VEGASAs bullets began flying into a crowd of country music fans, a pack of 300-plus people ran more than a kilometre to the Las Vegas airport, where they kicked down chain-link fences, hobbled over razor wire and were briefly mistaken by security officials for being attackers instead of shooting victims.

Once they pushed past the fence at McCarran International Airport, some of them ran onto the tarmac as helicopters beamed searchlights toward people they assumed were intruders.

Airport authorities found people who were shot, bloodied and hysterical. Officials immediately halted air traffic, diverted two dozen flights to Phoenix and other cities and shut off some runway lights.

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Im thinking to myself, I dont know if the airport police know whats going on yet, said Mark Gay, who was near the front of the crowd as it ran to the airport. We were running, running out of the dark. If the cops were on that side, they dont know who we are. So it was: Put your arms out when youre coming in. 

The large-scale airport breach highlighted the chaos that ensued after gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on Oct. 1 from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay casino-hotel on a country music festival down below, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds. The breach also raised questions about the security of the McCarran Internationals perimeter as people were able to barge their way through the fences of one of the nations busiest airports.

I dont know that we ran across any breach that was comparable to this, said Jenny Grover of the Government Accountability Office, which audits the Transportation Security Administration and reviews the agencys security data. Because of the uniqueness of the situation, Im not really sure when it changed from a breach to a relief effort.

McCarran has had a large number of perimeter breaches in recent years. An Associated Press investigation found that McCarran had 30 known perimeter security breaches between 2004 and 2016, making it the second-most breached major airport in the country by APs count.

Unlike other cities where the airport is on the outskirts, McCarran is located in the heart of Las Vegas. Its only a few hundred feet from Las Vegas Strip properties like the Mandalay Bay and Luxor.

In the chaos of the massacre, some panicked concertgoers headed to the airport in the belief that it provided the best opportunity for safety, even if they had to force their way through the perimeter. At the time of the shooting, rumours were flying around about active shooters and bomb threats at a number of Las Vegas casinos, so they chose to get to the airport.

We were making the decision  were headed to the airport. The airport seems like the most secure, safe place, said Fred Rowbotham, an off-duty police officer from the San Diego area who was in the crowd that went to McCarran.

As it became clear that the crowd on the McCarran tarmac was fleeing gunfire, the airport repositioned workers to help with the evacuation and shepherded hundreds of the victims into secure facilities. For hours, they tended to the wounded and offered food, water, blankets, phone chargers and reassurance. Airport shuttle buses later took them to a central evacuation centre.

Allegiant Airlines said it sheltered more than 30 people who found themselves at the airlines 24-hour maintenance facility.

A lot of them had torn clothing, cuts and bruises, airline spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said. We were able to provide plug-ins to charge their phones, help them contact their families and just provide a safe space for a group of people who were really frightened.

Signature Flight Support, which caters to private planes, sheltered more than 130 people that night, some of them with gunshot wounds.

A lot of them didnt know if they were still safe. They didnt know where they were going to go, and a lot of them were visitors who didnt know how to get to their hotels, said Rita Carrillo, the companys area general manager.

As concertgoers fled to McCarran and other locations on the Las Vegas Strip, controllers continued to warn pilots that the confusion on the runways caused by the shooting may affect arriving and departing flights.

There is some personnel on one of the upper levels of the Mandalay Bay, so departing might be a bit dangerous, a controller told pilots, according to a recording posted by LiveATC.net . We may not be landing any more here for the next few hours.

Reflecting how quickly the situation was changing, a WestJet flight that had been given permission to land was later ordered not to touch down.

Actually, you know what? Continue the approach, but I dont want you landing. Theres a situation on the runway, the controller said.

McCarran officials insist there wasnt a problem with security on Oct. 1 because in the end, the fleeing concertgoers were helped and the airport was never in danger.

At the end of it, the security plan worked. Security is multiple layers, with one layer being breached, the next layers kicked in. For our purposes, the airport was secure, said Christine Crews, an airport spokeswoman.

As for Gay, the 53-year-old Anaheim, California, man somehow managed to keep his cowboy hat and flip-flops on during the race to the airport with the others, including his girlfriend and a pregnant woman.

Were still trying to remember how many fences we actually knocked down, he said.

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BUCHAREST, ROMANIANATO doesnt want a new Cold War with Russia despite members concerns about the Russian military buildup close to NATOs border, the alliances secretary general said Monday.

Jens Stoltenberg was speaking at the end of a four-day NATO parliamentary assembly in the Romanian capital, Bucharest.

We are concerned by ... (Russias) lack of transparency when it comes to military exercises, he said.

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He mentioned a Russian-Belarus operation in September involving thousands of troops, tanks and aircraft held in Belarus, on NATOs eastern edge. The drills included manoeuvres designed to hunt down and destroy armed spies.

Still, Stoltenberg said: Russia is our neighbour ... we dont want to isolate Russia. We dont want a new Cold War.

He said the 29-member alliance had increased jets patrols in the Black Sea in response to Russias aggressive actions in Ukraine.

Later, Stoltenberg said the alliance was beefing up its presence in eastern and southeastern Europe to reassure allies in the face of Russias actions in Ukraine.

We are implementing the biggest reinforcement to our collective defence since the end of the Cold War, including four battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, he said.

Separately, Romania is opening a multinational brigade in the southern city of Craiova, which the NATO secretary-general visited later Monday and where he met Romanian Defence Minister Mihai Fifor and Romanian armed forces head Gen. Nicolae Ciuca. Troops from 11 NATO members will help co-ordinate regional allied training and exercises, known as Tailored Forward Presence.

Speaking about the alliances mission in Afghanistan, where it retains more than 13,000 troops, Stoltenberg said the cost of walking away would be much higher than the human and financial cost of the mission.

Afghanistan would descend into chaos and become a safe haven for international terrorists should NATO pull out, he said.

NATO says the Taliban have expanded their control of parts of the country after the alliance ended its combat mission in 2014. Some alliance troops have remained to train and advise Afghan forces under the NATO-led Resolute Support mission.

We have been there for many years, but we have achieved many things ... it is no longer a safe haven for international terrorists, Stoltenberg said. We are in Afghanistan to protect ourselves.

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HAZARD, KY.The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that he will sign a new rule overriding the Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era effort to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

The war on coal is over, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt declared in the coal mining state of Kentucky. He said no federal agency should ever use its authority to declare war on any sector of our economy.

For Pruitt, getting rid of the Clean Power Plan will mark the culmination of a long fight he began as the elected attorney general of Oklahoma. Pruitt was among about two-dozen attorney generals who sued to stop president Barack Obamas 2014 push to limit carbon emissions, stymieing the limits from ever taking effect.

Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump

Closely aligned with the oil and gas industry in his home state, Pruitt rejects the consensus of scientists that man-man emissions from burning fossil fuels are the primary driver of global climate change.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who appointed Pruitt and shares his skepticism of established climate science, promised to kill the Clean Power Plan during the 2016 campaign as part of his broader pledge to revive the nations struggling coal mines.

In his order Tuesday, Pruitt is expected to declare that the Obama-era rule exceeded federal law by setting emissions standards that power plants could not reasonably meet.

It was not immediately clear if Pruitt would seek to issue a new rule without congressional approval, which Republicans had criticized the Obama administration for doing. Pruitts rule wouldnt become final for months, and is then highly likely to face legal challenges filed by left-leaning states and environmental groups.

Pruitt appeared at an event with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at Whayne Supply, a Hazard, Kentucky, company that sells coal mining supplies. The stores owners have been forced to lay off about 60 per cent of its workers in recent years.

While cheering the demise of the Clean Power Plan as a way to stop the bleeding, McConnell conceded most of those lost jobs are never coming back.

A lot of damage has been done, said McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. This doesnt immediately bring everything back, but we think it stops further decline of coal fired plants in the United States and that means there will still be some market here.

Obamas plan was designed to cut U.S. carbon dioxide emissions to 32 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. The rule dictated specific emission targets for states based on power-plant emissions and gave officials broad latitude to decide how to achieve reductions.

The Supreme Court put the plan on hold last year following legal challenges by industry and coal-friendly states. Even so, the plan helped drive a recent wave of retirements of coal-fired plants, which are also being squeezed by low cost natural gas and renewable power. In the absence of stricter federal regulations curbing greenhouse gas emissions, many states have issued their own mandates promoting energy conservation.

The withdrawal of the Clean Power Plan is the latest in a series of moves by Trump and Pruitt to dismantle Obamas legacy on fighting climate change, including the delay or roll back of rules limiting levels of toxic pollution in smokestack emissions and wastewater discharges from coal-burning power plants.

On Thursday, Trump nominated former coal-industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to serve as Pruitts top deputy at EPA  one of several recent political appointees at the agency with direct ties to the fossil fuel interests.

The president announced earlier this year that he will pull the United States out of the landmark Paris climate agreement. Nearly 200 countries have committed to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

This president has tremendous courage, Pruitt said Monday. He put America first and said to the rest of the world we are going to say no and exit the Paris Accord. That was the right thing to do.

Despite the rhetoric about saving coal, government statistics show that coal mines currently employ only about 52,000 workers nationally  a modest 4-per cent uptick since Trump became president. Those numbers are dwarfed by the jobs created by building such clean power infrastructure as wind turbines and solar arrays.

Environmental groups and public health advocates quickly derided Pruitts decision as short sighted.

Trump is not just ignoring the deadly cost of pollution, hes ignoring the clean energy deployment that is rapidly creating jobs across the country, said Michael Brune, the executive director of the Sierra Club.

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LONDONBritish Prime Minister Theresa May urged the European Union on Monday to show leadership and flexibility in unblocking Brexit talks, saying the ball is in the blocs court.

But the EU lobbed the ball straight back. European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said the responsibility for progress is entirely in the U.K. court.

More than six months have passed since Britain triggered the two-year countdown to its EU exit. A fifth round of divorce negotiations opened Monday in Brussels, with both sides frustrated by the lack of progress.

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On Monday May, is due to update British lawmakers on developments since her major speech in Florence, Italy, last month. Mays Downing St. office said she will say that the ball is in their court. But I am optimistic we will receive a positive response.

In the Florence speech, intended to kick-start the foundering negotiations, May said Britain would be willing to abide by EU rules and pay into its coffers for two years after Brexit in 2019.

She also signalled Britain would pay what it owes to settle financial commitments it has made to the EU, but without naming a figure.

EU leaders called her suggestions positive but asked for more details.

The U.K. is increasingly anxious to move talks on to discussing future trade relations, but so far the EU says there hasnt been sufficient progress on the major divorce terms  the size of the Brexit bill, the status of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and the rights of EU citizens living in Britain and Britons living in other member states.

Schinas, the EU spokesman, said there has been so far no solution found on step one, which is the divorce proceedings.

So the ball is entirely in the U.K. court for the rest to happen, he said.

Some EU countries are striking a more conciliatory note. Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen has called for compromise, saying this will never be a 100 per cent win for one side or the other side.

Jensen said the sides are now on the same page and it is rather important we get on to a more close and more speedy process of concluding some of the issues.

Mays official spokesman, James Chapman, said Britain believed Mays speech in Florence had created momentum.

The response from the EU and its leaders has been constructive, he said. But lets see what happens in the next round of talks.

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The late Elie Wiesel, arguably the most articulate witness to the Holocaust, taught that you can be with God, against God but not without God.

He showed how Jews lived with God even when they were against God by recalling an incident during his incarceration in a Nazi concentration camp. Some of his fellow inmates applied traditional Jewish law and put God on trial for abrogating the covenant with the Jewish people and allowing its systematic slaughter. After God was found guilty by the ad hoc court, those present moved into a corner to recite the traditional evening prayers.

Ai Weiwei, the celebrated Chinese artist, may have had something similar in mind. At the end of a long interview with Hans Ulrich Obrist, he was asked: Hypothetically if heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive? Answer: Oh! Youre not supposed to be here. Questioning religious teachings doesnt necessarily tally with actual experience.

But that doesnt mean that those who profess faith in God are always with God. George Yancy, professor of philosophy at Emory University, writing last June in the New York Times describes himself as a hopeful monotheist, yet asks believing readers the provocative question, Is your God dead?

He elaborates: Have you buried God in the majestic, ornamental tombs of your churches, synagogues, mosques? Perhaps prosperity theology, boisterous, formalistic and mechanical prayer rituals, and skilful oratory have hastened the need for a eulogy.

Yes, rituals that ostensibly celebrate God may also kill God. Callous disregard of the plight of the needy can be a lethal weapon against God. Yancy reflects: Perhaps by remaining in your holy places, you have sacrificed looking in the face of your neighbour on the street.

The provocative reflection echoes the biblical prophet Isaiah who taught that ritual observance must not become a substitute for ethical conduct, yet often is precisely that. Isaiahs message: Surely it is to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them (58:7).

Rabbi Donniel Hartman spells it out in his new book: Your prayer and fasting are worthless to me as long as there are hungry, poor, homeless, and naked people suffering just outside the walls of your religious sanctuary.

He calls his book, Putting God Second and warns against what he describes as God intoxication. Its often the vice of many ostensibly devout women and men, because it shuts down the vision of religious people, clearing the way for divinely sanctioned indifference to the needs, sensitivities and interests of others, and indeed even of oneself.

Hartman continues: We come close to God by putting God second, precisely as God has commanded us to do. Thus, truly to walk with God is to walk with human beings through all of our shared struggles and needs. When the ethical becomes the primary sphere of Jewish spiritual striving and the dominant focus of our religious culture, theology, and practice, we create a space for the divine to rest within our communities.

I was reared in a world in which God was deemed to be absent. I lived with Holocaust survivors for whom God had become an enemy. Yet I came to affirm God thanks to liberal teachers  Jews and Christians  who were close to God because their primary commitment was to Gods ethical and moral teachings.

Ive spent my working life as a rabbi trying to help people to share insights and experiences that testify to genuine faith, manifest not in perfunctory ritual but in care for Gods creatures. It has been a blessing.

Dow Marmur is rabbi emeritus at Torontos Holy Blossom Temple. His column appears every four weeks.

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TransCanada pulls the plug on Energy East pipeline project, Oct. 6

Politicians fuming about TransCanadas cancellation of the Energy East pipeline apparently believe that short-term profits for Big Oil trump not only the welfare of the communities the line would run through, but the welfare of all Canadians, since the bitumen it would have carried worsens the devastating impact of climate change. Mimicking U.S. President Donald Trumps futile quest to bring back coal, Big Oils apologists try to focus the publics attention on jobs, ignoring the fact that green energy already employs more Canadians than the oilsands. TransCanadas decision is in line with a worldwide trend away from oil and towards a sustainable energy future. Its time that politicians faced the truth and stopped propping up fossil fuels with billions of dollars in subsidies every year.

Norm Beach, Toronto

I expect Prime Minister Trudeau and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna are now, finally, after all, getting the message. Its time to stop approving and building more pipelines. This is not the way to the low-carbon economy, to the clean-energy future we desperately need.

In addition to other compelling reasons against pipelines, it is now abundantly clear that building more pipelines does not make economic sense. When called to give full account for the pollution up and downstream, considering the return on investment of extracting and processing the dirtiest fuel on the planet, the plug has been pulled on the Energy East Pipeline. And rightly so.

There are court cases currently underway in B.C. to challenge the seriously flawed decision to approve the Kinder Morgan expansion. I ask the Trudeau government to reconsider the Kinder Morgan approval and other such decisions as they come up. Extracting energy from tarsands is disastrous, doesnt make economic sense and must be ended sooner rather than later. This means phasing out, not expanding, the extraction and use of fossil fuels, particularly from the tarsands.

We must not move forward with a project that does not assess and take into account the downstream as well as upstream emission impact. Its not acceptable to export pollution and emissions. We must not continue to use, build or support the fossil fuel industry to finance the transition to a sustainable economy based on renewables. Rather than supporting jobs in tarsands extraction, help workers move toward greener occupations. We must honour our commitment to reduce our emissions.

pipelines.

Jill Schroder, Vancouver, B.C.

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While billionaire Warren Buffett, who is infamous for his frugal lifestyle, will be taxed like other Americans if the President Trump's proposed tax cuts are passed, he stands to benefit immensely since his assets are tied up in his company.

As CEO and chairman of the board of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) - Get Free Report (BRK.B) - Get Free Report , Buffett has much of his wealth in his company and not in his personal accounts. He received $487,881 in total compensation last year. His salary consisted of $100,000, and $387,881 came from other types of compensation. And unlike other Wall Street titans, he did not receive any compensation in cash as a bonus nor in stocks or stock options. His net worth is estimated to be anywhere from $73 billion to $80 billion.

If Trump's tax cuts are passed, Buffett's personal income tax level is estimated to decline from the current marginal tax level of 35% to the mid 20% level, said K.C. Ma, a CFA and director of the Roland George investments program at Stetson University in Deland, Fla.

"Personally, Buffett will benefit from say a 15% tax savings on his personal taxable income of $487,881 in 2016," he said.

Buffett's wealth is almost entirely tied up in Berkshire Hathaway, and he has few stocks in his personal holdings, said Robert Johnson, president of The American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pa.

"It is such a small fraction that it is inconsequential," he said. "Berkshire is Buffett."

If Buffett were to liquidate his personal holdings of Berkshire Hathaway, he would have to pay long-term capital taxes. The likelihood he would do so is low since he has rarely sold them in recent years, Ma said.

Ultimately, Buffett has long said he thinks he should be taxed at a higher rate and is chagrined by the fact that he's paying lower taxes than his secretary.

Berkshire Benefits

The largest gain from proposed tax cuts for Buffett's personal wealth is derived from the market value appreciation of Berkshire share values, Ma said. At a minimum, a 15% corporate tax reduction will increase average corporation earnings by 15%.

Since Berkshire is well-known for its acquisitive business model which requires a large amount of capital and cash flow, a 15% increase in after-tax earnings or cash flow will give the company a significant amount of buying power, he said.

This would be perceived by the market as a significant increase in future growth rate, resulting in a much higher price to earnings multiple.

"A 15% increase in earnings accompanying a simultaneous increase in P/E by say 10% will result in a stock price increase by 25%, simply from the tax cuts," Ma said.

This scenario is based on the fact that Buffett rarely sells his stocks for personal reasons, "given his modest lifestyle," he said.

"Most of his wealth...is in his stock holdings which are given to the charitable foundation," Ma said. "Any liquidation of the shares for the foundation is not taxable."

Buffett told CNBC that he would likely "sell the losses now and defer the gains until next year" to pay a tax rate of 25% instead of 35%.

"What it means for Berkshire Hathaway and for Buffett is that it makes sense for Berkshire to wait and sell any winning stocks or those that have appreciated in value until the tax plan is passed, said Johnson. "Basically, Buffett is saying that he is willing to hold onto stocks that have appreciated a couple months longer because if tax reform is passed, the tax bill on the gains will be less."

Since it is believed that the majority of Buffett's income stems from long-term capital gains and because there appear to be no plans from Trump to lower that rate, the billionaire would not benefit in this aspect, said Stan Veliotis, an associate professor at the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y.

Based on Buffett's interest income, he would benefit from a reduction of 39.6% to 35% and for his charitable deduction, the value to him of deducting it on Schedule A itemized deductions will not be as beneficial as each donation would save him 35% instead of 39.6%, he said.

An elimination of the state tax deduction "might hurt Buffett as he likely pays a lot of state income tax," Veliotis said.

The repatriation of the overseas earnings tax holiday that Trump proposed will not benefit Berkshire based on its annual report, compared to many other companies would save hundreds of millions of dollars.

The combination of a reduction on taxes on future earnings, which will add billions of dollars to after-tax income, and Berkshire's deferred tax liability on its $65 billion of unrealized capital gains at end of second quarter would be substantially reduced, resulting in an increase of at least 10% to 15% in Berkshire's price per share, said David Kass, a finance professor at the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business in College Park.

"This would then result in a proportional increase of at least $7 to $10 billion in Buffett's wealth," he said. "It is important to note, that Warren Buffett, who has approximately 99% of his wealth invested in Berkshire Hathaway, plans to donate all of his shares in Berkshire to charity, primarily the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation."

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Turkey's main stock market fell the most in more than a year Monday as investors dumped the country's currency amid an escalating political standoff following the arrest of a Turkish national at the U.S. consulate in Instanbul.

The BIST 100, Turkey's equity benchmark, fell more than 4.7% in the opening minutes of dealing to trade at the lowest levels since early July before paring the decline to around 3.5% by mid-day. The lira, meanwhile, fell to a record low on a trade-weighted basis on foreign exchange markets following the suspension of visa services between the United States and Turkey.

"Recent events have forced the Turkish government to reassess the commitment of government of the United States to the security of Turkish mission facilities and personnel," the U.S. Mission in Ankara said Sunday. "In order to minimise the number of visitors to our embassy and consulates while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all U.S. diplomatic facilities in Turkey."

Turkish Airlines (TKHVY) shares were one of the benchmark's biggest movers, falling 8.2% to 8.53 lira each while the currency was marked 2.2% lower against the U.S. dollar at 3.6945. Benchmark 10-year Turkish government bond yields rose 26 basis points to traded at 11.06%.

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan reciprocated the move, shutting down all visa services for U.S. citizens in a move that pits two NATO allies against each other at a crucial time for security and relations in the European region.

The arrest of a Turkish national at the U.S. consulate follows the incarceration and detention of tens of thousands of suspected dissidents that Erdogan has ordered in Turkey following a failed coup attempt last year which has links to a U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gueln.
Deutsche Bank AG (DB) - Get Free Report shares fell to the bottom of the German market Monday amid reports of a rift between CEO John Cryan and chairman Paul Achleitner over a meeting with the bank's biggest investor and the overall strategy of Germany's biggest bank.

HNA Group Co, a China-based investor that holds a 9.9% stake in Deutsche Bank through an Austrian asset management firm based in London, has reportedly sought a face-to-face meeting with Cryan on two occasions, Bloomberg news has reported, while the Wall Street Journal has suggested the Cryan and Achleitner are at odds over the relationship between the bank and its biggest shareholder.

Deutsche Bank shares were marked 1.22% lower in the opening hour of trading to change hands at 14.55 each and extend their three month decline to just over 12.7%. The Stoxx Europe 600 Banks index, the region's benchmark for financial sector shares, is essentially unchanged over the past three months after rallying 6.8% since early September on the back of speculation that the European Central Bank will begin the slow process of monetary policy tightening in the months ahead.

Deutsche Bank, however, has missed most of the market's recent advances amid concerns over its newly-drafted business strategy, spearheaded by Cryan, and the strength of its balance sheet after an $9 billion capital injection earlier this year.

Germany's largest lender posted weaker-than-expected second quarter revenue over the summer amid what it called "muted" global capital markets and lowered its full-year guidance based on "our expectation that market volatility and related client activity remain muted, whereas our macro outlook remains broadly positive."

HNA's stake has proven controversial, however, after it was revealed through Securities and Exchange Commission that UBS AG helped finance the increase -- from just over 3% to just under 10% in May of this year -- with complex derivatives trades that could theoretically reduce the cash HNA had to commit to the holding while simultaneously protecting itself against a potential decline in the value of the shares.

The process was also flagged by the ECB, which acts as Europe's banking regulator and, according to Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung, is considering an "ownership control procedure" that would probe the HNA stakebuild.

"The approval process aims to ensure that only suitable shareholders enter the banking system in order to prevent any disruptions to the smooth functioning of the banking system," according to the ECB's website.
Chipmaker Qualcomm (QCOM) - Get Free Report on Tuesday announced a partnership agreement with Turkish smartphone brand General Mobile covering 3G and 4G patent licenses.

General Mobile is a partner of Alphabet's (GOOGL) - Get Free Report Android One Program, engaged in bringing Android smartphones to Turkey along with other markets around the world.

The agreement struck Monday will see Qualcomm grant General Mobile access to its a royalty-bearing patent license to develop and manufacture 3G and 4G devices.

"This agreement will enable General Mobile to create new Android devices that utilize many of our industry-leading mobile technologies," said Alex Rogers, executive vice president & president, Qualcomm Technology Licensing. "The reach of General Mobile is extensive, and we are pleased to see their mobile devices powered by our industry-leading technologies, serving consumers across Turkey and other parts of the world."

Shares of Qualcomm were rising in midday trading on Monday.

"We are excited to collaborate with Qualcomm to bring innovative and powerful products to the markets," said Sebahattin Yaman, chairman at General Mobile. "As part of the Android One program, we are committed to developing the next generation of high quality Android smartphones for customers around the world."

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Oil States International, Inc. engages in the provision of manufactured products and services used in the drilling, completion, subsea, production and infrastructure sectors of the oil and natural gas industry, as well as in the industrial and military sectors. It operates through the following segments: Well Site Services, Downhole Technologies and Offshore or Manufactured Products. The Well Site Services segment includes a broad range of equipment and services that are used to drill for, establish and maintain the flow of oil and natural gas from a well throughout its life cycle. The Downhole Technologies segment provides oil and gas perforation systems and downhole tools in support of completion, intervention, wireline and abandonment operations. It also designs, manufactures and markets its consumable engineered products to oilfield service as well as exploration and production companies. The Offshore or Manufactured Products segment designs, manufactures, and markets capital equipment utilized on floating production systems, subsea pipeline infrastructure, and offshore drilling rigs and vessels, along with short-cycle and other products. The company was founded in July 1995 an
Powerball numbers for Monday, Nov. 14, 2022

Here are the winning Powerball numbers and results for the lottery jackpot drawing on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022.
It was the coroner in "The Wizard of Oz" who once said that "she's not only merely dead, she's really, most sincerely dead!" I know he was speaking of the Wicked Witch of the East, but today he could also be speaking of Windows 10 Mobile.

Microsoft operating system group vice president Joe Belfiore revealed on Twitter today that Microsoft is no longer focusing on its mobile platform.

(Image credit: The HP Elite x3, one of the last Windows Phones. Credit: Jeremy Lips / Tom's Guide)



"Of course we'll continue to support the platform," Belfiore wrote on Twitter. "[B]ug fixes, security updates, etc. But building new features/h[ardware] aren't the focus."

Belfiore wrote on Twitter that the volume of users on the platform was too low to incentivize app developers. Last week, Microsoft announced that its Edge browser is in beta for iOS and Android, and it released a new app launcher for Android. At Microsoft Build in May, the company revealed a number of ways it was integrating Windows 10 into other mobile platforms, including a universal "Pick Up Where You Left Off" feature, One Drive for iMessage and access to OneDrive files while offline.

MORE: Smartphones with the Longest Battery Life

Of course, this kills our hope for the long-rumored Surface Phone, which would have paired Microsoft's hardware with its software. Now, Microsoft has turned its mobile attention to iOS and Android entirely. Belfiore, for his part, revealed he switched to Android, and Bill Gates revealed that he did so, too, in a recent interview with Fox News Sunday.

HP, which tried to fuse the Windows PC with the phone with its Elite x3, also recently announced that it canceled its slate of Windows Phone devices.

Last year, Microsoft cut over 1,800 jobs as it phased out the Nokia brand, which is had acquired previously to bolster Windows Phone. Now, it seems, that beyond some security patches, the final death knell has truly sounded.
The Economic Commission for Africa office for Southern Africa will organize the Twenty Third Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) of Southern Africa on the theme Trade Facilitation in Southern Africa: Bridging the Infrastructure Gap on 26-27 October, 2017 at the Holiday Inn in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The 23rd ICE of Southern Africa will be hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe.

The 23rd ICE follows the successful 22nd Session hosted by the Government of Malawi on 17-18 March 2016 in Lilongwe, under the theme Implementing the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap: Options and Prospects and come up with recommendations to accelerate implementation through domestication of regional aspirations.

Trade facilitation and the challenges thereof will be the focus of the 23rd session. The meeting will interrogate these challenges which collectively contribute to high transportation and logistics costs, which significantly constrains and impede efficient intra-regional trade; as well proffer recommendations.

Participants will include senior government officials, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, representatives of regional economic communities, academia and research institutions and other UN agencies among others.

In addition, the session will review the economic and social conditions in Southern Africa; consider and endorse the implementation of the programme of work of the ECA Southern Africa Sub-Regional Office, the programme of work and the budget for 2018; and discuss the implementation of regional and international agendas in the sub region focusing on Agenda 2030. The delegates will recommend strategies towards ensuring that the work of ECA is aligned to member States and RECs priorities.

The 23rd ICE will be preceded by the Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting (AEGM) on Deepening Regional Integration in Southern Africa: The Role, Prospects and Progress of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), on 23-24 October 2017 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, at the same venue.

Participants at the AEGM constituting experts in regional integration, senior government officials and representatives of regional economic communities will deliberate on the theme and identify the opportunities from enhanced integration. Recommendations towards addressing the challenges with regard to the implementation of the TFTA milestones will be made.

Background

The volume and flow of trade is affected by various internal and external factors including tariff and non-tariff barriers, the quality and quantity of physical and nonphysical infrastructure and the market structure of the relevant service providers.

This ICE session will interrogate these challenges which collectively contribute to increased transportation and logistics costs are impediments to efficient trade. For landlocked countries in Southern Africa: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, additional peculiar challenges to efficient trade include the high transit and trade transaction costs due to the lack of territorial access to the sea and remoteness from major international markets. This further erodes competitiveness of tradeables from these countries. The logistics costs of landlocked countries are double those of other emerging economies and three times those for developed countries and such high transport costs are more restrictive to trade than tariffs barriers.

The focus of initiatives to address the trade facilitation challenges world-wide has been on improving both physical and non-physical infrastructure and strengthening cross border cooperation. In addition to addressing gaps in physical infrastructure such as roads, rail, inland waterways, non-physical infrastructure bottlenecks such as high trade transactions costs, trade facilitation inefficiencies, rentseeking activities by service providers along trade routes, inefficient and bureaucratic procedures inefficient private sector services along routes, deficiencies in supply chains and deficiency in trade and transport policies have also been part of the focus of strategies to enhance efficiency.

Measures to address soft infrastructure issues such as simplifying export requirements, harmonizing procedures and documentation, standardizing commercial practices, reducing bureaucratic interference and police roadblocks on transit routes and improving transport logistics, development of road customs transit documents, customs bond guarantee schemes, harmonized vehicle weights and dimensions and road transit charges have been implemented as part of regional strategies to enhance trade.

Similarly, hard infrastructure to facilitate trade flows such as construction of one stop border posts and dry ports, improvement in roads and rail systems, energy and power, roadside facilities and intermodal facilities are being implemented across Southern Africa. However, infrastructure gaps still exist and the 23rd ICE will provide a platform to reflect further on strategies to close such gaps in order to improve trade flows and overall trade competitiveness.
We came to Costa Rica, for the first time, this past February. It was the most amazing vacation, and were hoping to go back this next February.

Last time we flew into Liberia, we stayed at the Nayara - which has potentially ruined staying at any other hotel as it was so perfect. We really enjoyed trips to Proyecto Asis and the Hanging Bridges. We then moved onto the Andaz, and enjoyed a trip out to Rincon.

We're looking for a two base trip again, we're not beach people, although I love the view of the ocean. We'd like to do something similar to Proyecto Asis again, and lots of nature things, we also want to stay in great hotels (preferably smaller with a sense of identity rather than large chains) and will have a rental car. We're a family of 3, with a 15 year old, who pretty much does anything and everything there is on offer.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.
We spent 2 weeks in Hanoi/Hoi An this September and have also done the same month on previous visits. Apart from the Hurricane which hit early on (2 days of stormy rain) it was glorious. We have visited in April and had rain and cloud. Friends went in Feb and it was damp and chilly.

If you are a little flexible with your plans and the odd day of rain is ok for you, I would go. You might get some, but it is highly unlikely to be all day every day. The weather charts showed storms etc every day we were there and it mostly rained at night when we were asleep.

I wouldn't worry about getting wet, the humidity makes sure you are soaked whatever the weather.
Hi TA members,

I am currently planning my 3 week trip to Vietnam > Cambodia > Thailand for Feb 2018. I have allocated 8 days in Vietnam (noted that Tet is on Feb 16 so the dates will be Feb 2 - Feb 10. I will be travelling with my partner, we are in our mid 20's.

After reading through the threads, I am even more confused to where I would like to spend my time therefore calling out for help. I have decided to skip Hanoi altogether as I know time is required and I don't want rush. So here is my proposed itinerary to get a taste of Vietnam.

Should I replace any of the days to be spent in Hue (las I read that 2 nights is required And I will be doing a few temples already in Cambodia instead), Da Lat and Nha Trang did interest me also but it would be the logistics that is currently affecting my decision as well as time.

Please feel free to comment/make suggestions. We are after a cultural/beach/shops/food trip.

Day 1: Arrive in HCMC @8pm

Day 2: Full day in HCMC

Day 3: Fly to Da Nang > Hoi An

Day 4: Hoi An

Day 5: Hoi An

Day 6: Hoi An > Da Nang

Day 7: Da Nang

Day 8: Da Nang

Day 9: Da Nang > Siem Reap

Also, when would be a good time to book the internal flights? Is now too early?

Thanks in advance :)

Edited: 5 years ago
I have travelled through Vietnam a few times as solo traveller, and never had any problems meeting other tourists and lcoals.

As first time traveller you should stay close to the tourist areas in the main places, like D1 in HCMC or the Old Quarter in Hanoi. Going to the Bia Hoi places you will need a few minutes and you will find plenty of intereting people. When you travel north don't be surprised if you cross path with people you have met earlier, happened to me quite a few times. You might actually end up travelling with a group.

And I never need a website to get connected with other travelllers. The old fashion way by sharing a beer or coffee is still the best method to connect to others. And don't be surprised if the locals want to speak to you. My experience is that you meet more locals when travelling alone than travelling with a group.

Enjoy your travel - it is an amazing country.
I'm planning a 11 day trip to Vietnam coming up, and will be flying in and out of HCMC, with a 3-4 day trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia in the middle. I'm a little confused by the conflicting information on the VOA application. Is it possible to apply for a VOA for multiple entries, or will I need to apply for separate VOA's for each entry into Vietnam?

Also, does anyone know how much the stamping fee is? I've read $25, but I've also read $135 on some sites.

Thanks in advance!
Hello,

I will be in Tokyo for 3 days before leaving for Hakone-Kyoto for the next 7 days of our trip, for which I purchased a 7 day JR pass. When researching airport transportation, I saw the airport limosine bus has a combination option for 24h subway, 48h subway, and 72h subway. I was considering the 72h option with 2 bus transfers from Haneda (for 3500 yen), which would translate to about $9/3 days for the subway portion. This sounds like a fantastic deal. The website seems to suggest it's 2 bus tickets but only 1 72h subway ticket. Can anyone confirm this or is it 2 subway tickets? Also, does anyone know what the child fares are for the combination tickets? Does this seem like the best deal or should I just get the suica card for our 3 days in Tokyo?

Limitations: tickets won't work on JR lines. I did the math and it still looks like it's a cheaper option than paying for each subway fare.

http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/information/visitor_tickets/subwaypass/

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Edited: 5 years ago
Hi Hanger66 - Am biased re Mana as have been there over 30 times ! Yes, Mana has undergone many changes/upgrades since 2009. New and very large pool (an adults only pool as well) Main Mamanuca Restaurant area (North Beach) rebuilt and refurbished. If staying 5 nights or more get 5 hours of free babysitting for those under 3 years. Other babysitting services are available at $5-00 per child/hour. Older children have a great time in the kids Club partaking in lots of supervised activities. Again babysitting services available during evenings, if parents want to eat alone. As a large Island the atmosphere never appears to be overrun with guests, even with high occupancy. Mana is very popular with families. Schoolies will be present on Mana until 10th Dec. so Island is blocked out for these groups. As with most resorts there is a surcharge over Xmas/New Year period. At this time of the year it is very hot and humid, but all grades of accommodation have good airconditioning. Three beautiful beaches, white sands and very clear waters. Safe swimming. Mana operates a turtle breeding release programme, coral planting - guests are able to participate in these activities when they are held.
Hi

Me and my wife, 30 years, will be visiting Japan for the furst time for 15 nights. I thought of spending a total of 5-6 nights in Tokyo. We like food, culture, music, drinking, dancing, sightseeing. Where is the best area to stay? I understand that taxis in Tokyo are very expensive. I Don't want to end every night out after the mstro working hours paying a lot of taxis.

So is Shinjuku the place to be? Is it worth payong more to stay there juzt do be able to walk back to the hotel? Is it at all like this? I mean places open late and vibrant even after the metro working hours?

For instance, Ueno is way cheaper..is it a good option too wkth good nightlife?

Thanks a lot for your help
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- ODM has announced that it will begin rallying opposition supporters to boycott the repeat presidential election from next week

- The announcement comes as ODM leader/NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga is expected to fly out of the country

- It is believed Raila will stay out of the country until past October 26, the date of the repeat presidential election

The Orange Democratic Party has announced that it will begin rallying supporters to stay at home on polling day on October 26.

ODM, by extension the National Super Alliance, said that from next week, it will hold rallies to tell opposition supporters not to engage in the repeat presidential election ordered by the Supreme Court.

Speaking on Saturday, October 7, ODM Director of Elections, Junet Mohammed, said that the oppositions participation would only serve to legitimize President Uhuru Kenyattas possible victory.

READ ALSO: Is this Hassan Johos new catch after Betty Kyalo?

ODM party leader Raila Odinga with his Director of Elections, Junet Mohammed, during a past rally. Photo: NASA Coalition/Facebook.

READ ALSO: Stop celebrating death of Sabina Chege's mum-Millie Odhiambo tells opposition supporters

If all the opposition demands are not met, there will be no reason to vie in an election that will be rigged, said Junet as quoted in the Standard on Monday, October 9.

NASA, for weeks now, has said that there will be no election if the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission does not meet their 'irreducible minimums' demands.

The demands include the sacking of IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba and other secretariat officials the opposition believes were used to manipulate the August 8 election in favour of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

READ ALSO: That picture was photo shopped -Oliech finally responds to broke rumours

Several NASA and IEBC meetings have ended unsuccessfully. NASA says there will be no election if IEBC does not meet their irreducible minimums demands. Photo: NASA Coalition/Facebook.

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Other demands included that Al Ghurair does not print the ballot papers, Safran Morpho does not provide IT services and that Safaricom has no role to play in the election.

Aside from the demands to the IEBC, NASAs other reason to not participate in the election were based on the fact that Jubilee leaders are pushing for amendments to the electoral law that would only favour Uhuru.

Junets announcement comes as NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga is expected to fly out of the country for the United Kingdom where he is set to deliver a lecture at Chatham House.

READ ALSO: Uhuru officially receives Omar Hassan to Jubilee party (photos)

Raila Odinga and his wife, Mama Ida, at the airport during a past trip. Photo: Ida Odinga/Facebook.

Word has it that Raila may not return to the country until after October 26, meaning the opposition is serious in not taking part in the election.

NASA is also yet to submit a list of agents names who will represent them in the repeat poll considering Jubilee already submitted its list of 41,000 agents.

Have something to add to this article? Send to news@tuko.co.ke

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- KANU's Tiaty constituency MP Kasait Kamket believes that the tribal arithmetic in Kenya will never allow a Raila Odinga presidency

- Kasait is the husband of Immaculate Kasait, one of the IEBC officials NASA wants ousted for allegedly manipulating the election in favour of Uhuru Kenyatta

- Olga Karani, one of NASA's campaign team deputy officials told Kamket to tell his wife to step down so that the opposition can show their opponents how they will win the October 26 election

Fireworks were witnessed during a live television interview on NTV when Larry Madowo hosted KANU MP Kasait Kamket and Olga Karani, one of National Super Alliances campaign team deputies.

During the interview held on Sunday, October 8, Kamket said that it is arithmetically impossible for NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga to become president of Kenya.

It is an impossibility in the tribal arithmetic of Kenya that Raila Odinga can be president. It is no longer possible by whatever means. The rate at which he is losing his generals, when your generals are defecting in droves everyday, how can he become president when the tribal arithmetic hasnt favoured him since the 2013 election?

READ ALSO: Stop looting and destroying private property, Raila begs supporters

Tiaty MP William Kasait Kamket. Photo: North Rift News.

READ ALSO: Looting and mass action will not give you power - Uhuru tells Raila

It will be even worse when we get to the October 26 election. So 26th is actually his retirement day after a long time in politics, said Kamket.

Kamkets sentiments did not go down well with Karani who responded with a fiery rant.

It is important to note that Kamket is the husband of Immaculate Kasait, one of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission secretariat officials NASA wants ousted. Kasait is the Director of Voter Registration.

He says it is mathematically impossible yet they are running all over campaigning and we're sitting comfortable because our votes have increased. Kenyans dont love lies like people want to say but more than anything, if truly you know that Raila will not win again, can you start by telling your wife at IEBC to step down because she is the cause of rigging our election?

READ ALSO: Raila flying out of the country as Uhuru intensify campaigns

Karani is one of the deputies in the NASA campaign secretariat. She claims Kasait is one of the people who've kept Raila from wining an election in Kenya since 2007. Photos: North Rift and NASA

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If she steps down with all her friends, then we will show you how we will win. In fact, for the sake of your own children she should be the first person to step down. We have seen her working with the wrong people for so long and stealing our elections since 2007,

If you are very sure as a man, tell her today to step down and go home; and keep her home then now you will see how we will win our elections, said Karani.

During the entire time she spoke, Kamket could only smile and when asked to respond, he said that the situation is very interesting.

After losing the election, Raila believes that something must have happened at the IEBC, said Kamket.

READ ALSO: Why Raila and I cannot participate in anti-IEBC protests - Kalonzo Musyoka

Immaculate Kasait (second left) and Ezra Chiloba (back right) are among the officials NASA wants ousted from IEBC. Here IEBC officials met with President Uhuru in the past. Photo: PSCU

READ ALSO: NASA hints at dropping its demands, but Chiloba is not off the hook

Kasait is one of the Secretariat officials alongside IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba that NASA wants ousted from the polling commission.

NASA believes the IEBC officials were used to manipulate the August 8 election in favour of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Have something to add to this article? Send to news@tuko.co.ke

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- There would be no fresh election should either Uhuru or Raila pull out of the exercise set for October 26

- According to lawyer Wahome Thuku,fresh nominations would be held in case Raila or Uhuru abandon the race midway

- The lawyer bases his argument on a 2013 Supreme Court ruling where judges held that if one of the candidates were to die or abandon the election before the scheduled date, fresh nomination of candidates would be done

NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga has said there will be no fresh election unless certain changes take place at the IEBC.

While many have been wondering how Raila will ensure the October 26 exercise does not take place, a lawyer has given a possible scenario of what would happen if any candidate pulled out.

Controversial lawyer Wahome Thuku says should either Raila or President Uhuru Kenyatta withdrew from the race, then the fresh election would not take place on the set date.

Raila has threatened to pull out of the repeat poll.Photo:BBC.

READ ALSO: Uhuru officially receives Omar Hassan to Jubilee party (photos)

In what he calls a very wild interpretation of a 2013 Supreme Court ruling,Wahome says the constitution did not fore see a situation where a candidate would pull out for any reason.

The possibility of a presidential candidate withdrawing from the race was not contemplated in the constitution (Articles 138 to 140). Any contemplation is only the death of a candidate along the way, says the journalist turned lawyer.

He however argues that the constitution in Article 138(1) provides that where only one candidate is nominated, then he is declared elected.

READ ALSO: NASA to start rallying supporters to boycott fresh presidential election

Uhuru.He will go head to head with Raila in the fresh election.Photo:Uhuru Kenyatta/Facebook.

READ ALSO: Uhuru has stripped us naked- Raila speaks on NASA's minimal presidential campaigns

Wahome says, in this repeat election, there are no nomination of candidates since it's about the petitioner (Raila) and Uhuru who was one of the respondents.

The only time a possible withdrawal of a presidential candidate in repeat election was addressed was in the 2013 petition by the Supreme Court. The five judges held that if one of the candidates were to die or abandon the election before the scheduled date, fresh nomination of candidates would be done, says the lawyer.

READ ALSO: Hassan Omar narrates how Raila and Kalonzo drove him out of NASA to Jubilee

So if either Raila or Uhuru pulled out on October 24, two days to the fresh poll, then the 60-day requirements for repeat poll to be held as ordered by the Supreme Court in September 2017 would become moot.

Gikomba's biggest fire destroys property worth millions of shillings

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- The Kenya Police has explained the mystery of withdrawing bodyguards who had been assigned to Kenyan politicians

- In a statement, Kenya police explained that the move to re-organise officers assigned to protect VIPs was necessitated by the August 8 General Election

- Assistant IG George Kinoti explained that leaders who are entitled to VIP protection have been assigned officers based on police assessment

The office of the Inspector General of Police has come out to explain why security detail attached to National Super Alliance (NASA) leaders was withdrawn or changed.

In a statement released Monday, October 9, Assistant Inspector General of Police George Kinoti said that the decision was necessitated by the August 8 General Election.

According to Kinoti, the authorities were compelled to rationalise the number of police officers attached to VIP because a number of leaders lost in the election.

Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka's security detail was withdrawn by the government Photo: Standard

READ ALSO: Jubilee senator tells off his colleagues and Uhuru over amendments to election laws

"It became imperative to rationalize the number of Police officers deployed on VIP security duties. The exercise is complete, and we have consequently rationalised the number of officers on such duties," Kinoti said.

In what looked like a response to NASA leaders that they do not have enough security, Kinoti added that those entitled to VIP protection have officers attached to them based on security assessment and as approved by the National Security Advisory Committee.

As reported by TUKO.co.ke, NASA leaders Raila Odinga and his deputy Kalonzo Musyoka complained that the government had withdrawn their security detail.

Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama's security was also withdrawn Photo: Facebook/Raila Odinga

READ ALSO: NASA protestor shot, two injured in anti-IEBC demos in Nairobi

Raila later on said he cannot campaign because he does not have enough security attacked to him.

Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama also came out on Saturday, October 7, to complain that the national government had withdrawn all the security detail attached to him and his family.

Nyagarama termed the move as a form of intimidation.

But acting Interior CS Fred Matiang'i said the government cannot allow police officers to protect NASA leaders when they are demonstrating in the streets.

IEBC meets NASA and Jubilee principals

Source: TUKO.co.ke
It was fun in the sun on Sunday as the Aranguez savannah was the place to crown winners of t
The murder of former Russian State Duma deputy Denis Voronenkov was ordered by criminal boss Vladimir Tyurin, the ex-civilian husband of Maria Maksakova, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has said.

"We managed to establish all participants of the crime, including those who ordered it. According to the Main Intelligence Department, the murder was actually ordered by FSB-controlled criminal lord Vladimir Tyurin," he said at a press conference on Monday.

According to Lutsenko, Tyurin, previously convicted of rape and theft, is known as a leader of a criminal gang in Russia. He also had a personal motive - eight years ago he was a civilian husband of Maksakova - Voronenkov's wife.

According to the prosecutor general, Tyurin ordered this crime in exchange for preferences from Russian special services to criminal groups.

Lutsenko said that the Prosecutor General's Office would submit to court the materials on Voronenkov's murder.

Lutsenko also added that Voronenkov had been killed in order to prevent him from giving testimony against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Ukrainian and international courts. "Representatives of the Russian special services physically destroyed him as a witness," Lutsenko said.

As Ukrinform reported, Voronenkov was shot dead in the center of Kyiv on March 23. The ex-deputy's security guard wounded an attacker, but sustained a wound himself. The shooter died at hospital.

In December 2016, Voronenkov, along with his wife, also a former deputy of the State Duma, Maria Maksakova, moved to Ukraine. On February 14, 2017, he reported the receipt of Ukrainian citizenship.

In Ukraine, the former Russian deputy testified on the state treason of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

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Barley exports from Ukraine dropped by 10.5% over the first two months of the 2017/18 marketing season, while exports of Ukrainian barely to China are already 87% more than for the whole last marketing season, the UkrAgroConsult company reports.

In particular, Ukraines barley exports totaled 1,973 thousand tonnes in July - August of the 2017/2018 marketing season, which is 10.5% less compared with the same period in the 2016/2017 marketing season.

At the same time, Ukrainian barley was actively purchased by China. In the reporting period, Ukraine supplied 560 thousand tonnes of barley to the Chinese market, which is already 87% more than for the whole last marketing season (300 thousand tonnes).

Also, Ukraine increased barley exports to the European Union countries during the current marketing season. In particular, Ukrainian exporters supplied more than 220 thousand tonnes of barley to the EU during the reporting period, which is 18% more compared with the same period last marketing season.

Traditionally, the product market for Ukrainian barley is Saudi Arabia, which purchased over 680 thousand tonnes of barley, or 35% of total supplies, during the reporting period.

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Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland signed the protocol on amendments to the agreement for avoidance of double taxation.

This is reported by the press service of the Finance Ministry of Ukraine.

"Finance Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Danyliuk and Minister of State for Europe and the Americas at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the UK Alan Duncan signed the protocol on amendments to the agreement for avoidance of double taxation between the governments of Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland within the framework of bilateral cooperation today in London," the statement reads.

It is noted that the conclusion of this protocol is aimed at avoiding double taxation of incomes of individuals and legal entities that arise in the territories of both countries. The Finance Ministry explains that this creates favorable conditions for investors of Ukraine and the UK, stimulates the business initiative of entrepreneurs and regulates the issues of international taxation of income in bilateral relations between the states.

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The international conference Money and Ports - 2017 will be held with the assistance of the World Bank in Odesa on October 26, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) reports.

"The first international conference Money and Ports 2017 will be held in Odesa on October 26, 2017. The organizers are the Ports of Ukraine Publishing House. The co-organizer is the World Bank Group (the project of the International Finance Corporation Reforming the investment climate in Ukraine, which is funded by the Government of Switzerland), USPA reports.

During the conference, the problems of the flow of funds in the Ukrainian market of port services will be comprehensively analyzed and highlighted.

The conference will offer opportunities for fruitful communication between the heads of transport companies, cargo owners, traders, financiers, carriers, terminal operators, marine agents, freight forwarders; representatives of state structures. It will be interesting for land businesspersons and potential investors who are just sizing up the market, USPA reports.

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The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Emerging Europe are co-hosting the EBRD-Emerging Europe: Outlook on Ukraine 2017 investment conference at the EBRD Headquarters in London today.

The free to attend event will bring together policymakers, investors and prominent business people to discuss the economic outlook on Ukraine, the press service of the EBRD reported.

"The conference is also a platform for one-to-one meetings with decision makers from the Ukrainian government, international financial institutions and business representatives," the press service noted.

During the conference, the investment opportunities will be explored in three fast-growing areas of the Ukrainian economy: energy, manufacturing and ICT.

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The State Fiscal Service of Ukraine (SFS) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have discussed prospects for further cooperation and implementation of joint projects in the field of border management.

These issues were discussed during the meeting of acting SFS Chairman Myroslav Prodan with Dr. Thomas Lothar Weiss, IOM Ukraine's Chief of Mission, the SFS press service reports.

According to Prodan, an example of such a successful cooperation between the SFS and the IOM was the project Support to the Creation of an Electronic System of Pre-arrival Information Exchange between the Customs Authorities of Belarus and Ukraine (PRINEX)".

The implementation of this project has allowed us to actually restore the exchange of preliminary information on goods and vehicles crossing the Belarusian-Ukrainian border starting from the end of 2015. This significantly accelerated customs procedures and reduced time while crossing the border, as well as promoted trade and economic relations for strengthening the economy of Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus," the acting SFS chairman said.

Prodan also noted that, using this positive experience, the relevant exchange of information between the SFS and the State Border Service of Ukraine was recently established. The Novi Yarylovychi - Nova Huta border check point on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border was chosen to implement this pilot project.

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The Foreign Ministry has confirmed the death of a Ukrainian citizen in a crash of the An-12 aircraft in the Congo.

Spokesperson of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Mariana Betsa informed this on Twitter.

"The Democratic Republic of the Congo officially confirmed the death of one Ukrainian citizen due to the An-12 crash in the Congo. Condolences to relatives. We are solving issues of repatriation," she wrote.

As reported earlier, a military plane with three Ukrainian crew members and five Congolese nationals crashed on Sept. 30 in the Congo, out of a total crew of 12. There were no survivors.

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The Russian side has not provided any information on how Ukrainian border guards from the Sumy border detachment fell into the hands of Russian FSB officers, according to Oleh Slobodian, an assistant to the chief of the Ukrainian State Border Service.

"The border representative meeting at the border line on how two Ukrainian border guards from the Sumy detachment got into the hands of Russian FSB officers produced no results," he wrote on Facebook on Monday.

Slobodian said that a Russian border guard who arrived for the meeting noted that he was not authorized to answer any questions and presented the Russian version of the meeting protocol. The document is formally dry and does not contain any answers to questions that are of interest to the Ukrainian side. Ukrainian border guards expressed their denial in writing in connection with violation by the Russian border service of protocol agreements and frankly cynical position.

At the same time, some circumstances of the "detention" of two officers by Russian border guards were found, Slobodian wrote.

"Firstly, according to the latest information the trial of Ukrainian border guards has already been conducted in Russia. The case was considered under two articles - the illegal crossing of the border and... malicious disobedience to law enforcement officers. The court decision was to hold them in custody for two months," he said.

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Newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Huntsman has said that restoring Ukrainian sovereignty over all its territory will be a key issue in his dealings with Moscow.

He said this on October 7 in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he once served as governor, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

Huntsman said he insisted the first step would be for Moscow to return Ukrainian control to territory within its internationally recognized borders.

"This is an issue not only with the United States, but with Europe, Canada, and virtually every other developed country," Huntsman said.

He added that he wanted to work with Moscow to solve the crisis over North Korea's banned nuclear and ballistic-missile programs. He called Pyongyang a threat to Russia and the rest of the world, not just to the United States.

"Acting together, we think the United States and Russia could force the North Korean regime to the negotiating table to find a diplomatic solution," he said.

Huntsman's comments came a week after President Donald Trump said in an October 1 Twitter statement that negotiating with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs was a "waste of time."
The spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in 2020 will be held in Kyiv, according to Bloc of Petro Poroshenko MP Iryna Friz, who is also a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

"The Standing Committee of the NATO PA has satisfied Ukraine's request to hold the spring session of the NATO PA in Kyiv!!!! We have been granted this right in 2020," Friz wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

According to her, this is not only a manifestation of NATO PA's support for Ukraine, but also evidence of close cooperation between Ukraine and NATO.

This year's session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is held in Bucharest on October 6-9.

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Trade turnover between Moldova and Ukraine is constantly growing, and our states have the potential to increase it in the future.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said this at a press conference in Chisinau, answering the question of an Ukrinform correspondent in Moldova about the structural changes in the trade turnover between two states.

"As already noted, the volume of trade between our countries has grown by more than a third. Our countries have good potential for increasing the turnover indicators," the Ukrainian premier noted.

According to him, the structure of trade turnover has not been changed, the trade turnover covers both food and non-food fields, primarily, we speak about the expansion of the volumes of mutual deliveries.

As Ukrinform reported, on Friday, October 6, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman met with Prime Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip in Chisinau in the frames of the working visit of the Head of Government of Ukraine to Moldova.

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The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on October 12 will hold an urgent debate on the new Ukrainian law on education.

The corresponding issue has been included into the agenda of the PACE autumn plenary session, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The members of the national parliaments of Hungary and Poland were the initiators of introducing the issue "The new Ukrainian law on education: a major impediment to the teaching of national minorities' mother tongues" for consideration of the session.

According to parliamentary sources, Polish and Hungarian MPs urged the representatives of the Armenian delegation to support the initiative.

On Wednesday, October 11, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko will address the PACE and answer the questions of the deputies.

As Ukrinform reported, the Verkhovna Rada adopted on September 5 the Law of Ukraine "On Education", which, in particular, regulates the use of the Ukrainian language in the field of education. On September 25, President Petro Poroshenko signed this law.

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Ukraine and Georgia "sooner or later" can become member states of NATO, but today they need to focus on implementation of reforms.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated this during the 63rd annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Bucharest, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Ukraine and Georgia should focus on reforms. These reforms are important, regardless of whether they become members sooner or later, and regardless of what they think about membership," the NATO secretary general said.

He once again stresses that the Alliance supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Stoltenberg recalls that NATO provides Ukraine with extensive political and practical support within the framework of ten trust funds and a comprehensive cooperation program.

The secretary general approved the deepening of cooperation and the provision of assistance to Ukraine from some allies on bilateral principles.

Speaking about NATO's relations with Russia, the head of the Alliance noted the presence of many problematic issues.

Stoltenberg also says that NATO does not want to isolate Russia and needs a political dialogue with Moscow, which is based on the strength of the allies.

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Ursula Mueller, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), will pay a working visit to Ukraine on October 10-13.

"Ursula Mueller, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), will pay a working visit to Ukraine on October 10-13," the UN Office in Ukraine reports.

During the three-day visit, the Assistant Secretary-General will hold meetings with senior government officials, representatives of the humanitarian and diplomatic community and families of the internally displaced persons from eastern Ukraine.

Mueller is also expected to visit eastern Ukraine to "see with her own eyes the humanitarian situation of people living in the territories affected by military hostilities."

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The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has finally included in the agenda of its autumn session an urgent debate on the language of instruction article in Ukraine's law on education.

The respective proposal from the PACE Bureau was supported by 100 deputies, 22 were against, and 12 abstained, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The debate on "The new Ukrainian law on education: a major impediment to the teaching of national minorities' mother tongues" is scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, October 12.

Hungarian and Polish deputies initiated the procedure for the urgent discussion of the issue.

As reported, on September 5, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the law of Ukraine on education, which, in particular, regulates the use of the Ukrainian language in the field of education. On September 25, it was signed by President Petro Poroshenko.

The law stipulates that children from national minorities in Ukraine will continue to study their mother tongue, and from the secondary school they will begin to study in the state language. If the language of national minority belongs to the languages of the European Union, one or several disciplines may also be taught in that language.

At the same time, some countries that have a diaspora in Ukraine protested against the law's article that the children from national minorities should study in the Ukrainian language.

The government of Hungary, in particular, stated that it would block all future decisions by the European Union aimed at bringing Ukraine closer to the EU because of the law on education.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sent the education law for examination by the Venice Commission.

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Hurricane Nate brought a burst of flooding and power outages to the U.S. Gulf Coast before weakening rapidly Sunday, sparing the region the kind of catastrophic damage left by a series of hurricanes that hit the southern U.S. and Caribbean in recent weeks.



Nate  the first hurricane to make landfall in Mississippi since Katrina in 2005  quickly lost strength, with its winds diminishing to a tropical depression as it pushed northward into Alabama and toward Georgia with heavy rain. It was a Category 1 hurricane when it came ashore outside Biloxi early Sunday, its second landfall after initially hitting southeastern Louisiana on Saturday evening.



The storm surge from the Mississippi Sound littered Biloxi's main beachfront highway with debris and flooded a casino's lobby and parking structure overnight.



By dawn, however, Nate's receding floodwaters didn't reveal any obvious signs of widespread damage in the city where Hurricane Katrina had leveled thousands of beachfront homes and businesses.



No storm-related deaths or injuries were immediately reported.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant praised state and local officials and coastal residents for working together to avoid loss of life.



Lee Smithson, director of the state emergency management agency, said damage from Nate was held down in part because of work done and lessons learned from Katrina.



"If that same storm would have hit us 15 years ago, the damage would have been extensive and we would have had loss of life.'' Smithson said of Nate. "But we have rebuilt the coast in the aftermath of Katrina higher and stronger.''



Nate knocked out power to more than 100,000 residents in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida, but crews were working on repairs.

As of Sunday afternoon, Alabama Power said more than 62,000 customers remained without power, while utilities and cooperatives in Mississippi said more than 21,000 were without electricity. In Louisiana, there were scattered outages during the storm, while Florida Gov. Rick Scott said 6,800 customers had lost power in his state.



Mississippi's Gulf Coast casinos got approval to reopen in midmorning after closing Saturday as the storm approached.



Sean Stewart, checking on his father's sailboat at a Biloxi marina after daybreak, found another boat had sunk, its sail still fluttering in Nate's diminishing winds. Stewart was relieved to find his father's craft intact.



"I got lucky on this one,'' he said.



Before Nate sped past Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula late Friday and entered the Gulf of Mexico, it drenched Central America with rains that left at least 22 people dead. But Nate didn't approach the intensity of Harvey, Irma and Maria  powerful storms that left behind massive destruction during 2017's exceptionally busy hurricane season.



"We are thankful because this looked like it was going to be a freight train barreling through the city,'' said Vincent Creel, a spokesman for the city of Biloxi.



The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the four hurricanes that have struck the U.S. and its territories this year have "strained'' resources, with roughly 85 percent of the agency's forces deployed.



"We're still working massive issues in Harvey, Irma, as well as the issues in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and now this one,'' FEMA Administrator Brock Long told ABC's "This Week.''



The federal government declared emergencies in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.



Nate initially made landfall Saturday evening in Louisiana, but fears that it would overwhelm the fragile pumping system in New Orleans proved to be unfounded. The storm passed to the east of New Orleans, and Mayor Mitch Landrieu lifted a curfew on the city known for its all-night partying.



"Hurricane Nate had the potential to wreak havoc on Louisiana, but thankfully, we were largely spared major damage,'' Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a statement.



In Alabama, Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier said he woke up around 3 a.m. Sunday to discover knee-deep water in his yard. Although some homes and cars on the island had flooded, Collier said he hadn't heard of anyone needing rescue.



"We didn't think it would be quite that bad,'' he said. "It kind of snuck up on us in the wee hours of the morning.''



At landfall in Mississippi, the fast-moving storm had maximum sustained winds near 85 mph (140 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Nate steadily weakened after its first landfall in a sparsely populated area of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.



At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Nate was about 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Nashville, Tennessee. Nate was expected to bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to the Deep South, eastern Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians through Monday. The Ohio Valley, central Appalachians and Northeast could also get heavy rain before the storm exits Maine on Tuesday.



Biloxi city employees worked before dawn to clear Highway 90, where sand, logs and even a large trash bin had been washed onto the four-lane, beachfront road. Despite the debris, there was little to no visible damage to structures. A handful of businesses had reopened before dawn, and the storm surge that washed across the highway had receded by 6 a.m.



Mississippi DOT crews had to remove over 1,000 pumpkins blown onto Highway 90 in Pass Christian, west of Gulfport.

Willie Cook, 75, spent his morning chopping down a pecan tree that fell in his backyard. He said Nate was nothing like Katrina, which pushed 8 feet (2.4 meters) of water into his east Biloxi house.



"The wind was blowing, but it wasn't too rough,'' Cook said of Nate.



Storm surge flooded the parking structure of the Golden Nugget casino and several others in Biloxi.



Mississippi Emergency Management Agency spokesman Greg Flynn said about 1,100 people spent the night in shelters.



"Thankfully, right now we have no major damage reports,'' he said.



Hancock County Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Adam said Nate's storm surge flooded low-lying roads, but he hadn't heard any reports of flooded homes.



"We turned out fairly good,'' he said as he prepared to survey neighborhoods.



In Alabama, the storm flooded homes and cars on the coast and inundated at least one major road in downtown Mobile.

At sunrise in Pensacola Beach, Florida, a small front-end loader scraped sand off a parking lot and returned it to the nearby beach.



On Saturday night, about 6 inches of salt water began flowing through Anthony Perez's garage and a ground-level room of his Pensacola Beach condo along Santa Rosa Sound. The entire building was still surrounded by water on Sunday morning.



"I went downstairs and said, 'Uh! There it is! It's already flowing through,''' Perez said.



Officials rescued five people from two sailboats in choppy waters before the storm  two people from a sailboat in Lake Pontchartrain and three who were in the water after a boat hit rocks in the Mississippi Sound.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has decided to drastically reduce its presence and relief operations in war-torn Afghanistan, citing a series of recent attacks that have killed seven of its staff, including a foreigner.

This is a difficult moment for the ICRC and the staff. After 30 years of continuous presence in the country, we are reducing our presence and operations, said Monica Zanarelli, the aid groups county head, on Monday.

But lets be very clear, we are not leaving Afghanistan, she explained to reporters in Kabul.

There have been security incidents over the past 30 years undermining relief activities, said Zanarelli, but three direct attacks in northern Afghanistan since last December have particularly affected the ICRC on the whole.

They included last months attack on the biggest rehabilitation center in the country located in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, in which a 38-year-old Spanish physiotherapist, Lorena Enebral, was shot and killed by a patient inside the orthopedic facility.

This last incident has really hit us in our heart in a place that has always been considered as the safest place for everyone in Afghanistan treating the most vulnerable people for decades and being hit directly by a long-term patient has been really a shock not only for us in Afghanistan but for the whole organization across the world, she said.

The ICRCs office in the northern volatile provinces of Faryab and Kunduz will be closed by end of the year while the main office in Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of Balkh province, will be seriously downsized, explained the country head.

Among other latest security incidents that prompted the ICRC to scale back its Afghan operations was the abduction of an ICRC staff member in Kunduz in December 2016 who was released four weeks later.

The incident was followed by the killing of six staff and the abduction of two others after militants attacked an ICRC relief mission passing through the northern Jawzjan province.

The abductees were released in early September, just days before the Spanish physiotherapist was gunned down in Mazar-i-Sharif.

These incidents left the organization with no other choice but to drastically reduce its relief activities in the country, said Zanarelli. She said the ICRC is still not clear about reasons for these attacks and refused to speculate on who could be behind them.

The Taliban has denied involvement in any of the attacks on ICRC. Some local media reports said militants linked to the Islamic State were behind some of them.

Currently, ICRC has 1,800 staff in Afghanistan, including 120 foreigners, she said.

U.N.-led relief groups say millions of war-hit and poverty-stricken Afghans are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance across Afghanistan and the intensified conflict continues to uproot tens of thousands of families.

While Afghan security forces are struggling to contain the Taliban insurgency in most of the countrys 34 provinces, IS loyalists have also stepped up attacks in Afghanistan.

U.N. officials say conflict related Afghan civilian casualties have already hit new highs this year.
The leader of Spain's Catalonia region is due to address members of the regional parliament Tuesday, while the government in Madrid worries Catalan representatives will vote for a unilateral declaration of independence.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont did not reveal ahead of time what his message would be Tuesday.

Political leaders, both domestically and internationally, urged Catalan leaders on Monday to back down to ease growing tensions in the country.

Major speaks out

Barcelonas mayor was the latest to speak out against a declaration of independence, saying this would put "social cohesion" at risk. Ada Colau called on all sides to de-escalate tensions to solve "the most severe institutional crisis since the re-establishment of democracy in Spain."

The head of Spains main opposition party, Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, also called for Catalan leaders to drop an attempt to declare independence, saying "a universal declaration of independence doesnt have a place in a state ruled by law."

Germany and France also weighed in Monday against a split. German Chancellor Angela Merkel "affirmed her backing for the unity of Spain," but also encouraged dialogue, according to her spokesman.

France said it would not recognize Catalonia if the region declared independence. "This crisis needs to be resolved through dialogue at all levels of Spanish politics," Frances European affairs minister Nathalie Loiseau said.

Tensions have grown in Spain since last week when Catalonia held a regional vote for independence, an election deemed illegal by Madrid. Police cracked down on the vote, firing rubber bullets and storming crowds to disrupt the voting, leading to hundreds of injuries.

Huge support at the polls

Catalan leaders say 90 percent of those who went to the polls voted to break with Spain. However, opponents of the referendum say the vote did not show the true will of the region because those who want to stay in Spain mainly boycotted the polls.

Police say about 350,000 demonstrators attended an anti-independence protest on Sunday.

On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered at rallies in Barcelona, Madrid and other Spanish cities to demand dialogue to end the dispute.

Banks, businesses may move

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he would not rule out using constitutional powers to take away Catalonia's autonomous status if the region declares independence.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais published Sunday, Rajoy said that he will consider employing any measure "allowed by the law" to stop the regions separatists.

The crisis has prompted several major banks and businesses to announce they will move their headquarters out of Catalonia to other parts of Spain so they can be sure they will remain in the European Union common market.



Catalonia, a northeastern region in Spain, has its own language and cultural traditions. It is home to 7.5 million people and accounts for about a fifth of Spains economy.
Catalonia's secessionist leader on Monday faced increased pressure to abandon plans to declare the region independent from Spain, with France and Germany expressing support for the country's unity.

The Madrid government, grappling with Spain's biggest political crisis since an attempted military coup in 1981, made it clear on Monday it would respond immediately to any such unilateral declaration.

A week on from a referendum on independence which the government did its utmost to thwart, more signs were emerging that the fraught situation was also taking its toll on the business climate of Spain's wealthiest region.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is due to address the regional parliament on Tuesday afternoon and the Madrid government is worried it will vote for a unilateral declaration of independence.

Catalan officials say people voted overwhelmingly for secession in the ballot, which was declared illegal by the government and was marked by police violence against independence supporters.

But the issue has deeply divided the northeastern region itself as well the Spanish nation. Hundreds of thousands of unionists took to the streets of Barcelona at the weekend to protest against the region breaking away.

Buoyed by the show of support, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said on Monday: "I'm calling on the sensible people in the Catalan government ... don't jump off the edge because you'll take the people with you."

"If there is a unilateral declaration of independence there will be decisions made to restore law and democracy," Saenz de Santamaria told COPE radio station.

Backing also came from European heavyweights Germany and France. German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Saturday about the crisis, her spokesman said on Monday. She stressed her support for Spain's unity but also encouraged more dialogue.

France said it would not recognize Catalonia if the region unilaterally declared independence. Doing so would lead to Catalonia's automatic exit from the European Union, it said.

"This crisis needs to be resolved through dialogue at all levels of Spanish politics," France's European affairs minister Nathalie Loiseau said.

The European Union has shown no interest in an independent Catalonia, despite an appeal by Puigdemont for Brussels to mediate in the crisis.

New elections?

Under Catalonia's referendum law, deemed unconstitutional by Madrid, a vote for independence in the assembly on Tuesday would start a six-month process that would envisage divorce talks with Spain before regional elections and a final act of separation.

Rajoy has not ruled out the so-called "nuclear option" of removing Catalonia's government and calling new regional elections if it claims independence. He gained some political cover for such a move on Monday when opposition Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez said in Barcelona he would "support the response of the rule of law in the face of any attempt to break social harmony."

Sanchez stopped short, however, of explicitly saying his party would back dissolving the regional parliament, apossibility written into the 1978 constitution.

Losing Catalonia, which has its own language and culture, would deprive Spain of a fifth of its economic output and more than a quarter of exports. A stream of Catalonia-based firms and banks have moved their legal bases outside the region.

The boards of Catalonia-based infrastructure firm Abertis, telecoms company Cellnex and property group Inmobiliaria Colonial will meet on Monday to discuss moving, sources said.

Banks Caixabank and Sabadell have already resolved to leave the region.

The crisis has also reopened old divisions in a nation where the right-wing dictatorship of General Francisco Franco is a living memory easily revived by strong displays of nationalism.

Among many moderate Spaniards there is widespread opposition to a breakaway, including in Catalonia. Regional authorities say about 90 percent of those who voted in the referendum backed secession, but turnout was 43 percent, with most unionists boycotting it.

Sunday's demonstration in the Catalan capital helped calm Spanish markets on Monday, along with comments on Friday from credit rating agencies Moody's and DBRS that they expected Spain to remain united. Spanish borrowing costs fell to a one-week low and the main share index touched a week high.

Puigdemont appeared resolute in a television interview on Sunday, saying the region's referendum law called for a declaration of independence in the event of a "yes" vote.

"We will apply what the law says," he told TV3. Catalonia's High Court asked for more security in case independence is declared, specifically drafting in the national police, who were called in to stop the referendum when the

Catalan police force failed to act.

Madrid sent thousands of national police to the region to prevent the vote. About 900 people were injured when officers used rubber bullets and batons against voters in scenes that shocked Spain and the world, and escalated the dispute.

Under a blueprint for independence drawn up by the Catalan parliament last month, the High court would be turned into a new Supreme Court of Catalonia.

Puigdemont said on Sunday he had not been in contact with the Madrid government for some time because it refused to discuss independence.

"What is happening in Catalonia is real, whether they like it or not. Millions of people have voted, who want to decide. We have to talk about this," he said.
China is stepping up aid to the Philippines, including a proposal to seek oil together offshore and a gift of arms to help Manila fight a Muslim rebel insurgency, indicating that both sides want an extra-firm friendship despite an unsettled maritime dispute.

Three firms, including Chinas state-owned offshore oil driller CNOOC are awaiting Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes signature to explore for fuel reserves under a 7,120-square-kilometer tract of water off the Philippine west coast.

Last week the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on its website China had donated 3,000 assault rifles, with 3 million rounds of ammunition, to help the military fight the ISIS-sympathetic Maute Group rebels in a war-torn southern city.

The transactions, alongside infrastructure aid from China, indicate that both countries want as much from each other as the other can accommodate. They made peace only in 2016 after four years of squabbling over maritime sovereignty.

China pursues an oil exploration partnership

Officials in China would want as much they can get, said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Philippine advocacy organization Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.

I would say the Filipinos are very nationalist in their position, particularly with regards to the South China Sea, but then the friendship I think is well received here.

Beijing is chasing stronger alliances around Southeast Asia to ease hostility over its claims to nearly the whole South China Sea. A world arbitration court said in mid-2016 China lacked a legal basis to assert those rights.

The Chinese claim overlaps the exclusive economic zones of four Southeast Asian states including the Philippines. Those countries chafe at Chinas passage of ships and buildup of artificial islands for military infrastructure.

Chinese aid

China is offering aid and investment to rival claimants Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, as well as to the Philippines. But President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila welcomes China with special enthusiasm as part of his shift away from dependence on the United States.

Chinese success in exchanging aid for political tolerance anywhere in the Asia hinges on the other side's interest, said Song Seng Wun, Southeast Asia-specialized economist with the private banking unit of CIMB in Singapore.

It is always a case of the other side (being) more welcoming, Song said. On the case of the Philippines, obviously you have a president, and he really wants to do it, so you're talking about playing the Chinese off the Americans.

US / Philippines

The United States has been an ally of the Philippines since its colonization of the Southeast Asian country ended in 1946. China opposes the U.S. military presence near the disputed sea, however, while Duterte resents Washingtons criticism of his deadly anti-drug campaign.

But Duterte swung back toward the United States last week with a pitch for more economic partnerships.

China may have donated the rifles, the second installment of its kind, to offset U.S. aid, analysts say.

The United States does joint naval patrols with the Philippines and since 2002 it has placed 50 to 100 special forces on the southern island Mindanao to help control violent rebels such as the Maute Group.

China becoming more popular

Filipinos' positive sentiment toward China has risen 17 percentage points since 2014, the Pew Research Center said last month. Positive sentiment toward the United States fell from 92 to 78 percent over the past two years, it found.

China pledged $24 billion in aid after Duterte visited Beijing in October. Three months later China and the Philippines agreed to $3.7 billion in Chinese investment covering 30 projects.

China competes as well with Japan for aid and investment in a $167 billion, five-year Philippine effort to modernize infrastructure. Japan, a U.S. ally that has its own political disputes with Beijing, is vying with China for alliances around much of developing Asia.

If you look at the (official development aid), you're seeing more from the Japanese than the Chinese, said Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist with Banco de Oro UniBank in Metro Manila.

Philippines still wary

Filipinos want Chinas aid, an outgrowth of the $11.2 trillion Chinese economy, as long as it comes without political strings such as conceding disputed tracts of sea, scholars in Manila say.

Prior Chinese efforts at joint maritime oil exploration with Southeast Asian states have failed before because of questions about who would own any discoveries.

Chinas CNOOC owns 51 percent of the Calamian oil field being considered for joint exploration now, while Philippine National Oil Company has 28 percent. Jadestone Energy of Singapore has another stake.

China and the Philippines have discussed offshore oil cooperation since late last year.

Everyones waiting at the sidelines, Ravelas said. Its really the devil is in the details. Basically, what would be the revenue share? What will China bring to the table?
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt says the administration of President Donald Trump will withdraw from Clean Power Plan set in motion by his predecessor Barack Obama.

Addressing a crowd in Kentucky Monday, Pruitt said that he plans to sign a proposed rule Tuesday to withdraw from the plan, which was aimed at slowing global warming.

"That rule really was about picking winners and losers," Pruitt said, claiming that the previous administration had used regulators to tip the scales in the competition to generate electricity in the United States.

"Regulatory power should not be used by any regulatory body to pick winners and losers," he said.

A centerpiece of the Obama administration's environmental policies, the clean power plan aimed to restrict greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration pulled the United States out of the landmark 2015 Paris Climate Accord, saying it was unfair to the American people. While hailed by some Republican lawmakers, the decision was met with criticism by scientists and international leaders.
Nearly a year after Facebook and Google launched offensives against fake news, theyre still inadvertently promoting it  often at the worst possible times.



Online services designed to engross users arent so easily retooled to promote greater accuracy, it turns out. Especially with online trolls, pranksters and more malicious types scheming to evade new controls as theyre rolled out.

Fear and falsity in Las Vegas

In the immediate aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting, Facebooks "Crisis Response" page for the attack featured a false article misidentifying the gunman and claiming he was a "far left loon." Google promoted a similarly erroneous item from the anonymous prankster site 4chan in its "Top Stories" results.

A day after the attack, a YouTube search on "Las Vegas shooting" yielded a conspiracy-theory video that claimed multiple shooters were involved in the attack as the fifth result. YouTube is owned by Google.

None of these stories were true. Police identified the sole shooter as Stephen Paddock, a Nevada man whose motive remains a mystery. The Oct. 1 attack on a music festival left 58 dead and hundreds wounded.

The companies quickly purged offending links and tweaked their algorithms to favor more authoritative sources. But their work is clearly incomplete  a different Las Vegas conspiracy video was the eighth result displayed by YouTube in a search Monday.

Engagement first

Why do these highly automated services keep failing to separate truth from fiction? One big factor: most online services systems tend to emphasis posts that engage an audience  exactly what a lot of fake news is specifically designed to do.

Facebook and Google get caught off guard "because their algorithms just look for signs of popularity and recency at first," without first checking to ensure relevance, says David Carroll, a professor of media design at the Parsons School of Design in New York.

That problem is much bigger in the wake of disaster, when facts are still unclear and demand for information runs high.

Malicious actors have learned to take advantage of this, says Mandy Jenkins, head of news at social media and news research agency Storyful. "They know how the sites work, they know how algorithms work, they know how the media works," she says.

Participants on 4chans "Politically Incorrect" channel regularly chat about "how to deploy fake news strategies" around major stories, says Dan Leibson, vice president of search at the digital marketing consultancy Local SEO Guide.

One such chat just hours after the Las Vegas urged readers to "push the fact this terrorist was a commie" on social media. "There were people discussing how to create engagement all night," Leibson says.

Eye of the beholder

Thanks to political polarization, the very notion of what constitutes a "credible'' source of news is now a point of contention.

Mainstream journalists routinely make judgments about the credibility of various publications based on their history of accuracy. Thats a much more complicated issue for mass-market services like Facebook and Google, given the popularity of many inaccurate sources among political partisans.

The pro-Trump Gateway Pundit site, for example, published the false Las Vegas story promoted by Facebook. But it has also been invited to White House press briefings and counts more than 620,000 fans on its Facebook page.



Facebook said last week it is "working to fix the issue" that led it to promote false reports about the Las Vegas shooting, although it didnt say what it had in mind.



The company has already taken a number of steps since December; it now features fact-checks by outside organizations, puts warning labels on disputed stories and has de-emphasized false stories in peoples news feeds.



Getting algorithms right

Breaking news is also inherently challenging for automated filter systems. Google says the 4chan post that misidentified the Las Vegas shooter should not have appeared in its "Top Stories" feature, and was replaced by its algorithm after a few hours.

Outside experts say Google was flummoxed by two different issues. First, its "Top Stories" is designed to return results from the broader web alongside items from news outlets. Second, signals that help Googles system evaluate the credibility of a web page  for instance, links from known authoritative sources  arent available in breaking news situations, says independent search optimization consultant Matthew Brown.

"If you have enough citations or references to something, algorithmically thats going to look very important to Google," Brown said. "The problem is an easy one to define but a tough one to resolve."

More people, fewer robots

Federal law currently exempts Facebook, Google and similar companies from liability for material published by their users. But circumstances are forcing the tech companies to accept more responsibility for the information they spread.

Facebook said last week that it would hire an extra 1,000 people to help vet ads after it found a Russian agency bought ads meant to influence last years election. Its also subjecting potentially sensitive ads, including political messages, to "human review."

In July, Google revamped guidelines for human workers who help rate search results in order to limit misleading and offensive material. Earlier this year, Google also allowed users to flag so-called "featured snippets" and "autocomplete" suggestions if they found the content harmful.

The Google-sponsored Trust Project at Santa Clara University is also working to create tags that could serve as markers of credibility for individual authors. These would include items such as their location and journalism awards, information that could be fed into future algorithms, according to project director Sally Lehrman.
Negotiators from rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Islamist group Hamas will discuss security in the Gaza Strip at unity talks in Cairo on Tuesday,

including a proposal that would see Fatah security personnel deployed to Hamas-dominated territory.

The plan for 3,000 Fatah security officers to join a Gaza police force over the course of a year, part of a unity deal mediated by Egypt in 2011, would restore much of the influence of Fatah leader President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza and further loosen Hamas' grip.

The deal was never implemented.

The Western-backed mainstream Fatah party lost control of the enclave to Hamas, considered a terrorist group by the West and Israel, in fighting in 2007. The loss damaged Abbas' credibility in the eyes of the West and Israel, after years of being their main Palestinian diplomatic counterpart.

But under Egypt's mediation, major steps have been made towards narrowing rifts since Hamas handed administrative powers in Gaza to a Fatah-backed government last month.

The move was a major reversal for Hamas and was partially prompted by the group's fears of potential financial and political isolation after its main donor Qatar suffered a major diplomatic crisis with key allies.

"The sides will discuss the security issue, especially in Gaza, in the way that serves the home front, enforces the rule of law in a professional and national way and is not factional," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.

The deal would see Hamas, which has the most powerful armed Palestinian faction with an estimated 25,000 well-equipped fighters who have fought three wars with Israel since 2008.

"The issue of arms of resistance is not up for discussion," Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters. Israel's enmity with Hamas means greater unity with Fatah is unlikely to help any future efforts for a peace deal with Israel.

But both sides hope that the deal's proposed deployment of security personnel from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority to Gaza's borders will encourage Egypt and Israel to ease their tight restrictions at border crossings, a badly needed step to help Gaza revive its economy and improve the living standards of its two million residents.

Officials said that apart from the implementation of the 2011 agreement and security, the Cairo talks would also cover issues such as setting a date for presidential and legislative elections and reforming the Palestine Liberation Organization, which is in charge of long-stalled peace efforts with Israel.

"What happened in the past days is something like a declaration of principles while the two sides have postponed final status issues to the talks in Cairo," said Gaza political analyst Akram Attallah.

Abbas has pledged there would be "one authority, one law, one administration, one weapon" in the Gaza Strip, a statement seeming to challenge Hamas' continued security dominance.

But Tayseer Nasrallah, a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, told Reuters: "There are difficult challenges and it will take time to overcome them.
Then French President Nicolas Sarkozy declared March 19, 2012, the date an Islamic militant killed a Jewish rabbi and three children in Toulouse, a day of national tragedy.

The gunman, Mohammed Merah, a French petty criminal of Algerian descent, had targeted French soldiers a week earlier in two attacks, one at a shopping center. On March 19 it was the turn of the Ozar Hatorah Jewish day school.

Dismounting a motorbike, the 23-year-old Merah unleashed a fusillade toward the schoolyard, killing first the rabbi as he shielded his two young sons, who were shot also, and then chasing a fleeing eight-year-old Jewish girl. Merah grabbed her by the hair, shooting her in the temple with a .45 caliber gun after his 9mm pistol had jammed.

Six-and-half-years after Merahs rampage, those terrifying days in Toulouse are finally being re-lived in a special criminal court in Paris  something some of the relatives of the dead have demanded, arguing that they need closure

It isn't, though, the assassin whos on trial  he was killed after a 32-hour police siege  but two men French prosecutors insist were accomplices to the slaughter: Merahs older brother, 35-year-old Abdelkader, and a friend, Fettah Malki.

Prosecutors claim they were complicit in the slayings, assisting Merah to steal the motorbike used in a series of attacks between March 11 and March 19, paying for a flak jacket the killer reportedly wore and providing him with an Uzi submachine gun and ammunition.

Both men deny providing equipment or knowing what Merah intended. Prosecutors say Abdelkader, who had been on the intelligence radar for years, discussed targeting and was a key factor in the radicalization of the younger brother, who is believed to have trained with al-Qaida militants in Pakistan.

Lawyers for the men say the trial is really of Mohammed Merah but with their clients substituted for the dead militant. They argue theres an absence of hard proof in the prosecution case.

Anti-terror

Abdelkader is the third relative of a jihadist who has faced trial recently in France and this trial comes as lawmakers in some neighboring European countries are demanding changes in their anti-terror laws that would make it easier to prosecute family members who either withhold information from authorities or fail to report a relative who has gone or returned from fighting abroad for a jihadist group.

Last Friday, a Frenchwoman, who traveled to Syria three times to support her jihadist son was sentenced to a 10-year prison term. The court found that the 51-year-old Christine Riviere, who the French press has nicknamed Mama Jihad, had assisted several young women in traveling to Syria, part of an effort to find a bride for her son Tyler Vilus, who is believed to have been a friend of one of the masterminds of the November 2015 Paris terror attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud.

Vilus was arrested in Turkey two years ago and extradited to France, where he is awaiting trial.

Funding terrorism

Last month, the mother of another French jihadist was jailed in France for two years after she was convicted of wiring 2,800 euros ($3,300) to her son while he was in Malaysia en route to join the Islamic State terror group in Syria.

Nathalie Haddadi argued she didn't know how her son Belabbas Bounaga would use the money and said she was being double punished as a grieving parent. Her son was killed in Syria last year. In addition, Belabbas Bounagas brother and a friend were convicted for terrorism financing, too: the brother for wiring 500 euros ($586) and the friend 2,900 euros ($3,400).

I have trouble understanding how they can accuse me of financing terrorism, Haddadi told reporters before the verdict was delivered. She is planning to appeal her conviction.

Her lawyer Herve Denis has argued his client is determined not to allow a precedent to be established that could be used against approximately another 2,000 French parents, whose sons or daughters have travelled to Syria to join either IS or al-Qaida-linked groups. Convicting a "tearful mother...is not harsh, it's nasty, he told reporters after the conviction.

It is a view shared by Berenice Boutin, an analyst at the International Center for Counter-Terrorism at The Hague, a policy research group. She argues that applying criminal measures against parents that were designed to disrupt serious funding of terrorism is arguably disproportionate, and constitutes one more example of the excessive use of broad counter-terrorism laws that has been observed in the past years.

Writing on the ICCTs web-site, she says that Nathalie Haddadis case illustrates the dilemma that relatives of foreign fighters can face.

If you were a parent who knows that your child traveled to Syria, and this child was to contact you to ask for some money to cover basic needs such as food or medical costs, what would you do?, she asks. This has often been the situation of parents and other relatives accused of terrorism financing. In many cases, factual circumstances are far from clear-cut, and parents find themselves having to choose between abandoning their child or risking supporting terrorist activities, she added.

In Britain, the parents of a Muslim convert nicknamed by the London press 'Jihadi Jack have been given leave to appeal to the Supreme Court in their campaign to fight accusations that they funded terrorism by wiring money to their son in Syria, where he is now being held by Kurdish fighters.

Jack Letts is alleged to have been the first white Briton to join Islamic State in 2014. His parents, John Letts, an organic farmer, and Sally Lane, from Oxford, are accused of sending hundreds of pounds to their son between September 2015 and January 2016 while knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect that it may be used for a terrorist purpose.

French officials concede privately that there are shades of gray in the Haddadi case, but argue there are none with the other two. Christine Riviere shared her sons jihadist ideas, was posting jihadist propaganda  including beheading videos, one counter-terror official told VOA. Abdelkader had dinner with his brother after one of the attacks, he added.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) have reportedly reached a deal with Bavarian conservatives on a refugee cap as both sides look to unite ahead of talks on forming a new government.

Merkel and the head of the Christian Social Union (CSU), Horst Seehofer, plan to spell out the details of the deal Monday.

Reports say the number of refugees to be allowed into Germany would be capped at about 200,000 per year. Merkel has, until now, rejected limits. She has said they would violate the countrys constitution which grants anyone facing political persecution the right to seek asylum.

Under the deal, asylum seekers would not be turned away at the border until their cases are heard.

Both parties also agreed to do more to attract immigrants with highly-sought-after labor skills and also up the fight against human traffickers.

Bavaria comprises about 15 percent of Germany's population. Support from its CSU conservatives is vital as Merkel proceeds with talks on forming a new coalition government with the liberal Greens and pro-business Free Democrats.

Merkel won a fourth term as chancellor in last month's parliamentary election, but her Christian Democrats failed to win an outright majority.

The far-right Alternative for Germany party won a stunningly-high 94 of 709 seats in the Bundestag and could cause trouble for the moderately conservative Merkel.
One of Hollywood's most powerful movie producers, Harvey Weinstein, has been fired by the board of the company he founded after a news report recounted his decades-long sexual harassment of women in the film industry.

The 65-year-old Weinstein oversaw production of some of the most critically acclaimed and financially successful films over the last 30 years, including "Shakespeare in Love," "Pulp Fiction," "Sex, Lies and Videotape," "The English Patient," "Good Will Hunting" and "Lee Daniels' The Butler." He ran the Miramax and later the Weinstein movie companies with his brother Bob Weinstein.

But the movie mogul's fall came quickly after The New York Times reported last week that Weinstein, a man known in Hollywood for his demanding control of film productions and angry outbursts, had made unwanted sexual advances on women stretching over nearly three decades. The story said Weinstein had paid confidential settlements to at least eight women who had accused him of sexual harassment.

In a statement last week, Weinstein said that "the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it." Later, he claimed some of the newspaper's claims were false and said he would sue for defamation.

Weinstein took a leave of absence from his company on Friday, but on Sunday the board said that "in light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days," it had told him that "his employment is terminated, effective immediately."

Weinstein has been big donor in recent years to Democratic politicians in the U.S. and liberal causes. But with the sexual harassment revelations, Democratic political figures moved quickly over the weekend to transfer the same amount of Weinstein's donations to charitable causes.
Local affiliates of the so-called Islamic State militant group have shut down dozens of schools in a restive district of northern Afghanistan, provincial officials said.

Abdul Hai Yasheen, the director of education in northern Jawzjan province, told VOA that growing IS threats have scared thousands of students away from schools.

The ongoing clashes in Qoshtepa and Darzab districts have scared the local people. They refrain from sending their children to school, including schools that are in areas under the government control, Yasheen said.

Yasheen added that thousands of boys and girls in Darzab district have been deprived of a chance to get education.

Our schools are closed, IS controls parts of the district, there is no education, Abdul Murad, a Darzab resident told VOA. IS kills and does not let us send children to school.

Twenty five schools are under IS militant's control and our teachers are unable to go and teach there, Baz Mohammad Dawar, Darzab districts chief said. Parents have been warned by IS not to send their children to school.

Over 18,500 students are unable to attend school and thats a catastrophe, Dawar added.

At least two schools remain closed in neighboring Khanqah district as well.

The terror group has destroyed much of the education infrastructure in parts of the Jawzjan province.

In July, IS militants destroyed more than a dozen schools in Darzab, including a girls high school. The militants warned that an educational curriculum acceptable to IS must be taught in areas that the group controls, according to provincial education officials.

The terror group had also warned girls not to attend school. They make up 40 percent of students in the district's 47 government-run schools.

Reza Ghafoori, a provincial spokesperson, told VOA that authorities are seeking to resolve the issue through mediation by local leaders who are trying to talk to IS militants to allow children to attend school. The efforts, however, have not yielded a positive outcome yet.

Islamic State's self-styled Khorasan Province branch (IS-K) emerged in the mountainous areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan more than two years ago. The terror group has recently attracted hundreds of local militants to its ranks in northern Jawzjan and Sar-e-Pul provinces. Qari Hekmat, an ethnic Uzbek and former Taliban commander who switched his allegiance to IS a year ago, is said to lead IS-affiliated groups in the region. A large number of Central Asian fighters affiliated with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), previously associated with al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan, have joined the IS cause in the northern provinces.

IS and rival militants from the Taliban frequently fight for control of Darzab and Qoshtepa districts. Recent clashes between the two rival groups have resulted in the death of at least 30 militants from both sides, according to Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani, the provincial police chief in Jawzjan.

Two days ago, the IS miitants set a school on fire in Qoshtepa and killed two local elders on charges of serving in the local police force, Jouzjani told Radio Liberty.

The ongoing clashes have led hundreds of families to leave their homes. Most of the fleeing families have taken refuge in the provincial capital Sheberghan and live in dire conditions, according to Radio Liberty.
A Tunisian terror suspect arrested in northern Italy had fought in Syria, was previously expelled from Italy and is believed responsible for radicalizing his elder brother, who stabbed two women to death in France this month, authorities said Monday.



Anis Hanachi, 25, was arrested Saturday on an international warrant issued by France while riding a bicycle in the center of the northern city of Ferrara, authorities told reporters in Rome.



He had no documents and claimed to be Algerian but further investigation confirmed that he was the brother of 29-year-old Ahmed Hanachi, who was shot and killed by police following the October 1 attack in the French city of Marseille.



The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for that attack, although French authorities and neighbors in Tunisia said there had been no outward evidence that the attacker had been radicalized.



Citing information from French officials, anti-terrorism police investigator Claudio Galzerano said that the younger brother was known to have been a foreign fighter in Syria. He also had been expelled from Italy to Tunisia in 2014 following his illegal arrival in Sicily on a smuggler's boat, police said.



French authorities had signaled his possible presence in Italy two days after the elder brother stabbed two cousins to death in Marseille's main train station. Italian authorities said they confirmed his presence in the Liguria region, which borders France, on Wednesday, and then tracked him down to Ferrara, near the Adriatic coast, by the weekend.



The police chief in Ferrara, Antonio Sbordone, told Sky Italia 24 that Anis Hanachi was staying in Ferrara with a Tunisian friend, who was not suspected of any extremist activity and was integrated into the community. He said there was no indication of a logistic base for terrorists in the city.

Hanachi is being held on charges of involvement in the attack and of international terrorism and is awaiting extradition to France, which is expected to happen in a matter of days.

The older brother Ahmed had been married to an Italian woman and lived in Aprilia, south of Rome, from about 2006 to 2014. At least two of his brothers had followed him to Italy, according to neighbors in Tunisia.

While Italy has so far not suffered any terror attacks by Islamic State adherents, Italian ties to a number of recent attacks have raised questions about whether the country is being used as a logistics base.

The Berlin Christmas market attacker, Anis Amir, also Tunisian, was killed in Milan days after the attack, although there was no evidence he was receiving logistics support in Italy. In addition, the London Bridge attacker was a Moroccan-born Italian who previously lived in Bologna, and one of the Bataclan attackers had traveled through Italy before the deadly attack.



Anti-terrorism investigator Lamberto Giannin cautioned that none of the cases was related and that each of the suspects "had different histories and experiences."



"At the moment we have no evidence there is a logistic base for jihadists here in Italy. The stories are all different, and they don't suggest a common matrix," Giannini said.
Liberia, Africa's oldest republic, heads to presidential and parliamentary polls on Tuesday. Twenty candidates are vying to replace President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf when she steps down this year at the end of her second term. The top campaign issues include infrastructure and healthcare, both challenges that were laid bare by the devastating Ebola epidemic that ended in June of last year. Monique John reports for VOA from Monrovia.
Any escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula is unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a phone call on Monday.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned over the weekend that "only one thing will work" in dealing with Pyongyang, hinting that military action was on his mind.

"Lavrov underlined the inadmissibility of any escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula, to which the USA's military preparations lead, and called for contradictions to be resolved by diplomatic means only," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Lavrov also demanded the return of Russian diplomatic property seized by the United States in 2016 when former U.S. president Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats and ordered that some of its U.S. diplomatic properties be vacated.

The Obama administration said it was retaliating for Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election.

In July, Moscow responded, ordering the United States to cut the number of its diplomatic and technical staff working in Russia by around 60 percent, to 455.

"Russia reserves the right to go to court and to [take] retaliatory measures," Lavrov told Tillerson.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month the foreign ministry would go to court "to see just how efficient the much-praised U.S. judiciary is".

Lavrov and Tillerson discussed the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, the ministry said.

Lavrov said a Kyiv-backed draft law aiming at "reintegration" of Ukraine's Donbas region, which is controlled by Russian-backed separatists, contradicts the Minsk peace agreements aimed at resolving the conflict.

The draft law would declare separatist-controlled regions to be "occupied," allowing Kyiv to use military troops in those territories.

The ministry said the Russian and U.S. sides had agreed to continue a dialogue on "the difficult issues" between Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Undersecretary of State Thomas Shannon.
NATO is set to launch a new multinational force in Romania on Monday to counter Russia along its eastern flank and to check a growing Russian presence in the Black Sea following the Kremlin's 2014 seizure of Crimea.

Initially a small force relying on troops from 10 NATO countries including Italy and Canada, as well as Romania, the land, air and sea deployments will complement about 900 U.S. troops already in place.

"Our purpose is peace, not war," Romanian President Klaus Iohannis told the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Bucharest. "We are not a threat for Russia. But we need dialogue from a strong position of defense and discouragement."

Russia accuses NATO of trying to encircle it and threatening stability in Eastern Europe, which NATO denies. Around the Black Sea, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey are NATO members while Georgia and Ukraine aspire to join.

The NATO force aims to develop its allied presence in the Black Sea region, rich in oil and gas, without escalating tensions, as it seeks to counter Russia's own plans to create what military analysts say is a "buffer zone."

The 2008 Russian operation to put troops in Georgia's South Ossetia's region, its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014 and its annexation of Crimea have raised the stakes, with all sides warning of a new, Cold-War style scenario.

Details of the new force size were unclear. Based inland at a base near the southern Romanian city of Craiova, the land component of the force involves a brigade-size multinational NATO force, typically some 3,000 to 4,000 troops, but the contribution of non-Romanian troops is modest.

Aside from Romania, Poland is the biggest troop contributor.

Bulgaria, Italy and Portugal will train regularly with the force in Craiova, and Germany is also expected to contribute.

In addition to existing NATO Black Sea naval patrols, a maritime presence will include more allied visits to Romanian and Bulgarian ports, training and exercises.

NATO air forces will also be limited at first, but Britain is deploying fighter planes to Romania. Canada is already patrolling Romanian air space, along with national pilots. Italy is patrolling Bulgarian air space.

"It sends a signal of NATO's resolve," said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who will visit the troops later Monday, stressing that NATO also had a 40,000-strong response force in case of a conflict.

'West Berlin' model

Some Eastern Europeans want NATO's new ballistic missile defense shield, which includes a site in Romania, to be part of NATO's eastern posture vis-a-vis Russia.

"The Aegis Ashore system would add another level of deterrence," said Maciej Kowalski, an analyst at the Polish Casimir Pulaski Foundation, referring to the U.S.-built system. NATO says the system is to intercept any Iranian rockets.

As in the Baltics and Poland, where the U.S.-led alliance has some 4,000 troops, NATO says the relatively light multinational model recalls allied support for West Berlin in the 1950s, when British, French and U.S. forces ensured the Soviet Union could not control all Berlin.

Under NATO's founding treaty, an attack on one ally is an attack on all, meaning all 28 NATO nations would be required to respond in the case of any potential Russian aggression.

While months in planning, the establishment of the force comes as Russia winds down its biggest war games since 2013.

The Zapad, or West, games were a show of its latest weaponry and its ability to quickly mass soldiers on NATO's borders.

The enhanced NATO presence in Romania and Bulgaria marks a diplomatic success for Bucharest, which gained greater persuasive power because it is set to reach a NATO goal of spending 2 percent of economic output on defense this year, a priority for U.S. President Donald Trump.

Romania pushed for bigger NATO naval presence on the Black Sea for over a year, but found its neighbor Bulgaria wary of provoking Russia. Turkey only supports limited NATO reinforcements, concerned about breaking international rules limiting the scale of patrols in the Black Sea.

Turkey has played down the extent of Russia's militarization of Crimea, which NATO says involves a laying of surface-to-air missiles and communications jamming equipment.
Unknown gunmen opened fire on members of Pakistans Hazara community in the northwestern city Quetta Monday morning, killing four Hazaras along with a bystander.

Local police said the gunmen were waiting near a speed breaker in the road and opened fire when a car carrying Hazaras slowed down. They then escaped on a motorcycle.



The Hazara community, a sub-sect of Shi'ites in Pakistan living mostly in Baluchistan province, is a frequent target of sectarian militants.

Their distinctive facial features, believed to be a result of Mongolian and Central Asian Turkic ancestry, make them stand out amidst the local population.



Last month, a similar attack on a family of Hazaras killed four, including a 12 year old boy, as they stopped their car at a gas station.

Most such attacks are claimed by a proscribed Sunni militant group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi al-Alami. It is believed by some to be a local partner for the Islamic State group.



Last year, the group's spokesman told Reuters, after a deadly shrine attack claimed by IS, that it played a supporting role.



Right now, in Pakistan, and especially in the cities, wherever there are attacks taking place, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi al-Alami is cooperating with them [IS] either directly or indirectly, spokesman Ali bin Sufyan told Reuters via instant messaging.



The latest attack comes within days of a suicide bombing of a Shi'ite shrine in Baluchistan that killed at least 20 people. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for that.

According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, there have been 12 sectarian attacks in Pakistan in 2017 alone, killing almost 200 people. Most of those attacks were against the Shi'ites in various parts of the country.
Authorities in Pakistan say a terror suspect is in custody on charges of distributing pamphlets on behalf of banned Islamic extremist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir, or HuT, and that a case has been opened against him under anti-terrorism laws. VOA could not independently verify the authenticity of the pamphlets.

According to officials, the man was one of five people seen circulating the pamphlets outside a busy mosque in Islamabad after Friday prayers last week. The leaflets read, "Get rid of this weak leadership which seeks honor in subservience to and alliance with America." The other four men fled when security personnel arrived, authorities said.

"The government is vigilant and there have been instances in the past where HuT's members were taken into custody by the security authorities," Rasul Baksh Rais, a political analyst from Pakistan, told VOA.

Hizb-ut-Tahrir, which translates to the "party of liberation," is an international political organization created six decades ago with a charter to re-establish a caliphate across the Islamic world through a bloodless revolution.

The organization has a global and prominent existence in the European, Middle Eastern and Central Asia region. The group operates freely in many Western countries where free speech laws provide them protection.

In Pakistan, the group has been active since the '90s, and tried to propagate its message of bringing an Islamic revolution through Sharia, or Islamic law.

The government placed a ban on Hizb-ut-Tahrir in 2004, but it has been operating as an underground movement since then. Pakistan considers members of the proscribed outfit as terrorists, although their non-violent ideology makes them unique from other militant groups active in the country.

Hizb-ut-Tahrir works in complete secrecy and it is hard to assume or estimate the number of members linked to the terror group, but analysts say they have a clear policy of targeting the highly skilled and qualified youth belonging to well-to-do families to form a caliphate in the country.

"I believe HuT has a relatively small presence in Pakistan, but they are certainly targeting the educated youth," Rais said. "Hizb-ut-Tahrir doesn't believe in any constitution or government other than the caliphate. In a way, HuT's ideology is not different than the Islamic State's ideology and their pattern of targeting youth is similar to the IS as well."

In 2016, Islamabad police arrested a software engineer as he was distributing HuT's pamphlets in one of the busiest markets after Friday prayers.

In 2011, a military court convicted five high-ranking officers, including four majors and a brigadier, after establishing their sympathies and allegiance to HuT.

Pressure on Pakistan

In the past few years, Pakistan has faced mounting pressure from the international community for not being able to crush the militant groups active in the country.

Last month, the economic bloc known as BRICS, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expressed concern over Pakistan-based militant groups, including Hizb-ut-Tahrir, citing them as a threat to the region.

"We, in this regard, express concern on the security situation in the region and violence caused by the Taliban, ISIL/DAISH, Al-Qaida and its affiliates, including Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP and Hizb-ut-Tahrir," said a joint statement released after the BRICS annual summit, which was held in China.

Back in August, while outlining his South Asia policy, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Pakistan for allegedly harboring terrorists and said Pakistan has havens for militant groups which plan attacks on Afghan and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Pakistan denies the allegations and says it has a zero-tolerance policy toward extremist and militant groups. Pakistan maintains it has cracked down on all the terrorist groups, regardless of their ideologies, affiliations and allegiances.
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has accused the country's security agencies of killing more than 30 people following the August 8 elections.



The government-funded rights group published a report Monday titled "Mirage at Dusk," which documents human rights violations.

According to the commission, 34 people, including a six-month-old baby, were killed by police during the three days of chaos. Another three people were killed in clashes between civilians.

Commission on Human Rights member Jadidah Waruhiu said the protests were triggered by the electoral commission's announcement that incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta had defeated opposition leader Raila Odinga. He said there was an "uproar in some of the areas in the country to protest that declaration."



"And we had protests in Nairobi, especially in the informal settlement areas like Mathare, Dandora, Kibera, among others, we had protests in Kisumu," he said. "Unfortunately, in the protest and the days after that, we had many Kenyans injured, and we also had a number of deaths, as in our record to date we have 37 Kenyans who lost their lives because of the skirmishes."

Interior Ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka disagreed with the commission's findings. He said the deaths that "could be directly connected to the riots were less than 10."

But for the Kenya National Commission on Human rights to come out and say that 37 people were killed by police, its a highly exaggerated report," he added. "But they should have also provided names and places of these people and specific information showing when and where they died and the cause of death."



Waruhiu said the number could be more because many people are afraid to speak out about police abuses.



"Each case is verified by us in terms of us going down, taking the individual statement of those injured or from the family members of the deceased," he said. "So the cases we have are really verified. We had more reported than those but a number we could not verify. And I do not also think we have all the reports because there was a lot of fear of intimidation thereafter."



Tensions are still running high in Kenya as the country prepares for a re-run of the presidential election.The Supreme Court nullified the results of the August 8 vote, citing irregularities on the part of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.



The new election is scheduled for October 26.
The Kremlin on Monday called for restraint on North Korea after U.S. President Donald Trump warned over the weekend that "only one thing will work" in dealing with Pyongyang, hinting that military action was on his mind.

When asked what Russia made of Trump's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters:

"Moscow has called and continues to call on the parties involved in the conflict and on those who have anything to do with this issue to exercise restraint and to avoid any steps that would only worsen the situation."

Commenting on a Trump statement that the United States might withdraw from a nuclear deal with Iran, Peskov said such a move would have "negative consequences."

Trump repeatedly has made clear his distaste for dialogue with North Korea. Last week, he dismissed the idea of talks as a waste of time, a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington was maintaining open lines of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's government.

"Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!" the U.S. president said in a Twitter post on Monday.

Trump's comments seemed to further suggest that military action was on his mind.

On Saturday, Trump made a similar comment on Twitter about how negotiations have failed for 25 years and said "only one thing will work" with North Korea.
A Sarajevo court Monday acquitted a former commander of the Bosnian Army in Srebrenica of war crimes during the Balkan wars of 1990s.

Naser Oric, 50, was found not guilty of killing three Bosnian Serb prisoners of war in 1992.

The court also acquitted an Oric subordinate, former Bosnian Army soldier Sabahudin Muhic of the killings that took place in Srebrenica area.

The prosecution had alleged that Oric and killed the Serb captives in the villages of Zalazje, Lolici and Kunjerac.

However, the presiding judge Saban Maksumic said the prosecution was not able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Oric and Muhic committed the killings.

The case was highly controversial because Oric is seen as a hero by many in Bosnia for his role in defending Srebrenica in the years before the 1995 massacre of about 8,000 men and boys when Serbian army overran the city.

Before the trial started, Orics defense asked the U.N. tribunal in The Hague to order a halt to the proceedings against Oric, arguing that he was tried and acquitted of war crimes in Srebrenica and should not stand trial for the same crimes twice. However, the tribunal rejected the request, saying the charges in the Bosnian trial were different.

In 2006 the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) sentenced Oric to two years in prison for not doing enough to protect Srebrenica's Serb population during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war. However he was acquitted on appeal in 2008.

Oric had been a bodyguard to former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and is one of only a few Bosnian Muslim commanders to have faced trial for atrocities committed against Serbs.
The speaker of Ethiopia's lower house of parliament submitted his resignation on Sunday, one of the highest-ranking officials to do so since the ruling EPRDF coalition came to power in 1991.

Abadula Gemeda did not disclose reasons behind his decision, but said he would disclose the factors once his move was approved by parliament.

Analysts in the Horn of Africa country said Abadula, an ethnic Oromo, may have decided to step down owing to disapproval of the government's response to unrest that roiled Ethiopia's Oromiya region in 2015 and 2016.

The violence there forced the government to impose a nine-month state of emergency that was only lifted in August.

"Given the existence of circumstances that do not enable me to continue in this position, I have submitted my resignation to my political party and the House of People's Representatives," he said in a short speech on national television.

"I will disclose the reasons behind my decision once my request is reviewed by the House of People's Representatives," the former defense minister added.

The unrest was provoked by a development scheme for the capital Addis Ababa that dissidents said amounted to land grabs and turned into broader anti-government demonstrations over politics and human rights abuses.

It included attacks on businesses, many of them foreign-owned, including farms growing flowers for export.

In April, a government-sanctioned investigation said 669 people had been killed during one period in the violence and more than 29,000 people arrested.
Sudan will extend a unilateral cease-fire with rebels until the end of December, state news agency SUNA reported on Sunday, just days after the United States lifted 20-year-old sanctions tied to progress on resolving ongoing conflicts.

Fighting between the army and rebels in Kordofan and Blue Nile regions broke out in 2011, when South Sudan declared independence. Conflict in Darfur began in 2003 when mainly non-Arab tribes took up arms against Sudan's Arab-led government.

Making progress on resolving these conflicts was one of several demands made by the United States for it to lift a trade embargo, unfreeze assets and remove financial restrictions that have isolated the country for years.

The cease-fire was set to expire at the end of October.
Turkish-U.S. tensions continue to escalate, with Ankara imposing a suspension on the issuance of visas for most American citizens in retaliation to a similar move by Washington. The tit for tat dispute hit Turkeys financial markets, as fears grow over long-term fall out.

Its unheard of, even at the worst times between the two countries no such thing happened [like this] before, in that sense its looks very serious, warned political scientist Cengiz Aktar.

The dispute erupted with last weeks arrest on terrorism charges of Metin Topuz, a local employee at the U.S. Istanbul consulate. Turkish prosecutors' accuse Topuz of being linked to followers of the U.S. based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who they blame for last years failed coup.

Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. deputy chief of mission, and according to local media reports demanded  immediate relief on Washingtons restriction on issuing of visas.

Umit Yalcin, Turkish Foreign Ministry undersecretary, reportedly spoke by phone with U.S. Ambassador John Bass.

The ruling AK Party has stepped up its war of words against Bass, Get out Bass, leave us declared AK Party deputy head, Hamza Dag. Bass is due to leave Turkey for a post in Afghanistan.

Tensions could be set to escalate further with the Istanbul Prosecutors Office announcing a new arrest warrant has been issued for another local employed at the U.S. Istanbul consulate, and that the wanted mans wife and son have been detained.

This crisis has just entered yet another new level in the ever increasing tensions between Ankara and Washington," says political scientist Aktar. "Turkey is demanding many things from the American administration. This crisis is a sum of all these outstanding issues.

Political considerations



Ankara is increasingly voicing frustration over Washingtons failure to extradite Gulen, whose followers are blamed for last years coup. But Washington insists the extradition is a matter for the courts. Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, views such explanations as an excuse, claiming Turkey has sent many wanted people back to the United States.

The dispute is resurrecting suspicions widely voiced in the pro-government media that Washington was involved in last years coup, a charge it strongly denies.

Washingtons suspicions are growing that the detention of local staff could be politically driven.

Eleven U.S. citizens have been held in connection with last year's failed coup, including pastor Andrew Brunson, who on Monday saw his first year anniversary in jail without being charged.

Erdogan last month appeared to directly link Brunsons detention to the Gulen case, 'Give us the pastor back, they [Washington] say. You have one pastor [Gulen] as well. Give him to us, Erdogan said in a speech on September 28 at the presidential palace.

Until now, simmering bilateral tensions between the NATO allies had been largely kept out of the public domain.

I think now we are as close as we have ever been, U.S. President Donald Trump said last month of relations with Turkey, while meeting Erdogan. Hes [Erdogan] running a very difficult part of the world. Frankly, hes getting high marks, Trump added.

Allies intertwined

But the eruption of U.S.-Turkish tensions into the public domain, shocked the Turkey's financial markets. Both the lira and stock markets recorded heavy falls.

The visa decision of the United States against Turkey is a very unfortunate development," wrote the Turkish Business and Industry Association (TUSIAD), which represents Turkeys largest companies, This crisis should be eased to foster mutual trust and constructive dialogue by not giving any room to hit the bilateral ties in the first place. Then, the disagreements need to be resolved in the fastest possible time.

With Turkey bordering Iran, Iraq and Syria, as well as hosting the largest U.S. military airbase in the region, Incirlik, analysts suggests it will be in the interest of both sides to calm tensions. "Turkey and America are so intertwined strategically that it's very difficult to separate at the moment," notes political columnist Semih Idiz of Al Monitor website.

But the long term consequences of the present tensions could be far reaching, I think America is very seriously reviewing its partnership in the region. Structurally the dice are thrown, [but] the American administration, Republicans and Democrats do not consider Turkey as a reliable partner, says political scientist Aktar. But the dilemma for Washington is not to push Turkey into the lap of Moscow."

Ultimately, observers predict the real winner of the current spat will be Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been working hard to pry Turkey apart from its NATO partners.
Ukraine's chief prosecutor on Monday blamed a Russian crime lord linked to Russia's security agency for the killing of renegade Russian lawmaker Denis Voronenkov.



Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said Voronenkov was gunned down in March on orders from Vladimir Tyurin, a former partner of Voronenkov's wife, Maria Maksakova. Lutsenko said Tyurin, who had ties with Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, commissioned several Ukrainians for the hit job.



Voronenkov, who had toed the Kremlin line while serving as a Russian lawmaker but turned a Kremlin critic after his move to Ukraine last year, was shot dead near the entrance to an upscale hotel in the center of Kyiv. The hit man, a Ukrainian, was fatally wounded by Voronenkov's bodyguard, who also died in the gunfight.



Lutsenko said two other Ukrainian suspects have been detained and another two are on the run.



He didn't provide details of Tyurin's alleged FSB ties. Russia has denied any involvement in Voronenkov's killing.



Tyurin's lawyer, Sergei Belyak, dismissed Lutsenko's accusations in remarks carried by the Interfax news agency. He said Tyurin had no conflicts with or personal grudge against Voronenkov, and no links to the FSB.



Voronenkov, who owned prized real estate in Moscow, was reportedly involved in business disputes, but saw off attempts to lift his parliamentary immunity amid criminal charges while in Russia. Russian investigators filed fraud charges against him in connection with his business activities after his move to Ukraine.



Relations between the two countries have been badly strained over Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine and its support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.
Ugandan militants have attacked a Democratic Republic of Congo military base, killing one U.N. peacekeeper and wounding a dozen more, according to a statement by the U.N. mission (MONUSCO) and the Congo army.

Congo army spokesman Mak Hazukay said he believes the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, a Ugandan Islamist group, is responsible for the assault, as well as for other clashes in the area in recent days.

The base near the eastern city of Beni was attacked early Monday.

The nationalities of the dead and wounded were not immediately known.
When Israel's envoy told UNESCO delegates last July that fixing the plumbing in his toilet was more important than their latest ruling, it highlighted how fractious geopolitics are paralyzing the workings of the agency.

Whoever wins the race to replace Irina Bokova as head of the U.N.'s cultural and education body next week will have to try to restore the relevance of an agency born from the ashes of World War II but increasingly hobbled by regional rivalries and a lack of money.

Its triumphs include designating world heritage sites such as the Galapagos Islands and the historic tombs of Timbuktu  re-built by UNESCO after Islamist militants destroyed them.

But in a sign of how toxic relations have become, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly last month that UNESCO was promoting "fake history."

Like Israel's plain-speaking envoy Carmel Shama Hacohen, Netanyahu was referring to UNESCO's designation of Hebron and the two adjoined shrines at its heart - the Jewish Tomb of the Patriarchs and the Muslim Ibrahimi Mosque - as a "Palestinian World Heritage Site in Danger."

Jews believe the Cave of the Patriarchs is where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives, are buried. Muslims, who, like Christians, also revere Abraham, built the Ibrahimi mosque, also known as the Sanctuary of Abraham, in the 14th century.

Israeli-Palestinian hostilities, though, are only part of a minefield of contentious issues on which the U.N. body has to hand down rulings.

Japan, for example, threatened to withhold its 2016 dues after UNESCO included documents submitted by China on the 1937 Nanjing Massacre in its "Memory of the World" program.

The Paris-based organization, which also promotes global education and supports press freedom, convenes its executive council on Oct. 9 to begin voting on seven candidates.

Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, France, Lebanon, Qatar and Vietnam have put forward candidates. There is no clear front-runner.

UNESCO's struggles worsened in 2011, when the United States cancelled its substantial budgetary contribution in protest at a decision to grant the Palestinians full membership. UNESCO has been forced to cut programs and freeze hiring.

"It's an organization that has been swept away from its mandate to become a sounding board for clashes that happen elsewhere, and that translates into political and financial hijacking," said a former European UNESCO ambassador.

Drawing Lots

All the candidates have vowed a grassroots overhaul and pledged independence from their home nations.

France and China, both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, argue the agency needs "strong leadership, which can only come with the backing of a major power.

Chinese candidate Qian Tang has almost 25 years experience at UNESCO. His bid fits into Beijing's soft power diplomacy, though Western capitals fret about China controlling an agency that shapes internet and media policy.

Former French culture minister Audrey Azoulay carries the support of France's new young president, Emmanuel Macron. But the last minute French candidacy has drawn the ire of Arab states, notably Egypt, who believe it should be their turn.

The Arab states face their own political tests. Their three entries underscore their own disunity, something the Egyptian hopeful Moushira Khattab has indicated stymie the Arab bid.

The crisis engulfing Qatar and its Gulf Arab neighbors, who have called Doha a "high-level" sponsor of terrorism, meanwhile may have hurt the chances of former Qatari culture minister Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari.

Voting takes place over a maximum five rounds. If the two finalists are level, they draw lots.
President Robert Mugabe has clipped Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwas wings by taking away the justice ministry from him and removing some of his lieutenants from powerful ministerial positions, in a move widely seen as a way of entrenching his wifes Generation 40 (G40) faction of the ruling Zanu PF party in government and party structures amid a bitter succession battle.

As expected, Mnangagwa survived the chop after a fall out with Mugabes wife, Grace, over the suspected poisoning of the vice president in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province, while attending a recent Zanu PF Youth League Interface Rally. President Mugabe removed Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa from his post and replaced him with former Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo.

He also appointed loyalists Obert Mpofu to the Ministry of Home Affairs and retired Major General and spy agency chief, Hapton Bonyongwe, to the Ministry of Justice, previously held by Mnangagwa.

Most of the appointees are aligned to Mrs. Mugabes Zanu PF faction, which wants her to succeed Zimbabwes 93 year-old ruler.

VOA Studio 7 Livetalk hosts, Gibbs Dube and Blessing Zulu, spoke to Douglas Mahiya, spokesperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, which wants Mnangagwa to succeed Mr. Mugabe.

Mahiya said, I dont know why we are reshuffling the Cabinet at the moment. What it means is that there are set objectives that have to be met before the 2018 general elections  The interests (of Mugabe and others) are that of suppressing the masses of Zimbabwe.

He said the President has responded positively to his wifes request for a clear line of Mr. Mugabes succession.

(It is clearly calculated at the) Removal of all those that are sympathetic to the revolution of Zimbabwe, not an individual but to the principles of the revolution of Zimbabwe because the revolution was all about delivering independence, freedom of speech, economic emancipation and any other freedom that is necessary to the people.

He said Cabinet ministers like Labor Minister Prisca Mupfumira and others who have been either dropped or re-appointed to what he termed as insignificant posts appeared to have been challenging the status quo.

In a dictatorship you dont ask any questions. If you are asked to jump you dont ask why, you must only ask high you are supposed to jump. We must also be aware that we are creating a (political) dynasty (Mugabes) and in a dynasty a subject does not have authority, does not have responsibility, does not have freedom and this is what is happening (in Zimbabwe).

 All those people who ask why (they are asked to do anything by the president) must be removed from Cabinet and also be removed from any influential position in government and even in parastatals  And I can assure you that their next step will be to try and extend this arm to the national army because the people who are the top in the army are revolutionaries, are people who fought in the liberation struggle.

Mahiya further said it is not surprising that War Veterans Minister Tshinga Dube, who once made remarks that he has the right to discuss succession in Zanu PF and appeared to be backing Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe, was relieved of his duties in the Cabinet reshuffle.

Dube was aligned to war veterans and could understand them. That did not please the president. His replacement Cain Matema who is junior to Dube will be dancing to the tune of G40 (a Zanu PF faction said to be led by Mrs. Mugabe).

He said it was just a matter of time before Mnangagwa is removed from the post of vice president after weakening him ahead of the 2018 Peoples Conference and general elections.

Mahiya said, They are simply delaying for the sake of stabilizing the party ahead of the 2018 general elections and thereafter they will take action against Mnangagwa whether he resigns or does not resign. They will use him since he appears to have some supporters and then ditch him when time comes.

In the latest Cabinet reshuffle, former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi is the new Foreign Affairs Minister and his post has been re-assigned to Edgar Nyasha Mbwembwe, a Member of Parliament for Chikomba East constituency.

Simon Khaya Moyo has replaced Media and Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chris Mushowe, who is now a Minister of State in the Office of the President in charge of scholarships.

Mugabes nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, has replaced Prisca Mupfumira in the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare.

Webster Shamu, who was sacked after he was accused of being too close to dumped former Vice President Joice Mujuru, has bounced back into the Cabinet as Minister of State for Mashonaland West province.

Several people, believed to be staunch supporters of Mrs. Mugabe and Generation 40, were also appointed to some ministerial posts.

G40 and another faction called Team Lacoste said to be backing Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe are fighting for the control of the ruling party.
Some Zimbabweans say it is unlikely that President Robert Mugabe will sack Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a Cabinet reshuffle to be announced anytime this week.

Fifty seven percent of the one hundred people, who followed a VOA Studio 7 tweet posted Saturday, said the 93 year-old Zimbabwean leader wont fire Mnangagwa, who has clashed with his wife and other members of the ruling Zanu PF party over Mr. Mugabes succession.

Only 24 percent of the respondents said it is likely that the president will sack Mnangagwa, who was his right hand man during the 1970s liberation struggle.

Nineteen percent said they were not sure what Mr. Mugabe will do about Mnangagwa, said to be leading a faction of the ruling party known as Team Lacoste.

The close-ended question posed on the VOA Studio 7 Twitter handle did not give respondents a chance to give any details in their responses.

At least 616 people followed the tweet and 94 posted their votes in the informal Twitter survey, which does not necessarily reflect the thinking of the majority of Zimbabweans as they are not on Twitter.

A large number of people responded to similar posts on VOA Studio 7 and VOA Ndebele Facebook pages, with mixed views on the possible sacking of Mnangagwa in the next Cabinet reshuffle.

Two camps in the ruling party are fighting over the succession of President Mugabe, who is the sole ruling party presidential candidate in the 2018 election.


Astronaut Randy Bresnik demonstrates floating around the space station from a live webcast from space. (Marylou Tousignant)

If you could ask an astronaut orbiting in space any question, what would it be?

Students from several Washington-area schools got to do that recently at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as part of its STEM in 30 program.

Among other things, they wanted to know: Is it hard to move around up there? Can you watch TV? How do you know when its time for bed? What if you get sick?

In a live video from space, astronaut Randy Bresnik was ready with the answers. He even had some props: freeze-dried food, floating candy and, in case of illness, a high-tech barf bag.

Bresnik began a six-month stay on the International Space Station in July. The station's six-member crew has three Americans. As they orbit about 250 miles above Earth, they are doing experiments about living and working in space.

Part of their job is telling young people about the challenges and rewards of space travel, something you might do in your lifetime. Bresnik has two children, ages 11 and 7, making him the ideal astronaut to star in a STEM in 30 webcast. The 30-minute shows aim to hook students your age on STEM subjects  science, technology, engineering and math  in fun, creative ways.

Bresnik floated around the space station module to display weightlessness. He showed how liquids form bubbles that also float if they escape their containers. He pinged an airborne candy ball off the camera before gulping it down.



Arabia Richardson, 13, left, and Amina Gasaway, 14, from Phelps High School in Washington take a photo with Bresnik at the museum. (Marylou Tousignant)

The crew exercises 90 minutes a day to stay fit.

When we exercise . . . youve got to be careful not to shake your head too far. Otherwise, the [sweat] goes flinging off, Bresnik said.

The space station travels five miles per second, circling Earth every 1 hours. Because the crew sees 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every 24 hours, they rely on their watches to tell them when its bedtime.

Bresniks space hobby is taking photos. The colors and views from up there are amazing, he said, and every cloud is different. The crew members also watch lots of movies in their free time.

STEM in 30 broadcasts are interactive. Students can connect from anywhere using the Internet and submit questions for the experts. About 650 kids came to the Smithsonian to see Bresniks live video.

It was really cool, said Emily Steed, 11, a sixth-grader at Providence Elementary in Fairfax County. Its not every day you get to actually talk to an astronaut in space.

Amina Gasaway, 14, agreed. Shes in ninth grade at Washingtons Phelps High, which focuses on architecture, construction and engineering. Seeing Bresnik makes her want to become an engineer even more than before, she said.

One of the toughest parts of space travel is missing your family. Amina asked Bresnik how he copes with that. He said its hard but no different from what military families face when a parent is overseas. He talks to his wife and kids a lot via email and satellite phone.

One of the biggest thrills is the launch. The thrust of the four-booster rocket is like riding the fastest roller coaster, he said. And it lasts for 8 minutes!


The Washington Marriott Wardman Park, which celebrates its 100th birthday in 2018, is offering amnesty to guests who borrowed items from the hotel over the years. Theres even a reward. (Megan McDonough/The Washington Post)

To all you sticky fingered guests who have "borrowed" an ice bucket or light fixture from the Washington Marriott Wardman Park: The venerable hotel in Woodley Park wants its stuff back. In return, you could receive a two-night weekend stay in the Langston Hughes suite in Wardman Tower, plus 500,000 Marriott Rewards points.

Through the end of the year, the hotel is seeking memorabilia for its upcoming centennial celebration. Harry Wardman, a master stair builder and contractor who emigrated from England, built the hotel a decade before the Hay-Adams. Previous guests and employees, who may or may not have pinched a souvenir from the property, include a World War II-era British spy (code-named Cynthia), who snooped on the French Vichy Embassy from the hotel grounds; Thurgood Marshall, who stayed at the Wardman during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings; Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy in the restaurant and slipped several of his poems to diner-poet Vachel Lindsay, who introduced the young scribe to publishers; and jurors sequestered during the Watergate trials. The Wardman also received the presidential seal of approval: Eleven of the 12 presidents from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush have held inaugural balls on the premises. (The one exception was Gerald R. Ford: See Nixon.)



Legendary Washington real estate developer Harry Wardman. (Arcadia Publishing)

Since announcing the amnesty program late this summer, the hotel has received a small Wardman Park ashtray and a folio from a couples honeymoon in November 1944. The newlyweds paid $6 per night and racked up $3.65 in restaurant charges  $51 in todays prices.

To participate in the contest, hand-deliver or mail the item to the Washington Marriott Wardman Park and include a 25-to-250-word piece about the object and your stay. According to the contest's small print, you will never see your teacup or pillowcase again, except possibly in a permanent lobby exhibit. (The hotel is still working on party plans for next year's big birthday.) Judges will rate the submissions on sincerity, memorabilia value and story relevance; originality and creativity; and quality of story. The hotel will announce the victor in January. Even if you don't win, you will still earn a consolation prize: a guilt-free conscience.

More from Travel:

'Do you have guests asking about ghosts?': Behind the scenes with a New Orleans hotel reviewer

There's a window in my shower  and other hotel design flaws

'Greenest hotel in America': A Greensboro hotel makes climate-conscious travelers swoon
MARYLAND

Driver dies when

vehicle catches fire

The driver of a pickup truck was killed Monday after running off the road, striking a utility pole and tree before the vehicle flipped and caught fire in southern Maryland, officials said.

The crash happened around 1 a.m. along Hawthorne Road near Arlough Place in La Plata.

An initial investigation found that the 2016 Dodge Ram pickup was headed west on Hawthorne Road when, for unknown reasons, it crossed the double yellow centerlines and went onto the shoulder, according to Maryland State Police.

It then hit four mailboxes and went through a grassy ditch before hitting a utility pole and a large tree. The truck then flipped and became engulfed in flames, police said.

The driver was the only person in the pickup and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police officials said they could not immediately confirm the drivers identity because of the extent of the injuries and fire.

 Dana Hedgpeth

Two diagnosed with

tuberculosis at school

Two people at a Prince Georges County high school were diagnosed with active cases of tuberculosis and are undergoing treatment.

The school district and county health department released a statement Monday to inform parents and staff at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro about the affected individuals, but assured them there is no risk of additional exposure.

The school will offer tuberculosis screenings out of an abundance of caution, said Kevin M. Maxwell, the school districts chief executive .

School district spokesman John White would not say whether it was students or adults with cases of the infectious disease, but he said the school is preemptively identifying who in the school should be tested based on interactions with those individuals.

Tuberculosis typically affects the lungs and can be transmitted through the air by coughing, spitting, sneezing or even talking by someone with an active case.

But it takes extended exposure over many hours and close contact to contract the disease, according to the schools news release. It cannot be caught by sitting next to someone in the cafeteria, the statement said.

Pamela Creekmur, the countys health officer, said the county was working expeditiously to provide information, screening and any additional follow-up to maintain the health and wellness of the Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School community.
School systems in Maryland are grappling with their academic calendars for next year amid a state mandate to open for classes after Labor Day and end by June 15. (Jeffrey MacMillan/For The Washington Post)

School systems across Maryland are looking at stark choices as they draw up calendars for next school year. Spring break could be shortened. Time off on the Jewish holidays could be in jeopardy. Extra days of instruction could fall away.

In Montgomery County, with the states largest school system, five scenarios are on the table as the Board of Education discusses the issue Tuesday. Few are thrilled with the options, so the district is welcoming other ideas, too.

I wish someone would come up with a miracle suggestion, said Patricia ONeill, chair of the boards policy committee. Theres clearly not time to do everything wed like.

The conundrum comes as school district leaders face the second year of a state mandate that requires Maryland schools to open after Labor Day and close by June 15. The schedule, ordered by Gov. Larry Hogan (R), came as a way to extend summers for families and boost tourism and the economy.

But school systems have struggled with the fallout.

Some cut back on spring breaks or teacher work days for this school year. But many say that next years calendar plan is more challenging as a result of yearly shifts in holidays and other dates that make a condensed timeline even tighter.

There arent any really great options, said Rebecca Smondrowski, a school board member, noting how much easier it would be if school let out a week later in June. Under the constraints the district faces, she said, were going to have to take things away from people that theyre used to and that they value and appreciate.

[Some school districts cut back spring beak after Hogan mandate]

Putting calendars together is trickier than many realize, district leaders say. State law requires a 180-day school year. It also gives students time off on 15 other days next year, including seven from Christmas Eve through New Years Day and two around Easter.

School systems must build in at least three snow days before June 15, and some  like Montgomery  have typically opted for a longer-than-required school year. In many recent years, officials say, Montgomery has had a 184-day calendar. Some of the proposals for next year reduce that to 180 days.

Personally, I think we are shortchanging children by using a shorter school calendar, ONeill said. Our calendar should be going up in the number of days, not going down.

Still, she said, she does not want to cut spring break or open schools  for the first time in more than 40 years  on the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

In the 1970s, Montgomery began giving the two Jewish holidays off when they coincide with school days, citing a high level of student and staff absences that affected school operations.

Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, said his organization is urging families to voice their concerns as Montgomery debates its calendar. The two holidays are widely observed, he said, and having them off is critical.

If schools were open on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is my belief that there would be an extraordinary rate of absenteeism, Halber said, also predicting an angry reaction. Youre hitting people in their guts, youre hitting them on something they care deeply about. Creativity is going to be the solution here.

[Add a Muslim holiday? Remove a Jewish one? Schools debate calendars as diversity increases]

In recent years, Muslim community leaders have pushed for time off to mark one of their faiths major holidays, and last year, the school district moved a teacher work day to coincide with the Islamic holy day of Eid al-Adha.

Others have advocated for time off on the Hindu holiday of Diwali.

Montgomery set up a website to seek feedback on calendar possibilities, and more than 1,000 comments have poured in, according to O'Neill. District staff have conducted about 30 focus groups, she said.

Lynne Harris, president of the countywide council of PTAs, has heard opinions from all sides. Some people are fine with ditching spring break, for instance, while others say they cant live without it, she said.

[Muslim community wins day off of school on major holiday next year]

Montgomerys collection of proposals include varying trade-offs.

One would reduce the school year to 180 days, give students and staff days off for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and keep spring break intact. But there would be no full-day teacher work days.

Another with a 180-day year would allow two full-day teacher work days, keep the two Jewish holidays as days off and reduce spring break by two days.

Spring break is a priority for many students, said Matthew Post, the boards student member.

The overwhelming thing from students, which you might imagine, is concern about spring break, he said, pointing out that while some visit colleges or head to Disney World, others see it as an important chance to visit family members in other countries.

I think students as well as parents will be devastated if spring break has to be cut because of Governor Hogans order, he said.

In a statement, Hogans office said an overwhelming majority of Marylanders support a return to common-sense school scheduling and that it was simply dishonest to pretend that starting school after Labor Day puts religious holidays or spring break in jeopardy.

It is absurd for school systems to consider eliminating traditional holidays or spring break rather than removing the numerous union service days randomly scattered throughout the year, the statement said.

This years calendar in Montgomery included one full-day teacher work day during the school year. Most were scheduled before school started.

Other school systems have similarly struggled with priorities as they draft calendars for the 2018-2019 school year.

[Archives: A post-Labor Day calendar in Montgomery for 2017-2018]

Baltimore County is looking at two calendar options  one of which would keep schools open on the Jewish holidays for the first time in more than 20 years, said spokesman Mychael Dickerson. A vote is expected Oct 24.

In Anne Arundel County, a calendar committee expects to send a recommendation to the school board Oct. 18. Were trying to figure it out like everyone else, said spokesman Bob Mosier. Everythings in play. Is opening on Yom Kippur in play? Yes. Is opening the day before Good Friday in play? Yes. Is opening the day before Thanksgiving in play? Yes.

[Md. school system keeps Jewish holidays, adds days off for Diwali, Lunar New Year and Eid al-Adha]

In Prince George's County, a calendar committee plans to start working on a proposal in late October and send a draft to the school board in November, officials said. And in Howard County, two proposals offered as a starting point would continue giving the two Jewish holidays off.
Everyone knows it is not a good idea to throw things out the window of a school bus, but sometimes students do it anyway. Last week, that led to trouble in Baltimore County, Md., according to an account from the police there.

Officers were called to a county intersection about 3:15 p.m. Thursday to investigate a disturbance, police said. What they found was that someone in a school bus had allegedly thrown a bottle that struck a car near Putty Hill and Hoerner avenues, in the Parkville area of the county.

A man got out of the car, banged on the doors of the bus, and tried to get inside. However, police said, the driver, concerned about the safety of the students on board, would not open the doors.

Then, police said, the man jumped onto the front of the bus. As it moved forward, he held on, police said.

The bus driver tried to head slowly toward a police station. But he was blocked by traffic, police said.

Police said they later took a man whom they identified as Leverne A. Doran, 68, of Nottingham, Md., into custody. Doran was charged with disorderly conduct, destruction of property and obstructing a school bus driver, according to Baltimore County police.

He was released on his own recognizance, according to online court records.

Steven Silverman, an attorney for Doran, said his client is a retired teacher of special-needs students with zero criminal record who wanted to make sure the child who threw the bottle was disciplined.

If Mr. Doran was killed by falling under the bus, this would be a manslaughter case, Silverman said. Fortunately he wasnt, and the fact that he was charged is beyond comprehension.

Justin Wm. Moyer contributed to this report.
Firefighters work Sunday evening to extricate occupants of car that crashed and burned in Southeast Washington. (DC fire and ems photo)

Two people were critically injured in Southeast Washington Sunday evening when a car crashed into woods and burned, authorities said.

The crash occurred in the 2800 block of Hillcrest Drive, the D.C. Fire and EMS department said.

According to the department, firefighters extricated the two critically injured persons. They were taken to a hospital. A third person who was also in the car was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, the fire department said.

The cause of the crash could not be immediately determined.

The site is near Alger Park, and a few blocks east of Naylor Road SE, near the Woodland neighborhood.
Revenge is regarded by law enforcement officials as a motive for many unusual acts, and the police in a suburb of Washington said it led someone to fire at a Walmart store over the weekend. The incident had nothing to do with the store or its merchandise, it should be noted.

According to the Howard Count, Md., police, they were called to the store on North Ridge Road in Ellicott City about midnight Saturday and found a man who had been shot, during some sort of dispute.

The police said on Sunday that they think that the shooting victim went to a car in the parking lot and got a gun. Then, they said, multiple retaliatory shots were fired towards the store.

Nobody was hit. It was not clear if the store was struck.

Police said the man who fired towards the store was taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

They said they man who fired inside the store fled.

No charges have been filed, the police said Sunday. They said the matter is being investigated.
Marylands Eastern Shore is often regarded as a world unto itself, free of many of the less desirable parts of modern life, but a crime of a kind that has been reported in many other places, occurred there Sunday, when thieves made off with two ATMs.

It was around 3 a.m. Sunday when two thieves broke into a convenience store in the Eastern Shore city of Cambridge, the state police said. The two wore dark clothing, masks and gloves.

They backed up a pickup truck, hooked a chain or rope to the ATM and pulled it out through the front of the building, the state police said.

They said it appeared that it was probably the same two burglars who had broken into a store in Queen Annes County less than an hour before, and there too, made off with the ATM.

Valued for their convenience for consumers, ATMs have become attractive to burglars and thieves for much the same reason that robbers were said to hold up banks. They are where the money is.

Reports of the burglary of ATMs, or attempts to steal them come from all over the world.

In August, a news account told of the shooting in Tarime, Tanzania, of a man who police said was suspected of breaking into a bank branch there with the intent of taking an ATM.

On Aug. 23, the Times of India reported on the foiling of an alleged plan to commit a theft at an ATM in the city of Pune, (which was once known as Poona).

Last week it was reported in a British newspaper that thieves had blown up an ATM at a gas station in on Lower Icknield Way in the village of Longwick in an effort to get cash.
Two people were found fatally shot Sunday, both of them in vehicles in separate incidents in the District, police said.

Omar Earl Rodgers, 25, of Southeast Washington, was found in a vehicle about 3:50 a.m. in the 2200 block of Martin Luther King Avenue SE, suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. Police said he died at a hospital.

About an hour earlier, another man was found fatally shot, also inside a vehicle.

Police said Norman James, 30, of Southeast, was found in a vehicle in the 5100 block of H Street SE. He had been shot at least twice and died at the scene.

The shooting scenes are about four miles apart. D.C. police spokeswoman Margarita Mikhaylova said authorities could not say whether the cases were related.
Two people at a Prince Georges County high school were diagnosed with active cases of tuberculosis and are undergoing treatment.

The school district and county health department released a statement Monday to inform parents and staff at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro about the affected individuals, but assured them there is no risk of additional exposure.

The school will offer tuberculosis screenings out of an abundance of caution, said Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell, the school districts CEO.

Schools spokesman John White would not say whether it was students or adults with cases of the infectious disease, but he said the school is preemptively identifying who in the school should be tested based on interactions with those individuals.

Tuberculosis typically affects the lungs and can be transmitted through the air by coughing, spitting, sneezing, or even talking by someone with an active case.

But it takes extended exposure over many hours and close contact to contract the disease, according to the schools press release. It cannot be caught by sitting next to someone in the cafeteria, the statement said.

Pamela Creekmur, the countys health officer, said the county was working expeditiously to provide information, screening, and any additional follow up to maintain the health and wellness of the Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School community.
Stone mason Samuel Gutierrez uses an air-powered chisel to dress a piece of white marble outside the Hotel Monaco on E Street NW on Oct. 3. (John Kelly/The Washington Post)

Columnist

"I found Rome a city of bricks," Augustus Caesar supposedly boasted, "and left it a city of marble."

But even marble doesn't last forever, which is why Samuel Gutierrez was sweating over a sheet-cake-size piece of it last week outside the Hotel Monaco on E Street NW. A modern Rome Washington may be, but its buildings need the occasional touch-up.

In Samuels gloved hands was what looked like a chunky, six-tined fork. When the building went up in 1839  the first in the city to be made of marble  a stone mason would have used a hammer to drive a similar tool across the face of the stone, dressing it with tiny parallel lines to give it texture. Samuels modern chisel was connected by a hose to an air compressor that blasted about 20 feet away.

Your ear tells you how much its giving you, Samuel said, twisting a valve on the hose and raising and lowering the pitch. If its giving more, your ear tells you youre giving too much. . . . Its by the sound.

Sound and feel is how Samuel  foreman of a crew of masons from Baltimore contractor Worcester Eisenbrandt  repairs the marble exterior of what started life as the General Post Office and then housed the U.S. Tariff Commission before becoming a boutique hotel in 2002.



Amy Hollis, conservator/project manager with Baltimore contractor Worcester Eisenbrandt, outside the Hotel Monaco. (John Kelly/The Washington Post)

In the nearly 180 years since the neoclassical edifice went up, weather, pollution and the inevitable settling that befalls buildings and humans alike have taken their toll. Most weekdays you can walk by and watch Samuel and the crew at work. Theyre in the middle of a roughly 10-year program to make fixes.

Before work began, every square inch of the building was scrutinized for signs of cracking and spalling by engineering consultants Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates. Now there are more Dutchmen on the building than on a KLM flight from Amsterdam.

A Dutchman is what stone masons call a repair patch. Where the stone has deteriorated, workers use a power saw to shear away the surface layer of the offending section. A plug 2 inches deep is cut to the exact size and glued in, often secured with stainless steel dowels.

"It looks like they're just gluing a square on but there's a little more to it," said Amy Hollis, the conservator/project manager with Worcester Eisenbrandt.

Never has the expression measure twice, cut once been more important. You dont want to spend hours preparing a Dutchman only to discover when you raise it in place that its too small. In fact, the masons want it a little snug when they epoxy it in place.

We dont want it to look like another mortar joint, Amy said of the line between original stone and patch. This building has tight mortar joints, so making that distinction is really difficult.

The building is the work of two famed architects. Robert Mills, designer of the Washington Monument, did the original southern side. Thomas U. Walter, onetime architect of the Capitol, did the northern addition.

White marble graces the outsides of many federal buildings, including Treasury and the nearby Patent Office Building, home now to two Smithsonian art museums.

White marble positively screams eternity. But eternity can be hard to maintain. Much of the original marble in this building was from the Beaver Dam quarry in Cockeysville, Md., which closed in the 1920s.

We have to find it salvaged, Amy said. They repurpose marble stoops from demolished rowhouses. They pull marble from the landings of old staircases.

Recycled stone was what Samuel was working with. He scored it with the chisel, then used a brush to sweep away the stone dust.

More intricate work is done back at the Worcester Eisenbrandt yard in Maryland, where a sculptor named Pavel Kudelich crafts egg-and-dart molding and a pattern called lamb's tongue. Resting on a stack of marble was a pineapple-size section of lamb's tongue stone destined to go above a Corinthian column high on the building's south face.

Amy pointed up to a similar Pavel-hewn corner that had been put in place earlier. It was a bit lighter in color than the nearby stones, but otherwise it was indistinguishable from them. It was so high up  four stories  that I said to Amy: Did Pavel really have to make it so detailed? I bet hardly anyone would have noticed if hed saved some time and just roughed it out.

Amy frowned. Yeah, but wed know, she said. And every time we drove past, it would bug us.

Twitter: @johnkelly

For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly.
Knox Singleton, the longtime CEO of Inova Health System, is pictured at his offices on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, in Falls Church, Va. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Knox Singleton envisions a time when health care is more focused on prevention than treatment. When genes will accurately predict illness and doctors are incentivized to keep patients well.

But after 35 years building a multilayered health-care system in Northern Virginia, Singleton will step down as chief executive of Inova Hospital System next year to cede space for the next leader to shape that future.

You wouldnt pick someone like me for the next decade, he said during a recent interview in his Fairfax office. Ive done a reasonable job of getting us here, but if we want the second stage to kick in . . . I think it would be someone with a deeper appreciation of the science, the research and more of the clinical knowledge of how these new systems are going to evolve.

Singleton was 34 years old and from a small Appalachian town in North Carolina when he arrived in Fairfax County in 1982 to oversee operations of three nonprofit community hospitals with about 1,000 employees in a county of about 650,000 people. A year later, he was promoted to chief executive.

At 69, he is now twice that age, and Fairfax has doubled its population. And the modest hospital system he inherited has evolved into a $3.5 billion enterprise with 17,000 employees.

Hes not especially nostalgic when he reflects on his tenure and instead looks forward, describing his aspirations for Americas health-care system and where, after all these years, it still falls short.

Singleton entered into the health-care industry accidentally. His father owned a hardware store and an insurance company, so Singleton assumed he, too, would work in insurance. But as a college student during the late 1960s, he became swept up in the national fervor to pursue an interest larger than oneself.

As a senior business major at the University of North Carolina, he was offered two opportunities post-graduation. He could move to Uganda with the still relatively-new Peace Corps or work in the administrative offices of a Cleveland hospital.

He said he often jokes that he chose the more exotic option and moved to Ohio.

Health care melded the purpose I was looking for when I was all about the Peace Corps and wanting to do something good in the world, with the skills in business I had learned in my education, he said. And I never looked back.

During his years running Inova, the hospital system performed the metro areas first successful heart transplant in 1986  the woman is still alive; established specialty hospitals like Inova Womens Hospital and Inova Childrens Hospital; created clinics for low-income patients; and developed the Inova Schar Cancer Institute  a research hospital Singleton hopes will one day be on par with the esteemed Mayo Clinic.

But hes most excited about Inovas early entry into the world of genomes, which he came to champion after he and his mother were diagnosed with lymphoma.

Inova has one of the few laboratories in the country researching patients genes for inherited risk factors. Every baby born at Inova has a gene profile created, he said.

I became convinced that was the biggest scientific discovery since World War I when doctors discovered bacteria and viruses, he said. Genomes are the first time you could see the future of your health.

Singleton enlisted Dr. John Neiderhuber, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006 to be the director of the National Cancer Institute, to run Inovas genomics program. Theyve partnered with the University of Virginia to bring a regional campus of the universitys medical school to Inova.

Neiderhuber said hell miss Singletons folksy approach and his genuine interest in understanding the science that drove his business decisions.

He wanted to seriously take Inova to a whole other level, Neiderhuber said. Hes spent a whole lifetime building this system, and everyone owes him a lot for that.

Singletons tenure has not been without controversy. In 1991 Singleton was criticized for taking a salary of $394,898, more than any other hospital executive in Virginia. And over the years, as Singleton grew Inova and took over smaller health-care entities, hes been accused of operating the nonprofit system as a monopoly.

Hes also been recognized for his charitable work. He runs a community development organization for Haiti and advocated for more affordable housing in Northern Virginia so that lesser paid hospital staff wouldnt be priced out of the area.

Hes optimistic about the future of health care, particularly doctors abilities to personalize medicine to focus on keeping patients well and avoid illness. Yet after more than three decades in the industry, he still worries about dramatic disparities in access to better care.

There are a lot of people who can access some of the best health care in the world, they have access to really good care and professionals, but alongside that is a large and growing group of people who have real difficulty accessing health care, he said. The gaps between the haves and have nots are getting wider, not narrower.


Steve Melanson and his daughter, Stephanie Melanson, discuss the Las Vegas massacre, which included the shooting of Rosemarie Melanson. The family outing to a concert on the Las Vegas Strip has led to an enduring struggle as the wife and mother remains in the hospital with grievous injuries. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Stephanie Melanson had attended the Route 91 Harvest music festival every year since its inception, and this time she was determined to bring her mom along.

The tickets were a Mothers Day present, but Rosemarie Melanson kept trying to give them away  to her kids friends, their boyfriends. Finally Stephanie, 26, put her foot down. Couldnt her generous mother just keep something nice for herself?

By the third night of the festival, Rosemarie was glad she had listened. With Stephanie, her younger daughter Paige and two of their friends, she pressed close to the stage, dancing until her back and feet were sore.

This is so fun!!! the 54-year-old texted her husband. She snatched off Stephanies baseball cap and placed it backward on her own head. Her daughter laughed: You trying to look cool? They leaned in to snap a selfie. In the photo, taken at 10 p.m. on Oct. 1, mother and daughter are cheek to cheek with matching toothy grins.

Minutes later, the shooting began. Rosemarie collapsed, facedown.

A bullet, shot from across the street and 32 floors up, had hit her in the chest. It fractured inside her body, sending shrapnel into her lungs, stomach, liver and spleen. She began to bleed out, causing her kidneys to falter.

[The lives lost in Las Vegas]

It would be 11 hours before Stephanie saw her mother again, in the intensive care unit at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. Rosemarie was alive  largely thanks to a retired firefighter who remained in the line of fire to tend to her wound  but still grievously hurt. A week later, she breathes through a ventilator and is so heavily sedated that she can do no more than flutter her eyelids as her family gathers around her hospital bed.



Stephanie Melanson discusses the shooting of her mother, Rosemarie Melanson, on Friday. Stephanie was with her mother and other relatives and friends at the music festival when her mother was shot in the chest. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

The bloody nightmare of the Las Vegas Strip massacre, which left 58 people dead, lasted for many excruciating minutes. But for the Melansons, and for other families of Las Vegass most badly injured, the days since have been their own kind of long bad dream, Stephanie said. The end is still weeks, maybe even months away.

Stephanies younger sister, Paige, 25, doesnt remember hearing the first gunshots that night. She doesnt remember the sting of a bullet grazing her elbow. Someone just said shed been shot, and when Paige looked at her body, she was covered in blood.

She dropped to the ground, crouching to avoid the rain of bullets. She turned her head to check on the rest of their group and saw her mother lying with her face in the grass.

She cried out, Mom!

Stephanie was crying, too, and, with trembling hands, she texted her father, Steve, about what had happened.

Omg

There is a shooting

Mom is hi

Hit

F***

Stephanie, Paige and their friends were still kneeling over their mother when a man crawled toward them. He explained that he was a retired firefighter and helped the women turn Rosemarie onto her back to expose her thickly bleeding wound. Stephanie ripped off her sweater and handed it to the stranger, who pressed it into the hole in Rosemaries chest.

Then he looked at the young women, and, screaming to make himself heard over the chaos of the crowd, urged them to run.

You dont understand, Stephanie screamed back. You dont understand my relationship with my mom. I cant live without her. I cant go on without her.

The gunfire started up again. You have to go, the man insisted.

Promise me you wont leave her.

He held her gaze. I promise.

Stephanie put a hand to her mothers face. Rosemaries skin was cold, her eyes glazed over.

I thought for sure that was the last time Id see her alive, Stephanie later recalled.

They fled. Paige was put in an ambulance to the hospital to get her wound examined. Stephanie and her father then met up and headed to police headquarters, where officials were listing off the injured and where they had been taken. Hours passed, and Rosemaries name didnt come. Desperate, they went from hospital to hospital, showing people a cellphone photo. More than once, Stephanie had to excuse herself to vomit.

I thought she was dead, Steve said.

They found her at the Sunrise ICU. It was past 9 a.m., the sun high in a flawlessly blue desert sky. Rosemaries face was bruised and swollen, her abdomen still open from the first of two surgeries to repair her vital organs, and she had countless tubes coming out of her body.

She looked bad. Terrible bad, he recalled. But he thought to his wife: Okay. You survived. Youre here.

Days later, the torturous not-knowing of those initial hours has given way to a dull, anxious ache. Rosemarie remains on life support and fragile. The doctors say her prognosis is good, that shes expected to make a full recovery. But when Steve asks when shell get off the ventilator, they say theyre not sure yet. When he asks when shell come home, they say theyre not sure yet.

Steve looks at his wife of 30 years and wants to lie down beside her, hold her in his arms and tell her how much he loves her. But the doctors tell him its better if he doesnt touch her too much. Being agitated isnt good for her condition. He contents himself with a kiss on her forehead and a whisper in her ear.

For Stephanie, who used to chat with her mother every day, its hard to talk and not hear anything back. So sometimes she says nothing at all, just sits in the chilly, dimly lit hospital room and prays.

Stephanie hates walking down the hallways and glimpsing the heavily bandaged patients in the rooms beside her moms. She cant bear to stay in the ICUs family room, where someone is always crying. As of Saturday, officials said 18 patients at Sunrise remained in critical condition.

Were all going through the same thing, Stephanie said.

Late in the evening, when the hospital halls are close to empty and the nurses gently suggest that Rosemarie needs rest, the family heads home.

But nobody sleeps. The stitches around Paiges elbow wound are itchy and painful. When she does nod off, she wakes up from screaming from nightmares she cant remember.

Stephanie is alternately suffused with gratitude and wracked with guilt. She imagines what her mother felt Sunday, bleeding in the grass, alone. She cycles through the what ifs: What if she hadnt pressed her mother to come that night? What if theyd stood farther from the stage? What if the firefighter hadnt been able to save her? And then the whys: Why this concert? Why their family? Why did the gunman have to shoot anyone at all?

Steve spends nights watching the news, but the feverish debates about motive and mental health and gun control and the Second Amendment wash over him like waves past a breaker. None of these politicians proposals seem like viable solutions, and a small, resigned part of him fears this problem will never be solved.

Mostly, he is too wrapped up in Rosemaries recovery to care.

It will probably be weeks before Rosemarie can leave the hospital. Steve figures he has accumulated enough leave at his job as a graffiti technician for the city that he can stay home a few weeks at least. Then hell use up his sick days. His insurance should cover the hospital bills, and for co-pays  well, there are all those fundraisers for victims. Hell see.

In the morning, they get up not because they are rested, but because day has arrived, and people are coming over.

The Melansons place has always been a gathering spot  for one thing, it has a back yard with a pool, and for another, it had Rosemarie, who would feed you sausage and sauerkraut and force you to call her mom.

Lately, their stucco house on a leafy cul-de-sac feels like a bus terminal and looks like the staging area for a school bake sale. All four Melanson children  Stephanie, Paige, 23-year-old Michael and 21-year-old Parker  are here, along with their boyfriends, a girlfriend and an assortment of relatives, all lounging on couches, leaning into one another. Six dogs belonging to various family members beg for food and head scratches, and a steady stream of visitors passes in and out of the front door, offering words of encouragement and long, tight hugs. Family-sized variety packs of chips, boxes of cookies and Tupperwares of casserole cover every available surface in the kitchen.

I knew she was loved by a lot of people, Steve said. But I dont think I knew how much.

Daily, they get reminders of their relative good fortune. On Tuesday, after giving an interview to a local TV station, Paige got a message over Instagram from a woman who said she knew the man who saved her mom. Within minutes, the family was videochatting with Don Matthews, a retired Los Angeles firefighter who remained with Rosemarie throughout the shooting, then carried her to an ambulance on a ripped up piece of fence.

Every time the gunfire went off, I thought, Okay this is it, Im just waiting for the bullet to hit me,  Matthews said later. But Id made a promise. So he stayed.

Everyone on that call cried. They hung up after agreeing that Matthews would come back to Las Vegas for a reunion once Rosemarie was out of the ICU.

That firefighter saved my wifes life, and my daughters, too, probably, Steve said.



Steve Melanson is comforted by Shelby Stalker at the Melanson home on Friday in Las Vegas. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

The following day, Stephanie, her boyfriend and his sister were invited to a meet-and-greet with President Trump. After Stephanie shared her story from the shooting, the first lady strode over to give Stephanie a hug. But the comfort of being recognized faded during the photo op, when the clatter of camera shutters violently recalled Sunday nights gunfire.

Even considering these experiences, the days have become indistinguishable to her. Its all one long day, she said. As the family watches for any sign of Rosemaries improvement, its difficult to feel lucky, until they think about the 58 families who have no hope.

En route to yet another hospital visit Friday, Steve points out the candles and flower bouquets laid out for victims on the side of the road. But Stephanie has her eyes on her phone  she found a new video from Sunday night on Facebook, and now she scans the grainy images with her head bent low and the screen close to her nose.

For long minutes, the only sound in the car is the scratchy screaming coming from Stephanies phone.



Stephanie Melanson and her father, Steve Melanson, walk toward Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center to visit Rosemarie Melanson. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

I just start watching them sometimes to see if I can see her, she explained. To know what she went through.

But Rosemarie is not in the video. And the breathing tube in her throat prevents her from speaking, even if she werent sedated. Stephanie can only wonder, and wait.

They pull into the parking lot, which is emptier than it had been.

Okay? Steve asked. Lets go see mom.

They walk toward the entrance, and he reaches for his daughters hand.
President Donald Trump walks with FEMA administrator William Brock Long, second from right, and Lt. Gen. Jeff Buchanan, right, as he tours Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 3. (Evan Vucci/AP)

The federal response to Hurricane Maria has been hampered by Puerto Ricos political culture and a lack of unity among leaders on the island, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator William Brock Long said Monday in a briefing with reporters at FEMA headquarters in Washington.

In the continental United States, politics between Republicans and Democrats is bad enough, but in Puerto Rico, politics is even worse in many cases, Long said, adding that divisions on the island had undermined unity of purpose there.

His comments came at the end of an hour-long session in which he and two U.S. military generals defended the Trump administrations response to the devastating hurricane. Long singled out the total collapse of communications across Puerto Rico as the greatest impediment to delivering food, water, fuel and other supplies to desperate survivors of the storm, which hit the island Sept. 20.

Reporters also were given a glimpse of the National Response Coordination Center, a war room thats been operating around the clock since Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in late August.

You definitely have battle fatigue, Long said of the protracted tropical storm season in which four hurricanes have made U.S. landfall.

[Puerto Ricans are a surging, outraged political force in Florida in the aftermath of Maria]

Longs stated desire has been to be apolitical, he said Monday. But Long is a political appointee of the president  he was overwhelming confirmed by the Senate in June  and the administrations response to Maria has been subject to abundant criticism.

Most prominently, San Juans mayor, Carmen Yulin Cruz, has expressed outrage at what she sees as a failure of the administration to deliver life-sustaining resources. She posted a series of tweets this weekend accusing FEMA of doing nothing when hospitals were in crisis.

President Trump has attacked Cruz on Twitter, claiming she has shown poor leadership, and he also has blamed Puerto Ricos poor infrastructure for much of the humanitarian crisis since the storm hit.

Long, speaking Sunday on ABCs This Week, said hed long ago filtered out the mayor. On Monday he echoed that comment. A reporter asked him if he viewed criticism of FEMA as justified or as simply a political attack on the administration; thats when he said the political divide in Puerto Rico is worse than it is in the mainland United States.

What Ive experienced firsthand is, a successful response relies on unity, okay, Long said. To give you an example, when you cant get elected officials at the local level to come to a joint field office because they disagree with the politics of the governor thats there, it makes things difficult and the information fragmented.

Puerto Rico Gov. Richard Rossello generally has expressed appreciation for the administrations efforts.

Asked if theres a lack of unity, Long said, The unity is not where I want it to be when it comes to a unified effort.

Reporters on the ground in Puerto Rico have heard repeatedly that there was little sign of the government, or none at all, in the days after the storm hit the island, especially in remote rural and mountainous areas that found themselves isolated. The ongoing recovery effort has been mired in bureaucracy and frustration, residents say. People often find themselves filling out paperwork in English and walking out from encounters with officials with no assurance that anything they have requested will materialize.

In the city of Yabucoa, for example, according to the mayor, FEMA officials conducted assessments of needs and have been working with him, but none of the necessary supplies have materialized for the citys residents. There is an ongoing, desperate need for tarps, because many people lost their roofs. Heavy downpours hit the region over the weekend.

[A light amid the darkness, a Puerto Rico church stands up as its community struggles]

Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, attended Monday's FEMA briefing and offered new metrics on the scale of the disaster. He said officials need to remove debris that could fill 350 Olympic-size swimming pools. An estimated 60,000 homes need some kind of help, he said.

As for the critical issue of electrical power, he said 14 percent of the grid is up and running. The island needs 2,700 megawatts of electricity to operate and at last count had 376 megawatts available. Four hundred 75-foot-tall transmission towers were "wiped out" by the storm, he said. Semonite said a dam in western Puerto Rico continues to erode and will need to be rebuilt.

On Monday, Brig. Gen. Jose Reyes, assistant adjutant general of the Puerto Rican National Guard, said the opening of the port of Ponce in the south will speed the delivery of life-sustaining resources to storm survivors. Asked why such efforts have taken so long, Reyes blamed the double-whammy of hurricanes Irma and Maria.

You have to understand, this is a situation never seen before, Reyes said in an interview. We were hit by two hurricanes, Cat 5, within less than 10 days. We were not even getting back on our feet after Irma, then suddenly we got hit by Maria. Its like getting all the leadership in a warehouse and you turn off the lights and the communications, and tell them, all right, get it fixed. When you go to Texas, or you go to Florida, help will come through the roads. And it may hit a portion of Texas, but not the whole state.

Puerto Rico's long-term rebuilding plan is beyond the responsibility of FEMA or the Army Corps, the federal officials said. They said that, under federal law, their job is to restore the island's infrastructure to the level of function it had before the hurricane, but that long-term resiliency will require an additional effort and funding from Congress.

Since before this extraordinary hurricane season began, Long has said in interviews that FEMA is not a first responder but a supporting agency answering requests from governors. He repeated that Monday.

"We're not designed to be first responders," Lond said. "We're designed to support response and recovery operations."

He later explained that the problem in Puerto Rico is diminished capacity: "A large portion of local workers as well as state workers were disaster victims. We had to play a greater first responder role than typically we would on the continental United States. We're not really designed to do that in many cases, speaking honestly."

Hernandez reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.


A view from the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas overlooking the scene of the Route 91 Harvest music festival. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

From high above the Las Vegas Strip, the scene of last week's terror was flecked with color. Spots of yellow, blue, white and red dotted the field of the Route 91 Harvest country music festival  a patchwork of phones, clothes, purses, lawn chairs and other belongings 22,000 concertgoers left behind as they ran for their lives.

After this incident, one of the most striking visuals, in addition to the absolute carnage, was the sheer amount of items left behind from those fleeing, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Under Sheriff Kevin McMahill said. Stephen Paddock, the gunman, killed 58 people and injured hundreds more from his position high up in a Mandalay Bay hotel suite.

By Sunday, seven truckloads of belongings had been shipped to a convention center here ready for concertgoers to claim. Several more truckloads are expected in the days ahead.

For many, collecting their mundane things was a way to move on and also offered mementos of survival. Several showed up still wearing their concert wristbands or were donning concert tees and cowboy boots.



Janale Clark retrieved the Chanel purse her mother left behind. (Lynh Bui/The Washington Post)

Janale Clark, 37, went to the Family Assistance Center on Sunday to collect her mothers purse, a black Chanel bag filled with keys, credit cards, identification cards and money. Bingham had worried all week that the FBI would keep the purse or that it would be stained and trampled from the chaos.

Something inside me felt good about just getting her stuff, Clark said after successfully retrieving it. We barely just got the car back two days ago. Its a relief. Its like were getting somewhere.

Clarks mother was working at the festival on Oct. 1. Clark had stopped by the concert to see her and enjoy the festivities, but the second Clark stepped into the parking lot, she heard gunshots. While sprinting away, Clark called her mother and heard her panting as she, too, ran. She warned her daughter to stay away.

It was just like a catastrophe, Clark said. I heard her and just saw everyone screaming and running and yelling.

Clark and her mother escaped, uninjured.

Though she is a nervous wreck, rattled when she watches the news or hears sudden noises, Clark said she wants to keep items that remind her of the concert: her mothers green festival wristband, the purse.

It might be weird, but she says it is helping her move forward.

What comforts me and makes me feel good may make another person feel scared and awkward, Clark said. But it comforts me to keep these things.



An overview of the scene of the Route 91 Harvest music festival, with the Mandalay Bay hotel  the gunmans perch  in the background. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Authorities have set up an intricate process to help identify items or match items to their owners. Those who are from out of town can fill out a form describing what they left behind to coordinate getting their things back with the help of the FBI.

Shana Bingham, 27, had tried to recover her belongings Sunday but was told they werent available to be released yet. Bingham had been a bartender at the festival and was getting ready to pour a drink when she heard screams and saw people diving under tables for cover.

Since then, she has been missing her drivers license and work cards that give her permission to serve alcohol in Las Vegas.

If for some reason she cant get the studded, leather bag she bought as a memento from a trip to Italy, Bingham isnt too worried. She reminds herself that she escaped with the one thing that cant be replaced.

Im alive, Bingham said. Its definitely been a roller coaster, but Im blessed to be alive.

She hopes to get her purse back soon, but she said that even without it, she has a souvenir she plans to keep indefinitely: One week after the shooting, Bingham still wore the black-and-white, high-top sneakers that carried her out of the gunfire.

Surrounded by frantic concertgoers who started trampling each other as they fled, Bingham decided she had to get out from behind the bar and run. She wound up in a warehouse in a dirt lot across the street and hid with others in an office behind a couch until 4 a.m.

The shoes are a reminder of heartbreak and hope.

It was really sad just looking at them, Bingham said about slipping the dusty shoes back on after the shooting. But I ran and I was saved.
INDONESIA

Police arrest 58 in raid on Jakarta gay sauna

Dozens of men, including foreigners, were arrested in a raid on a sauna for gay people in Indonesias capital, police said Sunday, at a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people face increased hostility in the worlds most populous Muslim nation.

Police spokesman Argo Yuwono said seven of those arrested in the raid in Jakarta late last week will be charged under Indonesias pornography law. They face penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines. Yuwono said the other men will be released if they are not found to be criminals or carrying drugs.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia except in Aceh province, but the countrys LGBT community has come under siege recently. Police have set up a task force to investigate activities by gay people, and a case before the countrys top court is seeking to criminalize homosexual sex.

The United Nations has previously called on Indonesian authorities to release people detained on the basis of their sexual orientation and to combat anti-gay stigma in the country.

 Associated Press

PHILIPPINES

Duterte ratings hit new low amid drug killings

Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes satisfaction rating has been hit by its steepest drop since he came to power last year amid an outcry over unabated drug killings and allegations that he has unexplained wealth, an independent poll showed Sunday.

The Social Weather Stations said its Sept. 23-27 nationwide survey showed Dutertes satisfaction rating dropping by 18 points to 48, a level classified as good, compared with its last survey, in June, when he got a very good 66-point rating.

The presidents trust rating dropped by 15 points to 60, which is classified as very good, from his excellent grade of 75 points in June, according to the poll.

Although Duterte generally remains popular, the survey outcome reignited calls by several groups for an end to the killings of mostly poor suspects under his drug war and for him to sign a waiver to allow an investigation into allegations that he concealed undeclared wealth.

Duterte has repeatedly denied that he condones extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, even though he has publicly threatened drug dealers with death. He won the presidency last year on a pledge to eradicate widespread crimes, especially drug trafficking and corruption.

Duterte has also denied that he had stashed large amounts of undeclared funds in joint bank accounts with family members.

 Associated Press

Suspected U.S. drone kills 5 al-Qaeda fighters in Yemen: Tribal leaders in Yemen said a suspected U.S. drone strike has killed five al-Qaeda fighters in the central province of Marib. They said the men were traveling in Rawan district when a missile hit their car. Yemen fell into chaos after a 2011 Arab Spring uprising removed autocrat Ali Abdullah Saleh, now allied with Shiite rebels who occupy much of the country and are fighting his successor. Al-Qaeda has taken advantage of the security breakdown to seize territory.

Iran confirms 5-year term for Canadian Iranian negotiator: Iran's judiciary has confirmed that Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, a member of Iran's team of negotiators that struck the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of espionage. The report by the semiofficial Fars News Agency quoted a judiciary spokesman as saying that Esfahani was "linked to two intelligence services." The Canadian Iranian is the latest dual national arrested in Iran.

Police release driver detained in London crash: London police have released a 47-year-old man arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after a car crash outside the Natural History Museum injured 11 people. Police said the man was released "under investigation." He has not been charged or identified. The crash was initially feared to be an attack similar to incidents this year in which extremists in vehicles struck pedestrians. Police said the crash was a traffic incident and was not related to terrorism.

Navalny supporters reportedly detained in Moscow: Russian civil society organizations said that more than a dozen supporters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny were detained in Moscow while holding small demonstrations. The Open Russia group and OVD-Info said the detentions took place in Manezh Square, adjacent to the Kremlin. The detentions come a day after protests called for by Navalny were held in cities across the country on President Vladimir Putin's 65th birthday.

 From news services
THE OBAMACARE debate has been out of whack from the start. Republicans have criticized the wrong things, allowing Democrats to ignore the Affordable Care Acts biggest flaws. Now, this off-kilter debate may lead to the quiet loss of one of the laws most important provisions, currently on Congresss chopping block.

The partisan conflict has mostly focused on Obamacares health-care-coverage expansion, and Democrats have won that argument. The GOPs recent repeal-and-replace fiasco revealed that Americans are mostly comfortable with assertive government regulation and spending in order to guarantee (nearly) all Americans affordable, comprehensive coverage. Though they tried to make it sound otherwise, Republicans countered with policies that would have shredded this guarantee, particularly for the neediest. They failed.

The problem is not that Obamacares coverage expansion was fundamentally flawed, as Republicans have alleged. It is that it was not accompanied by measures to control costs across the health-care system, which has gotten so expensive it represents a sixth of the economy. And that is just for now: With the baby boomers aging, and tantalizing but expensive medical innovations on the horizon, costs threaten to rise unsustainably if the government does not force changes to the way care is delivered.

The right response is not to cut poor and sick people off insurance rolls but to stop paying for treatments and services that are unneeded, that do not work or that are not any better than cheaper alternatives. This is hard, because it involves telling people to change  and occasionally saying no. So Democrats mostly avoided the issue when they wrote Obamacare.

Mostly, but not entirely. They tucked in a few cost-cutting provisions, significantly raising Obamacare's appeal to those who worried about expanding coverage without encouraging more responsibility on health-care spending. The most important was the creation of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a panel of experts tasked with making some hard choices. If health-care spending accelerates too rapidly, the board must recommend ways to slow the rise through changes to Medicare's payment system  without slashing benefits. The board's conclusions would go to Congress, which would have the opportunity to overrule the experts. If lawmakers declined to do so, the board's recommendations would automatically take effect.

The idea was to ensure that costs did not escalate too quickly by removing political barriers to efficiency-driving reforms. Recent history has shown that, when the issue is left to Congress, doctors and patient groups will effectively block reform, even if the evidence suggests current practice is misguided.

Indeed, the forces favoring complacency and waste have not surrendered. Even though costs have not yet risen fast enough to trigger the IPAB, the board has sustained heavy criticism from both sides of the aisle. Republicans say they dislike the notion of government bureaucrats dictating health payment policies. Democrats say they dislike anything that smacks of a cut to Medicare. A bipartisan bill ending the IPAB passed the House Ways and Means Committee last Wednesday.

Republicans, who claim they want to reduce wasteful government spending, should stop trying to repeal this important piece of Obamacare. So should Democrats.
I agree with former president Jimmy Carter that North Korean leaders are dedicated to preserving their regime, as he wrote in his Oct. 5 op-ed, "Time to talk to North Korea," but I disagree that the United States should be dedicated to the preservation of that regime.

Despite being known as the human rights president, Mr. Carter omitted how the fundamental rights of the battered and bruised North Korean people should be addressed if talks were held. Assuming that North Koreans are loyal to their leader is questionable, considering the more than 100,000 people in political prison camps, the extreme efforts of Pyongyang to bar its people from accessing outside information and the restrictions placed on leaving the country. A 2005 government directive described confused elements at home as more dangerous than the enemy outside.

If there is to be a peaceful outcome to the present nuclear stalemate, the nature of the North Korean regime must also be taken into account.

Roberta Cohen, Washington

The writer, a deputy assistant secretary of state for human rights in the Carter administration, is co-chair emeritus of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.
Visitors line up in front of the Supreme Court while the Justices hear arguments on gerrymandering on Oct. 3 in Washington. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

Regarding Dana Milbank's Oct. 4 op-ed, "At the court, the fate of democracy":

I was fortunate to be in the gallery for oral arguments in the Gill v. Whitford case on gerrymandering. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch provoked my gander when he mused about whether the case turned on even more than free-speech or equal-protection principles.

Responding to the suggestion that gerrymandering could lead to one-party states, Mr. Gorsuch inquired, Is that a republican form of government claim? Paul M. Smith, consul for those opposed to gerrymandering, quickly demurred. Ill bet that Mr. Smith, on reflection, will wish he had pounced on that query: Exactly, your honor  in a republic not only do the people select those who represent them in governance, but they also expect a certain equality amongst themselves in so doing.

Gerrymandering is nothing more than the art of making certain votes inconsequential, antithetical to the ideal of a republic. Oh, and Mr. Gorsuch, along with the rest of the American polity, the next time you stand (or kneel) for the American flag, remember that when you pledge allegiance to it, you do so in the name of the republic for which that flag stands, with liberty and justice for all.

Bob Wipfler, Bethesda

Regarding the Oct. 4 news article "High court looks at Wisconsin in gerrymandering debate":

A permanent solution would be to redraw all district boundaries based on a modern version of the gentlemen in Philadelphias rationale  separation of rural and urban. The modern version could recognize urban, suburban and rural.

The new districts to be contiguous and oriented toward consistent representation in the House. This could be recognized by drafting future boundaries statistically, with minimum disruption of representation.

The next step in correcting voter representation would be to change the electoral college to direct voting and eliminate winner take all.

Arnold F. Klick, Mitchellville

Gerrymandering has helped drive the political polarization debilitating America. Why should representatives bother to reach out to the other side among their constituents when their seat is assured with a secured majority of their own party?

Feeling absolved of the obligation to understand the perspectives and needs of people not of their core base or to exercise the intellectual or moral discipline to do so, politicians gravitate toward "purity" in their thinking, rhetoric and votes. No longer do our leaders honor a middle ground, a broader nuanced consideration of what is good for the people. Instead, "compromise" becomes a bad word, a strategy forbidden. "Regular order," as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) defended it, in which legislators hammer out in committee compromise among all the conflicting views, falls to the naked exercise of partisan advantage. There results rigidly orthodox, narrow-interest enactments or paralysis.

Samuel T. Goldberg, Bethesda
Columnist

The Tibetan movement is at a crossroads, facing increasing Chinese oppression and a shortage of international attention and support. If the international community and the United States continue to ignore one of the last and most afflicted nonviolent resistance movements, the implications will reach far beyond the Tibetan Plateau.

The Tibet issue intersects three huge global trends: the surge of nationalism, the retreat of human rights and democracy promotion, and the rise of China. Thanks to the last two, the Tibetan peoples struggle for survival, dignity and autonomy is steadily losing visibility. That prompted the Tibetan government-in-exile here in northern India to convene a first-of-its-kind conference this weekend to determine the path forward.

Called the Five-Fifty Forum, the conference sought to chart a five-year plan for pursuing a return to dialogue and negotiations with China. If that's unachievable, the Tibetans will plan for another 50 years of resistance to China's occupation, systematic repression and attempted cultural genocide in Tibet.

Freedom House's latest index ranked Tibet the second-least-free place, slightly better than Syria but less free than North Korea. Yet the situations in Syria and North Korea get far more media coverage, thanks to the crises' threats of terrorism and nuclear war. Tibetan leaders lament that their nonviolent movement is ignored while violent movements and violent regimes succeed.

"Now, the rational, reasonable, nonviolent peaceful method doesn't get traction," said Lobsang Sangay, the elected president of the Tibetan government-in-exile. "Whereas beheading, kidnapping and gunning down people gets the attention and the response from governments."

Tibetans are nationalists, but they are not seeking ethnic purity in Tibet like the militant Buddhist nationalists in Burma. Nor are Tibetans seeking their own state, like the Kurds in Iraq. Instead, the Tibetan leadership is pursuing a "middle way approach" that seeks limited autonomy within the Chinese system.

Some 150 Tibetans have burned themselves alive to protest China's repression since 2009, but no one else was harmed in those incidents. Nonviolence is part of the nation's identity, Sangay said, but even Tibetans have their breaking point.

Its in the hands of the Chinese government, he said. If you want to know China, you have to understand what is happening in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama has held the Tibetan movement to a strict policy of nonviolence for decades. But when the 82-year-old spiritual icon passes on, that commitment to peaceful resistance could go with him. The window for striking a deal with Beijing could close as well.

Chinese authorities kidnapped Tibet's second-holiest official, the Panchen Lama, when he was 6 years old and appointed an impostor in his place. When the current Dalai Lama dies, Beijing may appoint a fake Dalai Lama, which could cause the crisis to boil over.

Meanwhile, China's strategy to erase Tibetan history, religion and language from Tibet is advancing apace. Under the rubric of development, China has bulldozed hundreds of Tibetan religious and historical sites. Massive numbers of Chinese citizens are being migrated into Tibet and given jobs, altering demographics to make Tibetans a minority in their homeland.

China is also securitizing the Tibetan Plateau with everything from advanced electronic surveillance and monitoring to the establishment of a fear culture that turns neighbors into spies. Chinese President Xi Jinping has said security and stability in Tibet are the goal. His policies are destined to have the opposite effect.

President Trump may not prioritize human rights or the viability of nonviolent movements, but supporting Tibet is also in the United States national interest. The Tibet issue could provide the pressure point Trump has been seeking in his dealings with Beijing. Economic leverage hasnt worked to influence Chinas calculus on matters such as North Korea, but adding the Tibet issue to the U.S.-China agenda would get the Chinese leaderships attention.

To put the issue back on the map, Trump could bring up Tibet during his upcoming visit to China, encouraging a return to the dialogue that ended in 2010. The administration could also fill the vacant position of special coordinator for Tibet at the State Department.

Trump should meet the Dalai Lama, as President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama did four times each while in office. Trump and the Dalai Lama may not agree on things such as climate change, but they are natural allies in the effort to manage China's rise. These steps won't solve the Tibet issue, but they would, at least, prevent China from realizing its goal of taking the international community out of the equation.

In the long term, dealing with Chinas emergence as a world power mandates confronting the regimes most egregious and massive offenses. If Chinas Tibet strategy is allowed to succeed, every other actor in the path of Chinas expansion, including the United States, will be in greater danger.

Read more from Josh Rogin's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Beatrice Fihn of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons speaks at the organizations headquarters in Geneva on Oct. 6. (Martial Trezzini/AP)

Regarding the Oct. 7 front-page article "Nuclear weapons foes win Nobel Peace Prize":

The prestigious honor went to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which led an effort that led to a treaty that bans nuclear weapons. The announcement drew attention to the destructive power of nuclear weapons and how they must never be used in anger or otherwise. Thats good. However, negotiators behind the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action were more worthy of the prize. The Iran deal has all but assured that there wont be a 10th country that possesses nuclear weapons, and, importantly, its endorsed by the countries that are legally allowed to have nuclear weapons. An actual nuclear ban requires, well, countries that have them to feel compelled to get rid of them. The ban treaty isnt that.

Imagine an Iran deal that Iran didnt sign but the European Union and the permanent five members of the U.N. Security Council did. Iran would feel compelled to do nothing. Previous Nobel Peace Prize winners were participants in hard-fought negotiations with two or more sides entrenched in their countries positions. They won precisely because their task was hard.

There is nothing too hard about calling roll in the U.N. General Assembly among countries that dont have nukes nor are protected by them to vote to ban something they dont have the power to ban.

Blake Narendra, Washington

The writer was an adviser to the

State Department's Arms Control Bureau

from 2015 to 2017.

Maybe Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was right in his reported assessment of the president. A move to decertify the Iran nuclear deal amid escalating tension with North Korea suggests a questionable capacity to absorb and process information ["Trump on North Korea: 'Sorry, but only one thing will work!'," news, Oct. 8].

How are American diplomats supposed to persuade China and Russia to pressure North Korea to stand down and reach an agreement to disarm if the United States cant be trusted to live up to its commitments?

The Nobel Peace Prize committee, on the other hand, exhibited brilliant timing in its awarding the prize to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The world needs fewer nuclear weapons, and the Iran nuclear deal is an important step toward reducing the risk of nuclear war.

Congress should reject any attempt to unravel the deal.

Bill Wasserman, Bethesda
Geoffrey Stone is a law professor at the University of Chicago. Michael Morell was the deputy director of the CIA from 2010 to 2013 and twice served as acting director.

Congress is about to make a major decision about privacy protection, civil liberties and national security. The 2008 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendments Act, including its most controversial provision, Section 702, is set to expire on Dec. 31. The two of us  both members of the panel that President Barack Obama appointed in 2013 to review the government's foreign intelligence programs in the wake of Edward Snowden's disclosures  agree that FISA Section 702 should be reauthorized but with a significant reform. The government should no longer be permitted to search the data collected under Section 702 without a warrant when seeking information about U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.

Section 702 permits the government to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign people located outside the United States. This statute is necessary because a significant share of the worlds communications transits through the United States, even when they begin and end overseas. Congress enacted Section 702 to address an intelligence-collection gap that resulted from the evolution of technology in the years after FISA became law in 1978. By 2008, many foreign intelligence targets outside the United States were using communications systems based in the United States, especially those provided by U.S.-based Internet service providers.

Traditionally, a court order was required for the government to intercept any communications inside the United States. Because of the change in technology, and before FISA was amended in 2008, court orders were therefore required for the government to target foreigners who were outside the United States if their communications flowed into the United States. This was required neither by the Fourth Amendment nor by common sense but was simply the accident of new technology. Section 702 was designed to remedy this situation.

It is important to note that Section 702 surveillance is permitted only to acquire foreign intelligence information from non-Americans who are overseas. Section 702 may not be used to target Americans anywhere in the world. It may not be used to target anyone located inside the United States, regardless of nationality. And it may not be used to target a foreign individual when the intent is to acquire the communications of an American with whom a foreign person is communicating.

When we reviewed the program in 2013, we found it to be one of our nations most effective programs to protect our national security. Operations under Section 702 generate important intelligence on international terrorists, individuals and entities involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, those engaged in espionage, and people and groups conducting illicit cyber-activities. We also found that the government works conscientiously to implement this program in a manner that protects the privacy of American citizens and legal U.S. residents. It is for these reasons that we urge Congress to reauthorize Section 702.

There is, however, one aspect of the way the 702 program has evolved that we believe needs to change: the FBIs practice of searching the data for information on Americans without first obtaining a warrant. Section 702, like any surveillance program, incidentally and inadvertently collects communications of or about individuals who are themselves not the target of intelligence collection. That is, the program will inevitably sometimes pick up communications between the target and an American, and it sometimes will pick up targets talking about Americans. The government argues that because such information was legally acquired, it should be able to search the information without first obtaining a warrant.

We disagree, except in the case of specifically outlined emergencies such as an imminent terrorist threat. Americans are entitled to full protection of their privacy. They should not lose that protection merely because the government has information in a foreign intelligence database that it legally acquired. Importantly, the government collected that information by using a standard that could not be legally be employed to target an American anywhere in the world.

Section 702 should be used in the way it was designed  to obtain information about foreign targets while preserving the privacy of Americans. It should not offer an easy route for federal law enforcement agents, specifically the FBI, to obtain evidence about Americans to which they would not be otherwise entitled. We urge Congress to end this practice. Such a step would reduce any incentives for government agents to misuse Section 702 without harming legitimate surveillance of foreign nationals operating overseas.
CONGRESS MUST consider it a priority to pass legislation in the next few months reauthorizing the U.S. intelligence agencies to eavesdrop without a court warrant on communications of foreigners who are located overseas, including at times their exchanges with Americans. The legislation, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, is of bedrock importance to the National Security Agency. Still, while giving the law a new lease, Congress ought to insist on additional protections for Americans in the use of the Section 702 database.

Under existing law, the Federal Bureau of Investigation can query Section 702 information for emails and phone-call transcripts of Americans suspected of a crime, without obtaining a warrant. This is a loophole allowing the FBI to go after information that, if sought from other sources, would require a warrant. A bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Vice Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), have proposed a reauthorization for six years that would effectively close this back door. They would allow the FBI to make such queries only when a warrant was in hand. The limits they seek would apply only to criminal suspects and would not restrict queries by the intelligence agencies for countering espionage, proliferation or terrorism, among other things.

By law, the NSA can target the communications of foreigners overseas if they fall into broad court-approved categories of foreign intelligence collection. The NSA targeted 106,000 such foreigners in 2016, Post reporter Ellen Nakashima reported. For each target, all the people they communicated with were also swept up in "incidental" collection. Congress has been unable to get the intelligence community to disclose even a rough estimate of how many Americans' communications are caught up in this net, and some reporting of the scope ought to be required as part of the reauthorization.

Understandably, the FBI would like to keep the unfettered authority to query the Section 702 database. But to do so would expose Americans' information to surveillance without a warrant, undermining Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. If the investigation is serious enough, the government ought to be able to create a mechanism that would provide the most expeditious decision on a warrant. Other solutions are possible: Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) proposes not restricting FBI searches but instead limiting their admissability in court.

The Trump administration has been pressing for a clean bill that would make Section 702 permanent without any changes. This seems unwise. After all the uproar in recent years following the Edward Snowden disclosures, the intelligence community should want a system that is firmly anchored in the trust of the American people and unambiguously endorsed by Congress. Privacy advocates want even tighter restrictions in the law, and we trust Congress will examine these ideas. But the goal should be to put this entire matter on a sustainable, bipartisan foundation so that the intelligence agencies can pursue their vital tasks knowing the rules.
In the Oct. 6 Metro article "In Va. race, a sharp divide on education," Genevieve Siegel-Hawley claimed Republican gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie's support for expanding quality public charter schools will lead to "further stratification" of education in Virginia.

To the contrary: Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes notes that after four years in a charter school, urban students learn 50 percent more per year than demographically similar students in traditional public schools.

Success Academy's students, with an average family income of $32,000, outperformed every school district in New York's state tests, including those districts with median family incomes of $290,000. And KIPP educates 88,000 low-income students in 209 schools, sending 81 percent to college, where they graduate college at a pace four times the rate of their traditional school peers.

Of 88 unaccredited public schools in Virginia (some for up to 12 years), more than half are from five urban school divisions. The students attending these schools are precisely the students most likely to be helped by Mr. Gillespies support for increased quality public charters  and precisely the students most likely to be hurt by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northams continued unreasoned opposition.

Chris Braunlich, Alexandria

The writer, a former president of the

Virginia Board of Education, is vice president of the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy.
A newly disclosed email sent on the morning of a Trump Tower meeting held during last years presidential campaign between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer raises new questions about how the key session came together.

The note was written by the Russian lawyer and sent to a music promoter who had helped arrange the session.

It could offer evidence backing up the Russian lawyers claims that she was meeting with Trump Jr. solely to discuss a 2012 law despised by the Kremlin that imposed financial sanctions on wealthy Russians as punishment for human rights abuses.

That is the version of events the lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, has asserted in media interviews since the New York Times first disclosed the Trump Tower meeting in July.

But her version conflicts with explosive correspondence released previously that shows the music promoter told Trump Jr. before the meeting that Veselnitskaya would bring damaging information about Hillary Clinton on behalf of the Russian government to help the Trump campaign.



A meeting between Donald Trump Jr., a Russian lawyer and others during last years presidential campaign has raised questions. (Kathy Willens/AP)

The newly disclosed email was provided to The Washington Post by Scott Balber, a U.S. lawyer representing Aras Agalarov, the Russian billionaire who hosted the Trump-owned Miss Universe pageant in Moscow in 2013 and who had helped secure the Trump Tower meeting for Veselnitskaya.

Balber said he was releasing the email from Veselnitskaya because he thinks it bolsters his clients claim that the Trump Tower meeting was not part of a Russian government effort to assist President Trumps campaign, despite what music publicist Rob Goldstone had written.

The newly disclosed email shows Veselnitskaya wrote Goldstone on the morning of the scheduled meeting to ask whether she could bring a lobbyist and trusted associate.

The lobbyist, Rinat Akhmetshin, is working to advance these issues with several congressmen, she continued. He has invaluable knowledge about the positions held by the members of the Foreign Relations Committee that will be important to our discussion.

At the time, Veselnitskaya was preparing to testify before the congressional committee about the law, the Magnitsky Act.

The email offers no conclusive evidence about why Trump Jr. accepted the meeting with Russians as his father prepared to accept the Republican nomination for president. Trump Jr. had reacted enthusiastically when told over email by Goldstone that Agalarov had met with a top prosecutor in Russia and been provided incriminating information about Clinton that the Russian lawyer would convey.

If its what you say, I love it, Trump Jr. wrote.

Balbers clients also include Agalarovs pop star son, Emin, who is represented by Goldstone and asked Goldstone to set up a meeting. He also represents Ike Kaveladze, a U.S.-based employee of the Agalarovs. Agalarov denies that he met with a Russian prosecutor about the U.S. presidential campaign, as Goldstone wrote.

Balber said Veselnitskaya provided him with the email during an interview in Moscow last month, which he conducted to better understand how the Trump Tower meeting came together by speaking to the person who had first requested it.

My clients have been implicated, in my view unfairly, in some theory that they were involved in an effort to influence the election campaign by providing some secret damaging information about Hillary Clinton, he said. The documents, he said, are consistent with what my clients have said.

Veselnitskaya did not respond to a request for comment.

Balber said Veselnitskaya also provided him a detailed account of how she secured the meeting.

Her account began when she was extended an offer to testify at a June 14, 2016, congressional hearing about the Magnitsky Act by U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), an advocate of closer ties with Russia. The Post has reported that her testimony was ultimately scuttled after opposition from Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward R. Royce (R-Calif.).

Veselnitskaya has said she was interested in the Magnitsky Act issue on behalf of a private client. She was working closely in the United States with Akhmetshin, a Russian American lobbyist who has been accused of having ties to Russian intelligence. He has denied ties to the Russian government.

Veselnitskaya told Balber that she met with a series of well-connected Russians in early June 2016 to discuss her upcoming trip to the United States. One person with whom she met was Agalarov, for whom she had previously done legal work.

Veselnitskaya told Balber she did not seek a meeting with the Trump campaign but was surprised and pleased when Agalarov explained his business connection to the presidential candidate and offered to make a connection. Veselnitskaya told Agalarov that she had in October 2015 provided information intended to undermine the U.S. law to Yuri Chaika, the Russian prosecutor general, Balber said. Balber said he believes it is possible Veselnitskayas statement resulted in a misunderstanding about the prosecutors role.

Robert Gage, an attorney for Goldstone, declined to comment.

By June 7, 2016, Goldstone had confirmed that Veselnitskaya and her translator were confirmed to meet with the candidates son, along with top campaign aide Paul Manafort and Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Two days later, Veselnitskaya sent the email asking if she could bring Akhmetshin.

Akhmetshin has previously told The Post that he was invited to the meeting at the last minute, after having lunch in New York City with Veselnitskaya, where she asked his advice on what to say. The newly released email shows Veselnitskaya asked Goldstone if the lobbyist could attend at 9:24 a.m., not after lunch, and that she wrote she had a signed a nondisclosure agreement with Akhmetshin.

Michael Tremonte, a lawyer for Akhmetshin, said that the lobbyist was invited to the meeting over lunch.

He has no recollection of signing a nondisclosure agreement in connection with the meeting and was not aware of the communications between Ms. Veselnitskaya and Mr. Goldstone, Tremonte said.

Natasha Abbakumova, Andrew Roth and David Filipov in Moscow contributed to this report.


Nelson Winbush holds a Confederate flag in St. Cloud, Fla., on Sept. 6, 2017. Winbush is a member of Jacob Summerlin Camp 1516. Winbush's grandfather, Louis Napoleon Nelson, was a Confederate soldier, and the flag draped his casket. (Eve Edelheit/For The Washington Post)

Unlike the century-old Confederate monuments that dot the country, the granite obelisk in this Orlando suburb is modern and glistening. Just 13 years ago, the great-great-grandsons of Confederate soldiers gathered around a banquet table at Fat Boy's Bar-B-Q and voted unanimously to build a modern-day monument down the street in the city-owned Veteran's Park.

The memorial they had in mind would bear Confederate symbols and names of Confederate soldiers buried in or near the city limits. It would also be a near-

mirror image of one dedicated in 2000 in that same park by a group of great-great-grandsons of Union Army soldiers.

"When we saw the Union monument go up, it seemed only fitting that we also have one," said Al Massey, commander of the local group of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. "If the city's residents vote to take it out, so be it. What irritates me is when outsiders come in and force the issue."

The current debate over Confederate monuments largely centers on towering, decades-old statues erected during the Jim Crow era, such as the monument to Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, where torch-wielding white nationalists protested once more on Saturday against its planned removal.

Building monuments to the Lost Cause, however, is also a contemporary phenomenon that many see as an extension of the nations debate about race.

[Our nations Confederate remnants, mapped]

At least 50 smaller Confederate monuments have been built since 1990, including a bronze statue near a courthouse in Cleburne, Tex., and a tombstone-shaped monument on the grounds of a public elementary school in Prattville, Ala. Even Union states have them: Two Confederate monuments have been erected in Iowa in the past 12 years.



Al Massey poses in front of the Confederate monument in Veteran's Park in St. Cloud, Fla. He is commander of the local Sons of Confederate Veterans group. (Eve Edelheit/For The Washington Post)

Newer monuments are popping up mostly in rural towns and tend to laud foot soldiers rather than Confederate generals and political leaders. All but seven are in Confederate states and 60 percent are on public land.

Theyre often small enough that they can be easily attended to by one person with a step ladder. Some are obelisks, like the one in St. Cloud, while others are stone markers that resemble oversized tombstones or boulders decorated with bronze historical plaques.

A majority of the monuments are financed by local chapters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Most cost less than $5,000, paid for with money raised with chili cook-offs, bake sales and Civil War reenactments.

We dont need something massive to do this, said Michael Landree, who is executive director of the national Sons of Confederate Veterans. We want to put up a lot of these across the country.





Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans say the tributes are meant to honor their ancestors and other Confederate soldiers who they believe fought for noble causes. As they describe it, the North was invading the South, and the soldiers were fighting to defend their homes, their land and their families against invaders who pillaged their towns.

Most Civil War experts say this distorts history, pointing to the Constitution of the Confederate States of America and other documents from the time that show the war was primarily driven by a goal of preserving slavery.

[Violence spurs cities to remove Confederate monuments, but many find hurdles]

The smaller monuments allow local groups to continue to promote the Confederacy without drawing a lot of attention, several Civil War historians said. The shift to building monuments to foot soldiers instead of the generals is also a calculated move, they said.

One of their defenses is, We are honoring ordinary people,  said James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association, a professional organization of historians. But they know what they are doing. They are paying tribute to the Confederacy, and the cornerstone of the defense of the Confederacy is slavery.

A Union town

In St. Cloud, the opposing monuments reflect a quiet, cold war that has been brewing there for decades, rooted in the towns complicated, unique history.

Florida may have been a Confederate state, but St. Cloud was founded in 1909 as a retirement community for Union veterans. The Grand Army of the Republic  a fraternal organization of Union Army veterans  bought a defunct sugar plantation and organized a land company, selling lots for $50 apiece exclusively to Union veterans.

The land for Veterans Park was also donated to the town by the St. Clouds Womans Club, a group of Union wives that really wanted to civilize the town, said Olive Horning, curator of the St. Cloud Heritage Museum.

The towns logo still identifies it as Soldier City.



The land for Veterans Park  now home to monuments for Confederate and Union soldiers  was donated to the town by the St. Clouds Womans Club, a group of Union wives, said Olive Horning, curator of the St. Cloud Heritage Museum. (Eve Edelheit/For The Washington Post)

As with many places across the United States, particularly in the South, the state of Florida and St. Cloud passed laws and ordinances after Reconstruction that discriminated against blacks. Even in recent years, the city and local businesses maintained visible vestiges of this past.

The public cemetery was segregated for nearly 100 years, and the grass often grew high in the black section  on a parcel owned by a civic club  until the city began to regularly mow it 10 years ago. The popular diner Koffee Kup Kafe  a reference to the Ku Klux Klan  didnt drop the Kafe from its business signs until 15 years ago, after an out-of-towner bought it.

People said Id go out of business if I changed the name. A bunch of weirdos wanted everything I had that said Koffee Kup Kafe,  said owner Frank Woodsby. Thats how sick people are. I put it all in the garbage.

When the Sons of Confederate Veterans sought approval for the Confederate monument from the St. Cloud City Council, no one officially opposed the request. But the monument was vandalized in August, days after a group of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members gathered in Charlottesville, to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

USA. One Nation was written in black spray paint on the St. Cloud monument over more than a dozen Confederate soldiers names that are etched on the obelisk. Small chunks of granite were hacked from an engraved image of a Confederate flag.



The Confederate monument in Veteran's Park in St. Cloud, Fla. It was vandalized days after unrest in Charlottesville, Va. (Eve Edelheit/For The Washington Post)

A quiet war

After Obamas inauguration, Angela Eady visited Veterans Park in St. Cloud, the town where she grew up and lived until she moved to a neighboring city in 1989.

There was an event at the park and I noticed the Confederate monument, said Eady, one of the few black politicians in the area. I said: Do you see what is going on here? White people rule. Thats just how it is here. 

The town of about 46,000 people is more than 60 percent white, 29 percent Hispanic or Latino, and 7 percent black.

Eady, who was elected Kissimmee city commissioner last year, said she feels like a referee, stuck between two groups with vastly different approaches to addressing racial strife in her community. On one side is a younger generation that can be more boisterous and vocal when they protest the slow-moving ways of the South. On the other side is an older generation of blacks who want to go with the flow, she said.

[Baltimore hauls away four Confederate monuments after overnight removal]

Some older white residents protest both for and against the cultural shifts in quiet, sometimes subversive ways. Woodsby, the owner of Koffee Kup, said hes had firsthand experience with this. Until a few years ago, his hostesses were still rejecting payments from longtime customers who wrote For Dues on the memo line of their checks, what Woodsby said was a nod to the days that the cafe represented an extension of the KKK to the community.

Roger Heiple, a 78-year-old white member of St. Cloud's Sons of Union Veterans, pulled his Union Army exhibit out of the local museum two years ago, after the Sons of Confederate Veterans created their own display that includes two Confederate flags.

If a black person came in and they saw those Confederate flags, they would not feel welcome, Heiple said. I would not condone that.



Nelson Winbush, 88, holds the Confederate flag that draped his grandfather's casket. Louis Napoleon Nelson was a slave who followed his owner into the Civil War. (Eve Edelheit/For The Washington Post)

But one of the most lauded members of the local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is 88-year-old Nelson Winbush, whose grandfather was a slave and followed his owner into the Civil War. At the time of his death, he asked to be buried in his Confederate uniform, Winbush said.

My grandfather was just 14 years old and he went along with his master and his sons, Winbush said, recounting what his grandfather told him during frequent horse and buggy rides together. I joined because there is so much misinformation about blacks serving in the Confederate Army. My grandfather ended up fighting like everyone else. He felt the South was being invaded by the Yankees.

At the heart of the current monument building, though, is a fear that many whites have of losing cultural and political clout to minorities, said Grossman, of the American Historical Association. Thats why he believes the timing of the current effort by the Sons of Confederate Veterans is not coincidental.

The group decided to build a museum to the Confederacy in October 2008, weeks before Barack Obama was the first black person elected president of the United States.

The executive committee voted then to launch a $5 million fundraising effort to erect a 18,500-square-foot museum at its headquarters in Tennessee.

The grand opening is scheduled for next year.

Every museum out there has based their stories upon a popular narrative of the war, which is a Northern perspective of the war, said Landree. We are telling the story from the Confederate side.
Sen. Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and an early supporter of Donald Trumps candidacy, said Sunday that the White House had devolved into an adult day care center and warned that President Trumps behavior is setting the nation on the path to World War III.

Corkers comments, first made via Twitter and later in an interview with the New York Times, came in response to an extraordinary feud instigated by Trump and marked the sharpest rebuke of this president by a senior Republican officeholder.

"He concerns me," Corker told the Times. "He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation." He added, "I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, it's a situation of [senior administration officials] trying to contain him."

The explosive comments not only breach what had been one of Trumps few personal relationships on Capitol Hill, but also jeopardize the presidents legislative priorities. As chairman of the foreign relations panel, Corker (Tenn.) will help determine the future of the Iran nuclear deal, and his support will be critical in passing broad tax cuts.

Trump alleged Sunday morning in a Twitter tirade that Corker recently begged him for his endorsement, did not receive it and decided to retire because he didnt have the guts to run for reelection next year.

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Corker tweeted a biting retort: "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning."

Meanwhile, Corkers chief of staff, Todd Womack, denied Trumps characterization of his private conversations with the senator, who announced last month that he plans to retire and not seek reelection in 2018.

Trump's outburst comes after Corker made headlines last week when he starkly suggested that the administration's national security team provides the president with badly needed adult supervision. Corker told reporters that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly "are those people that help separate our country from chaos."

Trump, who has little tolerance for public criticism and prides himself on counterpunching those who cross him, took to Twitter on Sunday to attack Corker.

Trump tweeted: "Senator Bob Corker 'begged' me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said 'NO' and he dropped out (said he could not win without . . . my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said 'NO THANKS.' He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal! Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run!"

Womack said Trump has repeatedly offered to support Corker, and as recently as last week asked the senator to change his mind and run for reelection.

The president called Senator Corker on Monday afternoon and asked him to reconsider his decision not to seek reelection and reaffirmed that he would have endorsed him, as he has said many times, Womack said in a statement.



Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker R-Tenn.) speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in September. (Reynold/EPA-EFE/Rex/Shutterstock)

Apparently unwilling to let Corkers adult day care center barb be the last word, Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon that Corker was an ineffective senator and could not get the job done.

"Bob Corker gave us the Iran Deal, & that's about it," Trump tweeted. "We need HealthCare, we need Tax Cuts/Reform, we need people that can get the job done!"

In a 25-minute telephone interview with the Times, Corker questioned Trumps fitness for office and said that the presidents recklessness is endangering the country  an assessment he said was shared by most other Senate Republicans.

Look, except for a few people, the vast majority of our caucus understands what were dealing with here, Corker told the Times. He added, Of course, they understand the volatility that were dealing with and the tremendous amount of work that it takes by people around him to keep him in the middle of the road.

Corker, who is one of Tillersons few confidants and staunch defenders in Washington, criticized a Trump tweet last weekend that undercut Tillersons negotiations with North Korea.

A lot of people think that there is some kind of good cop, bad cop act underway, but thats just not true, Corker told the Times. He added, I know [Trump] has hurt, in several instances, hes hurt us as it relates to negotiations that were underway by tweeting things out.

The squabble comes just days before Trump is expected to "decertify" the Iranian nuclear pact reached with world powers in 2015 and punt to Congress a decision about whether to restore sanctions against Iran. This would be the first in a series of highly orchestrated steps that White House, State Department and congressional officials  primarily Corker, as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee  have been planning for months.

[Trumps tweetstorm against Corker may cost him a key policy ally]

Corker has been one of Tillersons few allies and staunch defenders in Washington, working closely on such issues as toughening sanctions on Russia and engaging North Korea diplomatically  two issues on which Trump has disagreed with Corker.

Corker also looks to play a key role in the upcoming debate over taxes. One of the Senates most committed deficit hawks and outspoken members on budgetary issues, Corker already has expressed concerns with the Trump administrations proposal on tax cuts, and his vote will be key to any deal getting done.

Trumps attack also highlighted his increasingly strained relationship with Senate Republicans, who Trump feels have failed to deliver on his agenda.

In recent months, Trump has also gone after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Sens. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), John McCain (Ariz.) and Jeff Flake (Ariz.) with cutting and sometimes personal insults.

Republican lawmakers and operatives have voiced exasperation that Trump is spending his time attacking senators he will need as allies if he hopes to sign any signature legislation.

The Corker-Trump side show, which is all it is, is great if you love reality TV, GOP strategist Rick Tyler said. We can stay tuned for the next episode. But it doesnt get you anywhere. It may feel satisfying, but it is meaningless in the context of Republicans proving that they can be a governing majority.

Corker was a prominent supporter of Trumps 2016 campaign and one of the few Republicans with gravitas willing to embrace the reality television stars candidacy before he won the GOP nomination.

Corker publicly praised Trumps first major foreign policy speech in April 2016, at a time during the primaries when most other party elders were shunning Trump. Corker also helped tutor Trump on foreign affairs, and he in turn considered the senator as a possible running mate and secretary of state.

Both Trump and Corker entered politics after careers as business executives, both in real estate and construction, and their shared backgrounds gave them a level of mutual understanding at a time when few in Congress can claim to understand the presidents motivations. Corker was one of only a few senators to develop a personal relationship with Trump and his family.

Known for his blunt commentary, Corker had long softened any public criticism of Trump or his administration with carefully worded praise. But that changed this past summer, as tensions between the men flared.

[Trump distances himself from GOP lawmakers to avoid blame if agenda stalls]

In August, Corker criticized Trumps handling of the deadly white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, saying, The president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful.

Then, as now, Corker became a subject of Trump's ire. In response to the senator's "stability" and "competence" comments, Trump tweeted, "Tennessee not happy!"

Trump later gave Corker grief about the comment during a meeting in the Oval Office, according to a Republican congressional official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the private conversations.

But the episode did not seem to derail what was generally a good-natured relationship between the two. When Corker later called Trump to tell him that he had decided to retire  a decision Corker made on his 65th birthday, Aug. 24  the president expressed disappointment, the congressional official said.

More recently, Trump has fumed over Corkers tangential connection to last months Alabama Senate Republican primary runoff election, in which Trumps favored candidate, Sen. Luther Strange, was defeated by former judge Roy Moore, who enjoys the backing of many of Trumps supporters in the state.

Corker urged Trump to visit Alabama and campaign alongside Strange in the closing days of the runoff campaign, and the president now partly blames Corker for encouraging him to get involved in a contest that has hurt his political standing, according to a person close to Trump and familiar with the dynamics.

Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said Sunday that he thinks Corker feels free to speak his mind now that he is not seeking reelection.

"I think it's going to be fun to work with him, especially now that he's announced that he's not running for reelection, because I think it sort of unleashes him to do whatever and say whatever he wants to say," Mulvaney said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Robert Costa contributed to this report.
President Trump tosses paper towels into a crowd in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, during a visit to the island on Oct. 3, after Hurricane Maria. (Evan Vucci/AP)

When President Trump said a few weeks ago that he wanted to find a way to continue protecting young dreamers from deportation, some Republicans touted the possibility of a Nixon goes to China moment that could reset the presidents deeply frayed relationship with Latino voters.

But ever since, Trump has returned to antagonizing this growing segment of the electorate  including proposing new hard-line immigration measures Sunday  deepening a rift that many in his party fear will do lasting damage to the GOP's ability to win future elections.

Trump's hostile rhetoric and actions toward Latinos, Republican strategists say, could not only undercut candidates in competitive 2018 races and make the White House harder to retain in 2020 but also further tarnish a GOP brand that party leaders have struggled for years to sell to skeptical Latino voters.

A whole generation of minority voters is essentially hearing the GOP tell them, We dont like you,  said Doug Heye, a former communications director for the Republican National Committee. That might not have sunk the GOP against a flawed candidate like Hillary Clinton, but the demographics are moving into a direction where this will be political suicide.

Trumps actions have already hurt Republicans ability to recruit Latino candidates to run for local and state offices. And theyve become fodder in the Virginia governors race, as well as contests in states such as New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Florida, where an energized Latino turnout could tip what are expected to be competitive elections next year.

The latest source of tension is the president's announcement last month that he plans to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a popular Obama-era initiative that provides work permits to undocumented immigrants who arrived here as children; Trump calls it "unconstitutional."

Trump said he would work with Congress to find a way to protect the 690,000 "dreamers" enrolled in the program. But on Sunday, the White House said that what he wants in return includes the funding of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a crackdown on the influx of Central American minors and curbs on federal grants to "sanctuary cities," all policies seen as hostile by Latinos.

And Trump continues to face criticism of his administrations response to the severe damage Hurricane Maria did in Puerto Rico.

In just the past few days, Trump has offered a cringe-worthy pronunciation of "Puerto Rico" while speaking at a Hispanic Heritage Month event, appeared insensitive by tossing rolls of paper towels at victims of Hurricane Maria and persisted in a feud with the mayor of San Juan, who has begged for more assistance in the wake of the storm.

In Virginia, which will elect a new governor next month, Trump waded into the campaign by endorsing GOP candidate Ed Gillespie in a tweet  which also charged that Democrat Ralph Northam supports the MS-13 street gang  all while Gillespie is airing TV ads that seek to tie Northam, Virginias lieutenant governor, to the violent gang, whose membership is mostly Latino.

Claims in the ad have been labeled misleading by nonpartisan fact-checkers and racist by immigration advocates. At issue is a tiebreaking vote Northam cast in the state Senate against a bill that would have banned sanctuary cities. But Virginia does not have any such municipalities, a fact Gillespie has acknowledged.

The president  whose job-approval rating has dipped to 16 percent among Hispanics, according to Gallup  also became a central issue in a special Florida state Senate race last month in a heavily Latino Miami-area district that flipped from red to blue. The losing candidate had appeared on Trumps reality show The Apprentice.



Protesters show their support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program at a demonstration near Trump Tower in New York. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

The unsuccessful GOP contender, state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, had also joined a White House advisory board of Latino leaders and touted his close ties to Trump, even posting a selfie of the two. But when Democrats made an issue of it, Diaz deleted the photo.

Meanwhile, an ad paid for by a Florida Democratic campaign committee began with candidate Annette Taddeo turning off a television on her kitchen counter that was showing images of Trump.

Families are too busy to worry about this drama, she said before accusing Diaz of supporting Trumps every move, including plans to cut Medicare funding and revamp the Affordable Care Act.

In North Carolina, a presidential battleground state where the Latino population is exploding, theres been an uptick in registration by voters identifying themselves as Hispanic in the months since Trump took office  an encouraging sign, Democratic consultants there say.

Trump boosters say concerns about his standing with Latino voters are overstated, arguing that if the president continues to preside over a strong economy and create jobs, Republicans will be rewarded by voters across the board, including Latinos.

But Trump, who kicked off his campaign by calling Mexicans "rapists," has provided plenty of reasons for Latino voters to be suspicious, including his pardon in August of Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was held in contempt of court for racial profiling.

Gallup polling suggests that there has yet to be a permanent realignment of party loyalties under Trump. As of last month, half of Hispanic adults identified themselves as Democrats or leaning Democratic, about twice as many as identified with Republicans. That is virtually unchanged since 2008.

Many GOP leaders have long argued that the status quo isn't good enough. After Mitt Romney's loss in the 2012 presidential race, the RNC commissioned an "autopsy" report that explored the party's lackluster support among Latinos and emphasized a need to reach out to those voters.

I think one can safely say that Donald Trump has not taken the 2012 autopsy report to heart, said Whit Ayres, a longtime Republican pollster. To this point, there hasnt been much by the way of initiatives or language or tone that would attract anyone whos not already in his corner.

An American National Election Studies poll showed Trump winning 23 percent of the Latino electorate last year. Some Democratic-leaning pollsters argue that overstates his support.

Across the country, Republican consultants said they know of many cases of Latinos taking a pass on running for office because they did not want to be tied to Trump.

Juan Hernandez, who has advised Texas GOP candidates for decades, recalled trying to persuade a well-known Latino in Texas to run for Congress, but the potential contender took a pass, telling him, Im a Christian, Im a Latino, and Im a Republican, but I cant be associated with Trump.

I get calls all the time from Latinos like that  all the time, Hernandez said, confessing that he doesnt have a good answer. Its very, very, very difficult.

Leslie Sanchez, a Washington-based Latino GOP operative, agreed that recruiting candidates and cultivating younger Hispanics should be top-of-mind concerns.

"You have Gen Y, Gen Z, kind of young students in their high school or formative years in college who already believe that the president doesn't like them," she said. "And it's taken an entire generation to reverse some of the falsehoods that the Republican brand had in some minority communities, and this devastates that."

Mike Madrid, a Latino GOP consultant based in California, said part of the problem is that DACA is a hugely important issue, especially with the emotion and energy, unlike some of the others where you can roll your eyes and say its Trump being Trump.

Will Trump ever get majority support of Latinos? No, its too late, Madrid said. But can he shore it up a little bit? Yes, absolutely.

Sanchez said that based on polling and focus groups, she believes Latino support for Republicans has to be gauged state by state.

While the GOP is slipping in the western states of Arizona, Nevada and Colorado, the party is still performing well in states such as Florida, which is larger and more urban, with Latinos who hail from Cuba, Venezuela and Puerto Rico  where illegal immigration is not as relevant or as immediate.

Meanwhile, among Spanish-speaking Latinos, there is a visceral response to the GOP brand, Sanchez said.

"Republicans are going to have an extraordinarily difficult time separating the Republican brand from Donald Trump among young Latinos," she warned.

In states with sizable Hispanic populations, Democratic gubernatorial candidates have already tried to highlight the uncertainty surrounding DACA.

In Florida, one of 36 states with governors races next year, Democratic candidate Gwen Graham seized on Trumps initial announcement, calling it utterly devoid of humanity. In a statement, she also targeted her potential GOP opponents on the issue, accusing one of leaving 50,000 Floridians in limbo.

Jennifer Duffy, a senior editor at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said she expects Democrats to continue to make links between their GOP opponents and Trump. Its not just on immigration, she said. Theres a whole list of things. Hurricane Maria didnt help.

An Associated Press poll found that Trump received particularly low marks from Hispanics for his handling of the storm response. Roughly 1 in 3 Americans overall approved of the response, while about 1 in 5 Hispanics did.

Rick Wilson, a Florida-based GOP strategist, said one problem with Trump's response is that it gives Latino voters something vivid to remember, much as George W. Bush's detached response to Hurricane Katrina was damaging. Among other things, Trump said in a tweet that Puerto Ricans wanted "everything to be done for them."

Theres an anecdotal power with Katrina or Maria, Wilson said. People find something to latch onto. Bush left us to die. Trump said were lazy. 
Some House Democrats are raising the specter of withholding support for must-pass spending legislation later this year in response to President Trump's hard-line immigration proposals  meaning the fate of roughly 690,000 younger undocumented immigrants could become a major factor in negotiations to keep the government open after December.

Democrats on Monday dismissed Trumps calls to construct a wall along the entire length of the U.S.-Mexico border, crack down on sanctuary cities and seek ways to curb Central American migrants from illegally crossing into the country. But conservative Republicans insisted that such issues must be addressed before Congress considers offering legal status to immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, a group known as dreamers.

The prospective standoff is the latest hurdle in the years-long struggle on Capitol Hill to reach an accord on reforming the nation's immigration policy. The administration's lengthy list of demands dampened growing optimism among lawmakers from both parties that they could strike a deal to protect recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the Obama-era work program for "dreamers" that Trump announced last month he would terminate.

What the White House put forward is a complete non-starter, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in an interview, blaming Trumps senior policy aides for advancing un-American ideas on how to deal with immigration.

Theres nothing in it to negotiate because it does not have shared values of who we are as Americans, she added.

Facing a tight deadline  work permits for DACA recipients will begin expiring in March  Pelosi said her conference remains unified in opposition to Trumps ideas. But comments from Democrats Monday showed they do not have consensus on how to respond.

Some members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus signaled they would consider withholding support for must-pass spending bills in December unless the DACA recipients are granted legal status with a path to citizenship. In recent years, near-unanimous support from Democrats has been needed to pass government spending bills and legislation to raise the governments borrowing limit amid opposition from dozens of fiscal conservatives who are against increased spending without subsequent budget cuts.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) called the spending bill debate a defining moment for Democrats.

Im not saying we should shut down the government, but if you want a budget with Democratic votes, then its got to have some Democratic priorities, he said.

Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), who chairs the Hispanic Caucus, said withholding votes for spending legislation is definitely on the table, but she added that Democrats will continue to try to build consensus with moderate Republicans on an immigration plan.

Immediately threatening to vote against spending legislation doesnt open the door for moderate Republicans who support immigration reform bills, she told reporters.

Pelosi also cautioned it was too early for such threats, and she noted that Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, could pass a spending bill on their own if necessary.

I fully intend to use every possibility, but were not at that place yet, she added. Right now, were trying to get Republicans to vote on what we believe.

Democrats were not the only ones trying to figure out their next move. GOP leaders also were deliberating over how to proceed, fretting the White Houses hard-line position would complicate talks and reduce the chances for a relatively quick deal  which Trump has said he wants.

Its safe to say that many Hill Republicans do not think the WH immigration principles were helpful, one senior House GOP aide said in an email. The principles are clearly non-starters with Democrats and divide Republicans.

This aide, who was not authorized to speak on the record about ongoing deliberations, emphasized that GOP leaders didnt overreact last month when Trump met with Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) to discuss a path forward on DACA, alarming Republicans that the president would cut a deal without them.

And were not going to overreact when his staff releases some principles, the aide said. Were focused on finding a solution.

In a statement, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said his members will review these principles and continue to consult with our conference and the administration to find a solution.

Last month, Ryan convened a cross-section of his caucus to explore immigration policy options  a group that includes House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), a proponent of constructing a border wall, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte (R-Va.), an immigration hawk, as well as moderates from immigrant-saturated districts, including reps. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.).

Senators, who are on a week-long Columbus Day recess, remained mostly silent about Trumps ideas on Monday. Senior Republican aides said any consensus on how to proceed wont come together until the Senate reconvenes after members return next week.

Sens. David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) have proposed legislation to slash legal immigration in half over the coming decade, a concept that was included in the Trump administrations principles on Sunday. White House aides said the curbs would help offset the potential legalization of the dreamers, a population estimated at more than 1.5 million.

The immigration priorities President Trump has outlined are spot on, Perdue said in a statement.

Advocates on both sides of the debate said they did not interpret the administrations principles, which also include the hiring of 10,000 additional immigration agents, as nonnegotiable but as an opening bid.

The White House is willing to negotiate. Democrats are not, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for lower immigration levels. That means the odds of no bill by March have increased  not because the White House principles are overly ambitious but because Schumer is not going to make a meaningful counter offer. They want amnesty in exchange for nothing.

But Ali Noorani, executive director for the National Immigration Forum, said he believes there remains a significant majority on Capitol Hill interested in forging a deal no matter where the White House stands. If they fail, he added, it will be Trump who takes most of the blame for choosing to end the DACA program, which has broad public support.

If thats the case, Trump will have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a pretty impressive way, Noorani said.

Read more at PowerPost
Sonam Chapele, right, works in his shop in a Tibetan refugee colony known as Majnu-ka-tilla in New Delhi in 2016. (Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images)

When Tenzin Dechen Deshar first heard that Tibetan exiles could apply for Indian passports, she agonized over the choice.

A Tibetan born in India, Deshar lived a double life. She went to an Indian boarding school but spent summers in a refugee settlement, trying to learn to read Tibetan. She watched Bollywood movies with her Indian friends but fell asleep listening to her grandmothers stories about a Himalayan wonderland.

Deshar spent her childhood convinced that she would someday see the land her family had left behind when Chinese forces seized control of Tibet. Then, in September 2016, the Delhi High Court ruled that Tibetans born in India between 1950 and 1987 are eligible to apply for Indian passports.

The new offer of nationality presented a dilemma. Take the passport, some said, and end decades of virtual confinement to a single country. Buy a car, own a house, apply for government jobs. Others argued that giving up your statelessness was akin to betraying the Tibetan cause that three generations have fought for.

It was not a decision I took lightly, Deshar said, lunching on dumplings between appointments at a regional passport office in Bangalore in southern India. But the long internal conflict had led her to a realization. My grandmothers stories were just that  stories, like fairy tales. Ive never even seen snow. Or a yak.





Tibet is a mountainous, nominally semiautonomous region in China. But Tibetans consider themselves ethnically and culturally different from the Chinese.

[Monks, mosquitoes and Richard Gere: What Indias biggest Buddhist gathering is really like]

Deshars grandparents were among tens of thousands who fled Tibet in 1959, after Mao Zedongs Communist Party took control of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, massacring thousands of Tibetans. Though some eventually found homes in the West, the vast majority of Tibetan exiles, 122,000 people, live in neighboring India and have endured nearly six decades of limbo.

For years, the Tibetan movement has hung its hopes on international support for its exiles.

Heart-rending stories of Tibetans walking through icy mountain passes to reach India  their land seized, their monasteries razed, their prayers silenced  buttressed U.S. efforts to isolate China during the Cold War and have continued to rake up support on college campuses and outside Chinese embassies worldwide. Free Tibet long ago became a familiar cry.

But without a stateless population to field the sympathies of Western democracies, some fear that the Tibetan struggle could crumble.

Whats happened is that an entire nationality, so to speak, has given up on its nation, said Giriraj Subramanium, a lawyer in Delhi who has argued more than a dozen Tibetans cases for passports in the Delhi High Court. Tibet is over is a common refrain among his clients, he said.



Tibetan exiles in India have a registration certificate that allows them to stay in the country. (Vidhi Doshi/The Washington Post)

An Indian government official said there is no count of how many Tibetans have made applications for passports. A spokesman from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the exile organization that oversees Tibetan affairs, said only that a small number had applied.

Stateless Tibetans face a number of restrictions when traveling: They have to get exit permits and police verification in India, which often means paying bribes to authorities. At home, not having Indian nationality can complicate getting a mobile SIM card or registering a business.

In 1959, as Chinese troops consolidated power over Lhasa, the Dalai Lama, only 23 at the time, disguised himself as a soldier and fled to India. Eighty thousand Tibetans followed. India allowed him to set up an exile government in the Himalayan town of Dharamsala. In the 1980s, hoping for compromise, the Dalai Lama stopped demanding complete independence and decided instead to settle for a "middle way" seeking "genuine autonomy" for the people of the Tibetan plateau.

[In the high altitude Himalayas, India works to secure a remote border with China]

Many Tibetans, however, did not give up hope.

Karten Tsering, president of the residents welfare association in a Tibetan colony in New Delhi, explains Chinese control of the Tibet region in Buddhist terms: as part of the ever-changing nature of the universe. Nations rise up and down  that is happening everywhere. Britain ruled India for 200 years. China was once under the rule of Tibetans, he said, referring to the 7th-century Tibetan empire. In our time, weve been born on the loser side.

Deshar rolled her eyes at the mention of the Tibetan empire. Does anyone think Chinas going to be like, Come back? Is that realistic, really? We have to stop living in a limbo, she said.

China's economic strength means even the Dalai Lama's dialed-down demands for autonomy are a distant dream. For Beijing, the strategic importance of the Tibet region eliminates any question of conceding power; a sizable proportion of China's water reserves are on the Tibetan plateau and the region includes a long land border with India, a neighbor with which China regularly spars.

Any concessions to Tibetans could draw the ire of hard-liners within China's ruling Communist Party and rouse nationalist fervor in Inner Mongolia and other regions.

Matthew Akester, an independent Tibet researcher, said the Central Tibetan Administrations political strategy had failed to achieve its objectives.

"People see the Dalai Lama getting the Nobel Peace Prize, being selected for the cover of Time magazine, delivering speeches to packed audiences in Western countries," he said. "But in terms of real politics, these things are not actually meaningful. For many years, the strategy has been, 'If we are attractive and popular enough with Western countries, they will put pressure on China.' That hasn't worked."

The CTA claims to represent all Tibetans but has little contact with the vast majority in Chinese territory. Though there is opposition to China from within Tibet (for instance, the 2008 protests ahead of the Beijing Olympics), it is the exiles who have played a central role in achieving sustained international support for the Tibetan movement.

The CTA and even the Dalai Lama to a certain extent  their relevance will only remain if there are a large number of Tibetan exiles in India, said Subramanium, the lawyer representing a number of Tibetans in court. After last years Delhi High Court ruling, the Indian government, which is closely allied with the CTA, introduced a number of bureaucratic hurdles for Tibetan applicants, such as having to leave their settlements and forfeit refugee documents.

[Watch the Dalai Lama mock the shape of Donald Trumps mouth]

Tibetans who spoke to The Washington Post said they had heard messages from the CTA on the radio urging Indian-born exiles not to apply for passports. Most of the discouragement, they said, has happened through word-of-mouth campaigns. A Tibetan-language circular from the CTA also urges passport applicants to take a long-term view rather than considering short-term advantages. Outwardly, however, the CTA has said that Tibetans are free to choose Indian nationality.

There have been murmurs in the Tibetan community that we shouldnt do this, that this is wrong, Deshar said. But if I think about it, what am I really giving up? Im not insecure about my Tibetan identity. I dont feel the need to preserve statelessness to preserve who I am.

Taking Indian nationality need not mean the end of the Tibetan struggle, said Robert Barnett, director of the Modern Tibetan Studies Program at Columbia University.

As Indian citizens, Tibetans could form a strong lobby within Indias political system. There is this Tibetan idea that politics is all about public relations, he said. It could be replaced by the idea that politics is about skill and strategy and building coalitions and understanding opponents.

Few exiled Tibetans have been able to return to China. Becoming Indian may symbolically represent giving up hope for eventual repatriation, but in some cases it could increase Tibetans chances of getting visas to travel to China.

Many Tibetans remain uncertain about the nationality question. People dont really want to engage with the question of whether politics should be pragmatic or ideal. . . . For decades, theyve left these kinds of decisions to lamas and political leaders, Barnett said. With young people, that kind of attitude still remains. It is not born out of ignorance or irresponsibility, but a fear of upsetting the system.

Others, like Lobsang Wangyal, editor of the news website Tibet Sun and founder of the Miss Tibet pageant, whose landmark case won Tibetans the right to Indian passports, are thrilled. "I thought, wow, now I'm an Indian," he said.

But many others, like Tashi Topden, a musician born in India and raised in a Tibetan settlement in New Delhi, said they would not apply on principle. "My heart is Tibetan," he said."I want to remain Tibetan."

Read more:

At the roof of the world, glaciers slowly vanish

Hundreds of Tibetans defy China, gather in Buddhisms birthplace in India

Chinas crackdown slows Tibetan refugee crossings to freedom in India

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Some senior diplomats and officials from countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia described the first 10 months of the Trump administration as a whirlwind, beginning with tentative optimism, followed by alarm, and finally accepting that the situation is unlikely to improve. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)

After nearly nine months of the Trump administration, many of Americas closest allies have concluded that a hoped-for learning curve they thought would make President Trump a reliable partner is not going to happen.

The idea that he would inform himself, and things would change, that is no longer operative, said a top diplomat here.

Instead, they see an administration in which lines of authority and decision-making are unclear, where tweets become policy and hard-won international accords on trade and climate are discarded. The result has been a special kind of challenge for those whose jobs are to advocate for their countries and explain the president and his unconventional ways at home.

Senior diplomats and officials from nearly a dozen countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia expressed a remarkable coincidence of views in interviews over the past several weeks. Asked to describe their thoughts about and relations with the president and his team as the end of Trumps first year approaches, many described a whirlwind journey beginning with tentative optimism, followed by alarm and finally reaching acceptance that the situation is unlikely to improve.

We have to adjust to this, said a second diplomat from a different continent.

Their concerns echo those expressed increasingly in public by Republican lawmakers such as Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who has spoken of administration chaos and on Sunday described the White House under Trump as an adult day care center where the presidents behavior must be managed.

[Trumps decision on Iran deal could cause major breach with allies in Europe]

Frustrations and fears, building for months, have grown especially intense in the past few weeks following Trump's bellicose taunting of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his apparent decision to decertify Iranian compliance with the international nuclear deal.

Although foreign diplomats are restrained by the nature of their jobs from speaking out about the policies and politics of their host governments, it is not unusual for them to trade tips and gossip in the early days of a new administration when information is in short supply and it is unclear which top officials have the most sway with the leader of the free world.

But their perplexing dealings with the Trump administration have become an obsession of late for ambassadors.

Its always an undercurrent when we get together, a third senior diplomat said. Were always asking each other, Who do you deal with inside the administration? How do you handle difficult situations? 

When somebody actually sees Trump, people immediately flock around: What did you see? What did he say? Was Ivanka there? . . . What kind of look was on Kellys face?  he said, referring to White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly. It is, he said, a kind of Kremlinology.

Some diplomats choose to focus on the positive. Estonian Ambassador Lauri Lepik, whose country's fears of a resurgent Russia on its eastern border are practically existential, praised Vice President Pence's summer stop in his country. It helped reassure NATO allies after Trump, on an earlier trip to Brussels, failed to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to alliance mutual defense.

That was a highly appreciated visit, Lepik said. The administration was engaged, and we were in constant contact.

Others, some of whom had difficulty with the Obama administration, have found a new closeness with the United States. Saudi Arabia, after enduring President Barack Obamas human rights criticism and policy objections, is now a favored Trump nation.

[Trump embraces Saudi vision for the Middle East]

Newly arrived Hungarian Ambassador Laszlo Szabo, whose government hews to the nationalistic right, said bilateral trade "is improving nicely and constantly." His prime minister, Viktor Orban, was the first European leader during last year's U.S. campaign to say a Trump presidency would be better for Europe  a view widely derided by his European partners.

Afghanistan's Ambassador Hamdullah Mohib, whose government was alarmed by the Obama administration's unfulfilled plans to withdraw the vast majority of U.S. troops from the country, said he and his government had regular high-level access to senior Trump administration officials this summer as the debate over the war heated up. "I was at the White House on a daily basis," he said.

The access did not always bring clarity, especially when it came to figuring out how competing fiefdoms operated inside the West Wing. In August, Afghanistan paid $120,000 for a three-month contract with the Sonoran Policy Group, a lobbying firm with close ties to the White House, to gain a better understanding of how the inside of the Trump administration works, Mohib said.

The majority of those interviewed were far more critical and said they would speak candidly only on the condition of anonymity.

Several spoke of the difficulty of determining where power lies within the administration and how decisions are made. We are still not sure how the equilibrium in this administration is playing out in terms of who is responsible for what, a senior European said. Is it the White House? The State Department? Is Defense calling the shots? . . . Im being clinically analytical, not chiding. This is the situation. We are guessing, sometimes.

Things have gotten a bit better since Kellys arrival over the summer, a Latin American said. At least with process, if not policy. Its clear [Kelly] has influence. But Jared? McMaster? We dont know if theyre in or out, he said, referring to Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, Trumps national security adviser.

[Enforcer or choke point? Kelly seeks to bring order to chaotic White House]

Some try to posture in a way they think will appeal to Trump and those around him. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a progressive pragmatist who visited Trump in the White House in June, tried to sync with him, but it didnt work, said Joon Hyung Kim, a professor of international studies at Handong University.

Moon is really a detail person, and he tried to explain things in detail regarding defense and economic issues, Kim said. I dont think Trump really liked that.

We want to trust Mattis and others, he said, referring to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, generally considered a moderate buffer for Trump, but were not really sure if theyre 100 percent bulletproof.

Many of those interviewed said they are often told by administration officials to ignore Trumps tweets or undiplomatic remarks. They recognize it is a risky game.

In the business sector, you can be very forceful in negotiations, said a diplomat whose government has been on the receiving end of Trumps tweets. You call each other names all day, then you sit down and have a martini. In foreign policy, there are consequences to the name-calling. Damage is done.

Some foreign diplomats have tried to work around the White House by forging closer relationships with the battered and shrinking Democratic and Republican foreign policy establishment in Congress. Another strategy, particularly on issues related to climate change and trade, has been to work directly with governors, avoiding Washington entirely, several foreign diplomats said.

Others said their leaders, in meetings with Trump, have had to decide whether to take on what one called the president's "one-sentence, very blunt affirmations." Asked to give an example, this official recalled a discussion of the Iran nuclear deal in which Trump asserted, as he has before, "Iran is allowed to build a bomb" as soon as the agreement expires.

European signatories to the Iran nuclear deal have given up on trying to change his mind, or to argue that the accords sunset provision does not give Tehran a pass to restart its nuclear program. Instead, they have directed their attention to persuading Congress not to legislate new sanctions on Iran.

A diplomat whose country has close and cordial relations and no obvious problems with the administration said his government is nonetheless exploring more extensive trade and diplomatic ties with Asia.

At the beginning, he said, Trump was a fascination. As the months have passed, he said, all this perplexing noise from Washington, it becomes background noise. And the United States is a bit less important than before.

Read more:

Trumps feud with Corker is bad news for his Iran deal plans

Trump contradicts Tillerson on North Korea, the latest in a series of put-downs
A security officer at the offices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security, in Washington. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images)

More than two months after making John F. Kelly his chief of staff, President Trump is not close to nominating a replacement to head the Department of Homeland Security, a delay that is likely to leave the agency without a Senate-confirmed leader for longer than any period in its history.

Asked when he would pick Kelly's replacement, Trump told reporters on Sept. 29 that "we'll be making that decision probably within a month."

With 240,000 employees, a $40 billion budget and a mile-wide organizational chart, the DHS is managing multiple threats, crises and disasters, both natural and man-made. While leading the recovery efforts after three major hurricanes, the department is also busy policing Americas borders, airports and seas; implementing Trumps controversial immigration policies; and guarding the countrys electoral system and infrastructure from unprecedented hacking attempts, among other tasks.

Acting secretary Elaine Duke has been in the role since July 31, but she does not have a background in emergency management, counterterrorism or law enforcement. Though she has earned mostly praise for her stewardship of the agency during a difficult stretch, she is not considered a candidate for the secretary job, according to several administration officials with knowledge of the search.

[Deportations slow under Trump despite increase in arrests by ICE]



White House chief of staff John Kelly and his deputy, Kirstjen Nielsen, who is thought to be a top candidate for homeland security secretary. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Duke continues to enjoy the support of the White House, particularly Kelly, her former boss, and that confidence has lessened some of the urgency to quickly nominate a replacement, according to the officials, who, like others interviewed, spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the search publicly.

Aside from her widely derided characterization of the federal response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico as "a good news story," Duke is generally viewed as a competent manager and steady hand.

Presidents have typically moved to fill the DHS secretary position quickly, rather than leaving it to someone in a fill-in role. In the fall of 2013, acting DHS secretary Rand Beers served in a temporary capacity for 3 months, but since Trumps next choice will face Senate confirmation, Dukes tenure is likely to exceed that.

Im concerned that a position so important to the security of this country is being left to an acting person rather than a presidentially appointed secretary, said Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.), the top-ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee.

An acting secretary can do some things, but its not like having a permanent person in there, and right now we dont even have a nominee, Thompson said.

Trumps eventual pick will test the prevailing political currents inside the White House, and particularly Kellys influence over the president, according to current and former administration and DHS officials.

While Kelly and others are said to favor a candidate with management experience in counterterrorism, law enforcement or the military, others in the administration are eager to see an immigration hard-liner in the role, particularly with the DHS at the center of a looming showdown over ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

[Trumps hard-line immigration principles threaten deal on dreamers]

Kirstjen Nielsen, Kellys deputy and a cybersecurity expert, has extensive experience at the DHS and the White House and is viewed as one of the prime candidates for the job, according to current and former DHS officials. Others include Tom Bossert, the presidents homeland security adviser, and Kevin McAleenan, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, was a subject of frequent speculation after Kelly's departure, but persons with knowledge of the search said he is no longer considered a front-runner because Trump's core supporters view him as insufficiently rigid on immigration.

I dont think the position of DHS secretary has been politicized so much as the issues have become more politicized, said Jane Holl Lute, who was deputy DHS secretary from 2009 to 2013.

Current and former DHS officials say Trump senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, in particular, is eager to send a signal that the White House will not back down on DACA, deportations and other contentious immigration issues, especially after some conservatives mocked the president as "Amnesty Don" after the outlines of his immigration deal with Senate Democrats emerged.

The presidents well-known fondness for martial figures and police commanders could favor Thomas Homan, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose demeanor  more beat cop than lawyer  has particular appeal to Trump.

Also frequently mentioned is Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a hero to immigration hard-liners, who was appointed by Trump in May to co-chair a presidential commission investigating allegations of voter fraud in the 2016 election. But Kobach is a polarizing figure who would face a difficult confirmation fight, and administration officials say Kelly doesn't want him in the DHS job.

White House officials said the delay in picking a nominee has to do less with political divisions within the administration than with the challenge of finding the right person for the job  someone who must be part cop, lawyer, chief executive and politician, with a disaster always looming.

Its a heavy load. Whoever has that job feels a deep, cold dread in their soul every time the phone rings in the evening, because its never good news, said Stewart Baker, the top DHS policy official under President George W. Bush. But you learn how to handle emergencies, and handle emergencies in a political environment.

Trump earned rare bipartisan praise when he picked Kelly, a retired four-star Marine Corps general. But the delay in choosing his replacement has increased concern among many lawmakers that the president will use the nomination to fire up the part of his base that loved chanting Build the wall! at his rallies and still expects him to do so.

Several Democratic and Republican lawmakers who sit on the committees responsible for DHS oversight say they are looking for the administration to nominate someone with broad appeal who could be quickly confirmed.

Obviously the border is important, and disaster relief, said Rep. Peter T. King (N.Y.), one of the leading Republican members of the House Homeland Security Committee. But this department was created to stop terrorism, so it should be someone with a strong counterterrorism or law enforcement background.
When they met last month in New York, President Trump hailed what he called his personal relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and said the United States and Turkey were as close as we have ever been.

Erdogan called Trump my dear friend Donald.

Close observers of Ankara and Washington would have been forgiven for rolling their eyes. For the past several years, the ties between them have repeatedly frayed to near the breaking point, only to be temporarily patched. On Sunday, they snapped.

Following the arrest last week of Metin Topuz, a Turkish employee of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, the United States announced that it was immediately suspending the issuance of non-immigrant visas in Turkey. Ankara quickly responded with identical restrictions, suddenly upending the plans of countless Turkish and American tourists, students, businesspeople and others who did not already possess the necessary travel documents.

While the Turkish government provided no information about the Topuz arrest, the Daily Sabah, a pro-government paper, said in a Monday editorial that he was accused of "facilitating the escape" from Turkey of "known Gulenists"  followers of a U.S.-based Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of being behind a July 2016 coup attempt.

That report and others provoked John Bass, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Turkey, to post a 4 -minute video on the embassy site to explain the visa suspension decision. Topuz, who worked in an office coordinating with Turkish law enforcement and ensuring the security of American and Turkish citizens, was the second such U.S. diplomatic employee arrested this year, Bass said, raising questions about whether the goal of some officials is to disrupt the long-standing cooperation between Turkey and the United States.

Without guarantees of Turkeys respect for the principles of rule of law that all modern democracies follow, he said, the United States could not be sure its facilities were safe. He expressed hope the suspension of new visas at U.S. facilities in Turkey would not last long but offered no prediction.

Turkish prosecutors also said Monday in a vaguely worded statement that they had summoned yet another consulate staffer to testify. The statement mentioned that the staffers wife and son had been detained on Gulen-related allegations but did not say what charges, if any, the staffer faced.

Other than Basss video, neither the State Department nor the White House made any comment Monday on the Turkey situation. Erdogan, traveling in Ukraine, called it saddening.

But the administration's sharp action appeared to mark a turning point in what Soner Cagaptay, a Turkish American political scientist at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and author of a book on Erdogan, "The New Sultan," called the long-standing idea "that the U.S. would cut some slack for Erdogan and look the other way" in the belief that its relationship with Turkey was bigger than the Turkish president.

The latest argument has exposed divides that began in the Obama administration and have become steadily deeper, despite Ankaras initial optimism that Trump would be more to its liking.

President Barack Obama, Erdogans government had charged, was weak in executing their joint policy of supporting opposition forces fighting to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and dragged his feet on Turkeys request for Gulens extradition. Under Obama, Turkey believed, the United States was too supportive of Syrian Kurdish guerrillas fighting the Islamic State in that country.

We have positive opinions of the new administration, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in March, after Trump and Erdogan spoke by telephone during the U.S. presidents early weeks in office.

During the phone call, Trump was noncommittal when Erdogan warned the United States not to directly arm the Syrian Kurds, despite American military plans to use the fighters as its main ground force in a major offensive to clear the Islamic State from northern Syria, including the de facto militant capital of Raqqa. Turkey, Erdogan said, saw the Kurdish force as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, the separatist group in Turkey that both countries have designated as a terrorist organization.

By the time Erdogan visited Trump in Washington in May, the decision had already gone against him. There was talk that Turkey would retaliate by throwing U.S. forces out of its Incirlik Air Base, a central hub for U.S. attack aircraft operating against the Islamic State. Turkey, which had already sent forces into northern Syria to block Kurdish expansion close to its border, also threatened to block the U.S.-backed advance into Raqqa.

Neither of those things happened. But the relationship, already unraveling, was reaching a crisis point.

Turkish officials have also tried to win the release of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish Iranian gold trader facing U.S. charges of evading sanctions on Iran. Last month, U.S. federal prosecutors also indicted a former Turkish economy minister for allegedly conspiring with Zarrab.

Charges have also been brought in absentia against 15 Erdogan bodyguards who are accused of beating protesters outside the Turkish ambassadors residence in Washington during the presidential visit in May.

Despite near-constant Turkish appeals, the administration has reported no progress in adjudicating its request to extradite Gulen, a permanent U.S. resident who lives in Pennsylvania. The Justice Department has not yet judged as sufficient evidence presented by Turkey describing a massive anti-government conspiracy. Since the attempted coup, tens of thousands of Gulen followers and ordinary critics of the government have been arrested.

That sweep has also ensnared a number of U.S. and European citizens, whose release Erdogan recently tied to progress on Gulens extradition.

In what was read in the United States as a gratuitous slap, Erdogan this month hosted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on an official visit, just as the Trump administration called for other countries to reduce their ties with Maduros repressive government. Erdogan has also tightened links with both Iran and Russia.

As relations between the NATO allies worsen, their long-standing military ties  vital to the U.S.-led effort to eliminate the Islamic State from the region  have come under threat.

About 2,700 U.S. troops and civilians are based in Turkey, mostly at Incirlik, the air base near the Syrian border. The base also houses dozens of tactical nuclear weapons, said Kingston Reif of the Washington-based Arms Control Association. While instability is unlikely to threaten the weapons safety, he said, further political pressure from Ankara could restrict the Pentagons ability to deploy the F-15 and F-16 fighters capable of delivering them.

Retired Adm. James Stavridis, who commanded NATO under Obama and is now dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, described Incirlik as beyond valuable and urged that the United States do everything we can to ensure we have a balanced, sensible and strategic relationship with Turkey.

But Bulent Aliriza of the Center for Strategic and International Studies described the U.S.-Turkey relationship as one born out of the mutual needs of the Cold War. For years, he said, the two sides have been making ad hoc efforts to preserve a relationship whose reason for being has disappeared.

Now, he said, the chickens are coming home to roost, and its difficult to see how to get back on an even keel.

Fahim reported from Istanbul. Carol Morello and Alex Horton in Washington contributed to this report.

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WSU Honors Program Prepping for Apocalypse

September 13, 2017

OGDEN, Utah  As many college students step back into college life, students in the Honors Program at Weber State University are discussing the end of the world.

New to fall semester are two courses that investigate the modern fascination with the apocalypse and solutions to one of the most pressing end-of-civilization problems  not enough food or water.

The Honors Program strives to offer classes that truly are outside the box in terms of content and teaching, said Dan Bedford, WSU Honors Program director. In doing so, we offer a place for faculty and students to stretch themselves creatively and intellectually, which benefits the entire campus. Students gain from opportunities to learn in unusual ways, in a small-class, discussion-focused environment. These classes can ignite a passion for learning that lasts some students their entire lives.

"Karen Cooper" portrayed by Kyra Schon, Night of the Living Dead

The Apocalypse and After, taught by Scott Rogers, English associate professor, will focus on how post-apocalyptic themes are a modern fascination, intensified by each new invention.

Zombies have transformed over time, according to Rogers. Students will study that change in various zombie literature and films ranging from Night of the Living Dead to World War Z.

Zombies were used to reveal different cultural issues during various time periods, Rogers said. In 1968, George Romero used zombies to illustrate racial issues in Night of the Living Dead. In Zack Snyders 2004 remake Dawn of the Dead, zombies represented mindless consumption and consumerism.

The zombies are a stand-in for any catastrophe, Rogers said. Thats the genius of zombies; theyre just a vessel you can make whatever you want. If youve got a culture with an anxiety, throw it in there.

In addition to cultural issues, zombies can address the idea of societal collapse. One of the more recent types of zombie fiction involves the spread of rampant viruses and the possibility of life in a post-apocalyptic world.

Its no coincidence that this genre emerges right at the moment when the world gets globally connected on a scale that its never seen before, Rogers said. Its about a sort of realization that we have this enormous dependency on technology and that the world we live in makes the spread of horrifying diseases really easy.

Rogers wants his students to examine the zombie culture mania by asking why this artistic event is happening now and what it says about the culture that produced it.

If the students come out of class asking those questions about every phenomenon they see, whether its some particular genre of music or art or television show, it was successful, Rogers said.

The class is held Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 10:30-11:20 a.m. in Stewart Library Room 325.

The second Honors course tackling a world-ending challenge is Food and Water for a Hungry World. Students will discuss ways to provide enough food and water for the growing world population and what science has done for the way in which food is grown.

Access to potable water and nutritional food are fundamental to life, said Bridget Hilbig, botany assistant professor and instructor in the Honors Program. The current issues of population growth, urbanization and climate change threaten that access and create a fear of an apocalypse-like environment, but also a strong desire to find a solution.

In 2015, it is estimated that 780 million people were undernourished. Although that number is improving, it is nowhere near the goals set by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization or the World Food Summit of 1996. Its easy to imagine how lack of food and water would dominate an end-of-the-world catastrophe. Thats why Hilbig likes to discuss it with her Honors class.

Global food security is a challenge that will affect their lives, and the solution requires innovative minds and collaborative effort from many different fields, Hilbig said. It will require changes to agribusiness, changes in science and farming practices, changes in policy. Most importantly are an increased awareness and education about where your food comes from and what or who determines what you eat.

Thats what Honors students will consider all semester in the class that will be located in Stewart Library Room 325 on Wednesday from 12:30-3 p.m.

Honors classes aren't necessarily more work than other classes, but they are different, and they are challenging, Bedford said. Most of them also count for general education credit. Students who want an academic adventure should try an Honors course.

Visit weber.edu/Honors for more information about the Honors Program.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.

For photos, visit the following links:

photos.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2017-photos/September-2017/i-DGKcRS5/0/781d577e/X2/notld-kyra-X2.jpg

photos.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2017-photos/September-2017/i-8zx7Dfm/0/5d0e2a5d/M/D727_4_005_0004_600%20%281%29-M.jpg
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 09/10/2017 (1863 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  The federal government has started tracking the number of overdoses on reserves, but cant say how many have occurred in Manitoba.

This spring, then-health minister Jane Philpott asked Health Canada to start tracking opioid overdoses in First Nation communities, after realizing they fall outside the scope of the data provinces report to the federal government.

The fact that data is being collected was made public in late September, only after a CBC report highlighting the lack of data on reserves.

ADRIAN WYLD / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott said last week she asked Health Canada to start collecting data on opioid overdoses in First Nations communities, after realizing they fall outside the scope of the data provinces report to the federal government.

Health Canada said last week that since May 8, Health Canada has approached 155 First Nations communities, convincing all but two of them to notify bureaucrats when a suspected opioid overdose occurs.

Thats 40 per cent of reserves, excluding British Columbia and the territories. These 153 communities represent most of the remote and isolated FN communities, the department said in a statement.

So far, 13 suspected opioid overdoses were reported, including two known fatal cases. Health Canada wouldnt provide any provincial breakdown, nor a list of which First Nations are participating in the data collection, citing privacy concerns.

We recognize that these deaths are more than just numbers, the department said, adding data are important elements in addressing the opioid crisis and stopping overdoses.

Last November, at a landmark conference on the opioid crisis, Health Canada pledged to co-ordinate data collection on opioid deaths and treatments in the provinces and territories. But the data it has collected has primarily come from provinces monitoring their own doctors and hospitals. Most on-reserve health services are a federal responsibility administered by Health Canada, except in British Columbia.

Philpott said last week she asked Health Canada to start collecting data on opioid overdoses and associated deaths after that gap came to my attention.

Theres still much more work to do, but its important to get a sense of how big the problem is, said Philpott, who is now the minister of Indigenous services. That will certainly help us to be able to do the preventive work and provide treatment and harm reduction as necessary.

Grand Chief Arlen Dumas said he hadnt heard about the data collection, and wasnt sure if Ottawa notified the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.

Its worse in some communities more than others, said Dumas, who blames over-prescription. He recalls a doctor prescribing him codeine after a car accident in the mid-1990s, a drug that specialists now believe is ineffective and liable to promote addiction.

Dumas was health director for Pukatawagan a decade ago, at Mathias Colomb First Nation. He recalls a tense atmosphere when narcotics arrived. We had to disguise them because people were starting to harass and bother people for their prescriptions.

He hopes the federal data will help First Nations design their responses to the crisis, but says Ottawa should have been more upfront about collecting the data. It depends what they want to use it for.

Philpott didnt answer when asked whether the government intends to make the data public, or use it internally for reports. Instead, she said we are responding to a tremendous public health emergency, with officials working ambitiously to find out where this is happening (and) what can be done.

Data released last month showed 2,816 opioid-related deaths in Canada, with nearly 1,000 people dying in B.C. and nearly 900 in Ontario. In Manitoba, 69 deaths were connected to opioids. Manitoba had the second-lowest rate of significant opioid poisonings requiring hospitalization. These numbers include reserves, but dont specify how many occured there, or how many deaths were Indigenous people.

Health Canada handed over First Nations health care in B.C. to local groups, which started tracking overdose data on reserves in 2015. In August, those officials reported that First Nations people in B.C. were five times more likely to have an opioid-related overdose and three times more likely to die from one.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
By Joseph Kato

The police says only 10 people have been arrested for allegedly engaging in theft at the Kampala Capital City festival yesterday.

Kampala Metropolitan police commander, Frank Mwesigwa, has confirmed that the suspects are being detained at Kampala Central Police Station for involving in petty crime such wallet and phone snatching.

Mwesigwa has however dismissed reports that three police buses each with carrying capacity of 68 passengers had ferried the suspects to the infamous Naggalama police station in Mukono district.

Last years festival saw 200 people detained at CPS and Jinja Road police stations.

Police say they were yet to register cases of children and adults disappearances like it was the case during last years festival.
On Tuesday, October 3, the US State Department informed the Cuban ambassador, Jose Ramon Cabanas, that the Cuban government would need to remove 15 diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Washington, DC. The reduction, which amounts to two-thirds of embassy staff, in the wake of mysterious allegations of sonic attacks affecting staff stationed at the US embassy in Havana, effectively fulfills President Donald Trumps campaign promise to cancel Obamas one-sided Cuban deal.

The Cuban government was presented with a list of individuals the US government wants removed. After the reduction, the Cuban embassy will be left with around a dozen staffers, with only one of them a consular official. According to an Associated Press (AP) report, this leaves the embassy with a smaller staff than it maintained before the rapprochement and the upgrading of its interests section to an embassy.

All of the Cuban embassys business officers were ordered to leave, putting an end to new discussions on trade deals between American companies and the Cuban government. One departing Cuban embassy staffer noted in a message, Due to this decision, the activities developed by the Economic and Trade Office of the Embassy of Cuba to the United States ... will be seriously affected.

With the departure of embassy staff, the processing of visas for Cubans and Cuban-Americans residing in the United States and intending to travel to the island will grind to a halt, potentially cutting off travel indefinitely. At the end of September, when the US removed its own personnel from the US embassy in Havana, the government announced it would be suspending processing of immigration visas for Cubans wishing to emigrate to the US. This would appear to violate an agreement dating from the mid-90s, under which up to 20,000 visas are granted to Cubans each year, providing a safety valve for social anger against the Cuban government.

The order for Cuban diplomats to leave follows widely reported allegations about sonic or acoustic weapon attacks against US diplomatic personnel stationed in Havana, which have supposedly affected up to 22 individuals from the US and five Canadians over the last 11 months. Those affected have reportedly suffered a variety of symptoms, including nausea, headaches, dizziness and other seemingly neurological and cognitive issues.

All of the reports concerning the attacks rely upon unnamed State Department sources, with none of those affected named. Nor have those treating them been named. This is perhaps no surprise, as AP reported that the majority of the diplomatic personnel affected were actually US intelligence agents.

Speculation about the cause of the attacks, and whether they happened at all, has reached into the realm of science fiction, and many scientists have come out stating that none of the proposed causal mechanisms, such as ultra- or infrasound, would account for all the varying symptoms reported. In a report appearing in Wired, Robert Putnam, senior marketing manager at LRAD, a firm which manufactures actual acoustic weapons, said, Nothing about this story makes any sense to us.

Cuba has vehemently denied any involvement with the attacks, and even took the unprecedented step of allowing FBI investigators to travel openly to the country and find the source of the attacks. The US government consequently has not accused the Cuban government of being the source of the attacks. Although five Canadians were also supposedly affected, the Canadian government has declined to comment, and is not pulling any of its staff from the island.

Officially, according to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, The decision was made due to Cubas failure to take appropriate steps to protect our diplomats in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention.

The Cuban government, although cooperative with the initial investigation, has protested the latest US moves to expel the members of its diplomatic mission. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez issued a statement saying, MINREX (Foreign Ministry) strongly protests and denounces this unfounded and unacceptable ... eminently political decision, and protesting the lack of access to the victims or any other evidence sharing, notes that there is no evidence of the occurrence of the alleged incidents or the causes or origin of the health conditions reported by US diplomats and their families.

Whether the attacks actually happened or not, the Trump administration appears determined to use them as a pretext for undoing much of the rapprochement begun under the Obama administration, in order to curry favor with the right-wing Cuban-American exiles. After having already cut back on travel relaxation and banning financial deals with the Cuban government and military in June, the latest moves essentially put a freeze on any further talks between US companies and the Cuban government.

At the same time, by not simply cutting off relations entirely, the Trump administration has largely preserved the current arrangements and deals that have already been made, such as with the airlines, cruise ship companies and Airbnb.

For its part, the desperation of the Cuban government to expand its relationship with the US in order to lessen its reliance on a shaky Venezuela is evident in its willingness to invite the intelligence agents of American imperialism into the country.
In a particularly outrageous case of imprisonment without cause, Carlton O. Harris was allowed to languish in the Washington, DC jail this past spring for 77 days, despite the misdemeanor charge for which he had been picked up had already been dismissed. Only the intervention of another inmate, who informed his own attorney of the situation, put an end to the ordeal.

Harris, a 28-year-old roofer, was arrested on March 28 this year after an alleged dispute at his house. Prosecutors dropped the case the next day. DC corrections, however, kept Harris in jail because of an outstanding federal warrant in Maryland from a 2013 traffic citation for driving with a revoked license on the grounds of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Harris was working on a roofing job at NIH at the time.

On March 30, federal marshals called the DC jail to bring Harris to the DC federal courthouse in Maryland over the outstanding warrant. DC officials told federal marshals Harris was still being held on misdemeanor charges and, despite the fact that his case had been dropped the previous day, would be released to them pending their resolution. And so Harris remained in DC jail for an additional two and a half months.

The Washington Post reported that in the meantime, after 10 weeks of unlawfully being locked up, Harris lost his job and is now struggling to provide for his two children.

The plight of Harris and other members of the working class caught up in DCs justice system is an example of the class-based US legal system and the erosion of fundamental democratic rights in the United States. Had Harris been well-off not only would he not have endured 77 days without freedom, but he would never have been arrested in the first place over an alleged dispute.

Harris knew he had a right to an attorney but was afraid to speak up to his jailers for fear of greater punishment and physical abuse. I know I had a right to a lawyer, Harris told the Post, but when youre in their custody, its out of your control. You kind of got to sit back and let them do their job. You speak up, they can go real bad. They can put you in a room, cuff you and beat you down. You can speak up, but it turns out youre going to have to shut up.

Harris attempted to reach out through other channels but was equally rebuffed. During his detention, he explained the situation to a caseworker with the corrections department who told him she had no further information. He also reached out to the DC Public Defender Service for Superior Court but was told it had not been assigned to his case, though they did eventually inform him to contact the federal public defenders office.

By this point, Harris told the Post, I started to lose hope, and then I was very worried.

Finally, on June 14, due to the intervention of a fellow prisoner, the federal public defenders office contacted the US Marshals office and arranged to bring Harris to federal court. He was brought to court the next day and finally released.

Since 2005, DC has paid over $18 million to settle lawsuits on behalf of thousands of people held in jail beyond their release dates. The city is set to pay out $6 million by the end of this year in a settlement agreement reached in 2013 over the same issue. Back then, the judge overseeing the settlement called the citys failure to deliver on promised reforms as conscience-shocking. Four years later, the same problems persist, with the overwhelming number of victims poor and working class.

A few weeks before Harris was arrested, DC lawyers admitted in another lawsuit that the DC corrections department had detained Gregory Smith for 23 days beyond his release date. The DC corrections department falsely claimed that it had never received Smiths release order. In February, the city admitted in court filings that the corrections department in fact received a time-stamped release order for Smiths release the day it was issued by a judge, and that it had been in his institutional file all along.

In addition, a recently-filed class action lawsuit on behalf of prisoners alleges that the District of Columbia is hiding the extent of the number of cases in which its jails hold people beyond their release dates.

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A Pound of Flesh: The US legal systems war against the poor

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Coalition negotiations are continuing following the inconclusive result of the September 23 New Zealand election. Final figures announced on Saturday, after the counting of votes by people who enrolled late and overseas votes, narrowed the gap between the major parties. The incumbent National Party lost two seats and the opposition Labour and Green Parties each gained one.

Labour and the Greens now have 54 seats compared to Nationals 56, but neither side has the 61 seats needed for a majority. All three parties are courting the right-wing, anti-Asian New Zealand First Party, which, with just 7 percent of the votes (9 seats), has said it will decide the next government by October 12.

A major factor in the coalition talks is NZ Firsts hardline anti-Chinese stance. The party ran a Trump-style campaign calling for economic protectionism and, along with Labour, scapegoated immigrants for the housing crisis and low wages. It is also demanding an investigation into Chinese influence on the National Party government, a call which dovetails with efforts to align the country more explicitly with the US military build-up against China.

The National government, like the 19992008 Labour government, has strengthened military and intelligence ties with the US and sent troops to the neo-colonial wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the same time, it has so far tried to avoid alienating China, New Zealands second-largest trading partner.

Now, under conditions where US President Donald Trump has made reckless threats of nuclear war with North Korea, and is threatening trade war against China, New Zealands ruling elite is being warned that to keep its alliance with US imperialism it must line up unequivocally behind this drive towards war.

On September 27, NZ First leader Winston Peters told the media he would insist on an inquiry into anonymous allegations, made 10 days before the election, that National MP Jian Yang is a spy for the Chinese Communist Party. No evidence has been presented that Yang is a spy, but Peters has called for him to step down on the basis that he taught English more than 20 years ago at military training institutions in China.

A New York Times article on October 4, voicing Washingtons interests, echoed NZ Firsts position. It stressed New Zealands importance as member of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing partnership along with the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. While noting that Yang had not been charged with anything, the newspaper quoted former CIA agent Nicholas Eftimiades, who asserted that many Chinese former military personnel were still actively engaged in espionage.

The article also referred to a witch-hunting report by academic Anne-Marie Brady, Magic Weapons: Chinas political influence activities under Xi Jinping, which accused Beijing of an aggressive campaign of using soft power to influence New Zealands politics, economy and society, including through campaign donations.

While the newspaper described Brady as a New Zealand-based professor, her report was actually published by a US government-funded think tank, the Wilson Centre, just days before the election. It was widely reported in the international and New Zealand media, with the aim of realigning the countrys politics in favour of the US.

This is far from the first time Washington has intervened directly in the regions politics. In 2010 elements in the Australian Labor Party, described as protected sources by the US embassy, organised the removal of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd because he was regarded as insufficiently committed to the Obama administrations military and economic pivot against China.

Brady wrote that a new Labour-NZ First government would likely distance New Zealand from China and further strengthen the alliance with Washington. She noted that while National supports New Zealand participation in Chinas major One Belt One Road (OBOR) trade and investment initiative, NZ First is adamantly opposed and Labour has no official policy but was likely to have concerns about the extent of New Zealand involvement in the OBOR and the implications for economic independence.

Brady pointed to business ties between Chinese companies and banks and numerous retired National Party politicians. Without any evidence, she also accused Yang and Labour Party MP Raymond Huo, as well as Labour candidate Chen Naisi, of being agents of Beijing. She also made the claim, again with zero evidence, that Chinese-owned farms in New Zealand may have been used to test military technology.

Brady advocates the surveillance of Chinese immigrants, and any New Zealander with any links to China. She suggested that the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) investigate Chinese influence in politics, as well as businesses, community organisations and student groups. She noted with approval the agencys sweeping, anti-democratic powers to investigate foreign capabilities, intentions, or activities within or relating to New Zealand that impact on New Zealands international well-being or economic well-being... [and] the protection of New Zealand from activities... that are influenced by any foreign organisation or any foreign person.

NZ Firsts Winston Peters praised Bradys report, while Labour leader Jacinda Ardern told the New Zealand Herald she wanted to take a closer look at an investigation into Chinese influence carried out by the Australian spy agencies, suggesting she would support a similar witch-hunt in New Zealand.

The Labour Party and NZ First, along with the Greens and the Maori nationalist Mana Party, have attacked National for years for encouraging Chinese investment, and sought to whip up anti-Chinese xenophobia to divert from the responsibility of governments for the worsening social crisis. Prior to the election, Mana leader Hone Harawira, who has been falsely portrayed as left wing by various pseudo-left groups, made a racist demand for Chinese drug smugglers to be executed.

A significant role supporting the anti-Chinese campaign is played by the ultra-nationalistic Daily Blog, funded by the Unite Union, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) and the New Zealand Dairy Workers Union.

The blog is calling for a Labour-Green-NZ First coalition and declared after the election that Chinese influence would become the major issue. Its editor Martyn Bradbury praised Bradys report in a blatantly racist article on October 5. He stated that the Asian-NZ population will overtake Maori in 20 years and demonised Asian immigration as a new wave of colonisation threatening the bi-cultural framework of our country and the special relationship Maori have as the indigenous people of NZ.

The Daily Blog also published a direct attack on the World Socialist Web Site, on September 29, by the pseudo-left Communist Workers Group. While admitting that Brady supported US warmongering, the blog post rejected the WSWSs analysis that the source of the war danger in Asia is the aggressive build-up by US imperialism and its allies, including Australia and New Zealand, against China.

The group echoed NZ Firsts position that Chinas reborn imperialism... is invading NZ and ludicrously described New Zealand as an oppressed neo-colony of both China and the US.

In fact, New Zealand is a minor imperialist power, whose ruling class depends on its alliance with the US to advance its own predatory imperialist interests in the Pacific region and elsewhere.

The Daily Blog articles, reminiscent of the Yellow Peril racism peddled by the Labour and trade union apparatus in the early 20th century, reflect the anti-socialist and pro-imperialist politics of the union bureaucracy today. It seeks to weaken the working class and divert it from a political struggle against New Zealand capitalism by fomenting racist divisions and projecting social tensions outward.

Whatever party leads the next government, the anti-Chinese hysteria of NZ First and its allies, including Labour and the trade union bureaucracy, is setting the stage for a major escalation in attacks on immigrants, on political dissent and democratic rights generally, and stepped-up preparations for war.
The top immigration enforcement official in the Trump administration threatened Friday to carry out widespread raids targeting undocumented workers at their homes and jobs throughout California.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Tom Homan issued a thuggish statement in response to the state legislatures passage of a sanctuary state law that limits cooperation with the federal immigration agencies.

Homan made it clear that the federal immigration agency would make undocumented immigrants in California a special target in retaliation for the state legislation, SB54, signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on Thursday.

The new state law does not restrict the operations of ICE, which is a federal agency, as Brown was at pains to declare as he signed the law. But SB54 does limit the cooperation of local and state police agencies with ICE in terms of sharing information.

It also bars local and state authorities from honoring detainers, administrative orders issued by the federal agency to hold an arrested or jailed immigrant who is otherwise scheduled for release, requiring that ICE obtain a warrant or court order.

The language of the statement issued by Homan is extraordinary, treating legislation enacted by the California state government, approved by huge majorities in both the Assembly and the State Senate, and applying only to the activities of state and local government agencies, as though it were an assault on federal authority.

Homan threatens to penalize the undocumented population of the state, estimated at 2.3 million people, for the state governments action by carrying out far more sweeping enforcement actions against California residents.

ICE will have no choice but to conduct at-large arrests in local neighborhoods and at worksites, he wrote, which will inevitably result in additional collateral arrests, a reference to the arrest of undocumented residents or workers who are not the initial targets of the raid but are encountered when ICE agents begin rounding people up and demanding their papers.

In perhaps the cruelest passage in his statement, Homan wrote, ICE will also likely have to detain individuals arrested in California in detention facilities outside of the state, far from any family they may have in California. This is blatant retaliation against the undocumented workers and their families, removing those detained to locations outside the state in order to make it more difficult for them to remain in contact with their families, lawyers and support groups.

Homans statement is filled with the type of language demonizing immigrants that was the staple of Trumps presidential campaign and his many racist speeches on the subject, claiming that California would become a sanctuary state for illegal aliensincluding those who have committed crimes and would benefit dangerous criminal aliens and other immigration violators.

The reality is that SB54 is a largely cosmetic measure, enacted by the Democratic-controlled state legislature in response to lobbying by agribusiness, the garment industry, Silicon Valley, and other business groups that are large-scale exploiters of immigrant labor.

While accompanied by rhetoric aimed at currying favor with the states large Hispanic and Asian population, the bill was heavily watered down in negotiations with Governor Brown, also a Democrat, who insisted that there be no limitation on ICE agents having access to prisoners held in state and local jails, or on cooperation with ICE by jail and prison officials.

The law permits local and state police to communicate with federal agents about the past felony criminal records of supposed undocumented immigrants, or about arrest records for those awaiting trial for felonies. It also permits them to cooperate in the transfer of such prisoners to federal custody.

Brown issued a statement upon signing SB54 into law. This bill does not prevent or prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security from doing their own work in any way, Brown wrote. They are free to use their own considerable resources to enforce federal immigration law in California.

SB54 does effectively forbid state and local police from taking on any direct role in the enforcement of immigration law, which is a federal responsibility. They are barred from asking about an arrested persons immigration status, arresting anyone based on a civil immigration warrant, or participating in any joint task force with federal agencies to enforce immigration laws.

Brown defended the law for its budgetary benefits, saying that state and local police should not be commandeered by the federal government, without reimbursement, to do work which is inherently federal, like the enforcement of immigration laws.

While California Democrats have sought to posture as sympathetic to undocumented immigrants, there is no fundamental difference between the two big business parties on carrying out mass repression of immigrants. The Obama administration deported nearly three million immigrants, more than any other administration in US history, while Obama used executive orders like the one establishing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to feign support for a section of the undocumented population.

Brown signed a total of ten bills into law Thursday that impact immigration enforcement in California, including AB450, which bars private and public employers from giving federal agents access to records or workplaces unless they have a judicial warrant. AB 291 bars landlords from using immigration status to discriminate in renting residential property.

SB29 restricts state and local government from contracting with ICE to provide detention facilities, effectively barring the use of local jails and state prisons for detained immigrants. It was this bill that provoked Homans threat that ICE would ship detained immigrants to other states.

While the Democratic Party has no such intentions, the passage of SB54 and its companion laws could yet spark a direct conflict between the largest US state and the federal government. The Trump administration seems determined to provoke such a conflict, in part to appeal to its fascistic base.

In a similar fashion, Republican-controlled state governments like that in Texas have deliberately provoked conflicts with Democratic-controlled local authorities, such as the city of Austin and its surrounding Travis County, over their reluctance to aggressively attack undocumented immigrants. The Texas state legislature recently passed SB4the seeming opposite of SB54 in Californiaprohibiting local governments from declaring themselves sanctuary cities.
At a fringe meeting of the Conservative party conference in Manchester Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson made clear that Britains wars in Libya and throughout the Middle East and North Africa have nothing to do with humanitarianism or fighting terrorism.

Responding to a question about his recent visit to Libya and conditions in Sirte, the war-torn city on Libyans northern shore, Johnson said that the city could become a world-class tourist and business destination.

He stated, Theres a group of UK business people, wonderful guys who want to invest in Sirte, on the coast, near where Gaddafi was actually captured and executed as some of you may have seen.

And they literally have a brilliant vision to turn Sirte, with the help of the municipality of Sirte, to turn it into the next Dubai.

The only thing theyve got to do is clear the dead bodies away and then theyll be there.

Sirte was former leader Muammar Gaddafis hometown and his final stronghold before his defeat and brutal torture and murder at the hands of NATOs Islamist proxies.

His remarks provoked a torrent of hypocritical calls for his resignation or sacking by Prime Minister Theresa May, including by Johnsons pro-European opponents in the Tory party. Emily Thornberry, the Labour partys shadow foreign secretary, called his comments unbelievably crass, callous and cruel.

Others called for him to apologise for his gaffe and excoriated him for his inability to keep his mouth shut.

What made Johnsons remarks beyond the pale was that he told the truth, devoid of the usual moral cant, in public rather than in private discussions in ruling circles.

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, a man without a mute button or off-switch, epitomises the class arrogance and social privilege of Britains political elite. Frequently tipped as the man to oust May, he ranks as one of the most disgusting creatures spewed out by British imperialism over the course of several centuries.

Johnson has carefully cultivated a public persona as the Conservative Partys jovial buffoon, someone who is not afraid of plain speaking, which he uses to articulate his extreme right-wing views. A few days earlier, the British ambassador to Myanmar was forced to stop him mid-sentence as he recited Rudyard Kiplings Road to Mandalay in the countrys most sacred temple.

The poem includes the declaration, The temple bells they say/ Come you back you English soldier. Britain colonised Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, from 1824 to 1948 and brutally repressed successive liberation struggles.

Johnsons Libya remarks accurately reflect the true nature of Britains war for regime change in Libya. Thornberry described the war against Libya in 2011 as being morally right to protect civilians from a ruthless dictator, and the action has been authorised by the UN. She is furious because Johnson has exposed in the crudest possible terms all such attempts to dress the war up as a humanitarian intervention.

The US-orchestrated regime-change operation sought to bolster imperialism in North Africa, which had been shaken by the overthrow of longstanding US-backed dictatorships in Egypt and Tunisia. Invoking the liberal imperialist Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, Britains then-Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron played a major role in the NATO intervention.

Britains participation in the Libyan war, as in its other interventions in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria and elsewhere, are in pursuance of its own geostrategic, corporate and financial interests: theseand othercountries must be opened up to the hucksters and swindlers in Britains corporations and banks. It was yet another war for oil and gas.

Last year, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee issued a damning report exposing the fraudulent basis of the war. It criticised Cameron for claiming without evidence that Gaddafi was about to carry out a massacre of genocidal proportions against protesters in Benghazi.

Cameron had pursued an opportunistic policy of regime change, while telling parliament in March 2011 that the intervention was not for regime change. Just one month later, Cameron signed a joint letter with the French and US presidents declaring their aim of pursuing a future without Gaddafi.

He supported so-called rebels among whom Islamist terror groups were known to be embedded. These rebels included Abdul Hakim Belhaj, who had fought with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and was one of the founders of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) that sought to transform Libya into an Islamic state.

In the 1990s, Britains Conservative government gave him and other LIFG members sanctuary in London and used them in plots to assassinate Gaddafi. In 2004, Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair did an abrupt about-turn and signed a deal with Gaddafi that opened Libya to oil giant BP. His government colluded with the CIA in its secret rendition and torture programme, leading to Belhajs imprisonment by the Gaddafi regime.

In 2011, the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government rediscovered his usefulness and worked closely with Belhaj, the LIFG and similar groups to topple the Gaddafi regime, with NATO forces providing him with air cover.

Belhaj became the leader of the Tripoli Military Council tasked with keeping order in the capital after Gaddafis assassination. According to media reports in 2015, he became a leader in the newly emerging ISIS in North Africa.

The war, waged between March and October 2011, killed at least 20,000 people and plunged the Libyan population into a humanitarian catastrophe that persists to this day. Following Gaddafis ouster, the fighting between hundreds of militias for control of Libyas rich resources has led to the flight of 2 million people, one third of the pre-war population, to Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere, and the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands.

According to a report by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) published last summer, at least 1.3 million, or 20 percent of the entire Libyan population, which numbered 6.4 million before the war, are still without necessities such as food and housing, and require urgent humanitarian assistance.

This was a country that had previously enjoyed economic prosperity and stability, and had the highest Human Development Index (HDI) ranking in Africa. While its huge oil wealth was commandeered by a small corrupt elite, the state ensured a relatively high standard of living by providing free education, health care and other services.

Libyas HDI ranking has plummeted from 53 to 102 out of the 169 countries in the UNs 2016 Human Development report. Belhaj is now one of many Islamists-turned businessmen-politicians. Very wealthy, thanks to their patrons in the Gulf and the West, they are the ones seeking deals with Johnsons wonderful guys who want to invest in Sirte.

Sirte, a once prosperous city, is a scene of utter devastation and human tragedy. It is littered with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) left by Islamic State during the near-year-long siege of the city by Libyan government forces. Islamic State seized the city in March 2015, before it was recaptured through the second half of 2016 with the help of US airstrikes and forces loyal to the UN-backed government based in Tripoli.

Johnson has paid two visits to Tripoli this year. In August, he agreed on a package of measures with Prime Minister Fayyez Al-Serraj, who heads one of three governments in Libya. These include funding for training to remove IEDS and mines and for rebuilding critical infrastructure and restoring basic public services via the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This is aimed no doubt at creating a suitable environment for the next Dubai. Britains Royal Navy is also involved in training local security forces to prevent African migrants using Libya as a route to Europe.
Donald Trump continued his campaign of incendiary statements over the weekend, threatening to launch a war with North Korea that could unleash a nuclear catastrophe.

On Saturday afternoon, the US president tweeted that past administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years. This hasnt worked, he wrote, adding: Sorry, but only one thing will work! Asked later to elaborate on what he meant, Trump replied, Youll figure that out pretty soon.

These threats came three weeks after Trumps tirade at the United Nations General Assembly September 19, when he declared that the US was ready, willing, and able to totally destroy North Korea, a country of 25 million people. Four days later, Trump threatened to assassinate the North Korean leader. If the North Korean foreign ministers speech at the UN echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man [Kim Jong-Un], Trump wrote, they wont be around much longer!

On Thursday, Trump organized a White House dinner with US military leaders, which had all the hallmarks of a meeting of a war cabinet. During a photo op before the dinner, Trump, surrounded by generals in military uniform, likened the moment to the calm before the storm. Asked what storm he was talking about, Trump would only say, Youll find out soon.

To the extent that Trumps words are interpreted as a genuine expression of the policy and plans of the United States government, the inescapable conclusion is that the world stands on the brink of the most devastating military conflict since the outbreak of World War II. Were language and reality in correct political alignment, the present situation would be described officially as an Imminent danger of war.

Republican Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, embroiled in a political conflict with Trump, warned that the presidents reckless threats were leading the United States on the path to World War III. But despite Corkers statement on Sunday, there is, within the ruling elite and its media, a staggering disconnect between consciousness and reality. The public declarations emanating from the White House are being reported by the media as if they will have no consequences. The thinking seems to be that Trump doesnt mean what he says. The consequences of a war would prove to be so catastrophic that Trump is simply bluffing.

But what if he isnt? What if the North Korean government takes the threats of the American president, as it must, seriously? With Trump having publicly declared that he will destroy North Korea and that the doomsday hour is fast approaching, how will the Pyongyang government interpret American military actions near the borders of its country? With only minutes to make a decision, will the regime view the approach of a US bomber toward North Korean airspace as the beginning of a full-scale attack? Will it conclude that it has no choice but to assume the worst and initiate a military strike against South Korea? Will it fire missiles, as it has threatened, in the direction of Japan, Guam, Australia, or even the United States?

From a purely legal standpoint, North Korea can claim, in light of Trumps threats, that such action on its part would be an act of self-defense, a legitimate response to an imminent military threat.

Aside from the calculations of Pyongyang, one must assume that the regimes in Beijing and Moscow are also looking at the unfolding developments with increasing alarm. While the American media, as is its wont, responds complacently and thoughtlessly to Trumps threats, the Chinese regime cannot avoid viewing them with deadly seriousness. Trump is, after all, the commander in chief of the American military. He has the powerwhich Congress has shown no interest in challengingto order military actions.

A US attack on North Korea would pose an overwhelming threat to China. As in 1950, a war against North Korea wouldeven if it did not rapidly escalate into a nuclear exchangelead inexorably to an American incursion across the 38th Parallel. The last time the US military crossed the border into North Korea, the Chinese responded with a massive military counterattack. There is no reason to believe that the present-day regime in Beijing would remain passive in the face of a new US invasion of North Korea. It would view an American invasion as an unacceptable violation of a geopolitical arrangement on the Korean peninsula that has been in existence for nearly 65 years.

Beijings reaction would be influenced by the already tense conditions that exist in the Asia-Pacific region. For years, the US has been systematically building up its military forces in the South China Sea under the Pivot to Asia initiated by the Obama administration. The purpose has been to militarily encircle China, which dominant sections of the ruling class consider the major competitor to US interests. Over the weekend, Chinas main regional competitor, Japan, declared that it fully backed Trumps threats against North Korea.

Thus, the outbreak of war between North Korea and the United States would inevitably involve China, which, in turn, would draw all of Asia, as well as Australia, into the bloody maelstrom. Nor would it be possible for Europe and Latin America, which have their own interests in Asia, to stand aside.

Little has appeared in the American media about the consequences of war with North Korea. An article in Newsweek in April concluded that a war would leave one million people dead, assuming that it did not involve the use of nuclear weapons or any other outside powers. In a comment in the Los Angeles Times last month, retired Air Force Brigadier General Rob Givens calculated that 20,000 South Koreans would die every day in a war on the peninsula, even without the use of nuclear weapons.

If the war were to develop into a nuclear exchangeas the Trump administration has threatenedthe consequences would be catastrophic. In addition to the millions or tens of millions killed outright, climate experts warned in August that even a regional nuclear war would cool the planet by up to 10 degrees Celsius, potentially sparking a global nuclear winter that would wipe out agricultural production.

Despite all the evidence that war could break out at any time, the American media persists in its refusal to take the events seriously.

The New York Times epitomized this media effort at chloroforming the population in its October 6 article on Trumps remarks before the generals, which stated that Trump has a penchant for provocative statements and takes an obvious delight in keeping people guessing. Writing as if what was involved was merely a matter of White House gossip and intrigue, the Times stated that the timing of the calm before the storm statement was particularly tantalizing.

But it is equally plausible, the article concluded, that Mr. Trump was merely being theatrical, using the backdrop of military officers to stir up some drama.

The efforts of the media to downplay the danger are contradicted by signs of serious divisions within the Trump administration. There are rumors that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will be forced out or could resign, following statements from Trump last month directly undermining Tillersons moves to resume negotiations with the North Korean government. Thursdays meeting of top advisers in the White House, decked out in their uniforms, may have been an effort by Trump to ensure that he has the military on his side in advance of war.

These divisions, however, are tactical in character. In the final analysis, Trump speaks not simply for himself, but for the US ruling class. The dominant factions of the ruling oligarchy are united on the basic strategy of using its military force to maintain its hegemonic position abroad.

Trump uses exceptionally crude and brutal language to justify American foreign policy. But he is not the author of Washington's hegemonic strategy. The United States has been at war almost continuously for more than 25 years. This weekend marked the sixteenth anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan. The Pentagon is conducting military actions all over the world, usually without the American people being informed of the deployment of military personnel. The death in combat this past week of four American soldiers in the African country of Niger came as a total surprise to the public.

A war with Korea could break out at any time. This is the reality of the situation. Rather than speculating idly over whether Trump is merely bluffing, the critical task is the building of a powerful movement, based on the working class, against the drive to war. The very fact that the American president smirks and laughs as he threatens millions with annihilation is itself sufficient proof that the US political system is terminally sick and capable of any crime.
By Moses Ndhaye & Samuel Ssebuliba

The government of Uganda has awarded His Highness the Aga Khan the Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa medal, which is Ugandas highest civilian honour.

President Yoweri Museveni decorated the Aga Khan at Bushenyi were the main event of Ugandas 55th the independence anniversary is taking place.

The Aga Khan has been recognized for his contribution to the countrys development, especially in the education sector, health, and media among others.

Sound: Tumwine

The Aga Khan is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), and the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims.

The nine other people who were recognized and awarded medals for their contribution include Major General Jim Muhwezi who has been recognized for his contribution in the military, the late Eric Otema Alimadi among others.

Meanwhile, the Aga Khan has praised Uganda for its courteous gesture towards the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims community in Uganda.

Speaking during the ongoing independence celebrations His Highness the Aga Khan said that his community has enjoyed a friendly environment for decades.

He said that Uganda has had a long journey to where it is now, but all indicators show that the future is bright.
Editors note: This story was originally published on Aug. 31. On Monday, PEOPLE confirmed that Rosalynn McGinnis accused abductor, Henri Piette, had been charged with child abuse and rape after reportedly being arrested in Mexico.

For the first time in nearly two decades, Rosalynn McGinnis is thinking about a future that doesnt include Henri Piette, her former stepfather and the man she says allegedly held her captive for 19 years.

My future seems bright  a lot brighter, she tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. Life still is hard, but its not near as hard as it ever was with him.

In June 2016, McGinnis managed to flee, with eight of her nine children, from a remote village in Mexico where she had been raped, beaten and tortured since she was reported missing on Jan. 31, 1997, when she was 12 years old and in the sixth grade. Thats the day, she says, Piette abducted her.

As the FBI conducts an ongoing investigation into what happened, Piette, 62, remains at-large and has not been charged with any crime.

McGinnis, now 33 and living in an undisclosed location in the Midwest with her children, ages 2 to 17, says theyre being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder after suffering for years from abuse. (Her eldest child, a son, had run away before her escape last year; they have since been reunited.)

Rosalynn McGinnis

Rosalynn McGinnis in 2010 with six of her kids in a tent in Mexico.

McGinnis has only recently told her kids that their father was her rapist and abductor, and its a horrific truth they are trying to find a way to deal with.

Its hard to describe when youve been through so much trauma in your life, especially when the man who did this to you is not caught, she says. Youre always looking over your shoulder thinking that hes going to show up and take you again.

But every day, McGinnis is getting a little bit stronger, especially with help from her cousin Dana Archuleta, whom she describes as a stabilizing force in her life.

Story continues

When I dont sleep at night, I can call her, McGinnis says. She means the world to me.

Dana Archuleta (left) and Rosalynn McGinnis

Whenever the pair get together, they can be seen laughing and sharing private jokes. Archuleta, who has created a GoFundMe page to help financially support McGinnis and her children, says she is amazed by her cousins resilience.

Rosalynn is the strongest person I know, she says. Not because of the horrific circumstances of which she overcame, but shes so full of light and compassion.

McGinnis says she dreams about her future, which includes returning to school and studying criminal law. One day, she plans to help solve missing-persons cases like her own.

Many of these cases are of children who became adults and lost hope, feel forgotten and are still suffering, she says. I know their need to be saved because I dreamed of someone finding me.
By Benjamin Jumbe & Ritah Kemigisa

Former Supreme Court Judge George Kanyeihamba has said that the state of Ugandas Judiciary is worse than it was during the colonial rule.

In his assessment of Uganda as the country commemorates her 55th Independence anniversary, Justice Kanyeihamba cites issues of incompetence and corruption which he says have reached levels never seen before.

This trend can be reversed if more independent judicial officers are appointed.

Meanwhile as Uganda celebrates 55 years of independence today, the opposition Democratic Party says although the country is seen to have attained political independence, it still remains in captivity.

Its Secretary General Gerald Siranda says Ugandans are in captivity under the NRM regime, as reflected in what he calls the partisan nature of todays celebrations.

Siranda says the president can only make Ugandans feel independent if he comes out to declare that he will not run in 2021 and that he will not tamper with article 102(b) of the constitution to lift the presidential age limit.

The minister for the presidency Esther Mbayo recently defended government saying the celebrations taking place in Bushenyi district are a national event are all Ugandans regardless of political affiliation are welcome.

She warned the opposition and civil society against staging parallel events, saying they would be dealt with according to the law.

Meanwhile government is asked to address the growing feeling of political uncertainty among the populace.

Speaking to KFM, Ramathan Goobi a senior economist says if this is not nipped in the bud, investors will continue to shun the country.

Goobi says that rather than throw the country into turmoil with the controversial age limit debate, key players in the political arena should instead focus on how a presidents life after retirement can be catered for.

Members of the private sector too have spoken out saying there is no reason to celebrate this day because the country is not yet economically independent.

The executive director Private Sector Foundation Uganda Gideon Badagawa says the countrys level of indebtedness is unbearable so its pointless to celebrate 55 years of independence yet the country cannot solve such problems.

He is now calling for mobilization of more resources if the country is to become economically independent and wean off the donor community.

Government has however often outlined achievements registered over the years in sectors like health, education and infrastructure, as true reflection of the level of independence.

The 55th independence anniversary celebrations are currently underway in Bushenyi district where his Highness The Aga Khan is as special guest.

The Aga Khan is among the 10 individuals to be awarded medals at the event in recognition and appreciation for his contribution to the countrys development.

The Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa medal is Ugandas highest civilian honour.

The celebrations are running under the theme Ugandas freedom must be anchored in the spirit of hard work, resilience and commitment,
ABC News confirmed Monday that conservative commentator Meghan McCain would join its mid-morning talk show The View and also serve as a contributor to various ABC News programs including Good Morning America and This Week.

Im honored and proud to be part of such an iconic show with a diverse, smart, strong and interesting group of women, said McCain, in a prepared statement. Ive been a fan of the show for many years, so taking my seat at that table is definitely a career highlight!

McCain, the daughter of Republic Arizona Senator John McCain, previously served as host on Fox News Outnumbered. In 2014, she hosted the late-night news program TakePart Live on Pivot TV and took part in a 2013 documentary series on the same network.

McCain graduated from Columbia University with a degree in art history, and completed internships at Newsweek and Saturday Night Live before joining her fathers 2008 presidential campaign where she launched a blog. She eventually worked as a columnist for The Daily Beast and an MSNBC contributor. Her viewpoints on the show are likely to gain scrutiny as viewers watch whether she gels with the programs other co-hosts, who typically maintain a more liberal perspective on the news cycle.

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Amid the allegations of sexual harassment against Harvey Weinstein, Nathan Lane said Weinstein threw him against a wall at Hillary Clintons birthday party. During an interview at the New Yorker Festival on Saturday night, Lane recalled firing back, You cant hurt me, I dont have a film career.

Amid the allegations of sexual harassment against Harvey Weinstein, Broadway funnyman Nathan Lane recounted an incident where the producer attacked him at Hillary Clintons birthday party in 2000.

The Birdcage star was the emcee at the event thrown by the 65-year-old mogul, a longtime supporter of the Clintons, and Weinstein blew up at the actor for telling a comb-over joke about Rudy Giuliani, reports Page Six.

This is my fking show, we dont need you, Weinstein reportedly said to Lane, tossing the actor against a wall.

During an interview at the New Yorker Festival on Saturday night, Lane recalled firing back, You cant hurt me, I dont have a film career.

On Thursday, The New York Times published an article in which eight women, including actress Ashley Judd, spoke out against Weinstein, accusing him of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior.

Weinstein responded to the allegations in the report, saying he was working with a therapist to address his issues head-on. I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it, he said. Though Im trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go.

Weinsteins then-attorney Lisa Bloom said in a statement that her client denies many of the accusations as patently false, though Weinstein said that he bear[s] responsibility for my actions in an interview to The New York Post on Friday. Another lawyer for Weinstein, Charles Harder, said the mogul has plans to sue the New York Times. (Bloom announced she was resigning from advising Weinstein on Saturday afternoon.)

Similar allegations have continued to pour in, including from British aristocrat Liza Campbell, who claimed the producer invited her to join him in the bath at a hotel room, while Lauren Sivan told the Huffington Post that Weinstein allegedly masturbated in front of her.

After previously announcing the mogul would take an indefinite leave of absence, the Weinstein Company announced that Weinstein was removed from the company on Sunday.

In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company  Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar  have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately, the Weinstein Company said in a statement.
The legacy of Tom Petty was honored today by a stadium full of fans during the University of Florida and Louisiana State University game. The crowd inBen Hill Griffin Stadium erupted in a rendition of his hit I Wont Back Down as a tribute to the late, great musician.

The tribute hit close to home for Petty fans considering he was born in Gainesville and worked on the grounds crew at the University of Florida before becoming a music icon. Last week, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer died at the UCLA Medical Center after being found unconscious and in cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu. He was 66.

The Florida Gators tweeted a video of the crowd singing his classic hit.

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The model posted this shot to Instagram. (Photo: Instagram/emrata)

Emily Ratajkowski is showing a lot of skin in her latest Instagram post, and while no ones doubting her beauty, some are wondering if the setting was appropriate.

The photo shows the model posed sensually in an ornate archway, wearing nothing but a long robe and white underwear. The robe is open, exposing a lot of breast, leg, and stomach. Merci Marrakech, you are amazing, Ratajkowski captioned the photo.

Merci Marrakech, you are amazing @lamamouniamarrakech A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) on Oct 9, 2017 at 4:25am PDT

Many followers are pointing out that Morocco is probably not the best place to be so scantily clad. The official religion of Morocco is Islam, which places a great deal of emphasis on modesty. Clothes and accessories are not meant to attract attention or excessively reveal the body. Women should ensure that their clothes do not expose the decolletage, shoulders, or thighs, Morocco World News writes about what to wear in the region.

Ems, the architecture is ornate and beautiful. It frames the photo nicely, though I would have chosen something for you to wear that might have been a bit more appropriate, one follower expressed. Hmm not so amazing. If theyd found that pic while you were there then youd probably be in jail, said another. Others pointed out the risk shes taking showing so much skin. Warning.. they arrest you in that country, a follower wrote. Careful..in other places you find yourself in prison for a picture like that, said someone else similarly. While those warnings may sound overly cautionary, it is true that a premium is put on decency in the Muslim country. Back in 2015, two women in their 20s were brought to trial for wearing skirts that were under scrutiny for public obscenity. Relatedly, controversy surrounded a Jennifer Lopez concert in the country in 2015 that people found to be sexually suggestive.

According to the geotag on Ratajkowskis photo, which places her at the hotel La Mamounia Marrakech, she was likely not in public while this photo was taken. Still, its ruffling feathers.

Story continues

Three days ago, she shared a photo of herself out and about in the city, and shes dressed more modestly in a three-quarter-sleeved polka-dot dress.

A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) on Oct 6, 2017 at 6:51am PDT

But the following day she shared a topless shot in which she covered her breasts with her arms and wore only underwear on the bottom.

A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) on Oct 7, 2017 at 8:19am PDT

Of course, Ratajkowski can wear whatever she wants. But there is something to be said about respecting the customs of the country.

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Harvey Weinsteins Media Enablers? The New York Times Is One of Them

A whole lot of fur has been flying since last Thursday, when The New York Times published a game-changing investigative story about Harvey Weinsteins sexual misconduct that in lightning speed brought the mogul to his knees.

He apologized and took an immediate leave of absence from the company he co-founded, but that wasnt enough. His board members and legal advisers have been resigning en masse. And as new, ugly details emerge of three decades of settlements for sex-related offenses, hes quickly becoming a national pariah.

I applaud The New York Times and writers Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey for getting the story in print. Im sure it was a long and difficult road.

Also Read: What Does the Harvey Weinstein Scandal Mean for The Weinstein Co.?

But I simply gagged when I read Jim Rutenbergs sanctimonious piece on Saturday about the media enablers who kept this story from the public for decades.

Until now, he puffed, no journalistic outfit had been able, or perhaps willing, to nail the details and hit publish.

Thats right, Jim. No one  including The New York Times.

In 2004, I was still a fairly new reporter at The New York Times when I got the green light to look into oft-repeated allegations of sexual misconduct by Weinstein. It was believed that many occurred in Europe during festivals and other business trips there.

Also Read: Lisa Bloom Resigns as Adviser to Harvey Weinstein

I traveled to Rome and tracked down the man who held the plum position of running Miramax Italy. According to multiple accounts, he had no film experience and his real job was to take care of Weinsteins women needs, among other things.

As head of Miramax Italy in 2003 and 2004, Fabrizio Lombardo was paid $400,000 for less than a year of employment. He was on the payroll of Miramax and thus the Walt Disney Company, which had bought the indie studio in 1993.

I had people on the record telling me Lombardo knew nothing about film, and others citing evenings he organized with Russian escorts.

Story continues

Also Read: Harvey Weinstein's Scandal Turns Him From Democratic Player to Political Pariah

At the time, he denied that he was on the payroll to help Weinstein with favors. From the story: Reached in Italy, Mr. Lombardo declined to comment on the circumstances of his leaving Miramax or Ricucci, saying they were legal matters being handled by lawyers. I am very proud of what we achieved at Miramax here in Italy, he said of his work for the film company. It cannot be that they hired me because Im a friend.'

I also tracked down a woman in London who had been paid off after an unwanted sexual encounter with Weinstein. She was terrified to speak because of her non-disclosure agreement, but at least we had evidence of a pay-off.

The story I reported never ran.

After intense pressure from Weinstein, which included having Matt Damon and Russell Crowe call me directly to vouch for Lombardo and unknown discussions well above my head at the Times, the story was gutted.

I was told at the time that Weinstein had visited the newsroom in person to make his displeasure known. I knew he was a major advertiser in the Times, and that he was a powerful person overall.

But I had the facts, and this was the Times. Right?

Also Read: TV Reporter: Harvey Weinstein Masturbated in Front of Me

Wrong. The story was stripped of any reference to sexual favors or coercion and buried on the inside of the Culture section, an obscure story about Miramax firing an Italian executive. Who cared?

The Times then-culture editor Jon Landman, now an editor-at-large for Bloomberg, thought the story was unimportant, asking me why it mattered.

Hes not a publicly elected official, he told me. I explained, to no avail, that a public company would certainly have a problem with a procurer on the payroll for hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the time, Disney told me they had no idea Lombardo existed.

A spokeswoman for the Times had no comment on Sunday.

I was devastated after traveling to two countries and overcoming immense challenges to confirm at least part of the story that wound up running last week, more than a decade later. I had met in person with a woman who said shed been paid off for an unwanted sexual encounter and thus proved she existed.

Also Read: Harvey Weinstein Has No Case Against the New York Times, Legal Experts Say

Update: Several have asked why I did not pursue the story once I started TheWrap. Fair question. Five years later, 2009, the moment had passed to go back and write the missing piece about Lombardo, who was no longer on the scene and whose story had been half-published in the Times. Miramax was no longer part of the Walt Disney Company. And I did not have sufficient evidence to write about a pay-off, even though I knew one existed. My focus was on raising money, building a website and starting a media company. In the subsequent years since then I did not hear about further pay-offs or harrassment and thought the issue was in the past. Weinstein had made a big effort, supposedly, to curb his temper and behavior, which was reflected in other areas of his public life.

Today I wonder: If this story had come to light at the time, would Weinstein have continued his behavior for another decade, evidenced by the scathing 2015 memo by former staffer Lauren OConnor unearthed by Kantor and Twohey.

Writes Rutenberg: Mr. Weinstein had his own enablers. He built his empire on a pile of positive press clippings that, before the internet era, could have reached the moon.

The New York Times was one of those enablers. So pardon me for having a deeply ambivalent response about the current heroism of the Times.

Editors note: A previous version of this story stated that Jon Landman was a deputy managing editor at the Times. He left that position in 2013 to become an editor at large at Bloomberg View. TheWrap regrets the error.

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What Does the Harvey Weinstein Scandal Mean for The Weinstein Co.?
Photo: Getty.

Three days after a detailed New York Times expose in which Ashley Judd and several others levied accusations of sexual harassment against him, and one day after his attorney Lisa Bloom resigned, Harvey Weinstein has been fired by the board of The Weinstein Company.

Weinstein was already on leave from the production company that shares his name, while its board had hired an outside firm to investigate the allegations of sexual misconduct. Sunday night after a third of the board resigned and prominent Democrats began donating Weinsteins financial contributions to charity, the company officially cut Weinstein loose.

CNN reports that the producers own brother, Bob, was among the remaining board members who decided to cut ties. The boards statement on the matter was unambiguous: The directors of The Weinstein CompanyRobert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammarhave determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately.

The decision came in light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days. In addition to the Times report, Ronan Farrow has also reportedly been working for approximately a year on an article on Weinstein for The New Yorker. Farrow was publicly soliciting information, presumably for that piece, as recently as Thursday. The company likely also weighed public opinion, as Hollywood power players (very) slowly but surely begin to take a public stand against Weinstein.

This story originally appeared on Vanity Fair.

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Photo: WireImage.

In 2016, Rose McGowan made waves when she alleged that a studio head had raped her. Using the hashtag #WhyWomenDontReport, she said she never reported the alleged crime because she was told that she could never win such a case: A (female) criminal attorney said because Id done a sex scene in a film I would never win against the studio head, she wrote. McGowan added that her ex-partner sold the film she was working on to her alleged rapists company, and that the mans behavior was an open secret in Hollywood/Media.

They shamed me while adulating my rapist, she wrote.

In the wake of the recent revelations about Harvey Weinstein, the Oscar-winning power producer who has been accused of sexually harassing women for years, the question of whom McGowan was alluding to in her 2016 tweets has grown more pressing. The bombshell New York Times piece Thursday reported that Weinstein paid out settlements to numerous women over the years, McGowan among them. Per the Times, Weinstein paid the then-23-year-old $100,000 in 1997, after an episode in a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival. In the late aughts, McGowan was reportedly in a relationship withRobert Rodriguez, who directed her in 2007s Grindhouse. The movie was distributed by Dimension Films, an independent label owned by the Weinstein Company.

Representatives for Weinstein have not yet responded to Vanity Fairs request for comment. Representatives for McGowan had no comment.

Though the Times piece does not go into detail about the incident that prompted McGowans alleged settlement with Weinstein, it does include numerous reports of Weinstein allegedly bringing women to his hotel rooms and requesting massages or asking them to watch him shower. Ashley Judd told the Times of one such incident that she claimed happened 20 years ago. She was supposed to join Weinstein for a breakfast meeting at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel, but when she got there, he allegedly invited her up to his room. Judd says Weinstein was wearing only a bathrobe and asked if he could give her a massage or she could watch him shower. How do I get out of the room as fast as possible without alienating Harvey Weinstein? she remembers thinking.

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For his part, Weinstein denied Judds claims in a Thursday interview with Page Six. I never laid a glove on her, he said. (In a previous statement to the Times, however, he did admit that his past behavior has caused a lot of pain, and that he was taking a leave of absence from the Weinstein Company. He is also preparing a $50 million lawsuit against the Times for false and defamatory statements, his lawyer Charles Harder said in a statement.)

Two years before the Times interview, Judd told a story about a powerful exec who had harassed her, without explicitly naming Weinstein. After the Times piece, many have taken a step back to comb over those remarks, speculating that she was alluding to Weinstein all this time.

Aside from her 2016 tweets, McGowan also alluded to a rumored serial predator in the industry in a 2015 interview with BuzzFeed.

Theres a lot of people that dont deserve to be aliveput it that way, she said. Theres a lot of people who also get the face and body they deserve. Theres a lot of destroyers, and theres the collusion. For anybody who reads this, anybody whos ever colluded on anything by being a weak human being, fuck you. How dare you.

Since the Times revelation, McGowan has not mentioned Weinstein by namebut she has alluded to the news on Twitter.

Anyone who does business with __ is complicit, she wrote. And deep down you know you are even dirtier. Cleanse yourselves.

She also re-tweeted a link to the BuzzFeed interview and responded to a tweet from Patricia Arquette, who applauded both McGowan and Judd for speaking up: Im sure it wasnt easy to come forward but in doing so you helped a lot of others who might not have been heard, she wrote.

Though McGowan might never formally name Weinstein for a variety of reasonsincluding her alleged settlement, which may have come coupled with an N.D.A.her tweets have made it clear that she has a personal connection to the Weinstein allegations. Perhaps now that theyre out in the open, the actress will speak openly about them as well.

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This story originally appeared on Vanity Fair.

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The 20 Most Satisfying TV Kisses of All Time

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Nelly was arrested early Saturday morning and charged with second-degree rape following an incident that occurred on the rapper's tour bus.

Nelly was arrested early Saturday morning and charged with second-degree rape following an incident that occurred on the rapper's tour bus following a Friday night concert in Auburn, Washington.

Nelly, born Cornell Haynes Jr., was booked into Des Moines, Washington's SCORE Jail just before 6:40 a.m. PST Saturday, three hours after the Auburn Police Department responded to a call from a woman who said that the rapper raped her on the tour bus.

Nelly is currently on the Smooth Stadium Tour with Florida Georgia Line and the Backstreet Boys; the trek came to Auburn's White River Amphitheatre on Friday night.

According to Q13 Fox, following the concert, Nelly came to nearby Seattle and picked up a woman who he then brought back to his tour bus in Auburn, which was parked behind a local Wal-Mart.

At 3:45 a.m., the woman called police and said Nelly sexually assaulted her on the bus. Auburn Police, citing probable cause for arrest, took the rapper into custody and charged him with second-degree rape. After less than 90 minutes at SCORE, Nelly was released from custody at 8:02 a.m.

The rapper's representatives did not respond to Rolling Stone's request for comment.

The Smooth Stadium Tour comes to Ridgefield, Washington Saturday night.

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Niamey (AFP) - Niger declared three days of mourning from Monday after violent protests over a Prophet Mohammed cartoon published by French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo that left 10 people dead and dozens of churches torched.

Flags will fly at half-mast in memory of those killed during the riots that erupted in the capital Niamey and Zinder at the weekend.

The violence left 10 people dead and 173 injured in both cities and saw at least 45 churches set ablaze in the capital alone, police said.

A Christian school and orphanage were also set alight and a French flag was burned, national police spokesman Adily Toro told a press conference.

Protests have erupted in several Muslim countries since Charlie Hebdo published Mohammed cartoons in its "survivors' issue" on Wednesday, a week after 12 people were killed in an attack by Islamist gunmen on its Paris offices.

The two masked gunmen said they were avenging previous publications of cartoons depicting the prophet by the irreverent magazine.

Toro said 189 people, including two minors, were arrested in the unrest, which also saw demonstrators pillage and burn numerous sites, including five hotels and 36 bars.

On Sunday, some 300 protesters in Niamey defied a ban on further demonstrations, throwing stones at police who fired back with tear gas.

Muslim elder Yaou Sonna on Saturday urged people to stop attacking Christians in the landlocked west African country.

"Don't forget that Islam is against violence," he said on state television. "I urge men and women, boys and girls to calm down."

Many Muslims, who form an overwhelming majority of Niger's population, see any depiction of Islam's prophet as blasphemous.
Joshua Bateman is based in Greater China and covers finance, entrepreneurship, technology, consumption trends, agriculture, gaming, sports and art.

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Saturday night on a Shenzhen street corner, a young guitarist dressed in Johnny Cash black strums away, singing melodies. His open guitar case has a laminated QR reader, propped up, welcoming digital tips from passersby.

Chinas expeditious adoption of fintech is generating profits not only for startups, but also the companies investing in them. Sitting in the headquarters of FinPlus, a fintech venture capital firm and accelerator, its CEO, Mosso Lau, said, There are very many opportunities.

In 2016, investment in mainland Chinese and Hong Kong fintech ventures totaled $10.2 billion, exceeding North Americas $9.2 billion. Many domestic financial services and e-commerce conglomerates are supporting Chinese fintech startups. Additionally, foreign investors include KKR & Co. L.P., Bain Capital, Accel Partners, Sequoia Capital, 500 Startups, IDG Capital Partners, Ping An Insurance, DBS Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.

Lau said traditional financial institutions werent meeting customers' needs. Thus, FinPlus, a private company with a dozen employees and a US $7.5 million balance sheet, was founded in 2015. It specializes in fintech incubation and Series A funding. In exchange for an equity stake, FinPlus offers target companies funding, office space, back-office services, product design, marketing support and industry analysis.

China World Trade Center.

FinPlus reduces its risk by investing across fintech domains. It favors founders who are experienced industry professionals, not greenhorns, as Lau said. Most are in their mid-30s. Our due diligence is relatively strict, he said. When reviewing investment opportunities, FinPlus reviews what they call the six M's: Model, Market, Man, Money, Motivation and Mobile.

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As opposed to mainstream areas like P2P lending, FinPlus prefers less competitive channels, including commercial invoicing, supply chain financing, customized insurance products, wealth management, risk management, anti-fraud and B2B services based on SaaS.

They also like companies geared toward consumer finance areas such as college students, video game players, blue-collar workers and farmers. One niche market that Lau said is not being served today is financing for young women interested in undergoing cosmetic surgeries. We are relatively bullish on these types of investments, he said.

Speaking about Chinese consumers, Lau said, The demand is very big and is not being met.

Fintech incubator JadeValue launched last year in Shanghai. It is the brainchild of Tang Yang, the founder of microlender CashBUS.

Although acknowledging Chinas potential, JadeValue general manager John Uddman advises caution, citing intense competition and difficulty in acquiring customers. When people havent lived in China for a long time, it makes it hard for them to build something here, the Swede said. Its not often they have good knowledge of how things work. For this reason, JadeValue prioritizes companies with Chinese roots.

Uddman said Chinese regulators allow sectors to mature before clamping down, which introduces uncertainty. You have a lot of players innovate, but they dont know exactly how things will be regulated in the future, he said. Many P2Ps, for example, shuttered in recent years. More recently, initial coin offerings (ICOs) have been halted by Chinas central bank, The Peoples Bank of China.

Warts and all, China presents opportunities. Per deal, JadeValue invests between US $150,000-$750,000, favoring blockchain, roboadvisory, credit diagnostics, real estate AI and insurtech. In real estate, limited transparency causes distrust between tenants and landlords. And because most Chinese insurance companies are state-owned, ingenuity and customer service lag. Thus, these domains are ripe for change.

JadeValue is not alone. According to reports, the countrys largest insurer, China Life teamed up with Baidu to invest approximately $1 billion in AI and internet finance properties. The second-largest, Ping An Insurance, allocates roughly 1 percent of total revenues or $1 billion annually toward online initiatives.

Companies JadeValue supported include CRO, which tracks stolen electric bikes, InsuranceBox, which advertises a magic box of customized insurance products and 2BOSS, an online housing transaction database.

Compared to their Western counterparts, Uddman said Chinese players value data more, which affords them greater expansion possibilities when offering new solutions. If you want to be successful in China, you have to not only offer one product, but you should have a comprehensive product offering, he said. China produces 2.5 times as many science and engineering graduates as the U.S.

Fintechs also benefit from Shanghai being a banking center. The environment is really good, Uddman said.

Across Greater China, incubators and capital providers are bolstering fintech communities. Taiwans Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) opened a fintech office in 2015 and is planning an incubation center.

Heading south, Sui Yang Phang, managing partner of Nest, said Hong Kong is a vibrant place for fintechs. Its one of the most mature and solid in terms of [financial] infrastructure, he said.

Nest invests in fintechs and operates accelerators in partnership with institutions such as DBS Bank. Corporations historically used accelerator programs for marketing hype, but now they genuinely desire new technologies. Institutions are now going to market with a very specific list of needs, Phang said.

Successfully integrating startups with corporations, however, is arduous owing to differing mindsets and vernaculars. Corporations approach problems from risk and compliance perspectives. They also treat startups as vendors, not partners. Phang advised corporations to use soft skills. They fundamentally need to have an internal cultural ability to open up and to be able to interact with these startups, he said.

Entrepreneurs bring agility, but need to better understand commercial aspects. When you come and work with a corporate that understands these different markets, you get that expertise, Phang said.

And many startups are being founded in Greater China, they arent stopping there. Chinese startups have seen China as a massive and growing market, but what they will do is come increasingly overseas, Phang said.

Chinese fintechs, including Ant Financial, Dianrong, Lujiazui International Financial Asset Exchange (Lufax), Neo Capital, Ppdai.com, Qudian and Zhong An Online Property and Casualty Insurance are reportedly looking to raise billions via overseas IPOs. And for investors who got in early, these could generate substantial windfalls.
Silivri (Turkey) (AFP) - Almost 150 former Turkish military personnel go on trial Monday over clashes on an Istanbul bridge during last year's failed coup that claimed dozens of lives including a key aide of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The bridge across the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul was the scene of bloody fighting between Erdogan's supporters and renegade soldiers seeking to oust the elected government on the night of July 15, 2016.

It was later renamed by the government as July 15 Martyrs' Bridge.

The dead included Erdogan's campaign manager Erol Olcok and his 16-year-old son Abdullah Tayyip, who were killed when soldiers opened fire on protesters on the bridge which connects Asia and Europe.

Erol Olcok had named his son after Erdogan and his predecessor as president, Abdullah Gul.

A total of 143 suspects, including 30 officers, will appear in court. All the suspects bar eight are being held under arrest.

They are accused of crimes ranging from murder to attempting to overthrow the parliament and the government, according to the 1,052-page indictment.

If convicted, the suspects each face 37 life sentences, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Monday's trial is one of several legal processes seeking to bring to justice those believed to have played a role in the coup bid which left 249 people dead, not including the putschists.

Last week, a court in southwestern Turkey handed life sentences to 40 people convicted of plotting to assassinate Erdogan at an Aegean hotel.

Erdogan has vowed to purge all state institutions to clean the "virus" of US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen whom his government blames for the putsch.

The cleric, who lives in Pennsylvania, has denied any involvement.

Over 50,000 people have been arrested since last July, accused of links to the Gulen movement, while more than 140,000 public sector employees have been sacked or suspended.

Many civilians rushed to the bridge on the night of the coup, heeding Erdogan's call to quash the putsch bid, but the renegade soldiers then shot at them.

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Thirty-four civilians and seven coup plotters were killed on the Bosphorus bridge, according to the indictment.

But by the early morning hours, the soldiers surrendered to police, laying down their arms on the bridge and raising their hands in an enduring image of the coup's defeat.

Erdogan attended the funeral of the Olcoks and others two days after the coup bid, weeping openly in a rare show of emotion.
Windhoek (AFP) - Over 100 hippos have died in Namibia in a remote national park in the past week, the country's environment minister said on Monday, warning that anthrax could be to blame.

Images from the Bwabwata national park in northeast Namibia showed dozens of lifeless hippos, some flat on their backs, others with just their heads visible above murky water.

"Over 100 hippos died in the past week. The cause of death is unknown but the signs so far show that it could be anthrax," Pohamba Shifeta told AFP.

He said the toll could be higher as crocodiles might have eaten some of the carcasses.

"Our veterinary services are currently working at the area to determine the cause of death. Once we have the results of the cause of death than we can decide on the way forward," Shifeta said.

Anthrax is a bacterial disease commonly associated with arid climates like the African savannah where it kills game, cattle, and sometimes humans.

Government officials estimated that Namibia's hippo population was around 1,300 before the mass death.

The minister added that he would be alarmed if there were any further hippo deaths at the national park which is one of the country's foremost tourist attractions.
Chief executive Wayne LaPierre calls for bright line to regulate bump stocks after Las Vegas shooting but says nobody should face evil with empty hands

Veronica Hartfield, widow of Officer Charleston Hartfield, and family members attend a vigil at Police Memorial Park in Las Vegas. Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

The National Rifle Association chief executive, Wayne LaPierre, said on Sunday bump stocks, novelty devices that may have been used in the Las Vegas shooting, fuzz the line between semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons.

Federal regulators need to draw a bright line when regulating such devices, LaPierre said on CBSs Face the Nation, in an unusually defensive interview in which he blamed Hollywood, criminal justice reform and the mental health system for the increasing carnage of Americas gun violence epidemic.

Gun control advocates in Congress continued to push for broader gun restrictions, saying that even if tougher laws might not have stopped the Las Vegas shooting, they would have an impact on the more than 80 Americans killed in gun suicides and homicides every single day.

Fifty-eight people were killed and nearly 500 injured when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on a country music festival from a room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

In a speech on Saturday in Las Vegas, Vice-President Mike Pence called the shooting an act of unspeakable evil and celebrated the heroism of Americans who tried to save each other. He made no reference to any laws or policies that might have prevented the attack or lessened its toll. Donald Trump previously called the attack an act of pure evil.

You have to go beyond simply clarifying Americans shouldnt have automatic weapons Senator Chris Murphy

Congressional gun control advocates praised the NRAs step forward in supporting more regulation for bump stocks, which make semi-automatic rifles mimic the rapid fire of fully automatic weapons. But simply banning or more tightly restricting bump stocks would not be a sufficient response to the deadliest mass shooting in recent American history, Democrats said.

You have to go beyond simply clarifying Americans shouldnt have automatic weapons in this country, said Chris Murphy, a Connecticut senator who represents the town where 20 children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012.

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The Las Vegas gunman had 12 rifles fitted with bump stocks in his hotel suite, law enforcement officials said. It is not yet clear exactly how he used them.

Murphy said Congress also needed to act to save the Americans who are killed every day with guns, not just focus on the victims of rare and horrific mass shootings. Though closing loopholes in the background check law would not have stopped Paddock, who had no serious criminal record and reportedly passed a background check, he said, it might save the lives of some suicide and homicide victims.

The California senator Dianne Feinstein, a longtime gun control advocate, said no law would have prevented Paddock from carrying out his attack.

He wasnt a criminal, he wasnt a juvenile, he wasnt gangbanger and he was able to buy 40 weapons over a period of time, Feinstein told CBS. He passed background checks registering for handguns and other weapons on multiple occasions.

But speaking on CNNs State of the Union, Murphy questioned whether the wide legal availability of military-style guns and accessories might have fueled the Las Vegas shooters vision of carrying out a public attack.

Maybe he would never have walked into that hotel if he had only a pistol, if he didnt have all these tactical semi-automatic weapons, he said.

Frances Townsend, a former homeland security adviser to President George W Bush, said on Face the Nation legislators should also focus on the legality of high-capacity ammunition magazines, which allow shooters to fire dozens of rounds without pausing to reload. These magazines, once banned under federal law, may have been used by Paddock in conjunction with bump stocks to achieve a very rapid rate of fire.

Murphy, one of Congresss most dedicated advocates for gun violence prevention, said he would not demand that other gun control measures be included in legislation to ban or regulate bump stocks.

I think you have to walk before you run, he said. This is the first time the gun lobby has shown willingness to come to the table.

A salesman shows a bump stock installed on an AR-15 rifle at Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly, Virginia. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Feinstein, who introduced legislation to ban bump stocks, said she had Republican interest but not yet any Republican sponsors. She said she appreciated the NRAs step forward in supporting any kind of increased regulation.

LaPierre was less gracious, saying he was concerned about Feinsteins anti-gun circus once again trying to push forward a wide range of regulations.

The NRA said on Thursday it supported examining whether bump stocks should be more tightly regulated, though the groups chief lobbyist said it had not called for an outright ban and asked instead for a focus on how federal regulators have interpreted current law.

Regulations arent going to do it, Feinstein told Face the Nation. We need a law. Without new legislation, she said, a ban on bump stocks could be changed by another president, as Trump is currently rolling back many Obama regulations.

NRA executives expressed grief at a shooting in which members of the group were among the victims. But LaPierre argued on Sunday that the answer to mass shootings like the one in Las Vegas lay in expanding Americans access to guns, including federal legislation that would overrule some local restrictions on gun carrying and allow licensed gun owners to carry their weapons nationwide.

There are monsters like this monster out there every day, he said. Nobody should be forced to face evil with empty hands.

Asked how it would have helped Las Vegas victims to be carrying guns while they were under attack by a gunman firing down on them from a room on the 32nd floor of a nearby hotel, La Pierre had no clear answer.

Instead, he pointed to the importance of good guys with guns at the hotel locating and eventually stopping the shooter. Paddock shot himself dead before police could reach him.
Richard Spencer leads flash mob by covered statue of Robert E Lee

Mayor slams event in town where counter-protester Heather Heyer was killed

City workers drape a tarp over the statue of Robert E Lee in Emancipation park in Charlottesville, Virginia. Photograph: Steve Helber/AP

Marchers led by the white supremacist Richard Spencer staged a flash mob by torchlight on Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a rally in August led to the death of Heather Heyer, a peaceful counter-protester who was run down by a car.

A local television station reported that a few dozen white nationalists began their new protest at 7.45pm and left just 15 minutes later.

Spencer told the Washington Post: It was a planned flash mob. It was a great success. Weve been planning this for a long time. We wanted to prove that we came in peace in May, we came in peace in August, and we come again in peace.

Spencer staged a similar pop-up torchlit rally in May, a brief stunt that sparked a series of increasingly large and sometimes violent white supremacist rallies.

On Saturday, the protesters gathered at Emancipation Park near a statue of the Confederate general Robert E Lee. Spencer posted a video on Twitter showing the protest, in which opponents of the removal of the statue chanted You will not replace us and We will be back.

The Post reported that the crowd also chanted: The south will rise again. Russia is our friend. The south will rise again. Woo-hoo! Wooo.

Using Twitter, Charlottesvilles mayor, Mike Signer, told Spencer and the marchers to go home. Another despicable visit by neo-Nazi cowards, he wrote, adding: Youre not welcome here! Were looking at all our legal options. Stay tuned.

The statue of Lee was covered in an official gesture of mourning for Heyer, but its removal has been blocked by a court pending the outcome of a legal challenge.



The August rally to protest against the removal of the statue turned deadly when a car was driven deliberately into a crowd of peaceful counter-protesters, killing Heyer, a 32-year-old civil rights activist who worked as a legal assistant at a Virginia firm. Its driver, 20-year-old James Shields, was charged with murder.



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Heated national debate continues over whether Confederate symbols of the civil war, including statues and the Confederate battle flag memorialise leaders and soldiers, or evoke white supremacy and the enslavement of African American people.

In the wake of the August rally in Charlottesville  as after a white supremacist shot dead nine African Americans in a church in Charleston, South Carolina in June 2015  cities have acted to remove memorials to Confederate generals, politicians and soldiers.

Donald Trumps reaction to the August rally caused controversy. The president, who then still retained alt-right figurehead Steve Bannon as a White House adviser, repeatedly blamed both sides and many sides for the violence around Heyers death and said there were very fine people who marched alongside the neo-Nazis. He has since repeated such equivocation.

On Saturday night, a local NBC stations description of the Charlottesville marchers as white activists caused controversy. Many respondents on social media said they should be referred to simply as white supremacists or neo-Nazis.

Earlier this month Heyers mother, Susan Bro, told the Guardian she was proud of her daughters actions.

I think its a damn shame that a white girl had to die for people to have to pay attention, Bro said. I think if a black girl had died, or a black man, [the reaction would have been] Oh well, another person lost to violent protest.

Speaking to the Guardian in early September, some black Charlottesville residents said they hoped the town would no longer dignify the Nazis with counter-protests.



A black fourth-year student at the University of Virginia, who did not want to give her name, said many young students of color had been so disturbed and upset by the neo-Nazi protests that they had considered transferring to a different college.

On Saturday, Charlottesville police said in a statement that officers had followed a bus carrying Spencer and his followers, to ensure that the group was leaving the city.

Our department is conferring with city leadership and the Commonwealth Attorneys office to determine what legal action may be taken in response to this event, the statement said.
Scott Pruitt says he will sign rule withdrawing policy on Tuesday

Plan imposed restrictions on emissions from coal-fired power stations

The Trump administration is to abandon restrictions on emissions from coal-fired power plants, such as the Bailly generating station in Chesterton, Indiana. Photograph: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said on Monday that he would sign a new rule overriding the Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era effort to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

The war on coal is over, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt declared in the coal mining state of Kentucky, at an event with one of the states US senators, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell.

For Pruitt, getting rid of the Clean Power Plan will mark the culmination of a long fight he began as the elected attorney general of Oklahoma. Pruitt was among about two dozen attorney generals who sued to stop Barack Obamas push to limit carbon emissions.

Closely tied to the oil and gas industry in his home state, Pruitt rejects the consensus of scientists that emissions from burning fossil fuels are the primary driver of global climate change.

Donald Trump, who appointed Pruitt and shares his skepticism of established climate science, promised to kill the clean power plan during the 2016 campaign as part of his broader pledge to revive the nations struggling coal mines.

In his order on Tuesday, Pruitt is expected to declare that the Obama-era rule exceeded federal law by setting emissions standards that power plants could not reasonably meet.

Appearing at Whayne Supply, a Hazard, Kentucky, company that sells coal mining supplies, Pruitt said: The EPA and no federal agency should ever use its authority to say to you: we are going to declare war on any sector of our economy.

Whayne Supply has laid off about 60% of its workers in recent years. While cheering the demise of the clean power plan as a way to stop the bleeding, McConnell conceded most of those lost jobs are never coming back.

A lot of damage has been done, said McConnell. This doesnt immediately bring everything back, but we think it stops further decline of coal-fired plants in the United States and that means there will still be some market here.

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Obamas plan was designed to cut US carbon dioxide emissions to 32% below 2005 levels by 2030. The rule dictated specific emission targets for states based on power-plant emissions and gave officials broad latitude to decide how to achieve reductions.

The supreme court put the plan on hold last year following legal challenges by industry and coal-friendly states.

The EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, talks to a reporter after speaking at Whayne Supply in Hazard, Kentucky. Photograph: Adam Beam/AP

Even so, the plan helped drive a recent wave of retirements of coal-fired plants, which also are being squeezed by lower costs for natural gas and renewable power, as well as state mandates promoting energy conservation.

The withdrawal of the clean power plan is the latest in a series of moves by Trump and Pruitt to dismantle Obamas legacy on fighting climate change, including the delay or roll back of rules limiting levels of toxic pollution in smokestack emissions and wastewater discharges from coal-burning power plants.

The president announced earlier this year that he would pull the US out of the landmark Paris climate agreement. Nearly 200 countries have committed to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

This president has tremendous courage, Pruitt said. He put America first and said to the rest of the world: we are going to say no and exit the Paris accord. That was the right thing to do.

Environmental groups and public health advocates quickly derided the decision as shortsighted.

Trump is not just ignoring the deadly cost of pollution, hes ignoring the clean energy deployment that is rapidly creating jobs across the country, said Michael Brune, the executive director of the Sierra Club.


Johannesburg (AFP) - South Africa and Chad on Sunday signed an agreement that will see the re-introduction next year of critically endangered black rhino to the central African country, decades after it was last seen there.

Environment ministers from the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding "which will allow for the translocation of six black rhino from South Africa to Chad," said a government statement.

The last time a rhino was spotted in Chad was in 1972, according to official documents Chad submitted to South Africa.

The animals should be airlifted to Chad's Zakouma National Park "sometime next year. We are looking at around March, April or May" environmental affairs ministry spokesman Albi Modise told AFP.

Black rhino are officially listed as critically endangered but are still native to the mainly eastern and southern African countries of Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

They have been re-introduced to several other southern African countries.

There are around 5,000 black rhino left in Africa with South Africa's population sitting at 1,893, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

South Africa is also home to around 20,000 white rhinos, about 80 percent of the worldwide population, but the country has suffered record poaching in recent years.

Poachers have killed more than 7,100 rhinos in Africa over the past decade for their horns.

The horn is highly prized in China and Vietnam where it is coveted as a traditional medicine and aphrodisiac.

South Africa's Environment Minister

Edna Molewa and Chad counterpart Ahmat Mbodou Mahamat signed Sunday's deal in Pretoria.
Paris (AFP) - A US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal would be a new affront to the United Nations -- 14 years after the invasion of Iraq, former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix warned Monday.

US President Donald Trump is a fierce critic of the 2015 accord, calling it "the worst deal ever", and he is expected to announce this week that he is "decertifying" Iran's compliance with it.

"If Mr Trump cares for the authority of the United Nations then he cannot pull back unilaterally from that agreement," Blix said in Paris.

The Swedish former diplomat headed the inspection team that found no proof of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in 2002-03 as the United States was poised to invade the country.

Then president George W. Bush and his government insisted that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had chemical and biological weapons and was developing nuclear arms.

Blix was speaking on the sidelines of a two-day International Luxembourg Forum on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe that started in Paris on Monday.

"I am a bit puzzled by Trump's lonely attitude... because the president has voiced his great disapproval" of the Iran deal in the face of "almost the unanimous international community standing in favour of it", he said.

The nuclear agreement was struck in July 2015 by Iran and five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States) plus Germany -- establishing controls to prevent Tehran from developing an atomic bomb.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Yukiya Amano, speaking in Rome on Monday, affirmed Iran's commitment to the nuclear deal.

But Trump has said Tehran is not living up to the "spirit" of the agreement.

US officials insist "decertifying" Iran's compliance would not sink the deal itself but open the way for Congress to possibly develop new measures against Tehran.

Blix, who headed the IAEA from 1981 to 1987, led the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission from 2000 until the eve of the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
By Kang Seung-woo

U.S. President Donald Trump's America-first policy is putting more pressure on the Korean economy which is already suffering Chinese economic retaliation against the placement of a U.S. missile shield here.

Trump's trade negotiators have successfully brought South Korean officials to the renegotiation table for the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

The U.S. trade commission has set the stage for the real estate mogul-turned-president to impose safeguard restrictions on washers made by Samsung and LG Electronics.

In the wake of the growing trade pressure, the government is scrambling to hold meetings with relevant companies this week.

But it appears not to have much to do.

Fears that Trump is crazy enough to pull out of the trade deal may scare Korean government officials into accepting more demands from the Trump administration, analysts say.

"Trump's America-first policy and his protectionist rhetoric will continue to force Korean negotiators to make more concessions," said Sung Tae-yoon, economics professor at Yonsei University.

"His policy is focused on maximizing American interests using trade pressure, so Korean companies rivaling U.S. players will obviously face stronger trade pressure from the Trump administration."

An industry official echoed Sung's view.

"Many declining American companies try to exploit the America-first policy that helps embolden them to indiscreetly take trade cases to the trade commission to turn the tables. That started after the advent of President Trump this year," the official said, declining to be named.

"And it will continue for the time being, posing a major threat to our economy."

The U.S. International Trade Commission unanimously determined on Oct. 5 that Samsung and LG's large residential washers imported from Korea to the U.S. are harming the U.S. industry following its four-month investigation prompted by a safeguard petition Whirlpool filed May 31.
Vallegrande (Bolivia) (AFP) - Bolivian President Evo Morales lauded Ernesto "Che" Guevara on Monday as he led commemorations 50 years to the day since the Cuban revolutionary leader was killed by CIA-trained Bolivian troops.

"The best way to pay tribute to Che is to continue his struggle, an anti-imperialist struggle," the socialist Morales told an audience including Guevara's brothers and four children in the mountain town of Vallegrande in central Bolivia.

The ceremony capped five days of special remembrance of the Argentine-born revolutionary in Bolivia, whose government ordered his execution on October 9, 1967, a day after he was wounded and captured in a firefight with a special CIA-trained unit of the Bolivian army.

"El Che fought and died for the liberation of Bolivia and thinking of the liberation of the great homeland," said Morales, using the socialist term for Latin America.

Morales defended himself against criticism for putting the spotlight on Che at the expense of the Bolivian army that fought Guevara and his rebels as he tried to export revolution to the South American country.

Two members of his rebel unit who survived the gunbattle, Harry Villegas Tamayo, and Leonardo Tamayo Nunez, were among the invited guests.

"Che was a revolutionary and the revolutionary is a man full of love who wants to build another society," Tamayo said, leaning on his cane.

The Bolivian president pointed out that 26 of his 50-strong guerrilla force "were Bolivian brothers who fought alongside Che for the liberation of our country."

And he reminded his audience that "our own soldiers were used and ordered to persecute the guerrillas, not just Che."

"It is not treason to remember those who wanted to liberate the country. Treason against the country is to serve as a lackey for the American empire," he added.

Morales, who as president is commander in chief of the armed forces, stressed however that "we do not blame the hands of the Bolivian soldiers who were obliged to follow orders, we blame the agents of the CIA and the generals who subordinated themselves to them."

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- Still relevant -

Following his execution in the village of La Higuera, Che's body was taken the local market town of Vallegrande where his body was put on display by a jubilant military.

Che and a handful of his fighters were buried in the mountains but the bodies were exhumed in 1997 and brought to Cuba, where his late revolutionary comrade Fidel Castro dedicated a mausoleum to him.

Vallegrande meanwhile, hopes to profit from its own brand of Che tourism, and local authorities have opened a museum and visitors' center.

However, only around 2,000 people turned out for the commemoration, far fewer than the expected 35,000.

In Cuba on Sunday, an estimated 70,000 people thronged the streets for a ceremony at Guevara's mausoleum.

The Bolivian president, one of the last of the leftist leaders in Latin America, along with Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, said Guevara's influence was still relevant and part of the future of the region.

He also criticized the United States, adding that "the empire continues to strike at the countries that have policies contrary to their interests," citing crisis-wracked Venezuela.

"Brother (Nicolas) Maduro is not alone," he said, alluding to the Venezuelan president whose administration has been rocked by an economic and political crisis.

Two members of his rebel unit who survived the 1967 gunbattle, Harry Villegas Tamayo and Leonardo Tamayo Nunez, were among the invited guests.

"Che was a revolutionary and the revolutionary is a man full of love who wants to build another society," Tamayo said, leaning on his cane.

Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela sent official delegations to the ceremony.
HMS Queen Elizabeth, the UK's newest aircraft carrier, arrives in Portsmouth - PA

Britain is reportedly preparing for the possibility of war breaking out with North Korea as concerns rise that another provocative missile test could trigger a military response by the US.

North Korea is being closely watched amid fears it could launch another long-range missile test on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the founding of its ruling party.

Bellicose rhetoric from Donald Trump has heightened tensions in the region in recent months, prompting British officials to draw up military plans for a response to a break out of hostilities, it was reported.

Among the plans disclosed by the Daily Mail is the deployment of the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, before it has undergone flight trials.

"We have plenty of ships to send the Type-45 destroyers, the Type-23 frigates. Britains new aircraft carrier could be pressed into service early if things turn south," a senior Whitehall source told the newspaper.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, which arrived at its home in Portsmouth in August after extensive sea trials, is not due to enter service until 2020.

The possible move to deploy it ahead of schedule drew comparisons with the start of the Falklands War.

"In the Falklands we had to react to an event and HMS Illustrious was accelerated to respond," a Navy source told the Mail.

"This was a reaction to protect British territory, however. In this case [North Korea], the UK would be part of a united global coalition. We would see what support we could give."

The US president hinted on Saturday at taking military action against Kim Jong-un's regime, saying "only one thing will work" in dealing with the country.

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid......  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

...hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017

The president has previously said the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies from Pyongyang's nuclear threats.

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Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, said last week that the UK should increase its military spending in the face of growing threats from states such as North Korea.

Last month, Sir Michael told the BBC that Britain was at risk from Pyongyang's long-range nuclear missile programme.

The US is fully entitled to defend its own territory, to defend its bases and to look after its people, but this involves us, London is closer to North Korea and its missiles than Los Angeles," he said.

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By Robert-Jan Bartunek LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Spain's finance minister on Monday blamed the Catalan government for companies moving their headquarters out of the region, while his euro zone colleagues played down the impact of the Spanish crisis on the shared currency. In recent weeks, a stream of Catalonia-based firms and banks have moved their legal bases outside the regionas a crisis over a Catalonian push for independence from Spain deepened. Caixabank, Spain's number 3 bank, and Banco Sabadell, the number 5, have both moved their head offices out of Catalonia last week following an independence referendum that the Madrid government attempted to block. "The exit of many companies from Catalonia is the consequence of the irrational and radical policies implemented and pursued by the (regional) government," minister Luis de Guindos said as he arrived for a meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Luxembourg. Losing Catalonia would have a significant impact on Spain, as the region makes up a fifth of the country's economic output and more than a quarter of its exports. Some fear it will impact on the euro zone economy, which is slowly recovering from a recession at the start of the decade. Nevertheless, most euro zone ministers declined to get drawn into a discussion on the situation in Catalonia, with Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem describing it as a "domestic issue". "I hope that those prevail in Spain, who understand that, as the Spanish Prime Minister has said, law and constitution are the basis on which we operate," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said. European Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici, asked about the economic impact of the Catalan debate, said the Spanish constitutional order must be respected. "This situation cannot be solved by violence, we have to find a solution through dialogue, this is also true when you consider the economic oint of view," he said. Spain also sought to reassure international investors concerned about the political situation in the country. "The message is crystal clear: Catalonian independence is not going to happen," De Guindos said. (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Is Europe about to get a new country? Thats what some headlines suggest. Its been nearly a week from Sundays disputed independence referendum in the Spanish region of Catalonia, and tensions are still rising.

The regional government, which wants to split from Spain, has said the region's parliament will respond to the result of the referenduma 90 percent landslide in favor of independence, albeit on a turnout of less than half the population. Reuters reported Friday that regional President Carles Puigdemont would speak in the parliament on Tuesday.

Parliament's response could lead to a unilateral declaration of independence. Thats not possible under Spains current constitution and would be considered invalid by the Spanish government.

So what will happen next? Heres what you need to know.

Time to talk?

Before things get that far, its possible the Spanish and Catalan governments could sit down to negotiate some sort of more moderate deal.

The Catalan government has called for the EU to play a more active role in mediating the debate between it and the central government in Madrid, but the central government has rebuffed this.

Raul Romeva, the Catalan government's minister of foreign affairs, says his side would still be open to dialogue with Madrid. "A sustainable solution should be based on dialogue, on negotiations, with no preconditions," he tells Newsweek, "Is there any offer from the state? No there is not."

The Spanish government position is that there is no viable debate to be had. The government will not negotiate over anything illegal," a statement from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's office said this week, according to Euractiv.

Meanwhile, the EU is likely loathe to intervene too heavily.

While politicians across the continent were concerned by social media and TV images of police manhandling Catalans as they went to vote on Sunday, the basic EU legal position is that Spain has a right to uphold its constitution, and that the constitution makes the referendum invalid.

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It seems to me like the EU doesnt want to get involved in this, says Jonathan Hopkin, an Associate Professor of Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics (LSE), They would rather it was left to Spains institutions to sort it out.

But, Hopkin says, if there were more serious violence, particularly anything that resulted in a death, the EU would probably have to start to get involved.

The declaration

Much hinges on exactly what emerges from the parliamentary debate on independence next week.

The radical left wing CUP party, which backs independence but is not in the government, carries weight among grassroots independence activists, and is pushing for an immediate unilateral declaration of independence.

But the government is a more moderate coalition led by the center left Republican Left of Catalonia and the center right Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT), Puigdemonts group.

Romeva tells Newsweek that the government cannot prejudge what the position of parliament will be when it responds to the referendum result. But, he says, "The parliament has a duty... to recognise and to acknowledge the result of the referendum on Sunday." As for exactly what that could look like, "that's what the parliament has to decide," he says.

Jose Javier Olivas Osuna, an expert in Spanish politics at the LSE, says the parliament and government might end up taking a more moderate stance. So far the nationalist movement has shown to be very flexible, he says. That means we cant rule out the possibility that the declaration is somehow ambiguous.

Taking back control

If the Catalan government does unilaterally declare independence, the Spanish government may decide it has no choice but to suspend all or part of its regional autonomy and bring it back under national control.

Article 155 of the Spanish constitution states that If a self-governing community [such as Catalonia] does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the Constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain, the government can take all measures necessary to compel it to meet its obligations, including issuing instructions to it directly.

That allows for quite a broad spread of measures; the government could simply impose control over some aspects of the Catalan region, such as its police force, or it could take sweeping actions; firing and appointing ministers for the regional government, for example.

Such an action would likely provoke a backlash in Catalonia.

"If the Spanish state acts that way, could seriously somebody believe that this is going to... make the situation better?" Romeva says, "I think its time that somebody understands politically, in the Spanish side, that as long as [they] keep pushing by force... this is never going to be the right way in order to convince people in Catalonia that remaining part of that state is safe.'"

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Paris (AFP) - Once described by a detractor as smelling of "turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock", southeast Asia's durian fruit leaves no-one unmoved -- you either adore or abhor it.

Popular in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, the spiny, stinky delicacy is banned from public transport and many hotels.

Yet, for a food so controversial, very little was known about the durian's genetic makeup, until now.

On Monday, scientists from Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia published the DNA blueprint of the common durian, Durio zibethinus -- laying bare the genes responsible for its unique traits.

Such data "is vital to better understanding of durian biodiversity," the team wrote in the journal Nature Genetics.

While some may wish they had never caught a whiff of durian, others are concerned that several species are considered endangered or vulnerable. Knowing more about the plant's DNA may help protect it.

There are 30 known species in the Durio family, with D. zibethinus the most widely consumed.

The thorn-covered fruit, yellow-green in colour, can grow to the size of a rugby ball.

More than 250,000 hectares of land, an area about the size of Luxembourg, was devoted to durian cultivation in 2008, according to the study authors.

"Durian is also of major economic value as it has recently gained market penetrance in China," they wrote.

In 2016, durian imports to China accounted for about $600 million (511 million euros, compared to about $200 million for oranges, another key commodity.

There are about 200 specially-bred durian cultivars, with a range of textures, flavours and aromas to please a variety of palates -- with pungent and bitter fruit prized in Malaysia and Singapore, and sweeter ones in Thailand.

Yet despite the durian's importance as a tropical fruit crop, genetic research has been "almost nonexistent," the research team said.

The scientists said they hoped their work would kickstart further research to shed light on the extinction threat to certain durian species.

Genomic data could also be useful for "rapid quality control", they said, verifying the authenticity of fruit sold as desirable cultivars which may fetch high prices among aficionados.

"Further studies will help to elucidate the ecological roles of these important and fascinating tropical plants," the team wrote.
A Michigan woman who was just 12 years old when she says an 18-year-old held her captive for days and raped her now faces the prospect of sharing joint custody with her attacker, according to the victims lawyer.

The decision by a Michigan judge last week comes nine years after the boys mother was impregnated by Christopher Mirasolo, now 27, the Detroit News reported.

It wasnt until recently that Sanilac County Circuit Judge Gregory S. Ross ordered a paternity test for the now-21-year-old womans child after she applied for state aid, lawyer Rebecca Kiessling, who is representing the woman, said in a press release on Saturday.

After Mirasolo was identified as the father, the judge ordered that his name be added to the birth certificate and the womans address be disclosed to the father, who was also awarded parenting time, Kiessling said.

Kiessling, whose client is not being identified because she is the victim of a sex crime, called the judges decision insane.

Christopher Mirasolo, now 27. His attorney says it's not clear what kind of relationship he'll have with his son, who he conceived with a 12-year-old girl when he was 18. (Photo: MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS)

Nothing has been right about this [case] since it was originally investigated, she told the Detroit News. He was never properly charged and should still be sitting behind bars somewhere, but the system is victimizing my client, who was a child herself when this all happened.

Kiessling said her client is seeking protection from Mirasolo under the federal Rape Survivor Child Custody Act. The law provides grants to states that offer women who conceive a child through rape the option to terminate the rapists parental rights if there is clear and convincing evidence of the crime.

This case is believed to be the first case of its kind in Michigan, and perhaps in the U.S., in which a rape victim will seek protection under the new Rape Survivor Child Custody Act and proves why a rape conviction should not be required, Kiessling said in her press release.

The childs mother, who spoke out against the judges ruling to the NBC television affiliate Click on Detroit, said she hopes her son has nothing to do with Mirasolo.

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The boy was conceived out of rape, but I dont look at that. Hes my child. Hes a part of me. Not a part of him, she told the station. I hope [Mirasolo] never has any rights to him at all.

Attorney Barbara Yockey, who represents Mirasolo, told HuffPost on Monday that he was only following court orders to take a DNA test and also provide income information to pay child support to the mother, which she said he is doing.

He did not in any way pursue this, she said by email. This matter is in the process of being resolved by private agreement.

Yockey, who confirmed to HuffPost that her client had pleaded guilty to attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct in the case  which she referred to as statutory rape  previously told the Detroit News that its unclear what kind of relationship her client will have with the womans child, if any.

Kiessling said that in September 2008, her client slipped out of her house with her 13-year-old sister and a friend to meet up with a boy and his older friend, identified as Mirasolo.

During that visit, Mirasolo allegedly suggested they go for a ride. He ended up holding the girls captive for two days in a vacant house. When they were finally released, under a threat that if they told anyone what happened hed kill them, the youngest sister was pregnant. A month after that discovery was made, Mirasolo was arrested, Kiessling said.

He took a plea deal for attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct, and was sentenced to one year in a county jail. He ended up serving just six-and-a-half months.

Kiessling said that because Mirasolos crime involved a victim under the age of 13, he should have been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and faced between 25 years to life behind bars.

According to online records for Michigans Department of Corrections, just four months after Mirasolos early discharge, he committed a second offense  again for criminal sexual conduct, this time involving someone between the ages of 13 to 15.

He was sentenced to a minimum of five years for that crime, but was released after four years, Kiessling said.

Hes been on parole since July of 2016, records show. According to the conditions of his release, he is a registered sex offender whos not permitted to have contact with a child 17 years old or younger without the presence of a responsible adult. He also cannot come within 1,000-feet of a school or child care center without approval, or own a computer or device thats capable of connecting to the Internet.

The next court hearing on the matter is scheduled for Oct. 25.

A victims rights rally to protest the judges decision is being planned outside the courthouse at that time, according to a Facebook event page.

Requests for comment from the judge, state prosecutors and Kiessling were not immediately returned.

This story has been updated to include comment from Mirasolos attorney.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Adama (Ethiopia) (AFP) - She was not one of them, but Saada Youssef had lived alongside the Somali people of eastern Ethiopia for years. Then came the day local officials told her to leave or die.

"Even on the truck, people were throwing stones at us," Saada said, recalling her escape in a vehicle sent to rescue people of Oromo ethnicity living in the Somali region where tit-for-tat ethnic violence killed hundreds last month.

Saada found refuge in a collection of abandoned buildings in Adama, a city far from her home in the eastern town of Wachale, one of several areas in Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regions that have seen fighting between two of the country's largest ethnic groups.

The bloody clashes threaten to upset the delicate ethnic balance of Africa's second most populous country, where the all-powerful ruling party last year declared a state of emergency to end months of sometimes deadly anti-government protests spearheaded by the Oromos.

The unrest raises questions about the future of Ethiopia's "ethnic federalism" system of governance, which is supposed to offer a degree of self-determination to the country's diverse peoples but which critics say is often overruled by the federal government.

- A permanent rupture? -

What triggered September's violence is unclear, but its results are not.

A government spokesman said hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks and a local official in the eastern city of Harar said that more than 67,800 Oromos alone have fled, not to mention the Somalis who have moved in the opposite direction.

Survivors of the ethnic fighting blamed the government for not doing more to stop the bloodshed. They are worried it might lead to a permanent rift between the country's Somali and Oromo communities.

"This could be ethnic cleansing," said Molu Wario, an Oromo who fled fighting in Moyale in the south along the border of the Somali and Oromia regions, after a land dispute turned ugly.

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"It has led to hostility, and the relationship between us will never be the same as before," he said.

The logic of ethnic federalism sees different communities running their own affairs, so Somalis are in charge of the Somali region while Oromos run Oromia, but communities mix in all nine of Ethiopia's regions and squabbles over land and resources are common, though not always so violent.

This time, Somali and Oromo leaders alike allege atrocities committed by the other to justify their attacks.

Somalis point to a clash in Awaday, a town in Oromia, where they claim Oromos killed 18 Somali traders who were selling khat, a leafy plant that is a mild stimulant when chewed and is hugely popular in Ethiopia.

They also claim Oromos burned eight children to death in a district along the shared regional border and murdered patients in a hospital.

The claims could not be independently verified, though a diplomat in the capital Addis Ababa said the Oromia region's police force took part in the clashes.

Whatever the truth of the allegations, the retribution they have spurred is real.

- 'I have nothing left' -

Fleeing Oromos say the Somalis who chased them away from their homes with knives and guns cited the attack in Awaday.

Abdel Jabbar Ahmed, who escaped from Wachale, said he was told: "The Oromos killed 20 Somalis in Awaday, so we are going to take all the Oromos inside Somali region out."

Other dispossessed Oromos said their Somali friends and neighbours sheltered them when violence broke out, but that the regional security force -- known as the Liyu police and repeatedly criticised by rights groups -- was responsible for the worst of the excesses.

Ayub Abdullah, an Oromo day labourer who lived for 15 years in the Somali regional capital Jigjiga, said he was confronted by a mob at work, who demanded to know his ethnicity.

Then, four Liyu police attacked him and throttled him with a rope. Afterwards Ayub fled to a camp for displaced Oromos on the outskirts of Harar, a walled city near the border between the two regions.

"I work with lots of different people, but it was only Oromos who were being targeted," he said.

The military now guards major roads along the flashpoint border areas, gradually restoring calm to restive areas such as Jigjiga and Moyale.

But among the displaced, there's little talk of return.

"I saved all I had for 20 years and I lost it at once. Why would I go back there?" Saada said. "I have nothing left there."
Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples Day Participants ride a float along a rain-soaked Fifth Ave. during the annual Columbus Day Parade in New York, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (Photo: Craig Ruttle/AP)

A movement to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day has gained momentum in some parts of the U.S., with Los Angeles in August becoming the biggest city yet to decide to stop honoring the Italian explorer and instead recognize victims of colonialism.

Austin, Texas, followed suit Thursday. It joined cities including San Francisco, Seattle and Denver, which had previously booted Columbus in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day.

But the gesture to recognize indigenous people rather than the man who opened the Americas to European domination also has prompted howls of outrage from some Italian-Americans, who say eliminating their festival of ethnic pride is culturally insensitive, too.

We had a very difficult time in this country for well over a hundred years, said Basil Russo, president of the Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America. Columbus Day is a day that weve chosen to celebrate who we are. And were entitled to do that just as they are entitled to celebrate who they are.

Its not about taking anything away from Italian-Americans, said Cliff Matias, cultural director of the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, which hosted a Re-Thinking Columbus Day event Sunday and Monday in New York.

The conversation is Columbus, he said. If theyre going to celebrate Columbus, we need to celebrate the fact that we survived Columbus.

The debate over Columbus historical legacy is an old one, but it became emotionally charged after a similar debate in the South over monuments to Confederate generals flared into deadly violence in August at a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In Akron, Ohio, a September vote over whether to dump Columbus opened a racial rift on the city council that was so heated conflict mediators were brought in to sooth tensions.

In New York, where 35,000 people marched in Mondays Columbus Day parade, vandals last month doused the hands of a Christopher Columbus statue in blood-red paint and scrawled the words hate will not be tolerated. Activists calling for the city to change the parades name also are expected to hold a demonstration.

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On Sunday, three demonstrators briefly interrupted a wreath-laying ceremony at the Columbus statue in Columbus Circle. Two dressed in fake chains. One wore a hooded white sheet. Police said one person was arrested.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, appointed a committee to evaluate whether monuments to certain historical figures should be removed, prompting a backlash from fellow Italian-Americans who vowed to defend the Columbus statue, which has stood over Columbus Circle for more than a century. But the mayor still marched in Mondays parade.

You can debate the historical figure of Christopher Columbus, but you cant debate the contribution of Italian-Americans to this country, de Blasio said at the start of the march. (AP)

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By Fiston Mahamba GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Militants ambushed a group of about 30 civilians in northeastern Congo and killed many of them before fighting a fierce battle with the army, politicians said on Sunday. The attack took place near the city of Beni and, if the deaths are confirmed, would be the first mass-killing this year in that area. It has seen relative peace since more than 800 people were killed in dozens of massacres between 2014 and 2016. The spate of attacks raised serious questions about the state's ability to impose order over a region full of ethnic tensions and plagued by pockets of lawlessness where armed groups prey on populations and exploit rich mineral reserves. In the latest attack, on Saturday, assailants armed with machetes and guns ambushed travellers on the main road linking Beni in North Kivu province to neighbouring Ituri province, Boris Maelezo, a member of parliament from the area, told Reuters. He said about 30 civilians were riding on motorbikes, with several people on each vehicle, and that most of them could have been killed. Albert Baliesima Kadukima, another lawmaker from the area, said two women freed by the militants had told local authorities the assailants had slit the throats of more than a dozen people. Mak Hazukay, a local army spokesman, said Congolese forces were battling the militants and attempting to dislodge them from a section of the road that was several kilometres long. The two lawmakers and the army spokesman said the militants belonged to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan Islamist group active near the border between Congo and Uganda. Eastern Congo is a tinderbox of ethnic tensions and has been racked by conflict for more than two decades. It is the world's biggest source of coltan, used in mobile phones and other electronic products. Various armed groups have committed atrocities around Beni since late 2014 to settle scores and undermine rivals, with attacks sometimes sectarian in nature. (Writing By Aaron Ross; Editing by Pravin Char)
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., discusses his bill that bans abortions after 20 weeks of fetal development. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Penn., a member of the House Pro-Life Caucus, said on Thursday he would resign his seat over reports that he had recommended an abortion to a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair. Its not clear why he thought he had to quit, however, since just three years ago an equally ardent opponent of abortion for other people, Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., a physician-turned politician, won reelection after it came out that he had paid for two abortions for his wife, and suggested an abortion to his mistress, one of his former patients. Pro-life voters are extremely forgiving toward those who agree with them. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who has described the work of Planned Parenthood as the murder of tiny children, chided Murphy for  what would you think? Gross immorality? Criminal solicitation? No, inappropriate personal behavior and its public ramifications.

Heres a thought experiment: What would Perkins have said about a congressman who asked his lover to kill her husband? Would pro-life voters reelect an official who drowned his children, instead of aborting them? I recognize the difference, as I believe most Americans would, but by the terms of the pro-life argument, these amount to the same thing. I respect the right of abortion opponents to take a moral stand, but as a matter of policy and law, the pro-life movement keeps getting tangled up in its own contradictions, exemplified by one of the last votes Murphy cast in Congress, in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

The bill, the latest attempt to impose a federal ban on abortion (with limited exceptions) after 20 weeks, passed on Tuesday on a party-line vote. On the very day Murphy turned in his resignation, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., introduced the bill in the Senate, and President Trump has said he would sign it. But two years ago, Senate Democrats blocked an almost identical bill, which is still considered the most likely outcome this time.

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The bill is a vehicle for demonstrating the compassion that their opponents say Republicans lack, since it puts the emphasis on the fetuss subjective pain, rather than its absolute right to life, based on its possession of a soul. The latter is, in fact, the position of many, probably the majority, of right-to-lifers, notably including Alabamas former Chief Judge Roy Moore, the Republican nominee to replace Jeff Sessions, who in 2014 wrote:

Legal recognition of the unborn as members of the human family derives ultimately from the laws of nature and of natures God, Who created human life in His image and protected it with the commandment: Thou shalt not kill.

But as a political or legal proposition, that argument is lacking. It wont persuade unbelievers, or people who construe their faiths teachings differently, or a majority of the Supreme Court on any reasonable reading of the First Amendment, except Moores. Hence the bills emphasis on setting an objective, utilitarian standard for outlawing abortion, based on the age at which pain receptors are present throughout the unborn childs entire body and nerves link these receptors to the brains thalamus and subcortical plate.

But even the bills sponsors admit this is a subterfuge. The people championing a 20-week ban dont think abortion is OK at 19 weeks, or at 19 days or 19 minutes. They acknowledge that abortions after 20 weeks are so rare  1.3 percent of all abortions, according to a 2009 government study  that its not going to save a lot of babies. They look on it as an exercise in consciousness-raising, in getting the public to think about abortion in their preferred light. To encourage others to consider or support further legal protection for the unborn, one is almost required to make the case that at 20 weeks, an unborn person is able to feel pain, Kimberly Ross wrote on the conservative website Red State. Only then does abortion somehow seem worse.

More cynically, its an effort to force Democrats facing election next year to take a vote that might hurt them. We are preparing for 2018 Senate elections, Marjorie Dannenfelser, head of the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List, has explained. If we come up short, which is likely  what were doing is were building that Senate up to a 60-vote margin.

The premise that a fetus can experience pain at 20 weeks is controversial in its own right. The bill incorporates in its findings medical data to support that claim, but the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists disagrees, asserting as settled fact that the ability to perceive pain as pain (distinguished from mere touch) begins at the start of the third trimester. You could argue that this is a philosophical argument as much as it is a scientific one. No moral person seeks to inflict pain, but whatever sensation the fetus experiences is momentary and leaves no memory because it is, afterward, dead. The mother, on the other hand, still has most of her life ahead of her, and the purpose of an abortion is to allow her to live it without the obligation to carry, deliver and raise a child she does not want. Looked at that way, stripped of the religious component, I think its clear which way the balance of human happiness tilts. As long as they dont try to write it into law, anti-abortion advocates can argue, and their opponents can disagree, that nothing justifies the pain inflicted on the fetus, or that the mother would later regret an abortion, or she would in time learn to love the child, or that an abortion poses a hypothetical risk to her future health. But it should be clear by now that their real agenda is stopping a practice that offends their religious beliefs.

Twenty weeks, as it happens, has a special significance for the right-to-life movement, which has been focused in recent years on pushing back the nominal threshold of viability, the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb (with intensive medical intervention). The Supreme Court has, broadly speaking, viewed viability as the point at which the states interest in keeping the fetus alive can outweigh the mothers privacy right to an abortion. In the 1970s, when Roe v. Wade was decided, that point was believed to be the start of the third trimester. But by 1992, in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Court acknowledged that medical technology had advanced it to about 24 weeks.

The sponsors of the pain-capable bill are trying to plant a marker at 20 weeks  mendaciously, because (as the bill itself acknowledges) the age of viability has nothing to do with the onset of pain sensation. Theres good reason to suspect they are hoping to benefit from the resulting confusion. The last time this bill came up, two years ago, Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List lobbied for it by bringing around a sprightly 3-year-old named Micah Pickering, and advertising his near-miraculous birth and survival at 22 weeks. This time, Micah, now 5, is back as the face of the bill, and in the meantime his reported fetal age at birth has been pushed back to 20 weeks. Who says there are no miracles any more?

Because there are two different ways of calculating fetal age, both may be technically correct, but there is a reason why 20 weeks might serve Dannenfelsers purposes better. The conventional method of calculating gestational age is to date it from the mothers last menstrual period. But, of course, the embryo only begins to develop after fertilization  typically, although not invariably, about two weeks later. Until the advent of fetal ultrasound there was no easy way for doctors to determine this post-fertilization age. But the bill stipulates 20 weeks post-fertilization, a nuance that might well escape many women, and even their doctors. A woman at 20 weeks, measured the usual way from her last period, might believe she was past the window for an abortion, when in fact her fetus is only 18 weeks post-fertilization and still eligible under the law.

Like other social causes  gun control comes to mind, from the other side of the aisle  the movement to end abortion has been swallowed up by process, turned into a livelihood for lobbyists and political professionals who measure progress by seizing tiny tactical advantages and scoring symbolic victories. The fetal-pain bill is in that sense the mirror image of proposed legislation that has seized the imagination of Democrats: a bill to ban the sale of the bump stocks that turn semi-automatic rifles into functional machine guns. The bill, which even its advocates admit wouldnt make more than a tiny difference in the statistics on gun deaths, was inspired by the massacre last week in Las Vegas. As it happens, Republicans were also sensitive to the implications of that tragedy. They, of course, drew the lesson that we have to ban abortion.

_____

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New York (AFP) - A costly months-long battle over the direction of one of America's biggest companies culminates on Tuesday with a shareholder vote at Procter & Gamble headquarters in Cincinnati.

The fight pits the maker of Gillette razors and Olay soap against activist investor Nelson Peltz, 75, a billionaire hedge fund chief who has pitched himself as the outsider needed to reignite P&G, the largest company by market capitalization ever to face a proxy battle.

The grizzled veteran of high-profile boardroom brawls accuses the company of operating with excessive cost, being weak on innovation and missing the boat on key shifts in consumer behavior.

Peltz, whose firm Trian Partners holds 1.5 percent of P&G shares, attributes declining market share in key businesses to P&G's "slow moving and insular culture."

His campaign has been fortified by support from respected proxy advisory services, including Glass Lewis, which said a new voice might help reinvigorate a giant that appears to suffer from a "degree of complacency."

P&G counters that Peltz's campaign is based on an outdated perspective on the company and ignores key hires of outsiders as well as progress since its decision in 2014 to divest dozens of underperforming products in order to target giant brands that resonate best with consumers.

Company executives also say Peltz's campaign seems to be motivated mostly by short-term gain to the potential detriment of long-term performance.

"We strongly recommend you give us the opportunity to finish this transformation," chief executive David Taylor said on an October 3 investor conference call.

Whoever wins, the battle has been costly. P&G has estimated that it will spend $35 million to try to keep Peltz off the board, while Trian has said it expects to spend $25 million, according to securities filings.

- Outlook is improving -

P&G has reported revenue declines for the last three years, pointing to the drag from the strong dollar that has caused it to underperform against European rivals Unilever and L'Oreal in some key benchmarks.

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But macro conditions are improving for P&G due to the declining dollar, said CFRA Research analyst Joe Agnese, who praises some of Peltz's ideas but also sees benefit in giving management more time.

"The environment is improving for them with or without him. And that's why I think it's not a big negative if he's not voted onto the board," Agnese said.

"But I do see that having a diverse board with different ideas is a positive also."

Taylor, who joined P&G in 1980, assumed the top spot in November 2015, replacing A.G. Lafley, who was brought back to the company out of retirement in 2013 to take over from Bob McDonald, another long-time P&G executive whose selection in 2009 board members now concede was a mistake.

- Debate on big brands -

Among his charges, Peltz has hit P&G for misreading US shaving, where P&G stalwart Gillette has lost market share to upstart digital companies such as Dollar Shave Club, which was acquired last year by Unilever.

In China, P&G was slow to perceive a shift among consumers to "trading up" to premium diapers. Part of the problem, according to Peltz, is that P&G is to slavish towards big brands at a time when they are in decline and small and local brands are ascendant.

"Consumers used to trust big brands," Trian said in an investor presentation. "Many millennials now distrust big brands and seek out purpose-led brands."

P&G has acknowledged some missteps, conceding that it did not perceive the shift in China. But it has unveiled its own direct-to-consumer shaving program under Gillette.

The company pushed back on Peltz's attacks on big brands, saying that the best-known names dominate smaller format markets in urban areas, a key growth venue.

Better known names are also more likely to appear on the first page of major e-commerce sites, Taylor said.

Taylor rejected the depiction of P&G as weak on innovation, saying launches of major new incontinence and detergent performed better in consumer surveys as sub-brands under "Always" and "Downy," rather than as new product launches.

Taylor said he respected Peltz, but that much of the activist's thinking appeared to be framed by his experience with companies like PepsiCo and Heinz.

"What he most of the time talked about are food examples, which are very different from the business we are in," Taylor said. "I think he's projecting food onto our business."
Donald Trump has hit the headlines again after pronouncing Puerto Rico in an exaggerated Spanish accent at a Hispanic Heritage Month event.

The US president told the crowd at the event: We are also praying for the people of Puerto Rico. We love Puerto Rico.

He then repeated Puerto Rico, before switching to his usual accent to laughingly add: And we also love Puerto Rico.

Pres. Trump: PUerto Rico. We love PUerto Rico. And we also love Puerto Rico." pic.twitter.com/3fbzGvybd4  Dan Linden (@DanLinden) October 6, 2017

The comments sparked anger among many who saw them as the latest in a series of apparently disrespectful behaviour towards the people of Puerto Rico.

MORE: Genetically altered muscular pigs are spotted in disturbing farm video

MORE: Real risk of future US, China conflict, warns global think tank

One Twitter user asked what would happen if the US President had adopted the same approach in addressing the people of Las Vegas  still reeling from the massacre by gunman Stephen Paddock  saying: Can you imagine if he repeated Las Vegas three times with a fucking goofy-ass cartoon Western accent? WAKE UP PEOPLE!

He's like the Joker from Batman but less likeable  Jenny (@ncsujen) October 6, 2017

there are no words to explain the level of disgust I have for this man.  Resa (@Resa_Two) October 6, 2017

Many also noticed the reaction of Mr Trumps wife Melania, who was filmed at his side during the comments, initially smiling then adopting what some termed a blank expression.

Some suggested the First Lady did not really understand what was going on, taking her cues from those around her, while others made more humorous comparisons.

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Melania doesn't smile until the she hears the audience really laugh, I guess to get a cue on how to react.  therese (@Loki_Stubbin) October 6, 2017

She takes her cues from him sometimes. It's like she's confused about what he's saying then she laughs. Odd!  JayC (@jca10c9) October 6, 2017

cyborg  JayC (@jca10c9) October 7, 2017

The comments come after Mr Trump fell under fire during a visit to the US territory earlier this week where he joked that recovery costs after Hurricane Maria had thrown his budget out of whack and compared the devastation to a real catastrophe like 2005s Hurricane Katrina.
Its been more than 25 years since Donald Trump and his first wife Ivana divorced, but she says her ex-husband still asks for her advice  even when its about a tweet.

Read: Woman Says Donald Trump Left Her With the Bill on Their 'Nightmare' Date in the 70s

We speak to each other, Ivana Trump said in an interview with CBS News. Maybe once a week. Hes still asking for advice, yes. He ask me about, Should I tweet? Should I not tweet? I said, I think you should tweet. Its a new way, a new technology. And if you want to get your words across rightly, without telling The New York Times, which is going to twist every single word of yours, this is how you get your message out.'"

Ivana continued, Its a tweeting president. This is his new way, how to put the message across. And hes right.

In a new book, Raising Trump, Ivana reflects on raising their three children  Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric  and says she was inspired by their poise on the campaign trail.

I was very, very proud of them because they were articulate, intelligent, she said.

In 1991, Ivana shared with Inside Edition her recipe for traditional Czech goulash, a dish she often made for her kids.

It all started when the model, who was in her 20s at the time, was tapped on the shoulder at a New York City nightspot more than 40 years ago.

I turn around. And there is a blond, blue-eyed guy. And he said, 'I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. My name is Donald Trump. And I can see the girls, you are looking for a table, she said in the interview.

Eight months later in 1977, she and Trump, then 30, were married in a lavish ceremony.

They were often photographed around town until the early 1990s, when Trumps affair with Marla Maples led to a messy divorce.

I dont talk about her," Ivana said. "Shes a showgirl. Never achieve anything in her life."

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But, she said she doesnt miss a thing about her old life, and respects Melania Trump for stepping into the position of first lady.

I have a beautiful home here, she said. I have a spectacular apartment in Miami. I have a 300-year-old fisherman house in harbor of Saint Tropez. What more can I have?"

Read: Melania Fires Back at Ivana Trump's 'I'm First Lady' Remark, Calling It 'Self-Serving Noise'

Ivana said she has been offered a position of ambassador to her native Czech Republic, but she has no plans to accept the position.

She joked, Why would I go and say bye-bye to Miami in the winter, bye-bye to Saint-Tropez in the summer, and bye-bye to spring and fall in New York? I have a perfect life."

Watch: A Look Back at President Trump's Friendship With O.J. Simpson, Nearly 25 Years Later

Related Articles:
Republican Senator Bob Corker (right) appears with then-presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump at a campaign event in July 2016: Getty Images

Donald Trumps recklessness could set the world on course for World War III, a former ally and senior Republican party figure has warned in an extraordinary intervention.

Tennessee senator Bob Corker said the President acted like hes doing The Apprentice or something while leading the country.

The pair have engaged in a public spat in recent days but Mr Corkers latest comments are some of the most critical yet from a serving Republican politician.

He concerns me, Mr Corker told the New York Times. He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation.

The senator said his actions could put the US "on the path to World War III".

His comments came after he compared the White House to an adult day care centre on Twitter, a claim he then doubled down on in the newspaper interview.

I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, its a situation of trying to contain him, Mr Corker told the Times, referring to Mr Trump.

The war of words was all the more stark because of how close the two men were just a year ago.

Mr Corker was a national security adviser to Mr Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign and featured on Mr Trump's shortlists last year for both Vice President and Secretary of State.

But Mr Corker has since turned on the man he supported as the Republican candidate in 2016, including criticising Mr Trumps response to the white supremacist demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August.

Mr Corker, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, was asked about the most pressing current diplomatic issue for the US.

He dismissed the idea that the President could be using provocative comments about North Korea to advance US negotiations, being conducted by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, by playing bad cop to the top diplomats good cop efforts to broker a deal with Pyongyang.

Hes hurt us as it relates to negotiations that were under way by tweeting things out, Mr Corker said. A lot of people think that there is some kind of good cop, bad cop act under way, but thats just not true.

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The senator also said he believed the majority of other Republican politicians  many of whom have refused to publicly criticise Mr Trump  shared his views on the volatile President.

"Except for a few people, the vast majority of our caucus understands what were dealing with here," he said. "Of course they understand the volatility that were dealing with and the tremendous amount of work that it takes by people around him to keep him in the middle of the road.

Mr Corker also expressed exasperation with the Presidents use of social media - something he has been on the receiving end of in recent days.

I dont know why the President tweets out things that are not true, he said. You know he does it, everyone knows he does it, but he does.
Looks like Donald Trump, Jr. will be tuning into late night this week.

The son of President Trump initiated a brief but fiery exchange with Jimmy Kimmel on Saturday, expressing doubt that the "Live!" host will address recent developments about ousted studio honcho Harvey Weinstein.

"Thoughts on Harvey Weinstein?" Trump Jr. tweeted at Kimmel, two days after news broke that Weinstein, a longtime Democratic donor, had sexually harassed mutiple women.

"You mean that big story from the liberal, one-sided @nytimes?" Kimmel replied four minutes later. "I think it is disgusting." (Trump, of course, has often taken aim at the New York Times.)

"Great I look forward to your monologues next week," Trump Jr. responded. "You're probably due for a change if only for a moment or two."

"Great - in the meantime, enjoy this!" Kimmel shot back, linking to a video of Donald Trump's infamous Access Hollywood "Grab her by the p---y" tape.

great - in the meantime, enjoy this! https://t.co/kQsBAioFwh  Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) October 7, 2017

Trump Jr. did not respond to Kimmel's tweet.

The Weinstein story broke one year to the day that the Access Hollywood tape was leaked. In addition to the "grab her" comment, Trump's quotes included references to "trying to f--k" married women and an inability to not kiss women when he seems them.

"It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait," Trump said. "And when you're a star they let you do it."
By Marjua Estevez

Following a grossly pompous visit to the hurricane-ravaged island of Puerto Rico, Donald Trump used an exaggerated Spanish accent during a speech meant to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the White House on Friday (Oct. 6).

POTUS was in the middle of discussing Puerto Ricos humanitarian crisis following Hurricane Maria when he all of sudden began to over-pronounce the islands name. We are also praying for the people of Puerto Rico, said Trump, putting poor emphasis on the first two syllables of the word Puerto.

We love Puerto Rico, he added, before returning to his normal, yet annoying breathy voice to say, We also love Puerto Rico.

Not funny.

Needless to say, 45s tasteless gag didnt sit well with the online community, which immediately went to work on calling out the business tycoon for his insensitivity and condescending behavior.

WHY DID TRUMP TRY A SPANISH ACCENT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS MAN  spooky court (@kilIacourt) October 7, 2017

That wasnt a Spanish accent. It was condescending AF tho. https://t.co/ntP9Blso8z  Ms. Mueller (@wethefreople) October 6, 2017

All Latinos in the room who laughed should be ashamed of themselves!As Latina I was Offended!  #RESIST (@powderpuf106751) October 7, 2017

I fear what #POTUS may attempt during #BlackHistoryMonth  Alphonso Van Marsh (@AlphonsoVM) October 7, 2017

This post Donald Trump Mocks Puerto Rican Accent During Hispanic Heritage Month Speech first appeared on Vibe.
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Wildfires broke out Sunday night and Monday in California's prized wine country, advancing with stunning, and potentially deadly, speed across the dry and gusty Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

A total of 14 fires in northern California had destroyed about 1,500 structures as of Monday morning, local time, putting this event as among the most destructive in state history. At least one death has been reported, along with an unknown number of injuries, based on local media reports.

Winds gusting to 55 miles per hour fanned the flames in Napa and Sonoma County overnight. CalFire Battalion Chief Jonathan Cox told KTVU on Monday that the Tubbs Fire, located between Santa Rosa and Calistoga, "exploded" in size overnight, from 200 to 20,000 acres.

SEE ALSO: How to prepare for natural disasters

It was an inferno like youve never seen before, Marian Williams, who escaped the Tubbs Fire before dawn near the town of Kenwood, told the Associated Press.

Trees were on fire like torches, she said. During the day on Monday, other destructive fires broke out in southern California, as well.

Aerial video footage from KTVU showed numerous homes burning or destroyed in Santa Rosa. Entire neighborhoods, at least two hospitals, and senior centers in northwestern Santa Rosa were reportedly evacuated. As Windsor Fire Chief Jack Piccinini told the publication, Sonoma County is struggling due to a lack of resources needed to fight fires of this magnitude. Neighboring counties have been sending equipment and crews to help fight the blazes.

Marin County, for example, sent 22 fire engines, along with 5 ambulances, as well as numerous crews to assist the effort.

This fire is horrific. Cars, buildings destroyed. Untold homes pic.twitter.com/XDl1UhtJY3  Jill Tucker (@jilltucker) October 9, 2017

"Everyone in Sonoma County is spread out fighting these fires, but they don't have enough resources to handle something like this. The only thing we can do is hope the wind will come down," Piccinini told the paper.

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The rapid speed of these fires raises the potential for casualties, given that residents had little time to flee the flames. The Santa Rosa Fire Department tweeted that the fire had grown to 20,000 acres  which is astonishing considering the fires broke out mere hours before.

The #TubbsFire is now at 20,000 acres.  SantaRosaFire (@SantaRosaFire) October 9, 2017

20,000+ acres burnt in a matter of hours due to 50+ mph wind gusts and <15% humidity. @CAL_FIRE reps saying the rate of spread is unheard of  Sean Wince  (@SeanWince) October 9, 2017

Images and video surfacing on social media show just how extensive the damage is already, and how smoke can be seen from surrounding areas  all the way into downtown San Francisco.

saw numerous ambulances enroute north 101 and SF is completely hazed in ash #napafire pic.twitter.com/LBoCrmSF8x  Micheal Benedict (@micheal) October 9, 2017

Mobile home park in Santa Rosa is gone. Cal fire says they can confirm civilian injuries. Varying degrees.#ABC7now pic.twitter.com/pnPAve2FzX  Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) October 9, 2017

Fire that crossed from Napa to Sonoma has burned homes along Highway 12 just west of County line. @CBSSF #napafires pic.twitter.com/zNl6XWuMlf  Wilson Walker (@Wilson_Walker) October 9, 2017

Napa Road, just off Highway 12 in Sonoma County. Quite a few homes lost in this area. #napafires pic.twitter.com/4Z4ZMgT28B  Wilson Walker (@Wilson_Walker) October 9, 2017

According to The Los Angeles Times, over 300 firefighters are battling three major fires burning in Napa County, along with some additional smaller fires in the area.

As of Monday morning, much of northern California is under Red Flag Warning, which means critical fire weather conditions  such as wind, humidity, and temperature  are present that would ensure that any fire that breaks out could spread rapidly and become severe.

Got evacuated from Glen Allen. 101 is blocked so take 80E to get to SF. Thick smoke, gusty winds for Napa #napafires pic.twitter.com/zgCFUawDXY  Ayesha Barenblat (@abarenblat) October 9, 2017

Strong images out of Santa Rosa, CA, where a hospital is being evacuated due to growing #wildfire. Photo by CNN affiliate @abc7newsbayarea pic.twitter.com/LIdPtKggp3  Andrea Butera (@AndreaButera) October 9, 2017

Another image of the fire crawling up the back on Sonoma Raceway pic.twitter.com/DY960PtwM2  Ken Shuman (@sanphrancisco) October 9, 2017

#NapaCounty fire seen from our plane while flying into SFO tonight. Prayers for the firefighters out there fighting this. #napafire pic.twitter.com/Ic0DIZ24jk  Janice Abdalla (@Babbles28) October 9, 2017

#GOES16 satellite update: around 3 am Monday morning. Satellite continues to show multiple wild fires across the North Bay, and a new fire start has been detected just to the east of Cloverdale. Strong and gusty northeast winds will continue through at least mid morning. #cawx pic.twitter.com/jufkkU38wZ  NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) October 9, 2017

According to National Weather Service forecast office in Sacramento, winds in the vicinity o are currently reaching up to 55 mph, and daytime humidity levels are between 7 and 19 percent, so any fires that spark are expected to spread quickly.

A record wet winter has been followed by much drier-than-average conditions in this region during the past three months. This means that vegetation that grew during the wet period is now extremely dry, providing plenty of fuel for the flames.

Past 90 days: Swath of northern #California <25% normal rainfall. Vegetation growth after record 2016/17 WY rains now dying. Lots of fuel. pic.twitter.com/6dN05R0QG1  Steve Bowen (@SteveBowenWx) October 9, 2017

Image: NWS San Francisco

Canyon Fire 2

Anaheim Hills

South of the 91

Along the 241 Toll Road @foxla pic.twitter.com/mJTcGp0zod  Rick Dickert (@RICKatFOX) October 9, 2017

Due to Santa Ana winds there's also a critical fire danger in areas of southern California. Wildfires broke out Monday in Anaheim, forcing evacuations of entire neighborhoods.

October has long been associated with California's worst wildfires, particularly in southern California, where Santa Ana winds tend to develop more frequently than at other times of year. This is also the end of the dry season in the state, when vegetation tends to be most ready to ignite.

Larger-scale trends are amplifying wildfire risks across the West, as well. We're building more in areas that border forested lands where fires are commonplace, for example.

Global warming is also helping to make larger fires more common across the West in particular, as spring snow cover melts earlier, and forests dry out more than they used to during the dry season. In the West, the 2017 wildfire season has been unusually severe, with 8.5 million acres burned to date, compared to the 10-year average of about 6 million by this time. Canada has also had an unusually severe wildfire season, with numerous large blazes torching millions of acres in British Columbia and Alberta, in particular.
Missouri State Representative Bruce Franks stands before police in riot gear as protestors demonstrate following a not guilty verdict of a police officer on 15 September 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri: Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

The FBI has declared that black identity extremism is a violent threat in the US according to a leaked report.

The document obtained by Foreign Policy is dated August 2017 and written by the Domestic Terrorism Analysis Unit within the bureau.

It read: The FBI assesses it is very likely Black Identity Extremist (BIE) perceptions of police brutality against African Americans spurred an increase in premeditated, retaliatory lethal violence against law enforcement and will very likely serve as justification for such violence.

The FBI wrote that alleged police abuse is what has continued to feed the resurgence in ideologically motivated, violent criminal activity within the BIE movement.

Around 750 people have been shot and killed by police thus far in 2017 and almost 170 of them were African-American.

The actual label of BIE appears to be an invented one, as Foreign Policy reported.

Michael German, a former FBI agent and now Brennan Center fellow, told the outlet: Basically, its black people who scare them.

A former senior counterterrorism and intelligence official from the Department of Homeland Security reviewed the report for the news outlet and said BIE is a new umbrella designation that has no basis...There are civil rights and privacy issues all over this.

The 12-page report points to the 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri as well as the grand jury decision not to indict the police officer who shot the unarmed teenager as a sort of catalyst.

His death spurred an increase in premeditated, retaliatory lethal violence against law enforcement and will very likely serve as justification for such violence, the report stated.

It cited six events since 2014 as evidence to support this theory.

Even though five of these attacks occurred following controversial police shooting of African Americans by white police officers, BIE targeting of officers was not, in every incident, based on their specific race, the report said.

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The report stated that Micah Johnson, who shot at police officers during a July 2016 Black Lives Matter march in Dallas, Texas was influenced by BIE ideology based on journals and police statements.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment however issued a statement clarifying that the bureau cannot initiate an investigation based solely on an individuals race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or the exercise of First Amendment rights.

The timing of the report is chilling - issued on 3 August just nine days before violence erupted at a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Torch-wielding white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and Ku Klux Klan members marched on the college town to protest the removal of Civil War Confederate General Robert E Lees statue.

They clashed with counter-protesters who said the statue was only a reminder of hundreds of years of brutal slavery and a war that sought to divide the nation

Three people died that day, two Virginia State Police officers and one counter-protester who was fatally injured when an alleged Hitler Youth member drove his car into the crowd.

Donald Trump was heavily criticised for not immediately denouncing the hate groups and though he did do so later, he maintained his conviction that many sides were responsible for the violence.

Activists fear that the Trump administrations influence over the bureau is outlined in this document and that BIE will be used to justify arresting or prosecuting civil rights protesters.

DeRay McKesson, a Black Lives Matter activist, was not surprised by the information in the report.

There is a long tradition of the FBI targeting black activists like Martin Luther King, Jr and the NAACP, he told Foreign Policy.

This is confirmation that the work of social justice continues to threaten those in power, he said.
A mother is pleading for help after claiming her five-year-old daughter allegedly started her a period a year ago and has already begun to develop breasts.

Emily Dover was still a toddler when her mother said she began to grow breasts, develop cystic acne and body odor at the age of two.

Emily's mother, Tam Dover, told Mirror Online her daughter started menstruating when she was just four years of age and growing hair on her forehead, back and vagina.

Click through photos of Emily Dover and her family:



Because she has trouble toileting, she thought she had done a poo in her undies," Dover said, adding that she hadn't known what was happening to her daughter when she began to spot blood so early. "We used panty liners and it didnt last more than a day. She only had her period again the other day. She hasnt even had a chance to be a little girl. Shes having to learn how to put panty liners on for menstruating.

Dover added: "Its difficult to explain to her what is happening, She knows shes different, she knows shes much bigger than other children. Shes very conscious of her body. I dont want her to fear what is happening."

According to the international news outlet, medical experts from the Pediatric Acute Care Unit in Wyong Hospital in Australia have diagnosed the young girl with Addison's disease and central precocious puberty.

Addison's disease is a disorder in which the body's adrenal glands produce insufficient hormones and central precocious puberty is a condition that causes early onset puberty in girls and boys

Dover said the family is now fundraising to help counter the "astronomical" costs they are facing for their daughter's treatments and medical care, adding on their GoFundMe page that the little girl is due to start a hormone replacement therapy that "will throw her into menopause."

SEE ALSO: Woman shouts astonishing phrase before biting cop

We are at a loss financially," Dover wrote on the crowdfunding page. "It is hard to ask for the for the charity of strangers for your child, but, here we are, hoping that you can help make a difference in our little girl's life, so she can just feel like a normal 5-year-old. Not the 5-year-old that is battling puberty amongst other conditions.

"It is $1455 per shot, and will throw her into menopause, with all the side effects that 50+-year-old women have, and as we are both working, we are not entitled to health care /pension card rebates," Dover writes. "So this treatment, along with her other many appointments and therapies, are covered by us solely. We work fulltime each and each time Emily is sick, it is days off, mostly without pay, as we have exhausted all of our leave entitlements."
PARIS (Reuters) - France will not recognize Catalonia if the Spanish region unilaterally declares independence, European affairs minister Nathalie Loiseau said on Monday. "If there were to be a declaration of independence, it would be unilateral, and it would not be recognized," Loiseau said on CNews television. Catalonia, which has its own language and culture and is led by a pro-independence regional government, held a referendum on Oct. 1 over secession in defiance of Spain's constitutional court, which had declared the vote illegal. "Catalonia cannot be defined by the vote organized by the independence movement just over a week ago," the French junior minister said. "This crisis needs to be resolved through dialogue at all levels of Spanish politics." A hasty decision to recognize independence following such a unilateral declaration would amount to fleeing France's responsibilities, Loiseau added. "If independence were to be recognized - which is not something that's being discussed - the most immediate consequence would be that (Catalonia) automatically left the European Union." (Reporting by Cyril Camu; Writing by Laurence Frost)
Paris (AFP) - France will open offices in Niger and Chad in the coming weeks to identify people who could be granted asylum, President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday.

The offices would also "warn people in Niger and Chad better about the situation in order to avoid an influx of economic migrants" who would only be sent back from France, Macron said.

The French president had made a similar proposal for migrant registration centres in Libya in July.

But the idea was axed due to chronic insecurity in the North African country, a launchpad for hundreds of thousands of migrants setting sail for Europe across the Mediterranean.

In Chad and Niger, candidates for asylum would come from lists provided by the United Nations refugee agency, Macron said after talks in Paris with the UNHCR's chief Filippo Grandi.

The presidency said the first mission in Niger, operated by France's refugee protection office Ofpra, would start work at the end of October.

France "will open 10,000 places over the next two years" for refugees resettled from Niger, Chad, Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, Macron said, confirming a proposal first raised after a mini-summit with European and African leaders in August.

Vincent Cochetel, the UNHCR's special envoy for the Mediterranean, last month demanded that France clarify how many refugees it was committed to resettling.

He estimated that 83,500 people in Chad and 10,500 in Niger -- many caught up in the brutal Boko Haram insurgency -- needed to be transferred out of their countries.

Macron reiterated that France is seeking to expel economic migrants in a "much more rigorous" manner while offering refuge to those with a right to asylum.

He announced that France would send an extra 10 million euros ($12 million) to the UNHCR and International Organization for Migration, particularly to boost their operations in Libya.
By Kwasi Kpodo ACCRA (Reuters) - A fuel distribution site in Ghana's capital Accra exploded on Saturday evening, killing an unknown number of people, a government official said. "Unfortunately there are some fatalities and we are working to have the numbers," Deputy Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told a local radio station. "There are quite a number also injured." He added that the main blaze was largely under control and that the government planned to release casaulty figures on Sunday morning. Several eyewitnesses told Reuters they had counted four or five bodies, although some bodies could have already been removed from the scene. The explosion at around 7:30 p.m. local time (1930 GMT) occurred at a fuel distribution site at city's Atomic Junction where there is a liquefied petroleum gas storage depot and two service stations run by state-owned GOIL and oil major Total, a Reuters witness said. Frightened residents ran from the explosion, which sent a giant fireball high into the sky above the city, and several fire trucks and ambulances were deployed to the scene. An explosion at a petrol station in Accra in 2015 killed around 100 who had sought shelter nearby from flooding in the country's worst disaster in more than a decade. Infrastructure in Accra, a city of roughly 7 million people, has failed to keep pace with population growth after years of rapid economic expansion. A small unit on a tower building at Ghana's Parliament also caught fire in July, although the blaze did not cause major damage. (Writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Diane Craft)
Berlin (AFP) - German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Sunday that he feared US President Donald Trump would quit the Iran nuclear deal next week.

Trump is a stern critic of the 2015 accord, which he has called "the worst deal ever", and US officials say he intends to tell US Congress next week that Tehran is not honouring its side of the bargain.

"The United States is likely to quit the Iran agreement next week -- that is my great concern," Gabriel was quoted as saying by national news agency DPA.

However Gabriel said Germany remains committed to the agreement, which Berlin helped negotiate, to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb.

Gabriel, speaking at a state election campaign event, said his question to Washington was: "What good will come of us treating Iran as though it is developing nuclear weapons after all? ... Nothing."

He accused the US administration of "replacing the rule of law with the law of the strongest".

"And that is a great danger for us because if the United States of America takes that course then the world will change," he said.

Trump is expected to announce that he is "decertifying" Iran's compliance with the agreement it signed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

US officials insist this will not sink the deal itself but open the way for Congress to possibly develop new measures to punish other aspects of Iran's behaviour.

Resumed sanctions could derail the accord negotiated with Tehran by former president Barack Obama and other major world powers.

Congress requires the president to certify Iranian compliance with the deal every 90 days. The next date certification date is October 15.

Under the law, Congress would then have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions lifted by the deal.
Fema administrator Brock Long says he has "filtered out" the Mayor of San Juan: ABC

The head of US emergency response has dismissed a Puerto Rican official's calls for help as political noise, claiming to have filtered [her] out a long time ago.

Fema Administrator Brock Long spoke out against San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz in an interview with ABC's This Week. Ms Cruz has repeatedly called for more federal assistance in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

We filtered out the mayor a long time ago, we dont have time for political noise, Mr Long said. ...We filter that out, keep our heads down, and continue to make progress and push forward in restoring central functions for Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Maria knocked out almost all of the island's power when it struck Puerto Rico late last month. Most of the island is still without electricity, and many residents still lack for food and water.

Ms Cruz has been outspoken about the islands need for help, what what she sees as the administration's slow response in giving it.

Power collapses in San Juan hospital with 4 patients now being transferred out, she tweeted on Saturday night. Have requested support from FEMA. NOTHING!

Mr Long shot back in his Sunday-morning interview, saying Fema is "re-stringing a very fragile system every day".

We built an entire 911 system, he said. We monitor the hospital system daily and so if there is power failure at a hospital ... were actually [flying] the ICU patients out of those hospitals.

But the administrator admitted that his agencys resources were taxed in the wake of several recent hurricanes. Fema is still aiding in recovery efforts from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, which devastated swaths of the American South last month.

"Nearly 85 per cent of my entire agency is deployed right now, Mr Long said. We're still working massive issues in Harvey, Irma, as well as the issues in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and now this one."

So Ms Cruz has extended her pleas for help to the highest levels, begging President Donald Trump for assistance via interviews and Twitter.

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We are dying here, she told reporters at press conference late last month. I cannot fathom the thought that the greatest nation in the world cannot figure out the logistics for a small island of 100 miles by 35 miles.

She added: So, Mr Trump, I am begging you to take charge and save lives.

The President responded via Twitter, accusing Puerto Rican officials of wanting everything to be done for them.

"The military and first responders, despite no electric, roads, phones etc., have done an amazing job," he wrote. "Puerto Rico was totally destroyed."
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- Hundreds of thousands of people rallied Sunday in downtown Barcelona to protest against the plans of Catalonia's regional government to secede from the rest of Spain. The march was the largest pro-union showing since the rise of separatist sentiment in the prosperous northeastern region that has pushed Spain to the brink of a national crisis.

Barcelona police said 350,000 people participated, while march organizers Societat Civil Catalana said that 930,000 people turned out.

Those numbers resemble the pro-independence rallies that Barcelona has seen in recent years.

Many in the crowd who marched through the city center under the slogan of "Let's recover our common sense!" carried Spanish, Catalan and European Union flags. Some chanted "Don't be fooled, Catalonia is Spain" and called for Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to go to prison.

Sunday's rally comes a week after the Catalan government went ahead and held a referendum on secession that Spain's top court had suspended and the Spanish government said was illegal.

Catalan authorities say the "Yes" side won the referendum with 90 percent of the vote, though only 43 percent of the region's 5.3 million eligible voters turned out in polling that was marred by police raids of polling stations on orders to confiscate ballot boxes.

Puigdemont has pledged to push ahead for independence anyway and is set to address the regional parliament on Tuesday "to report on the current political situation."

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vows that his government will not allow Catalonia, which represents a fifth of Spain's economy, to break away from the rest of the country.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais published Sunday, Rajoy said that he will consider employing any measure "allowed by the law" to stop the region's separatists.

Rajoy said that includes the application of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, which would allow the central government to take control of the governance of a region "if the regional government does not comply with the obligations of the Constitution."

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"The ideal situation would be that I don't have to find drastic solutions, but for that to happen there will have to be some rectifications (by Catalan leaders)," Rajoy said.

Rallies were held Saturday in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities to demand that Rajoy and Puigdemont negotiate to find a solution to Spain's worst political crisis in nearly four decades.

Pro-union forces hope to gather steam with Sunday's protest in Barcelona after a series of large businesses, including Catalonia's top two banks, announced they were relocating their headquarters to other parts of Spain. Other companies are reportedly considering leaving Catalonia to avoid being cast out of the European Union and its common market in the case of secession.

Related:

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"I hope that nothing will happen. Because (Catalonia) is going to lose more than (Spain) because businesses are fleeing from here already," said protester Juliana Prats, a Barcelona resident. "I hope it will remain like it has been up until now, 40 years of peace."

The rally drew Spaniards from outside the northeastern region to the Catalan capital. One group held a large banner boasting "Marbella," a town on Spain's southern coast. An AP reporter spoke with another man who had come from the northern Basque Country region.

Nobel Literature Prize laureate Mario Vargas Llosa and former president of the European Parliament Josep Borrell addressed the rally.

"Besides Catalans, there are thousands of men and women from all corners of Spain who have come to tell their Catalan companions that they are not alone," said Llosa, who took on Spanish citizenship in addition to that of his native Peru in 1993. "We want Barcelona to once again be the capital of Spanish culture."

Borrell added that: "Catalonia is not a state like Kosovo where rights were systematically violated."

The most recent polls taken before the referendum showed that Catalonia's 7.5 million residents were roughly split over secession, while a majority would support an official referendum on independence if it were condoned by Spanish authorities

Rajoy's government has repeatedly refused to grant Catalonia permission to hold a referendum on grounds that it is unconstitutional since it would only poll a portion of Spain's 46 million residents.

Catalonia's separatists camp has grown in recent years, strengthened by Spain's recent economic crisis and by Madrid's rejection of attempts to increase self-rule in the region.
PureWow

King Charles is taking on yet another important role that was previously held by his late father, Prince Philip. This week, the royal family released a brand-new portrait of the monarch, as he officially takes on the role of Park Ranger of Windsor Great Park. In the photograph, His Majesty is standing next to a giant oak tree in an open field while the sun shines brightly. King Charles looks like a whole new man in the pic and is dressed in a camel-colored suit and holding a cane in his hand. Vi
Rome (AFP) - The UN atomic agency chief on Monday affirmed Iran's commitment to a 2015 nuclear deal, in a statement that came as US President Donald Trump said Tehran was not living up to the "spirit" of the agreement.

"I can state that the nuclear-related commitments undertaken by Iran under the (nuclear agreement) are being implemented," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano said in prepared remarks during a conference in Rome.

An IAEA report released last month had also affirmed Iran's compliance with the programme, which froze some of Tehran's nuclear activities.

Iran's stock of low-enriched uranium -- used for peaceful purposes, but when further processed for a weapon -- did not exceed the agreed limit of 300 kilos (661 pounds), the report said.

It added that Iran "has not pursued the construction of the Arak... reactor" -- which could give it weapons-grade plutonium -- and has not enriched uranium above low purity levels.

The landmark deal was signed in July 2015 by Iran and five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States) plus Germany -- establishing controls to prevent Tehran from developing an atomic bomb.

The EU's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said Iran's compliance with the accord had been verified on at least eight separate occasions.

It is time to "invest in international cooperation" and "open new channels and not destroy the ones we already have," she said by video conference.

It is "certainly not the time to dismantle them".

- 'Worst deal ever' -

Faced with the growing threat from North Korea, "we cannot afford to open a new front," Mogherini added.

Trump is a fierce critic of the 2015 accord, which he has called "the worst deal ever", and he is expected to announce that he is "decertifying" Iran's compliance with it.

Story continues

US officials insist this will not sink the deal itself but open the way for Congress to possibly develop new measures to punish other aspects of Iran's behaviour.

Congress requires the president to certify Iranian compliance with the deal every 90 days. The next certification date is October 15.

Under the law, Congress would then have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions lifted by the deal.
This womans grandmother showed up to her party with quite a shocking bouquet of birthday balloons. (Photo: Twitter/Arihrih)

Birthdays can be full of surprises, whether good, bad, or straight up inappropriate. But its not usually grandma who comes up with the last category. For one womans 22nd birthday, however, it was her grandmothers gift that made the most shocking statement of the night.

In a photo tweeted out by the birthday girls sister Ariana, their grandma is seen holding a bouquet of balloons that she kindly brought for her granddaughter, not realizing the messages on the balloons are, to say the least, wildly inappropriate.

My grandma who doesnt speak English showed up with some birthday balloons for my sister Ariana tweeted, letting the words on the balloons speak for themselves.

Their grandma is from Mexico, Ariana tells Yahoo Lifestyle, explaining that a language barrier was the reason behind the mixup. While the family later found out that the balloons were given to her as a gag gift during a white elephant gift exchange, they were able to piece together that she had assumed they said Happy birthday and Celebrate!  or something like that. Luckily, the friends and family at the party had a good sense of humor about it, and grandma did, too.

At first, we were shocked to read what was printed on the balloons, but were immediately rolling on the floor laughing about it, Ariana says. [Our grandma] was initially confused as to why peoples reactions were so strong, as everyone was laughing. Once we had explained to her what the balloons said, she was definitely embarrassed and apologized to my sister, but there was no need, because my sister loved them.

It seems safe to say that the balloons were a highlight of the night, and that this womans grandma is pretty epic.

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Mike Crane enjoys history. After all, the radio network he directs, Wisconsin Pubic Radio, is celebrating its centennial.

But when he considers the state of the audio industry, he hearkens back to an earlier time  the invention of the printing press around 1440.

I really think were in a golden age of audio because there is just so much thats interesting to listen to, Crane said. I think public radio sounds better than ever. I think there are a lot of amazing podcasts to listen to.

I have to think this is like when printing became easily available and suddenly books were cheap. People thought, Oh my, Ill never read all of the books! Nowadays, its kind of hard to keep up with all of the great audio content available, and thats OK.

Crane joined Wisconsin Public Radio in 2008 and two years later became its director.

Since then, the organization has expanded its newsroom and established partnerships with investigative journalism organizations. It also has created new programs like Central Time and Wisconsin Life, in partnership with Wisconsin Public Television.

WPR recently remodeled its newsroom in Vilas Hall on the UW-Madison campus and is now renovating Radio Hall for more office space.

Almost 500,000 people listen to WPRs two networks each week. One network is for classical music as well as NPR News (88.7 FM in Madison). The second broadcasts shows on the Ideas Network (970 AM, 90.9 FM and 107.9 FM in Madison).

WPR now has 37 transmitting sites throughout the state. The latest is a translator added in Wausau that carries the Ideas Network on 91.9 FM.

WPRs biggest centennial event will be held Saturday at the Overture Center in Madison. It will include stories, music, conversation and even a sing-along, emceed by NPRs Ari Shapiro.

Q. Weather was the first thing regularly broadcast on radio station 9XM, which became Wisconsin Public Radio. That broadcast happened on Dec. 4, 1916, from UWs Science Hall. How did that work?

A. The very first weather forecasts were in Morse code, the dots and dashes. You can tell the seeds of an interest in public service from the very beginning. Back then, they asked the hobbyists that built their own radio sets to transcribe the weather forecast, and post it in a prominent place. They understood early on that radio, unlike a telephone or telegraph, could be broadcast, which is an agricultural metaphor. You broadcast seed. In this case, youre broadcasting audio.

It wasnt very long afterward that they thought about classical music and news and information?

On that first broadcast they played some classical music. They had an instinct that radio could be used to make life in Wisconsin better. Being educators, I think they went in that direction pretty quickly, providing education as well as weather and market information and music. The staff here deeply believes in the Wisconsin Idea. One way we describe that is to say the resources of the university belong to the entire state, and WPR is one way they can receive those resources.

Youve recently lost two well-known hosts  Joy Cardin and Kathleen Dunn on the Ideas Network. Cardin retired after 14 years hosting The Joy Cardin Show in the morning, and Dunn after 24 years at WPR. How will their departures change WPR?

The sound will be different with new hosts, but the core purpose or sensibilities of WPR wont change. Those go back 100 years.

In place of The Kathleen Dunn Show, for the moment, were broadcasting a national show, called 1A with Joshua Johnson. Its a really good show, so when Kathleen let us know she was retiring, on fairly short notice, we thought 1A would be a good choice as a replacement. Our habit is to give programs a chance to see how the audience responds. So well see.

For the morning show, we are absolutely recruiting to hire another Wisconsin-based host or hosts. It will still be a Wisconsin-based, call-in talk show. Meanwhile, we hired a swing host, Kate Archer Kent, a while ago. I think shes subbed on all of the Ideas Network talk shows, so shes stepped in to what we are simply calling The Morning Show for now, and then well conduct a national search.

Is part of the thinking that if you air a national talk show from 1 to 3 p.m. in place of The Kathleen Dunn Show, it lessens the number of hours WPR produces each day on the Ideas Network, which lessens any concerns you might have about maintaining the quality of what WPR produces?

I would say that could be true. Both of the producers who were working on The Kathleen Dunn Show have at least a temporary assignment to work the other WPR shows, so there is some added help. They were hired as multimedia producers, so they came to us with more background in doing online stuff and so helping us mostly radio people to do better with that is a big deal for us. So well see how that works. Theres a lot of change management going on with the new morning show being needed, and I dont have a permanent answer yet on the afternoon.

Would WPR be stronger if you could add Milwaukee Public Radio to the network or merge together?

You wont be surprised to learn that its been talked about over the years. Dave Edwards, the general manager there, and I have known each other forever, way before I was at Wisconsin Public Radio. My sense is Dave has built a really wonderful service that deeply serves Milwaukee that would be pretty tough for us to do. Theres no contemplation of any merger.

WPR has added to its news and online operations in the last few years. With staff cuts at many news organizations, do you feel a responsibility to grow your newsroom?

Public radio really started as an alternative media around culture, and we grew into a significant journalistic presence over the years. Now NPR is one of the most respected news organizations in the country. So for a long time, stations have worked on beefing up their news presence. My sense is journalism is under fire. There are a lot fewer people working in newspapers and radio stations than there once was. Right now, knock on wood, WPR is very healthy. Public radio listening is up around the country. And well do what we can to keep that going.

More and more people are listening on demand, especially to podcasts. How challenging is that for WPR?

Theres a dual answer to that. Its a huge challenge, and its really exciting.

Kerri Hoffman who is the chief executive officer for PRX, which distributes our two national programs, said at a conference a year or two ago that listening to podcasts builds a habit of listening. Thats good for us, if we can build a habit of audio content being really great.

We have what we call WPR Next, an incubator for new content. We are in the midst of our second round of piloting. This content might turn into a weekly show or a segment on another show.

The other piece of the puzzle for WPR Next is we are aware our first round of ideas came from staff, and we want to figure out how to also be looking other places to find the ideas we havent had.

One of the major events in Madison in the past decade were the protests at the Capitol in 2011 over Gov. Scott Walkers changes to collective bargaining. What did you learn from that heated political environment?

I remember at the time being so impressed with our reporters. Its a little complicated for us because we are state employees. We tried to make sure people understood that and that we could still report fairly, and we did.

In a lot of places people couldnt even talk to their neighbors or friends because they were so mad at each other. Our Ideas Network with its call-in talk shows was a place where theres been a tremendous tradition of speaking civilly even with people you disagree with, and that continued.

I think thats tremendously valuable now. Everyone is talking about how polarized we are, and we firmly believe the solutions to our problems will be found by listening to each other. I find myself in the last year constantly quoting the people from Story Corps. They say listening is an act of love. Just let that sink in.

What have you taken away from the centennial events youve held during the year?

Any time we change anything its unsettling, and we hear about programming changes from members. But one of the things I think about is if our story was one of being completely stable and doing what weve always done we probably wouldnt be here. We certainly wouldnt air popular radio programs because we would still be doing stuff that has long moved to other venues like the classroom. So I really believe our history is a history of change.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Kerri Hoffman's name.
By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin LONDON (Reuters) - Iran promised on Monday to give a "crushing" response if the United States designated its elite Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group. The pledge came a week before President Donald Trump announces a final decision on how he wants to contain the Islamic Republic. He is expected on Oct. 15 to "decertify" a landmark 2015 international deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme, a step that by itself stops short of pulling out of the agreement but gives Congress 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions. Trump is also expected to designate Iran's most powerful security force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, as he rolls out a broader, more hawkish U.S. strategy on Iran. "We are hopeful that the United States does not make this strategic mistake," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA. "If they do, Iran's reaction would be firm, decisive and crushing and the United States should bear all its consequences," he told a news conference reported by IRNA. Individuals and entities associated with the IRGC are already on the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organisations, but the organisation as a whole is not. IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said on Sunday, "If the news is correct about the stupidity of the American government in considering the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group, then the Revolutionary Guards will consider the American army to be like Islamic State all around the world." Jafari also said that additional sanctions would end chances for future dialogue with the United States and that the Americans would have to move their regional bases outside the 2,000 km (1,250 mile) range of IRGC's missiles. WARY EUROPE U.S. sanctions on the IRGC could affect conflicts in Iraq and Syria, where Tehran and Washington both support warring parties that oppose the Islamic State militant group (IS). France said on Monday it was worried that classifying the IRGC as a terrorist group could exacerbate tensions in the region. Germany said it was worried Trump would decide Iran is not respecting the nuclear deal, negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama, and fears such a step will worsen insecurity in the Middle East. A U.S. pullout could unravel an accord seen by supporters as vital to preventing a Middle East arms race and tamping down regional tensions, since it limits Iran's ability to enrich uranium for nuclear fuel in exchange for the lifting of sanctions that damaged its oil-based economy. The U.N. nuclear watchdog's inspectors have repeatedly declared Iran in compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal. Trump called Iran "a corrupt dictatorship" during his first speech to the U.N. General Assembly and said the nuclear deal was "the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into". The other five world powers in the deal were Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China. The prospect of the United States reneging on the agreement has worried other partners that helped negotiate it. The Kremlin said that any U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal would have "negative consequences." British Prime Minister Theresa May, who supports the nuclear pact, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes it, agreed in a phone call on Monday that they need to be "clear-eyed" about the threat Iran poses to the Middle East. "They agreed that ... the international community should continue working together to push back against Iran's destabilising regional activity," May's spokesman said. "MALIGN ACTIVITIES" Despite the nuclear deal, Washington still maintains its own more limited sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile programme and over accusations Tehran supports terrorism. Iran says it is developing missiles solely for defensive purposes and denies involvement in terrorism. The Trump administration aims to put more pressure on the IRGC, especially over recent missile tests and what Washington has called its "malign activities" across the Middle East. The U.S. government imposed sanctions in July on 18 entities and people for supporting the IRGC in developing drones and military equipment. In August, Congress overwhelmingly approved the "Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act" which imposed new sanctions on Iran for its ballistic missile programme, as well as sanctions on Russia and North Korea. In an interview aired on Saturday night, Trump accused Iran of "funding North Korea" and "doing things with North Korea that are totally inappropriate". Qasemi, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, said the U.S. accusations were "baseless". He added, "Israel and some specific countries are raising these accusations to create Iranophobia." (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin with additional reporting by Dmitry Solovyov in Moscow, Andrea Shalal and Michelle Martin in Berlin, William James in London, John Irish in Paris; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
* Iran warns U.S. of threat to regional bases

* Response comes as President Trump plans new Iran strategy

* Says any new sanctions would rule out dialogue (Adds quotes, background)

BEIRUT/DUBAI, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Iran warned the United States against designating its Revolutionary Guards Corp as a terrorist group and said U.S. regional military bases would be at risk if further sanctions were passed.

The warning came after the White House said on Friday that President Donald Trump would announce new U.S. responses to Iran's missile tests, support for "terrorism" and cyber operations as part of his new Iran strategy.

"As we've announced in the past, if America's new law for sanctions is passed, this country will have to move their regional bases outside the 2,000 km range of Iran's missiles," Guards' commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said, according to state media.

Jafari also said that additional sanctions would end the chances for future dialogue with the United States, according to state media, and issued a stark warning to American troops.

"If the news is correct about the stupidity of the American government in considering the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group, then the Revolutionary Guards will consider the American army to be like Islamic State all around the world particularly in the Middle East," Jafari said.

The Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are Iran's most powerful internal and external security force. The Quds Force, the IRGC's foreign espionage and paramilitary wing, and individuals and entities associated with the IRGC are on the US list of foreign terrorist organisations, but the organisation as a whole is not.

Iran sees the Sunni Muslim militants of Islamic State as an existential threat to the Islamic Republic where the majority of the population are Shi'ites.

On June 7, Islamic State claimed an attack on Tehran's parliament and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, killing 18 people. The Guards fired missiles at Islamic State bases in Syria on June 18 in response.

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Guards commanders have framed their military involvement in Iraq and Syria, where they are fighting to support the government of President Bashar al-Assad, as a fight against Islamic State.

Dozens of members of the Guards, including senior commanders, have been killed in Syria and Iraq.

MISSILE PROGRAMME

The website for state TV reported Jafari as adding that the United States was mistaken if it thought it could pressure Iran into negotiating on regional issues.

Jafari also said that Tehran would ramp up its defence capabilities, including its missile programme, if the U.S. undermined a nuclear deal between Iran and Western powers.

Under the 2015 deal, Iran agreed to limit its disputed nuclear programme in return for the easing of economic sanctions.

However, Trump is expected to announce soon that he will decertify the deal, a senior administration official has said, in a step that potentially could cause the accord to unravel.

"The Americans should know that the Trump government's stupid behavior with the nuclear deal will be used by the Islamic Republic as an opportunity to move ahead with its missile, regional and conventional defense programme," Jafari said, according to state media.

The prospect of Washington backtracking on the deal has worried some of the U.S. allies that helped negotiate it, especially as the world grapples with another nuclear crisis in the shape of North Korea.

If Trump does not certify that Iran is in compliance, the U.S. Congress will have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions waived under the deal. U.N. inspectors have verified Iranian compliance with the terms.

The Guards navy was also carrying out a military exercise on Sunday in the Gulf, an area of tension with the U.S. navy in recent months.

More than 110 vessels were involved in the exercise, including some that have rocket and missile capabilities, a state media report quoted a Guards commander as saying. (Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh and William Maclean; Editing by Keith Weir)
Jerusalem (AFP) - An Israeli tank has shelled a post of the Islamist Hamas movement in Gaza after Palestinians attempted to fire a rocket into Israel, its army said.

The rocket, initially believed to have hit southern Israel late Sunday, fell inside the Gaza Strip but had been intended for the Jewish state, it said in a statement.

"As the rocket fire endangered Israeli citizens and violated Israeli sovereignty, a tank targeted and destroyed a Hamas observation point in the southern Gaza Strip," the English-language statement said.

There was no word on Monday morning of any casualties.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.

A fragile ceasefire has been observed along the largely closed border since the most recent conflict in 2014.

Missiles and rockets are periodically fired into Israel, generally by hardline Salafist Islamist groups opposed to Hamas.

But Israel holds Hamas responsible for all rocket fire from Gaza, regardless of who carried it out, and usually retaliates within hours.

On Saturday, Hamas police arrested a suspected jihadist leader in Gaza, Nour Issa, 27.

In August, a suicide bomber allegedly linked to the Islamic State group killed a Hamas guard in southern Gaza along the border with Egypt, in a rare attack against the Islamists.
People in Seoul watch a news report about North Korea's nuclear tests - This content is subject to copyright.

Jim Mattis, the US defence secretary, on Monday urged senior officers to be ready with military options for Donald Trump to deal with North Korea if diplomacy falls short, days after the President reprimanded Pentagon officials for not providing plans fast enough.

He delivered his remarks at the annual Association of the United States Army meeting in Washington as the Trump administration continues to signal its frustration at being unable to rein in Pyongyang with diplomatic measures.

It is right now a diplomatically led, economic sanctions-buttressed effort to try to turn North Korea off of this path, Mr Mattis said, according to The Hill.

What does the future hold? Neither you nor I can say, so there is one thing the US Army can do. And that is you have to be ready to ensure that we have military options that our president can deploy if needed.

Other nations have issued calls for restraint, amid fears that any US action could prompt deadly reprisals by Kim Jong-uns unpredictable regime.

Kim Jong-un Credit: KCNA via AFP

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, said on Monday: "Moscow has called and continues to call on the parties involved in the conflict and on those who have anything to do with this issue to exercise restraint and to avoid any steps that would only worsen the situation."

Analysts believe millions could die if North Korea launched nuclear or conventional missiles at Seoul and Tokyo in response to a US attack.

Meanwhile, North Korea shows no sign of slowing its weapons programme despite concerted diplomatic action and fresh sanctions.

It has launched two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test in recent weeks as it pursues its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland, which the regime believes is essential for self-defence.

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2017

Meanwhile Mr Trump has kept up a steady barrage of tweets complaining that diplomacy had failed to deliver results.
Is there an age limit on tattoo removal?

Dame Judi Dench, 82, has long credited Harvey Weinstein for making her a star -- so much so that years ago, she had his name tattooed on her rear end.

It was in 2011 that Dench copped to the unexpected ink while accepting a British Film Institute award, attributing her incredible career "to Harvey, whose name I have had tattooed on my bum ever since."

The tattoo, according to Weinstein, reads "JD loves HW." Weinstein saw it himself when Dench showed him and fellow diners at a restaurant, he said during a 2015 interview on The Graham Norton Show.

"She said, 'I've got a surprise. You're a guy who has everything, I don't know what to get you,'" Weinstein recounted. "Judi Dench unbuckles her pants, and on her bum, as you say, 'JD loves HW.' A tattoo! She says, 'I put your name on my ass.'" (Whether or not Weinstein knows it, the tattoo was actually just applied with makeup as a prank, Dench has since said.)

Getty

It's likely Weinstein will no longer have such pleasant stories to share about the actress, based on her Monday statement.

Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past twenty years, I was completely unaware of these offenses, which are, of course horrifying and I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out, Dench told Newsweek.

Dench won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress after starring in "Shakespeare in Love," which was produced by Weinstein's Miramax studio.

Weinstein was ousted over the weekend from his namesake company after the New York Times exposed his decades of secret sexual harassment settlements.
By James Pearson SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un said his nuclear weapons were a "powerful deterrent" that guaranteed its sovereignty, state media reported on Sunday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said "only one thing will work" in dealing with the isolated country. Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind. In a speech to a meeting of the powerful Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party on Saturday, a day before Trump's most recent comments, state media said Kim had addressed the "complicated international situation". North Korea's nuclear weapons are a "powerful deterrent firmly safeguarding the peace and security in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia," Kim said, referring to the "protracted nuclear threats of the U.S. imperialists." In recent weeks, North Korea has launched two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test, and may be fast advancing toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. North Korea is preparing to test-launch such a missile, a Russian lawmaker who had just returned from a visit to Pyongyang was quoted as saying on Friday. Donald Trump has previously said the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies. The situation proved that North Korea's policy of "byungjin", meaning the parallel development of nuclear weapons and the economy was "absolutely right", Kim Jong Un said in the speech. "The national economy has grown on their strength this year, despite the escalating sanctions," said Kim, referring to U.N. Security Council resolutions put in place to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and missile program. SISTER PROMOTION The meeting also handled some personnel changes inside North Korea's secretive and opaque ruling center of power, state media said. Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, was made an alternate member of the politburo - the top decision-making body over which Kim Jong Un presides. Alongside Kim Jong Un himself, the promotion makes Kim Yo Jong the only other millennial member of the influential body. Her new position indicates the 28-year-old has become a replacement for Kim Jong Un's aunt, Kim Kyong Hui, who had been a key decision maker when former leader Kim Jong Il was alive. "It shows that her portfolio and writ is far more substantive than previously believed and it is a further consolidation of the Kim family's power," said Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at Johns Hopkins University's 38 North website. In January, the U.S. Treasury blacklisted Kim Yo Jong along with other North Korean officials over "severe human rights abuses". Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol, two of the three men behind Kim's banned rocket program, were also promoted. State media announced that several other high ranking cadres were promoted to the Central Committee in what the South Korean unification ministry said could be an attempt by North Korea to navigate a way through its increasing isolation. "The large-scale personnel reshuffle reflects that Kim Jong Un is taking the current situation seriously, and that he's looking for a breakthrough by promoting a new generation of politicians," the ministry said in a statement. North Korea's foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, who named Donald Trump "President Evil" in a bombastic speech to the U.N. General Assembly last month, was promoted to full vote-carrying member of the politburo. "Ri can now be safely identified as one of North Korea's top policy makers," said Madden. "Even if he has informal or off the record meetings, Ri's interlocutors can be assured that whatever proposals they proffer will be taken directly to the top," he said. (Additional reporting by Yuna Park in SEOUL; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and John Stonestreet)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and China called for restraint on North Korea on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump warned over the weekend that "only one thing will work" in dealing with Pyongyang, hinting that military action was on his mind. When asked what Russia made of Trump's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters: "Moscow has called and continues to call on the parties involved in the conflict and on those who have anything to do with this issue to exercise restraint and to avoid any steps that would only worsen the situation." Commenting on a Trump statement that the United States might withdraw from a nuclear deal with Iran, Peskov said such a move would have "negative consequences." Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying reiterated a call for all parties involved with the standoff in North Korea to exercise restraint, describing the situation as extremely complex and serious. China hopes all sides do nothing to irritate each other or worsen the problem and speak and act cautiously, she told a daily news briefing. In recent weeks, North Korea has launched two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test, all in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, and may be fast advancing toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. Trump repeatedly has made clear his distaste for dialogue with North Korea. Last week, he dismissed the idea of talks as a waste of time, a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington was maintaining open lines of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's government. "Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!" the U.S. president said in a Twitter post on Monday. Trump's comments seemed to further suggest that military action was on his mind. On Saturday, Trump made a similar comment on Twitter about how negotiations have failed for 25 years and said "only one thing will work" with North Korea. (Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov in Moscow, Doina Chiacu in Washington; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Andrew Osborn, Jeffrey Benkoe and Nick Macfie)
SPARTAWhen Erica Olson moved to Sparta this summer and set to work on her hobby farm, she never imagined shed be getting a helping hand from the Bangor FFA.

On Sunday morning, more than a dozen FFA students filed off a bus and set to work removing more than 200 sapling pine trees from the property.

By early afternoon, all 216 pots, donated by Cottage Grove Nurseries in West Salem, had been filled.

We were done by 1 p.m., FFA adviser Rick Bierbaurer said. We filled every single one ... Id expected to be out until 4 p.m.

The trees could make a big difference for Bangors small FFA chapter. Bierbrauer said the trees could bring in more than $2,000 in profits that will go to aid projects including the chapters annual trip to the FFA National Convention.

The project was also an excellent opportunity for students to rack up some community service time.

Seeing kids get excited just to help someone for some community service is really great, he said.

Olson said the project ended up benefiting everyone.

The saplings were planted by the previous owner shortly before selling the property.

Olson, who moved to Sparta in July, had different plans for the property. She wanted to convert the land to pasture where shed raise a handful of goats, Icelandic sheep and Guinea hogs.

The single mother of three and Education and Therapy Coordinator at Coulee Region Humane Society said it was an opportunity to live out her dream and start her farmstead.

Knowing Olsons plans, Castle Realty agents Stephany ODriscoll and Katie Wood called, Bierbrauer with a proposal.

ODriscoll and Wood saw the opportunity to help Olson reach her goal a little sooner and benefit the Bangor FFA at the same time.

It would be a shame to till the trees, ODriscoll said. We knew they (the Bangor FFA) were fundraising.

Wood said it was nice to find a new home for the trees and to help Olson out.

I was really glad those realtors called, Bierbrauer said.It was a nice opportunity that kind of fell together. It is kind of a good no risk fundraiser.

In addition to getting Olson and the Bangor FFA connected, Wood and ODriscoll provided a moving truck to transport the trees and lunch for the kids.

Eighth-grader Rebecca Schaub said the project was a great way to give back the community.

Its a good way to take part in the community and for people to experience something great about the Bangor FFA, she said.

Thanks to the success of the collaboration, Wood and ODriscal are now on the lookout for their next opportunity to help the district.

Anyone interest in purchasing a tree is encouraged to contact the agriculture department at 608-468-5241. The trees are available for purchase by appointment or any time after 5 p.m.
Jill Hulst isnt about to rest on the laurels MichaelsEnergy earned in achieving a Small Business Award for employee wellness  especially with the holiday season fast approaching.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the human resources manager of the La Crosse company presents its 47 employees with the Maintain Dont Gain challenge as part of the workplace wellness program Hulst has led there for several years.

Instead of insisting on zero tolerance during the most bountiful feasts of the year, the challenge encourages employees to set a goal of, perhaps, gaining more no more than 3 pounds, she said.

Its pretty simple, with resources and education  to teach tactics to navigate Christmas parties without tipping the scales too far, she said. Its actually more to develop awareness.

MichaelsEnergy, which helps companies plan and implement energy efficiency programs and also has offices in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Minneapolis, Madison and Green Bay, earned the Small Business Award for meeting seven benchmarks the Wellness Council of America sets for companies in areas seeking a Well County designation.

The company did so through its participation in La Crosse Countys Well County Initiative, which 21 businesses and public agencies have joined since it began in 2015.

Hulst enlisted MichaelsEnergy because I wanted to support the initiative for the county and, from my perspective, I wanted to fill in some gaps in our program, she said.

Six La Crosse County companies have earned WELCOA recognition, said Sarah Havens, co-chair of the county initiative.

Gundersen Health System, Logistics Health Inc. and Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare have achieved platinum status, while Baird Financial Advisors and Associated Bank are deemed Well Workplaces.

We have to have 20 percent of the workers to be a Well County, but its just as important to have or offer resources, said Havens, who is community and preventive care services director at Gundersen Health System.

Many other companies that are not on the list always have had worksite wellness programs and are doing very good things for their employees, she said.

Sometimes, the award is tough to do, daunting, especially for smaller companies, she said. As a county, there are a lot of things  biking, running, walking, water activities, mental health. And many things support health, such as healthy food options and evaluating outcomes.

We want employers to participate  if you build it, did they come? she said. Showing leadership is good, to build a culture of health.

Healthy workplaces spin off advantages such as increased productivity, improved morale, fewer sick days and, ideally, lower health insurance premiums and health care costs, she said.

The initiative also generates unusual partnerships, such as the hospitals co-sponsorship with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy of guided nature walks and other physical activities, Havens said.

Employees are a captive audience, but we hope they will take the information back to family members and friends, she said.

At MichaelsEnergy, Hulst strives to generate information through lunch-and-learn programs six times a year, when speakers provide information to employees on a variety of health topics.

The company was meeting many of WELCOAs requirements, with one of the criteria it needed to fulfill for the award being tracking activities and results, as well as gathering employee feedback, she said.

The 36-year-old Hulst said advocating employee health programs was gaining momentum in progressive workplaces when she started working in human resources 13 years ago.

It has gone from cutting-edge progressive to standard practice, she said. It is a nice extra. I enjoy it. It is one of the fun things in human resources. Some of the other things are not so fun.

Altra Federal Credit Union began its employee wellness program in 2010, long before the county initiative began, said Kim Bauer, human resources vice president of the Onalaska-based company and marketing chairwoman of the initiative.

Altra recently added spouses to the program, which has the added benefit of increasing healthy activities throughout families, Bauer said.

It helps them make better decisions together, and instead of having pizza and beer, healthier meals  and the kids see their parents healthier example, she said.

Altra initiated its program in part to help staunch the bleeding from double-digit increases in health insurance premiums, Bauer said.

We didnt see a way to control it, she said, but the premiums now are flat lining, in part because of fewer claims.

Another company that is not in the county initiative but just began an ambitious program is Gensler, an architecture, design, planning and consulting firm that recently moved into Belle Square downtown. Last week, it began using the new, 10,000-square-foot exercise and wellness facility that Riverside Corporate Wellness has in Belle Square.

Its a great thing and Im glad to have begun using RCW, said Joan Meyer, managing director of the Gensler office  one of 44 Gensler offices in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific.

RCW, which helps companies develop health programs for their employees, has a full range of exercise equipment, health education and other services at the Belle Square facility, as it does on LHIs Riverside campus. The Belle Square location of RCW also is available to residents of the buildings apartments.

We are the only Gensler office to be able to offer the services, Meyer said.

The local office signed up in a quest to help its 51 employees become healthier, need fewer sick days, increase productivity and rein in health insurance premiums, she said.

It could become an example for the entire company, Meyer indicated, adding, Theres a lot of eyes on us.

To be precise, that could be around 10,000 eyes, considering that Genslers global workforce includes about 5,000 people.

I think the main thing is putting our people first as a way for them to be healthy, she said.
COON VALLEY  Norskedalen will host the Civil War Heritage Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, with a re-enactment of the skirmish that led to the Battle of Perryville, Ky., in October 1862.

Company B 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Civil War re-enactors will highlight the realities of the smaller engagements that occurred during the war.

Admission for the event at N455 O. Ophus Road is $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 17, and $18 per family. Coon Valley Fire and Rescue will be selling food as a fundraiser.
Henry Piette allegedly kidnapped and raped Rosalynn McGinnis before she was a teenager: Police handout

A man accused of "marrying" his stepdaughter when she was 11-years-old, then holding her prisoner and repeatedly raping her for 19-years, has been arrested in Mexico and extradited to the US.

Henri Michele Piette, 62, has been charged with first-degree rape and other offences by authorities in Oklahoma after Rosalynn McGinnis, now 33, made her way to the US embassy in Mexico.

There, she told investigators she was "married" by a then 15-year-old son of Mr Piettes in the back of a van the day before he was due to marry her mother.

Ms McGinnis said she experienced 19 years of abuse (YouTube/screengrab )

Ms McGinniss mother later left Mr Piette because of his violent behaviour and lived with her daughter in protective accommodation, The Oklahoman reported.

He is alleged to have kidnapped Ms McGinnis, then 12, in 1997 while she was at school.

The newspaper reported an FBI agent saying in court: "After being introduced to ... Piette's other children as their new mother, they began travelling to numerous locations throughout the United States and abroad including ... Texas, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico."

Mr Piette is described by investigators as having deep ties to Central America and Mexico and criminal organisations there.

He allegedly went to great lengths to hide his familys location, including travelling to locations they had already left to post letters to indicate they were still there.

In captivity, Ms McGinnis alleged that she was subjected to near daily sexual assaults and bore nine children.

She said she suffered beatings, torture and was even stabbed shot during her time in Mexico.

It was only when a woman who lived near her home in Mexico brought a cake for her children that she finally revealed something was wrong. Mr Piette was out the room at the time.

The woman found Ms McGinnis "missing" poster online and contacted the authorities.

I knew that if I didnt get out of there, Id either go insane or I would end up dying and leaving my kids with that man, Ms McGinnis told People magazine.

She waived her right to anonymity after returning to the US, saying: "I want the world to know. I want him to be stopped and I want justice to be served."
River States Truck & Trailer has gotten itself a hat trick.

The full service Freightliner truck dealership will be named to the Deloitte Wisconsin 75 on Wednesday, the third year in a row the company has been honored in the list. River States, which has its headquarters in La Crosse, will also be honored as a Distinguished Performer by Deloitte for its handling the succession from founder Bob Frise to current President Joe Laux.

The Wisconsin 75 recognizes the largest privately held businesses in the state of Wisconsin. Along with revenue, the program also recognizes the businesses contributions to their communities, employees and the Wisconsin economy.

The Distinguished Performer award in the Business Succession Category of Deloittes rankings honored the work Frise put in 12 years ago to promote a smooth transition to Lauxs leadership. The award recognizes the hard work of the companys employees to navigate the transition period and continue to promote company growth and excellence.

Laux said he is honored and humbled by the succession award and dedicated it in honor of Frise. While income information wasnt given, all of the Wisconsin 75 companies have annual revenue of more than $50 million.

River States has full-service dealerships in Eau Claire, La Crosse and Roberts, Wis., and service outlets in Hudson, Wis., and Duluth, Minn. Founded nearly 45 years ago, River States has grown into a company with more than 275 employees.
An Illinois man has driven to Nevada to pay his respects to the mass shooting victims and installed 58 crosses near the Welcome to Las Vegas sign.

Each cross features the name of one of the 58 people killed when a gunman opened fire on concertgoers from the window of his hotel room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Oct. 1.

Read: In Wake of Vegas Shooting, Late Night Comics Let Go of Humor to Push for Gun Control

Greg Zanis, a 66-year-old retired carpenter, told WGN the row of crosses will show the severity of what happened more than numbers or pictures in the paper.

The crosses reportedly took Zanis two days to build and each features a heart.

Last year, Zanis drove more than 1,000 miles to Orlando to place 49 crosses to pay tribute to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

He also brought crosses after the Columbine High School shooting and the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, CNN reported.

Read: Hundreds Donate Blood in the Wake Las Vegas' Mass Shooting: 'I Wanted to Do Something Right Now'

The idea to build crosses came after Zanis found his father-in-law dead in 1996 of a gunshot wound to the head. He reportedly built him a cross to help cope with his grief, the station reported.

"I don't have any answers, but this is just me doing something, showing that I care, showing that I love them," Zanis told WGN earlier this year.

Watch: Will Las Vegas Massacre Change Hotel Security Procedures?

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A man who lived with the decaying bodies of his dead mother and twin brother for more than a year said he didnt report their deaths because he was traumatized.

Robert James Kuefler, 60, was charged last week by police in White Bear, Minnesota, with interference with a dead body or scene of death, a misdemeanor, according to Inside Edition.

The macabre living situation crime came to light in September 2016, when neighbors asked police to check on Kueflers residence.

Responding officers said the house had the stench of decay. They found the skeletal remains of Kueflers mother Evelyn in an upstairs bedroom, and the mummified corpse of his twin brother Richard in the basement, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Autopsies on the bodies showed both died of natural causes; Richard in July 2015, and his mother a month later.

I was traumatized. What would you do? Kuefler told The Associated Press on Saturday. I am not some nut ball. People think I am, but Im not. I loved them.

Kuefler told police he found his brother dead in a chair and eventually moved the body to the bathroom as it was in the way,  according to a court document. He told investigators he knew his mother was dying, but didnt want to be around when she died, so he left the house to drive around a couple of hours.

She was dead in her bed when he returned, according to the Star Tribune.

Kuefler hid the deaths from family members, CBS News reported. He even sent out Christmas cards saying his brother and mom were in bad health and did not want visitors or phone calls.

(Photo: Ramsay County Sheriffs Dept)

Police initially accused Kuefler of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, but apparently lacked evidence to support the charge and dropped it, according to the Star Tribune.

Police Capt. Dale Hager told AP that disability and Social Security checks for Kueflers mother and brother were directly deposited to their bank accounts, but it did not appear any money was withdrawn. Kuefler told AP he did not tap the accounts.

Story continues

Hager said authorities decided to file a misdemeanor charge against Kuefler last week so hell have access psychological help through the court system.

Kuefler told AP he doesnt think he needs counseling.

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On Jan. 15, 1947, the remains of Elizabeth Short were found in a vacant lot in Los Angeles. What made this discovery the stuff of tabloid sensation, however, was the Glasgow smile left on the aspiring actress' face  made with 3-inch slashes on each side. This, coupled with Short's dark hair, fair complexion and reputation for sporting a dahlia in her hair, led her to be dubbed "The Black Dahlia" in headlines. What followed was a media circus filled with rumors and speculation about the 22-year-old's checkered past. What haunts theorists to this day, apart from the victim's uniquely nightmarish visage, is that the case remains unsolved after some 200 suspects were interviewed and ultimately released, making it one of Hollywood's most lurid legends.

"I Am Not Guilty - Thus Lizzie Borden Pleads Before Judge Hammond at New Bedford."  Boston Journal

"Lizzie Borden took an axe And gave her mother forty whacks. And when she saw what she had done, She gave her father forty-one." So goes the lurid nursery rhyme to one of the most mystifying crimes ever. The nature of the deaths of Andrew J. Borden and his wife, Abby, are trumped only by the identity of the alleged perpetrator: their daughter Lizzie. Inexplicably found "not guilty" in contrast to the era's more usual swift justice, Lizzie's legacy was to be immortalized as one of the most perplexing cases of parricide in history.

"Texas Mother Charged with Killing Her 5 Children"  CNN

In a case of mother-gone-mad that startled a nation, Andrea Yates appeared to her few friends and family to be a recluse suffering from postpartum depression leading up to the birth of her fifth child. That all changed on June 20, 2001, when she drowned five of her children in their home's bathtub. She was convicted in 2002 of capital murder, carrying a sentence of life in prison with possible parole. In a 2006 retrial, however, a Texas jury found her not guilty by reason of insanity. She was committed to a mental health facility.

"Buttafuoco Admits to Sex with Amy Fisher"  New York Times

Known as the "Long Island Lolita," Amy Fisher became involved with Joey Buttafuoco in May 1991. Shortly after the two began a sexual relationship (she was 16, while he was 35 and married with two children), his presence and influence in her life became all she cared for. Although he's since denied this, Buttafuoco would go on to help Fisher plan the murder of his wife, culminating in Fisher putting a bullet in Mary Jo Buttafuoco's head, but failing to kill her. In the highly publicized trial that ensued, Fisher accepted a plea deal for 15 years in prison in exchange for a testimony against Joey, who served out charges of statutory rape.

"Murder of a Little Beauty"  People Magazine

With her face gracing the covers of nearly every news and gossip rag during the winter of 1996, it's hard to suggest that the death of child beauty pageant queen JonBenet Ramsey had little effect outside the city of Boulder, Colorado. She was found dead from a blow to the head and strangulation in the family's basement. There was a ransom note left on the staircase asking for $118,000 (conveniently or coincidentally, nearly the same amount Mr. Ramsey received as a bonus that year) and no obvious signs of forced entry into the house. The evidence appeared to be stacked against parents John and Patsy, who maintained their innocence throughout the investigation. The case reopened in 2010, but critics cite poor handling of the crime scene as why the mystery of the events of that Christmas day continues.

"F.B.I. Joins Probe in Slaughter of 8 Nurses"  Nashua Telegraph

Tattooed with "Born to Raise Hell" on his arm, Richard Speck made good on his mantra through a history of violence, theft, alcoholism and spousal abuse. He achieved infamy when, on July 13, 1966, he walked into a dormitory armed with a knife and left eight student nurses dead in his wake. Only one, Cora Amurao, was spared, hiding under a bed until 6 a.m. Speck was found guilty of murder and died of a heart attack in prison. As one of the most press-worthy crimes of the decade, the grim events were used as the backdrop for an episode of "Mad Men."

"Sharon Tate, Four Others Murdered"  Los Angeles Times

Perhaps the most terrifying figure in American crime to have never actually killed anyone himself, Charles Manson founded a "family" of wayward individuals who hailed him as a prophet. So strong was his manipulation that on the night of Aug. 8, 1969, he ordered four of his followers to kill everyone at the residence of 10050 Cielo Drive  including movie director Roman Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate, and her unborn child. Tate was stabbed 16 times, and her blood was used to write "pig" on the house's front door. The next night, Manson accompanied six of his family to the residence of supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, helping to bind them before ordering their deaths. In 1971, Manson and three of his fellow defendants were found guilty of murder in the first-degree and several other crimes. At the time, it was the longest murder trial in American history, spanning nine and a half months, as well as the most expensive, estimating $1 million. Manson was died in prison in 2017 at age 83.

"Lindbergh Baby Kidnapped from Home of Parents on Farm Near Princeton; Taken from His Crib; Wide Search on"  The New York Times

Used as the basis for an Agatha Christie novel (Murder on the Orient Express) and dubbed "the biggest story since the Resurrection" by famed journalist H.L. Mencken, the kidnapping and murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh's infant son continues to fascinate theorists today. Charles Jr. was discovered missing from his second-floor bedroom on March 1, 1932, along with a note demanding a then-unimaginable $50,000, igniting a media frenzy like no other. The tabloid pandemonium prompted many tips and leads, but none as concrete as a package containing the boy's pajamas and another message demanding the ransom. After some misdirection from the presumed kidnapper, Lindbergh's child was discovered in the woods along a road near the family residence. Notwithstanding the evidence stockpiled against the easily vilified illegal German immigrant Bruno Hauptmann (who was sentenced to death), speculation prevails as to the true identity of the individual responsible for this tragic tale.

"Not Guilty as Sin"  New York Post

Still fresh in the minds of many and not to be easily forgotten, the trial of Casey Anthony turned Orlando, Florida, into anything but the "happiest place on earth." Following a series of lies, misdirection and manipulation by then-22-year-old Casey, her daughter Caylee's skeletal remains were found five months into the investigation, setting the stage for what could only be described as the most incessantly publicized and shocking trial in recent memory. The media had a field day that went on for months, highlighting the young, pretty party-girl image used against Casey Anthony in court as the prosecution tore apart an aimless defense  or so it seemed. After throwing her own family under the bus, incriminating people entirely made-up ("Zanny the Nanny"), and fabricating elaborate stories for the police, Anthony was found not guilty of murder due to evidence deemed mostly circumstantial and not meeting the burden of "beyond reasonable doubt," inciting much debate regarding whether true justice was served.

"An American Tragedy"  Time

It was heralded as the "trial of the century." Former football star and actor O.J. Simpson found himself in the middle of the nation's biggest, most-televised trial following the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, but not before fleeing an all-points bulletin in his Ford Bronco with 20 units in tow, interrupting game 5 of the NBA Finals. With a dream legal team including Johnnie Cochran, Robert Shapiro, and Robert Kardashian, the defense claimed Simpson was merely a victim of police fraud with regard to contaminated DNA evidence. Cochran famously quipped, "If it [the glove] doesn't fit, you must acquit." On Oct. 3, 1995, an estimated 100 million people from around the world tuned in to watch the jury hand down a verdict of not guilty, costing an estimated $480 million in lost productivity. The case incited a discussion of race in the judicial system that continues to this day.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Reports scrutinize campaign contributions to Cyrus Vance from associates of the Trumps and Harvey Weinstein, both linked to cases that were dropped

Cyrus Vance Jr has faced scrutiny over campaign contributions from associates of people his office opted not to prosecute. Photograph: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

The Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R Vance Jr, refused on Saturday to answer questions about contributions to his re-election campaign and decisions to quash a fraud investigation involving Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr and not to prosecute the movie producer Harvey Weinstein over an alleged groping incident.

Vance, who will be up for re-election in November, was a speaker at a pro-gun control event in Union Square in New York City, held in the aftermath of the Las Vegas mass shooting. Asked about the campaign contributions, he offered no comment and swiftly left the event.

On Wednesday, ProPublica, WNYC and the New Yorker reported that between 2010 and 2012, prosecutors attempted to build a case against the two Trump siblings for allegedly misleading prospective buyers of units in the Trump SoHo, a hotel and condo development.

Before meeting Vance about the case in May 2012, the report said, Donald Trumps attorney Marc Kasowitz donated $25,000 to the DAs re-election campaign. Vance returned the donation, according to what he said was standard practice when a donor has a case before his office.

Three months later, the case was dropped. Vance told the three media outlets that was the right call, as he did not at the time believe beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime had been committed.

Subsequent donations to Vances campaign by Kasowitz and organised through him, and in excess of $50,000, were accepted. Speaking to ProPublica, WNYC and the New Yorker, Vance said he would return that money. He also said Kasowitz had no influence, and his contributions had no influence whatsoever on my decision-making in the case.

On Thursday, the International Business Times (IBT) reported that David Boies, a prominent defense attorney who has represented Weinsteins company, though was not doing so at the time of the alleged groping incident, donated $10,000 in 2015. The donation was made after Vances office decided not to prosecute in the case of Ambra Battilana, an Italian model who alleged Weinstein groped her and put his hand up her skirt.

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Weinstein was this week the subject of a New York Times report that alleged a pattern of sexual harassment, which the 65-year-old producer has disputed.

In Union Square on Saturday a spokeswoman, Joan Vollero, said: There was not a single donation from Weinstein to Cy Vance, and nor a single donation from his attorney on the criminal matter to Cy Vance.



In a statement emailed to the Guardian later, Vollero described the IBT story as completely false.

A spokesman for Boies law firm, Boies Schiller Flexner, said in a statement to the IBT: David Boies has been a supporter of the District Attorney since long before 2015, including before he was first elected, and has never spoken to him about Harvey Weinstein.



Regarding the Trump SoHo case, Vollero said in her emailed statement: This was a two-year investigation that never produced sufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution. During the investigation, the luxury apartment purchasers reversed course and took the position that the sellers had not committed any crime against them. No outside attorney influenced any decision in this matter.

The event in Union Square was organised as an attempt to pressure the House speaker, Paul Ryan, not to allow votes on bills designed to expand concealed carry rights and eliminate restrictions on silencers. Another speaker, the Democratic New York congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, told the Guardian she was optimistic both pieces of legislation would be rejected.

The outrage from the American people over this incident is so overwhelming, she said of the Las Vegas shooting, in which 58 people were killed and nearly 500 injured. Its the worst modern massacre of innocent people enjoying a festival.

These guns should not be permitted, this booster that turns a gun into a machine gun should be outlawed. If they pass a silencer bill, theyll be able to kill even more people. We need to be thinking about how to save lives.

Maloney said DA Vance and other New York law enforcement officials were apoplectic over the concealed carry proposals that would allow the countrys loosest gun laws to prevail in the most populous city in the country.

That will just make life more dangerous, she said, adding: More people will die.
Seoul (AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has promoted his sister to a senior ruling party post, state media said Sunday, and praised the country's nuclear weapons programme which has sparked international alarm.

Kim Yo-Jong becomes an alternate member of the party's powerful politburo, the decision-making body presided over by her brother, the official KCNA news agency said.

The promotion was announced along with those for dozens of other top officials at a party meeting led by the leader on Saturday.

It came as the regime faces growing global pressure to curb its weapons drive following recent nuclear and missile tests.

Tensions soared as Kim traded verbal threats with US President Donald Trump, who tweeted on Saturday that "only one thing will work" to tame the isolated nuclear-armed state.

The sister, in her late 20s, has frequently been seen accompanying her brother on his "field guidance trips" and other events and is known to have been involved in the party's propaganda operations.

Both were born to the late former ruler Kim Jong-Il and his third partner, former dancer Ko Yong-Hui.

The family has ruled North Korea since its creation in 1948. The current ruler came to power after the death of his father in December 2011.

Since then he has overseen four of the country's six nuclear tests -- most recently in September -- while cementing his grip on power through a series of purges, including those targeting his uncle and half-brother.

The uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, was executed in 2013 for treason and the half-brother Kim Jong-Nam was killed by a toxic nerve agent in a Cold War-style assassination at a Kuala Lumpur airport in February.

Both the North's missile and nuclear weapons capabilities have made significant progress under the current Kim, despite a growing layer of UN sanctions.

During Saturday's party meeting, Kim acknowledged the country faced with "ordeals" under a "stern" situation, but claimed that its economy had grown this year despite ever-tighter sanctions.

He described the North's atomic weapons as a "treasured sword" to protect it from aggression.

"The nuclear weapons of the DPRK (North Korea) are a precious fruition borne by its people's bloody struggle for defending the destiny and sovereignty of the country from the protracted nuclear threats of the US imperialists," Kim was quoted as saying.
Moscow (AFP) - Moscow warned on Monday there would be "negative consequences" if US President Donald Trump fails to uphold the landmark Iran nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor.

Trump is a fierce critic of the 2015 accord, which he has called "the worst deal ever", and US officials say he intends to tell Congress next week that Tehran is not honouring its side of the bargain.

"Obviously if one country leaves the deal, especially such a key country as the US, then that will have negative consequences," Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said.

"We can only try to predict the nature of these consequences, which we are doing now," Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

Putin has repeatedly hailed the importance of the existing deal, he added.

Trump is expected to announce that he is "decertifying" Iran's compliance with the agreement it signed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

US officials insist this will not sink the deal itself but open the way for Congress to possibly develop new measures to punish other aspects of Iran's behaviour.

Resumed sanctions could derail the accord negotiated with Tehran by former president Barack Obama and other major world powers.

Congress requires the president to certify Iranian compliance with the deal every 90 days. The next certification date is October 15.

Under the law, Congress would then have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions lifted by the deal.
North Carolina Republicans, who have been reprimanded by federal courts for targeting minorities with voter ID restrictions and gerrymandering, passed legislation last week to eliminate primary elections for state judges next year in what critics say is a blatant and brazen attempt to take control of the states courts.

Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill on Monday, but Republicans have a supermajority in the state legislature and can override the governors veto.

Rep. David Lewis and Sen. Ralph Hise, Republicans in charge of the elections committees in their respective chambers, issued a statement Monday urging lawmakers to override Coopers veto, according to the News and Observer.

The Republican plan has two prongs. Lawmakers are considering new maps for state court districts with a plan that would require many African-American and Democratic judges to run against each other. While that effort has yet to pass the legislature, lawmakers last week passed the separate bill that would, among other things, get rid of primary elections for state judges.

Democratic Rep. Marcia Morey, formerly the chief district judge for Durham County, called the Republican effort a 1-2 punch.

But Rep. Justin Burr, a Republican pushing the new maps, has said the changes are needed to fix outdated maps that were drawn 62 years ago.

Elections for two courts included in the GOP plan  the state court of appeals and the state supreme court  are held on a statewide basis. Melissa Kromm, director of North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections, said the inclusion of those two courts signaled that canceling the elections was part of a plan by lawmakers to push for a constitutional amendment next year to eliminate judicial elections altogether.

Instead, she said, Republicans would prefer to have judges appointed by lawmakers. Kromm noted that Republicans lost their majority on the state supreme court last year and that no Democrat on the 7-person body is up for re-election until 2022.

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This legislation abolishes a scheduled election and takes away the right of the people to vote for the judges of their choice. It is the first step towards a constitutional amendment that will rig the system so that the legislature picks everybodys judges in every district instead of letting the people vote for the judges they want, Cooper said in his veto message. If the legislature doesnt like the fact that judges are ruling many of their laws unconstitutional, they should change their ways instead of their judges.

Republicans have pushed a number of measures to increase their influence in the courts while moving to reduce Coopers appointment power throughout the state. Critics say this is the latest attempt to entrench Republican power in the state.

Its a huge development and its part of an ongoing diabolical plan that the Republican leadership have been promoting and implementing to take over one branch after another, said Bob Hall, the executive director of Democracy North Carolina, a watchdog group.

The proposed changes to the courts comes amid a slew of high stakes litigation in the state. The state courts, for example, are considering a Cooper challenge to a law passed by lawmakers stripping his authority to appoint members of state and local elections boards. State courts have also weighed in on key labor, environmental and voting cases in recent years.

Morey said the Republican effort was retaliation against the judiciary for rulings they didnt like. She said she thought there was merit to looking at selecting judges by a totally independent body, but believes the so-called merit selection Republicans want to push would be political.

We need some improvements, theres no doubt about that, but the way these two bills have come across its only for political advantage, she said.

Both Kromm and Hall said that the state was likely to see more litigation as it draws new election boundaries after the 2020 Census.

It is pretty clear, starting with adding party labels onto judicial elections, that they are trying to engineer or takeover the judiciary, Kromm said. At some point, the leadership in the North Carolina general assembly has been disappointed in the judiciary, it hasnt ruled their way ... theyre looking for some way to stack the deck to get the judges they want.

The new maps Republicans are pushing would increase the power of rural voters in electing judges, carving out Republican-leaning districts in places that have traditionally been Democratic strongholds.

The plan comes at a time when Republicans have faced unequivocal rebukes from federal courts over limiting voting rights through both gerrymandering and voter ID laws.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected two racially gerrymandered North Carolina congressional districts and upheld a lower court ruling that 28 state legislative districts were illegally drawn to dilute the influence of black voters. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled last year, in a decision the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review, that the states voter ID law targeted black voters with almost surgical precision.

Getting rid of the primaries, Hall said, would open up the floodgates for candidates for judicial elections and deprive voters of the opportunity to vet them.

Youre opening up a free-for-all election in November where you could have four or five Democrats, four or five Republicans and a libertarian and an independent all on the ballot. The winner could get 20 percent of the vote and become the next judge, even the next state supreme court judge, he said.

Kromm said if Republicans succeeded in exerting control over the judiciary in North Carolina, they could be emboldened to do it in other states.

If it can be done in North Carolina it can be done in any state, she said. We have to draw a line in the sand at the judiciary. The judiciary has to be fair and impartial. We have to have judicial independence for our democracy to work.

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Kim Jong Un promoted four of his closest advisers to North Korea's powerful ruling body over the weekend, signaling that the young leader is eager to surround himself with loyalists working to affirm his rule over the isolated country that has been controlled by his family for decades. With the move, Kim rewarded his foreign minister and two of the three men behind North Korea's rocket program, as well as his younger sister.

The power shuffle comes as the United States and North Korea have traded heated rhetoric for months, raising concerns that the two nuclear-armed nations could set off a global conflict that could result in the death of millions of people. Most recently, North Korea said Saturday its nuclear weapons could be used for self-defense, while President Donald Trump said last week that only one thing will work in quelling Kim's nuclear ambitions. Trump didn't clarify his remarks.

The words have been met with action and further threats, with North Korea launching missiles over Japan and carrying out its sixth nuclear test in recent months. In a speech before the Central Committee of the ruling Workers Party on Saturday, Kim told party leaders that the nation's nuclear weapons were a powerful deterrent firmly safeguarding the peace and security in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia, against the protracted nuclear threats of the U.S. imperialists.

Kim Jong-un

AFP/KCNA VIA KNS/STR/South Korea

Kim's younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, 28, now serves as an as an alternate member of the powerful Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers Party. She is likely replacing Kim Jong Uns aunt, Kim Kyong Hui, who advised the leader's father, Kim Jong Il, when he was alive and ran North Korea. Kim Yo Jong, along with other powerful North Koreans, has been blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury for severe human rights abuses. The siblings are now the only young members of the government chamber that is controlled by Kim Jong Un.

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It shows that her portfolio and writ is far more substantive than previously believed and it is a further consolidation of the Kim familys power, Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at Johns Hopkins Universitys 38 North website, told Reuters.

Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol, architects of North Korea's rocket program, were also promoted to the Central Committee of the ruling Workers Party, while North Koreas foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, who called Trump President Evil during a United Nations speech last month, become a voting member of the politburo.

Ri can now be safely identified as one of North Koreas top policy makers, said Madden. Even if he has informal or off the record meetings, Ris interlocutors can be assured that whatever proposals they proffer will be taken directly to the top."

The South Korean unification ministry described the promotions as a power move. The large-scale personnel reshuffle reflects that Kim Jong Un is taking the current situation seriously, and that hes looking for a breakthrough by promoting a new generation of politicians, the ministry said in a statement.

Kim Jong Un and Kim Yo Jong are the children of Ko Yong Hui. Their half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, who was critical of the regime, was killed at a Malaysian airport in February in a chemical weapons attack. North Korea has claimed it was not behind the murder.

Other members of the family have also met violent endings. In 2013, Kim Jong Un executed his uncle Jang Song Thaek, at the time the second most powerful North Korean, in a shooting after he was found guilty of charges of graft and factionalism.

Little is known about Kim Yo Jong, other than her public support for her brother's reign. She is Kim Jong Il's youngest daughter out of seven children, and she attended schools in Switzerland and North Korea. She has taken over for her brother in the past when he was too sick to serve and previously served as vice director of the ruling party's Propaganda and Agitation Department, a role that put her in charge of all her brother's public appearances.

Shes been recognized for the work shes done in the past year to idolize Kim Jong Un, Yang Moo-jin, a professor at South Koreas University of North Korean Studies, told Bloomberg. Kim Jong Un is extending his father and grandfathers practice of empowering family members.

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While the National Rifle Association has said it would support regulating bump stocks  the device the Las Vegas shooter used to turn his semi-automatic firearms into automatic ones  the gun lobbys executive director said Sunday that a push in Congress to ban the gun accessory would be useless.

We dont believe that bans have ever worked on anything, Chris Cox said on Fox News Sunday. What we have said is very clear: If something transforms a semi-automatic to function like a fully automatic, then it should be regulated differently.

While any kind of broad gun control legislation faces virtually no chance of passage in the Republican-controlled Congress, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are considering a narrow bill to ban bump stocks following the murders of 58 people in Las Vegas last Sunday  the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The bill might be largely symbolic, since bump stocks had been a relatively obscure and unpopular gun accessory.

I am willing to move forward with the Republicans on banning these bump stocks that ... subvert legislation that has been long on the books banning automatic weapons, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said on CNNs State of the Union Sunday. I think you have to walk before you run. And I do think this is an important moment.

Cox said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives should regulate bump stocks, since its already illegal to convert a semi-automatic gun into an automatic one.

The ATF needs to do their job, review these, and if there is [a need for] further regulation, then we will work on further regulation, he said. He did not offer specifics on what that further regulation should be.

The NRA released a statement last week maintaining its long-held position that banning guns from law-abiding Americans, based on the criminal act of a madman, will do nothing to prevent future attacks.

The NRAs CEO, Wayne LaPierre  who famously claimed after the 2012 massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut that the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun  similarly argued on Sunday for protecting the good guys with guns.

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Accessibility is about accessibility for the good guys, he said on CBSs Face the Nation. Thats what the Second Amendment that protects the right to bear firearms is all about.

Chris Cox of the NRA speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on July 19, 2016. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images)

Proponents of stricter gun control note that gun ownership in American is higher per capita than for any other country in the world. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a former Marine, said it makes no sense for citizens to have military-style weapons.

Ive seen the effects of gun violence firsthand in Iraq, and I know that it has no place at our schools, on our streets, at our concerts, he said on ABCs This Week Sunday.

You can have restrictions on guns under the Second Amendment, Moulton said as he debated the gun control issue with to Rep. Scott Taylor (R-Va.) on the talk show.

I mean, a great way to protect your familys home, as you know as a [former] Navy SEAL, would be to have some land mines out in front and have some grenades stockpiled, Moulton said. But we dont allow that in our community ... We dont allow families to own tanks. So we have reasonable restrictions that are perfectly respectful of the Second Amendment, and we know from experience that restrictions like this, that common-sense reforms will help.

Taylor said there should be a high, very high bar for restricting gun ownership rights.

Marina Fang contributed reporting.

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Israel

On Oct. 2, 2017, Tel Aviv city hall is lit up like the American flag to honor the victims of a mass shooting in Las Vegas.

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This photo shows a circa 1937 view of the upper end of Isle La Plume, looking north toward an area now occupied by Houska Park. Points of interest in the photo are the old wagon bridge, upper center, and the two buildings in the right foreground, which were occupied by the Isle La Plume Boat Works and the Wisconsin Conservation Commission. In 1939, work began on converting this area into a city park, and 70 years ago, on Oct. 10, 1947, the park was officially named Houska Park in honor of former alderman Joseph Houska, who was instrumental in the parks development. Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at 608-789-7136
President Donald Trumps latest Twitter target is Sen. Bob Corker  a Tennessee senator who Trump slammed for his involvement with the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Senator Bob Corker begged me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said NO and he dropped out (said he could not win without..my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said NO THANKS. He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal! Trump wrote in a series of three tweets Sunday morning. Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didnt have the guts to run!

Senator Bob Corker "begged" me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said "NO" and he dropped out (said he could not win without...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

..my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said "NO THANKS." He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

Corker quickly issued his own response. Its a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning, he quipped on Twitter.

It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.  Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) October 8, 2017

A source familiar with the situation told TIME the content of the Trumps tweets are false. Trump had actually called Corker last week, the source said, and asked him to reconsider his decision to retire from Congress in 2018, claiming that the president would have endorsed him.

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Corker did not share a specific reason for retiring. When I ran for the Senate in 2006, I told people that I couldnt imagine serving for more than two terms, he said in a statement. Understandably, as we have gained influence, that decision has become more difficult. But I have always been drawn to the citizen legislator model, and while I realize it is not for everyone, I believe with the kind of service I provide, it is the right one for me.

Trumps attack comes just four days after Corker subtly criticized the president by praising his cabinet officials. I think Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis, and Chief of Staff Kelly are those people that help separate our country from chaos, he told reporters following an NBC News report that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had referred to President Trump as a moron.

They work very well together to make sure the policies we put forth around the world are sound and coherent. There are other people in the administration, in my belief, that dont, Corker said. He also said he did not think Tillerson was receiving enough support from the White House.
Stockholm (AFP) - The 2017 Nobel season wraps up Monday with the economics prize, which could this year honour fields rarely awarded by the committee, such as development economics or French economist Esther Duflo's research on poverty.

The Nobel Economics Prize was created by the Swedish central bank "in memory of Alfred Nobel" and first awarded in 1969, unlike the other prizes which were created in his last will and testament and first awarded in 1901.

The winner of this year's economics prize will be announced on Monday at 11:45 am (0945 GMT) in Stockholm.

The award will round off a week of prize announcements, including the literature prize to Kazuo Ishiguro, Britain's Japan-born author best known for "The Remains of the Day", and the peace prize to anti-nuclear campaigners ICAN, a coalition of NGOs.

Last year's economics prize went to British-American economist Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom of Finland for their groundbreaking research on contract theory, which has helped design insurance policies and executive pay.

This year, several names have been making the rounds in the media and in academic circles as possible winners.

Economist Avner Offer, co-author of the 2016 book "The Nobel Factor" written with Gabriel Soderberg, said he could see the prize going to France's Esther Duflo, a 44-year-old professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an expert on development policy -- a field honoured with a Nobel only twice in 48 years.

"She is a pioneer of the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) method which has been a major trend in economics in the last 20 years," Offer told AFP.

A technique inspired by RCTs in medicine to test the effectiveness of drugs, the method uses two groups (a randomly chosen group and a control group) in an experiment setting to measure the impact of poverty, health, and education programmes.

If she were to win the Nobel, Duflo would be only the second woman awarded the economics prize, after Elinor Ostrom of the US in 2009.

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- 'Ideological' motives -

Economics is perhaps the Nobel discipline where a laureate's profile is easiest to guess: a man over the age of 55, who is an American citizen.

In the past 20 years, 75 percent of economics laureates have met that description.

The average age of all economics laureates at the time of their win is 67 -- the highest among all six Nobel prizes. US economist Leonid Hurwicz, who won in 2007 at age 90, is the oldest person to have won a Nobel to date.

Swedish newspaper of reference Dagens Nyheter on Sunday predicted this year's prize could go to American Paul Romer -- a 61-year-old researcher from the University of Chicago, an activist and entrepreneur who is currently the World Bank's chief economist -- for his pioneering work on endogenous growth theory.

This relatively new area of research tries to incorporate the way that people innovate and develop technologies into models of economic growth.

He could in such a case share the prize with fellow American Robert Barro and Philippe Aghion of France.

Contacted by AFP, Gabriel Soderberg said meanwhile he thought the distinction would honour people working in the field of environmental economics or economic research on the impact of climate change.

Americans Martin Weitzman and William Nordhaus, experts on the economic consequences of global warming, have thus been receiving some Nobel buzz.

Avner Offer and Gabriel Soderberg recalled, however, the Nobel committee's affinity for neoliberal research. Of 78 laureates so far, more than a third have been affiliated with the University of Chicago's school of economics, including 1976 laureate Milton Friedman.

In their book, Avner and Offer claim the prize was created in 1968, like the choice of laureates, due to "ideological" motives rather than scientific ones.

Critics of economic neoliberalism, such as Joseph Stiglitz, Amartya Sen, Robert Shiller and Paul Krugman, have won Nobels, but they remain in the minority.

In short, Offer, an Oxford professor, and Soderberg, a researcher at Uppsala University, lay out that the Swedish central bank created the prize to enhance its authority and the prestige of market-friendly economics -- amid the interventionist policies of Sweden's Social Democratic governments -- in order to influence the future of Sweden and the rest of the developed world.

Each Nobel prize consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a cheque for nine million kronor ($1.1 million, 943,000 euros).
You dont read much about Kyrgyzstan in the international press, but its a fascinating part of a fascinating region. A predominantly Muslim former Soviet state of 6 million that borders China along its eastern border, it contends with competing currents created by Russia, China, the United States, and the Muslim world. And its a genuine democracy in a part of the world that doesnt have many.

President Almazbek Atambayev came to power six years ago, inheriting a country with weak institutions dominated by kleptocrats. It still doesnt have many resources, but it now has plenty of committed democrats, among them Atambaev. In fact, hes preparing to step down after a single term as president, as laid out in the countrys constitution. Kyrgyz elections take place on Oct.15; watch this space.

Speaking to TIME after the UN General Assembly, Atambaev speaks with unusual candor about the challenges facing his country  about his disappointment with U.S. leadership and its approach to the fight against ISIS, his friendship with Russias Vladimir Putin, and how Kyrgyzstan has thrived as a Muslim majority democracy.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity

TIME: Lets start with the big geopolitical issue for the Kyrgyz Republic. Your country has great relations with Russia, a country that also is increasingly tied economically to China. Do you see growing tensions between your Russia relations and your China relations?

Atambayev: You know, I dont see big problems with it. All the neighboring countries, including the big ones, have gotten used to the fact that Kyrgyzstan has its own foreign policy and its own opinions. Most importantly, all our neighborsincluding Russia and Chinanow understand that we dont have any bad intentions towards them; we only want to be good neighbors. Of course, some countries in the region dont approve of our chosen path of parliamentary democracy. They dont like it that the President of Kyrgyzstan has decided to be in office for only a single term. Some leaders think we are giving a bad example for their people.

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Do you think that there is a broader future of democracy beyond the Kyrgyz Republic in your region, and even in the world?

If theres no democracy, then neither the region nor the world will have a bright future. Let me give you one example: theres a big spike of terrorism in the world. Currently its Daesh [the Islamic State], but later it will be something else. Whats the cause of this terrorism? And why only in Muslim countries? Because its in Muslim countries that the inequality and social injustice is most visible among the people; because some regimes call themselves republics but in fact are authoritarian and dictatorial where theres no justice and theres a wide social gap between the rich and poor. In such situations, when ordinary people dont have the opportunity to change power in a democratic way, where theres a lack of social mobility, then radical ideas start ruling.

There had been radicalism in the past too, but back then it was called Anarchism or Bolshevism. What is an Islamic caliphate? Its what Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin had proposed, a society of justice. But this time its one based on the ideas not of Marxism but the so-called ideas of Islam. And as long as theres no democracy or social justice in these countries, this fight against terror wont lead to victory. As long as Muslims dont see a third waythat there can be a Muslim country with democracy and one that prospers under itthen we cant stop the radicalization of Islam. In Kyrgyzstan, we want to show just that to Muslim countries; our population is 90% Muslim.

This is all interconnected, but the foundation for it can only be social justice. And the way to social justice is through democracy. So if we dont build democracy in Kyrgyzstan, and democracy doesnt spread across the region and the world, the world has a bleak future.

Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan  your neighbors are not democracies, and arent moving in that direction. How does having these types of neighbors affect your ability as President to conduct effective external relations?

You know, its tough. Kyrgyzstan is not rich, and six years ago it was on the verge of collapse, but we got credit and financing from China and Russia.

Do you feel as if the U.S. understands the position youre in?

I was a big fan of Obamas, but I [have been] shocked by the actions of the U.S. government and its State Department. For example, in 2014 the late Uzbek President Islam Karimov said there will probably be war in the region. The U.S. then gave Uzbekistan 328 MPCs [military personnel carriers] at no cost four months after his statement. Investments and assistance from the U.S. doesnt come to democratic Kyrgyzstan, but Uzbekistan got 328 MPCs, each costing over half a million dollars.

Did you tell President Obama that was a bad idea? Did you complain, at that time, that the U.S. shouldnt be doing this?

After that happened, Secretary of State John Kerry visited us, and I asked him [how they could do this] while talking loudly about democracy. I have been President for six years, and I have always seen such attitude from the U.S.  the government, that is, not the people.

Ive realized that democracy in our country is only for ourselves, for the Kyrgyz. What I want to say is that instead of spending billions of dollars on Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, if there were real assistance to Kyrgyzstan to build a democratic country, a fully-developed democracy, that would have been a great example for the Muslim world, for the whole Islamic world. And it would have been much cheaper. But instead all we see is obstacles.

At the same time, on Oct. 15 the country will elect a new president. Some neighboring countries have been financing some presidential candidates who want to bring back the old order, an authoritarian system thats dubbed presidential. But for the U.S., weve realized that what matters most to them is oil, gas and other interests they have. The U.S. doesnt need democracy in the world. That deeply disappointed me when I realized it. I was disappointed with Obama. And the current U.S. president is saying that he will only be dealing with U.S. issues.

What do you think of how the Americans are pursuing the war on terror? What would you want them to do?

To fight terrorism, you have to look into the true source of terrorism, which is social inequality and the lack of democracy. If theres an authoritarian regime, then theres no justice, no democracy, no fair elections, no social mobility. An ordinary person may not be able to achieve justice and reach an office based on his talents and skills. That can only be achieved through democracy. The U.S. bombing of the Islamic State will only lead to its creation somewhere else. Then itll appear somewhere else after another bombing.

I believe that today Muslims face two options; The first one is inequality and a bare existence in their own countries. The second option is radicalism; people want to build an Islamic caliphate, just like the Bolsheviks were attempting to build socialism.

We need to show them that a third way exists, one where we can build a democracy and social justice in a secular Muslim country, like the one in Kyrgyzstan.

Are there other countries would you say represents this third way youre talking about? Tunisia? Indonesia?

I believe that this experience is unique only to Kyrgyzstan. I believe only we have it. Many Islamic organizations that are banned in our region are still allowed in Kyrgyzstan, but at the same time, were not seeing the rise of radicalism. Quite the opposite.

We are not cutting beards like in neighboring countries, we are not banning particular clothing. Its impossible to achieve anything without particular reforms in Islamic societies. This is where we want to be the first ones, we want to be the example. We are not afraid to be the example.

Youre close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. And in America today, Putin is this object of fascination. Everyone wants to understand him.

I actually think that Putins image in the West has been demonized in some way. If you look at Russia today, there are many things that are hard to imagine happening in neighboring countries. There are websites that openly criticize Putin, and nobody is being dragged away at night like they were during Stalin. I know that Putin was really interested in a Europe that would stretch from Brussels to Vladivostok. Ive known him well since 2010we disagreed a lot in those first years, had very spirited debates.

What about?

About different things. But I remember when I asked him about Ukraine and why it happened. It appears the issue was emotional for him. As you remember there was the signing of an agreement between Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, Ukraines opposition, the ambassadors of several European countries and representatives of the U.S. that Ukrainian elections would be held in the fall. And Putin told me: If they had waited only several months, Yanukovich would have left on his own. Why they did it this way. In fact, neither Russia nor Putin incited the conflict. We just have to have an objective assessment of these issues.

Putin is a person that knows how to listen. Ive debated a lot with him and in the end when I was right, he would accept my opinion. Thats why we became friends, I guess because very few people debate with him. We debate even now sometimes. Hes a very smart person with a broad knowledge of things. And to me, instead of demonizing Putin, major powers and their leaders have to find common ground because when major powers quarrel, then something like North Korea happens. And that poses a real threat to all humanity.

What about the allegations about Russia interfering in the elections?

Well, look at how the Democratic Party juggled things in such a way to help Hillary Clinton top Bernie Sanders. And even though Sanders was more sympathetic to me, I think Clintons loss was a natural loss.

Thats the imperfection of the U.S. electoral system. If most people voted for Clinton and through the electoral college President Trump is declared the winner, it means that the system is to blame. People in the U.S. looking for a culprit and blaming Russia and Putin, Id recommend that you look at your own reflection in the mirror. The U.S. and the Democratic party should look into the mirror and redesign the electoral system which would ensure that every citizens vote is counted instead of keeping this system which is 200 years old.

Theres a witch hunt in the U.S., and thats not a good thing  Its actually very funny to think that somebody could interfere with elections in the U.S., when its the U.S. affecting elections everywhere through their own NGOs funded by the U.S., through Radio Liberty which we call Azattyk.

I think its all leading towards a dead-end, the way sanctions and threats lead to a dead-end. Putins also a human being, a little older than me. If somebody thinks that after Putins departure itll be better a much tougher person might come to succeed him. Then youll be recalling Putin with nostalgia.

Putin has made life a lot more difficult in terms of political liberties for his citizens, whether its opposition parties or journalists. Can you say what he thinks about that?

Only Putin knows what Putin thinks.

The U.S. and European Union sanctions have also hurt his people, havent they?

Sanctions and threats of war will achieve nothing with Russia and Putin. Quite the opposite, the Russian people will only unite around Putin and the ratings of those against Putin will only fall. These sanctions lead to an absolute dead end. You should have supported Putins desire to have Russia as part of bigger Europe, from Brussels to Vladivostok. If necessary, these efforts should be revived again.

What you would want your legacy as President of the Kyrgyz Republic to be?

First, that we have achieved peace, unity, and stability in the country. Secondly, that we have waken peoples high spirits and belief in the future. People now have different attitudes; weve reminded them of the thousand-year-old roots of our people, their sense of national self-consciousness. And most importantly, weve helped people realize they have to decide their own future for themselves. To that end, we have achieved absolutely fair elections. We now hold elections using biometric data verification of voters. Election fraud like in the U.S. isnt possible in Kyrgyzstan.

And over the past few years, government officials and authorities have started respecting and listening to public opinion, even becoming afraid of public opinion. Public opinion has become so important in Kyrgyzstan. This was my dream: to make the authorities and government officials take into account peoples opinion, respect their opinions, and be afraid of the peoples opinion. And the most important thing weve done is build a country of free people. This is probably one of the achievements that I can boast about, that the citizens of Kyrgyzstan now have this sense that they are deciding their own fate, their own future.

And you personally? How would you want to be remembered?

I think I would want people to remember me as a person that showed that its wrong to divide people by race or nationality. Im reminded of the meaning of the word Kyrgyz. Kyrgyz means forty peoples. From the very beginning we were grouped together by different nationalities. People, I hope, will remember me as the person that established unity in the country, and the person who gave power to the people, to ordinary citizens.

Of course, I havent had enough time to accomplish many things too. But with Gods help, in the last six years Ive accomplished a lot. Of course, Id want people to remember me in good terms, as someone who did everything for his people. That was my goal.
These days, as his face gazes out from t-shirts, murals and dorm-room posters around the world, it could be easy to think that Che Guevara  or, more commonly, simply Che  is more of an idea than a man. But he lived a human life which, as all lives must, came to an end 50 years ago, on Oct. 9, 1967.

Che had grown up in Argentina under the dictatorship of Juan Peron and had wanted to become a doctor before the ideals of communism and the revolution in Cuba drew his full attention in the 1950s. After he helped Fidel Castro come to power there, he served a number of roles within the Cuban leadership before the two men had what TIME would call a bitter doctrinal dispute in the mid-1960s. Che left the island, declaring that he had accomplished his duty to the Cuban revolution and that it was time for him to go to the assistance of that cause in other lands of the world.

But he soon found that revolutions he encouraged in South American nations would not come easy. Those who held power would fight hard to maintain it, and many peasants were not eager to turn to communist guerrilla movements as an alternative. And so, in mid-1967, he found himself hunted down in Bolivia, as TIME reported soon after:

The Quebrada del Yuro, deep in the stifling Bolivian jungle 75 miles north of Camiri, is a steep and narrow ravine that is covered with dense foliage. There, early last week, two companies of Bolivian Rangers totaling more than 180 men split into two columns and quietly stalked a handful of guerrillas. Shortly after noon, the troops spotted their men, and both sides opened up with their rifles and automatic weapons at a withering, point-blank range of 150 feet. After a lengthy fight, four Rangers and three guerrillas lay dead, and four other guerrillas had been captured.

One of the prisoners was no ordinary guerrilla. He was Ernesto (Che) Guevara, 39, the elusive Marxist firebrand, guerrilla expert and former second in command to Fidel Castro whose name had be come a legend after his disappearance from Cuba 2 1/2 years ago. Since that time, much of the world had thought Che dead (perhaps even at Castros hands) until his presence in Bolivia was dramatically confirmed a short time ago

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Dressed in a dusty fatigue shirt, faded green trousers and lightweight, high-top sandals, Che caught a bullet in his left thigh as he advanced toward the government troops; another bullet knocked his M-l semiautomatic carbine right out of his hands. In Ches rucksack, the Rangers found a book entitled Essays on Contemporary Capitalism, several codes, two war diaries, some messages of support from Arielapparently Castroand a personal notebook. It seems, read one recent notebook entry in Ches tight, crisp handwriting, that this is reaching the end.

At Quebrada del Yuro, Che was loaded onto a stretcher and carried five miles to the town of Higueras. Informed of his capture, army leaders in La Paz, the capital, pondered what to do with him. Since Bolivia has no death penalty, Che, at worst, would go off to prisonperhaps only after a long, noisy trial, a propaganda outcry from the whole Communist bloc and the threat that other guerrillas might streak into Bolivia and make a cause of him. The next day, orders came down to Higueras to execute Che. He was shot two hours later.

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Ches body was taken to a hospital in the town of Vallegrande for examination and embalming. Though the army would claim that there had been no execution, doctors confirmed that he had died a day after his capture, not during the raid. He was laid in state for locals to observe that it was really him, and then he was cremated.

His execution in Vallegrande at the age of 39 only enhanced Guevaras mythical stature, Ariel Dorfman noted decades later when he was included in TIMEs list of the most influential people of the 20th century. That Christ-like figure laid out on a bed of death with his uncanny eyes almost about to open; those fearless last words (Shoot, coward, youre only going to kill a man) that somebody invented or reported; the anonymous burial and the hacked-off hands, as if his killers feared him more after he was dead than when he had been alive: all of it is scalded into the mind and memory of those defiant times.
By Marc Vartabedian SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Reuters) - A spate of wildfires fanned by strong winds swept through northern California's wine country on Monday, leaving at least one person dead, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses and chasing some 20,000 people from their dwellings. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties, encompassing some of the state's prime wine-making areas, as the blazes raged unchecked and engulfed the region in thick, billowing smoke that drifted south into the San Francisco Bay area. Two hospitals were forced to evacuate, state officials said. At least one person was killed in Mendocino County, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) said, declining to release further details. It was not immediately clear when the person died. KGO-TV in San Francisco, citing unnamed California Highway Patrol officials, reported a second fatality - a blind, elderly woman found dead in the driveway of her home in Santa Rosa. Reuters could not immediately confirm her death. Thousands of firefighters battled wind gusts in excess of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) that have rapidly spread 15 separate wildfires across some 73,000 acres in eight northern California counties since erupting late Sunday night, according to CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant. About 1,500 homes and commercial buildings have been destroyed throughout the region, Ken Pimlott, director of CalFire, said at a news conference. The blazes included the so-called Tubbs fire in Napa County, about 70 miles (113 km) north of San Francisco in an area world-famous for its vineyards. It had scorched about 25,000 acres (10,117 hectares) of land as of late Monday morning, according to CalFire. John Van Dyke, recalled standing in his pajamas near the 101 Freeway in Santa Rosa, watching a hillside in flames from the Tubbs Fire, when police pounded on his door in the mobile home park early on Monday, telling him to evacuate. "When I got in the car to leave, a whole section of the mobile park was in flames," he said. "It scared the hell out of me." San Francisco authorities issued an air quality alert due to smoke from the fires, which residents said they could smell since early in the morning. "You can't see anything, the smoke is very dense," Fred Oliai, 47, owner of the Alta Napa Valley Winery, told Reuters by telephone. He said he has not been able to get close enough to his vineyards since he was evacuated to see if flames reached his 90-acre property. In addition to potential damage to vineyards from fire itself, experts say sustained exposure to heavy smoke can taint unharvested grapes, and Oliai said wine makers in the area are nervous. "We got our grapes in last week, but others still have grapes hanging," he said. The region threatened by fires overlaps an area accounting for roughly 12 percent of California's overall wine production by volume but also where its most highly valued grapes are grown, said Anita Oberholster, a professor of viticulture and enology at the University of California at Davis. A separate wildfire on Monday torched at least a half-dozen homes in the affluent Anaheim Hills neighborhood of Southern California's Orange County. That blaze erupted along the 91 Freeway next to an off-ramp and spread quickly in gusty winds to scorch at least 2,000 and (809 hectares) in a matter of hours, fire officials said at a news conference. Authorities in the cities of Anaheim, which includes Anaheim Hills, and Orange ordered hundreds of residents to evacuate. So far this year, some 7,700 wildfires in California have burned about 780,000 acres statewide as of Sunday, CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant said. (Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles, Keith Coffman in Denver and Gina Cherelus and Joseph Ax in New York; Writing Alex Dobuzinskis and Steve Gorman; Editing by Tom Brown and Diane Craft)
Paul Ryan has claimed Donald Trump has great compassion for the people suffering in Puerto Rico, amid criticism to the presidents response to the crisis.

House Speaker Ryan made the comment on Saturday to MSNBC, which asked him about the White Houses relief efforts following the devastation in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria, insisting Trump did not want to visit affected areas too soon to avoid jeopardizing responses to the disaster.

"I have talked to him about these things. He has tremendous compassion," Ryan told MSNBC host Hugh Hewitt.

Trump Puerto Rico

Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

"He is flying to these emergencies as soon as he can without jeopardizing responses. He is stopping what he's doing. We have talked about the supplementals, these issues. The people who are suffering from these tragedies are in his mind front and center," he added.

The president has faced some backlash over his unusual response to the disaster, which included bringing up the islands debt and criticizing San Juan governor Carmen Yulin Cruz on social media.

In an initial response to the situation, Trump commented: Texas & Florida are doing great but Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble.

It's old electrical grid, which was in terrible shape, was devastated. Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with. Food, water and medical are top priorities - and doing well, he added in a September 25 post on Twitter.

However, he later told Fox News that Puerto Ricos debt would be wiped out, commenting: We have to look at their whole debt structure. They owe a lot of money to your friends on Wall Street.

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Were going to have to wipe that out. Thats going to have to beyou know, you can say goodbye to that. I dont know if its Goldman Sachs but whoever it is, you can wave goodbye to that, he added, in comments that were later disputed by the director of the White House budget office Mick Mulvaney.

And Trumps October 3 visit to the island once again prompted ire, after he threw paper towels into a crowd and handed out flashlights telling people "you dont need em, apparently forgetting that 90% of the island remained without power.

In a speech thanking Puerto Rican officials, Trump also pointedly left out Mayor Cruz, suggesting he had not forgotten the pairs Twitter spat.

Cruz, who also demonstrated she had not forgotten the argument by wearing a Nasty T-shirt for a TV interview, had been slammed by Trump after she criticized him on social media.

The president wrote: The mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump.

Such poor leadership ability by the mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort, he added, once again prompting questions over whether his behavior was appropriate in the aftermath of a disaster.

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Glasgow (AFP) - The Scottish National Party on Monday urged the Spanish government to "respect the overwhelming 'si' vote" in the Catalan independence referendum in a resolution at its annual conference.

Members unanimously passed the motion, which called the banned referendum earlier this month an "expression of the democratic will of the people of Catalonia."

The motion also called on the UN and the EU to resolve the political impasse over the referendum.

Scottish nationalists have expressed solidarity with the Catalan people in a series of demonstrations and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has backed the right of the Catalan government to hold a vote on secession.

Following the vote, she said she was "increasingly concerned by images from Catalonia," as Spanish police forced their way into many polling stations and fired rubber bullets at protesters.

The conference resolution recognised "that the decision over Catalonia's future direction is a matter for the people who live there" but said it was "concerned by any state which seeks to deny people's right to democratically express their will."

It accused Spanish police of using "disproportionate and unnecessary force against Catalan citizens" and condemned Spain's "attempts to electronically sabotage the vote."

During a debate on the motion, SNP lawmaker Joanna Cherry, who was in Catalonia during the vote, said she saw "repression on a scale I never expected to see in a Western European democracy".

Members paid tribute to "the patient, determined and non violent behaviour of the voters of Catalonia" and stressed the party's support for the right to self-determination.

The SNP and other pro-independence parties in 2014 lost a vote to leave the United Kingdom, polling 45 percent against 55 percent who opted to remain.

Scottish independence is not on the agenda of the three-day conference after Sturgeon formally shelved plans until Brexit negotiations advance.

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- 'Consequences' for Spain -

Alyn Smith, Scottish National Party Member of the European Parliament, warned Spain it would face repercussions for its crackdown.

"There will be police investigations, judicial investigations," he told AFP.

"There will be consequences and it is right that we should add our voice to the defence of international law and fundamental personal freedoms."

SNP lawmaker Sandra White said the EU would be "complicit in these attacks on the Spanish people" unless it spoke out.

White repeated her criticism on the European response to the Catalan referendum at a Monday rally in Glasgow, Scotland's second city, attended by around 200 supporters of the 'yes' vote.

The protesters rallied around Glasgow's memorial to the Spanish Civil War, carrying banners reading "Solidarity With Catalonia" and "The Situation Is Just A Bit Messi" in reference to the Barcelona football star.

Demonstrator Sergi Besa, from Figueres in Catalonia, told AFP she was happy with the Scottish response.

"I'm very grateful during all the process, because the SNP has backed us up in a very nice way, you know, one of the few that did so, you know, it's to be thankful for. Thanks very much," the 37-year-old said.
It's a special moment in the history of clean energy: the 30th anniversary World Solar Challenge has begun. A total of 42 solar-powered cars (the largest field to date) left Darwin, Australia on October 8th to travel roughly 1,880 miles to Adelaide. The race officially lasts a week, but it's likely going to end considerably sooner for the front-runners -- the world record holders, Tokai University, took just under 30 hours in 2009. As it is, technical hiccups knocked out several competitors in the first day of racing.



The first ones across the line are likely to be from the Challenger class, which focuses on pure speed. Cruiser-class cars, which include two or more seats, are focused more on efficiency and practical designs than reaching the finish before anyone else. The ones arriving near the end are likely to be in the non-competitive Adventurer class. There are already a few clear front-runners, including Tokai, Dutch teams (Nuon and the University of Twente) and the University of Michigan.



This year, the race regulations are a clear sign of how rapidly solar technology is changing. Teams have to use a smaller solar collector than before: cars in the Challenger class can have no more than 43 square feet of solar cells versus nearly 65 square feet for the previous race, in 2015. That's half the area allowed on cars from the original 1987 race. In other words, technology is advanced enough now (both in solar cells and the underlying vehicle designs) that you don't need a sea of panels to keep a car running.



The Challenge was started with the goal of fostering sustainable transport, and you can argue that it has had some success inspiring the automotive industry over the past 30 years. While you're not going to drive a purely solar-powered car any time soon (they'd be relatively pointless in gloomier parts of the world), solar power is creeping its way into cars thanks to the rise of electric vehicles. After all, even a small roof array can extend the range of an EV or power minor components without hurting performance. Solar may have been a relatively impractical novelty in 1987, but it has some very tangible uses today.



Jon Fingas wrote this article for Engadget.



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Paddock's family said they were stunned to learn he was responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in US history: AP

The Las Vegas gunman may have held target practise just days before carrying out the deadliest mass shooting in US history, reports claim.

Investigators have uncovered surveillance footage of Stephen Paddock driving alone into the desert on the Friday before the shooting, law enforcement officials told the Wall Street Journal. The remote area  located near his home in Mesquite, Nevada  is often used by locals for target practise.

Investigators say Paddock split his time between the home in Mesquite and one in Reno, Nevada. He was a frequent gambler who often stayed in Las Vegas, and enjoyed VIP privileges at several casinos.

One day before the surveillance video was taken, Paddock checked into a 32nd-story room at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Over the course of several days, police say, he brought more than 20 firearms into his hotel room. He also stockpiled at least 12 bump stocks  devices used to increase the speed at which a gun can fire.

On 1 October, Paddock broke open his hotel room windows and opened fire on a country music concert taking place below. He injured almost 500 people and killed 58, before shooting and killing himself.

Paddock also researched locations in Chicago and Boston in the weeks before the shooting, officials say. He even booked a hotel room overlooking Chicagos popular Lollapolooza music festival, but never showed up.

But one week after the horrific shooting, investigators are still searching for a motive. Friends and neighbours have described Paddock as quiet and unremarkable, if standoffish. A retired accountant, the 64-year-old lived with his girlfriend, Marilou Danley, who described him as kind, caring, quiet.

But Ms Danely also recalled Paddock screaming and moaning to himself in bed, NBC News reported. Local Starbucks employees told the Los Angeles Times he would often berate her in public. He had started taking anti-anxiety medication over the summer, and told a car dealer in Reno that he was depressed and having relationship troubles.

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Paddocks brother described him as the king of microaggression, saying he often carried a cigar for the sole purpose of blowing smoke in the faces of people lighting up around him. Their father, Benjamin Paddock, wound up on the FBIs most wanted list after escaping prison.

Still, authorities do not believe Paddocks was mentally unstable enough to trigger this kind of massacre.

We still do not have a clear motive or reason why, Clark County Undersheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters on Friday. We have looked at literally everything.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's army and its allies have encircled Islamic State in the city of al-Mayadin, southeast of Deir al-Zor, in eastern Syria, a Syrian military source said on Sunday. Al-Mayadin is one of the last strongholds of Islamic State as it falls back upon the fertile area downstream of Deir al-Zor in the Euphrates valley and launches counter attacks in the central desert after losing swathes of territory this year. "Units of our armed forces with the allied forces continue their advance on a number of fronts and axes in Deir al-Zor and its countryside... and encircle Daesh terrorists in the city of al-Mayadin," the military source said. The army and its allies reached Deir al-Zor in September after a months-long offensive across the Syria desert, and have in recent weeks pushed down the Euphrates towards al-Mayadin. However, counter attacks by Islamic State in the central desert region have put pressure on the main supply road to Deir al-Zor from western Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is backed in the war by Russia, Iran and Shi'ite militias including Lebanon's Hezbollah, and its campaign against Islamic State has mostly been on the west bank of the river. A U.S.-led coalition is also supporting a rival campaign against the jihadists, mostly on the east bank, where it is close to recapturing Raqqa, and has also advanced downstream to hold areas opposite Deir al-Zor. U.S. officials have previously said that Islamic State had relocated some of its diminished command and propaganda structures to al-Mayadin as it was forced from territory elsewhere. (Reporting by Angus McDowall; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
Nairobi (AFP) - Kenyan police lobbed tear gas at opposition supporters who protested around the country on Monday to demand a reform of the election commission before new polls are held later this month.

Thousands gathered in the capital and the western opposition stronghold Kisumu, while smaller demonstrations took place elsewhere, as the opposition stepped up its protest campaign from two to three days a week.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga reiterated that he would not take part in a re-run of the presidential election on October 26 if his demands are not met.

"We have said and we continue to say that we will not participate in the elections if the environment is not conducive for a free and fair election," he told a press conference.

Kenya's Supreme Court last month overturned the August election of President Uhuru Kenyatta citing "irregularities" in the counting of results.

With just over two weeks to go until the new election, and rival sides hardening rhetoric, uncertainty is growing over whether they will be able to agree on the conduct of the poll in time.

A rights group said Monday it had documented 37 deaths in the days following August's poll, with most victims killed by police.

Odinga has called for protests on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

In western Kisumu businesses shut on Monday as large crowds of protesters gathered, before police later fired tear gas and engaged in running battles with some demonstrators.

Protests in the town of Machakos, 60 kilometres (37 miles) outside Nairobi, also turned rowdy. A small demonstration in coastal Mombasa quickly fizzled out.

In the capital itself, some 2,000 people marched through the streets before gathering in a park to hear angry speeches from opposition leaders denouncing the electoral commission.

Odinga accused Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto of paying his supporters to defect, after another high-profile opposition member dropped out.

On Saturday former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar pledged allegiance to the Jubilee ruling party.

Opposition leaders also slammed efforts by ruling party lawmakers to change electoral laws which they say will facilitate poll rigging.

Outspoken opposition senator James Orengo said that if the laws were passed it would amount to "declaring war to the people of Kenya."
Caracas (AFP) - An Italian, a Swiss and a Venezuelan journalist, arrested Friday while attempting to report from a notorious prison in northern Venezuela, were released on Sunday, human rights and press freedom groups said.

A court ordered the release of Roberto Di Matteo of Italy, Filippo Rossi of Switzerland and Jesus Medina of Venezuela, according to the National Union of Press Workers, which tweeted a picture of a relieved Medina posing with his release card.

Swiss and Italian diplomats said they had intervened to ensure the men's proper treatment and secure what the Swiss foreign ministry described as a swift resolution.

Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Angelino Alfano, added his government had paid "great attention" to the case.

"For us it is good news," he said.

The rights group Foro Penal, which had provided legal assistance, said the men and their television crew had entered Tocoron prison -- considered one of the country's most violent -- to conduct an investigation.

Critics say Venezuelan prisons are overpopulated and inmates are malnourished, despite government plans to reduce inmate populations.

- 'We reject the harassment' -

The press union on Saturday released a photograph of the three journalists taken from the back, apparently handcuffed and escorted by two military personnel.

"They had an invitation to enter Tocoron," the union said in a statement. "They had registered to enter when they were barred access and then arrested. It seems there was a counter-order to bar them access."

Venezuela's Foreign Press Association sharply denounced the men's treatment, saying, "We reject the harassment and detention of journalists as a means to intimidate the press."

Late last year, rights group Una Ventana a La Libertad estimated that there were some 88,000 inmates across a country with an official prison capacity of 35,000.

President Nicolas Maduro's government, which says it is being unfairly disparaged in national and international media, says it has successfully applied measures to pacify prisons and raise their standards to international norms.

Di Matteo is a videographer for Italian daily Il Giornale who has regularly collaborated with freelance journalist Rossi.

Rossi has also worked with regional Swiss daily Corriere del Ticino, while Medina is a photojournalist for anti-government website DolarToday.
Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker escalated his war of words with President Donald Trump late Sunday, expressing concern that Trumps temperament could lead the United States into an actual war  perhaps even World War III.

I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, its a situation of trying to contain him, Corker told the New York Times. I dont think he appreciates that when the President of the United States speaks and says the things that he does, the impact that it has around the world, especially in the region that hes addressing. And so, yeah, its concerning to me.

Corker, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who recently announced he would not seek reelection next year, also told the Times that Trump has adversely impacted international diplomacy with his Twitter feed, and that every Republican Senator shares his concerns.

Trump used his Twitter feed Sunday to take aim at Corker, saying that Corker decided not to seek reelection because Trump would not provide his endorsement. A person familiar with the situation immediately disputed Trumps account to TIME, saying the President had called Corker and asked him to reconsider his decision  and offered his endorsement. Corker later said as much to the Times.

Senator Bob Corker "begged" me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said "NO" and he dropped out (said he could not win without...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

..my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said "NO THANKS." He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

Corker responded to Trumps Twitter attack by calling the White House an adult day care center has further intensified his rhetoric against Trump, expressing concern that his policies could result in a third World War.

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It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.  Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) October 8, 2017

Corker and Trump havent always been at odds. Corker praised Trump after he gave a foreign policy speech when he was still a presidential candidate, and he began receiving calls from Trump with foreign policy questions. Corker was also said to be a candidate for Vice President, and later Secretary of State. In February, he expressed optimism that the Senate could still work with Trump.

Its taking nuggets, massaging them, evolving them to a little bit different place, Corker told Politico. I see that as a challenging, but a very positive role for us to play.
Hawi al-Hawa (Syria) (AFP) - As fighters from the Islamic State group retreat into a shrinking part of Syria's Raqa, they are dragging along terrified civilians for cover against a ferocious US-backed onslaught.

Locals who managed to flee describe being herded into apartments in buildings used by jihadists as makeshift military bases, and serving as human shields for fighters as they collect water.

Civilians say the tactic -- used elsewhere by the group to slow its opponents -- is increasingly putting them in the cross hairs of US air power and allied fighters as they battle IS in densely populated districts near Raqa's centre.

Raqa resident Umm Alaa and her family were twice forced to provide cover to IS jihadists, she told AFP, hours after her escape from the city.

"Weeks ago, an Iraqi (IS) fighter came to our house in Al-Barid and told us it had become a military zone," she said, sitting on a plastic chair outside a mosque in Hawi al-Hawa, a western suburb of Raqa controlled by the US-backed force.

IS moved her with her husband, their son Alaa and two-year-old grandson Hassan into a nearby building and refused their pleas to return home.

Three days later, jihadists displaced them again, this time to a damaged building with other families in the battle-ravaged district of Al-Badu.

"They were holding us as human shields. They were keeping us there to protect themselves," said her husband Abu Alaa, a thick leather belt holding up the oversized trousers hanging off his bony frame.

"Daesh told us, 'If you leave Raqa, they are going to destroy the whole city over our heads,'" he said, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

The whole family escaped on foot with other civilians on Friday, and like all the civilians who spoke to AFP, they declined to give their full names for fear of retribution against friends and relatives still stuck inside the city.

- Human shields at water wells -

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces broke into Raqa in June, and has since captured around 90 percent of the city, with the help of heavy US-led air strikes.

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Tens of thousands of civilians have fled, but with fighting and air strikes concentrated on a shrinking IS-held section of the city, the exodus has slowed to a trickle.

As its options dwindle, jihadists are taking up positions inside residential buildings, said Mohannad, a fair-skinned woman with pale green eyes who also escaped Al-Badu with her four children.

"They tried to move into the basement or the first floor of our buildings because it protected them from air strikes," she told AFP.

IS fighters sought out apartments left behind by fleeing families, so Mohannad began putting out clothes and blankets on the balconies of empty ones to trick jihadists into thinking they were occupied.

She and her children were forced to move four times, and when they were moved into Al-Badu there was little to eat.

They were not allowed to leave except to draw water from nearby boreholes.

And even then, the trips were a way for IS fighters to move using civilian cover, said Umm Mohammad, a heavyset woman who also fled from Al-Badu.

"At the wells, Daesh would allow its fighters to fill up water first and made civilians wait for hours to protect them from air strikes," she said.

Her eldest son Mohammad, 19, would leave home at 4:00am to draw water from a nearby well and often not return for six hours.

"Days ago, he left but never came back. We learned there was an air strike there. I couldn't even find his sandals."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said a US-led strike killed 18 civilians gathered at a water well in Raqa on Tuesday. AFP could not confirm if Mohammad was among them.

- 'We're in the middle' -

In late September, the coalition acknowledged the deaths of 735 civilians in its strikes on Syria and Iraq since 2014, but the Britain-based Observatory says hundreds have been killed in Raqa alone since June.

Among them, said Umm Alaa, was her son, a pharmacist who was killed in a raid as he helped wounded civilians.

"To kill a single Daesh fighter, ten civilians are being killed," Umm Alaa said, her voice cracking as she put black socks on the tiny feet of Alaa's son, her grandson Hassan.

"They fire at each other and we're in the middle."

Coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon said IS was likely holding civilians hostage in positions including the national hospital in central Raqa.

"The Coalition takes extraordinary care in our planning and operations to ensure no harm is inflicted upon innocent civilians," he told AFP.

But those precautions "are not sufficient," said Nadim Houry, director of Human Rights Watch's terrorism and counter-terrorism programme.

"Civilians could be saved. That may mean at times slowing down the operation, advancing more slowly, taking more precautions, maybe not using a massive bomb against a sniper," he told AFP.

Houry said relying on drone footage to determine whether civilians were present before a strike was not enough precisely because they were trapped inside homes.

"The battle isn't just about retaking a particular building or retaking square metres. Ultimately it's about protecting civilians."
White House wants hardline measures in return for deal on Daca



Democrats, Dreamers and advocates slam immoral and shameful list

Supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program protest in New York. Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

The Trump administration on Sunday issued a list of hardline immigration demands, including funding for a wall on the Mexico border and a crackdown on admittance of children from Central America, as its first move in negotiations for a deal to allow young undocumented migrants known as Dreamers to stay in the US legally.

Democrats rejected the list as immoral and far beyond what is reasonable, setting up a likely showdown in Congress. On Monday Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat from New Mexico and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said if Republicans and the White House refused to back off, Democrats led by the CHC were prepared to derail legislation.

They are not going to have Democrats to get them over the finish line on anything they need, she said on a conference call with reporters, adding: Well use every leverage point we have at our disposal to protect these Dreamers.

Dreamers and groups who advocate for them also reacted with horror. Christian Ramirez, director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC), said the decision to use Dreamers as a bargaining chip was shameful.

The list of principles also called for withholding federal grants for sanctuary cities and limiting legal immigration by issuing fewer family-based green cards to spouses and the minor children of US citizens and lawful permanent residents. It also demanded the creation of a points-based system for migrants to gain entry to the US.

On a call with reporters on Sunday, White House aides said the demands fulfilled campaign promises made by Donald Trump. As president, Trump has issued executive actions to restrict immigration that have included ramping up deportations and banning travelers and refugees from some Muslim-majority nations from entering the US.

Last month, the Trump administration announced plans to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca), a program established by the Obama administration that issued renewable two-year permits to people brought to the country illegally as children, shielding them from deportation and allowing them to work and attend school. About 690,000 recipients are enrolled in the program. The last such work permits are due to expire in March 2018.

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Congressional Democratic leaders had been optimistic about striking a deal. After a dinner with the president last month, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and House minority leader Nancy Pelosi said they had agreed to consider bolstering immigration enforcement as part of a deal to codify the Daca program and give Dreamers legal status.

The administration cant be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans, Schumer and Pelosi said in a joint statement on Sunday.



We told the president at our meeting that we were open to reasonable border security measures alongside the Dream Act, but this list goes so far beyond what is reasonable. This proposal fails to represent any attempt at compromise. The list includes the wall, which was explicitly ruled out of the negotiations. If the president was serious about protecting the Dreamers, his staff has not made a good faith effort to do so.

Trump has previously said funding for the wall could be addressed separately and suggested that he did not expect it to be included in any Daca bill.



Lujan Grisham also condemned the decision to use the futures of hundreds of thousands of people to further White House policy goals. It is immoral for the president to use the lives of these young people as bargaining chips in his quest to impose his cruel, anti-immigrant and un-American agenda on our nation, she said in a statement.

On the White House call, a senior administration official said the agreement between the president and Democratic leaders had been mischaracterised. There was a deal to work on a deal as fast as possible, the official said.

Democrats and activists want any deal to include a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. The White House official said: We are not interested in granting citizenship.



The attorney general, Jeff Sessions, an immigration hardliner who announced the rollback of Daca, welcomed the proposals, which he said will restore the rule of law to our immigration system, prioritize Americas safety and security, and end the lawlessness.



Policy adviser Stephen Miller walks on the White House grounds. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

These are reasonable proposals that will build on the early success of President Trumps leadership, Sessions said in a statement. This plan will work. If followed it will produce an immigration system with integrity and one in which we can take pride. Perhaps the best result will be that unlawful attempts to enter will continue their dramatic decline.

Bruna Bouhid, a Dreamer and spokeswoman for the advocacy group United We Dream, said the list contradicted Trumps past promises and showed immigration policy was being steered by Sessions and White House adviser Stephen Miller, not the president.

With this wishlist its pretty clear who is controlling the White House, Bouhid told the Guardian on Monday, adding that United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the US, would continue to push for legislation to protect Dreamers.

Ramirez, director of the SBCC, noted that one out of five Dreamers live in border communities and would be directly affected by more aggressive border patrols.

The president has an obligation to act in the interest of the people of the United States and not in continuing to promote divisive policies that undermine our safety and fail to ignore the contributions of immigrants to our nation, he said.

While Trumps list will appeal to a number of conservative Republicans, some lawmakers in the party are wary of sweeping reforms.

At a Senate hearing last week, Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina who has proposed legislation to protect Daca recipients, warned: If Congress has proven an extraordinary ability to do anything, its to fail at comprehensive immigration reform.
President says Pyongyang making fools of US negotiators for 25 years

Trump refuses to elaborate and criticises secretary of state again

Donald Trump speaks to reporters outside the White House prior to his departure aboard Marine One. Photograph: Alex Edelman/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump on Saturday said only one thing will work in dealing with North Korea, after previous administrations had talked to Pyongyang without results.

Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid, Trump wrote on Twitter. Hasnt worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of US negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!

Trump did not make clear to what he was referring. Amid rising tension and exchanges of insults with the nuclear-armed regime of Kim Jong-un, Trump has previously said the US will destroy North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies.

Later on Saturday, Trump spoke to reporters at the White House before he left for a fundraiser in South Carolina. Asked to clarify his cryptic calm before the storm remark earlier this week, which was made to reporters ushered into a dinner with military leaders, he said: Nothing to clarify.

Trump also repeated that he and the secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, had a very good relationship. Tillerson has been the target of criticism from the president about his attempts to talk to North Korea and to engage China to rein in Pyongyang.

Tillerson could be tougher, Trump said. He did not elaborate on what that meant.

It was reported this week that in a session with Trumps national security team and cabinet officials at the Pentagon this summer, Tillerson openly criticized the president and called him a fucking moron.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Tillerson said he had never considered resigning and was committed to Trumps agenda, but failed to address whether he had referred to the president as a moron, as NBC reported.

On Saturday Trump said again that the reports of the moron remark, which reportedly made him furious and led to staff efforts to control the controversy, were fake news.

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He also said his chief of staff, the retired general John F Kelly, was one of the best people Ive ever worked with, was doing an incredible job and would be here in my opinion for the entire remaining seven years.

Kelly, the former homeland security secretary who replaced the fired chief of staff Reince Priebus in July, has been reported to be exasperated with the continuing ructions within the Trump White House.
By Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said "only one thing will work" in dealing with North Korea after previous administrations had talked to Pyongyang without results. "Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid," Trump said in a tweet. "...Hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!" Trump did not make clear to what he was referring, but his comments seemed to be a further suggestion that military action was on his mind. The president has previously said the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies from Pyongyang's nuclear threats. Earlier this week, during a meeting with top U.S. military leaders and their spouses, Trump told reporters it was the "calm before the storm." Asked for clarification then on what he meant, Trump said: "You'll find out." Speaking to reporters on Saturday ahead of a trip to North Carolina, Trump said he had nothing more to clarify. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders referred to Iran and North Korea the following day when asked about Trump's "calm before the storm" comments. Asked on Saturday about Trump's tweet, Sanders said she had nothing to add to the president's comments. The Pentagon referred a question for clarification to the White House and said the Defense Department's job was to "present the president military options and carry out orders." Trump repeatedly has made clear his distaste for dialogue with North Korea. On Sunday he dismissed the idea of talks as a waste of time, a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington was maintaining open lines of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's government. Trump said on Saturday that he had a good relationship with his secretary of state despite some disagreements. "We have a very good relationship. We disagree on a couple of things. Sometimes Id like him to be a little bit tougher, but other than that we have a very good relationship, he said. A Russian lawmaker on Friday was quoted saying North Korea was preparing to test a long-range missile that it believes can reach the west coast of the United States. Anton Morozov, a member of the Russian lower house of parliament's international affairs committee, was part of a Russian delegation that visited Pyongyang from Oct. 2-6, according to Russian RIA news agency. North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs have driven up tensions in the region and around the world in recent months, particularly after it conducted a test explosion of what it said was a hydrogen bomb. (Additional reporting by Yeganeh Torbati and Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Paul Simao and Diane Craft)
By Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Senator Bob Corker for the Iran nuclear deal on Sunday in a series of derisive Twitter posts that drew a sharp comeback from the lawmaker, an influential fellow Republican and onetime ally.

The senator, who announced his retirement last month, was a national security adviser to Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign and on Trump's short list last year for both vice president and secretary of state.

More recently, he has criticized Trump, taking issue with the president's response to a white supremacist demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August. Critics assailed Trump for saying rival protesters were also to blame for violence.

"Senator Bob Corker "begged" me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said "NO" and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement)," Trump wrote. "He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said "NO THANKS." He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!

"Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn't have the guts to run!"

An hour later Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, tweeted back: "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning."

Corker's chief of staff, Todd Womack, said Trump called the senator last Monday, asked him to reconsider his decision not to seek re-election in 2018, "and reaffirmed that he would have endorsed him, as he has said many times."

Trump's dispute with Corker could also have implications for the president's policy goals of repealing Obamacare and passing tax reform. Republicans control both houses of the U.S. Congress but hold only a narrow majority, 52-48, in the Senate, which means Trump has only a slim margin for potential defections from within his own party on legislation.

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Even before Trump's Twitter attacks on Corker, the senator has said he would have difficulty supporting any tax package that added to the federal deficit, posing a potential hurdle for the president's tax plan.

"Bob Corker gave us the Iran Deal, & that's about it," Trump posted on Twitter later on Sunday. "We need HealthCare, we need Tax Cuts/Reform, we need people that can get the job done!"

KEY PLAYER ON IRAN

On Iran, Trump is expected to disclose within days a plan to decertify the 2015 international nuclear agreement with Tehran, putting the agreement's future in the hands of Congress, where Corker would play a central role in determining its fate.

Trump has long criticized the pact, a signature foreign policy achievement of Democratic former President Barack Obama in which Iran agreed to reduce its nuclear program in exchange for easing of international sanctions.

During the U.S. political fight over the agreement, which was opposed by every Republican in Congress, Corker co-wrote the law that required congressional approval for the deal and required the president to certify that Iran was complying every 90 days.

Some critics on the far right have blamed Corker for that measure, which they say helped push the pact through Congress.

The two-term senator's retirement is a blow to a Republican Party struggling to balance divisions between mainstream and more populist wings.

Asked last week about reported tensions between Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Corker responded with what was seen as a jab at Trump.

He described Tillerson, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly as "those people that help separate our country from chaos."

After Charlottesville, Corker said, "The president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence, that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful."

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir and Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Howard Goller and Lisa Shumaker)
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey on Monday urged the United States to reverse a decision to halt the issuing of all regular visas at American consulates in the country, as prosecutors summoned another Istanbul mission staffer in an escalating crisis.

The dispute, which analysts have described as the worst between the NATO allies in half a century, erupted when Turkey jailed a Turkish employee working at the American consulate in Istanbul.

Ankara hit back at the US suspension of the issuing of non-immigrant visas -- a move described by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as "very, very saddening" -- with a tit-for-tat response against American citizens.

The Turkish foreign ministry summoned the US embassy's deputy chief of mission on Monday, urging Washington to reverse its visa decision.

The US embassy in Ankara said Sunday that it would suspend issuing visas for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study, after the arrest last week.

"Above all, this decision is very, very saddening," Erdogan said in his first reaction to the decision, at a news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko in Kiev.

"For the (US) ambassador in Ankara to take a decision like this, to put it into practice, is saddening," he added.

The ambassador, John Bass, insisted the suspension was "not a decision we took lightly" in a video released late Monday.

"We hope it will not last long, but at this time, we can't predict how long it will take to resolve this matter," he said.

- 'Historic low' -

Last week an Istanbul court remanded in custody the consulate employee over accusations of links to the group of US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the failed 2016 coup aimed at unseating Erdogan.

He has been formally charged with espionage and seeking to overthrow the Turkish government, accusations the US embassy rejected as "wholly without merit".

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Bass criticised the employee's lack of "sufficient access" to his lawyer.

On Monday, Turkish prosecutors summoned another local employee working at the American consulate in Istanbul, Anadolu said.

Turkish television, including the private NTV channel, said earlier that an arrest warrant had been issued for the employee, though this was not confirmed by Anadolu.

But the employee's wife and child, whose age was not given, were detained in the Anatolian city of Amasya on suspicion of being key members of Gulen's group, it said.

The Hurriyet daily reported that the individual wanted by prosecutors had taken sanctuary at the US consulate in Istanbul.

"We don't know if these arrests are singular events or if we should expect other Turkish staff members to be arrested for simply talking to Turkish government officials or the wider Turkish public in the course of their duties," Bass said.

Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin previously pointed to a phone call made from the Istanbul consulate to a key suspect on the night of the coup.

"It's definitely a historic low in ties, at least in recent memory," said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute, adding that the last such dispute of this magnitude was after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

"Neither side is willing to step back," he said.

- 'Hard to restore ties' -

The developments also came after a Turkish employee at the US consulate in the southern city of Adana was arrested in March on charges of supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Turkish officials had expressed hope of a new page in Ankara-Washington relations under President Donald Trump, and had pressed Washington for the extradition of the Pennsylvania-based Gulen, who denies any link to the coup bid.

The lack of movement on the issue has further strained ties already fraying over Washington's support for a Syrian Kurdish militia Ankara deems a terror group.

Meanwhile, members of Erdogan's security detail were indicted by US authorities after clashes with protesters during an official visit this year, infuriating Erdogan.

American pastor Andrew Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir, has been held by authorities since October 2016 on charges of being a member of Gulen's group.

Erdogan suggested last month Turkey could release him in exchange for Gulen but Washington showed little interest in the proposal.

"It will be hard for relations to be restored any time soon to what they used to be," Cagaptay said.

- 'Most unfortunate' -

Turkey's influential Industrialists' and Businessman's Association (TUSIAD) described the move by the US as "most unfortunate", saying it risked hurting citizens who had nothing to do with the row.

Flag carrier Turkish Airlines offered refunds or exchanges to passengers with Turkish passports flying to the US and vice versa. Its shares were hit heavily by the row, falling 9.26 percent to 8.43 dollars a share.

The tensions put pressure on the Turkish lira, which lost 3.0 percent against the US dollar to trade at 3.72 lira while, the Borsa Istanbul 100 index was down 2.7 percent at 101,298 points.

Seeking to reassure markets, the Turkish deputy central bank governor Murat Uysal said: "There could be a temporary impact because of geopolitical concerns, we are watching closely."
Ankara (AFP) - The Turkish army has launched a reconnaissance mission in Syria's largely jihadist-controlled northwestern Idlib province in a bid to create a de-escalation zone, the military said on Monday.

"The Turkish armed forces began reconnaissance activities on October 8 (Sunday) to establish surveillance posts as part of the operation to be carried out in Idlib province," the armed forces said in a statement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday the start of the new military operation inside Syria by pro-Ankara Syrian rebels backed by the Turkish army.

The statement was the first confirmation by the Turkish army of involvement inside Syria in the latest operation.

The operation is part of efforts by Turkey, along with Russia and Iran, to set up the zone in line with accords in Astana peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian civil war.

They agreed on four such ceasefire zones in Syria as a prelude to negotiations.

Three zones are already in place -- in Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, in central Homs, and in parts of southern Syria -- and are being monitored by Russian military police.

Idlib is largely controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate, which ousted more moderate rebels in recent months.

The pro-Turkish forces will need to oust HTS members in the area to allow Iranian, Russian and Turkish forces to implement the zone.

- Working with Russia -

The last time Turkish forces were engaged in Syria was in August, when Turkey launched its eight-months long Euphrates Shield operation against jihadists and Kurdish militia in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo.

"Even if we turn our backs on developments in Syria, can we escape from the results of the crisis?" Erdogan said on Sunday, explaining the reason for Turkey's latest intervention.

"This is why when we don't go to Syria, Syria comes to us," he added.

Although Moscow supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Turkey supports rebels seeking his ouster, the two countries have worked together intensively to try to end the conflict in the past few months.

Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have met several times since a 2016 reconciliation ended a crisis caused by the shooting down of a Russian war plane over Syria.

The conflict in Syria began with widespread protests against the government but has since evolved into a multi-front war that has killed more than 330,000 people.
By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Daren Butler ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey urged the United States on Monday to review its suspension of visa services after the arrest of a U.S. consulate employee sharply escalated tension between the two NATO allies and drove Turkey's currency and stocks lower. Relations between Ankara and Washington have been plagued by disputes over U.S. support for Kurdish fighters in Syria, Turkey's calls for the extradition of a U.S.-based cleric and the indictment of a Turkish former minister in a U.S. court. But last week's arrest of a Turkish employee of the U.S. consulate in Istanbul marked a fresh low. Turkey said the employee had links to U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for a failed military coup in July 2016. Gulen denies any connection with the coup. The U.S. embassy in Ankara condemned Ankara's charges as baseless and announced on Sunday night it was halting all non-immigrant visa services in Turkey while it reassessed Turkey's commitment to the security of its missions and staff. Within hours, Ankara announced it was taking the same measures against U.S. citizens seeking visas for Turkey. The U.S. ambassador said the duration of the visa services' suspension would depend on talks between the two governments about the reasons for the detention of local staff in Turkey. In a written statement late on Monday, Ambassador John Bass said the length of the suspension would also depend on "the Turkish government's commitment to protecting our facilities and personnel here in Turkey". He noted that the move was not a visa ban on Turkish citizens, that valid visas could still be used and visa applications could be made outside of Turkey. The U.S. Embassy had been unable to learn the reasons for the arrest of its Turkish staff member last week or what evidence exists against the employee, Bass said, adding that he had not been allowed sufficient access to the employee's lawyer. Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said that if Washington had serious security concerns about its missions in Turkey, steps would be taken to address them. "But if it's an issue regarding the arrest of the consulate employee, then this is a decision the Turkish judiciary has made," Gul told A Haber television. "Trying a Turkish citizen for a crime committed in Turkey is our right." The Turkish foreign ministry summoned a U.S. diplomat to urge the United States to lift the visa services suspension, saying it was causing "unnecessary tensions", and President Tayyip Erdogan also criticized the U.S. move. "For the (U.S.) embassy in Ankara to take such a decision and implement it, it is upsetting," Erdogan told a news conference during a visit to Ukraine. State-run Anadolu news agency said another U.S. consulate worker had been summoned to testify over his wife and daughter's suspected links to Gulen - which it said had emerged during the questioning of Metin Topuz, the employee arrested last week. INVESTORS RATTLED The diplomatic spat spooked investors. The lira dropped 3.4 percent and stood at 3.7385 against the dollar after being quoted overnight as touching a level of 3.9223. The main BIST 100 stock index fell as much as 4.7 percent, closing the day down 2.73 percent at 101,298 points. Airline shares were particularly hard hit, with flag carrier Turkish Airlines falling 9 percent. The central bank said it was following developments closely. "This looks like a really serious situation," said Blue Bay Asset Management strategist Timothy Ash. He added that the central bank would need to move quickly to calm market nerves and possibly hike interest rates - something Erdogan has resisted. Turkey's leading business association, TUSIAD, warned that the dispute would harm bilateral economic, social and cultural ties, and called for disagreements to be settled calmly. The row with the United States coincides with deep strains in Turkey's relations with Germany, another key ally, and with Turkish military activity at the Syrian and Iraqi borders, though their market impact has so far been limited. U.S.-Turkish tensions have risen in recent months over U.S. military support for Kurdish YPG fighters in Syria, considered by Ankara to be an extension of the banned PKK which has waged an insurgency for three decades in southeast Turkey. Turkey has also pressed, so far in vain, for the United States to extradite Gulen, viewed in Ankara as the mastermind behind the failed coup in which more than 240 people were killed. Friction with the United States has also arisen from the indictment last month by a U.S. court of Turkey's former economy minister Zafer Caglayan on charges of conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions on Iran. Sinan Ulgen, an analyst and former Turkish diplomat, said those underlying disputes had created a crisis of confidence which made this latest fall-out particularly bitter. "This harshness is a result of a build-up," he said. "We should not consider this as solely a reaction to the detentions of consulate employees". (Additional reporting by Can Sezer in Istanbul and Gulsen Solaker in Ankara; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Daren Butler and Mark Heinrich)
London (AFP) - A British border guard was one of 12 people arrested in Britain and France as part of an investigation into arms and drugs smuggling, police said on Monday.

The 36-year-old officer from the port of Dover was detained by French police near Calais last Friday along with three other UK citizens, Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) said in a statement.

Eleven firearms -- nine handguns and two revolvers -- were recovered and French police also seized 34 kilogrammes (75 pounds) of cocaine and seven kilos of heroin.

Eight more people were then arrested in Kent in southeast England and in London, six of whom have been charged with conspiracy to import firearms and drugs.

The remaining two were released on bail pending further investigation.

"This operation has brought together law enforcement from both sides of the Channel, and we believe we have prevented the importation of a significant quantity of class A drugs and firearms to the UK," said Dave Hucker, head of the NCA's anti-corruption unit.
Pictured: Two students on a night out with a student society group which sparked outrage in Exeter

University of Exeter students are being investigated by the university after they were pictured on a night out wearing jackets emblazoned with swastikas and messages mocking the Las Vegas massacre.

The students, who have caused outrage among peers at Exeter after images emerged on social media, are believed to have been attending a social event associated with Camborne School of Mines society, the universitys geoscience and mining faculty.

They were pictured wearing high visibility tabards plastered with controversial jokes, including a comment about "floor 32" - believed to be a reference to the Las Vegas massacre.

The insensitive jibes comes less than a week after 58 people and more than 500 people were injured when Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd attending a country music festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

The students involved were later urged to take down any photos from social media which may incriminate them during the investigation, according to the student newspaper The Tab.

They were also told to destroy any clothing inscribed with offensive material.

A message posted on Facebook following the incident apologising for the group's behaviour

In messages uploaded to a social media group, the students involved were told: "Whatever you do, do not wear your high vis from last night to your practical. I hope you enjoyed the evening but to stay safe do not wear anything from last night again.

''Please destroy any high-vis tops you have (you can make new ones next year). If you have any photos or videos, delete them now. This is for your best interest and us as a committee."

A University of Exeter spokesman said: "The University of Exeter and the Falmouth and Students Union (FXU) have a zero-tolerance policy towards racist, misogynist or similarly highly-offensive behaviour of any form.

''As soon as we were made aware of this incident we sought immediately to identify the students and organisers involved and demanded that all offensive material be removed.

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''An investigation was launched immediately and the consequences for anyone found to have breached our code of conduct will be determined by our disciplinary processes.

"We take the welfare and wellbeing of all our students, and our relationship with the local community, very seriously and are extremely disappointed by these unacceptable actions displayed by a small number of students, and we apologise unreservedly for the offence caused."

@HarryYorke1
Relations between Turkey and the US are likely to worsen following the decision by the US to reduce its visa services in the country: AP

The US has announced it is reducing visa services at its diplomatic facilities in Turkey for security reasons after one of its employees was detained at the Turkish consulate.

The move means that Turks will not be given visas to visit the US unless they are planning to move there.

The US Embassy in Ankara tweeted a statement from the US Mission to Turkey saying that recent events have forced it to reassess the commitment of the Government of Turkey to the security of US Mission facilities and personnel.

Turkish authorities last week arrested a US Consulate employee of Turkish nationality, Metin Topuz, for alleged links to the network of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

The Turkish government has pushed for the US to extradite Mr Gulen, saying he was responsible for last summers failed coup, although he denied any involvement.

Mr Topuz is accused of espionage and attempting to overthrow the Turkish government and constitution.

His arrest was condemned by Washington as baseless and damaging to relations between the NATO allies, with the US embassy saying it was deeply disturbed by the arrest.

Turkeys official Anadolu news agency reported that he allegedly communicated with former police chiefs in a 2013 corruption probe, 121 people involved in the attempted coup and hundreds of people using an encrypted mobile messaging application.

The statement said the suspension of non-immigrant visa services was effective immediately to minimise visitor numbers to the US Embassy and Consulate for now.

The move will affect business, tourist, medical treatment, student, exchange visitor, crew member, media and journalist, treaty trader, diplomatic and official visas.

There was no immediate response from Ankara but the Turkish Foreign Ministry is understood to be drafting a statement.

US pastor Andrew Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for more than 20 years, has been imprisoned for a year for alleged links to Mr Gulen.

Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the US was putting pressure on Ankara to return a cleric  Mr Brunsen - while refusing to hand over another cleric  Mr Gulen.

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Tensions between the two nations have also increased over US military support for Kurdish YPG fighters in Syria, considered by Ankara to be an extension of the banned PKK, which has waged an insurgency for three decades in southeast Turkey.

More than 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 have been fired from government jobs as part of a state of emergency declared after the failed coup.

Additional reporting by agencies
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro baited U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday by thanking him for a barrage of criticism that had made him famous worldwide. "It's an honor that the head of the empire mentions me every day," said the 54-year-old president, just back in Venezuela from a trip to Russia, Belarus and Turkey. "That means I'm doing something right!" Maduro laughed, during his weekly program on state TV. Saying Venezuela has become a corrupt and repressive dictatorship, the U.S. government has widened individual sanctions on top officials including Maduro and also prohibited new debt dealings with Caracas. Businessman-turned-president Trump has repeatedly criticized Maduro and his Socialist Party in public and at meetings with other heads of state. "Donald Trump has become the head of the Venezuelan opposition," said Maduro, who has ruled the OPEC member since 2013 but seen his popularity plummet during an economic crisis. "He has made me famous around the world. Every time he mentions me, they love me more," Maduro added, saying he had been acclaimed by people abroad on his visit to nations who have all had frayed relations with Washington. Maduro said he had a one-and-half hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin where, among other subjects, he discussed the possibility of trading Venezuelan oil in rubles because of the U.S. financial sanctions. "A whole new world is opening up for Venezuela thanks to Trump's sanctions," said Maduro, who has also said he hopes to move Venezuela's commercial transactions to euros, yen and rupees. On Oct. 15, Maduro's government faces off with Venezuela's opposition in elections for state governors. Maduro used his TV show to accuse foes of sabotaging public services during the campaign, including cutting electricity cables. Appearing next to him on TV, Vice President Tareck el Aissami said that an opposition-linked activist had been arrested for an explosion that injured seven policemen during anti-Maduro protests earlier this year. Venezuela's opposition says the government routinely frames activists by planting explosive materials, arms and money, and invents links between them and criminals, to justify political repression. (Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne; editing by Grant McCool)
WASHINGTON  The White House told Congress on Sunday night that it wants a border wall and new limits on legal immigration in return for allowing people illegally brought into the United States as children to remain here  demands top Democrats say renege on a deal President Donald Trump himself made with them last month.

We would be expect Congress to include all of these reforms in any package that addresses the possible status of DACA recipients, a top administration official told reporters Sunday evening on condition of anonymity.

Among the priorities listed in a letter Trump sent to congressional leaders: enough money to build a wall along the Mexican border; changes to deportation laws that would make it easier to send undocumented immigrants, including unaccompanied children, back to their home countries; crackdowns on sanctuary cities; an end to chain migration, which makes it easier for immigrants to sponsor extended family members; and creating a merit-based immigration system to cut down on the entry of unskilled workers.

A second top official said the White House is not issuing any ultimatums regarding legislation that fails to include its priorities. Were not discussing whats a veto threat right now, the official said. Were asking Congress to move on them as expeditiously as possible.

Whats more, people who would benefit from the codification of DACA  the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that President Barack Obama started and Trump abruptly canceled last month  would not be eligible to apply for citizenship, the second official said.

We are not interested in granting citizenship, the official said.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer were quick to release a statement accusing Trump of going back on his word.

The list includes the wall, which was explicitly ruled out of the negotiations, the statement reads. If the president was serious about protecting the Dreamers, his staff has not made a good faith effort to do so. Dreamers refers to people eligible for DACA protections; the nickname references the failed law that tried to allow them to stay in the U.S. legally and seek citizenship.

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HuffPost reported last week that top Trump aide Stephen Miller  who was known as an immigration opponent when he worked for then-Alabama senator, now Attorney General Jeff Sessions  was working to harden the White Houses position, notwithstanding Trumps verbal agreement with Schumer and Pelosi at a White House dinner on Sept. 13.

Either the president is negotiating in bad faith, or Stephen Miller has hijacked the negotiation, one congressional aide told HuffPost privately.

On Sunday night, though, the second White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity denied there was any such deal with Schumer and Pelosi.

I was at that dinner. There was a deal to work on a deal as fast as possible. Thats what the deal was, the official said, adding that the border wall was something Trump ran on as a candidate for president. Its certainly something that the American people have asked for.

Also on HuffPost

May 1920s

U.S. border guards check entering Mexicans

May 1920s

U.S. border guard and Mexicans behind the border fence.

March 21, 1929

A line of cars carrying Mexicans over the border into California. The fence in the foreground is the border; the line of cars is in the main street of Mexicali.

1930s

A flock of sheep at the border between Mexico and the United States.

June 1937

A pic of state border plant inspection maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture between Mexico and the United States. Shoppers returning from Mexico (Juarez) to the United States (El Paso) over the bridge that carries all the traffic are required to open their packages for inspection.

June 1937

Crossing the international bridge between Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas.

June 1937

Mexicans entering the United States via the United States immigration station at El Paso, Texas.

1943

U.S. soldiers exchanging money at the U.S.-Mexico border.

March 15, 1950

A view of the Sigma Pi sorority crossing under the Mexico border sign to Tijuana, Mexico in Calexico, California.

1950s

Pregnant woman at the border.

1954

Mexican farm laborers standing on the Mexican side of the border trying to get into the U.S.

1954

Mexican workers waiting just inside the U.S. border to be let in.

October 1, 1962

A border guard checks passes of Mexicans entering the United States near Nogales, Mexico.

1967

Mexican workers crossing the border into Texas have their papers checked.

Sept. 22 1984

Suspected undocumented immigrants cross into the U.S. from Tijuana, Mexico.

1990

Men look across to the other side of the Tijuana border.

1990

Woman walking along the America-Mexico border, near Tijuana.

1993

U.S. Customs agents patrolling the border.

1994

At first light, undocumented immigrants wait to cross over into the United States.

1994

Undocumented immigrants wait on the other side of Mexico.

Aug. 19, 1997

Esther Pereyra Rubalcaba (left) kisses her daughter Patricia through the wall separating the US and Min Tijuana, Mexico.

July 20, 2005

Migrant activists lean against the border fence to pay homage to undocumented immigrants who died crossing over.

Aug. 28, 2005

Young Mexican nationals peer through the border wall at the beach along San Ysidro, California.

June 6, 2015

Paper doves in the shape of a heart are seen at the border fence in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Sept. 25, 2016

Maria Rodriguez Torres, 70, looks towards her departing grandchildren after seeing them for the first time at the U.S.-Mexico border fence in Tijuana, Mexico. She had traveled with family members from Mexico City to see her grandchildren through the fence at "Friendship Park."

Oct. 6, 2016

A burnt car is seen next to a section of the wall separating Mexico and the United States in Tijuana, Mexico.

Feb. 4, 2017

A visitor stands next to the U.S.-Mexico border fence at Friends of Friendship Park in San Ysidro, California.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
A young Israeli woman was killed and eight other hikers were lightly injured on Sunday when their jeep overturned several times and fell into a canyon near the Annapurna massif in Nepal.

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The hikers sent out a distress call via satellite phone to the international search and rescue company Magnus. Their location was tracked via satellite and rescue forces were sent to the Khayer Tal area to their aid.

Before rescuers arrived, some of the lightly injured hikers were able to make their way to a nearby village, from where they called for help again.

Vered Aviyashar, right, and the jeep (Photo: Magnus)

They spent the night with the injured and aided in their transfer to the hospital in Kathmandu.

The jeep after it overturned several times, falling into a canyon (Photo: Magnus)

One of the hikers, 26-year-old Vered Aviyashar, originally from Kibbutz Ein HaNetziv, was seriously hurt in the crash and later succumbed to her injuries.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it was working on bringing her body back home to Israel for burial.

"Vered, my sister, my love, beloved by all, has gone from us," her sister Sigal wrote in an emotional Facebook post. "I don't write here much, but now, after this unbearably difficult night, and ahead of long and painful days, I wish to tell you a bit about her light: How she was happy and simple, witty and sharp. How much she loved both man and nature, how beautifully she sang and played on anything she could. How direct and real she was, how funny she was doing impersonations, how she was a great friend, how much she cared about her family and was in love with her nephews, how she loved life and how little life she had."
A sigh of relief was heard last week from the New York Times to many newspapers and media outlets around the world, even in Israel, accompanied by a sneer toward the political right: Hes not a Muslim! Wow. It turns out that the mass murder in Las Vegas was committed by only a lunatic, Stephen Paddock, and one doesnt have to be a jihadist to carry out a merciless massacre.

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Too many people are busy apologizing all the time. They eagerly jumped on the not a Muslim part. Heres their proof that Muslims had nothing to do with the massacre. Theyre right. But their mocking joy reveals something much deeper. Theyre stricken with blindness. Someone who jumps for joy when a non-Muslim carries out a massacre usually keeps quiet when an actual Muslim carries out a massacre. Reality should be looked at as it is, without right-wing or left-wing glasses that impair not only ones vision but also ones thought.

First of all, every month in the past few years, 1,000-2,000 people have been murdered by jihad organizations. These arent casualties of war. These are only, exclusively, acts of terror. Most of them arent even reported by the Western media, because it really isnt interesting that three or five or dozens of people have been murdered in Nigeria, Somalia, Afghanistan or Pakistan. Just a few weeks ago, two young Muslim women carried out a suicide bombing in a crowded market near a refugee camp in Nigeria. All the victims were Muslim. The number of reports in the Western media was close to zero.

Scene of Las Vegas Strip shooting. Someone who jumps for joy when a non-Muslim carries out a massacre usually keeps quiet when an actual Muslim carries out a massacre (Photo: AFP)

Second, at certain points in history, Christianity was a lot more murderous than Islam, and even if Islam tries very hard, it wont reach the atrocities committed, for example, in the Crusades. It was a merciless massacre against entire Jewish communities. Synagogues were torched with people inside them. In the Thirty Years War, as part of a bloody battle between rival Christian factions, the Christians massacred each other in large quantities, making the battle between the Shiites and Sunnis look like children at play. The thing is, Christianity weaned off the death industry. Islam is far from rehabilitation.

Third, just like most victims of the old Christian murderousness were Christians, most of the victims of the Muslims todaythe absolute majorityare Muslims too. The terror attacks in the West are only a small percentage of the daily terrorism suffered by Muslims themselves: The absolute majority of the 21,245 people who were murdered in 2016 were Muslim. The most serious terror attack in the West took place in Nice, when a truck was deliberately driven into crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day.

Fourth, with all undue respect to the lunatic from Las Vegas, we should remember the words written by a brave Muslim, Abdulrahman al-Rashed, the former editor-in-chief of Asharq al-Awsat: It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain that almost all terrorists are Muslims. He wrote it in 2004. Since then, things have only gotten worse.

Fifth, many Muslims likely know that wherever radical Islam rears its headwhether in Western communities or in Muslim countriesthe inevitable result is destruction, oppression and ruin. The problem isnt just terrorism. Its also the oppression of women and separatism, which are leaving the Muslims behind. The brave ones among them launch an open battle, but the forces of progress usually turn their backs on them. If they refuse to participate in the campaign of hatred against the West or against Zionism, they are unworthy of support.

I doubt theres a single serious right-wing person who voiced his disappointment upon learning that the Las Vegas murderer wasnt Muslim. But its perfectly clear that the sigh of relief heard from some of the speakers of the Left points to something a lot more serious. Because when massive amounts of capital keep flowing from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to fund mosques and radical imams, and when intellectuals from the forces of progress provide explanations and justifications for jihad, and the meticulous ones even sympathize with Hamas and Hezbollah, and when the Muslim support for jihad or for imposing sharia laws keeps growing, both in Muslim states and in the Westjihad can keep relying on the foolishness of the forces of progress. Theyll always be there to make people indifferent. Theyll always be there to say theres no problem. And problems of this kind have a strange tendency: The more we ignore them, the more we sink into denial, the bigger they become.
Earlier this month, 60 renowned public figures from the Shiite Muslim community in Lebanon gathered for a conference at a hotel in Beirut in an attempt to challenge the dominance of terror group Hezbollah and promoting the Shiite political party Amal in their country.

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The conference organizers said the meeting was meant to voice different opinions within the Shiite community.

"We met and debated and found one thing that brings us together concerns the building of a strong state with sovereignty over its land and borders," the group said. "A state that ensures the transfer of power in a periodic manner in accordance with the formulas established in the constitution. A state that enforces its sovereignty through its army and security forces without distractions."

The conference

This recent resistance movement is reportedly counting on Hezbollah's involvement in Syria in order to increase their own power in the Lebanese elections, which have not been held since 2009.

The London-based Al-Arab newspaper, which is known for its biased coverage against Hezbollah, said the event was not the first of its kind.

According to their report, in recent years there have been meetings hosted and attended by independent Shiite public figures in an attempt to challenge the hegemony of the two movements, especially Hezbollah, in the Lebanese political arena and the Shiite community in particular.

However, this recent convergence created a wave of negative responses on social media, with Hezbollah and Amal supporters calling them "traitors" and accusing them of being bought and influenced by foreign agents, hinting that those behind the conference were the countries hostile to Hezbollah and its partners, such as Saudi Arabia.

"We face offensive rumors if we take an independent stand against the Shiite duo of Hezbollah and Amal. We know well pay for it," said Dr. Harith Sulaiman, an academic and one of the prominent members of the resistance group.

"I have been a political activist and patriot for the last 40 years; I studied in France, and I might have had certain ambitions, but I did not try to achieve my goals through either of the two Shiite powers," he added. "Ive now decided to retire because I do not want to follow either of them."

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah

The timing, it seems, is not coincidental.

This conference takes place only a few months before Lebanon's next parliamentary elections. Those who attended it expressed a strong desire to establish "a national opposition front that will correct the division of Lebanese politics"or, in other words, prepare the ground for an alternative choice for the Shiite community at the ballot, though it is very doubtful they will succeed.

Since Hezbollah's intervention in Syria in favor of the Assad regime, there have been some in the Shiite community to occasionally speak out against the organization, but they are few and far between.

"There exists a Shiite dilemma in Lebanon: We cant dream of being able to break Hezbollahs dominance," admitted media worker and civil activist Ali Al-Amin at the meeting. "Hezbollah is a regional armed force that uses its power to practice sectarian mobilization, and it is troubled by the existence of Shiites who declare that they oppose its policies and ideologies.

"We are paying for our stances against the campaigns that accused us of treachery, and we have been oppressed on several occasions. Any Shiite who opposes Hezbollah is accused of treason."

Most who attended the meeting agreed that the change in Hezbollah's mobilization came following the 2006 Second Lebanon War with Israel, which prompted them to switch "from calling for a fight against Israel to calling for a holy warjihad," and bolstered their aggressive and warmongering approach towards regional problem-solving.
The partisan gerrymandering case argued last week in the Supreme Court presents one of the most important, difficult and intriguing legal questions of the last quarter-century.

The constitutional issue in the case, coming out of Wisconsin, is whether and when courts should invalidate redistricting plans that are designed to give a strong advantage to one political party. In extreme cases, such plans are an obvious violation of the Constitution. The problem is that its not at all obvious how courts can police them.

To see why the constitutional violation is obvious, imagine a state where party X now has control of the state legislature, but where party Y has more voters  say, a healthy margin of 2.3 million to 1.7 million voters. What can party X do to maintain its control in the future?

The simple answer is that its officials can use arithmetic and map-making skills to entrench themselves through redistricting.

For example, party X might create five districts, each with 800,000 people. Three of them might be designed so that its voters outnumber party Ys by 500,000 to 300,000. Two of them might be designed so that party Ys voters outnumber party Xs, 700,000 to 100,000.

Voila! Party X is pretty well guaranteed to get 60 percent of the representatives  even though it has just 42 percent of the voters. With a little luck, the party should be able to entrench itself for a very long time.

During oral argument, most of the justices seemed to agree that in principle thats unconstitutional. As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg put it, what becomes of the precious right to vote?

Justice Anthony Kennedy asked about a state law explicitly stating that in designing districts, the overriding concern is to have a maximum number of votes for party X or party Y. Such a law would, and should, be struck down in a heartbeat.

The problem of partisan gerrymandering has become worse than ever. Technology is allowing officials to obtain and to use extraordinarily sophisticated data about their citizens and how they are likely to vote. In a period of acute polarization, officials are in an increasingly good position to choose their voters, rather than the other way around.

Thats essentially what happened in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Assembly, dominated by Republicans, engaged in a redistricting process specifically designed to ensure that Republicans would maintain a supermajority in the Assembly, even if Democrats got a majority of the statewide vote.

More particularly, they packed Democratic voters, by drawing district lines so that they were concentrated in specific districts. They also cracked Democratic voters, by splitting them up so that they were outnumbered by Republicans in other districts. The result? A large and likely durable advantage for Republicans.

In principle, thats tough to defend on constitutional grounds. But in 2004, four members of the court  a plurality rather than a majority  said that courts should never get involved in disputes about partisan gerrymandering.

Officials draw district lines for all sorts of reasons. How can judges possibly discern the intentions of those who produce district lines? And if the party that originally drew those lines ends up keeping its majority through subsequent elections, that doesnt prove anything untoward; after all, Democrats sometimes vote for Republicans, and vice versa. Political affiliation isnt the only factor that affects voting.

Justice Kennedy  the crucial vote back in 2004, and very possibly now as well  refused to join Justice Scalias opinion. He agreed that no legal standard had yet been formulated. But he thought that in the future, a limited and precise rationale might found be found to correct an established violation of the Constitution in redistricting cases.

Much of the oral argument focused on whether such a rationale could be found. Chief Justice John Roberts worried that it could not be  and that if the Supreme Court gets in the business of evaluating partisan gerrymandering, it will have to take sides with either Democrats or Republicans, thus causing very serious harm to the status and integrity of this Court in the eyes of the country.

Several of the justices focused on newly developed statistical tests, which ask whether both parties are equally able to turn popular support into legislative representation  partisan symmetry, as it is called. Social scientists have developed sophisticated methods for measuring partisan symmetry.

Chief Justice Roberts worried that those methods are sociological gobbledygook. They arent, but hes entirely right to ask whether lower courts can apply statistical methods.

Early in the oral argument, Justice Stephen Breyer briefly sketched the core of a promising approach  and its not all that complicated.

In a nutshell: If one party controls the redistricting, if the resulting map treats one party much better than another, if it would do so over a wide range of potential votes (and thus entrench one party), and if it is an extreme outlier compared with what is done in the rest of the country, then it would be struck down  unless it could be defended by reference to some legitimate and neutral justification.

Thats not perfect. It needs work. But its a good start  and its a lot better than giving a free pass to the most extreme forms of partisan gerrymandering, which threaten to do catastrophic damage to the very idea of self-government.
SAN JOSE, Calif.  Grocery shopping can feel like youre navigating through an obstacle course filled with crowded parking lots, long lines and screaming kids.

But a growing number of Americans are checking off their grocery lists without even walking inside the store.

San Francisco resident Allison Howard gets her groceries delivered to her home about once a week through Instacart. The busy mother of four places an order online for items in at least two or three stores, including Costco, where time flies when youre munching on free samples.

Its just a huge time savings when I think about those extra five and a half hours I have, said Howard, who has been using Instacart for more than three years. That makes it pretty much a no-brainer for me.

Tech companies including Amazon, Google and Instacart have been teaming up with retailers to expand online grocery shopping. Companies also have been experimenting with ways to make picking up groceries inside the store, or delivery, easier.

The ones that jumped in on the early side  it was a little risky  but they saw the potential. Now these retailers are really starting to reap the benefits, said Patricia Orsini, an analyst with eMarketer.

About 23 percent of American households are buying their groceries online, according to a 2017 study by the Food Marketing Institute and Nielsen. Online grocery spending has the potential to grow fivefold to more than $100 billion in 2025, the report stated.

While shopping online can be more convenient, some shoppers want to make sure they get the freshest fruits and vegetables by touching and seeing the produce in person.

Shane Caudle, owner of The SPOT on 25th cafe in Silicon Valley, said he prefers to shop in person to guarantee he buys the freshest produce.

One of the things I tell people at the cafe is I go out every single day and pick all the produce myself, he said.

With his business just a few miles away from a grocery store, hes also noticed that online shopping costs more because of the delivery fees.

Not being able to see the groceries in person was one mental hurdle that Howard said she eventually got over. Online grocery shopping also had other quirks. A bag of flour she received from Costco one day was much larger than she pictured in her mind.

Grocery stores have been expanding the availability of online shopping in cities throughout the United States.

Walmart customers can order groceries online and pick them up at the store on the same day. The retailer, which opened its 1,000th online grocery pickup location this month, also joined forces with Google. Walmart is also now letting customers shop for items on Google Express  the Mountain View-based tech firms shopping and delivery service  and reorder household essentials just by speaking to Googles virtual assistant.

When Amazon purchased Whole Foods, the e-commerce giant not only slashed prices but made the grocery stores own branded products available through Amazons website and grocery delivery service. Amazon employees also have been testing a store in Seattle, where shoppers can pick up their items without having to wait in a checkout line.

Instacart recently expanded its service in the Bay Area, allowing more consumers to get items delivered from Smart & Final, Safeway, Whole Foods, Target and other stores.

Smart & Final, with locations in the Western U.S., last month launched its own website for grocery delivery powered by Instacart, which promises same-day delivery in as little as an hour.

Its not necessarily that weve seen a shift so far, but weve seen new customers introduced to the Smart & Final brand, said Joe VanDette, Smart & Finals vice president of digital marketing. In turn, weve seen a lot of crossover with those customers going into our stores and experiencing what we have to offer.

Bay Area resident Maria Irma Aguilar uses Walmarts and Safeways websites to grocery shop online with her son, who attends college in Arizona.

We were sending him money and he was just eating out or spending his money foolishly, she said.

Now, the mother and son get on the phone every two weeks to purchase groceries online. Shes even walked him through how to cook a recipe, through FaceTime.

He learned how to cook for himself, and now hes not eating out as much or the junk food as he was eating before, she said.

At a Bay Area Smart & Final store, Instacart full-service shopper La Tigre Waters wasted no time picking out bananas, asparagus and other items on a customers shopping list.

With about 40 minutes to shop and deliver the groceries, she strategically placed her cart to the side, scanned the aisles and gathered vegetables so she only made one trip to the scale.

She knew that dried apricots were located on a bottom shelf. When an item was out of stock, she alerted the customer through the app.

Its a very attentive job, she said. Notice I took a step back, analyzed everything at once and then went in and made sure the only one I touched was the right one.

And while time was winding down, the quality of the items was also on her mind.

If I would not eat it, give it to my kids or allow my grandmother to see I have purchased such an item, she said, I would not bring it to the customer.

About 23 percent of American households are buying their groceries online, according to a 2017 study by the Food Marketing Institute and Nielsen. Online grocery spending has the potential to grow fivefold to more than $100 billion in 2025.
Summers over and kids are back in school, but many people are making plans for at least one more getaway this fall, before the arrival of another busy holiday season. According to a new survey from AAA, more than one in four Americans (28 percent) expects to take a vacation this year between Labor Day and Thanksgiving.

In fact, Americans say the top benefits of taking a fall trip include:

Fewer crowds and children (68 percent)

More favorable weather (63 percent)

The opportunity to find better value for the cost of their trip (55 percent)

Road trips are the preferred activity for fall travelers. Sixty-two percent of those planning a vacation intend to pack up their cars and hit the road. Thanks to milder weather, outdoor events such as fall festivals and visits to national and state parks are particularly popular with travelers this time of year. Twenty-six percent of those who are planning a fall vacation will take a trip to view fall foliage, a favorite pastime from the northeast and New England, to the beautiful Midwest scenes in northern Michigan and Wisconsin.

The majority of fall travelers will stay within the United States, with Orlando, southern California, Hawaii and New York the most popular domestic travel destinations, based on AAA Travel bookings. Approximately one-third of fall travelers are planning an international vacation, with European destinations including Rome and London especially popular this time of year.
On Nov. 1, Linn Benton Food Shares warehouse in Tangent received two truckloads of food and household supplies arranged by the local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Saturday that her government would continue to support nearly 1 million Rohingya Muslims who have fled neighboring Myanmar to escape violence.

Hasina said the government was pursuing a plan to build temporary shelters for the Rohingya on an island with the help of international aid agencies whom she praised for their support.

She made the statement at Dhaka airport on her return from New York after attending the U.N. General Assembly session. The U.N. has described the violence in Myanmar as ethnic cleansing.

Hasina accused Myanmar of creating tensions at the border, but said she has asked the countrys security forces to deal with the crisis very carefully.

They pretended like they wanted a war, she said.

More than 500,000 Rohingya Muslims have crossed over to Bangladesh since late August, when Myanmar security forces responded to militant attacks with a broad crackdown that witnesses and rights groups say has included killing and arson. An equal number of Rohingya Muslims have previously fled Myanmar since 1978.

Myanmar doesnt recognize the Rohingya as an ethnic group, instead insisting they are Bengali migrants from Bangladesh living illegally in the country. Myanmar has come under international criticism for failing to stop the recent violence in its Rakhine state and in turn an exodus that has become the largest refugee crisis to hit Asia in decades.

The Myanmar governments information committee said late Thursday that it had stopped 17,000 Rohingya from fleeing in just four days last week. Villagers, however, say that Rohingya are still attempting to leave and that many are gathered on the beaches just across the water from Bangladesh waiting for a chance to leave the country.

On Saturday, Hasina reiterated that the settlements for Rohingya Muslims would be temporary until they returned to their homes in Myanmar.

She said her government would continue to support them with food and shelter.

If needed, we will eat a full meal once a day and share the rest with them, she said. AP
MGM Macaus only French restaurant, Aux Beaux Arts, has revamped its menu, introducing its new chef Mario Gil.

The restaurant serves chic brasserie-style French cuisine in an environment reminiscent of 1930s Paris, yet this time, it also aims to create a more welcoming ambience along with its value-for-money menu.

Aux Beaux Arts kicked off its new menu recenlty. The new menu recreates the taste of conventional French classics for guests and boasts a range of A Partager (to share) platters including Seafood Flambe, which features a flamed Croizet Cognac, and Assorted Grill of meat from the US and France.

One of the restaurants specialties is its Braised Beef Short Rib, as the tenderness of the beef is crafted by a special cooking method that requires two days to complete.

Aux Beaux Arts chef, Gil, told the press that the revamp of the menu is more aligned with the culture of the French restaurant.

He assured that while the restaurant offers dishes at a competitive price, it maintains its quality of products and services offered to guests.

Questioned how the restaurant would differ from the increasing number of French cuisine offerings in the region, the chef noted that although the restaurant still accommodates its affluent guests in its private room, Aux Beaux Arts also maintains its brasserie concept.

We dont have a fine dining approach. Its price friendly and value for money. We try to represent brasserie, he said.

The menu is easier to read and understand. Its not too confusing, and what you read is what you get but you get really good quality, Gil assured.

The chef is also confident that the region would turn into a gastronomic city with the increasing high quality offerings of the regions Food & Beverage sector.

The French restaurant has an open Wine Cellar for private gatherings, an area of the restaurant which houses a collection of more than 10,000 wines.

Aux Beaux Arts is also offering a three-course le Diner menu where guests are able to select one appetizer, a main dish and a dessert from the a-la-carte menu. LV
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a forceful show of support for a grassroots effort that seeks to pressure the worlds nuclear powers to give up the weapons that could destroy the planet.

The choice of the little-known coalition of disarmament activists put the Nobel committee again at the forefront of geopolitics at a time when fears are rising over North Koreas nuclear and missile program and the invective it has drawn from U.S. President Donald Trump.

The committee cited the tiny, Geneva-based ICAN for its work that led to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons that was reached in July at the United Nations.

The group has been a driving force in prevailing upon the worlds nations to pledge to cooperate [] in efforts to stigmatize, prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons, Norwegian Nobel Committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen said in the announcement.

More than 120 countries approved the treaty over opposition from nuclear-armed countries and their allies. In a statement issued after the Nobel was announced, the U.S. reiterated its position that the treaty will not result in the elimination of a single nuclear weapon.

The treaty requires all ratifying countries never under any circumstances to develop, test, produce, manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. It also bans any transfer or use of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices  and the threat to use such weapons.

The nuclear powers oppose the treaty, which goes well beyond existing nonproliferation agreements, arguing that they alone should have the weapons in order to support stability in the world.

The U.S., Britain and France said the prohibition wouldnt work and would end up disarming their nations while emboldening what U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley called bad actors. They instead suggest strengthening the nonproliferation treaty, which they say has made a significant dent in atomic arsenals.

ICAN, a coalition of 468 nongovernmental groups from over 100 countries, says that argument is outdated.

This prize is really a tribute to the tireless efforts of many millions of campaigners and concerned citizens worldwide who have, ever since the dawn of the Atomic Age, loudly protested nuclear weapons, insisting that they can serve no legitimate purpose and must be forever banished from the face of our Earth, said ICAN executive director Beatrice Fihn.

The prize is likely to give new momentum to ICAN and its allies in the coming months as the group tries to achieve ratification of the treaty by 50 nations. That would allow the ban to become binding under international law for those countries and put nuclear-armed states in the uncomfortable position of being outliers.

On Sept. 20, the first day the treaty was open for signatures, 50 countries signed it and three submitted their ratifications. Three more countries have since added their names. ICAN hopes to get the 50 ratifications by the end of 2018.

Norwegian Nobel Committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen noted that international prohibitions have been set on chemical and biological weapons, land mines and cluster munitions.

Nuclear weapons are even more destructive, but have not yet been made the object of a similar international legal prohibition, she said.

The five original nuclear powers  the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France, which also are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council  support nuclear nonproliferation but boycotted the treaty negotiations. Nuclear-armed India, Pakistan and North Korea didnt vote.

If you want to make sure that no new states get nuclear weapons, you need to be ready to reject nuclear weapons themselves, Fihn said. This treaty really demands that they walk the walk.

ICAN has its roots in Australia but was launched in Vienna in 2007, inspired largely by another Nobel peace prize-winning group, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

The USD1.1 million prize is likely to help boost ICANs advocacy. It also organized events globally in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversaries of the attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.

The committee, citing nearly 15,000 nuclear weapons in the world, said the risk of nuclear weapons being used is greater than it has been for a long time.

In 2009, it awarded the prize to President Barack Obama, months after he laid out the U.S. commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.

Since then, the U.S. has been a leading voice against the treaty to ban nuclear weapons. The real lobbying battleground could shape up in countries like NATO member states, Japan and South Korea that have military alliances with the U.S., but where activists could be emboldened by the Nobel prize.

Trump has fanned concerns about nuclear conflict, with threats against North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over the secretive regimes tests, missile launches over Japan, and warnings that the U.S. territory of Guam could be next in the firing line.

The Nobel committee wanted to send a signal to North Korea and the U.S. that they need to go into negotiations, said Oeivind Stenersen, a historian of the peace prize.

The prize is also coded support to the Iran nuclear deal he said, alluding to dialogue that won curbs on Tehrans nuclear program.

ICANs Fihn said many were worried about Trump.

I think that the election of President Donald Trump has made a lot of people feel very uncomfortable with the fact that he alone can authorize the use of nuclear weapons and theres nothing people can do to stop him, she told a news conference at the World Council of Churches building that hosts ICANs office in Geneva.

There is no one who we can trust with the ability to destroy the entire world, she said.

Somewhat unusually for a Nobel peace prize announcement, the nuclear-armed countries were largely silent or restrained in their reaction.

Todays announcement does not change the U.S. position on the treaty: the United States does not support and will not sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

Unfortunately, we are seeing a deterioration in the overall security environment and growing nuclear capabilities of certain states. This treaty will not make the world more peaceful, will not result in the elimination of a single nuclear weapon, and will not enhance any states security, it said.

It added that the U.S. is committed to creating the conditions for nuclear disarmament, a goal we share with our international security partners.

The British and Russian governments did not comment. But British opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn  a long-time disarmament campaigner whose photo hangs in ICANs Geneva office  congratulated the group.

In a carefully worded statement that did not endorse a nuclear weapons ban, Frances Foreign Ministry said the choice testifies to the importance of nuclear nonproliferation in a context marked by the North Korean crisis.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted: Now more than ever we need a world without nuclear weapons.

And India sent the group tulips, said ICAN network coordinator Daniel Hogsta.

It was nice to send flowers, but we want them to sign the treaty, he said. Jamey Keaten, Mark Lewis, AP

Kazuo Ishiguro wins nobel literature prize

Kazuo Ishiguro the Japanese-born British novelist who in The Remains of the Day, Never Let Me Go and other novels captured memorys lasting pain and dangerous illusions in precise and elegant prose, won the Nobel Literature Prize. The selection of the 62-year-old Ishiguro marked a return to citing fiction writers following two years of unconventional choices by the Swedish Academy for the 9-million-kronor (USD1.1 million) prize. Fridays selection also continues a recent trend of recognizing British authors born elsewhere  V.S. Naipaul, the 2001 winner, is from Trinidad and Tobago; the 2007 honoree, Doris Lessing, was a native of Iran who grew up in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
The trial of two women accused of killing the estranged half brother of North Koreas leader enters its second week with the court moving temporarily today to a high-security laboratory to view evidence tainted with the toxic VX nerve agent.

High Court Judge Azmi Ariffin declared that prosecutors and defense lawyers, along with the two suspects, will hold court at the laboratory for chemical weapons analysis to examine samples of the womens clothing before they are formally submitted as evidence.

The decision came after government chemist Raja Subramaniam told the court that VX found on the clothing may still be active. Such a move is not unusual in criminal cases in Malaysia, where judges often visit crime scenes.

Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, lawyer for Vietnamese suspect Doan Thi Huong, told The Associated Press that the visit to Rajas lab is purely for safety reasons. He said the concept of holding a formal court session at the lab is to legalize the visit, which is expected to take an hour, after which the trial will resume in the court building.

Huong and Siti Aisyah of Indonesia pleaded not guilty at the start of their trial last week to charges of murdering Kim Jong Nam by smearing VX on his face at a crowded airport terminal in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 13. They face a mandatory death sentence if convicted. Defense lawyers have said the women were duped by suspected North Korean agents into believing they were playing a harmless prank for a hidden TV-camera show.

VX is banned by an international treaty as a weapon of mass destruction but is believed to be part of North Koreas chemical weapons arsenal.

Kim was the eldest son in the current generation of North Koreas dynastic rulers but was believed to have been cast out by his father and had lived abroad for years. He was preparing to board a flight bound to Macau, where he lived, when he was murdered.

Last week, VX-tainted evidence from Kim Jong Nams body and clothing was presented in court in sealed transparent bags. It was not removed from the bags, but the judge and court officials wore surgical masks and gloves as a safety precaution.

During the weeks four trial sessions, prosecutors sought to reconstruct Kims final moments at the airport, establish that VX killed him and provide evidence linking VX to the two suspects.

Raja, who is the only Malaysian with a doctorate in chemical weapons analysis, testified he found traces of VX on Huongs white sweater and fingernail clippings, and on Aisyahs sleeveless T-shirt. Huong was seen on airport surveillance videos wearing a sweater emblazoned with big black letters reading LOL, the acronym for laughing out loud.

Raja also confirmed that he found VX on Kims face, eyes, clothing, and in his blood and urine samples. Raja testified that VX can be safely removed from the palm of a hand by scrubbing it with water within 15 minutes of exposure, in a possible explanation of why the two women didnt show any symptoms of poisoning. Raja, the eighth witness to take the stand, is to be cross-examined by defense lawyers today after the lab visit.

Pathologist Mohamad Shah Mahmood also testified there were no signs that a heart attack or other factors had contributed to Kims death. He concluded in his autopsy report that Kim died of acute VX poisoning.

Its no surprise, said Hisyam, Huongs lawyer. We know their [prosecution] narration; we know the evidence that they have. We have a response; we have an answer to every evidence they have adduced so far.

Gooi Soon Seong, the lawyer for Aisyah, has said the detection of VX on the women is not enough to convict them. If I have the knife, it doesnt mean I killed the person. They must have other stronger evidence, he said.

This week, prosecutors say they will present airport security videos that show the two women carrying out the attack and indicate they knew they were handling poison. MDT/AP
The Trump administration is moving to roll back the centerpiece of President Barack Obamas efforts to slow global warming, seeking to ease restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.

In a plan expected to be made public in coming days, the Environmental Protection Agency declared the Obama-era rule exceeded federal law by setting emissions standards that power plants could not reasonably meet. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the 43-page document, which underscored President Donald Trumps bid to revive the struggling coal industry.

The EPAs new proposal would make good on Trumps campaign pledge to unravel Obamas efforts to curb global warming and follows Trumps promise to pull the United States out of the landmark Paris climate agreement. Nearly 200 countries have committed to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

The EPA wont prescribe an immediate replacement to the plan, but will seek public comment on whether to curb climate-warming emissions from coal and natural gas power plants.

A spokeswoman for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt declined to comment Friday on the authenticity of the leaked document but said the Obama administration pushed the bounds of their authority so far that the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay to prevent the Clean Power Plan from taking effect.

Any replacement rule that the Trump administration proposes will be done carefully and properly within the confines of the law, EPA spokeswoman Liz Bowman said.

The Obama administrations cost-benefits analysis of the Clean Power Plan was highly uncertain in multiple areas, Bowman said, vowing that the Trump administration will present a range of scenarios to the public in a robust, open and transparent way.

Obamas plan was designed to cut U.S. carbon dioxide emissions to 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The rule dictated specific emission targets for states based on power-plant emissions and gave officials broad latitude to decide how to achieve reductions.

The Supreme Court put the plan on hold last year following a legal challenge by industry and coal-friendly states.

Even so, the plan has been a factor in a wave of retirements of coal-fired plants, which also are being squeezed by lower costs for natural gas and renewable power and state mandates promoting energy conservation.

Repealing the Clean Power Plan without a timeline or a commitment to propose a rule to reduce carbon pollution isnt a step forward, its a wholesale retreat from EPAs legal, scientific and moral obligation to address the threats of climate change, said former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

While the Supreme Court has concluded that EPA is obligated to regulate greenhouse gases, this administration has no intention of following the law, said McCarthy, who led the EPA when the Clean Power Plan was completed. They are denying it just as they are denying the science. Theyre using stall tactics to defer action, ignoring the courts and the demands of the American people.

Industry groups cheered the planned repeal, saying it would reverse regulatory overreach by Obama and McCarthy.

The Clean Power Plan represented an unlawful attempt to transform the nations power grid [] and raise costs on American consumers, said Hal Quinn, president and CEO of the National Mining Association.

The Obama-era plan would have sharply reduced the number of coal-fired plants, making the grid more vulnerable to reliability concerns and increasing costs with trivial environmental benefits, Quinn said.

The new plan will save an estimated 240 million tons of annual coal production and safeguard more than 27,000 mining jobs and almost 100,000 additional jobs throughout the supply chain, he said.

In the leaked document, the Trump administration argues that repealing the Clean Power Plan could spare an estimated $33 billion in compliance costs in 2030, arguing that the Obama administration overstated the rules potential health benefits.

Previously, the EPA had estimated that by 2030 the Clean Power Plan would prevent 90,000 asthma attacks and up to 3,600 premature deaths a year.

The leaked document casts doubts on those numbers and says the EPA plans to perform updated modeling and analysis of health benefits and other impacts of the rule.

Liz Perera, climate policy director for the Sierra Club, said repealing the Clean Power Plan is about one thing and one thing only: helping corporate polluters profit. By Matthew Daly, Washington, AP
Securing North Koreas missile launchers and nuclear, chemical and biological weapons sites would likely be a chief priority for China in the event of a major crisis involving its communist neighbor, analysts say, although Beijing so far is keeping mum on any plans.

Despite Chinas official silence, its Peoples Liberation Army likely has a vast array of contingency plans involving military options, said Dean Cheng, an Asia security expert at the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington. The PLA and paramilitary Peoples Armed Police could also be deployed to deal with refugees and possible civil unrest, he said.

Whats less clear is whether and under what conditions China would commit troops as an occupying force should North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns regime fall apart, Cheng said.

We can hypothesize that they might, but, as the observation goes, those who know dont say and those who say probably dont know, he said.

With tensions between the U.S. and North Korea running high and relations between Beijing and Pyongyang at a historic low, questions are being raised about how China might respond in the event of a regime collapse.

The scene along the China-North Korea border in the wild mountains of northeast Asia provides some clues.

Despite a dearth of traffic and trade, construction crews are at work on a six-lane highway to the border outside the small Chinese city of Jian along the Tumen River, a corridor that could facilitate the rapid movement of tanks and troops.

Guard posts, barbed wire-topped fences and checkpoints manned by armed paramilitary troops mark the frontier along the border  signs of concern about potentially violent border crossers or even more serious security threats.

Chinas unwillingness to discuss its plans is likely a strategic choice by the notoriously secretive PLA, but potentially threatens unintended consequences were a major crisis to emerge, experts say.

Each party has its own plans for action in the event of an emergency, but if they act individually without communicating with others, it raises the possibility of misjudgment and unnecessary military conflicts, said Jia Qingguo, dean of the school of International Studies at elite Peking University.

There has long been a danger in this respect. Someone must take control of North Koreas nuclear weapons, Jia said.

Coordination is also needed on the handling of civilians, particularly with those international agencies experienced in dealing with such crises, Jia said. Among the refugees may be tens of thousands released from North Korean labor camps who may need medical treatment for communicable diseases and malnutrition.

Refugees are a huge issue that could involve a tremendously large number of people and potentially become a humanitarian crisis, Jia said.

Asked about Chinese preparations for a North Korean crisis, defense ministry spokesman Col. Wu Qian offered assurance but no details at a monthly news briefing on Thursday.

Dialogue and consultation is the only effective way to solve the problem concerning the Korean Peninsula, and the military option cannot be an option, Wu said. The Chinese military has made all necessary preparations to safeguard national sovereignty and security and regional peace and stability.

U.S. officials say the Chinese have been reluctant to discuss planning for a major crisis, possibly to avoid offending Kims notoriously tetchy regime. Partly in hopes of facilitating such discussions, the two sides signed an agreement during a visit to Beijing in August by the top U.S. military officer to establish a dialogue mechanism between their militaries.

Tellingly, the visit by Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also included the rare opportunity to observe a Chinese army drill near the Chinese city of Shenyang, roughly 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the border with North Korea. Although Dunford said China didnt appear ready to have conversations about responding to a North Korean crisis, senior administration officials say the sides recognize the need for communication on the matter and the topic has been broached in semiofficial talks between experts.

While Chinese officials have routinely said Beijing would not allow chaos and war to break out on its doorstep, official media have hinted that it might not respond if the North made an unprovoked strike on the U.S. or its allies and suffered a retaliation. That ambiguity serves to keep the U.S. and South Korea guessing, possibly tempering their own responses, said Cheng, the Asia security expert.

Beijing also doesnt want to publicize any plans to avoid provoking Pyongyang, either by revealing doubts about the stability of Kims regime or by exposing its deepest worries that Kim could then leverage for his own benefit, Cheng said.

Positing that they have so little confidence that they are planning for [Pyongyangs] demise might create the very problem that they fear, he said. Better the devil that you know.

With 85 percent of North Koreas nuclear facilities located within 100 kilometers of the border with China, special forces from the Peoples Liberation Army could easily secure those sites without coming into conflict with occupying forces from South Korea and the U.S., said Georgetown University security studies professor Oriana Skylar Mastro.

PLA forces might also cross the border to carry out missions to stabilize refugees, Mastro said. The Chinese militarys ability to deal with such a contingency has been honed over recent years through its participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa and elsewhere, as well as its leading role in responding to earthquakes, floods and other disasters within China.

In the long term, Beijing would want to see a friendly government in Pyongyang to ease security concerns about a unified Korea under the protection of U.S. and South Korean troops, against whom China fought in the 1950-53 Korean War. China has long criticized American military alliances in Asia, seeing them as part of a campaign to stifle its rise as Asias leading power.

Underlying questions about a Chinese crisis response is the dismal state of China-North Korea relations, illustrated by the lack of regular high-level exchanges. Xi Jinping is the first Chinese leader to visit South Korea before traveling to the North, which he has yet to do as president. Xi and Kim, who has not traveled to China as leader, are not known to be in direct contact, and no senior Chinese official has visited North Korea in almost two years.

Also rarely seen until recently are complaints about China in the North Korean official media, prompted by Beijings support for U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang.

A recent commentary by the Norths official Korean Central News Agency said Chinas ruling Communist Partys mouthpieces were going under the armpit of the U.S. by criticizing Pyongyangs weapons program. It accused party news outlets of kowtowing to the ignorant acts of the Trump administration. Christopher Bodeen, Beijing, AP
Singapore and Thailand are in discussions about connecting their national digital payment systems to forge an unprecedented regional alliance, as officials step up efforts to curb the use of cash.

The link would bring together Southeast Asias first national digital-payment platforms, Singapores PayNow and Thailands PromptPay, said Naphongthawat Phothikit, director of payment systems policy at the Bank of Thailand.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Bank of Thailand are exploring the possibility of a link between the two networks, Naphongthawat said in an interview in Bangkok. Discussions are at a preliminary stage, and its too early to talk about details or a time-line, he added.

The prospective tie-up is the latest effort by Asian nations to modernize the payment process. Governments from India to Indonesia are prodding citizens to pay via cards, mobile devices and Internet-based channels, all of which are viewed as more efficient and traceable than physical notes and coins.

The discussions with the Thai central bank on possible collaboration to connect e-payment systems are still at a preliminary stage, a spokesperson for Singapores monetary authority said, adding that the two sides in July signed an agreement to cooperate on financial technology.

Initiatives to enable faster and more efficient cross-border financial services within Asean is a positive development for the industry, the spokesperson said. MAS encourages more of such cross-border engagements, premised on common standards, to create a seamless and inter-operable digital experience for the Asean community.

For now, cash remains the dominant mode of payment in much of the region. Some 57 percent of 4,000 consumers in seven Asian markets said they rely on notes and coins, a PayPal Holdings Inc. survey shows. In contrast, digital transactions are prevalent in much of Europe.

The Bank of Thailand oversaw the January roll out of the PromptPay service by the nations banks. It now has 24 million registrations via national identity cards, equivalent to about a third of the Thai population, Naphongthawat said.

PayNow, introduced by the city-states banking association in July, has over 500,000 registrations, according to a Monetary Authority of Singapore release on Aug. 29.

Both networks allow peer-to-peer transfers via banks and enable payments to be made using recipients mobile phone or national identity card numbers.

Thailands priority is to encourage the wider adoption of modes of payment such as credit cards and mobile-based wallets, Naphongthawat said in the late September interview.

Digital-based payment transactions  including electronic fund transfers, e-wallets, credit cards and mobile and online banking  have grown about 30 percent annually for the past five years, he added.

Southeast Asias banks are girding for a competitive onslaught amid aggressive expansion plans by Chinas giant financial technology firms, such as Ant Financial, the payments affiliate of billionaire Jack Mas Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

Thai banks have an incentive to bolster digital payments to ensure they can compete with potential challengers from abroad, including the likes of Alipay and WeChat, which currently serve only Chinese tourists in Thailand, Naphongthawat said. Chanyaporn Chanjaroen, Bloomberg
The Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC), an independent agency of the U.S. government, has published the 2017 version of its Annual Report on China and its dependencies, finding that the Macau SAR has made no progress toward building an electoral system based on universal and equal suffrage.

However, the Macau government says it disagrees with the evaluation and that the claims made in the report are groundless and baseless.

The CCEC expressed concern in its report over laws poised to take effect in Macau that restrict the ability of political candidates to stand for office. It also highlighted the oppressive rules enforced by electoral authorities in the run-up to the September 17 legislative election, and a lack of clear and proper documentation of the relevant prohibited activities.

Macaus Basic Law does not provide for elections by universal suffrage, though its provisions ensure the applicability of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in Macau and guarantee Macau a high degree of autonomy within China, the report noted.

During the 2017 reporting year, the Commission did not observe progress [] in line with the ICCPR, as recommended by the UN Human Rights Committee.

The U.S. agency further questioned the delegation of authority to the Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission, a government entity, to determine who may qualify as a candidate to legislature.

The issue stems from a December 2016 revision to the Legislative Assembly electoral law, which now requires all candidates and legislators to swear allegiance to China and the MSAR. It followed an interpretation of Hong Kongs Basic Law, handed down by mainland authorities, following the oath-taking scandal late last year.

As a consequence, the Electoral Affairs Commission has been empowered to use its discretion in determining a candidates eligibility, partially on the basis of whether it believes an oath was taken sincerely.

But the revision to the electoral law did not pass without vocal objections. Legal experts and pro-democrat lawmakers criticized the amendment and said that it endangered the already fragile state of democracy in the city.

According to the CCEC report, critics emphasized the problematic lack of clearly defined criteria that would prove a candidates disloyalty to Macau or the Basic Law.

The Electoral Affairs Commissions strict interpretation of what constituted election propaganda, as well as how and when to apply penalties to electoral law violators was also included in the report. Citing the Macau Portuguese and English Press Association, the CCEC said, due to the laws broad definition of electoral propaganda, election reporting could be penalized under the revised law.

Such a case transpired in late August, when bilingual newspaper Plataforma was instructed to remove an article from its website as, according to the Electoral Affairs Commission, it included electoral propaganda. Plataforma responded by accusing the commission of confusing the concepts of propaganda and the right to inform.

The CCEC also highlighted a deteriorating situation over the admittance of Hong Kong journalists, lawmakers and political activists in 2017.

Macaus Internal Security Framework Law allows authorities to refuse entry to non-residents considered inadmissible or who constitute a threat to the stability of internal security, but does not define inadmissibility or what would pose a threat to Macaus security, the report read.

The CCEC surmised that the refusal to admit certain non-residents had mostly occurred at sensitive times for the Macau government, such as in the aftermath of Typhoon Hato, the Legislative Assembly election last month and during visits to the city by high-profile mainland officials, such as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

The content of the report has riled the Macau SAR government, which on Friday issued a statement expressing its strong opposition to the CCEC findings.

The 2017 annual report contains groundless and baseless claims, and made inappropriate comments about Macaus internal affairs, the local government said in the statement without clarifying the actual inaccuracies.

Macaus internal affairs are a domestic matter for China: foreign countries have no right to interfere in Chinas domestic affairs, the statement continued, echoing similar sentiments released by mainland authorities in previous years.

Since the return to the motherland, the Macau SAR has been strictly implementing the principle of One country, two systems and the Basic Law, making significant achievements in various fields, that have been widely recognized by the international community.

Report questions interference in HK

A major finding in this years Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC) report concerned what U.S. administrators see as diminishing political autonomy in Hong Kong. Drafters of the report noted that the long-term viability of the one country, two systems model in Hong Kong is increasingly uncertain given central government interference. The assessment makes reference to the judicial interpretation handed down by Beijing during last years oath-taking scandal, which prevented two elected lawmakers from taking office. Other recent developments highlighting the erosion of Hong Kongs political autonomy included the subsequent, retrospective disqualification of other lawmakers, the harsh sentencing of Occupy protestors last month, and general fears over the safeguarding of press freedom.
Yahoo has tripled down on what was already the largest data breach in history, saying it affected all 3 billion accounts on its service, not the 1 billion it revealed late last year.

The company announced last week that it has sent emails providing notice to additional user accounts affected by the August 2013 data theft.

The breach now affects a number that represents nearly half the world, said Sam Curry, chief security officer for Boston-based firm Cybereason, though theres likely to be more accounts than actual users.

Whether its 1 billion or 3 billion is largely immaterial. Assume it affects you, Curry said. Privacy is really the victim here.

Yahoo first disclosed the breach in December . The stolen information included names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and security questions and answers.

Following its acquisition by Verizon in June, Yahoo says, it obtained new intelligence while investigating the breach with help from outside forensic experts. It says the stolen customer information did not include passwords in clear text, payment card data or bank account information.

Yahoo had already required users to change their passwords and invalidate security questions so they couldnt be used to hack into accounts.

The disclosure is also a huge embarrassment for Verizon, which has just started running TV ads for its new subsidiary Oath, which will consist of Yahoo and AOL services.

Verizon spokesman David Samberg said the company has no regrets about buying Yahoo, despite the latest revelation.

Companies often dont know the full extent of a breach and have to revise statements about how it affects customers years later, said Ben Johnson, co-founder and chief technology officer for Obsidian Security, based in Newport Beach, California. Johnson said Yahoo might never know exactly what was accessed.

The fact is attackers are having field days and the problem is only going to get worse, he said. Matt OBrien, Boston, AP
BLACKFOOT  This autumns sugar beet crop looks to be just about as sweet as last years crop.

For the Amalgamated Sugar Co., sugar beet harvest kicks off in early September with a controlled early dig where approximately 16 percent of the total 2017 crop is harvested, said Kyle Gelles, a Blackfoot-area field man who works at Amalgamated.

The early harvest provides enough beets for the startup of factories located in Paul, Twin Falls and Nampa. The controlled early dig in eastern Idaho ended last week with the remaining crop harvested to area receiving stations, like the Liberty beet dump, 15 miles west of Blackfoot, through October, Gelles said.

Last years crop broke a lot of company records with sugar content climbing towards 20 percent and yields above 40 tons per acre, Gelles said.

I dont anticipate well beat last years crop, but yields and sugars are coming in higher than expected in early harvest, indicating its still going to be a really good year.

In 2016, the Liberty station, brought in more than 400,000 tons of sugar beets, Gelles said. The majority of these beets are fed to the Nampa factory, via rail cars and the rest are trucked to the Paul facility. Liberty is the only receiving station that still uses the railroad to ship beets, Gelles said.

Preliminary 2017 price estimates are $37 to $40 per ton, he said.

Amalgamated is a sugar beet-refining company founded in 1897 in Logan, Utah. It has since transitioned to a cooperative owned by around 700 grower-members, Gelles said.

Sugar is rendered from sugar beets in a complex water and chemical process and is marketed in the United States under the White Satin brand, according to the Amalgamated Sugar Co., website.

Third-generation potato, wheat, alfalfa and beet grower Doug Evans, of Blackfoot, who farms with brothers Gary and Blaine Evans, is harvesting potatoes between the early and regular sugar beet harvest.

Family farm traditions continue on the Evans farm.

Harvest is a stressful time on any farm, but our whole family gets involved, Doug Evans said. Our family prides itself that all are involved, from Grandpa driving a tractor to Grandma, and the wives driving harvest trucks, to any one of the 16 grandchildren moving pipe and picking clods. It takes the whole family to make this operation successful, and to keep it going on to the fourth generation.

Evans estimates this years beet crop could average throughout the co-op about 38 to 39 tons per acre compared to last years 40 to 41 tons per acre.

Last year was the best year we ever had and this year is pretty close, Evans said.

Doug Evans dad, Dean Evans, added sugar beets to their list of crops in 1997 when Doug was 15, and the family has raised sugar beets since then. At about that time, Amalgamated became the grower-owned cooperative it is today, Evans said. Before 1997 there were very few farmers in the Blackfoot area who were still growing sugar beets, since most of the factories had closed, Evans said.

When Amalgamated offered shares in the newly formed cooperative, many farms welcomed the opportunity to add another crop to their rotation, Evans said. Beets dont have the volatile price swings that fresh-pack potatoes do. Beets pay the bills.

Last years crop broke a lot of company records with sugar content climbing towards 20 percent and yields above 40 tons per acre. I dont anticipate well beat last years crop, but yields and sugars are coming in higher than expected in early harvest, indicating its still going to be a really good year. Kyle Gelles, Amalgamated Sugar Co. field man in Blackfoot
Parenting, coping support

Voices Against Violence is offering support groups at 212 Second Ave. W., No. 200, Twin Falls.

Parenting Group, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, to help improve parenting skills as well as learn rewards and consequences.

Mas alla de mi, Empoderando a las Mujeres domestic violence group in Spanish, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, for those who have been involved in an abusive or traumatic relationship, and also helps women develop a support system.

The Power to Change Group, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, provides information and support to women 18 and older, who have experienced difficulties in coping with past experiences.

Domestic Violence Support Group, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, provides information and community to individuals 18 and older, who have experienced domestic abuse or gender violence.

Information: 208-733-2558.

Breastfeeding

Free Breastfeeding 101 class, 7 p.m. Monday in Oak Room 4 on the lower level of St. Lukes Magic Valley, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls.

The class is for new mothers and breastfeeding mothers wanting to review their skills. Babies and your support person are welcome.

Free; pre-registration is required, 208-814-0402.

Recovery support

Recovery For Life groups meet at 7 p.m. Mondays at Twin Falls Reformed Church, 1631 Grandview Drive N. A free meal begins at 6 p.m.

Groups and classes include Cancer Support, Hope 12-Step, Parenting Skills, Codependency, GriefShare, Cooking Matters, Womens Word for Life Bible Study, and Special Parents Special Kids. Veterans Christian Fellowship also meets on Mondays.

Free child care and transportation. Information: 208-733-6128.

Victims support

Support group for victims of domestic violence, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the Mini-Cassia Shelter Haven of Hope, 323 First St., Rupert.

Information: Rachel, 208-312-7021.

Alzheimers support

Magic Valley Caregiver Support Group, presented by Alzheimers Association, Greater Idaho Chapter, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bridgeview Estates, 1828 Bridgeview Blvd., Twin Falls. The group meets on the second Tuesday every month.

Information: facilitator Yolanda Martinez, 208-404-6720.

Happy babies

Happiest Baby on the Block class, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Oak Room 204 on the lower level of St. Lukes, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls.

Learn a step-by-step approach to soothing your baby, and receive a parenting kit to use at home.

Cost is $15; pre-registration is required: 208-814-0402.

Seniors wellness

The Twin Falls Senior Center will hold a presentation for senior citizens at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday at 530 Shoshone St. W. Heritage Health Services staff will discuss hospice.

Free; 208-734-5084.

Ostomy support

Ostomy Support Group, 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Pine Room on the lower level of St. Lukes, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls.

The meeting is for ostomy patients and their families.

Free; 208-308-6153.

Parkinsons support

The Magic Valley Parkinsons Support Group will meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Jerome Public Library, 100 First Ave. E.

The group will discuss the changes in symptoms being experienced by those with Parkinsons, as well as the question, Driving: A Right or a Privilege. Other topics of interest will be shared.

The support group meets monthly on the second Wednesday and offers coping skills for both patients and caregivers.

If you or a family member has Parkinsons, you are invited to participate. Information: nfturley@att.net or 208-358-5807.

Clearing energies

College of Southern Idahos Community Education Center is offering Researching and Clearing Negative Energies, 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Oct. 18, in the CSI Shields Building, room 106.

Topics: types of negative energies, how to identify, and the tools to remove them. The class is recommended for all levels of Reiki students.

Instructor Sandy March is a Reiki master and has been working in the alternative health field for more than 17 years.

Cost is $49; register: csi.edu/communityed, 208-732-6442 or at the Community Education Center.

Blood drive

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 821 Broadford Road, Hailey.

Eligible donors of all blood types are needed. To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free blood donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire is encouraged.

Grief support

Visions of Hope meeting, 5 p.m. every Thursday at Hospice Visions, 1770 Park View Drive, Twin Falls.

This grief support group is open to everyone in the community.

Information: 208-735-0121.

Mental health support

Mental Health Support Group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays at 826 Eastland Drive in Twin Falls.

The free support group is open to Magic Valley residents.

Information: 208-539-7492.

CPR

St. Lukes Magic Valley Education Department is offering a Heartsaver CPR and AED class, 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday at the Learning Center, 840 Meadows Suite 2, Twin Falls.

The course provides training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and using an automated external defibrillator.

Cost is $50. Pre-registration is required: 208-814-9050.

Health fair

Annual Magic Valley Health Fair, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the College of Southern Idaho gymnasium in Twin Falls.

The event will include free screenings for skin cancer, balance and hearing, along with free blood pressure checks and free nitrate testing of well water.

Blood work will be available at a discounted cost. Free flu shots, courtesy of Wellness Tree Community Clinic, will be provided for 200 people.

Free admission. Presented by Times-News and co-sponsored by St. Lukes Magic Valley, Wright Physical Therapy, Miracle Ear and Select Health.

CPR, first aid

St. Lukes Magic Valley Education Department is offering a Heartsaver CPR, First Aid and AED class, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Learning Center, 840 Meadows Suite 2, Twin Falls.

The course provides training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid and using an automated external defibrillator.

Cost is $60 and pre-registration is required: 208-814-9050.

Skin care

CSI Community Education Center is offering the class Ladies 60 Years and Beyond, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in CSIs Fine Arts Building, room 137.

The class is for women age 60 and older to learn how skin care and makeup changes with age. Morgan Jeno is a certified Hatha Yoga instructor and licensed massage therapist.

Cost is $50; register: csi.edu/communityed, 208-732-6442 or at the Community Education Center.

Yoga

How Yoga Works class is offered by CSI Community Education, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 17 through Nov. 28, at the CSI Mini-Cassia Center, room A22, Burley.

Shalamar Summers instructs the mixed six-hour introductory yoga course designed to introduce poses of yoga, breathing techniques and Patanjalis eight limbs of yoga to help manage stress and obtain a moderate exercise experience. Bring a yoga mat and water bottle.

Cost is $50; preregister: offcampus.csi.edu/minicassia or 208-678-1400.
Circle October 11 on your calendar. It may be a critical date in Idahos economic future, because that is when Idaho Power Companys Hells Canyon Dam relicensure settlement conference is scheduled at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.

It may not seem notably critical at first. The three Idaho Power dams on the Idaho-Oregon border, in Hells Canyon, have been operating and supplying an immense amount of power for a very long time, almost unnoticed (out of sight, out of mind) for many Idahoans. They were the subject of fierce controversy back in the 50s, but since have been recognized as one of the big drivers of Idaho Powers tremendous growth in the mid-twentieth century, and through it a lot of the explosive growth of the Boise area. The dams have kept electric power reliable and cheap, no small factor in business development over the years.

When the dams were first built they were constructed under a 50-year license, which expired a dozen years ago. Today theyre running on what amounts to extensions of extensions (no one wants to shut the dams down), and work on formal relicensure continues.

Thats not a comfortable position for Idaho Power or for a lot of regional power users. But this is a matter as much of dilemma as of frustration. Idaho Power remains an independent local power company, based in Boise (albeit that its stock is publicly traded). It long has provided some of the lowest power rates in the country.

While lots of other utilities in recent decades have been gobbled by bigger corporate fish, Idaho Power has not. And evidently, one of the big reasons is that renewal of the licenses has remained unsettled. Much could change in southern Idaho if Idaho Power is bought. Usually in such cases low power rates tend to be jacked up after a purchasesometimes jacked up a great deal.

Theres not one single reason the relicensure has stalled, but one seems to be a disagreement between the states of Idaho and Oregon, both of which have to sign off for major dam activity, over fish runs in the area.

An Associated Press story on the situation summarized, Oregon officials are refusing to agree to the re-licensing until salmon and steelhead can access four Oregon tributaries that feed into the Hells Canyon Complex, as required by Oregon law for the re-licensing. But Idaho lawmakers have prohibited moving federally protected salmon and steelhead upstream of the dams, which could force restoration work on Idahos environmentally degraded middle section of the Snake River.

This seems to be the primary relicensure hangup right now.

If Oregons requests are agreed to, significant changes could be required, and ratepayers might be stuck with paying another $220 million for the work. On top of other possible increases. On top of, if the company were taken over, higher rates otherwise down the road.

When Ive been asked what economic risks Idaho faces in upcoming years, Ive generally mentioned the Hells Canyon dams situation as one of two or three to watch out for.

On October 11, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission will hold a conference on what do next. What it does could be among the most important decisions the PUC has made in a generation.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) jointly unveiled recently a unified brand, Passion Made Possible, to market Singapore internationally for tourism and business purposes. The agencies first joint brand is a bold move to put forth Singapores unique attitude and mindset: a passionate, never-settling spirit of determination and enterprise that constantly pursues possibilities and reinvention.

In the last 50 years, Singapore has built a strong reputation as a global business and tourism hub, recognised for its quality infrastructure, safety, stability, connectedness and accessibility. However, global competition to attract tourists and investments has intensified, and the media landscape has become more crowded and complex. Visitors have become more discerning in their travel choices, seeking to immerse themselves in cultures and build deeper connections with destinations, while international businesses want to create new solutions that make a difference. The unified brand thus aims to communicate the countrys value proposition in addressing the needs of travellers and companies, and help Singapore stand out on the international stage.

With Passion Made Possible, STB is presenting a brand that can tell a fuller Singapore story beyond just tourism. This brand articulates what we stand for as a country and supports the telling of many stories about this destination and its people. It will allow us to build a deeper and more personal connection between Singapore and our fans and friends, even when they are not actively thinking about travel. This brand is in line with Quality Tourism as it will appeal to the more sophisticated tourists who are seeking more aspirational value propositions in their travel said Lionel Yeo, chief executive of STB.

From left: STB CE Lionel Yeo, Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran, STB Chairman Chaly Mah, and EDB Chairman Dr. Beh Swan Gin

Dr. Beh Swan Gin, chairman of EDB, added, Singapore is making the shift from being primarily an investment-driven economy to one that will be led by innovation. In particular, local and international companies are seeking to create new products, services and solutions that will have a stronger impact in Asia. It is timely to send a strong and clear signal that companies can do this successfully from Singapore and turn possibilities into reality. Singapore and Singaporeans are where we are today because we pushed the limits of whats possible, and did not allow constraints to hold us back.

Singapore is Passion Made Possible

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In developing the new brand, STB and EDB had embarked on qualitative and quantitative research with close to 4,500 respondents on what Singapore stands for, reaching out to residents, industry stakeholders, and international audiences in Singapore and across 10 countries. Respondents shared that the themes of passion and possibilities best reflected the Singapore spirit: While possibilities was strongly associated with Singapore as a destination, the passion to strive was what drove these possibilities.

Passion Made Possible was thus derived to capture the nations spirit in a way that builds affinity, affiliation and top-of-mind recall for choosing Singapore as a destination to visit and invest in. With the themes of passion and possibilities entrenched in Singapores history and imbued in the nations psyche, and told through stories of the people, Passion Made Possible is the embodiment of the countrys track record and tenacity to fulfil passions and continually create new possibilities.

A unified brand to present Singapore to the world

With a different approach from previous brands of STBs YourSingapore and EDBs Future Ready Singapore, Passion Made Possible presents Singapores attributes beyond tourism and business. This will provide the opportunity and platform for Singaporeans and residents to showcase their enterprising and persevering spirit to the world, and serve as a unifying brand for Singapore on the international front.

The Passion Made Possible Global Campaign

Following its debut, Passion Made Possible will be unveiled worldwide in various cities throughout Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States of America through consumer launches, trade events, industry partnerships, and global marketing campaigns featuring campaign films and visuals to bring to life how Singapore is Passion Made Possible.

For the Philippines, a Singapore Travel Showcase was held in Manila at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall last month featuring collaborations between Singapore  Passion Made Possible brand personalities and Filipino key opinion leaders and personalities.

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Tension between the US and Turkey increased again on Sunday as the two countries suspended visa services at their respective diplomatic facilities in either country.

The decision was first made by Washington after a Turkish staffer was arrested at the US consulate in Turkey for alleged links to the Pennsylvania-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen that Ankara accuses as the leading master of the 2016 failed coup dEtat against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

On Sunday evening, the US embassy in Ankara announced that recent events have forced the US government to reassess Turkeys commitment to the security of US mission facilities and personnel.

In order to minimize the number of visitors to our embassy and consulates while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all US diplomatic facilities in Turkey, the statement said.

Non-immigrant visas are issued to the media as well as to people wishing to travel to the US for tourism, education, medical treatment, or business.

Just hours after the US decision, Turkey retaliated through its embassy in Washington issuing a word-for-word copy statement that suspends non-immigrant visas to US citizens.

The arrest of the Turkish staffer is explained by pundits as being part of what they call hostage-taking strategy by the Turkish president to get US concessions.

According to analysts, the Turkish president seeks to exert pressure on Washington for the release of Turkish businessmen arrested in the US for violating the Iran sanctions.
Iran has warned the USA against enlisting the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group as it threatened to do, saying the move would be a strategic mistake.

We hope the US administration would not make such strategic mistake and stop continuing on its wrong path, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Bahram Qasemi said.

Qasemi was referring to the IRGC commanders recent remarks that If reports on the US decision to enlist Irans IRGC as a terrorist group happen to be true, the Iranian force would also treat the American Army everywhere in the world and especially in the Middle East in the same way it deals with Daesh (ISIS) terrorists.

The IRGC commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari noted on Sunday that Implementation of the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is tantamount to US unilateral walking away from Iran nuclear deal.

I think the United States should accept the consequences of its wrong decisions, the spokesman stressed, expressing hope that people in the USA, who follow common sense, take appropriate measures and try to stop such dangerous decisions.

The spokesman who was speaking in his weekly news briefing Monday also commented on Europes approach towards the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

We are waiting to see what the future will bringBut what is clear is that European governments, for different reasons, in general, are quite serious in standing against US policies, the Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted by IRNA as saying.

Regarding the issue of missile development, he said Iran has repeatedly made it clear that its missile program is part of its defensive policies and is not in contradiction with UN Resolution 2231.

Iran has the final say in deciding on its defense issues and it will not let other countries to intervene, Qasemi went on saying.
Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) has urged countries of North Africa to create more job opportunities for the youth in this region suffering from a youth unemployment rate of 28.8 per cent, twice the global average.

The biggest global development challenge in the decades to come will be the need to integrate hundreds of millions of young people into the labor market, said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

In North Africa, only 16.6 per cent of young women and 46.8 per cent of young men are economically active, according to latest figures of the UN agency.

Among those active, 29.3 per cent are unemployed and around 25 per cent of working youth are estimated to be living in poverty.

In order to fill the youth employment gap in the North African region, we call on social partners, governments, workers and employers organizations together with development partners, to renew their commitment and action on youth employment, said ILO Deputy chief Deborah Greenfield.

North Africa is facing profound political, economic, social, and security challenges. Struggling with rising poverty, health care deficiencies, and unemployment, this region is in great need of human resources development and a stronger private sector.

The North African population is growing considerably faster and the employment situation of young people is particularly precarious. By the year 2050, the population in this region will double to reach 241 million people, according to UN estimate.

The problem is further exacerbated by the inadequate labor participation rate (people of working age who are economically active), which stands at 51 pc on average in North Africa. This is significantly less than the 67 pc average of all developing countries, a rate that is even outperformed by East Asias high 75 pc.

The cause of the low labor participation rate in North Africa is the extremely low share of women (24 pc compared with 52 pc in all developing countries and 67 pc in East Asia).

The skills mismatch, which affects the performance of businesses and public services, is another impediment to employability in this region.
Where To Go When Your Local Emergency Room Goes Bankrupt?" During the past ten years 84 California hospitals have declared bankruptcy and closed their Emergency Rooms forever. Financially crippled by legislative and judicial mandates to treat illegal aliens have bankrupted hospitals! In 2010, in Los Angeles County alone, over 2 million illegal aliens recorded visits to county emergency rooms for both routine and emergency care. The cost is $1,000 dollars for every taxpayer. VIVA LA RAZA?